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Glass louvres may have financial advantages

Filed Under: Construction by Tommy — Leave a comment
July 12, 2011

If you work in a modern building then you probably have big, expansive windows that give the room an airy, open feel and allow in plenty of sunlight. This has a number of advantages. For starters, you decrease lighting bills – and sunlight is far better than electric lights. It’s brighter, and the mixture of wavelengths is (by definition) more ‘natural’, meaning that workers generally feel better in the sun than under artificial lights. It also decreases heating bills. The problem comes when it’s summer, and the office can overheat. Then, you have a different issue, since you have to shell out money you saved on heating on new air conditioning. Another solution is to retrofit a brise soleil, or glass louvres. External louvres can be an effective way of having the best of both worlds – allowing the sun to light your premises in the winter, but not overheating them in the summer.

There are a number of variants on the concept, and the particular version will depend on your circumstances – your climate, for starters, but also where your building is positioned and which way it faces. Some louvres are movable, and can be controlled from minute-to-minute to fit to conditions on the day. Others are fixed, though these can still be highly effective. One of the most simple but helpful sorts is a ‘shelf’ which admits low-angle winter sun, or light at the start of the day when the sun is still low in the sky. In the summer, or the middle of the day, when the sun tends to be at a steeper angle, the shelf blocks its light from the windows.

The brise soleil – French for ‘sun breaker’ – is a permanent sun barrier that can take a variety of forms. Sometimes it is hardly anything more than a horizontal surface projecting from the side of the building. On other occasions they are more complex, perhaps being slatted to admit a proportion of the sun, or only sun at certain times of day or year. These, along with glass louvres (which can be used in conjunction with a sun breaker), are handy solutions to managing sunlight, which can result in large savings for your business. If this is something that your office finds problematic, then external louvres might be something to look into.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/

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A graduate scheme is a strong start on the career ladder

Filed Under: Employment by Tommy — Leave a comment
June 3, 2011

It’s not really the most normal time to be hunting for graduate jobs or trying to get into one or other internship or one of the graduate scheme that companies offer. With finals just weeks away, most of your contemporaries will probably be adopting the attitude that considering the future is best left until after exams finish. That means many will put off looking for two or three months (what with post-finals celebrations), which effectively means they will be well into the holidays before they start looking properly. By which time, it’s likely to be too late.

With a little preparation and forward planning, this is somewhere you could get ahead. Finals are significant, but life goes on afterwards – it’s just hard to remember that fact in the throes of exam revision. However, when you get to the end of them the rest of life is going to meet you. You could spend the next stage doing something interesting that will set you up in your future career. On the other hand, you might end up spending the next three months killing time in a series of menial jobs you only do for the money – perhaps all for the sake of spending an hour or two in the Careers centre or on the web checking out which companies are offering jobs you might like to try.

There’s plenty out there. Graduate jobs aren’t particularly easy to come by at the moment, thanks to the downturn, but there are still lots of opportunities. Internships are comparatively common, and offer a good way to get to know a bit about a company, what they do and how they treat their employees, without you signing your soul away to them for the long term. (The other side of this is that they typically don’t pay so well. In practice, you will probably have to balance your interest in the company and hope for experience with the financial realities of life after studenthood.)

The bottom line is: act soon. It’s never too early to start looking for graduate jobs or other options like graduate scheme. Even if you’re not hoping for something that permanent – perhaps you’re not even a finalist – then an internship can get you a foot in the door and allow you to gain valuable experience and contacts. Given the job market at the moment, a search at this stage – when many of your contemporaries won’t be able to take their eyes off exams – could surely pay huge dividends in the long run.

Please visit http://www.careerplayer.com/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.careerplayer.com/

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Time to check your finances with Cash Genie

Filed Under: Advice by Hannah — Leave a comment
April 22, 2011

It’s that time of year again: the annual Budget report. Cash Genie is well aware that this year hasn’t been a good one for many of us, as it’s been full of bad news for just about everyone. Spending cuts, tax hikes, and then, to top it off, a fragile economy and more trouble from overseas. Whatever the changes are, it’s fair to assume that lots of us are going to be worse off afterwards.
It was looking hopeful earlier this year, as the economy was set to be clawing its way back out of the dip. That was before the snow took its toll on growth figures, and raised questions about what the immediate future held. The most recent cause for concern has been the cost of fuel, which will impact every person in the country; even the ones that don’t use a car will still rely on businesses and freight that is driven across the country. Aside from all the tax rises – fuel duty and VAT, with more expected soon – there has also been the concern about the price of oil. Pushed up by conflict in North Africa and the Middle East, oil is finding highs not seen for over two years, and – if Saudi suffers from the same kind of problems – could sky-rocket far higher than we’ve ever seen before.

What can families do to bring their outgoings down? Well, for starters, make sure your car is in top condition, with tyres pumped up and engine serviced. Drive conservatively – avoid sharp accelerating, high speeds and hard braking unless strictly necessary – and don’t switch lanes on the motorway more than you need to. Plus, make sure any unnecessary weight is cleared out (how many of us have rubbish cluttering the boots of our cars?). Good driving habits and well-maintained cars can significantly reduce fuel consumption, and at somewhere between £50 and £80 a tank, that can all add up nicely.

Aside from that, Cash Genie recommends you start considering lift-sharing – there are loads of sites out there dedicated to finding you a journey-mate if you don’t already have one in mind – and, of course, avoid journeys that you don’t need to take in the first place (plenty of health, economic and environmental benefits there). You might even like to think about working from home if you’re a big commuter – even one day a week can make a substantial difference (the average daily commute being an hour), as well as giving you more time to spend with friends and family – it’s win/win.

Please visit http://www.cashgenieblog.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.cashgenieblog.co.uk/

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Video conferencing can help lower costs

Filed Under: Business by Tommy — Leave a comment
April 13, 2011

Meetings are a fact of life, and it’s also true that there is just no substitute for face-to-face time. If there are important decisions to be made, then it’s normally best to make them in person – the phone and email just aren’t good substitutes. There is so much nonverbal communication that happens in an exchange that such methods of communication can strip out a significant proportion of content, leading to misunderstandings and potentially serious problems. At the same time, however, meetings can be extremely inconvenient, especially when they involve lots of people and take place internationally. video conferencing is one way around this. Technology has progressed to the point where telepresence video conferencing can be a good substitute for the real thing, avoiding the need for expensive and time-consuming travel. There may be occasions when you still need to meet in person, since no system, no matter how advanced, is perfect; nevertheless, audio visual conferencing can be a useful way to ‘meet’ now.

Travel is expensive and time consuming, and it is often hugely costly in terms of man-hours to send staff to a meeting or conference – especially when they are likely to spend many hours travelling for the sake of an hour or two in the same room as someone else. There is also an environmental impact to be considered, something that many businesses are now aware of. Even if they are not, then this is going to have an increasing financial effect, as this is realistically the only way of limiting Carbon emissions. Thus travel will increasingly start to show up on companies’ balance sheets.

In a connected world, there is less and less reason to travel to meetings, however, and large firms and charities are finding video conferencing an economical alternative to doing so. Audio visual conferencing can practically give the impression of being in the same room as someone else, and is far more sophisticated than a Skype call – which, although incredible by the standards of recent years, is behind the competition in this sense. Telepresence video conferencing is a step closer to that all-important face-to-face meeting, for which there is realistically no substitute. You might not be able to shake hands with someone, but you will be able to see them close-to, see their expression and be able to put their words into context – something all but impossible with even a phone call, let alone email. It’s a technology that has recently come of age, and is the perfect solution to the time and financial costs associated with globalisation.

Please visit http://www.edgevision.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.edgevision.co.uk/

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Sales presentations with more thought

Filed Under: Communication, Meetings, Sales by John — Leave a comment
April 10, 2011

It has regularly been said that Powerpoint is the most abused PC application ever. We have all had the experience of watching lousy Powerpoint presentations and feeling pretty abused ourselves! sales presentations which insult our intelligence or which try to conceal a lack of clear thought with nifty Powerpoint design are just plain irritating. We’ve all been on the wrong end of sub-standard presentations so why do so many of us still get Powerpoint so wrong?

One of the problems is that the Powerpoint software itself is not tricky to use, even without any training, and it’s very tempting, especially if we find our own pitch tedious after over-exposure to it, to play about with fun graphics and special effects. Suddenly you realise you’ve wasted hours of time that could have been spent on structuring the message behind the presentation.

The other key mistake is to start putting together your presentation with the Powerpoint software already open. Powerpoint does not however do the thinking for you! Many messages that need to be delivered are not entirely linear or are not easily divided down into neat bullet points. Far more sensible to spend some time, either with old-fashioned pen and paper or with an alternative application working out what exactly it is you need to communicate. If you need a deadline in order to perform then leave the Powerpoint till later in the process so that you are less prone to getting distracted with all the bells and whistles!

On the other hand, there are times when you need to make an impression or convey high-level information, such as for a sales pitch to a key new client, and that’s when it may make sense to draft in a specialist. The advantage of calling in outside help is that your content is not familiar to them so they will be excellent judges as to whether your overall presentation is clear to an outside audience or not. A good company can offer a bespoke service, giving advice on every stage of the process from clarifying the central message to creating slides that clarify rather than detract from your message. Some can also coach you on your presentation style, giving you the confidence to really shine at your next pitch.

Excellent Powerpoint presentations ultimately depend on connecting with people. When all is said and done, giving sales presentations still involves public speaking which is, for most of us, a learned skill. It’s easy to attempt to deflect attention with the Powerpoint design but it’s an approach that can backfire spectacularly in terms of ultimate impact. If your next presentation is an important one, could it be time to call in the experts?

Please visit http://www.eyefulpresentations.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Jobs in radiography are easy to find with About Health Professionals

Filed Under: Employment, Healthcare by Tommy — Leave a comment
April 9, 2011

Looking for  jobs in occupational therapy or broader allied health jobs can sometimes be something of a a challenge for many health professionals.  Researching all the latest openings in your field can be a very time consuming job, and those who are already in full time work often have difficulty finding the time to fit it in.  That is why, whether you are looking for jobs in radiography or speech therapy, About Health Professionals is ready to take on the responsibility of looking for your next position.

As a specialised recruitment business operating within the health and medical sectors, the company is very much in the know when it comes to the medical jobs market. The company is divided into specialist recruitment teams for allied health jobs, health and nursing home managers, and jobs in occupational therapy. Some people may wonder why job-hunting through a recruitment agency might be preferable to doing it alone. Perhaps the most useful benefit is the comprehensive knowledge of the market that a recruitment company can command. By being on contract with various organisations in the UK, an agency can offer jobs that might not be on the open market. What is more, experienced consultants at the agency will be available to assist you through the recruitment process. Looking for work can be a lonely pursuit, and it can leave you feeling that it is you against the world. Having a consultant on your side who also has an interest in you finding a job can be a very inspiring thing.

It is often much quicker to sign up for one of these agencies than you might think. In many cases it is just a matter of submitting your CV, and once the agency have your details they can start looking out for vacancies that might be suitable for you, and contacting employers on your behalf. Some agencies have a slightly more complex screening process, but if it takes a couple of hours to meet a consultant and fill in some forms, and this saves you weeks of time searching for jobs, then you might well decide that it was worth it in the long run.

Clearly, then, the services of a recruitment agency can be very helpful in facilitating your search for occupational therapy jobs, allied health jobs or jobs in radiography. The contacts, insider knowledge and insight into the medical sector could be instrumental in securing  your ideal job.

Please visit http://www.abouthealthprofessionals.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.abouthealthprofessionals.co.uk/

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School clothes shopping made easy

Filed Under: Clothing by Hannah — Leave a comment
April 8, 2011

School uniforms have a lot to be said for them. They are a great leveller in terms of status (in that those of wealthier families dress just the same as children from less well off families), and they introduce a degree of conformity to a school, which helps to reinforce the identity of the pupils as members of the school. Wearing specific school clothes, rather than keeping a looser dress code, also means that there is a minimum level of smartness expected. However, there is a downside to uniforms, and that is cost and hassle when it comes to purchasing them. A London schoolwear supplier that sells clothes online can therefore make a massive difference when it comes to that time of year again – or more regularly, if your children are growing fast.

Kids are often happy to go out and buy clothes, so long as they are clothes they want to wear. The trouble is that school clothes aren’t particularly exciting, and there’s no reason to get the job done. This inevitably means that it gets left to the last minute, and then there’s a mad rush as the family dashes around the high street, trying to buy all the new clothes you need before the new term gets underway. Worse, it’s not just your family, so the relevant shops are packed with (usually) mothers and their children, all hunting for clothes that no one really wants to spend any time chasing after. It’s the standard end-of-holiday nightmare, that looming drag that comes after weeks of rest and recreation (or, alternatively, the crowning misery after weeks of having the house overrun by noisy kids).

The online London schoolwear supplier can avoid many of the problems that come with buying school clothes by the traditional routes. So long as you have the relevant measurements (which you can even find by looking at the labels on those clothes you know do fit well), you can order all the school uniforms you need over the internet, without even setting foot in the crowded shops of the high street. Of course, there are some things you may need to buy in person; some people are wary about buying shoes online, for example, although if you’re confident enough about what you want then these are also available over the internet. But that’s just one trip, rather than a day – or days – of traipsing around the shops, wishing you hadn’t put it off for quite so long this time.

Please visit http://www.uniform4kids.com/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.uniform4kids.com/

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The uses of the phono amp

Filed Under: Audio Visual, Entertainment Systems by Hannah — Leave a comment
April 7, 2011

Connecting amplifiers to a turntable and an audio system should be easy, but we are all familiar with that irritating moment when we think it is all set up, but the sound just will not come out of the amp at the required volume.  The reason for this could be that most of today’s amplifiers do not have an input socket market turntable, so they cannot be connected without a phono preamp.  This is quite simply an electronic circuit or stage that deals with the correct amplification of the phono cartridge and sends it to the amp or audio system. It is also often called a phono stage or a phono amp, but these all describe the same thing.

Beneath all these technical terms is a simple box that connects between a turntable and an amplifier.  In order to decide which one to buy and what sort of price to go for, an outline of how the phono amp works may be of some use.  When vinyl records were the norm, integrated amplifiers featured an input for the record player or turntable as standard, but this began to die out when analogue sources started to become digital in origin.  As digital sources have similar voltages, a preamp-stage was often no longer necessary, as a simple switch that selects between inputs was sufficient.  For this reason, the ‘passive preamp’ was created, but rather than containing an actual preamp, these boxes just house switches and relays.

For those who are in need of an actual preamp, it is just a matter of obtaining a phono stage, wiring up the turntable to it, and hooking up the output from the preamp to your amplifier.  The effect you will get will be dependent on a few factors, and the prices vary widely.  A particularly cheap preamp is fairly unlikely to provide you with high quality audio, but equally, some budget preamps are dressed up as very expensive ones. The most sensible option for novices is to go for a medium priced one, which will at least ensure that you are not severely overcharged for an inferior product.

It is important, therefore, not to be confused by the technicalities.  The phono stage, the phono preamp and the phono amp all have the same function, that of connecting your amp to your turntable.  With this technology in place, you should be able to play all your favourite music with excellent sound and absolutely no stress.  As long as all your other equipment works, that is!

Please visit http://www.whestaudio.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.whestaudio.co.uk/

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Interested in luxury nursing home manager jobs? Then look no further

Filed Under: Employment, Healthcare by Hannah — Leave a comment
April 5, 2011

For professionals who have been doing care home manager jobs for some time and are keen on developing their careers, moving to a luxury care home might be one possibility. But for those who are used to nursing home manager jobs in standard homes, these ‘high end’ nursing homes can be something of a mystery.  This article considers the philosophy and operations at a typical high end nursing home, with a view to exploring how home manager jobs at such places might differ from more typical ones.

It is often the case that luxury nursing homes are purpose-built to enable residents to be as independent as possible.  In some cases, this means that instead of being one building or flat, the home takes the form of a village, which give the feel of community and safety, without residents feeling that they have been moved into an institution.  In this sense, some people who do not require extra care may see moving to such a home as offering an enviable lifestyle, and one which enables them to settle into the environment before they might become dependent on others for care.  If elderly people suddenly find themselves in houses that are too large for their needs and too difficult to maintain, they may opt to move to a luxury retirement home rather than buying a smaller property, thus avoiding all the hassle that goes with the extra moving.

The key selling point of luxury homes compared with more conventional care homes is the independence they provide, and the social aspect of the home.  For those who can afford it, another option is to use the services of an outside care agency, but this can leave people feeling rather lonely as they are stuck in their own home.

Deluxe care homes or villages sometimes offer the option to buy apartments within the complex, reflecting the fact that they are presented more as a long-term lifestyle choice than as a last resort for those who are in need of full time care.

An understanding of the nature of these nursing homes should give a good insight into how these kind of care home manager jobs might differ from regular ones.  nursing home manager jobs in high-end homes demand not just a manager who is in command of the care provision and safety of residents, but also an awareness of the need to ensure quality of life for residents who are much more independent than those one might be accustomed to.  Home manager jobs like this present different challenges but can be just as enjoyable and, of course, offer better salaries than conventional ones.

Please visit http://www.aboutcare.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.aboutcare.co.uk/

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For kickboxing London has loads to offer!

Filed Under: Fitness, Health, Sports by John — Leave a comment
March 25, 2011

kickboxing has enjoyed a great surge in popularity in recent years – a recognition of the many ways it’s great for exercise and confidence. When it comes to kickboxing London has lots of different clubs, all just a web search away. It’s well worth trawling through a few of the possibilities on offer, and then trying one (or more) out to see how it is in practice – and better still, most will offer free first sessions. A kickboxing club, as long as it is well run, is a brilliant way to exercise with like-minded people, enjoying the fun and camaraderie that comes with such group activity. It’s also a brilliant way of de-stressing after a long day at the office – something that comes with its own health hazards.

Exercise is widely recognised as the best natural antidote to stress, and kickboxing is a fantastic way to gain all-round exercise. Unlike some other sports, which may focus on stamina (long-distance running, for example) or strength (weight-training), kickboxing and other martial arts are good for strength, stamina and speed, as well as other considerations like flexibility. This is because you will need them all in the ring! Even if you are not fighting, which is not mandatory, there are great benefits to such comprehensive fitness. This is good news for the stressed – and nowadays, that encompasses a major proportion of the population. Stress is the body’s response to conflict and anxiety, an evolutionary fix to a threat. Unfortunately, the types of threat we now face aren’t usually fixable by the kind of action that the stress-response seeks to enable. However, exercise is a brilliant way of defusing the consequences of stress – raised heart rate, increased anxiety and alertness, and all the other symptoms that are harmful in the long run.

A kickboxing club is the best way to learn such a martial art in a controlled and safe environment. In London, kickboxing comes in lots of forms, with many different influences – so look around, and see what is on offer, because the different styles and emphases will be suitable for different needs. For example, you may be interested in kickboxing purely for the exercise. Others may be interested in the self-defence aspects, whereas still others might want to compete – perhaps at an amateur or even professional level. Whatever you want from it – or even if you don’t know yet – most clubs will welcome beginners.

Please visit http://www.zendokickboxing.com/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.zendokickboxing.com/

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