The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the organisation that regulates Health and Social Care Providers in England. Their regulations are embedded within a document called the Essential Standards of Quality and Safety, which details a number of outcomes that the Commission expect to be evidenced within a provider operating to high standards in relation to safety and care. The decisions concerning whether these standards are met, and to what extent, are made by CQC assessors who use a document entitled the Judgement Framework to assess a provider's level of compliance. This document explains how a decision should be reached by considering evidence about compliance. It focuses on the 16 regulations and associated outcomes that most directly relate to the quality and safety of care.

However, the Judgement Framework and its enforcement have been open to criticism since its implementation, and the CQC are now striving to simplify and strengthen their regulatory model to reflect the main focus back onto their core business of monitoring and inspecting. The changes that they wish to make will be designed to build on the knowledge they have gained and the lessons that they have learned over the last 18 months.

In order to identify which changes need to be brought about, the Commission are holding a consultation regarding the Judgement Framework and their Enforcement Policy. With the hope that the changes they propose within the consultation will result in most services being inspected more often and these inspections becoming more targeted. In addition there is an expectation that where providers are not meeting their legal requirements, swift action will follow, something that the CQC have been criticised for not doing at the moment.

In order to implement these changes in practice the documents that support the practice will also need to be changed, hence the need for a full consultation on the key guidance material, allowing the general public, health and social care providers, commissioners, stakeholders and CQC staff the chance to comment.

The CQC have also pledged a commitment to ensuring the continuation of joined-up regulation in health, therefore, Monitor, the foundation trust regulator, will look at how to reflect the changes that the CQC put forward within their own operations and regulatory approach.

One further issue that the CQC hope to address during the consultation is to change the way that information is published to ensure that it is clear, accessible and supports choice; with this hopefully starting with a re-vamp of the Commission's website which is being approved as of October 2011.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVCA) all use Duct systems to deliver and remove air and regular air duct cleaning is important to maintaining the indoor quality of the air in any large building, where large numbers of people work, study or live.

Temperature control can also be an issue because people to not perform at their peak, either in the schoolroom or lecture room, or in the workplace, if the air is stuffy or too warm.

In any building where people are frail or may have a weakened immune system, such as residential homes for the elderly and hospitals and indeed poor air quality has been implicated in situations of sick building syndrome as well as the control of airborne infections air quality is important.

where toxic chemicals need to be removed from the atmosphere of the laboratory or the workplace the efficiency of an air duct system could make the difference between life and death.

In the UK the Health and Safety Executive and the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) both have an interest in maintaining the quality and safety of air in buildings.

One of the main problems of maintaining the hygiene and efficiency of any heating or ventilation system that relies on air ducts is whether the system has enough access points.

If the system was installed some years ago it is likely that it no longer meets modern advisory standards, which have been detailed by HVCA (Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association).

Equally the building may have been altered, extended or otherwise added to over the years and again this can complicate access to the existing ventilation ducting system.

If an organisation is using its own maintenance team to take care of ductwork cleaning the employer has a duty of care to ensure that the work can be carried out safely and using the proper equipment, and again this can be difficult to achieve when the access to the ductwork is less than adequate.

Regular maintenance and duct cleaning should be a part of any building maintenance programme. It is not only important for prevention of fire risk, possible ill health of employees but also because a well-maintained system will operate efficiently to keep energy costs as low as possible.

Many specialist commercial cleaning companies offer an initial free survey and checking service and will advise not only how frequently the system should be cleaned, filters checked and replaced, but also whether access to ductwork can be improved.

If it should prove that access is an issue they also offer a service to install extra access points, which if carried out should result in less time having to be spent on future occasions for cleaning and maintenance.

A survey will reveal whether there are enough access points to enable proper access to ductwork systems essential for efficient ductwork cleaning and maintenance. By Ali Withers. Click here to see more 

An important factor in operating any business successfully is understanding cost behavior and how it affects profitability. As the current economy offers challenges in operating efficiently, many owners find themselves working harder than ever to keep up. Knowing the difference between fixed versus variable costs is beneficial for predicting sales as other factors change.

Variable Costs

Variable costs are expenses that change based on the activity level of the business. For example, a company producing aquariums purchases their base materials from an outside source. These materials are then assembled into a product at their warehouse.

Assume that the direct cost of materials for each unit is $10, and the company manufactures anywhere between 5,000 and 30,000 aquariums each quarter. Even though the cost of materials for each unit remains unchanged, the actual material expense will fluctuate based on product production. As the demand for aquariums rises and falls, so does the amount of money needed for purchasing materials.

Fixed Cost

Fixed costs are expenses that remain unchanged even when the activity of a business varies. Probably the most common example of this is the cost of rent. Regardless of production or sales, the monthly amount remains the same.

Another illustration that demonstrates this is salary. If a company selling perfume pays the production manager a salary of $54,000 per year, this expense remains the same. The tricky part is that even though this particular cost is fixed, it still affects the overall cost of each bottle.

Cost Behavior and Profitability

In tracking the associated costs, a business is able to analyze ways to improve overall revenue. This is sometimes referred to as a cost-volume-profit ratio. One vital factor in this is the contribution margin.

This tells the business owner how much profit is left over once a product or service is sold. Increasing profitability usually means increasing the contribution margin by reducing certain expenses.

Due to the complicated relationship between fixed and variable costs, small business software can be beneficial. While the expenses can be divided into specific categories, the impact of cost on revenue can be more difficult to establish. Accountants use mathematical equations to provide this information. Small business software puts this information at the fingertips of the owner.

One of the largest expenses that a business can realize is that of payroll. This cost can be variable or fixed depending on the industry. Sometimes, as the activity of a business increases, so do the staffing needs.

Again, the overall expense affects the contribution margin. The cost analysis should breakdown the amount spent by department. Furthermore, it is also necessary to track department productivity. Payroll software is a critical step in identifying where the money is allocated and how to reduce expense without damaging quality.

You know what? You don't need to go to an attorney or law firm to incorporate in Maine. And you also don't need to get a tax accountant's help to set up an S corporation. The reason? Both the state of Maine and the Internal Revenue Service provide helpful, free resources to small business people wanting to do this stuff.

Free Resource #1: Free forms from State of Maine

To incorporate in Maine, you file articles of incorporation or articles of formation with the Maine Secretary of State. But while you can retain an attorney to do these articles for you, you can also work from free forms the state provides at its website.

The website addresses of the free downloadable forms change pretty frequently. But if you know the exact name of the free Maine form you need, you can search (using something like Google or Bing) on the form name and quickly locate what you're looking for.

For example, to locate the free downloadable form for incorporating in Maine, search on "MBCA-6: Articles of Incorporation." And to locate the free downloadable form for setting up a limited liability company in Maine, search on "MLLC-6: "Certificate of Formation."

Two quick points about these forms: First, even if you don't end up taking a do-it-yourself approach to incorporating in Maine, download and examine the forms so you better understand the process. Two, note that both Maine corporations and Maine LLCs can make an election to be treated as a S corporation.

Free Resource #2: Free EIN set up

The step you take after forming a corporation or limited liability company is getting a taxpayer identification number for the new entity. You can get this number, called an employer identification number, from the Internal Revenue Service. And, the good news is, the application process is both free and fast.

The standard (and slightly old school) way to get an employer identification number, also called an EIN, is to download an SS-4 form from the IRS dot gov website, fill out the form, and then either mail or fax the completed the form to the Internal Revenue Service.

The faster way to get an EIN is to visit the IRS website's home page and click on the link that lets you apply online for your new corporation's or limited liability company's ID number. Look for the link labeled "Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online." Note that the online EIN application walks you through the steps for applying, supplies helpful onscreen help to answer your questions, and gives you a EIN at the end of the process.

Free Resource #3: Free sub S election help and forms

Commonly, as hinted at in the opening paragraph, a small business owner goes to a tax accountant for making a Subchapter S election for a new Maine LLC or corporation. But you can do the election yourself, as long as you know which form to use and where to get instructions for filling out the form.

If you're ready to try (or least think about trying) this yourself, know that the form you use is the "Internal Revenue Service 2553 form." And know that to find this form, all you need to do is visit the IRS dot gov website and enter this phrase into the home page's search box.

You'll probably also want the free instructions that explain the form. To get that instruction for the 2553 form from the IRS website, search on the phrase "2553 Instructions."

Best-selling QuickBooks and Quicken author Stephen L. Nelson has recently published down-loadable guides for Maine S corporations and Incorporating in Maine.

In setting a strategic advertising plan for your business, it is a convenient way to use promotional products to launch your company name, product and services to the public. It has an influential role in making a brand identity and has been the tool used by many enterprises for years. Personalized promotional gift items are creative ways of introducing your products and services in the market. Hundreds of selected items can be used as gift items where you can put your company logo and leave a positive impression to your clients. Products which can be given away include shirts, desk accessories, food gifts, pens, mugs, bags, key chains and custom apparels.

The Type of Items to Choose and their Relevance

Consider first what type of items you will be giving away. The right promotional products to use are those items people use everyday such as notepads, sticky pads and pens which are relatively cheap. Unless you have something more in your mind than these items and you think you can afford more expensive ones you can choose mouse pads or USB drives and other state of the art products. Common sense has a big role in selecting a promotional product as well. You have to balance the level of usability and appeal of the various products that are available to choose from. Relevance should be considered when you are to choose the right promotional product for your company. Make sure that the chosen items reflect your business, products or services. You have to make sure that you give away products that fit the right place of where you decided to distribute them.

Right Timing and Longevity

Time is the last thing you have to consider. This has something to do with the length of time that the product would possibly last. It is better to chose products which can be use for long periods of time or can be used from time to time daily. It is not considered cost effective if the items you have chosen are only used ones and thrown away by its users. This will not effectively give better investment returns.

If you have accomplished the task of choosing the right promotional products for you, the next thing you need to do is think of a way on how to make each of the item will be personalized with your company name and product. Make sure that the name of your company or product is imprinted visibly on the items. Remember that the type of promotional products you will use will tell your recipients the kind of company you are and the kind of product you have.

If you need high quality promotional products and other promotional items, visit us at http://www.promotionalproductssupplier.com.au/.

The fact remains that a back load (in numbers) can make up for many of the impending losses that tough times have brought about. However, there are a few things that independent haulers and courier drivers need to know in order to keep a back load beneficial to their businesses- like most things in life, too much of a good thing can be bad.

Here are a few tips and reminders from those in the know for those in the haulage industry regarding back loads. Keep these in mind, and you'll be able to profit from the added business (and income!) that they can bring.

Take Them Seriously

Remember that motto, "no job too big or too small?" Or how about this one, "Everything worth doing is worth doing well"? The secret to being successful in business is accomplishing tasks with the same amount of painstaking detail, regardless of size or budget. This means that a back load, despite being considered somewhat akin to a side job, needs to be given the same amount of attention as regular (or main) loads. This means treating the customers and their goods as professionally as you can, taking the same amount of care and conscientiousness as you would a main load. After all, it's probably better for you, your driving, your vehicle and most of all, your business. Who knows, today's back load client could be tomorrow's major client.

Don't Sacrifice Your Main Delivery

If this seems contradictory to the earlier tip, it isn't. Remember that a back load is meant to augment your business, make up for increasing costs and adding to your income. Counting on them for every trip however may, in the long run, cost you more if you focus on them entirely. Don't forego or delay your main deliveries and don't accept an unprofitable delivery just because you know there may be a back load available to take up the slack. This is not just bad for your business but for the entire industry as well. Don't make the mistake of costing the main jobs as you would the return load just because it is there. And most of all, remember rule number one of taking on a back load - it needs to be on the same route back!

Take Care Of Your Contacts

This means your regular buddies, the ones that tip you off, the ones that text you, "Hey, man, estate furniture load just a corner from where you're dropping off that panda," or similar! Treating them to drinks once in a while is great, but they'd probably appreciate you doing a good job on their recommendations more - and of course, returning the favour on tips once in a while.

The back load- it's probably the Solomonic answer to problems for both workers in the haulage industry and their customers, and the popularity of these sorts of jobs is currently on the rise.

It's About Time!

Ask any small businessman these days how they feel about courier and haulage costs, and chances are, they will say that they cost too much, and cut into their already miniscule profit margins. Ask a courier driver about the same topic, however, and you will find that their answer is quite the opposite- many of them are not able to charge enough to defray their costs and make a decent living. That was, of course, until the advent of jobs enabling a back load.

With fuel prices continuously going up with no end in sight, and traffic problems getting worse by the day, it seems that courier and haulage jobs seem to be getting harder and harder to come by- or, at the very least, less profitable for both sides. A back load can go towards solving this problem, providing the small businessman a way to transport his goods at affordable rates, while proving the haulage industry worker a way to maximize his time, effort, and most of all, his fuel costs on jobs.

What is a Back Load?

A back load, put simply, is a haulage job that comes in for the courier-driver or truck driver that he can do on the return trip of another delivery. While technically often counted as a return-trip haul, small enough packages or loads can also be piggybacked on top of a main load if necessary, though this practice is not usually encouraged.

Benefits of Taking a Back Load

The logic is simple: why return with an empty truck when there's someone who needs goods moved to wherever you are returning? After all, trips wherein the truck or van is empty cost practically the same as when they are loaded. Since main jobs are costed for both delivery and return trips, however, whatever you are going to make taking on a job moving goods on a back load is gravy. This allows you to quote lower prices for the job on the return trip, making it an easier decision for the customer to choose your haulage and delivery services.

Not only is a back load a more efficient use of your time, effort and fuel expenses, it's also a way for the courier driver to do his part in helping conserve fossil fuels- it's actually a more environmentally friendly way of doing business! The result - better business for both the people in the haulage company and their customers and in turn, a boon to the economy.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Mobile technologies are developing at a manic pace and few businesses can afford to ignore the trend. Making use of mobile solutions can help you enhance your bottom line and improve receptivity among certain parts of the population, and here is why.

Connect with Generation Y

Forget about Generation X, Me or any other. Generation Y is where the money is today. They use their mobile devices, phones, pads and everything under the sun, to remain in contact and online at all hours of the day and night. This is a group of individuals who evaluate products, compare prices and shop online.

Offering mobile solutions which allow your company to bring the market directly to them will increase sales. One of the most common ways to do this is to have an item purchased online but delivered, usually free, to the local store. Once a customer is in your store, the chances of an impulse buy go up.

More Opportunities to Make the Connection

If you sell a product that can be marketed in various niches, you should be doing so. Otherwise you're missing the boat on an opportunity. Being able to take your sales on the road to conventions and other functions allows you to tap into a larger number of subsections of the population. The more areas you can access, the greater your potential customer base can be, and obviously, the larger your business will be. If you are stuck in one location you are dependent upon sales coming to you.

Keeping Up with the Market

Pundits fully expect that over a third of all business intelligence will be transmitted through mobile devices in the next three years. Smart companies are already investing in technology and solutions to prepare for the future. Anticipating this growing trend and training employees to work on the go through their electronic tools and developing the applications necessary to keep up with a constantly expanding market will be critical to financial success.

Smart phone credit card processing is becoming mainstream, as Smart phone applications now allow vendors to scan a credit card at any time, in any place. It doesn't take much imagination to anticipate some of the upcoming changes. While there will always be some degree of traditional brick and mortar businesses, the global market is moving online, and it is only possible to keep up with the trend if you are prepared, flexible and mobile.

Michael Rupkalvis owns the Transaction group. The Transaction Group offers credit card processing solutions including smartphone merchant accounts.

The benefits of choosing to install commercial solar power systems are many. Whether you are considering a large installation for a school, a non-profit, a large corporation, or a small business, these benefits are often substantial, making the up front cost of installation well worth the investment. Let's take a look at some of the most obvious benefits of going solar, along with some of those that make a difference, but are often less touted.

Community Leadership
Regardless of what kind of community your business "lives" in, the community surrounding it is impacted in a variety of ways. Are you a community leader? Do you want to be? Respected businesses that serve community leadership roles often find themselves propelled toward greater success at a fast pace. People like to be part of a successful community, and going solar can help you achieve greater status within the community your business inhabits.

Great ROI
If you are looking at numbers, thinking about the initial cost of installing commercial solar energy systems, take a few minutes to look at the larger landscape surrounding that initial investment. First, your installation may be eligible for government rebates, particularly if you are in an industry which uses a substantial amount of electric power for day-to-day operations. Second, you may end up making a profit from the solar installation once it has been paid for. Large solar arrays that capture more energy than a building can store or use during a given period of time push the extra energy that has been generated out into the community grid for public consumption, and in many places, the local utility is responsible for repaying those providers for that extra energy. If anything, the satisfaction of actually billing the utility company for a change is almost as gratifying as eliminating dependence on volatile utilities.

Dependability
Without a lot of moving parts, commercial solar power systems are stable and dependable. They are built to provide reliable service with a minimum of maintenance for periods ranging from 25 to 40 years. Once a solar system has been installed, it requires very little maintenance. The best turnkey commercial solar electric systems are usually managed by the companies that install them, in order for peak productivity to be maintained.

Good for the Environment
Recent nuclear disasters and scares have proven once and for all that the "magic bullet" that is nuclear power is not capable of operating without a certain amount of risk. With a solar array, no risks are involved. In the event of a natural disaster, this method of producing energy does not pose any risk to the environment. Instead of using up finite resources like coal and oil, and instead of producing a greater demand for natural gas obtained by the dubious process of fracking, solar energy simply absorbs the sun's light and puts it to work for you. No strings attached.

With benefits like this, you can't go wrong with commercial solar electric systems. Find out more about how you, your business, and the world can benefit - you'll be amazed at the changes you can contribute to.

Borrego Solar is the leading installer of commercial solar power systems in the United States

The hype of the information age has expanded the spectrum of the economy. Information and communication technology played an integral part as a tool used in business. The digital epoch paved the way for 'faster operations', and even opened the doors to a wide range of business opportunities. It has also created a new class of entrepreneurs which are more focused on information than on the labor and the capital.

Joining the drift of the new era, even small-scale businesses saw the need to intensify information management and dissemination to increase their sales and productivity. With the help of the latest technology of computers and the internet, almost everything can be obtained at a fast rate -faster operations, transactions, sales. Information can be accessed everywhere through the internet as paper documents start to diminish. Most businesses like newspapers rely on their website for archiving purposes.

Studies suggest that sooner or later, the newspaper industry will start to diminish, and will be replaced by online news websites. It could also be concluded that sooner or later, the use of paper will be outdated by the use of computers and the internet, and the utilization of digital files and documents. Most businesses consider acquiring document scanning services as a good form of investment in the long run. With the help of this new technology, the bulk of paper documents can easily be compiled in a digital format.

One of the few benefits of document scanning services is its high quality. Old documents, though it is safely kept, can be easily torn and also age with time. Converting it to a digital format may improve its quality, and retain it for a long period of time for future reference.

Another advantage of acquiring document scanning services is a cost-efficient administration. The company can save time and effort of its laborers in managing documents. Finding a single paper out of stacks of documents may consume a worker's time, instead of focusing on doing his job. Neatly organized files which can be accessed in just a few clicks are far superior to their hard copy predecessors.

Lastly, digital files can be better secured. They will be flood and fireproof, and would not cause a disruption in business operations. While paper files would be destroyed by such incidents, the digitized copies of your files will remain protected on a server no matter what physical or technological disasters might occur.

For more information on document scanning services please visit http://www.scantronix.net

As the countdown to the 2012 Olympics begins, businesses across the UK are being urged to plan ahead now to make sure they are prepared for any disruption during July, August and September next year.

London will experience travel disruption during both the main Games and the Paralympics, with a large number of planned road closures to create an Olympic Route Network for competitors, official and VIPs. Olympic venues will be spread across the city, from Wembley to south of the river in Wimbledon.

The Olympic Delivery Authority, however, believe that many businesses across the country have underestimated the potential impact of the Games, despite officials warning that the Olympics are 'the largest peacetime logistical exercise that any country can undertake.'

In a news report by the Evening Standard, Mark Ever, director of Games Transport at TfL, said:

'Introducing flexible working hours or arranging deliveries at different times where it will not be possible during the day are some of the options available. Planning ahead will be invaluable.'

And it's not just businesses in the capital then need to prepare ahead of next summer's events; the Games have wide-ranging implications on businesses across the UK. HR policies will need to be reviewed to accommodate staff members looking to visit or volunteer at the Games and companies are also advised to make it clear whether live TV coverage will be allowed to be watched during office hours.

An industry that stands to benefit from the Olympics is the tourist trade, with thousands of visitors to London also looking to explore other areas of the country. In particular, Scottish businesses are being urged to consider the potential to double the length of their peak visitor season in 2012. In a report by the BBC, David Bell, lead partner for London 2012 at Deloitte in Scotland, warned:

'There seems to be a misconception among businesses in Scotland that because the 2012 Games are being held in London, the risks and opportunities for businesses up here are negligible. This is far from the case.'

We've put together some top tips to help businesses and every kind and location kick-start their preparations for London 2012:

Review Staff Working Arrangements

Transport options will be stretched during the summer months in London and the surrounding areas. Consider allowing staff to work remotely from home and setting up teleconferences to replace meetings during the period. Ask staff to submit holiday requests as early as possible to ensure days off are distributed fairly and that staffing levels remain adequate.

Build IT strategy

Increased usage of local internet and mobile networks over the Games could potentially affect your business. If you're planning to allow staff to work remotely or to stream live events whilst in the office, it may be time to consider whether your bandwidth is likely to withstand the increased pressure.

Check Supply Chains

Some of your suppliers may be under contract to the Olympics, which will take priority during the summer months. From disruption to business energy supplies, to ink refills for the printers, contact your suppliers about any potential delays to their service, purchasing insurance if needed to ensure you are not left on a waiting list of a contractor if you have an emergency.

Sam Weller business energy

Since the advent of the internet, everything is going online, from clothes and shoes to kitchenware stores, food products and medicine, fashion or furniture. No matter if it's a product or service, everything now has an online presence. Organisations are shrinking and cutting down staff, saving money and costs and increasing output using technology. In the same way, most of the companies prefer using recruitment agency services to hire new employees. There are more job seekers than there are jobs posted on the internet, therefore finding the right candidate through the internet is not at all a difficult task, although it can be very time consuming because of the amount of applications you can receive.

It is recommended initially for the companies to find flat fee recruitment agencies compared to the traditional and expensive, high rate agencies in the market. Such agencies are more efficient then traditional agencies and only charge a nominal fee for each person you hire from their work. They do not claim to take the percentage of salary for the first one or two years like the traditional recruitment agency would, so saving businesses money overall. As the world has become a global village and internet is within the reach of every individual, these recruitment agencies use smart email and recruitment campaigns and utilise the power of social media to reach the millions of unemployed. The reach of these agencies is their charm, as they can reach a lot more people than a newspaper advert for example.

Once you have put a bit of time in searching for the correct, reasonable and less charging recruitment agency and you come across a suitable one, all you need to do is to just fill out the predefined forms and some details and communicate with the agency representative for the nominal fee that they charge. You do not need to sit and talk for long hours disturbing your busy working time in order to define the criteria, terms and conditions, skills and qualities of employees that you are looking for. They know all of this and are very efficient at finding the right candidates.

The recruitment agency will do the search on your behalf and bring you the best possible candidate to interview. The effective and hassle free services that these recruitment agencies are providing, encourages companies to hand over the candidate search responsibility to the recruitment agency. There is no need to hire separate human resource staff and to pay them salaries, which saves a good amount for most of the UK businesses today. These recruitment agencies covers all areas, just because they charge less does not mean they are limited and do not provide candidates for all fields. There can be flat fee services for hiring in engineering fields, education, clerical, IT, medical and accounting fields amongst others.

When there are large contracts between companies, a PQQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) is used. In situations like this, the capabilities of the organisations are checked, such as whether they can sustain the project, if they have enough skills including technical background staff and whether they have enough experience to do the project. After these questions are answered, the shortlisting of companies can begin to take place. The document is also a useful way for contracting local authorities to control the cost of the tender process. The questions that are included in a PQQ include financial statements for submission of the tender, questions related to health and safety, an environmental questionnaire, supplementary questions, technical and quality check questions, and additional questions that are related to the background of the contractor.

The PQQ is submitted by the contractor before the invitation to tender is sent. It is an effective way of marketing, and sufficient time is required to assess the necessary resources required so that one can complete the necessary submissions. Often when we talk about PQQ, time is of the essence and great competition between the different contractors requires it to be finished on time. Any corporation that has capabilities to work for the supplier should send the proper PQQ before the deadline so that contracting authorities can hold a meeting with them and settle important issues before time.

Various online services exist which serve to help contractors with their last minute questions and answers. These types of services have made the decision for contractors and suppliers relatively easy and everything can be settled in a professional manner. For the tender notification, the company details are usually maintained in one central place. This information requires sufficient space and resources and some costs are associated with it to maintain it properly. Every bid made by the contractors must be submitted in accordance with the requirement of the contracting authorities and the PQQ must be relevant to it. This enables online service providers to view the contract details and answer any relevant queries in accordance with this centralised information.

The responses to the questions can be quite varied; for example, a construction company requires two contracts and it requires bidding for two projects. The efficiency of the work that the contractor can provide is the same for all projects, including technical skills, experience and environmental conditions. However, the work that is required for both projects is different, and the responses to the questions of the company must be such that it can handle both projects. But the issue of concern is that the contractor has to fill out two separate forms for the bid, and on each PQQ form the questions must be asked in accordance with the projects. However, if the company fills out only one form, then the response must be such that it ensures both the correct answers and makes the user think in depth about the difference in the projects.

If your courier jobs take you on late night drives down the highway in certain states (like the Four Corners) you're lucky if you've never had any creepy incidents occur. There are stories of people on courier jobs from way back in the days of the Pony express and horse-drawn carriages, encountering ghostly apparitions and evil manifestations to hamper those trying to make an honest living doing deliveries.

Highway 666

This highway, said to be the most haunted area in the region known as the Four Corners, covering Arizona, New Mexico, California and Utah, has an unusual record of strange accidents. There are accounts from both delivery folk on haulage and courier jobs, and ordinary motorists caught outside late. Some say it's the name that gives people the creeps, making them edgy and making imaginations work overtime, which was why in the year 2003, the government renamed it Route 491.

Still, the quickie name change hasn't quite helped exorcise the creepy goings-on on what is known as the Devil's Highway. Sceptics attribute this to people's memories- some still know it by its old name, which is why there are still many stories told by drivers traversing this route on courier jobs. Here are just a few of them.

The Evil Semi

Perhaps it's the heat in the area, but many vehicles tend to overheat or experience flat tires on this highway. When they stop, people say that they look up to suddenly see a huge black semi about to crash into them or run them down, then disappear. (Variations on this are people who claim to actually have been sideswiped or hurt by the evil semi while stalled, before it disappears as well.) Tip: on your courier jobs, make sure your vehicles take the pre-trip vehicle maintenance check ups to avoid being stalled anywhere near the vicinity of the evil semi. Make sure there are sufficient oil levels, the tires have the right amount of air pressure, and there is plenty of water in the radiator.

The Devil's Limo

It's said that on Highway 666- okay, Route 491- a scary black sedan suddenly appears to ram lone drivers on this stretch of road. Different travelers feel intense fear at sunset, then once darkness falls on the desolate road headlights appear in the rear view mirror. Many speed or pull over, but the limo seems to gain on them quickly, whooshing past. When they look up, they find that there was no vehicle at all. Some say that it's most likely a trick of the senses brought about by the desert heat- so always make sure you're well-hydrated on courier jobs and reduce the chance of seeing Satan's limo!

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Similar to accounts of another haunted highway in England, motorists tell of a pack of vicious, threatening dogs running alongside vehicles regardless of speed; they are believed to have been responsible for numerous traffic accidents. Said to have the power to literally shred tires with their razor sharp teeth, jump into the windows of cars and trucks then attack and maul the individuals in the vehicles, they've been blamed for many deaths on the road. Tip: just in case you see them on courier jobs- have the number of animal control on speed dial!

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Movies can actually be educational, particularly if you're on courier jobs in Arizona or around the country. Seriously! Watching movies can teach you a lot about how to handle your deliveries. Granted, these movies probably won't help in getting your head around the truck driver overtime and meal laws, but they can help save your life; and unfortunately, a lot of them show you what NOT to do. Still, knowing what not to do can prove to be fairly useful when it comes to courier jobs. Really. Here are just a few of these movie situations. Think you can handle them? Read on.

Alien Invasion

If your courier jobs are based in Arizona, involve delivering to or from Arizona or just take you from anywhere in Arizona, movies and television can lead you to believe that sooner or later, you'll most likely encounter aliens. It's probably all that open space and big sky, perfect for landing alien spacecraft. (Plus, remember, Roswell is right next door in New Mexico.) So you're driving along, being the responsible delivery person off on one of those long-haul courier jobs and a meteor-like object looks like it's about to fall in the vacant space by the roadside. What do you do? The answer is simple: get away. Get quickly away. You don't want any of the electromagnetic frequencies knocking out your truck's electricals or communications devices! Who knows what kind of delays that may cost? Remember, the job comes first. Don't stay to see whether aliens will come out- you can read about that in the news later.

A Big Load Of Money In Your Delivery

Come on, with all the movies where this happened to couriers, you never thought about what to do if this should happen to you? Of course you have! So, if you find a huge pile of money left by mistake in your delivery on one of your courier jobs, what should you do?

The real question, of course, is what are you doing rooting around in your load- that's really not standard procedure on courier jobs. But if, for some legitimate reason, you accidentally find a load of money mixed up in your delivery, the first rule of business is NOT to attempt to take down a drug cartel by yourself. And don't try to keep it either, that would cause even more trouble. That's what the police and all those government agencies are for. Call your boss, and if you're an independent, call your client, then go to the authorities right away. Then be glad you asked for a down payment.

Vampires and Werewolves.

Okay, we'll pretend you didn't watch Twilight, which was set in Arizona. But assuming you encounter them on one of your courier jobs, what do you do? If you ordered garlic with your pizza at that last truck stop, you're probably okay- but even if you didn't, chances are you'll still be fine as long as you don't get involved in their emo-fighting over the depressed-looking girl. And remember- never invite them in.

Motel In the Middle Of Nowhere

It's late, you're driving through Arizona on one of your interstate courier jobs, and you're getting sleepy. In the distance, you see a creepy motel with the sign "Bates Motel". This one's easy- drive a bit further to a proper truck stop and sleep in the cab, that's what it's for!

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

For companies that demand a dedicated and reliably fast telecommunication facility, a leased line can be tapped for the required service. This service is designed for demanding applications typically involved in corporate communications such as videoconferencing, application hosting, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) as well as large data transfers.

Compared with other telecommunications line

This type of dedicated service is contrasted to a standard digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable Internet in which communication infrastructures are shared. Hence, during peak hours, bandwidth is divided among the simultaneous users resulting to significantly slower communication speed than promised. On the other hand, a leased line allows customers to access the entire bandwidth as stipulated in their contract with the service provider. For instance, a typical transmission speed is 1.5 megabit per second (Mbit/s) along a T-1 channel and this speed is guaranteed at any time of the day.

Current use of leased line services

Also known as a private circuit or data line, it does not bear a telephone number. Thus, two points communicating using the line are permanently connected to each other. The same system for transmission can be used for data and Internet communications as well as telephony system.

Businesses with distant offices are among the largest groups of clients that take advantage of this service. Business outlets operating on geographically distant branches communicate more effectively and efficiently without disruption through this dedicated line. To enjoy this service, clients enter into a contract with the leased line provider who laid out the physical infrastructures. In exchange for using the infrastructures, clients pay a fixed monthly rate to the provider.

Rates for a leased line

Unlike DSL connections in which monthly rates play between £10 and £20 for every subscriber, leased lines are significantly more expensive. For a single client, it can be at least twice as expensive and increases several folds as the subscribed bandwidth is expanded. Rates also greatly vary depending on the actual length of the communication line required to connect the client to the data centre. Hence, business offices located farther apart will have to pay significantly more.

Network design applications

Aside from the typical site to site connectivity used in connecting two business offices for data communications, a site to private branch exchange (PBX) connectivity is also common as it replaces the conventional telephony system based on slow dial-up technology. A great advantage of this connectivity is that it allows customers to manage a customized telephone numbering plan resulting to shorter number extensions.

Another network design realized through a leased line is site to network connectivity. Through this, a more advanced network based on packet switching can be designed over the infrastructure.

Availability in the UK

Leased lines in the UK are provided at rates between 64 kbit/s and 2.048 Mbit/s through an E1 link. Via the E3 tail circuit, speeds can range between 2.048 Mbit/s and 34.368 Mbit/s. Incredible speed interfaces are even achieved through 10baseT and other advanced networking technologies.

Although significantly expensive, heavy usage and frequent access through the leased line will offset the costs involved. Furthermore, it offers unprecedented reliability and efficiency crucial for demanding applications.

My butt was in a chair in a hotel ball room waiting for the program to begin. I was questioning why I woke up early to attend. The agenda was 7:00 AM registration followed by 7:30 welcome and sponsor recognition. The speaker would go from 7:40 until 8:30, and then the race to get out of the parking garage would begin. The vibe of the room was stale. Some might argue the early hour was the cause for the "blah" feeling, but it was more than the need for coffee.

As soon as people arrived they were ushered into a room and immediately sat at tables. There was not really any networking taking place, even though it was on the schedule. It was dull, and there had been no thought by the hosts to do anything to encourage an atmosphere connections. The room was awkward. The two men next to me, who worked for the same bank, never spoke to anyone but each other. I tried once to engage them, but they were talking intently about something or other.

Once the program started the host spent too much time praising the sponsors and making them stand. The two bank employees to my right did not even smile when they did a half stand and wave. Why had their company spent money to sponsor? These two gentlemen had no clue. Well, their name was said from the stage, but I am not sure most people could remember who the sponsors were.

Another sponsor was allowed to come to the microphone to say a few words. She went on for ten minutes reading prepared and boring remarks (AKA: a commercial for her organization that resonated with nobody) while the MC stood about three feet away unable to make it stop.

Then the speaker was introduced. She started with a canned joke followed by 15 minutes about herself, her career, and all the famous people she has met. It must be nice to have shared the stage with Colin Powell, but I am pretty sure that his bio does not mention her when he speaks!

She later remarked using 1/3 of her time to tell her personal story was building "rapport", but it was really a one-woman show. She had the stage presence to do Broadway, and told jokes like a comedian, but her style was very much like Zig Ziglar circa 1991. While it is not a good idea to move straight to the content, she was very "old-school" in her presentation style (this has nothing to do with age, as Brian Tracy is in his 70s and is a perfect example of engaging "with" an audience, not speaking "to" an audience).

The whole program was a time warp. The stage set up with the risers, podium and flags could have been at any meeting in the last 100 years. There were stacks of brochures from the sponsors on every chair. The hotel served a plated breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs and hash-browned potatoes (oh yes, I saw the horror in the servers eye when I asked for a vegan option). There was no part of the experience that would could not have been delivered in 1984 (except for the part about putting your cell phones away. FYI- my belief is that if a speaker cannot keep the audience engaged, then people should be free to text and tweet all day long).

The speaker's twenty-one nuggets of information were useful, but by the time she hit number sixteen I just wanted them all to be over. She had a flip chart with her name written in black Marks-a-Lot on the stage, but other than reminding the audience of her name for an hour, it brought no value (actually I was glad she did not start flipping paper pages!). Even her topic had not been updated to address the changes in technology. Her message held strong, but it appeared she had never attempted to incorporate all the tools we use in today's business world.

All this being said, the audience liked her a lot. They laughed at her jokes, seemed to understand the meat in the message, and nobody could miss her strong energy levels. However it is my belief that she allowed her "Shtick" to dominate over content. I write a lot about the need for style and experience for a speaker (not just content), there must be balance.

Organizing a meeting is like art and architecture. The appreciation one has for the event is subjective and over time the popular styles change. Where one person sees a great work of art or a beautiful building, somebody else sees an eye sore. This does not mean that yesterday's styles are bad, or cannot be used and enjoyed in the modern world. It is just that if someone builds an Art Deco building in 2011 they need to acknowledge the retro style.... and include modern amenities

Closing with an old canned joke was what put it over the top for me. I felt like when she hit the punch-line there was going to be a drumroll/rimshot and a voice proclaiming "Ba-Da-Bing... She is here all week!".

I know, I know. I am too critical. If the audience liked the event, then that should be enough. Or is it? In a world with so many choices on where to invest our time, a meeting that just stepped out of Dr. Emmett Brown's DeLorean cannot compete.

The best meeting planners are asking "why?" to everything they do with their meetings. They are also asking "why not?" to every new idea. These people are challenging the powers that be that fear change. Simply doing things "same old/same old" is no longer acceptable. Rethinking how to engage an audience long before the keynote speaker takes the stage is paramount to success. Where you place the stage matters. The food served has an impact. Who introduces the speaker and what is said sets the tone. Good technical scores is not enough. What is the overall vibe? It is hard to pin down, as most people say "wow" after a speech, even if they mean "it was okay" (as a speaker I am cautious of believing too much of what I hear about my own program!). The post event survey never tells the whole story.

Some who have seen me speak who do not enjoy my style either, so I know that one who lives in a glass house should not throw rocks (note, I did not name the speaker or the organization that hosted the event). But all of us in and around the Meetings Industry should always be reviewing, questioning and brainstorming how to shake things up (in a good way). I try to review more than just the superficial parts of meetings, and seek out the ones where I can really have an experience that lasts past the parking lot exit gates.

Thom Singer is a professional business speaker and the author of eight books on the power of business relationships, networking, and presentation skills. More information is available at http://www.ConferenceCatalyst.com

Courier services provide the fast transfer of documents and items from 'A' to 'B'. It has to be admitted though that from the point of view of the person making the delivery, some courier jobs may be a little more interesting than others:

• A famous film star or other major personality just has to have 'XYZ' delivered quickly and the sender insists on a personal signed-for delivery - OK, admit it, how many of you would be able to resist a quick request for an autograph while you're there?

• Delivering to a lodge based somewhere with spectacular mountain scenery just might offer the opportunity to see some great sights as you pass - it certainly beats a back-street warehouse drop anyway!

• Some courier jobs go to those with all the luck, like the guy who had to take a small box load of specialist sun block down to a beach location where some models were doing a shoot of skimpy beach wear. Must have been a real tough job that!

• Then there are those rare ultra-luxury courier jobs, such as the person asked to drive the sender's Lamborghini to make the delivery when his own vehicle rather embarrassingly refused to start. You may be asking at this stage - "why do these things never happen to me"?

• Some specialist jobs may also be quite appealing - like the courier that was asked to do a delivery and collection involving an all expenses paid overnight stay in a famous desert recreation spot.

Of course, sometimes routine may be very attractive:

• A courier, after reporting to reception, was involved in an identity mix-up which resulted in him being shown to the changing room and told to get ready for his fire-breathing act (it's not clear if he actually 'winged it' and performed).

• Another courier, delivering to a hospital unit, was waiting in a room down a corridor for when a masked doctor entered and asked in a surprised voice "why aren't you wearing a protective mask? Hasn't anybody told you?"

• Then there's the helpful comment made to one courier after pick-up, "I'm see you're taking the XYZ route - it's a pretty dangerous road". Very helpful you may think, until the said courier asked what alternatives there were, only to receive the classic reply "there aren't any..."

So, courier jobs can be unexpectedly rewarding and occasionally, just a little bit worrying. It's what makes the business appealing though!

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Is your company being led with an agile mindset or by a narcissistic idealist? We have all heard the phrases "That's how we've always done it" or "If it isn't broke, don't fix it." Sadly, it's my belief that these two simple phrases are setting corporations on a track for disaster. We live in a time where Baby Boomers are at the top, but on their way out, Gen X is trying to take over, and Gen Y (millennials) wants nothing to do with it. Is your company agile enough to pass the reigns?

Let me first set the bias by stating that I am Generation X. For lack of a better term I will say that I am near the XY Cusp. When I think about those two statements within a corporation I relate them to the boomers or BoomerX cusp. Coming right out of wars they joined the workforce and attempted to move up the corporate ladder, and many have done just that. They have this idea that if you just work long and hard the results will be positive. That sounds great and I am sure that it once was, but with the rate of technology today you will fall behind if you are working long at anything. Other common attributes from this generation include continual promotion from within and keeping harmony amongst the employees. Agility is often foreign to this generation which leaves us with 20 year old equipment punching out the same pieces of metal. Again, each of these values or beliefs worked great and long standing companies are here today because of them, but these practices are failing today.

Now we are on to Gen X; the degenerates. Our entrepreneurial, agile, and creative ways are a wrench in the system that worked so well for the generation before us. We are often referred to as demanding and said to have issues with authority. In defense to this, I would agree that we are demanding and say that it is questioning the status quo of those that deem themselves entitled for their twenty years of hard static work. We often move around from one company to the next, but struggle with always wanting to improve the system.

By the 80's and 90's Gen Xers were well into the work force and technology changed drastically. This was our opening to move and make something of ourselves. Those simple phrases that we started with leave a lot of businesses headed down the wrong track while others continually adapt. This also opened the door leading to our entrepreneurial ventures.

Today's workplace sadly is often more of a battle ground than a collaborative pool of tried and true methods that only the experience of the boomer generation can provide and the agile practices and rapid development of technology that Gen Xers bring to the table.

Gen Y seems to want nothing to do with this battle or a cubicle. They think less about a dead-set 20yr retirement with one company than even the generation before. This generation will be very interesting to say the least. They are highly intelligent being that they do not know what it is like to not have a computer in their home or two cell phones in their pocket, yet they are spoiled in a sense and will drop work for play without a second thought.

I am in no way saying that any one generation is wrong in the way they worked. The fact is that we are a product of our environment. The key to that is "the way they worked", past tense. We need to change and adapt to the methods of the rising generation.

Companies with a long history that are still being run with these Baby Boomer values need to adapt quickly. They must give way to the next generation's values before they experience the shock of immediate change when that generation retires. The loyalty is more apparent if discussing marriage. Baby Boomers got married and are still married, Gen Xers are often on their 3rd marriage, and the millennials want nothing to do with it.

The way we do this is to give way to the ideas of agile practices. Build an environment that allows for iterative delivery/development. The Gen Xers are all over this idea and it simply is not being welcomed by the traditional leadership in today's corporations. Allowing these practices into your business will improve the way that you work, appeal to Gen Y, and greatly improve time to market. More importantly, now that you are agile, you eliminate the risk of losing that "tribal knowledge" that your business thrives on today by eliminating the need for it.

Until now, your Winter Wonderland themed event had many highlights to attract your guests, but the least attractive element was always the fake snow. Now, with instant artificial snow made from powder, the snow is so realistic that creative entrepreneurs are finding endless ways to design a day or evening of snow fun and to decorate your venue with stunning, memorable snow.

Originally developed for indoor snowboard parks in Japan and still used for large snow slide events in South America and elsewhere, this sparkling white snow is cold and wet, but it does not melt or harm surfaces, and can be used at any temperature. But for a home or commercial location, a modest investment in instant snow gives you a dramatic way to decorate and add some fun and sparkle to every type of event.

How easy is it to create a snowplay area? Just put a tarp or dropcloth down on any surface and cover it with a few inches or snow. For just a few kids you need as little as 3 pounds of instant snow powder. For larger areas, even large amounts of bulk snow are economical and cost effective. Large and dramatic play and slide areas have been used at summer camps and preschools across the US as well as for outdoor events on college campuses.

When it comes to special events at restaurants and nightclubs, decorating an entire patio or roof area with snow and snowfall is a dramatic accent for many types of events. Indoors, dramatic snow-themed banquets, weddings etc. are easy to set up and fun for everyone who attends. If the person sponsoring the occasion loves to ski or snowboard, instant snow is the perfect way to decorate.

Put on your thinking cap and see how snow can be just what you need for a fun and entertaining event any time of year, indoors or outdoors. Put your creative juices to work and find out what you need for the perfect snow event. Easy to make, set up and clean up, this is the time to entertain and dazzle your friends and customers with snow.

At a time when so many themes and ideas have been tried over and over again, isn't it a great time to go over the top with your own Winter Wonderland? In a recovering economy where budgets are tight, a small spend on fake snow can put you and your team on the front page.

For 10 years Richard Bayer has helped tens of thousands of customers buy dramatic and realistic fake snow for every type of winter themed event and decoration. Using fake instant snow powder on the ground and a snow machine for snowfall, his web site http://www.sno-wonder.com offers the opportunity for a perfect White Christmas any time of year.

We talk a lot about the Old vs New World in the wine industry, so it was interesting to read Graham Holter's article on the Harpers site on 19th August, revealing that a leading wine merchant believed that the top wines from California and Australia, as well as Europe's finest, would soon challenge Bordeaux's dominance of the fine wine market. The research by Slurp Investment, Holter says, shows that the current premium commanded by Bordeaux is "unsustainable", and that the wines of California and Australia are undervalued and consequently not sufficiently represented.

This argument has always interested me - at times when I've been fortunate enough to taste great Californians, I have been simultaneously impressed and surprised and part of me is rooting for them to get the recognition they deserve. But - and I think this is a personal thing - I can't help thinking that the best of California lies around the £30-£40 mark. Beyond this, there are some excellent wines, but I am not sure they stand up to Bordeaux's offerings for the equivalent price.

The article goes on to say that the best New World wines are being made with ageing in mind whereas modern Bordeaux wines are often being made to be more accessible at a young age. There is an interesting argument about the structure of wine here - It has long been thought that Bordeaux producers were leaning towards ripe, fruit-forward, sumptuous Parker-pleasing wines that could be enjoyed young, and the Chinese certainly love to pop the corks on wines that are still in their youth. Could it be the case that Bordeaux producers have been getting it wrong, while the New World have slipped under the radar, making wines that will just be hitting their peak at the height of the New World boom 30 years from now?

Of course, this is simplifying things greatly - Yes, corks are being popped on young Bordeaux, but the phenomenal structure of the top wines will ensure that the bottles that remain are capable of great age. And it is great to see the New World producers thinking ahead and producing ageworthy wines. But how much do we really know about these ageworthy wines? The answer is, not enough - we have to take their word for it that the wines will age, to some extent. And despite the expertise and innovation that goes into making these wines - it still seems to be a world far removed from the safety of Bordeaux's rich history. If we pop the corks on them 30 years from now, they might be in good condition and ready to drink. But, will we like them as much as we like Bordeaux?

I used to stand staunchly with the belief that there was nothing that the New World could do to rival Bordeaux at the top end of the market - the best New World reds will make fleeting appearances at auction but the limitations of production will always ensure that they remain a niche market. But I don't feel so strongly anymore - I believe that given time, it will be an important market for the alternative investor as new wines emerge. But therein lies the problem for the New World - time. Right now the market is Bordeaux, and it will be a long, long time before there are enough New World wines to take a significant chunk of the market away.

Sometimes, as investors, we forget that wine is not just a commodity to buy and sell. It has structure and finesse and flavour and longevity, and even if we choose not to drink it ourselves, the reality is that the Chinese, as well as wine lovers globally, are going to drink it, rather than just move it from cellar to cellar for a profit. And so, fundamentally, the wine has to be really, really good. It has to gain critical approval from the press in order to gain recognition from the emerging markets. This is what makes Bordeaux so successful, it is not just an accident of history that the famous wines are still considered to be the best. Their quality has remained high but they have also moved with the times, making wines that will impress their key audiences and continuing to court them while always identifying and penetrating new markets as they emerge.

Vimal is a professional Fine Wine Trader and is the Managing Director of IGW Brokers LTD

Investment markets are seldom uneventful and the fine wine market, although relatively reliable, is no exception. Last week saw a small dip in the market, with Liv-ex reporting that its Fine Wine 50 Index, which measures the performance of First Growths, showed that the First Growths were falling out of favour with buyers, accounting for only a quarter of total trade. Nonetheless, looking beyond First Growths, a different trend was apparent. And this is a trend that should encourage first time buyers rather than weaken their confidence in the market.

The market showed that buyers are looking to invest in other wines - Second wines of the top chateaux, fine Sauternes, and second to fifth growths. If this trend continues, it indicates a very positive move for the new investor. Few of us will dive in at the deep end as a new investor and the prohibitive prices of first growths can be off putting for those of us who are just dipping our toes in the water. But that means we are largely investing in wines we are not so familiar with - Chateau Latour is a well known name but how many newcomers have heard of Cos d'Estournel or Gruaud Larose? Well, if buyers worldwide continue to snap them up the way last week's figures suggested, it won't be long before these names roll off the tongue just as easily as their more famous Bordeaux counterparts.

So how should we, as investors, react to such a decline? Well, firstly, we shouldn't be worried. Any investment market will have peaks and troughs, and many of them can be explained away by what is happening in the world economy, or the political situation in a particular country. Take advantage of the small dip in the market to invest boldly in some of the emerging superstar wines of Bordeaux. Just because Chateau Lafite seems to have temporarily lost favour with the Chinese, they have not turned their back on Bordeaux. Far from it. The fine wine market is still being discovered, and with time comes knowledge and the desire to look beyond what is familiar, beyond the famous names that initially ignited their love affair with Bordeaux.

It is a time for investors in the UK, as well as consumers in the Far East, to familiarise ourselves with the emerging wines in order to be 'in the know' so that we can buy wisely for the future and with any luck, begin to spot the wines that the Chinese are starting to gravitate towards before their prices begin to increase. And remember, long before the Far East emerged as an important market, wine was already an important commodity that was traded globally yielding substantial rewards for its investors. It is an exciting time to get involved, and knowing what to buy as well as when to sell it is still the key to success. Keep one eye on the market, and the other eye on the cellar, and you won't go far wrong.

Vimal is a professional Fine Wine Trader and is the Managing Director of IGW Brokers LTD

He also owns and writes for the leading wine blog - http://www.12x75.com - a blog that revolves around interviews with prominent profiles in the wine industry.

Fine wine investors must have been delighted to read the headline 'Fine wine trounces the FTSE 100' in the Telegraph on July 19th. This was the report that The Bordeaux Index returned 14pc in the first 6 months of the year compared to the FTSE100 return of 1pc. Investors in fine wine have enjoyed steady gains of during the first six months of the year. The wines of Bordeaux continue to dominate the fine wine market. So despite mixed feelings about the 2010 en primeur prices, things could not be more positive for the fine wine investor.

According to Gary Boom, MD of The Bordeaux Index, the expensive 2010s have created a relative value for older wines and buyers are starting to look for bottles with a few years age instead of buying en primeur. Wine enthusiasts in the Far East are looking at second to fifth growths from older vintages. Buyers in the Far East tend to be consumers rather than investors so as these fine wines are gradually consumed, the value of the remaining bottles can only rise.

Despite concerns from Robert Parker that the global economy is 'fragile' and that the image of Bordeaux might be hurt by being too expensive, the Far East remains the biggest market for Bordeaux and there are no signs of this slowing down. The label is very important to the Chinese and consequently wines whose names they have heard of sell out rapidly. Pontet-Canet, a humble 5th growth that consistently performs above its ranking, and whose prices rose by a staggering 39% for the 2010 vintage, reportedly sold out in minutes.

Perhaps Parker is right to have concerns - the global economy may be fragile and there has been a backlash from the 2010 prices, but even in difficult times there will always be wealth and a thirst for quality products. Even if the Chinese market should settle down, the emerging Russian market still looms in the distance. Parker's concern about the image of Bordeaux demonstrates a sense of responsibility for the wine that he loves, and whose prices he has had more than a hand in raising, if only because producers have so often been accused of basing their prices on his reviews. At a time when Bordeaux was under heavy criticism, it was appropriate for someone of Parker's authority to step in with a remark that may or may not have an impact on next year's prices. While growers have a great respect for Parker, they also keep a shrewd eye on the Far East. As long as they know that their wine will sell, they see no reason to cease increasing their prices.

While other alternative investments have floundered through the recession, the fine wine market has continued to soar. As with any investment you should always be vigilant and aware of the global market. Many of the Far Eastern consumers are relatively new to fine wine so their tastes are just developing, and they are beginning to experiment. Sales of first growths to the Chinese might drop off slightly as they start to discover other wines, and there has been some evidence of this trend. Fundamentally, consumers are savvy too and if they can find a way to spend less money on more wine and still have exceptional quality, then they will. Be a smart investor and let your wine investment company advise you on what brands are popular in the Far East and the other emerging markets.

Vimal is a professional Fine Wine Trader and is the Managing Director of IGW Brokers LTD

He also owns and writes for the leading wine blog - http://www.12x75.com - a blog that revolves around interviews with prominant profiles in the wine industry.

A lot of people have taken up the hobby of collecting stamps as a means to grow and protect wealth, ever since the recession of 2008 that sent traditional investments into a downward spiral. Unlike the gold index or housing market or the stock, economic conditions do not affect such collectibles. As far collecting stamps is concerned, the great part is that there are minimal rules, as per the National Postal Museum. However, the stamps which need to be collected and those which are necessary for the preservation of collections must be learnt by potential collectors, if they will be collecting stamps as an investment.

To acquire an immense return on investment, familiarizing themselves with the types of stamps that should be collected is necessary for potential collectors. A scale that ranges from poor to superb and centering, is used to determine the value of stamps that is based on condition, as explained by the Smithsonian Postal Museum. Centering is another criterion that also concludes the value of a stamp. The stamp image's position with the outer edges is inspected when checking the centering of a stamp. Stamp with 'poor ratings' should be avoided by those who are collecting them as an investment, while only the stamps belonging within the 'fine' to 'superb' categories are worth collecting.

A complete stamp kit that includes a detector dish, magnifying glasses, tongs, watermark detector fluid and any extra tools needed to identify and handle stamps must be procured. Additionally, not only should collectors be knowledgeable on how to soak stamps but should also procure a soaking kit, if they ever might need to save stamps from mailed envelops. When it comes to lifting a stamp from an envelope intact, they should be soaked in a bowl of cool water for about fifteen to twenty minutes. Often it might take a lot more time since certain stamps do not soak well and at times to prevent discoloration, some of them even need to be soaked with a different approach.

In regards to identifying rare and valuable stamps, apart from reference books and collecting periodicals, additionally the Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue should also be used. Limited-edition stamps are quite worthwhile if identified, while other valuable ones also include those that commemorate distinguished people and topics of today.

Those in search of rare stamps to purchase should be visiting local stamp dealers. Rare stamps can also be found at estate sales or online. Checking the membership lists of the American Philatelic Society, the Internet Stamp Dealer Association, or any other national stamp dealer associations is an ideal option for finding a reputable dealer, for those who decide to purchase stamps from them. To keep stamps clean and organized so they can be quickly identified, they should be placed in a special collector's display book. A higher resale value is earned by well-organized stamp collections. While collectors of great art never consider their purchases an investment, but it cannot be denied that a good stamp collection is indeed a valuable investment.

To learn more about collecting stamps as investment, visit: http://www.stampexchange.com

Should you be in a position where you need to borrow money quickly, taking a loan out against fine art you own can be an effective way of getting the cash you need.

However, to access the value of your pieces it's a good idea to get in touch with a pawnbroker.

Doing so can be a fairly simple process, although there are several factors that you will have to consider when it comes to applying for a short term loan.

It should go without saying, but you will only be able to borrow against pieces by artists who have a reputation in their chosen field (generally fine art must be worth at least £1,000 in order to take out a loan against it) and works by total unknowns are unlikely to command a notable sum.

With this in mind, works from both modern artists including the likes of Banksy and Damien Hirst, as well as historically-renowned painters such as Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dali and LS Lowry, have attracted high sums of money at auction, not only because of the quality of the pieces but also the prestige that is attached to them.

Paintings and drawings are usually adorned with the artist's signature at the bottom, so this could also enable you to take out a higher loan when visiting a borrower that specialises in pawning art.

Authenticity is perhaps the greatest underlying factor that determines how much a piece of fine art is worth (and by extension how much you can borrow) and while the artist's signature could help to prove this, any supporting documents that you own - perhaps a certificate from the company you purchased the piece from - may also help.

The condition an item is in is another important thing that you should consider when accessing the value of your art. Generally speaking, paintings that are free of damage will attract higher sums than ones that look faded or have dents or scratches.

However, you should remember that the value of your art could fluctuate depending on current market trends. So if, for whatever reason, 17th century Italian Renaissance items are currently enjoying a surge in demand, it could be a good time to borrow against them in order to get the maximum amount possible.

It may also be worth your while to browse price guides and auction house records to get an idea of how much similar pieces are worth and the sums of money people have been able to borrow through them.

With a little time and effort, you can get a very good idea of just how the value of your art and the size of loan that you can expect to be offered.

Accessing the value of your pieces should not be too difficult a task and by doing so you can be confident that the sum pawnbrokers quote you is fair.

Foreign currency trader numbers have increased substantially since the stock markets meltdown in 2008, resultant from the Global Financial Crisis. It is vital to note that a foreign currency trader makes money trading not by investing. The currency trader, often referred to as a forex trader, buys and sells currency of different countries. There is a distinct difference in activity between investing in stocks - where one might buy and hold a stock for a substantial period of time - and foreign currency trading, where a particular currency might be bought and sold within a matter of minutes, and even at times in a matter of seconds.

Until the mid 1990s forex trading - buying and selling foreign exchange - was the preserve of the major banks and big corporations. Today anyone with a computer and access to the internet can trade foreign exchange from anywhere in the world. Major banks like Citibank make more money from trading currencies than from the rest of their business operations. Daily volume of currencies being traded on the Interbank market is well over $4 trillion (US dollars).

Although there is a lot of money to be made trading currencies with every winner there is also a loser. People such as George Soros have made billions of dollars trading foreign currencies. However just as with bricks and mortar businesses the money trading business has its fair share of casualties. About 95 percent of currency traders lose and quit trading, either through disillusionment or simply because of lack of funds required to be able to continue trading activities.

Richard Dennis proved that it is not difficult for anyone to learn how to become a successful forex trader with his "Turtles" experiment - where he taught 14 average people, from all walks of life how to trade currency. After 2 weeks of initial training 14 newly trained "turtles" were given money by Dennis to trade forex. All of his students were successful and went on to become millionaires from trading currencies. What Dennis demonstrated was a person could become a successful foreign currency trader simply through education and access to capital. Coincidentally the lack of those two vital ingredients researchers have found is the cause of most business failures. Of the many would-be foreign exchange traders very few have adequate capital to commence their trading and a great number of them do not apply themselves to the trading in a business like manner. As it really is very easy to learn how to trade forex many - a great many - of people who try their hand at trading currencies treat it more like gambling, and they do not bother to undertake appropriate training.

You do not need a high level of intelligence nor do you require a college education in order to become a successful currency trader. If you have just an average IQ but are prepared to study the foreign exchange market to learn about fundamental and technical aspects of trading you too can make a good living as a foreign currency trader.

Paul Dean is a foreign currency trader who writes mainly about forex trading. Previously he was a corporate lawyer, financial adviser and economics teacher. He enjoys teaching people how to trade foreign exchange and you can learn how to be a successful foreign currency trader by reading more on his blogs at http://foreigncurrencytrader.blogspot.com/ and http://wherecurrencyexchange.blogspot.com/

Security should be of high priority in an organization and the responsible workers must attend safety classes. Highly skilled employees would help the organization maintain safety from attacks. The workers that work under this sector should be trustworthy. You would not want to harbor people who are only after the information of your company. You would therefore need the precaution training in order to make them realize how their work should be done.

Everybody knows that the safety precautions in any institution must always be improved and be up to date. Every organization should always make sure that their safety staff is attending related training. The training would teach them the security levels that companies require. This would prevent the respective company from being prone to attacks.

There are several such training programs that would teach your staff on the best safety measures of your organization. This would keep your concerned workers updated with the latest changes in securing a premise. There are several changes that take place in the security system. To avoid risks, the institution should always make sure that they also change with the changes.

Many institutions are prone to attacks which include, burglary, stealing of documents and files and intrusion. If an organization does not change its security system regularly, then it would be impossible to stop any attacks. With a well planned attack, your concerned employees can never do anything to stop it. With a good safety training, your company would benefit a lot.

This field is very large and it comes through different ways. Such training would ensure that all the major sources of attacks are well taken into account. These fields are equally covered during the trainings. Every industry that take their workers to these trainings would benefit a lot. The different aspect of protection are also taught and after the training the worker would be highly competitive. The training would also make the company aware of the possible areas of attack.

The courses offered at the protection tutorials offers practical lessons. The employees attending these trainings would learn and would undergo practical test. In this way, the employees would be able to learn through practice. There are labs where the practicals are done, this would expose the worker on the dangers and their possible solutions. With these trainings, a lot of things can be learned and the protection of the organization would improve.

The main aim of these precaution trainings is to give a better education to those people who attend them. It teaches mainly on the need of protection in any given industry and how it is done. With the right information, the safety of an industry would never be tampered with. There would also be a reduction of cases of lost files and documents belonging to the particular institution.

Therefore, you have realized that the security training of your workers is very important. This would ensure that your workers are highly skilled and they would know what needs to be protected. The demand for protection is high because most premises are prone to attacks and therefore, you will need to know the sources of this attacks. You will prevent it and avoid the losses which would have otherwise been eluded.

Traveling, whether for leisure or research, always has the risks for your belongings. And this would include getting your laptop damaged; your hard drives lost, and even your bag stolen. This is why creating backups have always been a necessity, more importantly while on travel.

As you do not want your files lost while on travel, it is important to get them protected. Here, are a few important tips on how to do it;

1. It is always best have your own personal portable or mobile internet access device. Free Wi-Fi hotspots aren't really good spots to do your backup. You are exposed to potential network attacks at these areas, including viruses and malwares. Just do so if you do trust your network provider. Also take note that Free Wi-Fi hotspots, on the average, are not so satisfactory in terms of speed. This is also the case for some portable internet access devices. A good online backup service will utilize even if you have a slow connection, and you must verify this with your provider. Online data storage is designed so that you could back your files up anytime and anywhere, you wouldn't want to waste time and money to a service that is not up to that aren't you?

2. Always update your backups with the latest files along the way. Photos, videos, research papers, and whatever it is that you produce during the course of your travel, you must create a backup of it. Major online backup providers do have programs that routinely create backups for you, and they can be set to a time period whichever suits you best. Take advantage of these. This is the beauty of online backups, so long as you are connected to the web, your files always stay protected.

3. Back up your system and other huge files before even traveling. Backing these types of files often takes time to complete, especially around slower connections, and you wouldn't want to do it on travel. Besides, access to AC mains isn't always around, and so you will be often limited by battery capacity constraints. The files you should be backing up while on travel must be somewhat smaller, like pictures and documents, or maybe videos.

Moreover, one important reason on why you should create an online system backup before traveling is that your laptop is exposed to different risks. On travel you would most probably connect to unsecure Wi-Fi hotspots, plug in USBs, and even connect to public networks like internet cafes. Your system is at risk from system attacks. Also, there's the risk of damaging your laptop by physical means. Your laptop itself may survive, but some system files may become corrupt. System malfunctions aren't really rare. And creating a backup can save you big bucks instead of buying a new one.

4. Review your online backup service policies. This has always been your responsibility. Take time to review these policies before travel. They may have certain issues that can be potentially important, like bandwidth requirements or so. This would ensure you know everything and will not be surprised in case something happens.

Expert Steven Menjivar maintains several websites about online storage and online backups. By visiting his website backupreviewz.com you can learn about best online backup provider 2011 and best online backup services 2011.

Solar generators are available that can be used to power a few low-wattage electrical gadgets, either in a home or when spending time outdoors. The basic concept behind their design is easy to grasp, they harness the energy from the sun's rays during the day, and convert this to an electrical current which is stored on a 12 volt battery.

Though the amount of electricity that is available is not enough to power appliances such as a refrigerator, large flat-screen TV, or electrical stove, it is enough to prolong the use of a laptop, fan, cell phone, and a few lights. They are a product which is worth having at hand in case of an emergency or when traveling in an area where there is no mains power.

You may be wondering what the advantages are of a solar generator when compared to one that is fueled by propane, natural gas, diesel, or gasoline. In fact there are many reasons why this type of generator is a more attractive option. In terms of safety, convenience, and accessibility, the green option is definitely the most attractive.

A regular generator can be extremely noisy, and would typically give out a lot of noxious emissions. For this reason, they should be located away from a property, perhaps in an outhouse or shed. As the fuel source of a gasoline or propane powered design is highly combustible, it is vital that they are kept away from heat and other possible sources of ignition. With the green alternative there is no such problem.

As the cost of fossil fuels is rising on a continual basis, running a regular generator can hardly be called cheap. Be under no illusion that the price of fuel will come down in the future, it won't. By switching to a renewable energy powered design, you do not have to worry about the cost of the fuel.

Moreover, in an emergency you would not have to think about where you will get a bottle of propane or a few liters of diesel from. The sun will provide the energy source that you need.

There are solar generator designs that are built for different purposes. For example, if you love to spend time outdoors, perhaps on camping or fishing expeditions, a portable generator can help ensure that you can use a few electrically powered items, such as a set of lights, a radio, and a cell phone. You would not have to worry about the batteries going flat on your camera or other gadgets no matter how long you are in the wilderness for.

Those versions designed specifically for use around the home would be of a larger size than what is meant for taking on camping trips, and would usually offer more power. Before you come to any decision as to which solar generators to consider purchasing, it makes sense to check out as many different options as possible. The more time spent comparing your options, the better chance there would be of choosing a design which is perfect for your needs.

Solar generators are available that can be used to power a few low wattage electrical gadgets, either in a home or when spending time outdoors. Visit us online (http://www.goalzero.com/shop/c/3/)

Which one is better, laptop or desktop computer? Consider all possible choices to be able to select one that best suits your necessities. Understanding all your options when buying an item can be very attractive making good decisions. Familiarity prior to you buying is at all times the best thing!

If you will be using it only for some work or school works, laptop would be a good selection. But if it is for family use, desktop computers are strongly suggested. These days, you have to be practical. It is important to know your requirements and match it with your resources. The following must be considered when purchasing computers: Cost On the whole, laptops are pricier than a similar desktop computer. Tiny components of a laptop will set you back. If you will use it largely for word processing, reporting and meetings, and to do some researches, laptops will be a sensible choice. On the other hand, video games, video editing and desktop publishing necessitate bigger storage capacity and memory, fine quality video and audio cards. Every element will heighten the cost and the mass of the gadget.

Handiness - If you will need computers wherever you go, laptops are the best choice for they are handy. If you lack space at your residence for the gadget, or if your loved ones will likely need to use the computer in various areas, laptops are highly recommended. If you will just leave the computer at home, just get a desktop.

Upgrades and Repairs - Regardless of whether a lot of things can be upgraded or substituted in laptops, it is quicker to complete upgrades and computer repairs in desktop machines. This must be considered as well. As desktop computers' costs set out to lower, it may in fact be more less expensive to buy a hot new machine, as a substitute for trying to adjust an old one by doing several IT solutions. So, if a part of your laptop was damaged or somebody spills drinks on its keyboard, really it is more severe and it will cost you higher than a comparable destruction on a desktop computer. If you have irreverent kids at home, this must be one of your top considerations.

Ergonomics - Ergonomics means pattern and plan of your working area.You will need to analyse if your working area can supply users a comfy and safe environment. In this scenario, quite a few specifications with regards to a computer working area should be mirrored to forestall back pains, strains and many others. For desktop computers, you have to extra space to put your desktop table with a comfy, moving chair. Even if it is really helpful to create a good computer workstation, others would not mind.