Well, here at BMC, we are pleased to announce that we have not only not changed our attitudes, we have been ahead of the game for some time! As all clients are aware, all the Media Centre buildings are non-smoking, and have never been anything else.

Besides the effect on other people in the workspaces etc. of experiencing second-hand smoke, we have always considered it important to reduce the potential for any fire risk. The general atmosphere here is such that no-one would even consider lighting up indoors - which is marvellous!

To make it feasible for smokers to be able to work here and also indulge their preferred habit, we have always made it possible for there to be approval that people can go outside the buildings and smoke, and we have tidied up any forgetfully discarded cigarette butts and so on, made sure that the smoke is not going in to the building through adjacent windows and made it generally easy for people to go in and out for the odd puff.

We have also, over the last year, developed the rear garden at Friese-Greene House into a pleasant outdoor area where people can sit and relax, and of course light up without discomforting others.

So the transition here has been extremely easy, and to cope with the new law has required no additional effort. The necessary (if somewhat irrelevant) legal Notices are up in each building, so no company needs to do anything further to achieve compliance.

We are going to be providing additional special bins for cigarette butts outside each building, as this means we also then comply with the litter laws on your behalf (though please be sure to thoroughly stub out your ciggy before binning it - we had a small and thankfully easily contained bin fire already the other day!).

All in all, we can cheerfully say that BMC is The Place To Smoke in Brighton!

On one hand we're told that trading conditions are difficult; on the other, that inflation continues to increase.In the high street poor spring and summer weather has done nothing to help sales and, according to the latest retail survey figures, month-on-month sales figures suggest that consumers are beginning to feel the pinch.

Despite this, analysts are forecasting that the Bank of England will raise rates this week by another quarter percent to 5.75%. Some now go further, predicting that rates will go to 6% by end of 2007.Small firms need to be particularly alert to the economic warning signs.

The implications are higher borrowing costs, downward pressure on demand and the potential for increased supply costs.

What can you do to help yourself as the conditions get trickier?

Make sure you have good controls in place to give you even tighter day-to-day control of business finances. The critical pieces of management information such as accurate, up-to-date cash flow, sales and stock forecasts make the difference, giving you warning of pressure points ahead and the ability to take action in time.

If you would like some help to put the right controls in place, we have a specialist who can help you set up a management information system that meets your needs. In the first instance, contact Carole Jordan on 01273 88-22-00, or e-mail carole@businessheads.co.uk

E-waste recycling laws come into effect

‘E-waste’, which includes PCs, games consoles and household appliances such as microwaves and washing machines, is considered to be the fastest-growing form of rubbish in the European Union.

The UK produces an estimated 1.2m tonnes of e-waste each year, most of which goes to landfill sites.Under the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, retailers selling electrical goods are obliged to offer customers a free in-store take-back service on a "like for like" basis, or help fund the expansion of a network of WEEE collection points.The directive also requires manufacturers to join a "Producer Compliance Schemes", monitored by the Environment Agency, which collect and recycle the e-waste on behalf of the companies.

The WEEE directive has had a troubled history. It was supposed to be operational by August 2005 but was delayed by "major difficulties". It then entered the statute book at the beginning of 2007, but full producer responsibility was delayed until 1 July.

Kate Whyman who is based at our Old Steine site, is director of the Festival is delighted that the Brighton Media Centre is supporting the event once again this year.

They aim to inspire and entertain you with wonderful music, but also to encourage understanding between people of all faiths and none. For this reason many of their events combine artists from different traditions

In addition to their unique programme of concerts and workshops they also work in schools, hospitals and prisons.

The festival, which is now in its 4th year, is a 5-day celebration of sacred music spanning diverse traditions, including Buddhist chanting, Gospel a cappella, Hindu ragas, Jewish klezmer, Pagan songs, Sufi music and much more.

This year’s highlights include London Community Gospel Choir, Israel’s Yair Dalal and Raymond Redfeather from Colorado.

For more information on the event go to: www.worldsacredmusic.org

or contact Kate Whyman on 01273 648374.

Free Climate Change Event

23rd July 2007 - Join other organisations in the city to find out how much money and carbon you can save!

Many employers are still unaware of how easy it is to reduce their "carbon footprint" and save money at the same time. However, it isn’t always clear what help and support is available to organisations that want to make changes.

Join Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership at a Climate Change Event (sponsored by Brighton & Hove City Council and SEEDA), designed to make tackling climate change easy for your organisation.

• Steve Hargreaves, Managing Director, Residential and SME Markets, EDF Energy will outline the business case for tackling climate change whilst Tony Mernagh, Executive Director, Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership will outline the potential consequences of delayed action (climate change levy, carbon allocation schemes etc).
• Attend workshops run by The Carbon Trust, Business Link and Ecosys who will provide information and practical, easy steps for organisations of any size.
• Brighton & Hove City Council’s Workplace Travel Planner will be on hand to provide advice.

Come prepared with the total annual energy spend for your organisation (excluding transport fuel) if you want to find out how much you could save. It couldn’t be easier!!

A local produce buffet supper with drinks will be served providing an ideal chance to network.

To help with catering please confirm your attendance and provide an indication of your energy spend by contacting Eleanor Mooney on eleanormooney@btconnect.com or 01273 291092 by Monday 16th July.

Find out more by clicking here

Organisations already signed up to take part include DMH Stallard, AVT, Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company, Southern Water, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, The Argus, Sussex Stationers, Humberts Leisure, Eurocash, Nielson Active Holidays, Hove Business Association, Forfars, Ncsoft, Phlorum.

Numbers are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

For those that love a Carnival atmosphere...don't forget Brighton 'Pride'

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This year's Carnival Parade on Saturday 4th August promises to be even more colourful and exciting than ever with a fantastic array of floats, walking groups, stilt walkers, bands and of course amazing costumes.

The Musicals theme was chosen by Pride members and has given everyone a fantastic range of possibilities to choose from. Expect character dances and songs from Grease, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, Moulin Rouge, the Sound Of Music and Bugsy Malone.

Pride are offering free carnival construction workshops run by Same Sky, to assist all parade entrants in creating spectacular floats and costumes for the parade.

The parade sets off from Madeira Drive at 11.30am, and will weave its merry way to Preston Park to arrive by no later than 1.00pm. As in past years, the streets will be lined by thousands of people young and old, who all come out to enjoy and support the amazing spectacle.

For this year only, due to the road works in North Street, the parade route will be slightly shorter and, as in previous years, the parade will be headed up by the police with over 80 officers from Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.

So dust down your feather boa's and help make Brighton's streets come alive with the 'Sound of Music'!

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If you are interested in using his services please contact him on 07934 687906 or email him at: editor@siderotype.com

For all you charitable people out there, why not try something exciting but extremely worthwhile.

The Rockinghorse Appeal are looking for bungee enthusiasts or novices to take part in an 170ft jump on Hove Lawns to raise money for the newly located Childrens Hospital.

If you are interested and would like to find out more click: here

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