WE’VE GOT IT COVERED’ Competition!

To celebrate the launch of Interdirect’s new ‘WE’VE GOT IT COVERED’ campaign, Milton Keynes’ award winning and leading full service media agency is asking you to upload your photographs to show them how you’ve got it covered!

Whether you’re covered in paperwork in the run up to Christmas, covered in snow or covered in mud, Interdirect wants to see your photos.

The best three photographs received will be in with a chance of winning a fantastic prize of either a paintballing experience for a group of six or a snow session for four, simply by uploading your photos to the Interdirect Facebook wall by 31st January 2012.

The agency’s favourite three photos will be shortlisted and the winning photo will be the one with the most ‘likes’ from the Interdirect Facebook fans!

This prize will make for a fun day out with family and friends or is perfect for a corporate day out for you and your colleagues in the New Year, all courtesy of Milton Keynes’ leading full service agency.

To get you started, check out the Interdirect ‘WE’VE GOT IT COVERED’ album to see examples.

Remember, it can be anything or anyone; it’s never been easier to win with Interdirect.

MAZARS PURCHASES PWC’S VOLUME PERSONAL INSOLVENCY BUSINESS

On 5 December, Mazars LLP and PwC announced the purchase by Mazars of PwC’s volume personal insolvency business in which Milton Keynes is playing a pivotal role. The transaction completed on 2 December, with the combined business trading under Mazars’ name with effect from 3 December 2011.

PwC’s volume personal insolvency business has been based in its Gloucester office for 25 years and 27 staff members have transferred to Mazars. The business will be integrated into Mazars’ National Bankruptcy Centre, based in the firm’s Milton Keynes and London offices, which has demonstrated rapid growth since it was founded five years ago.  The combined practice will have 50 staff and partners and will be led by Mazars partner Martin Pickard from the Milton Keynes office.

“This is a significant step forward for our National Bankruptcy Centre and we are looking forward to the challenge of running the combined business. Our business is now in a position to become the lead practice in its market and we are excited by the opportunity it gives us to further enhance services to both our existing and new clients,” commented Martin.

Mazars partner Guy Hollander will be responsible for the management and integration of the Gloucester practice. In addition to Martin and Guy, three other practitioners will be taking appointments as Trustee in Bankruptcy: Ann Nilsson (Milton Keynes), Tim Hewson (Gloucester ) and Ed Thomas ( Gloucester ). Paul Rouse will take charge of both the London and Gloucester based National Creditor Services team, which liaises with creditors to represent their interests and secure bankruptcy appointments.

Dan Schwarzmann, PwC’s Head of Business Recovery Services, said: “I am delighted that Mazars has come through as the purchaser of our volume bankruptcy business and I know we have done the right thing for the team and their futures.  We will now focus exclusively on complex and contentious assignments in the personal insolvency sector. I have been impressed with the professionalism shown by Mazars throughout the sales process and wish the combined business every success for the future. “

PRIZE-WORTHY WEBSITE FOR FINANCE AWARDS LAUNCH

The Finance for the Future Awards 2012, a joint venture between NatWest, ICAEW and The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability, have been announced, to celebrate and reward business sustainability.  As part of the launch an interactive website has been designed and developed by full service agency, Interdirect.

The Finance for the Future Awards will reward those organisations that have changed their corporate behaviour to embed business sustainability at the heart of their organisations, supported by the finance function.

Businesses can find information on the categories and criteria for awards, details on the judging process, and an online entry form on the new website. There is also a countdown clock to entry deadline on the homepage, as well as a ‘Business Leader or Eco Warrior’ video starring, among others, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and Sir Richard Branson.

The website has been designed and developed in version 5 of Interdirect’s bespoke content management system (CMS), SiteMachine, and was built with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) in mind. Interdirect’s online marketing specialist will provide SEO and Pay Per Click (PPC) services on the new website, to ensure that it is at the top of key word searches and has the highest possible online presence.

Nicolas Mann, managing director and founder of Interdirect says: “The new website looks amazing and has some great functionality. I am proud of the team for turning this around in a relatively short space of time, and with a fantastic result.

“Our ability to offer clients a full package has enabled us to provide Finance for the Future with SEO and PPC services , which will really make the most of the website. We are also looking into adding interactive content to the website’s homepage, which may include blogs, social media, newsletter sign-up and ‘send to a friend’ functionality.”

Sue Best, Marketing Director ICAEW Said: “The new website is easy to navigate, and creates the perfect look and feel for the awards. Also the CMS, SiteMachine is easy to use, which means we can update content in-house.  We were particularly impressed with Interdirect’s service and their quick turnaround on this project and we’re really pleased with the result.”

Visit www.financeforthefuture.co.uk.

Photo from left to right – Nigel Bretton, Chief Finance Officer (CFO), RBS, Corporate Banking Division; Bruce Davis, Retail Director, Abundance NRG Ltd; Host of the launch event Kathryn Winup, Finance Director, RBS, Business and Commercial Banking; Robin Fieth, Executive Director, ICAEW; Graham Hales, CEO of Interbrand London.

CALCUTTA HONOURED AT NATIONAL CURRY AWARDS

Stony Stratford’s Calcutta Brasserie was honoured at the British Curry Awards on Monday 28^th November.

The Indian restaurant was presented as a ‘Finalist’ from 15 venues in the South East region that were shortlisted. Only five restaurants received this honour at the most prestigious Indian restaurant awards in the UK.

Held at Evolution in Battersea, London and hosted by celebrity chef and presenter James Martin, the glitzy event was attended by celebrities and dignitaries including legendary footballer David Seaman; Mayor of London Boris Johnson; PR Guru Max Clifford, Employment Minister Chris Grayling and Conservative Party co-Chairman Baroness Warsi.

Prime Minister David Cameron also contributed a broadcast message from Downing Street during which he announced the winner of one of the evening’s major awards.

The attending team at Calcutta Brasserie were delighted to have firstly been selected on the shortlist of a region that stretches from Milton Keynes to as far as Brighton but also to have been named a ‘Finalists’. Proprietor, Mo said: “There is no bigger prize in the Indian Restaurant business than the Curry Awards and to have been chosen out of so many fantastic restaurants is an unbelievable achievement. However, we are aiming to win the category next year no matter how hard it is.”

An amazing 2,700 restaurants were entered for the awards from a record 68,000 public nominations. The black tie evening was attended by 1,600 people from restaurateurs to media and personalities. This is the seventh British Curry Awards since launching in 2004.

For more information about Calcutta Brasserie, visit www.calcuttabrasserie.co.uk or call 01908 566577.

Milton Keynes young carers undertake free fire safety training

Young carers from Milton Keynes recently had the chance to visit Hazard Alley Safety Centre and learn how to stay safe from Electrical Fires, thanks to The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) funding.

Electricity is now the cause of half of all accidental fires in UK homes. At least one person dies every week in the UK and 350,000 are seriously injured every year.[i] The ESC grant will go towards educating Milton Keynes young carers about the common causes of electrical accidents and how to protect themselves and their homes.

The Centre, based on Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes is an indoor, interactive educational facility which delivers safety messages in an experiential way. It houses a small “town” with life-sized scenarios including a road, houses, a garage, a lake and a building site. Children have an exciting experience whilst learning important safety messages

Many electrical accidents can be prevented by a Residual Current Device (RCD), a device that protects against fatal electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. An RCD can either be installed in a fusebox or bought from about £10 for a local DIY or garden centre – However, more than half of us – that’s 13 million homes – don’t have one[ii].  Hazard Alley Safety Centre will help educate young carers about the importance of RCDs.

The funding from the ESC has allowed the Safety Centre to offer a specially adapted tour to Young Carers in Milton Keynes free of charge – Sarah Paynes, a young carers support worker from Carers Milton Keynes said “     Young carers are very often the responsible person in the home when looking after someone who is ill or disabled and it is very important that they receive this education around safety in the home. We are very grateful to the Safety Centre for providing us with this opportunity and know that the children who attended had a fantastic time. They were very excited about the visit !” ”

Lorraine Carney, Senior Campaigns Manager at the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) said: “Our primary objective is to help people stay safer around electricity. So we are delighted to work with the Hazard Alley Safety Centre to support their innovative scheme.   According to government statistics, almost half of all accidental fires in UK homes – that’s over 20,000 each year – are caused by electricity,[1] so it’s vital that people are made aware of where electrical dangers may arise in their homes and understand how to prevent an electrical-related accident happening.”

To find out more about the Safety Centre go to www.safetycentre.co.uk and more about the Carers Milton Keynes www.carersmiltonkeynes.org

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[i] Statistics from Electrical Safety Council core data http://www.esc.org.uk/stakeholder/policies-and-research/statistics/

[ii] Statistics from Electrical Safety Council core data http://www.esc.org.uk/stakeholder/policies-and-research/statistics/

CHILDREN’S CHARITY LIGHTS UP MK

With the festive season upon us, the Association of Young People with ME (AYME) is kick-starting the exciting Christmas celebrations at a special ‘switching on the Christmas lights’ event. Twelve year old ME sufferer Dru Baker, from Furzton , will be helping to spread a little joy this winter when he lights up the Theatre District on Sunday 27 November.

Dru will be joined at the Christmas lights switch on by Northampton Saints’ scrum-half, Lee Dickson. Warm mulled wine will be served throughout the event, Santa will be flying in on his sleigh and there will be free fun fair rides for the children. A number of restaurants in the Theatre District will also be offering discounts on food and drink throughout the evening.

Dru was six years old when he became ill with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), a debilitating and painful condition that disrupts his education and isolates him from his friends. He was also born with hypermobility syndrome, which means he needs regular exercise to stop his joints extending dangerously; however, exercise makes his ME worse.

Dru’s mum, Kerry says: “It’s a constant balancing act. Dru gets extremely frustrated. He doesn’t want to be different, however he is a confident and happy boy that loves to work with AYME to help shout about the brilliant work they do. He is very excited about switching on the lights alongside the rugby star”.

Mary-Jane Willows, CEO of AYME says: “We are delighted that Dru will be switching on the Christmas lights and representing AYME at this year’s Theatre District event, and we hope to raise awareness and funds for a fantastic children’s charity that offers so much help and support to children suffering with ME and their families.”

“There is no known cause or cure for ME, but with support and understanding, most young people can make a good recovery.”

The Christmas lights will be switched on at 5.45pm on Sunday 27 November in the Milton Keynes Theatre District. 

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe arrive at Woburn Safari Park this Christmas

This year Santa’s Grotto in Junglies Gift Shop will transport you to the magical land of Narnia, where you will be greeted by Mr Tumnus, Aslan and the Snow Queen.

Step through the wardrobe into Narnia to meet a lion, a witch and a very special guest – Santa Claus!

Children will love the especially themed Grotto at Woburn Safari Park this festive season, opening on the 19th November.

Santa will be visiting every weekend through November and December and on the 23rd December he’ll be having a last mince pie with the Junglies Gift Shop elves, enjoying a final day in his Grotto, before he has to dash back to the North Pole and prepare for his Christmas deliveries.

This Christmas children can ask Santa for their heart’s desire and each child will receive (look away now if you don’t want to spoil the surprise!):– A very special gift from Santa Claus

– £2.50 voucher to spend in Junglies Gift Shop
– £5 admission voucher

Santa will be in his Grotto from 12noon to 4pm on the following dates: 

19th & 20th, 26th & 27th November,
and
3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th, 17th & 18th and 23rd December 2011.

Personal safety seminar invitation – 30th November

MAZARS WINS A DEALMAKERS CORPORATE FINANCE AWARD

On 17 November, Mark Standish, corporate finance partner at Mazars in Milton Keynes won the Central and East of England Dealmakers award for Dealmaker of the Year, for the second time. The award was presented before a record-breaking audience of 210 peers and professionals at a celebratory dinner at Jurys Inn, Milton Keynes.

This is the fourth time Mazars has won a corporate finance Central and East of England Dealmakers award since it started in 2008. As ever, it was one of the most competitive shortlists that the region could have produced. The runners-up were individuals from Dentons, Grant Thornton, MacIntyre Hudson and Steve Talbot who is also from Mazars – it is the first time two individuals from one firm have been on the same shortlist.

Hundreds of nominations were collected by event sponsors Insider Media from business leaders and advisors throughout the region. The shortlist of the most favoured and the winner for each category were kept under lock and key until the presentations themselves.

“It’s actually been a good year in Milton Keynes. This is without doubt the best place for business in the country outside of London. We’ve completed a wide range of deals and a large amount of restructuring work. There is also a healthy pipeline of opportunities including a record number of management buyouts and corporate acquisitions,” said Mark on receiving the acclaimed trophy.

Mark’s team are also proud supporters of another winner, Heating and Plumbing Supplies, which won Deal of the Year for their MBO for which Mazars carried out the financial due diligence.  Joel Briggs of Churchill Contract Cleaners is another Mazars client which featured in the fiercely contested shortlist for  Entrepreneur of the Year.

Other winners included MacIntyre Hudson for Advisory Team of the Year, Lloyds TSB Corporate won Bank of the Year, EMW won Law Firm of the Year, LDC won Private Equity Team of the Year, Centric Commercial Finance were Asset-based Lender of the Year and Scott Weavers Wright of Kiddicare won Entrepreneur of the Year.  

THE HERD ARE MOOVELLOUS MONEY MAKERS

The 2011 MK Midnight Moo money has now been counted and the herd have raised a moovellous £180,000!  This total which includes money raised through Gift Aid is enough to fund 280 shifts for our Hospice at Home nursing team

Willen Hospice’s third MK Midnight Moo took place on Saturday 16^th July with 1777 ladies entering into the udderly awesome atmosphere of the evening.  The aim of the MK Midnight Moo is to raise vital funds for Willen Hospice who provide free specialist care for their patients and support for their families in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas.

For all the Moo’vers out there, the 2012 MK Midnight Moo will take place on Saturday 14th July.  Registration is now open and you can put your best hoof forward by registering online at  www.mkmidnightmoo.com. 

If the herd have inspired you to support Willen Hospice simply text Mooo11 followed by the amount you wish to donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, or £10 to 70070 and your donation will be added to our MK Midnight Moo 2011 total helping us fund our vital services.

Photographs kindly provided by RMH Photography.