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Liberating Jobs to Do If You Hate Sitting Behind a Desk

By
John Richardson
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It was once seen as the epitome of success. You had landed yourself a desk job and now you could sit in an air-conditioned office all day and simply fill out paperwork or write reports on a computer.

However, this is not a job that everybody wants, and recent job search trends are highlighting this point. Luckily, there are multiple alternatives to choose from if you don’t want a standard office job. Some of them may require additional training and some of them can simply be started from an apprentice position. However, one thing’s for sure, if you don’t like sitting down all day and typing, there are many jobs that you can do that can take you into a different range of environments and enhance your learning and creativity along with your leadership skills.

So, without further ado, here are some of the best alternatives to standard office jobs that you can undertake, even with minimal training.

Taxi Driver

Transport, in general, offers a lot of non-office jobs, whether you are driving a vehicle or flying an aeroplane, although the latter will probably require a bit of additional training to simply driving a car. If you like getting out and about in the city and enjoy driving and meeting people, then a taxi driver is likely to be an ideal job for you. The best part is that you don’t even have to set up as part of a taxi firm, and you can get hold of your own taxi and begin chauffeuring people around once you have passed some of the licencing exams. If you’re looking for a cheap taxi to begin this career, head over to www.cabdirect.com to explore the options that they have on their site.

Zookeeper

If you are a lover of animals, then being a zookeeper is a straightforward job that you can usually walk into with minimal hands-on training. This will require you to have some basic knowledge of how to care for exotic animals, such as snakes and even monkeys, but it will allow you to work outside, meet with the public, and also learn about the different animals that you will be caring for.

This can involve a lot of health-based responsibilities too. You will be responsible for keeping an eye on the animals that you care for and ensuring that they appear physically and mentally healthy. If you undertake additional training as a zookeeper, you may even be able to administer medications to animals that are slightly bigger than a dog or a cat, like lions, zebras, and even large snakes. However, being a zookeeper is a job which is physically demanding, so if you’re looking for a way to get rid of some excess energy and want to help animals, then this is an ideal career choice for you.

Healthcare Professional

One of the jobs that will always be in high demand and require new people to join is that of a healthcare professional. Training as a nurse or a doctor will take many years, but you can start as a support worker in either a nursing home or a mental health hospital, which will require some basic level literacy tests. This will allow you to be working with people and will very rarely involve sitting down at a desk.

Plus, there is great room for advancement if you train as a healthcare professional. As mentioned earlier, you can go on to train as a nurse or doctor or can simply become a senior support worker or even a ward manager, which will once again not involve a lot of sitting down. This role will also give you a great sense of pride when it comes to helping people too. 

Chef

If you’ve been told you’re the next Gordon Ramsay (hopefully not due to your language), then it may be worth looking into a career as a cook and potentially working your way up to a chef. Be aware that this is a very physically demanding job and will require you to be on your feet for the majority, if not all, of your shift. However, if you enjoy cooking, trying new recipes, and simply love a fast-paced job, then this is likely to be the ideal one for you.

Childcare

If you love children, it can be worth looking into getting a job in childcare. This role will enable you to look after children, make friends with their parents, and of course, not be sat in an office. You will need to pass basic training in first aid to be employed by most nurseries but once you get in, it’s unlikely that you will have a boring day.

Tips for Creating a Great Storefront

By
John Richardson
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If you’re the owner of a street-facing store, you’ll know all too well how important it is to create a great storefront. It’s through this window that potential customers get a taste of what your business is all about, whether this is retail, hospitality, or another service provider, allowing them to decide whether to enter your store and look around.

When consumers are walking down the high street, there’s no guarantee that they will choose your store above the others, even if you are confident that your service is superior to your competitors. Much like choosing a book from a bookstore, it’s the cover that catches the eye, before the real story is discovered inside, but it’s up to businesses to ensure that this cover is as appealing as possible.

Especially now that many countries are living through a cost-of-living crisis, with increased prices and rising bills across the board, it’s more important than ever that your store’s storefront is as captivating as it can be, as consumers, in general, are far less eager to spend their money than in previous times and will need extra intrigue to consider parting with their hard-earned cash.

Read on to find out more about creating a great storefront, and how nailing your aesthetic could give your business the boost it needs.

Dynamic Signage

Signs have always been a crucial part of creating the ideal storefront. Historically, buildings and facades would be adorned with large advertisements or branding, while even in the modern day, signs placed out on the street can give consumers a welcome insight as to what awaits them if they enter the store.

As well as this, all brands rely on creating a captivating badge/ logo, which can help bring some character to the name of your business, using creative aspects such as font, color, and dynamics.

With the wonders of electricity, signs that glow, move, and change color help to catch the eye even more effectively, although you will need to be careful to tailor this to your brand, as something too bright or dynamic could come across as tacky in some trades and industries.

Putting business signage in place is all about sending the correct message to the correct people.

Easy-to-Read Fonts

Depending on the trade in which your business operates, the font you decide to use for your storefront could be wildly different. For some traders, it could be appropriate to attempt faux-handwriting signage, while for others it could be far more appropriate to stick with bold, clear text that gets the message across effectively.

When choosing the fonts, you will use in your storefront’s branding and signage, it’s a case of not losing sight of the primary purpose of your signage – to send a clear message, that gives potential consumers and returning customers alike a great idea of what they will find when they enter the store.

However, it’s not a case of going to the clearest, most boring font you can find, as even if consumers can read the message clearly and concisely, they may find the lack of imagination uninspiring, or it could seem out of place compared to the rest of the branding.

Engaging Window Displays

Having an engaging window display at the front of your store is a fantastic way of not only grabbing a potential customer’s attention for a moment but potentially captivating them for much longer, which far increases the likelihood of them choosing to spend their money in your store.

Not only can window displays give consumers a detailed insight into the kind of products that are instore or on offer, but it can be a great opportunity to expand on your business’s branding and express the personality of those working at the store.

Knowing your customer base well is an important factor in creating a successful window display. It’s a chance to tap into your branding and make stronger connections with consumers, improving brand loyalty and revenue as a result.

Maintain Consistent Branding

For your storefront display to succeed, it’s important to stay true to your branding.

Especially if you have built up a customer base who identifies strongly with your branding, it could be seen as sloppy or a mistake by your customer base to either change up branding on a whim or have displays that are confused in their branding and messaging.

Furthermore, if the business has caught the eye of potential customers, and then changes branding, it could mean that the potential customer forgets as they are no longer reminded of their previous interest.

Easy Ideas for Improving Your Home on a Budget

By
John Richardson
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If your home could use a makeover but you’re on a limited budget, don’t despair. Here are a few simple ways in which you can give your living space a much-needed lift, no matter how much you have available to spend.

Change Your Colour Palette

One simple way to refresh your living space on a budget is to update your colour scheme. Choose one colour or a palette of complementary colours for each room and add touches throughout your living space. If your budget allows, you can create a bold feature wall with paint or wallpaper. However, if you’ve only got limited funds, use cushions, rugs, throws, vases, artificial flowers, cheap artwork, and other elements to bring a dash of colour to your life. As well as giving your home a low-cost makeover, changing the colour can influence mood and even improve your wellbeing. For example, orange can boost your energy, so may suit a home office, while blue is said to be calming, so is great for bedrooms.

Enhance Your Surroundings

Another way to spruce up your surroundings without spending much money is to add simple touches that enhance your environment. Putting some fresh flowers in the living room, bedroom, or kitchen can be a great way to add a seasonal touch to your home. Likewise, there’s nothing like keeping a fresh fragrance at home to give your rooms an instant lift. The great thing about these improvements is that they are changeable, so you can refresh them as often as you like. Other low-budget options for enhancing your surroundings include adding simple visual elements. For example, look in stationers, book shops, and craft stores for greeting cards featuring unique artwork and photography. Buy some cheap picture frames and hang them on your walls for an easy art display.

Opt for Low-Cost Alternatives

If you want to move past décor and make more substantial changes on a budget, look for alternatives that save you money without compromising on style. Can’t afford to replace your kitchen? Why not just change the cabinet doors instead? This can give the impression of a whole new fitted kitchen at a fraction of the cost. Similarly, if you can’t afford to recarpet the stairs, try a stair-runner. These are available in a variety of colours and designs, refreshing your hallway while adding noise-proofing and reducing wear and tear on the carpet underneath. In the bathroom, you can avoid changing the whole suite and just add a new toilet seat, showerhead, and shower curtain. Complement these simple changes with some small decorative touches and it will look like you’ve spent a fortune upgrading your home!

Choose One Element to Upgrade

If your budget is tight, maybe you would prefer to make one or two costlier changes, rather than trying to do too much. For example, installing a new front door or windows or laying new carpeting can give your home a real refresh while making a real difference to your property. Indeed, some significant changes can pay off over the longer term. For example, cheap, ill-fitting windows and doors can create drafts and loss of heat. Investing in high-quality replacements could lead to savings on your energy bill, while also enhancing your home security. There may be financing available to help spread the cost of some of these costlier improvements, but it’s important to be realistic about what you can afford and not overreach.

Add Value for Potential Buyers

Many people undertake home improvements intending to add value to their property. While low-budget changes are unlikely to boost your home’s value when you come to sell, what you can do is add to the kerb and garden appeal. This can increase interest in your property among potential buyers, especially if there are several similar properties for sale in your immediate area. Tidying up the garden, adding some attractive plants, or freshening up any paintwork can all help to make your house more appealing. Another low-budget trick to make your home more attractive to potential buyers is to highlight how they could utilise the space. For example, if you have a cluttered spare room, add some basic storage and a cheap single bed or sofa bed, so buyers can see how they could use it as a guest room or child’s bedroom.

When it comes to refreshing your living space, the options are endless. Hopefully, this article has shown that you can make great improvements to your home, even on a limited budget.

Short Stay Schengen Visa

By
John Richardson
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The Schengen Area is an immense territory with virtually no boundaries that you could have access to, provided that you meet certain parameters. It comprises most European countries, though not all of Europe is part of the Schengen zone, and even some European Union countries are excluded from the Schengen Agreement.

Several countries, both inside and outside of Europe, have a visa-free agreement with Schengen countries for short-term allowances However, if your country of origin doesn’t have a signed agreement, you’ll need to file a request for a short-term Schengen visa. For this purpose, the aid of qualified immigration lawyers is imperative, as they may offer valuable Schengen visa advice, as well as fast track Schengen visa applications of any kind.

Short-stay Schengen Visa Explained

Short-stay Schengen visas are permits that grant access to the Schengen territory and allow individuals to remain for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. Short-stay visas can be issued for a myriad of purposes and under a wide variety of conditions.

To illustrate, some visas allow for only one entry into each of the member countries, while others enable multiple entries, but likewise only within the 90-day window. In some scenarios, you could even be issued a multiple-year visa, but only insofar as you don’t exceed the stay limits established therein.

How to Apply for a Short-stay Schengen Visa?

To apply for a short-stay Schengen visa, you ought to book an appointment with the Consulate office of the country that stands either as your main destination or as the first country you visit (depending on whether the duration of your stay in each country is equally distributed or not).

When the date of your appointment arrives, you must present certain documentation that supports your eligibility, such as a valid passport, bank statements showing you have the financial means to remain in the territory, and the fee payment receipt. These are just some examples, but the list of documents you must provide is extensive.

When applying for a short-stay Schengen visa, you must state your purpose of visit via a cover letter attached to the documentary proof demanded from the Consulate or Embassy.

Schengen members would require virtually the same documentation across the board, but not all Schengen countries have the same approval rates. Visa applications could be rejected for various reasons, even those not related to lack of proof. Fulfilling all the requirements does not guarantee that you’ll get your petition approved, for reasons of national interests could stand in the way.

Furthermore, some countries, even within the same agreement, are more wont to reject petitions than others. Belgium has been traditionally a very difficult country to apply for a Schengen visa, but Portugal has also been very hesitant to grant short-stay Schengen visas in recent times. Countries like Slovakia, Lithuania, or Luxembourg are, conversely, much more lenient.

You would have to submit your application at least 15 days before your trip, as that’s the time it usually takes to get a decision (though it may take a lot longer if extra documentation is requested). It’s always recommended to submit the petition as early as possible, though it should not be earlier than 6 months before the trip.

What If I Wanted to Stay for a Longer Period?

In those cases, a Schengen visa is not the proper route. You would have to submit a residence permit or long-stay visa application instead, in which case, you’ll be asked to provide some additional information and documentation depending on the purpose of the visit.

Long-stay visas are not the same as multiple-year visas. Short-stay visas may be granted for up to 5 years, but they only permit you to stay for various shorter periods for the remainder of their validity. Long-stay visas are issued for individuals who need or wish to stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days.

How Do I Know If I Need a Short-stay Schengen Visa?

To know whether you are required to ask for a visa in order to enter the Schengen area, you would have to get in contact with a visa advisor, who’ll be able to offer updated information on the matter, as well as further Schengen visa advice, such as the type of visa that’s right for you.

5 Ways That Technology is Transforming The Financial Industry

By
Claire James
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In 2022, the increasing advancement of modern-day technology reigns supreme over just about every aspect of our daily lives – and the development of the financial industry is no exception to that rule. Whether we approach the idea from the perspective of maximised productivity rates, or the recent increase in interest in the stock market, one consistency remains obvious: the impact of the mechanisation of the present undeniably echoes throughout the world of finance.

Remaining aware of this as a brand and a business is vital when it comes to staying one step ahead of the competition. It is paramount in the process of making the very best monetary decisions that align well with your company’s future prospects. If you’re looking to learn more in order to understand how to put your best foot forward in this regard, read on as we cover the five major ways that technology is holistically transforming the contemporary financial industry. 

Revitalised Banking

A large chunk of the financial industry is dependent on how banking operates. In recent years, we’ve witnessed a major switch to a more digitised version of immediate banking and depositing, which has enabled consumers to access a much more instantaneous and reliable form of monetary management. This is, in turn, increasing the profit of all financial sectors as transactions continue to increase in terms of accessibility and convenience.

The Automation of Businesses

It’s not hard to see why increased automation is becoming so popular across a whole range of industries, when considering the way it often skyrockets production rates and maximises projected profit. This is why brands of all trades, from Amazon to Xelix are promoting the implementation of such processes in order to optimise overall business efficiency in a long-term way.

The Extrapolation of Data

Customer data collection has always been integral to how finance centred industry’s function, but the usage of technology to gather that critical information has made it much easier for companies to truly understand their key demographics. With your clients wants and fears openly displayed via social media and app usage, knowing how to meet their needs is no longer the laborious task it once was. The digital collection of this data enables businesses globally to offer hyper personalised customer services that are more likely to yield an optimal financial outcome.

Implementing AI

Artificial intelligence is emerging as one of the leading ways in which economic sectors interact with technological development. Not only does AI play a large role in providing efficacious and customer services, it also allows financial investors to better predict the results of their monetary decision-making.

The Increasing Ubiquity of Digitised Resolutions

More and more finance based brands are choosing to take a more client-based approach to how they operate, which is largely being executed through online spaces and digital apps. Seeking fast-paced and immediate results for common workplace problems is in turn driving up the overall profit margins of economic establishments across the board.

In Conclusion

It’s clear that the evolution of the technological landscape is having a significant effect on the general management and functioning of finance sectors across the globe. Taking note of just how much the general operation of the industry is changing and growing is always good practice and should never be overlooked as a business tactic.

Ryan Mahoney (Dubai, UAE): CRC Market Report on Commercial Properties

By
Claire James
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Ryan Mahoney (Dubai, UAE) is the CEO of Cencorp, a conglomerate of real estate-related businesses. He also cofounded a leading UAE property website, and has taken an active role in the development of several early-stage companies, providing him with expert insights into Dubai’s real estate sector. This article reviews the CRC Commercial Property Market Report for the 2021 financial year, looking at how economic growth continued to surge throughout Dubai and the wider UAE despite disruption created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the CRC report indicates, in 2021, Dubai’s commercial property market reached a turning point. Whereas the pandemic had a detrimental impact for both landlords and tenants in numerous countries worldwide, Dubai saw a steep increase in both prices and demand for commercial real estate through 2021, with sales surpassing even-pandemic levels.

CRC’s 2021 Commercial Property Market Report was published in January 2022, at which point, CRC’s Director, Ben Bargh, noted in his foreword that Dubai’s commercial property sector had made an almost complete recovery, with confidence building, and business owners becoming increasingly optimistic regarding their enterprise’s future. A common trend that emerged in 2021 was a desire to secure better, more extensive commercial premises for a longer period.

Dubai’s government introduced a number of new policies, including launching a visa scheme for foreign professionals, and transitioning to a working week that runs from Monday to Friday like many Western countries. Ultimately, Dubai has become even more attractive to expats, creating growth across the commercial real estate sector, and bolstering Dubai’s economy. Post-pandemic, Dubai retains its position as the region’s strongest economy. It is predicted that Dubai will continue to attract a high level of foreign investment in the months, and years, to come.

As normality returns across the markets, CRC anticipates that commercial real estate prices will continue to rise steadily throughout the country, increasing confidence in Dubai’s property market and its economy as a whole.

In 2021, Dubai’s commercial property market was characterized by steady recovery. Demand, transactions, and property prices returned to, and even exceeded, pre-pandemic levels, with the total number of sales transactions exceeding figures from 2020 by an impressive 19%, and prices increasing in both leasing and sales. CRC predicted in its report that this trend will continue as businesses and the economy expand.

Throughout Dubai, office sales doubled in 2021. Predictably, Business Bay took the top spot as the most desirable community for office spaces, with Dubai Silicon Oasis, Barsha Heights, Al Barari, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers all ranking highly in terms of communities with the highest number of office sales in 2021.

Turning to retail unit sales in 2021, International City ranked highest, followed by Jumeriah Lake Towers, and Mohammed Bin Rashid City, the latter making strides recently and showing impressive growth in both commercial and residential markets.

The CRC Market Report bears out the UAE’s economic resilience through the Covid-19 pandemic, a fact demonstrated by its thriving real estate sector. Navigating its way through the pandemic in 2021, Dubai’s commercial property market closed the year 35% up on the previous year’s figures, with circa 31 billion UAE Dirham changing hands in unit transactions. Whether it is the lifestyle, or new legislation paving the way for citizenship and a golden visa scheme for foreign investors, Dubai attracted foreign investors and expats in their droves in 2021, which in turn has boosted demand for commercial real estate. The commercial property market has become an increasingly attractive investment option for Dubai residents too, with office spaces becoming particularly appealing. The number of offices sold increased by 101% in 2021, totaling 1.99 billion UAE Dirham.

Expo 2020 combined with the resumption of global travel led to more than 6 million tourists flocking to Dubai in 2021, outperforming 2020’s figures by some way, according to the Khaleej Times. Retailers reported a subsequent pick up in footfall, which has driven increased need for retail units, with premises at street level especially sought after, and communities like Jumeirah Lake Towers proving particularly popular. Compared with figures from 2020, retail property sales were up by some 96% through 2021, with the value of transactions rising to almost 690 million UAE Dirham in total.

Following 2020’s considerable pandemic-related economic uncertainties, CRC data suggests that trust in Dubai’s commercial property market bounced back in 2021, with no sign of growth abating anytime soon.

Preparing for retirement in Switzerland

By
John Richardson
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In Switzerland, the pension system may seem complex: AVS; 2nd pillar; 3rd pillar A and 3rd pillar B; linked or unlinked. But the answers to our questions are generally straightforward: How much will I earn? How and when to plan my retirement?

What age can I retire?

The Swiss system is one of the most generous in Europe. The pension is paid from 65 for men and 64 for women. The amount depends on the conversion rate applied to the capital accumulated in occupational pensions throughout the career. A legal LPP minimum is set at 6.8% for the compulsory part.

Several annuity models coexist:

Splitting: the conversion rate of 6.8% is applied to the mandatory part, while another conversion rate is used for the extra-mandatory part. Insurance companies use this model.

The single conversion rate is applied to all pension assets (mandatory and extra-mandatory). It is the so-called wraparound pension funds that adopt this system.

Let’s start with the financial aspect, usually the first concern of workers preparing for retirement. And for that, you have to understand the Swiss system well so that everything is clear. Expert advice is available at F B K Conseils.

In Switzerland, pension provision is based on the 3-pillar system:

The first pillar

The 1st pillar, also called the AVS, is compulsory and operates on a principle of solidarity. All workers – salaried and self-employed – contribute from the age of 20 up to 10.1% of gross salary. The contribution to the AVS is paid 50% by the employee and 50% by the employer to the State.

How much can you get with the AVS?

At the time of retirement, the calculation of the amount of the pension will depend on:

  • Average annual income
  • Number of years of contribution
  • Applicable bonus

At most (by earning an average of 84,600 francs per year and contributing since the age of 20), you can receive 2,350 francs monthly from the AVS. The minimum amount is 1,175 francs per month (earning less than 14,100 francs per year). It is enshrined in law that the maximum pension cannot be higher than twice the minimum pension.

The second pillar: occupational pension

The pension fund represents the second pillar, which is also mandatory. Its legal bases are the federal law on occupational pensions for old age, survivors and invalidity (LPP) and the law on compulsory accident insurance (LAA). The benefits provided by the pension fund aim to maintain your standard of living.

The third pillar: private pensions

Voluntary private provision is divided into two separate pillars: the linked pillar 3a and the free pillar 3b. It makes it possible to close any pension gaps and cover additional individual needs.
It’s never too early to make plans for your retirement, and it’s always worth seeking help to ensure you make the most of your provision. Contact F B K Conseils today for informed advice.

Exploring Florida as your future home!!!

By
John Richardson
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There is plenty number of options why you should pick Florida as your future home from lack of income taxes to the sunny weather conditions. If you pick larger cities to live such as Orlando then you can also get advice from the financial advisor firms of this region especially after you get the retirement. Because of the numerous numbers of reasons, thousands of people choose to move to Florida. To make your relocation process successful, hire one of the best moving companies in Florida at Moving Feedback. Before you relocate, be sure you get to know everything about this new state. Do your homework by researching more and more on the internet. If you want to know the real facts apart from the fascinating things then have a look at these things:  

Lots of family-friendly activities

There are a lot of theme parks to explore and have fun in. Disney, SeaWorld, and universal are some of these. When you are a resident in Florida, you will get a discount to enjoy activities there. Luckily these can be enjoyed with your family.

South Florida and North Florida are not the same

When you start living there, you will feel like there are two different states named south Florida and North Florida. South part is more diverse and has Caribbean influence in culture. This is the part where one will enjoy the most nightlife. While on the other hand, the north part is completely different not just in climate conditions but also in culture. It has the capital of the state and is not vulnerable to change in the climate.

Cost of living 

This is one of the top vacation destinations and expensive too but at the same time, if you want an affordable area to live in then you can live here. When you have decided to relocate, check out the living cost of the different cities in the state. Usually, living in the north is costlier so consider what lifestyle you want to have and then pick the right city.

Nature’s beauty is not only limited to the beaches only

The state is blessed to have great natural beauty. Not just the place has some stunning beaches and coastline but also the place has the picturesque beauty of nature. 

Real estate is affordable here

Florida homes are comparatively priced but there are also some regions present out there where you can find a home or other property at a low cost. If you are thinking to move to the place then you can also look for an affordable property.

Here comes the sun

Outdoor activities can only be enjoyed during the sunny weather conditions. People living in Florida enjoy the sunshine throughout the day. The season of summers is hot and humid here while winters are short and the cold is mild. While on the other hand, if you don’t like heat then you may not like the state. So, when you pack for living in this state, you need to pack things such as lightweight clothes, water bottles, air conditioning, and so on. You can easily beat the heat according to your preferred ways. 200 days in the year are warm. 

No state taxes

Yes, there is no income state tax in the state. So, the living cost won’t be much higher. You can keep the amount safe from what you earn. Also, you don’t need to pay any additional expenses such as insurance costs and so on. There are not many places in the USA where you can save this much amount while getting all the modern amenities.

Enjoy the nightlife

The place has the cities like Orlando and Miami which has great nightlife where you can enjoy the same. The place has world-class restaurants which are operated by celebrity chefs and have great entertainment options.  

Wrapping it all up!!!

The state is the most populous one with millions of people. The state is known for its beaches and sunny weather. The place is great for retirees. Now you know some of the best and the real things about the place so you can prepare yourself in a better way. Depending on your lifestyle, you can pick an area according to your preferences.

Liberté, Égalité, Technologie? France and the tech industry

By
Claire James
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For decades, France has shown a strong desire to be at the forefront of innovation and future technology. Despite this, it’s somewhat odd that it’s only recently spread its tech wings. After all, legend has it that it was a French computing system — the Minitel Terminal — that supposedly inspired the Apple Mac.

However, France failed to surf the wave of the dotcom bubble at the end of the 20th century, reducing confidence in this national industry — until now. 2021 saw a record year of phenomenal growth and success of new digital and tech startups. So, let’s take a closer look at this sector of the French economy, and how bright its future may be.

The French tech scene

Traditionally, France’s economy has been dominated by services and manufacturing, but successive governments have been eager to make the country an international player in the tech world. In 2006, President Jacques Chirac expressed his dismay that Germany had beaten them to the punch when developing an alternative search engine to Google (with the less catchy name of Quaero).

Back then, the government answered this by promising €600 million to develop new tech industries. Fast forward to 2021, and President Emmanuel Macron declared at least €5bn of the France 2030 reindustrialisation budget would be devoted to deep tech. These are the startups concerned with innovations in science and engineering, such as artificial intelligence, for example.

Turning the tide

Things certainly are looking brighter for the sector today. This is partly due to the government’s incentive schemes for innovation and growth in the industry, such as creating the initiative La French Tech that recognises cities with a strong tech startup ecosystem. In early 2022, the warehouse robotics company Exotec became the latest addition to France’s “unicorn” tech companies (private startup ventures valued at over $1bn), fulfilling President Macron’s pledge to establish 25 unicorns by 2025.

Research and education

The rise of France’s tech industry is in no small part down to its emphasis on modernisation, and viewing the next generation as being at the forefront of further technological development. The private equity group KKR explains that “​​the backbone of the French tech ecosystem has always been its education system that produces world-class talent. Paris boasts the highest number of engineering universities of any city in Europe, which are amongst the very best technical universities in the world”.

Tech and the French economy

One of the primary reasons that successive governments have pursued these great developments in technology is that it is an effective job-creation strategy. This is no doubt coveted by the government — France’s post-Covid employment rate lags behind Germany with three million fewer people in work. When President Macron outlined the new industrial budget, he announced that not only will €15 billion be funnelled into startups, but crucially, “€31 billion will be invested in training in digital jobs”.

The rise of new tech companies has consequently gone hand in hand with a growing recruitment sector to find highly-skilled professionals vital to the industry. This can be seen with global technologies like SAP (an enterprise resource planning solution), which interacts with at least 77% of the world’s revenue streams and requires specialists in order to harness it to its full potential. Back in 2018, the German multinational behind the software pledged to invest €2bn into France by 2023 in order to bolster its operations there. Dedicated SAP recruitment companies are therefore becoming increasingly vital to the French tech industry, with the likes of Eursap helping businesses find experts across the full spectrum of SAP professionals for both permanent and interim contracts in France.

The future of French tech

France has seen the emergence of a slew of startup companies and networks, with profitable firms like Dassault Systemes, Genymobile and VideoLan. Yet, crucial to the continued success of companies like these is foreign investment. Taxpayer money has already been used to make up for where venture capital in the tech sector has fallen short. However, it is argued that only outside investors, who are often less risk-averse and constrained by regulations, can help these businesses expand to levels that will help make the country a “nation of large tech companies” by contributing enough necessary capital.

Sifted points out that, because this aspect of levelling up the industry still requires work, we should therefore be cautious with any optimism that this is purely a national success story: “France likes to succeed on its own, but in truth in the tech world, a local startup community can only succeed by looking outward and strengthening its connections with what the world has to offer”.

Yet the signs look positive. More and more small and medium-sized enterprises and startups in this sector seek out multicultural and international talent from a range of “diverse ecosystems as various stages in diverse locations”. As France fixes its eye towards owning the future of tech, it could well be that — as the saying goes — vouloir est pouvoir.

Welcome digitalization to your workflow

By
Claire James
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The world is only getting increasingly digitized as time passes. Advancements are made each day. Advancements which can optimize the lives of civilians, companies, and governments all over the world. The digital revolution can however be difficult to navigate in.

We mostly hear about the challenges that the older generation face, trying to adapt to an increasingly digitized everyday life, but many others struggle too. A lot of technology and research is done without considering what negative effects the product could include. Additionally, a lot of digital products are launched and sold without integrating the actual users or launched as a half-finished solution.

This article discusses what you can do to welcome digitalization to your company and your workflow.

Proper integration

A lot of work in companies, large or small, is moving online. This means that many people will need to get used to new ways of working, but it also brings several advantages. Some of these are data and storage. Data can be analyzed to optimize and analyze your work and can help your company take action and improve where you currently lack.

This integration of new software solutions and digital workflows can be eased by investing in a workflow automation platform. eTray, a software product created by Nexcom, can help your company remove a lot of unnecessary steps in your communication. It helps forward emails and enquiries to the right employees, it helps you store and manage data in folders that can be navigated to easily, and many more things.

An early investment into this kind of software, removes the need for unnecessary processes being integrated before they are replaced by the help of your workflow automation. As such, your employees can concentrate on learning only what is necessary.

Employee satisfaction

Having staff that likes working at your company is very important. It is for a lot of reasons, and the road to creating a work environment where employees thrive and are happy to work, does not come easy. One good way to start though, is by ensuring that staff is taught how to use the digital solutions that they are required to use. Patience, proper integration, and good education is the way to go.

In another way though, you could argue that digitalization in an organization is important. And sometimes, progress might be met with resistance. When employees rebel against changes, you need to know what to do. Are they frustrated because they were not taught how to do it? Perhaps your tutorial videos are not made for the new user, but the experienced one. Or maybe the people you have hired to instruct your staff, are not capable of explaining properly? In that case, you need to improve what you do.

In some cases though, the employee will simply resist the change, and reject to adapt. To avoid this, you must be 100% sure that when you do decide to invest in digitizing some aspect of your business, the product is fully developed, and will work and help your business, rather than complicating anything.

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