Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM) 2010, the region’s leading event for the maritime and shipping industry, has teamed up with leading industry body European Marine Equipment Council (EMEC) to launch a brand new feature at this year’s exhibition, the Technology Forum: Europe in the Middle East.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President & Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, SMEM will celebrate its fifth event, having grown year on year since its inception in 2003.

To honour the strong relationship between Europe and the Middle East the Forum will be hosted by EMEC and its members specifically to discuss European technical expertise. Topics to be covered include ‘Power & Propulsion’, ‘Electronics’, ‘Safety’ and ‘Green Technology’ and will be presented by a range of high-level speakers from the maritime industry. Confirmed speakers to date include Jaakko Eskola, president of EMEC and group vice president of Wartsila Ship Power; Lars Munch Antonsen, general manager, group marketing & CRM of Aalborg Industries; Kjeld Aabo, director of promotion, marine low speed at MAN Diesel SE; Roger Harfouch, Sales Director, Vizada and Philip Padfield, CEO, Eniram.

Chris Hayman, managing director of Seatrade, said: “We wanted to provide a technical forum, aside from the broad commercial conference, for marine engineers to have the opportunity to discuss the latest technologies from the ship building, conversion and repair industry. EMEC is an important industry body and we will be working closely with them to ensure that participants have access to the most up to date engineering news and a close look at European technology and advancements and further strengthen the relationship between these two regions.”

Jaakko Eskola, president of EMEC, said: “This Forum comes at an ideal time as the industry is recovering from a turbulent year and finally has the opportunity to look forward. Collaboration between Europe and the Middle East has always been strong and the EMEC will be presenting a series of seminars by experts from across Europe, who will cover a range of important topics and share in-depth European technical expertise.”

The Technology Forum: Europe in the Middle East will run within the new Technical Seminar Theatre, with free attendance for exhibitors and visitors. The new addition will run alongside the three day paid for SMEM Conference, which will cover high-level industry topics, including ‘Middle East Voice in World Shipping’, ‘Middle East Money and Ships’, ‘Offshore’ and ‘Ports & Terminals’.

SMEM will take place from 26-28 October at Dubai World Trade Centre. SMEM is sponsored by: ABS, BP Marine, DNV, DP World, Drydocks World, Lloyds Register, SAIFEE, Topaz Energy & Marine and Tufton Oceanic. For further information or to register for the event, please visit www.seatrade-middleeast.com.

Countries such as Brazil and UK have already implemented legislation to ensure that a minimum standard of health and safety is applied to every company’s activities and those involved in the oil and gas sector tend to have very high levels of safety already in place.

It is in countries where such legislation does not exist that understanding of the importance of QHSE is low. Aggreko is currently trying to recruit trained QHSE managers native to the country that it is working in to better understand the culture of health and safety management and the ways in which we can work to heighten the standards and ensure application is consistent and correct

What challenges do you face in implementing a QHSE policy?

In the Middle East, and significantly the United Arab Emirates, one of the many challenges facing QHSE teams is the significant mix of nationalities, which can make communicating key QHSE policies even more difficult. Although some countries, including the UK and the UAE, have already implemented legislation to ensure that a minimum standard of health and safety must be followed, this is not true in many regions. Because of the varying standards of QHSE worldwide, companies must ensure that their own QHSE systems are communicated clearly to all employees, a task which involves a thorough educational process.

What systems do you have in place?

Key messages must be conveyed and vital procedures must be followed and understood no matter where in the world they are being implemented. One of our tools is an online portal, QHSE Share Point, is one of the simplest ways in which Aggreko communicates its QHSE policies. The intranet facility is a bank of all the company’s ISO and OHSAS certifications as well as Aggreko policies that must be adhered to. A translation strategy is now being put into place so that all materials are available in English, Chinese, French, Spanish and Portuguese, with further languages being added as needed.

We have a formal induction process is an essential part of this, helping any new employees to understand the procedures and also the reasons why they are so important from the very beginning of their career with the company. Following this induction, workers are provided with a gradual introduction to hazardous situations, which helps them to ensure that precautions and QHSE actions become a regular part of the working day.

Another one of our successful initiative that has been put into place is to have all necessary hazard warning signs on site in the dialect of that location, whether Hindi, Arabic or Mandarin, to ensure that workers are aware of the most important health and safety procedures that they must abide by. Further to this, Aggreko is using more pictorially based signs to convey warning signs on site, and has launched ‘Safety For Life’, which is a collection of eight cartoon based posters which explain hazardous situations through imagery to help get the message across quickly and effectively.

How do you ensure your initiatives are implemented and upheld?

We take our QHSE policies very seriously and make this very transparent to all our employees and clients. We ensure that before any project goes ahead the system is already an integral part of all planning and procedures. We conduct a risk assessment of all activities at two points before any work begins, with a Pre Tender QHSE Review and then a Post Contract QHSE Review, which takes place before mobilisation. A Compliance Review is then conducted following the commissioning of the project and then again every six months for its duration. These reviews are carried out by a professional QHSE auditor with further monitoring performed by a member of Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), also at six-month intervals.

Such reviews are then presented to the company’s senior management who act on any discrepancies. In fact, QHSE is regarded so highly by our management team that the managing director has a note of the most dangerous hazards on any project site, so when visiting these sites he can ensure that all measures are correctly in place to reduce the possibility of any accidents occurring.

Research released today by The Office Exhibition has revealed some fascinating facts about office life, including that each person spends an average of 46 days out of their working year alone on non-work related activity. The survey shows that despite putting in long hours, UAE office workers still manage to grab some personal time during the working day, whether on social networking websites, surfing the net, gossiping with colleagues, or making tea.

The Office Exhibition surveyed over 1,000 office workers across the UAE, with the following results:

• Time for tea: a staggering 150 million cups of tea are made by office workers in the UAE every year, with each person spending almost four and a half working days making them
• Good to gossip: office workers in the region believe that it is good to chat to colleagues – so much so, that on average they spend nearly seven working days a year doing it
• Socialising online: some 62 percent of companies have an IT policy relating to social media and personal Internet usage which is adhered to, but 33 percent either have a policy that is ignored, or do not have a policy at all. In line with this, 44 percent of respondents said that they did not use social networking at work (Facebook, Twitter etc), although UAE office workers still manage to spend almost 11 days each a year doing this, in addition to eight days per year instant messenging with friends (MSN, Facebook chat etc).
• From banks to breaks: online banking and paying bills is a popular in-work-time activity, with each office worker spending 11 days a year doing it; in addition to six days a year spent online at work researching and booking holidays
• Email mountain: email is by far the preferred method of communication at work, with 60% of respondents preferring this over phone or face to face contact. Office workers send and receive a total of a staggering 3.5 billion emails every year, which averages out to 47 emails each working day

Speaking about the research, Sinead Bridgett, Show Director, The Office Exhibition said, “It’s well known that people in the UAE spend long hours in the office, but our survey has uncovered some fascinating facts about what actually happens during the working day. Whilst email now dominates official communications, people still want to spend time chatting with colleagues about non-work related issues.

“The majority of companies have IT policies in place regarding social networking and internet use, but almost a third do not, and this is something we would encourage them to look at as a significant number of days a year are spent on these activities at work.”

Now in its 9th year, The Office Exhibition is a leading showcase for the high-end products, technology and services that combine to create outstanding working environments. Set to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 9-11 February 2010, the show will feature over 250 companies, covering an area of approximately 15,000 m2.

Well renowned for its classic North Indian cuisine served in a modern elegant setting, Ushna has put together a special Valentine’s four course Kama (pleasure of the senses) set menu for only AED 495 per couple, or AED 695 including a bottle of Lanson Black Label Champagne. Couples can sample the delicious treats that Ushna has to offer, whilst enjoying the scenic views of the Marina and Grand Mosque from Ushna’s stunning terrace. In addition, one lucky couple will receive an exclusive invitation to dine with Ushna’s Chef and Sommelier, for some top tips on perfectly matching food and drink together.

Coinciding with the Valentine’s theme, the dress code for the evening is trendy and red.

The mouthwatering menu consists of Saffron spiced roasted asparagus with almond and paneer patties; Jasmine scented tandoori fish tikka with korma sauce; and strawberry pudding, crispy chocolate cannelloni and wild rose ice cream.

For couples looking for something really special this Valentine’s – from Thai cuisine at its best to the romantic setting of the fountains and the Burj Khalifa - Mango Tree has it all.

With a specially selected mouth-watering menu and a bottle of Moet for only AED 600 per couple, Valentine’s at Mango Tree is guaranteed to put the spice into any romantic evening. Even better, couples will be offered the opportunity to have their photo taken by a professional photographer against the stunning backdrop of the Burj Khalifa, and will be sent a copy by email so that they can capture the memory forever.

A survey carried out on behalf of The Office Exhibition has shown that 33% of employees in the UAE either stay at their desk all day or only leave their desk for a lunch break. This puts a third of office workers at risk of serious health problems, such as obesity and deep vein thrombosis, or stress and back problems. These problems can easily be resolved with the incorporation of Deskercise into a regular working day.

To start the New Year on a healthier note, The Office Exhibition has devised a Deskercise routine, which helps fight stress and tension and encourages flexibility and mental stimulation, allowing people to take time out of a busy working day to focus on wellbeing. The routine, which is simple and effective, can be carried out in the office, as it can be performed at the desk at any point throughout the day.

Deskercise focuses on regions of the body where tension is most likely to build up throughout the day, such as the neck, shoulders and back as well as providing toning workouts for arms, legs and stomach. The routine includes sets of fool-proof exercises which colleagues will not notice you doing:

• Neck Push - this can be done sitting or standing and helps to strengthen the neck muscles:

- Keep your head up-right
- Press one palm against your forehead and press head into your palm, which resists the push
- Hold for 10 to 15 seconds then release
- Clasp your hands behind your head
- Press head backwards, resisting the pressure with your hands
- Hold for 10 to 15 seconds then release
- Hold your right hand against the side of your head
- Press your head into your palm, resisting the pressure with your hand
- Hold for 10 to 15 second then release and repeat on the left side

• Heavy Hinged Shoulders - this exercise is done standing and will stretch the shoulders and release tension:

- Push both hands straight in front of you with your palms facing down
- Hold for five seconds
- Bend the arms in at the elbows with the fingers pointing straight ahead
- Hold for five seconds
- Repeat five to 10 times

• Tummy Toners - everyone wants a toned tummy, but sitting at a desk all day does not make for a slender stomach. Deskercise offers a way to tone whilst you type:

- Sitting up-right in your chair, hold onto the arms or underneath of the seat
- Keep your feet together and knees bent
- Lift your knees to your chest whilst tightening your abdominal muscles
- Hold for five seconds
- Relax and repeat five to 10 times

• Shapely Arms - give your wrists a break from typing and get your arms working with a simple exercise which can be done at any time of day.

- Put your left hand on top of your right in front of you, palms together. Lift upward with your right arm while using your left arm to create resistance,
- Feel the pressure in your right arm and hold this for five seconds
- Switch arms and repeat. Do twice on each side

• Perfect Posture - posture can be seriously disturbed by sitting at a desk all day, which can lead to pain in your back, shoulders and neck:

- Whilst sitting, bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle, forearms parallel to the floor
- Squeeze your shoulder blades down and together
- At the same time gently press your elbows back
- Hold for five seconds then release and repeat

• Thunder Thighs – don’t neglect your legs, work your thighs with a simple exercise that no one else need see:

- Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor
- Bring one leg straight out in front of you
- With your back straight and chin lifted, hold your leg up for five to 10 seconds
- Lower leg then repeat with the opposite one
- Repeat twice with each leg


Speaking about the survey, Sinead Bridgett, Show Director, The Office Exhibition said, “People are now pretty aware of the importance of preventing DVT by exercising on longhaul flights, but few realise the potential health-hazards of a desk-bound job. Many people are now suffering serious health problems as a result of long working hours and the inability to take regular breaks from their desks.

“In order to optimise the brain, it is recommended that people should take regular breaks, have their lunch break away from their desk and exercise a few times a week after work. The Office Exhibition’s Deskercise routine is designed to go some way to ensure that office workers can exercise at any time of the day, providing some kind of release from everyday anxieties.”

Now in its 9th year, The Office Exhibition is a leading showcase for the high-end products, technology and services that combine to create outstanding working environments. Set to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 9-11 February 2010, the show will feature over 350 companies, covering an area of approximately 15,000 m2.

Guests can place offers for a range of luxury items and monitor their progress at the Charity area on the night of the Ball. All money raised from the auction and donations made will be given to FOCP, which aims to provide moral, financial and practical support to cancer sufferers and their families.

Founded under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed AI Qasimi, President of the Family Supreme Council, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah & Federal Supreme Council Member H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, FOCP became the official charity of the Oil Barons Ball last year. Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, part of the organizing committee for the charity, will present a message to the audience on the night.

To date, the list of items for auction includes a signed Fernando Torres shirt mounted in a silver frame, some beautiful pearl bracelets, a stunning Pictanda pendant made from white oval Australian Pearls and set in 18kt white gold with a total of 0.27carat of diamonds, a round of golf at Emirates Golf Club, a set of golf clubs from Nike as used by Tiger Woods which includes Limited Edition TW Forged Blade Irons 3-PW - Extra Stiff Steel Shaft, Ignite Driver 7.5 deg 410cc Extra Stiff Graphite Shaft - Titanium Head Wide C.O.R., Nike Pro combo Golf Carry Bag and The Original Daphnes Tiger Head Cover, a golf lesson from PGA amateur and celebrity golf tutor Claude Harmon a juke box from Juke Box Gallery, a consultation and restyle from leading salon Hairworks and a pampering session from SensAsia Spa.

Corporate prizes also include a media training session from Eithne Treanor and a communications audit from Fifth Ring Communications worth AED 15,000.

The event, which is the largest sit down gala dinner for the energy industry throughout the Middle East, UK and Europe, will pay tribute to the Oil Baron 2009, the person nominated by his or her peers who has made a significant contribution to the industry over the past 12 months.

As well as the crowning of this year’s Oil Baron and the return of the previous six, a delicious dinner, the evening’s entertainment will pay homage to 50 years of Tamla Motown, with performances from the tribute band Four Tops and the Dream Girls, flown in specially for the event from London’s West End. They will be performing a variety of well-known Motown, sure to get the 2500 guests dancing in the aisles.

Eileen Michael, founder of the Oil Barons Ball and managing director of Reflex Publishing, said: “We have had some fantastic prizes donated for the auction and we have been overwhelmed by people’s generosity. Friends of Cancer Patients has a special place in all our hearts here at the Oil Barons Ball and we hope to raise as much money as possible to help support the incredible work its team do here in the region. There are some great items up for grabs and we hope everyone will dig deep for such a worthwhile cause.”

HE Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi from FOCP, said: “We are delighted to be the Oil Barons Ball’s official charity again for 2009. The generous guests at the event have already supported us immensely, allowing us to help many sufferers and their families over the past year. I have no doubt that the auction will be a success and the event an enjoyable evening for all.”

Those who would like to donate an item for the charity auction or make a financial contribution should contact the Oil Barons Ball on +971 4391 0830. Those who would like further information about the event or would like to purchase tickets should contact sales@reflexpublishingme.com.

The Disegno project was formed by a joint venture of three Dubai-based companies, RS Arabia, Duram and Kart Furniture, with the specific intention of showcasing a number of specially selected high-end interior design companies in the Middle East. Having officially launched at INDEX, the intention is that Disegno will promote different brands at different trade events in the future – and plans also include a two day workshop in Dubai in the new year which will bring four very high profile international designers into the region.

The Disegno stand at INDEX will be totally unique, featuring innovative new materials and design. Coordinated by RS Arabia, the stand will be designed by Kart Design, with fit-out and project management undertaken by Duram. Lighting will be provided by Huda Lighting, and the overall structural engineering by Sinergo. The companies exhibiting at INDEX 2009 under the Disegno brand are:

• Paola Lenti - specializing in unique rugs and seating. Globally renowned for textile innovation in design, the 2009 collection “Essential Nature” uses a series of materials including iron, stone and wood, which are combined with high tech materials that perform well in difficult environments
• Flou - representing “the culture of sleep”. Flou’s innovative designer beds have marked its position as a global market leader. Established by Rosario Messina in 1978, the company prides itself on the quality, design, elegance and performance of its pioneering products
• Kartell – set apart as a “hallmark of design”, Kartell has collaborations with many world famous designers, including Philippe Starck. Featuring a series of unique, stand out products, Kartell continues to experiment with new materials and technology, and has been able to introduce satin finishing, transparency effects, flexibility, weather resistance, softness and texture
• Serralunga - founded in Italy in 1825, Serralunga has come a long way since its days as a tannery. Known for beautiful oversized garden pots and furniture, Serralunga has transformed the simple flower vase into a sculpture, a lamp, a landmark, and a meeting point between the plant kingdom, furniture and technology. The company has worked with twenty or so international designers in recent years, including Zaha Hadid
• Zanotta – established in 1954, Zanotta is one of the recognized leaders in Italian industrial design. Guided by the insight and wonderful entrepreneurship abilities of the founder, Aurelio Zanotta, the company has won international recognition thanks to its products, emblematic for both their formal and technological innovations. Today’s collection includes inspirational armchairs, sofas, storage units, bookcases, chairs, tables, coffee tables and furnishing accessories, designed and created with the advanced use of a host of materials including metals, plastics, glass, marble, granite, wood, fabrics and leather.
• Vitra - manufacturing furniture designs by Charles & Ray Eames and George Nelson since 1957. Vitra has built on this foundation and has developed a wide range of furnishings for the office, for the home and for public spaces in collaboration with progressive designers.
• Haute Material – creating unique pieces, made out of precious old wood, worked with respect, wisdom and craftsmen methodology. The material is first selected and respecting the history it contains, ‘reinvented’ through an original contamination with contemporary materials (steel and glass). The end result is always an object of indisputable personality, which never goes unnoticed and which gives a unique and sophisticated touch to any interior where it’s placed. The successful mix of antique and modern, past and future, severity and a sense of disorder, makes each piece of the collections an item of passionate modernity.

In addition, Createlab, who specialise in research, development and design of decorative water-based paints and finishes for interior walls and glass surfaces, will be hosting a live art show on the Disegno stand. The company will be showcasing an art installation by artist Luca Pozzi that forms part of his new series of A.E.W.O.M (Aleph Experiment WithOut Mass). This series uses an innovative photoluminescent interiors paint, developed by Createlab, which in combination with specific lighting tools ie pen, spray can and light roller, allows temporary light painting and graffiti. Createlab will also be conducting temporary graffiti art demonstrations using this Createlab Photonica paint technology at the stand.

INDEX will be organizing a VIP Gala dinner at RS Arabia’s Design House, Palm Jumeirah, on the first evening of the show for the most influential and talented individuals in the interiors industry.

Now in its 19th year, INDEX, organized by dmg world media, has already established itself as a leading player in the global interior design show calendar. Set to take place from 14-17 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the focus for INDEX 2009 is on high quality brands with doing business at the core of the event. Disegno supports INDEX’s bigger plan to focus on design and will provide visitors with a unique collection of stunning products.

Lu Buchanan, INDEX Event Director said, “We are delighted that the launch of Disegno will be at INDEX. We are showcasing the best of the best to our visitors and Disegno offers a taste of some of the top International design brands, brought together in what will be a unique and visually stunning stand. It is yet another reason why anyone involved in the interiors industry cannot afford to miss INDEX this year.”

Antonio Cartanese, Managing Director of Duram, speaking on behalf of Disegno added, “RS Arabia, Duram and Kart Furniture have worked together to develop the fabulous concept called Disegno, which will bring together a collection of the best interiors brands around today. We have carefully chosen the exhibiting companies and each will offer something different. We already know that a number of other top brands want to be involved, and our intention is that we will develop the Disegno brand and roll it out in the future, bringing together different companies for every event.”

The Big 5, the leading international building and construction show, is set to take place from 23-26 November 2009 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Registration is already looking positive, with visitors from over 70 countries signed up to attend. The show will be 15 percent bigger than 2008 in terms of exhibition space, and has grown to include the new halls being constructed at the venue. The show is almost fully sold out, with 92 percent of the 43,000 m2 floor space booked. Exhibitors include Emirates Steel Industries, RAK Ceramics and Exeed Industries from the UAE, French Euroslot, Climatech and Dectron from Canada, Turkish based Tekmar marble, Tongby Control Technology from China, Germany’s Putzmeister Mörtelmaschinen and the Lapesa Grupo from Zaragoza, Spain.

Paula Al Chami, show Director for The Big 5, said, “The Big 5 exhibition is somewhat of a barometer for the construction industry and we are extremely positive that business is starting to stabilise. We seem to be bucking the trend of some other trade shows, which has been reflected in the increased floor space, and the right level of industry people signing up.”

Clearly, this has been a year of a slow down in growth in construction, but it seems that The Big 5 is coming at just the right time, as the industry is starting to look forwards again and will be able to put a considerable amount of speculation to rest.”

dmg research has shown that, despite the economic downturn, the Middle East construction industry will keep growing at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the next five years, ranking third behind Asia and significantly ahead of Europe or Northern America. The region is a perfect gateway for the Indian sub-continent and Asia and is, therefore, in a strong position to provide access to the two regions with the highest expected construction growth in the next two years.

Contrary to the widespread belief that all construction has stopped, there are still significant projects in the pipeline, which have a total value across the Middle East region of US$3.1 trillion. The UAE leads the project market, accounting for 42 percent of the total project value, while the value of projects in Bahrain has more than doubled to almost US$68 billion and those in Qatar have increased by 71 percent in the last year.

Despite a tough year, research carried out by independent consultants BNC, shows that almost 70 percent of the total registered projects in the GCC are still currently under construction with a further 6 percent out to tender and 10 percent already in the concept and design stages. In the UAE, 7,231 projects – commercial, residential, hospitality, medical and educational – are currently still under construction and over 1,000 projects are in the pipeline for this year alone.

As the largest event of its kind in the Middle East, The Big 5 provides an unrivalled platform for architects, engineers, contractors and developers from the public and private sectors to network, source and specify the latest building and construction products and services. Featuring National Pavilions from all major exporting countries of the world, The Big 5 provides the most comprehensive product offering for the building and construction industry.

The Big 5 will also be bringing together an impressive line-up of added value elements including a Key Buyers Programme, Product Seminars, a Conference Programme and the acclaimed Gaia Awards.

This year, the Oil Barons Ball will celebrate ‘50 Years of Motown’; a true extravaganza with The Treetops tribute band who be flown in from London’s West End to entertain guests. Join in the excitement as we honour the Oil Baron 2009, an individual who has made a significant contribution to the industry throughout the year. Organised by Reflex Publishing’s Pipeline Magazine, the event will take place at Media City Amphitheatre on Friday 20 November, with over 2,500 guests expected to attend.

The evening’s activities will include a fund raiser called “Bless Your Hearts”; all money raised will go to Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), which strives to help alleviate some of the stress put upon sufferers of cancer and their families. Amongst the evening’s activities to help raise funds are a silent charity auction, champagne and diamonds, shoe shines, and plenty of other surprises to be revealed on the night!

Eileen Michael, managing director of Reflex Publishing, said, “Now in its seventh year, The Oil Barons Ball has established itself as a must-attend event in the oil and gas calendar, bringing together the crème de le crème from the industry. It provides a unique opportunity for informal networking, and allows a celebration of one of the most successful industries in the Middle East. We are very excited about moving to a new venue, at the Media City Amphitheatre, and this year’s Motown show is set to be the best yet.”

Tickets for The Oil Barons Ball are selling out fast, so make sure you get yours by logging on to www.theoilbaronsball.com or contact our telesales sarah@reflexpublishingme.com +971 4 3910830. Individual tickets cost 1,150 AED or guests can book a table of 10 for 10,000 AED.

Despite the global economic downturn, there are still new projects coming online in the region every day which require interior design. Independent research company Proleads estimates that nearly US$43 billion worth of interior projects have been confirmed within the UAE for 2009, in addition to some US$140 billion worth of new hotel projects which should be completed across the Gulf as a whole within the next two years, which in turn will generate significant interior design business opportunities.

Now in its 19th year, INDEX, organized by dmg world media, has already established itself as a leading player in the global interior design show calendar. A brand new team, headed up by event director, Lu Buchanan, has taken feedback to see what the industry requires and, as a result, INDEX 2009 will be a more cutting edge, business-driven event than ever before, in order to maximize the opportunities that are out there in the market.

In a trade-show first, INDEX will introduce a Business Match-Making programme. By invitation only, this programme will match top interior designers, specifiers and buyers with relevant exhibitors. The VIPs will receive a number of benefits, including fast-track entry, access to a VIP lounge and a pre-planned tour of the exhibitors they have been matched with. All this is designed to ensure an effective use of time during the INDEX show, thus facilitating business. INDEX will also have a Steering Committee, comprising representatives from the industry and the media, who will be shaping the show and developing new features in the lead-up to the event.



Lu Buchanan, INDEX event director, said, “Basically, if you think you know INDEX, you need to think again! This year’s show has been shaped as a result of industry feedback, and we are aiming to provide an arena where contracts are signed and real business takes place, set against a background of the latest cutting edge design.

“In addition, we recognise that time is precious for the top executives in the industry, and so have developed our unique VIP Business Match-Making programme to ensure that INDEX is of real value to them. I believe we are set for the most exciting show to date, and look forward to announcing further details shortly.”

BBN UK is developing the UK branding and design for RecycleBank, as well as devising the PR strategy and implementation for the launch.

Rob Morrice, Managing Director at BBN UK said “We’ve developed a branding strategy and PR campaign that will propel RecycleBank’s scheme around the country and make sure every local authority and household in the UK is queuing up to get involved.”

With offices in New York and London, RecycleBank was recently honoured as a 2009 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and has been named as a 2009 Champion of the Earth by the United Nations.

Based in Viernheim and Munich, BBN Germany received two Profi Awards at a ceremony in Dusseldorf. Campaigns for ebm-papst and Messe Bau won Gold awards whilst four additional entries received recognition including Mercedes-Benz Busses & Coaches, Heraeus Kulzer, Logwin and WEG. Judging criteria was based on strategy as well as its implementation, and results.

BBN Germany wins at the B2B brand communication award

Kurt Klein, Executive and co-owner of BBN Germany commented,

“In Germany the GWA Profi Award is the most important honour in BtoB communications. The standard of entries is very high, and the jury is well known for being scrupulous. So this makes our success even more important to us and our performance confirms that we are on track with aiming at the pole position for BtoB brand communication.”

BBN Executive Director Andrew Higgins commented on the success of BBN Germany, “External recognition of our members is a true validation of their ability to deliver first-class services to their clients. I would like to congratulate BBN Germany on their achievements and know that with our membership moving from strength to strength, BBN is set for a future of continued success at awards ceremonies.”

Entitled “The Power to Change”, and held in the Bishop’s Palace, Eden Court, the thought leadership event, organised by Fifth Ring Integrated Corporate Communications, heard fears that the Easter Ross fabrication yard was falling off the political agenda as the long running-debate over its future continued. The yard ceased production several years ago, followed by protracted negotiations over its future ownership.

Guest speaker at the “The Power To Change”, Jeremy Cresswell, journalist and chairman of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), told the gathering that Nigg could play a major part in the UK’s renewables future which had tremendous potential.

“Under most scenarios, the scale of opportunity is enormous, easily matching and perhaps exceeding the scale of the UK Continental Shelf oil and gas industry. But to grasp the opportunity fully will demand a systematic approach to creating large-scale construction and installation capacity, plus an appropriately structured supply chain,” he said.

“Scarily, wind turbine supply remains a critical item as no wind turbine suppliers are headquartered in the UK and no offshore wind turbines are assembled in Scotland.

“The clear implication is that appropriately resourced UK fabrication yards, of which Nigg has to be a prime contender, could secure long term work spanning one to two decades at least, based on UK offshore wind alone.”

Mr Cresswell compared the situation at Nigg to the development of the Luneort wind turbine manufacturing facility in Germany where 1,200 jobs will be created in the next three years.

“Surely this is possible in Scotland - and not just for wind but wave and tidal power too – given time and a great deal of joined up effort with seedcorn funding from government and its agencies,” he added.

The Fifth Ring event followed a survey by the company of more than 300 leading energy figures in the Highlands and Islands and the North-east on their perception of the renewables industry and whether enough was being done to enable progress to be made.

The majority of survey respondents said the industry needed more investment – whether from Westminster, Holyrood or the private sector, but more than 75% believed that renewables could lift Scotland out of the economic downturn. The same percentage of respondents also believed the country could be totally dependent on renewable energy by 2050.

Aberdeen, backed by the Highlands and Islands, had the potential to become the marine renewable energy capital of Europe, according to two-thirds of those surveyed, but some respondents believed other countries were better placed to achieve this.

Nimbyism (Not In My Back Yard) was identified as creating a serious delay in the development of the onshore and offshore renewables sectors and two-thirds of respondents said the former fabrication yard at Nigg should become a base for the renewables industry.

Fifth Ring’s business development director Ian Ord, said: “A very clear message emerged from our thought leadership debate. It is clear that Nigg represents a golden opportunity for the Highlands and for Scotland’s renewable industry as a whole, and there is an urgency of need in terms of the benefits a fully operational Nigg could bring to the economy and employment.

“Those who attended ‘The Power to Change’ demonstrated a collective ambition and a call for action on the future of the yard. The challenge now is to ensure the plight and the potential of Nigg is heard at the very highest levels.”