If you have chosen your career and want to start work right away, completing your training and qualification whilst in employment, an apprenticeship is for you.

Cyberattacks on high-street retailers Marks & Spencer and Co-op have sent a clear message to UK businesses: no organisation is too large – or too established – to fall victim to cybercrime. As threats grow more complex, investing in cyber security management is now essential to protect business continuity and reputation. 

At Netmatters, we provide expert cyber security management services to businesses across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and the wider UK. Our services include comprehensive cyber security assessment services, advanced penetration testing, and incident response planning to help organisations stay ahead of emerging risks. 

We also offer free external vulnerability testing – a valuable first step for identifying potential weaknesses in your publicly accessible systems. 

M&S and Co-op Hit by Major Attacks 

Over the Easter weekend, Marks & Spencer experienced a serious cyber breach that disrupted its online operations for weeks. Customer names, contact details, and order histories were exposed – causing not only financial losses but reputational damage and shaken customer trust. 

Co-op faced similar disruption through a supply chain attack that brought deliveries to a standstill, leading to empty shelves and operational setbacks expected to last for weeks. 

These incidents are part of a growing trend. The UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 revealed that 43% of businesses – over 600,000 companies – reported a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months. SME’s specifically lose around £3.5 billion a year to cyber attacks. Phishing remains the most common threat, but ransomware and supply chain attacks like these are increasingly damaging. 

What This Means for Your Business 

Larger retailers might have the resources to recover, but for smaller organisations, a similar attack could be catastrophic. Without regular cyber security assessment services or penetration testing, many businesses won’t detect vulnerabilities until after it’s too late. 

At Netmatters, we offer businesses a free external vulnerability scan. This is a security assessment performed from outside a network to identify potential weaknesses in its publicly accessible systems and services. It simulates attacks from a remote attacker, looking for vulnerabilities in things like web applications, open ports, and exposed services. 

This gives you an easy, no-cost way to gain insight into your risk exposure. 

Real-World Results: Theatre Royal Norwich 

Netmatters recently helped Theatre Royal Norwich, one of the UK’s leading regional theatres, strengthen their cybersecurity posture after they recognised vulnerabilities in their IT infrastructure. 

Through a comprehensive audit and implementation of advanced security measures – including cyber security penetration testing and endpoint protection – we helped them: 

• Identify and close critical security gaps 
• Minimise operational risk 
• Build a sustainable, long-term cyber defence strategy 

This transformation gave Theatre Royal peace of mind and allowed them to focus on delivering excellent experiences without fear of cyber disruption. 

It’s a clear example of how effective cyber security management can protect even the most public-facing organisations. 

The Cost of Inaction Is Too High 

Cybersecurity should not be treated as a one-off investment or a checkbox for compliance. It must form part of your long-term strategy for resilience. The financial and reputational cost of a breach far outweighs the cost of prevention. 

Netmatters is here to help you stay secure with tailored solutions, whether you’re a retail giant or a growing SME. With locations in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, we offer local expertise backed by national experience. 

Start with a free external vulnerability test – and take the first step towards securing your business. 

Don’t wait to become the next headline. 

Visit our Cyber Security page or contact us today to learn how Netmatters can help protect your business from the growing threat of cyberattacks. 

Norwich data centre firm MIGSOLV joins PSTG to offer full tech package to local businesses

Norwich-based data centre operator MIGSOLV – a Norfolk Chamber Gold Patron – has struck a partnership with IT company PSTG to offer a full packaged technology service to local businesses. This includes data centre ‘colocation’, IT system design, computer hardware and support.

MIGSOLV provides IT colocation services from its ultra-secure Gatehouse facility in Norwich – the only major data centre in the Norfolk/Suffolk area. The company provides flexible rack space for public bodies and companies across all sectors securely to site their IT systems. It also provides a service to help customers move into The Gatehouse and comprehensive, round-the-clock support.

Professional Services Technology Group (PSTG) is a provider of computer hardware which provides a comprehensive set of associated services from initial systems design through to support. It operates across many sectors – with particular expertise in health, finance and hospitality – working with vendors including HP, EMC, IBM, Cisco, Dell and Microsoft.

The new partnership enables PSTG to offer its customers a highly secure data centre in the East of England, while it enables MIGSOLV to offer hardware and associated consultancy services. It also enables the two companies to bid jointly for requirements for a full packaged service.

David Manning, Managing Director of MIGSOLV, explains: “The partnership makes great business sense for us, PSTG and our collective customers. We’re now able to call on PSTG’s expertise in computer hardware and related services for clients who want the convenience of an integrated package. We’ve already had customers ask if we can provide a service of this kind. Our relationship with PSTG now makes this possible.”

Colin Woods, Business Development Manager at PSTG, comments: “We need to be able to offer our customers the best data centre services on the market. Our strategy is to team up with independent operators rather than the big players, as we believe that will give our customers better flexibility, value and customer care. MIGSOLV fits the bill perfectly. We’re extremely impressed by the professionalism and security of its Norwich data centre, and I know we’ll work well together to deliver what our customers need.”

For more on MIGSOLV, people should visit www.migsolv.com, call 020 3600 1000 or email enquiries@migsolv.com. For more on PSTG, they should visit https://pstg.co.uk or call 0208 303 7622. 

For more media information & images, please contact:

Tariq Khwaja from TK Associates on:

tariq.khwaja@tk-associates.com

01932 224 212

We’ve designed a tasty new website for Hiltfields, a high quality food products manufacturer. Our brief was to redesign the website to promote their range of food expertise more effectively and increase online enquiries.

The client is very satisfied with the results, especially with lots of new website enquiries. You can see the brand new site at www.hiltfields.com

Bigfork

Intelligent Website Design

01603 513 080

www.bigfork.co.uk

We here at Naked Element are very pleased to announce that Emma Gooderham is our new Commercial Director. Having previously supported other software companies to grow and develop through marketing strategies, sales plans and identifying potential new clients, she is the ideal person to guide Naked Element in our own growth. As a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, as well as one of only a handful of Chartered Directors in the county, she is well placed to add her expertise to our Norwich-based tech company.   After consulting for us back in 2015 it was clear that Emma and Naked Element were a good fit, as she loves what we do and how we do it! “Naked Element develops software to solve business problems through a variety of innovative ways – automating business processes, developing applications that talk to each other, share information and monitor performance. They even create new digital products and services” Emma explains “But it’s also the way in which Naked Element works that makes them different. Using an agile approach to development projects, working closely with clients to demonstrate software and get feedback regularly throughout the project, they can adapt as they progress. It really is a client-centred approach and these are the reasons I love Naked Element and am so pleased to join!”   Having worked with every type of company from start-ups to big financial businesses, Emma will use her years of experience and business acumen to identify and really engage with prospective clients, as well as develop a long term strategy for growth.   If you have a software project on your ‘to do’ list for 2017, why not contact Emma directly?   Email her at emma.gooderham@nakedelement.co.uk Call her on +44 (0) 1603 383458, or +44 (0) 7900 603703   Or you can just connect with her on LinkedIn and she will get in touch with you!

East-Anglia-based Alan Boswell Group has reported further expansion this month, following the launch of its new business, Alan Boswell Risk Management.

The move brings three new faces to the group and enhances the range of business insurance services available to clients, helping them to comply with the law and avoid disruption to their business.

Two new engineering surveyors, Gary Murphy and Terry Hammond, and a risk management administrator, Shannon Waters, join risk management advisers John Neil and Gavin Dearsley, to provide a comprehensive suite of services.

With a wealth of experience across a range of industries, Terry and Gary have significant mechanical knowledge and are qualified to carry out essential engineering inspections. Both are able to perform Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), PSSR and LEV statutory inspections, as well as offer general advice and inspections under The Provision of Use and Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER).

By using one company to advise on insurance, provide risk management advice and carry out inspections, businesses can rely on Alan Boswell Group to coordinate the whole process.

Says Risk Management Adviser John Neil: “Routine engineering inspections are vital to minimising the risks our clients may face. While these are a legal requirement, they also keep the working environment safe and reduce the chances of disruption, thereby reducing their chances of an insurance claim. Our services are already proving popular and we are currently in the process of recruiting a third risk management adviser to meet with demand!”

Group MD Chris Gibbs comments: “We’re always looking to enhance the range of services available to our clients. As such, the expansion of our Risk Management business to include engineering inspection was a natural move. Now our clients don’t need to juggle different companies for insurance, risk management and inspections – they can get a complete package from us, safe in the knowledge they’ll receive the same quality service they’d expect from any part of the Alan Boswell Group.”

The expansion follows the group’s acquisition of Cambridge-based S-Tech Insurance Services Ltd in November last year, bringing the company’s total headcount to in excess of 300 people.

To find out more about Alan Boswell Risk Management, visit www.alanboswell.com/risk or call 01603 967900.

BLM chooses Tiger Eye as iManage support partner

Norwich-based IT firm Tiger Eye Consulting are delighted to announce they have won the support contract from 1st March 2017 to support BLM with their iManage software solution.

BLM, a leading insurance and risk law specialist with 13 offices across the UK and over 1600 staff, has a strong remit of both national and international work, acting for a breadth of international organisations and handling high profile multijurisdictional cases.

The iManage software suite forms a key part of their IT strategy and Tiger Eye are now working closely with the IT team at BLM, led by Abby Ewen, to look at infrastructure, upgrade and mobility projects in 2017 to support staff with their key technology requirements.

Darren Broughton, Head of IT at BLM, explained, “We’re going through a significant period of change in our systems and infrastructure, and we need technical support partners who are able to understand the issues including and beyond the DMS. Dave Wilson and Matt Cleverdon’s combined experience in the sector gives us that confidence.”

The unique combination of expertise at Tiger Eye, with Directors Dave Wilson’s two decades of experience of iManage solutions, and Matt Cleverdon’s long career both as an IT Director inside law firms and as a subject matter expert at HP, gave BLM the confidence that Tiger Eye would deliver the level of expertise and customer service they required.

Dave comments, “We’re already enjoying working with BLM, and are looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

About Tiger Eye

Tiger Eye is a niche IT consultancy, specialising in Work Product Management, and an EMEA Partner of iManage, DocsCorp, Mimecast and Microsoft, implementing cutting-edge IT solutions across Europe. We focus on providing high calibre consultancy from an experienced, senior team, working in close partnership to plan bespoke solutions that meet all our customers’ business needs, and provide expert technical support and customised development solutions to our iManage customers.

For more information please contact:

Cerys Burcher, Strategic Programme Manager, Tiger Eye Consulting Ltd.

01603 293509, cerysb@tigereyeconsulting.com,  www.tigereyeconsulting.com

This isn’t a new direction for us, it’s just a wonderful acknowledgement of the work we’ve already been doing to support our neurodiverse clients in ways that are flexible, empowering, and truly personalised.

I’ve seen firsthand how different brains bring different strengths, and that’s why our services are all about embracing those differences. Whether it’s creating workflows that adapt to your unique rhythms, building project systems that feel right for you, or simply being a support system when things get busy – we’re here to help every step of the way.

This accreditation is just an “official stamp” on our mission to make sure everyone, including our wonderful neurodiverse clients, feels heard, understood, and set up to thrive.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey so far – let’s keep breaking down barriers and making work, work for everyone!

Want to know more about our services? Take a peek here: www.thecreativedesk.co.uk

Pure is offering the chance for one aspiring female leader, working at a deserving organisation in the East of England, to receive a part-funded place on its highly successful Women’s Leadership Programme starting in June.

Applications for the sponsored place are open to female managers and Directors working within social enterprises, not-for-profit organisations, early stage start-ups and SMEs across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

The place on the programme has been sponsored by the Blossom Charity, which supports women in the East of England to be the best they can be. The aim is to make this course more accessible to local organisations which may not have had the budget to develop their talent pipeline in this way.

Lynn Walters, Director at Pure, said: “We’re delighted that Bridget McIntyre, founder and trustee of the Blossom Charity, has chosen to sponsor a place for the third year running. Bridget has been a regular guest speaker at our Women in Leadership events. Having held several Board positions, including UK Chief Executive of Royal Sun Alliance, and currently sitting on the Boards of Adnams, Jarolds and Saga as a Non-Executive Director, she talks passionately about how attending a leadership course made a huge impression on her life. Being able to make similar opportunities available to other women was just one of her inspirations behind creating the Blossom Charity and associated social enterprise Dream On.”

The Women’s Leadership Programme has already supported more than 60 aspiring female leaders in the region. It was first developed by professional recruitment specialists Pure and People & Performance Ltd in 2014. It is designed to help women strengthen their leadership skills, develop their confidence and grow their network.  

Lynn added: “It’s extremely positive to see more and more employers realising that diversity and inclusion is vital for innovation and to gaining a competitive advantage. However, there is still work to be done. A survey by Birketts and PwC revealed that one in eight employees in East Anglia felt they had experienced overt barriers to their career progression because of their gender. Our aim is to inspire organisations across the region to create inclusive work environments where any barriers to progression are removed and everyone can work in a way that makes them feel productive and engaged. Not only does this programme help women to develop their authentic leadership skills, it also equips them with the ability to work with their employers to dig out any problems, find positive solutions and to build a pipeline of more women progressing into leadership roles.”

Previous companies to have benefited from a sponsored place include the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Rand Europe and Fauna and Flora International. All delegates involved in the programme remain part of a strong alumni network developing across the East of England.

Lynn Morgan, Chief Executive of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, said: “I have been delighted with the way that the leadership programme has given my team member the time and opportunity to explore issues around leadership and personal development with other very bright young women. The facilitation on the programme has been first rate and I believe the participants have benefitted significantly by being involved.”

The Blossom Charity sponsored place is offered for the programme which starts in June. It includes four days of facilitated learning and two individual coaching sessions. The full cost of the programme is usually £2,950 but this will be reduced to £1,475 for the chosen delegate. To apply for the place, or to nominate a member of your team, email lucy.plumb@prs.uk.com with a CV and covering letter. 

Alan Boswell Group, one of the UK’s leading insurance brokers and financial advisers, today announced its acquisition of Sutcliffe Solloway & Company Limited (trading as Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers), expanding its business into Lincolnshire.

The move sees the Norwich-based group’s gross written premium figure rise from £85million to £90million. Since its formation in 1982, the company has grown to become one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the UK, with strong capital reserves and more than 50,000 clients across the country.

The acquisition will also see a further 25 members of staff, based at offices in Boston and Grimsby, join the group, bringing the total number of employees to 325.

The news follows the acquisition of S-Tech Insurance Services in Cambridge in late-2016, and the launch of its risk management arm last month.

With a heritage dating back to 1977, Sutcliffe arranges a wide range of commercial insurance products, with specialisms in the marine trade and heavy industry, as well as providing personal lines including home, car and landlord insurance.

Says Executive Chairman Alan Boswell: “We’re pleased to make this announcement as we head into a new financial year. The Group has been growing at a steady rate and Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers is a natural fit for our continuing expansion, offering services complementary to our own.”

Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers’ Managing Director Mike Kirman further comments: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Sutcliffe. Not only does it enhance the range of services we offer to existing clients – including risk management — but it also brings the stability and support of a larger group to the business.”

This apprenticeship standard is designed to equip process operators with the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours to work effectively in a dynamic food and drink manufacturing environment.