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I'm afraid that I'm by nature a rather unsympathetic reader of stories like this one.
A middle-aged narrator — a poet from the city, a would-be aid-worker in Cambodia, and the proprietor of a seventeenth-century public house in the West of Ireland — tells us about the flooding of the town during a storm in the night. More or less marooned, he and his customers take refuge in the upstairs function room, where the mood lighting and the landlord's choice of golden oldies revive the spirit of 1979. A great time is had by all. The water eventually subsides, but not without bathing the narrator in epiphany.
And the view was suddenly clear to me. The world opened out to its grim beyonds and I realized that, at forty, one must learn the rigors of acceptance. Capitalize it: Acceptance. I needed to accept what was put before me — be it a watery grave in Ireland's only natural fjord, or a return to the city and its grayer intensities, or a wordless exile in some steaming Cambodian swamp hole, or poems or no poems, or children or not, lovers or not, illness or otherwise, success or its absence. I would accept all that was put in my way, from here on through until I breathed my last.
This is pleasant to read, because, until now, the narrator's spirit has been tired.
I had made — despite it all — a mild success of myself in life. But on turning forty, the previous year, I had sensed exhaustion rising up in me, like rot. Before forty, you think that exhaustion is something like a long-lasting hangover. But at forty you learn all about it. Even your passions exhaust you. I found that to be alone with the work all day was increasingly difficult. And the city had become a jag on my nerves — there was too much young flesh around.
Eight months later, having succumbed to the dream of finding refreshment (and distraction) in running a pub, the narrator fears that it will be the death of him. As the floodwaters rise, however, he begins to feel the opposite.
I felt suddenly that I was growing into the mine-host role. There was a conviviality in the bar, the type that is said to come always with threatened disaster.
Disaster does not bring out my convivial side. When the power goes out, I do not believe in acceptance; I become implacable and inconsolable until the foundations of modern life are restored. I have nothing but contempt for people who can "be here now" in the middle of catastrophe: they have lobotomized themselves in the interest of feeling all right.
So I am not going to say more than a word or two of judgment about Mr Barry's story. It is well-paced and well-written. The blend of cosmopolitan exposition and Irish dialect is not disagreeable, even if the latter seems a bit over-indulged; doubtless I'd have gotten more out of the story had I been able to appreciate the pithy wisdom of the locals. The presence of a crew of hot young Belarusians on the scene threatens to tip the story into cliché, and a passing boatful of placid sheep risks the shallows of symbolic currents. If you come across a sympathetic appreciation of this story, kindly let me know, that I may perhaps learn to see a little better than I do.


British No 1 Johanna Konta was made to work hard before advancing to the Bank of the West Classic semi-finals with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Saisai Zheng.
Third seed Konta broke Zheng twice in the opening set as she started strongly but the second set was a disjointed affair that saw a total of seven breaks of serve.
Zheng took advantage of four of the eight break points she had and won the last three games of the set to level the match.
Konta broke Zheng early in the third set before Zheng rallied with three straight games, but another break saw the Briton move into a 4-3 lead.
She held serve before breaking Zheng for a third time and then holding to secure victory in just over two hours 20 minutes.


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Q: Which charset is '<'? I found this character in my phpbb database: <. Which charset is?
I'm on MySQL, and I have PhpBB and phpmyadmin. The code shows <.

A: That's not a charset, it is a character entity reference.
That's an escaping method known in HTML and XML (where ampersands may have special meaning).
The charset and encoding could still be anything (such as ASCII7, UTF8 or latin1, or basically anything else, since &amps; can be expressed in any modern character set).

A: Those are HTML Special Characters. You can get full list of them here. It doesn't have much to do with charset.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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China accuses US of 'sinister intentions' after Trump signs Hong Kong pro-rights bill
By Caoimhe Toman
Date: Thursday 28 Nov 2019
LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday it was opposed to the US government's signing of a bill supporting Hong Kong protesters' rights into law and accused the Trump administration of having "sinister intentions".
The Ministry also said that the American "plot" was "doomed to fail", while emphasising that Hong Kong was a part of China althrough Beijing continued to support its "one country, two systems" policy.
US President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Wednesday evening, together with another bill that banned the sale of munitions such as tear gas and rubber bullets to the Hong Kong police department.
In a statement released by the White House, Trump said, "I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong. They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all."
According to a translation from CNBC, Chinese state media said that officials were focusing on protecting Hong Kong's stability
"We are officially telling the US and the handful of opposition politicians in Hong Kong who follow America's lead to not underestimate our determination to protect Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, don't underestimate our belief to protect the 'one country, two systems policy' and don't underestimate our capabilities and strategies in protecting our country's sovereignty, safety, growth and rights," the foreign ministry said.
"This so-called bill will only make the Chinese people, including our compatriots in Hong Kong, further understand the sinister intentions and hegemonic nature of the United States. It will only make the Chinese people more united and make the American plot doomed to fail," it added.
The signing came just as both sides were reportedly but a step away from reaching a preliminary trade deal.
Beijing warned that the United States would shoulder the consequences of China's countermeasures if it continued to "act arbitrarily" in regards to Hong Kong. It remained unclear if the trade deal could be jeopardised as a result.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Lydia von Auw (Morges, 6 augustus 1897 - aldaar, 14 mei 1994) was een Zwitserse kerkhistorica en geestelijke.

Biografie

Afkomst en opleiding
Lydia von Auw was een dochter van Jean von Auw en van Henriette Hagenbucher. Ze studeerde theologie, eerst van 1917 tot 1921 aan de faculteit theologie van de Vrije kerk van Vaud in Lausanne en vervolgens aan de Universiteit Sapienza in Rome, waar ze les kreeg van Ernesto Buonaiuti. Gaandeweg ontwikkelde ze een vriendschapsband met Buonaiuti, die een bepalende invloed zou hebben op haar verdere leven en haar deed interesseren in geschiedenis. In 1924 sloot ze haar studies af met een proefschrift over het katholiek modernisme.

Geestelijke
Von Auw ontving in 1935 de pastorale wijding binnen de Vrije kerk en werd daarmee de eerste vrouwelijke pastoor in het kanton Vaud. Ze nam het pastoraat van het ziekenhuis van Saint-Loup op zich (1935-1948), alvorens aan de slag te gaan in de parochie van L'Auberson (1949-1960) en vervolgens die van Chavannes-le-Chêne (1960-1966). Gedreven door een diep geloof, koos von Auw een liberale piëtistische lijn.

Kerkhistoricus

Als overtuigd democraat sloot von Auw zich aan bij het antifascistische verzet, met name met Buonaiuti, die doceerde aan de Universiteit van Lausanne (1935-1939). Haar doctoraat uit 1948 en haar latere werken gewijd aan Angelo Clareno (ca. 1255-1337) en Franciscaanse spiritualisten leidden in 1979 tot de volledige publicatie van haar proefschrift in Rome en leverde haar internationale aandacht op.

Werken
  Angelo Clareno et les spirituels italiens, 1979.
  Angeli Clareni. Opera. I: Epistole, 1980.

Literatuur
  , Lydia von Auw. Pasteure, théologienne, historienne, 2005.
  , "La théologienne protestante et le professeur romain. Lydia von Auw, Ernesto Buonaiuti. Une correspondance inédite (1922-1946)" in  e.a., Clio dans tous ses états. En hommage à Georges Andrey, 2009, 575-593.

Externe links
  Lydia von Auw, plansfixes.ch, videofragment met een interview met Lydia von Auw.

Zwitsers historicus
Kerkhistoricus
Zwitsers geestelijke

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Most restaurant meals are too large for the average person, but typically have few if any vegetables (which may need to be ordered separately). Consider ordering an entrée size main meal and order extra vegetables or salad to achieve the optimal meal balance of half your plate as vegetables (raw or cooked).
Dishes that are deep fried (e.g. battered fish), in pastry (e.g pies) or covered in rich creamy sauces or cheese (e.g. chicken parmigiana) are very high in kilojoules and saturated fat. Best choices are dishes that are steamed, grilled, barbequed, roasted or stir-fried. Salads are also a lighter option.
Side dishes such as garlic bread, chips (or fries) and wedges can really add a lot of kilojoules to your meal. Choose vegetables or salad instead, or ensure there are not placed near you!
Eat slowly and savour each mouthful. Put your cutlery down between mouthfuls and enjoy the conversation. Eating slowly helps you enjoy it more and reduces the risk of overeating.
Alcoholic drinks are high in kilojoules and their effects can make you forget about eating a healthier meal. Keep track of your drinks (remembering the serve sizes tend to be large in restaurants) and alternate with still or sparkling water. Cocktails are high in alcohol and kilojoules.


A Yale survey of 7,500 people shows little benefit, and possible detriments, to fact-check programs.
Facebook touts its partnership with outside fact-checkers as a key prong in its fight against fake news, but a major new Yale University study finds that fact-checking and then tagging inaccurate news stories on social media doesn't work.
The study, reported for the first time by POLITICO, found that tagging false news stories as "disputed by third party fact-checkers" has only a small impact on whether readers perceive their headlines as true. Overall, the existence of "disputed" tags made participants just 3.7 percentage points more likely to correctly judge headlines as false, the study said.
The researchers also found that, for some groups—particularly, Trump supporters and adults under 26—flagging bogus stories could actually end up increasing the likelihood that users will believe fake news.
That's because the sheer volume of misinformation that floods the social media network makes it impossible for the fact-checking groups Facebook has partnered with—like Politifact, FactCheck.org and Snopes.com—to address every story. The existence of flags on some—but not all—false stories made Trump supporters and young people more likely to believe any story that was not flagged, according to the study published Monday by psychologists David Rand and Gordon Pennycook.
"I think these results make it unclear whether it's even net positive," Rand said of the program.
Presented with the study, a Facebook spokesperson questioned the researchers' methodology—pointing out that the study was performed via Internet survey, not on Facebook's platform—and added that fact-checking is just one part of the company's efforts to combat fake news. Those include "disrupting financial incentives for spammers, building new products and helping people make more informed choices about the news they read, trust and share," the spokesperson said.
The proliferation of fake news on social media — including deliberately false stories aimed at discrediting political candidates — raised widespread concerns during the 2016 presidential campaign. The stories seemed to establish social media as a powerful new tool for disinformation, capable of undermining political discourse and even triggering real-world violence. That point was brought home when a North Carolina man fired a gun in Washington's Comet Ping-Pong pizzeria, believing false stories that it was the site of a child-prostitution ring run by Hillary Clinton.
Having outside fact-checkers vet the stories appeared to be a promising solution because it freed social-media organizations from having to decide for themselves whether a story is fake — a responsibility they are wary of assuming, and one that raises fears of censorship.
Facebook has said its efforts to reduce false news are working, but declined to provide any underlying data. The social media giant's refusal to share information has frustrated some fact-checkers. "I'm hoping Facebook will see this study and determine that it is even more appropriate for them to share data as to how this is actually going," said Alexios Mantzarlis, the director of the Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network.
Rand also said that he wished Facebook would share more data, but added that it's not clear whether the company has information that could address precisely what he and Pennycook studied. Facebook knows who shares and clicks on stories, but Rand said the value of his and Pennycook's work is that it assessed whether people actually believe the false headlines.
To conduct the study, which involved more than 7,500 people, the researchers presented participants in a control group with 24 randomly mixed together headlines, 12 of them true and 12 of them false. The psychologists asked participants to rate the accuracy of the headlines, which were all pulled from stories that were posted on Facebook in 2016 or 2017. In this control group, participants correctly judged real news stories as accurate 59.2 percent of the time, while they incorrectly believed false stories 18.5 percent of the time.
In the initial control group, supporters of President Donald Trump believed that 18.5 percent of false headlines and 58.3 percent of real stories were accurate. The existence of flags made them 2.9 percentage points more likely to correctly judge a "disputed" story as false, but also 1.8 percentage points more likely to think an unflagged fake news story was true. They became 1.2 percentage points more likely to correctly judge real stories as accurate.
While it may appear from those numbers that the flags help at least a little, Rand said that he's concerned that the volume of unflagged fake news is so high that the negative impact from those stories overwhelms any benefit. "It's so much easier to produce fake news than it is to actually track down what's fake or not," Rand said.
For Clinton supporters, who started at a baseline of 18.5 percent on false news and 60 percent on true news, adding flags made them 4.3 percentage points more likely to correctly identify fake news, with a negligible backfire. They were 2.3 percentage points more likely to correctly judge accurate news as real.
Part of the reason for the discrepancy between Trump and Clinton supporters may come from attitudes toward media, Rand said. As part of the study, Rand and Pennycook asked participants how much they trusted third-party fact checkers. On a scale of 1-5, with five being more trusted, Clinton supporters came in at 3.1, and Trump supporters at 2.4.
But the findings that most surprised Rand and Pennycook were those for people 18 to 25 years old. The researchers did not even break their results out by age until they pumped their data through a machine learning algorithm and it picked up on the pattern.
In the control with no flags, the 18 to 25-year-olds believed 21.1 percent of the false headlines and 57.1 percent of the true stories. The existence of flags made young people 3.1 percentage points more likely to correctly identify flagged stories as being false, but they also became 4.4 percentage points more likely to believe unflagged false headlines. They were 3.2 percent more likely to believe the real headlines.
Rand guessed that the results could be related to declining trust in media among young people, but said he planned to study the issue further.
In his statement, the Facebook spokesperson highlighted that the study was conducted using a survey website, not performed with users on Facebook interacting with the platform. "This is an opt-in study of people being paid to respond to survey questions; it is not real data from people using Facebook," he said.
Rand acknowledged that not being able to conduct the study within the Facebook ecosystem was "a limitation," though he added that participants in the study did not know its subject in advance, so could not have been overly self-selected. "There are numerous studies showing that respondents from the website we used—Amazon Mechanical Turk—are pretty representative for doing studies on political opinions," he said.
The Facebook spokesman added that the articles created by the third party fact-checkers have uses beyond creating the "disputed" tags. For instance, links to the fact checks appear in "related article" stacks beside other similar stories that Facebook's software identifies as potentially false. They are "powering other systems that limit the spread of news hoaxes and information," the spokesperson said.
Mantzarlis, from Poynter's International Fact-Checking Network, added that when a false story gets fact-checked, Facebook's software limits its visibility, slowing its spread. Mantzarlis said he had several other questions about the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed. For instance, the study did not allow participants to click through and read the whole fact-check articles—would being able to do so have changed the results?
He added, though, that he supported any analysis of the fact-checking program. "This is exactly the type of research we need," he said. As one solution to the problems identified in the study, he suggested that Facebook could do more to explain to users that not all false stories receive flags.


12 Men (including 1 FNG) battled the GLOOM this morning for the inaugural workout at Goat Island.
The Cramerton community will never be the same due to seeing Godfather shirtless after the workout. Passersby ran in fear after seeing all 350lbs of his tatted body. Don't be surprised if there are posters out in Cramerton by next Thursday with his picture warning women and children to be on the lookout and to stay away from this behemoth.
and The Goat Island AO Begins….
Squeeker and Bandit got some extra credit in as they may have lost count during the cinder block chest press. Some believe that they were just showing the rest of us up.
We all thought that the new bridge would be a little more sturdier, but that wasn't the case with 12 men with cinder blocks running on it. You could feel the vibrations and movement of the bridge with every step.


Well done to all the children in the school, who went that little bit extra and applied for roles within the school staff team. You all did a wonderful job!
Well, what can we say about our Wrens and Nightingales? Mrs Henson, Mrs Vickers, and Miss Hayden were all thrilled to discover that children wanted to takeover our roles for the day. And, they achieved this with bells on!
Miss Roche did a super job of taking the register and making sure that everyone was ready to learn in school, whilst Mr Frankum was in charge of the 'chime' and ensuring that children stopped their work to listen to the next instruction as necessary.
Mr Gough was wonderfully responsible during his playground duty and ensured that children were able to play safely. He also supported Mr Butler during his superbly detailed and informative lesson about the ocean. The children in both Wrens and Nightingales were engrossed in the lesson and learned so much about different sea creatures.
Miss Hayden was particularly thrilled by her TA helpers - Miss Hitchcox and Miss Grant - whilst Mrs Appleyard was full of praise for Mr Truesdale and Miss Gould. A job well done, Year 3 and 4.
Well done, also, to all those children who had not applied for roles but supported their classmates throughout the day and behaved so well.
"You've got to pick a pocket or two..."
The children also debated whether the hard life as a pickpocket would be worth it, in order to escape the horrors of the Workhouse. We lightened the mood by learning the song, 'Pick a pocket or two' from the Musical, Oliver. Watch out for one of the children who may be pick-pocketing a handkerchief from their classmate!
A new term and a new topic!
As we approach the winter months and Christmas beckons, Wrens and Nightingales step into the exciting world of the Victorians. With a particular focus on the lives of Victorian Children, we will be learning about many different aspects of everyday life for both the rich and poor.
Many of the children were keen to share their knowledge as soon as the term began, and were enthusiastic to learn more about the life and reign of Queen Victoria. Both classes went on to write some super information texts, full of interesting information and fun facts.
Welcome back to an exciting year, Wrens!
"If you drink much from a bottle marked 'poison' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later."
Intrepid chemists, enter our class laboratory where you will discover the mysteries of our topic: Potions! We will unlock the secrets of how to change liquids into solids and solids into gases. Together we shall read fictional stories and historical documents of what happens when medicines, tinctures and concoctions are used to try and heal illness; not always with the intended results!
Wrens and Nightingales will be working together in class every afternoon. Joint PE lessons will take place every Tuesday and Friday afternoon. Please ensure that children have their complete PE kit ready for each lesson. As we begin to start heading towards cooler temperatures, it would be very useful if all children had warm clothing as well as shorts and t-shirts. Many thanks!


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Fringe Event
TGIM WELLNESS & BREAKFAST TOUR
Hosted by We Work
Making its Workplace Week London fringe debut is global workplace organization, WeWork!
WeWork is a global network of workspaces designed to connect people, inspire creativity, and transform the work experience. Whether you're a freelancer or Fortune 500, WeWork empowers you to do your best work. We bridge design, technology, and services to create spaces that work for businesses.
When WeWork first launched in 2010, its aim was to build more than beautiful, shared office spaces. It wanted to build a community. A place you join as an individual, 'me', but where you become part of a greater 'we'. A place where we're redefining success measured by personal fulfilment, not just the bottom line. Community is our catalyst.
In the heart of the South Bank with its world-famous cultural complex, just steps from Waterloo Station is the largest WeWork building in the world to date! The venue impresses with facilities including games, a speakeasy, a cinema, wellness, and meditation rooms, and bike storage.
Views of the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Thames remind you you're in one of the most inspiring parts of London at this urban working hub with state-of-the-art meeting and conference rooms, brainstorming rooms with writeable walls and alfresco spaces.
Join the team on Monday 11 November (08:00am-10:00am) and experience the WE community and interact with its members.
The session will start with a TGIM (Thank God It's Monday) wellness breakfast, followed by a tour of the impressive HQ.
WeWork, 10 York Road
London, SE1 7ND United Kingdom
Workplace Tour
DR MARTENS - SOLD OUT
Celebrated as the of the coolest workplaces for 2018. iconic British footwear brand Dr. Martens moved into their new global HQ in vibrant Camden town in 2017.
With the brand first adopted by the punk-rock subcultures in Camden back in the 1980s, there was no better location that created a true representation of the Dr. Martens' brand values, identity and culture. The site, located on the historic Camden lock (close to Viacom – home to MTV), is an area of huge diversity and home to an array of eccentric and artistic communities.
Home to more than 200 staff, the eclectic space immerses its occupier into the culture and history of the brand whilst providing a multi-functional and inspiring workplace space where employees enjoy coming into work, interacting and being part of the Dr. Martens family.
Made famous by the punk rock era, the connection with music has inspired the design throughout the building, with standout features including a large stage, complete with drum kit and video wall, coupled with bleacher-style tiered seating which allows for a flexible multi-use space for live music, announcements, interaction and social events. Meeting rooms are named after genres of music such as Ska, Rock, Indie and Two Tone and they even have "recording booths" which you can drop into to have private conversations/ calls. All of which have windows with central frosted sections that reveal only the top and bottom fifths of the screens. A bespoke Marshall amp wall with 'HypeBoxes' and transparent LCD display boxes, are also visible in the reception area and the office-wide music is audible as soon as you step in.
The completed design is a true reflection of the strong and coherent brand that is Dr Martens, with bespoke joinery elements, artwork and highlighted yellow accents echoing the signature Dr. Martens stitching, and even features cupboard handles made using heel-loops.
Don't miss this opportunity to visit an office that perfectly embodies the Dr. Martens culture and spirit whilst successfully providing a flexible multi-use space.
Camden Wharf, 28 Jamestown Rd, Camden Town,
London NW1 7HW
LINKEDIN (TOUR 1) - SOLD OUT
Over 27million people in the UK use LinkedIn to make professional connections and scout out new career opportunities.
But what's it really like to work for the world's largest online professional network? Join us for an exclusive tour this Workplace Week and find out!
Marking an exciting first for the programme, LinkedIn, will be offering an exclusive tour of its brand new premises at The Ray, Farringdon, the redeveloped, former North London HQ of the Guardian.
Relocating from Oxford Street in Spring 2019, to Farringdon, a neighbourhood rich with the history of local crafts people, the new location offers a unique creative landscape for LinkedIn UK's work to evolve.
The Ray's office space is spread across seven floors, of which LinkedIn currently occupies five. Complete with a variety of private and collaborative meeting spaces, a modern coffee bar, a Well Café, a fitness centre, LinkedIn's workplace design team has achieved a light filled environment that picks up on the nuances of the cityscape.
A roof terrace tops the building, with impressive panoramic views across London. The building also features retail space and affordable workspace.
If you would like to find out more about how LinkedIn continues to pave the way when it comes to connecting and shaping corporate culture, join us for an exclusive behind the scenes tour on Monday 11 November at 12:30-14:00.
Book your ticket now via the link below to avoid disappointment.
The Ray,123 Farringdon Rd, Farringdon,
London, EC1M 3HE
DELIVEROO - SOLD OUT
Making its Workplace Week London debut is food delivery firm, Deliveroo; the six-year-old start-up, on a mission to transform the way customers eat.
Based in Central London, with sweeping views of the Thames, the organisation aims to bring food from the world's best restaurants into everyone's home or office. Following its rapid growth since 2013, Deliveroo moved into its current river-side location in 2017 and now employs more than 1,000 full-time staff and works with over 20,000 restaurants in 130 cities around the world.
London staff wanted their new space to reflect their passion for food and create an environment that brought the brand to life, and allowed teams to work closely together in one space.
Deliveroo was therefore on a mission to deliver(oo) an environment that supports agile working and the collaborative nature of the company. As they are constantly hiring new, highly skilled staff, they wanted dynamic and varied work settings to encourage sharing – whether cross-departmentally or in the canteen at lunch.
Fast forward to 2019, and the immense 55,000 square foot hub is currently home to around 600 Deliveroo employees (all seated on one floor creating greater connectivity) and comes complete with an on-site gym, 27 meeting rooms named after the company's favourite foods, a shared rooftop overlooking the river, and (one of the most striking features of the exceptional space) a Centre Court central space where team events and town hall meetings take place on a purpose-built 'rooball pitch'.
Maintaining the company culture of a start-up has been of paramount importance to the organisation from the get-go and has been reflected in the design of the River Building workplace, providing a relaxed and flexible space enabling them to adapt to their ongoing evolution.
Contrasting minimalism against a striking mix of colours, the office has everything you could hope for from a young, cool, start-up empire, from a basketball court, to bean bags, hanging pods and a pool table – plus swing chairs suspended around a meeting table.
When it comes to a highly considered yet super cool, flexible and fun workplace design, this place certainly Deliveroos it!
RooFoods, The River Building,
1 Cousin Lane,
London, EC4R 3TE
Based in Camden since 2008, the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) recently refurbished Head Office occupies 35,700 sq. ft. of space over two floors. Recognised and frequently recommended as a standout example of a truly modern workplace, this stylishly designed headquarters offers a fantastic light and airy space which benefits from a terrace with great views over the capital.
Despite having more than 20 meeting rooms (many named after prestigious pioneers of heart research), in recent years, BHF's increasing headcount has resulted in pressure on space and a lack of collaborative settings, not helped by space-hungry 120° "boomerang" desks! And with headcount continuing to increase, the need to reconsider how the space was being used was paramount.
BHF's vision was clear: to create a more modern workspace with a variety of different types of workspace for different types of work, as well as helping colleagues become more mobile.
Having considered a variety of different options, there was a clear desire to deliver a cost-effective solution, to move away from desk ownership and work in a more agile way and to improve collaboration across teams.
By early 2019, the BHF workplace was transformed. Old desks were recycled and replaced with more space-efficient desks with full agile working introduced which required a change management piece of work to achieve the desired behavioural transformations. This enabled BHF to introduce a whole range of collaborative spaces for informal meetings and drop-ins as well as brand new kitchen area to cater for increasing numbers of staff.
As a result, BHF has succeeded in creating a truly spectacular new office space which allows staff to do their best work in helping the British Heart Foundation to Beat Heartbreak Forever. Join us on Monday 11 November and admire all they have achieved.
5th floor, Greater London House
180 Hampstead Road
London, NW1 7AW
The London headquarter of global technology company, Ricoh – located on the 22nd floor of Broadgate Tower (near Liverpool Street Station) – has been designed with flexible working in mind, allowing people to be productive by blending the latest technology with cutting-edge space planning techniques.
Under its corporate tagline – 'imagine. change', Ricoh empowers digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services enabling individuals to work smarter. Achieving performance and productivity by focusing on Workstyle Innovation, an approach through which organisations implement bespoke workspace, process and technology solutions to create one cohesive and highly effective workstyle. Ricoh's offices now operate by taking a holistic approach that combines people, workplace, process and technology and allows individuals to develop their own workstyle ensuring that they have the tools in place to enhance creativity, collaboration and innovation.
Ricoh's impressive office space, has been created after thorough consideration of different work styles and workflow to develop a new way of working that delivers a sustainable plan and explores how organisations and people can unlock their full potential and become fit for the future.
22nd Floor, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street,
London, EC2A 2EW
Tuesday 12th November
WORKPLACE SETTINGS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF VISIBILITY
HERMAN MILLER in collaboration with BRAINYBIRDZ
Have you ever wondered why some breakout spaces in workplaces continue to be unloved and underutilised, while others buzz with activity? Modern workplaces increasingly offer choices of where to work from, but what mix of settings will work best and how do we know in advance whether a setting will be popular or not?
In this seminar, brainybirdz workplace scientist's Dr Kerstin Sailer and Ros Pomeroy will take you on a journey to discover the variety of factors that come into play when we make choices at work.
Individual preferences for workplace settings will be discussed alongside an analysis of recurring patterns of how people have made choices in an experimental setting. Our experience of visibility in the workplace, i.e. what we see immediately around us (and who can see us) will be introduced as a factor that is often overlooked but can be measured and simulated.
Herman Miller Ltd, National Design Centre, 61 Aldwych,
London, WC2B 4AE
LLOYDS OF LONDON - SOLD OUT
Retaining its position as one of the most desirable and iconic office spaces in the world, the internationally-renowned Lloyds of London building (designed by Richard Rogers) is one of the city's most inspiring examples of high-tech architecture in full force.
As one of the greatest architectural achievements of the 1980s (but ahead of its time, still to this day!) the Lime Street headquarters consists of 33,510 cubic meters of concrete, 30,000 square meters of stainless-steel cladding and 12,000 square meters of glass.
Awarded Grade 1-listed status in 2011, the building achieved instant fame for its stainless-steel lifts, mounted on the outside of the building's concrete structure, creating a modern-gothic look and feel to the exterior. Other distinguishing features include its barrel-vaulted glass roof and a central dealing room – designed to expand or contract, to meet the needs of the market.
With treasured artifacts displayed throughout, including the iconic Lutine Bell (located in the 60-meter-high atrium) and the official Maritime Loss Book which details all insured ships lost at sea (including the Titanic) there is a no better example of a building that's peppered with history but caters for the needs of the 21st Century and beyond.
1 Lime Street,
London, EC3M 7HA
Listed by Glassdoor as one of London's 'Coolest Office Spaces in 2018', and previously ranked sixth in The Sunday Times Top Places to Work', Skyscanner has a reason to be on Cloud 9 when it comes to fulfilling its mission to create a "future-proof" workplace for its 230 employees.
Bright floors, airline seat conference rooms, quirky décor and a relaxed atmosphere make for a super fun environment at the London HQ of the UK's leading travel comparison site.
Located in the heart of Tottenham Court Road, the three-floor office space incorporates a variety of eclectic collaborative zones including chill-out rooms, squad rooms (featuring large double glazed doors to create larger spaces if required) and modular meeting spaces – some complete with sofas for well-earned rest-stops. It even has its own tennis table room for staff to unwind and enjoy some blue-sky thinking.
Inspired by the travel firm's global operations, certain finishes have been chosen to represent botanical gardens from various countries including France, the Netherlands, Thailand, India and Pakistan. Adding to the tranquility, bringing the outside in to create a relaxed feel, the workspace incorporates greenery and trailing plants throughout.
It's highly telling that on company review site Glassdoor, Skyscanner rates 5 stars out of 5, across all areas: for Culture & Values, Work/Life Balance, Senior Management, Comp & Benefits and Career Opportunities.
95% of employees believe Skyscanner ensures their wellbeing at work, 91% feel their work environment is conducive to effective working, and 85% believe they can balance work and personal commitments.
Don't miss an opportunity to look behind the scenes of an organisation that proves the skies the limit when it comes to contemporary workplace design and experience.
Floor 6, The Avenue, 1 Bedford Ave, Bloomsbury,
London, WC1B 3AU
HUCKLETREE WEST
Providing a 'community for the curious', Huckletree West is a standout example of collaborative co-working at its best!
Following its grand unveiling in 2017, the 30,500-square foot site (the third Huckletree site to launch in London) serves as a dedicated workspace accelerator for tech businesses, entrepreneurs and corporate innovation teams across media, fashion and design industries, creating a rich and dynamic setting to exchange ideas, build partnerships, grow their businesses together and have fun.
Located in Media Works, part of White City Place (next to the BBC Studios), the uber-cool space promises a vibrant working environment for ambitious minds and problem solvers to come together to make things happen.
Sharing in the success of sister sites located in Shoreditch and Clerkenwell, Huckletree West is already home to 500 carefully selected members, granted access to 15 private studios, 150 dedicated desks and 65 hot-desks, uniquely designed to maximise productivity and inspire innovation.
Boasting a range of headline-grabbing 'Google-style' innovations such as a mediation yurt, Virtual Reality Studio, a sunken seating zone, a podcasting booth for content creators and iceberg meeting spots – even its own Kids Studio offering workspace for 'parentrepreneurs' and babysitting when needed – this is more than a workspace, it's a playground for the mind.
191 Wood Lane, White City,
London, W12 7FP
Media entertainment giant, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) invites you to enjoy a sneak peek look behind the scenes of the media brand powerhouse.
Located on a quiet back-street wedged between Camden High Street, Regent's Canal and Kentish Town Road, visitors will struggle to miss the dazzling rainbow-coloured building occupying the former TV-AM site (just a stone's throw from the tube station) that houses close to1200 desks and is home to national broadcaster, Channel 5, as well as MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET and more.
Following the acquisition of Channel 5 in 2014, and the need to accommodate many more staff, VIMN UK is proud to show off a new look and feel, following a multi-million-pound extension. The design brief? To be anything but ordinary – and they nailed it.
Brimming with vibrancy and creativity, the bright bold frontage highlighting the sweeping curve of the building which mimics the crescent it spans, is enough to bring a smile to the coolest Camden Indie rocker. Intended to celebrate the pop industrial aesthetic and energy of its locality, a wall of rainbow-coloured fins graduating in colour on the outside shine red, orange, yellow and green when viewed from the west, and from lime green to darker greens to bright blue when viewed from the east. Winning some serious eco points, the office boasts a green living wall, photovoltaic panels and sedum roof.
The office is just as eye-catching on the inside! Stand-out features include modern, open-plan workstations and breakout areas, two atriums and a large, open flexible space for dining and whole-company meetings alongside the occasional gigs (very MTV!), as well as a series of studios, production rooms and recording and edit suites. Where else can you eat lunch with a giant moonman swinging above you whilst sipping out of a keep cup watching A-list music and TV talent swishing past?
So, if you've ever wondered where the creative minds behind some of the world's biggest brands, TV shows and characters reside (from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Blind Date and Geordie Shore) take the tour this November (just after you have your picture taken in front of the Lady Gaga art installation in one of several break out areas….but you'll have to get past the giant SpongeBob SquarePants statue first!)
17-29 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town
London, NW1 8TT
MACQUAURIE - SOLD OUT
The impressive EMEA headquarters of Macquarie Group is the perfect example of contemporary city-centre sophistication. Located in Ropemaker Place, the award-winning HQ – previously ranked by The Telegraph as one of the UK's 'Top 10 coolest office spaces' – is the epicentre of contemporary innovation.
Spanning six floors and 217,500 feet, the spectacular office incorporates open spaces and portable technology to enable staff and clients to connect and collaborate, creating an unparalleled, vibrant entrepreneurial culture.
Its light-filled atrium, glass walls and iconic red staircase that climbs through the heart of the building reflects a culture of openness and connectivity. Human-centred design throughout the office encourages innovation, efficiency, flexibility and comfortability. The office is also designed to the highest levels of sustainability and platinum green efficiency.
Macquarie is a standout example of city centre excellence – and always popular on the Workplace Week programme – so book now to avoid disappointment.
28 Ropemaker Street,
London, EC2Y 9HD
INNOCENT DRINKS
You might think this office space is better suited for an indoor picnic than for masterminding a serious place of work. However, do not be fooled by the synthetic grass, park benches, suspended basket chairs and ping pong table at Fruit Towers, home of Innocent Drinks. Based in Kensal Rise in North West London, the light and spacious office is reminiscent of an English fair, turfed with green grass throughout, to encompass the brand's cheery, cheeky nature.
Designed by Stiff + Trevillion, the super-green, super economical space takes the (fat-free) biscuit when it comes to creating an inspirational and healthy working environment for its staff. The vibrant and playful office comes complete with a first-floor gym (with changing rooms and showers), a large kitchen stocked with fresh fruit (and as many smoothies as staff can drink!), two cozy booths flanked by a wall of staff baby photos, a library, a roof terrace, a retreat area – and much more!
Enjoy a touch of summer this November, with a sneak peek tour of an office that is far from innocent when it comes to ticking all the boxes: refreshing, natural and straight-talking, loaded with cheeky surprises.
Fruit Towers, 342 Ladbroke Grove,
London, W10 5BU
PRODUCTIVITY: LINKING WORKPLACE DESIGN TO LEADERSHIP
One of the key takeaways from The Puzzle of Productivity report, produced by Fourfront Group in partnership with WORKTECH Academy in 2018, was a call for a closer relationship between workplace design and business leadership.
This year, Fourfront and WORKTECH Academy have partnered again to produce a piece of research which explores the new design models and concepts that support a range of leadership styles and help to boost productivity.
The research report will be launched at Fourfront Group's fringe event at Workplace Week London on Tuesday 12th November.
Leeson Medhurst, Director of Fourfront company 360 Workplace, will present the findings of the new research, which is a culmination of workshops, roundtables and survey responses that have taken place over the past four months.
We hope you can join us for what is certain to be a lively and insightful session!
Register your attendance here.
For all enquiries, please contact: Laura.korol@fourfrontgroup.co.uk
Fourfront Group, Floor 5, Counting House,
53 Tooley Street,
London SE1 2QN
ASOS (TOUR 2) - SOLD OUT
Home to one of the leading destinations for fashion-loving twenty somethings, the north London headquarters of ASOS has creativity and authenticity rooted deep within its foundations.
Listed by Glassdoor as one of London's 'Coolest Office Spaces in 2018', and located in a former 1920's tobacco factory in vibrant Mornington Crescent, Greater London House incorporates a sophisticated and eclectic art deco vibe, with an abundance of bright natural light and modern furnishings.
ASOS has since embarked on a significant renovation project, create a cutting edge, tech driven working environment for the future, suitable for its millennial workforce. The new space has been designed with a 'work anywhere' ethos and state of the art technology solutions that allow employees to find their own ways of working flexibly, on any device, communicating easily with the business globally.
Don't miss an exclusive opportunity to learn more about this exciting chapter of the ASOS brand story, and experience life behind the scenes of a truly inspiring lifestyle workspace of the future.
Greater London House, Hampstead Rd,
London, NW1 7FB
Wednesday 13th November
MANAGING THE WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE... SCIENCE, SPORT, SENSORS
The world's leading organisations are thinking hard about how to create workplace experiences that help them achieve peak business performance whilst staying nimble in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.
But what does peak performance look like? What part does human performance play? Can science guide us? How can we design and manage the workplace experience to enable it?
For answers to these questions we're looking to experts from the worlds of elite sport, well-being, science and technology in our breakfast session.
Workplace Management and 'performance' – Andrew Mawson
The future of Workplace Management
Workplace Performance (experience, cognition, utilisation, agility)
Lessons from sport and science – Ken Van Someren & Trevor Alldridge
Performance in sport, personal & team
Science, human performance and wellbeing
Using sensors and signage to improve workplace performance – Raj Krishnamurthy
Sensors, analytics, experience
How to apply them to improve workplace performance
Case studies from customers
Andrew Mawson – Founding Director, Advanced Workplace Associates
Andrew Mawson is a founding Director of Advanced Workplace Associates and is one of the UK's leading thinkers on matters, work, workplace and workplace management. He has directed workplace development programmes with some of the world's leading organisations and in 2013 he led a group of UK experts to create The Workplace Management Framework which is has now been adopted by The International Facilities Management Association as a model for managing the workplace of the future.
Ken Van Someren – Director Boost Cognition Ltd
Ken van Someren is a world-leading expert in human performance. Having worked with many of the world's greatest sports champions, Ken has applied his insights & strategies to enhance performance in industry & business.
Trevor Alldridge – Director Boost Cognition Ltd
Trevor Alldridge is a founding Director of Boost Cognition. He is a renowned workplace transformation expert with 35 years of experience in workplace strategy, cultural change and productivity enhancement. He has undertaken assignments for a wide range of businesses and implemented solutions around the globe.
Raj Krishnamurthy – CEO, Workplace Fabric Ltd
Raj Krishnamurthy is a workplace technology expert and CEO of Workplace Fabric, which designs solutions that transform office user experience whilst helping to lower real estate costs. Its platform Freespace is used by over 60,000 thousand users globally and is deployed in iconic work environments such as the Willis (Sears) Tower in Chicago, the Gherkin in London and the Century Link Towers in Pudong, Shanghai.
Workplace House
69 Turnmill Street
London, EC1M 5RR
HEARST - SOLD OUT
Following its 2018 relocation to the West End's vibrant Leicester Square, the headquarters of Hearst UK – the publisher of Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar and Esquire – spans five floors at Panton Street, totaling 70,915 square feet.
Formerly housed over two Soho-based offices, the West End move came at an exciting time for Hearst, marking the first time ever that its family of iconic brands were located under one roof, as part of the organisation's exciting plans to create a future-facing, highly collaborative and creative work environment.
Retaining its historic façade, the building (reimagined as the 'House of Hearst') has received a contemporary and vibrant bespoke fit out for the magazine group, including brand new modernised facilities for employees and first rate technology specifications. It also offers a high standard of environmental sustainability and has panoramic views of London.
Under the stewardship of Gensler, designers worked to make House of Hearst to like a real home; with shared spaces that would be accessible to and representative of all the family as a whole.
The move also incorporated a highly strategic change management programme as part of the redesign, helping to mediate changes and ensure a seamless shift in workplace practices and culture.
Successfully creating a culture of movement, innovation, agility, inclusivity and integration, this is an exciting opportunity not to be missed…
30 Panton Street,
London, SW1Y 4AJ
As one of Glass Door's 'Top 10 Coolest Offices in 2017', digital platform provider ZOOPLA has since extended this wonderful space and remains an exciting addition to Workplace Week London 2019.
Located in a beautiful courtyard setting at Tower Bridge, the space is infused with impressive industrial design, breakout spaces and natural light. The design places a unique emphasis on natural greenery throughout, with an impressive green wall in the reception area highlighting the office's distinct departure from the traditional office space, designed to incorporate all the characteristics of a 'home away from home' providing three floors of living space.
The spectacular office space comes complete with a series of boardrooms and collaborative spaces designed and styled as rooms in the home; a living room, dining room, wine cellar, terrace – even a tree house and swimming pool (including a diving board!).
Once employees have finished at the in-house gym or studio they can enjoy a coffee from onsite Barista, head to the games room (complete with air hockey table and old school video games) and take a putt on the in-house mini golf course.
With all this and more, visitors are bound to feel right at home the minute they set foot through the door.
The Cooperage, 5 Copper Row
London, SE21 2LH United Kingdom
The 25-year-old London HQ of professional services firm PwC, located at Embankment Place, is globally renowned as being one of the most iconic, energy efficient and environmentally friendly offices in the UK, once achieving the highest ever Outstanding BREEAM ranking.
Shortlisted in the 'International Interior Design of the Year' category for the Emirates Glass LEAF Awards 2017, the nine-story, post-modern office design – spanning 48,000 square meters, above Charing Cross Station – holds more than 4,500 work stations (operated through a touch-screen hoteling system), as well as a choice of break-out, collaboration and practice areas to create a local community feel
With its modern, highly sophisticated interior design, the office boasts an impressive number of fixed workstations, break out areas, quiet rooms and meeting space, with systems employed to ensure that all the varied space is utilised efficiently and effectively.
Through its attention to detail, endeavor and desire for quality, 1 Embankment Place certainly presents an excellent business case for modern, vibrant working.
1 Embankment Place,
London, WC2N 6RH
AVIVA DIGITAL GARAGE - SOLD OUT
Few investors would associate exposed brick walls and vintage posters in London's trendy Hoxton Square with insurance… but don't be fooled.
Going against the grain of traditionalism, Aviva is a firm believer that there's no better time to transform an entire industry and the way customers engage with their products and services. That's why they created their Digital Garage back in 2015. A brand new digital environment, in the heart of London's Tech City and away from Aviva's City of London office. The Digital Garage has a start-up culture and is home to a few hundred staff, including digital innovation and development teams, staff who are data scientists, not actuaries and others who used to work as games developer.
For Aviva's workforce of technical specialists, creative designers and commercial teams, the open-plan space, complete with the latest software and digital tools, creates an unrivalled opportunity, to spearhead product innovation and development, share new ideas, launch breakthroughs and turn ideas into real financial products and services. It's where they run the business from, building capability and functionality to deliver on customer pain points and opportunities, using data and technology – whilst doing it all faster and smarter!
Driving their ambition to implement collaborative working for their employees, The Garage (and the recently opened Ryley Factory (an extension of The Garage), also on Hoxton Square) has been designed with agility and efficiency in mind. This is ultra-modernisation at its best. The ongoing success of Aviva's Digital Garage, continues to reinforce the organisations' long-term commitment, to retain its position at the forefront of the digital revolution and pave the way for the insurance industry.
Aviva's Digital Garage is a game-changer for insurance and beyond.
33-35 Hoxton Square,
London, N1 6NN
CONDÉ NAST INTERNATIONAL (TOUR 1) - SOLD OUT
London, WC2N 6HT
Thursday 14th November
EMERGING WORKPLACE TRENDS & EXPRESSIONS OF CORPORATE CULTURE
Hosted by Knoll
We all know what an office looks like, right? Tall buildings in stainless steel and glass, with leather chairs and marble floored receptions. Muscular expressions of corporate culture. This architecture will be with us for decades but how can the spaces within be reconciled with the values of younger generations? What is the new iconography of the workplace?
Based on Knoll research, direct market experience and site visits, join us on Thursday 14 November and learn more about emerging workplace trends and new expressions of corporate culture, from Trent Baker, Director of Fluzig.com, part of Knoll International.
To register your attendance, please contact: receptionuk@knolleurope.com
Knoll, Knoll Showroom, 91 Goswell Road
London, EC1V 7EX
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE (BFI)
Don't miss an exclusive opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the recently refurbished, super smart corporate headquarters of the British Film Institute (BFI), the home of film in the UK.
Located at Stephen Street, BFI worked closely with AWA and brand experts, RAW Brothers, in 2017, to transform their workplace, from dull and dreary to vibrant, agile and creative. Their mission? To utilise the space, maximise cognitive performance and productivity and cut costs.
They faced two main challenges: First, how to educate a large workforce with multiple teams (spanning education, programming and curation to IT, HR and legal) of the importance of cross-team collaboration. Second, BFI needed to prove they could generate income and support themselves, without additional funding.
Under AWA's stewardship, a project team was utilized to maximise square footage without jeopardising performance or comfort, by housing the BFI team on three floors, instead of five – whilst implementing a series of agile working practices.
12 months' later and BFI has raised the bar for contemporary city chic; transforming its HQ into one of the cities' most exciting, innovative, contemporary, agile workplaces that perfectly champions and celebrates the vibrancy and the heritage of the BFI brand throughout.
Tickets are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.
21 Stephen St, Fitzrovia,
London, W1T 1LN
MITIE GROUP - SOLD OUT
Leading facilities management company, Mitie, relocated from the Cottons Centre in Tooley Street to the iconic and vibrant Shard Building in February 2018, one of the tallest buildings in Europe.
As part of the organisation's commitment to consolidating its London offices and creating a truly connected workplace, Mitie brought 250 of its employees from three separate locations together under one state of the art roof, to occupy the twelfth floor of the landmark building.
Offering incredible panoramic views across London's skyline, the move to the vertical city comes at a time of transformation for the business under the stewardship of its new senior management team, serving to drive efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, it also strengthens collaboration across teams and acts as a showcase for Mitie's Connected Workspace vision.
It's mission: to help improve the performance of its new location to make work life better for its people.
Listed by Glassdoor as one of London's 'Coolest Office Spaces in 2018', he standout space incorporates ultra-modern furnishings, the latest interactive, highly optimized technology and environmental sensors, predictive maintenance support and functionality, as well as a biophilic living lab to measure wellbeing and productivity.
The space is a sophisticated hybrid interior designed to encourage activity-based working. People can choose what kind of area they want to work in from dynamic break out areas to informal booths or a 'town hall' space for collegiate gatherings. Funky fixtures rest alongside natural materials such as bamboo and foliage to create and inspire calmness and clear thought.
Here is a transformative workplace setting a high standard for connectivity and collaboration.
The Shard, Level 12, 32 London Bridge Street,
London, SE1 9SG
JELLYFISH - SOLD OUT
Recently expanding to new heights within the UK's tallest building, The Shard, Digital Marketing Agency, Jellyfish are thrilled to join the line-up for Workplace Week London 2019.
Located on the 22nd floor of The Shard since January 2016, Jellyfish is the world's biggest boutique agency delivering digital marketing solutions for global brands such as Toyota, Fitbit.
Working closely with local supplier Workplace Creations, the design team set out to make what was an empty space, with a stunning view, into something spectacular for staff and clients. The fit out includes an impressive bar area with stunning uninterrupted views of the city, training facilities for delegates to come and learn about various digital marketing disciplines from in-house trainers, client meeting rooms and hot desk areas.
After a successful two years on the 22nd floor, Jellyfish has recently expanded with an additional 10,000 square foot on the 28th floor, the very top of the office space within The Shard. The new space on level 28 will accommodate growing data and analytics teams as well as additional training suites, offering courses across all areas of digital marketing. It also marks the continued success of the agency's relationship with Google as a Google Marketing Platform Partner.
With views of Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf to the east, London Bridge station, Bermondsey and Crystal Palace to the south and The London Eye, St Paul's and the Thames to the west, this workplace certainly has a sting in the tail when it comes to creating a superior workplace.
The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street,
SMART BUILDINGS & THE DIGITILISATION OF THE WORKPLACE
Hosted by IWFM & Microsoft
In 2018 IWFM published a report, Embracing Technology to Move FM Forward. It highlighted a lack of awareness and expertise around emerging technologies; perhaps that's to be expected. But it also highlighted that currently FM's are focused on the tools that can make managing the building easier and were less switched on to how smart building technology can enable better work. Are they in danger of experiencing a digital marginalisation or could they hold the key to a digital reinvention of the profession?
A year on, and in partnership with global tech giant Microsoft, a second edition of this report will investigate the art of the possible and over the course of 2020 fresh research will explore how the profession can navigate the digitisation of workplace and facilities management and the opportunities and challenges that it presents.
This event will form the start of that work. Hearing from IWFM and Microsoft, along with perspectives from suppliers to, and occupiers of, workplaces, attendees will be able to hear about the latest innovations, the ethical challenges, practical implications and challenge the current thinking.
To register your place, click here.
About The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM)
The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) is the pioneering body for workplace and facilities management professionals.
The IWFM is a community of over 17,000 workplace and facilities management professionals. It shared best practice and knowledge with the profession and support our member's professional development through internationally recognised, regulated qualifications, short courses and training.
UBM, 19th Floor, 240 Blackfriars Road,
London, SE1 8BF
Marking an exclusive first and an incredibly exciting addition to the Workplace Week London line-up is the Oscar winning visual effects firm, Framestore, home to a collective of visionaries working across film, advertising and content.
The organisation has won every major industry award, including the Academy Award for Visual Effects (The Golden Compass, 2008; Gravity, 2014; Blade Runner 2049). Production Company of the Year by multiple bodies, as well as the company's greatest single project award haul for the innovative group VR experience Field Trip to Mars for Lockheed Martin and McCann NY.
The London HQ relocated at the beginning of 2018, from five buildings in Soho, as part of a significant consolidation and expansion move, to its current 95,000 square feet location at 28 Chancery Lane (currently home to its 1000 strong workforce).
The 9 storey building has a variety of different spaces including a motion capture studio, a dedicated training room, multiple client meetings rooms and presentation suites including a 30-seater cinema, and several mixed use spaces including a staff cafe that is regularly used as event space. The building also has two roof terraces with spectacular views across London.
Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to look behind the scenes at one of London's most celebrated creative companies. Book now to avoid disappointment, as this tour is set to be a box office smash…
London, WC2A 1LB
FRANK PR - SOLD OUT
Listed by Glassdoor as one of London's 'Coolest Office Spaces in 2018', Frank PR, established in 2000 and employing 70 people, is one of the UK's leading consumer PR agencies with clients including Chessington World of Adventures, Direct Line, Coca-Cola, Rimmel London, Skoda and Lord Sugar.
Part of an industry often accused of spinning stories, the Camden-based PR agency Frank has taken things to the extreme by unveiling the world's first boardroom consisting of customized, functioning Waltzers, the classic spinning fairground ride.
It is the first boardroom of its kind, with the inspiration coming from the nearby Hampstead Heath fair, which takes place in the borough of Camden twice a year. The rest of the office also has plenty of character, again taking cues from legendary Camden.
A reception area mimics Camden Town tube station, with its iconic Charles Tyson Yerkes tiled mural, complete with reconditioned original seating stripped from an old Northern Line underground train. A meeting room, nicknamed 'The Talkability Tavern', inherits its design and feel from a local Camden pub, complete with Frank's own novel range of beer taps. And another meeting space is modeled on the VIP area of a nightclub in Camden High Street.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to take a spin behind the scenes at Frank – where workplace experience matters (you can even reserve a coffee via their website ahead of your arrival!)
Centro 4, 20-23 Mandela Street,
London, NW1 0DU
Housing 400 employees from across the group's five brands Photobox, Moonpig, Hofmann, PosterXXL and Greetz; Photobox Group, Europe's leading digital consumer service for personalised products and gifts has recently celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art headquarters at Herbal House in June 2018 – a 37,000 sq. ft. office which reinstates the roots of the building as a hub of creativity and high-profile business.
Dating back to 1928, the former Daily Mirror printworks recently underwent a full brick and stone restoration to ready itself for an incredible transformation.
Clustered around the numerous cross-functional squads that work autonomously across the brands, the four-storey, completely open-plan HQ moves beyond a traditional desk environment, offering each squad a variety of flexible work, daily stand-up and collaboration spaces.
In a nod to the site's roots, the workplace designers have opted to showcase the exposed original concrete walls, pillars, ceilings of the building, with an original crane hanging over the reception.
Further celebrating colour and design, each of the four floors are colour-coded using the CMYK formula at the foundation of all print shops. These floors surround a vast industrial atrium – a dedicated events space viewable from anywhere in the HQ, which is used for all-company meetings, knowledge-sharing events and meet-ups for the tech and creative industries in London.
If you're looking for a picture-perfect example of workplace creativity and design, look no further than Herbal House…
Herbal House, 10 Back Hill,
London, EC1R 5EN
CMS London - SOLD OUT
In 2015, international consulting firm CMS London relocated their London office to Cannon Place, to create a truly innovative working environment, centered around creating exceptional client areas and open plan collaborative work spaces
Accommodating more than 1400 employees, the office space (complete with a state of the art reception area, open plan collaboration zones, two feature staircases and restaurant) coincided with a new, client-centric initiative – the company uses a mixture of traditional receptionist desk in favor of a "meet and greet" concierge approach, creating a space for more conversation between the company and the client.
The 'business lounge' style of the CMS office space includes everything an employee in a modern office could need including; video conferencing rooms, bookable and non-bookable meeting rooms, and café and breakout spaces to encourage mobility and cross-team collaboration.
With the new office came the addition of new technology. Employees would be issued a state-of-the-art laptop, wireless headset and 24" screen, enabling them to stay mobile and take advantage of the different types of workspaces throughout the office. The new technology – along with a media wall, an interactive table and ipads on arrival – allow for total mobility, enabling staff to work at their desks, move into a meeting room, or around the building, or work remotely.
This forward-thinking approach is characterised by sparing splashes of colour, modern furniture and striking staircases that encourage movement and add to the sense of fluidity in the office.
By embracing a truly high-tech mobile working culture, CMS' fee earners have all the tools they need to advise their clients instantly literally anywhere in the world they happen to be. And by combining their new technology with an open plan, collaborative environment, with fee earner grouped according to their core sectors, all staff are able to share knowledge and ideas with colleagues and devise more creative, innovative ways of servicing their clients.
The office's exceptional design, commitment to agility and amenities have catapulted CMS to the forefront of workplace design.
Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street,
London, EC4N 6AF
SMARKETS
From monochromatic minimalism to laid-back luxury, this simple yet uber-stylish approach to interior design is likely to be an all-time favorite. Joining the 2019 line-up is the ultra-modern headquarters of sports betting exchange agency, Smarkets.
With the help of the award-winning commercial interior fit out agency, Third Way Interiors, to design a bespoke workspace that mirrors the firm's progressive cultural ethos of self-management, the 10,000-square foot space on the seventh and top floor of Commodity Quay, is committed to offering 'a new kind of workplace', where trust, freedom and fun are the driving forces.
Located at St Katherine Docks, providing the space to expand and the setting to inspire, the stunningly modern office promises a collaborative environment where employees are not restrained by "unnecessary bureaucracy", and have the freedom to come in when they want and work together in whatever way they choose (rumour has it, they can even set their own salaries and holiday allowance).
Offering 360 penthouse views of the Docks, Tower Bridge and the City, the state of the art office space boasts a light and airy feel, with its semi-open plan layout, glass walls and doors, a 360 balcony and a vibrant 'living wall' to 'bring the outside in'.
With a series of stylish boardrooms and moving hot-desks located at one half of the office, the other boasts a large, social eating space, complete with fully-equipped, professionally manned, marble-clad kitchen (offering three free restaurant-quality meals a day!), a games area and soundproof booths for meetings, phone calls and Skype interviews.
Ultra smart. Ultra modern. The odds are in Smarkets favour when it comes to setting the standard for superior workplace design.
1 Commodity Quay, St Katharine Docks,
London, E1W 1AZ


Summary: It's been a few months since we've left twin sisters, Harmony and Melody, who reunited in the first book of this dystopian series, Bumped. Both in quite a growing predicament, can they rise to the challenge, going against all they know?
One suggestion before I get into the actual story: read or reread Bumped before diving into this one. Because of the intricate world that McCafferty has created, I think it's best for there to be little to no breathing room before books. It won't take you quite as long to get reacquainted with these quirky characters and most importantly, the clever language. I also guarantee there are a bunch of small details you've forgotten over time. I know I had.
There are a lot of twists and turns throughout Thumped and rightfully so. McCafferty left the characters in quite a predicament at the end of Book 1 and what I like about this sequel is that it fast-forwards a few months, and even though we immediately jump back into the lives of Harmony and Melody, I was seriously kept guessing through a lot of it. Did she? Didn't she? Is she? Is he? What? Truth: My fingers couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
This book forces Melody and Harmony to comes to terms with their beliefs and to take a stand in order for there to be change. It's very girl power when you think about it and not in a rah-rah way but in a "I didn't know I was a strong woman but I AM a strong woman and I need to do this" sort of way. Of course, this strength doesn't appear out of nowhere. Instead it was just a seed planted in the first book and one that continued to take control in the second. In fact, even many of the supporting characters (who we get to know more intimately in Thumped) have to make choices that are equally difficult and unpopular in this world. Can 5 people elicit the change needed in a world where babies are sold to the highest bidder? It's the big question overarching the entire plotline.
I believe it was purposeful for McCafferty to make her characters feel so detached the first time around. I actually was surprised by how much more invested I was in them in Book 2, even emotionally choked up at some points. (We all know I'm a sap. Sue me.) But it makes sense. These characters deepen and open up more. There are very adult truths they have to face at a young age, while at the same time wrestling with the challenges of the teenagers we know today.
In a book world where we are drowning in trilogies, I have to point out that McCafferty does a great job of developing these characters and this plotline, and then tying up loose ends in the second without need for another book. I was a little worried at first, knowing how involved the story was. But the pacing worked and I felt quite satisfied when I reached the last page.
Okay, I'm going to quit being so vague and just tell you this: this series proves just how thought provoking the YA genre can be. It is about sisterhood. It is a commentary on the celebrity-obsessed world we live in and how the media can blow it all out of proportion. It is about parenting and enjoying the simple things. It is about doing the right thing even when it's the most complicated and it seems like everyone is against you. Most of all it is about FEELING something in an age where we are connected through disconnect.
P.S. Brainstorm: wouldn't a companion book from the perspective of one of the male characters be super intriguing? Especially a few more years in the future?


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Zhen WANG
PR of China
24 AUG 1991 ATHLETE'S CODE
Focus on Athletes Biography
5000 Metres Race Walk 18:49.10 Fossano (ITA) 13 SEP 2014 1159
10,000 Metres Race Walk 38:23.73 Genova (ITA) 08 FEB 2015 1200
10 Kilometres Race Walk 37:44 Beijing (CHN) 18 SEP 2010 WU20R, ABP, AU20R 1229
20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:17:36 Taicang (CHN) 30 MAR 2012 NR 1243
30 Kilometres Race Walk 2:08:46 Zhengzhou (CHN) 16 MAR 2008 1157
35 Kilometres Race Walk 2:31:29 Latina (ITA) 29 JAN 2012 1179
50 Kilometres Race Walk 3:53:00 Jinan (CHN) 26 OCT 2009 1145
10,000 Metres Race Walk 38:53.11 Asti (ITA) 21 MAY 2016 1178
20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:12 Huangshan (CHN) 05 MAR 2016 1208
5000 Metres Race Walk
2014 18:49.10 Fossano (ITA) 13 SEP 2014
2009 20:16.04 Changsha (CHN) 20 AUG 2009
5000 Metres Race Walk Outdoor
10,000 Metres Race Walk
2016 38:53.11 Asti (ITA) 21 MAY 2016
2015 38:23.73 Genova (ITA) 08 FEB 2015
2012 38:30.38 Tianjin (CHN) 16 SEP 2012
2011 41:23.64 Mondovi (ITA) 12 JUN 2011
10,000 Metres Race Walk Outdoor
10 Kilometres Race Walk
2012 39:27 Erdos (CHN) 14 SEP 2012
2011 38:50 La Coruña (ESP) 17 SEP 2011
2010 37:44 Beijing (CHN) 18 SEP 2010
2009 41:23 Huhehaote (CHN) 19 JUN 2009
2008 40:03 Xintai (CHN) 23 OCT 2008
10 Kilometres Race Walk Outdoor
2016 1:19:12 Huangshan (CHN) 05 MAR 2016
2015 1:18:00 La Coruña (ESP) 06 JUN 2015
2014 1:19:40 Taicang (CHN) 04 MAY 2014
2013 1:19:08 Lugano (SUI) 17 MAR 2013
2012 1:17:36 Taicang (CHN) 30 MAR 2012
2011 1:18:30 Taicang (CHN) 22 APR 2011
2010 1:20:42 Rio Maior (POR) 10 APR 2010
2009 1:22:10 Jinan (CHN) 22 OCT 2009
2008 1:28:01 Huangshan (CHN) 19 SEP 2008
2009 2:13:22 Baoji (CHN) 22 MAR 2009
2008 2:08:46 Zhengzhou (CHN) 16 MAR 2008
2012 2:31:29 Latina (ITA) 29 JAN 2012
Honours - Olympic Games
1. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:14 Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro (BRA) 12 AUG 2016
3. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:25 Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) 04 AUG 2012
2. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:29 National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) 23 AUG 2015
2. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:20:54 DS, Daegu (KOR) 28 AUG 2011
Honours - World Race Walking Cup
1. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:22 Roma (ITA) 07 MAY 2016
1. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:13 Saransk (RUS) 12 MAY 2012
6. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:40 Taicang (CHN) 04 MAY 2014
Honours - Asian Games
1. 20 Kilometres Race Walk 1:19:45 Incheon (KOR) 28 SEP 2014
Honours - IAAF Race Walking Challenge Final
1. 10 Kilometres Race Walk 39:27 Erdos (CHN) 14 SEP 2012
1. 10 Kilometres Race Walk 38:50 La Coruña (ESP) 17 SEP 2011
1. 10 Kilometres Race Walk 37:44 Beijing (CHN) 18 SEP 2010
Results in: 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 By Events By Date
21 MAY 2016 Asti Regional Ch., Asti ITA F F 1. 38:53.11
05 MAR 2016 Huangshan CHN F F 1. 1:19:12
07 MAY 2016 Roma IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships, Roma ITA GW F 1. 1:19:22
28 MAY 2016 La Coruña Gran Premio Cantones, La Coruña ESP A F 1. 1:20:17
12 AUG 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro BRA OW F 1. 1:19:14
Focus on Athletes biographies are produced by the IAAF Communications Dept, and not by the IAAF Statistics and Documentation Division. If you have any enquiries concerning the information, please use the Contact IAAF page, selecting 'Focus on Athletes Biographies' in the drop down menu of contact area options.
Updated 3 August 2012
WANG Zhen, China (20 km Race Walking)
Born: 24 August 1991 Heilongjiang
Lives: in Heilongjiang, a province in northeast China near the border with Russia
Coach: Sandro Damilano
Wang Zhen hails from Heilongjiang, a province near the border between China and Russia. "I was brought up by my mother Chen Ya Hong. She re-married another man after her husband died when I was just ten years old," said Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen, the only member of his family to practice sport, is considered the rising star of Chinese Race Walking. "I began walking at school competitions, where I represented the team from my Province. I was the best walker in my Province, but I did not train very hard in the early stages of my career. I walked just three or four days a week. My first coach was Liu Yunfeng, who was fifth at the IAAF World Cup in Naumburg and 25th in the 20 km at the Olympic Games in Athens."
"I began competing at international level in 2008 and in just four years of top walking races I set the 20km Asian record with a hugely impressive 1:17:36 at the IAAF Walking Race Challenge in Taicang (China) on 30 March 2012."
"At the start of my career in 2008 I won the 30km Chinese Junior race at the National Walking Championships in 2:08:46 (Editor's note: Wang was in fact entered out of competition at this event). I made my debut in the 50km one year later at the 2009 Chinese National Games, at the age of 18, where I finished sixth in 3:53:00."
In 2009, Wang placed second in the National Junior Championships 30km, in Baoji in March, then in April, took part in the national junior races held at the same time as the Chinese leg of the IAAF World Race Walking Challenge winning the 10km and placing second in the 30km.
In autumn, he competed with the seniors at the Chinese National Games, in Jinan, placing ninth at 20km and sixth in his 50km debut four days later.
In 2010, Wang Zhen made his international debut in the IAAF World Race Walking Challenge.
He scored his first Challenge point in March, at the Gran Premio Città di Lugano Memorial Albisetti, where he finished sixth in 1:22:03 in the race won by Italian Alex Schwazer, who broke Maurizio Damilano's 18-year-old Italian record with 1:18:24. On 10 April 2010 he improved his 20km PB with 1:20:42, to finish third behind Norway's Erik Tysse and France's Yohan Diniz at the Grande Premio Internacional en Marcha Atletica in Rio Major, the Portuguese leg of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge. One month later, he finished seventh (later upgraded to sixth following Tysse's suspension) at the Coppa Città di Sesto San Giovanni in 1:23:49 before making his first appearance in a major championships race, at the 2010 IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua (Mexico) where he crossed the finish line in 20th place on a very warm day.
"The World Cup in Chihuahua was my first competition with the Chinese team and competing at high altitude caused me some problems," recalls Wang Zhen.
However, Wang was able to bounce back from that disappointment, closing 2010 on a very high note at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge Final, which marked his major breakthrough at world level. He had scored enough points to qualify for the final, in Beijing, which was held over the 10km distance. In the Chinese capital, Zhen broke Stanislav Emelyanov's one-year-old World Junior record of 38:28 by 44 seconds, with a sensational 37:44, which was also an Asian record. Wang Zhen and his compatriot Chu Yafei engaged a neck-to-neck battle until 8km with the chasing group about 10 seconds behind. Zhen broke away shortly before 9km and held on to win in 37:44, the second fastest time in the World All-time list. Chu Yafei, who held the previous 10km Asian record and was World Challenge leader before the Final, also broke the 38 minutes barrier with 37:57 in the best ever competition for depth of results, where the top-15 placers all set their PBs.
Three of the top four walkers were Chinese. The only non-Chinese athlete who managed to break the domination of the Asian country was Italian Giorgio Rubino, who finished third setting, his PB with 38:00, the same time clocked by fourth placer Wang Hao, World silver medallist in the 20km in Berlin.
Another interesting story which emerged from the race in Beijing was that Rubino, Wang Zhen and Wang Hao were all coached by Italian walking coach legend Sandro Damilano, the man who has been contributing to the progress of Chinese race walking race since November 2009, when he was hired by the Chinese Federation with the goal of improving the standard of race walking in China and guide Chinese walkers to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Looking after new challenges after a long relationship to the Italian Federation, Damilano agreed to participate in the Chinese Federation's project, but at the same time he continued living in Piedmont and training Italian walking stars, Giorgio Rubino and Elisa Rigaudo.
Damilano, the older brother of former Olympic 20km race walking champion and 1987 and 1991 World champion Maurizio, has collected a total of 46 Olympic World and European medals during his outstanding coaching career. Among the athletes guided by Damilano during his 40-year-old career were his younger twin brothers, Maurizio and Giorgio, as well as 2002 World Cup winner Erika Alfridi, 1996 Olympic 10km silver medallist Elisabetta Perrone, 2008 Olympic 20km bronze medallist Elisa Rigaudo, 2008 Olympic 50km champion Alex Schwazer and 2009 World Championships 20km fourth placer Giorgio Rubino.
Damilano coached for the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) from 1981 until December 2010, when he began working for the Chinese Federation. In 2001 Sandro and Maurizio Damilano contributed significantly to the creation of the Race Walking Training Centre in Saluzzo, a small town near their native village Scarnafigi in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.
The ideal training conditions and the technical exchange of different walking schools have contributed to make Saluzzo one of the most respected race walking centres in the world. Other international stars such as Ecuador's three-time 20km World champion and 1996 Olympic champion Jefferson Perez and former 50km World champion Nathan Deakes from Australia also used the very good facilities of the Saluzzo Training School.
"In the environment of the Race Walking Training Centre of Saluzzo I have found the ideal conditions to train and continue my improvement, also thanks to the excellent facilities. I would never leave Saluzzo. The weather is ideal for training. I have a very good relationship with my training partners, especially with Giorgio Rubino. We have become very good friends," said Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen trains in Saluzzo with Liu Hong and Wang Hao, Berlin World Championships medallists, and Si Tianfeng, 2010 World Cup fourth placer in Chihuahua in the 50km. "We have been based in Saluzzo since last December and will remain there until the World Cup in Saransk," said Wang some days before the 2012 World Cup. "After the World Cup we will spend a period of training in Livigno to prepare for the Olympic Games in London."
Wang Zhen has produced the most surprising breakthrough since he trains in Saluzzo.
"Wang Zhen was not among the best walkers at the National Games in Jinan in 2009 but I spotted his talent and I have believed in his potential. He often suffers from problems in his tibia. In Chihuahua he did not perform well, but it was his first competition for the Chinese National team," said Sandro Damilano.
Wang Zhen's improvement was shown by his impressive 1:18:37 clocking in the 20km race at the Memorial Albisetti in Lugano on 20 March 2011. In the Swiss town, the Chinese walker led from the beginning of the race together with Chu Yafei. At 8km he and Chu Yafei broke away from the rest of the field and walked side by side until the closing stages of the race, which was decided by a final sprint. Zhen Wang prevailed by just one second and come close to the course record set in 2010 by Alex Schwazer.
Wang further improved his PB by seven seconds to 1:18:30 in Taicang on 22 April 2011. For the second time in one month, Wang Zhen beat Chu Yafei, who finished runner-up in 1:18:45. In the Taicang race, China claimed a podium sweep as 18-year-old Chen Ding also finished third in a new PB of 1:18:52.
Wang continued his 2011 season with a win at the Dublin International GP of Race Walking on 26 June in 1:19:46 ahead of Hassanine Sebei from Tunisia and his training partner Giorgio Rubino.
At the World Championships, in Daegu, Wang Zhen was entered with the fastest time in the world, set in Taicang, but had to settle for fourth place in the 20km in 1:20:54. "It was my first appearance at the World Championships, but I would have expected a better result, as I entered the competition as the fastest man in the field," recalls Wang Zhen.
In the Korean city, Wang Zhen was the only Chinese in the top eight, as his compatriots Chu Yafei and Wang Hao, winner of the IAAF World Cup in Chihuahua in 2010, finished 11th and 13th respectively.
Wang Zhen was only seven seconds behind Russian World champion Valeriy Borchin, in second place at 15km, but the gap increased to 20 seconds at 16km and two kilometres later, he faded and was overtaken by Russian Vladimir Kanaykin and Luis Fernando Lopez from Colombia.
The young Chinese walker capped his breakthrough season with a second place at the 2011 IAAF Race Walking Challenge Final, in La Coruña, over the 10 km distance in 38:49, seven seconds behind Berlin and Daegu World champion Valeriy Borchin.
His winter training bore fruit in his first 2012 races. At the end of January, he took part in the Italian Winter Race Walking Trophy, in Latina, where he finished second over the 35km distance in 2:31:29 behind Alex Schwazer's outstanding 2:28:10.
One month later, he won the 10km race at the Trofeo Ugo Frigerio in Genova in 38:35, setting the fastest time in the world in 2012 over the distance and beating his training partners Si Tianfeng and Li Jianbo.
On 30 March, Wang Zhen broke the Asian record in the 20km with 1:17:36 in the Chinese leg of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge, in Taicang, lowering the previous Asian record held by Zhu Hongjun (1:17:41 in Cixi in 2005). He scored his second consecutive win in Taicang and improved his lifetime best by 54 seconds. China claimed a podium sweep, with 19-year-old Chen Ding second in 1:17:40, 1:12 sec. off his previous PB of 1:18:52 and Cai Zelin, third in 1:18:47, also a huge improvement on his previous PB.
"The 2012 World Cup in Saransk will be an important test, but I am training to peak my form for the Olympic Games in London, hoping to stay injury-free," said Wang Zhen shortly before traveling to Russia.
In the Russian mecca of race walking, Wang Zhen defeated all the home-country favourites. After moving to the lead half way through the race, Wang placed a second attack in the final stages of the competition, knowing from the DQ board that Andrey Krivov, who was elbow to elbow with him, already had two warnings and could not take any further risks.
"I did not expect to win, as Russians were on home soil," the talented 20-year old said at the medallists' press conference. "At 16km, I thought there was a chance, and it was only at the end I realised I was in the lead by a distance."
At the Olympic Games, Wang will again challenge the Russian armada, led by Valeriy Borchin, the reigning Olympic and back-to-back World champion, who competed in Saransk while still under heavy training, as his focus was on London in August.
Personal Bests:
10km: 37:44 (2010)
20km: 1:17:36 (2012)
Yearly Progression:
10km/20km/50km: 2008: 40:03/1:28:01/-; 2009: 40:15/1:22:10/3:53:00; 2010: 37:44 AR, WJR/1:20:42/-; 2011: 38:50/1:18:30; 2012: 38:36/1:17:36 AR
Career Highlights:
2008 1st National Youth Championships (Xintai) (10 km) 40:03
2009 9th Chinese National Games (Jinan) (20 km) 1:22:10
2010 20th World Race Walking Cup (Chihuahua) (20 km) 1:26:49
2010 1st Walking Challenge Final (Bejing) (10 km) 37:44
2011 4th World Championships (Daegu) (20 km) 1:20:54
2011 2nd World Race Walking Challenge Final (La Coruña) (10 km) 38:49
2011 1st World Race Walking Cup (Saransk) (20 km) 1:19:13
Prepared by Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF 'Focus on Athletes' project. Copyright IAAF 2012
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Home > News & Press > Hear Timothy Barone from Vantage Mobility on CEO Money
Hear Timothy Barone from Vantage Mobility on CEO Money
VMI was created in response to a need. As a pioneer in the mobility vehicle industry, VMI began when its original founders were challenged to build a better handicap-accessible vehicle for a close family friend. Looking to find a more convenient and simple solution than the traditional mobility lift, our founders took an Oldsmobile Toronado and created easier access by dropping the floor and installing a wheelchair ramp system. This endeavor was so successful, they later applied this innovative technology to a Chrysler minivan, and officially introduced the first wheelchair-accessible minivan in 1987.
Timothy J. Barone is the chief executive officer at Vantage Mobility International, a company that converts vehicles for drivers and passengers who use wheelchairs. He will be receiving a national award in April from the Military Officers Association of America. In March, he oversaw delivery of the company's first SUV conversion vehicle. This year, VMI will sponsor the National Rugby Wheelchair Nationals and the Warrior Games for veterans.
Timothy started his career with VMI in 1997 and has held the roles of chief financial officer, chief operating officer and Vice President of Sales before assuming his current position as CEO. With 43 years of experience in the financial industry, Timothy has acquired skills in every facet of business with both Fortune 100 companies and entrepreneurial entities. Before joining the team at VMI, Timothy worked as a chief financial officer for Illy Caffe, an Italian coffee company, was a senior controller for the Dial Corporation and had a 14-year career with Mobil Oil with its Chemical Division. During his career at Mobil, Timothy gained a vast amount of business experience while at various times leading the accounting, planning, treasury, sales and marketing efforts for Mobil Chemical.
In addition to having an extensive professional background, Timothy participates in industry-related organizations. He has earned the prestigious President's award and various other accolades from the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association for his several years of service on various national committees and has served on its Board of Directors for the last 4 years.