Z/Yen Runs London

The intrepid Z/Yen running team braved the wet and cold to join 29,996 other foolhardy souls in the Nike RunLondon 10K night race. Taking part were Mary (the winner), Jeremy, Mark and Francesca. Logistical multi-tasking support was ably provided by Giles Wright who carried bags, bought chocolates and beer and managed to get himself a kebab (rising to third place in the Z/Yen kebab league) while the race was going on. Giles easily gets confused between the concept of a donor and a doner.

My Lords And Ladies

For the past year Michael has been the Chairman of the Broad Street Ward Club, parading about the City with his ceremonial badge of a lion (or cat). There are 25 Ward Clubs in the City of London representing the electors. Broad Street is the largest club with over 250 members, dates to 1278 and, in the Christmas panto spirit, has links with Dick Whittington and his cat (or lion). And talking of links: http://www.broadstreetwardclub.org/. Z/Yen staff, particularly Linda, Helen and Becky, have been helping Michael organise a series of fascinating monthly events that culminated in a recent luncheon for the Lord Mayor of London and his delightful wife Fiona at the Guildhall for 220 people. At the luncheon it wasn't exactly Ten Lords-a-Leaping but it was heaps of fun for all, including Sherriffs, Aldermen, Ambassadors, Rectors... The main course was lamb, but don’t get excited Giles, it was chops, not kebabs. Fortunately, Michael steps down next year and the pressure on the office should fall - Three-Ladies-Dancing in the streets of Broad Street Ward.

We’ll All Be Better Off – Payroll Giving

Z/Yen has been awarded a major contract by the Institute of Fundraising to run a managed service for the innovative new Payroll Giving campaign, announced in the Chancellor’s pre budget statement on 2 December. Tagged “We’ll All Be Better Off” and ominously abbreviated to WABBO, this scheme provides grants to organizations employing fewer than 500 people to help them set up payroll giving schemes. When you factor in tax relief, a monthly Payroll Giving donation of £10 costs a higher rate taxpayer only £6. In addition, for the first six months of an employee’s Payroll Giving, the Government will match up to £10 per month pound for pound, making the donation worth £20 to the charity. To be clear, Giles, the Chancellor will not give you a free doner kebab with every kebab you buy; this is about matching funds for charity donors. Many Now & Z/Yen readers will have already seen the publicity around this campaign, although the official launch will be in January. Ian Harris is directing the Z/Yen work; the service will be managed by Linda Cook, who will be ably assisted by Helen Davies, Becky Dawson and no doubt others as the campaign grows and thrives. This is a prestigious and exciting string to our charity sector bow. Please contact Ian or Linda for now if you want to know more about it.

We Could All Be Better Off - Betting

Christmas could come early for readers of Now & Z/Yen if they read "Betting on the Future: Online Gambling Goes Mainstream Financial": by Michael Mainelli and Sam Dibb. Michael and Sam's work was published by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation and there was a major workshop on the topic this month. The basic thesis is that increased liquidity in online gambling means that some traditional financial products, e.g. football player bonus insurances, will be challenged and that some innovative new financial products shall arise, e.g. house price hedges via bets on sale indices. Of particular interest to Now & Z/Yen readers who like adventurous opportunities to make a quick buck, the report contains some pretty much fool-proof advice on how to beat the bookie. Please contact Michael if you would like a copy of the paper.

PropheZy Predicts Prizes

In addition to last year's DTI Smart Award for PropheZy, Michael was awarded IT Director of the Year by the British Computer Society for Z/Yen’s work on PropheZy, our risk/reward prediction engine, and VizZy, our data modeling visualisation software. Michael collected the award to rapturous applause but was unable to thank everyone from the plumber to his mum on the night (the BCS wouldn’t let him). Importantly, more and more people are not only recognising the revolutionary nature of PropheZy through the awards system, but are starting to build applications using it. People wanting more details on how PropheZy might help their organisation should contact Michael in the first instance.

Kwacha In The Wright

Z/Yen would like to offer its congratulations to Giles and Nikki who tied the knot in Zambia on November 12th. A fully relaxed Giles in now back the office preparing for Z/Yen's 2005 survey work. We’ll draw a veil over the potential for mishap on honeymoon in Zambia if you don’t know your donor from your doner (nothing a few hundred thousand Zambian Kwacha couldn’t solve), but simply wish Giles and Nikki all the very best for their future together.

And a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers.