MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

MCBAINS COOPER 

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

September 7, 2011.

MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper has appointed Jonathan Mintz as Chief Financial Officer based at the firm’s City of London offices.

Jonathan, 42, a Manchester University graduate, joins from property finance and development specialists Lend Lease Corporation where he was also Chief Financial Officer, working with the business’ Continental Europe, Middle East and Latin America operations.

“What grabbed me was McBains Cooper’s ambitions to drive development in Latin America, the Mediterranean and Middle East – and then when I started to grow my understand of the business I realised that far from being a vision, they were actually delivering against those ambitions,” said Jonathan.

“It is extremely inspiring to come across a business in the property and construction sector which is moving heaven and earth to establish itself in sectors and markets – and then delivering presence, business – and contracts.”

Jonathan has been involved in the finance function of several construction-related businesses since the mid-1990s.

Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper, said: “Anybody coming into the property and construction sector at a senior level, and who has not previously been involved in the sector can sometimes find the environment a little too challenging.

“But Jonathan has the experience and scar tissue to appreciate just how tough the sector is. He obviously has wider management and sector experience – crucially, in international markets – which bring an extra something to the team.”

Away from the office, Jonathan until recently held a licence to freefall parachute anywhere in the world, although is currently keeping his feet well and truly in and on the earth, cycling, gardening and wine tasting.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

DR ROS ALTMANN, SAGA, CALLS FOR RING-FENCING OF GOVERNMENT £400M FOR RESPITE CARE AND MORE SUPPORT FOR CARERS.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

QUOTES

September 12, 2011.

PRINCESS ROYAL TRUST FOR CARERS STUDY: DR ROS ALTMANN, SAGA, CALLS FOR RING-FENCING OF GOVERNMENT £400M FOR RESPITE CARE AND MORE SUPPORT FOR CARERS.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s organisation Saga, commenting on a study by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which says older carers are themselves suffering failing health because of their efforts.

“Saga frequently sees the impact of the caring burden on family carers.
We appreciate the strain - both physical and mental - that caring can place on families struggling to look after their loved ones. Indeed, we have set up a charity specifically to help provide much-needed respite care for older carers,” said Dr Ros Altmann, Saga Director-General and a trustee of the Saga Respite for Carers Trust.

"We urge the Government to take this issue more seriously and, in particular, we call on Ministers to ensure that the £400 million allocated for respite care a few months ago is properly ring-fenced for that purpose.

"Unpaid carers save billions of pounds for society, but they need more support and some respite can massively improve the quality of life of carers. The Report from the Princess Royal Trust highlights some big problems and, as our population of older people is set to vastly increase in coming years, its findings are quietly alarming.

“That so many older carers - some surveyed were reported to be 94 years of age - are reporting failing physical or mental health because of their commitment to loved ones is of absolutely no surprise to those in the frontline of care and those who are trying to drive care reform. It’s only going to become a bigger issue – the number of carers is expected to rise from 6 million to 9 million in the next 25 years.

“Carers need breaks. Respite care will allow carers to continue their
massively valuable role for as long as possible, and this could be achieved, at least in part, by ring-fencing the £400m Government has allocated for respite breaks - but the sad fact is that as it is not ring-fenced, carers are unlikely to see the whole benefit of this investment. This is something which the Government could and should act upon today.

“It is not in the nature of carers to complain, so it is vital that their friends and supporters persist in driving awareness of the plight of carers – and it is absolutely crucial that GPs are vigilant in overseeing the health of carers, doing everything possible to provide them with both screening and support. We also believe that GPs should be able to prescribe respite or even domiciliary care.

“The benefits associated with a trained and supported workforce to provide respite support and a care team to provide cover when the pressures of caring for a loved one become too great should not be underestimated in either social or financial terms.

“Unpaid carers receive minuscule financial support and benefits - yet they are amongst the hardest working people in society; many do not have the option ever to take a break of two weeks – or sometimes even two minutes.”

Ends

Further information:
Dr. Ros Altmann
Director-General, Saga
ros.altmann@saga.co.uk
www.saga.co.uk
07545 504513
Twitter @SagaRosAltmann

Saga Press Office

01303 771529.

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

FAMILY SOLICITOR: COOL OFF BEFORE LAUNCHING INTO HEATED POST-SUMMER HOLIDAY DIVORCE

GEORGE DAVIES SOLICITORS LLP

PRESS RELEASE

September 5, 2011.

FAMILY SOLICITOR: COOL OFF BEFORE LAUNCHING INTO HEATED POST-SUMMER HOLIDAY DIVORCE.

Video interview.

The number of couples divorcing post-summer holiday – the second highest period after New Year for marriage splits – could this year be higher than ever before.

Family solicitor Robin Charrot of Manchester-based George Davies Solicitors LLP says that his first post-holiday divorce case this year arose before the couple had even stepped off their return holiday flight.

“That could well be a sign of things to come – there is tremendous tension amongst couples under financial pressure, and that means the traditional ‘relaxing’ summer holiday could be anything but that for families battling the stress of economic downturn, job worries – and simply coping with being crammed together 24/7,” said Robin Charrot.

Robin says that no matter how bitter the split, it is rarely a good idea for someone to immediately start court proceedings: they may have made the decision to part, but the full potential for aggression should be allowed to subside.

“Divorce is more often than not a once-in-a lifetime situation which comes about when the couple are feeling angry, hurt, sometimes betrayed, and people tend to think immediately about going to court – but there are other options, not least collaborative law which means proceedings don’t go anywhere near a courtroom, and can therefore stay both amicable and private,” said Robin.

“I’ve seen so many people who, once they’ve reached the decision they want to divorce, go headlong into the legal process without actually weighing up what is going to be best long-term for their entire family.

“You need to get comprehensive advice of what the options are, and you need to get advice on what are the pros and cons of each of those routes – how much each is going to cost, how long they’re going to take to get to the end, is there any level of compulsion, and how much level of contention there’s going to be in each of those options.

“You’ve got mediation, you’ve got collaborative law, and, if necessary, you’ve got the court process too.”

But Robin says a non-adversarial collaborative law approach – with which many couples are not familiar, but which involves discussion between parties in the presence of an impartial and specially-trained solicitor – could cost far less and avoid the ill-feeling a courtroom encounter generates.

Ends

For further information:

Lindsey Farrelly

LindseyFarrelly@georgedavies.co.uk

0161 234 8802

07717 177609

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

Notes to editor:

About George Davies Solicitors LLP: George Davies Solicitors LLP is a 19 partner law firm based in the heart of Manchester city centre. Established over 70 years ago it provides an extensive range of legal services to a national client base. Recent awards and accreditations include; ratings in independent legal directories - Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners UK; Winner of the Medium Law Firm of the Year 2011 in the Manchester Legal Awards; North West Employment Team of the Year in the Corporate INTL Magazine Awards 2010; adviser on the Deal of the Year sub £5million at the 2010 Insider Dealmakers Awards and is one of only five legal firms in the country to hold the Investors in People Silver standard.

FORMER NHS CHIEF HOSPITAL CLOSURES COMMENTS: RIGHT IDEA, WRONG ORDER SAYS SAGA.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

September 1, 2011.

FORMER NHS CHIEF HOSPITAL CLOSURES COMMENTS: RIGHT IDEA, WRONG ORDER SAYS SAGA.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s organisation Saga, commenting on former NHS chief executive Lord Crisp’s view that more hospitals should close, said:

“This is the right idea, but gets things in the wrong order. In reality, the faster and more comprehensively domiciliary care is developed - backed by a robust and realistic care funding process – the sooner hospital costs and demand for beds will fall,” said Dr Altmann.

“Lord Crisp states that there is an over-capacity in hospitals. However, we feel that the priority is to ensure efficiency and effective use of hospital beds. Many people stay in hospital longer than they need to or drop into the NHS unnecessarily so a properly supported and funded home based system that would ensure those that are able to return home can do so much earlier, would release pressure on the NHS and allow for a proper assessment of any over-capacity.

“If hospitals are closed or departments contracted before the social care system – particularly domiciliary care - is developed, then matters will get worse rather than better.

“The key is the implementation of the findings of the Dilnot Commission – more money for care – and fast.”

ENDS

Further information:

Saga Press Office

01303 771529.

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

SAVOY VENTURES AMBULANCE STAFF TO GET FIRST-IN-REGION EMERGENCY CARE TRAINING

SAVOY VENTURES LTD.

NHS PATIENT TRANSPORT

PRESS RELEASE

September 2, 2011.

SAVOY VENTURES AMBULANCE STAFF TO GET FIRST-IN-REGION EMERGENCY CARE TRAINING.

Staff at Greenhithe-based Patient Transport Service provider Savoy Ventures Limited are to undergo training which will qualify them to a standard unique in the region.

Care assistants and drivers providing patient transport for people being transferred to and from South London Healthcare Trust hospitals are to undergo an Emergency Care Assistance course operated by the renowned Chesterfield College, a leader in sector training.

“What this means to patients being transferred by Savoy staff is that, for instance, drivers who have First Aid certificates will undergo training and development which will qualify them to work as frontline ambulance crew alongside paramedics – we have already signed up 48 staff to the course,” said Jonathan Smith, Savoy Training Manager.

“We believe Savoy staff will be the first in the region to undergo such training, which will also raise their qualifications to an equal footing to that of NHS staff.”

The training involves 400 hours of online components, lectures and field internship, and also involves students third-manning in ambulances with paramedics and ambulance technicians, with successful students gaining an L2 Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Health (Emergency Care Assistance).

As well as providing strong and highly qualified resource for patient transport services, Emergency Care Assistants (ECAs) are qualified to get involved in responding to emergency calls to provide care to patients, driving ambulances, assisting paramedics, using medical and life support equipment.

Savoy Ventures Limited is a private company providing patient transport and transfer services to NHS Trusts in the South East of England. Established in 2006, Savoy makes more than 240,000 patient transfer journeys a year. Savoy Ventures Limited is engaged by a number of NHS Trusts to carry out blue-light transfers, specialist wheelchair, incubator, bariatric chair or stretcher transport, notes/X-ray transfer, and movement of tissue between hospitals. Many staff are trained and qualified to Ambulance Technician level.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.savoyventures.com

TREASURY COMMITTEE CALLS FOR CONSUMERS TO BE PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE BIG BANKS

DR ROS ALTMANN 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA 
PRESS RELEASE 
  
August 24, 2011.

ABOUT TIME TOO - 
TREASURY COMMITTEE CALLS FOR CONSUMERS TO BE PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE BIG BANKS
 
 

• Payments council told to review decision to withdraw cheque guarantee cards and cheque abolition by stealth!

 
 

Saga, the over 50s organisation which has campaigned for the retention of cheques, welcomes recommendations for their future protection.  

The Treasury Select Committee has just released the full report of its inquiry into the decision of the UK Payments Council to abolish cheques by 2018. "The report is a damning indictment of how banks have tried to ride roughshod over the needs of ordinary citizens, especially older people, who simply cannot manage their money without using cheques – and underpins the view that the banks are simply out of touch," said Dr Ros Altmann, director general of the Saga Group. 
 
Saga research shows that more than 70% of over-65s disagreed with the abolition of cheques, and 18% of over-75s did not know how they would manage or definitely would not be able to pay all their bills without cheques.  They will all be delighted that a committee of MPs is standing up strongly for them.

Those who are housebound, disabled or who worry about carrying around large amounts of cash, rely on cheques to pay their bills and many of them have written to Saga pleading for a reversal of this decision. Older people often do not trust electronic cards and pin numbers and would be at risk if they have to give these to someone else to make payments. They manage their finances by the use of cheque books, to keep a record of their account balances and reconcile them regularly, something they’d be unable to do without a written payment record.

Small traders and charities often rely on cheques for payment of their bills or receiving donations. Grandparents send cheques for birthday or other gifts to their grandchildren and would not be able to do this any other way.  

“It is a shame that it took the might of the Treasury Select Committee to force a change of heart. It’s now crystal clear that the UK Payments Council - made up mostly of banks – needs representation from a much wider cross-section of society: those affected by banking policy, not just those affecting banking policy. continued Dr Altmann, 
 
"Saga is delighted to see the treasury select committee flexing it's muscle to protect bank customers.  It's also delighted with the further recommendations to consider the reintroduction of cheque guarantee cards, proper regulation of the UK payments council, parliamentary oversight of decisions regarding cheques and proper consumer representation on the UK payments council itself."


ENDS

ASTRAEUS CEO FULGONI DEPARTS FOR NEW CHALLENGE

ASTRAEUS AIRLINES

COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT SOURCING AND MANAGEMENT

PRESS RELEASE

August 16, 2011.

ASTRAEUS CEO FULGONI DEPARTS FOR NEW CHALLENGE.

Mario Fulgoni, Chief Executive of Astraeus Airlines Limited Astraeus Airlines Limited, the Gatwick-based aircraft leasing and management company, is to leave the business at the end of August 2011.

“This is an entirely amicable departure, and is something which I have been considering for some time. During my stewardship, my team and I have change the Astraeus business model from charter and scheduled service operator to an aircraft sourcing and management business. This has been against the backdrop of the turbulent times for our industry, and whilst I have enjoyed the challenge immensely, I now feel I have taken the business as far as I can, and, while it sounds clichéd, I now need a new challenge,” said Mario Fulgoni.  

“I have enjoyed working closely with the Icelandic shareholders with whom I have had a good working relationship, and believe I will be leaving Astraeus well-placed in its market. 

“As a life-long aviation professional, it is likely I will be staying in the sector and will undoubtedly be maintaining contact with the business, and very likely to work with Astraeus again from time to time, in some capacity,”  said Mario.

Mario joined Astraeus Airlines Limited as a founding director in April 2002 before moving to Alpha Aviation in 2005 and returning to Astraeus to become Chief Executive in early 2008.

Pending the announcement of Mario’s successor as CEO, Astraeus Executive Chairman Skarphedinn Steinarsson will hold the post.

Astraeus Airlines operates a fleet of eleven Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft and one Airbus A320, all on contract with a number of airlines, primarily on an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) basis. During Mario’s tenure as CEO, Astraeus has achieved a worldwide Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), 180 ETOPS and is IOSA accreditation. Astraeus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eignarhaldsfelagid Fengur HF which also owns Iceland Express.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

+44 (0)7788 978800 / im@pressrelations.co.uk / www.flystar.com

Twitter @AEU_Astraeus