COMMENT
THE LAST WORD
Chamber president DAWN EDWARDS on the issues that are worth talking about WINTER IS COMING…
BUT IT NEEDN’T BE BLEAK! It’s been a busy few weeks, which I am sure has felt like a rollercoaster for many, with highs and lows in abundance. Work and life generally are very different, and continue to be challenging, but as with all challenges it’s how we respond that counts. I’ve detected a change in mood at the many
meetings and networking events I’ve had the privilege to attend. Many businesses have a renewed sense of purpose andcreated opportunities out of adversity, and the latest ONS figures suggest the East Midlands has fared slightly better than most regions in terms of maintaining levels of employment. While jobs have inevitably been lost in some sectors, opportunities have been created in others. The Chamber has facilitated 800 placements
for young people in almost 300 businesses through the Kickstart Scheme, so there is definitely reason for optimism. The “new world”, though, is challenging. It
occurred to me the seating plan for many will now involve postcodes rather than a traditional office space, and many leaders are asking how best to keep their team engaged and productive from a distance. Necessity is the mother of creation – and
previously dismissed or unknown technologies, business models and ways of working are now relied upon, with opportunities being created within the IT support and digital sectors as a consequence. For some, work roles are no longer dependent
upon physically attending meetings and workplaces, and this has offered a respite from sitting in traffic and the daily commute. For others, where work can’t be performed from home, workspace has been re-arranged, and rota systems and shift patterns introduced to enable social distancing. In the East Midlands, we are so fortunate to
have beautiful countryside on our doorstep, and so far the restrictions have not prevented us from enjoying it. There is always something new to see, and it is so important for wellbeing to remember to move away from our work
78 business network November 2020
environment, wherever that happens to be, to just enjoy the moment. Networking is great for a renewed perspective
and burst of energy, and there are an abundance of opportunities available through the Chamber through the Good for Business and Pure Networking events, as well as discussion forums on topical issues. If you are fortunate enough to be under 35, why not check out the membership package available through Generation Next?
WHAT SUSTAINABILITY MEANS
TO ME To me, sustainability is not just about the environment, but supporting and maintaining communities in the widest sense. The sense of community in the East Midlands is something I know many of us are rightly proud of. The Chamber, which is launching the Sustainable East Midlands campaign this month, has an array of charities and social enterprises as members. These sectors have been squeezed throughout the pandemic, and the business community has come together to innovatively support them so they can continue their fantastic work.
‘The recent Enterprising Women Awards included a talk from Neeyantee Karia, co-founder of Jake & Nayns’ and the very worth winner of Business Woman of the Year 2020’
For many, the shorter days and potential for
further restrictions on everyday life will have a profound effect on mental and physical wellbeing. These stories of “sustainability” are, for me, just as critical as the need to reduce carbon emissions and to work in ways that are much kinder to the planet and environment. They are a tangible ray of hope for the future. Sustainability too links to resilience. The
recent Enterprising Women Awards included a talk from Neeyantee Karia, co-founder of Jake &
Nayns’ and the very worth winner of Business Woman of the Year 2020. Her talk was refreshingly honest – focusing not just on the considerable highs of being in business, but also on those pivotal moments when things went wrong, and how she and her team responded. Neeyantee, and everyone in the virtual event, was visibly moved by the story of her highs and lows in business. It’s this passion that sustains businesses
through tough times, and is still alive and well within the East Midlands in every business owner, leadership team and would-be entrepreneur.
FEARS FOR TIERS At the time of writing, we are now heading into our second national lockdown of 2020, something no-one in the business community would have on their wish list. The voices of many are always heard loudest.
The Chamber, alongside other business organisations, has campaigned tirelessly for support for the sectors affected most, and the Government has listened. The Job Retention Scheme, which had been due to end in October, has been extended to help those affected by the latest restrictions, along with business grants that will offer a life raft to many companies. Arts and culture organisations, including theatres, museums, orchestras and music venues, have also been given a welcome reprieve through the Culture Recovery Fund, which means that performances will resume with social distancing, signalling hope for the future and a semblance of “normality” for many. No scheme or package of support is ever
perfect, and there’s still work to do. The events industry, and those in the supply chain, has been largely forgotten, along with new businesses and the three million small company directors who pay themselves largely through dividends. We are in this together within the East Midlands and the Chamber will continue to listen and learn from our members and represent the views of the business community to those in a position to bring about change. If you haven’t attended an event recently, or made good use of your membership, please do so. We really do want to hear from you.
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