Business News


Sponsored by: PLOTT Creative


Should you Re-brand?


By Katie Hale Client Services Director PLOTT Creative


It’s a scary prospect and not right for everyone, but a ‘re-brand’ done in the right way and at the right time can breath new life into a business and boost sales. Branding is knowing what you stand for and bringing it to life!


"Companies want their brands to reflect some idealised perfect image of themselves. As a consequence their brands acquire no texture and no character.” Richard Branson


PLOTT Creative speak from experience as they rebranded their business in Jan 2016 from AP Designs. MD, Anna Plotnek, said “We chose to rebrand as our customer profile had changed and we needed our brand to reflect the strategic shift in the company.' Richard (Creative Director)


continues: "We wanted our rebrand to reflect our company culture of ‘unity’ ‘creativity’ and ‘partnership’ and be a genuine representation of who we've become. Since then I’m happy to say we've also pitched and won much bigger accounts and successfully grown the PLOTT family." Rebranding is a very


interesting way to shift the way your customers and prospects perceive your business, but it’s not to be taken lightly. An effective rebrand requires thorough research into competition, customer goals, brand perceptions, and product capabilities. Before making the decision to alter a major component of your company (whether it's the name, logo or messaging) take care to ensure the shift will actually provide value and an improved experience for customers. If you are thinking of


rebranding, it's important to pause and ask yourself whether or not a rebrand is the best option.


Still not sure? Have a chat with Katie katie@plottcreative.co.uk


www.plottcreative.co.uk 01675 434 583


12 CHAMBERLINK September 2016


Employers are not to blame


Greater Birmingham Chambers has defended local employers over claims they are encouraging obesity among their workforce. According to a report by Willis PMI Group, almost a third (30 per cent)


of Midlands workers claim their employers have directly contributed to higher levels of obesity. Longer working hours preventing exercise was cited by 62 per cent as the


main reason for this, although almost half (48 per cent) blamed unhealthy vending machine or ‘tuck shop’ snacks while a lack of exercise facilities and initiatives (47 per cent) and unhealthy canteen food (41 per cent) were said to be the third and fourth biggest factors behind the assertion.


‘Employees must be the ones to take up these opportunities and be responsible for their own wellbeing’


PMI director Mike Blake said: “The government estimates obesity contributes to the loss of 16 million certified incapacity days each year and this research suggests employers may be part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. “The findings call for businesses in the Midlands to review


their existing workplace cultures and practices and, where appropriate, proactively adopt health and wellbeing initiatives.” However, Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “Local


businesses understand the importance of having a healthy workforce, and we know of many initiatives among member businesses which encourage employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle. “The survey itself points to the number of firms who offer cut-


price gym memberships, fitness classes and even weight-loss schemes. Employers clearly want a healthy workforce, so to state they are contributing to this is unfair.” “While it is important for businesses to be supportive and offer such


schemes, ultimately employees must be the ones to take up these opportunities and be responsible for their own wellbeing.”


Who is responsible for an employee’s wellbeing?


Transport projects pick up the pace


Tackling the bottlenecks at the heart of the UK’s road and rail networks will unlock faster economic growth and help the Midlands prosper in an increasingly competitive global market place, new transport secretary Chris Grayling heard during a visit to the region. Mr Grayling was in Derby for the launch of a report by Midlands


Connect, the private and public sector partnership tasked by Government to develop a transport strategy to power the Midlands Engine for Growth. The partnership’s ‘Picking up the Pace’ report sets out a case for


accelerating the planning and design stages of key transport projects in the Midlands so they can be built during the first half of the 2020s. The report, launched at Derby City Council House, says starting


development work on the schemes now will enable the Midlands to have them in place to reap the maximum economic benefits possible from the forthcoming HS2 high speed rail line. Research by Midlands Connect has also shown that speeding up


journey times across the Midlands can boost the regional economy by £1 billion a year and create 300,000 new jobs. Mr Grayling said: “Good transport helps people get around and get


on and is crucial to driving economic growth. “That is why the Government is heavily investing in transport across


the country, spreading opportunity and growth and bringing our country closer together.”


Ready for the new season: Worcester Warriors ground at Sixways


Season of change for Warriors RFC


As Worcester Warriors RFC prepare for their opening home fixture of the new Aviva Premiership season, chief executive Jim O’Toole has again emphasised there is no intention of appointing a replacement director of rugby following the departure of Dean Ryan. Jim said: “Head coach Carl Hogg


and high performance director Nick Johnston will be responsible for leading the squad. For the first time in our history we had a succession plan in place and we firmly believe that Carl and Nick will steer this squad in the right direction.”


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