The players currently compete in tournaments in the Yorkshire area, both individually and in teams. The squad has recently added extra tournament training sessions to its training regime, in an attempt to achieve its goals for 2010. Some of the players’ recent achievements include Charlie Johnson snatching first place at the Ilkley Christmas U14 boys match play and Lucy Stead topping the leader board at the U12 Girls in Hull at Christmas.

This year there has already been two triumphs for the squad. Jacob Dunworth won the U12 boys at Graves Tennis Centre in February and Emily Gibson took first place at the U14 tournament in Graves, Sheffield on 14 February 2010.

Dawn Wong, junior chairman, says:  ‘It is refreshing to be supported by a local business that is looking to work with the Leeds community. The new t-shirts are a great way to kick off the upcoming season. It is a very exciting time for our junior section; we are striving for the highest standards with a host of new initiatives and hope our top class facilities will assist the squads in fulfilling their potential. The club, coaches and squads would like to thank ready steady store for all its support’.

We are pleased to support Chapel Allerton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, by donating new t-shirts for its performance junior tennis and squash squads. All of us at ready steady store wish the squads all the best for the remainder of the season. As a company, we actively support local sports initiatives within the Leeds community.

People changed their holidaying habits this year, with almost 30 per cent stating that they took fewer holidays in general. Around 20 per cent indicated they saved for one long trip, while a further 20 per cent prefer shorter breaks and less long holidays.

Despite the recession, families understand the importance of taking their holidays. They are simply changing the way they take a break. Many holidaymakers get excited at the prospect of staying closer to home, preferring to explore the delights on their doorstep, which is great news for the local economy.

Firms believe that redesigning and packaging their businesses in a different way has been a critical survival strategy to tackle the recession.

However, just under 50 per cent of businesses have cut back on staff – including redundancies, wage and bonus cuts, recruitment freezes and unpaid leave – to save money. In addition, marketing seems to have taken a blow with 15 per cent reducing yearly spend. A massive 70 per cent have also cut back on staff incentives to stay with the company.

The study shows how determined some companies are to beat the recession come what may.  Taking positive steps to evolve their business strategies, combined with implementing cost-cutting measures, are pivotal to their survival and success.

However, two thirds of companies are not changing any aspect of their business offering and a third has no recession strategy in place, which we find quite surprising.

Typically business owners can save tens of thousands of pounds every year by relocating the contents of their commercial warehouse or office storage space to a self storage facility, reducing rental costs by up to 90 per cent.

We will be posting daily updates on the progress of our events and news. Follow us on selfstorageUK

Storing stock safely and securely in this way also means new businesses can buy in bulk and pay less for goods. Self storage companies such as ready steady store aim to make the transition as simple as possible, offering a free receipt and dispatch service, fax and photocopying facilities, and free delivery of all packing materials.

On 12 March the Leeds Roundhay and Manchester Central branches of ready steady store are holding open evenings to help businesses understand the savings they could make by using self storage and by setting up an office in their own self storage unit. Both stores will have business experts on hand to offer advice on getting started in business and will be available to chat and answer questions. The stores will also be holding a prize draw for one lucky business to receive three months free office space.

Congratulations to each of the winners of the pancake flip competition – your ipod shuffle prizes will be in the post shortly!

We’re now gearing up to our Easter charity event.

This Easter, we are supporting local refuges near each of the stores. Help us by donating chocolate Easter eggs for children staying in our local refuges. Simply bring your chocolate eggs to the stores nearest you and spread a little happiness this Easter.

Whilst you’re in store, make sure you also enter our Hunt the Golden Egg competition for the chance to win a family pass to Alton Towers or Chessington World of Adventures.

ready steady store will be collecting Easter Eggs from 9 March to 9 April 2009, Monday to Friday, between 8am and 6pm or between 9am and 6pm on Saturdays.

On 12 March the Leeds Roundhay and Manchester Central branches of ready steady store are holding business open days between 17.30 to 19.30. We want to help businesses understand the savings they could make by using self storage and by setting up an office in their own self storage unit. The store will also be holding a prize draw for one lucky business to receive three months free office space.

In times of recession, cash flow is king. Each month I will provide help and assistance to keep the pounds flowing into your business.