SUFFOLK EMPLOYEE NAMED AS EAST ANGLIA’S YOUNG COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR

21 December 2009: Suffolk has notched up another first, with Helen Sharkey, an employee at PR agency Project PR being named as East Anglia’s ‘Young Communicator of the Year’ for 2009 by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Helen, who is 26 and from Felixstowe, was nominated for the award by her bosses at Project PR and her entry was endorsed by some of her clients, including East of England Regional Assembly (EERA). The judging process included a panel interview with three of the region’s most experienced PR experts, beating off stiff competition from five other finalists to scoop the top prize.

Judges selected Helen for her maturity and confidence as an excellent PR Account Manager. They said: “We were very impressed with Helen’s enthusiasm, attention to detail, passion for making a difference, desire to deliver the best possible results for her clients and breadth of work. She is without doubt a first class strategic thinker and an outstanding team player.”

Penny Arbuthnot, Director of Project PR added: “Helen’s results have been remarkable, yet she constantly strives for further improvement with each client, analysing and forward planning and using her excellent writing and media skills to best advantage. Helen is an outstanding young communicator on every front and we are thrilled she has won this award.”

Helen added: “I am shocked but excited and proud to have won the award which tops off what has been a great year for me. I really enjoy what I do, I have some great clients and am lucky to have a great team to work with at Project PR.”

Helen began her PR career working for Hutchison Ports UK as Corporate Affairs Officer based at the Port of Felixstowe. She joined Project PR in 2008 and has since been promoted to Account Manager. Her award was presented by Chartered Institute of Public Relations President Kevin Taylor on 7th December at the SAS Radisson hotel at Stansted. Over 120 PR practitioners from around the region attended the ceremony.

See www.projectpr.biz for further information about Project PR.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Helen Sharkey or Penny Arbuthnot at Project PR on 01473 326 401 (07885 238374)

Notes to Editors

1. Project PR and Marketing Ltd is based at: The Coach House, Reed Hall, Ipswich Road, Holbrook, Ipswich IP9 2QR. See www.projectpr.biz

2. The company was established in 1996 by Penny Arbuthnot and has grown to be a leading PR agency in the region now employing 6 staff.

3. In the 2009 CIPR Pride Awards for East Anglia Project PR won four Gold awards for Best Not-for-profit campaign (TBG Learning); Best Consumer Campaign (Ford Retail), Best Use of Social Media (Buster brand/National Plughole Week) and Best Young Communicator (Helen Sharkey). It also won two Silver awards for ‘Consultancy of the Year’ and ‘Best Use of Media Relations (Buster brand/National Plughole Week) .

4. In the 2007 Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride awards Project PR won ‘Outstanding Small Consultancy’. It also won three further Gold awards for Consumer Relations (PR for the Ford Retail group of 55 dealerships); Best Website (for the Team Ipswich website) and Integrated Communications (a joint entry with Suffolk manufacturer Challs International).

5. Project PR works with a mix of private and public sector organisations handling local and national PR and marketing programmes.

Suffolk PR firm donates services to charity

Suffolk PR consultancy Project PR has adopted Ipswich Town Community Trust as its charity for 2010. The company will be donating its PR and media relations services to help build understanding of the Trust’s wide ranging work.

Penny Arbuthnot, Director of Project PR, says: “What struck me about the Community Trust is that it is carrying out some inspirational educational work with children and young people, although it’s currently known mainly for its soccer courses through the Ipswich Town link. As a company we like to put something back into our community and we’re delighted to help by giving our PR services to the Trust in 2010.”

Terry Baxter, Chief Executive, Ipswich Town Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to be offered this support by Penny and the team at Project PR who bring PR expertise and valuable extra resource. It’s given us a fantastic boost to our plans for 2010.”

Project PR will be helping to re-launch the Community Trust to the public, business, schools and the media. As well as free PR support it has donated £350 in cash in place of sending Christmas Cards to clients this year.

Ipswich Town Community Trust was established by Ipswich Town Football Club in 1996 to provide football in the community but since then has developed a much wider role. Over the past year more than 60,000 people have taken part in activities, which aim to raise achievement levels and promote active and healthy lifestyles, primarily through the medium of sport.

Project PR is one of East Anglia’s leading PR agencies and won four Gold and two Silver Awards in the 2009 Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride Awards for East Anglia – more than any other PR agency or organisation in the region. See www.projectpr.biz

SUFFOLK PR FIRM WINS QUADRUPLE GOLD

10 December 2009: Suffolk PR agency Project PR flew the flag for Suffolk when it won four Gold and two Silver awards in the annual Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) East Anglia PRide Awards for 2009, held on 7th December at the SAS Radisson Hotel in Stansted. The team of six won more awards than any of the other 24 PR agencies and in-house PR teams from around the East Anglia region who were finalists.

Project PR won Gold, the top award, for three specific categories: Not for Profit (PR for national skills provider TBG Learning), Consumer Relations (PR for Ford Retail’s 40 dealerships around the UK) and Best Use of Social Media (for Suffolk manufacturer Challs International and their Buster brand of plughole care products).

The fourth Gold was awarded to Project PR’s Account Manager Helen Sharkey, who won ‘Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year’, beating off stiff competition from five other young PR professionals from across East Anglia who had been shortlisted for the award.

The culmination of the evening was the presentation of the ‘Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy’ Award for the top PR agency in the region, with Project PR winning Silver. The company also won Silver for Best Use of Media Relations (for the Buster brand PR campaign).

“Our success is testament to the great team here at Project PR. Two years ago we won ‘Outstanding Small Consultancy’ and we have achieved even more since then. We are continually developing our business and we very much look forward to further success with our clients in 2010,” said Penny Arbuthnot, director at Project PR.

During 2009 Project PR won several high profile new clients, including Ipswich Building Society, East of England International and Christies Care. The agency has built its success on providing a highly proactive and strategic approach to PR and has established many long term relationships with national and locally based clients including Ford Retail, Havebury Housing Partnership, and the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA).

The CIPR Awards showcase the best PR work being carried out across the UK outside of London. There are 24 award categories and the judging process is rigorous, with a national panel of industry experts who asses the shortlisted entries and choose the winners.

This year the PRide Awards attracted a total of 1,448 entries from across the UK.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Penny Arbuthnot at Project PR on 01473 326 401 (07885 238374)

Note to editors:

Project PR and Marketing Ltd is based at: The Coach House, Reed Hall, Ipswich Road, Holbrook, Ipswich IP9 2QR. See http://www.projectpr.biz/

The company was established in 1996 by Penny Arbuthnot and has grown to be a leading PR agency in the region now employing 6 staff.

Project PR won the special award for Outstanding Small Consultancy in the 2007 Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride awards. It also won three further Gold awards for Consumer Relations (PR for the Ford Retail group of 55 dealerships); Best Website (for the Team Ipswich website) and Integrated Communications (a joint entry with Suffolk manufacturer Challs International).

Project PR works with a mix of private and public sector organisations handling local and national PR and marketing programmes.

NEW CLUB WILL provide support for local businesses to improve environmental performance

In a bid to help small businesses in the region save money and reduce their environmental impact, Resource Efficiency East (REE) has created the ‘EMS Club’, which will provide companies with practical help and guidance on implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). The aim of an EMS is to help cut waste and reduce the use of water, energy and raw materials, and so making financial savings as a result.
One hundred small companies from across the region will be able to benefit from a series of practical workshops run by the EMS Club from February to November 2010. One-to-one support provided by the club will help participating businesses assess the priority areas within their organisation in which an EMS would provide the best results for cost savings.

The EMS club will be free to eligible businesses in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and the workshops will run at venues spread across the region, making travel times as short as possible.

Antony Gough, Director of Resource Efficiency East, says: “The EMS Club will really benefit smaller companies for whom an Environmental Management System would result in both cost savings and a reduction in their impact on the environment, but who don’t know how to get started. It will be run by experienced professionals who’ll be able to share straightforward and workable ideas.”

To register your interest in the EMS Club visit the Resource Efficiency East website at http://www.resourceefficiencyeast.org.uk/the-ems-club.asp

The EMS Club is part of a programme run by Resource Efficiency East, which has a target to help businesses save £3.5 million and significantly reduce their CO2 emissions by making savings in energy and water usage and diverting waste from landfill. Funding for the programme has come from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the European Regional Development Fund.

-Ends-

For further information please contact Helen Sharkey, Account Manager at Project PR on 01473 326405 or Helen.sharkey@projectpr.biz

Notes to editors:

Background information on Resource Efficiency East
Resource Efficiency East is a £2.1 million co-funded programme that runs until 2011 and is managed by Renewables East. The programme is jointly funded by the East of England Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund to deliver specialist advice, guidance and support on how businesses in the East of England can improve their resource efficiency and realise the business benefits that result.

Resource Efficiency East delivers these services as part of Improving Your Resource Efficiency, one of a suite of publicly funded business support products and services in the Solutions for Business Portfolio; services designed to help businesses start, grow and succeed.

Resource Efficiency East has already provided over 200 companies with a free on-site Business Resource Review that includes a bespoke report and action plan helping to identify opportunities to become more efficient and cut costs through reduced use of water, energy and materials.

The programme aims to help businesses in the East of England save over £3.5 million, whilst significantly reducing CO2 emissions, energy and water usage and diverting waste from landfill.


Background information on Renewables East
Renewables East is a private and not-for-profit company delivering the services associated with being the renewable energy agency for the East of England. The Company is core-funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and officially designated as an EEDA partner organisation. Renewables East’s primary work areas are Bioenergy (Biomass and Biofuels,) Offshore/Onshore Wind, Planning, Supply Chain Development and the on-site renewables agenda. In 2008 Renewables East was given responsibility for the development and delivery of Resource Efficiency East, the East of England’s first region-wide resource efficiency programme for businesses.

Treat your plugholes to a happy Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…….a blocked drain! Thames Water estimates that Christmas leads to a 25% increase in the amount of fat ending up down the drain from turkeys and other rich foods. The water company says that carelessly disposed of fat causes more than 60% of the 70,000 sewer blockages it clears annually.

Make sure your festive celebrations aren’t ruined by a blocked, pongy kitchen sink and treat your plugholes to a Christmas present of their own in the shape of Buster Kitchen Plughole Unblocker! With six doses in a bottle its good value too at £3.29 (RRP) especially when you compare it to the horrid expense of an emergency call out for drain unblocking, costing over £100.

Grease and fat from festive favourites like turkey, roast potatoes and chipolatas solidifies when it hits cold pipes, restricting water flow and making our sinks drain slowly. Independent tests show that Buster Kitchen Plughole Unblocker’s specially formulated granules beat all other leading brands to blast through difficult to shift kitchen blockages – something which bleach and liquid unblockers just can’t do.

The build up of grease also creates the perfect breeding ground for nasty germs such as salmonella, which multiply to cause unpleasant smells. So why not treat your kitchen plughole to a regular sprinkle of Buster Kitchen Plughole & Sink Treatment. Let its effective foaming action work some Christmas magic, cleansing the whole pipe, killing germs and keeping your plughole clear and fresh like a perfect winter’s day!

Buster is stocked in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Wilkinson, Morrisons and independent hardware stores. Visit www.plugholesneedlovetoo.com

Care agency says proposals are a 'stepping stone'

The managing director of a Saxmundham care agency has given a cautious welcome to the proposals in yesterday’s (18th November) Queen’s speech regarding social care.

The Personal Care at Home Bill has proposed to offer free personal care to those with critical needs, such as those with serious dementia or Parkinson’s Disease.

Nicola Warner, managing director of Christies Care, a specialist provider of 24 hour live-in care said: “We welcome this proposal, which levels the playing field between those who prefer care at home and those in a care home who already receive free personal care, paid for by the NHS. With that guarantee of costs being met, we think that thousands of people will be able to stay at home for much longer than before, enjoying their remaining years in the familiar surroundings or their own home”

She continued: “These proposals, although limited to only those with ‘critical’ needs, are a stepping stone to offering elderly people the dignity of remaining in familiar, comfortable surroundings. We support any proposal which highlights the option of live-in care as a genuine alternative to residential or nursing homes.”

Nicola finished by adding; “The current information and advice about how people can receive funding towards their care costs are often confusing. We would welcome clearer guidance for the millions of people needing social care.”

For more information about Christies Care, telephone 0844 477 6460 or visit www.christiescare.com or www.twitter.com/ChristiesCare

Suffolk care agency responds to report by Alzheimer's Society

A leading care agency has responded to a report published today (17th November) by the Alzheimer’s Society, highlighting how poor hospital care can have negative impacts upon those suffering from dementia.

Research undertaken by the Society has shown that the majority of those with dementia leave hospital in a worse state than when they arrive, whilst a third of all patients are discharged to care homes, unable to return to their own homes.

Christies Care, a specialist care agency based in Saxmundham, has responded to the Alzheimer’s Society’s calls for further training for carers, after 77% of carers suggested they were disappointed with the quality of care for their dementia patients.

Nicola Warner, managing director of Christies Care said: “It is frightening that many nurses and carers are not receiving proper guidance and training before working with those suffering from dementia related illnesses. The quality of care plays a big part in how patients respond to treatment, so it is vital that nurses and carers are fully prepared.”

The care agency has also criticised the statistics indicating that 36% of dementia patients are unable to return home after deteriorating in hospital due to poor care. Christies Care has called for a higher awareness of 24 hour live-in care as an alternative to care or residential homes.

Nicola added; “Research has shown that those with dementia need the benefits of familiar surroundings, to prevent the illness worsening. Currently, there is a lack of awareness of the viability of 24hour live-in care, but it is a fantastic alternative to those who wish to remain comfortable in their own home.”

Christies Care currently has over 80 clients, with various stages of dementia related illnesses, who live in their own homes and have a care assistant 24 hours of the day.

Their investment in dementia training for their carers, including introductory and advanced workshops, culminating in an exam externally marked and accredited by The Alzheimer’s Society, has seen them shortlisted for the Training and Development Award at the 2009 Anglian Business Awards.

For more information about Christies Care, telephone 0844 477 6460 or visit www.christiescare.com or www.twitter.com/ChristiesCare

Just one week left to drop off showboxes for 'Operation Christmas Child"!

Car dealerships across the UK are being turned into a Santa’s Grotto in aid of a charitable campaign which sends present-filled shoeboxes to needy children in developing countries.

Polar Ford, Brunel Ford, Heartlands Ford and Dagenham Motors dealerships are all designated drop off points for the 2009 “Operation Christmas Child” shoebox appeal.

The appeal encourages people to send some festive cheer to children less fortunate than most, across the world.Run in conjunction with the Samaritans Purse charity, “Operation Christmas Child” entails filling shoeboxes with toys and gifts to send to children around the world in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods.

A spokesperson for Ford Retail, which owns each of the dealerships, said: “This is the third year that we have taken part in the appeal. Last year the Group collected over 10,000 shoeboxes, each wrapped in Christmas paper and filled with small toys, crayons, clothes and sweets, and this year we are aiming to collect even more. It’s an extremely worthwhile cause and we are looking forward to taking part again this year.”

How to pack your shoebox:
Remember to make your box both fun and educational!
All shoebox items should be new and can contain gifts such as:

Toys: Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, finger puppet, jigsaw, yo-yo, building blocks, small musical instrument. For boys trucks and cars, for girls dolls, clip on earrings etc.

Educational supplies: Felt pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, colouring book, notepad, picture or puzzle book, chalk, pencil case, stickers etc.

Hygiene items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of soap, flannel etc.

Other items: Sweets (sell by date to be at least March of the following year), gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, hat, bangles, necklaces etc.

Shoeboxes can be dropped off at your nearest showroom until Wednesday 18th November!

For further information about the campaign and what items to include in your shoeboxes, please visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk or contact the dealership using the details below:

Dagenham Motors:
319 The Hyde, Edgware Road, London, NW9 6TH. Tel: 0208 358 8600
Baker Street, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 2DZ. Tel: 01707 652219720
Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 5DU. Tel: 0208 884 7800268
London Road, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 4JQ. Tel: 01784 466 666
374 Ealing Road, Alperton, Middlesex, HA0 1HG. Tel: 0208 997 338851
Stamford Hill, London, N16 5TB. Tel: 0208 826 2200357
Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8PE. Tel: 0208 498 9848719-727
London Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 1SE. Tel: 0208 814 460020-40
East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HF. Tel: 01372 804 000
Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Kingston, Surrey, KT7 0EG. Tel: 0208 339 3514
Brighton Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 1BS. Tel: 01737 352 202
97 Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1JJ. Tel: 01932 864244
Wintersells Road, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 7LF. Tel: 01932 332933
Guildford Road, Bookham, Surrey, KT23 4HY. Tel: 0208 814 4600

Ripple Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 9PG. Tel: 0208 911 3333
Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park, Ilford, IG2 7EE. Tel: 0208 597 3331
161-169 Pier Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1AF259. Tel: 01634 283400
Plaistow Road, London, E15 3EU. Tel: 0208 534 76612
Fiveways, Sidcup Road, Eltham, London, SE9 3AQ. Tel: 0208 860 1266
1 Ballard Business Park, Cuxton Road, Strood, Kent, ME2 2NY. Tel: 01634 712600

Unit 1, Waltham Park Way, Billet Road, Walthamstow, E17 5DU. Tel: 0208 556 1521
Redburn Industrial Estate, Woodhall Road, Ponders End, Enfield, EN3 4LE. Tel: 0208 804 2489

Dagenham Motors CV:
Dawley Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 1EH. Tel: 0208 561 8888
51-53 River Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 0SW. Tel: 0208 477 4000
Cuton Hall Lane, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6PB. Tel: 01245 235400

Polar Ford:
Canal Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 4SR. Tel: 01274 756200
Calder Island Way Denby Dale Road, Wakefield, WF2 7AW. Tel: 01924 290290
Wakefield Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 1NF. Tel: 01226 732732
Junction 32, M62, Park Road, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 4RJ. Tel: 01977 603644
St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 6NA. Tel: 01484 290022

Winwick Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 7NY. Tel: 01925 651111
Victoria Road, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 5SP. Tel: 01928 574333
Wellington Road, North Stockport, SK4 2PE. Tel: 0161 975 5500
Sherdley Road, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 5AD. Tel: 01744 610600
60 Buxton Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 6AF. Tel: 0161 483 9431
A34 Bypass, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 1AE. Tel: 01625 257 777

Brunel Ford:
Winterstoke Road, Bristol, BS23 2LB. Tel: 0117 908 9999
175 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol, Bs7 9RD. Tel: 0117 951 3333
Winterstoke Road, Weston Super Mare, N. Somerset, BS23 3YE. Tel: 01934 415511

Heartlands Ford:
971 Kingsbury Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9QB. Tel: 0121 377 3000
Saxon Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7HD. Tel: 01827 306700
Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B42 2SP. Tel: 0121 344 5252

1) Operation Christmas Child is the world's largest children's Christmas project. Since 1990 the project has brought the joy of Christmas to more than 60 million boys and girls throughout the world.

2) The annual project enables caring individuals, families, schools, churches, businesses, and other organisations to fill ordinary shoe boxes with small toys, school supplies, sweets, and other gifts for needy children around the world.

3) Last year 1.2 million shoe boxes were sent from the UK to children in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods.

From ‘Sick-Note’ to ‘Fit-Note’ – High profile conference tackles sickness absenteeism in the workplace

Good health for the workforce is good for business. In the current economic climate it’s even more important that we cut the £100 billion per year cost of worklessness caused by ill health.

A conference organised by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), UNISON, GMB, Unite and Local Government Employers on 15th December at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford will focus on understanding the crucial relationship between health and work. This conference will show how positive management of employees’ physical and mental health can lead not only to a reduction in sickness absence but to greater staff engagement and productivity as well as a reduction in staff turnover and recruitment costs.

The public sector employs around 6 million people – or 22% of the workforce. In recent months, incidents of high absenteeism in the public sector have grabbed the headlines. Every local authority should have effective health and safety policies in place with a clear commitment from management to support them.

The overall statistics are quite staggering.

· Absence levels in the public sector remain the highest at an average of 9.8 days per employee per year;
· Among public services employers, those in the health sector recorded the highest average level of employee absence at 11.7 days per employee per year. These figures compare sharply with those recorded among private sector organisations where the average level of absence remained static at 7.2 days per employee per year;
· Over two million people suffer from illnesses that they attribute to their work – mostly stress, depression and anxiety.

These figures mean not only increased costs for employers due to days lost but also personal suffering, family hardship and costs to individuals.

Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, who released her groundbreaking report into the health of Britain’s working age population in 2008, will be a keynote speaker at the event. In response, the Government released their ‘Improving health and work: changing lives’ report in November 2008. Lord McKenzie of Luton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Work and Pensions, will describe the Government’s continuing response to Dame Carol Black’s report one year on.

Other speakers include:
· Graeme Henderson, Department of Health, who will describe the fit for work programme and progress to date.
· Dr Steve Boorman, who is leading the review of health and well being in the NHS which will report later this year
· Jane Willis, Director of Cross Cutting Interventions, Health and Safety Executive
· Steve Sumner, National Health, Safety and Well-being Policy Advisor, Local Government Employers

Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith, Chairman of EERA’s Local Government Employers’ Panel said: “We know that sickness absence is economically, socially and personally harmful. A healthy workforce with a positive outlook provides better public services and saves money. This conference will provide an opportunity to hear well being case studies both from within the region and more widely.”

Greg Grant, Eastern Regional Director of UNISON, and Chair of this conference said: “Employers would save millions and deliver a better service by digging into and removing the underlying causes of illness in the workplace. We know that many employers are failing to tackle workplace sickness, long hours and job insecurity, all of which take a toll on workers’ health and their families.”

Who should attend

The conference is essential for public sector leaders including Councillors, Chief Executives and other senior managers, Human Resources, Organisational Development and Health and Safety professionals, along with all those who have an interest in employee wellbeing.

The fee for this event is £125 + VAT. To book a place, please visit http://events.eera.gov.uk/4741.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

For further information or to arrange an interview with an EERA spokesperson, please contact:

Claire Sefton, Tel: 01284 729427 Mob: 07920257940 Email: Claire.sefton@eera.gov.uk

Stephen Hinchley, Tel: 01284 729430, Mob: 07710 312237, Email: stephen.hinchley@eera.gov.uk

For further information about the event, contact Sue Houlder, Conference Organiser, EERA, Tel: 01284 729421 or email sue.houlder@eera.gov.uk


East of England Regional Assembly
1. The East of England Regional Assembly is independent of Government and is not a Government agency or quango. It represents the regional interests of people living and working in the East of England.

2. The Assembly has 96 members of which two thirds are elected councillors (from the 52 local authorities in the region) and one third are stakeholder representatives. Its meetings are open to the media and general public.

3. The Assembly is the designated Regional Planning Body for the East of England until March 2010 when it will cease to exist.

4. During 2008/09 EERA’s work included:
£1 billion bid for investment in public transport and roads across the region including final stretch of A11 dualling
Campaigned against a second runway at Stansted Airport
Held EEDA to account at six Economic Summits
Influenced European funding programmes worth £500 million to support employment, skills, climate change and low carbon economic growth
Delivery of 328 training courses to develop thousands of local authority employees and councillors in the region
For more information on EERA, see the website at www.eera.gov.uk

Local Government Employers Panel
Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith (Chairman), Liberal Democrat, 01223 365484
Cllr Jim Ranger (Panel Group Leader), Conservative, 07831 587342
Cllr Philip Smith (Panel Group Leader), Labour, 01375 361180

Last chance to have your say on the future of the East of England

Less than a month remains for people in the East of England to voice their opinions on plans that will shape the region over the next 20 years. Views are being sought on housing and economic growth while protecting the environment and the quality of life for existing and future residents of the East of England.

These topics form the twelve-week consultation on the East of England Plan > 2031. The Regional Assembly is urging the general public to make their views known before the consultation ends on 24th November. The consultation document is available at: www.eera.gov.uk/What-we-do/developing-regional-strategies/east-of-england-plan/east-of-england-plan-review-to-2031/.

Cllr Derrick Ashley, Chairman of the Regional Planning Panel at the East of England Regional Assembly said: “This is a vital opportunity to get involved in shaping the future development of your locality. The issues being consulted on are critical to creating a more prosperous and sustainable region. We strongly encourage all communities and organisations across the region to have their say”.

“We need to plan for new homes so that first-time buyers, young families and others in housing need can buy or rent a home at a price they can afford. Businesses also need the confidence to invest in our region.

“But we also want to protect the environment and the quality of life for existing and future residents of the East of England. New development must be appropriate and supported by Government investment.

“We will look closely at all the responses to the consultation before publishing a detailed draft plan in March. This plan will propose how and where new homes might be delivered up to 2031.

“Although there may be changes to the planning system in the years ahead, the evidence gathered will be valuable for the continuing need to plan for new jobs and homes.”

The consultation is part of a wider review of the East of England Plan which covers important issues such as transport, the environment, energy and waste as well as new homes.

The revised East of England Plan will not be completed until 2011 and the public will have further opportunities to have their say. It is the responsibility of local councils to determine the exact locations of where new homes should be built through their local development frameworks.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

An information pack on the East of England Plan > 2031 can be viewed at: www.eera.gov.uk/News/public-information-packs

To book a place at the remaining public consultation events on the East of England Plan > 2031, go to http://events.eera.gov.uk/EventDetails.aspx?ID=932

For further information or to arrange an interview with an EERA spokesperson, please contact:

Claire Sefton, Tel: 01284 729427 Mob: 07920257940 Email: Claire.sefton@eera.gov.uk

Stephen Hinchley, Tel: 01284 729430, Mob: 07710 312237, Email: stephen.hinchley@eera.gov.uk
East of England Plan
The long-term planning framework for the sustainable development of the region is provided by the East of England Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy). The East of England Plan provides the basis for local authorities to prepare their local development plans and for other organisations to plan their investment e.g. NHS, Highways Agency, water companies etc.

The current East of England Plan[1] sets out regional planning policy to 2021 but many councils are already preparing local plans stretching to 2026 and beyond. A focused review of the East of England Plan is therefore needed to set out regional planning policy from 2011 to 2031. It will plan for the region’s growth and prosperity, housing needs and respond to issues such as climate change.

The review of the East of England Plan will be completed in 2011. There will be public consultation at key stages of the process to enable members of the public and others to contribute. The review will consider:
· jobs and homes targets for 2011-2031 including affordable homes;
· broad locations for new development;
· regional infrastructure needs e.g. transport;
· targets to reduce the use of natural resources (energy, water) and greenhouse gas emissions;
· priorities for the environment such as the countryside and biodiversity protection.

In undertaking the East of England Plan 2031, the Assembly will be working closely with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East).
East of England Regional Assembly
1. The East of England Regional Assembly is independent of Government and is not a Government agency or quango. It represents the regional interests of people living and working in the East of England.

2. The Assembly has 96 members of which two thirds are elected councillors (from the 52 local authorities in the region) and one third are stakeholder representatives. Its meetings are open to the media and general public.

3. The Assembly is the designated Regional Planning Body for the East of England until March 2010 when it will cease to exist.

4. During 2008/09 EERA’s work included:
£1 billion bid for investment in public transport and roads across the region including final stretch of A11 dualling
Campaigned against a second runway at Stansted Airport
Held EEDA to account at six Economic Summits
Influenced European funding programmes worth £500 million to support employment, skills, climate change and low carbon economic growth
Delivery of 328 training courses to develop thousands of local authority employees and councillors in the region
For more information on EERA, see the website at www.eera.gov.uk

East of England Regional Planning Panel
Cllr Derrick Ashley (Chairman of RPP), Conservative, 01992 556571
Cllr Alan Crystall (Panel Group Leader), Liberal Democrat, 01702 474047
Cllr Roy Davis (Panel Group Leader), Labour, 01582 730939
Corrine Meakins (Panel Group Leader), Community Stakeholder, 07960 189994

Last chance to register for Global Opportunities conference and hear Lord Digby Jones

Time is running out for business leaders to register to attend the region’s largest annual event on overseas trade, where they can hear Lord Digby Jones talk on why businesses should be looking beyond UK shores to fuel their growth and raise their profitability.

The Global Opportunities conference, organised by East of England International in conjunction with HSBC, is taking place on 19th November at Newmarket Racecourse and includes a host of other key note speakers, opportunities to get advice from export specialists and to see who has won Exporter of the Year at an Awards ceremony taking place on the day.

To register, visit www.eei-online.com/globalopportunity or call 08456 419 955.


Further press information from:
Charles Arbuthnot or Helen Sharkey
Project PR, Tel: 01473 326402 or 01473 326405
Email: charles.arbuthnot@projectpr.biz or helen.sharkey@projectpr.biz

Dealerships turn showrooms into Santa's Grotto

Car dealerships across the UK are being turned into a Santa’s Grotto for the next couple of weeks – all in aid of a charitable campaign which sends present-filled shoeboxes to needy children in developing countries.

Polar Ford, Brunel Ford, Heartlands Ford and Dagenham Motors dealerships are all designated drop off points for the 2009 “Operation Christmas Child” shoebox appeal. The appeal encourages people to send some festive cheer to children less fortunate than most, across the world.

Run in conjunction with the Samaritans Purse charity, “Operation Christmas Child” entails filling shoeboxes with toys and gifts to send to children around the world in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods.

A spokesperson for Ford Retail, which owns each of the dealerships, said: “This is the third year that we have taken part in the appeal. Last year the Group collected over 10,000 shoeboxes, each wrapped in Christmas paper and filled with small toys, crayons, clothes and sweets, and this year we are aiming to collect even more. It’s an extremely worthwhile cause and we are looking forward to taking part again this year.”

How to pack your shoebox:
Remember to make your box both fun and educational! All shoebox items should be new and can contain gifts such as:
Toys: Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, finger puppet, jigsaw, yo-yo, building blocks, small musical instrument. For boys trucks and cars, for girls dolls, clip on earrings etc.
Educational supplies: Felt pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, colouring book, notepad, picture or puzzle book, chalk, pencil case, stickers etc.
Hygiene items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of soap, flannel etc.
Other items: Sweets (sell by date to be at least March of the following year), gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, hat, bangles, necklaces etc.

Shoeboxes can be dropped off at your nearest showroom until Tuesday 18th November. For further information about the campaign and what items to include in your shoeboxes, please visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk or contact the dealership using the details below:

Dagenham Motors:
319 The Hyde, Edgware Road, London, NW9 6TH. Tel: 0208 358 8600
Baker Street, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 2DZ. Tel: 01707 652219
720 Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 5DU. Tel: 0208 884 7800
268 London Road, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 4JQ. Tel: 01784 466 666

374 Ealing Road, Alperton, Middlesex, HA0 1HG. Tel: 0208 997 3388
51 Stamford Hill, London, N16 5TB. Tel: 0208 826 2200
357 Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8PE. Tel: 0208 498 9848
719-727 London Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 1SE. Tel: 0208 814 4600

20-40 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HF. Tel: 01372 804 000
Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Kingston, Surrey, KT7 0EG. Tel: 0208 339 3514
Brighton Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 1BS. Tel: 01737 352 202

97 Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1JJ. Tel: 01932 864244
Wintersells Road, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 7LF. Tel: 01932 332933
Guildford Road, Bookham, Surrey, KT23 4HY. Tel: 0208 814 4600

Ripple Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 9PG
Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park, Ilford, IG2 7EE
161-169 Pier Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1AF
259 Plaistow Road, London, E15 3EU
Fiveways, Sidcup Road, Eltham, London, SE9 3AQ

1 Ballard Business Park, Cuxton Road, Strood, Kent, ME2 2NY

Unit 1, Waltham Park Way, Billet Road, Walthamstow, E17 5DU. Tel: 0208 556 1521

Redburn Industrial Estate, Woodhall Road, Ponders End, Enfield, EN3 4LE. Tel: 0208 804 2489

Dagenham Motors CV:

Dawley Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 1EH. Tel: 0208 561 8888

51-53 River Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 0SW. Tel: 0208 477 4000

Cuton Hall Lane, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6PB. Tel: 01245 235400

Polar Ford:

Canal Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 4SR. Tel: 01274 756200

Calder Island Way Denby Dale Road, Wakefield, WF2 7AW. Tel: 01924 290290

Wakefield Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 1NF. Tel: 01226 732732

Junction 32, M62, Park Road, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 4RJ. Tel: 01977 603644

St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 6NA. Tel: 01484 290022

Winwick Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 7NY. Tel: 01925 651111

Victoria Road, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 5SP. Tel: 01928 574333

Wellington Road, North Stockport, SK4 2PE. Tel: 0161 975 5500

Sherdley Road, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 5AD. Tel: 01744 610600

60 Buxton Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 6AF. Tel: 0161 483 9431

A34 Bypass, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 1AE. Tel: 01625 257 777

Brunel Ford:

Winterstoke Road, Bristol, BS23 2LB. Tel: 0117 908 9999

175 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol, Bs7 9RD. Tel: 0117 951 3333

Winterstoke Road, Weston Super Mare, N. Somerset, BS23 3YE. Tel: 01934 415511

Heartlands Ford:

971 Kingsbury Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9QB. Tel: 0121 377 3000

Saxon Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7HD. Tel: 01827 306700

Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B42 2SP. Tel: 0121 344 5252

1) Operation Christmas Child is the world's largest children's Christmas project. Since 1990 the project has brought the joy of Christmas to more than 60 million boys and girls throughout the world.
2) The annual project enables caring individuals, families, schools, churches, businesses, and other organisations to fill ordinary shoe boxes with small toys, school supplies, sweets, and other gifts for needy children around the world.
3) Last year 1.2 million shoe boxes were sent from the UK to children in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods.

Pink paradise at Suffolk care agency raises £172 for Breast Cancer

A Saxmundham care agency transformed their head office into a pink paradise last week (30th October) which saw generous staff raise £172 for Breast Cancer Campaign as part of the annual Wear it Pink appeal.

Staff at Christies Care took part in the appeal by making a donation to the charity, in exchange for dressing up in pink clothing. Further funds were raised through a raffle which saw an array of fabulous prizes including a bouquet of flowers, perfume, and luxury beauty products.

Wear it Pink has become a fixture in the Christies Care charitable calendar and since 2004, generous donations to various breast cancer charities have topped £1,400.

Debbie Ratcliffe, who organised the day said of the donations; “Wear it Pink is a cause that is close to our hearts, and it is the highlight of our charitable activities throughout the year. We are absolutely delighted to have raised over £1,400 over the past 5 years, as it is a fantastic cause.”

The money raised throughout the Wear it Pink campaign will be used to help fund world class research into breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

For more information on Wear it Pink, visit www.wearitpink.co.uk

Bust your scary sink smells

Ghosts, ghouls, witches and goblins – when it comes to hustle and bustle of Halloween are we ready for the scariest part of all – our kitchen sink?

Forget about vampires, zombies and demons – the real monsters are lurking in your kitchen plughole. Nasty germs like salmonella love to breed on the bits of fat debris washed down your plughole, and if left untreated, can create stinks that would scare off Dracula himself!

So instead of filling your kitchen with cloves of garlic, crosses and holy water, prepare yourselves for this Halloween with a sprinkling of Buster Kitchen Plughole and Sink Treatment. The specially formulated foaming granules will exorcise your plughole demons leaving them hygienically clean, fresh and sweet smelling.

Alternatively for those nastier plughole gremlins, a dose of Buster Kitchen Plughole Unblocker is tough enough for even the scariest of bacteria. A quick dose will blast away any food or fat debris, clearing any blockages, and with regular use will prevent build up.

Priced at £3.29 (RRP) for 300gm, Buster is stocked in Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, Wilkinson, Tesco, Morrisons and independent hardware stores. Visit www.plugholesneedlovetoo.com

Your chance to ‘meet the world’ and explore global opportunities at major regional export conference

Businesses who sign up to attend a major regional export conference being held in Newmarket on 19th November will have the unique chance to arrange one-to-one meetings with commercial officers and country specialists at the event, who have experience in markets across the globe.

The conference, called ‘Global Opportunity’, and arranged by East of England International (EEI), which delivers business support on behalf of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to assist the region’s firms in exploiting overseas markets, aims to showcase the significant opportunities for firms of all sizes to increase their revenues through exploring new overseas markets.

During the one-hour lunch break, delegates will have the opportunity to arrange meetings with commercial officers who have the ‘on-the-ground’ knowledge and experience needed to help explore new opportunities in markets such as China, the Nordics, the Benelux countries, Russia, Hungary, the Baltics, Spain, Europe and Africa.

It is expected that the slots will fill up quickly, so delegates are urged to pre-book their one-to-ones in advance, through the form on the website. For more information on exactly which countries will be covered, see www.eei-online.com/globalopportunity.

Marguerite Meyer, Regional Head of Trade at EEI said: “This is your chance to explore new overseas markets for your business. It is an ideal opportunity to speak with someone who has first hand knowledge in a country you may have considered exporting to, but the contacts they can provide may well open new opportunities for your business. “

Lord Digby Jones, a name synonymous with British business and previously Director General of the CBI and Minister of UK Trade & Industry, will be the keynote speaker at ‘Global Opportunity’. Lord Digby Jones will tell the region’s businesses why they should be looking beyond UK shores to fuel their growth and raise their profitability.

The conference is being sponsored by HSBC Bank plc, and the bank’s senior economist, Mark Berrisford-Smith along with David Evans, CEO of Grassroots plc, add to the auspicious line up of keynote speakers for the event that takes place at Newmarket Racecourse.

The day also includes a discussion panel involving the speakers and local business chiefs, a short awards ceremony to recognise export leaders from across the region, and ample time to network.

The afternoon includes a series of breakout sessions, enabling delegates to hear firsthand from experts on how to go about exporting to and the opportunities in countries such as the USA, Europe, Middle East and Brazil. An additional set of breakout sessions will focus on exporting for specific industry sectors such as Food & Drink, Biotechnology, renewable energy and digital media.

The one-to-one sessions with the commercial officer of your choice can be pre-booked via the website. Tickets for the event cost £50 which includes refreshments and lunch. To register, visit www.eei-online.com/globalopportunity or call 08456 419 955.

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Kelly proves its never too late to turn your life around

A woman from Colchester who suffered from severe agoraphobia for 6 years and couldn’t face leaving her house is now celebrating making it through to the regional finals of the Learndirect Adult Learners Awards for 2009, after turning her life around by going back into learning and securing employment.

Kelly Kirby, who is 42 and from Colchester, registered with training provider TBG Learning in late 2008 on the NDDP (New Deal for Disabled People) programme. Kelly had no formal qualifications and was suffering from depression, but she knew it was time to do something to get her life back on track.

The NDDP programme, delivered at TBG Learning in conjunction with the Shaw Trust, aims to help people who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability, ill health or other social circumstances, and aims to get 400 disabled people into full or part time work.

Andrea Pawsey, TBG Learning Colchester centre manager commented: “Kelly’s progress has been amazing. Her confidence has soared and she has made new friends. She has even achieved her dream of being employed. I admire her strength and determination to succeed against the odds, and we have decided to name her the TBG Learning Colchester ‘Outstanding Learner of 2009’.”

Qualifications which Kelly has achieved in the last year include English at level 1 and level 2, maths at level 1, the ‘switch on’ IT programme, a conflict management NVQ and the SIA door supervision course, as well as online Learndirect courses. She has secured employment with Essex firm Reliance Security, and regularly works with DHL and the NHS as a security guard.

Kelly commented: “TBG Learning has helped me turn my life around, my confidence has soared and I feel like a different person. My family are very pleased with how much happier I am nowadays, and have even managed to make friends with others in the centre, which is something I have never felt comfortable doing. I really enjoy my job and am so happy I took that first step a year ago.”

TBG Learning Colchester is situated at 27 Southway, Colchester. Courses available at the centre include NDDP (New Deal for Disabled People) and Entry to Employment (e2e), which supports 16-18 year olds to improve their skills and employment chances. TBG Learning also works with a wide number of employers in the area, providing Train to Gain and Apprenticeships learning in the workplace for employees.

Telephone TBG Learning on 01206 366341 or drop into the centre for more information. www.tbglearning.com

Lucky seventh birthday winner celebrates £50 Child Trust Fund boost with Ipswich Building Society

A lucky seven-year old has been given an extra birthday present this week (13th October) after receiving a £50 boost to her Child Trust Fund account, courtesy of Ipswich Building Society.

Shannon Harvey was chosen as the recipient of a £50 voucher by staff at the Tower Ramparts branch of the Society to celebrate the second stage of the Child Trust Fund payments for seven year olds.

Each one of the Society’s nine branches has randomly selected one Child Trust Fund account holder to receive a bonus of £50 to add to their savings.

Shannon’s mum Nicola Harvey said of the account top-up; “This is absolutely amazing. I was gobsmacked when I found out Shannon had won this prize. We weren’t aware of the second stage of the Child Trust Fund payment, so to get this extra prize on top of the payment is fantastic.”

She continued: “Every time we pop into the branch the staff have given us their undivided attention and we certainly feel that we are knowledgeable about the best ways to save for our children’s futures. We are saving as much as we can, so that when Shannon turns 18, she will have a strong nest egg to fall back on. Thank you to the Ipswich Building Society.”

Paul Millar, Tower Ramparts branch manager added; “We were pleased to give Shannon a bonus for her Child Trust Fund account. It is a vital tool in enabling parents to teach their children how to save, and we are delighted that Shannon’s parents are already thinking about her future.”

The Child Trust Fund was established by the government in September 2002 and seeks to encourage every child to have their own savings account. An initial £250 voucher is given to every child when they are born, with a further £250 top-up when the child turns seven. The aim of the Child Trust Fund is to ensure when the child turns 18, they have significant savings.

Care agency staff celebrate NVQ success

A Saxmundham employer has praised Otley College after four senior staff members completed a fifteen month NVQ qualification in management.

The team from Christies Care worked closely with the college to complete the business management training programme, which saw managing director Nicola Warner receive a level 5 award, and managers Lin Barnes, Jill Pass and Sarah Middleton receive the level 4 qualification.

Along with Otley College course co-ordinator Drostan Stileman, the team were able to specifically tailor their training to their individual needs, paying particular attention to any strengths and weaknesses.

Speaking of the training, Drostan said: “I’m delighted with the achievements of the team at Christies Care. Not only have they worked hard to secure a formal qualification, but they have become much more confident in the way they work. It is a hard course, but thanks to the one-on-one training and the levels of commitment they have shown, they will be able to reap the benefits.”

Nicola Warner, managing director Christies Care, who completed the NVQ Level 5, added; “We’ve always placed an important focus upon ensuring our carers were trained to the highest possible standards, but we were very aware that we weren’t always offering the same to our office staff. Since completing the NVQ courses, we have all felt much more competent in the way we work.

She continued: “This is down to the fantastic support and training we received from Drostan and the team at Otley College, and we would like to thank them for their help and support. The individual tailoring of the course was superb, and it has meant we are all fully understanding of the work that we do, and the reasons why we work in a particular way.”

Since the completion of the course, over 20 more office staff have registered an interest in undertaking their own NVQ qualifications. It follows on from a successful training programme for the carers employed by Christies Care, who are offered introductory and further specific training on a regular basis.

Young people speak at Kent ‘engaging and preventing NEETs’ conference

Tuesday 13th October 2009

Young people from Gillingham and Ashford who were NEET (not in education, employment or training), but who have now found employment or entered into training, spoke to delegates at a conference held yesterday, about why and how they became NEET, and what they did to overcome it. They also gave advice to those gathered on how to engage with young people and ensure that they progress into further education or employment after leaving school.

The conference, called ‘Shaping the curriculum: engaging young people and preventing NEETs’ was held yesterday (Monday 12th October) at the Ramada hotel in Maidstone. The conference was for managers from schools, colleges, government organisations such as Connexions and training providers such as TBG Learning, and gave them the opportunity to discuss and share effective practice on how to prevent young people becoming NEET after leaving school, and how to engage with those who do.

Nic Cole from TBG Learning, which has four centres throughout Kent and runs courses especially for young people who are NEET attended the conference, and commented: “It is important to ensure all young people get the right support that they need and recognise that traditional curriculums do not work for everyone. At TBG Learning we listen to the views of young people and build programmes around their needs and the needs of the local labour market. It is this flexible approach that makes us successful in helping young people gain qualifications and progress into employment or further learning.”

Kerry Knight, 17, used to be a NEET, but decided to join the Entry to Education programme at TBG Learning in Ashford. She also attended the conference, and said: “It was good to be at the conference as we got the chance to tell schools what it is like being NEET and what they can do to do to help young people in the future.”


The conference started with a key note speech from Rosalind Turner, Managing Director of the Children, Families and Education department at Kent County Council. This was followed by contributions from other organisations on topics such as ‘challenging stereotypes and understanding of why young people become NEET’.

The conference was organised in conjunction with Kent County Council, Kent Association of Further Education Corporations (KAFEC), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), and the Kent Association of Training Providers (KATO).

Anyone is welcome to drop into TBG Learning and find out about the range of courses and help. The centres can be found at the following locations:

Gillingham: Floor 2, Kingsley House, ME7 4NT (tel 01634 855629).
Gravesend: 23-25 King Street, DA12 2DU (Tel 01474 566 588)
Folkestone: Unit B, 145-147 Sandgate Road, CT20 2DA (Tel 01303 297 064)
Ashford: The Bull Yard, High Street, Ashford TN24 8SN (Tel 01233 634 476)


TBG Learning Kent 095
For further information please contact:
Helen Sharkey Project PR, Telephone 01473 326405 / 07521 318127


Notes to editors:

TBG Learning Ltd is an independent training provider. Its mission is to ‘improve people’s lives through learning’ and its focus is on helping each individual achieve employment related skills and qualifications. It operates 19 Learning Centres in some of the most economically challenged areas of Britain with over 6,500 learners at any one time.

It also works with over eight hundred employers in London, Kent, Essex and the Midlands, delivering Apprenticeships and Train to Gain to employees in the workplace.

Many people achieve their first ever qualification through courses such as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Information Technology (from beginners to advanced), Literacy, and Numeracy.

Employability Skills Programmes (for unemployed adults) and Entry to Employment (for 16-18 year-olds) are just two of a wide number of programmes offered at many of the centres.

TBG courses are funded through a wide number of organisations including the Learning and Skills Council, Regional Development Agencies, Colleges of Further Education.

TBG (The Training and Business Group) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the charity Rehab Group.

Firefighter training boosted by car dealer partnership

Potters Bar Fire Station is set to benefit from a new partnership with local car dealership Dagenham Motors, who yesterday (8th October) handed over the first in a series of planned vehicle donations to the service.

This unique partnership will help boost vital training for the fire service which continuously needs access to cars and vans for both demonstrations and vital training for road traffic incidents.

Marc Skuce, Business Manager at Dagenham Motors, Potters Bar, said: “As a local business we feel it is important for us to contribute to the community, which is why we want to support our local services. Road accidents can have a devastating effect on people’s lives and the fire service plays a vital part in minimising that devastation”.

Station Commander Trevor Brown, Potters Bar Fire Station, said: “I am delighted to have set up this partnership, which will enable our crews to practice the essential skills needed to deal with road traffic collisions. We rely on the donation of scrap vehicles to use for training; so I would like to thank Dagenham Motors for their generosity and look forward to working with them in the future.”

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service is now called to rescue more people from road traffic collisions than from fires, therefore rely heavily on the availability of cars for training.

Training vehicles are currently purchased from local scrap yards; however this new partnership with Dagenham Motors will ensure the provision of vehicles on a regular basis, giving firefighter training a boost in the preparation of all RTC scenarios.

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Notes:

- Dagenham Motors is part of Ford Retail, the UK’s largest Ford dealership Group. Ford Retail trades as Dagenham Motors (in London and the South East), Brunel Ford (Bristol & South West), Heartlands Ford (Birmingham) and Polar Ford (Yorkshire and the North Wet).

- During the year April 2007 to April 2008, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) attended 682 RTCs (Road Traffic Collisions) where there were 15 fatalities and 950 casualties.

Ipswich launches limited edition 5 year 'Big Bond'

Ipswich Building Society has launched a chart topping 5 year, 5.1% fixed interest rate savings bond for consumers who have renewed confidence in longer term investments.

The highly competitive ‘Big Bond’ has the added advantage of giving access to funds after two years, providing investors with greater assurance.

Jo Leah, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Ipswich Building Society, says: “This is a very feisty 5 year savings bond for savers who have their sights set on a longer term goal. It has the added flexibility of giving access after two years which makes it one of the most attractive offers in the marketplace at the moment.”

The minimum investment is £5,000 (maximum £100,000) and the limited edition Big Bond is only expected to be available until the end of November.

The 5.1% gross/AER fixed interest (4.08% Net) is paid annually on the account’s anniversary, or monthly if the balance is over £25,000. No withdrawals are permitted for 2 years and thereafter any withdrawals incur a 180 days interest penalty on the amount withdrawn.

To find out more about the Big Bond savings account telephone 0845 230 8686 or email enquiries@ibs.co.uk Big Bond can be opened by post or at any Ipswich Building Society branch. See www.ibs.co.uk

UK business leaders to speak at major regional export conference

6 October 2009

East of England companies will have the chance to hear one of the UK’s foremost business gurus speak about the significant opportunities for firms of all sizes to increase their revenues through exploiting overseas markets.

Lord Digby Jones, a name synonymous with British business and previously Director General of the CBI and Minister of UK Trade & Industry, will be the keynote speaker at ‘Global Opportunity’. Digby Jones will tell the region’s businesses why they should be looking beyond UK shores to fuel their growth and raise their profitability.

The conference, organised by East of England International (EEI) which delivers business support on behalf of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to assist the region’s firms exploit overseas markets, is being sponsored by HSBC. The bank’s chief economist, Mark Berrisford-Smith along with other business leaders to be announced soon add to the auspicious line up of keynote speakers for the event that takes place on 19th November at Newmarket Racecourse.

The day also includes a discussion panel involving the speakers and local business chiefs, a short awards ceremony to recognise export leaders from across the region, opportunities to arrange one-to-one meetings with UKTI commercial officers from countries around the world and ample time to network.

The afternoon includes a series of breakout sessions, enabling delegates to hear firsthand from experts on how to go about exporting to countries such as the USA, Europe, Middle East and Brazil. Additional breakout sessions will focus on exporting for specific industry sectors such as ICT, life sciences, renewable energy and digital media.

EEI’s Head of Regional Trade, Marguerite Meyer, encouraged businesses to attend, saying: “This is a one-time chance to hear from some excellent speakers and get a good understanding of the real opportunities overseas markets offer, as well as learn how exporting isn’t as difficult as many would think.”

Tickets for this one-off event are strictly limited to 200 on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and people interested in attending are encouraged to register quickly. Tickets cost £50 which includes refreshments and lunch. To register, visit www.eei-online.com/globalopportunity or call 08456 419 955.

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Saxmundham firm reach £500+ milestone for Jeans for Genes

Employees at Saxmundham care agency Christies Care swapped their uniforms for jeans last week (2nd October), and reached a fundraising total of more than £540 for children suffering from genetic disorders.

Admin and booking staff at Christies Care have been supporting the annual Jeans for Genes appeal since 2004, and last week’s fundraising efforts, which raised £55, saw their cumulative total reach £541. The appeal encouraged workers to don their best denim in exchange for a £2 donation to the charity.

Debbie Ratcliffe, who organised the company’s charitable efforts, said of the money raised; “We are absolutely amazed that we have managed to raise so much money over the past five years as it is such a good cause. It’s become a staple on the Christies Care calendar, and everyone looks forward to taking part as it’s such a simple thing to do. We are already looking forward to next years appeal.”

Jeans for Genes was established in 1996, and raises funds for research into serious and often life-threatening genetic disorders affecting thousands of children.

For more information on Jeans for Genes and how to donate money, please visit www.jeansforgenes.com