Member Blog

A week-long residential course at the Grafham Water ‘OutWard Bound’ Centre to give professionally delivered leadership training to young people between the ages of 18 and 26 is being held from August 31st to 7th September. The week is designed to take 50 young people out of their comfort zone, challenge them physically and mentally, expand their horizons, and teach them, through fully qualified instructors, leadership and communication skills. The aim is to give employers the opportunity to invest in their talented young people at an affordable cost, boosting their self-confidence, teaching the benefits of team work and delegation, and motivating them to achieve.

The course costs £660 met by the employer or via co-sponsorship with a Norfolk Rotary Club. This represents exceptional value – outside commercial organisations are charging many times more for comparable courses.

The Rotary Young Leadership Programme has been running locally and nationally for a number of years and employers have been impressed by the benefits both to the employee and the company. If you are interested in nominating an employee, or would like further information email info@ryla.co.uk or telephone 01473 730316 or mobile 07712 069626, or contact your local Rotary Club.

The Cambridge – Norwich tech corridor

There are some fantastic businesses throughout our region. The idea of the tech corridor is to help companies collaborate, share ideas and grow together. The breadth of ideas and talent is astonishing, tackling some of the big issues of our time.

Linn Clabburn is Programme Director for the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor for the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership. The Tech corridor is a partnership between the New Anglia LEP as well as a range of public sector partners, district and county councils, and numerous other stakeholders to include businesses and research institutions.

Here’s a summary of our recent podcast and if you want to listen to the real thing (and why wouldn’t you!) catch it here: What is the Cambridge & A11; Norwich Tech Corridor? Linn Clabburn explains all!

There are lots of businesses along the dual carriageway between Cambridge and Norwich. The partnership was really set up on the back of the fact we’ve had 100 million pounds of investment from central government. So now how do we drive economic growth, inclusive economic growth along this geography. Even though it is along the A11 dual carriageway, it’s much broader in its remit.

The tech corridor initiative is about linking up and telling the clear story and narrative of all the businesses, research and all the other assets that we have in the corridor area. This includes all those smaller market towns and areas along the corridor, not just Cambridge and Norwich.

Unassuming Sheds

And what’s been really interesting in this last year is to go in and actually see all these different businesses that we have. It’s been a real eye-opener to go into these unassuming sheds, and just find amazing companies that fly under the radar for most people. And that’s part of what the tech corridor is here to do. It’s about taking all of these companies, bringing them together on a platform where we can enhance them and put them in place them within a narrative that is actually of global importance in many ways. So enhancing them in terms of joining the dots. Because I think that if you start looking at the tech corridor as, as an area, the whole list is greater than the sum of the parts.

Agri-tech

People wouldn’t necessarily Google Norfolk but they will look for a cluster such as agri-tech or similar type of sector. That’s where we really focusing our attention.  Making sure that we have that narrative and that those capabilities really clearly mapped out so that when someone puts agri-tech into Google, this region comes up top. Everyone knows then that this is the best place to be for foreign agri-tech business. Which is actually true as our region is world class in that sector.

We have a large chunk of a private sector representation on our delivery board. I always remember that it is the businesses, whether they’re here now or coming into the region, they are really our key customer. So supplying them with the things that they need, that’s what we’re here for. And I think that we need a less public sector approach to do that.

The good news is we have had a lot of very, very positive reactions. I think there’s a lot of businesses in particular in the north Suffolk end of the corridor really shouting out for somewhere where they can use this platform to enhance their image. Interestingly even in Cambridge, as Cambridge can be a little bit different, we have some really good feedback from businesses. They’re saying we’re actually really, really interested in understanding what’s going on up your way (in Norfolk and Suffolk).  One company very involved in the Cambridge cluster came up to Hethel Engineering in Norfolk, and his reaction was ‘Wow, you guys make stuff! Whereas in Cambridge we think about things and come up with all these weird and wonderful inventions. You’re going to actually make it, you make it happen.”

Calling Cambridge!

That’s what we need to communicate to Cambridge is when you ready to make stuff, come over here, come this way!  There is loads of talent in terms of manufacturing but also software, the whole value chain we have them covered. So that’s really what we’re trying to do, not in any way reduce the positive impacts in Cambridge. Instead of having all of the dividends generated in Cambridge go to Eastern Europe or the far east, we have a very credible opportunity and option to collaborate with businesses and networks much closer to home.

Stronger Together

I think the two areas have a lot to offer to each other to be mutually to support those lot of complimenting assets and skillsets. I think together we’re much stronger as region than if we’re trying to separate us out as separate counties. And you know, at the end of the day, businesses don’t really care about county and district lines. They go where the opportunities are.

We might not have Airbnb here and we might not have the latest takeaway food app. But what we are developing are the things that are really going to make a difference in the world. We are actually sitting in the middle of the potential solution to some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Events

We hold numerous events to link and bring everybody together. We are planning one around the supply and value chain, bringing companies together, not just the manufacturing supply chain.  It’s the whole value chain. If you as a company are looking for a new solution, you might not have the time or a big procurement team who can go and find it for you. Come to us and we will use all of our networks that we’re part of to help.  We can organise speed dating where we bring a number of companies to you. You can tell them what your challenges and they can help solve that challenge.

Check out the website: https://www.techcorridor.co.uk

Or email

linn.clabburn@newanglia.co.uk

You can check all our podcasts entirely relevant to our business community here: BGC Podcasts

Investing your money wisely is a good way to make it work for you, rather than letting it sit in the bank with interest trickling in on occasion. Any type of investment you make comes with a degree of risk attached, but some prospects are more likely than others to suffer setbacks due to unforeseen circumstances. If you would rather invest in an asset that has comparatively low risk of making a loss attached, while also offering the chance of netting a healthy return, here are 5 options to consider.

Personalised Number Plates

An investment opportunity that not many might have on their radar, owning a personalised number plate can actually be an excellent idea if you are looking to net long term gains. The most expensive examples can sell for over half a million pounds, and if you are looking to invest in one it is better to choose the more unique, rare examples from sites like AbsoluteReg.co.uk rather than something which is just a generic adaptation of a standard format plate issued by the DVLA.

P2P Lending

Lending as part of a peer-to-peer network has risen in popularity in recent years amongst those seeking to reduce the risks they face. In this case, you will effectively be handing over your money as a loan to a third party, whether a business or an individual, which they will then pay back in instalments, with interest added on top.

The stability of P2P lending comes from the small chance that the person or organisation which borrows from you will be unable to repay the loan. There have been problems with this type of investment elsewhere in the world, but for UK investors offering loans domestically it should be a suitably stress-free option.

Premium Bonds

With bank interest rates often minimal or liable to fluctuate, putting your money into Government-backed Premium Bonds remains an eminently sensible option for investment. With tax-free prizes and higher chances of winning larger amounts when you invest more, Premium Bonds have a lot to offer, with a £50,000 maximum set for an individual investor. And with the opportunity to win up to £1 million as part of a monthly draw, the returns can be significant. There are other types of bonds to consider as well, although these may be subject to tax, which is worth bearing in mind.

Classic Cars

Investing in something tangible can have a lot of risks to take onboard, as the more volatile markets might mean that your initial investment diminishes over time and you need to have nerves of steel to wait for the value to bounce back in your favour. Classic cars are a little different in that values can be relatively stable and risks are lower than with other assets. You can even spend as little as £5,000 to get a vehicle which should appreciate in value over time; just be aware that costs like storage and maintenance need to be taken into account.

Property

When it comes to long term security, investing in property can be less risky than the alternatives, as well as offering the opportunity for very high returns, so long as you choose to buy in the right place at the right time. The property market is susceptible to the ebb and flow of the wider economy, although house prices in good areas can enjoy a steady uptick in value over time on a reliable basis. As with any of the investments suggested above, there is no guarantee that property investments will pay out more than you put in, but by accepting a little risk you can reap greater rewards.

As a company that frequently operates in potentially hazardous environments, it is understandable that at Monthind we place health and safety at the centre of all our operations. The health and well-being of our cleaning operatives, staff members, clients and the general public is a top priority, which is why we spend so much time, effort and money each year on ensuring our health and safety standards are second to none. Site-specific risk assessments are drawn up before a contract begins, which inform the training our staff receive and ensure full compliance with both our own stringent health and safety policy and all applicable legislation. COSHH assessments are also carried out, along with any other assessments that address additional risks particular to a given contract. Outside specific contracts, we pride ourselves on delivering on-going training to our staff in the form of internal and external group training sessions, toolbox talks and newsletters. Our team members possess a range of high-level safety certifications, giving us a depth of knowledge and expertise that underpins the trust our clients have in us. Additionally, independent audits are carried out by our Business Compliance Department at all our sites, which assess cleaning operation, site health and safety, training requirements and cleaning standards. Audit reports are then passed to you, our client, to assist in the smooth running of all your cleaning operations.

Often when speaking about digital I get asked the question “Do I really need a website? Can’t I just use Google listings and Facebook?” My answer is always the same and almost always unpopular. I think that today a serious business needs a website. A business does need Google listings and social media, don’t get me wrong here. But when those platforms can change the way your business appears at a moment’s notice you can’t seriously rely on them to be your ‘home’ online. Facebook changed its algorithm just over a year ago and the resulting change dented the visibility of small businesses that relied upon it as their only route to market. Getting a website for your business is easier than ever, I am tripping over ads all the time. Businesses on TV, YouTube and social media are screaming at me to build my own website. The options are endless. Mention on a business chat room or forum that you want a website and I’m sure you will have many offers of help. Here are few pointers:

• Know exactly what you want your website for before you ask for a quote/start building: What do you want your potential customers to be able to do – buy online, book a test drive or reserve a table?
• Know exactly what you want the website to be found for: It’s easier (and cheaper) for a web designer to build a site with your industry, search terms, type of content in mind at the outset rather than have to change it or modify it after launch
• Mobile first: When looking at designs/layouts, look at the mobile view first… too many of your customers use a mobile phone for it not to be your ‘default’ view
•  Go Pro: If in any doubt go with a reputable web design agency who can show you a portfolio of work from businesses like you, some things just shouldn’t be left in the hands of mates from the pub

We have some experience in this area; we’ve got quite good at making websites that work for businesses – websites that drive results. If you want to know more, contact us on 03331 365390 or email hello@archantlocalimpact.co.uk

We were delighted to be approached by Landed Houses to assist with their SEO. The company was founded by Edmund Cohen and offers a simple way to find country houses to rent and stay in for hens, stags, weddings and other weekend getaways across the UK. Edmund approached the Tudor Lodge team to assist with the site’s rankings on Google, which were already very positive but would benefit from some further optimisation.

Link Building

Link building remains a key factor in Google’s search algorithm, whereby every link on another website acts as an endorsement or recommendation in Google’s eyes. However, it is essential that links are of a good quality and have genuine authority and are not simply acquired for the sake of it i.e free directories and blogs.

Using Tudor Lodge’s contacts, we were able to acquire a host of links across property, leisure and news – which together successfully strengthen the Landed Houses domains for the immediate and long-term future. 

When choosing which words to link, known as anchor text, it is important that you manage the exact words that you are targetting on Google You need to manage the percentage of how much anchor text you link to and also hyperlink the brand name to make the link look like a genuine recommendation. For instance, linking ‘country houses’ in every article is deemed unnatural, but a variety of brand name, click here, read more and country houses is acceptable.

Site Clean Up

In addition to link building, we proposed a strong clean up of the website from a technical perspective. This ensures that every meta-titles, description, image alt-text, internal link, response code and crawl error is fixed and optimised to ensure a smooth indexing of the website. What Tudor Lodge brings to the table is a host of SEO tools including SEMrush, Screaming Frog and AWR – which allows us to find potential fixes for the site, address them and monitor the change in ranking accordingly.

We are delighted with the progress we have made so far for Landed Houses and looking forward to working with the client and taking their business from strength-to-strength.

We hear about cyber attacks on the news every day. Some of us, unfortunately, have actually experienced them. These incidences are becoming a starker reality for organizations and businesses by the day irrespective of size or industry. The media, business leaders, and the government maintain that for every business out there, cyber attacks aren’t a question of ‘if’ anymore, but ‘when.’ The clamor is barely effective when it comes to minimizing devastating effects.

Seeing as email is one of the most popular forms of communication in the corporate world, virtually every business is at risk of a email hacking and phishing attacks, so here are 5 easy steps to help you ramp up your defenses.

Avoid Phishing Scams

Email is still the number 1 delivery vehicle for most malware. Phishing scams work by tricking you into opening an attachment or clicking a link. Once you do that, you either download malware into your computer or you are taken to a website that looks real but isn’t, and your login credentials are stolen. Do not click on links or load attachments on sketchy emails. Phishing scams have been around since the birth of the internet, and they are not going away any time soon. In fact, phishing scams are becoming more advanced.

Don’t Click on Tracking Links or Images

Sometimes, emails from marketers and certain brands have tracking links embedded in them to spy on you. They want to find out how many people opened the email or even clicked on the link. Change the settings on your email client to ensure that attachments don’t load automatically by default. Additionally, use antivirus software to protect against new technology workarounds and loopholes in tracking and email phishing scams. Make sure your antivirus software, as well as your browser, are always up to date. 

Use PGP Encryption

There are plenty of software options you can use to encrypt your emails to ensure that they are only read by the intended recipients. Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), also called GNU Privacy Guard (GPG), is one of them. PGP encryption helps you keep hackers from intercepting, snooping on, or altering your emails before they are delivered to the recipients. When using PGP, no information is left in the open. Both the sender and the recipient need to have this free software installed on their computers for it to work.

Use TLS

Always use Transport Layer Security, or TLS, on your browser. While software solutions such as PGP encrypt the contents of your email, your communication is still vulnerable if the connection itself is not encrypted. TLS encrypts the connection between your device and the browser as well as the email servers involved. To activate TLS, go to your browser settings and select ‘STARTTLS’ or ‘SSL/TLS’ in connection security. Always make sure that you are using an encrypted channel when using external email clients such as Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and Outlook.

Create Strong Passwords

Last but not least, create strong passwords for your email and other online accounts. A lot of people still don’t have strong, unique passwords for all their online accounts. The problem is that most people don’t know what a strong password is or how to create one. Well, ideally, a strong password combines letters (upper case and lower case), numbers, and special characters. It’s simple, the password should be long, random, and unique. When it comes to creating a password, the random part is usually the hardest for most people.

Our brains simply don’t function that way. But with a random password generator, you can create a long, random, and unique password in a matter of seconds. That way, it will be impossible for hackers to force their way into your email account using brute force (brute forcing involves the use of software to create possible password combinations). It doesn’t matter how many characters your password is. If it’s not random, your account can be easily breached. Use a password manager to store your passwords if you are worried that you’ll forget them.

Branding your business is worth the effort. The colours and images that you use regularly will reinforce your company and what you do in your customers’ minds. And if you’re lucky they will begin to associate your brand colours with your business. Think about brands that use specific shades of purple or the Royal Mail and their shade of red. When you’ve spent the time and money on sending out information or communications by post you need your envelopes to stand out and using coloured envelopes is a perfect way.

Make an Impact on the Doorstep

You’ll want your business’s communication to stand out from all of the other mail your potential customer has received. An envelope in an unusual colour with an unusual finish, like a pearl or shiny finish, will be different. If you use the same coloured envelopes, then your customer will know that it’s from you before they’ve looked any closer.

Brand Association with Coloured Envelopes

If you are consistent with your approach and use the same few colours for all of your advertisements and communications you will claim those colours in your customers’ minds. This is especially true if you are focusing on your local area as you can have a big impact with only a little effort by using a well-planned brand strategy. All of your communication with your customers needs to be in the same format with the same colours, the weight of paper and paper and envelope finish.

Think About a Brand Envelope Size

Your official branded envelopes need to be the same size as well as the same set of colours. Consider what you are sending out and ensure that the envelope is the correct size and think about keeping the same size as a standard across your business. An unusual shape of envelope, such as square rather than a rectangle, will add to the impact of your mail along with the colour.

Envelopes to Protect the Contents

Once you’ve put all that time and money into working out the perfect set of brand colours and writing an ideal mailshot you need to protect the contents. If you’re sending out something that is easily damaged, use a bubble wrap lined envelope or one with a cardboard backing to prevent bending. No matter what you’re sending have it all in the same coloured envelopes to unify your brand and keep your business at the forefront of your customers’ minds.

Identity Crisis

In amongst all the noise of the ongoing saga of Brexit, we are starting to see an interesting trend emerge from British brands.

The result of the Brexit referendum on 24 June 2016 may suggest we, as a nation, are suffering something of an identity crisis. This uncertainty has given British brands an opportunity to reaffirm who they are and what they stand for – a rebirth of Brand Britain. This move by British brands is likely no coincidence, but a strategic decision to seize an opportunity, as trust in non-UK goods looks set to take a hit following our separation from the European Union.

Brand Britain extends beyond the visual cues of the Union Jack flag, to deeper, shared values – According to the latest research, for American consumers, there’s one word which sums up their perception of UK goods: quality. It’s the most common positive trait associated with British products, followed by heritage.

In the UK, consumers value British brands along similar lines as the Americans. Three in five Britons associate British products with quality, and 60% of British women see Made in Britain as a stamp of heritage. (Source: 

Hatch Brenner Solicitors has announced a new production in their drama venue sponsorship at Norwich Theatre Royal. 

Caroline’s Kitchen, a comedy by Torben Betts and directed by Alastair Whatley, arrives in Norwich from Wednesday 6 – Saturday 9 March. 

Caroline Mortimer, played by Caroline Langrishe (Lovejoy, Judge John Deed), is the nation’s favourite TV cook. In the glow of the studio lights, she has it all – a sparkling career, a big house, a (golf) loving husband, smart kids and the best kitchen money can buy. But when the camera turns off the truth comes out and when an unexpected guest disrupts a night of celebration there is more to spill than the wine … Welcome to Caroline’s Kitchen…

‘The comedy simmers’ DAILY MAIL (CRITIC’S CHOICE) ★★★★

‘It is an acerbic, often laugh-out-loud take on marriage, privilege and class, and it is well worth a ticket to see the ending alone, because reader, I gasped.’ WESTEND WILMA ★★★★

‘Makes you laugh when you really think you shouldn’t…  it’s hilarious’ JENNI MURRAY, RADIO 4

Hatch Brenner’s drama venue sponsorship of Caroline’s Kitchen follows the sad news that the forthcoming tour of To Kill A Mockingbird has been cancelled by the producers.

Dawn Parkes, Hatch Brenner Managing Partner, commented: “I am very much looking forward to seeing Caroline’s Kitchen this March with a group of colleagues and business contacts. I understand the show arrives in Norwich direct from a hit London run, and ahead of a New York transfer so I imagine the quality of the production will be exceptional.”   

More details can be found at Norwich Theatre Royal. 

Image credit: Sam Taylor

Businesses of all sizes can benefit from using social media, but talking about their own company is not always the most thrilling thing to be talking about or posting. Sure, if you work in the food or fashion industry, there are a lot of interesting photos you can add and find different ways to engage with your customers. But for more financial stories and B2B customers, talking about car insurance or plastic machinery can be very uneventful. With this in mind, Tudor Lodge give some tips to jazz up your social media.

Talk about your staff

Staff love to be appreciated – its common sense. Posting work profiles or interesting stories about staff is likely to get engagement. Not just by existing followers who are keen to learn more about your brand, but also their own friends and family who want to show their support. Funny stories, likes and dislikes or even individual interviews can go down well and always be sure to use a strong image of the person.

Talk about your clients

No need to constantly boost about your success, but talk about how you are helping your clients, making their lives easier or what you are sharing together. This not only says who your clients are which can get competitors or new business engaged, but also shows the quality and potential of your work. Again, you must use a strong and engaging photo because people respond well to other people’s faces on social media.

Do charity work

Social media is a great reason to do charity work if there ever was one, because it gives you an opportunity to do good things and share those positive connotations of charity work. This includes being involved in fun runs, donating to children, developing countries or something related to animals. This is a great thing to do with Facebook stories or Instagram stories, as per this guide here on How businesses use Instagram stories.

Competitions and giveaways

In the b2c world, giveaways and competitions are always good ways to encourage new users and customers. Ideally, try get existing customers to invite new ones and reward them too, through points, referral systems or other discounts.

The benefits of having a hobby go far beyond personal happiness and well-being, and it’s crucial to recognise because it often goes unnoticed as we sharpen up our skill set without even realising it. These skills will not only serve you well in life but also, in business or your work. In my experience, having a multitude of hobbies has allowed me to develop some incredible skills that have helped me to flourish in the business space. In doing so, you too will hone skills that allow you to become a successful and award-winning business leader.

From making analytical predictions to communicating as a unit and learning how to manage your time and money better, as well as understanding how to rate your performance to achieve wider success, here are the business skills you could hone by taking part in certain pastimes.

Communication Skills

Hobbies exist due to a community gravitating around a shared interest, and while not all activities are especially social and instead, solitary, they do still all involve an extensive amount of communication, as evidenced by the amount of time spent either talking, writing, chatting and debating with like-minded individuals. When talking about hobbies, there is no pressure, but instead, fun and entertainment, which makes communication seem quite easy. It is also critical in some activities. Take football. It’s a team game that many boys and girls begin to play from a young age, but how successful can a team be if their communication is almost non-existent? The same is true of business.

These days, it is more and more commonplace for companies to operate on a remote basis, with a workforce spread out internationally. In this case, there are many instant messaging services that allow communication to carry on unimpacted by not having a shared workspace. That said, most operations are still office-based but are as reliant on communication, so pick a game that requires such a skill. Team games work as excellent communication games that also help develop colleague bonding.

Competition and Competitive Spirit

Most hobbies and pursuits require their participants to have a competitive spirit. Chess is one such complex game that will help to teach you a skill set that translates easily to the business world. Imagine setting up your first business and needing to predict and forecast certain outcomes. But it almost goes without saying that chess requires a serious and strong competitive edge. Because of this, it is vital that players nurture an urge to win and never-say-lose mentality as well as a self-belief that allows them to deliver results under pressure. Playing poker, a game of incomplete information, can also be a teaching tool for business.

After all, making calculated moves are often required despite the lack of knowing what comes next. Likewise, you face the same uncertainty in business where you don’t know the extent of your competitors’ plans or even what your customers will do next. Because of this, you must maximise what you can with the information available. You may even learn to read when your rivals bluff, and when it’s time for you to fold and come up with a new plan of action.

Coping with Losing

In life, as in business, coping with defeat is a much-needed ability. After all, mental toughness is vital and imperative for anyone chasing success. However, in all competitions, it is likely you will taste defeat at some point. In games like tennis and golf or even darts, the chances of correcting a bad result come quickly as the next set, hole or leg is only moments away, allowing for instant resolution so long as you keep your head. The same is almost true of poker, as another hand is usually only minutes from starting, and yet, because of the financial threats of the game, many people suffer from what is known in poker circles as ’tilt’ where they lose their cool and make incorrect and rash moves, which almost always leads to defeat.

As such, many view a game of Texas Hold ’em, a variant of poker in which your aim is to bankrupt your opponents and take their money by lying and being deceitful, as similar to the reading of stocks of shares and making correct predictions. Most hobbies do require some amount of financial management, so a game like Omaha Hi-Lo is better for teaching you how to guard your money, assess profits and generally, work with a budget, all of which will be excellent for your business.

Patience is Key

Let’s face it: learning a new skill takes time, and it is all too easy to get frustrated and give up if things don’t go well immediately. But a good sport is all about persistence, and it’s easy to pick one that you could play and improve your patience skills. Regarding sports, a game like cricket played out over a long time sometimes days even is a perfect patience builder. Or give bridge a try. It’s another strategical card game and an extreme, mental sport, even more in-depth than poker. After all, that is what patience is all about, preparing to invest time and resources for future benefit. Benefit that you should soon feel in the boardroom if you apply your new skills to your work.