Cyber Security Challenge UK announces new Formula 1 Masterclass final

Motor-racing themed grand finale designed by cyber teams from HP and Cassidian CyberSecurity

Friday 8^th March 2013 - Tomorrow 40 of the country’s most talented amateur cyber defenders will compete in a brand new HP and Cassidian CyberSecurity motor-racing themed challenge to become the next UK Cyber Security Champion. Professional cyber teams from HP and Cassidian CyberSecurity have designed a unique challenge based on a high-profile Formula 1 race to put competitors through their paces in Bristol on Saturday.

The Cyber Security Challenge UK began in 2010 as a series of national competitions aiming to find talented people for the increasing number of job opportunities in cyber security. Now in its third year, the Challenge has broadened its scope to act as a source of advice, support and guidance for anyone interested in the profession. It is currently backed by over 50 organisations from across the cyber security landscape that contribute approximately £100,000 of career enabling prizes each year to candidates.

Candidates arriving in Bristol this weekend have battled through simulated malware and malicious code from hostile states and ‘Stuxnet-like’ attacks on high security facilities to secure their place in the Masterclass grand finale. Orange and Prodrive, SANS Institute, QinetiQ and Sophos were all behind unique face-to-face competitions that took place in late 2012 and early 2013.

For the final, cyber security professionals at HP and Cassidian CyberSecurity have worked together to create an ultra-realistic cyber defence competition set during the weekend of a high-profile Formula 1 race.

The competition will comprise both technical and policy issues in order to expose candidates to the types of challenges they would face as cyber security professionals.

The technical component of the 2013 Masterclass will take place on a cyber range platform, custom-built by Cassidian CyberSecurity. Competitors will assume the roles of analysts and investigators within an Incident Response Team working on behalf of F1 Widgets, a fictitious small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) that supplies on-board diagnostic equipment for Formula 1 cars. The equipment enables diagnostic and operational communication between the pit crew and engine management system in the car. This means that any vulnerabilities or compromise associated with the device could adversely impact the safety and security of the race.

In the lead up to the race a customer of F1 Widgets suspects that their equipment has been tampered with. Accordingly, competitors will be responsible for conducting an investigation into F1 Widget’s IT infrastructure to determine whether or not a security breach has occurred.

The second half of the Masterclass has been developed by HP and will focus on the security policy in place at a Formula 1 organisation. Candidates will be tasked with reviewing current policies across the entire lifecycle of departments in the lead up to a race and identify any potential vulnerabilities. 

Following both the technical and policy challenges, candidates must present recommendations as to whether or not the race should proceed and improvements that could be made in future.

Candidates will take part in an intense day of competition on Saturday 9^th March and an awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 10^th March where the Cyber Security Challenge UK Champion 2013 will be announced.

Quotes

“In 2011 Cassidian delivered the Event Management Room for the 2011 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race ensuring the security of all events around the race. We understand that cyber security is a growing issue in all fields where success depends both on protecting the intellectual property (IP) of the product, in this case the car, and also the privacy of communications, such as information relayed between the F1 team during races, vital to performance on the track. We chose to test Masterclass finalists using this theme to provide an accurate representation of what cyber security professionals are up against on a daily basis” explains Roy Matthews, Cassidian’s Cyber Defence Lead. “Success in the Masterclass will be dependent on an individual’s ability to work effectively within a team to identify solutions to the technical and policy challenges.”

“Cyber defence skills are not solely based on technical aptitude. In the real-world, cyber security professionals need to have an awareness of wider business-to-business security and risk analysis, with the ability to understand how risks can impact the entire supply chain. The aim of our policy challenge is to get candidates to consider how much risk you accept before you expose the organisation to real danger or how secure you need to be before you run over budget or impede the operations of the team.” Says Jonathan Bathurst, Cyber Lead, UK Public Sector, HP Enterprise Services. “This is the third Masterclass HP has been proud to host, and is a demonstration of our commitment to improving the UK’s IT cyber security skills and boosting employment in our dynamic IT sector generally.”

“The Challenge is committed to supporting people to develop the skills needed for successful careers in cyber security – Masterclass is the ultimate platform for this to happen. By working with leading industry members like HP and Cassidian CyberSecurity we can enable all finalists to understand the realities of working in this exciting and hugely rewarding industry.” Says Stephanie Daman, CEO, Cyber Security Challenge UK.

Ends

For more information please contact our media team:

media@cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk

0845 680 1869

CALIDUS WMS optimises hazchem warehousing and distribution for Hanson Logistics

 Third-party logistics specialist Hanson Logistics is benefiting from standard off-the-shelf wireless warehouse management software from OBS Logistics. The sophisticated CALIDUS WMS simplifies the warehousing of hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals, including flammable products along with other goods.

The system makes it easy for Hanson Logistics to manage a wide range of goods, including lubricants, paints and surface treatments, optimising warehouse space and ensuring that they are stored safely according to strict Health & Safety standards in its top tier COMAH warehouse and flammable storage areas.

Using the system, Hanson Logistics has eliminated the hard work of ensuring that none compatible materials are segregated in the 55,000-sqft warehouse as well as in the flammable storage and sampling areas. The system also ensures batch traceability so that when a customer has tested a sample and agreed to order the product, the required quantity is taken from the correct batch.

“With CALIDUS WMS we are able to make the most efficient use of our warehouse space while working with the constraints of managing hazardous and non-hazardous products. Our chemical warehouse operation requires the complex algorithms that the system provides to ensure the stock is held in the right areas, keeping it safe as well as ensuring batch traceability. The system also ensures we run the fleet of forklifts effectively by having the option of ‘dual cycling’ so that we can maintain a very efficient operation in terms of storage and service,” says Paul Pheasey, Managing Director, Hanson Logistics.

CALIDUS WMS uses a number of unique separate algorithms to manage warehouse space so that chemical warehousing companies can run at a very high fill rate without compromising safety, flexibility, accuracy or service.

Dave Renshaw, CEO of OBS Logistics says, “With CALIDUS WMS we find we can run at well over 90 per cent, even with hazardous and non-hazardous products within the same facility. The system has full Hazchem functionality and will ensure that products are stored in the correct hazard area while optimising the available space. It also allows new customers to be catered for so that the company can develop its business without fear of compromising its service levels.”

OBS Logistics will be exhibiting at IMHX 2013 to meet with industry specialists at stand 17S91, facing Richard Noble’s ‘Bloodhound SSC.’

For more information contact

Kathryn Howarth, Group Marketing Manager, OBS Logistics Ltd (part of the Anisa Group): kathryn.howarth@anisagroup.com, tel: +44 (0)151 448 2972

About OBS Logistics

OBS Logistics (OBSL) provides best of breed warehouse management software and transport management software, including hosted solutions, for managing supply chain operations. The CALIDUS Total Logistics Solutions are in use across EMEA and AsiaPac to integrate and streamline logistics management processes end-to-end, and provide true visibility across supply chain operations.

Keep Your Pesky Hands Off my Mobile Data

Symantec - Keep Your Pesky Hands Off my Mobile Data

Creating A Successful BOYD Policy

Click image for full-size version.

Symantec - Creating a Successful BYOD Policy

The Market Creative set to double in size

The Market Creative is set to double in size following a series of new business wins, marking the company’s best year yet.

Over the last six months the retail marketing agency has grown its existing client base and won several new clients including Grafton Merchanting GB, Thomas Sanderson, PZ Cussons, The Fine Bedding Company, Rest Assured and Shipton and Co.  

As a result, the company has appointed a new account manager and is adding three new hires to its account handling and creative teams over the next few months.  To accommodate the expanding team, The Market Creative is looking to move from its offices on Third Avenue in Trafford Park to a more creative space in Salford Quays or Media City. 

Kathryn Wilday recently joined the company as account manager working on Shiptons, Rest Assured and Graftons. She has seven years marketing experience and her previous role was working as a freelance account manager for BJL and Creative Spark.

Account director Adam Tregaskis has been promoted to head of retail where he will oversee client services and be responsible for business development.

Sue Benson, managing director at The Market Creative said: “By the end of our financial year in June we are on track for more than doubling the turnover and profit, in just one year. We put this down to having successfully carved out a niche and to our in-depth grasp of our clients businesses. We mostly operate at board level, talking their language rather than from just a marketing perspective. This gives us a thorough understanding of our clients’ business and helps to set us apart from other agencies.”

“Despite the well reported suffering high street, some retailers and brands in retail spaces are getting it right and as a result are extremely buoyant. I feel that it is an exciting time for retail at the moment and we are in a strong position to continue to capitalise on this demanding and fast changing market.”  

For further information visit themarketcreative.com

The unsung heroes shaping roadshow success

comment from EMS MD Keith Austin

Bobby Moore, George Best, Kevin Keegan... they are all part of the football heroes line-up for the latest set of Royal Mail stamps. Keith Austin, managing director at Event Marketing Solutions (EMS) reflects on how the role of the hero isn’t just reserved for the rich and famous and how heroism is alive and well in the roadshow business.

Having just seen the line up of stars set to adorn our stamps it made me wonder how many people really count these as their heroes and if we were to compile our own list, who would we choose.

My guess is that many would consider those much closer to home and this got me thinking about the roadshow business, how we work at EMS and the exceptional role Unit Managers play out on the frontline. 

Our Unit Managers are the face of our business, critical to roadshow success and the real heroes behind the business. They are the people who work out in the field, the first to greet our clients on-site, responsible for delivering, setting up and managing the exhibition vehicles – and without a doubt they leave the longest lasting impression.

When I look back at their job specifications I wonder how we ever found such passionate people to fill these vital roles...full HGV licence,  great communicator, technically savvy, mechanically minded, multilingual, EMEA experience, problem solver, and happy to work away for long periods, over weekends and Christmas!  It’s these important ‘extras’ that make the difference to a tour’s success – they truly are the ‘games makers’ of the roadshow business.

We are fortunate to have recruited and inspired more than 15 of these trusty, committed professionals who work happily around the clock, leaving no stone unturned to ensure the delivery of some of the most engaging, inspiring and technically demanding experiences on behalf of our clients.

I am constantly bowled over by their ‘can do’ attitude 100% of the time - the show must go on and they are always ready and willing to jump on a plane at the drop of a hat or stay on the road to cover other tours.

The task of a Unit Manager is huge and requires wide-ranging skills, yet they execute it expertly. They are a critical part of the event-goers experience and the thanks and appreciation they receive from global audiences reconfirms that human contact can leave the most valuable long-lasting impression.

Green Deal consultancy - TheGreenAge

TheGreenAge - UK Finalist in CODE_n13 Innovation Contest

50 Green Finalists Chosen for International Competition; Winner Announced at CeBIT

London, January 22 2013 – TheGreenAge, a new startup aimed at helping consumers increase the energy efficiency of their homes and reducing their carbon footprint, is one of two UK companies to make the final of the CODE_n13 Contest and have the opportunity to win 15,000€ as well as present the business at the CeBIT 2013 trade show in Hanover, Germany (5-9 March). TheGreenAge is on the list of the 50 finalists for its innovative website that provides impartial advice and tools to help consumers save money on their energy bills and reduce their overall carbon footprint, whether at home or out and about.

“The variety and quality of the entries was incredible,” says Ulrich Dietz, initiator of CODE_n and CEO of GFT Technologies AG. “Once again, we will be presenting 50 highly interesting, up-and-coming firms at CODE_n. Anyone interested in energy transition solutions and meeting international start-up pioneers simply has to check out Hall 16 of CeBIT.” CODE_n finalists will have their own 4,000-square-metre area in Hall 16 at the world’s biggest IT trade show CeBIT to showcase their innovative business solutions.

James Alcock, Founder of TheGreenAge commented “This is a fantastic opportunity for us at TheGreenAge to get our message out to consumers who are struggling to pay their energy bills that there are numerous way to lower bills while also helping the environment”

The 50 finalists invited to CeBIT include companies from Germany, the USA, Spain, the UK, Greece, the Netherlands, Brazil and Switzerland. Participants from the Ukraine, Austria, Denmark, Iceland and Algeria will also be presenting their promising business concepts. A total of 250 companies from 35 nations had submitted entries. The winners of the two CODE_n13 Awards, each worth €15,000 in cash, will be chosen by a top-rate international jury on 7 March 2013.

“Energy transition offers tremendous opportunities for IT companies,” says Christopher Ortiz, Managing Director of CODE_n supporter, GFT UK. “Intelligent IT solutions alone, however, are still no guarantee of business success. Companies also need a compelling and well-conceived business plan which can turn their ideas into reality. Our finalists combine technology and business ideas – and thus have a great chance of firmly establishing their ideas on the market.”

About TheGreenAge

TheGreenAge was founded in 2012, and is the premier impartial green hub for consumers. It is an interactive platform allowing like minded individuals and businesses to connect and share ideas on green energy and environmental sustainability. TheGreenAge has also recently launched an innovative carbon offsetting shop that allows consumers to shop at their favourite high street stores online at ‘no extra cost’, whilst offsetting a large proportion of their carbon footprint in the process.

About CODE_n

CODE_n is an international initiative for digital pioneers, innovators and ground-breaking startups. Initiated in 2011 by GFT Technologies, the goal of this network is to support outstanding business talents and their exceptional business ideas, provide them with a platform for dialog, and therefore stimulate innovation in the field. CODE_n stands for “Code of the New,“ the DNA of innovation. The initiative is sponsored by Ernst & Young and Deutsche Messe.

In 2013, CODE_n will grant the CODE_n Award for the second time, this year under the motto “Smart Solutions for Global Challenges” with a focus on IT-based concepts for sustainable energy supply and usage. For further information visit: www.code-n.org.

For more press information re TheGreenAge contact:

Email: Alan.Bouquet@TheGreenAge.co.uk (Press Officer)

Number : 07738 381666

For more press information re CODE_n contact PR Savvy:

Kate Warwick, kate.warwick@prsavvy.co.uk, 078 1069 7282

Jan Howells, jan.howells@prsavvy.co.uk, 0771 388 3773

nx SEO Issues Urgent Call to Action for UK Businesses and Websites

Billions in Revenue Being Squandered by Ineffective or Absent Mobile Apps

• 
  

Bespoke mobile apps from Weblinx SEO

Marketing and promotion can no longer be viewed as a one-way exchange of information, but must instead allow serious scope for reply and genuine interaction with the consumer in question.

London (PRWEB UK) 20 February 2013

Weblinx SEO has this week issued a stark warning to the businesses of the UK regarding complacency over the mobile revolution. According to the team, billions of pounds of potential revenue are being needlessly thrown away by businesses not getting to grips with the power of mobile marketing and app development.
The web as a whole is so complex and convoluted that to stand out is the only means by which to guarantee survival in the face of growing competition. What’s more, the vast majority have already joined the exodus to mobile Internet access as a primary means, with PC and laptop use plummeting like never before.

According to Weblinx, all of the above adds up to a situation whereby those investing in mobile app development have unlimited potential for gains, while those overlooking the importance of the mobile web face a less certain future.

A Means of Interaction

“Mobile phones are among the most effective means of reaching a wide target market. With the latest innovations in the mobile phone internet marketing industry, companies are able to interact with customers on a regular basis. Custom applications for mobile phones can boost and enhance their performances and functions.” – Weblinx SEO

Weblinx SEO is adamant that today, there is little more important when it comes to winning over a target market than interaction. Marketing and promotion can no longer be viewed as a one-way exchange of information, but must instead allow serious scope for reply and genuine interaction with the consumer in question.
This is something that is not only offered with a bespoke mobile business application, but also travels around with the owner of the device 24 hours a day wherever they may go – pure marketing gold. An app serves as a portal through which a business can continually push its communications and promotions to an extent no other marketing tool on Earth comes close to.

Whether this means offering a ticket booking service, online purchase options, free-to-play games or merely a means by which to access the catalogue of the business, a mobile app is truly unrivalled in terms of scope and potential.

An SEO Boost

“Mobile app development services are very important for modern companies, especially when created in conjunction with an SEO campaign. Today, companies are striving to reach their target audience through varied means.” – Weblinx SEO

In addition to the prowess and power of a mobile application in its own right, such services can be combined with a strong SEO strategy to help give the website a truly enormous boost in terms of exposure. Like the mobile web, SEO has become a fundamental prerequisite for any business intent on surviving in the face of enormous competition – there’s simply no way to get noticed without ranking high with the major search engines.

As such, the overall package of benefits delivered by elite mobile application development is pretty much immeasurable, but according to Weblinx SEO is one that every modern business should be giving serious consideration to or risk falling dangerously behind the times.

About Weblinx SEO:

Founded in 2004, Weblinx SEO is made up of a team of elite web marketing and SEO professionals with the tools, experience, drive and passion required to send online businesses to the next level and beyond. The winner of several coveted industry awards, Weblinx differentiates itself from the masses by offering a simple, affordable and transparent service where all parties are kept right in the thick of things at all times. More information can be found at http://www.weblinxseo.com.

Mobile Phone Websites

Introducing www.smart-data.co.uk

We are an online marketing and web design firm, specialising in getting companies like yours more clients and more business from the internet.

There are more mobile devices than TV's and computers combined.  Mobile visitors will give up looking on a non-mobile friendly website.  The world has already gone mobile…

2013 is the year accessing the internet via mobile devices will overtake traditional methods.  Do not let your business get left behind!!

So here's what I'm offering;

• .       A mobile-friendly website, using your company logo, colours and contact details and Click To Call function,  Menu Landing Page, About Us, Products / Services, Offers / Price List, Contact Us.
• .       Automatic Re-Direction script – Get Mobile Visitors In Right Place.
• .       Basic Updates on Your New Mobile For The Initial 12 Months.
• .       12 Months Hosting.
• .       QR Code (Black & White Squares scalable by mobiles)

For more information please follow the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN_3deYMXJg

If you are interested please contact

Steve Scott

Web: www.smart-data.co.uk

Email: stevescott@smart-data.co.uk

TPP Law launches Legal News Podcast LawTalk

Specialist public services law firm TPP Law has today launched LawTalk™ a legal news podcast service covering news, views and features on outsourcing and partnerships in public services.

Says Mark Johnson, Managing Director, “Our clients and contacts were telling us they wanted to receive relevant and timely information from us in new ways, harnessing the power of digital and social media.

“Our lively and upbeat fortnightly 20-minute podcast will include an in-depth feature on a topical area of public services, an interview with an industry insider, as well as a round-up of other news stories. Our first programme focuses on the conversion of schools into academies and the launch of free schools.”

The initiative is the brainchild of Johnson who lists being a DJ among his previous career achievements: “I guess I have always been a frustrated radio producer. Putting together LawTalk with my colleagues has been a lot of fun, as well as producing great content which keeps us visible online.”

Download the latest edition here http://wp.me/p2Zwgd-bC

Contact: Mark Johnson, Managing Director mark@tpplaw.co.uk 07768 645817 or Clare Turnbull, Kysen PR on clare.turnbull@kysen.com.

Asturias Bathrooms Tap into Social Media Experts

Lincolnshire Based Bathroom Supplier Teams Up With Local SEO Company on New Social Media Campaign.

We contacted SEO Traffic Lab after we were recommended their services by another local business.

(PRWEB UK) 15 February 2013

Asturias Bathrooms, fresh from the launch of their new website, are delighted to announce a link up with local SEO firm, SEO Traffic Lab, as they launch a new social media campaign aimed at providing customers with what they want and need every step of the way. Specialising in helping local firms improve their online presence, SEO Traffic Lab are seen as the perfect partner for Asturias Bathrooms as they look to press on with their plans.

Asturias Bathrooms come into their new campaign on the back of the successful launch of their new website. The team behind the company have gained a number of years’ experience in bathrooms and the company aims to be able to offer its customers the highest quality bathroom suites in the UK combined with highly competitive prices unmatched by any offline retailer, combined with the level of knowledge and service you would expect from a high street store. With the addition of a strong social media arm to the company’s online presence, they hope that more and more customers will have easy access to this information and knowledge on a more regular basis.

Speaking about the link up with SEO Traffic Lab, Jon Francis Lee of Asturias Bathrooms said, “We contacted SEO Traffic Lab after we were recommended their services by another local business. They were very pleased with their work and their skill at the social media side of their online presence really made me take note. I hope that they can have as much impact working with us on our future endeavours.” Asturias Bathrooms hope that this link up will help take them to the next level in terms of their business and SEO Traffic Lab believes they are able to help them.

Richard Hill from SEO Traffic Lab said, “We were approached by Asturias Bathrooms to help integrate a new social media platform for their business and really build their online presence and we are really looking forward to working with another local company and helping them to build for the future.”

Asturias Bathrooms sell a wide range of bathroom suites from their online store as well as a number of fixtures and fittings to finish off their customer’s bathrooms. Their hope for the future is for their customers to have somewhere to speak with their team in an informal basis and get help with all aspects of their bathroom design.

About Asturias Bathrooms
Asturias Bathrooms are a relative newcomer to the online world but bring with them a wealth of experience when it comes to bathrooms. As a local, Lincolnshire based, company, they feel they have the in-depth knowledge that the customer needs when planning their next bathroom and their online portal allows them to offer this friendly advice along with competitive, online only prices on a wide range of bathroom products from complete bathroom suites to taps and mirrors.

Neha Singh 
YESpay International
08712219510

YESpay invites you to its 3rd Partner Event - Innovation In Action on Feb 26th 2013 at Centre Point, London

Over the years YESpay has been responding to the Pan-European and North American credit/ debit, Mobile and Internet payments landscape, helping people ‘pay the new way’.

London (PRWEB UK) 14 February 2013

With the constant transformation in consumer payments, players across the payment value chain can stay ahead of the evolving industry by adopting the latest in technical advancements.

The theme of this year’s Partner Event is ‘Omni-channel Retailing and Point-to-Point (P2P) Encryption in Payment Services’. The event is going to be power packed with insightful presentations on topics like ‘Multi-channel payment solutions for multi-national retailers’ and ‘Standalone terminals supported with Point-to-Point Encryption’. The presentations will also highlight Cross-channel convergence uniting mobile, e-commerce, brick-and-mortar worlds via smartphones and tablets.

YESpay is delighted to share the stage with WorldPay, UK's leading card acquirer throwing light on innovative modes of Integrated Payments.

YESpay will also launch an exhaustive book on payments - ‘Innovations in Cloud Payments and Mobile Payments’. For those seeking innovative topologies in payment systems, this book will be a great starting point with interesting insights on the mechanisms, future trends and opportunities.

“Readable and comprehensive, it distils a voluminous knowledge of the industry and how it is advancing. Part encyclopedia, part instruction manual, this book should be of interest to all working in or around payments. From retailers (both physical and eCommerce), to the providers of new payment methods to those in consumer banking and beyond, there is much to be learned from these pages”. 

• Ron Kalifa, CEO, WorldPay                                        

Join the Partner Event to enjoy the plethora of intriguing information and exploit it for competitive advantage on Feb 26th, 2013 at Centre Point, London

Click here to register now

13:00 – 13:30
Registration

13:30 – 14:00
WorldPay partners with YESpay to deliver integrated POS payment services - Explores the need for partnerships to deliver an effective integrated retail payment strategy for merchants of all capacities by Darren Wilson, Managing Director, Streamline at WorldPay

14:00 – 14:45
YESpay's solution to Point-to-Point Encryption for integrated POS - Delivering an effective strategy on implementing a secure P2PE strategy for multi-tiered retail, kiosk and mobile merchants by Dr. Chandra Patni, CEO & CTO, YESpay

14:45 – 15:00
Q&A session

15:00 – 15:30
Assisted selling made simple & secure for integrated POS - Enabling cross-channel convergence that unites the mobile, e-commerce and brick-and-mortar worlds via smartphones and tablets by Simon Curtis, SVP Strategic Business Development, YESpay

15:30 – 16:00    Standalone Terminals with advantages of fully integrated POS - A focus on helping small retailers using standalone terminals that give the benefit of an integrated payment gateway service by Rohit Patni, EVP Sales & Marketing, YESpay

16:00 – 16:30
Open Forum - An interactive question and answer platform

16:30 onwards
Cocktails and Networking

About YESpay International Limited
YESpay International Ltd., a global card payments service company, provides highly secure Internet, EMV Chip & PIN, contactless and gift card payment processing services to independent and multi-chain merchants. Through EMBOSS, the YESpay Managed Payment Service, merchants can quickly accept Integrated card payments within EPOS, kiosks, hospitality and e-commerce systems with minimal capital investment and low on-going services costs. EMBOSS is an on-line IP-based payment processing service that has been generically pre-accredited by major Card Acquirers in Europe and North America (including First Data Merchant Service (FDMS), Chase Paymentech, Barclaycard Business, HSBC, HBOS, Lloyds Cardnet, Streamline, Ulster Bank, Elavon, PBS, Amex and Diners). In addition, the YESpay EMBOSS service is fully end-to-end certified to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) Level 1 as mandated by Visa and MasterCard. The YESpay EasyV-Suite of card payment products is innovative and cost-effective for EPOS, Kiosk, Hospitality, Mobile and Internet environments. With the YESpay EMBOSS card payment service, merchants can perform card payments in both card-present and card-not-present environments.

Contact details:
UK Headquarters: Checknet House, 153 East Barnet Road, Barnet, EN4 8QZ, UK | +44 - 203 - 006 – 3790
Canada Office: 116 Spadina Avenue, Suite 201, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2K6, Canada | 1 855-YES-PAY- 1
PR Contact: Neha Singh, Marketing Manager, ext. 402, neha(dot)singh(at)yes-pay(dot)com, marketing(at)yes-pay(dot)com

EOCosmo.com Seminar: The Advantages of Local SEO

SEOCosmo.com held a seminar where their experts talked about the advantages offered by local SEO.

Businesses around the world can benefit the most by running their local SEO campaigns first.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) January 29, 2013

With the latest estimation of 466 billion active websites, it is easy to say that the Internet has grown into a very large place. This also means that there is an increased number of competing websites in terms of search engine optimization. This is one of the reasons why SEOCosmo.com decided to hold a seminar on how local SEO can help to avoid competing with businesses that exist outside of the country, state, or town.

SEOCosmo.com is one of the trustworthy SEO companies dedicated to providing complete SEO services. The company has already successfully ranked a number of small, medium and large businesses, and they are also proud to express 100% customer satisfaction, which puts them right on top.

One of the company’s experts made a comment right before the seminar had started:
“Businesses around the world can benefit the most by running their local SEO campaigns first. These campaigns specifically blossom when there are services or goods that cannot be shipped to the user’s house by mail. These things include goods like furniture and services like appliance repair, which are great examples of things for which people might actually leave their home to buy after finding them through a local search. This seminar has explained some of the basic things that every business owner should know about. Another thing is that local SEO, aside from attracting local search traffic, also has some other key advantages. Local SEO is able to bring authenticity and an audience of people who are a bit more likely to purchase services or products directly to a website.”

SEOCosmo.com has also announced another seminar for young entrepreneurs that will talk about the importance of using local SEO in their marketing campaigns.

If you would like to contact SEOCosmo.com and find out more about what they have to offer, please visit their website http://www.seocosmo.com/.

Joshua Hood 
SEO Miracle
786-220-4929

SEO Positive Publishes Advice on Optimising Twitter for Digital Marketing

Leading online promotion company, SEO Positive, have published advice on how Twitter can be used for effective social media marketing.

• 

Competwition is a great way of attracting followers and interacting with consumers.

(PRWEB UK) 15 February 2013

New statistics released by Twitter and Compete haverevealed the habits of mobile twitter users interaction with brands. It reveals that Twitter users that primarily access via mobile devices are 96% more likely to follow eleven or more brands, while the average Twitter user follows five or more.

Twitter’s mobile users were also 58% more likely to recall seeing an ad, and 63% more likely to click on links. They were also 78% more likely to retweet and 85% more likely to favourite tweets.

In light of the figures, SEO Positive has advised ways for businesses to use twitter to get the best social media marketing and visibility from their campaign: 

•     Establish a good mix of conversation about news and trending topics as well as humour when appropriate, along with business promotion. This will ensure more successful engagement with customers.
•     Invest in a good management tool for Twitter such as Tweetdeck, this enables easy monitoring of Twitter such as following discussions and viewing profiles. There is also the option to set up customised themed feeds to follow.
•     Competwition is a great way of attracting followers and interacting with consumers. It’s a quick and easy way of setting up offers and promotions and monitoring surges in followers. It also has a random winner generator for fairness and management of the competition.
•     Stat sites such as Twitter Counter allow brands to keep track of their twitter statistics and gain an idea of their progress.

SEO Positive was established in 2007 in Chelmsford, Essex with the aim of bringing effective yet affordable online marketing services to companies from all industries and backgrounds. The company offers a huge range of services including search engine optimisation, Pay Per Click account management, social media marketing and website design.

In January 2013, SGS was awarded a contract to provide consultancy services for various infrastructure projects in India by the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (TUFIDCO)

Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. has chosen SGS to provide consultancy services to assist in guiding the overall progress, financial responsibility, quality control and statutory compliance of various governmental projects. The three-year contract was signed in January, 2013.

The Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (TUFIDCO) mainly focusses on providing financial assistance and general guidance for the developmental strategies of local bodies, corporations, boards, authorities and parastatal agencies. As a Nodal Agency in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, TUFIDCO is responsible for the oversight and implementation of governmental programs.

The Integrated Urban Development Mission (IUDM), launched by the Tamil Nadu government for the enhancement of urban infrastructure in nine corporations, one-hundred twenty-five municipalities and five-hundred twenty-nine town assemblies known as panchayats, is the state's single largest initiative for the planned development of towns. TUFIDCO has been assigned to appoint independent consultants by zone to supervise projects sanctioned under IUDM for the year 2012-2014. According to IUDM, SGS is responsible for supervising project progress in three zones: Zone II (Thiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri), Zone V (Cuddalore and Villupuram) and Zone VI (Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur) over the next twenty-four months.

SGS Expert Supervision Skills to Monitor Project Progress

Working as an independent consultant with expert competence and extensive experience in similar projects, SGS will supervise the progress and check the quality of the implementation of developmental projects related to roads, storm water drainage, water supply, solid waste management and underground sewer systems which are funded under IUDM.

SGS will provide reporting in four areas to ensure timely, financially sound, quality and compliant projects.

Reporting on project physical progress will include relating and explaining any delays with urban local bodies or contractors, pinpointing bottlenecks or potential problems likely to have an effect on momentum and chronicling any deviation or modification of implementation work.

Financial progress reporting will be carried out with respect to the value of the work done, bill submission, payment of bills, accounting records, IUDM payment vouchers and IUDM project account bank statements. Utilization of funds and any diversion there from will also be disclosed.

Quality assurance and quality control reporting will chart the methodology and frequency of contractor-performed testing in order to ensure the integrity of those tests are in line with good industry practices. SGS will provide confirmation that materials used for construction meet the specifications of the contracted agreement and immediately report any cases of non-conformity from quality reviews based on available documentation and discussions with implementing agencies.

Contractor quality testing results shall be submitted in the reporting and SGS has the authority to conduct random quality testing wherever it deems necessary. In addition, SGS will provide conclusive project reporting and certify the project as complete.

SGS will provide reports illustrating the project implementation compliant to the various statutory requirements and regulations.

SGS supervision of the diverse infrastructure projects in Tamil Nadu will ensure the integrity of the works to guarantee successful project completion in terms of time, money, quality and compliance. SGS consultancy services bring added value to the assets and secure investments.

SGS is proud to have been chosen to assist in these important development projects positively affecting the daily lives of millions of Indian citizens.


For further information, please contact:

SGS India Private Limited
Salim Khan
Principal Manager
226 Udyog Vihar, Phase I
Gurgaon - 122 015
Haryana, India
t: +91 124-6776344
f: +91 124-2399762
E-mail: industrial.pr@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/construction

ABOUT SGS

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 75,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,500 offices and laboratories around the world.

New trends: mobile proprietary events

As tradeshows become more crowded, brands are choosing to take better control of the experience by delivering the ultimate single brand event. Justin Isles (EMS Client Services Director) talks about the booming business of proprietary events and how taking them on the road can further enhance ROI.

Proprietary events may have originated in the US, but there’s no doubt that they are fast becoming big business across the globe as brands look to further raise awareness and drive sales among a captive audience.

Away from the ultra competitive exhibition hall, they offer 100% control and ownership. By focusing on one company or brand only, distractions from competitor and sponsor messaging are removed from the equation. As a result, proprietary events present a unique opportunity for businesses to take centre stage with customer engagement at a whole new level.

Proprietary events involve key business stakeholders and can take a myriad of forms from VIP client entertaining and networking to product demonstrations and training. Anyone in a brand’s food chain can be engaged to play a part, from partners and resellers to developers and app designers - the list really is endless. Ultimately, proprietary events are awareness and sales driven and as we move into 2013 I am expecting to see more of this type of single brand event because of the high ROI they deliver.

Our own experience shows that businesses are moving away from a rigid exhibition schedule and opting for a flexible solution that incorporates more exclusive one-to-one time with customers with events staged at client sites. I anticipate that proprietary events will evolve along these lines too as more companies recognise the value of taking their experience out on the road.

There’s no doubt that connecting with customers away from the competition is immensely effective, but if you really want to make your budget work harder and improve efficiency, hosting proprietary events in a mobile environment should be considered. Here are three reasons why...

Flexibility – mobility ensures that you can create an entirely flexible schedule, taking your experience virtually anywhere, anytime. Whether that means visiting customers on their doorstep or exploring new territories, the boundaries have been removed and the world is your oyster.     

Make your investment go further - the cost of building an experience can be expensive so you need a real return on your investment and a one hit wonder isn’t usually the best way to achieve it. By taking your experience out on the road the bulk of the investment has been made up front, meaning the costs for subsequent events are reduced.

Make a difference – innovation is key to driving better business so take a look at your sector and if everyone’s doing things the same, mobile proprietary events may help you to stand out.

http://www.eventms.com/

Open Business Solutions visual manufacturing optimises workflow for Whale January 2013

January 2013 - Northern Ireland’s Whale® has gained new efficiencies with the implementation of Visual Factory.net software and touchscreen displays from Open Business Solutions. The new paperless technology enhances the pump manufacturer’s Infor XA ERP system by providing up-to-date, accurate onscreen instructions to operatives on the shop-floor.

The web-based software provides full maintenance and control of operating procedures and work instructions. It allows instant component changes and when introducing new products, it simplifies the set-up of new procedures and instructions. It is also possible to replicate relevant assembly instructions and components from similar products rather than starting a new procedure and work instruction from scratch.

“We are saving time and labour, which in turn has enabled us to recoup the cost of our investment. The combination of Visual Factory with our Infor XA ERP software provides us with powerful tools for our type of manufacturing and it’s an approach I’d recommend to other manufacturing and engineering companies,” says Michael Brennan, Project Manager, Whale.

The system has improved the speed and accuracy of production as it displays full visual, systematic work instructions to the shop-floor personnel, which also improves productivity. Any changes to the products are advised instantly to the operators on their workstation touchscreens. This innovative way of working supports the company’s strict manufacturing standards and enables staff to focus on their work and not worry about changes in production and associated documentation, which has improved throughout.

Another advantage of the touchscreen-based system is the ability to show customers and other visitors that Whale has stringent operating procedures. This demonstrates Whale’s high level of control over its manufacturing processes and that it adheres to its procedures with clear and exacting visual instructions for its workforce.

Visual Factory.net imports engineering data directly from the ERP system to create very detailed work instructions. These are much more detailed than the previous paper-based instructions and so improve accuracy and quality. Because the system is visual, shop-floor staff simply follow the instructions, recording that they have completed each stage on the touchscreen. This provides full visibility of the manufacturing line allowing management to monitor progress for all orders.

Whale® has led the way since the 1940s with groundbreaking pump design through to recent innovation leaps in intelligent control electronic pump systems and gas / electric heating systems for water and space in recreational vehicles. Whale is a well-known brand owned by Munster Simms Engineering Ltd with a reputation built on decades of high quality design expertise.

For more information contact

Kathryn Howarth, Group Marketing Manager, Open Business Solutions (a member of the Anisa Group of companies): kathryn.howarth@anisagroup.com, tel: +44 (0)151 448 2972

About Open Business Solutions

Open Business Solutions is the Master Affiliate for Infor XA and Infor XS ERP systems.  Open Business Solutions has more than 40 years’ experience of working with manufacturing, companies to successfully implement systems that enable them to improve operational efficiency, grow their business and remain competitive.

Turning Social Into Sales: Find Out How At Social Commerce Summit

Learn what works in e-commerce and social media at Social Commerce Summit on February 6, 2013, in NYC. Speakers include Walmart, Rue La La, TripAdvisor, and other major brands, startups, and VCs. Grab your ticket now!

Liz Lange of Liz Lange Maternity and Shopafrolic will speak at Social Commerce Summit

Consumers today spend an average of 255 minutes online daily and 22 percent of that time is spent on social networks, according to marketing platform company OfferPop.

That’s a lot of digital attention. How do social commerce leaders convert it into click-and-buy shoppers, leveraging each of the platforms—Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Foursquare,Twitter—for all they’re worth? What lessons can they share with the rest of us on how to do it right, what works best, and what = epic fail?

Find out next month from the all-star speaker lineup at Business Insider’s Social Commerce Summit, on February 6 in New York City, where we’re bringing together the innovators in ecommerce and social media. You’ll hear from:

• CEOs of hot startups like OpenSky, One Kings Lane, True & Co, Rue La La, and Bauble Bar on how to make great ideas flourish;
• Ecommerce legends Zappos and HSN on how to build a brand online;
• Executives from major brands—Walgreens, Vineyard Vines, PayPal, FedEx, and Walmart—on engagement and mobile;
• Leaders from Facebook and Foursquare on leveraging their platforms to make money;
• Travel industry leaders TripAdvisor and KAYAK on how to win in a highly competitive market;
• Liz Lange of Liz Lange Maternity on turning a social following into ecommerce success;
• Social commerce investors on where the money is going and how value is being redefined in this space.

Check out the full list of speakers here and register now to secure your spot.