James Caan explains the benefits of virtual offices
June 30, 2008
In an interview with the Times Online, James Caan of Dragon’s Den fame explains how virtual offices have helped him establish more successful businesses in the UK.
James explains that he established 10 virtual offices in different parts of the UK, which helped him save money.
As an investor in numerous businesses, I am able to use technology to increase the cost-effective opportunities. To help one recent acquisition secure customers all over the country, I established 10 virtual offices in leading cities across the land.
This allowed James to operate in the locations without the expense of hiring staff and renting property. He is very glowing about the use of a virtual office, which he says allows you have a very high profile address without the expense of a city centre location.
Today the use of virtual office facilities – a prestigious address with a mail-forwarding service and exclusive telephone number with call/message forwarding provided by a dedicated team – has created an immediate national presence without high overheads.
To read the full interview with James you can visit the Times Online website.
Microsoft bides adieu to Bill Gates, reluctantly
June 30, 2008
Undoubtedly, the most respected techie, who started Microsoft, 33 years ago, called it a day on Friday (June 27). Bill Gates started the venture with a distinctive belief that personal computers will be an integral part of every day life. Today billions of computer users are ample proof of his unique foresight and dream that turned into a reality.
Bill Gates, who at the age of about 19, ventured out to create history, created the world’s largest software company, Microsoft. He is resigning the Chairmanship of the company, but will continue as non-executive chairman, putting in about one day a week at Microsoft. Personalities like him can never pass time idling. The rest of his time will be devoted to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, unarguably the wealthiest charity in the world.
The foundation is engaged in improving healthcare around the world and at the same time aiming at reducing extreme poverty globally. Billions will be transferred and added to the existing endowment of about $38.7 billions, as legendary investor Warren Buffet, the world’s richest man, will soon be transferring most of his personal wealth to the foundation.
Visionaries like Bill Gates will always find a permanent place in the hearts of the computer users and hardcore techies for a long time.
Plan for eco-towns met with opposition
June 29, 2008
Campaigners from nearly 15 sites in England, which have been earmarked for ‘eco-towns’, are to raise their voice of protest outside Parliament. The groups include local authorities and some pressure groups. They will hand in their feedback to the first round of heated public consultation. The developments come as environmental campaigners are set to call on ministers to ‘return to the drawing board’ on the plans.
Meanwhile, the government is to begin the next round of consultation. It hopes to build 10 of the 15 planned eco-towns by 2020. They are meant to mark new, exemplary green standards in house building. The 15 shortlisted schemes comprise sites in Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire.
The concerns that the conservation charity has raised about the proposed developments are:
1. The schemes risk becoming ‘car-dependent’ housing estates.
2. Most are in greenfield sites; two are in the Green Belt.
3. Most schemes go against local plans that have been agreed with communities
4. Lack of evidence to believe that schemes will provide really sustainable models of working and living.
Financial Sector Is A Boom Industry
June 27, 2008
When working in the financial industry, there is always the matter of regulation and compliance to keep up with. Most areas of the financial sector are governed by the FSA (Financial Services Authority) and if you wish to work in the financial sector, especially in an advisory capacity, such as working as a mortgage advisor or financial advisor, then there are legal requirements about the qualifications you must hold.
Mortgage advisors in the UK must have a particular level of qualification and 80 per cent of mortgage advisors hold the CeMAP qualification (Certificate of Mortgage Advice Practice). Financial advisors must hold their CeFA qualification (Certificate in Financial Advice).
At times like these with property prices fairly stagnant and mortgages becoming more difficult to attain, you might think the financial sector is suffering but apparently not so. This seems to be because when times are good, people want to spend or invest and so demand for mortgage advisors and financial advisors are high. When times are bad, people need to make the most of what they have, so again, they need mortgage advisors and financial advisors.
Beacon Financial Training is a specialist financial training company, who run CeMAP training courses in Manchester, Leeds, London, Liverpool, Birmingham and more. Indeed, they are overrun and are adding more locations all the time. They also run CeMAP training in Scotland and are currently the only national training company to offer CeMAP courses tailored specifically for Scottish Law – an important factor if you want to train to work as a mortgage advisor in Scotland.
They also offer Equity Release training (a specialist branch of mortgage advice), will writing and now CeFA courses too for delegates who wish to become a financial advisor. They work for several national mortgage companies, who outsource all their training to them.
It certainly seems that all factors point towards the financial sector being a real boom industry and seemingly recession-proof.
NHS computer specialists approve RFIDs despite a negative research
June 26, 2008
Lifesaving equipment in hospitals may get switched off by radio-frequency devices (RFIDs) used for tracking people and machines, according to a new research. Radio frequency identification devices are increasingly being used in healthcare to help identify patients, and also to reveal the location of equipment. The new study has concluded that RFIDs may interfere with machines.
The latest research tested the effect of holding both powered and ‘passive’ RFIDs close to 41 medical devices, comprising ventilators, dialysis machines, pacemakers and syringe pumps.
However, NHS computer specialists state that RFIDs would only make patients safer. There are two RFID types, one that transmits information, whereas another is a ‘passive’ device that can be ‘read’ by a powered machine (when held nearby). They are cheap and small enough to be in everyday usage, in virtually everything.
At Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital, patients heading for the operating theatre are given an RFID wristband. So even when anaesthetised, their identity can be downloaded into a nearby PDA.
Heathrow expansion plans face hurdles
June 25, 2008
Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, is so jam-packed that it urgently needs a third runway for it to remain competitive globally, according to BAA, the head of its operator.
Colin Matthews, in an aviation conference speech, is also to reject a call for cutting the number of transfer passengers. BAA’s new chief executive contends that the new capacity at Heathrow is needed in order to maintain its role. He told BBC News: “If we do not have transfer traffic, we cannot fulfil that role.” A government decision on whether to make further moves on a third runway is likely later this year. Environmentalists are strongly opposed to the idea.
BAA is also likely to face the Competition Commission ruling regarding its ownership of London’s three largest airports. There is speculation that BAA might be asked to sell off one of them for improving choice for travellers. Mr Matthews, while speaking to the BBC, claimed the Commission inquiry was on the wrong issue. He said: “The right issue to focus is the provision of ‘the right capacity at the right time’. Changing the ownership structure could only delay this country – facing up to those difficult questions of putting in (place) the right capacity at the right time.”
An obesity drug approval sparks a debate
June 25, 2008
An obesity drug has been given an approval for NHS usage in England and Wales, in spite of probable linkages to a greater risk of depression and suicidal tendencies. Rimonabant is already being used by thousands of people in the UK. Coupled with exercise, it could help a patient lose up to 10 per cent of his or her body weight. Scotland is yet to approve the drug owing to safety concerns.
An obesity specialist welcomed the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) ruling. Dr David Haslam of the National Obesity Forum stated: “We can be reassured that they have closely looked at the evidence and have made an appropriate decision. This is a very good drug. There are many people who have tried everything else, with little success, who might gain from it.”
Professor the UK Faculty for Public Health president, Alan Alan Maryon-Davis countered: “These drugs may be right for some patients, but they are not really the long-term solution. They may have some potentially serious side-effects. Ultimately the solution has to be, eat a little less and move a little more.”
Zimbabwe to be banned from the Twenty20 WC and one-day internationals in the UK
June 24, 2008
The UK government is all set to ban cricket team of Zimbabwe from touring the country on moral grounds next year. Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, will give a letter in this regard to the Cricket Board of England and Wales. The letter will spell out Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s stance on this issue.
The UK government wants to make sure that Zimbabwe is not allowed to feature in the Twenty20 World Cup or one-day internationals in the country next summer. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is to discuss next week a possible world ban. Zimbabwe team is scheduled to feature in three one-day internationals and two Tests in England before taking part the Twenty20 World Cup. But now it seems unlikely!
The government had been involved in intense discussions with the ECB over the volatile situation in Zimbabwe. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s withdrawal from Zimbabwe’s general election coupled with media reports of social unrest seems to have spurred the UK government into action.
In Britain, procuring a pill is just a click away
June 23, 2008
It is for the first time, women in Britain will be able to avoid seeing medics for their contraceptive pill requirements. The contraceptive pill can be legally obtained via website DrThom. The medical website offers three month’s supply for mere $29.99 under a unique service launched by DrThom.
It is a simple procedure that needs to be followed. Initially, women already on the contraceptive pill will be benefited by the scheme and soon those who have never taken a pill before, will draw the benefit of the service. Doctor Thomas Van elaborated to say: “The aim of our new contraceptive service is to make it easier and more convenient for women throughout the UK to get access to the Pill. Our specialised service is ideal for women who live a long way from the GP-family doctor, or due to some preoccupation face difficulty in meeting the doctor.”
Even though the eligibility age is 16 yaers in England, Scotland and Wales and seventeen in Northern Ireland, DrThom will be prescribing only to women of 18 and above 18 years. So, please do not take undue advantage by misquoting you age, he pleads.
New proposals to tackle floods
June 23, 2008
Flood defence needs to be taken and tackled more seriously, mentions the official report on flooding of last summer. Sir Michael Pitt’s independent review will contain over 70 proposals. Some of them are:
1. Local authorities should conceive a definitive map of drainage ditches, streams in their area. They should clearly spell out responsibility for maintenance.
2. A nerve centre should be formed jointly by the Environment Agency and the Met Office. The two agencies will pool data and give more precise flood warnings.
3. New building regulations for flood-prone areas need to be introduced, including recommendation of proper construction materials as well as drainage systems.
4. A greater onus should be put on utility firms for protecting key infrastructure sites.
According to Sir Michael, some had previously been very secretive about their sites. He stated most of the recommendations could easily be achieved within the existing £800m yearly flood defence budget of the government for 2010 to 2011. He added: “Implementing the recommendations will require powerful, Cabinet-level leadership. Also, we can get much better prepared. In fact, we are already better prepared now than last year.”
