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Give Your Boiler a Spring Service

boiler repair

Keeping your boiler safe, efficient and reliable now winter is over

With hopefully the worst of the chillier winter weather over you may feel, if your boiler has seen you through this period without incident, you can forget about it for a while. The truth is, your boiler may still be required over the spring and summer for hot water and maybe the occasional heat up, and having it serviced now means you’re set for another year and another winter.

Why service a boiler if it’s working well?

The old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ is never truer than when servicing and maintaining heating equipment such as your boiler. An annual service can reveal potential problems that, if left undetected, could cause your boiler to let you down just at the wrong time such as when the temperatures drop again.

Who to call?

Plumbers who are Gas Safe registered such as this company providing boiler repairs in Colney should be contacted. Gas Safe registered plumbers are qualified to work on gas appliances such as boilers.

Why servicing your boiler is important:

Efficiency

Even if your boiler is working well – or appears to be – it may be using more gas or oil than it should. A skilled boiler expert will check it for efficient operation, and this alone could save you money throughout the year.

Safety

A leaking boiler is obviously highly dangerous not just from the potential hazards of gas but also carbon monoxide (CO). This deadly gas cannot be easily detected as it is odourless, but can cause poisoning and fatalities.

According to government statistics, some 4,000 people attend hospital A&E departments due to carbon monoxide poisoning and around 50 die each year. A Gas Safe qualified engineer will check the boiler for safety and repair any vulnerabilities.

Insurance and warranty conditions

Your boiler warranty may stipulate that an annual service, or at least inspection, should be carried out at regular intervals. Some household insurance policies may insist on regular boiler maintenance and could refuse to meet the cost of a claim if damage is caused by a boiler that hasn’t been routinely serviced.

Save money on future repairs

It’s possible that a minor repair or replacement – or maybe a basic adjustment – undertaken when servicing the boiler could prevent a more expensive and involved repair further down the line.

The environment

A malfunctioning boiler – even if it appears to be running satisfactorily – will emit excessive amounts of the ‘greenhouse gas’ carbon dioxide (CO2). As part of the servicing, the engineer should check your boiler’s emissions to ensure you’re not unduly affecting the environment through excessive CO2 output.

Meeting the cost

Some plumbers may offer a deal for servicing your boiler or maybe a special rate if you choose to take out a maintenance contract with them. Some new boilers may incorporate a serving or inspection regime as part of the initial cost for a set number of years.

Undoubtedly, regular boiler servicing is definitely worth the investment for peace of mind and safety at the very least. Unfortunately, the quality of service can vary so choose your boiler servicing company carefully.

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10 Skills Every Dad Should Teach His Children

cooking with dadThere are certain skills that every dad should teach his children, to help them flourish in every day activities.

One of the most amazing things about being a Dad, is passing on your knowledge and helping your children to lead fulfilling and happier lives. Children’s brains are like sponges, soaking up knowledge at all times, from meeting new people and visiting places, to trying something new.

With that in mind, here are 10 skills every dad should teach their children.

Juggling

Juggling is really good exercise, especially for the brain. It helps to relieve stress and improves learning. It’s also a great exercise to help improve hand-eye coordination and to focus on things more. If you want to teach your little one jungle, it’s easy! First of all, purchase a set of three juggling balls. Juggling balls come in a variety of sizes and materials, including a bean bag material, a soft cushioned material and a bouncy hard material. There are hundreds of online tutorials to follow to get you juggling in no time!

It’s essential to get lots of practice in, and remind your children that practice makes perfect!

Tell a joke

Childhood has its fair share of potentially awkward moments. To combat these, why not teach your children to have some funny jokes at hand, in case a small playground issue needs to be diffused. “What did zero say to eight? Nice belt!” and “What starts with an ‘e’, ends in an ‘e’ and has a letter in it? Envelope” are all handy little jokes that can easily be remembered!

Money skills

Helping your children to learn about money is a really important life skill to have.

You can start by exploring money with them, by going through coins and notes, and explaining what they are and what they’re worth. Even a simple trip to a supermarket can help, as it’s an opportunity to support your child to learn about reading and comparing prices.

Pocket money could also be an effective way of learning, too. Pocket money could be a way of showing how to look after your money and reasons to save it. As they get older, you could link pocket money to chores, so they could earn more money for helping out, which is a great way of passing on a sense of control and responsibility for money.

Cooking

Teach your children basics in the kitchen to master some basic recipes which they could make themselves – (if they’re feeling confident enough!). You could show them how recipes work and how to weigh and measure ingredients.

There are simple meals that you can create together, like pizza, fairy cakes or fruit salads. Children can be in charge of the toppings on a pizza, can decorate the cakes and can try new fruit when making a fruit salad.

Ride a bike

It’s a cliché but it’s true: Teach your child to do it once and they’ll never forget how. There are different methods to teaching your child to cycle, but a method that has worked for many is using stabiliser or holding the back of the seat as your child practises peddling. Both methods work and enable the child to feel confident and supported.

Say “I’m sorry”

It’s just two little words, but they can go a long way! It can be a difficult thing for anyone to say – especially for a child. But with practice and reinforcement, it can be learnt easily and used in the right situation with sincerity.

Road safety

Road basics can be taught right from the toddler stage, to ensure they are fully aware of road safety basics as they grow up. It’s self-explanatory, but be sure to teach your children to always cross on the safest place on a road, i.e. a zebra crossing or a subway. Teach your child the Green Cross Code and ensure that whenever your child is out, to be constantly aware of what’re happening around them.

Managing conflict

Arguments and disagreements are part of everyday life, but it’s how you deal with them that’s the most important thing. It’s important to explain to your children that any arguments or disagreements can be resolved by talking, negotiating, listening and explaining yourself. It’s something that we need to do as role models too, as children will copy you!

Make a paper aeroplane

Technology may evolve fast, but paper aeroplanes will always remain as pure magic; they’re also a great way to introduce children to geometry and symmetry. Transforming a sheet of paper into a soaring object shows children that it’s possible to creatively reimagine the world!

How to deal with stress and relax

It’s understandable for parents to get stressed, but it is important to make sure that any stress habits aren’t passed down to the next generation – which is easier said than done sometimes!

Whether you guide them towards exercise, mindfulness or a healthy diet, it shows that you can have a relaxed outlook on life and that you can do something to help with any stress or worry that may prevail.

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Innovative Uses For Bifolding Doors

bifold doors

Ideas for how to make more of your home with flexible door options

Bifolding doors make for a space saving and highly flexible option in various areas around a property along with their popular use of providing access to a conservatory from outside. Because bifolding doors fold into themselves and they can be partly folded or unfolded, they make for a highly versatile access option.

What is a bifolding door?

As its name suggests, a bifolding door folds into itself in sections in a zig-zag fashion when closed. As with a sliding door, you move them laterally and they automatically fold as they close up to give access to the space beyond. They can be made almost entirely of glass such as these bifold doors from Caulfield or made from a non-transparent material such as wood and sit on a grooved track and slide back and forth when opened and closed.

Some innovative uses

A ‘no wall’ wall

Whether for a room such as a living room giving out to the garden or patio or for a conservatory, the ability of bifolding doors to fold in on themselves and disappear from view offers the chance to have a totally open wall from more or less one side of the room to the other.

This can look stunning and offers a practical and un-obstructed route out of the space to the outdoor area beyond.

Concealment

You may not like the idea of your huge widescreen television dominating the lounge when not in use, so by siting it in an alcove you can conceal it with unfolding doors made of wood or other suitable material. Simply slide open when you’re ready to watch television – the fact the doors move out of the way completely makes for a better option than a conventional sliding door.

The same method can apply to other equipment such as stereos and home cinemas, and helps home security in that expensive equipment isn’t on show at all times.

Pop up home office

You may work from part of a room by day but wish to demarcate your living area so your work environment doesn’t encroach when looking to relax in the same space in the evenings and other downtimes. By siting your desk or work station in an alcove or a purpose built cupboard, you can conceal it with bifolding doors when not in use.

Again, the ease in which they can be opened and closed and the space saving way they fold in on themselves make bifolding doors ideal for when multiple use of a space is required such as when creating a stylish and flexible home office.

Creating illusions

The unobscured views afforded by unfolding doors mean you can really feel as if certain parts of the exterior are ‘mixed’ with the interior of your property. For example, bifolding doors running the width of a conservatory can make it appear as if the garden is part of the overall space.

The same can apply to swimming pools overlooked by an area opened up with bifolding doors. This can look especially good in the evenings if the pool is lit.

Flexibility

Bifolding doors offer various ways of configuring space so as to make the most of it and provide flexibility. For example, one large room can be partitioned off as and when you wish through careful siting of bifolding doors and made into one big space again in seconds when they’re fully or partially closed.

An aesthetic option

Bifolding doors come in various finishes, so they can easily look like an integral part of your environment even if they’re fitted after the rest of the space was designed and decorated.

Coloured wood frames to go with existing styles and decor is possible, as are various colour options along with aluminium and the fully glazed types often popular in doors to access outdoor areas from conservatories.

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Summer Team Building In London

team work

5 team building activities to try in London this summer

Summertime in London offers plenty of team building opportunities, from exploring the city’s waterways to giving back to the local community.

Team building events can bring significant benefits to an organisation, helping to develop key skills, improve communication and build a close-knit team. Summer is a great time to hold these kinds of activities – it is a quieter time for many businesses, and the better weather and lighter evenings enable you to enjoy the great outdoors. Luckily, there are plenty of team build events in London that you can choose from to help bring your team together this summer.

Escape the city

Summer in the city can be hot, humid and sticky, so if the weather allows, consider escaping the city for your team building event. This can be as simple as a team afternoon in the park. London has plenty of green spaces so, instead of staying cooped up in the office, invite staff to a team picnic or BBQ. If you have the time, you could even leave the city altogether and head to the nearest beach. Organising some childhood games such as rounders or frisbee help to add an element of competition and fun to the day.

Canal party

London is home to lots of picturesque canals and waterways, so why not use your next team building day as an opportunity to explore this element of the city? Several event companies in London offer the opportunity to hire a barge for your work’s day out, enabling you to enjoy food, drink, music, and the London sights as you cruise down the Regents Canal. This is probably more of a social event than a traditional team building activity, but it can be a great way of getting people together, boosting morale and rewarding your team for a job well done.

White Water Rafting

If you are feeling braver, white water rafting is a fantastic team activity. Some of the best activities are where workers get out of their comfort zones and work together on something new – this quickly makes everybody feel on the same level. The Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire is the nearest for London businesses.

School sports day

Nothing says summer like school sports day, so why not introduce a touch of nostalgia to your team building day with tried and tested games such as the egg and spoon race, tunnel ball, tug of war and, everyone’s favourite, the three-legged race? Splitting your workforce into teams or ‘houses’ will enable your employees to enjoy camaraderie and a dollop of healthy competition whilst having fun. All that sport can be thirsty work, so offering some drinks at the end of the day can be a welcome addition and encourage further socialising.

Treasure hunt

We all remember treasure hunts from our childhood, but they can be just as much fun for adults. As well as enabling your employees to view the city in a whole new light, organising a treasure hunt around London will also give them the opportunity to work together and think creatively to solve clues. You can either devise the clues and create the hunt yourself, or use a GPS treasure hunt where participants use their smartphones to navigate the clues and challenges. Asking participants to bring back certain items adds to the fun, while a prize for the winning team can help to boost motivation.

Volunteering

If you’re looking for something a little different for your next team building event, you might want to consider volunteering for a charity. Helping out the local community can be a great way of bringing people together and building morale, and there are plenty of outdoor activities you can get involved in, such as creating a community garden, participating in river clean-ups, or helping out at a city farm. As well as having a great impact on staff motivation, this type of activity also has the added benefit of helping your company to meet its CSR objectives.

Having a well-functioning, motivated team is crucial to the success of any business, and well thought out team building activities can really help to create this dynamic. So this summer, escape the office and head out into the sunshine for a fun, creative team building day that everyone can enjoy.

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How to Build a Temporary Cold Room

Cold room

State of the Art Cooling Equipment for Your Temperature Control Needs

Plan your cold room project carefully. Focus on your objectives and only use a professional temperature control team who use VLTCs as standard.

Temporary cold rooms are often needed urgently – whether they’re to provide a chilled environment due to faulty refrigeration equipment, an alternate location during a refurbishment, or perhaps just to offer additional space on top of your current needs, it is challenging to create your own temporary cold room without specialist equipment.

Caterers, events companies and even funeral directors all rely on cold rooms in one way or another. Therefore, it is vital that anyone requiring the construction of such an environment does their research and uses professionals with high-quality equipment to create the desired effect and most importantly to reach the necessary temperature.

Plan Your Objectives

When designing your cold room, it is crucial to plan your objectives from the beginning of the project. Often, these are to keep and preserve stock without the risk of it defrosting and being spoiled. However, you will probably also have space requirements that need to be taken into consideration, as cold room rental space is usually minimal. Of course, you will also want as little disruption to your regular business operations as possible. This means that careful planning, particularly with regards to the location of your temporary cold room, needs to achieved.

The Advantages of VLTCs

Very low temperature fluid chillers, or VLTCs are regularly used by temperature control teams, as they are incredibly space-efficient and can be stacked on top of each other. They also require less ancillary equipment to reach and retain the set temperature.

Standard air-cooled chilling units do not offer the best chance of creating a cold room environment, and they are certainly not the most efficient option available to consumers. This is because by using them, you will need to use a lot of extra equipment, such as air handling units, to keep the room chilled. As a rule, the higher the chiller’s minimum fluid outlet temperature, the lower the chilling output, in kW, from the low temperature air handling unit. Therefore, additional air handlers must be used to keep that temperature dropping.

In comparison, VLTC units can go as low as -30C. In fact, the water-cooled units can even reach as far as -45C when combined with cooling towers or air-cooled chillers. Much less ancillary equipment is necessary to reach that desired temperature and keep it there.

Monitoring Your Cold Room

Depending on the duration of time that your cold room is due to be set up, it is crucial that the environment is monitored, so there is no risk of any equipment failing which could result in the temperature rising and potentially have a catastrophic effect on your business operations. Telemetry technology can be used to monitor all the cooling units from a remote location. This technology can perform diagnostic checks, check pump performance, fuel levels, consumption rates and observe load monitoring. Alerts will be sent back to the monitoring team who can then urgently dispatch engineers if required.

If you are in need of London generator hire and cooling systems professionals to build a temporary cold room for your business purposes, then always do your research and consult with temperature control professionals before committing to a project.

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Paper Fast Becoming London’s Top Nightclub

Nightclub dancerAfter Eight Long Years, This Club is Back in The Capital

Once a celebrity hotspot, the recently relaunched Paper is becoming the hottest club in town once again.

It’s no secret that London is home to some of the best nightclubs in the world. Frequented by celebrities and royalty alike, the capital’s clubbing scene is one of its biggest attractions. One of London’s most popular clubs, Paper, was forced to close eight years ago. This left many devoted revellers devastated, as it was seen by many as the place to be on a Saturday night. Now though, the club has reopened in a fantastic location, and is fast overtaking its rivals to become the hottest club in town once more. Thanks to its popularity it’s difficult to get in – unless you’ve got your name down on the guest list.

An A-list pedigree

Back in the Noughties, Paper was the most exclusive club in town. Celebrities couldn’t get enough of it. If you managed to get in, you could expect to mingle with the likes of Jay Z, Beyonce, P Diddy and countless other movie and music stars. Keira Knightley even celebrated her 21st birthday there. Sadly, the club was forced to close in 2009 when the building it was located in was turned into a luxury five star hotel. As the years went on, other clubs went on to fill the gap Paper had left.  When it was announced that it would be reopening in 2017 though, everyone was excited. It was like it had never been away!

A great new location

Paper’s new location in Soho puts it right at the heart of London’s vibrant party district. Over one million pounds were spent on renovating the building and turning it into a world-class nightclub. So you can expect no holds barred glamour, luxury and sophistication when you step inside. There’s even a ground floor cocktail bar in the club called Dirty Harry’s. You could get your night started there before heading into Paper itself. It’s not been reopened for too long, but it’s already become the place to be seen. People are desperate to get in – and any self-respecting party animal knows that there’s only one way to get into a top club. Yes, you’ll need to get yourself on the guest list.

Getting on the guest list

Getting your name on the Paper guest list doesn’t have to be tricky. You don’t need to know the right people or to say a magic word at the door. You just need to get in touch with an exclusive guest list provider like Velvet PR. They’ll take care of everything – all you need to do is give them your details, the date you want to party the night away at Paper and how many people you’re bringing along. After that, you can just look forward to your night out at the hottest club in London.

Get ready to party at Paper

With your Paper guest list booking, you can enjoy some drinks at the VIP only Glass Bar. This is separate to the main clubbing area, and is the perfect place to enjoy a few drinks and socialise with your friends before hitting the dancefloor. When you’re sipping on cocktails in this exclusive bar, you’ll see that getting your name on that list does reap many rewards. So if you’re planning a night out in the capital, be sure to arrange an evening of fun at Paper!

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How To Avoid Driveway Cowboys

granite sett driveEnsure a quality finish with a professional driveway contractor

Many people fall prey to unscrupulous contractors who leave behind unfinished or poor quality work. Here are our tips for avoiding these ‘driveway cowboys’.

So-called “cowboy builders” are a growing problem across the UK, with driveways appearing to be a magnet for these unscrupulous contractors. Work carried out by driveway cowboys is not guaranteed, and many people find themselves out of pocket and left with poor quality or unfinished work.

However, these types of contractors can be very persuasive, and it can seem like they’re offering you a great deal. But our hints and tips will help you avoid being taken in by driveway cowboys.

Don’t hire on the doorstep

One of the best ways to avoid driveway cowboys is to avoid hiring anybody who just shows up on your doorstep offering to start work there and then. Reputable contractors tend to be busy and so don’t need to solicit work in this way, and they will need a couple of weeks to plan the job and order in materials. Somebody who can start work ‘tomorrow’ is a sure sign of a cowboy, particularly if they ask for cash up front. Remember to stay firm – don’t be afraid to tell them to go away and close the door. If they become intimidating or start harassing you, call the police.

Ask For A Quality Finish

If you do need work doing on your driveway, take the time to search for a professional and trusted builder who will source their materials from a trusted stone supplier. This will give you access to better and more varied materials, such as different types of granite. For example, reclaimed granite setts offer a rustic look that is much more attractive than the bland block paving usually offered by driveway cowboys.

Get everything in writing

Don’t accept verbal estimates – if there are any disputes down the line you won’t have any proof of what was originally agreed. Ask for a written quote on headed paper that includes the business address and landline telephone number. Beware of anyone with just a mobile number as they can be difficult to trace if anything goes wrong. Ideally, before agreeing to any work, you should get written quotes from three different companies so that you can compare them with each other.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Commissioning work on your home is a big commitment, and any reputable contractor will be happy to help put your mind at ease. Ask them if they are prepared to provide a long term written guarantee of their work – and be wary of anyone who refuses or seems reluctant to do this. Contracting companies should also have a minimum of £1 million worth of public liability insurance, so make sure you also cover this in your list of questions. It’s also worth checking if the contractor is a member of a professional organisation or trade association. This in itself is no guarantee of quality, but it can often be an indicator that the contractor takes his trade seriously.

Do some digging

No, we’re not suggesting you pick up some tools and start working on your driveway yourself. What we are suggesting is that you take time to do some background research into the contractor. Search for them online to find out if they have a registered business address. If they have a website, you can also look for testimonials from satisfied customers. This search is also a good opportunity to check if the contractor or business is linked with any negative news stories – this can be a big warning flag!

If the contractor has told you that they are a member of a trade association, call up the association to check they are telling the truth. It’s also a good idea to ask the contractor for two references so that you can speak with previous customers and see examples of their work. Anyone who is reluctant to provide this information could well have something to hide.

Cheapest isn’t always best

Driveway contractors who show up on your doorstep often claim to be offering great value for money. But, remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is, so be careful not to fall into their trap.

By taking the time and effort to find a reputable contractor, you can be confident of getting a quality finish and a driveway that you can be proud of.

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When Does Crossrail Open in Hornchurch?

Hornchurch high StreetHornchurch to benefit from opening of Crossrail

The opening of Crossrail is set to bring a number of benefits to the Essex town of Hornchurch – not least, a rise in property values.

Crossrail, one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects, is due to be introduced later this year. Running through the centre of London, from Reading in the West to Shenfield in the East, the development is set to bring more than 1.5m people within a 45-minute commute of London.

One area set to benefit from this new infrastructure development is the town of Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering. While Hornchurch itself will not have a Crossrail station, the nearby stations of Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood will all form part of Crossrail’s Eastern Section. New trains are being introduced between Shenfield and Liverpool Street from May of this year, but the Crossrail route will fully open in December 2019, enabling passengers to travel through central London without having to change trains.

So, what can Hornchurch residents expect from Crossrail?

Shorter commuting times

The key objectives of the Crossrail project are to increase network capacity and significantly reduce journey times into the city.  From December 2019, trains into central London will run more regularly, with 12 operating per hour during peak times, and passengers will be able to travel from Romford to Liverpool Street in just 27 minutes, from Gidea Park in 29 minutes, and from Harold Wood in just over half an hour.

Station upgrades

Stations on the Crossrail route will also benefit from a planned programme of upgrades and improvements, including new lifts, extended platforms, improved ticket halls, better security measures, and new signage, information screens and customer help points. As well as these planned upgrades to the stations themselves, the proposals also include the creation of landscaped areas, improved integration with other public transport services, and, in the case of Romford, regeneration of the town centre and historic market place. In total, the London Borough of Havering is expected to reap total annual transport and economic benefits of over £43 million.

Investment opportunity

As well as the obvious benefits of shorter commuting times and station upgrades, estate agents in Hornchurch are also viewing the development as a great investment opportunity. Thanks to its good transport links into London, Hornchurch and its surrounding areas are already hugely popular with commuters. This popularity is only set to increase with the arrival of Crossrail and, as the demand for property increases, so will house prices.

Despite the route not yet being in operation, the so-called ‘Crossrail effect’ is already having an impact, with areas along the route reporting a surge in interest and in property prices. Asking prices for homes near Crossrail stations have increased by up to a third in the past 18 months, and experts predict that, on some sections of the line, they could increase by almost 45% by 2020.

In the past year alone, average house prices in Hornchurch reached £406,218 – a rise of 28% on 2014 prices. And with further significant value increases expected between now and the official launch of Crossrail, this vibrant Essex commuter town could offer fantastic investment opportunities for home buyers and property developers alike.

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Why Health And Safety Signage Is Important To Your Business

Safety signs

It is important to have correct health and safety signage implemented into the workplace. It helps to inform and instruct employees and the public, prevent accidents from occurring and in some scenarios, prevent death.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) there were 144 UK workers killed at work between 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016. A figure that should be much lower with the correct health and safety signs implemented into the workplace.

In November 2016, the annual statistics report was released by HSE, which outlined information about workplace-related injuries and illnesses. The statistics showed that there were 1.3 million people suffering from a work-related illness, over 621,000 work-related injuries and 2,515 people died from mesothelioma – an illness brought on from asbestos exposure.

There is a correlation between the introduction of safety signage and a reduction in the number of accidents. To ensure safety in the workplace, the first step is being able to alert people to any dangers in the workplace, and to have a compliant sign in place to notify people of the danger. There are hundreds and hundreds of signs available online for all types of hazards, emergencies and dangers.

It is essential for businesses to have up-to-date signage. If incorrect signage, or no signage, is in place then it could lead to extensive fines or serious consequences, including prison sentences, personal injuries or even loss of life. These guidelines and consequences are enforced by the HSE.

Health and safety signs are important for all types of businesses. If the business is open to the public, then health and safety has to be one of your top priorities. It is the job of every employer to keep their staff safe at work.

It is important to use the correct health and safety signs in the workplace, to ensure everyone abides by the rules and understands potential hazards in the workplace. Important signs to implement include fire exit signs, hazard signs, prohibition signs, first aid and safety signs and fire action notice, to name just a few.

Having the correct health and safety signs in the workplace is important to abide by the Health and Safety Work Act 1974, and to keep the working environment safe and free from accidents.

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Metal Ice And Fire in the Garden

brompton fire ice set for 6Garden furniture for alfresco entertaining

Summer days are made for spending time outdoors, and whether you prefer entertaining or soaking up the sun, the right furniture can really elevate your garden.

It may feel like we’re still in the deepest clutches of winter, but it’s never too early to start planning for warmer weather. As the days grow longer and temperatures start to rise, we all look forward to spending time outdoors, so now’s the time to start thinking about how you can make the most of your garden in the months ahead.

Garden Furniture

One of easiest ways to give your garden a makeover is to replace your garden furniture. When it comes to furnishing your garden, there is a huge array of options out there, and you can choose from different furniture styles, such as sun loungers and dining sets, and a number of different materials, including wood, rattan, plastic and metal garden furniture.

With so many options available, it’s important to do some forward planning to decide which style best suits your garden. The right furniture for you will depend on a number of factors – the size and layout of your outside space, your personal taste, how much you want to spend, and how you like to use your garden. For example, if you love soaking up the sun, you might want to invest in some recliners or a rattan sofa. Alternatively, if you enjoy an alfresco glass of wine in the evening but have limited outside space, a stylish bistro set could fit your requirements.

Ice and Fire

Over the summer months, many of us love to use our garden as an additional entertaining space. If outdoor entertaining is a key priority for you, you should definitely check out the new Brompton metal ice and fire garden furniture set. This quality metal dining set seats six and is made from solid cast aluminium with a stylish design. But that’s not all – this innovative piece of furniture has a special surprise in the centre.

At the centre of the spacious table is a hollow well, which can be used as an ice reservoir to keep your drinks cold during the heat of a summer afternoon. Usefully, this hollow can also be used as a fire pit, enabling you to extend the party and keep your guests warm even after the sun and temperatures have dropped.

Extra touches

If we’ve whetted your appetite for the summer months, you might want to add some extra little touches to your garden to ensure you have the perfect setting in which to enjoy your stylish new furniture.

Injecting colour is a great way of revitalising your garden, so if you’re green-fingered, now is the time to get planting. Opt for bright, vibrant blooms such as delphiniums, gladioli and marigolds, or create space for a wildflower garden which will also have the added bonus of attracting birds and wildlife. If gardening isn’t your thing, a coat of brightly coloured paint on a garden shed or wooden fence can have a similar impact.

If feasible, you might also want to consider upgrading your surfacing. Giving your patio a jet wash to make it look as good as new, or installing wooden decking or a practical artificial lawn, will help improve your garden and really show off your new furniture.

Finally, don’t underestimate importance of finishing touches – interesting shrubs, garden lights and colourful plant pots can all make a big impact without breaking the bank.

Whatever your taste, lifestyle or budget, quality garden furniture can make a big impact on your garden. And with products such as the metal ice and fire dining set, alfresco entertaining is easier than ever before. So, hit the shops, spruce up your garden, call your friends and start planning those summer parties. Winter will be over before you know it!