Gallery | April 2016 | the APPETITE issue

Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 52 | April 2016 | the [APPETITE] issue

£ priceless

#52

the APPETITE issue BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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Based on value mobile plan for £6

based on home phone of £13.50, Broadband £14.95 and Value mobile plan of £6.00. Other price plans are available see www.sure.com. Broadband at £14.95 only available for customers with a Sure pay monthly price plan. Prices include VAT

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Mobile, broadband and home phone for just ÂŁ34.45!

Sometimes it’s good to have all your eggs in one basket.

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Gallery is published eleven times a year as a fresh yet discerning guide to all that happens on the Island and beyond. Not too arty farty superior or too serious, written by you and enjoyed by people everywhere.

CONTRIBUTORS

WHO WE ARE

EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER

Clare Bowie Hannah Goodby Michelle Tonnesen Linda Huxley Anne Berry Jennifer Parkes Sam New Maria Hill Jessica Ledger Grant Runyon Les Able Suzy Holland Rebecca Lawrence Adam Jazard Rachel Green Theo Leworthy Anne Moorhouse Leon Flemming Richard Evans Martin Fox Tim Bradshaw

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ILLUSTRATIONS

DISTRIBUTION

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Russ Atkinson Jon Moore Adam Berry Alex Probst

DESIGN STUDIO

Emma Cooke Russ Atikinson Alex Probst

GALLERY MAGAZINE

Quay House, South Quay, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5AR Tel: 01624 619540 www.gallery.co.im

PHOTOGRAPHY

Peter Kwiecinski Brian Mitchell Phil Kneen

Recycle.

Gallery recycles all its storage and packing materials, boxes and any old magazines that are returned. We don’t get that many fortunately. We love to know our readers hang on to previous copies but when they take up too much space, drop them down to the recycling bins. If you want to find out more about recycling - call: 01624 686540.

Don’t forget you cn view all previous issues on our website.

Disclaimer. All rights reserved. Any form of reproduction of Gallery Magazine, in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the publisher. Any views expressed by advertisers or contributors may not be those of the publisher. Unsolicited artwork, manuscripts and copy are accepted by Gallery Magazine, but the publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. All material, copy and artwork supplied is assumed to be copyright free unless otherwise advised. Contributions for Gallery should be emailed to editorial@gallery.co.im. Names have been changed to protect the innocent and no penguins were harmed in the manufacture of this magazine, you can’t prove nuffing. Why are you still reading the small print? How about researching what really makes the best paper aeroplane? Test them with your friends or colleagues, add a picture to our Facebook and we’ll send you some doughnuts.

EDITO

UPFRONT

#52

[APPETITE] COVER CREDIT TAMARA HALSALL tamarahalsall.tumblr.com Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 52 | April 2016 | the [APPETITE] issue

£ priceless

edito

#52

the APPETITE issue BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

WWW.GALLERY.CO.IM

W E A LT H BUSINESS T E C H N O LO G Y

agenda

n

ON THE AGENDA n NO 19 n APRIL 2016

W E A LT H - W H Y W E SHOULD BACK BREXIT

GRADU8 - CAREERS SPECIAL

TECHNOLOGY - TECHNOPHOBIA IS SO LAST CENTURY

Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | April 2016

The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man

N

ow the world outside is a nicer place to be in as winter looks like moving on, here at Gallery we are serving up a glorious buffet of ideas for you this month.

We hope, as ever, that they suit your tastes and leave you pleasantly sated.

With this being our Appetite issue, we explore all things food related as food health scares and dietary controversies continue to erupt in the news, we explore what’s safe to eat in our own Gallery style of educating. The news has not been all bad. Several studies now suggest that one of the worst dietary villains of the past few decades, saturated fat from dairy products and meat, may not harm the heart as much as we have been led to believe. After meat, sugar was the top ingredient in the year’s food health stories. The UK saw a succession of official reports calling for Britons to cut sugar intake by more than half for the sake of their health.

We ask if we should eat or not eat breakfast, as it’s the most important meal of the day is it not? So why do most of us Brits skip it - more than any other European nation?

We supply you with recipes to try at home, and say cheers to infused boozy beauty products. If you have an appetite for gastronomic adventure, we whet your appetite for adventure in the UK on page 14 and around the world on page 42.

If it’s an appetite for all things wealth, business, careers or technology that you crave, our agenda business supplement has all the ingredients this month starting on page 45.

ARE YOU IN? You can also view paparazzi photos on our facebook page.

Now go grab yourself a coffee with 25 sugars, a steak sandwich and get your teeth into this edition of Gallery.

SR

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Gallery, Agenda, Places, and Paparazzi are trading styles of 221LTD. Registered in the Isle of Man no. 125981C.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

5

WILKINS WATCH of the MONTH Much of Bremont Watch Company’s DNA is deeply rooted in aviation.

Co-Founders Nick and Giles English, both pilots themselves, set out to make high quality watches of classic design durable enough to withstand any pressures an aviator’s timepiece may endure. Now Bremont has partnered with aerospace giant The Boeing Company and is delighted to present the timepieces from the Bremont Boeing range: the Model 1 and Model 247.

Bremont is renowned for its exclusive limited edition watches which incorporate history into beautiful chronometers. In 2009 the company produced a watch dedicated to a World War Two fighter legend, the iconic P-51 Mustang ‘Fragile but Agile’. A Pacific Theatre veteran, parts of original aluminium from this Mustang were incorporated into the watch build.

When Boeing saw Bremont’s classic yet subtle treatment of history with the P-51 Limited Edition, it was a deciding factor in selecting Bremont as the perfect partner to commemorate the rich history of their brand. Discussions between Bremont and Boeing began a number of years ago. They quickly discovered a shared ethos regarding innovation and design.

www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

When Boeing started searching for a watch partner, it was evident that they were wanting a lot more than simply a branded watch. The quality of Bremont’s work made it clear that the two companies would make ideal collaborators.

The timepieces have been designed to celebrate flying machines like the Boeing AH-64 Apache gunship and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the large military transport C-17 Globemaster and state of the art jet fighters like the Boeing F-15 Eagle (below), F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet. At any moment, a Bremont will be airborne somewhere in the world keeping precise time for its pilot owner, even in the harshest of environments.

Working with Boeing’s material research expertise and AMRC’s development of innovative manufacturing processes, Bremont has set a new standard in aviation timepieces. The Bremont Boeing Model 1 and Model 247 are stunning advanced designs constructed from aviation grade metals which in some cases are new to watch manufacture. Whilst using cutting edge and more modern materials, the timepieces act as classic tributes to an earlier era in Boeing’s rich history.

Call in to view the Bremont Boeing collection in store now or email us at enquiries@wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

76 Strand Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 2EW T: 01624 690450 E: enquiries@wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk /Wilkinsjewellers

www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

UPFRONT

CONTENTS PICKS FEATURE

MAY CONTAIN SATIRE

MAY CONTAIN SATIRE

Shamefully we believed them, even as these charlatans went on to spend their riches on blue cheese and filet mignon like every other rich person. The result was misery for many true believers, because there is a limit to how much you can enjoy life when you spend your days posting images of your post-gym soy smoothie on Instagram.

Well, throw those goji berries in the bin, because, scientists from the prestigious Findus Institute have published new research that indicates that, far from being as unhealthy as previously believed, heavily processed food should in fact be an essential component of our daily nutrition. Their new proposals call for all adults to consume artificial flavours and food colourings as part of a balanced diet - i.e. a side order of salad and chips. They even reassess the benefits of many vintage snacks from the recent past. We suggest you print out the following guide, stick it up in your kitchen and run as fast as you can if you see Jamie Oliver coming for you holding a parsnip.

Key food group: crisps and corn snacks Rich in essential salts, grease and monosodium glutamate, adults are recommended to consume at least one portion of crunchy snacks daily, more if expending extra calories by watching something stressful on telly. Just as other nutritionists recommended returning to historic grains such as bulgar wheat and quinoa, scientists are urgently calling for Smith’s Crispy Tubes, Flavour & Shake and Tangy Toms to be returned to production.

Until that time, it is recommended to help growing children with regular servings of Space Raiders and Monster Munch.

Remember: it is dangerous to become deficient in pickled onion flavour, Scampi Fries are practically a serving of fish, and Twiglets contain fibre.

How to eat a balanced diet:

the proven nutritional benefits of snack foods WORDS Grant Runyon ILLUSTRATION Pip Renault

For the last couple of years, nutrition writing has been dominated by unrealistic, faddish ideas like raw food, paleo diets and “eating clean”. An army of glassy-eyed skeleton people had the colour photoshopped back in their cheeks to appear in magazines, clutching bowls of buckwheat gruel and promising that we’d live to be 150 if only we could bring ourselves to restrict our diets to kale and chia seeds.

10

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

10

Key food group: fizzy liquids Once thought to rot your teeth and promote hyperactivity, new studies conducted under the aegis of the PepsiCo fellowship show that carbonated drinks are actually delicious and refreshing. This is equally true whether they are “premium” brands like Coca Cola and Irn Bru, or value equivalents such as Panda Pops and the eastern European cherryade sold in pound shops. Although still drinks like Tip Top and Um Bongo do contain essential sugars, parents are suggested to opt for those that are most

luridly coloured, and if in doubt ensure that children consume at least one Coke float a week, more if they’ve been good.

Key food group: grains and cereals Breakfast is both the most important meal of the day, and the cornerstone of any diet.

Sadly, our hectic lifestyles mean that too many of us skip the opportunity to consume puffed rice and strawberry marshmallows, and make up for this deficiency later in the day with extra coffee. There’s really no excuse - experts from Kellogg’s say that if we just took two minutes to heat up a Pop Tart our day would be off to a much better start. Many parents mistakenly believe that a cereal is only healthy if it contains multigrains - if this worries you a good solution is to serve children a fun, yet nutritious, combination of Frosties (corn) and Sugar Puffs (wheat).

FEATURE

is already one of your two recommended portions of vegetables a day, so why not go for a hole in one by topping your margherita with some baked beans or a couple of potato waffl es?

GALLERY GUEST

Key food group: sweet shop items The traditional British sweet shop has never fully recovered from the targeted propaganda campaign conducted by dentists and and broccoli farmers, but in today’s more enlightened age this institution is showing the first lurid green shoots of recovery. Of course, sweeties remain something that should only be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet - no nutrition expert would recommend that anybody survive more than a day or two solely on Wham Bars and Liquorice Allsorts. This is because the goodness in sweeties is so concentrated, you are

PHOTOGRAPHER

Although still drinks like Tip Top and Um Bongo do contain essential sugars, parents are suggested to opt for those that are most luridly coloured, and if in doubt ensure that children consume at least one Coke float a week, more if they’ve been good.

Key food group: frozen items (sweet) It has long been understood that warm weather carries with it the risk that humans can become sad and uncomfortable if not administered with frozen dairy produce, or at the very least a combination of vegetable fats and refined sugar. What was less widely known is the role that frozen treats play in year-round mood maintenance. In order to stave off attacks of the blues, doctors now say that families should stock up on Arctic Roll, Mr Freeze Ice Pops and Cornettos.

If frozen goodness is needed on an emergency basis, administration of Slush Puppy is recommended - this is nutritional equal of a raw food protein shake in that it provides the body with servings of sugar, artificial food colouring and the allimportant refreshing, slurpy coldness.

Key food group: frozen items (salty) Remember that the freezer is not just for ice-cream, this essential family friend can also serve as a healthy storehouse containing curry, pizza, batter-coated potato products and a variety of breaded chicken shapes. The important thing to bear in mind about freezer-based nutrition is the “three colour rule” - your frozen meal is only nutritionally complete if brown items are offset with other colours, such as red sauce, mushy peas and yellow mayonnaise. Pizza

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

better off spacing your daily consumption of Fireball Gobstoppers, Tootie Frooties and Nerds in-between meals that are less fun.

Otherwise you might get too much energy in you and realise that brown bread is an EU plot - shh, keep it secret!

Key food group items: tinned meat products and preserved foods Not every family is lucky enough to own a freezer full of wholesome doner kebab pizzas, Wall’s Neopolitan Ice Cream and Turkey Twizzlers, but this doesn’t mean that their children will go to school miserable because they had to eat courgettes for breakfast. Tinned foods helped Britain win two world wars, and if Spam is good enough to feed a nation who stood up to Hitler then it’s good enough to include in every hot meal served in your household. Remember that old doctor’s advice - “pink things are healthy” - and if you need a bit of variety on the plate then there are other lovely foods that come in tins, such as corned beef, preserved peas, and hot dogs. If you fancy something a bit exotic on a Friday night then why not take a trip to the mysterious, mouth-watering orient via the Pot Noodle express?

All aboard!

TAMARA HALSALL

Model: Kim Chung | Clothes: Models own | Location: Port Cornaa

tamarahalsall.tumblr.com

11

FEATURE: How to eat a balanced diet

30 CULTURE: Guest Photographer

THE REST UPFRONT

TRAVEL

Edito...........................................................................................................................5

Gastronomic getaways..................................................................................42

How to eat a balanced diet..........................................................................10

Cruising onto the small screen..................................................................44

What’s On..................................................................................................12 Whet your appetite for adventure...................................................14

AGENDA

News in Numbers....................................................................................16

In The News........................................................................................................46

Developed an appetite for custard creams..................................17

Movers & Shakers..............................................................................................50

Me & My Pet.........................................................................................................18

Business Events.................................................................................................54

Give........................................................................................................................20

Why we should back Brexit.........................................................................58 2016 UK and Manx Budgets........................................................................60

EVENTS

Current Affairs........................................................................................62

Charlotte & Nick’s Wedding Day..............................................................24

From classroom to boardroom........................................................64

IoM Business Network event.......................................................................26

Relative Values........................................................................................68 Gradu8 Careers Special...........................................................................71-84

CULTURE Culture Vulture.................................................................................................28

Is 2016 the year for smart tech?................................................................88

Culture News..........................................................................................29

How to keep your mobile phone safe...................................................90

Gallery Guest Photographer..............................................................30

Mobiles could be the secret to ‘Smart’ cities......................................86

Art for All.................................................................................................35

8

Technophobia is so last century................................................................86

The Art of Darkness.........................................................................................36

PLACES

UPLOAD....................................................................................................38

Feature properties.........................................................................96-114

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

TRAVEL

WANDERLUST

WANDERLUST

TRAVEL

GRADU8 - careers special

How to turn an internship into a job offer

Seoul, South Korea

South Korea’s energetic capital has long been seen as a finance hub but it is fast becoming a foodie contender. Seoul is home to a variety of star attractions - vendors sell everything from kimchi to bibimbap, to Korean fried chicken, gopchang and crab in soy sauce.

Street food not your thing? Try the upmarket eateries Jungsik or La Yeon for style and tuck into dishes comprising sous-vide pork belly and fried oyster with seaweed powder, Gaduck Island sea cucumber and soybean-paste marinated lamb.

Sardinia

For an Italian ‘peasant food’ agriturismo inspired holiday, Sardinia is a must! On the menu? Spit-roast pig, tastetantalising seafood and casu marzu ‘maggot’ cheese. It’s a great place to visit if you wish to escape the tourist trap; it’s also well connected by budget airlines.

Best for: A romantic Mediterranean holiday

GASTRONOMIC GETAWAYS

It is crucial to understand the company culture, be proactive and to network with your colleagues

WORDS Tamarin Marriott-Wilkinson

When planning a gastronomic getaway, food (be it a classic Chateaubriand or a moreish Carbonara) makes all the difference between an average and a great stay.

From the many celebrated culinary haunts, to the more unconventional foodie-inspired pilgrimages, read on to discover our top picks...

Nordic countries

Noma, one of the world’s best restaurants, has put Denmark on the map as a focal point of ‘New Nordic’ cuisine. One of the more overlooked Nordic countries is Finland. Helsinki is home to a vast array of eateries offering local and traditional Finnish food far from the tourists’ usual radar. Finland feels a little bit exotic and is both accessible and affordable to get to from the mainland.

Best for: a cost-effective culinary escape

Deep South of America

How do o solicit feedbac to ens re o are on trac This is straightforward at organisations with a clear process for providing feedback.

However, if they do not systematically do this, talk to your manager within the first week. Explain that you want to get as much out of the experience as possible and would like to receive feedback throughout the summer. You can ask to set up times after key events, such as the completion of major projects.

W

hat specific skills and qualities do employers look for when determining whether to hire you fulltime?

First and foremost, they want to see if you are able to accomplish the tasks put in front of you. Beyond that, they want to determine if you fit with the company. Do you interact well with colleagues and managers, and understand the company’s culture?

For example, in a culture where there is a lot of collaboration and you are not a team player, you are giving a signal that you do not understand how things work.

If everyone goes to lunch once a week as a group and you decline because you are focusing on a task, then that is another signal.

Ask yourself: are you paying attention to the norms of the company?

Vietnam

Vietnam is slowly but surely overtaking Thailand as one the most popular destinations in the world - especially when it comes to exploring a variety of culinary delights. It owes its diverse flavours to the brilliant ingredients you find in Asia, but also, its colonial influence. From Vietnamese baguettes to Asian breakfasts, a road trip from Hanoi to Hoi An is highly recommended.

Best for: Backpacking

The food found in the deepest, darkest south of America has recently become a talking point, and while pulled pork and fried chicken are familiar with many, po boy and collard greens are less heard of.

Southern specialties are certainly one thing - extremely tasty. Thankfully, the eateries dotted on every street corner promise a variety of mouth-watering flavours. For a different perspective on the local cuisine, head to Nashville or New Orleans.

Best for: Road trip fans with a healthy appetite

Western Isles of Scotland

Madagascar Cape Town

Cape Town is renowned for its worldclass dining scene, and with the pound strong against the rand, now is a great time to visit this foodie part of the world.

With wine as celebrated as the cuisine, there’s not much not to love about Cape Town. Franschhoek, the many brilliant restaurants, and the stunning scenery are a must for your itinerary.

Best for: A wine connoisseur.

42

Former French colonial territories are renowned for their great food and Madagascar is no exception.

Described as a melting pot of French colonial influence, the food is something to talk about. A few must try dishes include Creole cuisine and seafood stew, all masterfully prepared using a handful of tropical ingredients.

Although a little on the pricey side to get to, once there, you’ll have a hard time spending your money.

Best for: An extravagant, oncein-a-lifetime holiday ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Many are struck by the unusual foods found in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles of Scotland). Asides from their own take on black pudding - the mouth-watering Stornoway pudding - the seafood is to die for. This is a land that’s undiscovered and untouched. Spend your days cycling from coffee shop to café and your evenings enjoying fine food in one of the local restaurants or hotels. Despite being a little on the remote side, it’s well visited, so you’ll need to reserve a table.

Best for: A wild and remote Scottish getaway

Is networking important for an intern?

Networking is a critical part of what is, in essence, an eight or 10-week interview.

It is through building relationships over time that you have the opportunity to get to know people and learn from them, as well as let them get to know you. This is a chance for them to see the value you bring to the organisation. This is important because hiring decisions are rarely made by one person alone. It is common for companies to ask for feedback from several people to determine if you will receive an offer.

If you are operating in a silo, how do o networ e ecti el within the compan You will need to make deliberate attempts to reach out beyond your department to connect with more people.

You might want to ask your manager for assistance in meeting others at the company to help you better understand the organisation. If any social events are held, definitely attend those. And absolutely contact alumni from your school and previous interns within the company because these individuals will generally be happy to talk to you, help you understand the culture, and guide you in meeting others.

hat steps can o ta e if o are not assigned enough work?

At this point in your career, the expectation is that you will look around the company and see what can be improved upon, automated, redesigned, or invented.

Ask colleagues how you can help them.

Do not be afraid to let people know that you need more work. Your manager may simply be too busy and lack the bandwidth to give you more projects. When you are in this situation, do not come in late, complain or act bored. Take the initiative, pay attention and understand what is needed.

Go to your manager with your project ideas and ensure he/she supports your proposed initiative. Then you have truly added value.

If no ob o er comes p at the end of the internship, what should you do?

Once again, this would be a time to remain gracious and positive. Demonstrate that you are a professional. Send a thank you email to the individuals you worked closely with or those who helped you during your internship. In a company where there is an opportunity to pursue another job, discuss why you are excited about the organisation, what you can contribute and that you will keep in touch.

Good luck.

Chile

Chile boasts a hugely diverse range of foods, with the country’s gastronomy wrestling for a place in the spotlight. In the north you have copious amounts of dry desert, in the south, the wilds of Patagonia. The island of Chiloé (where potatoes were thought to have originated) is a hot spot for foodies. In fact, it's home to a vast variety of potatoes that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Leading the way is chef Rodolfo Guzmán, who’s Santiago restaurant Boragó has been voted one of Latin America’s top 50 Best Restaurants. If you're lucky enough to get a table, the 'Rock Fish and Rocks' is a must try.

Best for: An adventurous long-haul break

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

How do you turn around an internship if o recei e ne ati e feedbac First, thank your manager for giving the feedback. Second, determine with the appropriate people what you need to do to improve.

If it is significant feedback — for example, you are not being effective enough in what you are doing — talk to your manager about how best to both address the problem and measure improvements in your performance.

After making the recommended changes, check back with your manager to ensure you are making steady progress.

Listen to constructive criticism with an open mind and maintain a positive attitude.

However, if you are still at a loss after talking to your manager, then talk to someone outside the organisation. Your school’s career development office is also a good resource. They may be able to give you additional thoughts on your manager’s perspective or suggest who best to reach out to in the company.

43

42 TRAVEL: Gastronomic Getaways

FASHION & BEAUTY Get the look.............................................................................................116 Claire Christian Couture fashion show....................................................86 Say cheers to boozy beauty.........................................................................118

APPETITE

78

agenda

78

ON THE AGENDA

Bradda Glen - Chef Speak............................................................................123

79

AGENDA: Turn an Internship into a job offer

agenda BUSINESS NEWS, VIEWS AND COMMENTS

W E A LT H BUSINESS T E C H N O LO G Y

agenda

n

ON THE AGENDA n NO 19 n APRIL 2016

W E A LT H - W H Y W E SHOULD BACK BREXIT

GRADU8 - CAREERS SPECIAL

Recipes......................................................................................................120 To eat or not to eat breakfast........................................................122

agenda

GRADU8 - CAREERS SPECIAL

TECHNOLOGY - TECHNOPHOBIA IS SO LAST CENTURY

45

An appetite for wine......................................................................................124

Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | April 2016

The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man

HARDWARE Is blue the new green?...................................................................................102 Tasty gadgets...................................................................................................128 Phone Home......................................................................................................130

PAPARAZZI Are you in?.................................................................................................131-138

THE BEST PLACE TO FIND A NEW PLACE IN THE ISLE OF MAN

95

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

9

FEATURE

MAY CONTAIN SATIRE

How to eat a balanced diet:

the proven nutritional benefits of snack foods WORDS Grant Runyon ILLUSTRATION Pip Renault

For the last couple of years, nutrition writing has been dominated by unrealistic, faddish ideas like raw food, paleo diets and “eating clean”. An army of glassy-eyed skeleton people had the colour photoshopped back in their cheeks to appear in magazines, clutching bowls of buckwheat gruel and promising that we’d live to be 150 if only we could bring ourselves to restrict our diets to kale and chia seeds.

10

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

MAY CONTAIN SATIRE

Shamefully we believed them, even as these charlatans went on to spend their riches on blue cheese and filet mignon like every other rich person. The result was misery for many true believers, because there is a limit to how much you can enjoy life when you spend your days posting images of your post-gym soy smoothie on Instagram.

Well, throw those goji berries in the bin, because, scientists from the prestigious Findus Institute have published new research that indicates that, far from being as unhealthy as previously believed, heavily processed food should in fact be an essential component of our daily nutrition. Their new proposals call for all adults to consume artificial flavours and food colourings as part of a balanced diet - i.e. a side order of salad and chips. They even reassess the benefits of many vintage snacks from the recent past. We suggest you print out the following guide, stick it up in your kitchen and run as fast as you can if you see Jamie Oliver coming for you holding a parsnip.

Key food group: crisps and corn snacks Rich in essential salts, grease and monosodium glutamate, adults are recommended to consume at least one portion of crunchy snacks daily, more if expending extra calories by watching something stressful on telly. Just as other nutritionists recommended returning to historic grains such as bulgar wheat and quinoa, scientists are urgently calling for Smith’s Crispy Tubes, Flavour & Shake and Tangy Toms to be returned to production.

Until that time, it is recommended to help growing children with regular servings of Space Raiders and Monster Munch.

Remember: it is dangerous to become deficient in pickled onion flavour, Scampi Fries are practically a serving of fish, and Twiglets contain fibre.

Key food group: fizzy liquids Once thought to rot your teeth and promote hyperactivity, new studies conducted under the aegis of the PepsiCo fellowship show that carbonated drinks are actually delicious and refreshing. This is equally true whether they are “premium” brands like Coca Cola and Irn Bru, or value equivalents such as Panda Pops and the eastern European cherryade sold in pound shops. Although still drinks like Tip Top and Um Bongo do contain essential sugars, parents are suggested to opt for those that are most

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

luridly coloured, and if in doubt ensure that children consume at least one Coke float a week, more if they’ve been good.

Key food group: grains and cereals Breakfast is both the most important meal of the day, and the cornerstone of any diet.

Sadly, our hectic lifestyles mean that too many of us skip the opportunity to consume puffed rice and strawberry marshmallows, and make up for this deficiency later in the day with extra coffee. There’s really no excuse - experts from Kellogg’s say that if we just took two minutes to heat up a Pop Tart our day would be off to a much better start. Many parents mistakenly believe that a cereal is only healthy if it contains multigrains - if this worries you a good solution is to serve children a fun, yet nutritious, combination of Frosties (corn) and Sugar Puffs (wheat).

FEATURE

is already one of your two recommended portions of vegetables a day, so why not go for a hole in one by topping your margherita with some baked beans or a couple of potato waffl es?

Key food group: sweet shop items The traditional British sweet shop has never fully recovered from the targeted propaganda campaign conducted by dentists and and broccoli farmers, but in today’s more enlightened age this institution is showing the first lurid green shoots of recovery. Of course, sweeties remain something that should only be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet - no nutrition expert would recommend that anybody survive more than a day or two solely on Wham Bars and Liquorice Allsorts. This is because the goodness in sweeties is so concentrated, you are

Although still drinks like Tip Top and Um Bongo do contain essential sugars, parents are suggested to opt for those that are most luridly coloured, and if in doubt ensure that children consume at least one Coke float a week, more if they’ve been good.

Key food group: frozen items (sweet) It has long been understood that warm weather carries with it the risk that humans can become sad and uncomfortable if not administered with frozen dairy produce, or at the very least a combination of vegetable fats and refined sugar. What was less widely known is the role that frozen treats play in year-round mood maintenance. In order to stave off attacks of the blues, doctors now say that families should stock up on Arctic Roll, Mr Freeze Ice Pops and Cornettos.

If frozen goodness is needed on an emergency basis, administration of Slush Puppy is recommended - this is nutritional equal of a raw food protein shake in that it provides the body with servings of sugar, artificial food colouring and the allimportant refreshing, slurpy coldness.

Key food group: frozen items (salty) Remember that the freezer is not just for ice-cream, this essential family friend can also serve as a healthy storehouse containing curry, pizza, batter-coated potato products and a variety of breaded chicken shapes. The important thing to bear in mind about freezer-based nutrition is the “three colour rule” - your frozen meal is only nutritionally complete if brown items are offset with other colours, such as red sauce, mushy peas and yellow mayonnaise. Pizza

better off spacing your daily consumption of Fireball Gobstoppers, Tootie Frooties and Nerds in-between meals that are less fun.

Otherwise you might get too much energy in you and realise that brown bread is an EU plot - shh, keep it secret!

Key food group items: tinned meat products and preserved foods Not every family is lucky enough to own a freezer full of wholesome doner kebab pizzas, Wall’s Neopolitan Ice Cream and Turkey Twizzlers, but this doesn’t mean that their children will go to school miserable because they had to eat courgettes for breakfast. Tinned foods helped Britain win two world wars, and if Spam is good enough to feed a nation who stood up to Hitler then it’s good enough to include in every hot meal served in your household. Remember that old doctor’s advice - “pink things are healthy” - and if you need a bit of variety on the plate then there are other lovely foods that come in tins, such as corned beef, preserved peas, and hot dogs. If you fancy something a bit exotic on a Friday night then why not take a trip to the mysterious, mouth-watering orient via the Pot Noodle express?

All aboard!

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UPFRONT

WHAT’S ON

LOCAL WHAT’S ON

APRIL now - 18.09.2016

HOPE IN THE GREAT WAR

//HOUSE OF MANANNAN, PEEL// This exhibition celebrates timeless courage during the First World War, telling the story of six heroic RNLI rescues, with family friendly interactive displays. Find out about the effects of ward on Manx RNLI crews and how the Isle of Man managed to crew and maintain six RNLI lifeboat stations in the middle of the war zone that was the Irish Sea. A touring exhibition from Royal National Lifeboat Institution, funded by Arts Council England. www.manxnationalheritage.im

10.04.2016

MANX INTERNATIONAL ROAD RACE //TT CIRCUIT// After 13 years, the Manx International Road Race is back. This 3 lap cycle race of the entire TT course returns as the second round of the British Cycling Elite Series Spring Cup. There is also the opening round of the British Women’s Road Series, the Manx International Grand Prix Feminin, and a one lap support race for second, third and fourth category riders.

This is a rare opportunity for category riders to race on closed roads, and is the opening shot in a three year plan to bid for the National Elite Championships to be held in the Isle of Man in 2018 and could be a good chance to see the road racing champions of the future. www.manxinternational.com

eria de Abril (April Fair)

l eal de la eria e ille pain A jolly postscript to sombre Semana Santa, the Feria de Abril is the biggest and most colourful of all Andalucía’s ferias (festivals).

If the name suggests pie bake-offs and apple bobbing, it’s misleading, for the Feria de Abril promises a week of full-blown partying. www t rismo se illa or 27TH APRIL

King’s Day

Amsterdam, Netherlands King’s Day (formerly Queen’s Day) festivities invite locals and visitors alike to soak up Amsterdam’s open-air fun. In the streets, canals, parks and everywhere in between, the city is bursting with orange as Amsterdammers enjoy the biggest street party of the year. www amsterdam info in sda

Great British Food Festival 2016

07.04 – 09.04.2016

CAMRA REAL ALE OF MAN BEER FESTIVAL

//VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS// This year the festival has moved the bar areas into the Royal Hall, in order to ensure they allow as many people to get to the bar as possible. Check the website for a full entertianment guide.

Entry just £5 www.iombeerfestival.com

HAIRSPRAY

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MID APRIL

8-10 APRIL

13.4.2016 – 15.04.2016 //YOUTH ARTS CENTRE, KENSINGTON ROAD, DOUGLAS// The Manx National Youth Theatre presents this popular musical based on the film directed by John Waters. Expect song, dance and exceptional acting from this youth theatre group whose members are drawn from drama clubs and schools across the Island. Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, New York.

Tickets £5 from the Youth Arts Centre or for more information see the Facebook page. www.facebook.com/pages/KensingtonRoad-Youth-Arts-Centre

ELSEWHERE

litheroe ancashire The Great British Food Festival hosts lots of producers showcasing the best in seasonal and speciality food and drink. It’s a great opportunity to get a real taste of the best of Lancashire and Great British produce sample, enjoy and buy. www isitlancashire com 9-10 APRIL

The Blackpool Jazz n’ Blues Festival

Utopia Music Associates are pleased to return to Blackpool with a two day festival of Jazz and Blues staged at the iconic Winter Gardens. blackpooljazznbluesfestival.com

15.04 – 23.04.2015

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

07.04 – 09.04.2016

PETER PAN

//GAIETY THEATRE, DOUGLAS// Parker & Snell Company is delighted to present Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, directed

by Colin Snell. Join them as they fly to Neverland in this magical version of the J.M. Barrie classic children’s story about the boy who would never grow up. www.villagaiety.com

//GAIETY THEATRE, DOUGLAS// Douglas Choral Union presents Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, sponsored by Dougherty Quinn. Tickets from £23.00. www.villagaiety.com

28.04.2015 (4-6pm)

FOSTERING FIRST DROP-IN EVENT

//BOURNE HOUSE, 97 WOODBOURNE RD, DOUGLAS// For anyone who is interested in becoming a Foster Carer, Fostering First holds monthly drop-in sessions to learn more about what’s involved.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Have you had your

MiQuando moment yet?

Thousands of people in the Isle of Man are already benefitting from the convenience and simplicity of MiQuando’s online booking every month.

The number and types of businesses available on MiQuando is growing every day: from well-known local restaurants and beauty salons to car valeting and hot tub hire - and everything in between!

Here are just some of the new businesses recently added to MiQuando: Loose Knots

The Welbeck

Loose Knots in Douglas offers a range of treatments including Swedish massage, hot stone and sports massage.

Delightful food in a great setting – the Welbeck is on the up and is using MiQuando to make it easier and quicker for customers to book.

Owner Elizabeth Lim said: ‘With MiQuando you can book online at a time convenient for you.

If I’m with a client, you don’t have to leave a message and wait for me to call back.

Once you’ve made your booking I’ll send you an email with all the details to confirm. It is more convenient for clients and means I don’t miss out on business.’

DC Valeting If your car is in need of a bit of TLC, DC Valeting in Douglas offers valeting and detailing packages to suit a range of budgets and requirements.

“MiQuando gives my clients an easy and convenient way to book their valet, day or night.”

Valeting specialist Darren Courcey

Andy’s Hot Tub Hire Whether for a special occasion, party or just to treat yourself, you can hire a hot tub for just a weekend or longer. It’s just another of the diverse range of services available to book online with MiQuando.

Owner Andy Doherty said: ‘MiQuando has opened up our business to loads of new customers and lets them book online when it’s convenient for them. It’s a great way to book as surprise treat without being overheard on the phone.’

To make a booking with any of these business visit

www.miquando.com

Michael George from the Welbeck said: ‘MiQuando is great for us and our customers; it’s easy to use and we can run special offers which means that customers can get a really good offer and can book knowing exactly what they are getting.’

The Signature Rooms Natasha Milligan from The Signature Rooms said: ‘MiQuando is so easy and convenient, it’s always nice to talk to customers but not everyone has the time so this gives customers the choice.’

Why book online through MiQuando?

•

Book at a time that suits you, day or night – even on Christmas day, when businesses are closed

•

No need to call!

•

You get an email confirmation so you can refer back to it

•

Change your bookings online

•

Instantly see available appointment slots

•

Search hundreds of local businesses

•

See what other people think of the service with the online reviews

Book your favourite... |Search Hairdresser Nails Hot Stone Massage

UPFRONT

SS

WHET YOUR APPETITE FOR ADVENTURE IF YOU HAVE AN APPETITE FOR GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE, THEN WHY NOT TREAT YOUR TASTE BUDS DURING A GETAWAY TO THE UK OR IRELAND? The Isle of Man is a haven for foodies, with a tantalising array of top quality, locally produced food and drink, but it’s always nice to sample the delicacies on offer in other places too.

Throughout the spring and summer there is a huge range of festivals celebrating the finest food and drinks to choose from, and they are all easy to reach when you travel with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

With regular services to Heysham, Liverpool, Dublin and Belfast all you have to do is choose your destination, book your trip and start planning your break.

Take your car and you can head as far afield as you choose in the hunt for a new epicurean experience, whether it’s one of the leading food festivals or luxury dining at an award-winning restaurant.

Or perhaps you’d prefer to simply sample local delicacies you discover during a leisurely journey through the countryside, whether in the Highlands of Scotland,

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along the stunning coastline of Wales or in the spectacular Lake District landscape.

A five day short break for a car and two people starts from just £81 each way with the Steam Packet Company, and there are no luggage fees so you can pack everything you need for a great holiday, as well as bringing back as many tasty treats as you like.

Coming up this month is the Liverpool Food, Drink and Lifestyle Spring Festival in Sefton Park. Held over two days, the family-friendly event will feature a wide range of food and drink producers, large and small, offering everything from specialist cheeses to artisan breads.

Tatton Park, just a short drive from Liverpool, plays host to Foodies Festival on 15th to 17th July. This is the UK’s largest celebration of food and drink and will feature a Chef’s Theatre, expert guides to foraging, children’s cookery masterclasses, top advice on baking and a chance to dig into some tasty treats at

the Feasting Tent. Simon Wood, winner of the BBC Masterchef title in 2015 is due to attend, plus there will be live music and entertainment throughout the festival.

Book now online at www.foodiesfestival.com using the code FOODIES and you can have two tickets for the price of one.

Head over to Yorkshire during the summer and you could visit the York Food and Drink Festival on 11th and 12th June, ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

THE ISLE OF MAN IS A HAVEN FOR FOODIES, WITH A TANTALISING ARRAY OF TOP QUALITY, LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD AND DRINK, BUT IT’S ALWAYS NICE TO SAMPLE THE DELICACIES ON OFFER IN OTHER PLACES TOO.

Photo: Antonio Franco

or the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival on 30th and 31st July. The festival in the historic city of York will include tastings, cookery schools, activities for kids, chef demonstrations and more, while the Dales’ event in Skipton will have all manner of delicacies to sample, plus celebrity guests the Hairy Bikers.

Or head south to Birmingham’s NEC between 16th and 19th June and you could visit the Summer BBC Good Food Show.

The celebrity-packed celebration of food is due to feature appearances by, among others, Great British Bake Off stars Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, and TV chefs James Martin and Michel Roux Jr. There are regular services to Belfast and Dublin during the summer, meaning you can explore the culinary delights of both fine cities, or discover some of the festival celebrating the local delicacies.

The Irish Game Fair and Fine Food Festival, at Shanes Castle in Antrim on 25th and 26th June, is easy to reach from Belfast. As well as featuring a wide range

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

of offering from local food and drink producers, the event promises to be a fun-filled experience for the whole family with activities including country sports exhibitions and a living history village.

Further south, Taste of Dublin is a celebration of the city’s unique and progressive dining scene, where the hottest restaurants offer up exquisite signature dishes, award-winning chefs give demonstrations and you can sample a range of hand-picked premium foods and drinks in the stunning surrounds of the Iveagh Gardens.

With Steam Packet Company services to both Dublin and Belfast throughout the summer, you can make the most of your Ireland adventure by sailing into one city and home from the other. There’s no need to choose - you can experience the best of both!

Make your booking today at www.steam-packet.com

USEFUL LINKS: Liverpool Food, Drink and Lifestyle Spring Festival, Sefton Park, 23rd & 24th April www.liverpoolfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk York Food and Drink Taster Festival, York, 11th & 12th June www.yorkfoodfestival.com BBC Good Food Show Summer, NEC Birmingham, 16th-19th June www.bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com Taste of Dublin, Iveagh Gardens, 16th-19th June www.tasteofdublin.ie The Irish Game Fair and Fine Food Festival, Shanes Castle, Antrim, 25th-26th June www.irishgamefair.com Foodies Festival, Tatton Park, 15th-17th July www.foodiesfestival.com/tatton Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, Skipton, 30th & 31st July www.yorkshiredalesfoodanddrinkfestival.com

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UPFRONT

NEWS

in

NUMBERS

1st The Isle of Man’s Equality Bill is a “landmark” piece of social legislation, Chief Minister Allan Bell said ahead of the planned law’s first reading. The Bill would prohibit discrimination due to race, disability, age, gender, religion or sexual orientation. The Bill, is based on the UK’s Equality Act 2010.

3,500

24 local authorities will hold elections for commissioners and council members on Thursday 28 April. The general election takes place after the summer.

80 80 new homes are planned for the Vollan, North Ramsey.

Commissioners supported the application saying that this is evidence that people want to live in the town.

Approximately 3,500 households on the Isle of Man are suffering from fuel poverty. That’s according to a new report which has found vulnerable people on the Island need better protection.

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44% of incapacity benefit claimants found ‘fit for work’ by Dependability Ltd. The Treasury Minister says this is not supposed to be a cost saving exercise and he can’t give a figure of how much money has been saved.

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1.5 The so called ‘Tesco Tax’ on large chain retailers on the Island raised just over £1.5 million last year.

24 April: Don’t forget to complete your census forms. This is the interim census – a shorter version than the full one – which for the first time can be completed online. More information is available from gov.im/census

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

DEVELOPED AN APPETITE FOR

CUSTARD

9 WAYS THAT BEING PREGNANT IS A BIT LIKE BEING YOUR GRANNY Words: Clare Bowie

CREAMS 1

Napping is your thing now. The tiredness is INTENSE; this is not old-style, had a heavy weekend sort of tiredness, this is hardcore stuff. So you start taking little naps all over the show, like your granny, and rarely make it past 9pm.

You sleep like a dead thing (not a baby, cos babies don’t actually sleep, soz!)

2

7

3

8

Your new hang out is at the doctors with all the other pregnant ladies and Grans. Luckily, it gives you a chance to catch up on the celebrity gossip from 2011!

The Grans and the pregnant ladies all love to chat about the bumps though, you may even arrange to have a cuppa and a custard cream cake with a few of them.

Alcohol is off the menu but an occasional glass of wine now gives you the serious Aunt Sally’s, and you start getting very giddy. “Drop me off at light weight central station please!” You will inevitably need to leave any social situ early or just, you know, have a nap somewhere.

Instead of alcohol there is a lot more tea and a lot more biscuits. Your baby gets so flippin’ hungry, you wouldn’t believe it. Your granny has it sussed with her elevenses habit, four times a day, although she probably goes a bit easier on the chips than you do, to be fair.

4

The downside of all the elevenses is that the tea (and the small matter of another human living on top of your bladder) means there is a lot more weeing.

Like your granny, you can’t go anywhere without “just popping to the loo”, three times before you even make it to the front door.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

5

You start the pregnancy in maternity skinnies and pretty peasant blouses but as time goes on, it’s all about the stretch.

Fashion can get stuffed for the foreseeable.

“So long Topshop, hello Marks & Spencer”.

6

Your body starts to slow down, broaden out and, um, loosen, so you feel more like collecting your statutory pension than your statutory maternity pay at the end of the 9 months. There’s no more running upstairs to grab something quickly, hopping out of the bath or leaping off the sofa. The world is a different place now that you’ve been reset to slowmo.

Some people are much friendlier to you now, while others just patronise you, the way they do with your Granny.

“Just because I’m older/pregnant (delete as appropriate) it doesn’t mean that I’m brain dead, incompetent or incontinent”. (Don’t worry; the incontinence only happens after you give birth).

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You become a wise and philosophical old soul. Now that you’re pretty much totally sober and pumped on tea, the world looks a little different. You see the bigger picture, feel connected to the grand plan of life and realise that tissues up your sleeve are a genius idea. BUT... dry weddings still suck, you’re not that grown up yet!

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UPFRONT

ME & MY PET

Sara & Molly Hinds reed Manx A e Sara – 43 | Molly – 7 i es Sara - Walking in the countryside, days out with family & friends, Going to the gym, sunny days, holidays, a good coffee.

Molly - Playing with friends and Duke, athletics, gymnastics, dancing, playing piano, holidays. isli es Sara - Dog owners who don’t clear up after their dogs. Cruelty to animals.

Molly – Spiders.

If you were an animal what would you be: Sara - A dog, loyal and energetic.

Duke has a pretty good life.

Moll A Panda, they’re cuddly.

Why did you choose a dog: Sara - We lost our 16-year-old lurcher cross 5 years ago and felt the time was a right to get a puppy. Border Terriers have a lovely nature. Duke is a great addition to our family.

Molly - I’ve wanted a puppy for a long time, Duke is my best friend.

Where do you live on the Island: Douglas.

Duke Breed: Border Terrier Age: 6 months Likes: Country walks, playing with Molly and my ball, cuddles, doggy pals, Dexster and Millie, chasing Poppy, anything edible!

Dislikes: Not being allowed upstairs.

If you were a human what would you be: A detective, I’m very inquisitive.

Why do you love your human: They give me lots of cuddles.

If you had one wish what would you wish for: A big garden and a life time supply of treats.

Where were you originally from: Onchan.

What do you do for a living: Sara - Motor Accounts Manager - Blackhorse Offshore.

Molly - Go to school, help Mum & Dad around the house.

Do you have any more pets: - A cat called Poppy.

Would you have any more pets: Yes, if we had the room.

What’s the best & worst thing abo t ha in a pet Sara – Best: The unconditional love, getting out in the fresh air. Worst: - Letting them go.

Molly – Best: Lots of cuddles.

Worst: When he chews my shoes.

?

TING PY.ECT TERES@ O.IM IN ER N LL A A G E V ES A R DO YOU HT YOURSELVES - FEATU BOU

TELL US A

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

Happiness is a forever home...

Give an animal a home OLLIE

MANX SUCCESS AT CRUFTS 2016 Ynchreenoo show dogs, based in Ballasalla, enjoyed amazing success at Crufts.

T

he Manx show team of Pharaoh Hounds and an Ibizan Hound were competing at the world-famous dog show, held at The NEC in Birmingham from March 10 to 13 2016.

Ynchreenoo’s biggest success was with Pharaoh Hound Boy Muddy (show name CH Vaskurs Linford Christie Skumpanson at Ynchreenoo). Against competition from all over the world, three-year-old Muddy was first in the Open Dog class and won the Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate under top hound specialist judge Paul Singleton. The 17-month-old Ibizan Hound Ice (show name Snowlief Heart Full of Soul for Ynchreenoo) won his first ever Limit class and also took the Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate following judging by Ibizan breed specialist Alison Wilde.

Laura Merryweather, proprietor of Ynchreenoo Show Kennel, handled both Muddy and Ice to their first places.

She said: ‘Crufts 2016 was certainly one to remember for us. It was a fantastic experience to go head-to-head with some truly stunning exhibits from all over the world and we are really pleased to be awarded two Reserve CCs and looking forward to competing in future shows in the UK.’ Ynchreenoo has achieved some fantastic results over the last 12 months, including winning both the Top Pharaoh Hound dog and bitch within the UK Pharaoh Hound Club honours list 2015 and winning Top Ibizan Hound Puppy in the UK 2015.

We have a variety of dogs in our Kennels at the moment, including several smaller ones such as Ollie who, to quote a member of staff, ‘is a little terrier with a big heart’. He has only ever lived with one owner before and so needs a quiet home, ideally as the only pet. He’s eight years old and is a rough coated Jack Russell cross. He’s known as ‘Chicken Boy’ and so it’s easy to guess what his favourite treat might be! He is fun to be around – playful, engaging and full of character – and so please come and meet him, and spend some time in our socialisation room sitting on a sofa and getting to know him.

OLLIE

NESBITT Nesbitt is full of character too – he’s talkative and friendly, both with other cats and with humans.

He was a ‘street cat’ that was brought to us by a concerned member of the public because he was underweight and had a skin condition. He’s now back to good health, but we can’t repair the damage that was done to his tail – from what we can gather when he was young his previous owners tied a rubber band around his tail to dock it, and so he only has half a tail now. It’s hard to believe such shocking things take place, but we’re confident a new owner is out there somewhere and that he will find the sort of loving home he deserves.

NESBITT

ManxSPCA • Ard Jerkyll, East Foxdale • Tel: 851672

www.manxspca.com

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

19

UPFRONT

OUR COMMUNITY

GIVE

HUNDREDS TRY HOCKEY THANKS TO THE SURE PRIMARY SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

MANX SOCCER STAR REACHES FOR THE MOON WITH MAN CITY Creechurch Capital – the boutique discretionary fund manager – has announced a sponsorship supporting young footballing talent, Blake Henwood.

The Creechurch Sports Academy sponsors a selection of handpicked, promising young sports stars. Aged 10, Blake’s talent has been recognised

by Manchester City Youth Academy where he has been accepted to attend training sessions.

Creechurch Sports Academy ambassador, Stewart Quayle said: “You only have to look at the some of our past sponsorships to see the level of talent harnessed here at the Sports Academy.

“Blake was an easy selection for us; aside from being an extremely promising talent, his determination and dedication is extremely rare to see in someone his age. We are confident that he has a very successful career ahead of him and could not be more thrilled to be supporting him as he embarks upon his journey.”

Blake said: “The training at City has allowed me to develop quicker than I could have on the Island. We play against other teams like Bolton, this week, and the training itself is brilliant. Creechurch’s support means I can continue the training and hopefully attract the attention to be selected for the squad at Man City.”

The Sure Sports Primary Schools’ Programme is run by the Sports Development Unit in partnership with sports’ governing bodies and is generously supported by the telecoms firm. Pupils are offered the opportunity to participate in inter-school events in six sports: hockey, tag rugby, badminton, netball, kwik cricket and athletics.

Year three and four pupils from primary schools competed in a national final in March at the NSC, after qualifying at regional festivals held in the north, south, east and west in February. Ballacottier Blues emerged the winners and received a trophy from Sarah Jarvis, Sure Isle of Man’s Marketing and PR Manager.

All 32 primaries participated in the regional heats with some schools entering more than one team, meaning an impressive 56 teams took part in total. The top two teams in each region made it through to the final.

Sarah commented: ‘I was delighted to see so many schools participating in this event. The commitment of the participants, along with the support of their coaches and parents, is great to see. Clearly everyone also had a good time, which is a bonus.

Be the one to inspire...

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

CELTON MANX RECOGNISES 22 LOCAL GOOD CAUSES Celton Manx has selected 22 local good causes to be recipients of its 2016 Recognition awards programme.

Launched in 2015 the scheme targets the more ‘under-the-radar’ charities and notfor-profit organisations with only limited resources for promoting and developing their services.

Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘Recognition is the core component of our corporate social responsibility programme that aims to lend greater visibility to organisations working hard to transform people’s lives. Given the current economic climate the importance of these third sector organisations working closely with Government has never been greater. It is pleasing to see this

interaction taking place. The awards would be providing support to activities and initiatives which included sport, youth and community organisations, digital literacy, disability groups and hardship funds.’

Submissions for Recognition 2017 will be invited towards the end of this year. To find out more visit: www.celtonmanx.com.

ST NINIAN’S PUPILS WIN MANX TELECOM St Ninian’s Lower School year eight students were ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE PRIZ awarded with prizes for coming up with some

bright ideas as part of a project to learn about business. The Manx Telecom Core Skills Enterprise Challenge is for students aged 12 and 13 who work in groups of five or six pupils for a 10 week period. The challenge is for pupils to come up with either a business idea, or a project which has a social benefit.

At the end of each term the teams involved face a judging panel to explain their ideas and how they would put them into practice. This term’s winning teams were each awarded £40 from Manx Telecom at an assembly on March 2. The ‘Star Walkers’ team won for their idea to ‘wear something crazy in tutorial’ to raise money for the MSPCA; ‘Infinity Blu’ for selling mobile phone accessories; and ‘Top Notch’ for their idea to place hand sanitizers around St Ninian’s Lower School. Representatives of second place teams ‘Pucca-Dea’, ‘Team Hero’ and ‘Mapped’ each won £20 for their groups.

There are people on the island who could make fantastic foster carers, but never come forward to enquire because they think they wouldn’t be accepted.

But foster carers can come from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences. If you’d like to find out more about fostering on the Isle of Man, come along to the next Fostering First drop in event: Thursday 28th April at Bourne House, 97 Woodbourne Rd, Douglas, between 4 and 6pm BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

www.thechildrenscentre.org.im fosteringfirst@thechildrenscentre.org.im Isle of Man Fostering Ltd. Registered Charity Number 1056

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UPFRONT

MISC

Just random things to amuse you.

RESEARCHED BY Rachel Eggerton

Clever capsaicin The reason why chili peppers taste hot is because of a chemical compound called capsaicin, which bonds to your sensory nerves and tricks them into thinking your mouth is actually being burned.

The Legend of the Lolly...

The well known (and eaten) ice lolly was invented by an 11-year-old boy in 1905. This came about after he was mixing a glass of soda and water with a stick and he left the stick in the glass overnight. It was a cold night so the mixture froze and ta-da... An ice lolly!

Foodie Facts!

ade with peanuts.

• Dynamite is m er balls. will bounce like rubb • Ripe cranberries ings in t popular pizza topp • One of the mos .

Brazil is green peas ncy. once used as curre • Chocolate was aving sugar.

Humans are born cr • ice cream is illegal to carry an • In Kentucky, it pocket. cone in your back nsume lick a stamp, you co • Every time you 1/10 of a calorie. wn. en faster upside do • Pineapples rip e, followed the most chocolat • The Swiss eat by the English. popotamus was made from hip • The first soup 6000 B.C. and dates back to egar.

• Pearls melt in vin signifies on a loaf of bread • The colour tie d on. ke ba s ek it wa what day of the we

Donut* play with your food! (*See what i did there?!)

Sorry to disappoint, but American artist/ photographer Terry Border has done just that! Just by adding a few wire arms and legs these ordinary food items have become creative pieces of art...

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Record Breaker!

The largest individual chocolate was a chocolate Hershey’s Kiss weighing 13,852.71 kg (30,540 lbs). The chocolate was made to celebrate Hershey's Kisses 100th anniversary and was displayed at Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, on 7 July 2007.

Did you know? Hershey Kisses are called so due to the smooching sound the machine makes as it releases the chocolate onto the conveyor belt.

Quoted: “A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand” Barbara Johnson (American Literary Critic)

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

TH I HA TT MADDRELL & NICK MORLEY’S

Reception: Niarbyl Bay Cafe (Marquee - A3 Island Marquees) Photos: Shan Fisher (www.shansphoto.com)

Nick and Charlotte were introduced by Charlotte’s sister (and Bridesmaid) Aalish, who met Nick on a business skiing trip in the French Alps. Coincidentally the ski resort in question, Courchevel, was close to Charlotte’s heart as she had spent 6 months working there the previous year.

Aalish, knowing Char and Nick shared a love of the mountains, handed Nick her phone on a bubble-lift ride up the mountain. He called a very confused Charlotte and asked her to meet him for a date a few weeks later in Notting Hill. They hit it off straight away and one year later to the day, Nick organised a surprise picnic on a high peak in the very same resort, where he got down on one knee in the snow to pop the question. Following an 18 month engagement, they were married on August 2015 in the Isle of Man. Charlotte & Nick, it was an honor documenting your love. To be surrounded by your amazing friends and family was a perfect way to celebrate such a perfect day! I wish you both have a fantastic marriage and a wonderful life together. Much Love and Appreciation. Shan xx

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE FOR ADVENTURE

TASTE Whether it’s fine dining, top quality pub grub or just a family picnic in a park, treating your taste buds can be a highlight of any getaway; just book your trip and get ready to set sail.

ENJOY

Kids Go Free offer is back for Travelling by ferry means you can start relaxing as Summer 2016 soon as you step on board and take a seat in any of the comfortable lounges, and the wide choice of hot and cold meals and snacks are enough to suit any appetite.

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EXPERIENCE There are so many gastronomic experiences waiting to be discovered, from the fabulous food and drink festivals held all over the UK and Ireland to the simple pleasure of sitting down to a great meal as a family on your holiday. Take your car on the ferry and you are free to explore, plus with no luggage fees you can load up with all the tasty treats you want to bring home!

TAKE YOUR VEHICLE NO LUGGAGE FEES CONVENIENT LOCATIONS STRETCH YOUR LEGS

DISCOVER WHY THE FERRY IS THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL For our ferry best fares, book now at

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For payment by credit card, a fee of £3 applies per transaction, not per person.

EVENTS

THE ISLE OF MAN BUSINESS NETWORK’S ANNUAL WINE TASTING EVENT

The Isle of Man Business Network (“IOMBN”) recently hosted their annual wine tasting networking event at Bar George on 17th March. The event was sold out with over 90 people attending.

Guests formed teams and were invited to taste a selection of eight wines (four white and four reds) in a competition to match the wines to their descriptions. Even for those who didn’t know their Malbec from their Merlot, it was a great opportunity to make new contacts and catch-up with old friends!

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Location: Bar George Photos: liamgilman.com

“The wine tasting was a really fun night,” said Rachael Hooper, Chairman of the IOMBN. “Our social and networking events really help promote what our organisation is about; actively encouraging our members [and non-members] to network and have the confidence to speak to new people. Our thanks go to the Sovereign Group who kindly sponsored the event, and to Bar George for helping us organise the event.”

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

CULTURE

CULTURE VULTURE What’s on Now - until further notice THE ISLE GALLERY REMAINS OPEN //ISLE GALLERY, TYNWALD MILLS//

Having been given notice to leave, the Isle Gallery had been due to close at the end of March. However, it’s been given a reprieve for the next few months and classes and exhibitions will go ahead as previously scheduled.

The Isle Gallery is also taking part in the Isle of Man Art Festival over the last weekend in April/May. Details of all scheduled events can be found on the website and Facebook page. www.theislegallery.com www.facebook.com/theislegallery

Now - mid 04.2016 SKETCHES, PENCILS & INK //HODGSON LOOM GALLERY, LAXEY//

An open exhibition of work by local artists. www.facebook.com/ HodgsonLoomGallery

08.04.2016 – 22.05.2016 THE ART OF DARKNESS //THE SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

Local photographer Julian Simmonds in a full exhibition of his work, including ‘dark skies’ images. Plus, from 28 April, sculptures from Rob Jones.

Also, the Sayle Gallery will be open for three full days over the Bank Holiday weekend with a series of workshops and demonstrations during the Isle of Man Festival of Art. www.sayle.gallery www.facebook.com/saylegallery

22.04.16 – 30.04.2016 MANX MUSIC, SPEECH AND DANCE FESTIVAL //VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS//

The Manx Music Festival, popularly known as ‘The Guild’, with its 124 year tradition, consists of nine days of competition in music, dance and drama across over 200 classes for all age groups. The music classes include singing, instrumental, brass, choirs, and rock and pop bands.

The drama section includes poetry, public speaking, choral speaking, group theme, character study and duologue. Dance classes include

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CULTURE NEWS

APRIL ballet, modern, character and folk dance. There is a strong Manx element including classes in Manx Gaelic, dialect and traditional Manx dance.

The competition culminates in the prestigious Cleveland Medal contest where the best singers compete at the highest standard. The final Saturday night of the week will be a Best of the Festival Concert. The Festival is presented in association with Dandara Ltd. www.manxmusicfestival.org

30.04.2016 – 2.05.2016 ISLE OF MAN ART FESTIVAL //ISLAND WIDE//

This three day celebration of visual art takes place around the Island over the Bank Holiday weekend and promises something for everyone, somewhere in the Isle of Man. Festival wristbands (£5, £2 for students and free for under 18s) are available from Noa Bakehouse, The Welcoome Centre, the Hosue of Manannan and all participating galleries with full festival programme details.

Participating art galleries include the Isle Gallery (Tynwald Mills), Hodgson Loom Gallery (Laxey) and the Sayle Gallery (Douglas) as well as Noa Bakehouse, Corrin Hall, the House of Manannan and the Centenary Centre in Peel, and the Market Hall in Douglas. www.creativenetwork.im www.facebook.com/ creativenetworkiom

every Friday FRIDAY ART CINEMA //SAYLE GALLERY, DOUGLAS//

An eclectic selection of art films and films about art every Friday at 7.30pm. www.sayle.gallery

LIVE STREAMING/ENCORE events There is a full programme of live and encore streaming of significant theatre and opera from the National Theatre, the Donmar and The Royal Opera House this month, including the Royal Ballet’s Giselle, an encore screening of the National Theatre’s comedy Hangmen and Donizetti’s tragic opera Lucia Di Lammermoor. www.villagaiety.com www.kwc.im/kings-court-theatrelive-streaming

COUNCIL CONFERS HONORARY FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH ON COUNCILLOR RAINA CHATEL On Wednesday March 2 Douglas Borough Council celebrated two milestones: Councillor Raina Chatel became the first woman on whom the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Douglas was conferred and the 120th anniversary of the first meeting of the council was recognised.

The honour, in recognition of Councillor Chatel’s long-standing service to the council, the people of Douglas - notably the residents of Victoria ward - her tireless charitable work and her support of young people’s education was bestowed at a special meeting of the council after members unanimously agreed the motion, proposed by Councillor David Christian and seconded by Councillor Carol Malarkey.

Addressing a packed Council chamber Councillor Christian spoke of Councillor Chatel’s exemplary service to the council which began in 1985 when she was first elected to join her late husband George, on whom the Freedom of the Borough was bestowed in 2007, as a councillor for Victoria Ward. With the exception of 1995-1996 when she stood for East Douglas in the House of Keys election Councillor Chatel has served as a council member continuously to the present day, prompting Councillor Christian to comment: ‘She has seen the council progress and been a very positive contributor to a number of initiatives. Take the new Henry Bloom Noble Library, for example: she is a very firm supporter, having been a member of the library sub-committee for many years and deserves a substantial part of the credit for what is acknowledged to be an excellent new facility.’

Councillor Chatel thanked her family, fellow council members, council officers and staff and the Victoria ward electorate for their enduring support and spoke of her pride, as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough, in joining ‘an exclusive club’ that numbered among its members her late husband and Sir Winston Churchill. For Councillor Chatel, the honour bestowed upon her had been ‘the icing on the cake’.

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

CULTURE

YAC INVITED TO HUNGARY

WIDE VARIETY OF ENTRIES FOR ‘THE GUILD’ The Manx Competitive Music, Speech and Dance Festival 2016 looks set to be one of the most varied in its history following the introduction of a range of new classes, which have attracted a raft of new entries.

‘The Guild’, in association with award-winning property developer Dandara, will take place from 22nd to 30th April 2016 at the Villa Marina and St Thomas’ church in Douglas. It has extended its dance classes to include Solo Ballet, Character Duet and Group Modern, with the latter proving popular with performers.

The newly introduced Battle of the Bands class will take place on the evening of Tuesday 26th April, also in the Royal Hall, where seven bands (three in the under 18 age group and four in the over 18 age group) will fight it out for the title. Bands will play

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

covers and their own original compositions and the audience will be able to vote for their favourites.

This year some classes have been moved to the beautiful St Thomas’ church to provide a more intimate setting with a lovely acoustic.

Other highlights to look out for during the week are hand bell ringers and Highland pipers and a local music and dance group called ‘Rhythm of Bulgaria’.

In another new development, the week will culminate in a Festival’s Finest 2016 concert in the Royal Hall on the last night – Saturday 30th April. This will showcase some of the most enjoyable performances from across all three areas – music, drama and dance. www.manxmusicfestival.org

Youth Arts Centre members have been invited to take part in the 14th Future of Europe International Children and Youth Festival in Kecskemet, Hungary in July.

The Contemporary Drama group led

by Colette Hughes have been preparing a piece of Theatre without Words to be performed in the city in front of 2000 young people from 30 countries and of course the city population as well.

“This is a tremendous event and real honour to be invited” said Head of Youth Arts Fiona Helleur. “The group has been working on a way to present a piece of Manx culture to a huge audience in four locations in a beautiful city without using any form of verbal language.

Colette was asked to work with the group to create a piece of theatre lasting around 15 minutes that could be understood by all nations, all languages and performed in a theatre, a tent, the town square and also in a field as part of the week long celebration of youth and culture. It’s quite a challenge and the group are enjoying finding ways to communicate without words.”

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GALLERY GUEST

TAMARA HALSALL tamarahalsall.tumblr.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Model: Kim Chung | Clothes: Models own | Location: Port Cornaa

CULTURE

ACROSS THE ISLE OF MAN Words: Suzy Holland Images: Carola Rush, Bryony Harrison, Simon Capelen, Claire Pearse.

What used to be the Western Open Studios Art Trail (WOSAT) is branching out across the Island as the Isle of Man Art Festival, which will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend, from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May, with over 40 local artists taking part.

Organised by the Creative Network, spokeswoman Katy Mitchell hopes that by taking it beyond Peel and the West, the newly rebranded Isle of Man Art Festival will attract record numbers of art loving visitors.

“Last year over 1200 people visited venues in the west of the Island on what was a cold and wet weekend,” says Katy. “Feedback from last year’s event from both visitors and participating artists was unanimously positive, and as a result we’ve been encouraged to expand. We’ve got so many great artists taking part, and I hope that whatever the weather, the wider variety of venues and open studios will attract even more visitors to discover the art and artists of the Isle of Man.” And by opening studios as far afield as Port Erin and Kirk Michael, as well as adding venues such as Noa Bakehouse, the Sayle Gallery and the Market Hall in Douglas, Katy is sure there will be something for everyone in this annual celebration of visual art.

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Participating artists include painters, illustrators, sculptors, potters, jewellers, embroiderers, print-makers and photographers, and in Peel you’ll also be able to see the artists’ work on display in shop windows around the town. In addition, the Market Hall in Douglas will host a series of beach art and floating lantern making workshops for families, led by artists Kirsti Penzes and Carola Rush with help of experts from the Manx Society of Marine Conservation on hand to advise on the construction of the lanterns from materials which won’t harm the marine environment.

Outside Douglas, venues include the House of Manannan and Corrin Hall in Peel, the Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey, St Patricks Church and the Isle Gallery in St Johns. A number of artists will also be throwing open their studios to visitors, and workshops and demonstrations will also take place in what is a full programme of events over the weekend.

The Isle of Man Art Festival will be launched at a special preview evening at Noa Bakehouse on Thursday 21 April at 6pm, to which everyone is welcome.

“Entry to all studios, venues and events is just £3 or £2 for students. That buys you a wristband and includes a free Festival guide, with a full programme of venues, directions to the open studios and special events,” continues Katy, “and there’s no excuse for not bring your children – under 18s go free!”

Wristbands and festival guides will be available from Saturday 9 April at Noa Bakehouse, the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, the House of Manannan, and all major art galleries. If you leave it until the Festival weekend, you’ll be able to pick up your guides and buy wristbands at the same venues, Peel’s Corrin Hall and many of open studios during the event.

The Isle of Man Art Festival is organised

by The Creative Network, an artists’ cooperative with 50 members who share the aim of promoting art and artists on the Island and beyond. Valuable support is provided by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx National Heritage, Peel Commissioners and partner galleries. www.creativenetwork.im

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The Art Of Darkness is a stunning new photographic exhibition which will open to the public on 8th April 2016 at the Sayle Gallery in Douglas. It features the amazing astrophotography of well known, local photographer Julian Simmonds, and represents the last 18 months of his night time adventures chasing clear skies, stars, planets and the Milky Way around the Isle of Man. We spoke with Julian ahead of the exhibition who commented: “Having spent many years as a photographer on the island, shooting both commercially and for pleasure, I am always on the look out for new photographic challenges. In August 2014, prompted by the Islands well promoted Dark Sky status, I decided to take on the task of creating a collection of artwork showing the very best of the Manx night skies at night through astrophotography.

There has been plenty of learning to do and lots of practice involved, as shooting at night is a completely different discipline to daytime photography. Quite often you cannot see where you are during these shoots - I wear a headlamp to get to the locations, but once everything is set up the light goes off and I’m plunged into darkness to start shooting.

The magic of astrophotography is when the image appears on the back of the camera and you see the true beauty of the heavens above Mann. Using long exposures and modern camera equipment we are able to see the detail in the sky much more clearly than we can by eye. Shooting stars, satellites, the Milky Way, star clusters and other galaxies can all become visible to us in this way and can help to produce fascinating images of our galaxy.

There are only certain times of year when these features are visible to us here on the Isle of Man, and then there are limited time windows to work within. Ideally we need to shoot around the time of a new moon, and we have to study satellite imagery to see the movement of the clouds - we can only

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get successful images when the skies are clear and the weather is dry. Depending on the time of year the Milky Way can be visible around 7 in the evening through to 6 in the morning, so there is plenty of planning and research needed to get good results.

It is the very difficult challenge of capturing the island’s popular beauty spots, combined with a spectacular sky and favourable weather conditions, that appeals to me about this kind of photography. An added bonus is the peace and solitude, and the pleasure of having the most beautiful scenery on the island all to myself. There aren’t too many other people trekking around the hills and beaches at 3 o’clock in the morning! ” The exhibition will run from 8th April to 22nd May 2016, so make sure you pay a visit to the Sayle Gallery to see these amazing images for yourself. www.juliansimmondsphotography.com /www.facebook.com/ JulianSimmondsPhotography ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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UPLOAD

THE MONTHLY UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS £50

Winner

1 2 4

3 5

1 Xavier Bedo 2 Annie Donnelly 3 Shelley Kilpatrick 4 Charlotte Cain 5 Rebecca Stride

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPLOAD

6 6 Darcy Thatcher 7 Audrey Guniava 8 Pauline Guest 9 Janette Phair 10 William Galbraith 11 Kate Cairns

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8 10

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7 9 11

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12 Krysia Boruch 13 Marlon Vivas 14 Alan Clague 15 Christopher Arrowsmith

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Want to win £50? All you have to do is email your entry with the subject ‘upload’ to: upload@gallery.co.im.

This year we have made more space available and now dedicate 4 pages to YOUR PHOTOS. Make the files nice and big though, 4MB is a good size to aim for. We do try to print every photo following the guide but we can’t get them ALL on the pages full-size unfortunately they just wouldn’t fit!

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

TRAVEL

WANDERLUST

GASTRONOMIC GETAWAYS WORDS Tamarin Marriott-Wilkinson

When planning a gastronomic getaway, food (be it a classic Chateaubriand or a moreish Carbonara) makes all the difference between an average and a great stay.

From the many celebrated culinary haunts, to the more unconventional foodie-inspired pilgrimages, read on to discover our top picks...

Nordic countries

Noma, one of the world’s best restaurants, has put Denmark on the map as a focal point of ‘New Nordic’ cuisine. One of the more overlooked Nordic countries is Finland. Helsinki is home to a vast array of eateries offering local and traditional Finnish food far from the tourists’ usual radar. Finland feels a little bit exotic and is both accessible and affordable to get to from the mainland.

Best for: a cost-effective culinary escape

Deep South of America The food found in the deepest, darkest south of America has recently become a talking point, and while pulled pork and fried chicken are familiar with many, po boy and collard greens are less heard of.

Southern specialties are certainly one thing - extremely tasty. Thankfully, the eateries dotted on every street corner promise a variety of mouth-watering flavours. For a different perspective on the local cuisine, head to Nashville or New Orleans.

Best for: Road trip fans with a healthy appetite

Madagascar

Cape Town

Cape Town is renowned for its worldclass dining scene, and with the pound strong against the rand, now is a great time to visit this foodie part of the world.

With wine as celebrated as the cuisine, there’s not much not to love about Cape Town. Franschhoek, the many brilliant restaurants, and the stunning scenery are a must for your itinerary.

Best for: A wine connoisseur.

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Former French colonial territories are renowned for their great food and Madagascar is no exception.

Described as a melting pot of French colonial influence, the food is something to talk about. A few must try dishes include Creole cuisine and seafood stew, all masterfully prepared using a handful of tropical ingredients.

Although a little on the pricey side to get to, once there, you’ll have a hard time spending your money.

Best for: An extravagant, oncein-a-lifetime holiday ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

WANDERLUST

TRAVEL

Seoul, South Korea

South Korea’s energetic capital has long been seen as a finance hub but it is fast becoming a foodie contender. Seoul is home to a variety of star attractions - vendors sell everything from kimchi to bibimbap, to Korean fried chicken, gopchang and crab in soy sauce.

Street food not your thing? Try the upmarket eateries Jungsik or La Yeon for style and tuck into dishes comprising sous-vide pork belly and fried oyster with seaweed powder, Gaduck Island sea cucumber and soybean-paste marinated lamb.

Sardinia

For an Italian ‘peasant food’ agriturismo inspired holiday, Sardinia is a must! On the menu? Spit-roast pig, tastetantalising seafood and casu marzu ‘maggot’ cheese. It’s a great place to visit if you wish to escape the tourist trap; it’s also well connected by budget airlines.

Best for: A romantic Mediterranean holiday

Vietnam

Vietnam is slowly but surely overtaking Thailand as one the most popular destinations in the world - especially when it comes to exploring a variety of culinary delights. It owes its diverse flavours to the brilliant ingredients you find in Asia, but also, its colonial influence. From Vietnamese baguettes to Asian breakfasts, a road trip from Hanoi to Hoi An is highly recommended.

Best for: Backpacking

Western Isles of Scotland

Many are struck by the unusual foods found in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles of Scotland). Asides from their own take on black pudding - the mouth-watering Stornoway pudding - the seafood is to die for. This is a land that’s undiscovered and untouched. Spend your days cycling from coffee shop to café and your evenings enjoying fine food in one of the local restaurants or hotels. Despite being a little on the remote side, it’s well visited, so you’ll need to reserve a table.

Best for: A wild and remote Scottish getaway

Chile

Chile boasts a hugely diverse range of foods, with the country’s gastronomy wrestling for a place in the spotlight. In the north you have copious amounts of dry desert, in the south, the wilds of Patagonia. The island of Chiloé (where potatoes were thought to have originated) is a hot spot for foodies. In fact, it's home to a vast variety of potatoes that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Leading the way is chef Rodolfo Guzmán, who’s Santiago restaurant Boragó has been voted one of Latin America’s top 50 Best Restaurants. If you're lucky enough to get a table, the 'Rock Fish and Rocks' is a must try.

Best for: An adventurous long-haul break

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TRAVEL

WORDS | Roger Crow

Cruising onto the small screen

TRAVEL FACT Roger Crow was a guest of Princess Cruises on a seven-day cruise on the Ruby Princess to the Mexican Riviera.

For more information on this cruise or cruises in general contact the local cruise specialist - Elite Voyages.

Tel: 01624 829327/843081.

“WE THOUGHT CRUISING WAS FOR THE NEWLYWEDS, OVERFED OR NEARLY DEAD,” REMARKS ONE OF THE PASSENGERS ON NEW ITV FLY-ON-THE-WALL SHOW THE CRUISE. Admittedly, I once thought the same. But in 2011, I caught the sailing bug and realised how wrong I was.

Princess Cruises celebrated their recent 50th anniversary with a host of new facilities on board their fleet of luxury ships and the company is also the subject of a new reality TV documentary. Keen to find out what happens when the cameras stop rolling, I’ve joined a week’s voyage with Ruby Princess along the Mexican Riviera.

Alberto and Cecilia, who both appear in The Cruise, are two of the 3,000 passengers (and 1,000-plus crew) joining me. They tell me how they became more than just ships passing in the night - or day - after getting together on the Royal Princess. There’s more magic between them than a Hogwarts convention.

But I soon embark on a love affair of my own when I dine in Curtis Stone’s posh new eatery Share, one of the many new features on the ship. Curtis - Australia’s answer to Gordon Ramsay - certainly knows his onions. All the dishes are a delight, as are those served up in the Crown Grill. A fine filet mignon, delicious sides and hyperattentive waiters ensure a terrific evening.

Meat lovers who prefer something lighter should try Princess’s other new dining attraction, The Salty Dog gastropub. Their Ernesto mini burgers and fries go down a treat. While these eateries involve paying extra on top of the cruise fee, Princess’ all-

inclusive main buffet area, Horizon Court, is so good, some may never want to go anywhere else.

As we sail past Baja California, towards Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, I take the opportunity to trial Ruby’s new entertainment facilities. Movies Under The Stars takes place on the top deck and becomes a guilty pleasure, while Magic To Do is a tantalizing mash-up of Stephen Schwartz songs with dazzling costumes and impressive trickery.

Passengers even have the chance to shine in the spotlight as part of The Voice Of The Ocean, an engaging take on the TV talent search. Admittedly, there are mild cosmetic blemishes on Princess Ruby’s tiara: some of the cabin decor is chintzy and the Movies Under The Stars screen could do with some TLC. But the pros far outweigh the cons.

The excursions, for example, are thoroughly enjoyable. I join an impromptu walking tour of Puerto Vallarta, where Arnie Schwarzenegger shot Predator 30 years ago. A day later in Mazatlan, I tour

the fascinating city on a hop on, hop off bus, stopping off to watch cliff divers and eat nachos. Of course, not every port is big enough to accommodate a vessel the size of a town, so my trip to and from Cabo San Lucas via tender proves to be more entertaining than the port itself.

Although our whale watching tour is a damp squib due to reluctant stars, it scarcely matters. The crew ensures there is rarely a dull moment.

Regardless of what port you arrive in, I understand why many becomeaddicted to life on board - the Princess bubble is hugely appealing.

Whether throwing shapes in nightclub Skywalkers, or having muscular knots untied at the excellent Lotus Spa, there’s plenty of scope for indulging yourself. At the gym, there’s something very surreal about watching old sitcom The Love Boat while working out, getting off a treadmill and walking down a swaying corridor like I’ve had too many margaritas.

‘Come Back New’ screams the tagline for Princess’ latest campaign throughout the trip. I’m not sure about that, but whether travelling out of Southampton, Los Angeles or any port on a Princess vessel, you are bound to come back happier.

For the complete cruise experience where we will exceed your expectations.

Ask about our Escorted Cruise Packages from the Isle of Man

Call us in Castletown on 829327 or in Peel 843081 44

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

W E A LT H BUSINESS T E C H N O LO G Y

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n

ON THE AGENDA n NO 19 n APRIL 2016

W E A LT H - W H Y W E A L L SHOULD BACK BREXIT

GRADU8 - CAREERS SPECIAL

TECHNOLOGY - TECHNOPHOBIA IS SO LAST CENTURY

in the news

Boston’s Katherine Ellis named as finalist in WealthBriefing Awards

K

atherine Ellis, from international multifamily office Boston, has been announced as a finalist in the WealthBriefing European Awards 2016.

Katherine, who has been Business Development Director at Boston for the past four years, has been selected in the ‘Women in Wealth Management’ category of the awards which recognise excellence in the European wealth management industry.

With over 17 years’ experience in the sector, Katherine has been at the forefront of some major developments during her career. She was instrumental in the launch of the Isle of Man Commercial Yacht Register and the establishment of the Island’s Aircraft Register.

In her role at Boston she continues to specialise in the management of commercial yachting and business aviation while also helping to grow the multi-family office proposition.

The awards will be judged by a panel of industry experts and the winners announced at a gala dinner, attended by some 500 senior banking and wealth management professionals, at London’s historic Guildhall on 19th May.

Lasenby Knox MD charters the path to success

L

asenby Knox Managing Director, Steve Locking has passed the level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Advice (Adv DipFA) and has now achieved Chartered Associate status with the Institute of Financial Services.

This latest achievement follows hot-on-the-heels of the appointment of Christina Skelly, who also has Chartered status, and financial consultant, Kathy Mitchell which consolidates the position of Lasenby Knox in offering the highest quality of advice to its clients.

Commenting on the qualification, Steve Locking said: “After a lot of hard work and sacrifice, I couldn’t be happier to have achieved this qualification. The quality of advice and service is what our business is built around, which is why we encourage the continuous learning and development of our whole team.

ISLE OF MAN CREAMERY AWARDED INVESTORS IN PEOPLE ACCREDITATION

I

sle of Man Creamery was pleased to welcome Minister for Economic Development, Hon Laurence Skelly MHK to the Creamery this week to present its Investors in People accreditation certificate and plaque.

Investors in People is the UK’s leading people management standard which uses a rigorous scale based system to help organisations to improve performance through the development and performance of its people. The business is then assessed year on year against its own goals to help benchmark performance and improve in the future.

Managing Director, Findlay Macleod said: ‘We were delighted to achieve the Investors in People accreditation again, having first been awarded it in 2003. It helps to demonstrate that the Creamery is a great employer with a commitment to improving our business performance through the development of and investment in our people.’

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ON THE AGENDA

Old Mutual Wealth Profit increased by 35% to £307 million

O

ld Mutual Wealth delivered a strong performance in 2015 outperforming the targets set in 2012 for profit, return on equity and operating margin. At that time the targets set were £300 million profit, subsequently reduced to £270 million following the sales of the European businesses and excluding Quilter Cheviot, a 12-15% return on equity and an operating margin of 40%.

Significant transformation activity over the past three years, including the adoption of a vertically integrated business model, has resulted in better than market net new flows, improved operating margins and increased operating profit across all key strategic business areas.

KEY FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: Net client cash flow (‘NCCF’)

86%

2015 £6.9 billion

2014 £3.7 billion

Gross sales

30%

2015 £20.8 billion

2014 £16.0 billion

Funds under management (‘FUM’)

27%

2015 2014 £104.4 billion £82.5 billion Adjusted operating profit (‘AOP’) (pre-tax)

35%

2015 2014 £307 million £227 million AOP (excluding Quilter Cheviot)

20%

2015 2014 £273 million £227 million* Pre-tax operating margin

40%

(2014: 36%) Return on equity (‘ROE’)

16.7%

(2014: 16.5%).

IN THE NEWS

Manx Telecom attends Mobile World Congress

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anx Telecom was represented by a strong team at the recent Mobile World Congress – the biggest annual expo for mobile communications technology. The event, which attracts around 100,000 visitors and more than 2,000 exhibitors, took place over four days in Barcelona.

David Smith, Manx Telecom Marketing Director, commented: “Primarily, attending MWC is about networking opportunities and raising Manx Telecom’s profile at what is the biggest annual expo for the mobile telecoms sector, and increasingly for the entire telecommunications sector. Secondly, it’s also an ideal opportunity to catch-up with all of the major handset suppliers, many of which hold back on announcing new smartphones so that they can reveal them to the world at MWC. Thirdly, our team met representatives from other telecoms operators, established new contacts, shared information, and discussed industry best practice. MWC is important for all telcos, but it’s becoming even more important for Manx Telecom as the UK and international dimension of our business expands.

We’re moving more and more into the sphere of ‘internet of things’ technology which essentially involves using smartphones and other mobile devices not just for personal communications, but also for machine to machine communications. This has a wide range of applications, including controlling heating, fridges and other domestic appliances at home, pay as you drive motor insurance, health monitoring, and many other potential uses. We’re heavily involved in this technology, and MWC is an ideal forum within which to strengthen existing contacts, and build new ones with potential partners in the UK and internationally.” agenda

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in the news

RL360° Quantum has announced a sponsorship agreement with Isle of Man shooter and current World Record Holder Tim Kneale

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im, who was born and lived on the Isle of Man until the age of 19, will represent Team GB at the Double Trap shooting event at the Rio Olympics in August.

“We are thrilled to be able to support Tim in this hugely important year,” said RL360° Chief Executive David Kneeshaw.

“The RL360° Quantum sponsorship will help Tim to meet his travel, training and equipment costs in the run-up to the Olympics. In return, we are able to back an elite – and local – athlete. This is the start of an exciting partnership.”

Tim added: “I’m delighted today to announce the sponsorship with RL360°

Quantum in the Isle of Man, from where my shooting journey originally started many years ago. The support from RL360° during the months leading up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games this summer will be a huge benefit and a great support during what will be one of the busiest periods of my shooting career to date.”

Tim grew up in the north of the Island, and all his family still live on the Isle of Man. He is currently the only Manx athlete to be confirmed as a member of the British Olympic Team.

Now based in Somerset, England, Tim is the current Double Trap World Record holder, and is rated number 2 in the world in the International Shooting Sport Federation (“ISSF”) rankings.

The sponsorship agreement will see Tim provide regular reports about his training and competition progress, as well as host exclusive corporate shooting events for RL360° in London and Dubai.

STAFF ENGAGEMENT PUTS NEDBANK PRIVATE WEALTH IN TOP 100

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igh levels of staff engagement at Nedbank Private Wealth have yet again placed the company on The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For listing for 2016. The listing and a three-star “extraordinary” accreditation* in this year’s UK Best Companies Guide result from the UK’s largest ever survey into workplace engagement, involving over 800 companies and over 400,000 employees.

Greg Horton, Nedbank Private Wealth’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to receive such a positive endorsement from our own employees. Our company aim is to serve our clients better than any other financial services organisation and we appreciate that employee engagement is crucial to achieving this.

“We have an amazing team and to maintain our high levels of client service, we continue to make significant investments in recruiting and developing the best people. We have been rewarded by

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Greg Horton, managing director, Nedbank Private Wealth (right) receiving the award from Jonathan Austin, Founder and CEO of Best Companies (left)

an exceptional level of staff loyalty. Almost 70 per cent of our staff have over five years’ experience with us and almost 40 per cent have over 10 years’. Most importantly, from the client’s perspective, this translates into exceptional continuity and quality of service.”

Nedbank Private Wealth has an impressive track record over the years and received a special award in 2014 for the exceptional achievement of appearing on the list for 10 consecutive years. It was one of only three companies across the UK to attain this and the only financial services

company to have ever achieved such an unbroken run of awards.

Jonathan Austin, CEO and founder of Best Companies, said: “I would like to congratulate Nedbank Private Wealth on their outstanding achievement. This year it is encouraging to see that more and more organisations are recognising the value of employee engagement and are willing to benchmark themselves against the best to ensure they are offering their employees the best possible experience.

Organisations like Nedbank Private Wealth have continued to focus on their employees and have been rewarded with an engaged workforce who tell us that it is a great place to work.”

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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FOCUS, THE ALL IN ONE ACCOUNT The complete solution from the best international banking service provider*.

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ISLE

OF

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The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested. Exchange rate changes may affect the value of investments. Nedbank Private Wealth is a registered trade name of Nedbank Private Wealth Limited. The parent of Nedbank Private Wealth Limited is Nedbank Group Limited, which is incorporated in South Africa and is regulated by the South African Reserve Bank. The ultimate parent of Nedbank Private Wealth Limited is Old Mutual plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales. The latest audited report and accounts, and details of the credit rating are available at www.nedbankprivatewealth.com. Nedbank Private Wealth Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and is a participant in the Isle of Man Depositors’ Compensation Scheme as set out in the Compensation of Depositors Regulations 2010. For full details, please see www.iomfsa.im. Registered office: St Mary’s Court 20 Hill Street Douglas Isle of Man. The Jersey branch is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission and is a participant in the Jersey Banking Depositor Compensation Scheme. See www.gov.je/dcs for full details of the Scheme and banking groups covered. The London branch is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registration No: 313189. Your eligible deposits with Nedbank Private Wealth Limited, London branch, are protected up to a total of £75,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK’s deposit guarantee scheme. Any deposits you hold above the £75,000 limit are unlikely to be covered. Please ask for further information or visit www.fscs.org.uk. The UAE representative office in Dubai is licensed by the Central Bank of UAE. Licence No: 13/191/2013. Representation in South Africa is through Nedbank Limited. Registered in South Africa with Registration No 1951/000009/06, an authorised financial services and registered credit provider (NCRCP16).

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movers & shakers

PBI appoints new Manager of Banking

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Cains Fiduciaries appoints new senior corporate administrator

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ains Fiduciaries Limited, part of law and professional services group Cains, is continuing its ongoing expansion with the appointment of Andrew Gosnell as a senior corporate administrator.

Andrew, who has worked within the Isle of Man fiduciary sector for the last five years dealing principally with commercial real estate matters, said: “I am really looking forward to the opportunity to work for such a reputable and established organisation as Cains.”

Andrew was education at St Ninian’s High School and he graduated from the University of Chester with a BA (hons) degree in history in 2009. Since returning to the Isle of Man following his undergraduate studies, he has progressed through an ICSA Certificate in International Finance and Administration and is currently sitting an ICSA Diploma in Offshore Finance and Administration.

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ermanent Bank International (PBI) has appointed Mark Kennett as its Manager of Banking. He has 27 years’ experience in banking and investment roles here on the Island, most recently at AXA Isle of Man Limited as Investment Operations Manager, a role that broadened his commercial and customer service expertise.

Mark said he was delighted to have joined PBI, and commented: “My role includes managing back office and customer facing responsibilities, with the focus always being on providing the first class standards of customer service

and administration which our customers expect and deserve. I am looking forward to drawing upon my commercial, intermediary and customer service experience together with the technical financial knowledge I have gained over the years to complement the existing PBI team who have demonstrated that they deliver an outstanding and extremely professional customer experience.”

Mark is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (Chartered MCSI), and RDR qualified.

Sarah Pitts joins Ashgrove Marketing team

challenge of her new role and believes her experience in the marketing and design industry will serve her well: “Ashgrove’s clients rely upon the high quality service provided to them and ensuring everything happens at the right time is a key component of this. With 23 years in the business, I’ve had a huge variety of situations to deal with and I thrive on finding the right solution for each one and guiding it through to fruition.”

While Sarah joins Ashgrove in a production role, she is certainly not short of creative talent and enjoys drawing, painting and creating sculptural illustrations. She has exhibited her work at both the Sayle and Hodgson Loom Galleries.

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ull service advertising agency Ashgrove Marketing has recruited Sarah Pitts to its team as Production Coordinator.

Manx born and bred, Sarah attended QEII Secondary School in Peel before taking the Art Foundation Course at the Isle of Man College.

She later studied Design Communications (Illustration) at Clywd College of Art & Design Technology before moving to Wallace Barnaby Advertising in Onchan as a Junior Designer and Illustrator.

Sarah has since worked with a number of local creative agencies, supporting a variety of blue chip and boutique client accounts. She is looking forward to the

ON THE AGENDA

Annexio appoints Joyce Briggs as Head of Risk and Compliance

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New roles for four Barclays employees in the Isle of Man

L-R Catherine Quarrie, Catherine Brown, Sharon McGregor and Margaret Bradshaw

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our Barclays employees have taken on new roles across the personal and corporate divisions of the bank.

Margaret Bradshaw, Catherine Brown, Catherine Quarrie and Sharon McGregor have considerable experience in personal and corporate banking having worked at Barclays in the Isle of Man for a number of years prior to being appointed to their new roles.

New CEO of Standard Bank Offshore Group appointed

oyce joins Annexio to oversee the company’s compliance and regulatory functions with a focus on corporate governance, due diligence and managing relationships with external regulators.

A graduate in accounting from Anglia Ruskin University, Joyce began her career in her native country of Malaysia where she worked in finance roles for a number of businesses, before her six year spell as a manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

She has been involved with eGaming since 2010, initially as Senior Compliance Manager for 188BET in its Philippines office. Joyce later moved to the company’s Isle of Man office in 2011 to become Senior Corporate Affairs Manager where she was responsible for internal and regulatory compliance, sports betting integrity and investigating customer complaints. She is a Certified Data Protection Practitioner.

A keen sportswoman, Joyce enjoys scuba diving and represented the Isle of Man in the Island Games Women’s Volleyball competition in Jersey in 2015. She speaks four languages and brings additional diversity to Annexio’s workforce which now comprises nationals from 12 different countries around the world.

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tandard Bank Group, has appointed Will Thorp as Chief Executive Officer of its Offshore Group, subject to regulatory approval. He will lead the Bank’s offshore businesses in Jersey, Isle of Man and Mauritius, as well as distribution and support teams in London and Johannesburg.

Will was appointed as Chief Executive of Standard Bank Jersey Limited and Island Head - Jersey in 2014, roles which he retains under his broader remit. He takes over the role from Mark Hucker, who is leaving Standard Bank to pursue new opportunities.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

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movers & shakers

Duncan Lawrie Private Banking Commits to the Isle of Man with New Management Team Private banking specialist Duncan Lawrie has underlined its long-term commitment to the Isle of Man and launched a new phase of development to celebrate 30 years of successful operation in the Manx community.

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he Douglas-based business is now headed by newly appointed managing director Sue Preskey, who joined the bank 18 months ago and has 30 years of experience in the financial services sector.

“Opportunities for a career in banking brought me to the island from Glasgow 27 years ago,” said Sue, 48, who admits that she thrives on a challenge. Prior to joining Duncan Lawrie, she was director at Thomas Miller Investment (IOM) Limited for eight years and had previously worked for the FSC (now FSA).

“People often think that private banking is designed only for the ultra-high net worth market. However, this is not the case and we want to appeal to people seeking traditional banking values,” declared Sue. “Whilst we are not a volume-based retail bank, our services may be appropriate to individuals or entities with a reasonable sum to deposit or invest, or those who may wish to borrow from a friendly and flexible bank. We would encourage people to come and talk to us.

“Duncan Lawrie Private Banking has traditionally sought a low profile in the Isle of Man, but we are now one of the last businesses to offer a wholly local service where our bankers, investment managers and fiduciary specialists collectively work under one roof. We feel it’s vital for the Manx economy to have a vibrant banking and fiduciary services sector and we want to be a major part of it.”

A keep-fit enthusiast, Sue is married with two daughters, one a medical doctor and the other currently doing her A-Levels.

Highly regarded in the business community for her strong commercial

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awareness and her track record from working as both a practitioner and regulator, Sue added: “Duncan Lawrie is a tight team with drive, commitment and passion, offering expertise in all aspects of business. We are creating a co-ordinated vision and as a result are already seeing tangible results.”

The second recent appointment to the board is private client director Nigel Bolt, 51, who has worked in the private banking sector since 1993 and joined the company from Kleinwort Benson last year.

“With the advantage of a local board, Duncan Lawrie is a bank which is fully empowered to take local decisions,” said Nigel. “This makes a massive difference to our clients who enjoy a direct and personalised relationship with real professionals, who respond quickly to all their needs.

“In many ways, we are akin to the

“Duncan Lawrie, with its massive commitment to the island, remains at the forefront of developments”

UK-based “challenger” banks which have successfully gained business from the traditional banking sector. Clients shouldn’t have to accept impersonal service and call centres; they should expect decisions to be built on trust and open communication,” said Nigel, an enthusiastic but self-confessed wayward golfer, who is married with two children.

He added: “Duncan Lawrie is ultimately owned by a charitable foundation which makes a refreshing change from the world of ‘fat cat’ bankers. It’s a pleasure to come to work when you know that your employer cares about its staff and clients in equal measure.”

A pivotal position in taking the business forward goes to 33-year-old Steven Quayle, who joined the bank as financial controller in 2008 and was appointed to the board three years ago as finance director.

Isle of Man born and bred, Steven went to university in the UK and on returning to the island in 2003 decided on a career as an accountant with KPMG and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2006. Married with two children, Steven is a former island junior badminton champion and is now in the senior island squad.

“With the acceptance by the banking industry that mistakes were made in the past, it is important to embrace the changing landscape and ensure that Duncan Lawrie, with its massive commitment to the island, remains at the forefront of developments,” said Steven.

He added: “Lethargy is not acceptable as far as Duncan Lawrie is concerned and we are passionate about what can be achieved in creating a 21st century vision for the bank, whilst retaining our traditional values.”

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

business events

Lieut Governor Guest Speaker at IoD’s Dining Club

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uest speaker at the first Dining Club of the year held by the Isle of Man branch of the Institute of Directors at the Sefton Hotel in Douglas was the island’s Lieut Governor Adam Wood.

It was one of his last engagements before he steps down after five years as Her Majesty the Queen’s official representative in the Isle of Man. “We were absolutely delighted that His Excellency was able to attend the Dining Club at a particularly busy time for him,” said IoD branch chairman Clive Parrish.

“He gave what was a highly interesting talk on his role over the past five years, along with some amusing anecdotes, which prompted a mixture of serious and lighthearted discussion that everyone enjoyed.”

Mr Parrishadded: “He has been a great supporter of the IoD during his time on the island, attending a number of events as our guest. It was a great compliment to have him at our first Dining Club of 2016 and on behalf of the branch members I wish him well in his future beyond the Isle of Man.”

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ON THE AGENDA

How MiQuando adds up

for Manx businesses The number and variety of local companies using MiQuando’s booking service to help boost business, improve customer service and manage their diary is increasing rapidly. The benefits of the system are impressive and are making a real difference to the bottom line.

The Experience of L’experience Michael Murphy from L’experience is enthusiastic about MiQuando, and it’s easy to see why.

Less room for error ‘I’m not a tech-savvy person and I was really sceptical when we first starting using MiQuando but it’s so easy. Any member of staff, whether they’ve worked at L’experience for 10 years or 10 minutes, can use the system to take a booking over the phone, check online bookings or look at the table plan. The system reduces the possibility of human error, cuts out any handwriting issues and means I don’t need to carry a big heavy diary around with me.’

All the information ‘The customer includes their email address and telephone number so that if there are any problems I can give them a call or drop them an email. It also means that I can contact customers with reminders and special offers. Whether they book online or call up, the customer gets an email or text confirming the booking, which means that if there are any errors they can amend their booking and they have it in writing to refer back to.’

This is a Manx service ‘The team at MiQuando are always on hand whenever we have a query. They are very hands-on with us to ensure that we are getting the most out of the system. They’ve been keen for us to make suggestions for the system to make our life easier and,

It makes perfect sense to me – I receive bookings when I’m asleep - I wake up in the morning and there they are!

Michael Murphy, L’experience most importantly, they’ve implemented those changes. You wouldn’t get that with another provider as the staff at MiQuando are here on the Island.’

The bottom line ‘All of these points are important, they really help me run my business more efficiently and provide high levels of customer service, but the most important benefit is how it impacts on the figures. 45% of my bookings are made by the customer online.

I’ve had online bookings from the UK, Jersey, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Singapore, Australia and America – they are definitely bookings I wouldn’t have had without MiQuando. ‘

Boosting New Business at Quinn Legal Quinn Legal is showing how MiQuando can benefit local businesses in the professional services sector.

Managing Director James Quinn tells us how MiQuando works for them…

‘At Quinn Legal our focus is on making processes easier for our existing and new clients. Through MiQuando’s online booking service, our clients have been able to arrange appointments and telephone call-backs at their own leisure. This has caused a positive increase in new business enquiries.

Companies who don’t offer web-based booking could be missing out on customers.

For Quinn Legal, being accessible to all existing and potential clients, including the younger generation, is essential.’

‘The fact that our clients (or prospective clients) can schedule appointments or call-backs from wherever they are, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year has helped us with enquiries across multiple time zones around the world. This fits perfectly with ambition to make Quinn Legal a 24-hour firm.’

Business benefits

It’s a matter of convenience ‘People lead busy lives, and finding time in the working day to make a call can be inconvenient or simply one of those things you didn’t quite get around to doing. That’s why we were really interested in the MiQuando online booking service. We get all the benefits of a tried and tested system without the large development costs of creating a bespoke online booking function on our website.

‘Being able to offer online booking also means that, with less people calling to make appointments, staff are freed up to focus on addressing client’s matters and therefore speed of service and customer satisfaction is even better. It makes sense from all angles; better customer service, easier for clients and provides cost savings!

‘It’s is not only MiQuando’s technical knowhow that made them the perfect partner; the personal service they offer is great.’

‘With rapid changes in technology, increasingly people are feeling more comfortable interacting online rather than by phone.

To register your business visit www.miquando.com OR email sarah.ashall@miquando.com

Keystone Law Isle of Man Launch Party

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n the 10th of March, over 150 people gathered at Laureston Manor in Douglas to celebrate the launch of Keystone Law. Travelling from all over the Island and beyond, guests enjoyed a sophisticated evening of fine food, wine and networking hosted at the family home of Keystone’s founder James Knight.

Keystone launched operations earlier this year to provide domestic and international clients with the superior service standards and support of an award winning UK law firm, paired with the knowledge of leading local lawyers. By bolstering collaboration between offices, Keystone aims to boost the Isle of Man’s reputation as an international business centre, strengthening the symbiotic relationship between the UK and the Isle of Man, nurturing and facilitating business growth in both.

James Knight commented: “For someone who has grown up on the Isle of Man, it is a tremendous pleasure to introduce the benefits of Keystone to a place that has always been so close to my heart. The idea of being able to enhance the Island’s business community by influencing organisations to establish their operations over here is particularly appealing.”

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ON THE AGENDA

BUSINESS EVENTS

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wealth & finance

Why we all should back Brexit Words: Merryn Webb (FT)

I’m planning to vote for Brexit. I could write many many pages on this, but here are the four points that matter to me — and that I think should matter to you.

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ON THE AGENDA

1

3

THE EU DOESN’T EXIST

THE ECONOMY

I’m slightly behind in my reading so I have only just made it through Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. One of his key insights into how humans came to dominate the planet rests on the idea that we are the only group of beings that have a language that “allows us to talk about things that do not exist at all” — apart from in our imaginations.

There are realities around us — the physical existence of the land that makes up Europe for example. And there are the “inter subjective realities” that we create to give ourselves the structures and the rules we need to hang on to stability in very large groups. Religions are obvious examples. So are big companies (they only exist as long as we believe in legal codes).

And so of course is the EU. It isn’t Europe — which is real. It is an “imagined community”, existing only in our collective imagination. The problem is that it isn’t a very good one.

Longstanding nations are obviously imagined communities (a river is real, the boundary it represents is not). But many hundreds of years of work on cultural cohesion and language makes them resilient: Germans firmly believe in various kinds of German uniqueness, for example. That’s not the case with the EU. Most of us feel no real connection with it, or belief in it. We care about it only in terms of what we can get out of it. That makes it a deeply uncertain construct to be attached to.

Look at Schengen, at the failure of ECB monetary policy, at the probable solvency problems of both the eurozone’s big banks and its big countries (France and Italy being the obvious) and you must accept that it is likely the eurozone will see an existential crisis in the next few years. That will push the top management to demand higher levels of belief — more integration, not less. That might work — or it might blow the whole thing up as people make it clear they believe in their own nations more than they do in the EU. Either way, as the Brexiters say, better to watch from a comfortable boat in the Channel.

It will be almost impossible to cut though the numbers on both sides over the next few months and I am not going to try here. What I will say is that it is much easier to measure potential loss than gain. Big UK companies lobbying so very hard against Brexit have spent the past few decades spending fortunes lobbying in Brussels for an environment that works for them.

They’ve done it well — the very fact that they can so precisely measure the gain from the creation of the kind of highly regulated system we work in tells you just how well. Of course they like the status quo. It is harder, however, to measure the loss from the workings of the EU: the companies that have suffered from it or never started because of it. This is impossible.

The best we can say is that it is likely that all the numbers you see one way or another underestimate the possible gains from Brexit.

There is huge uncertainty if we stay and if we don’t. But add it all up and Brexit is not a leap from the light to the dark but from the greyish to the also greyish. Which is fine.

2

4 SCOTLAND Voting Brexit seems to me to be the best chance we have to save the union. The SNP is threatening to hold another referendum if we vote out. I suspect they don’t really want to (they do good threats). But their members may force them into it and Westminster may allow it (it isn’t a devolved issue). If they do, they won’t win.

The falling oil price has destroyed an already ropey economic case. And the way the timing works, the UK would already be out of the EU before Scotland was out of the UK — leaving it stranded in the North Sea while it reapplied — in the full knowledge that it would have to take the euro and the EU’s fiscal limits with no UK-style federal transfers. Who would vote for that? Quite. And another decisive loss really would be the end of the matter. Vote Brexit to save the union.

DEMOCRACY No one argues that there isn’t a democratic deficit or sovereignty problem in the EU given how indirectly all representation to it works.

Some say that doesn’t matter. But it does. And it is likely to matter more. The push for more integration (the only solution the EU’s elite can countenance) is unlikely to come with even the faintest of nods to democracy. We are choosing here between more EU and less EU. As things stand, Donald Cameron has to ask about 27 other people before he can make minor changes to the UK welfare system. With that fresh in my mind post renegotiation, I’ll take less.

WEALTH & FINANCE

“It isn’t Europe — which is real. It is an “imagined community”, existing only in our collective imagination”

What does Brexit mean to the Isle of Man Resident

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he Manx government recently announced it’s keeping in close contact with senior political figures on both sides of the EU referendum debate.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said: ‘The Island cannot join the European Union in its own right, and would probably be tied to agreements the UK makes with the EU, if the referendum result was in favour of a ‘Brexit’.’

‘Nothing would change if the UK voted to retain EU membership’, he said.

We ask you should all Isle of Man residences be eligible to vote in the EU referendum?

If you are a former residents of the United Kingdom now living in the Isle of Man - who have been registered to vote in a UK constituency within the last 15 years - yes, you are eligible to vote in the UK’s referendum on EU membership on June 23 this year.

Further information including how to register to vote is available on the UK Electoral Commission’s website: http://www. electoralcommission. org.uk/i-am-a/voter/ registering-to-vote-and-theelectoral-register Do you think this is fair? Why not all Island residents? Daily life in the Isle of Man is affected by EU decision making. A decision to leave or stay in the EU therefore affects all of us.

Natural justice requires that we all have a direct say in such a consequential referendum. Doesn’t it?

If you agree and want to vote you can sign an online petition which currently has 1600 signatures - ‘Give a vote in an EU referendum to the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.’

Go to - Petitions UK Government and Parliament - https://petition.parliament. uk/petitions/118467 agenda

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MANX BUDGET

10% tax rate Notable for what it excluded as much as what it included, IoM Treasury Minister Eddie Teare was upfront that the abolition of the 10% tax rate for individuals remains aspirational but unaffordable. Mr Teare announced instead that the 10 percent band will be decreased by £2,000, matched by a corresponding £1,000 increase in the individual personal allowance. For a 20 percent taxpayer, therefore, the effect is neutral.

2016 UK and Manx Budgets Words: Greg Jones

Both the Manx and UK budgets have now been revealed, as well as the long-standing renegotiation of the Island’s VAT agreement. So what is the impact for the Isle of Man? KPMG’s Greg Jones considers some of the key points from the recent announcements.

UK BUDGET Increase to tax free relocation allowance Partly mitigating the unchanged personal tax situation, is the plan to double the tax free relocation allowance for people moving to the Isle of Man to £20,000. This is an essential tool to attract skilled workers to the Island and will be welcomed in many sectors that are currently suffering from a skills shortage.

Five-year tax holiday for commercial property developments This is a more positive response by the Government following last year’s budget when tax rates on property income were doubled to 20 per cent. The proposal is intended to generate new employment but the obvious risk is that this incentive will lead in the short term to a glut of empty office accommodation. The tax holiday is also only proposed at company level: dividends paid to local shareholders will still be taxable in the usual way.

Manx pensions While new plans were unveiled to introduce a new Manx State Pension and an increase to the “Triviality” threshold to £50,000, which allows retirees to claim more of their pension as a lump sum at the earlier age of 55, Mr Teare had no answers to the long-standing issue of the looming public pension deficit. Funding of this remains a concern for the Island’s financial stability as well as those expecting to benefit from it.

Real Estate taxation For many Manx businesses, it was not the proposed tax on sugary drinks that was the shock announcement of George Osborne’s budget but the news that non-UK resident traders and developers in UK real estate will from now on have to pay full UK tax on their profits. Given that traders and developers in the Isle of Man have benefitted from a tax treaty that exempted such profits from UK tax and have therefore enjoyed a 0% tax position to date, this was a considerable unwelcome surprise. It was made all the more unpalatable by the fact it becomes effective immediately and will also cover sales of shares in companies which have themselves carried out property development. Attempts to circumvent the new tax via inter-company management or service charges will be countered by an anti-avoidance rule.

UK Corporation tax Mr Osborne announced a cut in the rate of UK corporation tax to 17% which will apply from April 2020. This will be an all-time UK low and the lowest by some margin of all the G20 countries. It represents a further chipping away to the competitiveness of low tax jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man although this will be of little solace to those who will be newly affected by the UK real estate tax mentioned above!

Personal allowance Personal allowance in the UK will be raised to £11,500 with the 40% tax rate threshold increasing to £45k. This compares to a £10,500 personal allowance for individuals on the Isle of Man with the higher 20% rate kicking in at earnings of more than £19k.

VAT renegotiation The news that the renegotiated VAT agreement between the Isle of Man and the UK will see an extra £21m income for the Island for the past three years is clearly to be welcomed. However it will not stretch far to solve many of the budgetary issues faced by the Government, particularly those around public spending and public pensions, and businesses will still be very keen to see how Government will address these in the next Parliament.

Photo: Greg Jones KPMG

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Private Banking As individual as you are

You may never have considered a private bank before. But if your finances are more complex and need a higher level of attention, you need expert advice that comes from a deep understanding of your individual circumstances with quick, local decisions.

For discreet, personal attention and a comprehensive wealth management and banking solution, talk to us.

Personal private banking, the way it should be.

Day-to-day banking services including online.

To find out more:

Flexible lending solutions.

Nigel Bolt +44 (0) 1624 643103

Bespoke wealth and investment management.

nbolt@duncanlawrie.com

Expert fiduciary services.

www.duncanlawrie.com

Duncan Lawrie Private Banking is a trading name of Duncan Lawrie International Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries, Duncan Lawrie (IOM) Limited and Duncan Lawrie Offshore Services Limited whose registered office is 14/15 Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2QG. Registered numbers 27397 and 44074 respectively and incorporated in the Isle of Man. Licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority.

in-business

current affairs

D

o you have a question for the current affairs panel? Email: editorial@gallery.co.im

Rossborough Chrystals Q A

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Shane Magee

Chairman Chrystals Estate Agents

How important are anti-money laundering laws to the Island’s future?

T

he Isle of Man has taken great pains in recent years to position itself as a centre of regulation partly in response to international pressure but more prominently due to the desire to set the global standard for business. Whether you are looking at eGaming or the housing market the importance of solid regulation have never been more obvious.

The Isle of Man has applied “Knowing your Customer” (KYC) regulation since 1985, a requirement for estate agents to obtain, retain and utilise information to verify that a customer is who they say they are. In more recent years more comprehensive coverage has been implemented and now estate agents must employ a Money Laundering Reporting Officer and continually review their business relationships and records. We have realised the importance of regulation in protecting the Manx housing market from being used for money laundering or to finance terrorism.

One only has to look at the London property market to realise the dangers surrounding the housing market. The Island has made strides recently to improve the regulatory environment surrounding the purchase of property and it is now crucial that estate agents hold themselves and their industry to account.

Q A

Sandra Taylor

Personal Insurance Manager Rossborough Insurance

What changes can I make to my home/ business to make it more insurable in the risk of flooding?

T

he latest end of month statistics from the met office show it’s been one of the wettest winters on record in the UK. In the Isle of Man we’ve been struck by a series of storms and flash floods that have had an impact on houses and businesses across the island.

The key to reducing flood damage is to take precautions, which with the appropriate planning you can accomplish in a few simple steps.

A cheap and simple change you can make to your home or business is to use mortar and masonry cement to fill in any gaps in foundation cracks around the property. When the time comes to replace your roof, we’d also recommend spending a bit more to install rubber roof underlayment, which provides a waterproof barrier under the tiles and protects the roof from leaks in the event of heavy rainfall.

Clearing gutters and drains of any organic waste and debris regularly will ensure the systems are clear to carry water away from your home. If you have time, you should also check storm drains on your street as any blockages there can cause water to collect.

Finally, a good investment would be to purchase a battery-powered water pump, which can be used in emergencies to quickly and efficiently extract water away from danger.

Buying a battery powered pump also means it can be used in the event of a power cut.

ON THE AGENDA

Annexio

Jennifer Houghton Managing Director Annexio

Q

What are some of the key ways in which the secondary lottery services sector has changed over the last few years?

A

I

n a few short years, the secondary lottery market has grown to become an established fixed odds betting product, regulated in a number of jurisdictions worldwide and attracting an increasing number of operators, all hoping to grab a bit of the action.

It is interesting that it is only relatively recently that lotteries have begun to enjoy the same kind of online presence as other forms of gambling. The development of the market is a product of advances in technology which have enabled operators to access lotteries all over the world through the use of sophisticated aggregator software and the shift in player behaviour from purchasing physical tickets to digital and virtual ones.

As the market has matured we have seen some smaller operators merge with larger competitors but perhaps the most significant change has been the demand for white labelling. This allows unregulated businesses to sell their own brand by using platforms run by licensed operators and is fuelling a major drive in B2B services. This in turn has led to a need for secondary lottery services companies to refine and expand their management information systems to support their client businesses.

Given it is such a new market, the regulatory environment around secondary lottery services is still evolving. Companies such as Annexio, which benefit from being licensed in a wellrespected jurisdiction like the Isle of Man, have an advantage over others who are operating from less well-known bases.

IN-BUSINESS

harding lewis

Andrew Gerrard Director Harding Lewis

Q

How do franchises like Starbucks contribute to the Isle of Man economy?

A

T

here are two distinct sides to this argument.

Town centres on the island and also throughout the UK have suffered in recent years as internet and out of town shopping have increased year on year. Any initiatives to increase traffic to town centres could thus be seen as positive and welcome. Parts of Douglas and Ramsey (and Castletown soon) appear to have benefited from the ‘Costa Effect� and this greater footfall then also benefits nearby shops thus contributing to the regeneration impact.

Ironically, it might be said that other cafes and bars also benefit from the new inflow.

The contrary view is that opening one coffee shop takes trade away from other coffee shops.

This view does of course assume that the total spend on coffee and refreshments is fixed and that it is not a question of how much people spend but where they spend it. I do not buy this view although clearly there are not unlimited amounts that might be spent on coffee in town centres.

In summary, we should believe in the free market. New investment in town centres in the current climate is generally to be welcomed and is much needed. Starbucks, Costa and some other franchises are clearly popular right now and apart from the footfall benefit to town centres they bring construction work and also help with town centre regeneration policies. This is desperately needed as we see the theme of town centres drift from retail to leisure.

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SPORT

in-business

L

eaving school mid-way through his A-levels in 2015, Tom gave up the ‘safe’ university option to take his fledgling company to the next level. He has since developed a full service agency which has both a truly personal touch and a deep understanding about how digital design can work for both established companies and smaller technology start-ups.

Tom has always been a creative thinker, intrigued and enthralled by the way in which design impacts on everyday life. He also knew that one day he would run his own business, so with this desire and passion it’s come as no surprise that in just six months Thomas Patrick has built up an impressive portfolio of clients. Locally these include Creechurch Capital, Mike Osborne Properties and DC Valeting, and in the UK he has worked for socially responsible secondary market ticketing app Vibe as well as Gander, an app which provides spontaneous savings on nearby food and drink. Thomas Patrick has also been heavily involved in the design development of online dating site HerSmile, founded by local entrepreneur Cosmo Currey.

Here Tom shares some of his thinking, and explains why Thomas Patrick is a very creative agency.

DESIGNING BEYOND DEMOGRAPHICS Why your designer should be obsessed with the interaction between you and your clients.

If you’ve ever sat down over a warm cup of coffee with a designer or marketing guru, chances are one of the first things you were asked to do was to outline your target demographic. I’ll let you into a secret: designers love target demographics.

If we can understand who you are, what you’re selling and who you’re selling it to, we can get a pretty good idea of how to communicate with your audience. But is that enough?

Think it through. You talk to a potential client and hand over your card. What does he need from that small interaction? A different person sees your magazine ad?

What is it that drives her to your website and then onto calling you? A new client is on their way to your office and gets lost.

How do they find you? All of this, and more, is part of the customer experience and their interactions with you are key. It’s all about looking at each and every time that your clients are likely to come into contact with you and then designing an experience that makes you stick out from the rest. Tailoring this experience is the golden ticket, and that is what Thomas Patrick does.

Of course, you need to have a strong initial concept – this is the basis for every interaction you have with your customers.

But from this comes a whole range of connected experiences, and you and your chosen designer need to make sure that it is the initial concept which drives each individual component.

At Thomas Patrick we know that for

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FROM CLASSROOM TO BOARDROOM 18 year old Tom Gough is the young entrepreneur behind digital design agency Thomas Patrick.

many of those elements it is the function which is the most important – you wouldn’t have a business card without your contact details on it would you? But where and how they appear on the card is paramount. Your website is an ideal medium to show off your previous work – but where? On the home page or hidden at the back? Is a restaurant’s menu easier to find than the fact that they’re closed for refurbishment? If you’re lost

visiting a customer wouldn’t you like to be able to pull out your phone and see a map at the top of their homepage rather than loads of fluff about how great they are?

It might sound obvious, but your website has to be mobile-friendly – and of course, that’s important – but if the only thing on the home page is your (very expensive) logo, and a potential customer has to search for your contact details, he may well give up and ON THE AGENDA

go elsewhere.

It’s far too easy to water down a strong brand with over-enthusiasm but at Thomas Patrick we will, politely, keep this in check.

That all important target demographic, that ideal customer, will see you in different ways at different times. It’s those different interactions which are important, so we look outside the ‘target demographic’ box: those targets, those customers, aren’t just abstract ideas, they IN-BUSINESS

are real people whose experiences of your company differ from day to day.

Every single interaction with your customers should exceed expectations – and that starts with good design. Which is where Thomas Patrick comes in. Why not get in touch and see what we can do for you?

E: coffee@thomaspatrick.co T: 07624 308679 W: thomaspatrick.co

Words: Suzy Holland Photos: Richard Powers

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Save office space and reduce risk using Isle of Man Post Office’s secure document management service

T

he corporate world continues to face an ever increasing burden on adherence to regulatory legislation and data protection requirements. Companies therefore have to weigh up whether they invest in the requisite expertise needed to comply with these obligations or outsource this responsibility to a specialist records management company. Commercial building costs have also prompted businesses to evaluate whether they are putting their valuable office space to the best use by storing documents on site. To add to this, continuity planning and operational recovery has had a further bearing on where documents are held with recommendations that they be stored off site away from the primary operation in the event of a disaster.

If you find yourself counting the cost of dead office space or need to ensure your documents are stored offsite as part of your disaster recovery plan it’s time you reassessed your current storage arrangements.

Whatever your circumstances, Box-it document management from Isle of Man Post Office will provide your business with a totally secure solution, and its services cater for businesses of all sizes, from small private enterprises to larger corporations and public sector organisations with multiple sites.

Tony Randle, General Manager of Integrated Mailing Solutions (IMS), the specialist communications business division of the Isle of Man Post Office, talks more about the new document management service provided under the Box-it franchise: “Our document storage end to end services

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offer local businesses a flexible service for all their document management needs, available as individual service elements or a complete solution. Services include box collection, advanced barcode tracking to minimise the risk of mislaid or wrongly labelled boxes or files, secure document storage and archiving of paperwork, efficient record retrieval, and return delivery or destruction of your documents. To add to this, all boxes are logged online using a document management system enabling businesses to trace their boxes and files.

Our storage processes are compliant and adhere to internationally recognised standards ISO/IEC 27001:2013 for data security and ISO/IEC9001:2008 for quality management. ISO27001:2013 relates to information security management and is a vital standard for customers because it guarantees a systematic approach is in place when managing their sensitive information assets that have been entrusted to us. ISO9001 is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus. It is an important standard for our customers as it ensures that they receive consistent, good quality services from us. Isle of Man Post Office is regularly audited and we pride ourselves on maintaining these important ISO standards.

The team works hard all year round to ensure continual compliance with the strict industry standards and, of course, best practise. As a result, we guarantee that customers who choose to outsource their services to us can do so with absolute peace of mind.”

The storage facility is CCTV monitored 24 hours a day seven days a week and all staff are police checked in accordance

with BSI 7858:2006, an important security standard for the security screening of individuals employed in a security environment code of practice.

Using the Isle of Man Post Office’s document management services can help you save valuable office space, time and money as well as providing your business with a document retention provision.

Isle of Man Post Office also provides a pan island box storage solution with its Jersey and Guernsey partners, Databond Jersey and CLS Group Guernsey, for customers who have a presence across two or more of the islands. Excellent service levels across islands are secured through one contract and one point of contact.

Documents are securely stored locally where your business is located which can be in Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man and can be retrieved and delivered to you swiftly if needed or using a scan on demand service. The Post Office can also assist with UK storage requirements through its partners.

In addition to its document management services, leading mailing house IMS can provide businesses with a wide range of other services that clients can cherry pick from including, high quality print fulfillment using the latest Ricoh C9110 printing technology, response handling, direct mail, data capture & scanning, mail opening and product dispatch & returns processing, the full 360 degree solution.

To find out more about our competitive local and pan island service and to box off your business needs, call or email the Post Office commercial team today on 01624 698444 or at boxit@iompost.com.

ON THE AGENDA

in-business

RELATIVE VALUES

Mike & Rob Cowell Life is Good for Father and Son Amid the Boiling Fat of the Fish & Chip Shop

Words: Les Able Photos: Dollsfactory.net

“Y

ou can be a bit of a diva at times,” says a laughing Mike Cowell, looking across at son Rob who also dissolves into laughter as the good natured banter between father and son

continues.

All three of us are sitting on stools in Bourne Plaice, the thriving fish and chip shop in Ramsey’s Market Square which Rob, 29, opened four years ago.

“From the very beginning this has been Rob’s business,” says 62-year-old Mike who retired from the police force 11 years ago, having risen through the ranks to Detective Inspector during a career spanning 30 years.

“I was 21 when I went into the police force and then suddenly, after all those years, you find yourself civilianised which takes a lot of adjustment,” says Mike. “You then discover that no one is too interested in giving a job to a 50-year-old.”

Mike turned to what he had had some early experience of before going into the police force, and that was working in a pub, prior to becoming a civil servant as Seneschal at Tynwald in charge of security. Then he and his wife Chris decided to take over the Grosvenor pub and restaurant at Andreas.

“That was the trigger for me to come back to the Isle of Man,” admits Rob, who had gone to university in Plymouth from where he graduated with a degree in maritime business and law.

“It was Dad’s business and I was working in the kitchen, that was 2009 and I just fitted in” says Rob. So did they get on together?

“Absolutely not, and that was Dad’s fault,” says Rob with a grin.

Mike takes over::“What drove the wedge between us was the stress, we were working 16 hour days, seven days a week, we had spent a lot of money on the pub in terms of fixtures

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and fittings as prior to us renting it from the brewery it had been shut for some months. We were making good money but it was all getting sucked up by the fabric of the building.”

He adds: “Rob was a good worker but the stress saw us having differences about money and hours, Rob didn’t think he was getting paid enough and I couldn’t afford to pay him more than what he was getting.”

There came the day when Rob slashed a finger badly while working in the kitchen. “I threw a paddy, said ‘I’m going to get a job i’m trained to do’ and that was my exit.”

A drama queen I suggest? “Me? Never,” is the amused retort while Mike, who is described

by Rob as pretty calm and placid, chooses to remain quiet, although he does admit that he can be riled by arrogant people or those who behave in an uncivilised manner.

From that exit by Rob it all changed. Rob went into a contract pay rolling job, initially working in Douglas and then London, while illness saw his parents making the decision to leave the Grosvenor and buying a house in Ramsey, ultimately opting for a less stressful lifestyle.

Three years on and in 2012 Rob decided he wanted to start his own business, at the beginning of the year he set the wheels in motion and in May, with the TT starting, he opened a fish and chip shop at 1 Bourne Place.

So why a chippey? “I had worked in food shops from the age of 16 so when you are starting your own business it makes sense if you know something about what you are going into and launching.”

He goes on: “We had an amazing start, we absolutely nailed it from day one although it’s damned hard work. I think, however, working at the Grosvenor was a learning curve for both of us. There is a good relationship between the two of us and with customers.”

Two months after launching the business Rob, happy with the way things were going, took himself off on holiday to the European Sailing Championships at Lake Garda leaving Mike in charge of the business. “He had all the experience of running a pub and restaurant and, all important, looking after customers.

Total confidence on my part!”

In the past year the business has moved to larger premises on the opposite side of Market Square and is now Bourne Plaice where the prices are decidedly cheaper than chippies in other parts of the island and where the description chalked on to the menu blackboard is a clear ‘cod and chip’ and not merely ‘fish and chips’!

Mike admits that he has taken more of a back seat in recent months but remains a key member of the staff and takes over when Rob IN-BUSINESS

>>>

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goes on holiday.

For his part, Rob admits that he isn’t quite the “hot head” he used to be and admits it takes a long time to “bed a business”. Ask him if he is relaxed like his father and the answer is an emphatic ‘No’.

“I’m hard work at times,” he concedes with a grin.

He goes on: “Within reason, Dad keeps my feet on the ground, possibly stops me doing silly things. Yes, I listen to him, take on board what he says but at the same time I will make my own decisions. You do sometimes need to make mistakes. The only time l really lose my cool, and it’s rare that I do, is if someone doesn’t do what they are meant to do and makes the same mistake over, and over again and doesn’t learn from it.”

What emerges from spending more than an hour in the company of Rob and Mike is that they aren’t just father and son but good friends.

As for any further ambitions on Rob’s part? Then it might just be worth watching this space.

HISTORY OF FISH AND CHIPS

The first record of a fish and chip shop in the United Kingdom was about 1860 with two families vying for the title of the first shop, ,one in London and one in Manchester, according to research by Rob and Mike Cowell.

However, the fried fish and the potato trade had existed for some time prior to

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“Within reason, Dad keeps my feet on the ground, possibly stops me doing silly things. Yes, I listen to him, take on board what he says but at the same time I will make my own decisions”

that with a mention in Dickens ‘Oliver Twist’ of a fried fish warehouse. It is believed that fried fish was introduced to the UK by Jewish immigrants during the 17th century. The chip as we know it today wasi mported by the Belgians.

The growth of the fish and chip industry during the late 19th century came about as a consequence of mechanization, both on land and sea. The growth of trawl fishing

in the North Sea provided a seemingly inexhaustible supply of white fish, combined with a rail network capable of transporting the fish to the major cities.

The growth was phenomenal and in the early 20th century most industrial towns had a chip shop on nearly every street.

The importance of this healthy meal was recognised by successive governments and it was a food staple never rationed during the First or Second World Wars. Indeed, during the D-Day Landings British troops challenge to unidentified combatants was ‘Fish’ with the reply ‘Chips’ being the only sure way of not being fired upon. So, ‘fish and chips’ really has to be credited to Jewish and Belgian immigrants of the late 19th century. Still, a great concept to adopt and make your own!

In the 21st century there are now in excess of 10,500 specialist fish and chip shops in the UK. An Industry with a turnover of £1.2 billion selling some 362 million portions of fish and chips per year.

We don’t know the first Manx fish and chip shop but Mike remembers King Street chippy in Douglas, next to Teddy Hudson’s cobbler’s shop and Frenchie’s. (You have to get back quite a few years to remember that one). More recently (or so it seems) Hope Street in Douglas and Nellie’s chippy in Onchan.

Sadly all have now gone, being replaced by a clothes shop, the offices of the Law Society and a roundabout. Thankfully though, the Manx appetite for fish and chips continues, together with the local delicacy of chips, cheese and gravy.

ON THE AGENDA

Welcome to our careers special...

THERE’S NEVER A BAD TIME TO RECRUIT NEW TALENT Talk to potential employees in their own language with the careers special from Gallery Learning about Internships, graduate training programmes and professional qualifications available will present prospective employees with a reason to be optimistic. This may encourage students to identify and pursue a career with Island organisations that whole heartedly invest in Isle of Man employees.

gradu8 [careers special]

internships [careers special]

LIAM

MULLIGAN

gradu8

TECHNICAL SPECIALIST AT MANX TELECOM

[careers special]

Age: 25 Course undertaken: BSc (Hons) in Computer Science.

University attended: University of Chester (completed via studies at Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education).

What was your first career choice?

I’ve been interested in technology since primary school, so this was always my first choice.

What is your favourite way to relax?

I’m a huge film fan, and also enjoy tinkering with technology, and staying active by mountain biking, running and weightlifting.

Where is your favourite place to eat on the Island?

Isola in Douglas.

YOUR JOB What made you choose the company you work for?

I had the opportunity to work for Manx Telecom part-time while I was studying and jumped at the chance as I knew it could lead to further career opportunities.

What professional training have you undertaken since you started?

I have been through a number of training courses held by the vendors of our equipment suppliers (including Huawei and Oracle) and gained a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification via a self-study course.

What do you do in an average day?

More about Manx Telecom “Manx Telecom is one of the Isle of Man’s biggest employers, and well over half of our 280 staff have worked for the company for 10 years or more. We offer excellent opportunities for training and career development, plus attractive employee benefits including an award-winning Sharesave Scheme which was established through YBS Share Plans. Manx Telecom plays a pivotal role in providing products and services which are essential to the whole community, and businesses in all sectors of the economy. A career with Manx Telecom means that you are playing an important role in supporting the local community and the Island’s future.”

Interested?

If you think you’d like to pursue a career at Manx Telecom get in contact, telephone: 01624 624624 or email: hr@manxtelecom.com For more information visit www.manxtelecom.com/careers Manx Telecom, Isle of Man Business Park, Cooil Road, Braddan, IM99 1HX

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Maintain and install components of the mobile core network which include IP networks (Cisco), core network firewalls, VMware, Windows Servers, SQL databases, mobile network core nodes, subscriber management, prepaid customer accounts, off-Island interconnect for both global roaming data (internet) and voice traffic. My job involves working at our Douglas Central exchange; Douglas North and Greenhill Data Centres; and other exchanges where our geo-resilient equipment is held.

What is your next step?

After gaining further knowledge in my area I would like to progress further up the technical ‘ladder’ and possibly into network design – and the range and scale of Manx Telecom’s operations provides opportunities to pursue that ambition.

What advice would you give to a 2015/2016 graduate with the experience you have now?

A: Gain experience in using as much enterprise/industry standard technology as possible, such as servers, virtual environments, and networks. Even if you’re familiar with theory and concepts, or have heard of certain features and protocols, you will be more likely to successfully answer technical questions in interviews if you also have knowledge gained through practical experience. This will also show you have a willingness to learn and are genuinely interested in your area, which could give you an edge over other applicants.

ON THE AGENDA

engineered for

excellence

GRADU8 - careers special

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How to build a positive online reputation

Create a LinkedIn profile and blog about trends in your targeted industry

A

ny smart employer is going to Google prospective employees and, in general, students these days are aware of that. There is a broad understanding that you have to manage your online reputation.

But what is less understood is the importance of proactively creating a positive digital footprint. Not enough people take action, so, if you do, it is a competitive advantage. We read a lot about online reputation management, which is often just a synonym for damage control.

But how do you create a digital presence that draws employers to you?

How should students manage their online reputation?

If something questionable appears about you online, it is often difficult to erase it. If a friend has shared an unfortunate picture of you, you can ask him or her to take it down but digital traces are likely to remain.

Instead, the secret is to start now to establish an online presence that reflects what you want to be known for, which will crowd out any errant information. Create a detailed LinkedIn profile and start blogging and tweeting your views on developments in the industry you want to enter.

You can also launch a podcast where you interview famous or successful alumni from your school and leading business thinkers — this is great for networking too.

Even if you are not getting to speak with chief executives of Fortune 500 companies, fantastic opportunities abound with powerful executives who are slightly less prominent but wield great influence.

Google will reward you for your stream of informative content, as it is far more likely that your first page or two will reflect the image you would like to present rather than random or negative titbits.

You do not have to think too hard

GRADU8 - CAREERS SPECIAL

about search engine optimisation. Google is smart enough to recognise that when people search for your name, your LinkedIn profile, blog and Twitter account are highly relevant.

The question you should ask, however, is what you would like to be known for.

If you are hoping to land a position in finance, make sure the content you create is consistent with that. For instance, start tweeting about current issues or blogging about policy issues that may influence the markets.

How can students create content while maintaining their busy schedules?

For most time-starved students, one to two hours a week is sufficient to represent yourself well online. You can create your own mix based on the social channels you want to prioritise — perhaps you are starting a design-focused or creative business, so invest time in Pinterest or Tumblr. This will showcase your design skills and knowledge.

In general, I would suggest spending one hour per week blogging. You could upload content on your own site using WordPress or share it via LinkedIn’s blogging feature.

Also spend half an hour sharing content and interacting on Twitter and LinkedIn. Retweeting articles about the field or industry you are interested in — preferably with a short comment attached — shows that you are staying on top of key issues and have a point of view. Asking follow-up questions, sharing genuine compliments or reaching out to an executive quoted in an article can help you begin to develop online relationships that, if cultivated, may turn into real connections.

What else constitutes a good in edIn profile I would encourage students and recent graduates to invest a little additional

time on LinkedIn for two purposes. First, sharing at least one piece of content per day — something as simple as a magazine or blog article — helps keep you on others’ radar and, over time, demonstrates you are keeping up with developments in your field.

Second, LinkedIn has been steadily rolling out the opportunity for regular people — not just the high-powered “Influencers” like Richard Branson — to blog for them. As soon as you are able, I would recommend sharing content there.

You can post when you have time, and it will be an impressive addition to your profile. The goal is to create so much content over time that your reputation speaks for itself and people begin to seek you out specifically.

The readership and engagement is high because it is a professional network — a crucial advantage over starting your own blog. If you get busy, it does not look bad to abandon it for a while, because no one is visiting LinkedIn specifically to read your blog — it’s simply a helpful addition to your profile.

In comparison, if you start an independent blog and start to accrue visitors and subscribers, there really is an expectation that you will be providing content regularly. Note that you risk alienating your readership if you let it lie fallow too long.

At a minimum, every student should have a LinkedIn profile and be active on at least one social channel. You can adapt according to your skills and goals. If you are not a great writer but love public speaking, perhaps you might like to create a video blog, for example.

You can create content on multiple channels but in general it is better to focus on one or two and do them well, rather than spreading yourself thinly across several accounts.

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CAREERS AT

SURE

Why was it launched?

Sure is committed to investing in the Isle of Man and we do this in a number of ways, including the development of skills and expertise in the local work force. Sure has an enviable record of mentoring and developing staff to take on senior roles and our belief is that, with the right training and support, local people can become business leaders.

We identified a growing need for young, local staff to be specifically trained for what is a fast-moving industry. We need our staff to be at the forefront of the developments within the telecoms sector and this requires a specialised training programme that equips them for life in a dynamic company.

In the last year alone we have launched our 4G network, developed new corporate solutions with global partners and began offering full telecoms packages thanks to wholesale line rental.

Equally we have found that there are limited opportunities for young people seeking a career in technology. The Sure Academy is designed to help overcome both of these challenges by offering young islanders the opportunity to develop their technological and business skills.

The Sure Academy’s aim is to find talented and enthusiastic young islanders and give them the experience, skills and qualifications necessary to excel in whatever area of the business they choose to specialise in and ultimately become the telecommunications professionals of the future. With their expertise Sure can constantly improve the offerings and service we provide to our customers, and make the business a success.

How do I apply?

The Sure Academy is open to anyone aged 17 or over who has five GCSEs, including Maths, English and one science at grade C or above, and has passed an advanced level qualification such as A Levels, Baccalaureate, BTEC or NVQ. Applicants must also hold a clean driving licence and will be police checked. Anyone interested in applying should email recruitment@sure.com with their CV. Shortlisted candidates will attend a half day assessment which will include interviews, aptitude tests and a practical. harles ollins who was one of the first apprentices to join the Sure Academy How have you found the Sure Academy?

What is the Sure Academy?

Sure is committed to investing in the development of our employees to ensure that our company has qualified and experienced staff who can enjoy a lifelong career with us.

The Sure Academy was launched in the Isle of Man in 2013 and is a two-year programme designed to give apprentices a unique and in-depth understanding of the business before they decide which area they want to specialise in. The programme is normally structured along the lines of spending time in our retail department and mobile and fixed line network engineering teams.

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It’s been a rollercoaster. My role was very hands on from the beginning which, although overwhelming at the time, has helped me learn at a very fast pace. As much as it has been hard work, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What have you learned?

I have learned how the mobile network works and it is more complex than I could have ever imagined. I have learned the importance of providing good customer service; word of mouth is vital and it sets us apart from our competitors. Flexibility is also key. One thing that has surprised me is how fast-paced technology is; it means having to keep up-to–date all the time but also ensures that you learn something new most days.

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internships [careers special]

What has been the most enjoyable part of being in the Sure Academy?

The whole academy experience has been interesting but my favourite part of the programme was the engineering placement.

My time there coincided with Sure’s massive 4G rollout project, which was a really exciting time for the business. I needed hands-on practical skills as well as customer management skills throughout the project, so it had a bit of everything!

What do you now intend to focus on as your career?

I would like to take what I have learned over the past few years and build on it. I am a great believer that you get out what you put in. I have put 100% in and plan to continue this. I consider myself quite privileged to work in the telecoms market. It is a hard market to get into and I have been given an opportunity which I am grabbing with both hands.Â

Sure Academy Scheme Sure delivers mobile, broadband, fixed line, data centre and enterprise solutions to a diverse customer base in the Isle of Man. The Sure Academy is part of our long-term commitment to offer local people a channel into the workplace. It provides an opportunity for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our business and gain practical training and a high quality experience that can lead to an exciting and challenging career.

Academy members gain experience in both technical and commercial environments, as well as an understanding of the company as a whole, before they decide which area of the business they would like to move into.

It’s a two-year programme, where Academy members spend time within Engineering, Retail and Technical Customer Support.

The Sure Academy is open to anyone from the age of 17, who has a full driving licence, including school leavers or those wishing to start a new career. Entry requirements are 5 GCSE passes at grade C or above (including English, Maths and a science subject) and good passes at an advanced level qualification such as GCE A Level, BTEC or NVQ (IT based is desirable but not essential). Applicants must also have good communication skills with the willingness and ability to provide excellent customer service.

If you are interested in this opportunity please forward your expression of interest to recruitment@sure.com and attach your CV.

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How to turn an internship into a job offer It is crucial to understand the company culture, be proactive and to network with your colleagues

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How do you solicit feedback to ensure you are on track?

This is straightforward at organisations with a clear process for providing feedback.

However, if they do not systematically do this, talk to your manager within the first week. Explain that you want to get as much out of the experience as possible and would like to receive feedback throughout the summer. You can ask to set up times after key events, such as the completion of major projects.

W

hat specific skills and qualities do employers look for when determining whether to hire you fulltime?

First and foremost, they want to see if you are able to accomplish the tasks put in front of you. Beyond that, they want to determine if you fit with the company. Do you interact well with colleagues and managers, and understand the company’s culture?

For example, in a culture where there is a lot of collaboration and you are not a team player, you are giving a signal that you do not understand how things work.

If everyone goes to lunch once a week as a group and you decline because you are focusing on a task, then that is another signal.

Ask yourself: are you paying attention to the norms of the company?

Is networking important for an intern?

Networking is a critical part of what is, in essence, an eight or 10-week interview.

It is through building relationships over time that you have the opportunity to get to know people and learn from them, as well as let them get to know you. This is a chance for them to see the value you bring to the organisation. This is important because hiring decisions are rarely made by one person alone. It is common for companies to ask for feedback from several people to determine if you will receive an offer.

If you are operating in a silo, how do o networ e ecti el within the company?

You will need to make deliberate attempts to reach out beyond your department to connect with more people.

You might want to ask your manager for assistance in meeting others at the company to help you better understand the organisation. If any social events are held, definitely attend those. And absolutely contact alumni from your school and previous interns within the company because these individuals will generally be happy to talk to you, help you understand the culture, and guide you in meeting others.

How do you turn around an internship if you receive negative feedback?

First, thank your manager for giving the feedback. Second, determine with the appropriate people what you need to do to improve.

If it is significant feedback — for example, you are not being effective enough in what you are doing — talk to your manager about how best to both address the problem and measure improvements in your performance.

After making the recommended changes, check back with your manager to ensure you are making steady progress.

Listen to constructive criticism with an open mind and maintain a positive attitude.

However, if you are still at a loss after talking to your manager, then talk to someone outside the organisation. Your school’s career development office is also a good resource. They may be able to give you additional thoughts on your manager’s perspective or suggest who best to reach out to in the company.

What steps can you take if you are not assigned enough work?

At this point in your career, the expectation is that you will look around the company and see what can be improved upon, automated, redesigned, or invented.

Ask colleagues how you can help them.

Do not be afraid to let people know that you need more work. Your manager may simply be too busy and lack the bandwidth to give you more projects. When you are in this situation, do not come in late, complain or act bored. Take the initiative, pay attention and understand what is needed.

Go to your manager with your project ideas and ensure he/she supports your proposed initiative. Then you have truly added value.

If no ob o er comes p at the end of the internship, what should you do?

Once again, this would be a time to remain gracious and positive. Demonstrate that you are a professional. Send a thank you email to the individuals you worked closely with or those who helped you during your internship. In a company where there is an opportunity to pursue another job, discuss why you are excited about the organisation, what you can contribute and that you will keep in touch.

Good luck.

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SHOPRITE AND DEFA TO HOST FOOD INDUSTRY SESSION AT NOA BAKEHOUSE Shoprite and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture are hosting an introduction to the food industry aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to develop local food products.

A

re you an entrepreneur who has always dreamed of running your own business? Do you have an interest in food, a passion for the Isle of Man or just a burning desire and drive to try something new?

If you have the kernel of an idea, or even if you’ve started a business and now want to try and grow it into something more substantial, this event is for you.

The event, which will run for around two hours, is being held at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas on the afternoon of Friday 15th April from 4pm and is an opportunity for aspiring local producers to meet leading industry representatives from the Island’s food industry who can advise on the most relevant aspects of establishing, running and operating a food business on the Island.

Local industry retail experts will be on hand to advise producers on the key elements of product development that can lead to a listing by a multiple store food retailer.

Representatives from Shoprite will give a brief introduction to their buying policy, how to pitch’, plan production, manage availability, how to maintain a profit, packaging, How to bring a new product to life and finally Local market economic importance.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss applications for Shoprite’s Startisan competition, which offers a guaranteed Shoprite listing, operational marketing support, advice on packaging and product development and six months rent free in one of Isle of Man Enterprises Village Walk retail units.

Other industry experts who will be on hand to meet the aspiring entrepreneurs including Department of Economic Development staff who can advise on grants and marketing courses, as well as PR, marketing and digital experts. Specialists in environmental health and transportation will also be attending the day.

Andrew Thomas, Chief Executive, Shoprite, commented: “The idea behind the day is to give aspiring food producers, and people who have already begun developing or retailing a product, the opportunity to meet the key influencers in the local retail market, gain valuable advice and input from experts and meet and network with successful local food producers.”

He continued: “Having strong local food producers not only provides the Island with long term food security, and the benefits of traceability, but also can provide a real boost to the local economy by replacing imported goods and ensuring that the fiscal benefits of a strong local food market remain on the Island.”

Richard Ronan MHK, Minister, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture commented: “Our ‘Food Matters’ strategy identifies the importance of local food producers and we are hoping that this event will encourage a number of new food producers to take advantage of the opportunity and support that is available on the Isle of Man.”

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Are you a ‘Manx Startisan’? To register your interest and receive an entry form or for help and advice on creating your proposal please email: simon@redpointpr.co.uk.

ON THE AGENDA

FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOME GREAT MANX STARTISANS

M

anx Startisans are continuing to emerge in the local market with many fledgling local entrepreneurs looking to put their passion into practice and create innovative new food and drink companies that can provide healthy, premium alternatives to massproduced off island goods, for the island’s residents.

Many of the people behind these companies have switched careers, retrained, researched and put their knowledge into creating their own businesses. All of them are driven by the desire to do something different, to take the kernel of an idea and grow it into a tangible product that appears on the shelves of the island’s supportive retailers.

And now is your chance to join them. Shoprite’s Manx ‘Startisans’ programme is looking to identify the potential in a local food entrepreneur who wants to get their idea off the ground, or take their fledgling idea to the next level.

Shoprite has already helped a number of local producers to develop their proposition to a stage where a major food retailer can stock it. The company’s team works with local producers to help them with branding, packaging, marketing, pricing. Many of the companies that started out as home based operations have now gone on to reach the stage where they can now be exported to UK and international markets.

The winning entrepreneur will receive a guaranteed listing in Shoprite’s stores for six months as well as receiving start-up operations marketing support, packaging, product development and presentation advice including one to one sessions from the panel of experts as well as a free stand at the 2016 Isle of Man Food and Drink Show. Shoprite’s parent company Isle of Man Enterprises will also make available free of charge one of its retail units in Village Walk, Onchan for a six month period.

Can you become a Manx Startisan and join the local food revolution.

The Isle of Man has a large number of well established local food producers, particularly involved with meat and dairy industries, that allow large food retailers like Shoprite to operate ‘import substitution’ where they can support local producers by offering local alternatives.

However, the Island can always support more niche providers which not only benefit the local economy but also provide premium quality, healthy alternatives to well known brands with provenance that can be tracked back directly to local sources.

New businesses are being set up by local people who are passionate about food and drink who are creating products that reflect those premium quality values with delicious, home spun products that are far superior to the mass produced, well established alternatives.

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A Creative Approach to Work Marketing offers creative individuals an opportunity to turn their passions into their livelihood and the industry has never been so exciting!

T

he digital revolution has, and continues to, transform the world in previously unimaginable ways: social media has fundamentally changed the way we communicate; smart devices allow us to carry extraordinary technology with us wherever we go; interactive and personalised entertainment platforms give us more choice than ever about what media we consume; and so on and so on.

In this constantly changing world, the marketer is presented with significant challenges but these challenges also represent chances: chances for those able to think outside of the box to find new and innovative ways of engaging modern consumers.

Some people are born to be creative – it’s in their blood but finding an outlet for that creativity can be difficult and finding a

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“The winner of the Ashgrove Award for Brilliance will be offered a three-month internship at Ashgrove Marketing”

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internships [careers special]

way to make a living from it can be harder still.

To give local creatives an opportunity to showcase their talent, we have created the Ashgrove Creative Awards – an open invitation to Isle of Man residents seeking a platform to exhibit their ideas.

Our goal is to draw out as much local talent as we can and to steer that talent toward professional applications within the marketing industry. We are welcoming submissions in the following areas: n Design and Branding n Online and Digital n Multimedia n Photography n Innovation n Copywriting These categories correspond, not only with what we do at Ashgrove Marketing, but with today’s marketing industry as GRADU8 - CAREERS SPECIAL

a whole – together, they encompass the entire spectrum of what modern marketing involves and, as such, should allow a wide range of people to get involved.

Throughout the competition we are offering applicants the chance to meet with members of the Ashgrove team so that everyone who takes the time to enter will have the opportunity to learn a little more about the world of marketing.

The winner of each category will be awarded a cash prize and will see their work featured in Gallery magazine. Additionally, two special prizes will be awarded: the People’s Choice Award and the Ashgrove Award for Brilliance. The winner of the former will be voted for by our social media followers. The winner of the latter will be chosen by our in-house team.

The winner of the Ashgrove Award for Brilliance will be offered a three-month internship at Ashgrove Marketing. This will give them an insider’s view of how a real marketing company operates day-to-day, as well as an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the areas of marketing that they are most interested in.

In 2013, Martin Birchall, managing director of High Flier Research, made the headlines when he claimed that, when it comes to securing employment, internships are as important as a first class degree.

Despite the controversy, it looks like he was right. Employers increasingly value experience when looking to fill even junior roles. In fact, research suggests that 58 percent of employers rate work experience as “the most popular qualification among those presented”, with personality coming second.

Seeking out an internship alone shows enthusiasm and self-drive. And, due to the additional skills and experience they have gained, those who have completed internships are more likely to be able to hit the ground running when they enter the

workplace. These are attractive qualities in candidates seeking careers in any industry.

It’s important, then, that local companies provide enthusiastic individuals with opportunities to gain the real world experience that employers are looking for.

At Ashgrove Marketing, we already take on at least five work experience placements each year. These vary in terms of length and duties allocated, but all aim to give the individuals a taste of what life is actually like in a lively agency environment.

So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to get into marketing, we’d love to see what you can do. And, to the future winner of the Ashgrove Award for Brilliance, we’re looking forward to welcoming you aboard.

To whet your appetite, here are some quotes from some of our previous work experience placements: “I have never experienced such a brilliant atmosphere in a workplace. We all sit in a large open room; happiness, laughter, creativity and productivity fill the room – and it’s contagious.” – James Allen “My week at Ashgrove has been fairly eye opening, not only in the sense that I have learned a lot in such a small time, but it’s also taught me how lucky I would be to one day work for a company even a little bit as relaxed, friendly and passionate as Ashgrove Marketing.” – Michael Faragher “Some people may ask why I have taken two weeks out of my summer to spend time in an office, but the experience I have gained, popcorn I have eaten and fun I have had behind the new glass door, have all been invaluable to me.” – Sophie Elliott

Supported by Gallery

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GRADU8 - careers special

Isle of Man Bank

Committed to helping Isle of Man prosper

T

he Isle of Man Bank marked an extraordinary milestone last year 150 years since they first opened their doors to local customers.

Throughout 2015 they celebrated numerous milestones and achievements including enhancements to their mobile banking service, launched their first ever mobile branch and helped over 350 customers buy their home.

Whilst the bank is immensely proud of their past, they are also looking to the future and a long term commitment to the Isle of Man. The bank is currently looking for hard working, dynamic individuals who have a passion to serve customers.

If that’s you, have a look at their careers page online and get in touch. www.rbsinternational.jobs.rbs.com

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ON THE AGENDA

The bank Launched Apple Pay, Apple Watch, Touch ID login and Windows, Kindle and Blackberry Apps in 2015

Since launch over

8 million

logins to their mobile banking app

Provided social media as a service channel for customers since 2013 and have over

5,000

followers across Facebook and Twitter

300 Over

new bank accounts provided for small businesses on the Island

1YEAR Community mobile banking Penny has been running for over a year

350 Over

mortgages approved in 2015

40% Over

obile ross the m growth ac 15 0 2 in s p p banking a Isle of Man Bank understands the value of a diverse colleague community and how their ideas, skills and insights can help build a better bank. View current vacancies at: www.rbsinternational.jobs.rbs.com

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technology technology

Technophobia is so last century:

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fears of robots, AI and drones are not new Words: Adam Jezard (FT)

S

uch concerns are not new, according to Carl Benedikt Frey, co-director of the Oxford Martin programme on technology and employment at Oxford university.

“Fears about technology, and certainly fears that technology will destroy our jobs, have been with us for as long as jobs have existed,” he says.

From the weaving machines of the industrial revolution to the bicycle, mechanisation has prompted concerns that technology will make people redundant or alter society in unsettling ways. In the early 1800s, Luddites smashed machines that put them out of work, while historians argue that later in the 19th century the popularity of the bicycle aided female liberation, the growth of socialism and the end of rigid class divisions as people become more mobile.

Earlier dictatorial regimes such as the Roman empire made it easy to block progress as rulers prevented machines from doing work and destabilising society.

But that changed after the industrial revolution, “as merchants saw the gains from technological progress and they became increasing influential”, Mr Frey says. Technological growth became linked to policymaking as the industrial revolution became both a political and an economic story. “The more people benefit from technology, you see more rapid adoption of it,” adds Mr Frey.

Today’s greatest fears, from loss of employment to the end of civilisation, centre on robots and artificial intelligence. But even these are almost 100 years old. The word “robot”, from the Czech robota meaning “slavery”, was coined for writer Karel Capek’s 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) .

In the drama, a sophisticated robot workforce (closer to the human-like replicants of 1982 sci-fi film Blade Runner than machines) moves from subservience to eventually destroy humanity. This dark threat seems to have hovered over our species, at least in fictional terms, ever since, from film-maker Fritz Lang’s Metropolis of 1927 on down.

In Capek’s and Lang’s dystopias, companies create profits from marginalised, impoverished workforces while spoilt elites live privileged lives.

Inevitably the oppressed underlings rebel.

While drawing parallels with today’s wealth-divided society is almost irresistible, Mr Frey does not see the same “rage against the machine” from the past that is reflected in these dramas. “There are

TECHNOLOGY

How afraid of technology are you ?

Not at all. I think technology will empower us to work more effectively.

A little. I’m not worried about my own job, but fear what will happen to my children’s jobs.

Very. I am worried technology will make my job obsolete.

reasons to be concerned, but it is difficult to see which democracy would accept 1 per cent of the population being dependent on machines and the rest of society deprived of work.”

However, the latest technological push has created few new jobs in itself. Oxford Martin research found 8.2 per cent of the US workforce moved into careers associated with new technologies in the 1980s. The equivalent number for the 1990s was 4.4 per cent, while in the 2000s it was half a per cent.

Instead Mr Frey says technology has increased the range of tasks skilled workers can perform. “You would have assumed bank tellers would have been replaced

by ATMs, but there are now more branch relationship managers, so jobs change,” he says.

He adds that for every new tech job created in London, about five jobs are added to the local economy as services from hairdressing to retail grow to meet demand, though in the future automation may do away with some lowerskilled work.

Vivek Wadhwa, a fellow at Stanford Law School in the US who writes often about the “unintended consequences” of technological change, says the problem today is that Silicon Valley is in too much of a hurry to make profits.

“In previous times it took technologies ages to advance to the stage where they could become a threat, so we had decades to discuss the transition from old to new,” Mr Wadhwa says. “But that is no longer the case. Self-driving cars, for example, will be good for the elderly, but they will take away millions of jobs from people who drive cars for a living. Every technology has a dark side.”

Mr Wadhwa also predicts a science fiction-like future, but warns the outcome is not a certainty. “I really see a Star

Trek future, but the bad side would be Mad Max. It will be hard to work these things out but I think we’ll get there. We need to be aware of the problems and start fixing them.”

Perhaps what are needed are better global regulatory models, possibly based on the UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, to govern developments. The HFEA recently gave approval for experimental use of the DNA editing process Crispr to switch genes on and off in a newly fertilised egg.

Mr Wadhwa thinks such a framework would be beneficial but hard to enforce.

“If we can’t agree between countries, how can we agree as the human race to a set of shared ethical standards?”

Instead of science fiction, maybe we should consider the current commercial and ethical success of technologies that were once considered highly disruptive.

After all, we have been here before: the introduction of hoverboards and drones has similarities to the birth of the bike and the internal combustion engine.

Like hoverboards and drones, bikes and cars had commercial and leisure uses and we have, with legislation and time, become used to them. They brought economic benefits in terms of jobs and transport, but as Mr Wadhwa says, technology produces unintended consequences.

For example, in 2014, 3.6m cycles were sold in Britain, producing sales of £771m. The total new and used motor vehicle market in the UK was reported to be £88.5bn in 2014, up from £79.4bn in 2013.

Sales mean prosperity and employment for many, but there is a human cost. In 2014, 113 cyclists were killed in Britain and 3,400 seriously injured, mostly after accidents with cars. More than 1,700 UK citizens died in car crashes in 2013. This is before the effects of car pollution on human health and greenhouse gases have been counted, and these figures are for one country.

New technologies are likely to have similar side effects. In 1979 Robert Williams, a Michigan Ford car worker, gained a dubious Guinness World Records mention for becoming the first person to be killed by an industrial robot. In December, a boy fell off a hoverboard in north-west London and was killed by a bus, the first such UK death.

What the total cost of the latest developments will be — whether in terms of incomes, jobs or lives cut short — is hard for anyone to predict. agenda

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technology

Virtual reality

I

No more low batteries

A

lthough charging our phones is something we have become accustomed to, it is still a daily nuisance.

Introducing….selfcharging phones! A Japanese telecoms company is working on a product called Cota which will automatically charge phone batteries wirelessly.

And with companies such as IKEA selling bedside tables that can charge devices simply by placing them on the table top, plugging our phones in will soon be a thing of the past. For more information about wireless charging, check out the Cota website: www.

Is 2016 the year for Smart tech?

Technology is advancing so fast that driverless cars and house-cleaning robots could be part of everyday life in a few years. 2016 may not see the release of these major tech developments – but it will certainly serve as a foundation for future smart technology. In this article from Manx Telecom we look at some of the gadgets and gizmos we can expect to see this year.

n terms of exciting new tech to look forward to in 2016, smart fridges, colourchanging showers and self-charging phones don’t really cut it. Instead, we will move on to the highly anticipated virtual reality headset, Oculus Rift. For those out there that haven’t heard about this long-awaited piece of technology, it allows users to step into their favourite games, watch incredibly immersive movies, and visit people and destinations as though they are actually there.

Having been the subject of anticipation from gamers during its five years in development, shipment will finally begin this year and will make a big splash in the world of tech. To find out more about the Oculus Rift, you can visit their website:

www.oculus. com/en-us/

ossia.com/cota/

Smart fridges

S

mart technology is gradually going to find its way into all aspects of our lives, and is already changing the way we live. Samsung is committed to creating revolutionary smart home technology, and one of their most impressive gadgets to expect this year is the Family Hub refrigerator. The smart fridge includes a built-in interior camera, which can be accessed by any of the family on their smartphones, anywhere. It can send alerts when food needs throwing out, provide news and travel updates, order the food shop and even use the 21.5-inch front door screen to stream media from other Samsung devices. It certainly sounds impressive when compared to an everyday, ordinary refrigerator, which can…refrigerate things. To find out more about the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator, check out their website: www.samsung.com/us/explore/ family-hub-refrigerator/

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iPhone 7

L

ast but by no means least - the iPhone 7. It seems sinful to discuss up and coming technology to look forward to this year, without at least mentioning the word Apple. Although the technology giants have not yet officially released any information on their next model, rumours are spreading fast. As usual it is expected to launch early September.

According to Techradar, a respected technology news website, suggestions are that it could have a completely new look with a number of new design features and styling. It will, of course, be faster and more technologically advanced, but unfortunately we will have to wait for Apple to make an official announcement to know exactly what to expect. To find out more about Apple, visit their website: www.apple.com/uk/

A

revolutionary year for technology? Perhaps not, but an exciting one? Most definitely. Keep up to date with the latest technology happenings on the Manx Telecom website manxtelecom.com or pop into their store on Strand Street to talk all things tech with one of their experts.

ON THE AGENDA

manx telecom

cloud store & share 24/7 store

sync

share

anytime

anywhere

Safe and secure encryption in the Isle of Man’s only twin tier 3 designed data centres Discover how the new multi-service platform from the Island’s leading data provider will allow you to store, sync and share files and folders, anywhere, anytime and across multiple devices

gary Hill, CEO, Pokerstars

more experience, investment and skills than any other local provider that’s the manx telecom advantage

call +44 (0)1624 624 624 visit manxtelecom.com/cloud

with you every step

SPORT

technology

How to keep your mobile phone safe from cyber criminals Words: John Pennant

M

obile malware took off in 2011.

That is when hackers began serious attacks on mobile phones. At that point, the data became worth stealing, and since then growth has been exponential. It is estimated that 1m new malicious codes were found on devices by 2015. The actual number of attacks is much bigger than this because each program tends to be used many times.

Early attacks focused on causing handsets silently to call premium rate numbers. Then hackers diversified into phishing — creating spoof websites that trick people into revealing account numbers and login details.

Phishing still accounts for the overwhelming number of attacks on mobiles, although ransomware — locking data and demanding payment for its release — is also big, accounting for 17 per cent of the total across all platforms, according to research by Kaspersky.

Most phone attacks are on handsets that use the Android operating system because of its large market share and flexible, open technology. Apple’s iPhones use proprietary technology which is more difficult to breach.

Android is like having a room with lots of doors as opposed to a cave with a single entrance, but Apple is not immune.

In 2015, many app developers unwittingly downloaded a malicious version of Xcode — Apple’s official tool for building apps — from a file-sharing website. Among scores of apps infected were WeChat, a messaging app popular in China, and CamCard, a popular business card reader in the US. Although Apple vets the apps sold through its app store, the infected programs were not initially detected. They were made available and widely used.

Mobile phone security is challenging because devices are designed to connect in many different ways, whether it is a text message, email, web browsing, Bluetooth or near-field communication (NFC) connectivity, each method of communication is a potential attack route.

As human interaction is the main purpose of a mobile device, there are more

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“The next battleground will be biometric data such as thumbprints, iris or voice”

chances to trick users. People are much more likely to click on malicious images or videos sent to a mobile phone than to a PC, because it feels more familiar and natural.

Phones are also often set to connect automatically and display quick preview images, data or text. This makes it possible to exploit a system without the recipient opening or ‘clicking’ anything.

Defending against the most serious attacks is difficult. If the main source of the threat is a nation state agency, you’re best to just throw your phone away.

However, simple steps can help against more common hackers. You should use a passcode or complex PIN on your device to protect it in case of loss or theft. And it is best to avoid connecting to public WiFi networks. If the WiFi is not encrypted, somebody could intercept data including passwords. If you have to do so, make sure you always use a virtual private network to connect to sensitive resources.

Also, do not “jailbreak” your mobile devices. This is a process whereby users remove operating system restrictions so that they can customise their phone and download apps not normally allowed. Jailbreaking also negates your warranty and exposes you to more potential malware.

Phones with hardwarebased encryption tend to offer stronger protection than software encryption. The encryption key is stored on a chip, which acts like a safe. But Android handsets continue to lack dependable hardware-based encryption.

Sometimes phones are compromised during production, as happened in 2014 when a factory-installed “Trojan horse” was found on the Star N9500 Android smartphone, made in China and sold by companies such as Amazon and eBay. It enabled hackers to operate the phone remotely and, being embedded at the factory, could not be removed.

The next battleground between hackers and phone owners will be biometric data such as thumbprints, iris or voice profile.

At present, hackers rarely use biometrics to circumnavigate security because there are many easier paths. This is likely to change. The problem is that if your password is discovered you can quickly change it, whereas once biometric data are compromised, that’s it.

ON THE AGENDA

Safe in the cloud.

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SPORT

technology

Mobiles could be the secret to ‘smart’ cities Words: Tim Bradshaw (FT)

Global Smart City Pilots Cities are experimenting with using sensors, smartphones and apps for everything from medical services to traffic planning.

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he phrase “connected cities” conjures images of sensorladen highways, live maps of underground systems and a mission control centre filled with huge screens of data.

Ghent, however, is leaping into the future of “smart” infrastructure just by using a couple of smartphone apps.

The Belgian city is among the first in western Europe to sign up to the Waze Connected Citizens programme, which sees city transport authorities exchange traffic and incident data with the Googleowned navigation app.

Waze’s users can report accidents and traffic jams, which are then relayed to other drivers. The data are also shared with local governments to help with real-time traffic management, including emergency response dispatch.

In turn, the 55 cities in the scheme give Waze information about road closures and new traffic policies.

“If you were starting today with webservices know-how and data analytics,” a traffic management centre could be built for a “fraction” of what they typically cost, says Di-Ann Eisnor, Waze’s head of growth.

Waze is an example of how cities can take advantage of the sophisticated sensors that millions of residents already carry: smartphones.

“There are some people who are thinking in a top-down way, putting a lot of new sensors into the city,” says Carlo Ratti, director of the Senseable City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Singapore is a leading example. “Or you can also look at a more bottom-up, distributed way where you can use what you already have, such as a cellphone,” Mr Ratti adds.

In many cities, municipal authorities and mobile apps already collaborate. Citymapper, an urban transport app that raised $40m in venture funding in January, got its start in London using the open data the city provides about tube, bus and train lines. As well as providing transport advice to the general public, Citymapper offers transit authorities data management tools that help handle feedback and incident alerts from users.

Similarly, Strava, a cycling tracker

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New York

app, sells anonymised data to cities from London to Orlando, Florida. It shows where people are riding to help plan bike lanes and traffic calming measures.

Even Uber, despite often locking horns with regulators, has begun to share driver data with officials in cities such as Boston, helping inform policy and congestion reduction plans. Similar data, including anonymised pick-up and drop-off locations and times, are also provided by taxi services.

Analysing such data from New York City in 2014, Mr Ratti and researchers from Cornell University found that the city’s taxi fleet could be reduced by as much as 40 per cent if more residents opted to share cabs.

Since that study, the Senseable City Lab has been working with Uber on optimising its Uber Pool ride-sharing service.

“There were plenty of ride-sharing schemes that dated from the 1970s and 80s,” says Mr Ratti. “But because at the time we didn’t have smartphones and real-time information, most of them failed.”

‘Midtown in Motion’, the Department for Transportation’s traffic scheme, uses sensors and cameras to guage congestion.

The DoT says the programme improved traffic speeds by 10 per cent in the first year.

ON THE AGENDA

London

Transport for London and companies including IBM run the Smart City Challenge, which offers a ÂŁ750,000 proze for developers who can use technologies such as the Internet of things to address the biggest challenges faced by Londoners.

Amsterdam

Companies and government are testing initiatives from smart lighting to new ways to engage citizens in civic debate. Plans include installing iBeacon technology across the city which will transmit tourist information to mobile phones and tablets nearby.

Nice

Barcelona

The City Council provides a 24-hour telemedicine service for more than 70,000 elderly and disabled people.

3,000 sensors have been rolled out over 160 hectares in western Nice to collect environmental data such as air and sound pollution levels.

Seoul

The local government supports a number of sharing economy ptojects such as car rental company So Car and the Billiji website that allows neighbours to borrow rarely-used items from each other.

Singapore

The government is testing a scheme called Beeline which allows commuters to pre-book rides on private bus routes using an app. The scheme crowdsources suggestions for new bus routes.

TECHNOLOGY

agenda

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MBII

A PI LOT ’S WATCH SH O U L D EN DU R E E VERY T H I N G T H E PI LOT DO E S .

The Bremont MB range is built in collaboration with British firm Martin-Baker, the pioneers of the ejection seat. At their test centre, the watches are strapped to the wrist of a crash-test dummy and shot out of the cockpit. Enduring forces of between 12G and 30G in the process.

But this doesn’t mean the MB is built for endurance at the expense of performance. It’s a beautifully-engineered mechanical chronometer certified 99.998% accurate by COSC.

Wilkins the Jeweller 76 Strand Street, Douglas, IM1 2EW Isle of Man Tel 01624 690450 wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk

Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | April 2016

The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man

HOME

FEATURE PROPEPRTY

St yl is h f am i ly ho m e av ai l ab le no w i n Peel & P o r t Er i n

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his stunning 5 bedroom detached home with integral double garage, features award-winning design and a superb level of finish and specification throughout including: extensive open-plan kitchenbreakfast and sunroom, master bedroom with full en-suite bathroom, and fitted wardrobes in four of the five double bedrooms.

Constructed to the highest standard, each home benefits from excellent levels of insulation, high quality double glazing, central heating and hot water systems powered by the latest generation in energy efficient boilers.

With a 10 year NHBC warranty, these stunning homes benefits from a contemporary open-plan layout which complements today’s modern lifestyles perfectly, and are finished to the highest standards – inside and out.

Priced from £544,950 The Silverdale is ready to move in and is available in Peel or Port Erin with all this included as standard:

– Superb kitchen by top German manufacturer featuring a full range of high quality, integrated appliances – Luxurious fully tiled bathrooms and en suites – Stylish fitted wardrobes – Floor coverings – Landscaped gardens – Integral double garage

For full details contact Dandara Homes on: 615000 email: iomsales@dandara.com or visit the show home 11am to 4pm Saturday & Sunday or by appointment at all other times.

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The Silverdale is ready to move in now!

View the Silverdale show home in Peel, open - Saturday and Sunday 11am - 4pm.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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Introducing

BESPOKE BATH ING immerse in the sublime

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Te l + 4 4 ( 1 6 2 4 ) 6 1 7 7 8 8 . Tr o m o d e E s t a t e , D o u g l a s , I s l e o f M a n . c u b b i n a n d b r e g a z z i . c o m

HOME

THE ISLAND'S MOST EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT SITE The former Howstrake Holiday Camp, King Edward Road, Onchan

£ Price on application

A unique opportunity to purchase one of the Isle of Man’s most iconic coastal sites.

Extending to some 25 acres, this secluded headland location to the north of Douglas, on the coast south of Groudle Glen, provides dramatic views across the Irish Sea to Cumbria.

Howstrake now benefits from planning permission in principle for development of a signature residential building of over 20,000 sq ft, including ancillary staff and office accommodation, a new access road and an improved site boundary.

Key Features n The Island’s most exclusive development site n Site extends to circa 25 acres n Stunning coastal location with stunning sea and rural views n Planning permission for a 20,000+ sq ft dwelling and ancillary buildings n Truly unique opportunity n Short drive to the Islands capital centre n 25 minutes to the airport n Perfect location for business and pleasure n Private and secluded gardens

DESIGN PROPOSAL The proposed design will create an open plan lifestyle with specialist touches to create a truly inspirational space where the highest specifications are integrated with eco-friendly living systems. It will be a comfortable sanctuary of health and wellbeing to relax, work and entertain. The Architecture will effortlessly flow, frame sea views and capture natural light into the living spaces.

THE SITE Howstrake, home of the first holiday camp in the British Isles, has lain vacant since its last visitors left in 1973. On the coast South of Groudle Glen, the site is adjacent to King Edward Road. The beautiful forested Groudle Glen with nature trails lies immediately to the north of the site.

There is also private access from the site to the stunning cove at Groudle Beach.

The landscape will embrace the house within a series of indoor and outdoor spaces and into winter gardens where the orientation and site planning has maximised seasonal enjoyment throughout the day. The place will be framed by an outstanding wooded landscape and spectacular secluded cliff top environment.

The purchaser will have the flexibility to develop the detailed design of the house to their own specifications.

A reserved matters application should be submitted before the end of August 2017.

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T: 01624 667788 W: garforthgray.im ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

The Renewable Solutions Provider Making a World of Difference

Clearly an efficient way to deliver hot water and heating to your home Ecodan heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric clearly offer a viable, low-maintenance, cost-effective alternative to traditional heating systems. Suitable for the vast majority of homes on the island, there has never been a better time to switch to a cleaner, greener heating and hot water solution that could save you money.

Ecodan could also qualify for the ‘Comfy Heat’ electricity tariff from Manx Utilities, bringing further cost savings.

Ecodan. Clearly efficient, clearly renewable.

For further information call 675555 or visit ecodanerp.co.uk/IOM4

HOME

HAVEN HOMES OPENS DOOR TO

exclusive new development in Ramsey

Local housing developer Haven Homes launched its new exclusive waterfront properties at North Shore in Ramsey at a special open weekend on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March. The show home was officially opened on Saturday morning by MHK Laurence Skelly.

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rospective buyers got a chance to view the architecturally stunning three and four bedroom townhouses, which are being built on a unique harbour side location overlooking Ramsey’s West Quay.

With striking modern designs, the 24 North Shore townhouses are being constructed to the highest specifications, offering outstanding value, superb energy efficiency and exceptional craftsmanship along with stunning sea views and easy access to Ramsey town centre.

The homes also feature elegant contemporary interiors, precision built German kitchens with A-rated appliances and luxury bathrooms. All properties come with 12-year build warranties.

Dave Lewis, co-owner of Haven Homes, said: “We are pleased to have officially launched our North Shore development and we are ecstatic at the success of the launch having

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THOSE PURCHASING ANY OF THE HOMES WILL RECEIVE FREE ENTRY TO A PRIZE DRAW TO WIN A BRAND NEW SUZUKI VITARA CAR. ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

HOME

We are ecstatic at the success of the launch having welcomed over 400 visitors to the show home and taken a significant number of reservations over the weekend. welcomed over 400 visitors to the show home and taken a significant number of reservations over the weekend. We are incredibly proud of the high standard of finish that we are able to offer and we are very grateful to all of our skilled staff who strive daily to deliver these exceptional standards. We would encourage anyone who missed the launch weekend to come and have a tour of the show home to appreciate how special these properties really are.”

“Not only do they provide all the comfort and facilities a modern family expects, the townhouses also offer a level of style and individual design that is often only seen at the higher end of the market.

“We recognise there is a gap, and indeed a need, for good quality, distinctive affordable family homes on the Isle of Man and our North Shore properties, which are priced from £219,000, are aimed at meeting that need.”

Those purchasing any of the homes will receive free entry to a prize draw to win a brand new Suzuki Vitara car.

All homes offer LED lighting, high thermal efficiency, marine grade double glazing, contemporary oak doors, robust ironmongery and high quality carpeting throughout the living areas. Each property has its own turfed garden and patio area with the four bedroom houses also offering an integral garage and first floor terrace with views over the harbour.

Haven Homes is based in Port Erin and was established by two local property developers. It specialises in providing Isle of Man residents with the opportunity to enjoy living in unique smaller scale developments that combine dramatic fresh modern designs with excellent build quality and energy efficiency.

The North Shore development follows hot on the heels of the company’s earlier successful Hampton Farm development on the outskirts of Douglas.

Mr Lewis added: “We are particularly pleased to be building this latest development in Ramsey. The town itself has recently gained a new lease of life resulting from the excellent regeneration works.

It is a great place for families with good schools, plenty of leisure facilities, a range of lively independent shops, as well as being within walking distance of the sea and the countryside.

A Manxman from birth, Mr Lewis believes that local experience and expertise are the key to identifying local needs and opportunities in the Isle of Man’s housing market: “Our local knowledge and understanding of the natural Island environment gives us an advantage in selecting potential areas for development."

“North Shore, for example, is unique with a spectacular waterside location and North Barrule providing a breath-taking natural backdrop. The North Shore development is ideally positioned to enjoy all that Ramsey has to offer with the style, comfort and convenience of a modern home.”

Haven Homes’ North Shore development is situated on North Shore Road, opposite Mooragh Park. The show home is open every weekend from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays and 2pm to 4pm on Sundays.

“We are really looking forward to showing further prospective buyers around and answering any questions they may have,” said Mr Lewis.

“From the launch weekend alone this is proving to be an incredibly popular development and we suggest that those in the market for a stylish modern home, offering the highest in standards and excellent value for money, visit as soon as possible.”

For further details on this development or to arrange a viewing outside the opening hours contact Black Grace Cowley on 645555 or Dean Wood on 816111.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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HOME

APT 19 Campion Crescent , Reayrt Ny Keylley, Peel

ÂŁ155,000

A well presented open plan apartment with 2 double bedrooms one with en-suite.

Situated near the primary, and high school, swimming pool and supermarket.

Outside there are 2 designated parking spaces situated at the front of the property.

At the rear there is a communal yard and bin store with service lane access.

Key Features n First floor purpose built apartment n Spacious well laid out accommodation n Immaculate decorative order throughout n Views towards Slieau Whallian & Peel hill n Modern dining kitchen n 2 Double bedrooms (1 En-Suite) n Modern bathroom n 2 Designated parking spaces (No.19)

T: 01624 667788 W: garforthgray.im

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Monthly spending going up and up?

Bills and mortgage payments soon add up.

Keep your repayments down by fixing your mortgage for the next 2 years.

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variable after that

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2 year fixed rate. Up to 60% LTV. Product fee of ÂŁ999. Other fees may be payable.

Early repayment charge applies until 31.05.18. Other products are available.

Visit your local branch

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

iombank.com/mortgages Call us today 01624 637000 Like Isle of Man Bank on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @iombank Isle of Man Bank Limited (IOMB). Registered Company Number: 1 Isle of Man. Registered Office: 2 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1AN. Licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority in respect of Deposit Taking, Investment Business and registered as a General Insurance Intermediary. APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and is an interest rate which takes account of the full amount of interest on any money borrowed plus the timing of repayments and any other charges that you have to pay. It may not take into account any reduction in interest rate following the maturity of the initial product. The frequency of the interest payments, for example monthly or quarterly, affects the calculation. Rates correct as at (01.03.2016). Subject to availability. Over 18’s only. Security required. Calls may be recorded.

HOME

FEATURED PROPERTY

Ballacoyne, Douglas Road, Kirk Michael BALLACOYNE, DOUGLAS ROAD, KIRK MICHAEL * Spacious detached family home situated in a picturesque rural location * The property enjoys magnificent countryside views from all elevations * Generously appointed Reception Rooms, 4 double Bedrooms * 3 of which have luxuriously appointed En Suite Bathrooms * Study, Sun Room, Games Room, Wine Cellar, Farmhouse

£1,150,000 £1,150,000

* Pond fed from a mountain stream which flows through the beautiful Glen setting * Greenhouse and Summerhouse in an elevated position with countryside views * Detached double garage with storage accommodation above and generous parking * Viewing is highly recommended

Kitchen and Utility * Set within 12 ½ acres of land, including well-fenced fields and mature woodland

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BLACK GRACE COWLEY T: 645555 www.blackgracecowley.com

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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DOWNSIZING CAN BE A MOVING EXPERIENCE! EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO VALERIE GALPIN WAS FACED WITH MAKING A MOMENTOUS AND LIFE CHANGING DECISION WHEN AFTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND JOHN SHE FOUND HERSELF LIVING ALONE IN A SPRAWLING BARN CONVERSION OF SOME 5,000 SQ FT IN DALBY. Words: Les Able

“It had been our home for 20 years in a hamlet which we loved but I recognised that living there on my own was no longer realistic so downsizing and moving to a more manageable property in a location closer to shops wasn’t just an option it was vital for my quality of life,” said Valerie.

Three months ago Valerie moved into a renovated Victorian house in Peel where she is within walking distance of the town centre and all its amenities. But there was also another major factor which played a part in Valerie’s decision to downsize.

“In 10 years time I will be approaching 80 so my decision was based on looking to the future and retaining my independence, coupled with financial security and the peace of mind that comes with it,” she added.

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Downsizing essentially means that you are reducing the size of your home – usually by selling an existing property and moving to a smaller property or apartment with a smaller mortgage, or no mortgage at all. It generally means realising some or all of the equity in an existing property.

The reasons people choose to downsize are varied and personal. But generally downsizing coincides with retirement or retirement planning. n There are lifestyle reasons to downsize, maybe the children have left home and the house is too big and empty, n Maybe you’re sick of mowing the lawn and it takes too much effort to maintain your current property.

She concedes that making the decision when still coming to terms with her bereavement was not easy. “You have to work hard to stay on top of that bereavement, particularly when having to part with items which have sentimental memories, I also had to part with some 2,000 books. Face it, some things just won’t fit.”

n There are financial reasons – you may simply want to free up some cash for retirement by buying something smaller and cheaper and investing or using the money elsewhere.

Valerie’s decision and experience comes as more surveys show that the baby boomers of yesteryear are now middle-aged and heading towards old age and increasingly looking to downsize once children have grown up and left home.

n Perhaps you just want a change of scenery, or have a simpler life, or travel the world.

n Cost cutting is also a main reason for moving to a smaller property as it will normally mean lower bills and less maintenance.

n You may even wish to consider buying a smaller home in advance of retirement

with the view to renting out the property until you are ready to downsize.

“Start thinking about it before you actually need to,” is the unequivocal advice from Valerie Galpin. “Consider why you think you wish to downsize and continue to think about it, looking at the different options.

Try to envisage how long you plan to stay in this next house and what life changes there will be in this period of time, eg children leaving home, elderly parents moving in to live with you, retiring from work and being absent for prolonged or frequent periods.”

A spokesperson for estate agents Chrystals said there was definitely an increasing demand for bungalows, along with apartments, coming from more mature buyers who were looking to downsize by selling their four or five bedroom properties which had once been the family home for some years.

“Often those buyers are single, possibly as a result of their husband or wife having recently died, and are looking for something smaller which is low maintenance and the rates are also less,” he added. “There are also those buyers who, as a result of selling a larger property in the £450,000 category, are in a financial position to buy not only a smaller property here but perhaps something in a warmer climate where they can spend the winter months.”

All in all, the approach might be to downsize in your early 60s, then it’s a new adventure and you’ve still got the energy to cart boxes around. Otherwise, it could well be an emergency at 80, with family and friends suggesting that the next step should be a care home!

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

SLIEAU WHALLIAN VIEW WEST SIDE STORY The Maple at Peel

Perfectly positioned for everything Peel has to offer, Slieau Whallian View offers a choice of two, three and four bedroom homes.

The Maple at Peel

From £259,950, prices include: • Traditionally built with the highest levels of energy efficiency available today • Stunning German kitchen • Full range of integrated kitchen appliances • Floor coverings • Stylish fitted wardrobes • Luxurious tiled bathrooms • Landscaped front garden

BUNGALOWS COMING SOON ︱ Register now for details at iomsales@dandara.com

Call 01624 615000 Visit dandara.com

Sales Suite, 22-24 Victoria St, Douglas, Isle of Man SHOW HOMES OPEN Sat and Sun 11am - 4pm Specification may vary subject to house type and build stage. Full details available on request. Details correct at time of going to print. Images indicative only.

HOME

Langdale Gansey point Port St Mary

ÂŁ845,000

This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the Island’s secure opulent coastal locations boasting panoramic sea views.

Langdale is set in approximately two thirds of an acre of beautiful landscaped gardens and offers complete privacy.

Key Features n Large coastal residence set in a panoramic location n Stunning views over surrounding countryside, Gansey Bay, Port St Mary and harbour n 5 reception rooms and study n Dining kitchen plus preparation kitchen/utility room n Master bedroom suite with lounge area, walk-in dressing room and ensuite bathroom n 4 further double bedrooms (2 ensuites) n Family bathroom and separate cloakroom (WC) n Integral double garage n Beautifully landscaped private gardens set in approximately two thirds of an acre

T: 01624 667788 W: garforthgray.im

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FASHION

ARIANA GRANDE is nothing if not consistent. Since her debut album Yours Truly in 2013, the 22-year-old has had a string of top 10 singles on both sides of the Atlantic, after successfully segueing from a teen TV career (on Nickleodeon show Victorious and spin off Sam & Cat) to music world domination.

And the American singer’s style has barely changed, either - but that’s no bad thing. Work this super hot midi with the bardot crop and some mega high heels for an ultimate style that screams glam! :: The Ariana Grande for Lipsy stripe prom skirt, £40.00 (www.lipsy.co.uk)

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AMANDA HOLDEN is getting a head start on the spring trends with the spliced stripe dress she wore to a recent taping of Britain’s Got Talent. For a similarly ontrend style, but without that tricky midriff cut-out, try the Fenn Wright Manson Braque Dress, £189 (www.fennwrightmanson.com).

TALLIA STORM clocked up more fashion week miles (and costume changes) than possibly any other front-rower at London Fashion Week. The singer displayed her brand loyalty at the Sibling show, wearing a pretty pink two-piece from the designers’ recent collaboration with River Island. :: River Island Design Forum Flower Print Denim Skirt, £38, and matching Bralet, £32 (www.riverisland.com)

Wouldn’t you love to have DAVID BECKHAM as your personal shopper?

Well now you can (sort of), because Beckham has hand-picked his ‘Modern Essentials’ from the H&M spring menswear collection. “The mix of tailoring and updated classics creates the perfect wardrobe for the season ahead,” he says.

And who are we to argue with one of GQ mag’s best dressed men? :: Modern Essentials Jacket, £24.99; T-shirt, £7.99; and Trousers, £24.99, all H&M (www.hm.com)

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FASHION

CLAIRE CHRISTIAN COUTURE FASHION SHOW Words: Sam New/Maria Hill Photos: Rob New Isle of Man Photography Studio

It’s not often we can all escape for an evening in Paris. Claire Christian Couture brought Paris to the Isle of Man in the form of an extravagant Spring Summer fashion show held at Claremont Hotel on the evening of 11th of March. The island’s fashionista elite and local businesses celebrated the event. The highly sought after “Gold Tickets” were the momentum’s of the night, as guests opened beautiful white and gold boxes, with real python gold clutches inside.

“Midnight in Paris” was a show of Claire’s love for the ‘joie de vivre’ of the Paris lifestyle. Models wore designs with a “Nautical but Nice” fun and playful take on the classic colors, Red, White and Navy, that make up the foundation of French fashion.

Inspiration was also taken from a more historical side of the beautiful city influenced by the 1920’s characters such as Scott BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

F. Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemmingway, with reference to the abstract colors and eye-catching patterns of films and time period. Taking these bright and bold colors, whilst looking at how modern Parisians have adapted the boho trend created a stunning mix of chic and sophistication, with a relaxed look that exudes effortless chic.

The collection was enhanced with beautiful Colombian made accessories, hand-crafted by the indigenous Wayuus community creating the French style Bohemian eyecatching looks. Vogue have acclaimed this is the summer designer accessory for 2016.

All the collections can be found in the Claire Christian Couture store, on the 1st Floor, at 47 Duke Street, Douglas, Isle of Man.

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BEAUTY

Gin Joints Amber-based fragrance Escentric Molecules Escentric 02, £69.50 for 100ml, contains a note of gin and tonic alongside lemonade, making a spritz as refreshing as a tall glass of Bombay Sapphire and FeverTree (www.liberty.co.uk).

The Library of Fragrance Gin & Tonic, £15 for 30ml, goes one further, expertly replicating the peppery, juniper-laced Mother’s Ruin and mixer scent (www. thelibrar o ra rance com).

Pint Pot Beer is known to make hair super-glossy, but you don’t want to go rinsing with a pint of lager (that would just be a waste).

Instead, try Lush Cynthia Sylvia Stout, £4.75, which contains just the right dose of beer, plus a dash of shine-enhancing lemon juice (uk.lush.com).

Lovely Bubbly Inspired by the finest of wines, Molton Brown Vintage 2015 Elderflower Bath & Shower Gel, £20, sparkles like a glass of Champagne and boasts a gorgeous grapefruit, elderflower and vetiver bouquet (www ho seo raser co ).

SAY CHEERS TO BOOZY BEAUTY!

With this being our appetite issue here’s some beauty products infused with your favourite boozy scents. Cheers.

That’s The Spirit Lush Ocean Salt Face And Body Scrub, £14.25, contains an extract of limes steeped in vodka, plus grapefruit and sea salt, making it a granular, bracing exfoliator.

Avocado butter and coconut oil ensure your skin is left feeling silky soft (uk.lush.com).

Whisky-Ed Away Craving a dram of single malt?

Noble Isle Whisky & Water Bath & Shower Gel, £20, and Luxury Hand Wash, £18, meld wafts of the smoky Scottish spirit with vanilla and cedarwood, resulting in a beautifully cocooning blend (www.nobleisle.com).

Chase them with a splash of Atkinsons Triple Extract Eau de Cologne, £85 for 50ml, which contains notes of juniper black tea whiskey, to keep the heady aroma going (www.harrods.com).

Cocktail Menu Shake up your bathing routine with a pack of Cocktail Bath Melts, £8.95 (PrezzyBox.com).

Choose from strawberry daiquiri, pina colada, gin and lime or mango mojito - pop one in and watch your tub transform into a steamy, tropical haven.

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Brandy Fine Another spirit-inspired cologne, Tom Daxon VSOP Eau de Parfum, £105 for 50ml, opens elegantly with notes of cognac and bergamot, before making way for spices and a musky finish (www.tomdaxon.com).

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RECIPES

Recipes to try at home

LAMB AND AUBERGINE CASSEROLE (Serves 4)

n 2 aubergines, cut into 2.5cm cubes n Olive oil spray n 1tbsp olive oil n 1 large onion, finely sliced n 600g lean lamb leg or shoulder, trimmed of fat and diced n 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped n 1/2tsp ground allspice n 1/2tsp ground cumin n 1/2tsp ground coriander n 1/2tsp cayenne or hot chilli powder n 1/4tsp ground cinnamon n 400g can of chopped tomatoes n 200ml chicken stock or water n 1tbsp pomegranate molasses n 1tbsp lemon juice To serve: n Small bunch of parsley, leaves only, to serve n Salt and black pepper

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Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7. Put the aubergines in a bowl and spritz them with olive oil spray, then turn them over and repeat. Spread the aubergines on a baking tray and roast them in the oven for about 20 minutes, until they’re starting to brown.

Add the tomatoes and the stock or water.

Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat, put a lid on the casserole dish and simmer for an hour until the lamb is becoming tender. Add the aubergines and the pomegranate molasses, cover again and cook for another 30 minutes.

Heat the olive oil in a large flameproof casserole dish. Add the sliced onion and cook it slowly over a gentle heat for about 10 minutes, until it’s soft and translucent, then turn up the heat and add the lamb.

Cook until the lamb is well browned, stirring regularly, then reduce the heat and add the garlic and spices. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove the lid from the casserole. If the sauce is very liquid, simmer until it has reduced slightly, then add the lemon juice.

Serve sprinkled with parsley.

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BUBBLE AND SQUEAK (Serves 4)

n 300g carrots, cut into chunks n 300g swede, cut into chunks n 10g butter n 150g spring greens, cabbage or Brussels sprouts, shredded n 1tbsp olive oil

n 1 small onion, finely chopped n Olive oil spray To serve: n Poached or fried eggs, to serve (optional) n Salt and black pepper

Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Add the carrots and swede and cook them for about 10 minutes or until tender.

Drain thoroughly, then tip them back into the saucepan and leave them over a low heat for a few minutes, just to help steam off any excess liquid.

Swede in particular can get quite waterlogged, so this is important.

root veg mash and the greens together and season with salt and pepper.

Mash the carrots and swede with the butter until fairly smooth. Tip the mash into a bowl and leave it to cool, then chill it in the fridge for a while to firm it up.

Wash the greens thoroughly, put them in a saucepan with a little water and cover the pan.

Place the pan over the heat and cook for a few minutes until the greens have wilted down, then drain them thoroughly and leave them to cool.

When you’re ready to cook the bubble and squeak, mix the BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and gently fry the chopped onion over a medium heat until it’s softened and caramelising around the edges.

Add this to the vegetables, then tip everything back into the frying pan and spread the mixture out into a large round.

Cook the bubble and squeak over a medium heat for several minutes until it’s nice and brown underneath and cooked through.

Meanwhile, preheat your grill to its highest setting. Spritz the top of the bubble and squeak with olive oil spray, then pop it under the grill for three to four minutes until it’s browning around the edges and in patches on top. Cut it into wedges and serve as part of a brunch with poached or fried eggs, if you like.

INDIVIDUAL FISH PIES (Serves 4)

n 1 x 400ml tin coconut milk n 1tbsp garlic-infused oil n Juice and zest of 1 lemon n 2 bay leaves n 300g cod fillet (approx 2 small fillets) n 300g undyed smoked haddock n A splash of white wine (optional) n Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

n 1 large celeriac, peeled and chopped into equal-sized chunks n 2 sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves picked n 1 1/2tbsp unflavoured coconut butter n 150g raw king prawns n 3 spring onions, green parts only, thinly sliced n A small handful of fresh chives, chopped n 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, to serve

Put the coconut milk, garlic oil, lemon juice and zest and bay leaves into a large, deep pan.

Add the cod and haddock and bring to a gentle simmer. Poach the fish for approximately 10 minutes until the flesh flakes easily.

and mash with the coconut butter, and season with salt and pepper.

Remove the fillets and set aside.

Add the wine (if using) to the poaching liquid, season to taste with salt and pepper, and leave to simmer over a low heat while you make the celeriac mash.

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

Put the celeriac into a pan of boiling water and boil with the thyme leaves until tender. Drain

Flake the fish and divide between four individual ovenproof dishes (or you can use one big dish). Add the prawns, spring onion and chives to each pot and pour over a quarter of the poaching liquid - it should have thickened slightly by now. Top with celeriac mash and bake for 4050 minutes, or until the pies are golden on top.

Scatter with chopped fresh parsley and serve with steamed greens, such as broccoli, peas or rainbow chard.

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APPETITE

TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT BREAKFAST? Well it is the most important meal of the day is it not? So why do half of us Brits skip it? -more than any other European nation. And besides from being delicious, new research claims eating breakfast helps you lose weight… bonus.

But at the end of the day (or start I should say) believing everything you read in the papers is a dangerous game.

“Eating breakfast helps you lose weight” or “Skipping breakfast makes you fat” - glossy magazine headlines like this are all too familiar but new research by The University of Bath is claiming that “Breakfast helps obese people be more active” a refreshing change. If weight loss is the goal- scientists say neither eating it nor skipping is going to be revolutionary. However, based on other markers of a healthy lifestyle eating breakfast does seem to have a positive effect, both in adults and children.

But it is easier said than done. We all have those mornings where the trade off between breakfast and snoozing your alarm once or twice for an extra five minutes snuggled under the duvet just doesn’t compare; or skipping a meal or two before a night out as a quick fix to help the slightly tight zip on your dress do up. Skipping meals does more harm than we may realise to not just our bodies but also our mindseven more so if it’s the first meal of the day you cull. (and a cup of coffee doesn’t count) On top of the hunger pains, the being hangry, the fuzzy headache and a distinct lack energy, the hidden affects on our body are scary.

Blood sugar levels become unstableGlucose is a simple sugar used as energy by our bodies and without it our bodies struggle to perform regular functions.

Eating breakfast gives us the initial boosts we need to kick start the day. Skipping this leads to an increased level of the hormone that causes you to be hungry (unsurprisingly) which tends to mean

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overeating at the next meal.

Metabolism slows. When you skip a meal your digestive system isn’t able to digest anything and so enters starvation mode in an effort to conserve energy. When this happens your metabolism slows way down so when you do eat the food will not be burnt off as efficiently as normal.

Brain function decreases. Without a proper supply of nutrients, your emotional and intellectual functions are clouded. You become moodier, irritable and it is harder to concentrate… so basically you stop being a nice person and produce a lower standard of work. Not ideal.

These factors combined backup The University of Bath’s claims. Although skipping breakfast is not the be all and end all, we have gone without eating overnight and so adding a few more hours won’t harm, rather eating earlier in the day helps your mood, energy levels and body function to improve, meaning you are likely to be more active and snack less later in the day- overall a healthier happier you.

This advice is tragically not based on a full English fry up every morning. Although this may be the best hangover cure, the contents of your weekday meals are just important as the eating itself. Breakfast is probably the easiest meal you can make nutritionally dense yet still keeping it delicious- you can even add a sprinkling of diamonds and you’ll shine all day!

It takes the average Brit 7m 51s to eat their

week day breakfast. A quick slice of toast as your run out the door may be the norm but taking the time to enjoy your meal will pay off. However hectic your lifestyle there is no excuse “fail to prepare; prepare to fail”- meal prep is the way forward. Whilst preparing the children’s packed lunch, make yourself a nutrient dense, easy to eat breakfast, and as a bonus it will save you money. And just for reference- it doesn’t have to be a green juice straight off a yogajunkies Instagram feed for you to gain the benefit!

Ideally breakfast should be high in fibre, carbohydrate, protein and fat to give you slow releasing energy, keeping you invigorated and more active as the study showed. The most important thing to avoid is processed sugar. Conquering your sleepiness with this easy fix may give you and instant high but it will only end in an even bigger low. Hidden in white bread, processed cereals, jam and flavoured yoghurt, easy alternatives to try are: whole grain bread topping with banana, avocado or nut butter; unprocessed cereals such as oats- either cooked or soaked overnight with your favourite toppings; or pre-boiled eggs with spinach and smoked salmon.

So remember, it’s not the act of eating breakfast that causes weight loss, just as skipping it doesn’t cause weight gain.

It is a “prevention rather than cure” type situation- it is the results of higher energy levels making you more active and snacking less throughout the day that lead to a healthier lifestyle. If you haven’t already guessed I only like sleep because it is a time machine to breakfast!

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[ BRADDA GLEN RESTAURANT & TEA ROOMS ]

chef speak Chef’s Name? Steve Harrison What’s special about Bradda Glen?

Bradda Glen is nestled on the northern shore of Port Erin Bay, offering views across the town and even down as far as the Calf of Man. It is a beautiful and intimate setting come rain or shine.

What’s your favourite dish on the menu?

Bacon Bap In my kitchen I couldn’t live without?

Rationale Oven Favourite cooking gadget?

Grab Tab What’s been the most challenging situation you have had to deal with whilst at work?

The Wife!

What’s your favourite smell?

Roast Beef Marmite… yes or no?

Yes What’s your tipple?

Gin and Tonic, Tanqueray Gin Favourite restaurant outside of the Isle of Man? Langans in London

BRADDA GLEN RESTAURANT SUMMER 2016

SUNNY BRADDA IDEAL WEDDING VENUE GREAT CAKES, TEAS & COFFEES BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

OPEN 10AM TO 10PM FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER

Tel: 837713 www.braddaglen.im

SUNSET TAPAS EVENINGS LOCAL ALE ON TAP AL FRESCO DINING

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APPETITE

WORDS | Anne Berry | The Wine Cellar

An appetite for wine IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE A TASTING MENU IN A TOP RESTAURANT INCLUDING WINES, YOU WILL REALISE THAT MANY HOURS HAVE BEEN SPENT RESEARCHING THE FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGS. THE AIM IS FOR THE FLAVOURS OF THE FOOD TO BE ENHANCED BY THE WINE, WITH NEITHER DOMINATING, TO GIVE AN OVERALL TASTING EXPERIENCE.

M

atching a wine to your own menu or vice versa does not have to be complicated or time consuming.

Personal taste is important; if you prefer to drink white wine and struggle with reds, why should you suddenly drink a heavy red with your steak?

Tradition tells us to drink white wine with fish and red wine with meat. However, there are so many species of fish that this rule is far too general. A wine that would suit grilled lemon sole would be completely lost if it was paired with tuna or monkfish.

Likewise a light red wine to match roast pork, would be overpowered if matched with game.

There is more to it than simply colour, which is why it is perfectly possible to match a red with fish and a white with steak. The key is in the balance. Matching the weight, acidity, sweetness and texture of the wine and food so that they are balanced will help create a good match.

In European wine making regions, where wine has been produced since Roman times, it is usual to find that the food of the region is well suited to the local wines. These are combinations that have developed over the years and work on the principle of ‘What grows together, goes together!’

Next time you have friends round or just fancy experimenting at home, try a few of these classic combinations.

GOATS CHEESE AND LOIRE VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC The history of goats cheese in France started in the Loire Valley and the combination of saltiness, sourness and sweetness makes the slightly aromatic, crisp dry Sauvignons a delicious accompaniment.

TOURAINE LES GRENETTES DOMAINE BEAUSEJOUR £9.75 Produced from old vines, this has textbook grapefruit, lime leaf and herb flavours. It is unoaked and terrifically pure and fresh, with a minerally edge that lingers on the mouthwatering finish.

POUILLY FUME - SERGE DAGUENEAU £16.95 The flagship wine from the leading estate of Serge Dagueneau et Filles. Produced from a blend of the different parcels of grapes, it is complex and has a wonderfully rich, mineral flavour.

TOMATOES AND ITALIAN REDS When we think of Italian cuisine, it is difficult not to think about tomatoes!

Tomatoes are notoriously challenging to match with wine because of their high acidity. Most red grape varieties have low

natural acidity, making them either taste dull when combined with the acidity of the tomatoes or a heavy red could overpower the fruitiness of the tomatoes. Indigenous Italian red varieties have higher acidity, making them the ideal partner.

BARBERA D’ASTI TENUTA OLIM BAUDA £11.25 A firm and full flavoured wine, rich and with a perfumed aroma. Its zesty fruity texture makes it a delicious accompaniment to chicken cacciatore or gnocchi in a fresh tomato and basil sauce.

RIOJA AND HEARTY CATALAN DISHES Potatoes sautéed with Chorizo or grilled vegetable pisto (similar to ratatouille) are traditional rustic dishes and the red wines produced from mainly the Tempranillo grape make a delicious combination.

RIOJA DE ALTO AMO £7.95 Rioja is called Joven (young) when it has had little or no oak ageing. A proportion of this wine has been aged in oak to give it more of the spicy, vanilla oak Rioja character that we in Britain have come to expect, but still maintaining a fruity easy drinking style.

THE WINE CELLAR • TENNIS ROAD • DOUGLAS • IM2 3QW TELEPHONE: 01624 611793 • EMAIL: anne@thewinecellar.im

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MOTORING

IS BLUE THE NEW GREEN?

(OR SHOULD WE JUST PAINT IT BLACK?)

WORDS Russ Atkinson

R

emember when green issues were green, before blue was the new green and green became green again?

A time when hybrid powertrains were all the rage but then environmentalists questioned the sustainability of producing batteries from metals with limited lifespans so scientists developed lighter weight cells from recyclable materials (although recycling isn’t widespread at current because mining is cheaper) resulting in more pure electic vehicles being produced? Which then lead people to complain about limited mileage and where the energy to charge them is derived from and so manufacturers decided to focus on cleaner combustion engines instead? It’s one big circle and it has the potential to be really confusing, so we’re here to try and figure out the real world differences between the lot.

In order to make a fair comparison I’ve tried to pick vehicles that retail at around the £20,000 mark but unfortunately that proved difficult, something that I’m putting down to the heightened cost of adding technology to an electric or hybrid vehicle versus the heightened fuel burn in a heavier vehicle, meaning the low emmissions petrol and diesel fuelled options here probably owe their frugal qualities to their lightweight nature. Being lightweight they’re also smaller, which puts them in an entirely different sector. Life is all about compromises though, right?

Representing the car of the future, where all energy will be derived from wind

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farms that are actually environmentally sound and produce enough energy to warrant building them (assuming that ever happens) is the Volkswagen e-Golf

(pictured top left).

Not to be confused with the Golf GTE, which is the spritelier petrol hybrid version, the e-Golf isn’t going to set any land speed records with a zero to sixty time of over ten seconds and a top speed of 84mph, which wouldn’t quite be good enough for escaping Hill Valley and

80% capacity in just 30 minutes which isn’t to be sniff ed at. The stated 118 mile range isn’t going to see you flying down motorways fully laden on your holiday travels but for travelling around dare I say it’d be more than adequate. Plus it just looks ‘just like a Golf’ rather than a Renault Twizy and nobody likes an tree hugging show-off . At around £22k OTR the price is just like a Golf too.

If you need a little more space or would like to travel further without having to concern yourself with how long the extension lead you’ve stashed in the boot is then the Ford

Mondeo TiVCT Hybrid (Pictured to the right of the e-Golf) also at around £22k OTR might

be for you. Combining a two litre petrol

“A barrel of 2016 vintage Brent Crude currently costs less than the barrel itself (back down towards 1987 prices) so whilst it’s all well and good for manufacturers to be cramming in batteries and energy recovery systems, but what about sticking to what we already know and love instead?” travelling back to 1985, although with 1.21 gigawatts of electricity available the batteries might charge a little quicker.

Speaking of charging, whilst it takes a full eight hours for a complete charge the e-Golf can perform a rapid charge up to

engine with an electric motor it’s around a second faster to sixty and over 20mph faster than the electric Golf, plus you’ll get half price parking over here too as it scrapes in at 99g/km CO2 on the emissions front, just one gram per kilometre under the threshold.

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The figure that your wallet is most concerned about, however, is a stated 68mpg.

If you thought the Mondeo’s 68mpg was impressive then get a load of the 81mpg that the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid e-HDi (pictured in the middle) puts out is next level. That’s what you get when you throw a diesel engine into the mix, and believe it or not the emission levels are even lower at 90g/km. Performance levels are roughly in line with the Mondeo and the price is only slightly higher at around the £23k mark, but throughout the car’s life you’d recoup that so many times over in fuel savings that I can’t even begin to imagine working it out. Given that oil is getting cheaper at the moment and electricity probably isn’t, hybrids could prove to be a solid choice. However to throw a spanner into the works it’s important to remember that less moving parts means less maintenance cost and when it comes to an electric motor there’s only one moving part. Off set this with the cost and lifespan of the batteries though and it’d be interesting to find out how hybrids and pure EVs (that’s electric vehicles to those of us outside the industry) compare when it comes to running costs in the next ten years or so.

Next up, here are the wildcards. A barrel of 2016 vintage Brent Crude currently costs less than the barrel itself (back down towards 1987 prices) so whilst it’s all well and good for manufacturers to be cramming in batteries and energy recovery systems, but what about sticking to what we already know and love instead?

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Originally developed purely to increase horsepower levels on existing engines to overcome the effects of altitude on aircraft engines, more efficient forced induction systems are now being put to use to allow the scaling down of new engines that put out comparable power to much larger capacity ones. Just look at Ford’s one litre EcoBoost engine that can deliver 138 horsepower from just three cylinders, for example. Rover weren’t even getting that from their 3.5 litre V8 engine in the early 80s!

The 1.4 litre MultiAir petrol engine in the Alfa Romeo MiTo MultiAir Progression (second in from the right) has been developed from technology used in Fiat’s two-cylinder TwinAir powerplant that incorporates solenoids with the more traditional mechanical camshaft to more closely control the intake and exhaust cycle to further improve efficiency to the tune of up to 60% less NOx whilst also producing up to 10% extra power and 15% extra torque compared to the engine it was derived from.

In fact, they’re even developing entirely camless engines at the moment, although it remains to be seen whether or not solenoids will be up to task over the course of a hundred or so thousand miles. The figures?

50mpg and 130g/km. That won’t get you free parking but it does only cost a sniff over twelve grand.

Combining tried and tested retro looks with an absurdly frugal tiny diesel engine if you thought the Peugeot 3008 I mentioned before was going to keep its crown in this comparison then think again as Fiat’s non-hybrid diesel offering returns 84mpg whilst only putting out 89g/km in emissions, pipping Peugeot to the post.

With 95 horsepower in a smaller package the performance is on a par with the others too so if you don’t need the space then this oil burning beauty could prove itself to be the most cost effective solution at around £14,000 OTR. Who’d have ever thought that a diesel engined car could just be the most efficient at not only keeping your bank balance in the black but also the environment in the green? Oil supplies may be dwindling, but if we burn half as much it’ll last twice as long and until our electricity grid ceases to derive energy from oil electric cars might not be doing us as much of a favour as we think they are. If it ain’t broke...

My wildest pick of the wildcards though, if you can describe any of these ecologically aware vehicles as wild in the first place, is the Fiat 500 1.3 MultiJet diesel (pictured last but by no means least importantly).

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HARDWARE

GADGETS

Deep fried

Unlike the other advances featured in our round-up, this particular entry can’t even remotely be considered ‘useful’. In 2012, a photographer by the name of Henry Hargreaves decided to create a series of images based on gadgets dipped in the deep-fat fryer. His artistic vision took in such gadgetry as MacBooks, iPods, iPhones, external hard drives and Game Boys. OK, it’s all very silly but still...

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What would happen if you stumbled across a buffet that was offering all you can eat tech? Truth is often stranger than fiction, so it shouldn’t surprise you that such innovations aren’t as far off as you might think.

So, from edible Instagram selfies to 3D printing your dinner: here are some crazy concepts that are likely to excite your taste buds as much as your brain.

Foodini

If edible Instagram prints made you hungry then we think we have something that can sate your appetite. Say hello to Foodini, the 3D printer that can print pizza, ravioli, burgers and a whole lot more.

Despite looking like a futuristic oven, the Foodini can’t actually cook the food – instead you can expect your meals to come out perfectly prepared as the Foodini’s nozzle controls the process and combines the ingredients according to set recipe patterns. Therefore it could come in particularly handy in the preparation of pasta, or cake mixes – just sit back and let the machine do all the hard work.

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RFID tags in food

Why would we want to embed radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in our food? That’s the question a design engineering student from the Royal College of Art in London has posed. In simple terms such a notion would allow our food to talk and broadcast data about itself, bringing an end to codes on food packets and warning us when it is about to spoil. With talk of smart fridges and other associated kitchen appliances, we wouldn’t be surprised if RFID tags started cropping up in our food sooner rather than later.

Scentee

Similarly, we’ve all wanted to send taste messages by phone, right?

Right? A new app and device pairing bizarrely lets you taste food and scented messages through your smartphone. The clever gizmo that makes all this possible is called Scentee and it works by emitting a number of different scents through a spray mechanism. The cleverness doesn’t end there as the app can also be linked to other apps on your phone, so if you fancy waking up to freshly brewed coffee just hook it up to your alarm.

Digital Taste Interface

Ever watch a cookery show and wish you could sample the onscreen culinary delights for yourself? Well, thanks to the clever folks at the University of Singapore and their Digital Taste Interface, such dreams could soon become a reality.

WikiCells

Together, as a planet, we are terribly wasteful.

Food and drink packaging is a major part of that problem; that’s why a project going by the name of WikiCells is attempting to do something about it. This space-age tech is the brainchild of Harvard bioengineer David Edwards.

WikiCells are best described as edible forms of packaging that contain food and drink, but significantly are made without using plastic. WikiCells mimic pieces of fruit in appearance and are made from a membrane “entirely comprised of natural food particles held together by nutritive ions”. A protective outer layer also aids durability.

The clever technology works by stimulating the taste buds via the use of electrodes through a piece of metal placed on the tongue. The device then recreates salt, sweet, sour and bitter tastes according to the flavours being presented on your TV, computer screen or games console. How’s that for food for thought?

Boomf

No doubt inspired by the millions of culinary creations snapped and then shared via Instagram, a London outfit by the name of Boomf thought the next logical step was to combine the two loves... And here we are: edible Instagram prints.

Visitors to Boomf’s website are encouraged to pick nine of their favourite pictures (taken from their Instagram account); these will then be printed onto the tops of bite-size (4cm x 4cm) marshmallow pieces for temporary enjoyment. How long the marshmallows will survive is entirely dictated by your appetite and craving for sweet things.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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HARDWARE

PHONE HOME

A PHONE WITH AN EDGE Meet the Samsung Galaxy S7; not just another new phone. A phone that looks good, feels good and is impressive in every way – this is not something you want to miss out on.

Samsung have pulled out all the stops on this one. They understand that you spend a lot of time with your phone and you need to look good together.

Beautifully slim, available in a sleek black or a smooth gold and with an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of 68, meaning it can be immersed in 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes!

Now for the dual pixel 12MP camera – introducing motion photos and panoramas. Photos no longer have to be one moment frozen in time, capture the seconds before you snap, and create lasting moving memories. Beautify yourself with the selfie flash and spotlight feature, so you look good in every snap!

Samsung Galaxy S7 is available from Manx Telecom – the islands leading 4G network - FREE @ £65 per month over 24 months on Smartphone Unlimited, which includes 10,000 minutes, 10,000 texts and 50GB of 4G data.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: WWW.MANXTELECOM.COM/SHOP CALL: 624624 OR POP INTO THE STORE IN STRAND ST. BEST PRICES GUARANTEED BY MANX TELECOM PRICE MATCH PROMISE. > >>

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BIG, BEAUTIFUL, POWERFUL The Microsoft Lumia 950XL gives you style, power and functionality all wrapped up in one superb phone.

With a 5.7 inch Quad HD display supported by a powerful octacore processor, the Lumia XL gives you one all-encompassing Windows experience driven by Windows 10. In the Windows Store, you can shop for apps, games and music, whilst Microsoft’s personal assistant, Cortana, will get you to every appointment on time.

The beauty of the Lumia 950 series can be found in the way it brings together your work and leisure. You can just as easily edit Word documents, fill in spreadsheets or check your email as you can play a game, watch a film or make memories with the 20 megapixel camera.

Crucially, all of your work, gameplay and creativity is synchronised across your devices. Windows 10 ensures that everything you need is always just a click or two away.

You can also connect to a Windows Display Dock to expand the 950XL experience, making you more productive by using an external keyboard, monitor and mouse to give you the full PC experience powered by your phone.

The 950XL comes with USB-C Fast Charging, wireless charging and an extra-large battery to keep you online all the time.

Make sure you experience the Microsoft Lumia 950 for yourself in the Sure Store today.

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