911 Essay

911 Essay

Business

The rise in private equity investments (and why companies are craving them)

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Over the last few years it would be fair to say that private equity investments really have come into their own. More and more companies dabbling in this financing seem to be on the scene, while the figures are suggesting that more are also pledging their money.

One only has to look at Sun Capital, led by Marc Leder, to see this. Their portfolio has grown considerably over recent times, and they are not the only ones.

Bearing this in mind, let’s now take a look at some of the reasons private equity investments are becoming so common and ultimately, more businesses are looking out for them.

Private equity firms have a track record of creating value

Something that pretty much every private equity firm has in common is that they create value. This is the bread and butter of their business; if they can’t do this there is no point in them investing.

For the business that is being acquired, this is obviously crucially important. It means that they are going to benefit instantaneously in ways that they probably wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of in the past.

For example, in the case of Sun Capital, this is an investment company that knows the restaurant trade inside-out. They own countless chains and immediately, this means that any business of this ilk that they take over is going to benefit from their expertise. This might be in the form of knowledge, in relation to what has worked for other restaurants. Or, it might be financial savings, due to the fact that they can have cost efficiencies through the sheer amount of equipment or ingredients they purchase.

They don’t tend to interfere profusely

There are some forms of investment that results in the investor interfering profusely. They will micromanage the existing management team, and this can be a nightmare.

When it comes to private equity, this is rarely the case. They are keen to leave existing management teams in place, and this means that wholesale changes don’t really occur.

Of course, as we have already alluded to, they do try and pass on some operational expertise. However, this relates more to strategy – meaning that you don’t have to have any concerns about meddling in day-to-day practices.

There is a vested interest in you succeeding

Sure, in every investment type the person or company pledging the money is going to want a healthy return. When it comes to private equity, they tend to arrive with a clear exit strategy though. Ultimately, they want your business to succeed, and they want this to occur in record speeds.

The upshot of this is that you will always have commitment; whether this is of the financial variety or related to their knowledge. You don’t have to worry about them slipping off and taking a backseat; it’s simply not sustainable for them to do this and they’ll want to help you every step of the way.

How Business Impacts The Environment

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Every segment of our world today is paying more attention to our environment. Individuals are recycling, governments are regulating, and business is looking for opportunities to improve the bottom line with greener techniques and procedures.

When the green movement really began to explode in the 1990s, much of the low-hanging fruit was still available. It was easy to rein in simple things like thermostat management and reduced water consumption in both industries and in our personal lives. These simple but effective steps continue to bring about some positive movement.

Over time, the challenge has become greater, and companies are having to dig deeper to find ways to reduce their impact on the environment. An area where many have had success is in equipment operation.

As one of the most expensive and energy-hungry parts of any business, equipment is an obvious choice for upgrades. After firms have identified and addressed the easy steps, it becomes much more difficult to achieve green goals, and equipment is one way to move forward.

The transition here is best seen as a change from finding a greener way to do old things to find a new way to be green with things. Getting that mindset established is key to making real progress, and there are real opportunities to do it with equipment upgrades.

Because the equipment is so expensive, it isn’t necessarily cost-effective to replace it just for environmental purposes. When that time does come, specifications should always be geared toward achieving maximum efficiency in each piece that is purchased or leased.

Part of the specification process should be a visit to http://ajweller.com to check their specialized steel products. These modern alloys are far tougher than traditional steel, and that durability is beneficial to the environment in several ways.

Decreased Frequency of Replacement

Heavy steel components are difficult to deal with. While many can be recycled or refurbished after their useful life ends, others cannot be handled in this manner. As a result, they end up as rusting piles of waste that represent thousands of BTU’s of energy used to refine them into the final product.

With more durable steel, these transitions are less frequent, and the part retains more value after replacement, making it more likely to be recycled.

Better Energy Usage

Worn parts are inefficient parts. Any moving component that has begun to deviate from original specifications will cause the machine to use more energy. A simple parallel is car tires; we know that a half-deflated set will force the engine to work harder to maintain speed.

With durable steel alloys, the wear on equipment components is much slower, allowing the machine to use less energy during production.

Reduced Downtime

Idled machinery is the enemy of industry. It represents workers with nothing to do and accounts receivable with nothing to receive. It also means energy wasted on lighting and climate control in a facility that is not producing, and the startup power required to resume production is costly as well.

Old steel alloys were notorious for generating downtime because the heavy-use components of machinery would often break down. An upgrade to better steel will keep those hard-working machines in operation a higher percentage of the time.

Cutting costs in industry is challenging, and doing so while being more environmentally conscious is an even taller order. Yet the process is becoming easier all the time thanks to new products like those produced by A.J. Weller. They are allowing industry to maintain high quality and low environmental impact.

How Big Of A Space Can Trade Show Display Companies Prepare?

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Any business that needs help with creating a nice display for a trade show might think about going big. This includes producing a larger display that features more room for posting larger images or more information that people who walk by a display might want to see. But when getting such a display ready, it is a necessity to look at how well the space can be sized.

Trade show display companies can help with producing large displays that can be as big as they have to be. A business can get such a display ordered to be as large as needed, but it helps to look at what can be done in this situation.

Eight Feet Is the Standard

In most places, a display can be around eight feet in height. This is a good enough measurement as it creates a display that is tall enough to be easy to see and notice without being overly massive to where it might feel far too overwhelming.

This can be used for general displays where certain graphics may be posted. It can be laid out with an image of something a company wishes to sell. Sometimes it might just be the logo of a business repeating in a pattern. Either way, an eight-foot display stand can be versatile. Trade show display companies will work hard to produce displays that fit this size standard.

A Ten-Foot Display Can Be Wide

Another option to find is a ten-foot display. This can be made to be ten feet high for displaying something even larger. It could do well when placed on the back end of a wall in a convention center or other site. Such a display would require an extra bit of physical support for it to stay intact.

A ten-foot display can also be just as wide. This would work for when the display needs to be more dynamic.

Go Even Bigger

A trade show display can be made with an even larger body. Although eight or ten feet is the height standard, a display may be wider than that. A display could be twenty feet wide, for instance. It could include more room to show off some unique features or images. It may also come with a design that can bend around in many spots to create a wavy look while on display. This can be attractive, but it must be designed with the right images placed around the best possible spots. Extra supports would also be required for something as large as this.

A big trade show display can be attractive if prepared right. Trade show display companies can help with planning out displays that can be big or small, but it helps to look around to see what might work for the demands one might have for getting it all ready. The goal is to prepare a great display that has a striking look that is intriguing without being too rough or otherwise hard to bear with in any situation. By having an attractive display you will be able to bring in more potential customers and have great success at the trade show!

How To Convey A Value Proposition To Potential Customers

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If a salesperson can’t adequately convey the value proposition of a product or service to a customer, he or she is unlikely to feel any urgency about buying it. In basic terms, a value proposition is a promise of value. It lets the prospect know how the product or service can solve a pressing problem.

A value proposition should outline specific benefits as well as explain why the customer should buy from that company instead of the competition. With sales closing averages hovering near 30 percent, it’s clear that not enough salespeople have perfected the art of delivering a convincing value proposition.

Start by Listening

Part of the problem is that sales professionals do too much talking and not enough listening. They’re trying to sell what they assume the customer needs without hearing what he or she is trying to say. To create a better customer value proposition, try asking the following questions:

  • What do you plan to do with the product or service you purchase from our company?
  • What metrics will you use to determine that you have solved the problem?
  • What will you and your business gain by purchasing from us?
  • What criteria do you use to select the best proposal?

It’s also important for sales professionals to understand that they can’t and shouldn’t try to reach everyone. This is no better than throwing sand at a wall and hoping that it sticks.

Go Beyond Trying to Get a Customer’s Attention

Any company can make a lot of noise, spend a lot on promotions, and get thousands of potential customers to notice what it’s trying to sell. Without a strong value proposition ready for the onslaught of leads, this type of attention often dies out quickly with little follow-through from the new prospects.

It’s also worth considering that coming across too flashy might turn people away instead. Consumers have developed short attention spans from advertising overload. They’re not interested in clutter, confusion, or an inconsistent message. Companies should work hard to build consistency in messaging and a positive brand image before even considering a new value proposition.

The Example of Slack

Slack is a productivity app that bills itself as simple yet dedicated enough to handle collaborations of large teams working on complex projects. Upon navigating to the website, visitors soon learn that Slack can simplify their working lives while making business more pleasant and productive at the same time. Who doesn’t want that? The homepage photo shows a picture of a robot on Mars, which happened because members of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab used Slack to work together on the launch. The message is clear. If NASA trusts Slack and uses it successfully, anyone can.

Slack also advertises that users can integrate all tools they use online into its platform. As this is a common pain point for users of cloud-based productivity apps, it makes sense to address it immediately. Finally, Slack wraps it all up with a simple three-word slogan “Be Less Busy.” It promises to help users achieve that with its many features.

Listening, offering true value, and demonstrating how the product or service hits multiple pain points are all good place to start for salespeople looking to improve their value propositions.

What Small Businesses Can Learn From Fast Food Joints

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When you are thinking about opening up a small business, or you’ve already got an existing small business that maybe isn’t progressing and growing as you had hoped, it’s normal to look outside your own goals and operations and see what other businesses are doing. How are they succeeding? How are they making a mark in their industry and managing to meet all the goals they set out to achieve?


While you may be tempted to look at the competition for inspiration and answers, there could be an industry that offers even more answers, and that industry may come as a surprise to you. No matter what kind of small business you own, did you know that you can actually learn a whole lot from fast food joints and how they operate? Sure it may not answer all your questions, but it can certainly shed light on areas that can then help you to succeed.

So what can small businesses learn from fast food joints? Let’s take a closer look.

They Know How to Find Staff and Fast

The employees you have are what help to make or break your company, so with that in mind you don’t have time to sit around and wait for that right candidate to fall into the job. This is where you can look to fast food joints. When they need staff they are proactive and take every measure to make sure they find the right person, and quickly. They understand that means posting their fast food jobs online, in the store, and even in the local newspaper if need be.

Then there is the job ad itself. They are usually specifically laying out what work experience is required, and the skillsand traits that can make a person a good candidate. Again, that can provide you with tips on how to craft your own job postings.

Be Transparent About Your Suppliers

Another thing that fast food joints are known for is using high-quality suppliers and then broadcasting it to the world. They want to be transparent when it comes to the food customers can expect, and show them that it’s better quality, which is therefore healthier. This is another lesson that small businesses can use, as they move to be more transparent about their suppliers and the quality of the products.

Branding is Everything

Fast food joints are pros when it comes to recognising that branding is everything. They know that they need to be aggressive in their marketing, getting the word out, and carving that niche for themselves in a highly competitive industry. Carving a niche and branding is essential for any company, regardless of the size of it or the industry it is in. Building a name for your company takes time, but it’s something that needs to be done.

Be Consistent At All Times

Fast food joints, especially those that are franchises, also need to be consistent. This means consistent in their menu options, the quality of their food, and the quality of their service. Consistency is something that customers appreciate and quite frankly demand, no matter what industry you are looking at.

While it may not seem like your small business has anything in common with fast food joints, as you take a closer look it’s clear that there is a lot you can learn from them.

Check Out This Guide On How to Track, Manage And Protect Business Leads

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Leads are the lifeblood of businesses. It is already an established fact that generating new leads will provide an opportunity to help your business grow. But you have to nurture these leads if they are going to turn into actual customers. However, they can leave faster than they came if you don’t have a working lead management strategy in place.

There are best practices that can be employed to ensure your sales force is effectively retaining and converting leads. From attracting prospects through strategic marketing campaigns to maintaining a working relationship that will keep them doing business with you; tracking, protecting, and managing your leads are activities that cut through your daily business activities that you should take seriously.

Competent Response service

The initial enquiry is an important aspect of sales. If the prospect isn’t impressed with the first response you provide, that relationship will likely end before it even begins. It is important that all incoming calls concerning enquiries are responded to professionally and courteously.

Availability is also an issue when it comes to converting and maintaining leads through calls. You may lose a big potential client by staying away from the phone even for a minute. Existing clients might be facing issues they also need to resolve quickly, and if you’re not available, they may turn to competitors for solutions. As a result, ensure there is always someone beside the telephone to take incoming calls. Your business can also benefit from employing a professional telephone answering service.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software

The days of going through tedious processes such as using excel sheets to keep record of and manually track leads are long gone. The process of tracking and managing leads have been made a lot easier through CRM software. The adoption of CRM is already widespread and your competitors are already likely integrating this systematic approach into their lead campaign strategies. Studies have revealed that overall adoption of CRM software has tremendously increased over the years, with Gartner forecasting that the industry will be worth $40b by 2018. The migration of CRM applications to the cloud has also become a game changer in lead management.

Your CRM software is an automated business tool that tracks everything concerning your existing customers and potential ones. The tool provides data that include the last time the customer contacted, the outcome of your customers’ interactions, and the best move to take based on their feedback.

Online strategies and Social Media

You can track and manage leads through internet strategies such as email and social media marketing. If you have a social media presence, you can track the needs of potential leads, identify what they are interested in, understand their pain points, and maintain a close relationship with them. Through emails, you can also reach out to your prospects and notify them on new products and offers.

Boost your business today through proper lead management procedures

Your leads should be treated specially as customers. Even if there is a chance they will not turn into clients, you shouldn’t take any prospect for granted.

Plastic Surgery to Fix Hardened Implants in Los Angeles and Other Issues Following Breast Augmentation

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Breast surgery is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the world. Women want to look feminine and have a beautiful bus line. Sometimes, this means that women have to undergo breast augmentation surgery, creating a curvier, fuller look. Other women look at having a breast reduction. And other still simply look to have their existing breasts lifted.

There are many types of cosmetic surgery and many reasons to have it. No matter what however, doctors should ensure their patients have realistic expectations of how they will look after the procedure. Additionally, physicians must tell their patients that’s some things can go wrong as well. With breast implants, for instance, the implant could harden at some point. Dealing with this is simply part of overall maintenance. Hence, plastic surgery to fix hardened implants in Los Angeles may at some point be required.

The Need or Plastic Surgery to Fix Hardened Implants in Los Angeles

Breast implants are used in breast augmentation surgery period the implant is usually filled with either saline or silicone. While these implants last for a very long time, they do not last forever period sooner or later, they will have to be replaced. In most cases, women find they have to replace their implants once they Harden. Unfortunately, hardening of the implants is not reversible and the only solution is to remove them and replace them. Silicone implants generally do not harden as much or as quickly.

Another problem is that ageing and gravity cannot be stopped. Even with implants, breasts will start to hang downwards period eventually, this may look as if a woman never had surgery. If a woman notices this, they do need to speak to the doctor. Once gravity takes hold, women can choose to have their implants replaced for larger or even slightly harder ones.

Modern medical science has come a long way. In the past, breast implants were made from silicone. Unfortunately, some of these started to leak and cause significant health problems. So much so in fact, that they were removed from the market and had to be redesigned. In November 2006 however, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the new implants.

Today, we are on what is known as the third generation of implants. Most of those are silicone again. However, they are far better engineered and they feel a lot more natural. Unsurprisingly, women love them much more as well.

Should you have breast implants that are over 15 years old, you may want to make an appointment to have them reviewed. Well it is likely that there is nothing wrong with them, they may require a little bit of maintenance. You should also have a feel to see whether they have started to harden. If so, it might be time to consider a replacement. While you may not be looking forward to having more surgery, you are likely to be incredibly happy with the end result.

5 Things You Can Do To Protect The Environment

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Currently, climate change is becoming a disturbing issue. This is largely due to waste products which release harmful toxins when they break down, not to mention emissions from factories and automobiles. You might be wondering what you can do to reduce your own impact on the environment. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help remedy this situation. Here are a handful of things you can do to protect the environment.

Walk or Ride a Bike: It’s no secret that our automobiles are a major contributor to climate change. Due to our modern lifestyle, it’s probably not reasonable to get rid of them completely. However, you want to be aware of when you need them and when you don’t. If your destination is within walking distance, you might consider walking or riding a bike. Not only is this better for the environment, but it’s also exercise.

Unplug Unused Electronics: Many people don’t realize that our electronics are still using energy even when we’re not using them. Energy is being consumed even if they’re just plugged in. Therefore, keeping your electronics unplugged when you’re not using them can go a long way toward reducing your energy consumption. Doing this will make your electric bill cheaper as well. It is also recommended to look up how to dispose properly of any electronics and cameras instead of just throwing them to the curb.

Use Rechargeable Batteries: It may surprise you to learn how damaging a single battery use can be to the environment. Its corrosive materials, and the fact that they’re rarely disposed of properly can cause all sorts of problems. One thing you can do to combat this is to use rechargeable batteries. Duracell rechargeable batteries, in particular, can be recharged hundreds of times. You can find them at a reasonable price at Spares2You.

Install a Low-Flow Shower head: Another thing you may not have noticed is that our showers use more water than required. Although it may not seem like it, most of the world’s water is not usable or drinkable. Because of this, it’s important to conserve what we can. A low-flow shower head can help you do this. This way, you’ll use less water when you shower. Once again, this will also help you spend less money on bills along with reducing your impact on the environment.

Use Reusable Shopping Bags: Our use of plastic bags is having a devastating impact on the environment. This is because plastic bags aren’t biodegradable, meaning nature can’t break them down. This has a major effect on the habitats of animals in particular. The solution to this is to use reusable shopping bags. Bringing a cloth bag with you when you go shopping can work wonders in reducing your carbon footprint.

These are a few of the things you can do to reduce your environmental impact. Although the destruction of our environment may seem like an overwhelming issue, small steps such as these can lead to big changes. And by providing a good example to your fellow man, you can encourage others to follow in your footsteps.

Why 2018 Is The Year More Businesses Will Start Accepting Bitcoin

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There are still many sections of society where Bitcoin is just a buzzword encountered in the news. Despite the fact it’s a relatively young currency, the last 12 months have seen Bitcoin start to gain even more widespread acceptance and traction. Bitcoin has many advantages and businesses are starting to make the most of the benefits of accepting a cryptocurrency as a valid form of payment.

People in general, let alone businesses, can be a little wary of new technology until it has proven its worth. Bitcoin’s continued growth and broadening acceptance are creating a situation where businesses can’t afford to ignore it, as it will only be a matter of time before one of their competitors is accepting Bitcoin.

Business is cheaper with Bitcoin

Any company that accepts online card or PayPal payments has to pay transaction fees for the pleasure of selling goods. They can also be made to wait for the funds to reach their bank account. Bitcoin eliminates both of these problems by cutting out the middleman. Because it’s a peer-to-peer system, there are no middlemen to charge you fees, and the payments are instant and irreversible.

When the savings can be anywhere in the region of 2% to 6%, it’s easy to see why businesses would want to encourage their customers to use a payment method with a 0% transaction fee. Many businesses have been running promotions and special offers for people who pay using Bitcoin, from added benefits when purchasing goods through a .com, to added bonuses when depositing money at a Bitcoin-exclusive casino such as Vegas Casino. Online casinos often wait days, sometimes weeks, before they receive the money you’re depositing from a card company, despite having to give you access to your funds straight away. This can be bad news for a business’s cash flow and is now eliminated by the use of Bitcoin.

‘Fees Key’ – GotCredit via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

The Bitcoin community is growing

Bitcoin is still used by a very small percentage of the population, but it’s a group of people who have wealth tied up in Bitcoin, and many are ready to spend. Although many businesses are getting onboard the Bitcoin express, there are still a relatively small number of places for people to spend using Bitcoin. This means getting in early can open up a whole new customer base for you.

The Bitcoin community is enthusiastic about their preferred cryptocurrency and will go out of their way to help make it a success. This creates a desire to show solidarity to businesses accepting Bitcoin by supporting the business with their custom.

Some cities and regions even have local Bitcoin meet-up groups who get together to due to their common support of the cryptocurrency.

Are you a lion or a sheep?

If Bitcoin continues on its current trajectory, even when all the ups and downs are factored in, it won’t be long before it is a completely normal and mainstream currency. Jumping into the market 12 months after your main competitors have already started accepting Bitcoin isn’t going to generate much love from the community. Accepting Bitcoin can be very easy, carries little to no risk, and has many potential benefits.

The only question is, are you a leader or a follower? Do you want to send the message to your customers that you’re at the cutting edge and trying to provide them with more options, or are you happy to wait and instead send the message that says of ‘Of course we accept Bitcoin, everybody does. That’s presuming they even notice you’ve started accepting it, as any potential novelty factor will have worn off, used up by competitors who were the first in your market or area.

The commercial risks are non-existent

There are two camps on Bitcoin: those that use it, and those that don’t care. By starting to accept Bitcoin, you open up a new demographic for your business, but it’s highly unlikely to create a negative response from the other group. Bitcoin users still represent a relatively small percentage of the purchasing public, so it’s unlikely to suddenly boost your sales by a huge amount. Although, the number of users and investors is growing constantly, so expect to see a larger uptake over a longer timeframe.

You don’t need to understand cryptocurrency to start accepting Bitcoin

Many people still don’t fully comprehend what a cryptocurrency is, or how they work. Don’t let a lack of knowledge scare you away. There are many online resources you can use to educate yourself about Bitcoin, or you can simply just start accepting it and enjoy the learning curve as you go.

There are websites dedicated to Bitcoin that can help get your business set up to accept payments and will virtually hold your hand through the entire process.

Beyond finance

While the benefits of peer-to-peer transactions that are more secure is obvious, blockchain technology can potentially impact any online activity that involves data being shared by two or more people. This could apply to contracts, communications, or any project that involves data sharing. Instead of being stored in a single place and accessed from external sources through a user login, blockchain encrypts the data in a way that’s virtually impossible to decipher without the appropriate digital signature or key.

A combination of successes

For most products or services to succeed they need more than a single factor driving their adoption. The wide range of benefits is Bitcoin’s main strength. For businesses it:

  • Reduces their costs
  • Provides a quicker transaction that’s non-reversible
  • Provides access to the Bitcoin community

Bitcoin also provides many benefits for individual users. For the average shopper it:

  • Is more secure
  • Is easy to use
  • Can provide additional benefits as companies encourage its use

In fact, the only people it might not be so beneficial for are the credit card companies. We can’t see traditional currencies becoming any less popular anytime soon, so we’re sure they’ll be fine.

With so many benefits spread amongst both businesses and users, its widespread adoption is only a matter of time.

Curtis Cripe – A Deeper Look Into The Branches of Engineering

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Engineering has become the most popular major amongst students in the United States, for the first time in history. Engineering is a great career choice for anyone with the necessary abilities, offering a secure position, the opportunity to grow and climb the career ladder, a solid salary as well as a job which provides a great deal of personal satisfaction.

Engineers like Curtis Cripe, are the world’s designers, they create all that we see and do and they design solutions for the world in which we live. Within engineering there are many different branches which you can elect, depending on what you enjoy doing, and where your skills lie. Let’s have a deeper look into the various engineering branches, to see which one fits best.

Civil Engineering

The most populous branch of engineering is civil engineering, the discipline which deals with infrastructure such as roads, buildings, bridges and city design. Within civil engineering there are also additional sub-branches such as architecture, which you could choose to specialise in. Many who choose a career in civil engineering, will cross between these sub-branches during their career, as there are skills within each that are easily transferable.

Neuroengineering

A relatively new branch of engineering which operates within the highly niche world of neural systems. Neural systems can be found both in and outside of the living world and a neural engineering will focus on the systems and the solutions for a wide range of living and non-living constructs. This area of engineering requires high intelligence and much technical knowledge.

Chemical Engineering

The definition given to chemical engineering is the combination of chemicals in order to make something of use. Within this definition, you could be working with labs trying to find new ways of using chemicals in farm work, with drug companies finding new medicines or even within a petroleum company finding new and safer ways of utilising chemicals to extract oil. The majority of this industry is working with drug companies and government agencies, to find new cures and treatments for a wide range of illnesses.

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering is considered to be one of the most exciting, interesting and highly specialised branches of engineering. Within this sector you will be working with cutting edge technology as you seek to provide new and exciting solutions to some of the challenges within the field of aerospace. Working with planes, space shuttles and helicopters, this discipline of engineering requires a great deal of intelligence and hard work from you.

Computer Engineering

Another relatively new form of engineering is computer engineering, largely focussing on creating software and hardware to meet the requirements of businesses, individuals and governments. IF you are skilled in computing and in particular coding and computer language, you can find yourself a great career in this field, a field which will continue to grow for many years.