< Previous20 Business Link www.blmforum.net APPRENTICESHIPS apprenticeships from level 2 to level 7 (equivalent to a degree) which allow firms to find apprenticeships that suit their learning and development requirements. Research from Grant Thornton indicates that businesses are recognising this and strategically making use of apprenticeships as a means of upskilling their people at all levels, achieving sustainable recruitment, gaining more desirable qualifications within a business, and advancing social mobility. Moreover, the usefulness of the ability to tailor apprenticeships to specific development requirements is being understood, with many firms utilising courses to gain valuable new skills in the fields of digital and data © stock.adobe.com/fizkes Food safety training and food safety culture are key say VWA The recent E Coli outbreak and subsequent product recalls have brought the need for effective food safety management systems into sharp focus. Central to achieving and maintaining them is the appropriate training of employees at all levels. This is where food industry training experts, Verner Wheelock Associates can help. They offer award-winning training in Food Safety & Hygiene and HACCP from Level 2 to advanced Level 4. Moreover their experienced trainers have food industry backgrounds, so give relevant examples to assist learning. In- house bespoke training is also available specific to customers’ individual needs. In addition, a positive food safety culture is essential within a food business. In fact, commitment to this is a requirement of the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety V9. It is a gradual process, but VWA’s 1-day ‘Enabling a Positive Food Safety Culture’ course will give managers guidance on how to implement it effectively. For more information visit www.vwa.co.uk www.blmforum.net Business Link 21 APPRENTICESHIPS analysis, for example, for their organisation, plugging skills gaps. Despite a young, keen workforce with an appetite for career progression, concerns have been raised around the quality of apprenticeship delivery. In late 2022, it was reported that almost half of apprentices fail to complete their courses. According to a report by EDSK, a prominent education think tank, a significant number of individuals who quit their apprenticeships attributed their decision to poor quality from the employer, which encompassed issues such as inadequate training and ineffective management. Under government-funded apprenticeship programs, individuals are entitled to one day per week of “off the job” time dedicated to receiving teaching and training. However, the EDSK report revealed that many apprentices fall short of the minimum weekly requirement, while others receive no off-the-job training at all. Disturbingly, the report also highlighted a concerning practice where firms are permitted by the government to consider activities such as watching online lectures or completing homework assignments as training. This leaves apprentices with a lack of support and guidance, and many feel isolated during their training. Given that most people have decided on their career path by age 13, employers should be concerned about putting talent off pursuing careers within the industry altogether. For apprenticeships to survive, industry leaders must continue to identify, recruit, and retain talent. Sponsoring school projects and attending careers fairs will get companies noticed as a local employer. Using these opportunities to seek out talent, companies should then offer taster days to select students which promotes apprenticeship opportunities and career progression pathways within the industry. Providing intense support to a handful of the best candidates will allow companies to train and retain the best talent, and apprentices to feel supported to thrive. © stock.adobe.com/goodluz For apprenticeships to survive, industry leaders must continue to identify, recruit, and retain talent.22 Business Link www.blmforum.net DESIGN AND MARKETING You have one chance to make that first impression work for you, and while your outfit, demeanour and presentation may be perfect, your old marketing materials could be holding you back. First impressions are everything in business. This is true of all walks of life, and is often an unfortunate factor of human society that we judge based on preconceptions surrounding how a person is dressed, how they present themselves and even by the accent they speak in. Is it any surprise then that business owners and decision makers are doing the same based on the presentation, design and quality of a company’s promotional and informational material? Likely not. Everyone judges a company by their website, and in the same vein of thought an important businessperson perusing an exhibition will judge potential clients by the quality of their exhibition stand. Why else do larger companies rent out huge spaces, spend tens of thousands on ostentatious displays and staff it with models hired Designing the perfect first impression Designing the perfect first impression www.blmforum.net Business Link 23 DESIGN AND MARKETING from agencies? It is to present an image. Not every company can afford to present the same one, but everyone will be judged on it all the same. Keeping your material up to date, be it an exhibition stand, a roller banner, business cards or even leaflets, fliers and promotional material, is key to putting the best foot forward with a potential customer. This is doubly true now that we are out of lockdown and people are feeling safe meeting face to face again. For many, expos and exhibitions were events postponed or cancelled during lockdown, and traffic wasn’t great even for those that did run, but now they are coming back as a normal part of business life and you can see in person just how many people attending are using banners that seem a little worn, a little rundown and just a little frayed at the edges. The economy hasn’t been booming for anyone, and so investment in new banners and material will understandably be a last concern, but a savvy business leader should ask themselves what they would think if they were forced to choose between two suppliers to approach – one of whom stood before a stand just a little faded, and the other of whom stood before pristine material. The answer is all 24 Á © stock.adobe.com/Gorodenkoff24 Business Link www.blmforum.net DESIGN AND MARKETING too obvious. It has been two years for many people since presentation truly mattered. Zoom calls, home offices and suits from the waist up were all that were important before, but now is the time of handshakes again. So, how are your business cards? How new and fresh do the price sheets and informational brochures look? Are the colours faded? A new start out of lockdown means a new opportunity, a fresh start, and it’s well worth leveraging that with new marketing materials, be they banners, leaflets, signage or business cards. Freshly printed and pressed material will always portray a more confident and well- organised company, and it may be time for you to consider the design of them as well, especially if the same layout has been used for years on end. Specialists in design should be able to do more than simply put together © stock.adobe.com/smolaw11 Printing|Copying|Graphic Design LOGOS | BRANDING | BUSINESS STATIONERY FLYERS & POSTERS | BROCHURES | NEWSLETTERS A0 COPYING & SCANNING | OS MAPPING CAD & PLAN PRINTING | PRINT FINISHING High Quality Print & Design in Lincolnshire N 01522 546118 E sales@lincolncopycentre.co.uk www.lincolncopycentre.co.uk 45 YEARS IN BUSINESSsomething from specification – they should be capable of expert advice, direction and design to highlight ways to improve on existing material. Unifying themes and colours supporting or matching brand logos should be used throughout, but the font used, the size of it and also the distribution of images, graphs and figures are all important. Where they lay on any given page can dictate how the human eye naturally gravitates, with certain areas being more prone to attention by the average reader. There is a lot of psychology that goes into good design as well, understanding the colours and layouts that more naturally convey feelings of professionalism toward the reader. A good example of this – though the opposite way – might be how a restaurant menu in a family pub will use varying fonts, differing sizes and bold text to convey a wide range of options, whereas an expensive restaurant is likely to have smaller text set centre in a blank page, often vellum, to create a more luxurious feel to the menu. Designing and printing marketing material does often feel like an unnecessary expenditure, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Marketing material, like a salesperson, is what every potential customer will see, and it is something they will take into consideration when deciding to use your services or not. Given the amount of time it has been since we’ve had to do so much business in person, a lot of businesses’ materials are out of date or feeling a little rough around the edges. There’s never been a better time to update them and create a new, fresh start for your salespeople. www.blmforum.net Business Link 25 DESIGN AND MARKETING © stock.adobe.com/kai The creativity behind business successes Leading businesses across the UK are reaching out to oodle, the design agency based in the peaceful Lincolnshire Wolds that is making noise in the creative scene, with digital and design content that elevates the profile of its cross-sector clients. The skills of oodle have previously sat within the renowned print and mailing business Systematic. Yet over the last 14 months, its 20-year evolution has been confidently and creatively positioned within the oodle brand. The creative sector is undergoing rapid change, driven by social media and technology, especially AI. Businesses have access to more tools than ever before to take charge of their creative endeavours. However, ambitious brands still rely on the expertise, ideas, and focus of skilled designers to lay the foundation for their success. That strength comes from impactful, consistent resources that cut across multiple marketing platforms. Those seeking creativity with oomph should visit, www.oodle.agency 26 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENGINEERING The engineering and manufacturing industries in the United Kingdom have been undergoing significant transformations in recent years. In the face of rising energy costs, combined with government pressure across all industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. F rom advancements in automation and sustainable manufacturing to the transition towards electric vehicles, these sectors are adapting to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world. One of the prominent trends driving the UK engineering and manufacturing industries is the integration of advanced automation and digital technologies. The concept of Industry 4.0, characterized by the fusion of cyber-physical systems, automation, and data exchange, is revolutionizing production Driving innovation www.blmforum.net Business Link 27 ENGINEERING processes and enhancing operational efficiency. Initiatives such as the “Made Smarter” campaign, launched in 2017, aim to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies across UK manufacturing. Sustainability has become a key focus for the UK engineering and manufacturing industries. As the world grapples with climate change and environmental concerns, businesses are recognizing the need for greener practices. In line with the UK government’s recently extended goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the manufacturing sector is actively embracing sustainable manufacturing initiatives. Efforts are being made to reduce carbon emissions, optimize waste management, and enhance energy efficiency throughout the production process. The integration of renewable energy sources and the adoption of circular economy principles are also gaining traction. We can expect further advancements in sustainable manufacturing practices as businesses strive to minimize their environmental impact while maintaining profitability. As alluded to above, the principles of the circular economy are being increasingly utilised, turning traditional linear production models on their head. Circular economy principles aim to minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and promote the reuse, © stock.adobe.com/graja © stock.adobe.com/Rido 28 Á28 Business Link www.blmforum.net ENGINEERING recycling, and repurposing of materials. In the context of manufacturing, this involves designing products for durability, easy disassembly, and the recovery of valuable materials. Companies are implementing closed- loop systems, where materials are recycled or regenerated, reducing reliance on finite resources, and minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, collaboration within supply chains is crucial to optimize material flows, ensure responsible sourcing, and promote circular practices at every stage of production. Ultimately, adopting a circular economy seeks to extend the lifespan of the individual manufacturer, as well as aiding the environment. Reducing waste generation and conserving resources safeguards a company’s operations against government waste reduction sanctions, and allows operations to diversify, thus extending beyond the limited resources available. Digital transformation is revolutionizing the UK engineering and manufacturing industries. By harnessing technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), and cloud computing, businesses are optimizing processes, improving product quality, and enabling predictive maintenance. The collection and analysis of real-time data allow manufacturers to make data-driven decisions, reduce downtime, and enhance overall operational efficiency. There has been a concerted effort to further integrate digital technologies, with an increased focus on cybersecurity and data privacy. The adoption of advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms will enable manufacturers to gain deeper insights into their operations and drive continuous improvement. Moreover, the use of digital platforms and collaborative tools facilitates communication and cooperation within the supply chain, fostering innovation and agility. One significant issue has stuck around for several years though. With a © stock.adobe.com/Lubos Chlubnywww.blmforum.net Business Link 29 ENGINEERING diminishing pool of skilled workers due to reduced applications from European citizens, and some returning to the EU permanently, companies find themselves grappling with the tangle of challenges that comes with recruiting suitably skilled staff on home turf, even as machines and robotics bring ease to the activity of production itself. Information acquired from the Home Office through the Freedom of Information Act disclosed a notable increase in work permits issued to foreign engineering professionals, rising from 5,620 in 2021 to 9,617 in 2022. A study by Integro Accounting found this surge represented the highest level observed in the past five years. The category witnessing the most significant percentage rise was civil engineers, with the number of work permits nearly doubling from 804 in 2021 to 1,565 in 2022. © stock.adobe.com/Me studioNext >