Learn how to save again

You would love a new sofa, your wife wants a new designer handbag and the kids are crying out for a holiday. But you don’t want to put more on the card. Today’s society is full of ‘must haves’ but a culture of ‘buy now, pay later’ has created a mountain of credit card debt and a financial meltdown in the economy which everyone wants to move on from.

One building society is taking things back to basics and helping people to learn how to save again. Ipswich Building Society has launched ‘Smart Save’ which encourages you to set yourself a target, save a bit regularly towards something special, then sit back and watch your account grow. After all, it’s always easier to save when you have an incentive.

Paul Winter, Chief Executive, Ipswich Building Society, says: “Smart Save is simple and transparent and you can see exactly how much your regular savings will add up to. We are encouraging people to plan their purchases and learn how to save again. It gives you the satisfaction of buying yourself something with your own money, rather than worrying about repaying a debt.”

Smart Save is a simple savings account where you make variable monthly direct debit savings of between £10 and £500. There’s a variable interest rate calculated on a daily basis and an annual bonus of 3.00% paid on the account’s anniversary if you have made 11 monthly payments. You can even make one penalty free instant access withdrawal per year.

So if you know you’d like to plan for a home improvement, a dream wedding or your son/daughter’s University education, then Smart Save will help you get going. Why not aspire to and save for your dream purchase and avoid the worry of credit card debts or hefty interest rates on loans or finance deals.

For more information about Ipswich Building Society’s Smart Saver account, visit www.ibs.co.uk

TBG Learning’s Julie scales Ben Nevis for local charity

A local woman who spends her days helping unemployed people back into work has managed to climb the highest mountain in the British Isles, whilst raising money for charity.

Julie McCarvil, a recruitment consultant based at TBG Learning in Gillingham decided to scale the 1,344m peak to raise money for Cliff Woods Cerebral Palsy, which is TBG Learning Gillingham’s chosen charity for 2009.

Julie has raised a staggering £580 for the charity, which is a huge boost to the total already raised by learners and staff at the centre.

Julie said of her climb: We set out at 9am and got back to the bottom at 8pm having survived hail stones, rain, fog and snow! The climb back down took longer than it should owing to my boot falling apart after a fall - I descended from half way down with one bare foot! Needless to say, I didn't enjoy it too much, but got great satisfaction from reaching the top and raising the money for a worthwhile local charity.”

Learners and staff at the centre, based in Kinglsey House on Balmoral Road, will continue to hold fundraising events throughout the year in order to raise as much as they can for the local charity.

For more information about the courses and programmes on offer at TBG Learning in Gillingham and for advice and assistance in getting back into work, call 01634 855629 or call into the centre.

McCain’s Renewable Energy facilities attract foreign VIP interest

East of England International (EEI) and McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, based in Whittlesey, have played host to a visit from the British Consul General for Toronto, who is in the UK as part of a fact finding mission about clean technology (Cleantech).

Jonathan Dart, who is also the Director of UKTI for Canada with overall responsibility for the UK’s commercial inward investment and trade activities within Canada, is in the region as part of a duty tour, with an emphasis on seeing Cleantech in action, and finding out about further investment opportunities there are in the East of England for Canadian companies.

McCain Foods Ltd is a major Canadian family-owned investor into the UK. The Whittlesey plant opened in 1972, and expansion of the production plant has been incrementally driven by almost unbroken year-on year growth in demand. McCain Foods, as an investor in the community, has a strong family ethos and commitment to their staff, evidenced by their solvent Final Salary Pension scheme. Mr Dart was keen to see their investment in action, and his visit to the site included a tour of their renewable energy facilities, which includes three 3MW wind turbines which have proven very successful in reducing the ‘take’ of electricity from the Grid since the end of 2007..

Additional green investment has been made by McCain in an anaerobic digester lagoon for liquid wastes which provides a methane fuel source to further reduce external power consumption. Investment is also continuing inside the plant to minimise water usage, reduce energy consumption, reduce packaging volumes, and simplify maintenance.

Mr Dart is keen to take information and experiences of Cleantech back to Canada in order to support EEI in encouraging further investment in the East of England and the Peterborough area, especially in the research and development of Cleantech.

Mr Dart was met by Bill Bartlett, Corporate Affairs Director for McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, and Andy Hook, Investor Development Manager for EEI.

Andy Hook said: “McCain’s inward investments into Whittlesey and the community are impressive and by embracing green technology they are having a significant positive environmental impact and controlling their production costs. They are an example to other larger manufacturers in the UK who aspire to lead their sector.”

EEI has worked closely with McCain Foods to provide business support including information about government backed training and qualifications for staff through local organisations such as Improve and Food East. They organised introductions to the regional Food Sector Employers Group, and provided details of regional expertise in renewable energy from Renewables East, and industrial material recycling via the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme.

Cleantech is new technology and related business models that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges. The term Cleantech represents a diverse range of products, services, and processes, all intended to provide superior performance at lower costs, while greatly reducing or eliminating negative ecological impact, at the same time as Improving the productive and responsible use of natural resources

Driving off for your summer holiday? Make sure your car is up to the trip

With many of us choosing a ‘stay-cation’ this summer and forgoing our annual flight abroad, it’s important that wherever you decide to holiday in the UK, your car is in tip top shape and can get you there in one piece.

Whether you’re planning a driving holiday, caravanning or simply driving off to the seaside, preparing your car for the long, hot trip is essential and if overlooked, could turn your relaxing break into an extremely stressful experience for you and your family.

The summer holidays are the perfect time to invest in your car’s health and Ford Retail dealerships are offering motorists a free summer health check - worth over £30, consisting of a visual check as well as oil, antifreeze and windscreen check and top up, to ensure a smooth, stress-free journey to your chosen destination.

Ford Retail is also currently offering the new ‘Value Service’ at just £99, giving your car a basic health check, tyre check, oil and filter change and more*. Half price MOT tests are also on offer at just £27 for any make or model when combined with your service.

During the summer, hot weather and congestion can too often cause roads to become littered with broken down vehicles and hassled drivers, so to prevent you from becoming part of that scene, Ford Retail has highlighted a few simple but vital checks you can make yourself before revving up your engine…

Top Ten Tips for summer driving:

1) Check your oil and water – a hot engine needs all the lubrication it can get and if your water levels are too low, you may find your engine overheating just when you’re starting to make progress on your journey. If towing a heavy trailer or caravan, switch to a motor oil with higher viscosity

2) Check your cooling fan is operating correctly – set your heater to cold and switch on the engine – the fan should cut in after about 5-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and make sure it doesn’t overheat

3) Tyre pressure – examine your tyres for uneven or worn tread and make sure all tyres (including the spare!) are inflated to the correct pressure. Try to check them every couple of hours on your journey, as they can expand in hot weather

4) Top up your windscreen washer – a dirty windshield can be a hazard in itself, so make sure your reservoir is topped up with plenty of screenwash and your wiper blades are in good condition

5) Lights – inspect all lights and bulbs and replace any that have burnt out

6) Brakes – put them to the test and check the brake fluid. If you notice any pulsations, noises or longer stopping distances, get the brakes checked over straight away

7) Air-conditioning – one thing that is guaranteed to get you hot under the collar is if your air con fails. Check that cold air is coming out of the vents before you set off – if it’s not, or you notice and funny odours, get it checked out

8) Pack an ‘emergency kit’ – in case of difficulties take with you; a first aid kit, torch (and extra batteries), reflective triangle, mobile phone, jump cables and extra bottles of water to keep cool in the event of a breakdown

9) Get your car serviced – it is recommended that a full service is carried out at least one week before embarking on a long journey

10) Roof racks – Ensure that roof racks are properly loaded and securely tied down to minimise wind resistance and save fuel.

If you’re still unsure of what to look for when preparing your car for the summer holidays, or are worried about the outcome of any of your own checks, drop in or book in your car for its free summer health check at your local Ford Retail dealership:

Polar Ford, Wakefield Road, Barnsley. Tel: 01226 732732
Polar Ford, Calder Island Way, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield. Tel: 01924 290290
Polar Ford, Junction 32 M62, Park Road, Castleford. Tel: 01977 603644
Polar Ford, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield. Tel: 01484 290022
Polar Ford, Canal Road, Bradford. Tel: 01274 756200

Polar Ford, Winwick Road, Warrington. Tel: 01925 651111
Polar Ford, Victoria Road, Runcorn. Tel: 01928 574333
Polar Ford, City Road, St Helens Tel: 01744 26381
Polar Ford, A34 By-Pass, Wilmslow. Tel: 01625 257777
Polar Ford, Wellington Road North, Stockport. Tel: 0161 975 5500
Polar Ford, 60 Buxton Road, Hazel Grove, Tel: 01614 264050

Brunel Ford, Winterstoke Road, Bristol. Tel: 0117 908 9999
Brunel Ford, 175 Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol. Tel: 0117 951 3333
Brunel Ford, Winterstoke Road, Weston-Super-Mare. Tel: 01934 415511

Heartlands Ford, 971 Kingsbury Road, Erdington, Birmingham. Tel: 0121 377 3000
Heartlands Ford, Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham. Tel: 0121 344 5252
Heartlands Ford, Saxon Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire. Tel: 01827 306700

Dagenham Motors Newbury Park, Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park. Tel: 020 8597 3331
Dagenham Motors Plaistow, 259 Plaistow Road, Plaistow. Tel: 020 8534 7661
Dagenham Motors Ripple Road, Ripple Road, Barking, Essex, Tel: 0208 911 3333

Dagenham Motors, 161-169 Pier Road, Gillingham. Tel: 01634 283400
Dagenham Motors, Ballard Business Park, Cuxton Road, Strood. Tel: 01634 712300

Dagenham Motors Eltham, Five Ways, Sidcup Road, Eltham, London, SE9 3AQ. Tel: 020 8860 1266

Dagenham Motors Banstead, Brighton Road, Banstead. Tel: 01737 352202
Dagenham Motors, Guildford Road, Bookham. Tel: 01372 804500
Dagenham Motors, Wintersells Road, Byfleet. Tel: 01932 332933
Dagenham Motors, 97 Portsmouth Road, Cobham. Tel: 01932 864244
Dagenham Motors, 20-40 East Street, Epsom. Tel: 01372 804040
Dagenham Motors, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Kingston. Tel: 020 8339 3500

Dagenham Motors, 319 The Hyde, Edgware Road. Tel: 020 8358 8600
Dagenham Motors, Baker Street, Potters Bar. Tel: 01707 652219
Dagenham Motors, 51 Stamford Hill. Tel: 020 8826 2200
Dagenham Motors, Unit 1 Waltham Park Way, Walthamstow, Billet Road. Tel: 020 8556 1521
Dagenham Motors, 357 Chigwell Road, Woodford Green. Tel: 020 8498 9848
Dagenham Motors, 720 Great Cambridge Road, Enfield. Tel: 020 8884 7800
Dagenham Motors, 374 Ealing Road, Alperton. Tel: 020 8997 3388

Dagenham Motors Hounslow, 719-727 London Road, Hounslow. Tel: 020 8814 4600
Dagenham Motors Staines, 268 London Road, Staines. Tel: 01784 466666

*Ford’s Value Service is offered to cars aged four years or older. Please contact dealership for additional information.

'Here come the girls' - Swish Party raises over £200 for charity

The traditionally male-dominated world of car dealership Polar Ford was recently turned into a ladies paradise for a night, when it hosted an exclusive ‘Swish Party’ for local customers and guests.

Fashion-loving ladies from all over Bradford descended on the showroom to indulge in the popular clothes-swapping craze, which is fast becoming the favourite way to kit out your wardrobe without emptying out your purse, particularly during the current recession.

£255 was raised on the night, through the entry fee which included a buffet and drinks. A representative from Martini Rosso was there to serve up cocktails and keep guests refreshed throughout the thirsty task of hunting for that perfect outfit.

Clothes swapping, or ‘swishing’ as it is increasingly known, is a great way to recycle unwanted clothes, have some fun, while making some new friends and Polar Ford gave the party an extra twist by donating all the proceeds to Age Concern.

Maureen McEvoy, Sales Manager at Polar Ford who organised the event, said: “We had such a fun night and everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The ladies had to be held back until I signalled the start of the swishing, then they could take away as many clothes as they wanted in return for the hats, shoes and accessories they brought in which were lurking in the back of their wardrobe”.

Any items that weren’t snapped up at the party were donated to the Age Concern shop in Horsforth to be sold on at a later date and raise even more for the charity.

Clean keyboards could be key to swine flu prevention

With an estimated 65,000 people in the UK believed to be suffering from swine flu, it has become vital for organisations to take steps to protect their workforce. As well as through day to day contact with colleagues, research has shown that germs can be transmitted through a dirty work station.

The average computer keyboard carries up to 3,295 different germs, and in the midst of the current swine flu pandemic, there has never been a more important time for businesses to place more emphasis on limiting the spread of infection.

A government checklist aimed at businesses fighting against an influenza pandemic has made clear reference to the need for businesses to provide additional means of reducing infection, such as more frequent cleaning and the provision of more hand-hygiene products.

Claire Burke, the director of Norwich-based specialist IT cleaning company Keep IT Clean is calling for more awareness to be made of the importance of a clean workstation. She says; “Statistically it has been proven that bugs can linger for up to 24 hours on a keyboard, mouse or phone. In the midst of the current swine flu pandemic it is clear we need to make people aware of the need to have a clean base from which to work. The methodical ‘deep cleaning’ of a keyboard can reduce the number of bacteria per square inch from typically more than 3,000 to just a trace, which is going to be crucial if we are going to beat the swine flu virus. ”

Regular cleaning of employee workstations can play a huge part in the fight against swine flu. Statistics show that the average office desktop carries more germs per square inch than the average toilet seat – making it vital for organisations to invest in deep cleaning in order to limit infection.

Since the outbreak of the swine flu pandemic, Claire has noticed a difference in the way in which organisations are paying increased attention to office cleanliness. She added; “We’ve definitely noticed an increase in businesses enquiring about our specialist IT cleaning. Many of our regular clients have had staff suffering from swine flu-like symptoms and we have been brought in to try and limit the spread of the virus.”

Keep IT Clean specialise in infection control, including the anti-bacterial cleaning of IT equipment such as keyboards, phones and photocopiers. For more information, visit www.keep-it-clean.co.uk

Full Steam Ahead for £8 million rail route funding

Eight million pounds of European funding has been provisionally allocated to develop the Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail route, it was reported today (17th July) at the Annual General Meeting of the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) in Hertford.

The application for funding was approved by EU Member State government officials in Brussels this week and will go before a Committee of MEPs for final sign-off in September.

The rail line between Felixstowe and Nuneaton is part of a significant European transport route and improvements will allow more freight to be shifted from the port by rail, reducing congestion on the A14.

Cllr Derrick Ashley, Chairman of the Regional Planning Panel, said “This is great news for the East of England. It will boost economic competitiveness and growth by delivering a reliable and efficient rail route; it will reduce carbon emissions and improve safety, security and health by making the roads and transport networks safer.

“The Assembly has worked with partners across the region and our MEPs to realise this project and it has paid off. The East of England’s Brussels Office provided both detailed technical information and crucial intelligence to those working on the bid and provided advice on the application and the lobbying.”

EERA has driven the process throughout with significant lobbying of Network Rail, the Department of Transport, the European Commission and through the organisation of a number of technical meetings and high level political summits which ensured the timely submission of the bid.

The regional support for this application was commended by both the European Commission and Department for Transport. It is hoped that this route will bid for European funding for works planned post 2013.

Two other projects were also provisionally approved which are located in the East of England – one to develop the London Gateway Port and the other for ICT measures to reduce congestion and accidents on the A14. These three projects together will see a total of £30 million of EU funding spent on transport in the region.

Ends
Notes to Editors:
For further information or to arrange an interview with an EERA spokesperson, please contact Claire Sefton, Communications Officer on
tel: 01284 729427 mob: 07920257940 email: Claire.sefton@eera.gov.uk

European Parliament

Trans-European Network – Transport (TEN-T)

The TEN-T scheme is the main source of European funding for transport infrastructure. Funding is split between the Multi-Annual Programme 2007-13 (80-85% of the budget and worth over 6 billion euros) and the annual funding rounds (112 million euros in 2007).

Felixstowe-Nuneaton rail line

Upgrading the Felixstowe-Nuneaton rail line has widespread support from the rail industry, environment groups, the East of England and East and West Midlands Development Agencies

One of the main benefits of upgrading the Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail line is to allow more freight to be carried by rail from the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich to the north and west. This would avoid the existing and congested rail route via North London and may in turn create opportunities for more passenger services into and out of London on the Great Eastern Line and on the Ipswich – Peterborough route.

There are five main elements to upgrading the Felixstowe-Nuneaton rail line as follows:

Gauge enhancement between Felixstowe and Peterborough (funding committed by Hutchison Port through a section 106 agreement)
Gauge enhancements between Peterborough and Nuneaton
Capacity improvements between Felixstowe and Nuneaton to cater for additional rail freight movements
Capacity improvements between Felixstowe and Nuneaton to facilitate an improvement in passenger train services to address future travel demands arising from the planned growth in housing and jobs in both the East of England and the East Midlands; and
Removing speed restrictions imposed on heavy freight trains on the cross country route between Ipswich and Peterborough.

Gauge enhancement would allow taller international containers to be carried on the Felixstowe-Nuneaton rail route.

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 105 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

Ford Retail wins top Motability award for fourth year running!

Motability Operations, the company that manages the national Motability car scheme for disabled motorists, has awarded Ford Retail their highest accolade of ‘Dealer Group of the Year’ for the fourth year running.

Presenting at the 2009 annual Supplier Awards held on Friday 3rd July, Ian Goswell, commercial services director of Motability Operations, said: “Ford Retail fully deserve to win this top award again. This has been an extremely positive year for the Motability Scheme and key to this has been the work of our business partners and suppliers who provide the highest levels of service for our customers”.

He continued: “Across the Ford Retail Group, dealers have continued to show exemplary levels of passion and commitment to the Scheme, setting the standard for business excellence”.

On collecting the award, Malcolm Tutton, Ford Retail’s Motability Manager, said: “Motability is extremely important to Ford Retail and we are very proud to have won ‘Dealer Group of the Year’ for the fourth year running. Winning the award is clear evidence that the commitment and excellence of each of our Motability specialists has been recognised”.

In addition to the award for Dealer Group of the Year, three individual Ford Retail dealerships from the Polar Ford and Dagenham Motors brands were ‘Highly Commended’ or rewarded for the huge commitment and achievements over the last 12 months.

The award to best manufacturer with annual Motability registrations over 10,000 went to Ford Motor Company. The latest Ford model range's flexibility and adaptability to suit disabled drivers led to the blue oval becoming Motability's favourite vehicle brand in the first half of 2009.

Ford Retail is Europe’s largest Ford dealer group owning 47 dealerships under brands Dagenham Motors, Polar Ford, Lindsay Ford, Heartlands Ford, Brunel Ford and La Motte in the Channel Islands.

The awards event was hosted by newsreader Huw Edwards for the second year.

2009 Felixstowe Regatta one of the best yet

Over 45 boats from across the UK and Europe arrived in Suffolk this weekend (10-12 July) for the 2009 Felixstowe Regatta, sponsored by the Haven Gateway Partnership.

The Regatta was moved from its traditional end of May slot to try and ensure better weather, and sailors were not disappointed. Yachts took part in two races on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday in the waters off Dovercourt Bay. Participants then enjoyed a full programme of shore-side events, including dinners, entertainment, hospitality and prize-giving ceremonies.

As an added incentive to racers, the Regatta was used as the IRC East Coast Championship for 2009, with local yacht Fatjax coming out as the overall winner. Haven Ports Yacht Club, based in Levington, were the winners of the team trophy.

One of the highlights of the Regatta was the inclusion of two 12m yachts, Crusader and Italia who took part in a series of races to decide the overall winner, with Crusader coming out on top, winning 6 out of the 9 races.

Nigel Mower, Chairman of the Regatta organising committee, commented: “This has been one of the best Regatta’s yet. The weather was great which led to some fantastic competitive sailing from all of the yachts involved. It was a great way to showcase what great sailing waters and facilities we have in the region. We are once again grateful to the Haven Gateway Partnership for helping us to continue this great event.”

The Haven Gateway Partnership has pledged to sponsor the Felixstowe Regatta in 2010, in an agreement that will once again highlight the importance of the area’s marine and leisure industry.

“Our sponsorship of the Felixstowe Regatta this year and also in 2010 will highlight the marine leisure sector within the Haven Gateway,” says Richard Morton, project director at the Haven Gateway Partnership. “The marine leisure sector is worth £85 million a year and employs 1,800 people in the sub-region.

“We believe that supporting events like the Felixstowe Regatta will help promote the Haven Gateway not only as an excellent cluster of maritime and marine leisure services but also as a destination for visiting yachtsmen and women.

“We have over 10,000 leisure berths and river moorings in the Haven Gateway sub-region and we feel this is a great opportunity to tell people about the wonderful sailing that is available here.”

Debbie’s ‘Myprom’ fights the recession to lead the way in prom planning

The UK’s first keepsake book for young ladies who are planning their school prom has been launched by Suffolk based businesswoman and new mum Debbie Jane Mann, through her new company Beautiful Beginnings, based in Trimley.

Debbie, who has taken voluntary redundancy in order to put all of her efforts into the project, thought of the idea to meet the increasing demand and popularity for proms in England. There is no other prom book available in the UK, and so Myprom is leading the way.

The Myprom book is a great place to store memories and gain advice on hair, beauty, finding a date and having fun. It also incorporates advice on the important key issues in young people’s lives such as sex, drugs, alcohol and staying safe. The accompanying website www.mypromonline.co.uk is a one stop online directory listing everything you could possibly need to enjoy your night, as well as a discussion forum, blog and advice for both girls and their parents!

The book has been designed to stand out on the shelf with its black and hot pink cover, and the illustrations are clever and funny. The book is broken down into sections including ‘choosing my dress’, ‘accessorising’ and ‘themes’. Each section is followed by a fold-out section designed for notes, musings and memories.

Debbie has been working with local young people, parents and teachers to create the book. She said of the book: “It has two main aims, to provide girls with everything they need to know in order to plan and enjoy their prom, and importantly it gives advice on how to stay safe, with tips on subjects including alcohol, drugs and boys. In America, a prom is one of the biggest events on the calendar, and the trend is starting to catch on in the UK.”

The book is the second keepsake book to be produced by Beautiful Beginnings, which Debbie set up initially as a side project from her home in November 2008. Myprom follows the success of a wedding keepsake book, launched in November 2008. Debbie continued:

“Through family and friends I know of several girls who are starting to plan their prom, and it amazed me how important it was to them and how much emphasis they were placing on it. I mentioned the idea of a prom book, and the response convinced me that there was a gap in the market.

It was important to me that the book included tips and advice on how to stay safe, and that the messages were portrayed in a fun and accessible manner which young people would empathise with, rather than rebelling against.”

A percentage of proceeds from the sale of each book will go to the Young Minds charity, the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional well being and mental health of children and young people, as well as Young Enterprise, and Felixstowe’s Level Two project.
Hannah Smith from YoungMinds commented: “YoungMinds are delighted to support the 'my prom' book and hope it provides many teens with some useful advice for their prom night.”

Debbie has also received support from the Felixstowe branch of HSBC, who have recommended MyProm enter the HSBC ‘start up stars’ awards. Claire Sadler from the branch commented: “HSCB are pleased to be providing Debbie with Business Banking facilities and would like to wish her every success in the future.”

The book is available to buy via the website,

www.mypromonline.co.uk and at The Jewellery Box, Felixstowe, and retails at £24.99. The book was printed by Colourplan in Ipswich.

Cambridge welcomes Silicon Valley’s ‘Travelling Geeks’

On 10th July, Cambridge played host to a visit from the ‘Travelling Geeks’, an informal group of twelve technology influencers and bloggers from Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area who travel the world, reporting on innovative technologies and entrepreneurs through blogs, video, podcasts and social networks. Already we have had positive responses from the Travelling Geeks. Tom Foremski of ‘Silicon Valley Watcher’ declared Cambridge “the best part of their time in the UK”. (visit http://www.siliconvalleywatcher.com/mt/archives/2009/07/uk_cambridge_an.php.

Hosted by East of England International, and sponsored by Omobono and Cambridge University Press, the visit included the chance for local businesses to quiz the geeks on using social media in small businesses through a panel discussion hosted by leading digital marketing agency Omobono, as well as the opportunity for ten innovative local businesses to pitch their products to the geeks. (See Notes to Editors for a list of the participating companies). The quick fire pitches and networking have generated interest in our companies here: http://jeffinlondon.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/handhelds-for-doctors/

The Geeks then participated in a tour of some of Cambridge’s foremost technology centres, including the Nokia and Microsoft laboratories and The Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, before enjoying a punt on the river Cam and a networking reception and dinner at Peterhouse College sponsored by Taylor Wessing. On Saturday afternoon they participated in an open ‘Tweet-Up’ at the Fitzwilliam Museum (see quick review of Nokia visit http://downtheavenue.com/2009/07/cambridge-nokia-labs-key-research-areas.html)

David Riches, Chief Executive of EEI commented on the visit: “We were delighted to have the Geeks in Cambridge, and through their blogging and use of social media, they will be exposing the East of England to global media, highlighting the region’s prowess as a world-leading hub for innovation and high-tech enterprise”.

For more and outgoing coverage on the Travelling Geeks to Cambridge visit www.eei-online.com/travellinggeeks

National survey 'pulls the plug' in aid of Oxfam

Katie Price, Cristiano Ronaldo, Size Zero and WAGs – we hear about them on a daily basis and now the public have voted to ‘pull the plug’ on them once and for all!

In an online survey for National Plughole Week (20-27 July) glamour model Katie Price and former Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed top spot, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Kerry Katona and Jonathan Ross. There was a double whammy for Katie Price as she and former husband Peter Andre’s marital split was chosen as the news headline of 2009 that most people would like to pull the plug on.

Meanwhile the WAGS scooped top spot for most disliked group of people, narrowly beating MPs into second place by one vote! Finally, ‘size zero’ was voted most disliked fashion trend, ahead of the dreaded comb-over!

National Plughole Week raises awareness of poor sanitation in developing countries and is supported by Buster, the caring brand of plughole cleaning products. Over £8,000 will be raised for Oxfam GB through 5 pence donations on every product sold in the campaign and the money will pay for water filters, rain water harvesting systems and essential hygiene kits.

Buster Brand Manager, Louise Perry, said: “In this country we tend to take sanitation for granted, but those in developing countries simply do not have that luxury. Buster is a caring brand and the donation to Oxfam GB for National Plughole Week will provide clean, safe water to help thousands of people who are not so fortunate.”

See www.plugholesneedlovetoo.com/plugholeweek or www.twitter.com/plugholeweek Oxfam GB is a Registered Charity Number 202918.

Dagenham Motors wins top Ford award

Dealer group Dagenham Motors has been awarded the prestigious “Chairman’s Award” by Ford Motor Company for its success in new car sales and aftersales over the past year.

The annual award, given for excellent customer satisfaction in either sales or servicing for cars and commercial vehicles, is only awarded to Europe’s best and most successful Ford dealers.

Martin Lumbard, Regional Director of Dagenham Motors Surrey, said: “We are delighted and proud to receive the Chairman’s award. This is the ultimate test of the service we provide because it is judged by our customers and is a real tribute to the dedication and commitment of our staff to offering a first class customer experience.”

Extensive research is continuously carried out by Ford to assess exactly how customers feel about the quality of attention they receive from their dealer; whether buying a new car or having their vehicle serviced. The Chairman's Award is the highest accolade for dealers who provide outstanding levels of customer satisfaction.

Dagenham Motors was presented with their trophy by Ingvar Sviggum, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe and Nigel Sharp, Managing Director Ford of Britain during a ceremony at Edinburgh Castle.

Suffolk firm shows the way for World Trade Week

Business leaders from Suffolk who have successfully expanded their companies into foreign markets are using World Trade Week (8 to 12 June) to encourage others to do the same.

Specialist software company for the homecare sector, HET Software in Haverhill, Suffolk, provides a range of solutions to enhance business effectiveness for homecare providers. It has started to sell its range of applications to the Australian market with considerable success, winning contracts with a number of high profile customers and culminating in a recent A$2million (approx. £1m) contract. The company puts much of its success down to the support provided through a programme called ‘Passport to Export’ which is delivered by East of England International.

John Mayhew, chief executive of HET Software, commented: “Local businesses should take advantage of the excellent opportunities that are available to them to get a foothold in foreign markets. EEI’s International Trade Adviser Paul Sharpe has been very helpful each step of the way in helping us develop our overseas trade.”

East of England International, the delivery arm of UK Trade and Investment for the East of England, is encouraging local businesses to take up opportunities to investigate and expand into foreign markets through programmes they offer such as ‘Passport to Export’ and ‘Gateway to Global Growth’.

Paul Sharpe commented: “Passport to Export is just one of the services that East of England International has on offer to help you make that first step into trading abroad. Even though we are in a recession, this is a perfect time for businesses to start venturing into foreign markets and World Trade Week provides a great opportunity to kick start growing your business. Give East of England International a call to see what we have on offer.”

Aimed at new and inexperienced exporters, UKTI’s Passport to Export programme offers free capability assessments, support in visiting potential markets, mentoring from a local export professional, free action plans, customised and subsidised training, and ongoing support throughout your exporting journey. The programme puts together, in one simple process, all the tools exporting companies need to grow their business.

World Trade Week highlights the importance of global trade in creating jobs and growth in the current economic climate. It aims to raise the profile of the range of practical support available to UK businesses to make sure they continue to be vibrant global traders and investors in the future.

Major supporters such as UK Trade and Investment, the British Chambers of Commerce and the CBI are backing World Trade Week to provide the impetus to get firms of all sizes and across all sectors looking at how they can exploit overseas markets.

For further information about East of England International call 0845 641 9955 or visit www.eei-online.com.

For more information about the week or to find out how to get involved visit www.dfid.gov.uk/worldtradeweekuk or www.berr.gov.uk/worldtradeweekuk

Lowestoft’s Richard Perkins joins the Board of East of England International

Lowestoft’s Richard Perkins joins the Board of East of England International

East of England International (EEI), the organisation that helps businesses export, and assists foreign-owned companies to set up in the region, has announced that Lowestoft’s Richard Perkins has joined the Board.

Richard is currently the Chairman of the Waveney Local Strategic Partnership and the Waveney Economic Partnership, and a Director of 1st East, the Urban Regeneration Company for Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. He has a particular interest in energy, sustainability and regeneration in the region, particularly through property development and inward investment.

Richard commented on his appointment: “I am very pleased to have been asked to join the Board of EEI. This will provide me with the opportunity to actively promote international trade and inward investment into the region; particularly into regeneration areas such as Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth that are already benefiting from the growth of the renewable energy sector, which has strong international connections and the potential for substantial development.”

Richard has extensive experience in commercial property and asset management, and is actively involved in managing property portfolios throughout England through his commercial property consultancy Richard Perkins & Associates, established in 1997 and based in Lowestoft. He is a past President of Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce, and a current Director of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.

Richard also holds a number of other non-executive roles across the region including board membership of the Suffolk Strategic Partnership, Director of Suffolk Development Agency (Choose Suffolk), and Director and Trustee of Waveney Community Forum.

Sir Robin Young, Chairman of EEI added: “We are delighted to have Richard on board. His experience and commitment to the prosperity of the region speaks for itself, and his expertise will be extremely useful to EEI in our role of encouraging investment into the East of England.”
Richard’s formative years were spent in Surrey and Sussex, although he has lived in East Anglia for more than 20 years. His interests include Victorian & Georgian architecture, architectural photography, hill and distance walking, cycling and the environment.
East of England International is the delivery arm of UK Trade and Investment in the East of England.

For further information about East of England International call 0845 641 9955 or visit http://www.eei-online.com/.

Project PR's Monty wins Suffolks Cutest Pet

Monty the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever won over the hearts of judges to be crowned Suffolk's Cutedt Pet after his photograph was sent in along with over 100 other entrants to compete for the title as part of National Pet Month 2009.

Having just celebrated his 2nd birthday another celebration is under way now for Monty who has won Suffolk's cutest Pet Competition, which was organised and run throught April by Orwell Vet Group and Town 102FM radio to find the cutest pet in Suffok. Cats, dogs, rabbits, goats, ducks and even squirrels were hoping to win the fantastic title, but Monty's big brown eyes sealed the win with the judges and he certainly is a special, deserving dog.

TBG Learning to deliver new Government flagship programme ‘Response to Redundancy’

TBG Learning, which has centres in Gravesend, Folkestone, Gillingham and Ashford is celebrating as it has won a prestigious contract from the Government to deliver its flagship ‘Response to Redundancy’ programme in the area, which will help almost 500 people in Kent between June and December.

‘Response to Redundancy’ offers personalised assistance to anyone who has been made redundant in the last 3 months, or who will be facing redundancy in the next 3 months. It provides appropriate training tailored to the needs of the individual, and can be as short or as long as is needed, dependent on the extent of help required.

Those on the course will be assisted to top up their skills in literacy and numeracy if needed, or will be given tips on interviewing, CV preparation and job search techniques. Learners will then be assisted to find employment by TBG Learning’s specialist recruitment consultants. The course is aimed at all skill levels, from basic skills, to those who have come from professional and management roles.

Mike Burger, TBG Learning Regional Manager for Kent said: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious contract from the government which is great news for anyone who has been made redundant in the last 3 months in Kent. This programme is great because it is tailored to the needs of the individual. Come along and see what it can do for you!”

To find out more about whether Response to Redundancy is for you, call 01474 566588 or drop into the centre on King Street.

The course is free to anyone who enrols as it is being funded by the Learning and Skills Council.