So the beginning of the week started with 'Blue Monday', the so-called ‘most depressing day of the year’. How did you fare? What positive news can you share with your customers? Whether you recognise ‘Blue Monday’ or not it's supposedly the ‘saddest’ day of the year when the financial hangover of Christmas is at its most obvious, the weather is at its worst and many of us can’t lose the extra weight gained having indulged over the holiday period!

As we say goodbye to 2020 and step into 2021, you may be excused for feeling that not a lot has changed. And you’re not the only one. With England and Scotland put back into stricter lockdown restrictions, a new strain discovered and coronavirus cases soaring, January has not been the fresh start many had hoped for.

With the first COVID-19 vaccines administered in recent days a great sense of relief has swept across the nation, but will there be an immediate return to normality? As most of us saw in the media Margaret Keenan, the 91 year old UK grandmother, has become a household name as the first person in the world to be given the Pfizer Covid-19 jab as part of a mass vaccination programme. Seeing some of the most vulnerable receiving the vaccine and the knowledge that millions of the population will receive the jab by the end of the year, with a full roll out programme promised, we can afford to be optimistic.

Tara Waite, our CEO, has outlined her thoughts for the year ahead in Insurance Times alongside other business leaders. Here is what she has to say. The future is bright for businesses who continue to put customers first. One real opportunity we see for workplaces and working patterns as a result of COVID, is the further enhancement of customer journeys. The move ‘home’ emphasised the importance of simplicity and continuity of service coupled with a strong relationship model. We see advantage in the continued digitisation and automation work we have been doing to remove friction. Having replaced our core platforms and interfaces over the past few years we are focussed on the real value enablers for our partners and their customers.

This time of year always raises some familiar themes - family, friends, the giving of gifts and taking a well-earned break to name but a few! But another is naturally gratitude. Taking the time to recognise what we’re thankful for and ensuring that where possible, we pass on our heartfelt thanks to those who deserve it. In business this applies as much as it does in our personal lives. Colleagues, partners, service providers and of course, customers are all essential to the work we do.

During a year of negative Covid-19 headlines we all welcomed the news of vaccine advancements and mass testing announced last week. With hope on the horizon, this gives us all renewed optimism as we prepare for 2021 despite experts warning economic recovery won’t be easy. How are you intending to facilitate business growth in the year ahead? Despite recent positive vaccine news, further announcements have been made urging caution to reduce the risk of spreading the virus when rules are relaxed across the UK over Christmas. Over the last few days we also heard of new localised restrictions and regional tiers introduced.