A Vision Network comments on Medieval Festival at Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle was transformed into a display of pomp and pageantry during the weekend as a popular medieval festival returned to the capital. As thousands of people gathered into the historic building for the fifth ‘joust’ event, they were greeted by the sound of hooves and horses, medieval songs and the thud of swords striking against shields. Persistent rain made the festivities damper than expected on Saturday; thankfully the residents made the most of the Sunday sunshine and filled the castle to bursting. A source from A Vision Network has said, “It is always a good idea to have a bit of fun during the weekend and the medieval festival is a great way to have fun.”

The jousting demonstrations performed by the Knights of Royal England left many children awestruck; many children were fully clad in medieval garb. Others heard grizzly medical tales from the medieval surgeon while others attended juggling and diablo lessons. As well as the jousting there were a host of other historic activities on show, from a giant catapult demonstration, jesters telling stories, battle re-enactments, historic cooking displays, falconry shows and roaming minstrels. “It is fantastic to hear everyone had fun with the amount of entertainment that was provided. It is always a good thing if the event peaks people’s interests in history,” said a source for A Vision Network. 

Families also got the chance to explore the castle’s imposing keep and venture into the castle walls, which had been transformed back into World War Two air raid shelters. New for this year was the appearance of a huge dragon, with children were invited to join the dragon procession through the castle. Hundreds of people were also allowed to use their tickets from Saturday on Sunday due to the bad weather on the previous day. Castle manager Kevin Burt has said that there had been more than 5,000 people attending the event during the weekend. A Vision Network has said, “This festival was definitely a highlight for Cardiff and it is great to hear that so many people turned out for the event. We at A Vision Network hope that everyone enjoyed themselves during the two day event and can’t wait for next year’s festival.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/ 

A Vision Network On ATMs To Operate Without A Card

A Vision Network a sales and marketing company based in Cardiff were excited by this new development in ATMs and mobile apps. Customers who use the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) or NatWest mobile banking app can now request cash, up to £100, via their smartphone.They are given a six-digit code to enter into an ATM to release the cash instead of using your bank card. “Such a helpful and great idea which will become bigger in the near future.” Stated a source from A Vision Network.

A similar system has been developed by cash machine operator NCR. This requires users to scan a barcode to withdraw the money.The services are the latest developments in a long-predicted move towards the smartphone becoming a digital wallet. Barcodes and scanning seem to becoming more applicable and found everywhere, I like the idea of being able to use my phone as a digital wallet instead of using my standard wallet everyday.” Said the director at A Vision Network.

RBS said that its new system would help customers who had forgotten their bank cards, or who wished to send cash to family members in a hurry.It would also allow the people to leave their wallets at home in favour of taking a mobile phone, it suggested."It is a really simple and secure way to help our customers get cash whenever and wherever they need it," said Ben Green, head of mobile at RBS and NatWest.

The service is available to customers who have downloaded the bank's free app and use the 8,000 RBS, NatWest or Tesco branded ATMs in the UK. Some 2.6 million people have installed it on their smartphone so far, the bank said.At present, customers using a card can withdraw up to £300. Initially the limit on the cardless withdrawal will be £100.

This basically will try to prevent thieves from looking over the user's shoulder to steal the code and access their account information. The system is an extension of a RBS service that allowed people whose card had been stolen to access emergency cash from an ATM. “I like the idea of how the app will stop thieves from seeing the code to access the account, But I will also like to see the app develop in the near future.” A source from A Vision Network.

A Vision Network Comment On Cardiff Festival Launched In The Bay

A Vision Network, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company, were recently pleased to hear of the launch of the capitals annual arts festival. The Cardiff Festival, now in its 26th year, aims to showcase another season of diverse events for local families and tourists. Organisers and sponsors gathered at St David’s Hotel & Spa in Cardiff Bay yesterday afternoon to officially launch the packed programme of events planned for the city.

“The Cardiff Festival is always amazing fun,” said our source at A Vision Network, “There's so much going on, and it's a great chance to get out and see the city, and have a fun time checking out all the events.”

Organisers have planned a total of 21 events for this year’s festival, which runs for three months from Saturday, June 2 until September 2. The city will officially celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as part of the festival, as well as making the most of the capital’s involvement in the Olympics.

Cardiff council leader Heather Joyce said: “I am very pleased to be launching what will be a special Cardiff Festival this year. I am delighted that there are so many landmark and historic events joining the festival in my first year, it may be a few years before we have Olympic and Jubilee events within the programme again. Alongside new and exciting events, old favourites will return to keep residents of Cardiff entertained and brings tourists from across the UK and beyond to our fantastic and vibrant capital city.”

Cardiff will host a Big Lunch event on St Mary Street on Sunday, June 3, as part of the city’s Jubilee celebrations. The city centre will also play host to full day of music, comedy and sports entertainment to mark the very first event of the London 2012 Olympic Games – a women’s football match featuring Team GB on July 25 at the Millennium Stadium.

“It's a real boost to the profile of Cardiff every year,” said our source from A Vision Network, “People come from all over to the city to experience the festival, and we hope this year will be no different, as the festival looks to be one of the best yet.”
Visit www.cardiff-festival.com for more information on the events taking place during the festival.

A Vision Network Comment On New University Hospital Of Wales Park And Ride Scheme

A new park and ride bus service to the University Hospital of Wales is set to be launched on Monday, May 14, in a bid to ease parking problems at the site. A Vision Network heard that the new service, which will be run in partnership with Cardiff council, the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Newport Transport. It aims to provide staff, patients and visitors with an affordable and convenient way of getting to and from the hospital. It is hoped the service will also help ease traffic congestion at the hospital’s Heath Park site by providing buses that are flexible, regular and low-cost.

“This should prove to be a really helpful service,” said a spokesperson from A Vision Network, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company, “There has always been problems with parking in the area, and this will really alleviate that.”

Scott Pearson, managing director of Newport Transport, said: “Everyone involved has recognised the need and importance of a park and ride service to the hospital to help offer more public transport opportunities to users and staff, as well as easing congestion and pressure on parking spaces.”

The service will run from the Pentwyn Park and Ride East site, off junction 30 of the M48, where a special area has been designated for parking and using the bus. The service timetable takes into account staff’s shift patterns with the first bus leaving Pentwyn at 6.30am. The service will operate every 20 minutes with a journey time from the park and ride site to the hospital of just seven minutes. The last bus will leave the hospital at 8.17pm. Users will be charged £1 to park their car and £1 per person for a return ticket to use the bus.

Our source at A Vision Network said, “It’s not only going to help the parking problems, but these services in general are really good for the environment. You see so many people driving to work with one person in one car, and the benefits to the environment, and to peoples wallets, of switching to public transport are very noticeable.”

Concessionary pass holders will be able to use the bus for free and only have to pay to park their car. The service will feature brand new buses with low-level flooring, CCTV and complimentary newspapers.

A Vision Network comments on awareness of type one diabetes

Teenager Marcus Burch has not only had to learn how to manage his diabetes but lobbies MPs to raise awareness of the condition. Not many teenage boys could say they had been to Parliament to help lobby MPs about something they feel passionately about. A source close to A Vision Network said “This is rather touching as diabetes affects more people every year and to spread news about it is vital.” “What Marcus us doing can be very effective if he gets the right backing, so taking his speech straight to parliament is the best way to be recognised.”  Marcus Burch, dedicating his spare time to working with diabetes charity JDRF and helping them to raise awareness about the issues faced by those with the condition is something that is high on his list of priorities.


The 16-year-old who is currently studying his A-levels at Eton College but is from Cyncoed, Cardiff, has just been part of the charity’s campaign group who visited Westminster to talk about their experiences and highlight the impact of the condition. Marcus said “We have always worked with diabetes charities so when this opportunity with JDRF came up, I really wanted to be a part of it. I hope that through this Parliament we can build some lasting momentum towards searching for a cure. It’s great to be doing something proactive and it’s a chance to consolidate and push forward with MPs here.  “It is clear to any reader that Marcus’s passion runs high when it comes to finding a cure for type one diabetes. What is clear to me is that Marcus has to battles to fight. One is diabetes the other is raising awareness for diabetes.” said A Vision Network. 


Marcus said “Going to Westminster has really opened my eyes. It allows us to show others the ups and downs of diabetes and that’s very invigorating. Marcus was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of seven when he complained to his parents about being thirsty all the time. His mother, Lis, 46, said: “He had shown all the signs he was going to the toilet more often and just generally feeling unwell. Thankfully, the care we received was marvellous.”  “There are so many types of diabetes and if not detected early can result in lifetime consequences. Marcus’s campaign to raise awareness is a necessity as people need to be made aware of the signs. We wish Marcus the best of luck we his campaign.”

A Vision Network Comment On Water-Ski And Wakeboard Park Planned For Cardiff City Centre

A Vision Network were excited to hear today about a water-ski and wakeboard park which will open in Cardiff city centre under new plans. The 735-metre-long cable-tow water ski system is being planned for East Bute Dock, next to the Atlantic Wharf housing development in Butetown. The 153-year-old dock, once at the heart of South Wales’ industrial revolution, is currently only occasionally used for events such as dragon boat racing. Cardiff Bay Wakeboarding this week submitted a planning application to Cardiff council. If the plans are approved, operations director Gareth Stevenson hopes the facility will open next March.

“It would be a really great addition to the already exciting city centre,” said our source at A Vision Network, “It would be great for tourism, as well as just being a lot of fun for the local residents.”

Mr Stevenson, a 41-year-old wakeboarding enthusiast from Rhiwbina, said it would be the first water-ski park in the world to be located in a city centre. He said accessibility, nearby transport links and shelter from the wind made it the ideal location. Tests of the water also showed it was good quality, he added.

“Being in the city centre people will be able to turn-up in whatever they are wearing, hire the equipment, have a session and then go on with their day,” Mr Stevenson said, “We will be able to run nine people at one time and it’s far cheaper and more accessible than skiing behind a boat. Anybody can have a go, as long as you have the strength to hold onto the cable.”

The idea is that skiers will be taken on an exhilarating three-lap ride of the circuit at 18 miles per hour, with “kickers” and “sliders” for more advanced wakeboarders. It will operate from late March to the end of October each year. Mr Stevenson said it would be suitable for beginners aged as young as nine through to experienced skiers.

Our source at A Vision Network, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company said, “I’ll definitely be giving it a go. I know a lot of people who would get a lot of enjoyment from something like this.”

A Vision Network On London 2012 Cardiff City Hall Olympic Rings Work Starts

A Vision Network a local sales and marketing company had this to say “We at A Vision Network are excited by the work started on the city hall Olympic rings. We can see this becoming a main attraction of the city during the games, since it will be at city hall and that tourists and locals will see it with ease. We cannot wait to see the end product of the Olympics rings and to see them close and personal.” The 5.7m (18ft) diameter interlocking rings in traditional Olympic colours of blue, black, red, yellow and green, will sit above the lawn fountain.

The Millennium Stadium will host the Olympics' first events, two women's football matches on Wednesday, 25 July. Westgate Street is shut for retractable steel bollards to be installed. Cardiff is to host 11 Olympic football matches in total, including two quarter-finals. A source at A vision Network stated “Its an honour and a privilege for Cardiff to kick off the first events by hosting them at our stadium of light, we hope that the games kick off to a great start and that it keeps going that way.”

Teams from at least 19 countries, involving around 1,000 athletes and support staff, are expected to train in Wales for the Olympic or Paralympic Games. The Olympic rings will be replaced in August by the three Paralympic "agitos", sweeping curves in red, blue and green, which will be displayed until December. A director from A Vision Network said, “I hope that the athletes are enjoying Cardiff for they deserve the best, also putting up the Agitos will also be another attraction to the city.”  

The displays, some 35m (115ft) from the building, will be floodlit and the aim is to make them the focal point of celebrations in the city. The city's central area conservation group, which last year objected to the annual Christmas fair and ice rink being sited outside City Hall, has said it considered the proposal acceptable. A managing director at A Vision Network said, “I cant wait to see the Olympic rings lit up by the floodlights for it will be a sight to see.”

The £300,000 cost of the rings and agitos will be met by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and not Cardiff Council.

A Vision Network On Millennium Stadium Readying For Olympics

A Vision Network heard today that Millennium Stadium bosses have vowed Cardiff’s iconic sporting venue will be ready when the eyes of the sporting world will be on Wales on July 25. The Millennium Stadium will host the first Olympic event at 4pm on July 25 when it stages a double-header of women’s football group games, 48 hours before the official opening ceremony in London. These are part of 11 matches to be held in Cardiff which include a GB men’s group game and the bronze medal play-off on August 10. But it is the first sporting action of London 2012 that the Millennium Stadium will first be judged on.

A source from A Vision Network, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company said “Although the main bulk of the Olympic Games is based in London, the first event is here in Cardiff and everyone will be watching Millennium Stadium at that point. It’s important that we are ready and can project a good impression of Wales to the rest of the world.”

“We will be ready and our track record backs this up,” said Millennium Stadium general manager Gerry Toms. “Having the first event in Cardiff is very significant. Everyone will want to see what the first event looks like and there will be a huge media interest. There is a lot of pressure but we have the team here to deliver. It is surprising how quick the time flies and 100 days focuses the mind and gives a sense of reality. There is a lot of work left to be done but we are on track and the remaining plans are very detailed.”

“It’s a huge opportunity for Wales,” said our source from A Vision Network, “It’s not an event that happens locally very often, but Millennium Stadium is already an internationally respected sporting venue, and I’m sure that with the work being done we’ll be ready to face the challenge.”

Toms also indicated he was confident doubts over security. “Security is a major issue,” added the former Chief Superintendent of South Wales Police. “You must accept the Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world and that bring an increased profile and levels of security with it. Our objective is to create a safe and secure environment for athletes and the spectators.

A Vision Network Comments On How Light Pollution Saturates The UK Night Skies

A Vision Network is a Cardiff based sales and marketing company and is shocked by a recent discovery that half of the UK's population cannot see many stars because the night skies are still "saturated" with light pollution.  Some 53% of those who joined a recent star count failed to see more than 10 stars in the Orion constellation. That had decreased only very slightly from 54% since 2007, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Campaign for Dark Skies.  The committee said that in 2010, local authorities collectively spent more than £500m on street lighting, accounting for 5% to 10% of each council's carbon emissions. The Managing Director of A Vision Network said, ‘this is a massive spend for the local authorities, cutting the amount of lighting nationwide has multiple benefits.’ 

A number of councils have tested schemes to switch off or dim street lights when they are not needed, although the trials have often proved controversial with residents. The information was gathered as part of the annual Star Count survey, which was held across two weeks in January and February this year.  Fewer than one in 10 said they could see between 21 and 30 stars, and just 2% of people had truly dark skies, seeing 31 or more stars. Emma Marrington, a rural policy campaigner for the CPRE, says: "When we saturate the night sky with unnecessary light, it damages the character of the countryside and blurs the distinction between town and country. But this isn't just about a spectacular view of the stars; light pollution can also disrupt wildlife and affect people's sleeping patterns. The evidence gathered during this year's Star Count Week shows that we need to take action now to roll back the spread of light pollution."  A Vision Network values maintaining the worlds beauty with the MD saying, ‘is a scary thought what else the next generations will be missing out on with so many not taking good care of our natural surroundings. Every step needs to be taken preserving our world.’ 

The Local Government Association, which represents councils, said local authorities were "well ahead of the game on this issue". "Over the past two years scores of local authorities up and down the country have been trialling the switching off and dimming of street lights late at night in quieter areas," it said. However, it added public safety had to come first and councils would not cut lighting if a large number of people were strongly opposed to the idea and there were genuine safety concerns. It added: "There is also a role for businesses to play in ensuring glaring lights and neon signs that light up the night sky are not left on unnecessarily." Both sides have compelling points – safety vs. light pollution and over spending – a source from A Vision Network continues, ‘the intentions from both points of view are good – but where do you draw the line.’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

A Vision Network Comments On Cardiff Blues Centre Jamie Roberts Targets October Comeback

Wales centre Jamie Roberts has targeted an October return following knee ligament surgery on Thursday. The Lion will miss the remainder of the season including the Blues Heineken Cup clash with Leinster and Wales' three-Test tour of Australia in June.

Roberts suffered a recurrence of a knee injury during the Blues' 31-3 Pro12 defeat at Glasgow last Friday."I'd miss September and hopefully aim to come back playing in October. That's a realistic goal," said Roberts."The decision has been made for me to have an operation on the anterior cruciate ligament later this week," he said."It will mean a minimum of roughly six months away from the playing field." A source at local sales and marketing company A Vision Network said, “We hope that Jamie Roberts has a speedy recovery and that all goes well for him”.

Roberts originally picked up a knee problem in the Heineken Cup win over Racing Metro in November. He spent a further spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury during the Blues' 28-9 Pro12 win over Newport Gwent Dragons in December. He returned for Wales' opening game of the Six Nations, the 23-21 win over Ireland in Dublin in February and played in the following four games as Warren Gatland's side secured the Grand Slam. “This is a huge success for Robert and has does our home team proud” stated A Vision Network.

Roberts' absence is a blow to the Blues ahead of their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday with Dafydd Hewitt or Gavin Evans set to deputise.

And the news comes a day after the club sacked Gavin Henson for misbehaviour on a flight from Glasgow .”This is a massive blow for the team, we hope that the team can recover from these set backs and  are ready and prepared for their upcoming games” said A Vision Network. "First and foremost, I'm pretty devastated to be missing this weekend's Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Leinster, in what is our biggest match of the season," said Roberts."It's a match I've been looking forward to for a long time but unfortunately my body hasn't quite allowed me to be a part of such a huge occasion for us as a region.

"I originally injured my knee in Paris playing against Racing Metro after returning from the World Cup."With the fantastic help from the medical staff at the Blues and Welsh Rugby Union, I was able to rehab my knee well enough to get me through a handful of games for the Blues and the successful Grand Slam Six Nations campaign with Wales."However, following my injury in the match against Glasgow on Friday night I've been advised by the knee surgeon that my knee is now not stable enough to continue playing and potentially risk further injury to the knee.

"I suppose it's a chance for me to get my body fully right for what is a huge season for both club and country, with a certain carrot [the British Lions tour of Australia] at the end of it too."

"It will also allow me to continue my focus on the final year of my degree in medicine and the finals I'll be sitting next March." At A Vision Network “we wish the best of luck to Robert on his final year of his degree that he passes with flying colours.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk

A Vision Network On How To Use Social Networking Sites To Drive Business

Social media sites are all the rage now days, anyone who’s anyone is on some form of social media site, The past few years have seen the launch of Facebook and Twitter, both sites have taken the world by storm, for business owners Facebook is golden as they can advertise their company all over the world, here is some advice on how to integrate these tools into the marketing and recruiting efforts of your company.

It wasn't until 1997 that the Internet reached 50 million users in the United States. Facebook gained over 100 million users in the U.S. from January 2009 to January 2010, marking a 145 percent growth rate within one year, according to research by digital marketing agency iStrategy Labs. 100 million users in the US alone, that does not including the rest of the world. If you're a business owner that hasn't embraced social media networking as a major component of your success strategy, it's advised that you start. A source for A Vision Network said “The internet has flourished in more ways than anyone really expected, it’s become part of our everyday lives and many people will admit they struggle without the use of the internet, since the launch of Facebook social media sites have been in constant competition with each other with the one trying to out do the other, for business owners the internet is without a doubt the best way to spread their company news as it’s a personal touch from them”  Lon Safko, social media expert and co-author of The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success, of the site's global reach said “When you've got 300 million people on Facebook, that's a huge business watering hole, The profile is like an index to your company.”

While Facebook has become the most popular social media site, there are plenty of others for your company to explore. LinkedIn, for example, houses 55 million professionals seeking jobs or basic business or networking opportunities. MySpace which allows users to tinker with music and themes is targeted toward youth and teens. All of these sites have one primary thing in common: the profile. Why?

The user profile is generally what distinguishes social networking sites from other social media sites. It helps set the stage for building relationships with people who share the same interests, activities, or personal contacts, as opposed to primarily disseminating or digesting information feeds. This also means social networks enable companies to invite audiences to get to know its brand in a way that traditional forms of marketing or advertising can't. A Source for A Vision Network has said “The outcome of the profile is a big part of a social media site as its all about making that site relatable to you and others, if the profile site was for personal use you would fill it with your interests but for a company the social media profile could enhance how people few their business, Most small businesses are seldom heard off because the word did not reach the public. Facebook is relatable to everyone and with the press of a ‘like’ button your company name can be worldwide”

Here are some methods businesses should use to effectively leverage the burgeoning of these sites as a tool to grow their companies? The following pages will detail what to do – and what not to do – in order to maintain a viable presence in the realm of social networking.

Managing Director from A Vision Network has said “A smart business owner will always know what to do to improve their business and using social media sites is a step in the right direction as you can never go wrong. Myself and other business owners from all over the globe have already jumped to this opportunity with Social Media, and I urge the rest to follow.”

http://www.inc.com/guides/using-social-networking-sites.html

http://www.prfire.co.uk/science/a-vision-network-looks-at...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Vision-Network/1672480133...

A Vision Network Comment On Plans For Cardiff University Business School

Cardiff is set to welcome another landmark piece of architecture to its cityscape after proposals were approved yesterday for a stylish new university teaching centre. The new state-of-the-art postgraduate centre at Colum Drive, Cathays Park, will feature an elliptical Harvard-style lecture theatre as its centrepiece. The exterior finish includes a five-colour, vertically stacked terracotta rainscreen cladding, along with buff brick, curtain walling and powder-coated aluminium doors and windows. The Cardiff Business School development will be constructed using an environmentally beneficial twin skin system, with developers aiming to reach a BREEAM rating of “excellent’ for sustainability. A source at local sales and marketing company A Vision Network said, “I’m really looking forward to seeing the centre opened. It will be a beautiful addition to city, as well as a fantastic resource for business students.”

A Cardiff council report on the project said, “The concept for the design of the new Cardiff Business School was for a building of landmark quality, delivering flexible teaching space with modular office allocations that could be adapted to the changing needs and requirements of the university,”

Plans for the new teaching facility were unanimously approved by councillors at the Cardiff council planning committee meeting on 7th March. The structure will comprise of four parts: a square, two-storey teaching wing; a four-storey office and administration wing; an elliptical 250-seat lecture auditorium; and a central core/breakout area.

The first floor will house flexible teaching space, a separate 153-seat lecture auditorium, office space and a postgraduate common room. On the second floor, there will be a house plant space and another postgraduate common room, with roof access to an external patio and biodiversity roof. The four-storey block – the tallest part of the development, measuring 60ft (18.5m) – will also hold a further third floor of office facilities. “The auditorium element provides a dynamic feature wall comprised, primarily, of linear terracotta cladding of varying earth colours, creating a unique identity that distinguishes the auditorium from the rest of the building complex,” said a council officer in the report to the planning committee.

“The building looks like it will be fantastic-looking,” said our source at A Vision Network, “It will really add to the already beautiful university campus.” The 5,200sq m development will include sustainable design elements, such as a solar thermal heating system, photovoltaics for renewable electricity, and rainwater harvesting. The structure will replace a 200-space car park covering about 1.4 acres, located between the Julian Hodge Building and the university’s Humanities building. Cardiff council’s planning officer worked closely with the university to develop the building’s striking appearance, which uses a mixture of red brick, grey stone and terracotta tiling. Councillors were told a foot bridge would also be constructed across the adjacent railway line to help with pedestrian access.

“Having a great location like this for local people to study business is really important,” said our source from A Vision Network, “It’s paramount for our youth to be developing an interest in business. Hopefully we see some of the country’s future great entrepreneurs studying here.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2...

http://www.prfire.co.uk/science/a-vision-network-looks-at...

http://twitter.com/#!/AVisionNetwork

A Vision Network Comments On Cardiff Shopping Centre Raising Over £14,000 For Marie Curie.

Over the past 12 months, staff and shoppers at St David's Dewi Sant in Cardiff have raised a staggering £14,287 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, the centre's Charity of the Year. Throughout the year, numerous fundraising events were held in the shopping centre, the highlight of which was the Great Daffodil Appeal, part of Marie Curie's nationwide scheme to get everyone wearing a daffodil in March in support of the charity's nurses. Managing Director of A Vision Network, a sales and marketing company based in Cardiff said, “For one Shopping Centre in Cardiff, raising over £14,000 is amazing, especially in 12 months.”
St David's staff competed with other local businesses in a corporate fundraising day on St David's Day to see who could raise the most money for Marie Curie through donations for daffodil pin badges. In addition to fundraising, volunteers from St David's also supported the charity through volunteering at the Penarth Hospice, which provides inpatient day care, outpatient care and community nurse specialist intervention. Volunteers helped out at the hospice's annual garden party and a team of those with green fingers even gave the hospice gardens a makeover, cutting the grass, pruning the trees and by creating a planting area by the entrance of the hospice. “Marie Curie is a wonderful Charity – the work they do, day in and day out  to provide support to the patients, relatives and staff is incredible and I know that St Davids fundraising money will go a long way” said the Managing Director of A Vision Network.
Steven Madeley, St David's Centre Director, and Jason Strange, Retailer Liaison Manager, also raised an impressive £2,067 with a 100-mile sponsored bike ride from St Davids in West Wales back to the St David's centre in Cardiff. Steven Madeley, Centre Director of St David's Dewi Sant, said: "The partnership with Marie Curie has been a great way to raise awareness of the charity's fantastic work and get St David's staff involved with volunteering and fundraising - we're incredibly proud to have helped raise this amazing total. We'd particularly like to thank our shoppers for their generosity and enthusiastic support throughout the year." Managing Director of A Vision Network commented saying, “With St David’s raising so much, I am very proud they are based in Cardiff, and prouder knowing that I shop there a lot too. Reflecting upon St David’s dedication to raise money for Marie Curie, it is something I can see in my company too, here at A Vision Network we pride ourselves in making sure on a daily basis we are delivering outstanding results for our clients.”

Source: http://www.newswales.co.uk

New Plans For Cardiff Waterfront

It was supposed to be an homage to ‘The City That Never Sleeps’, but now it seems that Cardiff’s big plans for a Big Apple makeover will have to be toned down for a more realistic, if not so exciting scheme. Cardiff’s waterfront was to be lined with New York-style high rise apartment blocks and offices, until plans were axed as the extent of damage done by the credit crunch became clear.  Now a more modest £200m proposal will be built instead.
“It’s a crying shame,” said the managing director of Cardiff-based marketing firm A Vision Network. “But times are tough everywhere and we need to be a little realistic about our city’s ambitions.”
Developers Greenbank Partnerships intend to build up to six-hundred residential apartments on the waterfront peninsula, adjacent to the International Sports Village (ISV) on the shoreline of Cardiff Bay. According to Welsh website walesonline.co.uk;“The centrepiece of the £200m Cardiff Pointe scheme will be two landmark towers – standing eighteen and twenty-four storeys high. Each will ‘cantilever’ out over the water, with a single column emerging from the water.”
“That sounds impressive,” said A Vision Network’s managing director. “That’s what I call making the best of a bad situation.”
This scheme is significantly toned down from the original plans for two-thousand flats in a thirty-three storey development costing upwards of £500m. Now the biggest draw, according to walesonline.co.uk, will be “a row of five-storey detached family homes overlooking the Bay”. Developers are hopeful these homes will attract the eye of the wealthy. In fact each of the ten five-bedroom houses being built next to the Yacht Club on Cardiff Bay is expected to have a £1,000,000 asking price. Director of Greenbank Partnerships, Jonathon Smith, hopes Cardiff Pointe will “recapture” those “high-earners” who choose to commute to Cardiff City from the nearby Vale of Glamorgan.
A number of three and four storey blocks comprising around 190 townhouses and apartments will also feature in the project, centred on landscaped parks. According to architects Scott Brownrigg, as quoted on walesonline.co.uk; “The development was inspired by European urban lifestyle,” and it can be expected to boast “a new public plaza with bars, cafes and possibly a water taxi station.”
A Vision Network’s managing director is eager to see work begin. “We’ll never know if the original plans for a New York-style waterfront would have worked, but if you ask me, what we’ll get instead will be a sight to behold!”
A planning application is to be submitted within the next eight weeks, and if approved should lead to work beginning this summer.
Source:    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2...

A Vision Network Studies How Motorola Wins Apple Wireless Patent Fight In Germany

A Vision Network studies how the German court has ruled in Motorola Mobility's favour in a patents dispute with Apple.The Android smartphone maker had complained that Apple failed to license one of its wireless intellectual properties.Apple uses the technology in its iPhones and 3G iPads.Motorola could now try to force Apple to remove the feature from its devices or halt sales in Germany. However, Apple said it intended to appeal.The Managing Director of A Vision Network is intrigued by this story saying, ‘there will always be massive competition between these two brands. One way of separating yourself from your competition is ensuring you maintain your market share and prevent your competitors from entering the market. A simple way to so that is patents and copy rights.’
Apple responded: "We're going to appeal the court's ruling right away. Holiday shoppers in Germany should have no problem finding the iPad or iPhone they want."If Motorola does decide to pursue an injunction blocking sales of Apple's products the case could result in a clash between the iPad maker and Google - Motorola's shareholders have approved the search giant's takeover of their company and the deal is due to be completed in 2012. The court proceedings do take time and these super brands don’t have time to waste before the Christmas period. According to the managing Director A Vision Network will not be slowing down either over this season, ‘many of our competitors slow down at this time of the year. We feel that if we are going to separate ourselves and have a phenomenal 2012 we need to maintain our momentum,’ continues the MD of A Vision Network.
Motorola will have to post a 100m euro (£85m; $133m) bond if it wishes to enforce a sales injunction against Apple. The cash would cover compensation to Apple if the ruling was later overturned. The money spent on these proceedings will hopefully be worth all the time and money that is being invested. There will be no immediate returns so time will tell in the long run if this money spent is justified. The Managing Director of A Vision Network can understand the importance of backing your brand to defend it against competitors saying, ‘the feud between brands happens in every industry and companies have to be smart and select their battles correctly.’
Although Apple is on the receiving end of this lawsuit it has also been very active in the courts suing HTC, Samsung and Motorola among others for claimed patent infringements.It temporarily managed to have Samsung's tablets banned from sale in Australia, although the restriction was overturned.
A Vision Network which is based in Cardiff opened their doors for business this year. The Managing Director is confident that they have the competitive advantage over their rivals saying, ‘the same information is out there for companies to obtain, the difference is how you use that information to your advantage. A solid work ethic has always pushed me forward and that’s the same approach I have towards my business.’