Member News

People are being given the opportunity to comment on proposals for the Norwich Western Link before the planning application is finalised and submitted, as a public consultation on the Norfolk County Council project begins today (Monday 15 August). The eight-week pre-planning application consultation will provide more details about the proposed 3.9 mile dual carriageway road that would connect the A1270 Broadland Northway to the A47 west of Norwich. A new fly-through video and images show what the route could look like, including the viaduct across the River Wensum floodplain. A transparent environmental barrier is proposed along the viaduct which would reduce visual and noise impacts and help to minimise spray from vehicles. Figures published as part of the consultation show that nearly 25,000 vehicles a day are anticipated to use the Norwich Western Link in 2026, the year it is scheduled to open, rising to 36,500 vehicles 15 years later. A traffic flow map shows the difference the Norwich Western Link is expected to make to the local road network, with roads in Weston Longville and Ringland seeing the biggest reductions in traffic and the biggest increases seen on Broadland Northway and a short section of the A1067 that is due to be upgraded to dual carriageway as part of the project. Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure at Norfolk County Council, said: “We’re working towards getting the planning application for the Norwich Western Link finalised and submitted next year, but before we do we want to share more details on our proposals and get people’s feedback so we can take this into account. “This is a really significant project for Norfolk that would complete a fully dual carriageway orbital route around Norwich alongside National Highways’ A47 North Tuddenham to Easton dualling scheme. A great deal of care and expertise is going into developing our proposals for the Norwich Western Link to balance all the elements we need to consider, and I hope lots of people will be interested in looking through the information we’re sharing through this consultation and giving us their thoughts.” Proposed features along the route including ponds, a layby and planting are shown for the first time in the consultation materials, and information is given on the sloped embankments, or ‘earth bunds’, that will be used along much of the route. At between two and five metres in height and planted with native trees, these bunds will help to screen the new road from view and reduce noise in the surrounding area. Crossings for use by both people and animals are also proposed along the route. Green bridges and underpasses are planned to guide bats and other wildlife across the road safely, and two of the green bridges will link into the local Public Rights of Way network and be available for use by walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. At the northern end of the route, two options for a wildlife crossing are under consideration – another green bridge or a ‘landscaped bat crossing’, which would see existing trees retained either side of the road and in a central reservation, where the carriageways would separate, to guide bats to fly over the road at a safe height above the tree canopy. People will also have the chance to give their views on traffic mitigation proposals on the existing road network that would be implemented as part of the Norwich Western Link project. Measures such as road closures, reduced speed limits and changes to junctions are proposed on some minor and B roads, including in areas south of the A47 and north of the A1067, to encourage traffic to keep to major routes. Four consultation events will be held during the consultation period, with information on display and members of the project team available to discuss the proposals and answer questions. These events will be held at:

• Barnham Broom Village Hall on Friday 2 September (12-8pm)
• The Costessey Centre on Friday 9 September (1-8pm)
• Weston Longville Hall for All on Thursday 15 September (12-8pm)
• Felthorpe Village Hall on Thursday 22 September (12-8pm)

There will also be opportunities for people to speak to members of the project team about the proposals via bookable online and phone appointments. People can find out more about the consultation, view the proposals and give their feedback by filling in an online questionnaire via the Norfolk County Council website at www.norfolk.gov.uk/nwl. Hard copies of the consultation brochure and questionnaire can also be requested by emailing nwlconsultation@norfolk.gov.uk or phoning 0344 800 8020. People can return their paper questionnaire to the council, or write a letter in response to the consultation, using a Freepost address. Comments can also be emailed to nwlconsultation@norfolk.gov.uk. The public consultation will close on Sunday 9 October and the planning application for the project is due to be submitted next year. Subject to gaining necessary statutory approvals, construction of the Norwich Western Link is scheduled to get underway in late 2024 with the road open for use in late 2026. Photo credit: Norfolk County Council

“Deep down, we knew not finishing wasn’t an option” – James and friends embark on an epic fundraiser and walk more than 83 miles along the North Norfolk Coastal Path Two determined pals managed to see the challenge through and walk an eye-watering 83 miles – together raising nearly £8,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Bereaved dad James Harrowven and friend Nick Eagle trekked the entire length of the North Norfolk Coastal Path, from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea. They completed the distance to support EACH and in memory of James’s baby daughter, Chloe. Little Chloe, who had an extremely rare, genetic condition called Zellweger’s Syndrome, spent the final week of her life at The Nook, in Framingham Earl. She lived for just six weeks and died on 13^th September 2021. James, from Norwich, decided he wanted to do something positive and set himself a fundraising target of £7,500. He had been told £7,000 is what it costs to run The Nook for a day and also wanted to raise an additional £500 to fund a memory bench or tree for Chloe. “There was a huge sense of relief and euphoria when we got to the end,” said the 33-year-old. “Nick and I both felt so pleased, especially having reached our fundraising target. “I knew we were getting close while we did the walk. “Notifications were popping up every time someone donated and it’s amazing what a difference it made. It was such a boost and kept us going. “There were some lovely messages from people, too, and they made the world of difference. “They kept us plodding on when every bone in our body was urging us to stop! “To have raised so much money is a fantastic feeling and makes me very proud.” James, Nick and two other friends, Sam Willis and Jack Wenham, left Hunstanton early on Friday morning (5^th August). However, after an incredible effort, Sam and Jack were unable to complete the full distance due to injuries. After reaching Sheringham, they were picked up and spent the night at Sam’s parents’ chalet in Mundesley, before being driven back to Sheringham to continue their walk on Saturday morning (6^th August). “The walk itself was far harder than I expected – so much harder than our training walks,” said James. “There were so many types of terrain, which seemed to hurt every bone and muscle in our feet and legs. There were uphill and downhill sections and one awful five-mile stretch on pebbles, which was a real killer. “My knee also started hurting at the end of the first day and there were definitely points when I wondered if we’d get through it. “Even at the start of the second day, I remember thinking ‘how are we going to do this?’ “We just had to keep going, though, and it was a case of walking through the pain barrier. Deep down, we knew not finishing wasn’t an option. “After 25 miles or so we sat down, took our shoes off and assessed the damage. “Even at that relatively early stage, we were wondering how we were going to get through another 60 miles. “It was a huge physical challenge but also an enormous mental one, finding the spirit and energy to keep going and keep fighting. “We all helped each other along the way. Nick and I were both in a bad way by the end but spurred each other on.” A fifth friend, Adam Willis, had to pull out the day before the walk was due to start after testing positive for Covid. James and Nick met EACH Community Fundraiser Tim Jenkins at their finish point, Potters Resorts, in Hopton. Their fundraising total currently sits at £7,920. To make a donation, click here. Photo credit: EACH

Norfolk has been successful in securing £49.55m of funding from the Department for Transport to make the county’s bus services and facilities better. In October 2021 the County Council published Norfolk’s Bus Service Improvement Plan which outlines the ambitions for the next five years. In April this year the DfT notified us of an indicative allocation of funding for three years. The County Council has since worked alongside bus operators to shape details of what the money would be spent on should we secure it. To help shape our plans in May we launched a consultation asking for residents’ views on bus services in Norfolk. More than 1500 people took part in the consultation which helped us to identify what the barriers are to using buses and which of the priorities within the plan are most important to them. The final plan includes; lower fares for under 25s, bus priority schemes, more real time information, improved waiting areas and integrated travel hubs and new and more frequent services.   Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “I’m thrilled to hear that we have now secured this funding for Norfolk and look forward to seeing some of our plans being delivered to create an improved bus service for both residents and visitors of the county. Since being notified of the indicative allocation from the DfT our team has worked hard alongside bus operators to provide all the information and create the robust plan that was required to secure the funding.” 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. Improving services across the county is vital in improving rural mobility and is key to reducing the number of vehicles on our roads.  In less than five months our Enhanced Partnership has already delivered a new single ticket for use across all operators, has created a marketing campaign to encourage more people to use the bus, has agreed a single customer charter for all operators and has signed up to a single travel brand for the County with Travel Norfolk – so I’m very excited to see more of our plans being delivered over the next three years.”  

How to design a responsive website. The high street, a doctor’s waiting room, a bus stop – wherever you are, it is rare to look around and not see someone accessing information on their smartphone. Few of us now leave the house without our mini-computer in our pocket; and we even feel a little lost if we do so by accident. Today, 55% of global website traffic comes from mobile devices. Whilst desktops and mobile devices were relatively equal in terms of traffic over the last few years, the technological, social and economic changes brought about by the pandemic saw mobiles surpass 50% for the first time in 2020. However, this figure excludes tablets, which accounts for a surprisingly low 2.4%. Our ever-increasing ranges of connected devices have vastly different screen sizes and resolutions, and as such, a static website no longer provides an adequate digital solution. Web developers must also account for 2 in 1 laptops, e-readers and games consoles, amongst others. Those accessing the internet from a mobile device are usually looking for immediate answers to their search query, wanting results that are quick and easy to find. So, as with business itself, by being more responsive to your customer’s needs, you will inevitably win more business. What is responsive web design? Put simply, the responsive model ensures that your website’s design adapts to different screen and browser window sizes. Providing consistency, it ensures that your website looks its best on all types of device, meeting the needs of all users. A responsive site sends the exact same HTML code to the browser regardless of the device and uses CSS to control the layout so it is appropriate for the device – and importantly, its user. The traditional desktop structure, just doesn’t work well when viewed on a small screen. It becomes cumbersome to navigate, hard to read, and most importantly, when it comes to your business, hard for your customers to interact with you. So, you could be missing out on enquiries or sales. Why is responsive website design important? Provide a better user-experience (UX) Provide a better user-experience. (UX). As mobile traffic has now overtaken desktop access, half of your website visitors are viewing your content on a small screen. No one wants to scroll left and right or pinch and zoom to be able to read your content. Users only get frustrated when trying to click on tiny ‘close’ crosses with comparatively large fingers, inevitably mis-clicking and ending up in the wrong place entirely. A bad user-experience creates a bad customer experience, increasing the likelihood of your potential customer bouncing out and heading to a competitor. A better user-experience will see your readers remain on your site for longer, they will view more pages absorb more of your sales messages and ultimately deliver more conversions and increase business growth. Make your site accessible to all All users should have a comparable user-experience regardless of ability or personal situation; therefore, accessibility is a vital element of user-experience. Designers should show consideration for all potential end-users, combining usability, graphic design and accessibility to remove any barriers to deliver a first-class experience. The W3C accessibility guidelines state that thought should be given to colour contrast, the photosensitivity of any flashing imagery, text size options and copy written in plain English. Video content should be captioned – this is not only useful for hearing impairment but for all watching on mute. Similarly, high-contrast settings make it easier for all to view the site in bright sunlight. Screen reader software is commonly used by those with a form of visual impairment so alt text should always be optimised; Alt text reads a description of an image through the screen reader. This copy is also indexed by the search engines, boosting your organic SEO. If alt text is missing, the software reads the image file name, which really isn’t much use. If a site is inaccessible, it is unusable for those with a disability. In the UK, this accounts for 20% of the population. In addition, 4.5% have colour-blindness – significant percentages of individuals who could be accessing your site. Accessibility is not only the right thing to do; inclusive design creates a better user-experience for all and means you can engage with more people. Improve your organic SEO So, what does this increased mobile access mean for your organic search ranking? It is a little known fact, that whilst you may rank well for your desktop site, this does not mean that the same is true for your mobile search results. In fact, 30% of sites that appear in the top 10 results on a desktop, do not even appear on the first page for mobile. Considering the amount of mobile traffic, this reduced visibility you could see your web leads plummet. Consequently, checking your website is fully optimised for mobile traffic is essential when you consider that 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search results.

Only 11% of websites retain the same search ranking position on desktop and mobile.

SERPs, Traffic and Trends: Mobile vs. Desktop in 2021 [Study] Google is driven by the user-experience so recommends user-friendly responsive design as it avoids error-prone redirection for users. The approach requires less web build time and reduces the possibility of common mobile site mistakes. Improving efficiency, responsive web design helps Google accurately index your site. Prioritise your website speed Thankfully, the frustrating dial-up days are far behind us. However, that doesn’t mean that page load speed is a thing of the past. In fact, it is more important than ever following Google’s Core Web Vitals update last year; an algorithm that focuses on three page experience metrics, one of which being page speed. A clear, minimal mobile design takes a shorter time to load, and therefore avoids any potential ranking penalties for slow performance. By keeping it simple and clutter-free, you prioritise the key content and easy navigation, making it faster for your customers to find what they are searching for. Focused on user-experience for SEO, Google currently holds almost 95% of the mobile search market share so will only assist your organic ranking. What are the central components of responsive web design? When it comes to responsive design, there are three main elements involved in website development – that make all this possible. When it comes to responsive design, there are three main elements involved in website development – that make all this possible. Flexible grids provide a layout structure, which can dynamically adapt to fit any screen size. All elements of the site are added in flexible containers, so they can be resized by the CSS. This prevents the need to hard code each asset, saving time and money. Viewpoint meta tags are central to responsive design as they tell the browser exactly how it needs to arrange the content to scale it to the device. Website developers add HTML code to each page to give specific instructions on how to adjust dimensions. If this isn’t present, the browser will default to desktop version and attempt to improve the content by increasing font size or scaling to fit. This can result in only part of your content being displayed. Media queries allow designers to apply a set of rules based on the browser used, such as width, height and resolution. They are also super helpful at determining other key factors, which can heavily influence the design of interactive elements. For example, whether a user is navigating with a mouse or using a touchscreen. These rules are only applied when certain conditions are met – think of them as optional codes that can be displayed for specific devices. How does your current website fare? It is important to continually monitor, test and tweak your site, either internally or by working long-term with web design services. Websites become outdated quickly, but you don’t necessarily mean you need to fork out for an entirely new website. It’s always best practice to regularly review your site across multiple devices as part of your wider marketing strategy. Whilst digital agencies, can assist with a web audit, you can take simple steps in-house to ensure your users stick around on your site for longer. Ask your team to report on their user-experience or employ a focus group to gain valuable feedback. Google’s helpful mobile-friendly testing tool can help you access your current sites performance and prioritise web design and development. It provides recommendations on how you can increase visibility; increase your ranking and your business performance. You may have overlooked something simple that by changing it hugely increases your conversion rate. It’s very easily done. Representing a fundamental shift in web development, responsive design isn’t solely about ‘making it fit’. It provides a different way of thinking about flexible web design. Whichever device your visitors use, responsive sites enhance your design for an optimal user-experience without limiting the information provided or compromising on a striking design. By reducing the steps needed to find the key information searched for, your visitor gets what they are looking for quickly and easily. This positive user-experience contributes to your organic SEO ranking, will boost conversions and build your business faster. If you’d like to learn more about responsive website design, feel free to get in touch. Mark Ellaway, Bigfork PS – You can find more great successful website insights on the Bigfork website. Images provided by Bigfork

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia will run two special additional trains to help people get to and from the Cromer Carnival on Wednesday 17 August. In the morning, alongside the normal timetabled services, Greater Anglia will run an additional service which will depart Norwich at 10.10 calling at Hoveton & Wroxham (10.25), North Walsham (10.38) and Cromer at 10.54. An additional service will also run in the evening. It will leave Cromer at 22.10, calling at Roughton Road (22.16), Gunton (22.22), North Walsham (22.28), Worstead (22.33), Hoveton & Wroxham (22.40), Salhouse (22.44) and due to arrive in Norwich at 22.57. Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director, said: “Cromer Carnival is a popular event and we’re very pleased to run extra services so people can leave the car at home and take the train.  We want to make it as easy as possible for people to attend, and there will be extra members of staff helping people with their journeys. “To save time and beat the queues, passengers are advised to buy tickets online or via the Greater Anglia app before they travel and people travelling in groups of three or more can save money with GroupSave. “Our new trains are longer and have more seats, however we would ask everyone to be patient while boarding as we are expecting higher than usual passenger numbers on these services.” Customers are advised to use the full length of trains and platforms. Full details of train times and fares can be found at www.greateranglia.co.uk

With dog ownership soaring, BDH Tullford’s new pavement sign is a great way for dog-friendly businesses to encourage dog owners and their pets to paws and unwind. We’ve always had a soft spot for our canine friends here in the UK, but dog ownership has risen to new heights since the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA), the UK dog population now sits at a staggering 13 million, up from an already sizeable 7.6 million in 2010. For businesses, opening up their doors to dog owners and their furry friends therefore offers a great opportunity to increase sales. To help local dog-friendly restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops promote that they welcome dogs, Norwich-based point-of-sale experts BDH Tullford has designed an eye-catching pavement sign with a built-in water bowl, which is perfect for attracting the notice of dog owners while they’re out and about with their dogs. When the pup stops to enjoy a much-needed drink on a warm day, their owners can be enticed inside by the sign’s messaging, where they can get some refreshment of their own. On a crowded high street, this can really help a business to stand out from its competitors. Each sign is easy to assemble for minimum fuss and comes with all fixings and costs just £85(+VAT) including delivery. The welcome sign package also includes:

• A graphics panel manufactured from powder-coated and tempered aluminium for flexibility and durability. Its sides are UV varnished to provide protection from the weather.
• A tough recycled black PVC base.
• A non-slip 6.5” stainless steel water bowl, secured by a bowl holder made from durable 3mm polycarbonate.
• UK delivery.

For more information or to order, please contact: sales@bdandh.co.uk or call 01603 620780. Image credit – BDH Tullford and the Kings Head Letheringsett

Rail strikes on Saturday 13th, Thursday 18th and Saturday 20th August. We are very sorry to inform you that our services on these days will be severely reduced. Please avoid travelling on our trains on these days. There will be:

• No services on our regional and branch lines
• Heavily reduced services on our lines into London Liverpool Street from Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria
• No services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street on Saturday 13 August and Saturday 20 August and a heavily reduced service on Thursday 18 August.
• On Thursday 18 August and Saturday 20 August, we will only be running trains from 7.30am, with most last trains much earlier than usual, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

There will be no rail replacement buses to replace trains not running because of the strikes. If you have plans to go by train to concerts, shows and events in London or to football matches on strike days, you are advised to make alternative travel arrangements. You can get a refund, change your ticket or travel on the day before or two days after your booked date instead. Please note London Underground is also affected by a strike on Friday 19 August. Services on Sunday 14th, Friday 19th and Sunday 21th August will start later in the morning than usual, as the 24-hour strike has a knock-on effect into the next day. Please also note that there is major engineering works between Cambridge, Bishops Stortford and London Liverpool Street on Sunday 14 and Sunday 21 August, involving a rail replacement bus service for part of the journey. You should expect rail replacement bus services to be very busy with long queues as we anticipate more people than usual travelling on Sunday as a result of Saturday’s strike. There are no direct Stansted Express trains. We’ll update our website and social media with timetables and last train times as details are finalised. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience this causes. You can find further information and updates on our website.

Inspirational Francesca Lennon enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of three East Anglian children’s hospices as part of her epic cycling tour of the UK. The trailblazing children’s nurse is pedalling to all 54 of the UK’s children’s hospices – a mission that will see her clock up 3,200 miles over 70 days. Her aim is to raise vital awareness and funds for children’s hospices and, as part of her eye-watering journey, she visited Milton, near Cambridge, The Nook, in Framingham Earl, near Norwich, and The Treehouse, in Ipswich, run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). She was greeted by staff and met families and children, all keen to show their support and offer words of encouragement. “Visiting East Anglia was such an incredible experience,” said Francesca, 35. “I’m not too familiar with your part of the world. I’d been to Suffolk before, for the Latitude Festival, but it was my first-ever visit to Norfolk. “I was given such a warm welcome at all three hospices and it was very overwhelming. “It was great to meet staff, family members and children and I thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about the amazing work EACH does. “It was such a privilege and a real joy for me to chat to different people and hear what they do. “Hearing about the positive things that happen in a children’s hospice never fails to blow me away. “It’s a reminder of the great work that goes on every single day. It’s truly incredible and makes me feel very appreciative.” Francesca, who worked as a children’s nurse in the NHS for more than nine years before moving into the children’s hospice sector, is calling her eye-catching challenge ChatUK (Children’s Hospices Across The UK). She got underway at the start of Children’s Hospice Week, on 20th June, at Helen and Douglas House, in Oxford. It is the first time anyone has attempted to cover the distance between the farthest-reaching children’s hospices in the UK, stopping at each one along the way to learn more about staff and the families they support. Her aim is to raise a huge £500,000, which will be shared between each children’s hospice through Together for Short Lives’ National Fundraising Scheme. She also hopes to raise awareness about the vital work children’s hospices do to support families caring for a seriously ill child. “I’m a bit tired but riding high after another fantastic week,” added Francesca. “I had this idea three years ago and it was something I started properly planning during lockdown. “It’s a tough challenge but I’m thoroughly enjoying the experience and passionate about raising funds and awareness. “Having worked for two children’s hospices myself, I know how important their work is. “Seeing first-hand what families experience managing the needs of a sick child alongside family life and the challenges and barriers they face made me determined to help families caring for a seriously ill child.” Francesca visited Milton on 2^nd August, The Nook on 3^rd August and The Treehouse on 4^th August. They represented stops number 35, 36 and 37 on her tour and afterwards she was heading to Essex and into London. Her final port of call will be at Charlton Farm, in Bristol, on 25^th August. She is attending a Downing Street reception on Tuesday (9^th August), as she has been awarded a prestigious Points of Light award. These recognise outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community. For more information about Francesca’s journey and Chat UK, head here Donations can be made by clicking here and you can follow Francesca’s progress on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @chatuk54. Image credits – EACH

Did you know that, in the UK, a van is broken into every 23 minutes? You can keep your tools safe with high-quality Site Boxes and Van Tool Vaults from Armorgard Ltd. Now with 10% off selected items at ESE Direct https://www.esedirect.co.uk/s-308-site-boxes-van-tool-vaults.aspx

Image – Richard Miller – Managing Director, Proeon Systems. Credit Proeon Image – Alan Ryder, CEO RSK Group. Credit RSK RSK Group Ltd has announced the addition of Proeon Systems, a specialist systems integrator supplying industrial grade control and safety solutions, to its thriving business portfolio. The company provides complete control and automation systems incorporating both hardware and software solutions. Proeon specialises in solving control and monitoring issues within some of the harshest of environments, including Nuclear; Renewables (Offshore Wind) to Deepwater subsea for the Oil & Gas sector. Proeon has an enviable reputation for design, build, and installation of control solutions from: multi-level communications platforms. The Norwich-based business was established in 2004 by Kevin Magee and Eddie Pond, initially as a specialist consultancy business and as Proeon has developed over the years it has a solid reputation and strong client base which includes National Grid, Procter & Gamble, Shell and Crosswind, along with contractors such as Balfour Beatty and Worley. Proeon Systems Managing Director Richard Miller, who will continue to lead the business, said: “Proeon’s flexible approach to challenging control system problems, together with its dedicated team, has allowed it to grow into new emerging markets in recent years. The Proeon team is focussed on providing unique robust cost-effective solutions for our clients. The business also maintains multiple accreditations that allow it to service highly regulated industries where many system integrators cannot. “In joining the RSK family, our more than 50-strong team will continue to deliver the quality services needed to exceed client expectations and will explore new growth opportunities that come with being part of a larger group.” RSK Group CEO Alan Ryder said: “RSK is proud to add the business-critical skills and expertise of Proeon Systems to the group. Proeon takes great pride in its company culture and core values as these inspire their employees and partners to rise to the challenges of a competitive business climate. This provides sustained growth, which RSK fully supports, and will create opportunities for the group to access new and growing sectors.”    

Employers can find out the potential financial benefits of increasing employee wellbeing with an innovative cost effectiveness calculator, launched today.

It is part of a new web-based toolkit of free, evidence-informed workplace wellbeing resources, drawing on cutting edge research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and RAND Europe, as well as insider insights, so that businesses can take action to help themselves evolve and thrive. A key feature of the ‘Evolve Workplace Wellbeing’ website, the calculator is an interactive tool which demonstrates the financial savings that could be associated with different kinds of workplace initiatives via improved employee wellbeing and boosts to productivity. Employers can enter figures and characteristics about their business and, as far as possible, the calculator gives benefits and costs in pounds and pence, allowing a direct comparison to help decision-making. Dr Helen Fitzhugh, of the Workplace Wellbeing research team at UEA’s Norwich Business School, said: “This resource, particularly the cost effectiveness calculator, helps employers build a business case internally for wellbeing initiatives in the workplace. Hopefully it will be of interest to HR departments, small businesses, as well as employer bodies. Ultimately it’s about showing how improving wellbeing has benefits for both staff and employers.” The calculator allows employers to choose from a range of initiatives which aim to encourage healthy behaviours, such as: alcohol or smoking reduction, improved physical fitness, healthier eating, & health checks; and others which aim to support mental health and wellbeing, such as mindfulness apps, financial wellbeing, and workplace volunteering. It shows the estimated wellbeing effects that might arise in a workplace that offers the selected intervention. This includes the benefits per employee of improved physical or mental health and job satisfaction. It will also estimate the value to the business of any improvements to productivity that arise due to reduced absenteeism or presenteeism per employee. The wellbeing and productivity benefits will depend on whether employees are aware that their employer provides these initiatives, and also on how widely used they are within the organisation. The tool allows the user to see what benefits may arise if there is greater awareness of the initiative and will provide details of which sorts of programmes are typically more effective. The calculator has been developed using insights from Britain’s Healthiest Workplace Survey, and analyses conducted by Dr Ritchie Woodard and Prof Sara Connolly at UEA, and Dr Emike Nasamu at the University of Chester, in collaboration with Dr Martin Stepanek at insurance and investments company Vitality and Will Phillips at RAND Europe. The Evolve Workplace Wellbeing website is based on the outcomes of a research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council called Practices for Health and Wellbeing at Work, led by Prof Kevin Daniels from UEA. The website distils the findings into a useful and practical resource for employers and practitioners. Prof Daniels said: “The UEA team’s collaboration with RAND Europe has focused on identifying what good organisational practice looks like, but also how organisations sustain and evolve those practices that comprise strategic and innovative approaches to employee health and wellbeing.” RAND Europe executive vice president Chris van Stolk said: “A key objective of this project was to provide actionable, evidence-based tools and information that can help organisations to best support their employees. “Through partnering with the UEA we’ve been able to develop this calculator and a number of other valuable resources that will make a difference to workplace health, wellbeing and productivity.” There are different resources available depending where on the workplace wellbeing journey businesses are, whether they are new to thinking about it or have already evolved a sophisticated wellbeing approach. It offers the latest workplace wellbeing insights via podcasts, and recordings of seminars and events, as well as a free online course with videos and case studies, and opportunities to network and take part in further research. Image provided by UEA www.evolveworkplacewellbeing.org https://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/business-calculator/ https://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/diagnostics/#questionsPoll https://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/professional-development/  

Screenshot of the updated app. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia has updated its app, bringing a host of new features – including Apple pay and the ability to change journeys – to rail passengers in East Anglia. The new app update, which will start appearing on phones from Thursday 4 August, makes it quicker and easier to buy tickets, and gives customers more flexibility. Customers can now purchase tickets with Apple pay, add e-tickets to their Apple wallet, apply for a refund and change their journeys on the app. Other significant changes that Greater Anglia app users should be aware of is that travel updates, including information about disruption, can now be found under Announcements in ‘my account’ and is marked with a blue circle. Live travel updates are also displayed on the homescreen.  There is an orange button with three lines in it in ‘my tickets’ for scanning Smartcards. The orange symbol, which is being adopted by all train operators across the country, helps customers upload Season and Flexi Season tickets on Smartcards via the app. Journey information is also improved, showing all stops the train is due to make and the scheduled times. Customers can also buy tickets using railcards and benefit from deals such as Groupsave, where groups of three or more can save a third on fares when travelling together. Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director, said: “Our app is very popular with customers and these updates will make train travel quicker and easier. We know how important clear information is while travelling, and the app provides information which is easy to access. “For the best prices, customers should buy tickets direct from Greater Anglia, and we would like to remind people that we do not charge booking fees. We have many great value fares available, and the earlier people book, the more they can save.” The app is free to download from app stores.