London team newsletter - February 2025
Mark Eaton
Part-time strategic HR directors | Adding commercial value | Helping Businesses and people thrive | Proven results of business growth and transformation | My Staff Shop - Employee Benefits - Health & Wellness, EOT
Hello,
After a somewhat turbulent last six months, I am pleased that 2025 has started really well. Despite the ongoing economic and political uncertainty, I feel a renewed determination from our clients to make 2025 a good year, even while managing increased costs.
The war on cost - A CEO's guide to tackling the rising price of employment
This brings me to the People Puzzles webinar: The War on Cost - A CEO's Guide to Tackling the Rising Price of Employment. I was pleased to contribute alongside host and People Puzzles Founder, Ally Maughan ; our People Director and in-house expert on everything reward, Conal Scholes ; and our guest from Mattioli Woods , Andy Robbins .
Many of our clients are naturally concerned about rising costs, which are impacting businesses financially even before any transactions take place. It is now more expensive just to maintain operations.
However, rather than immediately resorting to cost-cutting measures such as reducing headcount, freezing pay, or curbing hiring—all of which are natural reactions—it is crucial to first analyse the data and understand the full impact of these cost increases. A strategic plan should then be developed to not only manage these costs but also drive greater success. There are two choices:
While the latter is preferable, we recognise that some businesses face more complex challenges.
If you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, here are the five key takeaways from the webinar. You can also listen to the full recording here.
Employee Benefits and Salary Sacrifice
One key takeaway from the session was the importance of having a solid employee benefits strategy and leveraging salary sacrifice to mitigate National Insurance rises. As someone passionate about this space, I strongly recommend exploring options at My Staff Shop.
A Refreshing Perspective from the Helm Annual Ski Trip
I was also privileged to attend the Helm (formerly The Supper Club) annual ski trip at the beautiful Madonna Di Campiglio in the heart of the Dolomites, Italy. We enjoyed great food, brilliant company, and some skiing—or in my case, snowboarding! See more about the trip here.
Amidst all the challenging news, it was refreshing to witness the positive enthusiasm of this group toward the future and their growing businesses.
Insights from the CITB Skills and Training Conference
A big highlight so far was attending the CITB Skills and Training Conference at the Ibis Hotel Earls Court.
The construction industry is a real passion of mine, but many mid-size companies that have grown organically need support in navigating the tricky task of managing people and ensuring compliance.
Alongside my People Puzzles colleagues Mark Waine FCIPD CMgr MCMI , Kathryn Marshall , and Tracey Locke OBE as expert panellists, I was privileged to host a session on Solving People Challenges: Strategies to Reduce Risk and Boost Profit.
Mark, Kathryn, and Tracey shared invaluable key tips and strategies drawn from their extensive experience as HR Directors in the construction industry.
A big thank you to my colleagues Serena Cole , Sarah Hamilton and Katy Stenhouse for their amazing support on the day.
The CITB put on a brilliant event, and we are looking forward to building our relationship and supporting their members who need both strategic and operational HR support.
Engaging with New Clients
With all this activity, I have still had the chance to engage with exciting new clients from various backgrounds, including:
One of the best parts of my role is working with such diverse companies. It is a pleasure to learn about their businesses, their origins, and their goals, and to support them in achieving success. It is a never-ending education.
A Big Thank You
Finally, a huge shout-out to all my colleagues at both People Puzzles and My Staff Shop. Your dedication and support are truly amazing!
Warm regards,
Mark
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