Category Archives: South East England News

Finance and Banking, Hampshire, News, Social Housing, South East England News

SASC invests second loan of £3.3m in One Small Thing to support pioneering project for women affected by the justice system

One Small Thing (OST), a charity dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system for women and their children, has received a second social investment loan of £3.3m from Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC).

The loan, from SASC’s Social and Sustainable Housing fund (SASH), will enable the charity to purchase and refurbish six properties in Southampton and Portsmouth, providing supported accommodation for up to 40 women involved in the criminal justice system in Hampshire, as part of its Hope Street project.

 

Hope Street is a pioneering residential community in Southampton, which will house up to 124 women and their children from spring 2023. This will prevent women receiving custodial sentences just because this is the only option available.

At Hope Street, women can meet the requirements of a community sentence in a safe, calm, and nurturing environment, where their children can live with them and they can access therapy, treatment and support. It will also help them access training and employment and make new links into the local community.

SASC’s first investment in OST was a £380k loan from its Community and Investment Fund, which funded five self-contained flats at Hope Street, as well as a large restorative outdoor space.

This latest investment will add further move on accommodation and marks the next phase of the charity’s vision for redesigning the justice system for women and their children in a way that can be replicated and scaled across the UK.

OST was founded in 2018 and is led by an inspirational philanthropist and tireless prison reformer Lady Edwina Grosvenor[i]. With a degree in criminology, Lady Edwina has devoted her 23-year career to prison reform. Hope Street aligns with the thinking behind the 2018 Female Offender Strategy[ii], which has a strong focus on community-based solutions.

 

Southampton was carefully selected as there are no prisons for women in Hampshire and Southampton is where a third of offences in Hampshire occur. Of the 877 women arrested in Hampshire between 1st November 2018 and 31st October 2019, 33% were from Southampton.

 

Women from Southampton who receive a custodial sentence are sent out of area, often more than 60 miles away from their home, making it very difficult for families to visit[iii].

 

Claire Hubbertsey, Chief Executive of One Small Thing said, “Hope Street will be a restorative environment where women can thrive and access vital services, without the added trauma of being separated from their children. It is designed to become a centre of excellence that can be replicated across the UK. We’re grateful that SASC shares our vison and is committed to helping us achieve our goals.”

 

Ben Rick, Co-Founder and CEO of SASC said, “Since our first loan to One Small Thing we have been impressed with how this project has developed and wanted to extend our support so they can add further supported accommodation. The programme will positively impact the life outcomes for many women and their children and enable them to break out of the cycle of crime and deprivation, and transition to independent housing.”

 

As of September 2022, SASH was fully committed, having allocated £64.5m of invested capital to charities across the UK. The successor fund, SASH II was launched last autumn, to provide a continuity of funding to frontline providers.

The fund will support charitable organisations that deliver a combination of support and housing to move from renting existing housing stock to owning it. SASH II is open for fundraising and targeting £125m.

 

For more information on One Small Thing visit: www.onesmallthing.org.uk

For more information on SASC visit: www.socialandsustainable.com

[i] https://onesmallthing.org.uk/board-of-trustees/edwina-grosvenor

[ii] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-offender-strategy

[iii] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b2920c1a9e028ee9c2eb7b5/t/5f75dac80dd0c87c41a511e8/1601559241068/Hope+Street+Succesful+Planning+Application+statement+FINAL.pdf

Cybersecurity, News, South East England News

Oxford IT firm reveals biggest threats to cyber security in 2023

To mark the new year, an Oxfordshire based IT firm has put together its predictions for the cyber security industry in 2023 to help other businesses guard against cybercrime.

OX IT Solutions is helping to combat the constant advancement in cybercrime by issuing key advice on how to protect against the biggest threats of the year. They are also offering free, remote cyber security audits to all businesses and organisations to help them pinpoint their weaknesses.

The Kidlington based company helps NHS trusts, schools and businesses across the UK protect against cyber security attacks.

Director of OX IT Solutions Chris Cope said: “This year, we can certainly expect the return of many of the trends that made headlines in 2022. However, as cyber criminals discover new vulnerabilities to exploit, it is likely we will see more sophisticated attacks which are harder to detect and harder to block.

“It is more important than ever that businesses of all sizes make cybersecurity a priority if they want to protect their sensitive data and prevent costly attacks.”

Mr Cope added: “Securing your IT investment in today’s environment can be time consuming, complicated and expensive. Our security review can help you address these challenges so we would encourage all businesses to take advantage of this in 2023.”

Here are OX IT Solutions’ top three predictions for 2023:

1. Ransomware will remain a constant threat

Just like last year, ransomware will remain a constant threat to all businesses and organisations. Ransomware is a form of malware that specialises in extortion. It takes over a device, blocks access to data and demands a ransom for its release.

Over the last five years ransomware has cost UK businesses millions of pounds. To combat the threat, OX IT Solutions recommends making regular external backups of business-critical data and investing in advanced cybersecurity protection on all endpoints to block ransomware before it reaches your device.

2. Increase in phishing attacks

Phishing is a type of fraudulent attack spread through email, text messages or even voicemail attachments. Cyber criminals use this type of attack to con you into sharing your personal data. Last year it was the most common form of attack in the UK – in 2022 83% of businesses and 87% of charities claimed to have experienced an attack of this nature.

Mr Cope said phishing attacks are easily preventable if you know what to look for. Encouraging vigilance and education amongst staff should seriously reduce the number of low-level breaches.

3. More MFA weaknesses will be exploited

Multi-factor authentication is the process of proving a user’s identity by requiring two or more levels of verification to log in to a resource like an online account or VPN. MFA is a core component of any strong online security infrastructure and vital for those with private or sensitive data online.

Attacks targeting multi factor authentication weaknesses in 2022 prove that although MFA remains an essential line of defence, it must be adopted as part of a wider zero trust approach and not as a single solution.

Mr Cope added: “With the right MFA solution, protecting your devices and data is easy. The added verification step makes it significantly harder for a cyber criminal to breach your systems so we would encourage all businesses to adopt MFA. Our advanced solutions help us proactively detect and protect against threats in real time to give you and your business peace of mind.”

OX IT Solutions specialises in providing network, infrastructure and cyber security solutions. It works with major blue-chip companies, healthcare institutions, local authorities and SMEs. Its clients include the Royal College of Nursing, NW London NHS Trust and Molton Brown.

Construction, Construction News, News, South East England News

Morgan Sindall Construction reach exciting milestone at Hertfordshire’s first net zero school

Morgan Sindall Construction’s Northern Home Counties business has held a ground-breaking ceremony at the Buntingford First School, marking an exciting milestone for Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and Scholars Education Trust in delivering the region’s first carbon neutral school.

Attendees were shown around the site before ground was broken with a golden shovel, with speeches from Terry Douris, Executive Member for Education at HCC, Matthew Gauthier, Deputy CEO at the Scholar’s Education Trust, and David Rowsell, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction in the Northern Home Counties.

Other attendees included the Mayor of Buntingford Duncan Wallace and key stakeholders from Buntingford First School, HCC, Morgan Sindall Construction and the Scholar’s Education Trust.

Scheduled to open in 2023, Buntingford First School will be built in line with the Hertfordshire County Council’s sustainability strategy and ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. It will utilise a Passivhaus design which will improve the school’s air quality, reduce carbon emissions and lower its energy running costs.

As part of the highly sustainable project, over 300 solar panels, triple-glazing windows and air-source heat pumps will be installed. The new school will also include a rooftop outdoor classroom and numerous play areas. In addition, all the teaching spaces in the school will face north, avoiding south-facing windows that cause rooms to over-heat, while social areas such as the school dining halls and common rooms will face south.

The new 330-pupil school, which has ten classrooms and incorporates a nursery, will be built on the former Sainsbury’s depot site, adjoining the Bury Football Club who will share the site with the new School. When complete, it will provide additional school places for Buntingford and its new communities.

Prospective parents can apply for reception places for September 2023 at Buntingford First School through the county council’s admissions website at Buntingford First School | Hertfordshire County Council | www.hertfordshire.gov.uk. In this, its first year of opening, Buntingford First School, has a separate application process for Reception admissions and the school can therefore be a “fifth preference” in addition to the four preferences expressed on the usual county council application form.

David Rowsell, Morgan Sindall Construction’s Northern Home Counties area director, said: “As a local resident, it’s fantastic to see the investment here in Buntingford. It is the energy and passion of the younger generation which makes projects like this so vital. We are thrilled to be on site here and are looking forward to providing the local community with a first-class education facility.”

Cllr Terry Douris, Executive Member for Education at Hertfordshire County Council said: “It has been a privilege to be here to watch as this school rises from the ground. Four years ago, when this scheme was first discussed, it was ground-breaking to be looking at a school that was not only Passivhaus standard, but also net zero in both construction and operation.

“This project demonstrates to the wider world our commitment to saving the planet and how we must work going forwards.”

Matt Gauthier, Executive Headteacher at Buntingford First School said: “A key driver for us is providing education for a changing world and Buntingford First School embodies this ethos. Another driving force for us is to provide first class education for the children of Buntingford, something we have every confidence this school will support.”

Cllr Duncan Wallace, Mayor of Buntingford, said: “Thank you to Hertfordshire County Council for this significant investment in our town. Investing in the next generation is vital to them fulfilling their potential.”

News, Property, South East, South East England News

Community garden blossoms as Morgan Sindall Construction completes work on regeneration scheme

Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern Counties team has celebrated the completion of work for Great Yarmouth Borough Council to provide residents of the Middlegate housing estate with a new communal garden and outdoor play areas.  

 Across the estate a number of play areas were tired, and the pre-existing Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) had been identified by the local community as the source of anti-social behaviour. The former MUGA area now forms part of 2,500 sq. m of new green space to be enjoyed by the surrounding residents. In addition, three new play areas were replaced and enhanced with new seating and improved lighting.  

 Looking to celebrate its completion, residents along with the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Graham Plant, and local councillors including Councillor Flaxman-Taylor, Councillor Robinson-Payne, Councillor Wright and Councillor Jeal all attended the formal opening of the new areas, as well as, Chief Executive of Great Yarmouth Borough Council Sheila Oxtoby. 

 This was the third community-engagement event to take place throughout the project’s duration, with residents previously invited down to engage with the project in a fun and informal setting. As well as being educated on the importance of health and safety on building sites, the children also heard from the local police regarding anti-social behaviour. They also got involved in some of the painting works and enjoyed a number of free ice creams that were provided. The second event saw volunteers from Morgan Sindall, the contractors involved in the works, Council staff and councillors undertake painting of garden fences and shed doors as well as planting bulds, 

 Procured through the SCAPE Construction framework, Middlegate community gardens is the first project Morgan Sindall Construction has delivered in the Eastern Counties since being appointed to the national framework last year.   

 

Warren Salmons, Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern Counties Business Development Manager, said: “The whole of the Eastern Counties team is proud to have delivered its first project procured through SCAPE and, with a strong pipeline of activity, we look forward to delivering more in the future all across the region. 

 “This project’s main goal, like all others Morgan Sindall Construction complete, was to create genuine social value where it is most needed for the benefit of the local community. Through engaging with the local community, council and police we have not only fulfilled that goal in the finished work, but also throughout the whole project.”  

 

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, added: “Place as a route to stronger, healthier communities is vital. This consultative regeneration project has enabled a green space that will be of great value to residents in Great Yarmouth and provides an inclusive, outdoor environment to be enjoyed. SCAPE is pleased to have been able to accelerate the delivery of this project through our Construction Framework.” 

 

Emma Flaxman-Taylor, chair of the Housing and Neighbourhood committee at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “It’s great to have the new wheelchair accessible play ship installed as part of work to improve a number of play areas and create a new shared secure communal garden in the Middlegate Estate. I know all of our residents will really enjoy and appreciate the improvements to their area.” 

News, Property, Property News, South East England News

Housebuilder launches virtual 3D tool for customers to tour their new home

House-hunters in the North Hampshire and Surrey border can now take a virtual tour around their new home before it is built, thanks to advanced technology.

Vistry Group has partnered with award-winning visual technology company, Futurium, to digitally transform the customer homebuying journey at its Albany Park location in Church Crookham.

The homes are being marketed from local estate agents, Mackenzie Smith in Fleet, and customers will be able to view, explore and customise their new homes through interactive 3D visual solutions.

Vistry Group is building 300 new homes under the Linden Homes and Bovis Homes brands at Albany Park, off Watery Lane, with 180 properties for private sale and 120 affordable homes available for local people through rent or shared ownership.

The development will include a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes across the 82-acre site.

Melanie Richards, sales and marketing director for Vistry Southern, said: “The launch of innovative Futurium technology marks an exciting milestone for our Albany Park location, where construction work is well underway.

“With the help of our dedicated sales consultant, customers can now take a 3D walk-through of the properties and see them furnished and unfurnished. Just like in the real world where you can walk into a room and look it at from different angles, you can do the same with this technology.

“This will enable customers to have a more personalised homebuying journey, in which they will get to see for themselves their chosen colour scheme and specification, as well as fixtures and fittings. We’ve already been getting lots of great feedback and are looking forward to welcoming more customers through the doors of Mackenzie Smith.”

Stephen Tetlow, managing director of Mackenzie Smith, said: “Vistry is really ahead of the curve with this interactive 3D visual system, and it is certainly the most impressive piece of technology that I have come across in the 40 years that I’ve worked in the property industry.

“This is changing the way in which people go about buying their new homes, so it is our pleasure to host these facilities here at Mackenzie Smith.

“The level of detail on the platform is outstanding and it gives such a realistic image of what the properties will look like, with house-hunters getting to view the interiors from all different angles and even being able to open up drawers and kitchen units.”

Alongside the new homes at Albany Park, Vistry will be providing a new sports pavilion, sports pitches, Multi-Use Games Area and children’s play areas as well as open space as part of the planning agreement for the development. A 40-acre Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace featuring walking paths, boardwalks and a new public car park will also be provided.

For more information about the new homes at Albany Park, visit lindenhomes.co.uk and bovishomes.co.uk.

 

Image Caption: A computer-generated image shows the homes at Albany Park in Church Crookham which are to be built by Vistry Group

—

Vistry Group is uniquely positioned to lead the way in the UK housing market with a countercyclical business model featuring Vistry Housebuilding and Vistry Partnerships.

We have an unmatched portfolio of brands – including Bovis Homes and Linden Homes – with rich histories and strong reputations. We are proud of our 5-Star HBF customer satisfaction rating as we deliver on our purpose of developing sustainable homes and communities across all sectors of the UK housing market. Our key asset is our people – around 3,000 of them across the country – who are committed to doing the right thing and living our values of integrity, caring and quality, ensuring we put our customers and clients at the centre of everything we do. Vistry is delighted to have won ‘Large Housebuilder of the Year’ and ‘Housebuilder Star Award’ at the Housebuilder Awards 2021, run in partnership with the NHBC and HBF. For more information, visit www.vistrygroup.co.uk.

Commercial Property, News, South East England News

Bringing the quality of London workspaces to Richmond town centre

The Boutique Workplace Company signs 10-year lease on high-end office building in Richmond, one of the happiest places to live in the UK.  

  • Sovereign Gate offers Richmond occupiers a design-led, flexible workspace  
  • The Boutique Workplace Company provides spaces for SMEs and remote workers 
  • Flexible terms and transparent pricing – hybrid working solution 
  • c.25,000sqft of workspace including private offices, breakout areas, members lounge, phone booths and meeting rooms 

This autumn, The Boutique Workplace Company  is bringing the quality of London to Richmond town centre, having signed a lease on prominent five-storey office building – Sovereign Gate. Previously Richmond town centre police station, the Grade A refurbishment will offer stylish office space for companies to enjoy, with amenities including breakout areas, phone booths and meeting rooms all designed with the occupier at its core.   

 Ready for occupation in November 2022, Sovereign Gate will supply private office space on flexible terms to companies seeking office space to accommodate between 1-100+ employees. As with all boutique workplaces, it is a transparent all-inclusive package with access to business-grade Wi-Fi and no rental deposit is required. The workspace is DDA compliant, dog friendly, has lift access, showers and room to store bikes with secure bike racks.  With ESG and sustainability in mind, the workspace has been fitted out ensuring the basics are met such as sensor LED lighting and the building is certified with an EPC rating of A.  

 From a social and environment perspective, The Boutique Workplace Company continue to restore and repurpose existing properties instead of developing new properties, as well as ensuring that unlimited coffee is responsibly sourced and networking events are organised in Richmond to support the local community.  

Richmond regularly features in the hit lists for being one of the happiest places to live in the UK, and one of the best places for commuting, despite being outside zone one. 

 Daniel Wheble, Chief Executive Officer of The Boutique Workplace Company, commented: “Offices aren’t becoming less important to businesses, but the ways in which we use them are shifting. No longer a default work location for the 9 to 5, workplaces are now  hubs and spaces for collaboration in and outside of zone one. As part of that, the modern office needs to work with all facets of a person’s life factoring in the requirement for remote working and the ability to work closer to home some days of the week. We identified that Richmond was always a popular location for flexible workspace but there has never been a design-led workspace offering with full amenities where employees can feel inspired and have everything they need from the office”. 

 The building is centrally located less than two minutes’ walk from Richmond station on the corner of Kew Road and Church Road, and moments from Richmond’s famous range of shops and cafés. Fast train and tube links to connecting Richmond to central London within 20 minutes and Heathrow within half an hour together with the amenities of Richmond and its open spaces make Sovereign Gate a unique and engaging location for businesses.  

 Will Kinnear, Founder of HEWN, comments: “Sovereign Gate is a superb acquisition for The Boutique Workplace Company who have a growing portfolio across London and the South East. It will be the best quality of space in Richmond offering serviced office spaces and co-working solutions for local entrepreneurs and businesses. The flexible workspace market is booming, Boutique’s move to suburban regional markets demonstrates the growth of hybrid working over the last 3-4 years and the trend for high quality, in demand relevant workspaces will only continue to grow.” 

 Sovereign Gate will also be part of the Boutique Members Club which offers access to coworking lounges across 16 locations. Allowing remote workers to work from anywhere between the hours of 0900-1730 with access to high-speed Wi-Fi and unlimited coffee. 

The Boutique Workplace Company currently operates over 30 workplaces across London.

For further information please visit https://theboutiqueworkplace.co/  

Commercial Property, Commercial Property News, Finance and Banking, News, South East, South East England News

Waste Management Firm Acquires New HQ with Support from HSBC UK

Sussex-based waste management business Sweeptech Environmental Services has acquired a new site after securing a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK.

The funding from HSBC UK has enabled the Environmental Leadership award winning business to acquire a three-acre site in Hickstead, which will be home to Sweeptech Environmental Services’ head office and create its third vehicle depot in the South of England with additional maintenance facilities.

The acquisition of the new premises will allow the company to increase its waste recycling capability at its existing recycling centres in Henfield and Southampton, which will enable Sweeptech Environmental Services to better support its long-term exclusive waste management contracts with National Highways and Gatwick Airport in the Southeast.

As a result of the HSBC UK supported expansion, Sweeptech Environmental Services is anticipating the creation of more than 80 jobs across a range of roles, including Operations Management, Sales, Marketing, Technicians, HGV drivers and Operatives.

 

Martin Smith, CEO at Sweeptech Environmental Services, said: “Over the last 20 years, we’ve worked incredibly hard to introduce sustainable innovation across the breadth of our diverse waste management services, for which we have received national award recognition. We’re delighted to be opening our new headquarters so we can continue with our mission of expanding and diversifying our waste management services across the country for the benefit of our clients and the environment.

“Having banked with HSBC UK for over ten years, the support has been invaluable in allowing us to grow in the UK. We very much feel we are working in partnership with HSBC UK, who have worked hard to understand our business and its challenges, and we look forward to continuing working with the bank long into the future.”

 

Nick Ades, Business Banking Relationship Manager at HSBC UK, said: “Sustainable waste management is key to protecting our planet from harmful pollutants. We’re proud to be supporting Sweeptech with the purchase of its new site, which will allow the company to continue its commitment to delivering environmental and sustainable improvement within waste management.”

 

Established in 1998, Sweeptech Environmental Services provides cleaning and recycling services for a range of sectors, including transport, utilities, construction and local government. The company operates a 100% landfill avoidance policy and circular environment economy initiative to recycle waste and reduce carbon emissions.

 

Housing, News, South East, South East England News

Queen Mary University of London launches new guarantor service in association with Housing Hand

UK rental guarantor service Housing Hand and Queen Mary University of London have announced the launch of a new partnership: the Queen Mary Guarantor Service in association with Housing Hand. The partnership will provide students with a preferential rate for Housing Hand’s rental guarantor service. It is open to all Queen Mary students, irrespective of year of study and with no caps or limitations in place.

The Housing Hand guarantor service makes it easier for students who don’t have a UK guarantor to access accommodation in the private rented sector. Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) figures show that this type of accommodation was students’ preferred option in 2020/21, with 27% of students opting for privately rented homes – more than lived in any other property type.

“We know that many of our students want to rent privately as part of their experience of attending Queen Mary University of London. Yet securing private rented accommodation when you have no credit history and no UK-based rental guarantor can be a tough ask. As such, we are delighted to be working with Housing Hand to offer each and every one of our students an easier solution to accessing the private rented sector.”

John Iveson, Assistant Director Estates and Facilities (Commercial Services), Queen Mary University of London

Housing Hand’s guarantor service means that students don’t have to pay rent up-front when moving into a rental property. The company guarantees the student’s rent for the whole of their tenancy, delivering a landlord-friendly proposition as well as a student-friendly one.

The Queen Mary Guarantor Service will significantly reduce the rental barriers that some students face when they are unable to provide a qualifying guarantor. This can be an issue for both domestic and international students. Queen Mary’s students are drawn from over 170 nationalities, and approximately 41 per cent are from overseas.

The newly launched guarantor service is not the first time that Housing Hand and Queen Mary University of London have worked together. The university has been referring students to Housing Hand for a number of years. That process was itself an evolution of the original Queen Mary guarantor service, which was an in-house provision capped at 50 students and with capped rental amounts.

“We are very pleased to be supporting Queen Mary University of London as it expands the provision of a discounted rental guarantor service to all students. This will make it easier for many of the university’s students to find and secure suitable homes in London as the autumn term approaches.”

James Maguire, Head of Sales and Business Development, Housing Hand

Young people studying in London already face plenty of barriers to renting. Deutsche Bank data shows that London is the sixth most expensive city in the world in which to rent a two-bedroom apartment. With the cost of everything from food to energy spiralling upward at present, those seeking accommodation in time for the start of the 2022/23 academic year can at least cut out the need to stump up a vast amount of rent upfront, thanks to the new Queen Mary Guarantor Service in association with Housing Hand.

 

 

Business Advice, News, South East England News

Launch of Optimal Decisions, the new decision-making optimisation and business transformation consultancy

To support better decision-making for global organisations and executives

Optimal Decisions, a new business transformation consultancy that enables business leaders to optimise their individual and team decision-making, has opened its doors for business.

The firm, headquartered in London, UK, has appointed change management expert and business transformation consultant Giorgia Prestento as CEO, and is focused on helping global organisations and teams apply the principles of good design to all their business decisions.

The service optimises business decision-making and addresses slow decisions, reluctance to make decisions, lack of consistency, endless meetings with no clear purpose and dysfunctional team behaviours.

 

Giorgia Prestento, CEO, Optimal Decisions, said: ”There is a mystique around decision-making that needs dispelling. We take decision-making for granted, and we need to bring laser focus to this activity essential to the success of all organisations. It requires preparation and rigour, but often business decisions can dangerously ‘happen’ without objective scrutiny or an effective process.”

 

Giorgia, who has advised organisations including Vodafone, Shell and Pearson manage successful business transformation programmes, wants more widespread application of real science behind decision-making, rooted in understanding human behaviour.

Such an approach minimises the danger of subconscious biases and unexamined heuristics driving most of our decisions. Optimal Decisions helps clients set up effective processes to structure decisions, speed up meetings, and develop an inclusive working environment that optimises decision-making, improves delivery and performance and reduces potential business risks.

The firm’s unique decision-making model combines both academic and business perspectives, and is based on two foundations–Process and Group Dynamics–and accepts that we cannot control the outcome of a decision, as there are many external influences at play. Instead it encourages executive leaders to bring more structure to their decision-making process and to manage more effectively the dynamics of the teams making decisions.

 

Giorgia continues: ”In these uncertain times, so much can and does change that you just can’t control the outcome of any decision. As the economic, market or regulatory situation fluctuates, things rarely turn out as you were expecting. The good news is that you can introduce effective processes that will help you and your teams make as good a decision as possible—it will also enable you to correct a decision in-flight as reality intervenes to still ‘land’ you where you need to be.”

 

Optimal Decisions Services:

The business offers a portfolio of services including consulting, facilitation, training and coaching at both group and individual level to help medium and large global organisations reduce cost and time-wasting around decision-making.

 

Consulting Services

We advise business leaders on how to optimise decision-making. The aim of the service is to create a more effective and ‘creative’ approach for board-level decisions, and consistency for “repetitive” decisions at operational level. The services can include activities to improve: the process, governance and decision presentation. The benefits are faster decisions, transparency and ownership. It will bring cost savings and increase productivity. Solutions are customised to the organisation’s unique culture and bring long-term benefits with a new approach to decision-making.

 

Facilitation Services

We facilitate decision discussions so that the group focuses on what’s most important: decision-making. The dynamics of a group can have a negative impact on the final decision because of biases, polarisation, discouraging alternative perspectives and much more. The benefits are faster and more accurate decisions and equip the decision-maker with the best inputs and information. It also contributes to creating a high performance team and more effective working environment.

 

Training Services

We train people in decision-making, so they are better prepared to deal with uncertainty, biases and complex group dynamics. There are two standard courses and a customised option, which adapts to an organisation’s unique needs. The benefits are building knowledge and capability in the organisation, developing resilience and tools that can be applied to any business situation. It adds to the skills toolkit of leaders and managers to become more effective in their roles.

 

Coaching Services

We provide 1:1 coaching for leaders who want to learn about decision-making and how to optimise this essential leadership skill. It is an opportunity to explore your approach to decision-making, and become more aware of your own style and preferences. The benefit is developing an essential skill, making you a more effective leader as well as to instigate improved decision capabilities in your team. It also allows you to discuss complex situations in a confidential environment.

 

The first wave of Optimal Decisions clients is already benefitting from these tools and techniques based on the latest thinking around Process and Group Dynamics. Using these tools will more reliably enable decisions which are rapid, structured, and confidence-inspiring, and less likely to lead to wasted time and resource.

 

About Optimal Decisions

Optimal Decisions, is a UK-based decision-making advisory and business transformation consultancy working with senior executives and organisations at international level and across sectors. Its services include consulting services, as well as training, facilitation and coaching solutions. These services can benefit business executives who want to optimise decision-making within their business and develop an inclusive working environment. The services will help executives concerned that their team tends to rush decisions or guess at best outcomes, rather than adopt a more structured decision approach. Its IP is based on the very latest research into decision science, business change and group behavioural dynamics. This is coupled with years of frontline experience in ensuring companies achieve their desired outcomes in their business transformations. It was founded and is led by highly experienced behavioural change expert Giorgia Prestento, who has worked at major corporations like BT and Nat West, and who has been an advisor to several multinational organisations for over 20 years.

News, South East England News, Technology

Norwich-based Legal Technology Specialists Raffle Extra Day Off Work For Charity

Norwich-based Legal Technology specialists Tiger Eye are finding new ways to raise vital funds for the local community. The IT firm, based at The Henderson Business Centre, offered staff a chance to win an extra day’s holiday by purchasing tickets for a charity raffle draw. To add to the raffle’s appeal, the holiday up for grabs was the 21st of June (the Summer Solstice) which is the longest day of the year. The raffle raised over £100, with all proceeds donated to Norfolk and Waveney Mind, Tiger Eye’s charity of the year.

Alex Wilson, a Technical Analyst from Tiger Eye’s Project Delivery Team, won the raffle and plans to spend the day off in Norwich. Alex added: “I plan to spend my extra day of holiday with an old colleague and Liam from my team. We’ll be shunning the lovely sunshine by attempting to escape a virtual reality escape room, eating burgers or sushi, and venturing to Retro Replay arcade in Castle Quarter.”

This unique fundraising event features as part of Tiger Eye’s overall fundraising scheme for the year, with other events including tea and scones for the Jubilee and various other office activities. In January, Tiger Eye were pleased to announce Norfolk and Waveney Mind as their charity of the year for 2022 following a company-wide selection process.

Julie Wilson, Admin Services Director at Tiger Eye, added: “It has been a pleasure to find new and unique ways to fundraise for Norfolk and Waveney Mind, and we are delighted to make an impact in our community. As a business, we aim to create an environment where staff feel able to talk openly about mental health, and we highly value the crucial work of Norfolk and Waveney Mind in our area.”

Norfolk and Waveney Mind support those within the community with their mental health and wellbeing from prevention support to crisis support. The charity offers an extensive range of mental health services, along with associated training, advice, and information, working to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, support people in recovery, and champion better services for all. Whilst part of the Mind network, Norfolk and Waveney Mind are an independent charity who raise their own funds.