BUSINESSES can learn a lot from bees, says a Lanarkshire-based entrepreneur who will address a global audience on the subject this month.
Warren Bader, founder of the Plan Bee beehive management business, reckons the insects and the communities they create show a range of qualities that could come in useful in business.
“Bees make decisions based on the longevity of the community, it’s not about promoting the ego of individuals,” notes Mr Bader. “That’s important for creating a solid company base.”
Mr Bader has also found one feature of the approach adopted by bees is that they will make decisions based on the long term interests of their communities rather than settle for quick fixes.
He observes: “Bees will not always go the closest pollen. They will go to the one that offers the best yield over a period of time.”
Other aspects of the communities in beehives that businesses might want to note include the importance they attach to internal communications and networking. Bees also invest heavily in research and development.
Bees in urban Canada were found to have used plastic to build hives.
Mr Bader will be spreading the word about bees at the forthcoming World Expo in Italy.
Plan Bee, which also produces honey, has been chosen to represent Scotland at the event. Expos are held every five years.
This year’s Expo in Milan will highlight the challenge of how to sustain the expected rapid growth in the world’s population.
Some 145 nations are participating in the event. The UK pavilion has been designed like a beehive.
Around 20,000 people are expected to visit the pavilion daily.
Plan Bee will collaborate with renowned chef Tom Lewis, of Monachyle Mhor hotel in Perthshire, on a range of Scottish dishes incorporating honey for demonstration in the pavilion during the event.
These include a cranachan dessert, cakes and bread.
A former advert producer from South Africa, Mr Bader founded North Lanarkshire-based Plan Bee in 2011 on the back of the campaign to battle a decline in honeybees. The insects are critical to biodiversity and estimated to be worth around £1 billion to UK agriculture.
Plan Bee leases hives to organisations across the UK.
Mr Bader said the firm had won a good response from companies, which are under increasing pressure from consumers to show they are good corporate citizens.
Its customer base includes around 125 organisations across the UK, with 50 in Scotland including the Highland Spring water business.
Mr Bader will be presenting at the Expo from 11 to 13 September. The event will run until 31 October.
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