Category: Uncategorized

  • Best Things to do in Brighton Post-Lockdown

    Brighton is a city full of character and charm, alongside such a beautiful setting. If you’re planning on visiting there – once you’re safe to travel – you want to make sure you’re seeing the best Brighton has to offer. Check out these places and see what makes the city so special.  

    Image via Unsplash

    Brighton Palace Pier 

    No visit to Brighton would be complete without going to the Pier. It gives you the quintessential British seaside experience, with famous fish and chips to fairground rides. You can walk along take in that fresh ocean air, and enjoy the sights. Getting to Brighton is easy, especially if you live in London. You can take the train from Three Bridges to Brighton and be there in half an hour. 

    Royal Pavillions

    The Royal Pavillions is at the heart of Brighton and is well-worth seeing. It was built over 230 years ago and to this day the architecture is so impressive. You can also opt to go inside and find out more how this palace came to be in Brighton. If you’d rather keep exploring outdoors, then be sure to check out the Pavillion Gardens. They’re absolutely idyllic and make for a pleasant stroll, particularly on a sunny day. 

    The Lanes

    Not too far away from the Royal Pavilion is the iconic Lanes. They were designed in the 16th century. Getting lost on these cobbled streets isn’t a problem, it’s kind of the point. Let yourself amble through the independent boutiques, cafes, and bars and see what hidden gems you find. It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon exploring this area of town. 

    LGBTQ+ walking tour

    Brighton is often referred to as the gay capital of the UK, welcoming a wide number of LGBTQ + visitors a year. As well as having a thriving community living there. It is an incredibly accepting city. If you’re interested in finding out how this came to be, then why not take an LGBTQ + walking tour? You see some fantastic sights and learn significant history along the way. 

    Dine Out

    Part of the joy of Brighton is the fact there is so much to discover. You could spend a week there and not feel like you’ve seen everything. To get a true taste of Brighton, you need to explore its restaurants and bars. There’s so many to choose from.

    Before travelling please make sure to check government guidelines. You should visit Brighton when it’s safe to do so. What’s on your Brighton bucket list?

  • How to teach your kids about computer science

    While it was revealed in 2016 that computer science had the highest rate of unemployed graduates in the UK, this had more to do with the way in which the subject was being taught in institutions nationwide.

    Make no mistake; computer science remains a key subject in the digital age, with a growing number of job roles relying on the deployment of this skill as companies continue to transition their operations online.

    With this in mind, it makes sense that parents should try to teach their children about computer science from a young age? But what steps can you take to achieve this objective?

    Image via Unsplash

    Start Small and Make it Accessible

     

    When teaching the basics of coding and programming to younger children, it’s important to create age-appropriate content that’s both educational and accessible in equal measure.

    Of course, children need to be old enough to understand basic concepts, but for those who are capable of learning the fundamentals of computer science, the most important thing is to create lessons that fully engage them.

    To achieve this, why not consider teaching youngsters how to program games and simple robots. For example, ‘Robot Turtles’ is a great board game that also features some neat extensions, including a safe online community where users can create their own boards.

    On a similar note, the ‘Move the Turtle’ phone application lets kids perform basic programming, without overwhelming younger children.

    Understand the Importance of Internet Safety

     

    As we’ve already touched on, even some of the most basic coding concepts and games enable children to connect as part of a wider online community.

    However, you always need to be wary when allowing younger kids to operate freely online, as the Internet isn’t always the safest place for children to gather and interact.

    So, you’ll need to adhere to basic Internet safety rules when allowing your children to code and access online communities, particularly in terms of supervising their activity and setting time limits throughout the day.

    Invest in the Right Equipment

     

    It’s hard to teach even the basics of coding without at least some form of investment, with certain equipment helping you to provide more practical and immersive lessons.

    One of the best products to invest in is the Raspberry Pi, which has a number of iterations and essentially serves as a compact, single board computer that costs as little as $35.

    You can also buy some much-needed accessories for a little more, including a keyboard, mouse and a monitor that can be connected by USB.

    Be sure to shop around to get the best price, while you should also consider buying a basic starter kit that includes a full manual when getting started.

     

  • The Importance of CFO Services for Small Business

    Many things set Fortune 500 and established corporations apart from struggling firms. And just so you know, this is not just about the ability to make sales or generate revenue.

    Many startups and even struggling firms make sales but they are not living the corporate dream. One of the major reasons for this is the lack of expert financial guidance. Many of them do not have a Chief Financial Officer to steer the course of business as it concerns finances.

    This is very essential and is why every business needs to make the most of a chief financial officer. If you are interested in knowing what these professionals do, you can visit: https://www.investopedia.com/

    This article will shed light on the role of a CFO, especially for small businesses. This is very important as these businesses are usually the ones that miss out on the benefits of engaging these experts. You are advised to keep reading especially if you run, own, or work in a small firm.

    How a Chief Financial Officer’s Role will Benefit Small Businesses

     By making the most of capable CFO’s, small businesses are likely to benefit in the following ways:

    Analytics

    In simpler terms, this is about due reporting. Many businesses are unable to make informed decisions not because they are not willing to take the right actions. More often than not, the problem is that they do not have a good picture of where the company stands. This is especially as it concerns finances.

    Well, this problem will be resolved if/when a CFO is brought on board. The practice of giving periodic financial reports of the company’s state will help. A CFO will ensure that the reports are presented promptly. This is so that important actions will be taken when the need arises.

    Transparency and Accountability

    The hope is that business grows in leaps and bounds. But as this happens, several changes need to be made to adapt to the new normal.

    Some practices worked in the early stages but they would not work as the business grows. For instance, the bookkeepers are often given more than just bookkeeping roles to handle at the initial business stages.

    At this stage, this does not seem like a problem as there is little to be done. However, the structure has to change as growth sets in. By and large, there is a need for transparency and accountability of the highest order.

    This is so that financial loopholes will be avoided and checks & balances created at the very least. This is a possibility when a Chief Financial Officer is brought on board to help out.

    Proper Financial Management

    If your business will thrive or even survive in the long run; bills have to be paid, invoices filed, payments received, salaries paid, payments processed – promptly. All these have to do with a business having a healthy and well-managed financial structure.

    Fortunately, a good CFO can help you achieve these financial goals. For more on how this financial expert can help achieve this, you can click here.

    Speaking of financial management, working with a good CFO also helps you to make decisions out of foresight. This is about planning for the future. This helps especially when it is time for business scaling. It would be possible because previous financial data will be studied and analyzed to make future decisions.

    Sourcing for Capital 

    There is nothing wrong with sourcing for capital to grow a business. You should even know that many of the large and well-established corporations do this. However, it is difficult for many small businesses to raise the needed capital because of an unclear financial picture.

    With a capable CFO, your financial information will be clearly outlined. This includes the growth experienced and how your business is creditworthy enough to get the needed capital. In other words, raising capital is easier with a CFO on board.

    Various Forms of CFO Services for Small Businesses

    As explained earlier, many of the established corporations understand the vital role of these experts. This is why many of them hire them on a full-time basis.

    However, the case is somewhat different with small businesses. The cost implication of hiring a full-time CFO is one of the reasons for this.

    But even at that, some of these businesses have their ways of enjoying what these experts have to offer. Generally speaking, this is by outsourcing the CFO services as this turns out to be more cost-effective. Some of the ways these small businesses make use of CFO services include:

    Consultancy System

    This expert can go as far as acting as the CFO on an interim basis. However, s/he is involved with a clear mission to help the company.

    This might be to see them through a phase of transition financially and even managerially. The professional helps by offering due reports needed to make informed decisions.Another role this consultant plays is setting up procedures to help the business. In such cases, having an expert consultant can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes.

    Virtual Professionals

    As the tag “virtual” implies, these professionals are not stationed physically in the business’s location. However, they make the most of digital technology to help in several ways possible. It could even be as much as helping daily.

    You should know that this option is very cost-effective. It has also proven very effective for many small businesses in need of this service.

    Conclusion

    Other than the two kinds that you have right above, there are at least 3 others. These are – single source, consortiums, and staffing firms. As you consider engaging one of these organization, choose one that it local to you may be your best move. While they can operate remotely, one that is local can operate both remotely and also be able to make the occasional physical appearance. If therefore you operate your business in a city like Sacramento, you can carry out a search for Sacramento CFO services to see local options you can choose from.

    What Chief Financial Officers bring to the table will benefit even small businesses in lots of ways. We have shed light on this here and hope that you make the most of their services when the need arises. However, you also need to identify and work with the capable service providers in this line of work.

  • 4 Tips for Improving Your Posture

    Our posture has a profound effect on various parts of the body, usually the spine, shoulder, neck, and legs. Improving your posture can save you a lot of pain and agony in the future. This article will focus on helping you improve various aspects of your posture for better health.

    Stand Straighter

    A common concern for those with a bad posture is how to correct their standing posture. Your standing posture is very noticeable and should be the first thing you should try to correct, as doing so solves many other issues.

    The common advice is to stand straighter, but what exactly does this mean? To help you visualize what, doctors recommend thinking of it like being pulled upwards by a string. In this posture, your head is straight, your spine follows its natural curvature, and you do not have to strain your neck and shoulders.

    Start by relaxing your shoulders and then moving them back. Keeping your feet slightly apart but not quite shoulder width, pull your abdomen inwards. Remember to distribute your weight evenly between your two feet and not tilt your head in any direction. 

    Now relax your knees, keep your feet straight and hold this posture when you stand. Doing all this regularly should help improve your standing posture.

    Do Some Exercises

    One of the best ways to improve your posture is doing exercises that correspond with your posture. For example, if you often find yourself slouching in a chair, that could mean tension in the muscles causing you to seek a more comfortable posture. Sitting up and regularly doing back extensions, planks, and bridges can help with this.

    If your bottom sticks out while you stand, that shows your spine is not curving correctly, a condition known as hyperlordosis. Core strengthening exercises, thigh stretches, bottom contractions, and hip flexor exercises can help. Also, be conscious of how you stand and try to make a conscious effort to stand straighter.

    Jaw posture is not something many people think about, but how your face rests can profoundly affect how you look. There are common exercises for correcting jaw and facial posture, and this post covers several exercises that can help improve both.

    Sit Better

    With many people working in an office or sitting down, it is easy to get into bad habits that lead to the wrong sitting posture. You can correct this by doing a few things, starting with adjusting your chair and desk heights. You should adjust both such that your feet lie flat on the floor and your arms are at 90 degrees with your body. Also, ensure your seat is straight and your back is resting fully on the back of the chair.

    To avoid bending forward or slouching, move your seat forward until you are in an optimal position. If you work with a computer, adjust the monitor’s height until your eyes are straight, and you can see every part of the monitor without too much strain.

    Remember to always keep your shoulders straight and your neck, back, and shoulder muscles relaxed, especially if you sit for long periods.

    Change Your Sleeping Posture

    Most people do not think about their sleeping posture. Bad sleeping posture is a cause of back pain and not getting enough sleep. Start by getting a firm mattress that offers adequate support. Test it out first to ensure you get one that is just right for you.

    Try to sleep on the side or back as these positions are better for your body and get a pillow that supports the shoulders and head.

    When you think about improving your posture, look beyond your standing or sitting posture. How you sleep and the types of exercise you do also profoundly affect your posture.

  • New project: ChairYourLife

    New project: ChairYourLife

    We’ve just launched our first project of 2014! Meet Holga and Andrea, the founders of based in Valencia, Spain, creative studio ChairYourLife. The project was shoot by our contributor Carmen Grey. In the interview we ask Holga and Andrea about their creative background and we find out more about the process involved in creating their new designs.

    See the full project here.

    See the project…