On Tuesday 02 October 2018, Fiona Ryder became the President of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce for a two year term of office.
In her inaugural speech, Ms Ryder, the Managing Director of TCD Media, outlined her key themes for her term. She choose innovation and outlined that with the ‘B’ word of Brexit looming early next year, businesses in Norfolk will need to innovate, modernise and apply new ways of thinking to deal with potential new border controls; manage complex supply chain issues; and improve their productivity.
Fiona, also evoked the ‘F’word. As only the second ‘Female’ Chamber President in 122 years, she was keen to promote modernisation of corporate culture and our boardrooms to ensure better economic outcomes for Norfolk businesses. She noted that in 2011 only 12.5% of FTSE 350 companies had women on their boards, whilst just 7 years later that figure is now at around 25%, but more work still needs to be done.
She promised to bring her energy, passion and innovation into her role as President and she will be pushing for change and championing initiatives that will raise awareness and effect positive change for our region.
But did you know there is a broadband voucher scheme available where you can claim up to £3,000 against the cost of connection?
Full fibre broadband connections offer the fastest and most reliable speeds available, and the Department of Digital, Culture Media and Sport has a UK-wide £67mGigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which is open to Norfolk businesses and residents.
Gigabit vouchers can be used by small businesses and the local communities surrounding them to contribute to the installation cost of a gigabit capable connection. Businesses can claim up to £3,000 against the cost of connection, either individually or as part of a group project.
It is also possible for multiple businesses to pool their vouchers i.e. if there are 10 businesses on a business park and they all apply, that’s £30,000 towards the connection costs (for installation and other year 1 costs).
Following on from the success in previous years, Leeway Domestic Violence & Abuse Services will be launching their Christmas Campaign, collecting donations for those experiencing domestic abuse living in refuge and the community.
The charity currently has seven refuges across Norfolk, and many residents will have fled domestic abuse with very few personal belongings.
The aim of the campaign is to spread some festive cheer to some of the service users, allowing them to have an enjoyable Christmas.
Leeway have created a list of items that are accepting including toys and games, arts and craft materials, toiletries, and tins of biscuits and chocolates.
A full list of items can be found on our poster, but are only able to accept gifts that are new, unopened and not gift wrapped, due to health and safety regulations. Any individual or business interested in fundraising for the charity is also welcome to get in touch.
There are a couple of drop-off points for people to deliver any donations to which include the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Office, and the charity is very grateful for the support of the businesses and organisations that are supporting our campaign. Leeway had a fantastic response last year and are hopeful that the campaign will be just as well supported this year.
Mandy Proctor, Chief Executive of Leeway, said: “I’m always amazed at the amount of generous donations our Christmas Campaign receives from individuals, organisations and community groups. These donations, no matter how small, can help to put a smile on the faces of the women and children receiving support, both in our refuges and living in the community, at such a difficult time. Many of the women and children who stay at our refuges arrive with very little or nothing, so the smallest little gift can make all the difference for them.”
Scotch Whisky, Welsh Lamb, Lough Neagh Eels and Stilton Cheese have two things in common: they are among the 86 UK products registered under the EU’s Geographical Indications (GIs) scheme and they are significant export earners, worth over £5 billion to UK trade figures.
The EU rules provide legal protection from imitation for both regional and traditional specialties, whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed.
Producers of GI products value the schemes for the collective protection they bring from imitation and evocation and, in some cases, the premium it allows them to charge for products.
The various GI designations – Protected Designation of Origin (PDO); Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) – can take several years to earn and are considered to be of real value to producers and exporters.
The question therefore arises, what happens to this protection after the UK leaves the EU?
It is possible that some form of mutual recognition will be built in to a trade agreement with the EU – maintaining protection on European products such as Gorgonzola, Champagne and Münchener Bier – but it remains unclear as to if and when this might happen.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has accordingly launched a consultation seeking views on establishing UK GI schemes after Brexit.
“The mechanism for bringing the schemes into UK law will ensure that we have UK GI schemes in place from Exit day which meet our World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations,” Defra said. “It does not, however, allow the UK GI schemes to be changed substantially from the EU schemes.”
Full details can be found at consult.defra.gov.uk and the deadline for responding is 1 November 2018.
We (Peerless Plastics & Coatings) have just launched a new range of hard-coated, protected, Polycarbonate sheets suitable for a variety of industries and uses. We have branded these new coatings under the PolyGuard™ title and they currently include: PolyGuard™ Anti-Fog, PolyGuard™ Anti-Glare, PolyGuard™ Anti-Static and PolyGuard™ Hard, with more coatings to come in the future…
PolyGuard™ is an optically clear hard coated sheet that has been designed to give enhanced chemical and abrasion resistance to Polycarbonate and grant exceptional hard wearing protection (amongst other benefits dependent on each coating). Glass-like in its appearance, the material maintains the many benefits of Polycarbonate such as high impact strength but offers superior surface performance.
PolyGuard™ is a 3050mm x 2050mm hard coated Polycarbonate sheet available in a range of thicknesses (1mm – 12mm) as standard.
If you would like to find out more details, become a distributor or to request samples, please call one of our friendly sales team on 01842 750333, email sales@peerless-coatings.co.uk or visit our website to read more:
The Council is holding its Annual Business Ratepayers meeting next Friday, 11 February 2022 at 9:00am via Teams where the Director of Finance, Ms Karen Sly, will report on the Council’s budget for 2022-23.
With nine business award categories, the Lynn News has just launched its 2019 Mayor’s Business Awards, started in 1989 these awards have grown in success and recognition. The awards are a great opportunity to showcase the innovative and hardworking businesses within King’s Lynn and West Norfolk area. The awards also attract a number of interesting sponsors such as Mapus-Smith & Lemmon LLP, Agrimech Services Ltd and Carter Accommodation, this is great to see our members supporting these awards.
Below is a list of the nine categories, you have until 5 pm on Friday, November 30, 2018, to enter and or nominate the business or person.
Mayor’s Business of the Year
Small Business of the Year
Businessperson of the Year
Business Innovation
Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Customer Care
Independent Retailer
Leisure & Tourism
Employee of the Year
Entering an award can be a bit of a nervous experience, however, it is a great chance to celebrate you and your business. Be brave and have a go!
Gas measurement and control specialists Chell Instruments are embarking on their fourth year supported by marketing experts – and Norfolk Chamber of Commerce members – Full Mix Marketing.
The innovative company, which supplies products and services to sectors including motorsport, aerospace, energy and pharmaceuticals, first enlisted the support of the B2B marketing experts in 2018.
Having continued to successfully develop and deliver new products throughout the pandemic, Chell Instrument’s Managing Director, Nick Broadly, is looking forward to 2022:
“With Sarah, Sally and the Full Mix team’s continuing support, we’re very excited about the year ahead. As we continue to develop solutions for our clients, they help us spread the word with excellent results.”
In 2020, Chell Instruments celebrated their three best years, attributing their success to their expanding product range and the marketing delivered by Full Mix Marketing.
“We recognised that marketing was increasingly important but had struggled to find an agency that could relate to our industry. Since working with Full Mix Marketing we’ve experienced much greater results than we used to attending trade shows” said Nick in 2020.
The partnership is set to celebrate four years in May 2020, during which Full Mix Marketing have delivered marketing including emails, mailers, brochures, press releases, advertising, trade events, search engine optimisation (SEO) and social media.
“Full Mix promised to be a true extension of our team and that’s entirely the experience we’ve had. Not only have they delivered everything they promised but they’ve proactively sought information, identified opportunities and created ideas to support us” adds Nick.
Chell Instruments began producing gas control and measurement equipment in the 1970’s. They design, manufacture and calibrate high-precision apparatus used in applications including developing jet engines, manufacturing medicines and calibrating domestic gas meters.
“Chell’s products are specialist, technical and satisfy a very specific function. Our role is to understand what they deliver and find the best way to communicate it to the sectors they support. I believe it’s where we excel” says Sarah West, Founder and Managing Director of Full Mix Marketing.
Founded in 2016, Full Mix Marketing provide strategic, digital and creative marketing for businesses in sectors including engineering, IT and business services. Their services include single elements like content marketing and SEO as well as becoming an entire outsourced marketing department for many of their clients.
In January 2020, Chell Instruments was acquired by the SDI Group who own more than fifteen companies and brands which design and manufacture products for use in imaging, sensing and control applications.
“In our sector, knowledge is everything. Full Mix Marketing have many times proven they not only know the right marketing but really understand our products and what our customers value. It’s such an easy and effective working relationship” concludes Nick.
We bring a comprehensive knowledge of Diversity and Inclusion strategies, trends, best practices, concepts and programmes with proven experience of designing and delivering programmes which have resulted in positive change in many complex environments.
We are constantly keeping ourselves up to date with what’s going on related to D&I and we will commit to keep your business one step ahead at all times.
Larking Gowen Corporate Transactions remain top of the league and have been ranked joint first in the latest report from Experian Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). The team have advised on twelve deals for the East of England making them one of two firms ranked as the most active financial advisors in the East of England.
James Lay, Partner at Larking Gowen and head of Corporate Transactions says,
“We’re absolutely delighted to feature prominently once again in the Experian Market IQ league tables for the volume of deals completed. These results demonstrate our high level of experience and expertise within our growing Corporate Transactions team.”
It is equally pleasing to see similar success across the seven other member firms in our national association, MHA, particularly MHA Broomfield Alexander and Tait Walker both ranking most active financial advisors in their respective regions of Wales and the North East of England. It just goes to show the strength in depth in terms of deal expertise and market intelligence that we’re able to call upon for the benefit of our clients.
