Monthly Archives: January 2022

Hospitality, News

Why wellness is vital for future-proofing a hotel business

Written by Sonal Uberoi, author of The Wellness Asset

The pandemic ensured that we put a focus on our health. It is no surprise that people are now nurturing their physical and mental health and being more responsible in their lifestyle choices.  This is reflected in the expectations they now have regarding the hotels they stay in.

Terms such as ‘wellness’ and ‘wellbeing are often used in a confusing way. Simply put wellness is the tool and wellbeing the goal.

Wellness tools include therapies, alternative medicine, fitness activities, meditation and mindfulness, a balanced diet and other services. They can help us achieve our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing goals.

By incorporating wellness into your hotel’s product ecosystem, you can help your guests on their way to achieving their wellbeing goals and gain loyal, repeat customers.

 

Wellness and your hotel

Too many in the hospitality industry view wellness as an amenity or niche product, and in the current climate are reluctant to invest in wellness. It’s seen as an add on service, often centred on the hotel spa or pool with activities such as sunrise yoga, signature massages etc.

These are great, but not enough to attract new/returning customers, or position wellness at the heart of the hotel’s offering.

With a true wellness approach hoteliers can guide their guests to achieve a state of wellbeing, by offering them wellness in every aspect of their experience, from breakfast until they go to sleep at night.

 

The basics must be right

The wellness experience starts with the way guests are greeted on arrival. When treated with respect and kindness they’ll immediately feel comfortable and look forward to their stay. If their rooms are quiet, with the correct temperature and air quality, guests will sleep well; the foundation for a great experience.

Dining should not be about the latest trends or showing off your chefs’ talents. Guests should, for example, be able to have any dietary requirements or wants adhered to without fuss, so they feel personally, and physically nurtured.

 

Deliver what your guests are looking for

Your team should get to know what guests are looking forward to from their stay and guide them in achieving their best experience A great experience, whatever their desires, is always an experience that ultimately looks after their mental wellbeing.

That guest will then be pleasantly surprised when everything works together to provide the memorable experience they seek. They will feel the effects of their stay long after they leave and will look forward to reliving the experience again and sharing it with loved ones.

 

Future-proof your hotel

Consider these findings from the Global Wellness Institute: In 2018, wellness expenditures were more than half of all health expenditures, coming in at $4.3 trillion. Of the ten markets analysed between 2015-2017, revenue growth leaders were, wellness tourism (6.5%) and wellness real estate (6.4%), mental wellness and workplace wellness. All three have already been adapted into hospitality in some ways, but more needs to be done if hotels are to reap the biggest benefits of this trend towards wellness.

Hoteliers need to catch this tide, or their hotels will become out of date. They’ll lose market share to those who have embraced wellness and can see the business benefits of doing so.

So, if you want to benefit from the increasing desire for wellness when travelling, there are two major components to look at when implementing your wellness strategy; your guests and your staff:

 

Your Guests

Listen to your guests and implement your new offerings thoughtfully. Every hotel is different, so make sure your offerings are appropriate to your clientele. While you need to manage your budget, don’t be tempted by cost-cutting and streamlining. This may be effective in the short term but comes at a long-term cost! Instead invest, respond to market conditions and the needs and wants of your customers. But don’t rush! A strong and robust system takes time to implement and requires the right expertise.

 

Your Team

The wellbeing of your team is vital to the success of your wellness offering.

During the pandemic, many staff were laid off or had salaries reduced. These unfortunate circumstances mean that hotels risk losing their top talent. By including holistic wellness in employee packages, this talent can be retained/attracted back.

When staff can achieve a good work-life balance, overall wellbeing increases. This creates a happier and more motivated team, which can only benefit your guests.

For your hotel’s long-term future it is time to put wellness firmly at the core of your hotel’s ecosystem.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sonal Uberoi is a global wellness expert and founder of Spa Balance, a boutique consultancy working specifically with hotels to help them tap into the full potential of their wellness offering. Sonal has worked with major hotels across the world enabling them to attract a more discerning guest, build a loyal and committed customer base, attract and retain quality talent and increase profitability, without breaking budget.

Web: www.spa-balance.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonaluberoi/

 

News

How one Kent couple sold their home and retired early to become home and pet sitters

Retiring early is primarily driven by “wanting to enjoy more freedom while still being physically fit and well enough to enjoy it” according to a recent study by Aviva[i], which found that nearly one in three people (32%) who have retired early or plan to do so gave this reason for embracing a new lifestyle.

68% reported an increase in overall happiness as a result of retiring early. This is certainly the case for Janet and Steve Groom from near Tunbridge Wells in Kent who decided to take early retirement in their 40s after being inspired to change their lifestyle and become home and pet sitters through Homesitters Ltd.

Home and pet sitters stay in people’s homes when they go away taking care of the home and any pets. Janet was drawn to the role after reading a magazine feature and thought it sounded interesting and varied. A few months later when Steve came home fed up with his work in the civil service where he had spent the last 32 years, so Janet suggested he resign and that they take up home and pet sitting together.

Still young, they didn’t want to stop working altogether as they wanted to keep busy and the variety and flexibility homesitting offers seemed the perfect solution. Steve handed in his notice the very next day and the couple became homesitters.

They still had ten years to go until they were due to take their pensions, so the couple financed their early retirement by downsizing to a one-bedroom flat. The equity released along with their homesitting earnings, funds their flexible lifestyle and the couple are happy to have the flat as their base, as their home sitting role means that they are often staying in large family homes.

The couple are thoroughly enjoying the home and pet sitting lifestyle. They stay in gorgeous properties and looking after animals has become a real highlight for them. While Steve had grown up with dogs, Janet didn’t have much experience with them but has discovered that she absolutely loves them.

Janet says, “We love being homesitters. The best thing about it is the animals, as they are so loving and we have lots of fun with them. It would be too restricting to have a dog of our own but through homesitting we have ‘part time’ pets with all of the love and none of the long-term responsibility, which suits us perfectly.”

The couple mainly look after dogs and cats but have looked after a goat, sheep and chickens. Janet says the animals were easy to look after as they just needed to be fed and put in their barn at night, the hardest thing was trying to eat all the eggs the chickens laid!

The couple have a regular assignment in Barnes in South West London, which they love. Living in the countryside themselves they enjoy being in a more urban environment and being able to walk to the shops to buy a newspaper every day without having to get in the car. They enjoy taking the dogs for walks in Richmond Park and there is a heated outdoor swimming pool they can use.

Janet adds, “We often have to pinch ourselves to believe some of the homes we stay in. How else would you get to experience living in such gorgeous houses with swimming pools and beautiful gardens? Home and pet sitting is an amazing experience, and we get so much out of it. We enjoy our regular assignments, but we also love the buzz of receiving a call offering us a new assignment.

“It’s exciting every time we go to a new home and get to look after new animals and explore new areas. The clients are so welcoming, and we find that they want us to enjoy their home and make use of all the facilities; it’s almost as if we’re on holiday too.”

Homesitters Ltd is recruiting. Unlike some other companies all home and pet sitters employed by Homesitters Ltd are employees and benefit from 24/7 support when on assignment, as well as being fully insured. While on assignment they receive a daily food allowance and travel expenses (both tax-free), plus earn a modest remuneration.

For more information about Homesitters Ltd and to apply please visit www.homesitters.co.uk

 

[i] https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2021/12/sixty-the-most-popular-age-to-retire-early/

Martech, News, PR and SEO

Mapp Closes 2021 with Record-Breaking Growth

New Customer Business Grows by 32%, Strong Subscription Revenue Growth

International provider of insight-led customer experiences and one of the world’s largest privately-held Martech platforms, Mapp, has reported record-breaking year-over-year growth for 2021. The company grew by more than 32% in new customer business and showed strong subscription revenue growth.

In its target markets of US, UK, Germany, Italy, and France, some of Mapp’s new clients include well-known brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Doves Farm, OPI, Sensilab, Jelly Belly, West Ham United, The Independent Pharmacy, Design Toscano, Corel, Piquadro, and Prénatal. Other notable customers include Black+Decker, Francesca’s, JYSK, PepsiCo, Varelotteriet, Westwing and Witt-Gruppe.

Mapp strategically partnered with several new agencies, system integrators, and technology vendors in 2021, eyeing its future expansion into 2022. New international partners include VTEX, Spryker and Shopgate, as well as leading agencies such as Accenture, GroupM, Wavemaker and Kenscio.

“We’re proud of the huge growth we’ve achieved in 2021 and welcome on board many new clients, partners and vendors who have joined Mapp past year and became part of our great expansion,” said Steve Warren, CEO of Mapp. “Mapp’s unique insight-led customer experience platform, Mapp Cloud, proves to be an invaluable tool for many brands we support worldwide. Our goal is to continue the momentum of executing plans for even faster growth in 2022, led by a focus on our sales and marketing efforts. I would also like to highlight that in 2021, Mapp set a record for its lowest churn – evidence that our customer-facing teams delivered an outstanding job on a daily basis.”

Among the 2021 Mapp Cloud platform improvements are the addition of two new marketing channels: direct mail and web push notifications. These join Mapp’s network of email, SMS, mobile push, in-app, retargeting and web channels. Marketers can also intelligently track their most important KPIs with Goals & Forecasts. Unifying data can be streamlined, with integrations to eCommerce platforms like Shopify and Shopgate, or data synchronization with relevant external sources thanks to the new Data Feeds functionality. Mapp’s Analytics API consolidates different data sources, processes calculations, automates reporting, and enables data visualization in any office application.

According to Forrester, “insight-led businesses” are expected to grow 7-10x faster than the global economy. Additionally, “The Forrester Wave™: Cross-Channel Campaign Management (Independent Platforms), Q3 2021” report validated Mapp Cloud as a strong performer with 5/5 stars in 13 categories.

Mapp’s insight-led customer experience platform Mapp Cloud offers unique possibilities for scalable marketing. The Intelligence Module combines data, analytics, and AI to generate actionable insights, allowing brands to engage with their customers along the buying journey. The Engage Module orchestrates and automates seamless, personalized cross-channel campaign management; and the integrated Customer Data Platform (CDP) provides an industry unique 360-degree view of each contact comprised of unified data, which enables advanced segmentation and automation.

 

About Mapp

Marketers and data specialists should always be able to focus on their core business instead of spending their time taming the technology behind it. With the insight-based customer experience platform Mapp Cloud, marketing decision-makers have more time for the essentials and can place their brand messages in the best possible way. Through customer intelligence and marketing analytics, companies easily and effectively gain cross-channel customer insights from data, which in turn enable highly personalized marketing activities. Mapp’s customers benefit from customized and self-optimizing cross-channel campaigns based on AI-powered predictive models. Automated messages can thus be sent in the ideal marketing channel, at the optimal time and with the right contact frequency. Thanks to powerful one-to-one personalization, maximum engagement as well as long-term customer retention are achieved. More info here.

Mapp operates offices in seven countries. Mapp’s digital marketing platform helps over 3,000 businesses stand out from the crowd. Mapp’s clients include Ella’s Kitchen, Expert, Freesat, Francesca’s, MyToys, Pepsico, Quint, Vivienne Westwood, and The Entertainer.

 

News, Travel

How are client expectations shifting in the business travel industry?

The start of the global pandemic brought disruption and uncertainty for the travel industry. With flights coming to a standstill and travel restrictions – there was no clear way out. As life appears to be returning to a new normal, things are beginning to look up for the travel industry.

Thankfully, life has changed for the better. This is largely down to the mass vaccine rollout – meaning travel is a much safer and more viable option. People are starting to return to offices and, business meetings are happening in person. However, with so much of our work now adapted to become remote, how has this shaped business travel today? Also, how have client expectations changed to meet the new normal?

More expected of health and safety frameworks 

Despite an appeared light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, the threat of COVID-19 remains in the UK and beyond. To kickstart the business travel industry companies had to adjust their health and safety measures to ensure their customers felt protected from the virus.

Lorraine Evans from SilverDoor Apartments says: “The pandemic brought with it many safety concerns surrounding business travel. This in turn highlighted the need for an even more robust, standardised health and safety framework within the temporary accommodation market.”

With forward-thinking companies implementing new procedures to safeguard customers, a new health and safety standard has emerged.

Sustainability coming to the forefront

With words from the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference still ringing in our ears, there is more focus on sustainability than ever before.

Companies are exploring new ways to become carbon neutral and introduce the sustainable practice into their day to day lives. London serviced apartment specialists, SilverDoor, have become “the first serviced apartment provider to partner with Trees4Travel, with an aim to offset the carbon emissions produced by our business offering.”

Companies like SilverDoor and others in the business travel sector are doing more for sustainability. Subsequently, business travel clients expect sustainability for their trips.

Flexible travel arrangements

The pandemic is ever-changing, and rules can get enforced when you least expect it – bringing a level of uncertainty for business travellers. What’s more, with isolation rules in place for those that test positive for COVID-19, people need the option to adapt their trip if they can no longer make it.

Companies have become more flexible with their check-in dates, with some allowing you to move dates up to 24 hours before you’re due to arrive. Some businesses allow you to get a refund or a voucher for your stay so you can redeem it at a later date.

Business travel flexibility is now a must for many travellers, changing processes for the better.

News

NEETs to receive tailored skills support on virtual programme with social mobility charity

YOUNG people will receive tailored skills and employability support on an exclusive virtual programme with a transformative North Wales charity.

Sixteen to 25 year olds in Conwy county who are NEET (not in Education, Employment or Training) have the opportunity to join WeMindTheGap’s WeDiscover programme from February 14.

The initiative gives participants a chance to gain new skills and experiences and, with the support of a mentor, build a plan for a bright future.

Run in partnership with Conwy Employment Hub – which oversees the successful Communities for Work, Communities for Work Plus, and PaCE initiatives – it is a free opportunity for to up to 20 young people, supported by the European Social Fund through Welsh Government.

Participants will have access to guest speakers, interactive workshops, role model and mentoring advice, and sessions to improve confidence and self-esteem.

Encouragement and support are a key part of the programme, and after the 10 weeks ends graduates will receive on-going support as part of WeBelong.

Libby Duo, Strategic Manager for Conwy Employment Service, said they look forward to seeing the results of the pilot initiative and hope to forge even closer links with the social mobility organisation in the years ahead.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for young people in Conwy who are out of work and education to receive a high level of quality support and training from one of the leading charities in this region,” she said.

“The last two years have been challenging for everyone, particularly the vulnerable and those who are not in employment or lost their jobs because of the pandemic, so WeDiscover could be a lifeline for them.

“As well as the skills and connections they will make, being part of the WeMindTheGap community will have a long-term, positive impact on the lives of those who complete the course, so we encourage you to get in touch and be a part of this.”

The scheme has been a major success in Wales and the North West, and since WeMindTheGap programmes began in 2014 they have changed the lives of more than 200 young people, delivering £5.5m in social value and £2.4m in public savings – an overall impact of £7.9m.

Rachel Clacher CBE, Chair and Founder of WeMindTheGap, said: “Too many of our young people feel isolated and alone, especially during this pandemic, and don’t know what to change to make a change.

“Here’s a great place to start: WeDiscover is a virtual programme that young people can access from the safety of their own homes, that brings new skills, fun learning and new confidence in a supportive, encouraging, non-judgemental way. It’s a great first step to re-engaging with the world.”

Each young person joining the 10-week programme will receive a Discovery Box packed full of items to support their learning, engagement and, importantly, to ensure they have fun.

They will then go on to enjoy the ‘Discovery Village’ – a platform allowing for safe and easy access to a variety of engaging learning and development sessions, mapping individual progress and sharing ideas.

WeDiscover taster sessions will be taking place online from January 31, before the programme begins February 14. Weekly timetables will run from Monday to Thursday until the end of April. Referrals are now being taken.

For more information, email laura@wemindthegap.org.uk or call 0333 939 8818. Visit www.wemindthegap.org.uk and watch a video about WeDiscover here: We Discover | WeMindTheGap

Visit www.conwy.gov.uk/conwyemploymenthub for more on Conwy Employment Hub.

Business News, FInance

Sidestepping Convention: Leatherback Makes It Easy, Fast and Secure to Conduct Global Transactions

New “neo bank” Leatherback is poised to disrupt the financial services sector with its one account, multiple currency solution that allows businesses and individuals to conduct global transactions easily, quickly and securely.

Leatherback founder and CEO, Ibrahim Toyeeb, says the introduction of Leatherback to the global market is underpinned by a desire to democratise banking and provide opportunities for borderless global trade and commerce.

“It’s no secret that emerging markets are the principal drivers of global growth. Given this reality – and the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed numerous restrictions on travel and commerce – Leatherback was formed to simplify global trade for people and operations everywhere, allowing them to seamlessly move money from one continent to the next.”

In this respect, Leatherback provides a much-needed solution for exporters and importers, immigrant-owned businesses, international students, the migrant population in general, tourists and multi-nationals with foreign operations that require financial solutions, payments or foreign exchange.

Leatherback is inspired by the leatherback sea turtle, a nomadic creature that roams the seas from the northern regions of the arctic, to as far south as the pacific, without self-imposed restrictions to hinder its movements.

Like its namesake, the fintech operation is built on the same principles. It offers multi-currency accounts with the option to exchange currency instantly across multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, South Africa, the UAE, Denmark, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The organisation enables clients to create local and foreign accounts to give them the option to remit funds across 40 countries, while businesses can invoice and collect directly in over 13 currencies.

Notably, Leatherback is fully regulated by the FCA in the UK, Fintrac in Canada, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other regulatory authorities in the 13 countries it is licenced in. “Ensuring our users operate in a secure space is non-negotiable. The multi-layered cybersecurity measures we have deployed are aimed at safeguarding their money and providing them with peace of mind,” adds Toyeeb.

At the core of Leatherback is the ability to break down payment barriers, promote business expansion, remove barriers to business growth, and build a global digital payments infrastructure that harnesses the rise of digitisation.

While it may seem implausible that users can set up accounts, make currency conversions and global payments within minutes, Leatherback has done just that. A zero-balance start-up fee and highly competitive rates provide further compelling reasons to join the Leatherback fold.

While Leatherback allows for ease of making and receiving payments around the world, it also integrates invoicing and payroll services, tax management services, and revenue management.

Leatherback is a game-changer in the industry. By using Leatherback’s networks, account holders can spend abroad in the local currencies from the comfort of their offices or homes, at competitive exchange rates.

Through its collections application programming interface (API), clients can accept money globally – in-store or online – from more customers, in their preferred countries, and in small or large volumes. In addition, trade finance unlocks working capital for short- and long-term business goals, business continuity and disaster recovery.

With its deep understanding of local markets and global finance, Leatherback’s main objective is to remove borders from transacting, so that people and businesses are encouraged to be ambitious and provide their services freely, making and collecting payments with ease around the world. “We believe in side-stepping convention to continuously find better ways to make things happen,” concludes Toyeeb.

News

Ministry of Furniture unveils exciting growth plans for 2022

Ministry of Furniture, the company which emerged from Remploy Furniture, has unveiled exciting growth plans for 2022, which include a significant investment in systems, a planned move to larger premises and the launch of a new product line.

The business will also streamline and simplify its offering in line with its core skillset – the design, manufacture (and remanufacture), and installation of furniture. As such, it has completed the divestment of Ministry Graphics, its division offering graphics and signage, which has been sold to its original shareholder.

 

Ministry of Furniture first invested in Ministry Graphics, originally called Sign and Print Systems, in 2019. Having grown the business substantially, the company has been sold back to Matthew Anderson, the original owner and MD of that business. He will continue to develop the business, to be renamed Sign Inc.

 

The move will allow Ministry to focus on offering exceptional customer service around its core furniture and interiors offering. This approach will also allow it to expand that offering by launching a fitted furniture range in 2022, complementing the strong links it has developed with the commercial, construction and education sectors.

 

The company’s growth trajectory has also prompted it to seek bigger premises. In an exciting move for the company, it has signed heads of terms to move into part of the Metal Box Factory in Neath.

 

Ministry of Furniture plans to take a substantial chunk of the iconic 250,000 sq ft site, which once housed one of the biggest workforces in the area, has been regenerated in recent years by Neath Port Talbot Council and the J.G. Hale Group.

 

In line with these plans, the company will also make a six-figure investment in a bespoke set of communications and workflow system designed to streamline the company’s working practices and enhance its customer service.

 

Ministry of Furniture has enjoyed a period of sustained growth since it was founded from the UK governments closure of Remploy Furniture in 2013. Now, it is eyeing growth and diversification in line with its values and aims as a company in 2021 – and is investing in the people, systems and skills to allow it to leverage that. This also includes anticipated growth in the commercial, construction and education sectors over the next 12 months.

 

Having realigned the company’s working practices and offering in the past 12 months, it now offers clients a seamless journey over the timeline of a big project – from concept to completion. In Wales, as a framework supplier for The National Procurement Service (NPS) for Wales, it can offer its suite of services to all public sector bodies.

Graham Hirst, Ministry Group CEO

 

Graham Hirst, Ministry Group CEO, said:

 

“We are delighted to outline this set of exciting plans for the company as we commit to an ambitious vision designed to facilitate continued profitable growth for the business while also putting our customers first and committing to our core values as a company. While the plans will allow us to increase capacity and the scale of our offering, they also mean we remain focused on our core offering – doing what we do best for our clients.

 

“The move to new premises represents a very exciting new chapter for the business, as does the investment that will go hand-in-hand with that and our launch of a fitted furniture range. In terms of our divestment of Ministry Graphics, we feel that is the right move at the right time for both businesses.

 

“We’re delighted to have contributed to the growth of the graphics and signage business over the past two years and to be able to pass the business in great shape back to Matthew. Matthew is a good friend to the Ministry Group and takes the business with our very best wishes and encouragement for the future.”

Law, Legal News

Hiring a Legal Director to manage your company legal team? Here’s what to look out for

Many larger businesses now employ an in-house Legal Director to advise the company generally – but how do you find a Legal Director with the experience your business needs?  Our guide will help.

To use the title ‘solicitor’ or ‘attorney’ you must have a practising certificate unless you make it clear that you are not “qualified” to act as a solicitor (within the meaning of the Solicitors Act).  However, if you intend to employ someone to manage your in-house legal team, you often won’t need them to hold a practising certificate, provided they have the experience and knowledge to advise your business.  If you are looking for someone to sit in on board meetings, help with governance and generally manage internal legal issues, such as employment law contracts, mergers and acquisitions and so on, someone with good all round corporate law experience generally makes a good hire.

What qualifications should they have?

At the very least an individual should have completed a law degree and have relevant company law experience.

While some fantastic company lawyers never actually went beyond a law degree, most practitioners will have also undertaken either a legal practice course to qualify as a solicitor or bar exams to qualify as a barrister, then completing mandatory pre-qualification work experience.  The exams are challenging, and competition to get onto these courses is so tight that some candidates even undertake BAR prep courses before they even start!   However, straight out of training, they probably won’t have the real world experience or commercial awareness to make them a good Legal Director – therefore work history is more important.  

It’s not a red flag if the applicant does not hold a current practising certificate, this is actually quite common for a solicitor working for a business rather than in legal practice, but you should enquire about CPD since the law changes all the time and your business will rely heavily on their expertise.

What Company Law experience should they have

If hiring for a senior position, they should ideally have held a similar role within a comparable organisation, or have extensive experience (at least 5 years) in private practice specialising in company law.  Ideally their knowledge should be as broad as possible, covering areas such as intellectual property, patents, franchise law, commercial contracts, commercial property and employment law, however it is likely they have specialised to some degree and they are unlikely to be a leading expert in all these areas.  As with any other employee, you should check that their experience tallies with the legal priorities that are most relevant to your business field, for example, a property development firm will have very different legal needs to a software business.

What personal attributes should they have?

The character of your potential employee is as important as for any other position – and more so than in many other legal positions.  The ideal candidate will be a skilled communicator, able to liaise with employees, clients, shareholders and other directors, and will ideally have the skill to explain legal niceties in terms that other board members understand.  Also, given the salary they will command, it is likely they will hold a managerial role and therefore they also need to show the same people management and leadership skills you’d expect to see in your financial director or commercial director.

Remember to hire with diversity in mind

It also goes without saying that when hiring for an in-house legal role, consider your diversity policies and don’t have a set stereotype in mind.  There has been criticism of a lack of diversity in law firms – which to a certain extent will restrict the talent pool who can apply, but things are improving and increasingly, shareholders expect to see a more diverse board.   

In summary

You are ultimately hiring a Legal Director for their knowledge and experience, but you also need someone you can work with.  Hire on ability, aptitude and cultural fit – as you would with any other employee.  You don’t need someone to blow off the opposition in a courtroom – you can instruct an advocate with a practising certificate to do that.  Choose a Legal Director who you trust, who can lead a team and who best fits in with your business objectives.

Education, interior design, News

Arighi Bianchi Inspires Entrepreneurs of the Future with School Visit

Enterprise students at All Hallows Catholic College were given a glimpse into what it takes to keep a successful fourth generation furniture and interiors business running for more than 167 years during a visit from the team at Arighi Bianchi.

Director Nick Bianchi and Head of Communications Lucy Mather visited the Year 10 students to share their experiences of how the iconic business operates as part of their BTEC studies. Arighi Bianchi has also offered a prize for the student who shows the biggest improvement in their coursework.

Students learnt about Arighi Bianchi’s 167-year history and the skills and attributes needed to be successful in retail in the 21st century, whilst maintaining traditional values. They also gained a deeper understanding of the business’ digital marketing strategy, customer demographics, how the team works with influencers and the impact of the pandemic on sales and suppliers.

Tegan, Year 10 student at All Hallows, said: “It was a really good experience to meet members of the Bianchi family. By talking to them we learnt a lot more about the business and the long legacy of it. Nick and Lucy helped us all understand a lot more which will be useful for the future.”

Mr Barron, Business Studies teacher, said: “It’s clear to see that Arighi Bianchi are keen supporters of the local community and our College, and on  behalf of myself and the students, I would like to thank both Nick and Lucy for taking the time out of their busy schedules to  visit us. The information provided will undoubtedly strengthen our students’ coursework and, there is a real excitement about the prize offered by Nick which will be awarded for the most improved coursework.”

Nick Bianchi said: “What a fantastic group of enthusiastic and intelligent students – there is no doubt that many of the pupils we met will be business leaders of the future. As a local business with a rich heritage in the area, we were more than happy to share our real-world expertise and insights into what is needed to make a business successful in 2021.”

For more information about Arighi Bianchi visit www.arighibianchi.co.uk.

Apprenticeships, Awards, News

Childcare apprentice Alisha wins gold for Wales at WorldSkills UK

Caerphilly-born Alisha Thomas has triumphed after winning gold at WorldSkills UK. The bright 18-year-old competed in the Health and Social Care Foundation Skills category and delivered a healthy-eating talk, aimed at raising awareness to patients who are recovering from a stroke.

WorldSkills competitions raise the profile and recognition of skilled people and show how important skills are in achieving personal and professional success.

Foundation Skills Competitions are designed for students who have a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or disabilities. The 10 specially designed competitions allow students to showcase skills, knowledge and behaviours that highlight their independence and employability skills.

Competitions start at a regional level, with Welsh competitors competing at Skills Competition Wales and successful contenders moving on to the national WorldSkills UK competitions.

During the competition, Alisha explained how a better diet could prevent a stroke from happening again and discussed the importance of staying fit and healthy throughout the pandemic. She is the first learner to win a medal under the guidance of leading Welsh training provider, ACT, at WorldSkills UK and one of 69 to win a medal for Wales.

Alisha said: “Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to work in the care industry. I grew up in a large family with two brothers and two sisters, so I’m used to helping others. It’s always been a dream of mine to care for people who need support.

“I am very happy and proud of myself for winning gold at WorldSkills UK and I would like to give a massive thank you to my family and the members of staff at ACT for encouraging and helping me with the competition.

“It was an amazing experience being able to represent Wales on a national scale and being chosen as the best childcare competitor in the UK was something I’ll never forget.”

Earlier in the year, Alisha was presented with another gold medal, in the Inclusive Skills: Childcare category, from Skills Competition Wales, for her impressive educational storyboards based on the popular children’s book, The Gruffalo.

Skills Competition Wales’ Inclusive categories are specifically designed to encourage and help learners with learning difficulties and disabilities reach their full potential in their chosen skill.

Alisha brought Julia Donaldson’s much-loved modern fairytale to life by crafting pieces of card and painting wooden spoons. The storyboard explained the story of the Mouse, Snake, Fox and Owl characters, and the important lessons they learned, by encountering the titular Gruffalo.

She continued: “I love stories and films because they always have a meaning behind them. They teach you things in a fun and loving way, which is exactly what I wanted to do with my storyboards.”

Currently studying a Level 1 Childcare Apprenticeship, Alisha said her time with ACT and her experience with skills competitions has helped her become more employable.

Alisha added: “I have developed many skills during my time with ACT, Skills Competition Wales and WorldSkills that will benefit me in the future. I have learned how to work independently and in a team. They have helped me with my communication skills and have built up my confidence massively.

“One of the skills I’ve learned is problem-solving and with the career I want to do, there will be many times you will have to think on the spot and come up with a solution.”

During her Apprenticeship, Alisha has learned how to bathe a baby correctly, change nappies and prepare bottles – all important skills for working in childcare. She’s now putting her experience into practice at First Steps Daycare in Aberbargoed where she’s enjoying a placement.

Alisha said: “The best advice I can give to anyone else considering entering Skills Competition Wales or WorldSkills UK is to try your best and never give up! I would also say to not think that you cannot do it and have a little bit of faith in yourself. It’s a good experience.”

To find out more about how to start your WorldSkills journey in Wales, please visit: inspiringskills.gov.wales

For more on the Apprenticeship opportunities at ACT, please visit: https://bit.ly/3GtoCKx

The Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales project, funded by Welsh Government, offers a supportive infrastructure for Welsh competitors competing at WorldSkills competitions nationally and internationally by focusing on the development of technical skills to a world-class standard.