Osmond Ergonomics

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 13/05/2020. You can register here to receive them monthly.

RESILIENCE & AGILITY

This month’s eBulletin follows on from April’s Home Working issue as we see the evolving landscape from a national, corporate and individual standpoint. I have outlined our view of the way employers are approaching the various issues and provided links to a selection of useful resources, as well as the products and services we offer. In the last month, we have made significant changes to how we operate in order to meet customer demands. This has resulted in new suppliers, new products and new logistics partners as we constantly seek new ways to meet the changing needs of our clients.

HOME WORKING EVOLVES

Last month, I indicated that some clients were adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to homeworker health whilst others were being much more proactive. Despite the lack of time to prepare, most organisations are finding that their enforced homeworking programme has been largely successful but this means everyone now needs to recognise that it is no longer a temporary solution. It is not going to be viable or even desirable to bring people into the office unnecessarily for several months so employers are creating a strategic sourcing plan for essential home worker equipment.

There is already a need to tackle pre-existing injuries and MSK issues. Now employers are realising they need to prevent further health impacts in domestic environments over which they have a duty of care but no direct control. Let us help you create the optimum homeworker support programme to future-proof your talent.

WORKPLACE CHANGES

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on May 10th, we are all being inundated with messages about safe travel and minimising risk in the workplace. Amongst the guidance I have found most useful, the government’s own information is a really good place to start, Nigel Oseland’s Workplace Trends piece encourages us to look at what we already know before reinventing the wheel and Peter Kinselley of Cardinus provides a good strategic overview.

The big questions, of course, are how many staff will actually be comfortable to return to an office and in what circumstances? Most of our clients expect to accommodate no more than a third to a half of their regular personnel in the workplace as long as social distancing exists in its current form. We see most employers developing Home Working and Workplace plans concurrently and providing physical separation tools as part of their approach to keeping their people safe.

WELLBEING

The impact of home working and lockdown on the mental health of many workers has (rightly) received even more attention than that of physical health in recent weeks. As employers come to terms with all that is and has been happening, it is clear that a truly robust wellbeing programme is essential for every employer, large and small. Whilst some organisations have already mastered this, it takes very much more than an EAP and a rolling programme of monthly highlights.

Our conversations with employers and other interested parties suggest that many wellbeing programmes may be well-intentioned and enthusiastically promoted but lack focus or direction. It is essential to identify where the principal pressure points are and develop a responsive programme to ensure both effectiveness and return on investment. As I outlined in this blog, we have partnered with Champion Health to provide exactly this service. Find out more here.

FINANCE

The plethora of government programmes and financial support packages are indicative of the commercial demands on employers in the current pandemic.

Whilst many furnishing programmes have been moth-balled or are being completely re-evaluated, other organisations see an empty office as an ideal time to carry out refurbishment or reconfiguration programmes. Where cashflow is a major consideration, asset finance can manage an immediate issue with a longer term solution.

If you completed a furniture project a short while ago and now need liquidity, it is even possible to sell and lease back your existing furniture. This is a topic for specialist providers so please request an introduction if you want to discuss it with our finance partner.

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 8/04/2020. You can register here to receive them monthly.

WORKING FROM HOME – A GLOBAL PREOCCUPATION

Government guidance (or insistence) to work from home if possible makes this a significant topic across the globe. As you already know, there is endless information available through social media and, as always, the quality is variable. As a consumer, separating the valuable insights from the regurgitated press releases can be a time-consuming activity in itself. Equally, as an author, I try to offer useful content and get it heard above the noise. For this month’s newsletter, therefore, I have just written about what we know, what we are finding, what we have experienced and what we anticipate. Reporting is of little value without drawing conclusions or offering  suggestions so follow the links below to find out more.

WORKING FROM HOME – IMPACT ON PHYSICAL HEALTH

The universal implications of COVID-19 are hard for any of us to grasp fully. In the workplace, we observe a domino effect with new demands appearing week by week. We are seeing employers sending people home to work in very large numbers. This is an inevitable response to government instructions but the needs and productivity of each homeworker are proving very variable.

Obviously, home working is not new and many employers have been developing home working capability as part of a broader Agile Working plan for some time. The differences currently are the pace, the scale and, most significantly, the lack of comprehensive preparation.

[read more on our blog page]

[read more on LinkedIn]

WORKING FROM HOME – IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH

Unusually, I have similar experience to the current lockdown.

I was staying with my brother in Houston, Texas when Hurricane Harvey landed in 2017. By the time I arrived, shops and restaurants had already closed and, by the following morning, only very large stores were open.

Within hours, supermarket shelves were bare and we were on an island about 3 miles in diameter. Flood water blocked roads in all directions. Thousands of people were stranded upstairs in their homes. The overwhelming power of water was in evidence everywhere and it was frustrating to feel so helpless.

[read more on our blog page]

[read more on LinkedIn]

CHAMPION HEALTH

As mentioned in one of the blogs above, Champion Health is now a collaboration partner.

I shall be posting more about them in due course but I wanted to draw your specific attention to their Online Mental Health Training which is now available completely free during the COVID-19 pandemic. In less than an hour, participants can learn about self-care and healthy working at home; boosting resilience; understanding stress, anxiety and depression and supporting others.

For the longer term, their unique digital survey tool reviews physical, mental and lifestyle health and provides anonymised data that enables employers to focus resources on the areas that really need attention, ensuring maximum benefit for staff and maximum ROI for the organisation.

WEBINAR – TIPS FOR HOMEWORKERS

I seem to have received more webinar invitations in the last week than in the last three months. Interestingly, only one invitation offered a choice of times. Maybe this is just my interpretation, but there seems to be a widespread assumption that we are all sitting at home staring out of the window and waiting for something to do!

We have decided to take a different approach so our ‘Tips for Homeworkers’ has been recorded by Stuart Entwistle, our Training Manager.

It is available here to view whenever it suits you.

GLOBAL RESEARCH

Workplace Evolutionaries, a cross-disciplinary global community, is using this unique opportunity to carry out worldwide research about the work-from-home (WFH) experience.

The research objectives include finding out what is and isn’t working, the potential impact of WFH on employers, employees and the environment and the likely impact of COVID-19 on future workplace designs and practices.

You can find out more about the survey and participation, either as an individual or as an organisation, from this download or go straight to the questions here.

This article was originally emailed as an extra interim eBulletin at 11:30 on 25/03/2020. You can register here to receive them monthly.

COVID-19: HOME WORKING TIPS

We have never seen a crisis like the current pandemic so, hopefully, you will find my collected thoughts about moving to home working – and doing so at short notice – beneficial. Hopefully, frequent home workers will have already discovered many of the tips here and incorporated them into their daily work routine. For those who are new to the experience (and those who need reminding), here are lots of ideas to keep you healthy (physically and mentally). [more]

WELLBEING FOR SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Running an SME is a demanding job. Fulfilling some or all of the roles of CEO, Finance, Quality, Estates, Facilities, Occupational Health, Health & Safety, Fire Officer, First Aider, Transport Manager and Housekeeper fills a long day! However, as the business starts to grow, it is possible to delegate some (and, eventually, most) of this responsibility. Even so, it might be forgiven if staff wellbeing slips down the daily agenda. Fortunately, the culture of most SMEs supports many elements of wellbeing by default (and probably by accident in the first instance). [more]

CIEHF CONFERENCE

This year, the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors conference also incorporates the international ODAM (Organisational Design & Management) symposium. As with many similar events, it will no longer happen face-to-face. Instead, it will be curated online. There are moves afoot to encourage more workplace-related ergonomics at annual conferences and I am due to be one of the participants for an Agile Working ODAM session. This was to have been a panel discussion but, at the time of writing, the revised format is in the process of finalisation.

WORKPLACE TRENDS

The WT programme covers a rolling series of topical issues in workplace design. Last month, I attended the Climate Change and the Workplace seminar. This was primarily about the urgent issues for builders, developers, owners and occupiers in addressing the national and regional Net Zero Carbon commitments. The target for the UK as a whole is 2050 but some local authorities have set more urgent objectives. Whilst the really major challenges come in the building construction, the targets are so demanding that every element needs thorough consideration. Careful thought about the operational energy footprint of the furniture, fixtures and fittings should therefore be a priority as well.

HEALTH & WELLBEING @ WORK

By the time you read this, we shall either be in the process of exhibiting at, or will have already attended this event. Although the exhibition & conference name has not changed since inception, last year saw a significant increase in both exhibitors and visitors who wanted to place a specific focus on Wellbeing. We expect that to continue. With that in mind, this is the ideal event for us to explore our first conversations with smaller employers about that focus. We are also bringing a greater emphasis on sustainability as climate change becomes a central theme once again.

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 11/03/2020. You can register here to receive them monthly.

WELLBEING FOR SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Running an SME is a demanding job. Fulfilling some or all of the roles of CEO, Finance, Quality, Estates, Facilities, Occupational Health, Health & Safety, Fire Officer, First Aider, Transport Manager and Housekeeper fills a long day! However, as the business starts to grow, it is possible to delegate some (and, eventually, most) of this responsibility. Even so, it might be forgiven if staff wellbeing slips down the daily agenda. Fortunately, the culture of most SMEs supports many elements of wellbeing by default (and probably by accident in the first instance). [more]

CIEHF CONFERENCE

This year, the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors conference also hosts the international ODAM (Organisational Design & Management) symposium at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford-on-Avon on 27-29 April. I first attended a conference at this hotel over 40 years ago (in a different industry and it was a Hilton in those days) so it’s an old favourite. There are moves afoot to encourage more workplace-related ergonomics at the conference and I am due to be one of the panellists for an Agile Working ODAM session. However, at the time of writing, I can’t find it on the agenda!

WORKPLACE TRENDS

The WT programme covers a rolling series of topical issues in workplace design. Last month, I attended the Climate Change and the Workplace seminar. This was primarily about the urgent issues for builders, developers, owners and occupiers in addressing the national and regional Net Zero Carbon commitments. The target for the UK as a whole is 2050 but some local authorities have set more urgent objectives. Whilst the really major challenges come in the building construction, the targets are so demanding that every element needs thorough consideration. Careful thought about the operational energy footprint of the furniture, fixtures and fittings should therefore be a priority as well.

HEALTH & WELLBEING @ WORK

By the time you read this, we shall either be in the process of exhibiting at, or will have already attended this event. Although the exhibition & conference name has not changed since inception, last year saw a significant increase in both exhibitors and visitors who wanted to place a specific focus on Wellbeing. We expect that to continue. With that in mind, this is the ideal event for us to explore our first conversations with smaller employers about that focus. We are also bringing a greater emphasis on sustainability as climate change becomes a central theme once again.

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 12/02/2020. You can register here to receive them monthly.

RULA IS BACK ONLINE!

After a few months of intensive development work and lots of really valuable suggestions from our very supportive review guinea pigs, the new online version of RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) is now live and ready to use. Obviously, all the calculations and outcomes are exactly as the original, validated tool developed by Lynn McAtamney and Nigel Corlett. However, the format has been updated for the 21st Century. It’s a responsive design so works on your phone and tablet as well as computers. Thanks to the excellent feedback from our review panel, it also includes several new features, including a graphical pdf report which can be downloaded for your own use. Take a look for yourself here. It’s free!

HEALTH AND WELLBEING @ WORK

We shall be back at the NEC on March 10th and 11th. Come and see us on Stand 73 in Hall 8. This year we shall be demonstrating sustainable ergonomics with a selection of remanufactured products as well as some new additions to our portfolio (including the new RH Logic). We shall also be launching our SME Pack: with over 25 years’ experience of supporting government organisations and large employers, we are now sharing that knowledge through a portfolio of services to allow dynamic smaller businesses to actively promote and support staff wellbeing without needing all the resources of larger employers.

FREE MASSAGE

To support your personal wellbeing whilst at the NEC, we shall also be providing free massage on Stand 73 at Health & Wellbeing at Work. Hot from a premium spa in the New Forest, our very experienced masseuse will release your stress and tension (or at least make a start!) in a free 10-15 minute session. You can take a chance about availability on arrival or book a timed appointment now. To be sure she is available just for you, simply follow this link, to select your time and date. See you there!

BAKKER ELKHUIZEN ULTRABOARD 960

We have sold thousands of mini keyboards over the years. Many of these have been for laptop users wanting something compact to carry around but the other major benefit of these devices is the reduced load on the right shoulder by bringing the mouse closer. For those, who want this benefit but need to use the number keys on a frequent basis, we are pleased to announce the new Ultraboard 960 from Bakker Elkhuizen. This full-feature keyboard is significantly narrower than a standard full-size keyboard and has many design benefits. It even fits in most laptop bags! Find out more from the 30 second video here.

PHYSIO FIRST CONFERENCE

We shall be in Nottingham to exhibit at this event on April 24th and 25th. We are also one of the sponsors. At the conference, we shall be demonstrating to private practice physiotherapists the commercial opportunities available in the workplace with a little training and planning. If you are a Physio First member attending, please come and talk to us. If you are a private practice professional offering physio, chiropractic, osteopathy or massage services and you want to know more about how you could offer a more comprehensive service to your existing patients/clients, give us a call.

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 08/01/2020. You can register here to receive them monthly.

2020 VISION

As I write this newsletter, Brexit is still an undefined concept, much of Australia is ablaze and hostilities are accelerating in the Middle East. The future of office design therefore seems quite a low priority! However, the reality is, of course, that we all need to get on with our lives and I have never been one to vacillate over expressing an opinion! I have therefore been considering what issues I think will become (or remain) central to our thinking about the workplace, how that might impact our activities over the coming decade and what changes may come as a result. [more]

RULA UPDATE

Following last month’s request for pre-launch testers of our new Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool, we had an excellent response. One suggestion was so good that we have rewritten much of the background code to include it! This has put us back a little but it will be worth it. There is still much to do cosmetically (especially with the PDF report) and, of course, we need to test the scoring process thoroughly. If you would like to help, we are always looking for more testers! Click here to register.

WEB VIDEO

I am delighted to confirm that we now have four new videos for ergonomics.co.uk. As this newsletter is published, our web providers have an unresolved technical issue but, within the next few days, we shall be adding a new home page animation plus a brief overview video for each of the three sections, Healthy People, Healthy Thinking and Healthy Workplace. I feel obliged, however, to provide advance warning that the section overviews include quite a lot of me. I have resisted this for several years but our marketing people, inexplicably, think this is a good idea. You may know that I am not averse to the sound of my own voice but watching myself is excruciating!

CIEHF CORPORATE SUPPORTER

We are delighted to announce that we have become Corporate Supporters for the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors. The supporter logo will now start to appear on our web site and marketing materials. I have been associated with the CIEHF as a member, exhibitor, activist, sponsor, speaker and purveyor of alcohol at functions for over twenty years, going right back to the days of The Ergonomics Society. It is therefore very satisfying to have a more structured vehicle for our association.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

As part of our ongoing sustainability programme, we began trialling alternative fuel vehicles as far back as 2000, when we ran three LPG cars. Our policy is to replace company vehicles with more environmentally friendly models but, with vans, this means that a more efficient diesel is still the only viable option. We are making much better progress with cars. Having tried a plug-in hybrid Passat to establish the viability, Stuart Entwistle and I are now running second-hand Tesla S models. These ‘iPads on wheels’ are great value if you let someone else take the first depreciation and also make sound environmental sense. Contact me if you are curious to know more!

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 11/12/2019. You can register here to receive them monthly.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

As we approach the end of the year, it is time, once again, for me to thank all our customers, suppliers, friends and colleagues for your continued support and interaction. In more than 40 years of business, this is without question the most unstable and bewildering time to be running an enterprise. By the time you read this, we shall be just before or just after a General Election in a political atmosphere where it is hard to find something we can believe from politicians of any party. So let’s all take a good break with our friends and family to enjoy some personal time recharging our batteries and restoring our wellbeing!

HOPE FOR FOOD

Whilst celebrating our own good fortune, it is also the time of year – more than any other – when we remember those who are not so lucky. This will be the third year that we have supported Hope for Food, the Bournemouth-based charity that provides food and support for the homeless, the vulnerable and families in crisis. It is a noble organisation, staffed entirely by volunteers. We are delighted to make our own small contribution to their efforts.

SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

I am very pleased to announce that we were a category winner in the recently announced 2019 Big Green Awards. The decision recognised our efforts to reduce consumption and minimise future waste across a broad range of activities, including fuel and utilities, service delivery and product design. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience with customers looking to take advantage of the many ways to improve environmental impacts in the furniture procurement process.

RULA IS BACK!

We dropped our online RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) tool a while ago because it was a free resource and no longer worked properly with latest browsers. We have now completely updated the design and function and the new pre-release version is ready for testing. Would you help us? If you would be prepared to help us finalise the development by testing what we have done, simply click here.

A MOVIE PAINTS A MILLION WORDS

During December we are creating a variety of video content for use on our web site and in social media. In the New Year, we shall be announcing some exciting new elements to ergonomics.co.uk. These include a number of initiatives to create informative video answers to FAQs. Do you have a particular question that would benefit from a video answer? We already have our own list but, as always, we welcome your ideas. Just email me your suggestion(s)!

PRICE RISES

With a new year imminent, we have been advised about a number of product price rises early in 2020. Furthermore, some increases are significant, with
5%+ quite common. If you have project plans for next year or want to discuss future needs, we shall be pleased to explore how we can help. Just contact your Account Manager or the Customer Service team to start the conversation.

END OF YEAR SHUTDOWN

Please note that we close at 17:00 on Friday December 20th this year and reopen at 08:30 on Thursday January 2nd, 2020. Our last despatch day is therefore Friday December 20th. As always, our Customer Service team will be pleased to discuss any questions and help with product configuration for orders before we close. Don’t forget that the LiveChat facility (bottom right of the screen) is a great way to ask a simple question with a quick response.

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 13/11/2019. You can register here to receive them monthly.

TEN YEARS – 120 ISSUES – 62,481 WORDS

I am delighted to welcome you to our Tenth Anniversary issue. Throughout the last decade, this eBulletin has been our way of keeping you informed about industry events, research updates, new products, services and workplace trends. We have witnessed the introduction of new ways to communicate, including Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and webinars! We have seen the growth, first of Home Working and then of Agile Working, the recognition of the link between mental and physical health and the connection between workplace design and worker wellbeing. We have seen flat screens replace CRT monitors and laptops replace cumbersome desktop computers, closely followed by smartphones, tablets and universal Wi-Fi. It has been a rollercoaster!

Each edition has been published at the same appointed time and day each month. We thank you for your continued support, especially those loyal readers who have been with us from the start. We know that you are all bombarded with emails on a daily basis and we thank you for taking this time to read this newsletter rather than anything else. As always, we welcome feedback and I would love to hear from you directly. Email me with ideas for the future, compliments, criticisms, reminiscences or anything you would like to share in this context.

SCOTTISH HEALTH & WELLBEING CONFERENCE

As previously mentioned, I shall be speaking at this all-day event at The Scotsman on North Bridge in Edinburgh later this month. There are still places available so do register if you are based in Scotland and actively involved in promoting wellbeing in the workplace. Please let me know if you are attending so that we can catch up for a coffee in one of the breaks.

HEATED DESKTOP

We are currently carrying out trials of a heated desktop. The design involves a thermostatically-controlled work surface that radiates infra-red heat to the user both above and below the desk. Running costs are one third of a 1kW heater and there is no risk of leaving it on overnight! It can be supplied on a sit-stand frame to offer maximum usage benefits and we see potential for those with Raynaud Syndrome, rheumatism or any individual who just feels the cold! Contact us for further information.

HAVE YOU SEEN EMMA?

It is very likely that you have seen the recent publicity about ‘The Work Colleague of the Future’ – a report on the long-term health of office workers. If you have, you probably also saw Emma, the mannequin created to represent all the ailments of our current sedentary lifestyle. I have read the report and agree with much of its content. However, I am no biological anthropologist but it seems to me that there are some quite staggering assumptions made to extrapolate the mannequin’s appearance from the report findings – and the cycle of human evolution tends to be rather slower than 20 years! Could this be just a clever (but quite successful!) publicity stunt? What do you think? Join the discussion on LinkedIn!

10,000 TWEET

By the time you read this, we shall probably have sent our 10,000th tweet. When Twitter first appeared, I thought it was a broadcast medium through which we could keep customers, prospects and friends informed about our activities. That all changed when we received our first enquiry tweet. I still remember that question vividly. It was ‘Which is better – trackball or ergonomic mouse?’ Try answering that comprehensively in 140 characters! We decided we couldn’t and responded with this blog.

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 09/10/2019. You can register heret to receive them monthly.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

It appears to me that environmental awareness amongst the general public is finally being followed by widespread action. The recent step change in attitudes to plastics has resulted in rapid responses from supermarkets and manufacturers and Extinction Rebellion is gaining active support from a wide cross-section of global society. It seems to me that the UK furniture industry has pockets of good practice and lots of good intentions. Supply is ready to follow demand but, until customers are prepared to go beyond some half-hearted environmental box-ticking, progress will be hampered. In the Netherlands, circular economy criteria are now part of public sector procurement and this is starting to spawn new remanufacturing businesses to meet the need. Is the UK lagging or is conscientious sustainable procurement more widespread than I am seeing? Follow the discussion – and participate – on LinkedIn.

WORKPLACE INSIGHT

I have been a fan of Workplace Insight since it first appeared and have known the thought-provoking articles of its editor, Mark Eltringham, since before that. A few months ago, he wrote that the DSE Regulations are no longer fit for purpose. Whilst his argument was compelling, I felt the need to respond with my own view. I strongly believe there is still value in the regulations in an age of agile working, as long as they are used intelligently as a basis for wider education. My response appeared here.

EDINBURGH PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Our last ‘mobile showroom’ of 2019 will be in Edinburgh at the end of this month. As usual, we shall have all the latest products alongside our best-sellers so it is an ideal opportunity to view, compare and play! We are also looking at a brand-new product, about which we shall be seeking feedback. It’s not yet 100% certain, but we hope to be showing a heated desk for the first time! We also have three short presentations you can attend. It’s all free but please pre-register here.

POSTURE AWARENESS TRAINING

Our most popular webinar has also become a very popular face-to-face session. When delivered on-site, Postural Awareness is often incorporated into a wider programme of events such as Health & Safety or Occupational Health days. Clients also schedule the session to be repeated on a walk-in basis throughout the day and our trainer supplements these seminars with a floor-walk to answer individual questions around the office. Contact Stuart Entwistle, our Training Manager, to discuss ideas.

THE BIG SUSTAINABILITY EXPO

We have exhibited at this event since it started four years ago and it is a success for us each time. It is quite a low-key affair compared to the big NEC/Excel events which are also part of our agenda but, equally, it is one where we learn as well. Once again, I think I have probably found a couple of new suppliers to support our own sustainability programme and we shall probably sell to a couple of other exhibitors as well!

This article was originally emailed as our monthly eBulletin at 11:30 on 11/09/2019. You can register here to receive them monthly.

ONLINE TRAINING

As you already know, we provide a wide range of training and knowledge sharing, both in person and by webinar. However, there is also a growing demand for computer-based training and e-learning to meet the need for on-demand delivery, often to a geographically dispersed workforce. This requirement is bound to grow as agile working programmes bring fewer people into the office on a frequent basis. To meet this need, we partner with our friends at Cardinus Risk Management who offer a varied range of nearly 20 different topics, all managed centrally through the PACE integrated back office utility. The diverse topics range from Healthy Working (DSE) to Safe Driving, Fire Safety, Personal Safety Awareness, Corporate Travel Risk and many others. Contact us for further information.

CORECHAIR

We have been experimenting with this product for a few months before announcing it as part of our product range. Having seen it originally at Orgatec last October, I immediately recognised the function and the comfort but it is fair to say that it ‘looks a bit weird’! This means it will not be an instant choice in many office environments. However, we have tried it in the office for several weeks and it is unquestionably comfortable and well worth considering if you are not constrained by appearances. Find out more here.

ATTENTION PHYSIO FIRST MEMBERS (AND MAYBE OTHERS TOO)

If you are a physio and thinking about starting or increasing DSE assessment work, you may well be interested in the London seminar we shall be running at the Flokk showroom in October. This free event has been organised primarily for the London region of Physio First (the UK’s leading professional organisation for private physiotherapists) but we may have a small number of additional spaces available. You can open or download the content, venue and timing document here. To register, please complete the short form here.

EVOLUENT D MOUSE

The Evoluent range is now the most well-established and recognised portfolio of vertical mouse products in the world. It is many years since we looked at the first rather primitive samples and we have seen the brand grow to the point that the name (like Sellotape, Biro and Hoover in their sectors) has become a moniker for generic vertical mouse products. No mean achievement when most people are not sure how to pronounce it! Find out more about the Evoluent D here.

JEANS FOR GENES 2019

If you have a meeting with one of my colleagues this month, he or she may arrive to see you in jeans and a t-shirt. We are supporting the Jeans for Genes campaign to help fund-raising for research in this crucial area. We have even agreed that this is one occasion when Double Denim will be acceptable. We are not promising to carry it off as well as these celebrities but we think, if Kanye can do it, then so can we!