New jobs posted on Radio Bracknell Forest website

The latest jobs listings from Radio Bracknell Forest have been posted:

Account Executive / Sales Support

A leading PC peripherals brand, Logitech, requires an Account Executive / Sales Support in their Slough office. The role will provide a first class, professional administration and sales support function to the UK Retail Account Management Team and Retail Account Mangers. £17000 – £20000

Recruitment Consultant for the Care Sector

Team support are an independent recruitment company who offer temporary and permanent job solutions to the Transport, Industrial, Logistics, Public sector and Care sectors. The Slough branch is currently recruiting for a Care Recruitment Consultant

Customer Service / Warehouse Staff

Our client is currently looking for 2 Customer Service / Warehouse Staff – this will be an 10 week contract from 16th November – end Jan 2010 You will be working in a busy returns Office – dealing with incoming parcels and letters that contain items that are being returned – either damaged or unwanted goods.

Media Sales Executive

Excellent prospects to develop a career in media and publishing. We are looking either for a candidate with some previous phone-based new business sales experience. Any previous experience of media sales would be ideal, but for one of the roles is not essential.

Account Manager

Great opportunity for a candidate from a Marketing Agency background. You will need prior Marketing Agency experience which includes Account Management. You will be responsible for account growth within designated accounts. This includes building strong client relationships, writing clear and effective strategic and tactical proposals, as well as briefing documents for internal departments.

Sales Coordinator with French

A great opportunity for a candidate who is fluent in French to join an international company and make full use of their language skills. We have an excellent opportunity for a candidate who is fluent both written and verbally to join an international company with a friendly atmosphere and great benefits

Business Accountant

Our client is a fast growing international IT Services Company (over 100% growth this year) and is looking for a full time Business Accountant to work as part of the management team reporting direct to the owner. The person we are looking for should be a qualified Business Accountant that can work in a fast moving environment and fit into the company’s ethos and style. The company offices lie on the M4 just south of Reading. £30,000 – £40,000

 

 

Click here to find more information: http://radiobracknell.webs.com/jobsearch.htm

 

 

 

 

Budding young broadcasters and DJ’s spin the decks

Budding young broadcasters and DJ’s spin the decks  as Bracknell Forest Homes’ young residents turned their hand to learning new skills and spinning the decks during October half term in an innovative project.

The housing association’s most recent community development initiative was for 12 to 16 year olds to produce their own radio show, which was broadcast at 7pm on Radio Bracknell Forest (www.radiobracknellforest.com) on October 29.

The 20 music mad youngsters took the chance to mix music, edit and produce news and advertising, and put together a one hour show. The group also mixed their favourite tunes on Disc Jockey (DJ) mixing decks.

The participants went home with a certificate for their achievement and the pride of hearing their hard work on radio. A souvenir CD of their show was also given out.

Enoch Kiio attended the radio production and said: ‘‘It was better than I had expected, it was a mind opening experience to learn about radio and it was a good thing to spend time doing rather than being at home.”

Caroline Titley, Chief Executive of Bracknell Forest Homes, added: “I am pleased so many young people took part in this new initiative. Producing a radio programme is no mean feat and shows that the group worked well together and learned about the process of making a broadcast. We hope that the show will be enjoyed by listeners of Radio Bracknell Forest as well as the young people themselves.

“We are delighted to work with Radio Bracknell Forest and the Headspace Community Centre and look forward to more exciting projects like this in the future.”

Part of the day included asking the young people how Bracknell Forest Homes might help them develop skills and create opportunity for them to develop their potential. They also explored how they might like to make a contribution to their community. The results will help Bracknell Forest Homes produce a community development strategy.

Bracknell Forest Homes also sent the group of youngsters for action packed fun at Oakwood Youth Challenge during the half term break and will be looking for more ways for young people to get involved in future holidays.

 

Photo: budding dj’s with DJ Clinton (back left) and JohnHicks of Radio Bracknell Forest (back right)

 

How do I become a Samaritans volunteer?

Bracknell Samaritans will be holding an Information Evening at Ranelagh School at 7:30pm on 17th November for anyone interested in volunteering or just wanting to find out more about what we do.  No need to book – just turn up!

Any questions – leave a message on our publicity line 01344 868808 or email Bracknell@Samaritans.org.

Animal welfare goes for gold in Bracknell Forest

 

Stray dogs that find themselves guests of Bracknell Forest Council can be sure of a five star service.

The council has struck gold in the RSPCA’s Community Animal Welfare Footprints awards scheme, which promotes best practice in animal welfare across local authorities and housing providers in England and Wales.

It recognises organisations that have gone above and beyond their basic service requirements. Each Footprint has three levels – bronze, silver and gold – each level carrying progressively more demanding criteria.

Andy Hill, Bracknell Forest’s dog warden, said: “We entered the awards this year for the first time and won gold. The RSPCA looks at how we deal with stray dogs and how we educate the public about the responsibilities of dog ownership.

“We do a lot of visits to schools and take part in road shows around the borough where we advise people about dog health and welfare. We get a lot of feedback from the children we talk to and I think the RSPCA was impressed with that.”

Andy’s van now proudly displays the golden Footprint logo. He and council colleague Sharon Clarke were also invited to a reception at the House of Lords in London to celebrate the achievement.

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for public protection, said: “Together with our town and parish partners, the borough council works hard to promote responsible dog ownership among residents, and I feel sure they are as delighted as we are that the borough’s dog warden team has achieved this Footprint award at their first attempt.

“Andy Hill and the team should be very proud that the RSPCA has recognised their efforts to help stray animals and encourage people to think about pet welfare.”

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell Forest on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknellforest.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com

 

 

Sandhurst students welcome Muslim theatre group

Students at Sandhurst School will be the first in Bracknell Forest to see a special drama production aimed at steering vulnerable young people away from the path of racial and religious intolerance.

The Khayaal Theatre group is coming to the school on Wednesday, November 4, to perform Hearts & Minds, a play about identity and and how a young person might become drawn into violence.

Its central character is Asif, a Muslim teenager in the UK whose views of the world are challenged by events around him and who finds he has tough choices to make about what he believes.

Sam Hunt, assistant headteacher at the school, said: “I hope the play, which forms part of the citizenship curriculum, will give the year 10 students something to think about and discuss.”

The play, which was specially commissioned by Reading-based Berkshire Forum against Extremism and the Muslim Education Forum in Luton, supports the Government’s PREVENT strategy which is being rolled out to schools across the UK.

Ms Hunt, said: “We arranged for the play to be performed at the school because we wanted the debate to be far wider than just Islamic extremism. We want to tackle Islamaphobia which appears to be growing in this country.

“The play and the subsequent discussions among pupils will go a long way towards dispelling myths and misunderstandings about Islam. It offers some insight into basic tenets of the faith that counter representations of Islam as a religion that encourages violence and revenge.

“We also plan to discuss other forms of extremism such as neo-nazism and animal rights activism. The play is designed to spark debate about how positive protest to change society is a better option than disaffection and violence.”

Local Bracknell Forest ward councillors and members of the Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society have been invited to see the play.

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for public protection, said: “We are fortunate to live in an area where racial tensions are not a major problem. But it is important to open a dialogue about these issues, both in schools and in the wider community.

“This is an excellent play and there is an opportunity and funding for other schools and community groups to invite the theatre company to perform it.”

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell Forest on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknellforest.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com

 

Rogers’ “Fairly Traded” label and “Community Aid” programme permanently raise quality of life for farmers, workers and protect nature in 10 countries from Mexico to Rwanda

Bracknell-based Rogers Estate Coffees today launched a special 10 percent discount program until Nov. 9 on its “Fairly Traded” gourmet coffees whose purchase helps to permanently raise the quality of life for thousands of workers and save farms as well as nature in coffee growing communities from Mexico to Rwanda.

Customers can receive the discount when they buy online by entering the code SAVETEN at the checkout.

Every purchase of Fairly Traded coffee from Rogers Estate Coffees – the UK subsidiary of the Rogers Family Company – supports the groundbreaking “Coffee Community Aid” program.

Unique in their scope and approach to addressing social and environmental issues inherent in coffee growing regions, the Community Aid and the Fairly Traded program establish five to seven year “social contracts.” The company pays farmers more than the average market price required by labeling organizations to ensure a farm’s long-term viability. Company officials – including  green coffee buyer Pete Rogers who spends three to four months each year at coffee farms – ensure that all funds go directly to farmers, workers and their families for ‘social and environmental’ projects. These projects permanently raise the quality of life for thousands of workers, sustain farms and protect the native flora and fauna in 10 countries. Rainforest preservation is a top priority.

“We are committed to tackling the very real problems – including poverty and lack of education – in the world’s coffee growing regions,” said Rogers Estate Coffees Vice President Jim Rogers. “We greatly appreciate the support of our customers who are helping to make a tangible difference for entire communities thousands of miles away.”

In the last year alone, the company invested approximately $1 million into coffee communities via its Community Aid program. The Rogers Family Company launched its Fairly Traded and Community Aid programs and practiced social and environmental responsibility on its own accord long before the latter became corporate marketing tools.

Launched in the 1980s after green coffee buyer Pete Rogers vowed to tackle the “appalling poverty” he witnessed in Guatemala on his first trip to source, Community Aid has grown dramatically along with the Rogers Family Company (RFC). From its inaugural project that involved donating pencils and paper to a struggling school in Guatemala, Community Aid turns the company’s “Fairly Traded” coffee into houses, schools and medical clinics for thousands of workers and their families – while preserving native plants and animals and restoring rainforest – on dozens of farms in 10 countries. In 2009-2010, the Rogers Family Company plans to add another 16 farms to the Community Aid program.

Community Aid is now making a difference in Mexico, Rwanda, Panama, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Sumatra, Honduras and Papua New Guinea.

“With our customers and business partners’ support, we will continue to improve the quality of life for everyone who has contact with our products including farmers, workers, our customers, employees and business partners,” said Rogers. “Rogers Estate Coffees is equally devoted to preserving and restoring our priceless natural resources.”

Rogers Estate Coffees uses high quality Arabica beans grown in concert with nature. These shade-grown coffee trees – planted above 3,000 feet elevation in the forest – thrive along with the native flora, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. This approach does not destroy the forest to create “mono-culture” plantations. Although the yield is lower, the quality of coffee is higher. In addition to employing its own agronomists, the company is one of the few – if not the only one – to own coffee farms

 

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell Forest on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknellforest.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com

Customer Service Expertise for Bracknell’s Town Centre Retailers

Bracknell Regeneration Partnership has always considered customer service to be of paramount importance to the shopping experience.  Over the past three years it has recognised the best performing stores through its unique retail event, the Outstanding Service to Customers Awards (OSCAs).

Now, as part of its ongoing commitment to assisting retailers it has enlisted the professional help of Alf Dunbar, renowned customer service guru, to support them with a unique training programme ‘You are the Difference’.

A total of 22 stores signed up to participate in the programme with over 165 managers and staff attending training sessions, run over 2 weeks.  Alf Dunbar’s coaching principles come from many years of working on the shop floor and focus on customer behaviour and staff attitude, encouraging staff to “live” the customer experience.

The interactive training sessions are designed to give managers and staff a variety of ‘You are the Difference’ skills which they can implement in their shops to ensure that shoppers receive a quality service.

Rob Morris, Retail Manager for Bracknell Regeneration Partnership comments: “Good customer service is absolutely vital in both attracting and retaining customers.  We are delighted to have brought Alf Dunbar to Bracknell to help support our retailers.  His unique ‘You are the Difference’ training has been very well received by the staff and we are sure this will benefit shoppers visiting the town over the coming months”.

Both independent and chain stores in Bracknell town centre have backed the training programme.  Bentalls, Bodyshop, Evans, Burtons, Mothercare, Cargo, F Hinds and Specsavers were amongst the larger brand names to participate, with Naughty But Nice, So Sandwich, Christine Daniels and VA Styles among those championing customer service excellence in the independent sector.

Alf comments: “It is great that so many retailers are excited to learn how they can provide a better service to their customers.  The feedback we have received following the customer service coaching workshops held in Bracknell, has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of the retailers have already implemented the skills learnt.  I am certain that it will put Bracknell on the map as a place where the customers can experience a level of service that is second to none.”

The workshop provided attendees with a coaching pack and DVD to help managers coach all the principles, skills and techniques to any new members of staff.  Retailers will also receive a follow up visit by Alf Dunbar in November and Mystery Shopping visits to help ensure the training programme is successfully implemented.

 

Get the latest local, regional and business news for Bracknell and the Royal County of Berkshire from Radio Bracknell Forest on the hour, every hour, with reporters Mark Lynch and Caroline Cook,  or access our news website via www.radiobracknellforest.com sponsored by Mark Roach Public Relations.

For detailed stories, please listen in to The Sunday Show with Chris Brant for his weekly round-up, news and interviews plus the events listings for the coming week, sponsored by The Green Machine

Send us your news stories and photographs at news@radiobracknell.com or you can write to Mark at mark@radiobracknell.com or Caroline at caroline@radiobracknell.com

 

Letter to the Editor: Immigration

Dear Sir

The BNP’s appearance on Question Time last week undoubtedly pushed immigration to the top of the political agenda.

It is claimed immigration is the elephant in the room that none of the major political parties want to talk about. Certainly John Piasecki, Labour’s prospective Parliamentary candidate for Bracknell, did not mention the subject in any of his latest attempts to justify his Party’s record in office.

Surely the Government’s record on immigration ought to have been included in his list of achievements, following the revelation that his Government paved the way for 3 million immigrants to come to this country since 1997, as a deliberate act of policy!

I do not recall any Labour manifesto encouraging immigration on such a scale. At present rates, the population of Britain will increase to 70 million by 2033, an increase of 10 million, nearly 70% of which will be new immigrants.

Such an unprecendented increase is unsustainable, especially in the South East, as the pressure on resources, public services, the environment and quality of life continues to grow. Furthermore the country already faces the tightest round of public spending cuts for a generation, whichever party wins the next General Election!

Migrants can, and do, make a very positive contribution to our economy and society but it is very hard for people to have faith in the immigration system when the Government so treacherously seeks to undermine the fabric of our society for its own ends and treats the electorate with such contempt.

 

Ray Earwicker

Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell

Fiddlers on the roof

Rogue traders recently persuaded a local Bracknell Forest resident to pay £136,000 to repair his roof, when all they did was paint it bright red.

The rogue traders were part of a team who called uninvited at homes in the Thames Valley area offering roofing services.

They were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court in September to a total of 70 months in prison and 320 hours of community service. These traders had defrauded over £210,000 from unsuspecting, often elderly victims.

Bracknell Forest Council’s trading standards team has worked on a number of similar cases recently in conjunction with Thames Valley Police and would like to remind residents of the risks of using doorstep traders. Although the activity of doorstep trading is not illegal, residents put their money at risk by purchasing from such traders.

Here are five do’s and don’ts to remember when when dealing with traders who come to your door:

1. Don’t believe high-pressure selling techniques: “We are only in the area today”, “We were doing a job in the area and we have some materials left over” or “I noticed you’ve got a few loose tiles on your roof” are all just phrases to encourage you to part with your money quickly.

 2. Don’t let a persistent trader push you into making a quick decision or into buying things you don’t need.

3. Don’t agree to have work done to your home or garden without getting a second opinion and quotation.

4. Don’t keep a large amount of cash in your home and don’t agree to go to a bank or building society with the trader.

5. Do call Bracknell Forest trading standards on 01344 352000 or Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505 immediately if you experience any problems with a doorstep seller.

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for public protection said: “I would urge all our residents to beware of these rogue traders, particularly our older and more vulnerable people on whom they tend to prey . If you are looking for a trader you can trust, our Buy With Confidence scheme provides residents with a list of approved traders.

 The traders that have been listed have been recommended by other residents and vetted by the Council.” For a list of approved traders or further information please call: 01344 352000 or visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/BWC.

PAT CRUMLY TRIBUTE SHOW ON UK JAZZ RADIO

 

UK Jazz Radio has announced a special tribute show to the life and work of the late Pat Crumly, widely recognised as one of the country’s leading modern jazz sax players.

One of Ronnie Scott’s favourite players, Pat’s fluent and powerful sax and flute playing was universally admired and respected.

“Pat Crumly is one of the saxophone players .. that I most admire” Ronnie Scott said.

Sadly, Pat passed away quite suddenly last year and, to commemorate the life and music of this charismatic and dedicated musician, a number of his friends are coming together to perform in his memory at the world famous 606 Club in London.

Full details are available at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=154664076234

Performers include:

• The “12 TONE BRASS ENSEMBLE” is a unique combination of two saxes, trombone, sousaphone and drums led by one of Pat’s last students, Ed Cawthorne. He describes it as “..a vast amount of different genres combined within an intrinsic natural groove”.
• THE RONNIE SCOTT LEGACY featuring John Critchinson piano, Mornington Lockett sax with special Guest Jacqui Hicks-vocals. This quartet has been formed to keep alive the musical memory of one of the countries most influential jazz musicians, and a fantastic band it is too.
• “CHUCK FARLEY” is actually a brilliant Blues band of which Pat was an integral part, featuring Steve Simpson-vocals & guitar, Poli Palmer-vibes, Pete Stroud-bass and the redoubtable Sam Kelly-drums (and not a Chuck in sight!). The music is a fabulous high energy mix of Blues, R&B and “Groove”, described as an “RnB crossover mix with hints of Little Feat meets Ry Cooder meets The Band”.

All monies collected will go toward the Pat Crumly Bursary for Young Jazz Musicians, which will be presented to the Best Jazz Soloist as part of the Yamaha Jazz Experience Project for all children of secondary school age.

To both promote this unique concert and bear tribute to Pat’s contribution to UK jazz, UK Jazz Radio will be broadcasting a one-hour special on Saturday 24^th October on www.ukjazzradio.com. 

 Listeners can enjoy the festival programmes on their computers at work, PC’s at home, wi-fi radios, modern mobile phones, Playstation PSP’s and in-car entertainment systems through Bluetooth enabled hands-free mobile phone kits. The future of internet radio is enhanced by the launch of a new generation of internet-radio equipped car radios and the long-awaited development of a new widget which enables radio streams to be converted to an FM signal.

For details of the 606 Club, please visit www.606club.co.uk