Entries Tagged as 'Tim Collins'

 

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JAC Application Forms – Stand Out from the Crowd

From many years of experience and working with numerous candidates you may find something useful below.

Allow sufficient time and schedule your writing of the form in bite size chunks. Typically, from scratch, a good form can take up to 16 hours of your time.

Seek advice from successful candidates from previous competitions and ask to look at their forms. Review your previous forms. Check out tips and advice on websites.

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Capitalism + Marxism – A Brilliant Business Model Bred in Yorkshire

At Leeds Business School Simon Biltcliffe outlined his revolutionary business model –  formed from the bitter dust of the miners’ strike in his native Barnsley. His sense of injustice inspired the creation of his very successful print management business Webmart.  And his “northern values” of honesty, directness and trust are the company’s DNA.  He wanted to both challenge and encourage us to learn from history, to keep things simple, engage all staff, to innovate, share learning, to expect people to think you are mad – yet  to make work as enjoyable and as much fun as possible. In common with Steve Edge he emphasised the principle “what goes around comes around”.

Simon was incredibly open and I was struck that he used many more “share”

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Branding & Design Edge – Uncommon Sense

I was lucky enough to be at a Leeds Business School to hear Steve Edge @EdgeDesignLtd let the audience have his views on marketing and design with both barrels. Steve told us stories and anecdotes from his amazing career which were both thought provoking and challenging – but laced with some simple pearls of wisdom. From working on the Muppets and then Star Wars with George

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“Well every now and again the ripples rock my boat…

I just throw up my arms and we’ll get soaked”

Whether your ripples are the never ending government changes to our legal system, the increasing regulatory requirements, bureaucracy and technological changes, frazzled clients, stressed colleagues or simply increased competition – our boats can feel well and truly rocked.

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Public Defender Service – A Level Playing Field?

I tried for many months to get answers from the MoJ as to whether their PDS offers the tax payer value for money. My MP Stuart Andrew has supported my attempts to gain answers by sending several letters to the MoJ and ministers.

Two things happened last week. Firstly I received another letter from my MP – “It appears, somewhat conveniently when considering the Department’s failure to fully address your concerns that my letter dated 17th July was never received.” He is pursuing the department for answers. More worryingly I picked up a link from the JRS website that the PDS have appointed a silk as Head of Advocacy.

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Coming Crisis

I recently learnt  that the Chinese symbol for “crisis” is represented by the two Sino-characters for “danger” and “opportunity”. Is that why I have heard such contrasting views from two highly respected business leaders this week?

In October, as part of the ILF I heard Duncan Bannatyne almost preach that “now is the time to start a new business”. Yet the following day at Leeds Business School I heard David Scott present an overview of our debt crisis and share his view that “Europe may be on the brink of a 10 year depression”.

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Staple Stories

Say It With Flowers

Leeds City Council approached me to gauge whether No.6 would be interested in sponsoring hanging baskets in the city centre. Initially, I was very dubious but requested some details on costs and possible locations.

I couldn’t believe our luck when I saw the map. I realised how cost effectively we could position ourselves audaciously within the physical centre of the legal market. This would allow us to create impact, promote brand awareness and position us as a chambers with a cutting edge.

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Staple Stories

The Scottish £10 Note

We are now hooked on going to Scotland every Easter. We split our time between Janet’s cousin’s farm on the east coast near Buckie and at Mellon Udrigle on the west coast just up from Gairloch. I have such a great time there and really switch off. It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have ever been. After our holiday in 2013 we returned home with a Scottish £10 note. People are sometimes wary of accepting them in England.

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