Tag Archives: Covid-19

News

Three Rivers District Council seeks to boost economy with new business mentoring programme

An ambitious new mentoring scheme designed to help businesses bounce back from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and boost the local economy is being launched across Three Rivers district.

Under the Mentoring for Growth programme Three Rivers District Council is offering specialist one-to-one mentoring to local small and medium-sized enterprises and start-up businesses. The three-month scheme is designed to help local businesses overcome the effects of multiple lockdowns and restrictions and into growth.

The council is working in partnership with business support specialists Smarter Society – which has previously worked with organisations including John Lewis and the NHS – to provide the new mentoring programme. 

Cllr Sarah Nelmes, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said: “We are lucky to have vibrant and diverse business communities across Three Rivers, but like the rest of the country our local economy has been hit by the pandemic. The Mentoring for Growth programme will give businesses innovative, specialist and practical support at this crucial time.

 “Over recent weeks we have been unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at listening to and supporting those businesses. We will continue to do that, and all we can, to ensure our local economy can go from strength to strength.”

The programme will include a business mentoring programme for up to 40 local businesses – tailored to the needs of each of them. 

Mentoring for Growth will be open to every business within Three Rivers offering one-to-one mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs. The programme will initially have 40 places which are expected to be taken quickly so businesses should register immediately. Further places may be released subsequently subject to available funding.

Geoff Baxter, from Smarter Society, said: “We know that one-to-one mentoring is the most requested business support service from local authorities – and can also be the most useful, so we’re glad to support the programme with experienced mentors that have run their own businesses and can provide practical guidance and help, all totally free of charge.”

Chairman and Director Shirish Chauhan said: “This excellent scheme has the potential to make a significant difference to many local businesses. Many businesses have been through a challenging time recently and getting an expert, external perspective through a mentorship programme can be key to helping entrepreneurs run their business more effectively and to gain more customers.

I am delighted that local businesses in Three Rivers will now have an opportunity to apply for and benefit from this valuable mentoring scheme. ”

 For further information or to sign up to the programme visit: https://smartersociety.org/programmes/three-rivers-mentoring/

News

Military-assist to alleviate fuel shortage, supply chain crisis

Written by Kunal Sawhney, Kalkine Media

The country-wide shortage of fuel following the unavailability of hauliers and HGV drivers have worsened the supply chain crisis, provoking the authorities to take precautionary measures that can help in overcoming the supply chain hurdles. Starting Monday, 4 October, military tanker drivers have been deployed to resurrect the supply chain difficulties that can transport the desired quantity of petrol and diesel at the refueling stations across the country.

As much as 200 military personnel have been assigned for the aforementioned tasks. About half of them have already started deliveries after receiving the driver training from Hoyer UK, the fuel delivery partner of BP. The temporary support from the military comes at a crucial time when the enterprises are not able to operate on a full scale due to issues pertaining limitedness of stock, transport delays due to unavailability of drivers with the logistics partners.

With the Christmas holiday season round the corner, preceded by the Thanksgiving sales and Black Friday deals, the businesses, acting as the services providers, are exploring multiple ways through which they can operate with their full strength, while the retailers are looking to function with fully-stocked shelves.

The proper functioning of businesses becomes even more important, at a time when consumers are more willing to spend on essential, as well as non-essential goods with the reopening of hospitality venues including the fan-packed stadiums hosting the Premier League games and the group stage fixtures of Champions League.

The government of the United Kingdom has been taking additional measures to stabilize the supply chain hurdles as we approach the year-ender holidays and the Christmas festival cheer. The industry leaders have been working with the government to make the HGV sector more attractive, improving the operative condition for hauliers, as well as HGV drivers.

The government, alongside the oil retailers have somehow managed to stabilize the demand for fuel through the last week and are working to make sure that more fuel is delivered to the refueling stations than is being sold. The malfunctioned supply chain is one of the many unanticipated repercussions of the weeks-long exercise of pings sent through the mobile application of the National Health Service (NHS) to ensure that people in proximity of infected individuals should follow a mandatory self-isolation.

Following the millions of pings by the NHS, it led to a crisis apparently called ‘pingdemic’, subsequent to which, the businesses operating across the country, as well as having a considerable presence in adjacent nations started encountering delays in supplies, unavailability of staff, lack of proper workforce at the hospitality venues, dearth of chefs at the restaurants.

The government has been addressing the concerns of various industries that are deeply affected through the staff shortages as businesses can’t operate at the desired scales without adequate support staff and people designated to specific tasks. The government is taking various measures to ease the supply chain pressures in food haulage industries, alongside reviving the lost control at the refueling stations.

Due to exceptional circumstances, the Home Office has allowed many fuel haulage drivers to work in the UK with immediate effect, a measure that is intended to disengage the supply chain concerns before the commencement of the holiday season. On these lines, the government has introduced a bespoke scheme that will allow up to 300 fuel tanker drivers to work in the UK on a temporary basis.

This seems like a situation where nobody wants to ruin the business during the Christmas season, alongside the difficulties faced by the consumers when there are no pandemic-related restrictions but they are immovable due to unavailability of fuel. The hauliers have been advised to find licensed drivers and submit the applications to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The department will remain responsible for endorsing the applicants with requisite license and a time-bound contract to work as a fuel driver.

All of these are limited-time measures that are planned in a bid to diminish the operative hurdles in the business ecosystem as the nation progresses on the path of economic recovery, bouncing back from the extended downturn led by the widespread aftermath of Covid-19. With the help of these measures, 300 fuel drivers will be able to arrive in the UK immediately, following the necessary immigration checks and BEIS endorsement with the permissible limit to work until March 2022.

As businesses have already begun the preparations for Christmas festivities, as much as 5,500 poultry workers will arrive by the end of this month up until the end of the present calendar year to augment the essential supplies and extra requirements during holidays. On the other hand, nearly 4,700 food haulage drivers will arrive in the second half of this month. These drivers will have the work permit up until 28 February 2022.

All the additional workforce that is being deployed for various tasks across multiple jurisdictions in the UK will remain on a time-limited visa with a primary objective to supplement the ailing supply chain functions. Wholesome reforms are required to manage the sectors that are functionally dependent on the supply chain systems as issuing temporary visas is not a long-term solution.

The government has been working to find viable and long-term solutions for the shortage of HGV drivers, upskilling more people to enter the logistics industry, while making the sector attractive for fresh talents with better perks and remuneration.

News, Research

Government COVID Response did not effectively support UK migrants, new study suggests

The Government’s response to curbing the spread of Covid-19 did not do enough to support the challenges or needs of migrants living in the UK, new research suggests.

The study, conducted by Professor Benedetta Cappellini at Durham University Business School, alongside colleagues Dorothy Ai-wan Yen on of Brunel Business School, Hsiao-Pei Yang of Coventry University and Suraksha Gupta of Newcastle University London, sought to better understand why migrants living in the UK experienced additional mental strains and anxieties during Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown measures imposed by the Government, in order to help facilitate justice for overlooked parts of society.

Professor Cappellini said;

“The Government employed a variety of interventions to minimise the transmission and impact of Covid-19. These included communication campaigns through media, healthcare support, social distancing, national and regional lockdowns, and financial support schemes for businesses. Nevertheless, Covid-19 does not affect all groups of people equally. Our study shows that migrants struggle to cope more than non-migrants during global pandemics because of cultural barriers, reduced access to healthcare and welfare support, and limited social and often economic capital.”

Globally, the researchers say, policymakers have overlooked the challenges faced by international migrants in their host countries during the pandemic. However, the UK in particular received controversial global reviews and scrutiny due to the Government’s initial pandemic response and high death toll.

The researchers conducted 60 interviews with Chinese, Italian and Iranian migrants living in the UK. These nationalities were specifically chosen due to the high number of deaths within their countries at the time the study took place, and because of the stricter prevention measures enforced within their own borders, at a time before such restrictions came into place in the UK.

The interviewees were asked general questions about their personal backgrounds, professions and their motivations to move to the UK, as well as more exploratory questions designed to gauge their understanding of the lockdown and government measures both in their home countries and in the UK. Researchers also asked interviewees about their daily experiences of mandatory confinement and their different coping practices.

The results showed that, similarly to UK nationals, migrants adapted their living and working habits during the lockdown to best comply with government guidance and to stay safe. However, the research shows that, in the early stages of the pandemic, many migrants experienced unexpected and significant new worries if they adopted additional health and safety practices in line with the guidance distributed by their home countries that had not yet been advised or adopted by UK Government.

For example, interviewees expressed mask wearing to be a common source of worry in the early months of the pandemic. Migrants whose home countries were advocating mask use were eager to protect themselves from infection but remained wary of a negative or hostile public response.

Professor Cappellini says,

“At the time of the fieldwork, the UK Government was still advising against the benefits of wearing face masks to the general public, but participants offered counterarguments in favour of mask use, citing sources from their home countries, including newspaper articles and information received through networks of friends and family. Some were also actively involved in convincing sceptical British colleagues and friends via social media of the benefits of mask wearing. Nevertheless, many participants said they were at times reluctant to wear a mask so as not to seem different from UK friends and colleagues.”

According to the researchers, the unexpected and negative reactions migrant interviewees had received from those around them triggered additional emotional stress and anxieties. As a result, migrants were faced with adopting “multi-layered integrated coping strategies”, developing individual, household-based and community-based protective strategies, in order to stay safe and not provoke additional anxieties.

Families which encompassed mixed nationalities were placed under further strain when migrants’ families overseas implored their UK-based relatives to adopt more cautious behaviour such as mask wearing and social distancing, particularly when British members of the family chose not to do so.

Other concerns highlighted by the study was the limited effectiveness of Government messaging to penetrate some migrant communities where English was not a first language and, consequently, communities did not engage with British media or news and were unable to both fully follow lockdown rules or use support services.

Professor Cappellini says,

“Our paper illustrates how coping became paradoxical, because alongside the need to cope with the pandemic, migrants also had to cope with the hostile reactions that their initial coping strategies provoked from those around them. Migrants had to learn to cope with coping.”

By highlighting this concept, the researchers believe their study leads to several managerial implications for governments and policymakers to consider in the event of future pandemics or Covid-19 lockdowns, to best ensure public health, safety and wellbeing are protected. Action should be taken, they say, to support migrant families and communities and to promote societal understanding and inclusion.

News

Inspired Ali gets on her bike and bucks national trend with lockdown weight loss

THE Coronavirus pandemic inspired Ali Yates to get on her bike and keep fit in lockdown.

With new figures revealing a third of people in North Wales have put on weight since the onset of Covid-19 – with the average gain being 6.1kg or nearly a stone – the 45 year-old has bucked the trend.

An Operations and Programme Manager for Sport Wales, based at Plas Menai Watersports Centre, Caernarfon, Ali decided the time was right to try and shed a few pounds and encouraged others to focus on their health and wellbeing given the challenges of the last 18 months.

“I realised lockdown could go one way or the other. I could either eat too much, drink too much and put on a stone. Or I could use the time as a good opportunity to get fitter and lose a stone,” she said.

An outdoor instructor for more than 20 years, Ali had struggled with her weight going into lockdown in 2020 and her new desk-based role limited time previously spent being active.

She decided, together with a group of friends who attend Slimming World in Bethesda, to take on the challenge of walking, cycling or running the equivalent distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats – a staggering 1,083 miles.

The group have also braved the Menai Straits on stand-up paddleboards, supported by the team at Plas Menai, took part in Aquadance sessions and began cycling regularly, all of which helped achieve her goal.

A report by YouGov in support of the Welsh Government’s Help Us, Help You campaign revealed more than 50% of responders in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) region are eating less healthily than they were pre-pandemic.

And around 36% had partaken in fewer sports and fitness sessions despite admitting they had more time on their hands in lockdown.

Medical chiefs are urging people to access the vast range of resources and support available to them in a bid to reverse the trend and combat potential serious illness and conditions such as obesity and heart problems.

In addition to the NHS 111 Wales website there is information and guidance available on the Healthy Weight Cymru social media channels.

Beca Lyne-Pirkis, Health Weight Cymru Ambassador, urged anyone concerned about a decline in their wellbeing in past months to make simple alterations to their lifestyle, adding: “It’s not always easy to exercise regularly and eat healthily, and many have found recent lockdowns especially tricky.

“But even small changes can make a big difference to your health and make you feel better too.

“There is lots of information and advice on how to take more exercise, eat better and improve your wellbeing on the NHS 111 Wales Living Well website, so take a look.”

For more information and advice, visit www.111.wales.nhs.uk/LiveWell.

Visit www.bcuhb.nhs.wales for the latest news and information from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Please use the hashtags #HelpuNiHelpuChi and #HelpUsHelpYou to support the Help Us, Help You campaign.

 

News

Heart patients monitored at home via mobile phone as part of health pilot

CARDIAC patients in North Wales are trialling innovative new technology that allows clinicians to monitor their health and recovery via mobile phone.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has teamed-up with healthtech company Huma to assess whether people with heart problems can be supported in their homes using an app that reports on their condition.

The pilot programme has been funded by Welsh Government, and Huma’s revolutionary application means any changes in the patient’s health or response to medication could be identified sooner.

The technology allows people to record their symptoms and vital signs, such as weight and blood pressure, which will be reviewed by the clinician and fed-back to the patient to record progress and any concerns.

The technology also allows patients to have consultations by video, which can help avoid unnecessary visits to clinics or hospitals.

The Welsh Government’s Help Us, Help You campaign is encouraging people to use a range of different services to alleviate pressure on the NHS; they believe this cutting-edge solution is one way of doing that, particularly in lowering waiting times.

Viki Jenkins, Heart Failure Advanced Nurse Practitioner for BCUHB, said “We want to build on the advances made in digital technology since the beginning of the pandemic, and this is an extension of that, but we need to understand how easy or difficult it is for people to use the application, which is what this pilot is all about.

“This is a great opportunity to explore what health services are going to look like in the future – COVID-19 has shown us we have to embrace innovation like this.”

As part of the trial, patients will receive equipment to take readings, including a blood pressure cuff, weighing scales and a pulse oximeter.

Cardiology specialists will be able to remotely monitor each patient’s symptoms, progress and conduct video consultations to address any concerns. If needed, hospital visits can be arranged for further treatment and consultation.

As trends continue to change nationally due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Helen Northmore, Head of Digital and AI (Artificial Intelligence) at Life Sciences Hub Wales, said the Huma app is an example of how technology will play an even bigger role in patient care going forward.

“The traditional pathway is for cardiac patients to regularly attend a hospital appointment and have these readings taken,” she said.

“This application will free up clinicians’ time so they can be there for patients who need them more urgently, and it also saves the patient from having to travel and wait at the hospital to be seen.”

The pilot is one of five projects to be awarded funding as part of the £150,000 Digital Solutions Fund, looking at new and revolutionary ways to use technology in the fight against Coronavirus and beyond.

Dr Jonathan Gledhill, Head of Healthcare at Huma, said: “We are pleased we can make it easier for patients to get the care they need and spot any deterioration in their health, whilst saving significant time for clinicians so they can focus care where it is most needed.

“Our technology already helps patients on surgery waiting lists, people with acute illness like COVID-19 and chronic diseases such as diabetes.

“Our published research shows we can make a big difference and it’s exciting to test yet another way that we might be able to help patients.”

For more information, visit www.huma.com.

Visit www.bcuhb.nhs.wales for the latest news and information from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Please use the hashtags #HelpuNiHelpuChi and #HelpUsHelpYou to support the Help Us, Help You campaign.

News

Cleaning Concerns: Over half of British workers would happily never go back to their office

More than half of British workers would be happy to never return to the office due to fears of germs, a lack of social distancing and being in a room with lots of other people.

A study of 1,000 employees who are currently working from home, carried out via OnePoll for ICE Cleaning, the UK’s cleaning experts, found two thirds would also feel uncomfortable about going back into their workplace full time.

Worries include lack of personal space (39 per cent), colleagues not using hand sanitizer or soap (27 per cent) and not enough communal cleaning (27 per cent).

Zac Hemming, Founding Director for ICE Cleaning, which commissioned the study, said: “There is clearly some fear around going back to the office after settling into working from home during this past year.

“Hygiene is going to be at the front of people’s minds more than ever and seemingly normal things from ‘previous’ life, such as making tea rounds, sharing desks and using communal toilets might feel daunting.

“It’s important both employees and employers feel supported in making the journey back to the office as smooth as possible. Cleaning is going to become much more of a priority for workplaces.”

Nearly six in 10 (56 per cent) feel anxious at the thought of being back in the office and 46 per cent are apprehensive, while 24 per cent are even feeling stressed.

The study also found that to combat their anxieties, new habits workers vow to take on include carrying hand sanitiser (47 per cent), wearing a mask (45 per cent) and cleaning their own desk daily (41 per cent).

They would also like their employer to implement sanitising pumps around the building (56 per cent) and have a daily cleaning regime for communal areas (51 per cent). Half of those polled also want social distancing between desks (50 per cent), with four out of 10 also wanting a monthly decontamination deep clean as part of their office cleaning regime.

It also emerged seven in 10 would only feel comfortable returning to work if strict cleanliness rules were in place, with a quarter (25 per cent) wanting their offices professionally cleaned daily to feel safe. And upon reflection, 45 per cent do not think their office was clean enough prior to the pandemic.

In an ideal world, employees would only be based in the office on two days out of the five-day working week, with 70 per cent only wanting themselves and their colleagues to return to work once they have been vaccinated.

Zac Hemming added: “After a year of working from home and adjusting to a new routine, it’s normal that people will have worries about returning to work.

“What’s important is giving employees the reassurance and peace of mind that this is being taken seriously, easing any concerns that people might have whilst also creating a positive, clean and safe workplace.”

News

Government sets out a new round of funding as it eyes innovation across the UK

The monetary support from the government to back the under-aided projects and initiatives has been significant over the years. The new rounds of funding announced for industries and businesses become more vital, especially at a time when most of the enterprises are battling to re-establish themselves, overcoming the Covid-led troubles and the unforeseen disruption caused due to national lockdowns and restrictive operating environment.

Building back green in a more innovative manner has been one of the main agendas of the UK government as the Downing Street administration moves ahead cautiously with the planned easements across the country. After periodic review of the Covid-19 activity and the status of the ongoing vaccination programme at distinctive intervals, the government has allowed reopening in three stages so far.

The businesses and regional enterprises, not allowed to operate during the national lockdowns and the erstwhile tier system, have been given the go-ahead as per the phased reopening plan. Given the present status of immunisation in the United Kingdom, the government has arrived at a position to offer a series of relaxations for the hospitality venues, international holidays, and people visiting large gatherings, including the football stadiums.

Alongside all these, the respective departments have been periodically assigning definite monetary resources that can be utilised for the greater good of the industries, paving the way for more and more innovative products. Very recently, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy launched a second round of funding in order to bolster the innovation across various parts of the UK.

The monetary aid, Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, has been designed to support the initiatives that have been instituted to keep the UK ahead of its peers in areas of experimentation and regulatory thinking. Under the second round of funding, a monetary allocation to the tune of £3 million has been set aside to support the innovative projects, effectively catalysing the innovation by resonating with the forthcoming technological advancements in the near future.

The fund has been desperately configured to help the under-supported initiatives to develop new innovative products and services for domestic as well as international usage. The fund is likely to ensure that all out-of-the-box thinkers, innovators and disruptors don’t feel the pain of conventional and old regulations.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy backed funding will remain open for application from 20 May to 15 July 2021. All the individuals or group of innovators who are willing to participate in the competition can apply for a monetary grant of up to £200,000.

The projects and the prospective ideas must be innovative in nature, depicting an adequate approach to learning, experimentation and research under the regulatory framework.

The duration of the project must last for at least six months, and all the operations should finish by the end of 31 March 2022. After the completion of the application, the applicants who have been allotted monetary aid by the awarding panel will be notified by August 2021. The government has expanded the umbrella of funding, including the local authorities, for the first time, following which the regulatory innovations can be tested at national as well as local jurisdictional levels.

The funding has been a prompt attempt to provide the businesses with innovative ideas as enterprises face several unnecessary obstacles while they come up with new disruptive technologies due to the old-fashioned regulatory approach. These monetary aids ultimately support the government’s wider approach to updating the regulatory environment.

Under the competitions, the local authorities, as well as the small-scale developers, will be able to test and pilot some of the ambitious projects that will constructively benefit the innovators.

Earlier, in the first round of funding, a sum totalling £700,000 was allocated to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to help develop synthetic datasets that can support the development of pioneering medical tools and technologies. The datasets were further utilised to deduce innovative apparatus to bolster the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and cardiovascular diseases.

By Kunal Sawhney, CEO, Kalkine Group

News

Assisting in the Fight Against Covid-19 through Healthcare Technology (HealthTECH)

Local HealthTECH solutions provider, Alias Innovation Sdn Bhd, part of the EI Content Group, has launched its Electronic Medical Reporting solution or ‘EMR’ to cater to both public and private Clinics and Hospitals, offering a much needed technology system that can help in the monitoring and management of Covid -19 Vaccines, Covid -19 Testing as well as regular Patient Care and Prescription of medication and medical procedures.

Provided as a Stand Alone solution or as part of its Clinic and Hospital Information System, the company’s solution, called, ‘Medikal’ is positioned to assist the Nation in the fight against the Pandemic.

Medikal EMR, is available both as a lite based Cloud version and a heavier Enterprise version, and is poised to Digitally Transform the country’s Healthcare eco-system with an easy to use but Globally compliant software solution, developed by an award winning Malaysian company.

Doctors and Medical practitioners across the country can capitalise on Medikal EMR to help create Lifetime Health Records for patients in a digital and secure manner. The system is also compatible to be used with existing Government solutions and Alias Innovation is opening up its ‘API’ or application protocol interface to Government agencies to ensure integration is smooth and seamless.

According to Ministry of Health data, more than 80% of Government Hospitals do not have a Hospital Information System while more than 90% of Government Clinics do not have a Clinic Information system.

In the face of the ongoing Pandemic, an effective and a holistic digital healthcare solution is very much required, to keep track of patients, tests, procedures, diagnosis, medication among other analysis which is pertinent in optimal healthcare resource utilisation.

Alias Innovation is founded by Gerard Pillai, and recently was accorded a Special Mention Award in the Rising Star category under the Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA). It was also a winner in the Healthcare Software category for the Malaysian Technology Excellence Awards. It is also in the running for a few International awards.

The company has carved a track record in implementing its Medikal solutions across the country from Clinics and Hospitals in the Northern state of Perak to East Malaysia. It has also deployed Telemedicine apps in Maldives during the initial Movement Control Order period in 2020.

Through its Medikal Lend A Hand (LAH) platform and initiative, Alias Innovation has also trained and reskilled youth to become part of the Healthcare Technology sector, employed these youth, creating employment opportunities and improving lives along the way.

The company is currently in discussions with Government agencies on its Medikal EMR and according to Gerard Pillai, Alias Innovation’s Chief Strategy Evangelist and CEO, ‘there are many opportunities in the roadmap of Digital Healthcare Transformation and together, we can fight the pandemic with an effective Healthcare technology to compliment existing infra and systems’.

http://www.alias-innovation.com

http://www.icontent.my

 

News

James McGoldrick discusses the personal benefits of office working

As more and more Britons receive vaccinations and lockdown restrictions continue to ease, employers and employees alike are grappling with the decision to return to the office, or to continue to encourage staff to work from home.

As the managing director of online gift retailers Bradfords Bakers, Send Them Balloons, and Send Them Cupcakes, James McGoldrick has always been able to keep his staff onsite as it is vital to remain operational. He has happily kept all his staff present onsite, and has taken hygiene precautions to keep all his staff safe from COVID-19.

He recognises the benefits office working has on his staff, especially during the pandemic. Here, James discusses the advantages of office working for his employees.

  1. A chance to be social

“At the height of the pandemic, it was really difficult to see friends and family we don’t live with as everyone was isolating, and social environments like cafes were closed. It was a really lonely time for a lot of people, so any excuse for a chat and social interaction with someone outside of the household became very valuable.

“It’s easy to get frustrated with the people you spend all your time with, so a break and a chance to discuss different things with different people is important.

“Going to a safe workplace is an excellent opportunity to do just that. While not everyone enjoys going to work, going to see a friend can be really beneficial on the psyche.”

  1. An excuse to exercise

“People have put in so much effort into working out at home or taking up jogging while gyms have been closed, but when you’ve got limited space, or neighbours to worry about hearing you, or distractions, exercising at home can actually be very difficult to get stuck into.

“When working at home, a lot of people end up remaining in an office chair, or a couch, or bed, for a full day. Although your staying at home, working in your own house can still be mentally tiring, and not everyone will have the energy to be active after a shift.

“The commute is a good chance to exercise, even if it’s just a walk to the bus stop. Then being at the office and walking around doing things keeps you moving and on your feet. You still may not have the energy to do a workout after work, but it’s still a positive thing, having a reason to move about.”

  1. Change of scenery

“Staring at the same four walls of our home’s day in, day out, can be draining. The days can become monotonous and plain boring when working from home, especially as the boundary between the place where you rest and the place where you work becomes blurred, and it’s difficult to turn off and settle into your free time after your shift.

“Your workplace may not be extremely exciting to behold, but it can still be a breath of fresh air to spend some time somewhere different. And again, the commute serves a positive purpose here as you drive, travel, cycle, or walk, you may encounter different people and scenes that can be unique and exciting.”

 

“Of course, the decision of whether to come back to the office or remain working from home should be a collaborative one made by the employee and employer both. If a workplace cannot be considered safe while COVID-19 is still a threat, then staff should absolutely remain working from home. But as the world reopens we should pay attention to the wants and needs of our employees, and come to the decision that is best for them.”

News

How the Fintech Sector in The UK Is Grappling with New Challenges?

The UK is one of the leading global hubs for the fintech sector, reinforced by its access to an international talent pool, solid investment, and growth, thus leading to a thriving ecosystem. UK-based fintech companies raised about US$ 4.1 billion in funding in 2020 and were one of the prominent sub-sectors driving growth in the broader financial sector in the UK.

The traditional financial sector in the UK is currently facing a dual pressure of tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit. In addition to these headwinds, traditional legacy banks and financial institutions have also been grappling with rising operating costs, changing customer behavior, regulatory challenges, and new technology.

Future of fintech

Despite the challenges faced by the broader economy due to the onset of the pandemic and Brexit, the use of innovation and technology helped startups in the fintech sector weather the storm.

And for the sector to continue to be a key driver of growth for the UK economy, it should focus on innovation in RegTech, which can target the ever-changing and evolving regulatory landscape and identifying new business models such as partnerships for developing the ecosystem further.

RegTech

As new players join the financial sector and provide users with greater access to banking services, there has been a rising need for financial services companies to tackle a very large amount of data and in ensuring compliance in a seamless manner. Building robust backend processes to address regulatory technology is the next big frontier for fintech firms.

Recently, the UK government has also made significant headway in terms of shaping a new regulatory framework for the financial sector due to Brexit. The Financial Services Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April and was converted into the Financial Services Act 2021. This act aims to develop a regulatory environment that allows for the advancement of technology and innovation.

Partnerships

There has been a small but growing number of legacy financial services companies and banks collaborating with nimbler fintech startups to identify ways to better adapt to the constantly changing business environment. According to consultancy firm Mckinsey, fintech companies with B2B offerings and services increased by 16 percent from 2011 to 2016, thus indicating a rise in partnerships.

The collaborative partnership model between fintech companies and traditional financial services organizations is mutually beneficial as the traditional banks and firms can develop useful tools such as financial money management tools and apps for depositing money for customers. On the other hand, startups benefit by being able to provide services to a larger client base and network. Moreover, partnerships have the ability to be more adaptable to customer behavior and can be scaled up or down depending on their response.

What’s next?

As the pandemic continues into the second year and is expected to persist for few more months, senior management and leaders in the financial sector are increasingly seeking flexible and responsive technology that can be deployed and adjusted to an everchanging business climate in the face of uncertainty. Thus, the next generation of fintech firms will have an even more focus on automation and streamlining processes, which can adapt quickly and effectively while primarily focusing on regulatory and compliance challenges and new business models.

Written by Kunal Sawhney, CEO, Kalkine Group