Kent, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/28/2012 -- The Royal College of GPs (RGGP) has indicated it is willing to work again with the government on implementing changes to the NHS in England, it has emerged. The body had been omitted from talks since declaring its opposition to the Health and Social Care Bill last month.

The managing director of Gateway Kent is one person who is relieved to see the Royal College and the government working together. "We can appreciate that the government need to make changes to the NHS in order to make ends meet, but it is important that they consider the views of professionals like the Royal College of GPs. That way the public can be sure its best interests will be kept in mind."

Clare Gerada, head of the Royal College, said members had not changed opinion but were willing to help "find a way forward". She added that the Royal College still wanted the bill to be withdrawn but it was time to "stop polarizing" the debate.

The bill aims to allow more private companies and voluntary organizations to compete with NHS providers, something critics fear could undermine the drive towards the integration of care and lead to damage in the health service. Under proposed plans family GPs are expected to play a key role in managing the NHS budget. The RGGP initially approved of the plans but eventually came out against the bill, saying that, among other concerns, it could prove hugely expensive.

A source within Gateway Kent said; "This is a difficult situation. On one hand, it is vital that the NHS is urged to go that extra mile in order to serve its patients, and a little healthy competition would ensure this, but on the other hand we still have the economic crisis looming over us and Britain just doesn't have the financial security to take big risks, especially where its health service is concerned."

The source added; "Patients want doctors in charge of their medical care, not accountants and managers. I feel confident that the government will respect the wisdom and experience of the RGGP and that together they can find an acceptable way forward."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17348616

http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/gateway-kent-comments-on-rochester-student-at-london-fashion-week

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

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Kent, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/27/2012 -- London Fashion Week 2012 will be gaining some interesting new talent this year, in the shape of Sarah Lee, a fashion student from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) at Rochester. The 22-year-old from Bexleyheath, who is in her third year of a BA (Hons) fashion design degree at UCA, has made the final of a competition set by Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD), and her sketchbook and portfolio will be showcased ahead of FAD's London Fashion Week show on the 22nd of February. A source from Gateway Kent commented that "it's great to see local talent being recognised and championed at London Fashion Week. UCA has a history of being home to some really fantastic emerging talent."

Ms. Lee said, "I'm really excited to be selected as a finalist for the FAD Gala Show – it really puts the work I have produced into perspective and shows that people outside UCA appreciate my work." She added, "It's amazing to have my work shown at London Fashion Week, especially as I'm still a student. It is one of the most celebrated events for the fashion industry and being a part of it is a privilege."

The illustration competition was launched by fashion charity FAD to celebrate its tenth anniversary. "For a decade FAD has showcased the talents of UK students on the catwalk in London," said Maria Alvarez, FAD Executive Director, "Every year we select students based on the sketchbooks and illustrations they submit in the initial stages."

Ms. Alvarez went on to add, "A lot of work and brilliance goes into creating these inspiring books and drawings but they are often overlooked for the final product, so we launched this competition to celebrate this side of design, and to highlight FAD's ethos of combining art and fashion." Our Gateway Kent source added, "Often people in the background of these events are doing amazing work, both technically and creatively, and they rarely get any recognition for it. This competition is a really nice way of doing that."

Donna Ives, associate dean of fashion at UCA said, "Sarah's drawings were really dynamic, demonstrating a strong individual style. She has a real flare for illustration, which is evident in her FAD work. Drawing is incredibly important in fashion and is a key skill for every designer. It's used as a tool to communicate designs, not only in illustrative format but also in technical format, and to explain how ideas can be developed into three-dimensional samples."

Gateway Kent noted that it is the work of artists and designers like Sarah that really drives and supports London Fashion Week and the industry in general. Sarah's collection is inspired by Russia and the contrast between the elegance of St Petersburg's and the bleakness of Moscow.

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/rochester_fashion_student_to_showcase_designs_at_london_fashion_week_1_1211721

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Cardiff, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/27/2012 -- Over the next three years, Cardiff council plans to close almost half of its 51 office buildings over the next three years, in attempts to clear a multi-million-pound maintenance backlog. The council intends to sell or move out of 24 offices across the capital, which currently employ hundreds of staff, who will be relocated. "In this economic climate, many organisations are having to analyse their spending closely," said a source from JNR Enterprise, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company. "Streamlining business workplaces is often a great way to achieve more efficiency."

The council claims it will save £1.1m per year in bills and rent in 2015/16, while simultaneously cutting carbon emissions by 16.5%. The council plans to spend £18m refurbishing four buildings – County Hall, City Hall, Willcox House and Global Link – which between them have the capacity for an extra 1000 workers. £4.3m of this will be raised by selling seven council-owned buildings.

About 350 council staff will be relocated as a result of the changes. Councillor Mark Stephens, executive member for finance, said public access to council services would not be reduced as a result of the changes. "Consolidating our office accommodation will result in fewer but more efficient council buildings," he said. JNR Enterprise added, "The fact is the move will not only make the offices run more efficiently, but will open up the vacated spaces for further development."

The council's statements on their plans seem to support this idea. Marland House for example, is to be vacated, with staff relocating to Greyfriars Road. The council is meanwhile in negotiations to demolish the building and replace it with a new £10m bus station. Other sites are earmarked for social housing, as part of the council's ambition to spend £33m on new homes over the next five years. In addition the council plans to sell several sites to private developers, in order to raise funding. Our JNR Enterprise source commented that this would provide a lot of opportunity for new enterprise.

Labour councillors have warned landlords may struggle to re-let the buildings, but Coun. Stephens said: "I don't think we'll end up with a lot of empty buildings. I think there is a lot of attractive opportunities for the owners of the buildings, there is a revival of interest in housing in the city."

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/02/14/cardiff-council-to-close-half-of-it-s-51-office-buildings-in-three-years-91466-30325196/

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Kent, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/27/2012 -- This week, Kent is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, the world-famous author who was born in the town.

Thanks to the author, Kent expects a £4m boost to tourism. Kent will become a magnet for literary travelers due to the anniversary, according to Sandra Matthews-Marsh, chief executive of Visit Kent. Ashley Blackman, managing director of Kent-based sales and marketing company Gateway Kent, commented on the expected influx of tourism, saying, "Dickens' worldwide fame has always encouraged tourism to the town, but this year will be particularly good, owing to the landmark anniversary."

Dickens lived in various places around the country, before eventually being attracted back to Gad's Hill Place in Higham, where he wrote such classics as Great Expectations and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Ms Matthews-Marsh said, "He wrote so evocatively about places in the county, so throughout all the books you've got these wonderful passages about Canterbury and Broadstairs, Rochester, Chatham - just almost every place he went to in the county."

"It's not just at this time of year, or specifically just Dickens," said Mr Blackman from Gateway Kent, "Kent is a town with a fantastic literary heritage, and always attracts tourism based on that. Dickens is a huge part of that."

It's not just this week either. Throughout the year, many more events are planned, to mark the anniversary and attract more visitors to Kent. These include a free exhibition this week at Eastgate House in Rochester, and a reading by Gerald Dickens - the author's great-great-grandson on May 16.

"Audiences are now seeing the great adaptations that are made for film and TV, and that's bringing a whole new generation to Dickens' work," said Ms Matthews-Marsh, "There's a new blockbuster due out in the summer, with Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter in Great Expectations." Mr Blackman from Gateway Kent added, "The tourism is not just UK based. Increasingly people are travelling to Kent from all over the world to experience the literary heritage of Kent."

10% of users of Visit Kent's website are interested in Dickens, which, claims Ms Matthews-Marsh, could translate to up to 400,000 extra visitors to Kent because of the anniversary.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/february/4/dickens_anniversary.aspx

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Kent, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/26/2012 -- The case for a Thames Estuary airport is to be put under the spotlight by a powerful group of business chiefs and council leaders. The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) is to commission a major study into airports in the region. The study will consider "the optimum location for a potential hub airport" in the area. The LEP is a group of business and council representatives which is set up by the government in order to steer job creation and boost investment in the region. It has identified the Thames Gateway as a key area for its aim of helping create 113,000 jobs in North Kent and south Essex over the next 20 years. Managing Director of Gateway Kent commented, saying "If these plans get the go ahead, the airport is set to be possibly the largest airport in the world – a great accomplishment for such a small country – compared to countries as large as USA and China. Creating 113,000 jobs is an added bonus"

Both Kent County Council and Medway council are represented on the LEP and their opposition to airport plans for north Kent are well known.

Some business leaders, however, are supportive of the idea because of its potential to create thousands of jobs. The LEP's study could be influential in making the case for or against the plans for a new hub airport and is likely to be a major contribution to the government's consultation around the issue. As well as the proposals for a new airport, the study will also focus on how best to increase capacity around the existing airports over the next decade. Managing Director of Gateway Kent continued, "With the large number jobs that are to be created I can't see why anyone would be against it, especially with the economy the way it is currently."

In a four-page statement on the study, the LEP says unless something is done to improve capacity, businesses will relocate from the south east to northern Europe. "Already London Heathrow is losing routes to European competitors due to the overcrowding." The comment echoes the arguments put forward by London Mayor Boris Johnson in advancing his case for an airport in the Thames Estuary. A Medway Council spokesman said: "Medway welcomes the LEP study on airport capacity in the South East. We are not in the least bit convinced of the need for a new hub airport as promoted by Boris Johnson or Sir Norman Foster. The study will see what capacity we already have available and how that can be better joined up rather than look at pie in the sky ideas, which are unlikely to ever see the light of day."A source from Gateway Kent said, "Gateway Kent is an ambitious, dedicated sales and marketing company. Our commitment to our existing clients as well as our continued efforts to diversify our portfolio have set us as a market leader in outsourced direct sales and marketing therefore expansion is a far from a pie in the sky idea from us, we will continue to grow."

Source: http://www.kentonline.co.uk

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Kent, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/14/2012 -- Joan Anderton has, without a doubt, more reasons than most to feel proud of her last 50 years. Not only is Joan a mum-of-two and a director of her own company, but she's done so during time the doctors said she'd never have. In fact the 64-year-old was told she probably wouldn't live past 15. Managing Director of Gateway Kent has commented, saying, "It is incredible to see that Joan, now 64 years old has defied Doctors predictions of her not living past 15"

Joan was born with Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy – a extremely rare form of the muscle-wasting disorder which affects between 1,000 and 1,400 people in the UK and causes weakness in the shoulder and pelvic girdle. Movement problems challenged her childhood, and after a diagnosis at the age of 12, frequent visits to doctors marked the next few years. Then a rough patch during her teenage years, when "lots of prayers were said" seemed to indicate predictions of not reaching adulthood would come true. But Joan refused to be beaten and pushed forward with a determination to live life to the full. Managing Director of Gateway Kent commented further, "Joan is inspirational. Joan, lived her life to the max and that is why she is here, more than 5 decades longer than doctors predicted."

Despite never knowing when the condition would reach the point where she needed help getting around, Joan was only confined to a wheelchair 16 years ago.

Now, she confesses to being in a lot of pain. On average it takes her two hours from waking at her home in Downswood to get to her desk a few miles away at Invicta Valves on the Park Wood Industrial Estate, Maidstone, where she works with children Mark and Keeley. But, even taking all the struggles into consideration, Joan knows her life has been good. "I have just been very lucky, to be honest, the difficulties that you have in overcoming a disability actually make other challenges in life appear quite easy." A source from Gateway Kent had this to say, "Joan will be an inspiration for many young children that are in the situation now that Joan was in over 50 years ago... Joan gives hope to them."

Inspired by their mum's determination, Mark and Keeley, with workmate Maria Gentle, will be running the London Marathon for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign on April 22. To sponsor them visit http://justgiving.com/milesformum

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