Little baseline data exist concerning the outlook and business practices of those operating in the self-catering accommodation sector. Drawing on a survey of operators in Yorkshire, England, this paper finds a concentration of micro-enterprises that are unsophisticated in their approach to managing their business. The findings pose challenges to those agencies charged with enhancing the competitiveness of the sector.

Advanced analytical transmission electron microscopy has been used to investigate microstructural evolution during pyrolysis in triol-based sol-gel thin films. At pyrolysis temperatures up to 300 °C, the films remained amorphous; however, nanometer-sized precipitates were observed in films heat-treated up to 400 °C for 10 min. Analytical transmission electron microscopy indicated that the precipitates were Pb-rich, as well as deficient in O, Ti, and Zr. Films pyrolyzed up to 500 °C for 10 min were composed of a nanocrystalline pyrochlore phase; however, pores could be observed, situated in the same position as the nanometer-sized precipitates at 400 °C. Face-centered cubic Pb-rich crystallites were also present on the surface of pyrolyzed films but absent in the fully crystallized films annealed at 650 °C. A tentative mechanism is proposed to explain these observations.

Since 1 October 1984 accountancy partnerships have been allowed to advertise by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and many partnerships have undertaken advertising campaigns, with the ultimate objective of increasing their business. However, is advertising the most appropriate communications medium to achieve this objective? The author conducted a survey of industrial organisations in northern England, to determine their satisfaction with the services provided by their accountants, and the factors influencing their choice of accountant. The conclusion reached is that advertising has a role to play in the communications mix, but by itself will not increase the partnership's business.