How Do I Know Whether My Electrical Installation Is Safe?

The main dangers most associated with faulty electrical equipment are electrocution and fire. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) logs around 1000 accidents at work every year due to electrical shocks and burns – around 30 of which will result in a fatality.

Those considered most at risk are people working with electrical plant or machinery and people working on construction sites.

The three most likely causes of electricity-related death or injury occur from:

Individuals coming into contact with ‘live’ equipment, thinking it to be dead.

Those working around live equipment who have failed to take adequate precautions.

Misuse of equipment, or continuing to use equipment which is known to be faulty.

Even if you work in an environment which is not considered particularly hazardous, electrical installation testing carried out by a qualified electrician at regular intervals is essential to ensure the well-being of yourself and your team.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 stipulates that employers, employees and the self-employed have a duty of care to ensure that their:

Electrical systems are constructed so as to prevent danger.

Electrical systems are properly maintained so as to prevent danger.

Operatives can use, work on, and close down electrical systems in a way that prevents danger.

The Regulations also make mention that special care must be given to electrical equipment which is to be used in extreme temperatures, corrosive conditions, or otherwise hazardous environments, to ensure that the equipment is protected and does not become dangerous.

The Regs also state that only those operatives with adequate knowledge, experience and under proper supervision should work with electrical equipment that is capable of causing injury or death.

In addition, the legislation lays down the circumstances in which a report of an accident or incident must be made to the HSE.

It is worth getting acquainted with the latest legislation, but broadly speaking this criteria is:

Injury to an employee through an electric shock or burn which leads to the employee becoming unconscious, requiring resuscitation or being hospitalised.

An electrical short circuit which causes a fire or explosion.

Plant, machinery or equipment which comes into contact with overhead power lines.

As well as the formal electrical installation testing your appointed electrical contractor will carry out as a matter of course, it is well worth inspecting plugs, sockets and cables (while appliances are unplugged) on a regular basis.

These visual inspections should indicate if there is wear and tear damage to peripherals so you can get them replaced before a serious incident occurs.

87% Of UK SMEs Don’t Have A PR Strategy – Do You?

A recent report commissioned by the website: Mynewsdesk, has revealed that 87% of UK small and medium-sized businesses do not have a cohesive PR strategy; with 57% of respondents declaring that their company’s PR operates on an “ad-hoc basis” and 30% of businesses admitting to having no plan at all.

This is pretty staggering stuff really when you consider what a useful tool PR is to have in your communications armoury.

Firms that use PR rarely or sporadically to attract attention to their business, will frequently be the first to complain that their outfit doesn’t receive enough media attention. But unless your business unwittingly falls under the media radar for negative reasons, it is unlikely you will receive a steady stream of positive publicity unless it is planned.

Every successful PR campaign should begin with clearly defined objectives – benchmarks, if you like – which will form the basis of your PR strategy.

PR training from leading media relations’ experts can certainly give your company a competitive edge when it comes to writing successful press releases, communicating with journalists, and publicising your business through audio and video channels.

However, good PR is worth so much more than merely securing ‘column inches’ or broadcast seconds. Done effectively it can strongly influence other aspects of your sales and marketing operations.

For instance, it could help your website gain better search rankings, deliver targeted traffic to your site and build powerful back-links that will boost your SEO. Plus your news has the potential to be picked up by media sites, blogs, TV and social media. Indeed some PR campaigns launched on the strength of a single press release, have been known to take on a life of their own (go viral).

Just like any other form of marketing, all your PR activities should be measurable to ensure they provide a sound return on investment. According to the survey, 49% of business owners recognised the benefits of using PR in their business, but felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of communications outlets available to them.

PR training from leading industry experts can be a sound investment for the enterprising entrepreneur (that’s you). It will empower your organisation to harness a successful PR strategy that will really get your business talked about.

“If I was down to my last dollar I would spend it on PR.” – Bill Gates

“Publicity is absolutely critical. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a front page ad.” – Richard Branson

Business Owners: Whether Your Parcel Is Destined For Monmouth or Mongolia, Insist on A Courier Company You Can Rely On

When your customers are depending on your goods arriving on time and in one piece, you can’t afford any slip ups. You need to insist on an international parcel delivery service that will be every bit as reliable as those delivering domestically within the UK.

This is true for all business that send goods overseas, but perhaps even more critical for companies who manufacture or distribute ‘essential’ merchandise like medical supplies, orthopaedic products and the like.

Whatever goods you are sending abroad one thing you will need to ensure is that they do not fall within the incoming country’s restricted or prohibited goods policy. If you are in any doubt then it’s wise to check with your courier company, or view the information provided by the Royal Mail website.

The other thing you will need to consider is that your goods are packed securely. Plastering ‘Handle With Care’, ‘This Way Up’ or ‘Fragile’ stickers all over your packaging, won’t in itself be enough to ensure the safe delivery of your goods. You will also need to make sure you use the right sized box or container for your items and that the container is strong enough to support the contents.

Fragile items should not touch one another (even when bubble-wrapped), nor should they be placed against the sides of your box. Polystyrene chips are useful for filling out empty space within your packaging, whilst ensuring that multiple items do not bang together.

Your box or container should be sealed with vinyl tape and any exposed metal clips or staples should also be covered with tape to avoid injury. Again, you can get further tips and advice online or from the Royal Mail website, which provides downloadable PDFs on how to package your goods.

Needless to say, you should consider protecting your parcels and contents with a suitable insurance policy, which will cover the cost of replacement in the unfortunate event of loss or damage occurring. Hopefully, you will never need to make a claim, but having the cover in place will provide peace of mind.

So if your business currently sends goods abroad, or you are thinking of expanding to overseas’ territories, now’s the time to hook up with an international parcel courier company that will go the extra mile to ensure the safe and swift delivery of your merchandise.

And by the way, if you want to know who has been voted “Best International Courier Company” then check out the Trustpilot (.co.uk) website.

The Importance Of Facilities Management In SMEs

The profession of facilities management first appeared in the 1980s and has since become an integral part of big businesses across the developed world. Whilst large corporations and multinationals have been quick to adopt facilities management and install computer aided facilities management software, SMEs have not been so swift to respond.

Directors of SMEs often site the reason for their slow investment in computer aided facilities management software as value for money. The conception is that CAFM is a tool only affordable to large businesses where the potential savings are largest. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Any business, large or small is going to benefit from reducing the costs; something CAFM is designed specifically to do. The investment in facilities management software can save a company money on several fronts.

Strategic Planning

CAFM software is particularly useful for analysing facility requirements and shortfalls. Companies can carry out trend analysis using accurate, historical data for future projects to determine if their facilities contain sufficient space, headcount and office equipment to fulfil anticipated project requirements.

Moreover, facilities management software allows a company to identify slack in their facilities that can be filled in the future.

Asset Management
Keeping track of any assets is a challenging task for any firm. Facilities management software allows a company to visualise where equipment, tag it and then track how effectively it is being utilised plus how reliable it is.

In addition, effective facilities management ensures employees are aware of the location of office equipment and can go about their roles efficiently.

Facility Maintenance

Having accurate information when and where you need it results in intelligent and timely decision making.

This is particularly important in SMEs where agility and the ability to respond quickly are often essential and making the right decisions can facilitate a competitive advantage that could be the difference between survival and failure in these tough economic conditions.

Sustainability

Finally, facilities management software can allow companies to effortlessly evaluate their environmental impact, including considerations such as energy use, waste management and greenhouse gas emissions.

CAFM software also allows companies to forecast their sustainability projects and calculate the financial impact alongside environmental considerations.

The list goes on, with other uses for facility management software including estate management, project planning and asset tracking. The fact is, all these considerations are indeed important to SMEs and their impact is certainly not limited to large multinationals. The investment in facilities management software can save even a small company thousands of pounds every year.

Save A Packet By Using An Online Parcel Courier Broker Service

Want to know how you can save a packet (ouch), by using an online parcel courier service in preference to Royal Mail?

Now for things like standard cards and letters, Royal Mail is still likely to be your cheapest option – even with the recent price hikes. But if you want to send an item weighing over 750g, then it is worth shopping around, because there will more than likely be a cheaper alternative available to you. And from 1kg and upwards, there will definitely be a more viable option in terms of price.

I don’t know about you, but my main post office is situated bang in the centre of the village, directly opposite a Pelican Crossing, so parking nearby is a big no-no. Which is fine if you just want to send a letter abroad or get a packet weighed, but not so handy when you’re lugging lumpy parcels around.

And apart from the queues (which are an inevitable fact of life these days), when did you last manage to dodge in and out of the post office without being asked if you want home insurance/ life insurance/ a credit card balance transfer/ mobile phone top up/ broadband/ transfer your utility services provider – have I missed anything? 

Oh yes, stamps. They do stamps apparently.

So using a courier broker to despatch your parcels safely to their destination will save you a ton of time as well as cash in the future. Particularly if you tend to send off parcels several times a week as many businesses do.

This is even better news if you run your own business from home – in my opinion there never seems to be enough hours in the day as it is. So by effectively outsourcing your parcel deliveries you can spend more time working on your business and less time working in your business – it’s what all successful entrepreneurs do apparently.

Incidentally, if you are sending over 10 parcels a week, you may want to do a little research, because a little birdie tells me there could be cash bonuses to be had. You’ll definitely want to check this out . . .

So book your next parcel courier delivery service from the comfort of your computer (or mobile) – and kiss goodbye to all that wasted time standing in line at the post office. 

Plus, your courier company won’t try to sell you life insurance. Promise!

Are You Ready to Master the Media?

If you read half of what passes for ‘journalism’ these days you could be forgiven for thinking that the ability to ‘dumb down’ is a prerequisite for a successful media career.

And I’m not only referring to the tabloid journos (the good old red tops), but all manner of what might once have been considered respectable industry magazines. You may know the ones I am referring to: those weekly glossies (mainly targeted at women) that make out they’ve got some exclusive celebrity scoop, so you get lured into buying the magazine  concerned.

When you read the piece it’s nothing like the shock headline on the cover and you discover that the incident to which they are referring happened several years back and is now ‘old hat’ repurposed to look like current content.

Your local journalists on the other hand, are desperate for great current news stories from local businesses like yours. But it isn’t enough to be able to dash off a press release and hope that the editor will see fit to publish it.  If you want to be seen as the ‘authority figure’ within your industry – the person journalists call up for some information or a quote – then you need to make sure that your key PR messages are crystal clear. Here’s where media training London can help you define and perfect your marketing messages.

You may not be aware, but there are many opportunities for businesses of all sizes to engage with the media for mutually beneficial results. The publication or radio station engages their readers with a cracking story – you – as company spokesperson, get the glory.

Frequently one successful media appearance can lead to another. How often do you see a participant on a TV quiz show you immediately recognise from another show? Now you might think that’s because the person loves TV quizzes and applies to every show going. But it’s more likely they will have been picked up by a media ‘scout’ and invited on to the second show. Perhaps because they have a winning personality and were particularly entertaining on their debut appearance.

Not everyone on TV comes across as natural. Doing screen tests consumes time and money, so why not grab someone you know is media-tried if you like, and won’t freeze up in front of the cameras. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

If you’re are reading this and thinking you’d be a perfect candidate for media training London then there’s no time like the present. Finding out more about how media training could improve your skills and career prospects is easy online. Future TV quiz appearances entirely optional of course!

Successful Companies Embrace Experiments and Learning

Everyone knows that the High Street in the U.K. is suffering since the global financial crisis hit in 2008. Britain has endured two recessions since then and businesses are also being hit by the onslaught of online shopping.

However, some CEOs at retail firms are actually increasing sales and planning to open more shops. WH Smiths had a good Christmas period in 2012 and will open more shops in 2013. It says its success is due to some key best sellers in the books section, an investment in an Internet greeting card firm called Funky Pigeon and steady growth of its main online arm.

Fashion stores have long been the staple of shopping centres, and outlets such as Primark are doing really well. What do these businesses have in common? How are they able to survive while others struggle and go into administration? According to the Retail Gazette, those that do well are ones with an approach that embraces many different channels. They also offer excellent customer service and often lead with discounts to get people into their shops.

Perhaps most of all, they are very passionate about what they do and they all seem to have innovation at the very heart of their organisations.

There are a number of common factors. Firstly, many will be surprised to read that while retail in general follows tried and tested methods, the winners embrace a culture of experimentation. This is central to effective diversification. The best organisations are great at this. They encourage the development of ideas amongst all their staff and are always prepared to take the next step by trying to see if it works. If it does, they develop it and see how it can fit into their existing structures. They are also committed to supporting this approach with a strong learning culture. In other words they accept that some ideas will fail and they learn from the ones that don't work. They also benefit from research and development tax credits.

They are intensely focused on hiring the best talent. They want people who are driven, passionate and completely focused on making the organisation the best that can be. This ethos is shared with everyone. Every single employee must be prepared to give everything to the company during working hours, and sometimes even after.

Another interesting thing that has been observed in entrepreneurial circles is that some business leaders believe that purpose is a better motivator than money. Obviously cash is necessary and essential. But top organisations have discovered that when they recruit people who are driven by a sense of purpose they perform much better in forward-thinking environments than people who are driven by money.

Business theory studied at universities points out that people who are driven by a sense of purpose have a much higher degree of personal empowerment. In terms of culture in organisations, this fits in perfectly with the above two observations. In other words if people have a sense of purpose and there is an encouraging work climate where experimentation and learning are valued, innovation will still die if there is no sense of autonomy.

Finally the best organisations - the ones that are surviving the rough seas of global challenge and change - are those that are exceptional at social media. They engage with purpose, react and respond. They understand the difference between old-fashioned interruption marketing and the new content marketing, which is focused on creating dialogue and giving extra value to clients and consumers.
Theorists say that during difficult times many firms will automatically focus on efficiency. This is usually a mistake and is not what the Government wants. The main reason for R & D Tax Credits was to encourage development. The sacrifice is usually being smart and creative and in a situation like that no one wins. The best staff leave to join the competition and all the sudden the original organisation finds that the competition is suddenly unpredictable - because they are innovative.