Making the call

Posted by Andrew Mernin on January 3, 2008 2:42 PM

Apparently yesterday saw the highest level of workplace truants in the calendar year. Some five million people were expected to have called into work sick - a combination of hangovers and January blues were no doubt the biggest culprits although there must have been a few genuine absentees perhaps through Turkey excess or Christmas-pud-itis.

It would be interesting to hear the weird and wonderful range of alibis made by sofa-bound workers across the country yesterday morning as the last remnants of Christmas cheer fizzled into the gloomy skies above.

The tried and tested excuses - doctor, dentist, waiting for a delivery, transport troubles - must have been trotted out in their thousands but there were no doubt some groundbreaking and original excuses concocted to boot.

So what's the most bizarre excuse you've heard or even used yourself? After doing some digging on the web, the best one I found was a man who said he couldn't work as he was beginning to "feel pregnant like my wife".

Also, what techniques do you or your bosses use to cut absentee levels?

I've heard executives talk about using a league table system to shame repeat offenders into turning up for work rather than staying at home with a hangover watching Trisha and Neighbours. What other techniques have you come across?

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New year... old taxes

Posted by Katie Pringle on January 3, 2008 7:30 PM

'tis the season afterall, the tax season that is and what more timely reminder of my need to get serious about proactivity in 2008 can I have than the looming deadline for tax returns. It has been interesting reflecting back on the financial year of April 2006 to 2007. With the distance of time I can look back quite proudly on what we achieved (obviously not financially - I'm talking to you Mr Hart Davis) but still we really did lay alot of the groundwork for what became a fairly successful 2007. It would most probably be prudent at this stage to look ahead and plan for what we would like 2008 to hold for us as a business but to be honest when you're wading through all your old accounts and bank statements it just leaves me feeling very nostalgic.

Anyway if you're like me and you run a small business and you haven't been terribly organised with your tax return and you're making regular trips from the inland revenue website to youtube for distraction enjoy this little celebration - of a new year and of creative ways to waste time - surely youtubes raison d'etre!

New years dominos

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Technology in 2008

Posted by Judith on January 7, 2008 2:30 PM

Waterstons' executive consultant Alistair McLeod shares his predictions for the year ahead...

The New Year will hold some interesting challenges for Information Technology as the predicted slowdown in the economy begins to bite. It will put pressure on costs and ultimately the IT budget and during these periods that IT investments need to be managed wisely. IT should have its roots embedded into the framework of an organisation both as a commodity and a strategic enabler, and will be increasingly pulled in opposite directions by these competing forces. It will require tight management from a new breed of IT Manager who has business and leadership skills and can create a balance between focus on the vulnerabilities of not implementing a technology against using IT to gain a competitive advantage or drive change within the business.

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High ambitions for agriculture

Posted by Ian Brown on January 8, 2008 7:55 AM

The weak winter sun seeped through the heavy curtains that protected it's student community from the glare of the modern world; almost ambivalant behind the 16th century facade. St Edmund's College Oxford provided the starting point last week for Ian Brown to attend The Oxford Farming Conference - the truth is it's cheaper than the conference hotels and somehow - rather like classical music - perhaps helps one lift ones gaze in the first days of 2008 away from the hum drum.

Since my first bash at education (remedied later at Durham University) was an HND in Agriculture I still feel a little self conscious amongst the spires of Oxford.

So what future was unveiled in Oxford for the farmers of Northumberland and the North East?

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Failed resolutions

Posted by Andrew Mernin on January 8, 2008 12:16 PM

On Friday there were two things I knew were certain to happen over the weekend. Firstly the BBC would show the now infamous Ronnie Radford FA Cup goal for Hereford against Newcastle in 1972.

The Beeb's love of FA Cup giant killing means that every year without fail, they wheel out one of Newcastle United's most embarrassing moments to illustrate the mythical "magic of the cup".

And so, with predictability, I was proved right and they showed it again, again...and again.

The second certainty for me was that a trip to my local on Saturday night would bring an untimely end to my 2008 resolutions. And so, several pints of lager and a stop at the chippy on the way home, once again - unfortunately - proved me right.

Now it's back to the drawing board to find new resolutions which I know I can stick to. At the moment I'm taking the 'reduce my carbon footprint' route, although I'm not really sure where to start.

Only problem is that next week I'm jetting off on holiday - another untimely and unfortunate end to another resolution.

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The race is on!

Posted by Norma Foster on January 8, 2008 10:25 PM

The race to be named the region’s top digital talent is on – entries are rolling in thick and fast for the very first North East Digital Awards.

A Middlesbrough fitness equipment retailer, a collaboration of artists and craftspeople in Northumberland, and an x-ray surgeon reviewing medical devices are among those who’ve posted entries at www.northeastdigitalawards.co.uk so far.

With less than 80 days left isn't it time you get your entry in?

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Virtually risking it all

Posted by Norma Foster on January 11, 2008 9:54 AM

Often stare out of your window and dream of setting up your own online business? You're not alone, but the risks involved in ditching the day job are scary enough to put off many would-be entrepreneurs.

If you're weighing up the benefits of being your own boss with the fear of risking your home on a punt, I bet you'd be interested in a site where you can try a business out for size without losing a 'real' penny.

Why not try Second Life? It started as a game and has evolved into a thriving 3D virtual world with its own currency and business community.

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Let's renew our collaborative vows

Posted by Ian Brown on January 16, 2008 8:33 PM

Several things have happened this week to make me think about collaboration and indeed co-operation; two sides of the same coin me thinks!

As a third generation farmer I was brought up on borrowing, lending and bartering. In more recent times I have of course come to recognise that all business transactions where services and or goods are exchanged must show the appropriate level of VAT- Can you tell I have just had my third VAT inspection? Although at the rate of one per decade, when I have several businesses, I am content they don't see me as non-compliant?

So in renewables and rural diversification who needs to work with who?

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The Aurora Project

Posted by Katie Pringle on January 16, 2008 9:15 PM

The business I run is a creative business, which basically means that myself and my business partner create our products, from initial design through to manufacturing and packaging. Like alot of businesses we love our products and we assumed that everyone else would love them too but it was a cold slap of reality when we realised that we had no idea how to give other people the opportunity to love our products (and, fingers crossed, part with their hard earned cash to buy them).

When you've expended so much time and money producing the thing you want to sell it can be very difficult to accept that people aren't just going to knock on your door asking to buy it. You may laugh at my naievity but I don't think we're the only business making that mistake if the failure rates for new enterprises are anything to go by.

Besides the lack of skills in marketing and sales that many new businesses suffer from it can also be incredibly expensive getting the exposure you need in order to make your venture a real business, which means money coming in as well as going out. So how do you do this?

Well unfortunately it isn't the same answer for every business but for us we needed to be seen by retailers in an environment where they were looking for new and exciting products, things that were made in Britain, by hand and that were a bit different from what you'd get on the high street. What we needed was a trade fair, the The British Craft Trade Fair to be exact.

But with prices for stands costing upwards of £400 pounds for 3 days that's a big outlay for a new business to expend. And that, ladies and gentleman is where the Aurora Project came in.

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BONG! Good Evening, Here Are The Olds...

Posted by Julian christopher on January 17, 2008 10:56 PM

The new Newcastle manager is not the only old stager to have made a re-appearance this week, though admittedly King Kev’s unexpected return did reach the top of the scale for dramatic impact.

Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, the whimsical joys of his ‘And Finally’ stories and Big Ben’s ‘Bongs’ returned to our television screens, as ITV resurrected News At Ten in an attempt to boost its late evening ratings.

Judging by the first viewing figures, Sir Trevor’s return did not make as big an impact as his employers would have hoped, with the BBC’s Ten O’Clock bulletin more than two million viewers ahead (4.7m versus 2.6m) of its new rival by the third evening of direct competition.

Putting aside the relief of Sir Trevor finding himself back in a role that suits him infinitely more than the tabloid horror that is The Tonight Show or his recent “comedy” news review show, the return of News At Ten provides a reminder of just how much there is in the current TV schedules that has a more than familiar look to it.

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The power of relationships

Posted by Judith on January 18, 2008 12:27 PM

Waterstons' senior consultant, Anna Ferguson talks about the power of networking...

When you stop and think, it’s amazing how crucial productive relationships can prove to be, both in business and personal life. I have now been with Waterstons for nearly 9 months, and in this time forming new relationships has reaped benefits. Through a stronger relationship with Microsoft we have become one of the first four partners in the UK to obtain their new Search accreditation, which gives us exposure on their website. Another new partner has chosen us to be one of the companies they’d like to help grow, and will work with us to generate new leads.

In one of my former roles at the Investment Bank, Goldman Sachs, relationship building was deemed so important that we were given networking training. This was delivered by Victoria Legge-Burke, Lieutenant, Royal Victorian Order (L.V.O) who was formerly Lady-in-Waiting to HM the Princess Royal and is currently Executive Director for LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). Goldman Sachs, being a fairly aggressive establishment, made no apology for the fact that successful networking and relationship building would lead to rapid advancement in the company, and even encouraged us to pick a Managing Director (MD) for a mentor. I still remember Victoria coming armed with a large, floppy plastic fish in order to demonstrate how NOT to shake hands! She was certainly a character, and made a lasting impression on most of us, but her lessons were invaluable.

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The doutbful guest

Posted by Katie Pringle on January 21, 2008 7:23 PM

The list of 'things to do' is slowly turning into a tome of almost biblical proportions. Task 136: Thou must order more ribbon - probably two wilt be cheaper than one.' The business partner and I recite from it at length and use it to flag ourselves at intervals.

I find myself mentally rebelling against the neccessary rigidity of my day job and the depressing monotony of North-east weather. I will not make this just another thing that needs to be done. I want my business to be firstly creative and secondly a business. And the trade off might be less sales.

Like alot of people trying to get a business off the ground I cannot afford not to work as well as run the business. The upside of this is it takes the pressure of having to make money every month. On the downside it can leave you feeling less entused to deal with the day to day administration of a business. I'm starting to cling to the creativity it offers and resent the rest.

Today especially a memory from last summer kept popping up in my conscious and I know exactly what it's trying to tell me. I want to be more like Edward Gorey.

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As Green as Green can be?

Posted by Ian Brown on January 27, 2008 8:38 AM

I was at the Evening Chronicle/Environment Agency sponsored Green Awards this week and I am once again inspired to help people do the right thing for their environment!

Scrapmen - I say this as someone who has yet to meet a scrapwoman - were arguably the first reusers and recyclers and I spent many hours as a child in the company of my Dad and these early green entrepreneurs. My father, Eddie Brown collected vintage farm machinery which came from the scrap yards of these cash only, down to earth folk or from farm sales where he had to bid against the scrapmen.

My father eventually owned several hundred pieces of farm bric-a-brac which had to be catalogued and sold after his death in 1986. He told many stories of dealing with a scrapman who had a gas cutting torch a few inches over a prized rural heirloom ...as my father was clearly not paying the going rate for scrap plus a premium to reload and remove the item. As a child I also remember coming across the pearly gates in a scrapyard in South Northumberland....

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I On The Future

Posted by Julian christopher on January 28, 2008 10:26 AM

When I was a lad (cue Hovis advert music and clichéd images of small boy pushing large bike loaded with bread up a steep cobbled Lancashire mill town hill), it was fairly easy to tell the difference between state-funded and commercial television.

The biggest difference was, of course, that ITV was stacked full of commercials for all sorts of products that would get witheringly stern looks from Gillian McKeith these days, whilst the BBC channels were free from such intrusions.

These days, however, you’d be struggling to notice the difference, with trailers for new programmes, services and ways of watching your favourite programme littering the airwaves of our primary public service broadcaster.

And you would have had to try really hard over the last month or so to avoid hearing all about the Corporation’s latest triumph.

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Computer says no...

Posted by Katie Pringle on January 29, 2008 8:15 PM

Though it disturbed me to read in the Daily Telegraph over the weekend that certain special people were being advised not to fill out their tax returns online amid fears over security I had left it too late to fill out my form long hand and so was left with little choice but to do it on the internet.

Happily though it seems I have nothing to fear from the Inland Revenue's security systems. As I am not a politician, a member of the Royal family, a celebrity or indeed any other variety of 'important' person I do not need to have upgraded security when I complete my tax return. The bog standard security is quite appropriate enough for a woman of my position.

Apparently.

Bouyed by the evident confidence the Inland Revenue holds in it's on-line systems, I ploughed through the labyrinthine self assessment form beginning on Saturday morning and emerging late Sunday afternoon an older, quieter, greasier version of my former self.

If, as is planned no-one will be able to complete their tax returns on paper next year without facing stiff penalties then I can only hope that some work will go into improving the usability of the IRs website.

It was like a magic trick gone wrong, all misdirection and false bottomed hats.

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