The Event Manager

Pedal power for Sierra Leone

2008-05-29T01:32:00.000-07:00

Half-a-dozen brave souls returned to Hastings on Monday afternoon after cycling to Boulogne and back to raise funds for the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link.

The group were welcomed back from their 200 kilometre plus trek by a band of supporters and sponsors including Councillor Jeremy Birch.

The six cyclists - Roger Mitchell, Steve Frost, Bill Evans, Mike Cooper, Einar Einarsson and Jansen van Rensburg - were waved off on their challenge on Saturday morning from Hastings Pier by the Mayor Councillor Maureen Charlesworth and members of the Hastings-Sierra Leone Friendship Link. From there the group made their way to Dover and across the channel for a 2 night stay in Calais. Sunday saw them cycling to the port of Boulogne and back – a journey of around 50 miles – in blazing sunshine.

The Pedal for Sierra Leone was arranged by Diligence sister company Nice Work. Money raised from the event will help funding for the Community Resource Building in Hastings Village in Sierra Leone.

Where will you take your customers in 2008?

2008-05-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Looking for somewhere suitable to take your staff, your colleagues or your customers?

One of our favourite events is Glorious Goodwood - one of the highlights of the social summer scene. Indeed, King Edward VII once described Glorious Goodwood as ‘a garden party with racing tacked on’.
The meeting not only offers the very best in top-class racing - ‘Glorious Goodwood’ is a real English summer institution, where racing, socialising and fashion go hand in hand.

Goodwood is reckoned to be one of the world’s most beautiful racecourses. Set high on the South Downs with the most beautiful of views, it really is the perfect place to enjoy summer’s day. The Thursday of the Goodwood Festival is traditionally ‘Ladies’ Day’ and the feature race of the day, the Goodwood Cup, is Goodwood’s oldest race.

Our sister company, Nice Work, has been organising trips to Goodwood for some years now and are now taking reservations for a Glorious Goodwood VIP Package.

For more information, contact martin@diligencegroup.co.uk

Turf's Up!!

2008-02-21T05:56:00.001-08:00

There's something particularly English about a Day at the Races.

Goodwood, Epsom, Aintree and Newmarket are all iconic English Sporting Venues providing a memorable opportunity to entertain staff, clients and colleagues. But, there's more to a day at the races than the top meetings held at the leading venues. There are some highly cost-effective events to be had by entertaining at some of the country's smaller racecourses such as Lingfield, Plumpton and Lingfield Park.

We regularly take groups - from 12 upwards - to racecourses throughout the country. We cater for top of the range meetings such as Cheltenham, The Derby and Glorious Goodwood; summer evening meetings at both Goodwood and Folkestone; as well as regular weekday and weekend meetings at most other courses.

Our favourite is Goodwood - particularly on Ladies Day. Widely regarded as the world's most beautiful racecourse, Goodwood is set high on the South Downs - the perfect place to enjoy horseracing and socialising at its very best.

Now's the time to start planning your summer event - so why not consider a day at the races? All our trips are catered for individually with a bespoke itinerary and package which includes:

Travel to and from the racecourse

Breakfast or pre-departure refreshments or optional meal stops

Optional packed lunch

Optional breakfast stop
Admission to the racecourse

Post race picnic or barbecue
Welcome aboard pack
The services of guides throughout the trip

Why not contact us for your next Day at the Races?

Strolling .... just strolling!

2008-01-29T00:14:00.001-08:00

Details have been announced of the next overseas sponsored walk for local charities in Deal and Hastings.

The Stroll for St Michaels and Martha – is a three day overseas sponsored walk which raises funds for St Michaels Hospice and Martha Trust.

Boulogne to Le Touquet is the 5th sponsored walk overseas for St Michaels Hospice and 2008 will be the third time that funds have also been raised for Martha Trust. This year the walk takes in some stunning countryside as it wends its way along the coastal footpath between Boulogne and Le Touquet.

The walk will cover some beautiful French countryside and pass many places of historic interest en route. There are also a number of refreshment stops along the route and the overnight base will provide ample opportunities to sample the local cuisine.

The event is perfect for people of all ages and families are welcome to participate. The route is primarily flat and with a longest day mileage of around 15 miles, only a basic minimum level of fitness would be required.

If you can raise the minimum amount in sponsorship, places on the Stroll is fully funded. This is now a really popular event and as well as being a great weekend away, it’s a superb opportunity to demonstrate support for both St Michaels Hospice and Martha Trust in a healthy and fun way.

The Stroll takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend with a coach departure from Hastings and Dover on Saturday morning – returning to the towns on Monday evening.
In addition to the coach, back-up vehicles will also carry basic first aid facilities and refreshments will be available at regular stops along the way. All meals, accommodation and refreshments for the duration of the walk are provided.

For more information, contact The Event Manager today.

From Calais to Boulogne - on foot!

2008-01-23T23:29:00.001-08:00

Looking for a teambuilding event with a difference?

How about a three day walk between the two French ports of Calais and Boulogne?

The towns of Calais and Boulogne are around 25 or so miles apart by road - but a comfortable but more interesting walk of two to two and a half days separates them. They are linked together by a coastal footpath which provides for a breathtaking walk with views over the surrounding countryside and, of course, across the English Channel. In addition to walking, we can build into the programme a wide range of teambuilding tasks - with plenty of opportunities for themeing as the route passes many places of historic interest.

We also build in a number of refreshment stops along the way and the two overnight stops also provide ample opportunities to sample the local cuisine and to enetertain or educate. The event is perfect for people of all ages and although we would describe the route as undulating, with a longest day mileage of around 15 miles, only a basic minimum level of fitness would be required.

Our Calais to Boulogne teambuilding events includes:

Transport to and from France
Accommodation, meals plus drinks and refreshments en route
Back- up transport throughout the duration of the event
Celebratory lunch in Boulogne
The services of a back-up crew and guides
A daily goody bag plus a commemorative tee shirt

The Calais to Boulogne route has always been our most popular overseas events and those who join us can expect some stunning scenery, some good company and a great social experience.

For more information, on using walking as a teambuilding event, contact us today.

All set to Pedal to Dieppe

2008-01-11T02:39:00.000-08:00

Details have been announced of a three day sponsored cycle ride to the French port of Dieppe to raise funds for the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link.

The Pedal for Sierra Leone will cover some beautiful countryside on both sides of the Channel and take in many places of historic interest en route. There are also a number of refreshment stops along the route making the event suitable for cyclists of all abilities. The overnight base in Dieppe will also provide ample opportunities to sample the local cuisine.

The event is perfect for people of all ages and families are welcome to participate. The route allows for relatively easy cycling, with most of the route in France using a purpose-built cycle roadway.

If you can raise the minimum amount in sponsorship, your place on the Pedal is fully funded.

Organiser Martin Burke from event managers Nice Work, a Diligence sister company, says “This should prove a really popular event and as well as being a great weekend away, is a superb opportunity to demonstrate support for the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link.”

The Pedal for Sierra Leone takes place over the second May Bank Holiday weekend with a departure from Hastings Pier on Saturday May 24th – returning to the town by the Monday evening.

Back-up vehicles will carry basic first aid and cycle repair resources and refreshments will be available at regular stops along the way. Your ferry crossing, all meals, accommodation and refreshments for the duration of the cycle are provided.

For more information, contact organisers Nice Work on 01797 230730; email info@nice-work.org.uk or visit http://www.nice-work.org.uk/

What's your era?

2008-01-07T06:32:00.000-08:00

Finding the right music for your conference or training event can be difficult. The choice of music is subjective - and if you have delegates covering a wide age range it can be tricky finding common musical tastes!

We organise entertianment at many events and in our experience, deciding the musical input is often made easier by getting some agreement on musical tastes by era. So, a good old fashioned Rock 'n' Roll band playing 1950's covers usually apeals to most tastes - although, naturally, the more mature will find it more to their liking. One of the best 50's rockabilly band around, Lucky Strike are on our recommended list as are The Drifters - still drifting after more than 50 years!

Similarly there are some great bands from the 1960s still touring and playing to the coporate market. Bands such as The Merseybeats and The Searchers, after some 40 years on the road know just how to put a great show on - and, of course, the music is considered by some to be timeless!

Moving on to the 70's and its an opportunity for Glam Rock and Glitter to make an appearance - the choice of original artists isn't as great as it could be, but, once again, if you're to pick an original artist rather than tribute, you're pretty certain to get highly polished entertainment. We've used bands such as The Rubettes - and they certainly know how to put on a show! Remember those white caps? Well they're still around.

Then its on to the 80's, a much-maligned era but one that is now providing some great acts for the corporate market - there are enough Bee Gees, Elton John, Eagles and Bon Jovi tribute acts to fill a Convention Hall and bands such as Go West and Haircut 100 are now available again.

The problem era though is the 1990's - with a paucity of both original artists and good tribute bands available. That said, tributes such as Fake That and Noasis are still good enough to provide great post conference entertainmnet.

If you'd like to know more about choosing the right entertainment for your event, why not get in touch with us?

Racing for fundraising

2008-01-07T06:30:00.001-08:00

Over some twenty years in the event business, we have helped numerous charities, good causes and community groups to raise some substantial funds through some imaginative events.

One of our specialities is organising road running events. We currently manage some eight different road racing events - covering distances from 5K through to half marathon.

Road running is a specialist area of event management and organisers really need to be experienced to maximise the benefits both to particpants as well to the beneficiaries. In addition to an established marketing programme to attract particpants, including a substantial database of runners, we have experienced marshals and officials to help ensure the event runs smoothly as well as the neccessary timing and results software.

Our next event is the Lydd Half Marathon which takes place on March 9th 2008. The race was once one of the most popular road running events in the Kent, regularly attracting large numbers of runners from all over the world, until the race ceased in the mid 1990's. It is being held in conjunction with Lydd Town Council and will be looking to raise funds for the Mayor of Lydd's designated local charities and good causes.

If you'd like to discuss staging a road running race to raise funds for your charity or organsiation, then get in touch with us and we'll see if we can help.

Where will you take your company in 2008?

2008-01-03T01:19:00.001-08:00

After more than 20 years of managing and organising events both in the UK and overseas, our Events team has built up a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise that’s second to none.

This year we will be working on events throughout the UK and in locations throughout Europe – from the Arctic Circle to Southern Ireland! We are experienced at presenting and arranging sales, staff and management conferences and we also manage and organise customer and staff incentive and hospitality programmes.

We work closely with all our clients providing a high level of personal service to ensure that your event goes exactly to plan. We believe that sound preparation and strong management are preferable to luck, a wing and a prayer!Over the last 20 or so years, we've worked in most major European locations and we can advise on a wide range of activities to interst or excite your customers or staff. In addition to getting you and your guests to the venue, we can arrange a comprehensive social programme around your meeting - to include teambuilding, sporting and social events such as golf, maybe a theatre trip, fine dining and hospitality.

Our marketing background means we are able to offer a meeting planning service which can include assistance with your presentations as well as hosting and facilitating services. Plus we can help with putting together all the communications required to ensure that everybody arrives on time and in the right place!

(Above: Tromso in the Arctic Circle - one of our 2008 destinations)

If you're thinking of some interesting destinations for your company this year, why not take a look at some of our 2008 ideas?

Sales incentive programmes

Incentives are a speciality of ours and, in addition to destination and location management, we provide a comprehensive marketing and communications service to participants as well as the delivery of all the awards. Recent promotions that we've managed on behalf of clients include those providing a top prize of a weekend in Europe plus a host of Experience Days including Clay Pigeon Shooting, Driving a Ferrari and Wine Tasting! Each of the Experience Days is also personally managed by ourselves to ensure that our client’s interests are best served.

This year we are organising group travel to locations in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Italy and Ireland – that’s so far! Northern Europe offers superb value for money at the moment and a meeting in Bruges, Le Touquet or Brussels can often work out cheaper than some local venues. And don't be put off by numbers - we have taken groups as small as four for sales, management and partner conferences and meetings.

Meeting in Bruges

We are frequent visitors to Bruges and our clients always thoroughly enjoy their stay in the 'Venice of the north'. Bruges offers some great value meeting facilities and there are a number of high quality hotels that are ideal for meetings and sales conferences of all sizes. With a journey time of just over the hour from Calais by road it's a very 'do-able' short visit destination. Flights to Ostend airport also leave you with a quick transfer time to the city centre.

A two day/one night meeting in Bruges is available on a budget as little as £150 per person, including transport to Bruges, meeting facilities and overnight accommodation. Out of hours socialising is great in Bruges with some superb restaurants, bars and, of course, delightful shopping!

If Bruges appeals why not consider combining a staff, management or client trip to coincide with the Christmas Markets? It might seem a long way off - but there's no substitute for long-term planning!!

Minimum numbers 4

Meeting and fine dining in Northern France

One of our favourite locations in France is Montreuil-sur-Mer and we've been taking groups for both business and social purposes to this lovely walled town for many years now.

Montreuil is situated an hour from the channel ports and whilst it can be reached with ease for a one day trip, overnight is better! The town has a fabulous reputation for its restaurants and its proximity to Le Touquet makes it an ideal destination for those who wish to combine business with a spot of golfing.

Minimum numbers 12

A Day at the Races

There’s not a lot to beat a day at the races! Goodwood, Folkestone, Epsom, Plumpton – and other courses are available for midweek or weekend trips. Our minimum numbers are low with party sizes of just 15 available. A Day at the Races not only offers the very best in top-class racing, but will be one of the highlights of your organisation’s social calendar.

We will arrange transport and your day can start with breakfast, lunch or supper so that we arrive in good time for the first race. We’ll arrange tickets including access to your preferred viewing areas, including the Parade Ring and Winners Enclosure.

Your Day at the Races package includes:

Luxury coach transport to and from your chosen location
Welcome aboard pack – including free goodies
Admission to the racecourse
The services of guides throughout the trip
Optional meals en route or picnic

At the end of the meeting, we will return you safely home – or you can continue the entertainment with post race dinner or entertainment. Each of our Day at the Races events is a bespoke service – designed to suit the needs of you and your guests.

Some other great ideas to think about

We also have some great itineraries for Ireland, Holland, Iceland and Germany - and we can also put together some exciting programmes in some great value city destinations overseas such as Prague, Warsaw, Krakow and Lisbon.

Why not contact us for a chat about the location of your next customer or staff incentive event?

Christmas is coming ....

2007-12-12T06:53:00.000-08:00

We've almost finished our Christmas season and we're delighted to have been involved in a number of different types of events.

In the Nice Work (a Diligence sister company) diary this month we have a couple of shopping/wine and dine trips to Northern France. Channel hopping will always be popular here in the south east, with a number of companies using it as a vehicle for client entertaining and staff rewarding. Our favoured destinations are Northern France, using Montreuil-sur-Mer and Le Touquet as a base, and Bruges.

We've also got Christmas Quizzes, Race Nights, Casino Nights - and even a night of Snail racing for one Kent-based client.

So, if you’re looking for something different to reward or entertain your staff or clients, you should talk to Diligence. We’ve got the ideas, we’ve got the experience; and we’ve got a pricing structure to suit all budgets.

We can help you devise a special incentive scheme for your clients or customers, providing guidance on setting your objectives and measurement criteria as well as sourcing the rewards to fit within your budget, whether these are gift or experience based.

Diligence can manage the communications and keep you informed through effective reporting of what items have been used, how many and at what value.

For experienced based rewards, we can offer a range from Party events to special overseas conference and incentive trips.

Our free venue-finding service will help find the right place for you to celebrate your event for staff and customers. We actively manage the arrangements both prior to the event and on the night, to ensure that your function meets all your objectives.

For more information, click here to visit http://www.diligencegroup.co.uk/

The thrill of the turf!

2007-11-30T05:37:00.000-08:00

We have extensive experience of working with companies on entertainment evenings and entertaining clients - and, indeed we have over 20 years experience of working with clients in many different industry sectors.

On the other hand we also have many years experience of presenting entertaining, fundraising events for charities, community groups and social clubs. For instance, our Race Nights are extremely popular and we are one of the leading presenters of Race Nights in the south east.

We have successfully adapted the Race Night formula into an entertaining team-building or corporate event. An evening with a mixture of races - including horse, pig and dog races - is an entertaining way to socialise with clients or colleagues.

We provide branded 'Fun Money' and chips for your guests to use - either betting as individuals or betting in syndicates. We also offer a wide range of betting options including Win and Each Way bets; Dual Forecast (bet on the first two horses to finish the race); a Jackpot and an accumulator on two or more races.

Written instructions are provided for guests and we also, if required, provide a running score of winnings so that your guests can see how they are performing in relation to their competitors. There is an element of skill - not just betting (which is pure chance) but on choosing both they type of bet and how much to place on each bet to maximise their chances of finishing ahead of their competing syndicates.

We provide suitable prizes for the winning punters or syndicates - and we also present booby-type prizes for during the evening. We will also provide each syndicate with a Race Card - with race sponsors and horse names that are branded to the company and its guests and which are appropriate to the evening - allowing you to name horses or owners after your guests or their companies. If you are using syndicates, we can also provide signage for you.

The cost for such an evening is relatively modest and includes all the personalised race cards and branded fun money.

Certainly worth considering as part of your 2008 entertaining or teambuilding plans.

Montenegro

2007-08-14T02:07:00.001-07:00

A recent visit to Przno in Montenegro proved that old habits die hard in these former Yugoslav republics!

We arrived in Przno in the early hours of Saturday morning after a three hour flight and a three hour road journey from Dubrovnik which involved crossing the Croatia/Montenegro border. Now, we would hate to reopen old wounds but it isn't five minutes since these two states were part of the same country but you'd think they'd give something up for the sake of good neighbourlyness wouldn't you?

Not a bit of it.

A queue as long as the Adriatic just to cross the border with forms and God knows what else needed. And when we arrived it was like living in a good old-fashioned pre-Cold War state beurocracy. Not one public servant weencountered is able or willing to break into a smile. A four mile stetch of beach and surrounds is out of bounds due to a Government official having his holidays in the place!

But that was nothing to the return journey to Dubrovnik - which took five hours! The border queue was even longer. A great shame because first and last impressions are so important - and I'm afraid our stay was overshadowed by an unneccessary focus on bearocracy.

Whic is a great shame because Montenegro is a stunning country - worth a try if you can stomach the queues to get in!!

Slovenia - an undiscovered jewel?

2007-08-14T02:05:00.000-07:00

The opening up of new low-cost flight routes to Eastern Europe and the Balkan states now offers the business and leisure traveller a host of new destinations to choose from.

Slovenia is a relatively new country - but with a rich history. A recent visit to Ljubljana for a site visit has convinced us that here is a great place for conferences, incentive groups or simply as a short-break destination.

EasyJet flies to LJ on a regular basis and the city offers all the friendliness of a small town and at the same time everything that a capital should offer. Apart from the remains of the Romans, it boasts a medieval castle and numerous old city centre Baroque buildings with uneven roofs and richly decorated façades and portals. The mosaic of Ljubljana is completed by picturesque bridges across the Ljubljanica river and the vast Tivoli park, which extends to the very city centre.

Ljubljana is a city of culture, which, among other things, boasts one of the oldest philharmonic halls in the world. Every year it hosts more than 10,000 cultural events ranging from concerts, theatre performances and fine art exhibitions, to avant-garde events.

One of the delights of strolling through the city on an evening is the almost complete absence of hordes of British youths taking advantage of the low flight costs and cheap drink. In fact, eating, drinking and staying in Ljubljana is still much lower than almost all other European capitals - and that is despite its membership of the Euro.

Away from the capital, one must-visit place for your itinerary is Bled with its stunning lake and castle. A walk around the lake is a pleasnt way to spend an hour - and if you're feeling energetic then you can take a rowing boat to the island in the lake and visit the pretty chapel.

Hotel accommodation in Slovenia is comfortable and there are some great deals available on conference venues.

If you'd like more information on Ljubljana or Slovenia then contact Nice Work today.

The new Wembley - a great experience. Almost!!

2007-07-28T01:14:00.001-07:00

We visited the new Wembley Stadium recently for a music event.

It truly is a fantastic venue and destined to become just as iconic as the old twin towers. It really was a delightful experience once you reached the stadium - but first you had to reach the thing!

Having a 'car-free' venue is a wonderful idea and one that we could all subscribe to - if the infrastructure was there to support the concept. It might surprise the London-centric numpties who rule the Capital's roads via Transport for London, but, there are still many areas of the country that has no public transport.

And so, transport to the capital has to be by road.

So, what should we do?

We could drive to the outskirts of London and use public transport for the rest of the journey? Many people at the event we attended did just that - and were dismayed to hear, after entering the stadium, that return transport to London on the tube from the stadium station, was unavailable 'due to technical difficulties'!!!

Of course, you can always persevere and drive all the way to Wembley - but, not only is the stadium a 'car-free' zone, the entire area is 'parking-free'!!

An aggressive anti car philosophy is in evidence - with some of the rudest traffic wardens we have ever encountered not only refusing to help with information - but actually refusing to speak to drivers!

So, Wembley Stadium and you transport planners - if you do want to persist with your anti-car policy, for goodness sake, get your act together and give us a fighting chance!

Event accessibility

2007-07-28T00:35:00.001-07:00

We came across this useful checklist for event organisers looking to ensure that accessibility for disabled people meets acceptable standards. Whilst facilities for disabled guests are infinitely better than they used to be, there's still an awful long way to go!

If you'd like advice on ensuring your event meets standards, why not contact an experienced event management company for advice and help?

Transport

Does the venue provide accessible transport for disabled people or know where to obtain it?
If accessible transport is not readily available, can it be organised when asked for, or tell someone where to get it?

Parking

Does the venue have designated accessible parking and dropping off points?
Locate accessible spaces on the shortest possible safe route to an accessible building entrance, recommended 45m max.
If more than one entrance, distribute spaces among parking areas.

Approach

Is the approach leading to the venue accessible and easy to traverse?
An accessible approach is one that is clearly signed, well lit, without obstruction or uneven surface, and with a minimum width of 1800mm and distance to parking bay no greater than 45m.
If stepped, then a ramped approach must be available with handrails if required.

Entrances

Are all entrances to the venue accessible and easy to use?
Is the call entry system easy to locate and use?
Is the entrance signed and well lit?
Does the entrance have a minimum width of 800mm with a flat threshold?
Are there clear 'push' and 'pull' signs or symbols on doors?

Reception

Is the reception accessible and easy to use by a disabled person?
Is the reception desk usable by a wheelchair user?
Can a wheelchair user turn around in the reception lobby?
Is the call for assistance facility accessible?

Corridors

Are corridors accessible and easy for disabled people to move around the building?
Corridors require a minimum width of 1200mm with passing places of 1800mm. They should be clear of obstruction, well lit and signed.
Visual, auditory and tactile guides assist movement and orientation, e.g. colour schemes, decor, tactile floor changes, handrails.

Doorways

Are doors and doorways accessible to disabled people?
Doorways should be a minimum of 800mm with flush threshold.
The door furniture must be easy to use and in contrast to the door.
Doorways and doors should be colour contrasted to the surrounding floor and walls.

Signs

Are functional and directional signs accessible and usable by disabled people?
People need clear information about the purpose and layout of buildings.
Often visual information is reinforced by audible and tactile information.
Effectiveness is determined by: location, layout, height, font size, colour and finished surfaces of materials.

Stairs

Are stairs or steps usable by disabled people?
Stairs & steps require contrasting nosing with handrails that guide and assist disabled users.

Lifts

Are accessible lifts provided for upper floor access?
Accessible lifts require: minimum of 1700mm by 1700mm clear floor space outside lifts to aid wheelchair manoeuvrability.
Lift doors should be highlighted and stay open for a minimum of 20 seconds.
The lift car should be a minimum 1100mm wide and 1400mm deep with a mirror on rear wall.
Lift doors should have minimum clear opening 800mm.
Controls should be at usable height, tactile and with audible announcements.

Ramps

Are ramps provided for changes in level or where there is a stepped approach and no alternative access?
It is preferable to have both steps and ramp.
The gradient for the ramp should be 1 in 20 up to 10m.
Shorter distances of under 2m can be 1 in 12.

Toilets

Do you provide accessible toilet facilities?
Accessible toilets require space to turn around and transfer (min 1500mm by 2200mm), which can be from the right or left.
If two accessible toilets are provided then both options can be provided.
Grab rails, emergency cords and doors that open outwards with accessible handles are required.

Refreshments

Is the provision of refreshments accessible?
Refectory, dining rooms, sandwich bars, coffee areas, vending machines all need to be accessible.
Alternative dietary requirements need to be catered for.

Telephones

Are the telephones accessible?
Public telephone should be angled and located between 750 mm and 1000 mm above the floor.
A clear space of at least 1350 mm x 1200 mm should be provided within a telephone booth.
Handsets require large buttons, amplified earpiece and able to work with induction loop.

Procedures

Are procedures in place to ensure the safe egress of all users?
Procedures must be in place to assist disabled people who are not familiar with the building and require assistance to leave the building.
Fire procedures must be available in alternate formats, and included in introduction to event.

Alarms

Are there visual, auditory and vibrating alarms?
In areas where disabled people may be alone, such as toilets, flashing fire alarm beacons connected to the fire alarm system should be installed.
For some people with no auditory access, the installation of a vibrating fire pager is recommended.

Exits

Are emergency exits accessible to disabled people?
Are exit routes clearly signed, unlocked and free of obstacles?
Do exit doors open outwards with minimum of 900mm clear passage width and flat/ramped egress to Fire Assembly Points?

Refuges

Are accessible refuges provided for disabled people in an emergency?
Refuges are fire-protected areas providing sufficient space to enable people to wait in safety.
Refuges are primarily designed for people who are unable to use stairs or experience difficulty leaving buildings in an emergency without assistance.

Access Technology

Does the venue provide access technology and equipment so disabled people can take part fully in the training?
Equipment such as: thick black pens for signing or writing, different coloured paper, magnifier, clipboard, CCTV, Induction loops.
Access technology such as: voice synthesiser software, large print screen software, voice recognition software, laptops.

Environment

Is the environment supportive to disabled clients taking part in your service? E.g. noise reduction - low background noise, floor coverings, curtains - controllable temperature and ventilation, good natural and artificial light, adjustable blinds, and suitable colour schemes?

Furniture

Is the furniture provided at venue usable by disabled people, e.g. desks, tables and seating?
Suitable means variable height, adjustable back and arm support.
Desks and tables for wheelchair users should be at a height of 725 - 750mm with a minimum knee space under the desk of 800mm wide, 500mm deep (630mm preferred) & 700mm high (720mm preferred).

Layout

Is the layout and organisation of the training rooms suitable for disabled people?
Can someone who uses walking sticks or a frame, or is a wheelchair user move around freely and without hindrance?
Can the layout of the seating and presentation equipment be arranged to maximise disabled people's participation?

Accommodation

Is the accommodation accessible and usable by disabled people?
Consider the journey, for example: getting to the room, getting in and out, moving around inside, using the facilities (such as telephone, tea-making, television, bathroom), and getting out in an emergency.

Access requirements

Does the venue or training provider check out delegates for access requirements before event and at start of event?
Are access requirements of delegates asked for and acted upon by training provider and venue provider before the event?
Adjustments include: timing, frequency of breaks, alternative format materials, alternative seating, place and method of delivery, the amount and complexity of information.

Assistance

Are venue staff confident and competent to assist disabled people?
Such as 'spotting when assistance is really required', 'establishing the access required', 'enabling independent use of service', and knowing when to say 'no'

Feedback

Do you monitor satisfaction of your service and research the reasons why disabled delegates are dissatisfied?
By monitoring the service provided to disabled people by the venue, there will be an opportunity to increase inclusion at three critical points: a) at promotion - your promotional material is not accessible or available, b) at first contact - delegates' first experience of the venue and training puts them off, and c) after bad experience - something happens that makes them feel excluded or not welcome.

Slovenia - a little jewel

2007-07-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

The unification of Europe, both politically and economically, together with the explosion of cheap air travel has helped fuel a huge increase in air travel. And whilst visitor numbers to the traditional favourites such as Spain and France show no signs of abating, the opening up of the former Eastern Europe has presented some new and exciting locations for corporate and leisure travel.

Unfortunately the launch of EasyJet and Ryanair routes to new cities does tend to lead to a quick switch in favoured destinations for stag and hen parties and we have all seen the effects of the stag phenomena on Dublin, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Prague, Talinn et al.

Slovenia still remains a wonderful antidote to much of modern Europe's crowds and high prices - and on a recent visit there was a refreshing lack of gangs of young alcohol-fuelled Brits. Ljubljana is a wonderful city - a mix of Prague and Budapest - but without the hordes of tourists. It is fairly typical of the rest of the country - very green, very clean, very friendly and very reasonable! Indeed, Slovenia must be one of the few countries within the cursed Euro zone not to have signalled its introduction as a passport to riches. Hotels, travel, restaurants and socialising are all available without the need for wallet-busting budgets.

It makes such a refreshing change to eat out and enjoy superb food and wine - and still get a bargain to boot!

In addition to Ljubljana we also visited the stunning Lake Bled. It's a dangerous place mind you - it can be romantic! The small church on the island in the middle of the lake is reached either by Gondola-type boats or you can propel yourself by rowing boat. According to local tradition, a husband who can carry his newly married bride the 99 steps up from the dock into the church will be ensured a happy marriage, and ringing the bell in the church will make your dreams come true. From the lake, take a look around at the wonderful views of Bled Castle set against the backdrop of the Julian Alps. Bled is a popular destination for walkers, cyclists and for those just looking for a place to relax.

Slovenia, Ljubljana and Lake Bled are extremely cost-effective destinations for corporate visits - with incentives and conferences here likely to make less of an impact on your budget. Travel time to Ljubljana is less than 2 hours from London and there are a number of very good quality business hotels offering superb conference facilities.

Slovenia is well worth a visit - and if you'd like some ideas for your next business event, conference or incentive, why not contact us?

Looking for music?

2007-07-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

You know you don't have to spend the earth on providing good quality music for your event. there are some great bands and singers out there - and costs are still not rising. In fact a decent live band can be yours for less than the cost of plastic disco!!

We've worked with a few artistes over the last month or so who would be ideal for private, corporate or fundraising evenings.

Looking for a Commitments tribute evening? We've found the best!

Looking for a themed rockabilly/50's rock 'n' roll evening? Two great bands we've used - at a price that leaves you with more to spend on dressing up your venue?

Or maybe you're looking for country? We've worked with the best country entertainer in the business!

You know you can't beat live music - so throw away those backing tracks; ditch the disco - and get some good live music to liven up your next event.

Whatever your theme or music needs, why not have a word?

Add a touch of Monte Carlo to your event

2007-07-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

This summer we've noticed a rise in the number of private functions looking to incoporate a Casino into their celebrations. Historically, Casino Nights have always been considered out of the budget range of most private functions and instead have developed within the corporate/major fundraising sector.

Now, you can incorporate a Casino Night at a price that has brought weddings, birthday celebrations and other private events into the reckoning.

Over the last four weeks, we have run casinos at weddings, birthday parties and golf club social functions - and we've held them in clubs, hotels and even a pub!

A Casino Night can add a real touch of sophistication to your event – we have roulette and blackjack tables to offer a hint of Monte Carlo to your guests. They are ideal for raising money for good causes and and they’re great to support cabaret evenings, dinners, discos and other social occasions.

We have all the equipment you need and our package comes complete with an MC and croupiers. If you want to maximise your fund raising or minimise your costs, a budget casino night is just for you – simply provide us with tables and we’ll bring along croupiers, roulette wheels and cloths, blackjack cloths and, of course, plenty of chips.

Normally we provide branded fun money which can be exchanged for £100 in chips. Guests then play with these chips to see who ends up with the most money at the end of the session - with the winner picking up a prize.

They're great fun and getting more and more popular - probably because of the rise in popularity of Poker.

You can find more details here.

Fumbling in the dark!

2007-05-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

We took a group of runners and their friends to Luxembourg a week or so ago. The three day, two night weekend centered on the ING Night Run in Luxembourg - a fantastic event which attracts a high quality field of athletes as well as thousands of social and club runners looking to take part in a fairly unique event. Runners have a choice of three races - the marathon, the half marathon or a 4.4K mini marathon and the atmosphere in the city and, in particular, in the Stadium is simply electric!

Take a look here and sample something of the atmosphere at the finish.http://www.finisherclip.com/en/previews/index/10/F13183/DSL/links

The event is scheduled to become one of the best of its kind in Europe - the organisation is good and the city really embraces the runners and their friends to create a vibrant and friendly atmosphere. And because the city also hosts a Samba Festival over the weekend of the Marathon, the course is littered with bands, singers and dancers.

It is without a doubt one of our favourite trips of the year - and we never fail to have 100% satisfaction from our guests and clients. One of the reasons for this is our selected hotel partner in Luxembourg. We stay at the 4 star Mondorf Parc Hotel in Mondorf-les-Bains, close to the German and French borders. This hotel is simply stunning! Set in acres of woodland, close to the wine growing area of Remich (home of the fabulous Cremant wines) on the banks of the Moselle, the Mondorf offers a range of health, beauty, wellness and sporting facilities that is difficult to match. Swimming pools, saunas of every conceivable kind, gymnasiums, massage facilities, tennis - in fact, you name it - it's probably at the Mondorf!

It's because of hotels such as the Mondorf Parc, combined with the low prices in the country, that Luxembourg is such great value for conferences, meetings and events. Meeting facilities are great at this hotel - and there are numerous opportunities for teambuilding and other group activities.

The problem is, I suppose, that Luxembourg always seens to be further away than it should be but the journey is well worth it. Not only is the country beautiful, with fabulous restaurants, good shopping and pretty sights to see, but their renowned and friendly fiscal regime in the allows for some great deals - thanks to those low taxes. Hotels offer superb value for money and eating and drinking out is comfortably within most budgets - "More to the point" as one of our guests, with his priorities firmly in place, pointed out "you'll find the cheapest mini bars in the world in Luxembourg"! Not sure about that claim - but the last time I saw a beer in a 4 star hotel mini bar priced at £1 was before I could even drink the stuff!!

So what else has Luxembourg to offer?

Well, first of all you do have to get there - and, to be fair, it isn't the easiest place to fly in to - flight choices are limited in comparison with other near-European capitals. But it isn't a bad journey by road, with a good Executive coach taking a shade over 4 hours from Calais. With a stop for a break en route, it makes the country quite accessible - no airport queues, check-ins or security! For the return journey, a stop in Bruges for lunch and some shopping is usually popular.

Once you get there you'll be struck by the size of the country - after all, it is possible to have breakfast in Germany, lunch in France, dinner in Belgium, and still be home in time for a nightcap in the bar (incidentally, we do have a lovely restaurant that we use in Germany!). The capital is a 1000-year-old fortress city with some impressive old ramparts - colloquially known as "Europe's most beautiful balcony".

The main centre is compact and best seen on foot - cobbled streets, historical buildings, museums and art galleries blend with contemporary boutiques and outdoor cafés, to give the place a unique charm. Luxembourg's parks and gardens spill out from the Old Town and make this an ideal walking city -especially the stunning Pétrusse Valley -200 feet lower than the main town.

So, why not have a look at Luxembourg - for your next meeting, conference or event? And, if you'd like any help or advice - you know who to talk to! eMail me on info@nice-work.org.uk

There's no place like ..... Montreuil-sur-Mer

2007-05-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

We've said it before and we'll say it again - one of the most beautiful places in Northern France is but an hour's drive from Calais.

We visited Montreuil-sur-Mer once again this month - this time it was to take a group of runners, their friends and families to take part in the Ramparts 10K. This popular road race takes place in and around this walled town and its ramparts and traditionally attracts very few British runners. However, since Nice Work began taking runners to this lovely town we've noticed an increase in the number of Brits turning up to run - a number of whom are there thanks to seeing our advertising of the event!

This year we enjoyed lovely weather, a fine meal at le Coquempot, with who we dine a number of times a year - and then our traditional Sunday morning 10 mile walk to lunch in Etaples!

Montreuil is great for wine and dine weekends, for wine tastings, for golfers and their partners - or simply for those who like to sit and watch the world go by.

You should visit.

Let us know if you need any help or advice!

London v Paris - no contest!

2007-05-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

April saw us take in the London Marathon - but not, this time, as spectators but as particpants. That gave us a unique opportunity to compare the London Marathon against the Paris Marathon - and I'm afraid that there's just no contest! London beats its French rival hands down I'm afraid!

Why?

Organisation, crowd support, atmosphere - you name it, the French just can't come anywhere near London for the ability to put on a world class event!

For a mile by mile report on this year's London Marathon, why not visit our old friend Ron?http://www.ronhillsalterego.blogspot.com

Passionate about teambuilding

2007-05-29T08:23:00.000-07:00

We are passionate about encouraging teamworking and developing teambuilding skills.

We have undertaken team building assignments for many clients over the last fifteen years but one of our regrets is that the phrase 'teambuilding' has been hijacked and, to many, means a day away from the office with a spot of go-karting!

Teambuilding is much more than a day behind the wheel of a vehicle - and a good job too, with the prices of these corporate days now making a serious dent in budgets. We much prefer to concentrate on helping our clients achieve a positive and more beneficial relationship between staff, particularly those from the geographically disparate parts of the organisation - without the need to spend thousands. But that's not to say our teambuilding exercises are not fun!

For any business unit, particularly those working to tight deadlines or seeking to achieve targets, the ability to work effectively as part of a team is an essential skill. The successful development and adoption of team skills will also enhance the knowledge base of the organisation and will encourage individual professional development.

The key to the success of any teamworking exercises is that staff are made aware of the positive benefits of certain practices, agree to adopt them and are then made to assume responsibility for maintaining and advancing these practices within their respective teams.

The aim of our teambuilding programmes is to convince staff of the need for team skills and of their own personal responsibility in applying them within their own team environments by:

1. Motivating staff and demonstrating the importance of effective teamworking

2. Providing practical examples of how teams should work together

3. Imposing responsibility for maintaining good team practices

4. Providing a reward structure to demonstrate the value of good team practices

5. Helping staff develop examples of good practice and tricks-of-the-trade

The heart of a teamworking initiative is an attempt to encourage staff to take pride in what they do by focusing not just on their own individual performance but, primarily, on the needs of their customers and others who may be affected by their work performance – such as colleagues in other sections/departments.

We have developed a series of unique teambuilding exercises that focus on performance - by incorporating drama and theatre. Teams are set an assignment to produce a short ‘corporate’ film to show to prospective new business clients - a film that reflects not just the needs of the organisation – but also its strengths and its ethos.

Few parameters are set for teams – but those that are set are vital components and are crucial both to the delivery of the finished film and to how the film is judged. these include:

1. A strict limit on the length of the film – no more than ten minutes

2. A theme. Each team is allocated a theme or genre and the finished product must reflect this. The genre could be generational so that films would reflect changing values and habits. One team could therefore look to produce a Silent Movie; a second team look at producing a film in the style of the 1950’s; a third look at producing a film reflecting modern day attitudes; and a fourth team look to produce a film set in the future. An alternative would be for films to be produced in the style of particular genres – so we could, for instance, have a Spaghetti Western, a James Bond, a Simpsons, a West End Musical or a Humphrey Bogart theme! A third alternative would be to encourage teams to reflect the theatrical nature of their surroundings and look to produce from a particular theatrical style such as Shakespeare or Pantomime.

3. A need to incorporate certain core messages in the film.

The exercise should have as its core objective a desire to promote the values of the organisation underpinned with a need to consider the overall business objectives. The initial – and probably most important – part of the exercise is the planning, with teams encouraged to fully document the content of their film, the objectives and the logistics (scripting etc) of the production. We encourage a formal approach using techniques such as storyboards to allow all team members input into the creative process.

Teams are encouraged to be as creative as possible and include traditional cinema or theatrical techniques such as props, location, music and scripts to produce an entertaining end-product.

We acknowledge that not everybody is comfortable 'performing' which is why there are key roles to play in these exercises for the 'behind camera' crew - direction, production, props, scripting and so on. So there really is a role to play for all team members.

Feedback and comment on the finished product is by way of an Oscar ceremony with all team members present - preferably in a social environment - with a screening of the videos and awards being presented not just for Best Film but for Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Music, Best Costume etc.

We supply some props and all the necessary Oscar paraphernalia – including a red carpet for that photo opportunity – with delegates encouraged to dress for the Oscars!We've used these exercises with great success with a large number of clients - and the feedback has always been excellent.Effective, fun and rewarding team-building - and team building that fits all budgets!

Get in touch if you'd like to know more!

Frankfurt - one big traffic jam?

2007-05-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

To Frankfurt for a trade fair. No matter when you visit this city - or for what event - the place always seems gridlocked!

To be fair most of the major European capital cities suffer from congestion but there's something about this place that really seems to grate! Apart from the odd place around the old part of the city, Frankfurt just seems to reek of Finance and Business - there's none of the Joi de Vie of, say, Paris or Barcelona. It's just business, business, business.

The problem is that whilst everybody seems intent on rushing from one place to another for that next meeting - they can't because the flippin' place has ground to a halt! Shuttle buses from the main Exhibition site in the city to the hotel district were taking up to an hour to cover a distance of no more than a couple of miles.

Frustrating!

However, our stay was brightened by the service we recieved from our hotel hosts for the couple of days we were there. We stayed at the NH Frankfurt City hotel (left) and also enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the newly refurbished Frankfurt Rhein-Main hotel (below) just outside the city. NH are rapidly becoming one of our favourite hotel groups - but to be honest we've had few opportunities to use them - but we have managed at last to match a group with them and we'll be using their Arnhem hotel in November.

We've now stayed with NH in Germany, Holland and the UK - and it's difficult to fault them. If you'd like any information on their services for conferences, meetings or incentive groups, we'd be delighted to tell you more.

But if it's Frankfurt you're looking for - best make your stay as long as you can to cope with that flippin' traffic!

I want somewhere different?

2007-04-10T01:24:00.000-07:00

How many times have we heard that?

You want a meeting or a client event. But not in a hotel. You want somewhere different. But you don't want to pay the earth for it.

We come across some little gems from time to time and one such occasion was last week when we helped a client with a launch event. The venue was the Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux, East Sussex.

The Observatory Science Centre opened in April 1995, in the grounds of the former Royal Observatory. The domes, buildings and telescopes are still in place and the Centre is now a major family visitor attraction. The renovated telescopes provide a great backdrop for meetings and events.

On the night of our event, we were treated to a perfect view of Saturn on a glorious, clear night. The formal part of the meeting was actually held in one of the telescope domes and, following drinks and food, guests were invited to star gaze, accompanied by astronomy experts, using two of the giant telescopes. There are also dozens of hands-on science exhibits which kept guests entertained and amused!

The Science Centre is a great, cost-effective venue for private meetings of up to 50 although larger groups can also be accommodated by arrangement. There are plenty of facilities for team building - both indoor and outdoor - with bags of potential for interactive team challenges or science based activity workshops.

Service from an enthusiastic team of staff and volunteers make this a venue well worth considering.

We have a range of team building and client/staff entertainment ideas which are ideally suited to Herstmonceux – and if you'd like more information on using Herstmonceux - or any of a number of other unusual venues – why not contact Nice Work? http://www.nice-work.org.uk/contact_us.html

Nice Work is also an experienced Delegate Management company with many successful events both in the UK and overseas under our belt. our service is professional and highly personalised.

Why not give us a try for your next event?

A Taste of France

2007-03-21T00:17:00.000-07:00

We spent another very pleasant weekend in Northern France at the weekend.

A programme we have offered for some years now is 'A Taste of France'. Basing ourselves in the walled town of Montreuil-sur-Mer, the gateway to the Cote d’Opal, we offer delegates a brief tour of French gastronomy.

Montreuil has long had a reputation for its beauty, its fine restaurants – and as the setting for the classic Victor Hugo novel Les Miserables. The town is steeped in history and has many sites of historical interest – from the mediaeval walled ramparts to the statue of the British General, Sir Douglas Haig, who set up his headquarters in the town during the First World War. The impressive fortifications offer numerous facilities to walk or stroll and many visitors also take in a visit to the 15th century citadel in the town. Indeed we have used the town as our base for a number of walking expeditions - using the town as a starting point for a programme of walks spread over two and three days.

The town is also known for its floral displays which adorn the streets and squares through the seasons. But it is probably as a centre of gastronomy that most French people will associate Montreuil-sur-Mer - the town being host to many fine restaurants.

The villages and small towns of the area are as charming as the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer and our weekend began in the bustling resort of Le Touquet which is situated just a few minutes drive away. We arrived in Le Touquet in good time to browse the bustling Saturday morning market. Always popular with locals, the market offers a fabulous selection of local delicacies - from locally produced wines and cheeses through to local farmers selling the fruits of their labour. We always pick up a selection of different kinds of bread, a few cakes for those back home - plus some locally prepared olives to nibble on when we return on Sunday evening.
Our hotel for the weekend is the Hermitage which is located in the heart of the historic town of Montreuil, on the site of the Hotel Dieu Hospital, founded in 1200. The hotel was completely renovated in 2002 and is now a lovely, comfortable, well-appointed three star hotel. We have been taking groups to the hotel since the month it opened and we believe it to be one of the best hotels in Northern France - and our guests are always extremely complimentary about it.

The renovation and rebuilding work carried out over the last couple of years isn’t the first time the site has undergone a transformation. Following its foundation in 1200 by the then Lord of Montreuil, it was rebuilt under the expert eye of Napoleon III. Until a few years ago the building was in use as a hospital and the trained eye will spot some of the current architectural features which give way its past – such as the high ceilings, wide corridors and trolley-shaped lifts!

The hotel currently has 57 bedrooms – each equipped with en-suite bathroom, WC, hair dryer, telephone and satellite TV. If guests fancy a stroll the hotel is situated in the centre of town, within easy reach of the shops, bars, restaurants, the market square and the town walls, complete with walks.

On Saturday evening we enjoyed a wine tasting at La Vinophilie – a very pleasant hour tasting a number of wines plus an opportunity for our guests to quiz the knowledgeable proprietor, M Vigneron. Because we had already purchased a wine gift for our guests there was no pressure to buy although so impressed were one or two of our guests that M Vigneron was kept busy wrapping presents. After the wine tasting we headed for Le Coquempot Restaurant for dinner.

Le Coquempot is another popular destination for visitors and whilst there may be better - and more expensive - restaurants in the town, we have always found the restaurant provides us with great food and wine. Other restaurants worth considering - depending on budget - are the Auberge de la Grenouillere and, of course, the Chateau. The in-house restaurant at the Hermitage is also worth a try. Le Jeroboam is, in fact, owned by the son of the owner of the Chateau and leased by him from the hotel.

After a nightcap in the hotel bar our guests had a relaxing Sunday morning with a spot of shopping for bread, cakes and chocolate in the town before we moved on to the coastal resort of Wimereaux where we once again enjoyed a fabulous lunch at the Atlantic Hotel. The weather was extremely stormy, with access to the hotel along the promenade impossible - but the view of the storm from the windows of the cosy restaurant was spectacular.

The whole weekend offers a lovely introduction to the wonderful tastes of France and we have arranged this programme for private groups as well as corporate guests. We can combine a stay with any number of business or social options. Meeting facilities are excellent and Le Touquet also offers good golf and shopping.But the beauty of the package is that it is often priced much, much lower than a similar programme in the UK.

So, if you're looking for a keenly priced meeting, sales or staff conference or simply a looking for a way to reward staff or clients then why not get in touch? and, if walking and eating is your bag - our three day walking breaks are ideal for groups of six or more!

Brrr..ruges!!

2007-03-06T08:40:00.001-08:00

March in Bruges can be a chilly experience - and last weekend was no exception!

We are frequent visitors to Bruges and always thoroughly enjoy the 'Venice of the north'. Over the years we have used the city as a location for meetings and incentive trips - the city offers some great value meeting facilities and, of course, the 'out of hours' opportunities are as delightful as they are varied. There are a number of high quality hotels that are ideal for meetings and sales conferences and you'll struggle to find a better destination for client and staff entertaining. With a journey time of just over the hour from Calais by coach it's a very 'do-able' short visit destination. Flights to Ostend airport also leave you with a very short transfer time to the city centre.

In 2006 we offered our first programme of trips to the city for Christmas shopping and the Christmas markets and we had a busy December taking groups varying in size from 12 to 50 for a day of shopping, visits to the markets and, of course, some splendid wining and dining! Mind you, we'll be launching our December programme a little earlier this year to get over the problem of tunnel and ferry crossing availability!

Last year we expanded our programme of trips to European road running events with a first time visit to Bruges to participate in the Ostend to Bruges 10 Mile Race - and our group enjoyed it so much we returned there last weekend with another group of 22 enthusiastic runners and their families and friends. These weekends are great fun and very sociable. A reasonably early start from Kent took us over the channel and we arrived in Bruges in good time for lunch and some sightseeing and shopping. The fact that most of the group were running on Sunday morning didn't stop them enjoying an agreeable Saturday Night out at one of the city's institutions de Vlaamsche Pot (below). This long established restaurant serves up a great value fixed menu for groups of all sizes that includes a huge traditional Belgian Carbonade and as many french fries as you can handle - plus unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks. All served in a fabulous atmosphere with great enthusiasm by friendly waiters. Whilst it might not always suit the food connoisseurs - it remains one of Bruges' iconic establishments.

We've also discovered a gem of a restaurant outside the city centre. The Zandwegemolen is a converted - and working - windmill located on the ring road a mile or so outside the centre and we made a return visit for Sunday lunch. It benefits from its slightly out of the way location with its primarily local clientele enjoying some fabulous food and wine - plus the owner's own beer brewed in the cellar. As well as being a great location, serving great food - with seconds enthusiastically offered - and boasting a lovely and gregarious owner, the Zandwegemolen benefits from all-inclusive prices around half that of city centre restaurants.

We now have a number of fixed one, two, three and four day Bruges programmes catering for private groups, incentive groups, meetings and incentives - plus our specialist running and walking groups. This year we're taking a group of 40 to 50 people on a three day sponsored walk in and around Bruges and the Flanders area. The Windmills of Bruges over the August Bank Holiday Weekend is the latest in our programme of escorted, sponsored walks which will also be made available from the summer to private groups of eight or more walkers. We provide all the resources needed to support walkers of all ages, sizes and abilities including back-up vehicles, food and drink. Our visit also coincides with the Pageant of the Golden Tree a spectacular event which takes place in the city every five years and which celebrates the anniversary of the marriage of a Belgian Count with the English Princess Margaret in 1468. This summer sees our 4th overseas sponsored walk and will be raising funds for two well-deserving local charities - St Michael's Hospice, in St Leonards, and Martha Trust which has homes for the profoundly disabled in Deal and Hastings.

We'll be visiting Bruges many more times this year - so if you'd like us to suggest a programme for a trip of any length - be it corporate or private, for business or for pleasure, why not get in touch? http://www.nice-work.org.uk/contact_us.html

Incidentally, we'd like to thank one of our runners, Amanda Wheatley for adding to our Bruges photo library!

Events in East Sussex

2007-02-27T14:44:00.001-08:00

Over the years we have managed many meetings and events in our local area of Hastings and Rye and we often have need of meeting venues for small-ish groups of under 50 delegates.

The area has many splendid venues and some very interesting ones too! Quite often we need only a simple seminar facility with good meeting resources and catering - but other times our clients want us to seek out something with a little bit more character or interest. You'd think that this region of the country would be crying out for meetings business - yet sometimes we wonder!

For a small press launch for a local organisation, we have been looking for an unusual venue and we identified three such venues in the immediate area and called them to ask for prices and details.

Venue Number 1 - "too short notice". This is for a function with just 30 people to be held in mid April!

Venue Number 2 - "New health and safety rules means we can't accomodate people who will be standing still"!!! (this is a venue that has been open to the public since the mid 1850's but which includes a large cave!)

Venue Number 3 - After three phone calls and three emails we're still waiting for details!

But do we despair?

Well, yes we do - but life goes on. We have always tried to support our local region for events both large and small but there does seem to be an attitude issue with some venues. For instance we often take groups to Le Touquet for wine and dine or shopping - or golf breaks. We do so because it represents great value for money and our clients can rely on certain quality standards. Our France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg visits always match client expectations - but what about if the boot was on the other foot?

For instance, wouldn't it be great if we could bring guests from Northern France to this area for wine and dine, shopping or golf? Well, whilst we may get away with the wine and dine - shopping? Golf? Well you try and arrange for guests to play on the famous course at Rye - a course that would appeal to golfers from across the water and, indeed, across the UK. "Sorry - members only"!!

But it isn't just the services that make life diffcult for visitors - for instance Rye's only supermarket has recently changed hands and the new owners refuse to open on Sundays - the local authority has also done its best to discourage visitors with closures of public conveniences and a ridiculous move to close down the Tourist Information Centres.

Is it any wonder that France, Belgium and the rest of Northern Europe is such an attractive destination?

Race Nights - a great fundraising night out

2007-02-20T09:24:00.001-08:00

From now through to the end of Spring we're busy with Race Nights. With all our own equipment, we're ideally placed to help raise funds for community groups, sporting clubs and the like. That said, we have also staged Race Nights as part of corporate functions, as a social break for conference delegates - and even for private parties. Whilst we have travelled as far north as Inverness and as far south as Torquay, much of our work is concentrated in the Social Clubs of London and the south east of England.

If you've not tried them, it's worth considering them - they're great fun and will invariably contribute well to good causes.

Our Race Night is a self contained package of eight races – we supply the races, the equipment, including projector and screen; we also supply a wide range of accessories including free personalised race programmes, sponsor forms and prizes (prizes charged extra). We personalise supervise and manage the evening – including acting as MC. If required we can also operate the Tote at no extra charge. All we ask is for a float!

The races are a mixture of DVDs and videos of British horse races – we also supply a couple of surprise races on the evening. Each race has eight horses – numbered 1 through to 8. Guests then choose which horse they think will win – and place a bet on that number prior to the start of the race. Bets can be either in multiples of 50p or £1 depending on which you think is best suited to your guests. Bets are usually for ‘win only’ - and although no ‘each way’ bets can be placed, we can also incoporate a 'Forecast'.

Profits from the evening come from a percentage of the tote sales – we normally recommend that you retain around 50% of the tote, with the other 50% being returned in winnings.

Each race is selected at random by a member of the audience – so nobody knows which horse will win the race until the film has finished.

If you are planning a Race Night, we offer a comprehensive pre-event service to advise on staging the evening. For instance, we recommend that you look to raise funds in two other important ways. First of all, if you can obtain sponsorship for each of the eight races – we normally recommend around £25 each from local businesses or individuals. Sponsors then have the race named after them – e.g. ‘The Rose and Crown Grand National’.

Secondly you should try and obtain sponsorship for each of the horses in each race – a total of 64 horses. If you can sell these for, say, £2.50 per horse you’ll have another £160 income. The winning ‘owner’ of each horse then wins a prize – which, if you can have them donated will maximise your profit. We normally recommend that these are sold in advance – perhaps to those who cannot attend on the evening – but, if not, we are happy to sell them for you amongst the guests on the evening.

We also suggest, if you have enough people present, that you hold a special Race 9 – an auction race. In this race, each horse is auctioned off to the highest bidder – 50% of the auction takings are retained and the other 50% paid out as a special cash prize to the winning owner.

A typical Race Night should, if it attracts enough people, earn a reasonable amount of profit. Our experience shows that if you have 100 people attending and if you can secure sponsorship, the evening should make between £800 and £1,000 - made up of:

8 races – 4 sponsored at, say £25 = £100
8 horses sponsored in each race – 64 horses at £2.50 each = £160
Surplus of bets placed over winnings paid out (assuming 50p bets), say, £320
Auction Race proceeds – say, £200

This should produce a profit of around £800 on the racing alone, after paying our fee. You can add to this the proceeds from a raffle – which means you could easily make a profit of around £1,000 or more

We can supply you with sponsor sheets in advance of the evening – and don’t forget those personalised race programmes!

If you'd like more information on staging a Race Night, visit the Nice Work website http://www.nice-work.org.uk/race_night_events.html

Brussels - Diplomats, Eurocrats, Beaurocrats - and a great place to meet

2007-02-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

You see, whether you embrace the true European ideal or not; whether you believe the whole EU thing to be the worst ... ah well, let's not go there shall we?

The point is that Brussels does get its fair share of negative connotations - but it's still a great place to meet!It's a pretty city with plenty on offer to suit all tastes and budgets. For one or two day meetings, you have a top selection of hotels and meeting rooms covering an eclectic range of three, four and five star hotels. For longer-stay events there are a number of specialist conference and congress venues and locations.

We visited Brussels last week for the annual EMIF Trade fair and took the opportunity to stay at a new conference and meetings venue - the Dolce La Hulpe - a newly opened facility. Dolce have a number of properties in the US and Europe and claim their target market is both business and leisure.

The hotel, a former IBM Training Centre, had not been open very long when we arrived - a couple of weeks at most - and it showed a little bit, with an army of tradesmen still beavering away around us!

The Dolce, which claims to be Belgium’s first Hotel, Resort & Conference Destination is located 15 km (9 miles) southeast of Brussels City Centre and is situated in the middle of the Sonian forest, surrounded by a huge swathe of green countryside.The airport is also just 9 miles away and for Eurostar passengers, the Midi railway station is a 25 minute drive.

The facilities at the Dolce include:

264 guest rooms and suites
25 meeting rooms including 2 auditoriums (500 seats and 150 seats) and a large 750 m2 multi-purpose area for events & exhibitions
Main restaurant up to 320 guests and a gourmet restaurant up to 54 guests
2 bars, private dining and banqueting rooms
Indoor swimming pool and fitness centre - and, from March 2007, a steam bath & sauna

Onsite sports facilities include 2 tennis courts, a beach volleyball field, fully laid-out jogging trails, mountain biking, golf and horse riding.

We enjoyed a pleasant stay at the Dolce and can appreciate the attractions if you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and if you want your delegates to remain 'on site'. However, if its convenience for the city and all its many attractions you're looking for, maybe you'd be better using one of the many meeting facilities closer to the city.

Brussels is also a great destination for a short break with plenty to see and do in the area. For eating and drinking in a convivial atmosphere, you'll not find many better places in Northern Europe. In addition, of course, its proximity to the UK, with a journey time of just a couple of hours by train - or slightly longer by road - makes it a popular destination.

The bars, restaurants and nightspots of the city are highly atmospheric - and, of course, there's probably no better place to go for a beer! Just north of the Grand Place you'll find the Ilot Sacré – a maze of narrow streets filled with restaurants. Prices make Brussels a cost-effective destination for meetings and incentives - and for short leisure breaks.

Room rates and incidentals are on a par with most other European capitals although it is possible to snap up a bargain when the Eurocrats decamp! Good rates for meetings are also available.

If you'd like more information on Brussels, why not contact Nice Work? You'll find a link to the Nice Work at the foot of the page.

And if you'd like to add your comments about Brussels, we'd love to hear from you!

That New Year Excitement - again!

2007-02-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

Another new year! Our 18th in the business. Ever since we started organising and managing events, we've always looked forward to the new year. There's something about January that brings out the creative in us!

2006 saw us organise events in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. In addition we visited Norway, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland carrying out research on exciting new destinations.

So, we start 2007 with some big ideas and some fresh ideas.

Our overseas schedule for the first half of the year is hectic and includes:

February Brussels for EMIF
March Bruges for the Ostend to Bruges 10 Mile Race
Montreuil-sur-Mer, in Northern France for a corporate wine and dine weekend
April Paris for the Paris Marathon
Frankfurt for IMEX
May Montreuil-sur-Mer for the Ramparts 10K
Luxembourg for the Night Run

In addition we are continuing to plan our late 2007 packages which will, once again, include visits to markets in France and Belgium plus Christmas shopping and wine and dine packages suitable for both private and corporate groups.

Closer to home, January saw us involved in a number of fundraising events including race nights - one for a junior football club in London in mid month raised over £2,000 - a music quiz and bingo night for a Kent school's PTA and casino nights.

Bookings for Race Nights, Quiz Nights, Bingo Nights and Casino Nights remain strong throughout the early part of 2007 and we have only a few Friday and Saturday nights with availability. Bingo Nights are staging something of a comeback and they're proving great fundraisers - particularly for community groups looking for a family night out.

Corporate events tend to be fewer in number in January although we are managing a number of business seminars for one client in East Sussex. Our work involves marketing the events as well as media and pr support. Our delegate management skills are also in demand as we manage meet and greet, delegate registration - and even catering for some of our client's events.

Only one small private event this month. We took a group to Lingfield by coach for the races. We are used to taking groups to some of the larger racecourses such as Goodwood and Epsom - but Lingfield was a really pleasant surprise. Even on a bitter cold Saturday in January the racecourse was welcoming and warm - and we'd have no hesitation in recommending it as a venue for corporate or private entertaining. Let us know if you'd like more information.

We're also looking forward to an interesting February with a book launch, our first overseas visit of the year and the launch of our annual three day overseas sponsored walk which we organise for local charities - this year we base ourselves in Bruges and our visit coincides with the four-yearly pageant held in this wonderful mediaeval city.

More news on this and some more exciting events news soon.