Category: Opinion

I was horrified to hear the other day that schools and colleges were doing away with staff rooms. Not because I am a fan of what they represent in terms of the hierarchy of chair placement and a place for kids to fear, but rather the lack of space now available for ‘down time’ from the pressures and focus of a teacher’s workplace.

Whilst social & environmental responsibility and financial necessity are now aligned for many larger organisations, SMEs have been slower to recognise sustainability as a driver of bottom line business success, rather than a nice-to-have. Nathan Wimble, Commercial Director at The CarbonNeutral Company, argues that the imminent introduction of Mandatory Carbon Reporting (MCR) gives SME’s a chance to get on the front foot when it comes to managing their carbon footprint. For many companies it could be the start of a wider environmental sustainability programme that benefits their business as well as the environment.

“If the right measures are put in place to handle the situation carefully and to avoid any future misdemeanours the industry should be safe, but this scandal should be a stark reminder of the obligations companies owe to their customers” according to David Taylor, CEO of James Caan’s business advisory firm HB Prime Advantage.

Britain is a country blighted by rain and few jobs. Britons dedicate whole evenings to drinking themselves into oblivion, and the only reason they haven’t fled the grey isle yet that their wallets are empty. Well they are the claims of a negative ad-campaign ministers propose running in Romania and Bulgaria.

A famous rivalry shows us how competition can be both inspiring and productive

The ‘third space’ is something that everyone in office design is currently talking about, but what is it and how can it change the workplace for the better?