# UK Trends That Will Continue to Thrive after ‘Freedom Day’
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-07-26
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Adapting to Change: Pandemic Trends Impacting Businesses
Meta Description: Discover how the rise of volunteering and digital innovation are shaping the future of businesses and entrepreneurs in the UK post-pandemic.
URL: https://financedigest.com/uk-trends-that-will-continue-to-thrive-after-freedom-dayhtml

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Companies providing services like home workouts, high-end meal kits and even crochet tutorials all have boomed during the pandemic.

Not everyone has had a smooth path through the pandemic though; businesses have had to become more agile and invest in technology. Many entrepreneurs and individuals have adjusted their attitudes, spending more time on worthy causes or making sure they are planning for their own futures.

Consumer trends affects demand and it’s something businesses and [entrepreneurs need](https://www.financedigest.com/10-secrets-every-entrepreneur-needs-to-thrive-in-2023.html "10 Secrets Every Entrepreneur Needs to Thrive in 2023") to be aware of; are we seeing a remodelling of the economy? Private and Commercial Bank [Arbuthnot Latham](https://74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.arbuthnotlatham.co.uk%2Fprivate-banking/1/0102017a7b939cd8-fb3a6cf0-7c1d-4603-80be-352ab8300a6d-000000/7xGhqCgzQ0Ijh7Q7UkMibgOrUuo=225) delves into which current trends are likely to continue thriving once the economy reopens:

**The rise of the volunteer**

The NHS reported 750,000 people signed up within just four [days of launching its NHS Volunteer Responder programme in April last year](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-international-womens-day-date-history-and-this-years-theme.html "Explainer-International Women’s Day: date, history and this year’s theme") – around 400,000 ended up working in voluntary positions.

However, other voluntary organisations, such as charities, are [reporting fairly flat numbers in terms of volunteer growth](https://www.financedigest.com/sea-bream-market-2021-current-and-future-demand-analysis-growth-and-forecast-by-2029-report.html "Sea Bream Market 2021 | Current and Future Demand, Analysis, Growth and Forecast By 2029, Report") over the past year.

This could suggest that the wave of volunteerism we are seeing seems to be driven by purpose, by the pandemic itself.

Despite this, a recent [survey found that 80% of those who have taken part in volunteering over the past year say](https://www.financedigest.com/vietnamese-are-tired-of-boring-ads-yougov-survey-says.html "Vietnamese are tired of boring ads, YouGov survey says") they intend to continue past the pandemic.

Volunteering contributes around £18.2 billion to the UK economy each year (1% of GDP), so if the current [trend of mass mobilised volunteerism continues](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagen-strikes-below-inflation-wage-deal-continues-german-trend.html "Volkswagen strikes below-inflation wage deal, continues German trend"), it could have a measurable impact on how our economy functions.

[**Businesses have had to adapt**](https://www.financedigest.com/coronavirus-how-american-business-have-adapted-to-the-new-normal.html "Coronavirus: How American Business Have Adapted to the New Normal")

Business owners have had to become more agile and innovative during the pandemic, around [70% report changing their business](https://www.financedigest.com/local-government-business-support-getting-worse-report-shows-as-70-of-uk-firms-say-its-not-good-enough.html "Local government business support getting worse, report shows, as 70% of UK firms say it’s not good enough") models. Public-facing businesses – like hospitality – have been [hit hardest](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-divide-hits-rural-black-americans-hardest.html "‘Digital divide’ hits rural Black Americans hardest"). Some pivoted into home deliveries while almost all [faced the logistical challenge](https://www.financedigest.com/overcoming-challenges-faced-by-women-in-business.html "Overcoming challenges faced by women in business") of creating space for social distancing when they could open.

While extremely challenging for [business owners](https://www.financedigest.com/small-business-owners-are-highly-optimistic-about-2017.html "Small Business Owners Are Highly Optimistic About 2017 "), it’s improved the customer journey for many, with the use of smartphone apps to book tables, order, and pay, making the process more convenient and predictable..

For office workers, [remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-protect-your-employees-mental-health-while-remote-working.html "How to protect your employees’ mental health while remote working") became the only way to work, with many employers urgently re-thinking digital infrastructure investment to keep colleagues connected and collaborating while offices were shut. This is evidenced in the continued success of IT, communication and technology [companies since April last](https://www.financedigest.com/the-last-mile-of-statutory-reporting-is-absolutely-crucial-heres-how-one-global-company-does-it-with-onesource.html "The last mile of statutory reporting is absolutely crucial. Here’s how one global company does it with ONESOURCE") year.

Digital adoption was an almost ubiquitous [trend across the globe last year with more than half of executive reporting that they are investing](https://www.financedigest.com/top-5-investment-trends-to-watch-this-summer.html "Top 5 Investment Trends to Watch this Summer") in technology for competitive advantage, saying that digital adoption – forced upon them by the pandemic – was an easier change than they imagined previously.

**Flexibility for workers**

With workers picking up their jobs from home, the [future world of work](https://www.financedigest.com/meetings-in-the-metaverse-how-likely-is-this-the-future-of-work.html "Meetings in the metaverse – how likely is this the future of work?") looks very different. Many international companies have, for some time, cut down on [travel expenditure by adopting new technologies](https://www.financedigest.com/contactless-technology-a-revolution-in-travel.html "Contactless Technology: A Revolution in Travel") like video conferencing.

Before the pandemic, wholly flexible distance working was part of the ‘work-perk’ arsenal of ‘disrupters’ and newer companies looking to [attract a younger](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-lenders-can-attract-the-younger-generations.html "5 Ways Lenders Can Attract The Younger Generations"), cheaper generation of workers.

But with wholesale adoption of distance working, families have [reaped the benefits](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-tourism-sector-already-reaping-the-benefits-of-brexit.html "UK TOURISM SECTOR ALREADY REAPING THE BENEFITS OF BREXIT") of having more time at home – and less money spent commuting.

As the economy picks up and [companies start hiring, companies that decide to row back their flexible working](https://www.financedigest.com/spain-offers-to-pay-companies-testing-a-4-day-work-week.html "Spain offers to pay companies testing a 4-day work week") policies could find themselves at a competitive disadvantage in the recruitment space.

When you consider that 77% of [workers would now prefer a mix of face-to-face and remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-5-uk-workers-believe-there-is-a-gender-divide-with-work-uniforms.html " 1 in 5 UK workers believe there is a gender divide with work uniforms"), coupled with the potential cost savings of downsizing an office, it seems a fairly obvious choice for business owners post-pandemic.

**[Personal financial](https://www.financedigest.com/best-guide-to-build-a-personal-financial-plan.html "Best Guide to Build a Personal Financial Plan") wellbeing**

For many, the [challenges of the pandemic have brought issues of business](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-overcome-the-challenges-faced-by-women-in-business-4.html "How to overcome the challenges faced by women in business") protection front-of-mind.

[Entrepreneurs are often so busy running their businesses that they miss out key](https://www.financedigest.com/hiring-smart-is-the-key-to-success-for-entrepreneurs-heres-how-you-do-it.html "“Hiring Smart” is the key to success for entrepreneurs. Here’s how you do it.") business protection elements.

At a time when so much of the world stood still, it also gave people a chance to look more closely at their own personal [legacy and future planning](https://www.financedigest.com/why-a-will-is-not-enough-estate-planning-and-your-legacy.html "Why a Will Is Not Enough: Estate Planning and Your Legacy"). Issues as wide-ranging as inheritance tax, pensions, power of attorney, and legacy planning can be easily resolved and give peace of mind to those whose [focus has shifted onto their own future](https://www.financedigest.com/future-focus-four-trends-reshaping-financial-services.html "Future focus: four trends reshaping financial services") wellbeing.


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