Market

The impact of the pandemic means that many SMEs have inevitably lost ground and fallen behind on goals and targets.

As we ease out of lockdown, it’s vital to take action now to regain market position and strengthen competitive advantage. For the most ambitious businesses, this is an opportunity not just to get back on track but to take things up a gear.

Back to basics

As Fiona Nicolson, director, Continuous Communications explains to take your business forward, first go back to basics and review your marketing plan. How does it look in the light of the new, post-pandemic business landscape? You may find that you need a different strategy now, as your goals will likely have changed.

The next phase of your business will be different, so some aspects of your marketing plan may no longer be suitable for the circumstances. Others will need to be ramped up and

In a special ‘summer statement’ on 8 July and under the ‘Plan for Jobs’ umbrella, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced further measures designed to help protect jobs in the longer term following the planned ending of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (also known as the Furlough Scheme) on 31 October 2020 and amidst a continued economic downturn.

According to the Government, more than nine million workers have been placed on furlough leave since the introduction of the Scheme.

Partner Sue Dowling, head of Blandy & Blandy Solicitors’ Employment Law team, summarises the new measures announced in the Chancellor’s ‘mini budget’ that will affect employers and workers.

As part of a new £30 billion stimulus package, that takes the total cost of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic closer to £200 billion, Mr Sunak unveiled the following measures:

Job Retention Bonus

Employees who successfully bring their staff back from furlough leave

With the UK Government now easing lockdown and putting plans in place to try and help the economy recover, the manufacturing sector is focused on a gradual return to a new normal.

As industry begins to evolve from the initial COVID-19 response phase and businesses adjust to meet new demands, it’s important for companies to consider how they are preparing their supply chains for the next stage of recovery, and beyond.

Richard Seel, Managing Director, Delaware explains that organisations will need to develop and deploy new strategies across their operations to remain competitive and help their business thrive. But how can they best plan for the recovery phase and make certain their supply chain is fit for the future?

Lessons learnt from the crisis – Future planning and a new role for digital

All manufacturing companies have learnt a host of lessons from the crisis. At a high level, the

Employers up and down the country are planning to welcome back employees to the workplace, and they must bring in strict COVID-safe plans as lockdown measures ease.

But British workers should confirm with their employer the steps that are being taken to make it safe and compliant to return to work.

All UK businesses who ask their staff members to return to work have been informed that they need to undertake a risk assessment and put in place various measures to protect their staff from contracting the virus.

Employees need to feel safe, and depending on the specific industry, certain unions have claimed that employees can even refuse to go back to the office if precautions aren’t taken.

Health and safety experts at CE Safety have made it easier for Brits to understand what their employers should be doing to comply with new safety rules.

A spokesperson for CE Safety

In today’s busy workplace it has almost become a badge of honour for some professionals to try and function while in a constant state of stress. The results, however, are poorer performance and illness.

Those wanting to get ahead should learn, instead, to manage stress and access their flow state, which can be achieved through self-hypnosis, as Harley Street clincial hypnotherapist Gail Marra explains…

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I was.” – Muhammad Ali

What does it take to be successful? You might fire off a string of words like, “intelligence, determination, motivation, drive, enthusiasm, confidence, self-belief.” And you would be right.

When you succeed at something, your brain releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, one of your ‘feel good’ chemicals which along with serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins, trigger the pleasure and reward centre of your brain. You feel happy and excited; life is good. a good surge