JMC IT staff compete in the Strathpuffer

Two members of the team from IT support company JMC recently swapped their computers for mountain bikes as they competed in the annual Strathpuffer cycling event in Scotland.

 

Managing Director Andrew Burgess and Systems Engineer Manager Jason Miles both competed in the extreme 24 hour cycling event, held just north of Inverness, and attracted around 450 competitors from all corners of the globe.

 

Both of the JMC competitors did extremely well in the events. Jason came 3^rd in the solo rider list, completing 21 laps of the course in 24hrs 11mins 59 seconds.  There were 41 solo riders in total.

 

Meanwhile, Andrew rode as part of a duo with another rider, and as ‘Team JMC’ they finished 4^th in the duo rider list, completing 23 laps in 23 hrs 52mins 18 seconds.  There were 41 duos in total.

 

Coverage of this year’s Strathpuffer event will be shown on The Adventure Show, BBC 2 Scotland next Sunday, 28^th February at 7pm.

 

For more information about JMC and its services, visit the JMC website at http://www.jmc.co.uk/.

 

------------------- Company Description

JMC has been providing businesses in the North of England with market leading IT solutions since 1981.  JMC makes IT make sense by delivering the necessary experience, resource and commitment to help its clients face their challenges and achieve their ambitions.

 

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Press release produced and promoted by Hit Search. Find out more about us and our services at http://www.hitsearchlimited.com. Tel: 0845 643 9289

 

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Club Med reaches the 60 mark

Renowned holiday company Club Med is celebrating its 60th birthday this year, and to mark the occasion, Aspen Travel's LowCostDeals.co.uk site are offering a savings on their range of Club Med holidays for the coming Summer.

 

Club Med is one of the world’s most famous all-inclusive holiday providers. The first Club Med resort opened in 1950 on the Spanish resort island of Mallorca, and now there are over 80 destinations in idyllic locations all over the world.

 

From the Caribbean to the French Alps, these holidays cater for both beach holidays and ski and snowboarding enthusiasts.

 

2010 is set to be a big year for Club Med, with a number of now resorts opening, as well as the redevelopment of some existing ones.

 

Club Med Kani in the Maldives will soon have its own dedicated 5-Trident space. This unique space will cater for the resort’s very exclusive guests who enjoy luxury, personal service, premium amenities, quiet and privacy while still enjoying the spirit of a Club Med conference.

 

Meanwhile, Club Med’s first Chinese Resort is set to open its doors this winter. Yabuli, located in the north-east of the country, is China’s leading ski resort and is set to attract a whole new clientele to Club Med.

 

2010 is certainly set to be an exciting year for Club Med, and you could be a part of it. If you book your Club Med holiday with Low Cost Deals before the end of February, for a departure date between 1st May and 24th October 2010, you could enjoy savings of up to £200 per adult, and up to £100 per child.

 

Low Cost Deals is the online home of Aspen Travel, who are fully ATOL and ABTA bonded, and hold a number of awards for their service, including the Advantage Leisure Agent of the Year 2009, North West England & North Wales Travel Agent of the year 2009 and Online Leisure Agent of the year for 2008.

 

For more information about any of these Club Med holidays and resorts, or to book a Club Med holiday of your own, visit the Low Cost Deals website at http://www.lowcostdeals.co.uk/

 

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Citation Employment Law: Official ‘National Sickie day’ over

Employers have one less reason to worry about staff absence now that ‘National Sickie day’ 2010 has passed by.

Findings from a recent survey released indicate as many as 350,000 employees call in with their excuses and pull a ‘sickie’ on the first Monday in February. It also emerged that 25% of bosses now accept an email or text message from staff to inform them they are ill and will not be coming to work.

Andrea O’Hare, Head of Personnel & Employment Law at Citation commented: “Citation provides employers with a clear documented policy within a staff handbook outlining the procedure for employees calling in sick and an online system, Citmanager®, to document and report absences.

"Citation’s absence management systems have helped employers manage staff absence whilst discouraging the number of ‘sickies’ thrown within the workplace."

Businesses want to reduce the costs associated the staff sickness and absence. Staff absence not only affects businesses financially, but more importantly it affects the level of service and work output as well as placing unnecessary strain on colleagues who have to pick up additional workloads.

Take control and manage your staff absence.

For more information about Citation and the services they provide, visit the Citation website.

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Acorn Media: Series Four of BBC’s Waterloo Road Comes to DVD in March

Spring is here at Waterloo Road with the DVD release Waterloo Road, Series Four: Spring Term. Based in a troubled Rochdale comprehensive school, this hard-hitting series takes a no-holds-barred look at the trials of teaching in a turbulent school and the tough path many pupils have to take to get there.

Originally commissioned for the BBC in 2006, Waterloo Road’s portrayal of the intertwining lives of staff and students has gone from strength to strength, pulling in excess of 6 million viewers per episode. This gripping, compelling and acclaimed series returns to BBC One for a fifth series in September 2009, continuing to run in 2010.

Stars include Neil Morrissey (Men Behaving Badly, Up ‘n’ Under), Eva Pope (Coronation Street, Cold Feet), Denise Welch (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Coronation Street), and Philip Martin Brown (Juliet Bravo, Foyle’s War).

A new term with new tantrums, trials and temptations begins under the leadership of Head Teacher Rachel Mason (Pope) and her Deputy Eddie Lawson (Morrisey). Their working relationship soon appears to have evolved into something more, along with the question as to whether they reveal it or keep it close to home. And could there be something more between teacher Tom Clarkson and the notorious Rose Kelly? Tom’s partner Davina seems to think so.

Teacher Kim Campbell has returned from Rwanda and she’s brought a new baby with her which seems to be attracting more than the usual attention. Steph Haydock, heart in the right place, is there to help – but is that really a good idea?

The classrooms are bursting with misguided energy as Janeece takes the influence of a glamour model a big bit too seriously; Chlo has to face any doubts she has about impending motherhood; and Earl Kelly has to risk everything if he’s to prove his commitment to Flick Mellor after all. Trying to keep them in check, Teacher Matt Wilding has formed a school choir. Will they make music – or mayhem? Another term at Waterloo Road, where so much can go wrong, and so much can go right.

Presented as a three-disc box set Waterloo Road – Series Four, Spring Term builds to a climax that may see the school literally cease to exist.

For more information about Acorn Media, or to browse their extensive online directory, visit the Acorn Media website.

Title: Waterloo Road – Series Four, Spring Term
Release date: 29 March 2010
Cat. No.: AV9741
Run time: 373 mins. approx. on three discs
Rating: 12
RRP: £24.99

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Low Cost Deals: Abu Dhabi Favourites for First Middle East Club Med Resort

Abu Dhabi are believed to be winning the race for the first Club Med holiday resort in the Middle East.

Bosses of the luxury all-inclusive resorts are thought to favour the United Arab Emirates capital ahead of Dubai as it has a lot more beachfront.

With 80 resorts in 40 countries around the world, Club Med is one of the most popular holiday resorts for families and couples, attracting over 1.2 million guests last year.

A second Middle Eastern Club Med resort in Salalah, on the south coast of Oman, is set to open in 2012.

Brendan Clancy, CEO of holiday firm Low Cost Deals, who specialise in Club Med holidays, said: “It would be fantastic to have another Club Med resort in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi is a place where luxury and style are infused with the traditional values of hospitality and respect, all of which will suit Club Med customers.

“The superb weather, tranquil beaches, lush oases, vibrant city life, and a mixture of culture and traditions, all come together with the Club Med all-inclusive product to create a holiday experience like no other. “

Low Cost Deals is the online home of Aspen Travel, and is one of the UK's leading holiday websites, offering a wide range of holidays with Club Med to all corners of the globe.

Aspen Travel are fully ATOL and ABTA bonded, and hold a number of awards for their service, including the Advantage Leisure Agent of the Year 2009, North West England & North Wales Travel Agent of the year 2009 and Online Leisure Agent of the year for 2008.

For more information about any of these holidays and resorts, or to book a holiday of your own, visit the Low Cost Deals website.

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IT Support Partner JMC Recognised by Best Companies with a Two Star Status

JMC, an established IT support partner in the North of England, has been awarded a two-star status by Best Companies an established accreditation award scheme that acknowledges excellence in the workplace.

Based on staff feedback, it considers employee engagement as an integral part of a company’s success and growth, and sets a benchmark for other employers. The accreditation scheme follows a Michelin star style system with companies awarded one star for first class, two stars for outstanding and three stars for extraordinary performance.

JMC has been a regular entrant on the listing since its inception. This year a record 1,086 organisations from the private and public sectors applied for Best Companies Accreditation, leading to a survey of over 270,000 employees. Of the 773 organisations that then achieved a star-rating just 140 achieved the Two Star Status.

Founder and CEO of Best Companies Jonathan Austin commented: “We would like to congratulate JMC on their outstanding achievement. An engaged workforce is essential as organisations move out of the recession and into a more stable economic situation. No doubt many organisations have tackled redundancies and rapid change this year.

“But organisations like JMC that have kept on engaging their staff and making sure they are involved in the business will be in a good position for the future and should be congratulated for their efforts”.

JMC managing director Andrew Burgess commented: “It is fantastic news that we have been awarded a star rating. Despite tough market conditions we have worked hard to continue to deliver a rewarding working environment, one that is appreciated by both employees and the wider business community.”

When asked what he felt made the difference Andrew continued: “We strive to provide a healthy and enjoyable workplace – factors that I am convinced are key in ensuring we attract and retain talented and committed employees. With an average length of service of over nine years, well above the average for the IT industry, it seems to be working.”

For more information about JMC and the services they provide, call on 0161 925 7777, or visit the JMC website.

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