Member Blog

A number of years ago, when I started to develop a workplace wellbeing plan, someone asked me ‘why?’ It was a good question, and a fair question, and it is one that many companies may be considering now as the subject of employee wellbeing gains prominence, not least during this Mental Health Awareness week.

Why? What are the benefits of supporting employees to protect and maintain their wellbeing? Some may argue that it’s just a ‘nice to have’ which really doesn’t make a difference nor have a tangible impact. But I would disagree passionately – I believe there is a very powerful case for placing wellbeing at the heart of an organisation.

Not least because it can have a very real impact on sickness absence. Stress and mental health are in the top five causes of long-term absence¹. This costs companies hugely in many ways – in lost time, in productivity, in providing temporary cover, and in individual and team morale. And the longer that someone is absent, the likelihood of them returning diminishes. But what if companies took a proactive approach and tried to mitigate some of this absence by offering counselling, for example? Such an approach could stop someone who might be struggling from going off sick. And the upfront investment is minimal – around £35 – £55 per session which totals a few hundred pounds: long-term absence costs UK business £4.17billion a year².   The same could apply for those with back pain or other musculoskeletal problems which prevent them from doing their role. Providing physiotherapy could help people get back to work quicker – which will also have a positive impact on the employee’s mental health.

Embedding wellbeing into an organisation empowers managers to have better conversations. If companies have a culture where it is not only safe but positively encouraged to talk about mental health issues, then managers and their direct reports will be able to chat honestly. So, the phone call coming in saying ‘I’ve got the flu’ because the employee daren’t share the truth will be replaced by pre-emptive conversation that ‘I’m struggling at the moment.’ The latter allows the manager to adjust and offer support which can help the employee at that point when they need it most – and this may stop them going off sick. Managers may need help to have these conversations, through workshops – such as the training offered by Bamboo Workplace Mental Health – as well as guidance about what tools they can access to support the employee.

Having an effective wellbeing programme in place will also help employees to remain productive. According to the CIPD and Time to Change, people who are struggling with stress or their mental health say they have difficulty concentrating, will take longer to perform tasks, and will find it difficult to make decisions. Ultimately it will impact upon their ability to deliver their role. It may not always be obvious straightaway that a poorly performing employee is suffering and so managers must look out for dips in productivity as it could be a sign of an underlying issue.

And wellbeing helps to retain people. If employees feel that they are working for a caring company where their needs are understood and met, they are more likely to stay. It will help with attracting new employees too – after all, who wouldn’t want to work somewhere that is supportive, caring and where it’s ok to say, ‘I’m not ok?’

Workplace wellbeing is more than a one-off activity. It is a strategic and practical programme which impacts culturally. It needs to be led from the top, and leaders must role model behaviours that promote good wellbeing: it’s not good enough to say, ‘we don’t have an out of hours’ culture’ then email direct reports in the evening. It’s about supporting managers to have conversations around wellbeing, and giving them a practical toolkit they can use. It’s about training and development, such as Mental Health First Aid. It’s about communications, and making wellbeing part of the everyday dialogue. It’s about targeted activities and interventions which make a difference. And it’s about having the right HR policies and practices to truly embed wellbeing into the culture.

This week, I am looking forward to running a workshop during Freebridge Community Housing’s Week of Wellbeing. The week offers an opportunity for employees to participate in events and activities that promote wellbeing across a range of themes such as ‘physical wellbeing’. The week is fun, engaging and thought-provoking – but the biggest impact is that it leads to conversations about wellbeing, meaning this is just part of the Freebridge way of working.

So the question isn’t ‘why’ to workplace wellbeing it’s ‘why not?’

For more information about ways to empower workplace wellbeing, I can be found at [email protected] or @engagepeopleco I will be speaking about workplace wellbeing at a Chamber workshop on Friday 9th June from 12-2 at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce offices on Whiting Road.

https://bamboomentalhealth.co.uk/

https://www.freebridge.org.uk/

¹https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/relations/absence/absence-management-surveys

²https://www.cebr.com/reports/long-term-sickness-absence-costs-uk-businesses-4-17bn-a-year/

The launch of Mental Health Awareness Week (8-14 May) and the success of the recent ‘Heads Together’ campaign have inspired me to launch my own blog as part of my business at Feel Well Therapy.

Although I gain great satisfaction from working with patients, I often feel the need to express my opinions on, and support for, a range of issues related to mental health and psychotherapy and a blog seemed to be the ideal way to do so. I am also interested in hearing the opinions of colleagues, clients and organisations – what better way to get the conversation started?!

The Mental Health Foundation is a charity that I admire greatly. They provide outstanding support for patients and mental health practitioners alike. I have been inspired by their new campaign, “Surviving or Thriving?” for Mental Health Awareness Week (#MHAW17) and have been reflecting on what it means to survive or thrive?

During my clinical work, I treat many clients that have survived traumatic events in their lives, such as a road traffic accidents, past abuse or the bereavement of loved ones. Equally I see many clients who talk about struggling with day-to-day life who present with stress, anxiety disorders or depression. Whilst there are many ways that we might learn to thrive in life, for some people this process is achieved with the help of therapy.

Patients often talk about the transition from surviving to thriving when they discuss how they have gained in confidence, how they have learnt to feel more in control of their life rather than being controlled by life, and how they feel that they can move on from difficult issues, or have learnt new skills to cope with challenges. For me, thriving is all of the above, but also about helping patients to live lives that are meaningful to them where individuals learn to value and take steps to achieve positive mental health for themselves.

If like me you would like to follow the Mental Health Foundation’s campaign, then check out their activities here.

Following on from this, the charity also talks about thriving in the context of needing to understand the drivers of poor mental health in society. Stigma is a big factor within this. In the 22 years that I have worked in mental health services, I cannot remember a time that mental health issues has been more in the news in a positive way. Long may this continue!

Destigmatising mental illness is essential to promoting mental wellbeing for all. Princes William and Harry, along with the support of the Duchess of Cambridge, have managed to do this humbly but effectively with their latest ‘Heads Together’ campaign. By revealing the obstacles that they have had to overcome – and the ways in which they overcame – the Royals have proved to be inspirational figureheads for us all, in particular the millennial generation.

So in summary, as we start Mental Health Awareness Week let’s hope that both individuals, clinicians, charities, politicians and society as a whole see this as their opportunity to seize the day, spread the word and talk about mental health, ensuring that future generations are indeed thriving, not just surviving.

In my next blog, I want to consider how teenagers cope with stress and exam pressure. Through my practice, I am well aware of the pressures faced by those aged 15 and over both in life itself and in studying for exams. In the meantime, have a look at BBC Bitesize which provide a practical, supportive webpage for young people called the Mind Set.

For now, wishing you all ‘Good Mental Health’.

Best regards,

Michelle

You may have heard us mention that we like to run a “User Stories Workshop” with our clients to understand requirements before we produce any software. You may also have thought what is it, and why?   User Stories Applied, along with Agile Estimating & Planning, both books by Mike Cohn form the basis of, and have strongly influenced Naked Element’s Agile processes. There is some crossover between the two books, but, as you would expect, User Stories Applied looks in detail at User Stories.   A user story workshop (referred to by Cohn as a Story-Writing Workshop) is a meeting which includes developers, users, key stakeholders and other parties who can contribute to writing the stories. Although the primary objective of the workshop is to produce user stories which enable all parties to understand the requirements of the software and that can be used for estimating and planning, the first step is to identify the User Roles within the system.   User story workshops usually last between two hours and a full day, depending on the scope of the software solution. Naked Element charge a modest rate for the workshop to cover our time. This also includes the proposal and estimate document which is produced by Naked Element following the workshop.   What we ask from the client before the workshop:

• To ensure the necessary people are available, without distraction, for the duration for the workshop.
• To ensure the key stakeholders are included. At the very least you should have someone who can represent:
  • Decision makers
  • Users
  • Domain experts
• To ensure all those attending understand the problems which the software solution will be solving.
• Where possible, ensure all those attending have read chapters 1 to 4 of User Stories Applied by Mike Cohn
• No materials needed. Naked Element will bring all materials needed to capture the user roles and storie

As the client there is some preparation which needs to be done prior to the workshop. However, we don’t expect you to write any stories prior to the workshop – that’s what the workshop is for. A good idea of who will use the system, what you want the system to do and how you’d like it to work is all we need.   A User Story describes functionality that will be of value to either a user or purchaser of a system or software. User stories are composed of three aspects:

• A written description of the story used for planning and as a reminder
• Conversations about the story that serve to flesh out the details of the story
• Tests that convey and document details that can be used to determine when a story is complete.

We can then use these details to work out the estimated time and cost for the initial phase project!   If you feel your current system is inefficient or consists of errors, our Commercial Director, Emma Gooderham would love to hear your ideas.   Contact Emma on 01603 383458 or [email protected].

Did we mention that we make soft furnishings?

No? OK, so we might mention blinds and curtains a lot, but one thing we don’t often mention is that we can also make matching soft furnishings.

Take cushions, for example. We can source from a huge selection of fabrics to complement your handmade roman blinds or curtains. There is something to suit every style and taste from classic to contemporary, cosy cottage to city apartments and everything in between. All our work is made to measure by local craftspeople, and designed to your exact requirements.

To complement your blinds and curtains, we can help you design some other great finishing touches that will add flair to a room and pull your entire design scheme together.

For example, if you are decorating a bedroom you might consider covering the bed headboard in a material that matches or adds contrast to your other soft furnishings. Equally, you might like a range of cushions, or even lampshades, for your bedroom in different sizes and fabrics to add subtle variety to your decorative scheme.

You might also want to consider pelmets and valances for your rooms. These can be created in any fabric and style of your choice. In the appropriate setting, they add a wonderful elegance to a room.

We can even make table runners to create a focal point in your dining-room, tying in all the other soft furnishings. Having a table runner made to measure can also be useful if you have a particularly large table and are struggling to find one of a suitable size and style.

So don’t forget, if you are planning new blinds or curtains for your decorative scheme, have a chat with us about how we can also co-ordinate your soft furnishings for you.

You can visit our Showrooms in Norwich or Attleborough, phone 01603 334035 or book an appointment online for a free consultation at your home or office.

A version of this article originally appeared on our Norwich Sunblinds and Cambridge Sunblinds website.

Today [Wednesday 26 April] is known as Administrative Professionals Day, so everyone at Pure would like to give a big shout out to all the fantastic office support workers across the East of England.

We’ve placed hundreds of people in office support roles across the region, and helped numerous organisations find the high-calibre administration employees they need to keep the business running smoothly. Not to mention the fantastic team of administrators we have here at Pure!

We know these positions are integral to the success of an organisation and that those who hold them are often the unsung heroes of many businesses. For organisations looking to expand their administration team we do more than just fill positions. We offer support and advice to both clients and candidates throughout the whole recruitment process. Our temporary recruitment team is also able to offer the highest quality temps, filling vacancies quickly and efficiently.

Office support roles are extremely diverse and, despite misconceptions, provide excellent career opportunities. Our dedicated office support recruitment team covers roles including: Executive Assistants, PA, office management, administration, customer service and secretarial positions.

If you’re looking for your next career move within the field of business administration, get in touch with us today. We don’t just place people in jobs, we also offer advice on your career path and options for development.

For more information on the support we can provide contact your local Pure office or click here to see the current office support roles we are recruiting for.

When equipping an office with new commercial blinds, functionality is one of the most important factors. Particularly vibrant colours are unlikely to be suitable, but it will depend on your office and the environment you’re trying to create. In the majority of cases though, neutral colour schemes and timeless corporate colours are a safe bet.

Points you should be considering:

• Are you decorating for a single company or for a floor which will be host to several businesses?
• Are you looking for privacy?
• How long do you want the blinds to last?
• Have you got any guidelines on style or colour?
• Do they need to fit with an existing colour scheme?

There might be more things to consider as well, but consider these a starting point.

First things first: which commercial blinds will be best for the space. Functionality and the kind of blinds you choose tend to go hand in hand. Typically an office space will use vertical blinds or a roller blind.

Unlike the sorts of blinds you might be purchasing for use in the home, blinds in offices primarily need to keep light out effectively. Glare can affect how well your employees are able to work on a day to day basis. Reflections and an ability to properly see the screen are all part of it. Even if your staff don’t regularly use computer screens, they will still run in to trouble if they’re having to compete with bright sunshine on a regular basis.

Most commercial blinds will need offer a degree of privacy. The amount needed will often depend how visible the office is. For example, you might need more privacy in a ground floor space than you would from a third floor open plan office.

Blinds can also be used in between offices to offer more privacy. Glass walls look stylish but mean your meeting rooms can be quite visible. A simple horizontal blinds are ideal, as they can be adjusted and folded away when they aren’t needed.

For complete privacy and to block out light effectively, roller blinds are often a wise choice. 

Vertical blinds are particularly common in offices. These work well because you are able to adjust the amount of light let into a room while allowing airflow through the panels. Often these are made of a slightly thinner fabric so that the effect is to dampen the light rather than block it out altogether. The soft and natural light will make for a more pleasant work environment than using harsh fluorescent lighting to compensate for the lack of natural light. Offices which are either over or under illuminated can even contribute to eye strain.

Hygiene is also an important factor in a workplace environment. Commercial blinds often have antibacterial and antifungal properties which keep them looking fresh and new for longer. A more hygienic workplace will lead to lower staff illnesses and a higher rate of productivity in the long run.

Norwich Sunblinds offer a wide range of commercial blinds, which can be made to reflect your corporate identity if desired. To get started, contact us to book an appoint for free measuring. Our fitting service is also free, so the price for the blinds themselves is the only cost you’ll need to pay.

You can visit our Showrooms in Norwich or Attleborough, phone 01603 334035 or book an appointment online for a free consultation at your home or office.

A version of this article originally appeared on our Norwich Sunblinds and Cambridge Sunblinds website.

Despite growing up and spending the vast majority of my life living in Norwich, I haven’t really been to the seaside town of Great Yarmouth that many times, despite it being only 20 miles away. I certainly never imagined finding work there. I’ve visited Yarmouth for business three times since Christmas this year, secured one piece of business with a local company and now it’s looking like Naked Element could be securing some more.   I’ve been fascinated by engineering since a young age. From the differential which helped drive the Lego car I had as a child, to internal combustion engines, power stations and large ships and planes, I like to know how things, big and small, work. When I was younger I even wrote to the BBC’s Playschool programme to find out how their clock worked and received a photo and a full explanation in response (I wish I still had them now).   So when a Norfolk Chamber breakfast offered the opportunity to hear from a senior member of Seajacks, who own and run some of the most advanced off-shore equipment in the world, I was very excited. I enjoy the breakfasts and networking at the chamber anyway, the big machines were a real bonus!   After the customary speed networking, which is a great way to mix up the room and help you meet people, and the breakfast itself, John Vingoe, Operations Manager at Seajacks, told us about their largest vessel, the Scylla, and how it would be used to help build the East Anglia One windfarm off the coast of Great Yarmouth between July and October of 2018. The Scylla is a Gusto MSC NG14000X multipurpose jack-up which is home to 130 crew, has a massive deck area of 5000m2, can operate in waters down to a depth of 65m and does up to 12 knots. It’s a beast and will be used to install concrete jackets for the wind farm.   But what’s really great about Seajacks is their commitment to source locally and where they can, they do! There are, of course, some specialist equipment and skills which are not available locally. The East Anglia One wind farm operation will be based out of a port in the Netherlands and although equipment and labour is available in the Netherlands, Seajacks will be flying over its people and supplies from the local area, even though there is a modest extra cost.   The slowdown in the oil and gas industry and its effect, especially on employment in Great Yarmouth, is widely known. Seajacks weathered the storm in a unique way by redistributing its crew around different vessels. John described to us how usually a ship’s company is hired and released as needed on a per vessel basis.   This was Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber’s, last Great Yarmouth breakfast before she moves on to pastures new after 17 years. I’d like to thank Caroline personally for the help, advice, support and friendly engagement she has given me over the last few years since Naked Element has been a Chamber member. I wish Caroline every success in the future and look forward to bumping into her, as I am sure I will!   Networking takes time. It’s not unusual to come away from a Chamber event having started to build some excellent relationships, but without much more than a warm lead. From this Great Yarmouth Chamber breakfast I came away with two solid leads and another demonstrating future potential. A morning well spent!

Cities, by their very nature, aren’t small (unless of course you’re a pretend city like Ely). According to Wikipedia there are over 141,000 people in Norwich and over 370,000 people in the ‘travel to work’ area. I’ve got a lot of contacts on LinkedIn, but these numbers of people are large by anyones’s standards!

Since I came back to work in Norwich for the third time in 2011, I’ve been expanding my professional network at an exponential rate. From time to time, and more frequently as time goes on, I encounter people I was at school with and Rebecca White was one of those people (although she was a year or two above me at Notre Dame High School).

Rebecca is a social entrepreneur and CEO of the social enterprise Your Own Place.  Your Own Place equips young people with the skills, confidence and knowledge to live safely and securely. They achieve this by continually developing innovative and entrepreneurial solutions as well as collaborating for the benefit of  young people. By working restoratively and delivering high quality interventions they create a culture of empowered and independent young people.

After a number of exchanges on linkedin, twitter and email with Rebecca, I was invited along to hear Baron John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, speak at the St. Giles House Hotel in Norwich. This was an unusual event for me to be invited to, as there was no tech or business angle, but we’re all familiar with the Big Issue and I was already  impressed with what Rebecca was achieving, so I was intrigued. On our way to the event my wife and I encountered the Big Issue seller who is often at the top of Lower Goat Lane near the Guildhall, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he knew John Bird was only meters away.

I was completely unprepared in almost every way for John Bird. We sat at the back, the only place there were two chairs left together, around one of a handful of tables shoehorned into the packed room on the first floor of the hotel. A couple of the usual suspects  such as Sarah Daniels from the Redcat Partnership and Lucy Marks of the Norfolk Network also wandered in. My first surprise was to discover that Sarah, who I know well, was chairing. I knew from that point on that with the self proclaimed, “loudest voice in room”, we were in for a fun couple of hours.

Baron Bird of Notting Hill was astounding.  A huge personality and presence in the room. He took us through the highs and lows of his life from his upbringing in Notting Hill by Irish, Catholic, racist parents to living on the streets of Edinburgh at 21, meeting one of the founders of the Body Shop, Gordon Roddick, his rehabilitation in prison where one of the “screws” taught him to read, his three wives, money, the Big Issue and admission into the House of Lords. John Bird was funny, entertaining, loud, inspiring and great entertainment. I’ve never seen someone move so much in such a small space, often with both arms in the air, a loud passionate voice and little respect for political correctness. It was refreshing.

26 years ago there were more than 500 homeless charities in London (there are now around 2000). All of them lacked something. None of those charities were helping the homeless to stop being homeless. John Bird had a vision, inspired by Street News in the USA and spawned from a case study funded by the Body Shop, the Big Issue was born. A way of helping homeless people make money to stop them being homeless. John Bird believes in a hand up, not a hand out and is working hard to prevent the next generation of Big Issue sellers.

I could have listened to him all evening. He finished by explaining some of the social ideas he’s pursuing, such as creating a Kitemark called the Social Echo to award to businesses who act on their social conscience.

One such social enterprise is Your Own Place. Following an introduction by Sarah, Rebecca White showed us a recent video which explains the work they do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2p5_P1fk_c&feature=youtu.be

Your Own Place are looking for employer sponsored Volunteer Tenancy Mentors. The training costs the employers just £300 per person for two days. Your Own Place work with businesses to provide their staff with a unique training and development opportunity as Volunteer Tenancy Mentors and to prevent youth homelessness at the same time. Their Volunteer Tenancy Mentoring training packages include high quality volunteer training, comprehensive policies, training packs, vetting and ongoing support for the mentors.

The event was over all too soon, but as well as finding out more about what someone I was at school with was up to, seeing some regular faces and making a new contact at Leathes Prior, I was inspired to contribute and am looking forward to Rebecca coming to speak to the Naked Element team at Whitespace.

‘What is our purpose?’ is a fundamental question for companies, the answer to which will often result in a succinct and powerful mission statement. ‘What are we trying to achieve?’ similarly can unlock a vision for the future, a look over the horizon at what will be the outcome of the work.

 But just as an important a question for companies is ‘who are we and what matters to us?’ This is often a much more difficult query to respond to as it isn’t easy to distil into words the essence of a company. Or, in other words, the organisational values.

 The values are so much more than words stuck on a wall or written on a website. They are the living, beating heart of an organisation. They are what gives a company its personality as they provide the framework for the behaviours expected from the people within.

 And there are many ways in which companies can bring their values to life and make them intrinsic to how a business is run.

 They are invaluable at recruitment. They convey to potential new employees what they can expect from a company, and they allow candidates to truly consider if their own values align with those of an organisation. This can be demonstrated practically by interview and assessment around the values. This process helps both parties truly understand if they are right for each other, which is vital for any successful relationship.

 The values also have an important role to play in management – after all, conversations around behaviours are far more productive when built upon the safe foundations of the values. ‘I felt that you could have shown the Empathy value more in that discussion,’ is a more positive angle for a discussion than ‘You were very rude.’ By using the values to underpin difficult management conversations, the sense of it being ‘personal’ is diminished – which means the employee will hear what is being said in a more receptive way.

 They can also be used to recognise and reward behaviours which align with the organisational values. In drawing out positive value-based behaviours, companies are also able to highlight examples of what is expected, which only serves to continue to reinforce the whole sense of ‘this is who we are.’

 They can also provide a reference for decision-making and discussion, not least when thinking gets stuck. ‘Does what we’re trying to do fit with our values?’ and if the answer is ‘no’ then proceeding is often not advisable.

 And they provide a point of difference. This is particularly important in sectors where there may be similar companies operating. The values become the Unique Selling Point, what differentiates an organisation – and what might give it its competitive edge over its rivals.

 When I set up The Engaging People Company, I spent a great deal of time thinking about what values I wanted for the organisation. Because, through the values, I would be projecting to the world ‘who’ this company is, and setting my stall up for how I will work. After much consideration, I settled upon the values of ‘be authentic, be creative, have fun and be kind.’ Through these four fundamentals, I am communicating that this is who The Engaging People Company is, this is how it will operate, this is what you can expect – and this is what you can hold me to account on.

 By making values part of the everyday dialogue within an organisation, as well as embedding them within the engagement practices around recruitment, retention, management and recognition, companies can create a sense of belonging. The values become owned by the people, something which connects them and creates a sense of being one big team. And ultimately, the values create a sense of being valued.

Blinds have long been recommended as a cost-effective solution for offices, schools and an array of commercial and public sector organisations.

Norwich Sunblinds has been producing an outstanding array of beautiful blinds and shutters (as well as curtains) for domestic and commercial properties for many years but this research confirms what we have always thought.

Studies show that the humble blind can make fundamental changes to our well-being and the environment.

Recent research carried out by the BBSA (British Blind & Shutter Association) has proven that effective Solar Shading brings many positive benefits to commercial companies and organisations, and the people working for them.

Most notably these include positive effects on our behaviour and the environment.

  The benefits of Natural Light on productivity at work.

People prefer to work in natural light conditions rather than artificial. Working with natural daylight has been shown to improve people’s emotions, attitudes and cognitive responses. Office workers recently placed daylight in the top two most desirable elements in the workplace.

Research has also demonstrated that office workers performed 10-25% better on tests of mental function and memory recall when they had the best possible views.

We spend 90% of our time inside buildings, and lack of connection with natural light is known to affect body rhythms negatively.

Solar Shading

The use of blinds and shutters; used appropriately in the commercial environment, can solve the problems previously associated with the use of too much glass in a building.

Many older buildings lose or gain too much heat through their glazing, and it was thought that using less glass would help this problem. However,  we have already seen the negative effects of people working without natural light, so companies and public sector organisations are realising the benefits of controlling heat loss or heat gain through blinds and shutters. This provides their employees with a much more natural, comfortable and pleasant environment in which to work.

Blinds and shutters can be made to suit a multitude of situations, and they are very cost effective.

• Solar Shading with well-designed blinds or shutters allows large areas of glazing to be used in buildings with all the known benefits that brings.
• Solar shading provides control of heat and light gain when needed.
• Solar shading provides an ambient temperature in commercial & public places which improves productivity.
• Controlling glare in a commercial or public place is a legal requirement, blinds and shutters do this.

Solar shading through bespoke blinds and shutters for the commercial and public environment can, therefore, be credited with contributing to superior work performance, higher productivity, increased concentration and a decrease in absenteeism.

  The benefits of Solar Shading on our Environment – Save Energy & Save Money

The UK is known as a ‘heating’ nation which means we spend more to keep our buildings warm than cool.

Glazing is known to be a weak element in building construction and known for heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. Using blinds and shutters can help reduce these gains and losses and control light levels.

Effective use of blinds and shutters in the workplace can reduce energy consumption, reduce the need for artificial lighting and hence reduce energy bills.

With correct solar shading, companies can use less heating or air conditioning, making them a cost-effective solution.

The Shard, one of London’s most iconic buildings, solves the problem of solar shading by using motorised roller blinds built into the external envelope of the building. The Shard achieves 88% heat rejection.

If you would like to learn more about how your company can best utilise blinds and shutters to help improve the working conditions for your employees, increase well-being and productivity, together with saving money, then call us on 01603 334 085 send an email, or visit a showroom.

A version of this article originally appeared on our Norwich Sunblinds and Cambridge Sunblinds website.

What are the differences between a Mobile App and a Website optimised for Mobile? And how can I work out which one is best for me? This is a question we often get asked here at Naked Element, and there are a lot of biased articles online favouring one or the other.   Consider that a Website optimised for mobile may be a public facing website or a secure login area for members, is easy to navigate on mobile phones and tablets but better viewed on desktops. A Mobile App may be a game you play on your phone, which is easy to navigate on mobiles.   There are differences between the two approaches, so in simple business language and without bias, here are a few things to consider to help you decide. It is worth noting that no one area should be considered in isolation.   Accessibility   A Mobile App may be downloaded from a store such as Play Store and Apple Store onto a phone, so that it is accessible by the user even when they are not connected to the Internet. This requires the user to download software onto their phone before they can see the content.   A Website optimised for mobile is only accessible via a browser when you are connected to the internet, so nothing needs to be downloaded and it’s easily accessible by new users.   Ask Yourself – Will my user base change frequently and be connected to the Internet at all times?   A Mobile App may be best if you have a specific set of users who will use the app intensively. It supports interactivity and regular use.   A Website optimised for mobile may be best if you have a lot of content that cannot easily be arranged on a Mobile App and if your user base may change.   Interactivity and amount of content   A Mobile App lends itself to regular and heavy use, such as gaming, managing your bank account or social media. A Website could also lend itself to regular and heavy use if it were a login area of a website where you manage your customers accounts, such as a quotation and ordering system, but the amount of content presented could be more extensive.   Ask Yourself – Have I got focused content that’s easily navigable and interactive?   Visibility   A user would have to search for a Mobile App in their store, whereas the Website may be found via any search engine or accessed from a known public facing website.   Ask Yourself – How will you inform new and potential users where to find your App? Where would they expect to find it?   And finally, a Website optimised for Mobile can also be developed to behave and act like a Mobile App. So if you really like the idea of a Mobile App but the questions above direct you to a Website optimised for Mobile, we can help you achieve the best of both worlds.   A blog by Emma, Commercial Director

Shutters are very popular because they are insulating and economical as well as being extremely versatile.

Our 10% off offer last year was so popular that we’ve decided to re-run it for the month of April 2017.

The offer applies to domestic shutters and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Why Shutters? In the Winter, shutters are more effective at keeping the warmth in than blinds and curtains. This helps to reduce energy bills.

In the Summer you have many options – shutters can be opened completely to let the light in, closed completely to keep the room cool or you can open the louvres to let air flow in. You can even have one shutter open and one closed.

Check out our useful case study here.

Because our shutters are made to measure they can suit almost any room, and are especially useful in older properties with windows that might not be perfectly shaped. They also look great in bay windows. At Norwich Sunblinds we can cater for special shapes e.g. circles, arches, gable installations.

Shutters are easy to clean, provide additional security and can also help to deaden sound – especially useful if you live near a busy road.

Click here to find out more about shutters or click here to book an appointment for our free measuring service.

A version of this article originally appeared on our Norwich Sunblinds and Cambridge Sunblinds website.