ResidentsHQ wins National eWell-Being Award for Building Community Networks
ResidentsHQ, the social networking service focussed on injecting life and community spirit into modern residential developments, today announced its win at last week’s National eWell-Being Awards. Through providing a secure and private service for each development, ResidentsHQ aims to make it easy for residents to interact with each other, assist managing agents as well as bodies such as residents’ associations connect to those living within their properties, and help developers add value to new developments.
Andrew Painter, managing director, ResidentsHQ said: “This award validates our belief that social networks like ours can really make a difference. Through the intelligent application of social networking technology, we help residents break the ice and connect with their neighbours, and empower managing agents to communicate with those living in their properties. Our work in developments such as the Royal Arsenal, Imperial Wharf and Chelsea Bridge Wharf - another major regeneration programme - is proof of this.”
For example, prior to the ResidentsHQ website being launched in the Royal Arsenal Development, many residents had lived there for several years with very little interaction taking place. Within weeks of launch this had radically changed. Over 100 residents joined in the opening week of the service and began initiating running clubs, mother/toddler groups and cocktail parties. After six months of service, ResidentsHQ had 600 residents signed-up at Royal Arsenal, with over 100 logging in each day – a number which is set to increase as the website is being extended to allow residents to communicate with the property’s managing agent. It must also be pointed out that this growth in numbers has been almost totally organic, with little requirement for central communications ‘pushing’ the service.
Andrew concludes: “As well as helping residents able to easily connect with each other, they can also discuss topics of mutual interest in a forum, exchange goods in a local market place and share views on local businesses. Furthermore, our service has facilitated the community in coming together to protect their interests, by for example, using the ResidentsHQ online surveys functionality to lobby against local planning applications and parking regulations.”
The National eWell-Being Awards aim to highlight those organisations that are at the forefront of innovation in ICT for environmental and social improvement. The awards, now in their seventh successive year, are organised by SustainIT, an initiative of the UK Centre for Economic and Environmental Development (UKCEED), and sponsored by BT and Unison amongst others.
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About ResidentsHQ
ResidentsHQ is a newly launched online secure and private social networking service exclusively for residential developments. Created in 2008, ResidentsHQ is a privately-held company, with headquarters in London.
For more information visit www.residentshq.com.
For further information, please contact ResidentsHQ Press Office:
Rebecca English, ResidentsHQ
Tel: +44 (0)7778 609675
E-mail: rebecca.english@residentshq.com
UKOCN – the fastest growing UK business network for the Oracle professional community!
UKOCN at http://www.ukocn.com/ is a comprehensive Web 2.0 community network dedicated to Oracle business and IT professionals. UKOCN was formed in direct response to the more sophisticated demands of both the Oracle Users and Partner Community and it provides a fully open and collaborative business network environment. Since going ‘live’ at the end of 2008 UKOCN has impressively amassed over 21,000 subscribed users with new members continuing to join in increasing numbers. It is now the UK's largest and fastest growing, Free to join business Community Network of Oracle people and professionals.
With business networks about to dramatically increase in number and to dominate the landscape in the coming years, the UKOCN Oracle Community Network brings together the tried and trusted methods of social networks with the comprehensive facilities demanded by a professional group within a business community. UKOCN is flexible enough to adjust and evolve its services as the business environment changes and it has ambitious plans for the future.
Paul Kavanagh, UKOCN Director, commented: “In this challenging economic climate all the Oracle service providers we have spoken to are adjusting their marketing strategy to reach their target audience. They welcome the benefits of UKOCN as a viable and cost effective alternative to more traditional and expensive in-person events. UKOCN can showcase their products and services 365 days a year to an ever growing audience.”
UKOCN provides the very latest business and product information from Oracle, the world’s largest enterprise software company, together with the latest news, white papers, presentations, jobs, events and training courses from Oracle’s partners and service providers. This on-line community environment is completed by a range of interactive networking functions such as blogs, forums and interest groups. It uses a fresh and innovative style of Group Alerts and eNewsletters to keep the Oracle Community informed of the latest news and events.
At the heart of UKOCN are the Oracle interest groups. With over 10,000 Oracle interest group members, these dedicated areas serve Oracle database, middleware and applications professionals. Its appeal extends to all those involved in the ever growing Oracle community, a community that now incorporates JD Edwards, Siebel, BEA, Hyperion, Stellent and PeopleSoft.
According to Oracle Database Management and Support provider Xynomix, "UKOCN allows Xynomix to communicate with the wider Oracle community and offer advice where required. UKOCN is yet another example of how important it is to listen to Oracle end users, employees, technicians...they all have something influential to say that can help businesses like Xynomix improve. We joined with UKOCN to offer Oracle expertise, but we can also learn from the Oracle community."
Contact Details:
Paul Kavanagh
UKOCN
Email: paul.kavanagh@ukocn.com
Harrow-based Xprint urges local businesses to put the X-factor into recycling
Increasing demand for eco-friendly remanufactured printer cartridges, for both home and office use, has seen one of the UK’s leading recyclers of ink jet and laser toner cartridge urge local consumers to act more responsibly before throwing old cartridges into the dustbin.
Xprint was founded five years and has recently relocated from Middlesex to the Avanta business centre in College Road. “The needless disposal of printer cartridges is estimated to account for more than 15,000 tonnes of waste plastic and metal each year,” comments Abbas Shivji, general manager of Xprint, “Yet the recovery of and reuse of toner and inkjet cartridges reduces landfill by millions of cubic feet of non-biodegradable material and each recycled cartridge conserves the equivalent of approx one litre of oil!
“We already supply remanufactured cartridges and recycling boxes to a wide range of retailers, such as PC World, but now we’ve made it even easier for individuals and business users to recycle their old cartridges and mobile phones. By using our special freephone number 0800 191 0828 callers can request Freepost envelopes and labels for their old cartridges and for every cartridge they mail in we’ll even donate up to £1 and up to £3.50 for every mobile phone we can recycle as part of our ongoing support to reducing carbon. Xprint’s recycling division Recyclecartridge.Org actively promotes donations to worthwhile and charitable causes like the Hospiscare and Carbon Life Ltd to name a few.
“We’ve only recently relocated to serviced office space in Harrow, as the speed with which the Avanta team helped us move in and set up a VPN link to our dedicated warehouse was exceptional. The location of the centre is also extremely convenient for London Underground, motorways and Heathrow Airport.”
“The printer is the lifeblood of any office and to keep them running, companies need ink and paper that perform superbly, cost-effectively and reliably,” adds Fay Jessup, Avanta’s centre manager. “And they need to source these with minimal fuss and cost and in as environmentally-sound a way as possible.”
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For further information, please contact:
Colin Peck, Gravitas Business Communications
07802 606433 or email colinjpeck@aol.com
or Anna Haslam, Avanta Managed Offices Ltd on 0203 008 6000
Note to editors:
Avanta was formed in 2004 by David Alberto. The company offers highly flexible, unbranded office space, with advanced and competitively price technology, tailor made to meet the requirements of the occupier. In the UK it currently manages more than 630,000 sq ft of office space in prime locations in London, the Thames Valley, Manchester and Edinburgh. Avanta’s first international business centre in New Delhi, India, opened in September 2008 and a further two centres are now open in Mumbai.
20% off eShops from Daily.co.uk
Chilwell, United Kingdom ( Prfire ) May 21, 2009 - Daily.co.uk www.daily.co.uk announces 20% off online shopping website building product, eShop.
New and existing eShop customers alike can use the code ESHOP20 when buying or upgrading before 16th June to get their 20% discount.
Daily MD, Abby Hardoon, said: "Using a product like eShop, with great-looking shop templates, shopping cart, shop admin backend and hosting all integrated into one package, is a great way to take that step up from eBay and start trading under your own brand."
More about eShop: www.daily.co.uk/products/online-shopping
Notes to Editors
About Daily.co.uk
Daily.co.uk is a second generation UK web hosting provider, delivering web hosting, domain name registration, email and website building services to individuals and small businesses in the UK as well as highly innovative and essential products such as the DailyDrive and PC Back-up Client. The people behind Daily.co.uk have in-depth expertise and experience in the Internet hosting sector and have built some of the UK’s best known web hosting brands. The Daily.co.uk web hosting platform benefits from this vast experience and track record.
Press Contacts:
Cat Widdowson
0115 973 7267
Abby Hardoon
0115 973 7260
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Focus Training comes to a venue near you
Focus Experimental Training are offering businesses the opportunity for the focus team to come out to you wherever and whoever you are, providing you and your managers off-site leadership development training to help you get the best out of your employees. And the team at Focus Training will do all the hard work for you, from organising a bespoke experimental training programme, organising the venue and conferencing, so at the end of the training you simply have to deal with one invoice and enjoy the experience of the jam-packed day.
Focus Experimental Training are dedicated to offering their customers top training services ranging from graduate training and outdoor team building to help you learn how to develop and train your staff.
And if you can’t get to us, then Focus Training will come straight to your business or another hotel or conference centre, providing the exact same training as they would back home in Ribble Valley, Lancashire.
Focus Training takes a unique approach to learning, and the key to their success is enabling the transfer of skills learnt back to the workplace. There are a wide range of training courses the team provides on and offsite which can help your team grow and develop.
If you are a new team and are just getting to know each other, then Focus Training can provide outdoor team building. You will be working together, communicating, sharing experiences and learning to trust one another. This form of team building allows you to build a professional relationship with your employees, further stretching your goals and targets as a team.
If there is a change in management in the office and you need extra training to help you learn how to manage others, Focus Training have specific skills which focus on change management.
Focus Training helps you to deal with a range of tasks, such as building your confidence in managing other people, how to delegate responsibility, improve productivity and motivate your team.
Their graduate training programme is a fantastic way to get your new trainees settled in to their working environment and how to be proactive in a working environment. The programme has been designed to fill the graduate with essential information over a short period of time which they won’t forget. The expert team at Focus has already helped graduates at companies such as Warburtons, Bovis, Autoglass and Arcadia.
With so much for you to choose from, you and your team will be well equipped to ensuring a focus filled environment in your workplace.
And to get a taster of just what is on offer this month at Focus Experimental Training, the team is inviting businesses to their free Taster Day on May 13th at their training centre in Bashall Eaves, Ribble Valley, Lancashire.
The Taster Day is primarily aimed at the HR or Learning and Development Managers and Directors of businesses who wish to engage in the opportunity to network with likeminded professionals. The day will provide managers with practical solutions in getting their team engaged and productive in the work place. The day will feature an array of training events such as unlocking motivation in people, empowering you as a team leader and performance in the workplace. The day will also include a range of outdoor experimental activities which are used within the workshops. To bring the learning to life, these are then reviewed and related back to the workplace by expert facilitators with strong industry backgrounds.
For more information about the Taster Day or any other training sessions on or off-site, contact Shelly Posthuma de Boer, Development Manager at shelly@focus-training.net or Fax 01254 826 015.
Notes to editors
Focus offers high-quality management training in a refreshingly different setting. We aim to get our delegates out of the classroom and into the countryside.
Our custom-built facilities at Clough Bottom are located within a working organic farm set amid 360 acres of delightful countryside.
Our three superb stone barns houses the latest hi-tech training and conference facilities, while the farm and its diverse activities weave their own spell on our clients.
In this peaceful valley, remote from the pressures of the workaday world, you and your team will find it surprisingly easy to recharge your thinking and develop valuable new skills. While the farm dates back to the 17th century, it follows best modern practice, combining organic beef production, with an ornamental tree and shrub business, holiday cottage hire and a horse and pony management service.
Focus Experimental Training Ltd
Bashall Eaves
Near Clitheroe
BB7 3NA
Tel: 01254 826222
Changing Students into enterpreneurs – Dragon’s Den Launch event
Time: 1100 – 1300
Date: Tuesday 21st April
Location: Sun Microsystems Head Office, Guillemont Park, Minley Road, Blackwater, Camberley, GU17 9QG
Oak Farm School in Hampshire are embarking on an 8 month mission to change ordinary students into entrepreneurs and it all starts on Tuesday with a launch event at the Head Offices of Sun Microsystems.
We will be hearing about the state of the economy, how industry says that students from school don’t have the skills they need and that they have to retrain them when they start employment and what Oak Farm is doing about it.
The students will launch straight into the project and play business games and come up with ideas for their companies mentored and directed by real business owners.
We are changing the focus of education to give student the skills they need to set up their own company and be a success in business. These are students that probably won’t go onto college and need help to get started in the world. It is all going to culminate in a big Dragon’s Den Style event in 8 months time where we are going to turn the cameras on the students and let their business ideas be interrogated by real business owners!
It is an extremely exciting project and I wish I had been involved in something like this when I was at school! If you need anything at all then please call me on the numbers below or email me.
Best regards
Alan
Alan Donegan
Mobile: 07881 815 954
Direct: 01252 849 774
Email: info@addynamics.co.uk
Web: www.addynamics.co.uk
ADDynamics
Forest Retreat, Odiham Road, Winchfield
Hook, Hampshire, RG27 8BU
Lancashire rural businesses buck the retail downturn
As the high street continues to struggle during the economic downturn, one Lancashire shopping and lifestyle destination, Backridge Farm in Waddington, Clitheroe is bucking the trend with many businesses reporting an increase in turnover compared to this time last year.
Businesses such as fine fragrance candle manufacturers Melt and P&J Palmer Hair Salon have seen an increase in turnover of 30% compared to last year, whilst Wish Gifts has seen a 12% increase.
Commenting on the successful start to the year Richard Drinkall, owner of Backridge Farm, which is located near Waddington said, “It’s fantastic that businesses here are doing so well and it just goes to show that the unique shopping experience that we offer here is successfully competing against the high street.”
With 23 businesses operating from the farm, the destination is building on the successful opening of Taste delicatessen and café last September, with plans this year to develop another redundant barn into additional retail premises.
Commenting Cheryl Hook, director of Melt said, “There's no doubt that retail is experiencing a particularly tricky time at present, but there is still the opportunity for businesses to press on, evolve and do well; playing safe will not necessarily keep you safe.
“You have to stay innovative, with the emphasis on unusual and beautiful products that exceed expectations; dumbing down your product range means that you are, in effect, deserting your customers and their wishes, and they will simply find somewhere else to shop.”
Siobhan Howell, director of Wish Gifts puts her success down to increasing her ranges and offering products that aren’t sold anywhere else locally. She says, “Originally we just concentrated on the baby and toddler market, but now that we’re more established we’ve extended our wooden toys and gifts to appeal to older children so our customers can shop with us as their children grow.”
Paul Palmer of P&J Palmer Hair Salon said, “Our continued focus on providing excellence in customer service as well as new and innovative experiences such as the introduction of our own branded hair care range has contributed to our success this year; and with ample free parking, beautiful surroundings we’re not at all surprised that customers keep coming back again and again.”
Protouch As The Official Supplier Of Internet Kiosks At Screen Expo
Protouch is to be the official supplier of show internet kiosks at the 2009 Screen Expo Europe in London.
Held at the National Hall, Olympia, the event will see Protouch allow visitors full access to the internet over the two-day event, as well as being able to try out a wide range of its products including the award winning EPoS Xen X5 Kiosk.
Protouch’s Marketing Manager, Amanda Wallace said, “The idea behind the hub is to give visitors a greater show and product experience of instantly being able to apply what they’re doing to their own business needs.”
Protouch will be showcasing its products alongside its internet hub at stand, F11.
As well as the winning EPoS Xen X5 kiosk products include Full HD large format screens and the newly released Xen X4 which is the wall version of the Xen X5 and the new sales buddy.
Our award winning X5 is the star of the Xen kiosks after winning the Retail Systems Awards 2008 EPoS innovation of the year. Its smart blend of form, function and price has provided a leader for the EPoS market and shows the way for evolving retail environments.
Designed for easy upgrading and available with a number of additional options it doesn’t stop as an EPoS unit though; many additional features can be added to the X5 to turn it into a ticket collection, customer loyalty or a home delivery system. And, with its extended back the internal parts can be fitted without it losing its slim profile.
Its steel, strong body and vandal resistant powder coat finish are scratch resistant and easy to clean. It can be branded with a customised vinyl logo or full colour graphic covering front and/or back and additionally finished to specific RAL colour. And, if the kiosk has no permanent location you can use its custom-made flight case to transport to its next spot.
The Xen X4 is a wall mountable version of the award winning Xen X5 kiosk.
The design of the Xen X4 fits conveniently against an indoor wall or can be neatly mounted onto a custom made floor stand.
The Xen X4 can be manipulated for all business matters, including adding chip and pin and receipt printer making it ideal for busy retail environments such as cinemas or train stations. Alternatively, it can also be used as an information point either wall or floor mounted to maintain a uniform feel within a client’s environment.
The Sales buddy is a convenient and reliable information tool for retail and hospitality environments that delivers outstanding performance at a greener and cheaper price.
Acting as an interactive information point it can offer extra guidance to both staff and customers seeking advice on products and can be located anywhere via its flexible stand or a wall mount arm. It can also enhance in-store service further by adding accessories to transform it into an EPoS point.
HD Infra-red touch screen
This touch screen device is outstanding as an interactive public display for a variety of information, imagery and pictures across a wide range of business sectors.
Its 50” high definition plasma monitor, with an infra-red, super clear touch screen allows clients to show off their products at their best.
With high brightness and contrast ratio, the screen imagery looks stunning used in retail, museums, galleries and corporate receptions
The event
The Screen Expo event will take place on the 7th-8th April, and is expected to see around 130 exhibitors, over 4000 visitors from over 50 countries.
The event will also focus on other variations of the digital age such as hardware, software, measurement systems, such as audience tracking devices, technology solutions, self service systems, network owners and content professionals.
The show will benefit a variety of business sectors including retailers, leisure and hospitality businesses, consumer brand advertisers, public sector etc.
Protouch’s stand is open to all who are interested in making use of the growing advantages of interaction through touch screens and kiosks. This event is one of the best ways for people to interact and meet a variety of people across the industry.
Redundancies The Healthy Choice
Redundancies; Adopt the healthy choice to help harness talent
Having analysed the scenario from every angle and now found that redundancies are the only way to keep the business moving forward. Here are six tips on outplacement, fulfilling the healthy alternative but with the added benefit of discovering new talent in your own back yard. Dawn Bailey of OsCar has many years experience in working with businesses to ensure that they derive the full benefit when they are faced with making staff redundant. Here she shares some of that experience to prepare your business for the future.
Check that the HR department have current experience of handling redundancy and change.
If not, then get help now. A professional can train your people and it will pay dividends in future productivity. Now is the time to roll your sleeves up and get involved to benefit those ‘at risk’, i.e. those singled out for a decision whether they stay or have to go. Beware the disaffected employees and those wanting to cash in on potential turmoil – nip it in the bud by knowing the law and move on – do not ask line managers to handle these people; this is where your professionalism counts most in saving the future of the business.
Do you have good measurable Outplacement service in place?
Your chosen Outplacement Provider should be on site when the announcement is made. When the news is delivered it will soften the blow if an independent professional is waiting in the wings and your people know that help is available. If this process is handled well it will reassure those not affected by knowing that the company cares about all employees. This is crucial to your employee retention and enables the company to be in a leaner and healthier state to face the future and avoid a repetition of the process later. There are free Outplacement services available but be sure that you don’t mistake “free” for worthwhile, we all know the adage about a free lunch.
Remember that you have already invested time and money on recruitment and training.
Galvanise those left behind to really get behind the company. If you have a number of people applying for remaining positions give them the same help you have provided to the redundant employees. A good outplacement company will have specialist coaches for just this sort of scenario and will enable you to select the best candidates to motivate and establish loyalty.
Harness the talent in the building.
Share as many objectives and long term plans of the organisation after the restructuring that you can; you will be pleasantly surprised who comes out of the shadows with good ideas and untapped talent. HR should adjust their strategy if past focus has been on recruiting; now it is all about talent spotting, development and retention. Think rewards and benefits and you will get high performance and fulfilment.
Focus on the real business needs because this is an opportunity for HR to shine.
Over the last few years and not a moment too soon, HR consultancy has finally got its feet under the table. Enlightened organisations have allowed their HR departments to have a real strategic role – it is now the time for HR to follow through and add real weight to the Board Room. This might involve bringing long term plans forward and being willing to adapt and work hand in glove with those departments once seen as ‘the enemy’ like finance. After all you all want the same result; a well motivated and happy workforce.
Contact Info: Dawn Bailey is the Senior Partner in OsCar HR Systems, based in Hampshire but operating throughout the UK and Europe helping businesses with unique Outplacement and Staff Development Coaching. She can be contacted via http://www.oscar-pbx.com/outplacement.html or by phone at 020 7043 1636.
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