September 2, 2020

Chancerygate completes £10m furlong business park industrial development in Cheltenham with a third of units already sold

Chancerygate has achieved practical completion for its  94,000 sq ft Furlong Business Park scheme in Bishops Cleeve near Cheltenham, with almost a third of the development’s available units already sold. Furlong Business Park is a £10.2m development providing a total of 11 high-quality industrial and warehousing units ranging from 3,988 sq ft

Read More »
Key Milestone Reached in Southampton Docks Development

Key Milestone Reached in Southampton Docks Development

A key milestone has now been reached in constructing the current extension to Import Services’ quayside warehouse, which is expanding alongside the container port. The first, above ground infrastructure of a steel frame section, was erected by Construction Partner, Midas. The full skeletal frame will take circa 6 weeks to

Read More »
Green Light for Smart Renewable Heating Scheme in Oxford

Green Light for Smart Renewable Heating Scheme in Oxford

A pioneering smart renewable heating scheme in Oxford, part of the £41m Energy Superhub Oxford project, has been given the green light to proceed following lockdown disruption, providing a confidence boost for the construction and renewables industries as they rise to covid-19 operational challenges, and a positive step towards the UK defining

Read More »
Leading Cosmetic Repairs Group Launches ‘SD Claims’

Leading Cosmetic Repairs Group Launches ‘SD Claims’

The SD Group, one of the largest cosmetic finishing groups in the UK, has launched its brand-new Claims service for buildings and home insurance claims. SD Claims will provide insurers with a dedicated team of hard surface repair technicians who can repair damaged household and commercial items to original standard

Read More »

Field Service Management: 5 productive softwares

A reputable manager’s most valuable asset is their ability to skilfully organise the vast network of tasks and plans spread out before them and assign them to a crew according to their expertise and skills. All of these tasks require close supervision and can not be fulfilled successfully unless one

Read More »

Why good broadband is essential for your business

The internet is the most powerful and important business tool at your disposal. Without it, many firms would cease to exist, struggle to make a profit or even be noticed in a sea of small businesses all vying for their customers’ attention. But what’s even more essential is a good

Read More »

How to Stay Healthy While Running a Busy Business

Being your own boss has lots of advantages but running a busy business can leave you feeling tired and worn out from time to time. Self-employed business owners and entrepreneurs typically take a very hands-on role, which often results in them burning the candle at both ends. If running a

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 322 : Nov 2024

September 2, 2020

Chancerygate completes £10m furlong business park industrial development in Cheltenham with a third of units already sold

Chancerygate has achieved practical completion for its  94,000 sq ft Furlong Business Park scheme in Bishops Cleeve near Cheltenham, with almost a third of the development’s available units already sold. Furlong Business Park is a £10.2m development providing a total of 11 high-quality industrial and warehousing units ranging from 3,988 sq ft to 25,714 sq ft. Units are available on both a freehold and leasehold basis. Having pre-sold a 3,075 sq ft unit to Chipping Norton-based printing company KopyRite Printers last November, Chancerygate pre-sold a further 4,590 sq ft unit before the scheme’s completion, which was purchased by building specialists, D&G Contracting. A further unit totalling 4,865 sq ft was bought by creative agency Still Moving Media within days of the development’s completion, while a 3,988 sq ft unit is currently under offer. Situated within Cleeve Business Park on the outskirts of Cheltenham, Furlong Business Park is approximately one mile north of Cheltenham racecourse and four miles from Junction 10 of the M5. Nearby occupiers on Cleeve Business Park include GE Aviation, Zurich Insurance and Capita Life & Pensions. Chancerygate is also in the process of developing a second industrial scheme in Cheltenham, which is expected to be available for occupation next autumn. Called Festival Trade Park, the development will offer 14 trade counter, industrial and warehousing units ranging from 3,487 to 34,981 sq ft and is part of a joint venture with international real estate firm Hines. Commenting on the site’s practical completion, Chancerygate development director George Dickens, said: “We’re very pleased to have achieved practical completion at Furlong Business Park with a third of the scheme’s units now sold and the remaining seven units attracting plenty of interest. “Prior to our two active sites in Cheltenham, there had not been a speculative development in the area for more than a decade. Our recent investment in the region shows our commitment to giving prospective occupiers high-quality industrial space to grow their businesses in Gloucestershire.” BNP Paribas Real Estates and Colliers International are joint sales agents for Furlong Business Park.

Read More »
Key Milestone Reached in Southampton Docks Development

Key Milestone Reached in Southampton Docks Development

A key milestone has now been reached in constructing the current extension to Import Services’ quayside warehouse, which is expanding alongside the container port. The first, above ground infrastructure of a steel frame section, was erected by Construction Partner, Midas. The full skeletal frame will take circa 6 weeks to complete. Mike Thomas, Import Services Client Services Director commented, “This is a significant step in the expansion of our Southampton Container Port development. Hearty thanks to our construction partners and their great groundwork teams who have continued working on the build right through COVID-19. We are all so excited by this purpose-built quayside facility which epitomises our port-centric model and we therefore look forward to operations coming-on stream for our Clients in April next year.” The new £23M extension, will be joined to the existing quayside warehouse operation, adding 200,000sqft and doubling bonded storage capacity to 60,000 pallets at Southampton container port.  The warehouse has been designed to BREEAM ‘excellent’ sustainability standard, in close collaboration with port owner ABP and once complete will also feature a further £2.5 million roof mounted solar array investment from ABP. This solar panel installation on its own, will more than double the existing solar power generated on the port, a positive, green contribution in the drive to cut time, cost and carbon from international supply chains.

Read More »

Hinkley Connection Project begins 12-month countdown to construction of UK’s first operational T-pylons

First new design for pylon in nearly 100 years  116 new T-pylons along 57km route from Hinkley to Seabank, which will connect six million homes and businesses to low carbon energy At the end of July 2021 – the first T-pylon on National Grid’s Hinkley Connection is due to be constructed. It will be one of 116 T-pylons* along the 57km route, which will connect low carbon energy from EDF’s Hinkley Point C power station to six million UK homes and businesses. It will also allow for more capacity on the network for renewable energy from the South West peninsular. Once energised, they will be the UK’s first operational T-pylons and the first new design for a UK electricity pylon for almost a century. The T-pylons have a single pole and T-shaped cross arms which hold the wires in a diamond ‘earring’ shape. They are around 35 metres high; about a third shorter than traditional 400kV lattice pylons, have a smaller footprint and use less land. The new high-voltage 400kV overhead line featuring the new pylons is just one element of the Hinkley Connection which will run from Hinkley to Seabank, near Avonmouth. The full route is made up of 14 interconnected project stages which are set for completion by 2025. It includes modifications to Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) existing network plus 8.5km of underground cables through the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which will leave the area free of pylons for the first time since the 1960s. Construction work started in 2018 and, as a critical infrastructure project, has continued throughout 2020. In that time, highlights include: Start of works to underground 132kV lines and remove pylons that run close to and over homes in Nailsea Completion of the temporary haul road for construction of the Mendip underground cables, including installation of a 90-tonne Callendar Hamilton Bridge – the first to be built in the UK for several decades. The start of trenching and ducting in preparation for the underground cables through the Mendip Hills Construction of 2400m of bat flyways to maintain habitat connectivity for bat roosts Start of construction work on two new substations at Shurton and Sandford Removal of pylons and wires near the M49 at Avonmouth and undergrounding of a short section of cable running north from Avonmouth substation Installation of a tilting weir on moors near Tickenham to adjust water levels to encourage wading birds to nest and breed National Grid is also supporting local communities most impacted by the works through a range of initiatives. So far these include over £354,000 in STEM grants to 538 schools, a total of £332,000 in community grants to 22 local projects plus an adult skills programme that has seen 175 local unemployed people gain a recognised construction qualification and helped 66 back into employment. James Goode, Project Director for National Grid said: “We have already reached some significant milestones on the Hinkley Connection Project, which is a testament to the skills and expertise of the project team and partners. It’s exciting to look forward to this time next year, when Hinkley Connection will see construction of the first new pylon design in nearly 100 years.”

Read More »

GRAHAM awarded £3.5m fit-out contract by international law firm CMS

GRAHAM has been awarded a £3.5m contract by CMS to complete the interior fit-out of the international law firm’s new Sheffield office, located at 1 Charter Square. The privately-owned contractor will undertake the CAT A and CAT B development of 47,500 sq ft of space across four floors within the landmark building, which is situated in Phase 1 of Sheffield City Council’s Heart of the City II regeneration project. Since March 2020, GRAHAM has worked collaboratively with CMS to develop the design to Stage 4 to ensure the dynamic new space meets the modern expectations of approximately 350 people, with the in-built flexibility to accommodate future growth in line with the firm’s strategy in the north of England. The construction programme began in August 2020 and is scheduled for completion in early December 2020. Discussing the detail of the fit-out project Sue Blanche, GRAHAM Development Director, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious contract with internationally renowned law firm, CMS. As part of a Pre-Construction Services Agreement, we have been working closely with CMS and its professional team to fine-tune the design so that it includes first-class facilities that promote a collaborative environment to enable CMS to continue to deliver exceptional services to its clients. “Some of the notable aspects of the complex fit-out include glazed and moveable partitions, state-of-the-art AV/IT systems, feature reception areas, bespoke joinery as well as wall and floor finishes throughout. It’s an exciting project, and we are confident that, once complete, 1 Charter House will perfectly represent CMS’s reputation as a global leader.” CMS has signed a 20-year lease for the new premises, with the relocation coinciding with the firm’s 30-year anniversary in Sheffield. Expertise GRAHAM continues to expand its interior fit-out presence across the north of England, and has recently completed projects for Apart Hotel (Liverpool) and (Leeds). Currently, it is delivering Leeds Building Society’s new headquarters in Leeds city centre, and has recently been selected to deliver a £10m interior fit-out development at Citylabs 2.0 – a world-leading precision medicine campus in Manchester. Notably, GRAHAM has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner for a range of leading corporate firms, counting KPMG and Grant Thornton among its prestigious clients.

Read More »
Green Light for Smart Renewable Heating Scheme in Oxford

Green Light for Smart Renewable Heating Scheme in Oxford

A pioneering smart renewable heating scheme in Oxford, part of the £41m Energy Superhub Oxford project, has been given the green light to proceed following lockdown disruption, providing a confidence boost for the construction and renewables industries as they rise to covid-19 operational challenges, and a positive step towards the UK defining how it will meet its 2050 net zero target. The recommencement of the scheme with leading housing provider, Stonewater, and Kensa Contracting, will contribute to the Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO) project’s anticipated savings of 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year by 2021; the equivalent of taking 2,000 cars off the road. The 60-homes in Blackbird Leys will demonstrate how decarbonisation of heating using ground source heat pumps can interact with local energy systems to allow millions of homes to cut carbon and costs, and adopt a ‘smart cities’ model. The trial represents 20% of homes committed to receiving smart heating with Kensa ground source heat pumps as part of ESO, a world-first project backed by UKRI which is pioneering a model for the rapid decarbonisation of power, transport and heat in cities across the UK and globally. ESO showcases rapid electric vehicle charging, hybrid battery energy storage systems, low carbon heating, and smart energy management to improve air quality and accelerate Oxford’s journey to zero carbon. Councillor Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council, visited the smart heat pump project as works resumed: “I am delighted that Blackbird Leys residents are first in line to benefit from a heat pumps system that saves them money and shrinks the city’s carbon footprint. Oxford’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change was clear that greener homes would be better homes, cheaper to heat. It was brilliant to visit the site of the new heat pumps, talk with the people making this aspect of Energy Superhub Oxford happen, and see at a social distance the positive impacts for local people. This year we have taken exciting steps forwards as part of the Energy Superhub Oxford project with the installation of electric vehicle chargers, electrification of the City Council’s fleet, and delivery of the electricity transformer to the National Grid substation in Cowley.” The residents at Blackbird Leys will have their night storage heating system replaced with a Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pump system coupled with Switchee heating controls, which will constantly sense, learn and respond to the inhabitant’s behaviour. Adding a further smart technology dimension to the running of the heat pump, Kensa’s heat optimisation software will take a day-ahead forecast of half hourly electricity costs, and automatically shift the operating times to enable the occupants to make savings from dynamic tariffs without having to change their behaviour. The smart heating system at Blackbird Leys is expected to save residents 3,520 tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime and cut their current night storage heating bills to levels lower than that of mains gas, all without adding strain to the UK’s electricity grid; a triple-challenge the renewables industry must overcome to ensure low carbon ground source heat pump technology is more widely adopted by society.

Read More »
Leading Cosmetic Repairs Group Launches ‘SD Claims’

Leading Cosmetic Repairs Group Launches ‘SD Claims’

The SD Group, one of the largest cosmetic finishing groups in the UK, has launched its brand-new Claims service for buildings and home insurance claims. SD Claims will provide insurers with a dedicated team of hard surface repair technicians who can repair damaged household and commercial items to original standard – saving time and money on claims that might otherwise have required brand-new replacements. The service will be established by Shaun Mulvey, who joins the SD Group as Head of Insurance after 15 years in the claims handling industry, formerly working with The Be Group and Magic Man. On launching SD Claims, Shaun said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to build something new for SD that will have such an enormous benefit both to the SD Group itself and to the insurance market. “For insurers, being able to repair fittings and fixtures rather than replacing them can have a massive impact on the cost of handling claims, as well as the time taken to resolve them. I really believe there is no team more trusted to provide this service – and to the high standards that are required – than the hard surface repair technicians at SD.” Insurers will be able to arrange for hard surface repairs to be carried out on a range of household and commercial claims, including window, tile and brick repairs as well as kitchen fittings, bathrooms, flooring and metalwork to name but a few. The service will be available UK-wide and will include a two-year warranty rather than the industry-standard one-year guarantee. Shaun added: “We wanted to create a service that benefits the end-customer who is making the claim as much as the insurer, and that really comes down to the time taken to repair or replace. For example, replacing a damaged bathroom, ordering a suite and fitting can take two weeks to complete, in comparison to as little as five days when you’re talking about a hard surface repair. Add to that the environmental impact of repairing goods rather than sending them to landfill, and the benefits of a service like this are clearly evident.” In preparation for its launch, SD has developed a network of qualified repairs experts, based across the UK, to assist with claims at short notice.  Nick Jones, Managing Director of The SD Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to be launching SD Claims this August, particularly with Shaun’s expertise at the helm. He brings with him former colleague Zara Weller, who between them have over 25 years in the business so we have every faith that our newest branch of SD is in the right hands.  “What we initially thought would be a service that sees a gradual increase in interest has exceeded all of our expectations already. We have really hit the ground running with claims already coming in three months ahead of schedule. “SD’s technicians are known for their work ethic and an unrivalled level of skill when it comes to repairs, and so it’s fantastic to see that our services are in such demand from an industry in which we are relative newcomers. I’m very much looking forward to seeing how things progress.” Launched in 1973, SD originated as a family run business in Somerset that specialised in the supply and application of sealant. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of the UK’s largest repairs and sealant companies, with nine offices across England, Scotland and Wales. 

Read More »

The Key to Successfully Managing Construction Projects? Delegation!

If you’re managing a construction project, delegation is going to be key to your success. At the end of the day, it’s your role to ensure that everyone knows what they are doing. This includes knowing who’s meant to be doing what, when the work needs to be completed and any other necessary information that will ensure the project is completed to perfection. However, so many project managers tend to shy away from delegation. Instead of putting trust in their team, they’ll try to take on the bulk of the work themselves and oversee as much as possible directly. THis is senseless. If you weren’t sure that the team you are using is capable of doing the work to a good standard, you wouldn’t have hired them in the first place. For success to ensue, it’s absolutely essential that you take a step back, pass the right projects on to the right people and trust them to meet your requirements and expectations! At the end of the day, one person or team focusing on one or two specific tasks will prove a lot more effective and efficient than one person pandering over everything. Here are a few different steps that you can take to delegate jobs properly for the best results! 1. Know your team First and foremost you must know your team and exactly what each individual member plays. This can be in-house team members, agencies or third party services. It could be architects, plumbers, plasterers, electricians, bricklayers or anyone else. If you need work to be carried out by anyone you need to know what they can provide and determine whether they’re the right fit for what you need. This will allow you to delegate tasks to the right people. 2. Set realistic deadlines If you’re going to delegate tasks, you need to account for sufficient time for the task to be done properly and to a good standard. Placing unrealistic deadlines on people will just lead to rushed and shoddy work, which will reflect badly on you. Make sure that tasks are delegated to individuals who do not have any other commitments that could impact the deadline being met  – for example, other projects that you may have delegated to them alongside this new project. 3. Provide in-depth information When briefing people on what you’re expecting of them, it’s better to be overly informative and detailed than to give a vague or wishy washy brief. If specific needs or points are important, place emphasis on them. 4. Be available for questions or clarification Sure, you should avoid overly interfering once tasks have been delegated. But you should still make sure that you’re available to answer any questions or provide any clarification. It’s much better to give precise answers to any doubts or queries than to leave people to guess for themselves – potentially making the wrong choice. As you can see, delegation really is essential if you’re going to manage any construction projects properly. The four steps outlined above should help the process to go as smoothly as possible!

Read More »

Field Service Management: 5 productive softwares

A reputable manager’s most valuable asset is their ability to skilfully organise the vast network of tasks and plans spread out before them and assign them to a crew according to their expertise and skills. All of these tasks require close supervision and can not be fulfilled successfully unless one dedicated all their time to close surveillance. However thanks to digital softwares and apps, now these tasks have become considerably easier and can be regulated using only the screen of your laptop. Further highlighting the solution we have compiled here an excellent software guide for field managers to profit from. WorkForce: This is an all-in-on solution for go-getters. WorkForce is the silver lining you need for your work. This is a simple but innovative software that is based on cloud technology. Comprising of many components, it offers a wide variety of digital and visual tools for assistance in almost all areas concerned with management. WorkForce is specialised for field service management owing to its unique set of functions that aid with: Communication: Whether you have a small team or a large crew, this software is optimised to make communication easier and quicker. Your office staff can easily stay connected with field staff and give prompt instructions. WorkForce also allows you to see their live locations and assign jobs using their drag-&-drop feature. Collaborate effortlessly using WorkForce’s quick and responsive functions. It eliminates wasted time and increases productivity by a large margin. The best part is you can even attach notes and plans while you assign a job to make the project easier to understand and get your idea conveyed. Productivity: WorkForce boosts sales and productivity by converting wasted time into work. This app eliminates all paperwork and excel spreadsheets and has digitalised everything from quoting, invoicing to project agreements and payments. All under your fingertips! Receive quick job notifications and progress updates in one touch and save photographs, pdfs and documents in one click for future references. You can even send updated job reports and follow-ups for unpaid invoices and incomplete projects. WorkForce is definitely a game-changer when it comes to management work and will make ease in your work by a large magnitude. 2. Eye On Task: This software makes co-ordination a walk in the part with its new and innovative concepts. Not only can you communicate with your team effectively and quickly but also form and dissolve teams as well. This app gives you autonomy to choose whatever option suits you best and is optimal for your work. Eye on task truly does keep a keen eye on your projects and will act as your virtual assistant by filing all your tasks, projects and jobs neatly for future references. 3. OptimoRoute : This is the optimum route for all field service managers. OptimoRoute is an extremely professional app that lets your formulate and send plans on the go. Not only can you mark and make editions to your plans but also make them better using their innovative functions. It creates ease for field workers as well as it allows you to send them routes with proper GPS directions and also allow you to track your workers and their orders. You can even request analytics for future projects! 4. FreshDesk: This software is specifically designed to fit the needs of field managers as it prioritises communication and coordination. It offers excellent customer engagement options so you can build trust and solid relationships with your customers. FreshDesk also reduces wasted time and offers handy solutions to resolve most of your problems. It even used no-code boys to simplify difficult workflows. 5. Field Motion: As the name suggests this app puts into motion all your tasks and projects and allows you to track them efficiently. Not only does it offer easy communication between your office and field staff but also makes job assignment a walk in the park. Field Motion is optimum for managers who prefer an easy to use, simple interface with complex and innovative tools. Conclusion: These softwares will not only track all your productivity progress but also increase it considerably so invest efficiently in the proper software for more fruitful results.

Read More »

Why good broadband is essential for your business

The internet is the most powerful and important business tool at your disposal. Without it, many firms would cease to exist, struggle to make a profit or even be noticed in a sea of small businesses all vying for their customers’ attention. But what’s even more essential is a good broadband connection and high speeds. Failure to have these established and you may struggle with the simple day to day running of your business. From cloud access services, file transfers, screen sharing, communication between clients and employees and more, without a good speed your business will be left floundering. The costs of poor broadband aren’t just felt in your business’ success, you may also feel them in your pocket. Getting the best deal for your broadband is essential for any business owner who is conscious of that bottom line and their expenses. You can check out the latest broadband deals here. Here we’ll outline why good broadband is essential for your business. Tech! Technological advances are happening every day and the best way your business can keep up is to invest in high-speed broadband. Most devices now require a certain broadband speed or bandwidth for them to work efficiently. Companies and clients alike will want to use the latest in technology to connect with you and make their working life easier, from smartphones and tablets to video conferencing, online payments and e-commerce. Ensuring you have high-speed broadband will allow you to cope with high volumes of traffic and requests both in your office and from your customers. Remote working Due to Covid-19, more of us are working from home than ever before. This means you need to provide a network that is flexible and easily accessed by those who work remotely. From data back up requirements to sharing projects, online meetings, chats and so on, your workforce needs to know that they can log onto a secure network that won’t hinder their productivity and their ability to do their job. Fast broadband will allow them to do this. Better customer service Providing outstanding customer service is essential for any business. You can provide your staff with excellent training and incentives and only hire those with good levels of experience in customer service. However, all of this means very little if your staff cannot implement their skills due to poor connectivity issues. If you can’t connect with clients online efficiently, then your customer retention numbers will start to suffer. Data back up Preserving your files, customer data and other online files safely are only possible with superfast broadband. Imagine losing all your customer data, your product information, vendor information and financial data for everyone you do business with. Automated cloud backups and confidence comes with high-speed broadband. And finally, increase those profit margins The better your broadband speed, the better for your budget. Not only could you potentially save money on your energy bills but with improved customer engagement and staff productivity, your profit margins will increase in no time.

Read More »

How to Stay Healthy While Running a Busy Business

Being your own boss has lots of advantages but running a busy business can leave you feeling tired and worn out from time to time. Self-employed business owners and entrepreneurs typically take a very hands-on role, which often results in them burning the candle at both ends. If running a busy business is top of the agenda, it’s important to consider the impact it’s having on other areas of your life. Working long hours or taking on too much can have a negative impact on your health, particularly if you’re feeling stressed or anxious. Fortunately, there are simple ways to take care of your health without affecting your work. To ensure you stay healthy while running your business empire, take a look at these top tips now: Eat a nutritious diet When you’re working all day, every day, it’s easy to forget to eat at regular times. Entrepreneurs may go for too long without consuming anything, only to binge on fast food when hunger takes hold and you simply cannot resist. If shopping and preparing nutritious meals every day sounds a little over-ambitious, why not try a much simpler established diet plan instead? When you use a nutrition plan as a basis for your healthy diet, you won’t have to think about what to eat or when to eat it – it’ll be almost effortless. Furthermore, a nutritious regime, like John Cena’s diet plan, can help you to get the right mix of macronutrients and vitamins. When you’re fuelling your body correctly, you have more energy and reduce your risk of developing health issues, so it’s a great way for business owners to stay healthy. Get regular exercise If a busy work schedule leaves you with limited time to spend with family and friends, you probably aren’t getting enough time to work out on a regular basis either. However, exercise is a critical part of a healthy lifestyle, so it’s important to find a way to fit it into your usual routine. If you work from home, why not take a brisk walk around the block every lunchtime or even jog around your garden? Alternatively, if you work away from home, why not switch commuting in the car to travelling by bike? When you really can’t spare the time to get outside to exercise, you can use office-friendly equipment to increase your heart rate. Innovative under-desk treadmills and exercise bikes give you the chance to stay fit while you’re working, and wearable weights help you to build muscle strength. You should also complement exercise with frequent visits to medical experts says this dentist in Melbourne. Focus on your mental health Running a business is inevitably stressful at times, which naturally has an impact on your mental health. Many entrepreneurs spend the majority of their time at work, which leaves little room for maintaining relationships. This can exacerbate mental health issues and leave you feeling isolated. If you feel your mental health is negatively affected by your work, or anything else, don’t hesitate to seek help from a medical professional. In addition to treating your symptoms with prescription medication, you could be referred for online therapy or counselling. In addition to this, there are numerous self-care options that can help you to minimize anxiety or stress. Yoga, meditation and mindfulness can be practised daily and in any location. You can even use them in the office to help you stay calm and focused. Maintain relationships No matter how hard you’re working, it’s important to make time for the people you love. Factor in time to spend with your partner and family on a regular basis and be sure to maintain friendships too. If you can’t attend as many social events as you’d like, why not host a virtual meet-up? Even checking in with friends via text or email will help you to maintain contact in busier times. Having fun, relaxing and laughing are all very good for the mind and body and will help you to de-stress naturally. Furthermore, getting out of the office and doing something different will help you to stay creative and motivated. As well as benefitting yourself, you’ll be enriching the lives of the people closest to you when you make them a priority. Cultivate a Health-First Workspace If you’re an employer or you regularly work with freelancers and subcontractors, you can encourage them to manage their health more effectively too. By giving people the time to take exercise breaks or providing access to healthy eating plans, for example, you can ensure that those around you are as focused on staying healthy as you are.

Read More »