The graduates, who hail from national and global organisations including Citibank N.A. Cameroon, Gloria Jeans in Russia, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Dormer Tools in Sheffield – have been awarded the Institute’s Diploma in International Trade at a ceremony at London’s historic Mansion House.

Established in 1935, The Institute of Export is the only professional body in the UK offering recognised, formal qualifications in international trade and the vibrant graduation ceremony marked the achievements of students spanning the last three academic years.

The celebration was hosted by City of London Alderman and Sheriff Alan Yarrow. Institute of Export chair Doug Tweddle CBE, who presented the awards, highlighted the continued importance of harnessing international trade opportunities to stimulate employment and growth.

Lesley Batchelor, director general of the Institute of Export recognised the commitment of each and every student and their hard work in combining their studies with full-time work to achieve their respective certificates and diplomas.

She said: “Being equipped with skills and ‘know how’ in international trade is a vital component of the British economy in our increasingly global 21st Century. Every graduate of the Institute can take their newly acquired international trading expertise and maximise the wealth of learning and best practice to build stronger public and private sector organisations to help boost the economy through the predicted flat growth of the next four years.”

Attendees from across the UK supported the event which was sponsored by CITA, The Worshipful Company of World Traders, Complete IT, Hochiki, Perkins, Speechly Bircham and T&R Insurance.

The IOE offers a unique range of individual and business membership benefits, and a world- renowned suite of qualifications and training. It is a leading authority in best practice and competence for businesses trading globally.

For more information, contact the team at the Institute of Export on 01733 404415.

Likened to a dating agency, the website helps put businesses interested in getting involved in CSR activities, or focusing their existing work towards Peterborough’s greatest needs, in touch with contacts and projects looking for support – either volunteers, investment, specialist expertise or in-kind donations.

Claire Higgins, director of operations at Cross Keys Homes, a founder member and major funding partner of the forum, said, “The event was a great success. It’s clear there are a lot of businesses already doing great work in the community and the forum will help target their efforts and encourage those still thinking about getting involved by providing the information and contacts to take that step into active support. It would be great if this event was the start of even bigger and better corporate social responsibility work across Peterborough.”

The forum heard from Richard Astle of Athene Communications and Rod Allerton of Thomas Cook about the origins of the concept of Side by Side and how all businesses in the city were members – whether they realised or not. They explained how founding businesses saw the need and benefit of the forum and how they were encouraged and directed by the voluntary, charitable and public sector to address areas which could really make a difference to the city: health and well-being, skills and employability, communities, and the environment.

Yvonne Puplett from Perkins told the forum about its work at Railworld over the last 17 years and the benefit the business gained from team building days at the environmental project.

Sandie Burns of DIAL urged employers to get involved in the Olympic Torch Relay project which will see 100 disabled people and their carers accompany the Olympic torch into Peterborough on the Nene Valley railway. And ‘Secret Millionaire’ Mike Greene described how getting involved in CSR work changed his life and how his current work with localgiving.com was helping small charities across the city.

Leader of Peterborough City Council Marco Cereste said the council would do all it could to support Side by Side and said the community and charitable activities of businesses through the forum was “that little bit extra” that Peterborough needed.

All businesses in the city were urged to visit the website www.sidebysidecsr.co.uk, get involved in the projects featured, share success stories, and sign up for the forum’s e-newsletter.

A bigger print edition of the newspaper will be published on Thursdays only as Johnston Press begins a major relaunch programme of its 170 paid-for local newspapers.

The company has also decided to centralise its contact centres in Sheffield.

The site features work produced in the city for clients across Europe.

Martyn Moore, director of NorthLight Media, said, “We are now producing work for the city’s biggest organisations and so I decided the films needed a showcase separate to the company’s main website. It’s good to name-check the city even though we have clients from France and Spain. Our Spanish bra-fitting film even stars a Peterborough girl (see above).

“Video web content is much in demand and high-quality film production for marketing and training has never been more affordable.”

Declaration: NorthLight Media Ltd is the publisher of Peterboroughbusiness.co.uk

The chambers will bring together a panel of experts at an interactive workshop at the Ramada Hotel from 11.45am and 2pm, to help companies win more profitable business through their marketing spend.

Experts include Andrew Goode, a Chartered Institute of Marketing tutor and partner at Marketing Ability, and Dawn Strange, from PR agency Media Matters.

Chartered accountants and business advisors Moore Stephens will also explain how to measure your marketing spend effectively to achieve the best results.

John Bridge, chief executive of Peterborough Chamber of Commerce said, “It is important for businesses to get their marketing right to grow their business, but also ensure they get the best value for money from their marketing activity.

“Our panel will give delegates useful tips on achieving the best results and provide a platform to grow their business.”

For more information, visit www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk, or call Helen Bosett on 01223 209815.

It’s the first time the estate agency has taken its current stock down to London but it follows a surge in activity from Londoners on its new website. Since the start of 2012 more than 55 per cent of traffic to Comptons website came from a London postcode – with North Londoners seemingly most interested in moving to the Peterborough area.

Comptons will be taking all its listed properties down to London to showcase Peterborough, Stamford and Market Deeping to property hunters in the capital. As well as great value properties – they’ll also be promoting the benefits of living in the area including transport links and beautiful green open spaces.

Comptons has already received a wide range of interest from Londoners wanting to take a look at the properties on offer. Ranging from buy-to-let investors, first-time buyers, young couples and those looking to move in to a larger family home. There’s also been a lot of interest from those working in the capital wanting to downsize their mortgage and take advantage of the area’s excellent commuter routes.

For more information call Comptons Property Agents on 01778 343 417 or visit www.comptonspropertyagents.com.

The new outlet provides an alternative for parcel senders in Peterborough, in allowing them to pick up or deliver packages from their local convenience shop at a time that suits them, instead of having to wait in for the delivery at home.

The innovative delivery and returns company offers customers a “Click and CollectPlus” option whereby those wishing to purchase online will be able to pick up their items via CollectPlus’ network of over 4,600 local convenience stores, all of which are open early until late and most, seven days a week. CollectPlus also handle returns for retail partners, allowing its customers to return purchases at a time and place that suits them.

Over 85 per cent of people in towns in the UK are within a mile of a CollectPlus outlet, which are all part of the PayPoint network. The CollectPlus partnership will provide additional choice, flexibility and convenience for the retailer and their shoppers.

The service returns and delivers items for a number of leading online retailers including ASDA Direct, Asos, Oasis, Topshop, Boden, Very.co.uk, Amazon and eBay.

CollectPlus, which is available through selected stores within the national PayPoint network, has expanded its number of participating shops by a fifth in the past six months, taking it to a third of the size of the Post Office’s parcel delivery estate. Unlike the Post Office, however, the majority of shops offering CollectPlus are open seven days a week and for longer than traditional opening hours.

Mark Lewis, CEO of CollectPlus said, “The people of Peterborough deserve a convenient parcel service on their doorstep. The opening of this new Collect+ outlet in the city means that people can send their parcels seven days a week at a time convenient to them.”

Founded in 2009, the service is a joint venture between PayPoint, the leading retail payment network and Yodel, the UK’s leading parcel delivery company.

The first charities to benefit are the Thera Trust, which supports adults with learning disabilities and Sue Ryder Care based at Thorpe Hall in Peterborough.  The charities both receive a grant of £100 and were selected by homeowners who had successfully sold their property with Comptons.

Over 50 local charities, community groups and organisations are members of the new charitable fund including The Free Kicks Foundation, Peterborough War Memorial Fund and Peterborough Streets.

Comptons Charitable Fund works on a membership basis and was open to applications from recognised clubs, organisations, community groups and societies throughout Stamford, Market Deeping and Peterborough.  The fund will re-open later in the year to accept around 20 new members.  If organisations direct people who are selling their homes to Comptons, the grant will be doubled to £200 on completion.

Sharon Shortland from the Thera Trust, said she was delighted the charity had been selected as one of the first ever recipients; “This is fantastic news for people with a learning disability, as they are so often forgotten.  The grant will be used for practical projects, to go towards gardening equipment and cookery workshops”

Alison Toomey, corporate fundraiser at Sue Ryder Care said; ”We would like to thank Comptons and their clients for supporting Thorpe Hall Hospice with this donation.  The money will go towards the daily cost of providing the specialist care our patients receive.”

Becky Compton, who runs the Comptons Charitable Fund, said she was pleased the first grants had gone to such deserving organisations; “To be giving away donations for every home we sell has been really popular with our clients.  We’ve produced a brochure highlighting what each organisation does and it’s then down to our clients who’ve sold their home to pick which charity they want us to make a grant of £100 to.  I’m really pleased that we’re starting to have a positive effect on charities in our area.”

People can also make personal donations to any of fifty-plus organisations that are now members of Comptons Charitable Fund and can call Comptons Property Agents on 01778 343 417 for further details.

A E Rubber (UK) Ltd – which has been based in Orton Southgate – is moving to Eagle Business Park in Yaxley this month (March).

From the company’s new office and warehouse base in the Park’s Talon Courtphase, co-director Karl Snitch will direct UK and overseas operations which include supplying rubber and plastic mouldings to first tier automotive customers who build the components into vehicle systems that are fitted in various car makes and models assembled throughout Europe.

When Talon Courtwas launched as a speculative development in spring 2010, A E Rubber (UK) Ltd was in its fledgling stage after being founded in February of that year by its directors who have, together, over 80 years’ experience working for other companies in the automotive component supply chain.

At the time of Talon Court’s launch, Eagle Business Park developer R & H Estates and joint agents Carter Jonas and Barker Storey Matthews were convinced that this particular phase of the Park would appeal to companies like A E Rubber (UK) Ltd – new companies, started by entrepreneurs who, with success, would quickly outgrow their first set of premises.

This, as Karl Snitch, confirms, is just the case with AE Rubber (UK) Ltd which has grown to see a turnover reach £1 million in those two years.

He explains: “As our business has taken-off, so we’ve outgrown our current premises which are, essentially, just half-a-building.

“At Talon Court, we will have our own stand-alone premises in a brand new, purpose built business park.

“Not only will the larger premises mean we can warehouse and deliver more from one site, but it’s a base from which we can plan for the future growth of the company.

“We currently employ four permanent members of staff, supplemented with temporary positions to meet the needs of customers in the UK and on mainland Europe.

“Growth plans will see us expand in to new markets, taking products we develop and engineer in the UK and produce with our partners in Malaysia, back out to the far east, with new markets opening up to us in China.”

For more information on current and future availability at Eagle Business Park contact Graham Bunnett at Carter Jonas 01733 588678 or Richard Jones at Barker Storey Matthews, 01733 897722.