Bromley Business Club Member's Blog

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I am a quantity surveyor trading as Crofton Consulting and over many years in construction have dealt with the day to day confrontation and disputes endemic in that industry. It is the cost in management time and legal fees that is so wasteful and also the stress endured by the participants.

Alternative dispute resolution, that is alternative to legal action such as arbitration and adjudication, have been around a long time but regrettably have now been transformed into expensive legal battles.

Small firms and individuals can’t afford the luxury of such games so I became interested in finding an alternative and trained successfully as a mediator.

Mediation is an inexpensive and confidential way for two or more parties to settle their disputes. The parties must have the will to settle as the process is voluntary. Once they agree to mediate they contact a mediator who will arrange for them to meet with him at a neutral venue, Using his skill and training he will assist the parties to reach an agreement but does not sit in judgement or enforce a decision. The parties may leave at any time and may not settle at all if they are not happy with the result. However most disputes – at least 80% of those mediated, do settle.

Mediation unlike litigation does not require months of preparation and mountains of documents. It can be arranged quickly and is over in a day or less. The parties know the fee before hand which, along with any costs, rooms for example, are split equally between the parties.

There is less hassle therefore parties often continue their business and work place relationships after, unlike the break down after an appearance in court.

Almost any type of dispute can be resolved by mediation- workplace, boardroom, construction, property, boundaries, family, payment etc.

Ken Tracey MRICS, MCIArb, MCIOB, Accredited Mediator

07929746852 (profile in members section)

Woolcock Typing Services was finally launched in the middle of March 2010 after several months of verifying that our services were needed.

We offer the following: letters; invoices; memoranda; long documents; copy typing; legal documents; medical reports, inventory reports, surveyors’/builders’ reports; general reports and a lot more.

My name is Gillian Woolcock and the Director of the Company. I have been a secretary since 1973 when I started work in the Transport Department of Spillers Agriculture Ltd, a subsidiary of Spillers Foods Ltd. Working for the Transport Director and his assistant. I remained with that firm for almost 7 years, when I was made redundant and expecting my first child.

I then worked for a few months at the beginning of Homebase (Sainsbury GB) in Purley Way, Croydon.

I then worked part time for a number of firms, whilst raising my children, as my husband was made redundant a number of times.

I finally gained employment in a law firm in Croydon in 1991 and have been a legal secretary ever since, working in various departments, some of which I have had to hit the ground running, not knowing anything about the subject.

In December 2006 I was made redundant, yet again, and gained long-term temping jobs until July 2008 when I was made redundant from my “permanent temp” job. Apart from a 3 month temping stint over the Christmas period of 2008 I have been unemployed.

I did not wish to become self-employed. I did not like the idea of having to make out invoices, pay my own National Insurance or tax, or even keeping my own accounts – this scared me rigid, but being cajoled, coerced and firmly pushed in that direction by the Job Centre, I finally succumbed and started my own typing services company. To this end I have been on a number of Government funded courses to enable me to become self-employed.

My rates are very reasonable. I can work from home or on site within the London area. My typing speeds are 80-90 wpm with a very high level of accuracy and all documents are proof-read. I have a fast turnaround.

I do provide a service, which other secretarial services are unable to and that is that I can type from dictation or manuscript in Spanish, from manuscript in French and German. I am able to accept scanned documents in .pdf format and will shortly be able to take on dictation on a .wav file format.

I am a member of the Bromley Business Club, South East London Chamber of Commerce and have just become an annual member of RAW Business Ltd and am on LinkedIn.

For further information, please visit my website: www.woolcocktypingservices.co.uk or you can e-mail me on: gill@woolcocktypingservices.co.uk, mobile: 07910 642 536.

Thanks to Martin Feaver of Positive Image Fitness for last night's talk on The Mind Body Connection. This was the perfect conclusion to a run of three speakers starting with QJ, The Inspirationist, followed by Dr Jason Gould with his Back Pain and Business Workshop and now Martin.

A fascinating topic on how the body reflects the state of mind and vice versa. A prime example being how your posture, whilst sitting at your desk, reflects how you are feeling at that moment in time and how your body then compounds the problem of sitting awkwardly.

For instance you might be sitting at your desk, as you're reading this, feeling stressed and without realising your shoulders are hunched and you're slumped forward in your chair. This posture is limiting your ability to breathe properly, in turn reducing your intake of air and restricking oxygen to the brain, making you tired.

Now try telling yourself that you will organise your work even more efficiently than normal, will get it finished in good time and meet all your deadlines. How does that make you feel?! Do you feel a little weight lifted off of your shoulders and that bit more relaxed?

If not then I'm afraid I can't help you but I'm sure Martin probably could! Why not get in contact with him to talk about the many ways the mind and body and connected.

Good News

Some good news was shared by our chairman last night, two first time visitors to our meetings have gone on to greater things. Debbie Randell is now working with our last speaker Jason Gould and Deniz Turan, MaxiMore Digital Media Ltd, is launching her new business next week at The Ivory Lounge. Deniz gave special thanks to all the members she spoke with over the last few months, giving her advice on starting and promoting her business. Congrats.

Our next meeting is now on 15th April.

Thanks Richard and everyone at Bromley Business Club for raising a fantastic £80 for The Maypole Project at last month’s meeting. And what an informative meeting it was. Thanks to Jason’s talk I have now discovered my ‘core stability’. I came away enlightened and rather in awe of someone who obviously paid more attention in their biology class than I did!

It’s been a busy couple of weeks at The Maypole Project. Over half-term we held a Respite Day at Christ Church Hall in Orpington. This gave parents and carers of children with complex medical needs the opportunity to drop the children off with their brothers, sisters and special friends and have a break for the day. We had a bouncy castle, a children’s entertainer, face-painting, a soft play room and tables for doing arts and crafts. The children had a great time – and so did we. It’s so rewarding to see children of mixed-abilities enjoying themselves and having a great time.

We’ve got our Soul Night at Petts Wood Memorial Hall on Saturday 13th March. Tickets are £10 each. There’s a licensed bar, a raffle with great prizes and a prize for the best-dressed outfit (optional!). If you fancy a fun night out please email me on rebeccadevaux@themaypoleproject.co.uk or call 01689 898910 for tickets.

With thanks for your support and best wishes

Rebecca and all at The Maypole Project