< Previous30 Business Link www.blmforum.net PORTS AND LOGISTICS progressing, availability of warehouses remains constrained. As the region tries to keep up with the needs of the logistics industry and build on its identity as a strategically important location, the sector is witnessing significant change. Sustainability requirements and low emission zones are impacting the sector as the country strives to achieve net-zero targets for example. This is set to push forward greener buildings when constructing warehouses, use of renewable and low- carbon technologies in energy supply to buildings, and on the road, use of electric vehicles is set to grow, which can also be a brand advantage, or alternatively abatement technology can be fitted on vehicles to purify emissions. Furthermore, the sector is being impacted by Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT) advances, which are presenting numerous opportunities in the supply chain, particularly as visibility becomes more vital than ever. As businesses embrace IoT devices, including sensors, on packages, containers, and vehicles, data can be provided for logistics companies to track shipments in real time, increase security, monitor atmospheric parameters for product safety where sensitive goods are involved (like pharmaceutical products), monitor driver activity and enact predictive vehicle maintenance. Tracking can also be opened up for customers, which is invaluable in the online shopping boom for improving customer experience. Within warehouses, automation and AI are growing, and this is expected to accelerate in light of the pandemic and social distancing as well as staff shortages. Automation via technologies like pick and place robots and AGVs is being used to increase efficiency, productivity and speed while reducing human intervention, and AI is optimising route planning and predictions, such as in demand planning by analysing online behaviour. Research in this area is being contributed to by our region, to revolutionise the future of logistics processes. The University of Lincoln is involved in a research project expanding the roles that robots can play in assisting humans in distribution processes. The €7 million Dynamic Agile Production Robots That Learn and Optimise Knowledge and Operations (DARKO) UK Government invests £95m in new offshore wind ports The UK Government is set to invest £95 million in two new offshore wind ports. Able Marine Energy Park in the Humber has been awarded up to £75 million, whilst £20 million is going to the Teeswork site in Teesside. Construction at both sites will begin later this year. The two ports will have the capacity to support the development of up to 9GW of offshore wind projects each year. With more than 40 years’ experience designing, manufacturing and constructing bespoke buildings, Rubb can support the energy sector with facilities for storage, processing and maintenance. Rubb UK Sales Executive, Steph Coyle, says: “Our custom solutions are designed specifically to suit the project specification, with spans as small as 3.5m and as large as 82.4m in our UK archives with capabilities beyond, generally no project is outside of our scope as we do not have a standard approach to our solutions.” To find out more, visit www.rubbuk.com. project will harness the latest innovations in robotics. Though robotic technology is already utilised effectively for picking and packing tasks, this research aims to introduce a new function of ‘throwing’ in order to increase energy efficiency and speed up some of the most time- consuming processes. A robotic arm will be developed to throw non-breakable objects such as plastic pipes and components into containers ready for distribution. The Lincoln team will be responsible for developing the spatial awareness capability needed for the robots to work safely and efficiently alongside humans in a busy warehouse setting. 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:19 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 31 PORTS AND LOGISTICS © Shutterstock /Milos Muller VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION By optimising the energy supply direct to your electrical equipment, you will be making instant savings on your electricity bills. ENERGY BROKERAGE Our procurement service helps businesses to cut their energy costs without making a single operational change. 1 Limber Road, Kirmington, North Lincolnshire, England DN39 6YB T: 01652 681 883 E: zerocapitalcost@britishpowergroup.co.uk W: britishpowergroup.co.uk BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR BRITISH BUSINESS Through our network of trusted energy partners we have in excess of £100 Million secured in private investments to be utilised on renewable projects over the next 2 years. PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR POWER Transform your business into a long-term energy reducing model with zero capital expenditure. EFFICIENT EV CHARGERS Efficient EV Chargers, powered by 100% Renewable Energy. Become part of the UK’s fastest growing EV Charging Network. A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF RENEWABLE SOLUTIONS WITH ZERO CAPITAL COSTS CONTACT US TODAY! 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:19 Page 432 Business Link www.blmforum.net OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH C onsidering the mental and physical wellbeing of employees at work, occupational health is primarily preventative, encouraging and ensuring safe working practices, but it also monitors the health of staff, supports sickness absence management, the return to work, and more. Beneficial for both employers and employees, workers can gain advice and receive training on preventing injury and illness and be helped back into work if they become ill, while employers can maintain a healthy workforce, bolstering productivity, morale, job satisfaction, and lowering absenteeism. Though employers are not legally required to provide occupational health services to employees, employers do have a legal obligation to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees at work - so far as reasonably practicable - and all risks must be assessed and controlled. Medical or health surveillance must also be implemented where necessary. As many small firms do not have a workforce large enough to keep a dedicated internal occupational health service, external occupational health providers will be used to support the business, carrying out medical and other occupational health assessments, and offering guidance and best practice. In light of COVID-19 there is an increased expectation that employers be proactive in supporting employee mental and physical health as they ask staff to return to the workplace - without doing so, reputational risks arise - while the government is looking to reform workplace health provision. In fulfilling these expectations, occupational health professionals will need to be on hand to help businesses adapt, especially as a flood of return to work, mental health, risk management and infection control challenges will need to be addressed. There is a duty for employers, HR, occupational health professionals, and employees to understand how to make the workplace safe and their role in that process. Occupational health assessments are a particularly useful tool for supporting staff and bringing them back to work safely, assessing physical and mental health and providing recommendations to employers as to where adjustments could be made to a workplace to create a safe and healthy environment for an employee. Reflecting Expanding occupational health expectations Health and wellbeing are firmly in the front of employees’ minds as a result of the pandemic, increasing occupational health expectations. 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:23 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 33 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH on COVID-19, occupational health will be further vital to mitigate risks in sectors such as textile factories and meat processing facilities which have seen numerous outbreaks as transmission hotspots. Employers themselves are also looking to change their approach to health and wellbeing in response to the pandemic, with Unum’s Value of Help study highlighting that eighty-six per cent of employers in the UK have done so. Meanwhile ninety-five per cent note Coronavirus has affected the need to make staff feel more protected. Certainly, when returning to the workplace, confidence will need to be instilled. This has seen many firms provide, and seek out advice on, COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests and temperature checks, installing better ventilation, putting in place more frequent and thorough cleaning programmes, setting up hand sanitiser stations, and taking up fresh occupational health and risk assessments. Ahead of the return to work a conversation between managers and employees is critical, covering what the first day back will be like, issues relating to the commute, and workplace strategies to minimise risk. Staff confidence can be achieved when they have been engaged with and reassured that their concerns are being listened to and acted on, and they know employers are connecting with appropriate experts. Furthermore, while historically 34 Á © Shutterstock /Lithiumphoto 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:23 Page 234 Business Link www.blmforum.net OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH occupational health was associated with physical injuries and the prevention of these at work, as the pandemic took its toll and masses of employees made their homes their workplace over the past year, renewed attention has been brought to mental health and wellbeing, and the requirement by law for employers to prevent mental ill health amongst workers. Now with hybrid working set to be a permanent future for many, and staff returning to work, employers and occupational health will need to reconsider their strategy for supporting staff - with a key challenge being how a wellbeing strategy can work as effectively at home as at the office - and ensure the HSE’s stress management standards are applied effectively, and that home assessments are conducted. Though home working has been praised for its positive aspects like cutting out the commute and allowing for extra family time, the switch has been shown to have negative implications too. Research indicates that the number of people experiencing insomnia, isolation, anxiety, and stress has risen, and some are working longer hours than before, which all comes on top of a risk of musculoskeletal pain due to poor ergonomics at home. Being able to spot the signs of mental health issues can be difficult for employers and managers however, especially with home working, and many employees do not feel comfortable discussing mental health, with some concerned it may impact career progression. People should therefore remain engaged and feel supported at home. Moving forwards more must be done to remove the stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace. One option is to have higher level staff members share their experiences with team members, to give them the confidence to speak up themselves. A safe and inclusive environment where open communication is encouraged, regular contact is made with workers to discuss their wellbeing, and resources are available and promoted is essential, and employees should know how and with who to raise concerns. Managers should also be equipped to recognise distress and warning signs, such as subtle changes in demeanour, and offer support with mental health training. In measuring the effectiveness of procedures in place, surveys and discussion forums will be key to hear employee thoughts, while psychological hazard surveillance and psychological health surveillance are also helpful. With the final version of the first global standard offering practical guidance on managing mental health at work, ISO 45003, to be released this Summer, further discussions are sure to be on the cards. There is a wealth of resources available to support staff wellbeing, The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service for employees for example is provided by Remploy for those with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health conditions, comes at no cost to the employer, and provides nine months vocational workplace support to individuals. This includes workplace mental wellbeing support and advice tailored to individuals, help for individuals to identify successful workplace and condition coping strategies to support their success, advice on workplace adjustments that could be implemented to help individuals fulfil their role, a support plan for individuals to follow to help them to get back on track, and help for employers to understand what support they can offer to employees with a mental health condition. There is also a growing call, as a result of remote working, for businesses to actively promote better working habits and good sleep practices, calling on occupational health professionals to advise on this. When working from home, employees can struggle to switch off, exceed working hours, and thus have trouble sleeping. While sleep may not seem as though it should be a top priority for employers, after all sleep occurs out of working hours, a lack of sleep leaves employees not just tired, but can affect the immune system © Shutterstock /maxbelchenko 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:23 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 35 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH (seeing more instances of illness, poor performance, and missed workdays), reduce concentration and reaction times, seeing more accidents and mistakes, and increase anxiety, depression, and anger. To help staff, employers and occupational health professionals can offer advice on how to separate home and work life and how to structure the day. Moreover, those establishing permanent home working or a hybrid approach need to make clear expectations with defined working hours, and healthy breaks should be promoted. Though providing better support to staff comes with its costs, the return has been made clear, with a Deloitte report estimating that every £1 spent on mental health interventions sees £5 gained in business value. One might therefore consider offering healthcare plans to staff, which can also give businesses an edge over competitors and attract more talent. © Shutterstock /Chinnapong 32-35.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:23 Page 436 Business Link www.blmforum.net CORPORATE HOSPITALITY A company that can boast a motivated and enthused workforce is more likely to be a company that can innovate and react to new challenges – especially in the current fast-moving business world. Although individual departments may well work brilliantly on their own, a business can’t excel unless there’s synergy, utilising the skills of all employees in a fluid and flexible fashion. Hence the importance of team building to create new links between otherwise isolated staff members. Despite its importance, however, employees (and employers) can sometimes resent team building as unnecessary – particularly during tough times like this where they may be working that little bit harder. This is often not because of any fault among the team, but because of a rather odd feeling that team building is done at the expense of the employee, where the opposite should be the case. It’s not unusual for unscrupulous companies to hold team building on weekends or outside of work hours, and for it to be events or challenges that employees might find demeaning or patronising. This, however, is not only the wrong way to go about team building but is also something stylised more on television and comedy. Traditional team building, and companies that focus on it, tend to advocate a more enjoyable approach. After all, is not simply having team members have fun around one another the best way to promote synergy? It doesn’t matter how quickly they can untie a sailor’s knot or scale an obstacle course if there is bad blood between them. This is doubly important after stressful times or a long absence like lockdown, which may have left some teams apart for well over a year! You can’t expect people to come back and have the same degree of teamwork they did before, when they’ve not been working together for so long. That is often why staff parties are thrown at various times in the year as well, because these events – as casual as they might seem – help to build social bonds and reinforce teamwork. This is commonly seen among the animal kingdom too, where creatures who live and work in a pack have a higher chance of survival. To improve pack bonds, animals regularly engage in Building teamwork Across every industry, teams who spend time with one another outside of work show improved performance, and yet despite this – businesses still consider team building an unnecessary luxury. 36-37.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:25 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 37 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY social behaviour such as preening, cleaning or play. While no one in the business world wants to advocate mutual cleaning of fleas as a method to improve teamwork, the lessons are still the same; those who form strong bonds with their team tend to work better together. If a team has individually strong members but seems to fall behind on targets, then it might be worth looking at boosting team morale instead, perhaps with a fun or entertaining dinner or night out. The key is to do something unusual and memorable, and something that the staff likely won’t be doing on their own terms. A visit to a casino could be a good option, especially if it’s for an event or the business can provide chips for them to use. This offers a guilt-free chance for the team to win and lose together, have fun and build stronger bonds. This improved teamwork is likely to translate well into the office, especially when there is next a discussion which might otherwise have ended in an argument. Team building is often seen as something unnecessary by both employees and employers alike. Some refer to them as a waste of both money and time, teamwork being something that can be built at the desk as easily as it can be on some expensive away trip. Yet if that’s truly the case, why is it that the top companies in the world, from Google to Apple, all the way down to banks and multi-nationals, all adhere and stand by such trips? The simple answer is that these things work, and there’s plenty of research, both into humans and animals to support this. As businesses, we already invest much into our workforce, but it remains the case that they provide back in return, as without them no revenue would be made. To then suggest that a team-building session is “too much” feels a little off. The smallest and most local car garage will likely have staff that go out and drink together, while professional football teams worth hundreds of millions will still encourage their staff to spend time with one another outside of training; all because it makes them play better on the field. If every other performance- related team in the world seems to see the benefit of this, what excuse do employers have to call it a waste of time? © Shutterstock /H_Ko 36-37.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:25 Page 238 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK The new Continental GT Speed Coupe represents the very pinnacle of performance grand touring, and defines the most dynamic road-going Bentley ever made, with no compromise to comfort or luxury. Combining the new systems the Continental GT Speed still maintains Bentley’s philosophy that a vehicle should feel progressive and secure, yet still be dynamic. The new carbon ceramic braking system boasts 440mm diameter front discs combined with new ten-piston front calipers, making this not only the biggest brake ever fitted to a Bentley but also the largest car brake in the world. The ceramic brake has been extensively tested around the world including at the Nurburgring Nordschleife where it set levels of braking performance never before achieved by a Bentley. In objective tests the ceramic brake has proven itself to be exceptionally fade resistant. Drive with pride You are what you drive – and whether it’s for business or pleasure we’re all proud of our motors. We take a look at a few cars we’d love to have in our garages. Bentley Continental GT Speed Coupe 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:26 Page 1Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA www.blmforum.net Business Link 39 AUTOLINK The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA brings back one of the legends of motoring and a milestone in the brand’s history: the 1965 Giulia GTA. It sees a return to the roots of the brand established 111 years ago, those of the worlds of performance and touring, with a model that epitomises the unique ability of Alfa Romeo to combine style and sport. One of the features that has always marked out an Alfa Romeo is its unique design which skillfully combines form and function. The bodywork features a purposeful front that expresses all the power unleashed by the engine, with larger air intakes and technical elements in carbon fibre. Even the iconic ‘’Trilobo” is enhanced, with slots that edge the badge to optimise cooling, reminiscent of the early days of F1. D Davies Turner Celebrating 150 years of pioneering service Your worldwide freight and logistics partner T: 01709 529709 www.daviesturner.com YEARS 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2021 13:26 Page 2Next >