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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 2015 11 Business Today www.creditinfo.com.mt info@creditinfo.com.mt Tel: 2131 2344 Your Local Partner for Credit Risk Management Solutions Supporting you all the way Sotheby's International Realty network reports signifi cant gains for 2014 Malta Sotheby's International Re- alty reported that in 2014 its affi li- ated brokers and sales professionals achieved $70 billion in U.S. home sale transaction volume (transaction sides multiplied by average sale price). This is the highest sales volume performance in the history of the brand's franchise system, and marks a 17% increase from the prior year. Driven largely by an 11 percent gain in transaction sides, the growth experienced by Sotheby's International Realty far outpaced the overall U.S. housing market as compared to the one percent increase in sales volume and a three percent decrease in home sales reported by the National Association of Realtors®. The Sotheby's International Realty brand also reported growth in its global network, which now encompasses 60 countries and territories worldwide. At year-end, the network totalled approximately 760 offices, a gain of 8.5 percent, and more than 16,570 sales associates, up 14 percent. "The Sotheby's International Realty network grew substantially in 2014," said Philip White, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC. "The luxury sector continues to outperform the overall market, which reflects the value consumers see in high-end real estate to grow their wealth, as well as the increasing level of international buyers in key luxury markets." Outside the United States, the Sotheby's International Realty brand expanded its network in 2014 to provide its real estate services in: Belgium, Beijing, Belize, the Canary Islands, Luxembourg, India, Hainan, St. Martin, Poland and St. Moritz. The Sotheby's International Realty brand also added 13 new residential real estate firms and 45 net new offices to its network across the United States, including the following markets: Houston, Texas; Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.; Sunset, S.C.; Richmond, Va.; Marblehead, Mass.; Wilmington and Topsail Island, N.C.; Kailua, Hawaii; Woodinville, Wash.; Malibu, Calif.; Lancaster, Pa.; Brookline and Jamaica Plain, Mass.; and Pleasanton, Calif. In 2015 and for the eighth year in a row, the Sotheby's International Realty brand won Franchise Business Review's Best in Category for Real Estate Franchisee Satisfaction award. In addition to its real estate ranking, the brand in 2015 moved to first in the overall top 50 from fourth in 2014, and first among the Top 50 "Systems with 250 or more units," up from third in 2014. Last year also marked the launch of the Sotheby's International Realty Global Referral system, which was designed to streamline the transfer of referrals electronically within the brand's worldwide network. The Global Referral system, which the brand developed with Immobel, allows Sotheby's International Realty network members to assign referrals, manage them through closing and run detailed reports. The system also features language translation and currency conversion. European Commission approves €132 million Maltese operational programme The European Commission yester- day adopted the Maltese Operation- al Programme, Investing in human capital, financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) for the period 2014-2020. This programme aims to invest over €132 million to promote employment and social inclusion, improve the education system and enhance the efficiency of the public administration. "I welcome the adoption of this programme, which will help bring more people into the labour market, in particular young people, offer a fair chance to vulnerable groups and get a better trained population. Our funds will directly contribute to the EU's strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth," Employment Commissioner Marianne Thyssen said. €26 million will be invested to support measures which aim at improving the employment prospects of job seekers and inactive persons, as well as at supporting labour mobility and the integration of young people into the labour market. More than 5,700 people are expected to get support, including at least 2,700 youngsters. €40 million will be invested to finance actions seeking to create more opportunities for groups such as women and the inactive, and to address health needs and inequalities. Over 10,000 people are expected to receive support. €47.4 million will be invested to fund actions in order to reduce early school leaving, to get more students in tertiary education and to increase the participation in lifelong learning. Interventions to strengthen vocational education and training systems are also supported. Up to 12,000 students may benefit from digital technology courses and 8,000 people from lifelong learning or re-skilling and up-skilling. €11 million will be invested to help improve the administrative capacity and efficiency, in order to better deliver services to citizens. The target is to train 4,000 people. Interventions focusing on strengthening the capacity of stakeholders delivering education (including lifelong learning and training), employment and social policies are also supported, with a target of 500 persons within stakeholder organisations. Internet access in 81% of Maltese households 80.7% of households in Malta and Gozo last year had access to the internet, while regular internet users reached 239,225 or 73.2% of the population aged 16 to 74 years. National statistics also show that internet access in households during 2014 increased by 1.9 percentage points when compared with the previous year. Households with children were more likely to have the internet at home, while just over half the households with one adult member and without children had an internet connection. The largest percentage of internet access in households was registered in the Western District (87.5%), while the lowest percentage was recorded in the Southern Harbour District (74.8%). The highest percentage of computer and internet use was registered within the 16- to 24- year age cohort, while the older population aged 65 to 74 years recorded the lowest internet usage level (35%). During 2014, 69.7% of internet users also made use of a mobile internet connection. The share of internet users making use of eGovernment services stood at 55%. An increase in eGovernment usage was noted in the majority of age cohorts. In 2014, 64.2% of internet users also acquired some form of products or services online. Clothes and sports goods were the most commonly acquired items (42.1%), followed by purchases of holiday accommodation (26.3%) and other transport arrangements (24.1%). E-skills Survey results show that 82.6% of computer users knew how to use the 'copy and paste tool', while 79.4% were capable of copying or moving a file or folder. Cloud computing In 2014, 31.6% of internet users made use of cloud computing services. This was most common among persons with a tertiary level of education and younger age groups. The type of documents most commonly shared and kept on the cloud include pictures, text, spreadsheets and presentations. Download the MaltaToday App now