Celebrating Mental Health Awareness

Ethos is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week  This year the theme is Loneliness which affects millions of people across the UK. Monday 9 May 2021: Today marks the launch of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health. This year, the theme for the week is ‘Loneliness’. Across the country, people will be reflecting on loneliness and how it impacts our mental health. Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Starting today, our lovely HR team will be commencing a Wellness Roadshow, visiting several offices including Peterborough, Cheshunt and Leadenhall. The team will be setting up Wellness Stations at each office, which will include booklets on practising good mental health and stress management, handouts covering our own company benefits, as well as treats for our employees. Our Cardiff and Banbury office will also be hosting a Wellness station, with healthy snacks and information packs for staff. Mark Rowland Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said: “We hope this year’s theme of loneliness will strike a chord with many of us who felt lonely and struggled throughout the Covid pandemic.  “Millions of us experience loneliness from time to time. We know that some people are at higher risk of experiencing loneliness and the evidence shows the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems. “Loneliness deserves more attention and we’re calling on everyone who has struggled as a result of being lonely to share their experiences. We must work together – as individuals, as a society and through government policy – to reduce loneliness and prevent mental health problems by investing in welcoming social spaces and new community initiatives.” To find out more and to take part, please visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk. You can also show your support by using the hashtag #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek across your social channels.

#WeAreSupporting Men’s Mental Health Month

Men’s HEALTH STATISTICS November is #Movember, a movement which aims to give boys and men the tools, skills and understanding they need to navigate their mental health and make it through tough times. #Intervention saves lives. 50% of adults experiencing mental health problems, experience them before the age of 14. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK 53% of all Cancer deaths are men 237 men die from Breast Cancer every year 3 in every  4 suicides are men 16% of men suffer from anxiety and depression For more information on how you can support the #Movember movement, please visit https://uk.movember.com

20 Year National Living Wage

The Living Wage Campaign is an independent movement is an independentmovement of businesses, organisations and people who believe a hardday’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Employers can voluntarily choose topay the real living wage, providing an ethical benchmark for responsiblepay. The campaign was launched by members of London Citizens in 2001,where parents found that although they were working multiple part timejobs, they struggled to make ends meet. Which left for no energy or time tofuel back into community and family life.The campaign is a great example of how civil society, businesses and organisations can work together to tackle in-work poverty and has gained support across a variety of sectors. Whether that be political parties, the public and first ministers in Wales and Scotland. This year is particularly important, as the campaign turns twenty! This means, that for twenty years the campaign has lifted over 260,000people out of in-work poverty and has delivered over £1.5 billion in extra wages since the campaign began in 2001. It has also helped 0 % of university graduated wiant to work for a Living wage Employer 0 % of the Living Wage network say it has benefitted their business 0 % of consumers agreed that pay should reflet living costs 0 % of Living Wage Employers said it has enhanced their reputation as an employer History of the Living Wage Campaign The idea for the Living Wage Movement, born 20 years ago during a meeting in East London. Citizens UK brought together churches, mosques, schools, and other community organisations to talk about the main issues affecting their communities. From that meeting came a powerful movement, with influential community leaders calling out major employers to pay their staff a National Living Wage. In 2011, the movement went national. The first UK Living Wage rate was launched, and the National Living Wage foundation was created. Celebrating the businesses that chose to go further than the government minimum wage. Present Throughout Living Wage Week, the campaign will be celebrating the strength of the movement and a network of over 8,000 employers. During2020, despite the pandemic and its impact on businesses across the UK, over 2,000 new employers committed to pay a real Living Wage. The employers join over 8,000 Living Wage accredited employers, including those such as Aviva, Nationwide, Burberry, Brewdog and thousands of small businesses. Future Throughout Living Wage Week, the campaign will be celebrating thestrength of the movement and a network of over 8,000 employers. During2020, despite the pandemic and its impact on businesses across the UK, over 2,000 new employers committed to pay a real Living Wage. The employers join over 8,000 Living Wage accredited employers, including those such as Aviva, Nationwide, Burberry, Brewdog and thousands of small businesses. Join us in supporting and celebrating the Living Wage Foundation and the ways in which the foundation supports individuals tackling in-job poverty. Including their new Living Wage Programme and Living Wage Scheme. For more information on The Living Wage Campaign, head to https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-week 

Understanding the true nature of digital document capture

Document capture is the method of converting physical paper documents into digital representations. This is done by scanning the physical document into a scanner or multifunctional device,  which will produce a digital copy of the document. Document management is the act of maintaining a level of the high security of sensitive content to your business by managing the digital document securely and either securely disposing or storing the physical document.   Imagine a daily scenario in any business, letters, and postal mail come through to the main desk, and then they are distributed physically to individuals via an employee. The advantage of document capture can automate this process by scanning the mail into a scanner. The mail can then be sent to the recipients electronically. Adopting this way of working not only helps organisations save time, but it can also have a significant impact on financial gain. The example above is just one of many ways digital document capture can help alter paper processes in work environments and speed up working duties, making it more efficient and actionable. There is a greater need now, in the digital age, to update paper-based workflows in any organisation through the use of secure document scanning and document management. Imagine the scenario above but on a much bigger working scale, which includes mass amounts of physical paper documents coming into an organisation. The pain of dealing with them daily can be hard to manage and makes it vulnerable to many human errors and can not always guarantee full security of the document which can be dangerous, especially for sensitive content. Document capture and document management services can take away these pains by working with your business documents, no matter how unique and complex they are. With large amounts of paper documents comes the pain of storing them and keeping them safe. Many organisations need to keep paper documents stored in on-site archives for future referrals or to simply keep them safe. Digital document management can help overcome those pains by scanning and digitising the documents to a securely stored online portal giving businesses access to all their documents and instant retrieval of them at their fingertips. Moving documents to a digital format not only help a business save money on storage costs, but it also helps to keep the document safe from being misplaced or lost and any physical damage. Electronic documents are stored securely in multiple ways and are backed up to ensure peace of mind. Access to the documents is only allowed through authentication and authorisation, which again adds security to documents compared to physical archives in office spaces. For any organisation, digitising their document management systems can offer a significant advantage on the way daily tasks are carried out and the general operation of the business. Documents can be accessed in a quicker manner, which helps to increase effectiveness and offers a customer a higher level of professionalism. In short, document management can help reduce storage space and cost of archives and simultaneously enhances document security digitally by only allowing granted users to access them. It allows organisation to improve regulatory compliance by classifying them easier and makes them easier to retrieve when you need them promptly. Having control over documents also helps businesses collaborate better not just within a company but with customers. Document management importantly offers greater backup and disaster recovery. Due to the efficiency and level of control document management gives, it provides businesses with greater flexibility and the option to rise above competitors and meet the needs of their clients better.

Ethos Receive Silver Award

Ethos Group Holdings Limited, following on from signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2020, have continued their journey to support the armed forces community in earnest. Ethos Group are now extremely proud to announce that they have achieved Silver level of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme from the MoD for their continued support and commitment to those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families. To gain a silver Employer Recognition Scheme award from the Ministry of Defence, organisations must show tangible evidence that they proactively demonstrate that service personnel and the armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged; this is shown in recruiting and selection processes, and by actively ensuring that workforces are aware of the employer’s positive policies towards reservists and service spouses in particular.  In addition, employers must have demonstrated support to reservist mobilisations or have a framework in place,  and they must provide at least 5 days’ additional special leave for reservist training. Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Leo Docherty MP said: “I would like to thank all the organisations who have proven their support for the Defence community during such unprecedented and challenging times. “The vast range of those recognised this year demonstrates how employing the Armed Forces community makes a truly positive and beneficial impact for all employers, regardless of size, sector or location.” Gill Niblock, a Regional Employer Engagement Director representing Defence Relationship Management “I am delighted that Ethos has achieved this award.  Ethos’s nomination was considered by the London Employer Engagement Board  which acknowledged the effort that went in to the nomination and thanks Ethos for its support to the armed forces community.  I’m really looking forward to working with this company in the future and seeing them make a difference to the armed forces community in all its guises.” Barry Matthews CEO of Ethos Group Holdings Limited I am exceptionally proud to achieve this award as a business, which demonstrates that we can make a difference by positively impacting lives and creating opportunities to change lives within The Armed Forces community- this is a special thing to do ‘ .There will be a formal presentation of the award at the prestigious 2021 ERS Silver awards ceremony later in the year, Covid-19 permitting.

Ethos group supports scouts #GoodForYou launch

In support of Scouts Wolverhampton North, and the launch of their #GoodForYou campaign, Ethos Group of Companies have donated office furniture and equipment. Following on from the relocation of EVAD, http://www.evad.co.uk into the Cathedral District of Derby City Centre, donated furniture aided in the refurbishment of the District Activity Centre. Ethos Group then decided to donate a printing device to further assist this fantastic cause. The donations have helped to transform the District Activity Centre into a more modern and comfortable environment, ensuring that Adult Volunteers have a place to train, plan and relax. In addition, the space will open up more activity opportunities for the young members. The Scouts #GoodForYou campaign is designed to recruit over 5,000 volunteers. These volunteers are needed to help young people to reconnect with their peers, supporting their wellbeing and building their skills for life after a truly difficult year. The campaign will show potential volunteers how giving time to Scouts is good for them too – supporting their own skills, health and happiness, family and community. James Steel Wolverhampton District Commission sent a personal letter of thanks and shared his vision for 2023….. ‘By 2023 we will have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring program. We will be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities. As a movement, we have grown for the last 13 years. We want to continue that positive trend, bringing skills for life to more young people across the UK’ Ethos Group are very proud to be part of this vision. For more information on the #GoodForYouCampaign or to get involved, please visit their website.

Why businesses should be adopting Cloud

The world is changing and so is the way we work – we no longer go to work, work come comes to us. This is why businesses are making investment decisions, moving from the traditional on-premise IT infrastructure, to either a Hybrid or fully Cloud based solution. Cost Savings Research suggests that cloud adoption could reduce business costs by up to 47%, with an overall drop in capital expenditure on IT services between 30-50%. Security Cloud security provides multiple levels of control in a network infrastructure to afford continuity and protection, with businesses suggesting Cloud makes it easier to meet government compliance requirements. Flexibility Businesses can scale services to fit their needs, customise applications and access cloud services from anywhere with an internet connection. This freedom and flexibility can make significant improvements in business efficiency. Mobility With businesses becoming more flexible, cloud allows instant mobile access to business data via smartphones and portable devices. This allows for greater connectivity between people and important information. Collaboration Cloud makes collaboration an easy process. Cloud streamlines business workflows, improves communication, provides instant access to files, as well as real time updates to business data and documents. Automation Automation through app technology, eases the transition from legacy processes to a more streamlined, efficient way of working. Sustainability The cloud is revolutionising the IT industry in many ways. Businesses consume 77% fewer servers, 84% less power and reduce carbon emissions by 88% – in turn positively impacting the environment Start your digital journey today by registering for a free workflow audit book your audit

Ethos Group Pledge to Support the Armed Forces Community

#WeAreProud Ethos Group Holdings Ltd are delighted to be one of the newest employers to sign the Armed Forces Covenant pledge. The Armed Forces Covenant has seen businesses, local authorities and charities develop a range of policies and procedures that benefit current and former service personnel, as well as their spouses and families. By signing the Covenant, Ethos have gained Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze award status. ERS encourages employers to support Defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community. Barry Matthews, CEO, Ethos Group comments ‘We are very proud to have received our Bronze Employer Recognition Scheme Award for the Armed Forces Covenant and we are looking forward to working with Trudy Mensa-Bonsu and the team to show our commitment to ERS, and to build on Bronze Level. As a business we are committed to continuing to work to help and support our former service personnel, our current service personnel and the entire defence family. Ethos Group collaborate with recruiters to ensure that veterans and serving reservists and families are given opportunities, our company policies are reflective of the needs of reservists to ensure that they are able to complete training and if deployed are fully supported.’ Signatories of the Covenant make their own promises to support the Armed Forces community and implement these promises through services and projects, such as flexible working patters and leave for reservists to complete training and deployment. Trudy Mensa-Bonsu Regional Employer Engagement Director, Greater London Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association comments “The Ethos team are really looking forward to supporting the defence family and are highly committed to upholding their Armed Forces Covenant pledges. They have received a bronze award and we are looking forward to helping them progress through the Employer Recognition scheme.” To find out how your business or community organisation can show support, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporate-covenant-pledge.

Ethos Group acquisition of Pinnacle shortlisted for Wales Dealmaker Award

The acquisition took place in March 2020 and further expanded the Ethos Group’s Managed Print business.

Ethos Group shortlisted for reseller of the year for Print IT Awards 2020

Ethos Group will be joining four other finalists on Thursday 11 February 2021 at The Tower Hotel, London where the winner …