In todays’ podcast Haze Carver AKA The Zinger talks with the brilliant Mark Keeler, Director of Keeler Recruitment, an agency that specialises in finance and Accountancy. They are joined by the equally brilliant Nigel Cushion. Nigel is an Investor in Mark’s business and his Mentor, he is also Founder of leadership mentoring business – Nelsonspirit.
Mark share’s his journey, from running a new business against the backdrop of Lockdown, how he grew Keeler from 1 person to a team of 5 in just under two years, smashed his sales budget in the first year and also how he found time to work on some incredible and exciting initiatives last year.
Specialists in Accountancy & Finance Recruitment
Keeler Recruitment’s aim is to build a great company through developing value-adding, long term relationships with our clients, and developing access to leading candidates.
In this podcast, we’re joined by Chris Elliott, Marketing Manager at The Feed, a social enterprise with a mission to motivate change in people to prevent poverty, hunger and homelessness in Norwich.
Find out how The Feed is supporting and nourishing Norwich, through their incredible projects. Chris talks about an incredible 2021, as they opened three new cafes at Waterloo Park and in NUA and Kettle Foods, are growing their catering business and how this growth allowed them to recruit more people to support clients on their path back into work having faced issues like mental ill health, addiction, poverty.
Everything we do works towards our vision of ‘a community free from poverty’.
Every year, on average around 1,300 people in your local area are diagnosed with cancer, and an increasing number of people are facing this frightening and life-changing diagnosis, sometimes alone.
Hope for Tomorrow have been partnered with Norfolk & Norwich University NHS Foundation Trust since 2021, helping local cancer patients receive their treatment closer to them. Based at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, ‘Amara’ visits Beccles, Attleborough, Fakenham and Dereham. From January – December 2021, 697 patient treatments have been delivered on ‘Amara’ and so far, 304 patient treatments in 2022.
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are also utilising one of our mobile cancer care units, treating patients in Beccles, Pakefield, Caister, Bradwell and Lowestoft. Since April 2021, 940 patient treatments have been delivered on board.
If you’ve had to reassess and shelve some of your businesses goals, then listen in to today’s episode as Andy will share some top tips for Visioning and setting measurable goals to help you grow.
Andy Gray is a Local Enterprise Manager at NatWest and is responsible for supporting businesses across the East of England through a range of programmes, services and partnerships all aimed at enabling local enterprises to flourish. This activity includes work with the local LEP, one to one mentoring and attendance at local events.
Amongst the programmes Andy will be supporting is NatWest’s Business Builder. Business Builder has been developed and tailored to support businesses and entrepreneurs at all stages in their development whether they are just starting out or already established. The programme is free, and participants don’t have to be a NatWest customer to join. Business Builder includes a portal which hosts modular content of bitesize, self-lead modules which cover the three main pillars of business support: growth, mindset and financial support. It also includes access to a Facebook group with more than 5,000 members to share skills and experiences with.
With lots of everyday services moving online, from healthcare to shopping, access to technology is becoming vital to our day to day lives. But some in society face major challenges when trying to access the world online.
In the UK it’s estimated that 16.3 million adults lack core digital skills, and 1.9 million homes have no access to the internet – meaning there is a whole section of society which needs support to ensure they can access the opportunities presented by the digital world.
The digital divide has always existed but has become more evident in the last year as the Covid-19 pandemic forced big parts of our lives – including work, school, and socialising – to move online. As a result of this, now, more than ever, work is being done to tackle the issue. In order to bridge the divide, people need access to three key things: equipment, connectivity and skills.
Currently, charities up and down the country are working to ensure everyone has access to technology. CityFibre has worked to support this, partnering with charities including The Hive, a digital library which loans equipment to those that need it, and Donate Digital, which upgrades and redistributes donated equipment.
A device is just the beginning – a reliable internet connection is vital to accessing online services. CityFibre is investing up to £4 billion to bring the best connectivity – Full Fibre – within reach of up to eight million homes, 800,000 businesses and 400,000 public sector sites.
Working with councils and housing associations across the UK, including here in Norwich our whole city approach ensures that everyone has the same opportunity to access the network.
We are also working to ensure that people have the skills and confidence to use technology. CityFibre has supported various charities across the UK who work with the over 55s to help them develop the skills they need to get online. We are also supporting the next generation, working with coding workshops to help young people and their families develop technology skills.
Our Full Fibre networks also support the development of skills, as a reliable and fast connection ensures that people have a good experience online, encouraging them to explore technology and make full use of the opportunities it brings.
While the last year has made the digital divide more obvious than ever, it has also acted as a catalyst with more people working to tackle the problem both locally and nationally. There is still a lot to be done but working together we can all make a difference.
Our investment into community-wide Full Fibre networks is an important step in getting more people online, but there is lots we can do as individuals too. Don’t throw out your old technology – donate it to charity; and if you see someone struggling, support them to get online. This will make sure that as we move into a new, more digital world, no-one gets left behind.
To find out more or register an interest in the service go to cityfibre.com/east
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.
Ann from Holt has terminal cancer but has hailed her local mobile cancer care unit as ‘transformational’ as she undergoes regular cancer treatment during the COVID pandemic. Ann needs to receive cancer treatment as part of her routine for the rest of her life and started using ‘Amara’ after being advised by an NHS nurse that it might improve her cancer experience.
Ann told us “I have been shielding for over a year now and had to undertake a 50 mile journey each time I needed treatment. At the time of the COVID variant, and as an at-risk, clinically vulnerable person, it was frightening going into the hospital and seeing warning signs everywhere.”
“This was a real ordeal for me as it took such a long time with travel, parking and waiting for my appointment. I would have to muster energy just to attend the appointment and it was terribly draining, along with the treatment itself.”
Ann adds, “I am so glad that I found out about Hope for Tomorrow; it really has transformed my life. I am now actually elated to go for treatment as I can be back home within the hour because of the 7-mile journey. It’s made a huge difference to my day. Hope for Tomorrow really has changed my life and attitude to treatment because I now have no additional fatigue and no stress.”
“I am living my best life, watching YouTube and history channels, and I also do voluntary work rehoming dogs. Despite the cancer and side effects, this is definitely my best decade.”
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.
This week’s episode is based around a quote from the business icon that is, Dolly Parton “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose”. Becky makes the argument that attaching your personal values to your work, makes for clearer messaging within your business, from your reputation through to recruitment. Her and Mark debate the idea of not leaving business to chance, and how living and working consciously is important, and not having your core values as part of your business plan can be detrimental to its success.
Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk
25 February 2019– Berwick – Simpsons Malt has revealed that Diageo Global Supply employee Richard Moxom is this year’s recipient of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) Simpsons Malt Award.
The award recognises Richard’s success in achieving the highest percentage mark in the Diploma in Distilling Module One Examination for 2018.
Currently based in Dublin, Richard holds the role of Beer Operational Excellence Quality Manager for West and South Africa at the international firm. Enthusiastic about expanding his knowledge and training within the distilling sector, Richard took on the diploma with the backing of his employer having noted an increasing focus on spirit and RTD innovation within his role. He sees the IBD Diploma in Distilling as a great way to expand his knowledge in this area and apply it to some of the issues he faces day to day.
Speaking about the recent award, Richard Simpson, Vice Chairman of Simpsons Malt said: “We are very proud of our association with the IBD as we believe that recognising talent within the industry is the best way of developing much-needed skills for the betterment of the brewing and distilling industries. We wish Richard a huge congratulations for his outstanding achievement.
“There is so much innovation within the sector right now, which has created some really exciting opportunities for individual brewers and distillers, as well as companies. We wish Richard continued success in his career.”
Richard Moxom added: “I would like to thank both the IBD and Simpsons Malt for my award – I am delighted to have claimed the prize. My wife has previously won the Hough Award for highest marks in the Master Brewer exam, so this allows me to catch up to her a bit!”
IBD CEO Dr Jerry Avis concluded: “The IBD is extremely proud of its association with Simpsons Malt as this award provides tangible recognition of outstanding success in the gateway exam to the Diploma. Great technical knowledge will always underpin the great quality products that comprise the backbone of our industry. I commend Richard for his superb performance and wish him success for his remaining Diploma in Distilling exam.”
Recognising his achievement, Richard Moxom will receive a £500 cheque presented at the IBD Scottish Section Dinner next month.
Previous winners of the Simpsons Malt Award include Elgin-based Peter Milne who is also employed by Diageo, Elgin Isaeblla Wemyss from Wemyss Development in Scotland, Flavien Desoblin, owner of the Brandy Library Lounge in New York and Tambudzai Makunde of African Distillers Limited.
You KNOW social media is important for your business. But who has the time to post every day, engage with followers, and keep up with trends? (Spoiler: most small biz owners don’t!)
The longer you leave it, the harder it gets. Your competitors are showing up, building trust, and driving sales—while your socials gather dust.
We take the stress off your plate! Smash Marketing creates engaging, results-driven content that attracts the right audience. No fluff, just real growth.
Monthly meetings, no long contracts, and a team that actually listens to what you need.
“I am not the most confident person. Like a lot of people, I suffer from imposter syndrome & would rather be at the back of a room blending into the wall. I was promoted to Director of Barkers Photo Fun Ltd earlier this year and have gone from dealing with the admin side and running our photo booths to starting to go out and network & promote the business further. Which is daunting & exciting at the same time!
First of all, my thanks to Caroline Ellis who heads up the Co.next programme for the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. She had helped me, given me great advice and is a big supporter of personal development which is why she started the Co.next programme. The course I attended on Marketing hosted by Co.next and Yawn Marketing was amazing & I look forward to other courses she is putting on!
I went along to Coastal Co.nnect at Great Yarmouth Town Hall and got into conversation with the Marketing Manager from Aston Shaw Accountants who also recently joined the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. Within a few minutes Zain had asked me what we do and right time and right place, they have now booked our booth for their company’s summer party – we can’t wait 🎉
I was always a bit dubious about networking, but I guess as one of my colleagues says: you may not get any business when you go to a networking event, but you will never get the business if you don’t go!
Oh – and a quick thank you to Beks Houston from Smash Marketing who did a talk about SEO and getting websites seen online. We will definitely be using some of the great tips!”
