Category Archives: Made Simple Group News

Bank Holidays in UK 2008 – 2009: take note of your days off!

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Are you ready for the long weekend? Maybe you’ve forgotten but next Monday is the last Monday in August… so it’s a Bank Holiday! Bank holidays are special public holidays that have been recognised since 1871 as days when banks were closed and that means no trading and no working in banks or offices. However, most museums and other public attractions remain open to profit from these holidays.

But remember, since your virtual office is in England your business will also abide by these dates as holidays regardless of where your post, calls and emails are forwarded to.

Here are the dates for the remaining holidays in 2008 and 2009: update your calendar now!

HOLIDAY DATE
Summer Bank Holiday 25th August 2008
Christmas Day 25th December 2008
Boxing Day 26th December 2008
New Year’s Day 1st January 2009
Good Friday 10th April 2009
Easter Monday 13th April 2009
Early May Bank Holiday 4th May 2009
Spring Bank Holiday 25th May 2009
Summer Bank Holiday 31st August 2009
Christmas Day 25th December 2009
Christmas Bank Holiday 28th December 2009

And now that you know we won’t be answering the phone on Monday, have a browse through some websites to get excursion ideas: for London go to visitlondon.com or if you are feeling more adventurous go to lastminute.com!

Enjoy! and see you next week!

Reports on a fraudulent company…

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It has been brought to our attention that SOS Master Tickets, a company that subscribed to our mail forwarding service are fraudulent, as reported on BBC.com earlier today.

As soon as were made aware of the situation we terminated their service with us and have offered our full cooperation to Islington Council’s Trading Standards.

London Presence acts as an agent for the companies that use our services and is not responsible for any activities of our clients. We pride ourselves in assisting new companies and so abhor any company of this ilk and would like to stress that we do everything we can to ensure all companies dealing with us are fully legitimate. Any company contradicting this will have their services stopped immediately and details handed over to the authorities.

This particular case (SOS claimed to be selling music festival tickets) resonates throughout our office as music is a passion shared amongst us all at London Presence.

If you are made aware of any company operating fraudulently, please do not hesitate to contact Trading Standards.

What is spread-betting?

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Hi there! As the market continues its turbulent trend, prices are uncertain and shares unstable. But if you play the market, you will appreciate the everyday challenges and the opportunity to find a new solution to consolidate and grow your money pot. There are of course no certainties, however when a stock market storm is brewing and you’re still looking for your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the experts say : “Spread bet!”. But what does it mean?

When you play the stock market you buy and sell shares. With spread-betting, you bet on whether shares will go up or down – you don’t buy or sell anything. So you simply designate the price per point and place your bet on whether options will increase or decrease. Easy? Not really, but there are a multitude of options: you decide on the direction, margin, value and stop-loss of the shares on which you are betting. The stop loss is the biggest loss that you can afford, the price that automatically closes out the bet: a real parachute.

Much like the broker who profits from market activity in either direction, the shrewd spreadbetter can also succeed in a troubled economy; “Volatility and falling shares prices are good for us. When shares go down, we are the only game in town,” says Tim Howkins, Boss of IG, Britain’s top spread betting and CFD firm.

For all the non-professionals, we have found one of the best explanations of what spread-betting means here: http://www.financial-spread-betting.com/Spread-bet.html.

And here are 10 things that you should know about spread bet: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/investment/article1305642.ece. Many investors use spread-bets to protect their positions. But the usual risk warnings apply… they are bets and you can win or lose. Just hopefully win.

Olympic Games: top blogs from Beijing 2008

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It’s only two days until the huge opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing before which some 10,500 athletes will compete in more than 300 different events. At the same time a security force of 110, 000 strong has been assigned to the streets and arenas of the capital (including 34,000 troops from the People’s Liberation Army). The Chinese government is watching its guests through 10,000 surveillance cameras installed throughout Beijing, and in turn the rest of the world are watching China through thousands of media crews.

What about us? Which is the best medium to expose the activities in the king of sporting events? Should we switch on the TV? Read the newspaper? Look at the official websites? Or what? Well, at risk of sounding biased, the best way is through blogs!

The 2008 blogs are the best way to explore far worlds and to find out what’s going on through the ordinary eye, devoid of obscured or filtered vision. Blogs are written by real people who lack the agenda of a journalist or a broadcaster, like us – who are keeping you up-to-date on London. And all from in London.

And London is one of the main protagonist of this XXIX Olympic Games, not just because it has a platoon of athletes awaiting at least 40 medals, but more importantly because it will be the next host, for the pearl anniversary in its 30th year.

Chinese and foreigners, organisers, journalists and spectators use the system of a blog to tell us more about what’s going on; the faster way to write and much easier to read. Here are the most read blogs so far from Beijing 2008:

The next appointiment is on Friday 8/8/2008 at 8 o’clock pm (12 am in London) at the Beijing National Stadium or on your favourite blog!

Blogs may turn out to be the solution over the battle of censorship, that still dominates the People’s Republic of China. The concerns on this matter are great: today the Torch feted in Tiananmen, four british tourist have been arrested over the pro-Tibet protest and the journalists from the five continents remain in fear of not being able to do their job. The tailor-made press area may be vast, but a beautifully fitted luxury press-box won’t help the flow of information now will it.

A drink at the Royal Exchange never fails to impress

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In the last few years new market strategies had to be rebuilt on new systems, people are always more in front of their screens, working by theirself. But the passion of the men for the beauty is still the same. Electronic system are innovated every day, and we are always running behind the changing. So we need sometimes a slow break. Men (and women) love beautiful places, delightful drinks, tasty food and good company, also in our fast Century, we shouldn’t forget the importance of meeting people and attending events.

If you are looking for the perfect place to invite your business partners or to organize an event? Here you are one of the most famous and posh place of London to take a drink: the magnificent Royal Exchange Grand Cafe’ and Bar. It’s just a suggestion, an idea to make a great impression to your guests, hosting them in a luxury courtyard with a sophisticated bar in the middle. Invite them at the Royal Exchange and tell them the story of this place and you will get them!

The London Stock Exchange is one of the world’s oldest stock exchanges, its history started in the coffee houses of 17th century London and the first old building, the Royal Exchange, was set up in 1565 by Thomas Gresham, a rich merchant. There, for more than 200 years, stock brokers and jobbers have bought and sold shares, making the financial institution an important piece of history. In 1667, the Great Fire destroyed the building, that was rebuilt by the architect, Edward Jerman, City Surveyor, who looked after the building resembled the old as much as possible. Since 1844 a new building has been opened to host the national Stock Exchange, but the old one has kept on to be a historical monument to the financial importance of the City. In 1991, the building was refurbished a first time, then, in 2001 it was once again remodeled to become the Grand Café of now.

Tea vs Coffee: a never-ending feud

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I don’t drink coffee I take tea my dear – so Sir Sting tells us. And he likes his toast done on one side apparently – funny that. So Sting may have been An Englishman in New York but is the Big Apple as different from the Big Smoke as it used to be? Well, yes but we do seem to have adopted the decidedly American trend of coffee-shop culture. Do we have the TV show Friends to thank for that? We hope not – we prefer to think that it’s because a firm as large as Starbucks decided to explore cosmopolitan London through its multinational population.

But does the Breakfast Tea homeland still prefer drinking tea than coffee? The oldest and most famous coffee chain doesn’t agree. Starbucks doesn’t accept the old English tradition and makes efforts to engage new coffee drinkers. How? With a new coffee experience. For free. Since 1998, when it arrived in UK, the American chain has tried to be an affordable luxury – Starbucks now offers customers free refills!

The future is uncertain, but never give up! Even if the present economic crisis hits your breakfast table. In the last year Starbucks has fired many of its employees in USA and is closing many stores across the world, but as it has to get used the company try to limit the problems. The latest news say that Starbucks will close 600 stores in the United States and 61 (of the 84) in Australia. Also in UK the coffee company has recorded its first loss as a public company, surviving a terrible week, caused by an international halt of revenue growth. Starbucks was one of the most successful businesses of all the world, and it wants to survive to the big economic crisis and save its 670 shops in Britain.

And you can like it or not, love the coffee or not, but Starbucks is a good example of a successful business in times of trouble. We are also here to cover these stories for you – are Londoners rejecting coffee culture now?

Look up to the sky for the solar eclipse

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Today from we can enjoy a rare astronomic phenomenon of a partial solar eclipse. You can find out about it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2008/jul/30/solareclipse

Eyes should look skyward in London at 10.15 am when we will have the best opportunity to see the eclipse, though it is only partial. No dark sky, unfortunately, and the BBC remind us “Don’t forget protective equipment – even in partial eclipse phases – can result in a retinal burn and permanent eye damage. Viewing the sun’s harsh light should only be done through proper solar telescopes or glasses, or through a pinhole projection system”.

Top 10 museums in London

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Let’s start the week with something fun… Here at London presence, we know that most of our clients live outside of London, so here is a guide of the London museums if you are visiting this great city as a tourist. London is the city of business, lifestyle and culture so, after the economic news, here we are the top 10 of the museums, draft by monthly visitors:

Tate Gallery – 6,025,888

The first position is a double position, because it involves two museums: Tate Britain and Tate modern are the home of British art from the sixteenth century to the present day and of international modern and contemporary art. From one side of the river to the other one, they offer collective and individual exhibitions to convey British art, discover new artists and increase public knowledge.

British Museum – 4,492,852

British Museum tells the histories of the world, looking into the past to understand the present and discover the future. It offers a vast display from every country and every age. From Thursday 24th of July to Sunday 26 October 2008 the new major exhibition will be dedicated to the Roman Emperor Hadrian, his life, his emperor and his conflict.

National Gallery – 3,557,839

Fine arts and portraits are kept in the main building of Trafalgar Square: this museum is a great opportunity for every kind of visitors to discover art, through pictures. It offers a permanent collection and few temporary exhibitions (at the moment you shouldn’t miss the Radical Light: Italy’s Divisionist Painters 1891-1910).

Natural History Museum – 3,200,645

Natural History Museum promotes the discovery, understanding and enjoyment of the natural world. Children and adults can explore a landmark buildings and all its secrets about the universe and the human being.

Science Museum – 2,019,931

Science and technology for all the family, this museum offers interactive exhibits – fun for groups and families to see the world in a new and different way.

Victoria & Albert Museum – 1,902,587

This enormous museum is stuffed with different collections broken up into continents of the world that cover all manner of historical artifacts and art works: Architecture, Asia, British Galleries, Ceramics, Childhood, Contemporary, Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories, Furniture, Glass, Metalwork, Paintings & Drawings, Photography, Prints & Books, Sculpture, Textiles and Theatre & Performance.

National Maritime Museum – 1,493,042

This museum dedicated to the sea and to the stars, comprises three sites: The Maritime Galleries, the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House. One huge museum that illustrates to everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people: it is the largest number of visitors of the museum far from the centre and located in Greenwhich.

Imperial War Museum – 690,529

At the moment it offers 2 big exhibitions: For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond (from 17th April 2008 to 1st March 2009) – to celebrate the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth, and From War to Windrush (from 13th June 2008 to 29th March 2009) – to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush in Britain in 1948.

Museum of London – 375,013

This museum found in the Docklands tells the story of the city. At the moment we return to the scene of London’s most infamous crimes of Jack the Ripper and the East End, the first exhibition to explore the Jack the Ripper murders and their enduring legacy.

All museums in London are free (you have to pay to visit the temporary events) and are open 7 days a week. You justneed to plan your visit!

Beijing 2008 – London 2012 : an olympic adventure for everybody

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It’s just 14 days until the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in China. But will Beijing be ready to host the world’s most important sporting event? Half a million visitors are going and all the media of the five continents are watching at the Chinese challenge. Will China be able to amaze the world? London doesn’t miss any detail; it wants to check everything China is doing, because our city will be the next location of the Olympic Games 2012.

It’s just 1463 days until the beginning, just 4 years to create an unforgettable show and to organise the most accessible and participative Games yest. The heart of London 2012 will be the Sport and the city, but the Olympic Games are more than London and more than sport, the main idea is to touch people, inspiring them to do more and to try new things throughout field of sport, culture and business.

London 2012 is a new challenge and a new business opportunity, not only for the committee but for us all. The organization is already working to prepare all the structures, to improve the transport, to plan the celebrations and begin the long wait to the 27th of July 2012 (the start date of the games). The new Olympic Games in the UK will be unbelievable and those 1463 days will be a journey made of cultural and fun events.

On the 24th of August – the day in which the Olympic Games will close in Beijing, a huge free concert – ‘The Visa London 2012 Party’ will be organized for 40,000 people (and broadcast live on BBC One and Radio 2 for everyone else). It will be the first date of a long list that we can’t miss.

But the Olympic Games won’t be just a fun moment; they will be an important opportunity for your business and your career. The main organisation needs help in different fields (from construction, engineering and manufacturing to creative, merchandising and retail), with more than 75,000 business opportunities. Most of them are perfect small and medium sized group (like yours), others are a more professional position – ideal for your career. The keyword is be involved. We will do our best to give you the right suggestions to take all the opportunities and reap all the benefits from this incredible event.

London papers: the battle to win readers

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Yesterday we spoke about the most read news websites, so today we want provide you with all the links to the printed news in London from London. What can be better in the morning than to start your day by reading your paper and drinking your coffee (or tea)?!

First of all we have the free press:

City A.M.

This free paper specialises in financial news and it has been available outside every tube station in central London from Monday to Friday since 2005. It was the first free newspaper to speak solely about financial matters.

London Lite

The famous gossip-based London paper (if that’s your cup of tea)! Pick this one up if you want to hear the latest on Amy Winehouse’s debauched antics- it focusses on entertainment/celebrity news as well as general London news.

The London Paper

Another free newspaper, published everyday from Monday to Friday by the same editor of The Sun and the The Times. It was launched on the 4th of September 2006 to be the first competitor to the Evening Standard- do you think it has succeeded?

Metro

Metro has the largest readership of the urban newspapers. And from the March 1999, when it was created, it has grown so much that it can be considered a publishing phenomenon. Every weekday morning, it counts 1,300,000 copies distribuited across the UK. In succession we have The London Paper and The London Lite with about half the number of copies.

Not for free:

Evening Standard

It was launched in 1827 and it counts more than 260 miles of newsprint every day. It’s published by Associated Newspapers- the same editing group as some of the national papers such as The Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday and Metro.

The London Gazette

This is the oldest English newspaper (it is still only published on weekends) and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United Kingdom. It was first number has been published on the 7th of November 1665.

Beyond London, we have the national newspapers. The prices range from 35p to £2. The Times is the UK’s leading daily newspaper (named by the British Business Survey 2005), it was founded in 1785 and it counts more than 615 miles of print every day. Below is a list of all the national newspapers:

Daily Express
Daily Mail
Daily Star
Financial Times
Guardian
Independent
Mirror
Morning Star
Observer
Sun
Telegraph
Times