New Year is usually the time for change but could it already be too late? According to new research it is too late to change career by the time you reach 41.
A study found that most Brits want to be on their chosen career path by their mid-30s and there is no going back after turning 41.
The survey of 2,000 workers found people are most susceptible to feeling ‘trapped’ in their line of work at the age of 36.
Suzie Webb, AAT’s Director of Education at the Association of Accounting Technicians which carried out the study, said many people have plenty of time to change direction.
“This research shows that many people incorrectly believe that they have to stick with their career despite being a reasonably young age,” she said.
When probed further as to why they had doubts about retraining, 59 per cent of respondents said they feel they are trapped in their current career path or line of work, with the biggest reason for this being the feeling they can’t progress any further and are bored in their current role.
This led to 31 per cent saying they think about changing career around once or twice a month.
The fear of change may be what is holding people back. When asked to describe their current employment, workers were nearly twice as likely to use the word ‘convenient’ than they were to use words like ‘success’ or ‘fulfilling’.
Three in ten said they are stuck because they don’t know what else they could do, while nearly a quarter worry they wouldn’t be any good at anything else.
Well over a fifth said that it’s simply too risky for them to think about any other job.
One in seven said they committed to their career after having kids, while over a fifth confessed they felt too old to learn anything new.
In addition, one in six admitted they were hesitant to get re-qualified in a new area, because they were scared of being labelled ‘a mature student’ in classes.
Suzie Webb says: “Retraining is much less of a big step than people might imagine. There are so many options available – part time, evenings and via distance learning that offer you the chance to study around other priorities in life.
“Plus, people are working for considerably much longer than in the past – so it makes sense that our views towards retraining should also follow this pattern. Lifelong learning is the key to success.”
Being safe in business is important. Lawsuits or worse could happen if you do not make sure your products work well and have no faults. the business world is littered with stories of companies that did not make the necessary steps to protect their company and their customers. In fact, since 1995 manufacturers have had to make sure they get their machines assessed to make sure they conform to safety standards. A CE marking confirms that the machinery adheres to all of the necessaryhealth and safety requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC as well as other relevant EU directives. In fact, all machinery imported from non-EU countries requires a CE mark, irrespective of the year of construction.
We have all seen CE markings on things we have bought but how do you get one? A company like Pilz, who are an accredited inspection body for machinery and safeguarding devices, will do all of the work for you. Pilz are one of the only companies that are prepared to take responsibility for the conformity assessment procedure. They sign as the authorised representative on the declaration of conformity, confirming that the requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC have been met. Their staff work to a high level of technical competence and they leave you with peace of mind, knowing that your machinery reaches the required quality. This not only guarantee access to European market but it means you will have Pilz as your representative. Doing CE markings with Pilz also protects your workforces without compromising on productivity.
After Pilz identify and apply the relevant standards and directives, carrying our the necessary inspections, tests and measurements, you will have a complete CE-marking in conformance with legal requirements. For extra peace of mind they also create and archive the required legal documents and manage the certificate. Great stuff indeed.
Naomi West is at the front of a trend: Women over 30 taking the plunge and starting their own businesses.
Naomi West, 32, worked in digital marketing for a Financial Services company before her first son, Jacob, now almost 3, was born. She no longer wanted to be on conference calls at 6am with her colleagues in Australia and Skype meetings at 9pm with her American team. She freelanced for a while but still found it difficult to juggle family life with deadlines and client commitments. The peaks and troughs of work made planning childcare difficult and when her second son, Benjamin, was born with a heart defect, Naomi knew she needed to find a new way of working that would enable her to be there for her family.
Having enrolled both her children in Baby Sensory classes, Naomi waited for an epiphany about her future career. It came when her Baby Sensory class leader told her she was recruiting for a new class leader and Naomi got the job, gaining valuable experience. When the opportunity to take on her own franchise came up in her area of Bromsgrove, Worcester, she jumped at the chance, borrowing £15,000 in two loans from Startup Direct and launching her first classes in January this year. She now runs 11 classes per week, with up to 20 babies in each class.
“When the opportunity to start my own franchise came up, I felt instantly it was something I could make a success of”, said Naomi. ”I had experience with the business as a client and class leader, and had the skills from my career in digital marketing to set up and market the business in my own area. I now have regular class hours doing something sociable and creative, which fits brilliantly around family life. What’s not to love?”
Data released by Startup Direct shows that the number of women over the age of 30 seeking start up finance and mentoring increased by a third in 2014.
In 2013 women over the age of 30 made up just 25% of enquiries to the Government start up loan provider, but this grew to 57% in 2014, an increase of one third (32%). This trend is being driven largely by ‘Returners’; women who have taken a break from the workplace to have a family and are motivated to start their own business by the challenges of finding flexible and stable employment which is well paid enough to cover the cost of childcare.
They are starting predominantly internet-based micro businesses, employing fewer than 5 employees, which they can run part-time from their homes and are undeterred by the challenge of juggling home and family commitments with the demands of a new business.
James Pattison, CEO of Startup Direct, said: “A growing number of women are disillusioned by the difficulties of combining family life with a traditional 9 to 5 job, not least the inflexible hours, lack of well paid part time work and the cost of childcare, which continues to spiral. The internet has made it easier than ever to start up a business from home and women are drawn to the prospect of being their own boss, choosing their hours and cutting childcare bills by working flexibly around family life.”
Startup Direct is encouraging more women to follow their dream of launching their own business by running a series of workshops aimed specifically at women, offering advice on all aspects of entrepreneurship as well as practical advice on childcare and time management. In particular it is targeting ‘Returners’, those are want to start businesses following a period of maternity leave or a career break after having children.
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us; the time where it’s customary to celebrate the love of our lives in ways that truly matter. If there was ever something invented to capture a woman’s heart, then its jewellery and its things that sparkle. In the 21st Century, flowers and chocolate can only ever be the ‘bubble wrap’ to something with bigger, deeper meaning. For the 21st Century woman size doesn’t necessarily matter but quality does. Some of the sharp readers amongst you may have seen the title and thought the spelling of King was some kind of typo, but it is in fact the name of a new and upcoming artist K.ing with her latest jewellery Collection “Diamond K.ing”. A brand with an outspoken mandate in that it promises to treat each and every wearer as a Queen.
Model: Frances Lane Jewellery: K.ing Photography: Active 8 Images
Diamond K.ing is the gemstone of Inga Klabyte, who chose to employ everything that life threw at her to polish and reveal her inner diamond. Now under the artistic name of K.ing she makes a living by helping others to do the same. I find it astonishing to think that out of all the different types of companies one could create, the one she chose was jewellery making. However upon meeting her it is easy to see why; just like a diamond, the brand K.ing embodies and accentuates all her key strengths. For example, the number of hours that Inga puts into each design, the immaculate attention to detail which goes into each and every piece and the importance that she places on having each piece unique to the wearer.
The value of not taking things for granted is reflected in the “Diamond K.ing” logo. What appears to be a playing card of the ‘King of Diamonds’. Possession of this card can mean the difference between winning and losing and is essential in a hand of ‘Royal Flush’. In the same way K.ing jewellery is designed to be truly exclusive to the wearer and that absolute possession of the wearer is essential.
Model: Meriely Araujo Jewellery: K.ing Photography: Active 8 Images
I find myself pondering on why since time began jewellery has held such an elevated position with the sole purpose of making someone feel special. Why, Inga sparkles even talking about it, she truly believes that every woman is a Queen of someone’s heart and should be treated as such. Listening to her I find myself drawn off into a different world that as a man I had never truly appreciated: “Jewellery is the Queen of every woman’s wardrobe, it’s the jewel of Queen’s crown. There is no Queen with no jewels, simple as that. The truth is women love a good fairy tale crowned with dream come true relationships promising a sparkling future. If you manage to wake up the Sleeping Beauty inside her, you are and will always be her Prince Charming. So is she “Her Grace of Lace” like Queen Victoria or irresistible Scheherazade of “One Thousand and One Arabian Nights”? Is she romantic “Queen by Nature” or your personal Muse of “Eternal Inspiration”? Is she “The Conqueror of Your Heart” like Cleopatra or simply “The Fairest of Them All”?
“When I was a child, I saw people treating my mum as someone ordinary, when to me she was Special, a one off, someone who could never be replaced. From that moment K.ing was almost born to say: “You are the Queen of my Heart”.
Hence K.ing started out by making her mum feel special by creating unique pieces hand-made especially for her. Her mum must have been deeply touched as she took K.ing straight to Arts college entrance exams. This was followed by a Degree in Visual Arts and a Masters in Arts and Cultural studies as well as work placements all over the world. While specialists may have thought she was ‘Ace’ Inga knew she was actually a ‘K.ing’ by proving that everyone can be special and should be treated as such. There’s something in that message for everyone out there who questions their own uniqueness.
Today, Diamond K.ing is limited edition, unique wear. It is bespoke in that it is created directly for the wearer with your choice of metals, certified diamond cut Swarovski Element Crystals in all colours. There is also a ready-hand-made collection ready for you to take home or order to be posted to you straight away. The whole Collection is also there for you to rent for specific events so that you too can be feel like a celebrity on night out or even in your own home.
I have to admit I am smitten by the collection, seeing Swarovski Crystals Elements which have a unique sparkle and brilliance magnified by a choice of gold and silver. Looking at the various sets there is almost an endless variation of colours, shapes and sizes that range from earrings, to bracelets and necklaces to headpieces that can only be found at Diamond K.ing.
At a moment like this being a typical man, one’s thoughts turn to cost. I ask the question; expecting to hear rhetoric along the lines of ‘if you have to ask then you can’t afford it’. Instead, her response is much less faint inducing. For individual unique wear her prices are incredible, the smallest pieces start at just £20 and can go up to ten or hundred times more depending on the project in mind.
Why diamond-cut and not diamonds? “Genuine Crystal Jewellery has got more advantages to me as an artist and a woman than the offcuts of diamonds found on the high street. If a man brought me a diamond big enough to being able truly appreciate it though I would feel obliged to call the authorities, the price people paid for diamonds, and not only monetary, is far too high, I am a Queen with a heart and I chose not to work with diamonds who are associated with pain not love. That’s why I love what authentic diamond cut Swarovski Crystal Elements stands for.”
So what was the reaction to Diamond K.ing’s wares? Well, Jewellery was invented to conquer woman’s heart and that is exactly what K.ing does. The reaction of her other customers was evident; each woman’s eyes lighting up, instinctively reacting to the sparkle and wanting to touch and try on the items.
Inga smiles at her customers with real genuine sincerity “I’ve never seen a woman who is not a “jewellery person”, even if some said so at first. She breaths in, her chest and chin rises and her eyes start sparkling more than any man-made jewel; especially when time is taken to match the jewels to her inner character, her dreams and her aspirations for the future.”
When you put it like that I have to agree, even if just for one day where all the other distractions and mandatories of life are put aside, Valentine’s should be like the fairy tale your loved ones deserve. If there is a dream worth chasing then it should be the one where we all live ‘Happy Ever After’ the closer we can get to making that fantasy a reality the brighter the future can only be for us all.
So, have you got a Queen of your Heart?
Are you looking for the ways to keep the sparkle in her eyes?
To have a successful hotel business, you need clientele. Tourist hot spots are, of course, a prime location. However, if you are just starting a hotel, many prime locations can be too costly. Although it can be hard to predict some things, if you can buy property in an up-and-coming area, it is possible to start a hotel business with less capital investment. You also stand to gain a lot of equity. There are plenty of examples of entrepreneurs seeing their real estate investment gain considerable value over the years. Stephen Wynn is famous for setting the standard for luxury hotels in Las Vegas. He started investing and developing real estate before Vegas became the world-renowned city it is today. His first Vegas enterprise was renovating the dilapidated Golden Nugget; however, it was the opening of his Mirage hotel in 1989 that set the standard for luxury Vegas accommodations. Now Stephen has the world famous Bellagio. A good real estate agent can help you with delray beach housing as well.
Know your budget
It is easy to go over budget when starting a hotel business. For example, you will need more money if you plan on offering a food service or other amenities. Even lower-priced hotels usually at least offer a continental-style breakfast, but a kitchen is not necessarily needed for that. If you buy a building, make sure that you are prepared for the costs of renovations and upgrades. Sometimes you can get a real bargain by getting a property that needs some work. The downside is that it can be hard or impossible to know what issues a building might have. A building inspector can help you make sure that you are not biting off more than you can chew. You don’t want to find the perfect property and then discover when the walls are being redone that you have asbestos that needs to be removed.
Get ready for some hard but rewarding work
The hotel business is not easy. You have many people to keep happy. Stamina, and a good attitude are all necessary to succeed in the hotel industry.
Victor Sukseree is the manager of the five-star Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel, in Thailand. He says that he works all the time but doesn’t mind because he is passionate about what he does and looks forward to every work day.
As someone who works from home I can vouch for its good points and its bad ones. Mostly it is great, offering flexibility and the chance to work to the best of your potential. No nasty commute needed so it is good for your bank account and the environment too. In fact, this is Work From Home Week and in June 2014, new rights to flexible working laws were introduced in the UK, declaring that all employees – who have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks – are eligible to request flexible working, including the option of working from home. In fact, most recent figures now show that around 14% of people in employment are working from home, highlighting the idea that it’s increasingly becoming a viable and attractive alternative for businesses.
Launched in 2003, Work From Home Week, running from the 19th to 25th of January, puts a spotlight on this rising figure, raising awareness of working from home for both employers and employees alike.
In a time of constantly evolving technology, it’s never been easier to access information away from the office, so we’re calling on employers to embrace the opportunity as a way to boost happiness and productivity among their employees.
Graham Long, Vice President of the Enterprise Business Team at Samsung UK supports working from home.
‘’At Samsung, we believe it’s vital for people to be given the option and the tools to work flexibly, which is why we view Work from Home Week as an important and worthwhile initiative.
“Our own research reveals over a quarter of workers would opt for flexible working over a pay rise, and more than four in 10 (42%) employees strongly agree with the idea of being able to access work emails and apps outside of official working hours. Despite this, many businesses still don’t trust their employees to do so, highlighting the need to educate enterprises on the benefits of working from home. The option to work more flexibly can have a huge impact on productivity and wellbeing and with advancements in mobile technology, it is now possible for employees to work beyond the confines of the office, making working from home a choice that should be open to all rather than a select few.’’
Of course, for many across the UK, working from home isn’t just for a week. For the hundreds of single parents, carers, injured veterans and those living with disabilities, working from home is a necessity.
To celebrate working from home, the team behind the campaign have compiled the top 5 reasons to consider it!
Money – Not only would you save money on travel costs – train tickets, petrol, parking, etc. – but not eating out for lunch on a regular basis is bound to save you some pennies too. For parents, it gives the opportunity to radically reduce the costs of childcare.
Commute – Forget about delayed trains or road traffic dampening your spirits.
Comfort – Rather than donning a power suit or being restricted to a desk all day, choose your own dress code and working environment.
Green Living – Working from home can help reduce your carbon footprint, conserve office space for your employer, and perhaps most importantly, allow you to be the master of your own environment!
Freedom/Flexibility – Having the freedom to choose your hours and coffee breaks, while not being dragged in and out of corporate meetings all day is something that could potentially boost your overall moral and work ethic. Not to mention it allows you to create that ideal work/life balance.
Work From Home Week runs from the 19th – 25th January 2015. Twitter @WorkFromHomeWK #WFHW
Exciting news in publishing: Handpicked Media, whose independent publishing platform Frost Magazine is proudly part of, has teamed up with Immediate Media. The press release is below and we are very excited.
The Handpicked Media team.
Immediate Media Co, the special interest content and platform company, announces a partnership with Handpicked Media to provide sales agency support for the leading social content marketing and blog network.
The partnership sees Immediate’s commercial division provide agency sales support to Handpicked. Immediate already provides similar services for a roster of clients including BBC Worldwide, Eye to Eye Media and LPG Inc.
Handpicked represents over 300 independent websites and blogs, reaching over 10 million unique users a month. The partnership will allow Immediate to use its commercial infrastructure to unlock the value of these influential bloggers and sites.
As a social content marketing platform, Handpicked Media has curated a growing network of influential blog sites across a range of lifestyle channels since it was launched in 2009 by media entrepreneur Krista Madden. It manages the interaction between its network and a range of consumer brands, offering clients an array of opportunities to reach a very targeted and highly engaged social audience. Key content channels within the Handpicked network include Entertainment, Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion and Food.
Immediate Commercial Director Duncan Tickell says: “Handpicked has a network of fantastically engaged audiences with its roster of blog and independent media sites. These highly passionate and engaged audiences are complementary to our existing portfolio and offer our commercial partners a new and exciting way in which to connect with them”.
Handpicked solutions include social media strategy, blogger outreach, content creation, events and integrated campaigns for a range of brand partners including Intel, Vodafone, P&G and Hilton.
Krista adds: “We are really pleased to be working with the successful team at Immediate Media, their range of brands is a perfect fit for the Handpicked audience. We both see the benefits of creating great content with context and scale across our popular communities. ”
Immediate is home to internationally famous brands including Radio Times, Gardeners’ World, BBC Good Food, Olive, You & Your Wedding, Perfect Weddings and Made For Mums.
Some people have the rather quaint idea that an independent bookshop is a rather dusty place, run by an elderly woman who spends all her time with her feet up, stroking a cat and reading. Others imagine it like the bookshop in Notting Hill, a rather more boutique-style place which sells coffee table books and travel guides.
If there were shops like this they would have closed by now. To be a successful independent bookshop in 2014 you need to be so much more than just a bookshop.
At Chorleywood Bookshop the owner, Sheryl Shurville, opens up at the crack of dawn, invoicing schools with their orders and organising the first of the deliveries. On the way she’ll be picking up a children’s author from the station to take to the school for an event.
Back at the shop a team of three will be unpacking boxes of books. Some will be for a literary lunch, others will be for customers who have ordered them the day before and others will be temporarily displayed in the window ready for the upcoming literary festival.
Along with our customers the staff meet so many authors and it’s like kids being let loose in a sweet shop. We love it. Here’s our owner, Sheryl Shurville with Ben Collins, The Stig.
The shop is busy with customers, many have come to buy greetings cards, others will be buying their tickets for the literary festival and some, of course, are just browsing the new titles.
Behind the scenes, one of the staff is now writing an article about an author event for the local magazine, someone else is pricing a box of children’s toys and gifts and the third member of staff is back and forth serving customers at the till, while working her way through a batch of books to be returned to the publishers and researching an out of print book for a customer who wants a second hand copy.
Sheryl returns and sorts out the banking and float for the author event later that day. Then she begins work on her introductory speech, sandwich in hand. No one stops to eat for more than 10 minutes, there simply isn’t time.
More customers orders placed, more cards sold, more personal book recommendations given-cups of tea are made and left to go cold.
Refreshments for customers are packed, shop signs and books loaded in the back of car, a bouquet for the author collected and on to the evening event… See Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman signing copies of A Very Pointless Quiz Book.
This may sound like exaggeration but this is exactly what it’s like at an indie bookshop, well, unless it’s Halloween,Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day….when it gets a whole lot busier.
New Year is usually the time for change but could it already be too late? According to new research it is too late to change career by the time you reach 41.
