Business
WORLDSIM LAUNCHES DUAL SIM SMART PHONE WITH FREE INTERNATIONAL ROAMING
WORLDSIM LAUNCHES DUAL SIM SMART PHONE WITH FREE INTERNATIONAL ROAMING
Published by Gbaf News
Posted on February 25, 2014
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Gbaf News
Posted on February 25, 2014
Metro Bank, the revolution in British banking, is set to open a brand-new store in Crawley this autumn, creating around 25 new jobs for local people.
The store will combine face-to-face banking with state-of-the-art technology, providing residents and businesses with a customer centric and convenient banking experience right on their doorstep.
Following the closure of a number of bank branches in Crawley, Metro Bank is investing in the heart of the community with a seven-day-a-week store, which will offer business, personal and private banking services. It will occupy a prominent site in the town centre at 25 Queens Square, RH10 1HA.
The bank, which prides itself on making a tangible difference to its customers’ banking experience through its award-winning stores and digital platforms, will be open from early in the morning until late at night. Customers can pop into the store at a time convenient to them, and with no appointment necessary, open an account there and then, leaving with their debit card printed, as well as internet and mobile banking fully set-up.
Steve Sawyer, Executive Director at Manor Royal BID: “Metro Bank’s investment is a real vote of confidence in Crawley. They will be breathing new life into a very prominent building and we look forward to them playing an equally significant and active role in the revitalisation of Crawley town centre and the wider community.”
With Crawley home to over 3,000[i] active businesses, local professionals will now benefit from store-based expert Business Managers ready to support them grow and develop, as well as free access to the Forum of Private Business’ wealth of bespoke resources and use of the store’s meeting space.
Craig Donaldson, CEO at Metro Bank added: “We understand that communities want choice when it comes to their banking, so they can bank however, wherever and whenever they choose and that’s why we’re constantly investing in all of our channels, including our high street store presence. Our high profile stores enable us to provide banking services and build real relationships with local people and businesses. It is this commitment to relationship banking underpinned by the very best in customer service that we’ll be bringing to the Crawley community shortly.”
Metro Bank Crawley will act as a hub for the community, hosting a range of charity fundraisers and business events for local people throughout the year. The store will also deliver its free financial education programme, Money Zones, to schools and youth groups in the area. The National Curriculum approved training, which is provided through classroom and store based sessions, has already supported more than 1000,000 children across the UK with their financial literacy.
All stores are open at the most convenient time for local people from 8am to 8pm Monday to Fridays, 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays, 362 days a year.
Perkbox, Europe’s fastest growing employee engagement platform, is today announcing the launch of Perkbox Insights, a simple, lightweight tool to measure employee engagement, helping HR teams break down silos between management and staff. Designed to get to the bottom of what’s really happening in your business, it creates an environment in which everyone feels safe sharing information, employee sentiment can properly be measured and actionable insights can be shared to help solve problems before they turn into bigger issues.
Insights works on a simple premise, ‘the more questions you ask, the more you’ll be able to discover and improve’.
Every week it automatically checks-in with your teams to ask them about their day at work, management and what can be improved. Instead of getting bogged down with the latest “fad” metrics, it cuts right to questions that matter through a complete library of engagement questions, based on the most up to date research undertaken in collaboration with HR specialists, behavioural psychologists and customers.
Insights’ technology has been developed by leveraging Perkbox’s unrivalled experience in the employee engagement space. In order to provide a comprehensive picture of performance, Insights technology does all the legwork for HR leaders and managers. It automatically spots and highlights team, individual and company trends – from performance to engagement and employee satisfaction, so that they can solve problems before they become bigger issues.
One of the main reasons why traditional engagement surveys fall short is that they are time consuming and employees fail to see their value. Insights’ innovative technology uses real-time dashboards highlighting trending feedback and keeping everyone accountable for making meaningful changes. It also provides targeted, actionable suggestions so you can ensure employees feel like they have a voice and be sure your company is always improving. The product will be enhanced with AI capabilities such as providing predictive insights into employee churn across teams in organisations.
Perkbox aims to sign up 5,000 customers in the next six months and is offering a free 12-month subscription for a limited time period.
Ben Leeds, Director of Product at Perkbox comments, “For employers looking to improve performance and increase employee engagement, the data and trends generated by our new Insights product will allow them to see exactly how their performance improves over time. Further, HR leaders, managers and teams will be able to hold themselves accountable and track the progress that has been made on employee feedback and concerns throughout the transition.”
Venable LLP is pleased to announce that William “Bill” C. Hoops has joined the firm’s Real Estate Practice as counsel in the Washington, DC office. Mr. Hoops, who was previously vice president and senior corporate real estate counsel with a financial institution, will focus his practice on real estate finance and project development matters involving the purchase, sale, construction, and build-out of retail, office, and warehouse properties.
Mr. Hoops brings a career’s worth of experience from both his banking and legal background. He has represented borrowers and lenders in loan originations and credit facilities for commercial real estate, multifamily, and senior housing properties, including commercial mortgage-backed securities, private equity, and portfolio. He has managed litigation, property management, enforcement proceedings, and legal matters, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, fire and life safety requirements, and environmental, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, insurance, and condemnation matters. Mr. Hoops has advised landlord and tenant clients on leasing matters involving shopping centers, office buildings, and warehouse facilities.
“We look forward to Bill joining our esteemed group of real estate practitioners who have decades of experience servicing clients in all areas of commercial real estate,” said Thomas E.D. (Ted) Millspaugh, chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice.
Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Hoops said, “The attorneys in Venable’s Real Estate Practice are highly regarded and well respected in the industry, and I am excited to start the next chapter of my legal career with the team.”
Mr. Hoops received his LL.M. in Real Property Development from the University of Miami School of Law in 2006, his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 2004, and his B.A. in English and German from the University of Michigan in 2000.
At Venable, Mr. Hoops joins a Real Estate Practice with 70 attorneys in six offices representing real estate investors, developers, landowners, and public agencies in the legislative, administrative, and regulatory aspects of complex zoning. Chambers USA, Legal 500, and U.S. News-Best Lawyers“Best Law Firms” have consistently recognized the group among the top practices, both regionally and nationally.
Venable LLP is an American LawyerGlobal 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, and high-net-worth entrepreneurs and individuals. With more than 700 attorneys across the country, including California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ business objectives in the U.S. and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit www.Venable.com.
New technology, digital currencies, open banking, business model disruption and unprecedented compliance, regulation and geopolitical issues will change the treasury function beyond recognition in the next decade. Designed to fit six months of meetings into three days, delegates to the event will hear fresh perspectives from thought leaders and learn about cutting-edge solutions that will assist change and prepare them for the future.
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