Our health service has faced an onslaught of demand over the last few years, putting pressure on services and staff. NHS employers have been actively designing new apprenticeship standards for clinical roles, but to what extent are these new pathways helping to meet employers’ demand for skilled staff? The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the pressure on our health services. In our article Expecting the Unexpected, we considered how building skills and resilience within our workforces can help

This week marks the 15th celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, a week of dedicated events discussing the success stories and hurdles in the industry. Organisations and institutions throughout the country have been hosting events in person and online throughout the week, bringing together top employers, training providers, and apprentices to raise further awareness of apprenticeships and the opportunities available to up-skill our workforces.

Covid-19 has taught us the value of preparing for the unexpected. But how has it shaped the plans we are making now? What lessons can we learn from the pandemic to best ensure workforces contribute to organisational success? Since the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, the UK population has adjusted to the varying climate of Covid; with the implementation of local lockdowns, the three-tier system, the five-tiered system, the roadmap for easing restrictions, and December’s move to ‘Plan B'. We can all argue their varying degrees of success, but their necessity is conclusive; Covid-19 has accelerated our need for effective contingency planning, and not just within Parliament.

Why have several NHS employer providers of apprenticeships struggled when Ofsted calls? The NHS is in the midst of one of its most challenging winters on record. A surge in patient demand and Covid-related rises in staff absence have combined to put health services under extreme pressure. Amid rising delays to A&E and non-urgent care alike, NHS leaders have insisted the health service is up to the task. Central to the challenges facing our health service is the availability of skilled staff wh

The hunter is opportunity-minded; they track and scout their prey, developing an intimate knowledge of its characteristics, its likes, and dislikes, to capture it at the right moment. The employer who hunts for talent will find it. They will prey on the limited pool of skilled staff available and lure them with benefits. But it will be a short-lived venture. To preserve their hunt, they must dedicate time and energy into prolonging their shelf life, or risk scouting relentlessly for new talent.

It’s that time of year again, folks. The nights are darker, and the weather colder. We all start to feel a little glum and blue. So why not Spring clean in Autumn? It's the perfect way to bring freshness and light to your home. Not sure where to start or aren’t even sure what jobs you need to do? We have collated a list of all the cleaning tasks you might have forgotten and simple ways to refresh each room. No matter what size your space, your kitchen will benefit from a clean. Cleaning your ap

There are many scientific studies that demonstrate the strong relationship our emotions share with our senses. Our five senses are being constantly utilised to assess and engage with our surroundings, so how can we best make use of this for our mood? Our emotional processing, learning, and interpretation of information can all be guided by our different sensory cortices; our hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell. So what does this have to do with the practice of mindfulness? The answer is si

The response to the pandemic was described by MPs as "one of the most important public health failures the UK has ever experienced”. The health and social care sectors entered the pandemic in a weakened state, against a context of funding pressures, staff shortages, and increased demand for services. Latest figures published by NHS England highlight nearly 6 million people are waiting for routine hospital treatment and more than 300,000 are waiting for an operation. Reports suggest clearing the

Motivating your mind through your nose Links between our senses and emotions are constantly being tested and evaluated for more information. What we do know is the dynamic relationship our nose has with influencing our mood, so how can we make best use of this to motivate ourselves? Many of us have been working from home now for over a year. It started off well, we all had the best intentions; up early, breakfast, and dressed and organised for the day well before our first meeting. But as lock

How can we promote a healthy sleep schedule and why is it important? We all know that getting a good kip is essential for our overall functioning but what can we do to improve the quality of our sleep schedule and, in turn, improve the quality of our mental and physical well-being? How Much Sleep Do We Need? Sleep duration is, of course, a very important element when thinking about how much sleep you need, but it’s not the full picture. The the average adult to get between 6 and 9 hours of sl

The National Skills Shortage is taking its toll on many sectors; from hospitality, transport, construction, and healthcare. In the past three months, vacancy numbers in the UK have risen to above one million for the first time. The Bank of England predicted that unemployment rates might reach 5.5% this year, after seeing a year on year decline for the last decade. However, economists have been surprised by a continued decline as society recovers. The government's furlough scheme allowed 4 millio

Spa Babies started up sessions back in 2019, when Lisa Ryan finished her maternity leave with her second born. Designed for babies from…

Esme graduated from Loughborough University with a first class honours degree in printed textiles and knew straight away she wanted to work…

This week we caught up with Warwickshire local Lauren Duncan, a registered professional celebrant offering unique and bespoke ceremonies to mark many of your special occasions. Why choose a celebrant for your special day? Lauren provides a bespoke ceremony for each and every occasion you want to mark with your unique touch.

This week’s business Spotlight is shining on PVK Couriers; transporting your goods all across the UK with a service that goes the extra mile, so you can feel confident your packages arrive safely and right on time. We caught up with director of PVK Couriers Sarah Taylor to talk about her latest venture working alongside some…

After chatting with Woman Who founder Sandra Garlick MBE, we’re celebrating sisterhood in business this weekend! Woman Who was set up in 2016 to create a network of female empowered business role models.

Leamington Spa have gained another new business focused on empowering us; Louisa Dobbs Nutrition opened her clinic doors in January this year with the hope of helping…

There is so much happening this summer to fill the school holidays with enriching, exciting and skills based activities to make…

Warwickshire local twin brothers Viren and Upen Vithlani are the joint directors of The Grove Practice in Leamington Spa.

Zero Store in Leamington Spa was set up by owner and former teacher Charlie Demetriou back in the Autumn of 2018. Starting…