Member News

This week’s chat is a real eye opener. Engagement with media can be make or break for some businesses – ever wondered what it suggests when you say “no comment”? Experienced journalist, and owner of Mediapro, Maria Veronese lets you in on what the journalist really thinks when you say that, and why it’s always best to try and take control, particularly if you find yourself at the center of a PR disaster! Mediapro offers media training to help business leaders learn how to talk confidently on the record, sticking to key points, and how to get your point or story across effectively. As Maria explains; “an interview is just a conversation with a purpose”.

As a regular face on BBC Look East, Maria offers insight on the difference between what she calls ‘PR puff’ and an actual news story, and how it’s always important to be transparent. Maria is also passionate about flexible working, particularly for working parents, and those with caring responsibilities, something she embraces in her role on the Board of Directors at the East of England Co-op.

Ian also asks Maria about the approach local news took during lockdown, and she explains how it was so important to help keep communities informed and connected. She also looks back on the stories in her career which were hard to cover, and how these stories can impact the journalist, including the times she covered a catastrophic earthquake in her hometown in New Zealand, and when she covered the Ipswich ‘Suffolk Strangler’, and Soham murders.

Learning how to embrace the media in your business will be key as we move out of lockdown, and into the new normal, which includes the world of 24 hours news, which has been bolstered by the events of the last year. You might find yourself in need of some media training one day, and Maria offers a peek behind the curtain into what you need to consider, and why.

You can learn about Mediapro and their services here

Catch Maria’s ‘Auntie’s Bloomers’ moment, and encounter with the ostriches here!

You can visit the Co-op here

Maria’s views are her own, and are not those of the BBC. 

You can listen to this episode by clicking on the button below, or we would love it if you could subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, or wherever else you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss out on any episodes! If you could also leave us a review we would love to hear from you, and it helps others find our podcast. 

You can catch up on all episodes of Business Insights Chat, including conversations with Coes, Turners, Archant and Suffolk Food Hall, here 

Listen here!

The Food Standards Agency is hosting a webinar for businesses to explain the new rules regarding allergen labelling which are coming in October 2021.

From 1 October 2021, the requirements for labelling on prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods will change in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The new labelling requirements will help protect consumers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.

Any business that produces PPDS food will be required to label it to show the name of the food and the ingredients list. This includes emphasising within the ingredients list any of the 14 allergens used in the product, as required by food law.

At this webinar, we will give background to the new allergen labelling changes, also known as Natasha’s Law. We will help small and micro food businesses to better understand what PPDS is, how it effects your food business and how you can ensure you are compliant with the new regulations from1 October 2021.

The event will be held on 4th August 2021 at 2pm.

For a chance to attend, please see the link below.

FSA explains PPDS changes for businesses | FSA explains PPDS changes for businesses (fsaevents.co.uk)

Applications for the increased incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice are open now! Employers will receive £3,000 for new apprentices of any age

Level 2, 3, 4 & 7 Apprenticeship schemes for the AAT, ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, CTA & ATT Qualifications are covered for the incentive payment.

Employers with apprentices who have an employment start date between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 and who also have a practical period (training) start date between 1 April 2021 and 30 November 2021 may be eligible for an incentive payment

If you are looking to recruit an Apprentice in to your Finance Team then we can help. Contact norwich@fi.co.uk for more info.

More Information:

Email: Email for information

Phone: Call 01603 293075 for information

Website: Visit this web page for more information

Expiry Date: September 30 2021

Gareth John, Chief Executive of First Intuition Cambridge comments on the scale of change in apprenticeship uptake in the accountancy industry and reasons for this, as well as why now is the best time to sign up an apprentice:

I have been training accountants for nearly 25 years, and in that time the biggest change I have seen in our industry has been the dramatic uptake in apprenticeships since 2015. Just five years ago only around 5% of new learners studying with First Intuition were apprentices, today it is more like 80%. What was once a niche aspect of our business has now become the norm. Every single class we teach now contains apprentices, and some classes are made up entirely of apprentices. This considerable change has come about for a number of reasons but is mainly due to the additional skills training in place for apprentices, the extra structure and support they have to their studies, and the financial benefits to businesses.

Better skills

Not only do accountancy apprentices learn the core technical skills they need to do their job, but they also develop wider soft skills and behaviours that are equally essential to career success in the industry. Skills that are built into programmes include communication, commercial insight, problem-solving, strategic thinking, resilience, teamwork, negotiation and leadership, all of which can take non-apprentices years to develop through experience alone.

Support in building interpersonal skills is particularly important for young people right now, where the pandemic has resulted in increased isolation and lack of opportunities to build such skills. Many school leavers have missed opportunities to gain essential soft skills through part-time jobs and being a part of normal school activities, such as organising plays and captaining sports teams. We covered this topic in greater detail in our virtual webinar ‘onboarding the COVID generation’ Furthermore, apprenticeships are a great way to upskill existing staff which will be important if firms cut headcount.

Better structure and better support

It can be easy for trainees to come off track with their studies when they are not part of a structured programme to help them progress reliably. Apprenticeship programmes offer robust structure and support for learners through a close relationship with their assigned Coach who offers personalised support and helps ensure they are on top of their studies. As a result of this, apprentices tend to move through their qualification faster and with higher first-time pass rates. This benefits businesses as trainees learnt knowledge and skills translate into their work quicker and more effectively.

Financial benefits

Using apprenticeship funding to pay for accountancy qualification training can save many thousands of pounds in course fees. As well as the 95% government subsidy of the training costs for non-levy employers, there is also an employer’s National Insurance exemption if the apprentice is aged under 25. Levy paying employers can utilise their levy pots.

A particular reason for the shift in apprenticeship uptake during the pandemic has been the generous government financial incentives available for businesses who recruit trainees as apprentices. These incentives were recently extended and increased, making them even more appealing. For eligible apprentices aged 16 to 18, employers will receive £4,000 if they start employment between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021. For those aged 19 and over, employers will receive £3,000. Apprentices will have an additional two months after the deadline of 30 September 2021 (until 30 November 2021) to start their training programme.

It is also worth being aware that non-levy employers can now reserve apprenticeship funds up to six months in advance. This means that employers who do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy are already able to reserve funds for their Autumn intake of new starts.

There has never been a better time to support apprenticeship programmes

The detrimental impact of the pandemic on jobs has meant apprenticeship incentives for businesses are better than ever as the government encourages companies to recruit and develop staff. This coupled with the skills gap of young adults shortly entering the workplace and financial restraints on businesses means there has never been a better time to sign up apprentices.

Today (Monday 12 July 2021) sees the launch of a major consultation on the future of the Norwich Lanes as Norfolk County Council and the Transport for Norwich (TfN) partnership ask for your views on a series of proposals to change how the area functions and feels. ‘Connecting the Norwich Lanes’ is a range of inter-connected schemes which make up the overall vision for the area. The proposals include; a new riverside footbridge between Duke Street and St Georges Street, making the temporary measures to remove general traffic on St Benedicts Street and Exchange Street permanent, a new cycle track and crossing facilities on St Andrews Street and creating a better environment for enjoying the St Giles Street area on foot. Councillor Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, and chair of the Transport for Norwich Joint Committee said: “‘Connecting the Norwich Lanes’ is a programme of measures that aim to make it safer and easier to get around on foot or by bike, support opportunities for outdoor hospitality, boost the local economy and improve air quality. “All residents and businesses within the area impacted by the proposals have been written to directly and we are also running a wider campaign to raise awareness of the consultation and encourage people to have their say. “We’ve listened to feedback from stakeholders while the temporary measures on Exchange Street and St Benedict Street have been in place and have sought to address any concerns in what’s been put forward but this is just one aspect of the overall vision for the area. “The programme brings together projects funded by DfT’s Transforming Cities Fund with those from other sources and we want everyone to see them in context and help shape the future of this fantastic city asset and important destination for residents and visitors alike.” Norwich City Council councillor Mike Stonard, cabinet member for inclusive and sustainable growth, said: “I welcome this opportunity for the public to comment on these proposals. “This is another important step in making Norwich more pedestrian and cycle friendly, that contributes to cleaner air and helps boost footfall, which leads to local economy growth. “The St Giles street proposal is part of our ambitious Norwich Town Deal Public Realm project, and set to benefit from government funding, while the city council-led River Wensum Strategy partnership has helped to develop the riverside footbridge scheme – it’s fantastic to be part of such a collaborate effort to make the city an even more inviting place to live and visit.”

Cllr Jamie Osborn, who represents the area for both council’s said: “Many residents have spoken to me about the need for cleaner air and healthier, low-carbon modes of transport after the experience of lockdown. The proposals to make the Norwich Lanes area more connected for walking and cycling is a step towards that positive vision. The vision to reclaim space for people in the heart of Norwich is exciting, and something that I am sure the public will want to have a say on.”

Jonty Young, spokesman of the Norwich Lanes Association said: “”There are some really interesting ideas here and the Norwich Lanes Association certainly hope that as many local businesses, residents and regular visitors to the area, take part in this consultation.”

Stefan Gurney, Executive Director of the Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) said: “This is a bold proposal for a much-loved part of the city, and we’d encourage everyone – particularly the businesses in the area – to feed into discussions about ‘Connecting the Lanes’. Accessibility and transport are key to the city centre economy and trading. Looking to the future, the ability to adapt will only make Norwich more resilient, and these plans have the potential to be an exciting development for the Norwich Lanes. Norwich BID will take into account our businesses perspectives and input our views, in order to do ensure this proposal is right for the city.” The public are invited to view the plans on the project website www.norfolk.gov.uk/norwichlanes and comment on the proposals overall or the detailed changes proposed in each area via the online surveys. The consultation will run for 4 weeks until Monday 9 August. Hard copies and alternative formats can be provided on request from Norfolk County Council’s main switchboard and virtual meetings via Zoom or telephone are also being offered to answer questions and discuss the proposals in more detail. All feedback received will be analysed and, where appropriate, the plans revised in response before reporting back to local councillors along with the final proposals for scheme delivery. The web page above will be kept up to date with the latest information, progress and any relevant committee dates.

Bryan Turner Kitchen Furniture is a long-established market leader providing exceptional luxury kitchen design for discerning clients throughout the UK.

Our high-quality kitchen furniture is individually made for our clients, and each room design is a result of our talented designers’ careful attention to detail.

We are committed to continuous investment and improvement and are seeking an additional highly talented kitchen designer who has proven experience in the luxury sector. Our Head Office is in Norfolk with this role being mainly based at our new studio near Cambridge.

Essential to this role is enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a focus on excellent customer service. We expect you to put our clients first, meeting their every need in order to build a strong and long-lasting rapport with them.

A proven track record in kitchen design using CAD programs is essential, as well as sales experience, working to targets, artistic flare and technical ability.

OTE £50,000-£60,000 p/a (salary plus uncapped commission package)

If you are ambitious and passionate about design, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Job Type: Full-time

Preferred education: Degree level

Required experience: Kitchen Design: 5 years +

Required licence or certification: Full UK Driving Licence and own vehicle

To apply or for further information please email kate@bryanturnerkitchens.com

We are back for series three with a bang! There are not many with more experience or passion for the tourism sector than Peter Williamson, former Chair, now Vice Chair of the Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO), Norfolk & Suffolk Tourist Attractions.

Peter is the former owner of the hugely popular Merrivale Model Village, but when he sold the village in 2017 retirement didn’t suit him, so he returned to work by launching The Old Penny Arcade. This attraction allowed him to pursue his passion of refurbishing vintage fairground and amusement arcade machines, where families can revel in exchanging their modern money for big old pennies! His love for the leisure sector and the promotion of tourism in East Anglia is infectious, and his insights into the future recovery of businesses in this region make for a must listen.

Peter chats to Chris about how attractions need to invest in order to improve the customer experience, and how that’s not just about plumbing in new toilets! They discuss how investment needs to be made in new experiences, because this is the key to ongoing survival (past the initial excitement of the post-pandemic freedoms).

They chat about the changes COVID-19 brought and sped up, and how they will probably continue into the future. They discuss why businesses should embrace these changes, particularly with remote bookings, and how this will help with day-to-day planning, and potentially make expenditure savings in areas such as staffing.

Peter believes that customers and their expectations have changed and whilst businesses need to meet those expectations, they also need to consider revamping how they provide their service to customers moving forwards e.g. just because you CAN open 7 days a week, doesn’t mean you should.

A theme running through this chat is reinvention, with Peter discussing the need for businesses to look at how they can ‘bring families together’, and how social media will be key for reputations. He reminisces about a time that he managed to turn a complaint at the model village into global PR gold, proving the old adage of ‘sex sells’ really works! This episode is worth a listen for this anecdote alone and is a fantastic example of how to turn a negative into a positive, and the power media can have over your business.

Peter believes that businesses need to embrace the inevitable changes that will come from life after lockdown but harnessing the themes of tradition and nostalgia might still be good for business in the ‘new normal’ tech era, particularly for seaside town attractions.

You can check out the work of Norfolk & Suffolk Tourist Attractions here Find out more about The Old Penny Arcade here.

If you are enjoying Tourism Business Chat, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. We would also love to hear your feedback, leave us a review, this helps others find our podcast! 

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The Goff name and business can be traced back to 1888 when Herbert Goff the Great Great Grandfather of today’s Managing Director Will, began the business in Norfolk.

The fuel business started with domestic paraffin being delivered to homes in Norwich and agricultural fuels to farms in the villages nearby. During the 1970s many rural homes installed oil fired central heating systems and as demand for fuel grew so did Goff with the construction of our own oil storage depot, garage, and petrol station, on Aylsham Road in Norwich. Poppy Red was introduced into our lettering and logo inspired by the official flower of Norfolk, the Poppy.

Since then Goff Petroleum has proudly carried Poppy Red on it’s lorries, uniforms and logo, inspired by the County where the company started and where it is still based. 

Today Goff is one of the largest heating oil distributors and has depots, staff and customers that reach across East Anglia and into the South of England. However the head-quarters and workshops for the company are still based in Norfolk on the outskirts of Wymondham.

To celebrate our roots in Norfolk we have decided to extend our Goff Good Causes programme and raise money for the Air Ambulance on Norfolk Day (27th July 2021) by pledging to make a donation of £1 for every order placed.

The gift of time, flexibility, and balance are some of the benefits people have enjoyed during the last year.

In contrast, childcare, communication, and IT were the biggest challenges as we adapted to a world of work that looked very different.

The Engaging People Company wanted to find out what it was like for people working during a pandemic – what was good, and less good, and what could be taken forward into a post-Covid world.

As well as hearing about benefits and challenges, there were some great examples of employee engagement shared too. Around communications, appreciation, social engagement, and wellbeing. For example, one employer offered unexpected incentives like free takeaways.

Looking ahead, people want continued flexibility, from their organisation, along with technical tools and engagement and communications. From managers, things such as mental health support, communications and trust are important.

Some people decided to change their career aspirations as a result of the pandemic – for reasons such as pursuing a new purpose or spending more time with family.

Director Michelle Gant said: “The survey offered some great ideas but it’s a toe dip in the water.

“What matters is that employers ask their people: find out what matters to them, what they need, then listen, and respond accordingly.  And keep asking. Because people’s views change – especially as society starts opening up more. Keep listening. Keep responding. Employee engagement, it’s not a one-off thing. It’s an ongoing journey. 

“Rather like the last year.”

Read the full report here: Employee-engagement-survey.pdf (engaging-people.co.uk)

“For any business leader-if it wasn’t for the staff, you wouldn’t have a business.” This is a direct quote from Kevin Foley, the franchise owner of 9 McDonald’s restaurants across the region, and a statement that is intrinsically tied to his success as a businessman.

Ian chats to Kevin about how his passion for people, and his investment in his staff, have helped to grow his role as a franchisee. He took the historically derogatory term of “McJobs” personally, as Kevin can testify to just how hard his teams work, and how much they need to learn and implement in order for a site to run efficiently.

He reflects on the impact COVID-19 has had on recruitment, and on keeping his teams safe at work whilst continuing to secure jobs, and develop his staff, where Kevin thinks outside of the box and has recently appointed a Cultural and Wellbeing Officer! Kevin is an advocate of the life skills that a role in this industry can provide and believes in the value of apprenticeships.

Ian and Kevin also chat about the role technology plays in the future of McDonalds, and how they definitely won’t be replacing people with robots. Kevin tells us his secret to becoming a franchisee, and a successful one at that! He discusses why it’s important to keep on top of trends and move with them; why mystery shopping, and customer feedback is so important; and lets us in on the history of franchising in his family.

This chat is a fascinating peek behind the scenes of someone working in one of the world’s biggest and best known companies, serving over 70,000 people a week, and what life is like when every person you meet is able to hum the theme tune at you!

You can find Kevin on LinkedIn, and learn more about how to become a McDonald’s Franchisee potify, Audible, or wherever else you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss out on any episodes! If you could also leave us a review we would love to hear from you, and it helps others find our podcast. 

A historic Anglo-Saxon site and visitor centre near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, has cut its carbon emissions by 70% and created more welcoming facilities for visitors, thanks to a heat pump system installed by renewable heating experts Finn Geotherm.

West Stow is the site of an early Anglo-Saxon village, occupied from AD 420-650, over 400 years before the Norman Conquest. The reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village attracts visitors from schools, tourists and locals throughout the year. It is surrounded by West Stow Country Park, a stunning 125 acre site featuring trails, heath and woodland.

West Stow’s visitor centre and the country park café had previously been heated by an oil-fired boiler, which was inefficient and expensive. With West Suffolk Council committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030, a more environmentally friendly and effective solution was needed.

Finn Geotherm specified and installed two Lämpöässä Eli 60 ground source heat pumps, to provide all the heating and hot water for the visitor centre, museum and café. Heat is collected from the ground using bore holes – Finn Geotherm carefully installed 14 boreholes, each one 147metres deep, near the village’s collections building. The boreholes, created in a ‘closed loop system’, feed the heat pumps which are situated in a purpose-built plant room adjacent to the village’s museum. The system is also designed to provide passive cooling, using the ground’s temperature to maintain a comfortable environment for visitors in summer and provide exact temperature control within the facility’s museum precious artefact centre.

By installing this renewable energy heating system, West Stow has cut its energy use by 70%, making a significant impact on carbon emissions and heating bills, as well as delivering a much more sustainable system, which will last three times longer than a conventional boiler.

The installation also qualifies for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a Government scheme which assists with the project’s capital cost by providing quarterly payments for 20 years.

Glynis Baxter at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, said: “Our village showcases some of the earliest forms of heating – a fire pit dug in the ground with a hole in the roof of the house to let out the smoke – so it is brilliant for us to have the contrast of a heat pump, the latest in renewable technology, heating our facilities. The new system enables us to maintain a steady warm temperature all year round, which is ideal not only for our artefacts, but for visitors too.”

Guy Ransom, commercial director for Finn Geotherm, said: “We are delighted to complete this installation at West Stow, which has had a big impact on the site and created a more welcoming centre for visitors. It is good to see West Suffolk Council taking its commitment to cutting carbon emissions so seriously and stepping away from fossil fuels. This heat pump installation is a great example of the potential of this technology to provide sustainable, environmentally friendly heating that can be retrofitted in any location – from AD 420-650 to modern day.”

Cllr John Griffiths, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “This investment, and others we are making to improve energy efficiency and cut fuel bills in property we own, is part of our commitment to address the climate emergency. We have also been able to take advantage of Government funding which is available to individual home occupiers as well. Technology has brought us a long way since the firepit and details of what grants can be used for and how to apply can be found on our website and at www.greensuffolk.org.”

Key features of the project:

• 70% reduction in carbon emissions
• 70% reduction in energy use
• Highly effective, efficient heating
• Passive cooling in summer
• Steady temperature to help maintain artefacts

For more information on ground and air source heat pumps and details on Finn Geotherm, visit www.finn-geotherm.co.uk.

We are delighted to welcome Lorna Willis, CEO of Archant, as Ian Fitch returns for series two of Business Insights Chat.

As we move out of lockdown, and start to navigate back to some semblance of normality, the theme of this series steps away from a focus on 2020 and its challenges, as we try to understand what makes successful business leaders in the region tick. We go behind the scenes, and ask what they have learnt from the last year that will take them, and their businesses, forward.

Ian chats to Lorna about the role Archant plays locally in the ever-changing technology landscape, and how they are adapting, including their new mantra of ‘counting every customer’; how the relationships with their sales teams changed over lockdown; and how even their key performance indicators have changed to include things like ‘customer happiness’!

People are now time-poor, and Lorna lets us in on how the press is changing and adapting to how people now consume their news, and how they’re approaching the new value exchange in delivering local news.

Lorna also talks in detail about the unprecedented ‘talent war’ that now exists post COVID, particularly within digital-based businesses; competitor poaching and how this has impacted recruitment; and how this will impact wage inflation. Whilst new to her CEO role, Lorna has years of experience within Archant, and is keen on promoting learning and development within her teams; having “skill and will”; changing a stale Board mentality; promoting the significance of mentors; and maintaining healthy staff engagement. Lorna also reflects on how she still has work to do in creating a fully diverse workforce, and how to get women to overcome ‘imposter syndrome’.

Lorna believes that a person’s career is now better off for having Archant on their CV. Customer feedback is at an all-time positive high, which is something that Lorna is proud to have achieved, rebuilding and pushing past a formerly aggressive reputation.

Lorna also discusses the future of office working, including ‘bringing your dog to work day’, and how Norwich City or Ipswich Town winning is great for business… fingers crossed! Going forwards, the feel-good factor is key all round.

You can contact Lorna directly by emailing lorna.willis@archant.co.uk 

You can check out Archant here. 

You can listen to this episode by clicking on the button below, or we would love it if you could subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, or wherever else you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss out on any episodes! If you could also leave us a review we would love to hear from you, and it helps others find our podcast. 

Listen here!