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By Kirsty, February 22, 2012 2:50 pm

Just a few weeks ago Virgin Balloon Flights were talking to Virgin Managements’ Sustainability team and were given an excellent new idea to support up-cycling….

Made In Forest Hills, an up-cycling Bow Tie business in New York, was started not so long ago by Nicholas Tee Ruiz. His bespoke, unique and beautifully design bow ties are all made from waste material and can certainly start a trend!

Helen Craig Virgin’s sustainability specialist asked Nicholas about his inventive ideas:

What inspired you to include recycled materials into your designs? How did it all start?
I met singer Janelle Monáe in November 2010 and we chatted about her music video "Tightrope”, in which she wears this fantastic oversized bow tie.  This sparked my idea to search NYC for a unique bow tie that represented me.  Hitting dead ends, I decided to just sit down at my kitchen table and create one of my own.  That table has put up a good fight in the past year, my tools and I haven’t exactly been its best friend.  The occasion for my first bow tie was The Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition opening of Picasso: Guitars 1912-1914.  Inspired by Mr. Picasso and wanting to look sharp for the event, I hand crafted my first bow tie out of multi-coloured guitar picks, which I found buried in the closet of my uncle’s apartment, a wooden hanger, and super glue.

How did you move on from there?
My project, Made in Forest Hills started off as a sustainable way to look dapper for events at MoMA, where I work in Special Programming & Events.  The response from friends and colleagues was great, and they encouraged me to continue re-purposing everyday materials into works of wearable art.  I challenged myself to construct 11 bow ties designed around the major exhibition openings and benefit events orchestrated at the Museum that year.  These became: The Bow Tie Collection.  My bow ties were inspired by talks with curatorial colleagues, artist research, gut feelings, and my technical studies.  Benefit events allowed more freedom as I was not constrained but challenged to interpret the events in a creative way.  The pieces in the Collection range from looping film negatives with images of scenes from Pedro Almodóvar movies for MoMA’s fourth annual Film Benefit, to a LEGOS® bow tie for The Armory Show 2011 after-party, and a wine corks bow tie from the restaurants of my favourite chef, Jose Garces for the German Expressionism: The Graphic Impulse exhibition opening.  The bow ties have style and design influences from the art in the correlating exhibitions and also a sustainable aspect because all of the materials were found and recycled from my day-to-day life.  Leftover chandelier crystals from a neighbourhood lighting store became the bow tie for Party in the Garden 2011 and I even crafted computer wires, circuit boards, and a working QR code into a bow tie for Talk to Me: Design and the Communication between People and Objects.

What plans do you have for the future? What materials are you looking to re-use?
For my next Collection, I will be making 100 different bow ties constructed from fun and found resources.  I want this Collection to be participatory for the fans of my first Collection, so I’m asking people to supply me with materials that they would like to see made into a bow tie.  You hand me a box of old cocktail stirrers, you’re gonna see cocktail stirrers like never before!  I’m not giving myself rules or guidelines, I really want to push the artistic craft and hopefully educate about sustainability along the way.  I don’t want to restrict myself to a specific size, or a certain form – the sky’s the limit.  I just hope none of the submitted materials require dry ice… if so, we may need to chat.

After seeing Nicholas’ fantastic work, we decided we wanted a slice of this super cool up-cycling action so we’re sending him some fabric from a retired hot air balloon envelope. Keep your eyes peeled on our blog for the final design!

Of course this isn’t the first time we’ve done a bit of up-cycling. We previously teamed up with Worn Again to create a range of up-cycled products, including the "cheeky sling bag" which is still available to purchase on our Virgin Balloons website.

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By Kirsty, December 15, 2011 6:42 pm

“As the Virgin Unite Insider for Virgin Balloon Flights, the opportunities to use ‘business as a force for good’ are endless. When the chance of going to South Africa with Sir Richard Branson and his connection trip guests came my way courtesy of Virgin Unite, of course I grabbed it by the (Buffalo) horns and got packing!

A jam packed schedule allowed me to meet some of the most inspiring, motivated and dedicated people I’ve met in my lifetime; The Branson Centre Entrepreneurs, Jean Oelwang (The CEO of Virgin Unite), Dr Taddy Blecher (a pioneer of the free education movement in South Africa) and of course Sir Richard himself alongside his business mogul guests.

After a long flight with the superb Virgin Atlantic, a hotel check in and a stimulating meet and greet, I accompanied Jean, the connection trip guests and the Virgin Unite team to Newtown arriving at the Sophiatown Restaurant where we were delighted by African cuisine and guest speaker Dr Taddy Blecher. Post lunch we marvelled at Inner City Craft Initiatives and met ‘Prince’ an up and coming South African jeweller who designed & created the most interesting pieces of ‘junk’ jewellery. Who can resist a bracelet made out of a fork?!

From here we crossed townships to Constitution Hill. By far one of Johannesburg’s most moving sights. Originally a fort during the Boer War it later became an infamous prison housing many of South Africa’s most well-known resistance leaders and is now home to the Constitutional Court of South Africa. After a quick change we headed off to the Orient Restaurant and chatted over exquisite Chinese food before listening to more inspiring guest speakers.

Early the next morning guests enjoyed breakfast with Sir Richard before we travelled to Mzansi Designers Studio to meet Lesego Malatsi (a previous Branson centre entrepreneur) and saw his fashion house in full swing. We were later treated to seeing his first boutique shop in Maponya Mall too. We also experienced another previous Branson Centre entrepreneurs thriving business in Diepkloof, Soweto. A recycling plant started by Tshepo Nawane.

Inspired once more by the sheer determination and drive to create employment for local communities and to start businesses from scratch, we chatted to both Lesego and Tshepo en route to the grand opening of the Virgin Active Gym in Maponya. Greeted with steel drums, stilt walkers and Sir Richard, this feast of colour and sound gave the gym opening the atmosphere it most definitely deserved.

Departing the swanky new gym we lunched at Velo and chatted with Marious Minnie, the CEO of Southpoint and a partner and investor of the Branson Centre (BC) before crossing over to the BC to offer mentoring to the current entrepreneurs.

The pièce de résistance of the day was of course the Screw Business As Usual booklaunch at ‘Randlords’ where Richard spoke about his book alongside African children’s choirs and pure cultured entertainment. You can see my video montage of the #SBAU book launch here on our YouTube page.

After supper and wine back at the hotel with Richard and guests, it was off to bed before an early start to wave off the guests, Richard and Jean to Ulusaba for the next step of their trip. You can see Richards Blog about their game drive here. I spent my last day in South Africa with some of the Virgin Media Pioneers sightseeing and taking in some of South Africa’s most beautiful animals.

THANK YOU to Virgin Unite, Sir Richard, Jean and the rest of the team for the most amazing experience of my life. A trip I will treasure in my heart forever.”

Kirsty x

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By Eve, November 17, 2011 4:55 pm

The 16^th November 2011 saw the first ever global Virgin Social Marathon, a groundbreaking event that took place around the world bringing together all sorts of digital types from Virgin offices near and far all working together for a day-long event at the Facebook office in London. Starting in Australia, then over to the UK and South Africa and finally ending in LA, California at Sir Richard Branson, Eve Branson and Virgin Unite’s event Rock the Kasbah.

The aim of the day was to reach out to our fans and followers across all of our social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ with the theme and hashtag #FirstTimes. A fun packed and fast-typing day, we started posting and tweeting in the UK at around 6am and continued through until almost midnight.

With Mini Draws of lots of Virgin goodies up for grabs plus a Grand Prize including 2 hot air balloon rides, an Aston Martin experience day, a 1 year membership to Virgin Active, a Virgin London Marathon place and a Virgin Media TiVo box to name but a few, getting all of our social media fans entering and playing with the brand new app Virgin First Times was great fun.

In keeping with the theme #FirstTimes and to mark the the launch of the new app, we asked some of our colleagues here in the Virgin Balloon Flights office to share their ballooning first times with us.

“Describe your first balloon ride in three words?”

“What did you think of your first balloon ride?”

First Timers

We also wanted to know what our colleagues have been up to for the first time lately – here are some of their firsts:-

“Became a Dad” – Alex F, “Produced work for my very first public exhibition” – Ben H “Saw Bruno Mars in concert”- Sophie E “Bought my first home with my fiancé” – Caz S “Attended a Management Board meeting” – Ryan L “Skydive!” 10,000ft of pure nerves” – Liz M “Planning a Vegas wedding. Won a comp to go to SA with @RichardBranson” – Kirsty M

If you fancy flying in a balloon for the first time, please visit our Experience page where you can learn all about what’s involved on a Virgin Balloon Flights ballooning adventure.

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By Eve, November 16, 2011 4:58 pm

Today heralds the first ever global Virgin Social Marathon, a groundbreaking event that takes place around the world bringing together digital Virgin types near and far all working together for a day-long event at Facebook’s office in London. Starting in Sydney, Australia, then handing over to the UK and ending in Los Angeles, California at Sir Richard Branson, Eve Branson and Virgin Unite’s event Rock the Kasbah, the social media marathon is a unique and exciting experience.

In celebration of the launch of the brilliant new Virgin Facebook app Virgin First Times, we asked some of our pilots to share their ballooning first times with us.

Martin Collinson

“My first balloon flight was in a crispy old blue balloon that had been flying for many years. I went along as a passenger with the infamous balloonist Kim Hull conducting a training flight with another chap. It was a beautiful morning floating across the fields and woods of north Hampshire, the dew still dripping from the leaves of the trees.  Blissfully unaware of the concentration required to actually fly the balloon, I leant over the side admiring the scenery.  It was a smooth and relaxing experience. In one word I’d describe it as serene. Some #FirstTimes for me recently; mobilised as a Military Observation and Liaison Officer to complete a 6 month operational tour on the United Nations Green Line in Cyprus.”

Dave Sutcliffe
Remembering his first times… “We were out on a Saturday night in pub with a work pal and got asked what we were doing in morning. So we got up at 7am (a November morning) and were greeted with a hard frost. Headed to Escrick Park south of York in a pick-up truck to be greeted upon arrival by what looked like a hairy Viking (Hugh Wright) which was very appropriate as he was flying the Yorvik Viking Centre balloon. I got involved getting the balloon ready, Hugh inflated it and Ian told me to get in. He had arranged for me to fly and he would follow and retrieve. I didn’t have any time to worry about it. The view was fantastic and after a little while we landed in a field. I was asked to swap places and can go and pick them up. So off they went and I tried to work out how to follow a balloon by myself. I set off then I got a shock as I heard Hugh talking to me in the truck. Worked out how it worked (years before mobiles) and was told which way to go. Found them in the end and went for breakfast. It was a great morning with lots of firsts that day. Pick-up truck ride. Balloon flight, towing a trailer and retrieving and made a friend for life.

Overall it was a, in three words, life changing experience.

More recently I have started cycling longish distances for the first time.”

Mark Simmons AKA “Nobby”

“My first flight was in April 1989 from the Thunder & Colt factory (now the Lindstrand factory) in Oswestry as a passenger in a new balloon’s first flight. It was piloted by Lars Eric Moores (quite a well known balloonist who started one of the first ride operations in Turkey). I was visiting the factory with Peter Mason whom I had just started working for as a full-time ground crew for his new Financial Times Special Shape balloon.

I don’t remember much about the flight as I hadn’t given the possibility of becoming a pilot myself any thought. I do remember the feeling when we touched down of “this is what I want to do with my life”. I loved it, although I did spend most of the 45 min flight looking through the lens of a video camera. My next flight a month later in Ireland was in a can shaped balloon which was very exciting!

In three words ballooning is absolutely bl**dy brilliant!

For the first time this year I met UK soul queen Beverly Knight at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. I also flew my 2000 hour!”

Neal Parry

“My first flight was back in 1993, in someone else’s balloon, in Jan 2006, in a bright striped balloon.  I was flying 16 excited, happy pax, under supervision of the chief pilot, as usual when gaining a new (Kenyan) licence.  We inflated in the dark, to catch sunrise from the air, over the Mara river, with its wallowing hippos, and crocs, and then onto the plain, where wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, big cats, and scores of other species roam free.

It was STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL!”

Visit Virgin First Times to share your first times with us.

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By Kirsty, November 16, 2011 10:55 am

Well, Alex’s challenge to do 50 First Times in Five Days for Virgin Unite leading up to the Virgin Social Marathon today (16th November) is certainly allowing him to develop his skills!

His next 10 #FirstTimes have included ballroom dancing, a Zumba class, flower arranging, knitting, having his legs waxed, a facial, a spray tan, working in a call centre, attending a fitness class and a work out at an outdoor gym! Follow his progress on Twitter @alexrferg @virginballoons

See the latest pics below:

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By Kirsty, November 15, 2011 1:26 pm

Well, my challenge to do 50 First Times in Five Days for Virgin Unite leading up to the Virgin Social Marathon on Wednesday (Nov 16) has kept me entertained!

My next 5 #FirstTimes have included a 10 mile run, held a chicken, had an ice bath, drove a tractor and played an electric guitar! Follow my progress on Twitter @alexrferg @virginballoons

See my latest pics below:

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By Kirsty, July 20, 2011 5:53 pm

On July 18^th, Nelson Mandela celebrated his 93rd birthday! An amazing accomplishment to add to many others in this great man’s life. To honour Mandela; Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite encouraged everyone within the Virgin group to take part in Mandela Day 2011 by giving 67 minutes of their time to their local community.

Excited by the scope of what we could do, everyone at Virgin Balloon Flights HQ got to work on planning an even bigger and better celebration than 2010’s Mandela Day.

Thinking caps on, we brainstormed about all the different ways we could give back to our community and here’s what we came up with:

· We baked and sold beautiful cupcakes raising money for local community projects.

· We collected boxes and bags of jumble items including clothes, shoes, toys, books and bric-a-brac and donated to The British Red Cross, Katherine House Hospice and Compton Hospice. We even managed to get Staffordshire based designer dress agency Hush to come on board and donate old stock to our clothes box donations.

· Senior Customer Service Representative Sophie Ellis helped out family member Rachel to take her two young twin boys, who were born prematurely, to a hydrotherapy pool for the afternoon as community swimming pools are too cold for them.

· We litter picked around our office and tidied up the surrounding green spaces helping to keep the area cleaner for people to enjoy.

· We donated soft toys, music cd’s and children’s clothes to a brand new sensory room at local nursery Earlyworld.

· We collected and sent out 18 board games, a PlayStation, a box of PlayStation and computer games and two bags of educational and fictional books to a local after school club for children aged between 4 and 14 years.

· We mowed our neighbours’ lawns and helped out with gardening.

· We volunteered at local community project Sanktuary giving late night clubbers a safe place to wait for taxi’s or friends (and even gave high heel clad feet a rest with free flip-flops!)

· We gave two local students, one at GCSE level and one at A Level, the opportunity to complete a week’s work experience within the customer service and marketing departments at the company HQ.

· Accounts assistant Cheryl helped to organise and complete a day within her church community called ‘Messy Church’ where children enjoyed a fun-filled activity day playing games and eating ice lollies!

· Customer Service Representative Ryan Laing became a fully-fledged Street Pastor and completed his first night about town, helping to battle the issue of homelessness and poverty giving strength and support to those who needed it.

· Staff donated £2 each for a handmade bracelet by 11-year-old cancer sufferer Harry Moseley through his charity Help Harry Help Others – a fantastic inspiration to us all.

· We even got CEO and Chief Pilot Kenneth to help sort out our donations, don’t worry he didn’t really pack away office pooch and company mascot, Cookie the Pomeranian.

Once again all the staff here at Virgin Balloon Flights have thoroughly enjoyed their efforts for Mandela Day this year. We hope that each little bit of help or support has collectively made a positive difference within our community and we take our hats off to the people who work so hard to improve the lives of others all year round.

Here’s to another superb effort for Mandela Day!

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By Kirsty, July 7, 2011 5:17 pm

My name is Lauren, and for the past four days I’ve been enjoying the joys of office life at Virgin Balloon Flights for my work experience. I am a student at Wolverhampton Girls’ High School and currently doing my GCSE’s where I have taken Japanese, Art, PE and Geography. Although I love the options I have taken, I am really interested in TV, media and advertising; therefore, receiving a placement in the Marketing Department of Virgin Balloon Flights has been a fantastic opportunity to get a foot in the door.

In the four days that I have been here, I’ve been kept very busy getting a feel for customer services, short listing the images for Virgin Balloon Flight’s brilliant photo competition, researching various sites for customer feedback, advertising opportunities and getting a general feel for the amount of hard work and dedication that the staff do down here, in order to make your balloon flight an experience of a lifetime.

I have learnt so much in the time that I have been here, including how to write blogs (this is my first one), how the basis of digital marketing works, what Virgin Balloon Flights promote and the ‘fun fun fun’ ethos of the Virgin brand itself. 

Also, whilst researching the 100+  launch sites that Virgin Balloon Flights have around the country, I came across St. Albans in Hertfordshire and Newby Bridge in Lake Windermere that I would love to fly from, particularly Lake Windermere as it has specific sentimental value for me. Unfortunately, due the weather, I wasn’t able to go and see a launch; however, I will definitely embark on an airborne adventure in the near future!

Virgin is a worldwide organisation and is one of the most recognised and respected brands, I feel thoroughly honoured to have been able to work within this company. I’d like to say and HUGE thank you to Eve, Kirsty and the rest of the staff that work at Virgin Balloon Flights for helping me settle in and making my work experience one that I will never forget!

Lauren x

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By Kirsty, June 7, 2011 1:02 pm

Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!

The world’s biggest triathlon will be swooping back into London during the height of the British summer. On Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st July, this iconic event features more than 13,000 competitors swimming, cycling and running around the ExCeL Centre and Royal Victoria Docks.

To kick start the training Virgin Active gym’s across the country held an indoor TRYathalon day enabling triathletes and non-triathletes to compete against themselves for super-duper prizes and have some fun along the way! Of course Virgin Balloon Flights were supporting the event with our lovely flights as one of the prizes.

Congratulations to the lucky winners: