Employers adapt training methods to help motivate new Gen Z workers
Many employers are finding it difficult to motivate their Gen Z workforce – aged 16-25 – and are adapting their training methods to better-meet the needs of younger staff, according to research from Grant Thornton. A survey of 605 mid-sized business found that over a third of firms said it was more difficult to motivate current Gen Z employees compared to previous generations. Most were adapting their training methods for recruits with more personalised training, ‘on demand content’ and gamification to appeal to new younger staff. The research, which looked at responses from 2,000 people aged 16-25, suggests the pandemic may have had a knock-on impact with Gen Z respondents feeling that they were least-prepared for softer skills such as verbal presentations and persuading and influencing. James Brown, practice leader in Central and East for Grant Thornton UK, said: “This insight into how the current generation of young people view careers and work will help to inform and shape decision making about how we best support them as they progress – after all, these are the people that will be running our firm one day….Workplaces, and society at large, are rife with age-related (across generations) stereotypes, which are not always accurate. This is why it is important that we better understand how beliefs about age affect our workplace, and work to dispel some of the rhetoric that creates barriers and inhibits cohesion.”
Government to fund major improvements to A12 in Suffolk
The government has confirmed up to £54 million of funding for a package of improvements as part of Suffolk County Council’s A12 Major Road Network scheme. The scheme will see upgrades to roundabouts from the A14 at Seven Hills, east of Ipswich, north to the A1152 at Woods Lane, and a new dual carriageway section replacing the existing single carriageway bottleneck at Seckford Hall. It will also deliver improvements to bus links and walking and cycling connections. The Department for Transport has committed to funding up to £54million of the scheme’s estimated £64 million total cost. The remainder will be funded by local development contributions, including from Sizewell C and Brightwell Lakes. Cllr Richard Smith the council’s cabinet member for economic development, transport strategy and waste, said: “These improvements will future-proof the A12 and deliver major benefits to local communities and to people travelling around Suffolk, the road being a link between our two largest towns, Ipswich and Lowestoft.”
Law firm plans more recruitment to deliver growth
Law firm Howes Percival is planning to recruit 50 new staff after reporting a 19 per cent increase in turnover to £31.3 million for 2023. Over the next two years, the firm plans to continue recruiting across all its six offices, creating further new roles, including partners, solicitors and support roles. It will be in addition to the 50 new roles which it has created over the past two years as its turnover has risen by a third over the last three years. Growth has been across all offices and all practice areas with corporate, commercial and banking turnover up 74 per cent in three years, employment law up 23 per cent, property up 25 per cent, litigation up 31 per cent and private client 15 per cent higher. Howes Percival chairperson Geraint Davies (photo, right) said: “We are continuing to take market share in all our locations and there is real momentum behind the firm at the moment. We will be investing further through 2024/25, in our people and in the business itself, to meet the client demand we are seeing and deliver further growth.
Howes Percival chief financial officer Fayaz Sattar said: “Looking forward our core markets are holding up well and have remained resilient, despite inflation in general and the economy as a whole.”
Housebuilder acquires land for new Suffolk homes
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has acquired new land as part of its Kings Warren development in Red Lodge, outside Newmarket. The firm plans to build 141 two-to-four bed homes on the 14-acre site, 30 per cent of which will be affordable. Work is set to start this month with the first residents moving in next May. Karen Coulson, sales and marketing director at Crest Nicholson Eastern, said: “Kings Warren is already a thriving community and a popular area thanks to the range of amenities that are easily accessible within the wider Red Lodge development, including a primary school, sports pavilion, and allotments. Interest at Kings Warren has been high from both locals and those from further afield.”
Leisure and business resort ranked amongst the ‘best large companies to work for’
Wyboston Lakes Resort has been ranked at 49th place in the UK’s 100 Best Large Companies to Work For 2023. The ranking reflects the resort’s consistent presence among the Best Companies-accredited organisations since 2014 and its commitment to employee satisfaction and engagement. The 380-acre leisure and business resort west of Cambridge employs more than 320 people across two modern conference venues, a four-star hotel, spa, an 18-hole golf course, and serviced offices. The resort is also ranked 16th in the Best Companies to Work for in the East of England and in sixth place for Best Companies to Work For in leisure & hospitality. Wyboston secured a Best Companies Index score of 740.2, rated on a scale of 1-1000. Director of people Katherine White said: “This score underlines the resort’s steadfast commitment to cultivating a nurturing and engaging workplace, where a positive culture empowers team members to thrive and reach their full potential.”
Managing director Steve Jones said: “…It’s testament to the hard work, team spirit and attitude of everyone here that this is a great place to work. Our people are our most important asset so it’s wonderful that we’ve been recognised among the UK’s Best Companies to Work For.” The resort also achieved a Best Companies’ 3-star accreditation, based on employee feedback, which meaning the venue is considered a ‘world-class’ employer for employee engagement.
Photo: Katherine White and Steve Jones (right)
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Sports club launches outreach programme to support local children
Ipswich Sports Club has launched an outreach programme with the backing of Sports England to provide support to disadvantaged children in the local area with access to sports, extra education and a nutritional meal. Two local schools, Springfield Primary and Handford Primary, have been selected to take part in the programme. It will include a weekly visit to the sports club, an hour of complimentary teaching in curriculum areas, an hour-long coached squash lesson and a homemade dinner. The funding will cover transport to the club. After visiting the club last week, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr. Dan Poulter said:”The club clearly has a bright future ahead and I was pleased to hear more about what the club will be doing to support the community. Their aspirations are commendable and deserve as much backing as possible so that children from North Ipswich and further afield can access and enjoy the many benefits that sport can bring.”
Chris Grimwood, general manager of Ipswich Sports Club, said: “Through this programme, we aim to not only impart valuable sports and education but also foster a sense of well-being and community among the participants. We see the club as a real community asset”.
Photo (l-r): Steve Brown, Dan Poulter, Chris Grimwood, Andrew Isles (chairman), Emily Ison, Jon Tuppen (secretary).
Concert at Cambridge college raises funds for regional charity
Meet Cambridge, the conference and events bureau for the city and surrounding area, has recently partnered with a Cambridge college and one of its long-term clients to host a choral concert and raise money for a regional charity. All the proceeds of the performance by the Dunmore Church Choir from Galway in the chapel at Corpus Christi College are going to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice. The diverse programme included works by Vivaldi, Fauré, and Handel, as well as traditional Irish airs. Judith Sloane, head of Meet Cambridge, said: “We were delighted to partner with our client and one of our venues, Corpus Christi College, to make this event happen and we have supported it as part of our 25th anniversary year activities. Over the last 12 months, we have taken part in many initiatives which have given back to our community and this was a fitting end to the programme.” In all £1,500 was raised from ticket sales and donations.
Photo (l-r) Judith Sloane, head of Meet Cambridge; Annette Walsh, musical director and Eoin Connolly, accompanist, both Dunmore Church Choir; Helena Davis, community fundraiser, Cambs & West Essex EACH; and Dr Dervila Glynn, Cambridge Neuroscience strategic manager.
Charity chairman retires after 25 years with tributes
A Cambridge charity has marked the retirement of a former chair and long-time trustee with the presentation of a unique sculpture. Girton Town Charity’s trustees and colleagues gathered to recognise Dr Robin Hiley who had completed 25 years voluntary service and was instrumental in seeing through a range of initiatives to improve life for the residents of Girton. He was presented with a sculpture of a Girton Goose made by Cambridge-born Matthew Lane Sanderson who created the village’s sculpture railings. The sculpture reflects Girton’s long relationship with geese; an important source of feathers for quills used by scholars and scribes at university colleges. Robin Hiley fulfilled the charity’s decision to sell its land on Wellbrook Way, resulting in a significant endowment from which the interest could be used to provide more almshouses and a range of schemes and grants to help residents. GTC’s current chair Ann Bonnett said: “In listing just some of the many achievements during Robin’s time with GTC, we can see what an enormous contribution he has made to our community and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”
Photo: Dr Robin Hiley is presented with a Girton Goose by current Girton Town Charity chair Ann Bonnett on his retirement after 25 years’ service.
