December 29, 2011
Filed under: Business Tools — Alan @ 12:08 pm
Whenever you turn out the lights of your hotel room or apartment, or get into a lift to your office, you automatically assume that you are going to come out again alive. Our peace of mind and safety is firmly based on the assumption that buildings are safe and that the correct maintenance has taken place to make sure they stay that way.
The law requires public buildings be constructed and maintained so if the worst comes to the worst and a fire breaks out, the exit routes are kept open, flames and smoke can’t travel unchecked and so that firemen can tackle the fire and get out again without serious injury or losing their life. We also all assume that this law is being strictly complied with.
The plain fact is that these assumptions are wholly unjustified. Even though we seem to live in a world that is obsessed with health and safety, when it comes to putting it into practice we care very little about compliance and policing and basically uninterested in making sure that fire safety is of paramount importance in public buildings.
This may seem blunt but the recent evidence clearly shows that we, as a nation, ignore much of the legislation. It’s open to debate whether this is due to laziness, ignorance, economy, incompetence or purely due to a misguided belief that it is somebody else’s responsibility.
As increasing numbers of prosecutions are brought for breaches of the 2005 regulations it’s becoming obvious it’s not safe to assume anything when it comes to built-in fire protection. It seems that there has to be a disaster – either death or large-scale destruction – before we wake up to reality. The cases detailed below are just the tip of the iceberg – if large scale and prestigious companies, or local authorities and even Government departments are getting it wrong, it’s likely numerous smaller ones are making the same mistakes.
Sometimes it’s just buildings which are lost – traumatic and devastating as that is – and sometimes it’s lives. The Government is convinced that current legislation is sufficient and appropriate, (and the fire safety industry agrees) but compliance and policing of the law are inadequate. The issues must be faced before more lives are lost and businesses destroyed.
These cases are not exceptions
It would be naïve to think that these cases are unusual – they are simply the ones who have been caught. It’s frightening to think how many other Lakanal Houses or Pacific Wharfs there might be around the country. It seems that it takes death or destruction to make people pay attention to built-in fire safety – faced with the effects of fire, it suddenly becomes important to check that fire safety measures do in fact exist. In the past, miners took canaries down the mines as early warning of dangerous gas. If the canary died the miner didn’t continue. The cases mentioned are like those canaries, indications that all is not well. No-one imagines that these are isolated cases – more likely the tip of the iceberg. It’s time for everyone concerned in the construction and maintenance of buildings to take responsibility and not assume anything. Better to be over-particular than to be the next dead canary.
The answer?
Problems have arisen from the extended chain of design, specification, purchase, assembly and installation – i.e. the steps leading to construction, each allowing a dilution of the original safety specification– and with the rather lax process of scrutiny and approval by the authorities because of clouded responsibilities and overworked resources The authorities responsible for approval are exposed to commercial pressures and market forces – perhaps not a good idea when public safety and public assets are at stake.
No one is claiming to have all the answers, but the core fire safety protection industry (genuinely qualified experts rather than self-appointed gurus), has already raised concerns and has come forward with a number of solutions that should be applied, including the use of third party certified manufacturers and installers
David Sugden, Chairman of the PFPF, is available for interview (contact details below).
The PFPF website (www.pfpf.org) can provide further information and guidance.
Recent cases which illustrate some concerns Trebor Bassett Holdings Ltd & Anor v ADT Fire and Security PLC
• Judgement in a court case brought after a fire which destroyed the Trebor Bassett/Cadbury factory in Pontefract was that Trebor Bassett should be compensated by the fire suppression system company, but reduced the damages payable from £110m to £25m because the confectionery company had negligently contributed to the loss by failing to provide adequate fire separation and a sprinkler system.
• Trebor Bassett (part of the Cadbury Group at the time), a prestigious company often held up as an example of excellent management, in fact had a completely chaotic approach to fire safety; incorrect assumptions were made at every level about compartmentation, what to do in case of fire, who was responsible for fire safety and the fire safety risk assessment, what fire suppression was in place, how to operate it and what it was expected to do.
• Departments within the company had no clear knowledge of their responsibilities.
• The operatives in the area where the fire started had no formal training or procedures to follow when faced with a fire.
• No-one compared the as-built plans with the requirements of the fire suppression system at the centre of the case.
• Nominated fire safety ‘experts’ attracted severe criticism from the judge by their failure to agree amongst themselves and to be as definitive and authoritative as they should be.
Lakanal House
• 6 people died when fire spread through the apartment block in June 2009.
• Fire broke out several floors above the source of the blaze, trapping and killing people who should have been safe if the compartmentation had been intact.
• Local authorities were forced to examine similar buildings and remedy the breaches in fire safety, at cost of millions of pounds.
• The criminal investigation into the fire is now (October 2011) at an ‘advanced stage’, according to the Metropolitan Police. They are still considering whether anyone should face criminal charges.
Pacific Wharf
• The luxury apartment block was found to have little or no built-in fire protection, despite the construction being passed by the building control inspector from the NHBC.
• The inadequate fire safety was discovered only by chance when investigations into a leaking roof led to a close inspection of the construction –.
• The whole building was a potential fire deathtrap. Individual flats were not separated by correctly constructed connecting party walls, while shafts ran from one apartment to another, acting as chimneys which would allow smoke to spread, affecting people nowhere near the source of the fire.
Eland House, Westminster HQ of the Department for Communities and Local Government
• Following a risk assessment in 2010 the building was found to be in breach of the latest fire safety legislation.
• Problems included: a faulty alarm system, emergency exits which would not open easily, poorly maintained smoke vents and no fire marshal being appointed.
• A risk assessment in May 2011 by a different external specialist identified further items for action and additional recommendations, which the department has addressed. 5 of the recommended 22 actions remain outstanding
• This is the department responsible for fire safety legislation in England and Wales. If they can’t get it right, who can?
London Borough Housing
A London Borough ordered new front doors for its social housing estates. Because substitutions had been made in the door hardware – specifically in the letterboxes – the fire resistance capability of the doors was seriously compromised. An official said at the time “Since the tragedy at Lakanal House London councillors have become very aware of the issues involved in fire safety. From my own experience I have seen how difficult it can be to match the fire tested, certified product with what is actually fitted. There are so many points at which the specification can be changed – the supplier substitutes what he believes to be a similar component, or the contractor uses an unqualified installer or, I’m sorry to say, someone along the line thinks they can get away with supplying an inferior product. My experience was with a visible fitting. I have to wonder what is happening with those elements which aren’t immediately obvious such as compartment walls or conduits for cables and pipes. Is the sealing adequate? Is the original installation still intact? It is an issue of great concern to us all.”
December 22, 2011
Filed under: Business Finance — admin @ 3:21 pm
With the huge variety of savings and investment vehicles out there, how does one go about choosing the best option? Today’s markets are more volatile than ever, and investors can easily be spooked by the huge swings in stocks, bonds, and other types of investments. Yet people need a safe, secure place to store some money for an emergency fund or to save for a large purchase like a house down payment, a vehicle, or for schooling. This is where the trusty savings account or high yield savings account comes into play.
Savings accounts are not glamorous. They are the Steady Eddie of investments, paying a consistent rate of return and offering you instant -or almost instant – access to your funds in exchange. Many accounts offer instant access, which can be good or bad, depending on the type of person you are. If you have a tendency to spend money the minute you get it, or if you tend to take money out of your account if it’s too easily accessible, you might want to opt for an account that makes you jump through some hoops to get at the money. Let’s look at the account types in more detail.
An Easy Access account provides just what it says – easy access. As noted above, this has the advantage of providing cash to you, when needed, with no penalty and often no fees. Some high yield savings accounts have minimum investments of £500 to £1,000 or even more, so knowing how much you have available for the initial deposit will help you narrow the account types. Definitely look for an easy access account with no fees. Fees can eliminate any interest you earn on these accounts, making it much harder to build a higher balance.
Notice savings accounts may pay a slightly higher interest rate, but their main attraction for many people is that you can’t access your funds immediately. You must give notice to the bank a designated period of time before your funds are freed up for withdrawal. That time period may be as short as seven days or as long as 90 days; the longer the notice period, the higher the interest rate, typically.
A ‘regular’ savings account is often used to attract new customers. In return for depositing a set amount of money every month and taking no withdrawals during the introductory time period (typically a year), the bank agrees to pay you a higher rate than on an easy access or notice account.
Lastly, a cash Individual Savings Account or ISA works just like a building society savings account except you don’t pay tax on the interest earned. There are limits to how much you can deposit each year, and fees and charges can vary. Obviously you’ll want to look for the account with the highest interest and lowest fees.
By evaluating the purpose of your savings and your own habits, you’ll be able to identify the most appropriate savings account for your needs.
Article for Discoverbank.com
December 21, 2011
Filed under: Business Finance — Alan @ 11:55 am
A new scheme has been implemented to improve the borrowing environment for small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. Many small businesses in the UK are finding that because of the economic recession they are being refused loan applications. This scheme allows them to reapply for a loan after being refused for the first time. There have already been over 1000 appeals by SMEs and nearly 40% of the original decisions were overturned.
The Federation of Small Business have said that the scheme is not doing enough and that most of the companies reapplying for a loan do not represent the majority of small businesses struggling to find a loan.
Russel Griggs is responsible for the external review of the scheme and he has recently commented, “We have been very pleased with the successful initiation of the scheme, especially the response we have had from banks which has been very positive.
When people appeal their case, the loan application is looked at by a higher level in the bank and another decision is made on whether a loan should be offered. Generally, this is because during the appeal more questions are asked and a deeper exploration of why the loan is needed is conducted.”
The initial project was launched late last year and involved several of the major lenders in the UK. It is one of nearly 20 measures that the Department for Business have set out to improve the lending situation for small companies in the country.
The initial green paper which sparked the changes claims that there was a major problem in communication between banks and small businesses as the banks had claimed they were being approached about the loans that the small businesses said they were being offered.
Professor Griggs continued, “There was a lot of reckless lending going on before 2008 and banks were very eager to give out loans. However, in 2008 that all changed and banks become much stricter on their lending, and their confidence disappeared overnight. Small businesses should also understand that the situation has changed for the banks as well so loans aren’t as available as they were before.”
Filed under: Business Finance — Alan @ 5:36 am
A company in Wales has recently secured a deal with the Sany Group, a giant Chinese manufacturing company. The agreement is going to bring 20 jobs to west Wales and the deal will involve many types of heavy machinery created by the company being brought to the UK. The news has just come ahead of economic and trading talks that are due to take place between China and the United Kingdom in Cardiff this week.
Speakers at the event include the business secretary Vince Cable and Lord Green. The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, will also be at the event. The conference is going to be about discussing co-operation between small enterprises in both China and the UK and about the different investment opportunities that exist between the two countries.
It is expected that around 40 representatives from Chinese companies will be at the event, including representatives from the Sany Group. Edwina Hart is the business minister in Wales and she has recently commented, “For a small company in Wales to sign such a big contract with such a big manufacturing giant in China is very impressive and a significant achievement for them.
China is a great source of trading opportunities for companies in Wales and it is great to hear that Tramor is a part of this growing relationship.” The Sany Group is the largest manufacturer in the world of concrete machinery and it employs 70,000 people around the globe.
The president of the Heavy Industry Group, a division of Sany, is Xiang Wenbo, and he has said, “Customers from different regions have different requirements and we are all about providing what our partners need in the area they are from. We have a great focus on localisation and it is a very important part of our business operation.”
The director of Tramor is John Lewis who has said, “This is a very good move for the UK construction industry and we hope that is has a positive economic impact on Wales.” Mr Lewis said they managed to secure the contract by heading to China and asking the company personally whether they wanted to do business.
Mr Lewis added, “We thought that there might be a need for another brand of machinery in the UK and we did a lot of research into different companies. Sany quickly became a very good choice for us as it was capable of supplying the equipment that we needed. The company also has an excellent level of workmanship and attention to detail. The quality of the work is actually something I’ve never seen before in my 30 years in this industry.”
It is expected that the first batch of machinery is going to arrive early next year and there will be an official launch run jointly by both companies around this time. People in Wales are expecting that it will bring a great deal of investment to the country as many people will be seeking the products supplied by Sany through Tramor.
December 16, 2011
Filed under: Business equipment — admin @ 4:51 pm
When purchasing new paper shredders for your office space, choosing the highest quality shredder, which can handle the heaviest work load, is highly important. If you and your business deal with important documents that contain clients’ information, names, addresses and other personal details then a paper shredder sis the only way to keep this information safe.
When using a paper shredder you can be rest assured that all the information is going to be destroyed safely. This will ensure that personal information will not fall into the wrong hands, protecting both your customers and the reputation of your business.
Comparing shredders
If you are looking to purchaser new paper shredders for your office, comparing various shredders will ensure that you choose the right one. You will want to compare how much work load they can handle by looking at how many sheets they are able to shred at once as well as how finely they can shred documents. The type of paper and materials that the shredder can handle should also be investigated.
You should also consider looking at shredders which are capable of handling tougher materials such as hard plastics or laminated forms and documents. The more powerful a shredder is, the more likely it is that it is going to be able to handle any job that you have for it.
When comparing paper shredders you will find models from several brands. You should take the time to read reviews about the shredders you are considering buying in order to ensure you find those that consumers find to be most effective. The better the reviews, the better the shredder. Always make sure you compare a number of shredders as the more shredders you compare, the better the chances that you will find the best one for you.
Comparing sizes
You should also consider industrial paper shredders versus smaller office shredders when making your choice. Where the shredder will be put to use and how often it will be used will determine what size it needs to be.
If you are unlikely to have a large quantity of documents to shred than an industrial shredder will not be a good use of your money. Instead, a smaller shredder will be able to do the job just as well and will ensure that you invest your money wisely. Shredders are available in a vast selection of styles and sizes, especially in the UK. Shredders are therefore a diverse product and provide consumers with a number of different aspects to consider.
Comparing cuts
The last thing that you should compare when purchasing a shredder is the type of cut that you get is over the type of cut. The cross-cut or confetti shredder is often considered to be the best as it produces small, square pieces of paper to provide ultimate security.
However, ribbon cut shredders are also available and cut paper into long, thin strips. These can still ensure data protection is provided and can therefore be useful in homes and offices.
December 15, 2011
Filed under: Small Business News — Alan @ 8:26 am
Lisa Henshaw is from Fourth Day, a company that promotes social responsibility in businesses and she has recently said, “There is a common misconception in the business world but in order to have a corporate social responsibility, or CSR, programme then a business needs to be large and have a significant budget. However, this is not the case and small companies can have a program beneficial to interests outside their own.”
In the UK there are around 5 million small to medium-sized enterprises and they are responsible for employing over half of the people in the country. Ms Henshaw has said, “It is important that we encourage small businesses to get involved with CSR and start setting themselves long-term goals and starting responsibility programmes. It might seem daunting at first, especially as small businesses tend to have limited resources but with a little effort a program can be launched.”
It is important that businesses do not see a CSR programme at just a way to spend the company’s money without increasing profits. Instead, a CSR programme should be seen as an investment in a business. Many CSR initiatives will mean that the business gets involved with the local community and this can increase the number of business opportunities open to them. It is also a great opportunity to network and if you are attending a charity fundraiser the chances are there will be several business heavy hitters at the event.
Business executives often take the role of the trustee in a charity in their own time or after they have retired so this can be a good opportunity to find people useful to you. Advertising your CSR programme to your clients and customers can also give you an edge over the competition as many people like the idea that your business is ethical.
In larger corporations, there will be people employed specifically to do CSR but this is something small businesses probably can’t afford. It is still important however to find a champion within your business who can promote a responsibility program. It is important that this person is passionate about it so be careful when you choose them.
In order for your responsibility program to succeed it is important to set goals so that your program is focused and makes sense to the type of business you are operating. Different businesses will be interested in different things to make sure that your initiative is something that you feel passionate about. Your program should also be related to your business, so consider the typical things that you could do to be more responsible, for example, if you’re in the transport business then think about how you can reduce your carbon footprint.
Without the human resources of a large company establishing, and keeping running, a CSR programme can seem like an overwhelming challenge. Fortunately though there are a great many organisations out there who can help you establish a program. Look to the local community organisations that link local businesses with the community and see how you can get involved with them.
As with any business objectives it is important to measure how successful you are being and when you achieve your goals you must celebrate. Ellie Thouret has experience in setting up a CSR programme at a small business and has commented, “We found that our employees love being involved with our responsibility program and they would come back to the office and tell colleagues about what a great time they were having. This would have the effect of getting other people involved in the programme and it has become a great success.”
December 13, 2011
Filed under: Business Tools — Alan @ 2:41 pm
As we all prepare for the big freeze to hit us, it is pretty easy to both minimise the effect your business has on the environment and demonstrate the ethos of your company to your employees and the local community.
As the colder weather approaches, biodiversity experts have warned that in isn’t just residents and homeowners who should be helping our wildlife to survive the drop in temperatures, factories and offices should also be playing a major part in maintaining the biodiversity in their local area.
A team of sustainability experts from AB Sustain have issued some top tips for factory and office sites to help ensure that they help small animals and bird to get through the long, cold winter months that are almost upon us.
- Put out bird food in harsh weather on the land around your site. A selection of shelled peanuts, sunflower hearts, fat balls and niger seeds will feed many species
- Do not forget ground-feeding species that will be unwilling to use feeders (blackbirds, dunnocks, etc). Sprinkle some sunflower hearts on the ground for them
- Old fruit left over from meetings or lunchtimes will be ideal for several members of the thrush family, such as blackbirds, redwings and fieldfares
- Keep any ponds, fountains or other bodies of water on your site from freezing by floating a rubber ball in the water. This will reduce ice formation, as the wind blows it around
- Shallow containers of water can provide baths but need regular replacement, as they freeze
- Do not tidy up your grounds too well. Piles of leaves, plant stems and compost heaps all play host to wildlife. Consider setting aside an area of land on your site to encourage greater biodiversity
- If you find hibernating animals (e.g. hedgehogs in piles of leaves) anywhere on your site, leave them undisturbed.
Johanna Buitelaar Warden, head of business development at AB Sustain, says: “There are lots of reasons why very cold or even freezing weather can be a big problem for the wildlife around your business. For example, freezing weather reduces availability of water – a problem for birds, which need water to drink and to bathe in, to maintain feather condition. Snow cover can also cause problems for birds that hunt small mammals, which continue to be active under the snow and out of sight. Barn owls were hit badly by snow over the past two winters and many starved.
“The right approach and a bit of thought can really minimise your business’s impact on the natural environment and enhance the positives. It can also demonstrate both internally and externally your company ethos, contribute to employee wellbeing and help position your brand and develop relationships with the local community.”
AB Sustain specialises in working with clients to design, develop and deliver programmes that protect the environment, without compromising key business goals. The company works with retailers and brand owners, delivering brand differentiation by designing innovative sustainability projects and programmes. A skilled team of experienced specialists can help maximise the environmental value of a business site, ranging from an office or factory to a hotel, a golf course or even hospitals and care homes.
Filed under: Business Advice — admin @ 1:24 pm
The world has become smaller, or so it seems. Places that have been out of reach for a long time can now easily be visited by plane. Unfortunately, however, we do not all speak the same language. This not only affects tourism but also international business.
In the early days, trade used to be restricted to the closest vicinity. Thanks to our modern means of transport and communication, however, it is now possible to do business with the whole world. This would all be very easy were it not for the difficulty of understanding the business partners. So many languages are spoken in the world and it is impossible for people to master each and every one of them. English is very popular and is accepted as business language. However, not everybody is able to speak English or other languages needed for doing business. This is where the translation agency comes into play.
Translation agencies, such as toptranslation.com, make trading a lot easier. Regardless what industry sector, top quality is guaranteed. A good translation agency has skilled staff and gives the customer’s needs and wishes its fullest attention. toptranslation.com strictly sticks to the deadlines and has the desire to exceed the customer’s requirements. No matter what special field a translation is needed for, a top translation agency can provide a top translator for it. No matter which language is needed, there will be a native speaker to translate it. The more languages and special fields a translation agency has to offer, the more orders it will get. Thus it is easy for business people to trade with partners all over the world. This is an essential factor for a well-functioning international economy. Business partners who are able to understand each other pave the way for healthy international relations. Good translators are the link between these partners. They help to make international business happen.
December 8, 2011
Filed under: General — Alan @ 8:47 am
Stuart Garner acquired Norton Motorcycles for just under £10 million during the financial chaos that took place in 2008. Many would regard this as one of the lucky companies to survive the financial crisis. Since that time the company has been turned into a profitable enterprise and now has an order book worth over £25 million, and it is still looking to expand.
Santander has recently launched a debt fund valued at £200 million and the company is one of the first to be granted access to this fund. The company has a already been rejected for a loan by 10 banks and the company have commented that if it were granted funding a year ago, when it first wanted it, it would have been able to double its number of staff by now.
Many people are speculating that there will be a second credit crunch which could be worse than the first and the government and banks are currently making commitments to SME’s as they are viewed as essential for a successful economic recovery.
This new fund by the Santander bank is an example of such an offering and RBS and the Lloyds group have also said that they are looking to increase the number of loans they are making to SME’s. These two banks are currently owned by the state and have been some of the largest lenders to SMEs since the financial crisis began.
Many people are expecting the economy to continue to falter over the coming year and many are expecting that even if the scheme is launched they are going to be eclipsed by the state of the economy. The head of retail banking at KPMG has recently commented, “A reduction in global bank lending is only going to be partially offset by this measure.”
December 2, 2011
Filed under: Small Business News — Alan @ 1:21 pm
The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers is headed by Adam Tyler and he has recently commented, “Our association has recently undergone a re-branding exercise and it goes to show how important we can be in helping small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK secure funding. Recent financial events have meant that it is particularly hard for small businesses to get funding and we are hoping to alleviate the situation.”
George Osborne has recently announced that credit will be eased by £40 billion in order to help the finances of small businesses. Mr Tyler has commented about the associations plans for the future saying, “We have a great many events and new initiatives planned for 2012 and we will be introducing an exam, which is backed by the government, that will raise awareness of commercial finance in people aged between 16 and 19.
“We had a great deal of success this year raising money for Breast Cancer Care and we are hoping we will have new charitable initiatives in this coming year. The dinner we held for the cancer charity raised over £6000 and was attended by over 500 people. We are very grateful to our sponsor and all those who came to the event.”
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