plan management

International Exhibition of the Hospitality Industry

admin — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:27:38 +0000

HOST 2011 21st-25th October 2011 The business to business event for the hospitality industry takes place at Fieramilano and ergistration is now . . . → Read More: International Exhibition of the Hospitality Industry

Budget Impacts

admin — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:19:53 +0000

What was good in the Budget for the hospitality industry? Maybe the most positve was the creation of 250,000 more apprenticeships as a drive to attracting future talent. Certainly efforts to keep inflation in check, is reassuring , but is this enough to encourage businesses to revisit their meetings and evetns budgets?

Bribery Act

admin — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:02:33 +0000

The government is under pressure to release the final guidance on the Bribery Act and bring it into force. But what will this mean to companies in the UK?

The UK Bribery Act received Royal Assent in April 2010, but the final guidance on the Act has been delayed after many businesses leaders expressed concerns about it.

Until the guidance notes are published, it is difficult to assess how corporate hospitality will be treated, the most important issue seems to be what relevance the proposed hospitality has to business? This has been a hazy area for some time. It would appear that foreign trips to plants or factories and normal hospitality, sporting events, lunches and dining out will not be encompassed by the new law.

Urban opportunities

admin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:00:58 +0000

The European Green Capital Award was introduced and developed by the European Commision to celebrate and reward best practice in urban living. Stockholm were the winners in 2010 and have just handed over the title to Hamburg for 2011.

One european city will be chosen each year as the European Green Capital of the Year, on the following criteria:
* A consistent record of achieving high environmental standards
* Committed to ongoing and ambitioius goals for further environmetnal improvement and sustainable development
* Potential to act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practice.

For more informaiton please vist the European Commission Environment

Sublime

admin — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:01:36 +0000

Sublime magazine

Just picked up a copy of Sublime magazine – and loved it. It’s an independent bi-monthly covering sustaianbility, design, culture, lifestyle,fashion, current affairs and nature.

British & proud

admin — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:11:11 +0000

Is innovation live and well in the UK today?
What are the best opportunities for 2011 – has the recession made Brits smarter, tougher and more resilient than ever or are we just tired, over worked and longing to quit?

According to startups.co.uk the best opportunities are in:

IT & Communications
Green Power
Manufacturing
Transport
Healthcare
Olympics related.

For more info check in on startups

Excluding top talent

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 08:20:14 +0000

At a time when we clearly need all the experience available for effective solutions, why are so many different sectors of employees excluded? One key group is the over 65’s. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has a strategy to abolish the 65 retirement age limit. Although currently an employee can request to stay after the age of 65 , due to increase to 66 in 2024, the employer still has the right to refuse. Surely workers should be able to remain in employment and employers should be encouraged to change their policies.

Changes in this area could contribute to new ways of working , flexibility , opportunities for developing new skills and recognition of new policies to benefit the economy, a decrease in welfare costs and enabling the over 65 to continue to put their experience to good use.

We have a workforce, which means that at one end of the scale, employees are forced to struggle with daycare, while at the other end when those worries no longer apply, you are considered too old to have anything to offer?

Not really a sensible arrangement, yet with a few simple changes employment could be far less restrictive. Some employers are recognising this and have become far more open to suggestions from employees. Our suggestion is be prepared and be ready to discuss new ways of working that could be of benefit to you and the company.

Change in policies can be very disruptive but with specialist support, transition can seem seamless. Our advice to employers and employees is to listen carefully to suggestions and consider the effects and benefits.

Changing the face of the MBA

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 08:18:13 +0000

During several meetings and university presentations lately, loud mutterings of criticism about business schools and MBA alumni, have been heard in conversations on the financial crisis, the main points seemed to be that the MBA’s of the eighties and nineties focused too heavily on financial value with too little attention on the risks involved.

Whats your opinion? Do you have an MBA, when did you qualify and how do you feel about the focus of the course?

Interestingly some Harvard Business School students took comments by their HBS professors so seriously that they signed a managerial version of the Hippocratic Oath, pledging to”manage the companies they work for in a way that safeguards not just the interests of shareholders but of fellow employees, customers, and the larger society in which they function”

The response was very encouraging, so a final year George Leadership Fellow student – Max Anderson started to research similar oaths already in use at business schools, to get a collective picture of the “MBA” oath. The idea and interest has grown and created a strong imperative to change the business culture. Max Anderson reported that “MBA’s definitely need to rebrand themselves…. but the oath is more than changing perceptions. Its about changing behaviour and changing the business culture from looking out for number 1 to recognising that we are all in this together”

Another George Fellow, Maura Sullivan who signed the oath is joining PepsiCo’s leadership development program, which clearly illustrates how this concept will spread into organisations.

For a full report please visit Harvard Business School website
Reminiscent of the wonderful book Cultural Creatives by Paul H. Ray and Sherry Ruth Anderson, which highlights how sub cultures connect and create change around the world, which is certainly worth a recommendation.

Leadership behaviours for sustainability strategies

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 08:17:33 +0000

What are the key competencies that leaders need to enable them to successfully integrate sustainability practices into their overall strategies?

What behaviours do leaders need to demonstrate to their teams successful daily practices to . . . → Read More: Leadership behaviours for sustainability strategies

University of Reading Public lectures

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 08:14:59 +0000

Subjects in the 2010 -2011 Public Lecture Series at the University of Reading include Surveillance society, Climate change and Human rights. All events are free to attend and all members of the public are welcome, but numbers are limited so please arrive early.

For more information please visit the University . . . → Read More: University of Reading Public lectures