Member News

Anglia Innovation Partnership, the campus management organisation at Norwich Research Park, is hosting the 8th Enterprise Tuesday Showcase event at the John Innes Conference Centre, Norwich Research Park, on 3 June, from 1.30-6pm.

This showcase event – ‘Exploring the Ecosystem at Norwich Research Park’ – will provide the strategic backdrop to Norwich Research Park, explain why the campus partners were brought together and give an overview of the campus-wide vision of HP3 – Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet – of finding solutions to the global challenges of feeding the world, climate change and improving health.

The event will bring to life how Norwich Research Park’s ecosystem works through enterprise, science collaboration, community building, partnerships with industry, funding and investment. It is an ecosystem that is high-impact focused and driven by its people, place, innovation and ideas.

This event is kindly sponsored by Novagraaf UK. For 135 years, Novagraaf has been helping iconic brands and innovative organisations around the world to power their competitive advantage by delivering a connected IP perspective.

The event will be followed by a drinks and canapes reception held in Centrum building adjoining the conference centre starting from 6-8pm. Tickets for the reception are limited.

There are two types of ticket available for the event. One for the afternoon event only and one for the afternoon event and evening reception. Please make sure you book the correct ticket. Booking closes on 19 May. Please note due to the limited availability, only two people per company can register.

Book your ticket here.

Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) has released our 2024 Impact Report, highlighting all we have achieved and celebrates what our beneficiaries, their families and our staff have acomplished.

In this edition, we reflect on the incredible impact made possible by our teams and supporters, showcasing key moments and successes from the past year.

From employment and mental health to support care coordination, our programmes have continued to transform lives.

Together, we’ve supported 2,203 veterans and delivered over £29M in social value—an incredible return of £5.58 for every £1 invested—ensuring that every pound goes further in supporting those who need it most.

WWTW CEO Tony Hulton said:

“Nothing in this Impact Report could have been achieved without the brilliant work of our dedicated staff and the support of members of the public, businesses, trusts and foundations who have stepped up to ensure we have the resources available to deliver our vital work.

Everything we do at Walking With The Wounded is centred on vibrant partnerships with those organisations that refer veterans to us, including the NHS through Op COURAGE – the veteran’s mental health and wellbeing service – alongside our partners in the community.

As a national charity we benefit from being not too big and not too small. This means that we can ensure we maintain a personalised approach to everything we do. We want our clients to be confident that they have an assigned person throughout their journey with us and, equally, we want to ensure that our supporters feel part of our mission to reigniting a sense of purpose in those who served.”

Read the 2024 Impact Report here: https://walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/policies-reports-partners/

Leaping Hare Renewables is thrilled to announce that it is a finalist for both the Leader of the Year & Employee Wellbeing Award at the inaugural Octopus Trusted Partners Awards. 

Leaping Hare Renewables (based in Norfolk) offers a new kind of building service: improving thermal efficiency, as well as installing and maintaining the renewable energy systems that heat and power homes. Helping customers to reduce energy costs and live more sustainably by using cleaner, greener energy. You can find more information on their website leapingharerenewables.co.uk 

The awards celebrate the top installers driving the UK’s transition to clean, green energy. Showcasing those companies installing heat pumps, solar panels, and more for Octopus Energy customers when Octopus can’t.

Hosted by Octopus, the awards will take place on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. 

The evening will bring together the best and brightest in the industry to honour outstanding contributions to decarbonisation, innovation, and customer service. It will also include a special appearance by former football manager Harry Redknapp, known for winning the 2008 FA Cup and later, being crowned King of the Jungle in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The Octopus Trusted Partners programme launched last year to turbo charge the rollout of heat pumps and solar. 

With demand for heat pumps increasing over 20-fold last year, Octopus’ partnership programme refers customers to trusted local installers* for clean tech installations that Octopus can’t tackle at the moment.

Katharine & Matthew Kemp, Founders of Leaping Hare Renewables said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as one of the leading installers in the UK. Being shortlisted for the Leader of the Year & Employee Wellbeing Award is a testament to our team’s dedication to providing top-quality service and pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy solutions. We look forward to celebrating with fellow industry leaders on the night!”

Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy, said: “We have government targets of 600,000 heat pumps to install by 2028 and a deadline to hit net zero home emissions – and the Octopus Trusted Partner programme helps to deliver this. 

“We’re delighted to have over 500 companies and 6,500 installers as part of the programme, ensuring more money-saving tech is installed in people’s homes faster. Congratulations to all shortlisted companies and good luck!”

The Octopus Trusted Partners Awards feature eight categories, highlighting excellence in key areas such as customer experience, innovation, leadership, and teamwork. A panel of industry experts, including Octopus Energy Founder Greg Jackson, will the winners.

For more information about the programme, visit https://octopus.energy/Octopus-Trusted-Partners/ 

Jobs We’ve Loved This Month 

In the spotlight this month is the Alison Mantripp vessel for Alicat Workboats, a well-established business in Great Yarmouth, specialist boat builders for the marine industry. When compared to some of the fun merchandise we offer, the Mantripp boat may not be the most, shall we say, Instagrammable of jobs (unless you’re a boat enthusiast). So why did we love it so much? It brought together two of our major skill sets into one project, showcasing our experience in graphics application and the time-honoured, highly technical skill of engraving. We printed and applied the vinyl seen on the ship’s outer surfaces and engraved the internal control panels. These are the very fundamental aspects of signage and engraving and, perhaps, some of the most important elements of what we do. This was a real team effort between different departments and that’s exactly what we love.

A Model Example

One of our favourite things this month has been our sponsorship of Merrivale Model Village in Great Yarmouth. The seasonal attraction is a firm favourite in the town and holds very special memories for those of us who grew up here. To have our very own tiny sponsor board amongst the other local businesses has been a true delight! Have you been?

Promotional Banners

Something we don’t shout about very often is our printed promotional items, such as large roller banners, small table-top banners, feather flags, PVC banners, branded tablecloths, exhibition stand graphics, vinyl posters up to A1, and much more. We can also fulfil your paper printing needs with business cards, leaflets, flyers, menus, invitations, brochures, business cards, stationery and a whole host of other items. If you have an event coming up, need some new catalogues for your business, are running out of business cards or need an eco-friendly pop-up banner, then ask us.

What We’ve Been Loving in March

Sara has been enjoying the audiobook by ex-Dragon Sara Davies MBE, We Can All Make It. Davies’s book tells the story of how she built her multi-million pound business from her room in student halls from the ground up, on becoming the youngest Dragon in the Den and how she has become one of the biggest business names in UK households. Her story is an inspiration and certainly worth checking out in audiobook or traditional hardback.

Amber Shares Her Journey

February saw our Clothing Manager Amber represent This is Effective during an event hosted by East Coast College. As a former student of EEC, Amber shared her post-college journey to a cohort of Level 2 and Level 3 Business students. From joining her parents’ business straight from education to starting her own equestrian clothing brand, Jockey and Jill, Amber’s story proved motivational to the students soon to finish their own journeys at ECC.

Our Biggest Bundle Yet

We’re now releasing our biggest clothing bundle – ever! There are huge savings to be made with this bundle. Contact us to discuss your workwear requirements today.

Are YOU our next apprentice?

We are growing rapidly and are now looking to hire a Level 3 Business Administration Apprentice. We would love it if you could share to your network if you know of someone in the NR30 and surrounding areas who might be interested in gaining valuable skills in a full-time, paid position: https://lnkd.in/eRgziEeX 

Wymondham Abbey – One of the most iconic churches in East Anglia and we are excited to offer you the opportunity to join us for a guided tour. After learning more about this spectacular Norman church, enjoy some networking over tea and biscuits. Join us on Tuesday 29th April from 12 – 2pm.

If you’re looking for Networking opportunities in Norfolk, BLN is a very welcoming community. Members, guests and anyone else with an interest in buying local are all welcome.

BLN Members are free and non-members are £5.

Places are limited, so to book your place, please purchase your ticket on Eventbrite 

The BLN team, together with Maria Thornberg from ReDo Norfolk CiC and Joshua Antcliff from The Benjamin Foundation have all been hard at work in the background pulling together something fun and networky for you all!

We’d love for you to come and join us on Thursday 1st May from 6.30pm at Carrow House on King Street in Norwich for a good ol’ fashioned mingle and be prepared for mayhem as we network and enjoy some games provided by ReDo CiC and The Benjamin Foundation.

This event is a ticketed event. For inclusivity, we are asking for a minimum volunteer donation of £1 but this is a charity event, so feel free to throw your money at us! For businesses, we would love for you to make a minimum donation of £10. We will also be doing a ‘Donor of the Event’ celebrating our highest donation so please give what you can 😊 Come with money in your pocket and be ready to have some fun!

All are welcome so please spread the word about this event so that we can raise as much money as possible for our 2 amazing Norfolk charitable organisations 💗

Places are limited, so please do support us and book your place via Eventbrite. And PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY! 💚

It was great to be able to support young people at the Festival of Knowledge on 6^th and 7^th of March with information and guidance on Apprenticeships and their options after school. 

1000’s of secondary school children came to the show and we were able to chat to them about a range of jobs in business and in engineering, as well as the range of courses we offer and how an apprenticeship works. 

Joining us on our stand was the Alternative Education Provision “Delta 4” who offer support to schools for children who find it difficult to learn in the traditional school format and might otherwise be out of school and spending that time in environments where they are very vulnerable. 

The Alternative Provision allows them to learn life skills in a safe centre and in a very practical way.  The Delta 4 information, merchandise and video on our stand attracted lots of attention and we were then able to talk to children about their whole learning journey and how it fits with their future after school.

If you would like to know more about the network of support and training provision we can offer from very early careers development right through to an advanced leadership and management career, please get in touch:
enquiries@swarmgroup.org.uk

Discover our Easter Getaway Offer between Monday, 31st March until Monday, 28th April 2025.

Delight in a few days visiting our fine city and exploring our beautiful county.

Enjoy a Mini Break with us! Book a two-night stay and receive a *third night free.

This offer is available from Monday, 31st March until Monday, 28th April 2025 inclusive. *Book three nights and get the cheapest night free. 

To book your Easter Getaway call 01603 272007, or email reservations@maidsheadhotel.co.uk. 

Remember to ask if our Bentley driver is available during your visit to take you on a complimentary spin around the City.

Banham Zoo is delighted to announce the return of the Run Banham Zoo 5K Race, which is taking place on May 24, 2025.

Following the overwhelming demand for tickets last year, this year’s event will feature two race waves at 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM, allowing even more participants to join the fun.

This one-of-a-kind race offers runners the unique opportunity to race through the zoo’s scenic pathways, passing by incredible animals such as geladas, kangaroos, giraffes, and howler monkeys, all while supporting vital wildlife conservation efforts.

The event welcomes runners, joggers, and walkers of all ages and abilities.

Whether participants are chasing a personal best or simply enjoying a leisurely run in a stunning setting, Run Banham Zoo 5K promises an unforgettable experience.

Prizes will be awarded to the fastest male and female runners in both child and adult categories, as well as to the participant who raises the most sponsorship money.

All proceeds from the event will go towards Banham Zoo’s conservation initiatives, helping protect endangered species both locally and globally.

Race entry includes full-day access to the zoo, and discounted tickets are available for spectators to enjoy the festivities.

Josh Hunter Harl, Sales and Marketing Director at ZSEA, expressed his enthusiasm for the event’s growing impact:

“We’re really excited to be bringing back our Run Banham Zoo event and this year, we’re inviting 1,000 fundraisers to take part and help us raise money for our incredible conservation work.

This year’s race is extra special as for the second year in a row, we are proud to have Towergate Insurance as our official sponsor, supporting this unique event. Together, we’re excited to deliver another unforgettable experience as we unite to raise funds in support of our vital conservation efforts at Banham Zoo.”

James Yeandle, CFO at Towergate, added:

“Towergate is delighted to sponsor the second annual Banham Zoo 5K, a fully inclusive event that promotes health and well-being while supporting the incredible work of the charity. Like Banham Zoo, we are passionate about the communities we serve, putting them at the heart of everything we do.

Last year’s event was a fantastic success, and this year, we’re excited to see it double in size – creating twice the impact for conservation and local community support. We’re proud to support Banham Zoo and the vital work they do.”

Registration & Ticket Information:

• Adult race entry: £17

• Child race entry: £10

• Spectator tickets: Adults £10 | Children £5

Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged! For more information and to secure your place, visit: https://totalracetiming.co.uk/race/544

For more details about Banham Zoo, visit:

https://www.zsea.org/banham/run-banham-zoo

Please note, that to ensure animal welfare, some habitats will be closed during the race.

Are you working from home and finding it difficult to get motivated? Maybe you’re short of space or generally feeling a bit isolated? Taking a dedicated co-working desk at The Enterprise Centre on the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus could be just what you’re looking for. We currently have a few dedicated desks available in our large Enterprise Area.

Desks cost just £185 + VAT monthly, with no additional service charges. Our community members benefit from 24/7, 365 days access, to meet the needs of busy start-ups or those who have international clients. We have an on-site café serving barista coffee, sandwiches, salads and light bites and our friendly reception team take a lead organising social events, so it’s not all work and no play!

The building is Multi-award winning and one of the greenest buildings in the country. It is architecturally stunning and many rooms have views into Earlham Park, so we’re an ideal space for you to meet with clients. Our tenants also have free access to meeting rooms and use of a networked private ‘phone booth for confidential calls.

Agreements for our co-working desks are deliberately on easy in-out terms. Only 1-months’ notice is required to end an agreement, so there’s no risk involved in giving co-working a try. To help make an informed choice, we can offer use of a hot-desk free for a day, so you can ‘try before you buy’.

Get in touch to find out more and find to time to come take a look for yourself. More information is available online https://bit.ly/4fWITKz or email the team directly via theenterprisecentre.reception@uea.ac.uk.

Join our leading hub of 200 businesses. We will have been open for 10-years this year, so it’s going to be a particularly exciting time to join our friendly and inclusive community.

Richard, Dax, Luke & Connor attended the National ACR & Heat Pump awards ceremony on March 6th in Manchester at the Midland Hotel.

We won Air Source Project of the Year for a retrofit air source heat pump installation in a riverside townhouse in Norwich and Heat Pump Installer of the Year 2025.

R A Brown Heating Services have been awarded national Heat Pump Installer of the Year,  5 years out of the last 7 years, the other 2 years we were runner up, receiving highly commended accolade from the judges.  We have to admit to being very proud of this successful track record and want thank the whole team for all their efforts.

We are thrilled to be continually recognised for our work.  The recognition of Heat Pump Installer of the Year, recognises more than just our work installing heat pumps, it also includes our work in the heat pump industry supporting apprenticeships and colleges in Norfolk & Suffolk and also being a voice in National discussions to champion the industry and heat pumps to achieve carbon reduction.

If you would like to discuss installing a heat pump, then give us a call on 01603 898904. 

Just TWO WEEKS until the Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition – are you ready? 👀

We’re looking forward to meeting fellow business owners, sharing top marketing tips, and discovering exciting new opportunities. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, startup, or established business, this is an event you don’t want to miss.

💡 Looking for marketing advice? Let’s chat! We’ll be on hand to help you elevate your brand, boost engagement, and drive more sales. 🚀

📍 Where? Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition
📅 When? 26th March 2025

link for free tickets:
https://loom.ly/DMJqGBs

If you’re attending, make sure to pop by and say hello – we’d love to meet you! Let’s talk all things marketing, growth, and smashing success together. 🚀