Adrian Leather is chief executive of Business Health Matters
In terms of investment in health and wellbeing you are going to get
£1.70 back for ever pound invested.
It’s about attracting and retaining staff. Particularly for younger people, it is important for a businesses to be able to say health and wellbeing and an inclusive culture are part of their values.
If there is a clear line about reducing stress and anxiety, young people feel safe in that space and that comes from leadership.
For older workers it is about security and retaining staff. They need to know that as
they age and face the challenges of ageing, they are going to be supported in the workplace, that there is going to be flexibility and adjustment.
It is about acknowledging and recognising and building team camaraderie around the ageing process and looking to have a culture that supports positive mental and physical health.
The evidence shows that retaining those older workers is critical for businesses. We have seen a massive reduction in workers who are over 50, they have just left in droves.
So the intellectual capacity of organisations has been significantly reduced, as has their ability to grow and actually train up workers. That has been massively impacted and we have seen that more in Lancashire than the south east.
Gary Clifton Client partner
garycliftonacii partnersand partnersand
DO MACHINES OR PEOPLE DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS?
The first things that are often protected are fixed assets in your business: the premises, furniture, machinery, vehicles and computers.
In fact, in the majority of cases, not only are such things insured but there are both maintenance programs and contingency plans in place to prevent or mitigate any potential disruption.
AT THE CUTTING EDGE
The pioneering work of Lancashire health-tech firms was highlighted with two businesses at the cutting edge of research sharing their projects with conference delegates.
IoT Horizon, exhibiting partner for the conference, is a leading Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider carrying out an increasing amount of work to prevent and eradicate sick building syndrome (SBS).
The term is used to describe situations where building occupants experience acute health problems and discomfort that are linked to time spent in a building. Symptoms get worse the longer you are in a particular building and get better after you leave.
Niamh Allen, sales and marketing director, explained the impact of air quality on workforces and how simple improvements, including better ventilation, can lead to significant increases in employee productivity and wellbeing.
IoT Horizon specialises in monitoring real-time environmental conditions including CO2, airborne chemicals, temperature, humidity, and particulates. Sensors provide visual warnings to users in the building if levels are unhealthy and will alert operations and facilities teams.
Management teams can then use this data to make changes to the workplace such as opening more windows for ventilation or developing a business case to replace ventilation systems.
Niamh said: “Air quality can impact productivity and health and wellbeing.
Lots of businesses have building management systems to optimise energy efficiency but not the comfort and wellbeing of occupants. We are doing a lot of research behind the scenes, supported by the NHS.”
Plasma4 is the first company to combine plasma gas and materials for therapeutic delivery. Plasma is an ionised gas and a unique source of biologically important molecules, many of which have been shown to promote healing.
Sensors provide visual warnings to users in the building if levels are unhealthy and will alert operations and facilities teams
The start-up is looking at a wide range of applications including treating infections, autoimmune diseases and cancers.
Dr Sherry Kothari, former director of Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus is executive director of Plasma4. She said the business was collaborating on the development of a plasma-based platform for infected wounds as well as drug delivery.
She said it was involved in an ovarian cancer research project in Australia and added: “We have the ambition of going global.”
The question is, could the same be said for your people?
What is people risk?
At the heart of every business, large or small, lies the most valuable yet unpredictable asset: its people. People risk refers to the human factors that could impact and harm your business. From a demotivated workforce with low engagement to the loss of a key person. Your people have the power to enhance but also damage your business’ performance and reputation.
Protecting people protects your business
Against the backdrop of the current economic climate, the pressure of rising wages, and the war for talent, being an employer of choice is becoming increasingly difficult with 45 per cent of HR professionals reporting employee retention as their biggest challenge in 2022 in a survey by SD Workz.
With diverse and multi-generational workforces, implementing or adapting your people risk strategy to cater for your employees’ individual needs is key – a one size fits all approach is ill-advised. Understanding the make-up of your workforce is essential to generate the best engagement and outcomes for them, and your business.
Whether your workforce is made of three or three hundred, we can help you develop the right people strategy to protect your greatest asset and unlock your company’s potential.
For more information please visit
www.partnersand.com
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING
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