Mediaboss Marketing

By Glenys Roberts

PUBLISHED: 17:57 EST, 22 April 2012 | UPDATED: 19:50 EST, 22 April 2012

As a unit of currency it may not be worth much, but do we really want to bid it farewell? Weve long since seen the demise of the farthing and the much-loved 12-sided threepenny bit, but now theres a campaign to consign the penny to history, too.

No matter that there are more than 11billion in circulation, a growing number of Britons think we can do without one of the oldest coins in our history.

Canada has already ditched its cent (known as a penny) following similar moves in Australia and New Zealand to abolish their low-denomination coins. The Canadian finance minister said: The penny is a currency without any currency. Financial institutions face increasing costs for handling, storing and transporting pennies. Over time, the pennys burden to the economy has grown relative to its value as a means of payment.

Treasure the penny: The biggest argument for keeping the penny is financial. Its existence helps to keep prices down

With the U.S. and Russia toying with the idea of doing away with fiddly cents and kopeks (one-hundredth of a rouble and the equivalent of our penny), should we follow suit?

Battle has already joined between the modernisers and the traditionalists.

On one side of this great currency divide is the Federation of Small Businesses, which claims shopkeepers hate the penny. They say it clutters up tills and forces staff to make unnecessary trips to bank bags of low-value coins.

They point out that the pennies clogging up our purses and wallets and rubbing holes in our pockets are worth less than one-twelfth of their value when they were introduced in 1971 (then, they bought the equivalent of 12p).

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They¿re fiddly, virtually worthless and weigh down your pockets. Now a radical idea is gaining currency: Should we the ...

by Shirley Callow

Each year, staff from Barclays are asked to nominate a charity they would like to see benefit from their fundraising activities for the year. In 2011 over 46,000 was raised for Hospice Isle of Man.

Crossroads was established in the Isle of Man in 1988 and its aim is to help improve the lives of carers and to offer practical support and advice to carers, their families and people with care needs. Each year Crossroads provides over 50,000 hours of respite and 50,000 of meaningful support so that carers can have a few valuable hours to themselves to relax and do all of the things most people take for granted.

Jackie Betteridge, CEO of Crossroads Care said: Anybody can become a carer at any time; it is not exclusive to any particular segment of our society and can happen over a period of time or in seconds. Looking after somebody with a disability or illness can be very stressful, many carers lose their identities and the impact on their life can be devastating. We employ over 80 people in the Island to help take over the responsibility so that carers can have a few hours to themselves. At present it costs over 1 million per year to provide our services and so being named as the Barclays Charity of the Year is a real boost for us. We are very much looking forward to working with the team in the coming twelve months!

Chair of the Barclays Charity Committee Stuart Nelson said: Our staff are excited by the prospect of helping to raise money for such a worthwhile local charity. We are planning a number of events throughout the year to really help boost fundraising. As an employer we feel it is important to support the fundraising efforts of our staff through a number of initiatives including a for scheme and allowances for people who volunteer their time to help raise money for worthwhile causes. I am proud to be part of an organisation that is so active in its local fundraising.

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I am proud to be part of an organisation that is so active in its local fundraising."

Stuart Nelson, Chair of Barclays Charity Commitee

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

Send your Isle of Man news to:webmaster@manx.net

Originally posted here:
Barclays announces Crossroads Care as 2012 Charity of the Year

by Jade Foster

Fans of vintage style are in for a treat at the iMuseum on Friday 27th April as students from the Isle of Man Colleges Hair and Beauty Department will be recreating Victorian, Edwardian and 1950s hairstyles in a live styling challenge!

Students have been using photographs from Manx National Heritages archive collections to achieve the complicated hairstyles as part of their course training this year and they will be putting their skills into practice during the event. Visitors are invited to come along and watch the students style their models and will also be able to access the iMuseums amazing digitised collections.

Katie King, Community Engagement Officer for Manx National Heritage said, When we were looking at some of our Victorian studio portrait photographs and others from the archives the earlier this year we were fascinated by the range and style of fashion in the photographs. We were intrigued by the complicated hairstyles, and even believe we might have identified a fashionable Manx hairstyle from the period - an unusual front plait. We thought this seemed like an ideal opportunity to work with the talented hairdressing students at the Isle of Man College to see whether they could recreate the looks live in the iMuseum. We are delighted they have taken up the challenge so enthusiastically.

Lindsey Jackson, Hair and Beauty Assistant Programme Manager for the Isle of Man College commented, Our students have really enjoyed the challenge of re-creating the styles from the archive collection, but we have been using modern techniques and equipment. We are all really looking forward to the event!

Visitors are invited to the iMuseum from 10am 12 noon on Friday 27th April to watch the live styling event. Admission is free.

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believe we might have identified a fashionable Manx hairstyle from the period - an unusual front plait."

Katie King, Community Engagement Officer for Manx National Heritage

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Vintage Hair Styling at the iMuseum

by Kate Lord

Isle of Man based E-gaming Software Company Iforium has been presented with an award for Achievement in Entrepreneurship.

Iforium is a fast growing software development company specialising in the development of E-Gaming Sports Betting and Casino management platforms. The company has led the way with industry innovations such as Gameflex, a platform which allows a gaming operator to seamlessly combine premium gaming content under a common bonus and loyalty points system. Now in a phase of rapid growth, the company seeks new talent to join their expanding operations.

Isle of Man Business Incubator presented the award in recognition of Iforiums contribution to industry and rapid growth. Iforium follows in the footsteps of last years winners Bladon Jets, the company that developed the micro-gas turbine engine and has since entered into a partnership with Jaguar LandRover and attracted investment from Tata. Craig Osborne, the founder of Iforium commented: The key to our success is combining one of the most talented technical teams in E-gaming with a clear commercial strategy. Our software engineering practices allow us to continuously innovate in a fast changing industry. Our approach is now leading to significant commercial success. We are constantly looking for new talented developers, automated testers and network engineers to join our team.

Kate Lord-Brennan of Isle of Man Business Incubator said: The business incubator made a difference to Iforium at an important stage of its development. It provided the company with the opportunity to mix with like-minded entrepreneurs, including the team behind Bladon Jets. We wish Iforium continued success.

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The key to our success is combining one of the most talented technical teams in E-gaming with a clear commercial strategy."

Craig Osborne, Founder of Iforium

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

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Iforium, recognised for Achievement in Entrepreneurship and seeking new talent

Duncan Taylor's son Max calls pregnancy an 'accident' 'unplanned' and 'a shock' Claims mother of his daughter has been making 'threatening, late-night phone calls' to him Cayman Islands governor helps son with monthly child-support payments and said his granddaughter 'brings joy to both our families'

By Paul Thompson

PUBLISHED: 18:03 EST, 21 April 2012 | UPDATED: 06:00 EST, 22 April 2012

Shock: Max Taylor, the son of the Governor of the Cayman Islands says finding out he was a father was a shock he was not ready for

When distinguished diplomat Duncan Taylor became the Governor of the Cayman Islands, he promised that his family would strive to get to know the locals.

Two years later his 25-year-old son Max has rather exceeded those expectations by fathering a child after a brief liaison with the daughter of a prominent local businessman.

Their daughter, Serenity, was born seven months ago.

However, the relationship between Max, a 7-an-hour hotel swimming pool attendant, and the babys mother, Sophia Rankin, has grown increasingly rancorous and now threatens to set tongues wagging in this slow-moving British overseas territory and tax haven.

Yesterday, as he stood on the steps of the imposing white-washed Government House, where he lives with his parents, Max said he felt intimidated by Ms Rankin.

He claimed she had been making threatening late-night phone calls, accusing him of shirking his responsibilities. I hope it doesnt cause trouble for my father, he said.

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The Ambassador's son - and a very undiplomatic row with the local girl who had his baby