 Bryant Homes, Calderpeel Architects And Prestoplan
Leading UK timber frame manufacturer and designer Prestoplan was appointed as the timber frame supplier for the construction of ten, six-storey apartment blocks on the banks of the River Mersey in Runcorn for Bryant Homes.
Prestoplan, which provides early design input as part of its comprehensive service, sent in its design team months ahead of the build. The team worked as a strategic project partner with Calderpeel to identify cost-effective design solutions that would meet the high specification needs of this scheme.
Ian Loughnane, Prestoplan’s technical director, explained: "Working in partnership with developers to overcome the unique challenges they face is a fundamental element of our service. The beauty of timber frame is that it significantly simplifies on-site construction, promotes greater efficiency and offers greater control of the construction process, not to mention lower project costs." |
 Bio-med Businesses
Some 100 delegates were at an ‘Innovation to Enterprise’ event at the University of Exeter to hear from key speakers, with open floor discussions and case study presentations from individual businesses.
Businesses and research institutions across the life sciences and healthcare industry in the South West must communicate and collaborate more effectively with each other if the sector is to prosper. That was the clear message to delegates from seasoned entrepreneur Dr Jim Murray, co-founder of bio-giant Shire Pharmaceuticals.
“There is a huge pool of talent in this region – but also a need for better communications between academia and business,” said Dr Murray, who was chairing the event, organised by the region’s biotechnology network BioApproaches South West in conjunction with the South West of England Regional Development Agency, NHS Innovations South West, UK Trade & Investment and the Enterprise Europe Network.
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 Starbucks Hosts OpenCoffee Club
OpenCoffee Club, the global networking phenomenon for entrepreneurs and start-ups, has arrived at Starbucks in Bristol.
Launched by local digital media entrepreneur John Bradford, the club will meet fortnightly at the Bristol Park Street coffee house.
Bristol’s OpenCoffee Club offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet investors and business developers informally and find out how to grow their businesses. Areas of specific interest will be under discussion at each meeting which will include question and answer sessions with established figures from the business community.
The OpenCoffee Club concept was developed by Saul Klein, whose business ventures include Lovefilm and Skype, in order to encourage online entrepreneurs, developers and investors to organise off-line, real-world informal networking. |
 For Richer, For Poorer
A married Plymouth couple are looking forward to a lifetime of happiness without a financial ‘hitch’, after the date of their big day helped them to win big – a £1,477,059 share of the Lotto jackpot on Saturday 10 May 2008.
Martin Adamson changed his selection of Lotto numbers – made up of important family dates – to incorporate his wedding day on Sunday 4 May. Within a week, he had hit the jackpot.
Martin said: “I saw the numbers come up on the TV. I thought they looked familiar but went to check them online. I called up to Hannah who was in the bath at the time. She didn’t believe me when I said we’d won the jackpot. Winning the lottery has been the perfect end to a dream week.” |
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 LINK Magazine
Montage Communications has produced the final issue of the LINK South West magazine on behalf of the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the Business Link network in the region.
With a strong focus on Innovation, the Spring 2008 edition contained interviews with a Bristol-based entrepreneur developing a high-tech device that ‘flies’ under water and an ex-F1 engineer from Devon who is marketing a fabric that could have widespread utility in defence and security markets.
The magazine attempts to define ‘innovation’ in an interview with the RDA’s Science and Industry Manager and throws the spotlight on individual sectors where fresh ideas and new ways of working are energising the regional economy.
There is also news of investment in new science parks, opportunities in new export markets, the success of business support services and an examination of how innovative businesses are being funded.
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 DC10plus
DC10plus is an alliance of 10 local authorities, all finalists in the government-led Digital Challenge, seeking to achieve greater social inclusion by promoting understanding of ICT and other technologies among local communities.
Since March 2007, the DC10plus have been pursuing a range of digital inclusion projects focused on seven core themes: Next Generation Connectivity; Independent Living; Flexible Working for Socially Excluded Groups; Digital Communications and Environmental Impact; Exploiting Digital Switchover; Communities Building Capacity and Regional Engagement.
One such project is Telly Talk. Shropshire County Council has teamed up with Age Concern, Citizens Advice and housing associations to provide rural residents with access to free, independent and confidential advice via webcam on a range of subjects, including debt issues, employment and housing.
Read the DC10plus newsletter here>> |
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Press Watchdog
Newspaper watchdog the Press Complaints Commission received a record number of complaints in 2007 - most of which were about online stories. A total of 4,340 complaints were submitted to the PCC - a 70 per cent increase on 12 years ago.
Gordon Brown's YouTube Launch
Gordon Brown is seeking to embrace the digital age by launching an online version of Prime Minister's Questions where he will respond to video clip questions submitted via the Downing Street YouTube website.
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