Handshake - Issue 15 September 20

www.biznetwales.co.uk

September 2012 - Issue 15

Raconteur, writer, fugitive, inmate and drugs baron

Howard Marks is the guest speaker at our October

B2B full day exhibition and lunch Thursday 4th October: The Vale Resort Book now: Nearly sold out!

ALSO //

Sweet Memories

The story of a Welsh Willy Wonka

The Cage Fighter and the Chiropractor The Italian Connection Plus all your regular columns, including Tony On Tech, Darwin’s Law, Doing it Online, Gizmos etc. and much more

The official magazine of

C R E D I T S

Published by:

Editor:

Design & E-book creation:

Huw Johns

Gwilym Cox

huw@huwjohns.co.uk

hello@hoodoodesign.co.uk

Proofreader:

Susi Cernoch

susi@cernoch.co.uk

Advertising: Lynne Orton - A limited amount of advertising will be available in future issues

The Handshake is the official magazine of The Business Network and is published electronically every 3 months.

All enquiries: www.biznetwales.co.uk Tel: 01639 793580

Copies are sent to all Business Network members and other selected individuals within the business community. To request a regular copy email: lynne@biznetwales.co.uk

Issue number 15

L Y N N E ’ S F O R E W O R D

F E A T U R E

SWEET MEMORIES

Well, the summer is over, the nights are drawing in….but it’s not doom and gloom out there – everyone I speak to has a much more positive message to send out. Perhaps it is because of the fantastic success of the Olympics that everyone you see has a smile on their face – the knock-on effect has been incredible. How much of the games did you watch?

PAGES //

#4-6

To my mind, top athletes are similar in outlook to successful entrepreneurs: they have to be focussed, they have ups and downs but work hard to overcome them, they realise that giving up is not an option and that the rewards are worth fighting for. They are fantastic role models.

F E A T U R E

So…..does the athlete in you want to work hard to get to the top of the medal table? Let us help you….

PAGES //

# 12 - 13

We have a facilitated Rise & Shine breakfast to kick-start the day, which will run along the same successful format as our well established regular meetings. Of course, no exhibition is complete without a fun, fast, furious session of Speed Networking – and The Business Network sessions always score a perfect 10.

F E A T U R E

PAGES //

#16 - 17

The Business Network is not a training company, nor are we coaches, but we can help your business succeed.

To find out more about our exhibition visit www.biznetwales.co.uk/ show

www.biznetwales.co.uk

/ /

THE CAGEFIGHTER & THE CHIROPRACTOR

When you book an exhibition stand you will have a free listing in our Show Guide – just give us a few lines about your business, as well as your logo, and your branding will be seen by hundreds.

Business is not a 100m sprint – we cannot all be Usain Bolt.

Business is more like a marathon or even a triathlon, but by working together as a team we can all reach the podium.

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THE ITALIAN CONNECTION

On 4th October at The Vale Resort we are holding a Business Exhibition and Meet the Buyer Event. How can this help you?

Well, as an exhibitor you are able to present to our steady stream of visitors throughout the day; you are also guaranteed two appointments with buyers of your choice – no goal-keeper in the way!

The most important part of any successful athlete is the support team – let The Business Network be part of your team; we will help advertise your business through our Social Media activity; we will sit you with the most suitable businesses at our networking events; we pride ourselves on always going that kilometre further for our clients.

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O T HER

A R T I CL ES

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JUST A THOUGHT:

By Beverly Jones

#7

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

#19

BOOK REVIEW:

By Susi Cernoch

#7

FILM REVIEW

By Jo Popham

#20

DOING IT ONLINE

By Natalie Reynolds

#8-9

TONY ON TECH

By Anthony Worsley

#21

DARWIN’S LAW: #10

By Stephen Thompson

DRIVE TIME Sytner BMW

#22-23

GIZMOS ETC:

By James Daniel

#11

BIZ Bites

#24-27

THE DEL TORTO DIARIES

#14

NEW MEMBERS

#27-28

HR BITES:

By Clare Bowen

#15

RENEWED MEMBERS #29

EYE ON THE BALL Andy Wilkins

#18

DIARY DATES

#30

#3

Sweet Memories

By Huw Johns

From a very young age she helped out at her Great Aunt Sybil’s boiling house at the back of her sweet shop, #4

www.biznetwales.co.uk

Christine Chandler comes from a sweet-making family. Her whimsical tales of growing up in a famous Merthyr confectionery business sound more like extracts from a Welsh Willy Wonka than a modern day commercial story. But business is business – and the rules haven’t changed, as Christine has found out…

Christine Chandler has a new challenge at Ty Hafan – the family hospice for young lives. After twelve years as community fundraiser, her new role now involves her in engaging the business community too.

But that shouldn’t be a problem for someone who grew up in a small business.

Fifty-six year old Christine is from the famous Brays sweets family firm which originated in Merthyr Tydfil.

From a very young age she helped out at her Great Aunt Sybil’s boiling house at the back of her sweet shop, making sweets and cleaning the pans, utensils and surfaces. As time went on, Christine began to help with other parts of running the shop and began to realise that Great Aunt Sybil was, in fact, a very savvy businesswoman.

“Sybil, being a very independent lady, opened her own branch of the business in Hirwaun. She understood so much about business – everything about selling, marketing and finance, as we’d call it now.

And security, too: No-one stole from her shop. The local constabulary were regular visitors and that was enough to put off any wouldbe shop-lifters.”

batches of confectionery in the uncomfortably hot ‘boiling house’. I remember my brother would often end up carrying me home when I fell asleep there as it was so late. And in busy periods sweets and chocolate would be stored at home – meaning the house would have to be really cold to stop them from spoiling! ” says Christine.

I ask if it was a hard life, and she shakes her head, saying that it was great – the camaraderie of a team, working together and making the business a success was all part of it.

“And I always had LOTS of friends at school” she laughs. “My aunt was clever and she used to give me sweets, knowing I’d share them with my friends in school. The kids always loved them and would rush over to the shop to offload their pocket money to buy them!”

Christine remembers.

“And she instilled a good work-ethic into us too. In the pre-Christmas period, we were frequently up until midnight making more www.biznetwales.co.uk

#5

If Great Aunt Sybil was getting into producttesting and free trial offers back then, who knows what she’d be doing now? But Sybil wasn’t the only entrepreneur in the family; her father and Christine’s great grandfather - Mr F.W. Bray – had originally founded the boiled sweet company in Merthyr Tydfil in 1867. The company was successful and some years later Mr Bray gave his friend Lord Mackintosh the gift of his best toffee recipe.

You’ve probably heard of Lord Mackintosh and his Rowntree Mackintosh confectionery empire?

Back to today and Brays still exists – now based in Barry and run by some cousins. Christine’s career took a different path. Initially an optical technician working for the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, she remembers acting as a guinea pig for his jokes and speeches prior to a Royal visit.

Subsequently her roles took her into the charity sector, where she still works. Her new job role at Ty Hafan will involve forging links with businesses to form charity/business partnerships for mutual benefit.

If you have never thought of adopting a charity, you may be missing a trick. Apart from the obvious goodwill /good cause factor, there are numerous commercial advantages to partnering, including corporate social responsibility, new markets, joint PR and much more. Christine would be delighted to talk to any business – small or large – that is thinks a charity connection might be an option for them.

In her spare time Christine is a percussionist and drummer in the band Celtic Spirit, where she plays to packed festivals, alongside her husband, Steve.

Her claim to fame is playing drums for Rolling Stone Mick Jagger’s brother at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff. And that’s a sweet satisfaction!

You can contact Christine at Ty Hafan: christine.chandler@tyhafan.org

In her spare time Christine is a percussionist and drummer in the band Celtic Spirit, where she plays to packed festivals, alongside her husband, Steve.

About Tŷ Hafan Tŷ Hafan offers comfort, care and support for life-limited children and young people and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the whole family. This comfort and support extends out of the hospice and reaches right into the heart of the family home, and is completely free of charge to those families in Wales who need it.

Tŷ Hafan was established in 1999 and since then has helped over 500 families, who live the dreadful reality that their children with life-limiting conditions may not reach the age of 19.

Find out more at www.tyhafan.org

#6

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Article by:

Beverley Jones Today I paid a visit to my uncle who has recently been admitted to a nursing home. As I waited in the lounge for him to finish his lunch, I sat listening to the birds in the garden.

I did this in complete silence with the knowledge I would not be disturbed. How did I know? Well, I had left my bag, along with my mobile phones, in the car, therefore I had no contact with the outside world. It was a strange feeling but one that I took comfort in; I knew that I would pay my visit and leave, but what of those I left behind?

I have to say it was a lovely home; they made tea and gave me biscuits, but there were some touching moments as I sat there and watched.

A couple came into the room and sat down. The gentleman spoke to his wife in such a beautiful way as he told her he loved her, and he begged

her to tell him the same, but she uttered no words. She could no longer speak. This was the norm for them but for me it touched my heart; all he wanted was some re-assurance which she was unable to give. He turned to me and said, ‘Oh my, getting old brings so many changes.’

What could I say to that?

Having spent two hours at the home with my dear Uncle, I left him with a promise that I would return soon, and a heart that vowed that I would continue to live each day to the full and never leave a loving word unsaid.

We never know when we may not be able to use our voice, so please use today to start a habit of a lifetime – if you think a warm thought, then it’s worth expressing it, so SAY IT! You never know, the person you didn’t think was listening just might be!

Let your tongue speak what your heart thinks.

Davy Crockett

SUSI’S BOOK REVIEW Holy Fools – Joanne Harris

Susi reviews her choice of literature in her regular column

T

he title gave me no clue as to what to expect, but after Harris’s previous success with ‘Chocolat’, I thought this book might be another light hearted poke at small town prejudice in a Catholic country, with a bit of a love story thrown in.

There’s a tiny trace of that here, but in fact Holy Fools offers a good deal more, giving a detailed insight into life in seventeenth century France, with its endemic superstition, religious preoccupation and hypocrisy, ignorance and fear.

I usually dislike historical novels but this one is racy, clever and frequently wry.

It relates the story of Juliette, one-time actress and dancer with a travelling troupe, now a nun in a small remote island convent where life is good, quiet and secure. She has a gypsy heritage and is able to use spells and herbal concoctions to take care of herself and her loved ones, which would have had her burned as a witch in a less tolerant community.

Then the old Abbess dies and everything changes. A new regime begins and soon a familiar face arrives at the Abbey, someone Juliette once knew only too well, and hoped she wouldn’t see again.

Le Merle [the Blackbird] was her mentor, her idol and her boss, but he is also a man without a conscience and she is reluctant to be a victim of his selfish and manipulative game-playing once more. In his new guise as a man of God, he easily ensnares the confidence of the religious sisters, each more easily deceived than the last, each with her own reasons for wanting to trust him. www.biznetwales.co.uk

Before long, though, Juliette is caught up in his web of trickery and insincerity, made hostage to a child’s safety and robbed of the secure and happy environment that had been her sanctuary. Will Le Merle succeed in his corrupt and twisted plan, or will he be betrayed this time and made to face a fitting punishment for all his crimes? I won’t spoil it for you….

It’s easy to get lost in this story, with its clearly drawn characters and almost scholarly attention to period detail. It moves smartly along and drags you bodily into its colourful world, until you can almost hear the horses’ hooves clattering on cobbled courtyards, smell the narrow streets running with sewage and hear the rabble shouting.

The characters are deliciously flawed and corrupt, all too believably at times, and no basic detail of human frailty is omitted.

Like ‘Chocolat’, this book will make a great film. It is dark and brooding, and yet glowing with energy too.

I’ll read it again, that’s for sure.

#7

Doing it

Online

How to stay safe on Facebook...

Everyone seems to be talking about Social Media and how it’s great for business, marketing and all sorts, but I think many of us get carried away with this and forget the simple stuff we’re doing wrong on our personal accounts!

Article by:

Natalie Reynolds

Most of my Handshake articles have been quite light hearted and humorous but I thought I’d throw in the more serious side of Nat Reynolds about staying safe when using Facebook.

Take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to amend your privacy settings AND maybe pass this politely onto a few colleagues who are breaking the rules!

Here are some Top Tips to stay safe on Facebook:

1. Don’t put your personal information on your Facebook profile

2. Be careful when posting photographs of you or your children on Facebook

Edit your profile to limit the amount of information you display on your profile, to prevent identity fraud. These include your birthday, address and phone number.

Ensure you visit your Privacy Settings to restrict what visitors who are not your friends can see. It is advisable to set all of your settings to ‘Friends Only’ and also check out the ‘Limit the Audience for Past Posts’ as you can restrict this too!

#8

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3. No matter how popular having 5000 friends may seem – it’s not clever! Don’t accept all Friend Requests!

If you do not know someone who has sent you a friend request, then do not accept it, as unfortunately some profiles are fake or people have a hidden agenda. When you accept a friend request, you are allowing them to see your personal information, pictures and updates.

4. Watch out for friends tagging photos of you

6. You’ve been FRAPED! Make sure you log out from your account after use!

If you’re accessing your Facebook account in a public place or on a computer that is shared by others, make sure you log out afterwards, as someone may find it funny to post an update pretending to be you, which again could get you into trouble!

8. Report any form of bullying or abuse If you see any form of hate speech, threats, graphic violence, bullying or spam, you should report it immediately to Facebook.

All sorts of photos get posted to Facebook including those you wouldn’t want your colleagues or family to see. Either change your privacy Here are steps that you can take: settings so that you have to approve theFound tag orWanting – Robert Goddard immediately remove the tag. It’s better to be safe • Unfriend the person to remove them from than sorry ‘cause once it’s out there – it’s out!

your friend list • Block the person from contacting you • Report the person if their behaviour is

5. Be cautious about what you abusive write on your timeline • Review your privacy settings Without realising it you may not only be telling your ‘trusted’ Facebook friends that you’ll be taking your two weeks holiday. If this information gets into the wrong hands you could have an unwanted visitor whilst you’re away. If your friends are people that you know and trust, then this really shouldn’t be an issue.

www.biznetwales.co.uk

#9

D A RW I N ' S L AW In his regular look at the law, Steve Thompson, partner at law firm Darwin Gray, considers cookies…

Q:

Are you Cookie Compliant?

In May 2011, the UK Government implemented new rules on the use of internet cookies by amending the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (‘Regulations’). In recognition of the considerable technical challenges involved in complying with the new rules, as well as some confusion over how the changes should actually be applied, The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) granted a year’s grace period before enforcing the new requirements, which expired on 26 May 2012.

It has now been almost two months since that deadline passed and companies, public organisations and other website providers continue to differ on how to comply with the Regulations, and some have not implemented any changes at all.

The ICO has issued revised guidance (http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/ media/documents/library/Privacy_and_electronic/Practical_ application/guidance_on_the_new_cookies_regulations.ashx) to assist those struggling to understand the new rules.

The Regulations represent the EU’s response to the recent growth in the use of more invasive cookies, particularly as a result of the social media boom and an increase in online advertising. Previously, website providers were able to rely on ‘presumed consent’, meaning that a user was presumed to have understood that cookies would be set merely by visiting and using a website. Now, the Regulations require that websites obtain “specific and informed” consent to the use of cookies to facilitate a visit to their website.

There are two aspects to this: “specific” means that the user must communicate their acceptance somehow, for example by clicking on an icon, sending a message or registering an account, and “informed” means that they must know what cookies are, which type are used by the website and why they are used.

Therefore, “specific and informed” consent requires that a user is first given clear and comprehensive information about how cookies are used and then consents to their use in some active way. It is no longer good enough to hide a link to a cookies policy at the bottom of a webpage or require a user to tick a box without understanding why.

In practice, websites have taken a variety of different approaches to complying with the Regulations, and the level of detail and prominence of the information given to web users will depend on the type of website and the cookies it uses.

Targeting/advertising cookies, for example, are considered far more intrusive than performance cookies which only monitor traffic to and from a website.

The most extreme example of compliance with the new rules is

demonstrated by the ICO website – it has a clearly visible notice to website users, giving them the opportunity to accept the use of cookies. However, many organisations have expressed unhappiness with this method, arguing that it is too extreme.

Other possibilities include pop-up windows, or a clear and prominent link to the information.

Significantly, consent must normally be obtained before a cookie is set, with the exception of cookies vital to a website’s operation, in which case visitors should be notified as soon as possible. Owners could mitigate any risk by refraining from setting cookies for one-off short-term visitors to their site or by shortening the life span of cookies.

The ICO has acknowledged that, in the future, websites may be able to rely on a user’s presumed knowledge and the way they have configured their browser settings to establish consent, but at the moment the feeling is that the general level of understanding of cookies and their uses is too low to allow websites to rely on “implied consent”. The ICO acknowledges that, as more sites provide prominent information about cookies to users, it might help achieve better awareness and allow owners to rely on implied consent in the future.

The ICO guidance provides useful practical advice for those seeking to comply with the new regulations. Much of it will depend on what type of cookies your website uses and how they are used. The more intrusive and long-lasting the cookie, the more likely it is that you will need to obtain the informed consent of the user beforehand.

“ Significantly, consent must normally be obtained before a cookie is set, with the exception of cookies vital to a website’s operation, in which case visitors should be notified as soon as possible. ”

Email Steve: sthompson@darwingray.com Darwin Gray is a commercial law firm, providing the full range of legal services that businesses and business people require.

#10

www.biznetwales.co.uk

Copywriter James Daniel toys with the best and latest marketing widgets

Unless you’ve been locked away in a dark and dingy basement, or had a special brain chip fitted to filter out marketing stuff, CopyDoodles has probably been creeping into your life for the last 3 years.

Think back... you’ve seen those little handwritten scribbles on sales letters and brochures. Maybe even on web pages, videos and more? Well, they’re designed to emphasise key points and add a human touch - and used effectively, they’re a great way to grab the reader’s attention and boost response.

There’s a bit of psychology behind all this. According to the system’s creator, Mike Capuzzi, we’ll all engage more with a written piece that has a raw personal quality. So while the arrows, circles, etc might not seem terribly ‘corporate’, they still make a connection with readers from all walks of life.

To me, CopyDoodles has been a boon.

I’ve used the images on mail pieces for clients and seen some intriguing results... and as someone who flunked Art in school (that’s ‘flunked’ with 3 capital Fs!), it’s a great way to add some visual appeal with a few easy clicks.

All you do is choose your doodle and insert it, just the same as you’d drop in a shape or piece of clipart. It’s pretty much foolproof.

Resources: CopyDoodles www.copydoodles.com Doodleopes www.doodle-opes.com

But if you’re doing the doodle thing, there are a few caveats.

First, there is the temptation to be a kid in a sweet shop and drop a doodle into every line of text until the message gets drowned out. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t

work – doodles are there to enhance the message, so you have to use them sparingly. And sometimes, that takes willpower!

Second, there is the issue of consistency.

The CopyDoodles package comes with half a dozen handwriting fonts, a range of shapes and a choice of colours, so it’s tempting to mix and match. This never, ever works. It’s best to see doodles as an afterthought, suggesting that you wrote a letter, printed it, and decided to add a few comments and scribbles before you sent it off. That means all your doodles should be in the same colour, font and style – ignore this and the reader will toss it aside in a fit of confusion.

Third, there’s the growing matter of ubiquity. The doodles are cropping up everywhere now, so can they still help you to stand out from the crowd? For now, I’m voting yes, but that could easily change - a year from now, the whole concept of doodling might feel cheesy and old hat.

Who knows?

The final caveat is the major issue: don’t expect a doodle or two to mask a poorly written message. If the copy sucks, then the copy sucks, and cosmetics will never be a substitute for a decent copywriter...

So what’s the recommendation?

CopyDoodles is one way of drawing attention to your message. It’s not the only way, but it can be one of the most effective, and definitely worth a try.

And if you’re worried about using the same shapes and fonts as everyone else, try one of their competitors. The main rival, Doodleopes, is limited by comparison, but it comes with a great handwriting font and some innovative scribbles.

James Daniel is a Cardiff-based Copywriter, trading as EarthMonkey Media Ltd. His free monthly newsletter Monkey Business is awash with copywriting tips. To register, go to www.earthmonkey.co.uk. www.biznetwales.co.uk

#11

The Italian Connection

By Huw Johns

The pair first met at Naples College where they were both students. Enrico was friends with Angelo’s brother initially,

When Enrico Varchetta and Angelo Montuori first arrived in the UK in 1999 to learn English, they didn’t imagine they would end up running a successful business together… #12

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Fast-forward 13 years and the pair have launched a wine business “Vinitalia” – supplying top- notch, reasonablypriced wines that you can’t get in the supermarket. And as you probably guessed, all the wines are all Italian!

The pair first met at Naples College where they were both students. Enrico was friends with Angelo’s brother initially, but by a complex series of co-incidences, Enrico and Angelo ended up on travelling trips at the same time and were reunited in Wales.

Both men already knew the restaurant trade when they came to Wales in 1999. Enrico tells me that it was an obvious choice to wait tables as a way of improving his English, despite his qualifications.

“I had a degree in Politics from Naples and I’d trained as a book-keeper during my national service, but my English wasn’t great, so I just waited tables in Cardiff to get by and improve my English,” he explains.

“We weren’t economic migrants, getting away from Italy, we were just having fun and travelling, like you do at that age.”

Angelo adds,

But they stayed and Enrico (now 36) and Angelo (now 38) are both successful business people in their own right. Enrico is a respected accountant whilst Angelo runs the well-known Casanova restaurant in central Cardiff.

www.biznetwales.co.uk

When Angelo opened Casanova in 2001, he took the bold move to avoid the standard “Britalian” fare of pizzas and lasagnes, instead offering traditional food that “real Italians eat at home”. And what makes his food special (check it out on Trip Advisor) is the quality of the ingredients, most of which are imported direct from Italy.

Enrico is Casanova’s accountant and the idea for the joint wine venture came about when Enrico noticed Casanovas success at importing genuine Italian products.

If you can do it with food, why not wine too?

The logic proved to be less simple in reality, as many vineyards are owned by powerful aristocratic families who are often highly selective about where their wines go. But with a little effort over time, Enrico and Angelo managed to cultivate relationships with a number of excellent vineyards and now have a unique range of genuine Italian red, rosé, white and sparkling wines that are all available at www.vinitalia.net .

“Cardiff has been kind to us,” Angelo explains, and Enrico nods in agreement.

“When we arrived, it was 1999. The Rugby World Cup was here, The National Assembly had just started and all the talk was of Cool Cymru. We were made very welcome and I think the warm-heartedness of everyone reminded us of Naples. We loved Cardiff.

The people here sort of just got us.”

#13

In her regular column, lawyer & HR expert Emma del Torto looks at work and life, in an attempt to find a balance.

Teaching old dogs new tricks At long last I have decided to be a champion for technological change at home. It has been a long time coming.

In business we are busy harnessing the powers of the cloud, rolling out e-learning and on-line HR toolkits and generally trying to use technology to improve our ability to provide a great service to our clients. All very clever, useful and cost effective. http://www.effective-hrm.co.uk/ At home, though, it is another matter altogether. It is embarrassing to admit this, but all our music is stored on cds and tape cassettes (the vinyl is in the attic), pumped out of my circa 1993 boom box (purchased whilst I was a student at Cardiff University). I have recently been put to shame by my 72 year old mother, who is in command of her iMac, iPad and iPod and generally very hip and with it on the technology front.

My kids think she is an awesome role model, and rightly so.

I realised that it is not a matter of age, but of attitude. So, fresh from my epiphany and ready for the great shake-up, I recently spent a large proportion of a wet weekend teleporting the entire family CD collection into the cloud. Well, to iTunes to be precise. I did try to explain how it worked to my husband, who looked up from the sport on telly, smiled and said, “That’s nice, dear”. See what I mean - attitude. He won’t be so selective with his hearing when he cannot find his dusty Prodigy and electronic trance collection, and I tell him it’s in the cloud.

It is unlikely to be on everyone’s radar, but 2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between the Generations. http://europa.eu/ey2012/ Watching my mother and my children discovering new things together over her iMac or iPad is a salient lesson in having the right attitude, and having an open minded approach to learning and developing new skills. Each generation has something to teach the other.

In a work place capacity this might mean harnessing together the experience of the older workforce, with the new skills (such as technology) of the younger workforce. At home I am reminded that my two children, aged 10 and 12, do not know a world without mobile phones, computers and the internet, and are so much better at mastering the technology than their parents. However, they clearly have some fundamental life skills left to master, as well as skills that will give them an ability

#14

to earn a living.

So, it is now up me to have the right attitude and to also promote this attitude at home and at work. A lot of the work we do involves some sort of change management and the management of personnel – many of whom are, in their own way, stuck in slightly archaic working methods and working patterns of their own. I just have to think of the somewhat Dickensian law firm where I was a trainee and where I would frequently pick up large files, wrapped in pink ribbon, and blow off the dust before embarking on my legal research in leather bound volumes. Now, all you need is a computer and internet access and you have an entire law library.

On a more serious level, the current recession is having an impact on youth unemployment, and those coming out of school, college and university, with all those fresh, shiny new skills, are finding it hard to obtain work.

We are at risk of not harnessing their enthusiasm and talents. Again, I recall the vision of my children and their grandmother enthusiastically teaching each other and learning together. The danger with the younger generation is that they lose heart if they cannot find an outlet for their skills in the workplace.

In Wales we are fortunate to have the GoWales programme to link graduates to employers. http://www.gowales.co.uk/ en/Employer I have used this programme previously as an employer and we are currently employing a recent Business Studies graduate from the University of Glamorgan on a 10 week placement. She has already revolutionised some of our processes and systems, reviewed our website to improve its Google ranking, and has researched, blogged and tweeted for us. Essentially, she is proving to us that being an enthusiastic puppy is a great way for us old dogs to learn some new tricks!

Emma del Torto is the Managing Director of Effective HRM, a Human Resources Consultancy that specialises in providing proactive and reactive outsourced HR support to businesses of all sizes. Emma graduated from Cardiff with a law degree in 1995 and specialised in employment law in her legal career. Earlier this year she joined forces with HR professional Gemma Davies.

Effective HRM provides tailored solutions and assists clients with HR support and bespoke management training.

www.biznetwales.co.uk

HR BITES

Wi th JCP Sol i ci tors Clare Bowen is the Head of HR Services at JCP Solicitors and provides HR support to many of the firm’s clients. In this series of articles, Clare breaks down standard HR procedures into small and manageable bite sized pieces of information.

Stress in the Workplace Stress is the workplace is a ma jor issue facing employers today. Not only does it have an impact on workplace morale and productivity, but it can make the cost of employee absence rise significantly. If it is considered as a disability for certain employees, it can also lead to reputational damage and even costly employee claims.

Stress is defined as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them.” If you have employees who are showing uncharacteristic signs, such as inconsistent or declining performance, loss of motivation or commitment, undue sensitivity, There are a number of things you can do as an employer to help manage stress and protect your business and your workforce. Good people-management is a good start to combating stress in the workplace. It is thought that employees will work more effectively in an environment where a participative management style is used. It has been suggested that employees are better motivated when work satisfies economic, social and psychological needs, and a positive attitude towards those suffering with stress should be adopted. Things you can do as an employer to help manage stress in the workplace include:

irritability or moodiness, and immature behaviour such as sulking or over-reacting to problems, these could be signs of work related stress.

Statistics indicate that…

Each case of stress, anxiety or depression leads to an average of 30.2 working days lost In 2007-2008, a total of 13.5 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety About one in six people say they find their work either very or extremely stressful There are also a number of key management competencies for preventing and reducing stress. These include being a good role model, acting calmly under pressure, setting realistic deadlines, leading by example and making sure that you do not say one thing and then do another.

Unfortunately, if you have an employee who is prone to stress, you may do everything you can to help that person and it will not be enough to prevent the problem re-occurring. Don’t be disheartened; encourage your staff to speak up and come to you with any concerns. A problem shared is a problem halved.

• Have a ‘stress’ policy • Conduct regular risk assessments

For more information regarding any HR issues, please contact me, Clare Bowen, on 01792 529603 or email me at clare.bowen@jcpsolicitors.co.uk.

• Develop a supportive work ethos • Follow the ‘management standards’ set by the HSE • Train your managers and supervisors on the best ways to help employees suffering from stress • Socialise with your team, communicate regularly with them in person rather than by email Clare Bowen works with clients of JCP Solicitors heading up the Employment Protection Scheme. This scheme provides employers with all the employment documents, policies and procedures required by the law. The scheme also includes unlimited HR and employment advice, backed up by two qualified Employment Solicitors. There is also an additional option of purchasing an insurance product to cover the business against any potential claims and compensation awards. www.biznetwales.co.uk

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By Huw Johns It’s a bizarre polarisation. On the one hand, he engages in a brutal and injury-rife sport. But his day job is all about healing injured bodies and curing limb problems. Huw Johns interviews Kevin Cox…

“Let’s get one thing straight” says Kevin

“The name of the sport is MMA - Mixed Marshall Arts” And I’m not about to argue. Kevin runs Pedro Bessa Wales, a club that meets five nights a week in Port Talbot and practises Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – a form of fighting that uses holds, locks and chokes, as well as kicking and punching A keen rugby player, Kevin had always been sceptical of MMA until his younger brother overcame him quickly and tied him into a pretzel. Kevin was hooked – and the passion for MMA began.

At the same time, Kevin, then 25, left his job as an Aircraft Engineer in the RAF to return home and start a new career as a Chiropractor. It was a natural choice, he tells me, as he had been to one himself for a back problem and had been amazed by the results. Since then he had always harboured desires of becoming one and with his life at a crossroads having left the RAF, he was free to pursue a new career – even if fixing bodies is a seismic leap from fixing aircraft.

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About Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Originated in Brazil within the Gracie family in the early 1900s, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a method of combat that aims to neutralise an opponent as quickly as possible, with minimum damage to either side. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is based around the idea that a fighter should use a variety of take downs to drop their opponent to the floor and subdue them using holds, various joint locks and chokes.

The original exponents of the art were Grand Master Helio Gracie and Carlos Gracie. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Gracie family encouraged its practitioners to adopt healthy living, which today is also known as ‘jiu jiutsu lifestyle’.

Technique is everything and although it helps to be fairly fit, you do not need to have done any other martial arts, be larger than anyone else, nor have large muscles to use these strategies and defeat your opponent.

Source (adapted from): http://www.pedrobessa.com

About Chiropractic Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of conditions that are due to problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves, especially related to the spine.

Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Apart from manipulation, chiropractors may use a variety of techniques including ice, heat, ultrasound, exercise and acupuncture as well as advice about posture and lifestyle.

Although chiropractors are best known for treating back and neck pain, which they do very well, patients also consult chiropractors regarding a range of other, related conditions.

Source: http://www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk With its young roots in the 19th and early 20th century, Chiropractic was sometimes classed as alternative or complementary medicine. But recent years have seen the profession become highly regulated and respected.

Chiropractic is now integrated to modern healthcare and is frequently recommended by GPs and other practitioners.

And because of that, Kevin’s entry to the profession was via a five year degree course.

“It was extremely tough” says Kevin. “The course itself was demanding enough, but I was also ill for some of the time with a rare type of inflammatory arthritis. But I got there in the end and I’m proud to have a Masters in Chiropractic.”

Kevin goes onto explain that if University was tough then business was even harder. He started his practice just two years ago and

confesses to knowing nothing about the commercial world.

“I knew my Chiropractic – but we didn’t learn about business at University. Although I’m a new member of The Business Network, I’ve already really enjoyed meeting other people in business and learning from them.” he says I ask if his two passions – MMA and Chiropractic – ever conflict with each other. “I have to be careful with the fighting” he replies “Knuckle injuries are common, and a bad one can mean a week off work. And if you’re self-employed, you know what that means!” he says, wincing.

I laugh at a cage fighter wincing about the problems of day to day commercial life, comforted by the fact that business can be tough even for the super-tough. Kevin notices my reaction and smiles.

“I think I’ll enjoy being part of The Business Network” he says.

You can contact Kevin at The Clinic 21 Forge Road, Port Talbot. Call 01639 891991 or email kevin.cox1000@gmail.com. www.biznetwales.co.uk

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EYE ON THE BALL Andy Wilkins Andy Wilkins continues to monitor Cardiff City’s progress in his regular sport column Andy is Chief Executive of Gwent Hospitals Contributory Fund – a low cost health insurance plan that pays out for dental and optical treatment, hospital visits and much more - from as little as £8.45 per month. Contact Andy by emailing awilkins@ghcf.co.uk

THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY PART 2 I finished Part 1 with some comments from Cardiff City’s winning 4th Round Carling Cup tie against the bruisers from Burnley. For the quarter final we were drawn at home against Premier League Blackburn Rovers on 29th November. During that month we were cementing our place at no. 3 in the Football League Championship and very much fancied our chances against Premier League strugglers Blackburn.

All sorts of tales were coming from Blackburn about poor team spirit, lack of investment and direction from their Indian owners, Venkys, supporter disillusionment with the overall running and management of the club and in particular their under-pressure manager, Steve Kean.

Cardiff fans, sympathetic as ever, greeted Kean with the chant “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. To our surprise the visiting 1,000 or so Blackburn fans applauded us and then joined in the chant. Even more surprising was that after our easy 2-0 victory and an abject performance from their team, Kean kept his job, in the short term, to the end of the season, and is still in charge despite the club being relegated and with the new season fast approaching.

Victory brought us to the Carling Cup semi-finals along with Liverpool, Manchester City and fellow Championship side, Crystal Palace. Personally, I would have liked a money spinning home and away tie with one of the Prem giants – for preference, Man City, as I have never been to their ground.

In all honesty, I wouldn’t have minded if we had fallen at this hurdle against one of these two, as we could then bank the proceeds and concentrate on our main aim of getting promoted to the Premier League, particularly as we had a relatively small squad of players and there was a risk of us running out of steam in the last few weeks of the season.

However, it was not to be and we drew Crystal Palace with the away leg first, at Selhurst Park on 10th January. Normally a trip to play a London side is attractive with a journey of no more than 2 ½ hours or so up the M4. Unfortunately, getting to Palace’s ground involves the M4, the A3, the M3, the M.25 and a little bit of the Gatwick spur motorway, the M23 I think, then about 40 minutes of A roads and outer London traffic. In short, it is a pig of a place to get to and takes about 4 hours at best. Nevertheless we set off about 2.00 pm and enjoyed a trouble free run, taking in some of

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the sights of Croydon as we approached Selhurst.

By sights of Croydon, I mean burnt out shells of buildings following the previous summer’s riots, in particular the family owned furniture store we all saw famously being razed to the ground in August 2011 – not a pleasant sight.

Anyway, once parked up, we made our way to the ground and rather than seeing any local fans, all we came across was the blue and white of Cardiff City.

Officially, around 2,500 Cardiff fans attended. In reality there must have been some 4,000 there, on a cold, wet Tuesday night in January.

The game did not go well. We lost 1 - 0 to a poor goal from a free kick which TV replays showed should not have been given (I would say that, wouldn’t I?). We then had a perfectly good equaliser disallowed, again confirmed by TV evidence – all the pundits agreed the goal should have stood.

The referee, Mike Dean, has never liked us since someone gave him change for a parking meter during a game at Ninian Park against a side from 40 miles down the M4, who play in white. Sorry, can’t remember their name.

The second leg was 2 weeks later on 24th January at Cardiff City Stadium. We were confident we would overcome the small deficit but then the Palace manager, Dougie Freedman, tried to wind things up by suggesting the Cardiff team were scared of Palace. While the team were not bothered by this, the Cardiff fans responded by creating a little ditty for Dougie stating “We’re not ------- scared, etc”. It doesn’t seem much in print but when over 20,000 people are singing it at the same time, it has quite an effect. We got our goal back after about 15 minutes through an own goal by the Palace centre back, Gardner, who had scored for them at their place – poetic justice!!! The game then petered out and after extra time, the result hinged on our old friend, the penalty shootout. Thankfully, we kept our heads while Palace lost theirs, and we won the shoot-out 3 – 1.

So there we were, at our second home, Wembley for the 4th time in as many years and looking forward to a final against the mighty Liverpool – Craig Bellamy and all.

I’ll save that for next time.

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Recipe

Recipe By: Linda Harry

The Business Network

Chicken and Tarragon pie

Ingredients - FryLight - 1 onion - Finely chopped 2 medium leeks, washed, trimmed and thickly sliced - 4 skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces - 1 garlic clove, crushed - 150ml quark

- 150ml chicken stock, hot - Sprigs of fresh tarragon, leaves picked and roughly chopped -Potatoes (enough for a cap over the chicken)

Method Heat the FryLight in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and leeks and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.

Cook the potatoes, then mash them Brush a little water along the edge of the pie dish or dishes. Put the mash over the top to seal in the chicken

Add the chicken pieces and cook, stirring, for another 4-5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, pour in the stock and simmer until reduced by half.

Press down the edges and trim off the excess.

Add the quark and tarragon, bring to the boil, then simmer for 5-6 minutes until thickened.

Season, then spoon into a 2.5-litre pie dish (or 4 x 300ml ovenproof dishes). Set aside to cool

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Snip a small hole in the center of the mash to let the steam escape.

Put on a baking tray and chill for 15 minutes.IT DOES HAVE TO CHILL Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220C/ fan200C/gas 7. Beat egg with a little salt, then brush over the mash. Bake for 40-45 minutes (20-25 minutes if you are making individual pies) until the mash is golden.

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FILM REVIEW

By Joanne Popham - Handshake’s Resident Film Critic

Since the last edition of The Handshake I have been to the cinema only once but have watched a million films on DVD, which got me thinking…….How about if I review films that you would like to see? Are there films you have been desperate to see but missed them in the cinema? Why not let me review them for you? Send me the titles and I will assess them for you (I can’t promise to do horror, though - sorry!) Food for thought….

In the meantime, here are the films I have seen in the last 2 months........The Avengers I saw in the Cinema and Going the Distance I saw on DVD.

The Avengers

Going The Distance

WOW! The all-star, all hero cast did not disappoint. It did what it said on the tin…..delivered heroes, pushed the boundaries on adventure and even pulled in a bit of romance for us die-hard softies! Did you love Robert Downey Jnr in Iron Man? Did you want to marry Thor while snarling at his evil brother Loki? What about The Hulk…..did you want to save him from himself? Well, if you did, then you would have done it all again in The Avengers.

I missed this in the cinema it was one of those I was not sure about (‘shall I / shan’t I’) which is another reason why I thought about reviewing the films you have not seen yet. Send me your titles and I will review them.

The film pulled the entire pack of super heroes into one action packed film. The plot: Nick Fury (aka Samuel L Jackson) of S.H.I.E.L.D. (as seen in Iron Man) brings together a team of superhumans to form The Avengers, to help save the Earth from Loki (Thor’s evil brother) and his army. Fury brings together ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’, Iron Man, Captain America (the gorgeous Chris Evans), The Hulk (arguably better than Eric Bana, Mark Ruffalo), Thor (my future husband, Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson as sexy as ever), Hawkeye (the intense Jeremy Renner) and the evil Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston). The Avengers feature film, released this year, set the record for the biggest opening debut in North America, with a weekend gross of $207.4 million.

I was very disappointed to find some negative comments about this film….….Really! Listen to this…..’By the time the utterly routine (and decidedly endless) finale rolls around, Marvel’s The Avengers has unquestionably squandered the potential of its premise and its cast...’ and get this….written by David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews…..Reealllyyy….

The verdict from most of the media was…..’Worth the wait’, USA Today, ‘Never underestimate the value of The Hulk Smash’, CNN, ‘…..The Avengers will feel like Christmas…..all your favorite characters….under the tree’, New Yorker, other quotes ‘Jaw Dropping’, ‘creative fun’, ‘humorous’.

My verdict ‘Awesome’ - cannot wait for the DVD release to watch it over and over again! I wanna be The Black Widow!

I bought this on DVD and have watched it 5 times already! I love it. You would think, how can a film about a long distance relationship be a story, let alone be funny, but it is. Whether it is the storyline or the on screen chemistry between Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, or Christine Applegate’s comedic acting, or the Laurel and Hardy style romance between Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day, or a combination of them all….it works!

Basically it is a romantic comedy centred on a guy, Justin Long, and a gal, Drew Barrymore, who try to keep their love alive as they shuttle back and forth between New York and San Francisco to see one another. Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day play the nay-saying single friends of Justin Long, and Christine Applegate plays Drew Barrymore’s OCD sister. There are a few scenes that make you laugh out loud. One stands out for me and makes me smile every time I think of the film, which is where Drew and Justin fall into her sister’s dining room, drunk and passionate, to be disturbed by her sister trying to find out what is going on….while she turns the lights on her husband is sitting watching and eating his dinner engrossed! Hysterical…. yep, you just have to watch it.

It came out in 2010 and the critical reviews were mixed, with the film garnering a 51% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Its consensus states that “It’s timelier and a little more honest than most romantic comedies, but Drew Barrymore and Justin Long’s screen chemistry doesn’t make up for Going the Distance’s overall flatness.” Not sure if they watched the same film as me!

It was hard to find just one positive review but I managed to find this…… ‘An original film that gets it right when it comes to exploiting both love and laughs’, from Moviedix. Well, I thoroughly recommend it and if you find it ‘dreary’ I give you permission to throw rotten tomatoes……I didn’t say at me, though!

Happy film watching over the next two months and remember, if you would like me to review any films please email me joanne@thedeskden.co.uk #20

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Hi everyone and welcome to the Tony on Tech column!

Over the forthcoming issues I will be reviewing some of the latest and greatest gadgets as they are announced for 2012.

Could the iPad Killer have arrived?

We commonly associate extreme secrecy around a product design from Apple, but it now looks to be in vogue with all the major technology companies.

Just days after Samsung revealed the Galaxy S III, Microsoft has explained that it developed its surprise new Surface tablets under a similarly tight watch. A special wing of Microsoft’s hardware unit initially worked in an “underground bunker”, before moving to a more conventional building with an ‘airlock’ door. Is it me or is this ‘James bond in overdrive’ with the company was just that concerned that Bob from Accounts Receivable might spoil it and go vocal at the local pub!

As we all know by now, that level of secrecy proved effective almost until the last minute and let Microsoft design to its heart’s content. We still don’t know if other PC builders were aware.

The practice is a sharp break from Microsoft’s tendency to telegraph its strategy well in advance, and it emphasizes just how much importance Redmond places on its self-developed Windows 8 hardware.

PC makers are taking take note of what Microsoft has produced. It has one tablet, a 9 mm thick, 1.5 pound unit that will run on low-power ARM chips and arrive around October.

The black device has beautiful, bevelled edges; its shell is made of what Microsoft calls vapordeposited magnesium, or VaporMg; brushed aluminium is so last year, Apple! It also has a built-in kickstand.

The best feature is that the device comes with a cover that locks firmly in place. Unlike Apple’s flimsy iPad protector, this cover functions as a proper keyboard. Both the kickstand and covercum-keyboard seem such obvious ideas, yet the great army of Dell, HP, Acer and other companies, etc… has failed to design anything remotely as clever in the last two years!!

I am not sure how committed Microsoft is to making hardware. It showed off this technology months before the arrival of Windows 8, has yet to release pricing details, and says it will deliver these beautiful products only through Microsoft channels.

Well, their channels are getting bigger Microsoft aim to have 44 stores open by 2013, with stores now opening outside of the USA too, starting with Canada.

Watch out, Apple, the sleeping giant is waking up!

This does not sound like a fall out with the PC manufacturers - it is more of a wake-up call advising them that you can make something different and sexy with a bit of effort.

Microsoft took the time and effort to get Surface and Windows 8 right; now it’s the rest of the industry’s turn. That is, if they still want to have an industry in a few years!

See you next time.

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DRIVE TIME > >

After meeting Paul at a recent networking event with The Business Network, it prompted me to enquire about a test drive of one of the BMW range. Paul kindly offered me the car for the weekend and this is a short review on my findings.

I picked the car up from Sytner Cardiff and, as ever, Paul was very accommodating and took me for a little test drive to show me around the car and the numerous different functions the car had. I was already impressed by the exterior of the car but even more so when I saw what the interior had to offer.

The spec was amazing and really did meet my expectations on what I would want in a family/business use car. I drove it from Cardiff back to my home in Llanelli. As always the rain was pouring so the automatic windscreen wipers went down well with me! I loved all the little details the interior has, such as the cup holders (ideal as I travel a lot and need regular coffee). I suffer with my back, so the comfort of the seats was great, and really helped with the driving experience. I liked the fact you don’t need to take your hands of the wheel as the controls for everything you need, such as radio/phone, etc, are accessible on the wheel itself so you can adjust things easily and safely whilst driving.

This is a great safety point for me when travelling with my children, as they can be distracting enough!

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BMW BMW 1 SERIES SPORT Reviewed by: Marie Spires - MRS BUCKET

Car supplied by: Sytner, Cardiff

Paul had linked my phone up to the Bluetooth, which I have to say was my favourite thing about the car. I spent the whole journey home being able to actually hear what the person on the other end was saying, unlike my existing car phone.

I have to say, I really needed to be aware of my speed in this car as you don’t realise the how fast you are travelling - it literally glides along the road, unlike my existing model which shudders and shakes at anything over 60mph!

When I arrived home my children were so excited and wanted a spin in the car after I picked them up from school. I have 3 small children and there was ample room for them in the back. There were automatic child locks, which put my mind at ease whilst driving. My son’s comment was that Mum had got a new sports car and it was super cool! So it definitely went down well with them. We travelled all weekend around the area, and they were all very sad to see my old car picking them up from school today!

I can identify only three faults with the car, the first being that I found the reverse on the gear stick a little hard to adjust to, although over time I’m sure it would just come to me automatically. The second being the indicators - I never knew if they were on or not, but apparently this is so in all BMW cars, and so again, just takes some getting used to. I also may need a larger boot, seeing as I have such a large family so I would probably opt for the 3 series.

I was looking for the ideal car, and have to say I will definitely be visiting BMW to choose which model I will be buying. As well as needing the car for family use, I also work as a Sales Executive at Mrs Bucket Commercial Cleaning Services. My job involves promoting the company, as well as travelling to new and existing clients. Comfort is very important to me in my job as I travel such a lot.

We currently have clients all over south west Wales and specialise in the cleaning of ALL commercial premises including offices, surgeries, schools, shops, and factories. All our staff are CRB checked and must attend our unique training academy to bring them up to the highest possible standards of workmanship.

Unique to my company, a spot check will be carried out at each client’s premises so that high standards are maintained on a monthly basis, ensuring consistency.

For any testimonials as to why ALL our clients love MRS BUCKET, please visit our website www.mrs-bucket.co.uk For anyone who is currently either looking for a commercial cleaner, or is unhappy with their existing cleaning provider and would like a FREE quote, please contact Marie Spires 01792 886 665.

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JCP Solicitors Race for Life Clare Bowen, Head of HR services at JCP Solictors took part in Race for Life in Swansea on Sunday 22nd July.

Not only did Clare run the 5k course in 25 minutes on a sweltering hot day, but she also raised £150 for Cancer Research UK. Pictured is the team from JCP Solicitors- from left to right, Amy Seppman, Clare Bowen and Denise Clisham.

The Global Coworking Phenomenon comes to Wales!

Coworking is the Global phenomenon that provides home workers with an alternative office solution to working from home. It started in San Francisco in 2005 and by 2010 had reached Cardiff when indycube opened and in 2011 had reached Swansea when The Desk Den opened. indycube and The Desk Den are coworking spaces that bridge the gap between working from a coffee shop and taking on an office lease. Each of these spaces provide home workers with a desk to work from in a communal office space, allowing like-minded individuals to network and collaborate with each other.

There are many benefits of working from a coworking Space.

Mark Hooper, Founder of indycube, said:

“Our members find that the benefits of coworking have helped their businesses to grow. Coworking is a buzz word, and we can see why! If you’ve worked on your own, if you have been in managed office space, if the kids are driving you nuts…you will love coworking. We know running your own business is not easy. indycube can give you a professional address, amazing meeting rooms and a platform to grow your business.

It all makes a difference.”

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Joanne Popham Owner of The Desk Den said:

“I opened The Desk Den because when I was working from home, I found the isolation and distractions were having an effect on my work.

I wanted to create a space where people like me could work alongside others for a fair price. The idea of going to a coffee shop was not an option as I wanted a professional environment, and free coffee on tap! The Desk Den provides pay-asyou-go office solutions to assist business start-ups, SMEs and mobile professionals in developing their businesses”.

Natalie Reynolds Social Media Coach is a member of The Desk Den. Natalie shows businesses how to utilise social media as a marketing tool through coaching sessions and workshops. Natalie said:

“The Desk Den opened at just the right time for me; I was looking for an alternative solution to working from home. The dog continually barking was starting to take its toll! I was able to put the work-life balance into perspective and within the first month of being a member of The Desk Den , I noticed a marked improvement in my productivity. As a result my business has developed at an amazing rate. I also run my coaching sessions and workshops from The Desk Den which means I can do everything under one roof at a cost effective rate.” indycube and The Desk Den added the Coworking Visa to their list of benefits. A coworking visa allows active members of one space to use other coworking spaces around the world at no extra charge for a set number of days (3 is the default). Terms vary from space to space with regard to hours of operation, how many days are offered, reservation requirements, etc, so be sure to check the Visa terms for the space you want to visit. Indycube’s and The Desk Den’s Coworking Visa terms are free. As soon as The Desk Den and indycube joined the Coworking Visa, Natalie took up the service.

Natalie said:

“The Coworking Visa has saved me a fortune. As part of my membership with The Desk Den I was able to work at indycube at no extra cost. I have clients in Cardiff and so the idea that I can have an office base there is fantastic. It prevented me from having to spend money on overpriced coffees and cakes.”

Coworking is redefining the way we do work, providing home workers with a flexible office solution and a community of like-minded individuals to work alongside; it is building a more sustainable future where individuals and small businesses can create an economy of innovation and creativity, locally and worldwide. www.biznetwales.co.uk

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Management behaving badly – free event tackles ill-treatment in workplace A special event highlighting the problem of ill-treatment in the workplace will launch the new season of free talks and activities offered by Leadership & Management Wales (LMW).

The session, entitled Management behaving badly - consequences and responses to ill-treatment in the workplace, will draw on research and real-life case studies to explain how work relationships can go wrong and to suggest ways of bringing harmony.

Professor Ralph Fevre, of Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences, author of the acclaimed book Trouble at Work, will draw on his latest research to help the audience recognise any signs of ill-treatment in their workplace.

Ill-treatment can range from having your opinions ignored or unnecessary checking of your work to verbal and even physical abuse.

Professor Fevre will be joined by Pat Lewis, a human resources (HR) and management consultant, formerly head of HR at Western Mail & Echo (now Media Wales) and an ex-union leader, who will give examples of what can go wrong when bad management practices are not addressed.

The event, part of LMW’s Bring Your Brain series, takes place at the Future Inns Hotel, Hemingway Road, Cardiff Bay, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 18 September.

“Ill-treatment in the workplace can be stressful and damaging to the individuals involved, but it can also impact on the whole organisation,” said LMW director, Dr Barrie Kennard. “It’s an issue that all good managers need to understand and address, so it’s an appropriate way to start our new series.

“In response to demand, we have extended our popular ‘Bring Your Brain’ events beyond their original breakfast time to other times of day, added more networking time and new venues, and broadened the range of topics to ensure we help meet the skills development needs of current and aspiring managers and leaders throughout Wales.”

Leadership & Management Wales is the centre for excellence for leadership and management skills in Wales, funded by the Welsh Government and the European Social Fund, to benefit businesses of all sizes and sectors across Wales.

It is run by a consortium, led by Cardiff Business School, and including Aberystwyth University, Glyndwr University and Tattum Guest Associates Ltd. LMW’s autumn series continues on 27 September with an event run in partnership with the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) and University of Glamorgan Commercial Services on how to make the most of leadership training at Glamorgan Conference Services, Pontypridd, from 9.30am to 1pm.

Places at all LMW events can be booked at www.lmw.org.uk or by phoning LMW on 029 2087 6560.

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Going global – free event explains how to build a business online Two North Wales business leaders will explain how the worldwide web has helped their companies and clients to international success, when they speak at a free event in October.

Going global – building your business online is a special event organised by Leadership & Management Wales in St Asaph as part of a new season of talks and other activities, aimed at current and aspiring leaders and managers around Wales.

The breakfast event, part of the Bring Your Brain series, features Rich Brady, ecommerce manager at Denbigh Army Surplus, and Sid Madge, founder and director of Bala-based branding agency, Mad Hen. Rich Brady will show how building his family business’s online presence helped it to diversify into new markets, and Sid will explain how building a strong brand online can help you connect with stakeholders and clients more effectively.

The event takes place on Tuesday 2 October from 8am10am at the Optic Technium, St Asaph Business Park.

“Developing and managing your business presence online makes it possible to reach markets all over the world,” said

Dr Barrie Kennard, director of Leadership & Management Wales. “Rich Brady has transformed his family’s business through the web, and Sid Madge will be able to share his experience from working on branding projects with leading brands such as Heinz, IBM and Visa.”

Leadership & Management Wales is the centre for excellence for leadership and management skills in Wales, funded by the Welsh Government and the European Social Fund, to benefit businesses of all sizes and sectors across Wales.

It is run by a consortium, led by Cardiff Business School, and including Aberystwyth University, Glyndwr University and Tattum Guest Associates Ltd. The event is the first in North Wales under LMW’s new programme, which has broadened the range of topics covered, and added more networking time and new venues, to help meet the skills development needs of current and aspiring managers and leaders throughout Wales.

Places at all LMW events can be booked at www.lmw.org. uk and information about this event is available by phoning LMW on 01978 293995.

Jemma aims to engage with North Wales business A former international projects liaison executive has joined Leadership & Management Wales as business engagement officer maternity cover for North Wales.

Jemma Kinch will run LMW’s office at Glyndwr University, having previously worked at Glyndwr Innovations, the University’s commercial arm.

With a BSc (Hons) in sociology from the University of Leicester, she has a particular interest in networking.

Her role will involve encouraging, guiding and advising businesses across North Wales on how to engage in leadership and management development.

“I am looking forward to making new connections with local businesses and raising the profile of the work of LMW in the North Wales region. I look forward to supporting the Network SHE Awards for the first time in my new role with LMW. The awards are a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the success Welsh women are www.biznetwales.co.uk

having here in North Wales,” said Mrs Kinch.

LMW director, Dr Barrie Kennard, said: “Jemma will make an exciting addition to our Wales-wide team, drawing on her expertise to help businesses across North Wales.”

Leadership & Management Wales is the centre for excellence for leadership and management skills in Wales, funded by the Welsh Government and European Social Fund, to benefit businesses of all sizes and sectors across Wales.

It is run by a consortium, led by Cardiff Business School, and including Aberystwyth University, Glyndwr University and Tattum Guest Associates Ltd.

#27

bers! our new mem of e m so e t events!

Here ar em at our nex th r fo t ou Look

Ff os Las Racing and Event s Surrounded by rolling hills and countryside, Ffos Las Racecourse is the ideal day out for groups of friends and families, and even for corporate entertaining.

With 26 race meetings in 2012 there are plenty of days to choose from, from our stand-alone race days through to a day that includes glitz, glamour and plenty of entertainment. Our feature race meetings combine fun, excitement and a super ‘on the edge of your seat’ atmosphere with live music, entertainment and fabulous food and drink…

Nestling in the beautiful Gwendraeth Valley, Ffos Las Racecourse also offers a new and exciting venue at which to hold an event. Whether it be a corporate event or a wedding, we have fantastic facilities and a great team to ensure the highest standards in terms of quality, service and presentation. Whatever your needs as a company or an individual, we have a team at hand that will aim to meet them at every given step.

Emma Banfield Commercial Coordinator Telephone: 01554 811092 Email: ebanfield@ffoslasracecourse.com Website: www.ffoslasracecourse.com

Dor 2 Dor Leaflet Distribution to residential households > Over 24 years in the industry > Carefully monitored adult Post People™ > Distribution by postcode to street level > GPS Tracked leaflet distribution > Local offices covering your area > Door Drop marketing franchise opportunity > Deliver-IT business management system > We are compliance certificated by the OFT > Print service with Zero VAT on packages Contact: swansea@dor2dor.com

#28

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Spill Media Spill Media is a Media Production Company specialising in video production, producing marketing and promotional films and providing Digital Media Training.

Based in Swansea, South Wales, we provide creative solutions through the media genre, in a society where communications are becoming increasingly visual.

Email: info@spillmedia.co.uk

Spring Creative Spring Creative Design specialise in finding a creative solution for all of your design needs. Based in South Wales, we work with small to medium sized businesses to create innovative and effective design solutions.

From business cards to corporate brochures, we offer the full range of graphic design services that capture the personality of your business.

Call 01792 884573

TURN OVER FOR The Business Network

DIARY DATES www.biznetwales.co.uk

#29

Jus t Huw Johns Many of you know me as Editor of this magazine – The Handshake. I’m pleased that we’re in our 15th edition and the magazine is going from strength to strength.

I’ve been a member of The Business Network for nearly 12 years and it’s an honour to head up the magazine, which has now gone way beyond the network and is read by over 11,000 people each issue.

My day job is a Marketing Consultant and Copywriter.

I’m sure you don’t want me to bore you with the stuff I do for businesses, but if you’re interested you can find it at:

w w w. marketing bloke.co.uk w w w. m rcopy w riter.co.uk w w w. huwjohns .co.uk.

Perhaps more interestingly, I live in Cardiff and Tenby with my partner Sue, have an eight year old daughter and am in the middle of writing two books: “Frozen Sandwiches and Plastic Pants – a bloke’s guide to childbirth and the early years” and “Creative Juices”, a comedy, set in a Cardiff-based advertising agency.

Email: huw@huwjohns.co.uk

#30

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The Business Network

DIARY DATES

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

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#31

One year on….

One year on from our first ever Rise and Shine Business Breakfast… Join us at The Liberty Stadium from 8:00am to 10:00am for a COMPLIMENTARY breakfast at this year‟s Liberty Stadium Business Show. Spaces are limited to 100 networkers so register now!

Email: info@biznetwales.co.uk Tel: 01639 7935802

The Liberty Stadium Business Show 2012 Thursday 20th September Swansea‟s original and unmissable business show returns in 2012 featuring: Over 50 exhibitors with services Designed to increase your sales Advice and ideas that you can take away to positively influence your business *International Business Desk – Free Business Clinic All the help you need to kick start your business in the right direction. *Test your driving skills out at this year‟s show “Put your business in Pole Position”

#32

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BBC's 'The Apprentice' winner comes to Bridgend Winner of the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’, Michelle Dewberry will be making a guest appearance at the Bridgend Business Forum’s Global Entrepreneurship Week event on the 13 November 2012.

Date: Tuesday 13 November 2012 Venue: The SONY Theatre, Bridgend College Time: 8.00am until 2pm Key speakers: • Entrepreneurship - Linda Narbeth, Cherryblue Training Ltd • Marketing - Andrew Owen Genesis Marketing & Events Ltd • Intellectual Property – Chris Coughlan, Berry Smith Solicitors • Pilgrim Bandits – made up of ex-special forces members who raise money for a wide variety of charities by undertaking the toughest of challenges.

Keynote speaker: • Apprentice winner and successful entrepreneur - Michelle Dewberry fought off stiff competition from over 15,000 people to become Lord Sugar’s first female apprentice.

There will be a business breakfast and exhibition during the day. Other essential topics for businesses will be covered by presentations from Paul Thurston, Design Wales, Sue Smart, Positively Smart, Marianne Pettifor, Frogmore Consulting and Jan King, Barclays Bank Plc. This free event is a must for anyone thinking of starting a business.

It is a celebration of enterprise and entrepreneurial people and will offer a unique one-stop- shop for any would be entrepreneurs, business starts and growing entrepreneurial people.

For further information contact Mary Pope on 01656 815320 or email mary.pope@bridgend.gov.uk. To book a place visit: www.bridgendbusinessforum.co.uk

www.biznetwales.co.uk

#33

The Handshake is the official magazine of The Business Network and is published electronically quarterly. Copies are sent to all Business Network members and other selected individuals within the business community.

All enquiries: www.biznetwales.co.uk info@biznetwales.co.uk

Issue 15

01639 793580

E-BOOK DESIGN, CREATION & HOSTING BY

GREAT DESIGN WILL SAVE THE WORLD! Like what you see? Want to talk about a future design project?

Contact Gwilym on: hello@hoodoodesign.co.uk #34

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