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Professional rubbish removal to help you spring clean your business property

Elliot
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Professional rubbish removal to help you spring clean your business property

Spring cleaning time for any business is often very tedious. Apart from worrying about the dirt and grime around the business environment and the best ways to clean them, there is often the worry of proper disposal of accumulated rubbish after cleaning. There is equally the worry about the possibility of damage to vital business setups and equipment during the cleaning process. This is why many ecologically friendly and financially savvy business owners rely on professional rubbish removal companies to take care of their spring cleaning. This piece takes a look at the advantages of using professional rubbish removal sydney for your business spring cleaning needs. Here are some ways to spring clean your business practices as well after you have a sparkling clean office.

Reliability

For businesses, spring cleaning is not a chore that can be done without adequate planning. Careful deliberations are part of the cleaning process to ensure that it is started and completed within the most favourable timeframe. With a professional rubbish removal service however, you can be sure of professional handling of your accumulated wastes in line with your schedule. The reliability allows business owners to go about the things that actually matter (bringing in new clients and taking care of old ones) whilst safe in the knowledge that their business property will be cleaned when due.

Proper waste handling

During spring cleaning, there is always the danger of contaminating the environment with old paint, insecticides, unused raw materials and even solid waste such as paper bags and plastic containers. It is crucial that these are disposed of properly to ensure that there is no contamination, which is why we’d recommend you to look around at the cheapest waste disposal options to ensure any waste is disposed of properly. Professional rubbish removal services are well experienced in handling all kinds of waste including highly toxic chemicals and will take care to dispose them in an eco-friendly manner.

“Professional rubbish removal companies are experienced in the sorting and handling of all wastes and in many cases, you can communicate any requirements you may have for any specific types of waste” says the rubbish removal experts at Rubbish Taxi based in London.

This means you can have your waste removed, sorted and sent to a farm of your choice (for organic waste) or a recycling plant of your choice (for inorganic waste).

Cost effectiveness

Professional rubbish removal services are often very cost-efficient because they have the capacity to handle all kinds of waste. You don’t need to pay separately for organic waste removal and inorganic waste removal instead you will only need to pay for the weight of waste generated. This ensures that your spring cleaning process will not be a costly one. Most businesses will embrace any process that will help them cut costs. Working with a professional removal companies is one of such processes.

Improved business image

Many customers will appreciate a clean business environment. However apart from the enjoyment of a dirt free environment, your business image will be enhanced a great deal if customers can see that wastes are handled professionally. This is even more so today when an increasing number of people are becoming aware of their environmental responsibilities. Making your customers see that your business waste is handled in an ecologically friendly manner is a great way to demonstrate participation in a cause that many of them identify with.

Professional rubbish removal companies are therefore a fantastic addition for any business today!

Architect Plans to Build Flat Pack Homes Above Car Parks

Elliot
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Architect Plans to Build Flat Pack Homes Above Car Parks

British architect Bill Dunster has revealed an ambitious plan to build as many as 1,000 flat pack houses per year. The houses, which are built in just a week, would sit on top of a self-contained car park as part of a plan to maximise use of space in crowded metropolitan areas.

The houses, which are called Zedpods, would have a net zero carbon output and are designed for use in large cities such as London. Dunster claims that the houses can be assembled in just one week, with costs starting from £35,000 for the smallest units.

Aimed at young professionals eager to purchase property but unable to deal with rising prices across the UK, the houses’ low purchase and running costs are viewed as major selling points, as is their ability to be built in busy commercial areas.

The compact houses are part of a growing trend towards flat pack residential units, which are pre-built and assembled on site. Flat pack houses have become a more popular choice in the last decade as homebuyers face growing prices for existing properties.

The Zedpods are distinguished from other flat pack homes by two key factors: their high-profile design, which prioritises efficient use of space, and their construction on stilts above a car park.

The homes are designed to be constructed over existing parking spaces, allowing for increased efficiency in the usage of space in major cities. Building over existing car parks also reduces the cost of home ownership by avoiding the need to purchase land.

Dunster believes that the homes can be offered for sale at competitive prices, or for rent. He has confirmed that Zedfactory is currently considering sites in London, Bath, Cardiff and Oxford as it moves towards producing the first homes for customers.

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Caffeine price analysis highlights best value for UK coffee drinks

Elliot
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Caffeine price analysis highlights best value for UK coffee drinks

An independent price and caffeine comparison study of the UK’s best known coffee brands has revealed Costa as the best choice for coffee drinkers in search of the high street’s biggest caffeine rush.

The cost and caffeine content of a standard 12 fl.oz. cup of Americano coffee was compared by money saving website Voucherbox.co.uk at the UK’s most popular coffee shops, with Costa providing the highest caffeine level overall, at 195mg per serving, and the best price per 100mg of caffeine (£1.00).

At the other end of the scale Caffè Nero coffee contained the lowest caffeine content for a 12 oz. Americano (80mg), which makes it the most expensive outlet in the study for getting a caffeine hit (£2.56 per 100mg of caffeine) – two and half times more expensive than Costa.

Greggs was the second best retailer for cost versus coffee strength, at £1.06 per 100mg coffee, followed by Pret a Manger (£1.30 per 100mg of caffeine) and Starbucks (£1.40 per 100mg of caffeine).

The research also looked into the cost of caffeine if consumed by drinking Coca-Cola, Red Bull and a good old fashioned cup of tea, with Red Bull fairing well in the comparison table and the claim that ‘there’s more caffeine in tea than coffee’ well and truly dismissed.

Coca-Cola Tea Caffè Nero Red Bull Pret a Manger Starbucks Greggs Costa
Caffeine (mgs) 31 63 80 109 137 150 161 195
Cost of drink £0.73 £2.45 £2.05 £1.55 £1.75 £2.10 £1.70 £1.95
Cost per 100 mg caffeine £2.35 £3.89 £2.56 £1.37 £1.30 £1.40 £1.06 £1.00

The difference in caffeine levels amongst the main coffee shops relates to factors such as the number and size of espresso shots in each serving, the blend of bean used and the preparation method in each case.

Cost alone may not always be the dictating factor in where the caffeine thirsty consemer heads for their drink, but understanding the varying caffeine levels per brand or drink helps coffee aficionados calculate a healthy intake limit.

The European Food Safety Agency state 400mg as the recommended maximum daily caffeine level. For pregnant women they are advised to keep caffeine intake to a maximum of 200mg per day.

Shane Forster, UK Country Manager for Voucherbox.co.uk commented, “Many of us have a favourite place for our prized cup of coffee, but if it’s a caffeine rush you are looking for it is well worth taking into account the hugely varying levels of coffee strength and considering what you get for your cash at the main coffee shops on the high street. Also, from a health perspective two Americanos at Costa would take the coffee drinker close to the daily caffeine limit, whilst the guidelines permit the thirsty amongst us to indulge in up to five Americanos a day at Caffè Nero, if our budget goes that far!”

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VW US president Horn resigns with immediate effect

Elliot
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VW US president Horn resigns with immediate effect

The boss of the US division of German car manufacturing giant Volkswagen Michael Horn resigned “effective immediately” on Wednesday, 9th March, with the company continuing to struggle to deal with the fall out of its emissions cheating scandal.

The news of Horn’s departure comes six months after the scandal was made public, with VW still wrangling with the US government to agree a settlement over damages and fines relating to the matter.

Horn is to be temporarily replaced by Hinrich Woebcken, who recently took over as head of VW for North America. Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen, commented: “I want personally to say ‘thank you’ to Michael Horn for the great work he has done for the brand and with the dealers in the United States. During his time in the US, Horn built up a strong relationship with our national dealer body and showed exemplary leadership during difficult times for the brand.”

Horn, had been VW’s US president and chief exec since 2014. Announcing his immediate departure from the firm after more than 25 years of employment VW stated that Horn’s resignation had arrived by “mutual agreement” and that he would “pursue other opportunities effective immediately”.

Horn has appeared to struggle with VW’s international handling of the emissions crisis. Speaking to US Congress in October, he claimed no prior knowledge of the ‘cheating’ software.

VW have reportedly allocated €6.7bn to deal with the fixing the affected vehicles globally, but the US lawsuit Volkswagen are facing may reach a total of $20bn. Indeed some commentators have even suggested that the total cost of the debacle could set VW back as much as €78bn.

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Shop designs adding to consumer experience to boost retail performance

Elliot
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Shop designs adding to consumer experience to boost retail performance

In the past, shop designs were focused on getting in as many products as possible with very little thought given to what the consumers actually wanted. The common theme was a crowded house mentality. All of that has changed today. Consumers are looking for a tidy, uncomplicated yet sophisticated and engaging shopping experience and only shops deigned with this in mind can attract and retain them. How can you achieve a shop design that sells?

Focus on creating space

As mentioned above, the days of crowded shopping are long gone. Consumers want a shop layout that allows them to peruse your offerings comfortably. Very few people will return to your shop if they have to bump into other people or if your shopping space evokes the feeling of congestion. Many people will turn back at the door!   To ensure a spacious design, cut down on the number of cabinets and counters and ensure adequate spacing within your shop. Use SlatWall Hooks to hang some merchandise that would ordinarily be in a cabinet. It is however, important to avoid leaving too much space around. It could give off the feeling that your shop is under stocked.

Create relaxing spots around the shop

Customers like to socialise in a relaxing manner at all times. This is why most shoppers today appreciate a shop layout that offers them a space to sit and relax – here are some great designs to check out for a while during the shopping process. If you can find space in your shop layout for some relaxing cushions for your customers, you should embrace it. Alternatively, you can have some chairs just outside your shop. This gives your customers the message that they are always welcome to hang around your shop.

Display your social responsibility goals and achieved targets

Sustainability, ecological friendliness and giving to worthy causes are factors consumers watch out for today when patronising any retail outlet. You should highlight these aspects of your business by devoting a portion of your shop’s layout to displaying awards, achievements, goals etc. Consumers today are often happy to know that their preferred shopping outlet is ecologically friendly or a patron to a worthy cause.

Embrace warm colours

In the past, shop designs featured neutral white lighting, white walls and cool colour tones. Today however, more consumers are showing affinity for warmer tones and brands are now changing in line with them. A warm atmosphere as offered by a warm colour theme has been proven to help consumers feel at home and spend more time in shops.

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Years of quantitative easing and low interest rates may have cost savers ‘£160bn’

Elliot
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Years of quantitative easing and low interest rates may have cost savers ‘£160bn’

The post global economic crash era has seen seven years of quantitative easing and record low interest rates, which has potentially cost savers cost savers an estimated £160bn according to financial firm Hargreaves Lansdown.

The Guardian newspaper and additional editorial titles have published Hargreaves Lansdown’s findings, with the huge figures said to have been missed out on by savers somewhat offset by gains in property, stocks and bonds, state the new study.

This Saturday (5th March) will see the seventh anniversary of moment the Bank of England made interest rate cuts to their current historic low. With up to £106bn being held in accounts paying no interest, this economic policy has ‘annihilated’ ROI.

Low interest rates have been put in place by financial institutions and regulators around the globe as economists, bankers and policy makers have looked to reverse the trends of the 2008 financial meltdown. Low interest and quantitative easing help to encourage lending and borrowing and to keep cash flowing in stagnating economies, but the policies have pros and cons.

Laith Khalaf, a senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Loose monetary policy has supported rises in stock, bond and property prices over the past seven years, while annihilating the returns on cash. Mortgage costs have fallen significantly from pre-crisis levels, but this positive effect is laced with an underlying risk.

Khalaf continued, “If borrowers get too comfortable taking on high levels of debt at low interest rates, they could be in for a nasty shock if and when rates rise.”

The analysts calculate that average mortgage payments have fallen by 31% over the last seven years, meaning homeowners pay an average of £270 a month less on a £200,000 mortgage. Access to lower cost mortgages has boosted the property market, leading to a 32% rise in house prices over the same period.

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Android to pay to launch in the UK next month: Can it rival Apple?

Elliot
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Android to pay to launch in the UK next month: Can it rival Apple?

Despite minimal payment limits and security concerns, Apple Pay has taken the consumer market by storm since its release in the UK in July 2015. Offering convenience and a flexible payment solution to consumers, Apple Pay has revolutionised consumerism while enabling brands and service providers to drive sale conversions.

With this in mind, the upcoming launch of Android Pay is likely to add a new dimension to the consumer market. It also marks a new chapter in the rivalry between Apple and Google, which continues to define the contemporary technology market and its dominant products.

When will Android pay hit the market and how will it impact the status quo?

According to reports, Android Pay will make its UK debut at the end of March, after a previous attempt failed due to minor tech issues. The platform, which was rolled out successfully in North America last September, is now ready to hit the British market and is set to go head-to-head with Apple’s alternative.

This will provide a huge boost to the burgeoning mobile payments industry in the UK, with Android smartphones currently accounting for more than half of all smartphones sold in Britain. Essentially, it will open up the market to a huge target market, driving a higher volume of mobile sales and diversifying domestic (and international) consumerism. The technology behind the platform works in a similar way to Apple Pay, as users are encouraged to load their debit or credit card details onto the NFC microchip in their smartphone.

This is also excellent news for customers, as a larger number of consumers will have the opportunity to access flexible payment solutions.

Can Android Pay compete with its Apple rival?

A wider issue is the competition between Apple and Google, as these two similarly payment solutions go head-to-head. Apple currently holds a huge advantage in the UK market, having been rolled out sooner and had an opportunity to already establish itself nationwide. It is also more secure, with the installation of fingerprint encryption through the iPhone’s Touch ID home button making it almost impossible for thieves to authorise payments.

Android’s platform is certainly not as secure, while it has also been previously targeted by hackers. Although the integration of a token-based system may help to improve the existing level of security, Google may need to sell their new platform and reinforce its appeal.

One potentially decisive factor, however, is the flexibility of the Android operating system and the diversity of compatible handsets on the market. While Apple Pay is only accessible through the iPhone, Google can market its payment solution to a larger and more diverse consumer base (many of which fall into the budget category). This could ultimately give Google and Android the edge, especially over an extended period of time and once the new platform has had the opportunity to become established among British customers.

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Study finds men more likely to be victims of theft and to damage belongings

Elliot
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Study finds men more likely to be victims of theft and to damage belongings

New stats from a UK wide survey have shown that men are more likely to damage or break their home gadgets than women.

Research from Row.co.uk indicates that 13.28% of men have claimed on their gadget insurance in the last 12 months, compared to 10.44% of women. However, more women surveyed (13.75%) admitted they had lost a gadget, such as a mobile phone, tablet or laptop, than men (11.41%).

Men are more likely to be a victim of theft, with 21.74% of those surveyed agreeing that they have had a device stolen from them in the past.

In terms of age, shockingly, 35-44 year olds have claimed on their gadget insurance more than three times in the past year, and they are the age group most likely to claim due to the loss of a gadget (17.95%). 41.07% of those aged 18-24 have claimed on their insurance because they have dropped a device.

When asked if they had gadget insurance, 18-24 year olds and the over 55s are the most likely to say yes, coming in at 28.03% and 27.78% respectively. 45-54 year olds are the least likely to have gadget insurance (74.39%) yet over 30% of them agreed that their devices are worth over £1,000.

Those living in London are more likely to have a fault with their gadgets, as almost 13% have made a claim on insurance over the past 12 months, which is a five per cent increase on the West Midlands, in which only 7.7% of people have claimed.

Despite being the highest claimers, Londoners are also the least likely to have insurance for their devices (69.74%).

Richard Waters, Managing Director at Row, commented: “These stats highlight the importance of getting some kind of insurance to protect your devices, particularly as the value of our gadgets seem to be increasing.

“Looking at the results from London, these are particularly worrying, especially as 13% of people find a fault with their device, yet over half of those living there don’t have insurance. Consumers may be shelling out a lot of money for a new phone or laptop, when protecting their gadgets can only cost a few pounds per month.”

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UK homeowners count cost of winter storms

Elliot
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UK homeowners count cost of winter storms

Since December 2015, the UK has been battered by several major storms. With winds reaching up to 90mph and severe flooding from heavy downpours, thousands of home-owners are now facing thousands of pounds’ worth of repairs. The worse may be yet to come too, with further storms anticipated between now and the end of March and later in 2016.

The massive damage and disruption has caused homeowners to now look at ways to safeguard their property. The government and major utility companies in the country have also released details on how to prevent storm damage during these turbulent times, although a lack of financial support and adequate provisions for homes may is preventing homeowners from minimising the impact of such inclement weather.

A Combination of Proactive and Reactive measures: Preparing for the worst in the event of a storm

With these points in mind, home-owners must strive to take charge of their own safety and consider by proactive and reactive measures the minimise the impact of high-velocity storms. Although it is impossible to prevent such forces of nature from wreaking havoc, there are a number of creative and forward-thinking ideas that can at least help you to cope in such instances.

Inspecting your property is key

One of the main pieces of advice (and one that is often forwarded to home-owners) is to inspect their property for potential risks. If your home needs obvious repairs such as broken roof tiles, crumbling brickwork or a broken fence, these will need to be fixed immediately. If not, high winds could easily cause significant damage.

Prepare a flood emergency kit

Flooding has been the most damaging and expensive issue people have faced with the severe winter storms. A flood emergency kit could help to reduce damage and ensure you are properly prepared.

The kit should include a torch, insurance documents, a camera to take pictures of the damage and, valuables and most importantly a first-aid kit. It also helps to have an action plan in place. Moving valuables and any furniture upstairs will help limit the expense if the home does become flooded.

It is equally important to switch off the power in the home to avoid serious risk of electrocution.

Prepare your roof

As strong winds hit, the roof is going to take the worst damage. The latest Storm Imogen saw one family in Sussex have to flee their home after part of their home’s roof collapsed. Numerous similar emergency calls were made in the area as 80mph winds caused damage to buildings and trees fell down, cutting power lines.

Mould, signs of leaking and sagging materials are just some of the things home-owners should check when inspecting the roof prior to a storm.

Paying for repairs

For many home-owners, their insurance will cover the cost of repairs. However, for those who don’t have adequate flood insurance, replacing what was lost and damaged in a storm can be extremely expensive.

One way you can cover immediate repairs and furniture replacement is by taking out a loan. Reliable companies such as Trusttwo, can provide cash quickly when you need it.

The last word

Overall the recent storms have brought into perspective how devastating the damage can be. Preparing your home and taking numerous precautions will help limit the damage and cause minimum disruption, while also protecting your loved ones and those who reside inside your property.

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2016 is the best time to become an Entrepreneur

Elliot
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2016 is the best time to become an Entrepreneur

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, JD Rockefeller, and Walt Disney. Four names synonymous with out and out success, insatiable ambition, eye-watering wealth, and innovative thinking. Despite the fact that these names are known leaders in completely different fields, there is one thing that they each have in common. They all started out as entrepreneurs. All of these business giants would’ve have faced their own individual challenges when building their respective empires, whether it was Rockefeller founding Standard oil in 1870, or Bill Gates starting Microsoft over 100 years later. The common theme they all share, is they would have taken full advantage of the resources that were available at the time.

Today, as many of 40% of Britons want to start their own business. If you count yourself among this growing group of people who hold a dream of being their own boss, it is likely that you will face many of the same challenges that the aforementioned business giants would’ve come across. But, in 2016, what we possess that Messrs. Gates, Jobs, Rockefeller, and Disney didn’t is the power of hindsight. Thanks to the practically infinite well of information that is now available online, each of us, so long as we have access to a computer, can read in detail about the problems that our entrepreneurial hero’s would’ve faced, and how they can be avoided.

On top of reading about the stories and challenges of entrepreneurs form the past, the internet also provides us with real-time advice from those who are currently working for themselves, as well as news. Much of it can be found on this very site, while others can take advantage of the many other handy resources available to support people with small businesses, seeking growth.

Another way in which the global internet has widened the goal posts for ordinary people, is that no matter how niche your business idea may be, you have a potentially global audience to tap into. Thanks to the whole world being online, a small manufacturer of craft beers, for example can take orders from across the world, and export quite easily.

Even as little 15 years ago, the idea of a stay-at-home mother setting up a successful business from a spare room using only a desktop computer would seem inconceivable. Setting up a business online, from home allows would-be entrepreneurs to reduce overhead costs, as they can bypass some things are were previously believed to be essential to running a business. We are hearing about the success of Mum’s setting up businesses from home again and again.

By working from home, with a business that is fully online, you don’t need to pay extra for business premises. Another advantage that can help to drive down costs is that you can source suppliers for any necessary materials worldwide. Again, the web is full of great resources and useful guides that can help laymen within this area. Companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Disney all take advantage of the global marketplace, and new entrepreneurs can as well.

In the days prior to widespread internet access, many would’ve been put off by the idea of having to contact to find cheap suppliers and manufacturers of materials in emerging markets, such as Asia. Today, we can connect with, and negotiate with these suppliers quite easily. As the evidence shows, it is now easier for ordinary people to enter the world of entrepreneurship, as thanks to the internet, we can connect to a global audience.

We can potentially sell anywhere, buy anywhere, and work from anywhere. This has levelled the playing field between individuals wanting to start their own businesses, and large corporations who dominate the market place. These are the main reasons why, in 2016, more of us are wanting to seek out the advantages that are associated with entrepreneurship, and start our own business. After all, there are more tools, information, and resources at our disposal than ever before.

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