AI Global Media Archives - AI Global Media

World Menopause Day

Akeela — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 11:23:52 +0000

By Paula Allen, Global Leader and Senior Vice-President of Research and Total Wellbeing at TELUS Health

With Menopause Awareness Month now underway for the month of October, it’s vital that workplaces take this time to consider how their policies and practices support health issues, as they will also impact women dealing with menopause.

Menopause is a simple fact of life, and very much a reality in the workplace. However, it isn’t paid much attention in the workplace as a health issue and therefore it is rarely managed in a way that is optimum.

In fact, research commissioned by Koru Kids found that a million women changed or quit their jobs due to a lack of menopause support and in turn, this loss of experienced workers has cost the economy £5 billion and with recruitment challenges ongoing, these losses will only cause further productivity and talent challenges for businesses.

In our Mental Health Index, we found that nearly half of UK employees (47 per cent) reported doing their job when feeling unwell (physically or psychologically) at least one day per week.

Eradicating this stigma and inaction starts with education. This can include wellbeing sessions on all aspects of woman’s health, including menopause, and training of managers on how to support employees with health needs.

The good news is that even though menopause is a noteworthy health issue, the support needed from a workplace point of view can be quite simple.

Given that menopause is a medical issue, employers also need to look at offering practical and tangible solutions.

For example, menopause can cause drastic changes in body temperature, which can be addressed with fans or offering desks with windows or air conditioning vents close by.

The symptoms of menopause may also include insomnia, irritability and depressive symptoms, all of which have a physical base but can impact behaviour and mental wellbeing. With this, employees should take advantage of the personal support offered by their workplace through their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and their Telemedicine provider if available.

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National Inclusion Week 2023: Acknowledging Corporate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Akeela — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:13:06 +0000

AI Global Media enforces strategies to create an inclusive environment with the introduction of a DE&I Committee.

National Inclusion Week is an annual event that highlights the importance of inclusion across the UK. Creating an inclusive workplace allows employees to feel valued, respected, and supported. The theme this year is #takeactionmakeimpact in which the organisation, Inclusive Employers calls companies and leaders to acknowledge what positive actions they can encourage within their workplace.

Inclusive Employers has organised a week’s worth of events to educate businesses around the nation the events include multiple webinars on topics like how to recruit inclusively. As part of our acknowledgement of National Inclusion Week, AI Global Media LTD will be creating a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Workplace Inclusivity is the practice of creating an environment whereby all people, regardless of gender, race, disability etc are welcomed and are respected by the company through different avenues. AI Global Media’s workforce is currently 47% male and 53% female. However, as a business we acknowledge that there is a lack of employees aged 40+. AI Global Media sees the benefits of having a diverse workforce with employees from a range of ages, backgrounds, genders, ethnicities etc. Both internally and externally, AI Global Media LTD have been responsive in transforming the issues involving the Neurodivergent & LGBTQIA+ communities with a multitude of events.

HR Manager, Natalie Harrison explains how AI Global Media on the companies’ methods to acknowledge inclusion; “As a business and as people leaders I believe we are naturally inclusive, aim to provide equal opportunity and embrace diversity. It’s now time to ensure that we are doing everything we can to live and work by our values. I believe that creating a DE&I committee will support this and I am really looking forward to the launch this month. I am looking forward to working closely with the committee, have meaningful discussions and make plans to do the best we can for our people!”

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee has the aim to ensure a supportive and welcoming environment in which employees of all backgrounds and demographic characteristics can work well together and thrive. The opportunity is open to all employees, to provide an avenue to discuss any issues or shortcomings that may exist within the business whilst looking at initiatives which can be introduced to support DE&I in the workplace.

In a recent report, statistics show that just 26% of the Tech workforce are women, with 3% of which being black & Hispanic and 5% being Asian. AI Global Media’s IT department is continuously looking to develop and improve its workforce statistics.

Within AI Global Media Ltd, we are beginning to see a growth in our employee inclusion within departments. Josh Hewitt, IT Manager explains “As a team we have always been inclusive, it’s just that 99% of applicants have been male whenever we post job adverts. I think having a mix within the department brings a fresh dynamic to the way we think and come up with new ideas. It also helps when problem solving as we all think differently about things and within IT there is usually multiple ways of solving an issue, it’s just choosing the right one. Hopefully it’s a sign that more women are looking to take up IT roles with the potential of more joining the department in the future.”

The company continues to acknowledge any potential shortcomings within the organisation and take action on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion impact. For more information on the activities AI Global Media partake in involving these matters, please go to AI Global Media – AI Global Media Ltd.

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Committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and Our Employees

Akeela — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:57:31 +0000

AI Global media outlines policies to improve the social responsibility of the business.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a strategy in which companies’ action to ensure ethical and beneficial influences on society. This corporate governance has a very broad spectrum and is dependent on the individual company as to how they interpretate it. Largely, CSR enforces businesses to act in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner.

The benefits to create a strong CSR strategy are both good for the business itself and the community in which they are apart of. The strategy encourages a bond between employees and companies by boosting morale and connecting employees to their communities.

AI Global Media are passionate about supporting causes within the local community. Over recent years the company has supported Burton Soup Kitchen with donations of food and cash. AI Global Media has also fundraised for local special needs school Fountains Primary School with a donation from our workforce in which was raised through various activities such as a chilli eating challenge, office games and other donations. As well as this, AI Global Media has continuously supported other national and international causes such as Cancer Research UK, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Ukraine Crisis Appeal and Children in Need, amongst others.

AI Global Media are always looking for new ways to support local, national, and even global causes. The company has recently launched an Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) scheme. This will allow all team members in the business the opportunity to take one day per year to volunteer with a charity or cause of their choosing. Individuals can select causes that are closest to their hearts and this gives them a day to support the cause without having to take leave or plan during their personal time this includes but not limited to:

Environmental work and conservation projects
Fundraising for community projects or charities
Community care work
The administration of public events

Participation in the ESV Scheme creates mutual benefits for the Company, the local community, and the Company’s employees. Some may support the local economy and enable skills and competencies to be developed and enhanced within the community. Skills and practical assistance are rendered to the community at little or no cost to the recipient.

The CSR policy aims to support employees:

To apply their skills in local communities.
To develop partnerships in their communities, by fostering sponsorship projects.
To help raise funds for worthwhile causes in their communities.

Director, Kathryn Hall talks about the impact CSR has on AI Global Media, “When I look at this from a recruitment and retaining talent point of view, I think our CSR activity will support the business massively. When I was starting out in full time work, the type of businesses I was to work at was very important to me. We share our charitable donations and involvements on our website: www.aiglobalmedialtd.com and our social media channels and hope this supports hiring great talent as individuals can see that we are a responsible business keen to support those in need.”

Having launched the scheme this summer, AI Global Media are excited to see what it will encourage its employees to achieve. With fundraising opportunities in the pipeline, the potential for CSR is undoubtedly going to be effective all round. You can follow AI Global Media’s path on the ESV Scheme on our social media channels.

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Employee of the Month – James Taylor

Akeela — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 07:53:18 +0000

James Taylor – Our August Employee of the Month

James came to join AI in 2016 as a Data Assistant. During his time at the business, he has supported on and been an integral part in a number of key projects. He is now an experienced and highly skilled Python Developer, mentoring others within the team, providing training and also ever building his own knowledge base and abilities. James is a key team member for AI and a close friend to many within the business. Thank you for your continued commitment James, a true asset!

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Employee of the Month – Patrick Doherty

Akeela — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 11:44:40 +0000

July’s Employee of the Month – Patrick Doherty

A huge well done to Patrick. Patrick joined the AI team back in the Summer of 2017 and took on the role of Marketing Manager almost three years ago. Patrick has demonstrated that he has the ability to think strategically and commercially and has been a contributor on a number of key projects during his time with the business. He is a great support to his team and juggles multiple tasks and a busy schedule very well. Thank you for your hard work and for your commitment Patrick, delighted to have you as part of the team.

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Employee of the Month – Liam Allen

Akeela — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:03:52 +0000

Liam Allen – Our May Employee of the Month

A huge well done to Liam! Liam joined us 12 months ago as a web developer and has proven how integral he is to the business. Liam, thank you so much for your commitment.

Liam has a demanding and varied role and has proven that he can deliver some really great assets for us. He has demonstrated unwavering commitment whilst juggling a number of key tasks and major projects. Liam has done such a great job with the guest posts website which we’re very excited to see go live. He has also provided some really useful input and advice on other projects too. Well done, Liam, we delighted to have you as part of the team.

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The Role of HR In AI Global Media

Akeela — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:08:56 +0000

Human Resources is a profession that works towards changing & improving the working lives of employees.

A great HR professional has strong integrity, a real drive for success as well as a keen attention to detail. For Internal HR professionals, strong relationship with employees throughout the business is incredibly important. AI Global Media is spotlighting HR Manager, Natalie Harrison on how she dominates her role.

What led you to pursue a career in HR?

I was going through the motions of deciding what I wanted to do with my career when the Director who dealt with HR at my previous employer was looking to take retirement. She said she thought I would be great in HR and asked me if I wanted the role and to take my qualifications alongside it. I gladly accepted her offer and haven’t looked back since!

What are some positive aspects of this position and what are some negatives?

A positive is helping people with their personal and professional development. A negative is dealing with low morale, but this can be turned around by working to make positive change!

What have you found to be a key trait for success as an HR professional?

There are many traits that come to mind, but I would say the ability to multitask and be organised are key. Also, effective communication skills and the ability to be kind and understanding.

How has working for AI Global been different to other roles you have had?

All of my previous HR experience was at the same Company, so 7 months ago coming into a completely different industry and working with different types of processes and people has certainly been a challenge, but a welcomed one. The setting here at AI is great, and the social aspects of regular incentives and group activities we offer significantly impacts morale and workplace relationships.

How have you helped to support career growth (learning & development) for people in AI?

I have encouraged employees to take advantage of opportunities to gain additional experience. I personally deliver line manager coaching every quarter on relevant topics, and we are currently looking at some external leadership training to upskill some of our team members.

The theme for International Human Resources Day in 2023 is “Shaping The New Future.” What does this mean to you and to AI Global?

Leading change to improve working lives has always been at the forefront of what I do. AI are really keen to be known as an employer of choice and I believe by supporting our people and continuing to make positive changes here, we are adapting to the new normal and are well on our way to achieving this!

Are there any noteworthy HR initiatives that made a difference here or think would?

A recent initiative which stands out is the introduction of an optional alternative working pattern. Feedback so far has been really positive with regards to improvement in work life balance. I am currently working on a Community and Volunteering policy which will allow employees the chance to participate in volunteering projects to support the local economy and enable skills, competencies, and personal wellbeing to be developed and enhanced within the community.

Director Kathryn Hall talks about how AI Global Media strongly supports the HR role, and how it has shaped the work environment; “The work of HR is integral to the running AI Global Media. Our HR Manager Natalie supports the business in so many ways both in managing day to day tasks and supporting on strategic decisions. It is important for businesses to remain compliant, to attract and retain great talent and to support employees and management throughout their day-to-day activities. The engagement of our workforce is vital to us, I don’t think we could achieve such high levels of engagement without dedicated HR support.”

Kathryn continues, “Natalie has been integral in helping us support a local special needs school with much needed funds in recognition of Autism Acceptance Week, she has supported the senior management team with an unfortunate but necessary redundancy process and has been very proactive in our recruitment activities leading to some really strong talent being acquired. Natalie is strategic in her thought processes as well as being commercially aware, having her as part of our management team has supported us in making some important, difficult, and strategic decision”.

AI Global Media is a part of the online HR and employment law resource, CIPD HR-Inform which allows our HR Manager to support the business in staying up to date. AI Global Media is constantly evolving their Human Resources Practice to integrate a new future for their employees.

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Employee Spotlight: Heather Ryan on 10 Years at AI Global Media

Akeela — Thu, 25 May 2023 15:38:28 +0000

Heather Ryan has recently celebrated her 10^th anniversary of employment at AI Global Media. Heather has supported the business in a number of areas during her time with the company and has for some years now demonstrated that she is a great asset to the business.

‘It is always a delight for us at AI Global Media when an employee hits a significant milestone with us,’ comments Marketing Director Kathryn Hall. ‘As of April 2023, Business Development & Sales Manager Heather Ryan has been with us 10 years! For a business that is just shy of 13 years old, this milestone seems even more special to us.

‘Heather joined us in April of 2013 in our finance department, in 2015 she made the bold and very much supported move to the awards team and since then has taken on some major projects in events management, business development and sales and also acting as an Interim Director for a period of 9 months. We asked Heather for her comments on her time with AI….

Q: What does a day in the life of a Business Development & Sales Manager at AI Global Media look like?

Working within the sales teams always keeps me on my toes and tasks vary from day to day, as well as working on a number of business development projects which allow me to help drive the business forward with new opportunities.

Q: What’s your favourite thing about working at AI?

I enjoy the varied tasks within my role and working alongside a great team of people. AI have always made sure the office environment is vibrant and really takes care of its employees, just some of the reasons why I have been here for ten years!

Q: How have you seen the company evolve since you first started?

When I first started working for AI there was only around 10 staff in a small office in the countryside and now there are around 60 of us in an office in Burton centre. Company culture has improved over the years with a much greater focus on employee wellbeing, something I know not all people are lucky enough to have in their work. AI is driven and as such our systems, processes and skills have grown immensely over the years allowing us to take better care of our customers and improve the services that we offer.

Q: What’s one thing you wish people knew about your job?

I found this a tough one to answer, but I guess how much planning, preparation and organisation is involved. Priorities can change from day to day and it can be hard work juggling what’s most important in the never ending list of tasks!

Q: So far, what has been your most favourite project?

I’d have to say my favourite project would be running the Better Business Expo back in 2019. This became my baby and it was great to learn all the ins and outs of running a corporate event.

Q: What advice would you give to recent new hires?

Being the ‘new person’ can be hard, my advice would be to show confidence and if your unsure of anything ask questions. Those around you are likely to know the job inside and out and will be more than happy to help you.

Q. What is it about you that most don’t know?

To be honest I’m not that interesting so found this question quite difficult to answer but here goes! I’ve been married for 10 years now, and have two kids, Darcey is 8 years old, and Finley is 14 years old (I know I don’t look old enough to have a teenager!) When I’m not working and I’m not shipping the kids around to their different activities, I like to spend time walking our dog Hector and days out at the weekend finding amazing places to eat.

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Employee of the Month – Viktorija Ragozina

Akeela — Tue, 23 May 2023 10:26:27 +0000

Viktorija Ragozina – Our April Employee of the Month

Congratulations to Viktorija. Viktorija joined the business in January of this year, and this is already the second time she has been voted as Employee of the Month. Viktorija has a great work ethic, is a great team player and is a fantastic asset to the lead generation team and to the business.

Viktorija has been providing holiday cover for another individual within the I.T. team over recent weeks. She took on the new challenge, picked things up quickly and managed to still fulfil many of her tasks within her regular role. Viktorija is eager to learn new things, support others and has an infectious and very positive attitude to her work.

We’re delighted to have you at AI, thank you for your hard work, Viktorija.

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Deaf Awareness Week: Addressing Challenges and Communication Advice

Magdalena Lew — Thu, 04 May 2023 15:18:41 +0000

Written by Victoria Cotton

This week is National #DeafAwarenessWeek in the UK. Deaf Awareness Week has the aims to consider the communicational needs of deaf and hard of hearing people. Its purpose is to encourage people and services to work together to create a more inclusive society where deaf people have equal access to communication.

In day to day working environments this can be challenging for people who are hearing impaired. From things like background noise to talking over computers, aspects like this can prove difficult. AI Global Media aim to eradicate these issues by talking with our employees and understanding their needs. Our only aim is to make everyone’s time in the office as comfortable and straightforward as it should be.

Natalie Harrison our HR Manager says, “We believe it is important to ensure equality in the workplace for everyone. Allowing for a few reasonable adjustments can create an accommodating environment that allows for maximum productivity from everyone.

We believe the general set-up of our office can make accommodations for those who need extra support in their work. If an employee has a preferred method of communication, we can ensure that colleagues are aware, alongside any other necessary information so that they know how to interact with them, thereby creating an inclusive environment.”

With this year’s theme being ‘Access to Communication’, we interview our Research Executive, Hayleigh Burns who talks about her experiences.

What was your experience being hearing impaired in previous jobs?

“I discovered I was Hearing Impaired in my previous Job as a Hairdresser. I have always struggled to communicate with my clients when another stylist was using a hairdryer or there was any other background noise, my colleagues didn’t seem to have this issue.

Being hearing impaired in that business was a hurdle. Communication is key in hairdressing and if I mishear or interpret what someone has said incorrectly because I have lip read them wrong then a client could leave very unhappy. In hairdressing your reputation is everything and a bad review will really affect you negatively. I was also embarrassed to have to explain to every new customer that I didn’t hear well and if they needed to talk to me, they would have to get my attention by tapping me. I navigated this for a while but whilst I was hairdressing, Covid hit and we were made to wear face masks. Even with my hearing aid I really struggled to hear what people were saying to me. I couldn’t lip read anymore and I began to feel increasingly isolated. “

How did you manage these challenges?

“I spoke to a few people on online forums and eventually e-mailed a charity for advice. My father was kind enough to offer to get me what is called a Roger Select. This is a directional Microphone I can connect to the TV and to my mobile phone etc. I could take it to work and place it in front of the client and the sound would travel directly into my hearing aid. Like my own personal loop system. Again, it isn’t perfect, but something is better than nothing.

What is it like working at AI Global Media?

“AI Global Media has been a breath of fresh air. From my first day I have felt considered. I have been given the opportunity to express what I need. I work with the most wonderful team of people who have never made me feel like there was anything different about me. They have been so comfortable around me which is refreshing. If I don’t hear them, they always repeat themselves without getting frustrated with me.”

What does Deaf Awareness Week mean to you?

Being considerate. You can’t see that someone is deaf or hearing impaired, therefore I quite often have to announce that I have a problem which gets humiliating. The reactions I have to this are varied from people shouting in my face (this comes from a good place) to people walking away from me and avoiding me (normally shop assistants). Just having someone speak clearly facing me so I can see your mouth makes communication so much easier. It’s a good idea to ask the person what will make communicating easier for them. My cousin was born profoundly deaf, and I don’t sign so we communicate via text even if we are sat next to each other. Ask questions, try to understand the impact it has on their life.

Advice for any businesses with employees who are hearing impaired.

Be aware of the environment. If a person with hearing aids is sat between people, that can be quite overwhelming because you have noise from all directions. Hearing aids point backwards so consider if the noise behind the person will affect them. Just because a person has hearing loss doesn’t mean that they can’t hear some sounds and may be more affected by them so be respectful of not causing too much noise that may make them uncomfortable. It is easy to feel like a burden when you can’t hear so patience is imperative. If there is a meeting, make sure they are in a position to lipread if that is something they do.

#DeafAwarenessweek is so important to employees like Hayleigh, and we have been truly lucky to have her as a part of AI Global Media. For more information go to Deaf Awareness Week – Deafness Resource Centre

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Employee of the Month – Daniel Grubb

Akeela — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:02:53 +0000

Daniel Grubb – Our March Employee of the Month

Congratulations to Dan, and a sincere thanks. Dan’s current role is IT Operations Team Leader and Compliance Officer, and is our CRM Guru!

Dan joined AI approximately 6 and a half years ago and has been a most integral team member for the business. Dan works closely with a number of teams at AI, manages a lot of tasks on an on-going basis and provides invaluable insight to the management team.

Dan received four nominations from his fellow team members who shared that:

“Dan quickly responds to requests and is always helpful, a great team member. He has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and hard work in his role, always going above and beyond to ensure that our team meets its goals and exceeds expectations. In addition to his hard work, Dan’s positive attitude and contagious smile have had a significant impact on our team’s morale and overall success. He has an incredible ability to uplift those around him and make even the toughest days seem more manageable.”

Thank you for your commitment, Dan, great to have you as part of the AI team.

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World Autism Awareness Week

Akeela — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:18:27 +0000

Autism Awareness Week this year is from Monday the 27^th of March to the 2^nd of April although World Autism Acceptance Day itself falls on Sunday 2^nd April. This week is crucial to spread awareness and educate people about how Autism impacts people in their daily lives as well as their professional lives. This week encourages people to promote inclusivity and help build a promising environment for autistic people, supporting them where they need it the most.

The word Autism comes from the medical term, Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is not an illness or a disease, it is simply a condition that means that your brain works differently from other people. This is usually something people are born with and although this is not a medical condition that has a “cure”, there are a lot of things that can be done to support people with autism. Those who have autism have different strengths and weaknesses but usually autism impacts one’s social skills.

Autism can present in different ways with different people. Mostly for autistic people, it is generally difficult for them to communicate with others and they also react differently to their surroundings. As an employer, it is very important to create an autism-friendly environment to allow for those with the disability to adapt easily and encourage positive development.

As an employer, in order to make your workplace autism-friendly, you could ask employees with autism regarding any work equipment that they find distracting and provide them with noise-cancelling headphones, screens around their desk and monitors or having a desk somewhere they find they are less likely to feel distracted. Making small changes in your workplace can help your employees to feel more comfortable in their surroundings and can also encourage their productivity during the day. It is also important for employers to encourage positive communication among staff members, as people who have autism can easily feel anxious in stressful situations, so it is important to be able to provide reassurance sensitively to those who need it.

For Autism Awareness Week at AI Global Media, we have put together a week of fundraising activities to raise money for Fountains High School in Stretton, Burton. Many children with special needs often miss out on everyday experiences and with our fundraising activities in the office, we hope to raise some money to donate to the school which can be put towards providing these experiences for the children. Our fundraising activities include games, quizzes and competitions that we will be hosting office-wide and accepting donations for participation as well as encouraging local businesses in the area to participate by donating some money towards fundraiser.

To support the autistic community, please donate to the National Autistic Society to help make a difference: https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/donate

Sources for article: https://www.beyondautism.org.uk/about-autism/events/world-autism-acceptance-week/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism/

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/employment/employing-autistic-people/employers

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