By Phil Doyle, Founding Director, 5Plus Architects For as long as they’ve existed, offices have been culture carriers. That means your office sets the tone of your business; it’s where people get the essence of what you’re about, what matters to you, and how you treat your people. Today, the office is also a demonstration of how much attention your business pays to the protection of the planet. While there is an onus on property developers to create commercial spaces that tick boxes when it comes to sustainability, there is also a huge benefit for business owners to seek them out. By choosing ..read more

Caroline Evans, below, Managing Director at London Speech Workshop, looks at how organisations can build anxiety-free workplaces According to The Workplace Health Report, 60% of employees experience anxiety, with a quarter experiencing clinically relevant symptoms. Research published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also found that stress, anxiety and depression account for more than half of all work-related sickness absences.  Workplace anxiety is also contributing to reduced business performance, with one in five employees reporting that poor mental wellbeing affects th ..read more

New research reveals that candidates overwhelmingly believe that recruiters are biased in some way – although the proportion has decreased since 2022. When Tribepad first did their Stop the Bias research in 2022, every individual surveyed said there was something about themselves that they believed would hold them back in the recruitment process. And now in their latest Stop the Bias report, 11% chose the option ‘none of the above.’ This suggests some progress, but that still leaves a huge 9 in 10 people (89%) who believe that they are likely to suffer prejudice when applying for a role ..read more

By Olivia Sibony, Head of Impact, Angel Investment Network We live in an era where consumers and investors are voting with their wallets for companies who put environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations at the forefront. Indeed according to a recent survey of global investors, conducted by Angel Investment Network, 73% said positive impact was a big driver of investment decisions. Meanwhile a recent report by ESW, a global DTC e-commerce company of 16,000 shoppers revealed that 83% of consumers consider sustainability as a key factor in their buying decisions. However with an in ..read more

A third of employees (33%) in the UK have experienced a ‘toxic manager’ at work in the past five years, and over four in ten (41%) have left a job due to their dissatisfaction with management. The findings are from Corndel’s Workplace Training Report 2024, based on research conducted with 250 HR decision makers at large organisations and 1,000 UK employees. Toxic manager traits including micromanagement, inflexibility, intimidation, gaslighting colleagues and a deflecting accountability. This is having a significant impact on employees’ experiences at work. Nearly half of the employees (47%) s ..read more

A quarter of all entrepreneurs in the UK are disabled and, to address the inequalities they can face, a new independent review called The Lilac Review has been launched with backing from the Government. Spearheaded by Small Business Britain it aims to level-up entrepreneurial opportunity across the UK. Business owner Sarah Berthon is on the steering board for The Lilac Review. Sarah founded Excel against the Odds, supporting people with chronic illnesses in the workplace through mentoring, workshops and nurturing online communities. Living with conditions such as PoTS, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome ..read more

Almost a third (30%) of employees admit they have or would consider ‘pulling a sickie’ to miss work, despite feeling healthy, according to new research from protection and employee benefits provider, MetLife UK Some also feel they need extra time off work last minute due to personal circumstances. Almost a quarter (23%) say they took time off to attend a necessary appointment, while one in six (17%) did so due to emergency childcare issues, and 15% to care for a relative. Top reasons why employees have or would ‘pull a sickie’ to skip working: Of those who have previously called in sick, 45 ..read more

By Gary Knight, CEO, WOLF The most recent report on workforce gender split in the Middle East shows only 19% are women. This perhaps surprising World Bank statistic evidences one of the lowest percentages in the world, highlighting the struggle that women face when vying for jobs against their male counterparts. Of course, this percentage varies by country, but several nations in the region have similar statistics. Only 15% of the labour force is female in Jordan, notwithstanding Jordan boasting one of the highest regional female literacy rates. However, several Middle Eastern countries buck t ..read more

By Leanne Maskell, above, Director, ADHD Works ADHD doesn’t fit into the ‘traditional’ professional mould, which is a huge asset for any company seeking growth, innovation and success. Our world of work is zooming forward at super-fast speed, and it needs similarly whizzy brains that can keep up with this rate of constant change, literally thinking outside the box. The following strengths have been scientifically linked with ADHD – here’s how they can benefit you: Hyper-focus ADHD isn’t so much a ‘deficit’ of attention as a struggle to regulate it, as we can often achieve a month’s wort ..read more

By Amalia White, below, Account Executive, IPOS Awareness weeks like National Apprenticeship Week are crucial. They provide a platform for individuals to inspire others and share their creations and achievements. For me, it was a fantastic opportunity to get a foot in the door at a leading creative agency and work with global brands. As a result, I’ve gained an insight into a fascinating industry and received valuable experience that led to my appointment as Account Executive, where I can work on projects with the likes of Birkenstock, New Balance, Under Armour and UGG. Choosing an apprentices ..read more