Based at Rotherwas, Hereford, A K Industries Ltd (AKI) provides technically demanding, custom injection-moulded component and sub-assembly solutions to more than 50 industries. 75% of AKI’s employees are engaged in production functions, in the 20,000 sq ft air-conditioned manufacturing hall on a 40,000 sq ft total site with 30
injection moulding machines from 6 to 450 tonnes clamping force, plus a broad spectrum of robotic handling, ancillary and assembly equipment. Annual turnover exceeds £5 million.

Replacing the outdated Infor system written in Germany and used at AKI for the past seven years, a new WinMan ERP system went live at A K Industries on 6th April 2010.

It is intended to take the company up to the stage of a fully integrated manufacturing management, accounting, estimating and customer relationship management (CRM)
system – the last-named broadened out to “company relationship management”. The Infor system revolved around cumbersome manual data entry, not real-time data as
provided by WinMan.

AKI SUMMARISES THE EIGHT KEY FACILITIES PROVIDED BY WINMAN

Allen Green, Managing Director of A K Industries, comments:

“We regard WinMan as essentially a tool for business improvement because it will impact favourably on all areas of our business, over and above shopfloor operations,
and work out cost-benefit analysis and realtime snapshots helpful to management decision-making and control”.

“WinMan will pull together disparate satellite systems such as sales database and accounting packages which we would use outside our previous ERP system Infor. In many cases manual data entry, time-consuming and naturally open to human error, will be superseded by automated solutions.

“In summary, the eight principal features and benefits we see of the WinMan system are :-
* the tooling database (where the Infor tooling database never worked properly);
* the link to Mattec scheduling;
* electronic order processing, keeping us a step ahead of customers’ needs;
* the company relationship management (CRM) & associated quotation system;
* the barcoding of material movements – raw materials, work-in-progress & finished goods;
* an integrated accounting system replacing a standalone Sage system and enjoying full and free exchange of data inside WinMan;
* the failsafe alert system by email to warn of exceptional events;
* the attachment of all associated documentation to the Bill of Materials (BOM) aka Bill of Structure.

“In the final analysis, our new WinMan ERP software system is a discipline which will revolutionise the culture of our company and put us in the best of shape for the new decade and whatever manufacturing challenges it may bring. We can now look forward to the future with real confidence.”

For more information on how Winman ERP software can help your business visit http://www.winman.com

It may be the middle of summer but Cloggs.co.uk, which has a store next to Selfridges in the Bullring, has spent more than £1.7 million on new FitFlop boots  and FitFlop shoes in anticipation of high demand from September onwards.

This substantial order represents more than 30 per cent of the store’s intake for Autumn/Winter 2010.

FitFlop sandals proved very popular this summer as thousands of shoppers invested in the thigh toning footwear after Cloggs.co.uk organised demonstrations of the shoes at the Bullring.

FitFlop shoes use biomechanical engineering to help wearers improve their posture and burn more calories than they would walking normally. They feature specially designed soles that destabilise the feet, making the muscles in the lower body work harder when the wearer is walking around.

Nick Thomas, managing director at Cloggs.co.uk, said he was expecting high demand for the FitFlop winter boots and FitFlop shoes this year.

“FitFlop footwear has been popular since its arrival in the shops in 2007, when the shoes sold out quickly all over the world,” he said.

“People love the concept of being able to get in shape without being shackled to the gym and this is the case regardless of what season it may be.

“Buying a pair of FitFlop boots or FitFlop shoes will mean people can continue the good work they started in the summer with their FitFlop sandals.”

The new winter range of FitFlop boots and shoes will be available from Cloggs.co.uk as well as the Cloggs store in the Bullring. Prices are expected to start from £64.99.

The team behind Cloggs.co.uk has more than 35 years’ experience of trading on the high street and began operating online over ten years ago. Cloggs.co.uk now stocks more than 20,000 items across specialised departments covering: womens shoes, womens boots, womens sandals; mens shoes, mens boots, mens sandals; as well as boys shoes and girls shoes. Other popular brands include: UGG boots, Converse, Birkenstock, Crocs and Timberland. The Cloggs Bullring store also recently won ‘Best New Store’ at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2010.

The name DAPPERS BAR was chosen from over 270 entries ranging from the very traditional to the very modern and quirky. John Fisk from Shap entered the winning name. He thought the many sided 400 year old history of the hotel could tie in to the new look and feel of the new bar.

The hotel was a buzz during the 1700’s, Bonnie Prince Charlie came to stay and King George II was on the throne. Noted for being smart and well dressed in his fine clothing, King George II was nick named Dapper King George. Now the bar is modern and distinctive, it too feels like a dapper place to be.

Justin Wales, General Manager at the George Hotel part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd Group said “Finding a name has been very difficult because there were so many to choose from and everyone has a different idea what it should be. John was really pleased when we told him that we had decided on Dapper’s Bar because of the link to King George II. He reigned during an important part of the hotel’s history and it was his forebears that the George Hotel was named after.”

John and his wife Sue called in to the bar this week to collect their £60 dinner vouchers and were impressed with the welcoming ambiance, comfy sofas and the fine detail like the gold leaf light fittings. They also shared some of their research on the dapper king and his life with Justin who has already commissioned a special plaque to commemorate the new name.  It is being crafted to sit at the entrance of the bar and will recount the famous words that Queen Caroline allegedly uttered about King George II: “You may strut, dapper George, but ’twill all be in vain, We all know ’tis Queen Caroline, not you, that reign.”

As well as refurbishing the bar, the Lake District Hotels Ltd Group have also made improvements to the rear entrance with the entrance dressed in a new coat of paint and a new barrier entrance to control the car park. It means guests will have much easier access to car park and a pleasant entrance to the rear of this Penrith Lake District hotel.

Now open daily from 11am, the Dapper’s Bar is enjoying increased popularity, attracting new diners at lunchtime and early evening guests looking to try the cocktails and sample the new tapas menu. Visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/georgehotel/index.php for more information.

Simply click on the “randomize” button on www.flamingogifts.co.uk and let Flamingo do all the hard work. Great when stuck for what to buy for the Secret Santa at work, the gift randomizer will give you ideas and pluck random products from the Flamingo gift collection.

The economic climate has meant tightening of budgets for gifts for many people but they still want to be able to give a gift that is personal, suitable and more often now, fun.

“We’re really excited about this new function which will hopefully help customers choose gifts or just give inspiration.” Says Laura Carradice, founder of Flamingo Gifts.

“Our mission is simple, to provide amazing gifts to you at a great price and quickly, we are always on the lookout for new and interesting novelty gifts, birthday gifts and totally unique gifts to add to our Aladdin’s cave of treasures. We search everywhere to find the best gifts for the best budget! Whoever you’re looking to spoil, or for whatever occasion may it be Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, Valentines Gifts or Christening gifts. We are sure you’ll find something you love! ”

Flamingo Gifts stock unique gifts for men, women, babies and children, for the home also personalised gifts and cards all with the emphasis on “unique”, “special”, “novelty”. To browse their collection and solve all your gift problems, visit http://www.flamingogifts.co.uk.

The Super suites at the Brooklands Hotel consists of one or two bedrooms and a huge living and dining area.  The average size of this combination is vast, 100 square metres, and as an extra special touch, some of these suites also benefit from their own decked terrace areas overlooking the track. You can enjoy your Krug Vintage Champagne at the bar in Brooklands or we can have it delivered, chilled to your super suite and private terrace upon your arrival. Use of the spa and its unique meditation room, outdoor hot tub, steam and sauna facilities, the next day is also with our compliments.

Located next door to Mercedes Benz World and within the legendary Brooklands motor racing circuit, Brooklands Weybridge Hotel is just minutes from the A3, the M3 and the M25, 17 miles from Heathrow and 33 miles from Gatwick. Aiming to be one of the finest luxury Surrey Hotels, Brooklands prides themselves on their personality, individuality, and an unparalleled level of service.

A bottle of Krug Vintage Champagne at Brooklands costs £385.00 per bottle.  To book your Krug ‘Champagne and Super Suite Summer Special’ please contact Reservations on reservations@brooklandshotelsurrey.com or visit http://www.brooklandshotelsurrey.com.

A launch event was held for local businesses. The specially arranged evening gave people first chance to see the contemporary new look of the bar and to come up with ideas for a new name.

The old “Oak Bar” was completely stripped and transformed into a light bright and welcoming space. A full team of local trades people undertook the challenge and gave the bar an exceptionally high quality finish for local people to enjoy. The furnishings are comfortable yet modern with burgundy and lime chairs, cosy sofas and ‘gold leaf’ shades and lamps creating a much more welcoming ambience.

Guests at last week’s event were treated to Bellini cocktails, champagne and tapas canapés – to introduce the new menus which now include tapas and cocktails.

The verdict from everyone was unanimous – ‘a fantastic new look, up to date, welcoming and exactly right for Penrith’. Regulars commented that it was nice to see the place buzzing, describing the transformation as “absolutely brilliant”.

Justin Wales, General Manager at the George Hotel said “It was good to have so many local businesses supporting the event. For example, John and Sandra Siddle brought their team from the Sands Gift Shop and helped create a real party atmosphere and the team from Dodd & Co put our cocktail menu through its paces – we look forward to welcoming them back now they know what we have to offer. The bar is certainly attracting a new audience and we are pleased to see a really good age mix coming in to see how things have changed.”

Now open all day from 11am, the new look has enticed new customers and introducing a tapas menu has encouraged more people to try something different. Justin said “the bruchetta with goat’s cheese became an instant success, beating some of our best selling bar meals in the first week. Customers are also trying the new cocktail menu, trying the full range that we have on offer – including our non alcoholic cocktails.”

As part of the opening activity and to attract new people to this Penrith hotels bar, Justin has been running a competition in the Herald to re-name the bar. So far, over 100 different names have been put forward, but the favourites remain a closely guarded secret until entries close this weekend (24th July). The winner will be announced next week.

Anyone who has not yet seen the new bar should call in and take a fresh look. For information about parties and events at the George Hotel, part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group, or to find out more about “the bar with no name”, contact the George Hotel on 01768 862696 or email georgehotel@lakedistricthotels.net or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/georgehotel/index.php.

Operating from beautiful Kendal in Cumbria, Flamingo Gifts is an online shop stocking everything gift related. Unique and novelty gifts are what set Flamingo Gifts apart from the rest with items sourced worldwide. Having been 2 years in development, Flamingo Gifts are now ready to take the gift industry by storm after thoroughly investigating the market. Through being an online retailer, they are able to stock a huge range of goods. Their ecommerce website is easy to use and even enables customers to get gift ideas in the form of the Flamingo Gifts Randomizer function.

The brainchild behind Flamingo Gifts, Laura Carradice explains their concept “Our mission is simple, to provide amazing gifts to you at a great price and quickly, we are always on the lookout for new and interesting novelty gifts, birthday gifts and totally unique gifts to add to our Aladdin’s cave of treasures. We search everywhere to find the best gifts for the best budget! Whoever you’re looking to spoil, or for whatever occasion may it be Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, Valentines Gifts or Christening gifts. We are sure you’ll find something you love! ”

According to the Giftware Association, the gift industry is worth an estimated £10 billion per year. This is made up of various sectors such as traditional gifts, design led gifts and cards and gift wrap. Something out of the ordinary, something with just that little bit more thought is becoming increasingly more difficult to find. The days of large, expensive gifts have had their day. A smaller quirky, original and unique item carries far more sentiment.

Flamingo Gifts stock gifts for men, women, babies and children, for the home and personalised gifts and cards all with the emphasis on “unique”. To browse their stock and solve all your gift problems, visit http://www.flamingogifts.co.uk.

If fast cars and fabulous spas are your passion, then why not check in to the Brooklands Hotel in Surrey. Situated on the site of the legendary racetrack and airfield, the hotel features a selection of simply stunning packages bound to satiate the most demanding spa divas and the most passionate petrol heads – perfect with the British Grand Prix fast approaching in early July.

If thoughts of indulgence and utter relaxation make you and your partner purr with pleasure, then the Fast and Fabulous Spa Experience is the package for you. You will be treated to two sumptuous spa treatments each, choosing from the signature Jane Scrivner High Velocity Massage, to the Body Brushing treatment or even the Butter LONDON 30 minute Manicure, you can be sure you’ll both be left quintessentially pampered!

Alternatively if your partner’s more of a thrill-seeker than a pleasure-seeker, and would prefer to race round one of the UK’s most famous tracks, rather than succumb to spa treatments, then the His and Hers Spa & Car Experience is bound to keep you both happy. As you enjoy a relaxing Full Body Massage in the hotel’s destination spa, your partner will be having the time of his life negotiating hair-pin bends and high-speed manoeuvres with an exhilarating 30 minute driving experience at Mercedes-Benz World.

The unique, design-led Brooklands Hotel opened its doors this March on the site of the iconic Brooklands race track.  Brooklands Hotel brings a sensational property to the market. The much anticipated opening offers the ultimate combination of contemporary design with a vibrant history.  Predominantly glass, this super style-statement of a property has been designed for luxury, while embracing the rich legacy of the Brooklands race circuit.  Complete with a destination spa, cocktail bar, restaurant, and state-of-the-art conferencing facilities, the 120 luxury rooms and suites offer unrivalled luxury within this area of Surrey.  Priding itself on personality, individuality, and an unparalleled level of uniqueness – where else will you find a spa on a race track, with luxurious suites only thirty minutes away from central London?

The ‘Fast and Fabulous Package’ rate is based on two people sharing a standard room (single occupancy in a double bedded room is £179.00 per room, per night). Spa treatments times are subject to availability and should be booked at your earliest opportunity prior to your stay to avoid disappointment. For more information on the newest of the Surrey spa hotels visit http://www.brooklandshotelsurrey.com.

The 2000 sq ft Cloggs.co.uk store next to Selfridges in the Bullring opened in September 2009 and features touch screen internet terminals, which can display the full range of available stock.

The store fought off competition from fellow category contenders The Natural Shoe Store in London, Gerry McGuire’s in Ireland, Lily T in Buckinghamshire, Shoefair in Northern Ireland and SoleLution in Bristol.

Cloggs.co.uk is run by local brothers Nick and Chris Thomas, with business partner Damian Scarlett. It began life as an online retailer ten years ago and now stocks more than 20,000 items, including big brands such as FitFlop, Birkenstock, Converse and Crocs.

Nick Thomas, managing director of Cloggs.co.uk, said it was an honour to win the award.

“We’re ecstatic that the Bullring store has won this coveted award,” he said.

“The Drapers Footwear Awards are the most prestigious for our industry so winning the Best New Store category really means a lot to us.

“The last 12 months have been tough for a lot of companies in the footwear market but there has been substantial consolidation in the sector, which has helped to lift sales, particularly for specialists like us.

“We have deliberately made our store different by incorporating many of the features of our online shop, such as free next day delivery and all the same deals and discounts.

“Our focus is going to remain on providing a full selection of seasonal footwear supported by great customer service and competitive prices.”

The Drapers Footwear Awards, organised by weekly fashion trade magazine Drapers Record, recognise the best of the high street and independent footwear retailers across the country, as well as up and coming design talent. This year’s winners included Ugg, River Island and The Golden Boot, with the Lifetime Achievement Award going to iconic shoe designer Terry De Havilland.

Lake District Hotels Ltd have been at the forefront in terms of web presence in the Cumbria and Lake District tourism industry for a number of years so a redesign encompassing a new online booking system are both natural progressions for the group.

A hotel’s online booking system is one of the most important components of a website and none more so for Lake District Hotels Ltd group of 6 hotels. Not only has the website been updated and redesigned but a new online booking system has also been included. Rezlynx provides more functionality for independent hotels and hotel groups and is based around a single, centrally hosted database, accessed via the internet. The comprehensive solution includes a Property Management System, Conference & Banqueting, Central Reservations as well as an online booking module.

2010 has proved to be a busy and very rewarding year for Lake District Hotels Ltd group so far. April saw the group gain 4 star success for their Lodore Falls Hotel. Kit Graves, Director said “It has always been part of our plan to have a four star hotel in our portfolio….. we can now play host to most Lake District visitors – from those looking for an informal coaching inn to guests seeking a top class hotel with spa facilities.

To further confirm the continuing development of the group, the Lodore Falls Hotel also gained the Accreditation in Meetings (AIM) certificate from the Meetings Industry Association and Cumbria Tourism in May.

The Lake District Hotels Ltd group comprises 6 hotels in the Lake District and Cumbria. The 60 bedrooms Lodore Falls Hotel on the edge of Derwentwater, the 47 room Inn on the Lake on the edge of Ullswater, the 36 room Borrowdale Hotel in the beautiful Borrowdale Valley, The Skiddaw and The Kings Arms both in the centre of Keswick and finally The George Hotel, guarding the entrance to the North Lakes in the market town on Penrith.

Further information regarding rooms, locations including thier Keswick hotels and all the facilities available from Lake District Hotels Ltd can be found by visiting their website http://www.lakedistricthotels.net.

You simply can’t afford to miss this if you want to get the most out of mail and postal optimisation.

What is MailSave+?
In today’s deregulated postal market all dispatch and facilities managers must look for the most cost-effective way to send out business critical documents. MailSave+ is a new and unique service that gives you the choice of postal provider and discounts when you send your mail.

Who’s it for?
Small to medium sized businesses and public sector bodies whose mail volumes do not meet the traditional pre-sorted or Cleanmail volume criteria.
Postrooms who want a cost effective service for non time critical traditional second class mail.

What are the benefits to you – the customer?
•    Reduced cost per item on every item
•    Lower volume thresholds attract discount on every item
•    Volumes can be averaged to meet collection minimums
•    Collections times that are convenient for you
•    A cost-effective and flexible way of achieving daily mail discounts

The Mailing Room is a leading supplier of mailroom equipment and consumables including franking machines, postal scales, folding and inserting machines and letter openers. The Mailing Room is brought to you by an alliance of FP Mailing (North West) Limited, FP Mailing (South) Limited and FP Executive Agency Limited.

For more information on MailSave+ from The Mailing Room, visit http://www.themailingroom.com

The continuing development of the whole Stowford Farm Meadows site has made staff and owner Andrew Noall very proud of their family owned and run caravan and camping park.

The site having been in the family for generations and as a touring park since 1978.

The redevelopment of the caravan sale centre has been a result of the growth in the caravan sales side of this award winning touring caravan and camping facility in North Devon. Stowford supply new Elddis caravans and Bailey caravans and always have a large stock of quality used touring caravans for sale. Being one of the South West’s largest caravan retailers, Stowford are also able to showcase an awning display area and a caravan accessory shop, all on site to browse at leisure.

Anybody purchasing a caravan from them are invited to stay onsite at Stowford Farm Meadows, as their guest, for a number of nights. On arrival, the new caravan will be found sited on a pitch ready to simply walk into. This sets Stowford Farm Meadows apart from the rest in terms of caravan sales and pitches. Coupled with the onsite facilities found at the campsite, it is no wonder Stowford are multi industry award winners.

For more information on Elddis and Bailey caravans or to find out more about the Stowford Farm Meadows summer special weekend taking place Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June 2010, visit http://www.stowford.co.uk/caravan_sales or telephone 01271 889339.

“The Pack features Nick Ross (former BBC Watchdog and Crimewatch presenter) on the cover saying: ‘If you’re thinking of buying double-glazing or a conservatory I strongly recommend you use a DGCOS member.’ It also makes selling easier and less stressful for installers,” comments DGCOS Founder Tony Pickup.

“Buying windows, doors or a conservatory is a big investment,” Tony continues. “Although most window and conservatory companies do an excellent job homeowners are anxious when they see or hear about homeowners being ripped off by rogue traders and cowboys. Companies can go out of business. Deposits or guarantees may be at risk. Homeowners worry about the quality of work. A good reputation is vital, but uncertainties in the minds of purchasers can lose or delay an order. Because the Ombudsman Scheme vets members thoroughly, and is the only scheme to comprehensively address these concerns, it gives reassurance so homeowners can buy with confidence.”

The Pack, which is personalised for each individual member, contains details of the double glazing Ombudsman Scheme and what homeowners will receive when they buy from members. This includes an advice line, deposit protection insurance, an insurance-backed guarantee, a totally free dispute resolution service and a Compensation Fund to protect homeowners if anything goes wrong.

Tony Pickup sums up: “The Peace of Mind Pack invites homeowners to verify current membership by visiting http://www.dgcos.org.uk or calling 0845 053 2934. It states clearly that placing their order with the member gives real consumer protection unmatched in the double glazing industry.”

The Marina – the biggest on England’s longest lake – welcomes over 11,000 guests every year to Bowness.

Bookings for the vital summer tourism season are growing steadily again and there are hopes the grand re-opening will help boost the resort’s tourism.

On Saturday July 10th, the Marina will formally unveil the fruits of its eight-month-long refurbishment; the most comprehensive since it was built and opened in 1984.

Dozens of dignitaries, guests and boat owners will meet for a champagne reception with Managing Director Jason Dearden. They will be given an exclusive chance to go out for a leisure cruise on the lake onboard a state-of-the-art 46ft motor yacht – the F46 Flybridge. The luxury yacht is being toured around Marinas across the country by its owners Sealine, but Windermere Marina Village is its only stop in the whole of the North for boat owners to catch a glimpse.

They will also be shown around the Marina’s 29 self-catering cottages and 35 luxury Windermere apartments surrounding the water’s edge which have all been totally transformed to four-and-five star standards with new flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, carpets, bedroom furniture, bedding as well as painting and decoration.

Windermere mayor Bill Smith will open the event following a visit earlier in the week from Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron.

The Marina on a sheltered inlet of the lake, has been a hive of activity for the last six month as it works to re-open for business.

Holidaymakers rely on the Marina to let out its cottages and apartments to stay in the area. As the biggest inland Marina in the north, many guests use local restaurants, pubs, cinemas, shops, cafes, visitor attractions, museums, boat yards, newsagents and garages – making the Marina a significant contributor to the economy of Bowness and Windermere.

On the Marina itself, there has been extensive work to totally modernise and replace the jetties which allow access to the boats.

Over 400 boat owners use the Marina as a vital place on Lake Windermere to secure and moor their luxury fleet of motor or sail powered cruisers, when they’re not out cruising on the water.

Many of the boat owners are people who live in the Lake District and Cumbria and enjoy sailing, but others come from as far afield as Manchester, Cheshire, Newcastle and Glasgow.

It is the first completed phase of a much wider package of investment at the Marina which will eventually see new reception areas, a brand-new restaurant, swimming pool and new offices for the company’s 55 staff.

The business is also greener than before after upgrading its roof and wall insulation and making the lay-outs more contemporary and holiday-friendly.

Where possible, the company has spread the benefit of the upgrade by using local businesses such as decorators, skip companies and kitchen refurbishers. One business to benefit from the refurb includes Windermere-based Lakeland Fells Furniture Limited, which designs and restores custom-made furniture.

Jason Dearden, Managing Director of Windermere Marina Village, said: “I would like to thank our staff, visitors and boat owners for the patience they have shown over the last few months. I would like to reassure them that Windermere Marina Village is now back in action and open for business this summer.”

“I am delighted we have all worked hard to meet our deadline because the following few months are the most important of the tourism year. Windermere Marina Village re-opening is good news for us, good news for our guests, and good news for the wider Bowness economy.”

Other businesses which helped in the improvements include Lakeland Gardeners who worked on landscapes; Home Designs in Kendal supplying beds; Webbs Kitchens in Kendal; Kendal Refrigeration Services for air conditioning; Barrow-based Optech Fibres; Sedbergh’s Marthwaite Joinery; South Lakes Painting and Decorating, and Kendal’s Highgate Carpets for the flooring in bathrooms and kitchens.

Ends

For more information, please contact Jason Dearden, or Tracii Monet at Windermere Marina Village on 015394 46551, or email tracii.monet@wmv.co.uk

Windermere Marina Village is the Lake District’s premier Inland Marina and Holiday Resort. Find out more at www.wmv.co.uk

Windermere Marina Village, The Marina, Bowness On Windermere
Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JQ, 015394 46551, info@wmv.co.uk

They can’t quite believe it but its true – Barking Mad are 10 years old and have successfully provided over 62,000 dog holidays. The Barking Mad family is now some 20,000 strong and growing by the day.

Celebrating a decade of Barking Mad Success at the Barking Mad Conference recently the network from around the UK set tails wagging in the Lake District with a conference packed full of fun (and a few celebratory drinks). Their Chief Executive, Bronte (nearly 11 and the inspiration for the original business) was joined by her spotty trainee Lotti, as they posed for the photo on the banks of Lake Windermere. The theme this year was Wacky Races and it certainly brought out the creative, fun and passionate sides of everyone. The Barking Mad conferences are always a bit crazy and 2010 was no exception and congratulations to Russell & Cate Court, of Oxfordshire who won Barking Mad Franchisee Business of the Year 2010.

Barking Mad was created in May 2000 with an aim to provide a new kind of pet-sitting service, and have now expanded across the UK and overseas. It has been an amazing success and has even featured on TV. Right from the start, Lee Southern the Managing Director knew it was a great idea, “Because we’ve all been there. If you have dogs, and you just can’t leave them in boarding kennels or impose on your family or friends once again, what do you do?”.

And so, Barking Mad was set up. A home-from-home pet care service: pet sitting with a difference, or dog holidays as people call them. Based on owner-operated franchises around the country, Barking Mad arrange for dogs to stay with loving host families who can match the sort of environment and routine the dogs are used to.

To learn more about using their home-from-home pet sitting service as an alternative to kennels, to find out about becoming one of our host families offering dog holidays – or even to discover how you could soon be running a Barking Mad franchise yourself – visit http://www.barkingmad.uk.com.

Gilpin Lodge have been announced The Small Hotel of the Year 2010 winner at The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010 ceremony organized by VisitEngland and held in Brighton on Friday night.  The finalists were selected by a panel of tourism industry judges which included previous Gold winners, travel journalists and industry experts.

Barney and Zoe Cunliffe were delighted to receive the award on behalf of the Cunliffe family, and longstanding team whom have been running this Lake District, Relais and Chateaux hotel, since 1987. Having won Cumbria Hotel of the year in 2009 and Northwest hotel of the year in 2010, Gilpin was shortlisted with 2 other England based hotels for the award. Gilpin were judged on their excellent standards of hospitality, which combines family-run hospitality with relaxed but professional service, contemporary designs in a stunning location 2 miles from Windermere.

Gilpin Lodge Hotel Windermere has undergone considerable investment over the last few years with all areas having undergone exciting new interiors whilst remaining warm and comfortable and includes 6 garden suites, each with private gardens and hot tubs. Whilst the family remains fully owner-operated, Tom Lewis joined as General Manager in 2010 and was formally General Manager of the Le Manoir. The announcement also coincides with the immanent launch of the Gilpin Lake House, a 6-suite hotel with Spa set on a beautiful private lake in 100 acres of grounds and woodland within half mile of Gilpin and designed for the ultimate relaxing retreat.

Based on 2 sharing, rates are per person per night including 5-course dinner, full English breakfast and Windermere hotel accommodation from £145. For further information visit http://www.gilpinlodge.co.uk or call 015394 88818.

The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010 celebrate the best of English tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England’s place as a world-class destination. http://www.enjoyengland.com/corporate/corporate-information/excellence-awards/2010-awards.aspx and sponsored by the Caravan club.

For 2010 the Mercedes-Benz World Summer Concert Series will include two special outdoor evenings with exclusive live performances featuring rock, pop and classical artists.  The two day Summer Concert Series kicks off on Saturday 3rd July with Will Young, The Saturdays, Scouting for Girls, Alexandra Burke and X-Factor finalist Olly Murs,  Day two sees an eclectic mix of classical music with performances from Russell Watson, recent Popstar to Operastar winner Darius, Myleene Klass, Blake, Escala Faryl Smith and Camilla Kerslake.  Headlining Saturday’s line up is award-winning multi-platinum selling artist Will Young who began his career as winner of the now global phenomenon ‘Pop Idol’.  Russell Watson, who with his unique style has achieved phenomenal status as an award-winning platinum selling artist, will be headlining Sunday’s Classical evening line up.

Hospitality packages will be available in their Panoramic Suites, complete with vast decked Balconies with space for up to 30 friends or colleagues, with full view of the concert in all its Glory!
The Brooklands Hotel is offering also overnight accommodation from £137.50 per person during the Mercedes-Benz World Summer Concert (weekend of Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July 2010).

The Brooklands Hotel Surrey is located right next door to Mercedes-Benz World and with an iconic, art deco inspired interior, the world’s most historic motor racing track running through the reception, uber-contemporary conference facilities, top class Italian brasserie, spa facilities and super suites. The new Brooklands Hotel in Weybridge, Surrey has to be seen to be believed.

Please contact Reservations on reservations@brooklandshotelsurrey.com or 01932 335 710 for availability and prices or visit http://www.brooklandshotelsurrey.com. Tickets for the concert are priced from £40.00 and are available from Ticketmaster online or by calling 0844 463 1875.

Earlier this month The Lodore Falls Hotel was elevated to AA four star status and to top it off, they have now been awarded the Accreditation in Meetings (AIM) certificate from the Meetings Industry Association and Cumbria Tourism.

The team at the hotel has been working towards AIM accreditation for some time and was officially accredited after an inspection visit last week.  AIM is the nationally recognized quality assurance scheme which is designed to improve standards in corporate hospitality. It is endorsed by VisitEngland and VisitBritain who recognize the importance of quality meeting venues and they believe “this is the standard venues should aspire to achieve.”

Tanya Sentance, Sales Manager said “it was Stephen Carruthers from the Cumbria and Carlisle Conference Group who suggested we work towards this standard. We are now one of only 15 venues in Cumbria to have achieved this accreditation – it demonstrates that we are serious about corporate hospitality. As it is a nationally recognized accreditation, businesses can be sure they will receive the very best attention when booking meetings or conferences and we hope will open doors to companies that will only use AIM accredited venues.

Companies from all over the UK enjoy mixing business with pleasure when they stay here – nationally recognised conference facilities and the best of the Lake District right outside the door. Let’s hope this accreditation will entice more national companies to bring their business to the lakes.

Cath Dutton, Industry Services Director, Cumbria Tourism “We are committed to further developing Cumbria’s business tourism product, and so have launched AIM Cumbria in partnership with the Meetings Industry Association, in conjunction with a new business support and marketing package.  The package will enable venues to improve the quality of service and practices offered, as well as increasing the business opportunities available to them.  Lodore Falls are to be congratulated for recognising that buyers want assurances when booking meetings and conferences and that AIM Cumbria provides them.”

The Lodore Falls Hotel Lake District part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group is set in 40 acres of grounds which includes lakeshore and landscaped gardens and the Lodore Falls waterfall. There are five conference rooms for up to 170 (or 200) delegates – all with natural lighting and up to date equipment. What makes the venue even more appealing is the access to numerous activities on the door from rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing to private picnics and trips on the launch. With 69 bedrooms and a relaxing leisure suite and beauty spa, there’s plenty to hold your attention for days.

Anyone interested in finding out more about conferences and meetings at the Lodore Falls Hotel Keswick should contact Tanya Sentance on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net

Hillthwaite House Hotel understands how important the internet is and how it continues to grow in its importance within the travel and tourism industry. The hotel’s newly designed website, http://www.hillthwaite.com  launched yesterday was commissioned to keep them up to date within the industry.

The new, fresh look website has coincided with the recent refurbishment of the lounge in this Windermere hotel, entrance hall and four bedrooms at Hillthwaite House Hotel. The lounge has been fully decorated and refurbished throughout including new carpet, furniture and sparkling chandelier. The entrance hall has also been redecorated to complement the lounge and four of guest bedrooms have had brand new en suite bathrooms installed. The new images of the refurbished rooms are shown off to their best potential within the new design and if a new website and major refurbishment wasn’t enough, a new streamlined online booking system provided by Guestlink has been incorporated making it even easier for guests and visitors to check real time availability and make bookings.

Purchased in 1971 by the present owners John and Marjorie Sodeau, the house was then called Hoggs Hill Close and was a six bedroom private residence from which a small private hotel in Windermere was born. The house was very different then, with a stable block in the area to the rear of the building and a tennis court at the front.

In 1980 the swimming pool extension was added and an additional 18 bedrooms were created. Additional bedrooms were added and the dining room extended in 1995, a plaque can be found on the wall below the terrace. The house next door, 6 Thornhill, was purchased and a new gravel track added in front of the hotel to provide access and a further 6 bedrooms were created.  In 2008 these rooms were refurbished and we now have 4 bedrooms in the lodge/annex, with 2 having sitting rooms with lovely lake and mountain views.

For more information on the Hillthwaite House Hotel in Windermere visit http://www.hillthwaite.com or telephone 015394 43636.

The first modular building we installed as a temporary walk in centre, was a used 6 bay modular building.

Prior to arrival on site, jackpad foundations were used to erect the building instead of traditional concrete foundations.

Portable Building Sales have agreed to purchase the building back after the Primary Care Trust no longer have a use for the building and in addition will also purchase the jackpad foundations leaving a clear and clean car park area once again.
The Portable Building Sales “buy back” scheme ensures that the building is removed safely, professionally and to the current Health & Safety and CDM regulations. They ensure that the Primary Care Trust has no disposal problems and receives payment for the building before it is removed.

Portable Building Sales Ltd is one of the few companies in the UK to provide this type of service.

The used steel framed modular building that was supplied consists of six plastic coated steel modules which have white Upvc double glazed windows. The building also has a plasterboard lined ceiling and walls and a double thickness plywood floor.

This used modular building was decorated internally, cleaned externally and reinstated electrically to the latest regulations.

This temporary modular walk in centre building complies with the current Part L2A 2006 building regulations and is extremely environmentally friendly as it only uses 3% of the energy required to manufacture an equivalent new modular building. This is because the embodied energy is transportable and therefore can be relocated to a new site.

Also there are significant cost savings to the client and in this instance the tax payer as well, as this building was approximately a third of the cost of an equivalent new manufactured modular building.

Portable Building Sales completed the installation of this building within four weeks from the date of order and to the client’s complete satisfaction.
Even though the modular buildings pre-owned, Portable Building Sales still provide a 12 months guarantee with the building.

Portable Building Sales provided the Coventry Primary Care Trust with complete peace of mind throughout the process of attending meetings, submission of our Health & Safety plans, supply and installation of the used modular building, arrangement of the crane, to even organising the transportation and temporary traffic management to enable the building to be off loaded from a road adjacent to the site.

For more information please visit http://www.portablebuildingsales.co.uk or telephone 01482 656590

This week, marks five years since a 10mph restriction was brought in – banning water-skiing, jet-skiing and power boating on the 10.5 mile long lake. Windermere was the only lake left in the whole of the Lake District where power-boating and water-skiing could take place.

Jason Dearden, Managing Director, runs Windermere Marina Village on the edge of the lake near Bowness, which is home to over 400 boat owners and draws visitors from the North West, North East and Cumbria, as well as around 11,000 visitors a year staying at its lakeside cottages and apartments. It is the biggest and most sheltered Marina on Windermere, and the largest in the whole of the North.

He believes a relaxation of the 2005 ban or a commitment to rethink it by the Lake District National Park Authority this year, would be a welcome gesture to tourism around the Lake following the floods, as well as assisting in the area’s economic recovery. He also thinks that representations should be made to review the 10mph byelaw if there’s a change of Government after the general election.

One of the major reasons the ban was brought in was to reduce “conflict” between different types of people using the lake and make the lake more tranquil. Mr Dearden believes Windermere is large enough to have a scheme which allows room for all types of waterborne activities – sailors, power-boaters, canoers and water-skiers – sharing the water harmoniously.

Windermere Marina Village, a family-owned tourism business, is close to completing a £3 million upgrade of the Marina and taking bookings again for the new tourism season. Following the floods of last year, the water level of the lake rose 10 feet – swamping the Marina’s 29 ground level Windermere cottages meaning holiday cancellations.

The Marina employs around 55 people and its 11,000 annual guests use local restaurants, shops, cafes and visitor attractions, making it a significant contributor to the local economy of Bowness and Windermere.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Rheged Centre, Penrith, on Tuesday 11th May 2010 and will be hosted by sometime professional northerner Stuart Maconie – journalist, Radio 2 DJ, TV presenter and champion of all things Cumbrian. 260 guests will be present to hear the winners of 15 categories announced.

The Cumbria Tourism Awards celebrate the best of Cumbria’s tourism businesses and the talented individuals behind them. Their hard work and dedication drive an economy worth over £1 billion. The size of business is not a factor, whether small or large it is about offering something special or outstanding and really supporting Cumbria and the Lake District.

Grove Cottages owners Andrew, Max and Ross Howard are delighted to have been chosen as finalists but know it is going to be a tough race to beat the other two contenders in the self catering category.

Grove’s luxury Ambleside cottages lie in the beautiful Stock Valley. The five cottages comfortably accommodate between 2 and 8 guests, and are rated 4 & 5 star.  They are sited on Grove farm, and occupy a unique position in the Lake District, with amazing views all round.  Each property is unique in character. Cozy Little Grove with its log burning stove is perfect for a romantic break for two, whereas the fabulously spacious farmhouse makes for a characterful home for larger groups & family gatherings.

There are spectacular walks to be had in all directions from the doorstep, and Guests are encouraged to explore the farm and its myriad wildlife. For the less adventurous the beautiful Stockghyll falls are within easy reach at the bottom of the farm lane. The cottages are in a very peaceful and tranquil location, yet only 1.4 miles from all the entertainment in Ambleside’s bustling village centre.

For more information visit http://www.grovecottages.com

MailSave+ is an access to postal discounts. The details of the service are as follows:

•    A 2 or a 3 day non time critical mail service for small to medium sized businesses
•    Low volume threshold to access postal savings
•    Unsorted mail
•    Daily or one off collections
•    Regional and National service

Who’s it for?

Small to medium sized businesses and public sector bodies whose mail volumes do not meet the traditional pre-sorted or Cleanmail volume criteria.
Postrooms who want a cost effective service for non time critical traditional second class mail.

What are the benefits to you – the customer?
•    Reduced cost per item on every item
•    Lower volume thresholds attract discount on every item
•    Volumes can be averaged to meet collection minimums
•    Collections times that are convenient for you
•    A cost-effective and flexible way of achieving daily mail discounts

Are there minimum volumes?
•    A minimum of 250 items per collection is required
•    Minimum collection volumes may be aggregated
•    Minimum volume collections may vary with Geographic location

Start saving today, visit http://www.themailingroom.com The Mailing Room franking machine supplier for more information and how you can start benefitting from the MailSave+ service.

The price of 1st class standard mail (weighing up to 100g) will increase by 2p to 41p and 2nd class mail by the same margin to 32p. Postage price increases are nothing new but what does differ with this price increase is that of ordinary meter and account mail, i.e. mail franked by franking machines. The prices for franked mail are to be kept at the old rate.

This is great news for businesses and organisations that send out high volumes of mail but such a saving, typically 7p* on 2nd class franked mail, is now making franking machines an attractive option for even smaller mail outputs, for example, 25-50 items per day.

Using a franking machine means stamps never run out and mail can be organised and posted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Integrated scales give you the correct postal tariff for all mail ensuring complete accuracy. Increased brand awareness and the ability to send messages on franking labels are other advantages of using franking machines.

Efficiency in business is the key in today’s climate both in the form of money and time saving. Franking machines create savings on both for a business or organisation. For example, if you had an employee on a salary of £14k per annum, and they made one 30 minute trip to the post office every week you could save an additional £14.60 a week by using franked mail. So not only with the price freeze on franked mail from April 6 but with more efficiency in time management, franking machines should be the way forward for thousands of businesses.

The Mailing Room is a leading supplier of mailroom equipment and consumables including franking machines. Visit http://www.themailingroom.com for more information.

*Saving relates to the discount offered on first class and second class letters only up to 100g. Prices effective from 6th April 2010. Discounts may vary.

The money raised at the Lancashire Ladies luncheon was presented to Keswick Mountain Rescue by Stephen Johnson who invited Trudy Edgar to come along to help present the cheque and meet some of her rescuers again.

Trudy, who lives locally still loves coming back to stay at the hotel “It is a magical place. I have stayed in some fantastic places all over the world but the Lodore Falls is still one of my favourites – you could be in any luxury location and it’s only 30 minutes from home. What makes it special is the fantastically friendly customer service, the lovely food and a simply stunning location. The fact that the Lodore staff where part of my rescue team only makes me love the place even more”.

Summing up the presentation, Stephen said “The Lodore Falls Hotel regularly supports the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team because we often see them travelling up the valley to help people. It is unusual for us to have such firsthand knowledge and we will certainly continue to support them in the future.”

Anyone interested in organising charity events at the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd Lodore Falls Hotel should contact Stephen Johnson on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net