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Brise soleil for more pleasant working conditions

There are a number of ways in which you might secure the energy usage of your work building, and business as a whole. Alongside the standard advice of low-energy bulbs, paperless offices and good insulation, there are factors to bear in mind that will have a more significant impact on your long-term energy usage. As energy prices rise in the future due to peak oil and, quite possibly, energy insecurity and issues of supply, these will become more valuable. The brise soleil and glass louvres – which can be part of the initial building design or retro-fitted at a later date – will become more common sights as businesses try to reduce their energy consumption. In particular, external louvres can make the most of the sunlight that reaches your windows, whilst at the same time ensuring that it does not overheat the room. This would make for both an uncomfortable office environment and increased costs, as it entails the use of air conditioning.

The way each of these architectural features work is generally the same. In each case, they are structures – either fixed or movable – that regulate the sunlight levels reaching your windows. Especially in modern developments, the windows tend to be large and can cover most of the building’s exterior, so this is no trivial matter. The genius of the brise soleil and external louvres is that they do two things – making the most of existing sunlight but not allowing it to overheat the premises. They do this by the angling of the slats or other structures, which allows low-angle winter sun (or sun at the beginning and end of the day) through, but stops the high-angle summer and midday sun. Energy use and heat absorption may be further modified by having moving slats to customise the louvres to the climate conditions, and also by integrating PV (photovoltaic) cells into them to allow them to generate electricity whilst simultaneously lowering your power consumption.

The brise soleil and glass louvres are therefore important developments for both energy efficiency and security, and a good working environment. External louvres are one of a number of measures that can be adopted to lower the amount of energy you use, thereby decreasing both your energy budget and your environmental footprint. This makes for more sustainable businesses and greater corporate responsibility, as well as any intrinsic good.

Please visit https://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

Document management: what your company needs?

Document processing is a fairly uninspiring term for something that is actually a pretty exciting suite of technologies. It wouldn’t have been possible 20 years ago and, in fact, the technology is still developing and evolving into more and more effective solutions to perennial office problems. In essence, it involves turning physical (i.e., paper) documents into electronic ones. These can then be stored in a central document management system, as well as emailed around, edited, and so on, by anyone who has access to them. It is a necessary step in the transition to a paperless office; obviously, this isn’t something that happens overnight, and it’s impossible to eradicate paper letters, documents and memos all at once. And there will always be historical documents that you will need to consult – old contracts, for example. Even if every new document comes in electronic form, you’ll still need a way of integrating older material into your new system. The same is true of your invoices – some of which may be sent in physical form, others submitted as electronic requests of one sort or another. Invoice processing enables your accounts department to bridge the gap between the two systems.

Whereas document processing was once fairly rudimentary, it is now remarkably sophisticated. It’s not just typed documents that can be turned back into electronic form. Now, even handwriting can be interpreted by software that ‘learns’ a particular style and can transcribe it with upwards of 97 percent accuracy. That means that no physical document needs to remain outside of your office system, opening the door to a truly paperless business.

Consequently document processing has a number of benefits. It allows you to cut down on the cost, inefficiency and environmental impact of excess paper. Keeping everything in a central document management system means that nothing can get lost any more; you can set permissions so that no one is able to read something they are not supposed to (something you would previously have to trust to lock and key). With regards to invoice processing, there are benefits in that you treat everyone’s invoices the same; there is no two-tier system in which paper invoices are treated with less importance than electronic ones, or vice versa. That can go a long way to maintaining the goodwill of clients and suppliers. Thus this is a suite of technologies that makes for a smarter, more efficient and better organised office environment.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Is bacs worth it?

Bacs has now been around for nearly 45 years and offers a quick and relatively painless way to transfer money from one account to another. bacs software can be integrated with your regular accounting systems, taking a lot of the time and worry out of moving money around. But if you’re thinking of making the update from more traditional payment systems to bacs payments, you’ll no doubt have a few questions to ask. Is it worth the trouble that inevitably comes with change? In an age of cyber-theft, is it really secure? In general, do the advantages outweigh the problems and potential pitfalls?

1) Speed. The first advantage of bacs is the speed with which transfers are fulfilled. Although three working days is generally the stated time frame – still faster than a cheque – most payments today are made with the Faster Payment System (FPS) which is all but instant. This means almost all of your payments will turn up in the target account on the same day, if not sooner.

2) Security. Although many people have anxieties about the safety of transferring funds electronically, bacs has many kinds of security and is an extremely safe way to move money. In the highly unlikely event that you do run into problems, there are measures in place to recover your money, anyway. In times past employers and firms would have dealt more in cash, meaning that they would have to keep large sums of money on the premises – itself a security risk. Cheques, too, can get mislaid – meaning you’re never sure if or when they’re going to be cashed.

3) Cost. Transfers are free within the UK, so there’s no cost to your business aside from that of getting the new systems.

There are arguably one or two downsides to using bacs, but these are negligible. Bacs payments are free within the UK but there are fees for transferring money to other countries. bacs software is extremely convenient and powerful, but you may not be sent notifications of money reaching your account – hardly a problem in most cases, and not something you’d enjoy with a cheque either. Also, if there is a error with an account number, it can be hard to reclaim your funds – assuming it’s a valid, if mistaken account number. In almost every case, though, the advantages far outweigh any downsides and so moving to bacs will hardly be a bad move for a business.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Community broadband for better social interaction

Next generation access is what many of us already have these days. Many of us have the kinds of busy lives that make instant access to the internet nigh on essential and we panic when the connection speed fails to meet our expectations. This is not necessarily the sign of an overly demanding, technology-dependent generation, but rather a development we should welcome, provided that it leads us to new pathways of learning, better social interaction and even ways of resisting the status quo. The latter is a tricky point: while using the internet has in recent years involved the increasing exposure of the user to insidious methods of advertising, and social media has blurred the once staunchly-defended line between our public/professional and personal, private lives, the online realm has also been where we can freely access tools for learning and entertainment. Perhaps even more importantly, ICT infrastructure has linked us up with an international community with whom we can share experiences, formulate opinions and grow. A number of people remain isolated from the above, however, because community broadband has not yet extended to all geographical locations.

Many initiatives are underway to extend the reach of broadband. This is important if we want to avoid an uneven rate of development both internally and internationally. Just take the example of the UK – it is such a small nation but one still blighted by the government’s tendency to privilege the capital and the South before attention turns to the needs of the North and the regions. Luckily, a number of initiatives involving the latest in fibre optic technology and data transmission are aiming to close the gap between the best and worst connected communities. This good work needs to be continued: while in London even the underground transport system is beginning to offer free internet access, there are a considerable number of rural communities who are at least five years behind.

The word ‘community’ in ‘community broadband’ gives a good indication of why we need to encourage the growth of next generation access: communities currently need to be thriving in terms of business and social interaction and better ICT infrastructure can help this happen. Even cottage industries and farms that we have a tendency to think of as stuck in the past and technology-resistant could benefit hugely from better access to the internet. They could tap into new audiences interested in their products. They could create online forums for discussion of the ups and downs problems in their sector.

Please visit http://www.broadbandvantage.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Shops to rent in north London areas

The time has come to think about shops to rent in north london. As yet, Camden, Holloway Road and especially the borough of Harringey, all of which are situated in North London, have yet to develop their retail potential. This is not to say that they don’t possess their fair share of shops, but rather that the shops existing in these areas are somewhat tarred with a bad reputation. Camden, people tend to think, consists of a few a run-down streets that are heaven for tourists, teenagers and those fond of piercings and goth or emo-style clothes. Holloway road, meanwhile, possesses rather too many tired chain stores and could do with an injection of independent outlets. Harringey finds itself in the same boat, though to its credit it does possess a few good finds in terms of vintage clothes and bookshops. As you can tell, the time is right for entrepreneurial types to bring their fresh visions into commercial property London. Many predicted that our shopping habits would shift into the online realm. But this has not happened: apart from when we are buying products with which we are already familiar, we delight in the physical experience of shopping because we can touch, try and talk about the things we want to buy. And because this preference for real life experience looks set to stay, a long-term option of a shop for sale in London might also appeal to more knowledgeable retailers.

The service industry might also look seriously at relocating to North London premises. In spite of the financial recession, studies show that one of the last things we stop spending on is the experience of eating and drinking out. This is an understandable fact: though our budgets have been tight, we still need respite from the monotonous daily grind of going from home, to the tube, to work and home again. Positive social experiences are what the majority misses most when the pressures of working life get too much. And because these are often best had while relaxing around a table sharing food, conversation and smiles, commercial property in London is worth restaurateurs and pub landlords’ investment.

Commercial property London is also being turned into art galleries in some areas in London, especially in East and South London. shops to rent in north london could easily be converted into art galleries too: there is no reason why north London would not appreciate an injection of culture on its streets. A shop for sale in London is perhaps less attractive for the art expert who realises that the market can be fickle. Fashion designers can meanwhile resort to their skills for catering to new trends and desires.

Please visit http://www.claridges-commercial.co.uk for further information about this topic.

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Document management that transforms paper into networked content

Businesses are like machines: they have mechanisms, input and output, and a function. Certain businesses may also be compared with domestic appliances: as long as they serve us we are satisfied, looking to fix them only when we notice something wrong. But the forward-thinking entrepreneur will act before problems occur or the system begins to buckle, because there is far more at stake when a business stops working than when your hoover gives up. A malfunctioning business cannot simply be disposed of and replaced. It is advisable then to extend the potential of an existing system before what works at a reasonable rate starts to fail. It always pays to be one step ahead of the game when you’re in business, and this includes looking after your document management, document processing and invoice processing.

The latter is particularly important if your business outsources much of its work. A mobile team of employees will be faithful to a client that respects its worth but as soon as things look shaky they may seek work elsewhere. This is because freelance work is unpredictable and the self-employed need a constant flow of tasks. One easy way to keep your mobile employees happy consists of paying them in a timely manner. Once they have billed you, invoice processing should be speedy and certainly within the time frame you agreed. Allowing your freelancers to email their invoices and paying them by direct online transfer will save time, money and a whole host of complications.

Similar principles can be applied to the work that your team submits: rather than allowing a messy flow of print-outs and handwritten material to come in, you should consider the advantages of electronic document processing. Deadlines are often adhered to much more strictly when document management occurs on a shared network or online: everyone knows that their progress is easily traced and that things seldom get lost if they’ve been properly backed up.

Altogether, your business will function like a well-oiled machine if you pay attention to your workers, their payments and the overall workflow affecting the company’s output. Efficient invoice processing solutions not only increase employee satisfaction, they also prevent against fraud. Streamlined document processing can entail working collaboratively; relieving pressure on the individual faced with an otherwise insurmountable number of tasks. Indeed, document management should not be top-down in this day and age but rather networked, creative and conducive to business growth.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Glass louvres mean that shading systems can be an aesthetic solution

The last thing you want to have to install on a building are heavy blinds and sunshades. While too much sunlight might be destructive both to fabrics, wall surfaces and art objects, not to mention human skin, a room which lets in no natural light tends to be dark. The answer is to install external louvres that are elegant and functional and effectively protect valuable objects and décor from sun damage. Incorporating brise soleil in your shading system makes for optimal protection and hence sustainability. What’s more, the ready availability of glass louvres from specialist suppliers means that your shades can be aesthetic as well as practical.

Putting ugly additions on the exterior of a building can be controversial with neighbours, local councils and – if the building receives customers or clients – visitors. You need not worry about ruining extant architecture by erecting stylish louvres, however. They are an very aesthetic choice, as well as having substantial environmental benefits. Providers supply louvres engineered to meet a vast range of requirements. As they can be made from glass, your shades can be silk-screened, tailor cut, etched, coloured or coated according to your requirements. Neither do your louvres have to be immovable – they can also be installed in motorised, movable positions. Louvres are more than just an add-on. With a great range of design available, more and more architects are integrating louvres into buildings.

The question of the robustness of your shading system is worth considering. Extra resilient shading systems made from aluminium and stainless steel will withstand high winds and loads of snow. Due to their lightweight frames, vibration is also reduced. Whatever the façade of the building in question, whether commercial, public, old or new, a choice of fixings and colour coatings can be chosen from in order to harmonise shading systems with their immediate surrounds.

Most importantly, a good quality shading system will protect the longevity of objects such as valuable works of art, save costs on air conditioning, reduce glare and increase privacy. First and foremost direct sunlight is prevented from entering a building. Significantly, direct sunlight is the chief cause of heat gain and as shading systems help keep things cool, you’ll reduce your air conditioning bill. Furthermore the environment will benefit, as ozone-depleting gases produced by air conditioning units will be correspondingly decreased.

To sum up, brise soleil enables natural ventilation to be a workable option without the loss of privacy or risk of light damage. External louvres are an efficient protective measure, and minimise running costs. glass louvres combine function with style. If you are environmentally conscious when it comes to architecture and light damage, turn to a comprehensive shading system solution.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Kickboxing London takes exercise from chore to pleasure

Many of us have an irritating feeling in the back of our brains that we really could do more exercise. It was probably a new year’s resolution we made back in January actually. But now, months on, how have we progressed? A significant proportion of us will have failed to meet our target of taking up running or getting down to the gym more than once in a blue moon. We may feel cross with ourselves for our lack of dedication and self-discipline and guilty of putting social events, meals out and trips to the cinema first. But have any of us asked ourselves why we have undershot our aims? It may well be that we have been trying for too long to adapt to an activity that we will never actually enjoy. And when there are so many different sorts of exercise out there we should not blame ourselves for not adhering to our plans. Instead we should try to find a new sport that we can really take pleasure in. kickboxing London is one alternative kind of exercise that has converted tons of former sport dodgers. London kickboxing classes offer an experience unlike that of our local gym; if you join London kickboxing club you’ll find yourself in a warm and friendly environment in which individuals encourage each other and thrive.

This may sound paradoxical: can we really gain positively from an instance where we’re fighting a partner? The answer is a convincing yes. You will not be fighting in any normal sense, but rather sparring in a controlled and ultimately technical way. The technical part of the sport is part and parcel of the reason why kickboxing is so agreeable: in contrast with our former mindless pursuits of fitness on the treadmill, kickboxing actually gives participants an opportunity to learn. Indeed, it is one of the martial arts whose history and cultural provenance is as exciting as its practice.

Further to this, kickboxing allows you to burn off steam that might have built up during the course of your day or week spent in a stressful environment. It is so much healthier to dispense with this kind of aggression through kickboxing London that to bring your anxieties back home with you where they could affect your domestic life. Happily, because London kickboxing classes are scattered throughout the capital, it is more than likely that a short session could be fitted in on your way home. A London kickboxing club is never far from work or home.

Please visit http://www.karmaa.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Bacs software offers functionality, efficiency and protection

When we hear discussion of business we often think in especially narrow terms of people working in tidy office set-ups, wearing tidy clothes and making a tidy profit. But we you think just a little longer about what the term business actually means we soon realise that the category is much wider than that and can include everything from law firms to travelling circuses and more. But while it’s important to think in terms of diversity, it is also vital to think what all businesses have in common: namely a need to make and receive payments of some form as part of a steady cash flow that will hopefully keep an activity afloat for as long as required. This may sound obvious but keeping on top of one’s accounts often proves a headache for even the simplest of organisations. So that’s where bacs software comes in: allowing you to streamline your income and your outgoings, bacs is perfect for making regular automated payments to loyal customers. Originally standing for Bankers Automated Clearing Services, bacs payments can be used by anyone in need of a reliable service.

If you’ve decided against making automatic online transfers your habitual method of payment you need to know that the alternative is up to scratch. And there are many decent reasons for finding such an alternative. One would be the inefficiency of logging into an online account every single time you need to process a payment: just think how long that would take to do once you have a body of freelance employees on your books, all in need of payment at round about the same time. Another reason to streamline your payments using bacs software could be a need to avoid human error.

Indeed, it’s crucial to remember that as a business you have just as much responsibility towards your employees as you do towards your customers. So using bacs payments for your staff is a very good idea. In our current climate of recession we need to remember that a late payment can result in an employee being out of pocket. And this is something businesses absolutely need to prevent since your staff may see late or erroneous payment as disrespectful of their hard work. Bacs and bacs software can therefore galvanise your company’s strength from within. These great payment technologies can simultaneously afford you time and peace of mind enough to look outwards and upwards to ways of growing your business.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Hospitality jobs Singapore for clean living kinds

The United Arab Emirates is a thrilling destination to visit these days. For many, in fact, a single visit is not sufficient and after spending a vacation here some people get the itch to return for a longer period of time. Obviously, making several return trips would be an expensive undertaking requiring extra leave to be granted from employment back home. If you’re set to leave your job, however, or are currently unemployed, why not combine work with travel and settle into one of many hotel jobs Dubai? Meanwhile, the Persian Gulf represents an area that remains unexplored by the majority of Western citizens. So why not tread new ground and try your luck with one of the hotel jobs Gulf also on offer? And for anyone with a greater yearning for Far Eastern experiences, hospitality jobs singapore could be just up your street. (Your chewing gum free street no less, since Singapore is well known for being one of the cleanest cities in the world.)

For those not yet aware, Dubai is a burgeoning focal point of artistic activity. It is the capital city of the MENASA (Middle East/North Africa/South Asia) in fact, because Art Dubai art fair has become a driving power in the art market of this region. Every March for the past five years, gallerists, artists, organisers and amateurs have been flocking to Dubai in their droves. So, if you are employed in one of the nearby hotels, it is highly likely that the week of the art fair will be a busy time. More tips will be coming your way and during your time off you can go and see the latest contemporary art projects and exhibitions. Abu Dhabi has been similarly capitalising on a newly thriving artistic scene, with plans well underway for a Guggenheim and a Louvre museum to open, so hotel jobs Gulf offer just as many advantages.

For the less art-oriented sorts hospitality jobs singapore could be just as thrilling as hotel jobs Dubai and hotel jobs Gulf. For one thing, you have the impressive array of new foods to try here. The cuisine differs greatly from the offerings found in the Eastern eateries of the UK where the diversity of particular countries often goes ignored. Singapore, for example, has an amazing cuisine based on the idea of hybridization, or blending of influences from Chinese and Malay cultures in what is known as the Peranakan style.

Please visit http://www.asiacaterer.com/ for further information about this topic.

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