NG3 March/April 2021

PREPARING FOR THE
FUTURE
by Helen Jones
It’s almost a year since the country went into the
first lockdown. In many ways it seems to have flown
by, but it has also proven to be the most challenging
period of many peoples’ lives.
Indeed, most of my friends and contacts believe that
things will never be quite the same again as we navigate
out of the pandemic.
In the news today it’s reported that the UK has met its
vaccination targets to date which is a huge boost to our
confidence that life can maybe go back to some sort of
new normality.
And new normality it will be.
Many companies are now considering remote working
as the best way to engage and retain staff for the
future. The pre pandemic 9 to 5 office based role is fast
becoming a dinosaur. Flexibility is the key and creating
a culture of trust where employees continue to feel
supported and valued from afar.
There is also an expectation from the new workforce
generation that we as employers play a more active
role in modern day debates and cultural issues. There is
simply no excuse any more for not looking at the bigger
picture – climate change and equality being two topics I
regularly come across in my involvement with schools.
There is also a need for continued digital fluency
and literacy. Data analytics and digital skills will
become ever more important for potential employers.
Technology is continuously being adopted to make
companies more productive, jobs healthier and increase
wellbeing. The reputational damage of not getting this
right will without doubt have consequences for many
employers who are reluctant to adapt.
The things about the ‘old normal’ (e.g. commuting,
work – home separation, after work socialising) that
now appear valuable in hindsight will set the bar for the
‘new normal’. We must find other ways to engage and
intentionally create these scenarios so that we still have
that sense of belonging in a different way.
“Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the
beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything
is possible.”
oo! that’s a bit racey!
by Claire Bale
Nottingham’s new blog
to open up conversations
that can change the
world.
On 15th August 2020, I
shyly published my first
blog post. I had a clear
vision for Oo! That’s a Bit
Racey! I wanted to create
a space where we could all talk about race in a way
that was open, honest and without judgement. To
make it clear that “race” doesn’t have to be a scary
word.
My head was spinning last Summer. As a mixed race
woman, everything I read about racial inequalities
resonated and made me determined to make
changes within my communities. I quickly learnt that
fear was holding us back.
Many of us are terrified of saying the wrong thing,
asking a question we feel we should already know
the answer to, or inadvertently offending someone.
We’re scared to even have a conversation about
race. Without conversation, there’s little learning; and
without learning, there’s no progress.
So, I committed to learning more and sharing my
journey. Hopefully, I’m inspiring others to learn
more too. To read books they may not have picked
up before. To hear from voices they wouldn’t
have listened to before. To reflect on their own
experiences. And most importantly, to talk about
race.
Everyone’s welcome to join me along the road, and
I’d love to hear from you.
If you have a question, a point of view, or an
experience you’d like to share, visit the blog,
thatsabitracey.com, find me on Instagram @oo_
thats_a_bit_racey, Twitter @bale_claire or LinkedIn
@ClaireBale.
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