What do you need to know when setting up a freelance office for the first time?

Any individual who has been considering quitting the '9 to 5' to set up their own freelance office will probably need little encouragement to do so by our own accountants in Canary Wharf here at Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com). It does, after all, seem to reflect an increasing movement by many people and organisations towards more flexible ways of working. However, you will still need to be organised and disciplined to make the transition work.

The benefits of becoming a freelancer, with an experienced and capable PCG accountant by your side, are many - but it doesn't suit everyone. Those who want to be able to work more flexibly, choosing their own hours, are certainly likely to welcome becoming freelance, as are those who are sick of long train or motorway commutes. It's also very cost-effective, both in terms of the initial launch of your company and its subsequent operation. You can also enjoy your home surroundings and amenities and better accommodate the needs of the family, in addition to demonstrating to the tax authorities that you are 'in business on your own account'.

There are many aspects of freelance working, however, that people do not look forward to so much - such as the potentially increased isolation and boredom and clashes between family and business demands. You may also struggle to switch between a home and work mind-set, and family and neighbours may continually interrupt you while working. There are, though, ways of overcoming these issues that many of the clients of our accountancy services adopt. These include having a separate phone line installed for work purposes, as well as scheduling breaks and taking the time to meet and socialise with people - the latter especially important if you live alone.

Other ways in which you can ensure that your transition to home working is as successful as possible, include simply treating your work time as seriously as you would if you were working in any other office, and ensuring that anyone you share your home with understands this. The most experienced people who use our small business accountants also know the importance of a definable, permanent workspace rather than the kitchen table, and also ensure that they meet the people that they are working with occasionally, given how much more memorable personal contact is than communication via email.

Bear in mind that rules that have been in effect since 2003 mean that business rates don't normally need to be paid on a home office, subject to certain conditions. These include only using the kind of equipment that might be found in any domestic study and not employing people from the premises, among others. The Valuation Office Agency assesses the ratings and each case is considered on its merits.

Get in touch with the accountants in London of Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) for more assistance with the management of your freelance business's affairs, including advice on the tax treatment of business expenses such as home working and travelling expenses.

Editor’s Note: Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

The main points of the new employment tribunal procedural rules

Following up recent coverage by Employee Management Ltd (http://www.employeemanagement.co.uk) of commencement dates for the provisions of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, there is also news to share with HR support clients on the publication of The Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2013.

These regulations arise from Underhill LJ's (then Underhill J) fundamental review of employment tribunals last year, with the key points including further details on the workings of the tribunal fees. Recipients of HR advice should especially note that a Claim Form will be rejected by a tribunal if the fee or a remission application does not accompany it. The hearing notice sets out the due date by which the hearing fee is to be paid, and if this date is missed by the Claimant, then they will receive a letter from the tribunal giving a deadline for payment of the fee or the making of a remission application, in lieu of which there will be a dismissal of the claim without further order.

If the fee is paid or remission application made after the passing of this deadline, then there is discretion to reinstate the claim. Elsewhere in the regulations, HR services clients will also notice important changes to the rules relating to default judgements. These include the Tribunal no longer automatically issuing a default judgment if a Response has not been received by the 28-day deadline with an Employment Judge instead deciding whether the Claim can be determined from the information already provided and the extent to which the Respondent in question should be permitted to participate in any future proceedings.

There will also be an initial paper sift of all Claim Forms and Response Forms by an Employment Judge, who will check whether there is an arguable claim and defence. If the Judge does not deem there to be an arguable point, then the right exists for written submissions to be presented arguing against the dismissal of the Claim or Response.

Nomenclature and practice also see several changes, including the merger of 'case management discussions' and 'pre-hearing reviews' into 'preliminary hearings'. Employment Judges will also be given more case management powers, with specific provisions relating to ‘unless orders’ and the power even given to conduct a hearing by email.

Finally, those individuals and organisations seeking employment law advice should also note the changes to cost rules, including the power for detailed assessments of costs to be carried out by employment judges, removing the £20,000 cap.

Our employment law specialists here at Employee Management Ltd are able to advise you on the effects of these latest changes, and can even provide excellent employment tribunal representation. Visit http://www.employeemanagement.co.uk for more information.

Editor’s Note: Employee Management Ltd (http://www.employeemanagement.co.uk) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

What could you do with cartons from Simpson Packaging?

Cartons have long played a key role in the wider range of packaging materials, being simple to use, practical and sturdy. You can use them to transport or store all manner of items big or small and light or heavy... and when you need to stock up on them, it’s difficult to look past the UK’s leading suppliers of modular and specialised cartons, Simpson Packaging (http://www.simpson-packaging.co.uk).

You might not imagine at first that cartons could possibly vary to such a great extent. However, Simpson Packaging actually stocks them in many different shapes and sizes, for a range of possible applications. Our selection of modular cartons, offers the combination of strength, durability and competitive pricing that our customers require.

Manufactured from high quality double wall kraft corrugated cardboard our modular cartons can be specified in various stock sizes and are tried and tested to industry standards. They can be despatched immediately for next day nationwide delivery and feature our unique branding, which includes a dual purpose grids for use as a removal and storage carton or a standard despatch box. As these cartons conform to a modular size system, they help customers to maximise available space, while they are also compatible with our range of export shipping cartons.

The shipping cartons that we offer in our ‘S’ range are specifically designed to complement our modular cartons so that space is used optimally, and are intended for the protection of export shipments. Heavy duty ‘Toughwall’ corrugated cardboard and wire stitching are used in their manufacture for extra strength, while bespoke pallet boxes or ‘cap and sleeve’ cases can also be made to your exact specification.

Other cartons that are available at Simpson Packaging, among its many other packaging materials encompassing the likes of floor protection and paper rolls, include the Small Pack 6 carton that is ideal for packing books and crockery. When cell divider sets are added to this carton, it can also be adapted for the packing of bottles and glasses. Wardrobe cartons are available for the transportation and storage of garments in various sizes. From a single suit to multiple garments we have the appropriate wardrobe carton to meet you needs. “File Away” archive storage cartons quickly fold together without the need for tape and have long been popular for use in the office, document storage and commercial markets.

Our specialised carton range makes the packing of more obscure items far easier with Plasma TV cartons, Bike Boxes, Golf Boxes, Computer Boxes and more being available. Custom printing is available on our full range of modular cartons, shipping cartons and specialised cartons. Customers also have the option of cardboard recycling bins that are easy to assemble and ideal for your office recycling scheme and single or double wall corrugated cardboard sheet board for such purposes as layer dividing, pallet top covers and export wrapping.

When considered alongside a complete range of packaging materials including the likes of packing paper, bubble wrap, edge protectors and more, it’s clear that the Simpson Packaging (http://www.simpson-packaging.co.uk) range of cartons is entirely befitting of such leading packaging suppliers.

Editor’s Note: Simpson Packaging (http://www.simpson-packaging.co.uk) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Better structure your experiences with submodalities

Would you like to be able to see, hear or feel certain experiences of yours in a new, more positive and more productive light? Would you like to change what aspects of your past mean to you, so that you can be more motivated in your present life? Are there certain locked-in behavioural patterns of yours that you would like to break? Well in that case, you really need to know about submodalities and how they structure our experiences, which are a prominent part of Opt2xl’s (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk) NLP coaching in Birmingham.

There are five basic senses that human beings have: visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, gustatory and olfactory. For the purposes of neuro linguistic programming courses, when we talk about how someone structures their internal experience, memories, these are referred to as representational systems or modalities. So the visual representational system will consist of the pictures that you see in your mind, the auditory consists of the sounds and voices that you can recall, the kinaesthetic  your internal feelings, the gustatory the tastes and olfactory the smells. Finer distinctions can be made within these modalities. You may, for example, say that a picture is black or white, or that it is bright or dim. You could describe a sound as being loud or soft, or coming from a certain direction, while smells can be strong or light and feelings can be in various parts of the body. Called submodalities, such finer distinctions define the qualities of a person’s internal representations.

Submodalities have been known about for centuries, but weren’t always known as submodalities. With the emergence of programmes akin to our own NLP courses in Birmingham, however, various therapies arose based on changing a person’s submodalities. Research within NLP has suggested that these structural elements are generally used by the brain so that it ‘knows’ how it feels about them and what they internally signify. There is a bilateral link, with the emotions that are attached to a certain experience being affected by certain associated submodalities, while if the emotional significance changes, there can also be an effect on specific submodalities.

Many NLP change techniques are based around submodalities, with NLP training in Birmingham that makes use of them in some shape or form potentially helping people to change their diet, stop smoking, enhance motivation, change beliefs and values, address phobias and reduce stress, among many other possibilities.

Changing key submodalities to help address an undesirable behavioural response to a specific stimulus can be done with the Swish Pattern, for example, which begins with the client identifying a specific behaviour that they wish to change and the trigger image that starts the process. They can then identify a new self-image with the desired behaviour(s) that they would like in its place. The person then imagines the trigger image as a large picture in front of them with the new self image inserted as a small dark image in the lower left hand corner. The person then has the new self image explode up big and bight as the trigger image then shrinks and disappears down and to the left. The person continues this process until when they think about the stimulus all they get is the new self image which will drive the new desired behaviour. Amazingly simple and very effective.

Here at Opt2xl (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk), we have extensive expertise in advanced modalities that we can pass onto you as part of your personal and professional development journey. As an NLP practitioner in Birmingham, you can help yourself and others to banish undesired behaviour with the intelligent use of submodalities so that you and they live happier and more productive lives.

Editor’s Note: Opt2xl (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

An introduction to the world of Swift caravans

When you peruse the range of caravans for sale in Yorkshire that we offer here at Albion Caravans (http://www.albioncaravans.co.uk), you'll probably be impressed by our considerable number of represented brands, including Abbey, Ace, Bessacarr and Sprite. They're all great names in the world of caravanning, and you may have owned one or two caravans in the past bearing such nameplates... but did you know that they are all linked to one company?

That company is Swift, the British manufacturer that has long been at the forefront of the latest developments in leisure vehicles like caravans and motorhomes. As a matter of fact, as proud residents of 'God's Own County', we'd have good reason to be familiar with this company here at Albion Caravans, given that it, too, is a Yorkshire one, being based in Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire - having previously been manufacturing until 1970 on Hedon Road, Kingston upon Hull.

Swift was established in 1965, and as a result, has been well-placed to observe and react to the many changes that have taken place in the world of caravanning during the last half-century. When people come to buy cheap used caravans, they immediately trust Swift and those caravans made under its other aforementioned brands. That's because they know that Swift caravans have all of the qualities that one would want - from high build quality and luxurious interiors to functional layouts and class-leading value for money.

Whether they are new or second hand caravans, the vehicles of the Swift brand are respected across the UK and overseas, thanks to a well-earned reputation for quality and innovation. This was the case right from the start, with the first Swift caravans being based on a distinctive tri-front window design. Uniquely for the time, all of these windows opened. This design made it easy for the driver to see through to the rear of the caravan while at the wheel, something that has influenced caravan design ever since.

Of course, like any leading company, Swift has evolved considerably down the years in response to continually changing customer lifestyles, requirements and expectations. The present-day Challenger Sport, Challenger SE and Conquerer caravans continue to win acclaim for their envious specifications and trend-setting designs, incorporating features like panoramic front roof windows, Truma Combi-Boilers, Alde central heating, 20W solar panels, extensive headroom and more. 

There's also been considerable change in the brands that the company has marketed down the years. Major developments on that front have included the purchase of Abbey Caravans in 1992, Sprite Leisure in 1994, Bessacarr in 1996 and Ace Caravans in 2001. The Abbey and Ace brands were dropped in late 2008, but for those who appreciate bargain caravans for sale in West Yorkshire, they remain well-represented here at Albion Caravans (http://www.albioncaravans.co.uk). Feel free to get in touch with us about our present stock.

Editor’s Note: Albion Caravans (http://www.albioncaravans.co.uk) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Those extra details that make Sunspel luxury clothing luxurious

The Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) brand philosophy has always revolved around an exacting attention to detail, and how this translates into highly wearable, exceptional quality clothing. It was certainly the case when Thomas Hill set up the company in his own name in the Newdigate area of Nottingham in 1860, and it continued throughout the firm's years of assisting the military in major international conflicts, right through its late 20th century cult years and into its present ownership and early 21st century resurgence.

One only needs to search the Sunspel website, or even peruse the racks in any of the many prestigious physical stores and boutiques in which the brand maintains a presence, to get a sense of this attention to detail. All manner of aspects of form and fit are continually scrutinised by a skilled, experienced and passionate team back in the original Long Eaton factory. Sunspel's designers and craftsmen rarely pass up an opportunity to refine and perfect even the most treasured icon products in the light of 21st century expectations, lifestyles and technologies.

The changes that are made as part of this continual review process are never about the prevailing trend du jour, except where they make sense in the wider context of how the Sunspel brand's many national and international admirers actually live. The soundness of the judgement of Sunspel's clothing engineers can be appreciated across the generations. For example, when John Hill brought the boxer short to the UK from the US for the first time in 1947, he made it less baggy as well as more comfortable to wear, with double-turned and feldlocked seams being introduced to eliminate rough and sharp edges. Today's Sunspel boxer shorts also sport a back panel in place of the uncomfortable central seam that characterised the mens underwear Hill had first spotted in the States.

John Hill's early innovations may have left successive Sunspel designers with an easy job, given that only minor tweaks have since been made to the pattern that he established, but major and minor changes alike have all helped to give the company's present heritage clothing its considerable contemporary reputation. Also benefitting from this longstanding philosophy are the brand's classic polo shirts, which are known for their simple, iconic design bereft of the fussy additional details of rivals' reinterpretations. Buyers of Sunspel polo shirts know that they are getting a well-sorted, supremely wearable and well-engineered garment, consisting of short sleeves, a soft collar and three buttons - and that is precisely how they like it.

People know that when they shop at Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com), whether for T-shirts, polo shirts, boxer shorts, trousers, sleepwear or any of a wide range of other quality mens clothing, they receive the most genuinely luxurious everyday basics. They recognise that only a clothing purveyor with so many years behind it as Sunspel can appreciate the importance of refining, refining, refining... and refining again. 

Better than guaranteed rent, bank six months’ rent upfront with Advanced Rent

As rewarding as life as a property landlord can be, ensuring that you receive your rent on time can be extremely frustrating, not least as you may desire access to it for further investment in your portfolio. Many landlords find the cash flow that rental income provides to be unreliable, and would like to somehow guarantee their future rent. Thankfully, the innovative and unique product of Rent in Advance (http://www.advancedrent.co.uk) is designed for exactly that purpose.

Rent in Advance is more than a rent guarantee scheme, it allows landlords to access income before it is due, averting the risk of late or non-payment of rent. The ability that it gives our growing base of partner landlords to immediately bank their next 6 months' rent, continuing every 6 months, provides them with valuable peace of mind, as well as the resources that they require to much more rapidly invest in or grow their property portfolio. It is available for a fixed fee of 12.5% of annual rental income including all taxes, with no hidden costs.

Advanced Rent was established in 2011, by a team of seasoned private equity investors and residential property financiers who realised how difficult it was for many landlords to access capital for the growth of their property portfolios. These professionals, who already had a proven track record in providing residential landlords with bespoke insurance and financial products, decided to improve upon standard landlords rent insurance with Rent in Advance.

In the short period for which it has been available, this enhanced guaranteed rent product has already attracted acclaim, as shown by Advanced Rent's shortlisting as a finalist for 2012/13 in the Innovation category of the prestigious Landlord & Letting Awards. Similarly, the more direct feedback that has been received from partner landlords has been extremely positive, with many choosing to tell their friends. Such landlords may want to know about the introducer's fee that we pay for every property of their friends that we accept.

Our bespoke landlord rent insurance includes both legal expenses cover and 24/7 emergency call-out insurance, and both are included as standard with Rent in Advance.  It is a straightforward process to take advantage of. Interested landlords simply have to provide us with details of their property and incumbent or potential tenant, for a full reference and credit check. After the collection of the first month's rent, we advance you 6 months' rent less our fee. You will receive another 6 months' rent upfront, 6 months later.

For landlords that are presently struggling to access capital, there is nothing else currently available in the sector quite like Rent in Advance. We speak directly with landlords before they sign up, as part of our investment in long-standing client relationships - so we would urge interested parties to contact us, either via info@advancedrent.co.uk or by calling us on 01603 821030. Don't wait any longer to contact Advanced Rent (http://www.advancedrent.co.uk) and start receiving 6 months' rent in advance, it’s better than guaranteed rent.

Editor’s Note: Advanced Rent (http://www.advancedrent.co.uk) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Harness the power of choice with NLP

Neuro-Linguistic Programming in Birmingham (NLP) can be defined in different ways and has at its core a number of key elements, one of the most important being communication. But NLP is also about harnessing the power of choice, as people find out when they study NLP with Opt2XL, the leading providers of NLP training in Birmingham (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk/) 

Every day we make hundreds of choices, most without even realising we are doing so. The majority of choices we make can be seen as mundane, every-day choices, which appear to have little or no long-term affect on our lives. However, you may be surprised by how some, seemingly small choices can alter the journey we are on quite dramatically. Making the best choices, whether that is in how much time we spend with our loved ones, what changes we make to our diet or lifestyle, or how we interact with our work colleagues, can really be life changing. Many people believe that they don’t have enough choice in their lives. How many times have we told ourselves we can’t work our way up the ladder at work; it’s not possible to save any money; we have no choice but to work every weekend?

If NLP is, as it’s co-creator Richard Bandler puts it, “an Attitude and a Methodology leading to a Trail of Techniques”, then the mindset NLP creates and the techniques can help us all increase choice in our lives, allowing us to harness the power of choosing how we deal with situations as they arise in life. By exploring how our mind works, understanding effective communication, and in learning how we construct our experience through our cognitive processes, NLP can then model practical techniques which put the power of choice back into our hands. In this way, real and effective personal change can take place.

Helping people to create more choice in their life and ultimately to help bring about far-reaching, positive, personal change is one of the many things that attract people to becoming an NLP Practitioner. To find out information on NLP courses in Birmingham, go to the website of the experts at Opt2xl - http://www.opt2xl.co.uk/.

Editor’s Note: Opt2xl (http://www.opt2xl.co.uk/) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

An introduction to the exciting world of video games

A blog post about video games may seem a curious addition to a grandparents journal like Ask Granny (http://www.askgranny.com), at least if they are being talked about as something for the grandparent rather than the grandson. It's fair to say that video games have not always attracted the best news headlines, with much controversy surrounding the supposed glorification of violence and cruelty by certain games. However, that's for another debate - and in any case, video games need be no more controversial than films or any other popular media.

After all, if you think back to the last time you played a video game (if, indeed, you ever have done such a thing), it was probably something as innocuous as the arcade version of Sega Rally in the local amusement arcade, or even a brief go at a platform game on a relative's PlayStation. But let's get back to the basics. A PlayStation is an example of a games console, and these have been revolutionary in recent decades in bringing high-definition gaming away from the aforementioned amusement arcade, and into the home. As part of each game, along with sounds, moving images are generated and displayed on a screen, normally a television.

Such images and sounds can be manipulated with a handheld device connected to the console typically known as a controller, although you might have also used a joystick for playing various games. And really, those are the basics. You insert a given game into the console - often in disc form, with cartridges having been popular in the past and direct downloading from the Internet becoming more widespread these days. Then, it's just a case of sitting back, controller in hand, and awaiting the fun that can be produced by one of the most popular grandchildren's toys that also has a certain amount of adult appeal.

If the console that you are using is not one of the simpler ones that merely have a fixed selection of built-in games, then you will have a decent range of games to choose from - whether from your grandchild's collection, that built up by yourself, a high street shop or online. There are so many video game genres to peruse, including action games, adventure games, role-playing games, strategy games, driving games and so many more. If you are ever in doubt, simply pick up a relevant games magazine - but also bear in mind the age ratings of games that you buy, especially if they are intended as gifts for grandchildren.

Having once been the preserve of the stereotypical spotty teenager in his bedroom, video games are now a massive industry giving Hollywood something to worry about. From Pac-Man and Halo to Super Mario Bros. and Gran Turismo, there are so many instantly recognisable and iconic game titles and franchises. As an open-minded and young-at-heart reader of the Ask Granny (http://www.askgranny.com) grandparents guide, you may well fancy trying a few of them yourself! 

Editor’s Note: Ask Granny (http://www.askgranny.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

New study uncovers the freelance 'north-south divide'

As a southern-based company, Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) has accountants in Richmond, Guildford, Reading and various other areas in close vicinity to London. But have you ever wondered how the state of play differs between north and south based freelancers? Whichever part of the country or beyond you are based in, the results of a new study from the online freelancer marketplace PeoplePerHour may surprise you.

What was discovered by the research was that the north is actually outpacing the south when it comes to the freelance entrepreneurial boom, with the endeavours that people in cities like Manchester and Leeds set up also more likely to be creative ones compared to those in the south. The research encompassed some 400,000 self-employed workers, with Manchester and Liverpool topping the list of those cities experiencing the greatest rise during the last 12 months. It may shock many of the clients of our contractor accountants, in fact, that only one of the top 10 hot spots was outside northern England and Scotland.

Manchester's top ranking is thanks to a 163 per cent rise in its self-employed population over the last year, only narrowly ahead of the 162 per cent achieved by Liverpool. Plenty of small business activity in Yorkshire was also found, with Sheffield seeing a 159 per cent increase, Bradford a 143 per cent rise and Halifax a 122 per cent one. Other cities to see increases well in excess of 100 per cent included York, Darlington, Newcastle, Leeds, Dundee and Aberdeen.

Such a strong showing for northern cities can, of course, be attributed in many ways to a tougher labour market, as many of these areas are traditionally more dependent on public sector jobs, and have therefore disproportionately suffered the effects of government cuts amid the continuing economic slowdown. However, it also shows how proactive many northerners have become in response to such challenges.

We can't pretend that the south was exactly a slouch in comparison, with London's rise of 'just' 101 per cent being balanced out in part by the greater number of people living there. Nonetheless, the difference is marked, with PeoplePerHour's Xenios Thrasyvoulou stating that the results showed a British labour market "going through a fundamental change." He added that "traditional employment is unlikely to return to pre-recession levels, as increasingly businesses want a more flexible workforce" - good news for many of our contractor accountancy clients.

It's fascinating, too, to see the variations in what precisely freelancers are doing in different parts of the country. While services like legal support and general administration are most common among the southern-based users of accountants in London, more creative services - like writing, design and illustration - are more widespread among freelancers in the north. If there's a definite conclusion that can be drawn, it's that opportunities abound for self-employed workers across the country, as our established team and clients here at Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) have long known.

Editor’s Note: Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Fire safety considerations for the worker

At Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/) it’s our business to prevent fire. Our ranges of fire safety equipment and fire alarm systems are great value and, importantly, of the highest quality. There can be no compromise on fire safety, especially when buildings, assets, documentation and, tragically, sometimes people’s lives are at stake. We are here and waiting for your call, and whether you are a new customer or one of our long standing and loyal clients, you will enjoy the same level of care and customer service.

We've said time and again that if you are a landlord, business owner or manager, you are duty bound to comply with the law and you have a duty of care to your residents and staff. But increasingly staff themselves are vigilant, and we welcome the change that seems to be happening as people take more personal responsibility for the safety of others.

So, what are the key things to consider? Whilst in every business there is one person who has ultimate responsibility for fire safety, there are also fire wardens that have been conscientious enough to volunteer to help mitigate risks. And thankfully, more and more employees are asked to undergo a basic fire safety induction when they join the company. Everyone should know the nearest and safest exit route and where the fire safety equipment is. So whilst our highly trained staff are here to answer any specific questions you have, we thought it helpful to give you a basic guide on how to lessen the risk of a serious fire occurring. Here are five key considerations:

1. Knowledge is everything. Make sure you and your colleagues know where the fire extinguishers, the fire alarms and the safe exits are and learn how to use them.
2. Check your fire safety equipment. Get an expert to regularly maintain them for you because fire equipment maintenance is as important as having it in the first place.
3. Make sure your fire safety equipment isn’t obstructed. Sprinklers need at least 18 inches of free space below them to operate efficiently, fire extinguishers need space around them to be easily accessible and fire safety signage needs to be clearly visible.
4. Don’t overload wiring. In commercial premises, just like at home, the electrical systems need to be properly maintained, and sockets, junctions and loads need to be managed and safe. If in doubt call an electrician.
5. Machines. Whether you have computers and servers or industrial manufacturing equipment, all machines emit heat and it’s a major cause of fire. Make sure they are ventilated.

Those are just five of the many considerations that are essential to keep you safe at your place of work. At Triple Star Fire we have the expertise to provide fire safety solutions which will help to protect you and your colleagues further. Visit the website at http://www.triplestarfire.com/ for more information.

The truly all-encompassing nature of telemetry

Telemetry, which can be defined as a highly automated communications process by which measurements are made and other data collected at points either remote or inaccessible, before being transmitted to receiving equipment so that it can be monitored, is not a process with which many people have an everyday familiarity. Nonetheless, it is a vital process in many industries, including many beyond the obvious bounds of Oriel Systems (http://www.orielsystems.com).

An appreciation of the wider context of telemetry software and hardware and the situations and industries in which it is used helps individuals and organisations to grasp just how versatile the process can be – as well as just how much work goes into the development and refinement of a solution that is reliable, flexible, high-performing and cost-effective. Although Oriel Systems is a high technology industrial services provider with a strong track record in the water, chemical, oil and gas and printing industries, there are many more sectors in which telemetry has an instrumental role.

These include meteorology, with telemetry having been used for the transmission of meteorological data by weather balloons since 1920. It also has a role in space science, as manned or unmanned spacecraft use it to transmit their own data, over distances of more than 10 billion kilometres. Telemetry systems have also long been appreciated in agriculture, given the need for weather and soil data to be delivered in a timely fashion for most activities relating to healthy crops and good yields. This gives wireless weather stations a vital part to play in precision irrigation and the prevention of disease.

There is also a strong association between remote monitoring systems and the sporting world, and indeed, many people may be predominantly aware of it on account of its link with motor racing. In modern motor racing, telemetry is a fact of life, with race engineers using data that has been collected during a test or race to properly tune the car so that it delivers the best possible performance. So advanced have telemetry systems come in series like Formula One, that it is possible to calculate the potential lap time of the car and use it as a benchmark for the driver. During a race, such measurements as accelerations (G forces) in three axes, wheel speed, temperature readings and suspension displacement can all be made.

From defence, space and resource exploration, energy monitoring and military intelligence to resource distribution, medicine and even retail, there are so many fields in which a telemetry installation can have a major influence. Oriel Systems (http://www.orielsystems.com) takes pride in its own laser-like focus on its specialist areas of expertise, and its technical team welcomes contact for those with small or large telemetry systems and complicated or relatively simple requirements. It will ensure that all elements are incorporated into a system that delivers the best results in the context of the client firm’s resourcing and/or staffing needs and wider objectives.

Sow the seed of a different gift idea this Christmas

Why is it so many of us turn to the same old presents at Christmas time? Jumpers, socks, smellies, the latest celebrity autobiography...it’s hardly imaginative is it? Here at Seeds By Post (http://www.seedsbypost.co.uk), we may be biased but we think it’s time to sow the seed of a different gift idea this Christmas. Buy seeds online from us for gifts this festive season, not only for the existing gardening enthusiasts among your friends and family, but for anyone, regardless of their age or experience. Here are just some of the original and highly affordable gift ideas on our website:

Little Gardeners My First Mini Greenhouse As Christmas is really all about the little ones, let’s start with an ideal gift for children from the fantastic seeds for kids range ‘Little Gardeners’. The ‘My First Mini Greenhouse’ allows you to build a mini reusable greenhouse from scratch (easy enough for little fingers) in which kids can grow cress, sunflowers and even unusual Coleus from seeds. Includes plant tags, ‘magic’ compost, widger and dibber and an activity sheet which will hold their interest for months with year-round growing tips and advice. And all at great value for just £9.99. 

Roast Dinner Collection Christmas may be all about the kids, but the festive roast Turkey dinner tends to take centre stage too! With this in mind, how about the fun ‘Roast Dinner Collection’ of vegetable seeds? Included in the low price of £4.99 is five packets of vegetable seeds which have been hand-picked to accompany a whole winter’s-worth of roast dinners: Sprouting Broccoli, Savoy Cabbage, Drakar Cauliflower, Spinach Beet and – who could forget? – good old festive Brussels Sprouts. A great little stocking filler.

Herb Starter Collection Box We all know at least one person among our friends and family who loves to cook, and a great and unusual gift for the gourmet is the ‘Herb Starter Collection Box’. For just £7.99 (currently reduced from £9.99) the recipient will have everything they need to grow their very own herb garden ready for picking and popping in recipes. Herb seeds include Sweet Basil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Italian Parsley and Sage – what else could they need?

Salad Veg Collection And finally, how about inspiring some healthy New Year resolutions in this time of excess with the Salad Veg Collection, which includes 5 packets of easy to grow salad vegetable seeds: Celery Green Sleeves, Chard Bright Lights, Lettuce Little Gem, Spring Onion and Radish, currently reduced to just £4.99 for the whole collection. With a generous 100 seeds per packet, there are enough seeds to grow a great little salad garden which will contribute to some much needed healthy eating after all the festive feasting.

May we take this opportunity to wish all our shoppers of cheap seeds a very Merry Christmas and healthy and happy New Year from us here at Seeds By Post (http://www.seedsbypost.co.uk).

Editor’s Note: Seeds By Post (http://www.seedsbypost.co.uk) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.