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Mum of two, Grainne Kelly from Londonderry in Northern Ireland, was so fed up with the lack of proper safety provision for children travelling in cars that she took matters into her own hands and came up with an innovative solution.

Grainne has developed the world’s first inflatable, safety approved and regulated car booster seat, BubbleBum, in response to her own frustration and experience as a mother and travel agent.

“I just wanted to create a product that I could send everywhere with my children to keep them safe in the event of unexpected journeys,” she explained.

“Modern families do a lot of travelling in cars, coaches and taxis, both here and abroad – bulky booster seats just aren’t practical to carry around even for one child, never mind if you have two or three.

The BubbleBum has been designed to be small, light, practical and so easy to use that it’s perfect even for quick taxi journeys. Plus it looks good, so kids don’t mind carrying it around in their rucksacks or schoolbags.”

Grainne has made it her new year’s resolution to raise public awareness of child car safety. In doing so she hopes that Government will review and update what she describes as dated legislation which includes exemptions permitting children to travel unprotected without an appropriate booster seat for ‘unexpected’ journeys.

Research commissioned by Grainne in Northern Ireland revealed that four out of ten primary school children are transported to and from school without a booster seat.

She finds it shocking that many adults responsible for carrying children in their vehicles simply aren’t taking the necessary precautions. “There should be no excuse for those who put their young passengers at risk. The safety of children should be of paramount importance,” said Grainne.

The BubbleBum product has been designed to offer a lightweight and highly portable solution for parents and adults who transport children in their cars and, in doing so, it also plugs the safety gap caused by the legislative exemptions.

Further information on the BubbleBum is available at www.bubblebum.co.uk

Pictured at the new stand at Cookstown Hockey Club designed by Acheson & Glover are from left: Stephen Cuddy, Project Manager, Cookstown Hockey Club; Raymond Gilmour, Technical Consultant, Acheson & Glover; Gareth Cuddy, Technical Project Manager, Cookstown Hockey Club and Irish International David Ames who is a member of Cookstown Hockey Club.

A new state-of-the art hockey pitch and stand in Cookstown is raising the game for players and fans across the country.

The unique grand stand was specially designed by Fivemiletown based company Acheson & Glover and is a ‘first’ of its type, using retaining walls for three tiered levels, instead of traditional precast concrete terracing and steps.

Accommodating up to 2,000 people, the stand was completed in less than five weeks and provides unrestricted viewing across the new water-based pitch.

Club vice chairman and project manager, Stephen Cuddy, said the new facility provides the only viewing facility in Irish hockey in which flood lighting is set behind the spectators who enjoy a vantage point from all angles.

 “The spectator area was created solely using Acheson & Glover products and as well as being a practical and economical alternative to traditional terracing, the dry stack blocks have a natural stone appearance and fit well into the natural landscape,” said Stephen.  “The stand area leads into a greenfield site, and a lot of concrete would just not have looked right.

“We are absolutely delighted with the result and have had excellent feedback from fans who get a great perspective on the game straight away.  The problem with traditional stands is that there is not enough height in between the levels and now, thanks to an initial 1.5 metre high wall and a 400mm rise between the tiers, spectators don’t miss any of the action on the pitch.”

The Acheson & Glover design, part of an overall £950,000 hockey club upgrade, had special significance for the club in that company managing director, Mr Raymond Acheson, is a life member and the only captain in its 50-year history to have steered Cookstown to Irish Senior Cup glory when the 1^st  X1 lifted the cup in 1987.

The extensive project has also served to raise the profile of Cookstown Hockey Club to a higher level within the sport, with Stephen attributing its successful bid to host this year’s U21 Celtic Cup to the new, modernised facilities.

“We secured the bid and are the selected venue to host this prestigious tournament in July,” he said. “We will have 180 international players from Ireland, France, Wales and Scotland playing on our new pitch, and that is largely down to our improved venue.”

Acheson & Glover Technical Consultant, Raymond Gilmour, said the idea for the tiered stand was developed from the company’s widespread use of a tiered walling system popular  in landscaped gardens.

“Basically, we applied the same principle, using Acheson & Glover Anchor Vertica Block, incorporating our cappingstone and reinforcing grid to provide stability,” explained Raymond. “The Anchor Vertica blocks were also used to form the steps to access the viewing platforms. It was a perfect design solution as it is aesthetically pleasing and cheaper than traditional terracing.

“The raised sections have a coloured, textured finish and even when empty, the stand is a real feature and still looks great!”

Patton Fit-Out has just completed work on a massive new Debenhams store in Newcastle in the North East of England. 

 The 180,000 sq ft four floor Debenhams store officially opened on Tuesday 16 February.  

 The development forms part of a single-level mall extension at Eldon Square Shopping Centre in the city, which will house Debenhams as an anchor tenant in a self styled icon store. 

 The Eldon upgrade is part of a wider, multi-agency strategy designed to position Newcastle as the shopping capital of the region.   

 Patton Fit-Out Key Account Manager Garry Robinson’s site team – which at times included over 100 specialists – started on site 26 weeks ago, and saw the culmination of their efforts just before Christmas, when the project was completed ahead of the scheduled official opening event. 

 Eldon marks the latest milestone in Patton Fit-Out’s 20 year + relationship with the retail giant, and is their most extensive fit-out project for Debenhams in either GB or Ireland. 

 Garry said that it wasn’t just the scale of the project that marked it out as uniquely challenging:

 “The sales floors were completed to the highest specification and include laser-cut ceramic tiles throughout, which was one of many challenging aspects of the project. 

 The atrium area included eight escalators and the range of merchandising units to be installed meant that we were working at full capacity for the entire 26 week period.”

 Debenhams at Eldon is setting a new standard in store design in a drive to capture market share and secure customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive retail environment. 

 Director of Patton Fit-Out, Brendan Boyd, believes that the company is well positioned to capitalise on their Debenhams experience to win more contracts from the sector this year: 

 “Patton Fit-Out has been working with Debenhams for over 20 years, and just this month we have begun two 18 week long refurbishment projects on stores in Manchester and Glasgow. 

 “The large blue-chip retailers want contractors to deliver projects at any time and place, at competitive prices and without compromising on quality. 

 “It’s important that we’re seen to measure up to these challenges in what continues to be a particularly tough trading climate”. 

(from left) Peter Belshaw, Debenhams Eldon Square Manager & Garry Robinson, Patton Fit-Out Key Account Manager at store opening

The new Welsh Assembly Office at Llandudno Junction in North Wales.

The expertise of a leading fenestration systems company in blast resistance has been called into play for the design and building of the new Welsh Assembly Government office at Llandudno Junction in North Wales.

Sapa Building Systems were one of the few companies able to supply a blast resistant glazing system robust enough to meet government security requirements. Main contractor for the £21m JCT Design and Build contract is Pochin Construction, and the new 8,800m2 office facilities will ultimately accommodate up to 650 staff.

The contract netted a deal worth £1.5m to Sapa’s specialist fabricator and installer, Parry Bowen of Cannock, and included the provision of Powerframe curtain walling, windows and doors to give fully enhanced glazing. 

Fully independently tested under the international standard ISO16933, Sapa’s Powerframe system features glass laminated with polyvinyl butyl membrane, which safely retains the glass splinters caused by a blast. The glass is also firmly clamped in position by aluminium frames backed by hefty steel sub-frames. The glazing effectively acts as a crumple zone in an explosion and this can help deflect up to 300mm to reduce the blast pressure and load on the rest of the building.

Stuart Threlfall, Commercial Director of Parry Bowen, said: “We worked closely with Sapa’s designers, and employed specialist blast consultants, to meet the demanding specification and tight programme. We believe that the Sapa Powerframe product range is unrivalled in its proven performance.”

Graham Hurrell, Sapa’s Building Systems’ Director of Specification Sales added: “We have an unrivalled range of products that offer an effective line of defense in the event of a building being subjected to either deliberate or accidental blast.

“Introducing this protection into a building’s design specification provides the best possible protection to buildings and, most importantly, the people who work in them.”

For further information contact Sapa Building Systems Ltd,Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire , tel  01684 853 500; email info.buildingsystems.uk@sapagroup.com

 website www.sapabuildingsystems.co.uk

Automated Solar Shading, offering building designers an optimised control solution for facades with window, screening and curtain walling elements, will be launched at this year’s Ecobuild Exhibition in London on March 2.

The sophisticated new system from Sapa Building Systems automatically provides a comfortable environment for the building user by reducing solar gain in the summer months. Conversely solar gain in the winter can be maximised to increase internal building temperatures and therefore offset some of the requirements for heating. An intelligent, automated system works out the optimum solution based on building location and orientation according to the time of day and season.

  Also being showcased in public for the first time will be Sapa’s Building Integrated Photo Voltaic (BIPV) systems. Providing architects with exciting new possibilities to incorporate solar technology into buildings, the systems allow specifiers to deliver energy-efficient, innovative tailor-made solutions. The PV modules can be incorporated into the building vertically, horizontally or at an angle.

 Visitors to the Sapa stand 2442 can find out about the company’s innovative  Dualframe window system, the first aluminium window to be awarded ‘A’ rating under the Government-supported Window Energy Rating (WER) scheme, with the new generation Dualframe Si, one of just a handful of aluminium systems to be capable of achieving the highest and much coveted ‘A’ rating.

And finally, Sapa will be promoting its ‘green’ credentials at Ecobuild. As part of its environmental policy, the company produces new high quality aluminium material recycled from waste and used products in an economical and environment friendly manner that is fully traceable.
For further info ring Sapa Building Systems on 01684 853 500

email info.buildingsystems.uk@sapagroup.com website www.sapabuildingsystems.co.uk

Northern Ireland’s first estate agent to sell houses directly from the Internet back in January 1998 continues to stay ahead in the technology race with the introduction of a GPS enabled iPhone Application.

The free ‘app’ will allow access to property that is listed with leading NI residential estate agent Templeton Robinson for sale or rent in Northern Ireland anytime, anywhere, using an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Key functionality of the app includes the ability to search properties for sale or rent in your current location – highlighting instantly how far the property is from you and providing directions right to the front door! Alternatively you can conduct an area search for properties anywhere throughout Northern Ireland using specific criteria such as price, number of bedrooms or property type.

You can also access property photographs via a slideshow feature which scrolls though images in full screen mode and the app offers immediate access to Templeton Robinson through a ‘Call Us’ or ‘Email Us’ button allowing you to call or email Templeton Robinson  at the touch of a button. In addition, you can even forward details of your dream property to friends or post on your social networking sites.
“The launch of the Templeton Robinson app reflects our commitment to driving innovation in what we do, and going above and beyond expectations to meet our customers’ requirements,” said Keith Mitchell, Senior Partner & Director at Templeton Robinson.
“The new app will allow consumers to search for homes wherever they are. Whether you’re out and about and spot your dream home for sale or want to identify properties for sale near your current location, this new app provides you with the newest and most innovative technology to do so.”  
For further information visit www.templetonrobinson.co.uk

IT wasn’t your usual sort of birthday celebration, but then Belfast businessman Ronnie Foreman doesn’t do things by halves.

 This year, to mark his 65^th birthday,  the Belfast Port commissioner decided to make a splash by swimming 65 lengths of his local pool – and raising more than £10,000 for a charity dedicated to helping impoverished people in Haiti.

Ronnie, who recently completed the challenge at the David Lloyd complex in Dundonald  in just over an hour , raised the money for Irish-based charity Haven which builds houses in Haiti and has been at the coalface helping survivors since the devastating earthquake in January.

 The businessman was recently appointed Northern Ireland ambassador for the charity which has just launched here and aims to attract local volunteers for its ‘Build It’ Weeks during 2010. Haven is currently building latrines and providing temporary shelter for the thousands of Haitians who have been left homeless in the earthquake which is now believed to have killed 230,000 people.

Ronnie’s marathon swim, which amounted to over a mile, coincided with Haven’s first ‘Build It Week’ in Haiti, during which 260 volunteers built 41 houses, one basketball court and an extra classroom at a local school.

The money he has raised will now help the charity build a total of 1,000 new homes, upgrade 2,000 more and build community facilities in the Caribbean country by the end of 2011. It will also give a good head-start to this year’s two ‘Build It’ weeks scheduled to take place in April and October.

 “Haven has been involved in life-changing work in Haiti and I was pleased to help raise funds for its work on the ground, helping improve the lives of local people,” said Ronnie. “Even before  the earthquake, many of the locals lived in ramshackle huts and eked out an existence in a country which lacked the most basic necessities, such as electricity and good roads, which we take for granted.

 “I wanted to do something significant to help and I suddenly hit on the idea of a swim – although I was only accustomed to swimming my usual 15 lengths, so upping my training regime to reach 65 was a bit daunting.  The last five lengths were really tough, but, thanks to encouragement from friends, I managed to keep going.”

And was there an indulgent piece of birthday cake awaiting by the poolside?  “Not exactly,” he confides. “A friend brought me out for a croissant and a cup of coffee, which was just as good. It was a novel and rewarding way to spend my 65^th birthday, although I did feel a little tired afterwards. It was a very humbling experience and I am grateful to everyone who supported me.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the charity or the ‘Build It’ weeks planned for 2010 should visit the Haven website at www.havenpartnership.com

Twelve years ago Templeton Robinson became the first estate agency in Northern Ireland to sell a house using the Internet.

Now it’s a core part of their promotional package and the company has just announced that its sixth generation website has gone live.

The new look website means finding your dream house or getting the latest news on the local property market has never been easier.  In addition to the latest properties for sale and rental, the site features tips for vendors and includes a customised Google map to pin point the locations of useful services such as schools, GP surgeries and train stations in the geographical areas where Templeton Robinson sell properties.

A blog and site links to Twitter ensure that the company is keeping right up to date with the growing trends in social media.

“We are currently exploring all of the online platforms which have become so popular as new ways to communicate,” says Templeton Robinson Director William Liddell.

 “On our new blog we will be keeping visitors to our site up to date with current developments in the market, opportunities as they arise and relevant news as it happens.”

To see more visit www.templetonrobinson.co.uk

Templeton Robinson has five branches across Belfast and North Down at Lisburn Road, Ormeau Road, Holywood, Ballyhackamore and Bangor.

 Almost 40% of Northern Ireland’s children from P1-P4 regularly travel to and from school in cars, without adequate protection, it was claimed today.

Research carried out by BubbleBum – the Northern Ireland company which has produced the world’s first inflatable, safety approved, portable car booster seat – will shock parents and road safety chiefs. 

 “Our survey was conducted in Primary Schools throughout Northern Ireland,” explains Grainne Kelly, founder of BubbleBum.  “It was based on a sample of more than 1,000 children using a school from each area board and the feedback shows that 37% of all children from P1-P4 do not use a booster seat on the school run.

 ‘The statistics show clearly that many adults responsible for carrying children in their vehicles aren’t thinking twice about putting their young passengers’ safety at risk.”

 Entrepreneur and mother of two, Grainne, has made it her new year’s resolution to raise public awareness of child car safety. In doing so she hopes that ministers will review and amend what she describes as dated legislation which permits children to travel unprotected without an appropriate booster seat for ‘unexpected’ journeys. 

 “Official PSNI statistics show that every year in Northern Ireland there are around 1,000 child casualties in road traffic collisions. So we’re calling on the legislators to close the loophole and asking the question: should safety really be a choice?”

Entrepreneur Grainne Kelly has already contacted senior figures in the DoE and has received backing from Northern Ireland school principals, including acting Principal Tony Morrison of Chapel Road Primary School in Derry, who said:

 “We were shocked at the statistics Grainne presented to us about the lack of protection for our children while on the school run. The safety of our children is of paramount importance and we would support a change in legislation which tightened the legal loophole that currently allows children to travel without appropriate booster seats. We understand the difficulties drivers sometimes have providing suitable booster seats but would encourage everyone to ensure that children have the protection they need on car journeys.”

Grainne Kelly developed the BubbleBum in response to her own frustration and experience as a working mother.

“I just wanted to create a product that I could send everywhere with my children to keep them safe in the event of unexpected journeys,” she explained.

“Modern families do a lot of travelling in cars, coaches and taxis, and bulky booster seats just aren’t practical to carry around even for one child, never mind if you have two or three. The fact that more than a third of children from P1-P4 travel regularly to and from school without proper protection in many ways reflects how impractical and off-putting some of the current seat booster options can be. 

BubbleBum has been designed to be small, light, practical and so easy to use that it’s perfect even for quick taxi journeys and travel abroad. Plus it looks good, so kids don’t mind carrying it around in their rucksacks or schoolbags.”

Further information on the BubbleBum is available at www.bubblebum.co.uk

Western Building Systems has just handed over a block of administrative units at Beaumont Hospital in a €1million separate contract deal, following on from its spring 2009 completion of high dependency and medical admissions units at the hospital. 

The full design and build project pitched the Co-Tyrone rapid, fast-track specialist against six other companies in a competitive process. 

Involving work on human resource and finance departments on the main arterial route into the admissions department at the hospital, work commenced off site in June 09 prior to a five month on site engagement from August to December, when the contract was completed on time and within budget. 

Western now offers a range of permanent build solutions – the administrative units at Beaumont, for example, incorporate solid, concrete, first and ground flooring.  The units also include rain screen cladding and all mechanical and electrical fittings, site services and utilities. 

The project was completed in conjunction with O’ Connell Mahon Architectural Associates representing Beaumont Hospital.  Paul Nadin, Head of Project and Estate Management at Beaumont Hospital commented:

“Speaking on behalf of Beaumont, we’re delighted at Western’s commitment to this project, and their ability to make tight deadlines marks the company out as a market leader in the fast-track sector,” 

Though each new project is subject to a rigorous design and build tender process, Senior Contracts Manager Shane Taggart believes that the successful delivery of this latest project can only assist the company’s prospects for further contract wins within the health sector: 

“Costs are obviously an important consideration in the tendering process, and we compete well in this regard.  However, the fact that we’ve secured repeat business from clients such as Beaumont Hospital suggests that the ability to deliver on schedule without compromising on quality is also of vital importance, and this can only bode well for Western’s prospects in the future”. 

The Co-Tyrone based company has developed a strong reputation in the health sector in Ireland in recent years.  Aside from its first Beaumont contract, which was completed in February of last year, the company has worked with many of Ireland’s hospitals at some stage in its 35 year history.  Over the years, the company has delivered a range of turnkey solutions including symptomatic breast care and palliative care facilities at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, and operating theatres and Day Surgery Units at Aut Even Hospital Kilkenny.  All projects were delivered with high-tech medical equipment installed and good to go.