GENEROUS staff have raised thousands of pounds for two charities close to their hearts.

Glossy magazine distributors Frontline Ltd, in Midgate, raised much-needed funds for their charities of the year, Anna’s Hope and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Karting, cake baking and curry sales were just a few of the money-raising schemes led by the company’s Mojo committee, which presented cheques to the tune of £2,000 to each cause last week.

Frontline managing director Frank Straetmans said: “I’m really proud of what we have achieved in 2011 and voting for this year’s chosen charities is now under way.”

The company’s Christmas auction alone helped boost the donation pot by £1,000.

A FULL dress rehearsal for the Olympic torch relay will take place between Leicester and Peterborough, the organisers of the London 2012 Games have announced.

It was revealed yesterday that the stretch of the relay route, which cuts through both rural and city locations, will be used for a trial run on April 20.

This is so that the London 2012 Organising Committee (Locog) can check out their convoy, crew and communications procedures ahead of the 8,000-mile full event taking place later in the year.

People are being encouraged to line the streets as the test convoy travels through Quorn, Loughborough, Hoton, Wymeswold, Asfordby, Melton Mowbray, Langham, Oakham, Uppingham and Stamford to make the test realistic.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: “Test events are a vital part of our operations in preparing for all of the events that are part of the 2012 Games.

“We are also looking forward to working with the 100 inspirational people who will play an essential role in helping us to test how we will operate during the relay.”

Procedures to be tested during the rehearsal will include timings, convoy movement, radio communications, the collection and drop-off of torchbearers, route markings, traffic management and security operations.

The torches used during the dress rehearsal will not be lit as the Olympic Flame is not officially ignited until May 10.

Representatives from the Royal College of the Blind, Loughborough College and Leicester, De Montfort, Loughborough and Northampton universities will be putting on their running shoes as torchbearers for the rehearsal.

The Olympic torch relay will start for real at Land’s End, Cornwall, on the morning of May 19.

During its 70-day relay journey around the UK the torch will fly by zip wire from the Tyne Bridge, ascend Snowdon by rail, and cross Loch Ness.

Locog say the torch will come within 10 miles of 95 per cent of the country’s population before the tour brings the Olympic Flame to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London on July 27.

REGIONAL security solutions company GSL Dardan has appointed Renato Notarianni as managing director of the group’s Gardwell Secure Systems business.

While the company, based locally in Fengate, Peterborough, is now a separate limited company, it remains a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSL Dardan Limited.

Renato, known as Ren to his colleagues and clients, joined the Gardline group in 1997 travelling the world in his engineering support related role.

In 2002 he joined a division of GSL as an engineer where he was responsible for installing the company’s security systems. His responsibilities grew in this time to include surveying, specifying and business development. In 2007 he became divisional manager.

Upon his appointment, Ren (42) said: “I am looking forward to this new role and the challenges it presents, in particular helping develop the skills and knowledge of the team to drive the business forward.

I want to be able to utilise all the technology currently available which is not currently used to its full potential, and provide our clients with exceptional security solutions”.

A key part of the company’s strategy was to focus on growth by managing key business objectives which resulted in a turnover of £500,000 for the first time in 2011.

Key clients include the East of England Co-operative Society, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Budgens retail outlets, Claxton Engineering, Gardline Shipping and Aquaterra, to name but a few. In addition, Gardwell Secure Systems (GSS) works in partnership with Norfolk Constabulary, and Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.

Mark Duffy, chairman of GSL Dardan, said: “We have made tremendous strides to grow the business and our profile within the industry, and this development is another milestone in GSL’s history.

“Ren brings experience, dedication and an abundance of renewed energy to the company. His promotion to the position of managing director is a reflection of his hard work and dedication and therefore thoroughly well-deserved.”

Gardwell Secure Systems has provided electronic security solutions for more than 15 years, including CCTV, access control systems and intruder alarms and launched its new website in January 2012.

NEW Peterborough-based business VA Office Solutions is offering administrative and business support services remotely to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the UK.

Local business owners can delegate time-consuming tasks to a team of virtual assistants who are able to offer their clients a variety of services at a high professional level.

They can also provide their clients with total flexibility as the local virtual assistants are available to work outside normal office hours, seven days a week.

Businesses no longer have to worry about office space or equipment as the virtual assistants at VA Office Solutions are equipped to undertake their tasks and use their own facilities.

Clients will be able to choose to work on an hourly rate or discounted monthly retainer packages depending on their business requirements. Business owners only pay for the hours they need, so all hours worked will be 100 per cent productive.

Director of VA Office Solutions Marlise Rodrigues said: “When you set up in business you want to do something you’re good at, but as a small business you are most likely to be doing more than what you have planned, including the time-consuming office tasks which are important to do.

“Our aim is to help businesses focus on planning and developing their businesses by delegating to us their time-consuming tasks and doing what they are actually in business to do. This will save them time and it will be cost effective.”

VA Office Solutions offers a taster package for new clients interested in trying out its services with no commitments. It also offers additional services such as the Rush Job Service and the Speedy Weekend Service.

n For more details, visit www.vaoffice solutions.co.uk

LOCAL business Who Ate My Crayons will be joining TV Dragon Theo Paphitis at a conference in Birmingham next month after being selected as one of his six favourite small businesses in a weekly Twitter event.

Mr Paphitis selected the graphic and website design agency last January in his Small Business Sunday (SBS) and tweeted his selection to his 223,000 followers.

“I was thrilled when I saw the tweets coming in congratulating me on being chosen,” said Tia Lush, owner of the business in Crowland, near Peterborough.

“It was a complete surprise, as it was only my second attempt in the contest. The website visit statistics went through the roof. I couldn’t believe it.”

After the contest, Tia created an SBS “badge” for her website to celebrate the win. Other people saw it and asked if she could design them a similar badge for their own websites. She soon became the unofficial badge designer for SBS, through word of mouth and recommendation from other SBS winners.

“I have been delighted to have helped each winner, and have donated all the proceeds from the badge work to charity,” added Tia. “So far, we have raised more than £500, which has been donated to charities such as the Japan Tsunami Appeal and NewLife Charity.”

She added: “I think it’s wonderful that such a successful businessman can show his support to UK-based businesses by taking time out of his Sunday evening to organise this event. Through my win, I have connected with other SBS winners and have gained valuable new clients and leads, all through the power of Twitter. I’m looking forward to attending the conference on March 30, and meeting the other members of this unique club.”

Tia has more than 12 years in the media and advertising industry, predominately in London. She comes from a fine arts background, so has always been drawn to the creative side of business. Her clients range from large corporations to individuals starting their own businesses.

DO you know of any local pioneering women in business?

The 2012 First Women Awards celebrate trailblazing women from the business, entrepreneurial, manufacturing, science and technology, and media sectors who are leading the way for the next generation.

The awards launch event will take place on March 5, and the closing date for entries is April 13, 2012.

For more information, visit http://fwa.realbusiness.co.uk/home

]]> 1.3545117 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:37:56 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/export_drive_prompts_staff_travel_warning_1_3545113

BUSINESSES in Peterborough are being urged to remember their duty of care to employees travelling abroad as more companies prepare to expand into overseas markets as part of the Government’s export drive.

Insurance broker Bluefin highlights as many as 86 per cent of companies demonstrating a significant lack of awareness of the legal requirement to undertake pre-travel risk assessments.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers have a duty to undertake pre-travel risk assessments which should identify the reasonably foreseeable risks that may arise due to the travel.

THE Cartridge World store in Peterborough is aiming to help local job seekers find employment by offering to print up to 10 copies of each customer’s CV free of charge until Saturday, March 31, 2012.

It is part of the company’s national CV Sorted campaign to help the country’s growing number of unemployed find work.

Customers can either email or visit the store in Lincoln Road with their CV on a CD, and have up to 10 A4 sheets printed free.

]]> 1.3545112 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:36:12 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/siblings_are_the_new_generation_1_3545105

WHEN Liz Clare set up a new business venture with her brother, Charles, it was to continue the family line promoting a new innovation in physiotherapy, MBST.

Liz and Charles have opened up a clinic, Cell Regeneration, based in the village of Tinwell, near Stamford, which has taken over the MBST magnetic resonance therapy practice from their mother, Ann Clare, who had enjoyed much success over the past four years.

Ann, a local physiotherapist of more than 30 years, is still the assessor for the clinic and always assesses patients before they begin treatment.

Charles, a sports development graduate, was keen to specialise in sports injury-related complaints following his university days, and for ex-media professional Liz, the new business was an ideal opportunity to do something different in a family setting.

The pair both undertook intensive training at MedTec, in Germany, from whom they rent the MBST machines, prior to opening the business in November 2011. Four of the machines are for medical use and one for cosmetic use.

Their self-financed enterprise is the first dedicated MBST centre in the UK and has already started to attract patients from across the globe.

MBST devices and procedures are used for the management of arthritic conditions; sports injuries of the back, knee, foot, elbow and ankle joints; degeneration of intervertebral discs; osteoporosis and other complaints. The treatment is non-invasive and pain free.

The therapy has been proven to repair and regenerate cartilage, increase bone density as well as a host of other treatments.

MBST is based on the same principles of MRI, with the magnetic fields and magnetic resonance frequency much lower than in MRI.

Liz said: “We have a dedicated treatment centre. The treatment is controlled by chip-card technology which gives the correct resonance to the specific area requiring physiotherapy treatment.”

Cell Regeneration can provide strong supporting testimonials from various clients on the degree of success of the treatments, including one client who had treatment for osteoporosis and already his bone density has increased by 10 per cent.

The clinic currently has people coming from as far afield as Australia to be treated.

So far, it has built up a fair clientele just from word-of-mouth recommendation.

For more details, call Charles or Liz on 01780 238084.

]]> 1.3545105 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:34:34 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/accountants_launch_trainee_scheme_1_3545097

A SCHEME to find the next wave of trainee accountants has been launched by Peterborough firm Rawlinsons.

There are up to three vacancies for post A-level students at the firm’s offices in Lincoln Road, starting in September. As well as learning on the job, the trainees will be supported while studying for their accountancy qualifications.

If successful, after three years, the trainees will receive their Association of Accountancy Technician qualification – the equivalent of a degree.

Following that, they will begin working towards the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) qualifications which will, ultimately, lead to them becoming fully-fledged accountants.

Rawlinsons’ trainee scheme is well-established. A number of the firm’s current partners started their career as trainees and have worked their way up the ranks.

Mark Jackson, the partner who oversees the scheme, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for someone with the ambition to become an accountant who prefers not to go to university.

“It is certainly not an easy option. The trainees earn as they work and receive first class mentoring and on-the-job training.

“In return we ask for a commitment from them to study for the industry recognised qualifications.”

Last year, two trainees were taken into the Rawlinsons fold. James Keith and Harry Fort achieved seven A-levels between them but avoided the scramble for university places by accepting trainee positions with Rawlinsons.

n Anyone interested in finding out more about the scheme or applying for a place should contact Mark at Rawlinsons, Ruthlyn House, 90 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2SP or email mark.jackson@rawlinsons.co.uk

]]> 1.3545097 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:33:15 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/focus_on_new_key_account_manager_1_3545096

PROJECT management and IT training specialist Focus has appointed Darryl Childs as a key account manager, based at its office in Werrington, Peterborough.

Darryl has a sales, training and account management background in the healthcare sector.

Focus managing director Steve Twine said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to enhance skills in organisations as prominent and diverse as HSBC, SABMiller and the Lawn Tennis Association.

“Each month we have more clients who come to appreciate the quality, flexibility and value we offer. We now need to expand our account management team in order to further develop the high level of service for which we have become so well known.”

Focus also has a record 13,000 courses available online for booking by individuals and learning and development specialists. All of them can now be explored using the new search tool on the Focus website at www.focus-on-training.co.uk

LOCAL audio-visual and automation provider RS AV Solutions has completed its latest bespoke Meridian audio installation project for The Jet Business, in the world’s first-ever, street level corporate aviation showroom.

Rob Sullivan, owner of RS AV Solutions, based in Conington, near Huntingdon, said: “It was a really exciting opportunity for our team to demonstrate their wide experience of designing and installing bespoke Meridian audio systems.”

“We’re proud to have played our part in delivering such a great customer experience for the valued clients of The Jet Business,” added Rob.

The Jet Business, located at 1 Grosvenor Place, London, provides a one-stop-shop for buyers to check out a wide range of business jet options from all the main aviation manufacturers.

Company founder and director Steve Varsano said: “As our showroom’s a world first in every way, it was crucial to provide the very best experience for our corporate and private clients who visit from all over the world. We were particularly impressed with the attention to detail in the Meridian design and installation project undertaken for us by RS AV Solutions.”

For the music solution in the main showroom, RS AV Solutions selected a Control 15 Digital Media System and powerful DSP5200 Digital Loudspeakers, and for the secondary showroom, an Audio Core 200 and Media Core 200 are combined with compact, elegant DSP3200 Digital Loudspeakers.

The client uses Meridian Control PC to import audio content from a wide variety of sources, and everything can be controlled effortlessly using the Meridian Control app on their existing iPads. To complete the project, RS AV Solutions also installed five Meridian ceiling loudspeakers and an AV receiver to allow playback of the jet configurator and other presentation material, all programmed using the client’s AMX controller.

RS AV Solutions recently established a presence in the capital when it joined forces with fellow British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) industry partner Muralto UK to create a “unique Central London interior design showroom experience”, in Seymour Place, London W1, combining Muralto’s cutting edge furniture and accessories with the latest in Meridian home entertainment systems.

Rob’s business has introduced brand new elements of sight and sound to the showroom, which will allow customers to see and hear for themselves how well they fit into any modern living space, enhancing the overall contemporary look and feel. Customers can even slot their own iPod into the i80 iPod dock to experience their own favourite tracks like they’ve never heard them before.

“We’re proud to be industry partners of BIID, and we’re excited for this new collaboration with Muralto UK,” said Rob. “Muralto’s W1 showroom is the perfect environment to showcase the beautiful looks and fantastic sound and vision quality of the Meridian range.”

]]> 1.3545095 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:33:06 +0000 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/seminar_aims_to_inspire_1_3545091

A FORTHCOMING seminar will aim to show that to create and run a truly inspiring business is quite simple.

Internationally-renowned inspirational thinker and speaker Paul Dunn will show the way at the Inspire event on, February 28 at the Holiday Inn, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, from 9am to 12.30pm.

The seminar is subtitled Really Growing Your Business, Adding Speed, Adding Purpose, Changing Lives! Among the many strategies to be revealed are:

How to set your business apart in simple ways so you become the “go-to” business.

Why most businesses miss the “wow” and the “remarkable”.

The six “must-communicate” things now in this financial climate.

The seminar, hosted by AA Accountants, is the second in a series of seminars to be offered by the city firm following the Beat the Recession event held in December 2011.

Tickets are £67 but a discount of £40 is available for early booking and further discount for group booking.

To book, contact Hilary Gallup at Hilary@aa-accountants.co.uk or call any team member on 01733 555667. Alternatively, bookings can be made online through http://aaaccs.eventbrite.com/?discount=AAC

As usual, AA Accountants is offering free tickets to the first five ET readers who contact the firm direct.

HEALTH and safety in the workplace have become words that many local businesses are not too keen on.

With endless paperwork and ever-changing regulations, smaller companies in particular can often find themselves vulnerable to prosecution. It seems like almost every other day there are news reports and articles detailing a business being taken to court for not providing enough training for their staff, often resulting in serious injuries, or even in the worst case scenario, fatalities.

This month I thought I’d take the opportunity to tell you about some of the ways the Chamber is helping local businesses keep up to date with their responsibilities and legal duties. The latest addition to our benefits portfolio is our new online health and safety training courses which offer members a variety of different online modules to keep staff well trained. Courses range from basic inductions to fire safety and manual handling, and there are also specialist modules available for employees in housing associations, care homes, estate agents and even schools. If this interests you and you’d like to sign up for a free trial, call us on 01733 370809 or visit our website to find out more.

But, of course, health and safety isn’t the only area that offers businesses of all sizes a multitude of hoops to jump through on a regular basis. Employment law is a complicated and ever-changing field, and one which can be costly for businesses that don’t quite get it right. This is why Chamber membership also provides unlimited access to hundreds of HR documents through our Chamber HR service. Members can build up all the documents they require, including contracts of employment and employee handbooks, and can download template forms to use again and again. This is particularly helpful for those businesses that do not have an HR person specifically employed with their workforce, and members have the added protection of expert advice from the Chamber HR helpline, which is available 24/7.

The benefits package also includes a 24/7 legal helpline and protection against the cost of tax investigations and employment tribunals. This peace of mind, particularly for our smaller member businesses, allows them to get on with the day-to-day running of the company safe in the knowledge that they are covered, with no need to pay out for a second policy commonly acquired through accountants.

Becoming a member of the Chamber brings with it a whole package of benefits designed to aid businesses in many different ways, and it’s not just the company that benefits from membership.

Two well–known Peterborough companies that have recently taken advantage of some of the employee benefits available through the Chamber are Anne Corder Recruitment and Media Matters, with both companies signing up to the Chamber Primary Health Plan from Westfield Health. With stress quickly becoming one of the biggest health issues in the workplace, plus increasing regulation surrounding the health and well-being of staff, the plan is a great way to deliver peace of mind for companies and their staff. It is also a very cost-effective and simple way to reward and motivate hardworking employees while boosting your employee benefits package to attract the very best talent while recruiting. For an employer contribution of just £1.10 per employee, per week, staff can claim back the cost of everyday medical expenses such as dental treatments, optical costs and therapy treatments.

Chamber membership is about more than just building your business by networking to bring in new clients. It’s about protecting your business, enhancing profitability and developing your workforce so that they can work to their best ability. To find out more about what we can do to help your company, whatever size or sector you operate in, why not join us at one of our informal networking evenings? We meet twice a month at the Ramada Hotel in Peterborough for a free, drop-in session that, above all else, gives you the opportunity to meet other Chamber members and discover what we’re already doing for them.

Find full details at www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk. We would love to meet you.

PHIL Cox is on a mission to help companies shake up their working practices and grab hidden opportunities for growth.

Positive Business Development, the enterprise he has launched, sees him go inside small and medium-sized businesses to assess their operational performance and deliver straight-talking advice.

“Most businesses have the scope to improve processes, increase efficiency and reduce operational costs,” said Phil. “But this can be difficult to identify when you’re so wrapped up in the day-to-day running.

“Positive Business Development is about examining processes from the inside, and having the industry experience to know when – and how – things could be done more effectively.

“One of the key aspects of my work is to identify how performance could be raised and to deliver better management information to the board and the management team.”

Based in Peterborough but working throughout the UK, Positive Business Development draws on Phil’s 30 years of working “inside and alongside” manufacturing firms, and focuses on helping those that have the vision to invest in growth.

By going in to the workplace, talking with directors, managers and staff, and identifying areas in which improvement and change can be made, Phil offers a hands-on, collaborative approach to identifying the individual needs of a business. He then produces an action plan for the company and follows this up with health checks to ensure the actions are being implemented effectively to produce results.

“Those firms that are content to put low performance down to the ‘big wide world’ need to look internally at their systems, processes, employees and management information,” said Phil. “This way, they can get more out of what they already have, and be in a strong position to reap the harvest as the economy improves. Otherwise these companies will be left behind.”

Phil is spreading the word about Positive Business Development through local networking events and speaking on subjects such as How to Enhance Business Performance.

He also writes a blog on his website, positivebusinessdevelopment.co.uk, offering free tips and advice.

His enthusiastic and honest approach to business is respected by company directors he has worked with, including Judith Fox, managing director of Horner Brothers Print Group.

She said: “We chose Phil because he brings to business the enthusiasm, positive action and tenacity to achieve the right results.

“He spent time with all areas of the Horner’s business, finding out exactly what was needed, and understanding how to adapt our processes. We have started to see real benefits from the new system and it has had the desired effect – of freeing up our internal resources. Phil’s work keeps on producing improvements and cost reductions for us.”

For Phil, ensuring the client shares his confidence in their ability to grow is all-important. Those that know where they want to be in the next financial year have a far greater chance of success.

“Having spent lots of time out and about meeting business leaders, small and medium-sized enterprises do seem to be enjoying buoyancy and optimism compared with the bigger players and public sector,” he said.

“This is about them having the right attitude to business. The bosses that do best are those that look to the future and plan for growth.

“A constructive spirit and a confident approach are the greatest investment you can make – and they don’t cost a thing.”

n Further information is available at www.positivebusiness development.co.uk

BUSINESSES developers and community groups from across the city are set to pledge their commitment towards Peterborough’s aim to become the UK’s Environment Capital at the first Environment Capital Conference later this month.

The conference, which will celebrate the environmental achievements of Peterborough in recent years, will focus on the sustainability targets set down by Peterborough City Council and partner organisations, Opportunity Peterborough and green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), in the city’s continued drive towards becoming the UK’s Environment Capital.

Businesses will come together on the day to look at how they can make changes to their working practices and pledge to achieve tangible targets. The conference is expected to see ambitious targets announced, including increasing city recycling levels to 65 per cent by 2020 and cutting CO2 emissions by 35 per cent by 2014. #

City businesses attending the conference will be asked to make green pledges, outlining how they are committed to protecting the environment and helping to achieve these ambitions.

Carol Wakelin, Queensgate’s environmental co-ordinator, said: “Businesses large and small have the ability to make a difference and in doing so can reap significant financial benefits – being green makes good business sense. The team at Queensgate are working hard to ensure there are a range of successful initiatives behind the scenes to help minimise the centre’s impact on the environment and to deliver a positive impact on the businesses’ bottom line. We are committed to working with all of our retailers in helping them to meet their own environmental goals.”

Cllr Sam Dalton, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for environment capital, said: “The city council works in partnership with Opportunity Peterborough, PECT and a host of other agencies to ensure we are doing all we can to save energy and reduce waste, along with the huge number of green sector companies.

“So now is the time to get everyone together to share even more ideas, find out what is going on in Peterborough and discover what the city is doing to establish itself as the UK’s Environment Capital.”

The event takes place at the Kingsgate Conference Centre in Staplee Way, Parnwell, on Monday, February 27, between 9am and 1pm. Entrance is free. To attend, contact karen.gilgan@peterborough.gov.uk.

LOCAL and regional businesses that have reduced their impact on the environment are set to be honoured at the prestigious Investors in the Environment accreditation awards event on Monday, April 30.

The event, sponsored by Eco Building Products, marks the second successful anniversary of the Investors in the Environment (iiE) scheme, which is managed by Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT). The scheme was originally launched as an easy-to-use accreditation process to help small and medium-sized businesses improve their environmental performance and save on their operating costs.

However, it has been so successful in delivering tangible benefits and high-profile recognition that increasing numbers of larger organisations have joined. It offers tangible environmental and business benefits to a wide range of organisations, from a taxi firm that wants to reduce fuel costs to large distribution centres such as IKEA or shopping centres such as Queensgate. The scheme’s reputation has also spread beyond Peterborough throughout the East of England, Lincolnshire and we are in the process of franchising the scheme in Yorkshire.

Last year, more than 12 Peterborough-based businesses were presented with their unique environmental accreditation awards. This year more than double that amount of businesses are set to be recognised with their certification.

There are a number of guest speakers presenting at the awards. These will include leader of Peterborough City Council, Cllr Marco Cereste and renewable energy business specialist Jonathan Selwyn.

The event, held in Peterborough, is free for any business to attend and will also be displaying a number of the latest environmental products and services.

To date more than 600 companies have pledged to develop more sustainable operating practices and, out of those, over 100 businesses have achieved, or are working towards, their iiE accreditation at the bronze, silver or the top-rated “green” level. The scheme has been designed so that any business can achieve the accreditation, but it still remains unique. Businesses have a number of systems to put in place and actions to take, their best practice and green credentials are showcased to the other 600 members and publicised through PECT’s media channels.

The IIE website and regular free workshops are open to all businesses to offer practical advice and templates for developing environmental improvement processes.

For more information about Investors in the Environment, or to book your place at the awards, contact nilam.patel@pect.org.uk, call 01733 866436, or visit www.iie.uk.com More events confirmed for Fairtrade Fortnight Fairtrade Fortnight arrives in Peterborough on Monday, February 27 and finishes on Sunday, March 11 and now includes a free ethical film screening of Black Gold. As westerners revel in designer lattes, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar coffee industry, Black Gold traces one man’s fight for a fair price.

The events now include Project Dirt Launch (February 29); Fairtrade Stall (March 1); Footprinting Werrington (March 4); Ethical film screening (March 6); Fairtrade Seminar (March 7).

For more information, or to book, email: fair-trade@peterborough.gov.uk fairtrade@peterborough.gov.uk fairtrade@peterborough.gov.uk

PETERBOROUGH’S Eco Innovation Centre (EIC) has re-energised its virtual office services and alongside the rebranding to Virtual Incubation Partners (VIPs), a number of new, innovative services have been added to the new packages.

Working together with the Carbon Neutral ICT supplier Instaprise Solutions, which is a tenant of the centre, the EIC has been able to secure the following, free, exclusive services for existing and new VIPs:

n Carbon Zero webhosting account

n Carbon Neutral Data backup account

n Website design and SEO report(s)

n Flexible physical office for up to 64 hours per month.

n Up to unlimited ‘hot desk’ usage

n Exclusive discounts to the Eco Virtual Assistant service.These additional services, together with the existing telephone answering service, registered business address, postal service, exclusive advertising opportunities and discounted meeting rooms, are available from £30 per month.

For details, or to arrange a visit to the Eco Innovation Centre, visit website www. ecoinnovationcentre.co.uk or call 01733 294520.

TWO local organisations have made extra commitments to the environment this month with new initiatives being implemented.

Bailey’s Sandwich Bars, which have just opened a brand new sandwich shop in Cowgate, Peterborough, have made a bold impact on the city by offering 100 per cent compostable materiels on all of its packaging.

Mark Bailey, from Bailey’s Sandwich Bar, said: “We aim to deliver taste and quality in all of our products and this extends to the packaging. All of our packaging can be added to your compost bin, including the part which looks like cellophane, which is actually made of plant material. It certainly makes lunch taste that little bit better by knowing that you are looking after the environment too.”

Work has also begun at Ormiston Bushfield Academy, in Orton Centre, to deliver sustainable heating to the new academy building.

Kier Construction has started installing the academy’s 400 kW biomass boiler which will supply the base heat demand of the site, with top-up heating supplied from a gas boiler. It is expected that the boiler will provide in excess of 70 per cent of the annual heating energy usage.

PETERBOROUGH Environment City Trust’s mission to plant a tree for every person in the city is entering an ambitious phase with its aim to plant more than 3,200 trees across the city over the forthcoming weeks.

Supported by local businesses, two new sites in the Peterborough area are set to be developed. About 1,500 trees are to be planted in the first site off Malborne Way, Orton Malborne, and 1,300 trees are to be planted on the site off Willow Drove, near Newborough.

Planting days which have been organised by Kier Construction, News International, Anglian Water, Peterborough City Council, Print on Demand and Ormiston Bushfield Academy have been rearranged due to bad weather at the start of the month.

Caroline Hall, PECT’s Forest for Peterborough project officer, said: “This is an exciting and ambitious stage of the Forest for Peterborough project.

“We are planning to plant more than 3,000 tree saplings during February. Without the support of local organisations, the Forest for Peterborough would not be possible.”

If your organisation would like to find out more ways to support the Forest for Peterborough project, call Caroline Hall on 01733 882545.

What is my legal position when a number of staff make requests for time off during the 2012 Olympics this summer?

Many employers are already receiving requests from employees for time off to attend, watch or volunteer at the 2012 Olympics which, of course, fall within the main summer holiday period.

A request to take time off during the Olympics is just the same as any holiday request.

Employers need to balance requests fairly to ensure the business can operate as usual. Most employment contracts permit employers to decide when holidays can be taken and enable them to refuse requests due to business needs. Under the Working Time Regulations employers have the right to provide employees with written notice refusing holiday requests if certain procedures are followed.

It makes sense to notify employees now how you intend to deal with multiple requests for time off, for instance first come first served or drawing names out a hat. Whatever you decide, you will need to ensure the system is fair, non-discriminatory and unlikely to lead to employees feeling unfairly treated.

Olympic events will often be scheduled during working hours. Employers should consider whether flexible working arrangements such as different start and finish times or alternative lunch hours are possible. Employers may anticipate an increase in sickness absence because employees want to stay at home. You should remind employees of your sickness absence policies and address any issues during “return to work” interviews.

Finally there is no legal right to time off for those who have volunteered to assist at the Olympics. As with all requested time off, it is down to you, the employer, whether to grant it or not.

Next week: I want to grow my business but hiring new staff is a huge commitment. What are my options?

-- If you have got a business issue you would like addressing by one of our panel, send it to john.kralevich@peterboroughtoday.co.uk

A week in the life of a local business person:

Monday

My husband and I are very fortunate to live in a beautiful stone Rutland Water village, so each day begins with a walk with our black labrador, Merlin.

I also check and feed our flock of Ryeland sheep, very important just now as the ewes are heavily pregnant and look like tubby woolly teddy bears.

Driving to my office in Peterborough, I review a customer call logged late on Friday for a six-year-old computer file server with two faulty drives which we do not maintain.

Saturday was spent tracking down replacements that are hopefully being delivered this morning.

We recently introduced a new YOU Care service that allows our engineers to remotely monitor servers 24/7 and spot any problems immediately before the servers fail, but our client doesn’t subscribe to this.

I make a note to visit the client soon to review their needs and will suggest they upgrade their service package to YOU Care package.

Hardware or system failure accounts for 78 per cent of all data loss, and it can be devastating for a business.

Sadly, 60 per cent of companies that lose data close within six months.

The drives arrive with us by lunchtime and we work throughout the afternoon and evening to rebuild the server and to try to restore the data from the customer’s back-up tapes.

Some 34 per cent of all companies fail to test their tape back-ups and of those that do 70 per cent discover failure.

Tuesday

I have a meeting with online networking site I Patter, which is aimed at connecting and promoting small businesses throughout the UK.

The rest of the day is spent producing a tender to provide hardware support on a large number of Tally Genicom printers and also a server upgrade from MS Small Business Server 2003 to SBS 2011.

Wednesday

Is the day I work from home. Microsoft Small Business Server allows me to access my PC in the office and I can therefore work just as effectively without being in the office.

I have access to all emails and documents and can also access our Sage accountancy programme.

I work on plans for the business rather than in the business.

I update sales targets, P&L and cashflow projections, and write a monthly email newsletter for our customers informing them of our change in logo and corporate identity along with suggestions on system upgrades.

Thursday

I visit a customer for whom we have recently installed a new HP Proliant server with Microsoft Small Business Server 2011 to discuss the advantages of our YOU Care Package.

New business cards arrive and they look great. The rest of the stationery is not due to arrive until Monday. I spend the afternoon applying to register the YOU Care logo as a trademark.

Friday

I spend a lot of time designing the navigation on the new website particularly the headings and content.

I plan the layout and pass to our in-house web team to put my thoughts into reality. Now all I have to do is all the content. I drop into Waitrose on the way home for their Valentines offer of a meal for two for to give me the night off cooking.

Saturday

I hoped to do a training walk for The Royal Marsden Hospital Fund Raising March which I am doing on March 11, walking 14 miles from the Marsden in London to its sister hospital in Sutton, but it is minus 13C and paths are icy and snow bound, so I put it off for another week.

I light a log fire in the lounge instead and snuggle down to watch the Six Nations rugby.

Sunday

Minus 6 this morning and I meet two equally mad friends for a 3.5-mile run. This allows me to feel good about eating my full English breakfast before starting the preparation for the week ahead. I plan and cook some meals on Sunday and pop them in the freezer.

I always cook a proper Sunday lunch, as it’s one of the few times my family get the chance to sit down and spend time together over a meal.

My youngest son, who is a meteorologist in the Navy, always makes an effort to get home for it if he is not on duty or at sea. However, this weekend it is just a phone call to catch up before he goes back to sea.

A DEVELOPER behind multi-million pound plans to extend Peterborough’s Queensgate shopping centre has warned that the long-awaited project could be further delayed if a neighbouring scheme gets the green light.

The warning comes from Hawksworth Securities ahead of {http://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=2630&Ver=4|tonight’s meeting of Peterborough City Council’s planning committee (link to meeting agenda)} when members will consider ING Retail Estate’s own plans to build on derelict land near the railway station.

The Station Gateway scheme, which has been recommended for approval by council officers, would create 635 jobs on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office in Bourges Boulevard with a 4,300sq m foodstore and 850sq m of other shops.

But Bristol-based Hawksworth, which has long harboured an ambition to bring forward the North Westgate retail regeneration scheme around Queensgate, is objecting to the proposals.

David Shaw, town planning adviser for Hawksworth Securities, said: “To get North Westgate off the ground, we need a critical mass of retailers who are interested.

“We would like to put a food store in North Westgate – it would not be key, but it all helps to make North Westgate fully viable. The more we allow this out-of-town stuff, the less there is to get North Westgate off the ground. There’s only a certain amout of shopping you can have in Peterborough.”

Mr Shaw said the Station Gateway proposal was contrary to approved planning policy in the council’s local development framework and station quarter brief because it failed to prioritise the city centre for retail development.

He said a foodstore and the space for eight or nine retail units contained in the plans would fail to bring people to the city, and its relatively remote location and 310-space car park would mean shoppers would visit it directly, bringing no overspill benefit to the city centre or railway station.

He said: “To go to this site you will make your own individual car trip which only seems to increase traffic and doesn’t do anything for the station.

“It doesn’t contribute – it doesn’t add to the shopping in Peterborough. It will do nothing to make shopping better in Peterborough.”

Mr Shaw also cast doubt on the likelihood of a proposed 130ft high office block becoming a reality in the current economic climate.

He said: “It’s always good if things are happening in Peterborough, but this is a short-term fix to get a bit of retail investment.”

He admitted North Westgate would be a long-term project, but argued it would ultimately be of greater benefit to the city.

He said: “It would bring higher quality shopping to Peterborough city centre, which attracts more people into the city from further away.”

A spokeswoman for Peterborough City Council said: “Planning officers have completed their assessments and the planning application has been assessed against planning policies.

“Subsequently the planning application is recommended for approval.”

ING Retail Estate declined to comment. A spokesman said it would be inappropriate to do so before tonight’s meeting.

Factfile: North Westgate

THE North Westgate revamp would be a multi-million pound development.

David Shaw, town planning adviser for Hawksworth Securities, estimated the investment at £75-£100 million.

It would feature about 500,000sq m of retail space and 100 homes.

The firm was one of two developers in the running to carry out the regeneration, focused on the Queensgate shopping centre, which was awarded to Hammerson but was put on the back-burner in 2009 due to the financial crisis.

But Hawksworth has retained an interest in Westgate and is continuing to liaise with Hammerson and Peterborough City Council about a way forward for the stalled scheme.

The developer has previously said its long-term vision for the “mixed-use” site included a Debenhams department store and retention of The Brewery Tap public house.

What do you think about the development and delays?

Contact our news team by email {mailto:eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk|eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk}, telephone 01733 588719, {http://www.twitter.com/peterboroughet|on Twitter - @peterboroughet} or use our {http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/yoursay|Have Your Say form}

MORE than £3 million has been spent on CCTV cameras by Peterborough City Council in the past four years, a new report has revealed.

The spend puts the council in the top ten per cent of local authorities in the UK, coming in at 39th out of 428.

This is according to figures released by Big Brother Watch in its report called The Price Of Privacy.

The figure covers the cost of CCTV installation, operation and maintenance from 2007 to 2011 with the UK-wide total spent being a staggering £515 million.

The report says: “In the current financial climate, sustaining the level of investment in CCTV is impossible to justify. The surveillance British citizens are now subjected to continues to increase, despite being at a level that makes many other democratic countries recoil in horror.

“CCTV does not have a significant deterrent effect on crime and is not a substitute for police. Yet it continues to be claimed - without evidence - that more CCTV improves public safety.”

According to Big Brother Watch, the city council’s spend of about £3,104,000 is spread across 149 CCTV cameras.

This compares to about £518,000 for Cambridgeshire County Council across a network of 273 cameras - making it 247th in the ranking.

Cambridge City Council is 7th, meanwhile, having splashed out just shy of £5 million on 141 cameras between 2007 and 2011.

Cllr Peter Hiller, council cabinet member for neighbourhoods, disagreed with Big Brother Watch about the merits of CCTV describing it as an “extremely effective method of enforcement”.

He said: “We find it’s been an effective deterrent in crime hot spots.”

While he was unable to confirm the city council had spent £3.1 million in the past four years, he defended its outlay on CCTV cameras.

He said: “It’s money spent wisely and I think there must be a return in safety or peace of mind.”

The council’s investment in its “eyes in the sky” is set to continue, with plans of a spend in the region of £15,000 to £30,000 before the end of this financial year on speakers for CCTV cameras.

Other surveillance schemes have included the use of a Smart car to snap motorists flouting traffic laws.

Cllr Hiller added: “The talking cameras we are considering putting in the city centre would be as an additional deterrent before crime occurs, so that rather than record the crime it could actually prevent crime.”

Big Brother Watch calls in its report for local authorities to review its use of CCTV and where a camera has not been used to solve a crime in the past three years it should be turned off.

Cllr Hiller said such a view ignored the impact of cameras as a deterrent.

He added: “We think very seriously about where we place cameras, but we also maintain them effectively and check the results of those cameras.”

Do CCTV cameras make you feel safer in the Peterborough?

Contact our news team by email {mailto:eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk|eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk}, telephone 01733 588719, {http://www.twitter.com/peterboroughet|on Twitter - @peterboroughet} or use our {http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/yoursay|Have Your Say form}

FACTFILE: survey findings

ACCORDING to Big Brother Watch, there are currently at least 51,600 CCTV cameras controlled by 428 local authorities in the UK.

Birmingham City Council is the biggest spender, having dished out £14 million between 2007 and 2011.

It is one of only two local authorities to have spent more than £10m in that time, along with Westminster City Council at £11.8m.

Leicester City Council has the highest number of CCTV cameras of all, with 2,083 in total - about one camera for every 145 people.

Eighteen authorities have spent more than £1m per year on its CCTV cameras, including Cambridge City Council.

The lowest spender, excluding authorities which do not have CCTV, was West Devon on £737.21.

South Holland District Council, in Lincolnshire, is among a raft of councils with no CCTV cameras on its books, resulting in a £0 spend in the last four years.

However, despite also having no CCTV cameras, Rutland County Council managed to spend £1,381 in that time, the report states.

A VENTURE launched by Peterborough City Council and Lloyds TSB to help first time buyers has been hailed a success.

The Local Lend a Hand Scheme began in December to help people get on to the property ladder and new figures show there have been 94 inquiries about the scheme.

Of those, seven househunters have already secured a mortgage and are working towards moving to their new homes. Twenty-four others have a mortgages agreed in principle and are searching for a property.

If all 31 mortgage deals are followed through by customers, about £360,000 of the £1 million the council has set aside for first-time buyers will be used up.

Councillor Marco Cereste, the council leader said: “We want to help people in these difficult financial times and helping first-time buyers will give the wider economy another boost.

“I’d like to see even more people coming forward because once the initial pot of money we set aside is used up, we can look to increase it to £10 million - and help even more first-time buyers.”

Many mortgage providers currently need first-time buyers to provide a deposit of up to 25 per cent. Under the Local Lend a Hand Scheme, first time buyers in Peterborough needing a mortgage up to the value of £123,500, need to provide a deposit of five per cent.

The other 20 per cent will come from a £1 million indemnity by the city council.

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