Norwich BID promises to create a voice for the entire business community, irrespective of size or sector. The BID will help us to increase visitor numbers, create an even greener, cleaner city andwill meet the aspirations of our ambitious business community. A ‘yes’ vote for the BID gives thebusinesses – control over 100% of the BID budget which could be as much as £3million over the next five years. Please read the attached brochure for information on all the proposed projects and initiatives that Norwich BID will deliver to put Norwich first.
This money will be spent, according to local priorities to make improvements relevant to Norwich and that are important to the ongoing success of your business. In these challenging economic times, the Norwich BID will give us additional capital to invest in communications to promote and market our welcoming, safe city across the UK and abroad. These will be additional services and do not subsidise or replace funding for services provided by the local authorities. The resources will enable us to attract new inward commercial investment and drive footfall to our vibrant retail destinations.
Cozens-Hardy is delighted to announce that the firm will be supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) this year.
As part of the firm’s sponsorship of the 2012 Norwich Triathlon, the Tri-Anglia Triathlon Club (the event organisers) has also nominated the EAAA as its official charity for the event which takes place on Sunday 1st July, at Whitlingham Country Park.
Said Philippa Rudd, Marketing Partner, Cozens-Hardy:
“Our staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance this year and we are delighted that Tri-Anglia has pledged its support for the Norwich Triathlon as well. One of our employees was very ill as a baby and an air ambulance played a critical part in her treatment – and I think everyone here at Castle Chambers appreciates what an incredible service the charity offers.”
Added Mark Philo, Race Director, Norwich Triathlon:
“The East Anglian Air Ambulance is a terrific local charity and it’s one that I’ve personally raised money for in the past. I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to nominate them as our official charity for the 2012 Norwich Triathlon. I hope that many of our competitors will take this opportunity to badger friends and family to sponsor them to complete the Triathlon – and we’ve uploaded a sponsorship form on our website to facilitate this.”
Jess Down, Area Fundraising Manager for the East Anglian Air Ambulance said:
“I am delighted that the staff at Cozens-Hardy have kindly chosen to support us, it’s wonderful news. We really look forward to working with them on some exciting initiative and events, including the Norwich Triathlon. The support of local people and businesses is invaluable to us and we are really grateful to have the support of such a prominent legal services provider.”
Anyone wishing to donate money to the EAAA, by supporting the Cozens-Hardy teams participating in the Business Challenge division of the Norwich Triathlon, can donate money by visiting the firm’s justgiving site: www.justgiving.com/cozenshardyllp.
– Ends –
Editors’ Notes
Despite receiving no direct government funding, the East Anglian Air Ambulance operates two air ambulances, 365 days per year, across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and needs to raise £4.2million a year to maintain the service. It has worked in partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) in developing the service, which operates from Norwich and Cambridge Airports.
For more information about the East Anglian Air Ambulance, contact the charity on 0845 066 9999 or visit its website at www.eaaa.org.uk
For further information please contact Clare Haylett: phone: 07764 270570 and email: clare@clarehaylett.net
By Douglas Crockford ISBN: 978-0596517748 Every JavaScript developer with a pre-existing working knowledge of JavaScript should read this book. JavaScript is a powerful and varied language, but it was developed in a hurry and there’s plenty wrong with it. This book outlines the good bits of the language and highlights the bad bits and the bits you should just avoid. There’s also a fair amount about the author’s JSLint project in the appendices. This book was written in 2008 and probably needs updating. It’s hard going in places and the diagrams did little to nothing to help my understanding. I’ve come away still wondering about new and constructors, but I know I just need to review them again when I need them and it’ll get clearer. I’m still not sure which function declaration syntax is best, but I’m not sure it matters too much. Click here to read the blog on our site.
Sumo Salad (www.sumosalad.com), an Australian fresh and healthy salad bar chain, has recently launched its first franchise in the UK. The outlet was opened in Norwich by Mike Dodd (centre). Advised by Ed Savory (right), an Associate in Leathes Prior’s Franchising team, and Mark Noakes (left), Managing Director of Morgan Woods, Sumo Salad has been trading for a few weeks and, assisted by the beautiful weather we are enjoying (!), seems to be going from strength to strength.
Ed Savory: “Advising franchisees is a key part of Leathes Prior’s offering of a full legal service in the franchising industry. Working with Mike was a pleasure due to his considerable commercial experience and rational approach to the obstacles that we had to overcome. It is always hard when advising the first franchisee but then again there does tend to be more room for negotiation with the franchisor. Advising alongside Mark was a joy. Mark is highly communicative and provides sensible commerical accountancy advice showing a willingness to think outside the box. It is one of the perks of the job to then be able to visit the outlet, see a new business and, in this case, enjoy a delicious salad. I wish Mike every success.”
Mark Noakes: “Fresh food and fresh ideas I think best describes Mike’s business and way of thinking. From day one of this project I have had no doubt that Mike would make a success of Sumo Salad. His sound judgement, enthusiasm for his product and ability to get things done has made it a pleasure advising him alongside Ed. Sumo Salad is a welcome addition of healthy food to my working lunches. I expect that many customers will enjoy the experience of having another leading franchise brand in our city. I look forward to working with Mike and Ed in the future and long may Sumo Salad be on the menu!”
Mike Dodd: “Without the specialist and professional advice I received from both Mark and Ed I would not have been able to get my Sumo Salad franchise off the ground. I owe enormous gratitude to them – not only in respect of their initial advice but also in respect of their ongoing support and, importantly, their continuing interest in my business. It is refreshing to work with advisers who are modern in their approach and take genuine care.”
A renewable technology evaluation considering a wind turbine and solar PV system has been completed on behalf of a West Norfolk farm. A 50 kW solar system and 11 kW wind turbine were evaluated in terms of suitability and financial viability with a return on investment identified of 8.8% for the solar PV and 10.9% for the turbine. The return on investment reflects the changes to the Feed in Tariff scheme which will come into effect from July and October respectively.
If you want to achieve an excellent return on investment, contact us to find out how more.
Land owners and farm estates have a lot to gain from impartial and independent advice and Clean Energy is pleased to join the CLA to provide services to its members. Impartiality and careful thought is the key to ensuring renewables are integrated into the countryside and that the financial and carbon saving benefits are realistic. With comprehensive experience in this area, Clean Energy looks forward to working with CLA members to ensure their renewable energy needs are met.
Contact us if you are a farm or estate and we will be pleased to help you.
With rising energy costs a main driver and the commitment to offering the people of Watton and surrounding areas top class facilities, Watton Sports Centre has commissioned Clean Energy to undertake a renewable electricity and heating evaluation. With part funding from RevActive, the evaluation will enable the sports centre to make an easy and fully informed decision on how to invest in renewables and reduce energy costs.
To ensureGreat Yarmouth Borough Councilprovide the best support, the Economic Development Unit and enterpriseGY team would like to know how your company is performing to ensure that we are better placed to support businesses in the Borough.
If you could take the time to complete the short questionnaire below it would be very helpful. All responses will be confidential and used only to measure the current business climate in the Borough, to improve the services that we offer and to identify gaps and opportunities.
The survey has now closed – thank you for all your responses. A short summary will be posted soon.
At the invitation of Jess Asato, MP for Lowestoft, Co-Chair of the East of England All Party Parliamentary Group and member of the Education Select Committee, representatives from the Norfolk & Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) went to Westminster yesterday to debate what the future direction of the skills landscape in Norfolk and Suffolk could look like, particularly in light of forthcoming devolution.
The Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP puts the employer at the heart of the local skills system and is delivered collaboratively by the Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce. Joining them in Westminster to consider the current skills landscape and the future landscape, were business leaders, key stakeholders from colleges/providers and the public sector. Plus a range of cross-party MPs from both counties.
The group took the opportunity to review the current local skills landscape – its complexity, the potential for duplication, and the continued existence of skills gaps. They also took into account the large number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) such a Sizewell C, National Highways schemes and Reservoirs, as well as Offshore Wind that all have the potential to displace regional skills talent and leave large future skills gaps in some sectors.
All agreed that there was an urgent need to continue to gain even more collaboration across all sectors and that, as a region, we needed to be able to clearly articulate the skills ask to all the mayoral candidates for the Mayoral Combined County Authority. Simplification and a clear direction of travel for the skills landscape would also help support employers understanding of the system and how to access it better.
Commenting on the discussions and the need to gain local political support, Dean Pierpoint, the Skills Director for the Norfolk & Suffolk LSIP, said: “The role of Suffolk and Norfolk Chambers and the LSIP is to develop and draft the next iteration of the LSIP for 2026/2029. We need to ensure that both our MPs and the Mayoral candidates are clear about the growth opportunities and the needs of our local skills system and we thank Jess Asato for bringing us all together in Westminster to debate a collaborative way forward.”
Also in attendance at the meeting was John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, commenting on the need to gain further support for the LSIP and the local skills landscape. He said: “Ensuring that our local skills system works effectively for both employers and learners is critical if Norfolk and Suffolk are to seize the opportunities ahead. This was a timely and proactive discussion, providing a valuable forum to engage with political leaders and share insights from businesses. As we move towards the next stage of the LSIP, we look forward to securing parliamentary support, shaping a clear future for skills across Norfolk and Suffolk.”
With the first quarter of 2012 behind us we look into how the insolvency market has performed based on the statistics recently released by corporate research specialists Hardman & Co.
Corporate Insolvency
The increase in corporate insolvencies for the first quarter of 2012 (512 more cases (+8.8%) than during the last quarter of 2011) was to be expected and reflects the normal seasonal upturn in the post Christmas period. However, the 6,316 new corporate insolvencies in the first quarter of 2012 was also a 4.2% increase on a year-on-year basis and follows three quarters in which numbers reduced quarter-on-quarter.
It is the fifth successive quarter that there has been an increase in corporate insolvencies on a year-on-year basis. However, the rate of growth has decreased in each of the last two quarters. The Insolvency Insights report released by Hardman & Co suggests this may be due to a “benign enforcement environment” which they believe may see the number of corporate insolvencies remain depressed.
Conclusion
It would seem that despite Britain’s slipping back into recession in the first quarter of this year, what Hardman & Co describe as a benign enforcement environment combined with low interest rates may enable many companies to survive in the near future, suppressing growth in the number of corporate insolvencies. However, the future is very uncertain and should interest rates increase or creditor support wain the industry could see a sharp rise in the number of corporate insolvencies.
We would urge the management of any company struggling to meet its liabilities to seek advice. The eventual failure of a business that has traded on in spite of insolvency can have repurcussions for the personal wealth and liberties of those involved in the management of them. Leathes Prior are non-appointment taking insolvency and restructuring specialists who offer advice to the management of struggling businesses with a view to protecting them against the pitfalls of trading in difficult circumstances.