With the majority of our time spent at work, the right office environment is essential for efficiency and a positive attitude of workers.  There are steps managers and business owners can take to ensure employees stay energised and efficient.                      

1. Give regular breaks

It might seem as though allowing workers to take breaks won’t aid productivity, but with sedentary jobs it is vital for workers to move about, so allow them breaks, the chance to go and make a drink or grab a bite to eat, and they will be more energised and re-focused when they return to their desks, than if they are tied to them for many hours at a time.  It is demeaning to have to ask a manager to make a toilet break or get a drink so give flexibility with this.  Employees often put into a company what they receive, so if you are flexible with them taking short breaks to stretch their legs and get a refreshment, it is likely they won’t take advantage and will work even harder when they do sit down to concentrate.

2. Provide refreshment

With the government advising that we drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, it is vital to provide a water cooler in the work place to enable staff to incorporate this advice into their working day.  Those who are refreshed and energised by a cool drink of water have been proven to work harder and think clearer, so make this possible and convenient for your staff and have a water cooler handy.

3. A good attitude

A positive working attitude is key to a good work environment, and bosses must follow by example with this and be friendly and approachable.  Tips for a good relationship with staff is to allow them to chat among themselves within reason, and have a radio on if they find deadly silence stifling. 

4. Weekly meetings

It’s a good idea to hold weekly one on one meeting with staff if possible, where they can speak with you about any problems, and suggest ways they can think of to improve their time efficiency.  There may be ways in which you can support them or offer training to get the most out of your employees so be sure to listen to their suggestions.  These staff meetings can be vital to communication and employees will put aside things they need to discuss until this scheduled appointment

5. Healthy eating

If you run a large scale organisation with a catering kitchen, then be sure that they offer healthy alternatives and fresh fruit.  Keeping employees fit and a healthy weight will mean they are more energised and happier in themselves, so keep in mind the nutrition you offer them at work, as this is an opportunity you have to make a difference to their health on a daily basis.  Most people state that the major barrier they face to healthy eating is that it’s not convenient so help employees to overcome this obstacle and take the first steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

There has been little rest for Frank Wrathall Jr and the Dynojet racing team in the 4 week break from the British Touring Car Championship 2011, as the team prepare for Sunday’s rounds at their ‘home circuit’ Oulton Park in Cheshire.

Frank and the rest of the team have been focusing on developing the NGTC Toyota Avensis, and have performed a major rebuild eradicating the issues that they had during the last round at Thruxton.

There have been revisions made to the steering system and the chassis has been given detailed attention improving the handling and reliability, something that has affected their performance throughout the previous rounds.

Rising star Frank sponsored by Angel Springs the UK’s leading water cooler service provider under the ‘Rising Stars Scheme’ commented,

“Our priority now is reliability. We need to get some race finishes under our belt, and we have been doing a lot of dyno-testing with the engine to try to trace the problems which afflicted us at Thruxton last month. Hopefully at Oulton Park, we can pace ourselves and put in a solid showing.

We have done a tremendous amount to the Toyota since Thruxton; in fact, it’s been like building a whole new car again.”

With Oulton Park being his home circuit it will be an exciting experience for spectators and for Frank. Although not one of his favourite tracks Frank has had many races there throughout his career prior to his BTCC debut. Last year Frank did well at the Oulton Park meets with 2^nd places in his Ginetta G50 and went on to be crowned Ginetta G50 Champion of 2010.

Oulton Park has always attracted one of the biggest crowds of the BTCC season and this season proves to be no different. Be sure to look out for Frank and his Angel branded car, live this Sunday on ITV4 and ITV4 HD from 11:30am to 6pm with highlights on later ITV1.

We all know that drinking an adequate amount of water is good for us. But what is that adequate amount and what exactly are the benefits?  Do we all drink enough water? No, not usually. If we remember we might drink a glass or two but hardly ever the recommended eight glasses a day, and on average we usually grab the coffee, fizzy drink, or beer instead. Well here is a list of 10 reasons why you should be drinking more water.

1. Look Younger – Drinking adequate amounts of water hydrates your skin, which means you get the benefits of water hydration like increased skin elasticity and increased skin moisturizing.
2. Helps Digestion – Sipping water while eating helps your body to absorb and digest food better. It all starts in the mouth. Water helps produce more saliva and helps carry the food along all of the way through the digestive tract. This then works hand and hand with fiber to help flush out wastes in your body and also raises your metabolism – aiding weight loss
3. Concentration – Your brain consists of 90% water. Therefore most of us who don’t drink enough water are depriving our brains of what it needs the most. By drinking more water you improve your ability to concentrate, process information, and alertness.
4. Headaches – One of the main causes of headaches is dehydration.  Stop persistent headaches by staying hydrated and keeping alert.
5. Weight Loss – You don’t need to spend money on weight loss pills and aids – water is a proven weight loss aid and is natural and healthy.  Drinking water is great for weight loss for a couple of reasons. Water is a wonderful appetite suppressant, as it curbs hunger. Also water helps increase your metabolism that aids in burning calories. If you’re drinking water you won’t be thirsty so you won’t reach for a sugary soft drink.
6. Increase Energy – Water in the body is crucial for better circulation. Oxygen in your bloodstream is increased when your body has been well hydrated. This then leaves more oxygen available to burn fat, which is the critical ingredient in energy production.
7. Increased resistance to disease – Chronic cellular dehydration is something that occurs when we don’t drink enough water. With this condition your body is in a constant state of dehydration within each cell. This then leaves us in a vulnerable state, which allows attacks from disease to further weaken our immune system.
8. Detoxify – Staying well hydrated helps your body remove harmful toxins. The biggest filter in our bodies is our kidneys. The kidneys are dependent on water for them to be able to work at peak performance. As we age our ability to filter through our kidneys decreases which then makes drinking adequate amounts of water even more paramount to detox our bodies.
9. Reduced Risk Of Heart Disease – Research has shown that people who drink water are less likely to succumb to having a heart attack or heart disease. 20,000 healthy people were studied and showed that drinking five cups a day of water is very beneficial to your heart health.

The reasons given are just some of the benefits of drinking water, but how are you going to go about fitting increased water consumption into your day?  It is a habit worth getting into, at restaurants ask for a jug of water for the table, at work use a water cooler, or if there is not one available speak to your employer about installing one as it is likely it would help you to get start drinking more water and feeling the benefits.

Most of us are aware that keeping hydrated by drinking plenty of water has huge health benefits, not only does the law state that a clean supply of drinking water should be available in all workplaces, it is recommended that we try to drink eight glasses of water a day.  This feature is almost impossible for most of us if there is not a convenient source of drinking water at work, and for this reason many employers are recognising this need and installing water coolers in the workplace.

When the decision has been made to install a water cooler, the next step is which type of water cooler system is right for your needs.  There are in fact two basic types of water cooler – a bottled fed water cooler or mains fed point of use water cooler that is plumbed in to the main water supply.

Bottled fed water coolers

Bottled fed water coolers s can be installed anywhere that has an electrical socket.  You can get bottled fed water coolers in both hot and cold tap, cold and ambient, or just cold.  This type of cooler is fitted with a water bottle cartridge, which is delivered by purified water suppliers, either on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis depending on the usage you think your business will need.  The benefit to this type of water cooler is that it uses large bottled water to supply the water cooler and so it is especially perfect for places where plumbing is not allowed or is not practical to install.  When choosing to purchase this type of water cooler however, take into account the issue of space – you will need space not only for the water cooler but also all the bottles that will need to be stored however regularly you have them delivered.

Mains fed point of use water coolers

Mains fed water coolers are basically a large scale filtering and cooling system.  The water in this system passes through a filtering system eliminating all water impurities and giving an unlimited supply of clean water.  The benefit of this type of water cooler is that it saves the hassle of refills and once you have the water cooler up and running you don’t need to do anything.  This type of water cooler is also much more practical for companies with a large number of employees.  Mains fed water coolers can commonly be found in large offices or in canteens of large companies. They are cheaper than bottled fed water coolers because you don’t need to buy water bottles periodically, and you also save in the exertion of moving these spare bottles every time one needs to be changed.

Fortunately thanks to the choice in water coolers there is a practical solution to everyone’s water needs, meaning we can all stay hydrated and healthy.  By taking small steps such as investing in a water cooler we can take care of our short and long-term health.

Last week Wolverhampton’s number one radio station, Wolf FM broadcast the popular Dicky Dodd show live from Angel Springs HQ.

The day consisted of Dicky playing a wide range of music favourites and discussing interesting topics including, the Compton Hospice ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign and other up and coming fundraising events such as ‘It’s a knockout’ with Corporate Fundraiser for the hospice Simon Cater.

He also put some of our angels on the spot interviewing Commercial Manager Rachel Jones and Team Leader Sophia Slater about Angels Springs and our support of the hospice and our work within the local community.

The broadcast was part of the ‘Bring a pound to work’ initiative to contribute to the Compton Hospice ‘Raise the Roof’ project. The Compton Hospice based in Wolverhampton has been providing care to patients with life limiting illnesses for the past 28 years, and to continue to provide the same exceptional level of care to patients they would like to redevelop areas of the hospice. So to help reach the target of the £3.5m programme the charity have launched the ‘Raise the Roof’ appeal to raise £1m from its supporters.

Rachel Jones Commercial Manager at Angel Springs, the UK’s leading water cooler service provider commented,

“It was a great way to raise money and see everyone have fun at the same time. I would definitely do it again.”

To find out how you can help the Compton Hospice please visit the website http://www.compton-hospice.org.uk/

Angel Springs the UK’s leading water cooler service provider show their support for a good cause at this year’s Aldbury May Fair.

The Aldbury Village May Fair is an event held every year in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. Just 3 miles east of Tring the fair is organised to raise money for different charities and other local organisations, as well as a way of bringing people to the village to enjoy a day filled with entertainment and local exhibitions.

The Aldbury May Fair is a long standing tradition where you will find the crowning of the May Queen, Morris Dancing, Pony Rides, Hog Roasts, Fairground Rides and a great variety of commercial stalls and maggot racing to name but a few.

More than 3,000 people attended the event raising more than £12,000 for good causes and local charities. Our Chiltern Depot was asked to help sponsor the event and donated £50.00 this year.

All money raised this year will go towards the Aldbury Primary School, Church, Scouts and charities such as the Ian Rennie Hospice at home which offers care and advice for patients with cancer within their own homes.

Installing a water cooler into your office environment can have a multitude of advantages, which can benefit you and both your staff and visitors. Many employees do not perform to their best at work because they are unmotivated, lethargic and drained; all are symptoms of dehydration.

Those who provide water coolers in offices for employees are investing in their health, and promoting health and fitness – ultimately this will mean higher productivity, and morale for their business. 

Most of us are aware that health experts recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, which is a tall order unless a ready supply is provided at work.  This recommendation is given for the health of the Nation and should be observed and followed when providing a water cooler at work encourages employees to do just that.

Without access to fresh water from a water cooler, employees are much more likely to fill up on drinks such as caffeine and carbonated drinks high in sugar content.  While caffeine and sugar does provide a burst of energy, employees need to drink more to maintain that burst, which can have a negative effect in the long run.  Add to this factor the reality of the sedentary office environment and you are ensuring steady weight gain of employees, which will lead to health problems.

Those in the Western world may overlook the health benefits and necessity of a water cooler as we take it for granted – but it is essential for sufficient hydration, overall good health, energy and brainpower.  Approximately two-thirds of human body weight is water and the brain itself is over 80% water, which should further highlight its importance.  In other words, the more water a person drinks, the more alert their brain is and more energetic their bodies are.

A sufficient consumption of water can also aid digestion, which improves metabolism. Skin texture becomes less dull and more vibrant looking while joint aches and pains are reduced. Water also flushes away many toxins in the body, making it nature’s ultimate drink.

Having clean fresh water continently available means that employees are naturally going to drink more water, and any employer who cares about his employees should hope for this.  Instead of sitting at their desks, employees are likely to bring their refillable bottles and cups to the water cooler – which will incorporate a little exercise into their working day.  They are also less likely to eat snacks, as people often eat when their hunger would have been quenched by thirst. 

Ultimately, installing a water cooler will keep your employees healthy, demonstrating there is a clear domino effect throughout your business – a healthier employee leads to lower health care costs and lower absences, which in turn means much higher productivity, more creative energy and a better financial bottom line for your company. A water cooler makes smart financial sense for your business and your employees.

The Water Warehouse, part of the Angel Group the UK’s leading supplier of water coolers for home and office use, launched a brand new website today. To celebrate the launch The Water Warehouse are offering 15% off across the board on all items, so customers are advised to visit early to snap up bargains.

The launch of the website, and sale could not come at a better time, with summer fast approaching , now is the time to ensure you will stay cool and hydrated at home and work throughout the warmer months.

John Murphy, Commercial Director at The Water Warehouse said,

“The new website is an exciting development here at The Water Warehouse, it has a fresh new look, a stylish easy to navigate layout, and we wanted to celebrate by offering customers huge discounts on all products.

The aim of the new website is to make the buying process as simple and less problematic as possible for customers providing them with a 100% peace of mind and an exceptional online shopping experience.”

Other features offered by The Water Warehouse include Next Day Delivery, an Installation Service carried out by our fully trained and qualified engineers, and an unrivalled choice of water coolers, water boilers and other new products.

To check out the new website and take advantage of the huge discounts on offer please visit http://www.thewaterwarehouse.co.uk/.

The number one radio station for Wolverhampton, Wolf fm are to broadcast live from Angel Springs this Wednesday 18^th May, in order to mark ‘bring a pound to work day’ which is raising money for Compton Hospice.

The special broadcast will take place at Angel headquarters in the Ettingshall area of Wolverhampton, and allows Angel Springs, the UK’s leading water cooler service provider to play their part in fundraising for their local Hospice.

The broadcast will be taking place during the popular Dicky Dodd show between 10am and 2pm and can expect to draw in high listening figures, as the show is a weekday favourite helping to get people through their work day with Dicky’s banter and great chart playlist.

Don’t forget to tune in to listen to this one off live broadcast on 107.7fm between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 18th May.

Providing your business with a water cooler not only shows that you look after your customers, but ensures you look after your staff too.

Keeping your staff hydrated can boost motivation, keeps staff feeling alert and will improve the quality of work being produced. Low hydration leaves can lead to dehydration and a number of underlying health problems that you may not necessarily associate with not drinking enough water.

Many staff can feel drowsy and tired at work, drinking plenty of water during the day can help to solve these problems and ensure higher levels of concentration. Many employees can avoid reaching for a drink during work hours if there are no facilities provided, resulting in having to take time out to buy a drink. A water cooler ensures that employees do not need to take extra time out of work to go and buy a drink.

Installing a water cooler will mean there is fresh drinking water available to all staff throughout the working day as it can be left on continuously. A water cooler would automatically encourage staff to drink more if it is located in a clearly visible, busy space. Water coolers come in different packages and sizes to suit your budget, staff numbers and office space.

If you aren’t sure that a water cooler would be effective in your working environment and you are hesitant as to whether it will be regularly used, some companies will allow you to trial a water cooler for a certain period before committing to any payments. This will help you decide whether to invest in a water cooler package.

However, it’s not just your staff that will benefit from having a water cooler in the office; it also helps to make a great impression on visitors and customers. Creating a reception area that makes a visitor feel comfortable and catered for will make a great impression on them as soon as they walk in.  A water cooler will supply them with access to fresh water without having to feel uncomfortable by asking.

If it is space that concerns you, a wide variety of water coolers are now available on the market. Not just the traditional tank water cooler anymore, water coolers are now available in a range of different sizes to suit your office requirements.

By making sure that you choose a package that is easily changeable you can ensure that n swapping your water cooler package is hassle free if you find that it’s not working out for you. It is best to make sure you give your water cooler company as many details as possible regarding your office size, staff numbers and budget. Many companies will be flexible enough to offer you a package that suits your needs.