Archive for category Business

Segway Owner Dies In Accident On A Segway

Posted by on Monday, 27 September, 2010

Jimi Heseldon | Owner of Segway – Yorkshire – United Kingdom

Jimi Heselden, the owner of Segway was found dead after falling from a Segway near to his home. Police and Ambulance Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident at the river Wharfe at Boston Spa, near Wetherby – where Heseldon had been seen riding his machine earlier in the day.

Police say that the 62 year old business tycoon had been riding his Segway machine not far from his home in Thorp Arch, and had tragically fallen down a 30ft cliff into a river.

Segway Cross CountryA member of the public was believed to have seen Jimi riding along the side of the Jackdaw Crag where it appeared he lost control of his Segway and toppled down the cliff edge.

A Police spokeperson said that Heseldon was pulled from the river at approximately 11:40 on Sunday morning, and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Mr Heseldon was obviously a well known and like person in the community, as well as being a very generous man. Over the last few years, he had donated around £23million ($34.5million) to local charities as well as The Hesco Bastion Fund which he set up some time ago.

Tributes have been pouring in over the last 24 hours from all around the world which have been greatly accepted by Heseldon’s family.

Police have said that there are no suspicous circumstances to the accident.

Mr Heseldon leaves his wife, Julie and five children.

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Helicopter Charter on the Increase in 2010

Posted by on Wednesday, 22 September, 2010

Atlas Helicopter Charter HireHelicopter Hire Demand on the Increase.

Chief Executive of Atlas Helicopters today announced that the hire and charter of small 4/5 seater helicopters has been making a slow but impressive up turn, with both business and private hire seeing an increase in demand.

Mike Burns, who is the Chief Executive and also pilots at Atlas, claims that they are seeing an increase despite the much publicised economic conditions. He said, “We are more than delighted that our charter service is growing again, but it just goes to show that there is always a demand for this type of travel, especially within the business sector.”

One of the major issues since the economy started to slow down and companies scaled back on their employee base, is that most of the business owners now have to travel, more often to secure deals. So, with the cost of standard travel increasing, helicopter charter is now becoming something considered more often.

With general congestion on the roads increasing, rising costs of commercial flights and a rail network that never runs on time, helicopter charter companies could have it in the bag as they have kept the same prices since 2008 plus, they can also land at local airfields to where their clients live.

“All in all, we have one of the most convenient modes of transportation, removing all the stress of long car journeys and public transport failure, with the added bonus of being able to cover more miles in far less time,” he added.

So, with more miles being covered and less hotel expenditure, it’s pretty obvious to see that helicopter travel could probably be the up and coming way to commute back and forth on long journeys.

Unsurprisingly, we decided to do a comparison for a business owner travelling by car from London to Edinburgh – one nights accommodation in a 5 star hotel, evening meal and drinks, then back on the road again to London the next morning.

Total cost – £690 plus 36 hours away from the office.

Charter a helicopter from London to Edinburgh, wait and return to London the same day.

Total Cost – £1700 – and only 9 hours away from the office.

Yes it is over double the cost, but in productivity, you could make it back with an extra day in the office.

Atlas have a fleet of AS355 Twin Squirrel’s, one Bell 206 Long Ranger – plus the addition of larger helicopters as and when they need them through short term lease. But as Captain Burns was quick to point out, “If business keeps rising like it is, expansion may soon be on the cards which is an exciting prospect for the business.”

There is one thing for sure, if it was my business, I would be straight on the phone to a charter company – but then so would you after reading this, wouldn’t you?

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China Sets Targets to Meet Millenium Development Goals

Posted by on Friday, 17 September, 2010

Millenium Development Goals ReportNot many people have heard about the Millenium Development Goal (MDG) – so I wouldn’t be completely surprised if I stopped you in the street and asked you, and you gave me a healthy blank look.

So, the principle behind the MDG is to help under developed countries with either Aid, or Trade, and China has stepped up the productivity in short, to boost their economy a little more by pushing more trade, than aid.

It is also claimed that the Chinese Government have opened up new channels for importation from these under developed countries, to help aid their own growth and economy.

Knowing that there will always be sceptics, which way do you fall? Do you think that China is helping out the third world countries regain their momentum, or is this a ploy just to build their own economy with a ‘looking after number one’ attitude?

Which ever it is, you have to take your hat off to the Chinese Government, because they are at least showing they still want business and want to work out the economical issues they have. As for the rest of the world, they, like us, are sitting watching like a bunch of spectators.

Closing thought: How many ‘English Takeaways’ would you find in China?

Answers on a post card!

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BP Shifts The Blame For Gulf Oil Spill

Posted by on Thursday, 9 September, 2010

BP's Sudden Legal Blunder
In the Gulf of Mexico, businesses and holiday companies are trying to put one foot infront of the other and begin the process of rebuilding what was a great place to not only take a vacation, but work too.

But out of the blue, BP deals a shocking blow by releasing a report which can only be described as “passing the book.”

In this report, BP has attempted to pin the blame on a few other attributes; Transocean for a flawed design in the construction of the rig, and Halliburton for not doing their job right.

Both companies have hit back at BP saying that the report was a self serving cover for what was probably a falty design in the well itself.

The content of BP’s report, which was conducted by BP’s head of safety Mark Bly, highlighted a multi combination of failures that caused the well to explode in April – which killed 11 workers and injured 17 others.

Following BP’s estimation of costs so far, the oil company dropped $11billion into the red for the three months to June. What is more concerning is that the costs increase day by day, so this figure could double by the end of 2010.

To see exactly what is going on under the waterline, take a look at BP’s YouTube channel for footage being transmitted from their underwater camera’s: http://www.YouTube.com/BPplc

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