May 2009 Newsletter

Client Success Story - The Outdoor Group

"Squirrel's feet, anyone?"

The Outdoor Group have reinvented the concept of the off-site company meeting. Rather than getting together in a stuffy hotel room in darkest Slough, The Outdoor Group provide outdoor corporate events that enforce and foster intra-team relationships. They take you away from your office environment, provide full tuition, and then set natural world challenges that can only be made possible through teamwork.

Additionally, The Outdoor Group provide outdoor corporate incentive schemes. For example, you can reward your top salesperson with a helicopter ride over Oxford, or your winning team can learn bushcraft and outdoor survival techniques from instructors who have worked with TV's Ray Mears.

"We moved straight into our offices at Prama House" says Alex McBarnet, "Everything was already up and running, we just plugged in our laptops and started work! As you might expect with our business, we spend a lot of time out of the office, so it's important that our telephone calls are always professionally handled and redirected efficiently. The Clarendon team have really met our needs and have been brilliant at introducing us to other businesses and local networking groups."

If you would like to find out more about The Outdoor Group, please email Alex, Phil and the team at: info@theoutdoorgroup.co.uk.

Would you like us to feature your success story next month? If so, please email us at: newsletter@clarendon-enterprise.co.uk.

2009 Business Success Seminars

"Communicate Effectively... and Win The Business!"

We had another excellent attendance at our Business Success Seminars in Oxford in April. Alison Haill from Oxford Professional Consulting showed us how important it is to communicate effectively in business, both nationally and internationally.

As part of this seminar programme, Alison is very pleased to offer her booklet 'International Business Tips' to all Clarendon readers for only £4.50 (usual price £10). If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please ring Alison on the number below. In addition, Alison's services are available to Clarendon clients at a reduced cost as part of our Clarendon Privilege Card programme.

As ever, the attendees at these seminars also used the networking opportunity to exchange useful ideas and business tips.

May Seminar
May's Business Success Seminar will be about how to build a successful business through systemising your contact with your customers. Katie Williams from Enterprise View will demonstrate how to build and maintain rewarding relationships with your customers using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems.

This will take place on Tuesday 19th May at 8.30am at Prama House.

To book your place, please contact Anne O’Reilly on: 01865 339300 or email: anne.oreilly@the-infinite-group.com

We hope that you will find access to these experts beneficial to your business and look forward to seeing you at the seminars.

Privilege Card

"Membership is a privilege..."

Did you know that at Clarendon, we have negotiated many discounts and special offers from local businesses on behalf of our clients?

From Restaurants and Hotels, Golf Clubs and Gyms, Website Design and Email Newsletters, Gyms and Personal Training, to Opticians and Spanish Lessons...!

Whether you would like to enjoy a free glass of wine with your business lunch at Portabello Restaurant, Bar and Grill, or reduced membership fees at Esporta Health Club, or Home Staging advice from Frontdoorz, or to learn conversational Spanish at Ole Spanish School... using your Clarendon Privilege Card will help to reduce the cost.

You can browse the businesses offering these benefits to Clarendon Privilege Card Holders at: www.clarendon-enterprise.co.uk/members.

If your business would like to promote a Special Offer to our Clarendon Members in Oxfordshire, Bournemouth or Bracknell, please email Candy Woodington at:
newsletter@clarendon-enterprise.co.uk.

James Walker Wins In Spa!

"Look out, Jenson...!"

Oxford-based James Walker is a young British racing driver currently competing in the World Series by Renault. Racing at well-known Grand Prix circuits, this motor racing series has supplied Formula One with some outstanding drivers, notably Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen, to name just a few.

On Sunday, James Walker achieved a fantastic win at Spa in front of almost 80,000 spectators!

James Walker's Clarendon fanbase were cheering from the rooftops, not least Anne Calleja from Link Fortune International, who is based in Prama House. Anne works very closely with James as top athletes need to train both their muscles and their mind. Anne helps James to prepare for the mental challenges of motor racing so he can deliver at "peak performance" throughout the race.

The glamorous Monaco round of the World Series by Renault takes place in two weeks on the 24th May. Viewers can watch James racing live on Eurosport (Sky Channel 410).

If you would like to achieve peak performance in your sport or in your working day, please email Anne Calleja at:
anne@link-fortune.co.uk.

Competition Time

"What hurricane?"

April's Competition Results:
Many thanks for those of you who explained why "eggs" and "bunnies" have become modern secular symbols of Easter. Most were very amusing and involved rabbits and their popular activities, but the winner Anna Kemble from ENnate Limited, who will receive her prize courtesy of our Bracknell Office.

She contributed that: "The egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in Pagan celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth." and that "The Easter Hare was associated with the Pagan celebration of the goddess Eostre, from whom the word Easter is derived, and is associated with fertility." Anna's fine piece of research deserves Marks and Spencer's chocolates!

May Competition:
This month's weather-related question is very simple.

"The Met Office was based in Bracknell, but where is it now?"

One lucky winner will receive a £25 Marks and Spencer's voucher to spend on swimming trunks and an umbrella...

Please email your answer and contact details to: newsletter@clarendon-enterprise.co.uk
and we will choose the winner on Tuesday May 19th 2009.

As ever, the judge's decision will be final!

About Clarendon Enterprise Centre

Cost-effective office space - hassle free!

Since 1998, Clarendon Enterprise Centre has provided both emerging and established businesses with friendly, hassle free and cost-effective serviced, managed and virtual office space.

Our offices offer instant availability and are fully furnished and cabled. Our flexible approach means that you only pay for space you use, you only commit for the length of term you want, there’s no upfront capital expenditure and you can upsize and downsize as needed.

In addition to serviced office space, our business centres offer modern and well equipped meeting and conference facilities, as well as Virtual Office, mail handling and call diversion services.

Offering the latest IT and telecoms infrastructure, and high levels of customer service, Clarendon has a solution for every type of business…and every budget.

Call us on 01865 339300 or email us at
newsletter@clarendon-enterprise.co.uk