work life balance – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Make the most of it! Over a third of Brits say they don’t make enough of their free time

Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre launches new campaign after 35% of people said they wished their life had more adventure

With the constant responsibilities of work and life taking precedence over our days, it can be difficult to break out of daily patterns and find time for real fun.

Research by Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, has revealed that nearly a third (31%) of people said their life was too full of routine, with 30% admitting they wish they had the confidence to try more hobbies. This rises to nearly half (47%) for those aged 25-34 as new adults struggle to find their passions.

The research shows that Brits are too often letting their precious free time go to waste. 38% of Brits admitted they don’t make the most of their free time, and this increases to 41% of 25-34 year olds, as young professionals battle with finding the perfect work-life balance.

With many having demanding jobs, it comes as no surprise that nearly a quarter (24%) said that work gets in the way of doing what they love.

To encourage people to make the most of their free time and bring more adventure into their lives, Glenmore Lodge is launching a new campaign, #GlenMOREadventure, encouraging Brits to explore new hobbies that may have previously felt out of reach by helping them learn these skills in a safe and supportive setting.

Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre aims to offer world class training in outdoor adventure sports and encourage more people to enjoy the outdoors in exciting new ways, and maybe even find a passion for something new.

Research found the adventure sports people would most like to learn are:

Paddle boarding (22%)
Hiking (19%)
Skiing (19%)
Rocking climbing (19%)
White water kayaking (17%)
Mountain biking (15%)

The research also found that half (50%) of Brits are doing less that 2 hours a week exercising or taking part in a physically active hobby – failing to meet the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week. 59% of people said they want to improve their fitness.

Over half of people (51%) acknowledged that they would be more likely to take up a new sport if they had access to professionals to teach them. Glenmore Lodge prides itself on offering knowledgeable, clear, and friendly instructions with experts trained to meet the needs of each individual, from novice to pro.

Long months of being stuck inside have created a knock-on effect since the Covid pandemic, as a third (37%) of people want to be outdoors more, and nearly half (39%) say that spending time outdoors is good for their mental health.

For Scots, ‘Munro-bagging’ is a popular way to get in some time outdoors, so it may come as a surprise that 69% of Brits don’t know what a Munro is! For those not in the know, a Munro is a Scottish mountain with a height over 3,000 feet (914.4 m) – of which there are 282 in Scotland.

Heather Morning, Chief Instructor, at Glenmore Lodge said: “After the Covid pandemic, it is no surprise to us that people want to make the most of their free time and find adventure.

“From mountain biking to paddle sports, we want to equip people with the skills and confidence to be able to do what they love, whether that’s trying a new hobby for the first time or looking to improve and refine skills. We are here all year round and look forward to welcoming the next generation of adventurers!”

Glenmore Lodge is situated at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park just 8 miles from Aviemore. The location provides immediate access to Britain’s most extensive and iconic high mountain range as well as the best rivers and lochs Scotland has to offer.

To bring this campaign to life, Glenmore Lodge has released a photo series with action sport photographer Bryce Powriemaking light of the lack of adventure Brits find in their everyday lives, with images showing just how far people will go to get in some added fun, looking to bring adventure to the suburban settings of their daily lives.

To learn more about Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, and to book on a course, visit: https://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/.

Nearly half of Scottish parents are struggling to maintain a work-life balance during cost of living crisis

The Balancing Act: Nearly half of Scottish parents (42%) admit their job prevents them maintaining a healthy work-life balance when it comes to their children, with 78% further admitting they feel trapped in their current career due to external factors

The Need for Change: Self-employment ranked as most attractive (27%) amongst Scottish parents looking for a new career to allow them a better work-parenting balance
New Career Aspirations: AA Driving School research reveals under pressure parents seek working-life changes

New research from AA Driving School shows that nearly half (42% and 51% across the UK) of Scottish parents find their job prevents them from finding a healthy work-life balance, due to childcare and cost of living pressures.

Increases to the cost of childcare have driven Scottish parents to work either additional hours in their current job (19%) or even take another job (12%) to financially support their family.

The Balancing Act

Data found that 22% of Glaswegians experience parent guilt every day (compared to 18% nationally), the top cause being the need to work additional hours which in Scotland was 50% to support their family financially.

More than half (52%) of UK parents agree that childcare costs influence their career decisions, with the age-old dilemma of ‘having it all’ truly impacting parents as nearly 3 in 5 (59%) feel guilty for working long hours instead of spending time with their children.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of Scottish parents admit they have missed their child’s sports day, parents evening (19%) and even their first steps (10%) due to work commitments.

The Need for Change

Against this backdrop, half of UK parents (49%) are ready to take the plunge and will look to explore a new career path this year to improve their work-life balance. With 60% of people in Edinburgh valuing flexible hours the most when seeking new career benefits, compared to the national average of 50%.

Among UK parents considering a change of employment, nearly third (34% and 27% across Scotland) would prefer self-employment if they were to change careers – ahead of retail (14%), healthcare (13%), education (19%) or other office work such as HR, IT and customer services (16%).

AA Driving School is encouraging Brits who are unhappy with their work-life balance to consider more flexible employment by becoming their own boss as an AA driving instructor.

Camilla Benitz, Managing Director at AA Driving School comments: “Inflexible 9-5 working models make it difficult for many parents to balance work and family life.

“Our research shows there is a greater need for workplace flexibility to assist UK parents balance financial, career and parenting needs. Many AA Driving School instructors have chosen this career to allow them flexibility around their families as well as having a long-term, rewarding career.”

Darren Churchill, an AA Driving School instructor since 2021 shares how being able to work flexibly and choose his own hours has improved his work-life balance: “It was being put on furlough during the first lockdown that first got me thinking about a career change.

“I really valued the extra time I had with my children and I realised I didn’t want to give that up by going back to a 9 to 5 job. Having worked as a front of house manager for Ford previously, I was keen to stay within the motoring industry and becoming a driving instructor really appealed.

“It’s the best decision I’ve made as the flexibility it gives me with my children and family life is invaluable.”

For more information on how to become an AA Driving Instructor, please visit: Driving Instructor Training Courses | AA Driving School (theaa.com)

Burnt Chef survey finds 40% of hospitality staff struggled with mental health over last year

The Burnt Chef Project rolled out a hospitality survey to explore issues around staffing within the hospitality sector looking to ascertain why people had left the industry within the last 12 months.

The vast majority of the 2,143 UK based respondents (84%) are still working within the industry: 45% of them were chefs and most (75%) had been furloughed during the pandemic.

“40% of respondents have struggled with their mental health over the past 12 months”

The survey, which was launched in June and rolled out via Peopleful and Umbrella Insights, found that nearly a third of those not currently working within the sector are planning to return within the year, with 10% in the next six months.

However, there are challenges the industry faces which are impacting those who work within it and must be addressed before the industry can become a sustainable career choice for many.

Work-life balance is the most frequently mentioned barrier to working in the sector and most commonly cited reason for leaving.

Sadly, hospitality doesn’t currently come highly recommended with one in five planning on leaving in the next 12 months and around a third (37%) is on the fence.

When asked what changes would improve recruitment and retention in hospitality, the majority said, ”feeling valued’.

Unsociable and unpredictable hours – which are inherent in the trade – were a barrier to one in five, whilst salary and stressful working environments were also frequently cited barriers (one third). Only 4% of those asked highlighted job security as a concern.

The Burnt Chef Project Ambassador, Benjamin Souza-Morse, Owner of The Salutation Inn said: “Things have to change to ensure the survival of the industry, sadly it’s all too often seen as normal practice to work 80 hours a week with no respite.

“It’s not feasible for people to work all hours under the sun and still perform to the best of their abilities, we wouldn’t expect other industries to work two weeks in one. I am constantly adapting my business to try and meet its commercial needs but more importantly the needs of our team, we look closely at: maximum hours, consecutive days off, weekends off, competitive pay rates, free staff food, staff trips.

“These are just some of the things which attract and retain staff and we will be working closely with The Burnt Chef Project to ensure that we are an employer of choice, who focus on the mental health and well-being of our staff.

“If businesses recognised the needs of their team, the whole sector could produce a better balanced, desirable profession to work in.”

Not surprisingly, 40% of respondents have struggled with their mental health over the past 12 months, with around 1 in 6 reporting it has been ‘not good’.

General Managers are seemingly those finding the pressures impacting their mental health the most with 42% reporting a decline in the overall level of mental well-being since reopening. However, 60% of individuals report feeling ‘okay’ or ‘better’ about working in the industry, showing there is a large proportion of the workforce keen to stay.

Kris Hall, Founder of The Burnt Chef Project said, “We’re seeing it all over the media, and we’re hearing it first-hand in the trade. The industry is facing a severe employment crisis right now, but what our survey has shown is that there is a way out of this. Hospitality 2.0 if you like, whereby we support our employees and give them a sustainable career choice.

“There are achievable, mid-term solutions which can be implemented within the workplace to put the industry on the path to success. Training for managers to understand effective communication, performance reviews to encourage and inspire, and mental health awareness training to understand stress and its impact on team members.

“Yes, we’re facing a challenge, but we’re also faced with a huge opportunity to make a better environment within the industry. The impact of COVID-19 has been detrimental to the industry, but now is the time to knuckle down and invest in the business and primarily the people who are working in it.

“We are already working on innovative tools, resources and support services to aid businesses in tackling some of the issues raised from our data.”

For anyone looking for advice or wishing to implement mental health training within their organisation, please contact info@theburntchef.co.uk for details.