news opinion
What is good for business – and what is business good for?
Young employees entering the workplace are asking questions of their employers that a decade or two ago might have seemed insubordinate. In fact, they are choosing their employer based not just on the rate of pay, but on the policies that form the employer’s culture.
An attractive employer would be one that sympathetically handled mental health issues; that recycled its waste; that supported charitable causes; that embraced wellness throughout its physical workspaces; and that ensured its employees enjoyed a work- life balance through flexible hours and family-friendly policies.
For large corporations this has been the norm for some time, but for SMEs it is often hard to keep up. Being a ‘good business’ can be costly and can untie the straightjacket that many small companies are comfortable enforcing to maintain a structure and perhaps keep a sense of discipline.
Throw old disciplines out and embrace new ones – that’s something that business owners over the age of, say, 30 can find challenging.
Imagine a workplace where people come and go, where the business has an important role in the surrounding community, and where internal competition has largely been replaced by internal collaboration.
That’s not the future, it’s the here and now. And those businesses that are not adjusting their outlook are going to be seriously left behind.
Local enterprise recognised
by the Queen’s Awards Solent
Eight companies from the Solent area gained the Queen’s Award this year – with the top honour going to double winner Romsey-based rFpro, which was listed in both the International Trade and Innovation sections.
The company, employing just 14 people, provides driving simulation software and Digital-Twins for the development and testing of autonomous vehicles, ADAS and vehicle dynamics.
It is solely focused on ground-based road-vehicle simulation. It accelerates the development, testing and validation of vehicles, helping manufacturers to save money and bring quality products to the market more quickly. The innovation
has contributed to sales growth in the domestic and export markets.
Chris Hoyle, founder and technical director at rFpro, said:”We are delighted that the hard work of everybody at rFpro has been acknowledged by the Queen’s Awards judging panel and we are so proud to be one of just a few companies to achieve a double award. Our contribution to making the world’s road networks safer is reward enough, but it is fantastic to receive such prestigious recognition.”
The company started life as “rFactor Pro” in 2007 in a project within a Formula One team. It now surveys public roads with an eye-safe laser scanner to create a real world view which is converted into 3D digital models to make them look realistic and behave correctly in challenging lighting and weather conditions.
Its driving simulator solutions are now used by seven of the top 10 largest OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in the world.
Innovation
Three other companies based in the Solent region gained the award in this section.
Captec at Fareham was named for its tablet computers with enhanced specialised features, advanced multi- battery power management and high density charging station.
CTS Europe at Portsmouth was listed for its unique, simple to use portable fume hood that can be configured for many different applications.
Teemill Tech based on the Isle of Wight was rewarded for its platform and connected, automated and circular fulfilment system for fashion.
International trade
Four companies in the region (besides rFpro) gained this award:
Easyskinz at Fareham which designs, develops and manufactures SKINS - novelty way to protect and recolour electronic devices.
Engineering Technology Applications at Romsey for its comprehensive range of services, products and skilled personnel to support subsea cable projects worldwide.
Leverton Clarke at Basingstoke which manufactures speciality lithium chemicals for global customers across a wide range of technical industries.
Wren Laboratories at Andover for having the most researched probiotics range than any other live cultures brand available in the UK.
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David Murray Publisher
4
businessmag.co.uk ACHIEVE UK Achieve
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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2019 30/11/2015 10:32
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