Social Media. Where will it all stop?

Written by Tricia Hay – Director of First Base Employment

Over the past few months I've been learning the lingo; The Hashtags, the FF's and the RT's and learning some valuable lessons on the way. I signed up with a Social Media Management Tool and then got bored of people obviously using the software to send out automated sales messages.

I have a Twitter feed on my website, a facebook (or bookface dependant on who you are) page for B2C and a linkedin profile for B2B. I've managed (don't ask me how) to link them all together and have got my tweets, profile and status updates into conversation... and then Google+ comes along.

I've found the reason why Mr H has his Blackberry at the ready at all times, and am enjoying being online and forming relationships well into the evening.

We all want to have conversations right? (Well, sometimes, I talk enough for 11 people during the day and will avoid conversation at night at any cost!).

But at the end of the day we need to know, like and trust people before we look to them for expertise or to buy something from them.

When you look for a Supplier, where do you first look? Is there one particular place, someone you listen to, or a plethora of mediums that you turn to to give you information and hence inspiration?

Is there any tool that you use (or would use!) to connect with your suppliers or business partners, or is there no real substitute for a face to face meeting to get down to brass tacks?

Let me know - we're here to help... on twitter... on facebook ... on linkedin... and on Google Plus.. Oops, we're in Stroud too.. and instead of us “liking” you we’d make you a cuppa.

Mirror mirror on the wall - Hair behaving badly?

Eat your way to healthy hair

Struggling to tend to your unruly tresses? If you've got a drawer full of half-used hair products, from intensive conditioners to nutrient-infused hair masks, then it may be time to take a look in your fridge - after all, you are what you eat!

The most likely cause of your hair behaving badly is a shortage of quality protein – as this is one of your hair’s key building blocks. If you don't get enough in your diet, you can expect the shafts of your hair to shrink, making it less thick and healthy. Crash dieting is also a big no-no not only for your physical health but for your hair also. It can cause dramatic hair loss and affect your hair's growth cycle.

So, if you want healthy hair, you need to eat healthy foods, avoid crash diets, and ensure you get plenty of protein.

Fill your fridge with beans, eggs, milk, cheese, yoghurt, seafood, chicken, turkey, soy and beef.

Express Blow Dry

While you're waiting for your new protein-rich diet to transform your locks, try out the new Collexia express blow dry available from Scene – The Salon in Charlton Kings.

The treatment uses a revolutionary hair dryer that dries the hair while infusing conditioning treatments including vitamin B6, panthenol and wild rose extract into the hair follicle through thermo activation. The healthy sheen is visible for up to three washes.

Choose from a trio of treatment pods:

Beauty - made up of silk proteins, multivitamins and proteins provided by a Multi Vitamin Complex to enhance the beauty of normal and thick hair.

Repair - contains Keratin which reinforces the structure of your hair, giving body to fragile and chemically treated hair.

Hydro - features moisturising active ingredients to give nourishment, shine and beauty to dry hair. Containing milk protein and Pro-Vitamin B5which restore moisture and beauty to even the most damaged hair fibres.

Book your express blow dry with Scene – The Salon Creative Director Philip Lester for just £27
until August 31 – quote code express365 when booking and at payment

Call 01242 524135 to book your appointment.

www.scenethesalon.co.uk

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Thursday Silks - "It pays to care" Says Dilnot - Rickerbys comments

Earlier this month, Andrew Dilnot set out his proposals for the future funding of social care. The Government now has until 2014 to take action on this report.

It has been widely publicised already but it is worth repeating that the recommendations in the report are that individuals' lifetime contributions towards their social care costs - which are currently potentially unlimited - should be capped, that the means tested threshold above which people are liable for their full care costs should be increased, that national eligibility criteria should be introduced and that all those who enter adulthood with the care and support needs should be eligible for free state support immediately, rather than being subjected to a means test.

We will need to wait to see whether the Government chooses to adopt these recommendations, although the coalition did promise prior to commissioning the report, that once it was in receipt of the report it would waste no further time in moving the future of social care forward. We wait to see whether this will be the case.

In the meantime, local authorities still need to deal with huge social care issues which are happening right now, as they are forced to make increasingly tough choices, because there is simply not enough money.

Some suggest that the NHS reforms will help to ease some of the pain, by bringing about closer integration of social care with the NHS as a result of the Council's Health & Wellbeing Boards having stronger powers. However, this change will not happen overnight, the NHS will struggle with a movement towards the bigger society in a localised care system, let alone the integration of a social care system which has always been viewed as separate and distinct.

Over the past 20 years, there have been similar reports to those of Dilnot recommending reform of social care, but one Government after another has parked them in the long grass because the proposals were either too expensive to implement, likely to prove unpopular with voters, or a combination of both. There remains to be seen whether this Dilnot report will go the same way.

In the meantime, people need to have some clearer answers on the future of social care. There needs to be a big debate over how we are all going to look after and pay for our big society.

For further information contact Louise Crook on 01242 246484 or email:louise.crook@rickerbys.com

TOWING A CARAVAN OR TRAILER – TOP TIPS & ADVICE PART 1

Written by Jim, JSF Driving School

As a driving instructor, I am frequently asked questions about how to manoeuvre a caravan, or trailer. Here’s a bit of advice to make sure you are towing legally, whilst next week I will take you through some useful tips on safety checks, driving techniques and speed limits.

Rules & Regulations for Towing

Let’s start with the laws on towing! There are all sorts of regulations, the key factor being MAM, the maximum authorised mass of vehicles and trailers. This should always be taken to mean the permissible maximum weight, also known as the gross vehicle weight.

If you passed your test before 1st January, 1997, you can usually drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes.

If you passed on or after 1st January, 1997, you can tow a trailer behind a category B vehicle without taking a further test if the trailer doesn’t exceed 750 kg. A Category B vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle with a MAM not exceeding 3.5 tonnes which has not more than eight passenger seats in addition to that of the driver.

If you want to use a Category B vehicle to tow a trailer exceeding the limit above, then you will have to pass a practical Category B+E test.

If you want to drive a vehicle with a MAM exceeding 3.5 tonnes, such as a motor home, you will need to pass a Category C or C1 test.

Further and more detailed information on towing can be found on the DVLA website www.dvla.gov.uk.

Your drivers’ handbook will usually provide information on the maximum permissible trailer mass which can be towed by your vehicle, along with the maximum nose weight which should be applied to the tow ball. There are also some legal limits on laden weight of unbraked trailers, which you will need to know for your particular vehicle.

Usually, even if the vehicle limits are stated as higher, you are safer if the weight of the loaded trailer does not exceed 85% of the empty (kerbside) weight of the towing vehicle, especially if you inexperienced at towing!

When towing, the length of your family car can be considered doubled. Exterior towing mirrors will be needed for a clear view down both sides of the trailer/caravan. The use of a good stabiliser fitted to the tow bar can make the combination easier to handle, especially in crosswinds, or when being overtaken by lorries etc.

Weight Distribution

Weight distribution is the key to stability when towing. Heavy items should be loaded as low down as possible, mainly over the axle/s of the trailer or caravan. Larger, but lighter items, such as bedding and clothing, should be distributed around to provide a suitable noseweight at the towing coupling, as recommended by the manufacturer. This noseweight can be measured using an inexpensive gauge from caravan stockists. People should never be allowed to travel in a caravan when it is being towed!

Experience

If you are new to towing many Driving Schools offer short courses on manoeuvring and safety when towing. The National Caravanning Council provide a detailed booklet on the same, and advice can be gained from one of the large caravanning organisations.

Practice makes perfect, so head to a quiet car park to master manoeuvres and techniques before heading off.

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful holiday, but hang on for next week’s second part if you can.

T: 0800 3777 138/01452 290278 E: sharn@jsfdrivingschool.co.uk