Page 16 • The HERALD • 22nd August 2024 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v WATERSIDE NETWORK GROUP: MEMBER FOCUS by Simon Chadwick E ective health and safety provision is an essential part of any business’s operation, protecting you, your employees, your customers and your reputation. at’s why many Watersidebased businesses use Julie Brown of JayBee Safety, fully quali ed to MSc & CMIOSH, taking advantage of knowledge and best practice gathered during her long experience of the health and safety industry. So, what level of help does your business need? Health and safety legislation requires all employers to provide healthy and safe conditions for employees to work in. JayBee Safety can provide a health and safety audit to establish where you stand as an organisation. For businesses with ve or more people, retaining JayBee Safety can bring peace of mind, knowing that an experienced industry professional is ensuring that you’re doing everything practical and within the law. Health and safety covers many areas, and providing one-on-one training can be cost-prohibitive. Fortunately, JayBee Safety o ers a wide range of online training courses, where individuals can learn at a pace that suits them. With 39 courses to choose from, they cover everything from infection control to working in con ned spaces, and are just £25 each. It’s a cost-e ective way to keep you and your workforce up-to-date with relevant training. To see the full list, visit www.jaybeesafety.co.uk. Julie has worked with and advised waste management and recycling sites, commercial vehicle workshops, public services, manufacturing companies, tradesman, joiners, contract cleaners and o ces. And she could be helping you too. To learn more, please contact Julie Brown at JayBee Safety using the contact details opposite. Julie Brown, JayBee Safety Following a slight dip in April, UK house prices showed modest growth in May. e average house price rose monthly by 0.4% to £264,249 in May, having fallen by 0.4% the previous month. Promisingly, annual growth was also at 1.3%, up from 0.6% in April. Expert opinion Robert Gardner, Chief Economist at Nationwide, commented, “The market appears to be showing signs of resilience in the face of ongoing affordability pressures following the rise in longer term interest rates in recent months.” Cut to Bank of England’s Base Rate It is possible that the UK could see signi cant house price growth following the Bank of England’s decision to cut the base rate to 5% at the beginning of August. Signs of hope Despite higher mortgage rates, Gardner commented that “Consumer confidence has improved noticeably over the last few months”, re ecting that this is likely due to “solid wage gains and lower inflation”. Mortgage advice As the UK housing market continues to uctuate, we can help you understand what it all means for you, your mortgage and home purchase. For advice, or simply a chat about what this might mean for you, please get in touch using the Busy Bee Mortgage & Protection Solutions Ltd details opposite. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Sue Johnstone, Busy Bee Mortgage & Protection Solutions Ltd UK House Prices Pick Up by Sue Johnstone, Busy Bee Mortgage & Protection Solutions Ltd
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