Ever wondered what a sparky does? Working with electricity can be a dangerous business as electricians are responsible for installing, testing, repairing and maintaining electrical wiring or electronics. Electricians can be called on to work in a wide range of environments including commercial properties, homes, power stations or machinery and even robotics. Electricians can also be employed in dealing with low voltage systems like security alarms and telephone, internet and video cabling.

If you’re thinking of training to be one then you’ll need to do things like read blueprints and be involved in installing, maintaining and repairing wiring and electronics. During the construction of new buildings, electricians may work on the wiring and circuits or they may retro-fit after the building is complete. Problem-solving and decision making to improve electrical output may also be needed. You will also find electricians working inside factories or industrial facilities working on electrical machinery and robots. It is quite a perilous profession and especially for the electricians who work outside on cabling and wiring lines where safety is paramount.

The qualities that are needed to be an electrician include the following: a certain level of physical fitness, normal colour vision (for wiring purposes), good with your hands, a sense of balance and to be good with heights. Useful subjects to study at school include maths, physics, chemistry, computing, english and technology. A career in electricity can be well paid and is in high demand and our need for electricity isn’t going to diminish anytime soon. An electrician may also find themselves working in quite exciting settings as the entertainment industry always requires electricians to install and arrange complex lighting for concerts and shows.

An electrician can also operate their own business, responding to call outs from customers and working on different projects. An electrician will most likely need a van for transporting tools and equipment between jobs. The best way to protect the interior of a van and organise tools is to have plywood fitted to the rear of the van. Not only does this prolong the life of the vehicle but also looks professional and smart. For Van ply lining information, visit http://www.vehicle-accessories.net/Plylining.

Being an electrician is an interesting and varied job and work can be required literally anywhere there is lighting, climate control, alarm systems or appliances. One day you could be using testing meters to isolate electrical faults, supervising apprentices and then inspecting and repairing circuit breakers and transformers. The next day you could be installing back-up generators in commercial properties.

The job involves bending, kneeling and standing for long periods so you’ll need to be fairly fit. The job can be noisy if you’re working in an industrial plant with heavy machinery and of course run the risk of electric shocks and burns. There are strict guidelines in place for the use of safety clothing and eye protection. The job can be dangerous but offers a great deal of satisfaction and is a highly sought after skill meaning you should never be short of work.
 

FENSA (the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) was established by the window and double glazing industry to help protect homeowners from rogue companies. It checks that window companies in England and Wales meet certain standards and guidelines, guaranteeing a quality product that will last for many years.

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This is very useful for people who want new windows but do not know how to check for quality. According to FENSA, using a registered company can help you to save time and money; for example, you will not have to register your doors and windows with your local authority yourself.

How to ensure a double-glazing company Is trustworthy

One of the easiest ways to check that a double-glazing company is trustworthy is to see whether it is registered with FENSA. FENSA has issued over nine million door and window homeowner certificates and is recognised as the leader in the double-glazing industry.

Companies do not necessary need to be approved by FENSA to be popular and effective, of course, as they may already have a large customer base through word of mouth. If you are looking for double glazing in Dublin, for example, check out companies such as http://keanewindows.ie/. Some companies that are not FENSA approved have been in operation for many years and have excellent reviews.

The main concern is new companies that claim to be FENSA approved when they are actually inexperienced and are likely to do a poor job; in fact, it is a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and Trade Marks Act 1994 to fraudulently claim to be registered. This is because it will influence customers to use their business and it is likely that they will be unhappy with the results due to false advertising.

Companies that have been prosecuted for false advertising

Let’s look at two examples of companies that have been prosecuted in 2016 for falsely advertising as a FENSA-registered business. In March 2016, Highgrove Widows was prosecuted for eight counts of fraud with regard to its services. The director was sentenced to two years’ custodial sentence, suspended for two years. In January, Summit Roofguard Ltd was prosecuted for 64 criminal offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The directors were sentenced to jail terms of two and a half years each.

Manufacturing industries are increasingly looking at the role automation can play in improving efficiency and production levels, reducing safety issues, minimising costs and limiting expenditure on materials. One of the ways that businesses can achieve this is by the use of pneumatic vacuum conveyors, which can introduce a number of benefits to the manufacturing line. Continue reading Reducing Costs with Pneumatic Conveyors →

2017 is only a matter of days away now, and businesses should be ready to hit the ground running with their editorial and content calendars in place. Content is growing and is being allocated more cash and bigger headcounts, and that doesn’t look like changing any time soon.

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Mobile

There is now more internet traffic on mobile devices than on desktop computers. With that in mind, make sure you are optimising your content for mobile phones. People squinting to read a lengthy document will create a problem. That could potentially be helped by having an app, and if you don’t have one yet, that should be a focus.

Video content

Images, and particularly video, are so crucial now to users experience online that social media platforms have evolved rapidly in the last few months. Video-focused platforms like YouTube and Snapchat have been joined by Facebook Live, which threatens to take over. Just look at your timeline on social platforms and you’ll see how important video is becoming to brands. That trend looks set to continue for the foreseeable future so be sure to build it into your content plan.

Social media

Facebook remains the most-used social media platform for small business, so ignore it at your risk. It’s still a very valuable tool for reaching potential customers, be they B2C or B2B. Other platforms are still valuable, the trick is to match them to the customer.

User-generated content

Time and time again, polls show that content made by other users is considered more trustworthy than content produced by brands. As most brands are trying to build trust, having others able to do that better can be an uncomfortable thought. UGC is shares and reviews, comments, even videos and photos. If your content is engaging enough to produce UGC, you’re winning.

For more ideas on what is going to be big in the content marketing world in 2017, see the Content Marketing Institute. To help with planning your content strategy for 2017, consult a brand and strategy innovation agency like www.lightbulbinnovation.com/.

Ultimately, content is all about your audience and the formats they want to use. If you want to communicate successfully with your potential audience, make sure you are using the formats they are. The focus must remain the customer.

Ever wondered how someone becomes a locksmith? It is probably not an area that receives much thought but if you have a teenage son or daughter who has no idea what path to take at that 16 plus milestone then could this profession offer a good return?

Locksmiths make duplicate keys, repair all types of locks and install new lock systems for homes and businesses. People get locked out of their homes or vehicles very frequently and so there is no shortage of work. A self-employed locksmith can work on call outs and emergency responses to a lock-out and this can pay well.

There are many training courses to introduce you to the world of locksmithing and it’s important to hear reviews from other locksmiths who have taken these courses and talk to the course provider as well to find out exactly what is covered. The best course providers include those run by the British Locksmiths Institute, who are part of the Master Locksmiths Association. You may also be able to take an apprenticeship with some firms as a route into the profession. For a Belfast Locksmith, visit http://www.belfastlocksmiths247.co.uk/

There are no formal qualifications and on the job training may suffice but there are definitely some skills that are required. You will need excellent dexterity, customer care skills, patience, attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.

Locksmiths can become involved in other areas of safety and install and maintain security mechanisms, fit safes and set up closed circuit television systems. Some locksmiths specialize their services and one example of this would be providing a service for the unlocking of antique locks and padlocks, repairing them and providing unique key cutting for them.

A typical day in the life of a locksmith will include fitting locks to doors and windows. In a security conscious world and in high crime areas, a locksmith should be kept busy. You may also be promoting and selling various types of locks and security devices and offering advice on best options. Cutting keys and making new keys will be a large part of the job but you could also be fitting combination locks and timing mechanisms to safes. You’ll want to make sure that your customers treasure is safely stored and impenetrable to any would be burglars.

People often get locked out of their vehicles and so you could be involved in gaining access to cars and repairing any damage. Another aspect of the work involves attending crime scenes after break-ins and helping to secure a business property or home. A good working relationship with the police will be required. Unfortunately many victims of burglary often feel violated and nervous about what they once considered their haven. The ability to work well and sympathetically with members of the public will be of great benefit in this job as you will need to reassure and advise about security issues. They will probably want a complete overhaul of their locking mechanisms which could include both doors and windows. They may also want CCTV installed or an alarm fitted.

Ever heard of fire dampers? Probably not as they live hidden in the ceilings and ductwork of buildings. Everybody knows what a fire door looks like but probably wouldn’t know a fire damper if they fell over one! These are very clever devices that are designed to be installed in buildings to prevent the spread of fire through walls, partitions and floors. They have a duct or ventilation opening which operates automatically when fire is detected. Where a building has heating, ventilation and air conditioning, these dampers are employed and will close automatically in the event of a fire breaking out. A thermal detection device will melt and this triggers the closure.

When a new building is designed it is essential that effective fire damping systems penetrate properly and are properly sealed. The systems should be easily accessible to enable regular checking and testing. While most employers are great at conducting regular fire drills and fire alarms, many overlook the testing of the dampers that are installed in the building’s ducting.

Dampers are incredibly important as they help to save lives and greatly reduce the cost of fire damage. A company can be fined for not testing the system or could face two years in prison and the industry advice is that you should have them tested every two years. Sprint-operated dampers will need to be tested annually to meet regulation requirements. Only experts can do these tests as it’s too risky to leave it to any other contractor. For Ductwork fire damper, visit http://www.dustspares.co.uk/Butterfly-Damper.html

Dampers need to be able to tested to ensure their integrity, insulation and reduced leakage. The dampers will be cleaned and lubricated and then put to the test. If there is a fire and you have not had them tested then you may also have difficulties claiming for any damage from the insurance company.

Dampers may not be glamorous but they are vital. Ductwork and ventilation systems can easily pass smoke and flames throughout a building with frightening speed unless there is something in place to stop that. For public buildings, such as hospitals, fire dampers must be checked every year as they are busy places with many people staying in them. There are also combined fire and smoke dampers where the device will close on the detection of smoke and not just heat. Remember the difference between a well-maintained fire damper and a neglected one can be the difference between life and death.

A British company called Pavegen has recently developed a novel flooring system that generates electricity from footsteps. Yes, you read that right – just by walking on the tiles, you can help to light offices, airports and even football stadiums. These tiles have already been installed in some key locations in London’s Heathrow airport and in community locations in Nigeria and Brazil.

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Kinetic Energy

These innovative tiles have been designed to harness kinetic energy. The tiles are usually triangular in shape and have a small generator in each of the corners. This shape and design ensures that, regardless of where the footfall lands, the kinetic energy generated by each footstep is maximised. That means that the more footfall on the tiles, the more energy is generated, with estimates of between 5 and 7 watts of power per footstep.

Function

The founder of Pavegen, Laurence Kemball-Cook, asserts that the tiles have an important function as they are able to light areas that are either too poor or too rural to gain mains powered electricity. As an example, they have been used in Nigeria in a small community that had no mains power and so had no light. This lack of light was preventing the community from socialising or playing sport after dark, but installation of these tiles has encouraged a new social element within the community.

Limitations

Despite the many potential applications of this smart flooring, the technology does have its limitations. Firstly, the flooring requires lots of circuits and lots of batteries to store the energy, as it’s an off-grid power system, and secondly, it has a vast price tag, costing around £1,250 per square meter. So, it’s unlikely to overtake laminate flooring as the UK’s favourite flooring option, especially as laminate is so readily available at many flooring outlets, including ukflooringdirect.co.uk.

Future

Pavegen claims that with improvements in the design of the flooring technology, the amount of energy that can be generated from the tiles will increase. The increase in power generation is likely to be coupled with an increase in applications, therefore potentially helping countries to reduce their carbon footprint. Greenpeace endorses this technology and claims that there is a possibility that many areas could be running entirely on renewable energy sources by 2050.

When designing a website, we all look to engage our customers. Of course, your site is ultimately there to sell your product or service or to promote your business. It’s all about driving customers to engage with you.

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But before a customer will engage with you as a business, you need to build a relationship with them. The first step in doing so is to give them something that is of value to them. This not only drives them to your website in the first place, but also keeps them coming back. The more times they visit you, statistically the more likely they are to become a customer.

Mobile Versus Desktop

We all know that internet-ready mobile phones have been improving and making the internet more accessible in recent years. In fact, according to Forbes, we have finally reached the point where they have become more popular than desktop devices. That is to say that more people are now performing internet searches via their mobile phones than via desktops.

Of course, this means that for anybody with a website, optimisation for mobile devices is now crucial. Unless you are a web designer yourself, you will probably need some help to make sure that this is done correctly and in a way that is recognised by the Google search bots as being mobile-friendly. Failing to do so could affect your search engine rankings.

It is sensible therefore to ask for some help from a professional web design company. For example, you could try a Cardiff Web design agency such as netcentrics.co.uk, who would fully understand the requirements for mobile-friendly sites and ensure that your website was optimised in a way that the search engines would be happy with. This will give you a higher ranking.

The Demise of the News Site

With the Guardian reporting that news websites look to be finding it difficult to be profitable in the mobile climate, is it possible that your business could benefit from this trend? Users are reluctant to read the news on traditional sites, since these are forced to use advertising in order to remain profitable.

On a mobile device, advertising is particularly annoying. That’s where you could come in. If you have a blog or news page with relevant news in your field, you could find that people with an interest in your area of business use you as a point of reference. This will of course drive traffic to your website, as any newsworthy item is also share-worthy. You will get organic views and your search engine ranking will increase as your site is shared more widely on other websites.

Of course, for every person that reads your blog or looks up a relevant news article and gets directed to your website, a proportion will take the time to look around your site. These are the ones who will potentially be converted to customers. So the cloud over the news sites really could be your silver lining if you plan your website design and content appropriately.

When Neil Armstrong made his one small step onto the Moon in 1969 the computer that got him there had around 64 kilobytes of memory. That’s probably less than the amount contained in a modern toaster.

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Even the IBM mainframe back at Mission Control that was used to calculate the launch data and monitor the progress of the mission had less memory than the USB stick in your pocket. The space programme proved that computers could be trusted to carry out complex tasks on which human lives depended, but it also serves to illustrate how the technology has advanced in the last 40 or so years.

One Small Chip

The Apollo guidance computer wasn’t the first programmable electronic machine of course, they go back to the code breaking efforts of WWII, but it was among the first to use integrated circuit microchips. What has driven advances in computing since then is the ability to pack more components onto each wafer of silicon so that more memory and more processing power is available in the same space.

This of course means that the programs run the machine can be larger and more complex so there’s even greater need for software testing. The desktop computers that began to appear in the late 1970s and early 80s paved the way for today’s use of PCs, though still relatively low powered and very expensive.

The affordable home computers that came next showed that it was possible to make a usable and relatively powerful – though still usually with no more memory than the Apollo computer – that could be used by almost anyone.

Computing In Your Pocket

By the late 1980s the PC had become an essential in most businesses and IT Support in Southgate and other areas of London and further afield across the UK and abroad were becoming essential as office applications like word processors and spreadsheets took off so agencies like http://www.pc-docs.co.uk were becoming a desirable contact to have in case any issues arose.

Although the desktop PC hadn’t shrunk much in size at this point it was becoming much more powerful. The advent of compact, affordable hard drives also meant you could store much more information without having to continually swap floppy disks.

The first portable machines, ancestors of the current laptop, appeared in the 1980s too, allowing you to take your computer with you. Though these were bulky and heavy by today’s standards they began to free PCs from the office and the home, paving the way for today’s connected, mobile world.

Computers continued to get faster and more powerful through the 1990s as graphical operating systems like Windows replaced the older command line interfaces. At the beginning of the decade PCs would have had around 640 Kb of memory – ten times that of Apollo – but by the end memory capacities of 64 megabytes – 1,000 times that of Apollo – weren’t unusual.

From then on power and memory have increased at a rapid pace, modern laptops will have three or more gigabytes of RAM and multi-core processors allowing them to multi-task. Multi-core processors are in smartphones and tablets too and even modest phones will have 512 Mb of memory – that’s around 8,000 times the memory that took man to the moon and back sitting in your pocket so you can text your friends and play Angry Birds.

User Experience, or UX, design is an important subset of designing apps and mobile websites. It is something that has been around for many years, however it is only recently that it has become an integral part of website design.

When the Internet first became available (Over 25 years ago!), we were so wowed by the idea of having access to so much information and being able to communicate with so many people that the way we interacted with the tools available to us was an afterthought. Websites weren’t easy to use, but early adopters did not care.

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Today, the web is not just a tool for sharing information, it is also used for shopping and entertainment. Businesses have just as strong a presence on the web as consumers, and this means that we need to make the web as accessible as possible. This means that UX design is becoming an increasingly important part of putting together a website.

Less Chrome, More Cards

If you look at older computer programs – those written for Windows 95 through to XP – they had a lot of raised buttons, sliders and other “chrome”. The idea was to provide digital representations of analog items, to make the application as easy and intuitive to use as possible. This worked when people were not familiar with computers, but as we have become more comfortable with them, the chrome has become a frustration – something that just takes up space that could be better used for something else. The modern “card” interface is a reflection of that.

Familiar and Intuitive

One of the reasons that things like cards work so well is that they are both familiar and intuitive. Magazines and newspapers use a grid-based layout, so we are used to seeing things divided up into clearly delimited squares. We see cards on so many websites now that we understand how to manipulate them and what they can do, and they’re clean and un-cluttered so it is easy to direct a user’s attention to the most important areas of the screen.

Web design companies such as http://www.easiserv.com/web-design who offer web design in Northampton have a lot of experience with working with these modern, uncluttered designs and favour them because they are so easy to adapt to mobile layouts.

The main search engines are putting a lot of emphasis on responsive designs now, because they appreciate the importance of mobile users. Responsive designs flow and re-arrange themselves to fit on a wide range of screen sizes. The card-based, flat UX that is in fashion today, combined with the friction-free idea of endless scrolling, is ideal for responsive design.

If you have an existing website that is table-heavy and feel that it is too cluttered, talk to a web design company today about adapting it to make it something that is easier to digest, and easier for users to skim-through, while still ensuring that they get easy access to all the information they need.