Synergy Client Solutions Hopeful that Bristol Will Avoid Hosepipe Ban

Areas of southern England are to be hit with a hosepipe ban as water companies put measures in place to control drought conditions.

Synergy Client Solutions, a customer acquisitions company based in Bristol City Centre read yesterday that emergency measures are in place throughout the South and South East of England. Seven firms, Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East are all to put restrictions in place.

Synergy Client Solutions has heard from the Environmental Agency that although only the South East is effected at the moment, if this spring continues to be warm and dry, as expected, the ban could extend into East Yorkshire and the Hampshire-Wiltshire border.

Managing director of Synergy Client Solutions Benjamin Jeanes is concerned about the wider-reaching consequences. “Quite aside from the frustration this will cause keen gardeners, the repercussions could really hit the farming industries. The prices of vegetables have gone up when hosepipe bans have been enforced before. The price of staple foods has risen considerably over the past few years and this could push them even higher.”

There had been some concern that the Olympics would also be affected but Synergy Client Solutions understands that measures have been put in place to ensure that the Olympic Park and other venues receive enough water from sustainable sources.

At this stage Bristol, where Synergy Client Solutions have their headquarters, does not appear to be affected. However, it could well be on the list if rain levels don’t increase in the next month or so. 

Synergy Client Solutions Backs FSB in Hunt for Small Business Representation in Cabinet.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for a separate Government body, which is dedicated to protecting the interests of small businesses, to have a seat in the Cabinet. Synergy Client Solutions looks at the rationale behind the request.

In its Budget submission to the Chancellor, the FSB has suggested that an agency be created that is modeled on the Small Business Administration (SBA) in the USA. Although a number of government departments deal will small business policy there isn’t a single department that focuses specifically on the needs of small businesses and the FSB believes that this is causing them to fall down the list of government priorities.

Synergy Client Solutions, a customer acquisitions company based in Bristol, is all too aware of the problems faced by small businesses. Director of the company, Benjamin Jeanes said of the proposal, “This will be very welcome amongst small businesses throughout the UK. I think the government recognises the importance of small businesses but unfortunately because of lack of representation they don’t always stay at the forefront of policy. The reality is however that there are 4.5 million small businesses in the UK and they need to be given a more prominent seat within government.”

The FSB believes that a group modeled on the US SBA would be incredibly beneficial and would help them improve small business finance particularly credit easing and improving procurement opportunities for small firms. They also believe that it would help provide quick and effective disaster assistance for small businesses when they are hit by exceptional circumstances outside of their control, like the summer riots of 2011. The SBA in America has been in existence since 1953 and has a seat in the Cabinet.

Synergy Client Solutions is fully behind John Walker, the national chairman of the FSB who recently said, “Through implementing a Small Business Administration, it would allow the government to quickly implement policies aimed at helping small businesses.”

Mr. Jeanes believes that much more must be done to help small businesses. “The government has set a 25 per cent improvement target in helping provide procurement opportunities to small firms but they’re failing to really put the measures in place the help the businesses to do this. Perhaps the world ‘small’ is holding the businesses back. They’re definitely not small in number and if an organised lobbying committee could be put in place, we’re confident at Synergy Client Solutions that we would see an improvement.”

The Eden Project Struggling with Debt Synergy Client Solutions Discovers

Cornwall’s The Eden Project is the latest business to announce that it is struggling with debts from the economic downturn. Synergy Client Solutions reports the problems that it is facing.

The managing director of the Eden Project announced yesterday that the attraction has debts of £5m and that up to 35 jobs were at risk. Gaynor Coley said “We are overall in debt about £5m – but a £5m debt on a £140m asset with a £20m turnover is a very reasonable level of debt, particularly in this climate.”

Ms Coley said that visitor numbers had been healthy but that loses last year of £1.78m had compounded this year’s debt. The cause of the loss last year was in part down to flooding in November 2010 that saw the attraction close for a week and its very profitable ice rink close for one month.

Despite her claims, Synergy Client Solutions understands that visitor numbers have fallen in 2009, 2010 and 2011, with last year seeing only just over 1m visitors through the door. Ms Coley said that they would be looking for innovative ways to ensure that the attraction was fit for purpose and was good value for money.

The Eden Project boasts the world’s largest rainforest in captivity with jungles and waterfalls. It also has fantastic year-round garden displays and an educational centre.  The Eden Project is also a famous concert venue. Lined up to perform this summer are artists Plan B, Blink-182 and Example.

Manager of Synergy Client Solutions, Ben Jeanes thinks that the problem is even more worrying than initially thought, “The Eden project is a research centre that works with communities around the world to reduce the impact of various industries on the planet including mining and businesses. If some of the individuals involved in research are at risk of losing their jobs then that will surely affect their work.”

Malcolm Bell of Visit Cornwall is more optimistic. “We will be looking to see how we can help. I am sure Eden’s team will be working hard and creatively. It took innovation to create Eden and I am sure that pool of talent will be there to see it through these troubles.” Synergy Client Solutions hopes that he is right.

Synergy Client Solutions Reviews: Reality Check by Guy Kawasaki

The latest booking keeping Synergy Client Solutions company on the way to work is ‘Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition’ by Guy Kawasaki

Synergy Client Solutions, a customer acquisitions company based in Bristol, is always on the look out for business role models, so when they came across this book it immediately caught their eye. You could write a book about the author himself. Guy Kawasaki's business background is extensive and eclectic. He learnt how to sell in the jewellery trade and went on to work at Apple. Guy also set up the website alltop.com described as an “online magazine rack” of popular topics on the internet.

Guy’s writing style is irreverent, to the point and highly amusing. He is the author of 10 books and a blog called “How to Change the World” that has a readership in the hundreds of thousands. What Synergy Client Solutions likes most about 'Reality Check' is that it's unlike most business books. The chapters are divided into themes than be read separately or in order. They cover topics like raising money, innovating, communicating, hiring and firing. It is essentially a collection of the best parts of his blog.

Synergy Client Solutions feels that Guy’s intricate understanding of the internet only serves to enhance the book. In the chapter entitled “As Good as Steve Jobs” he directs readers to Majora Carter’s 2005 TED talk and breaks down why it is such a fantastic public speech and how you can learn to do the same.  At almost 500 pages this book feels like a bible in your hands and it will certainly become a book that Synergy Client Solutions would recommend entrepreneurs, salesmen and small business owners to live by!

Managing director of Synergy Client Solutions pulled out his favourite chapter,  “The most fascinating chapter for me was “Ten or so things to learn at school.” The reason it was so interesting was that none of the items on the list are things that they actually teach you at school! They included, how to talk to your boss, how to survive a meeting, how to figure anything out on your own, how to explain something in 30 seconds. These are all valuable skills that we should really be teaching our children to prepare them for the business world.”

Both the book and author are fantastic, Reality Check is sure to start your love affair with Kawasaki’s style of writing. He has so many anecdotes from his own experiences to offer that it makes the book feel very personal. Synergy Client Solutions have their thumbs pointed well and truly up.

Synergy Client Solutions Tries to Turn Stress into an Asset

Stress is an unavoidable part of life, be it at home or work-related. Synergy Client Solutions looks at how you can turn stress into an asset.

All the advice that we ever hear is that stress is bad for you: it damages health, puts relationships under strain and affects your performance. Whilst there is no doubt that these risks are real and in some cases harmful, research by Yale scientist Alia Crum has shown that work strain, when managed correctly can actually have a positive impact on productivity and performance. Bristol-based Synergy Client Solutions takes a look at the advice.

Synergy Client Solutions were intrigued to read about Shawn Achor, an expert in positive psychology, who says “Stress is an inevitable part of work and life, but the effect of stress upon us is far from inevitable.” He continues, “Stress can be good or bad depending on how you use it.”

Firstly one must recognise worry for what it is: a feeling. The heightened reaction, heart racing, tension in the body, is an indicator of how much you care about the task you are about to do. Synergy Client Solutions understands that how much stress you feel is directly correlated to the importance of the activity. Essentially, if it didn’t matter, you wouldn’t worry! Justin Menkes author of ‘Better Under Pressure: How Great Leaders Bring Out the Best in Themselves and Others’ says that we must recognise that worry is simply an indicator rather than a symptom of dysfunction or a cause for panic.

Next it is important to focus on what you can control. Divide your worries up into that which you can and can’t control. Draw yourself a diagram if necessary. We all know that we spend far too much time worrying about the things that we simply cannot change. The team at Synergy Client Solutions have started trying to train themselves to let go of those things and only focus on that which they can impact.

Make sure that you have a network of support that you can go to. We often tell people half of the problem because we don’t want to freak them out as well. Find someone who the outcome of your problem doesn’t affect either way. They will be able to give you a more balanced response or simply allow you to spill your problems to them.

Finally it’s important to get some stress-handling experience. If you’re not used to stress, you’ll panic when you experience it. Don’t wait for a terrible situation to try out these techniques. Managing director of Synergy Client Solutions, Ben Jeanes, suggests, “If you find public speaking stressful take every opportunity to speak in front of your peers and colleagues even if it’s just to give the morning announcements.” Managing your stress is clearly the key to your success.

Synergy Client Solutions is a customer acquisitions company based in the South-West. We offer our clients a tailor-made service from campaign conception to client acquistion.

Synergy Client Solutions Advises on How to Ask for Help Without Looking Stupid

Have you ever wanted to ask for help but stopped yourself because you worry that you should already know the answer? Synergy Client Solutions has some confidence boosting tips when asking for advice.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation into one of the most dramatic cases of incompetence in history, the Bernie Madoff fraud fiasco, revealed a culture of “unseasoned people uncertain about what to do and unwilling to ask for help.” Whilst Synergy Client Solutions is aware that your problems might not have billion pound repercussions, that doesn’t mean they aren’t important to your business.

The first thing that Synergy Client Solutions encourages you to remember is, when the stakes are high you’re going to look far more stupid getting it wrong than you are asking for help. Asking for advice actually demonstrates how clever you are, showing that you’ve got excellent judgement and have recognised what you do and don’t know. You show people that you’re not willing to waste time searching around yourself and would prefer to get straight to the point and get it right first time!

When asking for help Synergy Client Solutions recommends that you start your request with what you already know. That way that you show the person that you’ve made an effort to understand the situation and you also give them an idea of the parts of the puzzle that you’ve already figured out. They can avoid covering unnecessary ground and get straight to the point.

You should always give an opinion on what you’re thinking of doing. That way you can ask for guidance, advice and direction on what the best route to take is. Managing director of Synergy Client Solutions Ben Jeanes recommends that you, “suggest possible options rather than declaring outright that you don’t know what you’re doing. You might well be on the right path, and you also show them that you’re trying to come up with a solution.”

Be specific about the advice that you want. It may be that the person you speak to can’t give you a full answer themselves. It would be better for them refer you to someone else who has encountered the same problem before. The more general you are in your request the more general your answer is going to be.

Synergy Client Solutions believes that these steps will give you the confidence to ask for help rather than suffer in silence. You might prevent the collapse of the banking system as well!

Will Napster Have Success Launching in the UK? Synergy Client Solutions Dives into its Past.

Napster has announced that they will be re-launching in the UK to grab a share of the market that Spotify dominates. Synergy Client Solutions charts the rise and fall of the music sharing company.

Napster, illegal file-sharing giant of the early 2000s, will me making a come-back in the UK in the form of a legal file-sharing site hoping to take on the likes of Spotify. Bristol based Synergy Client Solutions is excited to find out whether Napster can stay on the right side of the law this time round and whether its business model and famous name will be enough to propel it to success.

Towards the end of 2011 Napster was bought by Rhapsody, a subscription music service, in the USA. However after Napster’s long running legal battles it was decided that Rhapsody would cease to trade under the famous name. Synergy Client Solutions is now aware that the UK and German arms of Napster were not bought at that time. Until now. In a turnaround for the books it appears that Napster will be revived in the UK under its original name.

The president of Rhapsody, Jon Irwin, is delighted by the move and said “The acquisition of Napster and its subscriber base in the UK and Germany gives us an ideal entry into the European market.” He went on to say, “Through the benefit of scale, the strength of our editorial programming, and strategic partnerships, we can now bring the Napster service to even more consumers on a variety of platforms.”

Napster’s rise to the top was part of the dotcom boom of the 1990s. In 1999 19 year-old Shawn Fanning designed software that allowed users to share music files over the internet for free. He teamed with Sean Parker, who was also involved in the start-up of Facebook, to make the service. The manager of Synergy Client Solutions notes, “Many people know about the Sean Parker side of the story because of the film The Social Network but many people haven’t heard of Shawn Fanning.”

Musicians and music executives launched a huge legal battle against Napster when they saw their shop sales dive and the company was shut down in 2001. It has tried to go straight once before in 2003 as a legal downloading site but couldn’t compete with the mighty iTunes.

Bristol has a huge music scene and you often hear people talking about Spotify, a digital streaming service which is entirely legal, has gained huge popularity in the last few years. Synergy Client Solutions believes that Napster will be keen to capitalize on that success whilst using a name that everyone knows and recognizes.