News

Warhorses of Letters

by Robert Hudson and Marie Phillips

Published by Unbound, March 2012

Special edition hardback, £12

Hardback, £8.99  ISBN 978-1-908717-15-3

E-book, £5.99 ISBN 978-1-908717-16-0

The nation's favourite gay, equine, military, epistolary romance - now available in book form

Warhorses of Letters depicts the fictional love letters between Napoleon and Wellington's horses, Marengo and Copenhagen, over the battlefields of war-torn Europe. The first ever gay, equine, epistolary romance, it features the full scripts from the hit BBC Radio 4 series plus a wealth of additional materials including letters between Copenhagen and his offspring-hungry mother and heated correspondence from Marengo to his book club.

The book is adapted from the hit Radio 4 comedy first broadcast in October 2011 narrated by Tamsin Greig and starring Stephen Fry and Daniel Rigby. It will return for a second series in 2012.

Marie Phillips and Robert Hudson comment:

"Warhorses of Letters has had an incredible journey, from the stage at Robbie's comedy night Tall Tales, to the studio at Radio 4 with Stephen Fry and Daniel Rigby, it's been great fun throughout. Now this most important of historical documents is finally available in book form."

The book has been published with Unbound, the crowd-funded publisher. On the Unbound website, readers can view a pitch page where the authors outline their book idea as well as provide extracts from the book. Readers pledged support to make the book happen in exchange for a range of benefits, including opportunities for fans of the series to have their questions answered in the book.

Marie Phillips is the author of the bestselling novel Gods Behaving Badly, currently in production as a film starring Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone. She hosts literary events including, with publisher Scott Pack, the monthly Firestation Book Swap. She is writer in residence with the organisation First Story at Acland Burghley School, London.

Robert Hudson is the author of The Kilburn Social Club, and various musicals including, with Jeremy Sams, Damsel in Distress, which was commissioned by the Gershwin and Wodehouse estates and is due for production in Chichester next year. He hosts the comedy night Tall Tales and the spin-off podcast Listen & Often.

unbound.co.uk

ENDS

For interviews, review copies or further information please contact

Matt Railton or Chris Baker at Colman Getty

0207631 2666 matt@colmangetty.co.uk / chris@colmangetty.co.uk

The Elegant Art

of Falling Apart

by Jessica Jones

Published by Unbound.co.uk, May 2012

Paperback £9.99 ISBN 978-1-908717-25-2

e-book £6.99 ISBN 978-1-908717-26-9

Inspiring, funny and unflinchingly honest,

The Elegant Art of Falling Apart shows us how, sometimes, we have to lose everything

to understand that the moment is all we have.

"More life affirming (and funny) than any self- help book" Grazia, Australia

The Elegant Art of Falling Apart is a survival memoir by best-selling author, style writer and Chemo Chic blogger, Jessica Jones. It charts her victory over breast cancer and her battle to escape her addictions: to booze, to drugs, to damaging relationships and to toxic beauty products.

Jessica Jones had a complicated life in London. Booze, cocaine, bad boyfriends - a rollercoaster ride of what self-help writers call 'opportunities for growth'. But she got away from all that, and rebuilt her life.

Just when things were almost perfect... she learned that she had breast cancer. After seven months of grueling treatments, she travelled from London to Sydney to begin a three-month holiday of a lifetime with her wonderful boyfriend who had supported her through all of the treatment - only to find herself dumped on arrival.

There are two major themes in this book. The first is breast cancer: living with it, surviving it and facing the fear of death head on. The second is the devastating impact that sex and love addiction can have on people's lives. The reality of this is shocking, and Jessica talks about it with searing honesty.

Jessica's story of courage gives us all hope that, no matter what, we can always start again and when we have the support of amazing friends and family, anything is possible. And never under estimate the power of a damn good lipstick!

Already a bestseller in Australia, The Elegant Art of Falling Apart book has been crowd-funded for UK publication by readers at unbound.co.uk

For interviews, review copies or further information please contact

Laura Norton or Chris Baker at Colman Getty

0207631 2666 / laura@colmangetty.co.uk / chris@colmangetty.co.uk

Photo credit - Martha Wailer

"One of the funniest and truest writers we have.

No one understands England better than Meades."

Stephen Fry

"There's only one Jonathan Meades. His continuing joy is the ability to show us things we imagine to be familiar in a way that completely changes them."

A A Gill

Together for the first time in print, a stunning collection of the extraordinary output of cultural commentator, writer and filmmaker Jonathan Meades.

Museum without Walls is born of Jonathan Meades's obsessive preoccupation with places: their composition, how and why they were made, their power over us and the ideas they foment.

The collection, a handsome 350 page volume, illustrated with Meades's own photos contains six full shooting scripts of his most important TV films, including Jerry Building (on Nazi architecture), The Isle of Rust (on Harris in the Outer Hebrides) and one from his most recent series, Jonathan Meades on France. Other pieces cover topics such as the everyday surrealism of Belgium; the picturesque as an English disease; Birmingham's beauty; the futility of landmark buildings and a day out in Reading.

With trademark wit and narrative agility, the lectures, essays and scripts dissolve the barriers between high and low culture, good and bad taste, deep seriousness and knockabout comedy. His vision is as sharp and unmistakable as his image: tinted glasses, sharp suit and deadpan delivery.

Jonathan Meades is one of the UK's most distinctive and outspoken of cultural commentators. Over a career spanning thirty years, sixty films, two novels and hundreds of pieces of journalism, he has talked subjects both esoteric and banal with an eloquence, erudition and humour that has gained him cult status.

Very little of this material will have been read by a general audience; the scripts, in particular, have never appeared in print before and offer an extraordinary insight into Meades's meticulous working methods and his subversive visual style. Museum without Walls was crowd-funded by his fans on unbound.co.uk

For further information please contact

Matt Railton or Chris Baker at Colman Getty

0207631 2666 / matt@colmangetty.co.uk / chris@colmangetty.co.uk

Published by Unbound, 3 May 2012

Hardback £18.99 ISBN 978-1-908717-18-4

e-book £6.99 ISBN 978-1-908717-19-1

Survey of CEOs Worldwide Revealed at Launch of New Global Designation

New York and London (Jan. 31, 2012) - In the wake of the financial crisis, three-quarters of the world's CEOs say more emphasis should be placed on measuring the value of non-financial assets such as intellectual capital and customer relationships to drive long-term performance, according to research from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). But just 51% of nearly 300 CEOs surveyed in 21 countries say their organisations currently measure the value of non-financial assets well or very well. And only 12% now turn to their finance teams for help with the task.

AICPA and CIMA are releasing these findings today at simultaneous events in New York and London launching the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.

"Businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. One of the key struggles faced by CEOs is building sustainably for the future in the face of a fixation on financial, short-term gains," said Charles Tilley, FCMA, CGMA Chief Executive of CIMA. "Our research shows there is an unmet need in the measuring of non-financial information within organisations. Management accountants, who have the depth and breadth to understand the business from multiple perspectives, can help businesses succeed in troubled times and create long-term sustainability."

The survey conducted for AICPA and CIMA by Oxford Economics and an accompanying paper - 'Rebooting Business: Valuing the Human Dimension' - are the first in a series of thought leadership from the accounting organisations highlighting the opportunities and challenges business leaders face in this age of complexity, uncertainty and change. AICPA and CIMA have partnered to elevate the discipline of management accounting, which sits at the intersection of finance and strategy, and establish a global quality standard through the CGMA designation.

"It is crucial that the challenges senior executives face and the decisions they make are supported by strategic, forward-looking guidance based on sound insights that drive strong performance," said Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA CEO of the AICPA. "Powered by the global resources and expertise of AICPA and CIMA, the CGMA signals a combination of financial and managerial prowess that will be recognised around the world."

Offering the perspective of a global executive, Douglas Flint, Group Chairman, HSBC Group Holdings, said, "I think from the board's perspective, management accounting is the most important aspect of the finance function. Because I think boards, investors, management want to know why the numbers are what they are, not what are the numbers."

The AICPA and CIMA are hosting a transcontinental, satellite-linked event to launch the CGMA in New York and London today featuring a panel discussion on the global business environment that includes Douglas Flint; Angelo Messina, CFO of Otis Elevator; Roger Tomlinson, Finance Director, Business Partnering of Rolls-Royce plc; Helen Weir, Non-Executive Director on SAB Miller Board; Chris Stanley, Vice President and CFO, Global Network Services of American Express and Gary Kabureck, Chief Accounting Officer of Xerox. The Oxford research will guide the conversation as will the findings from interviews with 17 global business leaders whose organisations collectively employ 2.1 million and have market capitalization of $1 trillion.

Additional results from the research include:

• Non-financial value. CEOs say that customers and employees contribute most to the value of the company. Approximately 85% say that customer relationships contribute significantly and customers will be their most important stakeholders going forward. 81% say that knowledge and human capital contribute significantly to the overall value of the business. These should therefore be the primary areas of focus for developing measures of value and it is crucial that companies are able to report this value effectively.

• 'Short-termism:' There is widespread feeling that investor and shareholder demands are inconsistent with growing a sustainable business, with 60% of CEOs agreeing to this statement. Furthermore, 76% agree that the current financial reporting system promotes excessive focus on financials and does not allow them to demonstrate the broader value of their business. More than two-thirds of CEOs, or 69%, think investors' focus on short-term rewards makes it difficult to plan for the long term.

• Greater transparency. According to 87% of respondents, transparency is an opportunity -- but also a juggling act. Approximately 70% agree that it is difficult to find the right balance between being open and protecting commercially sensitive information.

• Executive collaboration. Leading CEOs believe that new ways of working are required and expect new levels of collaboration between executive teams, external experts and other stakeholders. CEOs want help in pulling things together - connecting the dots - and are clear that they need the right people to help them do this.

The full global CEO survey report and more information about the CGMA is available at www.cgma.org.

Ends

For press enquiries please contact:

Katie Scott-Kurti

Global Profile and Communications Manager, CIMA

T. +44 (0)20 8849 2347

M. +44 (0)771 168 9573

E. katie.scott-kurti@cimaglobal.com

Alex Bevis

Senior Account Manager, Colman Getty

T. +44 (0)20 7631 2666

M. +44 (0)773 627 8697

E. alex@colmangetty.co.uk  

--

Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)

Two of the world's most prestigious accounting bodies, AICPA and CIMA, have formed a joint-venture to establish the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation to elevate the profession of management accounting. The designation recognises the most talented and committed management accountants with the discipline and skill to drive strong business performance.

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, founded in 1919, is the world's leading and largest professional body of Management Accountants, with more than 195,000 members and students operating in 176 countries, working at the heart of business. CIMA members and students work in industry, commerce, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations.

American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the world's largest association representing the accounting profession, with nearly 377,000 members in 128 countries and a 125 year heritage. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting.

AGR calls for cautious optimism as latest figures show graduate job market remains fairly stable

• Employers estimate graduate starting salaries will increase to £26,000
• Number of vacancies did increase in 2011, but a slight drop is predicted for this year
• Graduate recruiters concerned about impact of two year degrees

Graduate starting salaries are predicted to rise this year after an unprecedented period of stagnation, according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), which today publishes the winter edition of its bi-annual survey (Thursday 26 January).

The average starting salary for a graduate is predicted to increase by 4% to £26,000 this year. It had remained at £25,000 since 2009. Between 2006 and 2008, salaries increased by an average of 2% a year. This predicted rise is the largest since 2005, when starting salaries increased by 7%.  

Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the AGR, said: "The predicted increase to graduate salaries is significant and sizeable, particularly given the context of starting salaries remaining stagnant for the past three years. This will no doubt be welcome news to the Government and the higher education sector, but moreover to graduates themselves."

The survey also shows that the number of graduate vacancies increased last year by 1.7%, whilst this year vacancies are predicted to drop by 1.2%.

Gilleard continued: "The findings show that the market is predicted to remain relatively stable, which is a relief and should be seen as good news against an uncertain national, European and global economy. With the job market intrinsically linked to business confidence, I am cautiously optimistic for graduate recruitment in 2012 and it is encouraging to see that only a slight drop is predicted."

A number of key issues for graduate recruiters were also explored in the survey, including their attitudes to two year degree programmes. This condenses the academic content of a standard three year degree into two years of study, and has been introduced by several universities this academic year.  

Half of AGR recruiters had not heard of two year degree programmes, whilst the ones that had were concerned students will be prevented from developing skills due to heavy workloads.

Gilleard continued: "Employers predict two year degrees will prove popular with students. However, employers do value graduates that have work experience, and those students that have undertaken a year in industry as part of a four year degree. Consequently, there are genuine concerns surrounding students undertaking two year degrees as they do not have as much time to gain workplace experience."

The survey also explores recruitment marketing activities and found that nearly all recruiters (96%) are planning to use online promotions, such as social media, job boards and company websites, to target students. Despite this, the vast majority (89%) are still planning to visit universities and be on campus.

The AGR is the leading voice of graduate recruiters and developers and its bi-annual survey provides the most extensive and detailed insight into the state of the graduate jobs market. Today's edition is based on the responses of 214 AGR members in the UK across 20 sectors, which recruited 21,325 graduates in 2011. The research was carried out by education research specialists CFE in November 2011.

The AGR Graduate Recruitment Winter Survey 2012 also contains the latest statistics on:

• Graduate vacancies and salaries by business sector, career area and region
• Recruitment marketing activities and spend

[ENDS]

For more press information, please contact Scarlett Yianni or Thea Warren at Colman Getty, on 020 7631 2666 /  scarlett@colmangetty.co.uk / thea@colmangetty.co.uk

• Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of AGR, may be available for interview. Please contact Colman Getty
• The AGR Graduate Recruitment Winter Survey 2012 is based on responses provided by 214 AGR members in November 2011. Collectively, these members recruited a total of 21,325 graduates
• Press copies of the report are available on request from Colman Getty. The full report is available free to AGR members and is available to non-members priced £200, visit www.agr.org.uk for further details
• The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey was conducted by CFE on behalf of the AGR
• The AGR is the recognised national voice for all UK employers involved in graduate recruitment. The AGR has 750 members from both the public and private sectors. To find out more about AGR membership, visit www.agr.org.uk and click on 'Join AGR' or call 01926 623 236.
• CFE are research and consultancy specialists in employment and skills. CFE has been providing expert services to public and private sector clients since 1997. Profits are re-invested to fund innovative research projects and its Policy Insight series. With a team of dedicated staff, CFE work on behalf of government departments and agencies, local authorities, colleges, universities and employers. www.cfe.org.uk