The lack of Indian medal success at Olympic level has been blamed on a variety of factors – lack of an inherent sporting culture among them. But that may be about to change. With a record haul of six medals at the London 2012 Games and a biggest ever contingent of 118 athletes in Rio, the brand value of athletes from outside cricket is on the rise with private sports management companies backing promising competitors across a range of sports.

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Serving Up Medals

At just 21, P V Sandhu looks to have a bright future, having taken silver in the women’s badminton final, the youngest Indian medallist ever and first woman. Sakshi Malik picked up a bronze in the 58kg women’s wrestling category following on from her male compatriot Yogeshwar Dutt, who took a medal in London in 2012.

Aditi Ashock put in a strong performance in the women’s golf, just 6 months after the 18 year old turned professional and Thanackal Gopi and Kheta Ram both clocked personal bests to finish 25th and 26th in a strong men’s marathon field.

Sports on the Rise

Sports authorities in India are beginning to identify and develop young talent and, despite their limited budget, are seeing a huge growth in sports, especially basketball. Initiatives like the Goal project are using sport to empower young women through netball netball – an initiative hugely helped by the availability of online coaching tools, where girls can watch a netball drill video like those available at https://www.sportplan.net/drills/Netball/ then practice their skills. These are the stars of the future, for whom commercial opportunities look bright.

Winning Contracts

India’s medallists are becoming ever more high profile with wrestler Sushil Kumar and woman boxer M.C. Mary Kom both taking up ambassador roles with a leading car manufacturer, a role once reserved for Bollywood and cricket stars. IOS Sports & Entertainment signed badminton star Saina Nehwal for a reported $3.72 million and signed a two year commercial and marketing deal, the first of its kind, with the Indian Olympic Committee in January. Reliance Industries are in the process of developing a new sports business in collaboration with Reliance Jio Infocomm, providers of 4G services.

For India’s new breed of sports stars, and sports businesses eager to capitalise on their success, Rio may be just the beginning.

For businesses to truly thrive in today’s digitally focused society, a compellingly designed website is essential. A number of studies have shown that a well-designed site with a clear focus will generate a greater amount of traffic and subsequently an increase in custom. With this in mind, what qualities should a website possess in order to be considered a success and are those qualities different to those from a couple of years ago back in 2014?

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Perhaps the biggest change has been in the way people get online. In recent years, the huge increase in the number of ways people can access the internet has given rise to a need for responsive web sites. A responsive site provides the optimal viewing experience for a wide range of devices, from desktop computers and laptops, to smartphones and tablets. The BBC News site is one such organisation which has embraced the idea of responsive websites.

While The Telegraph recently revealed some of the worst web designs currently in existence, here are just a few examples of the very best from 2014, many of them embracing the need for responsive capabilities.

Time Magazine

One of the world’s foremost publications, Time Magazine has a tremendous amount of content to fit on to its official site. This makes the clear, uncluttered feel of the site even more remarkable and impressive. The designers of the Time website have not been afraid to use plenty of white space in order to create an uncluttered and professional aesthetic.

Harvard University

Much like many modern designers, such as the Manchester web design agency https://www.bamboosolutions.co.uk, Harvard University has embraced the responsive revolution with gusto. The responsive features of the official Harvard University site prove that the centuries-old institution is willing to move with the times.

Starbucks

Initially, the official site of the coffee mega-chain may seem a little simplistic but this belies the true power which lies within. The site scores very high marks for its user-friendliness, the various search features being an absolute joy to manoeuvre through. The simple design also proves that the old adage ‘less is more’ still rings true today.

Mashable

One of the key unique selling points of Mashable is the continuously updated content available to visitors. For a lesser-designed site, this continual stream of new content could prove problematic in aesthetical terms. However, the Mashable site manages to maintain a clean and clear look, while making it easy for visitors to find all of the brand new content they desire.

BBC

As already mentioned, the BBC have been quick to embrace responsive design traits for their official website. What makes their site stand apart from others is their clever use of photographic content. Anyone using the site is immediately drawn to the various photos, set as they are against a stark white background. This very clever design tactic ensures that each link or story receives a great deal more hits than would be achieved through text alone.

Choosing upholstery fabric is not quite as simple as it might first appear. There are various factors that need to be taken into account before you make your final decision, as this is often something you will be living with for the next few years.

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Colour

This is frequently the first thing we look for in a fabric, as it is important that the colour you choose complements the room and other furnishings. According to Science Direct, colour influences many areas of our lives including moods and emotions, so it is important to select a colour that keeps us in harmony with our environment.

The size of the room is also important, as bright and bold colours can be overpowering and hard to live with. Go for something you feel comfortable with and do not be swayed by current fashions, as they change from season to season. On a more practical note, if you have pets or small children it is probably best to avoid light colours and those that will show every little mark.

Style

The style of your chosen fabric should complement the style of furniture and the room generally. A rustic feel, for example, might be enhanced by a fabric such as linen look cotton in a gingham pattern, whilst a more formal piece of furniture could benefit from a velvet or another more traditional fabric. If the room is small, do not be tempted to pick a large striking pattern that would be incongruous in that setting.

Durability

Depending on the amount of wear you expect the fabric to take, choose something that will suit. Heavy wear by children might call for a dense, high thread count fabric. A woven pattern will probably stay looking good longer than a printed one. You will need something that wears even better such as leather or microfibre if pets will be using the furniture.

Other Considerations

Choose fabric according to the room. If you are furnishing a nursery for example, you may like to check out http://www.higgsandhiggs.com/fabrics/linen-look-cotton.html in a variety of printed fabrics. Ensure you pick something fade resistant if it will be placed in a sunny room, especially close to a window.

If any members of the family have allergies, you may benefit from a fabric such as microfibre which does not attract dust and is lint free.

With headline retail sales volume back within 3% of their peak in January 2008, the strong showing for Irish retail rates is being driven by books, clothes and hardware. Personal spending looks set to continue to rise, thanks to low deposit-interest rates, meaning more disposable income.

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The Brexit Effect?

Though there are worries that the effect of Brexit and a possible return to cross border trading, coupled with a possible devaluation of sterling against the Euro, may slow sales growth, sales momentum remains strong. However, retailers are being warned to be aware of potential short and long term effects of the vote to leave the EU.

Retail Ireland director, Thomas Burke, has voiced his concerns about the short term impact of economic uncertainty but headline retail sales seem to be heading towards 2015 levels.

Driving Retail Growth

Figures for growth were particularly strong for hardware, paints and glass, which showed a 14.3% month on month increase, followed by paper-based media including books, newspapers and stationery at 10.1%. Clothing, footwear and textiles showed similarly strong growth at 9.7%

Although retailers are advised to be cautious of any potential Brexit effect, Ireland is still regarded as an excellent place to do business, boasting the strongest economic growth in
Europe in 2015.

With consumer confidence high, now is a good time to think about making an investment in your retail bricks and mortar, by using a company like http://www.rmcdesignco.com/ to restyle your premises. Optimising your retail store design is proven to increase sales, by creating that valuable first impression. In the capital, with retail outlets in key locations at a premium, good shop design in Dublin can drive retail customers to your door.

The Celtic Tiger

Despite the continuing uncertainty around the timing of Brexit, Ireland looks well placed to weather the short term effects, even allowing for decreases in sales of electrical goods, cars and food, beverages and tobacco, which all fell by less than 2%. Alan McQuaid, economist at Merrion Capital is confident: ““Even allowing for a slowdown in spending in the second half of 2016, we think that headline retail sales volume growth for the year as a whole will be in the region of 7.0 per cent as against 8.2 per cent in 2015,” he said.

According to the audit office, a scheme for renewable energy run by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has experienced serious failings and is set to overspend its budget by millions of pounds.

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The Renewable Heat Scheme

The scheme was launched in 2012 with a £25 million grant, the idea being to encourage both businesses and domestic properties to switch to a biomass heating system. In a shocking turn of events, however, up to £140 million could be taken out of Northern Ireland’s budget to cover the deficit which has been created, most of which will be paid for with tax payers’ money.

The failing scheme was highlighted by a whistleblower, who revealed that some organisations and individuals were abusing the system in order to receive large amounts of payment. This was made possible because uncapped payments were offered, meaning the more energy created the more money received. To take one individual example, a firm in the UK using a boiler for energy could earn up to £192,000, but a firm in Northern Ireland doing the exact same thing had the potential to earn £860,000.

What Happens Now?

When it comes to solar panels Northern Ireland still benefits from the government’s ROC Scheme, meaning users can earn money through generating green power. Solar panels in Northern Ireland are a popular source of renewable energy and are easy to install in both business and domestic properties.

According to Ofgem the DETI have now suspended all applications to the scheme as of February 2016.

External consultants have now been employed to check those on the scheme match the relevant criteria needed and are not abusing the system.

Those involved are now under scrutiny, as it is believed the huge failings of the scheme could have been remedied sooner if those in charge had taken action as soon as flaws in the scheme had been identified. Many still believe that the underlying premise of the scheme was well founded and could have been successful, but that the fraud which has taken place is inexcusable and should result in prison sentences.

For the sake of Northern Ireland’s taxpayers, it is vital that lessons are learnt so that schemes which could benefit our planet are still able to go ahead under the right guidance.

Air ducts can gather and accumulate a lot of debris such as dust and dirt particles. Since the air duct will try to circulate clean air, it can do nothing but push the dust particles back out into the atmosphere, which can lead to poor quality indoor air and an increase of unfortunate allergies. The most common of these symptoms include itchy eyes, runny noses and breathing problems. It is important to regularly check and clean your ductwork system to ensure they are performing to the best of their ability. Here are some tell-tale signs your ducts and vents need a good cleaning:

1. Signs of Bug Infestations

It’s not a particularly pleasant sign, but it is pretty easy to deal with. If you notice signs of insects such as droppings inside the ducts or even tiny scratches, it could be a clear sign of a possible rodent or insect infestation. Dirty air vents are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites, who thrive in humid temperatures. They feed off dead skin cells and live in our beds, carpets and even the duct vents. Noticing any signs of their presence is a definite way to tell that your ductwork system needs cleaned.

2. Mould Growth

When your ducts are covered in dust and have become quite moist or damp, it can lead to the development of mould on the ceiling, walls or inside the walls of the vents etc. Mould is a clear sign of moisture problems, so make sure you have your ducts cleaned as soon as possible to stop the problem before it gets any worse.

3. Excessive Dirt

If you notice that the building has begun to get a lot more “dusty” that usual, it could be caused by the ventilation systems needing a good cleaning job. According to this article, clogged ducts can not only directly affect airflow efficiency, but inject these harmful pollutants throughout the home or workplace. Places with carpets will be even more prone to excess dirt and dust. Hoover the area regularly and consider having your carpets cleaned on a regular basis to coincide with the clean ducts.

4. Air Duct Inspection

If you are unsure whether or not your ducts need cleaning, it is safer to schedule a professional ductwork inspection. Kent Duct cleaning companies such as http://www.enviro-group.eu/duct-cleaning-kent/, will not only carry out the required inspection, but will also provide expert duct cleaning services to ensure that only clean air is circulated within the building.

Planning an event is stressful, whether you’re an experienced event planner or doing it for the first time. That adrenaline, however, is paramount to the successful running of an event: it’s what you need to spin all those plates and execute the actual event. Read on for this simple and short guide to keeping your cool whilst embracing the pressure to help get your event off the ground.

Checklist and Timeline Planning

Before you do anything, make a checklist. This checklist can include everything from the vital (venue) to the seemingly trivial (napkins). Once you have your checklist, split it into things to buy and things to do. Then draw up a timeline of events, with deadlines for each item on the list. Refer back to this list on a daily basis to ensure that nothing has been left behind. Leave space to add new things into the list too. Budget at this point too, and try to factor in a 10% contingency overall.

Venue

The venue should be the first thing you book, especially if your event is a wedding, as you are often more limited on dates, season and days of the week.

Think carefully when picking a venue, as it needs to tick a lot of boxes. Check whether your venue has enough covered areas. Would you need a marquee too? If you need marquee hire in Kent or London, it’s worth organising this early on. Established firms such as http://www.2intents.co.uk provide marquee hire in Kent.

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Staying Cool

Accept the adrenaline as part of the job and work with it; you need to feel a bit pressured to get the event actually off the ground, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also stay calm. Keep your cool by sticking to your checklist, the timeline and the budget. Hold regular meetings to ensure everything is going to plan.

Evaluate and Reflect

Take the time to listen to feedback from those that attended, as well as those that were part of the planning. Hold an evaluation meeting as soon as possible after the event and reflect on everything that’s said.

Staying cool in the face of event planning is essential, but never stay quite so cool that you miss vital things. Planning is key to successful event planning, as is evaluation.

Clinical trials need to be carried out by a professional and experienced team of researchers. One of the main roles belongs to the clinical research associate (CRA) is to help test new treatments such as drugs for their safety, effectiveness and health benefits. More often than not, a clinical research associate is employed by a pharmaceutical company via organisations such as G and L Scientific, to get involved with various stages of the clinical trial. When searching for ideal clinical research associates, it can be difficult to know what to look for, which is why we have included the most important qualities and skills every CRA should have.

Trained in ICH/GCP Guidelines

Proper training is required in both ICH and GCP guidelines. In top of this, additional training is necessary in the Code of Federal Regulations, EU Clinical Trial Directive and sufficient knowledge in the associated local regulations.

Excellent Development and Protocol Writing Experience

A professional CRA is required to both develop and write trial protocols. The clinical trial protocol is important because it describes the purpose and methodology of the trial at hand. In order to correctly steer committees, the CRA must also be able to present trial protocols and design case report forms concerning the clinical trial.

Directing with Ethics Committees

It lies in the hands of the CRA to coordinate with the ethics committee. This is necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the volunteers who are participating in the trial.

Managing Regulatory Authority Applications

The right CRA will be more than able to manage regulatory authority applications and approvals. According to Prospects, these documents are used to oversee the “research and marketing of new and existing drugs”.

Identifying and Assessing

There is a great deal of close assessment required in this line of work, including the identification of suitable trial sites, the selection of a responsible investigator and reviewing competitive landscapes.

Setting up Trial Sites

The process of setting up trial sites involves ensuring that the right trial equipment is available in each of the centres involved. The investigational medicinal product should also be available. In addition to this, each member of staff on site should be trained to meet the trial-specific standards in the industry.

Premarket Notification, otherwise known as a 510(k) is required when a person wishes to market a device intended for human or animal use. Submitting a 510(k) to the FDA is necessary in circumstances where a Premarket Approval is not required. Such devices that may require a 510(k) to market in the United States include Class I, Class II, and Class III devices. You may assume that submitting a 510(k) involved filling out stacks of official FDA forms of some sort. However, this is actually far from the case. Continue reading An Introduction to Premarket Notification 510(k) →

Property prices are at their peak, with no sign of things changing anytime soon. As if this wasn’t making things hard enough for first time buyers, especially in London, landlords and investors are dominating sales in and around the capital.

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In the first quarter of 2016, 36 per cent of all sales in London were procured by buy to let (BTL) investors, who also boosted the recorded number of cash purchases. The second highest procurer of property was second homeowners. This type of buyer almost doubled since the previous reporting period, accounting for 23 per cent of all purchases.

Cash buyers

In total, 59 per cent of London property was acquired by landlords or second homeowners, with this figure rising even higher in central London to 79 per cent. 40 per cent of these purchases were completed by cash buyers. Investors will always hold a prime position in the property market, as it is a great way for them to get high returns; however, the increase in the number of second homeowners was not expected. There is speculation that much of the most recent activity is due to the additional layer of stamp duty for both types of buyer.

With changes such as these, landlords and homeowners wanting more than one property, such as those available from property buying experts http://boweryldn.com/, are naturally going to rush out and buy what they can before the amendments come into effect. Property buying agents in London are naturally happy to help.

Supply and demand

It is all about supply and demand, with the rates varied across the capital. In outer London demand has soared to 19 per cent in a year, while in central London it has fallen by four per cent in the same period. The number of properties for sale in these areas has also changed. In outer London supply has dwindled by 12 per cent each year, with homeowners preferring to stay put, while in central London it has risen by 11 per cent. As a knock-on effect, this has seen property prices soar.

While there is still a significant price premium for purchasing property in the centre of the capital, landlords will continue to snap it up while first time buyers are pushed further afield to find their dream home.