0 february magazine

February 2012 www.endeavourmagazine.com

JUTLANDIA TERMINAL: PORTAL TO THE FUTURE DHV: SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW

VITAFOAM: THE BEST CURE FOR INSOMNIA

DRILLING FOR GOLD IN THE FAST LAYNE

UK £4.95 CAN $14.75 USA $7.99 EUR €7.90 SA ZAR 58.00

Inspired by your success

February 2012 www.endeavourmagazine.com

JUTLANDIA TERMINAL: PORTAL TO THE FUTURE DHV: SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW

VITAFOAM: THE BEST CURE FOR INSOMNIA

Editor’s note

DRILLING FOR GOLD IN THE FAST LAYNE

By Daemon Sands UK £4.95 CAN $14.75 USA $7.99 EUR €7.90 SA ZAR 58.00

Chief Editor of Endeavour Magazine

Inspired by your success

Heads of Departments Editorial: Editor in Chief Daemon Sands daemon.sands@littlegatepublishing.com Research: Director of Research Don Campbell doncampbell@littlegatepublishing.com Finance: Corporate Director Anthony Letchumaman anthonyl@littlegatepublishing.com Studio: Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com Publisher: Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com Any enquiries or subscriptions can be sent to info@littlegatepublishing.com ENDEAVOUR MAGAZINE is published by Littlegate Publishing LTD which is a Registered Company in the United Kingdom.

Company Registration: 07657236 Registered office: 343 City Road London EC1 V1LR VAT registration number:116 776007 Littlegate Publishing Ltd Cavell House, Stannard Place, St Crispins Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom, NR3 1YE Reception telephone: 00 44 (1)603 821122

A collective sigh, January is behind us. We are now able to relax as we no longer need to feel obligated to maintain the New Year’s Resolutions that we so foolishly made in 2011. The leftovers from the festive period have all been finally eaten and those lovely Xmas knits tucked away. Since the year is officially in full flow we can focus on the next major dilemma of 2012: Valentine’s Day. February the 14th, always is and always will be the 14thof February but we busy professionals seem to forget it every year. So consider this your first reminder, if there is someone special in your life then you may want to treat them to a card, roses, box of chocolates and even some wine. If there isn’t someone special in your life, my apologies but do not fret, the internet was designed for you.

Here at the sky-line defining towers of Littlegate Publishing, considered by some to be the northern hemisphere’s most beautiful building, January has been a glorious month. A hand carved Mermaid Table with a bevelled plate glass top has mysteriously appeared in the corner of our break-out area, beside the cauldron and coffee machine, which has kept Donnie Rust completely obsessed. This has brought his usual shenanigans and office insanity to a complete (albeit temporary) halt.

In striving to remain as relevant as possible in this issue you shall find hand crafted articles, masterfully written and carefully selected for your enjoyment. Offshore energy to luxury accommodation, mining to communication, construction to the future of sleep technology. Indeed, we’ve even fought pirates and swum with sharks to get the very best for you this month.

Yes, the start to the year has been a very busy one and from the stories we bring to you in this month’s magazine I think we could be in for a really exciting ride in 2012.

Littlegate Publishing Ltd does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors. The points of view expressed in articles by attributing writers and/or in advertisements included in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher.

Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this magazine, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for loss arising from use of information published. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrievable system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Copyright © Littlegate Publishing Ltd 2011

So, as a suggestion, instead of getting your heart’s desire cards, roses, chocolates or wine why not just give them a copy of our magazine and if you don’t have a loved one you can always read it alone and even online.

Kindest,

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 3

Features Jutlandia: Portal To The Future

18 Chevalier Floatels: At Home On The Open Sea 24 Guvon Hotels: Be Our Guests! 30 The Copy Cat Ltd: A True Original 36 DHV: Sustainable Tomorrow 42 Dutch Fish Product Board: Dropping a line to the fish industry 48 Metro EMS: Emergency Care’s Cape Warriors 54 John Craig: Mature And So Cool: It’s The John Craig Look 62 Layne Drilling: Drilling For Gold In The Fast Layne 68 Treated Timber Products: In Pole Position 74 Quality Products: Cleaning Up 80 Vitafoam: The Best Cure For Insomnia 84

Articles The Real Deep Blue

6 Not Very 10 Happy Feet A Kind Of 12 Magic Why In The Future I’m 14 Going To Be A Lab Mouse Volvo XC70 and XC90 16 Review Biz-tainment

90 Show of Hands 94 Pirates Adventure “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”

Richard Branson

The ocean is a beautiful mystery. From the outside it may appear lifeless and empty, a border to remind us land dwellers where our kingdom ends. But like many things if you just dip beneath the surface you find another world, teeming with life and things that swim very fast and with very big teeth.

Chris and Monique Fallows are respected worldwide for their work in marine photography and conservation, specifically with sharks. One of the few photographers with the skill, Chris regularly captures breaching sharks which is when the shark, like a 1 ton torpedo of flesh and teeth comes out of the ocean to briefly remind us why he rules the seas.

Together they spend 150 days a year at sea working with a variety of shark species and, while they make their living taking people to view the legendary Great White sharks, their intention is to build an understanding, an appreciation and a love for these animals. Ensuring their tours are as ecologically friendly as possible, they specialize in leading small groups of people to enjoy an intimate and educational encounter. Few people will ever see these animals in their natural environment but education equals understanding and that is how opinions change.

THE REAL DEEP BLUE

by Donnie Rust

SEAL ISLAND Having worked at or visited all of the well-known Great White shark diving sites in South Africa and around the world, Seal Island is unique in its offer of seeing the Great White shark in its natural environment, doing what it does best.

During the months of October to March they offer shark cage diving in Gansbaai and also during the summer months run trips to dive with mako, blue shark and tuna where they are treated to an incredible array of open ocean birds such as

albatrosses, skuas, petrels and others. Speciality packages on offer each year include personalised Sardine Run expeditions in May and June and a “Super Shark” speciality in April/May that focuses on all the large shark species to be seen such as bull, tiger, mako, blue, white seven gill, and others.

If you want to have a bit of both words, an option is to combine a marine safari with a terrestrial one, which can be easily accommodated as Chris and Monique work with some of Africa’s finest safari outfitters. Photographic expeditions on land and at sea are hosted by leading wildlife photographers and give an in-depth hands-on experience teaching how to get the shots but also taking you to some of the very best locations.

Playing tag with a seal Chris is a professional wildlife photographer who has mastered the art of capturing the most elusive animals in their natural environment both on land and in the ocean.

His images have been seen worldwide in newspapers, Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 7

magazines and television documentaries. He has recently completed a book, “Great White, The Majesty of Sharks,” which follows his journey from beginnings as an out of pocket shark enthusiast until he discovered the “flying” shark phenomenon.

He took it as inspiration to take to the water with a camera; I would have taken it as inspiration to never cross open water ever again The attraction is clear, the sharks are beautiful and as wild animals they are also dangerous, but tourists want to

get as close to these wild, dangerous and beautiful animals as possible while still feeling safe. The latter cannot happen without a high degree of trust in the people leading the expedition. It is a testament to Chris and Monique that the tourists who return to Seal Island yearly with the same regularity as the sharks themselves have become friends, and much of the marketing is done via word of mouth.

“It’s hard work managing expectations, and wildlife seldom performs on cue. You are constantly trying to get to see the very best for your guests and as such set very high standards. Guests have also seen many of the documentaries we have helped make such as Planet Earth, Life, Air Jaws etc. and sometimes they think they were made in a day and that is what they will see in one day.” Chris Fallows Although I am far from being an easily scared individual, I’d only go on a shark expedition with someone who was not only internationally respected but also confident that I wasn’t going to be eaten. It’s here that Apex Shark Expeditions is special - everyone on their team wants to be there, they love what they do and in 15 years not one of them have been eaten. Which I take as a credit to their passion and their love of these animals and what they do.

It is a privilege to be able to see these animals, a gift that can only truly be appreciated when seen by people who are able to transfer excitement and passion.

In addition to his photography, Chris Fallows has also been responsible for releasing over 1500 sharks and rays in

a tag and release programme set up with local beach net fishermen. His work with Great White started in 1992, at Dyer Island and in 2000 he founded Apex Shark Expeditions with his wife Monique aiming at observing natural predation, breaching and cage diving in False Bay. “We all feel so lucky to share time with these incredible animals, over the years we have come to know many individuals really well and have got to know each ones unique personality. As such when these individuals return each year it is like seeing an old friend again. It is also great to share these special moments with my wife who is equally passionate about wildlife and also with other guests and see the delight and amazement at getting close to the incredible array of wildlife we work with.” – Chris Fallows Since then, 1300 expeditions to Seal Island have been undertaken, and 5500 predatory events, catalogued and detailed to form the largest database of its kind in the world. To keep their clients, friends and interested parties up to date, Monique Fallows, who is more than just a skilled diver, skipper and stalwart conservationist who accompanies almost every trip, maintains a monthly newsletter entitled Shark Bytes which has over 5000 subscribers.

Their work has been featured on the BBC, The Discovery Channel and National Geographic furthering their reach in

the quest to open the eyes of the international public. On their website www.apexpredators.com there is a full list of the documentaries that they have been involved, and of

course you could watch them on your television or laptop.

But in all honesty, I’d like to see them live.

Chris and Monique Fallows can be contacted at www.apexpredators.com, I would strongly advise you to visit their site and get in touch.

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 9

NOT VERY HAPPY FEET

by Jim Blythe

the job just as well. Still at least we talked him out of his first choice which was a bizarre outdoor event that cumulated in hammering a nail into your face.

The thing is I don’t actually have a problem with team building, I’m just kidding. However, I’m also into the idea that as we’re all adults we’ll find our ideal ways to work together that preferably don’t involve excessive sweating and tie throttling.

Jim Blythe is a writer, actor, director, producer, comedian and inconsiderate lover. When he isn’t moaning about his experiences in the field of business he runs Spooky Kid Productions, a platform to help new talent get in front of an audience. See more of what he does at www.spookykid.co.uk.

Ed, the grossly overweight guy from IT, is holding both my hands and is staring into my eyes with a disturbing, glazed look of total concentration. He stamps on my left foot and then, just in the interests of balance, my right one. I grimace and attempt to twirl away only to have him pull me back, gently but firmly and then spin me under his arm.

No, this is not some sort of dream or fantasy on my part.

Nor, I hope, on Ed’s. No, the fact is that he and I are at a beginners Latino dance class and have been paired up for reasons that I don’t even want to contemplate. I have clearly really, really annoyed someone important already this year.

But why, you might quite reasonably wonder, am I doing some form of Latino dancing with Ed, the grossly overweight guy from IT? You might be unsurprised to know that this was my manager, Dave’s idea. Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t his plan that Ed and I should ‘bump and grind’ or at least I don’t think it was. If it was, he’s gone to bizarrely elaborate lengths to make it happen. No, Dave has decided that the whole team should go Latino dancing in the name of team building. I have nothing against team building in principle but then I have nothing against bungee jumping in principle.

I’d just rather not do it myself if I can possibly avoid it. The best team building I can think of is sitting in the same part of the office, communicating with each other and trying to not to shaft each other as you deliver whatever it is that needs delivering. So I’m not all that happy with how this is working out.

Dave looks pleased with how this is working out but then, Dave is dancing with Kelly our new graduate scheme staff member who has long legs, short skirts, a pretty face, and a cracking sense of humour. It is possible that getting to ‘bump and grind’ with Kelly was Dave’s plan and the rest of us just have to put up with it although this might just be sour grapes on my part. I glance at my dance partner. He is

sweating profusely and is struggling to keep his glasses on. As I spin him under my arm and round my body, his tie wraps round my throat allowing me to experience an extremely non-erotic form of asphyxiation.

Who the hell wears a tie to go Latino dancing?

Except of course Ed! Phil and Mel take a moment out from their attempts at dancing to laugh at my near-decapitation. I scowl badnaturedly (as I type this I wonder if it a good-natured scowl is possible? Probably not) and take this opportunity to have a short break. I grab some water and stand watching my colleagues attempting to look as though they want to be here. The only one who does is Dave, for reasons I’ve already highlighted. Everyone else has varying degrees of misery etched on their faces as they gyrate helplessly and hear urgent, office-based deadlines go whizzing past. So why are we? And what exactly are we supposed to be getting from this?

According to the email Dave sent when forcing us to do this “there is no better way of getting all of your team working together and having fun. Dancing is perfect for releasing inhibitions and enabling work colleagues to interact with each other in a way that would never happen in the office.” So is sending them to a hotel in the middle of nowhere and getting them all to drink 10 pints of beer but it doesn’t make it a good idea. Apparently, team building skills that dancing can help improve are coordination, support, ingenuity, flexibility, approach, leadership and swift decision making. But I have a bad feeling that all that will come of this is that Ed and I will never be able to look each other in the eye again and Kelly will request a transfer to another team. Which seems an expensive and time consuming way of damaging inter-team relations when merely asking us to give honest feedback about one another would have done Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 11

A KIND OF MAGIC

by Jim Blythe

It’s early-ish and I’ve travelled a fair way this morning to meet with Susan. She’s interested in hiring me to compere a conference for the pharmaceutical company that she works for. Within a few minutes it becomes clear that they can’t pay me much but if I can keep my costs down it might just be a worthwhile gig.

“I contacted you,” she tells me, “because a friend told me you’re quite funny and because of the magic stuff.” The “magic stuff” I should point out is the onstage conjuring that I’ve been known to dabble in. “It’d be great” she says, “if you could make our MD appear on stage from nowhere.”

“OK” I say, “that’s a fairly straightforward illusion. I usually use a cabinet.”

“A cabinet?” she says, perplexed.

“Yes, he’ll appear out of an apparently empty cabinet if that’s good for you?”

“Couldn’t you just make him appear out of thin air?” she asks.

“Yes I could but I’d need a trapdoor or a mirrored section of stage to pull that off” I tell her. “Is your stage set up for that?”

Susan looks at me like she now thinks I might be winding her up. “We could provide you with smoke I suppose. Or one of those little exploding box things. That might look rather good” “It might, yes, but I still need something for him to appear from.” I explain.

“Can’t he just appear from thin air?” she asks.

“Well, no.” I reply honestly. “That would take actual real magic and there’s no such thing.”

Susan frowns. “I’ve seen other stage magicians make people appear from thin air.” she says sniffily.

“Yes but they will have spent thousands of pounds building an illusion to make you think that was happening.” I say, hoping I’m not going to upset

the Magic Circle by explaining this. “I don’t have thousands of pounds to spend on this. I scarcely even have pounds.”

Susan now looks genuinely confused.

“It’s just a trick you see.” I add, a little lamely.

“We-ell” she says, clearly not hugely impressed at the revelation that I’m not actually a sorcerer, “I suppose we could accommodate a cabinet.”

“Excellent” I say. But it isn’t. You see the cabinet I’d usually use is designed for a light, slight, flexible young lady to use so that it can be small enough to conceal her and amaze the audience when she appears. The MD in question is a big lad – over 2 metres tall and big built. I can’t vouch for his flexibility but it doesn’t matter because he’s not going to fit. That means I’d have to get someone to make a new cabinet specially, which is expensive. And with the cost/ benefit case for taking the gig being small, suddenly I’d be making a loss. I’d make it myself but I’m not good at DIY. I put up some shelves in my home recently and they’re pretty handy in that they double up as a slide for my daughter.

“I’ll need to think about it” I say, not wanting to rule myself out just yet. This might get better after all.

“OK, good.” Susan continues. “Now he’s appeared, we’d like you to make a few little jokes at his expense so he can show what a good sport he is.”

“What sort of thing are you after?” I ask.

“Well, he does look quite a bit like Bob The Builder so a few jokes about that would be great.” she says.

Let me just quickly explain for the uninitiated – Bob the Builder is an animated UK children’s programme about a guy called Bob who’s a builder. And that’s really about it.

He’s not even like a proper builder – he turns up when he says he will, gets the job done on time without drinking every drop of tea/coffee in your house and he never gets called back to put right the shoddy work he did first time.

And this is a problem for me. Because what I just wrote, just then, is pretty much the only Bob the Builder sort of a joke I can think of. The only one in context would be to use Bob the Builders catchphrase “can we fix it” and that’s not really a joke. Unless you apply it to a Pakistani cricketer and then it gets funny but not when it’s applied to the MD of a pharmaceutical company.

“Right,” I say, without enthusiasm. “Anything else?”

“Could you make him disappear again afterwards?” she says.

“Into thin air?” I ask.

“If possible.” Susan replies keenly.

“No. I can’t do that. I can disappear him from the cabinet again.” I say.

Susan looks doubtful. “That’s a bit repetitive.” she says.

“So what you’d like me to do is to create another illusion to disappear the MD?” I ask.

“If you could.” she says.

I could but right now I’m more interested in disappearing myself. In the absence of a cabinet or the powers of sorcery I make my excuses and use the front door. Susan doesn’t seem that amazed but anything less than thin air was always going to disappoint her.

Jim Blythe is a writer, actor, director, producer, comedian and inconsiderate lover. When he isn’t moaning about his experiences in the field of business he runs Spooky Kid Productions, a platform to help new talent get in front of an audience. See more of what he does at www.spookykid.co.uk.

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 13

WHY IN THE FUTURE I’M GOING TO BE A LAB MOUSE

by Donnie Rust The Bible says, “The meek shall inherit the world,” it should have said, “Computer nerds will one day kick your butt!”

And I mean this literally.

Now what I’m about to bring to your attention will sound like science fiction, but try explain Fraping to someone from 2003. This is a prediction that some people will scoff at, but I don’t care, I’ve seen the future and it is filled with dragons and elves… mostly.

Two streams of development need to be firmly established here: 1. (Fact) The Gaming industry - is at this very moment developing machinery to get you more involved into the game and more committed into it and they will stop at nothing to get you hooked.

2. (Fact) The Dream Machine industry - at this very moment there are entire companies in Japan and America who are developing machines to guide, direct and record what we dream.

That these two streams will eventually meet and merge is inevitable and when they do we will have games that can be accessed in our thoughts while we sleep. This will allow people to live out whatever ridiculous fantasy they want by using the creative power of their mind and the directional aptitude of this dream machine. The imagination will be able to deliver them to whatever world they want, and thanks to the strength of the brain to completely mess up with our ways of thinking (duh) we could even have supplemented memories of being specific characters. So instead of just pretending to be John McClane in Die Hard, you could actually believe you

are him. Imagine being able to say, “I am Batman,” sincerely.

As incredible and amazing as it sounds, it will happen within our lifetime - actually probably within the next couple of years, assuming this article is indeed the motivation they need to do so.

The main point I want to get through though is that this will be the start, a small spark to a raging furnace of change.

This new industry, forged of the combination of gaming and neural-techno-interfacing will develop very fast as this dream world of gaming. People are already used to online gaming and will demand the same of any new game method, so within a year of the launch of the first “Dreamworld Gaming System” (Note to editor: Copyright that name) you’ll have networking capabilities of your brain while you sleep.

Basically it would mean that whatever device you’re using to control your dreams into this gaming/entertainment world will be able to connect with other similar devices (your guess on which software company is as good as mine), allowing you to communicate with other people while you’re playing.

Imagine it, an imaginary world of your choosing where you can be whoever you want to be and be able to communicate with someone else.

It would be

the ultimate role playing game!

And that’s what will happen. More and more people will start getting involved, and people will start choosing to do work there. The connectivity will increase, the storage capacities will increase and the dream world will get to the point where more and more people will want to use it. Imagine it, instead of a long and arduous journey involving an inter continental flight and jetlag you could meet with a work associate twelve thousand miles away, shaking hands with him and enjoying a chai latte on the highest peak of the Himalayans. Discussing items of interest like account interests and investment portfolios!

Businesses will see the benefits of it as an alternative to travel… and you know how fast things catch on thanks to business.

The Kindle owes its entire success to that.

HOW WOULD THIS CHANGE REALITY? For the moment our dreams aren’t our reality because we don’t share them with anyone, there is no communication with other people happening there, no r e s p o n s ibi l i ty for

social conformity or expectations, there is ultimately no control even for ourselves. The moment we have to share a dream with someone else we introduce things like conformity and communication, we have to be responsible for ourselves, we need to make decisions that affect other people- even if it’s just their opinion of us. The more communication we have with people the more real it becomes.

And the advantages of using such technology for work will mean that business-conformity will ensure that a “in world” commercial presence exists and gradually, like the use of mobile phones and emails it will become part of the working norm and any business without it will be at a significant disadvantage.

For many of us reality is determined by our occupation, the responsibilities we have. How would your personal world change if your job involved working in a dream world where anything and everything is possible?

RELATIONSHIPS: I want to look at a particular relationship status. What if the partner that you loved was involved in an accident that left them paralysed and in this dream world the pair of you could explore an entire world? Or if you lost the ability to see or to walk, and using this system you were able to free your mind into its own world?

Not for everyone perhaps but it’s certainly something to think about.

In addition, we would be dealing with a dream world, a world limited only by the limits of our imagination. Why settle for acting like Neo in the Matrix when you could be Dr. Manhattan from the Watchmen?

ULTIMATELY: It’s happening and you’d be amazed at how close it is, but it terrifies me because I just know all the computer nerds I bullied at school - in that world they’re going to be a mixture between Lex Luthor and Darth Vader and I’m going to be as impressive as Stuart Little.

Donnie Rust, (AKA The Naked Busker) is one of Britain’s foremost comedy writers in the field of business, travel and adventure with over 1 million readers worldwide. His standup comedy is apparently hilarious too. He can be found at: www. facebook.com/donnierust.

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 15

XC70 D5 SE LUX GEARTRONIC AWD 5DR 6SP 215HP

VOLVO XC70

and

XC90 D5 R-DESIGN GEARTRONIC AWD 200HP

XC90 Review:

“THEY’RE REALLY LOVELY” As you can imagine with our vast readership of Directors and Senior managers, Endeavour Magazine is the perfect medium for car manufacturers to promote the full spectrum of vehicles from top end through to fleet. We therefore get our hands on a lot of vehicles to test however there was an unusual excitement about the eagerly awaited Volvos.

Before I had a chance to indulge my curiosity, I came across a problem. The Volvos are just too desirable. One of the Directors here is in the market for a new car and has been considering a Volvo for a long time and so he commandeered each for a good part of the time we had them here. When I asked him for a review of the cars he said, and I quote, “They’re really lovely”.

Thankfully I managed to get my grubby hands on each for a couple of days so I could add a little bit more substance to his lengthy review!

The very first impression I got from both the XC70 and the XC90 were of their grandeur and solidity. They’re as tough as military tanks but their shapes are unarguably Volvo, a fact that is not shouted out like other brands but confidently understated, a subtle, alluring promise of quality.

The XC70 is the road car with higher suspension and bigger tyres giving it the ability to deal with terrain that your normal road car couldn’t, it’s a crossover whereas the XC90 is the fully blown 4x4.

We had these cars in the cold of winter and I generally

leave the house around 6.00am. At this time of the year there are only a few basics of a car that I can appreciate. It could be the sleekest, rarest and most powerful beast that money could buy and I wouldn’t care unless the heater is cracking.

Picture this, I wearily fall into some clothes that I hope in the darkness resemble business attire and open the front door. My breath is taken away by the cold as I stumble to the car, cursing as I realise that again I haven’t brought the windscreen scrapper I religiously swear I will buy every morning when my fingers throb with cold as I clean the frost and ice from the screen with my credit card. Yep I am really happy now so off we go. The heater needs to be as instant as possible to defrost this wreck of a man on a winter morn. Both Volvos have very good heat systems and I judge them on my village scale - various points in my village where I start to feel the heat. Just past the White Horse Public House which on the village scale is very good indeed.

Couple this with powerful heated seats and I am defrosting from every direction.

The XC70 has another tasty trick up its sleeve. The seat fabric is perforated with fans under them to blow the heat up and the seats themselves have a function that can do the same with the cold air conditioning, so on those long summer trips when the sweat is running down your back you can be fanned to keep cool. This cooling function was something I didn’t play with for too long I have to admit.

Once in the cabins of these cars you will be further assured of their heritage.

The XC70 has keyless ignition, so as long as you have the fob on your person you can get in, fire her up with the fighter plane start button and you’re away. The XC70 has all the toys from windscreen projected warning signs if you are too close to the car in front, to voice activated sat nav and phones, everything is top drawer. The performance is flawless and fast, it feels just like a normal car and not a crossover. It also has one of the best cruise controls (Editors note - Adaptive cruise control) I have used: you can set it to a speed and it will not allow you to shunt into the car in front if you are faster than them, keeping you at a safe distance by adjusting the brakes and accelerator. I loved this feature about the car and found that my usual morning commutes where I am still half asleep were much safer.

The interiors in both cars are beautifully put together and straight away you feel at ease with the many controls and the sumptuous leather of the highest calibre. Driving a car in this category is expected to be a joy and these Volvos do not disappoint.

Additionally, the build quality matches the finish of the interior, so these cars should not depreciate like lemmings jumping off a cliff. I am sure they will look as good in 5 years’ time as they do today.

In an over saturated car market the question I always ask

myself is, “would I want to own these two cars?”

To be brutally honest – no. Don’t get me wrong, both cars are brilliant.

The XC90 is a great car and aimed at the 4x4 market.

Whilst it is extremely good I find a full blown 4x4 a bit heavy and bouncy for me. I don’t go off road enough, live in Chelsea, or experience the extremes of weather required to justify owning one.

As for the XC70 I wasn’t sure when it arrived. It looks really tough and different to the sleek cars I usually go for.

This test highlighted how important a decent test drive is as I fell head over heels in love with it. It is simply a fantastic car, it rides just like a normal car but if we do have bad weather and the token snow that grinds the UK to a halt the Volvo will laugh in its face. I live in the countryside and there is always mud on the road and the XC70 just dealt with everything I threw at it. It is so sure footed on whatever it is riding over. It is top notch.

I find myself in a weird place as I felt genuinely sad to see the XC70 go, however I usually cheer up pretty quickly when the next test car arrives around the corner for me to play with.

As I get older I reminisce more and more about my glory days, the days where I had hair, the days where I was 4 stone lighter and strangely now my days with the XC70.

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 17

PORTAL TO THE FUTURE

Jutlandia Terminal www.jut.dk +45 75 136 022 Written by Don Campbell

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 19

Jutlandia Terminal

Demand for energy is at a historic high and offshore wind farms are able to generate clean and reliable energy with less upkeep and maintenance than alternative sources. Wind turbines installed offshore are less invasive to their immediate environment and have no waste products. As far as reliable energy is concerned they are the future.

The key challenge however, is getting them there.

Based at the Port of Esbjerg, the biggest port in the world for the offshore industry, Jutlandia Terminal has capitalized on a number of key elements that have galvanized their position as a leading solutions provider to the offshore wind industry. Esbjerg itself provides direct access to Scandinavian and European markets through extensive rail, air and truck networks bottlenecking them to the port which offers direct access to the North Sea. There they are doing for the offshore energy industry what Henry Ford did for the automotive sector with very similar positive results - a smooth, regulated system of streamlining the sector by assembling the turbines at their terminal,

where a shell and the required pieces arrive in their transport mode and leave ready to be shipped out and installed. What no doubt began as a practical solution to speed up the assemblage process has opened up the industry by providing jobs, accessibility and continuity, setting a standard that has revolutionized their sector.

What was once a difficult industry to be involved in, where the benefits, although tremendous, were overshadowed by the logistical difficulties and expense, required innovative approaches such as these to develop the confidence of its partners. Jutlandia Terminal offers such confidence by providing a one-stop shop for empires like Siemens who,

according to the European Wind Energy Association, were responsible for 80% of the total wind energy capacity installed in the North Sea during 2011.

The process is simple: for a company like Siemens, Jutlandia have provided open storage facilities, procurement

plywood! Fortunately, when the offshore industry in North Sea took off, the port in Esbjerg was perfectly located to service it. The citrus and plywood industry disappeared and they haven’t looked back since. This focus on organic development and growth is a constant in Kristian’s approach

The fastest way to get new electricity into the grid is by windmills, so this is one of the big reasons that UK are investing heavily in this market. The powerplants in the UK are old and instead of building new ones, which could take 5 years each, you can build a windfarm within 1-2 years from installation start. and logistical tools at their base in Esbjerg. The technology and equipment is of the highest calibre, but what really stands out is the skilled work force that, with a foundation of experience derived from over 30 years servicing this particular field has brought an unmatched level of reliability.

What is remarkable is that, in the 1970s when the terminal was first established, they were focussed on citrus fruit and

- as the offshore industry has grown and changed, so has Jutlandia, resulting in a massive upgrade of equipment and machinery at the terminal over the past 5 years which enable them to handle larger and larger components, following the industry trend for developing increasingly larger turbines.

While offering the services of the terminal, Jutlandia also act as solution specialists; applying themselves to a key Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 21

Jutlandia Terminal

logistical process is required when dealing with projects of this size and scale. This process could not have been predetermined but has been developed through a “hands-on approach” and a focus on strong customer satisfaction.

HOW THEY EFFECT THE INDUSTRY The offshore wind industry is booming and the climb is destined to continue thanks to a major EU initiative to focus on producing clean energy. This demand has led to increasing levels of investment in technology aiming to drive down the cost of wind energy throughout the development cycle.

To accomplish this task each individual link in the chain of production, assemblage, logistics and set-up all had to take a look at their operations and determine what could be done to improve. Some companies were forced to overhaul their entire process and reinvent themselves however Jutlandia Terminal was well ahead of its competitors.

“Our success is not only about leadership but also the development of the port and taking the opportunities as they are presented and working on them swiftly.” Kristian Svarrer It couldn’t have been more fortunate for the North Sea industr y as Jutlandia’s positioning meant that on the side of the companies wanting to get into the industr y they had a partner who’s location and development was already where it was needed to allow them to take a giant leap for ward instead of a small step and the businesses capable of providing the logistics of the turbines to their final destination, via shipping, had work readily available

to them so they were able to prepare and plan. This continuity is partly responsible for the fast enhancements in this industr y.

WHAT’S ON IN THE FUTURE AND CONCLUSION Competition is growing fast in this industry and while Jutlandia does have the advantage of its port facilities, it isn’t the only company in the world offering these services. The differential factor between them and their main competitors is their experience. Having built the terminal up from the ground and moving with the ebb and flows of the tides of their industry they know the secrets. There is the “know how” that separates them.

Risk assessment is important in this industry and to ensure that the future is secure it’s vital that policies are followed now. Jutlandia have an entire department dedicated to ensuring risk assessment is gingerly looked after. Their high standards and approach to excellence is one of the reasons why their customers come to them and why Siemens use them as a base of operations.

“The key to long term success is building the legislations and procedures required for this industry into the strategic plan and working alongside them. Seeing them as a benefit and not a hinderence.” Kristian Svarrer There will be a continuous demand for wind power in the world, and for new and exciting methods of collecting it and as the sector changes, improves and learns so too will the leaders of Jutlandia Terminal. They can’t help it, it’s in their nature.

TS TECH is your professional partner for electrical installations. We are strongly representet in both Windpower, Marine, Oil, and industry installations. Our cooperation with shipping companies, windpower producers, and more, has made TS TECH a respected partner who always provide a good and professional service, at the best price. Call for info +45 23824600 or see www.tstech.dk

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+45 86 100 011 Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 23

AT HOME ON THE OPEN SEA

Chevalier Floatels www.floatels.biz +31 342 44 14 04 Written by Don Campbell

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 25

Chevalier Floatels

Addressing the growing concerns of cost expenditure and time efficiency Chevalier Floatels have developed a product to provide the height of transport and offshore accommodation to engineers working in this crucial industry.

To understand the importance of the services Chevalier Floatels offer to the offshore wind, oil and gas industries you first need to reverse engineer the concept and compare what they have made available today compared to what was available before.

The challenges with the offshore wind, oil and gas industries are constants. The platforms, the drill depots and the turbines themselves are located in areas where man is little adapted to work. Nevertheless the presence of engineers is crucial to the smooth running of the machines to either prevent upsets in output or correct said upsets before they cause major and costly disasters.

A trend in the industry is that wind turbines are being built bigger to produce more output, this means they are being positioned in deeper waters further out at sea, making helicopter and even boat access a costly expense added to by accommodation on land, fuel and additional manpower and compounded by the money lost during down time.

“Fuel constitutes a high percentage of the budget spent on the offshore industry, the heavy and regular use of fuel has a daunting impact on the environment which is directly the opposite intention of companies building wind turbines to create affordable, clean energy. “ Marcel Roelofs The environmental impact is being addressed by more and more companies who see the cost effectiveness and environmental importance of positioning a base of operations for the workers to reside near the installation.

To achieve this properly the needs of the workers must be

understood. Reducing things like seasickness and fatigue is important for productivity and efficiency; with this in mind Floatels approach each project/operation as a single entity where each part has a significant influence on every other part. The aim: getting the engineers to the installation or platform without having to construct a platform next to it or ferry the engineer to and from a land base.

What started as the conversion of already operational ships, Chevalier Floatels have taken their concept and applied it to two of their own vessels DP Galyna and Gezina. The importance of governing the entirety of the process has had a clear and lasting impact to Chevalier Floatels as what they have produced is much more than just accommodation, but the newest standards in terms of reliability, cost efficiency and comfort.

“Having a strong strategic partner such as Holland Shipyards is very important. We have worked with them on a number of projects including two conversions and a new build vessel and we have found that they operate in a very open, honest and accurate manner. It is critical that projects are completed on time and within budget and Holland Shipyards have always delivered.” - Marcel Roelofs THE SISTERS DP GALYNA AND GEZINA Aiming to produce two unique benchmark products, the pair of ships has been designed to meet all required criteria.

From top spec navigation and bridge equipment, integrated automation and monitoring systems that guarantee a safe

Holland Shipyards is a young and ambitious yard active in the offshore market. Being able to deliver custom built projects to demanding customers within very short lead times, Holland Shipyards has proven to be able to live up to high customer expectations whilst still remaining very competitive.

Visit our website: www.holland-shipyards.nl for more information on our organisation.

Within Hoogendoorn, traditional furnishing skills are combined with the most modern computer-controlled equipment and a pragmatic approach. Because of this we can optimally realise the smallest details for the most diverse projects, often at a relatively short term.

In our vision and approach quality and flexibility are most important.

Maritime | Inland navigation | Interior design

www.hoogendoorn-mbi.nl

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 27

Chevalier Floatels

The Ampelmann System is a self-stabilising, ship mounted access platform for the offshore sector allowing fast and safe access from moving ships to offshore structures even in rough sea conditions. The company was founded by the inventor and CEO Jan van der Tempel who developed the system in 2002 whilst completing his PhD Thesis in offshore safety. Having witnessed first-hand the difficulties occurring in transference of personnel from a transport vessel to the rig he knew there had to be a better way of doing it.

and reliable voyage to precision stabilizers that make the journey as smooth as can be. Top-of-the-range thrusters ensure the high manoeuvrability which is useful when the ship must maintain its position aside an installation during transference of engineers and workers through unpredictable weather conditions.

During work, the ships don’t remain at the installation, but deliver the crew in the morning and collect them in the evening. Extractors have been installed to clean out the exhaust gasses, providing a clean and healthy working environment for the staff and crew and reducing the vessels carbon footprint.

On the DP Galyna an Ampelmann has been installed.

Essentially the Ampelmann is a gangway that spans the water from ship to platform. They are uniquely designed and bespokely assembled to remain level by compensating for the movement of the ocean thus providing a safe means of commute from ship to windmill or platform under all conditions. Ampelmann and Chevalier Floatels are two companies that compliment each other well. Both have taken significant steps in improving an industry historically hazardous to engineers and crew alike. In doing so, have dramatically increased efficiency and output of crews and teams, reducing down time and increasing working capacity.

HOW THIS AFFECTS THE CREW The offshore industry is still young but there is a well-

documented psychological impact of working out at sea, where conditions can involve extremes of every sort of weather. From scorching hot days to freezing cold nights, unbelievable waves and wind that could rip a man off his feet and throw him into the waves. Historically, the accommodation for the vessels tasked with transporting the engineers and the means by which the engineers could gain access to the offshore-installations were adequate at best.

These vessels were often build for entirely different purposes in mind and were used for their availability.

And, the dangers and risks of being hoisted by helicopter onto a rig of wind turbine, or climbing a ladder from a speed boat were accepted parts of the job and were unavoidable because a better solution had not been developed yet.

Until now.

The twins, DP Galyna and Gezina herald a new chapter in the offshore industry and they are a revelation of how this sector has matured.

Working in offshore is arduous and the ideal candidates are people with expertise and endurance. The job has to get done, quickly and entirely because if it isn’t it will have a

knock on effect that could cost millions and require a return trip to repair a much larger and drastic fault.

The ships have on average 30 days autonomy and to provide the all-important release for the workers some of the amenities provided include en suite bathrooms in cabins for single or double occupancy, TV, internet, game consoles and ample recreational spaces that are available 24 hours a day.

The galley is a spacious “restaurant” design, with comfortable seating bordering on luxurious, its design is beautiful and easy on the eyes and you can enjoy sitting with friends, spend some time at the windows lost in your own thoughts or you can watch the big screen television.

“There is a clear parallel between general wellbeing and quality output that has been established and acted upon.” Marcel Roelofs As the offshore industry continues to grow and change, so too will Chevalier Floatels and through their innovations and unique conceptualizing they will remain at the forefront of their sector, providing the workers at the ground… or ocean level… with as safe a journey and stay as possible.

www.ampelmann.nl

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 29

GUVON HOTELS: BE OUR GUESTS!

Guvon Hotels www.guvonhotels.co.za +27 11 791 1870 Written by Chris Farnell

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 31

Guvon Hotels A World Cup Triumph!

The high quality of service available at Guvon Hotels has led to them playing host to some extremely high profile clients. During the 2010 World Cup, Guvon Hotels had the honour of playing host to not one, but three separate international football teams, although this brought its own unique challenges.

“Prior to the start of the Cup we housed the Danish team, they took over a hotel for their pre-World Cup training,” Bosch explains. “They checked out and two days later when the Cup actually started the Australian team checked in and stayed for about three weeks until they were knocked out. Meanwhile at the Fairway Hotel we hosted the Brazilian Team, which was a great opportunity.”

“The hotel had been finished barely a month before the World Cup so the Brazilian team were really our first guests as such,” Bosch tells us. “Obviously we spent a long time making sure everything worked, checking the locks, the taps and TVs, and making sure the showers had water coming out the top, not the bottom! We had to fend off hordes of press and photographers just so the players could have a bit of privacy.”

However, in the end it was all worth it. The Brazilian team settled in nicely after a couple of days, and got on famously with the staff.

“Once the guys relaxed into their home away from home it was an absolute pleasure,” Bosch says. “At the end they left us some great memorabilia. We still get some of the managers coming back to stay with us.”

Guvon Hotels started out as a family business, but has now grown into a multi-hotel empire that was recently housing several of the World Cup’s football teams. But now they’re focusing not just on their own growth, but on projects that will benefit the entire industry.

Guvon Hotels takes its name from a combination of the names of married couple and founders Gustav and Yvonne.

Starting off with one hotel, Glenburn Lodge, the company has now grown into a major concern. However, company Operations and Marketing Director Leon Bosch says that the company is still staying true to its roots as a family business.

“Despite our size, in many ways it’s a very small, personal business,” he tells us. “The original owner, Gustav, is still known to all the staff.”

Knowing that Guvon Hotels run five hotels around South Africa, you could be forgiven for imagining it as a franchise chain, like a McDonalds or Starbucks of the hotel world.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Every Guvon hotel has its own unique character and personality.

First there is Glenburn Lodge, the first of Guvon’s hotels,

that started off as a few chalets built around a pleasant picnic spot for the benefit of Gustav, Yvonne and their friends. As time went on they added more chalets and a conference room, creating a unique venue at the foot of the Zwartkops mountains.

Their second hotel was Umbhaba Lodge, overlooking the Sabie Valley. Then there is Kloofzicht Lodge & Spa, home of tranquil waters and some truly fantastic fly fishing, and the luxurious Fairway Hotel and Golf Resort, a city hotel offering five star service with some great golfing. Finally, there is Askari Lodge & Spa, the closest lodge to Johannesburg to take you near bush style experiences and the big five game animals - black rhino, African elephant, Cape buffalo, lions and leopards.

As Bosch says, “You only know it’s a Guvon hotel because of the high standard of service and the letterheads!”

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Guvon Hotels

Of course, looking after the Brazilian and Australian teams also brought their own unique challenges with them.

“Obviously to start with, we were supporting the South African team, but to make the Brazilian team feel welcome when they arrived, we all dressed in Brazilian colours. However by the end of their stay we were really disappointed when Brazil got knocked out,” Bosch says.

“We did the same thing for the Australians. This proved to be quite tricky since South Africa and Australia are hugely competitive. We play rugby and tennis against each other and over the years we’ve built up a big rivalry. Although it has to be said that while their team was here we were great Australian supporters as well. “

The Guvon Academy But even when Guvon Hotels isn’t looking after international football stars, they are at the fore front of hospitality development. Perhaps one of the biggest achievements to their name is the Guvon Academy, a recognised school that teaches nearly all the arts necessary for running and staffing a hotel. The qualifications it awards are now recognised across the country, and people are queuing up to take their courses, but this establishment began with just one person.

“When we had our first hotel one person was responsible for training and that person made sure our staff’s standards were up to speed,” Bosch says. “Now that we’ve got five hotels, training is a constant process. We need to not just

train, but also refresh the skills of our waiters, receptionists, chefs and managers if we are to maintain the standard we’re known for. We need professional people and to have professional people they have to be trained the Guvon way.”

Of course, training staff across five hotels separately wasn’t the most efficient use of their energy and resources.

Bosch explains, “We started a training department, which kept growing. Then we said, but if we train two waiters from every hotel we have 10 waiters but we have capacity to train 15! Why not train people who aren’t working for us?”

This idea gave Guvon a much larger reservoir of talent to draw from. Of course, it also meant they were putting a large number of highly trained hotel staff into the job market.

Word quickly began to spread.

Bosch tells us the story, “We trained people in the area and when we needed them we’d call them up.

Then other hotels in the area started using them.”

Soon people were queuing up for Guvon’s classes, which transformed from a simple inhouse training programme to an educational institution the Guvon Academy. As the school has grown, so has the curriculum.

“Primarily we train our own staff but because we have the capacity we do short courses for the public that include waiter training, wine appreciation, even sushi preparation. As training of the lower and unskilled staff expanded, we began management training courses in reception and tourism.”

These days the academy offer three year courses that end

with the award of a nationally recognised certificate.

“We have an equipped kitchen just for training chefs,” Bosch says. “We also train tour guides to not only give tours but also game drives. After our courses they explain what the animals do, how fast they run, how long they carry their young - adding value to the whole experience.”

The academy now has an intake of about 50 students a year. After completing the initial course, students are placed in one of Guvon’s hotels to get practical experience.

But surely, if you’re not hiring these students, what you’re doing is creating extremely well paid staff to be snapped up by the competition? We ask Bosch if this is really doing Guvon any favours. Fortunately, Guvon Hotels is looking at a much bigger picture:

“We need professional people and to have professional people they have to be trained the Guvon way.” Leon Bosch “In this country being a waiter is unfortunately not a glamorous job. It’s not like France where it’s a very proud profession. Here it seems like if you can’t find a job, you become a waiter. So we’re trying to change that mindset.

Not anyone can become a successful waiter – it requires a certain temperament and attention to detail. We feel if we train a hundred waiters and only use 50, the other 50 will improve the experience for others elsewhere and we’ll become known as a professional industry,” he explains. “So we’re strengthening the whole industry.”

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 35

A TRUE ORIGINAL

The Copy Cat Ltd www.copycatltd.com + 254 20 397 0000 Written by Chris Farnell

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 37

The Copy Cat Ltd

The technology we do business with has changed beyond all recognition over the last quarter century. Since the mid eighties computers have gone from being huge, bulky machines that most people barely knew how to use, to a tool that literally no business can do without. The average teenager today walks around with more computing power in their pockets than most offices had in the 80s.

Perhaps nobody understands this more than the staff at Copy Cat Ltd. In 1985 they started out selling office automation equipment. Back then this meant typewriters and the copying machines that gave the company its name.

But then things began to change. First they began to stock word processors from the then up-and-coming electronics company, Amstrad. From here, Copy Cat expanded into office automation and desktop computers in the 90s, making a name for themselves not just supplying products at a good price, but also providing expert after-sale support to their customers. From here they moved onto providing software and networking solutions, steadily growing as more businesses started to realise this new Internet thing could be useful for business.

For the last 27 years, whenever the technology has taken

a huge leap forward, Copy Cat has been right there with it.

And it’s continuing to do so today.

Right now Copy Cat provides software management and integration Solutions, office automation services and products, network management solutions, banking solutions, data management, backup solutions and telecommunications.

On top of this, Copy Cat is also making a name for itself as a consultancy, offering its expert advice to businesses even if they haven’t used Copy Cat as a supplier.

Staying on the cutting edge But how have they managed to keep up with such a fast moving field for so long? The firm’s executive director, Vishal Patel has a few answers.

“It helps that we aren’t a manufacturer, it means that

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The Copy Cat Ltd

we can be very flexible in acquiring new technology as it’s released,” Patel tells us. “We also benefit from a great deal of customer loyalty, and often it’s our customers who clue us in on new products. If one of our customers is looking to purchase a newly released piece of technology, often the first thing they do is come to us and ask if we can get hold of it.”

The reason their customers do this, Patel believes, is Copy Cat’s long standing reputation.

“We are a strong brand in the region,” he says. “We have always stood for reliability and we have a fantastic track record in completing projects. Whenever we move into a new area, we always make sure that our staff our trained to the highest levels of certification. So this means we enjoy a very solid reputation.”

Patel believes that reputation is crucial in the world of IT. “In the IT world one thing clients want to know is that their partner is going to deliver,” Patel says.

Of course, the reason Copy Cat has been able to build its reputation is through its unparalleled staff.

“The staff skill set is crucial,” Patel admits. “They are our biggest strength. Anyone can offer product but it’s our staff’s skill set that allow our customers to get the best from those products.”

But even with the wide skill set Copy Cat’s staff already have, they can’t afford to rest on their laurels. If anything,

technology is moving more quickly now than it ever has before. For this reason Copy Cat’s staff go through a constant process of up-grading and diversifying their skills, learning how the latest technology works and how it’s being used in the world of business through training exercises, workshops and sponsored courses that build upon the years of experience they’ve already accrued.

Most recently, the company has been helping businesses upload their information to “the cloud”, expanding into managed IT services.

Changing markets Of course, the technology and how businesses use it are not the only things that can change. The market can shift suddenly as well. For years Copy Cat has been at the forefront of introducing new technology to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, places that large Western companies haven’t shown much interest in. But it’s not going to be that way much longer.

“The biggest change we see these days is that all of a sudden the big boys in the world are interested in Africa,” Patel explains. “And more players are moving into our market and looking to set up shop.”

Patel is sanguine about Copy Cat’s prospects in the face of this added competition.

“It becomes more competitive. We spend a lot more

time reinforcing our strengths and our brand promise. What that does for us is increase the cost of doing business,” he admits. “In the long term it’s good for local clients and for the industry, but it does create a challenge having the Indians and Americans coming into the market.”

However, Copy Cat still has one advantage that newcomers will have a hard time trying to compete with.

“We understand the market,” Patel says matter-of-factly.

“We understand the clients and their needs. We understand the pace at which they want to grow and what their income streams are like. Over the last 27 years we’ve built an in depth understanding of the region and that’s our greatest strength. The big companies coming in will need to take a few years to understand these clients.”

This in depth understanding and the trust and relationships Copy Cat has built, are essential to the way they do business. This can be seen not just in their dealings with local companies, but also in the contributions that Copy Cat has put back into those communities.

Over the years the company has provided its services and financial support to a host of projects across East Africa, doing everything they can to ensure that the company is having a positive impact on the society that has supported it so well. To name a few, this has included co-sponsoring an award for maths teachers, helping high schools and universities, as well as donating funds to the Kenyan drought

appeal and the Kenyan National Association of the Deaf.

Copy Cat was also selected as one of East Africa’s leading brands by Super Brands: the world’s largest independent arbiter of branding and received East Africa’s 2009/11 global seal. Other awards include the Cisco Emerging Africa Small business specialization in E. A. 2011, the Cisco emerging Africa partner of the year 2011 and the Standard Chartered Top service provider award to name but a few.

Securing the future Meanwhile, the firm has a lot of exciting projects lined up for the near future. The fastest growing sector, as Patel explains, is the field of online security.

“Network security is growing faster than any other part of the business,” Patel says. “It’s the fastest growing industry in our portfolio. This is especially true in the banking sector where information is being used for cross-selling and marketing purposes, here especially securing and controlling access is now very, very important.”

This has lead to Copy Cat taking on a whole range of network access control, network security and ATM projects.

In this line of business it’s virtually impossible to predict what’s going to happen next. All you can guarantee on is that it will happen quickly, and probably won’t be what you expect. But you can also bet that when it happens Copy Cat is going to be right at the forefront of it.

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 41

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

DHV www.dhv.com +31 40 2509 484 Written by Chris Farnell

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 43

DHV

Big businesses are about making a profit, which means you don’t always associate them with a concerted effort to make the world a better place.

However, at a time when the environment is increasingly at risk and it seems a day doesn’t go by without some new bad news about the economy, DHV is not only pushing for practices in design and construction that save money and protect the environment, but thriving as it does so.

to semiconductor techniques. We had a lot of the necessary knowledge and skills already, so we entered that market.”

The firm’s background in building semiconductor factories has proved to be an advantage when interacting with clients in the same industry.

“Our customers like us because we speak the same language,” Schrijvers tells us. “So they can discuss the economics, the utilities and the process with us really easily. Our grounding in semiconductors gives us the grounding to understand our clients.”

As well as making it easy to communicate with their clients, DHV’s long history in the construction industry means it is also experienced in communicating with government bodies, which makes acquiring the necessary permits easier, as well as ensuring that their buildings meet the local rules and regulations.

in all the advice they give to their clients sustainability is at the forefront of their minds.

“Sustainability is one of the main issues in our office,” Schrijvers says. “We want to bring the most sustainable solutions to our projects. For that we have invented a sustainability matrix, a sort of checklist that we discuss with our customers to tell them which sustainable solutions we’d like to implement. Most of these solutions are either

“Sustainability is one of the main issues in our office. We want to bring the most sustainable solutions to our projects.” Ad Schrijvers

Working for a greener future In all their work DHV is constantly thinking about the environmental impact of what they do. They pride themselves on their status as a climate neutral company, and

free or very cheap. Some involve a small investment at the beginning, but the savings clients make on energy bills will cover the costs very quickly.”

Unfortunately in the current economic climate, any businesses are reluctant to put down money now even if it means making savings later.

Schrijvers explains: “People are trying to save money at the moment. They don’t want to put down that investment in

A design and engineering company that works across the globe, DHV has roughly 5,000 employees and offices in India, China, Canada, South Africa and Portugal as well as its headquarters in the Netherlands. The firm is active in markets that include water treatment, infrastructure, space planning and aviation while informing its clients how they can improve their properties to save money and decrease their impact on the environment.

And it all started for the Eindhoven office as an offshoot from Philips.

Speaking the client’s language DHV’s head of business development Renewable Energy Solutions, Ad Schrijvers, explains: “We were originally a design and engineering office that was part of Philips in the 80s and 90s. During that period we designed every building that Philips planned. Mainly, we built semiconductor factories for Philips all over the world. We build factories in China, India, Taiwan and the Netherlands.”

This all changed in the early nineties however, when the world was hit by an economic crisis and Philips had to sell the engineering and design office to DHV. Of course, even then, the company’s relationship with Philips didn’t end.

“We still do jobs for Philip,” Schrijvers says. “At the end of the 90s, interest in solar power began to grow. The processes used in manufacturing solar panels were more or less similar

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DHV

the beginning, which can make it difficult. Some companies are looking forward and investing now to earn back the money in a couple of years, but others are waiting until times improve before they spend money on implementing the necessary savings, which ironically means they’ll be losing money in the mean time.”

In some places, governments are actually stepping in to encourage more responsible environmental practices, and when they do, DHV is ideally placed to help companies meet new regulations.

“One example is that customers who use a lot of city water are being forced by governments to reclaim as much as possible of the waste water because the water is limited,” Schrijvers says. “We also do a lot of work in places where the infrastructure doesn’t supply the amount of energy that is needed for a factory, so we have to design energy saving solutions to make projects feasible.”

Global solutions, locally Throughout DHV’s practice, they abide by the motto “Global solutions, locally implemented”. Schrijvers explains exactly what this motto means: “We act globally because we are an international company. We can provide global solutions because we can use knowledge from all over the world, but at the same time we want to sit next to the client rather than opposite them and help realise our client’s dreams. We act locally because wherever we

are working we have relationships with local partners to understand local businesses.”

Keeping the talent in-house In a field like solar power, which has gone from being on the fringe of the energy sector when DHV first became involved with it to something that is now seen a major alternative to fossil fuels around the world, it’s natural that the field will always be extremely fast moving. To stay competitive, DHV has to be constantly aware of the latest developments in solar technology.

“We have strong connections with equipment suppliers, as well as with research labs like ECN, TNO, and the universities,” Schrijvers says. “We are also constantly visiting exhibitions, for instance, soon we’re going to be standing at the Photovoltaic exhibition. We’re always in close contact with the key players in this market.”

This is crucial, as unlike many other design and engineering companies, DHV doesn’t have to sub-contract any of its work.

“We can deliver total design management,” Schrijvers explains proudly. “We have every discipline in-house.

Architectural, technical, construction management, we can deliver the whole range within our own company. That means the customer will get the best solution for the lowest price because we’re not a contractor, we’re a design company.

We’re independent.”

Of course, keeping everything in-house means it’s important to attract and retain the right people. Fortunately for DHV this isn’t a problem.

“People want to work for us because we get some great projects,” Schrijvers says. “We want to be the best of our class and attract the most outstanding projects. By having those projects and a good salary, we then attract the most talented people who want to take on those challenges. Because we have those people, we then get given the most exciting projects. It’s a sort of Catch 22 situation.”

A sunny future The last few years have been hard on many businesses, but by not keeping all its eggs in one basket DHV has managed to avoid the worst of the recession.

“We had a little dip in 2009,” Schrijvers admits, “but because we work in so many different markets we’re able to cushion ourselves.

When the public market is going down the private market is picking up, so we can change our focus depending on how the markets are changing.”

The future for DHV is looking bright. While the solar panels market has taken a hit from big competition from China, the end result is that the market is growing, and new opportunities are opening up all the time.

“We have some very nice projects on the horizon for the future,” Schrijvers confides. “We are looking into new technologies for solar power and we’re hoping for some very nice opportunities in the near future.”

ECP Solar has created a unique market proposition through bundling knowledge with more specialised parties being one of the first worldwide to intertwine construction, utilities and process equipment.

They also expanded their product portfolio with a water reclamation system that allows them to recycle 65% of the industrial water.

For an average PV factory that uses ten cubic metres of demiwater per hour, this means an annual cost reduction of about €300,000.

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 47

DROPPING A LINE TO THE FISH INDUSTRY

Dutch Fish Product Board www.pvis.nl +31 703369610 Written by Ben Walker

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 49

Dutch Fish Product Board

New EU fishery policy changes raising quotas show that stock management plans are working, says Paula Den Hartog of the influential Dutch Fish Product Board. But policy makers must be guided by the industry if fishing’s potential is to be secured. She talks to Endeavour’s Ben Walker.

To the fishing industry and bemused consumer the workings of the EU common fisheries policy can seem as incongruous and destructive as a monkfish in a salmon hatchery.

The latest move, following marathon talks last month, means fishing fleets will now have bigger catch quotas but fewer days at sea – down by 15-25%. Few are impressed.

“It’s a bitter blow for our fishing fleet, which is now going to struggle to maintain economic viability under the impact of these totally unwarranted cuts,” says Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.

Paula Den Hartog, Head of Fisheries Affairs at the Dutch

Fish Product Board agrees.

“The quotas increase shows management plans are working but the days at sea have been reduced. That’s contradictory, counterproductive and economically unwise.”

European fish stock issues are an open sore; depletion alarms routine. Catching efficiencies can be low, many fleets are in economic difficulties, and the public incensed by TV images of on board fish returned dead to the sea at the behest of EU regulators. Den Hartog acknowledges the industry faces challenges but points to a more constructive picture.

“One of our criticisms of the European Commission is that they speak in very general terms, with the definition of what is over-fished frequently changing. The term overfishing gives the impression that stocks are already about to collapse, but it is also used to mean “not at Maximum Sustainable Yields” which is a big difference. So far as the most important Dutch stocks are concerned - plaice, herring, and mackerel - these are doing well, with plaice and herring

showing a huge increase - at a maximum sustainable yield in fact - and sole is well on its way.”

Location and a rich maritime history have created a versatile and modern fishing fleet of which the Dutch are proud. A quarter of domestically-landed fish is brought in by the national fleet, with 80% - worth over two billion euro - sold abroad, making the Netherlands one of Europe’s few net exporters.

Twenty thousand are employed directly and indirectly – 2,000 in the catching sector.

The umbrella representative of the fishermen, fish and shellfish farmers, processors, wholesalers and retailers is the Dutch Fish Product Board.

It operates at the point where industry, policy, science and society at large meet, and not only influences Dutch and European policy, but also acts as policy maker and compliance monitor.

“We bring rational arguments into the discussion, are critical of statements made, and commission research to bring a more balanced view to negotiations to ensure policy and regulations will work for everyone,” says Paula Den Hartog.

“The industry is in a transition and moving towards greater sustainability and economic viability. It’s employing new and innovative techniques, like the pulse trawl, using less fuel, minimising costs and increasing yields.” Paula Den Hartog “The strong point of the Product Board is that everybody is part of it and contributes to it, from catching to processing and retailing sectors, from ship to plate. It’s a Board of and

Dutch Fish Product Board

Heiploeg Group is Europe’s leading seafood company. It is their mission to grow the market for shrimp and selected ‘seafood enjoyment’ products by offering innovative and sustainable quality products which will incite more consumers to buy and enjoy more shrimp products.

This focus has led to a wide range of responsibly sourced, value added seafood products for the frozen and chilled shelves in retail, foodservice and industry.

Pulse fishing - a Dutch Innovation Pulse trawl fishing was initially developed for flatfish fisheries. It was aimed at species living on and in the seafloor, mostly sole, plaice and turbot. The pulse trawl uses electrode carriers to stimulate fish to swim into the net. The advantages of this technique are that the contact with the seabed is limited which in turn ensures a low fuel consumption. This leads to reduced wear and tear on the gear, reduced seabed alteration and bycatch.

The fish caught is of high quality because the fish have less underwater contact with the nets and gear. The first pilots with pulse trawling in the shrimp fisheries are currently taking place. For these fisheries the pulse trawl is a promising innovation.

The PulseWing is the combination of the pulse technique with the SumWing. The SumWing is a wing shaped beam which ‘flies’ through the water without touching the seafloor. Compared to traditional beam trawls the PulseWing uses 50% less fuel and therefore emits 50% less CO2. It’s alteration of the seabed is reduced by 50%, discards are reduced by 30% and there are increased catches of sole. Currently, PulseWing techniques are still being refined. All in all this leads to increased revenues.

The pulse trawl and PulseWing are therefore win-win innovations en route to sustainable fishing by healthy businesses and resulting in healthy ecosystems.

for everyone.”

She stresses the positive changes taking place. “The industry is in a transition and moving towards greater sustainability and economic viability. It’s employing new and innovative techniques, like the pulse trawl, using less fuel, minimising costs and increasing yields.

“The goals that the sector, policy makers and society at large wish to achieve are the same: sustainable fisheries, with healthy stocks, ecosystems and businesses. To achieve this, the different parties need to trust each other and set up a management framework in which each does what he does best. Fishermen know best what does and doesn’t work at sea, and they should be responsible for the measures to achieve the set goals. Decisions should always be sciencebased, this may lead to reducing fishing opportunities, but should equally lead to increasing them when this is warranted. Moreover, when measures aren’t working, they should be discontinued. “ She cites the recent reduction in days at sea as an example, and says the Cod Management Plan has been influential here despite scientific evidence showing that the days at sea reduction implemented in this plan have not helped to reduce cod mortality. “Everybody knows this isn’t working.

But because the plan is in place reductions are still applied.”

One of several major shifts Den Hartog would welcome is a more adaptive and flexible approach by the EU fishing policy executives. ” Everybody has the same sustainable goals; but it’s a question of how to do it.

“Management should be more results based and more

flexible. Set the goals centrally and then allow the industry each with different kinds of fishery and different conditions and different geographical areas – to reach those goals in their regions, with measures they see fit. This is the only way true sustainability can be achieved.”

“We are seeing a transition to new innovative techniques, a shift in mindset with the industry coming closer to the consumers and what the rest of society is thinking. It’s a transition that began a few years ago and is really starting to show results.

“Fishermen know more about how people view their product. They are thinking more about their activities and that society is interested in them.

They are also working a lot closer with scientists than a few years ago when the industry was more isolated from these and similar developments. As their representatives we are encouraging techniques changing fleets towards more sustainable and efficient practices, while at the same time arguing for EU policies to be more results-based, regionalised and industry-involved. Economic success is an integral part of sustainability; measures that undermine the economic viability of the fleet and do not help achieve the set goals for a stock are counterproductive. ” An English wit once observed that “everything’s all at sea except the Fleet.” Paula Den Hartog laughs.

“This applies to policymaking on fisheries so far – everyone seems to have a say except the fleet. We hope the new Common Fisheries Policy will show a great change in this area.”

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 53

EMERGENCY CARE’S CAPE WARRIORS

Metro EMS www.metroems.org.za +27 21 948 9908 Written by Ben Walker

© Cape Argus / Matthew Jordaan Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 55

Metro EMS

Each month Metro EMS deals with over 40,000 medical calls in South Africa’s Western Province.

Demands are complex and rising and budgets tightening.

Dr Cleeve Robertson, Director of Emergency Medical Services in the Western Cape talks to Ben Walker.

They call it the ‘Cape Doctor’, the cooling south-easter that arrived off Cape Town this month driving out a heat sizzler peaking at 35 degrees. There had been public health implications – a nurse had collapsed from heat exhaustion in a township clinic. In an office at Bellville suburb in the city, another and yet more influential Cape Doctor surveys his brief.

Dr Cleeve Robertson is Director of Emergency Medical Services in the Western Cape, front line arm of the Provincial Department of Health providing quality emergency care to six million people in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. Its responsibilities include ambulance provision, medical rescue, patient transport, and air and mountain rescue medical services. The important Western Cape international tourism industry is another key participation.

With two divisions, Emergency Medical Services and Healthnet - Health non-emergency transport – Metro EMS deals with more than 40 000 calls a month. Currently it has a fleet of 516 emergency vehicles (250 ambulances), © Independent Newspapers / Matthew Jordaan

Metro EMS

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an operational staff of 1400, and stations throughout the Western Cape, with dedicated crew, management and communications centers. At any time 150 to 160 ambulances are on the ground, over half in Cape Town, the rest deployed across five rural districts.

A new computer system being introduced this year will improve response times and other operational efficiencies. And as well as improving ambulance coordination and dispatch, it will impact on all aspects of Metro EMS information and communications technology including radios, messaging systems and vehicle tracking. The potential gains are high and Dr Robertson is optimistic.

“The scale of efficiencies we can achieve was demonstrated in Cape Town when we re-organised communications in advance of this new system. Our performance target for priority one - emergency cases - is 90% within 15 minutes. In the city of Cape Town in April 2010 it was 27% within 15 minutes and this is now up to 70% following re-organisation - but without yet putting the new system in.

“We expect another 10-15% performance improvement on top of that. And then we shall use the business intelligence that comes out of the system to better place and dispatch ambulances throughout the Province.

Obviously we need further resources in terms of manpower and vehicles to bring response times up to 90% of target. Coupled with the communications system that we shall be putting in we will probably achieve that.”

“Medivate provide innovative communications solutions and electronic products. Projects with Metro EMS regarding road and emergency gear to generate electronic rescue information for patients.

As well as LOOXCIE, a product that enables a real-time image to be uploaded to a smart phone, they are creating the future as the development of their products will decrease the time taken for information on patients to be found and recorded which makes it easier to save lives.” – Dr. Cleeve Robertson.

But in the current economic climate, revenue receipts by the government have fallen and with it the government’s capacity to finance services. “Budgets in the next two years are likely to be very tight with a huge pressure on finance.”

The realities of the city-rural divide are fundamental in the delivery of health emergency services in the Western Cape Province. “The dispatch model in our rural areas is very different from that in the city, where it is largely demand-driven,” says Dr. Robertson. “Distances can be a real issue.

In the rural areas, where some of our towns are 100-150 km apart, it’s about having an ambulance close enough to dispatch someone Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 59

Metro EMS

to the nearest emergency. A rural station might get three calls in a day but those calls can take an entire day with very long mission times.

“Then there are major arterial roads running from

motor traffic injuries at high speeds with very severe injuries.

And then there is HIV Aids, a significant health burden in South Africa, lower in the Western Cape but here closely rated to tuberculosis. This places a particular burden on our

“Our performance target for priority one - emergency cases - is 90% within 15 minutes.” Dr Cleeve Robertson

Johannesburg to Cape Town through almost a desert area.

High volumes of trucking traffic and commuters come down and there are a lot of traffic accidents. This means we have to place response services strategically along a route and terrain that is far from hospitable.”

In Cape Town sixty per cent of emergency cases are medical emergencies. There is another, and to an outsider, possibly startling factor. “Cape Town in particular has a very high injury rate, probably amongst the highest in the world, and this is related to two principal factors,” says Dr Robertson - “inter personal violence - there are a lot of gun shots and stabbing injuries – and secondly a very high rate of

health services.”

Another issue is wine industry related “There’s a huge alcohol consumption among the local population, among farm workers in particular, and this contributes to the high level of inter personal violence and traffic injuries where almost 50% of road traffic injuries are pedestrians”.

“Three Spears manage equipment, uniform items and stretcher strapping. They produce a wide range of products for the police, military and ambulances keeping patients safe and secure during transfer. “ – Dr. Cleeve Robertson.

Yet this diversity of issues and care experience says Dr. Robertson, makes paramedics in South Africa an exciting

career and a focus of international medical study.

“We get a lot of medical tourism from doctors and paramedics from all over the world who come here to study and learn. But we have a problem. While remuneration structures are very favourable to doctors and nurses, for some reason they are much less so to paramedics. As a result we are losing personnel to the private sector and overseas.

“At the same time we have a problem with education and training. Paramedic training takes a long time - a university programme is now four years. And then having trained, we have great difficulty with retention. South African paramedics are in demand all over the world because of their experience and exposure to illness and injury – we are in fact exporting paramedics. In the last two years I’ve lost fifty advance class paramedics to the rest of the world and private industry, while in this Province we produce only half that number every year. To lose that kind of human resource is simply huge.”

Meantime the profile of Metro EMS continues to increase, both for the local population and international visitors. “It’s important that people fully understand what the demands are and what services they are likely to get.

I think we provide very good services, a very positive service with excellent personnel – among them the highest proportion of Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics in South Africa – and we have very good equipment and systems. When you come to the Western Cape you can be assured of good service levels.”

Medivate is privileged to be partnering with the Western Cape Metro Emergency Services to provide mobile health solutions which will assist them in providing real time feedback in rescue operations throughout the province. At Medivate, we believe that developing countries need the unique approach to health technology we offer.

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t: +27 (0) 21 486 1050 e: info@medivate.co.za w: www.medivate.co.za Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 61

MATURE AND SO COOL: IT’S THE JOHN CRAIG LOOK

John Craig www.johncraig.co.za +27 11 615 0133 Written by Ben Walker

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 63

John Craig

have had the make-over, and customer reaction, says van Doninck, has been “very positive.”

Seventy years old - and growing rapidly since a 2002 management buy-out - John Craig is synonymous with quality; a brand trusted by its loyal shoppers, and in particular the black customer base that has stayed faithful down the generations. It is a natural and well-merited allegiance. John Craig offered black customers credit when it was otherwise unavailable, and many of its activities have been shaped to remain in tune with black preferences and tastes.

And these continue to change as the black middle class enlarges and expands. “John Craig’s traditional background is largely within city centre locations. But as you move out to the more suburban malls you are meeting a very different shopper and customer, unattracted by the old, traditional profile,” says van Doninck.

“He is developing a new awareness of what he is wearing and buying. Ten years ago those tastes were more traditional but he is moving away from this now.”

So what makes up the typical John Craig customer profile 2012? “Our typical shopper is certainly not a 21 year old student wearing skinny jeans – that’s not our fit and we don’t buy into it. I would say the John Craig customer is in his thirties and established with a family. He invests in his dress and footwear, and so brands and quality become relevant.

And yes, still very much black, although in some suburbs, increasingly mixed and inter-racial. A cross-over is now starting to happen.

Alan J. Manufacturers specialises predominantly in Mens Formalwear, executing product lines from development stages. Trending adept to international fashion concepts and seasonally orientated suiting combinations is our constant focus. Effectively working through our well rounded sales team ably supported by skilled technical specialists producing the ultimate creations in current, contemporary fashioned merchandise.

A heartbeat that pulses on ingenuity and client satisfaction.

Following its success in introducing a stylish informality to traditionally classic menswear, leading South African retailer John Craig is rolling out a matching cool look to its sixty outlets. And the discriminating shopper likes what he is seeing, Marketing Manager Nicole van Doninck tells Ben Walker.

The new cool look coming to the retail stores of the John Craig ‘Man at His Best’ chain is a head-turner - and showing that a loved and respected South African shopping tradition can be honoured while moving the business forward.

“Our product has been shifting over the years from the traditional and formal to the more casual and slightly more relaxed. But our store design remained quite heavy with a lot

of wood and dark tiling. We realised we needed to change to a clean, contemporary look, with a more neutral pallet, new textures, and a subtle change in lighting,” says Marketing Manager Nicole van Doninck. “Shop floor re-designs will accommodate this change in concept and style and also allow us to make many more last minute adjustments.”

So far ten of John Craig’s sixty stores in South Africa

Fortune House 43 Seaward Road Clairwood 4052 P.O. Box 2151, Durban 4000 P: (+27) 031 465 6429 F: (+27) 031 465 4522 E: customers@sebal.co.za Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 65

John Craig

“He will be working in government, municipals, management, or the utilities. He might be a teacher or a small businessman or an entrepreneur. He is increasingly to be found in banking and finance.”

A store that succeeds in evolving in harmony with changing tastes must be more than a place to acquire merchandise; it must provide a form of client enrichment.

In these shopper-wise times, it is not sufficient to fulfil a specific product need; new types of value for the consumer must be created helping them find outfits that make them feel better about themselves.

The store that can do this will take the lead, and this explains the prominence John Craig gives to staff training and customer relations. “Our staff will give excellent advice and it works very well. A lot of men don’t seem to know how to put the whole look together, so they appreciate this.”

Company retailing over the past six months has been

“very healthy,” says van Doninck, “a nice upswing. We came out of a tricky period earlier last year, but since then the majority of retail sales have been notably healthy and our summer season was very good. We have great products and our own brands have performed especially well.

“But across the sector everyone is cautious, and we are watching the retailing climate the whole time. Salaries aren’t what they used to be, and living costs are rising.” Over recent seasons recession and the consequent fall in disposable incomes have seen a renewed emphasis on John Craig inhouse brands.

“Our focus is always to deliver great, affordable products that suit our customers and our house brand, Muratti, is widely seen as a high value offering that can sit alongside established brands like Polo or a Pringle. For example a customer will say ‘I used to be able to buy two Polo shirts but cannot do this any more. So I’ll buy one Polo and a Muratti

which is just as good.’”

Van Doninck describes the John Craig customer base as “healthy –but of course we are continually working on it.

We need to build our account offering – the store card – get more people to come in and sign up and open an account.

We can then communicate with them more frequently and highlight when new products and brands come in, new store opening and so on. You get to know a lot more about this type of customer.

“South Africa’s Credit Act and banking rules means that it’s very difficult for consumers to open up accounts; it’s so strict and regulated and the scoring very tight. So the spend among our customers is going a lot more to cash, with many using their credit card as an account card. Expanding our store card base will be altogether healthier for us.”

John Craig is succeeding in projecting the value of a company’s past along with new channels to move it forward.

“If you come from a traditional retail environment it should not be assumed you are not moving with the times. Heritage is a very nice thing to have, but there’s no doubt some think its old stage, fuddy, duddy, boring, and no longer for them.

“But as we are showing with great success, a brand that has heritage can also go out there and be relevant in today’s world. A guy can now say ‘my father and grandfather shopped there and now I’m shopping there because I know I will find what I’m looking for.’

“Ten stores are so far showing the John Craig New Look and if we could complete the remainder in two years it would be fantastic.” Further down the line the company that began in Johannesburg seven decades ago seems set to cross the border into the malls of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and possibly Swaziland and Zambia.

“All the work we’ve been putting together is starting to show results. It’s very exciting”

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 67

DRILLING FOR GOLD IN THE FAST LAYNE

Layne Drilling www.layne.com +223 2021 21 25 Written by Ben Walker

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 69

Layne Drilling

In gold rich/GDP poor Mali they measure the rainfall in feet. Then the drilling has to stop. When it restarts, Africa’s third biggest gold producer resumes production, with Layne Drilling (West Africa) at the frontiers of exploration. General Manager Noel McGinniss talks to Ben Walker.

After September’s record high of $1,920 an ounce, the price of gold will rise again predicts a survey from Thomson Reuters, possibly hitting $2,000 this year as investors search for a safe haven from US economic woes and low interest rates in Europe.

In a volatile scenario this is encouraging news for Layne Drilling (West Africa) headquartered in Bamako Mali, and

Mali, West Africa’s largest country, reaching across the Tropic of Cancer, and famed for its gold production since the 12th century. But Africa’s third biggest gold producer after South Africa and Ghana is also among the ten poorest nations of the world, with a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of under US$1,000, and the most promising potential for substantial economic growth for its 12.3 million population lies in the development of its mineral wealth of which gold is a key.

Layne Drilling (West Africa) is part of the US-based Layne Christensen’s Mineral Exploration, a global team built on expertise developed by two brothers who pioneered a drilling technology that has served the mineral exploration and mining industry since the late 19th century.

operations – effectively the first round of exploration - while others are for Brownfields that have passed the first phase and are proving up. “We have customers who have been with us for upwards of seven years.

“We drill where a customer directs us and get samples

out of the ground ready for analysis. If this stage is positive we resume drilling, if not the drills move on to another area.

We are not privy to results until they are reported on the Stock Exchange.”

This is Tough Country and McGinniss and his team are continually bringing in new machines and gear. “It’s very hard to find anything suited to African conditions. At the moment we are using Kaiser vehicles as support trucks, which are pretty well bullet-proof as you will have seen from the Rambo movie.

“These older trucks like the Kaiser are suited to the situation, to get new trucks you are looking at Mercedes, Freightliners and so on that are not really suited to African conditions. You can get new gear in certainly, but it wouldn’t take long to destroy it. And supplying those parts in this or any other country in Africa would be a major problem.

“However we have dealt with Andrea Shane at Al-Jan for over a decade, for as long as I’ve been here. She’s always very friendly and quick to get parts and gear over to us when we’ve need them and she is always prepared to go out of her way and go the extra mile for us.” – Noel Mcginniss Noel added ”Most of the training is focussed on driver skills. Driving around Africa is not the best any time – in fact this is probably one of the worst places in the world because of the road conditions and the way some people drive.”

There are other challenges. Cross border documentation and paperwork can be exacting and difficult, distances between jobs are vast, road conditions often intimidating.

But bridge and road construction is taking shape - a new

“We have a good safety record, and pride ourselves that our biggest asset is our national employees.”

Noel McGinniss drilling for gold clients in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Mauritania.

“So long as the gold price stays where it is and Europe settles down a bit, I see the next two or three years being as good as 2010-2011,” says General Manager Noel McGinniss.

“Yes our future looks bright. Most of our machines are booked right up to the start of the rain season in July, others are already committed to 2013 and enquiries are still coming in.”

McGinniss currently has seventeen drills operating in

Today, Layne Christensen Mineral Exploration deploys close to 200 machines in the mineral division and 700 machines group wide to provide advanced drilling services to major mining companies seeking copper, gold, iron ore and other minerals.

McGinniss, a 56 year old Australian with thirty four years in the drilling industry, has overseen the operation for the past three years assisted by Operations Manager Steve Edmondson, and says Drilling’s contracts are among the best in Mali. Some are with mine operators, some with Greenfield

Proudly sourcing heavy construction equipment and parts for Layne Drilling from Indiana, USA sales@aljanint.com Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 71

Layne Drilling

road from Bamako through to Kayes halving a journey time that once took twelve hours.

And then there’s the West African weather. “In Mali they measure the rainfall in feet not inches. Two years ago the rains started in May and it was still raining in the last week in November - six months and very little drilling. Even when rains have stopped it can be impossible to resume until the water tables have subsided and crossings over swollen rivers re-opened. So two months rain might lead to four months inactivity.”

top accounts people here along with stores in every country we work in except Mauritania. We have a good name as West African Drilling Services – we recently changed our name to Layne Drilling - with the expertise, the back-up – and some of the finest drillers in Africa!

“We have a good safety record, and pride ourselves that our biggest asset is our national employees. Of the two hundred machines we operate in all these countries, every one is operated by a national. And of the 350 we employ, only about 25 are ex-pats.

“One of the joys of working in Mali is that although the people are poor, they are very happy.

You find the children are always dressed immaculately.” Noel McGinniss arrived in Mali eleven years ago from Western Australia where he had worked around Kalgoorlie and in the north of WA. “Yes it was a culture shock when I arrived here eleven years ago. At first I wondered whether I would want to stay. But after three or four months it began to grow on me. There are a lot of people who can’t adjust to Africa, but there are many others who just fall in love with the place and want to stay.”

“One of the joys of working in Mali is that although the people are poor, they are very happy. You find the children are always dressed immaculately.” Noel McGinniss Competitors range from the small to the large - the biggest, Boart Longyear, the world’s leading provider of exploration drilling services and products – but McGinniss is assured by Layne’s record, reputation and delivery. “We’ve been in most parts of Mali, -although we do not venture to the north of the country - are pretty well self-sufficient, have some of the

Founded over 100 years VALUE. COMMITMENT. RESULTS. ago Layne Christensen Company’s Mineral Exploration Division has developed into one

of the largest exploration drilling companies of it’s kind. We provide a full range of drilling services for the global mineral exploration industry, through our wholly owned operations and our Latin American Affiliates (The Geotec Group). Our combined fleet exceeds 300 drill rigs and we provide services on 4 continents. We aim to provide the best, most innovative and reliable drilling services, using state-of-the-art equipment and technology.

WWW.LAYNE.COM Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 72

IN POLE POSITION

Treated Timber Products www.treatedtimberproducts.com +27 33 342 2679 Written by Ben Walker

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 75

Treated Timber Products

Efficient energy generation and transmission could transform Africa, but the current realities are dismal. Gary Wessels of sector leader Treated Timber Products of South Africa, tells Ben Walker what his company is achieving and geared to deliver.

According to the World Bank, a staggering 93 per cent of Africa’s economically viable hydropower potential - one tenth of the world’s total - remains unexploited.

Electric power makes up as much as 80 per cent of Africa’s infrastructure deficiencies. Worn out and unreliable, it is a major failure, crippling manufacturing, slowing economic progress, and compromising social life.

Yet the prospective if distant prize is incalculable. Exploit the enormous hydropower potential in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Uganda, the geothermal potential in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, natural gas in Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 76

Tanzania and Rwanda, coal in Tanzania and the DR Congo, and the living standards of a continent would be transformed.

“Africa is sometimes called the Dark Continent, but there’s a huge potential in and around central Africa – huge reserves of oil and gas,” says Gary Wessels, Financial Director of Treated Timber Products of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

“But none of those countries have any significant power generation and they are going to have to start to look at power generation. To distribute power they will need poles, and this is where we come in.”

Specialist in the production of transmission, telephone and fencing poles, TTP is the largest producer of utility poles in the southern hemisphere.

Its focus on reliability, innovation, quality and durability puts it clear ahead of its rivals. Local and global customers include national electricity supply and telecommunication

Treated Timber Products

utilities, provincial governments, regional municipalities and turnkey installation companies. TTP also provides treated products for road guardrail posts, fruit trellising, farm fencing, and posts used in wet areas and marine conditions.

And with four treating plants strategically positioned within 100 km’s of both Durban and Maputo harbours, it exports to almost every country in Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean rim countries.

“For the past 72 years TTP has been the African market leader of high quality pressure treated wooden poles, and

performance is critical. “We have always applied two basics,” says Wessels. “The first is the availability of poles stored at our various plants. Typically we have between forty and forty five thousand cubes of raw material ready for treatment and processing. This is probably three times more than any other South African rival, and ensures reliability of supply and the ability to meet large emergency orders at any time” The second differentiator is TTP’s strict, brand-defining adherence to wood treatment and preservatives, - carried out to the highest international quality standards – together

“We employ local people and develop their skills through constant training, information sharing and upgrading.” Gary Wessels

our expanding commercial forests and pole processing plant infrastructure will keep us as the market leader well into the future.”

In a tough market - competing with producers from Europe and South America and across Africa – high

with the advantages that come from the largest drying kiln capacity in Africa.

“There are two ways of making lots of money in this industry. One is not to dry the poles - so cutting costs and getting them out faster. The other is not to apply the essential

chemicals that preserve and extend the life of a pole. Each operation is a very expensive procedure.”

Last year a TTP team went to Jordan to inspect poles made by a competitor. “We found that the poles had been in the ground for just five years. They had not been treated or dried correctly and because of this they had failed.”

But with TTP creosote treated poles have an anticipated service life of some forty years – high quality, cost-effective products at a price only 15-20% dearer than competitors. “The cost of a pole makes up about 10% of the cost of erecting distribution lines. So 1% extra could make the difference between a four year life and a forty year-plus service life.”

Up to ten years ago TTP’s market was largely domestic on the transmissions side it now supplies some 50% of the South African market – but now half its output is exported.

“We are focussed on West and Central Africa, and this is where we see our growth coming from.”

Raw material supply is the biggest challenge, and the company has responded by entering into agreements, swap arrangements with some of the bigger suppliers - cubes for poles – and the acquisition of significant commercial forest holdings in the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa.

Timber used by company is 100% South African, and TTP and its associate companies now have some 17000ha of commercial forests, with rights to a further 15000ha and timber swap agreements with South African Pulp and mining timber companies. “As a result we have sufficient timber for the next five years or so. But we continue to look at further purchases and arrangements,” says Gary Wessels.

Relationships with the supply chain and across to TTP’s auditors, E M Luiz, and insurers Bro Ko-Op/ Safire Insurance Company, are long-standing and excellent, says Wessels.

TTP’s founding Holley family began treating wooden transmission poles on the present site in 1939, with the original plant continuously renovated and upgraded. Pole processing capacity has increased significantly with the acquisition of the Cramond and Ashton plants, the Ramanas Kilns, and recently the Low Creek plant.

Characteristically, the family firm takes its social responsibilities seriously, with promotion from within its own ranks and through a sister business MAQHILIKA, a marketing and manufacturing company with timber farm holdings.

“We employ local people and develop their skills through constant training, information sharing and upgrading. This policy of human resources development has enabled Treated Timber Products to enhance our employees’ potential, with the result that they have the necessary skills to be able to move into management positions and make an effective contribution to the business.”

Medium terms growth prospects are on course. “I don’t foresee any slump in the local markets over the next 24 months, and indications are that the supply, mostly to our Eskom and Telkom markets should be good over the next 18 months.”

Next March, ‘Power Generation World Africa’, the continent’s largest generation exhibition, opens in Johannesburg, drawing producers, utilities, governments and municipalities. Maximising assets and new solutions are among its themes, and TTP, Africa’s brand leader, is ready and geared to deliver.

E M Luiz

Chartered Accountants (S.A.) Registered Auditors

Extensive experience in: • • • • • • •

Construction Farming Fast food Manufacturing Retail Services Shoe industries

Phone: +27 (0)33 345 0282 Fax: +27 (0) 33 394 0746

E-mail: info@emluiz.co.za Website www.emluiz.co.za

Reg No: 2000/027673/06 A licenced Financial Services Provider (No. 2092)

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 79

CLEANING UP

Quality Products www.qualityproducts.co.za +27 31 461 9500 Written by Don Campbell

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 81

Quality Products

Quality Products, a subsidiary of Beige Holdings and managed by Gareth Norman, is a company that looks after the little things we take for granted. As a private label, third party soap and liquid manufacturers, their products are used and trusted by customers across South Africa who rely on the strength of those brands and reap the rewards of their improvement and development.

Employing over 350 people, with a turnover of over R400 million, Quality Products is the leading private label contract manufacturer of soaps, bath, body and home care products. They provide an exclusive contract manufacturing and packing service to the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toiletries and home-care markets. Their customer base includes major South African and multinational blue-chip

manufacturing facility to develop a pharmaceutical level soap. This is something which big corporations aren’t doing, and it is capitalizing into this niche that has propelled Quality Products ahead of their competition in 2012.

A further example of their adaptability and focus on customers could be seen during and after the recession when many manufacturing companies were some of the hardest

are only capable of so much. So along with upgrading their manufacturing facility, they trained the staff specifically on how to use this new equipment.

There has always been an emphasis on training and taking the time to properly prepare those workers on the operating side of the business. Gareth is keen to redress the balance by bringing in development programs. Already employees who are keen to enhance their skills are able to enter into part time study.

“Ultimately the success of any business can be directly related to the preparation of the employee, we look after our staff as our most valued commodity.” Gareth Norman There is a lot of scope for development and movement within this industry, Quality Products itself belongs to a vast organization and internal movement and promotion is not unheard of. Employees here are treated as professionals, encouraged to develop themselves and their abilities.

Additionally, Quality Products are the leading BEE Accredited third party soap manufacturer, promoting fair and equal development of their staff.

“Dealing with customers directly and working with them on their products is essential for good customer satisfaction.

Our products need to speak for themselves in quality” Gareth Norman companies. Thanks to a network of international technology and expertise, they also benefit from direct access to the latest marketing concepts and product developments in the industry.

WHAT THEY DO Acting as a one-stop shop for customers wanting to include soaps uniquely designed to complement their current products, the Quality Products range can be customized to suit anything from branded hotel amenities to pharmaceutical products to novelty packs and luxury gift sets.

Unlike other manufacturers, the products they make are used intimately and so the focus on customers and their satisfaction becomes crucial.

“Dealing with customers directly and working with them on their products is essential for good customer satisfaction.

Our products need to speak for themselves in quality” Gareth Norman And they do everything: research concepts through to the sourcing of materials for production and packaging, designing of said packaging, formulation and testing all of these things are dealt with here so that the customer doesn’t have to.

A testament to their focus on development and improvement, R15 million was invested into upgrading their

Supplier of chemical raw materials and value added services to the cosmetic, toiletry and detergent industries

Supplier of chemical raw materials and value AECI Place • 23 The Woodlands Woodlands Drive • Woodmead 2191 Telephone: +27 11services 806 8700 • Fax: +27 11 806 8860 added to the www.akulu.co.za cosmetic, toiletry and detergent industries Supplier of chemical raw materials and value added services to the cosmetic, toiletry and detergent industries AECI Place • 23 The Woodlands Woodlands Drive • Woodmead 2191 Telephone: +27 11 806 8700 • Fax: +27 11 806 8860 www.akulu.co.za

hit by the downturn. Quality Products simply worked with its customers and adapted its products to fit the changing needs of the consumer.

People tended towards smaller packet sizes, a small change on their side but for manufacturing companies this equalled big changes. But thanks to Quality Products’ flexibility and fast action they were able to respond quickly. Their reputation for bespoke projects and overcoming hurdles was clearly a defining factor.

Gareth Norman, General Manager of the Quality Products’ site, leads with a sense of purpose and a clear idea of what the future holds for the company. Prior to his position here, he worked at Unilever for seven years which, coincidentally, owned Quality Products up until September 2005. Dating back to the 1940s the company started out manufacturing candles and other oil-based products and over the years they have always been just ahead of the trends as if predicting the manufacturing requirements of the industry.

EMPLOYEE FOCUS Upgrading the facility and machinery is only part of the job: Gareth recognizes the importance of having people behind the processes who have the experience and the training to do the job well. Machines and computerization

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN 2012?

2012 is set to be a year of change where businesses across the board have to look at how they do things, drawing lines under what works and what doesn’t. For many of the biggest manufacturers in South Africa this is going to be a painful task as they will have to compare the value of necessary changes compared to traditional practises. This is not the case for Quality Products.

In fact there is a lot of excitement surrounding the development of this new pharmaceutical soap and it makes sense, having updated their entire facility for this product will open doors and possibilities for future projects with new clients and it has already increased the turnover of the company substantially.

In a business climate where everyone places a value on being ahead of the game in their industries, involvement with a company whose advantage over their competition has come about by providing tailor-made solutions for their customers is an attractive idea for many businesses looking for a partner in the future.

Moreover in the same vein as their facility upgrade to produce a new product offering, Quality Products will undoubtedly be looking for new opportunities to spring onto and new methods to improve on their already phenomenally high quality products.

We’re going in your direction!

www.cargocompass.co.za Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 83

THE BEST CURE FOR INSOMNIA

Vitafoam vitafoam.co.ke +254 20 694 0000 + 254 722/28 205535 Written by Ben Walker Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 85

Vitafoam

“The best cure for insomnia”, quipped Groucho Marx, “is a good night’s sleep.”

More objectively perhaps, studies by the Harvard Medical School show that after a good night’s sleep, we feel better, our thoughts are clearer and our emotions among its quality product range. So too less fragile. Without adequate sleep, are orthopaedic mattresses, baby cot mattresses, foam sheets and cushions, judgment, mood, and ability to learn hollow fiber pillows and cushions. mattresses are the ultimate and retain information are weakened. in Vitafoam styling, comfort and durability.

Rakesh Shah agrees. “A good night’s rest is the best thing you can do for your body.” Shah is Operations Officer for Vitafoam, the largest producer of quality flexible polyurethane foam in Kenya. With its range of bedding and furniture products, Vitafoam combines experience and authority – forty years in local operation – with innovation, offering the most comprehensive solutions to a multitude of technical problems across a variety of markets.

“We are one of the oldest manufacturing companies consistently innovating within the product range… and helping to improve lifestyles.”

Medium, Heavy and Super Heavy Duty mattresses are

Individually crafted to a customer’s requested dimensions and specifications, they are the perfect fit.

Recently released products include latex foam and memory foam (visco) mattresses and mattress toppers.

Memory foam was originally designed by NASA offering comfort and support across the whole body, and has been clinically proven to provide amazing pressure relief and comfort.

It warms and moulds itself to the body while spreading your weight evenly. If you have back or neck problems, a memory foam mattress almost guarantees a relaxing and peaceful night’s sleep. A further plus is that memory foam

doesn’t harbor dust mites in the same way as more traditional mattresses Another introduction to the sleep industry of which Vitafoam is the first producer in the Southern hemisphere are mattresses covered with an organic cotton fabric which is scented with lavender, ginseng or anti-mosquito. “We have the first product that is scented, and now you can buy a mattress with a ginseng, chocolate, strawberry, lavender or mint scent.” Typically people take ginseng to boost energy and sharpen the mind, but it has the effect of stabilizing and balancing the whole physiology and its associated functions, including sleep. Lavender is another popular scent as it promotes rest and relaxation.

“Other new products we are looking to move on include neck, back, and multi-functional pillows, and pocket spring mattresses.” With individual small springs housed in separate fabric pockets, these offer luxury, the springs work independently to respond to individual body weight. Ideal, if there’s a considerable weight or size variation between you and your partner. Stitched sides for strong, stable edges are another feature - hand stitching a sign of craftsmanship and quality.

“In terms of volume there is an increasing demand, especially from the middle class. There is now a real middle class in this market which is going to grow in the years to come. What we are offering is the whole bedroom solution; bed to mattress, bed sheets and furniture, with a price range extending from 500 Kes (the Kenya Shilling) - £10, to over Kes 250,000 - £2,500.

Hansa International Hansa International AB supply Hansa Polyurethane Foam Base Kraft Paper of different qualities all over the world of first class Swedish origin.

Our Paper is recommended by most of the Foam Machine Manufacturers. We are known for less penetration of chemicals in the paper during production and for the strength of our paper due to our virgin pulp quality of first grade.

HansNilsson@hansa-international.se

Does your mattress need replacing?

Here are some pointers: • Having a worse night’s sleep than you did a year ago?

• Wake up with stiffness and body aches?

• Find your mattress sags, has lumps, or is worn out?

• Have a 6-8 year old mattress?

SUPPLIER OF RAW MATERIALS TO THE POLYURETHANE INDUSTRY Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 87

Vitafoam

New developments and trends in mattresses – and a rising consumer awareness of them - address the fact that we spend a third of our lives in bed. But are we awake to the replacement factor? With most products it becomes obvious when a replacement is needed - if it no longer works or has signs of wear and tear that impair its ability.

However, recognizing the time for a new mattress and foundation isn’t always so obvious. Not unlike a favourite old chair or pair of shoes, a mattress can still feel comfortable long after it has lost its ability to provide the body with the proper support and comfort it needs.

But because sleep is so critical to our ability to function and feel our best, it is important to evaluate your bed and mattress on a regular basis. “Since many people have assumed that a mattress lasts forever, we are doing educational campaigns,” says Rakesh Shah. “Nothing lasts forever, you have to replace everything after a while.”

The life of a mattress depends on its usage and material quality. Manufacturers and chiropractors usually recommend replacing your mattress every six to eight years. Vitafoam goes further. “More and more customers and clients are demanding better products and are willing to pay the price.

We offer a range of warranties, anything between five to fifteen years. And we are the only company supplying latex and visco-elastic giving fifteen year warranties.

“Since many people have assumed that a mattress lasts forever, we are doing educational campaigns,” says Shah, 27.

“Nothing lasts for ever, you have to replace everything after a while.”

The company was originally a part of the Manchester based British Vita group until the current owners bought it out in 1989. Vitafoam Products Limited distributes its

locally-manufactured flexible polyurethane foam and polyester fiber products throughout the East Africa region (COMESA) and its growth can be measured from a series of high profile awards.

In 1996 it became the first Kenyan foam manufacturer to win the Diamond Mark of Quality and in 2008 it won 1st Prize in the Interior and Decors category of the Homes Kenya Exhibition. And in each of the three years 2008-2010 it has been placed in Kenya’s Top 100 Mid-size company awards.

“We keep moving up the ladder. Initially we were in position 48, and then moved on to 47, and last year to 27. This year Vitafoam exceeded the £8m figure entering the Club 101 category – in the past three years only eight companies have graduated.”

While predominantly involved in the furniture and bedding markets, Vitafoam’s continuous research and development quest for new applications has resulted in a significant turnover in industrial sectors including packing, cleaning and insulation. The purchase of 17.5 acres of development land is the latest spearhead for expansion throughout the region.

“Our major customers include supermarkets, wholesalers, retailers, Government and private institutions, hotels, furniture and the industrial sector. But, whichever the segment, we cater for specialized needs of all our customers, and backed by a thirty vehicle fleet, guarantee almost next day delivery - which is very rare to find in Kenya and East Africa.

“Vitafoam is a company with a committed management and staff, and a single, over-riding goal and theme - Sleep well and you will feel better. And live longer, because you will have fewer problems.”

The Inventor of Maxfoam™, -the most used foaming system in the world Known and appreciated for: • Ease of use • Maximum yield • Very beneficial Return of Investment

Visit the Inventor of Maxfoam™ at: www.laaderberg.com Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 89

SHOW OF HANDS 2012 will be a milestone year for folk icons Show of Hands, as they mark a 20-year stand-out career with a celebratory fourth “Big Gig” at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Devon duo of singer songwriter Steve Knightley and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer have forged one of the most successful ever partnerships in acoustic roots music and have already scored three sell-outs at the world famous London venue in 1996, 2001 and 2007.

The triple BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winners (Best Live Act, Best Duo and Best Original Song) are undeniably one of the strongest current forces in acoustic music – England’s finest and most popular roots duo and something of a “people’s band”, regularly voicing the hopes, fears and life stories of scores of people in song and with a mailing list more than 17,000 strong.

An alchemist couldn’t have come up with a more potent,

by Donnie Rust

magical mix than that of Beer, who can, as The Scotsman observed, “play nearly every stringed instrument known to man” and the inspired Knightley, described by Radio 2’s Mike Harding as “one of England’s greatest singer songwriters”.

One of Devon’s greatest success stories started with the guys growing up on opposite sides of the River Exe, though Steve was born in Southampton and Phil hailed from Cornwall.

Their teenage kicks were playing in different bands but eventually their paths crossed and they joined forces to play the Exeter pub and club scene before they inevitably took off in different directions.

After gaining a degree at Coventry University, Steve started teaching in London and playing the capital’s rock scene while Phil pursued the life of a pro musician, playing in Arizona Smoke Review and the revered Albion Band. But

when Steve returned to the West Country in the mid 80s they started gigging again and in 1991 Show of Hands was formed.

Unusually their first album was a live one. “Live 92” was recorded at Dorset’s Bull Hotel in Bridport and its excellent reviews helped them break into the festival circuit and tour with Ralph McTell.

After working with exiled Chilean musicians in the band Alianza - which saw them learning the South American cuatro and soaking up new rhythms - Steve wrote such memorable songs as Santiago, Armadas and Columbus (Didn’t Find America).

After their first studio album Beat About the Bush, Show of Hands released Lie of the Land in 1995, which Q declared “startlingly good” making it their folk album of the year.

But despite an escalating fan base, the guys still couldn’t

command London gigs. So they thought they’d create a modest one of their own – at the Royal Albert Hall! Hiring the hall to the amusement of the media and cynicism of sceptics they had the last laugh, with a sold out show. It was a huge gamble but the night of March 24, 1996 proved that for this enigmatic, indy duo anything was possible.

Five years later they were at it again, reprising their appearance at Kensington’s “village hall” to celebrate their 10th anniversary and this time the sell-out was recorded by Carlton for the ITV Network.

A particularly productive time followed with another studio album Cold Frontier (2001) and The Path (2003), an instrumental coastal odyssey commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of the South West Coast Path.

In 2003 they released Country Life, with its stand out title track that went on to be used as a soundtrack by the Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 91

Commission for Rural Communities for two films launched in Westminster. Praised for its ”finger on the pulse” topicality about the decline of rural life, Steve was later interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

In 2004 after numerous nominations, Show of Hands struck gold at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, winning the coveted Best Live Act title – the only category voted for by the public.

They were joined by the brilliant Miranda Sykes on double bass and vocals for their autumn 2004 UK tour – a tour which triggered a live 22-track double album As You Were – and Miranda has enriched the Show of Hands sound ever since.

May 2006 was a defining moment when they unveiled a strident new Show of Hands sound with Witness produced

by Grammy-nominated Simon Emmerson and “Mass” of Afro Celts. Songlines called the album “A beautiful portrait of modern rural Britain, intensely compassionate and filled with carefully contained rage.”

Described as “a cinematic journey of the West Country” it was widely acclaimed with some of Steve’s finest writing in the title track, The Dive and the stirring Roots - a rally call for the English to get behind their identity and musical heritage spurred by a certain comment by Dr Kim Howells – that his idea of hell was three Somerset folk singers in the pub! Roots found champions in unlikely quarters with some even calling for it to be the new national anthem!

In 2006 they were also somewhat quirkily voted Greatest Devonians in a poll beating historic figures like Sir Francis

Drake and modern day music icons Chris Martin, Muse and Joss Stone while they were later voted the West Country’s favourite musicians in an ITV series and invited to join the West Country Hall of Fame.

Despite all their success they have never sold out on the West Country and on St George’s Day 2006 they performed a fund raising gig that helped save a rural Devon post office.

When the time came to think of how best to celebrate their incredible 15-year partnership in 2007, the Albert Hall place beckoned again. This time it sold out rapidly - a testament to the huge popularity they have achieved – not overnight but through hard work and with a sound that continues to dodge the genres and puzzle the industry.

They continued to celebrate their enduring partnership with a definite double “Best of” CD, trawling an enviable back catalogue and also made appearances with Peter Gabriel and Jools Holland.

Two of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic music, their music loses nothing in translation and they have taken it all over the world, from Australia to India, Germany to Canada, the Netherlands to Hong Kong plus key festival appearances including Glastonbury, WOMAD, Cambridge and Celtic Connections.

In 2008 they played nearly 30 UK summer festivals including making their WOMAD debut and headlined the Welsh Proms first Folk Prom at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff.

That autumn they undertook a triple tour including their first standing gig tour and a “Spires and Beams” tour of UK churches, cathedrals and historic buildings with spectacular

sell-outs at Exeter and Ely Cathedrals.

In early 2009 they returned to Glasgow’s famous Celtic Connections Festival for the third time whilst in the summer Phil took time out to fulfil a lifelong dream of crewing in the Tall Ships race and Steve made solo appearances at festivals including Glastonbury.

June 2009 saw Show of Hands make a coveted appearance on BBC-1’s flagship rural affairs Countryfile singing Knightley’s hard-hitting Country Life while that autumn saw the release of their new studio album, Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed, produced by Stu Hanna of Megson and a 37-date tour of English county towns.

The topical title track of the album – Knightley’s no holds barred lyrics about bankers and bonuses, MPs and expenses – quickly struck a chord with media and public alike, gaining a huge amount of airplay culminating in success at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, where it was voted Best Original Song. It was a memorable night for the band with Knightley and Beer also scooping the Best Duo title.

Numerous prime time TV and radio appearances have followed. In February 2010 they were interviewed and performed live on BBC-1’s Breakfast programme and in April Steve and his songwriting was the subject of a half hour Radio 4 programme, Open Country.

After touring Germany they embarked on a UK Standing Room Only tour of standing venues in spring 2010 before a record number of summer festival appearances where they were the headline act at some 16 events while that autumn 2010 they made their debut at several English cathedrals on another “Spires and Beams” tour.

2011 saw Show of Hands in great shape with a February became patrons of the revamped Royal Albert Memorial appearance on BBC1’s flagship political programme, The Museum and Art Gallery in their home city of Exeter.

Andrew Marr Show, singing Arrogance Ignorance and Greed 2012 has got off to a bright start with Steve nominated for in front of guests including Foreign Minister William Hague. the 2012 Spiral Awards “Best Male Singer” title – the awards In the same month Phil Beer was named Musician of are open to public vote until March. the Year in the 2011 Spiral Awards, run by popular music Show of Hands will embark on a tour of Germany in website Spiral Earth. Thousands of people voted for him, March, following Steve’s solo tour, which will supported by with 42% of the vote giving him a resounding win in the Knightley, who has been hailed as one of the country’s best category.

Key appearances last year singer-songwriters, says: “Hiring somewhere as high profile as the included Hyde Park on the Albert Hall is obviously not something you undertake lightly but it’s headline-hitting “March for a challenge we relish. We are lucky enough to have an incredible the Alternative” rally day and headlining a folk music night fan base, not only in the UK but in France, Holland, Germany and at London financial centre beyond and hopefully a lot of them will want to help us celebrate 20 Canary Wharf, whilst Steve years as Show of Hands.” joined fellow folk musicians performing in front of protestors at Occupy London outside Devon duo Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, and Phil’s solo St Paul’s Cathedral. Festival appearances included a headline outings and concerts with his own Phil Beer Band. slot at Shrewsbury Folk Festival where Steve is now co-patron Then it will be time to prepare for their key event of 2012 and Steve took part in the acclaimed multii artist Cecil Sharp – The Royal Albert Hall gig on Easter Saturday (April 7) songwriting project which tours in 2012. followed by a string of UK summer festival dates and their Last autumn Steve and Phil decided to embark on their own signature festival at Dorset’s Abbotsbury Sub Tropical first duo tour in four years, coinciding with the release of Gardens in July. their “Backlog 2 “ album which revisited songs from the period 1992-2003. They planned this ahead of a concert tour Donnie Rust, (AKA The Naked Busker) is one which saw them reuniting with Miranda Sykes and with of Britain’s foremost comedy writers in the field American singer songwriter guest Richard Shindell. of business, travel and adventure with over 1 In November Show of Hands’ acclaimed take on George million readers worldwide. His stand-up comedy Harrison’s If I Needed Someone featured on an exclusive MOJO tribute CD tribute to “the quiet Beatle” marking is apparently hilarious too. He can be found at: the 10th anniversary of his death whilst in December they www.facebook.com/donnierust.

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 93

PIRATES ADVENTURE

by Donnie Rust

Admit it: you’ve wanted to be a pirate. Whether you’re seven, seventeen or twenty seven pirating rather than piracy is about having fun, it’s about yelling “Yaaaaarrrrrr” and not following the rules, it’s not answering to anyone, it’s getting into sword fights and drinking rum. Its rebellion wrapped up in bandana, boots and hat.

Drunken brawls in some island tavern involving swinging from the candle chandeliers and killing parrots with a musket, drinking rum and wandering around with bits of strumpet.

Sword fights to the backing of drums, mandolins and fiddles. Buried treasures, plundering ships, skull and cross bones, adventure, danger and ultimately the freedom of the open sea.

Entertainment is an industry where you have to know what your clientele want and give it to them in the right way. If you can nail that you’ve got a winner and after twenty six years this show hasn’t missed once, growing in popularity year by year by giving us exactly what we, in our very deepest souls, want. Pirates.

Its location is in the heart of Magaluf, and, for those of you who don’t know, this is a paradise renowned for s “It’s a pirate’ sunshine, partying, life for me!” tourism and fun.

It’s the destination of wild summer vacations, bachelor parties and hen weekends, where the restaurants, (even the family ones) are open until the small hours in the This show turns a m ature morning and all m an in to an ap pl au the clubs and pubs are ding child The dream of being a aimed at helping you have within the first three seconds. pirate is one of the things a holiday that you will that shouldn’t die, there not only remember forever, but also is never a good time to probably never tell your parents about. The perfect lose that urge, so, to setting for a pirate show. encourage its healthy In 1986 the Pirates Adventure was moved to its current development, I location, a purpose built theatre with seating for almost suggest that a thousand people focused around a stage featuring a you book life-sized pirate ship. The high ceiling allows 950 people your trip to sit in comfort without feeling claustrophobic and as to Magaluf it turns out is completely necessary. Outside, the theme M a l l o r c a continues with rigging, wooden bridges, water features right now and of course marauding pirates who follow you inside and go to causing children to shriek in delight and adults to giggle the PIRATES in joy as they bluster and yell “Arrrrr” and jokingly ADVENTURE. promise to sell the children into pirate slavery for a

bottle of rum (which the children are usually happy with).

Regarding the actual show and not wanting to give away the plot, do you remember how when you were playing pirates as a child (and then as an adult) everything was fighting and jumping, explosions and loud music, dancing and running, somersaults and death-defying stunts? It’s all that.

But what separates this show from the likes of any other you’re ever likely to see is the talent behind the characters. I spoke with former world acrobatics champion Martyn Smith who revealed to me how each character is selected.

“When a world champion gymnast or acrobat is ready to retire he has limited options available to him, many times he or she has a choice, coach or go into shows.” Martyn He himself was introduced to Pirates in 1998 when, after retiring from the world of competitive acrobatics, he was asked to come and perform in the show and eventually went into directing it. This was a monumental opportunity to use his expertise in the field to pave the ground for future athletes wanting to become involved.

Training and preparation are important, especially when everyone has to work together as a team to pull off some of the tricks, and the result is either a successful and breathtaking acrobatic feat or serious injury and potentially death (which is why only professional acrobats are used and not people like you or me.)

They begin their pre-season training in February where their bodies are conditioned and prepared for the rigorous two shows a day, six days a week regime during summer. This moves into technical training closer to the opening Difference: I would be of the season. During screaming at this point. this the real key to this show is revealed: “We train the performers to a level higher than they need on stage. Their individual fitness and ability is far higher than what they need to wow the audience, this prepares them psychologically for the tricks they pull off on stage.”

Knowing that what you see on stage is not the height of the performer’s ability only increases the sheer enjoyment of the show because the performers are allowed some small poetic licence with a lot of banter and enjoyment happening on stage. Which I guess cannot happen if you’re afraid of finding yourself forty feet in the air and spinning like a madman.

“If the performers are enjoying themselves, the audience will enjoy themselves too.” Martyn

Needless to say the standards at Globo Balear, the company that owns and runs the show, are incredibly high for the performers. Not only because as a show the entire team operate as a family, a unit, a crew, but mostly because the stunts that are performed as a base level for the show are impressive and dangerous in equal measure.

A network of coaches from around Europe are in continuous contact with Martyn and his team, so that whenever a new talent appears they’re given the option to audition for the Pirates Show and as long as they have the skills their act is worked around them.

“The acts are shaped around the talents, this inspires new tricks, new opportunities and keeps the show fresh.”

Martyn If ever there was an example of organic development in action this would be it. What started out as a means for hotel staff (some of whom just happened to be acrobats) to entertain guests during dinner, is now one of the greatest attractions in the world and everyone wants their own pirate show. With offers coming from as far abroad as America the producers of the show are merely waiting for the opportunity.

In the meantime they’re happy where they are - causing entire audiences to gasp in awe and scream in delight.

Donnie Rust, (AKA The Naked Busker) is one of Britain’s foremost comedy writers in the field of business, travel and adventure with over 1 million readers worldwide. His stand-up comedy is apparently hilarious too. He can be found at: www.facebook.com/donnierust.

A n additiona l sh ow that Glo bo Ba lear prod uces is th e in cr edible Com e Fly with Me. An unfo rgetta ble m ix of sw ing da nc e and acro batics, ba se d arou nd th e music of Fran k Si natra. Sh ow in g at th e Glo bo Ba lear Th eatr e, So l de Mal lo rca.

Directed by Mar tyn Smith Music by Paul McKeown Glo bo Ba lear ar e also laun ching a new ra dio st at ion to coin ci de w ith th ei r ac tiv ities availa ble on lin e at: Radio OneMallorca.co m

Endeavour Magazine • February 2012 • 95