Today British Waterways is offering floating businesses from across the country the opportunity to be a part of the Olympic summer on London’s waterways.
 
Traders wishing to take advantage of the increase in visitors coming to London from across the rest of the UK and around the world, have been offered the opportunity to take up mooring berths, with discounts available to those booking consecutive weeks and long stays.
 
Phil Spencer, British Waterways’ national boating trade manager said: “Floating businesses are a really interesting sight on the waterways, and the visiting public are always very interested in what’s for sale from these boats.

Henshaw Inflatables Ltd, based in Wincanton, Somerset have recently commissioned a completely new website to feature their unique range of products, accessories and services. www.henshaw.co.uk

The company have had an existing website for 12 years but found that it was failing to generate enough interest or sales enquiries.

Iconography put forward a proposal for a completely new site that would reinforce the uniqueness of the company, clearly present the breadth of their products and services, encourage positive enquiries and generate on-line shopping.

MDL Marinas, Europe’s largest marina operator, has forged ahead with its green agenda by installing a substantial 220 panel solar farm at its Ocean Village Marina.

The new system is located on top of the six storey Ocean Car Park and is set to generate a whopping 41,500 kWh of free electricity this year – enough to supply the car park’s full electricity, as well as export green power back to the grid.
 
The installation of the 350m2 scheme is part of MDL’s environmental plan, which has seen the group strive to reduce its carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels over the past few years, and already sees MDL purchase electricity from 100% renewable sources.
 
Anna Wyse, Environmental Policy Manager at MDL Marinas, said: “Our customers experience first hand the impact of extreme weather conditions and variable sea levels and as a group we recognise we need to continue to do our bit to be greener.

Two of the UK’s leading, specialist, value added resellers of marine electronic products, Marine Electronic Services Ltd and Cactus Navigation and Communication Ltd, have been sold to a new venture backed by Vigo FI SL for an undisclosed sum.

Marine Electronic Services is located in Bristol and Poole, whilst Cactus operates from London and Plymouth.  Both are well established names in the sector and provide a complete sales, installation and support package to over 80,000 customers.  Also included in the sale is the trade distributor, Navigate Marine Distribution and Raydirect, which is an internet business.

The new holding company, called Cactus 020 Ltd, is headed up by Andrew Smythe who was a director of the previous business and remains an equity partner in the new venture.

The 4/5* hotel will include 70 bedrooms, spa, gym and swimming pool, along with a luxurious restaurant and champagne roof terrace.

The ground floor is proposed to include a large open plan lounge, restaurant and bar which will extend out onto a terrace at the end of the existing promontory.

Set to be a welcome addition to the city, the hotel will have a number of flexible function rooms and is set to be a popular attraction during the annual Southampton Boat Show, offering additional restaurants and luxurious facilities in a beautiful waterfront setting.