Read more ›]]> In a recent report compiled by the UK Parliament’s Science and Technology Select Committee, it is urged that the Government launch a “prolonged awareness raising campaign to increase public understanding of personal online security.” This is in light of the fact that the number of cases whereby individuals have been the victim of identity-stealing malware has dramatically increased. According to Financial Fraud Action UK, £16.9 million was lost by online banking fraud in the first six months of 2011.

Although security measures are advancing and becoming increasing sophisticated, so are hackers. In a recent article by the BBC news team it was reported that hackers have managed to find ways to intercept online banking customers even when they are using security devices such as PINSentry from Barclays and SecureKey from HSBC. The cybercriminals use a method named a “Man in the Browser” (MitB) attack: the malware lives in the web browser and can get between the user and the website, altering what is seen and changes details of what is being entered. This attack will only affect victims that fall for a trick set by the cybercriminals: after logging in to the bank’s actual site, users are tricked by an offer of training in a new “upgraded security system”. If they take this training, the MitB attack can take place: stealing money out of the user’s account without it being visible to the account holder.

This is not the only recent development in sophisticated attacks by hackers. Security experts have discovered a new piece of financial malware, a modified variant of Zeus, called Ice IX. When this malware is present on a user’s PC, it not only steals all the victims’ bank account details, but also tricks the user into entering their telephone accounts details. These details are exceptionally sensitive data, usually only known to the phone subscriber and the phone company. It is used by the phone company to verify the identity of the subscriber and authorise private account modifications, such as call forwarding. Once the hacker has stolen details about the users telephone account, they are able to instruct the phone company to divert all calls from the victims number to a different number: a phone number controlled by the attacker. Therefore after a hacker has made a fraudulent transaction using the stolen credentials, the post-transaction verification call made by the bank is diverted to professional criminal caller services – making the transaction seem genuine.

With the increase in data-stealing malware and advanced methods carried out by hackers, can online banking ever be secure? The answer is yes, if appropriate security measures are put in place. It is essential that what you are using to protect yourself or your organisation is always one step ahead of the cybercriminal. MSC offer a wealth of security measures aimed at organisations, designed to keep them completely secure. Please get in touch today for any further information about the topics discussed or for advice on keeping safe online.

Managed Services Centre
www.msc247.com
0333 55 55 247
info@msc247.com

Read more ›]]> Tracy Ewen, MD at commercial finance company IGF comments on the rise in company insolvencies:

“Today’s Q4 insolvency figures are no great surprise, with a worse than expected Christmas period and extended Eurozone woes spooking the markets. The 7.2% increase on Q4 2011 further shows what a hard year 2011 was for businesses in the UK. 2012 looks set to be another challenging year for companies, especially SMEs.

“These figures also do not reveal the entire insolvency picture. Many companies find the costs and complications that are associated with registering as insolvent too great and choose the easier option of ‘ceasing to trade’. With many banks still reluctant to lend to SMEs, small companies who are struggling with their finances are simply choosing to shut up shop and walk away from their debts. We are finding that ‘cease to trade’ is becoming more and more common over the past few years. This does not show up in any of the insolvency statistics and is bad news for both creditors and businesses alike.

“Insolvency costs are an issue. The cost of insolvency for small businesses, (a minimum of £5,000 and often significantly more) is acting as a real deterrent for firms to seek help or enter insolvency proceedings. This can have substantial ramifications on other businesses that may find themselves suffering a financial loss if another business that owes them money does not wind up its affairs correctly. Some businesses may also wait until a creditor winds them up or the Government shuts them down as a result of not having filed accounts for several years – again, this is behaviour that could really be skewing the insolvency statistics.

“Before ceasing to trade or entering insolvency proceedings, business owners should make sure that they really have exhausted every option available to them. If the bank won’t lend you money, or you don’t want to put personal assets up as collateral against a loan, do look at invoice finance (and consider the independents as well as the high street banks) – it may be just the option you need to get your cashflow back on track.”

Read more ›]]> HOW TO SAVE 30% ON THE COST OF A NEW BUILDING AND SLASH CO² EMISSIONS

Total confidence and peace-of-mind for your building project – that’s what Ashford-based Directline Structures will be explaining to local businesses at the Kent 2020 Vision exhibition on 19 April.

With years of experience in both designing and constructing large buildings for commerce and education they provide certainty of quality and best value.

This saves 30% on the cost of a new building simply by having an integrated approach to the design principles. Cost is never a surprise at the end of a long process, it is always guaranteed.

Skilful design results in reduced use of materials and so also helps protect the environment.

The family-owned design and construction company has been developing commercial steel buildings since 1988 and has won major awards for sustainable design and build.

Managing director Duncan Murray, who is a Chartered Environmentalist, will be explaining how the firm has helped clients slash up to 30% off the cost of designing and building new offices, warehouses and school halls, compared to estimates provided by competitors.

“We provide a complete design and build service, taking a project from concept to design, through the planning process, construction and fit-out to handover. This complete turnkey approach can save clients up to 30% on the cost of the building.

“Visitors to our stand at the Kent 2020 Show at the County Showground will find out how we can give them the building they want at a price they can afford,” he added.

For any business considering a new building the prospect of saving around 30% on the cost of the project will be hugely appealing.

Duncan said: “A sustainable building can be cost effective, good looking and a pleasant place to work. It can also benefit from lower running costs – all of which enhances its long-term value. By adopting lean design and construction methods and waste avoidance, businesses make dramatic savings in materials and so save costs, without cutting corners. Call it sustainable, call it green and eco-friendly but also call it efficient and plain good value.

“It’s the best possible way to save money and end up with the building you want at a price you can afford. You don’t need any other architects or consultants or to pay any other fees. There are no hidden costs – when the design and specification are agreed, we provide a fixed price.

“It’s vital to make sure your design and build company, just as with any consultant, is qualified to make the essential decisions that are crucial to the quality and long life of the project. By avoiding layers of consultants, the costs involved and loss of control that split responsibilities can cause, you can save as much as 30%.

“Lean design is crucial. By understanding the disciplines of structural design and building detailing, the construction process and the costs of all stages and elements, big savings are made in raw materials. That’s simply good, sustainable design but it also has an immediate cost benefit to clients and a dramatic CO² reduction,” added Duncan.

For more information about Directline Structures, visit www.directlinestructures.co.uk, email info@directlinestructures.co.uk or call 01233 504770.

Read more ›]]> This research project sets out to identify the barriers to successful implementation of customer focused change programmes. Particularly around the role of team leader/junior manager, especially the behavioural factors such as leadership, creative problem solving and customer focus.

Introduction and Objectives: It is well documented that many change programmes fail to achieve the desired or expected results. Various reports suggest that up to 70% of organisational change initiatives fail and have been failing for a number of years. The failure is often given the catchall name of “resistance” yet resistance can be positive and creative.

Ultimately it is all about the people and there are commonly three main reasons for the high rate of failure:

• The gap between the big-picture strategic vision and successful implementation at the front line
• The built in resistance to change of organisational culture
• Failure to take full account of the impact of the changes on those people who are most affected by the

Data will be gathered via an on-line survey covering the key elements (approx. 10/15 minutes to complete) with team leaders and junior managers in organisations that have undertaken a change programme for customer service or are currently doing so. The study will also conduct interviews (30/40 minutes face to face and telephone) with team leaders and junior managers.

Organisations that provide at least 6 team leaders/managers to complete the survey, with at least one who completes a face to face or telephone interview, will be provided with a their own composite results and comparison with the overall results. Individuals who complete the interview will be provided with a free half hour coaching session based on their responses.

If you are interested in participating please contact info@pinchpointcoaching.com

Full details are available on the web site: www.pinchpointcoaching.com

Read more ›]]> FREE evening event – Open to ALL – Bookings MUST be made direct to the St Lawrence Cricket Ground, Canterbury.
Places are limited.

SAFARI NIGHT
Thursday 8th March
5.30pm – 7.30pm

Check out the upgraded facilities at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury and enjoy the unique ‘Safari Night’.
Starting in the Les Ames bar, trek through all the upgraded facilities, whilst enjoying complimentary canapes & drinks and mixing with leading Kent businesses.

BOOK DIRECT:
Alan Hilliker on 01227 456886 option0
or alan.hilliker.kent@ecb.co.uk

St Lawrence Ground is wholly owned and operated by Kent County Cricket Club.

Read more ›]]> Guest Blog on the power of video from Iain McBride – posted by Sharon Wilding from Purple Edge Marketing.    

This is my take on video as a way of getting publicity with videos on the web and Youtube, but first I’d like to add my brief thoughts to the social media debate.

I started as a hack in the days when we all used manual typewriters and, in moments of high stress, these were not only used to bash out copy but physically thrown across the room. Twitter was what the birds did and social media was a meeting of reporters in the pub.

I must admit I’ve not personally embraced Twitter and Facebook but they are great tools for journalists. Most tragedies now mean a quick search of Facebook for the victim’s picture and nine times out of ten it’s there in the public domain. I’m happy to argue the morality of it with anyone, but since a judge ruled that once people had chosen to publish these on the internet on an open forum anyone could use them it’s been a free for all.

Similarly Twitter is a great way of finding out what some organisations are doing – and in some cases careless Twittering leads to negative headlines. So keep tweeting and facebooking – we love it.

One of my roles now is as a freelance video producer, and one trend that has become apparent in recent months is the growth in demand for Youtube and web videos to draw attention to a product, service or business. Web video boosts a site’s rankings on Google and also has numerous spin offs. It can be produced in days once it’s been commissioned, and it can also be placed on Youtube for nothing.

I’m obviously biased about their value but one recent example shows, I think, how they can add value. A Kent racehorse trainer recently invented a very simple product and we were asked to produce a video about it for their website, but also with a view to it being used at exhibitions and to show potential sellers at home and abroad what the product does. You can see the video here at http://www.equinedesigns.co.uk/ 

One of the directors told me it’s succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. At their first exhibition, at the NEC in Birmingham, people were drawn to their stand because the video explaining the product was showing on a screen and their sales team didn’t have to explain what it was all about. Since then they’ve used it to win distributors in the United States, China and Australia.

If you’re thinking of having one then a few words of advice:

• Think pictures – it’s got to look interesting. People just talking to the camera are a lazy and fairly pointless exercise. There are always ways of illustrating things and that’s where your producer earns part of his fee.
• Think endorsements – nothing is better than a good soundbite from someone who’s used your product, business or service.
• Think who’s talking on behalf of you – without being cruel some people are best kept away from the camera. Not necessarily because of how they look but because of how they sound or their obvious lack of dynamism. The good news is that a bit of coaching before they’re filmed can iron out most problems. Again this is where a good producer stands out from the crowd.
• Think what you want to achieve - what’s the aim of the video? Who do you want to interest or convince? If it’s very different audiences, for example one with technical knowledge and one without, consider doing two versions.

One word of caution – there are many people out there doing videos and, a bit like wedding photographers, if you want it done on the cheap you can find someone to do it. But beware the £250 web video will look exactly like that – cheap, and is that the image you want to portray?

Iain McBride has worked in newspapers and radio, and was with ITV for 23 years. He was Head of Media for Kent Police for two years and now produces corporate videos and runs media training and press release writing workshops. His website is www.iainmcbride.co.uk

Read more ›]]> Believe in the benefits of sport?

Want to help give young people a positive future?

The Howard School Sport Partnership needs your help to fund a unique sports development project that will change the lives of young people in Medway.

The Howard School Sport Partnership is seeking funding to continue the highly successful sports leadership and volunteering programmes that were previously delivered by Medway Council.

These programmes aim to:

• Broaden young peoples’ horizons and enhance their transferable life skills
• Increase opportunities for volunteering in sport

What are the programmes?

• Sports leadership programme
• Sports leadership programme for young people with special educational needs
• National governing body leadership and officiating awards
• Intensive two-day leadership courses

In addition to running these programmes, The Howard School Sport Partnership also intends to continue a number of schemes, which help to engage more young people in high-quality PE and sport.

What are these schemes?

• Medway sports leadership and volunteering awards
• Sports coach register
• Event volunteer register
• Sports code of practice
• Sports equipment loan store

In order to fund this unique sports development project, The Howard School Sport Partnership needs to raise £80,000.00 a year.

Consequently, we would be delighted to hear from any local businesses that might be interested in sponsoring either specific initiatives or the project in general.

To find out more about how you can get involved in this exciting venture please contact Jon Rees.

Phone: 01634 236606
Email: reesj@thehowardschool.co.uk

For full details of the Howard School Sport Partnership sponsorship click here Howard School Sport Parntership(1)