So what do supermarkets offer us and why?

All under one roof- no need to travel between several specialist retailers, therefore saving time.

A wider range of goods- due to large stores, they have more display and storage space.

Value for money (?) - the power of supermarket retailers means they can buy in bulk from producers and wholesalers, then pass on the discount to consumers. This perspective would be different though if you spoke to a farmer. (Why?)

Easier access - usually close to main roads and offer large free car parks, to reduce the friction of distance and encourage that bulk buying.

Environment- undercover, heated, security, music, pleasant lighting, all encourage us to feel safe and buy more.

Opening hours- longer opening hours, including 24 hour opening, is attractive shoppers, particularly regular shift workers.

Loyalty- supermarkets have been keen to exploit customer loyalty, loyalty cards with generous, and not so generous, discounts encourage us to keep shopping!

Supermarkets are a rival to the traditional High Street independants and even multiples, (anyone been following the news about how Nottingham’s Boots has been coping with the supermarket challenge?) this has often resulted in their decline, but in some High Streets multiples have come to dominant, this cloning, is not to everyones’ taste, but that’s another post.

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Ilkeston is in competition from many local shopping areas such as Nottingham and perhaps even the slum known as Derby , out-of-town centres such as Meadowhall are also attractive to consumers but why?

What problems does Ilson High Street face?

You suggested

The lack of uncover shopping, with the exception of the Albion Centre, where the cover has openings! Not good for all year around shopping.

Lack of accessibility, you suggested for the less mobile the steep incline of Upper Bath Street is difficult to navigate. You also suggested that accessing the High Street via car is difficult. One, due to congestion, the second due to available parking. You also worried about the security of the parking and the charging.

The range of shops available, despite the fact that Ilson has, for a small town, quite a variety of multiple outlets. You also commented on the opening hours, which were limited for people who work shifts.

Crime and safety, low order crimes such as vandalism, make the environment unattractive, whilst perception of crime, makes people feel unsafe whilst shopping.

Environment, some of you suggested that the frontages of buildings looked a little tired, whilst the lack of pedestrianisation on Lower Bath Street didn’t make it a pleasant area to shop. Some of you also mentioned litter.

What does out-of-town shopping offer?

Meadowhall in Sheffield is a classic example of an out-of-town shopping centre. What does it offer?

Access, great accessibility.

12,000 car-parking spaces, train and tram access, 120 buses per hour, 300 coach spaces.

Environment.

Undercover, temperature controlled, pleasant lighting, whilst street furniture, art work and vegetation all enhance the environment. Due to its enclosed nature, it is also safer, security guards patrol and there is CCTV.

The environment is also good for less mobile visitors, with lifts and ramps, and specialist toilet facilities. Mothers are catered for with baby changing facilities, a creche and play area.

Shopping.

223 different shops and longer opening hours.

Leisure.

One thing I didn’t convince you of is that shopping is now a leisure pursuit, retailers are keen to tap into this. Meadowhall offers a leisure shopping experience, it has the largest food court in Europe, a cinema with 11 screens and holds special events to attract in visitor who may also shop.

The question you need to ask yourself is how does Ilson compete? The answer, develop the High Street to model the features of out-of-town shopping.

Ilkeston has been successfully, believe it or not, in maintaining its customer base, others have not, and in some areas this has had serious consequences for the High Street.

So, what makes a good out-of-town shopping site? Coming next…

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I like the quote above by Samuel Beckett, because it reminds me that when I do something that I feel is not good, the next time that I try, I may not achieve what I had intended, but I have made a little step forward…, or something like that!

We went over the mock today, some of you did very well, some of you did alright for the present time, some of you need to work that bit harder.

If you feel fed up, don’t, Year Ten mocks are always about learning the way of the exam, believe me, there are thousands of Year Tens around the country that will feel the same way. 

Remember also that you will mature as a Geographer, with time and effort, and that you can learn from your mistakes.

I also think that exams are 50% knowledge, 50% technique, you have the knowledge, so we need to work on the technique.

If you want to review your answers again, you can download my PowerPoint here (5mb) With the exception of Tatler!

Also remember that the ultimate success criterion for this course is the coursework, 67% in total!

A couple of general points to consider that will help you in the future

• Think like a Geographer, how would a Geographer answer this?
• Look at the key words, they tell you how you need to answer the question.
• Look at the number of marks, it gives you an idea of the number of points you will have to make and how much depth you may need to go into.
• If you can draw a diagram to explain a process, do! Us Geographers like graphical representations, and processes are much easier to explain using diagrams than writing loads.  Remember though to annotate your diagrams with linked labels!
• But remember, if it states, draw a diagram, you must!
• Don’t be scared of big spaces, but don’t jump into writing an answer without first spending some time planning.
• Always check your answers for silly mistakes.
• Never leave gaps! Try playing football without a football.

Also remember that longer answers are levelled, there was a good analogy provided to us at the Pilot meeting, think

Level 1 1-3 marks I want a sandwich, so I make one.

Level 2 4-6 marks I want a sandwich, so I go to the fridge and get out some ham and butter. I go to the cupboard and get out some bread.

Level 3 7-8 marks I want a sandwich, so I go to the cupboard and get out some wholemeal bread, I go to the fridge and take out ham and butter. Using a knife, I butter two slices of the bread, then I place two slices of ham inbetween my two slices of bread. Mmm, I ram it in my mouth! (I added that bit )

If you have done well, because you worked hard, and it just clicked on the day, don’t feel embarrassed, feel some pride, a nice quote from Marianne Williamson from our ‘Deepest Fear’

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Anyone want to celebrate or cry?

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Great lesson today, despite several others off doing exams and various bits. I’m going to break this review into two sections, because it is near my self-appointed work cut off line.

To finish our discussion of Multi-Nationals, we discussed some generalisations of their impact on the countries they invest in, using some different supporting characters.

Remember this type of economic activity is called inward investment. Again we illustrated these points with some well-known examples.

On the positive side

• access to employment and the development of new skills.
• the population will have more money to spend in the economy, including the paying of having taxes.
• this will mean more income for improving infrastructure and services.
• generally quality of life could be improved.
• we used the term positive multiplier effect.
• The company may invest in local infrastructure, or support educational services, so that is has a good supply of workers.
• the status of an area would be raised, this may encourage investment by other big name Multi-Nationals.
• Other local companies would benefit from increased orders associated with the new development.
• Valuable export revenues will be earned.
• The population of the country may gain access to cheaper consumer goods.
• We didn’t discuss the benefit of cultural exchanges, i.e. Toyota-Derbyshire School Exchange.

On the negative side

• In LEDCs much of the employment is low paid, low skill,l ong hours, hence ‘screwdriver’ work.
• There has been much negative press about poor working conditions, including lack of ventilation, lack of safety requirements and the intimidation of workers. Multi-Nationals like low overheads, so enjoy business where there is less red tape with regards to safety and environmental protection legalisation.
• Management positions may go to foreign employees.
• Use of child labour, knowing or unknowingly.
• Much of the profit generated is exported, or ‘leaks’ back aboard.
• They aren’t particularly impressed by Trade Unions.
• They have no specific loyalty to a nation, so are willing to export production to low cost locations.
• Sometimes grants and subsidies are used to attract such companies, which could have been used to invest in native industry.
• Native industry may not be able to compete with the investing company.
• Sometimes workers in the country, may not be able to afford the consumer goods they manufacture.

Any points that I’ve missed?

We’ll come back to the issue of Multi-Nationals later in the course.

In the second half of the lesson we discussed some potential futures for the Stanton site, which generated an excellent heated discussion. I’ll summarise these viewpoints tomorrow, reveal the actual plan and draw a final point from this local issue.

Then stop shopping!

For those who were away, homework has been set. You must catch up on missing notes. Good luck with work experience everyone!

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So why is Stanton downsizing?

• After changing hands several times, Stanton Ironworks is now owned by the French company Saint Gobain.
• Saint Gobain is an example of a Multi-National or Trans-National Corporation, a company that is based in many countries around the world.
• Saint Gobain fits nicely the characteristics of such a company, high profits- £18 billion, brand name and employs 171,000 people in 46 different countries.
• Saint Gobain has decided to close its pipe-making plant at the site, with the loss of around 220 jobs. It will maintain its U.K. headquarters at the Lowes Lane site.
• Saint Gobain blame the high cost of scrap steel and energy prices, but the company also has manufacturing concerns in South Africa and China.
• Critics would argue that this is natural behaviour for such a company, it needs to make profits for its shareholders, so like an octopus, has no problem in removing an arm that is losing money. Higher profits can be made by relocating manufacturing to countries with lower overheads such as labour costs.
• But Saint Gobain have announced that they are considering moving their pipe making facility to France or Germany. In fact this would make some sense, both countries have the same currency the Euro, thereby negating any loss of selling to E.U. Euro currency countries, and the high value of the pound makes selling products more difficult aboard.
• Impact on the area?

When any major industry closes in an area, it will have an impact, of course, there will be a loss of employment, but this may contribute to a general downward spiral, what Geographers call the negative multiplier effect.

Of course, the following is a generalisation…

• Stanton closes.
• Loss of employment, but also a loss of trade to local companies that supplied materials for Stanton, hence fewer jobs.
• Less money is spent in local businesses and on services.
• Fewer taxes are collected in the local community.
• An increase in benefits, needed to support the unemployed and their families.
• Less money for local services, such as education.
• Less to improve infrastructure and the environment.

The final point is particularly important, because if the area is to attract new investment, it must have an appealing environment and be accessible.

This relates back nicely to a question we asked you on the ‘My Place’ questionnaire, do you see your future in Ilkeston? The majority of you didn’t, is this because of the lack of job prospects? This means…

• The young and economically mobile move out of the community.
• There is a loss of community spirit.

 It isn’t all doom and gloom though, which leads us nicely to the next question…

What to do with the site?

P.S. The cheeky Iraq link, Saint Gobain is one of the companies involved in the Iraq Development Programme . The aim of the programme is to encourage countries to contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq, ironically that we had a part in degrading, but as the mission statement suggests..

Enjoying enormous trade and investment potential, Iraq has the resources to become the highest revenue generating country in the Middle East region.

Anyone tempted?

I know that several of my ex-students are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, if you’re reading, please feel free to leave comments.

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Apologises for an uninspiring lesson, I know that many of you had covered this work before, but we needed to draw it together for everyone.

We basically should have discovered the following points via our discussion and classification task.

So, what’s the issue with Stanton?

• Mainly that for 161 years steel and iron products have been manufactured on mass in the area. There is evidence to suggest that smelting had taken place on a small-scale in the area since Roman times. Remember that this is an example of heavy industry or Secondary industry, which where a product is manufactured. Secondary products command higher values, because the process of manufacturing adds value to them.
• Of course, a number of factors lead to the develop of industry in this area, including coal, used for energy,iron ore- a raw material, and the accessibility of the site, due good to railway and canal infrastructure, though you need to ask an Historian which came first!
• There was also a market for the products, during both war and peace, the British Empire was a huge and guaranteed market, whilst Stanton during both World Wars provided steel for shell casings, gun barrels, and concrete for air-raid shelter components. I suppose where the name Stanton Shelter came from. (?) Steel from Stanton was also used in the London Underground and the Mersey Tunnel. Today, the core business of the site is specialist steel pipes.
• At the height of its success Stanton employed over 7,000 people, it was one of the area’s biggest employers. Now fewer than three hundred people are employed on site.
• The local area also changed because of Stanton, terrace houses were built to house the workers, many of these were demolished in the 1960’s, workers were rehoused in on a new estate called Kirk Hallam.
• The Ironworks also had other impacts on the landscape, that can still be seen today, including the Nutbook Canal, that once served the site, the waste/sl*g heap and the vast, but somewhat empty area the site covers, now somewhat left to fallow. As we saw from the old images, in the past it was an imposing sight!

Stanton Ironworks is no longer British owned and is downsizing? But why, and what impact will this have on the local area?

It’s all about globalised trade, labour costs, multi-nationals, and negative multiplier effects.

I’m afraid I’m tired, so will finish this post tomorrow, I’ve also found a cheeky little link between the company which runs the present site and Iraq, I’ll leave you guessing.

I think you enjoyed the novelty map annotation at the end though! Good luck with the exam on Friday, you’ll do great!

I’d also be keen to hear from locals on their reaction to the downsizing and what impact they think it will have on the town. Feel free to leave a comment.

What about you students? Is this a local issue that is important to you?

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Just a bit of a round-up ‘mess’ today, as the examinations and work experience season begins. Remember your exam is on Friday, you should now have a copy of the revision tips in your organiser, printed revision notes to come tomorrow. Remember both are on the blog. Seems the competition is hotting up between the groups.

After discussion of the revision expectations, we summarised the Heroin Trail impact on Ilkeston

• An increasing number of addicts
• Some turn to crimes, such as prost*tution and burglary, to earn cash for a ‘fix’.
• Increased anti-social behaviour.
• Increased spending on healthcare and support for addicts.
• Increased number of police needed to tackle the anti-social behaviour and crime.
• Subsequent increase in the tax burden on the local population.
• The area is know for being a ‘crack’ town, as reported in the national press.
• Consequently, people are less likely to move or invest in the area. There could be some impact on local house prices, or out migration from the area.

Local issue two…

Tomorrow we need to get everyone up to speed on Stanton Ironworks, basically

• Why did it locate in the area?
• The positive impact it had on the community.
• The reasons for its recent decline.
• The negative impacts this will potentially have on the area.

We’ll also do some mapskills work, so I hope you were carefully observing the map today. Some nice satellite images of the site via maps live.

Some great Britishness homework, though I’m still waiting on some.    :(  Particularly liked Jack’s descriptions, gave me a couple of belly laughs….

How many can you spot from Natasha? A great set of descriptions were given as well.

Keep up the good work folks…

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Courtesy of Video Jug, not yet able to embed this one. Talks about Robert Swan’s 2041 project, interestingly sponsored by Coca Cola, which has established the first education station on the continent. The date refers to the review of the Antarctic Treaty.

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What a plonker, got the title wrong!

Today we started to look at an example of a local-global link to Ilkeston. We started by discussing what might link Afghanistan and Ilkeston. Many you realised that

• there was a link in terms of two ex-students, both Geographers, fighting in the armed forces, to help expel the Taliban from the South of the country.

But we also discussed the link with Opium production in Afghanistan and the supposed Heroin problem in the town.

We watched a short video and discussed the process of how Opium is grown in Afghanistan, then manufactured from a primary to secondary product called Heroin, thus commanding a higher price. We then discussed the Heroin Trail, the name given to the smuggled route the Heroin takes from the Middle East, across Europe and finally to the United Kingdom, and began to annotate this on a map.

We need to understand the impacts of Heroin production on both communities. We spent some time listening to an Afghan farmer, who explained how the Heroin had made addicts of young people in his country, but he still continued to grow the Opium because

• It commands a high price, much more than wheat.
• He needs to provide a quality of life for his family.
• He has no money to start an alternate business.
• The lack of development in the area means that there are few other jobs.

Hopefully, some of you started to understand the irony here, the poor farmer produces the drug that ends up on the streets of Ilkeston, but there must be a demand, young men and women from Ilkeston go to Afghanistan to destroy said crops….

You’ll continue this tomorrow and consider how the relationship affects the people of Ilkeston.

Many people are blogging about Fair Trade today, I did my bit with year 11, we ate some chocolate biscuits, then discussed some of the finer points. :) For those of you unaware of the movement/concept, it is when a producer is paid an amount that covers their cost of production, as well as an additional social premium.  This social premium is used to fund social projects aimed at raising  the quality of life of the producers. So yes, you effectively buy products that are more expensive, knowing the producers in L.E.D.C countries will benefit. Some interesting comments did come up as we discussed the negative points of Fair Trade,

• Instead of tackling unfair trading rules, by active democracy, we believe we can encourage greater equality with a ‘one-off’ guilt purchase.
• It is a niche market, therefore a wider expansion could see prices fall. A niche market is specialised and therefore commands a higher price. One ciggie on the Redgar…. how much would you sell it for? Hence, niche market.
• It is unfair trade, because it basically continues to promote unrealistic trading patterns. What if there is no Fair Trade co-operative in your region?
• Supermarkets and some multi-nationals are racking in a profit on Fair Trade products, by adding steep mark-ups, which aren’t passed on to the producers on the ground. One Fair Trade chocolate bar passes a huge 2p more to the producer!

Don’t get me wrong, we think that Fair Trade is good, but as  Geographers, we must balance the evidence. I might buy you a chocolate bar to celebrate, but at your present work levels, I wouldn’t hold out much hope.

I won’t be around tomorrow afternoon, because I will be providing a session in the second half of the Year 11 mini-revision conference. The PowerPoint I will use is now on Radical Geography. Miss Fallows will take the lesson and I’ll surmise the main points tomorrow, if I have the energy. Miss Fallows will also take in any outstanding homework.

After completing the Drugs work, you have some steel coming your way…

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I read yesterday’s post and discovered a number of typing errors, hey-ho. Thank you for the excellent completion of homework, new work has been set for this week.

Today we continued looking at British identity, we decided to do some cultural Geography and see what other people thought of us.

We watched the ‘Regina Monologues’ episode of the Simpsons and made notes on the British icons and values shown. The icons were easy to get, the Queen, Tony Blair, Mini etc, there is a nice article on Wikipedia which highlights some of these. Values and attitudes were a bit more difficult, but we discussed…

Politeness

Manners

Taste and Class

Affluence

Sense of humour

Nice one about being push-overs.

We should have discussed what it didn’t tells us about Britain and Britishness but this slipped my mind.

After this will discussed Gordon Brown’s idea for a revival of Britishness and the teaching of Britishness in schools. We looked at a couple of sources to draw out what might be such values, we used some of the staff feedback and a news clip of children discussing the issue. Our values weren’t too far from Gordon Brown’s ideas

Freedom of Speech

Democracy

Respect for the rule of Law.

Tolerance of minority and ethnic groups.

Respect for equal rights.

Some of you were critical of such values, suggesting that these aren’t unique to Britain, but should be fundamental to humanity in any country, whilst some expressed concern at the lack of tolerance in the U.K. at the moment. See Gordon, I’ve done my citizenship bit!

We finished this section by reading an extraction about Britishness from a book entitled ‘Is it me or is everything sh*t?’ Volume 2′. I meant to send Alan a copy. It summed up nicely what  I was trying to get across over the course of the lessons, Britishness can be defined by space, through a made-up and artificial country (Nation-State), but apart from the Geography, what defines Britishness is, well, …..

I should have drawn this together better, but I leave this open to you…

Are you British?

Post Script

We also discussed some of the highly pointless scientific ideas to reduce the impact of global warming, as via Richard and Judy and the B.B.C. Two programme last night. Sulphur rockets…..

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