21 minute read
News
EMKA hardware for specialist high-speed water shuttle
When thinking of French luxury brands, Chanel or Louis Vuitton come to mind. But what about EMKA? Well, yes, when it comes to its partnership with Advanced Aerodynamic Vessels, a manufacturer of catamarans for passenger transport.
EMKA hardware components reliably close the entrance doors, flaps and entrances to the engine compartment, among other things, in a prestigious project in which VIP shuttles transport passengers through the port of Monaco.
Advanced Aerodynamic Vessels (AV2) is a boat manufacturer designing catamarans for “high speed” passenger transport. Its team developed a new generation of transport vessels that use aerodynamics for improved energy efficiency, safely lifting the vessel, so reducing hydrodynamic drag. The propulsion power required depends primarily on the weight carried by the water. Therefore, reducing this drag is key to greater efficiency. The AV2 site combines its design office and shipyard in one place, which allows engineers and designers to work side by side and optimise the ships’ details. This has enabled EMKA to be up close and personal with this process over a four-year development period.
In search for locking systems to suit the engine compartment and entrance doors, AV2 contacted the hardware experts at EMKA in 2017 with an order for prototypes. The sales representative in charge, looked at the design directly on-site and suggested various solutions from the range. Since then, EMKA has supplied three projects from the boat manufacturer with stainless steel quarter turns, compression latches, escutcheons and keys, and ramps. In addition, vibration-proof products control access to the engine and maintenance compartments.
One of these projects is the unique shuttle service operating at the Monaco marina, for which EMKA supplied the closure technology for a transport boat – which can carry up to twelve passengers – for a shuttle service that connects the marina of Monaco and its extension in Ventimiglia, Italy.
For more information visit www.emka.com.
Accountants discuss the brutal truth about cryptocurrencies
Glen Callow, managing director of Prime Wealth – the financial planning arm of Prime Accountants Group
Accountants at a Midlands practice have urged caution about the volatile nature and unpredictability around the growing phenomenon of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
While digital tokens, cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based business models are here to stay, Glen Callow, managing director of Prime Wealth – the financial planning arm of Prime Accountants Group – said it was vital to consider the risks surrounding this emerging market before investing.
Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, has seen both astronomical growth over the last decade and major sell-offs at various points in between. The value of other cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin have also risen and fallen even more sharply, often based just on Elon Musk’s tweets.
Similarly, NFTs are assets in the digital world that can be bought and sold, but which have no tangible form of their own. These digital tokens, which emerged in 2014, can be thought of as certificates of ownership for virtual or physical assets. They have a unique digital signature which means they cannot be copied or replicated.
Glen said this volatility, coupled with the lack of intervention of a trusted third party like a central bank or financial institution, means Prime could not presently recommend them as a viable investment in good conscience.
He added that the unpredictability of these markets indicate why curious investors should pause before investment.
Glen said: “Financial planners in the UK tend to avoid these assets due to the fact it is highly speculative in its nature with zero investor protections. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) itself has said those who invest in cryptocurrency should be prepared to lose all of their money.
“In reality, the recent craze around NFTs have created potential asset bubbles which are yet to prove if they have any intrinsic worth.”
For more information visit www.primeaccountants.co.uk
INFLATION Enough is Enough!
By Graham Freakes hg technology ltd
Inflation is coming back to haunt us for a while and everyone is becoming more price conscious. In your business you are seeing costs rise and need to save costs wherever possible without affecting your customer experience. Attacking waste can have a profound effect on your cost base and help your profits.
I am concluding my march through the 7 wastes in a relentless battle to eliminate it from your businesses. To remind you the 7 wastes are just as relevant to your business whichever sector it's in – it's all about eliminating anything that doesn't add value from the client perspective. I've dealt with Transportation, Inventory Motion and Waiting – now for Over Production, Over Processing
and Defects.
These all superficially relate to manufacturing but in fact have much earlier origins – a Bakers Dozen gets it in one! The baker makes a batch of 12 loaves and adds an extra one in case one is defective.
Why does the baker have a batch of 12? Is it to make economic sense of firing up the oven? This is the old 'minimum batch size' saw and results in making too many loaves/widgets/ posters which are then discarded without their cost being added to the number of products which were actually needed. Better to 'make to order' and be realistic about the costs and margins. Over processing is unnecessary embellishment of a product or service that is not in the customers specification. Back in the bar, putting a cherry on a stick in a cocktail doesn't enhance the flavour it is merely a decorative frippery! Producing a mirror finish on a cars' bodywork doesn't improve performance even on an F1 car! Why do it? Does going the extra mile actually make sense when fuel is £1.70 per litre?
Back to the bakery and the 13th loaf – in case of a defect in the other 12. This has increased the cost of the 12 loaves by almost 8% - about the current rate of inflation. Better to ensure defects don't occur by improved service or product design and process improvement. This was the basis of the 6 Sigma philosophy – much vaunted and for good reason!
I can assist you identify and eliminate these wastes in your business to help you improve productivity, profitability and customer value - just contact me.
❛❛Over processing
specification. ❜❜
Flexible workspace operator expands its regional locations
Award-winning serviced office operator UBCUK has announced the addition of a new site to its portfolio of flexible offices. From April 1, UBC acquired Thursby House in Bromborough on The Wirral from Portal Business Centres.
This established flexible workspace in a modern two-storey building is positioned alongside the popular Croft Retail & Leisure Park on Croft Business Park, central to Bromborough village and is already home to over 40 businesses.
The site offers fully furnished serviced offices in bright self-contained suites ranging from 100 to 1500 sq ft with high-speed internet, climate control air conditioning, reception facilities, and on-site car parking.
UBC operates regional workspaces in Greater London, the south east and south west of England, and the Midlands. The newly acquired Thursby House is the second in the north west of England, bringing UBC's total to eight office space locations.
Operations director Karen Osborne said: “We’re excited to strengthen our presence in the north west of England and are delighted to welcome the Thursby House team and customers to the UBC family.”
UBC has an experienced management team, solid reputation and several Flexible Space Association awards for outstanding customer service excellence. It offers a range of services to growing businesses including virtual offices, coworking, private offices and meeting room hire.
Richard Johnson, managing director at UBC, said: “We’re thrilled to be announcing Thursby House as our newest UBC location. COVID-19 has accelerated a range of workplace trends, not least the demand for greater flexibility, an increased focus on collaboration spaces and the importance of a trusted operator to manage the workplace experience. UBC is well placed to respond to this, offering a robust and proven business model and with occupancy at well over 80% across our locations, now is the perfect time for us to be expanding our office portfolio.”
Visit www.ubcuk.com to find out more.
Stag party starts after gin win
Husband and wife team Giles and Jodie Stagg are raising a glass to celebrate after their own brand of gin garnered a highly-prized silver medal at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Despite only launching Stag Gin late last year, the pair who also run the successful Stratford-upon-Avon-based Sip ‘n’ Swig mobile bar company, have been overwhelmed with the response to their own brand of London dry gin. Already preparing their third batch of Stag Gin after the first two sold out within weeks, the award of the silver medal has proved just the tonic after months of tweaking and testing before they achieved the product they wanted. It’s also the culmination of a long-held ambition for Giles, a mixologist who trained at London’s Savoy Hotel and worked at the renowned Simpson’s in the Strand cocktail bar.
A unique blend of botanicals including juniper, kumquat, coriander, sweet orange peel, fresh pink grapefruit, nutmeg, orris root and lemon grass, Stag Gin also features rosemary grown in the Stagg family garden.
Giles said: “We wanted to put our own very personal stamp on our gin, and including an ingredient we grow ourselves seemed the ideal way to do it!”
Achieving the impressive score of 94% at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, Stag Gin was only one percentage point away from a gold medal, and Giles has already set his sights on next year’s competition.
He said: “The IWSC has the highest medal boundaries of all wine and spirit competitions and we will continue to tweak the recipe to improve the product even more. We’ll be back next year fighting for the gold!”
While Stag Gin has proved enormously popular with both corporate and private clients of Sip ‘n’ Swig mobile bars, it is also establishing a foothold in bars, restaurants and wine and spirit merchants across the Stratford, Warwick and Leamington districts.
For further information visit www.staggin.co.uk
Houlton partners band together to host World Class student event
Rugby’s new secondary school, Houlton School, is proud to have welcomed students from across the country to Houlton to take part in the celebrated annual World Class Schools Accreditation Day.
Houlton’s Master Developer Urban&Civic worked closely in partnership with Houlton School, the World Class Schools charity and the neighborhoods' housebuilders to bring the event to fruition, for this, the first physical event of its kind that’s been held following the pandemic.
The event, which saw over 170 students from across the country come together to be assessed against The World Class Schools Quality Mark (WCSQM), is an integral event in the education calendar.
Across the 11 project teams, both primary and secondary aged students worked collaboratively to design gardens, eco-friendly seating, murals, sculptures, and tree hangings, which culminated in the creation of the community garden at Houlton School.
Urban&Civic connected Houlton’s housebuilders with the opportunity to engage with the event, and housebuilders Lovell and Morris Homes were happy to be on board and to throw their support behind the project teams by donating core materials including planters, paint, brushes, chip board and nails for the student’s task.
The student teams were supported by staff from Houlton School, Urban&Civic and Houlton’s first ever cohort of year 7 students at Houlton School who were on hand to collaborate and advise the groups throughout.
Students were briefed in advance on their real-life project and given two weeks to prepare for their assessment, this was followed by a full day at Houlton School where they completed their task and were assessed.
The young people’s mission was to create innovative, attractive and environmentally friendly indoor and outdoor spaces which tied back into Houlton’s core values of innovation, aspiration and excellence.
Chloe Buckenham, Houlton School Vice Principal, said: “We were thrilled to be given the opportunity to take part in the World Class Schools event. Not only was this a fantastic opportunity for the pupils and something that they will cherish, but it was also an invaluable opportunity for Houlton School to be more involved with the organisation and provide young people with invaluable leadership experience.
We were so grateful to Urban&Civic for the support and commitment to bringing this event to life. They not only helped connect us with the housebuilders who donated core materials and supported on the day, but they remained by our side throughout to ensure everything ran as smoothy as it could.”
Kyle Smith, Communications, Communities and Partnerships, at Urban&Civic, said: “Working collaboratively with our partners on community initiatives such as this one, enables us to unlock many benefits for the young people of Houlton. It was a joy to see the benefit the students got from taking part in the World Class event, both from those who took part in the task teams and from the Houlton School pupils who supported those they’d only just met from other schools.
“The transformation of Houlton School’s community garden is nothing short of a masterpiece, and something we have no doubt will be enjoyed and celebrated for many years to come.”
Earl Patrick, Community Engagement Lead from Lovell, said: “It was our pleasure to support the students taking part in their WCSQM assessment, and great to be there with them on the day to witness the passion, enthusiasm and attention to detail they put into their projects. The dedication they illustrated on the day was second to none and what they’ve created for Houlton School is a real triumph! We wouldn’t have missed it and are thankful to Urban&Civic for reaching out to get us involved.”
Exciting mix of properties go under the hammer
Auctioneer Loveitts is preparing to step up to the podium for its first in-person auction in two years due to COVID-19.
Throughout the pandemic, all Loveitts auctions were livestreamed to adhere to government-imposed lockdown and social distancing rules. But with almost all UK restrictions lifted, buyers can now immerse themselves in the excitement of a live, in-person auction, with the first taking place on May 19.
Loveitts will also continue to offer buyers three other methods for bidding on lots – livestream, by proxy or post.
With a wide range of properties set to go under the hammer, from investment opportunities, residential homes and vacant land, the upcoming auction promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
Sally Smith, director and auctioneer at Loveitts, said: “This will be such an exciting day for us as nothing beats the thrill of a live, in-person auction. After two years of livestreaming, it will feel incredible to be back in the room with our buyers, watching the joy on their faces when they successfully bid on their new homes.
“We’re also delighted with the quality and selection of lots set to go under the hammer. There’s definitely something for everyone, with homes priced across all budgets, as well as land and commercial buildings which offer excellent opportunities for investors.”
Throughout the pandemic, auctions have maintained excellent engagement with buyers, with Loveitts hosting a mixture of national online and livestreamed auctions.
The business achieved an impressive 88 per cent success rate last year and is a member of Auction House – the UK’s largest residential and commercial property auction company.
Part of the success has been driven by the housing market remaining strong over the last year, with many properties achieving above guide prices and investment properties returning strong yields.
Loveitts director & auctioneer Sally Smith in action
Doing the business with Wasps
Wasps did the business on and off the pitch in their recent win over Newcastle Falcons at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
On the field, Lee Blackett’s team secured a thrilling 27-24 win thanks to a late penalty from Jimmy Gopperth which saw Wasps edge an end-to-end encounter.
And off the pitch, Wasps hosted the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and several of its members in a Superbox, with guests enjoying a two-course lunch and drinks before taking their seats to get a perfect view of the action.
Sam Hollands, of the Chamber, said: “It was great to be able to invite members along to the Wasps game and everyone who attended had a wonderful time. The hospitality from Wasps was superb and there was a real opportunity for all of us to network and get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere.
“And then, once the match started, it was brilliant to see Wasps get the win – even if they did leave it late!”
Tim Richardson, Commercial Executive at Wasps, said: “The Chamber brought a range of guests to the game and the feedback we’ve had has been really positive.
“Wasps matchdays provide a great opportunity for businesses to entertain guests in a relaxed environment and enjoy Premiership Rugby at the same time.”
For more information on hospitality with Wasps, email Tim.Richardson@wasps.co.uk
CCS rebrands as Aurora
Managed print and ICT provider, Corona Corporate Solutions (CCS), has rebranded as Aurora with immediate effect.
The company has relaunched with new values, new differentiation and new propositions. Specifically, Aurora is launching a new solution to assist customers with home-workers and a new range of service packages.
CEO Andy Moffitt said: “We’re transforming to become more relevant to the changed world we find ourselves in. Whilst we remain proud of everything we achieved as CCS, we’re incredibly excited about our future as Aurora.”
Aurora is a premier digital print solution provider in the UK and a highly specialised business telecoms provider. It offers a consolidated product and service portfolio from Konica Minolta, Ricoh and Canon to name a few partners, which focus on helping organisations to improve efficiency, increase productivity and reduce costs.
For more information, visit: www.weareaurora.co.uk
Using English Tourism Week for new opportunities
Businesses in Warwickshire were urged to use English Tourism Week to find out about free support that could help them to identify potential growth opportunities.
English Tourism Week ran from March 18 to March 27 and showcases the diverse, vibrant and exciting sector, of which Warwickshire plays a significant part, with a range of attractions that bring in both domestic and international tourists.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce encouraged businesses to use the week as a catalyst to find out more about Project Warwickshire – a free recovery and growth business support programme to help companies in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality sectors in the County, on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Project Warwickshire is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council. The support is delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Shakespeare’s England and Northern Warwickshire Tourism, on behalf of Warwickshire County Council, to identify businesses across the County who will benefit from the support.
The programme offers a range of support opportunities including marketing strategies, SEO, mastering recruitment and retention issues, and business planning, which all come in the form of one-to-one business coaching, workshops and networking opportunities.
Caroline Trainor, Programme Manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said ahead of the week: “English Tourism Week is a great way to celebrate this fantastic sector which plays such a major role in our regional economy.
“We want businesses in tourism, leisure and hospitality to use the next few days as an opportunity to not only showcase themselves but also find out about the help that’s available to them.
“These have been a tough two years for the industry and it’s important to make the most of all of the help that is on offer.”
Cllr Kam Kaur, Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, said: "In Warwickshire we are so blessed with many wonderful businesses in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors. Project Warwickshire is designed to support those businesses and English Tourism Week is the perfect time for them to get in touch with us to identify ways in which they can grow and strengthen, both for the approaching summer and the long term."
Mental health heroes set to step into the spotlight
The full shortlist of nominees for this year’s Mental Health Star Awards has now been unveiled.
Organised by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), the awards aim to celebrate people who are making a real difference in the mental health of others as well as recognising those that have made a significant contribution to improving mental health and wellbeing across their community.
Nominees are broken down into several categories: Young Person Aged 16-25, Individual Aged 25+, Collaboration Award, Cariss Evans Award for Innovation, and Team, Service and Organisation Award.
This year’s awards are linked to the WMCA’s new Mental Health Commission, whose remit includes highlighting examples of innovation and good practice in mental health.
Hundreds of nominations recognised acts of heroism and innovation that have helped people within our communities get through life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A full list of shortlisted nominees can be found on the WMCA website: www.wmca.org.uk/starawards.
Danielle Olm, chair of West Midlands Mental Health Commission, said: “Addressing mental health issues has never been more important and the Mental Health Star Awards will be a wonderful occasion to hear of the positive work that people across the West Midlands are doing to help others.
“Not only do these awards give us the opportunity to shine a light on unsung heroes who’ve helped others throughout our region, they also help to highlight the ongoing issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing, and what more needs to be done to address them.”
The awards will be handed out live at a virtual ceremony hosted by The Chase’s Paul Sinha on Wednesday, May 25.
A team of accountants successfully overcame The Wolf Run and raised more than £1,000 for The Shakespeare Hospice in the process.
The group representing regional accountancy firm Burgis & Bullock took on the notoriously difficult obstacle course in Offchurch, Warwickshire.
Burgis & Bullock decided to support The Shakespeare Hospice as its chosen charity and surpassed its fundraising target – raising £1,022 for the South Warwickshire charity.
The Shakespeare Hospice offers outstanding palliative and end-of-life care to patients, their families and carers across South Warwickshire. Their reach extends beyond the traditional hospice walls, providing expert support within their local community and patients’ own homes.
The Wolf Run included working as a team to conquer obstacles and 10km of raw natural terrain, including open ground, woodland, lakes and thick mud.
James Anstey, audit senior at Burgis & Bullock, was among the team that tackled the challenge and says that it was all worth it to raise funds for a fantastic cause.
He said: “It was hard work and a real challenge for all of us but it went really well. We came through without any injuries and we certainly enjoyed the challenge.
“To raise more than £1,000 for The Shakespeare Hospice is brilliant and on behalf of the team I’d like to thank everyone who donated and supported us.
“We’re definitely keen to do it again and knowing you’re raising money for a fantastic cause definitely gives you the extra motivation to get across the line!”
Burgis & Bullock is entering another team of competitors into the September edition of The Wolf Run and will be revealing its chosen charity soon. The firm has offices in Nuneaton, Leamington, Rugby and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Accountants raise cash for charity
Burgis & Bullock team after completing The Wolf Run.
To donate and support the Burgis & Bullock team, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lesley-trett
Warwickshire hotel to host pop-up cinema and artisan market
An outdoor pop-up cinema and new monthly Sunday artisan market will be coming to a Warwickshire hotel in May.
Adventure Cinema will be screening three classic films – Dirty Dancing, Grease Sing-a-Long and The Rocky Horror Picture Show – in the picturesque grounds of Coombe Abbey Hotel, just outside Coventry, from May 27 to 29.
Limited tickets will be available for the open-air cinema. Guests are invited to bring along a blanket or camping chair to watch three classic films over three evenings with gates opening at 8.15pm and films starting at 9.45pm.
The weekend cinema under the stars starts on Friday May 27 with a showing of Dirty Dancing (12) starring Jennifer Grey as Frances "Baby" Houseman, who has the time of her life while on holiday in 1963 with her family at a resort in New York's Catskill Mountains.
It will be followed on Saturday May 28 by retro classic Grease (PG), the original high school musical, and rounded off with cult classic Rocky Horror on Sunday May 29.
Coombe Abbey Artisan Market will take place on the second Sunday of the month between 10am and 4pm throughout the year, ending on December 11. It will include a wide variety of stalls selling local produce, arts and crafts.
Ron Terry, operations director of No Ordinary Hospitality Management, the company which operates Coombe Abbey Hotel, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing the big screen experience to Coombe Abbey for all film fans to enjoy this summer.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a nice dry weekend and look forward to seeing everyone there and enjoying these wonderful classics.
“The new monthly market every second Sunday of the month will host a range of great local suppliers and we hope it will be of interest to guests and local residents heading to the park for walks and leisure time over the weekend.”
