Driverless cars on pilot test in UK from 2015

Driverless cars will be trialled in Milton Keynes city centre from 2015, as part of a five year pilot scheme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4Ujd4wutddE

100 pod devices will run on specifically marked out lanes between Milton Keynes Central train station, the centre:mk shopping centre and the offices in-between.

They will be powered by an electric motor, and will travel along pavements at speeds of up to 12mph. Initially, they will be on separate lanes but the government may remove these lanes as the experiment progresses.

The pods will be big enough to fit two passengers and luggage. They will also be fitted with sensors to avoid colliding with pedestrians and parked cars.

A trial of the devices will begin in 2015, with a full rollout expected two years later. This will allow customers to hire pods from £2 a ride using smartphone apps to either hail or advance book one of the machines.

The experiment is expected to cost £65million over the five year period, and has the backing of Business Secretary Vince Cable and Higher Education minister David Willets.

Milton Keynes was chosen for the experiment because of its wide pavements. The trials will be the first driverless cars in operation on Britain’s streets.

A driverless ULTra PRT pod transport system with 21 pods and over 4km of tra

Vote for my daughter's proposed shoe company.

Vote for my daughter's proposed shoe company.


. Our entry is to get some monies to start a shoe company that is

"traditional, functional and aesthetically durable." 

It would be great if you could take the time to vote for us to show your support. 

http://www.stylist.co.uk/home/microsite2/triumph/?page=competition

SHOES

BY

XANDRA DREPAUL & FANNY GOLDSMITH

Why did you start making?

We both studied Fashion Design and currently work in the industry as an accessory designer and pattern cutter with backgrounds in garment design and tailoring. With our acquired backgrounds we have both gained a diverse skillset through our varied experiences. We decided collectively that we wanted to create a simple object that allowed for a narrow focus, which we could innovate, perfect in our own time, stimulate us creatively and make us happy. This object is a classic flat shoe.

Why is your business unique?

This business is unique because we are not just creating a product but also a concept and brand that surrounds it. Our concept is minimal, considered and timeless and our product is traditional, functional and aesthetically durable. We believe that often the plain and reduced is the most striking and are passionate to achieve this within our classic flat shoe. We would like to source new ways of using conventional materials in unconventional shoe applications, for instance reprocessed papers stacked into soles and lightweight concrete made into textiles and used as fixtures. We are taking a shoe and dissecting it into each elemental layer: the last- the upper- the lining- the sole and injecting our ethos into every one. Each layer is considered and has the best quality leathers and craftsmanship using our skills. We also source trade specialists who are knowledgeable and able to help us realise our concept. To us the process is pivotal to our final product. As a result, each shoe is made by hand, with care and attention.

What keeps you inspired?

European architecture, Scandinavian interiors, french rococo detailing, chevron floors, tile work, walls, peitra dura + organic materials, cork, concrete, florals, woods, marble, metals, gems, furs, Audubon, clouds + handcrafted techniques, embroidery, jacquard, needlework, joinery, embossing, engraving, lasering cutting + industrial design + good food + people who are brave enough to do what makes them happy

What's your vision for the future?

We are currently producing our classic flat shoe ourselves in an East London based studio. We believe that there is potential for growth in the future for our product as well as our distribution and sales. We would like to work with boutiques to create exclusive products for their stores in addition to an online range. We have started with a singular product to create an identity and brand for ourselves but with the right business plan, mentor and goals we see this having the potential to expand into a cohesive range of shoes and accessories in the future.

Find your best customers

The 80/20 Rule of Sales: How to Find Your Best Customers http://zite.to/GMM1IM

29 Million Adults Were Starting or Running New Businesses in U.S. in 2011

Millions of businesses are started every year in the U.S. – who are the entrepreneurs behind these businesses?

29 Million Adults Were Starting or Running New Businesses in U.S. in 2011

In the U.S. 29 million adults (12.3% of people aged 18-64) were starting or running new businesses in 2011. Of this 29 million, the majority fall within the 25-54 age range (e.g. approximately 10% of all adults in the 25-44 age range, and 8% in the 45-54 age range, were engaged in starting a business in 2011). But, the youth (18-24 years of age) and late career (55-64 years of age) age groups are also fairly represented by individuals who get bit by the entrepreneurship bug, with approximately 6% of adults in those age groups being engaged in starting a business in 2011. Additionally, 20% of U.S. adults aged 25-34, and more than 15% of adults aged 18-24 and 35-54, indicated that they intended to start a business according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2011 survey results.

There Are 8 Women Entrepreneurs for Every 10 Men Entrepreneurs in the U.S.

Around the world there are approximately six women participating in entrepreneurship for every 10 men. The ratio of women entrepreneurs, compared to men, is higher in the U.S. than the world average, with eight women participating in entrepreneurship for every 10 men. The overall U.S. ratio, while higher than the world average, is still lower than several other countries, specifically Switzerland, Guatemala and Brazil, where women and men are equal in their rate of participation in entrepreneurial activities. Women exceed men in entrepreneurial participation in Singapore and Thailand.

However, based upon the findings of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM)*, in the United States, when age is factored in, women aged 45-54 are nearly equal to men in their participation in early-stage entrepreneurial activity, and exceed men in the 55-64 age range.

Source: Babson College Global Entrepreneurship Monitor United States Report 2011

*The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) conducts annual surveys of the adult population in economies around the world. Through these surveys, which have been conducted since 1999, the GEM seeks to measure global entrepreneurship through indicators, such as societal attitudes toward entrepreneurship, participation in multiple phases of the entrepreneurship process, and profile and impact indicators. Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA), which comprises nascent entrepreneurs in the process of starting a business as well as new business owners, is the key measure used by the GEM.