Author: mis2020

The Coronavirus Pandemic or Covid-19 has had a global impact, not only on the economy, but on mankind.

We are very sympathetic with businesses who are trying to find suitable solutions that enable them to operate freely again as quickly as possible.  We have been working hard to create some naturally attractive, innovative solutions that we believe will enable your business to get back to “normal” rapidly. Or, as some refer to it, the “New Normal”!

Whilst some market sectors are harder hit than others by this global pandemic, most industries are affected in some way – corporate offices, hospitality venues, public buildings, healthcare, retail outlets and transport are just a few.

A variety of attractive, innovative solutions to some of the issues your organisation may be facing (and you’re not alone!) are detailed below:

Be creative in the way you insist on proper, effective hygiene

Hand sanitisers don’t need to be an ugly intrusion into your important entrance areas

The entrance to every building needs to provide the means to stop the spread of infection.  One of the most popular and easiest to administer is the provision of hand sanitiser stations at convenient points and to encourage everyone to use it. 

We have sourced a range of attractive hand sanitiser dispensers to visually enhance your space whilst providing this essential hygiene requirement for your visitors and staff

– Range of styles, colours and finishes to suit any location

– Different refill options for high or low use areas

– Touchless technology

– Unique planted options for added appeal

Enforce strict social distancing – in an attractive way 

Plants and moss make natural screens that provide visual softening and help contribute to biophilic design. The benefits of plants are well known. Live plants absorb pollution from the air and give off oxygen helpng to make indoor spaces healthier and more productive. In addition to this, plants are visually attractive and have been proved to reduce stress and increase health and wellbeing. Plants and moss also have excellent acoustic properties. 

We offer a wide range of planting options using both real and artificial plants as well as natural preserved moss 

SCREEN TOPPERS – Floral or planted to soften your screens

Already tired of seeing sterile glass or plastic screens everywhere?

Enhance your protective screens with our versatile screen topper displays

Every organisation has to demonstrate that effective social distancing is being enforced.  We are seeing that many premises are therefore becoming sterile spaces filled with glass or Perspex as organisations rush to comply with the current guidelines.  However, we believe that this could easily result in a negative impact on the health and wellbeing (particularly the mental health) of those using these spaces. 

Available in a range of green or floral designs these screen toppers are a beautiful way to bring a natural biophilic element to the environments that need it most.

They are available in standard sizes and can be placed together to create any length you require. Fully customisable too.

Nordik Moss wall panels make excellent backdrops for virtual meetings

With an increase in the use of virtual meetings it can be very easy to see your company branding becoming lost amongst the many varied environments in which your staff conduct video calls.  One way to deal with this is to create attractive branded spaces where staff choose to conduct their virtual meetings, and this will ensure your brand is consistently in the picture.

Nordik Moss walls are not only a great option for creating a biophilic space that your staff will enjoy using but they also have excellent acoustic properties making it an ideal for video conferencing. Free-standing panels can also be used as mobile options for use in different locations – even in home offices where screening out the background (both visually and acoustically!) can sometimes be very desirable!

You can find out more about Nordik Moss here.

The wellbeing of your remote workers is a top priority if you want them to be effective

Encourage your staff to get a live plant for the home office as this has been proved to reduce stress, improve air quality as well as increase productivity and creativity. Contact with nature and natural elements is important for both physical and mental health. Some organisations provide a plant budget for their staff and it is a great talking point for team talks about how their plants are progressing!

Plants are great for creating a natural video conferencing backdrop and for screening out unwanted views too!

Visit our Online Store to purchase plants and containers professionally planted up and delivered direct to your door.

Please reach out to us if you have any requirements and we will be pleased to help you in whatever way we can. We’re all in this together and we will get through and make sure you’re ready for the bounce-back!

One of the fastest, most cost-effective improvements known to British Business

Whether you need to impress customers, nurture your valuable staff or both, introducing office plants into your environment is one of the fastest, most beneficial and cost-effective things you can do.  This is one aspect of a current trend called Biophilic Design. 

Here is a summary of some of the benefits. Detailed evidence to help you make a boardroom case, may be downloaded on the pdfs (link at the bottom of the page)

Health benefits lead to improved productivity

Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air, and emit oxygen through their natural growing process. Humans do the opposite. So when you have an office full of humans emitting carbon dioxide, they are going to need more oxygen in order to stay productive. Research suggests that those sitting at computer monitors will be 12% more productive when there are plants nearby. You simply can’t introduce a better method of making people more alert.

Health benefits of plants lead to reduced sickness and absenteeism

Not only do plants take in carbon dioxide, they also absorb toxins in the air. Complaints of minor ailments often associated with Sick Building Syndrome, such as coughing, blocked sinuses, headaches, skin irritations and dry throats, decrease by an average of 25% when there are plants indoors, according to research.

Studies have also shown that the physical symptoms of stress are reduced in areas with plants – such as blood pressure and pulse rates.

Office plants propose noise reduction and improved humidity

Studies have shown that the leaf surfaces of plants absorb noise waves, so plant-filled offices are quieter, calmer places.

When plants are watered, (which we do regularly through our service and maintenance packages), they return over 90% of that water into the atmosphere, so they combat the dryness caused by temperature control equipment such as air conditioning, computer operations and other electrical devices. And during the summer months, you can turn down the air conditioning because your plants will absorb some of the heat

Instant Well-Being

Plants create instant wellbeing, so if you are looking to make people feel nurtured, then we recommend that you introduce plants before you consider something that takes much longer, such as an office refurbishment. With virtually immediate effect, you can quickly make a major difference.

An inexpensive enhancement

When you consider budgeting for different methods of improving wellbeing, such as an office refurbishment or workplace incentives such as free lunches or bonuses, a superb plant display is a much more cost-effective thing to get in place. A relatively small investment creates a massive impact.

Minimal disruption

Whatever you do to improve your organisation, you need operations to continue as normally as possible. When you introduce plant displays, there is little if any disruption to day-to-day work.

How to make restaurant outdoor eating areas successful in Scotland

The information in this article below has been collated into a handy, downloadable PDF guide.  Packed with full-colour images, tried and tested tips and advice specifically for the unique Scottish climate, this will give you down-to-earth advice that is easy to take away and put into action. 

This guide aims to provide helpful insight into how to design, create and develop any type of hospitality outdoor dining space specifically for the Scottish climate so that it works successfully for guests, managers and owners.

• This guide will help you to:
• Attract and delight more guests than ever before
• Improve the effectiveness of your venue
• Increase revenue and profitability

Download your FREE copy of The Benholm Guide To Creating Successful Outdoor Dining Spaces In Scotland

The 8 most important points to consider when designing an outside space:

1 – Outdoor Dining In Scotland

2 – Biophilic Design

3 – The Location

4 – Protection

5 – Boundary Defining

6 – Comfort

7 – Planting

8 – Branding

1 – Outdoor Dining In Scotland

Outdoor dining is now one of the top search trends for restaurants & hotels

In Scotland, the requirements for a successful outdoor dining space are unique.  The weather is not much different to the rest of the UK although it is much more changeable.  Typically, it is cloudier, more windy and cooler (summer temperatures are, on average, about 3 degrees lower)

Frequently changing weather creates definite challenges to making an outdoor space a year-round success.  Emphasis must be on having a dynamic system that is quick and simple to operate and is adaptable for all weathers.

Scotland has more hours of daylight in the summer (In north Scotland there are four more hours of daylight in midsummer than in London) providing an excellent opportunity to maximise revenue!

It is a common opinion that “food tastes better outside!”

By leveraging skyline views, waterfront vistas, sunsets, people watching, and more, outdoor dining can offer a sense of time, place, and wonder that even the most intriguing indoor spaces cannot.

By bringing socialisation outside and drawing positive attention to the establishment, outdoor spots can also add value to a restaurant by increasing the seating capacity and boosting revenue potential.

FSR Magazine

And, of course, there is nowhere on earth like Scotland with its pure air, stunning scenery and great culture!

2 – Biophilic Design

Connecting with nature

Research has recently revealed the importance of Biophilic Design in attracting and delighting guests. 

This principle is based on an inherent connection that humans have with nature and is why so many of the best outdoor eating areas include beautiful displays of plants and flowers. 

3 – The Location

There are many different types of outdoor dining environments and all have unique requirements

On-street, Inner City Locations

• Pavement Café
• Street dining spaces
• Hotel front of house
• Retail outlets and shopping centres
• Balcony and terrace planting

Common challenges:

1. All items must be carried out and set up for the day and removed into off-street storage at night
2. Nothing can be fixed to floors or walls and must withstand high winds, often on uneven surfaces

Permanent Patio Locations

• Al Fresco Restaurants
• Pub beer gardens
• Roof gardens
• Hotel Terraces

Common challenges:

1. All items need to stay out in all weathers
2. Everything needs to be theft and vandal proof

4 – Protection

Guests need to be protected from all aspects of the weather

Rain, wind, cold, heat, UV Rays

Most parasols and awnings, etc. are designed to protect guests from the sun.  If this is the sole requirement there are many options available and most do an excellent job. 

Make sure the material offers UV protection and the mechanism is easy to operate as, in Scotland, it is likely that it will be frequently raised and lowered. 

Also, most Council planning departments require parasols and other free-standing structures to be approved to force 10 wind speed rating.

In Scotland, the most common requirement is for protection from the wind and the rain.  Parasols, awnings, pergolas and even semi-permanent structures can be used very effectively so long as a proper site assessment has been carried out. 

Site assessment points that should be considered:

1. Aspect – which direction does it face?
2. Prevailing wind direction and speeds
3. Proximity and size of nearby buildings or natural windbreak features
4. Height restrictions such as overhead cables or trees
5. Sight lines for upper-level windows, lighting or security cameras

Consider adding side panels or skirts to protect from prevailing winds and driving rain.  These also help retain the warmth in cold weather. Be creative with colours and branding and make these side panels even more effective than just wind and rain protection.

Where there is a wall you can fix to, awnings are an excellent option for a completely open space, free from any upright supports.  Ensure awnings are properly installed by qualified personnel for a long-lasting, hassle-free solution. Creative colour and branding options can provide opportunity to transform any outside dining space.

Heaters, lighting and music speakers are available as part of a parasol package and can greatly enhance the guest experience.

Top Tip: Plants and trees can provide attractive natural windbreaks and don’t create such an enclosed feel as side panels on a parasol

5 – Boundary Defining

Boundary demarcation is often very critical in pavement dining spaces to avoid pedestrian walkways being obstructed.  Care should be taken as to this aspect because council planning departments view this very seriously and failure to adhere correctly to legislation could result in licences being revoked.

There are many ways of creating effective boundaries such as:

• Barrier posts and screens – either rigid or fabric
• Barrier posts with ropes
• Single tall planters with screens – either rigid or fabric
• Single tall planters with ropes
• Planted troughs with tall plants, trellis or clear screens
• Tall barrier troughs with planting
• Single planters positioned closely together

The use of planters as barriers is highly recommended by most councils as it helps improve the aesthetics of the dining space and could assist in the early approval of a licence application.

Screens (fixed between posts or planters) are available in many different materials including a mesh fabric which is more resistant to high winds whilst still providing an effective windbreak. 

Many fabric screens can be branded extensively and provide very effective advertising. 

Rigid screens made from metal or wood are another option that ensures a very robust and long-lasting solution.

Most councils require a solid barrier at each end of a pavement dining space and this must extend to the full width of the defined space.

Top Tip: Ensure any screens have a rigid bottom tapping bar for blind or partially-sighted persons as required by most councils.

Where barriers must be cleared away at night it is worth considering how this is going to be achieved and who is going to do it.  Large barrier planters can be very heavy when the soil is wet and the use of a trolley or having castors fitted can assist. 

Make sure that any large planters are manufactured from a robust material or they may become damaged quite quickly if they are moved regularly.  A modular system that is easily broken down can make the whole set-up and removal process much more manageable.

Creating a defined boundary helps to provide guests with an element of privacy as well as some protection from traffic, pedestrians, and noise. When nicely designed, it will help make the venue more visible and attract more guests.

Top Tip: If castors are specified ensure that they are of superior quality and large enough to handle uneven paving because planters can be quite heavy when wet and a broken castor can make a planter almost immovable.  Additionally, specify for a least two of the castors to have a locking / braking mechanism so that they can be positioned and won’t move or roll away even on a slope or in high winds.

6- Comfort

Creating a perfect guest experience is always paramount to the success of any venue

In addition to a faultless service, guests need to feel comfortable and relaxed in the outdoor dining space.  Ensuring protection from the weather as described above is fundamental.

Additional comfort can be provided by some of the following:

Infrared heaters, heated seats, cushions, seat blankets or fleeces, lighting, candles, music, table centre decorations, flooring – artificial grass or decking, control of insects and rodents.

Tables and chairs should be chosen carefully.  Here are a few items to consider:

• Metal chairs and tables can get hot in the sun
• Select quality metal furniture that won’t rust and look unsightly
• Tests have shown that chairs with arms are far more attractive to guests
• Stackable chairs and folding/modular tables make them easier to move
• Self-levelling tables are essential for uneven surfaces
• Adjustable legs are useful on sloping ground
• Chairs that dry off quickly and easily are best for uncovered spaces

Provide that little bit extra: When guests have an experience that exceeds expectations… they will be back…and so will their friends!

Top Tip: For particularly windswept locations choose tables that have the facility to add an inset planter in the centre.  This will provide an attractive-looking table without the risk of the flowers blowing away.

7 – Planting

The amount of planting required to make an outdoor dining space feel right will depend on the location.  Typically, inner city locations require more planting, and locations in a garden environment or where there are attractive natural views, require less.

Real live plants are always the best option but artificial plants are now very realistic and can be used in locations where live plants may not thrive or may not be able to be accessed for maintenance.To keep any planting looking attractive and lush and colourful, a comprehensive maintenance service is essential.  This is rarely something that can be done by the staff on site unless they are highly skilled in this and have plenty of spare time!

Some examples of planting suitable for outdoor dining spaces include:

Hanging baskets

Window boxes

High level planting

Green walls

Landscaped areas

Specialist Services: Seasonal hanging baskets and window boxes are long-term favourites for Pubs and Beer Gardens

Top Tip: A maintenance contract should always include free replacement plants and no call out charges so that costs are fixed for the term of the contract.  This ensures there are no hidden charges making budgeting easier and guarantees beautiful planting all year round.

8 – Branding

An outdoor dining space is really an extension of the hospitality venue and therefore brand consistence needs to be maintained. 

An incredible amount of attention to detail is often put into the interior design and this can make any venue special and unique.  The outside space is different but it should not detract or cheapen the whole visitor experience.

The outside dining space should be seen as an opportunity to enhance the main venue by either extending or enlarging the brand experience or by creating a new, additional brand experience that links with the main brand.

Parasols and barrier screens provide excellent branding opportunities and planters can be used in this way too.  In addition to on-brand messages, signage and route guidance can be incorporated too. Be creative!

Extend your brand reach: A whole new branding opportunity for your venue to increase your street presence

Top Tip: Most planters are available in any colour to enable whole brand awareness using corporate colour themes throughout the space.  Flowers and seasonal displays can be colour-matched to a corporate theme too.

Sourcing products and services to support your business needs can be a complex and time consuming process. Price, recommendation and services offered are all important factors to consider. But have you checked for accreditation?

The Benholm Group are proud to work to the very highest standards and are delighted to once again be awarded

– ISO 45001 for Health & Safety

– ISO 14001 for Environmental Assurance

– ISO 9001 for Quality Assurance

Why is it important to choose suppliers accredited by leading bodies?

An ISO 14001 certificate includes the need for continual improvement of an organisation’s systems and approach to environmental concerns. You can be sure of an organisation striving to improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, would you look for a company committed to minimising its impact on the environment?

The ISO 9001 addresses various aspects of quality management. The standards provide guidance and tools for companies and organisations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements, would you choose a company that consistently seeks to improve quality year-on-year?

ISO 45001, is the international standard Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification providing a framework to identify, control and decrease the risks associated with health and safety within the workplace. Would you like the peace of mind that comes from knowing your chosen supplier views employee’s health and safety as a priority within their organisation?

Benholm Partner, Derek Byne comments:

‘We believe accreditations are the most effective way of showing our commitment to quality through continual improvement.

Our customers can be assured in choosing us as a supplier, they are choosing an organisation dedicated to achieving the best possible working conditions, a responsible organisation seeking to minimise environmental impact. One aligned to internationally recognised best business practice.’

As we look ahead, it will be with the peace of mind that we are fully accredited.