The European Commission has given conditional go-ahead for Orange UK and T-Mobile UK to merge.

The Commission has agreed to the deal between Orange UK and T-Mobile UK owned by France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom respectively providing they change their network sharing agreements with a third smaller player (Hutchison Whampoa 3UK) to ensure that sufficient competition remains in the market.

See full article here http://www.macworld.co.uk/business/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=3213934

As the UK economy climbs very slowly out of recession, energy prices are bumping along at the bottom of market. Whilst this is good news for cash strapped businesses, there is a growing consensus that future price trends will be upwards. Once the global recovery gains pace then demand from the fast growing Asian economies will push gas and oil prices higher. In the UK, the tightness of supply, particularly in Electricity, can cause major price spikes very rapidly as it did in late 2008. So we can see that as demand picks up prices and volatility will both rise again increasing risks for businesses buying energy.

The obvious answer would seem to be to buy as much now, as far forward as possible but the obvious answer may not be the best. With the latest risk managed approaches to purchasing from the wholesale market, you can fix prices upfront but still have the flexibility to improve them as the market moves. Of course there is no guarantee of the getting the lowest price, but with traditional contracts you don’t have the opportunity to try.

http://www.energy-online.net/stories/articles/-/newsletter_stories/february_2010/ads/turbulence_to_come_in_the_energy_markets/

It’s good for the bottom line

It’s good for the environment

It’s good for your companies reputation

It’s good for the future

Ask me how?

• Do an energy walk-round – notice and record how energy is being used
• Reduce obvious waste – air conditioning, lighting and water heating, etc
• Use timers and electronic controls on systems and machinery
• Use posters and display material to get your message across
• Ask for Auditel’s help

Keep warm – heating uses half your offices energy!  Inspect windows and doors for gaps and fit draught proofing.  Also insulate pipes to reduce heat loss.  Seal around pipes and ducts where heating, ventilation and air conditioning pipework enters and leaves buildings….

Well quite a few businesses entrust Auditel to do this on their behalf.  It’s what we do day in, day out, it’s what we do best and we’re experts at it.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Gas, Electricity, Water, Waste, Mobiles, Freight, Logistics, Office Stationary, Printers, Copiers or a whole host of other services that you need every day to run your business including refinancing, Foreign Exchange or Premises Costs.

We have the knowledge, network and ability to deal with it all on your behalf.  And as we are totally independent of any supplier and work only for you, you’ll get an honest answers and advice all the way.

For a free Initial assessment and a honest answer – give me a call on 07825 090901

Act now….

Over the past 15 years, Auditel have developed their own holistic Total Cost of Purchase ® approach to cost management consultancy. In that time, thousands of companies across the UK have benefited from engaging their services and improving profitability.

Although this recession may be V, W, U or even L-shaped, whichever letter of the alphabet it takes on, we all plan to be in business next year. So in ‘Surviving the Downturn’, the Institute of Chartered Accountants offers this advice to directors and advisers. ‘Now is a good time to review your cost structure. If you need to make savings, examine carefully how you can get the best value out of your business, enabling you to emerge leaner and fitter.’

Yet, accountants KPMG reveal, ‘although businesses are under constant pressure to reduce costs, many find it hard to do so in a sustainable fashion. Nine out of ten cost reduction programmes fail to achieve their targets, and the gains that are achieved appear to be short-lived. One of the single biggest barriers to achieving these targets is the lack of adequate processes within organisations to drive cost reduction.’

That’s why with an Auditel trusted adviser in place, our clients confirm that it’s like having an additional dedicated management team working for them. We quietly take care of all your complex cost and purchase management issues, leaving you to focus on your core business. What’s more, because we work on a contingency fee basis, there are no up-front investment costs, no resources tied up in a project waiting for results and no hidden charges.

Here are some recent savings made by our network:

Mears – Business Support Services

Electricity: £24,000; Electricity rebate: £8,500; Communications: £49,000; Communications rebate: £10,500; Gas: £1,300; Gas rebate: £300; Water rebate: £400.

Total savings: £94,000

Whiting & Partners – Chartered Accountants

Communications: 33%; Electricity: 23%; Gas: 13%; Office supplies: 25%.

Total savings: £100,000+

The Commonwealth Club – Private Members Club

Electricity: 52.5%; Gas: 42.3%; Fixed Communications: 44%.

Other savings include £48,030 for housing association charity CCHA, £122,900 for Haileybury School, £54,496 for the National Motorcycle Museum and last but not least, over £4 million for Pizza Express in a thirteen-year period.

As Dean Styger, Finance Director of Talacre Beach Leisure Group reports: “I am continually amazed by the breadth of knowledge and business experience Auditel have within their organisation. I have no hesitation in recommending them.”

Give yourself a present and call us for your free business healthcheck. We enjoy playing Santa…

I wish you a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year!

Fit timers to heating systems and equipment and shut down when not in use – even for short periods

Fit compact fluorescent light bulbs

Fit slimline fluorescent tubes

Shut down water heating when not needed

Fix dripping taps and cisterns and fit water conservation devices