In week nine of the Ilfracombe courteous town initiative we focus on courtesy and motivation. When the mornings are darker and the evenings are longer, when perhaps business is slowing or maybe getting even busier before Christmas, people can feel down. Appreciation of what they’re doing, a please or thanks can be a great motivator. [...]

The 21st Century corporate world is a world of costs: recruiting is a cost; training is a cost; motivation is a cost; salary is a cost; stress is a cost; sickness is a cost; absence is a cost; employee turnover is a cost; external consultancy to remedy everything is a cost. Where is the value?

So many young people are disillusioned with the concept of ‘work’ and ‘careers’. And, when you think about it, it’s no surprise. Clear career paths no longer exist; few jobs offer any personal satisfaction; few employers take an interest in their staff; the pressure and boredom just aren’t worth it. Many of those who do [...]