Category Archives: Reviews

Splendid, Slough in the County of Buckinghamshire

The large town of Slough is situated in the county of Buckinghamshire, approximately twenty miles west of London.  A great commuter town for the (approximate) 164,000 residents, many of whom work in the busy City but want the beauty of a more rural community. This thriving, multicultural town attracts potential residents and workers from all over the country and has the highest concentration of company headquarters that have set up base in its trading estates, outside London itself. The power station there has been steadily supplying power to the massive trading estate it is based on since 1920.

Image credit

There is also a huge retail outlet for the residents to enjoy alongside several splendid primary and secondary schools for the children to attend. The hard-working students who attend the schools are amongst the top ten best academic achievers in the country.

Image credit

The residential areas are growing quickly, in order to house all the families that want to set up home in this thriving community. The army of builders are working hard to clear any derelict buildings in order to erect new homes, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, veterinary practices and hospitals. The team operating the diggers are very careful not to damage any electrical cables, phone lines, gas pipes or sewers.  If they find any pipes that are cracked they may well decide that a Drain Lining Slough  company could repair them and contact a professional company such as http://www.drainpower.co.uk/drainage-services/drain-lining/drain-lining-slough/ to sort out the problems.

The Old Firm derby that ignites a city

Glasgow is renowned as being a tough place. Its hard streets belie a city of cultural status. It has the largest population in Scotland and is the fourth largest in the UK. It is a proud city full of prouder people, and rightly so, due to its heritage as a great ship building area. Whilst this has fallen away with time, the city has maintained its populus and is now know for its financial sectors. It also has a prosperous tech industry with companies like Web Design Glasgow based organisation https://www.design-hero.com/web-design/local-web-agency/glasgow/ for example.

Image credit

To show how proud the city is it comes together, or more correctly divides, for four very important games in the year. They are usually the defining games of the Scottish premier league. It’s the match between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic. To say that it is played with passion is a very big understatement.

Image credit

It is reckoned to be one of the oldest derby matches (where 2 teams from the same city or town play against each other) in the world. So far, it is Rangers that have won the most matches with 168 to Celtics 161. 101 of them have resulted in a draw. The game is played under the shadow of sectarianism. The Protestants favour Rangers and the Catholics support Celtic. This has led to many unfortunate clashes off the field as well as on it.

Deciding to downsize and move from a large family home to a small bungalow in Wiltshire

With the financial climate as difficult as it is at the moment, the rate of inflation rising alongside food and petrol prices soaring, lots of older couples are making the decision to downsize from a big family home to a smaller bungalow.  When you have a large property and your children have grown up and moved away to a different county, possibly Wiltshire, you could also make the momentous decision to sell your old family home and move to a smaller, newer home, possibly a bungalow to live closer to your children in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Image credit

With floors all on one level, a smaller more manageable garden, less maintenance on the property itself and somewhere safe to park your car with secure Garage Doors Swindon by a company such as http://www.upandoverdoorsltd.co.uk/garage-doors/garage-doors-swindon/  a bungalow could be the ideal new forever home.  Once you have found a suitable property to move to, the process of selling your current home can begin, a quick declutter, fresh coat of paint and tidy up of your unruly garden and you are set to get the Estate Agents around for a valuation.

Image credit

Hopefully your newly refreshed house will sell quickly, and you can put in an offer on the chosen new bungalow. Packing up your precious possessions and arranging the movers is next on the list of things to do. Once all the surveys and checks have taken place you can sign the final contracts and enjoy the big day when you take possession of the keys of your bungalow.

What is conveyancing?

You have probably congratulated yourself on getting through the initial stages of a mortgage application. Completing the agreement in principle, where the lender will give you an indication of the amount they can lend. The next stage is to complete a Needs and Circumstances conversation where you will give over all of your financial income and outgoings, the monthly budget you have available to pay the mortgage down and what type of mortgage you want.

Image credit

There then follows the process of conveyancing. This stage can seem to be you paying a lot of money for very little. It’s why you need to have a Conveyancing Cheltenham based company like Montpelier Legal on hand to help you get through it. They will be able to advise and guide you through the legal side of the purchase and keep you informed on all the stages.

Image credit

Basically, the Conveyancers will make sure that there are no legal bars from covenants, rights of way, potential compulsory purchases and if there are any issues from the survey that need to be dealt with. A good rule of thumb with a house purchase is that if you don’t hear from the Conveyancers, everything is going as it should be!

Finally, the conveyancers will be the ones that will take the money from the lender and then immediately pass it onto the builder or seller. Once this is confirmed you can receive the keys to the home from the seller, an official act of making it your own home.

Do you need a specialist conveyancer?

Moving home involves making multiple key decisions that can be the difference between a short and long turn around, and also the difference between being in, or out, of pocket. We explore how choosing a specialist conveyancer can save homebuyers both time and money in comparison to appointing a traditional solicitor. They can help with everything from first time buyer right through to those looking for Park Homes for Sale in Gloucestershire such as those at http://www.parkhomelife.com/our-parks/orchard-park/

Image Credit

What are specialist conveyancers?

A specialist conveyancer is a law firm that deals solely with the process of conveyancing (the legal side of house sales). As opposed to your local solicitor’s office, it doesn’t deal with family law, criminal or business law, or any other services that traditional solicitors firms deal with. Licensed conveyancers do not need to have a full solicitors qualification. Specialist conveyancing firms do not always have to operate out of a centrally located office either, as much of the conveyancing work can be dealt with over the phone or via email, which is why more and more specialist conveyancing firms are able to operate solely online.

Image Credit

Why go specialist?

You local solicitors might have an excellent reputation, but the practice may also have just one person experienced at conveyancing and that one person may even work part-time, or dedicate half their workload to other areas of law. With more pressing legal issues and demanding clients to deal with, your house sale could easily be put on the firm’s back burner. At a specialist firm not only are all staff experienced in this specific legal area, but all clients will have equal priority. As a consequence, your house sale is likely to go through much quicker.

Solicitors tend to charge much higher fees than licensed conveyancers, even when they are likely to carry out the exact same work.

A specialist firm may also be more experienced in niche areas of the conveyancing process (e.g. buy to let), something that’s highly important in an industry that is becoming ever more complex. Always do your research to find the right conveyancer. Specialist conveyancers are highly experienced at the nuances of the conveyancing process.

For all these reasons it may well be in your interest to appoint a more specialist firm. A specialist conveyancer could save you both time and money, and if your house sale or purchase is particularly complex, they will be better equipped to deal with this.

What should be considered before the renovation project

Planning a renovation project is pretty nerve wracking, as well as being incredibly rewarding. It requires self control, patience, determination, and a strict ability to stay within budget guidelines. Here are some important factors that you will definitely want to consider before starting any home renovation project:

Materials – You can’t simply take a trip to the nearest hardware store and buy the cheapest material available. You must consider the cost, strength, building regulations, appearance and impact on the environment. You will want to give good consideration to all of these factors before choosing building materials or you can give yourself a big problem.

Image credit

Electricity – What requirements will you have in the new room? Should type of equipment needs to be installed, lighting or other large equipment? At the beginning of a renovation project, you should know where the electrical outlets are. That is why it is very important to know what the use of the space will be before you start working on it. To find out more about Builders Bishops Stortford, visit https://www.ashmereconstruction.co.uk/

Noise – Depending on the intended purpose of the room, are there noise considerations? Are you going to install a large home entertainment system? Does the room next to or above the room need to be soundproof?

Plumbing – If you plan to have equipment or water running in the room, you need to find out where the plumbing will be placed and the types of equipment to be installed. Does this appliance require special drainage?

Time – Give realistic thought to how long the renovation project will last. Many people underestimate this and leave themselves unprepared and in awkward situations. You could end up waiting for furniture delivery or experience building delays due to the weather – remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Comfort – Depending on your intended use, how comfortable is the space you want? Will you be using the space for a workspace, playroom, or additional living room? This will affect your choice of flooring, heating and furniture.

Image credit

Waste – Think about how you will dispose of the waste generated from a renovation project. You won’t be able to do much if your space is full of debris and unwanted household items.

Storage – A common complaint in modern housing is the lack of adequate storage space. Think long and hard about what your storage needs are and factor this in from the start. Do you need a built-in wardrobe or a hidden shelf for example?

Flexibility – Think long term about your renovation and whether it will stand the test of time. Families evolve, needs change and rooms can be required to change from their original use. As much as possible, consider how your future needs may still be included in your plans for today.

 

Why construction businesses need young talent

The gender imbalance within the UK construction industry is widely known, with only 11% of the workforce being female and just 2% of those being employed in craft trade roles. Consequently, a considerable skills shortage has arisen. To address this, construction companies are placing a greater emphasis on attracting a more diverse range of employees to aid innovation and futureproofing.

Image Credit

Why is there an imbalance?

When considering construction companies Manchester is home to a number of leading firms who specialise in cutting-edge design, build and project management. However, there remains a considerable lack of female employees within companies here and nationwide. A study undertaken by GenAnalytics and funded by the Scottish Government found that only 17% of surveyed construction staff were female, with these figures being in line with national statistics. This has highlighted a need for construction companies to improve their image, as they are often regarded as a last resort for young people who are unable to secure employment elsewhere and are consequently demotivated and do not complete their apprenticeships.

Image Credit

What can companies do?

To address this, it is crucial for construction companies to enhance their relationships with colleges and schools to promote the positives of a career in construction. Showcasing these jobs to students can be a great way of encouraging new talent into the industry.

When considering construction companies Manchester based firms such as Piggot and Whitfield https://www.piggottandwhitfield.co.uk/services/ offer opportunities in design and build, construction and project management, highlighting the multitude of career options available. However, sending staff into schools results in fewer employees on the job, which impacts project deadlines and income.

Therefore, the GenAnalytics report advises education providers to work with construction companies to educate students on potential opportunities within the industry. Allowing teachers to develop a greater understanding of the roles available in the industry can also form an important part of the approach, along with taster sessions, open days and work placements. The Guardian also suggests having students come and visit construction sites to experience the industry firsthand.

Future partnerships between construction companies and education providers can be a mutually beneficial approach that helps to prevent skill shortages and gender imbalance within the industry, in addition to introducing young people to an exciting new career prospect they may not have previously considered.

Enhance the Power of Storytelling through Video Social Networking

Great motivational speakers across the world use the technique of ‘story telling’ to their audience. Researches by the psychologists indicate that a normal and monotonous speech will not produce a great impact on the listeners and all the thoughts generated during the speech vanish away in no time. By using the technique of ‘story telling’ good speakers can able to manage the minds of the audience with a high retention rate of the message conveyed through the motivational stories. Hence the concept of ‘story telling’ can be used as a marketing strategy especially in the online business. This is very much needed as there is no personal rapport is established in the process of any online marketing.

As a high rate of growing of the online marketing techniques adopted by various online marketers, a new marketing strategy has emerged through the concept of social networking. A serial of storytelling videos can being a new intimacy to your video social networking
which cannot be matched by normal promos, and even passive videos. By providing few suspense and some thrills in the ‘story telling’ approach, you can effectively retain your audience to return to your website to look for the succeeding episode. In fact this is a copied approach made by the popular serials in the favorite television channels. However these special videos have a prime advantage of viewing the previous episodes which the traditional television serial does not have.

Know more about Storytelling video
This seems to be new marketing approach of your products and services. Using this special technique online marketers can able to bring more traffic to their websites by creating a suspense or thrill in these stories. These special videos share information about your product and services in the form of a natural drama which are made in different installments as episodes. The series of such videos have the essentials like introduction, middle information and the end message. Every episode ends with suspense just like the television serials. With this technique you are taking your prospects in a sort of continuous journey, so that we never miss to visit your websites and even advocate other friends to visit your website. In these videos make your product or service as the favorite ‘hero’ so that it goes in the minds of the prospective clients and stay for long time.

In general it is very easy to use the power of storytelling through the video social networking and make a clear understanding of your products and services to your prospects and even to your existing customers. Let us see one example. If you are a plumber engaged in plumbing services at homes and use the storytelling technique instead of a formal introduction, you stand a better chance of creating a follow-up by your clients who watch your stories in the popular social networking.

By advocating such new methods of video marketing one should not ignore the traditional methods as the net users are still considered to be a minority in this digital world. These methods are used mainly to express your uniqueness and make you different from other competitors.

Football Player Agent

If you were looking for a job that made sure you were almost universally reviled, then you couldn’t do much worse than become a Football Players Agent. Seen as money grabbing and even termed parasitic by many in the football world, do these agents really deserve the bad wrap that they get?

Another type of agent that is reviled is Estate Agents Bath, Bristol or probably anywhere else in the country for that matter. Footballers need a home too, so they if look on https://www.pritchards-bath.co.uk/ they’ll find one. What led to the start of the Football Agent? You have to look at the influence of Jimmy Hill for that and the minimum wage cap.

Image credit

Before it became professional, Football was an amateur game. In other words, players were miners, tailors, shop assistants and chimney sweeps in the week then footballers on Saturday. They played for the love of the game, but it was not uncommon for them to get certain kickbacks. In 1885 the FA decided to regulate all professional players. These were the men who relied on Football for a wage and livelihood. They could be paid anywhere between 10 shillings a week (about 50p) and up to £5 depending on the club. Some, if the club was owned by a wealthy industrialist, found themselves in highly paid cushy jobs rather than play full time, until they retired from Football and had to leave. It was proposed that a cap of £4 be introduced but this got players up in arms as some where on £10. Back then the league had a North and South division. It was far too tempting for the players in the North to go South as there was no limit and they could go up to £10 a week.

A player’s union continued down through the years and, led by Jimmy Hill, finally decided to strike unless there was no limit. Fearing the worst, the FA gave in and ended the wage cap. The opportunity for player power was now open. Johnny Haynes, Jimmy Hill’s old teammate became the first £100 a week player, well over the average wage for the fans watching.

With this power, Players began to negotiate their own contracts. However, as they themselves had no idea their parents usually took over. They also generally had no idea.

Image credit

The players agent began to take over. They had been around since the 1950’s but for the 70’s onwards they were the movers and shakers. They were able the negotiate deals not just for transfers but also the dreaded personal terms. In 50 short years the limited of £5 was eclipsed by the £263 million Paris-St -Germain paid for Neymar. The agents are only acting in an environment that we as fans and the FA have created. Players are still commodities only now they have more control and the agents “meagre” 5% or 10% cut is only going to continue.

Are Facebook Ads a Lie?

I have always liked to be critical and question the importance or not of the number of followers of a page on Facebook, the crowded question of whether size matters, is something that in one way or another, many times, I have wondered.

I remember with my first projects, as from the beginning I tried to do what I understand (and time later gave me the reason) I had to do, and it was nothing but work well: and so when others chose to create personal profiles for companies, instead of fanpages for the facility to “get” friends I always opted for what I consider to be the right way: revitalizing, managing, adding value and off-on referrals for getting new fans from any of the pages I managed. Continue reading Are Facebook Ads a Lie?