Let’s Celebrate Local!
By Laura Callahan, HR Consultant and founder of Willow HR Consulting Ltd. The company specialises in supporting small to medium-sized businesses to achieve their objectives through their people.
How are you feeling about your business?
Super energised! We were ridiculously busy for five months solid, but then we took on an extra member of staff and things have calmed down now. We have been able to focus on business plans and how we can best support our clients for the remainder of the year, taking into account everything that has changed.
How are you feeling about business in general?
Really good. People have to get back into the workplace eventually, and businesses have to start bouncing back, and we are supporting each of our clients in their unique ways to make that as safe and productive as possible.
Tell us how you now apply this phrase to your business and/or life ‘buy local supply local’.
We ensure we use local providers for design, printing, photography, website support, social media consultancy, accountancy, office premises etc.
As a small business, we recognise the value of positive, supportive relationships in our local community. I always want to place my business with someone who cares if I am happy, or not, and you get that by working with people just like us.
What has changed for you positively as a result of lockdown?
We have accelerated our growth plans and have taken on a new member of staff and moved into premises ahead of when we expected to. We are a bigger team, able to offer more to our clients, and spend time focussing on developing ourselves, as professionals.
Tell us what makes a ‘good’ local business.
We are super lucky to have been in regular supply of great quality local meat, milk, fruit and veg in Shrivenham village via Hinton Marsh Farm Shop and Bloomfields.
Since lockdown has eased, we have been going to La Carbonara in Swindon and The Gateway Centre in South Cerney for amazing fresh cooked meals as a family, and been amazed by how they have adapted to maintain such high standards, despite the restrictions placed upon them.
https://hintonmarshfarm.co.uk
http://www.bloomfieldsfinefood.co.uk/Food-to-go
https://www.lacarbonara-restaurant.co.uk
http://www.gatewaycafe.co.uk
What are your business plans for Q4?
We have some very exciting new ventures on the horizon, the new Kickstart Initiative to provide jobs to young and employed people that we are supporting our clients with, and the furlough scheme coming to an end….so we expect to be busy!
And finally:
Remember to take time out to take stock and consider how things have changed, and how you should focus your time and efforts. Whether you have been quiet or busy, in growth or decline, it is likely that your environment has changed around you. Take a pause and dedicate a period of time, even just 10 minutes, for peace and quiet, reflection and planning.
For more information visit https://www.willowhr.com