Ferndown Business Network

Growing business together

Tag: Ferndown

Post lockdown chauffeured car service

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Since March we have not been able to go out to celebrate that special occasion.NOW THAT WE HAVE A ONE METRE SOCIAL DISTANCE RULE WE CAN!

If you missed that special birthday, wedding anniversary or social gathering, now book a Chauffeured car with AT YOUR SERVICE to take you there and back in style, and not worry about driving yourself.

For the time being, everyone will be required to wear a face mask, which can be supplied if necessary.Anti bacterial spray will be used before and after every journey, and we also supply hand sanitiser.

Of course we can also take you to the airport, or supply cars for weddings, or sporting events. Contact David Allen by email, or mobile for more details. 

Time to enjoy seeing friends and family once more! 

Email: david.ays1@gmail.com
Mobile 07976 279897
Landline 01202 871122

Are Diesel cars really that bad?

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Back in the year 2000 when we were all told planes would fall out of the skies and our PC’s would pack up and never work again, diesel-engined cars accounted for just 14.1% of the new car market. By 2011, this figure had increased to 50.6%.

One of the main reasons for this rise in popularity was the introduction of Benefit in Kind for company car drivers in 2002, who, at the time were encouraged to choose lower emission cars which diesels were. The change in taxation regime also led to many engineering advances which led to a reduction is CO2 emissions from an average of 181 g/km in 2000 to 120.1 g/km in 2016.

The landscape changed for diesels in 2015 though when reports of air quality concerns started hitting the headlines and what became known as ‘Dieselgate’ led to manufacturers selling 38% fewer diesel cars by the end of 2018 than at their peak. NOx became the new CO2 and we started to see the introduction of Clean Air Zones, increases in Vehicle Excise Duty and supplements to Company Car Tax.

A recent Government statement read ‘cleaner diesel cars and vans can play an important part in reducing CO2 emissions from road transport during the transition to zero-emission vehicles’.

With the introduction of the new emissions testing regime known as The Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test, future vehicles will be tested more rigorously to measure pollutants such as NOx, emitted by cars on the road.

With more and more engineering developments we are starting to see manufacturers produce diesel engine cars which are scoring maximum points for the Green NCAP Clean Air Index, the same as electric vehicles. Whilst electric vehicles produce no pollutant emissions, we are beginning to see diesel engine cars, with proper calibration and effective after treatment, can deliver extremely low pollutant emissions.

In recent test carried out by a German automobile club, one of the diesel vehicles tested did not emit any NOx emissions at all which demonstrates how quickly the engineers are developing clean diesel engines.

Might Diesel cars still be a good choice for company car drivers?

Maybe. The latest RDE2 compliant diesel cars are exempt from the 4% diesel Benefit in Kind (BiK) surcharge which comes into effect from April 2020, meaning they are charged at the same rate as a petrol engine powered car with the same CO2 emissions. Some manufacturers are even producing plug-in hybrid diesels which not only are very fuel efficient, but also benefit from an incredibly low BiK rate.

Neil Carlton, Director of Poole based dorsetcarleasing.uk said ‘over the past couple of years there has been great confusion when it comes to the real situation regarding petrol versus diesel cars. We have had situations whereby companies have switched from diesel cars into petrol equivalents and reported a significant drop in MPG which has pushed their and their employee’s fuel spend up by around 15-20%. We strongly recommend that any future car changes are considered very carefully, and proper advice should be sought’.

Ferndown Business Network Members Neil Carlton and his business partner Andrew Garaway can be contacted via www.dorsetcarleasing.uk or by calling 01202 821354

Keep your hands clean

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Keeping your hands clean is one of the most important things we can do to stop the spread of germs and stay healthy. On average, people wash their hands around eight times a day, and the Global Hygiene Council recommends even more, especially since handwashing can help to prevent the spread of germs.

BUY NOW at http://www.wessex-aloe.com or call Ferndown Business Networkmember ‘Dr’ Peter on 07947 685785

Introducing The Mobility Shop

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As the south’s leading mobility scooter and electric wheelchair specialists. We are here to help if you are struggling with your mobility in and outside of the home. Keeping you mobile and independent. Preventing isolation and loneliness. 

Supplying mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, and powerchairs. We also stock for you or your loved one mobility aids, living aids and adapted/assistive furniture. Helping to maintain your independence.

We supply customers nationwide with new & used mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and powerchairs. We have hundreds in stock. New and used. Big and small. Enabling us to supply you or your loved one with a machine that best fits budget, needs and lifestyle. We can offer free same day delivery on most items in the Dorset area.

At the Mobility Shop we’ll also ensure you keep on moving. We don’t just sell scooters. We can also repair, fully service and customise your or your loved one’s mobility scooter. 

Visit our online store at https://mobilityscootersuk.co.uk. See our huge range of products, helping those struggling with their mobility both in and outside of the home.

Call us on 01202 798942 for more information or to arrange a demonstration.

Utility Warehouse goes remote.

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The Corona Virus doesn’t stop UW partners from helping people save money on their household bills and shopping. Days after the lockdown started UW launched a remote app which means that partners can still help people to save money remotely from the comfort of their own homes.

If you would like FBN Member Gail Bannister to give you a no obligation quotation please email her on gail@funlife.co.uk or call her on 07985989538.

Help support your body’s defence system

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Your immune system is very important. It recognises every cell of your body and helps to fight infection and illness. The immune system can be divided up into two parts: innate response and acquired response. The innate response is the part that decides whether something is friend or foe, and if it decides on foe, it tries to flush out the invader.

Maintaining a healthy immune system is really important in keeping us all healthy, and the best method for supporting it is through regular exercise and eating a healthy diet to ensure your body is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs. Certain vitamins and minerals contribute to the normal function of the immune system, including copper, folate, iron, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. Some will be more helpful here than others, but that’s why a balanced diet is the best option here, as you’ll get a bit of everything.

Support your healthy lifestyle

We believe that good health begins with good nutrition. The cleansing and purifying nature of Forever’s Aloe gel drinks make them the perfect addition for anyone looking to give their diet a little something extra, and their range of nutritional supplements incorporates nature’s most beneficial vitamins and minerals to help you to promote a healthy lifestyle and support your body’s defences.

Forever Aloe Vera Drinking Gel is as close to the real thing as you can get, boasting 99.7% inner leaf aloe gel, lovingly extracted by hand so that you can experience the true power of nature. Aloe is great for skin, the immune system and it’s an ideal digestive aid, and now this purifying gel also contains vitamin C, which also contributes to the normal function of the immune system. The drinking gels are also available in a variety of flavours so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Taking vitamin C daily has long been associated with good health, but the human body doesn’t naturally store the vitamin meaning it must be consumed via food, drink and supplements. Forever’s Absorbent-C is bonded with oat bran, a highly soluble fibre, for gradual absorption, and provides 100% of the UK’s RDA of vitamin C, which contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Forever Immublend also helps to support a healthy lifestyle, and is high in vitamins C, D and zinc; which all contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

Men and women require different nutrients and vitamins in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and Forever’s Vitolize for Men, and for Women are designed with those needs in mind. Forever’s Vitolize for Women is high in vitamins D, E, C, B6, B12, folic acid and iron, and Vitolize for Men is high in vitamins D, E, C, B6 and zinc, all of which contribute to the normal function of the immune system. And to make sure your children are getting all the nutrients they need each day, give them Forever Kids. These fun, delicious, chewable multi-vitamins provide children with the nutrients needed each day, including vitamin A, C, D and B12, calcium, iron and zinc. They contain no aspartame, no artificial colours or preservatives, and adults will love them too! Forever Kids is high in vitamins A, D, C, B6 and B12, as well as folic acid and zinc, which all contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

BUY NOW at http://www.wessex-aloe.com or call Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr’ Peter on 07947 685785

Changes to cancer support during the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic

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We’ve announced a number of immediate changes to our support services in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We’re working hard to introduce new services so we can continue to be there for as many people as we can who need support. 

With immediate effect:

  • Our four support centres in Chandler’s Ford, Bournemouth, Hythe (Waterside) and Newport, Isle of Wight, will close for drop ins on Friday 20 March
  • All support groups have been paused, including MENTalk and the Sing for Life choirs
  • Patient transport on our Daisy Buses for people arriving from the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands for hospital treatment at Southampton General Hospital and Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, will keep running with increased precautions

We’ve set up a Facebook group for anyone who needs support. You can request to join here. We’re also in the process of introducing online and telephone support for anyone living with cancer. This will include videos and helpful advice, online streaming of classes and meditation and telephone counselling. We’ll release more information as soon as these services become available. 

We’ve also halved the price of our ‘This Is Me’ journal which has been designed to help you find a way through cancer that works for you personally. Copies are now £7.50 and can be ordered here. 

Cait Allen, our CEO, says:

 

If you have cancer you might be particularly worried about how coronavirus affects you. The most important thing is to follow the advice of your healthcare team. Because people with cancer may be at a higher risk of infection, we’re going to be constantly reviewing and evolving our services to protect the people who rely on us for support, whilst still being there for them as much as we can. It’s understandable that if you’ve got cancer you might be feeling particularly anxious at this time and we’re going to be introducing a number of new things in the coming days and weeks to ensure as many people as possible continue to get help. 

Regular updates will be on our website. 

Please follow official Government and NHS sites for the latest official advice about coronavirus.  

8 ways to monitor, measure & enhance your marketing

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There are so many readily available systems and processes for you to use when measuring, monitoring and enhancing your marketing impact. Some examples include:

• Adding a web analytics tool e.g. Google Analytics to your website to track and monitor your website performance. Are you reaching the right audience and are they engaging with your site?

• Monitoring the performance of your keywords for your website to ensure your Search Engine performance is optimised. Do you appear high enough in google so that your customers will find you?

• Using an email based system e.g. Mailchimp that allows you to monitor your email open rates, click through rates, unsubscribes etc. Do your subscribers respond to your emails or one type of email campaign compared to another?

• Monitoring your social media demographics and engagement levels. Do your followers match your target audience? Which channel is more effective for brand building vs sales generation? What posts are more effective than other posts e.g. image driven vs video based?

• Conducting Net Promotor Score (NPS) research to understand your customers loyalty to your business. Are they willing to recommend your business to their family and friends?

• Adding UTM tracking codes to your digital advertising, social media activity or email campaigns. How do the different channels drive traffic to your website? Which channel is more effective? How does one advertising media e.g. Google paid ads compared to ads you run for example on Facebook?

• Using a CRM system to record and monitor customer engagement and sales. What approaches generate the most leads and which of these turn into paying customers?

• You can use the same CRM data to explore which customers are the most important to your business? What characteristics do this customers share and how can you find more businesses or individuals who share the same characteristics to help drive forward your business?

Measure4success blog

Measure4success is the blog for Ferndown Business Network member  e-nexus Ltd.  e-nexus is a Bournemouth based Marketing consultancy specialising in Strategic Marketing Planning and Performance Measurement.  Learn more about what we do and how we can support your business by emailing info@e-nexus.co.uk or by visiting our website at www.e-nexus.co.uk

Powers of attorney

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There may come a time in your life when you are unable to manage your financial affairs or personal welfare. Owing to some form of incapacity. And you will need someone to act on your behalf.

Even when we are young, we can find ourselves incapacitated owing to illness or injury. It can be invaluable having a reliable person, who is able to manage your personal affairs. Removing the anxiety of having unpaid bills, at a time when you most need peace of mind.

Similarly, as we get older, the need for an attorney increases as we are more prone to illness and injuries.

A Power of Attorney in advance. Ensures that if the worst were to happen, you can rest assured that both your financial affairs and personal welfare are in safe hands.

To find out more about creating Powers of Attorney please contact Ferndown Business Network member David Booth at DB Consultancy. Call us on 01425 480954 or 07949 021118.  Alternatively Email: David@dmsuk.info | Contact us via FaceTime | Skype: theoxfordwillco_1

Soften your hands when washing them

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Repeated handwashing can take a toll on your skin if your chosen soap uses harsh surfactants and strips your hands of moisture.

Thankfully, Forever has found a way to actually soften your hands while washing them.  Formulated from 100% stabilized Aloe Vera gel and natural cleansers, the gentle formula in Forever’s ALOE HAND SOAP (Code 523 Price £14.83) cleans your hands whilst also leaving them feeling soft and hydrated.

Aloe hand soap
Aloe hand soap

BUY NOW at http://www.wessex-aloe.com or call Ferndown Business Network member ‘Dr’ Peter on 07947 685785

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