< Previous30 Business Link www.blmforum.net MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS A little more project planning could also help to identify materials or components that could be reclaimed with little processing. These could include steel beams or columns from previous buildings, crushed glass as bedding material for paved or block surfaces and building detritus (such as crushed aggregate) for landscaping or backfilling. Further sourcing efforts could also find discarded railway sleepers or telegraph poles, which could be dismantled and used in multiple ways. Employing unique items like these adds intrigue to the site, giving the potential for companies to create a landmark with their buildings. For example, using reclaimed wood from old buildings or barns gives an olde- worlde, calming charm to new properties which new wood cannot replicate. Whilst reusing existing materials should be the first port of call, some fascinating developments are being made in brand new sustainable construction materials. As an insulating compound, there is little better than aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC) This is made by mixing lime, cement, water, and a foaming agent. This mixture is then cured in an autoclave, causing it to expand and harden. The result is a lightweight and porous material which provides better insulation than concrete. It is also more resistant to fire, water, and mould, making it perfect for a wide variety of commercial applications. It can be used as a concrete replacement within structural components too and can withstand high wind and seismic activity. Furthermore, it is easier to work with than traditional concrete as standard tools can be used, making it a fast favourite for construction companies. It is more expensive than traditional concrete due to the extra effort in creation, however the energy saving benefits and low maintenance means it is likely to be more cost effective long-term. Plenty of sustainable strides are being made when it comes to flooring, roofs, and insulation. Bamboo is one of the most popular sustainable building materials. Firstly, it is fast growing and © stock.adobe.com/jollier_ 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:31 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 31 MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS can be harvested in as little as three to five years. It is lightweight, making it perfect for interiors, such as flooring and wall panels, but it also has a tensile strength which rivals steel. This means that bamboo can also be used structurally for beams and columns. Similarly, cork is another commonly used environmentally friendly resource. As a bark from the cork oak tree, it can be harvested without needing to cut the tree down, making it an easily accessible material. It is best utilised as insulation, as it is lightweight but durable. Furthermore, it is naturally resistant to mould, mildew, and insects, making it ideal for food manufacturing or warehousing properties. Even more intriguing as an insulant is hempcrete. Made from the woody core of the hemp plant (making waves across multiple industries for its healing properties), it is mixed with lime and water to create the perfect insulant for walls, floors, and roofs. Hempcrete gains further sustainability points as is absorbs carbon dioxide as it expands, and is non-toxic to humans or the environment, making it a carbon- negative material. Alongside many other industries, the demand for more sustainable methods is driving product innovation. As can be seen from above, one of the key ways this is being done is through plant extraction. Bamboo, cork, and hemp are likely to become some of the foremost construction materials in the future, due to their unique properties of strength and resilience. Furthermore, unlike slow- growing trees, these materials can be harvested quickly, sometimes without having to cut down the plant, making them a truly sustainable resource that can accommodate continued industry growth. The primary sticking point for companies seeking to invest, is likely to be the materials cost. Newly innovated material generally costs more than traditional building materials. However, the resistance of these materials to weathering, and their energy saving properties makes them a positive long- term investment. © stock.adobe.com/nspooner 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:31 Page 432 Business Link www.blmforum.net LEGAL SERVICES The changing landscape of employment law 32-34.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:35 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 33 LEGAL SERVICES © stock.adobe.com/Freedomz The law is changing, and it’s best to keep abreast of the changes even if you’re prepared to leave the details to legal specialists. K eeping on top of legal matters and changes is important in any business, but while the nitty- gritty of the law is best left to professionals, it’s still advantageous to be aware of changing laws yourself and familiarise your business with what is to come in the year ahead. Many upcoming laws that’ll effect our region are targeted at the labour market – predominantly because of the employment crisis the country is facing. Many of these are set to favour workers over employers, which has traditionally always been the case, but some are more necessary now than ever before due to weakened employee protections from leaving the EU. There are also a lot of contentious practices being used by less scrupulous companies that some of these proposed law changes will target. First of all, let’s look at the most obvious and well-known: the increase to the National Living Wage coming in on the 1st of April. This is unlikely to come as a surprise to anyone, and many business owners will be aware of it. Still, for completion’s sake, the hourly rate for over 23’s will be increasing to £10.42 per hour, with marginally lower rates for 34 Á 32-34.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:35 Page 234 Business Link www.blmforum.net LEGAL SERVICES those below 23. Getting this right is important because HMRC can impose fines of up to £20,000 per employee who is paid below that rate – and you’re unlikely to be keeping them when they find out, either. Tied into this are increases to maternity, paternity, and sick pay – with the rates rising from £156.66 per week to £172.48 per week, and sick pay raising from £99.35 per week to £109.40 per week. Specifically talking about law changes, the biggest – and one of the more controversial – changes is that of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022. Colloquially known as the “Brexit Freedoms Bill” this law seeks to put British law above EU law when it comes to employees, which many have rightly pointed out will mean less protections and less rights for British workers. The sunset date for these laws is December 2023 and there are implications that pregnant women could suffer greatly unless new UK laws are put into place. Many protections for pregnant women in the workplace where enshrined from EU laws. It’s difficult to predict what will happen come December 2023, and the “sunset period” can be extended all the way to 2026 if the Govt feel it necessary. The UK has claimed that worker’s rights and employment will be protected, but many of the EU laws already do that, so it could feasibly be that the exact same laws will be enacted but by the UK, thus allowing the government to claim it “got rid of those nasty EU laws” while introducing the exact same laws under a more patriotic coat of paint. A new bill proposed in parliament called the Worker’s (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill could also see the government take aim at zero hour contracts, long held in low esteem by much of the country. This bill is set to target the unpredictability of the work, with employees able to petition their company for more predictable and set working hours. It also sets numerous other terms and conditions such as a guarantee that all tips and gratuity will reach the worker, and that pregnant women and those on maternity leave will have greater protection from redundancy. Which laws will impact which businesses will always depend on the individual business in question, but that’s why it’s so important to keep your legal team on call. We live in a more litigious world than ever before, and the laws are changing rapidly in the face of pressure to get Brexit done and over with. The coming few years could well be turbulent given a predicted change in government at the next election, and the weak state of the UK’s economy, so being on top of the game is going to be important. © stock.adobe.com/chbaum 32-34.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:35 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 35 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY Keeping good employees within a business is essential to success and growth, but with concerns increasing over retention, the ‘Great Resignation’, how to draw in candidates, and the staff and skills shortage, companies are turning to creative ways to combat this and present themselves as an attractive place to work. Some may be looking at pay bumps, others implementing new perks and benefits, providing further training and advancement opportunities, or increased flexibility and four day work weeks. However another method is utilising events. Though events are already commonplace for client retention and driving business growth, they are also a key tool for holding onto staff. Company events act as an important indicator of an organisation’s culture, can influence the desire to stay put at a business, and will likely become more vital in coming years as hybrid work patterns take root and more workers go remote, requiring leaders to be proactive in planning events and experiences in order to build cohesion within teams, avoid isolation, and establish that all-important culture to retain talent. Events bring myriad advantages in the process of keeping star employees within a firm. A significant reason that people quit their roles is because they feel disconnected to the people they work with or the job itself. Organising an event, preferably offsite, presents opportunities to learn about an employee’s interests and skills, helping to gain an understanding of their motivations and the ability to leverage their talents, as well as gain a chance to mentor staff in more meaningful ways, all © stock.adobe.com/chokniti The retention-boosting potential of events With competition for staff high, businesses are working harder to retain their employees, with events a useful tool in this. 36 Á 35-37.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:36 Page 136 Business Link www.blmforum.net CORPORATE HOSPITALITY bolstering engagement. Events also provide a chance for team members to connect meaningfully with those they don’t regularly interact with, growing stronger bonds, improving communication, and can offer time to build a rapport with higher management who they may have limited exchanges with during the working day, breaking down barriers and building trust. Offering staff the opportunity to connect on a personal level away from work further promotes an inclusive atmosphere and a sense of unity that can be brought back to the office, delivering a cohesion that enables the creation of a more productive workforce. Such events may involve specific team building days, but also occasions with a looser format, like company parties and socials, or experiences such as cocktail making, tastings and bowling. Raised morale is another benefit of company events that helps to retain staff. Events can be used to establish a moment to reward the hard work of employees, and boost their motivation for future projects, with the memory that their efforts will be recognised. Awards ceremonies are a favoured option for this, shining a light on notable achievements, though smaller celebrations for successes like finishing major projects ahead of time or perhaps a work anniversary can also be effective, embracing the opportunity to mark milestones together as a team. Events to reward targets being hit, ranging from lunches at nice restaurants to a box at a 35-37.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:36 Page 2www.blmforum.net Business Link 37 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY sports match, are beneficial too. One might additionally consider using events to strengthen a firm’s wellness programmes, with people who spend time on their own health and wellness more likely to be happier in their job. To bolster wellness, events could vary from those to help staff de-stress, to offering staff fitness classes and healthy recipe exchanges, or money management seminars. Furthermore, events promoting CSR (corporate social responsibility), giving back to the community, and supporting charities are a good way to build culture and positive outcomes within and outside of a business. Consulting employees to nominate a cause close to their hearts for charity- and CSR-focused events, and bringing team members together to participate in initiatives, is a great staff retention idea and inspires employee engagement — from tree planting days to fundraisers and time set aside for workers to share their skills with other organisations. These events can engender a sense of fulfilment while bonding teams. Helping to validate staff performance and show appreciation, enhance morale, encourage stronger connections, deepen loyalty and engagement, and illustrate a company’s values, events are a key instrument in your employee retention toolkit. Ranging from the small and special to the large and extravagant, depending on your budget and company culture, there are countless different types of events out there that are sure to be appreciated by your workforce. © stock.adobe.com/Robert Kneschke 35-37.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:37 Page 338 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK On our roads BMW i4 eDrive35 BMW UK has announced that the order books have opened for the BMW i4 eDrive35, making it the latest model to join the fully electric BMW family. Available in both Sport and M Sport trim, the four-door Gran Coupé offers a fully electric range of up to 299 miles (WLTP), and features the same BMW Curved Display with BMW iDrive and Operating System 8 found in all BMW i4 models, as well as the BMW iX and iX1. The BMW i4 eDrive35 Sport includes an impressive level of equipment as standard, including LED Headlights, 18” alloy wheels, as well as eye-capturing elements in blue design. The BMW i4 eDrive35 is priced from £49,995 (OTR) and is available to order now in the UK, with expected delivery starting in summer 2023. MINI Electric Convertible The MINI Electric Convertible is offered with a fixed specification and two exterior paint choices for customers: Enigmatic Black or White Silver. Door handles, side scuttles and the surrounds of the front and rear lights are finished in Resolute Bronze, and the MINI logo and model lettering feature in Piano Black. We take a look at the latest vehicles coming to our roads – whether it be for business, family, or leisure. 40 Á 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:38 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 39 AUTOLINK BMW i4 eDrive35 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 07/03/2023 12:38 Page 2Next >