With more people researching on the web and buying online, a website is essential for every company. A website should drive leads and it is imperative that you have a strong, well-designed platform for your company. Ultimately the aim of any website is for your business to be seen by more people that will lead to more enquiries and then more sales. If you are unsure on the best way to budget for the website that your business requires you should consult with your Cheltenham accountants such as www.randall-payne.co.uk who can offer you advice on business growth as well as your general accounting needs. Here are some tips.

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Layout

Good website design will increase sales and interest. The layout of your website should be simple and attractive. Ensure the essential information is available for prospective clients, and make your contact details visible. A brand logo or slogan, along with relevant photos, should be displayed. These features all make websites more inviting.

Content

The last thing people want when they visit a website is long pages of information. Not only will they get bored but also they can find too much information confusing. The idea of writing copy is to deliver the information in a short and concise way.

Prioritise the essential information, such as the services you offer, a bit about the company and your contact details. If you need assistance, a professional copywriter will be able to take information about your company and turn it into attractive and readable copy.

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SEO techniques

Prospective clients will often use search engines to find services they are looking for; therefore, search engine optimising is a vital part of generating leads. Good SEO will enable your website to be shown in searches, meaning you attract more visitors to your site and get a better traffic flow. This process can be quite complex and some people may need assistance. There are many companies similar who offer services to help with web design at a reasonable price .

Reviews and testimonials

Hearing from previous clients is more likely to generate leads. When people read about positive experiences from others, they are much more likely to trust your company. Ask customers to write a testimonial for your website; alternatively, you could include a link for clients to visit a review site that mentions your company. A separate review site will ensure customers value the review and believe its validity.

Marketing magic

Words can trigger a powerful response, so it is important that your website uses the right marketing words. Potential clients need to trust the brand and feel that you are offering an in-demand product or service that they need. By using strategic placement and highlighting important words, you can draw attention to the text that will most interest people.

Ofsted, the body responsible for inspecting schools, has called for a change in the focus of checks that schools carry out to meet their safeguarding requirements. Schools are inspected regularly to ensure they are meeting requirements in a range of areas, with safeguarding one of these. Safeguarding not only looks at the physical safety of the children within the school environment such as the individuals them come into contact with – which is why many schools operate Visitor Management System UK based such as those offered by  ofec.co.uk/web-and-software-development-services/digital-visitors-and-staff-signing-in-book.aspx to esnure children are not left alone with an inappropriate person, it also covers ensuring that any issues that may occur in the home environment are picked up on.

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What are the traditional compliance checks?

The focus of compliance checks is a checklist that schools run through to prove they are meeting the necessary requirements. The ‘Keeping children safe in education’ guidelines state that all schools should have a safeguarding lead and that all other members of staff should have the appropriate training in recognising safeguarding issues. In matters of concern, the school should contact its local authority to follow up using a referral process

What needs to change?

Lee Northern, a leading inspector with Ofsted, believes that both schools and Ofsted should have a specific checklist for the processes required where they believe a child is at risk. For other areas of the inspection process, Ofsted uses checklists to assess the strength of areas being inspected; however, this is non-existent when it comes to safeguarding.

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Basic safeguarding in schools

Schools are ensuring their staff have a basic DBS check prior to working and are making sure none of their staff are a risk to pupils by ensuring this is completed. This does not safeguard children from what happens outside school or from other pupils.

The requirements for safeguarding in schools

In addition to DBS checks, there are other areas in which schools are required to safeguard their pupils. Their ‘prevent duty’ requires them to have policies in place to protect young people from radicalisation and extremism through staff training to spot the signs. Staff are also required to promote British values, fairness and tolerance, and to have respect for the law.

Other areas of safeguarding include preventing maltreatment, impairment of health, and adequate care. Staff are also expected to be trained to spot signs of sexual exploitation, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, fabricated and induced illness, substance misuse, and gang activity.

With its proposed change in approach, Ofsted hopes to promote action and have an assessment of impact of policy rather than complying with a list of guidelines.

When Christmas gets mentioned, most people think about children. It’s the time of year for toy-buying, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa and attending Christmas nativity plays at schools. However, Christmas doesn’t have to be a dull, grown-up occasion for those who don’t have children. There are plenty of ways to fill the season with fun and excitement with no children required!

Christmas can be a tough time for those without kids. Whether it’s infertility caused by medical or situational circumstances or a decision not to have children or delay having them. All the Christmas ads seem to feature happy smiling children and parents sharing gifts around the tree. When there’s only adults in the house, it seems pointless to leave out a carrot for Rudolph and a mince pie for Santa. However, don’t let a lack of little people dampen your Christmas spirit. Why not try these ideas?

Adult Only Christmas Party

Who says Christmas can only be about family? Invite your friends over to share some drinks and giggles, maybe even a spot of Christmas tree decorating. Think of friends without children. These could include: Single friends, childless couples by choice, empty nesters and those with fertility challenges. You can crank up the heating thanks to the Boiler Installation Gloucester that sorted you out with a swanky new system, get the food and bubbly out and have an adults alternative christmas. If you are in need of a new heating system don’t delay this until the cold weather sets in, contact a local company and have a Gloucester Boiler Installation from HPR sorted in time for the festive season.

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A trip away

Why not break the norm of going home for the holidays and pack your bags and head off on holiday? A yearly vacation to your desired destination could even become a Christmas tradition. Consider your gift to yourself. Choose somewhere quiet and possibly unlikely to be a magnet for young families. Alternatively, decide to be a kid again and head straight to somewhere with huge family appeal like Disney World!

Romantic Christmas

If you can’t get away, then why not have a cosy and incredibly romantic Christmas for two at home? Add some candles to your Christmas table, some relaxing music and spend some quality time with your partner. This is the ideal season to pop the question too. If you’re thinking of staging a romantic proposal, start shopping around for the perfect ring for the occasion in plenty of time.

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Indulge the children in your family

Even if you don’t have your own kids, who says you can’t revel in being the most awesome aunt or uncle in the world at Christmas time? Shower the little ones with gifts, play games all day, take the heat of Mum and Dad for a few hours and then go home and relax, leaving the sugared up little terrors back with their parents!

Volunteer at a homeless shelter

Rather than spend Christmas alone, many people choose to get involved in helping others at this time of year by volunteering at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. You might enjoy it so much that it becomes an annual tradition. It’s so popular in fact, that many soup kitchens have a waiting list so make your enquiries nice and early.

Girls usually want their hair to look beautiful, sleek and stylish if possible, and this is never more important than when attending a friend or family members wedding or even their own wedding! Many women have to put a lot of thought into what hairstyle they want, while some might have had their favoured design picked out from girlhood. There are loads of options to choose from, whether you want flowing mermaid-style locks, a fishtail braid or an elaborate chignon. Updos are particularly popular and a common choice for brides as well as guests who are attending an event at a Gloucester Hotel Wedding Venue like www.hatton-court.co.uk/gloucester-cotswolds-weddings.  If you want to have an updo on your wedding day, read on for the secret to successfully mastering this stunning style.

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Updo tips and tricks

The first thing you need to keep in mind when crafting your perfect updo is that the current style is not tightly slicked-back hair; instead, opt for looser, natural-looking designs that give you plenty of volume. How do you achieve this?

Switch on those hot rollers!

After washing your hair and applying a dollop of curling cream to the roots of your hair, blow dry your hair upside down and then gently brush it out. Once it is dry enough, divide it into big sections and place them in hot rollers. Once they are done, apply some curling cream to your fingers, take out all the rollers, and then run your fingers through your hair to achieve beautiful, loose, easy-to-manage curls.

Dig out your bobby pins

Bobby pins are a crucial element in the success of a long-lasting updo. Taking three-inch sections of hair beginning at the front of your head, secure each section with two crisscrossed bobby pins and do this until you have gathered up all of your hair.

Spritz with some spray

Once your style is complete, give your head the once-over with a light hairspray held approximately eight inches away from your head. This will ensure the design is secured throughout your special day and all that dancing, those photo sessions, and all of the hugging from adoring relatives.

Adorn!

For the finishing touch, add beautiful jewelled hair clips and pins for that extra “wow” factor.

Whatever style you end up plumping for, your tresses are sure to look radiant on your special day!

There are more ways to achieve metal to metal bonding than ever before, from age-old thermal joining techniques such as welding, brazing or soldering to mechanical fastening with hardware such as rivets and newer bonding options such as liquid adhesive or tape. If you have been wondering which to choose for your next metal to metal bonding project, read on, as here we look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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Metal fastenings

Metal fastenings offer some advantages over other options. They take less skill than welding or other thermal joining techniques and can even be achieved by automation; however, metal fastenings tend to put pressure on certain points of the material, which can in turn lead to uneven load distribution. Rusting can also occur when mechanical fastenings are used, as metals rub together and the gaps allow for oxidation. This can damage the integrity of the materials and the finished product as a whole.

Thermal joining techniques

Welding solves the issue of load distribution, but it is a labour intensive choice that requires specialist knowledge, resources and equipment, like those needed by column radiators company https://apolloradiators.co.uk/designer-radiators/roma-horizontal-steel-column-radiator . Welding offers a more streamlined and clean look in comparison with mechanical fastenings.

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Adhesives

Metal bonding adhesive offer many advantages over traditional methods of affixing metal to metal. Adhesives ensure an even load distribution and can ensure the integrity of thin sheets of metal. Furthermore, this means the occurrence of rust is less likely. It also requires less specialist labour, equipment and resources, saving manufacturing companies money in the long run.

Adhesives are also malleable, which means they can accommodate changes in temperatures or vibrations. This won’t lead to the splitting or breaking of metals that are held in a certain position. Just like welding, adhesives offer a cleaner, more streamlined finish than rivets or other mechanical fastenings. These many advantages may explain why the global composite adhesives market is set to grow rapidly in the next few years.

Each process has its advantages and disadvantages; however, as you can see, metal to metal adhesives offer a wealth of advantages that more traditional methods simply can’t achieve. Most notably, perhaps, liquid and tape adhesives are becoming more commonly used in the aeronautics and the automobile industries, thanks in large to these beneficial factors.

Safe sex is the buzz word around once again and sex education lessons are not only focusing on the practice of safe sex but also the need for consent and trusting relationships. When it comes to choosing a contraceptive method it can seem like there are a hundred different choice so here is our handy little guide to some of the options that you have available to you.

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Condoms

These are the most common form of contraception that are available on the market and you can get free condoms from your local sexual health clinic and they are available to buy in most supermarkets. They are relatively easy to use and unless you have a latex allergy will cause no issue to either partner. For those suffering from a latex allergy alternative condom materials are available. Condoms are available in both a male and female version and are the only safe sex method that not only helps to prevent pregnancy but are also effectiving at preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections from one partner from another. If you are worried about your sexual health you can find Home StI Kits London way from companies such as https://www.bexleysexualhealth.org/home_sti_kits, there are companies across the country that offer this service as well as your standard sexual health clinics and GP practices that can also offer testing for you.

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Contraceptive Pill – this come in a number of different types, those that combine estrogen and progesterone and the progesterone only pill. The type of pill that you are offered will depend very much on you reasons for wanting the tablets as well as your weight and medical history. For some women the contraceptive pill brings some relief for gynaecological problems such as polycystic ovaries and endometriosis and well as heavy and painful periods. When taken regularly and correctly the pill is a great choice for those wishing to avoid pregnancy. To avoid the spread of an STI you should use these in conjunction with condoms to protect both yourself and your partner.

Implant and Injection – these are two alternative methods to contraception and again they regulate the way a woman ovulates. They are preferred by women who do not want to have to remember to take a tablet at the same time each day and are a popular choice by women who have recently had children. Again they will help with a variety of menstrual issues but do not protect against STIs.

By now you have probably heard of Japanese Knotweed and you may have even come into contact with this plant. It is a non indigenous plant here in the UK and it is creating headaches for property developers and builders as well as those with domestic gardens. If you have this plant on your land, it is important to ensure that you contact a professional such as Land Remediation Services company ash remediation to come and deal with it on your behalf.

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Here are some facts about the plant that will help to highlight why it can not be dealt with just like any other weeds in your garden.

• In its natural environment Japanese Knotweed has other plants and animals to contend with that help to keep it under control. One of the reasons why it is such a problem here in the UK is that none of these natural inhibitors exist in our country. This is one of the reasons why in some areas the plant has become completely out of control.
• It grows incredibly quickly and is very strong. Not only can it grow up to 10 centimetres per day during the summer months but it has no trouble growing up through your tarmac and concrete. Once the roots have found a weak spot they will break through this and will then rise to the surface and continue to flourish. It can therefore have a detrimental effect on the price of your property and some mortgage companies and house insurance companies will not cover a property or land that has knotweed on it.
• Japanese Knotweed is not a new plant to the UK, although it is only relatively recently that is has become a large scale problem in some areas. It was in fact brought in and used by the Victorians. They favoured it as a plant to line railway tracks throughout the country due to its fast growing ability. Little did they know it would become so problematic in the future.

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• It can take an incredibly long time to get the plant under control on a site and it reportedly took 4 years to control the Japanese Knotweed on the main arenas used in the 2012 London Olympics. It is for this reason that is listed amongst the top 100 invasive species of plant in the world and the disposal of the plant is under the regulations of control waste.

Although it is much derided Star Wars Episode one, the fourth film in the franchise, does have some particularly astonishing scenes. The lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and the Jedi’s of Obi Wan Kenobi and Qui Gon Jinn for example, the setting of the Galactic Senate (have you spotted the Wookies and the ET’s yet?) plus the raw excitement of the dangerous Pod Race. There is also the climactic battle between the brave, but hopelessly outgunned Naboo indignenous Gungan’s against the might of the Trade Federation Droid army. The battle features some extremely nifty hovering tanks loaded with Droids. Whilst you can not drive a flaoting tank just yet there is away you can experience the real thing with a bit of Tank Driving with the help of www.armourgeddon.co.uk/tank-driving-experience.html. Click on the link after you’ve read these thoughts on the battle.

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The Gungans have agreed to fight against the Trade Federation after being asked by Queen Amidala of the Naboo to create a diversion. The Trade Federation take the bait and send the bulk of their Droid Force out to face the Gungans. The are armed with floating anti gravity hover tanks and a huge amount of Droids armed with blasters. The Gungans are mounted and have a very handy water based shield that protects them from the cannon fire of tanks but the droids are soon deployed and start to make their steady advance towards the Gungan infantry. The only hope that the Gungans have is that the main power reactor on the Trade Federations ship is knocked out cutting the droids power rendering them useless.

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As the shield is penetrated by the droids the Gungans only have one option left. This is to throw the water plasma “Bombas”. These are handheld grenades that cause the Droids to short out. Large ones are catapulted and can even take out a tank. The weight of the Droids numbers prove too much for the Gungans but they are able to hold out long enough for young Anakin Skywalker to knock out the main reactor so that the Droids power fails and they fall lifeless to the ground.

While all of this is science fiction the hover tank is something that is being mooted as the next generation of tank. Tanks are famed for being able to go anywhere and over anything. Imagine then if it didn’t even need to touch the ground! Robots warriors and vehicles are actually a much closer prospect. Conflicts fought by remote control are looking like a real possibility.

There are other kinds of synthetic rubber, but none are as successful and versatile as silicone. How many chemicals can be used as a lubricant, an adhesive, a dry cleaning fluid ingredient, a cooking utensil and a gasket all before breakfast? It’s in engines where silicone is rapidly gaining ground, particularly for replacement hoses. Here are six of the qualities propelling us into the silicone age.

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Temperature Tolerance

There’s nothing quite like the smell of burning rubber. If you like it, you won’t like silicone. Silicone withstands high temperatures better than rubber and isn’t permanently damaged by low temperatures either. Silicone hose manufacturers say it’s reliable between about -60 degrees and +180 degrees Centigrade.

Chemical Resistance

Oils, coolants, brake fluids, petrol and battery acid are devastating to most materials, but silicone stands up to them extremely well. You can see a chemical comparison between silicone and alternative types of rubber compound here: https://mykin.com/rubber-chemical-resistance-chart. Perished or burned rubber tends to stick to everything, and it’s a devil to get off: silicone doesn’t.

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Lifespan

For similar reasons, it’s less likely to oxidize and perish from long-term exposure to air, rain and temperature. In other words, it resists weathering, retains its flexibility and simply lasts longer. In contrast, old rubber hoses become stiff, cracked and glued on.

Vibration Damping

As some of us have discovered to our annoyance, rubber isn’t that quiet. The points at which it connects to a hard vibrating surface can generate nuisance noises and even contribute to additional vibration.

Silicone is substantially more sound-suppressing than rubber due to its better flexibility and can contribute to a quieter engine.

Flexibility

Silicone is more flexible, weight for weight, and retains that quality over time. As a result, it is often easier to fit a silicone hose in an awkward location or over a tight connector. Likewise, they are usually easier to get off again when necessary. They don’t bond with the fitting like rubber often does.

It’s Sexier!

Silicone hose manufacturers such as https://www.goodflexrubber.com/pages/silicone-hose-manufacture supply them in a range of bright colours that simply look great in a well-cared-for engine. It also makes it easier to distinguish one part from another.

And it’s not only car lovers that think it’s sexier – silicone is rapidly replacing rubber in sex toys and “rubberwear”. Anything that sexy is bound to make your engine race faster!

When metals are used in construction, one of the key considerations is how long the item is expected to last. Galvanised steel is a popular metal thanks to its intrinsic protection from corrosion.

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Any good chemistry student will tell you that the process of galvanisation coats the metal in question with a thin layer of a more reactive metal, usually zinc. Because the coating is more reactive than the metal used for the part, it will oxidise instead of the part itself. Let’s take a look at some of the key advantages of galvanised steel over other materials.

Reduced maintenance

When steel is galvanised, the process helps to make it far less likely to shrink or crack when it is in use. Similarly, galvanised steel has far superior resistance to water and abrasion than non-galvanised steel.

Protection across the board

Unlike many other corrosion protection options, especially those that are carried out when a part is in place, galvanisation offers total protection against corrosion and rusting. This is because the entire part is protected when it is galvanised.

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Peace of mind

When items such as the ductwork parts available at https://www.dustspares.co.uk/ductwork-parts/ are galvanised, they are done so in line with a whole raft of international standards. This ensures that they are up to the job, providing both reliability and predictability.

Low cost

Not only does galvanised steel offer fantastic value when it is first installed, but it also offers great-long term value. Even if the cost of galvanisation is more expensive than other alternatives in the first place, money is highly likely to be saved in the long term thanks to its longevity.

Long-lasting

The total coverage of the process means that galvanised steel should last a long time in situ. The lack of uncovered spots ensures there is a fantastic level of corrosion protection, keeping your steel safe and well. Thanks to the international standards that apply to galvanising steel, those in construction have peace of mind that parts are free from black spots, rust stains or other imperfections.

Easy to inspect

Building inspectors are easily able to inspect galvanised steel when carrying out routine checks. Galvanised steel is easy to inspect by sight, and there are a range of non-invasive techniques for testing the thickness of a coating if necessary.