TEACHERS THANKED WITH FREE PENS

A leading stationery firm is celebrating World Teachers’ Day on October 5, 2009 by offering inspirational classroom figures a free writing instrument.

Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK has made the donation in acknowledgment of their service to educate and guide our children, teenagers and adult learners.

Whilst stocks last, any teacher who emails letters@connect-group.com will receive a free super smooth Jetstream pen, which will greatly assist them with their lesson planning and marking.

"We wanted to recognise the UK’s teaching profession by giving them a free Jetstream pen,” said Stuart Barker, marketing manager for Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK. “Teachers play a critical role in the upbringing of our children so it’s important that we continue to invest in them.

“Smooth and light to write with, teachers will be suitably impressed with the Jetstream’s quick writing and drying capabilities, which delivers a reduced risk of smudging thanks to its unique uni Super Ink.”

For further information on Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK visit www.uniball.co.uk, www.unisuperpens.co.uk or view their latest tweets on Twitter by following @uniball_uk.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Mitsubishi Pencil Co. by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

OFFICIAL HiQ “PINK” BTCC GRID GIRL UNVEILED

Donington Motorsport marshal and avid HiQ British Touring Car Championship fan Amanda Wheal will add a splash of colour to the grid at Brands Hatch this weekend when she becomes Tom Chilton’s HiQ Pink Grid Girl

Amanda, better known as AJ, was chosen as HiQ’s Pink Grid Girl following an intense online vote, receiving over 24 per cent of the overall votes cast. She will don the iconic HiQ pink grid suit and join thousands of fans as they dress in pink in an attempt to make the grandstands - and every other part of the circuit - pretty in pink and raise thousands of pounds for Breast Cancer Care.

The campaign already has the backing of HiQ BTCC fan and Spice Girl Melanie C and Tom Chilton will be joining in the pink theme by dying his own hair pink for the race!

27 year old AJ from Beeston in Nottingham is a doctor at Queen's Medical Centre and is a member of the Chilwell Olympia Karate School and the local Boots Orchestra. Speaking about winning the competition, she said: “I have followed the HiQ BTCC since I was old enough to watch motorsport on TV; I really do love anything with engines and think perhaps I have high octane fuel running through my veins!

“Breast Cancer Care is a charity close to my heart so this is a fantastic opportunity to combine my love of motorsport with raising awareness for the charity.”

After her grid appearance Brands Hatch, AJ will also be treated to dinner with Tom Chilton and ask him questions about his racing career and hopes for the future as part of her prize.

Fast fit network HiQ, official sponsor of Britain’s premier motor racing series, launched the competition alongside race ace Tom Chilton to take its charity partnership with Breast Cancer Care up a gear.

HiQ’s marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “The Brands Hatch race weekend is set to be a really special culmination to the HiQ BTCC season. We’re urging everyone to wear pink to support our fundraising efforts for Breast Cancer Care, but if they forget, they can always pop along to the HiQ trade stand to pick up their pink HiQ caps in return for a donation to the charity.”

Ends:

AJ’s accompanying paragraph to support her entry is: “I love any sport with engines, and I am a motorsport marshal. I really enjoy the HiQ BTCC because of the action packed racing and tight championship. I'm always up for a new challenge, and this chance to mix the motorsport of Team AON and support of Breast Cancer Care was too good to miss. As a Dr of science I understand the need to increase cancer awareness. In fact, I ran around Donington Park in this outfit for Cancer Research. Please give this karate-kicking, adrenaline-seeking, fun-loving lady your vote!”

Notes to Editors

The HiQ fast fit retail network consists of over 130 branches across the UK and is the only franchised fast fit network in the automotive sector. In addition to selling, fitting and checking tyres, HiQ also provides brakes, exhausts, batteries, MOTs and vehicle servicing and maintenance.

The network of HiQ centres is currently being redeveloped to reflect the company’s customer commitment to differentiate itself from competitors and become Fast Fit You Can Be Sure Of.

The company’s proposition is to offer certainty and reassurance, with jargon free communication; open and honest pricing; modern, comfortable facilities; better choice and value; and excellent customer-focused service.

The network now has ambitious growth plans and aims to increase its centre network to 275 branches by 2012 creating many jobs in the process.

In 2008 HiQ became the main sponsor of the HiQ British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Britain's most popular and longest established motor racing championship.

For more information on what sets HiQ apart from the rest, visit www.hiqonline.co.uk

MELANIE C LOOKS PRETTY IN PINK WITH HiQ

She looks pretty in pink, and Melanie C is urging everyone all motorsport fans to do likewise by dressing in the colour at the next round of the HiQ British Touring Car Championship.

The Spice Girl star has donned the colour in a bid to get everyone else to follow suit at Brands Hatch on Sunday October 4, to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, HiQ's official charity for 2009.

Mel, who is regularly seen cheering on her brother Paul O'Neill who races in the BTCC, answered a call from HiQ to drum up some support at the event and hopes spectators will create a sea of colour by each wearing an item of pink on the day.

HiQ hopes its novel attempt to make the grandstands - and every other part of the circuit - pretty in pink will raise hundreds of pounds for Breast Cancer Care whilst leaving a visual image to remember to mark the end of a fantastic season of racing.

Mel said: "With my brother Paul racing in the BTCC, I am often trackside to cheer him on. So when HiQ asked for some help in promoting their pink day on October 4, I was only too pleased to lend my support."

Anyone forgetting to wear their pink shirt or skirt, or don their pink accessories, can pick up a pink HiQ cap in return for a donation to the charity. The caps have already had a huge impact throughout the season with scores of fans picking up the iconic headwear at previous races.

Teams will also be upping the ante and taking to the track with pink tyres and number plates and race ace Tom Chilton is even dying his hair pink for the occasion. HiQ will be playing its part too by transforming all of its advert breaks on ITV from its trademark cyan to pink as a one-off.

HiQ’s marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “It's been a very successful season for our partnership with Breast Cancer Care. We have raised thousands of pounds from various initiatives including the Strawberry Tea at Oulton Park as well as generous donations from fans in return for our pink caps.

"We want to mark the end of the season by making a visual spectacle and encourage everyone to join in the spirit of our pink-themed day and help us reach our £5,000 target for the day."

For more information about HiQ and its work with Breast Cancer Care, please click on www.hiqonline.co.uk

IGNORE DATA PROTECTION ACT AT YOUR PERIL, WARNS HIGGS

In a stark warning, Higgs & Sons is advising businesses across the region that failure to comply with the Data Protection Act could land company bosses with fines or even imprisonment.

Kate Legg, a solicitor with Higgs & Sons, believes that many directors still don’t know the law, or even choose to ignore it, when it comes to handling data within their businesses.

She says: “The Information Commissioner maintains a public register identifying organisations that process personal data and the ways in which that data is used. Notification is the process by which businesses submit their details for inclusion on the register. Notification is a requirement under the Data Protection Act and failure to notify if required to do so is a criminal offence and could result in a fine or even imprisonment.”

The Information Commissioner's annual report for 2008/2009 reveals that over 85 per cent of the prosecutions that the Information Commissioner brought between April 2008 and March 2009 were related to failure to notify, or incorrect notifications.

Changes to the notification regime are due to be implemented on 1st October 2009 and businesses are urged to check that their registrations are up to date before then.

Kate explains: "As of 1st October, a two-tier fee structure will be introduced. Businesses with a turnover of more than £25.9 million and more than 250 employees will face the higher notification fee of £500. The fee remains at £35 for all other businesses.”

Breaches of information security continue with alarming frequency. Already this month, the Information Commissioner reported two incidents regarding data security.

One such case involved Sandwell MBC, which was recently investigated after a memory stick containing details of children in its care was lost.

This follows another incident earlier this month, in which a laptop was stolen from Wigan Council. The laptop contained details of around 43,000 children and young people. The information had been downloaded to the laptop by an employee in breach of the council's security policy. Neither the information on the Sandwell memory stick nor Wigan laptop had been encrypted.

Kate concluded: “These cases illustrate the need for continued vigilance and to guard against complacency in handling information. All businesses should have policies in place regarding the handling of personal information and staff must be both trained upon them and continually updated and reminded of the importance of these procedures.”

For more information about Higgs & Sons’ commercial department and assistance with the Data Protection Act, please contact Kate on 01384 342100.

TITLE GLORY FOR STYLISH GLEW

Phil Glew secured the 2009 ELF Renault Clio Cup championship in style with a double win in the penultimate race meeting of the season at Rockingham, last weekend.

After dominating the season the 26-year-old was finally able to celebrate the title with two pole to flag wins in his WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE professional sponsored Clio at the Northamptonshire circuit.

An emotional and ecstatic Glew shed a tear after winning and is now looking forward to moving up the motorsport career ladder.

He said: “This title is a dream come true and I can’t thank the team and sponsors enough for all their help throughout the season.

“I may have driven the car but the support of everyone, particularly my sponsors WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE professional has been vital.”

In race one Glew started on pole knowing he needed a podium finish to claim the title and held off all challengers to claim his first flag to pole victory of the day, and with it the championship.

As the newly crowned 2009 ELF Renault Clio Cup champion Glew started from pole in race two, again leading to the chequered flag, claiming his tenth win of the season.

Glew added: “To win both the championship and my target of ten wins makes the day just perfect.

“I’ve been pushed all the way from my rivals but always managed to find that extra pace, mainly thanks to the way Team Pyro set the car up.

“The future is still undecided but I’m hoping my performances throughout the season will enable me to look at a seat in the 2010 British Touring Car Championship.”

Glew is offering one fan the chance to experience life inside his Clio track car. Just go to www.3-in-one.co.uk/index.php/competition

For further information please contact Richard Knowles, 01902 714 917 or 07595 200 703. E-mail: richard@connect-group.com

LTI VEHICLES CALLS FOR AN EXTENSION TO CAR SCRAPPAGE SCHEME

LTI Vehicles the British manufacturer of the iconic London Taxi has called on the Government to extend the Car Scrappage Scheme.

John Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Manganese Bronze Holdings the parent company of LTI Vehicles, supports recent appeals from a number of automotive organisations for the Government to continue to support the Motor Industry and British jobs;

“The Government’s Car Scrappage Scheme has provided real help for business over the last few months. It has accounted for over 20% of London Taxi sales during the period of the scheme and has supported sales volume through one of the deepest recessions in living memory.

“As a British manufacturer based in Coventry, with dealerships across the UK we are calling on the Government to extend the Scrappage Scheme, while the automotive market remains fragile.

“While other countries are moving out of recession the OECD have released data to show the UK economy will shrink more than the Treasury has forecast this year and our exit from recession will be slower than the US or European recovery. Given the position of the UK economy and British manufacturing it would appear prudent to extend the Scrappage Scheme to support the British automotive sector.

“LTI Vehicles is an excellent example of the success of the Government’s Scrappage Scheme and a reason to extend its operation in the current economic conditions.”

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Scrappage Scheme has supported 125 new taxi sales since its launch in May. This represents over 20% of all sales during the period the scheme has been operating.

It is predicted that the Scrappage Scheme will run out of funds in October. The automotive sector will also be hit by a return to 17.5% VAT on 1 January 2010 and a new Road Fund Licence regime in April 2010, which will introduce a new first year rate, which will add £740 onto the cost of a new taxi at the point of sale.

The other support packages announced by the Government for the industry this year have not achieved the same success as the Scrappage Scheme. The Automotive Assistance Programme has only provided £10m from the £2.3bn fund announced by Lord Mandelson in February. A number of other announcements of “Real Help” for business, including the Working Capital Guarantee Scheme and trade credit top up insurance have also failed to provide any tangible help to the automotive sector.

LTI Vehicles will be meeting and writing to a number of key stakeholders to seek support for the industry’s call for an extension to the Car Scrappage Scheme.

ENDS

Photo Caption: John Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Manganese Bronze Holdings

For more information please visit www.lti.co.uk.

For enquiries please call Lee Southen at Connect PR on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

DO IT YOURSELF? NOT MUCH CHANCE OF THAT SAYS WD-40 SURVEY

Excellent news for white van men everywhere. The Great British public struggles to undertake even the simplest of DIY tasks and would rather call in a professional to do the job for them.

That’s the verdict from WD-40 which polled over 2,000 people to find that even though we’ve been gripped by one of the worst recessions in living memory, 40% of us admit to not having the necessary DIY knowledge to do anything more complex than basic tasks such as painting and putting up shelves.

WD-40, the world’s number one multi-purpose lubricant, found that despite the recession as a nation we spend over £21.5 million a year on hiring tradesmen to sort out our household problem jobs.

Top 10 tasks people can’t fix themselves:
1. Replacing damaged roof tiles – 82%
2. Changing a window pane – 76%
3. Installing lights – 69%
4. Fixing noisy pipes – 68%
5. Laying a patio – 67%
6. Hanging a door – 66%
7. Changing oil on car – 49%
8. Fixing squeaky floorboards – 47%
9. Unblocking drains – 42%
10. Freeing locks – 42%

The survey also found that we are very quick to arrange professional help, with 32% of men and 21% of women calling someone in within a day of the problem occurring, spurred on by necessity (68%), inconvenience (66%) and nagging (27%). Avoiding confrontation is also a motivating factor – nearly half of all people (44%) feel it is likely they will argue with their spouse or partner over incomplete DIY jobs.

Neil Gow, WD-40’s Senior Brand Manager said: “Traditionally, men may have been loathe to call in a professional, as it could be viewed it an affront to their manhood. Our survey shows that attitudes have shifted and they would now prefer to hire someone than have a go themselves. Interestingly, while half of women (50%) were put off from doing home improvement tasks due to lack of knowledge, during the recession they are 10% more likely to have a go than men.”

Notes to editors:

Research conducted by Opinion Matters August 2009. 2005 participants surveyed.

WD-40 is the world’s number one multi-purpose lubricant with over 2,000 usages. Dirty, jammed, rusty, squeaky or damp? Problem sorted.

WD-40 Company is a global consumer products company which offers brands that deliver above expectation performance at extremely good value. In the UK, WD-40 Company produces a wide range of lubricants under the brands of WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE, together with the 1001 range of carpet care products. WD-40 Company markets its products in more than 187 countries world-wide.

More information on WD-40 from Neil Gow
Tel: +44 (0) 1908 555 456
E-mail: Neil.Gow@wd40.co.uk

Released on behalf of WD-40 by Connect PR. Telephone Hazel or Richard on 01902 714957 or email hazel@connect-group.com/richard@connect-group.com.

AUTOGAS INCREASES LPG AVAILABILITY IN HALIFAX

As the volatility of petrol prices continues and the introduction of an additional two pence per litre tax looms, motorists in Halifax will now find it easier to enjoy savings of up to 37 per cent(1).

Autogas, the leading automotive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier, has announced that it has further increased availability with Shell Salterhebble becoming the latest service station to offer LPG.

The total number of LPG stations in the UK is over 1,400(2) and, as Autogas National Marketing Coordinator, Emma Bartle, explains, LPG availability is core to the company’s policy of delivering fuel to the thousands of LPG motorists.

“Autogas is committed to providing LPG customers with a wide-range of convenient and accessible service stations offering LPG.

“With over 160,000(3) vehicles now being powered by LPG it’s vital we continually modify and update our location strategy.”

The introduction of LPG to Shell Salterhebble is part of an overall plan to improve nationwide availability and forms part of our plan to create 15 new LPG outlets in 2009.

Shell Salterhebble is located on the A629 between Halifax and Junction 24 of the M62.

Emma adds: “Anyone thinking of converting their vehicle to run on LPG can be assured they will be no more than five4 miles away from an LPG service station in major conurbations, a figure which is continually monitored.

“Conversions should always be carried out by an LPGA Approved Installer who will comply with set safety standards, has undergone extensive training and examinations and can advise on the most suitable system for your vehicle.”

There are around 220 outlets currently supplied by Autogas in the UK and a full list can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk.

Vehicles running on LPG produce far fewer harmful emissions that contribute to environmental and health problems than traditional road fuels. LPG vehicles produce 17% less carbon dioxide than petrol and 2% less than diesel, 120 per cent less NOx than petrol and staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel and in terms of small particle emissions (PM10) one LPG vehicle will emit up to 120 times less than a diesel vehicle(5).

Added benefits of running a vehicle on LPG can include up to 100 per cent exemption from the London Congestion Charge and increased residual vehicle values.

For further information on Autogas and how to convert your petrol vehicle to run on LPG, visit www.autogas.ltd.uk. For information on bulk tank installation, contact Calor on 0800 216 659 or visit http://www.lpg-vehicles.co.uk/.

- ends -

Notes to editors:
Full address for the new Autogas refueling site in Halifax:
Shell Salterhebble
Salterhebble Hill
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX3 0QE

(1) Savings are based on official combined consumption figures published on www.renault.co.uk for 2.0 16V Laguna Sport Tourer assuming a 20% reduction for LPG. National average fuel prices taken from www.fleetnews.co.uk. In order to calculate potential fuel savings, Autogas has made a savings calculator available on its web site: www.autogas.ltd.uk.
(2) Source: UKLPG
(3) Source: UKLPG
(4) Based on LPG forecourt availability within London/M25, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Leicester, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Newcastle, Durham, Aberdeen
(5) Small particle emissions are related to health effects including increased risk of heart and lung disease and problems such as asthma. All figures taken form the European Emissions Testing Programme 2003

In 2008, 17,000 LPG conversions were carried out by LPGA Approved Installers – an increase of 36 per cent on 2007’s figures and the highest number of conversions in five years. The total number of LPG vehicles on the UK’s roads now stands at around 155,000.

A selection of LPG powered vehicles are available for road testing for motoring journalists - please contact kathy@connect-group.com.

Mat Jackson gets his hands on the HiQ bubbly!

HiQ’s Champagne Moment award is staying in the Racing Silverline garage for another race weekend, after Mat Jackson secured the award for his stunning displays at Silverstone.

Jackson, who won the first ever HiQ Champagne Moment when it was launched in 2008, followed team-mate Jason Plato by scooping the bubbly, after Plato won it for his displays at Knockhill.

Hundreds of BTCC fans voted for the Henley star for his two race wins and third place at Silverstone, adding to his brilliant performances at Knockhill the race weekend before, making it six podium finishes out of six.

Around 300 fans voted for Jackson to win the prestigious award for his stunning drives and fan Jordan Batts, of Selsdon, was picked at random to win.

Jackson secured 42 per cent of fans’ votes with Tom Chilton second (20 per cent) and Stephen Jelley third (16 per cent).

Mat said: “HiQ’s Champagne Moment awards mean a lot to me. I won the first one at Croft back in 2008, and it is nice to be back among the bubbly again.

“Jason tells me that it’s a nice drop of champagne, so I’ll look forward to having a sip soon.

“I look forward to receiving the bubbly, which will give me a nice reminder of Silverstone. Hopefully the team and I can enjoy more of the same this weekend at Rockingham.”

BTCC fan Jordan Batts, was picked at random to win a bottle of champagne and he will now win a pair of tickets to the forthcoming round of racing, and will present Mat with his prize.

He will also get the chance to see his Racing Silverline car on the grid for one of the races as part of the prize, courtesy of a grid walk with HiQ.

All spectators are invited to log onto HiQ’s official website, http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/ to vote for their star performer from the next round of racing, at Rockingham on Sunday September 20.

The man that receives the most plaudits from the round of racing will be crowned with HiQ’s Champagne Moment award and presented with a magnum of bubbly before the last round of racing at Brands Hatch on October 4.

UNI-BALL HAS CHRISTMAS WRAPPED UP

uni-ball, the leading brand in the UK rollerball market, has gifts and stocking fillers covered this Christmas with an impressive range of writing instruments.

Offering retailers nationwide a one stop shop, customers will be turning to uni-ball for pens, pencils and markers to give or to decorate those all important gifts.

“As Christmas draws closer, it’s important for retailers to capitalise on the opportunity that the festive season presents,” said Stuart Barker, marketing manager at uni-ball. “Our fantastic range of gift packs and attractive point of sale displays appeal to a wide range of customers from the busy office professional to the crafts enthusiast.”

Essential items that are putting the sparkle back into Christmas include:

Professional gift packs – featuring the ever popular Jetstream, Vision Elite and Signo 207 pens, these smooth writing instruments are boxed in a variety of colour collections including standard (black, blue and red), pink, green and violet.

uni-ball study pack and pen gift collections – individually presented with essential items for school, the freestyle and extreme pen collections are easy to write with and great for daily use. Ideal for college students, the uni-ball study pack contains all your favourites from uni-ball including the retractable correction pen, ClickCorrect.

The ultimate Signo Christmas collections including the uni-ball Signo & Signo Broad – presenting the most popular seasonal colours with pens available in gold, silver, bronze and white. Ideal for writing glittering Christmas greetings and available in single, twin and triple packs.

POSCA – a collection of vivid colours make this marker pen a great gift for friends and relatives who love to illustrate. Producing paint-like finishes, POSCA makes festive decorations and personalised cards stand out in any Christmas room setting.

To find out more about uni-ball visit www.uniball.co.uk

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Mitsubishi Pencil Co. by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

NORWICH STUDENTS GET A FRESH LOOK AT WRITING

The UK's leading rollerball brand is coming to Norwich next week as part of the city's Freshers' Fair celebrations.

uni-ball, whose pens, pencils and markers are firm favourites with students, will join in the University of East Anglia's festivities to welcome thousands of new starters to the institute’s union house.

Showcasing the latest ‘must have’ stationery items, uni-ball will demonstrate to freshers how writing instruments can play an essential role in achieving top grades. The uni Super Ink robot will also make an appearance to ask students to participate in the Jetstream Challenge and to hand out samples of the ever popular Jetstream pen.

“We hope to show students how the correct writing instrument can assist with clear and eligible note taking, assignments and exams,” said Stuart Barker, marketing manager at uni-ball. “The pen that a student chooses reflects their own individual writing style. We’re proud of the superior quality of our pens, which draw strength from the incredible powers of our uni Super ink.”

To find out more about uni-ball visit www.uniball.co.uk, www.unisuperpens.co.uk or follow @uniball_uk on Twitter to view their latest tweets.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of uni-ball by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

AMTICO INTERNATIONAL'S 2009 100 CLUB ENDS ON A HIGH

Amtico International’s 100 Club incentive scheme has finished in style with a trip to Barcelona for its best performing retailers.

The weekend trip to the Catalan region gave the premium flooring firm an opportunity to reward the top flooring specialists who achieved the highest sales figures during the period April 2008 to April 2009.

Staying at the Hotel Catalonia Ramblas, winners were treated to a traditional Catalan dinner, an excursion to Montserrat and a fresh seafood feast at the most avant-garde restaurant in town – the Torre de Alamatar. Free time was also made available for sightseeing and shopping.

Sian Lewis, UK marketing manager at Amtico International, said: “The 100 Club has given flooring specialists an incentive to perform. The trip provided plenty of time to network in a relaxed and friendly environment that has provided us with some excellent discussion points to develop and move the business forward.”

Cameron Fitzhenry at the Wood Floor & Carpet Shop, said: “It was great to meet up with the other retailers and discuss similar issues in light of today's current climate. We look forward to being a part of any future schemes and forums with Amtico.”

For further information about Amtico International visit

www.amtico.com

ENDS

Photo caption: Cheryl and Richard Shuttleworth from Carpet Creations alongside Joanna and Denver Thornton from Diamond Flooring

Issued on behalf of Amtico International by Connect PRFor further information, please contact Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com

LTI VEHICLES URGES TAXI DRIVERS TO BUY NOW BEFORE SCRAPPAGE SCHEME ENDS

LTI Vehicles is urging taxi drivers to take advantage of the Government’s scrappage scheme, which is widely expected to end next month.

The news comes as the Department for Business announces that over 200,000 vehicles have been sold under the scheme and the Government’s budget is expected to run out by mid-October as car owners take advantage of the subsidy on offer.

Over two-thirds of the £300 million budget set aside for the scheme has already gone. The scheme gives drivers £2,000 incentive towards a new vehicle if they scrap a vehicle over 10 years old as part of the deal.

Rob Laidler, Sales Director at LTI Vehicles, said: “The scrappage scheme has been a real success for LTI and the taxi trade with many drivers taking advantage of the £2000 incentive.

“The scheme will end shortly and we are advising drivers looking to participate in the Scrappage Scheme to take advantage of this deal and purchase a new TX4 before the funding runs out.”

The Government has confirmed that the scheme will not be extended.

It is the best time to purchase a new TX4 with a £2000 scrappage incentive, strong offers from LTI and 15% VAT until 1 January 2010.

To find out more about LTI Vehicles visit www.lti.co.uk.

ENDS

For more information please visit www.lti.co.uk. For enquiries please call Lee Southen at Connect PR on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

LTI VEHICLES APPOINTS NEW DEALER

LTI Vehicles has appointed The International Taxi Company Limited as the official distributor of the world famous London Taxi in Egypt.

The London Taxi is still the worlds only purpose-built taxi and can not only seat up to five passengers but has accessibility features to suit everyone’s needs. This iconic vehicle will soon be seen on the streets of Cairo where passengers and drivers can enjoy the benefits of the specially designed vehicle.

Orders have already been taken as The International Taxi Company Limited has reported unprecedented interest by Egyptian drivers and businesses wanting to benefit from owning one of the unique purpose built taxis.

It is hoped that hundreds of the instantly recognisable vehicles will be seen on the streets of Cairo as the soon to be launched London Taxi Service plays a major role in the development of the country’s transport and taxi services.

Matthew Cheyne, International Market Development Director for LTI Vehicles, said: “Many international businesses, drivers and passenger groups have been quick to realise the benefits that a purpose-built taxi and a professional taxi service can deliver. As we look to spread the success of the London Taxi, The International Taxi Company Limited is a welcome addition to our rapidly expanding global network.”

To find out more about LTI Vehicles email info@londontaxis.co.uk or visit www.lti.co.uk.

ENDS

Photo caption: from left to right, Mohamed Abou Ghaly (Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Media Motion), Maher Abou Ghaly (Chairman, Abou Ghaly Motors), John Russell (Chief Executive, Manganese Bronze Holdings), Seif Coutry (Chairman, Media Motion), Ihab Gohar (Co-Managing Director, Mediair-Carat), Matthew Cheyne (International Market Development Director, The London Taxi Company) and Ahmed Agiez (Business Development Director, Abou Ghaly Motors).

News release issued on behalf of LTI Vehicles by Connect PR. For further information call Lee Southen on +44 (0)1902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

SHOWGOERS TO BE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO SEE THE NEW

Motoring enthusiasts going to the Royal County of Berkshire Show will have the honour of being the first people in the country to see the eagerly anticipated new Volkswagen Polo, a month ahead of its official launch.

The latest model is being unveiled at the show by Newbury’s Volkswagen retailer Ridgeway at an exhibition of the entire Volkswagen range, including the iconic Golf and Beetle, sporty Scirocco and 4x4s Tiguan and Touareg.

The 5 door 1.2 Moda Polo in Deep Black Pearl will be available for show visitors to look at inside and out and arrange test drives with Ridgeway when the model goes on sale in October.

Ridgeway Volkswagen’s brand manager, Simon Smith, said: “It is a huge honour to be the first retailer in the country to unveil the new Polo and an exciting opportunity for the people of Berkshire.

“Fans of Polo will not be disappointed; the latest model has a stylish new look and is the most technically advanced version yet, but it remains true to the brand’s core values of safety, reliability, quality and value for money.”

Despite the increase in size, the new Polo is lighter than the model it replaces and offers improved fuel economy and emissions.

The fifth generation Polo goes on sale on the 16th October. To mark its launch Ridgeway will also be hosting the ‘Timeless Polo Film Festival’ to celebrate the classic look of Polo. Local people will be asked to vote on their favourite film and the winner will be shown at a free viewing at a nearby cinema.

For the full range of new Volkswagens and a large range of approved used Volkswagens visit Ridgeway Newbury on Newbury Motor Park, The Triangle, Newbury. For more information call 0844 846 2128.

Issued on behalf of Ridgeway Volkswagen by Connect PR. For more information contact Natasha Brown on 01902 714957 or email natasha@connect-group.com

LONDON TAXI HAS ARABIAN APPEAL

Saudi Arabia is the first country to welcome a London Taxi, built in Shanghai, to its streets.

Ordered by LTI Vehicles’ distributor for the Kingdom, Urja Holdings, ten of the purpose-built vehicles will operate as the London Taxi Service from the Four Seasons hotel.

LTI’s international aftersales co-ordinator, Rob Watson, was on hand to officially present the vehicles and train staff to the same professional standard as demonstrated by drivers on the roads of London and the rest of the UK.

“Initial reaction to the London Taxi has been great,” said Matthew Cheyne, International Market Development Director for LTI Vehicles. “It’s made such an impression that Urja Holdings has ordered a further 28 vehicles for operation in Saudi Arabia.

“We’re delighted with how our joint venture with Shanghai LTI is quickly transforming the London Taxi into a global product. Other markets in the Middle East and Europe are looking to launch a service just like the one we’ve established and we are always looking for partners to share in our success.”

To find out more about LTI Vehicles email info@londontaxis.co.uk or visit www.lti.co.uk.

ENDS

News release issued on behalf of LTI Vehicles by Connect PR. For further information call Lee Southen on +44 (0)1902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

HiQ treading a path to eliminate illegal tyres

If you’re driving on illegal tyres, then HiQ, the nationwide fast fit network, has come up with three hard hitting reasons to take immediate action.

HiQ’s 1-2-3 campaign is about to grab the headlines as the network treads a path to eliminate illegal tyre usage across the UK.

For some drivers, highlighting the danger of bare, worn tyres is not enough. Some tangible reasons to regularly check tread depths and replace where necessary is needed.

This is why HiQ, the nationwide fast fit network, has come up with a no-nonsense, three pronged approach to tyre safety in a bid to rid the roads of an unnecessary danger.

1. One worn or defective tyre could cost you £2,5001
2. Worn tyres add two lengths to your stopping distance at 50mph in wet conditions2
3. Each tyre with a tread depth less than 1.6mm could add 3 penalty points to your licence1

HiQ British Touring Car Championship stars Fabrizio Giovanardi and Andrew Jordan (pictured)are backing HiQ’s campaign, which is being launched this month and will coincide with free tyre safety checks at all of its 140 centres.

Marketing manager Geraldine McGovern explained: “We wanted to generate some hard hitting messages that motorists will take note of.

“The prospect of penalty points to your licence, let alone the cost implications and safety element, is particularly strong and a fact that we hope will resonate with a number of people.

“The aim of this campaign is more than just getting people to change illegal tyres. We want it to have far more longevity than that, with messages that will stay with drivers for a long, long time.”

To supplement the campaign, every HiQ centre will be offering free tyre safety checks for the rest of the year.

Recent research suggests that up to 3.5 million motorists in the UK are driving on illegal tyres3, which further supports HiQ’s case that a worrying ignorance exists amongst drivers when it comes to road safety.

To make the most of HiQ’s free tyre safety checks, please click on www.hiqonline.co.uk/123 for your nearest centre.

Notes to Editors:
1 The penalties for having illegal tyres are currently a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre. This relates to the law as defined in Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
2 Stopping distances: Tests carried out by the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) involving four different vehicles travelling on wet roads on four different tread depths. At 50 mph on 3mm tread depth stopping distance = 31.7 m. On 1.6 mm tread depth stopping distance was increased 39.5 metres.
3 Source: National Tyre Distributors Association figures show that of nearly 60,000 cars checked, 7,000 were being driven on at least one illegal tyre. The findings suggest that as many as 3.6 million cars in the UK could also be running on illegal tyres, if the figures were extrapolated across the population. (http://www.tyresafe.org/news-and-events/detail/drivers-risk-death-by-driving-on-illegal-tyres/)

HiQ seeking a pink grid girl!

HiQ is urging British Touring Car Championship fans to get their cameras at the ready, strike a pose, and stand a chance of becoming the HiQ’s official Pink Grid Girl alongside Tom Chilton!

The official sponsor of Britain’s premier motor racing series is upping the pace of its charity partnership with Breast Cancer Care, and is looking for a new pink presence at Brands Hatch on October 4.

And with Tom Chilton not having a grid girl for the final race of the season and dying his own hair pink for the race, HiQ thought it would be perfect to team up with the speedster in an attempt to add another splash of colour.

HiQ is appealing for ladies to email pictures of themselves, clad in pink, with fans being asked to vote for their favourite online.

A total of 10 will be shortlisted and fans will then be asked to vote for HiQ’s official Pink Grid Girl on http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/gridgirl.

The idea to find HiQ’s official Pink Grid Girl was created with Tom to coincide with a huge attempt to get everyone to wear pink at Brands Hatch, to raise as much money for Breast Cancer Care as possible.

Whoever is voted as HiQ’s official grid girl for Brands Hatch will also get the chance to have dinner with Tom Chilton and ask him questions about his racing career and hopes for the future.

HiQ’s marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “The winner will enjoy a day at Brands Hatch with us, while helping to generate some awareness about Breast Cancer Care in the process. They will be part of a really special day and we hope as many people enter as possible.”

Tom Chilton added: “The work HiQ is doing with Breast Cancer Care has been fantastic and I was only too happy to get involved. We all hope that Brands Hatch will be a spectacular event and this is another nice idea to generate awareness.”

HiQ will also be appealing to all BTCC fans at Brands Hatch to wear an item of pink on race day, in an attempt to create a carnival of colour to celebrate HiQ’s partnership with Breast Cancer Care.

Anyone interested in becoming HiQ’s official Pink Grid Girl for Brands Hatch should email pinkgirl@hiqmarketing.net leaving their contact details.

A gallery of the shortlisted 10 entries will be on http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/gridgirl to vote for from September 7 to September 21.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF UNI SUPER INK

A new microsite that delves into the heroic world of uni Super Ink has been launched by Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK.

www.unisuperpens.co.uk reveals a range of writing instruments that draw strength from the incredible powers that make up the unique pigment ink.

Visitors will be able to learn about the many benefits of uni Super Ink including its incredible drying ability, vivid colours that radiate, super speed, prevailing security and fade resistant ink to ensure the art of handwriting will always remain alive.

Stuart Barker, marketing manager for Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK, said: “uni Super Ink has rapidly proven to be a global phenomenon amongst pen enthusiasts. As a result, we wanted to create a site that shared in its wonderful world.

“Users will find videos, blogs and tweets at their fingertips as well as individual product pages on each of our super pens. Parents and children will also find our back to school survival guides of particular interest as they prepare to start a new school term.”

To find out more about Mitsubishi Pencil Co. visit www.uniball.co.uk or the newly launched www.unisuperpens.co.uk.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Mitsubishi Pencil Co. by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

TITLE WITHIN SIGHT FOR GLEW

Phil Glew took a giant step towards the 2009 ELF Renault Clio Cup championship with a near flawless performance last weekend at Silverstone.

The 24-year-old claimed first and second place finishes in his WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE professional sponsored Clio to give him an almost unassailable championship lead.

Nearest rival Alex MacDowall took a third place in the first race but was forced to retire from the second race, thus handing Glew a 111 point advantage.

In race one Glew started on pole but settled for second place as he allowed Dave Newsham to pass and safely collect important championship points.

Glew started second in race two but a multi car pile-up led to the safety car leading the race for four laps.

After the safety car laps, Glew passed Tom Carnaby for the lead and finished a comfortable three seconds ahead of the field.

MacDowall’s retirement on lap five gave Glew that further boost as he looks to win the championship in the next round at Rockingham.

He’s now racked up an impressive eight wins and a further six podiums from 16 races, proof of his dominance in the championship.

Glew commented: “I’m obviously delighted with the weekend results and feel like I have one and a half hands on the trophy.

“I was consistent in my lap times all weekend, but know I need to continue pushing and hope to win the championship at Rockingham later in September.

“I’d like to thank the continued support of fans and the team, but particularly my sponsors WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE professional, without which this championship challenge wouldn’t be possible.”

Rounds 17 & 18 of the ELF Renault Clio Cup take place at Rockingham Circuit on 19th & 20th September.

Glew is offering one fan the chance to experience life inside his Clio track car. Just go to www.3-in-one.co.uk/index.php/competition