Monthly Archives: March 2022

IT Services, News

UK Retailer Deploys Secure I.T. Environments Micro Data Centres to Support On-Premises IT Services in ‘Hostile’ Environments

Three new Micro Data Centres deployed at separate locations, containing complete environmental monitoring, air conditioning, power distribution and UPS, along with training, and an on-going maintenance programme.

10 March 2022 – London, UK – Secure I.T. Environments Ltd, one of the UK’s leading design and build companies for modular, containerised and micro data centres, has today announced that one of the UK’s major retail organisations has placed an order for three custom designed micro data centres. These data centres will be deployed across one site, and are designed to tolerate ‘hostile’ environments. The new micro data centre modules will help the retailer provide an appropriate environment for its on-premises IT services. For added security and protection, a fire-rated modular panel room will also be built to house one of the micro data centre units.

Every Secure I.T. Environments micro data centre can be designed to meet the needs of a host of operating environments. The units for this project will not only be able to filter a range of dust and particulates from the air, but will also be able to withstand water ingress that they might experience on site, and maintain their internal environment across a wide range of external temperatures and humidity.

Each micro data centre will be 42U tall and house all of the equipment that would be expected in a traditional data centre cabinet. Intelligent power distribution units, environmental management systems, fire suppression, UPS and cooling will all maintain the micro data centre’s up-time and allow it to manage environmental extremes. The UPS and cooling will be in a 2N redundancy configuration, with the AC running between 3kW and 7.8kW. Secure I.T. Environments will also provide full training to on-site staff and an on-going maintenance programme.

Chris Wellfair, projects director at Secure I.T. Environments, said “It is great to see our micro data centres supporting one of the UKs top retailers with its mission critical IT services. Micro data centres give companies new ways to overcome the challenges of expanding their data centre services, provide redundancy, and get data centre services into locations that may have limited space, planning restrictions, or be environmentally hostile. With the advent of IoT and edge-based services, it has become more important than ever to get data centres in the right location at speed and a cost-effective way.”

You can learn more about Secure I.T. Environments micro data centre solutions by visiting: https://www.siteltd.co.uk/data-centres/micro-data-centre-cabinets/

News

Accountancy firm unveils new offices and growth plans after pandemic rise in demand

AN ACCLAIMED accountancy firm made a statement by opening new offices and taking on staff ahead of further expansion this summer.

Salisbury’s Chartered Accountants has unveiled premises in Uxbridge Square, Menai Bridge, adding to its presence in St Asaph, Penmaenmawr and Ruthin.

Director Aled Roberts says they, like so many organisations, faced challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic but are emerging in a stronger position than ever before thanks to the loyalty of clients, their hard-working staff, and partnerships across North Wales and beyond.

The workforce looks set to grow to more than 30-strong before the end of the year and he is confident the foundations they have laid – notably in recruitment – will stand them in good stead going forward.

“As green shoots start to appear UK-wide we ourselves have seen a steady period of growth which culminated in us making the decision to look at our footprint and how we can better serve clients across the region,” said Aled.

“The most important aspect of this was finding the right people who fit in with our ethos and culture, and looking at long-term, sustainable opportunities.

“The Ruthin branch was opened during the pandemic and has already been a success, showing our commitment and confidence in the direction we are taking.

“And we are sure that will be replicated in Menai Bridge, where we have a team in place – including Welsh speaking staff – who can’t wait to get started.”

Fellow directors Jeremy Salisbury and Jason Matischok reinforced those comments; for Salisbury’s the client comes first, but they are also keen to see the next generation of chartered accountants begin their journey into the sector.

“It is vital this industry attracts young, talented people who can take chartered accountancy into a new era,” said Jason.

“We are at the forefront of that and ensure those joining us progress with our support, are encouraged to develop and made to feel part of this company’s growth, because they are a huge part of it and at the heart of all decisions.”

Jeremy added: “The pandemic has raised many challenges and probably accelerated digitalisation and some of the technological strides and innovations unveiled in lockdown when the only option was to operate and communicate virtually.

“We embraced that and new software systems which have allowed us to serve our clients nationally and locally even more efficiently. This included state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities which gives them the option of discussing matters with us online if they would prefer.

“However, many still prefer face to face support, so there was a big demand for us to look at new locations where we have seen a lot of success, which is why we opened an office in Ruthin and have plans to expand further later this year.

“We are happy to do that and believe with continued expansion and the talent we have here we are well placed to capitalise on our position as one of the most forward-thinking, community-driven and long-standing accountancy firms in Wales and the North West, as we have been for more than three decades.”

For more information, visit the website www.salisburys.com or follow @salisburysuk on social media.

Finance and Banking, News, Pensions

New report reveals how Trustees feel smaller DB pension schemes are disadvantaged

Stoneport recently launched a research report ‘Paths to the end goal – the case for consolidation in smaller DB and hybrid schemes’  looking at the end game challenges for DB schemes.

Over 100 trustees from large and small DB pension schemes (86% DB and 23% hybrid) were surveyed about their ideal end game scenario, their decision-making challenges and potential solutions.

One key areas was that most trustees said smaller schemes feel most disadvantaged.

The trustees surveyed identified that smaller schemes are disadvantaged in many ways – including a lack of economy of scale, restricted investment opportunities and compliance challenges – and two areas where the disadvantages are less clear – member outcome risk and member communications.

Most trustees (91%) said economies of scale is their number one challenge running smaller schemes. With many fixed costs spread across a smaller number of people, smaller schemes tend to incur higher overall costs per member.

Secondly, most perceived smaller schemes as being at something of a disadvantage compared to larger schemes in terms of accessing investment options.

While most trustees said they had the flexibility they needed in terms of access to investment options and asset classes, some remarked that disadvantages mainly related to investment costs and the lack of buying power.

Thirdly, scale is also a major factor when it comes to the significant regulatory requirements on DB schemes, and 69% of trustees felt smaller schemes were ‘significantly’ or ‘somewhat’ disadvantaged in this area.

Many compliance costs have a fixed cost element, and because of the limited resources available to smaller schemes the growing workload cannot be easily spread across individuals. 31% scored the challenge of managing their scheme’s compliance workload at 7 out of 10, or higher, which we felt indicated significant levels of stress.

Commenting on the overall compliance burden, one leading Independent Professional Trustee said “It’s crippling, it’s a nightmare for FTSE 100 companies; it can literally be a killer for a small business.”

Achieving value for money through third-party services is also difficult for smaller schemes. Many trustees mentioned the greater buying power enjoyed by larger schemes, though others thought the services market was relatively competitive if smaller schemes targeted the right providers.

Turning to the less clear areas of disadvantage, these include member outcome risk and the ability to deliver quality member communications.

Some trustees commented that outcome risk – the risk of an employer not being able to fulfil its obligations to the scheme – was not related to the size of the scheme, as it is driven by the strength of the employer covenant and its profitability or cashflow. That said, the size of the scheme relative to the size of the employer was seen by some as a risk driver, as it could influence the attention the scheme received from its sponsor.

Finally, some trustees had concerns about their ability to deliver quality member communications. Some said smaller schemes lacked the scale to employ communications experts or set up relevant infrastructure such as a dedicated website. However, others felt smaller schemes were better able to tailor communications to member needs.

Joining a pooled structure like Stoneport can mitigate many of these disadvantages and lead to greater economies of scale, reduced compliance and administration, better member outcomes along with many other benefits. We recommend that trustees explore for themselves the benefits that consolidation can bring their smaller DB scheme.

 

To read the Paths to the End Goals report in full click here.

Digital Transformation, News

WSO2 Renews Long-Term Contract with Securitas Direct – Leading European Security Provider in Spain

WSO2, the leader in digital transformation technology, today announced that a long-term contract with a key customer, Securitas Direct in Spain, a subsidiary of Verisure Group, the leading European provider of professionally monitored security systems, has been renewed and expanded. Securitas Direct SA has been able to adopt an API-first strategy thanks to WSO2 API Manager, which has been architected and deployed in two locations within the organisation to ensure optimum availability.  The platform now serves as the foundation for Securitas Direct to further expand its digital offerings by better connecting with its partner ecosystem.  Additionally, utilising WSO2 solutions, Securitas Direct has built a simple, scalable architecture. The platform uses a microservices-driven approach, allowing developers to reuse individual components to quickly build new applications and troubleshoot issues.

Securitas Direct SA was founded in 1992 as part of the Verisure group of companies in Sweden.  With 24/7 response services, Verisure accounts for over 4 million customers in 16 countries in Europe and Latin America. Today, Verisure boasts some of the strongest growth and retention rates globally in consumer-facing services, demonstrating its exceptional service levels and strong value proposition to its customers.

Initially, Securitas Direct SA required to transition from a traditional service-oriented architecture model to an API-based self-service model. The main goals were to improve autonomy in terms of integration needs and improve integration governance and security while dealing with high traffic on IoT APIs, customer apps, and business systems.

Luis Vásconez, head of platform services and solutions at Securitas Direct states, “WSO2 API Manager has been a critical component in our transition to an API-first approach as it provides improved governance, security and autonomy to our development teams with ongoing integration requirements.  The solution has been deployed in multiple regions to avoid any downtime that could jeopardise our customers’ experience and the services we provide.  WSO2 support has allowed us to provide a secure, seamless experience to our customers which is a key priority for us and one of the reasons we have now renewed and expanded our contract.”

Since implementing WSO2 API Manager, Securitas Direct has seen numerous advantages. This includes increased service availability, improved development efficiency through improved dependency mapping and handling. Teams that integrate beyond team domain services are more autonomous, allowing for team growth and velocity of 10% in the last year and an estimated 10-15% growth in the coming years, all this while maintaining governance for the APIs’ entire lifecycle.

Ricardo Diniz, VP & GM UKI and Southern Europe added, “Securitas Direct is a long-time user of our products and services. The organisation appreciates the simplicity of the solution as well as the considerable support we provide, particularly in important architectural and decision-making areas.  WSO2 is well-known as one of the leading solutions in the market, enabling easy and secure API exposure to both internal and external consumers, as well as design and runtime governance for the APIs’ entire lifecycle.  We also provide flexible deployment models that adapt to the customer’s infrastructure, while maintaining seamless service discovery for developers, which is one of the reasons that Securitas Direct continues to work with us.”

London, News

SIGNA Sports United leads investment round in UK based Buzzbike

SSU investment will enable Buzzbike’s expansion into cities across Europe and the United States

Leading global sports e-commerce and technology platform SIGNA Sports United has taken a stake in the UK bike subscription service, Buzzbike, as part of its expansion strategy. The deal will help the London-based start-up to expand into European and US cities.

Buzzbike is a subscription and tech business that offers members a holistic approach to cycling. Its flexible monthly membership package includes: a premium city bike, lock, on-demand maintenance, theft protection, events and an app with cycle friendly turn by turn navigation, concierge level support, stats and rewards for consistent cycling. The combination of the full service offer and flexible subscription significantly reduces barriers to start cycling and removes many of the friction points associated with owning a bike.

SSU’s sales reach across many European and international markets with more than seven million active customers will bring Buzzbikes’ unique and successful business model to riders in many more cities across Europe and the United States. The investment from Berlin-based SSU will also help Buzzbike accelerate development of its product range from bikes to e-bikes leveraging SSU’s own brand experience from its e-bike brand selection.

As part of the new partnership, SSU will support Buzzbike’s bicycle development and become its exclusive bike supplier.

Commenting on the latest funding round, Tom Hares, CEO & co-founder of Buzzbike, said: “We believe bikes can unlock solutions to some of the biggest issues facing our cities, such as congestion and air pollution. By making it simpler to start and keep riding, we have the opportunity to transform the cities of the future. We are delighted to have found a partner in SSU with global scale that shares our vision, to help bring Buzzbike to thousands of new customers across the world. Funds will be used to accelerate development of a new cutting-edge e-bike, grow our world class team and further evolve our technology and services”.

Anton Oliver, SSU’s Head of Corporate Development and M&A, added: “We are thrilled to accelerate the global growth of Buzzbike, which we believe has a competitive edge in the high growth and dynamic bike subscription market. We see huge potential in the bike market in cities around the world, particularly in the US and Europe. The broadening scope of government green agendas and infrastructure spending is resulting in an e-mobility revolution and a boom in e-bikes that will continue to accelerate for the next decade. We also see a sizeable increase in individuals wanting to use biking more for commuting and getting around cities for health, environmental and efficiency reasons.”

Other investors include leAD Sports, a leading sports & health tech fund and accelerator based in Berlin and smart city Lake Nona, Florida, described as the city of the future and the base from where Buzzbike will expand into the US market.

Andrew White co-Founder and Chairman of leAD sports commented: “As an early supporter of Buzzbike it’s been incredible to watch their growth. We couldn’t be more excited to support the team as they expand into the US in partnership with SSU. At Lake Nona with our partners Tavistock, we’re creating a tech empowered mobility ecosystem that we believe will be the blueprint for cities of the future that includes autonomous public bus networks with Beep and an Aerotropolis. Buzzbike’s e-bike platform will be the perfect complement to this line-up”.

 

News

LinkedIn ‘Live Aid’ global Ukraine fundraiser brings £40,000 in a week

An international collaboration of experts on LinkedIn has raised more than £40,000 for a charity supporting Ukrainian refugees crossing the Moldovan border.

Dubbed ‘LinkedIn Live Aid’ by a supporter, the cash was raised in just seven days by six international high-profile LinkedIn influencers who led a webinar for up to 1,000 people and encouraged attendees to continue to donate.

Now they’re urging their combined 300,000 followers to carry on supporting the charity Hope4 (https://www.hope4.love/donateukraine) which is on the ground in Moldova , supplying food, heating, vital equipment and more to families fleeing Ukraine.

Moldova is facing a refugee crisis and needs urgent financial aid as tens of thousands of people escape the Russian invasion cross its border, the country’s prime minister, Natalia Gavrilița, has said.

The fundraiser was launched by LinkedIn coach Lea Turner from the UK, along with UK-based John Espirian, Ariel Lee and Andy Foote in the US, Spain-based Richard van der Blom, and Michelle J Raymond in Sydney.

 

Lea said: “I’ll admit, the idea was impulsive and I wasn’t sure we’d hit my original £5k goal, but the LinkedIn community really got behind the event, and it soon spiralled so that we had to enlist the lovely people at The Experience Collective for tech support.

“I’m so proud of everyone, and so grateful to Hope4 for giving us a way to do something useful when so many of us have been feeling helpless.”

Michelle said: “ I cherish the week that I have just had being part of something that changed the lives of so many people. At a time when the worst of the world was visible, goodness also shone brightly.

Ariel added: “I’m blown away by the way the community has rallied around this cause. From idea to reality to money in the hands of the people who needed it in mere HOURS…I can’t thank Lea enough for allowing me a small part in this awesome initiative.”

“I’m really happy to have been able to team up and deliver a session that’s helped raise so much money for Hope4, who are doing great work on the ground between Ukraine and Moldova,” said John.

Richard reflected on how the session itself illustrated how well an ethos of collaboration on LinkedIn works.

“On LinkedIn you also need to provide support to your network, behave according to your own values and beliefs. LinkedIn is not different from the real world. So be generous and try to add value to the community, just like donating for Hope4,” he said.

Andy added: “It’s not often you get to do a webinar that is spun up in 10 days, provides extraordinary feelgood for everyone involved while raising stacks of cash for a great cause. It was a privilege to be involved in this timely humanitarian effort and to stand shoulder to shoulder with Lea and my fellow LinkedIn specialists.”

Hope4’s Chris Lomas said: I’ve been witness to what could only be described as a LinkedIn revolution.

“Hate will never defeat love and what I saw yesterday at Lea Turner’s LinkedIn Master Class, was nothing short of love.

“An outpouring that will live on, and called LinkedIn’s own LiveAid.

“So, what does it really mean on the ground? Well, Hope4 doesn’t keep a penny and as such, every penny is translated into tangible aid and support right across Moldova.

“Every single penny entrusted to us by the people who supported Lea’s event, is spent on food, shelter, equipment and fuel, all necessary to get vulnerable women and children in particular, into a safe and secure

“Together #WeAreHope4 orphans, victims, women and children everywhere, which is why we’ve already launched into Poland as well. We want to thank Lea Turner, her panel of experts and everyone who supported them.’

*A recording of the webinar with all proceeds going to Hope4 can be bought here:

https://leaturner.mykajabi.com/offers/AUAdSeJz/checkout

You can donate direct to Hope4 directly here: https://www.hope4.love/donateukraine

Image Credit: The Experience Collective

Mental Health, Mental Health at Work, News

Former builder constructs new career in mental health as part of National Careers Week

A former construction worker from Northampton who decided to transfer his skills from building houses to building better futures has spoken of his joy at his career change.

Speaking as part of National Careers Week, which started on Monday, March 7, Simon Austin decided to embark upon a career in mental health in 2000.

Then, aged 24, he started out working as a Healthcare Assistant at St Andrew’s Healthcare, but has quickly progressed through the ranks and is now a Staff Nurse.

Now aged 45, Simon said: “I had been working since I was 16 and just became a bit fed up with the building trade. That’s when I decided to look around a bit. I knew I wanted to do something more worthwhile with my life, which is when I spotted the job at St Andrew’s, I knew it was for me.”

It was after he joined the charity that Simon realised he wanted to continue on the healthcare journey, so he joined the St Andrew’s ASPIRE programme which offers many training opportunities. This meant Simon could train to become a mental health nurse while still working as a Healthcare Assistant.

He said: “I needed to earn a monthly salary. As an older adult I would not have been able to fund the course myself, so the financial support was a major factor for me in deciding to do the training. I could fit in paid shifts around university which really helped.

“The course developed my confidence and my experience and knowledge of working with people with different mental health conditions. I became better at my job and was able to help patients more effectively.”

The programme is funded and supported by St Andrew’s, a huge benefit to those who might not be able to afford university otherwise.

Simon says that during the course he felt really supported by everyone around him, which was important as it was a big step for him to go to university as a mature student.

He added: “St Andrew’s is a wonderful place to work. It has excellent facilities and training opportunities to help people progress. Originally, I didn’t intend on becoming a qualified nurse, however, as I had done various training courses since working at St Andrew’s it built up my confidence academically and I decided to take the next step in my career.”

As well as encouraging professional development for qualified nurses, St Andrew’s also offers financially supported nursing scholarships to individuals who are passionate about a career in mental health nursing. These are offered on a unique three-and half-year scholarship programme.

They are aimed at 18–24-year-olds who have the drive to attend university, but not necessarily the support or financial means to do it. The programme combines hands-on experience at St Andrew’s, with academic learning and study at the University of Northampton, leading to a BSc (Hon’s) degree.

St Andrew’s is recruiting newly qualified and student nurses, through to senior mental health nurses and a clinical nurse lead role. For those at the start of their career, St Andrew’s offers the chance to join an expert multi-disciplinary team working and gain wide experience initially, before choosing an area to specialise in.

For more information about careers at St Andrew’s click here.

 

Finance and Banking, News, Property

Barry property developers expand hotel with HSBC UK funding

A Barry-based property development and investment business has used a £400,000 funding package from HSBC UK to purchase and develop a derelict building, turning it into an extension of one of its existing hotels.

PropertyIndex, established in 2012, used the HSBC UK funding package to facilitate the expansion of Mount Rooms Hotel, creating 14 new rooms and helping the hotel meet demand from customers. The recently completed expansion created five new jobs and is expected to increase turnover by 40 per cent.

Chris Spiteri and Emma Ballson, co-directors of PropertyIndex, commented: “We’re delighted to reveal the brand new extension of the Mount Rooms Hotel thanks to this deal with HSBC UK. Barry and the surrounding area are benefitting from a surge in tourism, so, in response, we’ve created boutique style rooms that build on the hotel’s reputation for providing guests with luxury and comfort.

“We’ve been banking with HSBC UK for two years and the team has always been extremely helpful in understanding our needs and supporting our expansions. We wanted to thank our relationship manager at the bank, Andrew Woodgate, who has been instrumental in this deal.”

 

Zena Perry-Hartle, Area Director at HSBC UK Business Banking in Wales, said: “With the demand for staycations rising in the UK since the pandemic began and holidays in Wales becoming more popular, the Mount Rooms Hotel was facing increasing demand to be able to accommodate more tourists. We’ve watched the wider business go from strength to strength over the years and can’t wait to see it continue to develop and build more properties in the area.”

PropertyIndex manages a range of workspaces, hotels and residential properties in Wales as part of its expanding property portfolio.

Carbon Reduction, News, Sustainability, Tech

£9k grant funding available to Cleantech innovators

Innovators and businesses taking part in an industry-first Cleantech bootcamp in Wyre Forest will be able to access grant support worth up to £9,000 to help bring their innovations to life.

The grant, which can be used for a range of purposes including marketing activities and legal support, is part of package worth over £25,000 being made available to participants of BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp – an eight-week programme bringing leading experts from the Cleantech world to north Worcestershire to help local entrepreneurs and established businesses develop technologies that will lead industry supply chains towards Net Zero.

Cllr Helen Dyke, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Planning and Localism, said:“BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp is a fantastic opportunity for start-up, scale-up and established businesses within the Wyre Forest and wider North Worcestershire areas to access specialist support to develop their clean tech ideas. Promoting low- and zero-carbon technologies is a key part of the county’s industrial strategy and we have a wealth of innovative companies here that have the potential to make a real difference.”

Linda Smith, founder and CEO of Worcestershire technology accelerator BetaDen, added: “Alongside grant support, BetaDen North Cleantech bootcamp participants will have access to experienced mentors, skills-based masterclasses, guest speakers, networking and business introductions, as well as free office space at Wyre Forest House, to help them commercialise their ideas.

“It is a model that has proven hugely successful for our technology accelerator BetaDen, which to date has helped four cohorts of fledgling technology companies bring new technology solutions to market; delivering world firsts, winning high-profile contracts, securing investment and creating jobs in the region.

“Our vision for BetaDen North is to pave the way for a similar, nationally-significant centre of excellence for carbon reducing technologies in the region. I’d urge local innovators and established businesses with a Cleantech idea or Net Zero Challenge they’d like to bring to market to apply now to access this unprecedented, free support.”

BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and enabled by Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire County Council. The programme, delivered by Carbon Limiting Technologies (CLT), is designed to bring to life the real issues and opportunities for businesses arising out of the push towards Net Zero, which will impact businesses and organisations of all sizes across all sectors.

At the time of the project launch, Councillor Marc Bayliss, cabinet member with responsibility for Economy and Skills at Worcestershire County Council said: “The Community Renewal fund is a fantastic opportunity to make a real positive impact through funding imaginative new programmes that will boost productivity and grow local economies.

“I am delighted to see Betaden North’s plans and the launch of the workshops and bootcamp, the potential they have to make a big difference in the local community is huge. I would encourage people to get involved and sign up to learn more.”

Applications to join BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp close on 25 March with the programme onboarding on 26 April. Eight business will be selected to take part, receiving tailored support and mentoring from industry leaders across a range of specialisms including market growth, developing the route to market, financial management, investment readiness, access to finance, and presentation and pitching skills. The programme will culminate in a live pitch event to potential customers, partners and investors in June.

For further information and to register your interest, visit www.betaden-north.co.uk/bootcamp/ or call 01905 932532.

Absence Management, Mental Health, Mental Health at Work, News

Research: Sectors that pivoted from normal work environments in the pandemic see highest rise in mental health absences

  • 37% of hours lost to sickness absence are due to mental health related causes
  • Lost productivity can represent 1% of annual wage bill

New data reveals that, on average, 37% of hours lost to sickness absence are due to mental health related causes – up from 28% before the pandemic.

The data, from employee relations experts, AdviserPlus, also shows that increases in recorded mental health absence are noticeable across all sectors, but growth is less when the working environment remains similar to pre-pandemic days.

Data from 250,000 employees across four sectors – retail, financial, utilities and health – was analysed. It shows that increases in mental health absences were far higher in the financial services sector, which made a wholesale change to home working. The sector saw a 72% increase in the percentage of mental health absences recorded from the year before. Retail and health sectors both saw an increase of 17% in the last year, while utilities saw an increase of 25%.

Richard Little, Analytics Team Manager, AdviserPlus, said:

“Regardless of sector, mental health absence has increased as a percentage of total sickness absence. However, the data suggests that those who have working environments closer to pre-pandemic times have been less affected. Within the finance sector, for example, where employees went from office work to home working, we’re seeing far higher levels of reported mental health absences.

“In many ways, working from home has been positive. But there are feelings of isolation and disconnection that can negatively impact workers who are not used to or enabled to work effectively when remote.

“Vitally, while there is a perception – and some truth – in the fact that employees are less likely to call in sick while working from home, this is perhaps less true for mental health-related illnesses. In many cases, struggles with mental health can be psychologically harder to push through, or ‘get on with’ so employees may find it more difficult to commit to their work in a continually isolated setting.”

Jane Grundy, Technical HR Consultant, AdviserPlus, added:

“Businesses must think carefully about how they tackle mental health absences and monitor how working arrangements are affecting employees. From the business perspective, the costs associated with this increase in mental health absence are significant. We are seeing lost productivity representing up to 1% of their annual wage bill.

“For employee health, businesses also have important decisions to make. For instance, if more employees are putting in flexible working requests as they’re asked to return to the office, employers will need to consider whether working from home is best for an employee’s mental health. Organisations need to think carefully about how to create the right working environment for their employees.

AdviserPlus recommends:

  • Establishing boundaries between home and work time
  • Having regular one-to-ones to help spot changes in behaviour or body language
  • Signposting people to employee assistance programmes when relevant
  • Setting an example and make wellbeing your own priority, so employees can follow
  • Encouraging flexibility in workplace days, so employees can interact with different team members.