The boss of a company in Wigan where staff only work four days a week claims they’re “more productive” than they were before.
Belmont Packaging and its e-commerce sister business, Boxed-Up – which are based in the Hindley Green area of Wigan, and specialise in plain and printed corrugated cardboard – first began trialling the four-day week within its manufacturing department back in late 2019, with the aim of giving staff more time to focus on “themselves, their mental health and their loved ones”.
After the trial was deemed to be a “roaring success”, the company then decided to switch up the rotas and introduce the four-day week permanently in 2021.
This means that the 30+ staff at the company now only work four 10-hour days a week.
The company’s owner, Kate Hulley, admitted that there was initially “huge suspicion” from her employees back when the four-day work week trial first started, with many expressing concerns about how it would actually work, but it soon proved to be successful.
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Wigan business owner says staff who only work four days a week are ‘more productive’ / Credit: Belmont Packaging
Ms Hulley told the BBC that the new working schedule has not only given staff “more quality time with family”, but has even made them “more productive” overall than their previous way of working.
“Staff have been able to spend more quality time with their families,” Ms Hulley explained, “and they’re ready to start back on Monday after a three-day weekend.”
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One of the workers at the company’s Hindley Green site, Stacey Galloway, has also hailed the four-day work week for allowing her to get on top of all her life admin and housework, explaining to the BBC: “Before we went to the four day week, my weekends were spent washing, cooking cleaning, ironing.
“But now, on a Friday I can do all that while the kids are at school.”
Kate Hulley, the owner of Belmont Packaging / Credit: Belmont Packaging
News that Belmont Packaging’s working schedule is still proving successful comes after it was revealed earlier this year that 91% of the UK companies that took part in the world’s largest four-day work pilot said they would continue with it now the trial has ended.
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The groundbreaking trial involved more than 60 companies and 3,300 workers spanning a variety of industries.
Staff taking part in the trial were given 100% of their pay for 80% of their time on the understanding that they maintain maximum productivity over the four days.
Featured Image – Belmont Packaging
Business
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation opens in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation has opened its doors in Manchester for the first time.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
The label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, where its neighbours include American Vintage and ME+EM.
Inside, the store is laid out simply, with single sample-size items on display, but a full range of sizes available to try on.
And you can browse the full Reformation collection on huge interactive screens in the front of the shop.
Take a look inside:
Reformation is now open in ManchesterPart of Manchester’s beautiful new Reformation storeReformation loafersInteractive screens so you can browse the full Reformation collectionZebra print mules
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Business
Wetherspoons introduces new phone rule at all UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’
Emily Sergeant
JD Wetherspoon has announced a major new phone rule in all its sites across the UK after customers complain of being ‘driven nuts’.
The pub chain – which has nearly 800 branches across the UK – announced earlier this week that it has made the decision to ban people from playing music or videos out of their phones, and from taking calls on loudspeaker.
The ban, which has been introduced effective immediately, follows a rising number of complaints from customers about the noise – with owners saying sounds from smartphones and tablet computers had become an ‘increasing problem’ in recent years.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Tim Martin, says he wants Wetherspoon pubs to be ‘an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation’.
Wetherspoons has introduced a new phone rule at all its UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’ / Credit: Allan Rohmer (via Unsplash)
A formal statement from the company announcing the ban reads: “Following complaints from customers, who are being driven nuts by other people’s videos and amplified phone conversations, Wetherspoon has asked customers to switch their phones to silent or to use earphones.”
Tim Martin added: “In order to avoid customers being driven chicken jalfrezi by a cacophony of sound, we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down.”
Wetherspoon’s ban follows a YouGov poll conducted last year questioning public opinion on a proposition made by the Liberal Democrats of introducing fines of up to £1,000 for ‘headphone dodgers’ who play music out loud on buses and trains.
62% of people, on average, said they would back this move if it was introduced.
The poll, which surveyed 6,815 British adults, found that almost three-quarters of those over 65 would support the fines, while those aged between 18 and 24 were split 47% to 43% in favour of it.
Early public reactions to Wetherspoon’s ban appears to be overwhelmingly positive.
Emily Sergeant -
5th July 2023 
