Spire Solicitors LLP is pleased to report on the success from two members of staff based in the Norwich branch who have completed the RideLondon-Surrey 100 event on July 29th, 2018.
It follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside. “Developed by the Mayor of London and his agencies in 2013, Prudential RideLondon is the world’s greatest festival of cycling.” As credited to the official website.
Lisa Edwards, HR Director, and Kim Dring, Norwich Receptionist battled the torrential rain and challenges faced by the day and completed 86 miles and 46 miles respectively. The duo also raised money for the firm they work for with a £1 per mile initiative, beating the £200 target and raising a total of £275, which will be donated back to the Spire Charitable Trust which donates money throughout the year to worthwhile caused and charities alike.
Ejike Ndaji, Trustee of the Spire Charitable Trust commented “I applaud the effort made by our colleagues in the Ride100 event last weekend, as well as their initiative to continue raising money for the Spire Charitable Trust, which since its formation at the end 2016, the has raised over £6,000.
At Leading Business
Services, we believe that good advice begins with great people. As we celebrate
our 10th year supporting businesses across the UK, we’re proud to introduce the
team helping us deliver practical, compassionate, and effective solutions in
times of change.
Jamie Playford –
Director & Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Jamie founded Leading
in 2015 after nearly two decades in the insolvency industry. He first gained
his licence in 2009 and built a successful East Anglian practice before
launching Leading. Under Jamie’s leadership, the firm has grown to four offices
across East Anglia, the Midlands and London, and a 70-strong team focused on
helping businesses and individuals navigate financial difficulty with
confidence.
Alex Dunton – Licensed
Insolvency Practitioner
Starting out in London
with a focus on complex, litigation-led insolvency, Alex gained his licence in
2015 and joined Leading in 2019. Now managing his own team, Alex brings
extensive experience in formal appointments across East Anglia and the
Midlands, combining technical knowledge with a practical, people-first
approach.
Michael Roome –
Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Michael joined us in
April 2025 to lead our Midlands expansion from our Nottingham base. With nearly
30 years in the industry, Michael has advised directors and lenders, helping
them develop and implement tailored recovery strategies.
Liam Walker –
Partnership Manager
Liam’s background spans
over 20 years in business finance, including 14 years running his own firm.
With deep experience in turnaround finance and SME support, he now heads our
partner relationships, working with introducers, banks, and advisors to connect
clients with the right support.
Claire Pitt – Business
Manager
Claire
plays a central role in keeping the business running smoothly – from marketing
and professional partnerships to HR, wellbeing and recruitment. With a focus on
building trusted relationships with accountants, IFAs and lawyers, Claire
ensures our clients receive well-rounded, holistic support.
We’re proud to have grown into a team of over 70
professionals, each bringing a unique mix of skills, qualifications and
experience, from licensed insolvency practitioners and finance specialists to
client care and support staff. While our backgrounds differ, we all share the
same goal: supporting individuals and businesses through change with empathy,
clarity and expertise.
Your Partner in
Planning for a Stronger Tomorrow
At Leading Business
Services, we believe that no business should wait until a crisis hits.
Whether you’re
experiencing financial strain or simply want a health check to strengthen your
foundations, our business advisory team is here to help.
You can contact our friendly and experienced
team on 01603 552028 or email us at mail@leading.uk.com.
When Big C’s founders embarked on their vision to deliver outstanding cancer care in Norfolk and Waveney, it’s unlikely that, 37 years ago, even they could have dreamt of the positive impact of the wide-reaching and innovative care services that are today provided locally by Big C and the substantial investments made into cancer research and medical equipment made by the charity.
Having been through their own cancer journeys and endured lengthy travel to receive treatment, David Moar and Clive Bamford, passionately wanted to ensure that local people had access to the very best treatment and support, close to where they live. From its first small, but important, fundraising project providing chemotherapy equipment at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Big C has grown into an impressive organisation which funds specialist life-saving equipment and internationally significant research projects based at the Norwich Research Park. These projects greatly benefit local people and have a global impact on our understanding and treatment of the many types of cancer. The charity has also established three Big C centres located at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, in Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth and a hub at the Louise Hamilton Centre in Gorleston. These centres provide an oasis of specialist emotional and practical support for those with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones away from a clinical environment. Since current CEO, Dr Chris Bushby, joined the organisation in 2015, the charity’s turnover has risen from £2.5 million to £2.9 million. Outgoing Deputy CEO and Director of Operations, Nikki Morris, has shown outstanding leadership in her role as Deputy CEO, in strategic business planning and as an ambassador for the charity. She has also been instrumental in creating innovative, caring support and information services in Big C’s acute and community facilities, which are recognised as pioneering. Nikki has helped create and deliver a robust panel of scientific expertise to review complex cancer research projects and helped develop the processes needed to achieve the management of investment into medical equipment. Nikki, with her team, also developed a comprehensive educational strategy with two streams of focus and priority – health and wellbeing and careers in medicine, research and the third sector. Nikki leaves the charity in September after seven years, to take up a role as CEO of a national London based charity and therefore Big C is currently recruiting for her role (see below). Dr Chris Bushby, CEO at Big C, says, “Nikki’s passion has been 110% in support of providing the best outcomes for those individuals, families and communities affected by cancer and we know that she will take this passion to her new Chief Executive role. I and the Trustees are delighted for Nikki and we are not surprised at this achievement. We are currently recruiting for a new Deputy CEO and Director of Charitable Operations and we are very keen to hear from interested candidates keen to bring their specialist knowledge of cancer and ideas, to become the clinical lead and ambassador for the charity. They will be joining Big C at a very exciting and pivotal moment in its history as we forge ahead with our focused programme of strategic growth and positioning.” Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Operations Norwich, Norfolk, East Anglia £60,000 per annumIn addition to Deputy Chief Executive responsibilities, as Clinical Lead, you will strategically develop and lead our Charitable Operations across Norfolk, Waveney and areas of East Anglia. This includes our Support and Information services, Big C’s Research and Equipment Grants process and also Big C’s Education Programmes. For further information, or to apply, please see https://www.big-c.co.uk/vacancies. Closing date: Monday, 27 August 2018 Interviews: Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 September 2018
Finance Shop have invested in a new website from Bigfork. Our brief was to design a new website that was inline with their new branding and appealed to high worth investors.
The Norfolk Enterprise Festival will take place on the 22nd September from 11am – 6pm, in the beautiful grounds surrounding the West Acre Theatre. The vibrant festival will be hosting Norfolk-based entrepreneurs, start-ups, micro businesses, and SMEs from across the whole county! We’ll also be welcoming investors for the ‘Angels Den’, interested in becoming part of the most exciting projects happening in Norfolk today.
All attendees are welcome to have families in tow. Be prepared for creative arts workshops, forest schools, nature trails and delicious local food and drink stands, as well as inspirational speakers from the top of Norfolk’s business community. Let’s inspire Norfolk and ensure it’s a hub of entrepreneurial activity! Register now for this free event
Visit our website for live updates of the event programme. We have a few last spots for speakers, so if you own a business and wish to share your knowledge contact us through our website! www.norfolkenterprisefestival.co.uk
In March 2018 the New Anglia Enterprise Adviser Network hosted ‘Bridging the Gap’ – The New Anglia Careers and Enterprise Conference which involved over 150 delegates in discussions around the importance of effective employer engagement and career education. Our ethos, to place students at the heart of the event; starting with a ‘real life’ recruitment process we offered positions to eleven student volunteers, who helped to support and run the event.
Students reflected post event;
“I really enjoyed my interview; it was equally challenging and stimulating and gave me experience of an interview situation …. I was pleased to be able to contribute to a conference where the importance of providing young people with experiences that inspire them and raise their aspirations…was highlighted.” – Yr 13 Student, Taverham High School
“The conference was an amazing experience. I learnt so much …. The highlight of the event for me was standing up in front of so many people, being able to say I had performed as well as I could. Coming away and saying that I was so proud of myself was an amazing feeling.” – Yr 10 Student, Wymondham College
“The skills I most enjoyed using on this day were communication skills. There were points that were more difficult than others, but we dealt with it as a team; when we couldn’t find something out we used our initiative and worked together to solve problems.” Yr 9 Student, Litcham High School
“I am still unsure on what I would like to do …. I am interested in engineering and I met a female engineer who spoke to me about her life and what it takes to be a successful woman in STEM” – Yr 10 Student, Wymondham College
The students summed up the themes of the day as collaboration, inspiration and exploration. Their ask of delegates; to continue to increase business engagement with education.
The New Anglia Enterprise Adviser Network gives schools, colleges and businesses the chance to do just this. Volunteers work with education to help them increase and improve the quality of student employer encounters. Find out more here – https://newanglia.co.uk/the-new-anglia-enterprise-adviser-network/.
If you are an SME with aspirations to save money through energy, water or waste efficiency measures or technologies then the Grants4Growth programme can help. A much wider range of interventions then you perhaps think can potentially be funded including;
New heating systems
New lighting units
Building fabric improvement
Fenestration upgrades
Fleet and vehicle replacements
New plant and machinery, and much more
If there is a more efficient alternative to what is currently in use then it is likely that funding can be made available to assist with the capital expenditure.
Equally if you are a Low Carbon and Environmental Products and Services SME company then a small revenue grants fund is available to assist with marketing and promotional activities.
Both ERDF funding streams are subject to eligibility criteria and approval of a Grants Panel. Grants of up to 28% for capital expenditure and up to 30% revenue expenditure are available. Typical grants range from £1,000 to anything up to £20,000 depending on the total cost and whether jobs are secured and created as result.
Specialist Business Brokers are employed by the programme to assist SME’s with checking their eligibility and suitability, and completing the application forms required.
Within the first 8 weeks of the programme businesses have already benefited and many others are in the process of applying for grants. The programme runs until 31st March 2015.
If you are not sure whether your proposed investment qualifies or just want to know what we can fund then please get in touch for an informal chat. If suitable then one of our Busines Brokers can come and see you and talk you through the simple application process.
East Anglian accountants and business advisors, Larking Gowen, has been shortlisted in the Best Rural Professional Services category of the Rural Business Awards for the eastern region. “We’re delighted to have made the shortlist for this prestigious award,” says Larking Gowen Partner, Ashley Smith. “This is a real pat on the back for the team. I’m delighted their expertise and commitment have been recognised in this way. We have been advising rural businesses since we were founded in 1888, and are now one of the largest agricultural accounting specialists in the UK. In fact, we’ve supported many clients through generations.” Now in their fourth year, the Rural Business Awards, in partnership for the first time with Amazon, recognise the contribution of rural businesses to the regional and national economy. Award categories reward excellence in manufacturing, food and drink, retail, education and training, among others, as well as rural professional services. “Each year, the Rural Business Awards highlight the strength and diversity of rural businesses here in the East,” says Ashley. “In our work, we see that sense of shared community and support everywhere. We’re proud to be in the company of such outstanding businesses from our region.” The winner of each category will be announced at a ceremony in October at Trinity Park in Ipswich. Finalists will be put forward to the national awards, and winners announced early in 2019.
Bigfork have designed and built a new website for local, independent house builders, Abel Homes. The key focus was on improving the navigation process for customers looking for new homes and launching their new Oak Meadow home development at Shipdham. The new site has lots more features and is backed by the powerful SilverStripe CMS allowing the Abel team to update the websites everchanging content inhouse. It was a pleasure working with Abel Homes who are passionate about building quality homes and communities.
The OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN) invites you to celebrate 250 years of the circus with a Big Top Fundraising Dinner on Thursday 1st November.
The evening promises a night of glamour with first-class entertainment, food from Proudly Norfolk, a charity raffle and auction, featuring fantastic prizes and some of the youth charity’s finest young performers for a one-night-only circus experience.
John Gordon-Saker, Chief Executive for OPEN said “This is a most prestigious event for us which will raise much needed awareness and additional funds for our charity. All those attending will help make even more of a positive difference to the lives of young people living in Norfolk, especially those from a disadvantaged background, whilst helping us on our journey to become self-sustainable by 2020.”
With a moving performance of how OPEN makes a positive impact on thousands of young lives, the largest event in OPEN’s social calendar is a night not to be missed and your chance to support their work with young people.
Tickets are priced at £500 per table of eight and includes entertainment, a three-course dinner and four bottles of wine. A limited number of tables of ten are available upon request. To book a table follow this link opennorwich.org.uk/whats-on/gigs-events/fundraising-dinner/
The charity are also looking for high quality prizes and sponsors for the evening. As the main sponsor of this high-profile event, included in your sponsorship package will be a table at the dinner for up to ten guests, a full page advert in the event programme, logo displayed on the 7 metre HD screen and plasma TVs within the venue, as well as a mention in all pre and post publicity and a partnership mention on their website for three months.
Other sponsorship opportunities include just £300 for an advertisement in the event programme.
For further information about sponsorship packages, to book a table at this event, or if you would like to donate in another way, please contact Harriet Davies, Fundraising Co-ordinator – harriet@opennorwich.org.uk or call 01603 25 21 12.
All proceeds from the event go towards OPEN Youth Trust.
Did you know the cost of fraud in the UK is estimated to be a staggering £190 billion (Annual Fraud Indicator 2017) every year? That’s more than the Government spends on the health and defence budgets combined. The criminals committing these offences aren’t always obvious. They won’t be sitting on a big chair stroking a cat like a Bond villain. They could even appear to you as someone you know or a company you are doing business with, but it won’t be that person or company. Their aim is to get you to divert a legitimate transaction over to them by simply tricking you into believing you are doing your job. They may contact you and say you need to amend your bank details they are holding for you. The request may appear to be genuine but you need to check if it is. The Metropolitan Police have recently released a short video promoting some of the fraud prevention techniques available to combat payment fraud. The techniques don’t require sophisticated computer software or expensive equipment – just that you take a minute to think about things when a change request is made, or you have received a request for a payment. Often a simple phone call to the organisation or person using a number you know to be correct is all it takes to prevent the fraud.
Local business, Example Marketing and Web Design, has achieved prestigious Google Partner status, proving the team are true experts in their field.
Being a Google Partner demonstrates that the Dereham-based marketing agency is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest Google product knowledge. It’s also official recognition of the team’s ability to create a highly successful Google Ads campaign.
Owner at Example, Emma Raines, explains why this achievement is so significant:
“There are lots of marketing agencies out there who offer search marketing as one of their services. Becoming a Google Partner helps mark us out as amongst the very best in the industry.
There are several hours of exams involved, so there’s a real sense of achievement in having successfully passed.”
Google Ads is an online service that businesses can use to reach their audience at exactly the right time. The adverts are triggered when people are searching for terms which match a business’ service. But it’s not quite as simple as that! Emma continues:
“We’ve come across plenty of businesses who’ve used Google Ads in the past, but many stopped because “it doesn’t work”.
It really does work, but only if you know how to do it properly. That takes a lot of knowledge, experience and time. That’s where working with a Google Partner who really knows their stuff pays off.”