FEBRUARY 2014
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JOHN, LORD TAYLOR OF WARWICK
INSPIRED BY YOUR SUCCESS
EDITORIAL Heads of Departments Editor in Chief Daemon Sands daemonsands@littlegatepublishing.com Director General Don Campbell doncampbell@littlegatepublishing.com
W
hat a start to the year. Considering that January is usually a long, arduous period, especially when you have five Fridays in one month, 2014 has
started so fast that it seems all of 2013 was just a run up. Across every sector there is development and promise and following a brief period of growth
Editorial Research Manager Alex Smith alexsmith@littlegatepublishing.com
and upheaval businesses have looked to ways to best take advantage of new
Sales Director James Martin jamesmartin@littlegatepublishing.com
Already this year, the medical industry says they have found a process to
Sales Manager Tyler Harrison tylerharrison@littlegatepublishing.com Corporate Director Anthony Letchumaman anthonyl@littlegatepublishing.com Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com Publisher Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com
technologies and the internet.
eradicate hospital infections, created enhanced treatments to cure cancers and gene therapy for Alzheimer’s. In the automotive sector they have strong developments in electric cars, alternate fuels and a huge movement in the direction of e-battery power. Google are continuing their diversifying investment into fully automated green cars, contact lenses that monitor the glucose of diabetic tears and the highly debated Google Glasses in a quest to become the benevolent rulers of the planet. In entertainment the PS4 and the Xbox One are still duelling for the top position on the gaming pile, although they will not hold the top position for long as fully
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interactive gaming is set to take on the market by the end of 2014 a return to
343 City Road Kings Lane London Norwich EC1 V1LR NR1 3PS Littlegate Publishing Ltd does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors. The points of view expressed in articles by attributing writers and/or in advertisements included in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this magazine, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for loss arising from use of information published. All rights reserved. No part of this
With the feeling of hope and confidence returning as we enter into the second
the old 3D game sets. Experts agree that 2014 has seen the highest level of traffic jams, international flying and purchases of health, sure proof that the economic downturn is repairing as more people go to work and travel cross borders.
month of this year are we seeing a new age of prosperity upon the horizon? And if we do is the road we’re on a straight one or does it diverge and twist? After a fine start to the year, what other surprises could be waiting for us? And finally, we are honoured and humbled to have a member of the House of Lords joining us as one of our writers and wish to offer a warm welcome to Lord John Taylor of Warwick who will be writing for our monthly editions covering a range of topics including politics, social economics and opinions.
publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrievable system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © Littlegate Publishing Ltd 2014
Endeavour Magazine | 3
CONTENTS
34
Petrotrin
FEATURES 28 Rift Valley Tea Dotting The I’s and Crossing The T’s 34 Petrotrin Fuelling The Islands 42 MovieTowne Entertainment Redefined 50 NH International Constructing the Caribbean 60 New Britain Palm Oil Fueling the Food Industry 66 Ekurhuleni Municipality A Major Part Of The Future 72 Belaz Mining Belaz Goes Big 78 Jamaica Premix Built On Solid Service 84 Maputo Corridor Logistics Clearing The Way For Trade
60
New Britain Palm Oil 4 | Endeavour Magazine
42
MovieTowne
ARTICLES 6 Stephen Kramer Glickman Big Bold and Beautiful 10 The Disturbing Reality Behind Cupid 12 Are The Chips Down For The Internet? 14 CLS 250 CDI AMG Sport Coupé 16 Ford Transit Custom 18 Gadgets 20 Headlines 24 The Romance is Flying This Valentines Day 26 Sandos Papagayo: A Top Marks Hotel
BIZ-TAINMENT 90 92 96
Carly Peart: Bootcamp Booty Pixiwoo: Beauty in Business Book Reviews
78
Jamaica Premix Endeavour Magazine | 5
STEPHEN KRAMER GLICKMAN
BY STEPHANIE PAUL
Big Bold and Beautiful Behind the scenes the stand up comedy circuit can be a lonely place but every now and then I meet a comedian who is warm and
Names are interesting to me and you have a long one what is the origin of your name?
friendly with a sense of community. Stephen Kramer Glickman is one
My full name is Stephen Lyndon Kramer Glickman, Lyndon after
of those genuine comedians. Stephen is most well known for his role
my aunt who passed away and Kramer is my Grandfathers name on
of Gustavo Rocque on the extremely popular Nickelodeon TV series
my mother’s side (my Grandmother taught me to sing and play Piano
Big Time Rush. I decided I wanted to know more about this big bright
from a young age) and Glickman is my Fathers family name which I
beautiful man, where he came from and where is he heading. To my
originally dropped when I arrived in Hollywood but couldn’t seem to
delight I found out some interesting stuff. There is not much that goes
escape it. As a Stand Up comedian I would get called up onto stage as
in the book of creative arts that this artist has not tried his hand at
Glickman, so finally when I had to choose my stage name for SAG I
and succeeded with. Stephen is incredibly talented at singing, piano,
decided to go with Stephen Kramer Glickman, a big name for a big guy.
painting, acting, comedy, writing, design, including just the way he
What is the origin of your big and bold fashion sense?
dresses and there is nothing “Just” about it.
I have always been a big fan of outrageous fashion and clothes. I
6 | Endeavour Magazine
“ don’t like the boring stuff, I like it when things are bright or when clothes make a statement. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but I like to mix and match. Sometimes I’ll wear a suit I bought for cheap in the garment district with a watch that is worth more than my car. I like taking chances and I guess by most standards I am a pretty strange bird. I got put on the worst dress list by Star magazine a couple of years ago because I showed up on the red carpet in a green onsey. I just don’t care, if I like something I
I was being chased down and tied up with jump ropes and being beaten up by 6-7 guys at a time. However the whole time I was being bullied I never changed who I was because of it, I continued to do musical theatre and I continued to wear my weird clothes and I continued to be Jewish because even though it wasn’t fun, I knew they were wrong. I was just being me.”
can remember and how you got bullied? One of the kids who was very popular at junior high school beat me up pretty badly, so badly that he ended up being expelled from the school. Because he was very popular his friends took on the attitude that, well they can’t expel all of us, so they all started beating me up collectively. They would steal stuff out of my locker and then try to sell it back to me and it just got worse and worse and worse. I was being chased down and tied up with jump
wear it. My closet is out of this
ropes and being beaten up by
world. I have a collection of
6-7 guys at a time. Eventually
Woodroze handmade sunglasses
my family decided to pull me out
which are amazing, I love watches
your original style and flare for
bolts shaved in the side of my
of public school and put me in a
and collect Wewood watches
fashion had something to do
head. I was bullied because I was
tiny private school. However the
from Australia, I am sponsored
with it?
acting in musical theatre. I was
whole time I was being bullied
by the clothing company Pink
I got bullied for lots of
bullied because I am Jewish. I was
I never changed who I was
Dolphin and they have amazing
stupid reasons. I had a weird
actually the only openly Jewish
because of it, I continued to do
clothes, the best colors and
fashion sense I’d wear green
kid at the school. If there were
musical theatre and I continued
really incredible designs. I have a
jeans, cowboy boots, silk shirts
other people at my school who
to wear my weird clothes and I
wardrobe full of weird suits and I
and large sunglasses. I also was
were Jewish, they were hiding it
continued to be Jewish because
even have a jacket that lights up.
bullied because I was 4 feet tall
and no one knew about it.
even though it wasn’t fun, I knew
Growing up I know you
and 5 feet wide and had a “Corey
What was one (or more) of
dealt with bullies, do you think
Feldman” mullet with lightening
the most extreme stories you
they were wrong. I was just being me.
Endeavour Magazine | 7
Do you think teachers are bullies and did you ever have an experience of them contributing to your bullying? Oh absolutely I had a Math teacher named Mr Bob Sissler at Oak Crest Junior High. He loved telling kids they were stupid when they didn’t understand something. He was the worst teacher I’ve ever had, and I once took a mime class. Did you ever have an amazing supportive teacher change or do anything for you that shaped who you are today? Yes when I went to Futures High School a small private school, I was there from 8th till I graduated 12th grade . I had a science teacher who’s name was
If you want to do great big things in life, be Godzilla with a good heart.
Jim and I would come into his class in a top hat and carrying
someone to do my Math for me.
Gay Harden are doing with The
crazy? I watch your TV show
a cane and he would say “Nice
My Mother took that advice and
Joyful Heart Foundation http://
every week with my kid, how
Top Hat are you ready to get
strongly supported my creativity.
www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
crazy is that?” and I said “yeah I
to work?” and I would say yes,
My mom is awesome.
and No More http://fornomore.
guess that is pretty crazy man”.
org/ whose mission is to heal,
Then he said “Hey man will
and the next day I would come
I have heard arguments
in something else weird like a
against the “Stop Bullies”
educate and empower survivors
you sign an autograph for my
three piece suit and he would
movement saying it’s just a
of
domestic
kid?” so I said to him “give me a
say “Nice suit are you ready to
part of life and kids today are
violence and child abuse, and to
second let me go to my car” and
get to work? He never made
weak and need to toughen up
shed light into the darkness that
I went to my car and I pulled out
me feel like I was weird, strange
and get a thick skin, so they can
surrounds those issues.
a headshot and I went back in
or stupid or that I was making
compete in the world at large
mistakes about who I was and
what is your opinion on that?
sexual
assault,
Did you ever bully anyone
and asked him “What’s your kids
in retaliation for what
name?” “Robert” so I wrote on
my creative ideas, he made me
I feel that is very dangerous
happened to you? Or seek
the headshot Dear Robert, don’t
feel like I was innovative. It really
thinking. Just telling kids that
revenge on the kids that
be afraid to call child protective
guided my brain towards the job
this is normal behavior and to
bullied you? Do you know
services, all the best, Stephen
I do now, which is getting paid to
toughen up is a way for people
where they are now?
Kramer Glickman. The guy read
be creative. I also had a guidance
to avoid taking responsibility for
I have only ever run into one
it and said “What the F%$^ is
counselor tell my Mother once
their actions and make the victim
of the guys who bullied me. I was
this?” and I walked away and
that she shouldn’t worry about
at fault. To say “oh boys will be
at a gas station in San Diego and
that was the closet to any kind of
me not being good at Math and
boys” is incredibly irresponsible.
the guy behind the counter said
revenge I have ever taken. I know
focus on supporting my creativity
This is very similar to the
“Hey I know you, yeah I used to
it’s a cliche but Success is always
because one day I was going
wonderful work my colleagues,
kick your ass everyday in Junior
the best revenge.
to make enough money to pay
Mariska Hargitay and Marcia
High School! You know what’s
8 | Endeavour Magazine
What is your advice to kids
“
s i g n i y l l u b o t The answer ; e t a r a K g n i n r not lea
being bullied now?
the answer is standing up and being proud of who you are.
”
currently creating 3 or 4 branded
led to Comedy Central and Last
booked them, all the big changes
The answer to bullying is not
comedy sketches a month and
Comic Standing and a whole
in my life I didn’t see coming. You
learning Karate; the answer is
we are working towards a full
bunch of amazing opportunities. I
can’t make those plans, however I
standing up and being proud of
feature. I feel that our production
auditioned for Shrek the Musical
would love to host a reality show,
who you are.
stuff has blossomed so much
on a Broadway when I thought
be on dancing with the stars, be
in past year and I love acting
I was going to an audition for
in a sci-fi movie and get attacked
how does it help anti-bullying
and writing and producing and
the Macy’s day parade. When
by a giant lizard and maybe go to
in the community?
I am really looking forward to it
I got to the audition and found
outer space with the Muppets.
heading in that direction.
out it was actually Shrek the
What is your message/
You have been on
Musical, I sang my heart out
motto/legacy you want to
What is Giant Creature and
Giant Creature Incorporated is my company and it covers a few facets of what I do. One was the
Broadway, TV, In Movies a
and beat 45,000 people for the
leave with the world when you
clothing company that we had
stand up comedian, what does
lead in the original Broadway
die?
set up while we were shooting
Stephen want to be when he
readings and workshops. When
If you want to do great big
Big Time Rush and we donated
grows up?
I auditioned for Big Time Rush
things in life, be Godzilla with a
at Nickelodeon, I was told it was
good heart.
a percentage of the proceeds
The road that I have been
to The Trevor Project www.
traveling
has
been
full
of
a VO audition and I got there
thetrevorproject.org, which is
surprises. I keep getting to find
and found out it is a TV series
the LGBT youth free hotline.
new things and I try them. The
and they were looking for a tall
What is next for Giant
first time I did stand up was
handsome silver fox older guy in
Creature? Where is it going?
because it was going on in a
his 40’s and I was 28 wearing a
Aiming?
bowling alley next to my hotel
hoody and gangster shorts. A lot
Giant Creature Inc. is also a
when I first came to Los Angeles.
of the big ones I have auditioned
production company and we are
I decided to try it and that has
for in my life were by chance and I
Endeavour Magazine | 9
THE DISTURBING REALITY BEHIND
Cupid WRITTEN BY DONNIE RUST
V
alentine’s
Day,
the
by bees. This could be a metaphor of how love is innocent but I think it
card-day to venerate
means Cupid was just never caught doing anything else. Because let’s
the patron saint of free
face it, love is not innocent, love is sneaky.
love and the open contracting
A lack of history for someone as prolific as Cupid should raise
of airborne baby assassins with
alarm bells and when you look past the cards, the chocolates, the teddy
arrows.
bears (where did they come from?) and the kittens (eye roll) oh mercy,
CUPID…
the kittens with the little signs saying I WUB and you are left with a
Despite being the poster
flying immortal assassin with a bow and arrow who is responsible for
child for this red hearted day
creating that initial first spark in lovers and is therefore directly to
and a curly haired, chubby kid
blame for Romeo and Juliet, Helen and all of Troy, Ozzie and Sharon,
with wings and an archer’s
Kanye and Kim.
bow and arrow (what kind of
When you have those names on a CV and that number of historical
parent gives his child that?)
celebrities walking around with gleaming arrows out of their backs
Cupid actually has a very boring
and yet find nothing but childish tales about how young Cupid stole
backstory that makes him the
honey from a hive and was stung by the hive’s residents, you start to
most pathetically innocent of
wonder if perhaps there are a few people with arrows sticking out of
the pagan gods. Roman and
them who aren’t walking around at all.
Greek mythology is a bit sketchy
Reputation counts for a lot especially when you have a holiday
on who his parents were which
that’s devoted to you. Because Valentine’s day is devoted to Cupid
would explain the bow and arrow
and not St Valentine. A baby with wings and an archery bow and not
but generally it is accepted he
a canonized Roman Catholic saint. 50% of Americans believe that the
is the child of Venus or Aphrodite
(goddess
of love, waxing and
Then again a percentage of American’s think that South Africa is in Europe.
diseases
The market for Valentine’s gifts is just as big as Christmas and
and
although less expensive at the time it is more costly with the majority
potentially Jupiter as
of babies being born in November. And Cupid also has cause to be
venereal respectively) the father.
concerned about losing his position as Valentine’s most marketable
In a lineage of Godly
commodity with the recent developments in the British media
parents who did everything
regarding the conduct and tastes of the BBC’s most elite presenters.
from eating their own children
In fact, the truth be told, it’s amazing that men don’t break out in sweat
to seducing wild animals Cupid’s
every time a girl gives them a card with a baby on the front of it. Armed
only noteworthy transgression
on not.
was to steal honey and be stung
10 | Endeavour Magazine
winged baby was what was canonized.
Of course, you say, you can’t honestly believe that all love and lust
springs from a little flying cretin
you’re oberservant, you have
with a bow and arrow. He’s just
your eyes open, you like to be
mythological. But, I would retort,
aware and in the know and that
this is my fantasy, this is my rant,
is why you’re reading my articles.
this is my article. If you want to go
But how in Jupiter’s face would
debate mythological actualism
you be able to overlook a flying
versus religious dogma versus
baby winking at you down the
scientific practicality I’d say go
length of a drawn arrow?
speak with your door to door
They don’t look like Cupid on
Evangelist. Or a scientologist.
the cards.
You see, I don’t really believe
Remember, Love is sneaky.
in Cupid. I don’t believe in some
Cupid, or Cupids are master
invisible, immortal baby with wings who, considering the rapid growth of the human population clearly is able to be everywhere at once. I think that’s rubbish. Instead, I believe that there is an underground organization training babies for that job and the reason we don’t see them is because they’re ninjas. Identifying with this concept is far easier to do than to believe in something that has no founding in scientific fact, nor in mythological redundancies… or religion… whichever one works
Remember, Love is sneaky. Cupid, or Cupids are master infiltrators, masters of disguise, they could look like anyone. The person who looks the least likely to really be a fluttering armed baby is almost guaranteed to be just that.
infiltrators, masters of disguise, they could look like anyone. The person who looks the least likely to really be a fluttering armed baby is almost guaranteed to be just that and rest assured that the person who looks least likely to want to bring you love, will almost definitely want to sink their arrow into you. Ultimately, if your job was to regularly shoot people with arrows and for one day a year you were suddenly required to go mental and fire arrows at billions of people giving cards
for you. But ninja babies, I can
you would want to have some
believe this, ninja babies with
kind of anonymity.
absolute
accuracy
spreading
denying young love (lead tipped
The easier way to achieve
unseen through the world aiming arrows at us? Yes, this makes more
arrows) or removing people
this would be via distraction. Like
sense to me.
knowing
(secret
the ninjas of old who achieved
Now… where do these babies come from? Where do they go? I
ninja killer arrows) and as they
invisibility by very simply training
am so glad you asked. Throughout history there have been tales of
grow older their job continues,
themselves to be in the exact
warrior races who have grown stronger and faster generation after
so their numbers increase with
place where a person wasn’t
generation through carefully guided genetics. The intro to 300 would
every generation until they’ve
looking. So, if you’re afraid of
basically explain this thoroughly- the result Gerard Butler.
reached the point where they’re
getting pricked by Cupid’s arrow
everywhere and we just can’t see
this Valentines… just remember
them.
it could be someone else entirely
The same goes for the Amazons, who are just waiting until movie directors are able to make women with only one tit look sexy.
the
secret
So these babies are simply the offspring of the generation before
WHY CAN’T WE SEE THEM?
them, set the task of either uniting lovers (golden tipped arrows), or
Of course, you’re not an idiot,
aiming at your heart.
Endeavour Magazine | 11
“We are honoured and humbled to have a member of the House of Lords writing for us and want to welcome Lord John Taylor of Warwick to Endeavour Magazine. As one of the finest writers of his age we expect him to provide a new flavour to the magazine and look forward to seeing more of his articles in our pages.” – Daemon Sands.
ARE THE CHIPS DOWN FOR THE INTERNET? WRITTEN BY JOHN, LORD TAYLOR OF WARWICK
W
hy did the chicken cross the Web? To get to the other
All industries are being transformed, through the Web. I recently
Site. Well, the Internet may not have improved the
spoke at an event hosted by an educational charity that works in
quality of my jokes, but there is no doubt the Web has
Ghana, West Africa.
had a huge impact on our lives.
Ghanaian farmers now use their smartphones to trade their
The World Wide Web was invented 25 years ago. It is difficult
products before their long trek to market starts. This saves them time
to imagine how we coped back in 1989. There was no Google,
and earns them more income. South African women from the slums
Facebook or Twitter. How life has changed. 2.4 billion people use the
of Soweto are now being trained to help American customers with
web worldwide, including 1.2 billion shoppers on line. Radio took 38
their computer problems.
years to aquire 50 million users and TV took 13 years. The internet
The UK leads the world in many areas of IT. Products and services
needed only 4 years, whilst Facebook blitzed there in 10 months!
delivered on line now account for at least 10% of UK GDP, the highest
So communication is clearly faster. But has the Web made our lives
percentage of the G20 countries. The British are the busiest on-line
better?
shoppers in the world. By 2014 e-commerce will be about 20% of
For some, yes. For example, crowdfunding
platforms
have
total UK retail. UK web activity is larger than the education, health
launched many projects which would have failed to get finance
or construction sectors. Britain has created some world leading
otherwise. Kickstarter alone has helped over 55,000 ventures. £4.6
businesses on-line, like Asos, the fashion company. London is now a
billion has been earned by people in the UK using the “Gift economy”,
Technology hub, but Bristol, Brighton and Edinburgh are also seeing
to share products and services. The Airbnb web based business has
record numbers of digital start-ups. In the global internet business,
done this successfully in property, whilst Zopa has focused more on
the UK has the advantage of location and language.
financial services. The Web has become the ultimate matchmaker for
But we must not become complacent. There are real challenges
all our needs. It has revolutionised the way we buy and sell, learn and
ahead. Only 30% of UK small businesses do transactions on line,
teach, discuss, meet, greet and even marry.
excluding them from larger sales and savings. 1 million technology
Africa has the fastest growing number of web users. I was invited to
sector jobs need to be filled by 2020. That looks a tall order since 11
speak in Nigeria for the first time in December. As I boarded the plane
million UK adults are still not on line. The number of women in the UK
at Heathrow, it was a bitterly cold day. It was literally a baptism of fire
technology sector is falling. On present trends only 1% of the sector
as I stepped into the oven like heat of Lagos 7 hours later. But apart
will be female by 2040.
from the temperature, what struck me after I spoke to thousands at
There is a real problem which needs to be addressed in retail. In
the National Stadium, was the Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit. 47%
the UK more than 3 million people work in this sector. But the number
of Nigerians access the web via smart phones. Perhaps it is the web
of employees required for each £1,000 worth of products sold online,
that will do more to close the gap between the first and third world
against the numbers required for traditional retailing is a ratio of 1:3.
economies than anything else. Educational opportunities are being
So any increase in online retailing will inevitably cause significant falls
extended on a global scale, through massive open online courses,
in employment. In 2013 Blockbuster, HMV and Jessops all ended due
from Khan Academy’s tutorials which reach 10 million students per
to their inability to adjust to the changing online world.
month to Coursera which offers over 100 courses. 12 | Endeavour Magazine
Innovation has always driven advances in our standard of living.
Buying goods and services online is
started to think about, such as the privacy
usually the cheaper option. Through
implications of wearable technology and
the Web, households will spend less
the regulation of driverless cars. This will
on groceries, utilities and clothing .
be no longer science fiction, but science
But what will happen to those who
fact, sooner than we think. There are
lose their jobs, as more goods and
serious problems such as cybercrime and
services are provided online? The
cyberbullying, which political leaders do
answer maybe that people should develop skills that complement rather than compete with computers and the digital world. So I would suggest, as Government policy, more investment in sectors dealing with infrastructure, education and research. We also have to ask whether our political, public and corporate leaders have the required skills and understanding of the digital sector. I do not believe they have. This results in a lack of wise policies and choices about our future, in which technology will be at the heart. It is worrying that only 4 FTSE 100 companies have a Chief Technology Officer or digital expert on their plc board, despite the internet revolution their businesses face. None of our political leaders have a science or technology background. Yes, they have advisers, but traditionally the Civil Service is not from a tech savvy background. There are policy issues which
Governments
“
Radio took 38 years to acquire 50 million users and TV took 13 years. The internet needed only 4 years, whilst Facebook blitzed there in 10 months! So communication is clearly faster. But has the Web made our lives better?”
recognise as issues, but seeing is not the same as solving. The way we access the Web will change. As more
infrastructure
gets
connected to internet technology, it will no longer just be linked to computers. Today the web has 575 million host computers, but it is forecast that billions of sensors will become connected to buildings, bridges, fridges and freezers. The amount of data or information we can access will increase exponentially. Not only will the web spread to more countries, it will support more languages. The fact is that most of the history of the web is still ahead of us, so we need to address these issues now. When Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the Web 25 years ago, he had in mind universal access and inclusion for all. But presently only 25% of the world’s population use the web, so education and access remain just some of the challenges of the internet. It was Sir Walter Scott in a poem in 1808 who first wrote about “a tangled web”. Walt was right.
have barely Endeavour Magazine | 13
CLS 250 CDI AMG SPORT COUPÉ BY STEVE WARMAN
F
or the discerning driver who is looking for something tasteful
with the super smooth seven speed automatic gearbox.
and upper-crust but doesn’t want to have to re-mortgage their
Never short of power, whatever the situation this is a benchmark
house to cover running costs the Mercedes-Benz CLS 250
blend of low running costs and genuine speed. Of course if you go for
AMG Sport was probably made for you. With a stylish exterior and
the V6 diesel engine you’ll find it to be a bit more refined and certainly
luxurious interior this vehicle of choice for the cultured businessman
a touch faster but that will incur far higher running costs that will put
has troves to offer with some particular benefits that have to be taken
some buyers off.
into account.
The Running Costs
Should you choose the AMG Sport? I would go for the AMG Sport.
With a 2.1 litre diesel engine the CLS 250 returns in the region of
While it’s £3000 pricier than your normal CLS it makes up for it
54.3 mpg on the combined fuel economy cycle and emits 138g/km of
in the range of extras that improve upon an impeccable standard of
CO2 which makes it rather competitive for such a large car and during
driving. The 19inch alloys combine with sports-tuned suspension to
our roading we saw just less than 44mpg without much effort which
give it a more sportier and confident ride and the brakes have been
means a realistic range of between 600 – 700 miles per tank of diesel.
upgraded to provide better stopping power. You get an AMG body-
While considerate on fuel it doesn’t sacrifice strength or speed
styling kit too, which includes front and rear bumper tweaks while
and the CLS 250 hit the mark in the sprint from 0-62mph in 7.5
the LED headlights are another standard feature, along with a special
seconds with a top speed of 150mph. The strength in the toque was at
front grille.
500Nm, 201bhp and all of it is carefully calibrated to work seamlessly 14 | Endeavour Magazine
Inside, you’ll find AMG badging cloistered around the cabin.
It has a sports steering wheel with buttons for the multimedia
we would like to keep. Assistance
addition but really should only be used with proper driving techniques
system, a black roof lining, DAB
Pack, which includes blind spot
because like anything if the car becomes dirty you can’t see anything
digital radio and a manual mode
monitoring
radar-guided
out of it. There is only so much that can be done. Heating seats were
for the gearbox controlled with
cruise control that adjusts the
particularly appreciated given the cold winter we’ve had this month
steering wheel paddles and the
car’s speed to stop you from rear
and the memory functionality for the front seats proved useful when
pedals are stainless steel.
ending the car in front of you and
you have that get in and go urge.
Optional extras
The
Driving
six disc DVD player are available. The reversing camera is a useful
and
damaging the beautiful face of this Mercedes chariot. I found
In the end
Our test car came with every
the active lane-keeping system
extra we could expect and all of
particularly useful, a system that
packed with technology it works well with the driver predicting
them added weight and credence
vibrates and notifies you should
problems and hazards to make the driving experience one of both
to
experience.
you drift out of your lane which is
pleasure and safety. As its name suggests the Sport is superbly
Usually, we find added extras to
helpful should you be driving on
capable at high speeds, providing a smooth ride throughout but at the
be the marmite of our reviews,
heavy motor ways.
same time if you’re looking for city driving you’ll get a comfortable,
the
driving
some love them, some don’t have
Entertainment upgrades to
the pallet for them but we found
a 14-speaker surround sound
it difficult to decide which ones
system and an interchangeable
The CLS 250 AMG Sport is lovely to drive and it looks great,
reliable vehicle too.
Endeavour Magazine | 15
FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM BY STEVE WARMAN
P
ractical, feels great to drive, has the looks to boot and some
like merely handy options, but to the van driver/worker who spends
additions that reveal an insight into what the van driver
so much time in their vehicle these additions become essentials. It’s
requires on the roads today. Gone is the old Transit’s boxy
as if the designers spent days travelling with van drivers and taking
exterior, the Custom benefits from rounded edges and flowing line. The new rear headlight stacks give it a far more modern look and has made it a better competitor against rival vans.
notes. This theory of mine is proved that the steering wheel can finally be adjusted for rake and reach, the angle has been adjusted, tilted
With the Base trim or Limited trim which offers protection against
away from the horizontal plane, like they have in drucks, the seats
scrapes, the interior of the van is made more spacious by removing
also have more manouervability so the driving position is actually
the chunky dash and replacing it with one straight out of a Ford Focus.
very comfortable which makes the Custom feel more like driving a car
In there is the large cup holder for drive and passenger and a scooped
rather than a bulky truck.
bottle bin for large drinks- something that not all vans have but always proves to be useful. The middle seat folds down to reveal a desk for writing and another
Practicality In keeping with the image of the designers spending days taking
pair of cup holders, the roof has a sunglasses holder and on the left of
notes on what their clientele need in their vehicles, the workability
the driver’s shoulders are two coat hooks, in front of the driver there
of the Custom makes it superior to other vans just by the intelligence
is a pop up lid to an additional storage space with a 12volt socket and
behind the design. Three Euro pallets can fit in the rear and the LED
USB port. IN here you ca plug in a sat-nav unit, mobile phone or music
lights inside make it easy to see what’s going on for packing and
player while keeping all of those wires at bay and there is a second
storing. Tow trailers start at 2000 kg can be hauled along and to assist
12volt plug near the passenger too. By themselves these may seem
the driver if the trailer starts to sway the Custom will sense this and
16 | Endeavour Magazine
This is the batmobile of the van world.
reduce the engine torque and
weight vans are made to take it’s
Custom has passed admirably receiving five stars from Euro NCAP –
applies the brakes to appropriate
surprising why this isn’t standard
the first van ever in this sector. It’s also the first van in the class to gain
wheels to stop it. Also on hill
practise, but the Custom is
Euro NCAP Advanced rewards for the safety technology available on
starts it won’t roll backwards- at
setting the standard to change
a Commercial Vehicle.
all- whichever way you’re facing.
that.
This really is a very clever van.
The
Airbags are standard for drivers while optional for passengers but reshaped
bodywork
the beauty is that upon heavy front impact the steering wheel is pulled
Cornering lights and parking
might be pretty but it’s very safe,
away from the driver to prevent your ribs turning into a beartrap for
sensors make it a breeze for
too. Compared to the existing
your organs.
city driving and power foldable
Transit, the bodywork is made
On the options list are a speed limiter and a Lane Keeping Alert -
mirrors will stop them from
up of 18% more high-strength
the latter vibrates the steering wheel if it senses the van is drifting out
being removed by hasty drivers.
steel with most of this steel used
of position. It also shows a mug-of-tea icon in the drivers display if it
around the door openings so
thinks you’re driving too tired.
Safety Custom is Ford’s safest ever Transit. ESP is fitted as standard,
the van keeps its shape after an accident and so you can get out more easily.
Why The Custom? The Custom was awarded the International Van of the Year 2013,
as is Electronic Brake Assist
If you do crash in this, take
and this one tonne panel van is not only very practical, but it’s great to
and there are disc brakes both
some reassurance that 30 full
look at and with the additions inside it’s actually a pleasure to drive.
on the front and on the rear.
crash test validations have been
This is the batmobile of the van world.
When considering how much
carried out and the Transit Endeavour Magazine | 17
GADGETS Nano-Clear.
Nano Technology in a Spray. Star Trek level of Gimmickery.
Advancements in nanotechnology currently offer organizations
cleaning by 50%.
with cargo ships, fleet vehicles, trains and industrial equipment a
Nano-Clear is manufactured
long-term alternate to conventional paints. Nanovere Technologies
using
proprietary
introduces Nano-Clear for Industrial Applications, designed to
nanostructured polymers, which
dramatically improve corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance and
provide
prevent the underlying paint from UV degradation. Nano-Clear is the
crosslink
only industrial coating in the marketplace to restore, enhance and
conventional
preserve newly painted or highly oxidized paint surfaces by 10 years!
today.
dramatically density
3D higher
over
coating
any
system
Crosslink density is
The US Army for example uses two-component conventional
defined as the concentration of
epoxy top-coatings on the decks of Landing Craft Utility – Ships to
chemical bonds within a polymer.
improve abrasion resistance from tanks driving aboard and to prevent
Higher
corrosion. Unfortunately this epoxy system begins to yellow within
chemical bonds within a polymer
3 weeks, oxidize and corrode within 6 months at sea. The Michigan
improve
Department of Transportation for example has to recoat its fleet of
Nano-Clear’s molecular bonds
snow-plow trucks every few years due to corrosion issues from salt.
are
What’s the solution to this multi-billion dollar corrosion issue?
from chemical attack, abrasion
concentrations physical
difficult
to
of
properties. break-down
Nano-Clear penetrates deep into the smallest pores of paint,
and UV rays. Nano-Clear is a
enhancing the underlying color, improving gloss, increasing surface
one-component highly cross-
hardness, and dramatically extending UV resistance (99% gloss
linked
retention). Nano-Clear protects the underlying paint from scratching,
nanocoating system.
polyurethane
hybrid
corrosion, chemicals and UV degradation, while reducing surface It’s been around since 2013,
Yellow Jacket
when the
18K Volts Stun Gun Phone Case.
gun you can slide the case on your iPhone 5/5s and you’re
original Yellow Jacket
immediately equipped with a self-defense instrument
stun gun case arrived on the scene,
capable of producing an 18,000 volt shock to a potential
but it’s made a return to Las Vegas,
attacker. New features for the 2014 model
USA (clearly the place where a near
include ambidextrous triggers and dual safety
lethal stungun phone is needed) in
mechanisms to prevent accidental discharge
it’s new and improved form for CES
which could be devastating and hilarious
2014. Essentially the love child of
depending
an Otterbox and a miniature stun
watching or holding hands.
on
whether
you’re
Optik could be the
Vision of the Future
innovega-inc.com
The vision of the future. No television screens, people sitting
simultaneously, offering an alternative solution to traditional near-
around the house watching the same shows, their hands fluttering
eye displays which create the illusion of an object in the distance so as
in front of them to change channels and open windows. If you were
not to hinder regular vision.
a time traveller from the past you’d think the world had gone mad!
Embedded in the contact lenses are micro-components that
Before we get too excited, the iOptik system does not offer a
enable the user to focus on near-eye images. Light projected by the
solution for potential stigma attached to the less-than-discreet
display (glasses) passes through the center of the pupil and then
Google Glass, as it too requires a pair of glasses to function. Acting
works with the eye’s regular optics to focus the display on the retina,
as a micro-display, the glasses project a picture onto the contact lens,
while light from the real-life environment reaches the retina via an
which works as a filter to separate the real-world from the digital
outer filter. This creates two separate images on the retina which are
environment and then interlaces them into the one image.
then superimposed to create one integrated image, or augmented
According to the company, the technology enables users to focus on objects right in front of their eyes and in the distance 18 | Endeavour Magazine
reality.
drug metabolites rather than
sensitive immunoassay reagents
the drugs themselves, a positive
for the detection of substances
result proves that the person
in fingerprint sweat, using the
being screened has taken the
company’s patented technology
drug and not simply touched a
based on antibody nanoparticles.
contaminated surface.
Reagents are chemicals which
The
device
captures
a
indicate a positive result by
detailed image of the fingerprint
reacting in a certain way if the
during analysis. If required, this
specified substances – such as
image can be used to confirm
drug metabolites – are present.
personal identity in relation to the test result, ruling out false positives due to sample mix ups.
Patented Nanoparticle Technology Intelligent
Putting Your Finger On It intelligentfingerprinting.com
Intelligent Fingerprinting has attracted worldwide interest in
Fingerprinting’s
drug-screening
Global Opportunities Across Many Market Sectors
technique
its technology for a wide range
is
of drug-screening applications
based on pioneering nanoparticle
including criminal justice, drug
technology research by the
rehabilitation, prisons and the
company’s founder and chief
workplace. The technique has
scientific
Professor
potential for many other uses
David Russell of the University
including healthcare diagnostics
of
and
East
officer, Anglia.
Professor
Russell’s research, which has been published in several leading
homeland
security
applications. In
2012
Intelligent
scientific journals, is focussed
Fingerprinting raised £2m in
Intelligent Fingerprinting specialises in the development of non-
on the study of metabolites and
funding from a consortium of
invasive diagnostic screening technology for fast and convenient
their detection within sweat.
private US-based investors, as
point-of-care testing and the company has designed the world’s first
Through this work he discovered
well as government funding for
handheld fingerprint drug-testing device, which is expected to go
that information about a person’s
pilot studies within the NHS and
into pilot production in early this year (2014). Requiring only a single
lifestyle, such as drug-taking
forensics services.
fingerprint sample to screen for commonly abused groups of drugs,
habits, could be obtained by
this compact and portable device provides results in less than ten
analysing their fingerprints.
minutes.
Drug Screening From a Single Fingerprint The company’s ground-breaking diagnostic technique detects
Building
on
Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting
is
a
spin-out
Professor
company from the University of
Russell’s discovery, Intelligent
East Anglia (UEA). The company
Fingerprinting’s specialised team
is based in Norwich, England and
of scientists has developed highly
employs eleven people.
drug use by analysing chemicals (known as metabolites) contained in the minute traces of sweat found in a fingerprint. Metabolites are chemicals produced by the body as a result of normal metabolic processes. They can be used to identify the substances a person has ingested, inhaled or injected. Because the technique detects the
Endeavour Magazine | 19
HEADLINES
Portugal,’’ Les Enluminures researcher Laura Light said. ‘’Portugal was extremely secretive about her trade routes during this period, explaining why their presence there wasn’t widely known.’’ Peter Trickett, an award-winning historian and author of Beyond Capricorn, has been a long standing advocate for the theory that a
NEW DISCOVERY COULD REWRITE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
F
Portuguese maritime expedition mapped the coast of Australia in 1521-22, nearly a century before the Dutch landing. ‘’It is not surprising at all that an image of a kangaroo would have turned up in Portugal at some point in the latter part of the 16th century. It could be that someone in the Portuguese exhibition had this manuscript in their possession,’’ he said. The National Library of Australia curator of maps Martin Woods said that while the image looked like a kangaroo or a wallaby, it alone was not proof enough to alter Australia’s history books. ‘’The likeness of the animal to a kangaroo or wallaby is clear enough, but then it could be another animal in south-east Asia, like
or a long time there has been a theory that the Portuguese
any number of deer species, some of which stand on their hind legs to
were the first to set foot upon Australian soil, long before the
feed off high branches,’’ Dr Woods said.
Dutch or the English. Found within the letters of a 16th century
Portuguese manuscript is a tiny drawing of a kangaroo curled up. The document, acquired by Les Enluminures Gallery in New York, depicts a sketch of an apparent kangaroo (‘’canguru’’ in Portuguese) nestled in its text and is dated between 1580 and 1620. This has led
Additionally what has not been taken into account is that ancient texts have been defaced by scholars in the past with the sole intention of causing trouble. ‘’For now, unfortunately the appearance of a long-eared bigfooted animal in a manuscript doesn’t really add much.’’
researchers to believe that images of the marsupial were already
The value of the manuscript has been set at $US15,000 ($16,000)
being circulated by the time the Dutch ship Duyfken landed upon the
by Les Enluminures Gallery, who acquired the processional from a
Australian coast in 1606.
rare book dealer in Portugal and will exhibit the piece as part of an
It is known that Portugal was extremely secretive about her trade routes during this period, which explains why their presence there wasn’t widely known. The processional (pocket-sized manuscript), contains text and
exhibition. The kangaroo is not alone, in other letters of text two male figures in tribal dress with bare naked torsos and crowns of leaves can be seen and Ms. Light said they could very well be Aborigines.
music for a liturgical procession and is inscribed with the name
John Gascoigne, Fellow of the Australian Academy of the
Caterina de Carvalho, believed to be a nun from Caldas da Rainha in
Humanities, said that proving this theory that the Portuguese were
western Portugal.
the first Europeans to arrive in Australia would be ‘’forever difficult
If proved correct the manuscript could precede what is believed to be the first European docking in Australia. Which could cause waves
to document because of their secrecy and because so many of the records were destroyed in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755’’.
as the European discovery of Australia has officially been credited to
‘’The possible date span for the manuscript goes up to 1620, which
the Dutch voyage headed by Willen Janszoon in 1606, but historians
would accommodate the arrival of Willen Janszoon in the Duyfken in
have suggested the country may already have been explored by other
northern Australia in 1606,’’ Professor Gascoigne said.
western Europeans.
He speculated the images could come from a 1526 trip to Papua.
‘’A kangaroo or a wallaby in a manuscript dated this early is proof
‘’Looking at it from a European perspective, it is surely evocative to
that the artist of this manuscript had either been in Australia, or
wonder what these exotic images must have meant to the Portuguese
even more interestingly, that travellers’ reports and drawings of the
nun gazing at them from within the confines of her convent’s walls,’’
interesting animals found in this new world were already available in
Ms Light said.
20 | Endeavour Magazine
NO ROADS FOR OLD MEN
A
ccording to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)
more hazardous than faster
there are seven million drivers over the age of 65 on the
moving vehicles because the
UK’s roads. Considering how small an island Britain is,
road design favours avoiding
compared to other countries it paints a clear picture on how many
faster vehicles than overtaking
older drivers there are worldwide and this explains why so many
slower ones (an example of
cars nowadays seem to be able to drive themselves.
this is how difficult it is to
The number of drivers over 65 reached 7,191,192 in
overtake a cue of twelve cars
November 2013. This makes up for 19 per cent of all drivers with
stuck behind one slow moving
full driving licences. The figures come from driving licence data
vehicle who is compensating.)
published by the DVLA in December 2013 and they also show that
I
am
actually
rather
over 4 million (4,068,498) drivers are over the age of 70 and over 1
embarrassed that I didn’t see
million (1,101,779) drivers over the age of 80 and that 195 drivers
it before. The automotive
are over 100 years old. Additionally that of the drivers over 65,
industry’s preoccupation with
over three hundred thousand of them (367,711) or five per cent
taking the responsibility of
have points on their licence.
driving responsibly out of the
For a long time I was wondering why companies like Ford,
hands of the drivers is not a
Audi and VW are shovelling so much cash into the creation of
commentary on the lack of
autonomous cars while Google already has them driving on the
responsibility of young drivers
roads, but now it makes perfect sense. People are living longer
but more so a realistic look at
while their faculties are not and while some of the older ones
how drivers are going to be
may not be able to remember where they left their keys driving is
on the road for longer and to
something is stored in the deep memory and it isn’t mandatory for
protect others from them they
drivers of a certain age to redo their tests.
make cars that can drive for
So in their wisdom the automotive industry has taken it upon themselves to create cars that can do the driving for them. Thrown into the mix is that compared to younger drivers, who
February Books
themselves. Could it get to a point where
every
driver
will
learn most of their traffic manouvers and road etiquette from Need
undergo a test to see if they
For Speed and Grand Theft Auto, older drivers are in fact safer than
are able to drive? Is the future
younger drivers. Where older drivers may have slower reaction
of automotion to have a car
times they use their experience on the road to compensate by
that will not start until you can
driving at slower speeds and allowing more space between them
prove, via an onboard test that
and other road users.
you are not drunk, that you
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “In twenty years time,
are not senile and that you are
one in ten people will be over 80 years old. Responding to an older
able to drive safely and at a
population is a significant policy issue for government, health and
safe (not too fast nor too slow)
transport agencies – a greater number of people will require help
speed? If you fail would the car
with their mobility and acting now can ensure the right support
just shut down and refuse to
networks are in place numbers increase. Easy access to driving
budge?
assessments, better advice from the medical profession and car
It’s true. The only way to
and road designs that mitigate the effects of ageing should all be
make the road safe is to take
top in 2014. The overarching policy aim should be to keep people
away the drivers.
independent and driving safer for as long as possible.” Statistics aside, while older drivers may have less-accidents themselves I would be interested to see how many accidents are caused by them. Slower drivers on the open highway can often be
Endeavour Magazine | 21
EMERGING HOSPITAL ROOM DISINFECTION SYSTEM SHOULD SAVE BILLIONS
I
n what is believed to be an important first, an entire ward at
Shannon, President of Medizone
a public hospital remains 100% free from MRSA for 6 months
International
after a major outbreak is quashed – thanks to the introduction
Director
of a new hospital room disinfection technology.
and
General
a
former of
the
Laboratory Center for Disease
In early June 2013, seven patient rooms on a 14 room ward
Control, Health Canada, “that in
at Quinte Health Care’s Belleville General Hospital in Ontario,
addition to full room disinfection,
Canada were quarantined after being hit by a rapidly spreading
all support equipment associated
strain of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
with each contaminated room
MRSA is one of the most common causes of serious staph infections
were
acquired in hospitals, globally.
AsepticSure – and this may have
also
disinfected
using
Dr. Dick Zoutman, Chief of Staff for the hospital, was quoted as
played an important role as well
saying, “On average we have had one or two new MRSA cases per
in virtually eliminating MRSA
month on the ward. This is in keeping with averages being reported
from the ward. These mobile
within the health care system nationally. In June we noted a
pieces of patient care equipment
rapidly spreading MRSA problem on the ward that reached seven
are notoriously hard to clean
rooms over a short period of time. That is when we began using
by
Medizone International’s AsepticSure® room disinfection system.
disinfecting them very easy.
hand.
AsepticSure
made
It is the only system we know of that can actually eliminate 100%
“Given that hospital acquired
of infective pathogens with a single room treatment. We have
infections are now considered
learned that obtaining even a 99.9% bacterial kill is not enough, as
to be the fourth leading cause of
the remaining 0.1% of bacteria immediately begin growing back
death in both the United States
causing the problem of infection to start all over again in a few short
and Canada, this could be a game
hours. What is more, AsepticSure is proven to kill bacterial spores
changer.”
that can lurk in hospital rooms for months.” Dr. Zoutman is also a
“Not only has this result at
co-inventor along with Dr. Michael E. Shannon of the AsepticSure
Quinte Health Care Belleville
system.
General Hospital demonstrated
“The results were immediate. The MRSA was immediately and
a new standard for what a clean
entirely eliminated from the ward. The AsepticSure system was
hospital could be,” stated Dr.
straightforward to use and quick, with complete room disinfection
Shannon, “but thousands of lives
occurring in an hour. To prove to ourselves that the AsepticSure
might be saved with the wide
system was working, we performed cultures of 120 surfaces of
adoption of AsepticSure while
the treated rooms before and after the AsepticSure system was
actually reducing the overall
used. The results were amazing. Virtual complete elimination of all
cost of hospital care by avoiding
bacteria on the room surfaces after AsepticSure was used in the
the cost of treating these largely
rooms.”
preventable
infections.
The
“However, the longer term effects were not fully appreciated
cost of which the United States
until after a six-month follow up had been completed. Only then
Center for Disease Control
was it realized that not only had the rooms remained free of MRSA,
places at $25,000 per new
no further cases of MRSA were noted on the ward during this
infection.”
period.” “It is noteworthy in this regard,” stated Dr. Michael E. 22 | Endeavour Magazine
FACEBOOK LOSES 11M TEENAGE USERS
A
new analysis by digital strategists iStrategy Labs indicated
office worker with too many rules and regulations Don’t Do This and
that Facebook is bleeding out teenage members at a
Don’t Do That for teenagers to enjoy and trust. “Rules” = parents.
ridiculous pace. 11million in since 2011!
For young adults it is more useful to be on Facebook than it is cool.
While they still have more than enough members to keep their
Facebook is no longer the Big Thing, it is the Old Thing. It’s “Dad’s”
position, this loss of membership from the younger demographic,
website. Useful yes. But not cool. It is far cooler to rebel and to not
which is still where Facebook says it targets, has caused the social
have a Facebook profile.
networking platform to lose additional points on the stock market
While Facebook will not go the same way as MySpace, Faceparty
and have had many shareholders and investors shying away from it as
or Bebo and become a redundant gimmick, because it is too important
they see the writing on the Wall.
to the functioning and communication of too many adults, it will
The reason is quite clear of course. Facebook’s creator, Mark Zuckerberg was himself only a teenager when he created the
continue to lose its teenage members- it’s natural because teenagers are programmed to rebel against their parents
programme and at the time spoke for his age demographic which
SnapChat, WhatsApp and Facetime these are becoming the new
propelled the success of the platform worldwide at an unseen speed.
things which teenagers are frolicking to because it’s easier for them
However, since becoming a billionaire, since selling out to the
to contact their friends while creating a barrier against those seeking
trading platforms, since making himself into a grey-hoody wearing
to infringe their privacy and their freedom (parents, or Facebook).
icon for adult-nerdome he has gone out of his way to distance himself
Making something that their parents don’t have and don’t understand-
from his origins and has frankly lost touch with the people he should
thereby creating something that in their minds is uniquely theirs.
be looking out for. Facebook has now become a tool for young adults, for publishers and journalists, it has become the MSN of the modern
So the lesson that everyone should learn is a simple one. Nothing lasts forever and even billionaire CEOs become redundant.
Endeavour Magazine | 23
THE ROMANCE IS FLYING THIS Valentines Day
WRITTEN BY SHANNAH LAUREN
I
t’s that time of year again. The roses are being clipped, the Cupid
of what surrounds you. While doing so, you may find more than you
and heart decor is being strung, the chocolates have been put on
expected. The city was built upon water by people who believed that
the shelves, and what are your plans for the romantic evening of
water was an ally, leaving the city with such a enchanting unique
St. Valentine? Whether its a new hot fling or a fifteen year marriage,
design. There isn’t much of a nightlife in Venice, this is the perfect
it’s always important to make this holiday special. It may be the day
opportunity enjoy a glass of wine, and take in the mesmerizing views
that will form your relationship status into an eternity of love and
upon the quiet city at night. Although it isn’t the cheapest to stay in
devotion, or it may be a day that you can remind the person you love
Venice on the island, it’s absolutely recommended to stay as little as
that they truly are your world. You could plan the average valentines
one night as you cannot find that kind of romance on a day trip.
date and book in a weeks in advance to the most expensive restaurant
Paris is all wrapped about the architecture, that makes you want to
in town, or you could spend the same amount of money taking your
grab and give a long lingering kiss to that special person next to you. It
loved one on the trip that neither of you could forget. We are here
may be the symmetry and open spaces that enamors your imagination
to help you determine what destination is perfect for you, and your
or the obvious, Eiffel Tower. This city is old but refreshing, elegant,
spouse to plan for that vacation your hearts desire!
artistic, musical, quaint but at the same time a large city. It can inspire
Venice, Italy, also being called La Serenissima “the most serene”,
you, especially if work in the artistic field, a trip to Paris can actually
is one of the most romantic destinations in the world, not only for
push you to the next level of creativity. While enjoying your romance
couples but for the mind. It’s the beauty of the city that captivates
in Paris, make sure you go to the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the 13th
your soul, leaving your thoughts in endless possibility and wonder,
century church, Sainte Chapelle. Lets not forget, you are destined to
encouraging you to fall more in love with your spouse but even your
win a girls heart by bringing her to the fashion capital of the world.
inner self. The romantic aspect isn’t behind the touristy route, it’s all
Rome, also in Italy, is one of the most charming cities the world.
around Italy especially away from the tourist attractions, so do us
It’s not as quiet and quaint as Venice, and busier with tourists but
a favor and get yourself lost in Venice! Enjoy a stroll, and take in all
you can find serenity in the gardens of the Villa Borghese, the city’s
24 | Endeavour Magazine
most Central Park. If you and
the Red Light District. You can
your spouse are religious, this is
take a piece of history with you
a perfect time to bring you both
and visit the Anne Frank House,
together in joining an audience
or even the Van Gogh Museum.
to see the pope, in which they
You will find endless hidden
have on Wednesday mornings
alleys with gorgeous restaurants
in St. Peter’s Square. While
and cafes to enjoy a table for two.
you are there, make sure you
If the whether is decent enough,
praise Michelangelo’s beautiful
find Spanjer en van Twist where
frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.
the canal-side Terrance can
It’s the beauty in Rome that can
only fit the two of you. After an
actually influence someone to
evening of long walks around this
not only visit, but want to stay
bedazzling city, enjoy the night
forever; that’s what romance is
life by either enjoying a ride on
a about. There is so much that
a charter cruise with a bottle of
Rome can offer you, between
wine or watch a live band over a
throwing a coin into Trevi
few pints with your love.
Fountain or enjoy a great night out at the Opera.
No matter what type of relationship you have, how long
Amsterdam is known for its
you have been together or even
beauty, but also it’s seductive
how many kids you have; you
city. This is a great city for long
must find that escape for you as
term couples, but also enjoying
a couple. Valentines day is that
a laugh with a new fling. It’s full
perfect time of year you can
of excitement, and if you need
dedicate your time to simply say,
that boost in your relationship,
“I love you”, or show how much
Amsterdam is the place to be!
you love your spouse by taking
Great music scene, hot night life,
them away this Valentines. Safe
and don’t even get us started on
travels lovebirds! Endeavour Magazine | 25
SANDOS PAPAGAYO A Top Marks HOTEL
T
he Sandos Papagayo Hotel in Lanzarote promises an all inclusive beach experience and delivers far beyond that promise. Situated on
rocky but beautiful Playa de las Coloradas, the hotel is on the eastern edge of the Playa Blanca resort, right where one of the island’s spectacular natural parks begins. A 10 minute walk across rocky desert-looking hills and valleys, all volcanic in origin, takes you to three other beaches, all covered in fine white sand. If however you prefer the sunbeds and umbrellas approach to spending time on the beach, the hotel organizes regular bus trips to Playa Dorada, with its convenient shops, pubs and even a Burger King. The hotel itself is impressive first because of its size. One central building, for the reception area, offices, shops and games area, seven buildings containing 488 rooms, a French a la carte restaurant, an international restaurant, and three thematic ones - Italian, Mexican
26 | Endeavour Magazine
and Oriental, five outdoor pools, a spa, a theatre, a children’s area and an assortment of bars, all combine to offer an incredible experience for the whole family. In fact, their goal at Sandos Papayago is to plan everything for your holiday, leaving you free to relax. Food is available throughout the day at the various restaurants, the children are kept entertained and involved in various activities, such as rehearsing for a Disney-themed musical put on at the theatre, there are trips to all the important sights of the island leaving straight from the reception, and you can even find full bookcases in the lobby in case you run out of books to read at the side of the pool. And if you really want to make the most of your visit, the golden Royal Elite bracelet gives you a few more advantages. You are guaranteed a room with an ocean view (and one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world), a bottle of Cava waiting for you on ice, beach towel, bathrobe and slippers,
www.sandos.com (+34) 928 51 91 11 C/Las Acacias, 6 C.P. 35580 Playa Blanca Lanzarote, Spain
breakfast in a different, less crowded restaurant, a chocolate on your pillow every evening, and, best of all, access to the Royal Elite Lounge. Here, you will find a comfortable and very quiet area with leather sofas, soft music, some of the best wifi in the hotel, a self-service bar stocked with all your favourite alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and a range of canapĂŠs. Officially the hotel may be ranked as 4 stars but its location, facilities and service, and most of all the attitude and friendliness of its staff make it a top marks place to visit on our scale.
Endeavour Magazine | 27
RIFT VALLEY TEA 00255 754 768200 WWW.INTAFRICA.COM
28 | Endeavour Magazine
Building their Blending factory in Dar es Salaam, the fifth factory in the group, Rift Valley have expanded their Tea operations and in doing so, created new employment opportunities for the locals. WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER
DOTTING THE I’S and CROSSING THE T’S Endeavour Magazine | 29
RIFT VALLEY TEA
Currently, the company produces over 10,000 tons of Tea per year and is one of the two largest tea producers in Tanzania, operating three tea estates with factories in Southern Tanzania. Mufindi, Luponde and Kibena with smallholder factories in Ikanga, Lupembe.
PEDRO ELECTRONET CO LTD The Hub of Engineering and Technology
“T
he company has grown substantially over the last ten years,” said Noel Lindsay Smith, Rift Valley Head of Tea, “We produce a wide range of teas including black CTC
tea, orthodox tea, green and organic tea. Additionally we also have a range of organic herbs.” During the substantial growth of the company over the last
Dealers in: • • • •
Domestic Installation Industrial Installation Commercial Installation Maintenance of Electrical & Electronic Equipments • Air Compressor Installation • Generator set installation • Fire alarm installation
decade, Rift Valley Tea have implemented innovative changes in • Air Compressor Installation(GST Addressable systems) • Intruder alarm • Electric fence(High tension) • Access control installation • Telephone installation
irrigation, harvesting technology and factory automation. Most notable is their focus on their employees.
Hand Picked Rift Valley Tea employs 2,500 people and operates a number of social responsibility programmes aimed at uplifting its communities. Providing housing for employees at each estate and community centres for use by the staff and their families the company has made investing in its staff it’s primary focus. “We also provide schools for employees’ children, including kindergarten, and primary schools up to the age of 14 years old,” Noel says, “And free medical care too.” Their approach to managing people extends beyond merely the company as Rift Valley have over the last twenty years developed
Nyerere Road, near TBC, Tanzania Occupation Health Service Administration Block, 1st Floor, P.O. Box 40439, Dar es Salaam Tanzania.
+255 719 563 770 sales@pedroelectronet.co.tz www.pedroelectronet.co.tz 30 | Endeavour Magazine
a close working relationship with smallholder out-growers in the vicinity of its estate operations and factories. In addition, the company provides transport, fertilizer at cost, credit, extension services and agronomic advice and this simple formula has seen exponential growth in smallholder production in
have completed more than 100 projects in the mining industry We have completedWemore than 200 projects in various industries
the Rift Valley operational areas. For example, last year the total smallholder purchases reached 3,000 tons of made tea, returning nearly US$1,500,000 to the local economy and representing over 30% of the company production!
WE LOOK AFTER THE M IN EPCM Project Management Specialist company We have completed more than 100 projects in the mining industry developing and implementing projects for more than a decade
WE LOOK AFTER THE M EPCM ProjectIN Management Specialist company developing and implementing projects for more than a decade Project Management Specialist company developing and implementing projects for more than a decade
A Look Back Although Rift Valley tea was formed in 2013 the history of Rift Valley Tea is deeply rooted in the area and tea, the individual components began with Mufindi Tea &Coffee Limited which was formed in 1958 who acquired Luponde tea plantations in 1987, Ndolela Farm in 1998, Kibena Tea Company Limited in 2008, Ikanga Tea Company Limited which was commissioned in 2012 and finally Rift valley Tea Solutions was formed in 2013. Noel tells us that the Itona estates are located in the Mufindi district near Iringa and the tea here grows at an altitude of 1800m and produces tea from September to June. The estates are irrigated via a network on dams that allows extended production during the dry
Suite A10, 1st Floor Building 88A Tijgervallei Office Park Pony Road Tijgervallei Pretoria Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: Cell:
Suite A10, 1st Floor Building 88A Tijgervallei Office Park Pony Road Tijgervallei Pretoria Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: Cell:
Fax:
+27(0)12 809 1028 +27 (0) 82 497 2453 / +27 (0) 83 327 9030 086 559 1370
Website: e-mail:
http://www.projectway.co.za info@projectway.co.za
+27(0)12 809 1028 +27 (0) 82 497 2453 / +27 (0) 83 327 9030 086 559 1370
Website: e-mail:
http://www.projectway.co.za info@projectway.co.za
season in the mono-modal climate and the estates comprise of 900ha of tea of which 35% in clonal. “The tea is processed at a central factory, Itona, which is a conventional three line CTC factory with the capacity to process
Fax:
4,200tons of Made tea per annum,” he explains, “There is a large out-grower scheme started in 1990 that supplies Itona factory with nearly 25% of its throughput. In 2009 out-growers supplied nearly 4,500tons of green leaf for processing, worth over Usd$460,000 to the small holders.” All of the estates and the factory are Fairtrade accredited and certified Rain Forest Alliance and are registered by the Ethical Tea Partnership who governed and oversees the ethical planting, use of land and care of staff. Luponde Tea estates are some of the highest in Tanzania, located at an altitude of 2200m. These pristine estates have been producing organic tea for over 20 years and are amongst the oldest organic tea producers in the world. The estates comprise of 735ha and process 1,400tons of tea per annum, 500tons of which is organic. Production is between November and May, after which the temperatures drop and growth is very limited. More recently Luponde estates have diversified into a range of speciality products including orthodox tea and green tea in organic and conventional forms and organic herbs including peppermint, chamomile and lemon verbena.
Kibena Tea Limited Tea Limited is a subsidiary of MTC, purchased in 2008, located in the Njombe district at an Altitude of 1700m ASL. The 730ha of clonal tea are fully irrigated and 100% machine harvested – the first in Africa. The estate has a modern, state of the art tea processing unit, capable of handling over 3,500tons of made tea per annum. Kibena has also been a strong supporter of small holder tea producers in the surrounding area purchasing over 4,500tons of green leaf per annum. Endeavour Magazine | 31
RIFT VALLEY TEA
Ikanga Tea Company Limited Ikanga is a new CTC, back tea Factory, constructed and opened in 2012 in the Lupembe area of the Njombe region. The project is specifically designed to purchase, process and market the smallholder tea grown in the area. There are over 2500ha of smallholder tea in the area supported by 5000farmers. The Factory is 75%owned by MTC and 25% of the shares have been offered to the newly formed Lupembe Tea Holders Trust (LTFT) smallholders. The factory provides extensive services to the smallholders to encourage growth and sustainability of the smallholder farmers supplying greenleaf to the factory.
Ndolela
buyers’ responsibility. There is also a growing requirement by end users for blends, rather than straight estate teas for general use.” Rift Valley Tea Solutions have obtained bonded warehousing facilities and a new state of the art blending plant to blend tea from Tanzania and other African regional tea producers. To bolster this they have employed the services of a professional team with many years of experience in blending and international trading to enable the company to deliver tea to international customers to their exact standard and requirement. “Dar es Salaam has a good port with a substantial international shipping feed that can supply to all locations around the world,” he tells us, “It is ideally located as a hub, to import teas from leading African regional tea producers.”
Ndolela is a greenfield project located in the Ruvuma region of Tanzania at the base of Ndolela Mountain and on the Ruhuhu river at an altitude of 1200m. RVC own over 5400ha of land, which is planned
Dar Es Salaam’s New Blending Facility The new factory is ideally located in the industrial area of Dar es
to be developed into a 1200ha, state of the art tea plantation. A full
Salaam with good access to the ports. The factory is 2400m2 in size,
feasibility study has been completed, and grid power will be arriving
and capable of blending over 70tons of tea per day or 16,000tons per
in 2015. The plantation will be fully irrigated, and the harvesting fully
annum. The area has been certified as an EPZ zone and is planned to
mechanised. The mature plantation will be capable of producing over
become the centre of the Tanzanian tea export trade going forward,
6,000tons of Made tea per annum.
Noel tells us.
Rift Valley Tea Solutions And finally, Rift Valley Tea Solutions (RVTS) was set up in 2013 to create a tea trading and tea blending business in Dar es Salaam. “The tea trade internationally,” Noel reveals, “Is in a process of
“The plant will be beneficial to Tanzanian teas in particular as they make up 60% of the blend, and also regional teas from Land-locked tea producers,” Noel explains, “It will provide new market access to teas from Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda, and other East African producers.”
change whereby international buyers, are moving the responsibility
Raw, Straight-line teas of all grades can be blended with teas
of quality control from the traditional internal tasting methods, to the
from multiple origins to produce blend standard recipes to cater
32 | Endeavour Magazine
for international buyers and packers all over the world. The buyers receive a consistent reliable tea, at the standard they require and producers benefit from a reliable market that they can supply that avoids the volatility of the auction centres, allowing them to hedge their teas. “The new company will employ 15 people initially, and this will increase as production lifts,” he continues, “Training in modern tea trade procedures, handling and supply chain are paramountand the new business opens up new possibilities and competitive advantages for the Tanzanian tea industry.” The new blending plant will be fully operational this month (February 2014) and the line, with its modern, highly automated blending unit is designed to give a consistent quality of product. “It is designed to meet Tanzanian and international hygiene and safety standards that include HACCAP, ISO 22,000, Fair-trade, Rain Forest Alliance and Ecocert,” Noel tells us, “The equipment is designed and built in India and is able to handle both traditional tea sacks and ‘big bags’ of 500kgs.” Tea is cleaned, and then blended in an Octagon tower arrangement, 24 times to ensure complete mixing it is then fed into two packing lines where it is digitally batch-weighed and discharged either into 65kg tea sacks or big 500kg bags. “The teas are then palletised via a vacuum lift to ensure efficiency and reduce employee fatigue and the process and blending room is serviced by a state of the art dust extraction system to give a dust free working environment.” There is a hygiene centre for employees and also a QA monitoring area that oversees the entire process. “Employee safety is as important as the tea itself,” Noel concludes.
“
The tea trade internationally,” Noel reveals, “is in a process of change whereby international buyers are moving the responsibility of quality control from the traditional internal tasting methods, to the buyers. There is also a growing requirement by end users for blends, rather than straight estate teas for general use.”
Endeavour Magazine | 33
PETROTRIN 001 868 658 7588 WWW.PETROTRIN.COM
34 | Endeavour Magazine
Known throughout Trinidad and Tobago as one of the island’s foremost employers, recognized as the largest oil and gas producer on the island and the only one with its own refinery, Petrotrin has a vested interest in all exploration and production operations onshore and offshore around T&T. Judging by the massive growth in the global acknowledgement of T&T’s petroleum industry the last two decades have been especially well spent and as the company celebrates its twentieth year we spoke with Vice president of Strategy and Business Development Hemraj Ramdath regards to what the next twenty years will offer. WRITTEN BY DON CAMPBELL
Fuelling THE ISLANDS Endeavour Magazine | 35
PETROTRIN
Investing for the future is a major priority for Hemraj and it is replicated throughout the company and reflected in their investment of $2.7 billion in projects related to gas-to-liquids (GTL) and $14 billion in to the gasoline optimization programme (GOP). Involvement in ambitious projects like this set the pace for the company’s future but keeping them always at the cutting edge of development and new technology.
P
roducing 40% of the oil for the population of Trinidad and
seismological surveys using the latest technology to see what reserves
Tobago, the remainder is sourced globally and this has
at home may lie untouched. This may result in a modest increase, but
become one of the mandates of Hemraj’s time, to increase
after two decades, Hemraj knows that regular modest increases is
the production capacity of the refinery.
how you achieve a long term vision.
Owned by the T&T government they share the initiative and
“Within the next decade we would like to grow from 40,000 bpd
are constantly pressing for global licenses for drilling projects both
to 65,000 bpd,” he explains, “Sourced locally from our own resources.”
onshore and offshore in a bid to extend the reach of Petrotrin beyond the boundaries of their own island.
Concentrated oil resources in the south of the island upon three onshore blocks each in the region of 50,000 to 70,000 acres in total,
Directly employing over 5,500 people and with over 700 local
extend offshore in all directions and through these will be the sites for
affiliates they produce in the region of 45,000 barrels per day of crude
future projects in oil and gas production. Many partnerships between
oil and 180 million cubic feet of gas. Used in a variety of products
Petrotrin and other companies are in place already and while three
across international markets as well as local and regional sectors from
thirds of the onshore wells in Trinidad are handled by the home
automotive petroleum products to aviation fuels.
company in the future others will be invited to join.
“Through a list of mandates one of them is to increase production,” Hemraj says, “Today we produce about 40 percent of our own requirements in Trinidad and the gap between that and our needs is about 100,000bpd. We have to source the difference globally.” It would be considered incredibly ambitious to believe that the gap could be completely eliminated but nevertheless Petrotrin are taken massive strides in reducing it, such as intensive 3 dimensional
Sustainability The sustainability of PETROTRIN falls under their Refining and Marketing Division who are directly responsible for the Company’s refining operations at the Pointe-a-Pierre Refinery as well as the purchase of crude oil and sale of their refined products. Pointe-a-Pierre is unique in many regards, in addition to being the
K.G.C. COMPANY LIMITED was established in 1995 in the
management techniques and operational practices in our quest
heartland of the Petroleum process industries of Trinidad and
for service excellence.
Tobago. In its initial years the company catered to the needs of
Today, K.G.C. Company Limited has grown into a multi-
the major oil and gas production and refining company, in the
disciplinary organization with diverse interests and capabilities.
areas of Civil and Mechanical construction Projects, including
Our range of services now include Marine and On land Civil and
Platform Maintenance and Construction.
Mechanical Engineering (Piling, Key Wall / Jetty Design and
Through our foresight and proactive principles, the management
Construction, etc.), Pipe Construction/Fabrication, On Land and
of the company over the years, has diversified and expanded
Sub Sea Pipe Laying, Steel Structures, Tank Fabrication, Plant and
its operating base geared towards the growing needs of our
Equipment Maintenance and Repairs, Platform Construction
dynamic clientele.
and Maintenance, Under-water Diving, HP Blasting, Labour
In so doing, K.G.C. Company Limited is committed to the
Supply and Equipment Rental.
development
of
our
36 | Endeavour Magazine
technical
capabilities,
resources,
PETROTRIN
only oil refinery in Trinidad and Tobago, it is the only refinery in the
“A balancing ground has to
world to co-exist with a wildlife park, as it shares a compound with
be found where those gifted
Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust. Located on the west coast of Trinidad
individuals can be put into the
on 2,000 acres of land, approximately 35 miles south of the capital,
position
Port of Spain it has the capacity to process a wide variety of crude oil
to promotion,” Hemraj says,
its international marketability,
with varying gravity and sulphur specifications, giving the Company
“Whereas the unionization of the
Petrotrin recently engaged in a
the ability to purchase crude oil from a range of suppliers.
workforce has created an ethos
Clean Fuels Program at Pointe-
than can get in the way of this
a-Pierre involving the Gasoline
development.”
Optimisation Program (GOP)
Focus On Staff
to
be
fast-tracked
benefit the most from them.
New Developments Determined
to
improve
There is a two pronged approach to staffing at Petrotrin that is a
Not that Hemraj doesn’t
combination of training and incentivizing. As a direct result of the high
realize the importance of the
calibre of training experienced employees from Petrotrin have in the
unions,
have
“These vital projects will
past added to the brain drain affecting the pool of experience in the
reached a point and an age of
help to ensure a full conversion
islands as Trinidadians seek work further afield.
their company where they no
capability
Hemraj believes strongly that the success of Petrotrin is
longer have the luxury of time
Hemraj explains, “And enable
entirely reliant on their employees and staffing and only through
and for development to happen
the company to produce cleaner
their development will they reverse their country’s dependence
at the pace that is required to
and
on imported oil. To this end he says that Petrotrin has long been
keep up with other internationals
friendly gasoline and diesel to
considered a preferred place of employment, offering excellent
and to grow the company, those
both regional and international
benefits in the realm of training and job security.
people with the skills have to find
markets and will impact positively
themselves in positions that will
on the company’s profitability
Unionization of the workforce has created some tensions.
38 | Endeavour Magazine
however
they
and the Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) project.
of
more
168,000
bpd,”
environmentally
and viability well into the future.” This combination of a strategic location and very competitive fees makes Pointe-a-Pierre the region’s first choice for third party crude processing and this forms one of many business opportunities Petrotrin holds out to petroleum entrepreneurs on its industrial estate. Further complemented the refinery’s process flexibility is its large efficient ports, Pointe-a-Pierre and Point Fortin can comfortably accommodate vessel sizes from grade carriers to mainland riverine craft and the Port of Pointe-a-Pierre, sheltered in the Gulf of Paria midway along major north-south Atlantic sea-lanes, is the natural provider of bunkering services for all ocean-going craft.
Gasoline Optimization Programme A key project for Petrotrin is the Clean Fuels Upgrade which includes the Gasoline Optimization Program (GOP). This is one of the strategic initiatives being implemented to ensure PETROTRIN’s survival in the face of changing market demands. The project was embarked upon in response to challenges facing the refinery and to improve overall profitability and competitiveness through the
“
These vital projects will help to ensure a full conversion capability of 168,000 bpd and enable the company to produce cleaner and more environmentally friendly gasoline and diesel to both regional and international markets and will impact positively on the company’s profitability and viability well into the future.”
replacement of aged equipment, improved plant reliability and
Endeavour Magazine | 39
PETROTRIN
integrity, reduction in sale of unfinished low value product and
our ability to produce high octane gasoline. Additional benefits
increasing sale of higher valued product and meeting increasingly
include reduced operating and maintenance costs, improved product
stringent gasoline specifications
yield and quality and better environmental compliance.
This project involves the upgrade of the FCCU, which will
A new 8,700 BPD Sulphuric Acid/ Alkylation Unit will replace
increase its capacity from 26,000 to 35,000 BPSD and enables
the BPD Alkylation Unit, and is of sufficient capacity to handle the
Petrotrin to produce more gasoline with improved octane ratings for
increased feedstock generated by the upgraded FCCU. The Alkylate
its gasoline pool and reduce the production of less heavier distillates.
product is a premium high-octane, environmentally friendly gasoline-
Other benefits include reduced compressor maintenance cost,
blending component, which will add to the pool of high-octane
improvement in the energy efficiency and environmental compliance
gasoline, helping to maintain an increased refinery product market
levels due to reduced carbon monoxide and particle emissions.
share and eliminate an earlier need to construct bigger storage and
A new Isomerisation Complex, the Prefractionation Unit produces
shipping facilities for LPG.
feed for the Isomerisation Unit and removes benzene-forming
The 215 Tonnes Per Day “(TPD) Acid Plant, replaces the 60 TPD
compounds from gasoline. The Isomerisation unit improves the
Unit to support the operations of the new Alkylation unit and provide
octane of light gasoline. The product, Isomerate, is an environmentally
for sales to the local market.
friendly blending component that enhances the motor gasoline pool,
Installation of Offsite Facilities and Upgrade of utility system
enabling Petrotrin to better supply premium markets. It also reduces
to create additional facilities for water treating, steam generation,
hydrogen exported to the fuel system, thereby making more hydrogen
electrical power, air and nitrogen will support the new units and
available for reaction processes.
improve the reliability of supply to existing plants. Furthermore,
Alkylation Unit, a continuous Catalytic Regeneration Platformer Complex replaces the older Catalytic Reforming Unit so as to maintain
additional storage and loading infrastructure will handle the additional gasoline production.
HULL SUPPORT SERVICES LTD. • • • • • • • • • • •
Sub Sea Contractors
Commercial Diving Services SBM Installation and Maintenance Non Destructive Examination (NDE) of Offshore Structures In Water surveys on ships and offshore mobile units. Vessel Services Engineering & Project Management Services Splash Zone Protective Coatings Marine Vessels • In Situ Pipe Repair Fabrication • Marine Construction Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) • Wet Blasting Logistics • QA/QC
Office Address: #8B and #8C Edoo’s Industrial Complex , Edoo’s Drive South Trunk, La Romaine, San Fernando Tel: 1 868 298 2260, 298 2274, 298 2266 Email: dive@hullsupport.com
www. hullsupport.com 40 | Endeavour Magazine
MOVIETOWNE 001868 687 21 01 WWW.MOVIETOWN.COM
42 | Endeavour Magazine
Entertainment REDEFINED WRITTEN BY DAEMON SANDS
The MovieTowne brand is a cultural icon in the Caribbean and its name has become synonymous with the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. So far ahead of its time is this venture and so fierce is the drive of its CEO and founder, Derek Chin that it is set to become the standard of entertainment in The West Indies.
Endeavour Magazine | 43
MOVIETOWNE
A lush landscape, tempered with a prominent grace and a rich cultural heritage Trinidad and Tobago has formed the epitome of a welcoming Caribbean paradise. In addition to its outstanding natural beauty, the archipelagic republic which lies off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean is one of the wealthiest countries in the region and on paper enjoys a percapita income many times higher than a majority of the surrounding islands, not to mention the wider Latin American continent.
A
n untouched gem, Trinidad and Tobago enjoy an abundance
Derek
of oil and gas reserves, a naturally tropical environment
entrepreneur
Alexander
Chin,
extraordinaire,
and a vibrant, life-loving people who are making and have
enjoys an extremely dynamic
made significant strides to develop their nation to the point where the
and illustrious career as the
rest of the world are looking at this region of West Indies as one of the
Chairman/CEO of MovieTowne
fastest growing economies.
(Multicinemas
Trinidad
Via a combination of government initiatives aimed at diversifying
Limited); Trinidad Commercial
the national economy and ever increasing investment from private
Development Company Limited;
enterprise, Trinidad and Tobago is laying dominance to its rightful
and Dachin Enterprises. As well
place as the central tourist hotspot of the West Indies. And much
as being a highly motivating
of the credit for this must be given to one of the most visionary and
force in business development
eccentric businessmen to come from the islands, Derek Chin, founder
he is also a keen intellect having
of MovieTowne.
attended Trinity College and St.
Since MovieTowne opened the doors to its flagship Cineplex and shopping entertainment complex in 2002, First Citizens has been an integral part, being the only financial institution. The introduction of the ‘MovieTowne’ brand, provided First Citizens with a number of benefits; from strategically housing the Group’s financial centre and an opportunity to strengthen its Corporate Social Responsibilities via a number of initiatives hosted at the venue. One such initiative is the Secondary Schools Short Film Competition which has been successful in raising the aware of the film industry as a viable career opportunity for aspiring young people. The Group is pleased to partner with visionary Derek Chin and his team and is committed to a long term relationship with MovieTowne.
44 | Endeavour Magazine
MOVIETOWNE
Mary’s College. He then went on to the University of Western Ontario,
and considering the conditions
real experience. Also I wanted
where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
of the old auditoriums it is no
to introduce people to a far
After a period serving as the Senior Auditor with KPMG, Canada, he
surprise. There was little or no
higher level of customer service
returned to Trinidad in 1981, where he pioneered the Video Arcade
variety in choice, the bathroom
than they were accustomed
Gaming Industry.
facilities were deplorable and it
to. MovieTowne was ahead of
was a dowdy and intimidating
its time and I believe we have
experience. Customer service
really opened people’s eyes and
was also far from polished.”
changed their expectations.”
MovieTowne MovieTowne is known as the premiere Cineplex, shopping and entertainment brand of the region and since the opening of its flagship
MovieTowne’s emphasis on
Over the decade following
complex at Invaders Bay, Port-of-Spain in 2002, MovieTowne has
providing a flamboyant thematic
this, MovieTowne has expanded
successfully brought an authentic, high end silver screen experience
cinema experience, state-of-the-
considerably and alongside its
to the Caribbean.
art facilities, a wide selection of
flagship complex in Port-of-
“The cinematic industry in Trinidad and Tobago was on its knees
movies and exquisite customer
Spain which is comprised of a
before MovieTowne came into being,” Derek explains, “People
service has quickly won over any
ten-screen
preferred DVD’s, VHS and Betamax at home to going to the cinema
sceptics who thought that this
28 retail outlets, 8 kiosks, a
was perhaps an outlandish idea.
PriceSmart US style shopping
But it is often the outlandish
warehouse and exclusive hair
ideas that have the best drive.
salons, restaurants and cocktail
“
I wanted to bring the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to movie fans here on the islands and give people a real experience.”
46 | Endeavour Magazine
multiplex
cinema,
“MovieTowne changed all
bars, MovieTowne opened two
this,” he continues, “I wanted to
further complexes. An eight-
bring the glitz and glamour of
screen multiplex cinema at Price
Hollywood to movie fans here
Plaza, Chauganas, and a four-
on the islands and give people a
screen multiplex cinema at Gulf
City Mall in Tobago, also accompanied by a selection of shopping centres, entertainment facilities, and restaurants are now open for business. “Our Cineplex is themed along the lines of Hollywood with the latest being a back drop of Jurassic Park with all the dinosaurs as an attraction,” Derek describes, “Including various life size models of Batman, Chewbacca from Star Wars, the Joker, Gollum and Shrek. these are just a part of our growing museum of film characters.” The scale of MovieTowne’s success is such that the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reported how MovieTowne has ‘contributed towards enhancing the social and national fabric’ of the country for a variety of different reasons. As it is, Derek Chin has become somewhat of a folk hero in Trinidad and Tobago, an icon for young business people to aspire to be like. “MovieTowne is more than a business; it is now a cultural, educational and charitable institution on the islands.”
Influence in other areas A serial entrepreneur, over the years Derek has been intrinsic in the creation of a number of business including a Telecom Security Services, one of Trinidad’s leading security firms, Sign Tech Limited – a Caribbean electronic sign innovator and the Ruby Tuesday, Wok Hay and Texas de Brazil local restaurant franchises. A keen horse racing
Endeavour Magazine | 47
MOVIETOWNE
enthusiast he is also responsible
provided a platform for many emerging artists to showcase and
owned by the JT Allum and
for the first Trinidad and Tobago
promote their talents, and for the last two years, MovieTowne has
Carlton Mack family of South
online gambling system. But
hosted the “Trinbago Kids Got Talent” competition.
Trinidad. Movietowne South will
one of the key attributes to this
Through this competition children from different age categories
be 92,000sq feet of cinema and
man’s greatness is his continuous
have been able to showcase their talents to thousands of patrons and
retail space and is probably going
investment in people.
receive constructive feedback on how they can hone their talents
to be the nicest Cineplex of the
fund
from local professional artists. MovieTowne has also been a lead
whole chain.”
youth education through film,”
collaborator in promoting foreign cultures with film festivals and is
he explains, “We founded the
involved in charitable activities.
“We
promote
and
Secondary Schools Short Film competition
which
enables
film students to not only get
“Fitted with 8 state of the art cinemas, digital and Dolby
“MovieTowne has been a wonderful addition to the islands.”
surround sound systems , 3D technology etc., thematic layouts
New developments
and maybe even a VIP section. “
specialist support and tutoring
And the spread of success continues, as Derek relates, “In Guyana
but win scholarships into higher
we are opening 6 screens to accommodate approximately 2000
MovieTowne
education
Since its inception in 2002, has
achieved
we
patrons. HiloFoods is our anchor tenant with 55000sq ft super store
consistent annual increases in
engage in much charitable work
but we have interest from other tenants such as Wendy’s and Ruby
attendance, which now total
while investing in communities.”
Tuesday, including a bank FCB, First branch in Guyana.
over 1 million patrons per year.
courses
and
Through access to its Fiesta
Construction has started with the piling works. In San Fernando
Its world-class entertainment
Plaza, MovieTowne has also
we are the anchor for the proposed c3 shopping mall, a project
experiences are borne out of an
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attention to detail in executing its vision as well as a strict adherence to the highest standards of quality. And the brand goes way beyond designed ambience, offering luxurious surroundings and welcoming service – all at a cost that is still less expensive than that of any movie outing in North America, offering citizens great value as an entertainment choice. “The Guyana development was initiated through efforts of the Government of Guyana to get me to invest there, and a 5th complex in South Trinidad is now in the final stages of planning and due to commence construction later this year,” says Derek Chin, “The Streets of the World project at Invaders Bay just behind the Port of Spain Movietowne is very important to me.” As one of Derek’s darling projects once completed this will change the attractiveness of Trinidad and Tobago making it a genuine tourist destination upon the same level as any found elsewhere. “Trinibagonians have a lot to be proud of and this venture will make Trinidad the gem of the Caribbean,” he concludes.
Untitled-1 1
“
We promote and fund youth education through film. We founded the Secondary Schools Short Film competition which enables film students to not only get specialist support and tutoring but win scholarships into higher education courses and we engage in much charitable work while investing in communities.”
Endeavour10/02/2014 Magazine | 49 15:45
NH INTERNATIONAL 001 (868) 622-1141 WWW.NHIC-TT.COM
50 | Endeavour Magazine
CONSTRUCTING THE Caribbean WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL
The product of a highly successful joint venture, NH International (Caribbean) Ltd has fast become a construction industry leader, bringing expertise and highly developed business acumen to Caribbean projects. Endeavour Magazine spoke to John Connon, Managing Director and part owner of the company, to find out how they have generated such success.
Endeavour Magazine | 51
NH INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1995, after its formidable foray into joint venture partnership by Norwest Holst International Ltd and Emile Elias & Co Ltd, NH International (Caribbean) Ltd (NHIC) is the product of a high-level management buy-out initiative and has been formed with the intention of offering fully integrated construction knowledge throughout the Caribbean region.
B
acked by extensive managerial expertise in the sector thanks to the combination of Emile Elias’ 45 years of construction company ownership and John Connon’s long-
standing Managing Director status with 48 years experience in the construction industry having started his career as a teenager, the organisation has achieved success beyond all predictions.
Adept at completing projects to exceptional standards, NH IC is a contractor of choice for educational, housing, health care, leisure, financial and administrative building requirements.
In the close to 20 years since it was founded, NHIC has focused on becoming heavily involved in both building and civil engineering projects within the Caribbean region by offering design expertise,
building requirements, offering a comprehensive service including
development initiatives and funding in addition to construction and
fit-outs and management of all related infrastructures. Unwilling to
engineering services. As a direct result of the clear commitment to the
confine themselves, the company has also branched out into larger
industry, NHIC has enjoyed taking up position as the main contractor
scale builds including airport terminal buildings, sports facilities and
on a number of large and prestigious projects, necessitating effective
correctional institutions. When tackling mammoth-sized projects,
contract negotiations within both the private and public sectors, on
NHIC are happy to enter into a joint venture partnership, choosing
top of being awarded tendered opportunities. Adept at completing
appropriate collaborators carefully and with project specifics in mind.
projects to exceptional standards, NHIC is a contractor of choice for
Maintaining the position as an industry leader and front runner
educational, housing, health care, leisure, financial and administrative
can be difficult, and with new construction materials and techniques
52 | Endeavour Magazine
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NH INTERNATIONAL
continually being developed, NHIC are mindful of remaining in
and progress staff. The Head Office, based in St James, Trinidad,
touch with all new developments, actively seeking out initiatives
houses all the key support departments from IT through to accounts,
which it may be beneficial to educate their employees about and,
HR, technical services and purchasing, in addition to the Executive
where appropriate, source associated training programmes. Such
Chairman and Managing Directors’ offices. Situated off-site, the Plant
commitment to remaining at the top of the industry has lead to the
Office coordinates the regular acquisition of vital equipment as well as
company receiving a number of awards for excellence and senior team
housing and maintaining it upon delivery, stockpiling spare parts and
members, including the Executive Chairman, Managing Director,
associated smaller tooling solutions to ensure continued productivity.
project managers and senior surveyors, being specifically invited to
In addition to equipment and tooling, the Plant Office also manages
attend construction forums as guest speakers. The highest accolade
the continued maintenance of all fleet vehicles.
a company can receive, however, is the acclaim of respected peers,
With an impressive portfolio of projects, NHIC has been able
something that NHIC has been delighted to experience regularly
to extend countless employment opportunities throughout the
with rival firms using their work as an example of superior quality
Caribbean region, contributing directly to the sustainability of
workmanship.
the local economy. It has also retained the services of a number of
Naturally, any company that has achieved enormous success
British expatriates with significant experience within construction
and demonstrated continuous growth since its inception will have
project management, high-level quantity surveying and planning
an inherent understanding of the importance of a unified workforce
management. To its credit, the company is able to boast an incredibly
and a suitable human resources structure. NHIC is no exception,
low staff turnover and has employed many of these experts for just
acknowledging that they have a strong support base, recognised chain
short of 20 years, alongside new local and international talents.
of command and enough diversification opportunities to develop
Keen to develop their staff in-house, where possible, progression
54 | Endeavour Magazine
NH INTERNATIONAL
opportunities are readily available for those with drive and ambition.
He goes on to state “we comply with all statutory and international
Just recently, a new IT manager has been appointed, charged with
standards such as the International Building Codes, American and
implementing new software initiatives within both the accounts and
European Standards, International Form of Contract and Operational
purchasing departments, in addition to project services and design
Safety and Health Standards”, offering increased client peace of mind
management executives also being sought. With a large number
and confidence in the works being carried out.
of the senior management team at NHIC having initially joined
Moving forward into 2014, NHIC is keen to build on their 20
the company at a junior level before actively seeking progression
years experience and establish themselves as recognised experts
possibilities, training initiatives and promotion opportunities, all
in the very specific Design and Build sector of the Caribbean
employees are encouraged to follow suit and strive for more. Omar
construction industry. Discussing this brave move, Connon is keen to
Jugmohan is a perfect example of the possibilities for continued
draw attention to the fact that the company has, ‘already successfully
professional development as he started at NHIC in the 1990s, in
completed 1,500 housing and infrastructure projects, schools, offices
the position of Junior Engineer and has since progressed to his
in this form of construction. Design and Build requires a particular
current role of Contracts Manager, overseeing countless large-scale
specialism for bidding on and completing constructing projects
projects throughout the Caribbean region. Far from being an isolated
as well as managing the design process to achieve aesthetically
case, this is demonstrative of a company-wide ethos of loyalty,
spectacular buildings while achieving the best quality of construction.
acknowledgement and recognition of staff members.
Controlling both design and construction enables us to direct the
Expertise in the field and a dedication to retaining qualified and talented staff aside, what else has contributed to the staggering
whole process, which translates into efficiency, cost-effectiveness and most importantly, value for money for our clients’.
success of NHIC? John Connon cites a commitment to customer
Establishing close relationships with respected suppliers and
satisfaction built upon integrity and compliance to agreed budgets and
sub-contracting teams is cited as another reason for the continued
timeframes as a key element in the continued growth of the company.
success of NHIC. Entering into long-lasting relationships, familiarity
“
We comply with all statutory and international standards such as the International Building Codes, American and European Standards, International Form of Contract and Operational Safety and Health Standards”
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Endeavour Magazine | 57
NH INTERNATIONAL
evolves into a feeling of being part of the ‘extended NHIC family’,
types of insurance coverage and bonding.”
which in turn guarantees reliable support throughout build processes.
With demonstrable commitment to client satisfaction and
Not limited to just local suppliers, these relationships are also enjoyed
successful interaction permeating everything NHIC undertakes, it
with companies as far overseas as the UK, USA and Hong Kong with
comes as little surprise that they also have a social conscience and
whom efficient customs brokerage and delivery services have been
an altruistic core. Keen to actively contribute to the improvement of
agreed to negate delays and unexpected extra expense. Working in
the region, they regularly support awareness events and initiatives,
accordance with best practice initiatives and in line with a policy of
particularly within socially depressed areas that feature current
honest communication, external firms have commented that entering
NHIC project building sites. Staff members that belong to specific
into business with NHIC is a pleasure.
clubs and associations, that require support from local businesses, are
The final element that Connon wishes to draw attention to is the financial initiatives created by the company, commenting that, “Our banking and insurance facilities are another very important feature of our strong leadership role in the Construction Industry
also assisted if they promote growth and development on a national level. Larger scale support has been extended to countries, within the Caribbean region, that have suffered storm and natural disaster damage in the forms of both financial aid and rebuilding services.
in the Caribbean region, with constant close contact and a level of
Clearly NHIC is a company built on the traditional values of
trust in NHIC that has earned us the respect of Executives and other
teamwork, integrity and expertise, and in line with a commitment to
Officers in the field of Banking and Insurance. In some instances we
the continual development of initiatives and employees. There is no
have collaborated with our clients by holding discussions with their
secret to their success; it can be attributed solely to their operation as
financiers to find ways and means of moving projects forward where
an expert and trustworthy organisation with social responsibility at
challenges have arisen and our proposals have been well received
the forefront of their mind.
and considered. We have been using the same insurance broker from inception and have always met or exceeded requirements for various
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Endeavour11/02/2014 Magazine | 59 08:18
NEW BRITAIN PALM OIL 0065 6227 6247 WWW.NBPOL.COM.PG
60 | Endeavour Magazine
New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) is a company that is 100% sustainable, since 2012 it has not only climbed to a position where it is streets ahead of its competition, it is setting to maintain this impressive lead. By maintaining complete control of their processes from beginning to end, and by building employee loyalty, NBPOL see’s along with everything else its employees as a strong focus. Director of Sustainability Simon Lord was on hand to discuss some of the developments WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE PAUL
FUELING THE FOOD INDUSTRY Endeavour Magazine | 61
NEW BRITAIN PALM OIL
NBPOL is listed both on the London Stock exchange and on the Port Moresby Stock Exchange. Their listing on the latter is in line with the company’s desire to the give the staff and the local people an opportunity to invest in the company.
T
his practice has not only gained NBPOL a loyal pool of employees, but it has also ensured that NBPOL understands and meets its shareholders’ needs. In fact, the provincial
government of West New Britain, where many of NBPOL’s holdings are, is the second largest shareholder in the company. This investment by the government shows their faith in the company and that NBPOL’s practices have benefited Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a whole. “We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable palm oil,” Simon told us, “Certified in accordance with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Principles and Criteria.” With plantations and operations in PNG and the Solomon Islands, as well a bulking terminal in West New Britain, and the newly built United Kingdom refinery (New Britain Oils), NBPOL have the ability to deliver the finest segregated, traceable and certified sustainable food ingredients to their customers. NBPOL has a long history of cultivating and harvesting palm oil in PNG. Production began before WWII, and today on that land NBPOL produces palm oil, beef, and sugar. The company not only is the largest domestic sugar and beef producers in PNG, but is also the world’s leading producer of sustainable palm oil, certified in accordance with the Roundtable criteria. NBPOL has become one of the world’s leading producers of sustainable palm oil by setting industry benchmarks, a tactic that has consistently put them ahead of their competition. “Our plantation operations are in Papua New Guinea and in the Solomon Islands, where we also have a refinery and a bulking
62Untitled-4 | Endeavour Magazine 1
19/02/2014 07:40
terminal,” Simon explains, “Our newly built UK refinery – New Britain
“Our company headquarters are in West New Britain Province,
Oils – delivers segregated, traceable and certified sustainable food
Papua New Guinea where we have a refinery and the main bulking
ingredients to our customers. But the strength of our offering is
terminal,” Dr. Simon Lord tells us “and our plantation operations are
found in our employees. They are the most important commodity.”
in 5 other provinces in Papua New Guinea and also in the Solomon
Part of NBPOL’s success can be attributed to the productivity of its plantations: 78,000 hectares of oil palms worked by 15,000
Islands. On each site we have estates and smallholder as well as mills, storage facilities and accommodation.”
smallholders. The company now operates a total of 11 crude palm oil
Fully vertically integrated, NBPOL ensures the quality and
mills, and employs over 25,000 people in West New Britain, Ramu
integrity of its certified processes by controlling the oil’s manufacture
Valley, Milne Bay, Poliamba and Higaturu in PNG the Guadalcanal
from seed to customer delivery. NBPOL produces seed for planting,
Province of the Solomon Islands. These holdings supply over a quarter
cultivates and harvests its own land, and refines the palm oil in-house.
of the fruit that NBPOL converts into an ingredient that can be found
The company also works to maintain direct contact with clients and
in one out of ten products on the shelves of supermarkets worldwide.
manages the shipping and freight to its customers in the EU. The
“Palm oil is in one in ten items on a supermarket shelf,” Simon
success of this business strategy, however, depends on the investment
reveals, “That places a huge demand on it as a product and a resource.”
of NBPOL’s staff and workers, which NBPOL recognizes is its biggest
NBPOL’s palm oil can be found in products the world over, and
asset.
the sustainable processes that go into making this oil are the business
Despite a recent drop in palm oil prices in the turbulent global
practices that keep NBPOL a leading figure in the market today and
economic environment, this company is on a growth path and it
for the future. Compared with other food-grade oils, palm oil itself
attributes that to its employees. NBPOL operates exclusively in the
is a more efficient crop, yielding ten times more fruit than popular
Asia Pacific region, which requires a diverse workforce of individual
competitors like soya. One hectare of oil palms will produce the same
expertise and skillsets. NBPOL often recruits from abroad to meet the
quantity of oil as 10 hectares planted with soya. This crop efficiency
skills needed for the quality control they have in place, and provides
enables NBPOL to at once provide a lower-cost food stuff on a global
these employees with accommodations and support.
scale and to potentially save forests. NBPOL’s strategy for translating
“NBPOL believes that safeguarding its employees and the
this concern for the community in which it conducts its business
environment in which it works is the strongest foundation upon which
begins and ends with the sustainable practices it has developed.
to build a successful future,” Simon concludes.
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66 | Endeavour Magazine
A MAJOR PART OF THE FUTURE WRITTEN BY DONNIE RUST
“An Aerotropolis is a planned and coordinated multi-modal freight and transportation complex that provides efficient, cost effective, sustainable and inter-modal connectivity to a defined region of economic significance centered around a major airport,” Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele opens up, “Speed and agility are the basis of the existence of an Aerotropolis which enables connectivity of the four “Rs”, namely Roads, Rivers, Railroads and Runways.” Endeavour Magazine | 67
EKURHULENI MUNICIPALITY
The City of Ekurhuleni is best suited to develop as an Aerotropolis since it has connectivity of three Rs (road, railroad, runway) and through the envisaged Durban-Free State-Gauteng corridor they will have improved connectivity with the “Rivers” through their sea port.
A
n Aerotropolis is also
Aerotropolis concept would be pursued and developed further and
a new urban format
implemented in order to leverage the economic benefits of having
that
currently
the busiest airport on the African continent, OR Tambo International
developing around many large
is
Airport, located within its boundaries. It is important to note that
airports
layout,
in the South African context, airports are a national competence,
economy
whereas globally, airports are often managed by the cities within
where
infrastructures
the and
are all arranged around an
which they reside.
airport as their central element.
“The City of Ekurhuleni has taken on this development as the
This means that their suppliers,
anchor for the project and will champion related planning, together
customers
with various stakeholders that are critical for the success of the
and
business
partners can offer very fast and
tightly
business
interconnected
opportunities
all
project,” Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele tells us.
A Major Part Of The Future
around the world. Many of these
A major key to the municipalities’ 2055 growth and development
business activities are much
strategy is known to be the Aerotropolis masterplan. In fact, the City
more dependent on far-distant
has acknowledged that the Aerotropolis has developed in some form
suppliers or customers than on
around OR Tambo International Airport, although haphazardly and in
those in the local area.
an uncoordinated manner.
A strategic decision was
It is important to get the planning for this type of development
taken when deciding that the
right, since it will influence long term outcomes and the future
“
At the end of the day, the success of bringing relevant investors to the city hinges on how well we plan the land use issues”
68 | Endeavour Magazine
EKURHULENI MUNICIPALITY
economy
in
the
City
of
Ekurhuleni. Proper planning will
area where it will thrive and therefore continue to play a meaningful
2 which looks at the movement
role in our economy.”
of freight and the development of
influence the competitiveness of the economy and how it attracts investors and investment to
According To Plan “Currently at the conceptual and design stage, The Strategic
create jobs and reduce poverty,
Roadmap provides the City of Ekurhuleni and the Gauteng Province
which is the ultimate goal of this
with an outline of the Aerotropolis development model and
development.
requirements for a successful Aerotropolis,” Executive Mayor Mondli
“It is on this basis that as a
Gungubele explains, “This includes consideration requirements for
city we have put in place strategic
infrastructure and facility plans, business plans and implementation
land parcels so that we know
plan guidelines for transforming OR Tambo International Airport and
exactly which land is available for
the region into a world-class Aerotropolis.”
what, in line with the mandate
Based on the Strategic Roadmap a process of developing a
of the Aeroropolis,” Executive
Masterplan was initiated and is currently underway. The development
Mayor
Gungubele
of the Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis is a long term vision spanning up
expands, “At the end of the day,
Mondli
to thirty years from now. However, the building blocks for the
the success of bringing relevant
Aerotropolis have to be laid as early on in the project as possible. Over
investors to the city hinges on
the next eighteen months, the City will undertake an exciting process
how well we plan the land use
of developing the Master Plan that will provide details for specific
issues – so that at the end of the
aspects required for the Aerotropolis development.
day business is situated in an
70 | Endeavour Magazine
The Aerotropolis is part of the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIP)
the
corridor
between
Kwazulu-Natal, the Free State and Gauteng Provinces. Part of the Master planning process will produce modelling of the expected jobs to be created over the period of development. Another
key
factor
to
take into account is the skills development angle particularly through Barlow
initiatives world
like
the
academy,
the
Transnet rail academy and the Denel aviation academy. These kinds of initiatives will be crucial to ensure that the Aerotropolis has a significant skills pool to tap into and that the issue of scare skills receives some attention.
Behind The Scenes In a time of financial economic crisis, it is a telling fact that the project is showing good signs for economic growth within the area and for sustainable growth for the future. “Research in international Aerotropolis show a favourable jobspin off ratio for jobs created at the airport related to those indirectly linked to the airport,” Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele tell us, “The global positioning of the OR Tambo International Airport and the number of destinations it serves provides an indication of the airports capacity and competitiveness compared to its counterparts on the African continent.” According to Airbus, the annual passenger growth rates to, from and within South Africa will grow at 6% which surpasses the rate for Africa (5.7%), and is well above the average for the world (4.8%). Airlines operating in South Africa will need 183 new passenger aircraft, with an estimated value of $29bn and since 2000, South Africa has enjoyed 45% growth in air traffic.
Positive Knock On Effects The Aerotropolis Project is one of the flagship projects of the City of Ekurhuleni and enjoys the support of the Gauteng Provincial Government. The project is certainly the City’s pride with hopes to harness the competitive advantage that resides with the O R Tambo International Airport and all related benefits that have arisen as a result of this asset. “Actually,” Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele stipulates, “It is rather unfortunate that it has taken us as a city so long to take advantage of the fact that this airport is in our space. The Ekurhuleni Aeorotropolis is anchored around one of the biggest international global airports, a facility that is viewed as Africa’s gateway to the world. A national key point that handles millions of travellers every year, so, it is very important that there is proper planning in everything we do so that at the end of the day we get a world class facility that takes our city in its rightful place of leading cities of the world.”
A Final, Important Word “The Aerotropolis is not about Ekurhuleni only, but Gauteng as a whole and the nation. Its success will help us create jobs and fight poverty while at the same time improving the economy of the country. It is therefore imperative that people understand that its success relies on all South Africans pulling together to make South Africa’s first Aerotropolis a success. We have done a lot as a city to realize this project and we expect it to be even more clear now that we have just appointed a company to assist with putting in place the master plan. There are various other projects that we will be undertaking in line with the Aerotropolis, among them is the Digital City, which we believe will be a key player in our future plans especially if one considers the rate at which our IT is transforming society lately,” concludes Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele.
“
The Aerotropolis is not about Ekurhuleni only, but Gauteng as a whole and the nation.” Endeavour Magazine | 71
BELAZ MINING 00375 1775 32313 WWW.BELAZ.MINSK.BY
72 | Endeavour Magazine
Long-time purveyors of quality mining equipment, Belaz are ready to set the bar even higher for their industry with exciting strides forward in vehicle manufacturing. WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL
BELAZ GOES
Big
Endeavour Magazine | 73
BELAZ MINING
Founded in 1948, Belarus-based Belaz Mining Equipment has continually strived to reach new heights within the market, transforming themselves from small-time peat transportation and agitator machinery producers, into a 14,000 strong workforce to be reckoned with.
W
ith a decade of experience under their belts, Belaz
rigorous testing procedure, the
began production of increasingly heavy-duty mining
vehicles, once approved, are
machinery, including dump trucks, in 1958, before
disassembled and transported,
embarking on their campaign of extremely specialist vehicle
via railway, to either their
production in the 1990’s. This legacy, resulting in the creation of
destination, or the shipping port
a number of metallurgical and road construction machines has
for overseas delivery.
set Belaz in good stead for an even more successful future and has
Arriving at their destination,
provided a suitably sturdy platform for the launch of an extremely
Belaz products are accompanied
exciting development in 2015.
by a dedicated and expert crew of
Not willing to be pigeonholed into just the mining sector, Belaz
technicians, all highly trained in
have expanded their product base, branching out into lucrative market
the assembly and commissioning
areas including construction, road building, mine servicing, freight
of specialist items. This level of
rolling stock, lifting/conveying and consumer goods. By opening
customer service and support
themselves up to a program of diversification, Belaz have secured
is just one of the many factors
their place as one of the foremost suppliers of specialist vehicles and
which sets Belaz apart from
equipment, with a range of over 75 products.
their competitors and has lead to
With six production facilities in Belarus, Belaz are able to cater to
continued custom, resulting in a
the high demand for their products, in fact, they are currently producing
program of investment into the
seven vehicles per working day, including extra-high payload capacity
company, and future products.
mining dump trucks, an impressive feat given that the production
Committed
to
promoting
process is hybrid of both automated and manual processes. The work,
internal staff development, all
however, does not stop once the unit is completed. Undergoing a
employees are required to pass
With six production facilities in Belarus, Belaz are able to cater to the high demand for their products, in fact, they are currently producing seven vehicles per working day, including extra-high payload capacity mining dump trucks, an impressive feat given that the production process is hybrid of both automated and manual processes. 74 | Endeavour Magazine
BELAZ MINING
an annual requalification test,
and plants, lending itself to a significantly increased production
relationships with Belaz, in some
retaining exceptional standards
schedule, not to mention the active development of new products.
cases up to 30 years, potential
of expertise and commitment to
With a standing commitment to the supply of new generation
new
the products and are encouraged
equipment on an annual basis, Belaz is well placed to announce their
vetted to ensure a symbiotic fit.
to
newest and most exciting creation; the 75710 dump truck.
Compliance
undertake
extra
training
partners to
are
carefully
internationals
courses. With many internal
The largest vehicle in the world of its kind, the 75710 is a 27-
standards and the upholding of
programs available, employees
foot, 8-wheeled unit, capable of carrying up to 450 tonnes. Powered
quality are essential elements
are offered the opportunity to
by two suitably huge 16-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines, each
in forging a relationship, which
either upgrade their current
supplying 2,300 horsepower, the truck is expected to reach speeds
according
role or pursue a new specialty.
of up to 65kph. Currently in the testing phase, at the Bachatsky open
before entering into business
With close ties to the Zhodino
pit coal mine in Siberia, the 75710 is expected to be released for
together. With exciting new
Technical
purchase in 2015, which will be happy news for eagerly anticipating
developments on the horizon,
customers.
maintaining
College,
Belaz
Mining is clearly invested in the development of its staff as well as its product portfolio.
Supplying both local and international clients, Belaz consistently
to
Belaz,
comes
efficient
supply
chain relationships is vital.
strive to build on their long-standing partnerships, combining product
Happy
an
development with high-level support services and environmental
upcoming
designed
responsibility. Setting themselves apart from their competitors, Belaz
Belaz are keen to draw attention
to develop the company as a
Mining endeavors to produce vehicles that adhere to stringent world
to
whole over the period 2011-
emission programs, despite specialising in an industry that is often
further set them apart from
2014, Belaz will invest a total of
associated with huge environmental impacts.
competitors in the quality-price
Working investment
alongside plan,
$644million into new facilities
76 | Endeavour Magazine
Working with a supply chain of companies that have longstanding
to
discuss
product
developments
the
releases, that
will
battle. Meeting market demand
Supplying both local and international clients, Belaz consistently strive to build on their long-standing partnerships, combining product development with high-level support services and environmental responsibility.
with their 90 tonne dump truck
specialist engineers continuously
featuring
electromechanical
striving to optimise production
transmission, 450 tonne dump
processes and develop new
truck (the largest in the world),
innovations, it comes as no
and creation of a dedicated high
surprise that Belaz Mining is a
payload dump truck assembly
market leader in their industry
line,
in
and will continue to be so. Their
production capacity and costs is
commitment to a continued
sure to follow.
program
increased
flexibility
With expertise, employee development
and
of
investment
and
diversification, in conjunction
social
with exemplar customer service,
responsibility permeating the
has secured an ever-increasing
company, and their ethos in equal
portfolio of loyal clients, eager to
measures, offering customers a
experience the new technologies,
consistently improved catalogue
methodologies
of cost-effective products is
that Belaz offers.
and
expertise
a priority, one that results in significant time, resource and financial investments into the company. With in excess of 2,000
Endeavour Magazine | 77
JAMAICA PREMIX 001 876 926 2420 WWW.JAPREMIX.COM
78 | Endeavour Magazine
One of the most important companies in Jamaica, Jamaica Premix Limited (JPM), since it was incorporated in 1959, has established itself as the leading supplier of ready mixed concrete and aggregates throughout the island. We spoke with Managing Director John Valentine regarding this proudly Jamaican company. WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER
BUILT ON Solid Service
Endeavour Magazine | 79
JAMAICA PREMIX
“Currently we have sixty one concrete mixer trucks, twelve concrete boom pumps, five fixed concrete plants equipped with computerized, state-ofthe-art batch management systems,” John tells us, “And fully equipped laboratories for the testing of concrete. Additionally, there are portable concrete batching plants capable of handling onsite jobs wherever they may be.”
JPM
’s plants are strategically located across
View, Kingston; and Agualta Vale, St. Mary. These plants are designed
the island - from Kingston in the east
for the production of washed sand and stone to ASTM specifications,
to Negril in the west, for customer
from natural riverbed sources. They have an overall production
convenience and they offer a comprehensive product range which
capability in excess of 800 metric tonnes per hour. JPM’s aggregates
includes ready mixed concrete, for which they have over 150 mix
meet American (ASTM), British (BSS) and Jamaican standards. The
designs, light weight concrete, coloured concrete, air entrained
crushing plants are equipped with belt scales, which can provide daily
concrete, under water concrete, fibre concrete, waterproof concrete
production information. We are also an internationally tested and
and pumping service.
certified source of non-skid aggregates. For international customers,
“Our products and services are utilized in construction projects diverse in size and nature, including residential, commercial and industrial buildings, hotels, bauxite and alumina plants,” John adds.
loading facilities are available for ocean bound ships and barges.
The Projects
The five fixed concrete plants are strategically located across the
Since its incorporation the company has made its mark throughout
island, from Kingston in the east to Negril in the west, for customer
the length and breadth of Jamaica, undertaking wide-ranging projects
convenience. In addition, there are portable concrete batching plants
in just about every sector, some of the major projects that it has
capable of handling onsite jobs regardless of location. The fixed
poured for include the highest standard of hotels including the Ritz
batching plants are equipped with computerized, state of the art
Carlton, Riu Hotels, Intercontinental, and Holiday Inn. Commercial
batch management systems.
buildings like LOJ’s twin towers, Island Life’s office complex, Citibank
The aggregate plants are located at Yallahs, St. Thomas; Harbour
“
and the Bank of Nova Scotia, public infrastructure projects like
Our products and services are utilized in construction projects diverse in size and nature, including residential, commercial and industrial buildings, hotels, bauxite and alumina plants.”
80 | Endeavour Magazine
JAMAICA PREMIX
the Kingston Public Hospital,
projects in the Grand Cayman and the Dominican Republic by way
trained and certified by the
The
of
of utilising its equipment and manpower,” John mentions, “Jamaica
National Ready Mixed Concrete
the West Indies Private Wing,
Pre-Mix Concrete Limited is a member of the National Ready Mixed
Association
The
Concrete Association, the Incorporated Master Builders Association
points out, “Our quality control
and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica.”
technicians
University Causeway,
Hospital
Highway
2000 and the expansion of
(NRMCA),” are
also
John highly
Norman Manley and Sangster’s
In 2008 Jamaica Pre-Mix Ltd entered into a joint venture with
experienced and competent and
International Airports. Not to
Lafarge of North America, and continued the operations of the
we focus keenly in customer
mention educational institutions,
aggregate division under the name Jamaica Aggregates Limited. The
service and our staff members
embassies and housing projects
concrete division then started trading under the name Jamaica Pre-
are
Mix Concrete Ltd.
customer service.”
up and down the length of the
trained
periodically
in
Although the local construction industry is currently moving
On the other end of the coin,
“It is noteworthy that Jamaica
through a depression, John is however cautiously optimistic some of
John recognizes the importance
Pre-Mix in collaboration with
the major projects will be materialized in 2014. And, to ensure that
of looking after the client and
other entities has undertaken
they are in position to take advantage of these projects Jamaica pre-
highlights that quality, reliability
Mix Ltd has always followed a
and service are the foundations
certain methodology regarding
that his company stands upon.
island.
“Ensuring that our customers
their employees. great
are provided with the best quality
emphasis on employee training
products and the best prices,
and as such ensure that our plant
that each customer receive their
managers are internationally
order in a timely manner and
“We
“
JPM seeks to strive for excellence in the execution of our business practices to ensure we remains viable and continue to deliver a high quality product in an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly manner”
82 | Endeavour Magazine
have
placed
that our customers know they
taking place that will certainly
are the primary reason we have
shape
been in operation for over 50
company. These include a 360
years,” John lists, “This is how we
Megawatt Power Plant, a series
approach business by offering
of Low Income Housing projects
excellent customer service.”
and a Renewed Tourism Sector
“JPM seeks to strive for excellence
for
the
Development plan. JPM’s success over this past
of our business practices to
one half of a century is largely
ensure
viable
attributable to its loyal and
and continue to deliver a high
satisfied customers, dedicated
quality product in an efficient,
staff
safe
environmentally
management style and great
friendly manner,” he adds, “We
investment in the most advanced
will continue to invest in and
machinery and equipment.
and
the
future
execution
we
in
the
remains
members,
prudent
empower our human resource;
“Approaches like this are
ever mindful of our maxim -
what give this company the
quality, reliability and excellent
solid foundation it has,” John
service.”
concludes.
2014 is set to be a busy year with a host of major projects
5960 N.W. 99th Avenue, Unit 9 Doral, FL 33178 United States ICP MIAMI has been proudly serving the construction & mining industries for over 12 years, in which we have earned a reputation for excellent product quality, friendly customer service and distinguished technical support.
Toll Free: 1 (866) 213-0031 | Office: (305) 477-6612 | Fax: (305) 477-5935 or (786) 422-1550
www.icpmiami.com / sales@icpmiami.com
Endeavour Magazine | 83
MAPUTO CORRIDOR LOGISTICS 002713 755 6025 WWW.MCLI.CO.ZA
90 | Endeavour Magazine
Having heard so much about the astonishing changes that the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) has made in recent years, Endeavour Magazine spoke with company CEO Barbara Monmen to get to the heart of their success story.
CLEARING THE WAY FOR
Trade WRITTEN BY KATIE RICHARDSON
Endeavour Magazine | 91
MAPUTO CORRIDOR LOGISTICS
“Our task is be really simple,” Monmen says. “We provide a platform for inward investment on the Corridor; removing barriers along it, coordinating and liaising and facilitating the necessary changes to ensure investment and to unlock barriers to trade.”
“T
he Port of Maputo is in an ideal
southwest Indian Ocean. Thus, the Maputo
there were huge border delays and terrible
location for exports to India and
Development Corridor was launched in 1996,
congestion which compromised the efficiency
the Far East and for transit into the
and developed as a Spatial Development
of the logistics chain into the port itself,” says
eastern SADC (Southern African Development
Initiative (SDI), an integrated planning tool
Monmen. “Our original remit was to promote
Community) region,” she continues. “However,
aimed at promoting investment in regions of
the benefits of the port on the basis of distance
there have had to be a number of developments.
the country that were underdeveloped but
versus the costs of the logistics chain for
For example, when MCLI first started, we had
had great potential for growth. An additional
products in transit from the north-eastern
no container lines calling the port, which meant
awarding of the port concession in 2003 and an
area of South Africa. The port also forms a key
that cargo owners could not ship containers out
investment of $60m in the port’s rehabilitation,
departure point for the emerging markets of
of the port although they wanted to, so there
alongside a 20-year master plan also aims to see
India and the Far East.”
was the typical chicken and egg scenario.”
a $1.7bn investment in equipment, training and
Until just under a decade ago, infrastructure and economic development had been a serious cause of concern for the governments of
There were also problems with employee
infrastructure.
resources; with just a small workforce it was
Establishing Its Place
rather difficult to get things done. “You can’t
The aim of MCLI as a non-profit organisation
manage if people don’t believe in the validity
Mozambique and South Africa. A major hurdle
is to act as a viable network to sustain an
and importance of what they’re doing and while
in any real trade progress was the crumbling
economically-sound future for all industries
it is a challenge, the changes are substantial and
rail and road links to the southern city of
which rely on it. Service providers, stakeholders,
you can’t argue with the results,” says Monmen.
Johannesburg. With desires to create new
and infrastructure investors from Swaziland,
You certainly can’t argue with the results
investment connections to establish their
South Africa and Mozambique have all pooled
being generated by the MCLI. More than $64m
fluctuating economies, the leaders of both
their resources together in order to secure
has been invested into the Port of Maputo since
countries decided it was economically and
its promotion and further development as the
2003, and the improvements to infrastructural
socially important to sustain key elements of
region’s primary logistics transportation route,
development are vast. New warehouses, tugs,
the transport corridor that links the city of
and are now able to strive for developmental
equipment, operations and quay rehabilitation
Johannesburg and the industrial heartland
targets rather than the profit margin. However,
related to road and rail improvements in the
of Southern Africa with the Port of Maputo,
it wasn’t smooth sailing to begin with.
region have all been successful, as well as
the parastatal authority in Mozambique in the
92 | Endeavour Magazine
“During the early part of the first decade,
updates to the Matola coal terminal. A further
MAPUTO CORRIDOR LOGISTICS
$61m has been invested into the container
Government, a province of South Africa,
“Until there is a mutual cooperation between
terminal to increase the capacity for cargo
where she worked on a number of project
the public and private sectors, we’ll always
depots and cranes. Other terminals dealing
developments. “Prior to that I obtained a
have an issue,” she says. “MCLI has achieved
in produce like sugar, citrus, vegetable oils
Certificate in Development Management
this cooperation to a considerable extent.”
and larger exports like cars and Ferro slabs
from the University of Manchester in the UK,
are also benefiting. The depth of the channel
followed by a short spin at the Cabinet Office
in the port itself has been increased to 11
in London,” she says.
Looking Forward “We want to raise the profile of the
metres in order to provide smoother access
“My interest in the Maputo Corridor
Corridor in the SADC (the Southern African
to containers, and beyond the port, transport
developed while I lived in Mpumalanga where
Development Community) region generally,
links on the Maputo Corridor have been
I worked in the Chamber of Business. I had,
and we are particularly keen to deepen
significantly improved, with train journeys
during my tenure, begun to explore business
our collaboration with the government of
dropping from a whopping 200 hours to 90
relationships between Nelspruit in South
Swaziland,” Monmen says. “For the moment
hours. All in all, just under $300m has been
Africa and Maputo. I joined in 2006 as the
we face the challenge that the majority of
invested in the Port of Maputo since 2003.
chief operations officer and was appointed as
trade along the Corridor tends to be one way,
CEO in July 2011.”
moving from South Africa to Mozambique.
Competent Leadership
Monmen believes having a clear idea
As CEO, Monmen is perfectly placed
To fully capitalise on what the Corridor is
of what needs to happen in order to plan
to oversee a smooth transition and worthy
capable of we need to have more growth in
appropriately is the key to the success of
initiative. Her background lies in education;
bi-directional movement and an increase
a project like the MCLI, and she feels very
she worked in the KaNgwane Administration
in the usage of the Corridor as a key transit
strongly about economic development and
and the Premier’s Office in the Mpumalanga
route into the SADC region.”
the growth of the private sector in the region.
94 | Endeavour Magazine
The on-going success of MCLI and
“
The Port of Maputo is in an ideal location for exports to India and the Far East and for transit into the eastern SADC (Southern African Development Community) region.”
the determined work of Monmen and her team have culminated in a highly productive level of investment into the region, as well as making it easier for the necessary requirements to be handled by stakeholders and governmental departments. The efforts from all parties has enabled a positive and productive direction for the company and Monmen is quick to recognise the achievements: “Thanks to the significant investment over the last decade, the Maputo Corridor has seen incredible opportunities for growth and this will have a consequential knock on effect when the region moves towards a free trade area,” she says. “The drive towards borderless trade on our corridor is a passion that we share with COMESA (the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), EAC (the East African Community), SADC, the AU (African Union), and NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa’s Development). “It is only through the continued partnership of users and service providers, including public sector agencies, that this corridor will reach its full potential as an efficient, predictable, and reliable logistics route servicing the region,” she concludes. As a result of efficient management and timely investment, notable growth in the project has already delivered impressive results in the trade facilitation system. Coupled with effective collaboration and partnerships, MCLI’s projected figures include a cargo volume increase to more than 48.6m tonnes by 2030 and an extension for the Maputo Port Development Company to 2043. All in all, MCLI continues to hold its claim as a very efficient and powerful working machine. Endeavour Magazine | 95
CARLY PEART
Bootcamp Booty “I owe everything to my followers, without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
H
BY DONNIE RUST
onestly, I spend too much time on Youtube. I’ll admit it, as a writer I am constantly searching for anything to distract me from actually writing and Youtube provides
fields and fields of videos to get lost within. However, for all the searching through the troves and troves of kitten videos, fail videos, Top Ten of Such and Such videos and Parody Videos it is a rare thing for me to actually subscribe to any particular channel. I like a professional touch, I like to be entertained and informed, I like to be impressed and intrigued, I like to see whoever is Youtubing is actually making the effort to put together something uniquely theirs. Bringing us neatly to Carly Peart, who’s Youtube channel I not only subscribe to but also revisit regularly for my morning fitness boosts! “I was born in Norfolk and have lived here ever since,” Carly opens up, “And I recently moved right into the heart of Norwich and adore waking up to the sound of the cathedral bells.” For those readers who don’t know, Norwich is the capital city of County Norfolk, on the East Anglian side of England. A small city that plays home to an increasingly powerful internet movement that is turning this “country life city” into a thinktank for online creativity and ideas.
90 | Endeavour Magazine
Carly Peart is a fitness guru for over forty thousand
the sweeping redundancy arm
and communicating with her
subscribers to her Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/
that many companies at the
fans.
carlyrowena who provides weekly fitness challenges targeting
time were using to cut costs.
“I owe everything to my
the body areas that people find difficult to tone. Also covering
“Frustratingly I had never
followers, without them I
areas such as healthy eating, floor work and toning exercises.
known what I wanted to be
wouldn’t be where I am today. I
The target audience may be women but with such a combination
and it had always left me
always reply to their messages,
of great presentation, beauty and rigorous fitness challenges
feeling a little lost,” she admits,
if they have taken the time to
there are a lot of men who appreciate the Youtube videos as well
“I used to scour Google trying
write to me then why wouldn’t
and few who could match her in a fitness.
to find an industry that would
i respond? I could have flopped
The twenty six year old Youtube Blogger, or Vlogger (video
be right for me but it just never
on YouTube, received negative
blogger), is actually remarkably modest about herself, “I’m a
appeared. I decided to start a
press and it may never had
fitness geek who has finally found her dream career and spends
YouTube channel after talking
taken off but it did and it’s
most of her time at the gym, in her brightly coloured home or
to my boyfriend and friends: a
completely down to them.”
with her best friends.”
little outlet for me to express
With
a
reputation
and
for
“I have been a member of Carrefour Gym since I was 19 but
my passions and before I knew
honesty
only really fell in love with fitness in the last 2 years,” she reveals,
it my subscribers had showed
Carly’s videos range from
transparency
“I have been on YouTube for just over a year and a half and been
me what I was meant to be, a
fitness challenges to tone up
a Personal Trainer since late November.”
Personal Trainer!”
the abs and buns to tutorials
After working in the Motor Trade industry for over seven
Now, for thousands of
on how to deal with IBS
years and progressing her way through the company Carly did
people Carly has become a
and Period Pain. This has
not feel fulfilled and hated sitting down all day. However, this
symbol, an example of health
created more than just a
was the time that the recession had hit and with a home and
and fitness but it doesn’t just
superficial following but a
monthly direct debits she knew she couldn’t risk jumping into
begin and end with the filming
deep relationship with her
another career that might make her feel the same or worse.
of videos, Carly understands
followers.
With the rising worries was the possibility of falling beneath
the importance of engaging
“I try to keep my videos
Endeavour Magazine | 91
as natural as possible,” she explains, “I don’t write a script, I just pick the topic and plan the exercises. After that it’s about finding the time to sit down and film, edit and upload. Once the video is uploaded it’s a case of putting it on social media platforms, replying to comments and plugging it throughout the week, whilst being conscious not to overdo it.” We are on the brink of the internet merging into television and even radio, making all of our entertainment and eventually our educational resources ever more connected. I asked Carly specifically what her thoughts were on this congruency: “It’s absolutely amazing, the internet has enabled me to be self-employed, speak to people around the world and change their lives and given me access to big companies who would never have batted an eye at a Personal Trainer in Norwich,” she says, “I also now Skype Train my followers and without the internet and Skype it would certainly never have been possible for me to train someone in Australia from my front room. Internet is incredibly powerful, it has given everyone the chance to have an opinion, be creative and be able to get closer to those who inspire them!” Carly is, offline, just as energetic and enthusiastic as she is online. And likes to take on a new challenge every year, last year she completed her first half marathon and the previous year she did Tough Mudder and the year before that she learnt to Snowboard. “I would love to travel this year but i think its’ going to have to wait at the moment, I’m just too busy!” “When i was working in the Motor trade it was much easier to go on holiday and explore but everything has taken a slight backseat now,” she explains, “Being a PT involves quite unsociable hours and with Filming and being available on Social media 24 hours a day there really isn’t any down time.” And, is she as rigorous about her fitness as she is in front of the camera? “Definitely! It becomes even more important, I have to continually strive to better myself and I wouldn’t expect my followers to follow my plans if I couldn’t do them myself,”
92 | Endeavour Magazine
Carly specifies, “ On New Years day this year my boyfriend and I
being in love with my life. I am
followers, a bootcamp in every
went for a run and took each other’s measurements, a full body
incredibly lucky.”
city!”
photo and wrote new Fitness Plans. There is always room for improvement.”
And what can we expect from Carly for 2014?
And
for
those
readers
wanting to start their own
People become products of their environments and Carly
“YouTube predicted that
Youtube
channels?
Would
is very clear about how important is it to surround herself with
2014 was going to be the year
the right kind of people. People with similar focusses, similar
for the fitness industry and
“Definitely. It couldn’t be
approaches, similar loves who will help nurture your aspirations
that certainly excites me!
easier, I started filming using
and give flight to your dreams.
I have just reached 41,000
the webcam on my laptop using
“My Boyfriend is my biggest inspiration,” she says simply, “We
subscribers and am hoping to
natural light from the window
both work in the industry and I couldn’t respect him more, he
reach 100,000 by my Birthday
and
loves his job and it’s so contagious. I also owe a lot to my family,
in May. I want to grow my
recently to buying my first big
I have never been the type to leave a job without another which
client base and watch them
girl camera and Lightbox. You
is inevitably what I did when I left my job of 7 years. They always
reach their goals, I’m also
can make it with whatever you
speak sense and when they told me to do it, I knew everything
planning on getting them all
have, just let your personality
was going to be ok.
Carly suggest it?
progressed
only
very
to take part in a big fitness
shine through and people will
“I also have incredibly supportive friends, helping to hold
challenge together so watch
find you.”
the camera, sharing my posts on their networks and being there
this space! My end goal is to
when I just need to switch off and have a giggle. Everyone around
have my own studio / clothing
me knows how important this is to me and I have gone from
line and be able to travel the
being the girl who never knew what she was supposed to do to
world visiting my YouTube
Endeavour Magazine | 93
PIXIWOO BEAUTY IN BUSINESS I
t’s amazing what one small
and she said to me: “I’m filming
email can do. Entrepreneur
make up videos for YouTube, and
sisters Nicola Haste and Sam
people seem to be enjoying it. Do
Chapman know only too well;
you want to do one?” I agreed,
after an enquiry from a friend,
and five years later, we have 1.5m
they have built a successful
subscribers all over the world,
makeup
and love what we do for a living.
tutorial
business
-‘Pixiwoo’ - through YouTube. Katie Richardson chats to
YouTube and more are interested
one half of the creative duo,
in joining the movement
Nicola, discovering the tricks to
and trying their hand at it. Is
making money through video
YouTubing a lucrative market?
media and learning a few makeup tricks in the process Pixiwoo is a big player in the
Everyone wants to know how to make money on YouTube; it’s the first question anyone asks!
online tutorial market. What
The truth is there is money to
were the motivations behind the
be made but I think the key to
company, and how have they
having a successful YouTube
developed?
channel is to make content you
My sister Sam and I have
LOVE. Be honest with your
been make-up artists for over 17
viewers; there are so many
years. Five years ago, while Sam
young and easily influenced
was heavily pregnant with her
people looking up to you. Sam
second child, a friend of hers sent
and I got into YouTube tutorials
her an email asking how to do
as aside from loving make-up, we
the perfect ‘smokey eye’ makeup.
wanted to help others feel good
As it is so hard to explain, Sam
about themselves. We didn’t
decided to film herself with step-
think about it as a job, and I don’t
by-step instructions, and pop it
believe it was possible to earn
on YouTube under her personal
money from YouTube in those
account, ‘Pixiwoo’. Not long after,
days. This honest passion was to
people started commenting on
be the key to our future success.
the video. A month later, I had taken a week out from work to help her look after her newborn baby
94 | Endeavour Magazine
Many people make money on
Surely being sisters and also business partners – there must be the odd disagreement? Sam and I are extremely
close, and the best of friends. I think working with a partner is always
Makeup LTD, Target and many
successful in this industry, so
hard and we don’t always agree with each other but we have total
more. This means that we will be
we have lots of contributors and
respect for each other and how hard we both work. Both of us have
travelling a lot this year to show
experts writing for us, showing
two children, so it’s not easy to juggle more than a full-time job and
off our new venture.
off their talents and tips. It’s our
motherhood, but we have a fantastic family and everyone works
We have also been doing a
baby and we love it. We do have
lot more TV appearances, which
a few other exciting things in the
is very exciting. At the moment
pipeline, but you’ll have to check
we are the experts on ‘TLC
out our website later in the year
What Sam and I offer is a make-up artist/best friend who can teach
Extreme beauty disasters’, a
to find out.
you all the tricks of the trade without having it feel intimidating. I think
show which explains how to fix
What was the first thing
our subscribers come back because what we teach works. It helps
make-up problems. Pixiwoo also
you did when you hit a million
them look and feel better; we are completely honest and we don’t use
film for a few other TV formats
subscribers?
products that we don’t like and pretend that we do. Our subscribers
on YouTube like ‘Dailymix’, and
We
have grown with us along the way; they have been there though all
‘Bodytalk’.
together. What do you offer your subscribers, and how do you keep them coming back again and again to your channel?
our five years on YouTube and we have worked with many celebrities
each
other
screaming and then tweeted all
Sam and I also have our own online
called
you’re the best!” We couldn’t do
have two children and, unfortunately, two miscarriages. We are real
TWO Magazine which has been
any of it without them and we are
woman, just like them, and they can relate to us.
available for just over a year now.
extremely humbled every day.
Pixiwoo in 2014?
magazine
our followers to say: “Thanks,
and different types of people. They have seen me get married and
What are some of the most exciting developments happening with
free
rang
We have more than 100,000 followers, and it showcases
Sam and I have a new brush range called ‘Real Techniques’ by
all the amazing people that
Sam and Nic Chapman. We are so proud of them and they have
work in the makeup, fashion
been extremely successful. They are available in Boots, Superdrug,
and photography industry. We
and beauty insights from Nic
Wal-Mart, Ulta, Kohls, Amazon, Drugstore.com, Professional Online
know how hard it is to become
and Sam at www.pixiwoo.com
Check out the latest news
Endeavour Magazine | 95
BOOK REVIEWS
A
t an event at the Akshara Theatre in New Delhi on 8 January, 2014, Shaleen Rakesh released the book at a quiet function with family and close friends. “Today is
specially chosen as the day to release the book since it’s my father’s birthday,” said Shaleen Rakesh, the son of celebrated Hindi writer, Mohan Rakesh. The book is a collection of gay poetry which traces the journey of the poet’s life over the last 20 years. It speaks about issues facing the Indian gay community including love, loss, desire and relationships. Rajat Vashisht of the World View Collective, which has published the book said, “Shaleen’s poetry is full of silent irony and humour, very characteristic of this genre worldwide.” The love that illuminates Shaleen’s poetry takes different forms since he is confronted by deep homophobia as a gay man growing up, and he must find a way back to the living through language. Some of his poems are like songs of grief. Despite all odds, Shaleen finds love
The Lion and the Antler by Shaleen Rakesh
again and again in his life, and conveys a sense of steadiness and affirmation at the heart of the marvellous. “For Shaleen, poetry is possibility looking for a human voice: it is a lover, a man, a lonely bird. The poet’s voice cannot be stifled for it sustains the community as well as the writer. Shaleen’s poetry is the bearer of both instinct and intelligence, fuelled by sensitivity and a need to live,” added Vashisht during the launch. The Lion and the Antler tells us a personal story of Shaleen’s love for life and for a life graced by love, of the rebirth of love in a culture of intense and suffocating homophobia. Once Shaleen has outlined grief and solitude, he is determined to begin again with new and pure eyes, after each confrontation with the depth of the abyss. In the end, this first collection of poems is about love, grief, hope and above all, about life, living, in the face of darkness and silence.
96 | Endeavour Magazine
Hitler was not the tactical
The De-Textbook: The Stuff You Didn’t Know about the Stuff You Thought You Knew By Cracked Staff http://amzn.to/1ez1gOB
genius he is made out to be, but more of a media savvy public speaker who suffered from really bad flatulence! The Egyptian pyramids were
T
originally covered is polished
his book is a amazing fact book based around correcting many
limestone
of the misunderstandings about subjects like history, the
reflected the light from the sun/
human body/mind, physics, animals etc.
moon.
It is written by the writers of the humor website cracked and is
similar in content.
that
would
have
Very few Muslim women wear veils, fewer than 5 per cent
Here are some of my favorite bits:
of Middle Eastern countries
It appears that we are pooping wrong, for most of human history
require the veil by law and in
we squatted down but with the invention of the toilet changed to
fact more Muslims countries ban
sitting. Sitting on the toilet causes a kink in your poop tubes slowing
the wearing of veils than require
down the process and can give you hemorrhoids!
them. 62% of Muslims are not
The Velociraptors depicted in Jurassic park are not accurate, the real thing is about knee high and covered in feathers.
even Arab, most are from the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia has
There could be more planets in our solar system than we think, certain parts of our solar system are too close or too far away from the sun to be viewed.
more than 200 million Muslims and India has about 500 million. I might be wrong but I
Ostriches are not silly creatures that stick their heads in the
think there are some factual
ground, they are in fact bad asses that can run sixty miles per hour for
inaccuracys, for example the book
half a hour and kill a lion with one kick of their ridiculously strong legs.
gives the standard historian’s answer that America dropped the atom bomb on Japan to end world war 2 without having to invade Japan. But we now know this to be wrong, the Japanese were in secret peace talks and Japan was nuked to scare the Russians. Another inaccuracy is the
Sex and the City—the original stories that started it all—now available as an eBook! Candace Bushnell http://bit.ly/1fn51L6
S
book states the “calories in, calories out” theory of weight loss which is out of date, modern theory is based on a hormonal understanding of weight gain.
ex and the City is a
the rich and famous is by turns
gossip page, sociological study,
fantastic and sometimes
witty and shocking, and always
and dating manual, Sex and the
terrifying
into
boldly true. In these pages you
City, Candace Bushnell’s former
the hearts, minds, and mating
will meet “Carrie,” the young
New York Observer column, has
habits
New
writer looking for love in all the
attracted a cult following and
packs
wrong places; “Samantha Jones,”
been adapted into two major
from lavish parties to high-end
the
proto-cougar
motion pictures and one of the
clubs, Bushnell’s vividly candid
who approaches sex just like a
most popular TV series of our
characters live out the never-
man; and “Mr. Big,” the captain
time. This is the groundbreaking
ending search for the perfect
of industry who jumps from one
work
relationship. Bushnell’s firsthand
bed to the next.
and shaped a culture and a
Yorkers.
of
foray
modern-day
Travelling
in
commentary on the behavior of
successful
Equal
parts
soap
opera,
that
generation.
both
decoded
The section of human nature is quite wonderful and funny, it is great to see how we lie to ourselves to protect our self esteem and the many logical mistakes we make every day. Overall I thought this book was great, it does appear to be a rehash of what is on the website but the website is great so this is no bad thing. It is funny and informative and I recommend it.
Endeavour Magazine | 97
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