Blogs

Episode 5 of our Podcast was with Sam Booth, Chief Executive of business community organisation Pro-Manchester. Check out this page for all the episode information, and an accompanying blog.

We look at both the employment challenges of Covid-19, but also the key lessons that will ensure organisations don’t return to ‘old’ ways of working.

Episode 3 of our Podcast was with Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at the University of Manchester, and President of CIPD. Check out this page for all the episode information, and an accompanying blog.

We look at the impact of positive line management, particularly through the pandemic.

Episode 2 of our Podcast was with Kate Pickett, professor at the University of York and Chair of the Greater Manchester Independent Inequalities Commission. The topic was 'Addressing Inequalities in Greater Manchester'. Check out this page for all the episode information, and an accompanying blog.

We look at the impact of the UK’s inequalities, particularly in the face of Covid-19.

Episode 1 of our Podcast was with Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, on 'How is Greater Manchester going to Build Back Better?'. Check out this page for all the episode information, and an accompanying blog.

We look to how Greater Manchester can build upon the good work movement as we come back from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Guest contributor Robert Downes, GM Development Manager at the Federation of Small Businesses, speaks on the future of office spaces following the pandemic. “Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,” the famous line uttered by author Mark Twain after reports of his death – incorrectly as it turned out – emerged in newspapers. And last year, with the lockdown in full swing, and many office businesses asking staff to work remotely, the same cry was levelled at the office.

Guest contributors Claire McCartney and Rachel Suff, Policy Advisors at CIPD, speak about how to make workplaces more menopause-friendly. More organisations are starting to realise that the menopause is an important workplace issue, but there are still too many workplaces where the topic is taboo. This means that too many women continue to suffer in silence while often just a few small changes could transform the quality of their working life. 

Guest contributor Andy, a participant of our latest Supporter Network Coffee Chat, speaks on his own experiences with mental illness. These last 18 months have certainly been interesting for all of us for many reasons. For some it has meant the loss of income, loss of jobs, a new start, finding ways to cope with change, taking extreme measures, being trapped indoors, worrying about being isolated and coping with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Guest contributor Stewart Lucas from Mind speaks on mental health throughout the pandemic, and what people can do to look out for each other. It is fantastic having a high-profile Mental Health Awareness Week, but like a dog being for life and not just for Christmas, we should actually be aware of our and other people's mental health all the time and not just a few days in May. Mental health is still seen largely as someone else’s problem, and that is because we subconsciously stick the word illness after those two words. 

Guest contributor Clive Memmott, Chief Executive at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, speaks on the future of flexible working for office workers. A year ago, many of the perceived efficiency savings that organisations thought would result from remote working were in reality cost-saving opportunities. 12 months on, companies are struggling to manage a dispersed workforce and achieve these efficiencies.