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.