Small Business Academy

A quarter of UK employees have said private medical insurance is the single most important benefit [music]
they want.

It's not just a paycheck at the end of the day.

You've actually got to offer a package.

We're very aware that offering health [music] care for your employees is a big decision.

We need to have an offering that provides a return on investment.

I think that the value is there for retaining staff and also [music] attracting staff as well.

Yes, there's so much competition out there these days.

It is about really having a holistic and inclusive offering.

So something for people, not just when they're [music] ill, just knowing that their health is covered, mistakes don't happen.

You can put your head on the pillow at night knowing that if something does go wrong, then you're covered.

Hello and welcome to the latest episode of [music] the BER Small Business Academy where today we'll be discussing the potential business ROI formemes that invest in private medical insurance to protect their people and reduce absenteeism.

I'm Holly Tucker, founder of Not on the High Street and Holly and Co.

And today I'm joined by Jez Haywood, staff welfare officer at All Aces Medical Careers.

Jez, welcome.

It's wonderful to have you here.

Thank you for having me.

Jez, one of my favorite things at the theme academy is hearing the range of perspectives from people like yourself and I'm wondering if you can tell us more about All Aces Medical Careers and your role there.

Absolutely.

Yes.

I'm um the staff welfare officer for All Aces Medical Careers.

Um they're based in Banbury, uh a specialist medical career company which um delivers and collects medical
um equipment all across the country and internationally as well.

We're currently got just over 200 members of staff.

Um, and that's grown massively over the last couple of years.

Hence, my role coming into play, but obviously our managers and directors spend a lot of time
looking after the staff.

However, because we've grown so massively, um, their time is being taken up keeping the
train on the track as it were.

Um, and we realize we do need to focus on the staff as well, who are our main asset.

So, I work alongside with the directors, with the managers, just making sure that everyone's okay.

Um, and enjoying working for all aces as well.

Um it started off as a family business, Mr. Matt Wallace, senior and junior.

Um and just two men, one van as it were, and then we got 200 people plus um working for laces today. It's fantastic.

And what do they actually courier? The
majority of it is orthopedic kit and
implants um whether it be a knee, a hip,
ankle, shoulder, any joint that you know
can be in in the in the human body. um
all sorts of stuff and everything that
is needed to actually implant that into
into the the person itself as well. So,
so we deliver them, you know, about
6,000 kits approximately every day
across the country, which is obviously a
huge amount. Um and because of the the
nature of the kit that we've got, it's
it can be quite stressful as well. So,
we need to make sure the right kits
going to the right place. If the kit
isn't there on time, um you know, then
somebody may not have the operation
which is going to make them, you know,
healthier, better, in less pain, etc.,
etc. So, so there is that level of
stress, you know, and and pressure
attached as well.
So, today we're talking about the
business case for investing in private
medical insurance. So, let me just start
with a couple of macro stats um just to
set the scene which I found astonishing.
So according to the Office of National
Statistics, around 150 million working
days are lost to sickness absence each
year in the UK with ill health costing
the UK economy approximately 150 billion
pounds every year. Now those numbers are
actually just quite hard to digest. So
can you just give me more of a granular
perspective on the impact um at all aces
when let's say in a key employee is off
sick um for an extended period of time.
Yeah. Because of the specialized
delivery service that we give um the
rapport um is built very much between
the drivers and the staff um at the the
hospitals in the theaters to make sure
the kit gets where it needs to be on
time every time and also kit is ready to
be picked up as well. So that that
rapport um and understanding isn't built
overnight. So we try and keep the same
drivers on the same routes. So if we do
lose a driver, we do sort of you know
succession plan and we do have people
out with them to learn that route.
However, it's not quite the same. So um
to have somebody off a route for a
considerable length of time would be
quite impactive to us. It would mean
sort of more retraining of other staff
to come in as well. you know, when we
looked at the roles within the company
that we have, you know, we have, you
know, like the warehouse stuff. Um, I
did a couple of shifts down in the
warehouse and I don't think I've walked
so far within a building in in my life.
I'm informed that they can talk up to
about 30,000 steps in the shift.
Goodness. Um, often under load with a
trolley. Um, you know, the majority of
the boxes,
yeah, let's say maybe 30 40 kg. Some of
them are, you know, very very light
indeed. We also then have cabinets which
are on wheels. um you know they can
weigh up to sort of 350 400 kg so they
are heavy heavy heavy bits of kit um so
so moving them around you know if it
suddenly moves the wrong way um you know
you got to be careful there's a huge
huge um sort of risk on on the on the
body um repetitive work you know lifting
we all know can cause all sorts of
issues as well so you then take that out
to at the hospitals and you know very
often there's there's not somewhere to
park and again you can imagine with say
a 200 kg heavy load coming onto that
towel lift and then once you get into
the hospital it's through corridors it's
into a lift there's a lot to it it's a
very very physical role um so to have
you know the boot recover making sure
they look after our staff if they do
receive an injury um or or like a
repetitive injury or
or similar um we know that we can get
them back on that route doing their job
for all aces as quick as possible
as a small business owner myself, I know
the pressures of reducing outgoings as
far as possible. So, it's easy to
understand that temptation to see
private medical insurance as an
unnecessary cost. Um, there is a
statistic though that I found very
interesting in reframing that. And
according to Ber's modeling, an average
small business or medium business can
gain 24 working days per year from
faster access to that treatment. And
that's actually more than a month. I
found that extraordinary. Do what do you
think about that statistic?
I mean, it's huge. I mean, isn't it?
Yeah. I I mean, stats like that really
do open your eyes massively. Um, we
didn't necessarily go take private
healthcare through the the stats side of
things, but we knew it just shows how
much you care for your staff as well.
And I think as soon as the staff know
how much you care, um, that means much
more to them as well. Um, it's not
about, you know, it's not the what, it's
the why we do it. Because, you know, we
we're delivering the kit. And we want
people to work for the company because
of what we're doing. It's not just a
another courier company. We're not just
dropping stuff off at someone's front
door. You know, this this matters to
people what we're dropping off.
And you just mentioned there that sort
of people aspect. So almost like outside
of the practicality, a quarter of UK
employees have said that private medical
insurance is the single most important
benefit they want from their reward
packages. And I actually read an article
um as well about this which is a lot of
um you can find yourself creating a
handbook for your employees that have
all these sort of bells and whistles and
all these things but actually people
really want maybe two or three basic
things that really matter rather than a
a huge heap of things that they never
quite read because it's stuck in the
handbook and it's in a drawer somewhere.
What was your perspective there?
Absolutely. I mean having private I mean
personally I never thought I'd be um
have private medical healthcare um and
it means a huge amount to myself and in
the company we've got I would say 20 25
different nationalities
um all of which come to work for all
aces and it's a it's a it's a real pride
thing as well you know and I know you
know we say we shouldn't have too much
pride but there's nothing wrong with a
little bit of pride I don't think
because it it you know you stand up tall
you stick your shoulders back and you
can have that bit of pride that you
you're covered by ber you're covered by
private healthcare and you and put your
head on the pillow at night.
Yeah.
Knowing that if something does go wrong,
then you're covered. And and that that's
a massive amount for for me.
And and it must mean so much to them.
And so so perhaps actually not
surprising that 77% ofmemes say that
they plan to overhaul their employee
benefits to address workforce health and
well-being, win talent, and combat
economic pressures. It's hard enough
competing as it is. Um, but when you're
maybe going up, you're a small business
and you're going up against those larger
businesses, maybe competition, how
important do you think benefits like
private health care are to helping small
businesses like yours and like mine sort
of attract and retain those right
people?
I think it's something that you have to
have these days is is a package to offer
people. Um, and we found that although I
don't actually carry out the interviews
myself, people are asking what's the
package. It's not just what is the role,
what's the pay, it's what's the package.
That's what's being asked these days.
And you know, it's introduced very early
on that we have the private medical
healthare with ber and you can
physically see the person who's being
interviewed. They oh, they almost sit
upright, you know, quite tall in their
seat because of the name of ber and
private medical healthcare. They know
exactly what it means.
Yeah, I couldn't agree more. They
feathers. It's like peacock feathers.
they they feel that pride that ah this
is a business that really looks after
their employees. They value me before
I've even you know started. They value
me. I'm interested in what ber services
have you found to be the most popular
amongst your employees. And can you tell
me uh about any examples of where
private medical insurance has had a
really positive impact on an employes's
health outcome or the ability maybe to
get back to work? I mean we do I mean
touchwood we haven't had anyone you know
um have an injury as such or a large
injury but we've had a lot of the the
staff will speak to me and they will
have gone through to get a GP
appointment
and it's the speed of it it's the speed
of it that they're saying that was
fantastic you know I managed to see GP
that day and then they took me through
this process so that's great fantastic
you know we we did have um a member of
the team who did find a lump um
and went through the process um with
with Ber and after only a few days had
you all clear. So I mean that was that
was fantastic to hear. You know we we
are although we're 200 plus we're a
small company still like to um see
ourselves as a as a family business. So
when when one of the members of staff
has something like that or falls ill or
there's something negative impacting
their life it it everyone sort of feels
it really. Um, so that was a great that
was a good story
and I could imagine as well it's it's
the worry that comes before something.
So they're keeping quiet. Work seems to
be sort of like not a priority
potentially at that point in time
because they're really really worried
about it. Whereas this allows them to
nip it in the bud, so to speak. They
instantly can act on it. Um, and I think
that one of the worst things is having
people worrying and not being able to
concentrate, but also not being able to
share. And this is a service that
basically allows them to sort of get on
with getting to the end result, getting
that knowledge.
Definitely. I mean, our we've got the
drivers work very much single crew most
of the time. Um, so you haven't really
got anyone daytoday, minuteto minute
checking in on them. Um, so it is down
to them. It's down to them to to
identify that they need to go and do
something, you know, rather than, you
know, if we do have someone who is seen
every day, you you can see actually
they're changing a little bit. So you
can how are you? You know, is everything
right? You know, um oh yeah, I'm not not
sleeping very well. That that opens up
the conversation. However, you know, the
vast majority of our our staff are out
on the road. Yeah.
Um yes, we do check in with them as best
we can, but but keeping you know, like
keeping the train on the track, the
logistical side of things, it's a very
fast pace. So the fact that like say I
refer to our drivers a lot because
they're out there on their own but they
they can access it on their mobile phone
through the Ber app and they can do it
there and then you know yes you know we
have the warehouse staff as well you
know we get to see them a fair bit um so
we'll get out and have a chat and speak
to them and and the the customer service
staff who who are in the office as well
bit more visible a bit more easy to pick
up on if things aren't going quite well
or they're a bit quiet today or they
they're a bit subdued. Um, but the if if
mistakes are made, you know, they
there's, you know, the wrong kit can end
up in the wrong end of the country. Um,
just through one you one click of a
button or not a click of a button.
Yeah.
And it's that easy done. It's that easy
done. So, if people think with clarity
um and and the the just knowing that
their health is covered,
it it Yeah. Just mistakes just don't
happen. And I was just thinking while
you were speaking that we've now got a
workforce, haven't we, out there in the
in in the country that work from home a
lot. So your drivers are alone, but also
we now don't have necessarily 5 days a
week in the office where you're just
checking in with your colleague who sits
next to you. So many people now have a
hybrid role. So they are on their own at
home. So the similar thing that you you
have to almost be autonomous with, you
know, being your own work colleague, so
to speak, and and checking in with
yourself.
Absolutely. I mean, we although we're
based in Banbury, we do have um a
Scottish um office as well, and we do
have implanted workers with some of our
bigger clients around the country as
well. So, they're all aces employees and
they all come under um under the all
aces and and the ber medical scheme, but
we just don't get to see them every day.
So, it's a bit more difficult reaching
out to them um for them to know that
although they're working, you know, at a
distance away,
they're still one of us. They still got
the the same cover. you still got
everything being looked after.
We've heard a lot about genomics
products here at theme academy and I
know that you've actually got firsthand
experience um using this. Can you tell
me a little bit more about it?
Yes, I can. I I received um one of these
medication packs through the post um and
I open it all up and out came the kit um
the swab kit and the stick and the
little vials to put it in and all the
stickers to repackage it all up and
stuff like that. So, obviously read
through the instructions several times
because I didn't want to didn't want to
get it wrong, but it is incredibly
basic. Very, very basic indeed. And you
just get your swab. Um, I think it's 30
seconds on the inside of your cheek. Um,
away you go. And then that just pops
into a little vial, seals up, get it
packaged up, back in the post, and off
it went. And, um, very short time later,
the results returned. I think this could
be interesting. So, it was interesting.
very very but you know when you spend
all your life you know seem to be taking
paracetamol and ibuprofen because you're
trying to uh you know through sort of
playing sport and getting injured and uh
you then look actually does it work you
know is there another side of it that
that I need to know about it was very
very interesting anyway so there's a
huge list of um of medications that are
on there touchwood I'm not on anything
longterm um which I think is mainly what
it's based um is sort of like the
long-term identification of medication
that may or may not working as well as
it could be for you. Um, but for me it
was just more your dayto-day stuff
really. Um, but no, fantastic. I mean,
you know, what's the point in in in
taking a medication if it's not going to
work? And there's a a better one that
could be used and um I haven't actually
gone down this route yet. I you can have
a a GP um chat with a GP
um which will be interesting again. But
yeah, just on the on the face of it,
yeah, it's fantastic. Very very easy
easy to do and and full of information.
Oh god, it's I actually really want to
do it as well. Um, and just finally,
what would you say to another theme
owner who's unsure whether health care
benefits offer good value?
I think they do. Absolutely. I think
that the value is there for retaining
staff and also attracting staff as well.
Um, there's so much competition out
there these days. It's so much easier to
see a benefits package um, you know,
prior to to going for an interview. So
if you've got it on there, you know, for
the staff that have already working for
you, um they know they're getting, you
know, the high level quality care. Um so
they're more likely to stay with you
than look around. Um but also for the
fact that they know they're being cared
for. The company actually cares for that
individual. Um and you know, caring for
their health is the most important thing
that they can do for for an employee. I
believe
I I couldn't agree with you more. It's
been fascinating to talk to you and
thank you so so much um for sharing all
that you have um and why that investment
is just key and I just couldn't agree
with you more. So, thank you for coming
on board and sharing with us.
Thank you very much indeed.
I'm now joined by Dr. Robin Clark,
medical director for BER Global and UK
Insurance to find out more about how BER
are shaking things up to provide health
care that works harder for small
businesses. Thank you for being here,
Robin. Oh, it's my pleasure.
So, we've already discussed the massive
impact absenteeism can have onmemes and
heard firsthand from Jez about BER um
and how to mitigate this. I know Ber
have recently revamped their theme
insurance offering because I took part
actually in the launch video. Can you
tell me a bit more about what that
actually means in practice for small
businesses and the the positive impact
that it's going to have? Certainly and I
think there's probably three things
there to call out. The first is to focus
on uh prevention and personalization. So
using things like the new innovative DNA
tools that are available.
The second is very much about having
speed of access. So using our connected
care pathways in order to access that
care at the earliest opportunity. And
finally it's about really having a
holistic and inclusive offering. So
something for people not just when
they're ill. So something really that um
I think you know ticks a lot of boxes.
It does indeed and every time we talk
you always emphasize how prevention is
better than cure and I always remember
this. So can you tell me how ber are
putting this into practice with
preventative health?
So ber was the first major health
insurer in the UK to offer genomicsled
preventative care. Uh and a great
example of that is what we've done with
medication check. So this is a simple
atome test that people can do. Uh it
tests for a wide range of medications,
more than a hundred of them. Uh and what
it does, it tells you uh whether you as
an individual are likely to respond or
not to those medications. So it really
helps to make that treatment decision
right on the first occasion. So really
getting it right first time. Another
really good example of what we've done
is with the my prevention plan. So
employees can choose to have the genomic
le testing together with some clinical
assessment and that helps to assess
their risk of breast cancer, type 2
diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Uh
and if anyone is found to be at elevated
risk of those then they can have that
personalized and preventative treatment
and that may include things such as
medications and even covering the cost
of some types of surgery.
And when you talk about fast access to
health care, how are you actually making
it easier? So if we think about
something like mental health now mental
health is the biggest driver behind uh
work rellated health issues. So what
we've got to address that is members
first for mental health. Now what this
is uh if members and employees wish to
access um mental health support and they
do that through ber provision it means
that there's no additional uh costs that
they will be exposed to. So they can
access talking therapies through buper
provision. So that includes things like
psychotherapy, psychology, counseling
and CBT, so co cognitive behavioral
therapy. And that can be accessed uh
either by phone, by video uh or even in
person through our mind play centers. Uh
and also we've got the the app uh my
booper app through which you can uh
organize your appointments.
You mentioned before how booper strive
to offer benefits that allme employees
will value, not just those who are
actually ill. Can you tell me more about
what's available to the wider workforce?
We're very aware that uh offering health
care for your business or for your
employees is is a big decision. So,
we're very conscious that we need to
have an offering that uh provides a
return on investment or demonstrates
great value for money and and a great
service to those employees. So, that's
why our products include face-to-face GP
appointments and also dental cover too.
And for those face-to-face GP
appointments, what that is, it enables
employees to have a 15minute appointment
at one of 69 ber clinics across the UK
so that they can discuss things such as
an acute illness or a health concern.
So, I think that's a that's a really
valuable benefit. And with regard to the
dental benefit, we are the only insurer
in the UK to routinely offer a dental
benefit as part of the package. Now,
that allows people to access one of 360
dental practices around the UK. Um, and
they can have every year one dental
appointment and one hygienist
appointment as well. So, that's for
anyone that's named on the policy. And
evidently that really helps with
prevention if you can regularly attend a
dentist because we know that uh having
that regular preventative dental checkup
actually has benefits for your
well-being and actually there's other
health benefits as well that come from
that. So again I think it's a really
important benefit that we're offering
here.
Yeah totally. And beyond all those new
benefits there are of course the
additional online resources uh we often
discuss atme academy. Can you remind us
what those are? We've got a range of
services available including growth plus
which is a HR health and well-being
support service tailored to the needs of
small businesses. And then we have
workplace academy which is for line
managers. Uh and these are byite-size
videos to help support employees with
different needs. And then we've got Jack
at work which allows quick and easy
access to mental health resources. So,
there's a wide range of mental health
topics that are covered on the platform
and from an employer perspective, it
gives anonymized insights that can help
to shape their well-being strategy.
I've said it before, I'm a huge fan of
Jack and I think it's such a brilliant
tool for employees. Robin, thank you as
ever for being here and helping us
business owners myself understand more
about your perspective and and and and
what is on offer and also how we can
drive ROI for us small business owners.
It's just brilliant. [music] So, thank
you for joining us today.
You're very welcome. Thank you, too.
That's all we've [music] got time for
today. Thanks to Jez for sharing his
experiences of just what a positive
[music] impact private medical insurance
can have on a small business. and to
Robin for taking us through all the
benefits and [music] resources that set
BER apart. Thank you for watching and
we'll see [music] you next time on the
BER Small Business Academy.