This article appeared on thisisbristol.co.uk.
A TEENAGER from Hanham has taken his first step towards an uplifting career after becoming an apprentice for a company that supplies and installs stair lifts and ramps.
Scott Coster has just finished his first month at Dolphin Lifts, a Portishead-based business that provides disabled access equipment for businesses and private individuals.
The 19-year-old successfully applied for the vacancy after reading about the opportunity with Dolphin in the Evening Post's 100 in 100 apprenticeship campaign.
The family-run company has seen a boom in business despite the recession, and now father-and-son team Tom and Steve Wakefield have taken on Scott to boost their staff number to six.
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Friday, September 03, 2010, 07:00
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Uplifting role for Scott on his stair lift apprenticeship
Uplifting role for Scott on his stair lift apprenticeship
A TEENAGER from Hanham has taken his first step towards an uplifting career after becoming an apprentice for a company that supplies and installs stair lifts and ramps.
Scott Coster has just finished his first month at Dolphin Lifts, a Portishead-based business that provides disabled access equipment for businesses and private individuals.
The 19-year-old successfully applied for the vacancy after reading about the opportunity with Dolphin in the Evening Post's 100 in 100 apprenticeship campaign.
The family-run company has seen a boom in business despite the recession, and now father-and-son team Tom and Steve Wakefield have taken on Scott to boost their staff number to six.
Mr Coster, a former Hanham High School pupil, is now on a two-year apprenticeship, during which he will study for an NVQ Level 2 and 3 in electrical and mechanical engineering.
But he also is also spending four days a week getting hands-on experience by working on site and picking up skills from Dolphin's senior engineers.
Mr Coster said: "The apprenticeship is brilliant. When I first read about it, it sounded really interesting and I've not been disappointed.
"It sounded really interesting, and as I wanted to learn some new skills I thought it could be a great way of leading into a career.
"Since I started a month ago I have been learning all about the stair lifts, and the engineers have been teaching me how to install, repair and maintain them.
"I am learning so much from watching the guys around me, and will no doubt learn even more when I go to college.
"I would love to stay with Dolphin after I have finished my apprenticeship. When I applied I wanted to do something that would set me up for the future, rather than just taking on any job. By getting further qualifications it will hopefully help my career in the future."
Dolphin's director, Tom Wakefield, said that having Mr Coster with the company would help the expansion of the business.
He said: "The business has been growing over the last couple of years, and we have just bought a new office and warehouse in Clevedon, so we felt it was the right time to take on a new apprentice.
"Having Scott means that we can teach someone our way of working and the skills that we use here.
"Scott is doing really well after his first month, and I have heard from the engineers that he is working really hard and is keen to learn, which is exactly what we wanted from an apprentice."
For more information on Dolphin Lifts Western, call 01275 818220 or visit www.dolphinstairlifts.com.
The Evening Post is campaigning to get 100 businesses across the Bristol area to offer young people the chance to work with them as apprentices. The campaign is aimed at companies of all sizes, across every industry.
If you are a business looking to take on an apprentice, or a young person keen to start an apprenticeship, email d.harris@bepp.co.uk.
For more information on apprenticeships, how to run one or to apply, call the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
The Dolphin Stair Lifts blog. For more information on any of our stairlifts please call us on 0800 9800 126.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Thursday, September 02, 2010
ASA Adjudication on Minivator Ltd
Background
Minivator Group Ltd was acquired by Handicare Holdings UK Ltd. The ads were placed by Companion Stairlifts Ltd who have a trading relationship with Minivator Ltd now called Handicare Accessibility UK Ltd. Handicare Holdings UK Ltd was not responsible for the ads.
Ad
Magazine and press ads promoted stairlifts.
a. One ad was headed "STAIRLIFTS FROM HELP THE AGED WE WILL" and featured an image of a stairlift. Small print at the bottom of the page stated "Age Concern England and Help the Aged merged on 1st April 2009. Together they have formed Age UK ... 50% of all stairlift profits go directly to the charity. Help the Aged working in partnership with Minivator Group.
b. A second ad was headed "Give yourself a lift" and showed a woman using a stairlift. Under the heading "50 per cent of profits go to help the charity" text stated "By choosing a Minivator stairlift you will not only receive the benefits of a first-rate product, you'll also have the satisfaction of knowing that some of your money (please see profit percentage below) is contributing to towards the vital work Help the Aged does both in the UK and abroad ...".
c. The third ad contained the same text and image as ad (a) but the small print stated " ... 50% of all bath and shower profits go directly to the charity ...".
d. was headed "BATHING AND SHOWERING SOLUTIONS FROM HELP THE AGED WE WILL" and showed a shower and bath. The footnote stated " ... 50% of all bath and shower profits go directly to the charity ...".
Issue
Acorn Mobility Services Ltd challenged whether the claims:
1. "50% of all stairlift profits go directly to the charity" in ad (a);
2. "50 per cent of profits go to help the charity" in ad (b); and
3. " ... 50% of all bath and shower profits go directly to the charity ..." in ads (c) and (d)
were misleading and could be substantiated.
CAP Code
3.17.1
Response
1., 2. & 3.
Minivator Ltd (Minivator) said they had not meant to imply that 50% of all profits went to Help the Aged, but that 50% of profits generated through the brand "Help the Aged We Will" went to the charity. They sent a copy of the licensing contract with Age UK (the new name for Help the Aged) and a breakdown of how expenses were deducted from profits generated through the brand "Help the Aged We Will" and the money paid to Age UK. They said they would amend the ads to make clear that 50% of profits generated through those ads would go to the charity.
In addition, they sent a copy of a letter from an independent auditor that set out the details of the royalty payments Minivator made to Age UK in more detail, clarifying the percentage of gross sales from online sales advertising that went to the charity (excluding VAT and delivery) and explaining that for all other types of lead generation a sum equal to 50% of the gross margin minus specific costs and charges was paid to Age UK. Minivator said that, once expenses were deducted, the actual percentage of profits given to the charity generated through the Age UK advertising was closer to 60%.
Assessment
1., 2. & 3. Upheld
The ASA welcomed Minivators willingness to amend the ads. Moreover, we noted that through the licensing agreement, a significant amount of money was generated for the charity. However, because the ads did not make clear that the figure of 50% related only to profits generated through "Help the Aged We Will" branded advertising (excluding online sales), we concluded the ads were misleading.
Ads (a), (b), (c) and (d) breached CAP Code clauses 3.1 (Substantiation) and 7.1 (Truthfulness).
Action
The ads must not appear again in their current form.
Adjudication of the ASA Council (Non-broadcast)
Minivator Group Ltd was acquired by Handicare Holdings UK Ltd. The ads were placed by Companion Stairlifts Ltd who have a trading relationship with Minivator Ltd now called Handicare Accessibility UK Ltd. Handicare Holdings UK Ltd was not responsible for the ads.
Ad
Magazine and press ads promoted stairlifts.
a. One ad was headed "STAIRLIFTS FROM HELP THE AGED WE WILL" and featured an image of a stairlift. Small print at the bottom of the page stated "Age Concern England and Help the Aged merged on 1st April 2009. Together they have formed Age UK ... 50% of all stairlift profits go directly to the charity. Help the Aged working in partnership with Minivator Group.
b. A second ad was headed "Give yourself a lift" and showed a woman using a stairlift. Under the heading "50 per cent of profits go to help the charity" text stated "By choosing a Minivator stairlift you will not only receive the benefits of a first-rate product, you'll also have the satisfaction of knowing that some of your money (please see profit percentage below) is contributing to towards the vital work Help the Aged does both in the UK and abroad ...".
c. The third ad contained the same text and image as ad (a) but the small print stated " ... 50% of all bath and shower profits go directly to the charity ...".
d. was headed "BATHING AND SHOWERING SOLUTIONS FROM HELP THE AGED WE WILL" and showed a shower and bath. The footnote stated " ... 50% of all bath and shower profits go directly to the charity ...".
Issue
Acorn Mobility Services Ltd challenged whether the claims:
1. "50% of all stairlift profits go directly to the charity" in ad (a);
2. "50 per cent of profits go to help the charity" in ad (b); and
3. " ... 50% of all bath and shower profits go directly to the charity ..." in ads (c) and (d)
were misleading and could be substantiated.
CAP Code
3.17.1
Response
1., 2. & 3.
Minivator Ltd (Minivator) said they had not meant to imply that 50% of all profits went to Help the Aged, but that 50% of profits generated through the brand "Help the Aged We Will" went to the charity. They sent a copy of the licensing contract with Age UK (the new name for Help the Aged) and a breakdown of how expenses were deducted from profits generated through the brand "Help the Aged We Will" and the money paid to Age UK. They said they would amend the ads to make clear that 50% of profits generated through those ads would go to the charity.
In addition, they sent a copy of a letter from an independent auditor that set out the details of the royalty payments Minivator made to Age UK in more detail, clarifying the percentage of gross sales from online sales advertising that went to the charity (excluding VAT and delivery) and explaining that for all other types of lead generation a sum equal to 50% of the gross margin minus specific costs and charges was paid to Age UK. Minivator said that, once expenses were deducted, the actual percentage of profits given to the charity generated through the Age UK advertising was closer to 60%.
Assessment
1., 2. & 3. Upheld
The ASA welcomed Minivators willingness to amend the ads. Moreover, we noted that through the licensing agreement, a significant amount of money was generated for the charity. However, because the ads did not make clear that the figure of 50% related only to profits generated through "Help the Aged We Will" branded advertising (excluding online sales), we concluded the ads were misleading.
Ads (a), (b), (c) and (d) breached CAP Code clauses 3.1 (Substantiation) and 7.1 (Truthfulness).
Action
The ads must not appear again in their current form.
Adjudication of the ASA Council (Non-broadcast)
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