8 minute read
Policy News
OUTLOOK FOR 2021
The government policy over the last 12 months has been to provide economic support packages to help business survive throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Advertisement
This has no doubt been a challenging year for many businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. With the approval of three new vaccines, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. With new variants of Covid-19 being identified, the continued balancing act of public health concerns and reopening the economy proves to be a significant unwelcomed challenge for the government to navigate. 2021 remains a year for hope and optimism with three new approved vaccines and a new trade agreement with the EU, meaning businesses are able to plan effectively for the year ahead. The new trade agreement allows businesses to understand the red tape and regulations around importing and exporting goods and services in the EU. No doubt there will be many queries from companies as they get to grips with the new rules, however the clarity on regulation will be much welcomed from businesses. The approval of three Covid-19 vaccines means there is light at the end of the tunnel, and organisations can start to plan how their business can move forward as restrictions are slowly lifted. The easing of the restrictions will allow business the opportunity to trade with consumers again and help provide the economy the much-needed boost in helping to kickstart its economic recovery.
KNOWING YOUR MARKET
Many businesses throughout the Covid-19 pandemic have had to change their products and services due to national lockdowns, which has changed consumer behaviour. For example, online shopping has increased by over 50% in the last year alone according to the Office of National Statistics. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth for online services, which we are likely to see continue to grow in 2021 and beyond. One way businesses can future proof is to ensure they know what the trends are in their sector and how customers are likely to buy their products/services in the future. As we have seen with retail businesses, they have struggled with national lockdowns due to no customers visiting stores which has meant they have to rely on online services in order to sell their products.
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
As remote working was encouraged during 2020, businesses were forced to change the way they operate. 78% of businesses who responded to our Employment Survey 2020 adopted or increased use of at least one type of technology due to the pandemic. Being aware of the new technologies that are available and how they can be utilised to help a business reach their goals is another dway of future proofing. A McKinsey study showed that 67% of companies had accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence and automation due to the pandemic. To plan for the future businesses should ask themselves, how are production methods in their industry changing and is automation being used by their competitors? In our QES Q1 survey we are investigating the use of automation in the local area.
SKILLS
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted inequalities of skill shortages within specific sectors and industries. For example, the hospitality and tourism sector has been hit the hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic, with 171,000 people losing their jobs due to the pandemic. However, the IT sector has seen an increase in jobs being advertised for skilled IT engineers, although accessing this labour pool proves to be rather difficult. There have been wider questions surrounding whether people who have lost their jobs are able to retrain in other fields. We found in our Employment Report that 28% of businesses were planning to use the Kickstart Scheme to employ young people.
CONCLUSION
Underpinning all of these ways that business can future proof their business as they plan is consistent investment. Data from the QES has shown investment has remained at chronically low levels due to EU Exit and Covid-19 uncertainty. But as we move away from this uncertainty and start to recover from the pandemic businesses have an opportunity to increase investment in their business and thrive in the future.
EMPLOYERS ARE INVITED TO WCG’S DIGITAL ‘T PARTY’
Employers are being offered the chance to find out how they can help mould the next generation of workers at a digital event hosted by a leading college group in March.
Digital support service T Levels will be offered from the college’s facility at Malvern Hills Science Park in Worcestershire and at Royal Leamington Spa College in Warwickshire. T-Levels, equivalent to three A-Levels, are new national qualifications that form part of the Government’s flagship reforms to technical education in England. They combine classroom theory and practical learning with industry placements of at least nine weeks to give students real experience of the workplace. By offering work placements, employers will get early access to new talent and ideas in the workplace, support the development of their existing employees through mentoring opportunities, improve productivity by getting help with specific projects, and get the opportunity to offer masterclasses at WCG to help shape skills and knowledge of their potential future workforce. WCG virtual ‘T Party’ takes place on Tuesday 23 March, between 11am-12pm, to talk in more detail to employers across the region about T Levels and the benefits of being involved. The event is free to attend, but places must be booked in advance at wcg.ac.uk/tlevelemployers. Steve Ellis, head of WCG’s Business and Digital Technology department, said: “Employers should see T Levels as a way of bringing talented young people into their business to assess them as a potential employee, as well as benefiting from new ideas that they could bring to help them grow their business. “We hope to see as many employers as possible from our area join us at our online ‘T Party’ so they can hear first-hand the long-term benefits that these are new qualifications can offer.” To find out more about T Levels, contact WCG’s Business Development Team: T: 0330 135 6940 E: employerenquiries@wcg.ac.uk W: wcg.ac.uk/tlevelemployers
T2M RESOURCING – YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER FOR PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT!
The team at T2M Resourcing are passionate about providing a great recruitment experience to our clients and candidates in a professional, ethical and agile manner.
We partner with clients to attract, recruit and retain the best talent available to help companies grow. We strive to ensure that we provide great opportunities for candidates to advance their careers with organisations that can provide the right environment for everyone to succeed. Recent campaigns we have successfully delivered for our clients include:
Managing Director – IT company
Chief Technology Officer – aim listed
Plc that provide ‘B2B’ services
Finance Director - £15m turnover engineering company
Group Financial Controller – nationwide critical services provider Financial Controller – International capital equipment provider
Finance Manager – Telecoms company
Senior Finance Business – Property &
Transport Group
HR Director & HR Business Partner – nationwide compliance services group
General Manger – manufacturing group
Credit Manager & Credit Controller – logistics company What our clients say about our service: “The T2M team build long term relationships – that is why we work with them. To us, cultural alignment is just as important as experience and technical ability. I do not hesitate to recommend T2M as a partner of choice for resource needs.” – Phil, Chief Executive, AIM Listed Plc “The service that was provided to us by your company was first class” – Peter, Finance Director, Logistics company “ As always thank you for your support with this role – T2M coming up trumps again!”- Julie, Group Financial Controller, IT services company “I really appreciate your work on this. You have been very professional, much more so than many I have come across in your industry. Thank you.” Jeremy, Operations Manager, Outsourcing company For a discussion about your next permanent or interim recruitment requirement contact Steve Randall, Managing Director at T2M Resourcing on 07412 786686 or email him at Steve@
T2Mresourcing.com www.T2Mresourcing.com
15th February 2021: A national provider of highway safety and security solutions with 4 depots across the UK is set to take up new space at Upton Business Centre, following an expansion of the site by 2 acres.
Highway Care, which had an annual turnover of over £16m in 2019, is relocating from its depot in Ledbury in Herefordshire to a newly developed secure 70,000 sq ft compound at the Centre which is based in Welland Road in Upton. This is the largest amount of space let by the owners, Martin and Mark Wilesmith, in Upton Business Centre’s 25 year history. The remainder of the tenants, which include national and local companies, rent a mix of commercial/ industrial units ranging in size from 600 to 3,500 sq ft. Andrew MacCuish, Highway Care’s Operations Director says: ‘We have been looking for suitable premises for some time, to provide the business with a better location and site from which to operate. Upton Business Centre offers Highway Care a much improved depot location from which to base our Operational Delivery Services team and rental assets in the West, to service our customers now and into the future.’ One of the key advantages of Upton Business Centre is its location, given its proximity to the M5 North and South, together with the M50 to South Wales allowing easy access to the wider region. Martin Wilesmith says: ‘We are delighted to welcome Highway Care to Upton Business Centre. They are local employers and the extra space we have provided them will enable them to expand their operations. We have the skills and capacity to adapt the premises to Highway Care’s requirements and support their plans for the future’ The father and son duo also own a further site at Link Business Centre in Malvern where they rent 31 commercial units, ranging from 760 to 3,300 sq ft. Image shows left to right: Mark Wilesmith, Partner at Upton Business Centre and Andrew MacCuish, Highway Care’s Operations Director For further information about Upton or Link Business Centres please contact Martin Wilesmith on 01684 561238 or visit www.uptonbusinesscentre.co.uk For further information about Highway Care please contact Natalie Owen at natalie.owen@highwaycare.com or call
