A recent survey of HR Directors and business leaders conducted by HR specialists The Curve Group today revealed that three quarters of companies polled were finding it difficult to recruit top talent, despite the growing unemployment figures. In addition 62% of those surveyed had also seen an increase of absenteeism due to stress over the last two years.
In response to questioning about how best to spend money on engaging with employees, over half of said that their strategy would be to invest in leadership development to create clear direction for their organisations. Surprisingly only in 1 in 10 companies would increase salaries or pay larger bonuses, while just 1 in 20 companies would hire additional personnel to relieve pressure on the workforce.
Perhaps the most interesting result of the survey was the focus on the need to develop organisational leaders in order to have a significant impact on employee engagement. For many organisations this represents a change in priorities. Resources for HR programmes have been squeezed and so finding cost effective options for developing internal leaders to drive employee engagement rather than investing in employee benefits has come to the fore.
Lyndsey Simpson, Co-owner of The Curve Group, said, “These figures indicate some of the challenges facing employers in times of economic uncertainty. Redundancies or headcount freezes put pressure on the remaining workforce, leading to increased levels of stress. At the same time those who have a job often feel they should remain in a ‘safe’ position rather than risk moving, thus reducing the talent pool.”
Simpson comments, “While this shift is understandable in the short term, the danger is in neglecting the needs of the wider workforce – which may contain the stars of tomorrow - and leads to potential disengagement and reduced levels of output.”
FACTFILE:
The Curve Group was formed in 2003 and leads the way in the field of HR services. The company is split into four main businesses - Curve Search, Curve Recruiting, Curve Outplacement and Curve Outsourcing. The Curve Group works with a broad range of organisations in financial services, consulting, leisure, food and business services and clients include Barclays, Virgin, RBS, Avon, LaSer and Aston Villa FC. The company is proud to have won the Best Employer award at the 2011 Business Awards, and finalists at the following Awards in 2011 - Fast Growth Business, Recruitment Business and Working Mums. For more information visit www.thecurvegroup.co.uk
(EDITOR: High levels of stress, leading to absenteeism? Perhaps you need to look at ways of looking after your loyal staff more and not risk burning them out?)
The blog for smart businesspeople
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Whitbread teams up with the Prince's Trust to combat youth unemployment
Whitbread has joined forces with youth charity, The Prince's Trust, to pilot the 'Get into Hospitality' programme in the West Midlands, which is set to provide local disadvantaged young people the skills and confidence to find a job.
Twelve unemployed young people aged between 16-25 years will be given the opportunity to join a free, two week training programme, to learn all aspects of the hospitality sector.
Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, which includes the UK's biggest budget hotel brand, Premier Inn and pub restaurants Beefeater Grill, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Taybarns, will launch the programme on Monday 10th October. More than three in four young people supported by The Prince's Trust move into work, training or education.
The first 'Get into Hospitality' programme will run in Barn and Hockley Heath, and consists of 10 days of support and training at Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants' 'Skills Academy' in areas such as self-confidence and interpersonal skills, as well as site placements which will provide a firsthand experience of the hospitality industry and practice their new found skills.
Individuals will not only gain a qualification in Foundation Food safety, but will also receive six months of mentoring support from The Prince's Trust following the completion of the programme. Whitbread is hoping to be able to offer positions to many of the participants and the successful participants will be given the opportunity to complete a Whitbread apprenticeship, including an NVQ level 2.
Whitbread Hotels and Restaurant spokesman, Malcolm Redmond commented: "It is worrying to hear that around one in five young people in the UK are not in work, education or training, costing the UK economy £155 million a week in Jobseeker's Allowance and lost productivity. We are delighted to be working with The Prince's Trust to provide an opportunity to get these young adults back into the world of work and on their way to building a future within the hospitality sector."
A Prince's Trust spokesperson added: "The Prince's Trust's 'Get into Hospitality' course provides a great opportunity for young people to gain valuable work experience to help them find a job. We are thrilled to be working with Whitbread to ensure that we are doing all we can for disadvantaged young people here in the West Midlands."
FACTFILE:
Award-winning Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest hotel brand with over 600 budget hotels and more than 46,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland. Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms, TV with Freeview, and WiFi internet access. All Premier Inns feature a bar and restaurant; situated inside the hotel or adjacent, offering a wide range of food choices.
In 2008 Premier Inn launched in Dubai and is now open in Bangalore, India. On a domestic front, Premier Inn aims to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London (within the M25) by 2012.
Premier Inn is currently offering rooms for just £29 (restrictions apply). Visit www.premierinn.com for full terms and conditions.
Premier Inn supports WaterAid, the international charity whose mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Premier Inn, as part of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, hopes to raise £1 million for WaterAid.
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13-to-30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped more than 650,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each day.
Twelve unemployed young people aged between 16-25 years will be given the opportunity to join a free, two week training programme, to learn all aspects of the hospitality sector.
Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, which includes the UK's biggest budget hotel brand, Premier Inn and pub restaurants Beefeater Grill, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Taybarns, will launch the programme on Monday 10th October. More than three in four young people supported by The Prince's Trust move into work, training or education.
The first 'Get into Hospitality' programme will run in Barn and Hockley Heath, and consists of 10 days of support and training at Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants' 'Skills Academy' in areas such as self-confidence and interpersonal skills, as well as site placements which will provide a firsthand experience of the hospitality industry and practice their new found skills.
Individuals will not only gain a qualification in Foundation Food safety, but will also receive six months of mentoring support from The Prince's Trust following the completion of the programme. Whitbread is hoping to be able to offer positions to many of the participants and the successful participants will be given the opportunity to complete a Whitbread apprenticeship, including an NVQ level 2.
Whitbread Hotels and Restaurant spokesman, Malcolm Redmond commented: "It is worrying to hear that around one in five young people in the UK are not in work, education or training, costing the UK economy £155 million a week in Jobseeker's Allowance and lost productivity. We are delighted to be working with The Prince's Trust to provide an opportunity to get these young adults back into the world of work and on their way to building a future within the hospitality sector."
A Prince's Trust spokesperson added: "The Prince's Trust's 'Get into Hospitality' course provides a great opportunity for young people to gain valuable work experience to help them find a job. We are thrilled to be working with Whitbread to ensure that we are doing all we can for disadvantaged young people here in the West Midlands."
FACTFILE:
Award-winning Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest hotel brand with over 600 budget hotels and more than 46,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland. Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms, TV with Freeview, and WiFi internet access. All Premier Inns feature a bar and restaurant; situated inside the hotel or adjacent, offering a wide range of food choices.
In 2008 Premier Inn launched in Dubai and is now open in Bangalore, India. On a domestic front, Premier Inn aims to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London (within the M25) by 2012.
Premier Inn is currently offering rooms for just £29 (restrictions apply). Visit www.premierinn.com for full terms and conditions.
Premier Inn supports WaterAid, the international charity whose mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Premier Inn, as part of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, hopes to raise £1 million for WaterAid.
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13-to-30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped more than 650,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each day.
New Study: Getting what you pay for, free newswires that are worth your time
B2B PR agency reveals which free newswires help to raise awareness online – and which ones don’t
Vitis PR, a Birmingham-based UK B2B PR agency, has announced the results of its study into free newswires.
Free newswires across the UK and US are fighting to attract the attention of small businesses and PR agencies that want to save on online news distribution costs. While many have paid for options, the freemium model can introduce a newswire’s services to companies/agencies that want to spread news to journalists, bloggers and online cost effectively.
Vitis PR has researched and trialled 60 free newswires to determine how well the services work and what additional benefits, such as free hyperlinks and distribution to journalists/bloggers.
Vitis PR issued a series of press releases using the sites and evaluated the results in terms of both PR and SEO benefit. The research focused on the following:
1. Do journalists and bloggers actually use the press releases on free sites for news content?
2. Does the release appear on Google News?
3. Does the release appear in a Google web search?
4. How easy to use are free release sites?
5. What help (if any) are free press release sites for link building?
6. Could we use the sites to help 'own' the search results for a targeted phrase?
The results include:
Best free press release site for reaching journalists, bloggers, editors and other influencers
Winner: none!
The same press releases were also sent to journalist contacts and were all picked up, so the quality of the submitted material wasn’t in question. These wires simply don’t get the attention of journalists or bloggers.
Best free press release site for Google News
Winner: Online PR News
Runners up: Open PR, PR Fire
Just a handful of free news distribution sites were actually picked up by Google News, though the majority did offer paid for options which increased chances of appearing.
Best free press release site for appearing in Google web searches
Winner: PR Fire
Runners up: News Wire Today, PR Zoom, Idea Marketers
Appearing in web searches may be valuable as a way of trying to place news in front of people searching for your target phrases - though it is unlikely this will be effective where the target phrases are more than moderately competitive.
Best free press release site for building links
Winners: Idea Marketers, PR Zoom, Business Services UK
Simply posting the release to some of the distribution sites does give some limited SEO benefit because the sites do provide links and a few allow users to tailor the anchor text - most sites however, either didn't give a link or gave a 'nofollow' link. None of the releases were picked up by third-party sites that might be considered to be valuable for link building, so it seems that there is little value in relying on free press release distribution sites for link building.
Jaspal Sahota, Director of Vitis PR commented: “We wouldn’t recommend that a PR agency or company relies on using a free press release distribution service to get news in front of journalists and bloggers. The odds are that it isn't going to work except perhaps in a few special cases. If you really must use a wire service to reach influencers, you'd be better served with a premium service, which sends news out to databases of journalists and bloggers and often syndicates news to other websites. Having said that, one of the best ways to get journalist or bloggers interested in your news is traditional PR media relations - find the right contact, get your story straight and pitch it.
Some of the services offer extra benefits for as little as a dollar so, if you’re investing the time to use a free wire service, it makes sense to spend a few extra dollars (or pounds) to get the best out of it.”
To see the full results of the research, please visit: www.vitispr.com/blog/free-press-release-sites
To find out more about Vitis PR, contact Jaspal Sahota on 0121 242 8048 or via jas@vitispr.com.
(EDITOR: Or use the modestly priced paid for services of www.responsesource.com)
The TCM Group launches the “Clear your desk of conflict before the New Year’’ campaign!
Start the New Year with a clean slate through mediation
• Innovative campaign to help Human Resources managers resolve disputes and grievances
• Twitter & Facebook campaign asks for clients and followers to send a picture of their desk
• Mediation, as the best alternative dispute resolution mechanism, saves organisations’ money & time
The TCM Group is delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Clear Your Desk of Conflict campaign’, for the third year running. Since 2008 the group has saved approximately £600,000 for their clients during quarter three, with a campaign goal to get all of the internal conflicts resolved before the New Year. TCM has worked with an impressive client list over the years including: BT, Lloyds Banking Group, Marks & Spencer, HSBC, Topshop, DWP and The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Statistics reveal that disputes referred to formal litigation can expect a 50% success rate as opposed to an average of 85-90% in mediation where both parties are willing participants. Conflict is natural however there is no doubt that it can have a negative influence on almost every aspect of the modern workplace. The TCM Group has developed high quality, constructive and innovative remedies for disputes and conflicts. These solutions are then delivered by some of the leading dispute resolution professionals in the UK and Europe.
David Liddle, TCM’s Managing Director said: “Conflict can be extremely costly. In our 20 years of experience, we have seen numerous cases where unresolved workplace conflict became divisive and very damaging. “If you want a harmonious workplace environment that can boost your employees’ productivity, then mediation is the right path" for solving those disputes. It’s not science, mediation just works. “
Each year, during this holiday period, Human Resources managers are overwhelmed with the amount of grievances and complaints that pile up on their desk. This campaign’s goal is to get all of their internal conflicts resolved and off their desk before 2012. It is all about ‘starting the new year with a clean slate’. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner and everyone is getting excited about spending time with their loved ones. Mediation can provide the same environment and feeling in a workplace – peace at work is not a myth, it is something that TCM provides to each of their clients.
Mike Emmott, Adviser, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) pointed out: “The TCM Group has made a significant contribution to furthering the cause of workplace mediation in both public and private sectors. David was ahead of the field in recognising the need for the mediation community to adopt a more professional framework, and doing something about it. His commitment to providing mediation and training in-house mediators is allied with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He is always looking to drive the agenda forward and is an active member of the Civil Mediation Council Workplace Mediation Committee.”
TCM is a leading UK mediation services and training provider, which resolves over 90% of cases and has worked on some of the most challenging workplace disputes imaginable.
Although TCM offers unrivalled services and support, they still keep their fees remarkably low. For less than £1,500 plus vat anyone can gain access to a team of the very best mediation talent anywhere in the UK. The TCM group covers the entire country and achieves a successful outcome in over 90% of cases.
To solve your workplace disputes and clean your desk of conflict please call 0800 294 97 98 or email info@thetcmgroup.com
• Innovative campaign to help Human Resources managers resolve disputes and grievances
• Twitter & Facebook campaign asks for clients and followers to send a picture of their desk
• Mediation, as the best alternative dispute resolution mechanism, saves organisations’ money & time
The TCM Group is delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Clear Your Desk of Conflict campaign’, for the third year running. Since 2008 the group has saved approximately £600,000 for their clients during quarter three, with a campaign goal to get all of the internal conflicts resolved before the New Year. TCM has worked with an impressive client list over the years including: BT, Lloyds Banking Group, Marks & Spencer, HSBC, Topshop, DWP and The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Statistics reveal that disputes referred to formal litigation can expect a 50% success rate as opposed to an average of 85-90% in mediation where both parties are willing participants. Conflict is natural however there is no doubt that it can have a negative influence on almost every aspect of the modern workplace. The TCM Group has developed high quality, constructive and innovative remedies for disputes and conflicts. These solutions are then delivered by some of the leading dispute resolution professionals in the UK and Europe.
David Liddle, TCM’s Managing Director said: “Conflict can be extremely costly. In our 20 years of experience, we have seen numerous cases where unresolved workplace conflict became divisive and very damaging. “If you want a harmonious workplace environment that can boost your employees’ productivity, then mediation is the right path" for solving those disputes. It’s not science, mediation just works. “
Each year, during this holiday period, Human Resources managers are overwhelmed with the amount of grievances and complaints that pile up on their desk. This campaign’s goal is to get all of their internal conflicts resolved and off their desk before 2012. It is all about ‘starting the new year with a clean slate’. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner and everyone is getting excited about spending time with their loved ones. Mediation can provide the same environment and feeling in a workplace – peace at work is not a myth, it is something that TCM provides to each of their clients.
Mike Emmott, Adviser, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) pointed out: “The TCM Group has made a significant contribution to furthering the cause of workplace mediation in both public and private sectors. David was ahead of the field in recognising the need for the mediation community to adopt a more professional framework, and doing something about it. His commitment to providing mediation and training in-house mediators is allied with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He is always looking to drive the agenda forward and is an active member of the Civil Mediation Council Workplace Mediation Committee.”
TCM is a leading UK mediation services and training provider, which resolves over 90% of cases and has worked on some of the most challenging workplace disputes imaginable.
Although TCM offers unrivalled services and support, they still keep their fees remarkably low. For less than £1,500 plus vat anyone can gain access to a team of the very best mediation talent anywhere in the UK. The TCM group covers the entire country and achieves a successful outcome in over 90% of cases.
To solve your workplace disputes and clean your desk of conflict please call 0800 294 97 98 or email info@thetcmgroup.com
Friday, 4 November 2011
Do your premises have the Arghhhh factor? Are you chasing your customers away?
Study illustrates the danger of retailers leaving the sound of their brand to chance.
Apparently half of Britain's shoppers have left a store because they were annoyed by the music. This is the result of a study carried out by Immedia Plc, which develops music strategies for retailers.
The findings illustrate the danger High Street brands face by not developing a suitable 'sound' for their brand.
1,000+ shoppers were asked both about their attitude to in-store music, and about how music affects them psychologically and emotionally.
Key results are as follows:
* Three-quarters of shoppers (73%) will notice the music playing in-store
* Out of those that do, 40% will stay longer in a shop if they feel the music is well chosen for the environment. Conversely, 40% will spend less time there if they feel the music isn't suitable
* In fact, 49% of all shoppers said they have stayed longer in shops because they like the music vs 45% that don't
* Excluding don't knows, half of all shoppers say they left a shop because they didn't like what was playing or because it was annoying
* Overall, a quarter of shoppers (23%) say they would be less likely to return to a retailer if they don't like the music it plays
Commenting on the results, Immedia Plc CEO Bruno Brookes said: "Brands currently spend upwards of £25 billion a year on visual point of sale material, that's according to the Institute of Sales Promotion).
"However, while the retail, hospitality and FMCG industries take great care in thinking about what customers see, nowhere near the same investment goes into optimising what they hear.
"In fact, audio is the single most effective way to capture the attention and imagination of people who are on the move inside your shop or restaurant. This is supported by numerous scientific studies that demonstrate how an effective music strategy does everything from improve staff morale to enhance the customer experience, to, crucially, increasing sales.
"Especially given the challenging economic environment, it is important to optimise every element of a customer's sensory experience. As a result, we are working with an increasing number of high street names who want the competitive edge that a well thought out music and sound strategy will give them."
According to Immedia's scientific advisor Dr Vicky Williamson: “Music can profoundly affect our mood, emotions and energy levels. Studies have shown that we naturally exploit these effects everyday by using music to optimise our state of mind.This new survey demonstrates how similarly important ‘background music’ is to our shopping experiences. Music is no less powerful just because it is chosen by someone else.
“In specific terms, in-store music should be chosen with care and attention to the brand or product identity. Studies have shown that a poor degree of fit between brand and music can result in negative customer feedback, lower sales, and fewer customer referrals.
“Capitalising on the general effects of music will only get you so far in boosting a shopping experience. Maximising the positive impact of in-store music requires an understanding of how to match sound and brand.”
To highlight the impact sound has on UK shoppers, Immedia has today launched a new 'Sound of Your Brand' website (www.immediaplc.com).
This includes a blog about retail engagement and music psychology, links to research about music in retail, and a music-themed social area where consumers are invited to engage with Immedia.
Apparently half of Britain's shoppers have left a store because they were annoyed by the music. This is the result of a study carried out by Immedia Plc, which develops music strategies for retailers.
The findings illustrate the danger High Street brands face by not developing a suitable 'sound' for their brand.
1,000+ shoppers were asked both about their attitude to in-store music, and about how music affects them psychologically and emotionally.
Key results are as follows:
* Three-quarters of shoppers (73%) will notice the music playing in-store
* Out of those that do, 40% will stay longer in a shop if they feel the music is well chosen for the environment. Conversely, 40% will spend less time there if they feel the music isn't suitable
* In fact, 49% of all shoppers said they have stayed longer in shops because they like the music vs 45% that don't
* Excluding don't knows, half of all shoppers say they left a shop because they didn't like what was playing or because it was annoying
* Overall, a quarter of shoppers (23%) say they would be less likely to return to a retailer if they don't like the music it plays
Commenting on the results, Immedia Plc CEO Bruno Brookes said: "Brands currently spend upwards of £25 billion a year on visual point of sale material, that's according to the Institute of Sales Promotion).
"However, while the retail, hospitality and FMCG industries take great care in thinking about what customers see, nowhere near the same investment goes into optimising what they hear.
"In fact, audio is the single most effective way to capture the attention and imagination of people who are on the move inside your shop or restaurant. This is supported by numerous scientific studies that demonstrate how an effective music strategy does everything from improve staff morale to enhance the customer experience, to, crucially, increasing sales.
"Especially given the challenging economic environment, it is important to optimise every element of a customer's sensory experience. As a result, we are working with an increasing number of high street names who want the competitive edge that a well thought out music and sound strategy will give them."
According to Immedia's scientific advisor Dr Vicky Williamson: “Music can profoundly affect our mood, emotions and energy levels. Studies have shown that we naturally exploit these effects everyday by using music to optimise our state of mind.This new survey demonstrates how similarly important ‘background music’ is to our shopping experiences. Music is no less powerful just because it is chosen by someone else.
“In specific terms, in-store music should be chosen with care and attention to the brand or product identity. Studies have shown that a poor degree of fit between brand and music can result in negative customer feedback, lower sales, and fewer customer referrals.
“Capitalising on the general effects of music will only get you so far in boosting a shopping experience. Maximising the positive impact of in-store music requires an understanding of how to match sound and brand.”
To highlight the impact sound has on UK shoppers, Immedia has today launched a new 'Sound of Your Brand' website (www.immediaplc.com).
This includes a blog about retail engagement and music psychology, links to research about music in retail, and a music-themed social area where consumers are invited to engage with Immedia.
(EDITOR: And in my experience as a retail expert (being shopping for more years than I care to remember!) any music that is too loud in a shop is a bad choice.)
Menopause management at work
The menopause can trigger a variety of symptoms including hot flushes, or flashes, poor concentration, mood swings and frequent urination. With women making up 45% of the over-50s in the workforce in the UK, it’s important these symptoms can be managed effectively in the work environment.
In the 50th issue (Autumn 2011) of The Menopause Exchange newsletter, Norma Goldman (founder and director of The Menopause Exchange) looks at how troublesome menopausal symptoms can have a significant impact on a woman’s work performance. She also covers menopause management options, simple self-help measures and key ways to raise the awareness of the menopause amongst employers and work colleagues.
“Stress at work can worsen some menopausal symptoms,” says Norma Goldman. “This effect can be increased by having to make decisions about how to cope with the menopause and take extra time off work to consult a doctor.
"I present talks on the menopause to companies, organisations and groups of women, as well as videos and podcasts, with the aim of helping working women cope with the menopause. The Menopause Exchange can help employers with health and safety policies related to the menopause and offers corporate membership (including newsletters and fact sheets).”
The Menopause Exchange is completely independent – it’s not sponsored by any companies and is funded purely by subscriptions from individuals and healthcare professionals. Other articles in the Autumn 2011 issue include oestrogen-only and ‘bleed’ HRT, menopausal symptoms you may not recognise and weight gain at the menopause.
To celebrate the 50th issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter, we have a special offer for new members.
Become a member of The Menopause Exchange before the end of January 2012 to receive our special offer. This includes one free back issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter and two free fact sheets in addition to the usual membership entitlements. (Members of The Menopause Exchange receive four issues of the newsletter, regular fact sheets, use of the information service and access to the ‘Ask the Experts’ panel). Annual individual membership to The Menopause Exchange is £18.
Visit The Menopause Exchange website at www.menopause-exchange.co.uk.
For more information on The Menopause Exchange, write to The Menopause Exchange at PO Box 205, Bushey, Herts WD23 1ZS, call 020 8420 7245, fax 020 8954 2783 or send an
e-mail to norma@menopause-exchange.co.uk
In the 50th issue (Autumn 2011) of The Menopause Exchange newsletter, Norma Goldman (founder and director of The Menopause Exchange) looks at how troublesome menopausal symptoms can have a significant impact on a woman’s work performance. She also covers menopause management options, simple self-help measures and key ways to raise the awareness of the menopause amongst employers and work colleagues.
“Stress at work can worsen some menopausal symptoms,” says Norma Goldman. “This effect can be increased by having to make decisions about how to cope with the menopause and take extra time off work to consult a doctor.
"I present talks on the menopause to companies, organisations and groups of women, as well as videos and podcasts, with the aim of helping working women cope with the menopause. The Menopause Exchange can help employers with health and safety policies related to the menopause and offers corporate membership (including newsletters and fact sheets).”
The Menopause Exchange is completely independent – it’s not sponsored by any companies and is funded purely by subscriptions from individuals and healthcare professionals. Other articles in the Autumn 2011 issue include oestrogen-only and ‘bleed’ HRT, menopausal symptoms you may not recognise and weight gain at the menopause.
To celebrate the 50th issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter, we have a special offer for new members.
Become a member of The Menopause Exchange before the end of January 2012 to receive our special offer. This includes one free back issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter and two free fact sheets in addition to the usual membership entitlements. (Members of The Menopause Exchange receive four issues of the newsletter, regular fact sheets, use of the information service and access to the ‘Ask the Experts’ panel). Annual individual membership to The Menopause Exchange is £18.
Visit The Menopause Exchange website at www.menopause-exchange.co.uk.
For more information on The Menopause Exchange, write to The Menopause Exchange at PO Box 205, Bushey, Herts WD23 1ZS, call 020 8420 7245, fax 020 8954 2783 or send an
e-mail to norma@menopause-exchange.co.uk
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Not-So-Smart Meters: businesses face higher energy bills & being prevented from switching
Businesses are being urged to exercise caution when being offered free smart meter upgrades for their gas and electricity supplies.
The warning comes from Make It Cheaper, the saving experts for business, which has seen a sharp rise in the number of switching attempts that fail because of non-compatibility issues with meters using smart technology. It has also seen some energy suppliers apply additional standing charges to support smart meter technology. These charges range from 20 pence to 60 pence per day (£73 to £219 per year). Even if a supplier accepts a new type of meter from a customer wishing to switch, it is often subsequently read in the traditional ‘dumb’ way and so removing any smart technology benefits.
Any non-domestic site that has had a new meter installed in the past two years is at risk from the compatibility (or ‘interoperability’) problem. These include small businesses, charities and smaller sites of larger businesses or public sector bodies. Whilst there are no official figures available for the adoption of smart meters, recent announcements from the ‘Big 6’ energy suppliers suggest at least 200,000 have already been installed among non-domestic sites. Eventually up to 2.2 million electricity and 1.5 million gas sites will be included in the smart meter rollout of the non-domestic sector.
According to Jonathan Elliott, managing director of Make It Cheaper: “There seems to be a lack of coordination with the rollout of smart meters and so all the suppliers are making different choices over which type to support. As a result, switching is being seriously thwarted when it could have been made so much easier. Until the industry can guarantee open standards that allow hassle-free switching and promote competition, it’s a case of weighing-up the pros with the cons before accepting a smart meter.”
Five tips to get the most out of a smart meter:
1. Check it out. Find out from your supplier the details of what technology platform it uses and whether or not it is supported by other suppliers.
2. Rental charges. Ask for the length of your installation contract and if you still have to pay a rental fee if you switch to a different supplier.
3. Negotiate at renewal. If you can’t switch supplier, you may be able to use this as a reason to negotiate down any future price rises.
4. Use its features. Make sure you optimise its value in helping to understand your consumption and how you can go about reducing it to save energy and money.
5. Billing accuracy. Relax in the knowledge that you will only pay for the energy you use and no longer be vulnerable to the financial hazards of estimated billing.
Make It Cheaper has published information about ‘Smart Meters for SMEs’ and also provides a full list of energy supplier contact details for business customers to make direct enquiries.
FACTFILE:
1. Consumers will have near real-time information to help understand and manage energy use, thereby helping them to save money and play their part in reducing carbon emissions.
2. Smart metering will open up new products and services, such as the provision of tailored energy efficiency advice and more innovative tariffs.
3. Suppliers and networks will be able to receive alerts if a customer goes off supply and when supply is restored – this will enable corrective action to be taken sooner, thereby minimising disruption to consumers.
4. The remote functionality of smart meters will allow switching between payment methods and will open up additional payment channels for prepayment customers (i.e. top up over the phone, via the internet or ATMs).
5. Data can be communicated between the meter and the energy supplier or other authorised parties.
6. Meters can be read remotely by the energy supplier allowing for accurate and timely billing.
7. The ability to connect devices to the meter, such as a telephones or computers.
8. They will support ‘time-of-use’ tariffs, which offer different levels of charges, depending on when the energy is used.
9. Equipment that has been linked to the meter can be turned off automatically by a business at particular times to benefit from varying pricing levels.
10. Where electricity is generated at the site (such as through a wind turbine or solar panel), any excess electricity exported can be measured, to give an accurate calculation of Feed-in-Tariff (the premium paid to a consumer by its utility).
Established in 2007, Make It Cheaper is the number one destination for businesses to get a better deal on their utilities and business services. Based in Central London, Make It Cheaper receives more enquiries and arranges more new contracts than any other business price comparison service. These include the business customers of major domestic price comparison services with whom Make It Cheaper has partnerships, as well as business membership organisations, charities and trade associations. Acting on behalf of all these customers with total impartiality and free of charge, Make It Cheaper offers year-on-year savings across a range of products including business electricity, business gas, telecoms and merchant services. Using its expertise and scale in the SME market, Make It Cheaper will typically save its customers over 30% of costs as well as a considerable amount of time that they can then spend on running their businesses.
Last year, Make It Cheaper was a finalist for 'SME of the Year' at the National Business Awards, 'Young Company of the Year' at the CBI's Growing Business Awards and 'B2B Customer Service Team' at the National Customer Service Awards.
The warning comes from Make It Cheaper, the saving experts for business, which has seen a sharp rise in the number of switching attempts that fail because of non-compatibility issues with meters using smart technology. It has also seen some energy suppliers apply additional standing charges to support smart meter technology. These charges range from 20 pence to 60 pence per day (£73 to £219 per year). Even if a supplier accepts a new type of meter from a customer wishing to switch, it is often subsequently read in the traditional ‘dumb’ way and so removing any smart technology benefits.
Any non-domestic site that has had a new meter installed in the past two years is at risk from the compatibility (or ‘interoperability’) problem. These include small businesses, charities and smaller sites of larger businesses or public sector bodies. Whilst there are no official figures available for the adoption of smart meters, recent announcements from the ‘Big 6’ energy suppliers suggest at least 200,000 have already been installed among non-domestic sites. Eventually up to 2.2 million electricity and 1.5 million gas sites will be included in the smart meter rollout of the non-domestic sector.
According to Jonathan Elliott, managing director of Make It Cheaper: “There seems to be a lack of coordination with the rollout of smart meters and so all the suppliers are making different choices over which type to support. As a result, switching is being seriously thwarted when it could have been made so much easier. Until the industry can guarantee open standards that allow hassle-free switching and promote competition, it’s a case of weighing-up the pros with the cons before accepting a smart meter.”
Five tips to get the most out of a smart meter:
1. Check it out. Find out from your supplier the details of what technology platform it uses and whether or not it is supported by other suppliers.
2. Rental charges. Ask for the length of your installation contract and if you still have to pay a rental fee if you switch to a different supplier.
3. Negotiate at renewal. If you can’t switch supplier, you may be able to use this as a reason to negotiate down any future price rises.
4. Use its features. Make sure you optimise its value in helping to understand your consumption and how you can go about reducing it to save energy and money.
5. Billing accuracy. Relax in the knowledge that you will only pay for the energy you use and no longer be vulnerable to the financial hazards of estimated billing.
Make It Cheaper has published information about ‘Smart Meters for SMEs’ and also provides a full list of energy supplier contact details for business customers to make direct enquiries.
FACTFILE:
1. Consumers will have near real-time information to help understand and manage energy use, thereby helping them to save money and play their part in reducing carbon emissions.
2. Smart metering will open up new products and services, such as the provision of tailored energy efficiency advice and more innovative tariffs.
3. Suppliers and networks will be able to receive alerts if a customer goes off supply and when supply is restored – this will enable corrective action to be taken sooner, thereby minimising disruption to consumers.
4. The remote functionality of smart meters will allow switching between payment methods and will open up additional payment channels for prepayment customers (i.e. top up over the phone, via the internet or ATMs).
5. Data can be communicated between the meter and the energy supplier or other authorised parties.
6. Meters can be read remotely by the energy supplier allowing for accurate and timely billing.
7. The ability to connect devices to the meter, such as a telephones or computers.
8. They will support ‘time-of-use’ tariffs, which offer different levels of charges, depending on when the energy is used.
9. Equipment that has been linked to the meter can be turned off automatically by a business at particular times to benefit from varying pricing levels.
10. Where electricity is generated at the site (such as through a wind turbine or solar panel), any excess electricity exported can be measured, to give an accurate calculation of Feed-in-Tariff (the premium paid to a consumer by its utility).
Established in 2007, Make It Cheaper is the number one destination for businesses to get a better deal on their utilities and business services. Based in Central London, Make It Cheaper receives more enquiries and arranges more new contracts than any other business price comparison service. These include the business customers of major domestic price comparison services with whom Make It Cheaper has partnerships, as well as business membership organisations, charities and trade associations. Acting on behalf of all these customers with total impartiality and free of charge, Make It Cheaper offers year-on-year savings across a range of products including business electricity, business gas, telecoms and merchant services. Using its expertise and scale in the SME market, Make It Cheaper will typically save its customers over 30% of costs as well as a considerable amount of time that they can then spend on running their businesses.
Last year, Make It Cheaper was a finalist for 'SME of the Year' at the National Business Awards, 'Young Company of the Year' at the CBI's Growing Business Awards and 'B2B Customer Service Team' at the National Customer Service Awards.
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