Why the finished IYLO West Croydon will be a boon to London commuters

The world's great cities are lands of abundant opportunity, and nowhere is such opportunity more abundant than in London, the hugely cosmopolitan and bustling metropolis that not only excels, but more than excels in every field from the arts and commerce to tourism and healthcare. Every year, thousands of people make the capital their home, and with that influx, comes demand for only the highest quality - but also affordable - living quarters.

One project that long promised to provide such living accommodation, offering opulent and exciting London skyline living for a price increasingly hard to come by in the sought-after capital, was IYLO West Croydon. Central to its appeal would be the transport links of Croydon, a formidable - if unsung - area of the city in its own right.

From the fast trains to central London taking barely 13-15 minutes, to the London Tramlink light rail system and the many buses serving West Croydon bus station, Croydon certainly offers all of the connections that the time-pressed London commuter needs to get to where they need to go. However, it wasn't always so sure that even such urgently needed penthouse and apartment accommodation as that offered by IYLO West Croydon would come to fruition.

The project once attracted headlines for all of the wrong reasons. For all of the building's impressive specification, encompassing a sleek glass frontage and an elliptical plan, with two equal halves 'sliding' past each other, it all seemed that it would count for nothing when it emerged in 2009 that the project's original funding source had entered administration. While building work recommenced in late 2010, yet more anguish was caused by the construction firm itself being placed into administration the following summer.

Finally, in 2013, the project had the new ownership and funding assurances necessary for construction to begin once more. It is estimated that all parts of the building will be ready for living in by 2015, and when that happens, discerning residents will delight in the close vicinity of the one-time IYLO West Croydon - now renamed ISLAND - to those all-important London transport links. Such connections are far from the only reason to enquire about the 20-storey tower's elegant penthouses and apartments, but nonetheless make all the difference to many of those wanting to make the most of London life.

Editor’s Note: ISLAND (http://www.islandcroydon.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.

How to ensure your recruits share your company values

It doesn't matter whether you're involved in IT, retail, marketing, engineering or HR recruitment - you'll want your hires to actually believe in what you do. A candidate having the perfect technical skills and background in your sector is great Web Recruit (http://www.webrecruit.co.uk), but will they even fit in at your firm?

An employee who does is worth their weight in gold. They'll just do so much more to fire your firm's success in both the short and long term, not least because they'll actually care. Put the work in to ensure your company's values and those of your recruits are one and the same, and you'll see great benefits in compatibility, productivity and length of service.

Look to your present workplace

Your company has values already. They're embedded in your present staff - the way they work, and the way they think. So, observe your present employees at work. What's different about their work patterns compared to how things are at your closest rivals?

How do your employees respond to certain lighting, space or decor? What working arrangements do they prefer? Are there certain aspects of their present working arrangements that they like or dislike? How does your company's working environment and outlook compare to others in your sector?

Consider, too, your firm's employee value proposition. What does your organisation really offer to external candidates that gets them interested?

Make sure your hires really do fit

Understanding the nature and  make-up of your organisation isn't just about giving you a greater insight into the right or wrong hires. It's also about enhancing the present environment at your company so that you can attract more of the right kind of people.

But above all, make sure your recruits really are the right fit. The best way is probably to ask various questions on behaviour and motivation at interview. You might quiz the candidate on what their idea of a dream job is, as well as why they consider themselves the most suitable candidate for the job.

Questions like these are designed to assess a candidate's individual characteristics so that you can better imagine how they will fit in at your company - if they do so at all. These may seem basic steps, but they're all-important across the full gamut of retail, sales, marketing, IT, engineering and HR recruitment.

Editor’s Note: Webrecruit (http://www.webrecruit.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.

How the minimum wage crackdown could impact on unsalaried or low-paid directors

Many of those firms using the services of a business consultancy in London will have taken note of the recent national minimum wage (NMW) crackdown that has seen a quadrupling in non-compliance fines. This also raises the question, however, of the potential effect on unpaid directors or those taking a low salary.

Recent reports have signalled the government's intention to take a harder line with companies failing to pay young workers the NMW. It has now been indicated by Vince Cable that a general NMW crackdown is imminent. Legislation has already been pushed through meaning that from 1 February 2015, the maximum penalty for failing to pay the NMW will be £20,000, compared to the current £5,000.

The news has already prompted many companies to check that their dealings with employees are in compliance with the NMW legislation - but the position of directors also needs to be considered. The NMW regime may apply to a director, depending on the nature of their contract with their company. Problems can arise where directors take a modest salary, for example, with dividends being responsible for the rest of their wages.

A business consultancy in London may generally advise that directors aren't affected by the NMW rules when there is no contract between them and their company. While this is the case if a contract relates solely to the person's role as a director, a contract requiring that person to do a job can be a greater issue.

A building firm, for instance, may have four directors that each require the others to work on site, this potentially representing an employment contract even if it isn't in writing. This would then make the NMW rules applicable.

The government has not suggested that its NMW crackdown will specifically cover directors' contracts. Nonetheless, it makes sense for potentially affected companies to minimise the risk of challenge. Where directors might be impacted by NMW legislation, they are advised to drop any contracts or arrangements requiring them to work in the company's business.

The bottom line is that if a person's contract only covers work as a director, they won't be hit by any NMW crackdown. If they do have an oral or written contract of employment, however, and are not paid the NMW, fines may apply.

Editor’s Note: London Registrars (http://www.london-registrars.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.

                                          

Red Oak Recovery, one of the leading addiction rehab centers in North Carolina

It can be an immense source of worry if there is a young adult in your life who is struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. In such a circumstance, you may have started looking up addiction rehab centers in North Carolina, in the hope of finding one that uses research-supported clinical methodologies as part of a program with a strong record for ensuring long-term patient recovery.

Red Oak Recovery is just such a program. Its committed team combines evidence-based practices with outdoor adventure therapy, resulting in a treatment modality that is as profoundly effective as it is distinctively engaging. The clinical care delivered by Red Oak Recovery prizes respect, dignity and compassion, and seeks to empower clients to discover their innate goodness, talents and self-worth. The result is genuinely sustainable, positive change.

The program also distinguishes itself from other addiction rehab centers in North Carolina by way of its unique location, in the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains to the north of Asheville N.C. The program is staffed by leaders and managers with proven backgrounds and expertise in the integration of wilderness therapy, substance abuse and mental health treatment into successful and cutting-edge recovery programs.

Red Oak Recovery provides separate gender-specific treatment programs for young men and women, and blends such elements as adventure therapy, experiential therapy, clinical care, 12-step programming and social skills development. The program also marks itself out from alternative addiction rehab centers in North Carolina through its exclusive focus on young adults, making it the only program of its kind in the United States.

The gender separate nature of the programs is in recognition of the unique ways men and women experience addiction, with the social reinforcers of substance abuse, the disorders accompanying addiction, the biological factors of dependence and trigger for relapse all differing between the genders. These differences are all factored into a truly tailored recovery process addressing men and women's specific social, biological, emotional and spiritual needs.

The outdoor program, on a beautiful mountainside campus, enables clients to step away from the usual everyday distractions and reflect inwardly, while immersed in a suitably serene environment. From individual, group and adventure-based therapy to goal setting, family work and boundary setting, the Red Oak Recovery (http://www.redoakrecovery.com/) program incorporates all of the elements required for long-lasting recovery, and a life lived to the full, free from the hugely damaging consequences of alcohol and drug abuse.

Fastest-growing buy-to-let returns seen in Reading and Brighton

As anxious as many landlords are to find the right deposit replacement warranty to avoid the hassle of accepting and protecting tenant deposits, if there's one priority that's even greater for many investors, it's ensuring the maximum rental return. On that front, it looks like Reading and Brighton are the emerging hotspots, recording the biggest rises in rental returns over the past 12 months, according to HSBC research.

Such increases of more than 12 per cent in the two commuter towns show how they have become more and more in favour among young professionals priced out of London living. The analysis was based on figures from the home.co.uk website and the Land Registry, and found that Reading had a £950 average monthly rent. That, combined with an average property price of £207,934, resulted in a 5.48 per cent average yield for landlords, compared to the 4.86 per cent recorded a year earlier.

Brighton, meanwhile, saw properties sold for an average of £242,535, average monthly rents of £1,248 meaning an increase in the average yield from 5.58 per cent to 6.16 per cent. Almost a quarter of the housing stock in Reading was rented, according to the bank, that figure rising to 28 per cent for Brighton. Other cities to see marked buy-to-let yield growth over the past year include Bristol, Bournemouth, Cheltenham, Oxford and Manchester, all exciting news for deposit replacement warranty policyholders in these areas.

Peter Dockar, HSBC head of mortgages, commented: "Landlords are reaping the benefit as young professionals say goodbye to capital living in favour of more affordable commuter towns. Despite the inevitable increase in commuter costs associated with moving further out, many still feel it is worthwhile in order to save towards property deposits."

He added that while even houses in these areas were often unaffordable for many first-time buyers, they were within greater financial reach for many landlords investing in property, rents and returns both being driven up by the demand from young professionals.

The biggest monthly return overall, however, was seen in Southampton, where an average house price of £143,011 alongside a £1,040 average monthly rent equated to an 8.73 per cent return, up from the previous year's 7.82 per cent. Strong demand for rented property in the city clearly has much to do with its coastal location for seasonal workers and holidaymakers, as well as university students.

Prospective deposit replacement warranty policyholders in London, meanwhile, are advised to look towards to the borough of Newham, where a 6 per cent yield was recorded in the survey as a result of a £239,942 average house price and average monthly rent of £1,200.

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.

How to handle mobile/device upgrades in your mobile app development

It's one thing to decide on the right mobile platform and strategy for your app development in Dubai, bearing in mind your core objectives, target audience and budget... but what happens if, with the development of your app coming along nicely, a new version of your intended device or OS is launched? With new devices and operating systems being launched on a regular basis by Apple, Samsung and other major players, it's a very real possibility.

It's likely, after all, that many of your customers will ask for a version of your app that has been tailored to the latest device or OS, so ensuring that the right support is there would seem a wise move for your market position. One thing that project managers in this situation should certainly do is immediately bring it to the attention of stakeholders, who should always know of any new version of a company app that is being launched for a new device or OS, even if it is your team's responsibility to directly handle any changes.

The impact of any decision to update your app should also be carefully studied and analysed. Your tech team should be well-versed in the exact changes that need to be made, and how they will be made. There may be new hardware, UI or code libraries - regardless, your team will need to have a good understanding of the technical side. Project managers need to get together with their tech team and consider the impact in terms of time and/or budget, considering what may be the best alternative means of overseeing the changes to deliver the project.

It will be necessary to estimate the additional time required to carry out such changes as part of your app development in Dubai, and the associated implications in terms of time and cost. The known risk factors will need to be carefully considered, too. It's not possible to assess everything immediately when you're developing for a new device or OS, which makes it necessary to leave your implementation strategy open to modification as you improve your understanding of the update.

By bearing all of these factors in mind, you can be so much more successful in adapting your app development in Dubai to any upgrades to the target device or mobile platform that may be announced.

5 things to consider when planning your video project

It's one thing to get in touch with video production companies like Captive8 Media, but do you really know why you're doing it, other than because video is apparently the latest 'big thing'?

Sure, you might have heard about how a video or two can boost your search engine rankings, get more people clicking on your site's pages and boost revenue. But there are so many other things to consider when planning a great video.

1. What do you want your video to do?

Your video might be informative, but it might not get the results you want. Do you want to just introduce potential customers to the basics of your company, to boost awareness? Or maybe you'd like to zoom in on a certain product or service to boost sales in that area? Do you want your video to boost your online authority in a certain subject area?

2. What type of video do you want to make?

Once you know the basic aim of your video, you can decide whether you'd like it to be a testimonial video, for example, featuring past customers waxing lyrical about your services, or maybe a trade show video showing your company imparting its expertise at an important industry event. We are also skilled at recording training videos and more straightforward corporate videos.

3. What is your budget?

Your video doesn't need to incorporate expensive special effects or other trickery to be effective with your target audience - indeed, that could have the opposite effect. Captive8 Media's team knows how to make a video that exudes professionalism and impact at a low price.

4. What tone or style will your video have?

The best video production companies will take the time to understand the essence of your brand and the tone or style that is needed to strike a chord with the right audience. Whether your desired tone is highly corporate or perhaps more off-beat or humorous, we'll help you to pitch it just right, so that your brand is enhanced - not damaged.

5. How will you use your video?

Do you intend to incorporate your video into your homepage, or perhaps a blog post to illustrate a specific story? Maybe it'll be on display at a trade show or on a TV in the lobby at your headquarters? Or perhaps it'll be shared through social media? How you intend to use your video can greatly influence its content.

Captive8 Media is one of the best video production companies for getting you the maximum bang for your buck in all things video. Contact us now about your video project.

Editor’s Note: Captive8 Media (http://www.captive8media.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 link between ADHD and substance abuse

With attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently lasting into adulthood, there are some studies suggesting a greater likelihood of children with ADHD developing alcohol and substance abuse problems as they age, compared to the general population.

The fact that ADHD appears with five to 10 times greater frequency among adult alcoholics than those without the condition is a matter of concern for parents of ADHD children and those with an interest in substance abuse intervention in Florida. Around 25 per cent of adults receiving treatment for alcohol and substance abuse have ADHD.

Children with the condition are also more likely to begin abusing alcohol than those without, once they reach their teenage years. One study suggested that among ADHD children aged 15 to 17, 14 per cent went on to have adulthood problems with alcohol abuse or dependence. Another study showed that while 22 per cent of children at a mean age of 14.9 years old without an ADHD diagnosis had began to use alcohol, this rose to 40 per cent of children with ADHD.

When the mean age in that study was raised to 25, young adults did not differ in their likelihood of using alcohol irrespective of an ADHD diagnosis, but excessive use of alcohol was a greater probability among those with ADHD. Links between ADHD and marijuana and other recreational drug use have also been uncovered by researchers, especially where other psychological disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, are present.

Drug and alcohol problems are also typically encountered from an earlier age by those with ADHD than those without. Possible reasons for the higher likelihood of those with ADHD abusing drugs or alcohol include a greater prevalence of impulsiveness and behavior problems, which researchers claim can both contribute to drug and alcohol abuse. There's also a tendency for ADHD and alcoholism to run in families, common genes between the two being highlighted by researchers.

As a parent investigating substance abuse intervention in Florida, you may be concerned about how addictive stimulant drugs taken by your children for the treatment of ADHD - like Ritalin - can be. It's true that according to studies, the abuse of Ritalin can lead to dependence. However, it is not a risk for addiction in either children or adults when taken as prescribed.

It is true that large doses of Ritalin - largely than is typically prescribed for ADHD - can produce effects not dissimilar to cocaine. However, there are also significant differences between the drugs. Inhaled cocaine, for example, raises a person's dopamine levels within seconds, thereby creating greater potential for addiction, compared to almost an hour in the case of Ritalin. Combined with the lower doses typically prescribed for treating ADHD, this means that Ritalin poses a somewhat lower risk for addiction.

Editor’s Note: Family Recovery Specialists (http://www.familyrecoveryspecialists.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.