Artists Wanted

We have just moved into our new offices and feel like our reception needs brightening up. If you are an artist and would like to a commission to brighten up one of the walls in our reception, please email us a PDF proposal of what you would like to paint, and tell us a little bit about yourself - if we like what we see we'll be in touch.

We are offering £250 for the commission, and will feature the completed work on our website/blog and e-newsletter.

We look forward to hearing from you, just drop us a line on: art@mandogroup.com

Topping Out

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Topping Out Ceremony of the Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre ACC. This is a ground-breaking project for Liverpool and is the jewel in the crown of the regeneration of the city. I have been a resident here for over 12 years and the physical presence of the Arena, I believe will continue to help put Liverpool back on the international Map. The Arena officially opens in 2008 but today’s ceremony was a true reflection of the changing times here in Liverpool.

Apple Mac...

After five years of mocking the Mac users, I finally broke and bought black Mac Book yesterday, Mac’s now run windows and so far so good. It works well and looks great. To celebrate my new Mac I put together a new play list, which includes:

Gomez –Tijuana lady
John Martyn – Solid Air
Ray Lamontagne – Empty
The Killers - Mr Brightside
Jose Gonzalez – Crosses

What would your Desert Island Discs be?

European relations

I love working in a creative environment but this morning I was taken by surprise, our Belgium placement student Jonathan Goutier wandered into to my office un-announced to tell me tomorrow is a day of celebration in Belgium and he wanted to hug everyone in the office.Be warned if you visit us to today Jon is waiting.

More Awards Nominations

We just found out yesterday http://www.liverpoolphil.com/ is up for Best Tourism Website' at The Mersey Partnership Annual Tourism Awards 2007 we find out if we won on 1st June.

Big Chip Awards

We just found out our largest project to date Mercia World
has been short-listed for Best E-Learning Project at his years
Big Chip Awards.
The team are understandable very proud, we find out if
we have won on 24th May fingers crossed.

We are moving ...

The office looks like a hurricane his hit it today after 6 and half happy years on a 80’s technology park on the outskirts of Liverpool we are moving back to the city centre, we are all very excited.
Feel free to pop in you can find us@
Mando Group Liverpool Science Park 131 Mount Pleasant Liverpool L3 5TF
Oh and by the way our phone number has
changed to: 0845 365 4040
A long weekend ahead but will be worth it.

Happy Easter

Directors Cut

Looking forward to Wednesday’s Directors Cut I am interviewing James Barton Founder of Cream, his film of choice is "Almost Famous"

The Roscoe Lecture

Over the last decade Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has invited some of the worlds leading commentators and leaders to join the people of Liverpool in discussing the issues that really matter to them.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of hearing the President of Ghana John Agyekum Kufuor accept his honorary fellowship from the University, and talk on the topic of “Human Rights and the Citizen.”
He is known as the Gentle Giant of African politics he spoke with such humility and lived up to his title. He has been president of Ghana since 2000.

Un-Plugged

Just got back form week in the Lakes hired a lovely house on the shores of Lake Ullswater, no mobile phones, no email, no traffic just a week to reflect have fun with the family and friends.Made me think again how the next text message, email or answer phone drives our lives. Up in the lakes time just seemed to stand still, looking forward to going back next week.

At the peak of his ethical powers

Yvon Chouinard started Patagonia they are amazing company have a read:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/7days/story/0,,2020787,00.html

Nike Air Jordons Are back

Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4vKfpygZ8E

Books…cd’s… pizza…?

I read with interest tonight Domino’s Pizza e-commerce sales (that include online and interactive TV sales) grew by 43.8% . E-commerce ordering now accounts for 13% of Uk sales.

My first job was a Pizza delivery driver on £1.66 per hour. I would have never believed back then people would be buying pizza on-line; as Dan mentioned is his blog 'One thing is certain; change is here to stay'. I think he might be right.

30 today I can't believe it...

It is my 30th birthday today so I thought I would write 30 things I want to do in the next 30 years:


- Establish a brand consumers fall in love with
- Visit South Africa
- Life in America
- Campaign against debt in the Uk
- Work at the White House
- Learn to sail
- Sail a section of the Clipper race
- Write a book
- Work for a world leader
- See John Martyn a few more times
- Meet Bono www.u2.com
- Meet Barack Obama http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
- Spend sometime with Jamie Oliver
- Spend a season snowboarding
- Meet Rob Bell www.nooma.com
- Watch ray lamontagne in Central Park
- Drive through Italy
- Go to Morocco
- Learn More about Neuro-Linguistic Programming
- Learn more about wine
- Learn how to take great photos
- Work on a music video
- Work on a huge outdoor festival
- Drive through Canada
- Learn to wind surf
- Take three months off and go to New Zealand
- Go to bible college for three months
- Run a half Marathon
- Do another parachute jump
- Meet my grandkids


There you go a few things to keep me busy.

The next president?

I read with interest this weekend a fascinating article in the http://www.guardian.co.uk/ one of the Uk’s leading newspapers.
Barack Obama seems like a great leader looking forward to seeing how the race develops.

http://www.barackobama.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_obama

Whats cooking?

Tonight see’s the return of Jamie Oliver to our screens in a new series where Jamie wants to help one of his previous graduates set up their own restaurant. We hear on the grape vine one of our old Non Executives Liam Black makes his first TV appearance.

The Jamie’s Kitchen series was the catalyst for Mando Group developing our own entrepreneurs accamedy www.hotshotsacademy.com a few years ago.

Jamie's Chef http://www.channel4.com/jamie
starts on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight enjoy watching.

A night to remember

You know when you go to a concert and you walk out with a smile on your face well tonight was just that, I had the privilege of seeing ray lamontagne @ http://www.liverpoolphil.com/ the last gig I saw that was that awe inspiring was Bjork at Manchester Apollo in 1999. Watching artists like this that are simply much better than any of their peers makes me both jealous and inspired.
If you want to have listen to what I am talking about download Barfly by ray lamontagne sit back and enjoy.