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Award winning wealth managers Chadwicks has appointed two Associate Directors. Radostina Dencheva and James Bacon joined the firm as Graduate Trainees having each completed a Masters degree at the UEA and are now Chartered advisers. Director Richard Ross said ‘this represents an important milestone in our development. James and Radi have done some fantastic work in enhancing our proposition and supporting the development of our staff. Their promotion lays the foundations for the next stage of our evolution. It is also a great validation of our policy of investing in talented young people’. Radostina, who was recognised as one of the Top 35 Next Generation Advisers by Citywire earlier in the year, is an economics graduate and a Chartered Wealth Manager and is particularly interested in socially responsible investing. James has a MSc in Investment and Financial Management, is a Chartered Financial Planner and likes to focus on portfolio construction and financial planning. Chadwicks is proud of its record in developing its staff, as Richard Ross said ‘ the deal is that if you’re working here you’re learning – and we will support, encourage and cajole you to become better qualified.’ Photo credit: Charlotte Beach

Norfolk has been successful in securing £49.55m of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) and today papers have been published which outline how the money will be spent to improve the county’s bus services and facilities over the next three years. Norfolk received the sixth highest allocation in the country and the funding consists of £30.9m of capital funding and £18.6m of revenue funding. The plans outline 17 new measures across the county which give buses priority on the roads. These include new bus lanes in Norwich, King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth and redesigned junctions across the county.   New or improved travel hubs are proposed for Sheringham, Cromer, Diss and Hunstanton which will provide better waiting areas with real-time information to help to give passengers a better experience as well as being integrated with walking and cycling facilities. There will also be a county-wide review of bus stops with upgrades to improve access for people with disabilities, to provide more real-time information and a programme of works to reduce delays to buses. Approximately £12 million of the funding will be spent on providing new or expanded bus routes and increased service frequencies on key routes, including more evening and weekend services. The detail of these routes will be worked up with bus operators and using feedback from residents, elected members and parish councils over the coming months. The final element of the plan is to reduce fares, particularly for those under 25 who will receive a 20% discount, and in targeted areas where flat fares schemes will be piloted starting with Great Yarmouth.   Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “This is a robust plan which was developed with operators and influenced by feedback from more than 1500 Norfolk residents who took part in a recent consultation. More services and increased frequencies are key to enabling people to travel around the county by public transport and so it’s good to see that a significant amount of the funding will be used for this. The planned changes to infrastructure will reduce delays which will ensure an efficient and reliable service for passengers.”  Linda McCord, Independent Chair of the Norfolk Enhanced Partnership and who works for the passenger representative body Transport Focus said; “Securing this money is a major boost for travel across Norfolk as improving bus services across the county is vital in improving rural mobility. Our Enhanced Partnership has already delivered a number of improvements including a new single ticket for use across all operators, a marketing campaign to encourage more people to use the bus, and a single customer charter for all operators – so I’m very excited to see this plan of improvements delivered over the next three years.”  Image owned by Norfolk County Council

Hi and welcome to our weekly newsletter, which aims to share our knowledge at Bigfork in creating successful websites. If you haven’t already subscribed to the Web Insights newsletter then please click the ‘Join the Conversation’ button at the end.

How to write a website design brief Writing a website design brief is an essential first step towards creating your new site.

Here we look at what your brief should cover, what your agency needs to know and the crucial questions to answer before you start.

A website design brief is simply a document that sets out what you want from your website design project.

It deals with areas including what the site will cover, how it will work, how you’ll update it and how people will find it.

A website design brief helps to focus your thinking on what you really need from your web design, so you don’t waste time and resources later on.

Your brief also helps your web design agency understand what you want, resolve any questions and give you an accurate cost.

The better the brief, the smoother the project – and the better the end result.

Want to get started straight away?

Download your free website brief PDF template

Your aims

These days, every firm is expected to have a website of some sort. But beyond that, why do you need a new one? What aims do you want to achieve?

Specifically, do you want to increase sales and leads, target new customers or promote new products and services? Do you want to build your brand’s profile or offer people a better source of information?

Or is it more about polishing up the design, improving performance, smoothing the user experience or making the site easier to update?

Take an honest look at your existing website – or ask your customers, if you can. What do you like and dislike about it? What is working well, and what needs to change?

Business background

A website is a commercial tool – whether you’re using it to sell online, generate enquiries or just build your brand. So your agency needs to understand how your new website will fit with the rest of your business.

In your website design brief, sum up your company history, your products and customers, your markets, your strengths or weaknesses and your future plans.

What is your position within your marketplace? Are you a best-value option, a premium choice – or somewhere in between?

Do you have a marketing plan already? If so, let your agency know what part your new website will play in it.

Competitors

Your website will be going toe-to-toe with your competitors – most obviously on Google’s search results page.

Therefore, your brief needs to include a review of competitors’ sites. Who are they? What are they doing well – and not so well? What opportunities does that open up for you?

Creative brief

As part of your website design brief, explain exactly what you like about other people’s sites – for example, the design, the functionality, the user journey. This helps your web design agency understand exactly what you’re looking for.

Visitors and traffic

Your brief should profile your existing and future customers. Who do you want to visit your website? How do people normally buy from you? Who are your ideal new customers, and what would they want from your site?

Then there’s the question of how visitors will find you. Will you aim for a first-page listing on Google, or direct traffic with pay-per-click (PPC) ads? What part will social media and email play? And what about offline channels like print advertising and events?

Structure and content

Now, think about what pages your website might need. Your agency will be able to help you here, but it’s good to have a basic idea.

For a smaller site, you can just list the pages. For larger sites, you might want to draw a ‘family tree’ style diagram (known as a ‘site map’), showing sections and links within the site.

Think about the content each page will feature. Remember, it doesn’t have to be just text – you can include images, video, documents, maps and more. Aim to give your users what is most helpful to them.

Detail in your brief what content you will be providing and what you need the web design agency to supply. If you need copy to be written then the agency knows they need to quote for this.

Download your free website briefing template

Technical aspects

Do you already have hosting and a domain name? If not, you’ll need to set them up. Your agency can do this for you, or work with your existing provider if you have one.

For ecommerce sites, your agency will need to know what platform you prefer (if any), what products you want to offer, what functions you want and the arrangements for payment and shipping.

Your new website will probably need a Content Management System (CMS) so that you will be able to manage most of your website content inhouse. If you have a preferred CMS then add it to your brief, however it may be better to ask what CMS the agency would recommend and why.

A site is a long-term commitment, not a one-off project – so what maintenance and support will you need? This could include updating content and features, security tweaks or just general help and advice. Ask your agency what they can offer.

Budget

How much do you want to spend? This is a bit like saying ‘How long is a piece of string?’ But your agency needs to have some idea of your budget, so they can tailor their proposal.

With websites, you get what you pay for. Think of your site as an asset that you’re investing in, not just a cost. It will be a central part of your sales and marketing effort for many years to come.

Timescale

If you have a timescale, let your agency know up front. A large site can take several months to develop, particularly for a smaller team – so don’t expect them to work miracles.

Download your free website brief PDF template

This sample document is the ideal website brief document that asks all the right questions for you to complete and send out to your list of web design agencies.

Ready to turn your website design brief into reality?

We can translate your website design brief into a beautifully designed, fully functioning website. And if you don’t yet have a brief, we can help you develop one. Find out moreabout our approach to website design, or get in touch.

Mark Ellaway, Bigfork

PS – You can find more great successful website insights on the Bigfork website.

Images provided by Bigfork

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO is welcoming 26 new trainees across its offices in Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich, with 600 joining nationwide. The trainees will be a combination of school leaver apprentices and university graduates, 11 will join BDO’s Cambridge office, 11 will join the firm’s office in Ipswich, with four based in Norwich. The majority of the trainees will join the firm’s audit practice. Most of the new trainees will have the opportunity to undertake a level-7 apprenticeship programme, resulting in a qualification equivalent to a master’s degree. This year, the firm has also hired over 50 industrial placement students to join BDO for 12 months between their second and third year of university, as well as 70 summer interns. As part of its commitment to increasing diversity in the profession, BDO also runs targeted insight programmes aimed at school or college students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and university students from a black heritage. Applications for the firm’s 2023 graduate and school leaver apprentice programmes will open later this month, with more than 700 positions available nationwide and 30 based across East Anglia. Peter Harrup, Head of BDO in East Anglia, said: “We’re delighted to welcome this year’s intake of trainees from a wide range of backgrounds, whether that’s school leavers, or university graduates, as well as interns and placement students. East Anglia is home to some of the country’s brightest talent and we’re investing significantly as a firm to provide the career opportunities and pathways that enable young people from all walks of life to access a vibrant and exciting profession, such as accountancy. “The education of young people has undoubtedly been severely disrupted in the last few years, with both school leavers and graduates having to navigate learning and examinations in very challenging circumstances. Each and every one of them should be extremely proud of their achievements and we look forward to supporting them on what will hopefully be a long and successful career journey at BDO.” More information about BDO’s programmes and 2022 positions can be found here: https://www.bdoearlyincareer.co.uk/ Image provided by BDO

Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is advising rail passengers, including football fans and people travelling to work and school or college, to avoid travelling by train on Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 September as national rail strikes are set to cause widespread disruption. Football matches affected by next week’s strikes include Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven on Thursday and Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City on Saturday. East Anglian teams playing on Saturday include Norwich City, Peterborough United, Cambridge United, Ipswich Town and Colchester United. Fans are strongly advised to make alternative arrangements, as are students travelling to school or college and people commuting to work, because Greater Anglia is only able to run a heavily reduced service with last trains departing in the late afternoon – before the end of the working day and the final whistle in most cases. RMT trade union members, including Greater Anglia’s conductors, train cleaners and station staff and Network Rail’s signallers and maintenance teams are striking on Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 September. Members of ASLEF train drivers’ union are also striking on Thursday 15 September. Greater Anglia will run a very reduced service on routes into London Liverpool Street from Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria and the Stansted Express only, with first trains starting after 7.30am and completing their journeys by 6.30pm. There will be no services on branch or regional lines on both days and no services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street on Thursday 15 September. Morning services on Friday 16 September and Sunday 18 September will also be affected by the strike, with most services starting later than usual at 7/7.30am. Services should be back to normal by early afternoon. Also on Saturday 17 September, due to  engineering work, there is a rail replacement bus service between Colchester and Ingatestone which will connect 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 young people back at school or college after the summer break, commuters, business travellers, students travelling back to university, football fans and people hoping to enjoy a late summer day out by train. “We’re only able to run a fraction of our usual services, so our advice again is to avoid using our trains. “The rail industry is working hard to resolve these disputes and talks will continue with ASLEF and RMT in an effort to avert the strike.”

Above: The Friends of Thetford Station with their Wildlife Friendly Station accreditation Credit: Greater Anglia A community project to create a wildlife refuge on a rail station platform has won an award. The ‘Friends of Thetford Station’ won ‘Best Environmental Project’ at Thetford Town Council’s Thetford In Bloom competition for the wildlife garden they have created alongside the platform at Thetford station, rainwater collection and for their efforts to protect the town’s swifts and bats from habitat loss by installing nesting boxes on the old station building. The ‘Friends of Thetford Station’ are part of Greater Anglia’s volunteer Station Adoption initiative which sees local people getting involved at their local station for the benefit of the community. Over the years they have transformed the platform by developing an extensive and attractive wildlife friendly garden and a fernery in the old customer toilet facilities. Recently, they received a grant and planning permission from Breckland Council to fund six specially-designed swift boxes, and worked with Network Rail to install them at the top of the Victorian station building. Swift and bat populations have severely declined in numbers over the last 25 years, due to habitat loss and swifts are now considered highly vulnerable. The group installed six ‘day and night’ boxes which are designed to house swifts during the summer months and bats all year round. Each box has a nesting chamber for a pair of swifts and a recess in the rear panel where bats can roost. Alongside the boxes they also installed a solar-powered swift call emitting device to improve the chances of the boxes being found and used. As swifts are loyal to their nesting sites, the group’s long-term goal is to establish a swift colony. Lead volunteer, Fiona Rhind, said, “We recently became a Wildlife Friendly accredited station for the work we have done on the platforms, and we want to continually do more to show just what can be achieved in terms of greater biodiversity in an urban environment. “At Thetford station we’ve planted native hedges, established a wildflower area and installed 15 bird boxes – which we were delighted to see become home to blackbird and robin chicks this year. “It’s wonderful that we can now provide a refuge for swifts and bats as well – as our native species need all the help they can get. We’re really grateful to Breckland Council, Greater Anglia and Network Rail for supporting us in our aims to do everything we can to support our local wildlife and we’re delighted to have been recognised for this work with a Thetford In Bloom award.” Councillor Terry Jermy, Chairman, Thetford Town Council Amenities Committee, said, “We are delighted to see the return of the Thetford In Bloom awards and in particular, pleased to see the addition of two new categories – Environmental Project of the Year and Environmental Champion of the Year. “The judges were very pleased to award first place to the Friends of Thetford Station in the Environmental Project category in recognition for their brilliant work locally. “Judges noted the maintenance of the flower beds in the vicinity of the station that have been well looked after by the volunteers and provide an important food source for bees and other pollinators. The recently added swift boxes and facilities for rainwater collection were also appreciated by the judges.” Thetford station recently received a ‘Wildlife Friendly’ accreditation from Greater Anglia and Norfolk Wildlife Trust to formally recognise the achievements of its team of volunteer ‘station adopters’ to create a wildlife haven at the station. Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, “I’d like to thank the volunteers at Thetford for the incredible work they are doing to support biodiversity locally and congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition. “The railway in increasingly recognised as an important corridor for wildlife and thanks to initiatives like this, stations are becoming a vital part of that corridor which helps wildlife to move around the landscape and become more resilient to the effects of climate change and habitat loss.” Rail stations across East Anglia are increasingly becoming havens for local wildlife thanks to the efforts of volunteers who last year transformed over 6,800 square metres of railway land into thriving wildlife gardens. In a recent survey, Greater Anglia station adopters reported a wide range of creatures visiting their stations including many different types of butterflies as well as bees, slow worms, bats, foxes, deer and many varieties of birds, recording more than 200 different species. Greater Anglia has pledged this land to WildEast, a nature recovery movement which aims to restore 20% of East Anglia back to nature by 2050 and has joined the rest of the rail industry in pledging to make stations across Britain more sustainable. Above: Flowers at Thetford station Credit: Greater Anglia Above: Swift boxes on the old station building at Thetford rail station. Credit: Greater Anglia

Sweet-toothed siblings baked delicious treats to show their support for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Freddie and Aurelia Scott made meringues and lemon crumble cake respectively before selling them to hungry customers at their local farmers’ market. The idea came from a school project, when Freddie was given £10 and told to see how much he could increase it by – using the ‘seed fund’ to create a small business and then donating proceeds to a charity of his choice. The 16-year-old, a student at Radley College, in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, decided to make meringues and sell them at Creake Abbey Farmers’ Market, in North Creake, near Fakenham. He made £89.50 and donated all proceeds to EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk and the rest of East Anglia. Aurelia, 13, also got involved and used the egg yolks to make lemon crumble cake, which made a further £36.50. The siblings had EACH collection pots on their stall, bringing in just over £54, which meant that in total they raised a fantastic £180. Freddie said: “I started this as a school challenge which was to create a business with a loan of £10. I chose to make and sell my favourite pudding – meringues – and am delighted my investment ended up raising so much. “I couldn’t be happier to share my experiences and earnings with EACH.” Aurelia, a student at Tudor Hall, near Banbury, in Oxfordshire, added: “I love baking and when I heard Freddie had a lot of spare egg yolks I thought I’d help by making something to boost his takings.” Mum Diana is a long-time supporter of EACH, having been donating money to the charity for more than a decade. Freddie and Aurelia, who live at Creake Abbey, sold their goods at the farmers’ market on Saturday, 6^th August. EACH has three hospices, including The Nook, at Framingham Earl, near Norwich. Photo credits – EACH

Yesterday, the 8th September, was a sad, sad day and one that our generation will never forget. Future generations will look back and recognise what a privilege it was to have Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in office. Her Majesty was a champion and patron of many charities within the UK and globally and acknowledged the need and necessity for such organisations to support and improve the lives of many around the world. Through her offices, Big C was recognised by awarding MBEs to David Moar, the founder of Big C, and to Theresa Cossey a long standing trustee. She was a champion and patron of many charities within the UK and globally and acknowledged the need and necessity for such organisations to support and improve the lives of many around the world. Through her offices, Big C was recognised by awarding MBEs to David Moar, the founder of Big C, and to Theresa Cossey a long standing trustee.

“On the 17th July 2002, I was gifted the rare privilege of escorting her Majesty the Queen around a tented village on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds for the Queen’s 50th anniversary. The village comprised elements of Suffolk from Tourism, Commas, Farming and Food Production as well as the county’s heritage which included a native Suffolk Punch horse. On meeting the Queen, her presence and standing were immediately apparent, which is one of the many reasons she commanded respect and love across the world.”

Dr. Chris Bushby, CEO, Big C Cancer CharityPhoto credit: Big C

This is an opportunity for you to meet with delegates, top industry experts, peers, businesses and organisations who are travelling on, or have completed, the Net Zero journey.  If this resonates with you or your business, please apply for a free stand in order to share your knowledge, experiences and best practice from successful Net Zero strategies.    The expo is not a sales opportunity.  We are looking for an inspiring in-person celebration of the best of the green economy, accompanied by a series of seminars and workshops that demystify “Net Zero” and will explore how to develop and execute an effective net zero strategy.   Through thought-provoking keynotes, cutting-edge debates, and the exhibition, we will shine a light on the progress that is being made in Norwich and answer the question, “how can businesses start the journey or move even faster”.  We are looking for exhibitors that can educate and inform: 

• Able to examine the implications of upcoming policy / regulatory change 
• Apply economic sustainability to support business cases 
• Participate in peer shared learning of “successes and failures”  
• Educate and collaborate across businesses 
• Identify what innovations are coming that others can use 

For businesses, it’s not about doing one thing 100% better, it’s about doing 100 things 1% better.    The expo will take place on October 20, 10AM-4PM at the NUA building on Duke’s Street.  This event is supported by: Find out more here

• New online retail platform for current and legacy cars dating back to 1981
• Latest Lotus merchandise plus some heritage items also available via lotuscars.com
• Customers can either collect, or choose direct delivery, from retail agent
• Official parts manuals also available to help owners keep their Lotus performing to specification

Lotus estimates that up to 70% of its cars are still on the road worldwide, all cherished by their owners and many used regularly. To maintain this enviable record and to encourage more owners globally to keep their cars running, Lotus has unveiled a new online retail platform.   The e-commerce site has thousands of parts, accessories and consumables available to buy, from 1981 and the era of the Esprit and Excel, to the more recent Elise, Exige and Evora. All components are either original from period or manufactured to OEM specifications. To ensure that the right part is selected, a comprehensive search tool is located on the landing page, including the Lotus model, year, driveline and trim level. Further assistance can be found via the official Lotus parts manuals, also available for purchase on the platform. In addition, the site includes the full range of contemporary Lotus lifestyle merchandise, clothing and accessories. Legacy items, such as period keyrings and car covers for older Lotus cars, are also available. Customers can either collect from, or choose direct delivery from, their local retailer agent.   Chris Hinks, Director, Aftersales, Lotus, said: “A Lotus car is designed, developed and built to be driven in a spirited way, and so it’s vital that we support owners worldwide in keeping their cars performing as our engineers intended. Moving our entire parts and accessories business to this new and fully searchable online portal is improving our service to them.”   He continued: “Some Lotus owners have their own workshop facilities and take pleasure maintaining their cars themselves, others rely on authorised retailers and repairers. We always encourage our customers to keep their cars maintained to specification for the full ‘signed-off’ experience, and parts.lotuscars.com will significantly improve our already outstanding levels of service, making that easier than ever.” Images provided by Lotus

A steely runner is striding out of his comfort zone and embarking on a monster 200-mile challenge in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Super-fit Alan Carter is taking on the mission in memory of Callum Doe, the son of a friend who died in August 2020. He plans to run 50 miles a day for four days, getting underway on 15^th September. His epic journey starts from his home in Mellis, before heading to Wortham Ling and then, via the Angles Way, to Knettishall Heath. He then plans to swap to the Peddars Way and run to Hunstanton, where he will pick up the North Norfolk Coastal Path. He will follow this around the coast to Great Yarmouth and return to Mellis along the Angles Way. “After that I’ll fall into bed and remain in the recovery position for about 12 hours, probably more,” joked Alan. “This challenge is a fair bit beyond my comfort zone and I’m not going to be too strict in terms of rules. “It’s about raising money for charity and it doesn’t really matter how I do it. “Getting round will be hard enough and it’ll be particularly tough at the start of each day. It’ll be a case of pigeon steps, walking and then breaking into a run. “It makes me nervous to think about it but I know I’ll be pleased with myself if I complete it. “It takes courage to attempt something like this and by asking for sponsorship, it will give me extra pressure and determination to keep moving when the going gets tough. “It would be embarrassing to have sponsors and not finish the whole run. “Because the run is too much to complete in a day, I’ll be carrying the things I need and have bought some of the lightest camping gear available.” Alan, 46, has a personal reason for supporting EACH and is good friends with Callum’s dad, Ian Doe. Thirteen-year-old Callum was diagnosed with an aggressive grade four brain tumour on Christmas Eve 2018. He had an operation to remove as much of it as safely possible, in addition to two rounds of radiotherapy, but died at The Nook, EACH’s hospice in Framingham Earl, in August 2020. Alan, a joiner by trade who has a fiancée, Ruth, and ten-year-old daughter, Scarlett, said: “I’ve become a big fan of EACH. “Other than its high street presence, I didn’t know anything about the charity until Callum and his family needed help and received care at The Nook. “It had such an impact and goodness knows how anyone copes without that support. “I used to cycle with Ian and, over the course of a year, we followed Callum’s story. “When he passed away, the feeling of uselessness and sadness inspired me to do some fundraising for EACH. “Ian always said what a great support the charity was to him, wife Michelle and daughter Abi. “They said the staff were so invested in them. It didn’t feel like they were at work – they just wanted to help.” Alan is no stranger to raising funds for EACH and completed another eye-watering run in October 2020. His Angles Way Challenge saw him complete the full length of the 77-mile footpath, starting in Great Yarmouth and heading south towards Lowestoft, ending at Knetishall Heath and taking in Bungay, Beccles and Diss. It was effectively three marathons in a row over mostly rough ground and he raised £2,645. Ian cycled alongside him, carrying water and energy gels. “It was a real team effort and definitely a day to remember,” said Alan. “Poor Ian. Not only did he have to keep me company all day and night, he also had to cycle 80 miles very slowly. It must have been torture for a fast cyclist like him, although he didn’t show it.” Alan plans to meet Ruth and Scarlett, both of whom recently completed EACH’s Norwich Bubble Rush, at the halfway point and has already received offers of support from his running clubs, Rickinghall Runners, Diss Athletics Club and Suffolk Trail Runners. He said: “Friends have offered to come and run alongside me for some sections, which will be a huge morale-boost. “I know from experience that time stretches out on these long runs. “A mile can seem like five at times, but having someone alongside you reverses that. It’s brilliant. “To prepare for this challenge, I’ve run 1,150 miles this year and follow a monthly training cycle which starts at 30 miles per week and builds to 60. Then the following month I start again with 30. “I also ran the Five Rivers Ultra run in May, which was 103 miles along the Essex and Suffolk coast. “I came eighth in 26 hours, which I was very happy with.” To sponsor Alan, head here. Image credits – EACH

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is advising rail passengers to avoid using its trains on Thursday 15 September as 90 per cent of services will not be running due to a train drivers’ strike. The 24-hour strike – if it goes ahead – will leave Greater Anglia unable to run any services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street and there will be no services on any branch or regional lines either. The only services running – all heavily reduced – will be the Norwich-London intercity service, a stopping service between Colchester and London Liverpool Street, the Southend Victoria-London Liverpool Street service and the Stansted Express between Stansted Airport and London. There will be no rail replacement buses to replace trains not running due to the strike. Other train companies affected by ASLEF strikes on Thursday 15 September are Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER, London Overground, Northern Trains, Southeastern, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains. Morning services on Friday 16 September will also be affected by the strike, with most services starting later than usual at 7/7.30am. Services should be back to normal by early afternoon. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We are very sorry that once again our customers will be disrupted by strike action, which this time will affect young people back at school or college after the summer break, commuters, business travellers, students travelling back to university and people hoping to enjoy a late summer day out by train. “With our drivers on strike, we’re only able to run about ten per cent of our usual weekday services, so our advice again is to avoid using our trains. “The rail industry is working hard to resolve these disputes and talks will continue with ASLEF in an effort to avert the strike.” Anyone who has booked a ticket to travel on Thursday 15 September can travel on Wednesday 14, Friday 16 or Saturday 17 September instead, swap to another date or get a free refund. Greater Anglia is currently finalising details of the timetable to operate on Thursday 15 September. Further information is available from greateranglia.co.uk/strikes which will be updated as details are finalised.