Member News

The cub, who has been confirmed as female, was found by delighted keepers nestled with Mithila on the afternoon of 28 June. Mithila came from a Swedish zoo to be paired with our resident male red panda, Jasper, as part of the European Breeding Programme for the species in January 2022. Within just five months, the pairing proved successful with the birth of a healthy young cub. Red pandas are classified as “endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (ICUN) Red List of Threatened Species due to habitat loss and hunting for their meat and fur. Oliver Lewis-McDonald, our Team Leader of Carnivores at Banham Zoological Gardens, said: “We are absolutely overjoyed to announce the birth of a red panda cub. The European Breeding Programme is instrumental in saving this endangered species, whose wild populations are believed to have decreased by 50% in less than 20 years. “Mithila and her cub are currently being given the utmost privacy in their nest boxes. Red panda cubs usually spend their first few months hidden in the nest before going out to explore their surroundings, but in the meantime, visitors may be able to catch a glimpse of Mithila moving her precious cub between boxes.” The Zoological Society of East Anglia, the conservation education charity behind our work here at Banham Zoological Gardens and our sister park Africa Alive Zoological Reserve in Suffolk, works with The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Breeding Programme to conserve the populations of endangered animals, including red pandas. The programme coordinator issues pairing recommendations for zoos all over Europe based on the genetic importance of potential offspring. Our male red panda, Jasper, arrived with us in 2015 and has previously fathered a total of three cubs in 2016, 2018 and 2019. These cubs have since gone on to fulfil their role in saving their species at other collections across Europe. Red pandas are the original panda, having been discovered some 50 years before the giant panda. Unlike the giant panda, red pandas are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees. Oliver added: “Red pandas are one of our most loved species at the park, popular with visitors for their fluffy bodies and distinctive red colour. We are sure visitors to Banham Zoological Gardens will be delighted to see this beautiful little cub taking its first independent steps out of the nest box in the coming weeks. “Recently the team gave this precious new arrival its first health check and we are delighted to report that we have a very healthy little female cub.” Our newest arrival will begin exploring her new home in the coming weeks. Tickets can be booked online at: https://www.zsea.org/banham/tickets

Lilibet Meet Lilibet! This beautiful girl came into our care after her Mum had to have an emergency c-section. Due to the stress of the surgery little one had to be bottlefed every two hours from day one which led to a lot of sleepless nights for her fosterer! From a tiny 100g bottlefed to a nearly 1000g mischief maker at 9 weeks old, Lilibet grew big and strong and is now happily in her new home!     Jim This handsome pup is Jim and he was handed over to the RSPCA after his owner could no longer care for his ailments. Jim became a regular around our administration office after being fostered by one of the team and soon became a staff favourite! He sadly has some birth defects so will need constant care and treatment for the rest of his life but it doesn’t stop him from being a cheeky chappy! He is also now officially part of the RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch family having been adopted by his fosterer!   Mice Our Branch was called to help by the Inspectorate after a member of the public had lots of mischief on their hands. This cutie is one of over 200 mice that came from just one house in Newcastle after their breeding got out of control. Approximately 30 of them came into our care and once we were sure there weren’t any more babies to come, we found them forever homes of their own! Image credits RSPCA

The RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch is a local, independent Branch of the RSPCA operating in areas of Norfolk and Suffolk. We receive no government funding and operate separately from the National RSPCA. Our mission is ‘To raise awareness, provide practical support and demonstrate compassion in order to deliver excellent animal welfare in our Branch area’ and we achieve this in lots of different ways. In 2021 we issued 2,431 neutering vouchers, contributed to 496 vet bills and found homes for 416 animals! For every £1 donated, we spend 67p on animal welfare and raising awareness through our education and outreach programme, 24p on raising funds through events, campaigns and our charity shops and 9p on administration and supporting staff and volunteers. In 2021 it cost us approximately £146 per animal that came through our Branch. In 2021 we helped 3,343 animals through our subsidised neutering scheme, veterinary financial aid programme and adoption and rehoming work, and it’s not just cats and dogs that we work with! Our fantastic Animal Welfare Team have helped lots of different animals from african land snails and mice to goats and donkeys and have even helped find homes for over 50,000 bees! This year we have already rehomed more animals than we did in 2021! We also promote awareness of excellent animal welfare through our education and outreach work, providing talks to schools and groups of all ages on everything from the history of the RSPCA to the dangers of litter to wildlife. https://rspcanorwich.org.uk/our-branch/our-impact/ Ways You Can Help There are lots of ways you can help us as a local Branch of the RSPCA, from becoming a corporate sponsor, fundraising and volunteering, or to becoming a member and playing our lottery, it all makes a difference. We also have seven charity shops across Norfolk and an eBay store that are always looking for donations and full of pre loved treasures. Find out more here: https://rspcanorwich.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising-and-sponsorship/ways-you-can-help/ Image credits RSPCA

Above: New Greater Anglia trains at London Liverpool Street station. Credit: Greater Anglia The number of Greater Anglia trains running On Time increased this year compared to last year, new figures show. The Office of Rail and Road has published its latest Passenger Rail Performance results which measures rail punctuality each month between April to June this year using the new On Time measure – which is based on a train arriving early or within a minute of the scheduled time at every station along the route. The On Time figures show that 87.4% of Greater Anglia trains arrived On Time during this period, up 0.9% on the same period last year. The operator also improved reliability, with fewer cancellations, by 1.5% on the previous year. Nationally only TfL / the Elizabeth Line recorded better punctuality than Greater Anglia and only Chiltern Railway did better for reliability. Gradually the rail industry is moving to using the On Time figures instead of the Public Performance Measure (PPM) which records trains arriving within five minutes of the scheduled time. During 2021, Greater Anglia saw record-breaking PPM punctuality across all of its routes – recording its best ever annual average punctuality of 94.81 per cent, up from 92.97% in 2020, with Intercity trains reaching an annual average punctuality result of 94.82% – up from 91.56% in 2020. The company then achieved a new record annual punctuality figure of 95.03% in February 2022. Greater Anglia’s Head of Performance and Planning, Keith Palmer, said, “It’s really encouraging to see that our On Time punctuality figures have been improving as the industry moves closer to a transition to this measure. “Across the business, teams have been working hard to continue to run a reliable, punctual service and our more reliable new train fleet, closer partnership working with Network Rail and other key suppliers and recent infrastructure upgrades are all helping to deliver continued improvements for rail passengers in the region.” Alongside several important infrastructure upgrades, and a sustained focus by Greater Anglia on improving performance over the last few years, the operator’s new fleet of trains are credited with driving a noticeable step-change in punctuality and reliability. They benefit from quicker acceleration and braking which has positively impacted punctuality and service resilience, and during Autumn 2021, Greater Anglia recorded it best-ever autumn punctuality scores due to the trains’ improved ability to cope with the challenges of the season – such as slippery rails caused by falling leaves. Greater Anglia and Network Rail have also worked together to develop a new set of plans focusing on train and infrastructure performance which includes planning for severe weather conditions and planning for recovery as quickly as possible from service disruption.

Calling all University of East Anglia Marketing & Design students! We’ve just posted a job on UEA Career Central, looking for a young, budding Content Creator to join our Marketing Team in a support role.   Job Title: Marketing support (content creator) Based at: Norwich Site Reports to: Commercial manager Role Profile The Teknomek brand is pivotal to our business success, we have strong brand values and a clear value proposition that underpin all our marketing communications. We have had UEA students working with us that have an equal passion for marketing, the part time role and hours are designed to fit in with studying, with their work with us supporting their career aspirations. Working with our marketing team, you will support the content creation for our integrated marketing communications plan. The role will primarily be a mix of · Video production – from filming to editing and publishing across different channels · Using photoshop to create images for use across social media, email marketing and web Skills and Knowledge · A passion for marketing! We are only interested in employing students we want a career in marketing · Knowledge and interest in Photoshop / Illustrator / Indesign – we can teach you · Ability to work competently within a marketing environment · Reliable and sound project management of tasks assigned to you Duties and Responsibilities · Video production · Image creation · General marketing administration duties · Any other duties reasonably required to successfully and efficiently carry out this role Hours of work · 6 hours /week, based at our office (NR3 2BD) during normal office hours · Scope for overtime Image provided by Teknomek

77 Howes Percival lawyers mentioned in 2023 guide for standout contributions to their practices The 2023 edition of The Legal 500 – the authoritative guide to the UK’s leading law firms – has recommended Howes Percival for 23 different legal specialisms and awarded the firm top tier ranking for 10. The guide, which is based on independent research, interviews and feedback from clients about the service they receive from firms and lawyers, also recognises the UK’s leading lawyers – 77 Howes Percival lawyers received specific mentions in this year’s directory. Howes Percival has achieved top tier rankings for:

• Corporate and Commercial
• Dispute Resolution – Commercial Litigation
• Dispute Resolution – Debt Recovery
• Finance – Insolvency and Corporate Recovery
• Human Resources – Employment
• Private Client – Tax, Trusts and Probate
• Real Estate – Commercial Property
• Real Estate – Environment & Planning
• Real Estate – Property litigation
• Intellectual Property

12 further Howes Percival specialisms are recommended in the guide; Agriculture and Estates, Banking and Finance, Charities and Not for Profit, Construction, Contentious Trusts and Probate, Family, Licensing, Public Sector, IT and Telecoms, Media and Entertainment, Health and Safety, and Social Housing. The Legal 500 highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.  23 Howes Percival lawyers are recognised by the legal directory as ‘leading individuals’, with 9 Partners achieving ‘Hall of Fame’ status – Paula Bailey (Employment), Steven Beach (Commercial Property), Geraint Davies (Litigation and Insolvency), Gerald Couldrake (Corporate and Commercial), Tessa Haskey (Commercial Property), Michaela Henson (Commercial Property), Graham Irons (Employment), Catherine Scott (Agriculture and Estates) and Matthew Talbot (Intellectual Property). Howes Percival’s clients range from individuals and families to global businesses and government departments. Over the last 12 months the firm has seen its market share increase across all of its UK offices and has invested in a nationwide expansion programme, with close to 100 new recruits appointed in that period. Commenting on the firm’s rankings Howes Percival’s chairman, Geraint Davies said; “I’m delighted with this set of rankings and recommendations, which recognise our core strengths and reflect the ongoing investment we’ve made in our people and their development in recent years. We have expanded our expertise across all of our service lines and are committed to growing and investing in each of our locations. Howes Percival’s culture and the calibre of work we undertake allow us to attract top talent which, alongside our commitment to our training programme creates an unbeatable team.” Image provided by Howes Percival

Above: One of the campaign graphics. Greater Anglia is supporting a new campaign aimed at helping people with disabilities travel on trains more easily. The Department for Transport has launched ‘It’s everyone’s journey’ – an advertising campaign to highlight how everyone can play a part in making public transport inclusive. At present too many disabled people say that they don’t feel confident using public transport and 1 in 4 say that negative attitudes from other passengers prevent them from travelling. The Department for Transport’s new campaign aims to show other passengers the impact their unconscious behaviour can have on disabled passengers and encourages them to make small changes to their habits when travelling, such as: • Be prepared to give up a priority seat • Be prepared to help each other • Be patient with each other • Don’t charge through busy platforms • Respect all accessible toilet users Rebecca Richardson, Greater Anglia’s Accessibilty Manager, said, “Public transport is at the heart of how we all live our lives, helping us get to work, school or college, healthcare appointments and social events. “At Greater Anglia we want public transport to be truly inclusive and disabled people to be able to travel as confidently as other passengers. “We’re working hard to ensure that everyone can have an enjoyable journey with us. “This campaign also reminds us all of the need to be compassionate and courteous and we are very happy to support it.” Greater Anglia is working to make its trains and stations more accessible, with its fleet of new trains more accessible by design with level boarding, large wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets on every train, the introduction of virtual online station tours to help with journey planning and confidence, Accessibility & Inclusion training for staff, and upgrades to improve access at stations and car parks across the network. More information about the campaign can be found at gov.uk/everyonesjourney #ItsEveryonesJourney

Above: People’s Parking logo Credit: peoplesparking.org Greater Anglia rail station car parks, managed by NCP, have received People’s Parking accreditations. The awards have been given for 12 stations on the train operator’s network – Attleborough, Audley End, Billericay, Broxbourne, Cambridge, Cambridge North, Hatfield Peverel, Ingatestone, Kelvedon, Marks Tey, Rayleigh and Wickford. The accreditations mean that the car parks demonstrate good signage and pedestrian routes, are well lit, clean and well-managed, well-located and have a range of payment options available. People’s Parking accreditations also aim to highlight car parks which have facilities for disabled people, parents with children, cyclists and motorcyclists, people who drive electric vehicles, those who drive light commercial vehicles/camper vans, and those who drive wheelchair accessible vehicles. Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, Simone Bailey, said, “Over the last few years we have invested millions in upgrading our car parks to ensure they offer accessible, convenient parking for our customers. This has included increasing capacity, resurfacing, re-lining, accessibility improvements and the introduction of ANPR and easier ways to pay.” “We know customers who drive to stations want to be able to park as quickly and easily as possible, which is why we’re committed to improving parking across the Greater Anglia network. “We are delighted with these accreditations which demonstrate that, in partnership with NCP, we have made great strides in this area.” In order to achieve an accreditation, car parks must meet the following criteria: Safely lit – Car parks must be to a specified luminance to ensure the car park is bright and people can see where they are going. Clean – Graffiti must be removed within a reasonable time scale and litter removed regularly. Safe pedestrian access – People should be able to move easily between the parking facilities and amenities. Good signage – Signage must be provided to identify entrances and exits, directions to lifts, stairwells, payment machines or meters and clear signposting from the car park entrance directing people to the location of specialist bays e.g. disabled or parent and child. Designated bays enforced – It is essential that where different bays are reserved for different groups of people, only those people park in them. Helen Dolphin MBE, Director of People’s Parking, who is also a quadruple amputee and disability campaigner, said: “I am thrilled that NCP has achieved so many People’s Parking accreditations as it demonstrates their commitment to improving their car parks for everyone. “Although many of their car parks had facilities for different customers they were not necessarily at our required standard, and it has taken a lot of hard work to get them People’s Parking ready. In some cases this has meant re-painting bays and installing new equipment. “As well as putting their car parks into my scheme I’ve also helped train NCP staff in disability equality, and I have no doubt that their customers will benefit from this increased awareness.” Greater Anglia and NCP are working to achieve the accreditation for more station car parks in the future. For more information see peoplesparking.org Above: Attleborough car park Credit: Greater Anglia

Small Grant Scheme (SGS) This is a grant primarily for the use to facilitate the growth of a business. You may apply for a grant of up to 20% of the total cost of your proposed project. It is a discretionary grant i.e. not guaranteed. The minimum grant value is £1,000 i.e. total project value £5,000. Maximum grant £25k (£125k project) This is defined as a grant to support growth projects so they must demonstrate:

• Growth and expansion of the business
• Introduction of a product or service that is new to the business
  • Show a measurable improvement in productivity
  • Show a measurable improvement in efficiency
• Creation of new jobs (only along with one or more of the above)

https://newanglia.co.uk/grant/small-grant-scheme/ Growth Through Innovation (GTI) This is for R&D for external consultancy. Companies can apply for £1,000 – £25,000 grants to help towards the purchase of instruments and equipment, software and licences, engagement/secondment of specialist researchers and technicians, Intellectual Property costs, materials and consultancy. Please note, grants are awarded on a discretionary basis and are subject to eligibility checks and approval. You may apply for a grant of up to 50% of the total cost of your proposed project. https://newanglia.co.uk/grant/growth-through-innovation-fund/ Business Transition to Net Zero (BTTNZ)

1. 1. Businesses can come forward to apply for grants between £25,000 and £100,000. The maximum grant intervention through the programme will be up to 20% of eligible capital costs, up to a maximum of £100,000, whichever is the lesser. To be awarded the minimum of £25,000, the total project costs must be at least £125,000.

Your project must be ready to proceed immediately and be fully completed by 31/3/2023 and you must check with your proposed suppliers that this is achievable. Support Provided Typical projects to be supported will be an innovative or research and development project focused on clean growth / net zero including:

• Energy efficient plant and machinery
• On-shoring of product manufacturing and supply chains to increase efficiencies
• Development of new technology or innovation and productivity improvements
• Reducing methane, nitrogen oxide and other greenhouse gases/particulate emissions
• Innovative R&D projects focussed on clean growth and/or net zero
• Cluster applications will be considered and applicants will be encouraged to work to support others within their business or sector community and their supply chain.

https://newanglia.co.uk/grant/business-transition-to-net-zero-grant/ Road To Net Zero (RTNZ) Consultancy This is something I would like to put you forward for straight away. The consultancy will help you

1. Understand your Carbon Footprint
2. Create a Decarbonisation Plan
3. Create a Road Map to net zero based on 3 objectives of the business

https://newanglia.co.uk/grant/business-transition-to-net-zero-grant/

Reed Wellbeing have launched an NHS Health Check Service exclusively for Norfolk Employers, helping local companies improve employee health – for free! The NHS Health Check is a free check-up of overall health for people aged 40-74 and takes 20-30 minutes to complete. Specially trained Health Check Practitioners will do some basic tests and complete a questionnaire with participants, before giving tailored advice and signposting to help them reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. The service is fully funded by Norfolk County Council, meaning that we can deliver health checks to your employees, at their place of work, free of charge. We will also provide any employees that are not eligible for a health check with access to a wide range of resources to help understand and improve their health. The first workplace health checks at the James Paget Hospital and Haven Holiday Park have been very successful –  with other charities, public and private organisations on board later in the year. Interested in health checks at your workplace? Visit the new Employer Page on our website or see the attached brochure for more details. Image – property of Reed Wellbeing

Proudly uniting with East Anglian businesses to show support for Wealth & Grace Mind Norfolk and Waveney state 1 in 4 people experience at least 1 mental health diagnosable problem. With ongoing challenges to our daily lives, the importance of mental fitness and the need for accessible support  is now greater than ever. In response to this, Chatsbrook Finance have shown their commitment to promoting the importance of mental health in the local area by supporting Wealth & Grace, an exciting new company with a mission to disrupt the existing mental health space by promoting the importance of ‘Mental Wealth’ – the balance of mental, physical and financial fitness. Founded by Norfolk-based entrepreneur and former psychiatrist, Dr. Lucy Davey, Wealth & Grace aims to help people of all ages, backgrounds and income brackets achieve a better level of mental, physical and financial fitness, bringing greater stability to all aspects of their lives. “Wealth & Grace draws upon the expertise and experience of all involved through mental-fitness-campaign projects and educational courses. Many of our projects will be based on an “engage-to-earn” model, which we  have found to be a great way for users to improve their mental wellbeing using a fun, engaging reward system. By carrying out simple tasks, people can improve their mental, physical and financial wellbeing and enrich themselves in the process,” explains Dr. Davey ‘Mental Wealth’ focuses on the three core concepts of Mental, Physical and Financial fitness with the aim to find a balance across all three elements:

• Mental fitness: Devising a range of  mental health courses, ‘tools’ and activities to improve people’s overall mental wellbeing, increasing daily productivity and positivity.
• Physical Fitness: Encouraging physical fitness activities and projects that energise and incentivise because physical fitness is one of the ways to improve mental well-being.
• Financial Fitness: Supporting sustainable goals with a focus on passive income opportunities.

Wealth & Grace founder Dr. Davey, is a medically trained, former mental health doctor (Psychiatrist) who, through her own professional and personal experiences of the current mental health services, decided she needed to do something to implement change in the industry. Dr. Davey hopes that Wealth & Grace will enable more people to talk openly and freely about their health and wealth without any fear of judgement. “Mental Wealth should never be a taboo subject’,” she adds. Commenting on the new initiative, Adrian Brooks from Chatsbrook Finance said ‘We are dedicated to supporting our clients striving to reach their passions as well as understanding a need for balance across their daily lives. We are proud to be supporting Wealth & Grace in their mission to promote mental, financial and physical well-being in their mission to gain awareness in these key areas for optimal ‘mental wealth’ Chatsbrook will be joining Dr. Davey at an exclusive launch event due to take place on 29th September at Royal Norwich. The event will bring together a variety of local supporting partners to enjoy a night of panel discussions, live music and canapes. For more information visit www.wealthandgrace.com.  

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Football fans are being warned that last trains will depart before the final whistle of some matches due to rail strikes called for the next two Saturdays – with another strike also planned for Wednesday next week. People travelling to London to take part in the London Marathon on Sunday 2 October could also be affected by the strikes which have a knock-on effect into the early part of the following day. Members of the train drivers’ union ASLEF are striking on Saturday 1 and Wednesday 5 October. RMT union members, including Greater Anglia’s conductors, train cleaners and station staff and Network Rail’s signallers and maintenance teams are striking on Saturdays 1 and 8 October. Greater Anglia services will be severely disrupted, with the company only able to run a fraction of its services and no services at all running on regional or branch lines. The company is advising people, including football fans and students going by train to school or college, to avoid travelling on its trains on strike days as services will be severely disrupted. Football fans should make alternative arrangements because many matches will not finish before last trains have departed. Teams playing on one or both of the next two Saturdays include all of East Anglia’s biggest teams: Norwich City, Ipswich Town, Cambridge United, Peterborough United and Colchester United, as well as Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Arsenal. People travelling to London for the London Marathon on Sunday 2 October should check before they travel – as first trains to London will not start until 7/7.30am as a result of the 24-hour strike on Saturday. On ASLEF strike days, Greater Anglia is unable to run any services from Cambridge to Liverpool Street, while on RMT strike days operating hours are restricted to 7.30am to 6.30pm due to Network Rail’s signallers also being on strike. Services on each of the strike days are different, depending on which union is on strike. Saturday 1 October – RMT and ASLEF

• No services between Cambridge and Liverpool Street or on regional/branch lines
• Reduced service of one train per hour between Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria and Liverpool Street and on Stansted Express service from 7.30am, with all last trains completing their journey by 6.30pm.

Wednesday 5 October – ASLEF

• No services between Cambridge and Liverpool Street or on regional/branch lines
• Reduced service of one train per hour between Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria and Liverpool Street and on the Stansted Express (between Stansted Airport and Liverpool Street) but starting earlier and finishing later than on the other two strike days

Saturday 8 October – RMT

• No services on regional/branch lines
• Reduced service of one train per hour between Norwich, Colchester and Cambridge and Liverpool Street from 7.30am, with all last trains completing their journey by 6.30pm
• Reduced service of two trains per hour between Southend Victoria and Liverpool Street and on the Stansted Express from 7.30am, with all last trains completing their journey by 6.30pm

On Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October, due to engineering work, there is a rail replacement bus service between Colchester and Ingatestone connecting with the heavily reduced train service. There will be no rail replacement buses to replace trains not running due to the strike. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We are very sorry that once again our customers will be disrupted by strikes, which this time will affect football fans and some people from our region competing in the London Marathon, as well as school or college students, commuters and business travellers. “We’re only able to run a fraction of our usual services, so our advice again is to avoid using our trains on strike days. “The rail industry is working hard to resolve these disputes and talks will continue with ASLEF and RMT in an effort to avert the strikes.” Anyone who has pre-booked tickets to travel on strike days can change them, use them to travel on either the day before or up to two days later, or apply for a refund by going back to their original retailer. Passenger assistance will be available as usual for all trains which are running. Anyone requiring assistance who cannot avoid travelling by train on strike days should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible. Strike day timetables are now available for the strike on Saturday 1 October. Greater Anglia is currently finalising details of the other strike day timetables and will publish them on its website when are they are ready along with first and last train times. Further information is available from greateranglia.co.uk/strikes and the company’s social media, which will be updated as details are finalised. Other train companies affected by strikes on all days are Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry Trains, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, GWR, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Trains, Hull Trains and London Overground. Network Rail, Southwestern and GTR – which includes Great Northern, Thameslink and the Gatwick Express – and will be affected by strikes on Saturday 1 October and Saturday 8 October.