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​What is Coeliac Disease​The official definition of Coeliac Disease from the NHS and Coeliac UK is:​Coeliac disease is a serious illness where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when you eat gluten. This causes damage to the lining of the gut and means the body can’t properly absorb nutrients from food.​Coeliac disease is not an allergy or food intolerance, it is an autoimmune disease caused by a reaction of the immune system to gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.​Research has found that people with the condition have genes which mean they may develop coeliac disease but we don’t yet know why. It is important to understand that people with untreated coeliac disease will most likely be experiencing problems from additional ailments which can be caused by a lack of crucial nutrients your body needs to keep you healthy.​Coeliac disease is common and affects one in a 100 people, meaning hundreds of thousands in the UK have coeliac disease. But there are half a million who don’t know it and may still be struggling with unexplained symptoms. If a first degree family member (such as mother, father, sister or brother) has the condition then the chances of having it increase to one in 10.​Could you be one of them?​Here is a story from a 24 year female who after years of suffering from the age of 12 was finally diagnosed with the disease in 2015:​"I was diagnosed being coeliac in 2015 after experiencing extreme fatigue, which at the time I knew wasn’t right for being a young and healthy teenager. Following a referral from the GP, further investigations had begun at which point my blood levels were displaying an abnormality in my TTG levels (t-Transglutaminase).​I was referred for a biopsy for coeliac diagnosis. Since the diagnosis, I have had to alter my diet to be gluten free which was a big challenge. I gave myself a target to become gluten free on a set date prior to a group session discussing what can and can’t be included within the new diet. To anybody who is coeliac, it is worthwhile visiting a dietician as some of the foods that I thought were gluten free, were in-fact not, such as, sausages, meatballs and burgers. Although they are meat products, they are filled out with wheat which goes against a coeliac diet.​At the very beginning of my diagnosis, gluten free product variety was limited however as the years have progressed and the awareness of the disease has increased, there is a wider selection of gluten free alternatives to the common known brands.​Even though I have a greater understanding of what coeliac does to my body, I can’t not be vigilant in my surroundings, for example sharing of any cutlery or sharing grocery items such as butter. If a family member or a work colleague before me has used a piece of cutlery and spread the butter on wheat bread, and then gone back to the butter for more, traces of gluten are then contaminating the product which will then trigger my symptoms. I didn’t think that being diagnosed with this condition it would go as far as being so meticulous.​Mentally, it is challenging enough to keep to the strict diet especially because all I knew up to 2015 was eating what I loved and then ultimately from that year I had to do a U-turn. Fatigue can be particularly challenging, even when following a strict diet, there are days where I could feel like falling asleep and have no energy at all. This makes daily life a little harder and my work life balance can be affected by the disease.".​Coeliac Disease in Children​​Coeliac disease affects one in 100 children in the UKMost children are undiagnosed and don’t get diagnosed until later in lifeSymptoms include diarrhoea, constipation and or other gut symptoms, growth or change in growth pattern, irritability and a bloated tummyIn undiagnosed, untreated coeliac disease there is a greater risk of complications including impaired weight gain and growth problems, delayed puberty, iron deficiency anaemia, chronic fatigue and osteoporosisA gluten free diet should only be given once a child is formally diagnosed with coeliac disease by a healthcare professional.The first step in diagnosis is to discuss your concerns with your child’s GP or you can take an online assessment by visiting the Coeliac UK website.​You can print these results and take these to a doctor to help with your conversation.​Mental Health​A wide range of psychological problems can arise for those with untreated coeliac disease. Initially there may be misdiagnosis of psychiatric illness due to some of the neurological and psychiatric symptoms that can be seen if untreated. Once diagnosed, there may be difficulty adjusting to a new diagnosis of chronic illness and adherence to a gluten free diet. In patients with coeliac disease, a 10-22% increased risk of neurological disorders is reported.​The most common are:​Mood changesAnxietyFatigueDifficulties with concentration and attentionDecreased appetite.For further information on Coeliac Disease, access the following links:​Online assessment: Coeliac UKor call 0333 332 2033General information: Coeliac UKMental Health:Mental Health | Celiac Disease FoundationTreatment: Coeliac disease - Treatment - NHS

Recruitment and Workforce Management specialist Ganymede has announced the official opening of its new offices at 2 Eastbourne Terrace, Paddington, London​Operations Director, Chris O’Connor explains: “Our London team performance pre-COVID was one of repeat success with year on year growth, so we have all been eager to return to the office environment. Many of our key customers are located in London, so the benefit of being ‘on hand’ is clear.​“It was important for us to have a workspace where the London team can collaborate and share ideas and where colleagues from elsewhere can hot desk when in town. We are also excitedly looking ahead at our future order book and it is clear to see that the London team is really set to grow.”​​​Previously based in Kings Cross, the new modern office’s central location allows the Ganymede team to service key clients in the Rail, Highways, Civils, Transportation and EV sectors and is a great location to meet with new clients as we continue to grow during the economic recovery.​Lindsay Warren, Client Relationship Manager (EV and Transportation) explains the importance of such a central location: “Being back in Central London gives us real flexibility to attend meetings at short notice pretty much anywhere in the UK and we are obviously within easy reach of all our London clients.​“The office is fantastic for meeting clients and candidates alike with plenty of meeting rooms and comfortable spaces as well as a rooftop terrace. Every member of the team is keen to get back to face to face meetings.”​To contact the Paddington team and discuss your requirements contact 07788 369 050 or email lindsay.warren@ganymedesolutions.co.uk​Article published on Rail Business Daily, August 2021.

​​​​​The Summer edition of Safety First, Ganymede’s quarterly safety newsletter is now available to read.​In this edition we focus on:​Lessons LearnedNear miss at Creswell Station​SafetyReduction in Open Line Working – Taking Line BlockagesClose Call winnerClose Call reportingGanymede's Mental Health First Aiders​CSR and SustainabilitySupporting the Samaritans - 72 hole Golf ChallengeWorld Environment DayPPE & Workwear Recycling​HealthIndustrial DeafnessSeasonal Safety Tips - UV Safety​DrivingDriving whilst tiredClose Call Winners​Read the Summer 2021 Safety First Newsletter here​As always, we trust you will find the newsletter useful and engaging. If you have any questions or feedback after reading this edition of Safety First, please don't hesitate to get in touch using the form below. ​

​The Importance of Exercise​Around one in four people suffer from general fatigue not associated with a serious medical condition. When a person is fatigued, the last thing they want to do is exercise. But new research shows that regular, low-intensity exercise may help boost energy levels in people suffering from fatigue.​Why exercise helps fatigue isn’t clear, but recent scientific findings suggest exercise acts directly on the central nervous system to increase energy and reduce fatigue. Notably, the improvements in energy and fatigue were not related to increases in aerobic fitness.​A lot of people are overworked and not sleeping enough. Exercise is a way for people to feel more energetic. There’s a scientific basis for it, and there are advantages to it, compared to things like caffeine and energy drinks.​​Exercises to help fight fatigue​Aerobic exercise: This type of exercise is the most obvious energy-producer. Plus it's heart-healthy, helps your lungs function more efficiently and increases overall energy.​Resistance exercise: Also referred to as strength training, resistance exercise builds muscle mass and boosts your metabolism, which in turn increases energy. Strength training also reduces blood sugar. Muscle mass stores excess blood sugar in the form of glycogen. We lose muscle mass as we age, which means we lose some of our capacity to store glucose. Too much glucose in the blood can lead to diabetes. As you build up muscle, you decrease the amount of glucose in the blood.​Flexibility exercise: Exercises such as yoga and tai chi are stress relievers - and we all know that stress is an energy sapper. The practice of flexibility exercise helps people to restore their levels of energy, to enhance stamina, relieve anxiety, and reduce fatigue. It gives you a sense of peace, which then allows you to sleep, which in turn gives you energy. People who are more flexible also sustain fewer injuries​Exercises that help: ​RunningLow to moderate intensity walkingYogaCyclingBoxingPilatesTai ChiSwimmingIf you have any questions regarding the topics covered in our Fatigue series, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our HSEQ team on 0333 011 2048 who will offer you support and guidance.

Eat for Alertness ​Cravings, hunger, and overeating result from skipping meals or not eating on a schedule. This kind of eating leads to peaks and lows in your energy levels.​Take the time to stop for breaks and do your best to eat your meals and snacks at the same time every day or night.​Besides eating regularly, you should try to eat foods that release energy slowly, choose foods carefully to keep up your energy at work.​If you want more energy, look at your diet and make sure you're following these basic guidelines:​​Drink lots of water - Dehydration can lead to fatigue.Be careful with caffeine - One or two caffeinated drinks per day like coffee or tea can boost your energy and mental alertness, but more than six caffeinated drinks per day may make you anxious, irritable, and negatively affect your performance. Eat breakfast - Food boosts your metabolism and gives your body energy to burn. Choose a complex-carbohydrate breakfast like porridge or whole grain bread. Don't skip meals - Going without food for too long allows blood sugar levels to dip. Try to eat regularly to maintain your energy levels throughout the day. Don't crash diet - Low calorie diets or diets that severely restrict carbohydrates don't contain enough energy for your body's needs. The typical crash diet also deprives the body of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Eat a healthy diet - Increase the amount of fruit, vegetables, whole grain foods, low fat dairy products and lean protein in your diet. Reduce the amount of high fat, high sugar, and high salt foods. Eat iron rich foods - Women, in particular, are prone to iron-deficiency (anaemia). Make sure your diet includes iron rich foods such as lean meat, fish, and greens.​If you have any questions regarding the topics covered in our Fatigue series, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our HSEQ team on 0333 011 2048 who will offer you support and guidance.

I speak to a lot of people daily who are not sure if a role in recruitment is right for them. Most of these people have either had a bad experience in a recruitment/sales role themselves or know someone else in their network who has. However, the sector has progressed enormously in recent times; Consultancies have recognised the need to conduct good business to create solid relationships with both clients and candidates and the importance of providing long-lasting, rewarding careers for their own employees. ​When I joined the recruitment industry, I had my own concerns. Although I had done internal recruitment in a retail setting, I was nervous about stepping into the unknown. I had a few friends who worked in recruitment and through them was aware of the highs and lows that a Recruitment Consultant can experience, particularly in their first twelve months in post. That said, through my research I felt as though the positives outweighed the negatives and despite experiencing some lows, I still feel this way now. ​A Recruitment Consultant learns – quickly – how to work under pressure; you are given targets and with support, you are expected to hit them. Yes, it can sometimes mean that you have a stressful day; it is unlikely that everything will go your way all the time, but it also means you can easily measure your performance. It is clear which areas you are performing well in and which you need to improve on/invest more time in. ​This transparency is not something that a lot of careers offer, and it gives you the opportunity to pinpoint those areas of development and work on them yourself – and with your Manager/Team – meaning your job performance will visibly improve. As your performance improves you will be able to progress at a speed that just isn’t available in a lot of other sectors, as any reputable recruitment business will have a clear route of progression and development available for you to follow. ​A career in recruitment can also offer a lot of stability. Within Ganymede and ATA Recruitment I have many colleagues that have been with us for over 5, 10, 15, even 20 years. While the economy has suffered at different points over the years and their remit may have changed to reflect this, ultimately the need to hire has never gone away. Once you have built positive relationships with candidates and clients, they will continue to use your services throughout their careers, ultimately strengthening your position within the marketplace and offering you continued success throughout yours. ​Working in recruitment has benefitted me in many ways. I have become a lot more confident in both my professional and personal life; having to speak to and work with such a variety of people means that I am now comfortable in pretty much any social situation. This surge in confidence in turn made me better at my job, meaning that I was performing at a higher standard and ultimately being more successful which meant that - unlike in other careers - I was being rewarded for my success. The recruitment industry (and the sales industry as a whole) is extremely meritocratic. If you perform well, you will benefit personally. I had had jobs before in which I felt like I was working harder than some of the people around me but earning the same salary. This is not the case in a recruitment career - those willing to push themselves the extra mile will reap the rewards of this. ​Please feel free to get in touch today for an open and honest conversation, I would be more than happy to discuss any concerns you may have, listen to your career goals and aspirations and discuss whether a recruitment career would be right for you. Ganymede & ATA Recruitment are both actively recruiting now in the East Midlands and London. Alongside a great basic salary, we have a market-leading commission scheme and many benefits including an agile working policy. ​Find out more about a career with Ganymede and ATA today. Send your CV to rachael.bailey-frost@ganymedesolutions.co.uk or contact me on LinkedIn today.