Chamber Blog

Our mission is to connect, support and give voice to every business in Norfolk. Our annual flagship event, The B2B Exhibition is the perfect opportunity for Norfolk businesses to meet new potential clients, forge meaningful connections and showcase their businesses’ expertise and knowledge. A perfect example of this is when Plain Speaking PR gained new business from Marie Reynolds London at B2B 2022. Read how exhibiting at B2B helped connect these two businesses below. “Plain Speaking PR booked a stand at the Norfolk Chambers B2B exhibition last year, taking our bold banner which asked the age-old question ‘what the f**k is PR?’ Our plain speaking approach worked – attracting Marie Reynolds (and many others) to our stand to chat about the business benefits of public relations. We got talking and instantly clicked. Whilst Marie Reynolds London is an internationally renowned skincare and wellness brand, as a Norfolk resident Marie told us she was looking for a Norfolk PR agency who could help build her profile in the local and regional media. Before we start to work with a new client we take time to get to know more about them and their business. Within just a few minutes, we could tell Marie’s story was as impressive as it was fascinating.  A globally celebrated complementary therapist and skin health expert, with a regular clinic at Fortnum & Mason, Marie had moved from London to Norfolk some years earlier, setting up a state-of-the-art clinic just outside Norwich.  And  yet, with clients travelling from all over the UK for appointments, in Norfolk she was relatively unknown. So after the B2B event we arranged to meet.  And, combining our skills and experience with Marie’s infectious enthusiasm and boundless knowledge about health and wellness, we set out to deliver a short-term PR campaign to help Marie nurture new media relationships in Norfolk and earn coverage across print, online and broadcast media. Thanks B2B for bringing Plain Speaking PR and Marie Reynolds London together. Not only was this a brilliant piece of new business to win, but we also gained an incredibly knowledgeable and kind friend in the process.” Do you want to be apart of B2B 2023? Stand bookings and enquiries are now live, find out more here.  

Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is with Julie Hunt, Managing Director of Face to Face Finance. When not travelling around the globe on wild adventures, Julie can be found at the Face to Face Finance office supporting her clients and team, in her comfy slippers (it’s office policy). Their 4 values of quality, client focus, teamwork, trust and our family atmosphere are pivotal to her business.  They discuss everything from winning Employer of the year at the Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards, being shortlisted for Business person of the year at The Norfolk Business awards. Investing ethically is vital to the team, and  Face to Face Digital – a quick and simple way to start your investing journey whilst using our non-advised platform. They also talk about The Life File and the adventures of Eddie Teddie, a bear and a published author – read more about Eddie in their Blog        We like to do our bit for charity. Outside of work, we get on well as a team, taking part in various challenges to raise money for causes close to our hearts. The friendliest place to come for independent financial advice in Norfolk Our clients become clients for life because our service is about planning for life, not the odd isolated event. They trust us to help them negotiate every stage of their life and put the right plans in place to protect themselves, and their loved ones.

Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is with Carole Burman, Managing Director and Founder of MAD-HR, and Charlotte Bate, Director of MAD-HR. As Managing Director and Founder of MAD-HR, Carole has over 30 years of experience working in the world of HR. She prides herself on her ability to help clients grow their business and attract, retain and engage talent by building a positive employer brand. Charlotte has worked as an HR Professional, Trainer and Coach for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in delivering transformational HR support to businesses of all shapes and sizes, whilst always working with honesty and integrity.  “HR is in our DNA, between us we have over 150 years of experience” says Carole. With a host of nominations and awards across Norfolk and Suffolk for  2022, they put their success down to ‘being  great problem solvers’ and say of their team; “when you’re working with a team as incredible as ours, it’s an absolute joy and privilege”. Listen to the podcast below;   Listen to the Co.next bitesize podcast here, this is a short where Charlotte and Carole talk about advice they would give their younger selves.     Contact us About the Team MAD-HR Blog When your team is motivated they will offer your customers unbeatable levels of service and generate more profit.  HR is about so much more than ‘hiring, firing and retiring’.  At MAD-HR we will help your business thrive in today’s competitive marketplace by recruiting and retaining talented individuals and effectively manage any challenges along the way.  

Meet the Buyer | 25^th April 2023 | Hitachi Energy Hitachi Energy has been appointed by Ørsted, the world’s most sustainable energy company, to deliver the construction of two HVDC Converter stations Link 1 & 2 for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm. The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce worked closely with Hitachi Energy to deliver an event which gave Local Businesses the opportunity to showcase their skills and expertise to Hitachi Energy. Businesses from different sectors joined us on Tuesday 25^th April to meet and discuss the opportunities to work on the Hornsea 3 project with Hitachi Energy. Meet the Buyer was an opportunity for local businesses to sit down and have a 15 minute meeting with a representative from Hitachi Energy to learn more about the project and showcase how their business can support them. Several attendees joined us at Hitachi Energy’s Meet the Buyer after attending our previous Meet the Buyer in November 2022, including Wensum Print. Oli Smith from Wensum print said “This is the second meet the buyer we have attended, we provided the signage for the Hornsea 3 Onshore Cable Works project after attending Meet the Buyer at the end of last year and we have come back today to represent our business again and showcase what we can offer and hopefully build some new business relationships.” Office Water Supplies also attended the event after being subcontracted after last year’s Meet the Buyer. When asked how important do you think it is that the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce are apart of an event like this they said: “It is massively important that the Chambers are a part of an event like this, it’s a huge opportunity for us and many other local businesses.” After the event, Michael Chappell from Hitachi Energy said: “The one-to-one meetings provided meaningful new potential suppliers for which we will be looking to explore more in the coming months. In addition to which, Simon Knapper, who welcomed visitors to the Hitachi Stand, received significant interest and thoroughly enjoyed discussing how Hitachi’s HVDC technology is bringing power from the Hornsea Offshore Windfarm into the UK transmission network at Necton. Initial feedback from the Hitachi team was all extremely positive.” Amy Wright, Events Manager, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce: “I would like to thank all the businesses who attended the event, it was fantastic to hear the buzz of the networking area and to meet some of our members. Norwich City Football Club’s hospitality was outstanding and it was a very engaging environment to be in.” Thank you to Sizewell C Supply Chain and Hitachi Energy for exhibiting at Meet the Buyer and thank you to Norwich City Football Club for their venue space in the Top of the Terrace.

On Thursday 20^th April we were joined by Paul Dennington, Mortgage and Financial Market Leader from Barclays along with local branch mortgage advisor Melanie Jones. During the discussion Paul outlined what to consider when buying a property. This included the basics for first time buyers, the different types of mortgages available, fixed and tracker mortgages and the current trends in the market. The importance of savings When setting up a savings account, you need to look at the Terms and Conditions along with its interest rates. Some accounts may have certain Ts and Cs where you may not be able to withdraw a large sum in one go. Government schemes that can help you There are several Government schemes that can assist you when buying a house, including a LISA and the Help to Buy Scheme. A LISA, also known as a Lifetime ISA can only be used to buy your first house or for use later in life (pension). You can put up to four thousand pounds a month in each year and the government will add 25% to your savings, up to a maximum of one thousand pounds a year. Please note the account must be open for over 1 year before any money can be withdrawn. Help to Buy ISA, unfortunately, you can no longer open a help to buy isa, however if you already have one, you may be able to claim financial help from the government to buy your first home. Find out more about the Help to Buy ISA here. Things to consider when purchasing your first house

• Joint Mortgages | This is when you apply to borrow money to buy a home with someone else, like your partner, friend or a relative.
• Shared Ownership | This is when you buy a proportion of the house and rent the other, with the option to buy more shares in the future.
• Location vs Affordability |Way up the pros and cons for location e.g where are your friends, family, and work as you can spend more on a house classed as desirable.
• Always consider eventualities | Did you purchase your house at a reduced cost, you may need to consider this when selling in the future.
• Rent vs Buying | Generally in the long term, owning a property works out cheaper. However, look at what works better for you
• Mortgage Calculators | These give you an idea of what you could receive and what your monthly payments will look like.
• Credit Score | Lenders will look at your credit score when you apply for a mortgage. You can build your credit score by using credit cards (make sure you pay off any debt monthly), and phone contracts. A failed payment can affect your mortgage.
• If you are buying with friends, speak to a legal advisor

When applying for a mortgage be aware you will need:

• Proof of income (3 months worth of pay checks)
• ID (either driving license or Passport)
• Proof that you can pay your deposit
• Proof of address (if you are not on voters roll)

Find out more by reading Barclays First-time buyer guide here. If you would like to discuss mortgages with an advisor, please head to your local Barclays bank to find out more. Thank you Paul Dennington, Melanie Jones and Barclays for joining us for this Co.next event. Find out more about our Co.next programme here.

STRESS AWARENESS MONTH 2023 Stress Awareness Month falls on April every year since 1992. This month is to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. Find out more about Stress Awareness Month here WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF STRESS? Stress is a body’s reaction to a negative change in a person’s life.  Our bodies react to life situations very differently and when negative, unexpected situation arises we all respond very differently.  Some can cope whereas others may feel completely lost, under pressure and having very little control over the dilemma.  The impact of stress may result into temporary (or long term) mental health problems and emotional turmoil.  Examples of stress symptoms include unable to concentrate, panic attacks, breathing problems, crying and lack of sleep. The cause of stress could be due to a number of things such as a breakdown in relationship, money problems, bereavement, exams, being bullied and being over worked. Stress can impact work, friends and family. HOW TO MANAGE STRESS All employers have come across the issue of a stressed employees due to work place or personal issues at home.  So what can an employer do to help? Talk to your employees.  Get your employees to open up and talk.  If the employee does not want to talk – encourage them to seek GP advise.  Some organisations offer an employee assistance program (telephone support).  Such program assists employees with personal problems and/or work-related problems. There are a few reputable organisations who offer employers and employees support with stress (telephone and website) such as www.mind.org.uk and www.samaritans.org . Talk through stress busters such as exercise.  Exercising can help reduce tension and stress whilst releasing positive mental endorphins. Exercise can also help with self esteem and may help employee to sleep better. Healthy eating is also another good option to explore with your employee.  Healthy Eating is key.  A well balance diet and getting the right nutrients to stay healthy is fundamental. If the employee is stressed with work, encourage the employee to take regular breaks.  Set smaller and more achievable targets so that they are in control of their work.  Put a performance plan in place so the employee can focus on key tasks. Encourage the employee to take a break away from work – perhaps focus on a short holiday, a couple of days away from the office, a change of scenery. This year, the charity ‘Mind’ is encouraging employers to create a ‘stress awareness space’ at work so staff can share their thoughts and feelings about what makes them stressed.  Trial this and see if staff can open up.  The aim is by sharing information employees maybe able to get some great support and tips. If you have any questions in regards to stress in the workplace please call us on 0333 240 7208 or contact us today.  Image credits – Chamber Canva Pro

As part of our young professional programme, Co.next, we launched a Mentor Monday series in 2022 offering 1-hour free mentoring sessions with business leaders.

But what is mentoring and how can it benefit young professionals?

A mentor is someone who shares their knowledge and experience to help someone grow and develop as well as providing support and guidance. Mentors can help you identify and set specific goals tailored to your career aspirations and life goals. Not only does a mentor help to motivate you about your career, but they can also help you manage job expectations through the experience of their own career. A mentor can help you work to your best potential, giving you the confidence you need to progress in your chosen career by developing your strengths and identifying weaknesses that you can work on. In addition to this, having a mentor may help improve your wellbeing, by setting out clear career goals and working through potential obstacles giving you a sense of focus and achievement.

How can mentoring benefit young professionals?

A lot of young professionals who are interested in developing their careers seek mentorship. In a post COVID-19 world, career paths have changed, diverted, or completely changed and mentorship has become even more important and beneficial than before. Mentoring goes beyond education and works closely with the mentee to provide long-term goals and steps on how to get there.

Speaking from experience, the mentor can give examples of how they started and how they climbed the career ladder to where they are today. Mentors can provide accountability to ensure that goals are being met and mentees are working towards their ultimate long-term goal. After the huge success of our Mentor Mondays in 2022, we are pleased to bring this offering back to those under 35 for 2023.

Norfolk is full of talented businessmen and women and they’re able to offer a wide range of knowledge and experience during our sessions. View our Mentors and dates here.

Interested in being a Co.next Mentor? Please complete this form to get involved

Looking for a Co.next Mentor? Please complete this form to get involved

Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is with Izzy Lerpiniere | East Norfolk Sixth Form College. This week’s podcast is with Izzy Lerpiniere, High Schools and Alumni Coordinator at East Norfolk Sixth Form in Gorleston, a top performing sixth form for Great Yarmouth & Waveney. Izzy coordinated the Eco-Schools campaign for the college, completing the project and application work, and achieved their Green Flag accreditation with a distinction! “We are an education provider, so funding and regulations are governed by external organisations, however we have the power of lots of young people who hold sustainability a priority –  and we are able to harness this and use it in our sustainability strive.” With her new role as High Schools Coordinator, Izzy talks about her hope to run sustainability workshops with high school students, and is also keen to do more sustainability engagement with primary schools, through working with our Schools & Community Champion. Izzy is also working with the UKSSN (UK Schools for Sustainability Network) and is involved with our Business Climate Leaders programme – You can view Izzy’s profile here Listen to the full podcast below Short on time? Why not listen to Izzy’s advice for under 35s below East Norfolk Sixth Form  A welcome from the Principal, Dr Catherine Richards Contact us 

Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is talking to Thomas Panton, CEO & sustainability expert at Canopey.com (formerly Greenr). “Your home for better buying. Quantified impact data, ethical brands, better impact products. Fight back against the big-boy polluters, it’s time to Bin B*zos and Buy Better.” Thomas is CEO and resident sustainability veteran at Canopey, having worked in the industry for a decade with organisations like Greenpeace UK and Surfers Against Sewage. As a previous startup founder, Climate Change MSc student, and LinkedIn Top Green Voice, Thomas is Canopey’s lucky volunteer when it comes to speaking at events, and talks to Haze on all things sustainable – from crowdfunding, angel investors, hot summers to how perfectionism often hinders the progress we need to make in the climate change movement. Thomas Panton is an experienced speaker for the London Speaker Bureau in the environment sector, spending his time educating, inspiring, and engaging different audiences to begin their journey to become more sustainable. He also talks about mental health in high pressure roles, and advises other founders on wellbeing and making tough decisions. We’re proud to have Thomas as a Business Climate Leader for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Thomas is Co-creator of The Topic, with Nadiah Arif. A podcast that talks about everything from climate change to human rights, raising awareness on these important issues and educating people on how to get more involved in challenging the status quo. He is also Founder of Festovers, upcycling leftover consumer waste. One of IQ Mag’s Green Guardians. BBC Oxford’s expert on festival tent waste and sustainability. Listen to the full podcast below     Canopey.com We’re here to take sustainability mainstream.

We’re not just building a shopping platform, we’re building a community of people and brands that want to create a greener future.

We want to make it easier for everyone to shop more ethically and become a platform that educates people on sustainability issues so they can learn how to create the change they want to see. Our vision is to make sustainable living, living.

Good value, better values

We’re not just about making shopping more ethical: better values are at the core of everything we do. From creating a diverse and talented team, to ensuring our marketing is accessible.

Canopey blogs Sell with us  Contact us

Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is chatting to Lorraine Bliss, MBE and CEO of St Edmunds Society. Lorraine is heading up a dedicated, passionate team at St Edmunds Society. St Ed’s are the Leading provider of employability skills for young people,  providing support for young people living in poverty and struggling with mainstream school. Lorraine talks about the difficulties, challenges, and wonderful successes that every student at St Ed’s faces and goes through. From the challenges of funding, and donated kitchens for the students to fit, to their recent awards ceremony earlier this year at The Halls in Norwich, Loraine’s determination and passion for her resilient students shines – she remembers every student and each and every story. Since recording the podcast we are thrilled that St Ed’s won at the recent CSJ Awards! Enormous Co.ngratulations to Lorraine and everyone at the St Ed’s family! You can listen to the full podcast below Short on time? Listen to the bitesize Co.next version here St Edmunds Society are a Norwich-based charity, offering vocational training and employability skills training to young people aged 16-18 (or up to 25 if you have an EHCP). We work with tutors and in partnership with industry experts, to give young people the skills and experience to build their future. St Edmund’s Society  Our ‘Wishlist’ “We’re so grateful for every donation, and we can’t do any of our work without the support of The Charitable Trusts and the local business community.” –  To highlight the issues we have here – please come and see us –  To ask for Volunteers –  Tradesmen – would you have time to train our students and share your skills –  Materials – we’re teaching construction and trade but we have a shortage of materials –  Financial donations This podcast was Sponsored by Norse | B2B Co.mmunication Sponsors 2022

Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in today’s episode Haze Carver is chatting with Jordan Domin-Goddard, Founder of Curlyworm Creative Jordan talks to Haze about Curlyworm’s beginnings in 2019, keeping it going through covid when she lost all her income overnight, up to building her agency from a 5 figure turnover in 2 years to the point where she is bringing in someone else to join the team. If you missed Jordan’s workshop at our recent flagship B2B event, then listen in to this brilliant podcast to find out more about female empowerment, job titles with a twist, and working your socks off as a family-run business. We’re proud anti-hustlers You won’t find us bragging about being part of the “5am club” in fact, we love a good lie-in. Curlyworm Creative was founded to give us the freedom to live life on our terms. And that’s exactly what we do for our clients. Hell, we’ve even helped people give up their 9-5s, all through our awesome content. Here’s a little more about us… Work with Curlyworm Website: https://www.curlywormcreative.com/ Techniques recommended by Jordan in the podcast  Cycle syncing The Pomodoro Technique  This podcast was Sponsored by Norse | B2B Co.mmunication Sponsors 2022

International Men’s Day is approaching, and we spoke to Jason Carlton, Director of Uptech on the importance of raising awareness of mental health in organisations. “International Men’s Day is a good talking point to embrace the people around us and take the opportunity to check in with loved ones, family members, friends and work colleagues on how there are….is anything troubling them that they may be willing to share and open up with. A high percentage of men are very good at masking their true thoughts and feelings and not sharing with others with their real problems. We have the tendency to allow our thoughts to build up challenges and problems that confront us which in turn can trigger our vulnerabilities that leads to an unclear state of mind into what we think is the way out. Our mental state and wellbeing is clearly not just down to gender or age its a massive problem across for board and is wrapped around different layers in what is perceived to fit in culturally and accepted in our environments and communities which can isolate us and single us out and have a huge impact on our mental wellbeing feeling alone. If there is a takeaway in awareness of mental health issues – I would encourage business owners – leaders to roll out mental health champion training within their organisations. For family members and friends to get involved in your local organisations within your community in learning skills be part of how you can help. It’s so important with many of us losing someone because we couldn’t see the symptoms …. So to be able to try and recognise when someone is screaming for help but no one hears them! From personal experience first-hand what I know now has helped me understand more about having the tools and the ability to help others and point them to seek the right help before it’s too late. Being a mental health champion is not about being the fixer or giving professional advice, for me it’s being the beacon and being able to act when there are obvious signs, when talking to someone who may well be suffering on the inside but doesn’t know how or won’t cry for help!” Find out more about International Men’s Day here.