28 Feb 13 Financial and Operational Efficiency for E&P Sector
A webinar for Oil and Gas companies presented by Sapphire Energy Solutions
Sapphire Energy Solutions announces that it is to host an educational webinar on Financial and Operational Efficiency for the E&P Sector on Tuesday 5th March 2013, 3.30 – 4.30pm.
The afternoon event is specifically targeted at Financial, Purchasing and Operational managers within Exploration and Production focussed Oil & Gas companies. The session will focus on how Sapphire’s software solutions can assist with the complex accounting, procurement and inventory requirements of E&P organisations.
The hour long session will explore how Sapphire’s modular solution can grow with organisations as they expand their asset portfolio and move through the various phases of a project as operators or non-operators. Sapphire’s Energy Solution experts will demonstrate the breadth of functionality within their unique solution offering. This will cover strong Financial Management powered by the Infor SunSystems package, demonstrating how to manage multiple GAAP reporting requirements, multi-entity accounting such as Joint venture and PSC.
The webinar will also showcase the other fully integrated Sapphire Energy Solution modules powered by Infor EAM such as Oil & Gas specific procurement which is fully integrated to inventory and stores, full asset management, corrective and preventative maintenance, project management and health & safety. All of which can be added if and when required providing a cost effective and modular approach.
Sapphire’s Energy Solutions Principal, Steven Wright comments, “Many of the organisations I have worked with in this industry have had the common issue of finding strong financial and operational management solutions that can grow with the company as their asset portfolio increases and their focus changes. Due to the complex requirements within E&P, organisations often end up with a patchwork of different systems which have to be integrated and have overlapping functionality. This comes at a high cost to the business and can result in systems that provide poor information leading to inefficiencies. Our approach is to provide one platform that grows with the organisation, providing a consistent look and feel. This cost effective approach ensures that there is no overlapping or redundant functionality and that information is provided in a timely, robust and consistent manner”
The integrated Infor SunSystems and EAM solutions provide class leading financial and operational functionality which is specifically tailored to the E&P sector. Sapphire has many years experience providing this leading Energy Solution to Oil and Gas companies worldwide; clients include Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Ltd, Bayfield Energy, Premier Oil, Tullow Oil, Serica Energy, Taqa Energy, Lundin Petroleum and Tullow Oil Plc,
Sapphire Energy Solutions is part of the Sapphire Systems Group which is the global leading partner for Infor SunSystems, an accolade now held for 10 years, and has over 20 years of practical experience in implementing, integrating and supporting financial management solutions in the Energy Sector.
More information on Sapphire’s Oil and Gas E&P webinar can be found at: http://www.sapphiresystems.com/uk/events/webinars.htm
About Sapphire Systems plc:
Sapphire is an SAP Gold partner – global number one for SAP Business One; and a global Infor partner – number one for Infor SunSystems worldwide. Since 1986, Sapphire has offered customers wide-ranging practical expertise in selecting and implementing advanced financial accounting and business management solutions and today provides software, services and support for over 800 customers worldwide from their offices in the UK, USA and Asia-Pacific. Sapphire is a founder member of the British Application Software Developers Association and was one of the first signatories of the BASDA Green Charter and was listed in The Sunday Times’ International Track 100 in 2011.
Media contact:
Victoria Park
victoria.park@sapphiresystems.com
020 7648 2008
Tags: SAP Business One, Sapphire Systems
05 Feb 13 Want a New Garden Look for the Summer? Consider Landscape Design
The weather is bitterly cold and there may be snow on the ground, but every day brings us closer and closer to spring. Soon the dark, white views we are currently used to seeing will be replaced with fresh, lush landscapes of greenery and colour. January, February and March are the best months to start planning your spring and summer gardens, particularly because the earlier you plant flower and plant bulbs, the bigger and better their blooms will be.
Rather than simply plant new flowers, you may decide to give your garden a complete overhaul and change its looks entirely by way of landscape gardening. Perhaps you enjoy entertaining friends during the summer months and 2013 is the year to have some decking built, or a fun little hut that people can sit in on a summer evening.
There are lots of different landscaping styles you could choose. If you wanted something peaceful and relaxing, you could recreate a Japanese tea garden design. These are gardens that are specifically built by landscape gardeners in Japan to appear aesthetically pleasing and, more importantly, to hold tea ceremonies in. These take place in a tea house, which the garden is designed to lead to, often by way of stepping stones or small bridges built over landscaped garden ponds or rivers.
If you wanted to create a garden look that was low maintenance and sophisticated, you may decide to create a paved rock garden, filled with hardy plants, along with a natural swimming pool with a Jacuzzi. This may seem like an unrealistic idea for a garden, but with a landscape designer, anything is possible.
A professional landscape gardener has the knowledge, experience and skill to turn a patch of grass into a spellbinding masterpiece. Not only can a designer plan out your garden to the last detail, they can also come up with new ideas you may not have thought of. The other advantage to hiring a professional is that they start their meticulous planning on paper first, ensuring measurements and any architectural structures are calculated correctly.
A landscape gardener can also advise you on the best landscaping that is suited to your garden. For example, you may have specific flowers that never seem to bloom in your garden and simply die before you can even enjoy them. A professional landscaper can assess the type of weather your garden receives, taking into account any shady parts, and then advise you on a garden style they think would suit you. For example, if your garden is large, but it receives a lot of rain, then a fresh, green lawn with decking and a summer house may be best for you, so you can still enjoy your garden without the rain getting in your way.
Aside from transforming your garden into something totally different and unexpected, a landscape designer can achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time. This is perfect if you want to have beautiful surroundings to enjoy in summer, but you have a busy job that does not allow you the time to realise your dreams.
Finally, the majority of landscape designers in Hertfordshire offer garden maintenance to ensure that your project is well cared for after completion. Therefore, it is worth investing in landscape design due to the long term enjoyment benefits it comes with. After all, if you cannot wait to get back out in the garden this summer, why not enjoy it as much as possible.
If you’re planning a new garden design, you can do no better than consulting a landscape gardener. Visit the Hertfordshire Mercury for a directory of gardening professionals.
Tags: garden design, Hertfordshire Mercury, landscape gardening
25 Jan 13 The Pros of Enrolling your Child in Nursery School
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have recently announced that they are expecting their first child. It is rumoured that Prince William and Kate are hoping to forego full-time childcare in order to be more hands-on parents. This will break the Royal tradition of hiring full-time nannies. William and Harry had full-time nannies, as did Prince Charles. In fact, the Royal nannies have been such an important institution at the Palace that one of the pageboys at the Royal wedding was the son of former Royal nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
It is unknown if William and Kate’s childcare will also include enrolling their child in a nursery or preschool; an important factor in a child’s development. Sending your child to a nursery school before they start Primary education is vital in helping your child learn valuable social skills. Children are taught how to share, take turns and socialise with others.
According to medical studies, our brain development is at its highest in our first four or five years of life. Children who attend nursery school before Primary school tend to have better pre-reading skills and richer vocabularies. This means they are more able to contribute to classes and articulate their thoughts and feelings clearly, making it easier for teachers to identify their strengths and weaknesses. As well as this, children may also find it easier to make friends and participate in games and playtimes.
The other benefit to enrolling your child in a preschool is that they learn and play in a structured environment. The beauty of this is that nursery offers more structure than a day care centre or crèche, but less than a Primary school. In this way, nursery school is a perfect way to help your child grow accustomed to having a routine, structured education without being plunged into it on their first day of Primary school. It is also an opportunity to make friends and find a sense of independence.
Preschool is also a good choice for the freedom it offers parents. You have the space you require to be an adult, hold down a job, and spend some quality time catching up with friends or just having some quiet time. Rather than feel as if you are simply handing your child over to a day care centre or a crèche, you can rest in the knowledge that your child is learning invaluable life and social skills. As well as this, they are also getting a vital head start in their academic careers by getting a grasp of the basics early on in life.
When enrolling your child into a nursery school, it is important that you make an informed choice. Visit the Cambridge News for a list of suitable childcare services.
Tags: Cambridge News, childcare
22 Jan 13 Why Should I Use An Accountant?
The benefits to employing an accountant if you run a small business or are self employed.
The new tax year is only a few months away, so now is the time to start putting your books in order to make sure you’re ready for your tax assessment. This can be difficult if you are a small business or self employed and handling your taxes yourself.
It is important to ensure your self assessment is filled out correctly, with no missing details, so that the HMRC can accurately assess your profits and losses to determine the amount of tax you owe. Hiring an accountant is useful because they have professional, qualified experience in finance, business, tax and law. This means they are up to date with all the current, legal, financial requirements of running a business, as requested by HMRC.
Not only is an accountant knowledgeable in financial matters, they can also save you time and money. If your self assessment form is incorrectly filled out, you can face heavy fines for miscalculating your finances. Using an accountant reduces the risk of getting your business figures wrong. Not only this but running a business, whatever size it is, is an incredibly demanding, time-consuming task. You may find yourself with a last-minute project that starts in March and finishes in June, leaving you with no time to put your financial matters into order. Being able to send all your information to an accountant is a real saving grace, especially if you already have several other deadlines to worry about.
Hiring an accountant is not only useful for having your tax returns completed correctly and on time; bookkeeping is an ongoing, important task that accountants also carry out. Not only is bookkeeping an important tool for business growth, it can also help you plan ahead. You can track patterns in your business and sales activity, such as peaks and drops. Bookkeeping also helps you manage your finances more effectively because all your financial information is close to hand and neatly collated. An advantage to keeping meticulously detailed records is that you can also make year-on-year comparisons to determine the rate at which your business is growing. This can also indicate whether you should think about expanding or hiring more employees.
Initially, hiring an accountant may seem like an extra cost, but having a professional work on your accounts can have its own monetary benefits for your business. You will have access to a source of business advice and a legal professional who will make sure your company takes advantage of every legal benefit to ensure your tax bill is minimised. There are many local accountants in Hertfordshire with a wealth of experience and knowledge who can help you stay in control of your finances for the new tax year and beyond.
Accountancy can be somewhat tricky but there are professionals available to help you. If you need help with your tax returns, consult the Hertfordshire Mercury’s directory of professionals.
Tags: accountancy, Hertfordshire Mercury
11 Jan 13 Get the Celebrity Style in 2013
Why not try out some new hairstyles to keep your hair on trend in 2013? Rather than spending a fortune on a new dress, bag and shoes for each party you’re invited to, why not nip to your local hairdressers in Hertfordshire for a new hair style? There are many hairstyles to choose from depending on the event, including formal, glam, classy and classic or sophisticated styles. Why not get some inspiration from current celebrity hairdos? Take a look at these three different red carpet looks for you to get some party hair ideas.
The first celebrity hairstyle to grab people’s attention is the gorgeous braided look, as worn by Drew Barrymore and Sienna Miller. Milkmaid braids are back this winter; the classic bohemian up-do is as cute as ever. You can create many variations of this celebrity hairstyle, from neat and tidy tight braids to loose and messy braids like Drew Barrymore’s. Another twist you could put on the milkmaid braids is to plait the hair into a fishtail braid or get creative by adding fabrics or pretty pins into the braid. You can also create different textures by gently pulling bits of hair out of the braid to give it a more relaxed bohemian effect.
The next celebrity hairstyle inspiration is the sexy ponytail as worn by a number of celebrities this season, including Jessica Simpson. This sophisticated salon style ponytail is very sleek and never goes out of fashion, upgrading your ponytail can revamp this style from a daytime look to an evening look ideal for a party. Ponytails can give a modern edge to any outfit. Depending on your style and occasion ponytails can be very versatile. Whether it’s a classic ponytail, messy ponytail or a vintage bouffant volume styled ponytail, it is guaranteed to be ultra stylish for any hair type.
The final gorgeous celebrity hairstyle is Blake Lively’s sexy and effortless hairstyle that looks au-natural but does in fact requires some styling to achieve that relaxed and dishevelled appearance. This effortless loosely waved hairstyle would suit many occasions and can be jazzed up with hair accessories or statement earrings.
So if you’ve got a party coming up, why not recreate your ideal celebrity hairstyle? Take an image into your hair salon so that the hairdresser can transform your locks into a red carpet look that’s bound to impress.
Why not start 2013 with a stunning new hairstyle? If there is a celebrity hairstyle you would like to recreate, take a picture to a hairdressers in Hertfordshire.
Tags: Hertfordshire Mercury
11 Jan 13 Choose your Red Carpet Hairstyle to Recreate in your Local Cambridge Hairdressers
As 2013 starts, why not get yourself a new red carpet look that’s bound to wow? Take inspiration from these three celebrity hairstyles and have your local Cambridge hairdresser re-create them for you. A new hairstyle for an event is a perfect way to grab people’s attention. There are a number of different looks you can choose depending on the event or look you are going for, including formal, glam, classy and classic or sophisticated styles.
1. The first red carpet hairstyle that is in this season is the chignon; this is a very popular look amongst celebrities. A chignon is essentially a roll or knot of hair worn at the back of the head, and you can choose from a number of variations to suit your outfit. You can have fun with a chignon by asking the hair salon to create volume and texture on top, to make it sleek and sharp looking or you could even try an asymmetric chignon. How about opting for a dishevelled chignon? This is a great look that seems effortless and low maintenance whilst being chic and classy. This type of chignon is the ultimate not-too-polished hair style this season.
2. Another gorgeous red carpet hairstyle is the half up, half down hairdo as worn by Jessica Chastain at the Oscars. This would suit people who don’t feel comfortable having all their hair in an up-do. This style looks great if you start by creating loose waves in your hair. This will keep the style sexy and naturally glamorous rather than uptight. This hairstyle allows you to show off your hair being down whilst having the top pinned up, securing it place for the whole night.
3. The final Oscar-winning hairstyle to grab people’s attention this party season is the gorgeous braided look as worn by Drew Barrymore and Sienna Miller, amongst others. Milkmaid braids are back this winter; the classic bohemian up-do is as cute as ever. You can create many variations of this celebrity hairstyle from neat and tidy tight braids to loose and messy braids. Another twist you could put on the milkmaid braids is to plait the hair into a fishtail braid, or get creative by adding fabrics or pretty pins into the braid. You can also create different textures by gently pulling bits of hair out of the braid to give it a more relaxed bohemian effect.
If you are bored with your hairstyle, why not treat yourself to a new one? Find a Cambridge hairdresser in the Cambridge News business directory.
Tags: Cambridge, Cambridge hairdresser
10 Jan 13 Electricity: Friend or Foe?
Most people have absolutely no idea how much electricity they use daily, or to what extent electricity dictates our lives. Such is the fate of an invisible, intangible force; we do not think of what is powering the lightbulb or television, we simply expect it to turn on when we flick a switch or press a button. On average, the annual household energy consumption for a three bedroom house is 4200KW. We use electricity for everything, and it often takes a power cut to make us realise just how much we depend on it. But how many of you think about the dangers that come hand-in-hand with electricity? Electricity is designed to provide us with a useful and safe source of energy but like any force, it must be treated with caution or it can prove fatal. We are often told about keeping knives out of toasters, which you hope would be a matter of common sense, but there are many other injuries that electricity can cause. The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting has stated that there are around 12,500 electrical fires in homes across the UK and about 2,000 non fatal and 10 critical electric shock accidents each year. There are also many unknown dangers that electricity can pose, a recent example being the tragic news story of the jogger who died after coming into contact with a fallen power cable. Sadly, it often takes an awful accident like this to remind us of how electricity is more than just a convenience; it can also be a very dangerous force.
With this in mind, it is so important that you make sure your electrical wiring and appliances are regularly checked by a qualified electrician so that you, your loved ones and work colleagues are kept out of harm’s way. While there are some accidents that could never have been prevented, most electrical injuries are preventable. Something as simple as remembering not to overload extension cords helps protect you in your home and the best way to keep your business is safe is to have an electrician make sure your electrical appliances have had an up to date Portable Appliance Test (PAT). When choosing an electrician to do this, be sure to check that they are Part P qualified. The Part P qualification tells you that their electrical services will be carried out in accordance with building regulations. This will ensure that you can continue to use electricity in your homes or at work but without needless risks that can result in serious injury or death.
It is essential that your electrical wiring is regularly checked by a qualified electrician. The Cambridge News can provide the details of qualified professionals in your area.
09 Jan 13 Cleaning Up After Christmas
It’s Boxing Day, the house is littered with sweet wrappers and wrapping paper, with gifts strewn about the house. Still stuffed like a turkey and recovering from a day of celebrations, the last thing you want to think about is New Year’s Eve and starting afresh in January. Christmas is a wonderfully joyous time filled with presents, family, films, food and games, but it can really take a toll on the state of your house.
A New Year’s tradition for the Chinese is a big spring clean of the house. Before the festivities begin, the Chinese spring clean their houses as an aim to sweep away bad luck for the coming year. They decorate their houses with scrolls that contain good luck sayings such as ‘happiness’ and ‘hope’. It is also customary to make sure no brooms or cleaning products are thrown away, in case the good luck is swept out of the house.
The Japanese also have an old spring cleaning tradition to ring in the New Year. They give their houses a thorough clean in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve to symbolise good luck and a fresh start, like the Chinese do. However, they decorate their houses in bamboo, pine and tangerines. These are said to bring good luck, longevity and good fortune to those who live in the house.
With this in mind, getting your house clean for the New Year may be a wise thing to do. Not only is it thought to bring good luck, but a clean, organised home in January can reflect a fresh, new outlook on the year ahead. Of course, if the thought of an extreme house clean is too daunting or you’re just too busy to do any spring cleaning, then a local cleaning service is great option to take.
Cleaning services are a good alternative to doing it yourself if you don’t have the time to clean your house. Professional cleaning services will use only the best, high quality products and can even offer you tips and advice on the best way to keep your house clean when they leave. If you have a big house or just a particularly messy one, you can choose to hire several cleaners to ensure a high quality job is completed within a small timeframe.
The other benefit to hiring a domestic cleaning company is that they are skilled in all different types of cleaning, whether its carpet rejuvenating, wall cleaning, curtain steaming and more. Not only can these be tricky tasks, they can also be time-consuming, so turning to an experienced professional ensures the job is done properly first time round.
So if you’re thinking of having a New Year’s spring clean this year or you simply have a lot of Christmas holiday debris to clear, why not look into local cleaning services to do the hard work for you, so you can focus your time and energy on a fresh new you for the New Year?
If you are struggling to get your house back under control after Christmas, why not look into professional cleaning services? The Burton Mail can provide the details of local cleaning companies.
Tags: Burton Mail, cleaning services
04 Jan 13 Leave the Power and Phone Lines to an Electrician
Scrap metal prices are increasing and there are some who will resort to crime in order to benefit from this. Metal thieves are continually putting their lives and those of members of the public at risk by stealing copper cabling from live high voltage power and phone lines.
However, police have been clamping down on scrap metal thefts and their efforts are paying off. From January to June 2012, there was a decrease by 240 in the number of thefts reported to the police compared to the same period in 2011. This reduction in the number of reported offences in Hertfordshire stems from the introduction of a devoted taskforce of police officers earlier this year.
And from December 3, it will be illegal for scrap merchants to buy metal for cash and dealers will be required to use only electronic payments or payments by cheque.
Detective Chief Inspector Tannis Perks said: “As part of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Devon, many scrap metal dealers across the county are already recording who their transactions are made with voluntarily and this extra legislation will bring all dealers into line, leaving even fewer avenues for criminals to turn a quick profit from stolen cables, drain covers and lead roofing.”
Metal thieves are committing a dangerous crime. Power and phone lines can be a severe hazard for anyone who isn’t an electrician or trained to deal with electrical wiring. There is the obvious risk of electric shock for the offender but there are other risks involved too, such as the risk of fire, power cuts and short circuiting if the damaged power lines are left hanging down. Only individuals in the electrical services should have anything to do with power and phone lines, not members of the general public. If you do come across any local power or phone lines that have been damaged, do not touch them or anything else in contact with them. It is much too dangerous to attempt to deal with the situation yourself. Contact the National Grid’s 24 hour electricity emergency number about potential hazards relating to overhead electricity lines and they will ensure that an electrician in the area will make it safe. Damage to phone lines can be reported to BT Openreach.
If you see any suspicious behaviour around power lines, do not attempt to deal with it yourself. Report it by calling the non-emergency number 101. Let’s crack down on these metal thieves and leave the power and phone lines in the safe hands of an electrician.
Should you notice any damage to the phone lines in Hertfordshire, do not attempt to deal with the situation yourself. Contact BT Openreach and an electrician in the area will be dispatched to correct the problem.
17 Dec 12 Thomsons Online Benefits Celebrates Raising £34k for Charity in 2012
Thomsons Online Benefits employees have celebrated smashing their 2012 charity fundraising target by over 70%.
Thomsons employees raised a total of £34,236 through their efforts in competing in the London Triathlon and a range of other initiatives such as a sponsored leg wax and monthly collections at Victoria rail station! This total includes £10,374 of matching donations through Thomsons’ Pay It Forward scheme whereby the company matches each employee’s fundraising efforts by up to £500 per year. Employees are also allowed an additional day of leave to help them engage with the charities that inspire them.
The money raised will be equally split between the two London charities chosen by Thomsons employees, The Passage – a Victoria-based charity caring for the homeless – and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) – one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals.
Representatives from the Passage and GOSH joined Thomsons monthly breakfast meeting this week to receive their cheques and hear more about the charitable endeavours that contributed towards the raising of the money.
Justine Trumper, Head of Account Management – Corporate Partnerships at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity commented: ”On behalf of all the patients, parents and staff at Great Ormond Street I would like to say a big thank you to Thomsons Online Benefits for all of their support and amazing fundraising. Thanks to significant contributions such as this donation from Thomsons Online Benefits, we are able to treat some of the UK’s sickest children in brand new state of the art facilities that match the high standard of care which Great Ormond Street Hospital provides.”
Andrew Hollingsworth of the Passage added :”The Passage works with rough sleepers in South Westminster and Thomsons office is in the middle of our street outreach area. The Passage has been working with Thomsons for just over two years with Thomsons employees helping The Passage as volunteers including our own public collections in Victoria Station. As we step up our work with those unfortunate to live on the street in this very cold weather we are extremely grateful for Thomsons help in meeting our costs. By their partnership with The Passage, Thomsons share in our mission to provide resources which encourage, inspire and challenge homeless people to transform their lives and they help the most needy of their immediate neighbours.”
Michael Whitfield, CEO of Thomsons who presented the charities with their cheques said “This year our employees have really got behind and embraced our Pay it Forward scheme like never before, and we are absolutely delighted that we smashed our fundraising target by 70%. Not only did we raise a significant amount of money but we also saw the positive impact that this had in terms of team building and levels of employee engagement on which Thomsons thrives. We are already planning our 2013 programme and look forward to another year of exciting initiatives.”
About Thomsons Online Benefits
Thomsons Online Benefits help businesses gain maximum benefit from their employee reward schemes at minimum cost.
With their unique blend of consulting, communication and their award winning benefits administration technology platform, Darwin™, organisations the world over trust Thomsons Online Benefits with their employee benefits programmes.
Thomsons Online Benefits has won over 50 awards including ‘Firm of the Year’ and ‘Best Use of Technology’ in the 2012 Corporate Adviser Awards and attracted a prestigious portfolio of clients that includes Cisco, Microsoft and Samsung. Thomsons Online Benefits Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for business conducted in the UK.
Tags: Great Ormond Street, The Passage, Thomsons Online Benefits
