Monthly Archives: March 2022

News, Thought Leadership

How Boardrooms Can Build a Better Future with Board Intelligence

How Boardrooms Can Build a Better Future with Board Intelligence

By Paroon Chadha, CEO at OnBoard

The new year offers new opportunities for boards to build better processes that can help them become more effective in executing their missions and advancing the organisations they serve.

These changes will require boards to capitalise on new methods and technologies to streamline operations and better track and analyse overall board activities. The insights gained as a result will provide a foundation for continuous improvement, steering boards in the right direction and facilitating real-time corrections should they veer off course.

These changes will not be easy. They will require boards to be purposeful in reshaping standard operating procedures. The good news is that the past two years have shown that boards are capable of rapid transformation. It is one positive to come out of this challenging time.

How We Got Here

The advent of COVID-19 in early 2020 propelled boards and businesses worldwide into the digital age once and for all, as many organisations were forced to make an abrupt switch to digital formats and virtual meetings. The start of the pandemic was a sea-change moment. As the world moved to stem the virus’ spread through social distancing, boards shifted into full crisis management mode. Board administrators scrambled to learn how to securely distribute digital board materials and switch from in-person to virtual board and annual shareholder meetings.

For some boards, that meant cobbling together various technologies and platforms to create a facsimile of the boardroom experience, albeit more complex and with a steeper learning curve. For other boards, the shift was made easier through the use of purpose-built solutions, board portals, and other forms of board management software.

Now that these boards have experienced the benefits of using technology that simplifies and optimises board interactions, there is no going back. Analog boardrooms and tedious processes soon will be a thing of the past. Board leaders must resist the urge to fall back into pre-pandemic habits and embrace the benefits of digital transformation—both those that exist today and those that have yet to be realised.

Incremental Change

The pandemic accelerated the digital evolution of boards, and now is the time to keep the momentum going. It’s all about taking small steps.

Consider the compounding effects that insights can have over time. Fitbit and Apple Watch step trackers, for example, began with a simple promise: they would track your daily steps toward a goal and report your progress in real-time. Today, the step trackers and their simple use case have transformed into intelligent devices capable of providing insights into users’ behaviours and coaching them toward better health and wellness practices.

The same can hold true for board meetings and governance processes generally. Boards should start by thinking beyond virtual meetings—which many have already adapted to during the pandemic—to consider what other board interactions might benefit from digital transformation. Board management solutions offer the ability to convert a variety of other functions, such as voting, taking attendance and annotations, building agendas, conducting surveys, and defining roles and terms, from analogue to digital.

Converting from analogue to digital makes these processes more efficient, allowing board leaders and administrators greater time to focus on more meaningful priorities. It also provides an opportunity to collect data and develop baseline reports with real-time insights for more informed decision-making.

These insights could benefit boards at multiple levels. At the meeting level, for example, they could help boards evaluate questions such as: When before meetings do we publish our board information? How many pages is the board book? How many interactions and discussions are happening before the meeting? Do board members consider themselves adequately prepared for the meeting? Is there optimal time in the meeting to cover everything on the agenda?

All of these data points can be measured, analysed, and optimised for more effective meetings. Leaders can better identify and target inefficient and unnecessary processes, enabling them to spend their valuable meeting time together on the most vital matters.

Another level of intelligence could focus on data about the board itself. Boards can begin to address questions such as: Do we have the right people in the room? Do we have the right outside experts? What skills do our board members have? Do we need a new committee for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues? Are we providing board members the support they need for continuing education? Are we keeping an eye on term limits and proactively planning for the board’s future?

This data is more nuanced and complex, but it should be captured and analysed so that boards can evolve toward better versions of themselves for the organisations and communities they serve.

The Future of Board Intelligence

The next level of intelligence involves evaluating boards against external benchmarks from peer organisations. This could be done by comparing attributes such as size, geography, or stage of business development. For example, the board of a fast-growing financial services firm could assess how its board activities and priorities compare to similar firms locally, nationally, or even globally.

With this, boards could answer important questions such as: Are we making decisions quickly enough? Are we keeping pace with our peers on ESG issues? Are we evaluating cyber risk frequently enough? Where are we lagging on diversity and inclusion compared to other boards?

The ability to use real-time data and analytics to address these types of critical, future-focused questions represents an evolution to full digital transformation. This applies to every board across every sector. Moving past the challenges of 2020 and 2021, it is time for boards to take the reins, leave outdated and inefficient processes behind, and leverage board intelligence for a better future.

Significant change is never easy, especially when it comes to making the transition to digital operations. Below, we outline five action steps to help board leaders make the shift to a broader use of digital processes:

1.Build consensus. Ensuring appropriate communication throughout the process is critical to facilitating a smooth transition. Board leaders should work from the start to gather input and build buy-in organisation-wide so all stakeholders understand and support the need for a board management solution.

  1. Evaluate current processes. Boards must understand where they are before they can determine where they need to go. This requires analysing how the board operates today, including who is involved in each procedure, director and administrator responsibilities, the amount of time involved, and the tools, processes, and resources they use to complete specific tasks.
  2. Define your needs. Based on a comprehensive analysis of current processes, board administrators can identify what works, what doesn’t, and any specific requirements their organisation has in looking for a board management solution.
  3. Research your options. Administrators and board leaders should thoroughly explore the available digital tools, platforms, and applications to determine which one best suits their organisation’s needs. Important factors include cost-effectiveness, ease of use, security, adaptability, and training and support.
  4. Execute a clear implementation plan. Once a digital solution is selected, board leaders should work in partnership with the solution provider to develop and execute an implementation plan that assures everyone receives the necessary training and support.

Some boards may think that adapting to virtual meetings qualifies as digital transformation. But to truly transform board processes and effectiveness—and thereby enable better oversight, support digital transformation of the company generally, and ultimately transform the way the business operates—boards must rethink governance processes and ask themselves if their analog solutions are aiding or inhibiting their important work.

Construction

What To Remember When Constructing a New Building For Your Company

Running your own company is a significant achievement and is something that plenty of people strive toward. While some people have a clear agenda of what they expect from running their own business, others are somewhat out of the loop when it comes to this type of thing. Having a thorough understanding of how to manage your company is critical, both when initially launching but also during periods of growth and development too.

While we have no doubt the general running of a business is quite the task, should you add expanding your company into the equation, you are sure to have a whole new headache emerging. Knowing how best to expand your business is one thing, but what about when looking to physically construct a new building for your company?

Should you be in this position yourself and find yourself seeking answers to any questions that have appeared, you have found yourself in the right place at the right time. Detailed below, you will find a helpful list of what you should remember when constructing a new building for your company. No matter the purpose of the new build, read on for more!

 

Think About The Location of Your Project

While we have no doubt this is something that you would be considering when toying with the idea of expanding your company, we felt it was worth a notable mention in this piece all the same. Thinking about where you intend to build the newest branch of your company should be toward the top of your list. When looking to turn over a profit, the last thing you want is to establish yourself in an area where you are not receiving any sort of income.

As a result, you will want to think about the location of your newest branch. Knowing that you are opening this branch in an area that possesses high demand for your products or services leaves you with peace of mind. You will be selling your services and products to consumers who want them and who previously had to travel elsewhere to acquire them. At the same time, there are other factors that you should think about relating to the location of your new building. This takes us to the following section.

 

Remain Compliant With Relevant Rules and Regulations

Understandably, you want to remain compliant as a business at all times. Landing yourself in hot water from not paying attention or cutting corners could be detrimental to not only the profits of your business but also your reputation too. Researching any relevant rules and regulations relating to the construction of a new building should be something you think about when first deciding to branch out. Being aware of what you should remain compliant with provides you with all the information you need to make your vision a reality.

Commercial properties must follow a whole host of rules and regulations, and this includes when building on sites where there could be wildlife present. Should you find yourself in a position like this, you should make a conscious effort to protect the species that are residing there. Completing relevant surveys and checks will ensure this is the case, providing you with the information required to attain planning permission for your project. Contacting experts in the field, including batsurveys.co.uk, ensures that you are doing all you can to ensure your plans go ahead while ensuring no wildlife comes to harm.

 

Hire The Right People For The Job

It goes without saying, but when navigating a project of this magnitude, you want to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible, with minimal obstacles. Covering all your bases is the best way of doing this and extends further than our previous two sections. While you might want to undertake the brunt of the project on your own, you should remember that this is not wise. You may have some of the skills necessary to construct a building, but nothing stops you from enlisting the help of other people to help.

Utilising the services of contractors will ensure that your project is the best it possibly can be. Experts conduct this type of work on a day-to-day basis; you can rest assured that your project is in safe hands, and the end result will be all that you had hoped for. While this might not be an expense that you initially considered, factoring it into your plans will make a world of difference, both in the short and long term. Having a job completed by an expert might be an extra cost in your project, but it may prevent any issues from arising in the future, which could prove more costly.

At the same time, you might find yourself questioning how you can find the right people for the job, and this is certainly something you should be remembering when constructing a new building for your business. Nothing stops you from contacting a local contractor, but you should ensure that you check evidence of their previous work, as well as any reviews and testimonials.

 

Prepare To Face Delays and Obstacles

We understand that you want to avoid as many delays and obstacles as possible when managing a project like this, but it is also wise to think about something like this. Preparing yourself and other people working on your project for potential delays and what you should do in these situations will ensure that your project stays as on track as it can in the face of these factors. Naturally, the obstacles and delays you should face will greatly depend on your individual circumstances and overall project. However, there are some common obstacles that might impact your project which you should read up on.

Doing what you can to minimise the risk of obstacles and delays will go a long way and keep your project hopes alive and on track. Particularly if you have set yourself a timeframe in which to work, you will want to factor potential obstacles into this, as well as any time needed to rectify them.

Cloud Migration, News, Tech Thought Leadership

Eight valued activities a cloud provider should be doing for your business

Your business is unique, and so should be your cloud service provider. Amir Hashmi, CEO and Founder of award-winning cloud and managed technology services company, zsah discusses essential best practices for picking the right provider for your enterprise needs. 

Cloud computing has shown itself to be an invaluable asset to a business, ultimately transforming how we handle and store data and view IT infrastructure. Therefore, choosing the right service provider is a significant decision – and before you sign the dotted line, any potential provider must be able to fulfil these eight absolute priorities before you make them your IT partner.

  1. Keep your business data secure  

Data is sacred to your business and your customers. Therefore, information must be stored securely. However, as we know, data loss can occur without warning, resulting in catastrophic results.

For example, hardware failure, power surges, or unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters can lead to data loss. A 2019 LogicMonitor study reported that 96% of organisations had experienced at least one outage in the past three years, and 95% had experienced one brownout. Yet these figures will continue to increase, with corporate networks reporting a 50% increase in cyberattacks in 2021. So, your business must consider the seriousness of data security, as any of these events could represent an irretrievable data loss.

Luckily, any cloud provider worth their salt will have a range of measures to ensure your data is protected and backed up securely – ranging from simply storing duplications in different data centres to complex cybersecurity measures.

  1. Keep your overall cloud expenditure to a minimum 

Spending thousands of pounds buying and maintaining in-house server equipment is not only costly to your business but requires specialised knowledge and expertise, which can impact the productivity of your business’s actual functions. It is cheaper and more cost-effective, in the long-term, to contract the services of a cloud provider – particularly if you are a small to medium-sized organisation where in-house IT teams have a limited time of focus.

However, this does not mean you should choose the cheapest option. To determine the total cost of ownership (TCO), you must consider the Service Level Agreement (SLAs), management, and support against the needs of your business. As with many things related to IT, skimping will cost you more in the long run.

Another aspect to consider would be to check for potential refund policies, or free trial offers if you are not satisfied with the service provided. This will enable you to opt-out of service easily without any commitment.

  1. Have the requisite in-house skills for your business needs 

Cloud computing is complex and requires highly honed and specialised expertise that isn’t easy to come by. For example, the annual salary of an AWS Network Specialist ranges between £33,594 to £54,000 – with most being at the higher end; and you may have even more trouble finding one that’s available than paying them thanks to a growing digital skills shortage. Furthermore, you will probably need several, sometimes specialising in different areas of IT – particularly if you’re a more prominent company.

When you choose a good cloud provider, this is part of the package; it makes more sense to outsource to dedicated experts.

  1. Have the right experience and track record key to your industry 

Cloud computing is complex, and so are the needs of your business – so not any IT pro will do. Your cloud provider must demonstrate that they have the requisite skills and staff to handle the cloud computing needs of your company now and where it might be in the future – as often, experience is just as important as technical know-how. Find one who thoroughly gets to know your business and asks the right questions suited to your industry. Match that with a strong case study portfolio, and you can be assured you are in good hands.

Also, cloud providers must have an unassailable track record to trust them with your data. Before taking them on, you should thoroughly examine their safety record, response to downtime and possible breach attempts, industry commentary, and accolades.

When attending initial meetings, you may want to consider discussing their customers, what the industry says about them, and how they stand out from their competitors. This will help one gain a clear overview, and if they cannot satisfactorily answer these questions, you should give them a wide berth.

  1. Offer the right tailored service package for your business 

The best providers will offer various services that complement cloud computing – and may add new and previously unrealised value.

Some may go further, offering much more than cloud computing, for instance, integrated service platforms that transverse the cloud service. This includes DevOps and netops, digital advisory services, software development services, advanced cybersecurity solutions, or new and innovative ways of working in the cloud – such as Kubernetes.

  1. Show flexibility and can adapt and grow with your business  

In today’s market, needs change quickly – and you need an agile managed cloud provider to stand by you and grow as you grow. Ultimately, they should be an extension of your own business and, therefore, intimate with your goals, requirements, and issues.

  1. Provide second to none customer support 

Being supported in the right way is one of those simple little things that can make the experience of working with a provider infinitely more productive and less stressful. For example, if you need help, you want to get in touch with someone as soon as possible, and an added benefit would be speaking to the same person you did last time, so they are aware of your business.

A good service provider will acknowledge your relationship with your business and your teams. They know that having a respectful understanding of your enterprise is often a critical box that needs ticking. These personal touches can often make or break a business relationship.

  1. You feel they are an extension of your business team 

Most cloud providers do not care about your well-being beyond your ability to pay for their services; however, the best ones will want what is best for you and help you achieve it. Ultimately, it is a symbiotic relationship built on trust and respect. Look for that click with your contact before you sign up, and you can be happy in the knowledge you began a strong working relationship.

Appointments, News

Cleanology announces top new operations director to support rapid growth plans

A leading commercial cleaning company has appointed a new Operations Director to play a key part in its expansion drive.

With over 40% growth in 2021-22 alone, Commercial and Office cleaning company, Cleanology,  has recruited South African-born Juliet Widdicombe to take on the important role.

Juliet, aged 40, has joined Cleanology – based in Clapham, South West London – from Bellrock Property and Facilities Management where she was Service Delivery Manager.

Dominic Ponniah, CEO of Cleanology, enthused: “We’re absolutely delighted that Juliet has joined the Cleanology family and we look forward to working with her as the company goes on its next growth journey this year and beyond”.

Juliet has previously worked in the hotel industry in London before a return to South Africa where she spent more than a decade honing her skills in cleaning and FM management. She then relocated permanently to the UK with her husband and two young children.

Juliet, from Sevenoaks, Kent, said: “It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to be in a role which is able influence the way the industry is recognised. Cleaning operatives play a pivotal role in the experiences of our everyday lives and I am excited to be back in the thrusts of this robust industry”.

Established over 20 years ago, Cleanology provides professional office and commercial cleaning services, property maintenance and a wide range of support services across London and Manchester.

Its clients include blue-chip corporates, Royal palaces and some of the world’s most famous brands.

As a multi award-winning family business, it is now recognised as one of the most established companies in the industry, employing over 700 people.

With a constant focus on technology, innovation, quality, sustainability and social responsibility, Cleanology is proud to be a Living Wage Foundation accredited service provider, ISO:9001 accredited for quality and ISO:14001 accredited for environmental management, as well as members of the prominent Green Organisation promoting environmental innovation and best practice.

Photo caption: EXPANSION DRIVE: Cleanology CEO Dominic Ponniah (left) welcomes on board new Operations Director Juliet Widdicombe.

 

Appointments, News

Richard Orange Joins Exabeam as Vice President EMEA

Leadership appointment boosts EMEA team and sets up region to manage increased Exabeam Fusion SIEM and Exabeam Fusion XDR demand 

 

Exabeam, the leader in Next-gen SIEM and XDR, today announced the appointment of Richard Orange as Vice President EMEA. Orange joins Exabeam following a successful period of growth for the business in EMEA and underlines the company’s commitment to customers and partners in the region.

Orange is an experienced cybersecurity leader with a successful career leading high growth sales teams, including reseller, systems integrator, managed security service provider (MSSP) and vendor environments. He joins Exabeam from data loss prevention software company Digital Guardian where he served as Vice President of EMEA Sales. Prior to that role, he served as Regional Director UK&I at Forescout Technologies. Orange has also held leadership roles with technology and security companies including F5 and HP Enterprise Security Services.

Exabeam is accelerating investment in the EMEA region as demand for its Fusion SIEM and Fusion XDR products grows. Organisations around the world use Fusion products for visibility into threats, improved operational efficiency, and to strengthen their overall security posture.

“I’m excited to join Exabeam as customers across all industries in EMEA turn to the company for its trusted cloud-based cyber analytics products to shore up insider threat programs and overall security posture,” commented Orange. “The threat landscape is only getting more complex and Exabeam is uniquely positioned to help prevent CISO’s and their security teams from being blindsided, helping them understand what ‘normal’ behaviour looks like in their organisation so they can more quickly identify and stop adversaries.”

“Richard is a proven, experienced, and highly respected cybersecurity professional and leader, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Exabeam team,” said Chris Cesio, chief revenue officer, Exabeam. “With the company valued at $2.4 billion following our Series F funding round, EMEA is a key territory in our growth plans. Richard will help drive the business forward as we continue to focus on delivering Next-gen SIEM and other security operations solutions.”

Business Advice, Export

Tips For British Business Leaders Operating In Global Retail Markets

Business today is more international than ever due to globalisation, high-speed air travel allowing you to get to the other side of the world within a few hours, and the internet and digital technology breaking down borders and making us more interconnected than ever. E-commerce has revolutionised the way we buy things, and customers can now purchase products and services from anywhere in the world. There are currently many online retail brands operating in the UK. In 2021, the UK’s e-commerce market was the fourth largest in the world, ahead of Germany. Many British retail brands ship items to loyal customers overseas day in, day out. We came up with this piece to provide helpful advice to British business leaders responsible for running online retail brands with significant international customer bases. Carry on reading to learn more.

 

Understand Your International Audience

The earth is home to a fascinating array of different cultures, each with its own unique customs. This cultural diversity will also be reflected in your global customer base. As a business leader running an online retail brand in 2022, you should be aware of how consumer desires and preferences differ in different parts of the globe. But how can you find out more about your international customers and what they are after? One way is by encouraging feedback from your international customers by sending out online customer surveys.

Consumer feedback is an extremely factor in the e-commerce world since it helps online retail businesses be aware of the areas they can improve in. Word the questions carefully to find out what you can do as a business to make things easier and enhance the online customer experience for people living overseas who want to buy your products and services over the internet.

 

The Importance Of Speaking Your Customers’ Language

Successful business leaders often talk about the importance of speaking your customers’ ‘language’, which can take on a literal connotation. Your online customers will want to be able to read the products and services displayed on your website and online stores in their native language. Therefore, it may be wise for online retail businesses with international customer bases to hire translation services. To learn more about an expert accredited translation agency you can depend on, check out Rosetta Translation, which offers translation services in all major languages 24 hours a day.

The amount you spend covering translation services will be relatively small compared to the other things you invest in. Having your online content in multiple different world languages will significantly improve the user experience for your online visitors from all over the world. Retaining the attention of online customers is a matter of presenting things to them that they will have no trouble easily digesting and understanding within seconds. Providing content in their language across your online content should help increase customer engagement and sales conversions.

 

Social Media Helps You Connect With Customers Worldwide

Making the most of marketing your retail business’s products across major social media sites with millions of users across the globe can be a highly effective strategy if you get it right. With a few simple clicks of a button, you can post video clips, stories, photographs, written posts, and motion graphics to followers of your brand’s social media accounts.

However, you must think outside the box and be creative with your content ideas to outcompete your rivals since global online retail is a fiercely competitive industry today. No international online retail firm leader can afford to be a technophobe nowadays. Embrace social media; it’s a powerful tool that can help boost your company’s sales and become your biggest ally.

 

Expect The Unexpected As A Business Leader Today

The world has been faced with unprecedented circumstances in recent years. Business leaders have had to step up to the plate and use lateral thinking to help their business survive and carry on generating profits. Sadly, many companies worldwide have gone under in recent times. If the last few years have taught retail companies anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. You never know what the future may hold, and you can’t foresee major world events that could drastically impact consumer spending habits and global markets.

 

Be A Leader, Not A Sheep

Coming up with original ideas and having their own mind is vital. For business leaders working in online retail today, it’s easy to be a sheep and copy the ideas of others, given that there are so many competitors out there. Try your utmost to be an innovative leader and not a sheep who replicates the ideas of other businesspeople. Being an intelligent leader will make you and your business stand out. However, being a sheep will make you blend in with the rest, and consumers won’t view your company as anything special that they haven’t seen before. Strive for your business to stand out from its market competitors.

 

Look After Your Overseas Staff

If you have a large portion of customers overseas, you may decide to employ people in other countries. As a business leader, your employees are the life and soul of your company, and you won’t be successful without their input and dedication. Therefore, it’s in your interests to look after your staff abroad and treat them with respect.? Fair wages, generous holidays, paid maternity/paternity leave, performance-related bonuses, and making the office environment a pleasant place to work are ways you can show staff abroad that you value them and the work they do.

Keeping a close eye on staff morale is essential when managing people abroad, much like when you’re in charge of employees here in the UK. You certainly don’t want discontent festering amongst your workforce, and a happy workforce is a productive workforce. One idea to boost staff morale is putting on fun work social events where colleagues can get to know one another better.

Remember, what your personnel abroad enjoy doing in their leisure time will depend somewhat on their culture. For instance, in many cultures across the world, consuming alcohol goes against religious beliefs or isn’t the norm, despite work dos in the UK often being events where alcoholic drinks are a feature. If your staff can create bonds at work socials, they’re more likely to gel well and be productive in the workplace.

 

Farming, News, North of England

YMCA Together’s Urban Farm Project Attracts Region’s Corporates With Surge In Away Days

An urban farming project located in the suburbs of South Liverpool is attracting a number of the region’s corporates as they plan to reconnect with their employees post pandemic.

Dutch Farm, which is ran by one of Liverpool’s longest-standing charity organisations YMCA Together, offers space for tranquillity, reflection, and imagination. Since its inception three years ago, it has promoted emotional health and wellbeing – not just for its service users, but for the wider community.

The team behind it are now seeing a surge in enquiries for the year ahead as businesses look to plan corporate away days at the site as part of their overall 2022 strategies.

Project Lead for Dutch Farm Liz Sabatini said: “Dutch Farm provides a therapeutic environment that engages our service users in meaningful activity allowing for the expansion of skills, the production of organic vegetables and the development of creative outlets. Now, it’s being recognised as a place of inspiration by the likes of Everton in the Community, Housing First and Options for Supported Living who want to bring their teams here to enjoy what we have on offer.

“We’ve got a space that is so full of opportunity, and we love that there is a want and a need for it from a wider demographic. The team and I hope that by working with businesses of all sizes we can do our part to spread the message that health and wellbeing are directly linked to productivity and motivation. Companies are learning more each day of their responsibility to staff wellbeing, and we’re excited to be helping them create healthier environments and happier teams.”

Noticeable visits include pharmaceutical company Elanco, who experienced the site by gardening, constructing glasshouses and animal enclosures for the farm’s residents, and planting trees. As well as being a core business supporter since the project’s conception, donating to us as a charity, they have worked hard to achieve something with real community value and help the farm flourish, giving them a sense of accomplishment as a team.

YMCA Together’s Dutch Farm mission was to engage homeless people in practical and sustainable food related projects that inspire health and wellbeing and celebrate the diverse nature of communities in Merseyside.

Liz added: “Three years on and with a lot of hard work and commitment from our small team and residents, we have a thriving urban farm that has stayed true to its mission.”

Last year, The City of Liverpool Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA Together) celebrated its 175th birthday and was awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City. It was first established as a place of hope, light and unquestioning support to people in communities who needed help and they are still working to make sure that everyone has a home of their own, support from people who understand them and skills for a better future.

YMCA Together currently provides 109,500 bed spaces annually and was named the sixth best charity to work for in the UK by Best Companies.

Construction, News, North of England

Mayor of West Yorkshire Supports Diversity-in-Construction Initiative for #IWD2022

A group of Year 10 girls from Beeston in Leeds sampled hands-on construction taster sessions to mark International Women’s Day 2022 (Tuesday 8th March).

Hosted at Leeds College of Building’s Southbank Campus, the pilot event gave female pupils aged 14 and 15 the opportunity to sample construction-related training. These sessions are ideal for those considering a career in the industry.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, joined the cohort from Cockburn School as they learned more about Transport Planning, Architecture, and Painting & Decorating professions. The students listened to talks by female lecturers and then experienced trade skills firsthand.

More than 70,000 people in West Yorkshire alone work in construction. However, many employers struggle to recruit people with the right skills. Currently, women only make up around 14% of construction industry professionals in the UK.

According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), it is estimated that the sector needs to recruit more than 217,000 new workers by 2025 to support its current activity. The issue is worsened by an ageing workforce, with 22% of the UK’s construction workforce aged over 50.

Nikki Davis, Vice Principal – Teaching, Learning & Quality at Leeds College of Building, said:

“The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreakTheBias. At the College, we are passionate about being inclusive, challenging stereotypes, and responding to the inadequate number of women employed in construction in the UK.

“These free taster sessions are designed to open the eyes of young women to the exciting and fulfilling careers available in this industry. Skilled specialists are highly sought after for varied construction roles, which are very rewarding and can offer excellent progression, development, and pay.

“Our past female students have an excellent track record of high achievement. Many have gained managerial posts, worked on big construction projects with global firms in areas such as civil engineering or architecture, or won industry accolades. Perhaps some of the girls here today may join their ranks.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“For us to deliver that fair and ambitious recovery our region needs, it’s vital that we narrow the skills gap many employers are facing today, and showcase the well-paid, skilled jobs on offer in the construction industry. On International Women’s Day, this event is a fantastic opportunity for young West Yorkshire women to try something new, build their confidence and learn about an exciting new career.

“We know that the most diverse businesses are also the most successful. That’s why it’s so important that we empower women across all our sectors – not only to fulfil their potential, but to fulfil the ambitions and promise of our entire region.”

The Construction Skills Network (CSN) 2021-25 forecast reported that the construction industry’s annual average recruitment requirement is 4.4% a year between now and 2025 – far outstripping the prediction of an annual growth rate of just 1% over the same period. It is expected that construction professionals, technical staff, and construction managers will all become even more highly sought after in the future.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Leeds College of Building is also offering women over the age of 19 the opportunity to sample a Painting & Decorating programme free of charge. The female-only event, covering basic application of paint effects using rollers and brushes, will run on Friday 11th March from 10am-1pm. To book your place, please contact Student Services on 0113 222 6002 or email studentservices@lcb.ac.uk.

Find out more about our International Women’s Day Virtual Event, covering construction careers and training for women, by visiting our Open Events page: www.lcb.ac.uk  

Appointments, News

Totalmobile Appoints Gillian Mahon to Board of Directors

Chief People and Places Officer’s appointment underpins dedication to improving employee experience and diversity representation

 Totalmobile, a leading Field Service Management (FSM) software company, today announced the appointment of Chief People and Places Officer, Gillian Mahon, to the Board of Directors. After joining Totalmobile as HR Director and Recruitment Lead in March 2021, Mahon has spent the past 12 months enhancing the employee experience and building an organisational structure that supports the company and its people, as it grows through multiple acquisitions.

In her present role of Chief People and Places Officer, Mahon’s responsibilities entail ensuring that all Totalmobile employees are supported to reach their potential in an inclusive environment which promotes wellbeing as a priority. This is in addition to ensuring that Totalmobile has the right physical and virtual locations to support teams, with a plan to further develop engaging spaces that bring employees together to collaborate and innovate.

Her addition to the Board will enable Mahon to drive new diversity initiatives, identifying areas where the company can improve and equalise the experience for all employees. As we come out of the pandemic, Mahon also recognises that the world of work has changed and there is a need to continue to redefine working practices to ensure flexible and hybrid working options are available for all employees.

Mahon said: “I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to join the Board. I’ve had a varied career spanning many years, and while I never saw myself going in this direction originally, it just goes to show that if you put your mind to something, and work hard, you can achieve more than you think possible! I’m excited to continue devising and implementing new strategies at Totalmobile, focusing on bringing all of our employees together regardless of whether they’re native to Totalmobile or have joined us from a recent acquisition. We work best when we work together.”

Jim Darragh, CEO at Totalmobile added: “I’d known Gillian before she joined Totalmobile, and I was keen to hire her as I knew she would be a great addition to our team. One year on and I’m delighted to announce her appointment to the Board of Directors. We live in a fast-paced world and it’s crucial that our employees get the support they need to work to their full potential. Gillian is an excellent advocate for employee experience, and as we continue to grow rapidly – our latest acquisition of Working Time Solutions announced just last month – I’m excited to see the plans she has in store for the company.”

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Exabeam Achieves ISO 27001 Certification

Exabeam, the leader in Next-gen SIEM and XDR, today announced the completion of an assessment from the Certification Body of Schellman & Company, LLC. The assessment certifies that the Exabeam Information Security Management System (ISMS), which supports the Exabeam SOC Platform, has been independently assessed and aligns with ISO 27001:2013 information security best practices for the integrity, security, and confidentiality of employee, customer, and partner data.

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2021 Data Breach Report, the number of reported data breaches jumped 68% in 2021 to the highest recorded total in recent history. With common attack techniques like lateral movement, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation spanning across siloed security products in the cloud, it is more critical than ever that vendors demonstrate the ability to reduce security risk for company, customer, and partner data.

“We are proud of this great achievement, as ISO 27001 is one of the highest international standards for security integrity,” said Adam Geller, chief product officer at Exabeam. “Security is at the centre of Exabeam — from the products we build to how we run our day-to-day business operations. From the beginning, Exabeam has aligned our information security and privacy policies with industry standards such as ISO and NIST. This latest certification is an extension of our commitment to these standards.”

ISO 27001 is an internationally-recognised standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. To achieve the ISO 27001 certification, Exabeam demonstrated a systematic and documented approach to protecting and managing sensitive company, partner, and customer information including personal identifiable information (PII) for customers, partners, and employees, as well as financial data, intellectual property, and information entrusted to the company by third parties.

The Exabeam SOC Platform is a comprehensive cloud-delivered solution that leverages machine learning and automation using a prescriptive, outcomes-based approach to threat detection and incident response. The platform, which includes Exabeam Fusion SIEM and Exabeam Fusion XDR products, helps security teams detect external threats, compromised users, and malicious adversaries, and expedite threat detection, investigation, and response (TDIR).

To learn more about Exabeam’s commitment to data security and privacy, read Exabeam Fusion Privacy.