Loates Business Solutions Ltd

02/04/2026

🚀 Exciting News! 🚀

We’ve got a fresh line-up of health and wellbeing courses coming your way! Perfect for managers, team leaders, and small business owners, these sessions offer a great way to train your team without breaking the bank. Dive into each topic with us and see what we’ve got planned next!

🎓 Lunch & Learn : How to Have Mental Health Conversations
📅 Tuesday 14th April 2026, 12:00 - 13:00
📍 Online Delivery
👩‍🏫 Clare Downs
💷 ✨FREE!✨

🎓 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Refresher
📅 Friday 24th April 2026, 09:00 - 13:00
📍 Online Delivery
👩‍🏫 Sarah Loates
💷 £150

🎓 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 2-Day
📅 Tuesday 12th May 2026, 09:30 - Tuesday 19th May 2026, 16:30
📍 Derby
👩‍🏫 Sarah Loates
💷 £325

🎓 Lunch & Learn : How to Have Mental Health Conversations
📅 Thursday 28th May 2026, 13:00 - 14:00
📍 Online Delivery
👩‍🏫 Clare Downs
💷 ✨FREE!✨

🎓 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 2-Day
📅 Tuesday 9th June 2026, 09:30 - Tuesday 16th June 2026, 16:30
📍 Loughborough
👩‍🏫 Sarah Loates
💷 £325

🎓 Lunch & Learn : How to Have Mental Health Conversations
📅 Thursday 18th June 2026, 12:00 - 13:00
📍 Online Delivery
👩‍🏫 Clare Downs
💷 ✨FREE!✨

🎓 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 2-Day
📅 Thursday 2nd July 2026, 09:30 - Wednesday 8th July 2026, 16:30
📍 Nottingham
👩‍🏫 Sarah Loates
💷 £325

🎓 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Refresher
📅 Friday 10th July 2026, 09:00 - 13:00
📍 Online Delivery
👩‍🏫 Sarah Loates
💷 £150

More details:
https://link.loates.net/KydLoj

02/04/2026

Giving regular feedback might be one of the simplest ways to improve team performance.

But it’s often the first thing to slip when things get busy.
For small and medium business, building a culture of regular, clear feedback can make a real difference:

• It improves performance in real time
• Helps address issues early (before they grow)
• Strengthens relationships between managers and teams
• Encourages open, honest communication
• Supports ongoing development

It doesn’t need to be formal — just consistent and constructive.
Looking for full HR services or just need help with training and recruitment? We've got you covered, both virtually and face-to-face.
📅Save the date:15 April | “Bitesize: How to Deliver Outstanding Results”

Secure your spot at https://lnkd.in/enkjAGgN

At Loates HR Consultancy, we support businesses with hands-on training, HR support, and real-world advice — not just theory.

💬 How often do your managers give feedback?

05/03/2026

SME employers — this one might not be on your radar 👀

From April 2026, changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025 will make trade union recognition easier.

In simple terms:

✔️ Unions won’t need to show likely majority support before a ballot
✔️ The 40% workforce support threshold is being removed
✔️ A simple majority of those voting will be enough

If successful through the Central Arbitration Committee, recognition becomes legally binding.

And this applies to employers with 21 or more workers — including casual and agency staff.

Union recognition isn’t just for large organisations anymore.

We’ll be sharing practical preparation steps next week.

📩 Want straightforward HR updates without the jargon? Subscribe to our newsletter. https://loates.net/newsletter/
💬 Need advice now? Message us — we’re here to help.

11/12/2025

The holiday season is filled with joy but can also bring stress.

It's crucial to remember your mental health and that of your team during these times. Our training consultant Clare Downs have compiled some simple tips to help you manage the seasonal hustle.

🌟 Take some time for activities you enjoy, whether it’s a quiet walk or watching your favourite film.
🌟 It’s ok to say no to events if you’re not feeling up to it. Looking after yourself is vital.
🌟 Treat yourself with kindness and keep expectations realistic.
🌟 Set firm boundaries early on and discuss them with your family and friends.
🌟 Spend moments reflecting on this year's wins and give yourself a pat on the back.
🌟 Surround yourself with supportive people when you can.

Implementing these steps can make a big difference in keeping stress at bay. If you’re still finding it hard, support is just a call away with organisations like Samaritans (www.samaritans.org).

At Loates, we’re committed to helping East Midlands businesses with tailored HR advice and support, whether you need full outsourcing or specific consultancy. Led by Sarah Loates, a leading expert with over 20 years’ experience in HR, we’re ready to adapt our services to meet your unique business needs.

🌐 Share this post with your network or tag a friend who might find these tips useful!

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We hope you find these top tips useful!
If you need further advice on this topic, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

For more top tips like these, subscribe to our newsletter!
https://lnkd.in/eDUvMYkB

05/12/2025

5 Tips for Stress-Free Office Christmas Parties

🎉 Getting your business ready for some festive fun? Here's how to have a great office party without the headaches! 🌟

At Loates HR Consultancy we're experts in making sure your celebration goes off without a hitch. Here are 5 quick tips to help keep your party enjoyable and inclusive:

1. Set Expectations: Let everyone know it’s still a work event. A gentle nudge that it'll be business as usual the next day might be useful. Why not serve breakfast to make the morning easier?

2. Keep it Inclusive: Not everyone celebrates Christmas, so make participation optional and accommodate personal preferences where possible.

3. Safety First: Arrange safe rides home for your team and have a manager ready to address any issues discreetly and effectively.

4. Office Romances: Maintain professionalism and ensure any relationships are consensual, especially where work hierarchies exist.

5. Watch the Drinks: Limit alcohol and provide plenty of food to keep the mood light and merry for all.

At Loates, we offer tailored HR solutions, from full outsourcing to bespoke consultancy. Whether you need us in-person or online, we're here to support you.

👋 Struggling with post-party HR issues? Need more tips? Check out our latest newsletter at https://loates.net/newsletter/ or drop us a message at https://loates.net/contact/. Also, browse our upcoming training sessions at https://loatestraining.net/management-training-scheduled/ to gear up for a successful year ahead.

Share this post with your network to spread the festive spirit! 🥳



We hope you find these top tips useful!
If you need further advice on this topic, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

21/11/2025

Data security is a big topic right now — especially for SMEs here in the East Midlands. And here’s a stat that might make you pause… cyber attacks have jumped 50% in the last year. 🔐

It’s easy to think this sits with IT, but HR has a huge role too. Especially when it comes to onboarding and keeping employee data safe.

From what we see at Loates HR Consultancy, it’s usually new starters who get targeted first. They’re still learning the ropes, and scammers know it.

The good news? A few simple steps can make a massive difference:

✅ Add scam-awareness to onboarding so new hires know what to look out for.
✅ Remind your team to double-check urgent “CEO emails”, especially ones asking for payments or data.
✅ Set expectations early around handling personal info, passwords and reporting anything suspicious.
✅ Work with IT to build strong password habits and use MFA on key systems.

If you’d like help putting a clear policy or training in place, just give us a shout — we’re always happy to support local businesses. 🙂

What do you think — are cyber scams something your team worries about? Comment below!

07/11/2025

💬 How’s your team really doing?

With National Stress Awareness Day this week, it’s a good moment for East Midlands employers to check in on workplace wellbeing.

Unmanaged stress doesn’t just impact individuals — it affects performance, culture, and retention. As HR leaders, you can make a huge difference by creating an environment where stress is understood, not ignored.

Here are a few practical ways to start:

✅ Help managers recognise early signs of stress — changes in mood, focus, or attendance

✅ Use tools like the Stress Bucket exercise to build self-awareness

✅ Foster open conversations about mental health

✅ Regularly review workloads and role clarity

✅ Make support options easy to find and access

At Loates HR Consultancy — we help local businesses take proactive steps towards better workplace wellbeing. From one-off workshops to fully outsourced HR and training, we tailor support to fit your business.

💡 Want to explore how our stress management or MHFA training could help your team?

👉 Drop us a message or visit loates.net

26/09/2025

👓 National Eye Health Week: Are You Taking Care of Your Team’s Eyes?
If you're a business owner or manager in Derby or the East Midlands, here's a quick reminder: under the DSE Regulations, you're legally responsible for supporting employees who spend long hours on screens.

✅ What you should be doing:

-Pay for regular eye tests for screen users
- Contribute towards glasses if needed for screen work
- Set up workstations properly to reduce strain
- Train staff on safe screen use
- Encourage regular breaks (try the 20-20-20 rule!)

These small steps can make a big difference to your team’s wellbeing and productivity.
At Loates HR Consultancy, we’re proud to be a multi-award-winning Derby-based team, led by Sarah Loates, offering flexible HR support to SMEs across the East Midlands—whether it’s outsourced HR, training, recruitment, or one-off consultancy.

💬 Got an HR question or challenge? Drop us a message or comment below—we’re always happy to chat.

📩 Want more practical tips like this? Subscribe to our newsletter: loates.net/newsletter

09/09/2025

🌟 Looking to boost your team's skills with in-house training? Need to train multiple staff? We've got you covered with a wide range of on-demand training courses perfect for managers, team leaders, and business owners. Let's dive into one of our exciting offerings! 🌟

Introducing our "Developing Personal Resilience" course! 💪✨

This exclusive training session is all about helping you and your team build resilience and enhance wellbeing. You'll explore what affects personal resilience and learn how to create your own "bouncebackability" box filled with tools to help you tackle life's challenges. 🚀

We'll guide you through understanding stress, recognising resilience, and applying effective time management techniques. Plus, you'll learn to set clear goals and develop a personal action plan. 📈

The best part? This course is tailored just for your organisation! Choose the delivery format, location, and date that suits you best. Just reach out to us to arrange everything you need! 📅

Join us and discover how to keep your team happy, healthy, and productive. Because when your staff thrive, so does your business! 🌟

Got questions or want to chat with the course instructor? Get in touch with us today! 😊



More details:
https://link.loates.net/e1fNGM

09/09/2025