Aspen Waite Winter Magazine 2022

Aspen Waite

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams

A festive welcome to the Winter edition of our quarterly magazine.

If you are reading this and you would like to contribute an article, get in touch with me at Paul@aspen-waite.co.uk

PAUL WAITE - FCA FCCA - CHIEF EXECUTIVE ASPEN WAITE GROUP

It’s that time of year again. The time when we look back, reflect and yearn for memories long gone.

I have always loved Christmas, I like nearly everything that goes with it - the lights, the cheesiness, the songs and the good cheer. My goodness we could all do with some now.

I have hated the number six all my life, to the point where I will do anything to avoid seeing the number. This applies to petrol pumps and gym machines, so is it any wonder that a year that adds up to 6 was so challenging.

Russia invaded Ukraine and we have all marvelled at the courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people and their wonderful President Zelensky

We have seen three Prime Ministers in a year - when is the last time that happened?

I was full of hope when Liz Truss came into power, a lady who shares many of my beliefs especially regarding aspiration and tax policy.

Sadly, Liz became the victim of both the media and her own party, so we are now saddled with one of my least favourite politicians - the champagne socialist that is Rishi Sunak.

Please do read my article on the Betrayal of the Business Class by the Tory Government.

I would never have thought that a Tory government would seek to destroy wealth creation.

I have often thought that my life was a test and boy has the Maker tested me this year.

I have had to cope with the betrayal of a partial management buyout in Wales and the devastation to cash flow caused by a changed HMRC attitude to R&D tax credits.

In many ways I think the root of the current problems lie in how the world governments reacted to the pandemic.

While I feel that the business light was switched back on about a year ago, it is only recently that the underlying symptoms of the pandemic have really hit home.

Businesses rode out the last 2 years off the back of Bounce Back Loans and the Furlough scheme.

Many things have changed probably forever and there is no support left for businesses that need help. To make matters worse we are about to see 25% Corporation Tax akin to punching a boxer when he is already down.

I fear there will be unprecedented levels of business failure. One interesting fact concerning this government’s mismanagement is that the UK is the only G7 country with a smaller economy than at the beginning of the pandemic.

To make things worse we have crippling fuel and energy prices. This massively impacts on people like Hauliers and Restaurants. It is exceedingly difficult to pass on the increased costs.

It has never been more important for business owners to adapt, and this sometimes means making difficult decisions.

Be bold, make decisions early and seek advice. We are here to help 24/7.

It’s not all bad news. My granddaughter Evie has been a constant source of joy throughout her life, and I can see rugby greatness in her already. The highlight of the year was Evie telling me ‘Grandpops you are inappropriate’!

I became a trustee of Next Steps Charity, and this has become a big part of my life. We have formed Next Steps Radio and I am confident that our radio offering is really going somewhere.

This applies to our music interests generally. We now have a state-of-the-art recording studio in Rubis House and our own record label ‘Redjam Records’.

We are excited about the launch of our new environmental service called Legacy. See more on this inside.

2023 adds up to 7 which is a much better number, although not as good as 13, perhaps my favourite number.

Bring on 2029!

Yours positvely, Paul

MARK WAITE

Introducing our Sustainable Service,‘Legacy

I am excited to introduce, Aspen Waite Legacy, an Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction Solution, assisting any size of business to either meet its mandatory reporting requirements (for qualifying companies) or its voluntary desire to reduce its environmental impact.

Legacy is a fully comprehensive service that incorporates everything you may need to make your business more compliant with current and future legislation but also heavily focusing on energy reduction to create an important benefit of saving costs.

We can conduct a specific energy audit, tailored to suit your business requirements that will provide you with the key information you need to make the necessary decisions to make energy savings and reduce your general emissions.

Unlike many of our competitors our service is available to businesses of any size and from any sector. We feel we are in the best position possible to assist any business with its important energy cost savings and its future sustainability plan.

There is increased pressure for businesses to have a sustainability policy. Legislation is already in place for larger qualifying companies therefore smaller companies are being pressured to improve their awareness of their carbon footprint.

Currently mandatory reporting comprises of ESOS – Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme

SECR – Simplified Energy and Carbon Reporting.

Who needs to comply?

For ESOS if your business meets certain criteria participation is required by law. To be eligible, you musth have over 250 members of staff or a turnover of over £39 million and an annual balance sheet of more than £33 million. Comprehensive audit findings must be submitted to theEnvironment Agency every 4years, non-compliance will result in an Enforcement Notice being issued.

For SECR the qualifying conditions are met by satisfying any two of the following requirements over 2 consecutive accounting terms. Turnover of more than £36 million, balance sheet of £18 million or more and an excess of 250 staff. The completed report detailing total annual energy use and total carbon emissions is then filed in the company’s annual accounts.

Clearly there is across over between ESOS and SECR. Most companies qualifying for one will also qualify for the other.

Although at present SME’s are exempt these mandatory reports, in time additional Government policies are likely to be introduced to widen the number of businesses that are required to report their energy use and emissions. That is why we strongly encourage every business to start their journey for sustainability now.

Importantly, any energy and sustainability programme shouldn’t be seen as an additional cost or obstacle to a company’s main business activity. Done correctly, following the initial investment, it will result in significant savings in total energy usage and cost.

In addition it will ensure adherence to current legislation, create less waste

and pollution, improve supplier relationships and improve brand recognition.

If dealing with the public sector a sustainability policy, is vital for suppliers. It is especially important that you can demonstrate the awareness your business has of its impact on the environment but also your responsibility to communicate the environmental and sustainability policy to both your workforce and local community.

If you deal with any local government department you will know that having an effective sustainability policy is vital if you are to be successful in any tender procurement.

This policy should include details on how your business is trying to reduce its use of energy, water and other resources and minimise waste by reduction, re-use and recycling methods.

Our holistic energy efficiency audit packages will provide you with the detailed information you need to make these necessary changes and to reduce your impact on the environment.

Aspen Waite Legacy is powered by proven industry professionals so you can rest assured you are in expert hands. In addition to our main audit packages Legacy can also help with critical technology partners that will assist you both in going green and saving costs.

These include such examples as competitive Electric Vehicle leasing, Electric Vehicle charge point installation (both home and business), LED lighting, ground and air source heat pumps, enhanced energy procurement, rainwater harvesting systems, CHP units and anaerobic digesters.

Legacy can also offer Carbon Offsetting Schemes that will allow you to become carbon neutral. Typically projects will involve reforestation schemes. Any of the business offsetting projects we can put forward will be recognised as being ‘Gold’ standard and as such recognised and verified by recognised bodies such as Carbon Neutral Britain.

Any of these technology categories are also available as ‘stand-alone’ services but these may also be identified in your energy audit as an area that warrants attention. If this is the case, our audit will also come with a fully costed proposal for each area identified. This allows your company to make an informed decision on what solution to accept.

All the technology partners offered under our Legacy banner are industry experts selected for their skill and knowledge. All can offer proven solutions to help with your sustainability journey. Many are existing AW clients that have already benefitted from the already comprehensive range of professional services Aspen Waite has to offer.

More information is available on our website: www.aspenwaite.co.uk/legacy where you can also make an enquiry and get a call back from one of our professionals.

Following your enquiry we will select the most appropriate consultant who is best suited to your individual business specialism and needs. They will then get back in touch with you for a free of charge consultation where they will be able to get a greater understanding of your business activity and requirements.

We can then provide you with a fixed price proposal for your consideration.

More information is available on our website www.aspenwaite.co.uk/legacy where you can also make an enquiry and get a call back from one of our professionals.

SAMI TUCKER - HEAD OF OPERATIONS

Introducing: Aspen Waite People!

Birthed from an idea over a cup of coffee, Rhona put a business plan together to bring Aspen Waite People into the world. After realising that we had talent within the People Department that could, (and indeed should!), be shared with all our clients we decided that it would be criminal not to pursue this as a new revenue stream for Aspen Waite. We were also keen to open it up to new clients too, so more people could experience the Aspen Waite ethos of the “Complete Business Service” and “Creating a world where no business owner is alone”.

After presenting the original business plan to Paul; after a few tweaks; we got everything up and running quite quickly. Lara designed the most beautiful logo which we are so excited to use!

There are a lot of HR companies out there – so why choose us?

We are all about the personal touch – we are not a faceless entity who will just send you an email with the information, we will give you a call and talk you through your problem/needs

We will provide you with the documentation that you need and will even brand it with your company information and logo so that it is undeniably yours

We will keep you up to date with the latest changes in HR law

We tailor our services to the needs of your business – we don’t oversell to you!

We allow you the time to focus on running your business, instead of worrying about all of the people legalities and the paperwork that goes hand in hand with HR

We will work with your H&S department to ensure that the cross over between the two departments are handled correctly

We strive to find smart solutions for “employer AND employees” alike

AND MOST OF ALL

We provide a competitively priced HR service package for ANY sized business in ANY sector – we are a FRIEND TO ALL

When did we launch Aspen Waite People?

We launched the service via Aspen Waite Radio on 1st October 2022 on Paul’s Sunday morning show which was an absolute blast. Massive thanks to Paul and Drew for making us feel at ease and ensure that the interview was full of laughs and great music. We then followed this up with another radio interview on Johno’s (Bushman) show on Friday 28th October 2022 where we were super excited to announce that we had just taken on our first client.

So, what can we do for your business?

Our service is broken down into 2 main areas –Silver and Gold – which showcase different levels of service within the business.

Silver Service

Our Silver Service is an “essentials only” package which covers contracts, policies and procedures, help with an employee handbook etc.

Gold Service

Our Gold Service is the “full HR function package” which includes everything within the Silver Service PLUS help with employee inductions, benefit scheme management, assistance with grievances and disciplinaries, HR training for staff and much, much more!

We want to make sure that this service is accessible to all sized companies, so we have affordable pricing packages for each of these services.

We have also just launched a brand spanking new one-off service to produce a contract/addendum for you with no obligation to continue using our services afterwards.

If you are after something HR related that you don’t think are included in these packages, then please do get in contact with us for a free consultation and we can see what we can do to help you!

How to get in touch with us

You can contact us via the website www.aspenwaitepeople.co.uk via email to hello@aspenwaitepeople.co.uk or give us a call on 07951 058848 (Rhona) 07496 681034 (Sami)

Please do check out our awesome website (built by Ross) and make sure that you mention our services to as many people/businesses as possible to help us make Aspen Waite People a roaring success! www.aspenwaitepeople.co.uk

You can also check out our LinkedIn page here: www.linkedin.com/company/aspen-waite-people BRING ON THE HR REVOLUTION!

Rhona and Sami

Aspen Waite People

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The Abandonment of the Genuine SMEs by the Liz Truss Administration

In March 2020 the Coronavirus pandemic hit our shores.

The government took an ultra-cautious approach and while certain sectors flourished, on the whole, business took a battering.

My own business Aspen Waite entered the pandemic off the back of sustained growth, but successive lockdowns made networking virtually impossible, compounded by working at home practices.

Like many others we had to try and adapt and it was an incredibly challenging period. Confidence is starting to return and we have learned and evolved. Marketing is a long-term project anyway, so we have effectively lost 2.5 years in our business developments.

I vowed to keep all my people in a job, so we did not use the furlough scheme. With hindsight this was foolish as we have got no credit for doing so and if we had relied on government support, we would have failed.

The Boris Johnson government stood for nothing and believed in nothing.

The focus was on preserving the Northern vote that allowed the landslide election victory to happen.

A centrist government with a billionaire Chancellor who does a pretty good job of behaving like a champagne socialist.

We saw a significant reduction of Entrepreneurs Relief (see my previous article the Betrayal of Business) then a 1% hike in National Insurance and unbelievably a 6% rise in Corporation Tax to 25%.

The latter is by far the single worst measure ever introduced by a Tory Chancellor. Confidence is low, businesses are struggling, a situation made even worse by high energy costs and all the government support has gone. We are told the current tax rise has to happen because it will raise £16 billion, and we need to repair the country’s finances.

When the Truss administration came into power it delivered a series of tax cuts, tax postponements and sweeteners such as the energy price freeze. My initial reaction was that the mini budget was lacking in pragmatism but 10 out of 10 for intent.

I declined to be interviewed to give my views on the budget because I thought to do so was a no-win position. I did not give a seconds thought though to the Corporation Tax freeze coming under threat.

The market and media hysteria that followed was unbelievable.

In my opinion this proves what I have known for a very long time, the term ‘Corporation Tax’ is misunderstood.

There are circa 4.2 million limited companies in the UK and only just over 6000 public limited companies.

Most companies are small often micro businesses with one to three employees.

For many years there were two rates of Corporation tax, one for companies with larger profits and those with smaller profits. In 2012 it was decided to align these rates and there were many good reasons for doing so.

Can one imagine the furore if paupers and millionaires paid the same rate if income tax?

That is what happens with Corporation tax. Many companies work on very tight margins, typically a net profit return of 35% sales in the construction industry.

As a business owner I have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds into capital projects and new business. I have also created many jobs and as an adviser undoubtedly saved many others. I am regarded as a serial entrepreneur and have just started another three new businesses. Just to run a business requires courage and to keep investing over the pandemic period as I did, even more so. I faced a lot of criticism from within.

Lower taxes enable more profit to be retained and available for investment.

The best way to encourage growth and higher overall tax yields is to create an environment that encourages the entrepreneur to create new

jobs, invest in new technology and ventures and so on.

The irony is that larger SME’s are better able to pay advisors to help them plan their tax liabilities.

Businesses in certain sectors have a distinct advantage over others. Hauliers, for instance are regularly renewing and replacing their fleet. I have a client that

has made £3.5m net profit in its last financial year but a multimillion £ tax loss.

There are two reasons for this:

• Substantial capital expenditure - nearly all of which has attracted the 130% Super Capital Allowance

• Good sized R&D tax credit claim

Many businesses though have no or little need to make capital expenditure.

Nonetheless, capital expenditure planning remains a significant part of any tax exercise and I passionately believe that it is almost impossible for a dynamic company not to be carrying out at least some R&D.

All business owners need to be continually looking at what they are doing, evolving and adapting and looking to make efficiencies.

I fear that many businesses will be failing in the months to come. We are already seeing failures reach their highest level for 8 years.

There are a lot of good people out there, so do seek help, and it is essential businesses are advised.

I would gladly give a bit of my time to anyone reading this who wants some help paul@aspen-waite.co.uk

The business community needs to stand together because the Government is too busy running for the hills and the banks have been closed for years.

Remember, whenever you see a successful business someone once made a courageous decision.

If you are not making the progress that you would like to make and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined

JOHNO HARRIS CEO - ASPEN WAITE GROUP

Want to live a less stressful and more fulfilling life? Become an expert in goal setting; when done well, goal setting clarifies thought and creates workable action plans, so you always know what to do next, even when things don’t go according to plan.

We are constantly reminded how important goal setting is to success - however, very few people know how to set a goal and then, how to activate the action steps for achievement and ultimately, success.

Without personal motivation, goal setting is a futile exercise. How often are business goals imposed on people or how often do business owners set their business goals because it seems the right thing to do?

Unless you are clear about the benefits of achieving the goal for you as an individual then do not pass go. What specific benefits will you (individually) receive from embarking on this specific goal you want to achieve? If it is a business goal, how will the achievement of this goal affect you as an individual - will it give you more time to spend on personal endeavours, will it provide you with more money to spend on things you want in life?

A good question to ask yourself is:

Once you know what the potential obstacles are, then give time and energy to deciding what you think are the most effective solutions to these potential obstacles - there are no right or wrong answers.

And what will potentially stop you as you decide this goal is worth spending time and effort to achieve?

Getting your plan of action into place is not difficult but constitutes an important element of the overall success. Take your solutions and diarise them into your schedule, that way they will be done with little extra effort from yourself as it becomes a part of your daily routine.

Goal setting and achievement is a mindset - with a little practise it becomes a part of who you are, just like brushing your teeth, and the good news is the results are great. The most difficult part is remembering to celebrate your accomplishments!

At Aspen Waite we are here for you - to advise and help you achieve clarity around your aspirations, goals and vision.

Why have I not achieved this goal already?

Is it worth spending your time and effort to achieve this goal?

“If you are not making the progress that you would like to make and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined”. - Paul J. Meyer

RACHAEL WOOD - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Why do the days seem shorter as we get older?

In younger years I recall older generations saying that time passed more quickly with age. I initially thought this was simply what all ‘older folk’ said. However, as 2022 is drawing to a close, everyone seems to be saying it, from fellow Generation X’ers through to Gen Z’ers alike.

Intrigued to know whether there is any science behind this perception, research led me to the paper “Why the Days Seem Shorter as We Get Older” by Professor Adrian Bejan, published online by Cambridge University Press in March 2019. He also presented a TEDx talk on the subject in February 2021.

He explains the reason for the phenomenon that time passes faster as we get older is because ‘mind time’ is not the same as ‘clock time’.

Naturally, every individual living being has a different perception of the passing of time; their own ‘mind-time’ whereby the brain measures the passing of time based on changes in the configuration of visual images observed & mental images encountered. This mind time is based upon the simple equation: Time Lapse = the length of distance mental images need to travel to reach the brain divided by the speed at which these messages travel. Both numerator & denominator are impacted by body growth or in other words, age.

Does 2022 seem to have flown by faster than ever? OR is this just my perception?

Fig 1: “Why Does Time Move More Quickly as we age?” Professor Adrian Bejan, TEDx February 2021

In simple terms, as the body grows & develops with age these messages have further distance; longer & more complex neural pathways to travel to reach the brain. Also, as we age, the speed of message transmission decreases due to several transforming physical factors, including vision, brain complexity, and later in life, degradation of the pathways that transmit this information. In addition to this, body growth does not happen at a uniform rate and follows the typical S curve of being a slow-fast-slow pattern. Therefore as we mature the brain receives fewer signals in any same given period, hence the recognized distortion of time and the perception that time is passing more rapidly.

In contrast, in his paper he also refers to how some days appear to pass more slowly than others, explaining how these ‘slower’ days are often full of productivity, events, and memories of what happened. He goes on explain that “the productive days happen when the body and mind are rested, after periods of regular sleep, when in the morning you look in the mirror and you see a younger you, not a tired you. Athletes learn the hard way the correlation between good rest and the speed of passing time. Lack of rest & fatigue makes you miss plays, unable to anticipate, unable to see the ball before it arrives. While sleep walking, the game is over before you know it”

In an article entitled “Physics explains why time passes faster as you age” by Ephrat Livni, published January 2019, it’s explained how Bejan became interested in this phenomenon as a young athlete & member of a well-respected Romanian basketball team. At this time he noticed that time slowed down when he was well rested and that this enabled him to perform better. Not only that, but he could also predict team performance in a game based on the time of

day it was scheduled. However despite all this he goes on to say that by following his basketball coach’s advice—sleeping well and living clean—we can alter our perceptions, which in some sense, slows down mind time.

IF time and indeed 2022 has passed so quickly, what next for 2023? One other counterbalance for the rapid pace of days, weeks, months & years passing by, is to ensure we make the most of our remaining time on this planet.

Budgets for the following calendar year by September latest), when you’re “all planned out” on business, the same dedication & attention to detail for plans of our personal lives can easily fall by the wayside.

Do you have a plan for the various aspects of your personal life, and if so, how much time & attention have you given it? Or do you just drift along, go with the flow & see what happens?

Do you have a clear plan for HOW you wish to do this? IF not, perhaps a review of the last 12 months is a good place to start?

Whilst business plans for the forthcoming year are typically started very well in advance of the 4th Quarter (in former Retail Finance roles I recall agreeing

I will confess, in my younger years, I did not have a firm “life plan,” I was too busy enjoying and living life, taking it as it came and going with the flow. However, changes in my personal situation led me to review that strategy. For the last 10 years, I have made a concerted effort to plan for various aspects of my life, and lo & behold, this has proved to be effective.

Fig 2: “Living Your Best Year Ever” by Darren Hardy, 2012

This review of the prior year & plan for the 12 months ahead is based upon the Wheel of Life (source Living Your Best Life Ever, Darren Hardy) whereby you score 8 categories of your life on a scale of 1-10: 1 = least, 10 = most satisfied with this area of your life.

This exercise might feel a little uncomfortable, though remember there are no wrong answers. Be honest & truthful with yourself, even if the truth is painful or embarrassing. No one else needs to see your results & you will only succeed by being truthful with yourself.

Once complete, plot your scores on the chart. Do you have an even wheel? Or do your joined-up points bear more resemblance to the nucleus of a white blood cell? Is your wheel giving you a bumpy ride?

If you are interested in delving deeper into this, I highly recommend referring to “Living Your Best Year Ever” by Darren Hardy which includes a series of questions for each category to help you achieve a more accurate score.

I have followed this practice for several years now and am happy to report that whilst some areas remain stronger than others, what was originally an uneven, almost nucleus shaped wheel, has over the years evened out, enabling a smoother ride through life. My work with Aspen Waite has played a part in balancing my wheel, enhancing more than the obvious business/career category, it has resulted in a more enrichedfulfilling & rewarding life, and for that I am profoundly grateful.

“Life without balance can cost you your relationships, your health, your wealth & your ultimate happiness. So, find things to motivate you from all areas of your life. Your success depends upon it” Jim Rohn.

Once you have your wheel, think about your ideal level for each category, brainstorm each category covered & set balanced goals, and commit them to paper. Anything that is physically written down, rather than being just a thought/idea in your mind, has a better chance of being achieved.

Ensure your goals are SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely and shortlist them to three headline or banner goals in each category. Make an action plan to achieve these goals, and importantly, review your progress against these goals on a regular basis.

Wheel of Life Summary:

1. Brainstorm your life. Start by brainstorming the eight categories of your life that are important to you

2. Write these categories on the diagram, one on each spoke of the life wheel

3. Assess & score each area on a scale of 1-10

4. Mark your scores on the wheel & join up the dots

5. Review the shape of your wheel and think about your ideal level in each category

6. Set SMART goals to start working towards achieving your ideal levels

7. Take Action to achieve these goals

8. Review your progress at regular intervals; monthly, quarterly, bi-annually or at very least in 12 months’ time

9. Enjoy the process & celebrate your progress

10.Enjoy the results!

If you have made it this far, thank you for your time & attention. I hope it has been of some interest & inspired you to review your 2022 and start thinking about what you really want from life in 2023. If you want a different outcome, NOW is the time to start doing something differently.

REFERENCES:

1, “Why the Days Seem Shorter as We Get Older” by Professor Adrian Bejan, published online by Cambridge University Press in March 2019.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/ journals/european-review/article/ why-the-days-seem-shorter-aswe-get-older/2CB8EC9B0B3053 7230C7442B826E42F1

2, “Why Does Time Move More Quickly as we age?” Professor Adrian Bejan, TEDx February 2021

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=KAJmHKieWDk

3, “Physics explains why time passes faster as you age” By Ephrat Livni, published January 2019

https://qz.com/1516804/physicsexplains-why-time-passes-fasteras-you-age

4, “Living Your Best Year Ever” by Darren Hardy, 2012

- Napoleon Hil

“Whatever the mind can conceive & believe, the mind can achieve”

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the new year ahead, and at the very least, I encourage you to make a commitment to yourself to get proper rest over the festive period, so you can start 2023 energised, refreshed & perhaps even begin to feel that maybe time isn’t rushing by so quickly after all!

Rachael.Wood@aspen-waite.co.uk

SEASONAL

AFFECTIVE DISORDER

SAMI TUCKER HEAD OF OPERATIONS, ASPEN WAITE PEOPLE

It is getting to that time of the year again when the festive decorations are starting to go up in shops and everyone is thinking about Christmas shopping. Being the “planner” that I am, all my Christmas shopping was done and wrapped by the end of September – but not everyone is organised as I am. For many people, this time is the year is a great time to reconnect with friends and family, eat way too much chocolate and enjoy a few alcoholic beverages at the works Christmas party.

Yet, it is not that way for everyone. I decided for this editions article to touch on a complex mental health condition commonly referred to as SAD –Seasonal Affective Disorder.

SAD is a type of depression which is triggered by certain types of weather or temperature. Though its prevalence seems to be higher in the wintertime, there are people that suffer with this during the summer months too.

There are many different symptoms or signs which could signify that you suffer from SAD:

There is a lot of different combinations of these aspects that could mean that you are suffering from SAD, but there is also the chance that you are suffering from another type of mental health concern – especially if these feelings last past the “trigger period”. It goes without saying that the first port of call is to see your doctor to discuss these feelings/signs. It is not a secret that there is a large amount of pressure on the NHS now dealing with mental health requirements – the pandemic really sparked another mental health crisis, and many people are still waiting for long term treatments such as talking therapies or CBT.

Change in mood such as feeling anxious, angry or agitated

Lack of energy

Unable to concentrate to the same levels that you are used to

SAD – along with other types of depressional states – can affect not only your personal life, but also that of your work life. At Aspen Waite we really seek to provide all our employees with support when they need it, and we will not pass judgement on those who seek our help. There are many ways that you can access support including our Employee Assistance Program and to talk to our Mental Health First Aider. The EAP that we have in place has information on all sorts of issues including SAD – and you can also access a course of free counselling session with a qualified counsellor to work through any feelings that you might be having.

The stigma surrounding mental health is a dangerous one for those who are struggling. I have been very forthcoming about my diagnoses of bipolar disorder and anxiety (amongst others) – I talk about it with my colleagues openly and

SAD can be treated in many ways including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), medication and light therapy (though this has not been officially certified by NICE). Light therapy is particularly useful in the winter months as it simulates bright white sunlight. This bright white light stimulates the cells in the retina which connect to the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus helps to control the body’s daily rhythms – so using the light box every day at the same time may help to counteract the signs/symptoms of SAD. While primarily used to treat SAD, a light box might also be helpful for other uses such as the treatment of other forms of depression and issues with sleep cycles (as it affects your circadian rhythm).

SAD light boxes come in a variety of different sizes, strengths and styles (and therefore prices). The key to using a light box is repetition and structured timing.

• Sessions are best done first thing in the morning (to stimulate the hypothalamus to get ready for the day ahead)

• For a 10,000 lux (light strength) box a 30-minute session is recommended

• Sit 12 to 24 inches from the box

• Do not look directly into the light (it simulates sunlight!)

• Angle the box at about 30 degrees from your gaze

• Sessions need to be repeated everyday in order to sustain effects

Colleagues that I have worked with before have benefited by putting their light box on their desk so this might be something to consider if you feel that you may have SAD and want to try something to mitigate the effects.

As always, being up front and open about how you are feeling is key. I am on a mission to break the stigma of mental health conditions – not only in everyday life but also in business - so I do hope that you will join me in sharing this article so that we can help as many people as possible.

My inbox is always open for anyone who wants to chat about mental health or how we can support those who have highlighted that they are struggling.

Sami xx

p.s. check out www.mind.org.uk for some more information about mental health issues, how to cope with them and also how to support those who are suffering

ERAUOY E N OUGH

Here are some alternative things to try in and around the festive period – or any other time really.

Thai Mussels

A more exotic take on moules marinière. Serve with plenty of crusty French bread to soak up all the lovely juices. Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2kg/4lb (or 2lt/4pt) mussels, well scrubbed

• 2 tbsp oil

• 2 medium onions, finely chopped

• 1 clove garlic, crushed

• 1½ tbsp Thai red curry paste

• 1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped

• 150ml/¼pt water

Method

1. Clean the mussels by scrubbing them well under a running tap. Pull away the ‘beards’ (seaweed-like threads). Throw away any mussels that are cracked or remain open when tapped.

2. Heat the oil in a deep pan, add the onion and sweat until soft. Add the garlic and curry paste, cook for 45 seconds then add the water, coconut milk and coriander and bring to simmering point.

3. Add the mussels, put on the lid and leave to steam over a low heat until the shells are open (about 5 minutes), shaking the pan occasionally. Drain in a colander over a bowl.

• 150ml/¼pt coconut milk

• Salt & freshly ground black pepper

• To garnish: 2 tbsp fresh coriander, roughly chopped

*Cook’s tip: Mussels are best cooked in a steamy atmosphere, so make sure you use a deep pan with a tight-fitting lid.

4. Throw away any mussels that have not opened. Pour the mussel liquid into a saucepan, then boil and reduce well. Season to taste with the salt and pepper. If the sauce is too spicy for you, just add a little more coconut milk.

5. To serve, transfer the mussels to warmed bowls, pour over the sauce and sprinkle with fresh coriander.

John Porteous John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk

Sweet Potato and Lychee Curry

Sticking with the Thai theme, this is a very tasty – if slightly unusual – vegetarian dish. Serve it with sticky rice. Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp oil

• 2 onions, finely chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, sliced

• 2 tbsp green curry paste

• 600ml/1pt thick coconut milk

• 2 tsp sugar

Method

1. Heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and cook until soft but not coloured. Add the garlic and fry for 30 seconds until lightly browned.

2. Add the green curry paste and then gradually blend in the coconut milk and sugar. Add enough water to make a thin sauce (the consistency of single cream).

• Water

• 600g/20oz sweet potato, peeled and cubed

• 2x400g tins lychees (not in syrup), drained and cut in half

• 2 small handfuls coriander, roughly chopped

3. Bring the sauce to the boil and add the sweet potato cubes. Simmer until the potato is starting to soften, add the lychees and continue to simmer until the potato is cooked completely.

4. Stir in the coriander and serve immediately.

John Porteous

John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk

Chestnut and Chocolate Truffle Cake

This quite a decadent dessert to try.

Ingredients

Method

• 250g unsalted butter • 4 large eggs, separated • 125g caster sugar 1. Pre-heat oven to 175OC/350OF/ gas mark 3 to 4 33

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. Stir in the melted chocolate & butter, then the creamed egg yolks and sugar

7.

8.

John Porteous John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk

•

• ½tsp salt

•

• 440ml/15fl oz whipping cream

• 6 beaten eggs

• 175g/6oz sugar

• 440ml/15 fl oz milk

Mix in a punch bowl until the sugar has dissolved, then chill in the fridge for 4 hours. To serve, give it a stir and sprinkle with grated nutmeg.

•

•

Place into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a frosted glass. Add a green olive. Squeeze a lemon twist above the surface to spray with oil, and discard.

•

•

Add to a glass filled with ice cubes and give it a good stir. You can add a twist of lemon to garnish if you like, but I’ll take mine without thanks.

John Porteous John.Porteous@aspen-waite.co.uk

Editorial Team

Paul

Thanks to all our content contributors.