The Stages of Contract Management You Need to Know

Many businesses are using contracts with external organisations to fulfil tasks that traditionally would have been completed by employees. This allows them to avoid the costs of taking on more staff.

Image Credit

Contracts are supposed to save a business time and money, but if the contract management process is not automated, it can do the opposite. It simply generates more administration.

According to the Small Business website, the owners and employees of small businesses are spending an average of 120 working hours a year working on administrative tasks. This adds up to nearly six per cent of staff time being tied up in ‘back-office’ tasks that could be dealt with by efficient systems.

Here’s how you can save time and money with contract management.

Prepare the Contract

Before you set the contract up on a system such as that supplied by https://www.contractswise.com/, you need to be organised. Start by identifying your business needs and ultimate goals.

Image Credit

Define the risk that the contract exposes you to, for example, if the other party files for bankruptcy or sells their company.

Author and Negotiate the Contract

Your legal team can draft the contract, paying attention to specific wording and avoiding all ambiguity. Then negotiate with the other party to make sure that they are happy. Make the negotiations transparent and try to save time by anticipating their needs.

This is where a contract system starts to be useful. All parties can view the document and make changes and collaborate in real time.

Obtain Final Approval and Execute

Once the document is agreed, it needs to be approved and may have to pass through the company procurement procedures. An approval workflow can be set up in the contract management platform.

Getting the final signatures should be easy, but with businesses operating globally and in different time zones it is not always that easy. A legally binding electronic signature on a contract management system simplifies and speeds up the process.

Amendments and Auditing

Signing the contract is only the start. Revisions and amendments have to be made as the contract starts to operate in real life. A contract management system can track changes reliably and record edits.

Regular audits will ensure obligations on both sides are met. Deadline alerts can help to avoid lost revenue.

Lawnmower vs. Strimmer: The Pros and Cons

Very few gardeners have an unlimited budget, so when it comes to equipment you have some tricky decisions to make. For the key task of keeping your lawn in trim, will a lawnmower or a strimmer suit you best?

Image Credit

In general, a robust lawnmower will handle the areas of thick, long grass and larger lawns.

For specialist areas, such as a wild flower meadow, a strimmer is very useful. According to the BBC gardening magazine, a strimmer is ideal for cutting wildflower meadow grass at the end of summer once the wildflowers have seeded.

If you are undecided about which will suit your purposes, here is a quick guide.

The Good and Bad of Lawnmowers

Lawnmowers make sure that the grass is growing at the most healthy height – this keeps it thick and green and looking at its best. A blade on the underside rotates and slices off the grass as the mower moves.

They can be powered by petrol or electricity, and if they break down you can get genuine spare parts, including Mountfield spares, from suppliers such as https://www.diyspareparts.com/parts/mountfield/ to get them up and running again quickly.

If you really want to do your bit for the environment, you could get a push mower where you supply all the power! At the other end of the scale is the sit-on mower, which requires less effort but a bigger budget.

Image Credit

The down side is that lawnmowers are not so great at reaching the edges of lawns and can seem cumbersome in small areas. If you have a lot of obstacles, it can be hard to get around them without missing patches.

The Good and Bad of Strimmers

A strimmer is essentially a short hollow metal pole. At the end is a rotating head and cord made from plastic or nylon. Sometimes the string is replaced by a blade. An engine or motor makes the string/blade rotate at high speeds to slice off the grass. Strimmers are just what you need for a professionally manicured look.

Strimmers are light and portable and great for lawn edges and obstacles. They work well on areas of undergrowth such as nettles and brambles.

However, it would be hard going to mow an entire lawn with one. It would take a long time and would be too physically demanding.

 

If it smells clean, is it really clean?

More often than not we use our sense of smell to decide whether something is clean or dirty. A crisp, citrus fragrance or light floral tone in a room or building can lead us to believe that it’s clean because we think it smells so. Pulling clothes out of a washing machine, we might declare that they smell lovely and clean. Of course they are, if they’ve just been washed – so it’s that smell that we then associate with cleanliness in other aspects when it might not, in fact, be the case.

Image Credit

Many of the cleaning products we use are overridden with an array of scents. This is where we have begun to link cleanliness with strong, fresh smells. Furthermore, we have begun to use these scents to mask uncleanliness, through air fresheners and room sprays.

It’s all in the cleaning product

To ensure that the areas being cleaned are effectively cleaned, the products should contain a sanitiser or bacterial ingredient to ensure that the germs generating a ‘bad smell’ are killed. Otherwise, it might just be the case of bacteria being wiped around and the smell being camouflaged by a strong scent. It’s important that bacteria are removed, not only for the smell they give off, but to limit germs causing sickness and spreading disease.

It’s also true to say that a lot of scented cleaning products can cause allergic reactions and, according to Migraine certain scents can also trigger migraines in those sensitive to the chemicals.

Image Credit

The clean-smelling myth

There’s a commercial cleaning company in Cheltenham that believes that using cleaning products with a low odour work much better. Not only are they low in harmful chemicals, the type that contain anti-bacterial agents as well as mild solvents, not only kill germs but also remove greasy residue where it’s known that bacteria can multiply.

If you want to ensure that your home or office is germ-free, sparkling clean, and isn’t giving off chemicals that can harm the health of its occupants, when using a commercial cleaning company such as http://cleaningcompanycheltenham.co.uk/, have a chat with them to make sure that the products they use are fit for purpose as well as not harmful.

It’s time to accept that the link between sweet smells and cleanliness is a myth.

What Is a Gas Home Buyer’s Report?

You’re taking the plunge and buying your dream home. The price is right, the interior is perfect, but have you factored in the boiler?

Image Credit

Boiler replacement is expensive, and when you’re buying a house, you may negotiate the price based on issues. A gas home buyer’s report highlights any issues there are with the boiler and is conducted by a surveyor.

What Happens During a Home Buyer’s Report?

The first step is to conduct a gas tightness test at the meter to see if there are any leaks. It then prints the results out. The surveyor checks the boiler to see if it’s compliant with gas and safety regulations, and they check the flue for corrosion.

A common issue in combination boilers is undersized pipes. The gas rate is assessed to check the boiler is receiving enough gas to burn.

A flue test is conducted to check for any combustion problems. This is done with a flue gas analyser, and faults are recorded on the Gas Safe certificate. It’s important to have the flue checked because if it’s not working properly then there’s an increased risk of gas fires. The flue test also assesses whether there is enough ventilation and nothing is obstructed.

If there are any gas fireplaces in the house, they are checked to ensure they’re working properly. Gas fires are extremely dangerous but are preventable if the fireplaces are safe.

All the other appliances in the home are checked, and a further gas tightness test is carried out. You’ll receive a full written report which will detail any issues and the cost of fixing them.

Image Credit

Things to Consider

It might be inevitable that you have to purchase a new boiler, but negotiating with the current owners can lower the cost. If you’re looking for Boiler Installation in Bristol and the surrounding areas, there are reputable companies such as bristolboilerservice.co.uk.

Your new property should be in working order, so it’s important for you to have checks carried out. It will highlight any issues and save you from some nasty surprises.

If gas appliances aren’t installed properly, they can be very dangerous. Having a home Gas Safety report carried out can be a matter of life and death for you and your family. Remember, carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.

It is a simply breath-taking experience.

As the warmer weather looks set to be with us and summer is finally on the horizon, for some people the urge to visit the sea-side and spend the day on a beautiful beach seems to increase. There are some breath-taking beaches across the world and as many more residents of the United Kingdom are looking for second homes and holiday homes in other countries such as Spain, Australia, France and Turkey the draw to the coast seems to be getting stronger.

For anyone looking for a villa to rent in Turkey a company like Kas Villas can help you pick a location that is your desired distance from the coast and other attractions and is located in your desired location of either urban or rural setting. You can find more information on http://kas4villarentals.com/

If you are visiting Turkey, here are some of the top coastal destinations that are worth adding to your list:

  • Patara – This beautiful white sandy beach is the longest beach in Turkey and is home to lovely warm shallow waters popular with children and surfing enthusiasts alike.
  • Oludeniz Lagoon – This lagoon of Oludeniz (Dead Sea) is picture card prefect. With crystal clear blue waters and surrounding white sands it is top of the must see natural attractions in Turkey. Its beauty means that it is the poster image of many guidebooks and promotional images of the region and country as a whole.

Image Credit

  • Kalkan – This once sleepy Greek fishing village is now the playground of many visiting Brits and is home to many bohemian Turks who are looking to escape the big city life. The area is drawing more and more visitors as it breaks away from the traditional ‘Brits abroad’ lure of rowdy clubs and bars. You won’t find any of these in Kalkan and you also won’t find Full English breakfasts on the menu.
  • Antalya – This is the almost the opposite to Kalkan and is a hive of bustling activity with the area full of clubs, bars, restaurants, shops and cinemas located within some spectacular shopping malls. Again, the beaches are adorned with the luscious white sand overlooking blue waters and the Lycia mountains.

Image Credit

If it is luxurious blue water and white sandy beaches that you are looking for then Turkey is definitely a country you should visit. With a wide variety of destinations to appeal to both those looking for peace and tranquillity and also those looking for a more vibrant shopping and nightlife it is a destination that really does have everything.

 

Put the Spring in Your Step With a Sprung Floor

Sprung Floors
A sprung floor, also known as a floating floor, is one that is suspended above an existing hard surface floor such as one of concrete, tiles or hardwood. Foam blocks, and sometimes even springs, are placed between the existing floor surface and the new floor to allow for shock absorption and an even elasticity to be created over the entire surface area when any point upon it is compressed. This is essential for precision performers such as dancers and gymnasts. From school gymnasiums to in-home dance studios, sprung floors have a multiplicity of uses. It is no surprise that sprung floors are the preferred surfaces for activities, including all forms of dancing, gymnastics, martial arts, exercise classes, racquetball, cheerleading, theatrical performances and physical therapy environments, since they provide the opportunity for safe and optimal performance.

Sprung Floor Systems
Sprung floor systems can be made from wide-ranging materials. Some of the most common materials used are ash, maple, birch, engineered woods, laminates, bamboo, cork and linoleum. Your sprung floor expert can assist you in selecting the best surface for the specific activities and space you have in mind for your project.

Unique Comfort
The unique comfort provided by a sprung floor also makes it ergonomic and an ideal surface for commercial areas where people spend extended periods of time on their feet. Places that might benefit from a sprung floor include kitchens, hairdressing salons and pharmacies. The comfort and relief that such a surface provides helps to relieve the shock waves caused by constant impact on a hard floor surface. This in turn helps reduce the incidence of health issues such as musculoskeletal problems and varicose veins. Savvy employers recognize that the money expended on a sprung floor is soon recouped in decreases in lost man-hours due to these types of chronic medical issues.

Avoid Injuries
In order to avoid musculoskeletal injuries, which could have serious consequences on the career of a performer, it is essential that he or she works in a warm space. Conventional methods of heating large spaces such as theaters, dance halls, rehearsal rooms and sports halls allow the heat to quickly rise, which is of little benefit at floor level. Sprung floors allow for the installation of an underfloor heating system, which is capable of efficiently heating up to six-feet from floor level, which will ensure that performers stay warm.

Sprung floors can be permanent or portable. A permanent sprung floor is installed into a space for long-term use, and removing it will likely damage it, while a portable sprung floor can be semi-permanently installed and removed and stored when not in use. Portable sprung floors are commonly used on motion picture and television production studio stages, where a certain production may require a dance surface in a particular position for a particular scene. They are also frequently used in conference centers and function rooms, where a dance floor may be required for a wedding or other occasional event. Whether you are looking for a permanent or temporary sprung floor solution, there is sure to be an option that fits your needs and budget, and most can be installed with relative ease, by virtue of simple snap-together systems.

How To Structure A Professional Email

Receiving a well-written and well-structured email can be a pleasure but how often do you receive emails where you are not sure what the sender wants or what you are supposed to do as a result, or that fill your screen with dense badly-organised text? Most of us have been taught at some point that you need a beginning, a middle and an end when writing but here are a few more detailed guidelines to help you structure professional emails.

  • Always open with a salutation – however formal or informal, from Dear Mr Jones to Hi all, it is important to address the person you are writing to
  • State your purpose at the start of your email so that your reader knows why it is important to continue reading
  • Use clear paragraphing – paragraphs break your email down into digestible chunks and signpost the flow and progression of what you want to say. Make sure there is a clear line break between each paragraph and try to avoid single line paragraphs
  • Headings – don’t be afraid to use headings within an email and make them bold so that they stand out. Just like paragraphs, headings can help to guide your reader through your email. Headings in the form of questions can also help, particularly in information giving emails sent to large distribution groups, for example, Why are we making these changes? How will this affect me? What do I need to do next?
  • Leading on from headings, bulleted or numbered lists are also very useful for outlining next steps and making processes clear. Lists also allow the reader to get a good overall view of the major points discussed in the email.
  • Call for action – if you need your reader(s) to do something as a result of your email ensure that you close with a clear call for action explaining what needs doing, how and when – and ideally why it is important
  • Sign off – where appropriate sign off your emails with an invitation for questions or comments, e.g. Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback about this new process.

Remember the look and feel of your email is often just as important as the content and if it is well structured it will be easier for your reader to digest and you will be more likely to receive the response you require.

Marketing and communication managers value creativity and ROI as the key factors for buying advertising

More than 300 directors and managers of marketing and communication have answered a questionnaire developed by More Quota in which it is sought to know what is the opinion of advertisers with respect to advertising marketing. The study is entitled “Do the media sell advertising well? Continue reading Marketing and communication managers value creativity and ROI as the key factors for buying advertising