Category Archives for Member’s Blog

Small Business Award launched by Dell

Dell today announced it is partnering with British Chambers of Commerce and The Daily Express to launch the Dell Small Business Excellence Award in the UK (details on the Dell website – search for ceaward). The award, which Dell has been successfully running in the US over the last four years, has been expanded and will now seek out and reward those small businesses in the UK who can demonstrate how they have applied innovative technology to create an exceptional customer experience.  Dell has also teamed up with its global partners Independent Council for Small Businesses (ICSB) and Endeavor, creating a world-class partnership team for the award.

Entries are now open online at www.dell.co.uk/ceaward, where ten UK finalists will be shortlisted before a national winner is announced.

Winner could receive up to £25,000 in Dell technology and services
The UK winner will receive:

• £15,000 in Dell products and services, a day of best practice sharing with Dell executives, including time with Michael Dell, and a 10-year membership to an Accredited Chamber of Commerce in the UK. The nine UK Finalists will receive:
• Dell business class laptop and a one-year membership to an Accredited Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

Personal Safety – 1230 Bromley

Today was a brilliant 1230 Bromley meeting, with more people pouring into the room so that we had to move to a different area of the restaurant.  Guest Speaker Gill Twyford from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust had our total concentration as she asked us questions of how we would react in potentially threatening situations.  And we didn’t always know the right answers.  In a calm and non-alarming way, Gill made us aware of our own vulnerability, of the choices we had and how we should prepare should we be attacked, or look as though we maybe attacked.  The statistics were interesting and some surprising, for example only 10% of crime is violent – we all thought it would be much higher than this but it’s the media which creates fear and therefore makes us feel more vulnerable.  Two-thirds of violence comes from people we know.  Men are twice as likely to be attacked than women.  Gill gave us tips to keep us safe, such as – how much of the contents of that expensive handbag do we really need in one place, spread it around our person, carry a personal alarm and how to use it.  Watch out for the next issue of 1230 Insight where there will be some more tips.  The next 1230 Bromley meeting is on Wednesday 21 May.

1230 East Dulwich’s Lola Fayemi on Westside Radio’s Business Show 89.6FM – Friday 18 April 2008 10-11am

I am being interviewed by Westside Radio on the Business Show with Pooja.
The topic for my interview is “What’s stopping you from your success?” and will be all about the underlying unconscious beliefs we have that are in conflict with our desires, and the negative impact these have on our businesses and lives.
I will also be sharing tips on how to overcome this conflict and so that everything within you is in alignment towards the same goal.
I’ve heard this will be a little different from their usual interviews on business, but it’s very reflective of my style and approach.
In my opinion this topic is about building a successful and thriving business on solid foundations.  Many people go into business seeking financial success but have conflicting beliefs around money like “rich people are greedy” and “money is the root of all evil”.  If you have underlying beliefs like this you will not ALLOW yourself true financial success.  Until this issue is addressed you may find yourself periodically sabotaging your efforts.
This is why this is foundational information and affects ALL of your business decisions.  Listen in for more of the same.
* * *
If you are in the West London area you can tune in to 89.6FM.  You can also listen live online or listen to the podcast after on www.westsideradio.co.uk.
I hope you can tune in!

Angels/investors for Film

I’ve just formed a film production company, Pivotal Pictures, and although we’re a very professional, well connected bunch, we’ll be looking for investors, either private or corporate.  The script is nearly finished and then we’ll be approaching directors and actors.
Also, if anyone knows Kate Winslett I’d be ever so grateful for a contact!!
My other company, SMA Talent, is always on the lookout for new writing talent – that’s writing for film and tv.
Would love to talk to/meet any other film & tv 1230’s.

Sub-Post Offices saga continues!

The saga of the government’s forced closure of sub-Post Offices continues with the strange sight of cabinet and non-cabinet ministers campaigning against the closures in their own backyards.
It’s true that in some countries there has been wholesale closure of post offices. That might be a solution to the economic crises those PTT’s face but in  UK more is at stake. Most sub-Post Offices here are co-supportive of other businesses, usually an attached shop, and closure of one will in many cases inevitably lead to closure of the other. Further, those shops, especially in rural locations, are typically the last remaining shop in a community. Close it and another thread of social, business and cultural life is severed for ever.
Unwelcome it might be, but perhaps the answer lies in turning over post office services to a private contractor as has happened in the Netherlands. I now receive letters from that country postmarked TNT. Another answer might be for the government to stop squeezing life out of the Post Office by withdrawing services (for which the government pays a service charge) such a vehicle taxation, from many sub-Post Offices.

Bromley Mayor Visits

Today’s (3 April) 1230 members and non-members at the Chislehurst meeting were totally inspired by vibrant Mayor Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe whose business life and Mayoral year have been more than action-packed!  Coming soon – 1230 Beckenham meeting 16 April has Guest Speaker Gill Twyford from Suzy Lamplugh Trust, telling us how we can keep safe.  For this April 1230 Beckenham meeting only, a free place for 1230 members bringing a new guest.  Details and booking here http://www.1230.co.uk/meetings.asp?meeting=149&month=4#meeting

Croydon & Purley meeting up and running

Another successful meeting for Croydon & Purley on Tues 1st April, attendees were no fools on this day. The Kelong restaurant looked after us and served a great selection of food from their menu followed by coffee or tea and plenty of networking was down over lunch.
I sat next to Fiona from Electra jewellery whom was wearing a fantastic necklase and earrings from her collection. Take a look for yourself at www.electrajewellery.com or come along to the next meeting Tues 6th May, when Fiona plans to have a table selling her goods.
If you’re a new business you can also get some free business advice from Valerie Leggett of Prevista; or maybe you are looking for an alternative therapy such as hypnosis from Paola Bagnell of Inner Power or various massage options from Eva Cadalso, South Norwood Clinic Ltd. These are just a few of the varied businesses that come along to the Croydon & Purley group. Why not come and meet them for yourself at our next meeting on Tuesday 6th May. You’ll enjoy great company, get new ideas for your business, make great contacts and have a delicious lunch too!

£50,000 for Bright Start-up Star

The 2008 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards has just been launched. Some excellent cash prizes are on offer. Are you a start-up star? We believe that lots of our 1230 members are start-up stars so we hope some of you will decide to twinkle and enter this Award.
The top prize is £50,000 and there are also rewards for runners-up and regional winners. There’s a special Green Award – £5,000 prize – for young businesses that show they’re dedicated to addressing environment issues.
To find out more go to
http://www.startupstars.hsbc.co.uk/

Win Free Utilities for a Whole Year!

As if saving loads of money wasn’t enough, there is now yet another reason to switch.  Every month from May 08, one new Utility Warehouse Discount Club customer will win Free Utilities for a whole Year!
How do you enter? Just by agreeing to save money on your utilities in the first place!
Customers will be entered into the draw automatically in the month during which their first service goes live. We will draw one name at random on the first business day of the following month. The first draw will be on 1st May 2008 and one lucky household will see their utility bills (up to a maximum of £100) vanish – for a whole year.
For your chance to win, email fionasyrett@telecomplus.org.uk or call 020 8133 8505

Conventional cleaning Products Contain Toxic Chemicals – Yea and?..

You could be forgiven for thinking that the title of this blog means nothing to you.  We are brainwashed into thinking that anything on the supermarket shelves must be ok to use otherwise the goverment would ban it, wouldn’t they? Not necessarily. Because I have an eco friendlly cleaning company, I have  carried out some research on the web into the toxic chemicals that are used in conventional cleaning products and the results are staggering.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside the typical home is on average 2-5 times more polluted than the air just outside—and in extreme cases 100 times more contaminated—largely because of household cleaners and pesticides.
Toxic Chemicals can be taken in through the skin and the breath. Babies crawel around the floor all the time, yet most people give no thought to the chemicals that they are breathing in. Skin scoriacis and asthma are on the increase. Taking in toxic chemicals into the body does not start when we are ready to begin crawling, it starts way before in the womb. We are told of the green issues via the media in the form of recycling and driving our cars less often, walking more, but I never hear anyone mention cleaning products, yet these polute the air and us just as much.
Helen Perivier, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace International said: “It is shocking that such chemicals are in the human body at any stage of our life, let alone at the very start, when the child is most vulnerable.”
Andrew Lee of WWF-UK said: “These chemicals should not be in products, let alone in developing babies.”
next time you pick up a cleaning product, take a look at the label before you use it.
If you feel strongly like I do about toxic chemicals in your cleaning products, leave a message on this blog site and perhaps together we can make a change.