Have you ever dreamed of opening up your own wedding cake company or bakery business? It’s an incredible thought to be able to do what you love in the working world, and be able to make your delicious creations for others to enjoy – so why not make this dream a reality? Before you do though, you will need to consider these important points if you want to sell your own food. It is not as simple as cooking meals in your own kitchen, and then selling them to others; consumer health and safety is a very important factor.

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The First Steps 

First of all, your house must be registered as a Food Business Premises; you can do this here. This must be the first thing you look into before you consider opening up your own business, and must be done at least 28 days before you are due to start selling.

It is important to set up as a sole trader on the government website too.

Research is the next important step, whether that’s visiting your local library, or looking online – it is vital to have a business plan. This will ensure you succeed in your field. You may know the basics if you’ve worked as a baker before, but you won’t know the ins and outs of business and marketing. It is important to come up with a business strategy; for example, what will your company name be? Will you have a catchy slogan to make sure your company is remembered? How will you fund your company in the beginning stages? You will also need to decide on your target market; what age range do you think your company will appeal to the most? These are a number of key points that need to be planned out. 

Your kitchen 

If you’re opening a business any way related to food, you will need to make sure your kitchen is perfect, for example, if you want to open your own catering business, but your kitchen hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned in ten years – it will not be a one minute task. If you feel that your kitchen needs a revamp, this could be a great investment – your kitchen is your new workplace after all. Modernise it, clean it, make sure every surface is shining, and every nook and cranny is gleaming. Before revamping your kitchen, do your research on kitchen requirements for a food business. If you’re in desperate need of a new kitchen, then you might want to check out Kitchen Showrooms Swindon way, or kitchen showroom companies near you to really gain inspiration for your dream kitchen.

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Your local Environmental Health Officer 

The next step would be to get in touch with your local Environmental Health Officer. This person will inspect every part of your kitchen and will make sure it is up to scratch. Double-check that you have all the required tools, and kitchen cleaning equipment that an environmental health officer would be looking for.

Get your qualifications

If you haven’t already, you need to make sure you have the required qualifications to own your own food business. You will most importantly need the Level 2 Food Safety qualification, as selling food without it is illegal. Companies such as NCASS (The National Caterers Association) have many food-related qualifications including Level 2 Food Safety.

Most people these days have double glazing in their homes. The standard type of windows now installed in new-build houses, double glazing consists of two panes of glass, separated by a gap which is filled with air or with a gas such as argon. This gap means the windows retain heat much better, so less energy can be used to heat the house.

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With concerns growing about climate change and the need to save more and more energy as a whole, some industry experts are now suggesting we start using triple glazing instead. But is it really necessary?

Here, we take a look at some of the reasons triple glazing is used, and see whether it could, indeed, be right for you.

What is triple glazing?

Triple glazing, as the name suggests, is simply glazing consisting of three panes of glass instead of two. So instead of the single air gap, there are two barriers, usually filled with a type of gas.

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Although commonly used in habitually cold countries such as Norway and Sweden, triple glazing is still only rarely installed in the UK.

The benefits

The most noticeable difference triple glazing makes is one of comfort. Sound levels inside the home are reduced – so triple glazing is ideal if you live by a busy motorway which disturbs your sleep.

The extra pane of glass has been shown to decrease the number of cold spots in a home, which can be present even with new double glazing.

If you are interested in finding out more, contact a Gloucester double glazing firm, such as https://www.firmfix.co.uk, for further information.

The drawbacks

Because there are three panes of glass, triple glazed windows tend to be heavier than normal. They are also considerably more expensive than double glazing, because they are more costly to manufacture.

According to The Telegraph, triple glazing may make your house darker, as more panes of glass mean less light can enter.

Perhaps more importantly, despite the fact there are more barriers to escaping heat, triple glazing will not save you much more money on your energy bills than double glazing, as the difference in heat loss is not significant enough.

So triple glazing does have its place, but it really only suits certain types of properties in certain areas.

We hear a lot about the importance of public relations for business, but could we give a definition of it if we were asked? Every business and organization, regardless of size, depends on their good name and reputation for success in the future. When a business owner is busy with the day to day running of the company, there is little time to build relationships and grow public involvement. This is why we rely on public relations experts to do these things on our behalf.

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In a competitive market, a good reputation can be the greatest asset for a company. This can give you an edge over your competitors and lets you stand out in a crowded marketplace. Everyone who comes into contact with the business has a considerable impact, from customers and suppliers to journalists and staff. Their experience and perception affects whether a business is one that people want to shop with, connect to, support and work with.

Therefore, you can define public relations as a discipline related to reputation with a focus on support, influencing opinion and behaviour. This involves creating a strategy to create and maintain positive relationships and understanding between people and organizations.

Do you think that PR could be the right career for you? The answer is probably yes if you are constantly interested in what is happening around you. A public relations practitioner will always be up to date on current thinking and trends in the industry to provide effective advice to clients and ideas for a successful campaign. For a PR Cheltenham company, visit a site like https://headonpr.co.uk/

Great communication skills are essential to work in this field. A PR professional should be able to talk to various people, who may include journalists, clients, customers and business contacts. Work can involve presentations in front of clients, attending meetings and interviews with journalists. Writing skills are also important because you may be asked to write press releases, newsletters and reports.

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Qualities and other skills needed in the role of PR professional includes:

Good communication and verbal skills

Multi-tasking and strong time management skills

Organization and planning

A strong interest in a variety of media

Good flexibility

The ability to cope well under pressure and work to tight deadlines

Adaptability – the role of the PR can vary widely, so multi-tasking and flexibility are essential for an ever-changing workplace. You can expect to start early, finish late and on weekends.

It is also important to be able to analyse the business requirements and management

Provide advice and counselling to management

Ability to identify problems, understand future trends and predict the likely consequences of actions

Conduct research into the opinions and attitudes of society and understand what action should be taken

Monitoring and follow-up services

Setting goals and objectives

The ability to inspire, motivate and influence others!

There is more to the demolition than just knocking things down. Contractors have to have eyes in the back of their heads and have their eyes peeled for many potentially dangerous elements.

Demolition is a carefully regulated, thoroughly researched business. Demolition contractors must be meticulous about both the safety of employees and environmental safety, or else risk losing their business licenses. As with regular contractors, demolition experts have legal requirements to follow strict standards for employee safety. They must also comply with standards for deconstruction techniques that ensure a secure environment. Hazardous construction materials, like asbestos, should always be safely extracted before demolition can take place. For Birmingham Demolition, visit a site like https://www.hammerjack.co.uk/

Some forward-thinking demolition companies have even exceeded government standards by finding new and innovative ways to reuse old building materials, instead of sending them directly to the landfill. Because they have a unique perspective on how best to demolish buildings, commercial demolition experts can teach you a lot about selecting housing materials, building methods and more. Focusing on environmentally friendly dismantling has a definite cost-saving value for residential builders, plus there has been a surge in consumer demand for green construction.

Limiting exposure to hazardous chemicals

It goes without saying that residential building contractors are aware of the hazards of asbestos, lead and other toxic substances in the construction of houses. Newer properties do not contain toxic materials, but it is not unusual for a contractor to be hired to retrofit or bring an old house up to code.

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Wood dust containing formaldehyde

It is possible for wood dust to get lodged in the nose when breathed in and is estimated to have led to cancer of the nose in some woodworkers. The wood panel particles sometimes contain toxic formaldehyde; when wood is cut or manipulated, formaldehyde-laced dust is sent into the air, posing a great risk to workers nearby. For this reason, contractors recommend wearing protective respiratory equipment when dealing with particles and panels.

Synthetic mineral fibres

These are a fibrous product made of ceramic, fibreglass and rock wool. Studies have found these fibres are not as dangerous as asbestos, so they are still used in sound and thermal protection products. They can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat but there remains some question as to whether SMFS can also cause lung cancer, because sometimes they contain fibreglass. Industrial demolition experts recommend workers wear respirators and protective clothing when SMF contact is possible.

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Lead paint

One danger that is often overlooked is the danger of burning steel beams that have been painted with lead paint. Just a small number of painted beams can leave a worker exposed to lead levels in the air that are off the charts. Workers must be provided with respirators, protective clothing and hand washing stations.

These are just some of the demolition materials that contractors must carefully monitor and prepare for when taking down buildings. There are, in fact, a whole set of standards for disassembly procedures.

Companies operating in food retail like grocery stores, supermarkets and restaurants all face the threat of pests from a variety of sources. A large store may stock tens of thousands of food products from a variety of sources with complex supply chains, which require efficient monitoring and control procedures.

Activities can include the preparation of food, handling fish and meat that are raw, fresh dairy goods, freshly cooked food, baked items, fruit and vegetables as well as dealing with packaged goods as well. It is important for businesses in the food retail sector to maintain sanitary standards and actively prevent pests in order to maintain high standards of food safety and to protect the goods, staff, customers and their reputation.

The main pests affecting the food sector range from rodents to creepy crawlies and flying critters like flies and cockroaches, each one causing unique problems with food security and other legislative requirements.

1. Rodents

Mice and rats are interested in the food supply but do not venture far from their place of residence or nesting sites, so it will nest close to a food source. They are capable of rapid increase in the population given the abundant supply of food, shelter and warm conditions inside a building. For Essex Pest Control, visit a site like BPC Essex Pest Control

2. Cockroaches

Cockroaches can cause particular problems in food businesses because of their small size meaning they can easily hide, their wide diet, speedy reproduction and diseases they may carry. Although they can be difficult to spot since they are largely nocturnal, some signs that could indicate cockroaches in your supermarket include:

A lingering unpleasant odour

Stools brown / black in colour, cylinder shaped approx. 2mm long

Smears or dirty marks on surfaces

Shed cockroach skin close to where they had taken refuge

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3. Birds

Buildings such as food retail facilities, provide a safe area for birds to perch around the structure and in spaces such as under the roof. Storing food and waste can also provide a supply of food that attracts birds. Wild birds and their nests are protected by law and only the birds considered pests can be controlled. The most common pest birds are pigeons, house sparrows, several species of gulls and starlings.

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4. Flies

Some species of flies are attracted to the smell of food stores, including house and fruit varieties. The uncomfortable truth is that flies can carry more than 100 pathogens that can cause disease in humans, including Salmonella and E. coli. A common risk from flies in supermarkets is that they contaminate food products with pathogens that can cause illness. 64% of businesses worry about the compensation claims resulting from an outbreak of food-borne disease, that flies can be responsible for.

A laboratory is an example of ultimate cleanliness, hygiene and a sterile environment. There are strict rules and regulations to adhere to, especially when potentially dangerous materials are being used. To conduct effective and accurate tests and experiments, areas must be free of any suspicion of cross-contamination. Therefore, when you visit a lab, you should note that is clean, orderly and well-managed. Here are some more things you might notice:

The floors should be clear of any potential trip or slip hazards. Spills or dropped objects should always be cleaned up straight away. Anything not being currently used should be cleared away of tables, worktops, aisles and floors. There should also be two clear and unobstructed pathways to exits from the laboratory.

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Any eyewash stations, showers, fire extinguishers or electrical panels must also have a clear space around them. Any sink traps or drain traps in the floor should always contain water to stop gases from escaping into the laboratory atmosphere.

Apparatus that is used on benches or worktops should be firmly attached to the surface or kept well away from any edges. When experiments have concluded, areas involved should always be cleaned straight away. Work areas must remain clear of possible contamination.

As you can appreciate, a lab needs to maintain order and specific conditions for both scientific and safety purposes. This is what makes moving a lab such a tricky operation. The tasks required to pack up delicate apparatus, transport a range of substances, sterilise environments and recalibrate machinery are extensive and costly. Thankfully, such projects can be overseen by specialists in relocating important environments like laboratories. For more information on Lab Relocation Services, visit a site like Aport Global lab relocation services

Storage is another important aspect of daily life in a laboratory. Any items that are sharp, pointed or containing a blade should always be stored in a sheath. Any lab clothing present should be stored in a dedicated area and not left to be draped over the backs of chairs or benches, for example. Equipment that is not used often should always be stored away until required.

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Containers of chemicals should not be stored on the floor. The storage of boxes, packages and other items also require a dedicated space and should never be found under worktops, benches, desks or above cabinets or on shelving. As well as being a fire risk, these also represent a hazard to staff who might be in the middle of an experiment using dangerous substances!

It has been recognised that a truly viable vehicle routing system for Ireland would have to be sensitive to cross-border journeys, and in particular allow for both Northern Irish postcodes and the newly allocated Eircodes. A highly responsive new software, Truckstops Ireland, however, is expected to prove invaluable. Continue reading Mapmechanics Released Irish Routing and Scheduling solutions →

SEO can be challenging for the average website owner. There are many agencies available and many elements of an SEO campaign, and it can be hard to know the difference between a strong agency and a poor one. If you are currently using an agency but you do not know if they are doing the best job for your business, here are five ways to check if it might be time to find a new agency. Continue reading Changes in SEO between 2010 and 2020 →

In the UK, the majority of people heat their homes using a gas central heating system which comprises of a boiler and radiators throughout the house. This system isn’t always found though if you start to look at other countries around the globe, even in some very cold countries! Here, we take a look at some interesting methods used for keeping people warm all around the world:

Russia – for such a notoriously freezing place, you’d think you’d find pretty conventional heating methods in most homes. In the urban cities and towns you will indeed find such heating but in most rural areas you will still see people using ‘pechkas’ in their homes. This is a type of oven but is also used for heating purposes as it stays warm for many hours after use. People sleep on top of them in the midst of a cold Siberian winter. It’s a good idea to check your boiler before the winter draws in. For Boiler Installation Gloucester, visit http://www.hprservicesltd.com/gloucester-boilers/boiler-installation-gloucester/

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Iceland – one of the great things about this country is its volcanic environment which is particularly useful for geothermal energy. This energy is harnessed from the internal heat of the planet with heat and water brought up from the depths to the surface through underground reservoirs. An amazing 87% of Iceland’s buildings are supplied with this geothermal hot water through pipes and it’s even used to keep pavements and car-parks ice-free.

Japan –  winters can get really harsh in Japan and yet the homes there have no central heating. They also don’t go in for insulation or double-glazing much either! Temperatures can reach a bone-chilling -30 so what do they do to keep warm? A method called Kotatsu is used in which a low table is covered with a blanket and a heater is placed underneath. People and their pets will often sleep underneath the kotatsu which provides a snug, cosy atmosphere.

Netherlands – whilst most modern homes will have central heating systems similar to those found in the UK, traditionally a Dutch foot stove was used. It was made from a wooden box with an opening on one side and a slab or holes would be placed on the top. Hot coals or charcoal would be placed inside the slab and you could then rest your feet on top. With a blanket over the legs to keep you warm, this sounds quite pleasant. They were used a great deal until the 1800s and have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

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Greenland –  the Inuit tribes used to build igloos and while most now live in houses, igloos are still built to provide shelter on hunting trips, for example. A dome of ice and snow, it acted as an effective barrier from the harsh environment and the snow provided insulation which trapped body heat inside the thick icy walls.

China – the ‘kang bed’ is the thing that gets the people of northeast China through those cold, winter nights. It features a platform of clay bricks with space underneath for a small fire. The bricks absorb the heat and radiate this through the bed and the rest of the room.

When construction and plumbing materials need to be bent, the right machine needs to be selected to do the job.

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There are pros and cons to both hot and cold bending machines, depending on the type of material you need to be bent and the angle of the bend required.

Hot bending

Hot bending is another name for induction bending. These machines are highly effective at bending pipes because they are fast, precise, and make few errors.

By heating a certain point on a pipe, induction bending enables the pipe to be bent without very much effort. No filler is required in the machine, which prevents a good deal of distortion. The heating process is the most time-consuming element of the process; however, after this, bending is quickly achieved.

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A couple of downsides are that the materials need to cool down after hot bending and the machine is often more expensive than a cold bending machine.

Specialists such as http://www.cotswold-machinery-sales.co.uk/euromac/horizontal-bending-machines/ provide a wide range of horizontal bending machines for the fabrication and sheet metal industries.

Cold bending

Cold bending is done by machines without inducting any heat into the material to be bent. These machines will generally wrap a pipe or sheet of material around a shape with a force that causes the pipe to bend.

This process is quick and the materials don’t need to cool down afterwards; however, cold bending can have disadvantages if materials are fragile. Radical bends are also not possible with cold bending. In most cases, the machine will need to be filled with sand to achieve any bend that could be considered extreme.

Cold bending machinery is usually lower in cost than hot bending machinery, as it is less complex. This can make it an attractive option for smaller companies.

It is important to take the relevant safety precautions when using metal bending equipment, whether hot or cold, including point of contact guarding and being aware of potential hazards.

When you need a bending machine, it makes sense to work with a supplier with experience and knowledge of the different options that could meet your needs. This will enable you to consider all the pros and cons of both hot and cold bending before you invest in the right equipment for your needs.