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How to Lower Triglycerides – Cut Down Cholesterol Levels Naturally
Planning to lose weight? Dealing with high blood pressure levels? Did you get your cholesterol levels checked? If not, then do it now. Just make sure to check your triglycerides levels as they can really impact your body to a great extent. Triglycerides are probably one of the reasons why you are overweight keeping aside other factors such as family history and side effects of certain medications. If you want to know how to lower triglycerides, then here are some of the ways, not to mention a natural remedy for cholesterol called CholesLo.
What are triglycerides?
It is important for you to know what triglycerides are and how they affect your body. While limited amount of triglycerides are good for your health, some can increase the chances of getting heart diseases.
Triglycerides is a fat that is seen in your blood. Whenever you consume food, the calories are converted into triglycerides by the body and is stored in your fat cells. It is later on released when you are tired and need a quick boost of energy. But if you consume food more than you can burn especially carb or fatty foods, the level of triglycerides shoots up which can increase your health risk factors.
Just take your lipid profile test which will give you the exact range where you stand. Here are some of the normal to high range.
- Less than 150 mg per deciliter (mg/dl) – normal
- 150 to 199 mg/dl – borderline
- 200 to 499 mg/dl – high
- 500 mg/dl and above – very high
American Heart Association (AHA) says that maintaining a level of 100 mg/dl or low is best for keeping risk factors at bay. This would increase the health of your heart and gives you optimum benefits. All you need to do is make small lifestyle changes and you will notice a change in your body.
Triglycerides and cholesterol:
They are both different things and perform different functions in the body. While the triglycerides utilize the calories and convert them to energy for your body, the cholesterol on the other hand 'makes' the cells and hormones. As they don't dissolve in the bloodstream, they keep circulating in the body and go deposit themselves in certain areas of the body.
Though there are many researches and studies going on, triglycerides may affect the arterial walls and increase the risk of heart diseases. Other diseases include heart disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome which is a combination of conditions such as excess fat in the unwanted areas, high blood pressure or sugar levels and increasing level of triglycerides and cholesterol.
Healthy tips to lower your triglycerides:
Shed that extra pounds: Starting now, target to lose excess weight. Check you BMI and make it a point to lose that abnormal fat from your body. I know the initial week will be tough but with a little persistence and patience, you can lose weight easily which will automatically lower the triglycerides level in the body. This is claimed as one of the effective and natural remedies for cholesterol.
Watch calories: Excess calories can promote cardiovascular diseases, weight gain and many more. As far as possible, keep away from sugar, salt, refined white flour and fried foods that can raise the level of triglycerides.
Limit the cholesterol intake: Do not consume more than 300 mg of cholesterol in a day. Foods such as meats, eggs, dairy products etc. contain saturated fat that can shoot up your LDL cholesterol which can be detrimental.
Fatty foods: Go with unsaturated fat that can be found in peanut, fish or plants that are healthy and can be beneficial for your life. Use replacements such as soya for meat, whole grain products for refined flour or baked goods, yogurt for cheese/butter etc. If at all you want non-vegan foods, fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel) can prove beneficial as it contains potent omega 3 fatty acids that can lower your cholesterol. Trans fat is another type of triglycerides booster that can hinder the normal functions of the body. Normally seen in baked products such as cookies, cakes etc., trans fat can really trigger the triglycerides level even if consumed in small amounts. Though the manufacturers may claim that the product contains less than 0.5 gms, it can still contribute to your weight gain. Stay away from them as a momentary craving can make you pay for you big time.
No bad habits: Cut down on your habits for smoking or drinking. These habits can add up to the stress levels of your body and can raise the level of blood pressure. This in turn can damage your liver, lungs not to mention increase the risk of heart diseases. Alcohol possess good calories that can raise the triglyceride level so even if you drink them in small amounts they can still make a difference in your body.
Pump up: A 30-60 minute of heavy workout can really make a difference in your body. Those increased heart beat, bloods pumping to the heart can be very beneficial and can lower both your triglycerides and cholesterol level. Indulge yourself in any activity that will make you lose your cholesterol level. Take some time off your busy schedule and spend some time for yourself. Even a brisk walk around your neighborhood or taking the stairs for work can really make a difference. Instead of sitting on the couch munching popcorn while watching television, doing some sit ups are also be considered as one of the natural remedies for cholesterol.
Medications for lowering triglycerides:
One of the common medications recommended by many medical practitioners for lowering triglycerides is statins. Almost 90% of the people dealing with high cholesterol pop statins every day. The benefits of statins are well known by all as apart from lowering the cholesterol level, they also control triglycerides. In fact, statin is the only cholesterol medication that can reduce the risk of getting cardio attacks or strokes. Other alternatives for cholesterol are niacin, fibrates etc.
Here comes the downside of statins. Once initiated with statins, you can't get rid of them… ever. That's right. Statins need to be consumed for a prolonged period or can I say, a lifetime. Another bitter fact is statins comes with its share of side effects. Some of the known side effects are digestive problems, pain in body muscles, liver damage, cataracts and many more.
If you are looking for a natural option that can be incorporated in your daily lives, then CholesLo is best advised for you.
Yes, Choleslo is often considered a natural remedy for cholesterol as it arrives with all natural ingredients such as garlic, d-Pantethine, red yeast rice, turmeric, artichoke leaf extract and many more that:
- Cleanses the liver and give you high levels of immunity power that resists any diseases
- Lowers the triglycerides and cholesterol levels with utmost ease
- Energizes your body and works on the muscles to make them strong
- Boosts the HDL that scraps away the LDL cholesterol tartar that forms in the arteries thereby preventing strokes
- Promotes weight loss by stabilizing the triglycerides
- Blocks the cholesterol from circulating in the bloodstream
- Raises the HDL cholesterol level which will prevent atherosclerosis (i.e. hardening of artery)
- The HDL cholesterol prevents the LDL cholesterol from depositing in vital organs and sends it back to the liver where it is reprocessed.
- CholeLlo comes with a money back guarantee in case you are not satisfied with the product. But this is quite rare and can be seen in the positive reviews users provided not just in official websites but in many others, blogs etc.


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clipLog/clipFind is a portable, uncomplicated, no-limits, openSource, Clipboard-based 'Information Manager'.
It runs in stealth mode, and pops-up a Topics-Button-Screen whenever a 'Cntrl+C' copy-text action occurs (from any program). The user then clicks on a Topic-Button to save/file the copied text into that category(Button name). One click does it all.
The user pre-assigns Topic-Button Names, such as: Contacts, Diary, HowTo, Passwords, Reminder, CodeSnippets, etc..
Button names can be changed at any time.
The 'ClipFind search engine' can Find any word or words since day one. And present this information, sorted by both 'oldest date 1st' and 'newest date 1st'.
TTS Text-to-speech, clipLog can SPEAK any/all copied text.
|Runs on:
|WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
|Writes settings to:
|Freeware/Open Source
|How to extract:
|Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch clipLog.exe.
|What's new?
New with v 2.0:
Popup TopicButtons.
Improved SearchEngine.
@ vmars316: Screenshots updated.

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm in Atlanta, and the Falcons play the Saints 9/25 - in New Orleans. New Orleans is my favorite city and it's been a while since I have been. In today's news, it is being reported that U2 will now play at halftime and debut a benefit single, "The Saints are Coming:"
U2 and Green Day will debut their charity cover version of 'The Saints Are Coming' by Scottish punk band The Skids with a live performance on US television later this month.
Billboard reports that the bands will perform the song live at the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on 25 September, where American Football team the New Orleans Saints will play the Atlanta Falcons in a televised game.
Proceeds from the release of 'The Saints Are Coming' will go to Music Rising, an initiative co-founded by The Edge which helps musicians who lost their instruments during Hurricane Katrina.
For more, go here.


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Nov 2, 2017
When Dean and I invited Mike Arce, founder of Loud Rumor, onto the show, we knew were getting a dynamic guest. And when you have a guest like Mike, you never know where the conversation is going to go. As the founder of Loud Rumor and a leader in fitness and wellness marketing, Mike has an incredible story to share about how he got his start, the trials and tribulations of trying to get the company up off the ground while your own family is just starting out, and the key role coaches have played in his success. You're going to want to hear not only his story but the very practical, actionable tips he provides throughout the interview.
Mike's story is one that a lot of our listeners may relate to, but also one that doesn't get as much attention. While you'll hear a lot of entrepreneurs talk about being "serial entrepreneurs," Mike is actually more of a "focused entrepreneur": Aside from a small personal trainer business, he's started one business and grown it and expanded it in super-smart ways. Mike tells us how, before he started Loud Rumor, he worked 22 different jobs, often running sales floors for other companies. But then his wife, incredibly, was let go from two different jobs once her bosses found out she was pregnant. When that happened, he hired her as his first employee, making sales calls from their house. And that was what showed him he had a winning formula.
The work Mike's wife did for him as someone with no sales experience, landing eight clients in just a couple weeks through cold calls, showed him there was something there. So in 2010, he quit his job and started Loud Rumor, building websites for fitness and wellness companies. Mike tells the story of how for the first few years they ate mostly mac 'n cheese, had their car repossessed, and generally had a very difficult time growing their business and keeping the family afloat. It was years before he went on a vacation, but ironically, it was being told to go on a vacation that changed his fortunes forever. Find out how on this episode of Just The Tips.
On this episode of Just The Tips, Mike Arce told us about how he was able to find a mentor to help him solve some of his business's growth problems. One of those suggestions—aside from requiring him to take a vacation and get his mind off work—was to read more. Reading more led to Mike growing as an executive, but it was really when he went one step further and hired a coach that he took off. Mike stresses that although books may seem like an inexpensive way to improve, the ROI on a coach is infinitely greater because he can "implement the next day" what he's told by his coach. But you can't just hire a coach and boom: problem solved. It takes a bit more than that, and Mike has great advice for how to get the most out of your coaching experience.
Mike talked about how every time he hires a business coach, he tells him or her the same thing: I'm going to be your best client. He told us how he works openly and closely with his coaches and often ends up in testimonial videos for those coaches on their websites. He also provides very specific, fascinating tips for what he would do if he was starting all over again. You'll want to hear them.
Music for "Just The Tips" is titled, "Happy Happy Game Show" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
James P. Friel:
Dean Holland:


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nominated again this year for the best local blogger on the KCRA A*List. I'd love for any of my readers to cast a vote for me if you enjoy reading!
I think last year I made it to #16 - which is amazing - I'd like to see if I can still get up to that.
Thank you guys for reading - and the support. This is my creative outlet - and I love sharing it with all you friends!
KCRA A*List Nominee!
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|Wolf's Rain
|Yoko Kanno
|Neon Genesis Evangelion
|Spike Spiegel
|How to insult someone using calculus
|Maaya Sakamoto
|Did Aum Shinrikyo set off a nuclear bomb in Western Australia in 1993?
|Haibane Renmei
|Death to wretched Japanese kittens
|Now and Then, Here and There
|Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
|I My Me! Strawberry Eggs
|Hideaki Anno's introduction to Evangelion
|Revolutionary Girl Utena
|Ah! My Goddess
|Samurai Champloo
|Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito
|Last EXILE
|Earth Girl Arjuna
|Full Metal Panic


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Tag - Camileo
Toshiba Camileo X-Sports action camera set for Q4 launch in Europe
Toshiba has introduced a new action camera to its line of Camileo camcorders. The Camileo X-Sports houses a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor that can record Full HD resolution video at 60 frames per second, as well as taking photos while recording video, at set time intervals, or in a burst mode, housed inside a case that can withstand drops from as high as five feet.
Toshiba launches Camileo X200, X400 HD video cameras
Toshiba has launched the two new HD video cameras it showed at IFA last month, the Camileo X200 and Camileo X400. Both feature full HD recording with electronic image stabilization, a 3-inch touchscreen, and have HDMI-out. They also have on-camera editing and take 16MP (interpolated) stills. Onboard storage is 128MB, some of which is occupied by firmware, but can be expanded up to 128GB by a SD/SDHC/SDXC card.
Toshiba shows off three HD-capable Camileo camcorders
Toshiba UK is making more product debuts at IFA, this time with three new camcorders. They include the tiny Camileo Clip and the larger Camileo X200 and Camileo X400. All three shoot 1080p HD video and can take still images. There is no built-in memory, with all relying on SD cards (microSD in the Clip).
Toshiba brings Camileo B10, P100 camcorders to US
Toshiba on Tuesday exported a pair of its Camileo camcorders to the US. The B10 and P100 both have 16-megapixel sensors that can shoot both native-size still images as well as 1080p videos. Either supports face-tracking autofocus, motion detection for the security minded, time-lapse photography, and support for working as a USB webcam.
Toshiba brings out waterproof, 1080p Camileo BW10 pocket cam
Toshiba picked an unusual Wednesday night introduction for a new pocket camcorder. Its Camileo BW10 is its first waterproof video camera and can submerge in up to 6.5 feet of water. The BW10 is said to be rugged above ground as well, although Toshiba hasn't said whether there's any extra dust- or shockproofing.
Toshiba brings NB500 netbooks, Camileo S30 camcorder to US
Toshiba at CES brought two lineups to the US for the first time. The NB305 brings the same dual-core, 1.5GHz Atom N550 chip from the European NB520 but in the familiar form factor of earlier Toshiba netbooks. It carries 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive and will ship for $380 on January 9.
Review: Toshiba Camileo X100 camcorder
Europeans will be very familiar with Toshiba's Camileo camcorder line, but this year we're finally seeing the series in North America. The aim is, as it often is, to upset pricing: with the X100, the promise exists of a proper 1080p camcorder with optical zoom for $400 -- roughly half the price you sometimes pay for the privilege. Our Camileo X100 review will find out whether it's a bargain or if you're getting exactly what you pay for.
Toshiba brings Camileo camcorders to the US
Toshiba on Tuesday announced it will enter the North American digital camcorder market by bringing its Camileo lineup over from Europe. The pocket-sized S20, touchscreen H30 and X100 can all record in 1080p resolution and sport 3-inch LCDs for framing and reviewing their subjects. There is also a YouTube hotkey for quick uploads to the popular video-hosting site, while SDHC memory cards are supported for storage.
Now AAPL Stock: The symbol you provided ("AAPL") doesn't appear to be registered
Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE


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Event DateJanuary 22 - 29, 2019
Before you delve into spring landscaping, learn the principles and elements of design that will make your landscape stand out, how to sketch a design for your landscape and which plant materials to use. In this course, you'll also view examples of landscape transformations that have taken place right here in Fort Worth.
Please note: This class is coordinated by TCU. For more information, or to register, please click the button to the left.
BRIT and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden are pleased to partner with TCU Extended Education to engage, educate, and enlighten the the Fort Worth community through high quality courses that take place in the Garden.


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Trading Systems
Learn How To Trade A Winning Swing & Trend Following Systems
Why swing and trend trade the weekly and monthly patterns? Because the historical fact is that the market's biggest winners and most reliable patterns have adhered to weekly technical patterns much more consistently than daily and intraday patterns. For this reason, successful traders and institutional investors tend to base their buy and sell decisions entirely on weekly and monthly patterns.


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Charter URC1060
This familiar Charter design provides full command of your Charter Cable service in addition to universal control of TVs, Blu-ray/DVR players, VCRs, and surround sound audio systems.
Charter URC1060
Features & Benefits
Full Universal Control
This remote features full universal control of your home theater including the cable box, TV, DVD/Blu-ray player, and audio device.
All On Master Power Key
The ALL ON/MASTER POWER function turns all of your devices on or off with a single keypress
Volume Lock
This remote includes a feature that allows you to lock the volume and mute functions to your TV or Audio Device.
Charter URC1060
Remote Control Setup
Using Code Entry
Turn on your equipment and follow the steps below to set up your remote. Be sure to point the remote at your equipment during setup.
1. Press the mode key for the device type you wish to setup.
2. Press and hold SETUP until the mode key blinks twice.
3. Using the digit keys on the remote, enter the code shown in the code finder above.
4. Test the remote to confirm that it controls your device as expected. If it does not, try again using the next code listed.
Searching All Codes
Turn on the TV or DEVICE you wish to program and follow the steps below. Be sure to point the remote at your equipment during setup.
1. Press the mode key for the device you wish to set up.
2. Press and hold SETUP until the mode key blinks twice.
3. Enter 9 – 9 – 1 using the digit keys on the remote.
4. Press 1 for a TV code, 2 for a DVD/VCR code, or 3 if searching for an audio device code.
5. Aim the remote at your equipment and press CH+ repeatedly until the device turns off.
6. Press and hold SETUP until the mode key blinks twice. Your new setting is saved.
Changing VOLUME LOCK settings
1. Press and hold SETUP until the mode key blinks twice
2. Enter 9 – 9 – 3 using the digit keys on the remote.
2. Enter 9 – 9 – 3 using the digit keys on the remote.
3. Press the mode key for the device you wish to use for volume control. The key will blink twice to confirm.
Charter URC1060
Remote Functions
- SYSTEM ON/OFF sends power commands to all devices programmed into the remote
- SETUP used for remote control programming
- POWER turns selected equipment on or off
- MODE KEYS used to set remote to control selected device
- GUIDE displays program guide
- MENU displays main cable menu
- INFO displays information on current selected program
- PAGE +/- used to jump a page at a time in program guide
- EXIT closes current menu
- A-D KEYS used for special functions displayed on your cable menus
- LAST returns to the previously selected channel
- DAY+/- cycles the program guide one day per keypress
- FAV cycles through favorite channels set on your cable box
- ON DEMAND used to access on demand program library
- FF/PAUSE/PLAY/REW/SKIP BACK/STOP/ used to control playback of live, recorded, or On Demand programs
- RECORD press to record selected program
- DVR LIST displays list of recorded programs on DVR boxes
- LIVE returns to live TV
- ASPECT changes the picture format
- PIP ON/OFF turns on picture-in-picture on some cable boxes
- PIP MOVE changes the mini picture location on PIP boxes
- PIP +/- changes the channel on the mini picture when PIP is active
- SWAP used to swap between tuners on DVR boxes or to swap pictures on PIP boxes
- VIDEO SOURCE cycles through video inputs on the TV or audio device
Charter URC1060
Frequently Asked Questions


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Follow Us
Tarot is Irrational, Superstitious Claptrap – But That Doesn't Mean It's Not Useful
Dreams are not rational, neither are fantasy novels and comic books and yet they're immensely valuable in processing our thoughts, feelings and moral quandaries. Does Tarot do the same?
We are generally a rational species. We make decisions based on what we can observe, driven by our self-interest. Our modern societies are very much science-based, utilizing scientific inventions, derived through reason, and yet about 89% of Americans believe in a God (according to the Pew Research Center), a number that is not changing dramatically (down from 92% in 2007). While European countries are becoming less religious (and less Christian), the tremendous growth of Islam around the world ensures that a big portion of Earth's population will continue to hold beliefs in the divine and supernatural for the foreseeable future.


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Will you be in Dallas Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 pm?
If so, join me for discussion and cocktails around the emerging state of the law firm market.
It will be at the historic Belo Mansion in the heart of downtown Dallas.
From the description of the event:
The "New Normal" is no longer new. On Wednesday, December 3, from 6 to 9 p.m., join preeminent law firm management consultant Bruce MacEwen, global director at Pangea3 Ed Sohn, K&L Gates Dallas administrative partner Craig Budner, and Novation SVP and general counsel Jill Witter as they discuss their perspectives on Biglaw firms, corporations, and managed service providers with a focus on law firm business models in the Texas economy. This panel will be moderated by Above the Law's founder and managing editor, David Lat.
The springboard for the evening's discussion will be Bruce's latest book, "A New Taxonomy: The seven law firm business models." In his foreword to the book, Allen & Overy managing partner David Morley observes, "BigLaw is changing at a rate never seen in our lifetimes. Never has the future seemed 'as shrouded in fog and noise.' This book will help the fog to clear a little. Enough to see where you are. Enough to see more clearly where you might go."
Register right here, right now.
I would love to see you there; if you're in town and available, only the most bullet-proof excuses will be accepted.


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Seeking Growth Amid Disruption: Brian Bird, CFO, NorthWestern Energy
From shifting demand to disruptive technologies and new competition, the utilities industry is facing dynamics that could have a transformative impact. Many utilities companies are now looking at how to innovate to find growth opportunities and drive savings amid rising costs while operating under a regulated business model.
For Brian Bird, CFO of NorthWestern Energy, the answer lies in working closely with the CEO to develop the growth strategy, managing the balance sheet to fund growth and reduce costs, and deploying finance and IT to work closely with the business to grow earnings. Mr. Bird also describes the importance of relationship-building efforts with regulators to help them understand their growth plans and to demonstrate what the company is doing for customers.
Q: What top priorities are you and the finance team focused on?
Brian Bird: We've gone from operating in what some have deemed a sleepy industry to one that's become very challenging and exciting to work in. The utilities industry is reinventing itself, with new competitors, and new customer-sited energy-saving technologies from LED lights to rooftop solar and energy management apps. Those dynamics are impacting our sales, so we are focused on two main priorities right now. The first is driving cost efficiency because we are operating in an environment with rising costs but slowing sales growth, which makes our product more expensive to our customers and invites competitors into our business.
The second priority is finding ways to grow earnings in a way that meets regulatory approval. Since 2008, Northwestern Energy has tripled in size, primarily by investing in our generation portfolio, including a recent addition of 11 hydro-electric assets; so we've grown by expanding our rate base. Going forward, our growth plans are focused on investment in transmission, distribution, and in the latter years of our plans, some additional generation.
Q: What is finance's role in strategic planning?
Brian Bird: With business development reporting to me, I work closely with the CEO and the entire executive team to develop the growth strategy. A big part of the growth strategy is innovating ways to grow and improve the business while minimizing the impact to customers' bills. Being in a heavily regulated industry, every investment we make ultimately requires the approval of regulators. From finance's perspective, that means we have to understand the probability of regulatory approval for our growth plans, and we have to manage the risks of not getting full approval. For example, our capital allocation process involves understanding an investment's impact not only on financial results, but on our customers' bills, because that's something our regulators evaluate very closely.
We are also focused on building a strong working relationship with our regulators, as we believe it's important that the commissioners, who are responsible for setting our authorized rate of return, understand the company's perspective. As CFO I make it a priority to explain our growth strategy and the financial aspects of that strategy, as well as what we're doing for customers.
Q: What are your priorities for the finance organization?
Brian Bird: My mandate for finance is to manage the business to achieve within 50 basis points of our authorized ROE. Tactically, we do that by managing costs. I was originally brought in as CFO in 2003 less than three months after the company went into bankruptcy and was asked to leverage my experience as a treasurer to help get it back on stronger financial footing and get our credit ratings back in line with our peers. In the last five years, we've focused on refinancing our debt and using tax planning to manage our effective tax rate and cash tax expenses. That has helped to free up cash to help finance growth.
The finance team also uses the annual budget and the five-year planning process to lay the blueprint for achieving the company's goal of a 7% to 10% total shareholder return. And the FP&A group—which I consider the face of finance—works closely with corporate planning and the regulatory group to take that one-year budget and provide scenario planning around rates and other factors in order to evaluate sensitivities over the next five years.
We also work closely with the businesses to make sure they have the information they need to improve service delivery and customer experience while also driving cost-containment efforts within their operations. My head of FP&A is my chief conduit to the business. He works closely with the business units to get them information they need to effectively manage the business and support their decision-making. On the cost side, for example, we are working with our operational units to understand how we can utilize our labor force going forward, and use more efficient processes and technology to address talent needs.
Q: With IT reporting to you, how do deploy technology to support the business?
Brian Bird: Just as I've done with the finance team, I'm focused on making our Business Technology (BT) group a partner to the business. We start each year with "Technology Days," where we meet with each department to find out how we are doing in supporting them today and what they see as their technology needs going forward. We take that information and prioritize those needs with the resources we have to develop our one-year budget and five-year technology plan.
The Finance and Business Technology groups continue to broaden their impact. For example, we're investing in our customer segmentation analysis capability to help us better understand customers. Having BT report to me has helped deepen my strategic and operational understanding of the business. I've also gained a better appreciation for how technology can impact the business beyond operations and the importance of our customer care group and systems. For example, customers' experience with online services is impacting their view of their utility providers and how easy they make it to pay bills. We found that if customers have difficulty paying their bill on our website, it affects their view of our service and our brand. So I've become focused on making sure we have the insights and financial resources to support our e-business initiatives, such as an app we developed to communicate updates to customers during power outages.
I think it's important that we use the same digital technologies that are disrupting our industry to help us compete in the marketplace. Technology is changing customer behaviors, and we have to use technology to stay ahead of their expectations. While the utilities industry is still thought of as a traditional one, with all the technology developments occurring now, it definitely feels less traditional than it used to.
Editor's note: This article is part of an ongoing series of interviews with CEOs, CFOs and other executives. Mr. Bird's participation in this article is solely for educational purposes based on his knowledge of the subject, and the views expressed by him are solely his own. This article should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for Northwestern Energy, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by Northwestern Energy.
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Peter Karlsson     Michal Jarmoluk   |   Business     🕐 06. Nov. 2018
On 1st November 2018, a company that began as a startup in Malmo announced that it has received an enormous investment of $80 million.
Neo4j, formerly Neo Technology, broke into the tech market when Founder and CEO Emil Eifrem developed the first graph database back in 2000. In 2011, after more than ten years of development, the company began to market and sell the graph databases. Those ten years building the product have been credited with the subsequent quick growth of the company.
Graph databases are used to organise data into a visual representation of different variables. It enables an analyst to see how data relates to other data. This makes things easier to visualise, and helps increase accuracy in predicting consumer behaviour.
Silicon Valley
They set up their global headquarters in San Mateo, California, while keeping an office in Malmö. Eifrem is a supporter of tech startups moving to Silicon Valley, and has in the past likened it to "running downhill versus running uphill".
What he means by that, is that the same amount of work can get you further in the environment of Silicon Valley than it might get you elsewhere. Today, the Neo4j is the leading graph database in the world.
Dominating the market
Over the past 10 years, Neo4j has accumulated a total investment of $160.1 million. This is the largest collective investment that has ever been made into a graph database company.
They have a huge network of partners and the largest share of the market. Customers include giants such as Volvo, Walmart, eBay, and NASA. Neo4j is used by more than 75% of the companies on the Fortune 100 list.
Further technological development
Neo4j plan to use the investment capital to further develop the main product, which is a graph platform that can support applications such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
Introducing support for machine learning, and developing that technology using graph databases could take the existing AI technology and improve it, as the AI will be able to analyse broader sets of interconnected data, and see in more detail how things relate to each other. This could lead to higher levels of accuracy and better decision making from AI entities.
The investment round was led by Morgan Stanley and One Peak Partners. Among the investors are Creandum, Eight Roads and Greenbridge Partners.
We believe that information should be free and will therefore never put up a paywall.
If you like reading our reports about the Scandinavian business scene and would like to donate towards the upkeep of the site, we would be very grateful. Click here to donate.
Startups | 🕐 05. Oct. 2020
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Putting this website together has been one of the most interesting, important but challenging things I have done for my coaching business. However, the team here have been helpful, charming and incredibly patient with me at all times.
Thank goodness because, as a novice to web design, I've asked some pretty stupid questions and I'm sure given them some headaches!
I would thoroughly recommend this team for their skill, expertise and ability to mind-read what a non-techie person is trying to achieve. My site has turned out more beautiful than I envisioned and I receive praise for it daily.
I am more than pleased with the results of the webdesign of my new site. The whole process was very smooth and all questions were answered promptly. I would recommend this company over and over again. I am grateful for their work!


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Council Meetings
The Parish Council normally meets on the first Wednesday in the month starting at 7:00pm in the St Mary's Centre (Chapel Retreat) in Chapel Lane unless the agenda says differently.
If needed another meeting may be called in a month to deal with planning applications.
Click on a meeting date in the calendar below to see details and click on more details to access the agenda for a meeting or select the agenda required from the files at the bottom of this page.
Agendas are normally available a few days before the meeting and will remain here for a short period only.
Minutes effectively contain their respective agenda and are available in draft form soon after the meeting and in final form after their approval at the next meeting, typically 5-6 weeks after the meeting and can be seen in the Minutes Library.
If you wish to view the calendar below in a list format then click on the word agenda on the top right corner of the calendar.


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Bachelor of Social Science (Ageing and Disability)
You're considered an International student if you are:
3 year(s) full-time
2021: AUD$ 29,400 per annum (per 1.0 EFTSL)
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
Higher education study
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Work and life experience
|Bangladesh HSC
|Canada High School (OSSD)
|Eynesbury FSP
|German Abitur
|India (best 4)
|Kenya KCSE (average)
|Malaysia STPM (best 3)
|Malaysia UEC
|Norway GPA
|Pakistan HSSC
|Sri Lanka A Levels (best 3)
|Sweden GPA
|UK Board GCE A Levels/HK Board
|IB (best 6)
|Nepal NEB
Please note: Mid-year entry will only be available to domestic students.
1ComparED (QILT): Course Experience Questionnaire 2018-19 – Overall Satisfaction Indicator (Undergraduate). Public SA-founded universities only.
2ComparED (QILT): Course Experience Questionnaire 2018-19 (Undergraduate and Postgraduate). Public SA-founded universities only.
32018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
This degree equips you with the knowledge and skills to meet the social and emotional wellbeing needs of individuals, families and carers involved with ageing and disability services.
You will develop a broad and coherent body of knowledge of human service practice, with in-depth understanding in the underlying principles and concepts of:
In addition to this you will also get practical experience as part of the degree's field education placement component. This is a valuable learning opportunity where you will build industry networks and further enhance practical skills.
All students studying this degree will be required to complete criminal history screening through the Department of Communities and Social Inclusion prior to being accepted for work placements. The clearance is valid for three years and can take up to eight weeks to be processed.
You must also hold a current Child Safe Environments Certificate.
Some placements may also require a current driver's license and a recognised First Aid Certificate.
You will apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of political, behavioural and social sciences in a range of ageing and disability focused human service contexts.
You will develop in-depth knowledge of policy and apply it by:
You will explore diverse scenarios and learn how to effectively manage challenging situations during on-campus sessions in our state-of-the-art Social Work Studios. You will then get the opportunity to practice these skills when you complete 560 hours of work placements during your final year of study.
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
|Course name
|Area and cat no.
|First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
|Human Service Provision
|Communication Skills in Social Work and Human Services
|The Social World
|Professional and Technical Communication
|Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
|Governance and Citizenship in Australia
|Group Work
|Applied Psychology
|Lifespan Development and Diversity
|First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
|Human Service Intervention
|Australian Social Policy
|Social Enquiry Methods
|Interviewing Skills in Social Work and Human Services
|Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
|Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing
|The Social Construction of Ageing and Disability
|Aboriginal Australians and the Human Services
|Human Service Workers and the Law
|First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
|Small Business for Professionals
|Human Service Field Placement A
|Rule(s): 1,2
|Ageing and Disability: Diversity and Discrimination
|Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
|Human Service Field Placement B
|Rule(s): 1,2
|Entrepreneurial Enterprises
|Human Service Project Management
1. Field Education consists of a total of 560 hours of supervised placement to be undertaken in two blocks of 280 hours during the third year and after completion of all second year courses. Students are advised that they will be required to attend field education placements generally but not exclusively during normal working hours in both teaching and non-teaching weeks, for between 2 and 5 days per week.
2. Students are required to undertake Criminal History Checks through the Department of Human Services (DHS) for working with Children, in the Aged Care Sector and in Disability Services; obtain a SAPOL National Police Record Check; completed a one-day Safe Environments for Children and Young People course; and the University's online module, Undertaking a Safe Student Placement. Some placements may also require students to hold a current driver's licence, a recognised First Aid Certificate or other requirements as requested by a specific placement provider.
1. The program is designed to graduate professional human service workers who can function effectively in demanding environments. It satisfies professional and employer requirements through its content and its assessment processes. Students are advised that the program does require consistent participation in a wide range of potentially challenging classroom, assessment and field activities.
2. Based on academic merit, graduates of this program will be eligible to apply for admission to the one year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) program.
3. The program is three years of full-time study but may also be studied part-time.
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.
Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:
Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. Australian and international students may have the option to do an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas. We have links with universities worldwide. You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.
Take a look at the global opportunities available.
In addition to the communication and relational skills you develop, the small business knowledge and entrepreneurial skills gained from the program mean you will be equipped to be an employee or to establish yourself as a sole practitioner, able to provide highly ethical and professional services in a range of settings.
Graduates knowledge of policy will help them to navigate major systems such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and My Aged Care policies and to enhance service provision, inform social policy and promote social inclusion within the ageing and disability sectors.
Third year work placements will also provide valuable practice experience during which you will learn first-hand what it's like to work in local, rural and international settings.
There is a need for high calibre, well prepared workers in the ageing and disability sector. The employment opportunities are excellent and the demand for graduates is high*, with graduating students quickly finding work in a wide range of fields.
Careers opportunities are available in:
You could improve your employment prospects by continuing your studies with a one-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree.
*Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2017
This program is recognised by the Australian Community Workers Association. Graduates will be eligible for full membership of the Australian Community Workers Association.
How to apply for international students will give you helpful information about the application process at the University of South Australia. When you are ready, apply through our International Application System. If you would like to talk to someone near you about studying at the University of South Australia, we have agents all over the world who can assist you. Find an Education Agent in your country.
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Recipients can get a 50% reduction on tuition fees for up to four years of full-time study for selected degrees.
Recipients can get a 25% reduction on tuition fees for their first year of study for selected degrees.
As a student at the University of South Australia you will have unique access to work placement opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events, internships, guest speakers and more.
Our campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform. We have health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and great student lounges. You will also have access to a range of community clinics, which provide professional and cost effective services in areas of health, law and psychology. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and lots more.
Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide's lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA's city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End's vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
International Student Services will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help we will be there to assist. Support services include:
We also offer study support from our Learning Advisers. You can work with them face-to-face or online. They are here to help you develop academically and professionally during your studies. They also offer help with the English language. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
As a social science student, you will have access to two state-of-the art Social Work Studios, which are equipped with recording equipment and cameras so that you can practice your skills with the help of field practitioners and academic staff.
I am Associate Professor Caroline Ellison; Professor of Ageing and Disability. As a Developmental Educator I am committed to walking alongside people living with disability and their networks to achieve their aspirations, life goals and take their place as full citizens. I have had a diverse range of roles in disability services in direct service provision, management, governance and research. As a result, I am passionate about educating future professionals to practice with high levels of integrity in a diverse range of settings, ensuring that social justice is accessible to all members of society.
AsPr Caroline Ellison
Program DirectorEnquire
AsPr Caroline Ellison
Program Director
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
You can access our online International Application System through our How to Apply page. The International Application System is an easy and secure online application and acceptance process. You will have visibility of your application through the secure online portal with the ability to download offer documents, submit your acceptance and make a payment.
Alternatively you can submit an application through one of the University's registered Education Agents.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC http://www.satac.edu.au/.
If you are applying for the UniSA Study Abroad or Study Abroad Plus program, you can submit your application online here.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit http://unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
There is no closing date for submitting your application however the admissions process takes between one and three weeks from the date that we receive your application and all required supporting documentation.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC. Key dates for applications can be found here.
You may be eligible to receive credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving credit will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
The amount of credit you may be eligible to receive is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions team.
The best way to determine your eligibility to receive credit or advanced standing is to apply using our International Application System which can be found on our How to Apply page. You will need to supply detailed syllabus documents with your application.
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
We also have many events throughout the year in Australia and overseas where you can speak with UniSA representatives about your area of interest. View our calendar of events in your home country by selecting the 'International' filter.


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Program code(s): AZN
With $107Bn in annual sales, Amazon is the undisputed behemoth of eCommerce! It's Asian cousin Alibaba, is also growing rapidly, opening a unique arbitrage market in which eTailers have an easy and trust venue to buy products in wholesale prices (Alibaba), mark up and sell retail prices on Amazon.
Understanding that there is a huge opportunity in eCommerce arbitrage is a good begging. However, building a successful Amazon based business requires experience and methods to continually stay within trends and a way from competitive niches. Challenges you will need to overcome include:
Solution and opportunity
Really Successful is doing well on Amazon, and we have partnered up with a Really Successful member that is now managing $2M sales per month on Amazon, to provide you with the tools and methods to quickly build your successful Amazon business.


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| 8.7°C Belfast
Ulster's biggest challenge now will be to avoid Mark Anscombe's son Gareth's allusion to a circus attaining any sense of reality. Enter the IRFU.
They have already acted swiftly to smooth the creases of the latest high-profile departure from the club and will remain committed to the process.
Even if Les Kiss does not remain part of Ulster's long-term solution, the IRFU, in the guise of new high-performance director David Nucifora and Joe Schmidt, will have their ears and eyes glued to the Kingspan Stadium.
Whether all this uncertainty means, for example, that the latest overseas parachutist, Jared Payne, may be gently persuaded that his Irish career may be better engineered while in Leinster blue rather that Ulster white, remains to be seen.
Leinster have mentioned every name under the sun as they scramble to fill their vacancy at outside-centre; Payne's contract has been mentioned as a barrier to any move south.
Ask Mark Anscombe what he thinks of contracts this morning; if the IRFU want such a move to happen, it will happen.
Watch now how the IRFU begin to utilise their influence to ensure that, just as happens in both Australia and New Zealand, the needs of the national side start to acquire paramount importance.
A quick mental scan of the global coaching scene suggests that few contenders are likely to become available in the short-term; Kiss may have to endure his double-jobbing for the entire season.
That would be hardly satisfactory in the short-term as Ireland prepare for a World Cup but, in the longer term, the more the provinces are singing off the national hymn sheet, the better that is for Irish rugby.
Far from being merely a provincial problem, this one goes right to the top. Ireland head coach Schmidt is immersed in planning for next year's World Cup.
Even during his time off, his brain will be wired to thoughts about how to improve Ireland's miserable tournament record.
Fifteen months out from the greatest rugby show on earth, Schmidt will have needed yesterday's news like a hole in the head.
Whether Kiss, who will now be parachuted into Belfast on July 19, stays for a decent stretch remains to be seen.
Certainly, Ulster are going to find it indecently hard to recruit a decent coach for the position from this unfavourable vista; July and August are not the months to be sticking the 'Smart Boy Wanted' posters in one's window.
If Ulster thought Neil Doak was ready to assume responsibility, one presumes they would have installed him already. After David Humphreys packed his bags, Ulster appeared to be listing. Today, they are almost rudderless.
Shane Logan, their chief executive, is a deeply impressive individual by all accounts; he will need to be to get this show back on the road as he deals with the loss of a director of rugby and a coach within weeks of each other, following on from the departure of some key playing personnel.
The pressure will weigh down from Lansdowne Road HQ just as heavily as from within Ulster.
Schmidt has already seen his talented and efficient forwards coach John Plumtree up sticks after an inordinately successful but too brief stint in the job.
For the moment, Kiss will double-job, but it is hardly a satisfactory outcome for the national outfit.
A local issue impacting on the national team is not good for business; it's as simple as that.
Belfast Telegraph


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SPRINT Guide – everything you need to know about the Programme
You can download this guide so you can print and save for later: SPRINT Guide
The UK has a world-leading and growing space sector. In our modern society, space is integral to how we go about our daily lives, our understanding of how to protect and benefit the world we live in and pushes the boundaries of scientific discovery and technology development. The UK Government has set an ambitious target to the UK space sector to capture 10% of the global market by 2030 and you, supported by SPRINT, can help to make this a reality.
It's not all about the space sector, however. Technologies developed for space, and the data that is beamed back to Earth from satellites in orbit can have profound effects and benefits for products and services destined for other sectors. From agriculture to tourism, financial services to healthcare, space data and technologies can play their part in enabling innovation in the non-space sectors and SPRINT university partners have decades of experience in supporting these cross-sectoral initiatives.
This guide describes your journey through the SPRINT programme.
ENGAGE – discover SPRINT and join the Network
At its heart, SPRINT is a network of universities, businesses, government agencies, business support organisations and the investment community all working towards the goal of growing the UK space sector, and economy as a whole, through the commercial exploitation of space data and technologies.
As you are here, you've already discovered SPRINT and it is free and easy for you to become part of the Network. Simply by providing your contact details here and joining our mail list you will receive monthly newsletters showcasing our latest news and features, informing you of up-coming events and workshops and highlighting some of the world-leading expertise and facilities that you can access through SPRINT.
You can also investigate this website at anytime for all your SPRINT information needs and follow us on social media via Twitter and LinkedIn to keep up-to-date with all the latest.
IDENTIFY – SPRINT Innovation Advisers help SMEs identify business growth opportunities
Once you have joined the Network the next stage in your SPRINT journey is to find out how SPRINT can help your business. This is best achieved by getting on touch with one of our SPRINT Innovation Advisers.
SPRINT Innovation Adviser
Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser is your key liaison for accessing the benefits of SPRINT. They will spend some time with you to understand your business, its products and services, the market(s) it operates in and your business growth needs. Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will assess this information and then, working with you, try to identify expertise and capabilities from across the SPRINT partner universities and wider network that could benefit your business growth needs. It does not matter which SPRINT Innovation Adviser you first speak to as they are trained to represent all the SPRINT university partners. SPRINT support may come from more than one SPRINT university partner and so you may be referred to an additional/alternative SPRINT Innovation Adviser at another SPRINT partner university depending on your business need and identified SPRINT-enabled solution(s).
Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will also work with you, and their academic colleagues at the SPRINT university partner, to develop the idea of your SPRINT-enabled solution into a collaborative project between your business and the SPRINT university partner. Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will also guide you though the application process to apply for a SPRINT Innovation Voucher to enable that collaborative project to occur.
Find out more about our SPRINT Innovation Advisers here.
Confidentiality and publicity
We understand the need for confidentiality when discussing your developing technologies and business needs with your SPRINT Innovation Adviser. For your SPRINT Innovation Adviser to be able to identify the most appropriate form of SPRINT support however some non-confidential business information and personal information may be shared with the SPRINT Innovation Advisers at other SPRINT university partners, non-university partners and the SPRINT Management Team at the University of Leicester. If your engagement with the SPRINT Innovation Adviser and/or academic expert requires the sharing of confidential information then non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) can be put in place.
SPRINT is a publicly funded innovation programme and as such we have reporting obligations to our funders, Research England and the Scottish Funding Council, and a need to maintain a public presence. As a participant in the programme your company should expect this to be public knowledge (and publishable).
Full details of what data we collect and how we use it can be found in our data protection privacy notice here.
If you have any queries on how we use the information you share with us, please direct them in the first instance to your SPRINT Innovation Adviser.
APPLY – develop project idea with SPRINT Innovation Adviser and academic and then apply for a SPRINT Innovation Voucher
When you have identified a way for you to collaborate with a SPRINT university partner on a collaborative project to support your business growth you can apply for a SPRINT Innovation Voucher to help fund the project. Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will supply the necessary application form and guidance and will help you and the academic team from the SPRINT university partner to complete and submit the form.
SPRINT Innovation Vouchers
SPRINT provides Innovation Vouchers to help fund collaborative projects between your company and the SPRINT university partner(s). These projects can enable you to exploit space technologies and data in a wide range of commercial activities including (but not limited to):
- Space products / technologies in the space sector
- Space technologies and data deployed in non-space markets and applications
- Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and non-space technologies deployed in space markets
SPRINT Innovation Vouchers can also be used to support feasibility studies, business planning, market analysis and other non-technical activities vital in product development cycle.
You can apply for up to £100k to help enable your collaborative project. SPRINT funds the university's costs in delivering the collaborative project whilst your company funds your own costs. For any collaborative project to be funded by a SPRINT Innovation Voucher the voucher can fund up to 60% of the project costs. The remainder of the project costs can be met through contributions from the company, university and/or any other collaborative partner. The value of company contribution however must be at least two thirds the value of the Innovation Voucher.
Of the company's contribution to the project, at least 50% should come from the company as a 'cash' contribution. This 'cash' contribution should be in the form of new expenses incurred due to the project and can include:
- the purchase of equipment, consumables, software and/or data for the purposes of the project
- the hiring of new staff to work on the project
- sub-contracting/consultancy costs in support of the project
- travel and subsistence incurred for the purposes of the project (HMRC rates e.g. currently 45p/mile for first 10,000 miles)
- a cash contribution to the SPRINT university partner to part-fund some of the SPRINT university partner costs
These payments must be evidenced by the company at the end of the project via receipts.
Of the company's contribution to the project, up to 50% may come from the company as an 'in-kind' contribution. Eligible costs incurred for this 'in-kind' contribution are as follows:
- direct staff costs (i.e. salary, pension, NI etc…)
- staffing overhead (calculated at a fixed 20% of the direct staff costs)
- pro rata cost to use existing company equipment, data, software and facilities (cost calculated based on existing company deprecation policy for each item)
Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will work with you and the University academic(s) to design your collaborative project within the SPRINT funding guidelines.
Any UK-registered SME is eligible to receive Innovation Vouchers from SPRINT.
Some company structures can be complex and include involvement of non-UK entities. The outcomes of a collaboration project funded by a SPRINT Innovation Voucher should contribute to an increase in growth (i.e. in GVA and jobs) in the UK operations of the business. Therefore, only UK-registered companies with active R&D activities based in the UK will be considered eligible .
SPRINT has been designed to support growth in SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises). We use the European Union definition of an SME which can be found here: bit.ly/whatisanSME. For companies under part-ownership from larger firms it is particularly important to follow the guidance in the link above to ensure you meet the SME eligibility criteria.
Any questions you may have on your business's eligibility to receive funded support from SPRINT should be directed to your SPRINT Innovation Adviser.
Intellectual Property
SPRINT has been designed to support activities that leads to business growth in the UK. Intellectual Property, its development and its commercial exploitation is an important factor in achieving this. Due to the breadth and diversity of the SPRINT capability portfolio and company business need, the consideration of Intellectual Property rights arising from collaborative projects funded by SPRINT Innovation Vouchers is on a project-by-project basis. However, the general principle of SPRINT is to ensure the company is best placed to commercially exploit the outputs of any collaborative project.
It is advised that you discuss and agree early on with your SPRINT Innovation Adviser any Intellectual Property considerations prior to submitting an application for a SPRINT Innovation Voucher.
State aid
SPRINT supports UK businesses to invest in research, development and innovation through collaboration with SPRINT university partners. Some of the support we provide operates under European Commission state aid rules. We try to ensure that the information published in this guidance is up-to-date and accurate. However, the information given is not a substitute for taking legal or professional advice, which is the responsibility of the applicant. We cannot accept any liability for actions arising from the use of our guidance. SPRINT, its partner universities and its funders cannot be held responsible for the contents of any pages referenced by an external link. It is important to note that state aid policy is currently the responsibility of the European Union. The European Court of Justice holds sole competence over the presence of state aid or otherwise.
What is state aid?
State aid is a term used by the European Commission. It describes assistance given by a public body or publicly-funded body to organisations on a selective basis that take part in commercial activity which could distort competition and trade within the European Union. The state aid rules are designed to prevent unfair subsidies.
Further information on state aid
The state aid branch of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has lead responsibility within the UK for coordination and development of state aid policy. The BEIS state aid guidance has further information. You can also visit the European Commission's information on state aid.
State aid eligibility
SPRINT is registered to provide State Aid under the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) which covers a range of types of state aid that, provided certain conditions are met, do not require individual approval from the European Commission in advance of being granted. Specifically SPRINT provides its GBER State Aid only for research and development. Before submitting an application to SPRINT, you must accept the terms and conditions of State Aid. If you are in any doubt, you should seek independent professional advice about your eligibility. If the European Commission considers a business or any undertaking to have been in receipt of state aid due to ineligibility for exemption under GBER, that undertaking is likely to be required to repay any aid received to the value of the gross grant equivalent. The SPRINT website provides information on state aid but should not be seen as a substitute for taking legal advice, which remains the responsibility of the applicant.
Categories of research and development
Under GBER, research and development is categorised as follows:
- fundamental research – this means experimental or theoretical work primarily to gain new knowledge of underlying phenomena and visible facts, without any direct practical application or usage. This type of research is usually undertaken by a research organisation.
- feasibility studies – this means analysis and evaluation of a project's potential, aimed at supporting the process of decision making. This is achieved by uncovering its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well as identifying resources needed and the prospects for success. Feasibility studies will usually help businesses decide to work either individually or collaboratively with other industrial or research organisations, before conducting a subsequent larger project.
- industrial research – his means planned research or critical investigation to gain new knowledge and skills. This should be for the purpose of product development, processes or services that lead to an improvement in existing products, processes or services. It can include the creation of component parts to complex systems and may include prototypes in a laboratory or environment with simulated interfaces to existing systems, particularly for generic technology validation.
- experimental development – this means acquiring, combining, shaping and using existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills with the aim of developing new or improved products, processes or services. This may also include, for example, activities aimed at the conceptual definition, planning and documentation of new products, processes or services. Experimental development may comprise prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real life operating conditions. The primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not substantially set. This may include the development of a commercially usable prototype or pilot which is necessarily the final commercial product and which is too expensive to produce for it to be used only for demonstration and validation purposes. Experimental development does not include routine or periodic changes made to existing products, production lines, manufacturing processes, services and other operations in progress, even if those changes may represent improvements.
As SPRINT is focused on bringing new products and services to market, 'fundamental research' is out of scope of SPRINT funding.
De minimis aid
Some SPRINT supported activity will not fall within the bounds set by the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). In these cases then SPRINT support can be provided under the de minimus aid rules. De minimis aid is a term used to describe small amounts of state aid that the European Commission expects will have a negligible impact on trade and competition. These do not require Commission approval. The total de minimis aid which can be given to each organisation is €200,000 over a 3-year fiscal period. This is for all project types and for most purposes. You can learn more from page 20 of the BEIS state aid manual and from the De Minimis Regulation.
De minimis aid cannot be used for:
- purchase of road freight transport vehicles
- undertakings in fishery and aquaculture
- undertakings in the processing and marketing of agricultural products where:
- the amount of aid is fixed to the price or quantity of products purchased from primary producers or put on the market by the undertaking
- the aid is conditional on being partly or entirely passed on to primary producers
- aid for export to third countries or EU member states, meaning the establishment and operation of a distribution network or expenditure linked to the export activity
What happens after you have submitted your application?
SPRINT is an 'always open' call however we do have monthly application deadlines falling on the 3rd Friday of every month. Applications are submitted for review by your SPRINT Innovation Adviser. From time-to-time SPRINT reserves the right to change these deadlines, your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will inform you of this should it occur.
How your application is assessed?
After the deadline, applications will be sent for assessment. All applications are assessed on individual merit and are assessed against the same set of scoring criteria.
Where the value of the SPRINT funding is up to £50,000, the application is reviewed and assessed by a panel of SPRINT Innovation Advisers. Within two weeks of submitting your application you may receive questions from the panel seeking further clarification on you application. A final application review will be held within 3 weeks of submitting your application. Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will keep you informed of your application progress throughout the review.
Where the value of the SPRINT funding is greater than £50,000, a draft application is first reviewed by a panel of SPRINT Innovation Advisers and within two weeks of submitting your application you will receive questions and feedback from the panel seeking further clarification on your application. Answers to these questions and feedback should then be incorporated into a final version of your application and re-submitted within one week. This final application is reviewed and assessed by a panel of independent assessors drawn from business and academia. You may be asked to attend, via video conference, part of the application review meeting to answer directly any further questions the panel may have. We seek to complete the review process within one month of receiving your draft application. Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will keep you informed of you application progress throughout the review.
Once your application has been assessed, you will be informed of the final decision by your SPRINT Innovation Adviser.
What happens if you are successful?
If your application is successful then you will need to enter into the SPRINT Collaboration Agreement directly with the (lead) SPRINT university partner supporting your project. Your SPRINT Innovation Adviser will facilitate this and you should expect, and aim, to enter into this Agreement within one month of receiving notification of the success of your application.
Once the Agreement is signed, SPRINT will seek to make a public announcement about the commencement of the project. This will either take the form of the 'public description of the project' supplied in the application via social media and the SPRINT website or a more considered press release written by the SPRINT communications team. The latter option is by agreement with the company and the SPRINT university partner, both having full editorial and approval oversight.
What happens if you are unsuccessful?
We appreciate the time and effort you will have put into your application and understand the frustration if your application is unsuccessful. We will however provide constructive feedback on your application and suggestions for you to consider how your application could be enhanced. With agreement from your SPRINT Innovation Adviser we encourage you to re-submit your application into the programme when you have had the opportunity to consider and incorporate the feedback into your application.
DELIVER – collaborate on the project with the academic team
Once the SPRINT Collaboration Agreement is in place then you are free to commence the project with your SPRINT university partner and should do so following the project schedule set out in the Agreement. The project lead from the SPRINT university partner will be expected to complete a brief monthly progress report to help your SPRINT Innovation Adviser monitor the progress of the project. Any challenges, and successes, encountered should be reported to your SPRINT Innovation Adviser.
Once the funding is awarded you will be expected support communications activity publicising the award, however we try to make this as easy and quick as possible. You will be contacted by the SPRINT communication lead who, following a short telephone conversation with yourself, will write a press release about the project. This will then be reviewed and approved by yourself and the partner university prior to going public. Examples of this activity for other SPRINT projects can be found here.
At the end of the project
At the end of the project you will receive the outputs from the work done by the academic team. You will also be asked to sign the 'SPRINT Project Completion Form' – which confirms you have received the outputs of the project and confirms the contributions made to the project by the company required by State Aid regulations. You should ensure that the amounts stated in the declaration can be evidenced and are compliant with the State Aid regulations under which the SPRINT funding was granted (i.e. De minimis, GBER).
PROGRESS – use output to drive business growth
We hope that your SPRINT collaborative project with your SPRINT university partner helps to accelerate the development of your new products and services. But that's not the end of the journey. Remaining in the Network will ensure that SPRINT can continue to signpost you to the support you need to further develop you business and launch new products and services to market. This could be in the form of further SPRINT Innovation Vouchers, grant funding from UK and European agencies or examining investment opportunities. Through your Innovation Adviser we'll remain in periodic contact to monitor your business progress and offer support. The SPRINT communication lead will also remain in contact with you to support the development of a case study on the project and capture details about the (hopefully) positive impact the collaboration is making on your business growth. Examples of this activity for other SPRINT projects can be found here.


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Install public toilets at Travis Park
Travis Park is a major transfer point for VIA and now site of lunchtime City food truck vending and numerous (hundreds?) of public events each year. Many of the events require the hiring and transport of port-a-potties to the park. Permanent toilets at Travis Park would reduce the cost of events as well as support public transport riders and day-to-day users of the park. Main Plaza provides one example of the type of public toilets that could be installed at Travis Park.
10 up votes
0 down votes
Idea No. 27


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TEDxLondon is made possible by the support of our generous partners. With their vision and commitment we are able to deliver our exciting lineup of events.
Citi are delighted to help TEDxLondon expand its future-thinking conversations. From the first transatlantic cable to Google Wallet, we've made it our job to support the innovation and growth driven by the world's foremost progress-makers.
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At Citi, we believe inclusion and diversity, including diversity of thought, are critical to our success. This is why we're delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with the TEDxLondon team to bring you #BeyondBorders 2019.
Be Inspired Films believes telling better stories creates a better world. As a multi-award winning creative agency supporting organisations acting as a force for good, their role is to capture the emotion of their clients work in a way that inspires greater impact at scale. They work across online video, animation, events, live streaming, documentary and video strategy. Clients include Nesta, The Cabinet Office, Google and Business Fights Poverty.
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Freeda is an international media brand whose mission is to spread real women's stories to inspire positive change by creating content that promotes women's achievements, inspires personal style, and celebrates sisterhood. We are a content creator and social publisher for Millennial and Gen Z women and LGBTQI+. We make stories about amazing people who are changing the world. Publishing and engaging directly with our communities on social platforms. We help brands discover and promote their authentic values and purpose, and we build original premium branded content to connect them with our community. In 2 years of activity, Freeda has collaborated with more than 200 premium brands and international organisations such as Nike, Gucci, Estée Lauder and Dior.