Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

What do the corporate giants of Shell, BP and Guinness Brewing Worldwide have in common with the Caravan Club? Simon Hill has worked in the IT department of all four.

The Caravan Club's IT chief has also worked in IT for large UK public sector organisations such as Surrey Council and the Metropolitan Police, where he directed its Solution Centre for seven years, providing all back-office systems to 30,000 employees.

Hill joined Guinness on a graduate programme after gaining a degree in procurement and logistics. It was here he got his first hands-on experience of implementing the SAP enterprise resource suite, something that has recurred throughout his career. He spent six years at Accenture working on SAP projects and was subsequently SAP programme manager at Surrey Council.

Today the London School of Economics graduate heads up IT at the Caravan Club as it embarks on ambitious plans to expand into new areas of the travel and leisure industry. The club, which has 360,000 members and, with their families, reaches about one million people runs leisure sites across the UK and offers insurance and other travel services. Its IT operation currently works out of a single room in the club's office and a small space in a warehouse. But it is moving to dedicated servers in third-party datacentres.

Hill has responsibility for all technology at the club, including head office and over 160 sites across the UK. When he joined a couple of years ago he inherited 14 direct reports and a department focused on supply.

Recognising the need for change, I secured board-level support for my vision for the department and set up demand management, service delivery and project management teams, he says.

This has meant that we are now more closely involved in value creation for the business, and I have been given the opportunity to help shape the Caravan Clubs exciting growth strategy.

He says the IT department is now more consultative. Rather than just building what the business asks for, it gets managers to explain the business goals and then recommends the IT systems that can support that outcome.

We help senior management clarify how they intend to achieve delivery of the clubs strategy through iterative conversations about what it will take, both technically and in terms of business change, to help to achieve their goals.

The IT operation is split in three. One team manages the pipeline of demand for change, developing all pre-project documentation such as business cases. Another team is responsible for developing and delivering all non-property related change, from small change requests through to multimillion-pound projects. And the third team ensures the ongoing provision of IT service while looking to reduce cost and improve quality.

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CIO Interview: Simon Hill, Caravan Club

by Jeremy Veno, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 1, 2014, Tuesday

KUCHING: Anxious villagers from Kampung Sebat Dayak and Kampung Siru Dayak in Sematan are pleading to Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem to look into an alleged encroachment into their farmland by a private company.

According to the villagers, their nightmare started in 2010 when the company was granted a licence to develop about 1,000 acres of state land at Lot 1014 Block 8, Pueh Land District which encompasses 280 acres of land which the villagers claimed to have native customary rights (NCR) over.

Located about 200 metres from their villages, the land is mainly used by the villagers to grow oil palm, padi, rubber trees, fruit trees and vegetables.

On Nov 25, 2011 a civil case was filed at the High Court after two series of talks between the villagers, representatives from the company and the Lundu District Office ended in a deadlock.

On March 7 this year, the High Court granted the company rights to develop the state government land which led the villagers to file an appeal.

The High Court then ordered the company to stop work and not to encroach into the disputed areas until the appeal case is settled.

Despite the court order, the company was said to have continued land clearing activities.

The matter reached a boiling point last Sunday when more than 30 villagers from Kampung Sebat Dayak and Kampung Siru Dayak staged a protest at the alleged encroached site.

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Villagers seek CMs help over land dispute

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

30-Jun-2014

Contact: Dan Stober dstober@stanford.edu 650-721-6965 Stanford University

If you've gone grocery shopping lately, you've probably bought palm oil.

Found in thousands of products, from peanut butter and packaged bread to shampoo and shaving cream, palm oil is a booming multibillion-dollar industry. While it isn't always clearly labeled in supermarket staples, the unintended consequences of producing this ubiquitous ingredient have been widely publicized.

The clearing of tropical forests to plant oil palm trees releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas fueling climate change. Converting diverse forest ecosystems to these single-crop "monocultures" degrades or destroys wildlife habitat. Oil palm plantations also have been associated with dangerous and abusive conditions for laborers.

Significantly eroded water quality now joins the list of risks associated with oil palm cultivation, according to new research co-authored by researchers from Stanford University and the University of Minnesota, who warn of threats to freshwater streams that millions of people depend on for drinking water, food and livelihoods. The new study in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences contains surprising findings about the intensity and persistence of these impacts, even in areas fully forested with mature oil palm trees.

Land clearing, plantation management (including fertilizer and pesticide application) and processing of oil palm fruits to make crude palm oil can all send sediment, nutrients and other harmful substances into streams that run through plantations. Vegetation removal along stream banks destroys plant life that stream organisms depend on for sustenance and shade.

"Although we previously documented carbon emissions from land use conversion to oil palm, we were stunned by how these oil palm plantations profoundly alter freshwater ecosystems for decades," said study co-author and team leader Lisa M. Curran, a professor of ecological anthropology at Stanford and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

Palm oil epicenter

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Oil palm plantations threaten water quality, Stanford scientists say

Interior Design - Man Cave Reveal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIX0uS-bUv0 Interior Design, Interior Design ideas, Interior Decorating tips - Interior Designer Rebecca Robeson walks you through a detailed explanation of the...

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Interior Design - Man Cave Reveal - Video

Interior Designer Manager Level 5 Crewe, Cheshire attractive, plus excellent benefits

Bentley Motors is the definitive British luxury car company, crafting the world's most desirable high performance grand tourers. To support our future growth plans, we are looking for an enthusiastic and talented Interior Design Manager to join our highly creative team in our Crewe Design Facility, with...

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATION

To apply please visit http://www.bentleycareers.com select 'vacancy search' quoting reference BEN001529

Online applications only. No agencies please.

Lead HMI Interior Designer Level 4Crewe, Cheshireattractive, plus excellent benefits

Bentley Motors is the definitive British luxury car company, crafting the world's most desirable high performance grand tourers. To support our future growth plans, we are looking for an enthusiastic and talented Lead HMI Interior Designer to join our highly creative team in our Crewe Design Facility, with a proven track record in the creation of HMI and interior design concepts and taking them to a production level and beyond.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATION

To apply please visit http://www.bentleycareers.com select 'vacancy search' quoting reference BEN001529.

Online applications only. No agencies please.

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Interior Designer Manager Level 5 Crewe, Cheshire attractive, plus excellent benefits

by Brad Virata Mon., Jun. 30, 2014 12:40 PM PDT

Over the past decade, interior designer-turned-fashion designer Kelly Wearstler has achieved icon status through imagination and her love for all things glam. Her personal style is raw, refined and luxurious and is the ultimate example of Malibu chic. This four-time author and mother of two believes that attention to detail is everything and that you should always push boundaries when it comes to fashion and interior design.Oh, and she's got more Manolos than Carrie Bradshaw! Read on to find out where she's currently obsessing over, Malibu.

What is your current state of mind?Curious. Inspired. I am juggling several projects at the moment. We have a new hotel brand. My days are so fun and eclectic. I get a lot of meetings in in one day. One minute I am designing the new jewelry collection and the next I am selecting bathrobes. I am a master multi-tasker. Probably from all my years waiting tables.

Who is your favorite fashion designer of the moment? Johnson Hartig of Libertine has such a distinctive voice and a virtuosic eye for color. His designs are so expressive always with a clever contemporary take on vintage. It's beyond!

Fave salon and stylist?I go to Salon Benjamin in Beverly Hills. Leland Ferrell cuts my hair. He cuts the whole family's hair. Negin Zand does amazing highlights. They are the best!

Three things that you cannot live without?My family (including my two rescue pups Rigby and Willie), my camera and my Kelly Wearstler perforated cuff.

Is there a place or store that really inspires your design creativity you when you walk in?The flea market! I always go up each aisles more than once, you see different things. I adore vintage and collect everything from furniture to jewelry to scarves and clutches. I've been known to find a great hidden gem at a flea market and bring it into my team for creative inspiration. My aesthetic is very much about playing up the sexy tension between something old and something new. Something raw with something refined.

PHOTOS: Brian Atwood's Guide to New York and Milan

A lot of fashion trends are popping up around the city, which one of these trends should've died yesterday?Fashion is about taking risks. I think style should be personal and tell a story. Express yourself and be true to your voice and you can't go wrong.

The perfect meal is at what restaurant?I adore a great salad made with local farm-to-table ingredients. Plate in Malibu is awesome. The boys love their salmon. There is something for everyone. All fresh and healthy. We also go to the farmers market and buy ingredients to make homemade smoothies. The boys experiment with every fruit and veggie combo possible. We love our Vitamix.

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Kelly Wearstler's Guide to Malibu: Where the Designer Loves to Eat, Shop and Get Glam

LAS VEGAS - Homeowners in Las Vegas depend on their air conditioning during the summer months. 8 on Your Side shows how to keep your unit running without getting ripped off.

If you are a homeowner and something goes wrong with your air conditioning unit, you need to act quickly and carefully.

The best way to do that is to call at least three companies for a quote. Calling multiple companies ensures you will get the best price.

If anything major is wrong with the system, it's always good to get a second opinion and sometimes a third opinion, said Blake Ballard with the Southern Nevada Air Conditioning Service Contractors Association. There are some unethical companies that tell you you need to replace a system or do major repairs, when that really is not the case. So, a second or third opinion can help you with that.

Make sure whichever company you choose is licensed in the state. That information is available through the Nevada State Contractors Board. If the company is not licensed, do not hire it.

If the repairman says you need a certain part for your unit, ask for a price quote. Then, call around to see what other companies charge. That way, you are in control. Air conditioning companies can charge whatever they want for parts and service. These services are not price controlled.

Repair times vary. Most contracted, licensed companies can fix your problem in a matter of hours.

That's not the case when you rely on your home warranty company for a repair.

Ballard says when you rely on home warranty companies, repairs can take days or weeks.

We find a very common complaint of people who have home warranties is that it's going to take three to five days to get it resolved or to get somebody out there, he said. In many cases, you could get it resolved that day.

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8 on Your Side offers home air conditioning repair tips

Home Security Systems Phoenix Arizona
Home Security Systems Phoenix Arizona. What you need to know about the best home alarm systems, in Phoenix Arizona. Blog: Home Security systems in Phoenix AZ...

By: Home Security Systems Phoenix Arizona

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Home Security Systems Phoenix Arizona - Video

If you want to make sure your home is protected from burglaries and vandalism, security cameras can come in handy. There are numerous types of security cameras and some are better suited for certain locations and situations than others.

Since home security cameras can be expensive, it is a good idea to know what kind you need before you start shopping. This will help you avoid overspending or buying something that wont work the way you need it to.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right one.

Infrared Cameras Infrared cameras are one of her most preferred types of security cameras. They offer the best resolution and color and work well in all types of lighting. They can also be expensive and may not be necessary. If you just want a basic camera and will be installing it in an area with a lot of lighting , you dont need to pay the extra money for the infrared feature.

Durability Many people forget that their security cameras will be outside in the elements and disregard durability. Unless you plan on installing your security camera inside, you will need something that is waterproof and temperature tolerant. Some cameras require separate housings for certain seasons. Remember, cheaper isnt always better and if you buy a camera that is not durable, you might end up replacing it sooner than planned.

Size One of the most important things to consider when choosing a security camera is its size. Do you want something that is large and obvious or something small that can easily be hidden. Both sizes have their benefits, and it just depends on whether or not you want the camera to be seen and used as intimidation and prevention or to be hidden and used to catch a criminal in the act.

There are many things to consider when buying security cameras, and the three above features are just a couple of the most important. Before you start shopping for your security camera, make sure you know what you want and need.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

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Home Security Cameras: Choosing The Right One

Glamorgan 1st July (PRWEB UK) 30 June 2014

MyLiveGuard Ltd has concluded an agreement under which Y3K Ltd is to licence the MyLiveGuard software platform to power a new line of residential-focused, combined Home Automation, Home Security and Home CCTV packages which it will put together and distribute through its existing Retail and Installer networks under its SMART-i HOME banner.

Licencing MyLiveGuards technology will enable Y3K to enter the burgeoning Home Automation market and quickly capitalise on the trend towards convergence of Home Automation and Home Security solutions.

Showcasing the new SMART-i HOME product on its stand at IFSEC 2014, Paul Singh, Y3Ks CEO said This is a logical step for us. Using MyLiveGuards cloud software platform we can build our own product offering, extend our existing portfolio of CCTV-orientated products and offer homeowners new lifestyle services focused around their smartphones which enable them to protect and control their homes and possessions in an affordable way.

Furthermore, Singh added, its clear that while converging technology is attracting new customers and increasing the number of homeowners who self monitor, all the evidence suggests that the professionally monitored market remains a much larger market. By leveraging MyLiveGuards technology and integrating SMART-i HOME to our new SmartGuard Monitoring Station we will offer homeowners both options and give them the best of both worlds.

The SMART-i HOME system uses wireless sensors to detect intrusion, smoke, flood and other "events" and makes a voice call to the absent homeowner to alert them and enable them to remotely view video footage of the event. Home owners can also use their smartphones to access live CCTV feeds as well as remotely control lights, heating controls door locks, cat flaps, curtains and much more on a manual or scheduled basis to simulate occupancy when away from home, prepare their property for their return home and manage energy more efficiently.

Were delighted to be working with Paul and his team, said Mark Naldrett, MyLiveGuards Sales Director. We believe that in Y3K, with their experience, reputation for innovation and sales track record, we have found the ideal partner to spearhead sales of our Z-Wave based Home Automation technology through UK Retail distribution channels.

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MyLiveGuard Ltd and Y3K Ltd announce Partnership Agreement