Wednesday 31 October 2012

Garador’s doors prove they’re secure

Inside view of a Guardian Range Garador Carlton
Garador has become the only Up and Over Door manufacturer to become a member of “Secured by Design”, the official UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of 'designing out crime'.

Garador’s Carlton and Horizon doors have under rigorous tests which are mandatory to assure that they really will stand up to the test of hammers, flames, cutting equipment and other many methods that criminals may adopt in their attempts to break in to steal garage contents or gain access to other parts of properties.

Simon Hipgrave, MD of Garador explained: “We have always been proud of the strength and quality of our doors, but to be recognised with a “Secured by Design” accreditation is a third party endorsement that is recognised and respected by all. This was not gained over night and we have worked very closely with SBD, and made certain adaptations to our product, to ensure that our doors meet their very strict criteria.”

Close up of the four point locking system
 A spokesperson from SBD explained: “Secured by Design focuses on crime prevention of homes and commercial premises and promotes the use of security standards for a wide range of applications and products. The principles have been proven to achieve a reduction of crime risk by up to 60%, by combining minimum standards of physical security and well-tested principles of natural surveillance and defensible space.”

The membership scheme currently includes over 400 companies whose products have been awarded 'Police Preferred Specification' status across a broad range including; bicycle security, perimeter fencing, mobile phones, roofing products and secondary glazing.

Licensed members of the Secured by Design scheme entitled to use the Secured by Design logo and promote the term 'Police Preferred Specification' on products which have passed the tests specified by ACPO Secured by Design.

Find more detailed information about these doors in our online magazine.

www.garador.co.uk






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Tuesday 30 October 2012

Super-Size Sectional Garage Doors

An 8 metre - (that's over 26 feet wide) Carteck Sectional Garage Door  
Once a garage door gets bigger than around 5.5 metres wide everything changes. Their sheer size means that door gear (hinges, springing, etc.) and the drive system need to be capable of performing at a higher level. The Teckentrup Depot has just such a product; it’s called the Carteck Super-size Sectional Garage Door and it does what it says on the tin!

“What’s remarkable about these doors, and they can go up to 8m or over 26’ in old money, is, that from outside, they look just as stunning as all our normal size doors and are available in the same attractive designs.” Said Jim Rodger, Teckentrup Depot’s Sales Director. “Whilst the weight and consequently the power needed to drive these doors is considerable, safety is paramount and the doors have sophisticated drive and control systems to ensure operation is always safe.” Continued Jim.

The Super-Size door range now has a dedicated brochure and a featured section in the new Carteck price list to support sales of this unique product. Copies can be obtained from Jim Rodger on 01925 924050 or by visiting www.teckentrupdepot.co.uk

Find out about more Teckentrup Depot products in our online magazine.






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Monday 29 October 2012

Hörmann BiSecur more stylish and more secure


The new BiSecur radio transmitters from Hörmann feature bi-directional FM radio signals that use the same 128 bit encryption used for online banking. Not only does this system make the transmitters more secure but also means that signal is more reliable while extending operating distances. Another benefit of the system is that it includes a remote status query. A simple push of a button will tell you whether an out of sight door is open or closed.

As well as improving the technology, the appearance of the new transmitters has been taken to new levels. Available in a black or white high gloss finish that replicates piano lacquer, the new transmitters have an elegant design that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. As an added convenience the new, full size handsets use AAA batteries and can be supplied with a holding station. The new BiSecur radio system is now standard on SupraMatic, ProMatic, LineaMatic and RotaMatic operators, which are supplied with the new transmitters. These new handsets are backwards compatible so can be used with all Hörmann operators produced since 2005. This means for instance, that a new transmitter can control both a new gate operator and an existing garage door operator.

For more information on the new system and operators contact Hörmann on 01530 516888, e-mail info@hormann.co.uk or go to www.hormann.co.uk

Read more Hormann articles in our online magazine







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Sunday 28 October 2012

A Harley in the Barn - More Great Tales of Motorcycle Archaeology

It’s every motorcyclist dream: the classic bike abandoned and forgotten, waiting to be re-discovered and turned loose on the road again.

Author Tom Cotter has chased down more than 40 incredible tales of lost, old bikes; hidden Honda’s, lost Nortons, dormant Indians, and busted BSAs, all squirreled away but found by lucky collectors.

Such as the discovery of a derelict 1905 motorised bicycle found in a maple tree, and a BSA Gold Star that was used for years as a fencepost, to the lengths that dedicated, often eccentric collectors have gone to unearth them. One man explains how he took to sleeping in a strangers freezing cold shed, with a pistol, surrounded by grizzly bears to get the owner to sell him a 1936 Harley-Davidson E model, another who met a known gun dealer at the end of a long dirt road to purchase a Stenhouse Triumph T-120.

However the find by Mark Johnson’s is probably every classic biker’s dream. Johnson heard of an old man in town who had World War II Harley Davidsons still in their original crates, after tracking him down, it took 9 months of patience to finally win the old fella over just to see in his basement. The old man was a motorcycle messenger during the war that had lost both his legs. Johnson goes on to say that the owner hadn’t been down in his basement for literally decades, and what he saw that day blew his mind, nine WLAs, all 42s except for one 41, five civilian WLs ranging from 1938 to 1949 along with shelves and shelves of parts.

There are also famous finds too, what about the keeper of one of the most famous motorcycle in the world. Read about Tom Hensley, his family has owned Burt Munro’s Indian Streamliner way before it became famous by Anthony Hopkins in the movie The World’s Fastest Indian.

If you can’t pass an old padlocked garage without wondering if there’s a hidden gem stashed inside, this book is for you.

Author Tom Cotter’s business card reads “Certified Car Geek”. He is a passionate historian, collector, racer and restorer of all vintage vehicles. He is not only a barn-find master, he’s also master of discovering the collectors with the best stories and the most outlandish finds.


Save money by buying at Amazon.co.uk - Available Now




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Saturday 27 October 2012

ASFP obtains CITB-ConstructionSkills funding for passive fire protection training scheme

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has obtained a significant grant from the CITB-ConstructionSkills Growth Fund to develop a nationally recognised industry training scheme for passive fire protection.

The scheme aims to up-skill contractors involved in the installation of passive fire protection as well as improve the knowledge base of those involved in the design, supply, inspection and maintenance of passive fire protection.

It will target three main occupational groups across the sector, including: new entrants to the specialist contractor workforce; contractors within allied specialist trades, such as joiners, dry liners and electricians within the distribution supply chain; and other groups that need a greater understanding of PFP, such as site supervisors, inspectors of fire systems, and building control officers.

Working with its key training partner, the Fire Protection Association, the funding will be used by the ASFP to develop the course structure and deliver a pilot scheme. The syllabus is expected to include a ‘Core module’ followed by a range of specialist programmes. The courses will include practical exercises, undertaken at the FPA’s research and training facilities, while online learning resources will be developed to support face to face training delivery.

The core module will introduce general fire safety concepts, explaining the need for an holistic approach to fire safety in which all types of fire protection system have a role to play. It will then consider issues such as the legal, standard and other code driven requirements for passive fire protection installations; the role of passive protection in ensuring the safety of buildings and occupants; responsibilities of those involved in the process including the designer, specifier, distributor, installer, end user and enforcement officer. It will examine common issues caused by building alterations, as well as presenting potential solutions.

The supporting specialist modules will be more practically-focused and will cover functional areas such as: intumescent coatings; non-reactive coatings; cavity barriers; dry cladding; fire resisting ductwork; fire resisting timber doors; and fire stopping.

Commenting on the funding award ASFP CEO Wilf Butcher declared:  

“The scheme is being developed in response to wide recognition of an identifiable under skilling in passive fire protection within the construction industry workforce, often as a result of PFP being installed as a secondary process by non-specialists.

“The new training scheme aims to significantly improve overall standards of PFP installation. It will enable an up-skilling of the existing workforce by creating a recognised and measurable industry benchmark. It is hoped that this will also lead to greater recognition of the NVQ process in passive fire protection.”

For further information, or if you are interested in contributing to the development of the training scheme, please contact ASFP CEO Wilf Butcher on e-mail: wilf.butcher@asfp.org.uk





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Friday 26 October 2012

Hotel fire doors – yet more evidence of our safety in jeopardy

On the evening of Monday 22 October, BBC One Inside Out broadcast a shocking new exposé into the state of hotel fire doors and its impact on fire safety in the South West. The same day, the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) published the results of its own national survey into the five most common defects in hotel fire doors.

The Inside Out programme was a follow up to its report on the fatal fire at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay in 2007 and undercover filming in 14 hotels in the region. Read the original report on the BBC website.
 Five years since its initial investigations, Inside Out proved that serious fire safety issues are still being seen in hotels. 
The programme featured an interview with one of the guests trapped in a Bideford hotel fire last year as well as some interesting developments at the Grosvenor Hotel in Torquay, star of Channel 4’s ‘The Hotel’
You can view the programme on BBC iPlayer for the next few days before it expires.
According to the latest fire statistics from DCLG, there were 595 fires in hotels in Great Britain in 2010/11. While the number of fires in hotels, guest houses and hostels has decreased since the introduction and increasing enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, known as the RRO, awareness of these regulations is still very patchy.

Neil Ashdown, general manager of the Fire Door Inspection Scheme, said:

“It is deeply shocking that lessons are still not being learned in the hotel industry about the critical importance of fire doors in providing protection to life and property.
No intumescent seal

“When we stay in hotels we are in unfamiliar surroundings, much more easily disorientated and less aware of escape routes than in many other buildings that we typically occupy such as a home or office. In this environment people and escape routes require greater protection, not less, and effective fire doors are probably the single most important element in giving people enough time to safely evacuate a hotel.

“I did my own survey of about 20 local hotels earlier this year and saw for myself how low awareness was of the importance of fire door maintenance. Many hotel owners are frightened by how expensive they think maintenance will be. In reality, the moderate cost of a professional fire door inspection and maintenance regime is far outweighed by the benefits of ensuring safe premises. It also makes financial sense, particularly in a recession, to ensure business continuity. If a bedroom, full corridor of rooms or a function room is out of action, then there is a cost implication to the hotel.”

Fire Door propped open
Neil Ashdown also points to the worrying results of the national survey by FDIS looking at fire doors in hotels used during last year’s Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green party conferences. The premises included big national chains as well as smaller hotels.

Experienced fire door professionals and safety experts secretly checked a group of 17 hotels in Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester. The FDIS researchers found problems in almost every one.

The 5 most common problems spotted in these hotels were:

• Ill-fitting doors in frames - 59% (10 hotels)
• Damaged fire doors - 47% (8 hotels)
• Fire doors propped open - 47% (8 hotels)
• Incorrectly fitted fire and/or smoke seals- 35% (6 hotels)
• Poor condition of fire and/or smoke seals - 35% (6 hotels)

 This research supported the decision by the BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers to launch the Fire Door Inspection Scheme earlier this year and to create the Diploma in Fire Doors, the first such qualification for hotel, office and other facilities managers, building maintenance and safety professionals.

Ill fitting Fire Doors
As readers will know, an effective fire door consists of much more than the door itself. A fire door is an engineered safety device that requires all of its components to fulfil their roles for the door to achieve its function. This includes the door frame, door closers, hinges and other ironmongery, glazed vision panels, signage and fire and smoke seals.

Picking up on this last point, John Fletcher, manager of the BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme, says:


“The point about fire and smoke seals is incredibly important and very topical at the moment. We are hearing of a lot of misinformation currently circulating among hotel owners that a recent Government determination on this issue lets them off the hook when it comes to replacing defective fire doors. This is very worrying. Such seals play a vital role in ensuring the integrity of a fire door set and creating effective compartmentation in a building so people have more time to escape in the event of a fire.
Damaged Fire Doors
“The BWF view and advice remains unchanged. We believe that it is always advisable to fit fire and smoke seals to fire doors, based not only on the position set out in Approved Document B of the Building Regulations but also on the evidence of 15 years of regular testing of our members' fire doors within the BWF CERTIFIRE Fire Door Scheme.”

While similar schemes are well established in the USA, the UK’s Fire Door Inspection Scheme is the first in Europe and is designed to transform people’s knowledge and understanding about the critical purpose and function of fire doors. It aims to help improve fire safety management, protect property and ultimately save lives through creating a new pool of expertise and competence to help those with legal responsibilities under the RRO and equivalent legislation. 
Poorly glazed aperture
 FDIS provides a vital new resource to help the ‘Responsible Person’ complete fire risk assessments for the premises they manage. It also raises awareness of defective fire doors and the potentially tragic consequences of leaving these unchecked.







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Thursday 25 October 2012

Rundum Meir Sliding Garage Doors - 40 years in the making

Rundum Meir have 40 years experience in making bespoke, sliding garage doors to order.

The wide range of materials they use in the construction of their garage doors, which include aluminium, insulated steel and a variety of timbers, such as oak, are ideal for architect led projects, refurbishment and conservation of listed and traditional buildings.

Rundum sliding garage doors can be made to fit almost any opening including curved or unusual shapes. And the superb build quality and engineering ensures all custom made garage doors operate very smoothly and quietly. They also have many additional advantages and features such as electric remote automation and insulation.


Both the bespoke wooden and metal doors have numerous options for personalisation and adaption into a wide variety of installations.



As a premier manufacturer and installer of bespoke garage doors, Rundum Meir has distributors throughout the UK.

Call 0151 280 6626 for more information on the range of garage doors or visit www.rundum.co.uk .



Rundum - the original round the corner garage door.












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Wednesday 24 October 2012

New fact card and CPD video asks: How healthy are YOUR fire doors?

The BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door and Doorset Scheme has published a new fact card on the need for third-party accredited doors and components, together with a free CPD-approved video presentation on how to check fire doors. 

Entitled ‘How healthy are YOUR fire doors?’ the new card delivers straightforward information about fire door certification, and is part of a suite of new and updated publications covering a range of topics about fire doors, their components, certification and regulations for specifiers, contractors, facilities managers and building owners. The new fact card can be downloaded immediately or ordered as a personalised, print-ready PDF with company branding and contact details, by visiting: www.bwfcertifire.org.uk/publications/fact-cards

A step-by-step guide for checking fire doors has also been turned into a CPD-approved video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/BWFFireDoors


This presentation is essential viewing for anyone involved in the specification, installation or maintenance of fire doors.

John Fletcher, manager of the BWF-CERTIFIRE scheme said:

“We know our fact cards are very popular among companies to help enhance their website and to use on exhibition stands. They are also frequently used for internal training purposes, and I hope the video will be used in the same way. We’re now working on an additional card clarifying Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations, which requires contractors to include details of fire safety as part of a new building’s handover documents.”

The leading authority on fire door safety, the BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door and Doorset Scheme is marking its 15th year in 2012, and the successful third party certification and labelling of more than 26 million fire doors. The scheme was established by a group of prime fire door manufacturers aiming to improve the standard of fire doors across the supply chain. The scheme’s members now supply more than 75% of the fire doors installed in the UK.  All participating members of the BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door and Doorset Scheme are rigorously assessed and audited, providing specifiers with added security and confidence in the products being selected.

For further information visit: www.bwfcertifire.org.uk





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Tuesday 23 October 2012

Fire Sector Federation holds debut event

The Fire Sector Federation (FSF) will be holding its debut event at the House of Parliament on 27 November. The Fire Safety Enforcement – Fit for purpose seminar will be held in conjunction with the All Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group.

The seminar will discuss the regulatory framework that applies to fire safety within the built environment and investigate how compliance can be achieved throughout the life of a building. It will include perspectives from Building Control, designers and building managers from a range of industry sectors, as well as discussing the fire risk assessment process and on-going control and maintenance.

Speakers will include Brian Martin of the Department for Communities and Local Government; Paul Fuller of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association; Steve Evans of the Building Control Alliance; Dave Sibert of the Fire Brigades Union; and representatives from a range of industry sectors.
Starting at 12.30pm, the seminar will conclude with a drinks reception from 4.15 to 6pm, providing delegates with an opportunity to network with speakers, attending MPs, industry representatives and Government officials. 

The FSF is also supporting two other key fire sector events during the autumn; the Fire Sector Summit; and the Emergency Services Show 2012.

The Fire Sector Summit, taking place at Wembley Stadium on 23-24 October 2012, attracts senior figures and influencers from across the fire industry, built environment, national resilience, government, insurance, and the public and private sector. It provides a mix of plenary and workshop content designed to facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and best practice on the key issues and challenges facing the sector. The BBC’s John Humphreys will facilitate a ‘Question Time’ panel session and offer a reflective view on how fire safety could impact wider business interests.

The Fire Sector Federation will also be exhibiting at the Emergency Services Show in Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on 21-22 November 2012. FSF representatives will be on hand on Stand E45, Hall 3 to answer questions about the Federation and to discuss fire-related issues or concerns which may impact on the built, natural, fire and rescue service or national resilience environments.

For further information on FSF events visit www.firesectorfederation.co.uk/news/events; or contact tel: +44 (0)1608 812543; email: admin@firesectorfederation.co.uk 
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Monday 22 October 2012

Workplace Transport Safety

Vehicles in the workplace account for a number of deaths every year, with many more people obtaining injuries too. Even at low speeds, vehicles can damage people, objects and property so making sure your vehicles are used in a safe way can hopefully avoid most of these incidents.
 
 By law, employers have a general duty to ensure that the health & safety of their employees and members of the public are not put at risk as a result of their day to day work. This duty also applies to your employees, who must look after their own health & safety as well as that of others. Of course, to do this with 100% success, you would not have any vehicles in the business, which is totally counter productive, hence why you often come across the term “reasonably practicable”. This means the cost, time and effort you incur implementing controls must be sensible compared to the gain in safety. For example, locking all your vehicles in garages is cheap to do and increases safety, but the time incurred is then not practicable for you to run the business. 
 
As with most areas of health & safety, work activities involving vehicles will need to be risk assessed. As an employer, you are required by law to do this, and once done, it will form part of your overall Health & Safety management within the business. Over a period of time such as a week, aim to identify work activities involving vehicles. These could include: 
 
• Staff arriving into any vehicle yard/car park• Loading and unloading
• Multiple vehicle movement
• Bad weather
• Maintenance
• Arrival and departure
• Clients and visitors to your premises.

You then need to decide the risks and hazards that can be associated with the identifi ed activities. These could include:

• Are customers, workers, etc. kept clear of vehicle routes or do they have to walk across a traffi c route to get into your premises?
• Are your vehicles safe and maintained?
• How are deliveries and collections handled?
• Do you have certain speed restrictions in place in your premises?
• Are safe systems of work in place for any loading or unloading?
• Have you identifi ed potentially safer or less hazardous traffic routes for your vehicles?

This then enables your risk assessment to be formed. You can then monitor it and keep it up to date as and when anything signifi cant changes. Of course, each site will be different and present its own unique hazards. Simple things such as having clear signage or a clearly marked pedestrian route will go a long way to keeping you clear of any incidents. Many companies with a vehicle yard or car park initiate a simple yet effective one way system to design out reversing an awkward vehicle, and those that are unable to do this may take the step of using another person or ‘banksman’ to guide any moving vehicles on or off the premises.

This is also where your employees become a vital part of the jigsaw, and every driver you have, especially any younger or less experienced drivers, should have the need to work in a responsible and safe manner thoroughly explained to them. It is also advisable to have a company traffic management arrangement within your health and safety policy and staff handbooks. Your drivers should be capable of operating any vehicles safely and they should get appropriate training and guidance in the fi rst instance. Cascading responsibility down to your managers is a good way of ensuring that this good practice spreads throughout the business, and it enables more people to check each others competencies to undertake tasks.
 
With regards to your vehicles within the business, you will need to check the competency of new employees and also continually ensure the competence of existing employees. This can be done through a mentoring or buddy system, or a good training programme for example. Your training requirements can be drawn from your risk assessment, but generally you will fi nd that new employees may have the greatest training needs for their new environment and an ongoing refresher programme is a good system to have. Some good things to have within your training programme are: 
 
• General vehicle checks to undertake before their use• Safe working procedures
• How to report any risks/accidents/near misses
• If any lone working is to be done
• Potential for disciplinary action if any deliberate breaches occur
• The ability to record any training that is done.

Essentially, all employees, contractors, visitors, etc. must understand their roles and responsibilities within your health & safety management system. Don’t go overboard, but display the correct signage, have up to date risk assessments and establish a robust accident reporting procedure as key elements of your management systems. Encourage good communication amongst your staff and ask them to inform their managers if they find any problems or concerns with your vehicles. Taking these steps and others should help you to reduce the risk element within the business to a manageable level.

Additional Support from Citation plc

Citation clients have the support of its Helpline that can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year to give advice on handling cases around Employment Law and Health & Safety.
 
Contact Citation plc on 0845 844 1111 for additional support on this topic.
 
Citation plc is the industry leading expert in protecting the employer in all aspects of Personnel, Employment Law and Health & Safety.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Sunday 21 October 2012

The largest free motor show in the UK - Visit Regent Street Motor Show on Saturday 3 November

On Saturday 3 November, as part of the free weekend of motoring hosted by the Royal Automobile Club, the Regent Street Motor Show will take place in London from 10.30am until 4.00pm. The event is on the same weekend as the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and the RAC Future Car Challenge and is being held for the third year running.

The largest free motor show in the UK, the Regent Street Motor Show promises to be better than ever this year and will be supported by many famous retailers Austin Reed whose own heritage dates back to the same period as our veteran cars on display. Regent Street will be closed all day – with shops open until 10.00pm. The main attraction will be a display of iconic vehicles to celebrate the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries of motoring. Joining the 100 pre-1905 vehicles in the prestigious EFG International Concours d'Elegance will be low energy use vehicles as they arrive from Brighton having completed the RAC Future Car Challenge – some of these will not have been seen on UK roads before. There will also be a display of beautiful cars owned by Royal Automobile Club members including Bentleys, Aston Martins and Lotuses. For this year there is a new Manufacturer Zone where the latest models will be presented by Vauxhall and Renault.

There will be plenty to interest all the family at the Regent Street Motor Show. As well as passenger rides in 'future' cars, members of the public can challenge the former Stig (from the BBC series Top Gear) in an inter-active quiz on the British Gas stand. On the RAC stand they can 'drive' an ECO simulator, be photographed with a Lewis Hamilton lookalike and have the chance of winning a true classic British car - a 1969 MGB Roadster


The main stage will be packed with celebrity interviews and entertainment and hosted by TV presenter, Louise Goodman. The celebrities on hand will include Red Dwarf actor and green car ambassador Robert Llewellyn, Smooth Radio DJ Mark Goodier, Team GB swimmer Ross Davenport and Land Speed Record holder Don Wales (the British Gas team taking part in the RAC Future Car Challenge), TV presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Kate Silverton and (on the Vauxhall stand) TV presenter and motoring expert Quentin Willson.

During the 60-year reign of Her Majesty the Queen, many iconic cars were made – including the Aston Martin DB9, the Jaguar E-Type, the Mini, the Lotus Elan, McLaren F1 and the Ford Cortina (which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year). To find the UK's favourite British car of this period, Dennis the publisher of Octane, Evo and Auto Express magazines has launched an online poll, where you can cast your vote! Visit: www.evo.co.uk/FavouriteBritishCarSurvey

All vehicles featured in the poll will be displayed on Regent Street, with the nation's favourite car unveiled by Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actor, Tony Hirst. One lucky person chosen at random from those who voted for the highest-polled car will be treated to a special VIP day at the Regent Street Motor Show.


On hand at the Regent Street Motor Show will be Race2Recovery and their British rally raid car the Qt Wildcat 500DKR. As featured on BBC Top Gear, Race2Recovery will be the first team of predominantly injured servicemen to complete the formidable Dakar Rally in South America in January 2013 in support of the Tedworth House Recovery Centre based in Wiltshire (a Help for Heroes project).

All members of team have been wounded in combat have a huge variety of injuries; some more apparent than others, but each person has had their life completely changed. Be it missing limbs, spinal and respiratory injuries, to psychological and fragmentation injuries, each has set out to prove that their injury will not stop them completing the toughest race on the planet and in turn want to inspire those who are injured, disabled or facing adversity. http://www.race2recovery.com/

For further details visit: www.regentstreetmotorshow.com






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Saturday 20 October 2012

Tradesmen and Companies need to take online reputation management seriously | Free tips

Negative mentions about a business or its products on the internet could hit a company in the balance sheet, and once a company has a poor online reputation, it could spread like a virus. Companies need to take ownership of their online reputation to avoid potential disaster.

Over 85% of purchasers research the web for reviews and feedback before making a purchase, and 70% of potential customers will not make an inquiry if they read negative mentions of a brand or company. Only 5% of purchasers look beyond the first page of search results, showing how vital it is to ensure that bad reviews and mentions are kept to a minimum.

Mark Hall, Managing Director of Gotjuice.co.uk - the online reputation management company - says: "Every business should be in full control of their online reputation. When a customer searches for a company's name or brand, the first pages from the online search results should show nothing but positive mentions. If this isn't the case, then the business will be losing out on new sales.

"Quite often we work with companies faced with disgruntled former members of staff, unprofessional competitors or - in extreme cases - ex-partners who post unjust and fake web content in the form of reviews or blog posts," says Hall. "These may go unnoticed by the company for quite some time, and have a devastating effect on new sales. It is important that you search for your company name and brands on a regular basis, and respond with the right action where appropriate."

Gotjuice.co.uk recommend the following tips to ensure any business or individual can stay in charge of their online reputation:

Always be prepared for the worst
This could be as simple as creating profiles on all review and social platforms such as LinkedIn, Google+, TripAdvisor, Twitter, Yelp, Qype and sites relating your industry. This will ensure you can respond quickly by putting in a process before any negativity gets out of control.

Ask for reviews
When asking for a review its important that you do just that and ask for a review, don't ask for good reviews and don't ask until you have completed the transaction, with your customer, otherwise you may appear too "needy". Let the customer know that the company takes their opinions and feedback seriously and that you constantly monitor your progress to improve customer satisfaction.

Become a Guest Author
Create relationships with industry sites and become a guest author. Ideally, the site would feature your author biography and company name, and the higher quality the website the better the chances will be of the content appearing on the front page of search results

Get your name out there with interviews
Seek out interview opportunities or if asked say 'yes'! Any time you have an opportunity to mention your company name in a positive light is worth the while. This could be a blog post, newspaper article or even a podcast, which all stand a good chance of appearing in the search results pages

Publish a Book on Kindle
This is a little more time-consuming but well worth the effort. Not only will you and your business be seen as an authority which will result in new sales, but thanks to Amazon's authority, your author page and your book for sale page should both rank well in the search results.

Have someone 'own' your online reputation in house
Allocate responsibility to a team or individual within your business. If you are a larger organisation it may be necessary to have a dedicated spokesperson who has undergone media training so that they can respond to any questions with confidence.

Identify all possible risks
It is good practice to identify all possible risk scenarios that your business could face in times of a reputation crisis.

Identify your brand ambassadors
Having a list of brand ambassadors is a very effective tool for when you need a friendly face to help seed positive press, this could be bloggers, journalists, industry thought leaders and happy customers.

Always be listening
You must always have an ear to the ground to listen out for both negative and positive comments. Visit review platforms, search on Google News, results from major search engines, as well as analysing the latest content from Twitter. This can be time-consuming, and it is always more effective to use a low-cost solution such as the Got Juice Reputation management portal to oversee this for you.

Budget for your reputation
You may need to issue press releases, pay for advertising or engage with an online reputation management company should a serious negative issue arise. Bad press, a damning newspaper article, or one-star rating on page one of search results can really harm your business. Negative reviews, are difficult to remove, so it is well worth preventing these before they happen.

Run a good business
The easiest way to ensure you don't receive negative mentions is to simply run a good business and ensure you have a process in place to gain new reviews. By offering high quality, great service and good value customers will promote you, and you will reap the benefits.

You can find further free information at gotjuice.co.uk/blog





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Friday 19 October 2012

Major recognition for Burnley alarm and security business

Alert Fire and Security earns specialist industry accreditation.

A BURNLEY-based business that provides a range of electronic and fire security solutions has received a major new accreditation that makes it one of the North West’s leading specialists in the field.

The accreditation is awarded by The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) for businesses working to the BAFE requirements (British approvals for Fire equipment). NSI provides independent inspection services for the security and fire industries and is known for operating the toughest inspection regimes to ensure that companies approved by them operate to the highest standards.

The BAFE accreditation is recognition of Alert Fire and Security’s work to improve standards in fire protection, companies with third party certification for their fire protection services are registered and have to demonstrate a commitment to service excellence.
This latest award complements previous awards, where Alert Fire and Security has acquired the prestigious ISO9000 Quality Management System accreditation, as well as being NSI NACOSS Gold Approved - NACOSS Gold is NSI's premier scheme for electronic security systems companies.
 Trevor Shanley, the Managing Director of Alert Fire and Security, said: “We are very proud to receive these accreditations, as they demonstrate our commitment to continually improving the level of service we can provide to customers.”

“Most companies will try to make a commitment to improve, but given the nature of our business, it’s especially important as our services mean that people can rest assured that their people and premises are safe.”

“We’re the first business in Burnley to achieve BAFE accreditation, so we can rightly claim to be the area’s leader when it comes to fire detection systems,” added Mr. Shanley.

Company Background: 

Alert Fire and Security has operated in Burnley since 1994 and currently employs 20 people. The business provides services to a broad range of market sectors, from Local & Regional Authorities, to commercial facilities including health and leisure centres, construction businesses and hotels.

The business provides expert advice, survey, design, installation and maintenance of a range of products including Intruder Alarms, CCTV, Access Control and Fire Alarm Systems, that may be standalone, networked, monitored for Police & fire response and fully integrated with each other. 
Alert Fire and Security is a family business that values a professional, personal and friendly service. The business has the following accreditations NSI, BAFE, ISO9000 Quality Management System, National Security Inspectorate NACOSS Gold Approved, “benefits of using and NSI Gold Approved Company” Fire Industry Association (FIA), Construction line, CHAS and British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
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Wednesday 17 October 2012

ATB’S TAURUS MAX PARALLEL OPENER ACHIEVES CERTISECURE

ATB Systems has secured Warrington Certification’s highly regarded CERTISECURE certification mark for the enhanced security of windows and doors for its unique Taurus Max Aluminium Parallel Opening Window.

Part of ATB Systems’ Secure Products portfolio, the Taurus Max Parallel Opening Window is ideal for healthcare buildings, prisons and schools where both security and improved air exchange are important. The added enhanced security testing and subsequent CERTISECURE certification now makes the window and even more attractive option for specifiers since it combines both environmental benefits with the reassurance of enhanced security in one product.

For additional security, ATB’s Taurus Max Parallel Opening Window can also be fitted with a unique ant-vandal mesh or Hammerglass, the almost unbreakable, scratch-resistant polycarbonate sheet, 300 times stronger than glass as well as anti-vandal mesh which gives a visual and physical deterrent without compromise on light transmission.

Recognised by Secured by Design, approval to Warrington Certification’s CERTISECURE scheme STS204 demonstrates, via factory production control inspection and rigorous laboratory testing, that windows are resistant to opportunist burglary attempts.






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Tuesday 16 October 2012

DHF publishes guide to the specification of CE marked doorsets

A comprehensive guide designed to help building professionals correctly specify CE marked doorsets has been published by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF).

Specifiers, architects, contractors, clients and other professionals can download the guide, Specifying CE marked doorsets, from the DHF website: www.dhfonline.org.uk .

The DHF, the voice of the UK door and hardware industry, has produced the guide to make building professionals aware of the benefits of specifying CE marked doorsets rather than traditional multi-supplier sourced door assemblies.

In particular, a doorset comes complete with comprehensive documentation to enable the specifier to determine the performance requirements for an intended application. This ensures the doorset will be fit for purpose.

A CE marked doorset gives the specifier vital assurance on quality control. This is because the doorset supplier has complete control over the type and compatibility of all individual components and materials comprising the completed doorset.

Many other benefits of specifying CE marked doorsets are detailed in the new guide. These include the reduction of on-site health & safety issues, economies of scale, and less waste generated on site.

The new guide will help all those in the construction sector to prepare for new CE mark legislation coming into effect in July 2013. Under the new Construction Product Regulation, from that date it will be illegal to supply doorsets covered by a harmonised European standard without a CE mark. Initially this will affect external doorsets. Where the harmonised standard has not yet been published, for example fire resisting doorsets, CE marking will become compulsory at a later date, possibly a year or more after 2013.

Said DHF general manager and secretary Michael Skelding: “By using this new DHF guide and choosing CE marked doorsets, the specifier - and the subsequent building owner or user - will find it easier to demonstrate compliance with health and safety legislation, including the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), and the Workplace (health , safety and welfare) Regulations.”  

Image caption:

This DHF guide makes building professionals aware of the benefits of specifying CE marked doorsets rather than traditional multi-supplier sourced door assemblies and can be downloaded from www.dhfonline.org.uk 

Further Information: 

The DHF represents all the key players in industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates, as well as the leading UK manufacturers and suppliers of building hardware, locks and architectural ironmongery.

With the ultimate aim of maintaining and raising quality standards throughout the industry, all DHF members must meet minimum standards of competence and customer service. They all operate within a Code of Conduct governing standards of workmanship, quality assurance, training, safety business integrity and CE marking compliance.


Door & Hardware Federation
01827 52337
www.dhfonline.org.uk






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Low Cost and Free Publicity - Your company can easily benefit from some publicity like this in return for a voluntary contribution towards our costs or receive it absolutely free of charge if you advertise (see below).

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To have your story published - just send us your news item, logo and image(s) and we will review the material, make any necessary changes to the wording / wordcount and then advise you when it will be published.

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