But the creator of the Virgin group is getting to that age when he may want to enjoy his latter years and not work so hard.

With that in mind HR magazine recently interviewed the great man.

Virgin “will go on way beyond me” by hiring inherently ‘Virgin people’, Sir Richard Branson said in this interview in HR magazine.

Branson indicates that he’s more actively identifying and promoting the group’s leaders, who will be in charge of keeping his £10bn empire going once he’s left.

He says: “…it can’t just be me that sets the culture when we recruit people,” yet it’s hard to extricate the Virgin brand from its founder and even his description of the ideal ‘Virgin person’ is bound to reflect his own values. (He claims he can spot a “Virgin type” of person anywhere in the world — “in bars, cafes… post offices, at the jetty in the Caribbean.”) Like other personality-driven companies, it’s difficult to imagine Virgin’s disparate companies holding together without the founder.

Even so, given the strength of the brands he’s built, it’s worth taking note of Branson’s views on how to build a corporate culture:

1. Encourage independent thinkers — “You shouldn’t blindly accept a leader’s advice; you’ve got to question and challenge leaders on occasion”.
2. Make everyone a people manager — the key is to ensure “everyone has a little people management in them.”
3. Rewards innovation – “Many of our businesses run innovation schemes” for employees to submit ideas for consideration.
4. Keep it simple — The company has clear brand values and no set leadership style. “I haven’t academicalised (sic) my own way of working…” and he’s proud of having never read an HR or people management book. The company has four values: innovation, customer service, community, environment.
5. Let people drive each other – encourage collective responsibility. Working towards a shared goal bonds individuals into a team, while people tend to be as motivated by peer approval as by external rewards. Virgin actively facilitates peer-to-peer nominations for top performers, one of whom wins a stay on Branson’s private Caribbean island.
6. Open the CEO’s door — Stephen Murphy, the Virgin CEO, hosts lunches for employees to speak directly to him.
7. Hire for attitude – academic qualifications are fine, but “having savvy is much more important than having a formal education. The things you learn only complement who you are,” he says
8. Make community work integral — “CSR is defunct” because it compartmentalises social responsibility. Instead, use it to engage people at work. Instead, Virgin uses its non-profit foundation, Virgin Unite, to get staff together to raise money and awareness for charities. “I think the model for starting employment engagement activities has to be embedded in everything you do,” says Branson, whose next plan is to spread this message among other, non-Virgin businesses.

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Back in the 70s people were becoming evermore environmentally aware, but apart from worries for our own health through breathing in the smog in the major cities, we were little worried about the future. Suddenly concerns about pollution and its longer term affects grew.

Rain forest depletion came to the fore, receding ice-caps and glaciers began to get our attention, but little else happened for the majority.

In Europe the environmental movement began to get a head of steam with revelations about holes in the Ozone layer and the affects of CFCs. In the States the concerns were still on the fringe of main stream society, regarded as treehuggers and hippies!

The development of evidence of global warming, evolving in to the broader climate change concerns, despite efforts of some to treat it with disdain started to come to the fore further afield than Europe.

In Asia more and more delicate environments began to suffer the consequences of climate change with rising sea levels and extreme weather - still most of the major Asian states seemed to ignore the problem - we have seen this week how China want to raise awareness of energy efficiency and climate change.

I remember talking to Enigin Distributor’s from Malaysia about a year ago and they stated then that climate change was just being heard about in their country - previously it was unknown to most of the populace, although many coastal Malaysian inhabitants were suffering.

Now news is released regularly on how Malaysia, and most other Asian states, is not only raising awareness but taking serious measures to combat harmful emissions through energy efficiency.

China, so much the center of concerns over combating climate change, is very much leading the way by taking serious action and upping the ante as far as energy efficiency measures are concerned, they still have a lot to do, but at least they are doing it. India, too, has recently been prominent in making great strides in combating climate change.

The only place where the issue of climate change remained very much on the debating table as to whether something should be done was in the most advanced country of the world, the United States.

In the past decade they certainly had major figures fighting for action, which elsewhere would have swung the balance for most people, but it very much became a political hot potato and that has held up the progress they could have made.

Fortunately under the latest administration great strides have been taken and above all there is great optimism as America’s young seem to be far more aware of what is happening to their environment, and their futures and are keen to act.

The recent proposal in the American Power act has had to be watered down but events happent hat can begin to produce a sea change - in this case it happened at sea, or rather under it.

The BP oil well leak in the Gulf of Mexico has added to President Barak Obama’s wish to evolve the State’s energy environment - it has focused the consciousness of Americans, it has obliquely made people think about energy use and their reliance on fossil fuels.

The environmental impact in the Gulf of Mexico will be great, it is real and it is on the U.S.’s news channels everyday and strangely I hope this will allow main street America to start to consider energy efficiency seriously and as something that has to be acted upon, then indirectly reducing CO2 emissions and combating climate change.

Hence, through fossil fuels a major environmental disaster has struck not only wildlife but the lives of potentially hundreds of thousands of people, mirroring in miniature the results of climate change. Although a disaster through the effects of the oil spill the whisper is turning into a louder, more strident voice around the globe, notably in the U.S.

Here at Enigin we have been shouting for awhile, adding our voice to a growing chorus globally. We are delighted to see evermore concern for the future of the planet and wish to see energy saving become a greater concern for all governments.

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It is always pleasing to hear glowing reports from other people about your products or services, and I guess even better when it is once removed, that is the end users, or in other words the customers of Enigin’s Distributors.

The voices heard, and the faces seen, were from across the globe and involved people from schools, universities, local municipalities, manufacturing, farming, engineering, sports and leisure and the software industry.

The comments were not manipulated, they were not even prompted, the question was asked how they came to choose Eniscope and Enigin’s solutions, what has it done for them and have they made any energy and financial savings - all three question received very positive comments.

Watch out for the video on the many Enigin sites - even on viddler.com, just search for Enigin and you will find many of our videos.

Not only is it a delight to hear people speak so positively about Enigin’s solutions but also to know you are saving them and their organisation money. The savings made could save jobs or even the whole business in these difficult financial times.

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Enigin are always looking to advance energy saving and management and they have been working hard since the start of the year to add to the great range of solution they can offer to the energy saving industry.

One of the projects that is being developed is real-time monitoring of renewable energy and a graphic public display, showing what is being generated by the renewable energy source and calculating the savings, including the money from any feed-in tariffs.

It is clear, animated and will attract the attention for school and organisation who wish to make what they are doing with renewables public.

If they do not want to make it public, it is more than useful for an organisation to consider what their renewables are providing for them and in an easy to understand format.

This is certainly something to shout about - with recent excited reactions from renweable equipment manufacturers when it was exhited at SuatainabilityLive! They stated it was just what the industry needs - clear and precise screens showing what is going on.

Hence the energy saving business as a whole welcomes this sort of iniative as does the ESA.

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Many of you who read this are of course spread around the globe; this is the point of the internet after all. So I expect that there will be a lot of you who have real winters and for whom what follows will cause some amusement.

On Christmas Eve my blog mentioned “a bit of weather” and some sliding about in the Enigin car park. Well, we have now had about three inches up here, combined with temperatures down to -5 C overnight, and in true British style this has now really caused problems.

Many of the hardy Enigin souls have made it in to the office over the last couple of days but there are others who have been unable to harness up the huskies and forge through the blizzards. Today, a recent absentee who ignored the advice given about not coming down the slope into the car park has found that he cannot now get back up. It has been very amusing watching him try though, much sliding, slithering and revving – let’s hope he’s brought his sleeping bag.

You can guess the reaction to all of this from ESA Council Member Ken Cheyne who lives in Michigan and who of course is used to a few feet of snow; I don’t think he can quite see what our problem is. But he’ll be over here in ten days time and if we are still in the grip of winter he will be able to experience the joys of our snowy disruption first hand.

Ken is making the haul across “the pond” as we are now at a crucial stage with the development work at the ESA. Whilst internet and telephone communication is a miracle of our age, and really does make pretty much everything possible, it will be great to be able to sit down in the same room and review all the work that has been done over the last few weeks.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll be joined by a few more Enigin colleagues in the office, as well as my friend who may have to stay the night!!

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Several of us from Enigin celebrated together, albeit twenty-four hours early! As they say, “a good time was had by all” and for me one measure of that “good time” is not to experience that well known “morning after”. (Already known as Granddad around the office, I guess I am only confirming the suitability of that nickname).

Having said that, I don’t think many of my Enigin colleagues suffered too much either. Whilst we know how to enjoy ourselves the idea of work next day for some and the real New Year this evening for all of us, meant that we were just a little circumspect.

The first working day after another long weekend and a chance to check on progress with the ESA launch, which appears to be on track. Although many businesses around the world seemed to shut down for long periods at this time of year, thankfully Enigin, the ESA and our other Council Members have all managed to put in a few hours over this “social season”!

The first posting of 2010, I am surprised how diligent I have been since I started. So, a time for resolutions (again a much overrated notion), but I will at least resolve to keep posting in 2010, particularly as I will have much to report as launch day approaches.

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But the three “working” days left this week mean that it is a good opportunity to continue the build up to the ESA launch and my fellow Council Members all seem to be back at the coal face and working away to meet the deadlines we have set.

As we near the big day, I am very gratified at the level of interest we are receiving in the ESA, from all around the world. Whilst I have been away from the office for the last four days, there has been no let up in the flow of emails expressing interest in the Association and asking to be added to our mailing list, I guess there are many people who find refuge in the internet from all the “Ho ho ho”.

This year, the “New Year” is particularly significant for me. Whilst I have my Enigin responsibilities to fulfil, I am of course very focused on the ESA launch. The plans now coming to fruition are really exciting and we will be able to provide a superb resource for energy saving businesses 24/7. The new features will make membership essential for all those who work in the industry or those who are involved in making significant savings at work or at home.

The launch is of course important, getting it right is critical. However, as I have learnt from everything we do in the Enigin business, keeping the momentum going and the standards high will be the challenge. Feedback is a major element, and we are already reacting to the views of members, including many new ideas that they have suggested – and I am looking forward to the Association evolving over the next twelve months.

“All work and no play” is not the best recipe for life so tomorrow evening I and a few Enigin friends are going to a local restaurant. Not exactly corporate New Year celebrations, but the chance to relax with colleagues, enjoy some good food and a few laughs.

So, a happy and prosperous New Year to you all…..

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Since working at Enigin, talking to people from all around the world, I always feel pretty stupid about our inability here in the UK to cope with what we call winter. I was talking to fellow ESA Council Member Ken Cheyne who has a metre of snow around his house and, like many others; he cannot believe how easily the UK is brought to a halt by what he sees as a minor “snow flurry”.

I’m going to get my own back though as Ken is visiting us in January to discuss the ESA and other matters, and with a bit of luck we will once again be “suffering the winter”, so his plane, train etc may well be disrupted and then he has to get to the Enigin offices perched high (sort of) above sea level.

Seriously, I am looking forward to his visit as I have been working with him on the ESA product “road tests” I mentioned in an earlier blog and it will be good to be able to sit in the same room (in the same time zone!) and review progress.

December 24^th, and I am sitting in the office with few Enigin colleagues left, I have just have a couple of ESA emails to send and then I too will be off to begin the seasonal festivities. Next week we will be beginning the final push for the ESA website re-launch, so I will be around to post a ‘tween Xmas and New Year update, until then ……..

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Enigin give me a slot during the training week to talk about the ESA. I am able to share the aims and objectives with the trainees, get their feedback and give them a glimpse of the exciting new developments we are working on.

As 2009 draws to a close, the pace doesn’t let up as all the ESA Council Members are pulling together the materials that are needed to build the website and the emails and skype are constant as we talk through the various nuances, disagree and then agree again – one thing is set in stone – no compromises.

Of course, when a launch is being planned the temptation is to tell people what is going on and what to expect, it’s difficult not to let your own excitement get the better of you. In training last week I was in danger of letting the latest batch of Enigin Distributors in on too many secrets, enthusiasm can sometimes be dangerous.

All the Council Members are in daily contact with companies and individuals working in one way and another in the energy saving industry, and whilst we are not exactly sworn to secrecy, we all agree that we need to keep our powder dry to ensure that launch day has the greatest impact possible.

So no more from me now, I have already in earlier blogs sailed pretty close to the wind and I will be posting more between now and D Day!

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I’m told by my friends at Enigin that my blogs, whilst quite interesting, are pretty lengthy so let’s keep this short.

The product review tests for the ESA are now well under way and I’m looking forward to seeing the results and recommendations and then getting them up on the website.

As my colleagues at Enigin beaver away towards the end of the year, I and my fellow ESA Council Members are working towards the ESA website re-launch with an ever increasing fervour. As we are spread around the globe, co-ordinating conversations between Australia, the UK and the United States can be an issue and requires holding conversations at some pretty silly times of the day.

Where would we be without modern technology? Email, skype and mobiles have now become so much part of our daily lives that we don’t give them a second thought, and so the world shrinks and we think nothing of being in contact with colleagues in far flung places at all hours.

One of the Enigin marketing guys helping me out with this project is only a youthful twenty-three years old and I was recently saying to him that we couldn’t get the ESA show on the road without all these technological developments (he did point out that we wouldn’t have internet either which would make building a new website a bit tricky!!).

He couldn’t believe it when I was saying that I could remember the time when the most exciting new development was the fax machine, and the first mobile phone I saw came linked by a cable to a battery the size of a brief case. The mention of the telex system just made his eyes glaze over!

So onwards and upwards, the full panoply of technological wizardry to the fore and more power to the ESA - definitely a “product” of the 21^st Century.

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