Scottish Business News Write Article About Our Launch

We were thrilled to be interviewed and featured by Scottish Business News after they caught wind of the impact we're making in the SME staffing sector. You can read the full article below or click the link to view the original publication.

https://scottishbusinessnews.net/new-recruitment-agency-launches-in-east-lothian-to-strengthen-local-employment/

A new recruitment agency, Unique Staffing Solutions, has officially launched in East Lothian, aiming to provide local job seekers with exciting employment opportunities while supporting businesses with tailored staffing solutions. Specialising in SME support staffing, event staffing, and construction recruitment, the agency offers a vital service to businesses that experience seasonal peaks, busy periods, or require temporary workforce support.

Founded by Richard Thompson, a recruitment expert with over a decade of industry experience, Unique Staffing Solutions is committed to bridging the gap between employers and skilled workers across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Central Scotland, and the Scottish Borders.

“Supporting the local economy is at the heart of what we do,” said Richard Thompson, Director of Unique Staffing Solutions. “Our goal is to provide East Lothian residents with flexible and sustainable job opportunities while ensuring businesses have access to the right talent to grow.”

Thompson, a lifelong East Lothian resident, recognised a gap in the market for recruitment agencies that cater specifically to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“Many existing agencies focus on large-scale recruitment, leaving SMEs struggling to find the right workforce solutions,” he explained. “We aim to change that by offering a personalised approach that supports both local businesses and job seekers.”

Connecting Local Talent with Local Opportunities

Unique Staffing Solutions is actively recruiting for temporary and permanent roles across multiple industries. Whether individuals are seeking part-time work, a career change, or new opportunities, the agency is dedicated to matching the right people with the right jobs.

Local businesses looking for reliable staffing solutions or individuals searching for employment are encouraged to get in touch.

For more information, visit www.uniquestaffingsolutions.co.uk or contact richard@uniquestaffingsolutions.co.uk

march 2024

Recruitment industry experts reacts to Chancellor’s Spring Statement

Mixed Reactions to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ highly anticipated Spring Statement has sparked a divided response, with no clear consensus on its potential benefits for the UK economy or workforce.

Delivered on 26 March 2025, the statement prompted a blend of cautious optimism and criticism from industry experts, particularly concerning welfare reform, increased defence spending, and investment in construction skills.

Tania Bowers, Global Public Policy Director at the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), commented on the reaction, stating:

"While some aspects of the Chancellor’s speech may prove contentious, it is encouraging to see a focus on creating quality jobs at the heart of the government’s agenda. The investment in supporting people back into employment is promising, though its immediate impact on professional skills remains to be seen."

Key Announcements from the Spring Statement

Investment and Economic Growth

An additional £13 billion in capital investment over this Parliament, supplementing the £100 billion pledged in the Autumn Budget. This funding aims to accelerate private investment, stimulate growth, and advance the UK’s modern industrial strategy. A key focus is the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, which has the potential to contribute up to £78 billion to the UK economy by 2035.

Construction Sector and Skills Development

£625 million dedicated to strengthening the construction workforce, aiming to create 60,000 additional skilled workers for infrastructure and homebuilding projects.

£100 million allocated to expand construction-focused Skills Bootcamps, providing 35,000 additional training places for new trainees, career returners, and existing employees.

An extra £40 million to support up to 10,000 young people through new construction Foundation Apprenticeships.

A further £100 million to establish 10 Technical Excellence Colleges across England, specialising in construction.

£165 million to enhance training for 16-19-year-olds and adult learners pursuing careers in construction.

£100 million, alongside a £32 million contribution from the Construction Industry Training Board, to facilitate up to 40,000 industry placements annually.

Employment and Tax Compliance

£1 billion in additional funding for targeted employment support.

Expansion of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) with 500 additional tax compliance staff, complementing the 5,000 new hires announced in October’s Autumn Statement.

Industry Reactions

Recruitment and Workforce Strategy

Neil Carberry, CEO of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), acknowledged the positive direction of the government’s plans but urged a broader industrial strategy. He stated:

"While investment in housing and defence is welcome, we need further progress on reforming the Apprenticeship Levy, reducing red tape for employers, and fostering better collaboration between government and industry to support long-term labour market growth."

Carberry also addressed concerns over the Chancellor’s remarks on the cost of agency staff within the NHS, arguing that:

The idea that agencies are driving costs is misleading. NHS Trusts are struggling to secure temporary staff due to nearly a decade of frozen pay rates for agency workers. This has forced many trusts into costlier off-framework alternatives, which could be avoided through collaboration with agencies, unions, and trusts.

With next month’s National Insurance increase, agencies are expected to absorb the costs, creating further financial strain. The government's unwillingness to cover its own tax rise will ultimately increase reliance on expensive staffing solutions, putting additional pressure on the NHS. Agencies play a crucial role in workforce stability and should be recognised as partners rather than scapegoats."*

Welfare Reform and Social Impact

Rebecca Florisson, Principal Analyst at the Work Foundation, Lancaster University, warned of the potential fallout from proposed welfare cuts:

The Chancellor aims to stabilise the economy partly through reductions in welfare spending, but this could create significant instability for up to 3.2 million households, particularly those with disabled individuals.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that an additional 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, could fall into relative poverty by 2029/30 due to these measures.

Planned cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) could undermine the ability of disabled individuals to maintain employment. For the 370,000 people projected to lose their PIP entitlement—equating to a £4,500 annual loss—this could be devastating."*

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

The National Enterprise Network (NEN) expressed disappointment that the statement failed to address challenges faced by entrepreneurs, despite nearly half of UK adults considering launching a business in 2025—a trend contributing to the 800,000 start-ups formed annually.

Alex Till, Chairman of NEN, noted:

"Enterprise agencies are being forced to scale back operations, significantly reducing support for new businesses. The combination of rising National Insurance, minimum wage increases, and the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill presents a substantial challenge for small businesses. Many are already facing job cuts, with some agencies reporting workforce reductions of up to 50%."

Skills, Hiring, and Economic Trends

Dominic Holmes, Principal of Value and Strategy at Cornerstone, highlighted the need for businesses to invest in workforce skills:

"More than half (55%) of employers do not fully understand their own skills gaps, which continues to widen the workforce readiness divide."

Doug Rode, UK & Ireland Managing Director at Michael Page, commented on how businesses are preparing for April’s regulatory changes, including minimum wage increases and updates to National Insurance contributions:

"Many employers are reassessing their hiring strategies. We expect to see a rise in cross-functional hires, where businesses prioritise overlapping skills to enhance versatility and value. Rather than viewing these changes as an obstacle, companies should see them as an opportunity to build more resilient and adaptable recruitment strategies."

Hamish Martin, Partner at LAVA Advisory Partners, observed that rising costs for SMEs could lead to increased mergers and acquisitions (M&A):

"Higher inflation, wages, and borrowing costs could accelerate M&A activity, with private equity firms looking for investment opportunities and larger companies acquiring smaller competitors to gain expertise, intellectual property, or specialist skills."

Seb Maley, CEO of Qdos, addressed the government’s intensified efforts on tax compliance:

"With HMRC receiving additional resources, businesses must be more confident than ever in their tax compliance processes."

Employment Costs and Business Strategy

Ronni Zehavi, CEO and Co-founder of HR platform HiBob, stressed that many businesses were hoping for National Insurance relief in the Spring Statement:

"With less than two weeks until implementation, companies must now make difficult budget decisions—reducing hiring, adjusting wages, and cutting back on staff investment.

The cost of employment remains the biggest financial burden for businesses. As new employment obligations roll out in April, it is critical that the government supports employers, not just employees. Investing in talent remains a key driver of long-term business success."*

Final Thoughts

The Spring Statement delivered mixed signals to businesses and industry leaders. While investment in skills, construction, and employment support is welcomed, concerns remain over tax increases, welfare cuts, and rising operational costs. As businesses navigate these changes, flexibility, strategic hiring, and long-term investment in workforce development will be essential in sustaining economic growth.

Jan 2024

Advantages of Working Exclusively With an Recruitment Agency

It’s easy to presume that working with multiple agencies is the best way to find the right talent. In fact, dealing with several agencies not only prolongs the search for your desired vacancies due to multiple contacts but also eliminates the chance for an agency to get to know your business on a deeper level and help recruit across multiple departments.

At Unique Staffing Solutions, we’re proud to offer recruitment services in a variety of industry divisions, meaning you can come to us for any staffing requirements, whether you’re looking for permanent employees, temporary talent, or contract staff. This allows you to save time by dealing with one dedicated team to source talent for your multiple departments and who will develop invaluable knowledge of your company to find you the perfect candidates to complement your business.

We explore the key advantages for employers working with one recruitment agency.

Comprehensive understanding and knowledge of your business

One of the key benefits of working exclusively with a recruitment agency is allowing consultants to form a comprehensive understanding of your organisation whilst developing strong knowledge of your business needs. Forming this deeper relationship with clients allows agencies to fully grasp your company goals, expectations and culture, to successfully find the perfect match for your business and work together to build a team that helps your organisation reach its fullest potential.

Getting to know your company on a deeper level and understanding your objectives also allows consultants to brief candidates better and really sell the vacancy you are filling. Candidates can then develop greater insight into the role, company culture, business objectives, and expectations.

Recruiting is much more than just filling job vacancies; it’s about supplying the foundations for strong business relationships to serve your long-term business goals and being the go-to team for all current and upcoming recruitment needs.

Achieve a more convenient and efficient hiring process

Working with several agencies to build a team can be stressful, and confusing and can take up a lot of your valued time. The greatest advantage of using one agency to encompass all of your recruitment needs is the decrease in hire time, to achieve a more convenient and efficient process for the client.

You may have several roles to fill within your organisation, across a variety of departments, and you think the best thing to do is to source different agencies to speed up the process. However, contacting numerous agencies not only means briefing every single one with various requirements but also means you may be dealing with several different people in order to complete your workforce. Working alongside a specific recruitment agency that captures all of your needs in one guarantees a smoother and more efficient process, from start to finish.

We also have many areas of expertise, focusing on specialist industries, yet our dynamic team allows our divisions to work together to provide a variety of talented candidates required within your organisation.  

Whether that’s our Office Support team filing an Accounts role or the Industrial team sourcing Cleaners for your business, it's essential that our teams work closely to ensure the sourced candidates complement your expectations. Operating with so many divisions, therefore, allows us to communicate and collaborate effectively in order to source varied talent in multiple areas of your business.

Make Unique Staffing Solutions your go-to recruitment agency for all of your hiring needs, and we promise you will experience an efficient, tailored service.

Jan
2024

10 CV Mistakes You Should Look Out For

In the job hunt process, your CV is likely to be the first impression employers have of you. When an employer has a pile of CVs in front of them, it can be easy to dismiss ones that aren’t quite up to scratch. It should therefore be a top priority that you assess your CV, and ensure it’s the best it could possibly be before sending it to a potential employer. Check your CV for any blunders, and take note of these 10 common mistakes you shouldn’t be making:

Not tailoring your CV to the employer you’re targeting

When it comes to CV writing, one size definitely does not fit all. It’s crucial to make sure your CV is tweaked to specifically relate to the job you’re applying for, and it will be obvious to the recruiter if it hasn’t been. Make sure you read the job description carefully and focus on the skills you have that are relevant. The employer will be looking for information that shows that you’re the perfect candidate for the role, so it’s vital that you make the effort to show them this.

Lying on your CV

Of course, you want to show yourself in the best light but don’t forget that employers aren’t stupid, and they can spot an exaggerated CV a mile off. Lying about previous job titles or grades at university might have worked for that friend of a friend you once heard about, but it’s definitely not worth the risk. These things are easy to check, and if your potential employer identifies a fib – no matter how big or small – it will undeniably go against you. Stick to the facts and it will reflect better on you, as well as make interviews less stressful.

Grammar and spelling errors

Spelling and grammar mistakes are probably among the most common CV mistakes job-seekers make, and although it’s easy to do while drafting your CV, it absolutely shouldn’t make it to the final copy. Once you’ve completed your CV, take a break from it and return later with fresh eyes. Re-reading it with a new perspective with help you notice any flaws. Even better, ask a friend or family member to proofread your CV before you send it to potential employers.

Not explaining the impact of your skills

It’s all well and good rounding off the responsibilities you had in previous roles, but what is really useful to the recruiter is knowing what your work led to. Explaining the impact of your skills and responsibilities can show potential employers what you have achieved, and therefore what you could bring to their business.

Being a cliché

Try to avoid the stereotypical statements made on CVs. ‘Positive thinker who works well in a team’ might sound good to you, but to a potential employer, it’s just another line that’s on more or less every other CV they have read that day. Of course, you want to get these qualities across – however, just word them carefully so as to not sound like every other job-seeker out there.

Embarrassing email address or filename

The email address you made when you were 15 might have seemed good at the time, but to employers… not so much. If your email address is something you’d be slightly embarrassed to put on a professional document, then don’t. Make a new, more suited email address that you can use purely for work purposes. Similarly, when attaching your CV to an email or job application don’t forget that the recipient can clearly see what you’ve saved the file as. Make sure you have it saved as something professional, such as ‘*Your Name* CV’, rather than something along the lines of ‘my CV 3rd draft best one’. This isn’t as major an issue as the email address but could leave employers thinking you’re a bit careless.

Formatting

Be consistent. Stick to the same font throughout your full CV, and only change the text size for headings. Some people think adding colour can make your CV stand out, but in most cases, it’s best to stick with black and white or even just a subtle touch of colour for headings. With regards to images and photographs, these should generally be avoided unless the job application has specifically asked for one.

Too long

As already mentioned, your CV is not the only one recruiters will have to read. They’ll likely have a mountain of CVs to sift through, meaning it’s important not to bore them. When it comes to the length of a CV, one or two pages should suffice – any more than this and it’d be a surprise if anyone actually read through the full thing. Long paragraphs aren’t necessary – keep things concise with bullet points under each heading, and only include the relevant information for the specific job you’re applying for. Also, don’t include full details of references. These can be provided once asked for.

Unexplained gaps in between jobs

It’s common for people to have gaps between employment, but what can become a problem is leaving these unexplained. If you’ve had a few weeks out of work, this can go without being mentioned, but any time longer than a month or two should be acknowledged. It can look suspicious to employers to have an extended amount of time unaccounted for, so whether it was due to travelling, illness or just working on personal projects – explain it. It shows you’ve been doing something constructive with your time out of work.

Salary requirements

Your CV isn’t the appropriate place to disclose salary requirements or requests. This is something that can wait until after the interview process, once you are in the clear running for the job. Adding salary requirements to your CV could also put you in danger of losing money if the job you are applying for actually pays more than you expect.

How to Achieve a Successful Video Interview

Due to an increase in remote working, many recruiters and employers are resorting to video interviews to support their current and future workforce. As a job seeker, it's crucial to familiarise yourself with new virtual recruitment methods to enhance your chances of acing the interview. Video interview planning can appear very similar to preparing a face-to-face interview, however, there are many more factors to take into consideration to ensure a successful virtual meeting.

Technology check

The most important step towards a successful video interview is making sure that your device is set up correctly and fully prepared for the big day. You should test your technology a few days before the interview to not only give you peace of mind that everything is working as it should be but also buy you some time if you need to make a few adjustments.

Your device should be connected to a stable internet connection to avoid interruptions and remember to fully charge this device prior to the interview. A low internet connection can unfortunately cause the video image to appear blurry and even distort the audio causing a time lag, so it's important to position yourself in an area that offers a speedy bandwidth.

Whether you are using a desktop, laptop or tablet, spend some time testing the webcam with friends or family by jumping on a quick call with them. This gives you the opportunity to adjust your hardware, check that your microphone is cooperating and test your own sound to ensure you can hear the interviewer loud and clear. Make sure that the camera is positioned properly and securely, ensuring that it captures your whole head and shoulders. Being comfortable and confident with the technology you are using will allow you to focus solely on the interview itself, eliminating any extra worries that you certainly don’t need on the day.

Suitable environment

An aspect that most people forget when joining a video call is what’s behind them! Wherever you decide to set up your interview equipment, it's important to take into consideration what the interviewer may be observing in the background. Visually, the space around you needs to be completely free of distractions and clutter, ideally in a neutral space with minimalist décor. The focus should be on you!

Once you’ve sorted out your suitable backdrop, it's time to consider background noise; something that that can be more distracting than aesthetics, as this can interfere with audio and affect the sound transmitted to your interviewer. It's important to position yourself in a quiet room, free of interruptions such as family members or pets.

Where you sit within your quiet space is also a crucial factor to consider and natural light can either be your saving grace or worst enemy. You should position yourself in an area which is bright and clear of shadows, this is usually easiest to achieve by sitting facing a window instead of with your back to it. Test out a variety of positions a few days before your interview to get it just right!

Organised area

You probably don’t notice it, but many of us may start to fidget with items around us when we're nervous and sadly, this can be a big turnoff for interviewers. Spend some time clearing the area around your device that could be distracting to ensure you are concentrated and focused on the interview. Make sure your mobile phone is on silent and out of reach to eliminate being side-tracked by notifications or unexpected phone calls.

Even though it's vital to reduce distractions, don’t forget to keep the interview essentials to hand! This includes a notepad and pen for detailing important information throughout the call, the latest version of your CV to revert back to when asked about previous experience and achievements, and even the job description so that you are hitting all the right notes on how you would be a perfect match for the role. Take advantage of this luxury and prepare your essentials as much as you need – after all, they won’t be able to see what you have in front of you!

Professional attire

As much as we are all used to sticking on a comfy pair of joggers and a sweater after being at home for what seems like a lifetime, it's important to dress for the occasion! Dressing in casual wear often influences your mood and tone, making you come across as uninterested and not serious about the position. Think about what you would have worn if it were a face-to-face interview and replicate that on the day.

You should consider your colour scheme too. Think about your background and try not to wear a similar colour to your walls unless you want to look like a floating head! Your attire should be subtle, avoiding loud patterns and bright colours that could be distracting to the interviewer. You should be smart but comfortable enough so that you can still feel relaxed, as well as make sure it sits well when seated.

Body language

The way you conduct yourself during a video interview should be the same as you would at a normal face-to-face meeting. Convey a comfortable yet confident posture by sitting up straight, facing your device and keeping your hands placed on the table or your lap. If you lounge back in your chair, interviewers interpret this as a sign of disinterest, or that you’re not taking the interview seriously. One important point to consider is not to look at the interviewer when either of you is speaking, sounds strange right? In fact, you need to look directly into the webcam and not at the screen, to achieve and maintain eye contact with your interviewer.

Always keep in mind that the interviewer can see you at all times so nodding occasionally and smiling goes a long way, which helps you express your personality. You need to make it clear that you are listening to every point and acknowledging what is being said. It’s essential that you look engaged, enthusiastic, and serious about the meeting just as you would in person.

Once your interview comes to an end, remember to politely thank the interviewer for the opportunity and their time. It may also be appropriate to follow up the next day with a thank you email, emphasizing your interest in the position and that you are looking forward to hearing from them. These small steps can make a huge impact on the recruitment process as it proves to the employer that you are genuinely interested, potentially boosting your chances of making it to the next stage.

Feb
2025

mar
2025

How to Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile

With over 1 billion members, LinkedIn is one of the world's largest networking platforms for professionals and can therefore be classed as a very powerful recruitment tool for jobseekers and recruiters alike. We understand these insights can be daunting, that's why it's so important to make yourself stand out when on the search for a new career.

Your profile needs to effectively demonstrate and display your expertise, ability and experience (without being a replica of your CV) in order to convince recruiters, hiring managers and potential employers that you would make a tangible difference to their organisation.

To support you in your job search we have detailed some tips and tricks on how to optimise your LinkedIn profile for job seeking purposes and make YOU visible to all the opportunities out there.

Headline

Your headline is the first thing a recruiter, hiring manager or potential employer will read. Craft your headline to be a mini value proposition, packed with verbs and relevant information that you want recruiters to know. Additionally, make sure to add the industry you work in.

For example, instead of your headline reading “Head Chef”, it could read, “Award-winning Chef and creative mastermind seeking fresh opportunities.” However, tread carefully and ensure that your headline is still professional and respectful.

TIP: Make your headline stand out or people will move on!

Profile Picture

Secure the best first impression by adding a professional picture that will make your profile more inviting and personal to recruiters. Choose a current high-quality picture with great lighting and a simple background that would encourage your profile viewers to feel confident in trusting you with their business.

Having a profile picture is extremely important when seeking new opportunities. Profiles without a picture portray a lack of credibility and personal branding. Remember to keep your picture fresh and up-to-date!

TIP: Profiles with a picture are likely to have 21 times more hits and 9 times more connection requests.

Contact Information

Make it easy for your network to contact you. Provide a list of your email address, mobile number, company website and even your personal platforms such as a blog or Twitter page.

Customised LinkedIn URL

Customise your LinkedIn URL to make your profile personal and professional. Ideally, your customised URL should read wwww.linkedin.com/in/yourname/

Use your customised LinkedIn URL on your CV, cover letter and other material materials, including email signatures and your blog.

TIP: If you have a popular name, insert the first letter of your middle name or add a number to make it unique and memorable.

Summary

When writing your summary, begin by following the 3x3 rule; three paragraphs with three or fewer sentences in each.

First Paragraph: Reiterate your purpose from your headline in the first paragraph and detail basic information about yourself.

Second Paragraph: Get more specific about your work, projects you have undertaken, results you have driven, companies you have worked with etc.

Third Paragraph: A concise call-to-action that makes it clear why and how a recruiter, hiring manager or potential employer should get in touch with you.

TIP: Throughout your summary, include keywords that recruiters, hiring managers and prospective employers might search for. Keywords should be relative to your role, experience and expertise.

Experience & Volunteering

Your experience and volunteering ventures should be a brief overview of your resume. Lists all the professional positions and titles you have had throughout your career and show the support you've carried out for your chosen cause or charity.

A combination of sentences and bullet points is becoming the trend as opposed to a straight bullet point list. Be sure to use simple and concise language that is easy to read.

TIP: For some organisations, volunteering experience is just as important as your professional experience.

Skills

Record your skills and ask your connections to endorse you. This is a great way to quickly display your expertise. Make sure to place the more important skills at the top and use high-volume search words, to ensure you appear higher in searches.

TIP: Make sure your skills and endorsements are relevant to your sector. This will also help to improve your LinkedIn search rating.

Languages

If you have the ability to speak multiple languages, make sure you list them. Whether you are looking for a role in hospitality, tourism or an office environment, the ability to speak additional languages is a huge benefit to many organisations.

When adding languages, LinkedIn will provide you with options to list your proficiency in your particular languages. The six proficiency options include native or bilingual, fully professional, professional, limited working and elementary.

TIP: Even if you are currently studying a language, this is a great asset to highlight.

Education & Awards

Add your education history and experience. It should include any degrees, qualifications or certifications that you have studied or achieved.

When reporting your education achievements it is great to include any grades or marks that you received either during or at completion. You should report these in the standard in which they were issued. You can divulge further information and the corresponding grade equivalent later in the recruitment process if required.

TIP: You should also include any online or CPD (Continual Professional Development) course you have taken.

Recommendations

Recommendations are a great way to make you and your profile stand out. You cannot write your own recommendation, but you can request them from past and present colleagues, clients, past and current employers. However, be sure not to ask for a recommendation until you have been working with someone for at least six months.

To start with, aim for five to ten recommendations to include on your profile with a mixture of client, colleague and employer recommendations spread across your previous roles. The two most recent recommendations for a given role will be visible next to the corresponding experience position.

TIP: Recommendations from clients are invaluable to your profile, as their testimonials will drive up your credibility. They also provide valuable references.

Groups

Show recruiters, hiring managers and potential employers that you care about what you do by joining groups that reflect your industry and line of work. Go the extra mile and participate in group discussions to really impress!

TIP: You can join up to 50 groups on LinkedIn, but remember to keep them applicable to your interests or industry.

April 2025

Effective Ways to Increase Productivity

We share our top tips for staying productive throughout a working week, whether you are working from home or in the workplace.

Prepare to-do lists

Writing a to-do list may seem like a simple activity with little impact on your responsibilities, but preparing lists in advance can help you focus on one task at a time, whilst reducing procrastination and eliminating wasting time thinking about what you need to do in between tasks.

Add this into your morning routine just before you commence your working day, to effectively track the tasks you have completed and remind you of the jobs you still need to tick off the list to remain on top of your workload.

Prioritise your most important tasks

First of all, it's important to remember that everyone is different when it comes to productivity and the way someone works may not mean it will work for you too! Some find that they work best in the morning, while others may feel most productive after a lunch break, therefore find a time that's best for you and plan your most demanding and important projects during this period to produce top results.

Prevent multitasking

Without prioritisation, it can be easy to start multitasking when you have a long to-do list to conquer, ultimately hindering the quality of work you are submitting. Multitasking can even prolong the tasks you are trying to complete by switching between them.

If you feel that you are starting to multitask throughout the day, take a moment to close any tabs you aren't working on at that moment, look again at your priority list and refocus to ensure you are focusing all of your attention on one piece of work at a time.

Set yourself deadlines

We’ve all been there – working right until the last possible minute of the deadline set for a task. It’s stressful and undoubtedly avoidable. To prevent this, try to set yourself deadlines that are a clear amount of time before the actual deadline. This way, you should complete it in plenty of time and still have the opportunity to return to it with fresh eyes before handing it in.

Eliminate distractions

It’s inevitable that you’re going to get distracted at various points throughout the day, especially when you are working from home. Whether you are supporting the youngsters with their school work, receiving unexpected work calls or simply checking your emails too often, this can inevitably result in an interrupted workflow. Whilst it may be difficult to control some distractions, perhaps start by eliminating those you can control, such as turning off email notifications for a couple of hours or allocating work call times with your coworkers.

Exercise

Don't be put off straight away when the word exercise is mentioned... sometimes a short 15-minute walk in the fresh air can do you a surprising amount of good! After all, squeezing in a workout on your lunch break can be tricky, especially if you are in the workplace. Even walking around the office now and then can give your muscles the stretch they need and allow you to go back to your desk feeling a bit less sluggish.

Take a break

As important as it may seem to get as much work done as possible, it can be just as important to allow yourself to take a break here and there. Working continuously without a break can create many disadvantages to the way you work, including enhanced stress levels and a higher chance of energy burnout.

If you start to realise that you are working overtime on a regular basis, or even just going about your working day without regular short breaks it's time to set time aside to enjoy a little break. This could be as simple as logging off for 10 minutes to read or go walk, or ensuring that you are only working your agreed hours, to make more time for a healthy work-life balance.

Perfect your morning routine

A peaceful eight-hour sleep combined with an early rise can make all the difference to your mindset and productivity throughout the day. An effective morning routine ensures no rushing about, time for an energy-filled breakfast and ultimately a calmer start to your day, which should help you remain focused and prepared for the working day ahead.

Organise your desk

A tidy desk could do wonders for your mindset, particularly if half of its inhabitants haven’t looked at it in weeks. Have a clear out as often as you can, and you could be amazed at how much an organised workspace can improve your mood and help you remain productive without the many distractions around you.

Why not invest in handy organisers to separate your work and make it more manageable, reducing the chances of an untidy and unorganised workload

May 2024

How to Keep Your Team Motivated

It is proven that happy employees not only enjoy coming to work more than those who are unhappy, but they also have a higher standard of work produced. It is therefore clear that a happy workforce benefits not just the employees themselves, but the company as a whole meaning that taking some time to motivate your staff can have huge benefits. There are various ways in which employers can invest in their employees’ satisfaction.

Listen

Communication is key, and this is especially true when it comes to knowing your staff are content in their role. After all, how will you – as their employer – know if something’s wrong if your staff don’t feel comfortable enough to discuss it with you?

Include everyone

Involving your team in the day-to-day decisions of the office can build a sense of community and trust within the workplace. From smaller dilemmas to issues higher on the priority list, brainstorming and getting feedback from your team can not only benefit you with ideas you may not have come up with on your own, but it will also make your staff feel more involved and motivated to make improvements to the business.

Value each employee

If staff feel under-appreciated, they definitely won’t feel motivated. It’s therefore important to make sure every member of staff feels like they play an important part in the bigger picture of the business’s success. Award your team for work they’ve produced that stands out and congratulate their personal achievements outside of work. Going the extra mile to acknowledge your team’s individual strengths will go a long way in showing staff they are appreciated as much as everyone else.

Show appreciation

As well as valuing each staff member individually, introduce some team rewards to show your appreciation for their hard work. From something as small as offering the option of Casual Fridays once a week or ordering pizza for lunch now and then, gestures like these can give employees a breather now and again, showing that you appreciate them enough to allow some laid-back time.

Encourage team activity

Team-building is crucial for everyone involved. Not only will it help staff bond and create friendships, but it will also pave the way for improved communication, leading to increased motivation and a better output of work. Don’t forget, we spend a huge amount of time at work – how much easier would everyone’s day be if they got along with the people they work with? Organise activities outside of work that involve teamwork – not only will it benefit the workplace, but everyone will have fun at the same time!

The small steps you can take to improve your employees’ happiness at work can evidently have massively beneficial impacts on your business as a whole. These small gestures can show your staff they are appreciated, and in turn motivate them to work to the best of their abilities.