
ESSEX
BUSINESS PODCAST
The Essex Business Podcast is for business leaders that are looking for practical advice, tips and inspiration from peers across the county and beyond.
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PODCAST
EPISODE 23: HOME, OFFICE OR HYBRID – WHICH WORKS BEST?
Now the dust appears to have mostly settled on the COVID crisis, one debate still rages: where should we all be working? Should we by now be back in the office 100% of the time, should we still have the freedom to work from home, or should we be combining the best of both worlds? Views vary, so in episode 23 we discuss the options for employers and employees alike.
Jessica Douglas, Strategic People and Performance Manager at Colchester Borough Council, talks about the ground-breaking flexible working policy they introduced in 2011 and we hear from Ann Scott, Associate Regional Director for East of England CBI, who has a firm finger on the flexible-working pulse of many businesses across Essex and the rest of the East of England.
Plus, Joann Kebbell, Partner and Director of HR & L&D at leading Essex law firm Birkett Long, explains how they had to react to the strict COVID restrictions and how they sought to find a balance as the guidelines eased.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
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Jessica Douglas, Strategic People and Performance Manager at Colchester Borough Council
https://www.colchester.gov.uk/ -
Ann Scott, Associate Regional Director for East of England CBI
https://www.cbi.org.uk/ -
Joann Kebbell, Partner and Director of HR & L&D at Birkett Long
https://www.birkettlong.co.uk/
MORE EPISODES

EPISODE 20: MIND THE SKILLS GAP - IT'S GETTING BIGGER!
Ask any business owner the biggest challenge they face, the chances are the answer will be the skills gap. Recruiting people with the necessary skills to keep a business moving forward is becoming increasingly difficult. Episode 20 of the Essex Business Podcast seeks to answer the question: why has it become so difficult to find the right people to fill that job vacancy.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Andy Hilliard, Managing Director of
AJ Chambers
https://aj-chambers.com/
John Stevens, Director of Excalibur Screwbolts
https://excaliburscrewbolts.com/
Jimi Wall, Professional Career Transformation Coach
https://jimiwall.com/

EPISODE 21: THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPANY CULTURE
The pandemic brought about swift change and company culture was thrust firmly into the spotlight. Remote working, coupled with the accelerated adoption of digital tools, and individuals evaluating work/life balance all became the norm and business leaders were tasked with keeping everything on track.
In this episode, we look at how a strong organisational culture, clear vision and robust company values can have a huge impact on everything from recruitment and retention, right through to the bottom line.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Jonathan Austin, CEO at Best Companies
https://www.b.co.uk/
Angela Dellar, Professional Certified Leadership Coach
https://www.angeladellar.com/
Stuart Burns, Managing Director at Dura Composites
https://www.duracomposites.com/

EPISODE 22:ENERGISE YOUR THINKING TO SAVE ON COSTS
The current cost of living crisis is impacting on businesses every bit as much as it is on individuals. Soaring energy costs are a major contributory factor to the headaches faced by business owners as they try to keep overheads under control. In this episode of the Essex Business Podcast, we talk about viable solutions to the issues we currently face, with organisations who are helping to make difference.
GUEST SPEAKERS
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Neil Fright, CEO at Carbon Numbers
https://carbonnumbers.co.uk/
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Marialena Papadopoulou-Kipou, Business Energy Advisor at LoCASE
https://locase.co.uk/
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Peter Newson, Managing Director at Anglia Sports & Schoolwear Ltd
https://www.yourschoolwear.co.uk/
BROUGHT TO YOU BY RICKARD LUCKIN
Working to support individuals and businesses alike, Rickard Luckin ensures every step of the journey towards your ambitions is backed by clear, objective and tailor-made tax and accountancy advice.
Find out more at www.rickardluckin.co.uk