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How To Improve Internal Communications Maximising how you use internal communications can help improve business performance by engaging employees and enabling better decision-making. Published on: 4 Mar 2021 How to Improve Internal Communications: A 5 Step Guide Maximising how you use internal communications can help improve business performance by engaging employees and enabling better decision-making. Effective internal business communications keep employees connected, well informed and feeling positive. Having a more engaged workforce should increase staff retention and boost employee loyalty. And there’s a benefit that is all too often overlooked: internal communications can be used to remind people that life should be fun — even in the workplace. Learning how to improve internal communications begins by deciding on who should be your internal communications ‘champions’ with responsibility for rolling out your messages. Next, agree on why you want to communicate: these are your objectives. Then confirm what information you need to share. Finally, identify the best ways to deliver that information so your communications are read, understood and remembered. Follow these five steps to improve employee communications for a better-informed workforce, where employees understand business goals and work better together as one team. 1. Who should be responsible for internal communications? Gaining buy-in for your communications at a Board or senior director level is essential for giving messages credibility from the top. These people will be your internal communications ‘champions’. A lack of time available to spend on developing and running internal communications could undermine efforts to communicate effectively with employees. So, you also need to consider carefully the mechanics of gathering and distributing information in a timely fashion. In its 2020 survey of internal communications specialists, software and advisory services provider Poppulo found that nearly two-thirds of those surveyed spent most of their time writing and sending content, compared with just 16% who spent the majority of their time on planning and strategy. Therefore, it could be more cost-effective to work with an outside agency to support your internal communications projects, so you spend less time feeling stressed and more time focusing on long-term strategies. Useful tips : Set up an editorial team with support from HR, marketing and senior management – along with representatives from every part of the business. An inclusive team with its finger on the pulse of the business should create more relevant and interesting communications Nominate an editor or author for communications, especially newsletters, to give a human face to what you say. This makes messages appear less formal and ensures employees know who to contact with ideas and feedback on what you communicate Create content lists for a year in advance to help you plan what you want to say and when to say it for maximum impact on readers 2. Why do you need internal communications? Internal communications should be an integral part of your business improvement activities. After all, the contribution that internal communications make to business performance through greater employee engagement is significant. A Gartner survey makes the connection between improving how employees feel and both increased employee engagement and positive company culture. The firm noted that greater engagement also leads to better staff retention. Research by Gallup shows that employees who feel engaged are 23 times more likely than disengaged colleagues to recommend their employer as a great place to work. In the current coronavirus crisis, setting out clear internal communication objectives that help you achieve your business goals has never been more important, especially around the issue of managing employee wellbeing. Internal communications objectives could include: Share important information quickly and accurately, especially difficult messages, to avoid misunderstandings Share company goals and reinforce them regularly to improve employees’ understanding of the business Improve employee engagement and productivity by sharing ideas and information on business processes Improve the employee experience, so people feel more engaged and loyal Bring people closer together, especially across different business departments and divisions Provide a channel for feedback and discussion about the business, so you make better-informed decisions 3. What are your internal communications stories? The content of internal communications is determined by the objectives you set. A staff newsletter, for example, is likely to encompass a broad range of topics that educate, motivate, inspire and incentivise their audience. Internal communications content could include: General company news and updates – where you are and where you’re going Longer-term strategic news covering company goals and updates on annual targets Details about individuals and teams, with profiles and ‘behind-the-scenes’ stories Reward, recognition and celebration stories, from incentive schemes and company milestones to honouring long servers and company stalwarts Fun and motivational stories about employees’ lives outside work Community stories covering business support for the communities where it operates Details of employee offers, discounts and incentives News on vacancies and training opportunities to help employees map out their career paths Feedback from employees on the business generally and what they want to read about in their internal communications Surveys and vox pop questions on topical business issues Coverage of your business in the local and national press 4. How to make internal communications content more engaging Effective communications combine words and images to maximise their impact and readability. Visual information can replace words, wherever appropriate, to help make stories easier for readers to digest. Visual communications company TechSmith estimates that using visual communications at the right time could significantly benefit business performance to the tune of more than $1,200 a year in productivity for every employee who consumes information as part of their role. The use of visual content is on the increase. A survey of visual content in marketing material by infographic template designer Venngage reported a 10.5% increase to 74% in content containing visuals between 2018 and 2019. Useful tips : Make communications more vibrant and readable with a blend of photos, images, graphics, videos, presentations, charts and visualised data Break up text with plenty of subheadings, quotes and eye-catching panels Choose your language carefully – set an informative and conversational tone of voice that chimes with your audience Involve readers by inviting comments and feedback, as well as including competitions, quizzes and other ways for them to join in the ‘conversation’ 5. What are the best ways to deliver internal communications? When and how you communicate with employees will determine how successful you are in getting your messages across. Too much, and people might ignore it, but you don’t want to leave them in the dark with infrequent contact. Although the timing of internal communications is crucial, Poppulo found that 45% of it was unplanned. A regular newsletter that rounds up key news is one way to ensure a steady flow of important information reaches staff in a timely way. The choice of delivery channels for internal communications is changing in the post-Covid-19 world. We are likely to see more employees working from home for at least some of the time. A survey of business decision-makers by workplace scheduling specialist Smartway2 found most people said they enjoyed the flexibility of working between their home and the office during the coronavirus pandemic, with just 2% wanting to return to the office full-time. So, for example, printed newsletters delivered to people’s home addresses could be a friendlier way to keep in touch with employees rather than adding messages to their email inboxes. Useful tips : Consider print, online or both. If staff don’t have easy access to a desktop or laptop during working hours then you don’t want them to feel isolated or left out of the communications loop Mobiles, tablets and smart devices are growing in popularity – commercially available apps dedicated to internal communications could provide a useful additional online channel Link newsletter content and delivery with other internal communications channels, including face-to-face (or virtual) events (such as all employee briefings, ‘townhalls’ and ‘coffee break’ meetings), so you provide a unified voice and consistent messaging Decide on the frequency of your communications. Not too much but too little. Summary of How to Improve Internal Communications 1. Decide who are your internal communications ‘champions’ 2. Agree why you need to communicate – set clear objectives that you want to achieve 3. Decide on the key stories and news you want to communicate 4. Make your content more engaging 5. Choose the best delivery channels for maximum readability Awardaroo Can Help! Our Business Communications Service helps businesses enrich their internal communications, so they can improve their performance and profitability. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

What is Organisational Development? Organisational development (OD) refers to a planned and systematic approach to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of an organisation. Organisational development (OD) involves applying behavioural science principles and practices to analyse the current state of the organisation, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to enhance its overall performance. OD encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at improving various aspects of an organisation, including its structure, processes, systems, culture, and people. It focuses on promoting positive organisational change, fostering employee engagement, and aligning the organisation's objectives with its strategies and resources. Organisational development aims to guide an organisation through the process of change and help build capacity for ongoing improvement and adaptability in the face of evolving challenges. Organisation development (OD) and organisational design are closely related and complementary concepts that work together to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of an organisation. While OD focuses on the human and behavioural aspects of organisational change, organisational design focuses on the structural and strategic elements. Both disciplines collaborate to create an organisation that is adaptable, efficient, and aligned with its goals and values. Organisation development involves assessing and improving various aspects of an organisation, such as its culture, processes, systems, and people. It aims to enhance the organisation's capacity to adapt to change, foster employee engagement, and align its objectives with its strategies and resources. OD interventions may include leadership development, team-building activities, change management, and culture transformation. On the other hand, organisational design is concerned with the formal structure, roles, and relationships within the organisation. It involves defining the reporting lines, job roles, responsibilities, and overall organisational structure. Organisation design aims to create a structure that facilitates efficient operations, effective decision-making, and clear communication within the organisation. How can Organisational Development support an effective Business Operating System? Organisational development (OD) significantly bolsters the effectiveness of a business operating system by nurturing continuous improvement, refining organisational culture, and aligning systems with strategic objectives. Primarily, OD initiatives, including employee training, skill enhancement, and leadership programmes, ensure that staff possess the requisite competencies to navigate the business operating system adeptly. By investing in human capital, organisations optimise performance and adapt to evolving market dynamics. Furthermore, OD interventions cultivate collaboration, communication, and teamwork, critical for the seamless operation of a business operating system. By fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, OD initiatives facilitate the implementation of standard operating procedures and best practices across the organisation. Moreover, OD aids in identifying areas for improvement within the business operating system through techniques such as process mapping, feedback mechanisms, and performance evaluations. By diagnosing and rectifying inefficiencies, organisations can enhance productivity, reduce costs, and spur innovation, thereby maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace. Overall, organisational development complements and fortifies the effectiveness of a business operating system by nurturing talent, promoting collaboration, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Organisation Development and Organisational Design Work Together in the Following Ways Alignment: Organisation development initiatives can help identify the need for organisational structure and design changes. For example, if an OD intervention reveals that the existing structure hinders collaboration and communication, organisational design can be used to reconfigure the structure to better support these aspects. Support for Change: Organisation design plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of organisational development interventions. When changes are introduced as part of an OD initiative, the organisational design needs to be adjusted accordingly to ensure the changes are supported by the structure, roles, and processes within the organisation. Integration of People and Structure: Organisation development focuses on improving employee engagement, teamwork, and communication. Organisation design helps facilitate these goals by creating a structure that promotes collaboration, establishes clear reporting lines, and defines roles and responsibilities. The design of the organisation should align with the desired cultural and behavioural changes identified through OD efforts. Feedback Loop: Organisation development and organisational design are iterative processes that inform and influence each other. The data and insights gathered through OD initiatives can provide valuable input for designing or modifying the organisation's structure, roles, and processes. Likewise, the outcomes of organisational design efforts can inform future OD interventions by identifying areas for improvement. Key principles and practices of organisational development include: Diagnosis: Assessing the organisation's current state through data collection methods such as surveys, interviews, and observations to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Intervention: Implementing strategies and interventions based on the diagnosis to address identified issues. This may involve changes to organisational structure, processes, communication systems, leadership development, training programs, and team-building activities. Change Management: Managing the process of change within the organisation, including overcoming resistance, fostering buy-in from stakeholders, and ensuring successful implementation of new initiatives. Team Development: Enhancing the effectiveness of teams within the organisation through activities such as team building, conflict resolution, and improving communication and collaboration among team members. Leadership Development: Developing the skills, capabilities, and behaviors of leaders within the organisation to drive change, inspire employees, and create a positive work environment. Culture Transformation: Shaping and aligning the organisation's culture with its strategic goals, fostering values such as collaboration, innovation, and adaptability. Continuous Learning: Encouraging a culture of learning and growth within the organisation, promoting ongoing development and improvement of individuals and teams. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations offer clarity and a well-defined pathway for you and your team to move forward confidently. Get Started

Four Day Work Week Trial Launched in Ireland Following the success of Iceland's four day work week trial, Ireland is trialing its own pilot programme to examine the benefits of a four day work week. Following the success of Iceland's four day work week trial, Ireland is trialing its own pilot programme to examine the benefits of a four day work week. The six month programme marks a huge step towards transforming working practices. It will aim to prove that a four day work week can deliver as much output as a five day work week, while also improving employee well-being. The programme organisers Four Day Work Week Ireland, will offer ongoing support and training to businesses and organisations involved in the six month experiment. Joe O'Connor , chairperson of the Four Day Work Week Ireland campaign said: "In the last year, we have seen radical shifts in our working practices... The launch of the four day week pilot program represents an exciting moment of change for employers and employees, and it's up to the business community now to show that they are willing to lead and support this change for the better." The Irish government is also funding research so they can assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of the programme. Leo Varadkar , the Deputy Leader and the Minister for Enterprise and Employment said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has caused us to rethink and re-evaluate how we work. It's been shown that huge numbers of people can be just as productive while working at home rather than having to come into the office every day and it has accelerated the shift towards more flexible and family-friendly working hours." This campaign is part of a much larger campaign petitioning to make four day work weeks a reality for all businesses and employees globally. An online petition launches on June 23 to attempt to aid this cause. Iceland's own trial was so successful that more than 85% of Iceland's workforce now works shorter hours or works in a setting where the right to shorter hours is guaranteed. Similarly, in Japan, a country notorious for stressful working conditions, shortened weeks in Microsoft's Japanese operations lead to a 40% increase in business productivity due to improvements in employee well-being. Employers who would like to learn more or participate can contact Four Day Work Week Ireland . Previous Next Unlock Healthy Business Growth Discover strategies to enhance profitability, cultivate a greener and more sustainable business model, and elevate overall well-being. GET STARTED

What Is A Company Wellness Programme? If you want to achieve a higher level of productivity among your employees, creating a company wellness programme produces impressive results. Published on: 7 Jul 2022 This post covers: What is a company wellness programme? The productivity benefits of company wellness Creating a culture of productivity If you want to achieve a higher level of productivity among your employees, creating a company wellness programme produces impressive results. “Keep the crew happy, you can’t go wrong”, as fictional CEO Mr Tinsworthy says in the 1982 movie 9 to 5. In the film, the creation of a day-care centre, job sharing and an alcoholic rehabilitation programme improve staff happiness. As a result, there’s a 20% rise in productivity across six weeks. Can such an impressive leap in productivity be achieved through a company wellness programme in the real world? A study into a corporate wellness programme in the United States by the University of California Riverside proves that they work. Over three years, its results were dramatic – a 5 per cent increase in average worker productivity or one extra day of productive work each month. That figure doubled to an 11 per cent uptick for sick employees whose health improved and 10 per cent for healthy workers during the programme. What is a company wellness programme? A company wellness programme is sometimes called employee wellness, company wellness, corporate wellbeing, workplace wellbeing or health and wellbeing. A company wellness programme is a policy that companies introduce to keep employees safe, healthy and happy to help boost productivity. In larger firms, they include the following types of initiative: Yearly health assessments A health and wellness helpline Free flu jabs Free gym membership Healthy eating plans Fitness challenges Many more A company wellness programme doesn’t have to be expensive to make an impact. A simple programme for smaller companies or an imaginative one can also create meaningful productivity gains. Here are some easy wins: Discounted gym memberships Discounted monthly massages A healthy food box scheme What are the benefits of a company wellness programme? Most sensible employers want to look after the health and wellbeing of their employees and can see the link between improving wellness and reducing absenteeism. But what many small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) don’t realise is the productivity gains to be made from a company wellness programme. When staff are happy, their energy increases, employee engagement increases , they take fewer ‘sickies’ and productivity increases. And when the company is loyal to them, they’re faithful back, so they stay for longer. Some SMEs see providing employees with free access to the local gym as a cost. They don’t connect the wellbeing of staff with profitability, except in that they are delivering on their job description and other metrics that measure them. As long as employee appraisals are fair, they see everything else as OK. Forward-thinking business owners, managers and directors take a more detailed view of their business and how to run it effectively. They want their staff to be more involved with the company and its success while showing an interest in their team at the same time. How employee wellbeing drives productivity today People are starting to value their lifestyle as much as their salary. The younger generation, in particular, doesn’t want their life to be all about their job. That’s the inverse of where our grandparents were 50 to 100 years ago in the mechanistic era when command and control was the way to run a business. Back then, you could sell everything you made, there wasn’t a lot of competition, and everyone was glad to have a job. In today’s more enlightened and interconnected world, there’s much more competition for the products and services we produce and the talent that we employ. Employees’ opinions have become as valid, if not more so, as the customer’s. Not providing or being seen to offer a work-life experience for young people that’s balanced and helps them to get the most out of life and work, will bring you up short. You’ll find it challenging to recruit and retain staff. Creating a culture where productivity increases You have to do your bit to show employees that it’s worth working for you by creating a culture that cares. When they accept that a company is not just about what they produce, but is interested in their wellbeing as well, those people are going to be more loyal and motivated in return. In The Millennial Study by Qualtrics and Accel, 20% said finding a more fulfilling job would be the main reason for leaving their current one. In the Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2020, millennials and Gen Zs (ages 25-30) wanted businesses to put people before profits. “Job loyalty rises as businesses address employee needs, from diversity and inclusion to sustainability, reskilling, and more,” said Deloitte. At Awardaroo, one of the ways we drive productivity is by helping business owners to create belief and value in their company. We look at how people see their work and their employer and the value they are creating and delivering. We believe that creating value for employees is as vital as creating value for customers. We don’t hesitate to address customers’ problems by selling a service or product that helps them. So, it makes sense to try something similar with employees. Like your customers, they also have problems, whether it’s paying the bills or finding a work-life balance that has meaning. Employees need to see there’s something more to a job than our forefathers did, and a company wellness programme is just one of the ways you can achieve it. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

The Power of SOPs: Building Consistency and Scalability for Business Growth Unlock the Full Potential of Your Business with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) That Drive Efficiency, Ensure Compliance, and Enable Scalable Growth. In a business landscape driven by precision, consistency, and scalability, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are no longer a luxury—they’re a necessity. Whether you're managing a small team or scaling a multinational enterprise, SOPs form the backbone of operational excellence. They provide clarity, reduce ambiguity, and ensure that your processes are repeatable, efficient, and aligned with business goals. This article delves deep into how SOPs act as a catalyst for growth, ensuring that businesses remain adaptable, compliant, and ready for scale. What Are SOPs, and Why Do Businesses Need Them? SOPs are formalised, written instructions that detail how specific tasks should be completed within an organisation. At their core, they aim to standardise processes across teams, locations, and functions, ensuring that work is carried out in a consistent, repeatable, and measurable way. Let’s take a step into the world of large-scale logistics. Imagine a distribution centre without SOPs—each warehouse worker interprets tasks differently, resulting in inefficiencies, miscommunication, and delays. Now compare that to a warehouse where every worker follows an SOP for inventory management, packing, and shipping. The difference? Timeliness, efficiency, and error reduction. SOPs remove operational ambiguity and provide clear expectations, enabling even complex processes to run like clockwork. Key Benefits of SOPs: The Engine of Business Consistency and Growth Operational Efficiency : SOPs are the bedrock of smooth, efficient operations. By eliminating variation in how tasks are performed, businesses can significantly reduce errors, rework, and wasted resources. For example, in industries like manufacturing, adherence to SOPs ensures that production lines run smoothly, avoiding costly downtime and defective products. Scalability : As businesses grow, consistency across multiple locations or teams becomes crucial. SOPs allow companies to replicate their best practices across departments and locations without reinventing the wheel. For instance, McDonald’s SOPs enable each franchise to operate with the same efficiency, product quality, and customer experience, whether in London, New York, or Sydney. Compliance and Risk Mitigation : In highly regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and pharmaceuticals, SOPs ensure that businesses stay compliant with laws, regulations, and industry standards. Without SOPs, companies risk hefty fines, legal penalties, and reputational damage due to non-compliance. SOPs ensure that each action taken adheres to regulatory requirements, providing a safeguard against oversight. Training and Onboarding : SOPs significantly streamline the training and onboarding process. New employees can quickly learn the ropes by following structured, clear instructions, reducing the need for extensive one-on-one training. This not only reduces training costs but also ensures that employees are productive faster. Real-World Applications of SOPs Across Industries 1. Manufacturing: Ensuring Consistency and Reducing Waste In the automotive industry, SOPs are critical for ensuring consistency on production lines. Toyota’s famed production system, built around lean manufacturing principles, heavily relies on SOPs to standardise processes across global plants. From assembly to quality control, every step is meticulously documented and followed, reducing production time and minimising defects. The result? High-quality vehicles produced efficiently, with minimal waste. By adhering to these procedures, Toyota reduces variability, leading to a highly predictable and cost-effective production process—key drivers of its global success. 2. Healthcare: SOPs as the Backbone of Compliance In healthcare, the stakes for consistency and compliance are particularly high. Hospitals rely on detailed SOPs to standardise everything from patient intake processes to surgical procedures and medication administration. These protocols ensure that all healthcare professionals follow best practices, reducing the likelihood of errors, improving patient safety, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Consider a hospital's emergency department: a clear, well-defined SOP for triaging patients can mean the difference between life and death. Without such procedures, there would be inconsistencies in care, leading to inefficiencies and potentially dangerous outcomes. 3. Food Service: McDonald’s and the Power of Replication No discussion of SOPs is complete without mentioning McDonald’s. The fast-food giant is perhaps the most iconic example of how SOPs enable global scalability. Each restaurant operates using a set of highly detailed SOPs that dictate everything from burger assembly to customer service protocols. This allows McDonald’s to maintain consistency in taste, quality, and service across thousands of locations worldwide. The scalability achieved through SOPs has been a cornerstone of the company’s global success. Challenges and Pitfalls: Avoiding Over-Reliance on SOPs While SOPs are essential for standardisation, over-reliance can lead to rigidity and stifle innovation. Businesses must strike a balance between adhering to established procedures and allowing flexibility where needed, particularly in areas that require creativity or rapid adaptation, such as product development or marketing. A common pitfall occurs when businesses fail to update SOPs in response to new technology or changing market conditions. An outdated SOP can become a bottleneck, causing inefficiencies rather than solving them. For example, an SOP in a warehouse that doesn’t account for new automated inventory systems might slow down operations instead of streamlining them. Solution : Businesses must regularly review and refine their SOPs, involving employees at every level to ensure the procedures reflect the most current tools, techniques, and market demands. This approach, coupled with continuous feedback loops, ensures that SOPs remain relevant and effective. Building Effective SOPs: Best Practices for Long-Term Success Involve Subject Matter Experts : SOPs should be written by those who are most familiar with the tasks. Involving subject matter experts ensures that procedures are accurate and practical, rather than theoretical. Clarity and Detail : Effective SOPs are clear, concise, and detailed. They should leave no room for interpretation. Visual aids such as flowcharts, diagrams, and step-by-step instructions can enhance understanding and adherence. Version Control and Updates : Ensure that all SOPs are version-controlled and updated regularly. As technology evolves and business processes improve, SOPs must reflect these changes to remain useful and efficient. Training and Accessibility : SOPs are only as good as the people who use them. Regular training on updated SOPs ensures that employees understand and adhere to the correct procedures. Additionally, SOPs must be easily accessible—whether through a centralised digital repository or physical manuals. Conclusion: The Strategic Value of SOPs in Modern Business SOPs provide the structure that allows businesses to scale efficiently, maintain quality control, and ensure compliance across a range of industries. From the manufacturing floor to the boardroom, SOPs are a powerful tool for mitigating risk, reducing errors, and enhancing operational efficiency. However, their effectiveness depends on their relevance and adaptability. Businesses must remain vigilant in reviewing and updating their SOPs to ensure they support both operational consistency and innovation. By doing so, SOPs not only secure day-to-day efficiency but also lay the groundwork for long-term, scalable growth. For businesses looking to grow and remain competitive, SOPs are more than just documentation—they are the engine of operational excellence. Take the First Step Toward Improved Business Efficiency Start assessing your current SOPs: Are they up to date? Do they reflect your most current workflows? Engage your teams in reviewing these procedures to identify bottlenecks or areas that could be optimised. Ready to improve your operational efficiency? Implement a system for regular SOP reviews and updates. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations offer clarity and a well-defined pathway for you and your team to move forward confidently. Get Started

Gary Grant of The Green Infrastructure Consultancy on green roofs, living walls and rain gardens Gary Grant of The Green Infrastructure Consultancy Discusses Green Roofs, Living Walls and Rain Gardens. Green roofs, living walls, and rain gardens are innovative solutions that promote sustainability and enhance urban environments. Green roofs, covered in vegetation, provide numerous benefits. They improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and help insulate buildings, reducing energy consumption. Living walls, vertical gardens installed on building facades, add greenery to limited spaces, improving aesthetics and air quality. They also provide thermal insulation and reduce noise pollution. Rain gardens, designed to capture and filter rainwater, help mitigate flooding and recharge groundwater. They create habitats for wildlife and add natural beauty to urban areas. Together, these green infrastructure elements contribute to a healthier, greener, and more resilient urban landscape PAUL:Okay, Gary, thanks very much for joining me on this podcast, the Rethink What Matters podcast, where, you know, we’re really about trying to bring the economy, the ecology and everyone into alignment. As I say, once again, thanks very much Gary from Green Infrastructure Consultancy. GARY:Good to be here, Paul. PAUL:Yeah, and we’re going to be talking about green roofs, living walls, and rain gardens . And I’ve just seen some fantastic projects on your website, really great stuff, really big projects, really great things that you’re doing there at Meadow Bank Development there, and Team London Bridge, the Great London Authority, the David Attenborough Building, PwC More London. And I think as a subject, it’s absolutely spot on for what we’re all about, again, bringing the economy, the ecology and everyone into alignment. And so I did a quick little bit of research just to look at all the benefits of this . And there are vast, there are many, there’s storm water management, habitat creation, energy efficiency, air quality improvement, biodiversity enhancement, roof longevity, noise reduction, aesthetic appeal, mental health benefits, groundwater recharge and educational opportunities . So, this is just brilliant for us. So, yeah, perhaps Gary, you give us a little bit of an introduction to yourself and your journey that got you started on your interest in green roofs, living walls and rain gardens. GARY:Well, thanks for that, Paul. That’s a pretty good list, isn’t it, of benefits? You can’t really argue with that. So it’s an overwhelming argument in favour of urban greening . Plenty of evidence nowand lots of peer reviewed scientific papers to back it up. So it’s not just the opinion of a few people, it’s been shown to be real. So we’re in a very strong position now. I used to work for London Wildlife Trust back in the 1980s, and the idea of urban ecology and urban nature was a little bit fringe in those days. People all thought that towns and cities should be grey and all the nature should be out in the countryside. And there’s still some people who perhaps think that way. They’re a little surprised about urban biodiversity, urban greening. So around London there are a few little bits and pieces that were left behind. They weren’t all built on, and there were a few nature reserves and so on. So it was about hanging on to those places before they were built on, if you like. So it wasn’t like now where we’re saying we want to restore nature, it was more about hanging on to nature. But through that process, I started to think about, well, yes, we could restore nature here and there. And so I first got involved in green roofs back in the early 90s, 1990s. There’s an architecture firm called Archetype that would build schools and visitor centres and museums. And we put a green roof on the Horniman Museum Extension. So it’s a wooden building, a little green roof, Nordic style green roof on there, and I didn’t really know very much about it, but it just seemed the right thing to do. From my point of view, I didn’t know all about the benefits, I just wanted to put wildflowers on a roof. And so that was one of the first ones I got involved with. And over the years, there weren’t that many opportunities. However, in the 2000s, there was a renewed interest in green roofs, because people like Dusty Gedge have been to Switzerland and they’d seen that the Swiss and the Germans were already doing this kind of thing. And the idea at that point was when you lose a bit of waste ground, which is full of wildlife, maybe you put the habitat on the building that’s replacing the waste ground. So that was the thinking back then, and so there was a renewed interest. And then I wrote a report for Natural England in 2003. I think it was English Nature in those days, Natural England. A report on green roofs in 2003. So, I won the contract to write that, wrote that report which was a review. And then in 2008, the Mayor of London started, as a result of all the campaigning that had been going on in London , the Mayor of London thought, well yes, this is a good thing. So there was an expectation after 2009 that the centre of London should have green roofs, and the local authorities started to get involved. And I joined a firm called Green Roof Consultancy around about 2009 which was involved in all that. And of course, later on, we changed the name of the company to the Green Infrastructure Consultancy, because we got involved in green walls and rain gardens and planning and policy and all sorts of bits and pieces to do with urban greening. So it spread from the roofs and now, it’s all sorts of things. PAUL:What was driving it at the time? Was it the aesthetic of it that was driving it? Was it people wanting to have, obviously, more greener spaces because they’re nicer to live with? People that recognise that nature’s a good thing? Was it less about what we’re all looking at today, which is trying to address climate warming? GARY:Yeah well, of course climate change was known about then, but it wasn’t high on the agenda. I mean, from my point of view, I wanted more wildlife habitat, so that’s where I was coming from. I suppose people were… the way architects would describe it back then was this footprint replacement. So the idea is, you’ve got a bit of ground you build on, you lift that ground up and put it on the top of the roof. So it’s almost a way of minimising your overall impact, if you like. Yeah, but it wasn’t really about aesthetics. But of course, designers are about aesthetics, so yeah that’s very important, but it’s a very good question. The sustainable drainage agenda wasn’t really there back in those days, and yet, that is an important part of it, isn’t it? PAUL:It’s really coming to its own then. It’s really finding its place. I mean, it’s going to be something which everyone’s going to want to do. I was speaking with somebody today about permaculture. GARY:Oh, yeah. PAUL:And that seems quite related to this as well. Maybe less on roofs and walls and things, but you can see how everybody’s trying to get nature back into society, back into our living spaces. GARY:Yeah, well, of course permaculture involves people growing food. And you can have a roof garden, of course, so green roofs are not just the lightweight ones, they’re also gardens which you can access. And growing food on roofs is a big thing across the world. There are people in some parts of the States, this is a big deal on the continent, growing food on buildings. In China, you have this as well. It is a thing… PAUL:…that has taken off as well. Living walls and rain gardens, predominantly, is a business oriented thing. That’s really what we’re talking about here, isn’t it? How businesses can use it and then whether that’s in public spaces or in private spaces, I guess. So most of the projects, I think, if I understand this correctly, they’re public They’re public projects. PwC, we saw there. GARY:Well, no, we’ve worked with policy with public bodies like the Mayor of London and so on, but most projects are private projects. So for instance, the David Attenborough building, which is a refurbished 1970s building owned by the University of Cambridge. PAUl: Right. GARY:And that project, that building is reinforced concrete so re-retrofitting is easier than it is on some buildings because it’s a very strong building. And the brief there was, let’s get biodiversity on the building. PAUL:Okay. GARY:So that was for the University of Cambridge. So it’s quite a sophisticated client. But actually, to begin with, there were plans to perhaps have green roofs which weren’t as biodiverse as they could be. So our role was to really push that and have a high diversity of planting. So that’s a private project. A lot of the developments in Central London, like the Elephant Park, which is in South London, their Elephant Castle, that’s all new housing, that all has green roofs, because the Planning Body, which is Borough of South, well, they do require green roofs. PAUL:Right. GARY:So that’s private. Sometime, people in the client group aren’t perhaps, aren’t aware of this, but they have to do it anyway now in London. PAUL:I think there are some mandatory reporting requirements coming in now, I think, aren’t there? GARY:Planning requirements as well to get planning permission in Central London for a new building, you need to put a green roof on it. PAUL:Right. GARY:Unless there’s a good reason why you can’t. There’s an expectation, that’s the default position now. So in Central London, there are billions of square meters of green roofs now. PAUL:Okay, that’s great. So, obviously, they need to be maintained, don’t they? So it’s all right building it, but then, what are the issues in maintaining it because I can’t manage a pot plant, much less a green roof. GARY:(Laughs) So, well, it depends on what it is, really. So if it’s what we call extensive, that is relatively lightweight, relatively self-sustaining. And so the idea is, you just go up there now and then just to make sure everything’s okay. Pull up a few unwanted plants. There are plants that tend to spread like buddleja and they can cause problems, wind-borne weeds and so pull those up, unblock the drains and so on. So very minimal, no maintenance, that has minimal maintenance. But any roof should be looked at, anyway. PAUL:And that stays with specific plants. GARY:Very low growing, drought tolerant, you don’t irrigate, it just looks after itself. And that’s the key to it, having the right drought tolerant plants, sedums or other wildflowers that don’t need much looking after. But of course, if it’s a garden, that’s a bit different. You need people, potentially, going there frequently or regularly to just keep an eye on it because we know gardens do fall apart. But a garden is also used quite a bit, isn’t it? It’s not really a burden, it’s just an amenity that needs looking after. PAUL:I was going to ask, actually, to what extent are these gardens actually used? Rather than just being alone at the top of a building. GARY:Well, you could have lawns, although they’re not that common because, of course, they need to be mowed. But most roof gardens are paved areas mixed with seating and planting. You know, they are very popular. I mean, they’re a great place obviously to have a party, an event. But you’ll find that roof gardens in London are… I mean, there are one or two open to the public as well. In Venture Street, we’ve got a roof garden there which is open to the public. But most of there are very well used because that’s a great spot to have your lunch, a great place to have your meetings during the day, special events. So, it really adds a lot to a building. PAUL:Right. Okay. So what are the challenges then? Or what are the prerequisites for having a roof garden? Maybe you’re in an older building, a company market in an older building, do you think we’d want to do this? Are there some obvious things I can look for to see if, you know, one might think before I get consultants in? GARY:Well, yeah, the first thing you need to know is whether or not you’ve got the strength in the building to take the weight. So before you do anything else, you need a structural engineer to let you know how much loading there is that’s available. Quite a lot of older buildings are surprisingly strong. So, I used to work on a building that used to be a printing works from the 50s. Plenty of strength in there, no problem putting a roof garden on. But of course, other buildings may not have the strength in the structure to take that. Absolutely, for retrofitting older buildings, that can be a challenge to be able to take all that weight. But it can often be done. I mean, we estimate that a third of the commercial buildings in London could be retrofitted with extensive green roofs. And there are a few clues as well. So, for instance, if you see a building with paving slabs on it which are holding down the insulation, that’s a common start on a flat roof. Those paving slabs weighs more or less the same as an extensive green roof. So you’d know already if you were to swap over the paving slabs with the green roof, you would know. Obviously, it needs to be confirmed by an engineer but chances are, you can do that. So there’s quite a lot of potential for retrofit. And of course, with new buildings, though there’s an extra cost, it shouldn’t really be a problem for the architect and structural engineers to design these things into the building. That shouldn’t be a problem at all. PAUL:Yeah, brilliant. And so we’ve got the benefit there then of habitat creation? GARY:Yep. PAUL:Energy efficiency as well, as it’s a natural insulator up there. GARY:Yes, but it’s better to think of it this way. When you have soil and vegetation, in summer, you get evaporative cooling. There’s a shade effect, you’ve got evaporative cooling. That actively cools a building in summer, having soil, vegetation on it. PAUL:That’s a good point. GARY:So that really is a significant thing. And there’s an interesting variation on extensive rain roofs called solar green roofs or bio-solar roofs where you combine PVs with the extensive green roof and that means you get your cooling from the green roof which increases the efficiency of the PV. So that’s a really interesting story and worth having a look at. PAUL:Solar panels. Is this solar panel with the green roofs? GARY:Solar panels combined with the green roof and it’s the cooling which is the thing. Of course, the rain that lands on that roof is partially absorbed in that soil and it’s that which evaporates later on, giving you the cooling. PAUL:Right. Okay. GARY:So that’s the energy side, it’s mainly about shade and cooling. PAUL:Right, so sort of the infrastructure of the buildings and nature have started to work together. GARY:Exactly. PAUL: It’s really cool. I love that. GARY:Literally cool, yeah. PAUL:(Laughs) Literally cooling. So you know, obviously nice places, great for productivity, right? I mean we all like a nice space to work in. Living walls. We’re talking about green roofs, living walls, vertical gardens. I guess there must be some limitations to a way you can put a living wall, I mean, you just can’t put one up anyway. GARY:True. But in some ways, there are more possibilities because you can usually find a way to take the weight with the roof, there may be situations where you can’t have a green roof. But most walls can be modified to transfer the weight. You can use steel subframes or so on to spread to low bearing parts of the wall. Or you can transfer the weight down the wall. Or you can grow lightweight climbing plants on trellises. So there’s usually a way of vegetating a wall. Obviously you don’t want to cover windows. But it doesn’t really matter what direction the wall is facing in because you can choose plants that are, say, shade tolerant for north facing, or don’t mind the extra sun for south-facing, or in between for east and west. So there’s a lot of possibilities for vegetating vertically. And of course, the great thing about that is you get the cooling, which we already talked about. But people can see it. PAUL:Yeah. GARY:And it’s relatively inexpensive compared to… well, it depends what it is. If it’s just climbing plants, that’s very, very inexpensive and easy to look after. If it’s what we call modular green walls, intensive green walls, that’s a different story. You know, where you’re irrigating, you’ve got thousands of plants in modules, that’s a lot more evolved. But you know, it still can be good value for money as long as you can afford the maintenance. PAUL:And it’s really about the aesthetic appeal of it. It’s about the working space. It’s about creating a nice environment. Mostly there’s the benefits to the environment and cleaning the air as well. Are they growing in popularity? Are more companies doing vertical walls? GARY:The first green wall I worked on was at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherds Bush. So that’s 2006 or 2007. And at the time, the industry for what we call modular green walls didn’t exist in the UK. But since then, and we brought products in from Canada, I think it was. But since then, several companies have established themselves to provide green walls. There are 3 or 4 quite large companies there doing this and a few other smaller ones. And I’m seeing green walls pop up all over the place. Shopping centres now you’ll see green walls. Hotels, and then of course, the climbing plants on schools are very popular because it’s a way of of, as you say, intercepting air pollution as well. Private dwellings, and also interior planting with green walls as well is very popular, you know, just using house plants but really getting a spectacular effect. I think the agenda there is about health and wellbeing, lowering blood pressure, that kind of thing. PAUL:It’s nice to be around living things. GARY:Exactly. PAUL:Nature. We probably just absorb that without realising it. You know. Noise reduction as well, I guess. GARY:Yeah, that’s right. The green wall in Shepherd’s Bush was really a barrier between the residential area, Terrace Housing, and the shopping centre. So that was the purpose of that green wall, actually. One of the first ones in the UK that was a noise and visual barrier. PAUL:So many benefits to this, really, isn’t there? And I think, well, it’s not really a domestic thing at the moment, is it? As opposed against things getting cheaper as more smaller businesses doing it and maybe… GARY:There are quite a lot of people who have this home now. So if you’ve got the money, you can go out to one of the firms and do it. But you can go out and buy green wall modules as a DIY exercise. So, you know, some of the bigger suppliers actually sell, you know, you can go on their website and buy panels, fix your own garage or your own back wall and plant them yourself. It is something that can be literally be the size of a table or cover a whole building. You know, scale. PAUL:Yeah, I guess. I suppose there are climbers on, put climbers on both sides of the walls. We see that on lots of houses. I guess it’s about definition, really. What defines a living wall versus having some climbers on a trellis. GARY: Yeah, they’re both living walls but their definitions are a little bit difficult to pin down because different experts talk about different things. But in general, they’re all living, they’re all on walls but you’ve got the climbers which could be in the ground growing up or in plant boxes growing up and those grasses higher up. Or we got what we would call modular panels, or modules which are stackable, if you like. Some of those have got soil in, most are pre-planted, they all irrigated those. Some of them don’t have soil, some of them are hydroponic. They are pre-grown in the nursery and you just pop them in place. And there’s a lot of different products and different ways of doing this. So there’s a lot. PAUL:There are a lot of opportunities and if somebody wants to explore this for themselves or for their business then there’s a number of ways of going about it. GARY:Yeah. And a green wall is more likely to be a special feature in or near a reception, a gateway feature. Maybe, to advertise a business, restaurants, hotels, to give you something special to see. Whereas having climbing plants all the way around the outside of a school might be a way of screening it from air pollution. I think there’s a whole range of different techniques, if you like, according to the need and the budget. Plenty of good ideas there. And of course it means that you’ve got greening in a place where you wouldn’t normally have space. When you have a bird’s eye view of a green wall, it doesn’t exist, does it? It’s just a line. But actually, could be a huge feature. So that could be important, for instance in London, you have the urban greening factor and your walls count in that. So if you haven’t got space on the ground and you’ve got limited space on the roof, the way of meeting your greening targets would be vertical greening. PAUL:Okay, so there are greening targets then, it’s called green targets that companies have to aim for? GARY:Yes. In London, you have something called the Urban Greening Factor which means you need to get a minimum amount of vegetation on your development. You can look that up, the Urban Greening Factor. It supports the Urban Greening Policy in the London Plan. It’s there in the plan. And the government thinking of rolling this out across the whole country. The same targets have been copied in Wales, for instance in Swansea, so I think it’s going to catch on. And first, called greening, well, green roofs but also green walls will be the way of meeting these target on difficult sites. PAUL:Well, are there any other targets that companies will need to meet in the future or now? GARY:Yes. So, the other big deal now is biodiversity net gain. PAUL:Okay. GARY:So there’s a mandatory 10% biodiversity net gain coming in this year, 2023. So it’s part of the Environment Act of 2021. Biodiversity net gain 10%. Well, if you’re starting from a low baseline, 10% may not be that difficult, actually. But in urban situations, green roofs and green walls will provide habitat which will contribute to that 10% target. PAUL:So 10% net gain biodiversity target. Where’s the gain there? Is it about how much biodiversity you’ve removed versus… you removed so much biodiversity by the footprint of your business and you’ve got to go do that plus 10%? GARY:Yes, you’ve got to replace what you’ve lost plus add 10%. Now if you start with nothing, it’s easy. So if it’s just a previously developed site with no vegetation, then a green roof… job done. If however, the baseline is of a site that’s thriving with plenty of wildlife, then you have got a bit of a challenge there. PAUL:So then you’d have to remove that and put the building back. GARY:So then eventually, the building… you might even have to do more than that if it’s a valuable site. PAUL:For net 10 gains… GARY:You get 10% gain. PAUL:I’m sorry, you get 10% gain. So 10% more than what was there originally. Which is very much what Awardaroo is all about – regeneration. So that’s doing more good than harm. You know, sustainable. GARY:Because it’s a statutory requirement, everyone’s interested. People have been campaigning about biodiversity net for a long time. But people have just thought, whatever, you know. Nice to have, yes, but business as usual. But now, developers, architects, they’re all asking what does this mean for us? What do we have to do? So, although there are problems with the interpretation of it, the measurement of it, the long term stewardship of it, and so on. And it’s all new and lots of debate about how you measure, the techniques, the metrics, it’s a good thing in the sense that it’s now being taken seriously. Today I was talking to an architecture practice and I can tell this is relatively new to them. They’d heard of moving newts around or protecting bats before but that wasn’t a positive process. It was more, “Oh we’ve got to protects this species, let’s move it out of the way.” Now, with this net gain, it’s about regeneration, restoration… PAUL:It’s a positive thing. It’s actually saying this business exists. This business is actually doing more good for the environment than harm, not just creating a profit. GARY:Absolutely. So one of the things that we haven’t looked at much is the sustainable drainage as it’s called. And green roofs are a source control method in a sustainable drainage plan/scheme. So the idea is a sustainable drainage that you mimic nature by holding water in the landscape, cleaning it, providing habitat before it flows into rivers. Whereas, of course, the conventional way is that you have a grey roof and it comes into a dam pipe and the dam pipe goes into a sewer, it overloads the sewer. You get sewage spills with combined sewers, or you get flooding in the streets. So, sustainable drainage should involve green roofs and these green roofs will tend to have deeper soils because the deeper the soil, the more rain you can hold on the roof. PAUL:Right. GARY:So there’s a whole opportunity there to start dealing with flood management or for reducing the risk of flood using green roofs. But then, of course, when it comes off the roof then you might have ground level features – swales and rain gardens, water flowing infiltrating into the ground if the soil and the geology is suitable and then into other features before it overflows either into the sewer or into the rivers. This is something that has been talked about for years and it’s been very slow to be taken up. The government’s shown some interest and it’s dragging its feet. But now, with the Environment Act, there’s a new importance to start using sustainable drainage to deal with the risk of surface water flooding. So that fits in nicely with the biodiversity agenda, climate change adaptation, biodiversity. It should all be part of a joined up approach. PAUL:Isn’t that great to hear how all this urban greening is bringing nature back into the cities and becoming a part of everyday life, you know. Heading in the right direction and all that. And just one other area that we’re gonna talk about is which is rain gardens. Can you talk a little bit about that, introduce everybody to what it is? GARY:A rain garden is one of the features you can have in your sustainable drainage system. So rain garden just sounds like a positive thing, doesn’t it? The experts would all argue about exactly what it is, but, if you’re talking with the public, if you say you would need sustainable drainage systems then then the average person says, “What’s that? It doesn’t sound very nice and very interesting.” Whereas a rain garden sounds like something you would want to have. PAUL: This is on the ground? This is on a roof? GARY:No, no, no. So a rain garden is a planted bed that’s modified so that water can flow into it deliberately. And then, when it overflows, it flows over into another rain garden or into the drain or whatever it is. So what it’s doing is slowing the flow down. It’s temporarily storing water and then it drains away slowly. And it’s made out, I mean they can be quite simple in some ways, just a shallow basin with sandy soil which also absorbs rain. Or it can be more complicated than that. But, it’s potentially just an ornamental bed which functions as part of your drainage system. PAUL:Okay. So green roofs are a thing, living walls are a thing. Rain gardens then, they’re specifically there to just hold onto the water for longer, stopping rain from offing into the drainage and to be used locally for longer or something, is that it? GARY:Yeah. So we can potentially put rain gardens where there’s paving or we can modify what would otherwise just be ornamental planting. We could still be ornamental, but you know, a planted bed is a planted bed which is just for show. But a rain garden could be a planted bed which is for show, which is also for nature, but also part of the drainage. So this is about a multi-functional approach. And that is a challenge because you know what it’s like. Life is divided up into different specialisms, different departments, you know the drainage department is different from the parks department. But actually, the drainage and the parks should all be part of the same thing. And that is a challenge but that’s the way we are moving now – multifunctionality. PAUL:Brilliant. Sound excellent. Well, thank you again. Thanks so much, Gary, for sharing your insights and your knowledge and your wisdom. And having you made us better understand these three areas of green roofs, living walls and rain gardens. If we want to leave people with something to takeaway, you know, if you’re running a business and you like the idea of having a green roof or a living wall, rain garden. Are there 2, 3, 4, 5 things that they can just look at their businesses and see if this would be right for them? GARY:As you were saying earlier, if you’ve got a large building, you might be able to retrofit that building. If you can’t have a green roof, you can probably have a green wall. If you’ve got ground, so for instance, some industrial sites are now getting interested in this sort of thing because although there may be limitations, often there’s a green desert, if you like, with a bit of mown grass that is not really doing anything. And it might be that you could put sustainable drainage in there, rain gardens. You can perhaps create habitat for wildlife, you can create space for people to have their lunch and so on. That can actually transform a business if you’ve got a nice spot to have your lunch then your staff turnover will fall and then you’ll save a lot more money than it cost you to make the feature. So I think nearly everyone could get involved in this. If you can’t do it with your premises, you could get involved with it in the voluntary sector, support them with work days and so on, communities and schools. I think everyone can get involved in urban greening in one way or another. The more you look at it, the more opportunities there are. So there’s a process we call green infrastructure auditing which is about mapping what you already have and then looking for more opportunities to intervene and bring more into neighbourhood. We do a lot of that with business improvement districts, green infrastructure audits. And I think everyone, to do that, there are ways. I mean, you don’t have to be an expert. You can see what you have and then think about what you could have. And if you want to use experts, that’s fine. But you can get involved with this in a grand way or in a modest way. There’s plenty that can be done. PAUL:I like the idea of habitat creation. Also I think it would be nice if we can introduce more butterflies, get bees back and all the insects and all those sorts of things. Is there opportunities ahead for these to be wild roofs and maybe some flower gardens? GARY:Yeah, absolutely. You’ve got a campaign to attract pollinators so that’s insects that visit flowers so you have more flowers. That’s all good. That helps your bees and your butterflies but it’s also important to remember that for instance, butterflies need to lay their eggs on particular plants. So the larvae, the caterpillars need their food plant. So increasing the number of pollinator insects by having more flowers is good but it’s only part of the story. We need larvae food plants for butterflies and we need habitat for all the other species out there as well. We need to do a little bit more than just having a few flowers around. And also we need place for creatures to rest and breathe and so on. We need bird boxes, bat boxes, insect hotels, but importantly, the right thing in the right place. PAUL:Insect hotels. I need to look up insect hotels. GARY: Insect hotels need to be in a sunny spot ideally. And they need to have the right size holes in there. You can buy these now. And there’s more than honeybees. You know, the insect worls, there are 250 species of wild bee. They’re all important, they all play their part. Honeybees, they provide honey. That’s a farm animal but there are wild bees as well. There are butterflies, as you say, beetles. There are all sorts of invertebrates out there and there is a guide on how to garden for wildlife. PAUL:I think that would be something that perhaps might be easier for people to connect with if they’re not actual gardeners because I think that everybody gets the idea of creating habitats and looking after all these species. GARY: Yeah. The Chelsea Flower Show has just finished, hasn’t it? And all of the gardens there are all about wildlife now. So it’s now officially allowed to have wildlife gardening. So the RHS promotes this, it provides a lot of advice on how to do this. You can go to the RHS website. They can tell you which plants attract pollinators and so on. So we can all get involved with this. PAUL: It can still belong to green roofs, living walls and rain gardens. It’s not to be separated. GARY:It’s only part of it. There’s a lot out there. Every opportunity we have for bringing more soil, water, vegetation into the city benefits and then also… PAUL:Yeah. Got you. The bigger picture of urban greening as specifics of green roofs, living walls and rain gardens. The whole idea of urban greening, getting nature into the cities. GARY:Yeah, but if you like green roofs, green walls and rain gardens are ways of shoehorning, a lot of benefits into what otherwise would have been an area that people might think, “Well there’s nothing really we could do here.” We could do a lot. The parks need to be improved and the verges and all that stuff, it’s all a part of it. PAUL:Yeah. GARY:Parks, people get that. They understand what they are. They know they can be improved and people are looking at that as well. But it’s the whole package together isn’t it? PAUL:Yeah, fantastic. It’s been really great speaking with you. Learnt so much there and I just think I’ve a much better understanding of what urban greening is now. Or what’s involved or what the opportunities are. So everybody listening to this will be able to take some steps in actually implementing green roofs, living walls and rain gardens or just urban greening in general, getting nature back into the cities. So thank you again, Gary Grant of The Green Infrastructure Consultancy. Really appreciate it. GARY:You’re welcome and speak to you again soon. Bye! PAUL:Bye. Previous Next

Dominic Parker KAGE Advisory Discusses Sustainable Economies Sustainable economies prioritise responsible resource management, renewable energy, ethical business practices, and social equity, ensuring a harmonious future for all. Sustainable economies are the cornerstone of a prosperous and responsible future. They prioritise the careful management of natural resources, fostering environmental stewardship and social equity. Such economies seek to balance economic growth with environmental preservation, promoting renewable energy, circular production, and reduced waste. In sustainable economies, businesses adopt ethical practices, embracing fair wages and responsible supply chains. Communities benefit from improved public transportation and green infrastructure, enhancing quality of life. Moreover, sustainable economies prioritise education and innovation, nurturing a skilled workforce to drive forward eco-friendly industries. By promoting long-term well-being over short-term gains, sustainable economies pave the way for a more equitable and resilient world. https://kageadvisory.com/ Previous Next

Nigel Eastham and Sustainability Yard Nigel Eastham of Sustainability Yard Discusses How to Manage Excess Building Materials Embracing the value of excess building materials fosters economic, ecological, and social benefits. There are cost-saving opportunities for individuals and businesses engaged in construction projects. Moreover, these materials contribute to sustainable practices by minimising waste and reducing environmental impact. Reusing surplus materials promotes resource conservation and decreases the demand for new production, thereby conserving energy and lowering carbon emissions. NIGEL Very recently, we've built in a calculated feature to the platform that allows the users to track the weight of materials that they've sent on to a user and also track the embodied carbon value of those materials. So people are able to demonstrate very specifically and very sort of openly what they are doing with those materials. And it's actually helping them win tenders for more work because they can they can say, look, Mr. and Mrs. Client, this is what we do with our reusable waste. We don't throw it in a skid. We don't bury it in the ground in the back garden of the new build, and it goes to a new home and it gets reused somewhere else. PAUL Hello, and welcome to Rethink What Matters. The podcast dedicated to aligning the economy with the ecology and everyone for improved business performance, stronger families, and a greener, cooler, planet. And today, I'm joined by Nigel Eastham of Sustainability Yard. And we're going to be discussing excess building materials. So Sustainability Yard wants to start a no waste revolution within the building and DIY industry. So every year, four hundred and twenty million tons of building materials are bought with a hundred and twenty one million tons, so, like, nearly twenty five percent of that going into landfill. So welcome, Nigel. Thanks very much for joining us on this podcast. NIGEL Thanks for having me. Nice to be here. PAUL Brilliant. Brilliant. So could you tell us a little bit about your journey then, Nigel, please, to creating what led you to create Sustainability Yard. And if you can tell us a bit more about Sustainability Yard too, you know, what you're doing there. NIGEL So I come from a property development background and sort of refurbs, starting off in refurbs, renovations, small flips and whatnot. And as the property development business has grown and developed and sort of evolved I realised that there was a real issue. Even at my level, a great sort of granular level of the property industry that there's buckets full and tons and tons of reusable materials that are finding their way to the wrong place , and that is the, you know, there'll be an odds and ends skip. So the theory was if I'm doing it at a very small level, what are the big boys doing and ultimately they're doing the same thing and that really comes down to an ease and convenience thing. And you've just said the figures that surround the industry of waste and reusable waste. Quite astonishing, you know, we're talking twenty five percent of what's used each year is reusable. And unfortunately, it isn't reused. PAUL Right. Okay. So tell us then a little bit about Sustainability Yard and how it functions, how it operates. NIGEL Yeah. So Sustainability Yard is a platform for anybody who has reasonable building materials, whether you're a DIY or a tradesman, right up into the National House Builders and main contractor world. Where they can buy sell or even give away these building materials. It is a double-edged sword. I suppose for the bigger guys using it, they're really only going to be using it to get rid of those materials because they generate such vast quantities of reusable waste. And on the flip side of that, you've got your DIYs and tradesmen who wanted to pick those materials up for a fraction of the price so they can get them in the builder's merchants or even for free because they're doing, wanting to do jobs around the house or doing local jobs in the local town. PAUL Okay. Brilliant. And how many-- can you tell us how many users you have? How long did you say it's been going? NIGEL So it's been going around a couple of years now. And in that time, we've had some really good traction. Like I said, we've picked up some really big names in the industry who wanted to use it and run with it. Because obviously, it helps them demonstrate their sustainability activity, helps them hit the local economy benefits and the social values targets. So on the flip side of that, in terms of people, DIYs and tradesmen, we're approaching twenty thousand users now across the UK. You know, that’s from Stornoway, the north of Scotland right down to Cornwall, and that number grows daily. PAUL Right. Brilliant. I read online clearly that there was a landlord who revamped his rental property without paying a penny for materials using Sustainability Yard. NIGEL That's right. Yeah. We were published in the Telegraph not so long ago. And really, it's a problem that is across the board. You know, people are wanting to refurb, renovate properties, whether you're a landlord or just, you know, doing your own home up. Yeah. It doesn't come cheap. So if we can facilitate people finding materials at a at a cheaper price, then that, you know, we're doing a good thing. PAUL Especially by the environment. You know? Something that gets reused then isn't getting dug out of the ground. That's brilliant. Nice. NIGEL And we're actually partnered with the big waste management firm, and they're called Reconomy. They're constantly asking their customer base to not put reusable materials in the skip. You know, they're constantly asking them to do something else with it and I think what we do in Sustainability Yard facilitates that. And so, you know, we're doing a good thing for every demographic of user. PAUL Yeah. Absolutely. And it can help landlords reach their EPC targets, their Energy Performance Certificate targets. NIGEL That's right. The materials that are being posted on there, so that they range from insulation, roofing tiles, structural timber, you know, sanitary ware, anything that you might find at the end of-- that's left over from the end of a job is being posted on there. So no matter what you're looking for, you’d probably be able to find it on that. PAUL Brilliant. So is it a bit like eBay? Is it an auction site? Or is it more of an auto trader. NIGEL You've hit the nail on the head. It's a classified ads platform. We've not reinvented the wheel. It's something that's been done before by the likes of eBay and Facebook marketplace. But what we are is a more (of a) repairs spill-over community. Everybody in there is looking to buy and sell building materials. Everybody there knows what they're getting, and they know what they're looking for. Generally speaking. PAUL It's been fantastic, and it's very circular economy, isn't it? NIGEL That's exactly what it is. It's remote in the circular economy of these building materials because otherwise, you know, they don't find a way to the right place. PAUL Have you seen any knock on effects of this where people are starting to reconsider the materials that they use or you know, because you're highlighting the amount of waste, have you seen--? It's probably too early for this, but have you seen maybe they're considering how they buy in the first place, how something gets designed, how perhaps how they could use it for longer, how maybe they could also repurpose themselves in some other way before throwing it away? NIGEL Yeah. It's a good question. Unfortunately, the nature of the construction industry means that there is always going to be an element of surplus whether it be a change of spec on site or even if you're a homeowner, you're putting a small extension on, specs change, materials come incorrectly. You might-- people may over order accidentally. People may under order, which will prompt you to need just a little bit of materials and you don't they want to go back to the builder's merchants for those. So there's all sorts of reasons why these materials would need to be put on there or would or people would have a need to look for them on there. PAUL Right. Okay. It is helping with your customers It is helping with your customer's footprint as well, isn't it? So it's helping to reduce their carbon emissions. We need to identify what's happening to them anyway. NIGEL Exactly. I mean, very recently, we've built in a calculating feature to the platform that allows the users to track the weight of materials that they've sent on to another a user and also track the embodied carbon value of those materials. So people are able to demonstrate very specifically and very so openly what they are doing with those materials. And it's actually helping them win tenders for more work because they can say, look, Mr. and Mrs. Client, this is what we do with our reusable waste. We don't throw it in a skip. We don't bury it in the ground in the back garden of the new build. We put it on Sustainability Yard platform, and it goes to a new home and it gets reused somewhere else. And that's something that people are very heavily targeted on, you know, the government are squeezing these big firms quite a lot on what's expected from them. And what they expect to be done with these materials. So we're a really good tool for people to use to get rid of those materials correctly. PAUL And, you know, transparency is the name of the game, isn't it? So the more transparent you can be, the better it is. And then you can also identify your carbon emissions. You can also put in place a reduction - carbon reduction plan. NIGEL That's right. And also, you know, companies can say, so we've used Sustainability Yard for twelve months, and this is what we've done, and this is the amount of materials, this is the weight of materials that we've stopped from going in the skip. So that's great. So next year, you have a conversation internally. You say, right. Well, just for argument's sake, it was a hundred tons. This year, we want to see it at fifty tons. So it's a tool actually to help them streamline their own businesses not just to get rid of these materials, but actually to help their business process. PAUL You're hoping your business sort of dwindles away and disappears, aren't you? NIGEL (Laughs) Exactly. I mean, ultimately. Cool. It's been a rock in a hard place, though. Yeah. It could be a short-lived thing. PAUL So I noticed you're invited to the House of Lords, and you met with Baroness Natalie Bennett, who was the former leader of the Green Party. NIGEL I did. Yeah. PAUL Maybe I need to ask you a little bit about that. NIGEL Yeah. Sure. So I suppose just through social media, through the activity that we're generating in the industry, we're making a few people sort of sit up and listen, and one of those people was Natalie Bennett, and she very kindly invited us down to the House of Lords for us to have a chat about our initiative what we're doing and how we can sort of scale it and the speed at which we can scale it because she was there previously, like you said, the leader of the Green Party. And she really likes what we're doing. And so as put something in place to-- she's actually gone to government and gone to parliament and ask what measures are in place to deal with these surplus waste on building sites across the UK. So hopefully, we might be able to be roll you know, we might be rolled out across government as well, which we found seemly. PAUL Brilliant. What a you know, you've got a business with a real purpose there, haven't you? NIGEL Yeah. I think it sort of confirms that what we're doing has real value and, you know, there's a real need for it. PAUL Brilliant. Absolutely. It's such a fantastic business. It really is. So what other use cases are there? Can you give us any stories and examples, perhaps of any particular odd things that have been thrown away or you know, as a consequence of your service, people are now not throwing away something or they're throwing away more of something else? NIGEL I mean, you've already mentioned the Telegraph where the chap was, you know, using Sustainability Yard for all of the materials for his refurb on his rental. I think that's a really, really good example of what people are doing with the platform and how they're utilising it. To give you sort of an idea of scale - some of the materials we're seeing put on there. I mean, we had two thousand internal doors put on there at one point. PAUL Two thousand what? Sorry. NIGEL Two thousand doors. Two thousand internal doors that would be used on a new build site. Just because they weren’t in the right size for the houses, for the door openings that have been made. So, you know, rather than send them back, they were put on the Sustainability Yard platform. We've had seventy-five rolls of rock wool insulation put on there in the past. We've had three thousand metres of rigid insulation put on there that would normally be used underground under your concrete slab. Structural timber. We've had over five hundred metres of skirting board put on there at one point or another. So the quantity of materials is great. And also the quality because you got to remember a lot of this stuff is coming from (a) new build site. It's coming from main contractors. So there is a certain spec that's required and a certain one standard quality that's required by those guys using the platform, it means the quality of materials that people are able to pick up is really, really high. PAUL Really. That's so great. NIGEL Yeah. Couldn't be happier with that. The traction that we've seen at the highest level is superb. PAUL So can you just explain a little bit more for me if you don't mind, Nigel, the business model? NIGEL It's a good question. I mean, it's not been cheap to get to this point, to be honest with you. Obviously, I don't come from a technology background. So building a platform and growing it with all the marketing that comes with it and everything. I've been surprised at the cost. That's the truth of it. It is an expensive business to set up and run. So we've introduced a payment for the bigger users, if you will. So Tier One, Tier Two contactors, your house builders, and they will pay for the privilege to use the platform. Now they're not going to buy, so they're just going to give it away. So we'll charge those users to be on the platform to have the facility to use the platform. And, obviously, they get a report that comes with that as well. They get the calculation system, and that's ultimately what they're going to pay for is the is the ability to say, look, this is what this is the amount of waste that we have that we've sent and repurposed. On the flip side of that, and the majority of our users, probably ninety five, ninety six percent of our users will fall into the tradesman and DIY as landlords category. Now they will buy and sell because they're using on a much more micro level. Now there's no charge for those guys to use the platform. Because really what we want to do is generate as much activity possible. We want as many of those people on there to buy the materials from the bigger guys using it. So in short, the bigger companies will pay for using the platform and the DIYs and tradesmen and landlords will use it for free. PAUL Great. Well, it's a great business model, it really is. So, yeah, that's fantastic. And I know you've got such a variety of materials on there as you explained a little bit earlier. Is there much legislation or policy or regulation around what you have to do here? NIGEL No. The buying and selling of the materials is completely at the discretion of the user. And all we are is, if you like, a go-between the two or conjugate between the two. There aren't many electrical items being listed on there, not many white goods or anything like that. What we're tending to see is what I would call more first fix materials. So bricks, blocks, timber, plasterboard insulation, roofing materials, that sort of thing, which doesn't necessarily need a warranty or anything with it. Now as we grow, and perhaps we might navigate our way into more of the electrical items, and that's fine. And we'll just have to introduce more sort of red tape and sort of more stringent checks as we go, as more of those things are introduced. PAUL Yeah. It's good to be focused, isn't it? To be known for one thing and do that really well. NIGEL Yeah. What I found is the deeper we go into this and the busier we get, you find yourself being pulled in all sorts of different directions. And more and more people come to me and say, “Have you thought about this? Why, you know, can you do this for us? Will you take these sorts of materials?” You've got to be quite strict because otherwise, you spread yourself too thinly. And ultimately, your product becomes diluted. And I really don't want that to happen. I want it to be a quality product, a quality platform with quality materials on there. And if that means we have to offer a few materials less in order to offer that quality product, then that's fine for the time being. PAUL Yeah. I think you know, in business, it's not so much about finding ideas and saying yes to things, it's saying no to things. NIGEL I think that's really important. I've got a really good team of people behind me. I've got three shareholders that are part of the business with me who have many more years (of) experience in business and in property than I do, actually. And so they sort of hold my hand through a few bits of this. But it's really useful to have those guys helping me out in the background. PAUL Yeah. Absolutely. Definitely. It's cool about, you know, just about creating a team, isn't it? NIGEL Hundred percent. Hundred percent couldn't do it without them. PAUL Yeah. So for the big guys on those developers, they throw everything into the skips. So they're still throwing them into the same skips, but you take-- so did they have to change slightly what they do in order for you to be able to access it, or do you go to their skips and take it and add it up? NIGEL It's a cool question. Basically, what we're doing on any site there will be a materials compound, and that will traditionally be found near the near the entrance or exit. What we're asking people to do is to split those materials up into what's surplus and what's still needed. Because if you can take a picture of those materials, upload it onto the Sustainability Yard app and get rid of it before it goes in a skip, then that's what we're trying to do. Trying to stop these materials going into a skip being taken out to the waste management firms and ultimately, you know, they do their thing with it, but we want to catch it before it reaches that stage. They'll take a picture of the materials that they have, item, you know, break them up into bricks, timber, roofing materials, whatever it might be. And then they can upload that picture onto the platform. Now we've made it as simple as possible. They can do that in less than sixty seconds. They can upload an advert in less than sixty seconds. So there's not a long sort of chain of paperwork or admin to do. It's really easy. And once that post has been uploaded onto the app, somebody in your local area will contact you. We'll open up a live chat with that person. And then they can arrange a time to come and collect it and maybe arrange a, you know, agree (on) a price. PAUL Okay. Brilliant. NIGEL I think the beauty of what we've got is it's really quite simple. And, you know, as long as that message is conveyed to the to the listener that look, you know, it's great. So even like my dad, for example, he wants to build a small brick barbecue in the garden. Right? There’s this old platform that he could go and find those bricks without having to go to the builders merchants and buy brand new bricks. So I suppose the message is really simple. Whether you're a DIY and you've done some jobs around the house and you've got some bits left over, put the word on Sustainability Yard platform. If you're looking to start a DIY job around the house, check out the Sustainability Yard platform to try and pick all these materials for a fraction of the price. If you're a tradesman and you're doing jobs for local people and you need bits to finish off a job, check it out. I mean, you know, we've got Catnics and lintels on there, which are ideal for extensions and stuff like that, you know, bits that you will always need on an extension are always going on there. So it's a really useful tool for anybody looking to buy or sell building materials, whether you're a DIY or a right up to a national house builder. PAUL That's brilliant. And I can see how a lot of people will get a lot of value out of using Sustainability Yard. NIGEL Yeah. We've kept it really simple. You can find us on the App Store by searching for Sustainability Yard really simply. And similarly, for Google Play. You search for Sustainability Yard, and you can find us on our website at www.sustainabilityyard.com . Do you know, one final thing I will say is, I was also astonished at the uptake and the traction we had from the DIY world. It was originally set up to take a pain away from the sort of the bigger companies. But to see the traction it's had at the at the DIY level, has really astonished me because we were featured in a local newspaper, you know, a regional newspaper. And within four days, we had over three thousand downloads of the platform. PAUL Wow. Isn't that brilliant? Yeah. NIGEL I couldn't believe it. I was really, really shocked that-- but, obviously, you know, the appetite. The appetite is there because the DIY market is a big, big market. It's people are always doing stuff around the house. And people have always got those materials sat at the back of the garage, sat down inside the house, at the end of the garden. So this is a perfect platform for them to get rid of those materials. PAUL Nice. Thanks very much for your time on this podcast. NIGEL No worries. Thanks for having me. Thanks very much, Paul. Previous Next

Business Coaching for Kitchen and Bathroom Showrooms and Installers Grow your market share and business with expert business coaching, tailored to the kitchen and bathroom showroom and installers industry. Our Kitchen and Bathroom Showroom and Installers business improvement programme can help your company grow your market share and increase your revenue through driving business productivity. Whatever the size of your business, we can help. Kitchen and Bathroom Showrooms Business Improvement Programme Our business improvement programme coaches help your business figure out how to do what you do already better. They’ll assess where you’re already succeeding and look at where you can improve using our unique business productivity solutions and tools. Overall, they’ll help you resolve any roadblocks to success, permanently. We know that what sets your business apart from the next competitor is outstanding customer service alongside operational excellence. That’s why one of our main focuses is helping you perfect your customer service interactions so every single one of your clients has a great experience. Sales and Service Training for Kitchen and Bathroom Businesses Sales and service training for Kitchen and Bathroom Businesses enhances phone etiquette , ensuring professional and informative customer interactions. This boosts client satisfaction and trust, leading to increased appointments and sales. Clear communication about design options, pricing, and services offered creates customer loyalty and referrals, driving business growth and success. Operational Excellence for Kitchen and Bathroom Showrooms Long-term business success in your industry is dependent on your operational excellence, great products and customer service. If you’re lacking any, your business will face challenges ahead. Your employees are integral to the success of your business. They turn shoppers and queries into sales, as well as ensuring all potential clients have a memorable and positive experience with your business. This is why we believe in reversing the traditional organisational pyramid of command and control to empower your employees. This empowerment allows your employees’ ideas and innovations to power your business, allowing it to thrive. As part of your business productivity plan, we’ll set your business clear, tangible goals and deliverables. We’ll bring consistency to your service and brand to ensure you maximise every interaction you have with customers. What Our Kitchen and Bathroom Business Coaching Delivers: Improved business efficiency Increased profitability Better competitive advantage More motivated, engaged employees A positive work culture Consistently exceptional customer service Get in Touch Tell us about a challenge or question you have. First name* Last name* Company name Email* Submit

23 Benefits of a Niche Marketing Strategy Learn about all the benefits of niche marketing and how it can help your business expand its reach and increase revenue with a niche marketing strategy. Published on: 5 Sept 2024 Discover the powerful advantages of niche marketing and how adopting a focused approach can help your business expand its reach, increase revenue, and position itself as a leader in your industry. In the ever-evolving world of marketing, more businesses are recognising the power of niche marketing. Whether it’s Tesla launching the Cybertruck, a bold and unconventional electric vehicle aimed at tech-savvy adventurers and sustainability enthusiasts; or Peloton targeting fitness enthusiasts with its premium, connected workout experience; or brands like Oura Ring and Whoop focusing on health-conscious individuals seeking advanced data tracking for sleep and recovery, niche marketing provides companies with clear advantages. Here's why focusing on a niche market can take your business to the next level. What is a Niche Market? Niche Market Definition: A niche market consists of specific consumer groups within a broader market that share common demographics, buying behaviours, preferences, and lifestyle characteristics. By tailoring your marketing strategy to this audience, you can increase relevance and appeal, driving engagement and sales. 23 Benefits of a Niche Marketing Strategy: Increased Engagement Through Relevance Generic marketing strategies often lack interest. Focusing on a niche audience allows you to create more relevant and engaging content that speaks directly to the needs and desires of your specific customer base, resulting in higher engagement. Stand Out from Larger Competitors Niche marketing enables you to avoid the crowded playing field with big competitors. By targeting a specific segment, such as the toy market, you can divert customers from larger brands, making your business more noticeable and accessible to your audience. Discover Unique Opportunities in Emerging Segments By exploring emerging niche segments, your business can identify untapped markets, providing unique opportunities within your industry that larger competitors may overlook. This can help you stay ahead of trends and capitalise on early market share. Cultivate Innovation A niche approach fosters a culture of innovation by focusing on specific use cases or unmet needs. This targeted approach pushes your business to develop new, tailored solutions that drive success and differentiation in your market. Accelerated Time-to-Market for New Products Smaller businesses can move quickly when introducing new products, thanks to fewer bureaucratic hurdles. This agility allows for faster market entry and greater cost savings, helping you stay competitive in dynamic industries. Strong Consumer Insight When you focus on a specific niche, you gain deeper insights into your customers’ preferences, behaviours, and pain points. This knowledge empowers you to refine your offerings and tailor your marketing strategies for maximum impact. Avoid Direct Competition with Larger Firms By concentrating on niche markets, you avoid head-to-head battles with large companies, allowing you to leverage your strengths, such as flexibility and customer relationships, to compete more effectively in your segment. Utilise the Power of Social Media Networks Niche markets thrive on social media, where consumer groups often interact and influence each other. By targeting these communities, your brand can benefit from organic growth as customers share your product or service with their networks. Targeted and Cost-Effective Marketing With niche marketing, your advertising efforts are more focused, ensuring that your campaigns reach the right audience. This leads to more efficient use of marketing budgets and higher return on investment (ROI). Develop a Competitive Advantage through Product Specialisation Focusing on a specific product or service enables your business to create expertise in that area, offering a unique competitive advantage over broader market players who cannot match your specialised knowledge and offerings. Tailor Marketing to Specific Demographics Niche marketing allows for the creation of highly targeted campaigns that speak directly to the preferences of a defined group, improving the effectiveness of your messaging and increasing conversion rates. Position Your Business as a Thought Leader Offering innovative products or services within a niche allows your business to establish itself as an authority or leader in your market. This can build trust and loyalty among customers, further solidifying your position. Easier Market Entry for New Brands For new businesses, entering a niche market can be more straightforward than trying to compete in a saturated, mass-market industry. A niche allows your brand to stand out and attract customers who are specifically interested in your offering. Refine Marketing Campaigns with Direct Customer Data Gathering data on your niche audience enables you to continually refine your marketing efforts. By understanding their preferences, you can create campaigns that resonate more deeply and drive better results. Test Campaigns and Optimise for Better Outcomes A niche target market makes it easier to test different marketing approaches. You can experiment with various strategies and refine your campaigns based on real-time data, improving your overall marketing effectiveness. Set Premium Pricing for Exclusive Products A niche strategy allows you to offer premium products with a higher price point, capitalising on the exclusivity and perceived value that appeals to your target audience. This can significantly boost your profit margins. Create New Revenue Streams By tapping into niche markets, businesses can diversify their revenue streams, introducing new products or services that cater to specific consumer needs. This offers greater potential for growth and profitability. Improved Targeting through Market Segmentation Niche marketing enables you to segment the broader market effectively, ensuring that your business focuses on the segments most likely to yield profitable returns, rather than trying to appeal to everyone. Set Clear, Measurable Business Goals With a niche market, businesses can set clear and achievable goals, such as attracting a new customer segment or increasing marketing efficiency. These objectives are easier to measure and track, ensuring focused business growth. Better Resource Allocation and Focus Knowing your target niche helps you determine if you have the resources, infrastructure, and expertise to meet the needs of your audience. This allows for more effective allocation of time, effort, and capital. Accurate Market Predictions A defined target market makes it easier to estimate potential customer numbers and set appropriate pricing models. You can forecast demand more accurately, reducing the risk of overproduction or underpricing. Effective Marketing Materials and Messaging Niche marketing helps create tailored marketing materials, from websites to brochures, that speak directly to the needs and desires of your target audience. This consistency in messaging builds trust and customer loyalty. Stronger Customer Loyalty and Brand Advocacy When your business focuses on a niche market, you can build deeper relationships with customers who feel that your brand truly understands their needs. This leads to stronger loyalty and a greater likelihood of customer advocacy. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

11 Benefits of Award Entry Writing Service Business awards aren't just a marketing opportunity. From increased sales to customer loyalty, there are many benefits of business awards. Learn more. Published on: 24 Jun 2021 Many businesses are missing out on the incredible benefits of an award entry writing service. Is your company one of them? Whether you see it as a PR exercise or you simply don’t have the resources to dedicate to the award entry submission process, there are plenty of reasons why you should enter business awards . In this article, we’ll be running over 11 incredible benefits of business awards using our award entry writing services. 1. Enjoy a Sales Boost Sure, business awards can be a costly process. You need to hire or internally source an award entry writer and gather resources, as well as cover whatever the costs involved are in attending the actual ceremony. But there’s good evidence to suggest that should you win, you’ll be easily recovering those costs and more. Research shows award-winning businesses can enjoy a sales boost of up to up to 37% . 2. Nothing in Life Comes Free, Except Marketing How often do you get the opportunity for other businesses to shout about your brand? Rarely! Business awards are a free marketing opportunity. You’ll enjoy the award company themselves talking about you, but also many other brands and customers engaging with your business and the award company. This gives you great opportunities to engage on social media and expand your reach. It’s also a great chance to create some unique, newsworthy content for your own website and social media. 3. Attract the Best Employees to Build Better Teams Employees expect more from businesses. We’ve written extensively about how we need to make work better before and all this revolves around being more people-centric. Chances are, you’re not going to win any business awards if you’re doing the bare minimum for your employees or your customers. To be an award-winning company means raising your standards and continually striving to be the best you can be. This makes you a better place to work, regardless of whether or not you win a business award. But should you win it, this can help your company stand out to potential new hires, helping you to attract the best talent. After all, who doesn’t want to brag a little about how they work for an award-winning company? 4. Boost the Morale of Your Current Employees Through Recognition It’s not just potential new employees that benefit from business awards. Another great benefit of business awards is the morale boost it can offer for your current employees if you win. Your staff get recognised for all their hard work and efforts put in to get your business to this point. A win will help assure them their efforts are recognised, not just by you, but by the wider industry and your customers. This can help motivate and inspire employees to continue doing the outstanding work they have been going forward. 5. Valuable Social Proof and Social Influence What do you do when you’re trying to figure out which business to work with or product to use? You look for evidence that others are doing just that, and that they’re enjoying the experience. It’s called social proof and it’s a psychological phenomenon that’s a powerful beast when it comes to your marketing. Just as we look for online reviews to assure us, winning business awards and displaying that achievement throughout our customer journey can have powerful positive effects on your customer journey. 6. Increase Brand Authority as a Market Leader One of the big benefits of business awards is the increased brand authority. Intrinsically linked to the concept of social proof, business awards make customers more likely to trust your brand. You’re the market-leader after all. 7. Gain an Advantage and USP Over Your Competitors Winning business awards can also make you more competitive compared to others in your field. Long gone are the days where businesses could compete on quality or price. The only thing left to compete on is customer experience. Establishing yourself as the market leader through the social proof of business awards makes you more competitive. It can be a unique selling point that your competitors simply can’t match up to, setting you apart from the rest of the market and increasing your profitability. 8. Increase Brand Awareness Through Exposure Even without a win, business awards can help increase your brand awareness. More business owners will become aware of your business and your presence in the industry. You’ll gain valuable PR opportunities throughout the promotion of the event by the award company, as well as the opportunity to network at the actual award ceremony. Of course, if you do win, you’ll enjoy increased brand awareness for long after your victory. 9. Improve Customer Retention Through Trust and Loyalty Customer loyalty isn’t dead. It’s just that customers expect more from your brand than ever before. The reality is customers will always be more likely to stay with a business they perceive as being great. Not only that, but 86% of customers say they’re happy to pay more to do so. You’ll already have benefited from your increased brand authority and competitive advantage from winning your business award. You’re the safest bet. There’s social proof for it. This increases your customer loyalty, which is great news for your business because improving customer retention can do wonders for your profitability. Research shows you’re more likely to sell to existing customers than new ones, but also that these customers are more likely to spend more on purchases. 10. Increase Profit Margins to Continually Improve All of the statistics above show that with loyal customers comes an incredible opportunity to increase your profit margins. Provided you continue to deliver an outstanding customer experience, they’ll be happy to spend the extra to stay with you. This increase in profit can be pumped right back into your business, allowing you to stay the market leader and continually out-innovate the competition. 11. But the Biggest Benefit of Business Awards is… We touched on this above, but it’s worth expanding on. You won’t win awards unless your business is actually worthy of being recognised as a market leader. By far the best benefit of being an award-winning business comes from being driven by the principles that create award-winning businesses. By this we mean, award-winning businesses are great places to work that deliver an outstanding customer experience and are continually growing because of this, not because of the awards — though they certainly don’t hurt! Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

How to Improve Business Productivity Discover how to improve business productivity by transforming your business into a learning organisation Published on: 12 May 2022 Business Productivity and the Economy Small businesses are the driving force of the UK economy; making up a whopping 99.3% of private sector businesses. They employ over 16.3 million people and account for £2 trillion of annual turnover in the UK. All this is to say, if we could improve small business productivity in the UK, the benefits would be far-reaching. Not just for businesses and employees themselves, but for wider society. It means increased taxable income for the government, increased wages for employees and more money circulating in society. All in all, it’s good news for everyone if small businesses increased their productivity. The same paper cited above states that there are two main roadblocks for SME productivity — access to finance and poor management practices. The government has introduced a whole host of financial support to address the former. But the latter remains problematic for many small businesses. While management styles aren’t the only thing hampering business productivity, they’re certainly the largest one. Despite research and studies showing that the old command-and-control management style produces poor results in regard to productivity, many SMEs seem reluctant to let go of it. For us, addressing productivity in small businesses, or large, means addressing the way you think about business in general. Improve Business Productivity by Becoming a Learning Organisation While most of the articles around small business productivity will address basic tips like organisation and delegation ( and we’ll get to those ), we actually think it needs to be thought of more broadly. So many businesses are stuck in a traditional mindset. A strange idea that management should do the thinking, while employees do the tasks. It’s profit-driven and while many might proclaim to be customer-centric, the reality is that it’s profit-centric. This has been the prevailing mindset in SMEs and larger businesses for years. Yet, UK productivity has still continued to lag behind the G7 nations. Clearly, something’s got to give. This is where the idea of a learning organisation comes in. It’s by no means a new concept, in fact, it’s been around for decades. In simple terms, a learning organisation is a company that continuously facilitates the learning of its employees and transforms itself accordingly. It’s a hard concept to get your head around if you’ve not seen it first hand, so we’ll use some examples, albeit from larger companies. Business Productivity Examples to Inspire You Adobe is the top of their game when it comes to business productivity and this all comes down to the fact that they’re a self-proclaimed learning organisation. They’re continuously recognised as one of the best places to work for by Fortune Magazine due to their commitment to their staff. They do all the things you’d expect of a leading tech company. They offer incredible benefits for their staff, insist on transparency and communication and recruit from under-represented communities. But more than this, they’ve created their award-winning programme Kickbox. This programme encourages innovation and risk-taking, whatever the outcome. Any staff member can request it and they’re given a box containing a $1000 prepaid credit card to explore an idea. No questions asked. It’s an incredible amount of trust and faith in your employees that inspires and engages them to bring their best ideas to the table. Next up, another tech company that should be no surprise, Google. Google is a model for corporate learning culture. Employees set their own schedules and collaborate as they see fit across departments. Similar to the above, they’ve gone beyond the expectations of leading tech company benefits with their management research. Google wanted to find out what made a great manager. So they found the data through reviewing performance ratings and employee surveys to find a pattern in what made them great. All said, they found 10 behaviours that consistently made for great managers. The behaviours themselves are all the things you’d expect to find in a great manager; good communication skills, inclusivity, vision, technical skills and more. The important thing is they then took this information and applied it to their recruitment processes. So they’d only get the very best for their employees and their business. There are plenty more examples, often from tech companies. But the takeaway shouldn’t be that tech companies have a commonality in their benefits and work culture. They’re not succeeding solely because they’re in the tech industry, they’re succeeding because of the work culture they create. The takeaway should be that all businesses, regardless of industry, should be striving to create the same culture so they might also be as successful. How to Improve Business Productivity We’ve explained the overall concept of a learning organisation, and we’ve given examples. But how do you realistically implement it in your own small business? Our business productivity solutions is one way. It’s a good question. You haven’t got the resources that the market leaders above do. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make changes to your organisational structure to transform your business into a productivity powerhouse. Create Operational Excellence Creating operational excellence is paramount for boosting business profitability due to its multifaceted advantages. Firstly, streamlined operations reduce costs by minimising waste, optimising resources, and enhancing productivity. Efficiency gains translate into direct savings, which directly bolster the bottom line. Secondly, operational excellence creates consistency and reliability in delivering products or services, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend the business to others, thereby expanding the customer base and increasing revenue. Moreover, a well-organised operation is better equipped to adapt to market changes and capitalise on emerging opportunities swiftly. This agility is crucial in today's dynamic business landscape. Additionally, operational excellence often involves creating a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, leading to long-term sustainability and competitiveness. Ultimately, businesses that prioritise operational excellence are better positioned to weather challenges, capitalise on growth opportunities, and ultimately, maximize profitability. Know Your Team This could be differently phrased as delegation, but we hate the terminology. The reality is you’ve hired certain individuals because they’re great at what they do. So why are you still so involved? Trust your staff to do the job you hired them to do. This means knowing your team members and their strengths and delegating to them wherever possible. Don’t demand constant updates or always need to be involved in a project. Ask for periodic reports and ensure if your staff need support or have queries, they can come to you anytime. Hire Well Hiring is a tricky business. It’s why recruitment agencies do so well, there’s almost an art to it. Hiring the person who will work for the least amount of money isn’t always your best option. Hiring the manager with great corporate experience doesn’t mean they have the best people skills. Hiring the person bursting with ideas doesn’t mean they’ll be able to strategise. Hiring requires a certain balance of the right skill and the right person to fit into existing teams. They need to match your company values and ethos. Advertise in the kind of areas you would want your potential employees to be searching, such as LinkedIn or other social media. Use personality tests to better understand yourself and your employees. Motivate Your Staff A happy, engaged employee is every business’ dream. They’re more productive, creative and innovative. All that energy is given back into your business. Much of staff motivation revolves around empowerment and incentive. But overall, it means looking beyond the bottom line to figure out where you can improve your employees well-being. Let employees work remotely and flexibly wherever possible. Invest in automation to free up staff time so they can focus on more creative and interesting activities. Recognise great work every time you see it, instead of only at annual reviews. Settle for nothing less than open communication, both positive and negative, but then actually implement solutions and ideas. Make Your Work Space Beautiful Businesses have too often been focused on only improving office spaces due to client visits. It shouldn’t be the case. Imagine you’re stuck in a windowless room. There’s no decoration, one fluorescent light, the walls are beige and the floor is grey. Imagine how quickly your creativity would be sapped out of you. This is the bleak reality many office workers face. The environment is drab, stale and uninspiring. The bare essentials like a desk and a computer are provided, but there’s little else to inspire them. This is why market leaders are investing in their office space. By making it somewhere people love to be, they’re not just impressing clients, they’re looking after their employees. If your employees are remote full-time, you can even consider offering a bonus to help fund their home office space. Learn From Your Team As we said above, it’s great to know your team and it’s great to communicate with them. But even if you’re listening to concerns, you need to learn from them. Your employees are on the frontline of your business. They go through the same processes every day. They are the best-placed people to think of new opportunities, resolve bottlenecks and suggest new practices. Listening to and learning about the daily challenges your employees have is what drives your company to the next level. Processes become more streamlined, customers receive a better service, your employees are happier. Overall, your company is more productive. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

50 Construction Estimating, Scheduling and Management Tools Construction estimating, scheduling, and management tools are crucial for achieving operational excellence and ensuring well-built projects. These tools provide accurate cost estimates, efficient scheduling, and comprehensive project management, enabling contractors and project managers to deliver high-quality work on time and within budget. By streamlining operations and improving resource allocation, these tools contribute to the seamless execution of construction projects, minimising delays and cost overruns. Moreover, they foster clear communication and collaboration among all stakeholders, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing project outcomes. In essence, these tools are integral to maintaining high standards of quality, efficiency, and excellence in the construction industry. 4PS Construct Description: 4PS Construct is an integrated construction management software solution designed for the construction, civil engineering, and installation sectors. Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, it offers tools for project management, financial management, procurement, and logistics, enabling companies to streamline operations and improve project delivery. Benefit: Provides a comprehensive, industry-specific solution that integrates various aspects of construction management, from finance to logistics, offering enhanced control and efficiency across projects. Disadvantage: The extensive functionality may be complex to implement and may require significant training, particularly for smaller businesses or those new to integrated ERP systems. Website: 4PS Construct The Access Group (Construction Software) Description: The Access Group offers comprehensive construction management software designed to support the entire construction lifecycle, from project management and compliance to finance and workforce management. The platform is suitable for contractors of all sizes, providing tools that help streamline operations, improve collaboration, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Benefit: Offers a wide range of features tailored for the construction industry, including project management, financial management, and workforce planning, making it a versatile solution for managing complex projects. Disadvantage: The breadth of features may be overwhelming for smaller firms or those new to using integrated construction software, requiring time and training to fully leverage the platform. Website: The Access Group AccuBid Description: AccuBid is specialised estimating software designed specifically for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractors. It enables users to create detailed cost breakdowns, including materials, labour, and other expenses, ensuring precise and competitive bids. The software is highly customisable to meet the specific needs of various trades. Benefit: Provides specialised features for trade-specific estimating, offering accurate cost calculations that help contractors avoid underbidding or overbidding projects. Disadvantage: The software is limited to specific trades, such as electrical, mechanical, and plumbing, which may not be suitable for general contractors or other trades. Website: AccuBid Asta Powerproject Description: Asta Powerproject is robust project management software renowned for its advanced scheduling and planning capabilities. It is widely used in the construction industry for managing timelines, resources, and project workflows, offering Gantt charts, reporting, and critical path analysis. Benefit: Excels in detailed scheduling and project planning, enabling project managers to keep complex projects on track with precision. Disadvantage: Although powerful in scheduling, it lacks specific estimating features, requiring users to rely on other tools for cost estimation. Website: Asta Powerproject BCIS Description: BCIS (Building Cost Information Service) is a UK-based platform that provides comprehensive cost data and analysis for construction professionals. It offers detailed information on building costs, lifecycle costs, and maintenance costs, helping professionals create accurate estimates, budgets, and financial plans for construction projects. Benefit: Delivers reliable and up-to-date cost data specifically tailored for the UK construction market, enhancing the accuracy of estimates and financial planning. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on cost data and analysis, which may require additional tools or integration for complete project management capabilities. Website: BCIS BidClerk Description: BidClerk is a construction lead generation and project tracking platform that helps contractors and suppliers find and manage bidding opportunities. It provides access to a comprehensive database of construction projects, allowing users to identify potential leads and track project developments. Benefit: Offers access to a broad range of project leads, increasing opportunities for securing new contracts and expanding business networks. Disadvantage: The platform is primarily focused on bid tracking and lead generation, and may not cover comprehensive project management needs. Website: BidClerk Bidcon Description: Bidcon is estimating software designed to assist contractors in preparing detailed bids and managing project costs. It provides tools for cost analysis, budgeting, and bid preparation, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in the bidding process. Benefit: Offers comprehensive tools for bid preparation, helping contractors create accurate and competitive bids. Disadvantage: Lacks advanced project management features, which may require the use of additional software for full project oversight. Website: Bidcon Bluebeam Revu Description: Bluebeam Revu is a PDF-based tool designed for reviewing, marking up, and collaborating on construction documents. It streamlines communication and document management by allowing teams to work together in real-time, even when remote. Benefit: Highly effective for document review and collaboration, facilitating clear and organised communication among project stakeholders. Disadvantage: Limited in estimating features, making it necessary to use additional software for comprehensive cost estimation. Website: Bluebeam Revu BIM 360 Description: BIM 360 is a cloud-based Building Information Modelling (BIM) software that offers tools for project management, collaboration, and design coordination. It enhances the accuracy of designs and facilitates seamless collaboration among all project participants. Benefit: Strong collaboration capabilities and excellent BIM integration make it ideal for managing complex projects. Disadvantage: The software offers limited estimating capabilities, so additional tools may be needed for detailed cost estimation. Website: BIM 360 Bolster Description: Bolster is a construction management platform designed to help homeowners and contractors manage renovation projects. It offers tools for budgeting, project management, and client communication, with a focus on transparency and efficiency in the renovation process. Benefit: Provides a streamlined approach to managing renovation projects, with strong budgeting and client communication tools that help ensure transparency and trust. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on renovations, so it may not offer all the features needed for managing larger-scale construction projects. Website: Bolster BuildBook Description: BuildBook is a construction management software tailored for residential home builders and remodelers. It provides tools to streamline project management, improve team collaboration, and enhance client communication. The platform offers features such as project scheduling, budget tracking, and document sharing, aimed at simplifying the management of residential construction projects. Benefit: Enhances project efficiency and communication by integrating various aspects of project management, making it easier for builders and remodelers to keep projects on track and maintain client satisfaction. Disadvantage: Focused on residential projects, so it may not be suitable for commercial or large-scale construction projects that require more specialized features. Website: BuildBook BuilderTrend Description: BuilderTrend is a cloud-based construction management software designed for residential builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors. It offers tools for project management, customer management, scheduling, and collaboration, helping contractors streamline their workflows and improve communication with clients and teams. Benefit: Provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing residential construction projects, including scheduling, budgeting, and client communication, all in one platform. Disadvantage: Can be complex to navigate for new users and may require training to fully utilise its extensive features. Website: BuilderTrend Buildxact Description: Buildxact is cloud-based estimating and construction management software tailored for small to medium-sized residential builders, remodelers, and contractors. It provides tools for cost estimation, job management, and client communication, helping users efficiently manage their projects from start to finish. Benefit: Easy to use with a user-friendly interface, Buildxact offers a range of tools that simplify estimating, quoting, and project management, making it ideal for smaller firms that need a straightforward solution. Disadvantage: While it's great for smaller projects, it may lack some of the advanced features needed for managing larger, more complex projects. Website: Buildxact BuildSoft Description: BuildSoft is estimating and job costing software designed for small to medium-sized builders. It simplifies the estimation process and provides tools to manage project costs, ensuring profitability on each project. Benefit: User-friendly and tailored for small to medium projects, making it accessible for builders with limited resources. Disadvantage: Lacks advanced features required for larger, more complex projects. Website: BuildSoft CostEstimator Description: CostEstimator is a UK-based online construction estimating tool designed for builders, contractors, and tradespeople. It offers features for creating detailed and accurate cost estimates, quotes, and invoices tailored to the UK construction industry, helping users streamline their estimating process and improve financial management. Benefit: Provides an easy-to-use platform with features tailored to the specific needs of the UK market, making it ideal for small to medium-sized construction businesses looking to enhance their estimating accuracy and efficiency. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on estimating and invoicing, so it may lack broader project management features necessary for more complex or larger-scale projects. Website: CostEstimator Causeway Description: Causeway offers a range of construction management software solutions designed to enhance efficiency and collaboration across various stages of the construction lifecycle. The platform provides tools for estimating, project management, supply chain management, and infrastructure design, making it a versatile solution for contractors, engineers, and other construction professionals. Benefit: Comprehensive suite of tools that supports multiple aspects of construction management, from initial estimates to final project delivery, with a focus on improving collaboration and operational efficiency. Disadvantage: The extensive range of features may require substantial training and adaptation, particularly for smaller firms or those new to integrated construction software solutions. Website: Causeway Chalkstring Description: Chalkstring is cloud-based construction management software tailored for contractors, offering tools for estimating, project management, and cost control. It is designed to simplify the management of construction projects by integrating various processes into a single platform, enhancing efficiency and accuracy. Benefit: Provides an all-in-one solution for managing construction projects, with strong features for cost control, budgeting, and estimating, making it ideal for contractors looking to streamline their operations. Disadvantage: May require some time for users to familiarise themselves with the platform's features and maximise its potential. Website: Chalkstring Clear Estimates Description: Clear Estimates is a user-friendly construction estimating software designed for small to medium-sized contractors and remodelers. It offers pre-loaded templates and cost data to help users quickly generate accurate estimates, proposals, and contracts tailored to specific project types. Benefit: Simplifies the estimating process with easy-to-use tools and pre-loaded data, making it ideal for contractors who need to create quick and accurate estimates without extensive setup. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on estimating, so it may lack more advanced project management and scheduling features required for larger or more complex projects. Website: Clear Estimates ClockShark Description: ClockShark is a time-tracking and job management software designed specifically for construction and field service companies. It offers features like GPS time tracking, job costing, and employee scheduling, making it easier to manage time, labor costs, and workforce logistics on construction sites. Benefit: Simplifies time tracking and payroll management with easy-to-use tools that are particularly useful for managing remote and field-based teams. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on time tracking and scheduling, so it may lack comprehensive project management and estimating features found in more robust construction management platforms. Website: ClockShark CoConstruct Description: CoConstruct is a construction project management software designed specifically for custom home builders and remodelers. It offers features for project management, client communication, budgeting, and scheduling, all in one platform. The software helps streamline the entire construction process, from initial client interaction to project completion. Benefit: Tailored for custom builders, CoConstruct enhances client communication and simplifies project management, making it easier to manage custom projects with multiple moving parts. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on residential projects, so it may not be as effective for large-scale commercial construction or more complex project types. Website: CoConstruct ConEst IntelliBid Description: ConEst IntelliBid is estimating software specifically designed for electrical contractors, offering tools for precise material and labour estimates. It supports contractors in creating accurate and competitive bids, with a focus on electrical work. Benefit: Provides accurate estimates tailored to electrical projects, helping contractors remain competitive in the market. Disadvantage: Not suited for general construction estimating, limiting its use to electrical projects. Website: ConEst IntelliBid Contractor Foreman Description: Contractor Foreman is a comprehensive construction management software designed for contractors and builders. It offers a wide range of features including project management, scheduling, estimating, and field management. The platform is designed to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance communication throughout the construction process. Benefit: Provides an all-in-one solution with robust tools for managing projects, estimating costs, and handling field operations, making it suitable for a variety of construction needs. Disadvantage: The extensive range of features may be overwhelming for users who require a simpler solution or are new to construction management software. Website: Contractor Foreman Costimator Description: Costimator is detailed estimating software that focuses on cost analysis for both manufacturing and construction industries. It helps users generate accurate cost estimates by analysing material, labour, and production costs. Benefit: Provides detailed cost estimation and analysis, crucial for precision in both manufacturing and construction projects. Disadvantage: May be complex for users without a manufacturing background, requiring additional training or expertise. Website: Costimator ConstructionOnline Description: ConstructionOnline is a cloud-based construction management software that offers tools for project management, estimating, and collaboration. Designed for the UK market, it provides features for managing projects from initial planning to final delivery, including project scheduling, document management, and client communication. Benefit: Provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing various aspects of construction projects, enhancing collaboration and efficiency throughout the project lifecycle. Disadvantage: May be complex for smaller projects or firms new to construction management software, requiring time to fully adapt to its features. Website: ConstructionOnline e-Builder Description: e-Builder is comprehensive construction management software offering features for project management, cost tracking, and collaboration. It is designed to streamline project workflows, improve communication, and ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. Benefit: Offers a wide range of tools for project management and cost tracking, making it ideal for large-scale projects. Disadvantage: Can be costly and requires training to fully utilise its features, which may be a barrier for smaller firms. Website: e-Builder Esti-mate Description: Estimate is a UK-based estimating software designed specifically for small to medium-sized building and contracting businesses. The platform provides tools for creating accurate and detailed estimates, managing quotes, and tracking project costs, all tailored to the needs of the construction industry. Benefit: Simplifies the estimating process with an intuitive interface and features tailored to the UK construction market, making it ideal for builders and contractors looking to streamline their costing and quoting processes. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on estimating, so it may lack broader project management features found in more comprehensive construction management software. Website: Estimate Estimating Edge Description: Estimating Edge is a cloud-based construction estimating and takeoff software designed to streamline the bidding process. It offers advanced tools for digital takeoffs, cost estimating, and project management, catering to both residential and commercial construction projects. Benefit: Provides a comprehensive suite of tools that enhance accuracy and efficiency in creating estimates and managing bids, making it suitable for various types of construction projects. Disadvantage: May require a learning curve and integration with other software for full project management capabilities. Website: Estimating Edge Eque2 Estimating Description: Eque2 Estimating is a comprehensive construction estimating software tailored for the UK market. It offers tools for producing detailed and accurate cost estimates, bids, and tender documents. The platform integrates with various accounting and project management systems, providing a seamless workflow from estimate to project completion. Benefit: Delivers robust estimating capabilities with integration options that streamline the transition from estimating to project management, making it suitable for contractors looking to enhance efficiency and accuracy in their bidding process. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on estimating, so additional project management features might be needed for full project oversight. Website: Eque2 Estimating Fieldwire Description: Fieldwire is a construction management app that focuses on task management, project planning, and field collaboration. It allows teams to assign tasks, share drawings, and track progress in real-time, enhancing field efficiency. Benefit: Highly effective for field-based task management and communication, ensuring everyone on site is on the same page. Disadvantage: Offers limited estimating capabilities, necessitating the use of other tools for detailed cost estimation. Website: Fieldwire Foundation Software Description: Foundation Software is a construction accounting software designed specifically for contractors. It provides tools for job costing, project management, payroll, and financial reporting, helping contractors manage the financial aspects of their construction projects with precision. The platform is known for its robust accounting features tailored to the construction industry. Benefit: Offers industry-specific accounting and job costing tools that provide deep insights into project financials, making it ideal for contractors looking to enhance financial management and reporting. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on accounting, which may require integration with other tools for complete project management capabilities. Website: Foundation Software HBXL Description: HBXL is estimating and project management software designed specifically for builders and contractors in the UK. It offers tools for accurate estimates, project scheduling, and management, catering to the needs of the building industry. Benefit: User-friendly interface tailored for builders, making it accessible for those with limited technical expertise. Disadvantage: Limited to certain regions and market segments, which may restrict its applicability outside the UK. Website: HBXL HCSS Description: HCSS provides a suite of construction management software solutions designed for heavy civil construction companies. It offers tools for estimating, project management, fleet management, safety, and time tracking, all aimed at improving efficiency and profitability in large-scale construction projects. Benefit: Delivers comprehensive solutions specifically tailored to the needs of heavy civil construction, with robust features for managing large projects, equipment, and safety protocols. Disadvantage: The software suite is highly specialized for heavy construction, which may not be suitable or cost-effective for smaller projects or firms outside this sector. Website: HCSS Houzz Pro Description: Houzz Pro is an all-in-one business management software tailored for designers, remodelers, and builders. It offers tools for project management, client communication, marketing, and invoicing, designed to help professionals in the construction and design industries manage their projects and grow their businesses. Benefit: Provides a comprehensive platform that integrates project management with client engagement and marketing tools, making it ideal for professionals looking to streamline operations and attract new clients. Disadvantage: While versatile, it may be more geared towards small to medium-sized projects and firms, potentially lacking the scalability needed for very large or complex projects. Website: Houzz Pro JobNimbus Description: JobNimbus is job management software that combines estimating, project tracking, and customer relationship management (CRM) features. It is designed to help contractors manage their workflows and customer interactions more effectively. Benefit: Integrates job management with CRM tools, providing a unified platform for managing projects and customer relationships. Disadvantage: May lack some advanced project management features required for larger or more complex projects. Website: JobNimbus LaborChart Description: LaborChart is workforce management software designed to help construction companies schedule and track labour resources on their projects. It provides tools for planning, scheduling, and monitoring labour, ensuring optimal resource allocation. Benefit: Helps manage and schedule labour resources effectively, improving workforce efficiency and reducing downtime. Disadvantage: Limited features for estimating and project management, requiring other tools for a comprehensive project overview. Website: LaborChart Methvin Description: Methvin is a web-based tool that offers collaborative estimating, tendering, and project management features. It is designed to improve accuracy and collaboration in the bidding and project management processes. Benefit: Enhances collaboration and accuracy in estimating, making it ideal for teams working on bids and tenders. Disadvantage: May lack advanced features required for larger projects, necessitating the use of additional tools for comprehensive management. Website: Methvin NEXT-TECH Description: NEXT-TECH offers advanced construction management software designed to support the digital transformation of construction projects. It provides tools for project planning, scheduling, budgeting, and monitoring, with a strong emphasis on leveraging technology to improve efficiency and decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. Benefit: Utilises cutting-edge technology to enhance project management and decision-making, making it ideal for companies looking to embrace digital transformation in construction. Disadvantage: The advanced features may require significant training and adaptation, especially for firms less familiar with digital tools. Website: NEXT-TECH On Center Software Description: On Center Software provides digital takeoff, estimating, and project management solutions designed for the construction industry. Its flagship products, such as On-Screen Takeoff (OST) and Quick Bid, help contractors accurately measure digital plans, generate cost estimates, and streamline the bidding process, making it easier to manage construction projects from start to finish. Benefit: Offers powerful and intuitive tools for digital takeoff and estimating, which significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of the bidding process, especially for contractors handling large volumes of bids. Disadvantage: Focused primarily on takeoff and estimating, so users may need additional software for broader project management needs. Website: On Center Software PlanGrid Description: PlanGrid is construction productivity software designed to manage blueprints, documents, and field data. It enables teams to access project information in real-time, ensuring everyone has the most up-to-date plans and documents. Benefit: Streamlines access to project documents and plans, improving field efficiency and reducing errors. Disadvantage: Offers limited estimating capabilities, requiring additional software for detailed cost estimation. Website: PlanGrid PlanSwift Description: PlanSwift is a digital takeoff and estimating software that helps construction professionals quickly and accurately measure and estimate project quantities from digital blueprints. It offers tools for takeoff, estimating, and project management, allowing users to streamline the estimating process and improve accuracy. Benefit: Provides advanced takeoff and measurement capabilities, enhancing speed and precision in creating estimates from digital plans. Disadvantage: While excellent for takeoffs, it may not offer comprehensive project management features needed for complete project oversight. Website: PlanSwift Premier Construction Software Description: Premier Construction Software is an all-in-one cloud-based platform designed to streamline construction project management, accounting, and document control. It offers features for managing financials, project budgets, job costing, and subcontractor relationships, tailored for both residential and commercial construction projects. Benefit: Provides a comprehensive solution that integrates project management with robust accounting and financial tools, making it ideal for contractors seeking to improve efficiency and financial oversight across their projects. Disadvantage: The platform's extensive features may be overwhelming for smaller firms or those with simpler project management needs, requiring a learning curve to fully utilize its capabilities. Website: Premier Construction Software Price a Job Description: Price a Job is a UK-based estimating software designed to help contractors and builders generate accurate and detailed quotes for their projects. It provides tools for cost estimation, job costing, and project management, with features aimed at simplifying the quoting process and improving accuracy. Benefit: Offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, tailored specifically for the UK market, making it easy for contractors to create precise estimates and manage their projects efficiently. Disadvantage: Focuses mainly on estimating and quoting, which may limit its functionality in areas like advanced project management or comprehensive financial tracking. Website: Price a Job Procore Description: Procore is comprehensive construction management software that offers a wide range of tools for estimating, project management, and field collaboration. It provides an integrated solution for managing all aspects of a construction project, from bidding to completion. Benefit: An all-in-one solution that covers estimating, project management, and collaboration, making it a powerful tool for large-scale projects. Disadvantage: Can be expensive and requires significant training to fully utilise its features, which may be challenging for smaller firms. Website: Procore QuoteSoft Description: QuoteSoft is estimating software specifically designed for mechanical and plumbing contractors. It provides detailed tools for creating accurate cost estimates, tailored to the specific needs of these trades. Benefit: Offers specialised estimating features for mechanical and plumbing work, ensuring precise and competitive bids. Disadvantage: Limited to specific trades, making it less suitable for general contractors or other types of construction work. Website: QuoteSoft Raken Description: Raken is construction field management software that focuses on daily reports, scheduling, and task management. It simplifies the process of creating daily reports and tracking progress on site, improving communication and accountability. Benefit: Simplifies field reporting and task management, making it easier to keep track of daily activities and progress. Disadvantage: Limited to field management and lacks advanced estimating features, necessitating the use of additional tools for comprehensive project management. Website: Raken RedTeam Description: RedTeam is construction management software that offers features for project planning, estimating, and collaboration. It is designed to help contractors manage all aspects of their projects, from initial bids to final completion. Benefit: Provides comprehensive tools for project management and estimating, making it a versatile solution for construction professionals. Disadvantage: May be complex to navigate, requiring a learning curve to fully utilise its features. Website: RedTeam RIB Software Description: RIB Software offers advanced digital construction management solutions, including iTWO, an integrated platform for 5D BIM (Building Information Modeling). iTWO combines project planning, cost estimation, and management into a single platform, enabling construction professionals to improve project efficiency, collaboration, and cost control. The software is designed for complex, large-scale projects, particularly in the infrastructure and commercial sectors. Benefit: Provides cutting-edge technology for integrating BIM with project management, offering a comprehensive solution that enhances efficiency and collaboration in large-scale construction projects. Disadvantage: The advanced features and focus on large-scale projects may make it less suitable or cost-effective for smaller firms or simpler projects. Website: RIB Software RSMeans Online Description: RSMeans Online is a comprehensive cost estimating tool that provides access to detailed construction cost data and resources. It offers up-to-date cost information, labour rates, and material prices, helping professionals create accurate and competitive estimates for various types of construction projects. Benefit: Provides reliable, industry-standard cost data and estimating tools, allowing users to produce precise estimates and stay competitive in their bidding processes. Disadvantage: Primarily focused on cost data and estimating, which may require integration with other project management tools for complete project oversight. Website: RSMeans Online Sage Estimating Description: Sage Estimating is powerful estimating software that provides tools for detailed cost analysis and bid preparation. It integrates with other Sage products to offer a comprehensive solution for managing construction projects. Benefit: Offers advanced estimating features with integration options, making it a robust tool for creating accurate bids and managing costs. Disadvantage: High cost and steep learning curve may pose challenges for smaller firms or less experienced users. Website: Sage Estimating SiteMax Description: SiteMax is construction management software designed to assist with project tracking, scheduling, and reporting. It is focused on improving site management and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. Benefit: Effective for site management and project tracking, providing real-time insights into project progress. Disadvantage: Limited estimating features, so additional tools may be required for comprehensive cost estimation. Website: SiteMax SmartBid Description: SmartBid is bid management software designed to help contractors manage and organise bids and subcontractor information. It streamlines the bidding process, making it easier to track and coordinate bids. Benefit: Streamlines bid management and subcontractor coordination, improving efficiency in the bidding process. Disadvantage: Limited features for comprehensive project management, requiring additional software for full project oversight. Website: SmartBid STACK Description: STACK is a cloud-based construction takeoff and estimating software designed to help contractors quickly measure digital plans and generate accurate cost estimates. It offers tools for takeoff, estimating, and proposal generation, catering to a wide range of construction trades and project types. Benefit: Enhances efficiency and accuracy in the estimating process, with robust takeoff and measurement tools that simplify the creation of detailed, competitive bids. Disadvantage: Focused primarily on takeoff and estimating, which may limit its usefulness for broader project management tasks. Website: STACK Tally Systems Description: Tally Systems is software designed for managing construction estimates and project costs, with detailed reporting capabilities. It helps contractors keep track of costs and ensures projects remain within budget. Benefit: Offers detailed reporting and cost management tools, helping contractors maintain control over project finances. Disadvantage: May not offer extensive project management features, requiring the use of other tools for comprehensive project oversight. Website: Tally Systems Trimble Connect Description: Trimble Connect is a cloud-based collaboration tool designed for managing construction projects with BIM integration. It facilitates seamless collaboration among project stakeholders by providing a centralised platform for sharing and managing project data. Benefit: Highly effective for BIM collaboration and project management, ensuring all stakeholders have access to up-to-date information. Disadvantage: Limited estimating features, so additional software may be needed for detailed cost estimation. Website: Trimble Connect Vista by Viewpoint Description: Vista by Viewpoint is integrated construction management software that offers a wide range of features, including estimating, project management, and financial management. It provides a comprehensive solution for managing all aspects of a construction project. Benefit: Offers comprehensive features with strong financial integration, making it a powerful tool for managing large and complex projects. Disadvantage: High cost and potential complexity may pose challenges for smaller firms or less experienced users. Website: Vista by Viewpoint WinBidPro Description: WinBidPro is estimating software designed to help contractors create accurate bids and manage the bidding process. It provides tools for preparing detailed bids, ensuring that contractors remain competitive in the market. Benefit: Effective for bid creation and management, helping contractors streamline the bidding process and improve accuracy. Disadvantage: May lack advanced project management features, requiring additional tools for comprehensive project oversight. Website: WinBidPro Related Articles Top Construction Estimating and Planning Tools: Streamlining Project Success Project Estimating and Scheduling Construction Project Management Managing Subcontractors in Construction 15 Key Features of Construction Estimating Software What is Estimating Software? A Deep Dive into its Evolution, Functionality, and Impact 50 Construction Estimating, Scheduling and Management Tools

Customer Service Philosophy: The Foundation of Lasting Business Success Why a Thoughtful Customer Service Philosophy is Key to Building Trust and Creating Long-Term Relationships. Published on: 22 Apr 2021 How many times have you heard the familiar sayings like "the customer is always right" or "service with a smile"? While these phrases hold some truth, they oversimplify the complexities of modern customer service. In today's world, where customer expectations are ever-evolving, a deeper, more thoughtful approach is essential. That's why we're moving beyond outdated clichés to help you develop a meaningful customer service philosophy. In this article, we'll explore: The importance of a customer service philosophy How a well-defined philosophy shapes exceptional service Real-world examples of effective customer service philosophies Let’s dive into the core ideas that underpin a customer-first mindset. Building a Customer Service Philosophy Every business has its unique way of delivering service, but the most successful ones are rooted in timeless principles. These principles form the foundation of a well-rounded customer service philosophy that elevates both the customer experience and business success. They’re as follows: 1. Be Responsive Is there anything more frustrating than spending your precious free time trying to get in touch with a company only to be put on hold for what feels like hours? Responsiveness is vital for customer service. But so many companies are falling at the first hurdle due to a lack of staff. Here’s the numbers: A study by Which? Revealed five out of the six big energy firms left customers waiting for 10 minutes or more on average. A more recent study by Money Mail revealed wait times of over half an hour for major banking phone lines. Even trying to get through to HMRC will set you back an average of 47 minutes according to Citizens advice research. It’s not just over the phones either. Other communication channels also need to be responsive. This includes email and social media channels. Companies must be monitoring these, or outsourcing someone to monitor them, even during weekends. A short initial response time can increase customer satisfaction substantially. But it doesn’t end here. Agents need to continue to be responsive. This means whatever issue or query a customer has also needs resolving quickly. In an ideal world, these issues are resolved straight-away on the same contact, but anyone in customer service knows this is not always the case. Employees and companies must make resolution a priority to deliver good customer service. Companies can increase responsiveness by training and empowering their employees. It might be stating the obvious a little, but employees need to have the initial knowledge to be able to resolve customer queries. Without good training, they’re unlikely to have the knowledge necessary to have an immediate solution for customers. But even with this knowledge, employees may not feel empowered to make the decisions to resolve issues. The more back and forth an employee needs to make to get decisions approved, the longer customers wait. Employees who are empowered to make decisions and resolve issues will be more able to come up with solutions to less common problems. You should also have a host of communication channels open to your customers. This could include phone, live chat, social media and email. This allows customers to choose the channel that they prefer. Just make sure all your channels are as responsive as possible. 2. Be Knowledgeable We hinted at this above, but it couldn’t be more true. How is an employee supposed to help a customer when they don’t know any more about the product or service than the next person? Employees who have been given the best training deliver better customer service. They can give accurate, detailed answers to customers. They can even answer questions the customer didn’t know they had, because they’re not the expert in your product or service — you are! Employees shouldn’t just be trained in your product or service, but also in the systems you use in your workplace. They should be confident using software and supported with regular training for new features. The confidence that your employee gains from great training transfers to your customer. Your customer feels reassured that their problem is being dealt with by a competent and helpful employee. 3. Be Consistent A lack of consistency can really damage your customer service and your brand authority. From the first moment you interact with a customer, you’re setting an expectation of service. This is great when you’ve nailed that interaction and a customer has a positive view of your company. But later down the line, if you fail to meet that expectation, your customer will be more disappointed. To keep things consistent, you need to communicate internally. Different departments must have easy ways to contact and discuss issues to best resolve customer problems. All teams that need it should have access to customer history through the CRM and this should be updated after every contact. This avoids customers repeating themselves anytime they contact you. You also need to align your inbound and outbound strategy communications. Customers often have wildly different experiences when dealing with an agent they’ve reached out to versus one who has reached out for them. A lack of consistency here can cause confusion and frustration for your customers. You’ll also need a customer service philosophy — but we’ll get to that later. 4. Be Effortless It shouldn’t take MI6 training to contact you. In fact, quite the opposite — it should be effortless. Aim to have a variety of channels on offer and this information should be easy to find. Customers shouldn’t have to trawl through pages of “helpful” FAQ materials just to find a number to speak to a real human. Once a customer contacts you, communications should be effortless. This means clear, consistent and helpful advice or resolutions where you go above and beyond. For example, if a customer needs to speak to another department avoid the caller having to make another call which increases stress all around and takes up more of your company’s valuable time later, time better spent on other things. Complete a warm transfer — a transfer where you pass the call details onto the next agent before transferring the call. This can help improve sales and service call productivity. 5. Be Human Time for a serious question… does anyone like the automated answering services? We’re yet to meet a customer who does and we get it. Especially when you’re pressing endless different numbers to get through to the right department just to be told it’s the wrong department or, worse yet, to be cut off. A human touch goes a long way in customer service. Though we understand the need for automated answering services for busy periods, it shouldn’t be the default if at all possible. Personality and empathy make a huge difference to a frustrated customer. Think about the last time a customer service agent made your day. We bet it wasn’t a robot that did it. 6. Be Open There’s a reason honesty is a virtue. Just as we value it in people, we value it in companies. Maintaining transparency and honesty with your customers is part of outstanding customer service. It’s okay to be wrong sometimes. It’s okay to make a mistake. It’s okay to not know something. Transparency shows your customer you value them. Just be sure to emphasise that you will resolve the issue. Be transparent about how long it will take and why. Most customer frustrations stem from a lack of being kept in the loop, not the actual initial problem itself. You should encourage the same transparency back from your customers with feedback methods. Ask for honest and open feedback about how you can improve. This again emphasises to customers you’re serious about delivering great customer service. 7. Be Proactive Proactive customer service is great customer service. So anticipate problems and needs with a proactive approach. This allows you to not only meet customer expectations, but exceed them. There are so many ways to be proactive in customer service, but here’s just a few: Reward loyal customers Inform customers about upgrades or new services Collect customer feedback Monitor social media 8. Be Continuous The thing about companies that deliver really great customer service is that they never settle for being great and stop trying. There is always something you could be doing better. Use customer feedback to gain insights into your customer service, but then actually follow through on those insights and make changes. Review complaints to discover the root of the issue and then create a solution so it’ll never happen again. Review calls and chat transcripts to discover more about your frontline service. This ethos of continual improvement ensures that you will always be looking ahead, instead of settling for what you have. Create A Customer Service Philosophy You can use these principles of customer service to help create a customer service philosophy. You can put as much, or as little, emphasis on each principle of customer service as you want. You can also add your own like be fun or be friendly to better match up with your brand. This philosophy can guide you and define you. The reality is without a strong focus on customer service, your business will struggle to grow and rival competitors that are focused on customer service. The days of slashing prices to compete died with Amazon. There’s one thing that many companies that are thriving have in common — a philosophy of customer service. Everybody’s competitor now is Amazon, Apple and Valve. Today we buy experiences – how something or some service makes us feel – more than we ever did before. Examples Of Outstanding Customer Service Philosophies It really shouldn’t surprise anyone that Amazon is the absolute leader of the pack when it comes to customer service. That success comes from their own unique principles of customer service. In their own words, “to be earth’s most customer-centric company”. Their philosophy lies in continuous improvement. Products can always be delivered faster, to a more convenient location, at a more convenient time. That’s why they’ve been testing drones for the past decade to drive forward their 2-hour delivery goal for prime members. This philosophy is what drives the company to continually out-innovate competitors. Learn More Use the principles of customer service to help your company create your own customer service philosophy. This philosophy should reflect your brand and your values, helping to guide your employees to deliver outstanding customer service every time. You can find out more about everything you need to know about phone skills in our ultimate guide . Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

Telephone Skills Training Improve sales and service productivity and the value of every call you take with our telephone skills training course and coaching. Learning Overview With improved behaviours, telephone skills and awareness, sales and service agents, receptionists and front desk staff can expect to become more confident in how to manage customer interactions on the phone. They will learn best practice techniques for handling a myriad of different and difficult real world sales and service situations leading to improved outcomes for both themselves, the callers and your business Learning Benefits Our behaviours first approach to training means that learners leave feeling empowered to better manage not just interactions on the phone, but in many other situations at work too. As we improve our communication skills, we also gain other benefits such as improving how we work in teams, lead and manage others. Learning Audience This course is for helpdesk and office staff, receptionists, frontline staff, sales and service agents and call centre staff who want to develop professional call handling skills, telephone etiquette and telephone manners that improve the effectiveness of their call handling and communications skills. It's also for sales, marketing and call centre directors and business owners looking to improve the communication skills of their frontline sales and service staff. Course Content Module One: The foundations for success Before we engage the prospect or customer we need to be prepared, ready and certain of what we want to happen. Learn the importance of effective call control skills Understand the caller’s real need, be the authority and guide the caller Effectivey manage the call direction, journey, and conclusion Manage call silences, pauses and call flow Learn the new sales and service mindset Learn how to be less transactional and more relational on every call Create a more holistic mindset to sales and service Create lasting, positive sales and service experiences Learn time management for handling phone calls Improve how you prioritise each call Learn essential listening skills to avoid errors and repeats Manage your pre and post call time more effectively Module Two: Call Answering and Control Skills With a plan, the right mindset, some best practices and your unique offer, we can engage with the prospect or customer with confidence and a clear goal. Learn effective professional call answering skills Discover the one thing you can do to improve every call outcome Find out the right and wrong way to approach call answering Learn the most effective way to answer a call that 90% of businesses just don’t do Learn how to own the call and control each call stage Understand this most important part of call handling See how language can change the way the call progresses Develop deep listening skills and expectation management Learn how to technically manage the call Learn the right and wrong way to transfer calls and put calls on hold Understand how to adjust the call pace Learn how to manage complaints and difficult callers with ease Module Three: Closing the call Learn how to effectively prepare for the call close Understand the real value of the call close Learn how to avoid common call close mistakes Learn the key call close stages Learn what not to do during the call close Know where you are in the call close Learn when not to close Understand how to gauge how effective your call close was Learn what to do after the call close Understand when the call is actually closed Learn key call close time management skills Review call close next steps Module Four: Applying these skills more widely Learn how to apply these skills in business and life Apply these skills face to face Building stronger relationships Improving the brand and reputation Create Triple Bottom Line Growth Discover strategies to enhance profitability, cultivate a greener and more sustainable business model, and elevate overall well-being. GET STARTED

Unlocking Success: A Guide to Workplace Personality Tests This comprehensive guide aims to delve into the realm of workplace personality tests, offering insights into their significance, applications, and best practices for implementation. Published on: 25 May 2023 In today's dynamic and competitive workplace, understanding the intricacies of human personalities has become more crucial than ever. Every individual brings a unique set of traits, preferences, and communication styles to the table, influencing how they interact with colleagues, approach tasks, and contribute to the organisation's goals. Recognising and harnessing these differences can lead to more effective collaboration, heightened productivity, and a healthier work environment overall. This comprehensive guide aims to delve into the realm of workplace personality tests, offering insights into their significance, applications, and best practices for implementation. By exploring the nuances of personality assessments and their impact on organisational dynamics, you'll gain valuable knowledge that can transform how you approach talent management, team building, and professional development within your workplace. Throughout this guide, we'll uncover the myriad benefits of incorporating personality tests into your organisational toolkit, from optimising hiring processes to fostering stronger team cohesion. We'll navigate the landscape of different personality assessment models, providing clarity on their underlying theories and practical implications. Additionally, we'll delve into ethical considerations surrounding the use of personality tests, ensuring that you approach this valuable tool with integrity and respect for individual rights. Whether you're an HR professional seeking to revamp your recruitment strategies, a team leader striving to enhance group dynamics, or an employee eager to gain deeper self-awareness, this guide offers valuable insights to propel your journey toward success. 1.0 Understanding Personality Tests Personality tests have become invaluable tools in the modern workplace, aiding in everything from hiring decisions to team dynamics. Understanding the fundamentals of these tests is crucial for utilising them effectively. In this section, we delve into the intricacies of personality assessments, exploring their origins, underlying theories, and practical applications. Origins of Personality Tests Personality assessment has a rich history that can be traced back to the early developments in psychology and the quest to understand the complexities of human behaviour. From its nascent beginnings to the sophisticated methods employed today, the evolution of personality testing reflects a journey marked by innovation, controversy, and continuous refinement. The roots of personality testing can be found in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when psychology was emerging as a distinct scientific discipline. Influential figures such as Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, and Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, laid the groundwork for understanding the unconscious mind and the dynamics of personality. Sigmund Freud Freud's pioneering work on the structure of personality, which emphasised the role of unconscious drives and childhood experiences, sparked a revolution in psychological thought. His development of psychoanalytic techniques, such as free association and dream analysis , provided early insights into the hidden motivations shaping human behaviour. Carl Jung Building upon Freud's theories, Carl Jung proposed a different conceptualisation of personality, introducing the concepts of introversion and extraversion and the collective unconscious. Jung's typological theory laid the foundation for later personality assessments, including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which categorises individuals based on their preferences in perception and judgment. Raymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck The mid-20th century witnessed a surge of interest in personality testing, spurred by advancements in psychometrics and the need for standardized methods of assessment. Psychologists such as Raymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck pioneered the development of trait-based models of personality, which sought to identify fundamental dimensions underlying human behaviour. Cattell's 16 Personality Factors (16PF) model and Eysenck's dimensions of extraversion-introversion and neuroticism-stability represented significant strides in the quantification of personality traits. These models laid the groundwork for the creation of objective personality inventories, which measured individuals' traits in a standardized and reliable manner. Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) The advent of computer technology in the latter half of the 20th century revolutionised the field of personality assessment, enabling the development of computerised testing platforms and sophisticated statistical analyses. This era saw the emergence of empirically derived personality assessments, such as the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) , which incorporated findings from factor analytic studies to refine the measurement of personality traits. Contemporary personality assessments draw upon a diverse array of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches, reflecting the ongoing evolution of the field. From traditional self-report inventories to innovative measures based on behavioural observation and neurobiological markers, personality testing continues to adapt to the changing needs of society and the demands of the modern workplace. The historical roots of personality testing are intertwined with the evolution of psychology as a science and the quest to unravel the mysteries of human personality. From the pioneering insights of Freud and Jung to the cutting-edge methodologies of today, personality assessment remains an indispensable tool for understanding individual differences and unlocking human potential. 2.0 Theories Underlying Personality Tests Personality assessment draws upon a diverse array of theoretical frameworks, each offering unique insights into the nature of human personality. By understanding these foundational theories, we gain valuable perspectives that inform the design and interpretation of modern personality assessments. In this section, we explore three major theories that have shaped the field of personality psychology: trait theory, psychoanalytic theory, and humanistic theory. Trait Theory Trait theory represents one of the oldest and most influential perspectives in the study of personality. At its core, trait theory posits that personality can be understood in terms of stable, enduring characteristics, or traits, that predispose individuals to behave in consistent ways across different situations. The roots of trait theory can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who proposed the existence of fundamental temperaments such as sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. However, it was not until the 20th century that trait theory gained prominence as a systematic approach to personality assessment. One of the key figures in the development of trait theory was Gordon Allport, whose seminal work "Personality: A Psychological Interpretation" laid the groundwork for modern trait-based models. Allport distinguished between cardinal, central, and secondary traits, highlighting the hierarchical nature of personality structure. Building upon Allport's work, Raymond Cattell proposed a taxonomy of personality traits based on factor analysis, culminating in the development of the 16 Personality Factors (16PF) model. Cattell identified 16 primary factors underlying human personality, ranging from warmth and dominance to anxiety and self-discipline, providing a comprehensive framework for assessing individual differences. Contemporary trait theorists, such as Robert McCrae and Paul Costa , further refined the trait-based approach with the introduction of the Five-Factor Model (FFM), also known as the Big Five. The FFM identifies five broad dimensions of personality—extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience—that encompass the full spectrum of human personality variation. Trait theory continues to be a dominant paradigm in personality psychology, providing a robust framework for understanding and measuring individual differences in personality across diverse populations and cultures. Psychoanalytic Theory Psychoanalytic theory, pioneered by Sigmund Freud, offers a depth-oriented perspective on personality that emphasises the role of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences in shaping individual behaviour and development. At the core of psychoanalytic theory is the concept of the unconscious mind, which Freud believed harboured hidden desires, conflicts, and memories that exerted a powerful influence on conscious thought and behaviour. Freud proposed a tripartite model of personality consisting of the id, ego, and superego, each representing different aspects of psychic functioning. The id, operating on the pleasure principle, seeks immediate gratification of basic instincts and desires, regardless of social norms or consequences. The ego, guided by the reality principle, mediates between the demands of the id, the constraints of reality, and the moral standards of the superego. The superego represents the internalised moral values and societal norms that shape ethical behaviour and conscience. Psychoanalytic personality assessment techniques, such as free association, dream analysis, and projective tests, aim to uncover unconscious conflicts and motivations that may be influencing an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. While psychoanalytic theory has been criticised for its lack of empirical validation and reliance on subjective interpretation, its influence on the field of personality psychology cannot be overstated. Humanistic Theory Humanistic theory, also known as the third force in psychology, emerged in the mid-20th century as a reaction against the deterministic and reductionistic approaches of psychoanalysis and behaviourism. Humanistic psychologists such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers sought to understand personality from a holistic perspective, focusing on the unique qualities that make individuals inherently human. At the heart of humanistic theory is the belief in the innate drive for self-actualisation, or the realization of one's full potential. Maslow proposed a hierarchical model of needs, known as the hierarchy of needs, which prioritises the satisfaction of basic physiological and safety needs before higher-level needs such as belongingness, esteem, and self-actualisation can be met. Carl Rogers, on the other hand, emphasised the importance of self-concept and unconditional positive regard in fostering psychological growth and well-being. Rogers believed that individuals possess an inherent tendency towards self-actualisation and personal growth, which can be facilitated through empathic understanding and genuine acceptance by others. Humanistic personality assessments, such as the Q-sort technique and the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) , focus on subjective experiences and self-perceptions, aiming to capture the richness and complexity of individual subjective reality. Humanistic approaches to personality assessment place a strong emphasis on qualitative methods and the exploration of subjective meaning, in contrast to the quantitative methods employed by trait theorists. Trait theory, psychoanalytic theory, and humanistic theory represent distinct yet complementary perspectives on the nature of human personality. While trait theory provides a quantitative framework for understanding individual differences, psychoanalytic theory offers a depth-oriented perspective on unconscious processes, and humanistic theory emphasises the subjective experiences and inherent potential for growth within each individual. By integrating insights from these diverse theoretical perspectives, modern personality assessments strive to capture the multidimensional nature of human personality in all its richness and complexity. 3.0 Psychometric Properties of Personality Tests Psychometric properties are fundamental aspects of personality assessments that determine their reliability, validity, and overall quality. Understanding these properties is essential for evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of personality tests. In this section, we explore key psychometric concepts, common assessment methods, and strategies for addressing potential biases and errors. Key Psychometric Concepts Reliability: Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of a measurement tool over time and across different contexts. In the context of personality tests, reliability indicates the extent to which the test yields consistent results when administered repeatedly to the same individuals or under similar conditions. Common measures of reliability include internal consistency, which assesses the extent to which items within a test are correlated, and test-retest reliability, which evaluates the consistency of scores over time. Validity: Validity pertains to the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure and the accuracy of the inferences drawn from the test scores. In the context of personality assessment, validity encompasses various aspects, including content validity, which assesses the representativeness of test items for the construct being measured, and criterion-related validity, which examines the correlation between test scores and external criteria or outcomes. Construct validity, on the other hand, evaluates the extent to which the test accurately measures the underlying theoretical construct of interest. Standardisation: Standardization involves the development of uniform procedures for administering, scoring, and interpreting a test to ensure consistency and fairness across different administrations and populations. Standardization procedures typically include establishing normative data based on a representative sample of the population and providing clear guidelines for test administration and scoring. 4.0 Common Assessment Methods Factor Analysis : Factor analysis is a statistical technique used to identify the underlying dimensions or factors that explain patterns of correlation among a set of variables. In the context of personality assessment, factor analysis is employed to identify the primary dimensions or traits underlying an individual's personality and to develop more parsimonious models of personality structure. Test-Retest Reliability: Test-retest reliability involves administering the same test to the same group of individuals on two separate occasions and assessing the consistency of scores across administrations. A high test-retest reliability coefficient indicates that the test produces stable results over time, thereby ensuring its consistency and reliability. Criterion-Related Validity: Criterion-related validity assesses the extent to which test scores are predictive of or correlate with external criteria or outcomes. For example, in the context of employment selection, criterion-related validity examines the relationship between personality test scores and job performance ratings to determine whether the test accurately predicts job success. 5.0 Addressing Potential Biases and Errors Response Styles: Response styles, such as social desirability bias and acquiescence bias, can distort test results by influencing how individuals respond to test items. Social desirability bias, for instance, occurs when individuals provide responses that they perceive as socially desirable rather than reflecting their true thoughts or feelings. To mitigate response styles, personality tests may incorporate validity scales or items designed to detect and adjust for response bias. Cultural Differences: Cultural differences in values, beliefs, and communication styles can impact the validity and fairness of personality assessments across diverse populations. To address cultural biases, personality tests should be culturally sensitive and adapted to the cultural context of the target population. This may involve translating test materials into different languages, incorporating culturally relevant items, and validating the test with diverse cultural groups. Psychometric properties such as reliability, validity, and standardization are critical considerations in evaluating the quality and effectiveness of personality assessments. By employing rigorous assessment methods, addressing potential biases and errors, and ensuring cultural sensitivity, personality tests can provide valuable insights into individual differences while maintaining fairness and accuracy across diverse populations. 6.0 Personality Types and Motivational Styles Comprehending the intricate interplay between personality types and motivational styles is crucial for enhancing individual satisfaction and productivity. Each personality trait, whether it's extroversion, introversion, conscientiousness, spontaneity, or openness, manifests in unique motivational tendencies. Extroverts, buoyed by social interaction, thrive on recognition and collaboration, finding motivation in collective accomplishments. Conversely, introverts, drawn to introspection, seek intrinsic rewards such as personal growth and mastery, finding motivation in solitary pursuits. Moreover, conscientious individuals, known for their attention to detail, derive motivation from clearly outlined objectives and structured tasks, finding fulfilment in the journey of achievement. Conversely, spontaneous personalities, such as improvisers, are invigorated by variety and excitement, flourishing in environments that challenge their creativity. Open-minded individuals, naturally curious and innovative, are propelled by exploration, constantly seeking fresh experiences that broaden their perspectives. By acknowledging and adapting to these inherent motivational inclinations, both organisations and individuals can optimise performance and cultivate a sense of fulfilment. 7.0 Practical Applications of Personality Tests Personality tests have become invaluable tools for enhancing various aspects of workplace dynamics, offering insights into individual differences and facilitating informed decision-making. In this section, we explore the multifaceted applications of personality tests in the workplace, highlighting their role in talent acquisition, career development, team building, and conflict resolution. Talent Acquisition Personality tests are increasingly used in the recruitment and selection process to identify candidates who possess the requisite skills, traits, and values for a given role. By assessing candidates' personality characteristics, employers can gain a deeper understanding of their fit within the organizational culture and the demands of the job. Personality tests also help mitigate biases in hiring decisions by providing objective criteria for evaluating candidates and predicting job performance. Career Development Personality assessments play a vital role in guiding individuals' career paths and professional development. By identifying their strengths, preferences, and areas for growth, employees can make informed decisions about their career trajectories and pursue opportunities aligned with their personality and interests. Personality tests can also inform career counselling and coaching interventions, helping individuals maximise their potential and achieve their career goals. Team Building Personality tests are valuable tools for building cohesive and high-performing teams by fostering greater self-awareness, understanding, and appreciation of individual differences. By assessing team members' personality profiles, team leaders can leverage complementary strengths, mitigate potential conflicts, and enhance communication and collaboration within the team. Personality-based team building activities, such as personality workshops and retreats, can also promote trust, cohesion, and synergy among team members. Conflict Resolution Personality tests provide valuable insights into the underlying causes of interpersonal conflicts and facilitate more effective conflict resolution strategies. By understanding the personality dynamics at play, managers and HR professionals can identify potential sources of conflict, address underlying issues, and implement targeted interventions to restore harmony and productivity in the workplace. Personality-based conflict resolution approaches, such as mediation and coaching, help individuals navigate differences in communication styles, preferences, and values to reach mutually satisfactory outcomes. Real-World Examples Organisations across various industries have successfully implemented personality testing programmes to enhance employee performance, improve organisational culture, and achieve strategic objectives. For example, a global technology company implemented personality assessments as part of its talent acquisition process to identify candidates who demonstrated the innovation, adaptability, and collaboration skills essential for success in a dynamic industry. By aligning recruitment practices with organisational values and objectives, the company was able to build a diverse and high-performing workforce capable of driving innovation and growth. In another example, a healthcare organisation utilised personality tests to enhance team effectiveness and patient care. By assessing the personality profiles of healthcare professionals, the organisation identified opportunities to optimise team composition, improve communication and collaboration, and enhance patient outcomes. Through targeted training and development initiatives informed by personality assessments, the organisation fostered a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, resulting in higher patient satisfaction and quality of care. Personality tests offer a wealth of opportunities for enhancing workplace dynamics and achieving organisational success. By leveraging personality assessments in talent acquisition, career development, team building, and conflict resolution, organisations can unlock the full potential of their workforce, cultivate a positive and inclusive organisational culture, and achieve strategic objectives in an increasingly competitive business environment. 8.0 Benefits of Workplace Personality Tests Personality tests in the workplace offer a multitude of advantages that contribute to the overall efficiency and harmony within organisations. Improving Communication and Teamwork Effective communication lies at the heart of any successful organisation. By understanding the diverse personalities within teams, employers can tailor communication strategies to suit individual preferences, thus creating clearer and more effective exchanges. Personality tests provide invaluable insights into communication styles, preferences, and potential barriers, enabling teams to navigate conversations with greater ease and cohesion. By embracing these differences, organisations can cultivate a culture of open communication and collaboration, leading to increased productivity and innovation. Enhancing Hiring and Selection Processes Recruitment is a critical aspect of organisational success, and personality tests play a vital role in streamlining the hiring process. By incorporating these assessments into recruitment strategies, employers can gain deeper insights into candidates' personalities, values, and cultural fit. This allows for more informed hiring decisions, ensuring that individuals not only possess the necessary skills and qualifications but also align with the organisation's values and ethos. Personality tests help identify candidates who are well-suited to the role and the broader team dynamic, ultimately leading to higher employee satisfaction and retention rates. Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses for Professional Development Personal and professional development are essential components of career progression and employee engagement. Personality tests provide individuals with valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth, empowering them to take ownership of their personal development journey. By understanding their unique personality traits and behavioural tendencies, employees can leverage their strengths to maximise performance and address areas requiring improvement. Organisations can utilise these insights to tailor training and development programmes that cater to individual needs, thus fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. Minimising Conflicts and Misunderstandings Conflict resolution is a common challenge in any workplace, often stemming from differences in personalities, communication styles, and work preferences. Personality tests offer a proactive approach to mitigating conflicts by providing a deeper understanding of individual differences and potential sources of friction. By recognising and respecting diverse perspectives, teams can navigate disagreements with greater empathy and mutual respect, thereby minimising misunderstandings and promoting a harmonious work environment. Personality tests serve as a preventive measure against conflicts, enabling organisations to proactively address potential issues before they escalate, thus maintaining productivity and morale. Workplace personality tests offer a range of benefits that contribute to organisational success, from enhancing communication and teamwork to facilitating more informed hiring decisions and fostering personal development. By embracing these assessments, organisations can unlock the full potential of their workforce, driving performance, innovation, and employee satisfaction. 9.0 Types of Personality Tests Personality tests come in various forms, each with its own unique approach and focus. In this section, we'll delve into the different types of personality assessments, providing a comprehensive overview of their methodologies, advantages, limitations, and real-world applications. Psychometric Tests Psychometric tests are among the most widely used personality assessments in the workplace. These tests measure specific personality traits, such as conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, openness to experience, and emotional stability, often based on established psychological theories such as the Big Five model. Psychometric tests typically involve self-report questionnaires or situational judgment tests and are renowned for their reliability and validity. They offer employers valuable insights into candidates' personality profiles, enabling more informed hiring decisions and targeted personal development initiatives. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a popular personality assessment tool based on Carl Jung's theory of psychological types. It categorises individuals into one of 16 personality types, each characterised by four dichotomous preferences: extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. While the MBTI provides a framework for understanding individual differences and preferences, critics argue that its dichotomous nature oversimplifies the complexity of personality and lacks empirical support. Nonetheless, the MBTI remains widely used in various organisational settings, offering insights into team dynamics, communication styles, and leadership preferences. DISC Assessment The DISC assessment is based on the work of psychologist William Marston and categorises individuals into four primary behavioural styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. This assessment focuses on observable behaviours and communication styles, providing insights into how individuals interact with others and approach tasks. The DISC assessment is particularly useful for enhancing communication, resolving conflicts, and building cohesive teams. However, critics argue that it oversimplifies personality and may lack predictive validity in certain contexts. StrengthsFinder (CliftonStrengths) StrengthsFinder, now known as CliftonStrengths, is a personality assessment developed by Gallup that focuses on identifying individuals' natural talents and strengths. The assessment categorises individuals into 34 unique "strengths themes," each representing a specific area of talent or capability. By leveraging individuals' strengths, organisations can maximise employee engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction. StrengthsFinder is widely used for personal development, team building, and leadership coaching, offering a positive and strengths-based approach to talent management. Real-World Applications These personality assessments find diverse applications across various organisational contexts. Psychometric tests are commonly used in recruitment and selection processes, helping employers identify candidates who align with job requirements and organisational culture. The MBTI is often utilised for team building, conflict resolution, and leadership development workshops. DISC assessments are favoured for improving communication, enhancing sales effectiveness, and building high-performing teams. StrengthsFinder is embraced for personal and professional development, coaching, and talent management initiatives. Understanding the different types of personality tests, their methodologies, advantages, limitations, and real-world applications is essential for harnessing their full potential in the workplace. Each assessment offers unique insights into individuals' personalities, preferences, and capabilities, empowering organisations to make informed decisions, foster collaboration, and drive performance. 10 How to Administer Personality Tests in the Workplace Implementing personality tests in the workplace requires careful consideration and adherence to best practices to ensure effectiveness, fairness, and ethicality. In this section, we'll explore the key steps and considerations for administering personality tests responsibly and successfully. Best Practices for Administering Tests: Define clear objectives: Before administering personality tests, clearly define the purpose and objectives of the assessment. Determine what specific traits or competencies you aim to assess and how the results will be used to inform decision-making. Select appropriate assessments: Choose personality tests that align with your organisation's needs, values, and culture. Consider factors such as reliability, validity, and relevance to the job role or context. Provide adequate resources: Ensure that employees have access to necessary resources, such as information about the purpose of the assessment, instructions for completing the test, and support for interpreting results. Offer support and guidance: Be available to answer employees' questions and address any concerns they may have about the assessment process. Provide guidance on how to approach the test and reassure employees of its confidentiality and anonymity. Monitor implementation: Regularly monitor the administration process to ensure compliance with best practices and ethical guidelines. Collect feedback from employees to identify areas for improvement and address any issues that arise. Ensuring Confidentiality and Privacy Communicate confidentiality: Clearly communicate to employees that their responses to personality tests will be kept confidential and used solely for the intended purpose, such as personal development or team building. Secure data storage: Implement secure systems for storing and managing assessment data to protect employees' privacy. Ensure that only authorised personnel have access to individual results and that data is encrypted and stored in compliance with relevant data protection regulations. Anonymity options: Consider offering employees the option to complete assessments anonymously to alleviate concerns about privacy and encourage honest responses. Obtaining Consent from Employees Informed consent: Obtain informed consent from employees before administering personality tests, ensuring they understand the purpose of the assessment, how their data will be used, and their rights regarding participation. Voluntary participation: Emphasise that participation in personality tests is voluntary and that employees have the right to decline participation without facing any repercussions or negative consequences. Addressing Common Concerns or Resistance Transparency: Be transparent about the purpose and value of personality tests, addressing any misconceptions or concerns employees may have. Provide clear explanations of how assessment results will be used and the benefits they can bring to individuals and the organisation. Open dialogue: Encourage open communication and dialogue with employees, inviting them to share their thoughts, questions, and concerns about personality testing. Address any resistance or scepticism with empathy and understanding, offering reassurance and clarification where needed. Tailored approach: Recognise that individuals may have different comfort levels and preferences regarding personality tests. Tailor the administration process to accommodate varying needs and ensure that employees feel respected and supported throughout the assessment process. By adhering to these best practices and considerations, organisations can effectively administer personality tests in the workplace, fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and respect for employees' privacy and rights. Personality tests, when implemented thoughtfully and ethically, can serve as valuable tools for enhancing employee development, improving team dynamics, and driving organisational success. 11 Interpreting Results Interpreting the results of personality tests is a crucial step in leveraging their insights to enhance individual and team effectiveness in the workplace. In this section, we'll explore the key considerations and best practices for effectively interpreting personality test results. a. Understanding Test Scores and Profiles: Familiarise yourself with scoring methods: Gain a thorough understanding of how personality tests are scored, including the interpretation of scores and what they signify in terms of personality traits and characteristics. Interpret individual scores: Analyse individual test scores to identify prominent personality traits, preferences, and tendencies. Consider how these traits may influence an individual's behaviour, communication style, and work preferences. Explore profile patterns: Examine the overall profile pattern of test scores to gain insights into the individual's unique personality profile. Look for patterns, inconsistencies, or outliers that may shed light on underlying strengths, weaknesses, or areas for development. b. Interpreting Individual and Team Results: Individual assessment: Interpret individual test results within the context of the specific job role, team dynamics, and organisational culture. Consider how individual personality traits align with job requirements, team roles, and performance expectations. Team assessment: Analyse aggregate test results to assess team dynamics, strengths, and potential areas of conflict or complementarity. Identify commonalities and differences among team members and explore how these dynamics may impact collaboration, communication, and overall team performance. c. Recognising Nuances and Complexities in Personality Assessments: Acknowledge variability: Recognise that personality assessments capture a snapshot of an individual's traits at a specific point in time and may not fully capture the complexity of personality dynamics. Consider context: Take into account situational factors, environmental influences, and individual differences when interpreting personality test results. Contextualise the findings within the broader organisational context and the individual's personal and professional experiences. d. Providing Feedback to Employees: Offer constructive feedback: Provide employees with clear and constructive feedback on their personality test results, highlighting strengths, areas for development, and potential implications for their work performance and interactions. Focus on development: Emphasise the developmental aspect of personality assessment results, encouraging employees to leverage their strengths and address areas for improvement. Offer guidance and support for setting actionable goals and implementing strategies for personal and professional growth. By following these guidelines for interpreting personality test results, organisations can unlock valuable insights into individual and team dynamics, facilitate more effective communication and collaboration, and support employees' personal and professional development journeys. Personality assessments, when interpreted thoughtfully and proactively, can serve as powerful tools for enhancing self-awareness, fostering positive relationships, and driving organisational success. 12 Using Personality Tests for Hiring and Team Building Personality tests offer valuable insights that can significantly enhance both the hiring process and team dynamics within organisations. Let's delve into how personality tests can be effectively utilised for recruitment and team building purposes. a. Integrating Personality Tests into Recruitment Processes: Enhancing candidate assessment: Incorporate personality tests as a complementary tool alongside traditional interviews and assessments to gain a more holistic understanding of candidates' suitability for the role. Identifying cultural fit: Use personality tests to assess candidates' alignment with the organisation's values, culture, and working environment. Look for individuals whose personality traits align with the desired cultural attributes and team dynamics. Predicting job performance: Leverage personality test results to predict candidates' potential job performance, including their likelihood of success in the role, compatibility with team members, and ability to thrive in the organisational context. b. Assessing Cultural Fit and Job Fit: Cultural alignment: Assess candidates' fit with the organisational culture by examining their personality traits, values, and work preferences in relation to the company's mission, vision, and core values. Job-related competencies: Evaluate candidates' suitability for the role by assessing how their personality traits align with the job requirements, responsibilities, and performance expectations. Look for individuals whose personalities are well-suited to the demands of the position and the desired outcomes. c. Strategies for Team Building and Improving Collaboration: Enhancing team dynamics: Use personality tests to understand the diverse personalities within teams and how they complement or challenge each other's strengths and preferences. Facilitating communication: Leverage personality insights to improve communication and collaboration among team members by fostering understanding, empathy, and mutual respect. Building cohesive teams: Identify strategies for building cohesive and high-performing teams based on the diversity of personalities present. Encourage team members to leverage their unique strengths and perspectives to achieve common goals. d. Leveraging Diversity of Personalities for Innovation and Problem-Solving: Promoting innovation: Embrace the diversity of personalities within teams as a source of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. Encourage the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and approaches to stimulate innovative thinking and drive continuous improvement. Harnessing complementary strengths: Capitalise on the diverse skills and strengths of team members by assigning tasks and projects that leverage their unique capabilities. Encourage collaboration and cross-functional teamwork to maximise the collective potential of the team. By strategically integrating personality tests into recruitment processes and team building initiatives, organisations can optimise their talent acquisition efforts, foster more effective collaboration and communication, and leverage the diversity of personalities to drive innovation and problem-solving. Personality assessments, when used judiciously and in conjunction with other evaluation methods, can serve as invaluable tools for building high-performing teams and achieving organisational success. 13 Ethical Considerations Ethical considerations are paramount when utilising personality tests in the workplace to ensure fairness, accuracy, and respect for employee rights and privacy. Let's explore the ethical guidelines and principles that should govern the use of personality tests in organisational settings. a. Ethical Guidelines for Using Personality Tests in the Workplace: Transparency and informed consent: Prioritise transparency by clearly communicating to employees the purpose, objectives, and potential implications of personality tests. Obtain informed consent from employees before administering assessments, ensuring they understand how their data will be used and protected. Voluntary participation: Respect employees' autonomy and right to privacy by making participation in personality tests voluntary. Avoid coercion or pressure to participate and reassure employees that their decision will not impact their employment status or opportunities. Confidentiality and anonymity: Safeguard employee privacy by ensuring that personality test responses are kept confidential and anonymised whenever possible. Implement secure data storage and handling procedures to protect sensitive information from unauthorised access or disclosure. Professional competence: Ensure that individuals administering personality tests are adequately trained and qualified to interpret results accurately and ethically. Uphold professional standards of conduct and integrity in all aspects of the assessment process. b. Ensuring Fairness and Accuracy in Assessment: Validity and reliability: Select personality tests that have been rigorously validated and demonstrated to be reliable measures of relevant personality constructs. Use assessment tools that have undergone thorough psychometric evaluation and adhere to industry standards. Avoiding bias: Guard against bias in personality assessment by using validated instruments that have been designed and tested for fairness across diverse populations. Be mindful of cultural, gender, and other demographic factors that may influence test performance and interpretation. Consistency and standardisation: Administer personality tests consistently and according to established protocols to ensure reliability and comparability of results. Follow standardised procedures for scoring, interpretation, and feedback to maintain consistency and accuracy. c. Addressing Biases and Stereotypes: Awareness and mitigation: Recognise and address potential biases and stereotypes that may influence the interpretation of personality test results. Be mindful of preconceptions or assumptions about certain personality traits and strive to evaluate individuals fairly and objectively. Cultural sensitivity: Consider cultural differences and norms when interpreting personality test results, avoiding the imposition of Western-centric frameworks or stereotypes. Adapt assessment tools and interpretation approaches to be culturally sensitive and inclusive. d. Protecting Employee Rights and Privacy: Data protection and privacy: Comply with relevant data protection regulations and ensure that employee data collected through personality tests is handled and stored securely. Obtain explicit consent for data processing and storage, and only use employee data for lawful and legitimate purposes. Right to access and transparency: Provide employees with access to their own personality test results and ensure transparency regarding how their data is used and shared. Respect employees' rights to review, amend, or delete their personal information as required by data protection laws. By adhering to these ethical guidelines and principles, organisations can uphold the integrity and fairness of personality testing in the workplace, while safeguarding employee rights, privacy, and dignity. Ethical conduct in the use of personality tests fosters trust, transparency, and respect within the organisation, ultimately contributing to a positive and ethical work environment. 14 Conclusion In conclusion, understanding personalities in the workplace is instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration, productivity, and success. Throughout this guide, we've explored the multifaceted role of personality tests in enhancing various aspects of organisational dynamics, from recruitment and team building to personal development and leadership effectiveness. Let's recap the key points and reflect on the significance of integrating personality assessments into organisational practices. Summary of Key Points: Personality tests offer valuable insights into individuals' traits, preferences, and behavioural tendencies, enabling organisations to make informed decisions about recruitment, team dynamics, and talent development. By leveraging personality assessments, organisations can enhance communication, foster collaboration, and maximise the potential of their workforce by aligning individuals' strengths with organisational goals. Ethical considerations, such as ensuring fairness, accuracy, and privacy in assessment processes, are paramount to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of personality testing in the workplace. Real-life examples and case studies demonstrate the diverse applications and benefits of personality tests, illustrating how organisations can leverage these assessments to achieve success and drive performance. Final Thoughts on the Importance of Understanding Personalities in the Workplace: Understanding personalities in the workplace is not merely a theoretical exercise but a practical imperative for fostering a positive work environment and achieving organisational objectives. Personality tests provide a valuable lens through which organisations can gain insights into individual differences, leverage diversity, and promote inclusive and equitable practices. By embracing the nuances of personality assessments and integrating them into organisational practices, organisations can unlock the full potential of their employees, cultivate high-performing teams, and create a culture of continuous learning and growth. c. Encouragement for Readers to Implement What They've Learned: As you conclude your journey through this guide, we encourage you to reflect on the insights and strategies presented and consider how you can apply them within your own organisational context. Whether you're a human resources professional, team leader, or individual contributor, there are numerous opportunities to leverage personality tests to enhance performance, improve collaboration, and drive success. We invite you to take proactive steps to integrate personality assessments into your recruitment processes, team-building initiatives, and personal development plans. By embracing the power of personality testing, you can unlock new possibilities for individual and organisational growth, paving the way for a more productive, harmonious, and fulfilling workplace experience. In closing, we extend our best wishes for your continued success and growth in harnessing the power of personality assessments to transform your workplace and unlock the full potential of your team. Thank you for embarking on this journey with us, and may your endeavours be met with prosperity and fulfilment. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

The Perils of Not Using a Business Management System Discover the perils of neglecting a robust business management system. From chaotic workflows to fragmented data and inadequate resource allocation, learn how overlooking this crucial aspect can hinder efficiency, profitability, and long-term sustainability for businesses in the UK. Published on: 4 May 2023 In the dynamic realm of entrepreneurship, the allure of running a business often lies in the promise of freedom—the autonomy to innovate , the thrill of risk-taking, and the potential for boundless growth. However, amidst the excitement, it’s easy to overlook the crucial backbone that keeps operations running smoothly: a robust business management system. From small startups to large corporations, neglecting this vital aspect can lead to a myriad of hazards that jeopardise efficiency, profitability, and ultimately, the sustainability of the enterprise. 1. Chaotic Workflow Management: Without a centralised system in place, businesses often find themselves drowning in chaos. Imagine a scenario where tasks are assigned via scattered emails, documents are stored across various platforms, and communication is fragmented between multiple channels. Such disorganisation not only hampers productivity but also fosters confusion among team members, leading to missed deadlines, duplicated efforts, and a general sense of inefficiency. 2. Data Fragmentation and Inaccuracies: In the absence of a unified business management system, data tends to reside in silos, scattered across disparate tools and applications. This fragmentation not only makes it arduous to access critical information but also increases the likelihood of inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Consequently, decision-making becomes compromised, as leaders lack a comprehensive view of the business landscape and must rely on incomplete or outdated data. 3. Inefficient Resource Allocation: Optimal resource allocation is paramount for driving growth and maximising returns. However, without a cohesive system for tracking resources—be it finances, manpower, or inventory—businesses are prone to inefficiencies and wastage. From overstocked warehouses to underutilised talent, the repercussions of poor resource management can manifest in reduced profitability and missed opportunities for expansion. 4. Inadequate Customer Relationship Management: In today’s customer-centric landscape, nurturing relationships is key to fostering loyalty and driving revenue. Yet, without a dedicated system for managing customer interactions and insights, businesses risk falling short in delivering personalised experiences and addressing customer needs effectively. This not only impacts customer satisfaction but also diminishes the likelihood of repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals. 5. Limited Scalability and Adaptability: As businesses strive to scale and adapt to evolving market dynamics, flexibility becomes non-negotiable. However, a lack of robust management systems can hinder scalability by introducing bottlenecks and constraints that impede growth. Whether it’s accommodating increased transaction volumes or integrating new technologies , the absence of scalable infrastructure constrains the business’s ability to seize emerging opportunities and stay ahead of the curve. Conclusion: In a hypercompetitive business landscape, the importance of a robust business management system cannot be overstated. From streamlining workflows to enhancing data integrity and facilitating strategic decision-making, such systems serve as the linchpin of organisational success. By investing in the right tools and technologies, businesses can mitigate the hazards associated with neglecting proper management systems, thereby laying a sturdy foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity in the long run. After all, in the journey of entrepreneurship, effective management is not merely a luxury—it’s a necessity for survival. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

Carbon Reduction Planning: A Blueprint for a Sustainable Future Carbon reduction planning is essential for mitigating climate change, involving setting targets, sustainable practices, and global cooperation for emission reductions. Crafting a Sustainable Tomorrow: The Power of Carbon Reduction Planning In a world grappling with the ever-increasing challenges of climate change, carbon reduction planning has become an imperative for governments, businesses, and individuals alike. As we witness the consequences of rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and the depletion of natural resources, the urgency of mitigating carbon emissions cannot be overstated. Carbon reduction planning is not just about environmental stewardship; it is a roadmap to a sustainable future. In this article, we will explore the significance of carbon reduction planning, its key components, and the role it plays in addressing the climate crisis. The Urgency of Carbon Reduction The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ) has issued dire warnings about the consequences of unchecked carbon emissions. With the earth's average temperature continuing to rise, the impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, floods, storms, and the displacement of communities, are becoming increasingly evident. The urgency of carbon reduction planning cannot be understated. It is our best chance to curb these devastating effects and secure a habitable planet for future generations. Key Components of Carbon Reduction Planning Setting Clear Emission Reduction Targets A fundamental aspect of carbon reduction planning is the establishment of clear, ambitious, and science-based emission reduction targets. Governments, businesses, and individuals need to commit to specific goals that align with the Paris Agreement's objective to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Transitioning to Renewable Energy The energy sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power is pivotal in carbon reduction planning. This shift not only reduces emissions but also helps to diversify energy sources and create sustainable job opportunities. Enhancing Energy Efficiency Efficiency gains are critical in reducing carbon emissions. This includes improving the efficiency of industrial processes, transportation, and buildings. Investments in energy-efficient technologies and practices can lead to substantial carbon reductions. Sustainable Transportation The transportation sector is a significant source of carbon emissions. Implementing measures such as promoting electric vehicles, improving public transportation, and encouraging active transportation (walking and cycling) are essential components of carbon reduction planning. Reforestation and Afforestation Forests play a vital role in sequestering carbon dioxide. Carbon reduction planning should include initiatives to preserve existing forests, as well as reforest and afforest areas to capture and store more carbon. Carbon Pricing Carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems, can provide economic incentives for businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon emissions. These tools are a crucial component of carbon reduction planning, as they internalise the environmental costs of carbon emissions. Sustainable Agriculture Agriculture is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, mainly through deforestation, livestock emissions, and the use of synthetic fertilisers. Sustainable agricultural practices, such as regenerative farming, can reduce emissions while enhancing soil health and food security. Circular Economy Reducing waste and promoting recycling and circular economy principles can significantly lower carbon emissions associated with the production and disposal of goods. Carbon reduction planning should include strategies to minimise waste and extend the lifespan of products. The Role of Governments Governments play a pivotal role in driving carbon reduction planning on a national and international scale. They have the power to enact legislation, create incentives, and allocate resources to support carbon reduction efforts. Some key government initiatives include Policy Development Governments can create and implement policies that promote carbon reduction, such as renewable energy incentives, carbon pricing, and fuel efficiency standards. These policies provide a regulatory framework that guides businesses and individuals toward more sustainable practices. Investment in Infrastructure Investing in green infrastructure, such as public transportation, clean energy production, and energy-efficient buildings, is a fundamental aspect of carbon reduction planning. Governments can allocate funds to develop these critical elements of a sustainable future. International Cooperation Climate change is a global issue that transcends national boundaries. Governments can engage in international agreements and partnerships to collaborate on carbon reduction planning. The Paris Agreement, for example, is a testament to the power of collective global action. Research and Development Supporting research and development in clean energy technologies and sustainable agriculture is essential. Governments can fund research initiatives that drive innovation and help transition society towards carbon reduction. The Role of Businesses Businesses are major contributors to carbon emissions, but they also have the capacity to be significant drivers of carbon reduction. Some ways in which businesses can contribute to carbon reduction planning include: Setting Corporate Emission Reduction Targets Companies can commit to reducing their carbon emissions by setting specific targets and adopting sustainability goals. This commitment can drive internal efforts to cut emissions and invest in clean technologies. Sustainable Supply Chains Businesses can examine their supply chains and adopt sustainability practices, such as sourcing materials responsibly and reducing transportation emissions. Collaborating with suppliers to reduce emissions throughout the entire value chain is a crucial aspect of carbon reduction planning. Energy Efficiency Improving energy efficiency in operations, manufacturing, and facilities can lead to substantial carbon reductions and cost savings. Businesses can adopt energy-efficient technologies and practices and monitor their progress. Green Innovation Innovation in clean technologies and products can have a profound impact on carbon reduction. Companies that invest in research and development of green solutions contribute significantly to carbon reduction planning. Carbon Offsetting While reducing emissions at the source is paramount, some emissions may be challenging to eliminate entirely. Businesses can offset their remaining emissions by investing in carbon offset projects, such as reforestation or renewable energy initiatives. The Role of Individuals Individuals also play a crucial role in carbon reduction planning. While the responsibility may seem small on an individual level, collective action can lead to substantial changes. Some ways individuals can contribute to carbon reduction include: Sustainable Transportation Opting for public transportation, carpooling, biking, or walking instead of driving alone can significantly reduce personal carbon emissions. If possible, consider switching to an electric vehicle or car with higher fuel efficiency. Energy Conservation Reducing energy consumption at home by using energy-efficient appliances, sealing drafts, and practicing energy conservation can lower carbon emissions and reduce utility bills. Renewable Energy If feasible, consider installing solar panels or purchasing renewable energy from clean energy providers. This transition to renewable energy at the individual level can have a considerable impact on carbon reduction. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Reducing waste and practicing recycling can help lower carbon emissions associated with the production and disposal of goods. Advocacy and Education Individuals can advocate for carbon reduction planning at the local, national, and international levels. Raising awareness about climate change and its consequences is essential to building public support for carbon reduction efforts. Conclusion Carbon reduction planning is not a choice; it is a necessity. It is a multifaceted approach that requires the commitment and cooperation of governments, businesses, and individuals alike. While the scale of the climate challenge may seem daunting, every action, from setting ambitious goals to adopting sustainable practices in our daily lives, contributes to the collective effort to combat climate change. Carbon reduction planning is our blueprint for a sustainable future, a world in which we can not only mitigate the worst effects of climate change but also build a healthier, more equitable, and prosperous society for generations to come. 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Motivation Assessments Evaluation of Motivational Styles A better understanding of how we are motivated leads to a greater sense of self-awareness and improves our relationships with others. This understanding helps us see what is important to us and others. When combined with a knowledge of personality types, this understanding leads to improved decision making, conflict management and alignment of our work and personal lives. We can understand the actions and behaviours of others too when we know more about what motivates them. Knowledge of motivators when combined with personality styles and emotional insights, provides a powerful tool for improving our own understanding of why we do what we do, and why we think what we think. A practical understanding of our motivations helps us to avoid thinking we’re less good than we are and lacking motivation. It helps us to understand better what we value and how that affects our feelings in any given situation. Our motivations influence our behaviours, decisions and actions. To create a high-performance work system driving increased business productivity and profitability, we need to align our core motivations with our work. When you understand these motivators, you become more effective, you do things for the right reasons, you're less stressed and achieve significantly better results. You can think of motivators as the “why” of what we do, where personality assessments provides the “how” someone will behave. They help people to better understand their values and belief systems. Our motivations reveal our mindset, our viewpoint and way of thinking. Our motivators are essentially the reasons we do anything – they drive our behaviours, decisions, and actions, they define our passions, pleasures and satisfaction. They are the reasons we do anything; driving our behaviours, the decisions we take, and actions. The Seven Motivators Aesthetic, the need for balance, harmony and form Altruism, the need to help others Individualism, a drive to be independent and unique Economic, related to money and time Power, the need to be in control and have influence Regulatory, the need to establish order, routine and structure Theoretical, a thirst for knowledge, learning and understanding The Motivations assessment provides an in-depth identification and review of these seven dimensions and how they combine to influence behaviours, decisions and actions. It reveals how each of the seven motivators impacts our choices. We have to combine them to see how they affect one another and work as a whole. Create Triple Bottom Line Growth Discover strategies to enhance profitability, cultivate a greener and more sustainable business model, and elevate overall well-being. WATCH VIDEO

Your Survey Results Are In: There’s Room for Improvement in Your Business Your survey results suggest that while your business is holding steady, there are areas that could use some attention. Whether you're facing challenges or simply need a fresh perspective, we're here to help you get your business back on track. Don’t wait until small issues become big problems. Schedule a free call with our experienced business consultants to: Identify Weak Spots: Understand where your business might be underperforming and how to fix it. Develop a Clear Strategy: Work with us to create a plan that addresses your current challenges and sets you up for future success. Get Back on Track: Learn how to optimize operations, improve profitability, and regain control. Now is the time to take action. Book your call today and let’s work together to ensure your business thrives, no matter the challenges you face.

Navigating the Triple Bottom Line for Sustainable Success Master the Triple Bottom Line: A strategic guide to balancing profit, people, and planet for sustainable growth, impactful decisions, and long-term business success. Published on: 31 Oct 2024 In the ever-evolving landscape of business, a paradigm shift has taken place. Beyond traditional profit-centric models, companies are increasingly recognising the importance of a holistic approach that considers not only financial gains but also social and environmental impact. This concept is encapsulated in the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, which urges businesses to balance profits, people, and the planet for sustainable success. Understanding the Triple Bottom Line The Triple Bottom Line, coined by John Elkington in 1994, extends the traditional bottom line, which focuses solely on financial performance, to include two additional dimensions – social and environmental. The TBL framework suggests that a business’s success should be measured not just by its economic profits but also by its positive contributions to society and the environment. The overarching objective of implementing a sustainable business strategy is to generate positive effects on the environment, society, or both, concurrently enhancing value for shareholders. Business leaders are increasingly recognising the power of sustainable business strategies not just in addressing global challenges but also in propelling the success of their firms. Nevertheless, the task of defining sustainability, establishing precise and achievable goals, and devising a strategy to accomplish those objectives can be challenging. An approach for understanding a business’s sustainability initiatives is through the application of the triple bottom line concept, particularly in the context of driving the firm’s overall success. Profit: Beyond the Financial Bottom Line: While profitability remains a crucial aspect of any business, the TBL urges companies to consider the broader impact of their operations. In a study by Harvard Business Review , it was found that companies embracing sustainable practices out perform their counterparts in the long run. By aligning business strategies with environmental and social responsibility, companies can enhance brand reputation, attract environmentally conscious consumers, and foster innovation. People: Nurturing a Socially Responsible Culture The “People” dimension of the TBL emphasises the importance of social responsibility and ethical business practices. Companies are increasingly realising that a healthy bottom line is intricately linked to the well-being of their employees, customers, and communities. A case in point is Patagonia, a renowned outdoor clothing company. Known for its commitment to environmental and social causes, Patagonia has set an exemplary standard for incorporating the “People” aspect into its business model. The company’s initiatives, such as the implementation of fair labour practices and extensive employee benefits, not only enhance the well-being of its workforce but also resonate positively with customers. Planet: Environmental Stewardship for Long-term Viability The “Planet” aspect of the TBL emphasises environmental sustainability. With climate change and resource depletion becoming increasingly urgent issues, businesses are recognising the need to minimise their ecological footprint. Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company, is a notable example. Unilever has committed to making its entire product line more sustainable, with initiatives like reducing waste and using environmentally friendly packaging materials. Through such efforts, Unilever not only contributes to the health of the planet but also taps into the growing market of eco-conscious consumers . Challenges in Implementing the Triple Bottom Line While the TBL framework presents an attractive model for sustainable success, it is not without challenges. Balancing the three dimensions can be intricate, and companies often face dilemmas in prioritising one aspect over another. However, addressing these challenges is crucial for the long-term viability of businesses in an era where consumers and investors are increasingly scrutinising corporate responsibility. Measuring Success: The Importance of Metrics To effectively navigate the TBL, companies need reliable metrics to measure their performance in each dimension. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for sustainability reporting, offering a standardised way for businesses to communicate their economic, social, and environmental impacts. Conclusion In conclusion, the Triple Bottom Line provides a compelling blueprint for businesses to thrive in the 21st century. By balancing profits, people, and the planet, companies can create long-term value, enhance brand reputation, and contribute positively to society and the environment. The examples of companies like Patagonia and Unilever showcase that embracing the TBL is not just an ethical choice but a strategic one that can lead to sustainable success. As we move forward, it is imperative for businesses to integrate the TBL framework into their core strategies, fostering a new era of responsible and resilient enterprises. The Triple Bottom Line is not just a trend; it’s a paradigm shift that is shaping the future of business. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started

Kenya ESG and the SDGs in Africa Environmental Social and Governance criteria (ESG) is gaining importance in Africa as a means for businesses to demonstrate their dedication to ethical business practices and to reduce the risks involved with doing business there. Joseph in Kenya, Africa Many African nations are encouraging ESG practices, and numerous programs, like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, are working to advance sustainable development all throughout the continent. However, there are still a number of issues that need to be resolved, such as a lack of regulation, capacity issues, and a lack of understanding of the significance of ESG. ESG practices are not consistently implemented across Africa. Companies in Africa are integrating ESG practices into their operations in various ways. Several instances include: Implementing renewable energy projects To lessen their carbon impact and become more sustainable, many African businesses are investing in renewable energy projects. The Kenyan tea business James Finlay erected a 10 MW solar power plant to power its facilities. Similarly, the South African brewery, SABMiller, has invested in various African renewable energy projects, including a 3.6 MW solar power plant in Tanzania. Investing in local communities To enhance social and economic conditions and forge closer ties with stakeholders, many African businesses are also investing in their communities. To assist conservation efforts in Kenya, for instance, Woolworths's South African store partnered with the Born Free Foundation to launch several community development programs throughout Africa. Fostering good governance: African businesses are also promoting ethical corporate conduct. For instance, many companies have formed compliance procedures and enacted codes of conduct to guarantee that they conduct business ethically and openly. Investing in employee training and development: As a means of enhancing their social performance, many African businesses are now investing in the training and development of their employees. To aid in developing new skills and professional advancement, this can involve offering training and educational opportunities to staff. Protecting natural resources: To maintain the environment and lessen its environmental impact, several African businesses are conserving natural resources like water and forests. For instance, the Kenyan tea company James Finlay has implemented several programs to safeguard forests and water supplies, such as planting more than 1 million trees and executing a water-conservation program. Adopting sustainable agriculture practices: To lessen their environmental impact and increase the long-term viability of their operations, several African enterprises in the agriculture industry are using sustainable practices. Unilever Tea Kenya, a company that produces tea in Kenya, has, as an illustration, put into effect several sustainable agriculture techniques, such as the use of drip irrigation and the use of cover crops to enhance soil health. Breakdown of ESG Criteris and their key goals in Kenya Environmental Principles Kenya has a robust legal and policy framework for protecting and restoring the environment. The right to a clean and healthy environment is fundamental in the Kenyan Constitution. The government is required to manage natural resources sustainably and safeguard biodiversity. Kenya's government has also accepted the Paris Climate Agreement and prohibited using and importing plastic bags. The Kenya Green Bond Program encourages innovation in the financial industry and the growth of a domestic bond market. For commercial banks and mortgage finance businesses, the Central Bank of Kenya published guidelines on managing climate-related risk, instructing them on including this management in their business choices and operations. At COP26, Kenya also made several commitments, including the goal of achieving 100% renewable sources of energy by 2030 and 100% clean cooking by 2028 as steps toward the global zero emission objective. Social Principles Employees are now searching for more flexible work settings and are increasingly interested in organizations that actively promote ESG in their culture and policies as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Parliament then presented the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021 to address employee burnout and encourage work-life balance. Beyond the conventional corporate social responsibility PR events, manufacturers have opted to adjust to new regulatory developments and rising customer demand for socially responsible behavior from businesses. Additionally, customers are more eager to associate with firms that care about sustainability and the environment and are ready to criticize unethical enterprises. With the CMA providing recommendations and the NSE setting a target for Kenya's listed enterprises to entail at least a third of board members being women, gender equality is also becoming a significant priority. Foreign investors continue to prioritize protecting indigenous people. Many projects now include Indigenous People Plans to guarantee that local communities obtain economic and social advantages that respect their dignity and tradition. With governments regulating data protection and Kenya enacting the Data Protection Act 2019, which will impact how enterprises manage and gather data, data privacy is becoming more crucial. When collecting personal data, organizations will need to take into account data collection restrictions, usage limitations, openness, involvement, and purpose. Governance Principles Governance issues have risen in importance to promote and maintain economic growth. The Companies Act of 2015 holds company directors personally liable for ensuring compliance. Many businesses have joined standards and report indexes like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to adhere to international best practices. Senior management and a board of directors must actively participate in developing and putting into practice ESG initiatives, reporting requirements, and policies, according to recommendations released by the CBK and NSE. The CBK Guidance needs Financial Institutions to provide the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures with information about climate change. Following the publication of the NSE ESG disclosure manual in November 2021, listed companies have been given a year to integrate and adhere to the GRI-compliant ESG reporting standards. Additional measures are needed when selecting board members and senior executives in organizations due to these mandates and the broad interest in ESG. This is because the chief executive officer, or CEO, is regarded as the company's ESG champion. There are more employment openings in this field, and job descriptions now call for candidates who can comprehend and apply ESG best practices. Climate change is a major threat in Africa A rising understanding among Member States that a sustainable development model for current and future generations offers the most excellent way forward for eradicating poverty and enhancing the lives of people everywhere led the United Nations to announce its sustainable development agenda in 2015. Climate change started to impact people's consciousness in the same period significantly. No country in the world is immune to the effects of climate change since the polar ice caps are melting, the sea level is rising, and extreme weather events are becoming more often and violent. Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change will aid in developing a more sustainable global economy. Therefore, the international community must achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN and the emission reduction targets outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Humanity's future and present well-being depend on sustainable development and climate action. The Paris Agreement Increasing global temperatures, ice melt, and rising sea levels are just a few of repercussions of climate change that the globe is already experiencing. Flooding, drought, the eviction of millions of people, poverty, hunger, and the lack of access to essential services are the results of this. Additionally, it leads to conflict and stifles economic growth. To address climate change and complete the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, immediate action is required. The level of greenhouse gases has increased to a new high and is predicted to keep improving. Following the Paris Agreement, global warming will be kept at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This can be accomplished if greenhouse gas emissions peak before 2025, drop by 43% by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050. The nation's current pledges to cut emissions are insufficient to achieve this goal. How governments in Africa are fighting climate change: Africa's governments are making various efforts to combat climate change and advance their sustainable development objectives (SDGs). For instance, the government of Kenya has put into effect different laws and programs to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy sources. A few of these are: The Kenya Green Bond Programme (KGBP) was established to stimulate investments in projects and activities that positively impact the environment while fostering innovation in the financial industry. The Kenya Bankers Association, the Climate Bonds Initiative, Financial Sector Deepening Africa, and the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), worked together to construct the KGBP. Due to Kenya's ban on plastic bags, manufacturers are looking for alternative and environmentally acceptable packaging choices. As a result, there is now less dangerous plastic trash in the environment. As part of COP26, Kenya pledged to use only renewable energy by 2030. (Conference of Parties). This is a significant initiative to lessen the nation's reliance on fossil fuels and encourage the use of renewable energy sources. Kenya's government has established a target to stop deforestation by the year 2030 to address the problem of widespread deforestation. To do this, the government has implemented policies that include expanding the tree cover, preserving biodiversity, and supporting sustainable resource management. The African Renewable Energy Initiative intends to raise $10 billion to build 300 GW or more renewable energy by 2030. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged to spend $24 billion on climate change adaptation and mitigation projects involving renewable energy. The Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) policy of the African Union (AU) aims to advance low-carbon, climate-resilient development and green economic growth throughout the continent. Additionally, some African nations are fostering the development and use of clean technology by using policy and legal tools, including laws, rules, and standards, to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy. While African nations are making strides in the fight against climate change, much more has to be done. It is vital to note. Increased droughts, floods, and deserts are already impacting the continent due to climate change; therefore, these efforts must be enhanced for Africa to achieve the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement. Will Kenya achieve their target on SDGs before 2030? Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a complex undertaking that governments, corporations, and individuals must work continuously to achieve. The SDGs were created as a global call to action to safeguard the environment, eradicate poverty, and guarantee that everyone lives in peace and prosperity. It is challenging to say whether Kenya will fully fulfill the SDGs by the intended deadline of 2030. Kenya has made strides in some areas, such as expanding access to electricity and enhancing maternal health. However, it still has a long way to go in overcoming issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change. The SDGs are interconnected; hence, advancement in one area can promote advancement in other locations, and vice versa; likewise, a lack of improvement in one place might impede progress in other areas. However, the National Development Plan, Vision 2030, and Kenya's policies align with the SDGs. The Kenyan government has also created a variety of approaches and programs that are helping to advance the SDGs by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding the usage of renewable energy. It's critical to remember that all stakeholders must work together to achieve the SDGs, including the government, business community, civil society, and individuals. They must keep cooperating to overcome obstacles and accomplish the SDGs by 2030. Previous Next

Ryan Sandford-Blackburn-discusses-permaculture Ryan Sandford Blackburn of Earthedup Discusses Permaculture Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) seeks to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and mountains. Permaculture, a holistic design approach, plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal. Permaculture principles guide us in creating harmonious, self-sustaining environments that mimic nature's resilience and diversity. By integrating permaculture into land management practices, we can regenerate degraded landscapes, prevent deforestation, and foster biodiversity. Permaculture encourages agroforestry, organic farming, and water conservation techniques, minimising soil erosion and habitat destruction. This synergy between SDG 15 and permaculture empowers communities to safeguard Earth's vital ecosystems while ensuring long-term food security and sustainable resource utilisation. Paul I found quite an interesting definition of permaculture, "To create resilient and regenerative systems that reduce the impact on the environment while enhancing human well being." So I think it's spot on for what we're trying to do here at Awardaroo. And it's also it's a great podcast for us to be doing because we've already covered indoor vertical farming, green roofs and biodiversity, rewilding and conservation for kids. So perhaps if you could start by telling us a little bit about Earthed Up , please. Ryan Earthed UP is a plant nursery we're a very small and young plant nursery founded in 2021. We operate as a workers co-operative. We're a registered society. So there's three of us, all directors and all getting our hands dirty literally and metaphorically. So we all have our own plants, the edible and useful plants. So they have wonderful places in our garden where we grow them ourselves and then propagate from them. Paul Okay. So and if you could tell us a little bit about permaculture then, and you're interest in permaculture. Ryan Permaculture, help me co-found the nursery. It's a design system that for me helps get stuff done. And I think what we're seeing at the moment is there's a lot to be done. There's a lot of changes happening to us. It can feel like. Permaculture allows us to design those changes and implement them. So positive Permaculture allows us to take positive action and design those changes for ourselves. And at the core are three ethics care of the earth, care of people and fair shares, making sure there's enough to go around. Paul And is this something that you think that you know, we should all be doing, we should all be working towards? Ryan I think for most people those ethics will ring true. I haven't found anyone that will disagree. If we've got a healthy, happy planet, we're looking after people and we're making sure there's enough to go around now and for future generations. Like nobody can argue with that. And I think the vast majority of the population are working towards that. Whether they consciously know that or not, what they can offer us by studying it and by practising it is a framework to more consciously operate in that way. Paul Okay. So I think there are the challenges we have, I think around energy, transport, waste and obviously taking care of the environment and the social side of things as well. And so permaculture really I suppose helps with all of that, doesn't it? Because if we're growing things locally and we're managing things more locally, then we're cutting down on energy, transport, you know, we're reducing food waste and taking care of the environment and we're engaging people locally. So it seems to take all the boxes. Ryan Yeah, not a lot then, hey. And it's it's hard to find many disciplines that are so all encompassing. And I think one of the pillars in the strengths of permaculture to me is that it is holistic and it does see that everything's connected. Yeah, so it's systems based. What do we mean by systems? You know, we've got transport systems, education systems, financial systems, all kinds of invisible systems make, you know, global society or in countries and regions and villages, even at a parish level. We also have in our back gardens, you know, our compost system. Maybe it's as simple as lifting the lid, chucking these scraps in there, ignoring it for a couple of years. Right. It permaculture works at that systems level and it sees the whole world and it also pieces together the detail in cool ways actually, like there's loads of people using really cool practices as part of their permaculture design. So there's a lot that permaculture has been used to design across the world. What Permaculture Association 2015 we published a study called Next Big Step and that was studying what the global permaculture network looks like. And we know that it's in most countries around the world that people practicing permaculture everywhere, right? At least 3 million people that have studied a design core. So that's like the the gold standard of permaculture education. It's many millions more that have dipped their toes in it just below that level. On an introduction to permaculture course, or they've gone to a talk or they have read a great book about it. So there's loads of people everywhere and it has been used to design kitchen cupboards. Yeah, they're crazy sensible. Think of it up to the food distribution system for a region in northern India and it's okay. That's why it's really hard when you Google what is permaculture to get one definition that sticks because there's probably as many definitions as there are people using it because it's holistic and it's all encompassing and and you've got those core ethics. So for me, you can't point at something and go, that's permaculture, right? As it's communicated in that way. And someone says, Hey, I used a permaculture design process to get to this end result. Right where we are now, there is no end, right? Everything goes in cycles. So yes, it's been used to distort, to design, transport systems, food distribution systems, community composting schemes and so on. And so on. So I think the key thing is to to learn the philosophy and the design tools and connect network of people that are using it. Paul And tell us a little bit about about the Permaculture Association. Ryan The Permaculture Association, 40 years old this year. They're a charity registered charity in England and Wales and Scotland. Yeah, and they've been going going for 40 years teaching people about permaculture and connecting them through events and it's on the front of it as simple as that. And remember, permaculture is holistic and is used in many different places in many different ways. So right, there's so much work to do. The advocates, association staff and members are excellent networkers and they connect with their friends of Earth groups, political parties, businesses, all sorts of organizations on different levels. And what I see is the real strength is their networking and bringing people together, synthesizing that effort and kind of bringing it to the front and continuing that momentum. Paul Right. Okay. So it's a it's a fantastic philosophy. I think it's where we'd all like to get to, if you like, you know. BE But there are challenges with something like this and scaling this up. And, you know, one of the reasons we're not doing this would be just time. People don't have the time to grow their own. Ryan I think also making time to consciously design and decide what we're going to do and kind of step back from the race for a second. Paul Right. Ryan And not just just to add another metaphor, not just to be on that hamster wheel. Yeah. No, it's a small mammals, but just keep going, keep going, keep going. More, more, more. Yeah. I think what we've learned in recent years as a result of the pandemic and all of the effects societally from that is that if we do have a chance to just pause and step back and and look at ourselves and what we're doing, we might then make some changes for better. Own lives at work, in how we travel, in how we enjoy our time and how we spend our money. Right? Everybody that has this choice, that has the privilege to be able to step back and take a look at their life can do so and think that is is this the most ethical path I'm taking to care for the effort, to care for myself, and to make sure there's enough resources to go around now and in the future? Paul it seems that this would work best at the community level where people can get together and share knowledge and skills and obviously just make the economics of it work. Ryan We have to work together. That's what we do as a species and we have to work with other species. Okay, We we know that we have to plant more trees for example. We know we have to create more habitat for insects. We know that we have to build the soil so they can store the carbon and feed us. We have to work together holistically. So we have to work in community, Sure, with lots of other people and all the other resources in our environment too. Right. If we're just going to be extractive, then imagine that person in your community that's always take, take, take. Don't get along. Well, it doesn't it doesn't build happiness and health. So if we can just give and keep giving to our community, share our skills, share our abundance, we've got a garden full of courgettes and runner beans. It's July. I think a lot of us growers do at the moment, you know, Give it away. Yeah, maybe then some people will exchange with you and they'll get back some lettuce or some pound coins. You know, we have to work together and we have to find ways to keep scaling out as well as scaling up our efforts. Right. If you if I just think about the neighborhood I live in, you know, 150 houses, we don't have a center, we don't have shops, services, etc.. We're near a main road and 150 houses. I don't know how many people that is at least 500, I think. And there's lots of families. It's a it's a mixed neighbourhood. If we could all work together and we had a conscious permaculture design for just our neighbourhood that would be so impactful to so many people, I think we'd get a lot more food grown, we'd share a lot more tools, we'd totally change how how we work and how we commute and child care. And the first step towards that would be bringing us together. And like I say, we don't have you know, we don't have a shop, we don't have a a village hall. We're just, you know, stuck on the side of a hillside on the edge of a town. Paul Can you tell us a little bit about the history of permaculture? Ryan There's many points in history I could start a story of permaculture. I want to go back maybe 500 years and let's, let's think about how indigent US communities around the world were surviving and thriving in those times. We don't have to pick on any community in particular. I think the best pattern to look at is that they're working with nature. Okay, We think about indigenous tribes now in the Amazon that they've really integrated into the rainforest. They work with the species that they're alongside every day to help themselves thrive for medicine, for shelter, for food. Now let's fast forward to the 1970s to Australia. Didn't know we were going to land there. Did you know that? We have to. Mollison, who's teaching at the university of Tasmania and Bill Bailey, left school when he was 16. He'd worked in fisheries, he worked in forest, he worked with timber, he worked in different natural ecosystems. And then he started to teach and what he realised was Mother nature's got is sussed. She doesn't find it hard, You know, if if humans can act more like nature, then it would be a lot more efficient and a lot healthier to live and thrive on this planet. So he started to put this to the test. And fast forward a few years. David Holmgren, one of his students, jumped on board and said, Yeah, I want to help you test these theories and I see you doing that. And so, so they started doing it, it being permaculture and books were published and they all sent out students of permaculture around the world to, to spread the message. And he said, we need an army of land workers to spread the word of permaculture Now that feels like it puts the cult into permaculture. Okay, we've got to say that. it's a criticism I've heard and I get it. And it was because it was the 1970s. I wasn't there. I've got to put my hands up and say, I don't remember those times I wasn't born. That permaculture started to spread across the world and in the UK we had pioneers like Rod Everitt teaching people about permaculture. We had the first people that were just trying it out across the country and, and setting up smallholdings and farms and gardens. So can't just come in with a quick question. Paul So what. I'm not, what I'm not really understanding at the moment is what were they doing that was new or radical or different to what was already happening. Ryan So what was different about permaculture? It was at a time where the Limits to Growth report had been published. Quintessentially said all of our natural resources that we're extracting have their limits. You know, peak oil will come or all these natural resources will run out. So with those core ethics of earth care, people care, fair shares in particular limiting growth, living consciously and there were lots of other similar movements at the time, but what permaculture did was put it all together and take action. Okay, so we've got the ethics, we've got the principles which go further into how nature works and we've got some design systems and the first published books were really practical and permaculture initially was permanent agriculture and then over time got contracted to permanent culture because of the plastic nature of it. So growing things differently is how it started. Perennial Systems. So an annual intensive system, you may picture a tractor with a plow year on year digging up the soil acre you know, acres upon acres, sowing the same species. The whole field of wheat or corn or maize will have you fertilizing that with chemical fertilizer, spraying that with insecticide, adding fungicide and so on. So that's really limiting diversity. What perennial permaculture growing systems typically look like is abundant diversity and a bit chaotic. Okay, If you walk into a forest and it's in straight lines, it's probably because it was planted after World War One by people. If you go to West Wales and you look at some of the last remaining rain forest in the UK, it's chaos. Okay, there's the ponds and Brooks, there's there's fallen trees and insect galore and all of the undergrowth and brambles you have to scramble over and it's going to take a long time to get through that woodland. Permaculture mimics those natural systems. Okay, so it tries to be like a woodland edge where you've got that meeting of two systems, you've got the meadow and the woodland somewhere in the middle. We've got this really abundant edge. Imagine the brambles and the haze or the wildflowers in the herbs is a lot for humans to interact with there. So if we, you know, chaotically jumble that all together, then you've got diversity. However, it's quite inefficient. You know, you've got to look at I go, how am I going to harvest that? They're all the way deep in there and how am I going to do? Permaculture mimics Woodland Edge, but it doesn't recreate it, it's inspired by it and it works with nature. Paul Okay. All right. Okay. So thanks very much for that explanation, Ryan. That's so a lot clearer about, you know, about its history and its journey to this point and what is trying to achieve for everybody. Um, it just really but the scaling of it I think is obviously the challenge, isn't it? I mean, monocultures exist because they're so efficient feeding, you know, vast numbers of people. We know that they're, we know that they are perhaps the future or maybe they are the future, but not the way that they're implemented at the moment. So are farmers, the industry, adopting permaculture in the way that they're managing land and in the way that they in their land management practices? Ryan There's no one solution that's going to feed us all. If we've got lots of tools in our toolkit, then we're more likely to succeed. And permaculture is full of tools and it gives a framework. So how do you say that monoculture farming is really efficient? I think if we look at the numbers, it's not in terms of water use, in terms of soil fertility and health of plants and health of the people it's feeding. It's just not particularly efficient. Now, monoculture is a kind of a broad stroke pattern. It depends. You know, we might have a market garden bed of ten meters long, 1.2 meters wide, and it's just lettuce That's not exactly the same as 50 acres of maize. Yeah, right. We have to look at it in context as well, because the lettuce might be beside some dill that's allowed to flower and it's attracting loads of hover flies Paul It might be alongside lots of other diverse beds. So it's not. Yeah, but try not to be reductionist and I think that's difficult for a lot of us because our education system, Victorian education system, is reductionist and we learn a little bit at a time and as we get older we get a little bit more and a little bit more and maths sits in that box and literacy is in that box and geographies over there somewhere. A garden is a great place for people to learn and you see that it doesn't fit neatly into a box. Ryan So yeah, no, I completely agree with you in saying that. And it's, you know, everything's driven by the economics at the end of the day, isn't it? So, but the economics are changing. You know, that's, you know, in the 21st century, as we're all quickly realizing that we need to put more value on nature and permaculture is certainly a way for us to be doing that and implementing it. Paul But on the otherside of this then would be just knowledge and skills that are required in order to be able to adapt to or to be able to create a permaculture or to implement permaculture because, you know, a lot of people don't have green fingers, do they? So do you have to have green fingers to get involved with permaculture Ryan So the vast majority of people in the world are fed by small farmers and growers. It's a myth that big agriculture feeds the most people. It doesn't. And this is from the United Nations. FOA. that that's one of the focuses a couple of years ago was on small farmers. LA Via Campesina is the largest workers union in the world and it's of land workers and peasant workers that grow food and feed people and they grow fiber and clothe people. It does take a lot of people. At the center permaculture is the prime directive, which says the only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children. I don't understand why every one of us should rely on lots of other people to feed and clothe and warm us. We can take some of that responsibility to look after ourselves and our families. Right? And I think it's really powerful when we do that. Now, you said not everybody has green fingers. That's right. And when I'm stood in a market store selling plants, I get one of two reactions. I get people come up to me and say, Oh, mint, I've got enough mint. I could sell that to you. Ha! You know, Right? Yeah. Isn't it brilliant when you give it the right conditions that it thrives? We allow things. The right conditions. They can thrive. That works with people to the other reaction I get is, Oh, these look really nice. I'm not going to get anything because I always kill things like you like to try to kill plants. No, no, they just die. Yeah, that's right. They just die and they feed other things. And then other things come to life. Oh, yeah, Because I've got loads of poppies in the garden and they're pristine, they're lovely, and the bumblebees love them, but. All right, well, you did that. Yeah, I guess so. But I didn't have to do anything. But isn't that good? Look, all of these plants, we've got that perennials, once you've bought them, once they do their own thing and you don't have to do much, that's the case for most plants. Unless we're trying to grow some exotic orchid. No. Yeah. So there's a lot of potential in a lot of people. And what I've seen over several projects over the years is a lot of people need some self-confidence. Boost right? That's not saying that we want loads of arrogant people walking around the streets. You can be confident with compassion right? Okay. That confidence in an ecological definition is something like there's enough resources to maintain the system. So people need to be sure they have enough resources to maintain their own system, like their body and their health. And I think what we're seeing at the moment with a quote unquote cost of living crisis. We can take some of that responsibility into our own hands and choose what it costs for us to live. But that comes with a load of loaded privilege. A lot of people don't have the choice to do much different to what they're doing. They can't just go out and start a garden. It's not as simple as that. How much can they feed themselves anyhow? That's not what I'm saying. Saying we can grow a bit and we can grow a concentration of really nutrient dense food. We power ourselves with that knowledge of what we can forage, what we can find in our gardens already, what we can introduce, that's that's lower for. Yeah. And then we can talk about that with other people in our communities, whether they're the face to face local communities or online communities. And I think we just have to keep building up that confidence, building up those resources that give us the confidence to share that knowledge, you know, find something online, listen to this podcast series. There's loads of great inspiring ideas from from a range of of speakers. I've been enjoying catching up on it. Find an online course, you know, watch YouTube videos, find a book library. There's loads of ways that we can do it. And I think then the powerful thing is coming together with other people on that learning journey and chatting with them and doing it together. Paul Has there been much government support for yourself and Earth up? Ryan We know there are lots of government ministers that know about permaculture and have said that they're supportive of it and they would like to know more and to support it further. I think it helps to also talk about reducing waste and saving energy like we start by we said at the start of the podcast because that is a big problem, isn't it? If we you know, if we use less, that's half the battle actually. And permaculture, going back to the way we started the podcast does a lot for that. You know, it reduces transport, reduces energy, reduces packaging and yeah, I think that's almost where it stops in a sense, you know, doing things locally, more efficiently and, and you know, so we're not producing things halfway around the world that we can create locally would seem to be a good plan if we're to take on the challenges of the 21st century. Paul What's the future of Permaculture. Do you think, then, Ryan Ryan That nobody likes waste. I've just got Charlie McGee from Edible Veg Soundsystem song in my head. There's no such thing as waste because in nature there is no such thing as waste. Everything goes in cycles. When things die, they give get room to life. So there's no such place as a way. We know that. Yeah, we're conscious of that. That if our plastic is listed on the floor, ends up in the river, it ends up in the ocean. Yeah, we know about the Pacific Garbage patch. We know about the source of that pollution. And it's really disempowering to go into the supermarket and see everything wrapped in plastic and you go, But I haven't really got a choice because I can't afford to shop somewhere else. I don't have the time. So really we need to keep pushing and and being really visible about our ethics, saying, Hey, we don't want organic stuff wrapped in plastic. Can you do that loose like the other stuff too. The future is what I'm saying is a lot more people discovering it, a lot people coming together in lots of different ways, whether it's on a Reddit forum through a podcast Permaculture Convergence in London this September. Shameless plug for that awesome event. Come, come together and do more. And we need to think about taking responsibility for our own existence. Can we grow a bit of our own food together? Can we source some would fuel more locally to heat our homes. What can we do to help ourselves locally with others? Paul Okay. All right. Thanks very much, Ryan, for that. And if people want to engage with you at Earthed Up, how can they do that? How can they find you? Ryan Find out about all the things we're doing at EartherUp.com Send us an email If you've got any questions about what we do, hopefully you can come and visit the nursery. We're launching mail order plants this autumn and we've got a full program of events and courses. Paul Okay, great. Well, thank you very much for your time on this podcast. Right. And, you know, clarifying what permaculture is and how we're all going to benefit from it if we know we can get more involved with it. Thanks again. Ryan Thanks, Paul Paul Thanks, Ryan Previous Next

What is Estimating Software? In the contemporary landscape of business and technology, precision in project planning and cost management is more than just a competitive advantage—it's a necessity. Estimating software has become a cornerstone for industries ranging from construction and manufacturing to IT and engineering. This comprehensive tool assists professionals in accurately predicting project costs, allocating resources, and setting realistic timelines. But what exactly is estimating software? What are the key features of estimating software? How has it evolved, and why has it become so integral to modern business practices? This article will explore the history, development, and significance of estimating software, offering insights into its technical aspects and real-world applications. The Historical Context: From Manual Estimates to Digital Precision The history of project estimating dates back centuries, long before the advent of computers. In the early days of construction and manufacturing, project managers relied heavily on manual methods—using paper, pencils, and simple arithmetic to calculate costs and resources. These estimates were often based on experience and intuition, with professionals drawing on their knowledge and previous projects to make educated guesses. However, this approach had significant limitations, not least of which was its susceptibility to human error. The Birth of Early Estimating Tools The first significant shift towards more accurate and reliable estimation methods came with the industrial revolution. As industries grew and projects became more complex, the need for a systematic approach to cost estimation became evident. The introduction of mechanical calculators in the late 19th and early 20th centuries provided some relief, enabling faster calculations and reducing the potential for arithmetic errors. However, it wasn't until the mid-20th century, with the advent of computers, that the foundations of modern estimating software were laid. Early computer programs, while rudimentary by today’s standards, began to automate basic calculations and data entry processes. These early tools were largely bespoke systems, designed specifically for individual companies or industries. For example, in construction, early estimating software focused on automating the calculation of material quantities and labour costs, allowing for more detailed and accurate project estimates. The Evolution of Estimating Software: From Niche to Necessity As computing power increased and software development advanced, the capabilities of estimating software expanded rapidly. The 1980s and 1990s marked a period of significant growth in this field, with the development of more sophisticated software that could handle the complexities of large-scale projects. Estimating software moved beyond simple cost calculations to include a wider range of project management functions, integrating elements such as scheduling, resource allocation, and risk analysis. The Role of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) One of the major breakthroughs during this period was the introduction of graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Before GUIs, early estimating software was often text-based, requiring users to input data through command-line prompts. This made the software difficult to use, limiting its adoption to those with a technical background. The development of GUIs made estimating software more accessible, allowing a broader range of professionals to leverage its capabilities. With GUIs, users could now interact with the software through visual elements such as windows, icons, and menus. This not only made the software more intuitive but also enabled the integration of visual data representation tools, such as charts and graphs. These tools allowed project managers to visualise their estimates, making it easier to identify potential issues and make informed decisions. The Integration of Databases and Data Management Another significant advancement during this period was the integration of databases into estimating software. This allowed users to store, manage, and retrieve large volumes of data related to past projects, materials, labour rates, and more. The ability to draw on historical data provided a new level of accuracy in project estimation, as software could now base estimates on real-world information rather than abstract calculations. For example, in the construction industry, estimating software could now store data on the cost of materials in different regions, enabling companies to generate more accurate cost estimates based on local market conditions. Similarly, in manufacturing, companies could use estimating software to track the cost of raw materials and production processes over time, allowing them to adjust their estimates as market conditions changed. Understanding the Technical Terms: A Glossary of Estimating Software Jargon Before diving deeper into the functionality and impact of estimating software, it’s important to understand some of the key technical terms associated with this technology: Bill of Quantities (BoQ): A detailed list of materials, parts, and labour required to complete a construction project. Estimating software often uses BoQs to calculate project costs. Cost Codes: Specific codes assigned to different elements of a project (e.g., labour, materials, equipment) to track expenses. Estimating software uses cost codes to organise and categorise costs within a project. Labour Rate Analysis: The process of calculating the cost of labour, taking into account factors such as wages, benefits, and overtime. Estimating software automates this process, providing more accurate labour cost estimates. Overheads: Indirect costs associated with running a business, such as utilities, rent, and administrative expenses. Estimating software includes overheads in its cost calculations to ensure a comprehensive estimate. Profit Margins: The percentage of profit a company aims to make on a project. Estimating software allows users to set and adjust profit margins to ensure profitability. Risk Contingency: An allowance made in the estimate to cover unforeseen risks or changes. Estimating software can calculate and include risk contingencies based on project complexity and historical data. Unit Cost: The cost per unit of a particular item or service (e.g., cost per square metre of concrete). Estimating software uses unit costs to calculate overall project costs based on the quantities required. The Modern Era: Estimating Software Today Today, estimating software is a critical tool used across various industries, including construction, manufacturing, IT, and engineering. The software has become more sophisticated, incorporating advanced features such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). These advancements have not only enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of estimates but also provided businesses with powerful tools to manage complex projects and mitigate risks. Cloud Computing: Accessibility and Collaboration One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the integration of cloud computing into estimating software. Cloud-based estimating software allows users to access their estimates from any device with an internet connection, making it easier for teams to collaborate on projects in real-time. This is particularly beneficial for companies with remote teams or multiple office locations, as it eliminates the need for physical files or local software installations. Cloud computing also provides enhanced data security, with estimates stored on secure servers and regularly backed up. This reduces the risk of data loss due to hardware failures or other issues. Additionally, cloud-based estimating software often includes automatic updates, ensuring that users always have access to the latest features and improvements. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Enhancing Accuracy and Predictive Capabilities The integration of AI and ML into estimating software has opened up new possibilities for improving the accuracy and reliability of estimates. AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and trends that would be difficult or impossible for humans to detect. This allows the software to provide more accurate estimates, particularly for complex projects with many variables. Machine learning, a subset of AI, enables estimating software to learn from past projects and improve its predictions over time. For example, if a company regularly undertakes similar projects, the software can use data from previous estimates to refine its calculations, reducing the margin of error. ML algorithms can also help identify potential risks, such as cost overruns or schedule delays, allowing project managers to take proactive measures to mitigate these issues. Integration with Other Business Tools: A Holistic Approach to Project Management Modern estimating software often integrates with other business tools, such as project management software, accounting systems, and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. This integration allows for a more holistic approach to project management, with all aspects of a project— from estimation to execution—managed within a single ecosystem. For example, by integrating estimating software with project management tools, companies can track project progress against the original estimate, identifying any deviations and making adjustments as needed. Similarly, integration with accounting software allows for seamless cost tracking and financial reporting, ensuring that projects remain on budget. Real-World Applications: How Estimating Software Transforms Industries The impact of estimating software on industries is profound, with countless examples of how this technology has transformed business practices and improved project outcomes. Here, we’ll explore some real-world applications across different sectors. Construction: Building with Confidence and Precision The construction industry was one of the first to adopt estimating software, and it remains one of the sectors where this technology is most critical. Construction projects are notoriously complex, with numerous variables to consider, from material costs and labour rates to weather conditions and regulatory requirements. Accurate estimation is essential for winning bids, managing budgets, and delivering projects on time. Consider a large construction firm in the UK that specialises in commercial building projects. Before adopting estimating software, the company relied on manual methods to calculate project costs, leading to frequent cost overruns and missed deadlines. By implementing a modern estimating software solution, the firm was able to streamline its bidding process, improve the accuracy of its estimates, and ultimately win more contracts. The software allowed the firm to create detailed estimates in a fraction of the time it previously took, factoring in everything from labour costs to material prices. It also enabled the company to analyse historical data from previous projects, allowing for more accurate predictions and better risk management. The result was not only increased efficiency but also greater confidence in their estimates, leading to more successful projects and a stronger reputation in the industry. Manufacturing: Optimising Production Costs and Efficiency In the manufacturing sector, estimating software has become a vital tool for optimising production costs and managing resources. Manufacturers often deal with fluctuating material costs, complex supply chains, and the need to balance production efficiency with quality. Accurate estimation is crucial for maintaining profitability and competitiveness in this environment. Take, for example, a mid-sized manufacturing company in Germany that produces automotive components. The company faced challenges with fluctuating material costs and inefficient resource allocation, leading to inconsistent profit margins. By adopting an advanced estimating software solution, the company was able to better manage its expenses and improve its production processes. The software provided real-time data on material costs, labour hours, and equipment usage, allowing the company to make adjustments as needed. This level of control and insight enabled the company to reduce waste, lower costs, and increase profitability. Additionally, the software’s ability to integrate with the company’s existing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system allowed for seamless coordination between different departments, further enhancing efficiency. IT and Software Development: Navigating Complexity and Managing Expectations In the IT and software development industry, project estimation presents unique challenges due to the complexity and variability of software projects. Unlike construction or manufacturing, where costs can often be calculated based on physical quantities, software projects involve a significant degree of uncertainty. Estimating the time and resources required for coding, testing, and integration is notoriously difficult, and traditional estimation methods often fall short. A software development firm in the United States, specialising in custom enterprise software, found that its traditional estimating methods were leading to frequent scope changes and budget issues. Clients were often dissatisfied with the final product due to delays and cost overruns, impacting the firm’s reputation. By adopting a specialised estimating software tailored to the needs of software development, the firm was able to create more accurate project plans that accounted for the various factors unique to their industry. The software allowed them to break down projects into smaller, manageable components, each with its own estimate. This modular approach provided greater flexibility and accuracy, reducing the likelihood of scope creep. Moreover, the software’s integration with project management tools allowed the firm to track progress in real-time, adjusting estimates and timelines as needed. This transparency helped manage client expectations and improved overall customer satisfaction, leading to more successful projects and repeat business. Expert Opinions: The Future of Estimating Software As technology continues to advance, the future of estimating software looks promising, with several trends set to shape the next generation of tools. Artificial Intelligence and Predictive Analytics Experts agree that the integration of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics will play a significant role in the future of estimating software. AI-driven tools will not only provide more accurate estimates but also offer predictive insights that help businesses identify potential risks and opportunities before they arise. For instance, an AI-powered estimating tool could analyse historical data from hundreds of past projects, identifying patterns that indicate potential cost overruns or delays. By flagging these risks early in the planning process, businesses can take proactive measures to mitigate them, such as adjusting timelines, reallocating resources, or renegotiating contracts. The Growing Importance of Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Criteria As businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria, estimating software is expected to evolve to incorporate these considerations into its calculations. Future estimating tools may include features that allow companies to estimate the environmental impact of their projects, such as carbon emissions or resource consumption, and make decisions that align with their sustainability goals. For example, a construction company may use estimating software to compare the environmental impact of different building materials, choosing the option that minimises carbon emissions. Similarly, a manufacturing firm may use the software to track and report on its energy consumption, ensuring compliance with ESG standards. Integration with Emerging Technologies The future of estimating software will likely involve greater integration with emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and augmented reality (AR). These technologies have the potential to provide real-time data and insights that can further enhance the accuracy and reliability of estimates. For example, IoT sensors on construction sites could provide real-time data on material usage and labour hours, feeding this information directly into the estimating software. Blockchain technology could be used to create transparent, tamper-proof records of project costs, ensuring accuracy and accountability. Augmented reality could allow project managers to visualise cost estimates in a 3D environment, making it easier to identify potential issues and make informed decisions. Conclusion: The Critical Role of Estimating Software in Modern Business Estimating software has come a long way since its early days as a basic calculator replacement. Today, it is an essential tool for businesses across various industries, providing the accuracy, efficiency, and foresight needed to succeed in a competitive environment. Whether in construction, manufacturing, IT, or any other field, estimating software helps professionals manage costs, allocate resources, and deliver projects on time and within budget. As technology continues to evolve, estimating software will undoubtedly become even more powerful, offering new features and capabilities that will further enhance its value. For businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve, investing in the right estimating software is not just a smart choice—it’s a necessity. In the words of a seasoned project manager, “Estimating software is not just about crunching numbers; it’s about making informed decisions that can make or break a project. In today’s world, where margins are tight and competition is fierce, having the right tools can be the difference between success and failure.” This ongoing evolution of estimating software reflects a broader trend in business: the increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making. As industries continue to embrace digital transformation, the role of estimating software will only grow, providing businesses with the tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex and competitive landscape. Related Articles Top Construction Estimating and Planning Tools: Streamlining Project Success Project Estimating and Scheduling Construction Project Management Managing Subcontractors in Construction 15 Key Features of Construction Estimating Software What is Estimating Software? 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An Essential Guide to Key 21st-Century Social and Business Skills Today we need to be be more than sustainable in business, we need to be regenerative. In an era where climate warming is accelerating, the global economy has become increasingly interconnected, it is more difficult than ever to ignore the consequences of our actions. Published on: 7 Dec 2023 Decoupling economic growth from ecological destruction is becoming increasingly essential if we are to create a positive future. Therefore, we must find ways to create economic growth while protecting our environment and natural resources. We need to update our business goals from being about profit and the environment to building a regenerative green economy that meets the needs of business, the planet, people, families, community and society. In today’s world, businesses have an obligation to help protect the planet and its resources. This is all the more important when you’re the owner and boss of the business. Regeneration is a powerful tool that can be used to ensure that businesses are doing their part in preserving the environment. By using regeneration, companies can reduce their environmental footprint, increase sustainability, and create positive long-term effects for the planet. Regeneration in business is about more than just reducing waste or recycling materials; it involves finding ways to use resources more efficiently and sustainably. For example, companies can explore renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power, develop innovative products that use fewer resources, or focus on more than circular production models where materials are reused and recycled. Patagonia has stopped using the word ‘sustainable’ as they recognise we have to give more than we take from the environment . The World Economic Forum recognises that being sustainable won’t be enough in the long run to address our social, environmental and economic challenges and that companies should aim to promote the restoration and regeneration of natural resources and social systems . Adopting ESG principles is today a driver of long term growth as customers, suppliers and investors are expecting to see a company adopt green growth initiatives. “.. the world is reaching the tipping point beyond which climate change may become irreversible. If this happens, we risk denying present and future generations the right to a healthy and sustainable planet – the whole of humanity stands to lose.” Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of UN Other big brands like Unilever, Pepsico and Timberland are adopting a business vision of regeneration too. They see that it’s not just the environment we need to consider but social capital, human, intellectual and financial capital too as well as the products and services provided every year. In 2016, an international study was conducted that analysed companies’ practices for regeneration. The study found that 20% of company revenues in North America came from products and services related to renewal in one form or another. This statistic would only be expected to increase as companies adopt practices such as reusing materials and expanding their use to create new products, processes, or services. However, being more than sustainable is required. There are seven reasons why sustainability and NET ZERO will not address climate warming these include not addressing past pollution, a lack of vision, and a growing economy. Regeneration and sustainability are essential concepts for creating a sustainable and thriving future, but they focus on different aspects of this goal. Sustainability is about maintaining the current state of our environment and society by ensuring that our use of natural resources and social systems does not exceed their capacity to regenerate and support us. In addition, it involves reducing our negative impact on the environment and society, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions or promoting social equity. Regeneration, on the other hand, goes beyond sustainability by actively restoring and enhancing the natural and social systems we rely on. It involves regenerating natural resources, rebuilding ecosystems, and creating more equitable and resilient social systems. Regeneration seeks to create a world that is not just sustainable but also regenerative and restorative. Therefore, while sustainability is essential, renewal is needed more than sustainability to make a genuinely sustainable and thriving future. By regenerating natural and social systems, we can create a more resilient, equitable, and thriving world and ensure that we have a livable planet for generations to come. Why we need to change our perception of problems in the 21st century In a rapidly changing world, the twenty-first century has brought several new challenges, and how we perceive and address these problems needs to change if we are to tackle them successfully. From global warming and climate change to inequality and the refugee crisis, our current approach is no longer enough; it is essential to cultivate new thinking patterns to stay ahead of the curve. In the most extensive study on climate change data and corporations, 8,000 supplier companies (that sell to seventy-five multinationals) reported their level of climate risk. Of the respondents, 72% said that climate change presents risks that could significantly impact their operations, revenue, or expenditures. “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Dr Jane Goodall, Scientist & Activist We must look beyond traditional solutions and embrace innovative thinking to progress. By understanding the need for change, we can develop strategies to help us overcome these challenges more effectively. To do this, we must be creative, open-minded, and willing to explore new ideas and practices. We can also use brainstorming, mind mapping, and lateral thinking tools to help us develop innovative solutions. We should also reflect on our experiences and learn from them to apply those lessons in the future. By doing so, we can ensure that we constantly evolve our thinking patterns to keep up with the changing world around us. What is a REM (Regenerative, Ethical, and Mindful) business? Regenerative businesses are a new type of business model that focuses on sustainability and creating positive social and environmental impacts. Big brands are leaning toward regeneration as a means to embed purpose into their company in an enduring way. They are designed to create value for society, the environment, and the economy, while also delivering financial returns to shareholders. They are an emerging trend in the business world as more companies strive to make their operations more sustainable and ethical. Regenerative businesses strive to create a circular economy by reusing resources, reducing waste, and investing in renewable energy sources. They also prioritise social responsibility by providing fair wages and benefits for employees, supporting local communities through philanthropy initiatives, and promoting diversity in the workplace. By doing so, they can help build strong relationships with stakeholders while ensuring long-term profitability. A regenerative business acknowledges its place in the entire system where it operates, its community, its industry, and its resources, and uses that knowledge of interdependence in their strategic decision making. The 5Cs of 21st century skills and competencies – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, cultural and civic competence – are crucial for businesses to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world. Regenerative, ethical, and mindful businesses prioritise long-term thinking and planning. This involves considering the impact of decisions and actions on future generations and striving to create a sustainable future. By fostering a culture that values these skills and developing training programs that support their development, companies can attract and retain top talent, improve decision-making processes, and enhance their ability to innovate and adapt to change. Additionally, overall, REM businesses are those that prioritise regeneration and strive to create positive social and environmental impact. By adopting these practices, businesses can create an equitable future for all, a competitive edge critical for business success in the 21st century. Regenerative, ethical, and mindful businesses are those that prioritise regenerative practices and strive to create positive social and environmental impact. The sense of purpose that comes from creating a REM business improves team performance and productivity. Research has shown that connected teams are 21% more profitable . This is likely due to the simple fact that happy employees are more productive employees as we discussed in How to use Workplace Personality Tests to Improve Team Productivity. For example, 37% of employees say working in a great team is their primary reason for staying at a company. In fact, some 54% of employees say a strong sense of community including great coworkers kept them at a company longer than was in their best interest. Regenerative practices Regenerative businesses focus on restoring and renewing natural systems and resources. This can include adopting circular economy principles, investing in regenerative agriculture, and promoting renewable energy. Ethical practices Ethical businesses prioritise social responsibility and ethical practices in all aspects of their operations. This can include fair labour practices, ethical sourcing of materials, and responsible marketing. Mindful practices Mindful businesses prioritise mindfulness and conscious decision-making in all aspects of their operations. This can include reducing waste, promoting eco-friendly practices, and engaging in community outreach and education. Regenerative, ethical, and mindful businesses prioritise engagement with all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and the wider community. This can involve listening to feedback, responding to concerns, and taking action to improve social and environmental impact. Twenty-first century social and business skills In the 21st century, the 5Cs of skills and competencies are essential for success in any field. These five Cs, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical thinking, and Civic and Cultural skills, are the building blocks of any modern workplace. They apply to all industries and professions and can help individuals develop proficiency in many areas. With these five Cs, you become a more effective leader and team player while better understanding the world around you. Furthermore, mastering these five Cs can make you an invaluable asset to your organisation or team. We identified five core skills for the 21st century leader that create a focus on the interactions between people, and improving the outcome of those engagements. These skills support the leadership skills we defined in How to Develop Leadership Skills for the 21st Century. The 5Cs of 21st century skills and competencies are essential for individuals to be successful in their careers and life. These skills are the foundation for a successful future, as they help people to become more creative, critical thinkers and problem solvers. Each of these skills is important in its own way, as they all help individuals become more well-rounded and capable professionals. By mastering the 5Cs of 21st century skills & competencies, individuals can gain an edge over their competition in the job market. They can also develop better relationships with peers and colleagues by communicating effectively with them. Rethink Telephone Skills Training These social and business skills can help businesses achieve their goals and objectives by creating an environment of trust and collaboration among employees. Businesses can ensure that all employees are on the same page regarding company policies and procedures. This will also help to increase efficiency and productivity while creating a positive work culture. Examples of how these skills can be applied in the workplace include providing clear job descriptions for each role within an organisation, encouraging collaboration between departments through team-building activities, fostering creativity through brainstorming sessions or hackathons, committing to deadlines and tasks set by management, and actively communicating with both internal and external stakeholders. The 5Cs help individuals develop adaptability skills to navigate the constantly changing landscape of the 21st century. The ability to communicate, collaborate, think critically, and be creative while demonstrating strong character traits helps individuals stay ahead of the curve. Employers today are looking for individuals who possess the 5Cs. These skills make individuals more employable and more valuable to their organisations. The world is becoming more interconnected, and the 5Cs help individuals work effectively in a global environment. Communication and collaboration skills are essential in this regard. The 5Cs are not just skills necessary in the workplace. They are also crucial for lifelong learning and personal growth. Individuals who possess these skills are better equipped to learn and adapt throughout their lives. Effective communication skills Effective communication is essential for promoting regeneration, as it enables the sharing of information, building awareness, and engaging stakeholders. Communication skills enable individuals and organisations to articulate their sustainability goals, share best practices, and build consensus around sustainable outcomes. Communication is one of the most critical skills to succeed today. It is essential for connecting with people, expressing ideas and opinions, and working together to solve problems. Good communication also helps build relationships and create a positive environment. In addition, it helps us understand each other better, which leads to better decision-making. Communication is a crucial component of the 5Cs because it allows us to effectively express ourselves, collaborate with others and become engaged citizens in our society. Businesses need to have effective communication strategies if they want to succeed. Five ways to improve communication skills Recognise that the message you send has more to do with the way it is heard than how it is said. So increase awareness of your own emotions and that of the recipient before communicating your message. Listen and seek to understand first. It’s all too easy to be reactive in communication, but pause and consider carefully your words to increase communication effectiveness. Be interested in the other person. In the classic book on communication skills, “How to Influence People and Win Friends” by Dale Carnegie, he says imagine the other person has MMFI on their forehead, “Make Me Feel Important.” Consider carefully the emotion you’re intending to create in the other person. They’ll feel it before they hear it, before they respond. Recognise your words are perhaps only 10% of the message; tone of voice, intonation, facial expression, body language, eye contact, directness, speed of delivery are all playing their part too. Communicative thinking helps companies to think more strategically about communicating with their customers, employees, and other stakeholders. It also helps them identify opportunities for improvement and develop better relationships with those who interact with their brand. Communication thinking enables businesses to create meaningful customer experiences that increase loyalty and engagement. Companies can succeed in today’s competitive landscape by understanding the importance of communication thinking in the 5Cs of 21st Century Skills & Competencies. Meaningful collaboration skills Regeneration is a collaborative effort that requires the participation of diverse stakeholders, including businesses, government, civil society, and communities. Collaboration skills enable individuals and organisations to work effectively in teams, build partnerships, and foster cooperation towards common sustainability goals. Collaboration encourages people to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions. It also helps build team members’ trust and promotes an organisation’s sense of community. Additionally, collaboration helps develop problem-solving skills, communication skills, and creativity – all essential abilities in today’s increasingly competitive workforce. Collaborative thinking encourages teams to collaborate to develop creative solutions to complex problems. It also helps employees build relationships and learn from each other’s experiences. Collaboration thinking is vital in assisting businesses to succeed in the modern age by allowing them to tap into the collective knowledge of their team members and create innovative products and services for their customers. Productive creativity skills Creativity is crucial not just in the workplace but also in our everyday lives. It helps us express ourselves better, develop our unique thinking style and create meaningful relationships with others. By being creative, we can also find new ways to solve problems or create something out of nothing. With creativity, we can explore new possibilities for learning and growth that will benefit us personally and professionally in the long run. Creative thinking enables businesses to stay ahead of their competition by creating unique and innovative solutions to help them succeed in the market. It also encourages employees to think outside the box and find new solutions. By fostering creativity in the workplace, businesses can create a culture that promotes innovation and encourages employees to develop their skills. Deep critical thinking skills Regeneration requires a critical assessment of current systems and practices, identifying areas where change is needed. Critical thinking skills enable individuals and organisations to evaluate complex information, analyse problems, and develop innovative solutions that promote sustainability and regeneration. Understanding why critical thinking is so vital in today’s world is essential. In a rapidly changing environment, it helps us to stay ahead of the curve by understanding complex situations quickly and accurately. It also helps us think creatively and develop innovative solutions to challenging problems. Furthermore, it enables us to evaluate different perspectives on any given issue and make informed decisions based on facts rather than emotions or preconceived notions. Critical thinking is one of today’s most essential skills and competencies for business success. It allows companies to make informed decisions based on data and evidence rather than relying solely on intuition. Critical thinking helps businesses identify problems before they arise and develop solutions that will help them stay ahead of their competition. It also allows employees to think through complex issues and develop innovative solutions to assist the business in reaching its goals. In short, critical thinking is essential for any business to be successful in the 21st century. Engaging civic and cultural skills Regeneration requires a sense of citizenship that goes beyond individual interests and considers the broader social and environmental impact of our actions. Citizenship skills enable individuals and organisations to recognise their responsibility towards the planet and society, promoting sustainable and regenerative practices that benefit everyone. In today’s world, businesses need to understand the importance of civic and cultural thinking to succeed. The 5Cs of 21st Century Skills & Competencies provide a framework for understanding how civic and cultural thinking can help businesses to make decisions that are more informed and better suited to their customer base. Civic and cultural thinking helps companies understand their target audience’s values, beliefs, customs, and norms, enabling them to create products or services tailored to their needs. It also helps them make more effective marketing strategies by providing insights into how customers think about specific topics or issues. By developing an understanding of civic and cultural thinking, businesses can ensure they are making decisions informed by the needs of their customers and stakeholders. Previous Next Start Your Business Improvement Journey Our business improvement programme and smart operations provide clarity and a clear pathway forward for you and your team. Get Started