We have often been asked for a list of books that are useful whether you are new to business or just wanting to update a few of your ideas – here are a few we have slected for you – hope they are useful – feel free to add more in the comments section – and if we agree, we will add the links here 
As this story unfurled I was reminded of James Hammond’s presentation at an O4RB Meeting on the subject of Brands or Branding (business brands that is as distinct from those applied with hot irons).
For something like 30 years I had been protecting myself from the stresses and strains of uncertain motoring dilemma with my membership of the Royal Automobile Club.
Any car can break down or suffer unforeseen problems no matter how well it is serviced and, in truth I came to regard my RAC membership as more important to me than my statutory car insurance policy. The good old RAC and its devoted team never once let me down, and would always go that extra mile to get me back on the road as soon as possible.
On one occasion, after a broken metal aerial had been flung up from the road to spear my car’s fuel tank, the patrolman even went so far as to make a repair by cutting an unused rubber duck aerial from the roof of his own vehicle, and using it, together with (I think) some epoxy resin, satisfactorily plug the hole. That repair was still holding strong when some time later I had the fuel tank replaced under a claim on my comprehensive insurance policy.
However the RAC are not the cheapest bunch to belong to, and as many of their rivals advertise strongly, and appear to have a good and happy following I switched horses for one of the others last year to save some money. I mean why not! They all offer the same service don’t they?
Just short of a year later I am here to tell you that nothing is further from the truth.
Just a few weeks ago, while in the Lake District with my wife, our caravan and trusty old land Rover Discovery we discovered a broken exhaust pipe hanging dangerously below the Landy.
No problem I thought, I’ll just ring my trusty break down service and ask them to send a man to safely secure the pipe so I can drive to an exhaust centre and have a new one fitted. You may imagine my surprise when an hour later I was visited by a man with an enormous recovery vehicle but hardly a tool kit to his name. All he was able to produce was a screwdriver and some cable ties (plastic cable ties) with which he tied up the exhaust pipe and drove off into the midday sun. (Oh yes we were in Coniston during the first rainless week for 6 weeks – it wasn’t all bad luck.)
When very shortly afterwards I again rang the breakdown firm they acknowledged the shortfall in their service, and agreed that if I located an appropriate exhaust centre they would provide recovery of our Landy to that centre the following morning. This was done but meanwhile we needed to request a hire car. No problem with one being provided but it had to be brought to us so we could be taken in it to the hire company’s office many miles away to complete the hire agreement before we drove it back to Coniston
All this wasted a day and a half of a one-week holiday!
So there is a lesson here. Just because the RAC has a proven and reliable brand it is a mistake to assume that any similar organisation can even hold a candle to its level of service. I have been extremely happy to rejoin the RAC and pay them whatever they ask.
Now if I can generate for my business the sort of Brand that the RAC has!!
A ‘tough but fair’ budget was delivered by Chancellor George Osborne on Tuesday 22 June 2010. He described the spending cuts and tax increases as being ‘unavoidable’ due to ‘the years of debt and spending’ by the previous Labour government.
The Chancellor tried to reassure us that he was being ‘fair’ and that ‘everyone will pay something but the people at the bottom of the income scale will pay proportionately less than those at the top’.
The key announcements included:
For further details on the key announcements visit our website www.georgehay.co.uk where you can download a copy of our budget summary.
Established profitable business for sale.
Operating in Javea for almost 20 years the Sign Shop has become one of the most well known businesses in the area & produces work for local, national & international customers
Our capacity includes a full professional digital press service producing high quality printing of flyers, business cards etc. plus all types of internal & external signage including wide format graphics for both outdoor & exhibition use. We also supply personalised printed t-shirts, polos etc..
All work is performed in house with support machinery being fully owned by us & operated by our own staff.
Our premises of 350 square metres are secure leasehold with a further 5 years currently remaining.
The sale is to include all machinery & equipment with no debt attached & full training is available if required.
Open to offers in the region of 300,000.00 Euros.
phone: 0034 96 5790710
e-mail: info@signshopjavea.com
Location Information:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X%C3%A0bia
Nordic Walking
If your encounter someone – or a group of people – striding along with a pair of slim poles, you’ve probably come across participants in a new exercise and fitness technique that is sweeping across the world which is called Nordic Walking.
Those used to tramping with poles may find it a little more difficult to get the new technique, it certainly take some concentration to get the feet, legs, arms, shoulders and pole working in sync, but with a few practice runs up and down most get the basics of propelling the body forward with the poles, which always remain facing diagonally backwards, unlike trekking poles.
Actually, it’s a natural cross-walking technique that most of us have forgotten, but with poles as extensions to the arms Nordic walking is said to be able to create a meditative and calming effect, and I can say that once the technique becomes second nature it does.
However, most of the time concentrating on getting the left arm and right leg forward at the same time, pushing through on the poles which lengthens the stride, rolling the feet from heel to toe, letting go of the poles at the end of the swing, bringing it forward and grasping it before placing it back on the ground level with the opposite leg.
Nordic walking poles, unlike normal trekking poles, have a glove attached so they remain in position even though you are not gripping them.
These Poles were made for walking
Nordic walking is like engaging four-wheel drive instead of two, the car uses more fuel in four-wheel drive (with us its more calories) but it seems easier because the engine can transfer the power better with four wheels. Not only do the poles used give more stability, the technique can reduse impact on the joints and can be used in rehabilitation. At the other end of the scale, many athletes include Nordic walking in their training, because it can make you work very hard.
Cross-country skiers use it for summer training, and they are some of the fittest people in the world, for other people, the great benefit is that it works both the upper and lower body, using about 90% of the body’s muscles, as opposed to about 35% to 45% in normal walking. As a result it burns more calories but actually seems easier to do.
In Germany national health insurance pays for Nordic walking classes from accredited trainers because of the health benefits. Like other forms of exercise, it’s worth taking a class or two to begin with, because you won’t get the full benefits unless you have the right technique.
Some people just “carry their poles”, and if you do this with the shoulders high it can lead to neck and shoulder 
tension, whereas a proper Nordic walking technique can actually release neck and shoulder tension and help with back issues. Surprisingly, 80% to 90% of Nordic walkers are women. “I think its that walking aspect. Men, if they want to exercise, want to go running – they want to feel it. But everyone who does Nordic walking say, ‘I didn’t know it was that hard’. In the beginning, when you learn the technique, you feel the muscles a bit sore afterwards, especially in the triceps and the lats at the back – they are the muscles you usually done use when walking”.
Nordic walking developed from cross-country skiing in Scandinavian countries back in the 1930’s, it is strong in German speaking countries such as Switzerland, Austria and Germany and has started to grow in the UK and other parts of Europe.
There will be a number of Nordic walking groups and instructors in your area, most instructors have Nordic Poles you can hire to get you started and then as you get hooked you will want to have your own poles and walk in your own time…
I run beginners sessions in the Cambridgeshire area, please contact me for details about my classes.
Mervyn S Foster
INWA Nordic Walking Instructor
The Chancellor, Alistair Darling gave his final budget before there is a general election on Wednesday 24th March. He made very few announcements as the majority of tax rates and allowances had already been released in previous Budgets and the Pre Budget Report given in December. The key announcements were:
Our commentary on the budget is available on The George Hay Chartered Accountants’ website at www.georgehay.co.uk which gives further information on announcements made.
Flat rate VAT is charged to the smallest businesses with a turnover of less than £150,000 and aims to minimise the red tape around administering VAT.
“When VAT was lowered in December 2008 many rates stayed the same and some were reduced by up to 2.5%. What has become apparent is that after VAT was put back to 17.5% in January this year, nearly half of the flat rate schemes have seen the VAT level rise above the pre-decrease level,” said John Wright, National Chairman of FSB.
“While a few sectors have seen a decrease, the majority of businesses will see their rates rise, which is unacceptable at a time when cash-flow is limited. The FSB believes that this is a stealth tax, which will affect a firm’s overall profitability.”
Business Advice for all UK firms from starting a business to flotation - Banking & Finance, business advice or business startups and starting a business. Article from http://www.newbusiness.co.uk
Having taken up Nordic Walking nearly a year ago because of pain in my leg from an old skiing injury and after completing a number of long distant walks in 2009 (Oxfam Charity Walk – 26 miles, and Pathfinder March – 46 miles, to name just two), I became hooked on walking with poles – NORDIC WALKING.
My introduction to Nordic Walking started when I attended a number of walking classes organised by Neal and Mel Thomas of FitHaven (www.fithaven.co.uk). After skiing using Nordic Walking poles was easy for me but it does have its challenges, so it is always advisable to have instruction with a qualified instructor who can advise and correct your technique.
Having benefited from Nordic Walking, seeing other walkers losing weight, getting fitter, and just having fun. I decided in December 2009 that I would like to become an Instructor, and signed up to attend an INWA (International Nordic Walking Federation) Instructors Course conducted by British Nordic Walking.
My course was held at Nottingham University Sports Centre with Catherine Hughes (National Coach for England).
The course consisted of two days intensive training and teaching, culminating on the second day with a written test and a practical assessment of the students teaching each other the techniques and benefits of Nordic Walking. The course leads to a qualification as an INWA Nordic Walking Instructor where students learn to teach Nordic Walking safely and effectively for health and fitness.
The course covered the understanding and history plus benefits of Nordic Walking. Students had to demonstrate good personal techniques, planning and delivery of a safe session, teaching the 10 steps of Nordic Walking, developing observation skills, use of corrective drills and finally teach dynamic warm up and cool down exercises.
Nordic Walking uses specially designed poles to enhance your natural walking experience. With a technique that is similar to the upper body action of classic cross country skiing, Nordic Walking becomes a genuinely whole body exercise that can be enjoyed at many levels, from walking for health to athletic Nordic running. Globally, more that 10 million people enjoy this outdoor activity all year around and it is growing weekly.
I am passionate about Nordic Walking and wish to see more people enjoying the benefits of this activity. As a qualified INWA Nordic Walking Instructor I will be organising Introduction/Basic classes in the St Ives, Huntingdon and Fenstanton area, so keep looking as I shall be posting start dates and timings soon….
Mervyn S Foster
INWA Nordic Walking Instructor
mervyn@nordicwalkingcambs.com or Tel: 01480 878111
Robert Ashton, is an entrepreneur, and challenging
business author. His books including 'How to Sell'
are published by Hamlyn. Visit www.robertashton.co.uk
to find out more.
Robert kindly agreed to contribute a regular column
to ‘Wising UP!’ so this was the first of of our
“Ten Ways...” series from the first issue of Wising
UP in 2003! - as useful now as when first published.
It’s all too easy to assume that everything’s going to turn out just fine. But the wily entrepreneur makes sure he’s chosen the right eggs to sit on. Here are ten ways you can be sure you’re hatching winners!
Lyn Brisley, a family law specialist at Buckles Solicitors LLP, explains this new approach to divorce that has arrived from across the Atlantic in the USA.
Most people appreciate that pursuing a divorce can be a stressful and bitter experience. Dividing assets and sorting out the arrangements for children, can generate unpalatable litigation which is expensive and undignified.
The collaborative law process provides a fresh approach to divorce and is designed to promote agreement between husband and wife on varying issues, for example, how the assets should be divided and how arrangements for the children should be organised. This is all done without the stress of going to Court.
Collaborative law should be suitable for the majority of couples where there is some disagreement regarding a whole host of arrangements pursuant to the breakdown of the marriage, but where there is nevertheless a willingness to try and reach an agreement.
Where there is a genuine desire to find a solution as well as a willingness to be open and honest, couples sign up to a contractually binding agreement, ensuring that neither of them litigates through the Court. The “Participation Agreement” is signed by the acting solicitors and clients alike at the first “four way meeting” between the clients and their solicitors. The Participation Agreement explains all the process involved.
The solicitors and their clients attend a series of “four way meetings” where they meet up to discuss a variety of issues. Agendas are set, full and frank information is shared which paves the way for structured discussion.
The beauty of collaborative law is that it deals with difficult matters in a non-confrontational, non-litigious manner. The parties themselves remain in control of what is important to them and are free to openly negotiate with the assistance of their solicitors around the table. All those involved, solicitors and clients alike, are encouraged to keep an open mind and facilitate discussion for both sides, while providing sound legal advice for their client en-route.
With Collaborative Law, an air of dignity is maintained, and more often than not a working relationship with ones ex-spouse is maintained which is particularly beneficial for the children if relevant. Constructive solutions to personal difficulties can be proffered by either solicitor involved, as the lawyers do not partake in a “head to head” or entrenched conduct.
Collaborative law is growing in popularity here in Peterborough, and more and more solicitors are being trained and are committed to this approach. It is understood that just over 1,000 lawyers nationally are accredited with this expertise. This is a client and solution based process.
For more information on this story or any other family legal matter, please contact Lyn Brisley at the Peterborough office of Buckles Solicitors LLP on 01733 888841 or email at lyn.brisley@buckles-law.co.uk
Marina Alta Business Club, Speaking English in Spain