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By admin, on February 18th, 2012
WhichBingo.co.uk, the UK’s longest running online bingo portal, has scooped a second prestigious bingo industry award following a successful 2011. After being awarded with the EGR award for best Gaming Review Site, they have gone on to win the iGB award for Best Bingo Affiliate.
Online bingo has now established its self as one of the market leading products within the online gaming space. On facebook in particular, Bingo games have gained millions of loyal players, while pay-to-play sites have also flourished.
Unlike at traditional bingo halls, where the crowd is still very much an older, female orientated niche, online bingo websites enjoy a more varied mix of players which includes men and women of all ages.
At the time of writing, over 350 bingo sites can currently be played in the UK alone, with hundreds more available across Europe and North America.
At the start of 2011, Which Bingo redesigned their entire website and have gone from strength to strength. Their business model revolves around getting online bingo players to the most appropriate game for them. The judging panel for the iGB award highlighted that Which Bingo particually stood out for its “vastly improved user experience”, as well as a impressive level of “brand power”.
In an article released on the Which Bingo site, the team stated that they won’t be simply sitting back. New features are planned throughout 2012.
By Alan, on February 14th, 2012
 With so much news and focus around banker’s bonuses in recent weeks, it is interesting to hear how Network Rail bosses have waived their bonuses. The company responsible for most of the railway network throughout Great Britain, except for the London Underground, were expecting to pay out bonuses to six of their most senior executives.
For example, the CEO, Sir David Higgins, was due a bonus of more than £300,000 on top of his £500,000 salary but he, along with five colleagues, has voted to waive the bonus. Altogether their bonuses would have totalled £15.6 million. The money will instead be invested in safety systems to improve the network.
The Government has no authority to curb ‘incentive payments’ but the secretary of transport, Justine Greening, has confirmed that she will vote against the bonus package at the AGM for Network Rail on Friday. Despite the fact that the state provide £4 billion a year to the rail company, it has little power over the spending.
However, Network Rail has submitted to public pressure, and followed the example set by Stephen Hester, the CEO of RBS, and forgone their business bonuses. They are still entitled to their six figure salaries and other long-term investments.
With the recent remuneration row, the bonuses will be donated to a fund to improve rail safety. This will help to prevent problems in the future. Just last week, Network Rail was found guilty of breaching health and safety that led to two teenage girls being killed at a level crossing back in 2005.
The shadow transport secretary also felt that Network Rail are doing the right thing. Maria Eagle said that the senior management were making the right move in forgoing the bonus. With so many families in the UK struggling financially, and fares for people riding the trains going up by close to 15%, the rail company needs to do its share to improve the network.
The Labour party has been opposing the bonus proposals across the country, with Network Rail and RBS being some of the most public. They suggest that the timing of the proposals has been awful, and that they should never have even been considered, much less agreed upon.
Greening has proposed that in order to prevent similar problems appearing in the future, she was planning to appoint a special director to the national rail board whose job it would be to reflect the interest of the taxpayers who pay for the company. This would have prevented this particular bonus package from having been agreed in the first place, and stopped the company from having so much negative attention drawn to it.
It hasn’t all been bad at Network Rail however. Last year they managed to get 91.1% of trains to arrive at their destinations in time, with the London Overground service leading the way with 96.2% success. More good news in 2012 will keep Network Rail in the spotlight for the right reasons.
By Alan, on February 10th, 2012
 Trucking company Stobart has suffered a 1% fall in its share price after a recent stock market announcement concerning a property deal. Shares in the firm, owners of the iconic green and white Eddie Stobart lorries which are such a common sight on Britain’s roads, are down almost 1.5p at 121.1p after bosses revealed that the company plans to make some major property acquisitions in the coming weeks.
Stobart is planning to pay almost £101 million, which includes £88 million of debt, to WADI Properties for a series of residential, commercial and industrial properties around the UK. The transaction has to be cleared by shareholders as the owners of WADI properties are Stobart’s own chief executive Andrew Tinkler and the company’s chief operating officer William Stobart. An independent real estate agent valued the properties acquired by Stobart in the deal at almost £99 million.
Stobart first announced the deal almost a year ago, meaning any shareholders with a problem have had ten months to register their disapproval. However, a special meeting has to be held before the deal can go through, and if there are enough shareholders opposed to the purchase then Stobart will have to abandon its planned acquisitions.
Tinkler and Stobart have sold assets to the parent company on a previous occasion with no problems from shareholders; the duo sold Carlisle airport to Stobart two years ago, adding to the company’s existing aviation interests in Southend. Southend Airport is due to reopen later this month, with the first Easyjet flights from the new destination taking off in April.
Investment expert Jonathan Jackson, of stockbroking firm Killik & Co, said that while the market was naturally suspicious of any deals which companies agreed with internal figures, Stobart has spent a great deal of time on the due diligence process to ensure that everything is above board.
He added that the deal also ensures that all of Andrew Tinkler and William Stobart’s external business ventures are now under the control of the larger Stobart group.
By admin, on February 8th, 2012
 A steel firm has been prosecuted by the medical solicitors Health and Safety Executive, following an accident involving one of its workers.
On the 11th September 2009, a 41-year-old worker, whose name has not been made public, was carrying out his duties at a steel plant in Cardiff when the accident at work occurred. The worker was in the process of measuring solid hot steel stock in the factory’s section mill when his right hand became trapped in a machine’s rollers.
The worker sustained serious injuries in the accident, suffering severe burns and losing two fingers. Despite the severity of his injuries, the worker has returned to his place of work following a period of recovery.
Celsa Manufacturing (UK) Limited, a steel firm based in Cardiff, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court to plead guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”
Health and Safety Executive inspectors investigated the accident and found that Celsa Manufacturing (UK) Limited had not implemented a safe system of work for handling hot material.
Personal injury lawyers involving accidents in Britain’s steel industry are relatively common. Alongside construction, manufacturing and agriculture, the steel industry is one of the country’s most dangerous sectors in which to work. Notwithstanding the inherent risks of working in the steel industry, workers ought to expect a reasonably good level of safety at work. Employers in high-risk environments must carry out thorough risk assessments of all tasks, with a view to implementing measures designed to mitigate hazards. In the present case, Celsa Manufacturing (UK) Limited did not adequately implement such measures.
Speaking after the court hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector, Steve Curry, expressed his dismay that basic safety errors resulted in a worker’s permanent disability and disfigurement.
Mr Curry said: “Had Celsa ensured correct and safe working practices, the serious injuries suffered by this employee may have been avoided. This was a completely unnecessary incident. There were alternative measures the company could have used for this task.
“At the time of the incident, this method of measuring steel product was a recognised practice within company procedures. This has since been changed so as not to require close approach by employees, however it has come a little too late for one worker.”
By admin, on February 7th, 2012
 If you need to go anywhere on business, you may be tempted to try and arrange everything yourself. This approach will not only cost you time, but it may also work out more expensive.
In addition, business travel agents can add value to your trip in a number of different ways, such as those listed below.
When you’re in a foreign country and something goes wrong such as losing your flight tickets or having your passport stolen, having someone to turn to for help can be invaluable.
Many business travel services include round-the-clock assistance which can provide you with much needed peace of mind. The convenience of being able to make one phone call and get everything sorted out quickly will help your trip run more smoothly.
- Access to airport lounges
When you’re waiting for an international flight to depart, it’s beneficial to be somewhere a bit quieter and more comfortable than the main departure lounge.
Business travel agents should be able to get you access to executive airport lounges, so you can either relax, or get on with some work without interruptions.
Another thing provided by many business travel services companies is chauffeur parking at the airport. Depending on where you’re flying from, you may want to leave your vehicle in one of the car parks away from the main terminal building.
When you arrive at the airport, someone can take your vehicle to where it’s been booked in, so you have more time to prepare for your business trip. On your return, your car will be brought back for you to a convenient place so you can get on your way without any inconvenience.
- Up-to-date news for your destination
Travel advice can change for specific destinations quite quickly depending on a number of factors. Business travel agents can keep you up to speed with anything you need to know regarding flight times, weather warnings etc which will save you a lot of time looking these things up yourself.
- Visa and vaccination advice
Business travel agents should also be able to give you up-to-date and relevant advice on any visa and vaccination requirements for the country you’re planning to visit.
Again, this can save you a lot of time looking up the information yourself, and ensure everything is done in plenty of time for your business trip.
Author Bio: The Co-operative Travel Management http://www.co-operativetm.co.uk/ provides a wealth of business travel services. Their experienced business travel agents will ensure your trip runs without a hitch.
By admin, on February 7th, 2012
 Getting your own travel agency business up and running is an achievement, but how can you make sure it’s successful?
There are too many things to describe fully in this article, but below are five areas you can focus on to become a successful travel agent, either as an independent or franchisee.
- Get to know your target market inside out
If your travel agency business deals with a specific niche, it pays to find out as much as you possibly can about your market.
Thanks to email marketing and social media, it’s easier for a travel agent to learn more about their target market and tailor their services accordingly.
- Don’t get caught up in price wars
Protecting your profit margin is crucial if you’re going to be a long term success in the travel agency business. There’s little point in discounting your prices so that you’re barely able to make a living.
If you’re a fully independent travel agent, the chances are you just won’t be able to match the prices on offer from the bigger players in the market. One way to combat this is to add value to your clients’ experience so they’ll be happy to pay a bit extra for a more personal service.
- Have a clear marketing plan
Before you launch your travel agency business, you should already have a clear idea of what marketing channels to focus on.
Are you going to adopt an online approach? Perhaps use local press advertising, or a mixture of both?
However you market yourself as a travel agent, you need to have mechanism in place to be able to track your return on investment. By doing this you can concentrate on the most profitable channels and make more money.
- Follow up every single enquiry
When you’re running your travel agency business, every phone call and email can be a source of income. If you’re not able to get a booking right away, you should follow up every enquiry after a day or so, to see if the person has made a decision yet.
When you’re in business for yourself, you need to be proactive. It may be time consuming initially, but once you’re more experienced, you will gain an instinct for telling the serious enquiries from the time wasters and be able to act accordingly.
Author Bio: If you’re interested in running a travel agency business with the backing of a household name, the Freedom Travel Group http://www.freedomtravelgroup.co.uk/ are looking for franchisees and have the buying power of the Co-operative Travel behind them to help you work from home successfully.
By Alan, on February 4th, 2012
 2011 was a very good year . . . for fraudsters. The annual report from accounting firm KPMG says that fraud in the UK was up by 150% over 2010, with over 70% of cases reported in the second half of the year. KPMG’s Fraud Barometer, which has been monitoring scams for 25 years, came up with that startling statistic as a result of the recorded number of cases of alleged fraud involving businesses and private citizens.
Between July and December, the Barometer found cases of fraud amounting to £2.5 billion, including five cases that involved more than £50 million each. All told, 2011 has the dubious honour of being the worst year for fraud theUKhas ever seen, with a total of approximately £3.5 billion; about 75% of that amount was allegedly perpetrated by the management of the defrauded companies.
The report noted that although the number of cases of management fraud was about the same as the previous year, the amount came to £729 million, as opposed to £420 million in 2010. KPMG forensic partner Hitesh Patel said that he had never seen such a high level of management fraud in all his time with the firm. Patel said the explanation involves several factors, but economic uncertainty is the basic underlying cause.
Both government austerity measures and operational changes have uncovered more of the scams that are being run, through the use of improved security and more intense scrutiny. At the same time, the economic downturn has been a catalyst for increased fraud, as individuals and companies look for ways to boost their income – or just to survive.
However, the large majority of reported fraud is down to professionals criminals – those who use their knowledge of advanced technology for personal profit with no regard for the businesses and individuals who suffer the consequences.
By Alan, on February 4th, 2012
 It is expected that water bills are going to rise in the UK from April, and this rise is expected to be around £20. The average household water bill in the UK is currently around £350 and a £20 increase marks an increase of about six percent. It is expected that the increase is due to inflation adjustment as well as the water companies planning to invest a large amount in infrastructure over the next few years.
Ofwat, the regulator, stated that the rise would have been higher if they had not intervened with water companies and insisted that the price is not increased so much. Because of the regulator’s actions the bill increases are going to remain mostly in line with inflation rates until 2015.
Wessex Water is one of many companies that are increasing the water bill and they have said that the increased bill is simply due to inflation rates. The Chief Executive of Ofwat is Regina Finn who has commented, “We decided the limits on the prices the water companies could increase their rates because customers were demanding it. We want water bills to be down but we also understand some increases are necessary so that water supplies can remain reliable and safe.”
Whether the water charges are going to impact you will depends on which company supplies water. It will also depend on whether you have a water meter or you are on a fixed rate. Ofwat have also commented, “The money that is going to be generated through this increase in prices is going to be used to create significant improvements to the water system in the UK.
This will allow water companies to continue to provide a consistent supply of drinking water into people’s homes through investment in new pipelines and other important infrastructure.”
By Alan, on January 27th, 2012
 A report from a government think-tank has warned that the gap between Britain’s richest and poorest cities could be set to widen during 2012. The Centre for Cities has named its five most prosperous cities for the year ahead, as well as the five that face the most problems with issues such as employment and deprivation.
Experts such as Alexandra Jones, chief executive of the influential think-tank, says that cities with a higher number of skilled, professional workers, including employees in businesses such as law, accountancy and the finance sector in general, will do better than those communities which rely on industry for their economic success.
Jones added that while many of the poorest cities were the hardest hit by the recent financial crisis and will be the worst off if the economy fails to recover, those which have managed to maintain good levels of employment are best placed to survive any further problems they might face in 2012.
Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and, unsurprisingly, London were named as the five cities likely to be a success over the next 12 months, with Newport, Swansea, Sunderland Rochdale and Hull the five communities which are expected to struggle the most economically.
Already there are signs that the wealthier cities are pulling ahead of their less well-off counterparts in terms of the number of people claiming benefits in the different areas. For example, even at the start of 2012, Rochdale has six times as many people claiming benefits than Cambridge.
By Alan, on January 26th, 2012
A brand new website has been developed that matches the latest research from some of the South East’s leading institutions with potential investors and businesses. This new collaboration between 5 of the leading research institutions in the south east has just been launched, and can be found at www.southeastip.co.uk. This brings together all the latest research across the south east and investors can find this using a simple search format.
This service has come into being with the sole aim of helping investors and businesses to easily find the latest technologies that they need to help their businesses grow. It is also the ideal way for the researchers to market their new idea. The UK Intellectual Property Office gave the collaboration an initial funding of £75,000 so the site can accelerate the exploitation of innovation within the south east.
The website aims to accomplish this by providing a one stop shop for companies and investors who are looking for specific technologies, as well as providing a service that will assist the participating institutions to source the specific equipment and expertise they need from the other institutions that are part of the network. It will also encourage further collaborations and joint funding applications.
The IP partners in the south east are the National Physical Laboratory, the universities of Reading, Surrey and Sussex and London’s Royal Holloway University. These 5 institutions represent a major portion of the research taking place in the south east. For the first time, investors can now get up to date information on the latest research from each institution all in one place.
This service’s launch marks the start of an intensive collaboration between universities and research establishments in the region and has given them more effective routes through which to market their research. The intellectual property officer for the university of Surrey is David McCallum, and he says that for the first time, the details of new technologies and techniques from the top institutions can all be found in one place.
He went onto say that they were also in a form that enables businesses and investors to find exactly what they are looking for and this is a huge step forward for the whole region as matching the south east’s technological research with investors is very exciting.
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