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The Benefits of Installing an EV Charging Station at Home How To Protect Your Company Against Cyber Threats 5 Must-Have Tools for Every Concrete Contractor An Insight Into The Australian Coworking Sector

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The Benefits of Installing an EV Charging Station at Home

The Benefits of Installing an EV Charging Station at Home

Sep 22, 2022 Posted by In Hiring, Marketing, Smart Home, Training

One constant pain point among electric vehicle owners is the task of searching for and waiting in line at a charging station. You may have been thinking about installing an EV charging station at your home, strata, apartment complex or office building.     

If you are not sure about whether you should take the plunge and install a charging station, talk to electrical services Sydney for an in-depth understanding of the benefits, costs and other details regarding installation to help you decide. 

Here are some benefits worth considering.

Convenient

It is reported that a majority of EV drivers charge their vehicles overnight at home. Charging the vehicle overnight is down to a routine task for those who have an EV charging station installed at home which means the vehicle is fully charged and ready to go in the morning with no stopovers necessary along the way for charging. Depending on the distances you will be covering on a regular day an overnight charge may be all you require for your regular day-to-day vehicle travel.

Cost-Effective

Charging your vehicle on a home EV charging station has the additional benefit of taking advantage of reduced electricity charges that apply overnight. If on the other hand, you change your vehicle during morning hours on your way to work or during the day or even evening on your way back from work, higher electricity tariffs apply making charging that much more expensive for you. Besides the higher electricity tariff, public charging stations factor in a service cost which means you are paying an additional amount for accessing the convenience of a public EV charging station. You are also paying premium prices when you access a Level 2 or Level 3 charging station to have your vehicle charged faster compared to a base Level 2 charging station.

Predictable

Another advantage of having your EV charging station at home is that you can plan your daily commute and any extra travel without worrying about not having enough range or having to think about a top-up at a public EV charging station not knowing how long you have to wait in line to have your vehicle charged. Although your EV would have come with a Level 1 charger that can be easily plugged into any home electric outlet the disadvantage of charging your EV this way is that even if you have it plugged in all night it won’t adequately fill your battery, only adding about 8 kilometres of charging per hour. However, if you install a Level 2 charging station at home an overnight charge will give you about 400 kilometres.

Increase Property Value

Having an EV charging station installed in your home or apartment, will add to the perceived value of your property because it is an amenity that is gaining popularity. The demand for EVs will only increase in the years to come and catering to demand will be an expectation by potential owners and tenants of homes and apartments.

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How To Protect Your Company Against Cyber Threats

How To Protect Your Company Against Cyber Threats

Jun 8, 2021 Posted by In Training Tagged

The cyber landscape is constantly expanding to introduce new solutions that companies, big and small, can utilize to maximize their productivity and convenience. While this gives them an added advantage they need up their sleeve to be successful in current marketing conditions, it also makes them vulnerable to cyber crimes. These can cost you dearly if you don’t take the appropriate steps to guard your business. Here’s what you need to do:

Secure Hardware

With more people focusing on getting their hands on top-notch cyber security software, don’t forget that your precautionary measures should start with guarding against theft or loss of your hardware. This is a common way for data breaches to occur. Ideally all your devices should be password protected and the password would be dedicated to memory rather than jotted down and also only shared with the user of the device. You should also install tracking software on to your devices so if stolen they can be traced and found.

Encrypting

Encrypting all sensitive information, from customer information to employee and business data, is one of the most efficient ways to render valuable information useless. By now, the full-disk encryption software has been virtually ingrained into all operating systems so it’s only a matter of making sure that each computer device has it activated as well as updated so data can be encrypted whenever the computer is at rest. Also make sure to have devices enter sleep mode after only a short period of inactivity, such as five minutes.

Portrait of a two men using laptop over gray background

Backing Up Data

Backing up data after encryption comes in especially useful in cases of a data breach such as ransomware, where all your data is encrypted by the malicious software and you can only get them back by paying a ransom.  By backing up your data and storing it separately, you don’t necessarily have to lose your data or pay to get it back.

Invest

At the end of the day, there are only so many solutions you can come up with when cybercriminals are continuously finding new and improved ways to breach the system. At this point, you need to invest in professional cyber security Sydney to be further prepared for an attack.

Educate

Yet another basic procedure to see to- make sure all your employees have a basic understanding of cyber security and the steps they can take. Using personal devices to access business data should be prohibited, and they should also understand the risks of using unsecured networks in shops, hotels etc. for work. Users will also have to stay away from unsecured websites and also restrict admin rights to a select few people to make sure employees won’t give away any information.

Anti-Malware

Invest in software that has been specifically designed to see to these problems so your breach won’t go undetected. You’ll need to make sure you have an effective firewall in place as well so that malware doesn’t enter the system. This will have to be continuously updated as the latest cyber threats are revealed.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to guard your company well against any unwanted attacks.

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5 Must-Have Tools for Every Concrete Contractor

5 Must-Have Tools for Every Concrete Contractor

Jul 22, 2019 Posted by In Hiring, Maintenance, Training

If you’ve ever worked with concrete before, then you know how demanding it is. Once the material is poured and allowed to harden, then there’s not much that can be done. Hence, every contractor that works with concrete must have the essential tools for the job.

Should You Own Or Rent These Tools?

Fortunately, you don’t need to shell out a lot of cash for most of these tools. Hence, it makes more sense to own them. Plus you’ll save more money in the long run when you avoid rental fees. Furthermore, you don’t have to waste precious time picking them up and returning them.

However, there are a couple of equipments that could be too expensive for the average contractor to afford. So unless you’re using them regularly, then it’s best to just rent them whenever needed.

So without further ado, here are five tools that every concrete contractor should own:

Screeds

These are long, straight tubes or boards that are utilized to smoothen out wet concrete, not long after it has been poured. For simple tasks such as paving a driveway or a small floor space, you can simply cut out a 2 X 4 wooden board and use it as a screed.  If you can’t be bothered to do that, you can always buy a commercial screed. These are usually made out of aluminium and available in a variety of lengths, starting from 6 feet. 

You can even buy screeds that are custom-made for different projects such as building a bridge.

Rebar Benders

If you’re working with concrete, then there’s most likely rebar involved. In most scenarios, you’ll have to cut and even bend rebar, to meet structural specifications. Hence, we highly recommend that you keep the highest quality rebar bender you can find handy.

Safety Gear

When taking on any form of construction job, there’s bound to be some danger involved. Hence, it’s a must for all contractors and their crews to wear safety equipment at all times. The three most important pieces of gear are:

  • Eyewear – certain types of concrete can irritate and even burn your eyes.
  • Hearing Protection – this is to protect your ears from the noise output by heavy power tools.
  • Masks – these prevent you from inhaling dust and other debris.
  • Concrete-Grade Rubber Gloves – there are certain chemicals in concrete that can suck out moisture from your skin. As a result, your skin can suffer serious damage. In fact, there are reports of construction workers having to undergo amputations due to chemical damage.

Wheelbarrows

Usually you’ll have to transport small amounts of concrete or even equipment around the construction site. Usually, there’s no better tool for this than the wheelbarrow. However, you must make sure that it’s a very sturdy wheelbarrow, with pneumatic tires and a tray made of a durable material like steel.

Buckets

Buckets are indispensable when you’re working with concrete. You need them to carry water which can splash on the concrete to keep them from drying too fast. This makes it easier to add the finishing touches.

These five tools need to be present at every construction site where concrete work is taking place.

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An Insight Into The Australian Coworking Sector

An Insight Into The Australian Coworking Sector

Oct 2, 2018 Posted by In Training Tagged

Australia’s coworking scene has been described as “sleeping”, but that is soon to change with foreign investors looking to add their twist to the country’s coworking scene. A favourite of the start-up, Australia’s coworking industry has grown to include various types of coworking spaces, some industry-specific, some niche space, and then the general coworking space. Even investors from as far away as Europe and Asia see the country as fertile ground for establishing global coworking spaces.

The reason Australia’s coworking scene is catching the attention of major players in the global coworking scene is because of the country’s diverse professional scene, and more importantly, its location in the Pacific. Moreover, the chance to take advantage of the government’s project to refurbish old buildings in some of Australia’s major cities makes this the most opportune time to invest in coworking spaces in the country. Professionals who choose coworking as an alternative to the traditional office space can only benefit from new spaces that will allow them more options in shared workspace.

Let’s take a closer look at the Australian coworking scene and how it is developing.

Why Are Australian Professionals Coworking?

In addition for a need to find cost-effective office space, Australian professionals are attracted to coworking for a variety of reasons. One major draw is coworking allows businesses in Melbourne or Sydney access to beautifully fit out offices in some of the more attractive, prestigious business districts. Please visit the following site at http://www.servcorp.com.au/en/coworking/ to see how one major company provides professionals with coworking spaces in prime locations around Australia.

Another reason businesses are attracted to coworking is because the office setup provides businesses with industry diversity, which can make networking, getting referrals, and meeting mentors very simple. Furthermore, these offices come with important amenities like meeting and boardrooms.

Coworking spaces are also attractive to this group of professionals because many of them are in close distance to major transit, and if not taking the train, tenants have access to hassle-free parking. Professionals are also attracted to the fact that many of these offices have moved to a format that allows tenants to access the building 24/7. As coworking has become more popular, many spaces are focusing on quality of life while at work and have invested in shower and changing rooms, in addition to bike racks.

Who Are Australia’s Coworking Professionals?

Australia’s coworking professionals comprise of a number of professions, but in recent years, digital, IT and software companies have increasingly used coworking as an option for office space. In addition to this group, marketing and creative arts industries are attracted to coworking, which has presented many opportunities for these industries to work, network, and collaborate. However, other industries are beginning to take an interest in coworking.

Those who belong to legal services, a group long associated with the white-shoe corporate image, has also taken advantage of the coworking scene, and these companies generally work in industries described as legal sales. Accounting and finance firms are another group of professionals in Australia who are moving toward the coworking concept. Finally, in line with global trends, corporate interests are looking toward the coworking concept not just as a money saver but to co-opt some of its ideas related to making work more productive.

Coworking Australia

The coworking scene in Australia is looking to mix things up in the next few years. By providing professional-grade office space, this scene has managed to attract a good portion of businesses who need office space without the protracted, often rigid, contracts. Ultimately, you cannot beat office space that can give you access to resources and people needed to promote business growth.

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Advantages of Hiring a Virtual Receptionist

Advantages of Hiring a Virtual Receptionist

Aug 22, 2018 Posted by In Hiring, Training Tagged

Today’s businesses are reliant heavily on being flexible, available and of course cost efficient. Your customers will need to get whatever they want, anywhere that they want at a price that they can afford which is why you as a business needs to stay creative if you want to stay ahead of your competition. The receptionist services that are available today is exactly what the global marketplace needs and that explains why many businesses are now turning to them for their services. In fact, having their services can open up an entirely new world of opportunities and possibilities for both you and your clients. So if you are still considering making this investment, here are some great advantages that will help you make up your mind.

It Can Save You Money

If you hire somebody in-house to answer your calls you will end up paying them an hourly salary, benefits, taxes and of course, there will be overhead expenses too. When you add up all of these costs the bills that you have to pay at the end of the month are going to accumulate pretty fast. But if you hire an Australian virtual receptionist company you will be able to save money because you have no overhead costs for facilities and don’t have to pay them an hourly wage, taxes or benefits. In fact, you will only need to pay when somebody in that service answers your calls and you can choose a plan get billed based on the call volume or the time. Even then you can actually get them to answer calls all day every day as opposed to just eight hours a day.

You Get Better Flexibility

If you were to handle all your calls by yourself you would have your hands full and then some. But with a service like this, you will be able to handle everything seamlessly through peak hours, times that are not office hours, while you are away on holiday, at meetings or anything in between. This makes your business immediately so much more approachable and flexible to customers that they will give your business.

You Don’t Have To Worry About the Training

In any case that you hire professional services to handle your calls, they will be well trained and there is no doubt about that. Just make sure that you choose the right service though with a good track record of what they have done before for other businesses. You could argue that you can actually hire somebody with a lot of experience in-house too and that is true. But in a service all agents are not just experienced. They are constantly trained, evaluated after the calls that they take and are given the knowledge on the latest tricks of the trade that make them so much more impactful when they speak with a customer. These are just a handful of the advantages that you can enjoy really but there are so much more benefits than just this to hiring a professional service to virtually man your reception.

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How Can Small Businesses Benefit From SEO?

How Can Small Businesses Benefit From SEO?

Jul 28, 2018 Posted by In Computing, Hiring, Hosting, Training

SEO is something that can help small businesses create efficient and user friendly sites that can rank higher in the search engines. This will in turn help these businesses attract more potential customers into the sites and will eventually increase the conversion rate as well. If you are a small business your targets should include building a good site with great SEO presence so that you keep attracting customers. If you want to know why you should invest in this, here are some of the main benefits that you can expect with really good SEO.

You Will Have a User-Friendly Website

You will be able to create a much faster and smoother website that is also very user-friendly with the help of good SEO. The old terminology was only restricted to helping the brands gain more visibility but today, SEO has become a powerful tool that also drives a better user experience. If your site is well laid out and has no clutter, visitors will stay on it for longer and could potentially even end up buying from you. It is a great way to decrease your bounce rate and increase the page view numbers. Look for a good search engine optimisation Melbourne provider or in any other location based on where you are and you will see that your page performs better. Also target to have relevant content only that can help customers go through the process faster and answers their inquiries.

You Will Be Bringing In More Customers

What is the main reason to have a website? To bring in more business and to make sure that you are not getting overcrowded by your competition. If that was not the case why would companies want to invest their money in a process? Having a site with great SEO will help you do just that and will get you more customers than a company that does not have one. It is also one of the most efficient and cost-effective advertising strategies that are there today. It is also very accurate since it will only bring in customers who are exactly looking for the product that you offer. Therefore know that whatever time, money and effort that you invest in this, will bring you returns always.

You Will Have Better Conversion Rates on the Site

The best part about having good SEO is that they will help your pages load faster and they will also be extra easy to read and surf through. They will also be easily accessible across a range of devices like laptops, smart phones and tablets. When you pages are easy to read and navigate through they will keep your customers there for longer than they would otherwise. Customers who stay will go on to subscribe and be loyal to your brand. At the very least they will be returning visitors, and the more visitors you get the better you will sell. These are just a few of the benefits that you can enjoy by implementing good SEO to your website.

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Performing High Risk Work in Australia

Performing High Risk Work in Australia

Feb 26, 2018 Posted by In Hiring, Training

In Australia, some forms of work are categorised as “high risk” and requires additional training and license to undertake. For example, scaffolding, rigging, boiler or crane operation is considered high risk work. All workers engaged in high risk work must complete training set according to the National Standards, in addition to various state or local standards if any are applicable. Here are several facts about getting trained and licensed to perform high risk work in the stats you live in:

Image result for High Risk Work in Australia

Applying for Qualifications

High risk workers must apply for qualifications issued by state agencies under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Act. Basically speaking, if your work requires operating dangerous equipment or getting into dangerous places, such as heights, you will most likely need to get the qualifications you need. The number of classes could vary depending on the work you want to do. Once you do get the qualifications, it will be valid up to 5 years. You will be issued a qualifications card with a date of expiration printed.

Attending Classes

You will have to attend classes to get the qualifications legally required to perform high risk work. You will need to find an accredited institution that provides lesions to get licensing. For example, if you want a crane licence to work at heights, find an accredited institution that provides classes in the construction area. There are many excellent training programs to choose from. The lessons are the same regardless of which state you want to get the qualification from. Each qualification card is valid in any state or territory in Australia. Therefore, focus on finding a good, affordable institution instead of where to sit for the testing.

Fees

There are two types of fees associated with getting your accreditation. First, you will need to pay a fee to the government for the actual qualifying test and the card. In addition, you will have to pay for the classes from the institution of your choosing. Later, if you want to renew your card, you will need to pay another fee. Overall fees are not costly and are well worth as an investment in your career.

Transferring Certificates

The Australian government used to issue competency certificates for performing certain tasks. These certificates are no longer eligible to be transferred for high risk work. Workers need to apply for the new credentials and go through lessons and the testing process to be approves for high risk work.

Image result for High Risk Work in Australia

Going for the Test

You will have to arrange for the testing with a local assessment provider. Your institutions that offers the lessons may have a list of testing services to obtain the certification. Do make sure the testing centre is authorised by the state to make the assessments as needed. Otherwise, you will have to pay again to get tested.

The approval process for engaging in high risk work in the country is relatively straightforward. The application and approval processes are speedy and you won’t have to spend months or years studying. Make sure you hire the right trainer and assessor that is actually accredited by your state.

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Getting the Right Online Recognition for Your Brand

Getting the Right Online Recognition for Your Brand

Jan 11, 2017 Posted by In Computing, Gadgets, Gaming, Mobile, Online, Reviews, Smart Home, Training

A company or business’s main objective is to build a name for the products or services that are provided by them and it has become an essential thing in recent times. This somewhat complex process will require all of your internal teams such sales, marketing, management, etc. to work as a whole in order to make your brand a well-known one amongst consumers. There are also many different ways that a business can use to get the necessary recognition for a brand, and one of the most popular mediums among them is the ‘Online Medium’.  Nowadays consumers have the ability connect to the entire global village via online, whether it is through PCs or simply through smartphones. Thus taking the vital steps to promote your brand online is one of the best ways to gain the much needed competitive advantage that you seek for your business. Taking these basic steps will allow you to do this in an efficient manner.

Selecting a Proper Image

When consumers are interacting online, the visual impact can play a key role. It is very important that the images that are being used for your branding has the ability to ingrain themselves in the minds of the consumers. By choosing the right image(s) you will be able to create a good impression in a consumers mind and heart in no time. These image(s) should clearly connect with your products/services and express a good vibe about your brand to the target audience.

Identifying the Right Strategies to Use

After picking the right visual representations for your brand the next step is to identify the correct strategies to use in order to spread them across different online channels. By analysing the consumers’ requirements/preferences you can use the appropriate graphics, imageries, logos, slogans, etc. in an effective manner that will allow more exposure to your brand. More exposure will mean more online views which will ultimately lead to your brand becoming a household name within the society. That is why you should always follow the best proven strategies when working on your brand building.

 

Repetition & Consistency

Implanting a brand inside a person cannot be done overnight, and will require meticulous planning and strategic thinking. Even if you are armed with the best strategic advancements, sometimes your online branding might not get the instant recognition that you are expecting. But the key is to have patience and repetitively display the brand materials in a consistent fashion throughout the targeted web channels so that eventually it can become well known among the crowds.

 

Also in order to truly achieve a successful brand build-up, you should take expert external advice without solely depending on your internal staff. By hiring a good agency to aid in building your brand, you will be able to gain an extra edge as the agency’s experience and innovative strategies can be fully utilized in developing your brand. Many of these agencies now provide their services for potential companies/business through the web and by visiting their websites and getting to know about their success stories will allow you to pick the right one for your campaigns for sure.

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Essential Safety Gear and Why You Need Them

Essential Safety Gear and Why You Need Them

Oct 27, 2016 Posted by In Training

Whether you’re a construction worker or a warehouse employee, you need to make sure that you’re wearing the appropriate clothing and taking the right measures to keep yourself safe from harm. Your company will provide you with everything you need, and can train you for special procedures, but you need to know a few important points about your gear.

Gloves

When working with chemicals, construction materials, and heavy machinery, it is always best to wear protective gloves. They come in varying thickness and material depending on the job at hand. You have to understand that no matter how cumbersome your gloves might be, they ensure that you don’t cut or bruise your hands, or allow your skin to come into contact with corrosive material or substances. Never take your gloves off when you’re on the job, and don’t touch any unprotected part of your body while they are on.

Reflective Clothing

If you’re working in harsh weather conditions or environments with low lighting, reflective clothes can save your life. They make you visible to other workers and members of the general public. Keep them on to avoid accidents, such as collisions. In addition, clothing like this is designed to be waterproof so that moisture does not hinder the reflective properties which heighten your visibility.

Footwear

You must make sure you are wearing the correct boots for your job. Workman’s boots are designed to prevent sharp or heavy objects that may fall from harming your feet. Search for good workwear online to find the right kind of shoes required for the kind of responsibilities and hazards your job entails. You can’t risk losing a foot when your job requires you to be mobile and active.

Hardhats

Anyone working on a construction site, around machinery, or with heavy objects should have a hard hat on. This can literally save your life in the case of falling objects. Make sure you keep the chin strap secured tightly at all times to prevent the hardhat or helmet from slipping off and exposing your head.

Masks and Eyewear

Working with construction materials or chemicals requires protective eyewear. With chemicals, for example, even the tiniest splash can mean the loss of your eyesight if the substance makes contact. Never take these off when you are near the material you or your coworkers are handling. Furthermore, if you are bothered by smudges or have trouble with seeing through such gear, go to a safe area and clean the surfaces. If this does not help, report the issue to your superiors so that they can provide you with a better alternative. You’ll be saving yourself and your employers a lot of worry and trouble.

Earplugs

If you are working in environments where there is a lot of noise, it is always best to wear special earplugs. The kind that you’ll need are essentially industrial strength earmuffs that are designed to protect your hearing. Even if the noise is not loud, constant sound can cause long-term damage that you may not notice until it is too late.

Make sure that you understand why you have to adhere to safety regulations and wear these kinds of protective items. It could literally save your life.

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