Olympians Sally Gunnell and Chris Boardman share their tips on how employees can get around London quicker and easier during Games time
With some businesses offering employees flexi time and Sunday trading hours being extended during the Olympics it’s easy for employees to overlook something as simple as getting around during the Games.
With this in mind Sally Gunnell, 400m hurdles Olympic gold medallist, and Chris Boardman, Olympic cycling gold medal winner and world record holder, challenged each other to find the easiest and quickest route across London to the Olympic Park to encourage employees to think about alternative modes of transport during the Games.
This race has been inspired by new research from London 2012 and Transport for London (TfL) which reveals 86 per cent of central London businesses are planning one or more initiatives to encourage employees to consider alternative forms of transport. Of this, 60 per cent of businesses will encourage their staff to walk or cycle.
And it’s not just London that will be affected, of course. With Olympic and Paralympic events happening across Britain, public transport in those regions will be affected as well.
As part of the London 2012 and TfL challenge, Sally ran and Chris cycled from Liverpool Street station to Stour Space opposite the Olympic Park on the River Lea. The aim was to demonstrate to businesses and their employees the alternatives to getting public transport and using the road network.
Sally Gunnell and Chris Boardman have produced some top tips to help businesses encourage their employees to cycle and walk/run during the Games.
Sally and Chris’ top tips for employers:
Make the most of the commute - Encourage staff to walk down to the next bus stop or get off a stop early.
Plan your business travel - If employees have a meeting that is a walkable distance, encourage them to walk instead of getting public transport or a taxi.
The pedometer test - Issue a pedometer to each employee - they can be a great way to get people thinking about how much walking they really do. Consider introducing a league table or online tracking system, so colleagues can compare their results against others.
Start a running club - Group running is good fun and can really help to motivate people to keep up their exercise routine, so set up a running club for employees.
Motivate staff - A workforce that regularly walks, cycles or runs will be fit and healthy.
Plan journeys in advance - Businesses should encourage employees that cycle to plan their journey to and from work in advance.
Build a community - Building a cycling or running community at work is a great way of encouraging workplace relationships and increasing motivation.
Hop on a Barclays Cycle Hire bike - If employees don’t have a bike, encourage them to use a Barclays Cycle Hire bike to get around on short journeys.
Watch our video, above, to see who won the race and how employers and employees can plan their journeys effectively during the Olympics.
Journeys in London
There are 12 million journeys a day made on London’s public transport network. On the busiest days of the Games up to 3 million additional journeys will take place on the public transport network.
Log onto www.getaheadofthegames.com for full and final information on when and where the UK’s Tube and rail networks will be most affected during this summer’s London 2012 Games and follow the @GAOTG Twitter feed for the latest tips, travel information and advice.
TfL and London 2012 have been working with businesses in London and around venues across the UK for well over a year and there is increasing evidence that they are planning ahead to reduce their travel and avoid the hotspots.
In London alone, 500 major businesses employing more than 600,000 people have signed up for specific travel advice and have drafted travel plans which they have shared with TfL.
Aldermore, one of Britain’s leading challenger banks and a participant in the government’s National Loan Guarantee Scheme, is pleased to announce that it has successfully raised £36 million of new capital.
The investment, (made by funds controlled by Centerbridge Partners, L.P., a leading private investment firm), strengthens Aldermore’s position as one of Britain’s most strongly capitalised banks.
The new funds will enable Aldermore to continue to meet the strong demand for its accounts and services from both retail customers and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), whilst retaining its focus on credit quality. Aldermore now has 65,000 retail depositors, 4,300 residential mortgage customers, and has lent £812 million to over 10,000 SMEs.
Phillip Monks, Aldermore’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to secure the participation of another blue-chip investor - and for the ongoing support from our founder investors, AnaCap Financial Partners and Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners. The new funds provide us with the opportunity to do even more to champion Britain’s small businesses, the lifeblood of our economy. Our strong capital position also enables us to look at a number of new product and service launches to further meet the needs of our customers. I would like to thank all our investors for the confidence they have shown in Aldermore as we strive to do things differently.”
About Aldermore
Aldermore was borne out of the merger of Ruffler Bank Plc and Base Commercial Mortgages Ltd in May 2009, and was the first British bank to be wholly owned by a private equity firm, AnaCap Financial Partners LLP.
Are you fed up with your job and dreaming of being your own boss? Channel 4 wants to hear from you!
A New Channel 4 series ‘Compare Your Life’ has enlisted Carlton Hood - the former CEO of Confused.com - to help families who are desperate to escape the daily grind and become their own boss.
In the series, Carlton’s team of experts evaluate each family’s finances and assets and scour the country for real businesses, finding the best options to suit the families’ dreams and budget. The families have the chance to test out and compare the new business ventures, in order to decide their future.
True North Productions, who are making the series for Channel 4, are looking for families who dream of giving up their job, selling their house, cashing in their savings and buying their own business somewhere new.
If you’re struggling to find the time, need expert advice or can’t decide on the right business path for you, then this could be the perfect opportunity to take the step to change your life.
Take Part
If you would like to find out more about taking part then please contact Emma on 0113 3945493.
As Britain gets set for a year of world class sport, businesses are being urged to take inspiration from our sporting heroes by encouraging competition, following a poll showing many embrace competition at work.
The report, carried out by the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange, shows that the majority of workers agree that winning is important to them, with over two thirds believing healthy competition brings out the best in people and almost 40% acknowledging that they enjoy a competitive environment at work. Furthermore, over half of the workers canvassed also said they would like to feel part of a winning business and would be proud if their place of work was recognised by winning an external award.
The National Business Awards in partnership with Orange are the nation’s most prestigious business accolade and for more than ten years they have celebrated our brightest and most successful companies within a vast number of categories. And now businesses from around the UK are being called on to enter this year’s awards.
Watch our video where Mark Christophers, Founder of West Cornwall Pasty Company and former winner, shares his fail safe tip for SME business owners, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” While Virginia Bottomley, Chair of Judges, Caroline Jackson Levy, CEO of National Business Awards and Martin Stiven, Vice President of Business, Orange share their tips. From keeping up-to-date on how competitors are reaching out to their customers, to making sure you engage with the people within your business which actually drive plans home.
O2, the commercial brand of Telefónica UK Limited, today announced the launch of On & On, its new unlimited tariff created to deliver British small businesses with practical help and value in their day-to-day communications costs.
On & On will be open to existing and new O2 small business customers and lets customers use their phone more than ever before, while paying less than ever before. The new package will give business users access to unlimited calls, unlimited texts along with 1GB of data, and is available on a 24 month contract with a handset included or on a 12 month contract for the SIM only.
On & On will allow small business users to make calls, send texts and surf the web without the worry of incurring high charges. With a range of price points depending on handsets, for just £21.67 a month, ex VAT for customers keeping their current phone or from £30 ex VAT a month with a new phone - On & On offers unlimited minutes to mobiles and landlines in the UK and unlimited text messages to UK based numbers. Also included is a gigabyte (GB) of data for business to use however they like, including tethering and streaming. For more prolific internet users, there is also the option to purchase an extra 1GB of data for £4.17, allowing users to create a package that’s right for their data needs.
Claire Darley, Head of Small Business Sales at O2 said: “We believe that On & On will be the most competitive tariff in the SMB space for some while. O2 has been talking to small business customers and we know that they want better value from mobile networks, as well as simple tariffs. Devices like smartphones have revolutionised the way we do business because they enable us to stay constantly connected. These tools and technologies add an enormous amount of value, but also make cost management more complex. Small businesses want to know exactly what they are going to be paying each month to run their communications and connect their staff, suppliers and customers. On & On helps business customers to get the best of both worlds by keeping costs fixed whilst allowing employees to use their devices freely, without the worry of phone bills weighing them down.”
The launch compliments O2’s launch of On & On in the consumer market. It has been extended to include the small business sector as many of the UK small businesses are under ongoing pressure to keep costs low and manage spending, against a tough economic backdrop. And naturally, businesses want good value for money, but don’t want to be restrained by confusing limits and additional costs. On & On will help with their bills, by simplifying their contracts and removing restrictions. This will allow small companies to concentrate on what really matters – running, developing and making a success of their business.
To help make that new phone even more affordable, On & On is available for £30, £34.17 or £38.33 all ex VAT per month. Each price point gives customers the same unlimited UK minutes, the same unlimited UK texts and the same 1GB of data. The three different price points enable a customer to select the right tariff for them based on their monthly tariff and hardware cost. For instance, the iPhone 4S 16GB has an up-front cost of £59.99 (usually £99.99) on the £30 ex VAT On & On tariff, £19.99 (normally £49.99) on the £34.17 ex VAT tariff or free on the £38.66 ex VAT per month tariff.
On & On small business customers will also get the same peace of mind as all O2 Pay Monthly customers with regular text updates on how much data they’re using.
O2 has developed a suite of resources, specifically tailored to help small British businesses compete, to better and become more profitable businesses. O2 can help customers join up their communications so that they have one contact, one bill and one point of support. Small businesses above 10 employees have their own business advisor to offer the right solutions for their business and the UK-based Business Technical Service teams are here to help 24/7. Business can also get help and advice for more technical issues from O2 Gurus in all O2 Retail Stores and online which provides advice on the best technology for their business, and the ongoing development and sharing of better working practices, which support every element of small business life.
Available from Friday 30 March, both new and existing small business customers can join On & On by visiting an O2 store or heading to www.o2.co.uk/onandon.
Commercial tenants who have concerns about their rental contracts are being urged to take advantage of a new lease review scheme from solicitors Birkett Long.
The firm has launched a fixed-price service giving tenants advice about the content of their own individual lease. Commercial Property solicitor David Temperton explained that tenants may have a number of concerns about their contract, such as what happens at the end of their lease or what they need to consider before a rent review.
He said: “It’s extremely beneficial for tenants to pre-empt any possible issues by forward planning. For example, they may be considering leaving their lease early but aren’t sure whether this is possible or how much it may cost. Or they may need to investigate whether they are liable for any repair work.
“For many companies, the new financial year is approaching, so a lease review will give them reassurance that they can afford the rent in the coming year, or that they will be able to move offices if they need to change locations.”
As well as commercial property, Birkett Long provides a wide range of legal services including employment, construction and health and social care. With 22 partners, the company has offices in Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester.
The lease review costs from £200 depending on the length of the contract and is available to all commercial tenants. Mr Temperton added: “We aim to complete all lease reviews within one or two days, so it is an extremely swift and effective process for tenants.”
For more information, contact Mr Temperton on 01206 217310 or visit www.birkettlong.co.uk
From April 1st business rates are set to rise by an average of 5.77% across England and Wales. Experts warn that the increase, coupled with the painfully slow rates appeals process to challenge business rates, is stifling business growth in the UK. The estimated total amount of savings due back to UK businesses from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is £1,227,393,324.
Listen to our podcast for top tips on how you can try to recoup costs owed to your business.
CVS, which advises firms on business rates appeals, argues that while the Government says it is trying to support UK businesses, imposing such a big increase in business rates when many firms are struggling to break even - let alone make a profit - is a total contradiction.
Commenting on the increase, Mark Rigby, Chief Executive of CVS said: “Businesses will feel this rise in rates hard. The average retail space can now expect a yearly rates bill in excess of £10,000. This figure is to be paid on top of rent and wages. Imagine the amount of trade your local newsagent would have to do to cover that cost. With weak economic growth and low consumer spending, taxes on business need to reflect realities.”
Business rates often represent the third biggest overhead after rent and wages and the increase will see a number of businesses go to the wall. Following changes made for the 2010 appeals process, the system of dealing with such appeals has become cumbersome and overly bureaucratic. As a consequence there are some 340,000 outstanding appeals. Claims and any subsequent rebates can take up to 18 months to process - which may be too late for many businesses in a challenging economy.
Rateable values, upon which business rates are based, are determined by VOA. Due to the way in which the VOA collects and assesses these values, they can be inaccurate as the VOA do not possess or analyse all the rental evidence correctly within the locality of the property. The VOA may also fail to fully reflect the disabilities of the property in comparison to similar properties in the area - making the rates bills grossly unfair and misleading.
Exorbitant business rates undermine the profitability of UK companies and detract from their capacity to invest and grow. At best this impacts on their ability to create new jobs and at worst forces companies to close, contributing to further unemployment and stifling the UK economy.
So, what can businesses in England and Wales do to mitigate the costs? Well according to CVS, businesses must challenge the assessment of the property they occupy in order to recoup costs owed to them - money that rightfully belongs to businesses, not the Government.
Listen to the podcast above, with Don Baker, National Head of Rating at CVS for top tips on the exact steps business owners should take to try and recoup their money.
Mainstream 4G mobile services could be available in the UK as early as this year, under proposals outlined today by Ofcom.
Everything Everywhere, the mobile phone operator running two of the UK’s most famous brands - T-Mobile (UK) and Orange (UK), has submitted an application to Ofcom to use its existing spectrum to deliver 4G services. Allowing Everything Everywhere to reuse its spectrum in this way is likely to bring material benefits to consumers, including faster mobile broadband speeds and – depending on how Everything Everywhere uses the spectrum – potentially wider mobile broadband coverage in rural areas.
In February this year, Everything Everywhere announced their “major steps towards a 4G future” quoting Olaf Swantee, CEO at Everything Everywhere, as saying:
“I am … very proud to announce that, subject to regulatory approval by the spring, Everything Everywhere will be in a position to begin the roll out of 4G before the end of the year. There is a great opportunity for the UK to have the 21st Century network that it so deserves, putting the nation on a level playing field with other parts of Europe, the USA and Asia.”
Ofcom has considered whether allowing Everything Everywhere to use this spectrum in this way would distort competition, and provisionally concluded that it would not. And given the benefits this would bring to consumers, Ofcom is minded to allow this change of use.
Interested parties have four weeks in which to submit their views on this proposed change.
As a consequence of Philip Clarke’s decision to take a much closer involvement in the UK business Tesco plc announces today that Richard Brasher has decided to step down from the Board with immediate effect and to leave the Company in July once he has effected a smooth transition of the UK business to Philip.
Philip Clarke said: “I have decided to assume responsibility as the CEO of our UK business at this very important time. This greater focus will allow me to oversee the improvements that are so important for customers. I completely understand why Richard has decided to leave and want to thank him for the great contribution he has made over many years. The depth of management at Tesco and the strong leadership team across the Group allow me to take a more active role in the UK whilst our other businesses continue to grow.
“Richard has been an architect of our successful format strategy; a true innovator with both Clubcard and the dunnhumby partnership; and over the last ten years has led the transformation of our non-food business and the creation of International Sourcing.
“He will leave behind a UK business which has very strong plans for improvement, and over the last two months these plans are beginning to show progress, in line with our expectations. I am more determined than ever that these improvements in the UK will result in a better Tesco and an even better shopping trip for customers.”
An Irish inventor has developed a product which can help large supermarket retailers cut carbon emmissions and save money.
Tom Glynn, 55, from Galway Ireland, first spotted the opportunity when he noticed that the retail of ice, the type used to cool drinks at parties and celebrations, was a major problem for the €30m turnover supermarket store that he managed.
Currently, a supermarket like Tesco buys a container of ice and sends it to a central warehouse where it is stored in expensive freezer storage space. Then, it is hand picked and re-distributed to outlets across the UK. At the outlet, it is bulky and hard to store. It has to be displayed away from the drinks aisle (because the freezer department is often at the other side of the shop). Furthermore, ice is regularly out-of-stock because demand is influenced by things such as changes in the weather and sports results.
Tom put his mind to solving these problems. He drew upon his 30 years of retail experience to create a system that is not only user friendly for the customer, but also meets the supermarket manager’s needs. Over a three year period he made fourteen trips to Asia where he commissioned the development of an ice vending machine which can filter and purify tap water, freeze it and then package it using a unique, compact, bagging system. The quality of ice is equivalent to that which is used in pubs and bars across the UK.
The machine, which is not coin operated, can be positioned close to the drinks aisle to encourage complementary sales. Also, because the ice is created in the store, there is no need for expensive freezer storage and transportation costs (in terms of money and carbon footprint).
Tom has already put the product to use in Australia, where demand is high, and is looking for the help of an investor (or investors) to bring it to the UK supermarket retailers.
The Lancashire cotton industry, in the north of England, was at the heart of the world's industrial revolution and the main engine of the British economy. Peter Day finds out how it struggles to survive. Producer: Sandra Kanthal Editor: Stephen Chilcott
In the second of two reports from China, Peter Day looks at private financing. Until now a somewhat grey area of the financial market but crucial to the growth of their small and medium business enterprises. Producer: Julie Ball Editor: Stephen Chilcott
Hard-boiled or soft-hearted - when is it right to be tough at the top? Evan Davis and his executive guests debate ruthlessness in business. Plus, capitalism in places that business overlooks - they also talk about investing and selling in deprived areas.
Anatomy of a decision. Evan Davis and guests discuss executive decision making using examples from their professional life. They also swap thoughts on stress – their own and that of their employees.
This week, we talked to young blogger Martha Payne about how healthy school dinners really are and discussed the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency's claim that voluntary recalls are working perfectly well. We looked at the digital listening target for 2015 against the latest RAJAR figures, explore the practicalities of a blanket opt-out for pornogra […]
Are you fed up with your job and dreaming of being your own boss? Channel 4 wants to hear from you!
Ofcom looks favourably on Orange/T-Mobile application to deliver 4G services
By John Walker on March 16, 2012
Mainstream 4G mobile services could be available in the UK as early as this year, under proposals outlined today by Ofcom.
Everything Everywhere, the mobile phone operator running two of the UK’s most famous brands - T-Mobile (UK) and Orange (UK), has submitted an application to Ofcom to use its existing spectrum to deliver 4G services. Allowing Everything Everywhere to reuse its spectrum in this way is likely to bring material benefits to consumers, including faster mobile broadband speeds and – depending on how Everything Everywhere uses the spectrum – potentially wider mobile broadband coverage in rural areas.
In February this year, Everything Everywhere announced their “major steps towards a 4G future” quoting Olaf Swantee, CEO at Everything Everywhere, as saying:
“I am … very proud to announce that, subject to regulatory approval by the spring, Everything Everywhere will be in a position to begin the roll out of 4G before the end of the year. There is a great opportunity for the UK to have the 21st Century network that it so deserves, putting the nation on a level playing field with other parts of Europe, the USA and Asia.”
Ofcom has considered whether allowing Everything Everywhere to use this spectrum in this way would distort competition, and provisionally concluded that it would not. And given the benefits this would bring to consumers, Ofcom is minded to allow this change of use.
Interested parties have four weeks in which to submit their views on this proposed change.
News Sources:
http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2012/03/13/ofcom-proposals-to-allow-4g-mobile-services-this-year/
http://everythingeverywhere.com/2012/02/23/everything-everywhere-announces-major-steps-towards-a-4g-future/
Posted in Computer Services, Critical Infrastructure, Customer Support, E-commerce, Expansion, Ideas and Innovation, Information Technology, Internet Services, Marketing Facilities, Product Research and Development, Regulation, Regulatory Compliance, Requests For Comments (RFQs), Standards, Technology, Telecommunications, Telecommunications Services, Tendering and Procurement Alerts, UK | Tagged 4G, Everything Everywhere, Ofcom, Olaf Swantee, Orange, T-Mobile | Leave a response