It was the swish ceremony for the Green Business Awards this week – hosted by Mock the Week’s Hugh Dennis. On the menu (I guess) was Pea Soup, Carbon-ara, and Petit 4×4s.  Eurostar scooped the coveted award for Best Large Company while furniture maker HJ Berry & Sons picked up the prize for best SME. Other winners included Dalkia (Best Energy Company), The Green Insurance Company (Best Financial Business) and McCain Foods (Best Consumer Goods and Retail Company).

Tags: an ethical graduate placement, graduate opportunities with Green companies, Green businesses

The publication last night of London’s Most Influential People looked even more vapid and self-congratulatory than usual against the backdrop of the credit crunch (an oversight meant I didn’t make the list. Again) Hurrah then for the release of the EnRich list, a search for those who work to enrich the lives of others rather than simply lining their own pockets. Top of the list was an old friend of mine, Martin Murphy. Back when I knew him he was a gambler and boozer but he knocked that on the head and now works with the homeless at London’s House of Barnabas teaching them life skills. Now there’s a recession proof vocation!

Tags: Charities and social care, credit crunch; forum3 jobs, Social Care, Teaching

Those work day team building exercises ought to be as easy as falling off a log (literally). The trouble is, human pyramid with your clothes on can be a bit predictable. Hooray then for early contender for my company of the year: Converso Contact Lens Centres Ltd. of Southend, Essex. An internal team building exercise at the company’s head office involved two members of staff inexplicably wielding replica hand guns. Its not unheard of to look into the windows of an Essex company and see men with guns, and so members of the public did what they always do, and called the police. Within minutes the building was surrounded by armed officers, thinking they were halting a siege situation. Cue David Brent style managers, with hands above their heads, having to explain to police that it was “just a game”. Trigger fingers and contact lenses could have made for a highly motivating experience!

Tags: bonding, Essex, Helping my Community, Talking point, Team work, Training and Placements

“I didn’t mean to cause offence.” Heaven knows it’s a line I’ve had to use on many an occasion, but now Asda are saying it in response to their stocking £4 a pack Disney High School Musical knickers (my knickers often play a tune or two after lunch.) The underwear has understandably angered children’s charities including the NSPCC who have branded them, “sexually suggestive and inappropriate and unsuitable,” as they items carry the phrase (or indeed invitation) “Dive In” on the front of them. I wonder what pillock at Disney approved the design?! And what buyer at Asda will be changing their own underpants after a meeting with the boss?!

Tags: charity, Children's Clothes, fashion, NSPCC, Retail, Talking point

I must admit that a young man called Alex Curran (wife of footballer Steven Gerrard and friend of Jordan - ed) hasn’t really troubled my radar but Alex came hoving into view this morning when he rattled the cages of those who are feeling the bite of the credit crunch, or indeed just have a rational sense of perspective on life. Curran offered a fail safe fashion tip to those of us who dance around our £2,000 Zagliani lizardskin handbags. She has them “injected with Botox to make them soft.” Critics might wonder whether she has had her brain injected with Botox too. Maybe we should club together and get her a new bag that says “This is not a Zagliani lizard skin bag.”

Tags: brands, fashion, Luxury Goods, Retail