Doing the Opposite with Jeff Dewing

Cloud’s Mindsett technology voted No. 2 in the UK Top 50 companies

It’s no secret to everyone working at Cloud, or to anyone who has worked with us in the past, that our tech is at the forefront of property technology and sustainable innovation.

We are here with the technology of the future to solve problems businesses are facing today.

It was hugely exciting this month to be announced as one of the top spots on Business Cloud’s PropTech50 list.?

PropTech50 is an annual study of UK businesses using innovative technologies for building management, real estate, and construction. A public vote is combined with selections from an independent judging panel to determine the final ranking.

I spoke to the UK News Group regarding the announcement:

“We set out to help companies address the challenges of reducing their carbon emissions in a meaningful way. After years of research and development, the Mindsett PRISM ? product is now achieving results for customers across a diverse range of industries.

“The beauty of the Mindsett platform is that it uses data to drive behavioural change, which independent studies have proven accelerates change to achieve economic efficiencies and environmental benefits.”

Our technology was another source of celebration this month as we were shortlisted for an EMA Energy Management Award for Energy Efficiency Project of the Year. As part of the process, we had the opportunity to showcase the incredible work we have been doing with the Azzurri Group.

We illustrated to the panel how we have saved the group 21% on their energy at sites in which the technology was installed, with the potential to increase to 23% across their entire estate.

This is just the beginning for our Mindsett technology as we move into global markets. Having proved our capabilities in the UK we have moved to trials as far-reaching as Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands, and Australia. Make sure you watch this space as big things are coming.

Vistage EMEA Summit 2023

We are just over a month away from the Vistage EMEA summit in Lisbon and I couldn’t be more excited for the event. ?To be attending the summit with not just members of my team from Cloud, but also from Blue Beat and the Reef Company, is a privilege.

I will be sharing the floor with some inspirational and motivating entrepreneurs who are really changing the game in sectors like technology, people services, behavioural coaching, and fulfilment. I cannot wait to soak up the knowledge we will be witness to over the three days.

I will be delivering a keynote speech, focusing on how we as business leaders and employers make people feel. How we can jumpstart recruitment and retention by simply shifting our perspective. It’s not what our employees can do for us but what we can all do for each other. We want employees and team members to walk away at the end of the day feeling good, and that’s what I will be breaking down in my talk.

This event is also a key date in Clouds calendar as we are taking our technology on the road and showcasing its phenomenal capabilities in real-time to give other business leaders and owners the inside track on what is possible, with a live and interactive demonstration of Mindsett PRISM.

Make sure you check back in the next edition of my newsletter to catch up on the event and I will be sharing those parcels of wisdom I have gathered with you all.

Cloudfest 2023: Running a Sustainable Event

It's hard for me to believe that Cloudfest 2023 happened over a month ago. Our celebration of our colleagues, their hard work, and achievements, passed by so quickly like all the best things in life!

While on the surface it looked like a day packed with fun activities and an evening full of celebration and laughs, in reality, the work that went into planning such a large-scale event started almost a year before.

At Cloud, we are no strangers to events. We have run plenty of company parties, conferences, and supplier gatherings, we hosted our first Cloudfest back in 2021! This time we wanted it to be different, unlike any event that we had put on before, we wanted it to be as sustainable as possible.

When it comes to events, I am pretty sure sustainability is pretty far down the list, but it is something my amazing team pulled right to the top and made a non-negotiable for Cloudfest 2023. So how did we do it?

Well as I mentioned before our team at Cloud is pretty phenomenal and they took on this challenge with no hesitation. Sarah Lawrence, Head of HR, Katie Creek, HR Business Partner and Kat Christopoulos, Head of ESG came together with an events organiser to put the plans in motion and identify ways in which we could make this event as sustainable as possible

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With an event like Cloudfest, we want as many colleagues as possible to come together to celebrate, as a pretty far-flung bunch this is not always the easiest feat. To make this as environmentally friendly as possible we hired hybrid coaches to provide transportation to the venue and we educated employees on the carbon cost of each journey type so they could make an informed decision. We also moved some important team meetings to the same week as the festival so we could reduce the amount of travelling happening that month.

We had some amazing entertainment at the event and the craziest thing was that they performed for hours in the evening on a stage that was entirely solar powered. We were incredibly fortunate to have had one of the hottest weekends of the year to ensure there was enough power to keep them going!

The recycling police were on duty doing their utmost and as a result, we ended the event with only three bags of general waste being produced. This is significantly lower than any other event and the whole group is in part to thank for their commitment to reducing their waste.

I cannot wait for our next event to see what we can do to foster a more sustainable environment and get our employees engaged.

World Mental Health Week: We need to change our approach as employers.

There was a lot of discourse last week around World Mental Health Week from employers and employees alike and observing both, some experiences just don’t match up.

I agree that it is time to move past blaming the pandemic for life’s challenges but there is no avoiding the fact that it reshaped the modern working landscape.

Since Covid, the significance of mental health support within professional environments has become more pronounced. Now, more than ever, employers must take proactive measures to foster a culture that prioritizes the mental well-being of their workforce.

One of the key strategies in this effort is the adoption of flexible working arrangements. Recognizing the diverse challenges faced by employees, and offering flexible work schedules can help alleviate stress. By accommodating personal commitments and individual working preferences, employers can create an environment where employees feel valued and understood. Such flexibility not only enhances productivity but also plays a vital role in reducing burnout and fostering a healthier work culture

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Furthermore, the implementation of remote-first policies has emerged as a vital component in supporting employee mental health. Embracing remote work not only promotes physical safety but also offers employees the autonomy to craft a work environment that suits their unique needs. Empowering individuals to work from locations where they feel most comfortable fosters a sense of trust and respect, ultimately contributing to increased job satisfaction and overall well-being.

However, the cornerstone of any successful workplace mental health initiative is the cultivation of trust in employees. Trusting employees to manage their workload efficiently and effectively, regardless of their physical location, can foster a sense of empowerment and accountability. By focusing on results rather than micromanagement, employers signal their confidence in their workforce, thereby fostering a culture of autonomy and responsibility. This, in turn, can significantly reduce stress levels and promote a positive, supportive work environment that prioritizes mental well-being alongside performance.

As businesses embark on the journey of promoting a mentally healthy workplace, it is imperative to recognize that an investment in employee well-being is an investment in the long-term success and sustainability of the organization. By embracing flexibility, remote-first policies, and a culture of trust, employers can foster an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to bring their best selves to work each day. Next year on World Mental Health Week, let's showcase more action and listen to our employees on what we could be doing better.

Season four is here so make sure you are ready to tune in:?

On Wednesday this week I premiered Season Four of my podcast: Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors and if I do say so myself, we started things off with a bang!

I sat down with Garry Ridge, the former CEO of WD-40, and we spoke about what it means to be a disruptive leader, the balance you must achieve as a CEO, and why there are no mistakes, just learning opportunities.

I have been fascinated with WD-40 and how they approach employee engagement since reading that an incredible 98% of WD-40 employees say they love working for the company. Garry is an expert in building an empowering and engaging company culture and it was a pleasure to chat with him for the episode.

You can listen to the episode on all major podcast platforms or watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gZjfhFuV.

Make sure you tune in for the rest of season four as we have an amazing lineup still to come!