More than 40 people attended Concept Staffing’s conference at the City Gate Hotel in Exeter to acknowledge the company’s top achievers. Taunton shone on the night with Janet Phillips winning ‘Branch Manager of the Year’ and sales resourcer and trainee consultant Kelly Burne receiving the ‘Most Improved Award’.

Janet has more than 10 years’ experience working in the recruitment industry, becoming manager of the Taunton branch in 2004. She now holds the post of executive branch manager, with full responsibility for the Taunton, Bridgwater and surrounding areas. 

Janet said: “The Branch Manager of the Year award has an extra special meaning to me for 2009, as this proved to be one of the toughest in my 11 year recruitment career because of the difficult economic climate we faced. 

“It was a year of hard decisions and changes but my positive mental attitude and flexible approach proved that when it gets tougher you don’t give up or become complacent; you embrace new challenges and continue to strive for excellence and the results will speak for themselves.

“Kelly’s award and mine is the ultimate ‘icing on the cake’ – helping to mark a year of financial success as well as recognising staff development.”

Kelly, 23, from Burnham on Sea, has been with Concept Staffing for two and a half years.  Currently undergoing a Resourcer Development Programme, Kelly is aiming to become a consultant for Concept’s commercial desk.

She said: “The award is a major achievement which I am very proud of. I feel it is a benchmark of how hard I have worked for Concept and also shows the support I have behind me.”

Janet added: “I would like to say a special thank you to all our Somerset clients who have been a pleasure to work with.”

Celebrating more than 20 years in business, Concept Staffing finds jobs for up to 1,000 people with more than 500 different clients each week. The company turns over £17 million annually and is part of the Acorn Group.

Karen Sharpin, Concept’s divisional manager, said: “Janet has made a massive impact on the company since joining six years ago, while Kelly is dedicated to expanding her role.

“I’d like to thank them both for their commitment over the past year and hope that 2010 is just as successful and prosperous.”

Margaret Thomas, 59, and Sue Prosser, 56, are hiking across Costa Rica in November for Cancer Research Wales after both were recently affected by the disease.

Sue’s husband, Gerard, is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at the Velindre Hospital in Whitchurch. Sue said: “I will be 57 when we trek and Margaret will be 60- but you’re never too old!

“Both Margaret and I have had close family members who have been affected by cancer and we want to help fight it.

“So far the response has been amazing; totally overwhelming. It seems most people these days are affected by the awful disease.”

Margaret and Sue will trek from San Jose to the Pacific coast passing through Cerro Frio, San Gerardo, Angeles, Rio Nuevo, Cerro San Antonio and Mongolia. The pair will walk across tropical lagoons, coffee plantations, and mountains, dealing with high temperatures and torrential rain.

The trek takes place 18-28 November by which time Sue and Margaret hope to raise at least £6,000 for Cancer Research Wales.

Cancer Research Wales is an indigenous Welsh cancer charity, set up in 1966 to fund pioneering research into new cancer treatments.

Cancer Research Wales deputy charity director for fundraising, Liz Andrews said: “Margaret and Sue are undertaking the challenge of a lifetime and we wish them the best of luck. All the money they raise for Cancer Research Wales will stay in Wales to fund groundbreaking research.”

To support Sue and Margaret, please visit www.justgiving.com/susan-prosser-margaret-thomas, and to find out more about overseas challenges please contact Cancer Research Wales on 02920 316976.

If you are going to the market with your home, it’s a good idea to try and see it from a viewers’ angle both inside and out.

The first impression when a potential buyer either drives passed doing their initial view or pulls up at the door is most important.  As often said, it’s that first impression that counts.  Try not to have litter in the garden and remove shopping bags that have got tangled in your hedge.  Keep the grass down  and the weeds under control, shine up the front door and clean your windows and frames.  I would even go to the extent of checking your street for broken car glass.  It takes seconds to brush up and won’t be there to spark a thought in a buyers mind that the area could be prone to car crime.  This all helps to give your prospect a positive image of the location before they walk through the door.

To create a good impression when entering the property make sure that it feels as welcoming as possible.   Coats and shoes should be put away, smells of pets or cigarette smoke should be neautralised and the place should be well lit.  If you use energy saving light bulbs then make sure they are switched on in plenty of time before the appointment. 

Your living rooms should be as light as possible.  Draw the curtains well back in daylight hours and clear away as much clutter as possible, maximising on the space available and not taking the focus off the room size. 

The kitchen should be as clear as possible on the work surfaces.  The room can be dressed with co-ordinated kitchen equipment but overcrowded unit tops indicate lack of storage and can be off putting.  Clean your kitchen thoroughly.  Viewers will sometimes open the oven door and if it isn’t well kept they will automatically register a £500 cost to replace it.

Bedrooms should be clothes free and dirty linen out of sight.  The beds should be made and dressed where possible.  Again, the curtains should be pulled well back and the rooms are shown as light as possible.

The bathrooms or shower rooms should be clean and smell fresh.  Mildew or discoloured grout will make your potential buyers think they have to re tile when half hour with a suitable detergent would resolve it.  Polish your shower screen and put your shampoos and tooth brushes out of sight.  People see a bathroom as a very personal space and if it isn’t gleaming they will feel like it needs to be refitted as a priority.

The gardens should be neat and tidy and your garage in order.  Most people accept that garages are often used for excess storage areas and will expect to see them full, but try to keep them reasonably well organised so that the size can be appreciated. 

All this said, staging your property needs to be subtle and the age old methods of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee are too contrived.  A clean odourless property which is as clutter free as possible will appear far more attractive to your viewers.

Lastly, the fewer people in the property when your viewing is taking place the better.  Viewers will be much more comfortable and feel less pressured if the house is unoccupied at the time.

A A certain amount of hair loss is actually perfectly normal. In fact the average person can shed anything from 50 to 150 hairs every day – these are the hairs that fall out when brushing, towel drying and even sleeping.

You’re certainly not alone and experts have estimated that one in three women will at some point in their lives experience some form of thinning or hair loss, generally between their mid-twenties to mid-thirties.

This of course is probably little comfort to those dealing with the condition as hair is so intrinsically linked to femininity that sudden loss can be traumatic.

A woman’s pattern of hair loss is usually very different to the typical receding hairline and general balding in men and although it can be genetic, in women it is often more likely to be linked to hormonal changes.

The changes that occur in the body when taking certain contraceptive pills (actually either starting or stopping taking them), when pregnant (both during and after) and when going through the menopause have all been known to lead to temporary hair loss. This is because certain hormones, such as oestrogen and testosterone, are being produced more quickly and in bigger quantities than normal – but when this subsides, things will go back to normal.

Likewise, it can be a side effect of taking certain medication but again, this should only be temporary.

If none of the above applies to you, you may be suffering from a condition known as Alopecia, which is basically the medical term for hair loss. Its onset is often quite sudden and can appear random and while not necessarily damaging to physical health, the mental health implications can be significant.

There is evidence to suggest in some cases it may be genetic, and it is also inked to stress and sudden shock, as well as problems that occur within the thyroid gland.

Alopecia manifests itself in varying degrees – from Alopecia Areata (patchy hair loss) and Alopecia Totalis (total hair loss on the scalp) to Alopecia Universalis (complete loss of body hair).

The good news with the Alopecia Areata is that in 98% of cases, the chances are your hair will grow again. Unfortunately in the other cases this is less likely but, while there is no cure, there are treatments available and specialists who can help.

Corticosteroids are probably the most common treatment for Alopecia – a corticosteroid cream can be applied to the affected area or alternatively, an injection directly into the bald areas.

This is just one option and if the condition is getting more serious, I would advise you to seek advice from your GP who will be able to talk through the options.

They may also recommend that you pay a visit to a trichologist (hair and scalp specialist) for further advice.

It’s very difficult to go into great detail in so few words but there are some basic things that you can be doing in order to ensure that your hair is in tip top condition and at its strongest.

Just like every other part of your body, your hair is affected by your diet so make sure yours is balanced and healthy and not overly reliant on processed foods.

Hair is actually made up of protein, so if you’re not eating enough, your hair will feel the adverse effects. Natural sources include eggs, meat, fish and pulses. Likewise, low iron levels can impact on hair health – plenty of meat and leafy green vegetables will help keep those levels where they should be.

We’ve already touched on stress as a contributor so do try and manage your stress levels. Massage is generally a good stress reliever and when it comes to the scalp, it actually helps stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles which helps to boost growth so try and do this a couple of times a week.

And in general, using a hairdryer/straighteners on top heat every day, adding hair extensions and tugging your hair back into tight ponytails, while unlikely to be a direct contributor, won’t help so try and be as kind to your hair as you can.

This can be a very distressing condition but as I’ve mentioned there is support and hopefully in your case, also treatment available so there’s no need to suffer in silence.

The indoor climbing centre located just off Newport Road in Cardiff has rapidly established itself as the premier indoor climbing venue in Wales  – and one of only a handful operating to its scale and standard in the whole of the UK.

Thirty year-old Rob and Ollie, 25, met through their shared interest in climbing and have undertaken numerous expeditions together.

Rob is ex-Army, having spent 5 years serving as a member of the Parachute Regiment while Ollie comes from an Industrial Rope Access background that has natural synergy with the technical aspects of climbing.

In 2007, Rob left the Army and the duo, who had previously discussed the possibility of opening their own climbing centre, decided to follow the idea through.

Rob says:

“It was actually on the way back from one of our climbing trips that Ollie and I thrashed out the basics of a business plan – over a Burger King in some far flung motorway services as I recall!

“But from then, it was full steam ahead and we really have achieved a lot in the last two and a half years – and even moreso in the last eighteen months.

“We’d already invested financially separately in property in London – Ollie’s originally from Wimbledon and I’m from Surrey – and decided the best option would be to sell up and use the combined capital to relocate to a suitable area where we thought the business would have the best chance of succeeding.”

Once the decision had been made, Rob & Ollie began to properly research their market and potential locations and Cardiff won for three main reasons – a rapidly developing city, no climbing facilities to speak of and the potential to seek financial support and practical business advice from the numerous Welsh Assembly Government business development grant and support schemes.

Having secured funding to the tune of just over £1/2 million – a combination of private investors, Finance Wales and a Natwest bank loan – Boulders opened its doors in

August 2008, on time and under budget.

The business turned over just under £70,000 in its first month and has steadily grown since – it’s now regularly enjoyed by over 4,000 people monthly.

Boulders attracts a wide audience of clients – from children looking to have their first attempt at climbing a wall to adult novices, students, experienced climbers and the corporate training and self development market.

“We really do offer an awesome alternative form of exercise compared to the more traditional gym based activities.  Boulders is fantastic for anybody who might be looking to try their hand at climbing and we’ve stayed true to our original ethos – to open up climbing as a sport to as wide an audience as possible,” says Rob.

“The Weekend and after-school clubs are very popular with youngsters but we also have an increasing corporate training following.  Through Boulders Peak Performance, we provide development facilities for organisations, training providers, recruiters and the like, with a specially designed range of proven physical activities which we map to their delivered training programmes, hopefully adding value through the benefits of experiential learning.  It’s a growing sector but of course we’d like to grow it more.”

Boulders now employs a total of fifteen full-time staff and between ten-fifteen part-time team members at any time. 

Although Rob and Ollie are themselves keen climbers and both qualified instructors, they are very focused on the business objectives they have clearly set out to achieve – that is to make Boulders a multi-site UK-wide brand.

“We love what we do and are lucky to work in an environment we’re so comfortable with but at the end of the day, this is a business and our futures depend on its success.  We’ve set everything up so that it can be easily replicated and the plan now is to very much continue to build on what we’re doing here in Cardiff until we’re in a position to introduce Boulders to an even wider market.”

The Cymru Alliance League club was recently awarded £11,600 from the Welsh Grounds Improvements Scheme which they have used to lay tarmac pathways to three sides of the pitch. The upgrades will play a substantial role in helping the club achieve their ambitions of creating a League of Wales standard ground within the next few years.

Denbigh Town Chairman Clwyd Williams said: “The work has undoubtedly enhanced the appearance of our ground.

“Previously the sides of the playing area looked very untidy and uneven. Since the work has been carried out we have had lots of comments from supporters and officials from other clubs telling us how good our ground now looks.

“Our goal of reaching League of Wales standard is going to cost us a lot of money, so the Welsh Grounds Improvements funding has helped us immensely.”

Established in 2008, Welsh Grounds Improvements was set up to distribute Football Association of Wales grant aid to clubs to help improve the standard of stadia across Wales.

Ioan Jones from Welsh Grounds Improvements visited the club (Saturday 27th February) to give their approval to the new facilities and to present a plaque to the club for the work carried out. 

Peter Lee, Chairman of the Welsh Grounds Improvements Board said: “It is our aim to continue to help clubs like Denbigh Town to improve the facilities that they offer to the community.

“With the introduction of this scheme, we hope to help many more clubs improve their future prospects and at the same time close the gap between the standards of facilities in place at football clubs across Wales.”

The Cancer Research Wales shop in Castle Court Shopping Centre opened in October and has since raised more than £30,000.

Commercial Fundraising Manager for Cancer Research Wales Stuart Barry said: “We have currently 10 active volunteers within the shop, plus many more supporters who volunteer for our events and bucket collections within the Caerphilly area, but we are always on the lookout for more.

“The Caerphilly shop has been such a success and the volunteers do such a good job.”

Karen O’Brien started volunteering at the Caerphilly shop in December after speaking to Cancer Research Wales charity director Maggie Hughes.

Karen, 49, said: “I first met Maggie in 2004 when I started to organise fundraisers for cancer research, including a concert in Caerphilly for my friend Sandra who unfortunately died of cancer aged just 50.  That particular event raised £900. Maggie contacted to ask if I would consider becoming a volunteer at the new shop in Caerphilly. As I’m not working at the moment I thought that it would be a nice thing to do.”

Karen volunteered three to four days a week before Christmas when the shop saw record numbers of customers, and now she helps out two days a week. Speaking of her decision to support the charity, Karen said: “I lost my Nan at a young age from cancer, and more recently my Mum, Pam who died from lung cancer nearly 3 years ago. I must help in any way to eradicate this terrible disease which claims so many lives unnecessarily. By volunteering at the Cancer Research Wales shop I feel that I am helping in the cause.

“I have been affected first hand by cancer, and I have seen the difference that Cancer Research Wales and the Velindre Hospital can make. Helping in the shop is the least I can do.

“I get to meet lots of people every day, and it’s surprising how generous people are; I’m always ringing sales into the till and accepting donations.”

Stuart said: “We rely on people like Karen who give up their time to help us raise money. We are always looking for volunteers to spend just a couple of hours a week in our shop, which as Karen said, has been really busy.

“With continued support for our fundraising, we can carry on fighting cancer and funding vital research projects.”

All the money raised by Cancer Research Wales stays in Wales.

Volunteering for Cancer Research Wales is easy and any-one can do it. If you are interested just pop into the store for an application from or call 0292031 6976.

Cancer Research Wales also has shops on Merthyr Road and Penlline Road in Whitchurch in Cardiff.

There’ll be style in the stands, and high heels on the halfway line, when Cardiff Blues hosts its first Ladies Day, in association with Cancer Research Wales this spring. 

Female rugby fans are being offered a unique day out, when Cardiff Blues take on the current Heineken Cup Champions, Leinster on March 7th, in what promises to be a thrilling game.

 
Women can purchase tickets for the match for a special price of just £5, which will also include a host of glamorous events at the Cardiff City Stadium before the game kicks off at 4pm.

Female fans will have the chance to be pampered at beauty stations, and browse fashion stands in the VIP ladies area from 2pm, as well as being entertained with live music, and the chance to meet Cardiff Blues players. A bar and light refreshments will also be available, as well as competitions and giveaways on the day.

Guests at the event are also encouraged to dress up and wear pink to show support for the Cardiff Blues official charity, Cancer Research Wales. All the money raised by the charity stays in Wales to fund vital and pioneering research into new cancer treatments. 

Cardiff Blues season ticket holders can bring female guests for only £2 (STH can purchase up to four £2 tickets) and there will be no extra charge for current female season ticket holders.

Speaking about the event, Cardiff Blues Marketing Officer, Annabelle Harries said, “Everyone is really excited about the first Cardiff Blues Ladies Day here at the Cardiff City Stadium, it’s set to be a brilliant day out for all our current female fans, as well as those who are coming to a rugby match for the first time.”

Cancer Research Wales deputy fundraising director, Liz Andrews added: “We’re delighted to be Cardiff Blues’ official charity, and encouraging women to come along and join in the fun. Not only will they be treated to first class entertainment both before and during the game, anyone who buys a ticket will also be helping the fight against cancer here in Wales.”

For tickets and information please contact the ticket office on 0845 345 1400

• Ladies day tickets NOT available in 129,201,202 &203

• Access control system will signify when a “ladies” ticket has been used to enter stadium

For most of us buying a home is the most expensive purchase that we will ever make and therefore we need to ensure that it’s the right one and that there is someone on hand to guide and provide sound advice through this process. Any good estate agent should be well informed, have a sound understanding of the current trading climate and be interested in the motivation and need of his / her clients.

Choosing the right agent is also crucial to the successful sale of your property and you must not underestimate the role they will play in this.

So how do you ensure the estate agent that you choose is able to deliver the quality and expertise that you require?

One of the first things to ensure is that the agent you’re thinking of instructing is actually experienced in the market you’re targeting.  There’s absolutely no point taking on an agent that sells predominantly big country piles if you’re looking to sell a two-bedroom flat in an urban area for example.  So do your research and look for somebody that has a good track record of selling properties similar to yours – keeping an eye out for ‘For Sale’ and ‘Sold’ signs is always a good indicator of their presence in a particular area.

If they are selling properties like yours then they are likely to have a number of clients on their database who are also looking to buy properties like yours (and equally have access to the sort of properties you might want to buy) so it makes sense to put the two together.  But don’t be afraid to check out the types of properties they are selling

in a bit more detail to make sure they are up to standard / the property particulars are presented well and descriptions actually match what’s being sold. 

The images of your property in an estate agent’s window or on their website will be the first introduction to your home that a potential buyer gets so you need to make sure your chosen agent is presenting it in the best possible light.
 
A recommendation from a friend or family member is always good as you know it has come from somebody you can trust but also, trust your own instincts – do you feel comfortable with them?  Does what they’re saying add up?

Again, having undertaken some of your own research will help here.  Ensure that you are familiar with the local market and the sorts of prices properties are achieving / how long they’re generally taking to sell etc (particularly relevant in the current economic climate).  At least then you’ll be able to judge for yourself whether or not they’re trying to pull the wool over your eyes – maybe with an inflated valuation of your property in order to initially get you on side for example.

It’s also worth checking out their professional status – ie, are they regulated.  The main organisations to look out for are the Guild of Professional Estate Agents, the Ombudsmen for Estate Agents and the National Association of Estate Agents.  Membership of any of these will at least ensure that a particular agent is adhering to a professional code of practice.

Look at how your potential agent is marketing themselves and their properties, using local media and other avenues.  It will give a good indication of the way in which they’ll represent you if you do decide to take them on.

Finally, and perhaps this is an obvious one, but make sure the service they’re offering is exactly what you’re after.  Do they provide out of office appointment times for valuations if normal working hours are inconvenient?  If you’re buying, will they pick you up and take you to appointments?  These are all things that you may require so don’t be afraid to ask beforehand it these are possible.

And do bear in mind the professionalism and enthusiasm of the team in general – if you’re impressed with them then potential buyers are likely to be and that bodes well for your sale!

The Talbot Green-based housebuilder – which was established forty-four years ago and has built in excess of 4000 homes across the South Wales region – has completed a deal with a prominent national housebuilder to purchase 7.5 acres of prime residential building land in Coity, Bridgend, supported by Barclays Corporate.

This greenfield site will be part of the new community of Parc Derwen and will accommodate one hundred new homes – a mixed development of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom semi and detached properties, 10% of which will be affordable housing.

Total revenue generated by this acquisition will be in excess of £16m and this latest purchase will increase the number of plots owned by Llanmoor to in excess of 800 units – equivalent to in the region of five years supply at normal construction and sales rates.
 
Speaking about this latest substantial investment by the company, Llanmoor director, Simon Grey, says:

“As a business, we’ve enjoyed an excellent start to 2010 and this latest land purchase really does put us in an extremely strong position going forward.

“This is the first major purchase we’ve made since the recession began and we are now very actively in the market for more land.   We certainly have the confidence in the market going forward to continue building up our extensive landbank and with the appropriate funding secured it’s now a case of finding suitable plots. We’re constantly looking three to five years ahead and, quite literally, building for the future.

“We actually first looked at this site in Parc Derwen in November so the purchase process has been relatively fast – due largely to the excellent working relationship we have with our bank, Barclays and the efficient and professional service provided by both Hugh James our solicitors and Rawlins & Madley chartered surveyors.

“We really do have everything in place to allow us to acquire more land quickly and would welcome the opportunity to talk to anybody in a position to sell.” 

Cliff Jones, Barclays Corporate Relationship Director said “Barclays Corporate is committed to using our industry expertise and specialists to support such propositions, which are vital to a prosperous economy.  By really understanding the sector, and particularly Llanmoor Homes long track record of success, Barclays Corporate has been able to provide support for the project. This deal further demonstrates that debt funding is readily available for the right propositions.”

Jeremy Rawlins of Rawlins and Madley added:

“We have acted on Llanmoor’s behalf many times, and it is always a pleasure to do so as they adopt an extremely thorough but positive approach.  Llanmoor’s schemes have always suited the Bridgend market, as evidenced by their development at Broadlands, which is now drawing to a close.  Parc Derwen is a great location, and it will, I am sure prove equally as successful”.