From all of us at bestworkwear.co.uk we would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all of our customers, and all the best for the New Year! We are looking forward to an exciting year of expansion and development in 2014 and, of course, we'll be keeping you up-to-date with all of the goings on!

At www.bestworkwear.co.uk we would like to say a special Merry Christmas to all of our clients, in healthcare, catering, emergency response, farming and the many other professions who will be sacrificing Christmas day at home to ensure ours runs a little more smoothly. 

Winter is a busy time of year for those working in healthcare and at bestworkwear.co.uk many of our loyal healthcare customers are stocking up in preparation for the busy time ahead.

We have a superb range of workwear for nurses and healthcare professionals, along with handy accessories. We source from trusted suppliers to ensure the highest quality.

Let's start with an essential item for nurses – a good quality pair of shoes. When you spend long hours on your feet, you need reliable footwear offering comfort and durability with a slip resistant sole. The Cofra Reuben High Comfort Nurses Shoes are a great choice, and suitable for men and women.

Cofra Reuben Safety Shoe

Take a look at our range of healthcare tunics and nurses dresses available for men and women. With a variety of popular colours and styles and the option of adding embroidery to the garments you are certain to find just what you are looking for!

A popular product is the Zip Front Nurses Tunic, but to view the full range take a look at our nurses uniforms page.

Finish your uniform with smart and practical healthcare trousers, in both men's and women's styles. 

A good supply of useful accessories will never go amiss. You can choose from an extensive selection of disposable gloves and we have refills of alcohol rub. Alternatively, check out the handy Alcohol Hand Rub Tottles, which attach to your uniform so you'll never be without!

Winter Workwear

Is your workwear ready for winter? With the darker days creeping in, this is an ideal time of year to review your workwear wardrobe. The safety gear you used in summer may not be suitable for the harsher months ahead and with the nights closing in you may want to look at some new Hi Viz clothing.

It's not just workwear, this is also a good time to look at leisure and childrens clothing. With bonfire night coming up and wet weekends to prepare for, why not take a look at our waterproofs and children's high visibility clothing to ensure you and your family are prepared for whatever the winter throws at you!

A great Hi Viz Jacket for the winter months is the Dickies SA22050 Hi Visibility Bomber Jacket which is thick, lined and waterproof. Perfect for keeping you warm, dry and safe on cold days and nights.

Hi Viz Bomber Jacket

For children, we stock the RS21B Kids High Viz Vest, ideal to wear over a coat, this reflective vest is ideal for early morning and evening walks.

Kids High Viz Vest

When you're working outdoors, wearing a scarf may not always be practical or safe. We recommend the CAT 1128012 neck warmer as a safe and simple alternative.

CAT Neck Warmer

If you will be working outdoors this winter, a good, solid pair of boots are a must. We stock a range of work and safety boots and recommend waterproof boots with a non slip sole for the winter. Take a look at the Purofort C462843 Safety Wellingtons or Cofra Ortles Composite Safety Boots; a stylish, breathable boot which is both non slip and waterproof.  

                 Purofort Safety Wellingtons                                                    Cofra Ortles Safety Boots

Available for both adults and children is the Dickies Vermont Waterproof suit. Comprising of a waterproof jacket and overtrousers it is an ideal kit to keep on standby for a downpour when you're working or exploring outdoors.

 Dickies Children's Vermont Waterproof Suit              Dickies Vermont Waterproof Suit      

The last thing to consider, to complete your wardrobe; durable, warm and waterproof gloves. For those working outside, or operating machinery, a good pair of grip gloves are essential. We have a range of options to view on our website. CAT offer two good choices of glove:

The Jersey Dotted Palm Glove is composed of heavy jersey cotton fabric for warmth, with microdot PVC palm for enhanced grip.

CAT Jersey Dotted Palm Glove

The CAT Neoprene Comfort Glove is ideal for cold, wet weather. A padded Clarino synthetic leather palm and neoprene back combine durability, warmth and water resistance.  

CAT Neoprene Comfort Glove

The Office Party

With Christmas fast approaching many of us are starting to think about our work Christmas party. If you work for a large organisation you may well be lucky enough to have your party all organised and paid for without you having to think about it. But if there is no sign of an organised party on the horizon, you and your colleagues might want to look into organising your own night out.

So long as everyone is happy to chip in towards the cost, there are a number of options available at this time of year, most suitable for all ages.

The vast majority of pubs and restaurants will be holding dedicated party nights throughout November and December, usually offering three courses for a set cost of around £25 (depending where you are in the country). These events are open to everyone and will give you a good opportunity to socialise with other work parties, but you'll need to book quick - because of the good value of these events, they will fill up quickly.

If you prefer a more casual night out, your local bowling alley could be a great destination (so long as a little friendly office rivalry can be taken in good spirit!).

If you're fun bunch perhaps you would enjoy an evening at a comedy club for a relaxing night out and a great way to unwind from the mayhem of work.

For those who enjoy fancy dress, medieval banquets abound during this time of year. What better way to celebrate in the winter months than with a hearty feast and flowing ale!

Money Saving Tips

With Christmas coming up we are all feeling the pinch to meet our monthly expenses and budget in for gifts and food and all the other, largely useless, items that seem to appear in our shopping trolley during the festive season!

Here we have compiled a list of simple tips to help you stay money savvy, for life, not just for Christmas!

1. Plan ahead and make a shopping list. Dig out the cookery books and plan your week's meals and make a list of only what you need, to help void temptation in the aisles. Remember that supermarkets exist to encourage you to spend money and they have many tricks for achieving this; clever product placement, myriad offers and upbeat music are the most obvious.
2. Get to know your local market. Lower overheads = lower prices. Once you discover how cheap it is to shop in the market you'll resent paying supermarket prices ever again. Also, produce is usually locally grown, superior quality and promotes healthy eating.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. When you are in the supermarket, consider their own brand products. With lower advertising costs than the big brands, and less packaging, store brands are a good way to save ££s.
4. De-clutter and have a garage sale, go to a car boot sale or simply sell your unwanted stuff on Ebay. Whatever unwanted items you have lying around in cupboards, the loft or wardrobe, you can guarantee there will be a willing buyer out there somewhere. De-clutter your life and earn ££s at the same time.
5. Shop around for insurance. It's very tempting just to accept the renewal price and stay with your insurer, and if you are a long-time customer your insurance company probably have little incentive to 'woo' you with offers or discounts. But if you shop around for the best price you could save yourself £100's.
6. Book early for flights and train tickets to grab the best deals. A few seats on each plane or train carry the lowest price – but once they're gone the prices will start to rise.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Don't pay full price for tickets. Wherever you're going there is bound to be a money saving option. Consider going to the cinema on Orange Wednesday, or if you're mobile phone provider offers benefits – such as 02 Priorities – keep a regular check on offers and promotions to see if there is anything you can use. Before booking theatre tickets or hotels, shop around online to find the best deals and check out websites that offer vouchers and discount codes.
8. Cut down on drinking and smoking. It might sound boring, but quitting smoking in particular will save you a fortune and, of course, benefit your health.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Reconsider your gym membership. If you use the gym regularly it is a great investment to help you de-stress and keep in shape. But, if like many of us, you can't remember the last time you set foot on a treadmill, this is a big drain on your resources. If you use the gym infrequently you may be able to find a 'pay as you go' option at your local leisure centre or swimming pool.
10. Make sure you know what you're entitled to and claim benefits and tax credits. Look into the benefits available to you if you are on a low income or raising a family. Working tax credits are very easy and quick to claim. Don't worry about the 'stigma' of claiming. You pay into the system so are entitled to the benefits of it.
11. Finally, if you live near a colleague, consider car pooling, perhaps one week you drive, one week your colleague drives. You will each save 50% on your monthly fuel bill!

Handy Hints for Staff Motivation

Handy Hints for Staff Motivation

Staff morale may be harder to measure than sales figures or margins, but it is of equal importance. Unhappy staff are unproductive staff and this will impact negatively on your profits and overall success as a company. The mental wellbeing and happiness of staff is crucial to business success.

In this blog we'll look at handy tips for motivating staff, that are easy to implement and won't break the bank. And if you're self employed, you can adjust these tips to meet your own morale needs!

Individual: Treat every member of your team as an individual and consider their individual needs. Instead of a blanket rewards system, consider little gestures that will be of most benefit or most appreciated by individuals.

Praise: Praise good work and offer regular feedback. Look for positives to focus on. Arrange regular appraisals (every 6 months) to discuss with employees; work, concerns and issues and re-establish the expectations of the company and the employee. If you are self employed you could sit down every six months to look over your successes, what has worked and what hasn't and outline your goals for the next six months.

Lead by example. Embody the ethos/ image of your company that you want everyone to convey. Let employees see you working hard and be enthusiastic about work and projects – enthusiasm is infectious! This is equally important for the self employed, embody the image you wish to project and customers will pick up on your enthusiasm too!

Encourage people to take a break. If staff are not using their holiday allowance they may not be operating to their full potential. Approach people who haven't used their holiday entitlement and encourage them to take a break. If you are self employed it can be tempting to work flat out and not take breaks, but you need to rest to stay on top of your game, and a well earned break is a great reward for your hard work.

Offer benefits that boost morale but don't break the bank. Organise a weekly delivery of fruit or treats, remember birthdays and make time for staff activities/ team building days.

Give ownership to your team. New employees will need guidance but once they are on the right track, loosen the grip on them. Allow them to work with minimal input. Giving your team ownership means they will feel trusted and motivated. As well as being good for employees self confidence, it will shine a light on new ways of doing things, inefficiencies in the system and opportunities.

Run a no blame culture. Don't blame individuals when things go wrong. Look at the working systems you have in place and analyse the exact reason why something went wrong. If you work for yourself use these opportunities to take a look at your working methods and consider what could be better.

Keep open lines of communication with employees. Listen to their ideas. They will feel more connected to the company and therefore more likely to want to contribute to its future and success. Keep employees informed about changes, happenings, successes etc. Hold weekly meetings to allow everyone to get together and discuss/ share what's going on, their concerns and achievements.

Be flexible. Remember that employees have lives outside work; children to pick up, relatives to care for, appointments etc. Strive to work around their commitments as far as is reasonably practicable. 

Consider the little details. Create a great working environment. Smooth, efficient computer and operating systems, well maintained toilets and kitchen facilities and an organised, light working space where possible. The little issues that staff grumble about are usually easy to fix. Listen to what employees say and act on it. The self employed can follow this rule too; give yourself a calm, light, airy place to work where you will be able to focus without distraction. If you spend lots of time driving ensure your vehicle is in good condition, tidy/ nice to be in and gives a good impression when you arrive to see clients.

Right tools and skills for the job. Ensure that your staff are fully equipped with all the skills, knowledge and equipment needed to make sure their work runs smoothly and without drama.

'What does success look like?' Give employees absolute clarity in what success looks like. Help them understand their goals so that they can determine whether or not they are achieving them.

  

  

  

Halloween Half Term Family Fun

Family Days out this Half Term and Halloween.

This half term why not treat your family to some spooky fun? There will be child and family friendly activities held up and down the country to entertain your little terrors during the school break, look out for things happening near you, or consider the activities listed here.....

For a truly authentic Halloween fright, take the family to a real haunted castle. Warwick Castle has lots to offer for a big day out. There are dungeons to explore and both daytime and evening spooky goings on – depending on how brave you're feeling!

Spooky Warwick Castle

Alton Towers Theme Park is hosting Scarefest for Kids and will be open from 10am until late throughout the event. All the family's favourite rides will be open as usual and there will be stageshows, a halloween playland and mazes for younger children.

In York, join the Ghost Walk York tour, running every night of the holidays from October 26 to November 2^nd. Starting at York's famous Roman Column at 7pm, the walk will take you back in time to experience York's murky past and to the site of some gruesome and unearthly events of days gone by.

If you're feeling particularly adventurous, what could be better than telling ghost stories around a campfire whilst toasting marshmallows. Many campsite options are available, or simply pitch up in your garden.

Breck Farm Caravan and Camping Park at Weybourne, Norfolk allows campfires (operate with care!)

Haunted York and camping fun

If you're planning on staying at home, spend some time in the kitchen and cook up some treats! If you're buying pumpkins for carving, you might like to try this simple pumpkin soup recipe, using;

• 2 tbsp's olive oil
• 2 onions finely chopped
• 1kg pumpkin, de-seeded and chopped into chunks
• 700ml vegetable or chicken stock
• 142ml pot of double cream

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and gently cook the onions for 5 minutes until soft but not coloured. Add the pumpkin and continue to cook for 8-10 minutes until starting to soften and turn golden. Pour 700ml stock into the pan, season with salt and pepper, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, until the pumpkin is very soft. Pour in the cream and bring back to the boil and then puree with a hand blender. For an extra smooth consistency, push the soup through a fine sieve into another pan.

How to carve a pumpkin.

Pumpkin carving kits are readily available in supermarkets, usually displayed near or with the pumpkins, but if you have a small, sharp serrated knife you can easily do this at home.

1. Choose a large pumpkin and use a serrated knife to cut off the crown.
2. Using a serving spoon scoop out the seeds and fibres and discard. Then remove some of the flesh.
3. Use a marker pen to draw the outline of a face, or the pattern you wish to create, onto the pumpkin. Using the small serrated knife, cut around the pattern ensuring you cut away from your hand incase the knife slips.
4. Pop a tealight inside the pumpkin, light it and replace the crown.

Try your hand at creating some simple halloween fairy cakes. There are many cake decorating kits available to help you add the finishing touches to little sponge cakes, take a look at these for inspiration...

Avoiding Workplace Bugs

At this time of years, it becomes inevitable that someone in your workplace will share their cold virus with everyone, effectively wiping out the entire workforce. It's one extra workplace annoyance that we just don't need! Below we have listed some simple, handy tips for avoiding coughs and colds this winter.

• Wash your hands. When someone near you coughs or sneezes, you may come into contact with infected droplets. If you then touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands you could also catch it. Germs can also be spread through commonly touched items such as telephones and light switches, so keep a hand santiser close by.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Where possible, avoid hand shaking with someone who already has a cold, or use hand sanitizer afterwards. Whilst difficult, avoiding touching your face will go a long way towards protecting you.
  
  
• Remember to get vaccinated if you are vulnerable.
  
  
• Top-up on your vitamin C, either in handy tablets (some are dispersible) or preferable by eating plenty of fruit and veg. Fill your lunch box with fresh fruit for healthy snacking.
  
  
  
  
  
• Try to exercise and get enough sleep. These things may not strengthen your immune system, but if you allow yourself to become run down you will be much more susceptible.
  
  
• Drink hot water with honey and lemon. The lemon helps towards your vitamin C intake and the warm water and honey can help soothe the symptoms of a cold if you do get unlucky.   
  
  
  
  
  

Catering Style

Catering Style

As the catering industry moves into it's busiest time of the year, we take a look at some of our recommended products to offer functionality and smart style to those in catering.

A smart Chefs Jacket is an essential part of the uniform. At bestworkwear.co.uk we offer a range of options to suit all budgets and requirements.

For those looking for something to help them keep their cool, the Le Chef Professional Chefs Jacket features a Coolmax back panel to increase airflow and user comfort.

Le Chef Professional Chef's Jacket

The unisex Gourmet Chefs Jacket is a stylish choice, with a reversible double front. Composed of sanforised cotton which ensures the jacket will withstand washing without risk of shrinkage.  

Gourmet Chef's Jacket

Our popular microfibre safety shoe is ideal for catering. With a non slip sole and shock absorber heel for comfort, they also feature a hygienic antibacterial lining. Machine washable at 40 degrees, it is ideal for environments where cleanliness is of high importance and conforms with European standard EN345 S1 SRC for foot protection.

Slip-On Safety Shoe

Available in a range of 10 colours, the Catering Clobber Chefs Skull Cap is a neat, close fitting chefs hat, elasticated for comfort. www.bestworkwear.co.uk also stock a range of beard snoods, which you can view here

Chef's Skull Cap

Ideal for your front of house staff we have a range of smart aprons, such as the half apron with pocket, and tabards.  

             

               Half Apron                                                                                                    Tabards

  

Don't forget the little things, handy disposable vinyl gloves for handling raw food and rubber washing up gloves!

Disposable Gloves

  

Pay Day

It's finally come around again – the last Friday of the month, and for many of us that means one thing only. Payday!

If you're struggling for ideas of how to spend the weekend and need some inspiration, remember that the summer is not yet quite over and there is still some late summer outdoors fun to be had.

If you're feeling inspired by the recent Tour of England, this weekend could be a good opportunity to 'get on your bike'; take the kids out cycling or get fit with a friend. With more people taking up cycling as a hobby, to get fit or save on fuel costs, an increasing number of cycle paths are appearing. Cycle paths and projects up and down the country are detailed on the Cycle Route website – www.cycle-route.com

Keep the kids safe on the road with a hi-viz vest.
View it here

This Regatta Packaway Waterproof Jacket is easy to carry
incase of rain. View it here

  

For those feeling less energetic, or if your outdoor plans get rained off, a trip to the cinema is guaranteed to lift spirits. The boys will appreciate Ron Howard's 'Rush', a biopic of F1 rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda, staring Chris Hemsworth (so wives and girlfriends probably won't mind either!). There is still time for the ladies to catch romantic comedy 'About Time' – but don't forget your tissues! If you need to entertain the little ones, Dreamworks latest offering 'Justin and the Knights of Valour', about a young boy who dreams of becoming a chivalrous warrior, is bound to please the whole family.  

Bestworkwear in the Spotlight!

www.bestworkwear.co.uk products are in the spotlight thanks to the work of British artist Susie MacMurray. Her piece A Mixture of Frailties, currently on display at Danese-Corey in the heart of New Yorks’ gallery district, was created using rubber work gloves, purchased from www.bestworkwear.co.uk. Although she has had work shown in a number of international museums, this exhibition, titled Walking on the Rim of Night is Susie’s first solo show in New York.

The yellow washing-up gloves are turned inside out and stitched onto calico to create a stunning, textured ‘gown’ which invites the viewer to reach in for closer inspection.

The use of objects such as hairnets, rubber gloves or fish hooks in her work is a reference to the body (often specifically the female body) and the daily repetitive tasks and rituals which have traditionally been associated with the feminine. But the artist also points out that be it sewing, cooking and cleaning, working in an office or factory, digging in a mine or applying make up, to be human is to repeat things.

MacMurray has an ongoing interest in the rich tradition of the folk tale passed by word of mouth, and the powerful nature of fairy-tales which so often function as cautionary tales. In their original form they are such a far cry from the sugary world of Walt Disney. Turning the gloves inside out, as if peeled off upon finishing the chores, reveals a pure white fragile surface, and the gloves combine to create a glamorous gown a world away from the kitchen sink! The resemblance to a wedding dress is unmistakeable and not many women will fail to spot the irony! However, if you did attempt to wear this piece, the 3.25m diameter circular skirt would hobble you to the spot. The title A Mixture of Frailties refers to the vulnerability, which is a strength and weakness of the human condition. This garment could possibly be seen as a trap - be careful what you wish for!

But the sculpture can also be read to suggest that everyone, regardless of background, can be glamorous in any task. Perhaps had Cinderella not had a fairy godmother on hand, she may have created a similar dress!

'A Mixture of Frailties' was originally created in 2004, but the texture of the piece proves irresistible and after years of display and thousands of hands reaching in to touch, the piece became a little grubby and worn. Many of the gloves needed replacing and in 2013 Susie returned to bestworkwear.co.uk to save the day!

So, if anyone would like to add a touch of glamour and do the dishes with a pair of 'A list' marigolds, the glove used in the artwork is product code 'HHMWM' available from bestworkwear.co.uk, for all your workwear needs and happily-ever-afters!

 http://www.bestinthecountry.co.uk/workwear/search.html?searchterm=hhmwm

www.susiemacmurray.co.uk     www.danese.com

It's Friday the 13^th! Don't take any chances, is your PPE correct?

You may have felt like hiding under the duvet this morning, avoided stepping on the cracks in the pavement or taken an extra long diversion to avoid pulling out at 'that' junction. Did you know that many hospitals do not have a ward 13? Or that Apollo 13 suffered it's catastrophic failure on November 13, at 13 minutes past 1pm, or 13.13. It seems we are obsessed with the stigma attached to the number 13, and Friday the 13^th sums up all our fears. But how many of us are still taking needless risks at work by using incorrect or insufficient PPE?

The range of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is as diverse as the industries it covers, but on a basic level PPE should; protect the head and feet from falling materials; the lungs from dust, pollutants and chemical gases; the eyes and skin from from heat and corrosive substances and the body, as a whole, from extremes of hot and cold.

Your employer has a responsibility to ensure you are provided with the full, correct PPE required for your duties, but it is important for you to maintain the condition of your kit and watch for signs of wear and tear which could result in a loss of function. When not in use it should be stored in a clean, dry locker or cupboard and replacement parts should be sought in good time. Of course, if you are self employed it is your responsibility to ensure you are using the right PPE for your requirements, with research and careful sourcing.

Consider your working environment. You may choose a pair of steel capped safety boots to protect your feet from falling items; but if you work outside, or on slippery surfaces, a safety boot which includes an anti-slip sole would be a sensible choice. If you're protecting your feet from falling items, is your head suitably protected from the risk?

Respirators are a highly important piece of equipment for many lines of work. Whether you're sawing wood, welding metal or working around chemicals and gases, your lungs will be exposed to tiny particles or pollutants which can have an immediate or long lasting effects. You will need to carefully research the hazards you will be dealing with and the protection offered by the variety of respirators on the market.

High visibility clothing is probably the most widely used PPE, it's function is simple but invaluable; to ensure your co-workers and members of the public are aware of you and can take care when working or moving around you. This is especially important when working outside, in poor light or in a factory or warehouse where others are operating heavy machinery near to you.

B-Seen Hi-Viz Jerkin from www.bestworkwear.co.uk

For those working in 'safer' environments, such as catering or healthcare, non-slip safety shoes are a must for when you are busy running around! Protection from cuts and infection is also an important consideration and a wide range of disposable and anti-cut gloves are available.

Whatever your requirement, we stock an impressive range of workwear and PPE online, at www.bestworkwear.co.uk and you can find more information about PPE requirements on the HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/ppe.htm