Tag Archive for: Farnborough

Farnborough - the home of aviation
Claire Christmas

Farnborough – the home of aviation

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Dogsbody Technology are based in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK,  the home of aviation!

Our offices are on Cody Technology Park named after none other than Samuel Franklin Cody; In October 1908, Samuel Franklin Cody embarked on the first powered, controlled and sustained flight in the UK from Farnborough airfield (the UK’s first airfield in aviation history). He flew the British Army Aeroplane No. 1, covering some 1,400 feet over Farnborough, in 27 seconds and at an altitude of 30 to 40 ft.

Samuel Franklin Cody Statue

Farnborough has strong ties to aviation with the Farnborough Airshow, Farnborough Airport, Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) all in our small town.

With so much history there are some hidden gems you have to visit:

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) exists to safeguard and promote Farnborough’s great heritage in aviation science.

Housing a brilliant museum of aviation history, Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) admission is free (unless you want the tour) however it is a registered charity so relies on donations and wonderful volunteers to preserve and promote Farnborough’s great heritage in aviation science.

FAST also offers exclusive guided tours of areas of Farnborough’s historic aviation quarter not normally open to the public, these include the Farnborough Centrifuge and Wind Tunnel

The Farnborough Centrifuge

Situated in a Grade 2 listed building this man-carrying centrifuge is a must see in our opinion.

The first of its kind back in 1955, its was the first machine in Britain able to test human subjects and their equipment under the effects of high-G without exposing them to the potentially fatal risk of actual flight.

Tours are given by people with first hand experience of the Centrifuge including ex pilots and mechanics with an obvious passion for its heritage and story.

The tour exceeded all our expectation and could have listened to our two guides experiences of this incredible facility for hours more 🙂 We all came out with smiles on our faces at an afternoon thoroughly well spent 🙂

Yes, “Visitors are able to actually sit in the (non-operational) centrifuge and there are plenty of opportunities for photographs”.

There latest tour dates can be found here or email  info@farnboroughcentrifuge.org.uk  if you have a group wishing to visit or to request a tour on another date – they will do there best to arrange a convenient date for you (minimum group size 2, maximum 20).

Wind TunnelWind Tunnel

Another Farnborough Landmark The Wind Tunnel is also open for tours on selected days throughout the year.

You will get to see two of the remaining tunnels from the world famous Royal Aircraft Establishment. Building Q121, a Grade 1 listed building, houses the ’24 foot wind tunnel’ whilst Building R52, a Grade 2 listed building, is the oldest wind tunnel building on the former RAE site and houses the wooden 4’x 3’ ‘Low Turbulence Wind Tunnel.

You can request a tour or email secretary@airsciences.org.uk.

 

There is plenty more to see and do in our work town but we wanted to highlight a couple of absolutely gems in our opinion.

Farnborough is always heavily in the media due to it history.  Farnborough Airport is the only airport in the UK dedicated to private jets and YouTubers have been lucky enough (if your that way inclined) to go on the Farnborough Centrifuge. Farnborough has a rich history and can be found on and mentioned in TV series, streaming sites and Radio shows.

This post is not sponsored in any way – we just love our little piece of Hampshire and its history.

Red Arrows

Claire Christmas

Christmas Charity Giving 2019

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Once again this Christmas, rather than buying corporate gifts, we are contributing that budget to two local charities.

This year we are once again donating to our local food bank and also adding a local homeless charity. Sadly, demand for both of their services are rising year on year.

Trussell Trust – Farnborough Foodbank

Update – We donated 69kg of food to our local Trussell Trust Farnborough Foodbank. Helping towards the Christmas Hampers and School Lunches they were packing.

For the third year running, Dogsbody Technology took part in the Reverse Advent Calendar #FoodbankAdvent. Donating essential items to our local Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank ,where demand still increases.

Food Bank Use
Food Bank Use

 

This year, to help end the need for food banks, the Trussell Trust commissioned a 3 year research project State of Hunger, the most authoritative piece of independent research into hunger in the UK to date.

We are proud to support this great local charity again although the increase for the service is sad to see year on year.

The Society of St James

Previous years we have donated to local charities. This year we decided to include The Society of St James an organisation that has been running for 45 years.

A homeslessness charity providing supported living services, drugs and alcohol recovery, specialist support accommodation and sports therapy.

Helping vulnerable people and the local community through social enterprises, such as cafe’s and a computer recycling and refurbishment service. These also provide valuable volunteering opportunities and work placements.

 

I hope you agree these are great charities to support at Christmas. Its never too late to make a donation yourself 🙂

We wish all our customers, suppliers and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2020.

 

Claire Christmas

#FoodbankAdvent 2018 – Reverse Advent Calendar

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Dogsbody Technology have once again taken part in #FoodbankAdvent 2018 – The Reverse Advent Calendar, and this year we went bigger and better!

On the 5th December 2018 Dogsbody Technology donated over 150 items (over double of last year!) weighing over 76 kg of food and non food to our local Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank #FoodbankAdvent.

 

#FoodbankAdvent 2018

Director Dan Benton and the volunteers at Farnborough Foodbank #FoodbankAdvent 2018

Unfortunately demand over the last year has risen.

“December was the busiest month for foodbanks last year. During December 2017, The Trussell Trust’s network provided 159,388 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis; 65,622 of these went to children. This is a 49% increase on the monthly average for the 2017-18 financial year.

The figures reveal the year on year need for foodbanks in December is increasing steeply – the number of food supplies given to people mark a 10% rise from December 2016 when 144,677 were given out.”

Inspired to take part too? Its not to late to start!

  • Read Trussell’s Trust’s What goes in a food bank parcel and non food items to see the items they like to be donated.
  • Find your local Trussell Trust food bank or donate to others in your area. There are even collection points in supermarkets across the country so you can add an extra something to your weekly shop and pop it in the collection point as you leave.
  • Look at your local food bank’s website for the list of items they urgently need.
  • Donate long life items (tinned or dried) so as not to waste fresh food (which goes off quickly).
  • If you want to collect an item a day as per the advent calendar, then your donations will be just as welcome in January as winter sets in!.

 

#FoodbankAdvent 2018

#FoodbankAdvent 2018

 

Dogsbody Technology want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2019.

 

 

Claire Christmas

#FoodbankAdvent 2017 – The Reverse Advent Calendar

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As Foodbank demand soars in the UK Dogsbody Technology are proud to announce that this year instead of further charity giving or sending corporate gifts we will be taking part in the Reverse Advent Calendar #FoodbankAdvent by donating essential items to our local Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank.

December is the busiest month of the year for foodbanks, with 45% more referrals during the two weeks before Christmas. More than 90% of the food donations comes from the public.

The Trussell Trust runs the largest network of foodbanks in the UK, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis. Thirteen million people live below the poverty line and in the last year they gave 1,182,954 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis – up over 6% from the previous year. Of this number 436,938 went to children.

What is a Reverse Advent Calendar?

Traditionally advent calendars are something you open each day from the 1st to the 25th December and get a reward. It used to be a tiny picture or a chocolate, now adults can indulge themselves with everything from make up to alcohol!.

Instead with the Reverse Advent Calendar you start with nothing (empty box) and put one item for your local food bank into it every day. You could do this for 25 days to mirror the advent calendar – or perhaps for a whole month.

Follow us on social media to see our Advent grow!

Throughout December we will be posting updates on how our calendar is growing and our aim is to donate over 60+ items in total.

Want to take part too? Its not to late to start!

  • Read Trussell’s Trust’s What goes in a food bank parcel and non food items to see the items they like to be donated
  • Find your local Trussell Trust food bank or donate to others in your area.
  • Look at your local food bank’s website for the list of items they urgently need.
  • Donate long life items (tinned or dried) so as not to waste fresh food (which goes off quickly)
  • Get your donation to the food bank by early December for them to be useful for Christmas
  • If you want to collect an item a day as per the advent calendar, then your donations will be just as welcome in January as winter sets in!

In one of the richest countries in the world, no one should be hungry at any time of year but especially not at Christmas. Dogsbody Technology hope to make a small difference to someone this Christmas.

Update: Dogsbody Technology donated 74 items to Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank #FoodbankAdvent weighing in at 37.1 Kg!

It was great to give something back to our community and the Trussell Trust Foodbank were very pleased with our donation – it is definitely something we will repeat!

A big thank you to all our customers and suppliers who have sent us season greetings, cards and presents – Dogsbody Technology are pleased to have such awesome allies 🙂

 

We wish all our customers, suppliers and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2018.

 

Claire Christmas

South East lags behind in youth unemployment

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PRESS RELEASE
South East lags behind in youth unemployment

New research out this week shows that the South East is falling behind other parts of the UK in the race to reduce youth unemployment. The study, by consulting firm EY, shows that the South East is now fourth in the league table of regional unemployment, down from second place in 2011.

The disparity in the number of young people in employment is starkest in the region’s key towns and cities, with Southampton, Brighton and Hove and Reading all having youth unemployment rates at higher than the regional average.

But local technology firms are looking to bridge the skills gap that divides young people and prevents them from gaining experience that leads to valuable jobs in the future. Farnborough businesses, Dogsbody Technology and Orcare are both on the hunt for their next apprentice through ApprenticeshipsInFarnborough.com.

Dan Benton, Director of Dogsbody Technology said, “Technology apprenticeships provide a valuable combination of on the job experience and structured learning that enable young people to develop the skills to help drive the growth of small businesses. It’s a real triple win for the apprentice, employer and the learning provider.”

Both Orcare and Dogsbody Technology typically employ school and college leavers with good GCSEs and or A-Levels, but have made a choice to not move onto University.

Advanced Apprenticeships result in qualifications equivalent to A-Levels, and apprentices gain valuable knowledge, skills and experience throughout their apprenticeship, all whilst earning a salary in the region of £150 per week. Alex Meyers, a recent graduate of the Orcare Technology Apprenticeship Programme said, “I was initially attracted by the opportunity to get out into the real world and work on real projects while learning new skills. But now the opportunity to earn a real salary and build up experience has put me in such a strong position in comparison to many people my age.”

The salary potential for someone with a technology apprenticeship and 3 years of experience can be in the region of £30,000, exceeding the average graduate salary.

Paul Marden, Director of Orcare said “In an environment where graduates are taking on astonishing levels of debt and then struggle to access well paid jobs because of an absence of experience, apprenticeships provide a very viable Plan A for young people looking for a route into a technology career.”

The team behind ApprenticeshipsInFarnborough.com are also looking to work with other local apprentice employers to raise the profile of apprenticeships in the local area.

ENDS

Media Contact,
Paul Marden, Director, Orcare Limited. Phone: 01276 817465 / 07796 463728, email: pmarden@orcare.com

Claire Christmas, Project Manager, Dogsbody Technology Ltd. Phone: 01276 818576, email: claire@dogsbodytechnology.com

NOTES TO EDITORS
Apprenticeships in Farnborough (apprenticeshipsinfarnborough.com) is a collaborative campaign to raise aspirations and reduce youth unemployment in Farnborough, enabling businesses to attract local talent.

Orcare Limited (orcare.com) is a Web Design and Digital Marketing Agency based in Farnborough, Hampshire. It specialises in developing easy to use websites that deliver real business benefit using Microsoft technologies to customers across London and the South East.

Dogsbody Technology Ltd. (dogsbodytechnology.com) is a Linux consultancy company based in Farnborough, Hampshire building and maintaining secure, reliable & scalable servers ensuring customers get the best out of technology.