BDC News Team

Why you need timber and damp reports when investing in property

The UK is notorious for its rainy weather. For the most part, people just don their waterproof and put up with it. When they get really soaked, however, it’s a miserable experience and getting really soaked can actually make you physically ill. It’s basically the same with buildings, which is

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Samsung Appliances – Should You Go For It?

Samsung is one of the most well-known brands around the world. There are plenty of reasons why people love Samsung home appliances. Here we will discuss whether choosing this brand for your home is worth it. We will also talk about fixing Samsung appliances in case they suddenly start malfunctioning. Pros and

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Writing Essays in College: Why It Is So Important

While in college, of course, you always face the problem of essay writing. For some students, however, it is not a problem at all. But the number of such people is quite little. The process of essay writing is very complicated. You should have a lot of ideas and creativity.

Read More »

Good Ways to Boost Your Home’s Property Value

Being a responsible homeowner is not just about maintaining your home in a good condition on a daily basis. It’s also important to keep an eye on your property’s value, and ensure that you do everything in your power to increase it at every opportunity. There is a lot that

Read More »

Sahel Majali’s Statement on Supporting AquAid

Mid Group is proud to have partnered with AquAid to provide water coolers to its offices and construction sites. AquAid has been the biggest corporate supporter of Christian Aid for more than 15 years. AquAid is also the founder of The Africa Trust, a charitable organisation created in 2010 to

Read More »

Inexpensive Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look Expensive

The kitchen is one of the most essential rooms in a home because it is used for preparing countless meals, storing food items, keeping utensils and kitchen appliances, among other things. Therefore, it is important to upgrade the kitchen and make it one of the best rooms in your home.

Read More »

How to keep your wholesale or retail premises secure

Over recent years, there’s been a massive push to get companies to invest in robust digital security. On the one hand, this is perfectly understandable given that cybersecurity is the “new frontier” for companies and is therefore the area where there is likely to be the steepest learning curve. On

Read More »

Sustainable packaging

Sustainability is a big issue in construction as in other industries.  Be this in the use of raw materials or the energy and water used in production of construction products, there is progress being made in reducing the impact of construction on the environment. There is also increased pressure on

Read More »

Contractors You’ll Need When Building an Office Space

Building an office space is quite the endeavor; and not for the faint of heart.  It usually starts with a dream, a goal, or a vision; and when you’re ready, taking the steps to put it into practice.  It’s not easy, or cheap; but if done properly, this process can

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Latest Issue
Issue 339 : Apr 2026

BDC News Team

Why you need timber and damp reports when investing in property

The UK is notorious for its rainy weather. For the most part, people just don their waterproof and put up with it. When they get really soaked, however, it’s a miserable experience and getting really soaked can actually make you physically ill. It’s basically the same with buildings, which is why you need reliable timber and damp reports on any investment property you’re considering buying. Reliable means undertaken by a CSRT surveyor Timber and damp is such a huge part of the UK’s property-surveying landscape that, regardless of where you live (or where your buy-to-let property investment is located) any internet search on the term “timber and damp surveyor” is practically guaranteed to produce a whole slew of results. There is, however, a big difference between the skills needed to get to the top of the search rankings and the skills needed to undertake an effective timber and damp survey, so before you part with your cash, make sure that the person who will undertake the survey is a Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatments and a member of the Property Care Association, (the trade association which governs the timber and damp industry). The practicalities of a timber and damp survey A timber and damp surveyor is probably going to need to have access to the whole of the property. In this case, the term “whole” means exactly that, from the roof to the ground levels outside and all floors inside. This means that any floor-coverings will need to be lifted (so that the surveyor can examine the state of the timbers underneath them) and the surveyor may even wish to lift at least some of the floorboards so that they can check the condition of the subfloor underneath. The surveyor will be looking for any signs of damage to the timber not just damage caused by damp. For example, they may identify wood-rotting fungi and woodworm infestation as well as general signs of timber decay. They will also look for any issues which have the potential to cause trouble at a future date, such as damaged rainwater goods which could lead to water ingress. Once the surveyor has completed their inspection, they will present their findings to their customer in the form of a report, which will list any issues found and what needs to be done to rectify them. The importance of a damp and timber report When you buy a home, the seller is supposed to highlight any potential issues with the property that they know about or could reasonably be expected to know about. If they don’t then you could pursue them through the courts for the cost of putting right the issues you detected. Leaving aside the fact that this is a hassle most people would probably rather avoid, the key point to note is that you have to be able to show either than that the seller knew about the issue or that they could reasonably have known about the issue. At the current time, only the Scottish government requires sellers to provide buyers with a survey of the property. Throughout the rest of the UK, surveys are undertaken at the buyer’s discretion (or at the mortgage-lender’s insistence) and even in Scotland, arguably somewhat ironically given the climate, the seller only has to provide a basic home report, rather than going specifically into the sort of depth and detail you would expect from a proper timber and damp survey. As the old saying goes, forewarned is forearmed and this particularly true when you are looking at investment property because success in property investment is based on having accurate figures. It’s imperative that you find out about any damp issues before you buy, not after you’ve been sued for health-and-safety issues due to your tenants suffering from asthma brought on by condensation mould.

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Samsung Appliances – Should You Go For It?

Samsung is one of the most well-known brands around the world. There are plenty of reasons why people love Samsung home appliances. Here we will discuss whether choosing this brand for your home is worth it. We will also talk about fixing Samsung appliances in case they suddenly start malfunctioning. Pros and Cons of Samsung Appliances Samsung is considered one of the world’s top-tier brands. It is perfect for those people who appreciate the latest high-tech developments and modern designs. Home appliances made by Samsung have a number of benefits: ·       Owners of Samsung electronic devices with incorporated smart technologies will find it really handy to run their home appliances on the same platform. The connection between the devices is intuitive and can be customized to suit each household; ·       Samsung appliances are energy efficient. This means they regulate energy consumption, which results in smaller electricity bills; ·       These are long-lasting high-quality appliances. Buying such an appliance will ensure that you are making a smart investment; ·       The elegant design of each appliance is also an important feature. These neat devices will fit perfectly into any apartment. One of the things that might be considered a disadvantage is the price. Samsung appliances usually cost higher than average fridges, stoves, and washers on the market. Samsung Appliance Repair Despite being one of the most reliable brands, even Samsung appliances can break and malfunction as time goes. However, there is no need to throw away a broken appliance and pay a lot of money for a new one. We offer Samsung repair service for you to cope with any malfunction and continue using the appliance just as if it is brand new. Same-day Appliance Repair No matter which one of your appliances has broken, it can cause a lot of inconvenience in your daily routine. Imagine living with a broken refrigerator or a washing machine for a couple of days. Not only is this troublesome and time-consuming, but this also causes a lot of additional expenses. For this reason, we offer a convenient service of same-day repair to our customers. The only thing you have to do is to call our repairmen and tell the model of your appliance. Within a single day, our fitters will arrive and fix any damaged part or malfunction. Highly Trained Professionals All of our workers boast professional expertise in fixing various home appliances. We work with refrigerators, ovens, stoves, washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, and freezers. Our technicians went through extensive training to be able to fix any issue quickly and accurately. In addition, our professionals are truly respectful and polite to our customers, which only enhances the experience. Why Choose Us? We offer the best repair service on the market. With many years of experience in this field and hundreds of home appliances fixed successfully, you will not find a better service. We always value quality and ensure customer satisfaction.

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Writing Essays in College: Why It Is So Important

While in college, of course, you always face the problem of essay writing. For some students, however, it is not a problem at all. But the number of such people is quite little. The process of essay writing is very complicated. You should have a lot of ideas and creativity. Also, you should know the subject well. And what is more, there are many styles of texts and citations. So it is necessary to be familiar with everything.  Why it is so important in college? While a student, you develop your skills of writing to be well-educated and literate. Even if you are a student of technology or economics, you should do it. Every field requires the skill of writing. But sometimes, the amount of tasks is so great that it seems impossible to handle everything. And you begin to look for help. Not all people in the world can write good essays. And it is not weird. All people are unique in their talents. So, for some writing essays is real trouble. But there is a way out. Feel free to buy essays here online and forget about boring college writing tasks. It is convenient, fast and reliable. After ordering the first paper, you will understand how it’s cool to have a lot of free time and fewer problems.  How to Handle the Task of Essays Writing: The Best Way Out Of course, it is good if you know how to write good and qualitative essays. But do not worry if it is not for you. If writing papers is boring and complicated, it will be much better to put your time on the right track. For example, it will be good to take a job or improve your skills in some other field or just have a rest. Everything you should do is to place an order on the online writing service and wait for your essay completed. But whether it is good to ignore essays writing by yourself? Maybe, it is not. There are a lot of proofs why the skill of writing papers is so important. First of all, even if you apply for a job instead of writing an academic essay, it doesn’t mean that you will no longer face it in your life. Even to apply for a job it is necessary to write a resume, a cover letter and communicate with employers. Everything of that refers to writing.  If you have a skill in writing, it is much easier for you to make impression. And it is really important for you at all stages of your life. When you are writing an essay you are doing research at the same time. So, you improve your analytical skills. It helps you to choose only the most important information from all the material. And, of course, it will be necessary for you in your future career whatever it will be.  Writing requires attention, persistence, and determination. Of course, it takes much time and effort. But to write a qualitative essay you should consider a lot of facts and read a lot of information. What is more, you should extract the most important and do not miss anything. Also, you should be attentive to communicate to others why your topic is so important and relevant for today. And if you develop these traits well they will bear good fruit for you in the future. Essays are the best way to improve imagination and creativity. Even if you are a technician, it doesn’t mean that you cannot be creative and imaginative. If you write essays systematically, it will become easy for you to convey your thoughts and opinions. While writing you reveal your inner world, its ideas and so on. A person who knows how to communicate his or her own thoughts to others is a successful person.  And that is not all. Those are only a few proofs why the skill of writing essays is so important. Following them, you are sure to become a well-educated, literate and successful person. College Education: How to Cope With Everything  When the variety of tasks is great in college, of course, it seems impossible to handle everything. Especially if it concerns writing essays, students often wait until later. But it is not a way out. The amount of assignments is increasing all the time, so later, you cannot handle everything. It will affect your academic performance and, probably, bear bad results. So, think about whether you want it.  Many students consider writing essays in college english class as an ancient educational practice. But it is not at all. A person’s knowledge and educational attainment are defined by the skill of writing. What is more, you will use this skill in the different stages of your life. So, take into account all those facts and try to improve your skill of essay writing.

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Dust Containment During Home Renovations: Possible Dangers and How to Avoid Them

Dust particles released during home renovation/repairing projects can have a devastating effect on people’s health. It’s not just about dust allergies, either, since airborne dust particles can and often do contain toxins such as heavy metals, silica dust, and even asbestos if the house is old enough. Then, of course, there is the chance that the dust will manage to get out of the renovation area and ruin the entire interior décor in the process. Dust Can be Dangerous for Health and Safety Even plain old house dust and sawdust can send someone to the hospital by first causing an allergic reaction to the dust mites, followed at times by a consequent anaphylactic shock. Then, of course, there is the chance of lead from the old paint entering our bloodstream or even combustible dust catching fire from a simple spark of the drill. Finally, there’s the most plausible and common danger of inhaling silica dust. Silica dust inhalation is related to silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease. The scariest part is that silica dust is basically found almost everywhere. From natural soil, rocks and stones to manmade concrete, bricks and during sandblasting; silica dust is released into the air in copious amounts, whenever these common building materials are disturbed. This is not even close to being the complete list, which just further accentuates how dangerousdust from housework can be, especially if you have babies, young children, seniors or any other immunocompromised individuals in the vicinity. Uncontained Dust Will Ruin Your Furniture and the Surfaces On the off chance that the dust doesn’t contain any silica or other toxins to make workers or residents sick, it will still inevitably ruin the walls, floor, and the furnitureif you are not protecting them with proper surface protection. Then, of course, there is always the risk of spilled paint or stray drops hitting a surface to make a permanent mark. How Can You Implement Effective Dust Containment Measures? As you can probably guess by now, the bottom line is that if you plan to renovate/repair your home, you will need a solid dust containment strategy, which is precisely what Trimaco dust containment products and solutions are all about. Trimaco is well aware of the dangers associated with construction/renovation dust and is, therefore, capable of providingtop of the line protective films for surface protection and plastic sheets to keep the dust/debris from spreading anywhere else within the house. Trimaco also offers various other protective and masking solutions, all of which come together to create complete dust containmentand surface protection systems. These are designed specifically to capture and isolate the dust and debris hazards, associated with renovations, repairs, and constructions. Be sure to seal your HVAC ducts as well because if the dust gets inside the ducts, it will be automatically circulated throughout the house, essentially affecting everyone, even if they are on a completely different floor.

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Good Ways to Boost Your Home’s Property Value

Being a responsible homeowner is not just about maintaining your home in a good condition on a daily basis. It’s also important to keep an eye on your property’s value, and ensure that you do everything in your power to increase it at every opportunity. There is a lot that can be done in this regard, and many people tend to underestimate the importance of approaching this properly. But the truth is, this is actually one of the most crucial aspects of being a homeowner. Even if you don’t plan on selling your house in the future, you should still think about what you’re leaving behind for your children. Go Green Green living is a hot topic nowadays, and it will likely keep growing in popularity in the coming years too. More and more attention is being paid to the impact we’re having on the environment, and many people have started to realize that they have a lot of power in their hands to address that. Improving your home to make it greener is one of the best things you could do to boost its value in the long run. It will cost a bit of money initially, sure – but after some time, it will more or less pay for itself with all the savings you’ll be able to realize on power, heating, and more. Go Smart Smart homes are another popular trend among homeowners, although it’s still a growing one and you might not find much coverage for it on your local market, depending on where you live. A smart home can significantly simplify some parts of your daily life, and it can be a refreshing change from having to do everything on your own. The feeling of coming home from a party to a home that’s already lit, warmed up, and waiting for you, is definitely something else. And it has a great opportunity for synergy with green living, because you can use smart devices to optimize various aspects of your daily life. Redo Your Yard Last but not least, something which many people tend to neglect is to pay attention to their yards. Getting in touch with a good contractor like KG Landscaping is often all you need to bring your yard to a much better state, and it won’t cost you as much as you might guess. It will take a while, but in the end, you’ll have a completely revitalized exterior and you’ll be the talk of your neighborhood for a while. There are many opportunities for improving your lifestyle with the help of a high-end yard as well, and throwing parties is just one example. Pay attention to the property value of your home, because it will be one of the most important factors in its long-term maintenance. If you play your cards right, you will be able to sell it off at a much better price later on, allowing you to move into an even more impressive place. And even if you don’t, your kids will surely appreciate having a nice home for themselves.

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Sahel Majali’s Statement on Supporting AquAid

Mid Group is proud to have partnered with AquAid to provide water coolers to its offices and construction sites. AquAid has been the biggest corporate supporter of Christian Aid for more than 15 years. AquAid is also the founder of The Africa Trust, a charitable organisation created in 2010 to provide sustainable solutions to poverty in Africa, including water, sanitation, education and employment. AquAid donates £50 to Christian Aid for every water cooler purchased and is currently helping 14,000 people in Malawi and Ethiopia access clean drinking water by providing local water pumps and constructing a man-made pond capable of supporting 1.5 million livestock animals. This 2.7 million litre pond enables 28 communities to more easily feed and water their herds. The Mid Group is committed to supporting AquAid’s goals and in June 2019 the first elephant pump funded by Mid Group finished construction. The elephant pump is a hand- or pedal-powered pump able to lift 60 litres of water a minute. This design is much cheaper and easier to build and maintain than existing alternatives in rural Africa and can be built using local materials by local workers, providing valuable skills and employment. Since 2010, AquAid has enabled the construction of more than 5,000 water pumps, and donations from AquAid and its customers have also helped fund solar-powered irrigation systems, conservation technologies and crop diversification in Malawi to help farmers in the region resist the effects of climate change. In partnership with the Africa Trust, construction of water pumps funded by Mid Group and other AquAid customers has helped provide local employment as well as clean water, and the Africa Trust has been able to give better prospects to former child soldiers in Liberia by providing the skills and training to build pumps, toilets and other facilities. It has also funded business skills training and loans to help local entrepreneurs build businesses and provide employment. The Mid Group is one of the UK’s fastest growing construction businesses and has delivered a number of major projects across the South East. Established in 2014, The Mid Group provides specialist contractors and consultants, Building Information Modelling expertise, and land development services. Sahel Majali Chairman Sahel Majali currently acts as Chairman for the Mid Group; you can read more about the Group by visiting Sahel Majali’s bio.

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Inexpensive Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look Expensive

The kitchen is one of the most essential rooms in a home because it is used for preparing countless meals, storing food items, keeping utensils and kitchen appliances, among other things. Therefore, it is important to upgrade the kitchen and make it one of the best rooms in your home. Cleaning, decluttering, and remodeling are some of the ways that can make your kitchen look organized and stylish. Remodeling the kitchen is a bit expensive, but there are inexpensive ways that can be used to make a kitchen look stylish and more expensive.  To learn these ways, continue reading. Upgrade Hardware Cabinet handles, knobs, and drawer pulls get old with time because they get scratches or discolored after some time. If you want to give your kitchen a new look, it is essential to update all cabinet and drawer pulls. This is the first step in giving the kitchen a new look. Old cabinet doors, as well as drawers, will look new when old handles and knobs are replaced. The most important thing here is to pick a trending style that is less expensive. By getting modern and stylish handles, knobs for cabinets, and drawers, the kitchen will look more expensive than it is. Upgrade the Sink and Faucet A sink is an important part of the kitchen. Sinks and faucets are used for all washing needs in the kitchen. How the sink looks like determines how people see the kitchen. Therefore, you should upgrade it at a lower cost and your kitchen will have an expensive look. Faucets are essential when cleaning utensils and even washing hands. For that reason, you should pick a unique faucet that is easy to use and install. Picking and installing one of the best kitchen faucets on the market is one of the big steps of improving the kitchen appearance. A new faucet and refurbished sink will definitely give your kitchen an elegant look. Paint Using Costly Colors You can give your kitchen an expensive look by painting it using unique colors. Whether modern or traditional, you just need to pick unique colors that complement each other. Creams and beiges will make a kitchen look stylish and expensive.  Furthermore, dark colors, such as black or grey, can be used in modern kitchens.  Dark colors make a kitchen look lavish and extravagant. White is also not a bad color if you complement it with metallic highlights and some wood. Don’t forget to paint old cabinets and drawers. It is important to note that costly colors make strong statements in the kitchen. Bright colors will make the room appear larger than it is. Also, bright colors such as white reflect light, and that helps to hide scratches and dents on old cabinets, walls, and the ceiling. Therefore, pick the right color combination that will make the kitchen look elegant and expensive. Update the Kitchen Floor The floor of your kitchen tells people more about your home. Therefore, upgrading the floor will show a good image of the house. There are many flooring options on the market today. Most of the best flooring options for the kitchen are easy to install, durable, washable, and look stylish. The most important thing is to pick a flooring style that compliments the colors of the cabinets, walls, backsplash, countertops, as well as kitchen appliances. A stylish floor with unique colors will give your kitchen a new and expensive look. Add Some Artwork Having plain walls and ceiling in your kitchen is boring. Adding artwork to your kitchen walls or ceiling is a good move. It will not only make your kitchen look elegant but also expensive. However, you have to pick the right artwork. Great artwork will make a kitchen look bigger and smarter than it is. One can choose big and bold artworks, but the most important thing is to pick an artwork that goes well with fixtures, flooring, ceiling, appliances, and the general color of the kitchen. On top of the artwork, molding on ceiling or baseboard will make the kitchen look more expensive than it is. Declutter and Arrange Items in the Kitchen Keeping a kitchen organized and smart creates a good image. Removing small appliances and hiding them in the cabinets is a good move. These appliances include toasters, coffee pots, kettle heaters, and blenders. This leaves countertops clear, and the kitchen looks orderly and stylish. When things are well arranged, one can add a centerpiece in the kitchen. Changing a table setting and adding a centerpiece with fresh-cut flowers on the table makes the kitchen look extravagant. You must ensure that the centerpiece and flowers look beautiful for the kitchen to look expensive. Upgrade Kitchen Lighting When you want your kitchen to look more stylish than it is, you have to upgrade the lighting in the room. Therefore, installing stunning hanging light fixtures do not only brighten the kitchen but also make kitchen space seem larger. There are so many options ranging from sizes to styles one can consider. Just pick a style and size ideal for your kitchen. Display Your Utensils Collection with Open Shelves You want to show people how expensive your kitchen is. For that reason, it is important to invest in open shelves. Open shelves are essential in showing off your dish collection. The shelves make your kitchen look stylish and provide a more storage option than traditional cabinets. Replace Old Decorative Elements A kitchen with old decorative elements may not seem expensive. Therefore, it is essential to replace old decorative elements such as fruit bowl or ginger jar with new ones. You need to pick a stylish decor element that can completely change the appearance of your kitchen. The complete renovation of a kitchen to make it look elegant is very expensive. However, with these inexpensive ways such as changing the lighting and improving kitchen flooring, a kitchen can look stylish and expensive. Therefore, try the above inexpensive ways of making your kitchen look more expensive than it

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How to keep your wholesale or retail premises secure

Over recent years, there’s been a massive push to get companies to invest in robust digital security. On the one hand, this is perfectly understandable given that cybersecurity is the “new frontier” for companies and is therefore the area where there is likely to be the steepest learning curve. On the other hand, it is rather unfortunate that this emphasis on digital security has taken the spotlight off physical security not only because good digital security actually starts with good physical security but also because the real world still has many “old-school” threats which can only be addressed by physical security. Theft and tampering, the main threats to any modern wholesaler or retailer In the old days, most security was about deterring thieves and hence protecting the staff who legitimately handled the goods. This is still a concern, however, these days, tampering is also an issue. This may be as a political statement or intimidation tactic, but it may also be as a stupid prank for social media. For example, the U.S. recently saw a wave of people opening ice cream tubs, licking the contents and then closing the tubs and putting them back in the freezer. This particular “viral prank” appears to have stopped, probably thanks to the police taking real-world action against the “jokes”, but it is entirely possible that it will simply be replaced by another one in the due course of time. No amount of cyber-security will protect against these sorts of threats, but good physical security can be a very effective deterrent. The number one rule of security – secure your perimeter The fewer people can get access to an area, the fewer people are able to cause problems for you. Physical security and traffic barriers at the perimeter of your premises allow you to control who comes in and out of it. They deter opportunists and prevent genuinely accidental trespass. Modern external security systems are both affordable (even for SMEs) and easy to use (ditto). How to choose an external security barrier The choice of the right external security barriers will usually start with three questions: What can I actually fit in my space (given the need for legitimate access)? What can I afford? How much security do I actually need? It’s advisable to approach the questions in this order, since it immediately focuses you on what you can actually do within your space and if you learn that you cannot implement sufficient security for your needs, then the best solution would be to move your business to another location where you can (even if this is a short-term inconvenience). After this, it is recommended to think about what sort of staff requirements you will have for your increased security. The good news here is that it is increasingly possible for security to be managed remotely, at least to some degree. For example, you could use a robust wall (or even a fence) with an electric security gate, which could be monitored with CCTV and an intercom and operated from a control room. Similarly speed bumps, rising kerbs and road blockers all require minimal to no human intervention.

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Sustainable packaging

Sustainability is a big issue in construction as in other industries.  Be this in the use of raw materials or the energy and water used in production of construction products, there is progress being made in reducing the impact of construction on the environment. There is also increased pressure on companies to look at the sustainability of supplier products and goods further down the supply chain.  Brands are being encouraged to take more responsibility and be more conscious of not only the product in terms of the choice of raw ingredients, which affects carbon footprint, or water and energy usage, but also in the choice of packaging. As we are all aware, one of the biggest topics of conversation currently in packaging is plastic.  And we can expect continued momentum with regards to reducing the use of plastic as well as on other resources that play a part in product wrapping and promotion. Recent innovation has meant that there are now options available to manufacturers, new alternative materials that make a statement in support of sustainability as well as doing their job in protecting and promoting the product. Biodegradable packaging and label options such as hemp and grass paper, for example, as well as materials that can be up-cycled i.e. bamboo, glass. For those keen to make a first step in the right direction, then a more eco-friendly label is a good start. Paper products that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified are available which show your labels are made from responsible sources. One of the newest label materials is grass paper. Grass paper consists of 50% sun-dried grass fibre (hay) and 50% FSC-certified paper. Grass paper is made from the rapidly renewable raw material grass, which reduces the use of wood and is therefore particularly sustainable. Grass paper also offers further advantages in comparison to conventional paper. Thanks to short transport times of the grass, CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 50%. Water consumption is also reduced by up to 50% and the grass paper is made without the use of chemicals. Grass paper is free of pollutants and allergens and is ideal for companies that value sustainable and compostable materials and want to set an example for the responsible use of our resources. In the industrial sector, labels need to be exceptionally durable, able to cope with outdoor elements, transport and be resistance to solvents, fuels, oils or abrasion.  Labels for chemicals must be resistant to particular stresses so that they remain adhesive and clearly legible for as long as the container is in use.  At label.co.uk we print roll labels, self-adhesive labels and film labels made from polypropylene and polyethylene which fulfil all the requirements of hazardous substance labelling. Recent developments have led to an additional more sustainable water-resistant label option, this is the use of a waterproof polymer material made from renewable sources such as sugar cane or corn. Digital label printing in itself, when compared with other technologies, is a much more sustainable way of label printing; it reduces print run wastage for the customer, but also due to the ease of setting up the digital press, the printer produces hardly any waste. Digital printing does not require chemically treated plates, it is quick to set up the machine and it only runs as and when required.  Thus saving both time and energy. Now could be the time to re look at your labelling to find a solution that benefits the environment as well as saving both time and cost effective.

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Contractors You’ll Need When Building an Office Space

Building an office space is quite the endeavor; and not for the faint of heart.  It usually starts with a dream, a goal, or a vision; and when you’re ready, taking the steps to put it into practice.  It’s not easy, or cheap; but if done properly, this process can lead to major rewards and financial gains in your future. There’s a lot to think about, construction, budgets, staffing, production, accounting, and clientele.  You’ll want to make sure you’re covering all your bases, and that you’re not forgetting some key factors that play essential roles in your project.  Before thinking about business details; you’ll want to focus on creating a space that encourages creativity, production, and focus.  This means your space needs to incorporate many different qualities, and that all starts with building and construction.  Here are five contractors you’ll need when building an office space: 1.     Electricians You may not be aware, but workers and staff are highly affected by the lighting that surrounds them.  It’s been shown in research that proper placement of natural and artificial lights can improve production by 36%.  This means that the work of electricians in the beginning stages is critical and not to be overlooked.  Be sure to get their opinion on the placement and quality of lights in order to maximize your office productivity.  Thinking ahead like this in the beginning stages will save you in more ways than one, later. 2.     Plumber Consider how many people you’re hoping to host and have working in the space beforehand.  There’s nothing worse than not having enough washing areas and/or bathrooms available to your staff and clientele.  It’s also important to consider privacy, sanitation, and well, let’s be honest; smells.  A quality plumber can help you with all this and more during your construction stages, and having their opinion and viewpoints can lessen the stress of future problems. 3.     Interior Designer You don’t want to skip this step! Hiring an interior designer can help create the necessary space needed to optimize your work area.  Fung Shui is a real thing; and is always helpful when designing areas with a purpose; such as office spaces.  A good interior designer will help you create a peaceful and focused environment.  They could also help with things like desk and divider placements, boardrooms and tables, even something as simple as wall art to help create the desired environment. 4.     Paving Contractor Often overlooked, but always appreciated, is a good parking area. There’s nothing worse than not having a clean, quality, and spacious parking lot.  Before nailing anything together, make sure to talk to your paving contractor in regards to space, vehicle expectations, and line placement in the parking lot.  This can be beneficial to not only your staff but to your clients as well.  There’s nothing worse than having to walk five blocks to get to your destination because they weren’t properly prepared for parking. That could make or break your client’s decision on whether to visit your office space or not. 5.     Cleaning Services Lastly, you don’t want to skimp out on the cleaning services.  Construction is messy, and dust can get into places that you didn’t even know existed.  Hire a good cleaning company once all is said and done; someone with experience with commercial properties is your best bet.  Whether your own business in that space, or leasing it to another company, having a clean space will literally make or break the attitude in your business, and you do not want to skip this step. Above all, make sure you trust all the outside help you bring in.  Creating personal rapport with all associated businesses is a good idea in order to ensure great service and the best bang for your buck.  Studies show that people are more likely to do their best work when they’re feeling encouraged, proud and safe; so, whenever possible; ensure you create that environment and relationship with your vendors and workers.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, do your own research, and ask your community for opinions and advice.  There’s nothing wrong with seeking help when taking on big tasks like this.  Good record keeping is going to change the attitude you have about the whole project.  So, stay as organized as possible to avoid mistakes or financial errors.  Your accountant should be helpful during this process, as well as a general contractor if you find you’re needing some help with the paperwork aspect of things. In the end, the hard work will be well worth it! Putting thought into your office space is going to give you and your staff the best possible environment to create, build, and produce to the best of their ability; which will help you grow your company and gain the respectable reputation you deserve; not to mention, compensate your wallet accordingly!

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