6 minute read
Patron Focus 12
Sky signs up to become Chamber Patron
It’s an exciting time for media giant Sky, which is investing in a new 27.5 acre, state-of-the-art TV and film studio at Elstree. When it opens in 2022, the facility will house 13 sound stages, create 2,000 jobs in the local area and has ambitions to be the world’s most sustainable TV and film studio.
Sky Studios Elstree is also one of the latest companies to become a Patron of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Chief Operating Officer Caroline Cooper explains why and gives an insight into the company’s ambitious investment plans for the future…
When did Sky Studios Elstree become a Chamber Patron?
We recently became a Herts Chamber Patron as we recognised the great opportunities of working with local businesses to help deliver Sky Studios Elstree, which is set to open early next year. We’re building Sky Studios Elstree because our customers love Sky Originals. This innovative new studio will help us tell stories like never before and Elstree and Borehamwood were the perfect locations for us due to the area’s rich heritage in TV and film.
What benefits do you get from having Patron status?
Working with the Chamber as a Patron will allow us to build valuable relationships with businesses in the area. We have big plans for Sky Studios Elstree – it will allow us to double our investment in Sky Originals by 2024 and our ambition is that it will be the world’s most sustainable film and TV studio. The support and knowledge of other businesses in the area will help us strive towards our ambitious targets whilst also boosting Elstree and Borehamwood’s reputation as the new British Hollywood; an exciting place to live, work and do business.
How do you add value to other businesses in the area?
Sky Studios Elstree wants to help fuel the local economy of Hertfordshire. We’ll do this through job creation and by building a world-class, sustainable studio that will help attract more investment to the area. Our partner, BAM – which is actually constructing the site – has also hosted open days with more than 100 local businesses that wish to become a local supplier of Sky Studios Elstree throughout the construction phase of the site. Later in the year, we’ll be hosting an event with the Chamber to meet more local suppliers who we can work with when the site is operational. We’re also committed to using Sky Studios Elstree to train and develop the next generation of on and off-screen talent. That work has already begun with our partnership with Elstree Screen Arts Academy – a nine-month documentary partnership where students will receive masterclasses and workshops from teams at Sky Studios, and ultimately create four, ten-minute documentaries on the studios, the heritage of the area, sustainability and diversity. By upskilling this new generation of the workforce, we hope to help bolster the industry in the local area.
What is it like to work with Herts Chamber?
Working with the Herts Chamber, you can see there’s a clear passion for the local area and businesses. We love the ‘Let’s Keep the Heart in Hertfordshire’ campaign that the Herts Chamber recently championed. That’s exactly what we want to do – we’re building on an incredible legacy of TV and film within Elstree and Borehamwood. We want to make sure we’re contributing to that rich heritage. Whether that’s supporting job creation or training and developing talent, we also want to keep the heart in Hertfordshire.
What value do you get from being based in Hertfordshire?
We’re already benefiting from the highly skilled workforce in the area. We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to hire dozens of people locally already – working with Job Centre Plus – and a large number of these were unemployed before working on Sky Studios Elstree. The new studio will create 2,000 jobs along the way, so we’re excited to further tap into the Hertfordshire talent pool and will be opening operational roles for the studios soon.
HOMEWORKING
THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE OF BUSINESS RISK
The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a significant shift in traditional working models. Whilst many companies were initially forced to implement remote working for staff, recent research indicates that remote working is here to stay with many companies preparing to adopt a hybrid working model (where most of the time is spent working remotely).
With more staff located offsite, traditional perils, while still representing risk, are less likely to result in a total loss or disruption to business. This is due to the wider geographical spread of risk, as employees & IT equipment are no longer concentrated in one location. However, remote working can also result in new, less tangible risks.
LIABILITY RISKS
Employers retain the same health and safety responsibilities plus duty of care towards their employees, regardless of staff being based offsite. Employees should be provided with the right equipment to complete their work, and it should be set up correctly and well maintained. Electronic devices need to be safety tested and it should be established whether an employee’s home workspace is appropriate with sufficient space, natural light and ventilation. Organisations could see more Employers Liability claims related to musculoskeletal disorders or personal wellbeing where employees maintain they’ve developed these conditions because of unsatisfactory physical working conditions. Completing home workstation assessments (such as Display Screen Equipment or ‘DSE’ assessments) is important and the HSE provides templates to assist employers with this. Company directors face an ever-broadening raft of risks and exposures because of decisions they take; such claims may stem from decisions relating to the management of employee wellbeing. Prolonged remote working can affect health and wellbeing and this issue should not be underestimated. It is essential that there is regular communication between employers and employees.
CYBER RISKS
The potential for thousands of Wi-fi routers in employees’ homes across a wide geographical spread, opens new vulnerable access points for cyber criminals and employers should consider this increased exposure. It is now essential that all organisations (regardless of their size) implement fundamental safeguards to ensure company data and networks remain secure such as: providing advice and information to employees about setting up security on their home Wi-fi; issuing guidance, developing rules on using public Wi-fi networks, or preferably mandating employee to use private Wi-fi networks only; ensuring employees only use work e-mail accounts for business and limiting devices or equipment they can use; ensuring that staff are adequately trained, restricting work equipment to business-related tasks only; requiring multi-factor authentication for business apps and networks; implementing a robust VPN infrastructure; reminding employees to be vigilant for possible increases in phishing attempts; having a communication plan for reporting suspected breaches.
PROPERTY RISKS
Many employees have had to take equipment home to enable them to do their jobs, and employers need to ensure all work-related property is adequately insured. Do homeworkers have a household insurance policy? It is recommended that employees inform their insurer that they are working at home. Policies usually allow for infrequent home working. Most home insurance policies do not automatically cover homeworking, so employees need to check with their providers. Where each home insurance provider may differ is with extending cover to work visits at home. If home visits are to be allowed, and in unlikely event of a trip or slip in the home by a visitor, a commercial office or commercial combined insurance policy may need to be extended to
cover employees’ homes.
Fewer people working in the office regularly could also have implications for businesses’ buildings and contents insurance, especially if it means the space is semi-vacant or left unoccupied for periods of time. Are systems – sprinklers, security, access control, and fire – being maintained? It’s important to consider any property risk exposures − how they might be changing and what additional controls may be required.
