Stressed out students facing exams this summer can now get support through a new product which offers them a confidence boost. Developed by qualified NLP practitioner Michael Hall, Totem Confidence is aimed at anyone facing situations such as a driving test or public speaking or who needs help in achieving a personal goal. It is the perfect aid for students concerned about impending exams and the stress that inevitably causes.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) has supplied its flagship bizhub PRESS C8000 colour digital press to Colourfast whose service portfolio already comprises Konica Minolta award winning technologies including the bizhub PRO C6501e colour press with Creo print controller and bizhub PRO 1200 mono presses using its JTMan software - all of which are guaranteed to produce high quality, high definition and high speed results.

SoundScalpel has added 30,000 sound effects from BBC productions, increasing its library to 80,000 effects as well as royalty-free music for its education sector customers. The extended library now includes sound effects created by some of Hollywood’s leading designers with effects that have been created specifically for films including Hollywood blockbuster Avatar through to TV programmes like Eastenders.

SCA has introduced a new antimicrobial foam hand cleaner and two eco-labelled foam soaps. Containing 40% ethanol which destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi, Tork Antimicrobial Foam Cleanser is kind to the hands and incorporates lower concentrations of alcohol than other sanitisers on the market.

Ardmore Construction approved a Monodraught roof-mounted strategy using energy-free Windcatcher Sola-boost systems for JCoSS school in Barnet. These systems are used mainly in the building’s two-storey teaching wings where a system of double stacking enables each unit to serve first and ground floor classrooms located one above the other.

Fellowes has launched a pan-European marketing initiative designed to drive understanding and awareness of the benefits of ergonomic products in the workplace. Sit Up To A Smarter Way of Working aims to educate both computer users and business managers on the risks of poor posture and the associated costs which could be avoided by applying simple ergonomic principles and cost-effective solutions in the workplace.

The Trade Union Congress has found that there are currently 3.7 million people in the UK who work from home. Research carried out by Fellowes revealed that around 42% of home workers sit on the sofa and 22% work in bed.

The high output BioWIN Excel wood pellet boiler from Windhager UK is the perfect solution for heating large properties. Extensively tried and tested, the technology has been adapted for high performance, focusing on maximum operational safety, fuel efficiency and economic operation.

This new school term sees the introduction of the first Heckmondwike FB Education Sample Card. The sample card, which is the first industry-specific for the British carpet manufacturer, is filled with four different product categories in one, acting as a one stop shop for all things flooring for education.

Shaws of Darwen have been manufacturing fireclay sinks for well over 100 years and production still continues today, in their vast factory in Lancashire. The Shaws range of British made fireclay sinks sell the world over which is testament to its quality. All products are handcrafted to the highest standards using time honoured methods and state of the art kiln technology.

Andrews Water Heaters has supplied two high efficiency, condensing water heaters and buffer tanks which have been installed at the new RSA Academy in Tipton, West Midlands. Sustainability was paramount in the building’s design in order to reduce both running costs and carbon emissions which has resulted in a BREEAM rating of Very Good.

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems is urging construction clients to check all modular building suppliers comply with Building Regulations Part L2A 2010 requirements. “Some suppliers are struggling to comply with the revised Building Regulations Part L2A and not all understand the requirement to provide Energy Performance Certificates on completion of every project,” explains managing director Kevin Jones.

Portakabin has launched a video as part of its campaign to change the perception of modular buildings and demonstrate the possibilities with this innovative and flexible approach to providing interim accommodation.

It’s very clear that many education establishments are still lagging behind when it comes to providing adequate toilet facilities as set out in the Building Schools for the Future programme. This programme clearly stated that toilets and changing facilities need to be designed to be suitable for all pupils, staff, visitors including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

Laptop computers and netbooks have become the tools of choice for integrating technology into the curriculum. Gone are the days of the ICT suite with two or three children huddled round a traditional fixed PC. Now, teachers and pupils are choosing their desktop cousins to access rich multimedia content and online.

This summer WJEC, one of the UK’s leading examination awarding bodies, anticipates processing 122,000 live examination papers using electronic marking technology supplied by global data capture specialist DRS. This is a 248% increase on the numbers processed last year.

The Ullens School was established in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2006 as a CSR initiative under the patronage of Mr & Mrs Ullens. It is the first International Baccalaureate (IB) school in the country, and a centre of excellence for learning. Paramount to the school’s philosophy is the belief that interaction and engagement are at the heart of learning.

One of more than 150 schools entering RM Education’s 2011 Learning Spaces Competition to create the dream classroom, Athelstan Primary School, Leeds has unveiled the new learning space kitted out with the £20,000 of equipment won as first prize. Pupils worked with staff to design an up-to-date special educational needs (SEN) intervention room. Improved ICT resources were a priority to ensure the school fully embraces its vision “To be the best we can”.

London university sector college Ravensbourne trials a groundbreaking new Education Enterprise License Agreement (EELA) from Adobe to improve and enhance learning and access to resources for all students.

Many organisations have used Netintelligence to successfully protect children online. It was the e-security software of choice for Home Access, a government initiative to improve children’s access to computers at home. Durham County Council was one of the participating authorities.

Pupil’s safety online is a critical issue for everyone in education. We are constantly challenged by technology to find new ways of preventing pupils accessing unsuitable material over the internet. The recent Bailey review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children recommended that “the internet industry should ensure that customers must make an active choice over what sort of content they want to allow their children to access.”

The Enviro table from Gopak gives the user the opportunity to decide the style, colour and shape needed to match the dining room in schools and universities. It takes a few simple steps to create a bespoke Enviro table by selecting: the shape (square, rectangular, round or triangular); height; and colours for frame, table top and edging.

Victor Manufacturing has developed its gas operated Peer and Sceptre ranges of hot cupboards featuring the latest gas valve and burner technology. The plain top Peer range offers maximum storage capacity while Sceptre, wet or dry heat bains marie models come in four sizes with either heated or ambient cupboards below.

Lincat has been chosen to be an official supplier of the WorldSkills Cooking Competition 2011. As a result, 19 Lincat Opus OSC61 SelfCooking Centres and three Silverlink 600 electric salamander grills will be put through their paces by the world’s most talented young chefs as they compete for a WorldSkills gold medal.

A software solution has been developed by catering software specialist Fretwell-Downing Hospitality (FDH) to support schools that are managing, or preparing to manage, their own catering. Saffron Cuisine has been tailored specifically to help schools manage the two biggest influencers on this aspect of the business – cost control particularly in the wake of rising food inflation, and ensuring menus meet the nutrient standards.

Plymstock School, which is this year celebrating its centenary, is pleased to announce the completion of a £500,000 project to completely refurbish its student dining facilities into a modern and vibrant space, which incorporates eco solar panels to support the power and heating of the building. Innovate Services were appointed by Plymstock School to manage the refurbishment and to subsequently take over the day-to-day running of the school’s entire catering operation.

Enable parents to pay online for their child’s meals and school trips, and save money with sQuid ePayments. sQuid’s innovative, state-of-the-art cashless ePayment system has been well received by Local Authorities, catering managers, schools, colleges, universities and campus environments across the country.

At LACA 2011 Winterhalter focuses on the latest incarnation of its award-winning GS500 pass through dishwasher range. The one-button control panel makes them simple to use and the speed of the models – up to 70 racks per hour – means they can cope with hundreds of covers. The energy-saving features of the latest can save up to £1,250 in running costs every year, Winterhalter estimates.

A new eco-friendly vending machine from The Green Drinks Company, which offers substantial energy savings and the lowest carbon footprint of any cold drinks vending machine in the world, is being pioneered in schools following successful schools trials. The Pouchlink™ is 80% more energy efficient than a conventional cold drinks vending system as 90% of all drinks are water and it removes water from the supply chain.

FRIMA will feature its VarioCooking Center on Stand K41 at LACA 2011. An extremely energy efficient appliance for the professional kitchen, it can boil, fry and deep fry in one unit. Up to three times faster than traditional equipment, it is excellent for slow overnight cooking and trouble-free pressure cooking.

Rational is demonstrating its SelfCooking Center on stand K63 at LACA 2011. To keep up with the drive towards healthy eating in schools and colleges, it is designed to cook a variety of menu items with the minimum of effort and retain vital vitamins and nutrients as well full flavour, colour and texture.

When: 6th - 8th July 2011 Where: Hilton Birmingham Metropole

We take a look at the challenges facing school meals provision and the dangers of under estimating its worth - A recent study found that a predominantly processed food diet at the age of three is directly associated with a lower IQ at the age of eight and a half, compared to children who eat a healthier diet.

How time flies! Stage Systems has been providing schools with staging solutions for over 40 years. With customers from over 4 decades, that’s a lot of staging, a lot of performances and a lot of potential wear and tear. With this in mind, Stage Systems has been offering a new refurbishment service to its customers of more than 10 years, with an economical and environmentally friendly provision to make their staging as good as new.

Pinelog has published a new brochure which explains how hydrotherapy swimming pools use the properties of warm water to provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment of injuries and impaired mobility, to relieve pain and generally promote physical wellbeing.

Tarkett has created a brand new Safetred Naturals and Wood Range. This contemporary safety floor collection offers a variety of wood and stone designs inspired by nature, with a high quality print finish. The Safetred Naturals range is available in nine different colourways, including limestone and anthracite, while the Wood collection features stunning surface finishes based on beech and oak.

New resources help involve pupils in decision making. Do you work in a school or educational setting? Need help getting children and young people more involved? Then look no further. . . Participation Works has just launched the latest in its ‘How To’ series, specifically developed for people working in education.

Since the adoption of 17 Panasonic UB-T880 interactive whiteboards in Crickhowell High School Wales, teachers and students have witnessed a revolution in the way education and content is delivered.

Financially constrained school IT departments across the country can take advantage of a new Cloud Computing hardware and software solution from Technical Services called Ubiquitous. The organisation, part of Commercial Services, is offering education establishments the opportunity to benefit from this latest development in computing services solutions.

A new internet safety tool has been launched to protect pupils using iPads at school. Netintelligence for iPads allows inappropriate or harmful content to be filtered and blocked across multiple tablets via a web-based control panel. The software is already used by many schools and education authorities to keep pupils safe online when they’re using latops or desktop PCs.

Andy Parker, sales and marketing director, Demco Interiors, presents a trophy to Newcastle University Library, winners of the Demco sponsored, Outstanding Library Team Award category of the Times Higher Education Leadership Management Awards 2011.

The Outward Bound Trust, the experiential outdoor learning charity which exists to unlock the potential in young people through discovery and adventure in wilderness environments, has announced the results of its Social Impact Report for 2011.

Six schools across England and Scotland are celebrating after winning awards at this year’s RBS Personal Finance Education Awards for Schools, which recognise those schools that teach students all-important money management skills in an innovative and successful way.

Colchester Royal Grammar School, Essex, has been crowned winner of the 2011 Times Spelling Bee, the only national spelling competition for schools. Over 1200 schools registered for the 2011 competition and have competed across the UK since March. Colchester Royal Grammar School triumphed over ten other schools in the nail-biting Grand Final held at the IndigO2 at the O2 in London, on Thursday 23 June.

Viking, the direct mail and e-commerce school and office supplies channel of Office Depot, has announced that a pupil from Westminster has beaten 10,500 other school children to win a free playground – worth £25,000 - for her school. Kesaia Toganivalu from St Matthew’s Primary School won Viking’s national ‘Win a Playground’ competition after her dream outdoor space design wowed judges with its creativity and flair.

Educationalists and scientists have combined their insider knowledge of exciting science and what captivates children to choose the shortlist for this year’s Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize. Publishers across the UK have submitted their best recent books that communicate science to young people and an adult judging panel have now narrowed down the choice to a shortlist of six 7

Two low-carbon education schemes were announced last month as winners at the 11th annual Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, the world’s leading green energy awards. The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth, Wales won the award for Training in Sustainable Technologies and Severn Wye Energy Agency (SWEA) in Gloucestershire the award for the Sustainable Schools Programme.