News
New Surface Prep Firm Is Established
PREPTEC is a new name in the supply of surface preparation products and services. The company, launched in late 2013, provides services to many sectors including flooring, refurbishment and construction. Paul Mansfield, director of Preptec, has been involved in surface preparation for most of his working life. He says: ‘We offer both new and used equipment from leading manufacturers. We can put together complete equipment packages to suit individual requirements and budgets. With low overheads we are also able to offer competitive...
read moreGrand Designs Live Debut For New Look Amtico
DESIGN flooring manufacturer AMTICO is to reveal new branding at Grand Designs Live (May 3–11) at Excel, London, on stand L105. The ‘Uniquely Amtico’ concept will feature new branding, a new customer brochure and new lifestyle imagery, as well as 26 new products in the Spacia Collection. The company has drastically changed the look and feel of the brand and how it’s presented. Richard Hopkins, UK marketing manager, comments: ‘Over the last 10 years our priority has been on the retail infrastructure, a process paramount to our...
read moreDesign Seminars With Appeal
May Design Series at London ExCel (May 18-20) caters for retailers, contractors, architects and interior designers. Around 400 exhibitors are expected. A highlight of the event will be the seminar programme featuring topics including contract, plus business, retail and customer service, covering latest trends, designs and ecommerce. Tim Mutton, founder and ceo of Blacksheep design agency will talk on how to bring your brand to life. Serving the contract market, Craig Knight, director, IDR will ponder expensive design statements with...
read moreHarrogate To Have An Explosion In Leisure
Already well known for the range of restaurants, pubs and eating places near its exhibition centre, Harrogate is set to see several more upmarket venues opening soon. Visitors to the 2014 Flooring Show (September 21-23) will be able to dine in the new Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Harrogate which is due to open soon as part of a new town centre development. The new scheme is at 33-51 Parliament Street, a few minutes’ walk from the exhibition centre. It comprises up to five restaurants directly adjacent to the famous Royal Baths....
read moreSexism, Racism & Homophobia ‘common within construction’
SEXIST, racist, homophobic and ageist language is regularly used in the construction industry, according to a new online survey by CITB. Over 500 on- and off-site construction workers were questioned, revealing that 61% had heard sexist language at work in the past year, while 14% said they heard it once a week or more. A third of women reported having offensive language directed at them at work in the past 12 months, but only 4% reported it to a manager. In addition, 12% of women admitted to having their confidence knocked by offensive...
read moreRecycling Depots Across The Country
Anglo Social Activity: Carpet tile cleaning for reuse Acceptance criteria: Dry, palletised tiles Collection service available: Yes Volumes accepted: 1-8 tonnes (1-10 pallets) Pricing: ‘A’ grade tiles 75p/tile (£3/m2), ‘B’ grade dependent on quality. Area: Lancs and North West Address: c/o Anglo Recycling Technology, Tong Lane, Whitworth, Rochdale OL12 8BG Contact: Simon Macaulay, Managing Director T: 01706 853513 M: 07767 247500 E: simon.macaulay@anglosocial.org.uk www.anglosocial.org.uk Carpet Tile...
read moreMaking Sense Of ‘Real Time Information’
Jason Piper on revised rules for staff payroll and pensions Real Time Information (RTI) and pensions’ auto-enrolment are giving businesses of all sizes some real headaches. Last year saw the biggest shakeup in the operation of employee payroll since the launch of PAYE in 1944 as HMRC moved to an entirely online, real time, filing system and took every employer in the country with it. One of the biggest issues is the timing of the submissions to the system. The rules for RTI still demand submission of payroll information ‘on or...
read moreDevise Your Own Unique Selling Point
Keith Robertson on marketing ONE of the first things I was taught about marketing was the importance of the USP (Unique Selling Point). It was one of those things that all the marketing books said you must have, but initially I found it very difficult to come up with a good USP for my own company. Even now I still don’t have one for all of the business names we use. Only recently I found out that the person who originally thought of the idea was a marketing man named Rosser Reeves. I say that it was his ‘idea’ but what I really mean...
read moreCalling Time On The Control Freaks!
Jo Eccles with tips on managing your time HOW many times have you poured cold water on those flashes of genius on how you can look to develop a great business idea with the line ‘If only I had the time’? A recent member survey by national business organisation the Forum of Private Business revealed that despite a positive outlook for the year ahead 36% of small businesses in total believe that time will continue to be a major challenge as they look to manage their business and realise their growth plans in the next 12 months, ahead of...
read moreIgnoring Mould Can Really Kill You
Steve Scotter on why mould is life threatening MOULD can potentially grow in any building, whether occupied or unoccupied. It cannot normally be seen with the human eye, but it can be seen when it grows into large colonies. The spores are all around us, but normally they are not present in high numbers and therefore should not affect us. Many people have not been aware of the health effects of mould exposure, but this is now changing. Guidance: Mould growth in a building is not good for human health and the Healthy Homes Safety Rating...
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