Practice News
February 2012 - Drawing a Line in the Sand
Having emerged from our January tax deadline workload, we're turning our attention to our own systems to see if they are 'up to scratch' - up to the job of ensuring we will be offering you the best possible value over the next financial year.
The phrase "bring up to scratch" comes from the fighting ring, where a line was drawn in the sand and each fighter had to bring his foot up to that line before the fight could begin. It seems appropriate somehow, as the most effective way to organise our businesses for maximum benefit, given the current climate, personal circumstances and market sectors, can seem like going fifteen rounds by the time we think we've finished. Yet, just like a fight, the outcome largely relies on the preparation: picking the best trainer, physio, sponsors and (certainly in our case) the most attractive shorts.
Knowledgeable and reliable, our support should play a key role in your strategy for the financial year ahead, as you bring your business well and truly up to scratch, we're here to help ensure you are well prepared for the next round.
Supporting Macmillan - Andrew Hudson in the 2012 London Marathon!
22 April 2012
This year, the CGA team will be backing Andrew is his quest to run the Virgin London Marathon to raise £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Macmillan provide support to people affected by cancer, whether that be the patients, their carers, families or wider network of support. They fund nurses and other specialist health care professionals and also build cancer care centres. They rely heavily on donations to fund this work.
This will be Andrew's first marathon, having previously run 5 half marathons. His training schedule has progressed steadily and he recently completed a 12 mile training run alongside the Thames on a recent weekend visit to London. He will be looking to step up the pace in the coming weeks.
Many of you have supported CGA over the last 2 years in helping us beat our goal of raising £10,000 for St Leonard's Hospice, we were very proud to have reached £15,000 and as such we are not going to directly ask you for sponsorship however, we know that many of you would like to support Andrew and for those that would, he has now set up a sponsorship web page at www.virginmoneygiving.com/AndrewHudson1. Further updates will be given in forthcoming newsletters.
In the meantime if anybody has any suggestions for "music to run to", then let us know.
Important information about opening times
If you have been reading our newsletters you will know that we are always talking about personal and business goals. Well, having reviewed our own goals, there was an underlying theme that the whole team wanted to spend more time with family, friends and other loved ones to do the things that we keep saying we want to do - you know the usual - wing walking, abseiling, bungee jumping...............DIY.
Therefore with immediate effect, we are proud to announce that we will be closing the office at 2pm every Friday afternoon. We feel that this is a lovely way to reward our very hard working team and we hope that you are happy with our decision. If you urgently need to contact us as usual our mobile numbers are the best method when we are away from the office, however, we may not get straight back to you - phone calls may be difficult while wing walking!! But rest assured we will contact you as soon as possible.
Finally, if you haven't reviewed your personal/business goals for a while, now is a great time to do it in time for the New Year. We have great systems in place to help you with this, so if you need a facilitator or any assistance with this, please contact the office and we will be really happy to help you get your business back on track and working towards the things that are important to you.
January 2012 - A Musical Cow and a Large Cake........2012 What's in it for you?
Recently browsing the weird and wonderful world of New Year folk law, we came across this interesting medieval take on gauging the likely prosperity of the following 12 months. On the 1st of January medieval farmers duly selected a flat cake and placed it on the horn of a cow in the farmyard (we're not told what kind of cake but we're thinking not Black Forest – too gooey). The farmer and his workers would then sing a song and dance around the cow until the cake was thrown to the ground. If the cake fell in front of the cow that meant good luck, if it fell behind then there was trouble ahead.
Sadly, for some, we still find that poor business planning may as well depend on the old cow and cake method and any predictions drawn from it just as useful. To really make the most of your business you need a sound plan, based as much as possible in measurable fact with expert guidance when appropriate and that's where we can help. Come and talk to us about what you want to achieve in 2012; you can dance if you like and we may even provide the cake, but the cow's got the day off.
And the Winners Are..........
What a night... The CGA & St Leonard's Hospice Sunflower Stakes on Friday night was a fitting end to our year of support for the wonderful York charity. The winners of auctions, races and other prizes are listed below. So far, over the 12 month period we have raised nearly £15,000. We are incredibly grateful and very proud of the support we have received from the York business community and our clients who have all given so generously.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
The night would have been impossible without the generous donations of time, money and services of the following people and businesses.....
Paul Eddom of Event Photos York www.eventphotosyork.co.uk very kindly donated his time and services for the event.
The Novotel and their wonderful team, www.novotel.com, who not only looked after us so well on the night but also donated a percentage of their costs from the evening.
John Purcell of Purcell Play Surfaces Limited, www.purcellplaysurfacesandequipment.co.uk, who supplied the wonderful horse, finishing post and turf for the evening.
Fourlet, www.fourlet.com, who sponsored the Welcome Drinks reception.
Ali Oktay of York Property Shop, www.yorkpropertyshop.co.uk, who sponsored the race card.
M Brittain (York) Limited Steel Stockholders www.melbrittain.co.uk,who donated the prize money for the winning owners.
Other mentions to:
Premier Race Nights www.premierracenights.co.uk
Rockin' Horse Promotions http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mark-brayshaw/2/5b/49b
Flourish & Prosper www.flourish-and-prosper.com
All Design & Print www.alldesignandprint.co.uk
The Little Balloon Company www.thelittleballooncompany.co.uk
Finally, a massive thank you to the team at CGA, former team members Tor Mcveighty and Amy Corbett who came back to lend a hand and Stuart & Sheridan who kindly donated their time and to all the people who attended on the night and parted with their cash.
Look out for the final amount in a newsletter soon!
Want to Help?
Even though our year of official support has come to an end, the Hospice is something that is close to our hearts. It is over a year ago since Stacey & Tor visited the Hospice, it's a lovely building, full of happy, smiling staff and volunteers. We met some great people in the last 12 months during our bag-packing, stall-manning and collections and we will continue to donate our time where possible to support the wonderful charity. It costs £3.4 million a year - almost £400 every hour, every day - to run St Leonard's Hospice. If you would like to help the Charity, either with donations or your time, please visit their website and see what you can do.
October 2010 - Sunshine on a Rainy Day
It may have been a rather dank, drizzly Saturday evening in early October, but in the ballroom of the Novotel York the sunflowers were out; strewn across tables, floating above diners, hung from branches and reflected in the bubbling champagne.
A huge "thank you" to everyone who came to celebrate our colleague Karen's life with us; those who donated their hard earned cash, sponsored items and supported us raising a truly remarkable £8,700 for St. Leonard's Hospice.
As the corks and flashbulbs popped MC Mike Grimes got proceedings underway as we were joined by an exceedingly 'scrubbed up' and excitable throng of friends and colleagues for a wonderful evening. Picking flowers off our 'tree of life', bidding on our silent auction lots, which included villa holidays, spa days and signed rugby balls, we were fortified by fine wines, a sumptuous dinner and accompanied by Adam Pond's great piano and vocals. There is a dedicated page on our website which lists all the winning bidders on the silent auction http://www.cga-york.co.uk/chosen-charity/silent-auction.php.
New to many was the 'backwards raffle'. If you've never taken part in one, we won't spoil the surprise, but safe to say we would never have believed Japanese whisky could be so popular!
It's often said that you don't really know people until you ask them for help. Well, we asked and have been overwhelmed by the response. Not only from those we enjoyed the evening with, but also from those who were unable to join us. We believe collaboration and care count for a lot in business and you have proved (if it were needed) that kindness and generosity are also very much alive and kicking!
However, this is just the start! We have decided to support St Leonard's Hospice for the next 12 months. As many of you will be aware we do not send out Christmas cards but make a charitable donation instead (save a tree and a charity benefits), so this year our Christmas card payment will go to the Hospice. Also, Stacey, Tor, Chelle and Claire are helping the St Leonard's Team at the Selby Santa Dash, bag packing at Marks & Spencers for late night shopping and the Christmas Fair. Watch this space.
And finally…
Don't forget to check our Face Book page for pictures from our evening at the Novotel http://www.facebook.com/pages/York-United-Kingdom/Numerical-Therapy-Trading-as-CGA/158002630707 and look at our new website page detailing our 12 months supporting St Leonard's Hospice http://www.cga-york.co.uk/chosen-charity/. Now, party frocks back in the box, thank you once again for your support, we always enjoy opportunities to get to know you better and look forward to catching up with you soon.