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Emissions trading snub


The government is disappointed with the slow take-up of its controversial emissions trading scheme, which allows businesses to cut their energy bills. Only about 50 large companies have signed up, with the start due in April. Participants in the scheme can receive an 80 per cent reduction on the climate change levy, which has added an estimated 15 per cent to energy bills.
Alliance goes friendly


Content management company Reqio and systems integrator gedas are working together to produce a supplier-friendly e-procurement system. The alliance combines Reqio’s software and gedas’s experience with supply chain solutions. www.reqio.co.uk
E-envoy launches forum


In his first month in the role, e-envoy Alex Allan has launched an “e-forum”. Unveiled last week, the Internet chatroom is designed to allow industry and the public to have their say on the government’s e-commerce policy.
Lorry usage under fire
Food haulage firms have been criticised for running lorries only half full and during peak times.
Exhibition offers help


The Computers in Manufacturing Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham from 7-9 November will stage a programme to help firms profit from e-commerce. The programme is targeted at the UK’s top 500 manufacturers and will focus on the key e-commerce issues facing them. For more details, call 0870 7511556 or visit www.cimshow.co.uk.
Media agency selection
Q: I have just taken over as a buyer of marketing and advertising services. My boss has asked me to review the current agency roster with a view to minimising numbers and improving the quality of creative and account handling. I have only two months for t
Mergers made in heaven


While mergers and takeovers usually strike fear into the heart of purchasing staff, they can present valuable opportunities for procurement departments. Chris Swain, BP Amoco Exploration’s procurement manager, said: “A merger can be the best time to attract the top people from a merging company’s purchasing and other business functions.”
Cards keep users loyal
Supplying fuel cards to fleet purchasers ensures loyalty for at least two years, a Datamonitor survey has found.

Fuel cards, which operate as a credit card for fuel and enable fleet operators to monitor card usage, will rise from being used for 17 per cent of European fuel sales today to 26 per cent by 2008.
European Economic Area


Business airline plans


Virgin Atlantic Airways is proposing to establish an all-business class airline, Jetset Airlines. Chairman Sir Richard Branson said he was interested in covering transatlantic routes to destinations previously not catered for by Virgin, such as Philadelphia and Seattle. Branson is in talks with Bombardier, Boeing and Airbus Industrie to provide planes for the new airline.
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