< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY R unning a family business isn’t easy, especially not with the unpredictable and unwelcome state of the economy, the rising cost of living, soaring inflation and a zombie government. Running any kind of business will be difficult in those circumstances, but family businesses always have it harder because the company is tied to the family unit, often having emotional and sentimental bonds, and it’s the hope of many family business owners to pass it down to their children one day. Making harsh decisions and distancing yourself emotionally from them is difficult when there’s so much at stake, but that is the situation family businesses find themselves in today. Family businesses have been evolving in recent times to keep up with new trends in social media, marketing, online sales and more – and there’s yet more evolution that needs to happen if they’re to adapt to this new, uncertain world of trading conditions. The advantage family businesses have over traditional enterprises, however, is that they quite often have someone within the family who can broach other generations. Younger family members are typically more genre savvy when it comes to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and can have valuable advice – if the older members listen – on how to further a brand on these platforms. This may even include such approaches as meme culture, which may seem striking and startling to some, but keep in mind that many big brands, including Wendy’s, KFC and Coca Cola, have been trying to use meme culture on Twitter to break into new markets and appeal to the younger demographic. It’s difficult for dusty suits in a boardroom to really “get down with the kids” however, whereas family businesses are quite often run by people who have, and who are used to dealing with, children. Modernizing family businesses is also a great way to get the next generation interested in the running of the company. One of the biggest challenges, and the greatest fears, of many family businesses is what will happen if the next generation doesn’t want to take the company over. We’re living in a world where people are increasingly encouraged to pursue their own dreams and leave their own mark on the world, and younger generations may not want to be tied down to something they had no hand in founding. By involving younger people earlier, giving them responsibility and letting them get a taste for what running a family business is like, you can help draw them back into the business or, if that fails, at least make sure they are fully The family unit While family businesses face a raft of challenges – like many other businesses in this economy – the solutions are often not so simple; they never are where family is involved. The family unit LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 61 FAMILY BUSINESS DIRECT GASKETS LIMITED Contact us today on 01482 219655 or visit our website www.direct‐gaskets.co.uk For over 30 years we have been market leaders in the manufacture of Gaskets. Established in Hull, we play an important role in the city’s manufacturing sector. We have built up a strong reputation for supplying high quality products at very competitive prices and an unbeatable service. informed on their decisions. Family businesses are, after all, meant to be for the whole family, but it can be easy for one dominant personality to take over, thinking they know best, and unintentionally drive other members away from the company. Powerful personalities are important when running a business – just look at any famously successful entrepreneur – but the important thing to remember about entrepreneurialism is that it is a very personal thing, and that it often doesn’t translate well to a communal family unit. That’s not to say it shouldn’t be celebrated or encouraged, but moderation should be kept in mind, because it’s very easy to turn a family business into your business if you’re not careful. If that happens then children may not feel like they have the opportunities they want and might seek employment elsewhere. That might not be a bad thing, however. A fresh perspective brings fresh ideas back into the company and drafting family into the business over and over will lead to skills and ideas stagnating. There are many key skills that can only be learned outside the family business, and these, when brought back, can help push a business in new directions and to new heights. So, don’t feel too worried if your family or children want to try their hand elsewhere. Few jobs are forever, and it may be that the experience they gain in another company is just what the family business will need a little down the line. Even if they don’t join up later, they can still be a source of ideas, advice and contacts. Being able to distance and differentiate family from family business is a challenge, and one that every family running a business has to contend with at one point or another. It’s inevitable that things won’t always go your way, and that a family will disagree at some point or another, but the strongest family businesses are those that know how to step away from the problem and talk it out, either as business partners or as a family, without letting things get out of hand. Our family businesses across Lincolnshire are something to be proud of, and we will always encourage our readers to shop local, favour your local family businesses, and do their best to support Lincolnshire’s economy. © stock.adobe.com/Africa Studio © stock.adobe.com/auremar62 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY EDUCATION W e’re at a strange junction in terms of education in our society today, and the beginning of the school holidays is perhaps an apt time to talk about that. Traditionally, school has been about educating children on a wide variety of topics with a view to equipping them both with general knowledge, and the foundations to pursue any career path, but there are calls from some to make school more about “real life skills” and less about education. Is this future, or even a good idea at all? The argument is often that kids leaving school nowadays have no work ethic, no skills, and feel lost and without direction. Naturally, the blame falls on the schools – and many children complain that the lessons they were taught have helped them not at all. Of course, this is bias from their points of view. For every child who feels mathematics served them not a bit, there will be accountants who it helped put in jobs, or financial planners, or scientists and doctors who needed their classes. It’s easy to complain school is useless if you go on to be unemployed, but that doesn’t mean the schooling is at fault. It’s important to remember that the job of schools is not necessarily to prepare a person for working life, however. It does do that and can certainly help shape a person toward their career choices, but those advocating for children to be made to work in factories or in businesses to gain real-life experience forget that the purpose of a school is to “educate” children on a wide variety of topics. Some of these topics may not be applicable to every job, like the sciences or art or sport, but they absolutely will be necessary if a child decides to pursue a career in that later. You cannot suggest dropping “non- essential studies” on the basis that “many” children won’t use them. After all, others do, and even if you don’t use physics or biology in your career, knowing how the body works is still useful information to have. It’s information a lot of people take for granted too, forgetting that they learnt it in a school just as children are now. If a child decides to go to university later then they can pursue a course more narrowed down to a specific job like accounting or law or medicine, but for those that do not – or cannot – access higher education, the solution is not to teach them low-paid labour over lessons. Instead, if families are concerned about their children lacking real-life skills then it is perhaps a chance for them to teach them. Teachers are over-worked as it is and are dealing with hundreds (or a thousand) pupils at any given time. Most families only have to deal with a few. It used to be that children would be taught valuable skills like woodworking or mechanical work by their parents, Real life skills Schools are constantly under pressure to teach “real life skills” to their students, but how much of this is justified and are parents blameless when their children leave school with no direction in life? LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 63 EDUCATION © stock.adobe.com/BalanceFormCreative prepare them for later life. Extracurricular activities can also help bolster confidence and teach much-needed social skills, and also improve health, wellbeing and mood. They needn’t be expensive either. Martial arts, crafts, music, cinema, nature – there are a host of clubs and activities that can be done across Lincolnshire in local clubs and villages and towns, and social media is a great place to find out about them. Other important life skills often cited as “missing” from young adults nowadays involve cooking, budgeting, handling finance, common sense and general work ethic – all things that a school is not intended or expected to teach. Schools teach subjects, but personality traits like one’s work ethic are cultivated at home, usually by families who actively encourage and reward work such as chores, and who encourage their children to take a paper round or a part-time job. Those that do also learn the value of money and how to budget it and tend to have a greater respect for it. Again, parents know plenty about how to budget and handle finances and are perfectly well equipped to teach their children themselves. In American schools “Home Ec” is often used to teach these, but even that has proven flawed. The job 64 Á used as both an educational tool and a bonding exercise. Like an animal teaching their young to hunt, children learn by example, but somewhere over the many generations this attitude has become less and less prevalent. Nowadays, a lot of parents delegate their children to YouTube or the IPad, and then act surprised when they come across unwelcome content in the vast and uncontrollable ocean that is the internet. Education is not just something that happens in school, and it shouldn’t be seen that way. After-school clubs, summer trips, or just getting outside and teaching your children something; all these can help 64 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY EDUCATION simply isn’t for the education system. A lot of schools nowadays do have cooking classes, but why can children not also learn with their families? (Editor’s note: my mother taught me how to cook – and it’s served me well!) Ultimately, schools and families and communities all have a part to play in education. Given many parts of our country – and some parts of our county – complain of violent and anti-social yobs terrorising people on the streets (outside of school hours, mind you) some blame obviously has to fall on families who are either unaware or neglectful of what their children are doing. Many of us in the older generation may be able to remember when our own parents taught us valuable life lessons – be it cooking, giving us chores to teach us the value of money, or showing us how to change a car tyre or fix some piping. Those same “real life skills” that may not be part of our jobs but will surely be of use at some point in our lives. Given that the summer holidays are just beginning, this might be the perfect chance to teach your children some life skills, and perhaps to talk to them about what their career prospects are, because teachers can – and do – try their best, but they have to split their attention across hundreds of students. At the end of the day their job is to educate and to teach, not to take children by the hands and set their whole lives out for them. © stock.adobe.com/GoodIdeasORDER FORM Yes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazine for the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1. Personal Details: First name: Last Name: Address: Town: County: Post Code: Tel: Mobile: Email: Payment by DEBIT/CREDIT card Name as it appears on card: Type of card: Mastercard / Visa / Visa Debit / Other Card Number: Card Verification number (3 digits on signature strip) : Expiry Date: Amount Authorised: Cheque enclosed YES / NO Please post this form back to: Subscriptions, Lincolnshire Today Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby. N.E. 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NE T WWW.LI N C WWW.LI N C BLM GROUP www.blmgroup.co.uk First 3 issues for £1 Looking for a great gift idea? A gift Subscription is the perfect present that lasts all year round!66 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING © stock.adobe.com/Fabio From planning in advance to staying hydrated, there are several ways to prepare for and mitigate the effects of high temperatures. We offer some handy tips and strategies to keep your loved ones cool and comfortable this summer. A s we look forward to the summer sun and all the outdoor adventures it can bring for all of our loved ones, keeping everyone cool, comfortable and safe is an absolute priority. Planning for any weather or possible changes – since everyone knows the Great British climate is a fickle mistress – is no less stressful for knowing how essential it is, especially when you’re responsible for elderly or vulnerable people. But this article is here to help you feel informed and prepared for those long days in the sun, getting the worries out of the way so you as a carer can feel free to enjoy them too. If there’s anything you should make sure you take care of first, it’s planning well in advance, especially for any excursions or trips away. Being covered for every eventuality of rain or shine with appropriate clothing, sun protection and drinks to hand ensures you can keep on top of managing everyone’s health and comfort. Having a personalised plan for any particularly vulnerable individuals and making sure to start listing what you’ll need with plenty of time to spare, will rescue you from getting caught short without a solution to a sudden health emergency, or even just a change in plans. With your list to hand, it’s then a simple matter to stay informed about weather conditions by signing up for alerts, or downloading a weather app on Staying safe and comfortable this summer CARING Contact us on03333 580393 or visit www.ringroselaw.co.uk for legal advice and support Where individuals count... Over 100 yearsin business your smartphone if you have one. As we approach times of year when extreme temperatures could be their own hazard, you should also prepare for potential emergencies when staying indoors. This might include having a backup generator or a supply of battery- powered fans to cover power cuts, which can be common in hot weather. These often-minor blips aside, if you’re nursing staff or someone who sometimes looks after a care home resident, there should be very little to worry about when they’re indoors. To ensure the wellbeing of elderly residents, the best care facilities and homes will be equipped with air- conditioned facilities. However, it might be necessary to adjust settings frequently, so make sure to add this to a 68 Á © stock.adobe.com/CandyRetriever68 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING list of things to check throughout the day. Units in individual bedrooms can also be employed to allow residents to personalise the temperature to their preferences, as everyone has a different comfort level. But for homes without in- built air conditioning, and those caring for loved ones at home, heat can be kept at bay with fans or portable air-con units. Drawing curtains and blinds against the sun, while keeping windows open behind them, will also help keep any space cooler as we climb into higher temperatures. With all plans in place, the next thing to remember every day, and no matter the schedule, is to keep anyone you’re caring for well hydrated. It may become a bigger part of your job than you’d think just to encourage your folks to drink plenty of fluids and keep the unpleasant symptoms of sun and heat exposure at bay. As well as always making sure there’s easy access to water for every person’s ability, keep reminding them to drink regularly, even if they don’t feel thirsty. To help prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion in anyone who doesn’t like to drink water or is getting bored of limited beverage options, look into some different options. Sports and electrolyte drinks, iced tea, fruit juice and coconut water are all examples to change up your choices, making hydration an easier and more exciting prospect for everyone. Electrolyte replacement drinks have the added benefit of replenishing fluids and minerals lost from sweat, and certain foods can also help keep the body hydrated. Keep a stock of tempting fruits and vegetables with high water content, like watermelon, cucumbers and strawberries. Monitoring fluid intake over time is an easily forgotten but important part of keeping those you care for well-watered. If you notice someone hasn’t drunk anything for a while, especially around midday when temperatures are at their hottest, be vigilant and insistent in encouraging them to have smaller, more frequent drinks. This can be a kinder option for those who struggle to drink a lot in one go. While sipping is great for maintaining even hydration levels, it’s best to limit caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, as these can have the adverse effect of dehydrating the body. Having plenty of refreshing food and drinks to hand is also a gift for helping to keep the body cool, and there are also ways to plan for temperature regulation with canny activity planning if air conditioning isn’t a viable option. Instead, spending time in air-conditioned public places like libraries, shops or community centres is ideal for keeping the vulnerable out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, while also keeping them entertained. While you’re out enjoying these activities, make sure everyone has loose clothing, preferably in light colours and fabrics like cotton or linen. If you must spend time outside during the hottest parts of the day, make sure there’s ready access to shade. This can be under a tree or umbrella, or in a covered area like a gazebo or pavilion. © stock.adobe.com/Syda ProductionsOur care and nursing homes provide the highest standards of family-led residential and dementia care. Our homes are comfortable and beautifully furnished, whilst retaining a warm family atmosphere that makes them feel extra special. • Person-centred dementia care • Tailored meaningful activities • Homecooked food • Luxury facilities: salon, café, cinema To fi nd out more about life at our care homes in Lincoln visit www.countrycourtcare.com or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com Country Court Care & Nursing Homes in Lincoln Eccleshare Court Lincoln (01522 695458) Neale Court Hykeham (01522 682201) Swanholme Court Lincoln (01522 689400) Ruckland Court Lincoln (01522 530217) Scooter 207 Roman Bank, Skegness Tel: 01754 768006 Wheelchair £5.00 per day £25.00 per week £25 refundable Deposit Winter Storage Only £75 include a Service for only £25 extra Scooters kept securely and charged weekly Service & Repairs We have an up to date fully equipped Service Centre to help with any breakdowns or repairs £15.00 per day £75.00 per week £50 refundable Deposit Funeral Services Our funeral homes provide the best facilities including private arrangement rooms and peaceful chapels of rest. We also provide a funeral dividend during this difficult time of bereavement. A service from caring professionals To find out more contact your nearest funeral home: Lincolnshire.coop/storefinderNext >