Member News

The Great Yarmouth Rotary Speakers Club was launched in March 2020,but like many organisiations the Pandemic meant that we had to hold our fortnightly meetings using the Zoom platform.   However we can now look forward to returning to our face to face meetings in July, presenting to a live audience is very important as our member’s progress on their public speaking journey

We are offering a Bursary Award to an individual who due to financial reasons is unable to cover the £110 annual subscription.  An application form is available by visiting yarmouthspeakersclub.co.uk.  All correspondence is processed in the strictest confidence and the applicant would be required to attend an interview via zoom and we would expect a level of commitment to the club for the 12 month period.

We work with our members to become effective speakers, good communicators whilst at the same time helping them to improve their leadership skills.   Through the Rotary connection we can help you build your social confidence and networking skills through workshops and support from outside speakers.

It has been a very difficult year for all of us especially those people seeking to gain employment or promotion at work and the Speakers Club can help you deliver an effective interview performance.   The prospect of giving a works presentation can be very daunting especially if you have little or no experience in planning a presentation covering all the relevant points, where timing is crucial.

All our members will be offered mentoring and we will work with you to put together a programme that suits your needs. We are conscious that there is a nucleus of people who want to find their voice whether for personal or social reasons or they want to make a speech for a very special occasion which could be a wedding or a eulogia

We work with the Toastmasters International training programme and you will have the opportunity to present a talk to a different audience namely a traditional Rotary Club or a Toastmasters Group.  We have a diverse membership, encouraging personal and professional development and through your journey you will receive constructive feedback and support from other members.

We create a very friendly environment that brings an element of fun to public speaking where you will grow in confidence, inspire and motivate others, who are  embarking on the same journey but for different reasons   If you would like to experience first hand how the club operates, then please pop along to one our fortnightly meetings .  We meet on a Tuesday evening and  the venue and future meeting dates can be located by visiting our website.

If you are running your own business and you would like to sponsor an employee then please contact us so that we can discuss a package that meets your requirements.   The Great Yarmouth Rotary Speakers Club is there to help you whether it’s for personal or business reasons and we need your support to make this club thrive and grow.

Attleborough-based renewable heating company Finn Geotherm, has been shortlisted for two prestigious national awards for heat pump projects undertaken for Flagship Group housing association and West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village.

Finn Geotherm is a double finalist in The Energy Awards 2021, which reward excellence in the energy business, from new energy efficient products and technology to local authority initiatives and commercial and residential installations.

The company has been shortlisted within the Residential Energy Project of the Year category for Finn Geotherm’s largest heat pump installation to date – a six-phase, £1.4million ground source heat pump project for 113 homes on Flagship’s Grange Farm housing estate in Felixstowe. Using a district heating scheme that provides heating and hot water for each property from a central heat pump system, the project has cut heating bills, energy use and carbon emissions all by 70%.

Finn Geotherm has also been shortlisted within the Public Building Energy Project category for a ground source heat pump installation at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village near Bury St Edmunds. The project saw Finn Geotherm install a new renewable heating system with passive cooling, which ensures the visitor centre and café remains at a constant, comfortable temperature all year round – something that is particularly vital for preserving the facility’s precious artefacts. Energy use and carbon emissions have been cut by 70%, bolstering West Suffolk Council’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for two Energy Awards. Both installations have made a huge impact not only in ensuring these sites are adequately and efficiently heated but also in delivering lower carbon emissions and reduced energy use. Installations such as this which require heat pumps to be retrofitted into existing buildings are often thought to be ‘too difficult’ but this just goes to show that any property can have a heat pump and can benefit from the brilliant features of this renewable technology. It was a privilege to install these systems and to be shortlisted for two top national awards is testament to the hard work of the entire team at Finn Geotherm.”

Winners of The Energy Awards will be announced in September. For more information on renewable heating and Finn Geotherm, visit www.finn-geotherm.co.uk.

Norfolk Blood Bikes, a group of volunteers have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

From humble beginnings in a Scout hut in Horsford 10 years ago to the current countywide service transporting blood, blood products, and donated breast milk between the acute NHS hospitals in Norfolk, the Blood Bikes provide a lifeline service. Carried out 100% by unpaid volunteers, the charity’s aims are to provide a free of charge, out of hours, rapid response service to the NHS, Air Ambulance, and donated breast milk banks every night of the year, weekends, and Bank Holidays.

When the Coronavirus pandemic struck and the country went into lockdown like all charities we were affected in the same way. All fundraising and events stopped. Some of our volunteers stayed at home shielding. Local community hospitals were struggling to get their Covid samples to the microbiology lab for testing. So, as we were already transporting Covid samples from the 3 main NHS Hospitals to microbiology, we agreed to help. The number of hospitals suddenly increased from 3 to 9 and we found that over the year our task rate had risen by 75%.

The commitment and dedication of our volunteers has never faltered. Neither Covid nor the “Beast from the East” Arctic weather could stop us. We have never refused any call, ever! We lived up to our motto “We’ll go no matter what”.

Norfolk Blood Bikes is one of 241 charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including an inclusive tennis club in Lincolnshire; a children’s bereavement charity in London; a support group those living with dementia and their carers in North Yorkshire; a volunteer minibus service in Cumbria; a group supporting young people in Belfast; a community radio station in Inverness and a mountain rescue team in Powys.

Representatives of Norfolk Blood Bikes will receive the award crystal and certificate from Lady Dannatt MBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers from Norfolk Blood Bikes will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 (depending on restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Sean Moore, Chairman of Norfolk Blood Bikes said, “I couldn’t hold back my delight when I found out we were to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. I felt so proud and honoured that our volunteers’ work and dedication, not only during normal times but for our Covid Testing assistance during the pandemic, has been recognised with the Queen’s Award which is the highest accolade and the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary service.”

Find out more about us

Gareth John of First Intuition details how employers can help young adults get their foot in the door.

The pandemic has had a number of dramatic and long-lasting impacts on the labour market and employment landscape. Evolving and reskilling in accordance with these changes will be essential for businesses and their staff to successfully build on the coming recovery from both COVID-19 and Brexit.

However, a potentially greater issue than any other is one that has not even hit our workplaces yet; the impact that COVID-19 has had, and is still having, on the young adults that employers across the region will be recruiting and onboarding during 2021 and 2022. This is an issue that is in danger of being overlooked, but an increased volume of entry level candidates on the job market, coupled with fewer organisations hiring, means that it is important businesses acknowledge this problem and act to ensure a generation of young adults is not left behind.

For over 25 years I have been training young adults at the start of their careers, as well as maintaining long-lasting relationships with schools and colleges across East Anglia. In the last twelve months I have been closely following the impact of the pandemic on the next cohort of school and college leavers, and the challenges raised for recruiting for entry level positions in 2021 and beyond. This article, along with the CBI’s In Discussion with Matthew Percival, Director of People and Skills event on 7 June, will offer some insight into what employers can expect from young adults during the recruitment process, and more importantly what they can do to help their transition into the workplace.

Skills gaps in the ‘COVID-19 generation’

The last six months have made it clear that the UK’s post-COVID-19, post-Brexit future will require a huge focus on developing human capital at a time when relentless change makes choosing clear priorities extremely difficult. The new challenges businesses are facing due to the pandemic in managing hybrid working, motivating teams remotely, ‘talent flight’ from staff on lengthy periods of furlough, embracing emerging digital and green technologies, as well as shifting focus to mental health and workplace wellbeing amongst staff has been well documented.

The impact the pandemic has had on recruiting for entry level roles, however, has so far had little attention. Feedback from employers already underway with entry level recruitment for Autumn 2021 is that both the volume and the calibre of applicants they are seeing is higher than ever before. There are however concerning indications that whilst academic ability seems as strong as ever, there is evidence of ‘COVID-19 skills gaps’ in areas that recruiters normally take for granted. Many employers are also reporting that many applicants they are seeing left education in 2020 and have been in limbo since, raising the likelihood that there will be a greater imbalance than normal between the number of hopeful candidates and the number of available roles.

There is little doubt that COVID-19 has had an unequal impact on everyone, least of all on young adults who will have experienced very different responses by their schools, unequal access to remote technology and varying home situations.

What issues are impacting the COVID-19 generation?

• No formal exams: With widespread cancellation of exams during 2020 and 2021 there is growing ‘grade scepticism’ amongst employers who are unsure how reliable or consistent teacher-assessed results will be. Preparing for and sitting formal exams is a crucial way of learning the discipline of coping with workload, deadlines and pressure. Subsequent success in those exams is important for personal confidence and sense of worth.
• Loss of social and interpersonal skills: After spending the majority of the last year in their homes, many young adults have not had normal opportunities to develop communication and teamworking skills. Part-time jobs in customer-facing, dynamic environments where many basic life skills are learned have not been available. The skills that young people normally develop in these roles can be essential for boosting young adults’ professional confidence and help develop self-awareness.
• Articulating and evidencing transferable skills: It seems that many schools have done a good job of ensuring that home-schooling students have covered core academic curriculum content, but it equally seems that many extra-curricular activities such as organising plays and leading sports teams have understandably fallen away. This, coupled with the lack of part-time jobs, has made it hard for students to evidence transferable skills in their CV’s, applications and interviews.
• Lack of interview preparation: Employer engagement, careers insight and opportunities for mock interviews have been far harder to organise during the pandemic. Students have not been coached for interviews in the way they normally would be, and are proving to be unaware of what they can do to secure a role. For example, researching the organisation they are interviewing for, preparing questions of their own, and following up afterwards for feedback.

What you can do as an employer

Cambridgeshire-based Form The Future, who works to develop relationships between school students and employers, shared what they recommend employers should do to assist the COVID-19 generation into employment during a recent First Intuition Think Tank forum. Here are a few things employers can do and implement into long-term business planning to help overcome the issues faced by the younger generation:

• Virtual work-experience: Employers should offer more virtual work experience, career advice and careers resources to help young adults gain the employability skills they have been unable to get during the pandemic, specifically local schools in their area.
• More ‘scaffolding’ for applicants: Employers can assist candidates by giving them more information and stating what they are looking for in applications (scaffolding) to help students show what they are capable of. They can also give them interview tasks that let their natural skills shine such as practical or project assessments and role play.
• A more personalised approach to recruitment: Recruits should be considered on an individual basis as candidates will not have been impacted in the same way, this is especially true for disadvantaged students. Recruitment therefore may need a more tailored approach going forward with less focus on grades and more consideration for their situation at home, family responsibilities, and personal health.
• Mentor schemes for new starters: New employees can benefit greatly from mentoring and peer support in place to help them adjust to the workplace, particularly when paired with other young and relatable employees. This is beneficial for gaining new skills for both parties involved.

Take action and adapt to the changing world of work

The pandemic has created a rare and unique opportunity to positively change the workplace. It will be important for businesses to adapt to the new working world, one where HR is key to the future, and employers help candidates show their skills throughout the recruitment process. The skills gaps in the COVID-19 generation are a looming issue that should be acknowledged and addressed now, as the impacts of the pandemic are predicted to ripple through the education system for several years.

Join the CBI’s In Discussion with Matthew Percival, Director of People and Skills on 7 June to delve deeper into how the pandemic has impacted young adult’s preparedness for the workplace and what you can do to make a difference. Additionally, First Intuition will be hosting another talk discussing onboarding the COVID-19 generation on 9 June.

EACH are seeking Auction and Raffle prizes for the their Charity Golf Day in memory of Stanley McLean on Friday 2nd July at Royal Norwich.  The online auction will run in the lead up and on the day to ensure we can raise as much money as possible.  East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) provides care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia and supports their families. The pressure of the pandemic means our vital services are more important than ever and we continue to offer our outstanding care giving a life-line to families at an unimaginably difficult time. We need support from local businesses now more than ever.  Please contact caroline.allen@each.org.uk if you are able to help.

We hope you have had a great bank holiday weekend, we are so pleased to see the sunshine!

It is going to be another busy week here at Shield Health and Safety but we felt it important to take the time to welcome officially, David Goosey to the team

David has worked with Shield for a number of years on a part time subcontractor basis.

He joins us as a fulltime employed instructor and brings a great depth of training knowledge and customer focus to the team.

Expert service solutions and personnel provider CPower Energy have embarked on a journey to position themselves at the heart of the Offshore Energy Industry, and are celebrating this by appointing energy industry expert, Martin Dronfield – Director of Opergy and Chairman & Director of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) – to their board of Directors.   CPower Energy are gearing up for exceptional growth in the offshore wind industry, and Martin, who has 39 years’ worth of offshore energy industry experience, has worked closely with the Colchester-based company to look at how their business can further flourish in the sector.   With an estimated $2.75 trillion being invested into offshore wind by 2050, the appointment of Martin as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman could not have come at a better time. Combining his extensive expertise from almost 4 decades in the Offshore Energy Industry with CPower’s excellent track record, there are huge potential benefits as they strive to develop innovative solutions for the sector.   Martin says, “From working with Peter Jorgensen and his team at CPower Energy over the past 4 months, I’ve been impressed not only by the company itself but the ethos of Peter. There is an exciting multitude of opportunities to harness, and I’m looking forward to working together with CPower to maximise the benefits.”   “As the industry picks up speed and begins to return to full pace, the opportunities for niche service providers such as CPower are fantastic. Following a successful initial advisory phase, I’m really looking forward to formalising my connection with CPower by joining the board and continuing to work together with Peter Jorgensen to make sure we’re doing what we do really well.”   Managing Director of CPower, Peter Jorgensen, echoed his sentiments: “During Martin’s 4-month advisory period with us, we developed such a strong connection that we wanted to continue our relationship by bringing Martin on board as Chair of the Board – and we’re delighted that he has accepted the position.”   “Extending Martin’s connection to CPower will bring even greater value to us as a company, allowing us to look at how we operate from a different perspective. As we look to grow CPower and offer our expert solutions to support and grow the offshore wind sector, Martin’s insight will be invaluable in this,” he finished.  

Why should your business embrace audio? Special interview with audio expert and coach, Rob Lawrence

How we build relationships with our customers, clients and contacts during the last year has changed dramatically. Podcasts have helped many business leaders reach their audience during the pandemic. They have helped fill the void where physical connection was almost eliminated, and in celebration of their 50th episode, James and Mark decided to reflect on why they chose to start Impromptu Business Chat, and chat to their audio expert producer, and owner of Podcast Plus, Rob Lawrence, on why businesses need to embrace audio.

Fundamentally podcasts are about relationships. They are also leverage in developing existing connections. Podcasts allow you to “have an intimate conversation with a football stadium of people!”

Rob is a qualified audio producer, podcaster and certified coach, helping creative entrepreneurs, high achieving professionals and business leaders embrace the power of sound and broadcast to get their message out; he helps those whose truths and passions are worth listening to!

As the world we live and do business in changes, business is not just about having a statement anymore, it’s about having an ongoing dialogue with your audience, and podcasts are a great way to have a conversation with your audience. An episode is an invitation to start a conversation, and this is why the podcast world is becoming more popular and relevant, and important for business leaders; whether they listen to the content of others or create their own.

As podcast audiences broaden and grow, this chat will help anyone struggling to understand and embrace the changes in the media landscape for businesses and why they should be, and those keen to step into the podcast world themselves.

Rob also offers a personal insight into his own journey with his mental health in the corporate world, and what led him to pursue his passion for audio and coaching. He states that knowing how you best absorb the world, means you can then jump into something you love, instead of doing something you just ‘like’ – his insights are particularly relevant now, as many people face huge shifts in their roles at work, changes in how they work as a result of the pandemic, and may be looking to make a leap of their own.

You can learn more about the work Rob does by listening to his podcast Inspirational Creatives or visit his website here if you want to know more about starting your own podcast.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, we would really appreciate a 5* review, as this helps other people find our podcast! We will be back in a couple of weeks for series 5, so click subscribe, and don’t miss out! 

Listen here!

• This June, the Hope On The Move sponsored challenge is raising funds to help end homelessness across East Anglia; • Participants can take part individually or in teams to cover part of the total challenge distance of 16,696 miles – equivalent to the number of people experiencing homelessness in the region; • The challenge is open to everyone and people can cover their miles in whatever form they like, from walking to roller skating.

This June, people in Norfolk are being invited to take a step forward to end homelessness by joining the Hope On The Move sponsored challenge.

Participants will be able to take part individually, or team up to cover part of the challenge’s goal of 16,696 miles – 1 mile for every person experiencing homelessness in the region.

The fundraising event is being organised by Hopestead, the charity with the mission of ending homelessness in the east of England, to raise funds and connect people safely after a difficult and isolating time.

Starting on 1 June and running until the 30 June, Hope On The Move is designed for absolutely everyone, and participants are encouraged to join in in whatever way they would like – walking, running, cycling, roller skating, or horse riding – the list is endless.

Marie Claire-Delbrouque, MD of Hopestead said: “As restrictions ease, many of us can look forward to being reunited with our families and friends in each other’s homes. But life remains the same for those experiencing homelessness.

“There are almost 17,000 people who are currently experiencing homelessness in our region and through Hope On The Move, we want to raise funds towards delivering our vision of ending homelessness in the East of England.

“We know that by working together – with individuals and organisations that share our commitment – we can achieve our ambitious goal. Because everyone deserves a place to call home.”

Gasway is the headline sponsor for Hope on the Move and Nick Bartram, Gasway’s Managing Director said:  “Gasway has always supported the communities we serve. We’re delighted to be the headline sponsor for Hopestead’s new initiative, Hope on the Move.

“We understand the importance of having a home, especially one that is safe and warm which feels even more important now than ever before. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone in our communities getting involved with this.”

Participants can sign up for just £15 and all details can be found on the Hopestead website (www.hopestead.org). 

Every ticket purchased and every donation received will go directly to those who are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness in East Anglia. And everyone taking part will receive a medal upon completion of the event

Marie Claire Delbrouque commented: “After the last year, it is even more important to create a sense of belonging for everyone in our communities.

“Our Hope On The Move challenge will help to create that connection, and bring people together – safely – to raise funds, get fit, have fun, and step out in support of those who are experiencing homelessness.”

Peerless Plastics & Coatings –

Background.

Peerless Plastics & Coatings, a manufacturer of protective hard coatings for plastics (including anti-microbial & anti-fog coatings), based in Thetford (UK), offer flexible, bespoke, protective hard coating solutions to all it’s customers the world over. Offering a complete chain solution from design, research & development, supply and full production processes. They pride themselves in the ability to tailor their processes to individual company and market requirements, and have done for over 30 years.

They aim to promote the message that protective hard coatings offer long term durability and superior surface performance to plastics through improved chemical and abrasion resistance, significantly extending their useful life meaning less waste.

Peerless Plastics & Coatings, Thetford facility, incorporates fully automated coating line technology for materials up to 2100mm x 6000m long, with mass volume hard coating of small parts, mouldings & extrusions for many industries & applications all applied in clean-room conditions. They also provide large format Digital & Screen-printing capabilities, a high-precision plastics machining department & two paint facilities.

All of their processes comply with BSI registration for ISO 9001:2015 accreditation and they are proud members of the British Plastics Federation and the Made in Britain organisation.

Working through the pandemic.

Peerless were fortunate to be able to continue working through the pandemic and even offer additional product lines to their customers, new & old, in the form of face visors, sneeze screens, screen clamps and anti-microbial surface covers (which won Peerless a first place award in the Brett Martin iAwards November 2020).

At the height of the pandemic, when local schools & colleges were struggling to find and afford PPE for their staff and pupils, Peerless donated hundreds of their face visors free to help out.

With the clear increase in concern regarding surface hygiene and protection against viruses following the Covid-19 pandemic, Peerless quickly submitted their established and proven MicroGuard™ hard coatings for testing against the FCoV (Feline Coronavirus) as a substitute enveloped virus for Sars-Cov-2. Following initial success proving that MicroGuard™ reduces FCoV by 76% after only 2 hours, further development work has taken place to offer a wider range of coatings which provide improved surface performance.

Incorporating the same Silver Ion technology as the MicroGuard™ Clear & Matt hard coatings, MicroGuard™ Anti-Fog was developed with the view to offering superior Anti-Fog performance for face coverings such as visors and goggles, whilst offering improved surface hygiene. MicroGuard™ Anti-Fog was submitted for testing against the NL63 (Human Coroavirus) and proved to be 99.9% effective, meaning that it offers Anti-Viral performance after only 2 hours.

Interest in Anti-Fog coatings have risen as manufacturers of PPE seek to improve the performance of their products and offer wearers of essential face coverings, such as NHS staff and other key workers, with a more suitable solution.

Development work continues utilising alternative formulations and Anti-Microbial additives with Peerless’ range of protective hard coatings, with very positive results expected in the near future.

Rebrand & Investment.

As well as investing in their protective hard coatings & extensive testing, Peerless Plastics & Coatings, have recently undergone a complete re-brand with the design of a new corporate identity including new logo, updated typeface, new website and assorted marketing materials. This is followed by further considerable investments in their coating line and factory facility to further improve their award winning services & products offered to all customers.

Marketing Manager, Mark Scott, has been the driving force behind giving the company a contemporary look & feel that is befitting of where they see themself, both now and in the future. “…With all the investment and improvements we’re making across the whole company, we felt that the brand needed repositioning to better reflect us now and in the future.  A strong brand presence with marketing materials that are easy to use, read & understand are paramount to helping customers feel secure in working with you…”

“…The new branding is designed to be clean, contemporary, strong & confident. Paired with a modern, easy-to-read, sans serif typeface that can be used in a variety of weights to enhance our marketing output across many channels. In time we want our website to evolve into a hub of industry knowledge with Technical Data Sheets to download, articles & information to share, etc…”

Peerless Plastics & Coatings are dedicated to product development, testing & problem solving, providing excellence in all that they do.

Connect with them via the following platforms:

Website:         https://www.peerless-coatings.co.uk/

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/PeerlessPlastic

Facebook:      https://www.facebook.com/peerlessplasticsandcoatings

LinkedIn:        https://www.linkedin.com/company/peerless-plastics-and-coatings/

Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/peerless_plastics_n_coatings/

Just a few months after becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), our managing director, Sarah West, is this month celebrating her thirteenth year as a Chartered Marketer.

The achievement is particularly poignant as her twelfth year was celebrated during the first lockdown of the pandemic as our entire team worked from home.

“It’s much easier to smile in this picture than it was this time last year!”

“I always look forward to submitting the evidence required each year to maintain my chartered status as it’s a good opportunity to reflect on everything that has happened and everything I’ve learned. However skilled or experienced, there is always more to learn in the pursuit of being an ever more effective marketer for our clients”

The Chartered Institute of Marketing is the world’s most respected professional membership organisation for marketing. The CIM states that Chartered Marketer status recognises those achieving the highest levels in the profession. It demonstrates commitment to keeping up-to-date and is awarded on a combination of experience and qualifications.

Sarah first became a Chartered Marketer in 2008 having gained her CIM post-graduate diploma and demonstrated her skills through work for both a national law firm and a major UK holiday company. In 2007, Sarah had won the CIM’s Young Marketer of the Year for East Anglia for her work marketing Great Yarmouth College.

In 2018, our award-winning managing director was also named New Director of the Year for the Institute of Directors (IOD) in the East of England.

Identifying a lack of strategic knowledge amongst many marketing agencies, Sarah founded Full Mix Marketing in 2016 with the aim to deliver the best mix of marketing for each of our clients.

Full Mix Marketing has subsequently grown to become the leading business-to-business (B2B) marketing agency in East Anglia, supporting companies in sectors including logistics, manufacturing, engineering, business services and innovation.

For more information visit: https://www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk/

East Anglian theatre company brings critically acclaimed play to the small screen

• LIT watch party: 7.30pm, Tuesday 1 June, 2021

Plain Speaking PR is proud to be working with HighTide, one of the UK’s leading new theatre writing companies.

HighTide is reimagining its critically acclaimed production – LIT – for the Netflix generation. A new version of the play, which had its world premiere at the Aldeburgh Festival in 2019, will be available to watch on TV screens from 7.30pm on Tuesday 1 June.

Written by Sophie Ellerby and produced as a partnership between HighTide and Nottingham Playhouse, LIT is the story of Bex: a teenage girl, looking for love in all the wrong places. Described by the Guardian newspaper as ‘a blistering look at teenage trauma’, the play tackles a range of difficult subject matters, but is underpinned by a cheeky and irreverent sense of humour. Inspired by Sophie’s experience of working with young women and mothers in the prison system, LIT doesn’t shy away from dealing with the grittier – and often heart-breaking – side of growing up.

LIT began its journey at the Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall in Suffolk before transferring to sell-out audiences in London and Nottingham.  It was originally commissioned by funding from Arts Council England through HighTide’s First Commissions programme.  LIT‘s first run in 2019 won a range of plaudits from some of the UK’s most well-respected critics.

HighTide develops innovative productions and programmes that actively encourage diverse communities across the East of England to engage with new theatre writing. The company provides opportunities for young writers and performers to get involved and share their stories.

Suba Das is the Artistic director of HighTide: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Nottingham Playhouse to give theatre fans throughout the East of England and beyond the opportunity to immerse themselves in the turbulent life of Bex,” Mr Das explains.

”The ongoing impact and uncertainty of the pandemic has meant we haven’t been able to physically connect with our audiences in the East of England in the way we have over the past ten years.  But we’re proud that our pioneering approach to digital content has meant we’ve nonetheless reached thousands of viewers and vulnerable communities across our home region. LIT is a culmination of this online journey and we are thrilled our audiences will be able to experience this incredible show in their homes, ahead of us resuming live performances later this year.”

Stef Driscoll directed the original production of LIT and returns to the Nottingham Playhouse for its 2021 re-vamp.  “LIT is a play for the Netflix generation who want a narrative that is thrilling, witty and packs an emotional punch. Audiences will be taken on a journey with Bex that unmasks what it means to be a young woman today.”

Sophie Ellerby, the writer of LIT said: “I’m excited for Bex to burst into audience’s homes, full force. Since its first run in 2019, issues present in the play – such as rape culture and consent – have been magnified further. I hope LIT continues to spark conversation and empathy.”

For those wishing to be one of the first to see this landmark digital revival, the LIT online watch party is at 7.30pm on Tue 1 June 2021.  Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased from Nottingham Playhouse. Ticket-holders can then watch the recording as many times they like for up to 5 days. After the 1 June the production can be accessed on demand until 29th June.

For more information visit www.hightide.org.uk.

Please note, this play contains strong language and deals with issues around sexual assault.

-ENDS-