Win Business Software Suite FREE for One Year
The Business Software Centre are offering their unique business starter kit FREE for one year to the first 10 Business in Berkshire readers that respond to this article. The software suite addresses all the issues typically faced by small businesses in one easy to use package. Usually available on a monthly rental basis – with full support and upgrades – the package addresses the 3 areas where typically many small businesses stumble: financial planning, employment law compliancy, and sales generation.

A Multi-Dimensional Experience – the Pyramid Screen
The first true screen innovation since light was first projected onto a flat screen, the new Pyramid Screen is a multi dimensional screen surface shaped as a pyramid. An eye-catching design in itself, the device creates stunning visual effects to stimulate and awaken the viewers' senses. Its primary use is to engage a customer and increase the dwell time spent on a brand.

Spread Business Costs with Windsor Vehicle Leasing
How can you spread business costs and keep your bank manager happy? Use Windsor Vehicle Leasing. Business start-ups website www.startups.co.uk recommends car leasing as a way of “spreading your costs and keeping a hefty single payment off your books.” It states “your bank manager is much more likely to look favourably upon you if you opt to go down the leasing route rather than buying a car for your business.

easytalks - Innovation through Partnership
qsuk Ltd have teamed up with Video Shoot Productions Ltd to produce a unique product that may well be the answer to some of the training requirements for your staff. It’s called ‘easytalks’, a professional and affordable product designed to provide training and refresher training to businesses. The first product to be launched is ‘Toolbox Talks’ which focuses specifically on healthy and safety needs in the workplace.

Is There a Scotsman in the House?
If you have never asked yourself the question ' What are my chances of winning this deal, making money and having a happy customer ?' then you are missing a trick and you need a SCOTSMAN in the house !
One of the factors which makes for successful selling is to do what is called sales qualification on every opportunity.

Marketing Without Money - Networking Lunch
MARKETING WITHOUT MONEY Marketing Lunch and Seminar
1 February 2007 - Networking Lunch at Heckfield Place, Hook
transform your business with the secrets of low cost marketing from marketing guru Steve Mills.
Timetable:
12.00 – registration and welcoming drink 12.15 – Marketing without Money
13.00 – Lunch and networking
Cost: £15.00

Helping Women in Business
Hi there. It’s a real pleasure to be taking over the reins from Mary, who has done such a fantastic job of energising Women in Business for Business in Berkshire. Helping women be successful in business has been a passion of mine for years now, upon discovering how few there were when I worked in the IT industry, particularly if you looked at the numbers in executive roles.

Google Loves Business in Berkshire's 'Unique Christmas Present'
Keith Steptoe of The Cooks Friend Company recently published a short article on Business in Berkshire entitled ‘Unique Christmas Present Anyone?’ promoting his patented retractable oven gloves as an unusual Christmas gift. The response has been amazing, with the article jumping up to page one of Google within days for the search term ‘unique Christmas present’. Once again, this example illustrates the power of Business in Berkshire as a marketing and PR tool.

Free Online Marketing Workshop
This month’s FREE ‘Grow Your Business, Grow Your Income’ workshop focuses on Online Marketing and is open to artists in the creative industries sector residing in Berkshire looking to significantly increase their income. So, whether your creative area is innovative working with technology, film, new media, design/visual arts or performing arts if you want to grow your business come and find out how we can help.

Your Christmas Wish?
Hi, quick question before I rabbit on…What would you like from Business in Berkshire for the New Year? What’s on your wish list that we could do for you? - Your Christmas Wish! I’ve been meaning to write my daily Jon’s Journal but the world seems to take over and before I know it, it’s the next week.

Major CD Supplier Closes
The UK CD business has seen 2 major suppliers in the South West go bust in just over 6 months and capacity at breaking point due to the Christmas period- many customers are finding it difficult to find a reliable, stable supplier that can deliver on time and to prices that reflect the need for competitiveness with reliability and continuity of service.

Berkshire Call Centre Praised at European Awards
A Datchet business has been praised at a European award ceremony which recognises excellence in call centres.
ComXo, a communications services and technologies business, was highly commended in the category for the best contact centre with under 50 seats and came second in the group at the 2006 European Call Centre Awards.

Christmas Special Features
For those who would like a taster of what Business in Berkshire has to offer, our Business in Berkshire CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FEATURE option works well for a one-off promotion or event which we will promote for up to six weeks…

Mobile Advertising can Provide 'Sensational Performance'
Mobile advertising is set to enjoy double-digit growth rates over the next five years, according to a new study from ABI Research. Although the market turnover is currently quite low, researchers believe that the future potential for the advertising channel is huge.

Buy to Let Returns Still Very Attractive
The number of private rental households has increased by four per cent over the last year, providing confirmation that the buy-to-let market still provides a good investment opportunity. Figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) reveal that some 2.5 million households are now renting privately in the UK , with 12 per cent of households living in rented properties.

'Who Was King Wenceslas Anyway?' - Christmas Trivia
Ever wondered about the stories behind some of our most popular Christmas carols? Who was this King Wenceslas chap anyway? And what exactly is the feast of Stephen? How did a broken down church organ inspire the most popular Christmas carol of all time? What Christmas song doesn’t actually mention Christmas at all? And why were Christmas carols banned for a few years in the 1600s?

Berkshire Developer's Olde-Worlde Designs Enhance Village
Hartley Wintney, a village to the south of Wokingham, has recently grown in size thanks to several new homes.
The properties, contrary to the majority of new build homes in the UK, have been tastefully designed and, from an observer's point of view, might easily have been standing for years.

What is a Pension?
A pension is basically the money you need to live off once you retire. After the regular income from your employment has stopped, you need to make sure that you have enough to live off. The government is planning to push the retirement age up to 68, so we’ve all got a long time to wait! Although some of us will be luckier than others.

Basingstoke's Game Group Wins Employer Award
Game Group has been named Outstanding Employer of Choice at the Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards. The Basingstoke-based company, Europe 's leading specialist retailer of computer software and video games, beat five other finalists to the title and said it was "a tremendous honour" to win the award.

End of the Line for Smokers?
The smoking ban for all enclosed public places and workplaces will begin in the UK next July and in Wales from April. Businesses that do not enforce the ban face possible fines of up to £2,500. The ruling follows hot on the heels of a similar ban in nearly all enclosed public places in Scotland earlier this year.

Blueprint for Water- 10 Steps to Sustainable Water by 2015
The blueprint for sustainable water was launched in parlaiment on 28th November. It was was compiled by an unprecedented coalition of environmental and angling organisations representing more than six million people. For the ten point plan click simply click through...

Just Published - Make Big Changes
There’s a lot of self help / self improvement books out there, ranging from the traditional ‘Think & Grow Rich’ type through to the latest Paul McKenna offering. There’s 2 common criticisms levelled at this kind of material: it’s either too old-fashioned (with outdated examples) or simply too complicated to follow and apply on a consistent basis. At last – here’s a self-help book that really CAN make a difference if you follow the instructions...

Unlocking the Benefits of Business Networking
Business networking is much more than a series of one off transactions and the benefits far wider than simply generating referrals...

The German Business Portal
Looking to do business in Germany? Want to export your products to Germany? Have you been assigned to work in Germany and need more information about tax and employment law? The Internet has probably held the answers to some of these questions for a long time, but, as of last week, you no longer need to ask Google for directions to German business answers on the information superhighway.

Appeal Launched to Help Save Farepak Families
The Reading Chronicle newspaper is launching an appeal to help save Reading families who suffered enormous financial losses in the recent Farepak fiasco.

National Account Manager at Allied Bakeries
Are you an enthusiastic and motivated National Account Executive or Junior Account Manager? Are you looking for your first step into managing a Top 3 Grocery Account and a salary of up to £40k? This is an excellent opportunity to step up to a National Account Manager position with Allied Bakeries, the company behind Kingsmill - one of the UK's biggest grocery brands!

Blind Organic Wine Tasting Event
Christmas Parties about to begin and if you need a special bottle of wine, why not come along and try a selection of 8 organic wines and perhaps take a few bottles home with you.

Ascot Students Triumph in Charity Quiz Challenge
Sixth-formers from around East Berkshire converged on Altwood School in Maidenhead recently, to compete in a lively evening of questions and answers and to raise money for good causes.

New Look 'On This Day'
Our recently revamped On This Day site is the place to find information about the historic events that helped shape our world on this particular day in history. You can also check out which famous people were born today (or died today) and read about significant events in the world of music, sport, showbiz, and much more..