The Cardiff Capital Region Business Council is reaching out to businesses to determine the services they want for future growth.

The Business Council board is responsible for articulating the needs of business, identifying priorities for existing support services and designing future support programmes, ensuring that the voice of business is at the heart of the Cardiff Capital Region’s strategy and decision making.

Committed to determining and facilitating access to the tools and services needed to help businesses in the region develop and grow, the CCR Business Council has launched a survey to determine what businesses believe are the key drivers for business success.

Businesses in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan are invited to share the challenges and opportunities they face. Feedback from the survey will then be used to shape and deliver programmes of value.

Nigel Griffiths, Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region Business Council, said: “I’m very excited about making a practical and sustainable difference to businesses across South East Wales. I understand the challenges being faced by SMEs in particular as I’ve been there myself on numerous occasions.

“2020 was extraordinarily difficult for many companies, but out of turmoil comes opportunity – and we want to help businesses grab that opportunity. Imagine taking 500 SMEs in our region and making them 25% more effective, creating a billion pounds of additional profit and 10,000 new jobs. These are the type of things that need to happen.

“We have a new, re-energised board bringing fresh acumen, energy and passion to help direct, inform and shape the future of business in our region but we also need input from businesses. The insight that this feedback will give us will ensure that we put services in place that are of true value to our business communities and help us all be the very best we can.”

To participate in the survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8QXBNV8

Employers could face more tribunals when the furlough scheme ends, warn experts

• The volume of redundancies is expected to rise when the furlough scheme ends in September
• Over 60% of businesses are expecting litigation to remain at the same or increase this year^[i]
• “Employers need to be very mindful of how they manage the messaging and process of redundancy consultation”

As the UK approaches the end of the furlough scheme on 30 September, experts have warned of an increased risk of litigation, as the number of redundancies are expected to rise.

Renovo, a leading outplacement specialist, has called on businesses to be mindful of how they conduct the redundancy process and to provide support for those made redundant quickly, in order to decrease this risk.

The Government’s furlough scheme, which has supported approximately 11.5 million jobs from 1.3 million different employers across the course of the pandemic, is due to end on 30 September. ^[ii] On 31 January, 41% of employers had furloughed staff.^[iii]

Experts have predicted that levels of employment-related litigation and redundancy claims will rise after September, when many employers will be forced to make cuts to staffing that they had previously held off on.

Analysis by insurance broker Gallagher found that 64% of organisations are expecting business litigation to either remain the same or increase in volume this year.^[iv] More than half (56%) of businesses have already faced accusations or claims of unlawful behaviour.^[v]

Renovo has warned the risk of litigation will rise alongside the length of time employees have spent on furlough.

Chris Parker, MD at Renovo, explained:

“Many employees who will be impacted by redundancies will have been on furlough for a long period of time and may already feel disconnected from the business.”

“More than ever, employers need to be very mindful of how they manage the messaging and process of redundancy consultation. It will also be very important to look at how they provide support to employees to move on positively post redundancy, and quickly.”

Parker advised:

“Clarity is key. Be direct and honest, be as clear as possible regarding the situation, the possible outcomes and likely next steps. There is a huge amount to consider, so it’s vital that employers allow time to plan the process.

“It’s also worth thinking about bringing in an external third party to operate as a sounding board and test assumptions and process before beginning.”

Renovo is the UK’s leading outplacement services specialist.

Workers may know where their shoes will take them, but do they know where they came from? As the world calls for greater supply chain transparency, it may matter more than ever before.

Supply chain transparency and ethical production are no longer marketing buzzwords but corporate commitments demanding the attention of businesses across a broad spectrum of industries. Consumers, non-governmental organisations, governments and other stakeholders are ramping up the pressure and the consequences of failing to share supply chain related information are mounting.

Tragedies such as the Rana Plaza disaster leading to the Bangladesh Accord, the 2018 Transition Accord and the RMG Sustainability Council, offer a grave reminder that businesses need to know where and how their corporate workwear is sourced, manufactured, transported and stored.

Workwear procurement forms part of a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy as its suppliers’ ethical standards are increasingly considered as part of its own value system. Businesses should ensure that their workwear suppliers use procedures to minimise social and environmental impacts, factory workers are safe, and working conditions are fair and hygienic.

Global footwear manufacturer, HAIX®, made a corporate responsibility promise over seventy years ago focussed on ‘Made in Europe’ manufacturing, which encompasses fair working conditions, sustainable practices and modern testing facilities.

Simon Ash, UK Sales Manager at HAIX®, shares how the family business has stayed true to its promise since its founding in 1948.

What does the Made in Europe label mean?

The ‘Made in Europe’ label was created to demonstrate that a product was manufactured following European regulations, making products safer and less damaging to the environment. However, European regulations can be lax and repeatedly allow for loopholes. For example, if the upper and sole of a shoe are put together in an EU member state, the shoe is allowed to bear the ‘Made in Europe’ label – regardless of whether the two components were originally manufactured in Asia or Africa. HAIX® shoes, however, are 100 per cent manufactured in Europe and adhere to socially responsible guidelines. Looking for the label is one thing, but businesses still need to ask questions, for example, where different product parts are manufactured and put together.

Why would an organisation choose to manufacture every part of a shoe in Europe?

Although European manufacturing is frequently associated with higher costs, HAIX® chooses Europe because regulations protect worker rights and ensure a certain level of environmental and social consideration. For example, leather tanneries in certain parts of the world use toxic chemicals and dyes that place workers at risk of cancer, eczema, blindness and asthma and put the environment at risk of pollution should these harmful substances transfer to water waste. Leather is the most important material in our shoes, so HAIX® only uses certified suppliers that guarantee animal welfare and toxin-free processing.

How can a business ensure its suppliers meet sustainable practices?

Businesses can look for the relevant certificates, for example, HAIX® production sites have been awarded the ISO 14001 environmental certificate. This means HAIX uses high-quality materials to extend the service life of its footwear and save valuable resources through low-pollutant processing, short delivery routes and optimal use of energy such as solar systems and heat recovery.

How does HAIX® ensure its materials are high quality?

HAIX®’s production sites in Mainburg, Germany and Mala Subotica, Croatia are among the world’s most modern shoe production facilities. HAIX® shoes are put through their paces to ensure that they exceed the minimum standards as much as possible, including undergoing a series of over 100 material and quality assurance tests, replicating the day-to-day challenges of wearers, who spend most of their time on their feet. Every year over 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away by the UK public^[1], but using high-quality materials can extend the life of footwear and encourage prolonged use.

How does HAIX® safeguard fair working conditions?

HAIX® believes in equal opportunities, education, and respect. HAIX® offers its employees extensive training and further education programmes. All its production facilities exceed the legal requirements and are certified according to the EN ISO 9001 standard. Additionally, all facilities are socially audited according to the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), an industry-driven movement that aims to monitor and assess workplace standards across the global supply chain. This ensures workers are protected from common perils of the retail industry from extremely low wages to health problems and insecure work.

What does the future of workwear production look like?

Both suppliers and buyers will need to demonstrate ethical practices to ensure products are being manufactured in a responsible and sustainable way, that the workers involved are treated fairly and safely, and environmental and social impacts have been considered. It will be no longer be a ‘nice to have’ but a necessity as a businesses’ employees, customers and other stakeholders demand action against issues such as climate change, modern slavery and achieving a circular economy. The Made in Europe label may have loopholes, but those who live out its true meaning are and will continue to make a difference to our people and planet. When choosing your footwear, take it seriously, because when the reputation of your supply chain hangs in the balance, it won’t just be factory workers and the environment paying the price.

^[1] https://www.dover.gov.uk/Recycling–Waste/Recycling/What-Happens-Next/Shoes/Shoe-Recycling.aspx#:~:text=Every%20year%20over%20300%20million,big%20difference%20to%20the%20environment.