Monthly Archives: October 2020

Logistics, News

New Distribution Depot Opens Creating 133 Jobs

This week sees the opening of a new distribution depot by Hermes UK, the consumer delivery specialists, in Valor Park, West Thurrock. Around 140 new jobs have been created at the 157K sq ft warehouse, which has been opened ahead of the busy Black Friday and Christmas peak periods.

The new facility will be able to handle over 115K parcels each day with the ability to operate 24/7 as needed. It forms part of the ongoing investment programme by Hermes UK to expand its capacity to meet the huge demand created by people shopping at home during lockdown and the continuing growth in the sector. The company estimates that it will see record parcel volumes later this year.

‘’It has been a hectic but successful couple of days since we opened. Our new team includes people from all kinds of professions who have been made redundant as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and being able to employ so many local people from the area has been really important for me. We are getting ready for a busy Black Friday and Christmas period and will be working hard to ensure that our customers continue to get a fantastic service,” said Sidonia Grigorie Depot General Manager.

Business Research, News

Finance employees are the least trustworthy

Employees in the financial sector are 30 per cent less trustworthy than other industries, according to new research by the University of Cologne.

The study, conducted by Professors Matthias Heinz and Matthias Sutter, measured the trustworthiness of students and found that those who were less trustworthy ended up in the financial sector after graduation.

In order to show this, the researchers identified the degree of trustworthiness of business and economics students several years before they entered the job market by analysing their career aspirations, social preferences and personality traits.

They then followed up on the students’ professional specialisation as well as their job placement after graduation and found that most of those who were considered untrustworthy, had entered the financial industry.

“A well-functioning financial market is of the utmost importance for social welfare, however, the industry struggles with widespread misconduct and corporate scandals which compromises its benefits for society. Our paper argues that this is as a result of the companies selecting candidates with little trustworthiness,” says Professor Heinz.

The research also highlights that that companies within the financial industry do not screen out less trustworthy individuals, in fact, it seems that the opposite is the case.

The researchers suggest that policy interventions might be needed to change incentive structures in the financial industry to ensure that they attract more trustworthy and pro-social candidates in the future.

Professor Matthias Heinz and Matthias Sutter are scientists at the University of Cologne and the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy.

Construction, News, North of England

G F Tomlinson completes units at South Yorkshire business park

Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has completed construction works on five new industrial units at Ashroyd Business Park, Barnsley.

Constructed on plots 4 and 5 of the business park, the units have been speculatively built for developer Network Space, to meet a shortage of industrial space in the Sheffield City Region, in partnership with Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

The established business park, which is located adjacent to the Dearne Valley Parkway close to junction 36 of the M1, already houses a range of businesses in its current units, including self-storage and car part companies, and window, door and shower enclosure manufacturers.

Units that G F Tomlinson has recently completed comprise one single 52,871 sq. ft unit on Plot 4B, which is suitable for use as an industrial or distribution unit, as well as four smaller units on Plot 5 ranging from 11,049 sq. ft to 21,882 sq. ft, which will be used as trade counters, storage, industrial and smaller business units.

Andy Sewards, managing director at G F Tomlinson said: “We are pleased to be able to hand the site over now that construction works are complete and the units are a welcome addition to the local area and its economy, providing plenty of opportunity for prospective tenants – especially small to medium enterprises that are looking for an ideally situated, accessible base for operations.

“It’s been a great opportunity to work with Network Space, a highly regarded developer in the region and we have built a good relationship with the company which we look forward to continuing in the future.”

Simon Peters, development director of Network Space, said: “Good quality industrial space is in very short supply. The range of space at Ashroyd Business Park has been designed to meet significant occupier demand from smaller and medium sized occupiers and we are receiving a high level of enquiries.

“Thankfully, we have been able to offer virtual video tours, as well as socially distanced visits as lockdown has eased. Now that the units are complete, we are seeing increased interest, particularly due to the flexibility of the space, prime location and great transport links.”

Cllr Tim Cheetham, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture at Barnsley Council, said: “We are delighted to be assisting Network Space with such a high-quality development in a first-class location in Barnsley. This is great news for the borough, providing further opportunities to boost our local jobs market and Barnsley’s economy.

“Our award-winning Enterprising Barnsley business centre team, which offers free guidance on access to finance, recruitment and training, as well as business growth coaching, has supported the development and we look forward to supporting future businesses that move into the units.”

The scheme was delivered with investment from the Sheffield City Region JESSICA Fund and support from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and is expected to bring more than 140 jobs to the local region.

COVID-19

COVID-19 Destroying Masks Available In The UK

Innovative tech start-up, Wise Protec has developed a range of anti-viral face masks made from a specially formulated antimicrobial fabric which the company promise will kill 99.5% of the virus causing COVID-19 on contact.

The Anti-Viral Wise Mask range has not only been developed to safeguard against airborne pathogens, but they also combat some of the user side effects of wearing a mask, such as lack of breathability, discomfort and skin irritation.

Made in Portugal, the EU-made Wise Protec Anti-Viral Wise Mask range is available in a series of problem-solving variants:

  • The Original Anti-Viral Wise Mask: with moisture control and high particle retention
  • Breathe Better: a eucalyptus scented version with camphor to promote airway relief
  • Skin Care: a skin moisturising version containing Vitamin E and Ubiquinol Q10, with a green tea scent
  • Stress
The Original Anti-Viral Wise Mask and the Breathe Better, Skin Care and Stress Relief variants retail at £25 each

Unlike other surgical or fabric face masks, the Wise Protec Anti-Viral mask collection actively combats the SARS-Cov-2 virus known to cause COVID-19, with a proprietary filter that has a particle retention rate of over 90% and prevents the formation of odours inside and outside the mask.

The Wise Protec Anti-Viral Wise Masks are designed with multi-functional fabric layers which retain their antiviral properties for up to one year (based on a weekly wash) and are engineered to self-clean in less than 24 hours, while being breathable, water repellent and moisture wicking. The proprietary non-toxic chemical fixing process creates a strong bond between the antimicrobial agents and the surface of the fabric, remaining 99.9% effective even after 50+ washes and passing UK testing.

The masks are 100% vegan and consist of three layers with different properties that combine to offer protection, safety and comfort. They are engineered to self-clean, so there is no need to wash it every day.

Jorge Machado, Co-Founder at Wise Protec, commented: “Face masks have become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, helping us keep ourselves, our loved ones and the wider community safe from COVID-19. However, masks made of standard fabrics are only effective to a certain point and when worn correctly.

“With our proprietary antimicrobial technology, we knew we were in the position to build an even more effective, more comfortable face mask, which led us to create the Wise Protec Anti-Viral Wise Mask. We’re very proud to say that our mask is more than 99% antiviral effective against COVID-19, plus the over 95% filtration and its water-repellency properties make it virtually impossible to get infected when worn correctly, meaning it the safest face mask currently available on the market.”

The Anti-Viral Wise Mask range retails between £9 and £25, with a children’s range retailing at £12, and are available to order for UK delivery on wiseprotec.com, johnlewis.com and  at Primark stores. You can find out more about Wise Protec and the range of masks on the Wise Protec website.

Awards, HR Software, Leadership, News

Glassdoor Names Sage’s Steve Hare as Highest Rated CEO in the UK During COVID-19 crisis

Sage, the market leader in cloud business management solutions, announced today that Steve Hare, CEO, has been recognised by Glassdoor for having the highest rated leadership score in the UK (95%), during the COVID-19 crisis.

The data published by Glassdoor today, uses primary analysis of voluntary, anonymous company reviews and ratings from UK-based current and former employees between 1st March, 2020 and 31st July, 2020.

Steve Hare, CEO of Sage, commented: “These are truly unprecedented times for our colleagues and customers, and this recognition is a direct reflection of their individual commitments and hard work. During this outbreak, Sage’s priority was to create a safe and effective working environment at a time when the stakes were high, and our customers’ need for support was greater than ever.

“I am a passionate advocate of listening to all colleagues and adapting to change as quickly and efficiently as possible. The next stage of this pandemic is an unknown to us all, and we must continue to listen and adapt to support those who need it most – including our small and medium sized businesses, up and down the country.”

Award-Winning CEO Coach Peter Ryding, who has led free workshops for HR Directors and CEOs on leadership strategies throughout the COVID-19 crisis, said Steve Hare’s understanding that the company needed to balance the needs of both employees and customers, and responding quickly, was likely to be the secret of his success.  Peter says:

“While COVID-19 is a new and unexpected crisis for UK CEOs, unexpected events will always arise.  A good CEO will have quickly put a plan in place that factors in the needs of employees, customers and stakeholders, and planned their short, medium and long term responses to it.  Clearly, Steve has done this, acquiring and building the trust of the whole organisation in the process.  It’s a good example of a strong response that will give Sage the best chance of long term stability, despite the current pandemic.”

The Top 10 highest rated CEOs During the COVID-19 Crisis in the UK are:

  1. Steve Hare, CEO of Sage: 95% Leadership Score
  2. Alan Hirzel, CEO of Abcam: 94% Leadership Score
  3. Duncan Rendall, CEO of Rendall and Rittner: 94% Leadership Score
  4. Greg Reed, CEO of HomeServeUK: 93% Leadership Score
  5. Dava Thayan, CEO of Kingsley Healthcare: 91% Leadership Score
  6. Pete Redfern, CEO of Taylor Wimpey: 91% Leadership Score
  7. Tracey Storey, CEO of ICP Nurseries: 88% Leadership Score
  8. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook: 88% Leadership Score
  9. Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce: 87% Leadership Score
  10. Rob Browett, CEO of TeacherActive: 85% Leadership Score

Cybersecurity, Industry News

Aqua Security Research Report Shows Increase in Organised Attacks on Cloud Native Infrastructure and Software Supply Chain

Aqua Security, the pure-play cloud native security leader, have released a new threat report by Team Nautilus, Aqua’s cybersecurity research team, that reveals a growing, organised and increasingly sophisticated pattern of attacks on cloud native infrastructure. While most attacks were aimed at abusing public cloud compute resources for cryptocurrency mining, the methods used open the door for higher-value targets that leverage security gaps in container software supply chains and runtime environments.

The full 70-page report provides a detailed account of attacks observed in the wild during a full year of detailed observation and tracing. This is the first such report to outline the precise, systematic methods used to attack container infrastructure, and to highlight supply chain attacks as an emerging threat.

The report provides trends and observed categories of attacks, but also explains in great detail the specific progression of several attack vectors, from the originating malicious images to the specific evasion techniques, malicious payloads, and propagation attempts. The detailed analysis of the attacks was made possible using Aqua’s Dynamic Threat Analysis (DTA) tool, which was announced by Aqua earlier this year. Aqua DTA runs suspicious images as sandboxed containers to safely observe and trace their behaviour, and is integrated into Aqua’s full-lifecycle solution to prevent such images from ever making it into production environments.

Highlights of the observed attacks include:

  • Container images in public registries being poisoned with Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) that cannot be detected using static scanning. They spring into action only when the container is running.
  • Sophisticated evasion techniques are being used to hide attacks and make them more persistent. This includes the use of “vanilla” images that seem innocuous, disabling other malware, delaying before downloading payloads into the running container, using 64-bit encoding to obfuscate malware, and more.
  • Since the beginning of 2020, the volume of attacks has dramatically increased, suggesting that there is organised infrastructure and systematic targeting behind these attacks. More than 16,000 individual attacks were tracked back to multiple locations across the globe.
  • The main motivation of the malicious actors has been to hijack cloud compute resources to mine for cryptocurrency, but Team Nautilus has seen evidence that other objectives, such as establishing DDoS infrastructure, were also attempted.

“The attacks we observed are a significant step up in attacks targeting cloud native infrastructure. We expect a further increase in sophistication, the use of evasion techniques and diversity of the attack vectors and objectives, since the widespread the use of cloud native technologies makes them a more lucrative target for bad actors,” notes Idan Revivo, Head of Team Nautilus at Aqua. “Security teams are advised to take the appropriate measures both in their pipelines as well as runtime environments, to detect and intercept such attempts.”

In addition to the full report, a concise CISO executive brief document is available that provides an overview of the attacks and methods used, as well as actionable advice to security executives on how to protect against this new and growing breed of attacks.

To get the full report and CISO brief:

News, Property

New development begins to take shape in Market Harborough

A new housing development in Market Harborough is beginning to take shape following successful build progress at the site since construction work restarted in May.

Davidsons Homes South Midlands began building at Lubenham View, a development of 135 new homes off Lubenham Hill, earlier this year but work was paused in March due to the nationwide lockdown.

Since returning to the site with new safety measures in place, the construction team at Lubenham View has accelerated its build programme while adapting to new social distancing measures. Work has now started on 25 plots and a waiting list has been opened for people who want to receive updates once the first homes are released for sale.

When completed, the development will comprise a mix of three, four and five-bedroom detached and semi-detached houses with public open space and a play area.
James Burnham, Managing Director for Davidsons Homes South Midlands, said: “Thanks to the continued hard work of our construction team at Lubenham View we have been able to make significant build progress in the past few months.

“Our staff and contractors have adapted quickly to the new safety procedures in place across our sites, and it’s great to see that these measures have not impacted on their ability to continue to work on site.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors to the site in the near future. Anyone who is keen to take a look can view our virtual tours online and register to receive updates before we open.”

Davidsons Homes has released a new CGI of how the development will look.

Lubenham View is part of a wider masterplan for the growth of Market Harborough which is set to deliver up to 1,500 new homes on land west of Leicester Road. Davidsons Homes is also building a selection of new homes at a development on the northern part of this site, named Wellington Place, as part of a consortium including other developers.

Under the planning agreement for Lubenham View and Wellington Place, Davidsons Homes will make an investment of more than £4.6 million in local services and infrastructure.
Contributions will include more than £3 million towards primary and secondary schools, £550,000 for road improvements as well as a £126,450 contribution to the police.

The housebuilder will also be contributing £345,000 towards community facilities as well as £115,788 towards the maintenance of outdoor space and sports pitches which the housebuilder will be providing on-site.

James Burnham said: “The extension of the historic market town is an exciting project and one that we are pleased to be a part of.

“Our plans for Lubenham View include a selection of unique Georgian and Victorian-style homes in a village setting, surrounded by plenty of green open space, all a short distance from Market Harborough’s attractive town centre.

“Construction work is progressing well at the development, and we are looking forward to welcoming residents to the brand-new neighbourhood we are creating.”
For more information about the Lubenham View development, visit davidsonshomes.co.uk.

Global Mobility, HR News, News

Reduction in globally mobile workforce, and increase in recruiting local nationals means employers need to adapt how they look after employees

With international travel restricted, many businesses are turning to recruiting local nationals to fill vacancies – where hiring a globally mobile workforce may have previously been the norm. Managing an international workforce can be challenging and Covid-19 has added another layer of complexity. So, businesses need to ensure that their recruitment and retention strategy is fit for purpose and wellbeing benefits not only offer good support, but are also compliant with local laws, regulations and visa requirements too.

Changes in travel impacting global mobility
Returning to how things were before doesn’t look set to happen any time soon, with business travel historically rebounding from crises at a slower pace than leisure travel. Some countries, such as the US, have also restricted visas in a bid to boost their economy and protect national jobs by encouraging organisations to hire locally – rather than relying on contracting or sub-contracting foreign workers during the pandemic. With travel restrictions changing daily, managing a globally mobile workforce can be tricky. Organisations are looking to hire local nationals as there are still plenty of business opportunities to explore, even during a pandemic. But organisations need to ensure they support this new type of workforce effectively, offering competitive employment and wellbeing packages, if they are to maximise such opportunities.

From surviving to thriving
Whilst the pandemic has been devastating for some industries, it has led to opportunities for growth in others. With no inoculation yet available for Covid-19, it’s understandable how the pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a boost – with Canada alone budgeting CAD 192 million (£109 million) to develop and mass-produce vaccines. Home entertainment has also seen a surge in sales, as people looked to pass time during lockdown. Netflix, TikTok and Houseparty were all such services and apps to see a significant surge in popularity during the Covid-19 outbreak. An increase in demand for such industries has led to a recruitment drive and companies are looking locally to fill vacancies.

Managing local nationals
Having a one-size-fits-all approach to managing an international workforce doesn’t work and the same can be said when supporting wellbeing. Locals may automatically be entitled to healthcare, for example, whereas non-citizens may not be. Equally, some locals may want additional healthcare benefits, that may usually be reserved for attracting foreign hires. So businesses need to ensure they understand what benchmark to work to, review existing health and wellbeing packages, check if they are fit for purpose and revitalise them if not.

Benefits must comply with local laws and regulations and this significantly varies country to country. Some countries require compulsory insurance (to allow a visa to be issued, for example) and others stipulate local insurance partnerships (for a number of reasons, including ensuring that local economies benefit from collaborations and to alleviate challenges regarding local language and regulations). Organisations that are considering increasing local national recruitment also need to understand what access to healthcare there is currently – and whether wellbeing benefits need to be enhanced to remain competitive.

Globally, there is an increased expectation for health insurance to not only aid physical health, but offer preventative solutions and mental health support too. There is greater awareness that mental and physical health is inextricably linked and businesses are increasingly aware of the benefits of treating health holistically. For businesses looking to recruit local nationals, they need to ensure healthcare packages include a good balance, and are competitive enough to attract and retain talent – whilst aligning with local expectations.

Sarah Dennis, head of international at Towergate Health & Protection, says: “The recruitment of local nationals has moved up the agenda for a number of organisations, as business travel continues to be affected by Covid-19 – making managing globally mobile workforces more difficult as restrictions change daily, country to country. It’s an opportunity for businesses to get local national recruitment right, by supporting employees from the offset with competitive employment packages that incorporate support for health and wellbeing. Speaking with international specialists that understand local requirements is valuable, as they can advise on what health and wellbeing solutions are well regarded and also compulsory, and this helps businesses to attract and retain talent in an economically challenging environment.”

Leisure, News, Travel

Boost for UK tourism as Park Leisure sees 74% increase in bookings

A staggering 74% year-on-year increase in summer bookings1 has been reported by UK holiday home operator, Park Leisure, with September dates almost fully booked, as domestic holidays surge in popularity.

Amidst uncertainty regarding international travel, with more and more locations being added to the quarantine list and government guidelines changing almost daily, YouGov data2 shows that over three quarters of Brits (77%) have no intention of travelling abroad this year. In fact, 43% say they intend to take more or the same number of UK holidays than they usually would this year3.

And as British holidaymakers increasingly seek UK getaways, Park Leisure has seen a huge boost in bookings for its pet-friendly countryside and coastal holiday parks. From the likes of Cornwall, Northumberland and North Wales, to Yorkshire and Herefordshire, Park Leisure’s l holiday parks showcase the best of the UK’s natural beauty and are open all year round. Of all the locations, Littondale, based in the Yorkshire Dales, has seen the biggest increase, taking a huge 91% more bookings this summer (June – August) compared to the same period last year.

The company also reports a 47% increase in sales of its luxury caravans since June 2020, suggesting that an increasing number of people are ready to invest in holiday home ownership amid the uncertainty of the current travel climate.

Lisa Williams, director of marketing and holiday sales at Park Leisure, said: “It goes without saying that this year has been completely unpredictable and there were challenges to overcome to make sure that we were able to welcome holiday home owners and holiday makers to our parks safely and comfortably this summer.

“Alongside the benefit of avoiding international travel regulations, our holiday homes are completely self-contained with everything you need for your prefect break. Staying in our holiday homes mean any unnecessary social interaction is avoided and our guests can cocoon themselves in their own little sanctuary or explore the beautiful great outdoors!

“We have, of course, redesigned our processes to keep people safe, as well as introducing hand sanitising facilities and regular signage displaying the guidelines and best practice, alongside a host of other measures to give holiday home owners and holidaymakers peace of mind.”

  • To put customers at ease, Park Leisure has implemented several measures such as:
  • A reduced deposit to help customers secure the dates they want
  • Free amendments to bookings*
  • An adapted check-in process to minimise unnecessary contact
  • Industry leading cleaning regularly implemented in each accommodation
  • COVID-19 secure certification from VisitBritain

Lisa added: “The surge in bookings has confirmed something we’ve believed for a long time: the UK has some of the most beautiful and most relaxing holiday spots. From the gorgeous coasts of Cornwall, the breathtaking mountain scenery of North Wales to the lush countryside of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Herefordshire, you don’t need to travel abroad for a break when you can tuck yourself away into an idyllic spot right on your doorstep. With all the difficulty of the last few months, a lot of people are in need of a well-deserved break, so we’re not surprised to see so many taking advantage of our UK locations.

“What’s been really interesting to see is that there’s no sign of things slowing down now the school holidays are over. In fact, September is heading towards full capacity for us, and October seems to be going the same way too. We’re open 12 months of the year and with holidays abroad so uncertain for the foreseeable future, now is a great time to book a stress-free and relaxing break for you, your family, and even your pets!”

To book your stay in one of Park Leisure’s stunning UK locations, visit https://www.parkleisureholidays.co.uk/

 

Appointments, News

ArrowXL Appoints New Director

Leading two-person delivery company ArrowXL has appointed an experienced senior professional to the role of Director of People Services. Nicola Waring joins the business with a remit to ensure that the business is able to attract and retain the best people by driving engagement and making colleague development a key priority.

She brings with her a strong combination of both HR and operational experience and expertise. She joins from JW Lees Brewery where she was Director of Operations – People & Logistics and has also held a number of senior HR roles at webuyanycar.com and The Kraft Heinz Company.

Commenting on her new role, Nicola said: “This is an exciting opportunity for me to join a business that is experiencing strong growth and is keen to ingrain a strong people culture throughout. Employee engagement will be a key priority for me as we focus on talent management, succession planning, HR systems, policies and procedures, whilst delivering results with tangible business benefit aligned to the company’s objectives.”

Charlie Shiels, CEO at ArrowXL said: “As we continue to grow it is vital that we have the right people in place to support the business, our people and our customers. Nicola’s first-class HR skills and comprehensive operational understanding means she will be a real asset to the team.”