Member News

Akcela are delighted to confirm that James Adams and Matt Lawley have joined Readingmate as advisors and shareholders as the company begins its journey towards accelerated growth. 

Readingmate offers parents a unique approach to encouraging and developing the love of reading in children. This is achieved through a three-pronged approach; the Readingmate app (to encourage and inspire children to read), the Readingmate learning Hub (to empower parents and educators) and the bookshop that gives back (through donations to schools and charities).  

Speaking on the engagement, James Adams – Director of Akcela was delighted to be involved with such a worthwhile cause. “Readingmate brings together two incredibly powerful elements. Firstly, as a cause it’s something that resonates with people easily. There’s a clear outcome to what is trying to be achieved. Secondly, we have been able to work together to create a clearly defined differentiated value proposition. The next few months are going to be incredible exciting for Readingmate, and we are delighted to be a part of that.” 

Co-Founder James Rix has been impressed by the work Akcela have achieved in bringing Readingmates’ core value proposition to a commercialised offering and implementation strategy so quickly. “We knew we had a great product, we knew what we wanted to achieve, but we had hit a bit of a wall in terms of commercialisation and next steps. There’s been a lot of work with our system, what we know it can do, what separates us from the others. We’ve been able to revisit this and reframe that at the centre of what Readingmate is. That’s exciting, because you can see the goal, you can see it’s achievable, but we also have milestones to make it happen.” 

Co-Founder Hannah Rix was focused on how recent developments help deliver the foundation that Readingmate was set up to achieve. “We have a real sense of purpose with Readingmate, how we strive to develop the opportunities of young people through the love of reading. We will soon be actively engaging schools in and around Norfolk to discuss the business in more detail. When we look at what every party gains by being involved, it really is a win-win-win situation. We think we have something special with what we want to do.”  

Reading Mate contacted Akcela based on their experience supporting Start Up businesses throughout Norfolk, their proven market segmentation approach to business growth as well as their experience of working as consultants within the education sector. 

Staff safety solution Safepoint has been appointed by the East of England Co-op – the fourth largest consumer co-operative in the UK – to offer a tech-based safety solution to protect its growing fleet of lone delivery drivers. Each delivery driver is now equipped with a wearable Alert Button allowing users to request emergency help – anytime, anywhere – with a single tap. 

The East of England Co-op has recently partnered with grocery delivery app Snappy Shopper to offer home delivery from 32 of its 122 food stores across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. This new service enables Co-op customers to purchase items and have them delivered directly to their door in as little as 30 minutes. 

During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the UK government added food delivery drivers to the list of UK key workers, demonstrating their importance in society. Whilst drivers are working long hours to meet increase in demand, they are also at a high risk of infection – delivering to those self-isolating and asymptomatic – potentially exposing themselves to the virus. Delivery drivers are recognised as carrying out an essential role, but compared to their counterparts, are in some cases offered the least protection.

Callum Coombes, CEO of Safepoint, says: “Protecting lone workers in transport is not only a matter of safeguarding your employees but your business too. Safepoint is extremely proud to be partnering with the East of England Co-op to provide a solution which will ensure their fleet of delivery drivers feel safe when out on the road and delivering to their valued customers”. 

Lee Hammond, Head of Security for the East of England Co-op, says: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is always our first priority. With the introduction of our home delivery service, we wanted to make sure our colleagues felt safe as they travelled across our trading area”. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that ‘up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve someone who is at work at the time. This may account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week’. Driving on the roads will always present a danger – but for delivery drivers there are additional risks to consider when working both on-site and with the public.

Safepoint’s safety solution makes use of automated alarms with no need for a mobile phone signal – ideal for rural areas in the East Anglia region. Alerts can be triggered in a number of ways – if the user taps the panic button on the app or Alert Button, if the device detects a fall, or if the user fails to check-in within a limited time. Alerts are then monitored and received at Safepoint’s GuardianPlus Response Centre – a fully accredited state-of-the-art monitoring and alarm receiving centre (ARC), manned by a team of highly skilled and qualified experts, trained to deal with emergency situations.

Lee Hammond adds: “As a fellow local business and having collaborated with Safepoint for some time at the ARC, we’re extremely proud to be strengthening our relationship. The technology they have in place is incredibly easy to use, which is important for our colleagues when they are out on the road. Allowing us to track the progress of our delivery drivers and respond swiftly to any calls for support, is a comfort to our colleagues as they carry out their vital role for our communities.”

Callum Coombes concludes: “The convenience sector has really ramped up their online and delivery offerings as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We know how important these services are for people, particularly when they are unable to leave their homes for essential items. We’re happy our technology can help play a part in keeping not only the delivery drivers safe, but the public too”.

Safepoint’s partnership with the East of England Co-op is alongside the rollout of the Snappy Shopper online home delivery service across 32 of its stores in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, with plans to roll out the service to further stores over the next 12 months.

For more information about Safepoint visit www.safepointapp.com

For more information about the East of England Co-op visit www.eastofengland.coop

In this week’s episode of Impromptu Business Chat, James and Mark chat about the likely challenges businesses will face as lockdown restrictions are eased and hopefully removed as the UK moves targets its “VC Day” on 21 June 2021. As usual they come up with 3 top tips to prepare businesses for the ‘new normal’, and along the way they take inspiration from MHA Larking Gowen, Silicon Valley, and Madonna.

Listen here!

Ashtons Legal is delighted to announce the appointment of Fiona Stuart as a partner in the firm taking the total number of partners to 35. She is joined by a further 340 staff across East Anglia and Leeds. It is the firm’s third partner appointment in seven months – Andrew Skuse joined the residential property team last August and Sheila Small the commercial property team in November.

Fiona will be leading the Insolvency and Restructuring Team and will work closely with Tom Bailey, Ashtons’ Head of Dispute Resolution.  Fiona is able to assist with both contentious and non-contentious insolvency and restructuring matters, acting on behalf of all categories of stakeholders including Licensed Insolvency Practitioners, creditors, directors and employees, helping individuals and businesses alike to navigate complex situations under particularly difficult circumstances.

Fiona graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2008 and after attending law school and undertaking her training contract, qualified as a solicitor in 2011. In the 10 years since, Fiona has worked for specialist insolvency firm Isadore Goldman and in the latter years in full service law firms in the Norwich area. Fiona is dual-qualified as an insolvency practitioner (non-appointment taking) having passed the Joint Insolvency Examination Board (JIEB) exams in 2017.

Fiona is a committee member for the Eastern Region of R3, the Association for Business Recovery Professionals and a Trustee of YMCA Norfolk.

Fiona says: “I am really pleased to have joined Ashtons’ in Norwich, although I will work across the Eastern region and beyond. My focus on providing clients with practical, and sensible, advice will hopefully help them to find light at the end of the insolvency tunnel!”

Tom Bailey adds: “Fiona’s appointment enables us to strengthen further our dispute resolution service to clients and in particular the niche insolvency and restructuring arena where, although corporate insolvencies are at an all time low, we expect to see an increase in work once the Government’s support packages for businesses and bans on creditor enforcement actions are wound down”.

Ed O’Rourke, CEO at Ashtons says: “I am delighted to welcome Fiona to Ashtons and thrilled that in these tough times we are stable and strong and able to attract new talent to the firm”.

With many of us looking to the future as the country re-opens post lockdown, NatWest remains committed to supporting local businesses succeed and grow.

Andy Gray is a Local Enterprise Manager at NatWest and is responsible for supporting businesses across the East of England through a range of programmes, services and partnerships all aimed at enabling local enterprises to flourish. This activity includes work with the local LEP, one to one mentoring and attendance at local events.

Amongst the programmes Andy will be supporting is NatWest’s Business Builder. Business Builder has been developed and tailored to support businesses and entrepreneurs at all stages in their development whether they are just starting out or already established. The programme is free, and participants don’t have to be a NatWest customer to join. Business Builder includes a portal which hosts modular content of bitesize, self-lead modules which cover the three main pillars of business support: growth, mindset and financial support. It also includes access to a Facebook group with more than 5,000 members to share skills and experiences with.

Andy said: “We want to empower businesses to succeed which is why we developed tools like Business Builder which allows for business owners to take the steps they need to support their businesses. In the weeks and months ahead, I am looking forward to collaborating with businesses, business support organisations and others on activities that will support growth across the region.”

Over the Covid-19 pandemic, NatWest continued to support customers with their lending needs through traditional lending as well as through Government schemes and mortgage holidays.

Recently NatWest has announced an additional £1 billion in funding to help female-led businesses in the UK recover. This builds on the £1bn NatWest committed to last January – the largest intervention by a UK lender focused specifically on female entrepreneurs.

Andy said: “We know the last year has been incredibly challenging for all of us, and we will continue to support the local businesses in their growth aspirations. Enterprise is central to our purpose-led strategy and remains part of our commitment to helping the economy build back better.

“We are also wanting to play a leading role in tackling climate change and aim to enable businesses and communities to do the same through future partnerships and programmes.”

This week, Chris speaks to Richard Hughes, Chef Director at The Assembly House in Norwich, and founder of the Richard Hughes Cookery School. In his long career, Richard has gone head-to-head with Gordan Ramsey for National Chef of the Year; worked in Michelin starred restaurants; worked at the Ritz and Norwich Theatre Royal, amongst others; he’s even cooked for the Queen Mother!

Richard is credited for the resurgence of The Assembly House and, whilst remaining relentlessly positive throughout this last year, the fact remains that major changes had to be made in both of his businesses. Richard reflects honestly on lockdown, giving his insights into what the day-to-day has looked like for The Assembly House this past year; now “the poshest drive through in the city” – his words.

Richard chats about how policing the social distancing rules, when they could open, was tough, and how plans made in the first lockdown went to waste, as they didn’t account for further restrictions. He talks openly about how Eat Out to Help Out was financially a life raft, but probably not the morally right thing to do.

The hospitality trade is historically a tough sector to work in, but Richard believes that the ‘badge of honor’ that came from working 17-hour shifts on no sleep is a thing of the past. He describes the sense of family that teams can reach when staff wellbeing is a key component of a business model, and that retaining loyal staff, and investing in them, is vital for long-term success.

Chris asks Richard about the reduction in VAT; new trends in bookings; how he thinks people will view local businesses moving forwards; and his number one rule in business, “Don’t let anyone else sign your cheque book!”

Richard also lets us in on his “apple pie syndrome” and his uplifting message for the sector. Insights not to be missed, from a man at the top of his game.

Listen here!

Howes Percival has advised on the successful management buyout of the Falcon Tower Cranes Group from the founding shareholders.

Originally established in the 1970s as a self-erecting tower crane rental company, Falcon has evolved from a regional tower crane supplier to an international brand, selling and renting tower cranes all over the world. The firm’s head office is based in Shipdham, Norfolk.

Managing Director, Andrew Brown said,

“This deal marks an important milestone for our business and I am thrilled to have led the management team towards this exciting new phase. We are delighted that the founders, Doug Genge and Barbara Brown will remain on the board to pass on the benefit of their experience to the new management team. Since it was established, the business has gone from strength to strength and we look forward to driving it towards the next chapter of its impressive journey. It was a pleasure to work with the team at Howes Percival, who provided a seamless service throughout and we look forward to continuing our relationship as we move ahead.”

Corporate law specialists, Oliver Pritchard and Brigitta Naunton from Howes Percival advised the management team on the legal aspects of the buy-out. Corporate finance and tax advice was provided to the management team by Cambridge based, corporate finance specialist, PEM Corporate Finance.

Commenting on the deal, Oliver Pritchard, a Partner at Howes Percival said, 

“We are delighted to have supported the management team of this fantastic local business which is going from strength to strength. The company has an incredible story and we are looking forward to working with the management team as they continue to grow the business over the coming years.

“There was much speculation that capital tax gains rates would increase in the March budget, which undoubtedly increased the level of deal activity over the last couple of months. Now that this particular issue has gone away, at least for now, with no CGT rate rises announced by the Chancellor, we expect to see continued high levels of activity in the market generally. Within the East Anglia region alone, our work includes deals across a diverse range of sectors from construction to technology, manufacturing to renewable energy, and fashion to education. Trade buyers and institutional investors are showing a strong appetite for sectors which are either Covid-resilient or, increasingly, those which are likely to bounce back strongly post lockdown.”

For more information on Howes Percival’s corporate advisory services visit: https://www.howespercival.com/services/corporate/

In the current circumstances excitement can be hard to come by, however, we are lucky to announce an exciting piece of news – an interview with Mio Conferencing Solutions about the Future 50 programme and its role in developing our international audio, web, and video conferencing.

Future 50 is a business growth programme open to Norfolk and Suffolk’s small-to-medium-sized businesses. Its purpose is to give recognition to innovative businesses and help them thrive and develop. Mio Conferencing Solutions is grateful to have been interviewed about how the Future 50 programme helped us develop our business. Read the interview below.

Transcript:

The business landscape has changed a lot since audio-call specialists Mio Conferencing Solutions took part in Future 50 in 2018. Managing director Kay Daodu shares how the scheme helped the business.

How has the business changed since it was in Future 50?

The business has definitely changed since Future 50 – from the way it competes to its approach towards innovation and also access to regional resources that have helped us stay competitive. 

How did taking part in Future 50 help that process?

It put me in contact with some very valuable resources and organisations dedicated to making my business more successful. Some of the opportunities my company has experienced were as a result of some of these relationships. 

What were the most helpful aspects of Future 50?

It introduced us to the Enterprise Centre – a very underrated resource when it comes to opportunities for businesses to grow, from its on-site business facilities to research and development funding, to the innovation grants and access to the right resources needed for a company like Mio Conferencing to grow. 

What was the best piece of advice from Future 50?

It’s a bit of a bizarre one: a cyber security talk – funny now everyone works remotely and there are more cyber security threats out there. This was a specialist topic so an expert was brought in to present it. The information was invaluable and more relevant today. This particularly stuck with me. 

What’s your advice for companies starting Future 50?

This is a massive opportunity to get your business out there… but you have to put in the work on your side as well. 

If you are a Norfolk or Suffolk business, take a look at the Future 50 programme which will reopen again for applications in Autumn 2021. 

To find out more about what we do, visit www.miocommunications.co.uk/services or contact us on info@miocommunications.co.uk and we will help you make online conferencing easier!

Experienced accountant Sanjay Parekh FCCA, joined TaxAssist Accountants just as COVID-19 hit in March 2020.

Determined to pursue his dream of establishing his own practice in his local area, he has been busy finding and fitting out his TaxAssist Accountants shop, which is now open for clients to attend a face-to-face meeting or arrange a telephone or video consultation.

“I’m so pleased the shop is now open, allowing me to showcase the services we offer, as it’s clear that small business clients are in need of as much help and support as possible to get through these challenging times,” said Sanjay.

“As a small business owner myself, I know and understand what people are going through right now, and am passionate about making a real difference to people’s lives and businesses.

“We are here for much more than tax returns, accounts and bookkeeping. We’re here to help clients to understand how their business is performing, plan for growth, access finance and make key decisions. We can also talk clients through a range of software solutions to help them to select the right package for their needs. I’d urge anyone interested in finding out more, to contact us for a free initial consultation.”

To contact Sanjay visit his website here www.taxassist.co.uk/wood-green or call 0208 0371500.

If you share a passion to help your local small businesses, a TaxAssist franchise can provide the systems and support you need to be successful. Regular Virtual Discovery Days are being held, where you can find out more about the technical, marketing and business development support on offer. Call 0800 0188297 or submit an enquiry via the button at the top of the page to register your interest.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended until the end of September 2021

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme began in March 2020 and was introduced to assist both employees and employers from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Scheme currently pays 80% of an employee’s wages when they are unable to work during the pandemic. At a cost of almost £50 billion, it has protected 11 million jobs so far and has already been extended twice with a further extension recently revealed until the end of September as part of the Budget for 2021. The price of not extending it would probably lead to a further rise in unemployment, which has already reached a new rate of 5.1%, the highest figure for five years.

What is furlough?

Employers might need to put some or all of their employees on temporary leave (‘furlough’) during the coronavirus pandemic. This means an employee can agree with their employer to be put on furlough to stop work temporarily but remain employed or to work some of their usual hours and be put on furlough for the hours they did not work; this is ‘flexible furlough.’

Who can be furloughed?

Employers can put someone on furlough provided they were employed on or before 30 October 2020. They do not need to have been on furlough before.

Employers can furlough employees who are temporarily unable to work because they are shielding, they have childcare responsibilities whilst the schools are shut or if they are caring for a vulnerable person in their household.

Extension of The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Under the latest extension, employers will pay 10% of the furlough in July and 20% in August and September.

From 1 July 2021:

• the government will pay 70% of wages, capped at £2,187.50
• the employer will need to contribute 10% (up to £312.50)

From 1 August to 30 September 2021:

• the government will pay 60% of wages, capped at £1,875 each month
• the employer will need to contribute 20% (up to £625)

As with the Scheme when it was first introduced back in March 2020, the employer should decide whether they will top up furloughed employees’ wages to 100% however, they are not obliged to.

Redundancy Pay and Notice Pay

When calculating Statutory Redundancy Pay or Statutory Notice Pay for furloughed staff, the employer must use the employee’s full normal pay, not their reduced furlough rate.

What furloughed staff can and cannot do

Furloughed staff can do:

• volunteer work – as long as it is for another employer
• training to keep their skills up to date

Furloughed staff cannot:

• do tasks or activities that make money for their employer
• provide a service for their employer

How many people have been furloughed?

• 11.2 million jobs have been supported by the scheme since March 2020
• About 4.7 million people are currently on furlough (up to 31 January 2021)
• The highest take-up rate has been in the hospitality industry with 1.2 million jobs furloughed (as of 31 January 2021)
• 4 out of 10 employers are using the furlough scheme

What help are self-employed getting from the government?

A fourth grant from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be available from April 2021.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is set at 80% of 3 months’ average trading profits, paid out in a single instalment and capped at £7,500. The fourth grant will take into account 2019 to 2020 tax returns and will be open to those who became self employed in the 2019/20 tax year – the rest of the eligibility remains unchanged.

Who can claim the fourth grant?

You must be a self-employed individual. To work out your eligibility, your 2019 to 2020 Self Assessment tax return is first looked at – your trading profits must be no more than £50,000 and at least equal to your non-trading income. If you are not eligible based on your 2019-2020 Self Assessment tax return, the tax years 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 are then looked at.

You must have traded in both tax years:

• 2019 to 2020 and submitted your tax return by 2 March 2021
• 2020 to 2021

You must either:

• Be currently trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus
• Have been trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus

You must also declare that:

• You intend to continue to trade
• You reasonably believe there will be a significant reduction in your trading profits due to reduced business activity, capacity, demand or inability to trade due to coronavirus

The UK government also announced that there will be a fifth and final grant covering May to September. You will be able to claim from late July if you are eligible for the fifth grant. The fifth grant will be determined by how much your turnover has been reduced in the year April 2020 to April 2021.

The fifth grant will be worth:

• 80% of three months’ average trading profits – capped at £7,500 (for those with a turnover reduction of 30% or more)
• 30% of three months’ average trading profits – capped at £2,850 (for those with a turnover reduction of less than 30%)

Hatch Brenner Solicitors offers Employment Law advice to Employers and Employees. Contact info@hatchbrenner.co.uk or call 01603 660 811.

• The Hopestead Community Champions initiative recognises, celebrates and thanks people who have been making a difference in their community in Norfolk;
• Organisers have had a fantastic response with many acts of kindness highlighted in the nominations;
• The closing date is 14 March and people in Norfolk are encouraged to nominate their community champions.

‘A tower of strength,’ ‘guardian angels’, ‘an inspiration’, and ‘selfless’ are just some of the descriptions for nominees of the Hopestead Community Champions initiative – with organisers saying they have been inspired and humbled by the response so far.

The initiative was launched in February to recognise, celebrate, and thank people in East Anglia who have made a positive difference in their communities during the challenges of the last year.

Over 100 nominations have been received so far with each one highlighting the incredible ways that people have been supporting others during the pandemic.

Now, with the closing date of 14 March fast approaching, people in Norfolk are being encouraged to nominate friends, family, neighbours, or themselves – who have gone the extra mile in their communities.

The initiative has been set up by Hopestead, the charity which aims to end homelessness in the East of England.    Marie-Claire Delbrouque, CEO of Hopestead explained:

“At Hopestead, we believe in community and the response to our Hopestead Community Champions initiative is testament to the power of community, and the difference that we can all make for each other.

“Our nominations reveal kindness in abundance, and it is a privilege to read about the support and help that so many have given within their communities. It is truly humbling and reminds us that positivity can emerge from the most difficult of situations.

“If you haven’t yet nominated there is still time to do so. This is our opportunity to share your stories of support and shine a light on those people who have made a tough time a little easier through their actions.”

Nominating is simple, and can be done by emailing Weare@hopestead.org  or by visiting www.hopestead.org. Alternatively, people are also encouraged to post pictures and their nominations on social media with the hashtag #HopesteadChampions

The deadline for nominations is Sunday 14 March and all nominees who have been making a difference in their communities will be recognised and provided with a thank you gift. Hopestead will also seek to announce and feature the Hopestead Community Champions on their social media channels.

Attleborough-based renewable heating firm, Finn Geotherm, is seeking 10 new employees following the award of a multi-million pound contract to install 21 heat pump projects in the public sector.

Established in 2006, Finn Geotherm is one of the UK’s most experienced heat pump installers. The new contracts will see the company design and install 21 different air and ground source projects in public sector locations across East Anglia and further afield. These landmark installations will use the latest in large scale heat pump technology to deliver renewable heating systems which are highly energy efficient and will significantly reduce carbon emissions.

Finn Geotherm is recruiting for the following positions:

• 1 x multi-skilled maintenance engineers
• 2 x commercial plumbers / pipe fitters
• 3 x electrical engineers
• 2 x trainee heating engineers
• 2 x trainee electrical engineers

Guy Ransom, commercial director for Finn Geotherm, said: “Having been awarded these significant new contacts, we are in a privileged position to be able to appoint 10 new team members to join our award-winning business. We have been installing heat pumps for more than 15 years and there is no doubt that as the Government continues to press forward with its targets to meet net zero carbon emissions, heat pumps are the future of heating. This is an opportune time to join an expanding and very exciting industry. We’re looking forward to welcoming successful applicants to become part of our team and get straight to work on these brilliant green heating projects.”

Finn Geotherm recently completed the installation of a six-phase district (communal) heating scheme for housing association Flagship Group to provide heating and hot water for 113 homes in Felixstowe. Using a ground source heat pump system, this was the third project Finn Geotherm has completed for Flagship and the largest of its kind in the region.

Applications for all the vacancies can be made by emailing a CV to info@finn-geotherm.co.uk or see www.finn-geotherm.co.uk for more details.