Living the dream of better times for a new generation

Living the dream of better times for a new generation

As a new Labour Prime Minister settles into office with a thumping majority behind him and with the Conservative opposition in utter disarray, it’s difficult not to think back to 1997 and the wave of euphoria that over took the nation. Here was a Labour government that seemed to understand the issues the country faced and the direction of travel it needed to take in the future. Tony Blair was 43 years old when he took office (nearly 20 years younger than Keir Starmer is now) and had an instinctive grasp for what Generation X craved. After all, he was the first British Prime Minster to grow up with rock and roll and appeared to embody a generational shift like no politician before him. More →

A new renaissance in leading change at the most disruptive time in history

A new renaissance in leading change at the most disruptive time in history

We need to seek answers that are not the status quo or at least go beyond the status quo when it comes to leading changeLast January, we talked about the three biggest disrupters of our time: technology, UN sustainability goals, and societal shifts. These three disrupters have put us at a cultural crossroads we have not experienced for 100 years. As a result, we need to think differently when it comes to decisions about leading change. The world will not look, feel or be the same in 10 years time – we will not interact and live the same as we do now. The world will be very very different. According to Dex Hunter Torricke, “The next 10 years are going to be the most disruptive we have ever experienced.” More →

UK continues to trail behind in business investment. Incoming government won’t solve that

UK continues to trail behind in business investment. Incoming government won’t solve that

A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) says that the UK holds the lowest investment rates among G7 nationsA new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) says that the UK holds the lowest investment rates among G7 nations. The data indicates that for the third consecutive year, business investment in the UK has lagged behind its G7 counterparts. The nation also ranks 28th out of 31 OECD countries, trailing behind economies such as Slovenia, Latvia, and Hungary. More →

US workers gain more freedom to change jobs as government bans noncompete agreements

US workers gain more freedom to change jobs as government bans noncompete agreements

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dealt a blow to restrictive employment practices by issuing a final rule that bans most noncompete agreements nationwideThe US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dealt a blow to restrictive employment practices by issuing a final rule that bans most noncompete agreements nationwide. This means millions of American workers will soon have more freedom to leave their current employers for jobs with competitors or even start their own businesses. The FTC estimates this change will have a significant positive impact on the economy. The agency predicts the creation of 8,500 new businesses every year, along with an average annual pay increase of $524 for workers. Additionally, the rule is expected to lead to lower healthcare costs and a surge in innovation, with estimates suggesting as many as 29,000 more patents filed each year in the coming decade. More →

VMA GROUP launches 10th edition of Inside Insight, offering exclusive industry perspectives for the UK Internal Communications profession

VMA GROUP launches 10th edition of Inside Insight, offering exclusive industry perspectives for the UK Internal Communications profession

VMA GROUP, a trusted name in the world of communications, marketing, digital and change recruitment, has announced the release of its highly anticipated research report, Inside InsighVMA GROUP, a trusted name in the world of communications, marketing, digital and change recruitment, has announced the release of its highly anticipated research report, Inside Insight. This all-encompassing benchmarking report delves deep into the current state of the internal communications industry, providing invaluable insights to professionals and organisations alike. Formulated from the survey responses of nearly 600 UK-based internal communications professionals, along with commentary from key internal communications leaders and VMA GROUP’s specialist team of recruitment and executive search consultants, this report focuses on emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges within the industry. More →

All change. Jennifer Bryan on the Workplace Cocktail Hour

All change. Jennifer Bryan on the Workplace Cocktail Hour

Change management consultant and author Jennifer Bryan invites Mark Eltringham to share a Cosmopolitan and discuss how firms can better help people to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Along the way they talk about the futility of trying to work out how much time everybody should spend in an office, how an American came to use words like brilliant and Zed so effortlessly, the need for crises to get things moving some times, and what happens next. More →

It should be easier for organisations to say the hardest word, without admitting liability

It should be easier for organisations to say the hardest word, without admitting liability

UK  law could be updated to make it easier for organisations to offer sincere apologies to those who have been wronged following the launch of a government consultation today (8 April 2024). The Compensation Act, which became law in 2006, made it easier for public institutions, private companies and their employees to apologise, without admitting liability in civil proceedings. Yet almost 20 years on, the government says there is little evidence this has encouraged businesses to use apologies more as form of reparation – leaving many victims without proper closure and a sense they are unable to move on with their lives. More →

It now costs more to commute by train than by car in the UK

It now costs more to commute by train than by car in the UK

Problems at London Euston went viral on social media several times this week, challenging the idea that we should let the train take the strain. Now the assumption that public transport is cheaper than driving is also being called into question for the UK’s commuters. With rail fares increasing by 4.9 percent from the beginning of March, Good Travel Management has look into the cost of commuting into the UK’s major cities to find out how much it’s really costing people to get to work. More →

Microsoft is world’s most valuable B2B brand, NVIDIA the fastest growing

Microsoft is world’s most valuable B2B brand, NVIDIA the fastest growing

Microsoft tops 2024 B2B Brand Valuations, NVIDIA is world’s fastest-growing B2B brand Microsoft remains the world’s most valuable B2B brand, achieving a substantial 60 percent increase in B2B brand value to USD220.4 billion, according to the latest report by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. The B2B brand value of Microsoft accounts for the majority of Microsoft’s total brand value of USD340.4 billion, which includes both B2B and B2C components. More →

Moral posturing of charitable organisations can go hand in hand with unethical behaviours

Moral posturing of charitable organisations can go hand in hand with unethical behaviours

The aura of moral goodness coming from within charitable organisations can blind their employees and volunteers, according to new research from the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). Lead researcher, Dr Isabel de Bruin found that people in charities’ can glorify their charities’ noble goals, noble values, and noble people. This self-glorification can lead to unethical behaviour, which she terms as the “NGO halo effect”.  More →

Highly organised CEOs can hold back a firm’s flexibility in times of change

Highly organised CEOs can hold back a firm’s flexibility in times of change

CEOs who prioritise planning and organisation can find their skills make them a hindrance to their organisations when it comes to adapting to external changes, according to new research from Durham University Business School. The researchers say that this is because organised CEOs tend to be more rigid in their practices, thus making it more difficult for them to change their ways. The researchers also found that CEOs who are anxious and can get stressed easily also make it difficult for the organisation to adapt quickly. More →

A third of people say they have experienced a toxic manager

A third of people say they have experienced a toxic manager

A third of employees (33 percent) in the UK have experienced a toxic manager at work in the past five years, and over four in ten (41 percent) have left a job due to their dissatisfactionA third of employees (33 percent) in the UK have experienced a toxic manager at work in the past five years, and over four in ten (41 percent) have left a job due to their dissatisfaction with management. The findings are from Corndel’s Workplace Training Report 2024, based on research conducted with 250 HR decision makers at large organisations and 1,000 UK employees. Toxic manager traits defined by the poll  including micromanagement, inflexibility, intimidation, gaslighting colleagues and a deflecting accountability.  More →