Government Business Volume 17.13

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CATERING – How vending machines can increase uptake of healthy eating

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Dear Reader,

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tbusiness.co.uk

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, with lights, mince pies and tinsel everywhere you turn.

The recent winter weather also contributed to a feeling of Christmas, even though it also brought with it problems on our roads, delayed trains and cancelled rubbish collections. Whether it will be a white Christmas is still uncertain, however, in the meantime we bring you Government Business with topical articles explaining commercial issues affecting local and central government.

GB AWARDS

PoSTAl SeRVICe S

| Volume 17.1 3

HIGHWAYS

CoNFeReNCeS & eVeNTS

line Enter onw. at ww . gbawarkds co.u

AIm accredited venues professionalism and value for offer money Be inspired at International Confex, and in Scotland

Remember that the closing date for entering the GB Awards is 18 January. Please see page 10 for more information about this event, which will recognise effective business practises in the public sector.

Enjoy the issue and the festive season!

CATeRING – How ven ding mac

hines can increas

e uptake of hea

lthy eating

Sofie Lidefjard, Editor editorial@psigroupltd.co.uk

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS MAGAZINE If you would like to receive 12 issues of Government Business magazine for £95 a year, please contact Public Sector Information, 226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055, Fax: 020 8532 0066, or visit the Government Business website at: P NEWS P FEATURES P PROFILES P CASE STUDIES P EVENTS P AND MORE

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CONTENTS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS 17.13

07 NEWS 10 GB AWARDS The 2011 Government Business Awards will continue to highlight the many shining examples of local and central government excellence

12 MONEY MATTERS Elaine Gibson at the Institute of Payroll Professionals looks at the key aspects of the Chancellor’s spending review and their likely impact on payroll departments Excellent feedback scores from this year’s CCR-interactive conference gave the thumbs-up to the event’s formula of top speakers and networking opportunities

16 BUILT ENVIRONMENT BRE sheds light on the world of renewable energy technologies Debbie Johns, of the Association for Public Service Excellence, looks at how councils can generate their own energy from renewable sources

Jane Davidson, Welsh Environment Minister, discusses plans for improved defence management in Wales What will be happening at Ecobuild 2011, the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment?

29 HIGHWAYS Staffordshire County Council outlines how it has learned form last year’s experience and the steps it has taken for this winter

31 CONFERENCES & EVENTS Amid budgetary restraint, the Meetings Industry Association highlights how AIM accredited venues can offer excellence and value for money Scotland’s world-class conference and event venues are touted as the perfect way to mix business with pleasure We preview International Confex – the show that will have event organisers leaving full of inspiration

51 EVENT PRODUCTION February’s Event Production Show is the pre-eminent showcase for professionals involved in Europe’s live event sector

55 POSTAL SERVICES A look back at how the UK’s mail market became fully liberalised and how government mailrooms can become more effective procurers of postal services

57 CATERING The Automatic Vending Association’s Jonathan Hilder discusses how vending contributes to the healthy eating debate and the impact of the new five and ten pence coins

59 FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Roger Bibbings of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents gives his views on Lord Young’s review of health and safety

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Flood team teaches future emergency rescuers mergency services workers of the future have been getting lessons from Allerdale Borough Council staff on how to cope with disasters like the 2009 floods.

Dr Les Tickner, Allerdale Borough Council’s flood recovery coordinator for Cockermouth, and Ian Payne, the council’s emergency planning coordinator, talked to the budding rescue workers about the combined flood response and recovery effort.

The students, aged from 17 to 22, are on the Uniformed Public Services course at Stockton Riverside College, which prepares them for a career in the emergency services or armed forces.

Mr Payne said: “The council’s relationship with other agencies – including those such as the emergency services who came in from other parts of the country – proved invaluable in helping our

NEWSINBRIEF Housing website to give home seekers more choice

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©Allerdale BC

residents to get through the nightmare of the floods so that we could help them recover from the ordeal.

“We are keen to share our experience and forge links with the students to help them on the way in their chosen careers, as we never know when we might have to work with them again.”

£7m for mending potholes and gritting ales Local Government Minister, Carl Sargeant has announced extra funding totalling £7 million for local authorities to spend on mending potholes and buying road salt for gritting this winter.

The minister said: “The money that I am announcing is to be spent this financial year. It will help to alleviate some of the financial pressure on local authorities and enable them to take early action to overcome the problems

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that another hard winter may present.

“I know that local authorities are carefully planning to meet the challenges of another hard winter and it is for them to decide their priorities in terms of road repair and the purchase of road salt.

“However, in terms of gritting I expect them to give priority to the needs of the elderly and the young and to pay particular attention to areas around local shops, schools, clinics, community centres and the like.”

From January 2011 the Choice Based Lettings service will allow home seekers across Leicestershire to view available properties online and make bids for the ones that best match their needs, instead of the council nominating them for a home.

Properties will be advertised fortnightly at Leicestershire Homes and people will be able to bid online, by telephone or text for a maximum of three homes that they are eligible for. Newsletters advertising available properties will also be displayed in locations across each district.

The aim is to give home seekers more information about which properties are available and allow people to view homes in neighbouring local authority areas. A number of language options will be available for people to use when bidding for properties by telephone.

The project is a partnership between the seven Leicestershire district councils.

New phone hotline for reporting flytipping and graffiti Ealing Council has launched a 24-hour, 7 day a week hotline for reporting cases of fly-tipping, graffiti and emergency cleansing on the borough’s streets.

From 1 December, by simply calling 020 8825 8825 the public can report all of these cases, at any time and the council will aim to deal with it within 24 hours.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for Transport and Environment, said: “You should not have to put up with graffiti and fly-tipping and now you can call our new Grimebusters line at any time. I know this new service will go even further to making Ealing an even better place to live.”

Free leisure to tackle health inequalities Free gym memberships are being offered to residents on low incomes to boost access to sport and leisure to tackle health inequalities in Amber Valley. It’s part of a project called Total Wellbeing run by Amber Valley Borough Council and leisure partners DC Leisure, in which 175 free leisure centre passes are being given out to people on low incomes in Langley Mill.

The area has been identified as having some of the worst health inequalities in Amber Valley.

Around 30 per cent of residents in Langley Mill are classified as obese, nearly 6 per cent greater than the national average. Long term limiting illness is also nearly 2 per cent higher than the national average and smoking prevalence is nearly 10 per cent higher than the rest of Amber Valley.

Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities Councillor Chris Short said: “It’s so important to make sport and leisure more financially accessible to those who need it the most. This project is about kick-starting enthusiasm in sport for people who wouldn’t normally get involved in leisure membership because of the cost.”

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Free soft drinks for designated drivers esignated drivers celebrating the festive season in Bedford town centre this Christmas and New Year can ask for a wristband entitling them to free soft drinks. More than 2,000 bright yellow wristbands will be available from door staff at participating pubs and clubs, and also on Friday and Saturday nights from police officers attached to the Bedford Central Safer Neighbourhood Team who will be patrolling car parks.

Councillor Charles Royden, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Road Safety, said: “The aim is to help reduce the number of drink-related road collisions. If you are a designated driver, then you are acting responsibly, and we are delighted that pubs and clubs in Bedford are supporting the initiative to help improve safety for road users and pedestrians this Christmas.

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“Soft drinks are often too expensive and provide little encouragement for people to choose as an alternative to alcohol.

This scheme will reward designated drivers and encourage them not to drink alcohol during a night out.”

Bedford Borough Council, Bedfordshire Police and the Bedfordshire & Luton Fire and Rescue Service have developed the initiative.

More support to help people back to work new pilot is starting in Barrow providing health support for people on long-term sickness benefit so they can get back into work or training.

Barrow is one of three places in the north west to take part in the 12-month pilot alongside Workington and Sefton in Merseyside. It’s hoped the health trainer employed as part of the scheme will work with people currently claiming sickness benefits to both improve their health and

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their employment prospects as a result.

Carole Wood, NHS Cumbria’s associate director of Public Health in south Cumbria, said: ”It’s great news that Barrow has been picked as one of a small number of places in the North West to benefit from this extra support.

People can find themselves without work for a number of reasons and often it can be connected to people’s health and also a lack of self-confidence.”

Construction report to boost public sector work for SMEs new report has been published to encourage the involvement of small and medium sized companies (SMEs) in public sector construction contracts.

The report, which highlights examples of best practice in the West Midlands, has been produced following the establishment of a specialist task force, comprising key representatives from the construction sector, including the West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE).

The coalition government has said they want 25 per cent of all public sector contracts to be awarded to SMEs. However, according to WMCCE, those involved in public sector procurement need to be sympathetic to the challenges facing SMEs if this target is to be achieved. The report also highlights the steps that these businesses need to take to improve their approach to

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NEWSINBRIEF Hackney residents encouraged to grow their own Hackney Council has pledged to support food growing projects across the borough to encourage more residents to grow food locally.

The council has signed up to help develop up to 60 food growing projects in schools, on estates and in parks as part of the Capital Growth campaign which aims to support 2,012 new community food-growing spaces by the end of 2012.

Community and volunteer groups are encouraged to put themselves forward to Capital Growth. 50 Hackney sites have already signed up, ranging from edible playgrounds to community allotments developed on neglected spaces and derelict land.

Local biodiversity action plan launched The revised Argyll and Bute Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP), overseen by the Argyll and Bute Local Biodiversity Partnership, has been launched, taking over from the previous plan, from 2001.

Among the achievements of the previous LBAP were influencing agricultural environment schemes, river basin and catchment management plans, protected marine and coastal habitats and species plans as well as encouraging people to be more proactive in their community.

The revised plan focuses on threatened habitats and species through adopting the ecosystem approach, which is a nationally accepted policy as a means of ensuring cohesive conservation activities.

New ways of working deliver cleaner streets Complaints about litter in communities across the Selby district have halved since new systems were put in place to improve the efficiency of street cleaning and the collection of waste from litter bins.

New staff rotas have been put in place with small teams now responsible for particular communities along with a new system for emptying litter bins across the district. These changes have been put in place in direct response to residents’ comments about the importance of street cleaning.

Chair of Selby District Council’s Environment Board, Cllr Chris Metcalfe, said: “In an ideal world we wouldn’t want to receive any complaints about litter or litter bins, but what we’ve seen is a significant reduction in complaints. This shows that we’ve been listening to what you’ve been telling us – we’ve learnt from the complaints we’ve had and are responding in a positive way by targeting these areas.”

tendering for public sector work.

The report, Opportunity in Austerity, which is available at www.wmcce.org, clearly identifies an action plan for each of the groups involved in the procurement of public sector contracts – public sector bodies, lead contractors, SMEs and industry support bodies.

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GB AWARDS

DEMONSTRATING EXCELLENCE IN TOUGH TIMES The 2011 Government Business Awards will celebrate the many shining examples of operational and business excellence taking place in local and central government The Regeneration Project Award will recognise a local authority regeneration project that has been completed within budget and has improved the living and working conditions of residents and the local business community.

This year the award was taken home

by Corby Borough Council for its Corby Parkland Gateway project. New life has been breathed into the area with projects including a new railway station, a new swimming pool, and the £60m Corby Cube – a multipurpose, landmark building which is a focal point for local information and services.

WITH SEVERE BUDGET CUTS sweeping the public sector, now more than ever must central and local government demonstrate creativity and innovation when delivering public services.

The 2011 Government Business Awards will recognise local authorities and central government departments that have demonstrated sound business judgement and operational expertise in a range of areas, including environmental practices, finance, housing, security and training.

Taking place at Twickenham Stadium on 17 February, the Awards will be presented

by BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull.

The March 2010 Government Business Awards were hailed a great success, with many local and central government departments taking home awards that a were testament to their hard work.

AWARDS LIST The Public Safety Award is presented to a local authority project that has increased perceptions of safety and led to a reduction in crime through investment in security and through multi-agency efforts to reduce the crime threat in a specific area.

The 2010 winner was Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) which improved the delivery standards of its Home Safety Visits through the implementation of a new Customer Relationship Management system. Before the system, the Service completed 6,500 Home Safety Visits, while in 2008/09 this rose to over 12,000.

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The Public Sector Security Award is awarded to a local authority or central government building/refurbishment project that considers security as a prime concern and enhances the safety of staff, residents and visitors to the building through the installation of CCTV, monitoring, access control or other innovative security system.

The 2010 winner was Wigan Council for its new control centre and CCTV system.

The new control room monitors a sizeable 600+ camera system and covers seven town centres, three shopping precincts, two residential areas and various private locations spread across a 77 square-mile area.

HOUSING AND REGENERATION The Social Housing Award is presented to a social housing project that has the potential to deliver a measurable change in both the standard of accommodation and the environmental performance of the buildings and associated land. It is presented to local authorities, housing trusts and other private/public sector partnerships.

This year it was awarded to Middlesbrough Council for its Trinity Crescent, North Ormesby housing scheme. The scheme transformed a run-down market square into an attractive mixed-use scheme. As well as the provision of houses for sale and rent at affordable levels, the development includes a new medical village, community facility, childcare nursery and extra care housing.

PROCUREMENT The Central Government Procurement Award is given to a central government agency that is judged to have increased value to the taxpayer through smarter procurement practice. Entry is open to central government agencies.

This year the award was taken home by HM Revenue and Customs for its adoption of spend, sourcing and procurement technologies.

The Local Government Procurement Award is awarded to a local authority or regional procurement agency/hub that demonstrates better value to the taxpayer through an improved procurement process.

The 2010 winner was Peterborough City Council. In October 2006, the council set itself an ambitious target of £24m cumulative savings over five years. Three years on, its efforts have achieved £48.43m of cumulative savings, with 75 live projects at any one time.

The Workforce Training Award is given to a local authority training scheme that demonstrates both high levels of staff satisfaction in the level of training provided and an improvement in staff performance as a result of its rollout. Projects can be submitted by third party training providers in partnership with a local government body.

This year Dacorum Borough Council took home the award for the comprehensive training package that empowered its workforce through the changes to its Street Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance services. During the changes, no redundancies were made, £250,000 savings were achieved and sickness levels were decreased by 50 per cent.

THE ENVIRONMENT The Environmental Transport Award is given to a local government agency that has implemented cost effective measures to help reduce the environmental impact of local authority transport services.

Government Business | Volume 17.13

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GB AWARDS

Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council took home this year’s award for their Enderby Park & Riden service. It provides a 1,000-space out-of-town park and ride facility using lower-emission buses which at full capacity, removes up to 70 cars from the road for each journey.

The Environmental Innovation Award recognises a local authority scheme that demonstrates innovation in environmental practice and increases both recycling rates and the awareness of environmental issues to residents.

This year it was taken home by Lewisham Council for its LoveLewisham/ LoveCleanStreets websites.

LoveCleanStreets is a free online tool which allows Londoners to upload photographs of a neighbourhood’s ‘loved’ qualities, or in some cases, ‘unloved’ qualities to bring them to the attention of their local authority.

The website was born out of Lewisham Council’s LoveLewisham site, which has been active for the last five years.

The Waste Management Award is presented to a local authority that demonstrates an environmentally sound and cost effective waste management programme that reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill and provides a high level of service to residents.

The 2010 winner was Peterborough City Council. Measures to improve the council’s waste services included a four-week advertising campaign urging residents to ‘Keep it clean’ when using recycling bins, and a new fourday week waste and recycling collection service to provide a more consistent service.

SUSTAINABILITY The Sustainability Award is presented to a local authority that demonstrates a holistic approach to achieving sustainable paths for all areas of council operation, and

promotes sustainability and environmental initiatives to the population effectively.

This year Exeter City Council received the Sustainability Award for its Green Accord accreditation scheme that provides a tiered system of grading that enables companies of all sizes to obtain recognition applicable to their level of achievement in sustainable commitment.

The Public Sector Energy Award is awarded to a public sector energy project that (whether through the procurement of a greener energy supply or the installation of energy efficient plant or equipment) demonstrates real carbon savings and projects a positive environmental image for the authority/department.

This year’s winner was Devon County Council for its Renewable Energy 4 Devon (RE4D) project and biomass boiler installation. The scheme gives free independent advice to organisations, communities, households on renewable energy installations and has helped 109 renewable energy installations to be installed since it started.

SPORT AND LEISURE The Sport & Leisure Award is awarded to a local authority project judged to have increased the uptake of sports and leisure participation in the area through the provision of first class facilities and innovative activities/promotional campaigns.

Partnership projects between local/central government and the private sector are eligible.

This year’s winner was Cheltenham Borough Council. The Leisure@cheltenham facilities reopened in September 2008 after catastrophic damage caused by the July 2007 floods. The refurbishment sought to ensure competitiveness within the health and fitness market whilst guaranteeing the provision of targeted activity programmes for children, young people, the over 50s, and women.

The 2011 Market Research Award will be presented to a local government market research strategy that has enabled the

authority to better understand the needs of its citizens, through the use of ad-hoc surveys, regular consultations and new delivery methods/technologies. Local authorities and private sector organisations working on behalf of local government are eligible.

The 2010 winner was Westminster City Council thanks to the market research it conducted to help the council deliver a rapid response to the threat of recession, reductions in the fear of crime and an improved reputation for the council.

The Financial Performance Award will be awarded to the local authority that best demonstrates fiscal prudence and sound financial performance. This award takes many budgetary factors into account, including population, pension fund investments, council tax rates and employee contracts.

City of Edinburgh Council won this year’s Award for supporting the local economy as the recession took hold. The Finance Department secured effective management of council finances, in particular ensuring sound financial performance, fiscal prudence, achieving efficiencies and working with partners.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.gbawards.co.uk

HOW TO ENTER Entry is open to local and central government departments, who are required to submit a 500-word entry statement. The closing date for entries is 18 January 2011. Should your organisation be short listed, you will be invited to the event, which features a champagne reception followed by a three-course lunch.

For more information and to enter please go to www.gbawards.co.uk

Business and environment together IG GREEN BOOK, the small business environment network, is the UK’s premier environmental and promotional business network. It showcases the best sustainable companies offering and delivering innovative environmental business products, business services and low carbon technologies and helping grow greener communities and local economies.

No one is more serious about promoting the benefits of practical environmental solutions to businesses, households and communities and helping them to find, buy and connect with the right local suppliers in their area.

Big Green Book is a membership organisation dedicated to promoting its members through an online product and service directory, articles,

environmental products, services and technical information they need to complete their projects. Sellers are given a wide range of promotional and marketing opportunities to help them attract and win vital new business.

Big Green Book communicates, positions and promotes b2b environmental businesses and their solutions.

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print, trade shows and direct contact events.

Big Green Book provides an efficient way for buyers and sellers within the UK’s business-to-business marketplaces to exchange information and develop sustainable business relationships and build greener supply chains.

Buyers are given free access to a comprehensive, qualified data set that allows them to search for and select the

FOR MORE INFORMATION Big Green Book 3-5 Old Station Building, Oswald Road, Oswestry Shropshire SY11 1RE Tel: 01691 661 565 E-mail: info@biggreenbook.com Web: www.biggreenbook.com

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MONEY MATTERS

PAYROLL – NEGOTIATING THE LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE Elaine Gibson, senior policy officer at the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP) examines the key aspects of the Chancellor’s spending review and how they may impact payroll departments WHEN CHANCELLOR GEORGE OSBORNE delivered his spending review on October 20, 2010 it contained a mixed bag of pending changes. In keeping with its commitment to providing up-to-date news for employers’ payroll departments, the IPP Policy team has extracted the key points from the review that will likely affect those working in this sector.

The review identified that 490,000 jobs in the public sector will go over the next four years. In the June Budget, the government announced a two year pay freeze from 2011-12 for public sector workers earning over £21,000, with those earning less than this receiving at least £250 in each year.

PAY SCALE DISPARITY In addition, the government asked Will Hutton to lead a Review of Fair Pay in the public sector, making recommendations on tackling disparities between the lowest and highest paid in public sector organisations. The Review published its interim findings earlier this month.

The Independent Public Service Pensions Commission (IPSPC) led by John Hutton published an interim report on October 7. The report highlights the importance of providing good quality pensions to public servants and concludes that there is a clear rationale for public servants to make a greater contribution if their pensions are to remain fair to taxpayers and employees, and affordable for the country.

In response to the Commission’s interim recommendations, the government will: • Commit to continue with a form of defined benefit pension • Await Lord Hutton’s final recommendation before determining the nature of that benefit and the precise level of progressive contribution required • Carry out a public consultation on the discount rate used to set contribution rates in the public service pension schemes • Implement progressive changes to the level of employee contributions that lead to an additional saving of £1.8bn a year by 2014-15, equivalent to three percentage points on average, to be phased in from April 2012 • Exempt the armed forces from this increase in employee contributions • Seek engagement with all stakeholders including trade unions.

EDUCATION Regarding education, changes proposed in the Spending Review include significantly

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lowering the overall cost of the further education system by abolishing Train to Gain and by reducing spending on budgets which do not directly support learners.

Building on the recommendations of Lord Browne’s Review of higher education funding and student finance, from the 2012/13 academic year, universities will be able to increase graduate contributions. There will be loan support from government for full and, for the first time, part time students, with an offsetting reduction in the teaching grant.

The government will bring forward wide ranging reforms in order to support a world class higher education sector. This will place the funding system on a more sustainable financial footing and provide support to individuals from low income backgrounds.

Meanwhile, a new system of graduate contributions will ensure that students will only pay once they have graduated and can afford to do so. The graduate contribution system will be progressive and protect the lowest earning graduates.

There will also be increases in adult apprenticeship funding by £250 million a year by 2014-15 relative to the level inherited from the previous government.

EARLY YEARS AND THE DISADVANTAGED There will be an extension from 2012-13 to 15 hours per week of free early education and care to all disadvantaged two year old children, as the cornerstone of a new focus on the foundation years before school.

A substantial new premium worth £2.5 billion targeted on the educational development of disadvantaged pupils will be established. The premium will sit within a generous overall settlement for schools, with the 5 to 16s schools budget, rising by 0.1 per cent in real terms each year.

There will be further increases in participation for 16 to 19 learning, while moving towards raising the participation age to 18 by 2015.

Protection for those on the lowest incomes in higher education through a National Scholarship fund of £150 million a year by 2014/15 will also be established.

The government will bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows and publish a White Paper during the winter.

The government has confirmed that it will provide funding for the introduction

of auto enrolment from 2012 and the establishment of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST), to help individuals save for their retirement and encourage high quality pension provision by employers.

STATE PENSION Increasing longevity and demographic change pose challenges over the longer term. In response, the government will speed up the pace of State Pension Age equalisation for women from April 2016 so that Women’s State Pension Age reaches 65 in November 2018.

The State Pension Age will then increase to 66 for both men and women from December 2018 to April 2020, six years earlier than planned. Following the faster increase to 66,

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MONEY MATTERS

the government is also considering future increases to the State Pension Age and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Basic State Pension will be uprated by a triple guarantee of earnings, prices or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest.

Bringing forward the date at which the State Pension Age will start to rise to 66 to 2018 will ensure this is fiscally sustainable.

WELFARE REFORMS Over the next two parliaments the current complex system of means-tested working age benefits and tax credits will gradually be replaced with the Universal Credit – an integrated payment that will ensure work always pays, with less scope for fraud and error. £2 billion has been set aside in DWP’s DEL settlement over the next four years to fund the implementation of the Universal Credit. Further details will be set out in DWP’s forthcoming White Paper.

To provide a fair and affordable platform for the introduction of the Universal Credit the Spending Review also announced a package of reforms to the existing welfare system which will deliver net AME savings of £7 billion a year by 2014-15.

Changes include capping household benefit payments from 2013 at around £500 per week for couple and lone parent households and around £350 per week for single adult households, so that no family can receive more in welfare than median after tax earnings for working households. All disability living allowance claimants, war widows, and working families claiming the working tax credits will be exempt from the cap.

Changes also include withdrawing child benefit from families with a higher rate taxpayer from January 2013 so that people on lower incomes are not subsidising those who are better off, saving £2.5 billion a year by 2014-15.

The costs of tax credits will be controlled by reducing the percentage of childcare

costs that parents can claim through the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit (WTC) from 80 per cent to its previous 70 per cent level in April 2011, saving £385 million a year by 2014-15; Eligibility rules will be changed so that couples with children must work 24 hours a week between them, with one partner working at least 16 hours a week in order to qualify for the WTC, saving £390 million a year by 2014-15.

The basic and 30 hour elements of the WTC will be freezed for three years from 2011/12, saving £625 million a year by 2014-15.

Lastly changes include increasing the child element above indexation by a further £30 in 2011-12 and £50 in 2012-13, in addition to the £150 and £60 increases provided at the June Budget. This will ensure that the overall outcome of the Spending Review will have no measurable impact on child poverty in the next two years.

HMRC In order to focus resources on frontline tax collection, HMRC will invest in new technology to improve risk assessment capability, better join up taxpayer information and streamline internal processes. Savings will be maximised from IT and other procurement contracts, and administration costs will be reduced by a third with reductions in the size of corporate services and back office support functions.

HMRC will modernise tax administration and will improve and tailor services for taxpayers. £100 million has been budgeted to improve the operation of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) for both employers and individuals. All businesses will be filing their tax returns online by 2012 with at least 80 per cent of self assessments to be filed online by 2014-15. The Department will also modernise PAYE, moving towards more real time information so that people can be reassured that they have paid the right amount of tax throughout the year.

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST The government is committed to the implementation of the devolution of Scottish income tax as laid out in the Calman Commission Report, and will introduce a Scotland Bill in the current Parliamentary session.

HMRC has published new guidance and a Q&A for employers (and also one for employees) on the forthcoming changes to Employer Supported Childcare. It includes details of the basic earnings assessment which employers will need to carry out on any employee who joins a childcare voucher scheme on or after April 6, 2011.

HMRC has also published further guidance for employers on Additional Statutory Paternity Pay. It explains who is eligible, how much you must pay and how to calculate before April 2011.

Full details of the qualifying conditions for Additional Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay can be found on the Business Link website.

Business Link has also published new guidance leaflets for employers and employees on maternity and paternity rights which includes new guidance on Additional Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.payrollprofession.org

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Visit the website to view the categorised product finder

Unmasking the stars across the UK credit profession RGANISED AND HOSTED by the Institute of Credit Management (ICM), the awards are designed to reward and acknowledge excellent practice in an increasingly complex and demanding profession.

The awards are unlike others in the industry with entrants independently nominated by either their employer, a supplier or customer. Entries are judged anonymously, with the names of organisations or individuals removed from all documentation submitted to the panel of judges.

Among the awards is the Credit Professional of the Year, which singles out the person who has made a tangible and measurable improvement in their particular field over the last 12 months.

The other main award is the icm11 Credit Personality of The Year, which celebrates and congratulates the achievements of an individual who has made a significant contribution to society, through charitable efforts, or significant personal

O

achievement despite the odds.

As well as the two main prizes awarded on the night, other awards are given in the following categories: The Unsung Hero, Developing the Team Award, Learning Partnership of the Year, Newcomer of the Year Award, Innovative Solution of the Year, Performance Improvement, Fraud Prevention, International Trade Initiative, and the Recognition of Best Practice Award. In addition, the Sir Roger Cork Prize will be presented to the candidate who achieved the highest aggregate exam mark.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel No. 01780 722902 Fax No. 01780 721700 E-mail: training@icm.org.uk Web: www.icm11.org.uk

Debt sale, a better way forward.

Lowell are widely acknowledged as the UK’s leading debt purchase specialists, buying consumer debt from a whole range of creditors.

We manage the recovery of those debts, treating customers fairly every step of the way working closely with each one to build a realistic and affordable tailored repayment plan.

Selling your debts as an integral part of your recovery strategy brings a number of immediate and tangible benefits: • • • • • • •

Immediate increased cash reserves Increased profit for a healthier overall trading picture Higher overall returns compared to traditional recovery methods Increased consistency in forecasting bad debt recoveries Optimisation of balance sheet reserves Increased productivity of existing resources Improved cash flow

Better practices, better people and better systems deliver better results.

For a better way forward, call us today on 0113 285 6600 or visit www.lowell.co.uk

Lowell Group – a better way forward IDELY ACKNOWLEDGED

W as the UK’s leading debt

purchasing company, Lowell Group has picked up three major accolades in recent months.

For the third year in a row, Lowell Group was ranked number one in an index of 50 UK credit management and debt collection businesses.

The CMDC Index evaluates companies based on financial performance, strategy, operational efficiency, scope and innovation.

In October, Lowell Group collected the Credit Excellence Award for Collections at the inaugural CCR-i Awards where the judges praised the company’s strong business results, commitment to treating customers fairly and advanced investment in and use of technology and systems.

In November, Lowell Group collected Credit Today’s Debt Purchaser of the Year Award in the Debt Collections Awards 2010.

Lowell Group promotes a ‘better’ proposition – better pjad_Jan10:advert 15/1/10 07:19 Page 1and practices, better people

better systems to deliver better results – and prides itself on its close and transparent relationships with clients and fair and ethical treatment of customers.

Current clients include many of the UK’s major providers of consumer credit, including banks, building societies, credit card, mail order and telecommunications companies.

Formed in 2004, today the business employs more than 400 people at its stateof-the art HQ and customer contact centre in Leeds.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For a better way forward, call us today on 0113 2856600 or visit www.lowell.co.uk

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MONEY MATTERS

THE NATIONAL EVENT FOR CREDIT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS Excellent feedback from this year’s CCR-interactive conference indicates that the balance of top flight speakers, association stands and networking opportunities was perfectly pitched to attract a broad range of delegates CCR-INTERACTIVE, the national event for the credit industry, took place on 5 October 2010 at Tower Hotel, Central London. In association with Philips’ Homecoll service, the event, along with the inaugral credit excellence awards, have been hailed as an outstanding success by delegates and guests.

Feedback forms from the event have revealed that 38 per cent of respondents gave a ten out of ten success rating for the day; 26 per cent awarded nine out of ten and a further 21 per cent graded the day at eight out of ten.

Trevor Williams, chief economist at Lloyds Banking Group, corporate, was the most popular keynote speaker that the event has ever had, with an average rating of 9.6 out of ten.

Other high-ranking speakers included Gabriele Orsini, credit manager, Delice De France; Dr Sandra Frisby, associate professor and reader in corporate and commercial law, University of Nottingham; Mark Thundercliffe, chief credit officer, HSBC; Julie Holden, head of revenues and benefits, Tandridge District Council; and Tim Harvey, director of UK operations, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

ENGAGING AUDIENCES In total, 96 per cent of delegates for the day said that they would be happy to book again for next year, as did 95 per cent of guests for the Gala Dinner. One delegate said he had really enjoyed the day, and, “everyone I talked to during the day was equally enthusiastic.

“Overall, it was fast paced, engaging and very exciting; less of a conference, more of a gala event. It is something I have not seen in any credit management event for as long as I can remember.”

Another delegate opined that: “CCRinteractive remains the most innovative singleevent conference in the industry and continues to attract a more diverse cross section of delegates making it a more valuable networking event than traditional debt collection event.”

A third added: “I thoroughly enjoyed the day and found it very useful indeed. It was an excellent opportunity to hear from industry experts and to keep up to date with current trends. I thought the day was very well organised, and the venue and catering were excellent. There was a wide variety of speakers, who were all inspiring and informative. I thought the conference was better than 2009 – the atmosphere was lively and the various opportunities to network were very welcome.

No doubt see you soon at the next event.”

New developments proved to be a popular

Overall, it was fast paced, engaging and very exciting; less of a conference, more of a gala event. It is something I have not seen in any credit management event for as long as I can remember – conference delegate part of the day, such as the Association Zone which brought together many of the leading associations in the industry. 77 per cent of respondents said that they had visited at least one Association Zone stand and 85 per cent of those who expressed an opinion said that it had added another positive element to the day.

Stephen Kiely, editor of CCR, said: “I would like to thank everyone who put in so much hard work to make the day the resounding success that it was. I would like to pass on my personal thanks to the team at Homecoll, who have been a pleasure to work with and to all the chairs, presenters, sponsors, members of the Association Zone, and all the staff at CCR. “It is always enjoyable to receive positive comments, but we will now be going through the feedback forms thoroughly to see where we can improve for next year.”

WINNERS TOGETHER

The day concluded with a Gala Dinner featuring a charity auction which raised over £12,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, and the Credit Excellence Awards, in association with Philips’ Homecoll service, where winners in the eight categories were announced by Peter Wallwork, chief executive officer of the CSA & DBSG.

93 per cent of respondents said that the new awards ceremony had been well run and 64 per cent requested that they should be sent an application pack so that they would apply for a Credit Excellence Award in 2011.

The winners on the evening included: • A&N Media’s order to cash team for the Credit Excellence Award in Commercial Credit Management.

• British Gas for the Credit Excellence Award in Consumer Credit Management.

• Lowell Group for the Credit Excellence Award in Collections.

• Wonga.com for the Credit Excellence Award in Risk.

• Incasso for the Credit Excellence Award in the Legal and Enforcement Profession.

• Sean Rowles, executive vice president and chief credit officer, Citizens Financial Group for the Credit Excellence Award in International Credit Management • Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) for both the Newcomer and Contribution to the Credit Industry Credit Excellence Award.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.ccr-interactive.com

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE POWER SOURCE What are the different types of renewable energy? Which renewable energy will work best in a given building scenario? BRE sheds light on the relatively new world of renewable energy THE UK HAS SIGNED up to the EU Renewables Energy Directive which includes a UK target of 15 per cent of our energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.

To achieve this it is likely that between 30 to 40 per cent of the UK’s electricity will have to be generated from renewables which is a significant increase from the current levels of about five per cent.

In addition to this Directive the Climate Change Act of 2008 sets a legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 34 per cent for 2020 and a challenging 80 per cent reduction by 2050 (against levels of 1990). To achieve these tough targets the government has put in place revised building regulations and incentives like the feed-intariff that encourage the use of renewable technologies for energy generation.

ALTERNATIVE POWER Renewable energy (or sustainable green energy as it is sometimes called) is derived from inexhaustible sources, in other words it will not run out, unlike fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Renewable energy sources include the sun, wind, stored heat in the ground, air and water, fast growing crops and hydro power.

Renewable energy sources are clean, often producing no harmful greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide), or are classed as carbon neutral. Therefore renewables will play a key part in achieving a sustainable future.

In April 2010 the Feed In Tariff (FIT) scheme was launched where energy suppliers make regular payments to householders and communities that generate their own electricity using renewable sources. To qualify for the FIT the generating technology must have been installed by an MCS (Micro generation Certification Scheme) certified product installer. The FIT scheme allows people to benefit in three ways: • A set rate is paid by the energy supplier for each kilo Watt hour (kWh) of electricity that is generated by the renewable system. The rate differs depending on the technology used. The rate set for photo voltaic systems is 41.3p per kWh for a retrofitted system on an existing building.

• A further three pence is paid for each kWh that is exported back into the grid (i.e. electricity that is not used by the householder).

• Electricity that is generated and then used by the householder results in savings on their electricity bill.

The duration of the FIT agreement is different

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In dwellings biomass is in the form of small wood pellets which are mechanically fed to boilers to provide heating and hot water, in larger buildings the fuel is usually in the form of woodchips, which are cheaper but require more robust feeding mechanisms to the boiler depending on the type of renewable source; the tariff agreement for a photo voltaic system is set for 25 years and for wind turbines the tariff agreement is for 20 years. This reflects the estimated life expectancy of these different technologies.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES Since August 2010 local authorities have been able to benefit from tariffs for generating energy using renewable sources.

Examples show that photo voltaic systems can generate an annual income of approximately £800, which can help to pay off the initial investment of the system in roughly 12 years, meaning that for the rest of the scheme the householder can benefit from the income.

There is a proposal to launch a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2011, which will

provide financial support for people installing renewable heat sources. It is proposed that householders will receive an annual payment.

Eligible technologies are likely to include: solar thermal, air, water and ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers, bio gas and bioliquids and renewable combined heat and power.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES Solar thermal: Liquid is pumped through solar panels (either flat plate or evacuated tubes) fitted onto the roof of a building where it is heated by the sun. In most systems the hot liquid passes through a heat exchanger where it heats water to provide about half the domestic hot water needs or can be used to help heat the building. It is essential that hot water is stored in a very well insulated cylinder to avoid the hot water being wasted.

These systems work best in summer months

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Renewable energy sources are clean, often producing no harmful greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide), or are classed as carbon neutral. Therefore renewables will play a key part in achieving a sustainable future when the sun is hotter, therefore in colder months the system will rely on a back-up which is usually a more traditional boiler.

PHOTO VOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEMS Energy from the sun is converted to electricity using PV panels that are exposed to sunlight.

It is essential that the panels are not shaded by other buildings or trees. They work most efficiently when positioned on south facing roofs with an incline of 30° to 40°. Electricity that is generated during daylight hours can either be exported back into the grid, thus benefiting from FIT arrangements or be stored in batteries for use later in the day.

The UK is a very windy place, having about 40 per cent of Europe’s wind resource. Wind is a free and plentiful source and can be harnessed to generate electricity using wind turbines. To be effective the turbine must be located in a windy site free from obstacles like buildings and trees. Turbines work particularly well on top of a gentle sloping hill, on the coast or out at sea. Small turbines attached to buildings in urban areas often struggle to get enough exposure to wind to be effective.

Heat pumps draw low grade heat from either the air, water or the ground to provide domestic hot water or heating for the building.

The temperature at one metre below the surface stays at a fairly constant level of 10°C to 12°C throughout the year. Coils of plastic piping are either laid horizontally in water or in trenches or in deep bore holes in the ground. A mixture of water and antifreeze is

pumped around the pipe work absorbing the heat from the ground (or water), it is then pumped through a heat exchanger; low grade heat is then passed through the heat pump compressor providing a higher grade useful heat that can be used for heating a building or heating hot water. The cooler fluid is then pumped back into the ground to absorb more heat and the process repeats itself.

The heat pump requires electricity to operate, however for every unit of energy used by the system it is often possible to extract three times the energy back in heat.

Heat pumps are best suited to under floor heating systems as these run at lower temperatures than radiator heating systems.

BIOMASS Biomass is plant material or animal waste that is burnt to provide energy. As trees and plants grow they absorb carbon dioxide, when burnt they release carbon dioxide which is absorbed by new trees and plants that are grown to replace them. Crops that grow quickly, for example willow and elephant grass are most appropriate. This process is known as ‘carbon neutral’. It is important to source biomass fuels locally to avoid transportation associated carbon emissions.

In dwellings biomass is in the form of small wood pellets which are mechanically fed to boilers to provide heating and hot water, in larger buildings the fuel is usually in the form of woodchips, which are cheaper but require more robust feeding mechanisms

to the boiler. The biomass fuels need to be stored in a dry space and flues from the boilers need to be adequate to withstand the aggressive combustion gasses.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SOURCE Choosing the most appropriate renewable source is dependent on many factors, the most important being the location and orientation of the building. Buildings that are in sheltered locations may be inappropriate for wind turbines, however if they have large south facing roofs that are not sheltered by trees or neighbouring buildings they may be very suitable for solar thermal and or photo voltaic systems.

It is important to consider every building individually to ensure you select the most appropriate system that will provide you with the most rewards. If you are uncertain you should seek the advice of expert renewables consultants who will provide guidance to ensure you achieve the most returns from your investment.

TRAINING What is renewable energy? What are the different types of renewable energy? Which renewable energy will work best in a given building scenario? These questions and more will be addressed by the BRE Introduction to Renewable Energy Technology course. The course provides a good understanding for those that are responsible for specifying renewable energy technologies and provide practical advice on how the different renewable energy technologies available to the built environment in the UK can be applied to building projects.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 01923 664829 Web: www.bre.co.uk/training

The changing face of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme AVID MOLE, deputy MD at Landmark UK Property has reacted to the latest news that the government is to delay the implementation of the CRC scheme.

Less than a month after the government announced that it would be retaining revenues generated from the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), further doubt has been cast over the scheme with the news that it will now be delayed. Chris Huhne announced at a CBI conference in November that the first sale of permits to cover energy use will now take place in 2012 as opposed to next year.

The fact remains that CRC is a legal obligation for eligible organisations.

While the direct financial incentive has

D

been removed, organisations still need to ensure that they complete the process accurately, as there are heavy financial penalties for those who fail to do so.

Using a tool like Carbon Counter, Landmark’s online data management software, can help businesses save time and ensure that their carbon data is monitored efficiently. The tool offers a clear step-by-step process to enable

organisations to map energy consumption across each individual component of their operation and ensures that those responsible for managing CRC can accurately and efficiently meet the scheme’s requirements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION To find out more, visit: www.carboncounter.co.uk

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

FEEL THE POWER Debbie Johns of the Association for Public Service Excellence, discusses new opportunities for councils to not only generate their own energy from renewable sources, but also make money

Andy Tanner, MD of Plug into the Sun, main contractor; Tim German, Cornwall Council Low Carbon Green Cornwall programme; Julian German, Cornwall Council cabinet member for Climate Change and the Environment.

EVERYONE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT is familiar with the environmental arguments for generating energy from renewable sources.

But with Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) budget reductions of 26 per cent, the need to purchase allowances for emissions under the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme and Landfill Tax set to reach £80 per tonne by 2014, the financial case is also becoming more compelling.

The government has set a target for 15 per cent of energy to be generated from renewable sources by 2020 and the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill provides a framework for securing low carbon energy supplies and fair competition in energy markets in the future.

While overall Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) funding has been reduced, the CSR signaled £200m for lowcarbon technologies – including offshore wind technology and manufacturing infrastructure at port sites – and £860m for the Renewable Heat Incentive, which will drive a tenfold increase in renewable heat over the coming decade.

The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) represents 260 councils providing front-line services across the UK and, in the face of a bleak outlook for the public sector, we see renewable energy as offering significant opportunities for local government.

Championing use of solar, wind and tidal and geothermal energy, as well as biomass and energy from waste, makes good business sense in the current economic climate and gives councils the chance to expand their community leadership role through pursuing a green agenda locally. They can also cut the costs of the energy used for their own buildings and services and make supply more secure in response to uncertainty surrounding pricing and availability of gas and electricity. What’s more,

developing renewable energy technologies can have a valuable economic development role in creating of jobs and boosting businesses locally.

We believe that local authorities are particularly well-placed to make the most of renewable energy opportunities as they have the flexibility and innovative approach required. Impressive examples include Birmingham City Council retrofitting houses and business with solar panels and Halton Borough Council’s partnership to develop a biomass operation. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is looking at installing its street lighting with mini-wind turbines and Swindon is creating a waste to energy plant.

There is a sound commercial case for adopting a DIY approach to renewable energy schemes because that is the way to maximise the income generation and energy efficiency gains for councils and there are potential new opportunities for direct service providers particularly in relation to the retrofitting of public buildings and housing. APSE is now putting together business cases to promote the new ‘green DSO’ creating local employment, investing in skills and supporting local supply chains LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Cornwall County Council has a comprehensive strategy to be self-sufficient in energy by 2025, through solar energy, wind and a range of other measures. Consultant and APSE associate Stephen Cirell, who was until recently the director responsible for Green Cornwall at the authority, told APSE’s annual conference in Derry earlier this year: “The green agenda is the only light in the very long dark tunnel that local government is in at the moment.

It offers a way of generating income while delivering non-financial benefits. Green agenda investment pays for itself so it’s a surprise that more authorities have not picked this up yet.”

If ever there were a compelling invest to save argument, renewable energy is certainly it. Sale of Electricity by Local Authorities Regulations 2010 now allow local authorities to sell power generated from renewable sources.

And DECC estimates that they could boost their incomes by £200m a year as a result.

APSE member authorities that are leading the way in developing renewable energy are currently also looking into selling it on to generate income. Derby has schemes in place including a hydro electric plant at Longbridge to both power the council headquarters and sell any surplus on to the National Grid. As well as saving 700t of carbon emissions, projected income covers the costs of financing this project.

WASTE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE The potential of waste to energy measures is growing particularly in light of the new Waste Framework Directive placing greater demands on councils to increase recycling and reduce residual waste. Hampshire has three energy from waste plants, which generate enough energy from processing residual waste to power 50,000 homes each year and divert 90 per cent of the county’s waste from landfill. The county council is now working with other public sector partners and looking at large-scale renewable energy options.

These are some of the positive examples from around the UK. If local authorities are to embrace the opportunities that renewable energy offers, their first step is to produce a renewable energy strategy and APSE consultants can share their expertise in doing so. Councils then need to develop specific business cases for a phased renewable energy programme applying new technologies.

Capital outlay could be through prudential borrowing or private sector investment.

While it may be tempting in an atmosphere of budget cuts to look to handing over renewable energy schemes to external players who have resources to invest, maintaining local government control provides better value in APSE’s view.

We have been examining the business case for investment in renewable energy and are producing guidance on this topic containing models which show that, for example, £4.5m capital cost of wind turbines, can generate net income of £0.8m per annum with a payback period of six years and net return of 20 per cent.

We hope to see as many councils as possible grasping the renewable energy mettle. Such examples make it clear that, despite budget cuts, investment in green public sector infrastructure is a means of both tackling climate change and making best use of diminishing resources in this age of austerity.

Debbie Johns is principal advisor on environmental issues at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.apse.org.uk

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

FLOOD DEFENCE MANAGEMENT IN WALES Jane Davidson, Environment Minister for Wales, discusses plans to deliver a holistic and flexible flood risk management system suitable for the needs of Wales in the 21st century WALES HAS ESCAPED the worst of the flooding recently experienced in parts of the UK. Despite this, our communities face significant risks, with one in six properties at risk of flooding, including homes and businesses with an estimated total value of between £8-12 billion.

Flooding is estimated to cause in the region of £200 million of damage each year in Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government takes the social, environmental and economic risks of flooding seriously and believes that it is important to provide strong strategic leadership, ensuring individuals and communities know who is responsible for managing the risks they face and who to turn to in the event of a flood.

RISK OF FLOODING The term risk encompasses two things: • the likelihood of an event happening • the impacts or consequences that will result if an event occurs In respect of flooding we know that both the likelihood and consequences are likely to increase over time. Changes

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in weather patterns, population levels, wealth and settlement patterns, as well as the way that land is managed, will all influence the nature of the risk we face.

More people living and working in an area that is at risk of flooding means that impact will be greater. As the value of assets increase so do the potential consequences if they are affected by flooding or erosion. Changes in land use will also lead to different run-off patterns.

In addition to this, the risks posed by different sources of flooding are changing.

Traditionally we have tended to focus

on the risks posed by our river network and the sea, but we are seeing increasing damages from surface water flooding.

As the main focus of flood management activity has been to manage the flooding from rivers and the sea, investment has been targeted on defending these areas.

FLOOD MAPS The Environment Agency produces Flood Maps showing the extent of areas at risk of flooding from main rivers and the sea. These maps are updated quarterly, and supplied to

The Welsh Assembly Government takes the social, environmental and economic risks of flooding seriously and believes that it is important to provide strong strategic leadership, ensuring individuals and communities know who is responsible for managing the risks they face and who to turn to in the event of a flood

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

many organisations, including local authorities, to help them manage flood risk through development planning and emergency planning.

These flood maps are also published on the Environment Agency’s website and assist in the development of sophisticated ways of modelling flood events from rivers and the sea. This allows us to plan for them and warn communities of the risks. Warnings are issued via the Environment Agency Floodline Service.

Our defences have been effective at protecting communities from the harmful effects of both flooding and coastal erosion. However, as the effects of climate change increase so do the risks of these defences being overtopped.

SURFACE WATER The current defence infrastructure does not protect against all sources of flooding.

Surface water flooding, for example, is best managed through a range of responses that include use of sustainable drain systems and porous surfaces and regular maintenance and clearing of drains and culverts.

We are improving our understanding of risks posed by reservoirs and plan to look at the risks posed by canals. However, our understanding of surface water flooding is less advanced.

The nature of surface water flooding means that it often happens quickly, with little or no opportunity to warn communities.

Local factors, including blockages caused by natural debris and rubbish, can make surface water flooding worse and can also exacerbate the effects of sewage flooding.

CLIMATE CHANGE Evidence of the increasing risks from flooding across the UK is underpinned by a series of reports including the Foresight: Future Flooding Study, the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change and most recently, the Pitt Review into the Summer 2007 Floods.

The UK Climate Projection figures, published in July 2009, confirmed that in coming years we can expect increases in the volume and intensity of rainfall, rising sea levels and increased storminess. These changes in the climate make more frequent flooding and more severe flooding, as seen in Cumbria in 2009, seem inevitable.

Along our coasts a trend of beach steepening has already been identified.

Beaches are an integral part of our coastal protection systems and if eroded or steepened the pressure on constructed and natural defences will be intensified.

Our policies on adapting to, and managing, the consequences of climate change are set out in our Climate Change Strategy for Wales, and all action in relation to flood and coastal erosion risk management will be consistent with those policies.

Adopting a risk management approach to flooding has been a key Welsh Assembly Government policy for a number of years.

Jane Davidson

In 2007 we launched our New Approaches Programme, and with the advent of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 have enshrined the principles of risk management in legislation.

Traditional approaches to dealing with the risks of flooding have focused on the construction of defences to prevent flood waters or the harmful actions of the sea.

However, as the effects of climate change increase, constructing more and higher defences is becoming an unsustainable solution environmentally, economically and socially.

It is imperative that we manage the risks of flooding sustainably, and in line with the wider principles of our Sustainable Development policies set out in One Wales: One Planet.

This extends both to the location and nature of risk management activities we fund. The location of defences can sometimes harm the wider environment, and constructing and maintaining defences is becoming more expensive, leaving less money available to protect other communities. Also the current defence infrastructure does not protect against all sources of flooding.

Risk management goes further than defence alone. It encompasses a range of measures to protect communities and the wider environment. This includes working with natural processes, utilising sustainable drainage systems and porous surfaces and undertaking regular maintenance and clearing of drains and culverts.

Our flood defence infrastructure will remain a key part of our flood risk management approach but set within a wider suite of measures.

These principles were outlined in our recent consultation on the development of a National Strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in Wales.

RAISING AWARENESS Assembly Government investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management aims to reduce the impacts on people their

communities, the economy and environment.

Given the significance of these risks and the potential impacts of climate change, it is critical that individuals understand the risks they face, their consequences and how they can be managed. This will enable those at risk to play an active role in the flood risk management service they receive and help them take effective action to build up their resilience to a flood event if it occurs.

Risk Management Authorities such as the Environment Agency have significantly increased their awareness raising work.

The recent ‘Welly Boot’ tour of Wales is an example of this, with Environment Agency flood awareness officers visiting towns across Wales to talk to residents about the risk of flooding and provide advice on protecting themselves and their properties against flooding.

This included advice on the preparation of personal flood plans and flood kits.

This type of engagement is vital as while the direct economic costs of both flooding and coastal erosion can be calculated, they do not reflect the wider costs to communities. This includes the disruption and trauma, which in extreme circumstances can see people displaced, possessions lost and livelihoods destroyed.

By raising awareness of the risks individuals and communities face we can help them to manage those risks and reduce the consequences for themselves.

THE NATIONAL STRATEGY Our consultation on the development of a National Strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in Wales included information on the roles and responsibilities of the risk management authorities in Wales and how they should work together and put the public at the centre of the service they deliver. It also set out the role that individuals, communities and businesses should take in managing residual risks, making them more resilient to the impact of flooding and coastal erosion.

It is important that we are clear and honest about what the Assembly Government and risk management authorities can and cannot do, and what we expect individuals and communities to do for themselves.

The National Strategy is intended to set out the Welsh Assembly Government’s policies on flood and coastal erosion risk management and to establish a delivery framework that meets the needs of Wales both now and in the future. Making the changes now will deliver a holistic and flexible flood risk management system suitable for the needs of Wales in the 21st century.

An analysis of the responses to the recent consultation is underway and an Assembly Government response will issue in the new year. The final National Strategy will issue within this Assembly.

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR GOVERNMENT

21

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Government Business | Volume 17.13

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

GET SET FOR THE FUTURE OF GREEN BUILDING Find out the latest developments in sustainable design, construction and the built environment at Ecobuild 2011 IN 2011 ECOBUILD MOVES to London’s ExCeL exhibition and conference centre – a bigger and more modern venue – and the move has already fuelled further growth from exhibitors eager to take part in the world’s biggest and most successful event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. Taking place 1-3 March 2011, Ecobuild is the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment.

Visitors can expect a comprehensive exhibition of sustainable construction suppliers. Every product and technology is represented at the Ecobuild exhibition, from micro-renewables to water management systems, and energy efficiency products to the latest materials. Hundreds of exhibitors will be unveiling new and innovative products, meaning you’ll be the first to experience many of the solutions on display.

Ecobuild’s conference and seminar sessions creates a context for the wealth of products you’ll see, and puts you in touch with

expert speakers, whilst dozens of interactive attactions and special events give you the chance to get hands on experience of the very latest products and techniques.

IN A NUTSHELL Ecobuild 2011 is bigger than ever before with • over 1,300 exhibitors – from the biggest names in the business to innovative start ups • more than 130 seminars – Future energy, Energy in buildings, Sustainable architecture, Regulations revealed and more • dozens of attractions including Solar hub, Renew, Water wise, Extreme timber and Ecobuild installer

• an expanded conference programme – now three streams: Making sustainable construction happen; Beyond construction: achieving a sustainable future; and Design, architecture and sustainability • 600 inspiring speakers including Professor Brian Cox, human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger, Baroness Susan Greenfield, and Government Construction Advisor, Paul Morrell CONFERENCE The Ecobuild conference focuses on emerging issues, new thinking, challenging ideas, and the new policy priorities of the coalition government responding

Ecobuild 2010 was a huge success with more than 1,000 exhibitors, over 41,000 visitors, and dozens of new attractions, initiatives and special events. Ecobuild 2011 is set to continue, if not surpass, this trend

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Government Business | Volume 17.13

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

to the need for budget cuts.

For 2011, there is much to assess and debate, including: • the progress made in putting sustainability at the core of construction and the built environment • the future direction the sector needs to take • how a new government with new priorities will affect the direction and speed of change • how sustainability will fare in an age of austerity.

The Ecobuild conference in 2011 comprises three streams and examines the key issues surrounding sustainability, construction and the built environment, from big picture debates, such as international political cooperation, global economic models, behaviour and psychology of climate change, and the role of science, through to more domestic challenges such as the how the UK construction sector needs to change, how to refurbish the existing stock, decarbonising electricity generation, the impact of localism and the big society on planning (and in particular the housing sector).

A new conference stream for 2011 will look at sustainability from the perspective of architecture and design, and debate topics such as the role of architects in a resource stressed world, how designers can

help change behaviour, what a sustainable community looks like, how ecologically successful cities can be created, and how sustainability and art can be combined.

SEMINARS In an expanded programme for 2011 – Ecobuild’s biggest yet – more than 130 seminars cover the most pressing issues for built environment professionals. Topics include: future energy; energy in buildings; regulations revealed; simplifying standards guides and tools; refurbishing Britain; sustainability and the city; sustainable by design; sustainable small projects; from grey to green; sustainable architecture & design; beyond construction; installer business; and installer skills.

With the emphasis on practical and applied information, each seminar is carefully structured to provide key learning points, supported by case studies, analysis, and examples of best practice.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Ecobuild hosts an exhibition featuring sustainable construction suppliers, with many exhibitors unveiling new and innovative products for the first time.

Exhibitors cover a comprehensive range of products and services, including:

• renewable energy and micro generation • water management and efficiency • building services and management • external works • substructures • building structures • building completion • building systems • building materials • professional services • finishing products and materials • fittings • special activities and requirements Ecobuild’s new online itinerary planner allows you to list all the exhibitors you’d like to meet, all the products you’d like to see, and create a timetable of all the seminars, conference sessions and other events that you’d like to attend – register now and start planning your visit straight away!

Ecobuild 2010 was a huge success with more than 1,000 exhibitors, over 41,000 visitors, and dozens of new attractions, initiatives and special events. Ecobuild 2011 is set to continue, if not surpass, this trend.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.ecobuild.co.uk

Plumb Center – practical, hands-on access to renewables

Viessmann showcases HE and renewable solutions at Ecobuild 2011

OLLOWING THE SUCCESS of Practical Installer at Ecobuild 2010, Plumb Center is giving visitors hands-on access to the latest sustainable and renewable technologies at the 2011 show.

Practical Installer 2011, the focal point of Ecobuild Installer will have expanded working zones and live displays, with cameras broadcasting the action on large screens.

“Sustainability has risen to the top of the agenda,” said Rob Eastwood, national account manager, Plumb Center. “Water efficient products, renewables and microgeneration have become mainstream and, in some cases, a legal requirement in newbuild or refurbishments involving change of use. Local authorities have to comply and need access to the right products.

Practical Installer will give them the chance to see these sustainable technologies in operation.”

The energy zone will feature live installations of solar thermal and PV on a low-level roof. Plus, solar

UR WIDE AND DIVERSE range of highly efficient heating systems is designed for optimum performance.

We make boilers for oil and gas/biogas. For our gas/biogas/oil boilers we manufacture both our patented MatriX cylinder burner for very low NOx and CO2 emissions and our patented Inox-Radial stainless steel heat exchanger, with ten year warranty against corrosion, within our own factories – a unique proposition within the market.

Viessmann is also a pioneer within the renewable energy market, offering product ranges in the following sectors: solar thermal systems, solar photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, biomass boilers and CHP units, all of which have versions for both domestic and commercial applications.

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rigs from leading brands will be on display to allow comparison.

Heat pumps will be under scrutiny with demonstrations of the installation of air source heat pumps and a working ground source heat loop display.

Visitors will see SmartRad and underfloor heating installations, biomass, CHP, pumps, cylinders and wireless controls. The water zone will have working displays of water efficient products with exposed pipes, demonstrating ease of installation.

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compatible, every technology and accessory is designed to work in harmony with each other.

Viessmann is highly experienced in all these market segments, and at the same time the company has a crucial advantage over specialist suppliers: Viessmann understands heating technology as a systematic whole and offers unbiased advice on technology and fuel type. This guarantees the best solution for every application.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 01952 675000 Fax: 01952 675040 E-mail: info-uk@viessmann.com Web: www.viessmann.co.uk

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25

Take control of your electricity usage with OWL.

OWL Wireless Electricity Monitor is the perfect device to help reduce your electricity bills and help save the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.

Visit www.theowl.com to order your OWL today.

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Save money in the Wood – at the heart home and your business of a good window WL, THE ELECTRICITY SAVING COMPANY is a global provider of Wireless Electricity Monitors – a realtime monitor that enables both consumers and businesses to make informed choices about the amount of electricity they use, enabling intelligent electricity saving decisions to be made.

OWL can help businesses whether small to medium enterprises – we’ll show you how easy it is to turn day-to-day operations green without radically changing a company’s infrastructure.

The OWL monitors have been awarded Which? Best Buy status, which found the devices to be accurate, easy to use, clear and affordable. As budgets get squeezed this year, OWL is the affordable option to help reduce business spending; helping reform energy wasting habits and cut costly electricity bills.

Intrinsic to its very operations as a business and ingrained within the company’s ethos, OWL is as environmentally aware as only an

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eco business can be – constantly evaluating the environmental impact associated with the development, manufacture and supply of our products and employing best practices to ensure total green efficiency. OWL has done much to raise the issue of going green at grassroots level, collaborating with schools and encouraging pupils to take small steps in the classroom.

HE GRUNDFOS ALPHA2 is the most advanced energy efficient domestic circulator on the market today.

Get ahead of 201320 – the Commission of European Communities EuP Directive states that from 2013 only A-rated glandless standalone circulators can be installed.

Why A-Rated? A-rated Grundfos ALPHA2 circulator pumps use far less energy than typical (D-rated) pumps. With over 120m circulator pumps in Europe an estimated 44

second to none, with A to C energy-ratings and U-values as low as 0.8W/m2K available.

Typically, windows come with unbeatable warranties, such as 30 years on the frame, and eight years on the paint finish, plus Secured by Design.

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Grundfos Alpha2 – a pump that delivers T

ORMED IN 2007 by 40 of the leading names in the UK window market, the Wood Window Alliance is a member-led organisation that aims to drive up industry standards. Because membership is based on third party-assessed quality, performance and sustainability criteria, we can make unique claims for our factoryfinished wood windows, backed by authoritative independent research: • 60 year minimum estimated service life • Low whole life cost (Imperial College London, 2010) • Low embodied CO2 emissions (Davis Langdon, 2010) Our members make a wide range of windows, from period designs for conservation areas to the latest composites for multi-storey buildings. Energy-efficiency is

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.A-ratedpumps.co.uk and find out more.

Your assurance of responsible sourcing EFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is a global, non-profit, non governmental organisation, established in 1999 to promote the sustainable management of the world’s forests through independent, third party certification.

Currently, with over 225 million hectares under certification, PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification scheme. Third party auditing, to internationally recognised and globally respected certification processes, enables PEFC certification to provide a transparent system of forest inspection. Chain of custody certification provides a means of tracking timber from certified forest to the final product.

Defra has developed a timber procurement policy, applicable across the government estate.

Local authorities are also being encouraged to adopt this policy.

Currently, only timber and timber products originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner is specified for use in

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government contracts. The UK Government operates a Central Point for Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET) to provide support for implementation – www.cpet.org.uk.

Specifying PEFC-certified timber will provide you and your clients with the assurance that the timber you are specifying for a project, originates from responsiblymanaged forests. Please visit us on stand S902 at Ecobuild 2011.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 0114 3072334 E-mail: info@pefc.co.uk Web: www.pefc.co.uk

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR GOVERNMENT

27

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Government Business | Volume 17.13

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HIGHWAYS

HIGHWAYS CREWS KEEP STAFFORDSHIRE ON THE MOVE Staffordshire County Council outlines how it has learned form last winter’s experience and the steps it has taken for this year THIS WINTER’S HIGHWAYS operation will be the most comprehensive ever as the county council works to improve road safety and keep traffic moving. Increased grit stocks of 30,000 tonnes, more community grit bins, and the use of new technology will all benefit people in Staffordshire.

Two teams of 60 Staffordshire County Council drivers are braced to brave the cold weather at a moment’s notice in order to keep the road network as safe as possible and on the move.

A team of dedicated decision makers have been keeping a very close eye on the weather forecasts since the winter season started in October. They are responsible for drawing up a plan of action to combat frosty conditions. The team monitor seven specific predictions every day, making sure that the most effective treatment is put in place.

HARD WORK Staffordshire County Councillor Mike Maryon, Cabinet member for Highways, said: “The gritting crews in Staffordshire did an amazing job under incredibly difficult conditions last winter when we suffered long periods of freezing weather conditions.

“The team has once again pulled out all the stops over the last few months to make sure that the equipment is in full working order and ready to face another tough winter.

“The drivers are on call around the clock during the winter season, routinely starting work at 4.30am, to make sure that our roads are as safe as possible. Their hard work and dedication is a testament to themselves, the county council and the people of Staffordshire.”

PREPARATIONS The highways crews have worked behind the scenes for many months to ensure that the county’s ice busting equipment is in tip top condition. They have thoroughly checked and tested the gritters, snow ploughs, loading shovels and weather stations to make sure they are in full working order.

Last year was the coldest winter for more than 30 years and, like the rest of the country, Staffordshire’s operations were hampered by a national salt shortage. By stockpiling 30,000 tonnes of salt – which will last for five years if covered – Staffordshire won’t be forced to pay inflated prices if the country’s reserves run low.

It will also benefit the economy as traffic will keep moving and people will still be able to drive to work.

County Councillor Maryon added: “Traditionally we have worked on the basis

of a 13,500 tonne salt stock which was reinforced by regular deliveries from our supplier. However, this winter we have ensured a stock of 30,000 tonnes.

“This will help provide a significant buffer zone, but if an international shortage kicks in again, we will still need to meet the national restrictions. Money is not the issue with this – we spent £700,000 last winter. This was a strategic move and is all about international salt supplies.

“A major benefit of having a supply of salt is that it will keep the roads moving. This will have a positive impact on businesses in Staffordshire who rely on employees being able to travel to work as well as enabling vital deliveries to continue coming in and out of the county.”

REFINING THE SERVICE The highways team has also been busy refining the service by: • extending pre-wet salt technology to use 30 per cent less salt through improved performance • refining route prioritisation to ensure more sophisticated selection if salt use needs to be cut • providing a core bus network plan to ensure key bus services to keep the county moving • prioritising footpath treatment more effectively working with local communities through their county councillors TWITTER UPDATES The county council is also helping motorists to get ahead of the game this winter, thanks to a brand new Twitter page. Throughout

the season, the council will be giving regular updates on weather conditions and highways action via its own Twitter page. The updates include the areas where highways crews will be gritting and any expected adverse conditions such as ice and snow.

This is the first time the council has given regular updates on gritting activity, including times and general areas where roads will be gritted. Updates will be made when there are adverse conditions that require gritting activity.

If no action is needed, no update is posted.

The updates are intended to give motorists some of the information they need to plan their journeys.

County Councillor Maryon added: “Twitter is a great tool for giving people timely updates on any kind of activity, so using it to give updates to motorists on weather conditions is a logical step forward.

“Planning is essential when making journeys in adverse conditions, and we hope the updates on Twitter will help motorists make an informed decision.

“However, it is worth noting that even on gritted roads people will still need to exercise extra caution. The message is a clear one to motorists – you must take extra care when driving in winter conditions and avoid travelling if possible when the weather’s really bad.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION Follow the council at http://twitter. com/StaffordshireCC/ and click on #staffstwitgrit to get the latest updates.

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR GOVERNMENT

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CONFERENCES & EVENTS

ACHIEVING ECONOMIES, RETAINING STANDARDS With budgetary restraint now widespread, AIM accredited venues offer event buyers firm reassurances of professionalism and value for money, writes the Meetings Industry Association IN THE AFTERMATH of the government’s public spending review, the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) has a proposition for government buyers at all levels that is designed to achieve working efficiencies, maximise event budgets and even create jobs.

Under the proposition, MIA members guarantee excellent service delivery, best practice and a commitment to value promises, if buyers commit to using their services.

It’s an indication that the meetings and events industry is prepared to work with buyers to ensure they continue to achieve event objectives, despite being subject to budget restrictions.

The common sense approach is an example of an industry tackling the public sector spending cuts with realism and pragmatism.

The business visits and events sector is actively working to raise its profile in terms of its value to the UK’s economy. In particular, the Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP) influences and develops policies and strategies favourable to the development of the sector.

At a reception held during National Meetings Week in October, the organisation presented MPs with its ‘Britain for Events’ report.

The report is a snapshot of the sector, covering its size, value and dynamics. It is one of a number of initiatives undertaken by the BVEP and includes a breakdown of the value of each sector element. It reveals the whole sector to be worth £36.1 billion.

Other key facts contained within the report: • There are over 25,000 businesses in the business visits and events industry • Over 530, 000 people are employed by the industry • Trade transacted at exhibitions and other business events held in the UK is conservatively estimated to be worth over £100 billion.

DANGER OF SECTOR DECLINE The sector is in danger of decline because of its heavy reliance on events organised by the public sector which are now being cut.

According to a survey of venues conducted by the MIA on the impact of the loss of public sector business on the business tourism industry since the coalition government took office, 83.5 per cent confirmed their venue is frequently used by government departments. 22.9 per cent claimed that 50 per cent or more of their business is reliant upon public sector income.

The results show the public sector has already drastically cut back on business tourism spend, with 68.8 per cent of venue respondents claiming they had been notified

of cancellations in public sector business within the past 12 weeks. 72 per cent of those that had not received cancellations had been given indications from public sector clients that current activity will either be reduced or will cease.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT The ‘Britain for Events’ report is also concerned with the benefits of continuous improvement of standards within the industry and dedicates an entire chapter to the issue, giving much credit to the MIA’s AIM standard. In turn, the MIA believes government use of AIM venues and its endorsement of the accreditation at a national level is an opportunity to protect jobs and attract business into the UK. The MIA developed AIM, in association with the Best Practice Forum, in recognition of the reassurance people feel when they are given the choice of buying services from a company that has achieved an accreditation from an independent assessor, such as the AA rosettes for hotels or the Michelin Star for restaurants.

Jane Longhurst, MIA chief executive, who spearheaded AIM, says: “AIM helps meetings venues achieve a set standard for venue facilities and service delivery, based on measurable criteria such as customer service, compliance with codes of conduct, legislation and corporate social responsibility; meetings buyers know they can trust an AIM business to perform well.

“So that AIM is fully representative of

the industry, membership is available for both meetings venues and meetings industry suppliers, with three levels of achievement: Entry, Silver and Gold.”

During a venue’s AIM accreditation process it is scored against 50 grading criteria, covering value for money, best practice, compliance with legislation and CSR, on behalf of buyers. It’s a process designed to add value; providing buyers with reassurances and saving them much needed time when choosing a venue and location for their next event.

THE MIA’S PROPOSAL Longhurst says the MIA’s objective is to persuade the government to endorse AIM and to support the raising of standards in the industry by ensuring public sector events are held in AIM venues. In these austere times, government buyers need venues that can offer firm reassurances of professionalism, excellence and value for money. Through AIM, all MIA members can offer this, so it’s for good reason that these buyers should support the accreditation.

“Furthermore, businesses with AIM are a valuable asset to the community, attracting business and securing jobs,” she says.

The aspect of AIM Longhurst is referring to is its potential to secure and create jobs and wealth by attracting more business to an area. Destinations that offer a wide

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CONFERENCES & EVENTS

choice of AIM businesses, such as venues for hosting events, caterers for providing the food and audio visual companies to manage staging, tend to be more competitive and, especially with the increased credibility of AIM achievement, attract higher levels of both national and international business.

The knock-on effect is the meetings and events businesses in these areas are more prosperous and employ more people. Clearly the ability to attract international income is a boon for the entire UK economy; an opportunity to create income for the nation, while ticking many of the procurement boxes outlined by Philip Green in his recent report on inefficiency and waste in government spending.

LEVERAGING BUYING POWER Philip Green’s report was commissioned in August by the Prime Minister. In it, Green writes: “Government does not leverage its buying power, nor does it follow best practice. Procurement data is shocking – it’s both inconsistent and hard to get at.

There is inefficient buying by individual departments, with significant price variations across departments for common items.”

On London hotel night spend, Green’s report identifies that: “Government uses 400,000 room nights in London each year at a cost of £38m. The highest price per night is £117; the lowest price per night is £77. The differential: 34 per cent ”.

There are many ways that the meetings and events industry can help the public sector operate more efficiently and rather than panic about public sector cuts, the meetings and events sector is now focusing on presenting government buyers with opportunities to make savings.

Michael Begley is managing director of venuedirectory.com. He uses his experience of venue finding and booking systems to suggest potential money saving solutions available within the sector. “So much time and therefore money is saved when the right tools are used for the right job.

When it comes to venue finding, Googleing it is not the answer,” says Begley.

He believes traditional search engines are not specialised enough to add great efficiencies, and do not allow the user to define the size, style and facilities of the venue required, or whether it is AIM accredited. “These are important ingredients of venue finding that create highly specific results that are available from a good online venue search tool,” says Begley.

The industry has also found a way to automate the venue briefing process, allowing buyers to save time and increase competition between those bidding for its events, by submitting events briefs simultaneously to a list of selected venues. Begley continues: “By using the right online venue findings tools, a short list of suitable venues can be created very quickly and rather than call each individually, you can

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generate a detailed enquiry form or Request For Proposal, this will tell the venue teams within your selected venues all they need to know, and can be sent to them all simultaneously.“ Using an agent is also an excellent, yet often overlooked, way for government to make savings. Begley comments: “Currently the agents we work with at venuedirectory. com are saving their clients between 14.2 per cent and 42.4 per cent on their events. These meetings and event agents are experienced experts in what they do and as part of their service, will negotiate with the venues, on their clients’ behalf, for the best price and to ensure the pricing structure is correct.”

COMMON SENSE APPROACH Cuts to departmental budgets and implementing the recommendations proposed by the Philip Green report are, despite some

objections, largely common sense in the current climate. Inevitably they will lead to a new era in public sector spending with a new approach to procurement that mirrors that already taken by the private sector – again, common sense. Indeed, it is perhaps because of the pragmatic relationship it has developed with the private sector that the meetings and events industry is in a position to rapidly present budget optimising solutions such as AIM to the public sector. The decision for government is whether or not to reward this admirable attempt to raise standards and secure value, by endorsing AIM, answering the call of the entire business visits and events industry, or to ignore it. Let’s hope common sense prevails.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.mia-uk.org

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Only in Scotland will you wish you could stay for longer.

Getting here is the easy part as Scotland is very well-connected with fast and frequent direct flights from the rest of the UK, Europe and North America to our key airports. Once here, travelling around is also quick and easy.

It’s leaving that’s difficult. After your conference, why not extend your stay? And take in our many castles, galleries and museums, play 18 holes in the undisputed Home of Golf or indulge in a luxury spa. It’s a unique mix of business and pleasure you won’t forget.

So easy to get to.

But so hard to leave.

To find out more about hosting an event in Scotland, log onto conventionscotland.com Or perhaps that should be unconventional Scotland.

Only in Scotland Visit us at stand B150

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CONFERENCES & EVENTS

INSPIRATIONAL AND MEMORABLE SCOTLAND Scotland’s world-class conference and event solutions are touted as the perfect way to mix business with pleasure. Visitors to stand B150 at International Confex will see for themselves the enormous variety of venues and get a taste of legendary Scottish hospitality FOR ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE business of conferences, meetings and events, International Confex is a key event not to be missed. And for VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit (BTU) and its partners, Confex 2011 (March 1-3, 2011, Earls Court, London) will be an ideal opportunity to put Scotland’s name up in lights alongside the best conference destinations in the world.

On average, around 350 association conferences – almost one a day – are hosted in Scotland. Research from VisitBritain shows that both Edinburgh and Glasgow are in the top three European destinations offering good value for money for association conferences, and the strength of the Euro is proving increasingly compelling in attracting international events to this small country that punches well above its weight.

EMOTIONAL DECISION Recent research highlights that value for money, access and quality are all significant

drivers for conference and meetings buyers. However, on top of these tangible deliverables, there are emotional elements that come into play in the decisionmaking process. Aspects such as how a prospective buyer is treated throughout the process and the level of welcome that is conveyed are also hugely important.

These latter factors definitely played a part in attracting one such event that took place in Scotland in October this year. The Adventure

Travel Trade Association (ATTA) brought 560 delegates from all over the world to the Scottish Highlands for the global ATTA Summit.

Talking about why Scotland had the leading edge, ATTA president, Shannon Stowell, said: “With such incredible destinations stepping up to host our adventure travel community’s annual gatherings, the Summit site decision-making process has become more and more challenging. Scotland’s inventive approaches, understanding of the

Research from VisitBritain shows that both Edinburgh and Glasgow are in the top three European destinations offering good value for money for association conferences, and the strength of the Euro is proving increasingly compelling in attracting international events to this small country that punches well above its weight

Glasgow cityscape

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LOOKING FOR A GREAT VENUE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT? WHATEVER YOU NEED AECC IS OPEN FOR YOU! We’d love to see you in Aberdeen, call Steven on 01224 330413 www.aecc.co.uk

15 venues 1000 theatre style 500 reception 2000+ bedrooms 400 flats From prestigious and iconic University of Edinburgh venues to our state-of-the-art John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh First offers an incomparable range of venues, accommodation and catering options. We deliver great service at good value and recognise that flexibility is key to delivering successful events.

Contact our team on

+44 (0)131 651 2189 edinburghfirst.co.uk

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ATTA’s short- and long-term vision, and its commitment to our mutual success gave this adventure travel destination the edge.”

ACCESS ALL AREAS Whether it’s a heritage location that is called for, state-of-the-art conference centres that can pull together accommodation to suit any budget, conference hotels that are geared up to cater for large events on site or the most extreme adventure packages for incentives, Scotland can offer everything for truly inspirational and memorable events.

With around 100 daily flights from all UK domestic airports and scheduled services from throughout mainland Europe, the US, Canada, Pakistan, Dubai, the Balkans, Scandinavia and Iceland, Scotland is readily accessible from around the globe. And with efficient internal rail links and an excellent motorway network that is less congested than elsewhere in the UK, it is very easy to travel between the cities and the countryside.

This means anyone looking to mix business with pleasure will find Scotland the perfect choice for conferences, events and meetings large and small. Business can be combined with the opportunity to explore what the country has to offer – from dynamic cities, to dramatic rural, mountain and coastal regions. Many who have experienced Scotland for themselves are tempted back and around a third of conference delegates have stated their intention to return for a leisure visit with friends and family.

Achnagairn House

MEET THE TEAM For an insight into what’s new in Scotland, experience one of the warmest welcomes in the world and get a flavour of the country first-hand, visitors to Confex should make sure to put Stand B150 at the top of their list. VisitScotland’s BTU team will be joined by an impressive range of partners representing all aspects of the sector, with experts on hand to offer advice on finding the perfect venue and facilities.

One company which will be showcasing at Confex for the fifth time is Edinburgh’s historic venue, The Dome. A former banking hall and an outstanding example of the city’s iconic architecture, The Dome is a high quality restaurant and bar with a range of private dining and function facilities. Kate Bell, sales and marketing director, enthuses about her experience of Confex and says: “As a trade exhibition, for us Confex is much more than about just seeking new business. It’s important to bear in mind that it’s not just what you can get out of such events, but equally it’s about what you put in. By participating in Confex, it’s a great opportunity for us to get out there and get a feel for what business is like for others, who’s doing what and what’s new, attend the seminars and gather great ideas that we can bring back. Naturally, it’s important that we win business and we have had some great

The Dome grill room

John McIntyre Conference Centre

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magnificent venues stunning artwork in the heart of edinburgh Five magnificent Gallery venues in the very heart of Edinburgh.

For corporate dinners, cocktail receptions, meetings and seminars surrounded by the Nation’s outstanding collection of art.

Hospitality & Events Team T: 0131 624 6239 E: events@nationalgalleries.org www.nationalgalleries.org/venuehire Scottish Charity Number SC003728

Free high-speed

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CONFERENCES & EVENTS

leads over the years. Many of our clients and lots of DMCs are London-based, so it’s an ideal platform to remind them we are here and what The Dome has to offer, too.”

STATE OF THE ART VENUES Also on the BTU stand will be National Museums Scotland, Glasgow City Convention Bureau and Historic Scotland all giving timely previews of some of the most impressive new projects coming on stream in 2011 in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling.

Following a £46 million transformation of National Museums Scotland’s Royal Museum, the prestigious Victorian Grand Gallery is scheduled to re-open for events from October 2011. The soaring light-filled atrium, which will take 850 people for dinner, will be a stunning event space that is bound to go straight into the list of top venues for gala events in the capital, while a brand-new 200-seat lecture theatre with breakout spaces will make doing business a pleasure in a top cultural location.

In Stirling, Historic Scotland is completing a £12 million refurbishment of James V’s 16th century palace which will bring an added dimension for corporate groups and events by taking delegates a step back in time to see how a Royal court might have looked. The Royal Palace will be available for drinks receptions, complementing the Castle’s other facilities, including the Great Hall, the Chapel and the Green Room which can cater for meetings for 16 to dinners for 300.

As well as showcasing the plethora of new developments coming on stream with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in mind, the next big thing in Glasgow City Marketing Bureau’s portfolio is the brand-new £47 million Riverside Museum. The futuristic structure, designed by internationally-acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid, will house Glasgow’s transport collection and, with the Clyde-built Glenlee Tall Ship berthed alongside, will provide yet another outstanding backdrop for events of all sizes.

One of the jewels in Scotland’s conferencing crown, the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre, will also be flying the flag for Glasgow and the country as a whole. Ben Goedegebuure, sales and marketing director at the SECC, said: “Confex is an important event for us in order to maintain and further grow our relationship with event organisers across the UK. Scotland has an outstanding events offering, with suppliers and venues that rival the very best in the world and we feel we have a central role to play in communicating that message to event organisers across the country.”

Also on the BTU stand will be Prestige Scotland, the dedicated Scottish division of top quality caterers, Sodexo Prestige.

The company celebrates Scotland’s great culinary heritage through sourcing local ingredients providing a modern twist to traditional Scottish fare reflecting current trends for lighter, less complicated food.

One of Scotland’s leading event organisation

Riverside Museum & Fencer launch

Anyone looking to mix business with pleasure will find Scotland the perfect choice for conferences, events and meetings large and small and destination management companies, Andrew Burnet, will also be represented.

The company provides a choice of corporate hospitality packages at Scotland’s enviable range of international sporting events, such as golf and rugby, as well as handling the minutiae of large event organisation from site inspection to the logistics of getting delegates to and from the venue.

The north of Scotland will also feature with Aberdeen Convention Bureau on hand to display the range of new hotels and developments both planned and underway throughout the region, especially the much-vaunted Donald Trump Golf Resort. They will be accompanied

by Perfect Manors which boasts the Edwardian 24-bedroom Achnagairn House in Invernessshire, and its sister property, Cortes House in Aberdeenshire. Both venues offer the very best in exclusive-use for inspirational corporate retreats, incentives and team-building.

SEATS OF LEARNING No line-up would be complete without academic venues which provide much-needed conference space with accommodation on site outside term times. Two of Edinburgh’s top universities will be displaying their conference capabilities to a Confex audience.

Heriot-Watt University’s campus boasts the flagship James Watt Centre, comprising two dynamic and distinctive venues under one roof – one with a 650-seat auditorium with six versatile breakout rooms and the other with an exhibition area of 682m2 which is flexible enough to cope with a wide variety of events.

Over at the University of Edinburgh,

Scotland’s latest purpose-built conference centre is Edinburgh First’s John McIntyre Centre, which boosts existing facilities on the recently landscaped and pedestrianised campus.

The newly extended building can host 350 delegates theatre-style, with four breakout rooms, two boardrooms and a flexible lounge area. The venue’s ground floor also houses a stylish restaurant seating up to 650 and during vacation periods conference organisers have access to around 2,000 additional bedrooms.

UNRIVALLED HOSPITALITY As well as the great venues, services and facilities on the BTU stand, expect the best in hospitality and entertainment as well. At the end of Scotland’s year of food and drink, and as a focus on Active Scotland kicks-off for 2011, visitors can expect to experience a taste of both

elements for which the country is famed.

As Catriona Anderson, marketing manager, associations, with VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit says: “We have a passion for our product, we know we have venues and facilities to suit any occasion, and our team of experts is on hand to help anyone considering bringing an event to Scotland to make the perfect choice for an unforgettable experience. We look forward to meeting old friends and new at Confex 2011 and we guarantee a warm welcome and the finest hospitality in the world as well.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 0131 4722355 Web: www.conventionscotland.com Web: www.international-confex.com

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Visit Nexus at stand G201

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INTERNATIONAL CONFEX: BRIMMING WITH INSPIRATION Innovation is the buzzword for the return of International Confex. The team have been hard at work to ensure the 27th edition of the show packs a full punch with a wealth of new and returning features, sector specific content and a whole lot more OVER 1,000 EXHIBITORS will take their place on the show floor at International Confex, ready to help visitors with their event needs. A mixture of established and returning features, all of which have been designed to leave visitors inspired and with knowledge that can be implemented in their day-to-day role, will offer visitors a huge variety of content.

One of the major developments has been the creation of a new simplified floor plan split into three areas – Location, Logistics and Something Special – which will aid navigation around the show.

Event director Jonny Sullens comments: “We invested significantly in research to ensure that we were delivering above and beyond what our exhibitors and visitors wanted, and the floor plan was highlighted as an area for improvement. By the very nature of the show,

its influence and dominance has seen it grow substantially, which is why we have stripped back the layout to three key areas. After all, buyers wanting to find a location for their next event want something that ticks all the right boxes and by over segmenting, visitors may have missed seeing all the available options to them.”

One of the most substantial and awe-inspiring new features that visitors will find hard to miss is the Media 10 Marina. Located at the

heart of the show, this floating networking area and bar is just one of the ways in which International Confex is adding the wow factor.

If you want to get a feel for what this year’s event will offer, read on for our roundup of some of the show’s quirky and inspirational exhibitors.

A FIVE STAR EVENT Set in leafy Kensington, Royal Garden Hotel (Stand P140) boasts some of London’s

One of the most substantial and awe-inspiring new features that visitors will find hard to miss is the Media 10 Marina. Located at the heart of the show, this floating networking area and bar is just one of the ways in which International Confex is adding the wow factor

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NewcastleGateshead Quayside © Graeme Peacock

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8257 GT Business Ad:Layout 1 22/11/2010 09:33 Page 1

Destination Nottingham

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Four venues, one solution:

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Where meetings, conferences and events really come to life At Four Pillars Hotels we have over 30 years experience of delivering inspirational surroundings, state-ofthe-art facilities and excellent service.

Our six hotels are conveniently located in Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds and the Thames Valley, all of which are easy to reach by road or rail.

For more information and bookings: Call 0845 600 70 71 Email sales@four-pillars.co.uk www.four-pillars.co.uk

training for Military Groups

Choose Lusty Glaze Beach in Cornwall for activities, adventure and rescue training Years of experience of working with military groups All group sizes can be accommodated On-site catering and entertainment facilities Off-site climbing expeditions can be arranged Exclusive beach hire available if required Activities include Rock climbing, Abseiling, Surfing, Coasteeing, Teambuilding Challenges

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CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Set in the heart of London’s Piccadilly, Café de Paris has been a dazzling and opulent venue since it opened its fabled doors in 1924. Now a Grade II listed building, Café de Paris is superb for hosting all types of events and parties most stylish and flexible conference and events spaces. The 5-star business venue recently transformed its key conference and banqueting facilities as part of a £3.75 million refurbishment programme.

The Palace Suite underwent the most dramatic renovation, which included a considerable upgrade to its AV facilities.

With its pillar less layout, the suite is the perfect location for hosting anything from large-scale conferences, to a reception or dinner dance for up to 550 guests.

The Royal Garden Hotel also provides a dedicated events team of experience experts, making it easier for organisers to deliver truly engaging and memorable events.

CROSSING THE SEAS Tourism Ireland, the international wing of Irish tourism, representing all business tourism members and venues, will be promoting the destination at on stand B141.

Going further overseas, the GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for anybody planning an event in Germany.

Its 250 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry.

The GCB is an interface between organisers

of meetings and conventions and suppliers of the German meetings market, offers advice and support for planning and organising events, and provides contacts and addresses.

LONDON CALLING Unique Venues of London (UVL), the marketing consortium consisting of some of the most iconic and unusual event spaces in London, will be showcasing its five new members at International Confex. With a vast portfolio, UVL comprises venues such as the Science Museum, Hampton Court Palace, the Natural History Museum and Tower Bridge. UVL can be found at stand LA200.

Situated in the heart of the West End, minutes from Covent Garden and Charing Cross underground station, the Strand Palace Hotel is at the centre of the capital’s finest attractions.

Club Rooms afford fantastic accommodation to the experienced business traveller, while its enviable location near world-famous cultural and architectural landmarks is always a hit with leisure guests. The Strand Conference and Events provides a multipurpose facility comprising individual meeting rooms and event space with the largest able to host up to 200 delegates.

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Newark Showground Every day’s different...

Experience the University of Wales, Newport Home of... > LAMMA > The Notts County Show 14 & 15 May 2011 > Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show 12 & 13 November 2011

Newark Showground is THE place for events With over 120 acres of land, 12 fully flexible buildings and parking for up to 10,000 cars, you can hire our purpose built pavilions for your special event or celebration.

• Residential conferences • Meeting rooms • Dedicated conference suite • Training rooms • Fully equipped lecture theatres • Family celebrations Our picturesque campus grounds and rural setting • Event management make Caerleon a superb • Sports Centre and Fitness location for any event.

Suite Quote code ‘GB11’ for special rate • Video conferencing Host your event at the University of Wales, Newport for a professional, personalised and friendly service from our dedicated and experienced team.

01633 432991 conferencentre@newport.ac.uk www.conference.newport.ac.uk

Call: 01636 705796 www.newarkshowground.com

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Set in the heart of London’s Piccadilly, Café de Paris has been a dazzling and opulent venue since it opened its fabled doors in 1924. Now a Grade II listed building, Café de Paris is superb for hosting all types of events and parties.

Café de Paris is the perfect venue for corporate entertaining as well as private parties. From lunches, sit down dinners, canapé receptions and film premiere parties to product launches, award ceremonies, live music showcases and private parties.

Christmas is a spectacular time to host celebrations at Café de Paris, giving a real feel of luxury to the festive season.

QUIRKY EVENT SOLUTIONS Ice Angels has been brought to you by the company behind the very successful Havana Miss Cigar girls. All aspects of ice cream service have been stylishly made over to enhance any size or type of event. The company uses award-winning ice cream makers Maison des Sorbets and the latest technology in portable freezing to enable the safe transportation of ice cream anywhere in the country.

JuteBag provides eco-friendly jute, cotton and JUCO (a mix of jute & cotton) products to be used again and again. All bags can be printed with a company logo and carry a positive environmental message about your brand. As one of UK’s first specialist suppliers of eco-friendly shoppers, the company has been supplying bespoke bags to clients large and small for over six years. Its close attention to customer service, as well as the manufacturing process, sets them apart from their competitors.

Recently described by one of the world’s largest investment banks as “the perfect party planners” Crafty Arty Parties have a reputation that precedes them. Whether it’s a family fun day, Christmas party, product launch or promotion Crafty Arty promises to cut out the middle man so clients can make savings without having to compromise on quality or service.

Having won Best Stand award at Confex countless times, visitors are always drawn to seeing what the team at Crafty Arty come up with every year, which is always bigger and better than before.

Leisure Skate has a tremendous amount of experience in the leisure industry, from running event arenas, through building real outdoor ice rinks and now supplying and installing synthetic ice rinks. The company’s rinks can go inside or out and have been used in stately homes, race courses, garden centres, shopping centres, leisure centres, and are a great way of bringing the community together.

INSPIRED INCENTIVES DestinAlp is a leading destination management company specialising in incentives, conferences, conventions, product launches and any corporate events. They are members of Site, MPI and Eventia.

Their area of operation comprises the whole

Recently described by one of the world’s largest investment banks as ‘the perfect party planners’ Crafty Arty Parties have a reputation that precedes them.

Whether it’s a family fun day, Christmas party, product launch or promotion Crafty Arty promises to cut out the middle man so clients can make savings without having to compromise on quality or service

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of Switzerland, the French Alps, the Northern Italian lakes region and Milan. The company offers everything from city hotels to country retreats, unusual restaurants and classic villas to exclusive palaces and castles, all carefully researched to ensure the finest quality and provide the perfect solution to your brief.

Every programme is tailor-made to be imaginative, flexible and to reflect the best that the destinations have to offer. They do not have set programmes and pride themselves on custom-designing the most creative and unique event for clients.

Drum Cafe UK’s interactive drumming and team building programmes are powerful ways to unite or energise any meeting, whether you have 50 or 5,000 delegates.

The company gives every delegate a drum to create an interactive drumming orchestra for an experience of unity delegates will never forget.

Music and rhythm are universal languages that become valuable tools to harmonise and lead groups of people, which is why it’s a great way of team bonding and making your event memorable. The team can even count having performed for Nelson Mandela as part of his 90th birthday celebrations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more details on the show visit www.international-confex.com or follow the team on Twitter @IntlConfex

Experience the University of Wales WARM WELCOME is just the beginning at the University of Wales, Newport, where a unique venue is offered for all your conference and event requirements. The Caerleon Campus is an ideal location for conferences, weddings and private functions. The Edwardian building dates from 1912 and is set within landscaped gardens overlooking the Usk valley.

The newly built city centre campus is situated on the banks of the River Usk and will open for business from early 2011. It is the ideal location to host board meetings, exhibitions and seminars.

The University has a wealth of experience in catering for different events and we have a broad range of affordable menus to suit

boardroom, we also have a main hall for large events and the Clarence and patio area, which overlooks the picturesque Usk valley.

Throughout the summer months, we have the facility to accommodate residential events at the Caerleon Campus. There are approximately 450 fully furnished, single en-suite rooms in the campus village and a small selection of double and twin rooms within the main building.

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all budgets and tastes. If you are looking for a more tailored menu, our catering team will be more than happy to discuss specific requirements for an event – whether it be breakfast, buffet lunch or a formal dinner.

In addition to the Edwardian oak panelled

FOR MORE INFORMATION Caerleon Campus, Lodge Road, Newport NP18 3QT Tel: 01633 432991 E-mail: conferencentre @newport.ac.uk

Visit the website to view the categorised product finder

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

A leading venue for conferences and events

Synthetic ice rink hire from Leisure Skate Ltd

S WELL AS BEING one of the UK’s most popular family attractions, Drayton Manor Theme Park is also a leading venue for conferences and exhibitions.

Conveniently located close to junction 9 of the M42 motorway, T2 of the M6 Toll and just over 10 miles from Birmingham International Airport, Drayton Manor’s success in the corporate market is built on 60 years of experience. The majority of new business comes as a result of word-of-mouth and recommendations from customers.

Drayton Manor has three large suites that can cater for events attended by 20 to 400 guests. Each suite comes with free and plentiful parking for both cars and coaches.

HINKING ABOUT ice rink hire for your party, public event or promotional activity?

All you need is a firm, flat piece of land where Leisure Skate can provide the ice rink you want and the fun starts there. Leisure Skate’s mobile ice rinks or roller rinks are set up very quickly and are ready to skate on within just a few hours of the ice rink installation team arriving.

Plus, there’s no risk of the ice melting and no maintenance or running costs to worry about. You can hire an ice rink of any size, whether it be a party, town hall, shopping mall or promo we can help you with what you require.

Compared to real ice rinks, synthetic ice rink hire is much kinder to the environment; it’s instant, every time. With over 20 years experience in the ice skating industry you can be sure we know our stuff. Along with

A

The park can provide bespoke packages to meet the needs and requirements of corporate clientele. In addition, event and exhibition organisers can choose from a variety of different layouts for each suite, such as Theatre or Boardroom style.

Next summer, the park will open a multi-million pound 150-bedroom hotel, allowing event attendees to stay overnight rather than having to travel elsewhere for accommodation. The hotel will also feature extensive conferencing and hospitality facilities to complement the existing facilities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 01827 252408 E-mail hospitality@ draytonmanor.co.uk

Where meetings, conferences and events really come to life Because we pride W HY? ourselves on delivering inspirational surroundings, stateof-the-art facilities and high levels of comfort. When you’re planning a conference, business meeting or team building event you need to feel confident that all will go smoothly.

This is where our expertise comes in. With over 30 years of experience in running all kinds of events you can trust us to alleviate the stress of organisation and make sure things go to plan, from your initial enquiry to the end of your stay.

We currently have six locations in the Cotswolds and the Thames Valley for you to choose from. All conveniently placed to reach by road or rail.

Between them, they provide a selection of town and country locations, so whether you’re looking for city sophistication, rural retreat or lakeside luxury, we have the venue and facilities to meet your brief.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 0845 6007071 E-mail: sales@four-pillars.co.uk Web: www.four-pillars.co.uk

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a 100 per cent safety record, Leisure Skate puts a large amount of time and effort into meeting your requirements.

We want your event to be as hassle free and enjoyable as you would expect.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Leisure Skate Ltd Tel: 01775 766999 E-mail: info@leisureskate.co.uk Web: www.leisureskate.co.uk

Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre – a world class venue OR 25 YEARS, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) has provided a professional, friendly service in a world class venue. There have been international congresses, trade and public exhibitions, rock and pop concerts, live sporting events, award dinners, corporate dinner dances, small meetings – the works.

AECC is an impressive and flexible venue. No matter what type of event, AECC knows the experience will be shaped by the staff a client deals with.

That’s why AECC staff pride themselves on making things easier. At AECC, it’s the team that makes the event memorable.

As well as a superb selection of meeting and event spaces, the dedicated, flexible and passionate team can provide everything required to make the event utterly memorable.

Clients can take advantage of the expertise of AECC’s

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professional support services.

Quality cuisine is an essential part of every event. All catering is provided by the award winning in-house catering team that can create everything from small informal buffets to five-course banquets for over 1,000 people.

All catering is prepared onsite and AECC is proud to use the best Scottish resources and support local producers. AECC has become the first conference venue in Scotland to receive a Healthy Living Award.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information call Steven Daun on 01224 330413 or visit www.aecc.co.uk

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01-03 March 2 011 A WORLD OF DISCOVERY FOR PIONEERS IN THE EVENTS INDUSTRY Over 1,000 exciting exhibitors of venues, destinations & event services

60 FREE exhilarating seminars & celebrity keynotes

Exceptional networking opportunities

New ideas, zones and feature areas

Register now at www.international-confex.com

Visit the website to view the categorised product finder

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Top beach venue for adventure, training and entertainment

Entertain to the highest standards at the National Galleries of Scotland

USTY GLAZE BEACH is an adventure, training and entertainment complex in Newquay on the north coast of Cornwall. This privately owned beach is a horseshoe shaped cove surrounded by high cliffs with direct access to the sea. Lusty Glaze Beach is a top venue for groups of all types and sizes, who visit the beach to experience adventure activities, undertake team building challenges or learn emergency rescue and first aid skills.

The instructors and staff at Lusty Glaze Beach have years of experience of organising courses and activities for military groups, large and small. All the facilities and activities are self-contained at the beach, which also has a bar and restaurant for on-site catering.

W EVENT in Edinburgh,

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Adventure activities include rock climbing, abseiling, surfing, coasteering and cliff challenges.

Beach games include tag rugby, beach volleyball and team building challenges.

Rescue training courses include emergency first aid, beach lifeguard and emergency medical rescue at height, plus many more.

Lusty Glaze Beach can offer a bespoke package for your team event and the resident instructors will work with your own staff to make sure the event meets its aims and objectives for the benefit of participants.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 01637 872444 E-mail: enquiries@ lustyglaze.co.uk Web: www.lustyglaze.co.uk

Meet us in the forest for a coffee OR THE SECOND consecutive year, Nottingham Conferences is teaming up with the Nottinghamshire Convention Bureau at International Confex. This year the two partners are brought together under the banner of Sherwood Forest. Visitors are invited to join the team for a coffee and discuss the wide range of options available to create the perfect event, however large or small.

The Destination Nottingham stand (B440) has creatively captured the range of facilities available for event organisers in Nottinghamshire, from the leafy surroundings of green space in the county, to the cutting edge of the city centre. The University of Nottingham, under the Nottingham Conferences banner has a range of venue facilities available in four different venue locations and can cater for delegates from

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HEN HOLDING AN

you can’t fail to be impressed by the fabulous array of venues on offer at the National Galleries of Scotland. Five of the most magnificent gallery buildings located in the very heart of Edinburgh, house Scotland’s outstanding collection of art.

Choose from The National Gallery of Scotland, The Royal Scottish Academy Building, The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art & The Dean Gallery.

Each has its own distinctive character and art collection, offering event organisers a wide range of settings from the most classical to the cutting edge. All of the venues are particularly suited to cocktail receptions from 10 to 1,000 with guests enjoying exclusive private views of these outstanding art collections, as well as special tours and behind the scenes visits. Not only that, the galleries can also host gala dinners

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on Nottingham Conferences please contact Kirstie Danzey on 0115 8467718 or e-mail kirstie. danzey@nottingham.ac.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION Hospitality & Events Team Tel: 0131 6246239 E-mail: events@ nationalgalleries.org Web: www.nationalgalleries. org/venuehire

Versatile event space for the perfect event EWARK SHOWGROUND, situated on the outskirts of Newark, Nottinghamshire, enjoys easy access to the A1, A17 and A46. The venue has 120 acres of flexible space, 12 halls, numerous horse rings and parking for up to 10,000 cars.

Newark Showground also boasts its own in-house catering team who take great pride in using local suppliers for their excellent cuisine. From conference finger buffets to silver service dinners, or banquets of up to 600 people, the team at ‘Tastes’ work hard to ensure the success of each and every event and would be delighted to discuss your requirements to help you design a menu appropriate to your budget.

All organisers are supported with the considerable event management expertise on offer.

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20 up to 600 for meetings, with a range of overnight accommodation for up to 3,600.

Interactive touch screens on the tree trunks on the stand offer visitors the opportunity to investigate the wide range of options available in Nottinghamshire, with access to a range of virtual tours to showcase the range.

for up to 180 and marquee events in the beautiful parkland grounds of the Gallery of Modern Art complex. For conferencing and seminars the luxurious Hawthornden Lecture Theatre is the most central conferencing space in the city and seats up to 200. Simply put, the choice is endless and a must-see for any potential event organiser.

The venue is already home to the International Antiques and Crafts Fair, and national events such as the Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers’ Association Show (LAMMA), the largest agricultural machinery show in England; and Americana – a weekend of all things American.

Alongside the big outdoor national and regional shows, the venue also provides indoor space for conferences, product launches, exhibitions and demonstrations.

The flat, well-serviced site also allows event organisers to stamp their personality with the addition of shopping malls, marquees and tents.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 01636 705796 Web: www.newark showground.com

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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR GOVERNMENT

Government Business | Volume 17.13

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EVENT PRODUCTION

YOUR PASS TO THE PERFECT EVENT The Event Production Show is the annual meeting place for everyone involved in selling and sourcing products and services which make fantastic events – whatever their size or nature WITH THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS, royal wedding, Diamond Jubilee, 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 Rugby World Cup in the pipeline, now isn’t the time for Britain to feel coy about its place under the global spotlight. The UK’s live event suppliers are certainly excited by the upcoming ‘decade of events’, which will begin with a bang at the 2011 Event Production Show.

Taking place from 2-3 February 2011 at Olympia’s Grand Hall, the Event Production Show has become recognised as the pre-eminent showcase for professionals involved in Europe’s live event sector, and is on target for the largest number of exhibitors in its 20-year history.

The exhibition attracts the wide scope of companies that make up the live event sector; from contractors and the supply chain to public sector events festival organisers, concerts, exhibitions, corporate events and experiential marketing through to televised spectaculars.

ACCESS SESSIONS The Event Production Show’s Access Sessions offers thought leadership and insight for organisations involved in the live event sector. Keynote presenters lined up for 2011’s Access Sessions include Harvey Goldsmith, Wayne Hemingway, John Probyn and Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts.

“We’re getting ready for a decade that will see many of the UK’s events on a global stage, from The Diamond Jubilee and Olympics through to the Commonwealth Games and live music events that the UK is synonymous with,” said Nic Howden, Access Sessions organiser. “It is therefore only fitting that we have brought under one roof some of the best creatives involved in the live event sector.”

2011’s speaker programme draws on emergent trends in the market and will reflect the value and contribution that festivals, experiential marketing, exhibitions, corporate events and spectaculars make to the UK economy.

The unprecedented level of diversity at this year’s Event Production Show is set to attract an expansive cross section of visitors from corporate event planners to festival organisers. Companies specialising in sports stadia feature prominently and are led by prolific De Boer Structures, which revamped the Harris Garden at Lord’s cricket ground and Qdos Event Hire, officially appointed supplier to the 2010 Ryder Cup. Other confirmed exhibitors for 2011 include Ascot Structures, 360 Creative Events Services, Elliot Event Hire, Soundstage One and AA Signs. The highly targeted visitors and their associated buying power have meant a raft

of exhibitors such as Sunbaba, National Radio Bank and Star Events have remained loyal exhibitors to the show year after year.

“The Event Production Show helps us meet clients both existing and new and the opportunity to talk about new projects and see them within a short period of time,” said Paul Jones of event production company Ethix Management, who will be exhibiting at the show for the third time.

2011’s Event Production Show will build upon its strategy of offering event professionals a specialist forum to discuss best practices and to preview progressive technologies and services for the industry.

Projected demographics for 2011 feature a higher number of visitors at senior management level, as well as the Event Production Show’s core visitor base of event managers, event producers, local government representatives, corporate event agents, marketing agents, PR companies, exhibition organisers, conference organisers, events departments, charities and associations or societies.

Anyone involved in festivals, product launches, corporate events, award ceremonies, sporting events, fashion shows, charitable events, agricultural shows, local authority events conferences, exhibitions, is set to benefit from the show.

Specialist interest zones and a covetable speaker programme will draw attendees responsible for the planning and execution of some of the UK’s most prolific events and have previously included Imagination, Jack Morton, RPM, Live Nation, Coca-Cola and Wembley.

TECHNOLOGY ZONE This year the Technology Zone will see live event production specialists compete to place their products as the next big thing in the market.

Product launches and experiential showcases will populate the floor of the Technology Zone as AV, sound, security and communications leaders vie for the attention of powerful buyers and influential members of the media.

Many exhibitors are keeping their new products under wraps until the show itself, including Qdos Event Hire, a forward-thinking temporary event accommodation company.

Managing director Neil Hickton was happy to divulge: “This exciting feature has never before been seen in the event industry but has been sought after by event organisers.

We have spent the past six months in design and development and are looking forward to unveiling this new and impressive feature at the Event Production Show.”

Concurrent with the increasing uptake of the

UK standard for sustainable events, BS8901, the Event Production Show will provide a platform to more companies with a CSR bent thanks to a new wave of confirmations.

The Event Production Show’s Sarah Brownlee commented: “Going green and CSR are at the top of the agenda, subsequently our visitors are looking for solutions across the event spectrum; be it tickets, marquees, toilets or catering.

As the exhibition is targeted directly to event producers, we are encouraging sustainable products to get involved as we get ready for one of the UK’s biggest decades in live events.”

2010’s exhibition was spearheaded by festival organiser Michael Eavis, who has consistently developed Glastonbury into a leading light for sustainability in events. And 2011 will also see CSR high on the agenda at both the Access Sessions and amongst the range of new suppliers showcasing their green credentials.

The Access Sessions will feature the hotly anticipated John Probyn vs Harvey Goldsmith ‘Transformers’ debate. Live Nation COO, and Access Sessions ambassador John Probyn will ask Harvey Goldsmith CBE for his take on the bureaucracy behind live events, ticket touts, legislation, cashless festivals and much more besides. With the likes of Live Aid, Live 8, The Who, all things Hyde Park, Download and Radio 1’s Big Weekend between them, the candid discussion is sure to unleash some topical comment.

Later on day one (2 February), Jamie Oliver will introduce his Fabulous Feasts team, before managing director of the business, Glen Chadwick, and commercial director, David Hornby, detail its ambitions and USPs ahead of season 2011.

Noon on day two (3 February) sees the Access Session led by Wayne Hemingway MBE, co-founder of Red or Dead and a fashion designer who went on to set up Hemingway Design which specialises in affordable and social design. In 2009, he launched Vintage at Goodwood, a summer event celebrating British music and fashion whilst injecting glamour into the festival circuit.

Hemingway has been brought in to provide a first time take on how he teamed up with Lord March and company to realise his latest dream, from designing the filmic High Street to organising the sell out catwalk shows. Hear about the curators and the contractors, the clubs, pubs and rock ‘n’ roll, the pros and cons of Glamping, appeasing the locals, and the plans for 2011.

Not content with putting together the Access Sessions’ star-studded line-up, the Event Production Show will also offer a seminar programme based on the floor of the exhibition.

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Government Business | Volume 17.13

www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

EVENT PRODUCTION

After a phenomenal response from public sector visitors, the popular Spotlight on Local Authority seminar will again be hosted by the National Outdoor Events Association on day two.

Rob Gutterman of Big Fish will be on hand to provide attendees with an insight into the partnerships he has forged between big brands and music. Alignments between Virgin Media and V Festival, and Strongbow and the Isle of White Festival are among the noted projects on Gutterman’s resume.

Looking ahead to the show, he said: “In an attempt to deliver an understanding of both sides of the story, the panel aims to bring together key players from the live music event promoter world, and brands operating within the music space. Reviewing the space in which we are currently operating in, and considering how the future will be shaped, this panel will aim to deliver a compelling understanding of the challenges faced by both sides.”

IN-EXHIBITION CONCERT Entertainment will not be confined to the rostrum, as for the second consecutive year Live at the Grand will be an in-exhibition concert featuring the UK’s leading hireable musical acts.

In 2010 BRIT Award winners Blake appeared

along with world dance champions Flawless ahead of their new film called Streetdance 3D which was released worldwide in May. The spellbinding ten-person dance troupe was one of the hits of the 2010 show, jam-packing the area with visitors.

Event Production Show organisers have hinted that this year’s Live at the Grand will feature a number similarly spectacular in-demand acts. Live at the Grand will take advantage of the 1,500 sq metres increase in space after the show moved to the Grand Hall to the National Hall in 2010.

THE BAMBOO BAR New for 2011 is the Bamboo Bar, a networking hub which will be central to the show’s reputation as the annual meeting place for the event industry. Visitors, exhibitors, speakers and media figures will mix with new and existing contacts in the area provided

by Ascot Structures. The company has developed and manufactured the UK’s first series of environmentally friendly structures – Bamboo Tents. Offering a cost effective solution, Bamboo Tents are made entirely from recyclable and sustainable materials.

“The number of event suppliers with green

credentials at this year’s Event Production Show is a real testament to the importance of sustainability in today’s market,” said Dan Owen, director of Ascot Structures. “Being able to showcase our Bamboo Tent to the country’s premier event organisers is vital to our on-going commitment to leading the way in sustainable solutions for the event industry.”

HOT NEW PRODUCTS Acsot Structures provided the tent for Keith Prowse’s VIP hospitality area at 2010 Cartier International Polo, wowing celebrity guests and corporate high flyers with the attractive setting. But the new wave of impactful products which will be showcased at this year’s Event Production Show are not just confined to the rich and famous. This is a chance for event professionals in the public sector to stay one step ahead of the game.

Even more than any previous edition, the 2011 Event Production Show will be the key to the hot new products and trends which will emerge over the next decade of events.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.eventproductionshow.co.uk

Tenors Un Limited – the Rat Pack of Opera

The market leader in wireless communications

ENORS UN LIMITED – The Rat Pack of Opera – have performed for a diverse range of audiences all around the world.

Their combination of popular opera, crooner/Rat Pack and original repertoire is delivered with stunning vocals, wit and personality. This helps make Tenors Un Limited one of the world’s premier classical crossover groups.

This genre of music is proving to be more popular than ever before and Tenors Un Limited are a perfect option as a support act or finale for concerts, festivals, proms, gala events, launches, etc.

The show can take place to full backing tracks in a more self contained style or the

ADIOCOMS SUPPLIES, installs, commissions and maintains both digital and analogue radio communication systems and is one of the UK’s leading independent radio distributors.

Radiocoms’ independence is an advantage to its customers because not being tied to any one manufacturer’s products, it is able to offer an optimal solution from a wide range of radio communications equipment from leading manufacturers.

A commercial communications company of over 30 years standing, and a leading provider of communications equipment and services to government, local government, defence and transport sectors, Radiocoms’ long record of service to these sectors is demonstrable, and illustrates the company’s ability and commitment to provide its customers with a carefully considered and cost effective solution to their requirements.

Radiocoms has built on its expertise in providing national

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musician ensemble can be as elaborate as the event allows – a piano, string section, big band or even a full orchestra.

If you’re looking to add something special to your next event, look no further than Scott, Paul and Jem, Tenors Un Limited – The Rat Pack of Opera. Further details about the group, their history, audio and video clips, etc. can be found on their website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 020 85346926 Mob: 07734 168122 E-mail: contact@ tenorsunlimited.com Web: www.tenors unlimited.com

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two-way radio sales, a hire service and complete radio systems, to add mobile data, vehicle tracking and emerging technologies in its portfolio.

Industries and sectors to which Radiocoms provides a service and has a significant presence include: petro-chemicals, construction, airlines and their support services, local government, the Ministry of Defence, the emergency services and security.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on Radiocoms and the service it provides contact 0870 4604600.

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Adrian takes pride in the fact that all his drivers are in uniform and, as he says, that they are not only representing him but also the customer.

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What’s more, we even offer preferential purchasing and leasing options to the public sector with Government framework agreements open to all organisations.

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Government Business | Volume 17.13

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POSTAL SERVICES

IS IT TIME TO REFRESH YOUR POSTAL SERVICE? Legislation that opened up the UK mail market freed up government and business mailrooms to shop around and become more effective procurers of postal services UNTIL 2003, the only postal service available to all of us was that provided by Royal Mail, which had a 100 per cent monopoly of letter post – an arrangement that had been in place for more than 350 years. As a customer, you had no choice of mail operator, and there was very little – if any – scope to negotiate, either on price or on the type or quality of service you wanted.

OPEN MARKET In 2003, things began to change. Postcomm, the independent regulator set up by government through the Postal Services Act 2000, opened the market for bulk mail. From that year, competing licensed operators were allowed to offer alternative services to customers sending more than 4,000 items of bulk mail at a time.

Effective competition began in practice in 2004, when Royal Mail and new postal operator UK Mail signed the first access agreement.

Then, on 1 January 2006, the UK’s mail market was fully liberalised. Any operator licensed by Postcomm could now collect and deliver any mail for any customer.

Today, the variety of licensed operators means many business customers can benefit from lower prices, a greater choice, and a better quality of service.

EXPENSIVE BUSINESS All public sector organisations rely on some form of postal services in their

communications with citizens, internally, and with other public sector bodies. According to a 2006 National Audit Office (NOA) report, of the £750 million spent annually by the public sector on courier and postal services, nearly £650 million (representing ten per cent of the total UK mail market) is spent on post, with £100m spent on couriers.

Meanwhile some £250 million is spent by central government departments on post.

The opening up of the postal services market means that business and government mailrooms now have a choice. With that comes the potential to secure better value for money.

Competition has prompted major business mailers to look more closely at their mail costs and to take advantage of the choices now available to them. Some have reduced their costs by using innovative products introduced since the market was opened.

Large savings can be made quickly and cheaply by such measures as using nonurgent mail services, competitive tendering, reducing undeliverable mail and switching to more efficient mail products.

BENEFITING FROM THE OPEN MARKET Making savings on your post does not have to involve switching to another operator.

Many public service organisations can make substantial savings by making simple changes within their own offices. The NAO suggests

you start by asking a few questions: Are there specific deadlines for mail? If not, savings can be made by using longer delivery services such as 2nd class mail, two-day delivery from competing operators or Royal Mail’s Mailsort 3 service.

Can your own mailroom do some of the sorting? Work-sharing agreements with your mailer can earn discounts of between five per cent and 46 per cent. This may involve using software to sort mail into postcode order, mechanical sorting, manual sortation or outsourcing the sorting.

How are you paying for your mail?

If you are spending more than £5,000 a year, it could be cheaper to use preprinted Postage Paid Impressions envelopes instead of stamps or franking machines.

If you use Special Delivery, is it really necessary? Perhaps use of this premium service can be reduced.

Do you offer free reply services? Does the take-up justify the cost? Use information available to talk about prices and services with your mail supplier or suppliers. Now that you have a choice, you should be able to negotiate a service that suits your business better, or a lower price – or both.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.psc.gov.uk

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Government Business | Volume 17.13

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CATERING

TO VEND OR NOT TO VEND? Jonathan Hilder, CEO of the Automatic Vending Association, discusses the latest developments in the vending industry, namely the healthy eating debate and the impact of the new five and ten pence coins due to come out in 2011 WHEN JONATHAN HILDER took over as CEO of the Automatic Vending Association (AVA) in January he quickly became involved with government at the highest level on two contentious issues; firstly healthy eating and more lately on the introduction of the new 5p and 10p coins.

HEALTHY EATING Obesity has been on the government’s agenda for some time and Hilder inherited a problem imposed by Edwina Hart (Minister of Health for Wales) who, in 2008, imposed restrictions on the products that could be sold through vending machines in Welsh Hospitals.

The reasoning behind the product ban was the claim that “it would improve patients’ health” but this claim falls flat on two counts; firstly, vending in hospitals is used predominantly between 8pm and 2am by hospital staff and secondly, the nearby shops selling the banned foods have remained open so as to merely move the point of purchase.

The issue of banning vended products was then exacerbated when just before the election David Cameron was quoted as proposing to ban vending machines in schools. The logic was that it would “give children their childhood back.” After hearing this on the news, the AVA and its members lobbied hard to bring sense to the proposal. Whilst being fully supportive of any policies that were trying to give children back their childhood, the suggestion that banning vending machines would help to achieve this was completely unfounded.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES The AVA gained support from several schools who saw the ban as depriving children from being able to make the right choice. By giving children the education in understanding and achieving a healthy lifestyle they are set to make the right choices for the future.

Hilder is keen to put things into context: “Vending is only one sales channel and the UK snack and confectionery market is worth £39bn of which £7.8bn is chocolate and snacks. Only five per cent of the snack intake goes through the vending channel.

Snacks represent one per cent of the British calorific food intake, vending represents five per cent of this one per cent so this leaves 99.95 per cent of the problem unaltered.”

He goes on to explain: “The nation has been eating snacks and confectionery for many years without issue. Vending machines provide a wide choice and the items on sale reflect consumer tastes and demand; including fresh fruit, low fat and low sugar products as well as a range

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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR GOVERNMENT

of drinks to rival the high street coffee shops.

“There is also the issue of what constitutes a healthy choice and to date the AVA has been unable to get clarification from those who have criticised or banned vending.”

Interestingly the Food Standards Agency has commented that there is no such thing as unhealthy food, only unhealthy diet.

Jonathan commented: “If they are unable to quantify it, then it is difficult for the AVA to help implement change.”

There are currently three recognised labeling systems operating to educate consumers and encourage healthy eating, namely GDA, the traffic light system and calorific value.

Jonathan believes that the calorie system is

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CATERING

the simplest to follow, most people understand that if they consume more than the average recommended number of daily calories without burning them off then they will gain weight.

He acknowledges that nutrition is a complex area but says we have to start somewhere.

This view is supported by Gill Fine, director of consumer choice and dietary health, who commented recently: “The battle between GDA and traffic light labels has been deeply unhelpful.”

She went on to explain her work with caterers; where 21 companies have put calories on menus, consumers have found this useful. She summed up by saying this is excellent news for consumers.

Keen to implement guidance to his members, Jonathan is looking to develop the recommended ‘healthier shelf’. AVA members are regularly introducing new products and Jonathan’s aim is that vending will maintain consumer choice and make that choice easy.

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE The AVA represents the interests of the £1.65bn refreshment vending industry and it is keen to implement guidance to its members.

Working with other trade associations, brand owners and food service organisations, the AVA has formed the Vending Choice Coalition (VCC). Their goal is to ensure that consumers have freedom of choice to purchase a wide range of food and beverages through vending in order to achieve a balanced diet.

Advice from expert speakers at a recent Vending Choice conference revealed that a lifestyle that combines regular physical activity with consumption of a wide range of food choices is the key to healthy living. It is vital that consumers at all ages are able to make that choice for themselves.

Hilder is determined that the AVA will continue to educate and advise on how vending can help rather than hinder healthy choices. “As an industry we work hard to support healthy living and provide a variety of choices. We will continue to lobby hard to prevent any legislation that imposes limited choice or financial penalties,” he said.

The nation has been eating snacks and confectionery for many years without issue. Vending machines provide a wide choice and the items on sale reflect consumer tastes and demand; including fresh fruit, low fat and low sugar products as well as a range of drinks to rival the high street coffee shops NEW 5P AND 10P COINAGE Britain’s 5p and 10p coins will be changed from January 2011. Although the new coins will look similar to existing ones they will be made of a different material, they will be thicker and for the first time they will be magnetic.

These changes have huge implications for any industry that uses coins and vending is one such industry. The AVA estimates that it will cost their industry an extra £42 million and it could cost the coin industry as a whole up to £100 million.

Hilder explains: “Vending machines use sophisticated technology designed to detect fraud. They test each coin by its shape as well as its electromagnetic composition. To handle the new coins all machines will have to have their software updated, and in most instances, they will need to be recalibrated to recognise both the new coins and the old ones, which will continue to be in circulation for at least a decade.”

Jonathan has been in close dialogue with the Royal Mint and the Treasury as the timing will be critical to ensuring the smooth introduction of the new coins into vending.

The coin mechanism manufacturers received sample coins as late as last month and they are completing their tests. The next stage will be for operator engineers to visit and upgrade the software. This is the time consuming and costly part of the introduction. Taking this on board the AVA has managed to get written assurance that no

new coins will be circulated until April 2011.

As we move forward the AVA will continue talking to the Treasury and the Mint to ensure it protects members’ interests and ultimately their customers.

VENDING AND ITS ADVANTAGES Vending is flexible, cost effective, secure and sustainable. Stylish machines deliver healthy options, tasty treats, meals, hot and cold drinks as well as many other non traditional items. It offers a fantastic way to provide a 24/7 service to an organisation.

Incorporating the latest technology, machines are reliable and can be monitored remotely. They can provide anything from a simple drink to a full catering service.

There are currently over 500,000 vending machines in operation in the UK in all sorts of public sector locations.

The AVA has members up and down the country delivering a quality service.

In June 2011 the Industry has its bi-annual exhibition, AVEX 2011. Organised by the AVA, the exhibition showcases the best in vending. There will be seminars and experts on hand to offer advice first hand.

FOR MORE INFORMATION If you wish to find out more, contact the AVA on 020 8661 1112 or e-mail jonathan@ava-vending.co.uk

QVS – high quality vending services ENDING MACHINES have become a major asset to many businesses and organisations offering staff and visitors outstanding service that can also be an excellent way to generate additional profits. With this in mind QVS Group Ltd offers a tailored service to achieve the individual requirements of each client.

QVS Group Ltd is a family run business dedicated to providing a high quality personal service within the Essex and East London area. Being independent we are able to listen carefully to our clients requirements and offer unbiased advice, recommending bespoke products and services for their individual needs.

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QVS Group Ltd offers a wide range of hot drink vending machines to suit all requirements. We also offer a full range of cold can, bottle machines, snack machines, and a range of water coolers.

QVS Group Ltd continuously provides first class service to its clients including many well known companies. So let us do what we do best, look after your complete vending requirements, leaving you free to do what you do best, running your business.

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DEALING WITH RISKS AND HAZARDS Roger Bibbings, occupational safety adviser at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), gives his response to Lord Young’s review of health and safety, published in October ENTITLED ‘COMMON SENSE, Common Safety’, Lord Young’s review of health and safety and the compensation culture was published on October 15.

It has made about 30 recommendations for dealing with compensation related to negligence and for simplifying health and safety administration, particularly helping smaller businesses to do simple risk assessments.

Despite continuing use of the term compensation culture, Lord Young’s report has now confirmed that this is largely a myth – a perception in the public mind created by the media and amplified by aggressive advertising by personal injury lawyers. Instead, the report focuses, quite correctly, on the need to provide reassurance to everyone that, if they act sensibly and reasonably, they cannot be sued successfully for negligence.

ACCIDENT PREVENTION ON THE AGENDA Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA’s chief executive, and I met with Lord Young for a one-to-one briefing at No.10 the day before the report’s launch.

We were able to explain in more detail some of the views we had already expressed to him in writing, and explain some of the work we have been doing at RoSPA, not just to help improve overall health and safety performance but to cut unnecessary bureaucracy (caused mainly by third parties – not regulators).

We also stressed that accidents in the UK overall are actually going up (particularly in home and leisure) and that, especially in the present economic situation, there is a really strong social and fiscal case for making accident prevention a key theme of the wider public health agenda.

Our meeting provided an opportunity to highlight much of what is already going on in the health and safety scene that will help us move in the direction that Lord Young wants.

This includes initiatives like Safety Schemes in Procurement (to simplify health and safety pre-qualification for contractors), our own National Core Competence Benchmark (to cut down on repetitious training).

We also talked briefly about our work to enhance the assistance role of trade associations, and the positive role of safety reps and networks such as Safety Groups UK, which are reaching out to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

RoSPA continues to argue that all these actors need to be embraced as allies in the overall national effort for achieving better health and safety in the UK. In our response to the review, RoSPA has sought to focus on positive messages about health and safety, including the need for

businesses to concentrate on their priority issues and the need for proportionality to ensure effective targeting of resources in cutting accidents and days lost.

Britain has a relatively good record when it comes to notifiable accidents at work.

However, when we look at the wider distribution and principal causes of workrelated harms, there are clearly some big problems still to solve such as work-related road injury and work-related ill health.

INFORMATIVE DATA We agree with Lord Young about the need to improve accident and incident reporting arrangements (building on the results of previous Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consultation exercises) and looking perhaps at alternative options which can improve the collection of data while encouraging all businesses to focus on and learn from their near misses.

Good data on accidents, incidents and ill health are like gold dust for prevention, whether nationally, sectorally, or within individual businesses; and used intelligently they can help, not just to save lives and reduce injuries, but to cut waste too.

RoSPA also wants to continue to help with the HSE-led initiative (currently underway) to create a register which will provide better guidance to businesses that want to use health and safety consultants.

CONSULTANTS Lord Young feels that too many businesses use consultants when they do not really need to and that too many consultants simply try to eliminate risk. RoSPA has always opposed a culture of consultant dependency since businesses should be encouraged to be as self-sufficient as possible in this sphere.

But competent consultants can be useful to help get businesses moving in the right direction and to provide on-going technical support where necessary. So we will work to ensure that registration does not lead to any reduction in the supply of competent consultants or, by limiting supply, end up by driving up costs for business.

Indeed, we see the register as a first step. What is really needed, in our view, is a much broader web-based system to enable businesses to procure appropriate services (including training and occupational health) from across a whole network of UK health and safety services.

Also intermediaries, like lawyers and trade associations, need to be helped so they can give better advice about advice.

APPEALS We like Lord Young’s proposals for appeals against poor health and safety decisions.

This was something we called for from the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council, under the last administration. After all, the right to appeal is part of our legal heritage.

But should it be limited simply to challenging local authorities that ban public events as Lord Young suggests?

What about the client, insurer or lender that demands too much of contractors, the insured or borrowers – or conversely the business that loses out to competitors because they insist on sticking to necessary health and safety standards?

CHALLENGES Where we are most keen to help, however, is in fine-tuning Lord Young’s ideas about responding to health and safety challenges in what he terms “low hazard workplaces” such as offices, shops and schools.

There are obviously still significant risk issues in these settings.

For example, even small, service-based firms which might at first glance seem quite safe will certainly have significant problems such as fire and occupational road risk – not to mention issues such as slips, trips and falls, stress and manual handling injury, as well as threats and even violence.

Then there are likely to be facilities management issues such as safe access and egress, safe cleaning, safe storage, safe vehicle parking, lifts, gas and electrical safety, and possibly asbestos and the risk of Legionnaire’s disease. There may also be building maintenance, and construction, design and management (CDM) activities too.

When asked to define “non-hazardous” at a recent meeting of the CBI’s Health and Safety Panel, Lord Young accepted there was a need in schools, for example, to deal appropriately with safety in chemistry labs, workshops and other hazardous activities such as outdoor adventurous activities.

Obviously all these issues need to be addressed adequately but in a proportionate way.

The inescapable fact is that the distribution of the workforce has continued to change dramatically over the last three-and-a-half decades since the Health and Safety at Work Act was introduced. More people than ever work in offices, call centres, shops and so on.

There may be fewer fatal and major RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) events in these settings but troublesome minor injury events still happen, and ill health and wellbeing issues have now become more important than accidents.

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FACILTIES MANAGEMENT

Absence due to work-related ill health is now almost twice that due to accidental injury.

RISK VS HAZARD RoSPA will continue to stress that it is the risk profile of jobs and not necessarily the hazard profile of work environments that is critical. (After all, low hazard can still mean high risk and vice versa.) For example, if you work in an office but suddenly have to do a lot of work-related driving, your risk profile increases dramatically.

Car and van drivers who cover 25,000 miles annually for work face the same risk of being killed at work as someone working on a trawler.

If you are in a customer-facing role you may face threats or even assault. If you work long hours in a call centre you may face stress, ergonomic problems such as musculoskeletal disorders, and risks associated with the prolonged use of computers.

So it is not just a question of your proximity to the traditional forms of high kinetic or potential energies found in manufacturing, agricultural or construction environments.

Many of the issues which cause accidents at work are in fact common to “industrial” and “non-industrial” settings.

SIMPLIFICATION RoSPA has been arguing for more than ten years for the use of simple risk assessment templates as part of a combined risk assessment and safety policy document for SMEs. The HSE has recently picked up on this idea.

We certainly need to discourage a belief that lengthy risk assessment documents by themselves provide protection (whether legal or real).

Obviously they don’t. It’s all about getting the right control measures in place.

The assessment in this sense is only a means to that end and should be no more complex than is entirely necessary.

A simple template should always be used as a starter for ten but equally we also need to avoid encouraging a slapdash approach and emphasise that the duty to carry out a “suitable and sufficient risk” assessment under the Management of Health and Safety Work Regulations means that more detailed work may be needed where necessary.

And we need to remember that risk assessment should not be an afterthought but ideally be part of planning in advance so you nip potential problems in the bud through good design – which usually promotes efficiency and effectiveness too.

There will be a lot more debate about all this as Lord Young’s recommendations are consulted on prior to implementation over the next 18 months.

SPENDING REVIEW IMPLICATIONS The implications for health and safety generally of the Comprehensive Spending Review will also start to become clear, not least the impact of the 35 per cent cut in funding to the HSE. The higher hazard areas in HSE like its Hazardous Installations, Nuclear and Offshore Divisions are to be ring fenced, meaning the impact of the cuts on the Field Operations Division will be much more severe. Local authority enforcers too will be under greater pressure.

So there are real fears that less HSE publicity about health and safety issues and less enforcement to deal with poor performing companies will lead to lower standards and accidents will start going up again.

As a result, RoSPA is encouraging the whole health and safety community to think harder and more creatively about how to respond effectively to all of these developments.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: www.rospa.com

Deb Limited – the supplier of choice for companies and organisations that value employee well-being RONTLINE WORKERS are at the forefront when delivering excellence in public service, but this also means that they are at the forefront of germs generated by the poor hand hygiene habits across the population.

Separate washroom studies from around the world show that only 78 per cent of people wash their hands1 which means that one in every five is walking around with unwashed hands.

It is known that enclosed environments, where people who are working or interacting in close proximity with one another, whether in the community, workplace or public facility, are at a higher risk of the spread of germs; particularly those who deal with the public on a daily basis.

Skin hygiene is an important issue for everyone, whatever their working environment, and legislation requires employers to provide adequate skin care facilities for all employees.

However, staff working on the frontline are often without access to immediate washing facilities or the skincare products required to ensure a high standard of hand hygiene throughout the day.

So, how can organisations provide adequate skin care facilities in this situation?

Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for both workers and

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the general public, so organisations should firstly meet with employee groups or representatives to discuss what hygiene risks frontline staff encounter on a daily basis.

Organisations should then encourage good hand hygiene practice by providing easy-tounderstand awareness materials such as posters, stickers for use in the washrooms, on floors, mirrors and doors. With modern day substrates, such as removable wall vinyls, stickers can be relatively little cost and replaced without leaving any residue on walls, floors or mirrors.

Debbie Rogers, senior marketing manager at Deb advises: “Organisations can work with their washroom services suppliers to create a

communications campaign to educate staff and visitors alike why they should keep their hands clean. Free downloadable posters are readily available from established suppliers to help promote good hand hygiene practices.”

Organisations can set an example, to ensure high standards of hand hygiene, by not only providing adequate hand washing facilities but also through promoting the use of a fast-acting, alcohol hand sanitiser that will quickly and effectively kill germs and therefore reduce the spread of bacteria.

Finally, organisations can provide ‘hand hygiene on the move’ by supplying a handy personal issue sanitiser. So, whatever the working environment, organisations can provide a helping hand for those on the frontline to ensure they remain at the forefront of public service.

1. Compliance to Good Hand Washing Procedures as Observed in Public Washrooms in the US, UK, Australia and Japan – Knights et al. 1997; Hyde 2003; Buchtmann 2002; ASM/ SDA 2005; Gerba 2003; ASM/SDA 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information or for a FREE SAMPLE or FREE TRIAL of Deb InstantFOAM® call us now on 01773 855177 or e-mail enquiry@deb.co.uk.

Web: www.debgroup.com

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ADVERTISERS INDEX The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service

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