“This provides all of our current and future clients with an increased peace of mind that all of our projects and staff adhere to the strictest of safety measures.”
ONE of the North’s leading and fastest growing tech businesses is celebrating after receiving an award which recognises the level of safety built into the services they provide.
The Connectus Group – which is building gigabit speed full fibre networks around Gateway East Doncaster, Wirral and Liverpool waters, Media City and other selected business parks across the north of England – has been awarded Safe Contractor accreditation.
The safe contractor awards certification was granted following a lengthy and detailed audit of all Connectus’ currently existing safety systems.
It is based on records from thousands of projects which have been safely delivered over the past 17 years of trading by Connectus, who are acclaimed for providing services which boost connection, protection and collaboration for its clients.
Commenting, Pip Shelton Operations Director at Connectus, said: “I am really proud of our team for their outstanding health and safety records. As we continue on our growth journey, being a Certified Safe Contractor provides all of our current and future clients with an increased peace of mind that all of our projects and staff adhere to the strictest of safety measures.”
Details of the award come just weeks after it was announced Connectus is helping accelerate connectivity inside one of the region’s most exciting business hubs.
In an exciting new partnership Connectus is delivering, designing, building and operating Gigabit capable services to the landlord and tenants at the Green Park Business Centre in York.
At present the site only has DSL services available which max out at 11 Mbps. But by turbo-charging the level of service to 1000 Mbps to each of the site’s tenants, those based on the site will now be able to operate in a far more efficient way.
The partnership with the Green Park Business Centre is the latest indicator of Connectus’ accelerating growth.
Earlier this month it was announced the company had secured new funding with TimeFinance in a deal which will help the company expand and grow even further.
Connectus will use Time Finance’s revolving credit facility to help fund an “exciting new phase” of our development that is set to include expansion, additional staff hires and new acquisitions.
Businesses in renewable energy are being encouraged to plan ahead for their recruitment needs as billions of pounds worth of additional funding is announced for the sector.
Huge investments are being promised by the Government and industry into low carbon projects, solar infrastructure, offshore wind and tidal, resulting in tens of thousands of new jobs.
At the same time, the Government is also committing to new oil and gas licences, a revival in nuclear, and new projects in carbon capture usage and storage, which it says will ‘protect 200,000 jobs in a vital industry’ and ‘support up to 50,000 new ones’.
Lee Elwell, associate director and energy specialist at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, which has been supporting businesses with their recruitment needs for 45 years, said: “There is a significant skills shortage in these sectors and while the recent announcements are accompanied by huge numbers of jobs that will be created, we’ve yet to see the detail about any plans to solve the recruitment challenges.
“It’s all well and good promising 50,000 new jobs, but where will these skilled workers come from? And that’s just for one project alone. There would have to be education and training on an industrial level to even begin to meet these needs in the coming years.
“One obvious area for transferring skills would be the oil and gas industry, yet with new plans revealed to slow the decline in domestic fossil fuel production, the renewable energy sector may well have to look elsewhere for employees.
“Hopefully we will start to see new training opportunities being rolled out at scale, but that’s a long-term plan. Some of the projects highlighted will need large numbers of new people in the next 12 months to five years and we’d encourage businesses in this position to start preparing now – candidate numbers are limited, and competition is high.
“Whether it’s a start-up that has won funding for an innovation, or a massive corporation investing in low and zero carbon technologies, these have all got to be staffed.
“We did see a recent investment announcement in the training of insulation installers, which is great, but this is just one tiny area of renewables. There are gaps at all stages of the chain, including the skilled designers and specialist engineers.
“The candidate pool is not growing quickly enough, which means companies must look at other solutions. It’s about putting the wheels in motion well in advance; determining the skills that will be needed and identifying where they might be found, whether that’s a particular industry, sector, or even a geographical location.
“For example, we’ve worked in engineering and manufacturing for more than four decades and know there are people in these sectors with the relevant skills to transfer into the renewable sector.
“Businesses also need to gain an understanding of the sort of benefits packages they will need to offer to be able to win those candidates. Doing this exercise now will also help when it comes to budgeting. Perhaps the solution will lie partly in external consultants or short-term contracts if the skills they need aren’t yet widely available on the job market.
“Or it could be that the best solution is for businesses to develop their own fast track training programmes or qualifications. Either way, it’s best to find that out as soon as possible so it can be planned for.
“We can help businesses prepare for their future recruitment needs now, which will give them the best possible chance of securing the staff they need to achieve their goals.”
To talk about recruitment for your energy enterprise, please contact Lee Elwell (Associate Director, Energy) on 01384 446154, or email Lee.elwell@jonlee.co.uk.
AI infrastructure solution accelerates customers’ path to GPT and LLMs while keeping organisations in control of their data
Nutanix has today announced the Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box™ solution for customers looking to jump-start their artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) innovation, while maintaining control over their data. The new offering, available today, is a full-stack software-defined AI-ready platform, along with services to help organisations size and configure hardware and software infrastructure suitable to deploy a curated set of large language models (LLMs) using the leading open source AI and MLOps frameworks on the Nutanix Cloud Platform™. It allows customers to easily procure AI-ready infrastructure to fine-tune and run generative pre-trained transformers (GPT), including LLMs at the edge or in their datacenter.
Many enterprises are grappling with how to quickly, efficiently and securely take advantage of the power of generative AI and AI/ML applications, especially for use cases that cannot be run in the public cloud because of data sovereignty, governance and privacy concerns. New use cases emerge every day as organisations look to leverage generative AI to improve customer service, developer productivity, operational efficiency and more. From automated transcription of internal documents, to high speed search of multimedia contents, and automated analysis, many organisations see the opportunity with AI but are struggling with growing concerns regarding intellectual property leakage, compliance and privacy. Additionally, organisations looking to build an AI-ready stack often struggle with how to best support ML administrators and data scientists, while the prospect of large AI investment costs has enterprises stalled in their AI and ML strategy.
“As customers look to design and deploy generative AI solutions, they find themselves struggling with balancing the deep expertise required to install, configure, and run these workloads with concerns around their data security and protecting company IP – all while controlling costs,” said Greg Macatee, Senior Research Analyst, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms and Technologies Group at IDC. “With GPT-in-a-Box, Nutanix offers customers a turnkey, easy-to-use solution for their AI use cases, offering enterprises struggling with generative AI adoption an easier on-ramp to deployment.”
The Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box solution delivers ready-to-use customer-controlled AI infrastructure for the edge or the core data centre and allows customers to run and fine-tune AI and GPT models while maintaining control over their data. Nutanix provides a full complement of security and data protection offerings ideal for AI data protection.
Thomas Cornely, SVP, Product Management at Nutanix
“Helping customers tackle the biggest challenges they face in IT is at the core of what we do, from managing increasing multicloud complexity, to data protection challenges, and now adoption of generative AI solutions while keeping control over data privacy and compliance,” said Thomas Cornely, SVP, Product Management at Nutanix. “Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box is an opinionated AI-ready stack that aims to solve the key challenges with generative AI adoption and help jump-start AI innovation.”
This new solution includes:
The Industry-leading Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure™platform, with the Nutanix Files Storage™and Objects Storage™ solutions, the Nutanix AHV® hypervisor and Kubernetes, along with NVIDIA GPU acceleration, which can be sized for large to small scale.
Nutanix services to help customers size their cluster and deploy an opinionated stack with the leading open source deep learning and MLOps frameworks, inference server, and a curated set of large language models such as Llama2, Falcon and MPT.
Ability for data scientists and ML administrators to immediately consume these models with their choice of applications, enhanced terminal UI, or standard CLI.
The platform can also be leveraged to run other GPT models, as well as fine tune these models leveraging internal data, hosted on included Nutanix Files or Objects Storage services.
“Leveraging AI to more efficiently and effectively help our customers is a top priority for us but, as a regulated financial services organisation, maintaining full control over our data is necessary,” said Jon Cosson, CISO at JM Finn. “The Nutanix Cloud Platform delivers the performance, flexibility and security required to safely deploy AI workloads.”
The Nutanix GPT-In-a-Box solution builds on the full stack scalability, performance, resilience and ease of use that the Nutanix Cloud Platform is known for. Nutanix’s expertise with scalable infrastructure across public cloud, datacenter and edge use cases delivers the ideal environment to fine-tune and run AI applications while maintaining control over the data. In fact, in a recent survey, 78% of Nutanix customers indicated that they were likely to run their AI/ML workloads on the Nutanix Cloud Platform.
Nutanix’s expertise and involvement in the open source AI community provide customers with a strong foundation on which to build their AI strategy. Key contributions include: participation in the MLCommons (AI standards) advisory board; co-founding and technical leadership in defining the ML Storage Benchmarks and Medicine Benchmarks; serving as a co-chair of the Kubeflow (MLOps) Training and AutoML working groups at the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).
The Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box solution is available to customers today.
● TechMet, the global critical minerals investment company backed by the US Development Finance Corporation, closes $200 million fundraising round.
● Business is set to exceed a billion-dollar valuation in the next few months.
● Funds will be used to build and expand production, refining and recycling projects which enable the clean energy transition.
● In the last 12 months, TechMet has invested more than $180 million into critical minerals projects around the world.
TechMet, the leading global critical minerals investment company, has closed its latest $200 million equity fundraising round.
The successful capital raise puts the company on track to exceed a billion-dollar valuation in the next few months.
The latest $200 million funding is being deployed across TechMet’s existing portfolio of ten assets which are expanding extraction, processing, recycling and manufacturing capacity.
TechMet, founded in 2017, is a permanent capital vehicle focused on building businesses across the critical minerals value chain from mining and processing to recycling and battery component manufacturing. TechMet develops environmentally and socially responsible projects which are essential for the production of clean energy technologies.
The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is a key shareholder in the company, following an initial equity investment in 2020.
Both the US President and Vice President have cited TechMet’s role as a leading critical minerals company in the global effort to combat climate change.
Brian Menell
TechMet Founder, Chairman and CEO, Brian Menell, said: “We are grateful that we have such a strong shareholder base, and the US Government’s direct backing, as we deliver on our mission to build environmentally responsible supply chains for the metals needed for the clean energy revolution.”
Alongside Menell and his management team, TechMet’s largest shareholders are the DFC and Swiss-based Mercuria Energy, one of the world’s largest energy and commodity trading groups, both of whom participated in this funding round.
London-based Lansdowne Partners also increased its investment, and was joined by a number of significant new investors including US-based S2G Ventures, the direct investment team of Builders Vision.
Menell added: “Recent US legislation supporting the critical minerals sector, and supply chain investments by major automakers, represent significant steps forward. The EU has also announced its long awaited Critical Raw Materials Act and, like the UK, is seeking to strengthen supply chains.
“However, there is much more work to be done, particularly in the UK and Europe, if we hope to adequately feed the production of batteries, EVs, wind turbines, and other clean energy systems.”
Last week, TechMet, the UK Infrastructure Bank (“UKIB”) and The Energy & Minerals Group (“EMG”) announced a landmark $67 million investment in Cornish Lithium to develop a UK supply of lithium for EV battery production and battery storage solutions.
Admiral Mike Mullen (ret.), Chairman of TechMet’s Advisory Board and former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: “TechMet’s rapid progress in the face of adverse market conditions, is a testament to the team’s vision and focus. As national security challenges escalate, supply of critical metals is a crucial area of concern. Nations and companies that act quickly and imaginatively to secure adequate supplies will have a great competitive advantage over the next decade.”
TechMet’s current portfolio includes a diverse group of projects across the supply chain for the critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies, including: both hard rock Lithium mining and Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) projects in the US and Europe; Nickel and Cobalt extraction and processing in South America; Rare Earth extraction and processing in Southern Africa and the EU; Tin, Tungsten and Lithium mining in East Africa; next generation cathode manufacturing and Lithium-ion battery recycling technologies in the US; and the largest high purity Vanadium chemical producer in North America.
Headquartered in Dublin, with an office in London, TechMet’s $200 million fundraising round follows a maiden dividend paid to shareholders last year.
Given the extent of investor appetite and the range of compelling opportunities to deploy further capital, TechMet is expecting to launch a further fundraising round in Q4 this year.
When the going gets tough, the tough get talking. With the right approach and a persuasive tone, even the toughest economic storms become opportunities for growth for great leaders. Your ability to persuade can transform any tough situation into an opportunity, a chance to demonstrate your leadership and show your stakeholders that you’re not just a survivor, but a game changer. There’s a problem though…
With the world shaking under the weight of a tough economy, we’ve been fed a lie about empathy. Let me be honest: the traditional definition of empathy falls short in the realm of leadership. When we stumble into the depths of uncertainty, we don’t need leaders who wallow with us. We need resilient figures who rise above, lending their strength to pull us out of the abyss.
Now, you might wonder what this has to do with the challenges we face today. The answer is everything. As leaders, it’s our duty to understand the hardships our people endure, even as we navigate the same treacherous waters. But here’s the secret weapon that will transform your business performance amidst the chaos: persuasion.
The difference between a leader and a manager is their ability to communicate persuasively. All great leaders have this ability and I’m calling for you to harness it to three ends.
First, there’s you. Tell yourself that you didn’t come this far only to come this far. Remind yourself that you have been through worse. Persuade yourself to get excited about the opportunities that exist in the shadows. I am a wartime leader; I live for these times.
Next, persuade your team. Your team’s energy is an extension of your own. If you use all your persuasive tools to get your team to tighten their belts, you manifest fear. And yes, you may need to cover that in the middle of your talk to them, but you had better open by showing them the opportunity and closing by getting them excited. Their energy is your energy at scale – never forget that. According to Business Daily, Effective communication can increase employee engagement by up to 300%. And right now, you need every single percentage point.
Lastly, we need to persuade our customers. In tight times your second most important role, in every facet of the word, is sales. The single most important thing for you to be doing right now is to have lunch with the people that pay your people. Let them get as infected by your positive outlook as your team is. In tough economic times, the people in the market for the fearful are spoiled for choice. Be an antidote to them.
I’ve been a leader of my company for 26 years. Through all the bumps and downturns, I have found one thing to be true, there is nothing more persuasive than an excited optimist.
So, if sales is the second most important thing, what’s the first? Communication.
And no, I’m not talking about that company-wide memo or more emails from HR and marketing. I’m talking about you! Your people want and need to hear and see you right now. Luckily, we all own broadcast studios today. There are no excuses at all.
When a ship is sailing calm seas the captain’s voice is hardly needed, in storms though that changes.
When the going gets tough, the tough get vocal. People are looking for a voice to follow to get them out of the storm, make sure that voice is yours. Persuasive communication is the only guide that ever gets us to the other side.
It’s time to step up, take control and turn the tides in your favour. It’s time to master the art of persuasion. Remember, in the business world, persuasion is not just about winning arguments. It’s about winning hearts and minds, forging connections that last, and building relationships that go the distance.
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” – James Humes
So, there it is, persuasive communication isn’t just a tool, it’s the catalyst that can transform your business performance in a tough economy. It’s your secret weapon in the business battleground. Unleash its power, and see the transformation unfold.
When the going gets tough, the tough get persuasive. And the persuasive emerge victorious, no matter how big the storm.
About the author:
Having spoken in over 40 countries on six continents, rock and roll roadie turned entrepreneur and global keynote speaker Richard Mulholland knows first-hand the impact that eloquent and persuasive leadership can make. That’s why he and his team work with executives and speakers around the world, helping them be more confident, more compelling, and more authoritative.
Clients include Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), LinkedIn, Goalcast, Virgin, Aspen Pharma, Bayer, and SAP.
He is the founder of persuasion powerhouse Missing Link and has written three books: Legacide; Boredom Slayer; and his latest, Here Be Dragons.
His talks around the world address a variety of topics spanning strategy, leadership, sales, and persuasive communication. He has shared the stage with amongst others Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin, and will.i.am, and recently made the RealLeaders Top 50 Leaders to Watch in 2023 (alongside Lewis Hamilton and Adam Grant).
Chris Joeckel, head of Global Sales for LinkedIn says, “Rich was inspirational, enlightening and provided incredible insights specific to our attendees development within their current roles at LinkedIn…”
Moving your company to a new site is never an easy option. Big or tiny, such a transformation frequently denotes development, change, and new possibilities. But the procedure could feel daunting. However, relocation can be easy and effective with sufficient planning and organisation, ensuring little disturbance to your business operations.
Seeking professional assistance
The decision to move your business to a new location is rarely made lightly. Such a move, big or small, often signifies growth, change, and new opportunities and therefore needs proper planning. For instance, it can be a smart idea to hire a removals Cheltenham company if your business is located in the area and nearby. The term removals may conjure up ideas of moving furniture for homes, but these experts frequently have experience with corporate relocations as well. They arrive prepared with the tools, personnel, and know-how to guarantee the swift and secure transportation of all tools, furniture, and vital papers.
Inventory and declutter
Take a complete inventory of everything before moving, especially if you’re moving a business. Make a list of everything, including office supplies and paper papers. Decide what needs to be moved and what may be thrown away or recycled after this is finished. Cutting back on clutter not only lowers moving costs but also gives the new space a clean, organised start.
Communicate with your team
Moving your company has effects beyond the physical space. Employees, clients, and partners are all impacted. Maintaining open lines of communication is crucial throughout the procedure. Your team should be informed of the shifting dates, any duties they may have, and the steps being taken to ensure a smooth transfer. Similarly, in order to manage expectations and uphold confidence, clients and partners should be informed well in advance.
Consider IT infrastructure
The transfer of IT hardware and infrastructure is one of the trickiest aspects of corporate relocation. In addition to being pricey, computers, servers, and network installations also hold sensitive corporate data. To ensure that all data is properly backed up, equipment is carried safely, and the setup in the new area is effective and functioning, work with your IT staff or hire outside expertise.
Set up essential services in advance
Make sure that all necessary utilities are installed before the actual moving day so you can get started right away in your new location. This covers any service that is vital to your business operations, such as internet access, security systems, and utilities like water and electricity. Reduced downtime for businesses and a seamless transition are two benefits of having these services available from day one.
Plan the layout of the new space
Have a clear plan for the arrangement of your new space before you move. Think about things like employee productivity, client traffic, accessibility, and growth forecasts. Planning the space arrangement in advance not only speeds up setup after the relocation but also improves the workspace’s functioning and effectiveness.
Post-move assessment
After the relocation is complete, it’s crucial to reflect. Verify that everything has arrived safely and is present and accounted for. Obtain the opinions of the staff regarding the relocation and the new space. This input can assist in allaying any immediate worries in the new setting and provide insightful information for any upcoming relocations.
Conclusion
Moving a business is obviously a major undertaking, but with careful preparation and the correct assistance, it may go well. Business owners may make sure they position themselves for success in their new place by taking into account the aforementioned procedures and enlisting professional assistance.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficiency is paramount. Every process, every decision, and every action can either propel your business to new heights or drag it down into stagnation.
For businesses operating a fleet of vehicles, the equation becomes even more complex. How do you ensure all vehicles are in optimal condition? How do you monitor their movements, their fuel consumption, and their safety? This is where the indispensable role of fleet management services comes into play.
A Brief Overview of Fleet Management Services
At its core, fleet management services offer businesses a comprehensive solution to manage and optimise the performance of their fleet. But what does this really mean?
Monitoring and Tracking
With the evolution of technology, gone are the days of guesswork. Modern systems employ sophisticated GPS tracking to monitor every vehicle’s location in real-time. This doesn’t only ensure that vehicles remain on their designated routes, but also enables businesses to respond to unexpected situations promptly, such as road blockages or vehicle breakdowns.
Maintenance and Upkeep
A fleet’s efficiency is directly linked to the health of its vehicles. Fleet management tools provide automated reminders for maintenance tasks, from oil changes to tyre rotations. By keeping the fleet in top shape, businesses can minimise downtime, extend vehicle lifespan, and most importantly, ensure the safety of the drivers.
Operational Costs
Fleet management services provide detailed insights into fuel consumption, allowing businesses to pinpoint inefficiencies and implement corrective actions. By identifying trends and patterns, businesses can predict and manage operational costs more effectively.
Safety and Compliance
Adhering to safety regulations is not only a legal necessity but also a moral obligation to drivers and the public. Fleet management systems aid in monitoring driver behaviours like speeding or hard braking, providing opportunities for training and ensuring that the company adheres to all safety standards.
Boosting Efficiency and Productivity
Efficiency in fleet operations doesn’t only relate to the vehicles themselves but also to how they are utilised. A vehicle that spends more time parked than on the road is a lost asset. By integrating planning tools, fleet management services ensure that routes are optimised, cutting down unnecessary mileage and maximising the utility of every vehicle. This ensures that deliveries are made faster, customer satisfaction improves, and the overall productivity of the fleet is enhanced.
The Ripple Effect on Business Growth
The advantages of employing fleet management services extend beyond the immediate operational efficiency. It has a ripple effect throughout the business.
Customer Satisfaction: With timely deliveries and prompt responses to contingencies, customer trust and satisfaction grow, paving the way for repeat business and referrals.
Financial Health: Predictable operational costs, reduced downtimes, and maximised vehicle utility contribute to a healthier bottom line. Money saved here can be reinvested into the growth of the business.
Employee Morale: A well-maintained fleet signifies a commitment to employee safety. This, coupled with training opportunities, boosts morale and retains valuable employees, ensuring business continuity and growth.
The Future of Fleet Management
While fleet management services have already brought about a paradigm shift in how businesses operate their fleets, the future holds even more promise. With advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT), the possibilities are vast. From predictive maintenance to autonomous vehicles, the fleet management landscape is set to evolve, ensuring that businesses remain at the forefront of efficiency and innovation.
In Conclusion
In the world of business, the race is always on. Those who embrace innovation and strive for efficiency are the ones who come out ahead. For businesses operating a fleet, the answer is clear. Fleet management services not only provide the tools needed to streamline operations but also pave the way for future growth and success. The road to business excellence is long, but with the right services and strategies in place, the journey becomes not just feasible, but also rewarding.
A STUDENT-driven campaign to unite communities and celebrate diversity in Wrexham has gone from strength to strength.
So much so the Culture Collective are planning even more events at Coleg Cambria during the next academic year.
With the support of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Coordinator Judith Alexander and Lead Chaplain Tim Feak, learners organised a series of activities at the college’s Ial Restaurant, bringing together people of different faiths and backgrounds and promoting their heritage, history, and traditions.
The first was attended by more than 140 people and showcased different food and drink from around the world, as well as music, dance, literature, art and more.
“We invited students and local organisations to come together to celebrate the culturally diverse community here in Wrexham,” said Judith.
“What started as a one-off project led to a programme of events, and now the learners are planning to do even more in the next academic year.
“They and everyone who came along recognised the benefits of co-existence, diversity, acceptance and enjoying each other’s traditions and history – it was quite amazing and feels like the start of something really special.”
She added: “It was also an opportunity for us to sample an incredible array of delicacies, which were absolutely delicious and new to many of us.”
Big Ideas Wales role model Marina Kogan, who hails from Russia, and other mentors have been on hand to share their entrepreneurial journeys, in her case how she launched a successful coaching business in North Wales.
With backing from Wrexham Council’s Youth Service Grant and other funding streams, Tim said these, and other inspirational happenings, will continue to promote unity and interaction.
“The coming 12 months will see the Culture Collective embrace even more nationalities, communities and campaigns,” he added.
“As well as multi-faith events we will again look at food and culture, celebrate ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), LGBTQ+ and world arts and their impact over past generations, and now and in the future.
“We have been so proud to see such an incredible response at a time when the world really does need to come together, in love and acceptance, which can only make it a better place.
“For our learners to be at the forefront of that is just fantastic.”
Safety and morale might seem like separate facets of a workplace environment. However, a closer look reveals that these two are intricately connected, playing a critical role in the overall health and productivity of an organisation.
How Morale Influences Safety
High employee morale often translates to more attentive, focused workers. When an individual feels valued, recognised, and engaged at work, they tend to be more diligent about following protocols correctly. For example, they may be more likely to use the equipment from PPE suppliers, and less likely to cut corners or engage in risky behaviours simply because they take pride in their work and feel a sense of responsibility towards their colleagues.
On the other hand, an employee facing constant stress, feelings of inadequacy, or under-appreciation might be more prone to distractions. Such states of mind can easily lead to lapses in safety protocols, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries.
Safety Spurs Morale
Workplace safety isn’t just about avoiding accidents. It’s a direct reflection of how much an organisation values its employees. When workers see that their wellbeing is a priority, it creates trust and respect for the management. The provision of safety training, protective equipment, and prompt responses to concerns makes employees feel cared for.
Knowing that an organisation has their back, workers are likely to experience higher job satisfaction, reduced stress levels, and a stronger bond with the company. This emotional uplift can result in a positive feedback loop: improved morale leading to even better safety practices.
The Economic Ramifications
It’s not just about employee wellbeing, either. There’s an economic dimension to this relationship too. Businesses that overlook the connection between morale and safety might face increased insurance premiums due to repeated workplace accidents. On the flip side, a boost in employee morale can lead to higher efficiency and productivity, positively impacting a business’s bottom line.
What are the Benefits?
The symbiotic relationship between workplace morale and workplace safety has tangible benefits. Companies that make both a top priority often report:
Reduced absenteeism: Happy, safe employees tend to take fewer sick days.
Lower turnover rates: A safe and positive work environment means that fewer employees will look elsewhere for job opportunities.
Increased productivity: A stress-free, secure environment allows employees to focus better on their tasks.
Building the Bridge
Establishing a solid connection between employee morale and safety requires intention. Here are some actionable steps organisations can take:
Open communication: Create an environment where employees feel comfortable voicing their concerns about safety or their wellbeing.
Regular training: Keep safety training sessions regular, ensuring that everyone is up to date with the latest protocols.
Recognition and rewards: Celebrate safety milestones. Recognising teams or individuals for safe practices can help with boosting morale.
While they may seem distinct at first, employee morale and workplace safety are two sides of the same coin. One positively impacts the other, and by understanding this dynamic, companies can cultivate an environment that not only safeguards its employees but also nurtures their engagement and motivation.
Research by Novuna Business Cash Flow pinpoints top 20 universities for producing entrepreneurs between 2020-2022.
Surprising outcomes with lower-ranked universities showcasing robust entrepreneurial outcomes.
A shift in regional trends: Northern and Welsh universities make strides in closing the North-South entrepreneurial divide.
Top Universities for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
In a bold step to unravel where tomorrow’s business leaders are really coming from, Novuna Business Cash Flow scoured LinkedIn data of nearly 2.8 million alumni from 121 universities. The findings? A fascinating blend of familiar names and unexpected contenders in the entrepreneurial arena.
The Standouts:
Index Rank
University
Region
Guardian 2023 Rank*
% of Alumni becoming company founders (2020-2022)*
No. of Students Equivalents*
1
University of Cambridge
South East
3
6.85
4,374
2
SOAS University of London
London
86
6.64
662
3
London School of Economics and Political Science
London
4
5.90
3,456
4
Goldsmiths, University of London
London
106
5.76
757
5
University of Oxford
Midlands
2
5.16
2,902
6
University of Cumbria
North West
115
5.10
303
7
Imperial College
London
5
4.98
1,682
8
Falmouth University
South West
97
4.95
397
9
University of the Arts London (UAL)
London
19
4.33
1,250
10
University of St Andrews
Scotland
1
4.11
533
11
Kings College London
London
29
3.86
2,384
12
City, University of London
London
58
3.75
723
13
University College London (UCL)
London
9
3.63
2,652
14
St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London
London
70
3.58
189
15
University of Sussex
South East
66
3.51
806
16
York St John University
Yorkshire
77
3.46
261
17
The University of Edinburgh
Scotland
12
3.42
1,526
18
Royal Holloway, University of London
London
33
3.38
540
19
Wrexham Glyndwr University
Wales
94
3.32
149
=20
University of Chichester
South East
37
3.25
152
=20
Middlesex University
London
111
3.25
702
Full list available in the Novuna Business Cash Flow blog post
While the likes of Cambridge and Oxford remain strongholds for entrepreneurial education, the limelight is shared by unexpected stars like the University of Cumbria and Goldsmiths.
Regional Divide: More Than Just North Vs South
While 75% of the top 20 entrepreneurial universities lie in London or the South, deeper exploration paints a more intricate portrait. The regions dominating in producing company founders are:
Index Rank
Region of University
% of Alumni Founders (2020-2022)
No. of Student Equivalents
1
London
3.54
21,570
2
South West
2.64
5,320
3
South East
2.63
10,008
4
Scotland
2.61
6,204
5
Wales
2.41
2,874
However, the North and Wales seem to be punching above their weight, especially when examining universities that ramped up founder production from 2017-2019 to 2020-2022.
Bucking the Trend: Universities Defying Odds
Wrexham Glyndawr in North Wales – one of the universities punching well above it’s weight, alongside fellow Welsh contender, University of Wales, Trinity St. David
A comparative look between the 2017-2019 and 2020-2022 periods reveals a decline in entrepreneurs across most regions. However, nine universities defied this trend:
Index
University
Region
Guardian 2023 Rank
% of Alumni 2017-2019
% of Alumni 2020-2022
No. of 2020-2022 Students Becoming Company Founders
1
University of Cambridge
South East
3
5.70
6.85
4,374
2
University of Cumbria
North West
115
4.22
5.10
303
3
University of Suffolk
South East
69
2.11
2.91
175
4
York St John University
Yorkshire
77
2.77
3.46
261
5
Liverpool John Moores University
North West
87
1.73
2.04
692
6
University of Wales, Trinity Saint David
Wales
74
2.61
2.87
285
7
University of Chichester
South East
37
3.01
3.25
152
8
Wrexham Glyndwr University
Wales
94
3.10
3.32
149
9
University of Bolton
North West
38
2.23
2.30
183
A closer look reveals that apart from Cambridge, all the other top performers were ranked 37th or below by The Guardian.
John Atkinson, Head of Commercial Business at Novuna Business Cash Flow, reflected:
“Our findings highlight that the entrepreneurial spirit is well and truly alive across a spectrum of universities, not just the usual top-tier suspects. For young people aspiring to be business leaders and evaluating university options, this data provides a fresh perspective.”
About the Research
Field: 23rd July – 1st August 2023
Sample: 121 UK universities, Alumni between 2017-2019 and 2020-2023
Methodology
To ascertain the number of entrepreneurial alumni, analysis was conducted of the ‘Alumni’ segment on the official LinkedIn page for each university. Our criteria filtered for alumni who held the job title “Founder” during the period from 2017 to 2023. The results of this analysis yielded the figures presented in the ‘Student Equivalents’ column.
Additionally, we recorded the total number of students who graduated within the aforementioned timeframe. This data facilitated the calculation of the percentage representation of founders among the total alumni.
The ‘Guardian 2023 Rank’ was sourced directly from the Guardian University Guide, available here.
About Novuna
Novuna is a leading financial services company, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We have over 2,200 employees, £7.6bn of net earning assets and nearly 1.3 million customers across five business divisions; Novuna Consumer Finance, Novuna Vehicle Solutions, Novuna Business Finance, Novuna Business Cash Flow and European Vendor Finance providing innovative finance solutions to enable consumers and businesses to grow and prosper.
From 1 April 2021 we became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc., strengthening our relationship with one of the world’s largest and most diversified financial groups with over £60bn of assets.
Novuna Business Cash Flow
Novuna Business Cash Flow provides cashflow finance solutions to SMEs across a wide range of sectors in the UK, allowing businesses to release cash from unpaid invoices within 24 hours.
With remote digital on-boarding through FLi, its unique platform, and flexible approach to contracts, Novuna Business Cash Flow was awarded the Best Factoring and Invoice Discounting Provider at the 2023 Business Moneyfacts Awards.
Novuna Business Cash Flow is a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, part of Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc., one of the world’s largest and most diversified financial groups, with over £60bn of assets.
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