Banner Blog

Sustainable cleaning solutions and protecting the natural environment remain high on the agenda for Banner, a supplier on several public sector cleaning and janitorial frameworks. 

Discussions about how to better protect the natural environment have moved higher up the public agenda in recent years, but this issue has long been on Banner’s radar.

As one of the largest distributors of workplace products, with over 350 fleet vehicles making over 18,000 deliveries per day, Banner has a responsibility to operate responsibly.

One element of operating responsibly is a commitment from Banner to continually review their highly complex supply chain, which is the most significant part of their environmental footprint and social impact.

This commitment has led to the introduction of many environmentally and ethically sourced products in recent years. In fact, Banner currently offers over 3,000 products that are 50% recycled and has introduced many products that help customers to reduce single-use plastics in the workplace.

The current situation has seen an unprecedented number of employees working from home, including those who have rarely worked remotely before. 

The information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has signalled that it will take the current circumstances into account when considering enforcement action under GDPR.  However, the ICO will still expect employers to take appropriate action to protect information when working from home.

In 2019, only 30% of UK citizens were able to work from home*; but in a time when many of us must work from home, it can be harder to get into a new routine. 

When working from home it’s not always in the front of our mind to get up from our desks, to walk around, to stay hydrated or even to get food. We can lose track of time, forget to take regular breaks and become more focused and engrossed in our work and jobs without thinking. 

For some, there are also distractions in our home environment, everything from children to TV shows, our phones and social media channels can all have an impact on productivity, motivation and overall wellbeing. 

So how do you find a happy medium? 

Read our tips on how to ensure your working from home set up, is working for you. 

For many of us, our initial working from home set up may now need a re-think into a long-term solution.

Even a basic desk and chair may still not be a reality and the effects of working from the floor, sofa or bed are taking their toll.

Don’t let your new workstation hinder you, there are solutions to make most places in your house safe, comfortable, and inviting.  Here are our tips and top picks of the best products to suit many different home office locations.

Employers may be concerned about the challenges of managing a team of employees working from home. 

Without preparing for a dispersed workforce, there can be risks of lower productivity, reduced security and inadequate health and wellbeing support.

You need the right policies and equipment in place to prevent these problems. When these steps are taken, dispersed working can be a big success.

Six ways that EdTech is transforming education

If you work in education, you’re likely to be aware of the huge potential of technology, or EdTech, for students and teachers.

EdTech is the mix of hardware, software and educational theories that can make learning easier and improve outcomes.

And a government EdTech strategy, backed by a £10 million investment, aims to bring more new and helpful tech innovation to schools.

The UK government launched the strategy in 2019. The plan is to encourage tech that reduces teacher workload, boosts student outcomes and levels the playing field for students with special needs.

The sun is shining, the air is heating up, and it's harder to concentrate when working. 

That's a familiar story for many of us when temperatures start to rise, and one that can take its toll on workplace efficiency.

One study of 600 office workers found that productivity dropped by around 20% when the weather got hotter, with projects taking 13% longer to complete and people becoming 45% more distracted.

Here are 5 tips to help you work smarter in the summer months: 

The Facilities Supply team here at Banner, headed by Andy Whiting are delighted to announce that we are now a member of the Institute of Workplace Facilities Management (IWFM).

This is a great achievement for Banner as it is a testament to the growth in the Facilities Supplies sector. The membership brings important benefits for our customers. 

With Easter fast approaching we would like to inform you of our opening times over this period.

Workplaces have been evolving for some time due to an increase in flexible working requests. While some businesses have found it difficult to accommodate such requests, the current circumstances have left organisations with no choice but to become more flexible with both working patterns and environments.

Many businesses have had to adapt quickly and provide their workforce with the equipment and software necessary to enable remote working. Most companies will now have overcome the initial obstacles, but the next step is to consider how managers can keep their teams motivated and efficient while working remotely, especially those who are used to managing teams in the workplace.

Here are our six top tips to keep your team motivated while working remotely: