Cumbria Blog

Piciscan announce new discounted rates on their photo scanning services.

It’s been a little while now since PiciScan started offering discounts for bulk orders. For customers using our negative scanning and slide scanning services, the points at which the two different discounts offered kicks in has always been the same.

For those just wanting their photos scanning, however, they have had to send in rather more to get the discounts. That is, up until now.

From today onwards, the great discounts offered on the Piciscan photo scanning service are in line with those offered for the slide and negative scanning services.

That is, if you 200 photos are required to be scanned, customers will now receive a discount of 20%. For orders with more of more than 400 photos, customers will receive 40% off. An order of 200 photos previously cost £40.00, and an order for 400 photos £80.00. The new discounted rates however mean a 200 photo scanning order costs just £32 and a 400 photo order only costs £48. That’s a price cut of £8 and £32, respectively!

Why have they done this? Well, to put simply, they are listening to their customers. It is what people have been asking for for a little while, so now they’re doing something about it.

Piciscan digitise slides, photos and negatives using state of the art machines. Slides and negatives are scanned at the stunning resolution of 2400 dpi and photos at 600 dpi and every order comes complete with a personalised disc.

This is not a sale on photo scanning introduced just for Easter, these are the new price points at Piciscan. Visit Piciscan’s website at http://piciscan.co.uk/ for further details on their photo scanning service.

Treeby & Bolton of Keswick, Cumbria are please to announce a special Moorcroft event is being held in their store in June.

On Saturday June 23 2012 between 12noon and 3pm, Kerry Goodwin a Moorcroft Pottery designer will be introducing her special Treeby & Bolton Moorcroft piece Home Town.

Home Town – 99/8 will be retailing at £360 and available from Treeby & Bolton of Keswick.

Hand made in Enlgand, Moorcroft pottery is a delight for collectors or purely as a special gift. Stunning designs, bright and vibrant glazes makes Moorcroft a popular choice amongst pottery lovers. Treeby & Bolton stock a wide range of Moorcroft pottery vases and lamps.

There are some important factors to consider before installation of a woodburning and multifuel stove.

What do I do first if I plan to fit a new stove?
If you planning to use an existing chimney it is recommended that you first have a ‘NACS’ registered sweep to sweep it. At the same time they will inspect and test your chimney to ensure that it draws and it doesn’t leak. Your installer will then be able to decide if your chimney needs re-lining.

What Size Stove Do I Need To Heat My Room?
There are two elements to consider when choosing your stove:
1) Physical Dimensions – Is there enough room for the stove to function and conform to building regulations.
2) Output – Do you have the right amount of heat for the room?

Height
You should ensure the top of the stove is around 22″ from any combustible material such as wooden lintels or beams. It is wise to check with the manufacturer of the stove you are interested in as the distanced advised may vary. If the top flue outlet is used, he height listed does not include the flue collar.

Width
Check that the stove will fit in the narrowest width of your fireplace if you are using one. If you decide on an inglenook, it is recommended that you have at least 150mm (6″) space either side of the appliance, although slightly for smaller output Morso stoves this may be reduced. This is not a building regulation, but is necessary for the heat from the sides of the stove to enter the room and to protect against heat build up.
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Since 1966, First in Service Ltd has been helping customers all over the UK look after their building and its environment. This includes air conditioning servicing, heating service, ventilation, electrical, catering, coffee and refrigeration equipment and building services.

First in Service will design and install air conditioning and ventilation systems, and electrical equipment and installations. Their helpdesk is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call. Their planned, preventative maintenance contracts are available across all disciplines to ensure that your equipment is kept in peak condition. All our Engineers are employed by the company and are CRB checked.

If you are looking to save energy or utility costs within your business First in Service can help you by installing energy/utilities meters, and they can assist in your application for an interest free loan from the Carbon Trust to help you install new equipment that will save energy.

For more information about First in Service, or any of their servicing, installation and maintenance services please visit www.firstinservice.co.uk.

Invoice Finance has become the most popular choice for small, medium and large businesses to fund their working capital. It is easy and hassle free to set up with the Financial Institution taking the companies invoices and debt ledger as direct security.

It is one of the most effective and flexible funding methods available, as the facility grows with your business. Additional features can be added including customer credit checking, credit control management and debt protection.

Invoice Finance is the term given to a range of services designed to provide working capital and improved cash flow by advancing finance against newly generated unpaid invoices. It is a great way to provide flexible working capital as the finance facility has the ability to grow with the sales of your business; there are two main Invoice Finance products.

Invoice Factoring has the ability to advance up to 95% of the unpaid invoice value. The credit control is normally undertaken by the Financial Institution offering the facility but a few providers offer the option for the business to carry out their own debt collection process to reduce costs for this part of the service.

It allows your business to advance funds on invoices waiting to be paid by your customers which as you probably already know in the current climate can take some time and can represent up to two or three months sales depending on your credit terms. This means you can unlock precious working capital to fund new orders, business expansion or mergers and acquisitions, while the finance provider controls the sales ledger and collects all the outstanding debts on behalf of the company.

Invoice Discounting allows your business to raise up to 90% of outstanding invoice values immediately similar to Factoring but you remain in complete control of the collection of any outstanding debts from your customers. The invoice discounting facility is completely confidential between your business and the provider and is not disclosed to any other party, giving you peace of mind that your customers will be none the wiser.

The Key Benefits to Invoice Finance

•Immediate access to up to 95% of unpaid invoice values
•Improved cash flow for the business
•Free up working capital to reinvest and grow the business
•Allows you to get on with running the business
•Provides access to credit facilities and credit control management
While the high street banks are restricting financing for business loans and overdrafts, invoice finances two main products – invoice factoring and invoice discounting will continue to fill this cash flow need and ultimately expand or replace the banks role with SME and Corporate business finance.

For more information regarding invoice finance please visit www.sgdfinancial.co.uk

It’s getting to the time in the year when people are starting to think about Christmas. Where to spend it, what to do?

So, think Winter, think cosy fireside snugs, think Lake District Christmas breaks. Whether it’s for a works party for the night or to an organised Christmas hotel break, the Lake District is the destination of choice for the festive period.

With such a choice of high quality Lake District hotels offering Christmas hotel breaks, it isn’t hard to understand why so many people choose to spend their Christmas in the Lake District. What could be better than being able to walk off that Christmas dinner with a walk up one of the many Lake District fells. For those who aren’t quite as energetic, purely taking in the spectacular views is an activity in itself.

What Cumbria and the Lake District has that really makes a great Christmas is the high quality local foods and produce. The Lake District has some of the best meat in the country as well as chefs with skill and flair to make the most of it. With the area attracting some of the best chefs in the country, Christmas couldn’t be better.
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The Plough at Lupton has been on its spot since 1760ish, longer than some if not as long as others, and the Inn catered for travellers as a rest stop, just before the turnpike at Cow Brow, on the main road between Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal. As we are just off Junction 36 of the M6, it still does just that; you don’t have to pay a toll at the cottage any more, but the beer prices have gone up a bit.

The road side location is an enviable one, not just from a business point of view, but also for the views of Farleton Knott. An ancient local landmark, the Knott was once a beacon hill used to send warning of “Scottish irruptions”. Now the Scots are a bit less volatile, the Knott serves as a good challenge for walkers, fell runners and mountain bikers, with stunning Lakeland and Lune Valley views.

The Farleton district is mainly a farming community, and The Plough b&b Kirkby Lonsdale once hosted events and competitions for the local Ploughing Association, which were considered a big thing round here ….well we are talking 1849.
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Formed in 1991, Electrical Testers are one of the leading companies in the UK. Offering full National Coverage they also regularly cover Northern Ireland, Eire and Central Europe. Their electrical services include PAT testing, fire alarm testing, emergency lighting testing and fixed wire testing.

Directly employing only fully qualified electricians, they offer a level of technical capability and service which is unparalleled in the Industry.

With continued growth over the last decade, the company is rated as an exceptional performer by industry analysts.

Electrical Testers have the culture, people and systems to provide the ultimate service.

UK Health & Safety legislation is extensive and requires that whatever your activity, you must provide a safe environment for your staff and your customers.

The services provided by Electrical Testers Ltd are designed to comply with a variety of legislation, regulations and British Standards.

Although not exhaustive, most of the relevant regulations and standards are listed below:

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 PAT Testing

BS5839:Pt1:2002 – Fire Alarm Inspection & Testing
BS5266:Pt1:1999 – Emergency Lighting Inspection & Testing
BS7671:2008 – Periodic Inspection of Fixed Installations
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – Fire Risk Assessments

Citypadz, one of the north east’s leading property letting agents, has revamped its online marketing strategy.

The new marketing strategy has been as part of a strategic move to raise their profile with audiences across the region and in the rest of the UK.
The agency’s revitalised marketing approach has seen it redesign its website to improve reader experience and included the development of a presence across social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

These changes reflect the organic growth of the company over the last year, which has seen it expand its property portfolio to cater to the whole of the North East. Running alongside this the team at Citypadz has seen an increase in contracts for investors and landlords based out of the region as well as working with corporate companies and individuals on relocation packages.

Citypadz, managing director Mike Brown said: “As we grow our reach across the region and beyond it is critical that we have a website that is easily accessible and a good source of information.

“Our properties are already linked to all the major property portals including rightmove.co.uk and findaproperty.co.uk, but with the explosion of social media over the last few years, we felt it was important to strengthen our online presence and engage with customers on a number of different levels.”
The new site provides a platform for users to search for properties as well as providing a wealth of advice and guidance on legal and logistical issues to prospective tenants and new landlords.

Citypadz Newcastle lettings has not, however, forgotten its existing customers. A new interactive ‘live chat’ function has been incorporated into the site to ensure that maintenance issues can be dealt with in real time.

Mike continued: “We are really pleased with our new website, which now adequately reflects our position in the market and offers a good baseline from which to raise our brand profile.

“It is an exciting time at Citypadz as we grow our services and focus expansion.”

Kino Creative was brought on board to redesign and develop the site.

To browse the new website of Citypadz the Newcastle lettings agents, visit http://www.citypadz.com

Right, so now you have your accommodation sorted in one of the great hostels in Cork city centre, or Dublin, what else would you like to do?

This is where Celtic Budget Accommodation Hostels really excel over their competitors with a trip planning service that gives you lots of options on things to do in Dublin or Cork.

We’ll take care of everything so that you can get on with your break without any of the hassle of organising things to do in Dublin or in Cork. And, because they have fantastic city centre locations, you’ll never be too far from everything.

Celtic Group hostels planning and booking service is completely FREE OF CHARGE for groups staying with them and they have years of experience in making memorable stays for groups just like yours.

They will help to arrange:

* Coaching Services – Airport Transfers / Day Trips / Event transfers sports/music etc
* Meal Booking Services -  Upgraded breakfasts/dinners / packed lunches / Irish Music & dinner shows
* Visitor Attraction Services – Guaranteed entry to all of Dublin and Cork’s top attractions
* Guiding Services – Airport meet & greet/walking tours/coach trips / specialists guiding for study visits
* Irish Experiences – From Irish dancing lessons to learning to play our national sport of hurling.
* Specialised Programmes – English Language tuition / Study programmes on Irish History & Culture.

Make your group trip the most enjoyable ever!

Need Ideas?
Not sure what you want to do yet? Then take a look at Celtic Group Hostels things to do section for tried and tested group favourites. These are the attractions and activities in Dublin and Cork that previous groups have said they liked the most. You will also find some useful planning tips here.

Decoy luxury holiday homes Ireland are delighted to announce the opening of a new day spa Revive. Together with their therapist Barabra, they hope to bring visitors the ultimate in treatment experience whether it is a luxury facial or body treatment or one of their routine grooming treatments. Revive use Dermalogica products for all their treatments as they believe their approach to product development is both revolutionary and visionary.

Revive is now offering Botox and Collagen treatments – why not leave Decoy Country Cottages looking totally relaxed. Phone Paula on 086 8040614 to enquire about this service.

To view the current brochure please visit http://www.decoycountrycottages.ie/uploads/file/Revive%20Day%20Spa%20Brochure.pdf

If you are staying with Decoy country please be sure book your treatment early to avoid disappointment.

To book an appointment, please call 046 9026960.

Sock Sock is the home of great 1000 Mile socks. They stock a wide range of mens, ladies and childrens 1000 Mile walking socks including 1000 Mile mountain bike socks which are made from the new Wool Ultra® material which is lighter than conventional wool, it has superior wicking qualities resulting in 30% faster drying and helps to combat odours.

Dee began her career as a graphic designer working in design studios for over 10 years. She began printmaking 3 years ago and is now a full time print maker hand printing all her own work from her small printmaking studio in the Peak District Derbyshire.

Many things including nature, animals and plant forms inspire her work. She also loves the pattern and colour of vintage Scandinavian folk art that is often reflected in her work.

At the moment most of her prints are produced on a Japanese Print Gocco. Print Gocco is small self-contained tabletop screen-printing machine first produced in Japan in the 1970s. The process is very similar to screen-printing and at one time a Print Gocco was found in most Japanese homes.

Dee has exhibited in a small selection of UK galleries and currently has a selection of her prints published on note cards by Attic Art Publishing London.

Design Supremo supply limited edition prints, wall art including art posters. Buy cutting-edge contemporary design, illustration & photography from Design Supremo.

Cockermouth, one of the most attractive market towns in Cumbria, sits along the River Derwent eight miles from Keswick.

Set at the confluence of the rivers Cocker and Derwent, Cockermouth is a quaint market town, which although dates back to medieval era the main period of growth was during the Georgian period of the early eighteenth century.

The town is eight miles north-west of Keswick hosts a number galleries, river walks and places of historical interest. Cockermouth is the birth place of poet William Wordsworth.

This gem of a town with ample galleries, river walks and historic Cockermouth Castle. Lots of pubs, specialist shopping and restaurants. Close to Bassenthwaite Lake there are so many other things to do and see in Cockermouth, making it the perfect family location but equally as suited for a romantic weekend. Cockermouth also does not suffer overcrowding of some of the more central Lake District towns and has a choice of Cumbria self catering properties.

In addition to the galleries and places of historical interest the town has a range of traditional stores and some more popular national stores. The town also has a large number of bars and restaurants, many of which are located on the newly re-developed Market Place and Main Street.

An interesting way to explore the town is the Cockermouth Trail. The trail takes you around a fascinating walk through the town’s history, exploring nineteen of the famous landmarks and some lesser known landmarks of the town. Maps can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre.

As the main period of growth for Cockermouth was during the Georgian period much of the road layout and buildings were developed during this time; with a great number of buildings retaining their original features, each year to celebrate the Georgian influence, the town holds a Georgian Fair.

The River Derwent flows behind the Main Street and Wordsworth House. There are pleasant footpaths and seats along the banks of the make for a delightful walk along the river. There is also a large car park next to the river with access into the Memorial Gardens and over the bridge into the Main Street. The river can be flowed into the brewery and then into Market Place.

Cockermouth has a number of popular visitor attractions such as: Wordsworth House, The Sheep and Wool Centre, the Castlegate House Gallery, the Kirkgate Centre and Jennings Brewery; which produces ‘real ale’ and has been located in the town centre since 1828. Visitors can also take a guided tour of the brewing facilities and discover more information about this 175 year old process and even sample and take home the finished product from their on-site shop.

All of this makes Cockermouth the ideal place for both a quiet and relaxing Cumbria cottages break and a hectic sight-seeing holiday. Choose from self catering properties including Cumbrian cottages to apartments, lodges and town houses.

Since 1966, First in Service Ltd has been helping customers all over the UK look after their building and its environment. This includes air conditioning servicing, heating, ventilation, electrical, catering, coffee and refrigeration equipment and building services.

First in Service will design and install air conditioning and ventilation systems, and electrical equipment and installations. Their helpdesk is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call. Their planned, preventative maintenance contracts are available across all disciplines to ensure that your equipment is kept in peak condition. All our Engineers are employed by the company and are CRB checked.

If you are looking to save energy or utility costs within your business First in Service can help you by installing energy/utilities meters, and they can assist in your application for an interest free loan from the Carbon Trust to help you install new equipment that will save energy.

For more information about First in Service, or any of their servicing, installation and maintenance services please visit www.firstinservice.co.uk.

The Acolyte Home & Gifts VAT free amnesty on their shabby chic furniture range must end on July 31st 2011.

The VAT free saving on the Acolyte Home & Gifts latest range of shabby chic furniture has been running throughout June and July. Eliminating VAT creates a huge saving especially for larger purchases such as furniture. This VAT free amnesty must end on July 31st 2011 so it really is a worthwhile time to spruce up an interior without breaking the bank.

The latest addition from Acolyte is their shabby chic furniture range. Comprising of wardrobes through to chairs and bedside cabinets, this highly desirable and sort after furniture trend is anticipated to be a huge hit. Having started off with a few pieces, the popularity has grown and there is a now a dedicated shabby chic furniture section on the Acolyte Home & Gifts website.

Shabby Chic is a term used to describe usually new furniture that has been given an antique /distressed finish, it`s usually painted although not always. The end result is that it looks like it will have been in the family for generations – a modern heirloom in other words. Suiting both modern and traditional interiors and architecture, it isn’t hard to understand why this look is highly desired at the moment.

The team at Acolyte have, for many years, enjoyed seeking and finding unusual items both for their own home, and as gifts for family and friends. Now that it is possible to source products that at one time would have been seen as specialist or exclusive due to their location, Acolyte are able through their extensive network of contacts to offer an impressively wide choice to customers including Gisela Graham products and oak bookcases.

Acolyte is an ethical company. The brainchild behind Acolyte Home & Gifts Barbara Adams, explains their concept: “We ensure that the products we offer are produced from sustainable sources and that our suppliers` employees are treated with dignity, respect and are paid fairly. We believe that our suppliers not only meet these exacting requirements, but offer products that are unique in the marketplace and stand out in terms of quality.”

To view the full shabby chic furniture range and to take advantage of the VAT free amnesty, visit http://www.acolytehomeandgifts.com/shop/category/141/Shabby-Chic/

PiciScan, based in Kendal is an independent negative, slide and photo scanning service, working for customers throughout the UK.

Do you have a large number of photographs, tucked away in cupboards, the loft or just piled up somewhere? Do you have slides that you barely look at any more? Perhaps you have negatives tidied away in envelopes that you’re no longer sure what they are. Or maybe you have precious memories kept on home videos that are beginning to show signs of wear.

PiciScan can help! We scan all sizes of photograph up to A4 and all sizes of mounted slide and photographic negative. We also convert a variety of different video formats to DVD, including the transfer of VHS to DVD.

Just call 01539 741418 or visit our online scanning service shop to order your scanning directly.

What you can expect from PiciScan:

* Personal, friendly and helpful service.
* High resolution scans carried out by hand with colour correction.
* Free return delivery on all orders to mainland UK.
* Free secure courier, home collection service on all orders over £45.
* Every order comes with a DVD, personalised with your choice of text and image.

Preserve your memories today.

Week off work…check, beautiful vistas required, the English Lake District…check, want to see as much as possible, camper van…check!

With such vast, varied and breathtaking scenery as in the Lake District, it is far too difficult a task choosing one destination for a holiday or short break. Great driving roads+breathtaking scenery=the perfect recipe for camper vans.

Camper vans give you:
The opportunity to visit and experience numerous locations in one trip.
Give you the freedom to stop off when and where you like and for what duration.
No need to worry about there not being a hotel or guest house available in the area.
You are protected from the elements unlike camping.

You’ll never tire of driving on the roads in the Lake District and Cumbria which has some of the most scenic roads in England. In particular, Hartside Pass which The AA and Top Gear list in their top 10 driving roads in England. Other great driving roads include the Kirkstone Pass, the A591 which passes through Ambleside, Grasmere and onto Keswick and not for the faint hearted Hardnott and Wrynose passes.
VW camper vans are particularly suited to the roads in the Lake District. They are compact and allow you to drive on the stunning, narrow roads which other, larger camper van and mobile homes would not be able to.

Camper vans have seen a renaissance in recent years both in terms of new camper vans and mobile homes but especially the popularity of the classic VW camper van. Their iconic status continues to grow and excite young and old. Driving around in the VW camper van is guaranteed to turn heads and makes a holiday even more special.

A mobile holiday is the ultimate in economical holidaying. The cost of parking up on a camping or caravanning site is nominal and sometimes areas can be found that are free. You can self cater as much of the meals as you wish although the Lake District has some fantastic eating houses that really should be visited.

Many people simply can’t justify purchasing a VW camper van for themselves due to lack of annual leave and other commitments. A camper van has to be used regularly both for economy and for the wellbeing of the van. The perfect solution is in the form of hiring. VW camper van hire is now available in the Lake District and enables those who want to experience a camper van holiday but that do not want to purchase one. Volkswagen camper van hire is also great for those thinking of purchasing a van to gain knowledge of driving one. Camper van hire in the UK, sorted.

With another year of very successful Easter and Whitsun holiday periods, the English Lake District has further broadened its appeal.

With the fells to bursting point with seasoned walkers and newbie’s alike, the beauty of this region is truly being appreciated. Cumbria was also extremely lucky and to have been given the destination for hosting the Radio 1 Big Weekend in May. The value to the tourism industry in Cumbria was thought to be somewhere in the region of £3 million to £4 million during the 3 day weekend and for many visitors, their first experience of this beautiful county.

It’s the little things that are contributing to the Lake District appeal. For food lovers then the local produce in Cumbria the Lake District is hard to beat. Cumberland sausage gaining its protected status has further cemented this region on the culinary map. With Cumbrian produce being popular in London such as at Borough Market to orders being placed by Japanese companies for the famous Grasmere Gingerbread and Hawkshead Relish. Chefs in many of the hotels in the Lake District have been resurrecting traditional Lakeland dishes and using as much local produce as possible on their menus. The for real ale fans, Cumbria and the Lake District has the highest concentration of micro breweries in the country.

The outdoors and walking is paradise for dog owners. The Lake District is geared up for dogs with the endless walking routes but also many pubs and other establishments being dog and pet friendly. There is now a very good choice of dog friendly hotels in the Lake District. Not every dog owner likes self catering holidays or like having to put their dog into a kennel. Dog friendly hotels suit both the dog and its owner.

For the more adventurous then the award winning Honister Slate Mine is a must. Being shortlisted for the prestigious Cumbria Tourism Awards 2011. Not only is it a working slate mine with visitor centre and cafe but also the one of a kind Via Ferrata experience as well. Over looking one of the most beautiful valleys in the Lake District, the Borrowdale valley, the Via ferrate experience takes place 2126 feet up Fleetwith Pike. It enables visitors to experience the thrills and stunning views usually only seen by climbers. Visitors to this attraction are then lucky enough to have the choice of staying in some of the best Lake District hotels as well.

So, Cumbria and the Lake District is really leading the way in tourism in this country. It is moving with the times, enabling visitors to try out diverse activities and experiences and caters for adventurists, romantic weekends, family holidays, dog and pet owners and even business trips in Lake District hotels. At the end of the day, this region is blessed with some of the most stunning scenery in the UK and that is primarily why so many people choose the Lake District as their holiday destiantion.

Cypher Digital Imaging, the Cumbria based design and print agency, is pleased to announce new lower prices on replacement banner and exhibition stand panels.

Clients with an existing popup display banner or exhibition stand can now take advantage of a replacement panel service. Outdated details and graphics are unacceptable when attending a show or exhibition. Updating an existing banner system will save money and considerably cuts down on wasted materials. Cypher will design and print replacements to fit into an existing system and even service and repair the system should it be required. With tough economic times for businesses and with many choosing to conduct their business practices in a more eco friendly way, this replacement service from Cypher Digital Imaging is the way forward without compromising on the most important part of an exhibition stand, the look and quality.

Replacement prices are as follows:
•    Full set of 5 panels for a 3×3 popup (3 front and 2 curved ends) ONLY £365.00+VAT
•    Full set of 5 panels PLUS a case wrap for ONLY £399.00+VAT
•    Set of 3 front panels for a 3×3 popup ONLY £225.00+VAT
•    Single panel ONLY £92.50+VAT

Cypher Digital Imaging has been at the forefront of digital print for over 16 years. The company was originally started as an imagesetting bureau department within a local Applecentre in 1990. After a period of rapid expansion the department was purchased in a management buyout by husband and wife team Paul and Sue Calland in January 1995. The number of staff has steadily grown over the years and now has a vast range of complementary skills in all fields of design, digital artwork production and print, as well as more diverse specialities such as vehicle wrapping, web site production and programming.

For more information on the replacement banner stands and exhibition stands service available from Cypher and for more information on the latest systems including Linx Modular and T3 Airframe, visit http://www.cypherdigital.co.uk

Childs and Co is a design and make studio based in the historic market town of Kendal in the Lake District, Cumbria.

Specialising in functional solid wood furniture for the home, colourful and child friendly children’s furniture including toy storage products such as childrens toy boxes. Their home furniture product range includes breadboards, wooden platters, pegboard and footstool products, tables and ottoman products. In addition to the stylish product range Childs and Co also commission and produce one off pieces tailored to your personal needs and taste.

Using predominantly local materials, Childs and Co furniture and products are renowned for their clean lines, durability and sustainability. In traditional or contemporary styles, Childs and Co furniture and accessories are designed for you and your home.

Choose from the existing product line or call for a bespoke solution, and be comfortable in the knowledge a Childs and Co piece will add a statement to your home.

The Westmorland Hotel is one of the most special Lake District wedding venues, surrounded by stunning Cumbrian fell views.

In 2009 the hotel beat off tough competition to be named a finalist for Cumbria Tourism’s Small Hotel of the Year.  The AA 3 star hotel has been awarded  an AA Rosette for the quality of food for over 10 years and by using our menu selector you can choose your very own menu at a price to suit your budget.  Our 50 contemporary bedrooms, including four Junior Suites are perfect for your guests to fall into after a day full of excitement.

From a small civil ceremony to exclusive use of the whole hotel, we welcome the opportunity to make this wonderful day truly memorable for you, your family and invited guests.

A romantic wedding day at The Westmorland Hotel includes:

• A dedicated wedding co-ordinator and team of staff working together to turn your wedding day dreams into reality.
• A red carpet welcome
• Complimentary welcome drink for the Bride & Groom
• Table decorations and personalised menu cards
• Crisp white table linen and napkins
• Master of ceremonies
• A traditional or contemporary cake stand
• Complimentary accommodation for the Bride & Groom on the night of your wedding to include a delicious Cumbrian breakfast the following morning
• Special accommodation rates for your guests *dependent on the time of year

To request a brochure, or for more information please contact our wedding co-ordinator Becky Bell by email or telephone 015396 24351.

Purchasing holiday property is on the up in the UK with a wider choice of property including caravans and lodges.
Devon is an excellent location for buying a holiday property. The choice of the different property types and locations are varied and it is a destination that never gets boring. The North Devon coast especially is beautiful, most is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the amount of activities on offer can entertain even the fussiest of children.

Of course, surfing is a large draw to this area. The beaches of Woolacombe, Saunton and Croyde are always full of surfers in the summer months but even out of season. The mild climate in the south of the UK means Devon can be visited out of the normal holiday’s seasons with very pleasant weather conditions. In surfing terms, it is often the slightly wilder and duller days that produce the best surf.

The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or AONB, was given this designation in 1959. The North Devon AONB is an area totalling 171 square kilometres, from Marsland Mouth on the Cornish border to Combe Martin. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status means the area is nationally protected for the beauty of its landscape. The coastal landscape around Combe Martin is some of the best in the UK. From Combe Martin, the Hangman Cliffs can be seen made up of two cliffs Little Hangman and Great Hangman. Great Hangman is the highest cliff in southern Britain at a height of 328 meters above sea level.

The countryside is splendid with plenty of walks for the less adventurous walking along the miles of beaches is really quite a spectacle. Then just a short drive away in the large town of Barnstaple. It is in Barnstaple that many self catering holiday makers will visit to stock up on food and other supplies being the largest town in the area. It is now far easier to access both from north Devon and the M5 by the new bypass which opened in 2007. Previous to the bypass being constructed, congestion was a large problem, especially is the height of summer. The market in Barnstaple is found on a Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and has stalls selling all the fantastic local produce available in this highly fertile area.

By visiting larger towns such as Barnstaple, self catering holidays can be kept as cheap as possible. Static caravans and lodges have large freezers and fridges which can be stocked up for the week, 2 or 3 weeks. Especially is terms of a family holiday, food can be a large chunk of the holiday budget. Keeping these costs to a minimum without compromising on quality is the key. The abundance of beaches makes a family holiday in North Devon a very cost effective holiday. Surfing, waling, other water sports or simply just sunbathing couldn’t be cheaper activities.

When purchasing a static caravan or Devon holiday homes from an established caravan site you get peace of mind that the security of your home as the resort will provide a range of security and maintenance services including a private access controlled entrance to ensure your investment is protected all year round. In keeping with such a luxury investment, you will not be responsible for chores such as grass cutting and ground care around your lodge. These tasks will all be taken care of for you so that you are free to relax and make the best of your holiday time.

Modern touring caravans such as Bailey, Sprite and Lunar Caravans and holiday lodges come with better specifications than a lot of houses with broadband, sky TV, spacious plots, large decked areas, paved courtyards and all year round holiday use. Better still on some of the top Devon resorts you will also be able to make use of the onsite facilities such as heated indoor swimming pools, golf courses and equestrian centres.

Choose Clean Around the Bend for Septic Tank cleaning using Biobug SEP, the environmentally friendly Septic Treatment additive.
All of their products are made with environmentally friendly and naturally occurring biological microbes.
They are designed to help you clean your home and keep it smelling fresh.
If you have a touring caravan, a motor home, a mobile home, a boat or a second home Clean around the Bend can help you keep them fresh and clean too.
There are products to keep your drains clean and running freely; to maintain your septic tank; and to improve your compost heap.
And products for Hotels, Cafes, and B&B’s including grease trap cleaner products.
It’s not just drains that cause funny smells in the home, so do some pets. Clean around the Ben have products to help with those too.

Choosing a hotel that excels with its cuisine is getting more and more popular. The combination of high quality accommodation and food is the perfect recipe.

Windermere in the English Lake District is a destination for many foodies. The rich landscape and plethora of artisan produces and suppliers makes for the perfect combination for those wishing to combine a scenic holiday with fine dining.

The beautiful scenery doesn’t just entice guests but also high quality chefs. With chefs working in Windermere hotels that have worked under some of the best chefs in the United Kingdom and in some of most high profile restaurants, it isn’t hard to imagine how good some of the food is in the Lake District.

Many hotels in Windermere with restaurants are combining the latest culinary techniques with locally sourced produce to create show stopping dishes that guests from all over the world are impressed by. For guests from further afield, the ability to experience local produce to the Lake District area, whether that be cheese, air dried ham to rival any prosciutto or Cumberland sausage is a real treat.

In terms of meat production, the Lake District has some of the best quality beef and lamb found anywhere in the UK. For chefs in Windermere hotels it is heaven and why some of the best restaurants in the Good Food Guide and have been for many years.

For many visitors, having the luxury of being able to get ready for dinner and know that downstairs, high quality dining is on offer is highly exciting. No need to hunt around for a restaurant to go to. Do they have a table? What will it be like? Do we need a taxi? Leisure, luxury and first class service is always on offer in the finest Windermere hotel restaurants.

To add to the already long list of Windermere’s attributes and lures comes luxury. Windermere has some of the most stunning buildings with many of the larger residences being luxury hotels. In recent years, some of the luxury hotels have taken their attention to detail to another level. They have refurbished, redesigned, added on, decorated and paid even more attention to detail than before. Windermere now has some of the best hotels in the country and more than rival some of the famous hotels in the south of England.

So you really can have it all when staying in Windermere hotels. The scenery, walking, relaxation and for foodies, some of the best cuisine in the United Kingdom.

The Lakeland Cottage Company is pleased to announce a price freeze for 2012 bookings taken in June.

A cool and tempting offer has arisen at the Lakeland Cottage Company. Book a holiday or short break in one of the Lakeland Cottage Company’s portfolio of luxury cottages and receive the benefit of prices frozen at the 2011 FRP.

Whether it is for a romantic weekend in autumn or winter or a main summer holiday, the price freeze offer benefits any early birds out there. With rising costs in labour, taxes and goods, increased costs for self catering property owners are unavoidable. However, many understand that a reward and a thank you must go to those guests who book in advance.

Having some of the highest quality Lake District cottages on offer, the Lakeland Cottage Company are leading the way in luxury self catering accommodation. For even greater confidence in making a reservation, all of their properties are inspected by Visit England, the UK official accommodation quality and standards organisation with many being 5 star gold award properties. A choice of some 85 Lake District cottages of varying sizes and in unrivalled locations are further reasons why the Lakeland Cottage Company are at the forefront of self catering agencies in this region.

This offer may not be used in conjunction with other offers or incentives the Lakeland Cottage Company may be publicising, nor applied to any reservation already made and confirmed prior to publication of offers, or after the period of the offer date. The Lakeland Cottage Company and or the owners of individual properties reserve the right to remove the offer at any time, or to extend or revise the offer beyond any dates published on this website, any amendments or changes cannot be used against reservations already made and confirmed.

To browse the Lake District cottages on offer and take advantage of the special price freeze offer, visit http://www.lakeland-cottage-company.co.uk/

Pre-owned modular buildings have been recognised by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as being extremely environmentally friendly compared with an equivalent new manufactured building.

The reason for this is that the embodied energy required to manufacture a modular building is transportable as the embodied energy is locked within the fabric of the building. Therefore the energy contained within pre-owned modular buildings can be transported and relocated to another site. In traditional buildings this is largely lost when they are no longer required and demolished, even when the materials are re-cycled. However, with modular and portable buildings the embodied energy can be relocated along with the modules to another site.

Where a modular or portable building is relocated, with minimal alteration, the amount of energy used is less than three percent of the energy that would be required to manufacture an equivalent new building. Even when the modular building is refurbished and reconfigured internally, the energy used is no more than ten percent of the energy that would be required to create a new modular building.

The Modular and Portable Buildings Association has produced an energy performance standards document (ADL-2A) which provides supporting information and guidelines for compliance with the Government’s special considerations relating to the design and construction of modular and portable buildings.
So buying a quality pre-owned modular building not only saves you money and is an immediate solution to your accommodation needs, but it also makes a difference to the environment by recycling the embodied energy contained within the building.

Modular and portable buildings come in all different sizes including multi-story they can be used for such a wide variety of functions including mobile classrooms, temporary offices, construction site accommodation and portable storage buildings.

Acolyte Home & Gifts are pleased to announce the full launch of their website and online business.

Operating from the Georgian town of Whitehaven in Cumbria, Acolyte Home & Gifts specialises in unusual and unique items for the home including solid wood furniture from the Kudos and Mobel ranges along with gifts from the European design company, Gisela Graham.

The team at Acolyte have, for many years, enjoyed seeking and finding unusual items both for their own home, and as gifts for family and friends. Now that it is possible to source products that at one time would have been seen as specialist or exclusive due to their location, Acolyte are able through their extensive network of contacts to offer an impressively wide choice to customers.

Acolyte is an ethical company. The brainchild behind Acolyte Home & Gifts Barbara Adams, explains their concept:
“We ensure that the products we offer are produced from sustainable sources and that our suppliers` employees are treated with dignity, respect and are paid fairly. We believe that our suppliers not only meet these exacting requirements, but offer products that are unique in the marketplace and stand out in terms of quality.”

In addition to ensuring that their products are ethically sourced, the Acolyte team also supports a number of charities including The Friends of the Samaritans of West Cumbria and The Dogs Trust. Details of these charities and the work that they do can be found on the Charities page of the website.

For more information on Acolyte collections including Gisela Graham products, Mactan Stone Furniture, oak bookcases and dog treat gifts, visit http://www.acolytehomeandgifts.com/

The Castle Inn Hotel Bassenthwaite are pleased to announce the hosting of a special murder mystery evening.

Saturday 8th October 2011 will see murder at The Castle Inn in the form of a murder mystery evening. Picture the setting, its 1928 and you have been cordially invited to attend the wedding reception of Georgina-Willoughby-Mott to Binky Brinkley in the grand Best Western Castle Inn Hotel. But alas this special occasion takes a turn for the worst when traces of death linger in the air. Can you solve the Murder at the Castle?

Come and join the team at The Castle Inn Hotel Keswick for an evening of love, laughter and mysterious goings on. The evening includes a delicious three course wedding breakfast, a complimentary glass of bucks fizz and canapés and entertainment supplied by Murder Most Horrid and all for only £34.00 per person.

Should attendees wish to make a night of it and stay over at The Castle Inn Hotel Lake District then a special rate of only £50.00 per person per bed and breakfast is being offered.

Set overlooking some of England’s highest fells and Bassenthwaite Lake, the Castle Inn Hotels Lake District is in a beautiful location, just 8 miles from Keswick. Ideally situated for those wishing to explore Bassenthwaite, Keswick and the Lake District, the Best Western Castle Inn Hotel is one of the finest Lake District Hotels offering a warm welcome and the ideal location for relaxing after a busy day discovering the beauties of the Lake District.

Booking is essential for murder mystery evening so please call the Castle Inn events team on 017687 76401 or visit http://www.castleinncumbria.co.uk. Be very careful who you trust!

Industrial Air Power Ltd is the authorised distributor for Ingersoll Rand Industrial Technologies products throughout Wales and the South West of England. The two companies have made a dramatic shift from being suppliers of equipment to providers of solutions. We are fully conversant with all aspects of air generation and equipped to carry out energy audits on any installed system, regardless of size or manufacturer.

A full system audit includes leak detection, measurement of energy consumption, and flow measurement including pressure, temperature and final air quality.

As utility rates continue to rise and firms continue to look to green initiatives, energy consumption has become a growing concern for manufacturers.

One of the largest energy users within a plant is the compressed air system. Energy recovery provides a cost-effective way for manufacturers to reduce their energy bills while simultaneously benefiting the environment by capturing the thermal energy created through the compression process and putting it to work. Where the heat produced from a compressor can be fully utilised, simple payback periods of less than two years are frequently achieved.

Having already worked with Carbon Trust on a variety of projects, Terram called on its expertise when faced with rising energy costs. The specialist manufacturer of geosynthetic materials, employing 95 staff at its manufacturing plant near Pontypool, worked with Industrial Air Power to eliminate energy inefficiencies and redesign and install a new air compressor system. The result was an industry best in terms of energy usage and savings of £202,000 per annum. It also produced:

* Energy savings of approximately 11.25 million kWh over five years
* Cost savings of approximately £1m in five years
* Emission savings of 7,390 tonnes CO2 in the same period
* Payback of approximately 24 months

David Roberts, control engineer at Terram Ltd, said: “The savings we are seeing now are unbelievable but just as important is the fact that we are reducing our carbon emissions and therefore benefiting the environment.”

Although Terram had already started to investigate the costs for new air compressors, it hadn’t looked at where, when, how much air was being used. Carbon Trust helped it identify this and used Industrial Air Power to design a system to meet its needs.

Having a tailor-made system installed in turn allowed Terram to capitalise on secondary savings such as heat recovery and compressed air leak reduction.

Ongoing monitoring of the fully automated system allows the savings to be quantified. Monitoring also ensures that the focus on savings is maintained and remains a high priority for Terram.

The new compressor system was located into the steam boiler house. This enabled Terram to recover the waste heat generated by the compressors and use this to raise the temperature of the water in the hot well, which feeds the boiler. Increased water temperature in turn reduces the amount of gas needed to generate steam.

The aggregated savings from the installation of the new system and implementation of the measures identified represented an 11.8 per cent reduction in the site’s energy consumption and overall a 38.7 per cent reduction in the electrical energy consumption directly associated with the generation of the compressed air.

An annual CO2 saving of 1,214 tonnes has been achieved plus an additional 264 tonnes from a reduction in gas usage due to the heat recovery process.

From monitoring the system, it was calculated that Terram was using on average 85m3/min of compressed air with an efficiency of 8kW/m/min, which equated to 7.2 million kWh per annum. By installing a new compressor set supplied by Industrial Air Power, it was calculated that the efficiency could be improved to 6kW/m3/min. Post-installation monitoring has proved that the new machinery provides an average efficiency of 5.8kW/m3/min – delivering significant savings. The gas savings are on top of this.

The benefits to Terram have been fourfold: a significant reduction in energy costs, the ability to protect plant integrity, reduced maintenance cost and the added benefit of reduced gas consumption from the increased water temperature in the steam boiler hot well.

Installing new Ingersoll Rand two stage fixed speed compressors along with a Nirvana two stage trim compressor, fully automated via a control system provided Terram with primary energy savings. Secondary savings came as a result of the heat recovery process, lower maintenance costs and the leak reduction programme.

The exercise has been successful in achieving reductions of CO2 emissions and the overall costs of supplying the service of compressed air to the business.

A Carbon Trust Wales consultant worked together with Industrial Air Power and Terram engineers providing impartial, independent advice enabling the company to make an informed decision and deliver value for money. Carbon Trust independently validated the energy savings and confirmed that they exceeded Industrial Air Power’s initial projections.

Through our experience in carrying out hundreds of compressed air audits we have identified the majority of existing compressed air systems include one or more of these deadly sins. This will have and adverse affect on your reliability, productivity and energy consumption.

* System over-pressurisation resulting in increased artificial demand
* Excessive waste through air leakage
* False loading of compressors due to lack of system automation and volume
* Inefficiency caused by cycling fixed output compressors
* Excessive pressure drop

If you would like advice on calculating your savings potential and increasing your company’s profitability contact Industrial Air Power on 01656 658961, email sales@airpower.co.uk

Flamingo Gifts, the online novelty and unique gifts business are pleased to announce 15% off all stock for a limited period.

“Budgets for gifts have decreased amongst many recently but people are still wanting to purchase something special.” says Laura Carradice, founder of Flamingo Gifts.

“Our mission continues to be plain and simple, to provide special unique gifts to the consumer at a great price and quickly.”

Personalised goods are really taking off in the gift industry at present. Flamingo now stock a wide range of personalised gifts including mugs, photo frames and make up bags. Personalised gifts don’t break the bank but they do show thought has gone into a gift which is the perfect combination for those who do not have an endless budget.

Founded in 2009, Flamingo Gifts stock a varied and unique range of gifts to suit everyone and all occasions. From kitsch to traditional, from adults to children, Flamingo gifts have a gift solution for everyone even those who are struggling for ideas due to their “Gift Randomizer” tool.

Sharpener Pencil Pot and build your own Lamborghini are perfect gifts for the jack the lads. Door mats, teapots, tasteful photo frames and personalised eye‐catching clocks are ideal for mother dearest. Whereas young fillies in the family will adore the simply stunning make up bags, ice cream lip balms, and cupcake gifts. Flamingo unique gifts are perfect for every occasion, whether it be Valentines Day, Birthdays, and Weddings, Christenings, Christmas or just treating that special someone.

Flamingo Gifts stock unique gifts for men, women, babies and children, for the home as well as personalised gifts. To browse their collection and solve all your gift problems, visit http://www.flamingogifts.co.uk.

From 2012, changes to pensions law will affect all employers with at least one worker in the UK. This document is a summary of these changes, including what employers must do and how they might set about getting ready.

We have published a series of guidance that explains the new employer duties in detail and how they should be implemented. The guidance is available for download from our website: www.tpr.gov.uk/pensions-reform

The changes in a nutshell

Employers will need to:
• Automatically enrol certain workers into a pension scheme
• Make contributions on their workers’ behalf
• Register with The Pensions Regulator (‘the regulator’)
• Provide workers with certain information about

When are the changes happening?
The new employer duties will be introduced in stages over 4 years, starting in 2012. Each employer will be allocated a date from when the duties will first apply to them, known as their ‘staging date.’
This date is based on the number of people in an employer’s PAYE scheme. Employers with the largest numbers of workers in their PAYE schemes will have the earliest staging date.
Employers can check their provisional staging date on our website: www.tpr.gov.uk/staging
To allow some flexibility, employers can choose to bring forward their staging date, provided the regulator is informed. However, employers cannot choose a later date than the one they are allocated.
Finding out when the staging date is likely to be is the first thing an employer should do, so they can plan what they need to do to be ready in good time.

What will employers need to do?
• Assess their workforce
• Identify who to automAtically enrol
• Choose a pension scheme – i.e. National Employment Savings Trust – NEST Pension Schemes
• Register with the regulator
• Make contributions
• Process any opt-out notices
• Process opt-in or joining requests
• Avoid inducements and prohibited activity
• Keep accurate records
• Provide workers with information about changes

What should employers do now?

Employers should:
• Look up their provisional staging date at www.tpr.gov.uk/staging
• Plan for when they might need their pension scheme in place and take action if necessary – including planning when and how they will assess their workforce
• Budget for these changes
• Look out for further information and guidance from the regulator. This can be done by signing up to the regulator’s free news-by-email service www.tpr.gov.uk/news