Thurrock Network Group

One of the monthly events that the Thurrock Learning Shop is proud to host is the Thurrock Network Group. Organised by Louise of Dotty Hippo Design in conjunction with the FSB, the open group gets together on the third Thursday of every month. Tea, coffee and a light breakfast is provided by Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates and of course, the event is free.

The benefits for local businesses to attend are that they get to meet a network of local peers, that they can promote their business, investigate support opportunities and learn of potential new customers. Many new business owners find issues of isolation so the meeting also provides an excellent opportunity to have a chat and find some new friends.

The next meeting will take place at 8am on the 16th December and in celebration of the season will include a free gift for attendees. If you'd like some more information, or indeed to attend, please call Richard on 07500 802 311.

Blogging, an introduction

I think Blogging is similar to keeping a diary; the difference comes in that generally diaries are kept for personal thoughts and personal use whereas blogs are out in the public space and mostly available on the web. For this reason, they can be an excellent communication channel; a great way to let your stakeholders know what you've been up to; to offer advice & share experiences; or to keep people informed of upcoming events and activities.

There are many different types of blogs for many different audiences but according to the most recent data, Universal McCann have identified that 77% of Internet users read blogs. Of course, statistics vary from site to site and there may not be quite so many visitors to the Campanology Wales blog as Belle de Jour but each could be effective in reaching it's audience, just in it's own way.

If you are new to blogging, are thinking about creating one or are wondering how it could be part of your communication plan, Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates in collaboration with Business Link, the University of East London and The Blogmistress are pleased to be hosting seminars on 10th December 2010.

The first seminar is aimed at business owners and managers, Marketing Executives and Sales Directors and will cover;

• What blogging is and what it isn't
• What blogging can do for your business
• How to incorporate blogging into your marketing mix
• WordPress basics
• Useful resources to get on with it

There are a few places left on the morning session which can be booked at http://www.bookevents.org/

There is also an afternoon session aimed at community groups, clubs, support networks and members of the local community which will offer a more kitchen-table approach to the art of blogging. Places on the afternoon session can be booked direct with the Thurrock Learning Shop on 01375 485490.

Public Relations and the Ethical Question

This morning the Thurrock Learning Shop welcomed 22 local business people to the Easy Steps into PR seminar hosted by Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates. Delivered by UEL's own Marketing Guru Ian Bathgate, the course was both challenging and insightful and raised several question of an ethical nature.

Not so long ago Lady Gaga caused controversy by sporting a meat dress to the Video Music Awards. Overnight, she had caused yet another media sensation and made herself more than half the planet's collective focus. Much has been made as to whether it was a comment on ageing and decay, a feminist statement, an anti-fashion statement or merely a platform to highlight the now-defunct "don't ask don't tell" American military recruitment policy. Whatever it was, it's amazing to think that something that occurred 6-weeks ago on the West Coast of the US was discussed and critiqued by a group of business people on a chilly October Friday morning in Thurrock. Surely, that's a PR success? Ethical? Well, that may be another question.

So back to the Learning Shop and we're thinking about our own PR. December 15th will be our 1st Birthday and having already welcomed over 5000 members of the local community through the door, we are thinking about ways in which we can engage with 5000 more. Whilst Thurrock's Friday market boasts a meat van and students from our Fun with Fabrics workshop might be able to run up a bacon frock, the thing with PR is that once it's been done, it's been done.

Monkeying around with social media

If you've been reading the tweets, following the blogs, trying to fathom facebook and wondering how social media is going to work for your business, chances are that you've been frustrated by a lack of human support. Sure, if you have a question you can post it on a forum, send a message to a "contact us" page or trawl through pages of faqs that don't quite cover the answer that you need. This Friday help is at hand at the Thurrock Learning Shop as two of the South East's biggest social media brains are hosting the second Lunch and Laptop session which aims to support South Essex Thames Gateway businesses.

Hosting the event is Barbara Saul, Internet Marketing Strategist ably assisted by Sarah Arrow who is without doubt one of the leading social media big-brains in the country. What's more both ladies are thoroughly good eggs, have a wealth of experience in the small and medium sized business sector and are able to deliver information, support and advice in a completely engaging manner.

Thanks to Barbara & Sarah donating their time and Debbie at the Thurrock Learning Shop donating the training room facility and coffee the event is free but delegates will need to bring their own lunch and laptop. This session's focus will be on Facebook and after Barbara has given her presentation, there is an opportunity to fire-up your laptop and put the theory into practical use. So if you want to stop monkeying around with Facebook and raise your profile on the interweb then don't delay, book today http://www.eventbrite.com/event/865461619/estwbreg

Easy Steps to Getting Started in PR

Now that the summer holiday are drawing to an end, it's a great time to think about how you are going to raise the profile of your business, remain engaged with your existing customers and identify and attract new clients. To help you, Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates are hosting an "Easy Steps to Getting Started in Public Relations" seminar on the 22nd October between 0830 - 1100hrs. The free interactive workshop is aimed at Business Owners and Managers, Marketing Executives and Social Entrepreneurs.

Delivered by the University of East London's own marketing and communication guru, Ian Bathgate, the session will include information on the components of a successful PR campaign, strategies that can help you connect with differing client groups and how this information can be employed to raise your business profile.

If you would like to reserve a place, please book online at http://www.rbsiseast.org.uk/EventMatching/Search/Details.aspx?e=22591 or call 0845 601 1000.

Back to School

For many of us, the start of September has signalled the end of the summer and the start of the new academic year, the return of our business clients from their holidays and a general gear-shift towards a busier period. At the Thurrock Learning Shop we've kept busy over the sunnier months hosting seminars helping members of the local community access employment and study opportunities, balloon-art events for the Thurrock Next Top Boss challenge and, as the top photograph shows, a Fun with Fabrics workshop where participants made their own bang-on-trend maxi-dress.

The first of this season's business events took place this morning with a session on Green IT and Cloud Computing for SMEs led by UEL's own Gaurav Malik from the School of Computing, Information Technology and Engineering. Due to accidents occurring on both directions of the A13 this morning, not all delegates could make it through the resulting traffic-jams but those that did come, featured in the bottom photo, enjoyed a lively session and learnt new ways to increase profitability through more efficient IT resource use.

In addition to the traffic-jams that also delayed Gaurav, today's event was challenged by a power cut at the Thurrock Learning Shop which saw fit to knock-out the coffee machine and the data-projector - surely the two most important elements of any training session. Luckily, and with the true Dunkirk Spirit that is embodied by Team TLS, water was boiled in another part of the building and an emergency electric extension cord was purchased to power the projector. Leaks, floods, IT fails and false burglar alarms are what make working at the TLS that bit more interesting and at a push, I reckon that Team TLS could deliver babies. Lots of them.

Looking for a job this Autumn?

Maybe you've just upgraded your skills, maybe you are thinking about returning to work or maybe you are just thinking about refreshing your curriculum vitae; either way the Thurrock Learning Shop has a series of workshops which could inspire you this Autumn. Delivered by either Daphne or Kiren from our Information and Guidance Team, each workshop will last for a maximum of 2 1/2 hours and will take place in our newly refurbished training room at the Thurrock Learning Shop. Best of all, they are completely free. Dates for October include

• 19/10/10 - Computerised CV workshop
• 19/10/10 - Jobsearch techniques
• 26/10/10 - Composing your own Personal Statement
• 29/10/10 - Interview Techniques

Don't delay, book today! Call the Thurrock Learning Shop on 01375 485490 or drop into Reception Wednesday, Thursday or Friday to reserve your place or ask a question.

Cloud Computing and Green IT

At the Thurrock Learning Shop we are always keen on embracing new technologies - particularly when they save us money. One of the biggest developments in business IT of recent years has been the move away from mainframe computers towards a Cloud Computing environment which is Internet-based.

It's major benefit is the reduced capital expenditure required for businesses as billing works similar to a household utility system where you are only charged for what you use. There are many other benefits for business too and to explain them, Gaurav Malik from the University of East London will be hosting a free seminar on Thursday 9th September.

The interactive workshop will include

• an introduction to Cloud Computing and Green IT
• risks, threats and security in cloud based solutions
• getting the best out of the cloud
• empowering your users and customers
• taking the first steps in cloud computing deployment
• saving up for a rainy day
• funded support offered to small and medium sized businesses

The event is aimed at owners of small and medium sized businesses, Operations Managers, Sales Managers and Technical Officers and a complimentary breakfast bap and refreshments will be provided during the 2-hour session.

If you would like further information about the session or to reserve a free place, please contact me at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk and I shall responsd as soon as I return to the office.

We Was Robbed

As the title suggests at yesterday's weigh-in of the Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge, victory was snatched from the Thurrock Learning Shop by TRUP. The 105-day competition reached the winning-line at the Second Generation headquarters located in the modernist landscape of the formed Bata Shoe Factory site in East Tilbury.

For Team TLS it had been a long journey and began with planting the seed potatoes back in early April in a compost including Brixham seaweed and chicken manure. Hopes were high due to the sunny location at the rear of The Old Post Office, the regular vitamin boost in the form of the tomato feed and Debbie's weekly pep-talks. Before long the growbag was being top-dressed and despite ignoring the moon-phase planting plan, the green-shoots appeared to be mapping Baroness Vadera's New Year prophecy.

The results of the competition were;

1st Place - TRUP - 7 kilos
2nd Place - Thurrock Learning Shop - 6 kilos
3rd Place - Thurrock Council Waste Team - 2.25 kilos

Of course, with a yield of such considerable weight produced by TRUP, allegations of compost spiking were levelled and the vague whiff of the 1988 Summer Olympics 100m looked set to descend amongst competitors. Standing strong however, Judge Lettie McKie of the Royal Opera House declared fair-play and allegations of clandestine Furazabol-abuse were dismissed.

The photograph above shows our 2nd-placed newly harvested potatoes after the competition - a great crop from the original 5 seed potatoes and a great way to introduce "growing your own" at work; at the TLS we now have chives, parsley, basil and next year we plan to have a whole lot more. As for the potatoes, this weekend sees them beginning the second part of their journey as they transform (in Debbie's garage) into Casa Correo's inaugural bottles of wine.

Capacity Building for Social Entrepreneurs

Social Enterprise (SE) is the largest growing business model across Europe and with membership including John Lewis and Cafedirect, it is clear to see why. With this type of business, the profits from trading are reinvested within the organisation to further achieve its social aims or diverted towards a good cause.

Clearly, to be a good social entrepreneur you've to be passionate about what you do but you've also to have a handle on the business side of things and more importantly have the vision to plan the future. This strategic level is vital, especially with social enterprises as it ensures that the venture is sustainable.

Not every Social Entrepreneur comes from a corporate background and not every social enterprise Trustee has had experience of making the types of decisions that will affect an organisation's acitivity for years to come. To meet these challenges, the Thurrock Learning Shop is offering a free "Capacity Building for Social Enterprises and their Trustees" workshop on Friday 16th July. It an ideal opportunity for anybody involved with SE to start thinking about the future, to take stock of the present and to learn from the past. Delivered by Andy Brady, Director of Social Enterprise East of England it's also an opportunity to meet with other Social Entrepreneurs and share experiences. For more information, please contact Richard on 07500 802 311 or email r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk

International Export Opportunities for Local Businesses

With the Chinese authorities announcement this weekend that it is going to be more flexible in it's management of it's exchange rate, Asian stock markets rose this weekend. China has been under increased international pressure as many felt that they kept the value of the yuan artificially low to aid it's exporting businesses. Coupled with the fact that the euro has fallen 17% against the dollar - and in effect the yuan - since the European debt crisis began in December, China's exports have become less attractive.

So what does this mean for our local businesses in the South Thames Gateway? What does it mean for sterling and has it made overseas trading more attractive? What's more, how does a firm learn about the joys and pitfalls of exporting, decide if it is going to export to Dublin or Dubai or understand what the effect of the Chinese yuan is going to have on future profitability?

In conjunction with Business Link East and UK Trade & Investment, Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates is hosting a free event on Wednesday 21st July. This interactive workshop will be aimed at owner/managers who want to expand their customer base across Europe and beyond. Entitled "International Export Opportunities for Local Businesses" subjects covered will include market entry strategies and modes, help available from the UK government & other business support initiatives and tips for researching new markets.

If you would like some more information about this event, please call Richard on 07500 802 311 or email at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk

Futuresource

On the back of my visit to Ikea Lakeside I really have caught the travel-bug and so this week I had the opportunity to visit Futuresource at ExCel on Docklands. I went along with Phil from EUREKA, the London-based sister business-support project to Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates. That's Phil in the picture stood beside his dream car, a diesel powered Dulevo 850 - with that sweet ride he is sure to cut a dash on his morning commute in from Essex.

Futuresource is Europe's sustainability event and houses over 350 exhibitors and attracts over 9000 attendees. Stands promote goods and services ranging from JCB earth movers, ethical investment advisers, products for the waste, recycling & sustainable marketplace and environmental consultancy. By far the best reason for attending however is the 60+ free seminars covering a wide range of topics from communications and professional development, through food waste and packaging, to new technologies and the delivery of new waste infrastructure.

For me, by far the best seminars were delivered by WRAP and I learned about Defra's Zero Waste Places initiative and the additional benefits of working with communities to improve resource re-use. I also learned about Anaerobic Digesters which is the new name for what was my Grandad's old compost corner. The sector as a whole is a lot more advanced now, in fact Germany (the Jolly Green Giant) is now growing energy on maize farms.

There were a couple of gems throughout the presentation but if there is one thing that I ask any reader of this blog to do, is to sign up to the Mail Preference Service which will immediately cut down on the amount of junk mail that is sent to you. Less hassle and less carbon = everybody wins.

Swedish sense

On Friday I was kindly invited to attend an awareness-raising event for Social Enterprise at Ikea. I was there with Dave from TRUP, Anthony from BigBarn and a few others to get the message out about recycling, reuse and buying your produce locally.

Whilst there I spoke with Maree who has been at Lakeside IKEA since before it was built (she worked in the site-office when the shop was being constructed) and she was telling me about the new scheme that they have running. Basically, if you've been working for Ikea for more than 12 months, you can apply to take a 6-month backpacking trip to either South Africa or Vietnam and still receive full-pay. Whilst there you've to help out with a community support project but what a fantastic opportunity to see a different life?

We then talked about the World Cup and the effect that it will have on staff-sickness days - yet again Ikea are taking a far more pro-active approach on this and telling their employees to take a holiday day or some unpaid leave and the store will be operated by a skelenton staff. It makes perfect sense and really allows them to plan their resources most effectively.

Clearly at Ikea, it's not just the hotdogs and kitchens which are good

The 1/2 Way Mark

Dave from the Thurrock Re-Use Project or TRUP as it is better known, dropped into the Thurrock Learning Shop today and it was, as always, great to see him. For me, TRUP http://www.trup.org.uk/ is one of those organisations that just makes sense - they recycle unwanted furniture which means that there is less waste, they sell the recycled furniture at a really fair price and they also offer training opportunities for people looking to learn new skills. In addition, they are members of the Community Re-Paint Scheme (which at £1 per litre really represents phenomenal value) and have volunteering opportunities for local residents that have some spare time to give back to the community. All in all, TRUP are very good neighbours to the people of Thurrock.

As you may recall, TRUP are also competitors in the Potato Growing Challenge so I thought it would be good to see how his Maris Peers are doing - after all we had heard about his, and I quote, "forest of potato plants". So when he visited today he brought along a picture and I was inclined to agree - his picture is the bottom one and it does look like a bushier crop than ours above. However, I then remembered a keen gardener telling us that if we used to much fertiliser early on, it would result in the visible bit of the plant doing really well but the yield wouldn't be that great. Clearly our plants a more like bungalows - not much going on up top but plenty doing down below and at the end of the day, it's all about yield, not bushiness.

Managing The Manufacturing Process Better Workshop

For me, one of the most interesting areas of UEL's Knowledge Dock (where I work when I'm not at the Thurrock Learning Shop) is the Product Design Lab, where they use design to build business value www.productdesignlab.co.uk . I don't come from a design or manufacturing background so it was really interesting to wander along to the PDL Office (which possibly has one of the best views on campus) and talk to Matt and Gary about what they do. In essence they help manufacturers or designers to develop new ideas, to redesign exisiting products to make them more efficient or sustainable and to help businesses plan for future growth.

Knowing that we have a strong manufacturing base in Thurrock, Matt and Gary were keen to engage with local businesses and came-up with the idea of an interactive workshop. Aimed at owners/managers of manufacturing companies that develop tangible products for both the professional or domestic markets and inventors/designers, the event will take place at the Thurrock Learning Shop on Thursday 10th June between 0830 - 1100hrs. Areas covered will include an introduction to the Product Design Lab, "The Design Formula", the parallels between good design for business gain, subsidised business support opportunities and a Q & A session. As with all Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associate events, places are free and include a bacon or vegetarian bap, tea & coffee. Please contact Richard on 07500 802 311 or email r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk to reserve a place or should you have any questions.

Fun With Fabrics

According to the news last night it seems that sales of wartime favourites such as corned beef, fish paste and powdered custard have all rocketed since the recession began. During leaner times, not only is the nation finding comfort in stodgy nostalgia food but it is also finding old ways to trim the fat from household budgets.

Back then it was also popular for people to make their own clothes and darning socks was something that children learnt at Cubs and Brownies. With the advent of low-price fashion retailers such as Primarni and the diversification of supermarket chains to include clothing lines, making your own clothes became a more expensive and less popular option. As a result sewing and machine sewing skills have dwindled and a generation has lost the ability to alter clothes, make their own curtains or indeed recycle curtains into clothes.

As ever, the Thurrock Learning Shop, keen to promote recycling and resource reuse is giving locals the opportunity to learn a new skill or refresh an old hobby. The Fun with Fabrics workshop, which takes place on Friday 11th June, will teach paticipants how to use a sewing machine and to make their own summer dress. The sewing machines and all materials will be provided and the workshop if free. Places are stictly limited, so if you would like further information or to reserve your place please call Daphne on 01375 485 490.

Potato Update

With a little over 2-months to go before the weigh-in and judging of the Thurrock Potato Challenge, I thought I would talk to some of the other competitors to find out how their crops are growing. Conveniently, Maree from IKEA was at the Learning Shop this morning attending the Social Enterprise Round Table event and after the meeting I was able to ask her if she was confident with plants. It seems that her plants are doing very well as a result of their coffee diet and she is half-way up the bag having topped a few times. Sadly, on the day when the seed potatoes and growing bag were delivered to her, Maree was at HQ in Sweden and as a result she didn't find them 'till a week after her return. Furthermore, when she found them they were a potato short which could clearly result in a decreased yield....

The next competitor that I spoke with was Dave from TRUP - the furniture recycling depot in Thurrock. Now Dave, in fairness, does wear glasses which could explain his boasting the other week that his plants were standing 6 inches and bushy. Either that or he is competitively fibbing in order to psyche the other teams out. Currently, we have a Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associate undertaking a MarComs project at TRUP so I will be asking the Associate the true state of play but here at the Learning Shop, we aren't that bothered.

The other competitor I spoke with today was Richard, GM at the Park Inn, Thurrock. Richard is extremely busy at the moment as he is overseeing a huge £2.3m refurbishment of the venue and this perhaps explains why his crop are still chitting. Of course, it is a shame that he will be unable to take part in the yield competition but I suppose that there is still an opportunity for one of his wild-looking chits to enter into the Potato That Most Looks Like a Celebrity......

As for our plants, they are looking good and the seaweed and chicken diet seems to be working a treat.

Silver Surfers Day

As part of Adult Learners Week, UEL, Thurrock CVS and Thurrock Library Services are joining forces to offer a free Internet taster session aimed at the older generation. Taking place at the Thurrock Learning Shop on Friday 21st May between 10am and 1pm the session is ideal for those with limited or no experience of computers. There will be simple handouts to take home on web terminology, email and phone, Internet security, social networking, shopping and banking online. Better still, there will be information about the "Wiser for IT" computer courses at local libraries and how to make more use of library facilities to connect to the Internet.

Chances are that if you are reading this on the Learning Shop Blog then the taster session is probably not for you - this is an opportunity for those, like my parents, who went to school in the era when computers were kept behind locked doors in places like Bletchley Park. It will give practical information about how to get online, how to stay safe online and some of the ways of keeping in contact with friends and family.

Since my parents did their first taster-session a few years ago, they've come a long way. My mum no longer writes emails in the form of telexes (stop), my dad knows the most competitively-priced fare on a cross-Channel ferry for the next 6-months (and tells me on an almost daily basis) and they can keep up-to-date with how the potatoes are doing. For more practical uses they've been able to research information about recovering from a heart-attack, can keep up-to-date with their grand-children's busy lives and best of all can often be heard laughing like drains at some joke that a friend has sent them.

If you know somebody who could benefit from this session or if you would like some more information please contact Karen Glazzard on 01375 389889.

Interview and Selection

As part of Daphne's continuing programme of workshops aimed at increasing employability skills, the Thurrock Learning Shop hosted an Interivew and Selection workshop this morning. It follows courses including a CV workshop and an Application Form and Personal Statement seminar. Daphne was assisted by Fadeke from TRUST and the delegates pictured completed inter-active tasks to help prepare for interview opportunities.

If you think that you might benefit form brushing-up your employability skills, or if you would like some help looking at courses available in the Thurrock area, please call Daphne on 01375 485490

Marketing Matters

Having spoken to colleagues and contacts in a variety of industries across Thurrock it seems the Icelandic Ash-Cloud compounded this year's natural Easter lull. Certainly, whilst its been a great time to feel some sun on your bones and enjoy the fresh air, some businesses are going to be faced with cash flow challenges next month.

Businesses often follow natural cycles so ironing out peaks and troughs through better marketing management can help with improved financial and resource planning. On Thursday 27th May, Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates (KTIA) will be hosting a Marketing Matters workshop which has been developed for small and medium sized businesses by Ian Bathgate from the University of East London. The interactive session will last from 0830 until 1100 and will cover areas such as;

* Essential skills necessary for managing your marketing
* How professional marketing can aid business growth
* How to plan for marketing
* How to develop marketing strategies through marketing segmentation
* How to target and position your product/service in the marketplace
* Benefits to business of a KTIA part-funded placement

The workshop is aimed at owners/managers who want to review their own marketing activity or marketing managers/executives who are looking to brush-up their knowledge. Thanks to sponsorship from KTIA, the event is free for local businesses and includes tea, coffee and a bacon bap. To find out more details about the event, or to book a place place click on the link below http://tinyurl.com/39b2ngx

Interview Technique

At the best of times, interviews can be uncomfortable. It's a fine line between tooting your own trumpet and appearing over-confident and when does a thorough explanation turn into a rambling monologue? Like everything though, technique improves with practice so if it's been awhile since you last attended an interview and you would like to brush-up your skills or if you are new to the process there's an ideal opportunity at the Thurrock Learning Shop for you.

During the morning of 30th April, Daphne will be giving an inter-active workshop on Interview Techniques including information about the most commonly asked questions, ways of presenting information and how to make a lasting impression.

The course is free and if you would like further details, please call Daphne at the Thurrock Learning Shop on 01375 458490.

As for me, when I am trying to relax waiting to be called into an interview room I try to remember the hilarious scene in Trainspotting when Spud goes for an interview at the leisure company. (Like I was going to get through a blogpost without making reference to potatoes).

Planting the seeds

With blue skies, a light breeze and the sweet scent of summer on the air, the planting conditions at lunchtime today were ideal for our seed potatoes. As you can see from the picture, Ruth took care of planting the chits in our special blend of compost with help from Chris, Daphne, Melody and myself.

Competing for the Potato Growing Challenge Cup are the Park Inn Thurrock, IKEA, TRUP, Rio Aggregates, Aherns Waste Management, Co-Op Distribution Centre, The Waste and Horticultural Teams from Thurrock Council and The Thurrock Learning Shop. Organised by Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates and The Waste Team the challenge aims to offer a more light-hearted aspect of sustainability to local businesses.

Continuing the green theme, April 22nd sees the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and at the Thurrock Learning Shop we are celebrating by reducing waste. So rather than picking-up sandwiches from the local supermarket or High Street pie-shop we are each going to be bringing-in a dish for lunch to share to help reduce packing. Small steps towards a more sustainable future.

The Potato Cup

The Potato Cup has arrived in the office this week and is sat on the credenza beside Debbie's desk. Debbie has already made it very clear to the team that she will be profoundly disappointed if we fail to win the Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge and so every day we are making a point of spending some quality time with our chitts to ensure their emotional well-being.

It's been a great week for the Thurrock Learning Shop - we had the official opening on Monday and celebrated with many of the team involved in the establishment of the facility. Incredible to believe that since we opened in mid-December we have welcomed 1300 local people through the door. As well as offering an information and guidance service we have hosted events including a carbon foot-printing workshop, a Well-Being Day and the Thurrock Network Group. Best of all, the plumbers setting-up the system next door in the new Enterprise Centre fixed our radiators this morning.

Maris Peer

Another step closer towards the Good Life today as Sharon from The Waste Team delivered the recycled sacks for the Potato Growing Challenge. I picked-up the seed potatoes and delivered them to the fellow teams competing for the Potato Growing Challenge cup. We'll be growing Maris Peers and, according to food-writer Sarah Jane Evans...

"the aromas of the cooked potato are of freshly cut grass, a meadow freshness with a hint of citrus, finishing with notes of sweet butter."

....which truly will be a feat in istelf having experienced the unique and robust smell of the chicken manure that we will be growing them in here at the TLS.

The Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge

It's on! The first of the teams competing in the Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge have signed up and a vigorous competitive spirit is set to descend over Thurrock in the coming months. Sponsored by The Waste Team at Thurrock Council and Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates (KTIA) the competition will span the growing season with prizes being awarded for Best Yield and the Esther Rantzen Award for the potato that most resembles a celebrity. The organisations taking part thus far are Ikea, Thurrock Re-Use Project (TRUP), Park Inn Thurrock, Rio Aggregates, The Waste Team from Thurrock Council and KTIA, a Thurrock Council business support initiative.

Much talk has been made of the use of various fertilizers; The Waste Team championing the use of their home-grown Worm Tea; Ikea planning to get their plants hooked on caffeine from the used coffee grinds from their canteen; traditionalists TRUP favouring a family recipe. At Team KTIA, we are investigating a few options including moon-phase planting and the use of chicken manure.....I'll keep you posted

Social Media Workshop

With global organisations such as Harley-Davidson, Marks & Spencer and Virgin investing more of their marketing budget in online advertising it is clear that marketing trends are changing. Businesses across the globe have found that complimenting traditional marketing campaigns with new opportunities such as social media platforms have led to increased cost-effectiveness, access to new markets and reductions in carbon equivalent emissions.

Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates (KTIA) in conjunction with Arrow Light Haulage are pleased to offer a free workshop for local businesses entitled “Harness Social Media to Increase Your Sales”. Taking place on the 4th March from 0900 until 1130hrs in Grays, the session is ideal for small enterprise owners and managers who are interested in learning more about online social media platforms and their benefits and how to design a strategy to develop a successful, enhanced and cost-effective online presence.

For more information, please call Richard on 07500 802 311 or email r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk

Social Enterprise Round Table

The Thurrock Learning Shop hosted the first Social Enterprise Round Table event last Friday attended by a variety of Thurrock organisations, Social Entrepreneurs and Director of Social Enterprise South East, Andy Brady.

Presentations about challenges facing social entrepreneurs in 2010 and the subsidised support available from the Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates project preceded an open forum and opportunity for networking. In keeping with the theme, Cafe 4 U (the social enterprise cafe located at the Thameside Theatre) catered the event.

Following the event, Tina Murphy talks about what the Social Enterprise Round Table event meant to her.

Spreading the Green Goodness

At the TLS we are all about spreading the love of things Green, especially when they save us money. For this reason the Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associate project is hosting a "Save Money by Carbon Foot-Printing" workshop on Thursday 11th Feb. Aimed at local business owners and managers, the workshop will show companies how they can save money and the environment by understanding the inter-relationship between carbon equivalent emissions reduction, resource efficiency measures and investment. Email Richard at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk if you would like more details about this free event.

The Green Thing

I've been trying to think of a heading for a series of posts I'm going to write about the "greening" of the Thurrock Learning Shop but my mischievous mind keeps sniggering at the colour. You see, I studied in Spain for awhile and over there green translates to blue. So if for example you watch a blue movie, the Spanish would say a green movie; to tell a blue joke would translate to a green joke and the phrase "dirty old man" is "viejo verde" or "old green". Suffice to say, when you meet your madrileno flatmate's mother for the first time, don't be asking her if she has green fingers - it doesn't translate well.

So back to the Green Thing and today I've picked up the recycling bin for the Thurrock Learning Shop so we can start to collect the used paper without causing a fire hazard. I was hoping to get a second-hand bin from our friends at 2ndGeneration in Thurrock but it seems that bins don't get recycled often. Getting the bin is the start of the journey towards carbon reduction that we've documented in the Thurrock Learning Shop's Green Commitment. Hopefully there will be some fun things too like growing our own herbs on the window-sill and a potato-bucket in the car park so if anybody has any knowledge of moon-phase planting, a spare watering can or some spare seed potatos that they would like to donate, please email me at r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk

Social Enterprise Round Table

The Learning Shop is looking forward to hosting it's first event for Thurrock's social enterprise community on Friday 5th February from 0830 until 1030. Social Enterprise is the fastest growing business model in Europe - some of the more well known names include retailer John Lewis, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Jamie Oliver's restaurant group 15 and Cafedirect.

Social Enterprise East of England Director Andy Brady will be talking briefly about the opportunities and threats facing social entrepreneurs in 2010 and then Richard will be explaining how Social Enterprises can take advantage of subsidised support from the Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates project.

The Round Table will also provide an excellent opportunity to meet other managers of social enterprises, network and do business over bacon butties. More information is available from r.a.snell@uel.ac.uk or by calling 07500 802 311.

Siberian Winds Blow Towards Grays

Well, I must of chosen the coldest day of the year to visit the recently opened Thurrock Learning Shop. The journey from East London to Grays town centre was thwarted by one car in the garage, one woman unwilling to drive in the ice and a broken down C2C train. But make it I did (along with Gail and Ray also from UEL) to meet with Development Corporation colleagues to talk about the launch and official opening of the new Shop.
Wow, what a change from the pictures Debbie (shop manager) had previously posted on the Blog. Pleased to report the heating is now working, the interior is very impressive and the kettle is fully functional (thank you to one of the partners who made me tea). Despite the very poor weather, over a couple of hours there were a few interested individuals, families and couples that called in to find out 'what was going on' and 'could it help them'. Richard did a great job on the meeting and greeting front whilst Debbie attempted to leave Grays (we kept getting texts that she was still on the station waiting for a train). Sadly, we forgot to give Debbie leaflets to distribute whilst she stood on the platform to promote the next Saturday learning and community event taking place at the end of January focusing on health and well-being, drat........