Business Manchester

Jam Proud to Win Manchester Pride Brief

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

Manchester-based marketing communications agency Jam has been appointed by Manchester Pride to deliver a PR and paid social media strategy for 2023.

Manchester Pride has appointed creative-led, marketing communications agency Jam to manage its PR and paid social activity for 2023, following a competitive pitch process.

Jam will implement a PR and social media strategy to increase brand awareness of the charity and its day-to-day activity, as well as promote the Manchester Pride Festival, taking place on August bank holiday.

The Manchester Pride Charity is one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ not-for-profit organisations, committed to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester and beyond.

The Manchester Pride Festival takes place over the August bank holiday weekend, hosting 50,000 people across a series of events including the Manchester Pride Parade, the Gay Village Party, Superbia Weekend, Family Pride MCR, Youth Pride MCR and a Human Rights Forum.

Lizzy Holroyd, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager for Manchester Pride, said: “2023 is another exciting year for Manchester Pride, and we’re delighted to have Jam on board. As a charity, it’s important for us to work with like minded individuals who understand not just what we do, but WHY we do it and we were impressed with the enthusiasm and creativity that Jam brought to the table.

“We’ll be working closely together to amplify the charity’s successes, while driving awareness of the Manchester Pride Festival taking place in August.”

Jaime Gee, Managing Director of Jam, added: “Manchester Pride is a dream client for us. It’s a charity that is close to our hearts and a cause that the Jammers personally support. We look forward to working closely with the team to challenge discrimination, campaign for equality and celebrate LGBTQ+ life through a series of PR and paid social activity.”

Manchester Pride joins Jam’s roster of B2B and B2C clients, including Staysure Group, TFRG, and Optimus.

New Manchester Business Launched – Soles Restored Offers Sneaker and Shoe Cleaning and Restoration Services Across England

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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The Manchester-based company uses the latest techniques to ensure shoes look as good as new

Sneaker and trainer cleaning and restoration service, Soles Restored, has officially launched. The company’s focus is to prevent the deterioration of expensive sneakers, trainers, and dress shoes, with its one-of-a-kind expertise and attention to detail.

Soles Restored offers a range of services from its highly trained staff of shoe experts, who can get customers’ sneakers and shoes clean, restored, and looking as good as new for under £100. Clients can contact Soles Restored for a consultation to learn about the company’s trainer cleaning, sneaker cleaning, and sole whitening services. Clients can even send their shoes to the Manchester-based business’s offices and have them shipped back looking fresh.

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Luxury sneakers and shoes can cost hundreds of pounds. Whether buying a pair of shoes for a collection or wearing them regularly, one thing is for sure, and that is the shoes will become dirty and worn over time.

The rise of sneaker collecting means more and more expensive pairs of shoes are being worn daily. Unfortunately, many collectors don’t know the first thing about caring for their expensive trainers.

Sole Restored’s experienced team of specialists use the latest shoe-cleaning techniques to ensure sneakers and trainers look like they just came out of the box for the first time. Owners may not know how to clean certain materials, which could ultimately ruin their expensive trainers, making them worthless in a matter of seconds. Having a professional sneaker and trainer cleaner allows owners to rest assured that their kicks are being cared for properly.

Sole Restored’s comprehensive cleaning service includes deep cleaning, stain removal, and sole whitening. The sole whitening technique helps to give an older pair of sneakers and trainers a new lease on life. Soul Restored cleans each pair of sneakers by hand and uses all-natural, non-harsh cleaning products and materials.

To learn more about Sole Restored, please visit the company’s official website. You can follow Sole Restored on Instagram at Soles.Restored.

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Despite False Claims of Illegal Nicotine Levels, Elf Bar 600 Disposable Vape Range Found Safe and Legal

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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The recent article alleging that the Elf Bar 600 disposable vape range sold in the UK holds an illegal level of nicotine has caused concern within the vaping community. However, it has been found that the article used a misleading headline and scaremongering tactics to mislead readers and create anxiety among consumers.

Elf Bar 600s are disposable vapes with a fully enclosed tank and built-in battery, designed to provide a short-term vaping solution for events such as festivals, formal occasions, and nights out. While the article title claims that the Elf Bar 600 range contains an illegal level of nicotine, it has been confirmed that some batches of the watermelon flavour were mistakenly fitted and filled with a non-standard 3ml e-liquid chamber, which is not compliant with UK regulations.

Testing has verified that the affected watermelon flavour Elf Bar 600 products are safe to use, and the nicotine strength is still compliant with the legal limit of 20 mg/ml. The maximum e-liquid capacity permitted in the UK is 2ml, and Trading Standards has warned that this strict limit must not be exceeded under any circumstances, as it is designed to protect children from starting to use these products. However, the quality of the product is not compromised in any way, and it remains both safe and legal.

ELFBAR, the manufacturer of Elf Bars, initially cast doubt on the Mail’s test process and suggested the products may have been fakes. But a spokesperson later confirmed that some batches of the Elf Bar product had been overfilled in the UK.

Consumers who purchased the ‘non-compliant’ Elf Bars were actually getting more product for their money. Therefore, it is important for the media to report accurately and responsibly to prevent the spread of misinformation and undue alarm. The Elf Bar 600 disposable vape range remains a safe and legal product, and the company is committed to ensuring its quality control processes are reviewed to prevent such a situation from happening again.

ELFBAR has agreed with the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommendation that the affected products be withdrawn from the UK market and will be removing all non-compliant Elf Bar 600s. Although the affected products are safe and sold internationally, they are not compliant with UK regulations which limit e-liquid capacity.

A spokesperson from Go Smoke Free, a company that distributes Elf Bar products, said: “Working with our distributors and other supply chain partners, we are moving quickly to replace all stock to ensure 100% that no product incorporates the 3ml capacity tank. The new batches with a capacity of 2ml will arrive in the UK within 30 days. While a highly regrettable situation, we should stress that this is an e-liquid volume issue and is not related in any way to product quality. Therefore, it does not compromise the safety of the product. As a brand that is committed to the highest levels of quality control, we will be reviewing our production processes to ensure that such a situation is not repeated.”

It is important for the public to be informed about product compliance and safety, but it is equally important for the media to report accurately and without sensationalism. The Mail’s article has caused undue alarm and fear among consumers.

Elf Bar, which entered the market in 2021, sells 2.5 million Elf Bar 600s per week in the UK, representing two out of three disposable vape sales. These devices are priced from £4 each. The Elf Bar 600 disposable vape range remains a safe and legal product, and the issue is an e-liquid volume issue that does not compromise the safety or quality of the product.

Vital Free Guidance for Starting an Online Business From Business Companion

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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New entrants to the UK’s business scene face a difficult set of circumstances in 2023, with restrained consumer spending, high inflation and lacklustre economic confidence among the challenges to be overcome. However, despite the difficult economic backdrop, more than 402,000 new businesses were established in the first half of 2022.

And thanks to the internet, more businesses than ever are being launched online than ever before, and the trend shows no signs of decline. In the digital age, a physical shop front is often simply no longer required to sell goods or services.

But with these new ventures having to navigate such difficult economic waters, it is more important than ever that startups have access to reliable, up-to-date and free information which could help them satisfy their customers and avoid penalties for breaches of consumer law.

With that in mind, Business Companion, a free online resource published by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) with the support of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), has launched a new guide to Starting an Online Business.

The guide provides detailed information to people who sell goods online, making them aware of their legal responsibilities and to providing a useful introduction to the UK’s consumer and trading laws.

Starting an Online Business sets out the important distinctions between selling items online as an individual and as a business, and the different obligations and responsibilities this entails under consumer protection law.

The ‘Am I in business?’ section includes answers to frequently asked questions and a flowchart which sets out different circumstances under which a person selling items through an online marketplace, such as eBay for example, could be considered to be a business.

The topics covered in this section include VAT registration, as well as the threshold at which a private individual selling items online could potentially be deemed to be running a business in the eyes of the law.

Once it is established that a person selling goods online could be classified as a trader, the second section of the guide covers frequently asked questions about things like terms and conditions and legal compliance.

The third part of the guide contains model terms that can be used as a template by traders to help them ensure they comply with consumer protection law. The terms are relevant to a range of selling mechanisms, including proprietary e-commerce websites, online marketplaces, social media platforms, and any other platform on which a trader sells goods and which is operated by another business.

The resource is easily accessible in website format and as a convenient, downloadable PDF booklet. Starting an Online Business is an essential guide for anyone who needs a quick, reliable and up-to- date answer to a query about the nature of their business and their legal obligations. As with all the information available on Business Companion, it is written by consumer law experts in plain English – and it is free!

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About Business Companion
Business Companion is a free online resource published by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) with the support of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). It provides businesses of all sizes and across all sectors with expert guidance on a wide range of consumer protection law issues.

Stagecoach Manchester Supports National Sports Charity During Community Initiative in Greater Manchester

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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Local bus provider Stagecoach Manchester has announced its support for a new initiative by Access Sport in partnership with Nuffield Health, which aims to tackle the unmet needs of 15,000 disadvantaged local young people and their families.

Access Sport trains, equips, supports and creates community sports clubs, transforming the lives of young people who belong to disadvantaged and disabled communities. With 31% of the UK’s under-18’s considered physically inactive, the charity provides essential services and a route into sport.

The partnership will build upon Access Sport’s award-winning community sport development model whilst utilising Nuffield Health’s facilities, health and fitness experts and educational resources to give young people from marginalised groups the tools to live a healthier life and learn key skills such as cycling competency.

The initiative will be rolled out across Greater Manchester, with young people on the programme provided access to Nuffield Health’s Manchester Institute of Health & Performance (MIHP) – a world-class fitness and health facility used by performance athletes including the Great Britain Cycling Team.

Manchester has almost twice the UK average amount of children under 16 living in poverty, and Access Sport’s invaluable work has provided support to over 6,000 young people across Greater Manchester since 2014, teaching a further 1,200 young people how to ride a bike.

Stagecoach Manchester will support the partnership between Access Sport and Nuffield Health in Greater Manchester helping to raise awareness of the opportunities available to young people in the region. The campaign will see information on the initiative shared with customers across the Greater Manchester region.

Helen Rowbotham, Chief Executive Officer at Access Sport, said:

“We are thrilled to be working with Stagecoach in Manchester. All too often, the young people who would benefit the most from community sport simply don’t have access to it. That’s why we are working hard to make sure more children and young people in Greater Manchester can benefit from inclusive sporting opportunities in their own neighbourhoods. We are really excited about our partnership with Stagecoach that will support local young people to lead more active, healthier lives.”

Jon Taberner, Senior Rehabilitation Specialist at MIHP, said:

“We are hugely supportive of the fantastic work Access Sport already does in the community and are excited to take our partnership to the next level with the support of Stagecoach. As the UK’s largest healthcare charity, we are committed to building a healthier nation, and our work with Access Sport and Stagecoach will increase sport provision and social mobility in the Manchester area. We are looking forward to welcoming more young people at MIHP, helping to get them involved in sports whilst using our world-class facilities to learn new skills.”

Together with Nuffield Health, the campaign across Greater Manchester will see support offered to 11 communities across the region; Moss Side, Gorton, Partington, Old Trafford, Little Hulton, Levenshulme, Openshaw, Wythenshawe, Sale West, Blackley & Ardwick.

Rebecca Rathore, Operations Director of Stagecoach Manchester said:

“The amount of young people who are not able to participate in activities across the UK through no fault of their own, is staggering. Stagecoach Manchester has a long history of supporting the communities we serve, and we are proud to support this initiative, helping to introduce the next generation of Mancunians to sport, and transforming the lives of many young people in our region and helping to build stronger and healthier communities.”

Lee Wasnidge, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester added:

“As the leading bus operator in the region we are committed to promoting health and wellbeing, supporting young people and addressing social isolation. This initiative by Access Sport in partnership with Nuffield Heath will improve the ability and opportunity for young people to get involved in activity and lead heather lifestyles and is something we are proud to get involved with.”

For more information, visit

New Courses in Retrofitting Available to Boost Employment Opportunities and to Support Greater Manchester’s Carbon Neutral Target

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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NEW training courses in retrofitting have launched to help individuals boost their careers, while ensuring Greater Manchester has a skilled workforce for achieving its carbon neutral ambition by 2038.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) awarded funding to the Growth Company to support people with progressing their careers in the green economy. The Accelerating Net-Zero Opportunities course launched last year, with new fully-funded courses in retrofitting being added to the current green skills courses on offer to people living or working in Greater Manchester.

The innovative training programme is funded through the European Social Fund as part of GMCA’s three-year Skills for Growth programme, which has been created in partnership with employers who have highlighted skills gaps they are struggling to fill.

Those on the course will be taught the basic principles of domestic retrofit as well as skills in improving the energy efficiency measures of older buildings. The training has been designed to support people to take the next step in their careers, while at the same time assisting Greater Manchester’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2038, 12 years ahead of the national target.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, GMCA lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships and Digital said:

“Training and upskilling Greater Manchester’s workforce in retrofitting is the first key step in moving towards a cleaner, greener and low carbon city-region. Thousands of buildings in our city-region will require upgrading with energy efficient measures and this is going to need to be carried out on a mass scale by a skilled workforce.

“We want everybody in the city-region to have the opportunity to upskill into the new roles and this Skills for Growth programme will help create pathways into the industry for an additional 150 people.”

Councillor Martyn Cox, Greater Manchester’s Green City-Region lead, said:

“The retrofit sector in Greater Manchester continues to grow, with employers highlighting the need for a workforce trained in skills such as insulation, ventilation and other domestic retrofit skills.

“Skills for Growth is helping with connecting the dots between the city-region achieving carbon neutral status, fulfilling skills gaps and job opportunities, as well as assisting our residents during the fuel crisis to keep costs down through installing cost-effective energy saving methods in their homes.”

The retrofitting training will be carried out at Growth Company’s brand-new Green Skills Academy facility, based in Trafford Park, which has been specially created to educate today’s workforce in green skills and technologies.

Roosevelt Alexander, Director of the Green Skills Academy at The Growth Company Education and Skills, said:

“These new courses will play a crucial role in plugging the skills gap and ensuring the workforce is prepared for the mass upgrading of Greater Manchester’s buildings and we look forward to welcoming the first cohort of learners to our brand-new Green Skills Academy.

“Learners will benefit from access to the latest emerging green technologies and techniques, giving them an understanding of how to improve energy efficiency measures and the skills needed to support the Greater Manchester Retrofitting Task Force and establish a future-proof career.”

The Domestic Retrofit course is one week long and is available to employed people who live or work in Greater Manchester. Applicants do not need to be working in the Retrofitting industry, however some basic construction knowledge and experience would be beneficial.

After completing the course, participants will achieve a Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings.

Back in 2021, the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham launched The Greater Manchester Retrofitting Task Force, to set out a detailed action plan to deliver low-carbon retrofitting across the city-region. Upskilling construction workers was one of the priorities identified by the task force.

Skills for Growth was designed to support employers who have highlighted that they cannot find the technical skills in Greater Manchester required to support and grow their businesses. Since the programme launched in 2020, 11 training providers have been commissioned to deliver a wide range of skills across Digital, Construction, Health and Social Care, Early Years, Allies in Cancer Care, Manufacturing, Logistics, Security, Green Skills, Media, Blue Light Services and other professional training opportunities.

For more information on the Domestic Retrofit Course and to apply please visit Retrofit (gceducationandskills.ac.uk)

For more information on Skills for Growth and current live training programmes please visit ESF Skills for Growth – Greater Manchester Combined Authority (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)

For further information please contact the Communications and Engagement team on: [email protected].

Find us on social media @greatermcr.

The Most Innovative Ways To Improve Your Business

Blog

News Desk

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28/02/2023

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Any business’s growth and success depend on its ability to innovate. It can help a company stay ahead of the competition, increase revenue, improve customer satisfaction, and drive overall growth. Businesses must constantly look for new and creative ways to improve their operations in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business environment. We’ll talk about some of the most creative ways to make your business better in this article.

Adopt new technologies

The business world has been transformed by technology, which is continuing to do so at a rapid rate. Companies that delay adopting new technologies run the risk of falling behind their rivals. As a result, staying abreast of the most recent technological trends and implementing them when necessary is essential. Businesses can automate repetitive tasks with artificial intelligence (AI), enhance customer service with chatbots, and gain valuable insights into customer behavior through data analytics.

Establish a robust online presence

The development of the internet and social media platforms has made it simpler for businesses to reach their intended audience. As a result, if you want to attract and keep customers, as it makes wild wild riches, it’s important to have a strong online presence. This includes making a website that is easy to use, growing a following on social media, and communicating with customers through email marketing campaigns.

Concentrate on the customer experience

Customers are a company’s lifeblood, so making sure they are happy should be a top priority. As a result, providing a positive customer experience is critical. This includes providing individualized services, promptly responding to customer inquiries, and taking feedback from customers seriously. Businesses may be able to boost revenue by increasing customer loyalty and retention.

Encourage creativity and innovation among employees

Employees are a valuable resource for any company, and they can contribute to growth and innovation. As a result, it is absolutely necessary to foster innovation and creativity among employees. This can be accomplished by providing incentives for innovative ideas, fostering a culture that values innovation, and providing opportunities for training and development.

Set up a work environment that’s flexible

The 9-to-5 workday is getting old, and businesses need to learn to work in new ways. This includes creating a work environment that is adaptable to employees’ needs, allowing them to work from home, choose their own hours, and achieve a better work-life balance. This may assist in enhancing job satisfaction, lowering levels of stress, and boosting productivity.

Embrace sustainability

Businesses must adapt to the increasing importance of sustainability to customers. Utilizing renewable energy sources, reducing waste, and implementing eco-friendly practices are all examples of this. Businesses can reduce their environmental impact and attract environmentally conscious customers by doing this.

Establish strategic partnerships

Strategic partnerships can assist businesses in reaching new markets, sharing resources, and expanding their reach. This includes forming partnerships with businesses in the same or related industries, as well as with government and non-profit organizations.

Invest in employee training and development

Investing in employee training and development can help employees improve their skills and knowledge, which can result in higher levels of productivity, a higher level of job satisfaction, and lower rates of employee turnover. Workshops, seminars, and online courses are all examples of this.

Make decisions based on data analytics

Data analytics can offer useful insights into customer behavior, market trends, and business operations. As a result, data analytics must be used to guide decision-making. This includes identifying operational inefficiencies, analyzing customer data to enhance marketing strategies, and making informed business decisions.

Improve and innovate on a regular basis

Innovation ought to be a process that goes on all the time, and businesses ought to constantly look for new and creative ways to improve their operations. This includes looking over and evaluating business procedures on a regular basis, getting feedback from customers, and learning about new technologies and trends.

In conclusion, any business’s growth and success depend on innovation. By implementing cutting-edge technologies, establishing a robust online presence, concentrating on the satisfaction of customers, and encouraging employee ingenuity and creativity.

Madeleine Lindley Ltd Leaps to 35th Anniversary With World Book Day Offer and 10,000 Book Giveaway

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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Children’s book specialists Madeleine Lindley Ltd celebrates its 35th anniversary on 29th February 2023, after being formed and remaining family-owned since 1988.

Family-run Madeleine Lindley Ltd marks its 35th anniversary and World Book Day by gifting 10,000 books to children across the UK. They are also offering 35% off their World Book Day Box for 35 days. The box contains the top 35 books for every school, handpicked by the staff. Teachers can gift their class £300 worth of books for £195 and have between 27th February and 3rd April to take advantage.

Madeleine Lindley founded the company in 1988 and her legacy is survived by her two daughters Rachelle Carter and Amelia Clayton. The business was founded to help schools rejuvenate their book collection and help children develop a passion for reading.

The company has an international customer base and employs more than 30 people at the Book Centre, a purpose-built showroom in Oldham. From its Lancashire birthplace, the staff uses their encyclopaedic knowledge of children’s literature to help primary schools build their own literary oasis.

Rachelle said: “Supplying primary schools with the latest and most engaging books has always been Madeleine Lindley Ltd’s vision. The business was founded by our mother, Madeleine Lindley, a primary school teacher specialising in literacy. She grew frustrated at the difficulty in finding and choosing good-quality children’s books and began selling books to schools.

“As school book suppliers and acting as teachers’ personal shoppers, we help audit and update primary school’s book corners and libraries. Children across the country are once more unlocking their innate love for reading.

Amelia added: “Celebrating our 35th anniversary reminds us of the journey thus far and our ever-growing commitment to incite a passion for reading in every child. We are proud to match more teachers and classrooms with the literature they need to help their children grow as individuals and as academics.

“Our length of service to schools is a testament to Madeleine’s vision to equip schools with the tools they need to nurture our future generations. Literature is crucial for language, literacy, and emotional development – and losing yourself in a book is the greatest opportunity you can gift a child. Distributing 10,000 books to children for World Book Day is an ode to that.”

Pixel Kicks’ Branding and Web Teams Score Double Account Wins

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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The branding and web teams at Pixel Kicks, the Manchester-based full-service digital agency, have won two new clients in the tech and medical sectors.

The first appointment is with m-hance which is a leading Microsoft Gold Partner and provider of Microsoft solutions to organisations based in the UK and Ireland. It primarily works with charities, not-for-profits and the public sector. Its client roster includes Oxfam Ireland, Médecins Sans Frontières, Anthony Nolan and Woodgreen Pets Charity, as well as commercial organisations like Taylor Maxwell.

Pixel Kicks will be delivering a full rebrand and a new website that will be centred around marketing automation integration. The core aims of the project will be to showcase m-hance’s reputation across its primary audiences, to demonstrate the value it delivers through engaging case studies and to ultimately generate new leads. The new brand and website are expected to go live towards the end of Q2 2023.

The agency has also be briefed by Rathin Medical which is a medical procurement and digital healthcare firm based in Manchester. The project includes the creation of a new brand and website as well as an integrated social media and paid for media strategy and ongoing management programme. Pixel Kicks is expected to complete and deliver the new brand and website in May 2023.

The next 12 months is set to be a transformative year for Rathin Medical as it recently won Eureka Network Eurostars grant funding for its SMASH (Sweat Metabolite Analysis for Sports and Health) product which is an AI powered sweat sensing wearable patch. Eurostars is the largest international funding programme for SMEs wishing to collaborate on R&D projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation.

Jamie Bray – business development manager at Pixel Kicks – commented: “M-Hance and Rathin Medical are leaders in their respective fields so we are delighted to be working with both of them. Our branding team has grown steadily over the past few years and has now become a central pillar of the agency’s offering. Moving forward, we anticipate that we will be delivering even more pan-wide agency projects encompassing branding, web development and digital marketing as clients see the value of having all disciplines under one roof.”

Health Assured: UK Staring Down Barrel of Mental Health Crisis With Working From Home Having Significant Impact

Olivia McHugh

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28/02/2023

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A survey conducted by Health Assured, the UK and Ireland’s largest EAP provider, shows that the cost-of-living crisis and working from home are having a significant impact on mental health.

The company, whose services cover 16 million lives, has seen an alarming increase in the number of calls to their mental health hotline, with the number of urgent calls increasing by 26% over the last three years.

The survey of 5400 organisations across the country, suggests that this will continue to rise as the cost-of-living crisis deepens. Results show that:

91% of respondents expect financial pressures to have the biggest impact on mental health over the next 12 months, followed by workload / working long hours (52%) and threat of job cuts / redundancy (25%)
Just 19% believe that working from home has not had a negative impact on mental health.
30% of people in the north of England have personally experienced poor mental health while working from home, compared to 14% of those in the south.
40% of those under 30 said working from home has negatively impacted their mental health.
52% of employees over 30 have seen working from home negatively impact their colleagues’ mental health.

Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO at Health Assured, says “These results should ring alarm bells for all employers. The UK is currently staring down the barrel of a mental health crisis, and it is time to take action.

“Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health and changed the shape of the modern workforce. But as we move out of the pandemic and into the ‘new normal’, we wanted to see what the lasting impact on the mental health of the UK workforce is.

“Over the last couple of years, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of people reporting feelings of declining mental health due to isolation and wanted to understand what was causing this.

“The results clearly indicate that working from home could be a risk factor for poor mental health, with people reporting direct effects both in themselves and colleagues.

“With this in mind, we must take precautions to ensure the mental health of employees across the country is protected. Encourage employees to return to the office. Not only does working in collaborative environments help combat loneliness, it also means that employers are better able to see any changes in or signs that employees may be struggling with mental health at an early stage and put support measure in place. If employers do have people working remotely, small actions such as regular check-ins with managers, virtual social events and improved wellbeing support can also make a difference.

“The mental health crisis in this country is not going away any time soon.

“With 75% of respondents to our survey believing that they have adequate support in place to support the mental health of their employees, it appears that some businesses could simply be treating mental health as a tick box exercise.

“Offering early, meaningful support in the workplace could help address service gaps, support the NHS, look after employees’ wellbeing, and support those currently off on long-term sick leave back into the workplace.”