Member News

Captain Fawcett Ltd is delighted to be a finalist in the Small & Medium Business category of the Eastern Daily Press Norfolk Business Awards 2020.    A category sponsored by Archant, the Small & Medium Business Award is to acknowledge companies demonstrating all round strength including sales growth, profitability, customer service, branding, leadership, corporate social responsibility, best HR practice and innovation.     This news is a great boost to morale for the whole Fawcett team, particularly welcome in this, the company’s 10th Anniversary year.  Celebrations to mark the occasion have, of course, been somewhat delayed due to somewhat momentous global events yet all at HQ have been ‘Keeping a Stiff Upper Lip Regardless’ – a phrase which may be said to have become the team’s motto. Meanwhile, plans for further developing product ranges and reaching out to new territories have continued, albeit with meetings taking place online rather than the company’s preferred face-to-face approach.     Combining a unique brand of Edwardian derring do with a humorously idiosyncratic take on what it means to be a gentleman in the 21st century, Captain Fawcett Ltd is a manufacturer, purveyor and exporter of simply ‘First Class Gentleman’s Grooming Requisites’.  Formulated at his Gentleman’s Emporium in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, UK, all of Captain Fawcett Balms and Oils are produced in-house along with the legendary wax which is still made by the company’s founder himself.  Captain Fawcett Ltd is proud of being a niche brand, uncompromising on quality. All packaging is made in the UK, as is the majority of Fawcett’s products.  Attention to detail is paramount.     While waiting for news of the winners, due to be announced on 24th November, Captain Fawcett’s founder Richie Finney says ‘All at HQ are truly delighted. This extraordinary year has been challenging for us all both personally and as a company but the team at Captain Fawcett share a can do, pulling together attitude which gets us through.  Plus lashings of tea and cake of course!  All the finalists are nothing short of inspirational in a gloriously entrepreneurial and ever more outward-looking county.  We are proud to be in their number.’

In this weeks Impromptu Business Chat, James and Mark speak to Louise Newby, an experienced educator in the world of mental health and wellbeing, in this highly relevant episode. Louise has seen first hand the detrimental effect that poor mental health and lack of training and support can have on business leaders and their teams. At the end Mark and James reflect on their 3 key take-away’s from the valuable insights and numerous practical tips shared by Louise.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, please like us, and leave a comment. We would love to hear what you are enjoying about the podcast, and it helps others to find us!

If you would like to learn more about the work Louise does with Three Eggs, you can visit their site here. 

Listen to this weeks episode here 

Norfolk Trading Standards Trusted Trader scheme

The Business of the Year award is a prestigious category, with the judges selecting just four finalists from all of the awards entrants.

The TaxAssist Group has triumphed at the Norfolk Business Awards 2020, a year that has seen its accountants and Support Centre staff rise admirably to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its Support Centre based in Norwich, the TaxAssist Group provides marketing, training and technical support to the TaxAssist Accountants network in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada and the USA which currently totals over 259 franchises.

Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive Director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award against some very successful and well-known businesses in Norfolk.

“In what has been a very turbulent and challenging year it is highly rewarding for our 60-strong Support Centre team to have their hard work and achievements recognised in this way.

“I’m incredibly proud of the whole team who do such a sterling job supporting our network of accountants but have really risen to the challenges posed by the pandemic. We’ve received brilliant feedback from both the franchisees in the network and their clients on the levels of support and communication provided and winning this award really is the icing on the cake.

“To have our business recognised in this way is truly heartening and bodes well for our future UK and International expansion plans.”

Sophie Stainthorpe, writing for the Eastern Daily Press (EDP), said: “With the onset of COVID-19 and the support requirements from its client base, it would have been easy for the network to have been overcome by the deluge of enquiries surrounding the many Government support schemes.

“The Support Centre team rose to the challenge and with daily updates, webinars and blogs, provided practical interpretations and advice on the evolving Government support mechanisms, sharing over one million emails to their clients during the initial lockdown period.

“Subsequent client feedback has been outstanding, with 96% of respondents being prepared to recommend their local TaxAssist Accountant to their friends and family.

“Strong financial performance of the franchisor has been maintained, despite it being flexible on fees to its franchisees during the first peak of lockdown.

“‘Rooted’ firmly in Norwich, this business has a massive opportunity for further growth in the future and is certainly one to watch!”.

For more information about the Norfolk Business Awards visit the EDP website here. To watch a video of the four finalists for Business of the Year click here.

For a number of years Goff Petroleum has ran its own good causes campaigns helping support some of the smaller charitable and not for profit causes across the region. Most recently donations have been made to a number of village halls across the region including Shelfanger and Bunwell village halls in Norfolk.

This year on November the 11th Goff Petroleum team pledged to make a donation of £1 for every heating oil order placed to the Wymondham branch of the Royal British Legion.

Will Goff commented “One of our team highlighted the challenges that the Royal British Legion were having in fundraising this year, due to the restrictions and vulnerability of individuals, there was no way the usual street collections could be done safely. We thought we could help spread awareness of the continued importance of Remembrance Day and the work the Royal British Legion carries out and thanks so much to our fantastic customers for getting behind this fundraiser we were delighted to donate £782”.

Goff Petroleum are continuing to work tirelessly throughout these lockdowns to ensure that heating oil is readily available for all those in the region as winter draws nearer.

Ann Rogerson, Poppy Appeal Organiser commented “2020 and the challenges we have faced this year have been tough for all those who need to raise charitable funds, our Poppy Appeal was very different this year with no street collections and a limited number of boxes in shops. Goff Petroleum’s fundraising endeavours are really appreciated by all those at the RBL Poppy Appeal”.

If you know of a local good cause that could benefit from Goff Petroleum’s support then please visit our website and let us know via the Good Causes form.

To lend your support to The Royal British Legion please visit britishlegion.org.uk

Every Christmas we put together a campaign, normally to thank our clients. But this year, we want to do something different. We want to help and support local businesses we love, who have a great story to tell. 

Our big idea was to put together an email marketing advent calendar with a different small business featured every day. A few of the businesses are our clients, but the majority are not. They’re just awesome small businesses that one of us in the team has loved buying from or interacting with. 

Why are we doing this?

This year has been extremely tough for everybody and we want to produce something to put a smile on a few faces and give a little back to some of the great small businesses in our local area. 

At Naked we have always championed small, local businesses. 

Why you should join in?

The warm fuzzy feeling you’ll get from being a part of something lovely. Failing that, a chance to discover lots of epic Norfolk based brands, products and companies. 

So what do you say?

Yay or Nay

If it’s a yes and you’d like to join in follow this link and sign up: https://bit.ly/Join_The_Naked_Christmas_Adventure

If it’s a no, we still love you.

Safepoint successfully deployed to protect Dare to Differ’s lone-working staff across the South East of England.    Read the full case study here

On the Government’s announcement of its testing strategy for international arrivals and business rates relief for airports, Andrew Bell, Chief Executive of Regional & City Airports, said:

“These announcements are a much-needed boost as aviation looks to bounce back from the greatest challenge it has ever faced, with regional airports having been amongst the hardest-hit sectors by the pandemic.

“A robust test-and-release system will boost the safe restart of international travel and increase consumer confidence. We welcome the work of the Global Travel Taskforce and look forward to building on this big step forward by working together on the next phases of pre-departure tests and the use of cheaper and faster testing methods to make international travel ever easier and ultimately eliminate any need for quarantine altogether.

“We are pleased the Government has listened to our calls for business rates relief for airports. The measures announced today will provide much-needed support and we will continue to lobby hard and work with Government on what other steps can be taken to safeguard the UK’s regional airports.”

I am delighted to present Captain Fawcett’s simply fabulous Christmas Selection. Including gifts from as little as a fiver, there is truly a splendid little something for everyone! At the close of a somewhat challenging year for one and all, a touch of luxury is certainly in order to treat one’s kith and kin or, indeed, one’s own good self.

SIGNATURE SERIES SPLENDOUS! Captain Fawcett’s renowned Signature Series now includes two brand new collaborations… NEBULA WITH JOHN PETRUCCI American Rock Royalty meets an English Gentleman Explorer – this melodic collaboration with guitar maestro John Petrucci of Dream Theater has produced a work of true majesty! Indeed, first orders for Nebula came so thick and fast extra staff were needed to fulfil them. This launch is truly flying from the shelf! The new range offers a Beard Balm, Beard Oil and Moustache Wax, distinguished by a simply delectable fragrance. Top notes of exhilarating bergamot & aromatic myrtle riff with a bittersweet tang of grapefruit, rising to an intense heart of earthy, violet orris, dark coffee & tenacious woody cedar. A pulse of seductive musk trails a smoky backbeat laced with vetiver & luxurious leather. And there’s an extra special gift for rock star chums! Each 50ml Nebula Beard Oil includes a Limited Edition Nebula Guitar Flow Pick, designed and created by John Petrucci in collaboration with Jim Dunlop. While stocks last! John Petrucci’s virtuoso composition with Captain Fawcett is quite simply out of this world.

ALESSANDRO MANFREDINI EAU DE PARFUM Alessandro Manfredini is a sculptor, graphic artist and silver bearded model. He is also survivor, a gentleman who fought to rebuild his spirit when an earthquake destroyed his dreams.  His collaboration with Captain Fawcett has produced a most seductive Eau De Parfum evocative of Italy’s capricious seasons. And the story of his resilience is a magnificent inspiration for our times. Woody spiced top notes of rosemary and star anise combine with mid notes of fresh green cyclamen on a bed of mineral ambergris, calming cedarwood and sun toasted tonka.   This deeply sensuous fragrance is presented in a stunning iridescent bottle adorned with an antique beetle motif, the ancient talisman of strength and regeneration.  A scent rich with memory bringing faith in tomorrow.

STOCKING FILLERS

Captain Fawcett loves a well stuffed stocking, thus he presents a selection of handsome treats for discerning gentlemen…

We’ve all seen the Government’s campaign to encourage businesses to be ready for the changes in EU trading arrangements on Jan 1st. But, are you sure your business is completely ready? We’ve put together a checklist of the jobs most businesses will need to do. We hope it’s useful for you.

Checklist: declarations for goods that travel between the UK and the EU

1. Define who will be Importer/Exporter of record in UK, needing an EORI starting with GB 
2. Define who will be Importer/Exporter of record in EU27, needing an EORI starting with NL, FR, DE, ES etc. 
3. Appoint an Agent/Customs Intermediary in UK, to submit the Import/Export Declaration
4. Appoint an Agent/Customs Intermediary in EU27, to do corresponding Export/Import Declaration
5. Ensure that data required for customs declarations is available before the goods leave warehouse
6. Ensure the accuracy of the data, check compliance on import declarations
7. Ensure the accuracy of the data entered on export declarations and check compliance for VAT zero rating
8. Define and capture the declaration process with forwarder to pre-lodge export declarations, get P2P status for all exports and link the MRN to the GVMS in an SOP
9. Define Inco Terms with customers and suppliers
10. Review classification: UK will use the UK Global Tariff 
11. Review classification:  EU will use the Common External Tariff, current rates are listed next to the UKGT
12. Decide whether use Postponed VAT Accounting for import VAT from 1st Jan. 
13. Understand changes for movements to Northern Ireland (NI) and register for TSS 
14. Register for Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) when available through Government Gateway 
15. Continue to submit Intrastat arrivals, if you meet the threshold for arrivals after 1 Jan 2021 you will be required to submit for 12 months

If you can put a tick next to all fifteen items, congratulations on a high level of preparation. If not, our advice is that, if you can work through these tasks, your business will be well prepared for the new trade environment starting in just a few weeks. I regularly post on the IES blog where there’s lots more relevant to the import export business. IES blog

Due to an increase in the overall satisfaction score for three consecutive surveys, TaxAssist Accountants also received a ‘Continuous Improvement Award’.

TaxAssist Accountants is proud to have once again been awarded 5-star Franchisee Satisfaction from WorkBuzz, a leading independent franchise consultancy, joining a select group of just four franchisors to have won this prestigious honour for eight years running.

Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive Director at TaxAssist Accountants, said: “It is a fantastic achievement to have won this key award once again. To have also increased our overall satisfaction score in 2020, a year which has seen so many challenges for everybody, is outstanding.

“Our Support Centre staff have all worked tirelessly to maintain truly exceptional levels of support throughout the pandemic, and this award is testament to the care and hard work they have provided. It is heartening to hear back from our franchisees that they appreciate and recognise the support we have given them.”

The WorkBuzz survey works by inviting existing franchisees to participate in an anonymous online survey which asks them 31 questions about their franchise ownership experience. Using a consistent methodology, the franchise is assigned an overall FSB score.

Due to positive feedback, TaxAssist Accountants received above average benchmark results in key areas of the survey which inform the final Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark report. These include training and support, franchise system, culture and relationships, leadership, value and rewards and general satisfaction. Visit www.5starfranchise.co.uk for more information about how 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction is determined.

The highest performing franchisors are recognised in the annual Best Franchise Awards. Visit www.bestfranchiseawards.co.uk/ for more information about the awards.

In this week’s episode, Mark and James discuss the often overlooked importance of good listening skills in business and in life generally. Starting with a fascinating fact which illustrates just how little time we spend on developing our listening skills, they come up with 3 top tips, and along the way they take inspiration from Jim Kwik, the 5 levels of listening and Slade’s Noddy Holder!   here!