11 minute read
HQ Building the Business
HQ
BUILDING THE BUSINESS
Coronavirus isn’t going away anytime soon it seems, so in this issue we focus on how to keep up the good work when it comes to ensuring that members feel comfortable and safe at the club. On the topic of safety, we also highlight some of the most prevalent frauds and scams which have emerged during the pandemic, and examine how to avoid them. Plus: Five food trends and how they are shaping new safety requirements.
Maintaining Coronavirus safety standards
HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is here to help clubs come out of the Coronavirus pandemic in fighting fit shape. Take a look at just some of these key products and services, all designed to ensure a Covid-safe environment.
From utilities and energy savings to procurement and financial services, HQ BUILDING THEBUSINESSisheretohelpclubscomeout of the Coronavirus pandemic in the best possible shape.
This issue the focus is on maintaining safety for all levels of post-lockdown stages,.
By working with supporting partners and suppliers, this complimentary service for readers saves time and resources, freeing club officials to run the important bits of club life – looking after members.
Sanitiser products and Personnel Protective Equipment
Sanitiser products and Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) are available to readers with an additional 10% saving on first orders for products such as: • Face masks • Safety visors • Detergents, hand and cleaning • Disposable gloves • Dispensers Quote HQWELCOME10 on your first order.
Deep cleaning assistance
Technicians will disinfect areas and objects that pose a threat of cross contamination using Steri-7.
Steri-7 is a high-level surface disinfectant, killing up to 99.99% of a broad range of pathogens within seconds of contact.
Theareasdisinfectedwillbealltouchpointsinclub premises, such as door handles, light switches, tales, seat arms and kitchen surfaces etc to help minimise the risk of microbial transfer.
Additional ultra-low volume (ULV) disinfection fogging can be used when required for the treatment of large areas in a short space of time as the small droplets of the disinfectant fog settle underneath, on top of and on the sides of many objects and inaccessible areas to help make your club clean and safe.
Fevercam systems and equipment
Managethetemperatureofeveryonebeforeentering the club without the need for direct human contact, protecting staff, members and volunteers. • The technology medically measures people ’ s temperature (with facial recognition) • Camera units can be used for high or low people volume,abletomeasuremultiplefacessimultaneously • Ideal for unmanned receptions or staff entrances with real time alerts • Can integrate access control systems • Can detect the presence of face masks • Cloud based dashboard for ease of access and control
The company can also work with existing club camera systems and can add its propriety software to enable ‘Facial recognition ’ enabled and ‘temperature ’ .Enabled,linksarethenaddedbackintothe existing systems for monitoring and compliance.
Cameras can be purchased on a supply only basis.
Fevercamisoneofthemostsophisticatedmultior single camera system on the market today. It is UK developed and ISO27001 Certified.
Alcohol based sanitiser room bombs
This product sanitises a room in less than one hour, killing germs making the room virus free and at the same time smelling fresh.
You can see the demonstration video at this link.
Sanitiser Room Bombs, suitable for rooms up to approximately 12 m2 per single use can.£117.60 + vat per case of 12 cans + £10 delivery UK wide.
To order or receive a product spec sheet please contact 07495893993 or email enquiries@hqbuildingthebsuiness.com.
MORE INFORMATION
With no costs involved, HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is committed to helping clubs build their business, offering expert advice, comparative energy sites and access to discounts at club-supporting suppliers. e. enquiries@hqbuildingthebusiness.com t. Call the team on 07495 893 993
Services include: Covid-safety Products and Solutions, Energy Management & Compliance, Office supplies, Telecoms, IT & digital support, Waste Management, Fire Equipment & Maintenance, Boiler & Air-conditioning Replacement & Maintenance, Renewable Technologies, Health & Safety, HR, Transaction Handling, Food & Drink, Business Insurance, ANPR / Parking Facilities, Refurbishment & LED Projects.
HQ
Kirstie Jones, environmental health expert at Navitas Safety, discusses food trends which are likely to become part and parcel of club life thanks to the pandemic.
The pandemic has caused a fundamental reset in human behaviour. New food and beverage requirements have been shaped for the longterm. Here are five food-related trends which will need due consideration in order to deliver a service that members will now expect.
1. A positive food safety culture
Food safety culture is the way in which an organisation values their food safety, and it is vital that these values are shared by both management and employees. Businesses with a strong and positive food safety culture that safe food is essential and a commitment.
Clubs should actively consider presenting accreditations such as a Covid19 certification to help members feel safe.
2. Takeaway packaging
Takeaway packaging must ensure it has clear allergen labels. Each container must state the exact name of the dish and its contents and should be clear and readable. Although this is particularly important when serving consumers with allergies, this must be done at all times.
As of October 2021, the UK Food Information Amendment will come into force, whereby data labelling is key. Pre-packed for direct sale products must be labelled with a description of the item, detailing the full ingredients listing. As such, any of the 14 key allergens must also be highlighted and be clear to see.
Clear allergen labelling also provides consumers with confidence as well as traceability and transparency when it comes to the business selling the item.
As well as this, to aid hygiene and cleanliness, all food should be decanted into strong and sturdy lidded containers that will not spill during transportation. Not only will this prevent mess, but it also reduces the possibility of contamination between foods.
Although takeaway services appear much more casual, clubs must work to the same standard as they would in a restaurant. With regular hand washing and limited contact between foods, food containers and staff, this will prevent the spread of viruses, infection, and cross-contamination.
With the coronavirus, it has been bought to the attentionofeveryonethatvirusescanremainonsurfaces for up to 72 hours, proving the importance of regular cleaning and disinfecting.
Public Health England also announced the introduction of calorie and salt reduction targets for takeaway and eating out businesses, which will see a further need for clear labelling.
3. Connected consumers and online ordering and booking
For clubs using online ordering services, all allergy information must be available at the point of selection. To support this, customisable menus, or the ability to order online via an app can improve accuracy, efficiency and speed.
As expected, following the coronavirus pandemic, the on trade is now offering a contact-free service, utilising the rise in digitisation with the use of online menus and the ability to order via an app.
4. Eco-conscious consuming via veganism and vegetarianism
With the number of people adopting vegan and vegetarian diets and lifestyles, this is an important trend to consider, not just for 2021, but for the future, too.
Whilst this may not seem a cause for concern in terms of hygiene, it can pose a greater risk of crosscontamination. Each dish should not be cooked in the same oils for instance or ingredients stored in the same area of the fridge.
To reduce and prevent this from happening, and to ensure there are no mix-ups, all meat, vegan, and vegetarian dishes should be separated within each order.
Ideally, any allergen, vegan or vegetarian dishes should be delivered completely individually. However, where this isn ’t possible, these orders should be placed on top and must be double wrapped, with all other orders underneath.
5. Sustainability
Going digital not only speeds things up for all involved, but it also positively impacts the environment.Withmorecustomersandbusinessesfocusing on making sustainable changes to their lives, reducing paper usage and single-use plastic is almost essential.
Following the need to digitise and automate, paper-based safety trails are no longer needed, nor relevant. (The average restaurant spends approximately £20 per month, per site, on paperwork printing costs alone.)
Embracing sustainable and digital processes wouldnotjustbenefitthebusinessbyreducingcosts, but it would also remove unnecessary paper and thus, waste for both the club and the consumer.
Clubs should look to invest in innovative digital hardware and software that can record all data in a cloud-based system, eliminating the need for paperwork entirely. An integrated digital system allows businesses to monitor food safety effectively with watertight traceability and accountability, resulting in a reduction in food waste.
It isn ’t just about materials and going digital, though. Clubs with a food business need to work hard to ensure less food is being wasted. To do so, thismaymeanminimisingmenus(aswellasencouraging members to recycle packaging properly and effectively when using a takeaway service).
Fraud - five hot scams and how to avoid them
Coronavirus has given fraudsters more opportunities than ever to cheat consumers out of their money, a well-known example being text messages claiming to be from the NHS which informed the recipient that, “ we have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine ” .
Here ’ s a look at the fraud trends to watch out for.
1. Authorised Push Payments (APP)
APP fraud – where fraudsters trick you into forwarding money from your account to theirs – cost consumers more than £207 million in the first half of 2020, according to UK Finance, the trade body representing financial firms.
AccordingtoexpertsatGBG,acompanythatspecialises in identity data intelligence, APP is highly effective, trending upwards and may be the biggest threat to consumers in 2021.
Gus Tomlinson at GBG explains: “Imagine a fraudster hacks your information and then, when you go to make a significant payment for a deposit, say, you are phoned or emailed by the fraudster who gets you, as a willing victim, to voluntarily transfer the money – but to the wrong destination account.
“We always think organisations check the identity of consumers to stop fraud, but it is equally important for consumers to be certain of what they are doing before they take any action. ”
Homebuyers looking to take advantage of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday that ends on 31 March should be especially vigilant when moving money. UK Finance advises buyers to always followup on emails asking for personal financial information with a phone call to the alleged senders.
2. Account takeover
Account takeover is essentially online identity theft. It involves criminals who pose as you to gain access to one or more of your accounts, and then use that access to carry out unauthorised transactions.
For example, a fraudster could get into your current account using stolen credentials and use it to make transfers to other accounts. They may also change your account details to lock you out or cover their tracks, while some criminals will sell access to your account on to other fraudsters.
Payment fraud solutions company Sift calls account takeover the ‘fraudster ’ s weapon of choice ’ andsaysattemptsrose282%between2019and2020.
Using biometric security such as Touch ID on Apple ’ s iPhones or the equivalent fingerprint locks on Android devices can make things more difficult forfraudstersandprovideyouwithalayerofdefence against account takeover fraud.
3. New account fraud
Likeaccounttakeoverfraud,criminalswillusestolen credentials to open new accounts in your name. For example, a fraudster could get hold of your personal information on the dark web before using it to bypass identity verification checks and open a new loan account.
According to American risk-management specialist RSA, almost half (48%) of all fraud involves accounts that are less than 24 hours old.
It is important to be extra vigilant with your personal information, whether that be correspondence your put in the bin or data you enter onto a website. Documents should be shredded if possible, and you should check the authenticity of any site before providing personal information.
Experts also recommend you take care when posting information on social media, as a skilled fraudster could populate a fake profile using photographs and other details you provide.
4. Transaction fraud
This kind of fraud sees fraudsters making purchases withstolenpaymentinformation.Theinformationis typically gained via phishing attacks that trick consumers into thinking they ’ re dealing with a trusted company and willingly sharing the details with a fraudster.
With more of our everyday lives playing out online because of coronavirus and stay-at-home orders, transaction fraudsters have more opportunities than ever to con those who let their guards down.
The best way to protect against phishing attacks is to check emails that claim to be from reputable senders carefully. Inspect the URLs behind hyperlinks by hovering over them with your cursor and be suspicious of emails that contain obvious spelling errors.
If contacted by phone, never share personal financial information with the caller. Instead, telephone thecompanyusingitsofficialcontactnumbertoverify the call.
5. Synthetic identity fraud
Synthetic identity fraud is sophisticated, relatively new and is the fastest growing financial crime in the United States, according to management consultancy firm McKinsey.
It sees criminals creating entirely fictional personas using a blend of personal information stolen from genuine people and invented details to fill out the gaps.
For example, a synthetic identity could use your genuine address to pass an organisation ’ s identity checks,butwithanentirelyfakename.Thefraudster will then use the fake identity to open accounts and carry out transactions.
Technically there is ‘ no victim ’ , since the person named on the account doesn ’t exist, but the use of your address, for example, could have a harmful effect on your credit file.
This kind of fraud is difficult for businesses to detectandprevent,butyoucanlimityourchancesof enabling synthetic identity fraud by using strong passwords and biometrics while being vigilant against phishing attempts.
