At Managed Recruitment Solutions, we are proud to support the British Heart Foundation.  As has been mentioned on this site before, the BHF carries out a large amount of amazing work, not just in terms of research into heart disease and heart conditions in children and adults of all ages, but also in terms of aftercare and support for patients and their families.

Heart disease kills three times more women than breast cancer and is the UK’s biggest lady killer. The BHF is raising awareness of this through a one off night of comedy on December 5th at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London, called the Angina Monologues. Hosted by the multi BAFTA award winning Victoria Wood, the Angina Monologues will see Victoria and other star-studded guests give us their unique take on affairs of the heart.  Further details can be found on the BHF website www.bhf.org.uk

Also, and apologies to anyone who meets one of our male consultants before the end of November, Movember is upon us again.   Inspired by the women around them and all they had done for breast cancer, the Mo Bros set themselves on a course to create a global men’s health movement.  From humble beginnings in 2003, the campaign evolved and focused on raising awareness and funds for the number one cancer affecting men – prostate cancer.  The funds raised through Movember’s UK campaign benefit the The Prostate Cancer Charity (TPCC), the UK’s leading prostate cancer charity.

Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st  clean shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month.  The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men.  Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.  Further information can be found on www.uk.movember.com

Fifty-three per cent of small businesses in the North West expect to grow in the next 12 months, a new survey has revealed. Launched in conjunction with Kingston University, is based on an in-depth study of 1,000 owner managers.

The survey found that 63 per cent of their supplies from within the region, providing strong support for other businesses in the area. These firms are also contributing to the region’s economy by selling 32 per cent of the goods and services produced outside of the region, bringing additional revenue to the area.

However, over two-thirds of sales by these businesses are to customers in the North West, higher than in any other region in Great Britain. A total of 69 per cent of small companies are actively engaged in innovation, while nearly a fifth are set to make investments in training next year.

“Overall the analysis shows that small businesses make a major contribution to their local and regional economies, particularly in the North West where links to local customers and suppliers are strong,” said Professor Robert Blackburn from the small business research centre at Kingston University.

“However, whilst this localism is crucial to providing opportunities for consolidation and growth, it is also important for these businesses to look for customers and markets further afield if they are to move to a next stage of development.”