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Friends and colleagues,
It fills me with both pride and joy to be able to join such a great group of friends and colleagues to mark our tenth anniversary.
Those of us who have been involved in Ohmatters for a long time cannot help but notice that we are no longer a small brave band, a group of well meaning individuals who thought we could change the workplace experience in a dull and motionless OH world. The advances we have seen and all that we have achieved have not happened by themselves – they are the consequence of a great deal of hard work – much of it by the people in this room.
I find myself borrowing a few words from some famous and some not so famous people, these are the people who have influenced me over the last 10 years, without whose influence OH matters would not exist.
My dad used to say ‘count your blessings’ you won't amount to very much, the best you can hope for is to manage a nursing home and be a good wife’ I was always a disappointment to my dad because I never listened to him, I’m sorry Dad but for once in my life I’m glad I didn’t listen to you, otherwise none of us would be standing here today. As Marilyn Monroe once said, if I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere’.
I was always a risk taker, someone once even told me I was reckless, maybe they were right, certainly at the time that was said we were in stormy waters and not very far from floundering, remember the bailiffs? Two of our most loyal and trusted colleagues were heard to say, ‘get the reports out before they turn off the electricity’, what a testament to their commitment and hard work that we can stand here today and be proud.
When times were bad, maybe it was luck, I like to think it was good judgment, I have had the good fortune to surround myself with people who have helped me steer OHM into calmer waters, who themselves took risks and who have invested so much in me, even when times have been really bad and we have had tears and tantrums they didn’t leave me and they have continued to give me their love and friendship. Without them I would have lost my courage a long time ago...he who dares wins!
Friends and colleagues, over the past decade – OHM’s first decade – the face of OH has changed immeasurably. We are no longer consumed by talk of work being hazardous but of work being good for us, it being a major determinant of mental and physical wellbeing.
OHM was and is unique in that we recognised the influence good mental health and poor mental health has on the workforce population, and we have built our business around this philosophy is what makes us unique and we have grown stronger and successful as a result. Many will follow now but we should be proud of our achievement in recognising a new way of doing things first and doing it well. I have been inspired many times by many people and if I can offer you any wisdom it is this “Don’t go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path…and leave a trail”
Today is day of celebration when we can tell those we admire and care for, how much they mean to us, So as we contemplate the next ten years, you can be sure that OHM will go forward, but only if we stand shoulder to shoulder, if I have learned anything in the last 10 years it is this, the workers within are the essence of good business without whom we would just be the good idea we knocked around the kitchen table all those years ago. All I can ask is that you look back on our past and remember the good things we have done and that you will join me in going forward.
I close by offering my congratulations on behalf of OHM for achieving this important milestone. I value you all so much, for your loyalty, commitment and hard work and I wish for you every success in whatever life brings before you into the next decade and beyond.
Thank you
Marie Church MD
Santa's coming to OHM and he's delivering a new Website too!
At Occupational Health Matters, we don't only know a lot about Health and Well Being in the workplace, we also know how to make it pretty magical.
So with that in mind, we approached Santa to see if he could provide us with something a little more special for our annual Christmas Party this year (He does usually turn up with presents for the younger ones in our OHM family) As 1 o'clock approached, Santa not only bought us a sack full of presents, he also had our new Website geared up!!! Looking fantastic, It was with great pride Marie gave a speech to thank everyone for their continued efforts over the years and the website went LIVE! (A special thanks to the guys at Little Black Box for all their hard efforts)
A wonderful banquet buffet was opened and Santa started dishing out the presents to all the children, young and old, as the website was perused over by everyone from the team.
We would all like to say a special thanks to Erika, for not only making sure we were fed and watered, but also for making the end of the year that little bit extra special for both us here in the office and the families that were present.
For the last part of our day we all felt it would be nice to treat ourselves to a little bit of cake and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with some much needed sugary goodness!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone at Occupational Health Matters, our clients, our suppliers and our friends. Here's to 2012 being a wonderful year and to the next big 10!!
Saturday the 17th December and the Hollywood Ball
Here at Occupational Health Matters we work hard and we play hard, so when a wonderful time like Christmas comes around we do like a good knees up.
Thanks to our wonderful events coordinator Caroline Fryer, we all found ourselves in the swanky and very plush Queens Hotel in Leeds on Saturday the 17th December, everyone suited and booted and looking glamorous, ready to enjoy a turkey or two with plenty of wine and bubbly.
The place was fabulous and we were all treated to excellent food and drinks courtesy of our MD Marie Church and then it was dancing and toast time. Its here I'd like to point out how far OHM has come, this week being our 10th anniversary , Saturday was the perfect opportunity for us to show our gratitude for the things we have and to look forward to the new and exciting things to come. We held a presentation where a fantastic fountain pen was presented to Marie (The back story being Marie was given a fountain pen when she first started the company by a friend and we all felt it would be a good time for an update) by the enigmatic Karl Brookes AND AN OSCAR! Marie gave a speech and then turned into Marilyn Monroe for us all for a few minutes, things like these light we OHM'ers up and get us in the dancing spirit.
After the speeches were said and some great photo's we're taken everybody hit the dance floor or the quiet bar for a good catch up and to swirl the night away. Another fantastic event we can all be proud to say we were a part of.
I know everyone will feel the same when I say I can't be prouder of the people I work with or the MD that represents us on a daily basis. Here's to another 10 Years and many more fun times ahead!