Member News

Experienced accountant Jeremy Gilks has launched a new accountancy practice on Ber Street in Norwich specifically aimed at small businesses and individual tax-payer clients.

Norwich is set to benefit from the addition of a new walk-in TaxAssist Accountants shop when Jeremy Gilks FCCA opens his practice on 113-119 Ber Street on 27th August.

“Since joining the TaxAssist Accountants network in November 2018, I’ve been on the look out for the ideal location to open a shop, which will provide a warm, welcoming environment for me to meet with new and existing clients to discuss their tax and accountancy requirements,” said Jeremy.

“The shop on Ber Street ticks all the boxes as there is a high volume of passing traffic and a vibrant local traders association.

There is also plenty of on-street parking for clients to use when popping in, as we want to be convenient to the city centre, to make it easy for clients to come and visit us while doing their shopping.

“We do not consider ourselves to be typical accountants, which is clear from the look and feel of our modern shop. We are passionate about offering a bespoke, tailored service to every kind of small business client and we have adopted the latest software on offer, which allows us to be more responsive to clients’ needs and provides greater efficiencies. But, we have a best of both worlds approach for those who enjoy using tech and those who prefer just to come in and talk to us. I would like to encourage anyone interested in finding out more about our services to pop in for a free initial consultation.”

As well as providing all the regular services you would expect from a local accountant, Jeremy, who has over 30 years’ accountancy experience across a range of sectors, is looking for his shop to become a destination for new start-ups by providing a business hub. This will offer a flexible working environment with space to hire by the hour, half day, day, week or month.

“I’m keen to offer help, to nurture and support new start-ups” said Jeremy. “In addition to hiring out desk space, we will be looking to offer lock up offices with provision for a board room with large screens for presentations, which will run independently of the accountancy practice.”

Karl Sandall, Chief Executive Director of The TaxAssist Group said: “I’m very excited to see another fantastic looking addition to the TaxAssist Accountants network of shops and would like to congratulate Jeremy on the look and feel of the shop after it has undergone an extensive refit.”

Jeremy’s shop on Ber Street joins an established network of over 210 TaxAssist Accountants shops nationwide, including shops in Norfolk on Aylsham Road in Norwich, Attleborough and King’s Lynn.

New Anglia Growth Hub has launched an online membership portal to help businesses scale up faster with specialist support. This follows the start of the Scale Up New Anglia Programme by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership delivered through the Growth Hub in February this year.

The programme will run over three years with a stated aim to help ‘Silver’ companies in the two counties – companies with a propensity to grow. They occupy a sweet spot between ‘Bronze’ (Start Ups) and ‘Gold’ (Scale Ups), defined as growing in terms of turnover or FTEs at 20% per annum or more, over a three-year period.

The website has been launched to engage with and provide ongoing support to potential high growth businesses and to create a community of like-minded peers, and industry and topic experts.

Programme members will gain exclusive access to expert business analysis, a resource packed knowledge bank, information on special workshops and courses, as well as real world insights and knowledge through peer-to-peer learning.

Dr Morgan Potter, High Growth Manager at New Anglia Growth Hub, said: “Our new members’ portal and website will provide a focus for scale up information. It will include videos and presentations, company success stories and useful interventions from key growth support organisations such as Invest East, Goldman Sachs, Innovate 2 Succeed and Tech Nation. Our support is fully funded and independent expert advisers are on hand to visit and guide you; all we ask is to register on the portal provided.

Dr Morgan Potter, presenting at a recent Scale Up event

“As part of the programme, we will provide training and focus groups, helping to create a community across both Norfolk and Suffolk, which will support all potential high growth companies and help them to achieve the next level in terms of performance. We can really help tip the scales for businesses to reach high growth.”

Criteria to join:

• Operating for a minimum of three years • 5-150 employees • Turnover £250,000 or more in last financial year • Primary owner/ primary decision-maker in the business.

Chris Pont, one of the founders and CEO of IJYI, said: “I’m excited at the prospect of being accepted onto these programmes as they have both shown massive benefits to their alumni’s organisations and has provided them with a greater level of rigour and understanding whilst scaling up.”

Advocate for the Scale Up Programme, Justin Nevison-Grainger, Director at Conatus Financing Solutions Ltd, said: “It’s been a privilege to be a speaker and contributor at the superb Scale Up New Anglia High Growth programme events. The entrepreneurs involved are often the unsung heroes of business; the economies and employees of Suffolk, Norfolk and beyond. If I can help in some small way; all the better. Also, everyone involved picks up learning and inspiration and for that, I am grateful too.”

To register for the Scale Up Programme, visit www.scaleupnewanglia.co.uk or for more information, please call the New Anglia Growth Hub on 0300 333 6536.

Safepoint, a new web and mobile software platform designed to safeguard lone workers and allow businesses to ensure the safety of their employees has now launched to the public.

By signing up for a 14-day free trial, businesses can now protect their lone workers, whatever their role or location, all from their existing browser and mobile devices. 

Safepoint was born in November 2017 at Norwich hackathon Sync the City after winning first prize. Safepoint were inspired by the heart-breaking story of Robert Geach – an engineer at a water treatment plant who died whilst servicing a filtration system. Geach sadly slipped and knocked himself unconscious before drowning in a shallow pool of water. It was over four hours before his colleagues realised he was missing. Had Robert been found sooner, he could still be alive today.

There are millions of lone workers like Robert in the UK that are at risk of violence, ill-health, and accidents as a result of working alone.

The team at Safepoint decided to harness the power of the cloud and modern mobile technology to create a product that could save the lives of lone workers like Robert.

Callum Coombes, CEO and co-founder at Safepoint said: “We’ve come a long way since the first prototype was developed at Sync the City in 2017. I remember we stayed up until 3 am each day during the 54-hour competition! In Spring this year the University of East Anglia invested in Safepoint to help us scale, which has allowed part of the team to go full-time and for us to really invest in the growth of the platform.”

The Safepoint lone working platform makes it easier than ever for employers to stay compliant with government regulations and to protect their lone working employees.

Safepoint is built on two pillars: a mobile application available on both Android and iOS devices, and a web portal that can be accessed through any modern web browser. Lone workers use the mobile app to log tasks, signal for help in emergencies and share their safety information, such as their GPS location. The web portal can then be used to monitor lone workers, respond to emergencies and make informed safety decisions with real-time data.

James Rogers, engineer and co-founder said, “We’re committed to helping protect lone workers and to building the most powerful and easy-to-use safety platform in the market. We’re already adding new features and there are many more to come!” 

Safepoint is already being used by businesses across East Anglia, protecting everyone from engineers to accountants and their 14-day free trial is now open to all organisations, big or small. If you are interested in trying Safepoint’s lone working safety solution or want to chat to Callum and the team about how Safepoint can help your business visit safepointapp.com or email support@safepointapp.com.

RTS award winning company, Eye Film, are seeking at least 100 local companies to support a documentary they are producing on Norwich Castle’s restoration, which will see the Castle restored to how it would have looked 900 years ago, when it was competed by William the Conqueror’s son, Henry I. 

“When the Castle reopens the expectation is that there will be at least an extra 100,000 visitors to the city and Norfolk each year, which will have a direct impact not just on businesses in and around the Castle, but across the whole county”, explains Charlie Gauvain, Eye Film’s MD and Producer/Director of the documentary.  “We are looking for at least 100 local companies to support the project with £100, which will go a long way towards raising the £20,000 we are crowdfunding for a feature documentary.  The film will tell the behind the scenes story of this amazing transformation, ensuring that the story reaches as wide an audience as possible.  The first company to take up the challenge was First Self Drive in Norwich”.  

Any company who pledges £100 towards the project will receive credits in the film, publicity that goes with it and 2 tickets to the cinema premiere of the film.  There are lots of other options available including discounted tickets to Norfolk Museums and even a chance to become part of the film crew.

The documentary is completely independent of the money that has been raised by the Castle and will not receive any funding from them. Eye Film is also donating all of the footage to the Castle as a public record of the restoration.

To find out more go to  

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/how-to-build-a-norman-castle-documentary

Norfolk Community Foundation is delighted to be working with Sir Norman to launch the Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, which aims to ensure equality, justice and human rights in our society for those with mental health issues, people on the autism spectrum and those with learning disabilities. It is estimated that 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health issue each year. However, many people currently find that they are unable to get the help they need as health services come under critical pressure. Sir Norman is one of the UK’s most tireless campaigners in the area of mental wellbeing and, with the launch of the Fund, aims to ensure equality, justice and human rights in our society for those with mental ill health, people on the autism spectrum and those with learning disabilities. Through the funds raised, Norfolk Community Foundation will work to support the organisations at the frontline of mental wellbeing support across Norfolk. We have unparalleled access to the groups that provide support in their communities and therefore are best placed to target support where it is most needed. Many other issues in local communities have their roots in mental health issues, such as our work supporting vulnerable families and communities. Through this vital new fund, we will work with Sir Norman to transform the support that people receive, improving local lives and communities. How you can help Your donation, no matter how small, will make a real difference. Donate online now or alternatively send a cheque made payable to Norfolk Community Foundation (referencing the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund) to Norfolk Community Foundation, St. James Mill, Whitefriars, Norwich, NR3 1TN

Norwich Airport and KLM UK Engineering agree £7m hangar deal

Norwich Airport and KLM UK Engineering have agreed a deal where Norwich Airport will invest £7 million in a new hangar and workshop facilities for KLM UK Engineering at the airport to meet increased industry demand for aircraft maintenance.

The project will be managed by Rigby Real Estate (RRE), the property division of airport owners, Rigby Group. It will see the construction of a 54,000 sq ft hangar and 15,500 sq ft workshop that will be completed by August 2020.

The deal provides KLM UK Engineering with significant additional new capacity providing high quality aircraft maintenance and repair services to customers worldwide. KLM UK Engineering employs 390 staff at Norwich and also delivers aircraft engineering apprenticeships and training through its technical training college located in the neighbouring International Aviation Academy Norwich.

Norwich Airport managing director Richard Pace said: “KLM UK Engineering is a major employer in Norwich with hundreds of skilled staff. This deal underlines its long-term commitment to the region and is another significant milestone in the airport’s strategy of creating a global aviation centre of excellence.”

Peter van der Horst, managing director at KLM UK Engineering, said: “We are delighted to have agreed this expansion project with Norwich Airport. This will enable us to provide a more efficient service to our customers, allow us to maintain the larger next generation aircraft and provide extra capacity with a sixth bay. Our team in Norwich are excited with this development and look forward to revealing the new hangar in 2020.”

KLM UK Engineering is headquartered at Norwich where it has operated for more than 40 years. It currently has five fully equipped heavy maintenance bays across three hangars at the airport and has extensive experience on many aircraft types including Embraer170/190, Boeing 737 (all series), Airbus A320 family, BAe 146 and Avro RJ, and Fokker 70/100 types.

The build of a new hangar for KLM UK Engineering at the airport gives Satys Air Livery UK Ltd the opportunity to take on the hangar vacated by KLM UK Engineering. This will consolidate Norwich as the head office of Aftermarket and VIP Painting Division of the Satys Group and the largest place in Europe for repainting narrow body aircrafts (4 hangars).

Thierry Melet, managing director of Satys Air Livery UK Ltd, said: “We are looking forward to consolidating our position in Norwich. The additional hangar will provide both additional capacity for growth and potential synergies to satisfy our current customers in a very competitive market.”

The Satys Group is a large, growing group with its head office in Toulouse and purchased Satys Air Livery UK Ltd (formerly Air Livery Ltd) in October 2018. The new hangar will increase the number of employees from approximately 80 to 100 in Norwich, providing local recruitment opportunities in the aircraft repainting sector.

Satys Air Livery UK Ltd purchased Sprayavia in November 2008 and have been operating at Norwich Airport ever since.

Norwich Airport is part of Regional & City Airports (RCA), the airports management division of Rigby Group, which also owns and operates Exeter Airport and Bournemouth Airport.

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Picture Caption:

Left to right: James Shipley – Finance Director – KLM UK Engineering; Peter van der Horst – Managing Director – KLM UK Engineering; Richard Pace – Managing Director – Norwich Airport; Mark Thomas – Finance Director – Satys Air Livery UK Ltd; Paul Woods – Sales Director – Satys Air Livery UK Ltd  

Photo credits – Jon Rogers  

St Edmunds Society a Charitable Incorporated organisation (CIO) in Norfolk of more than fifty years standing, are presently looking for new trustees – particularly those able to offer experience of finance and business coupled with a naturally commercial acumen.

As an alternative provider within the education arena St Eds offers an exciting and diverse range of vocational training courses aimed at young people who have often felt challenged or out of place in a mainstream educational environment and may have their own particular and complex needs.  It is a charity with exciting plans for future expansion including the opening of a separately funded independent school.

You would bring your skills and energy to the charity. Trustees meet quarterly to monitor budgets and assess progress against the development plan.  Those with particular knowledge and expertise will support operational staff in delivering the charity’s services to the young people who are desperately in need.

If you are interested and have some time to spare for a wonderful cause please do get in touch for an informal chat with Lorraine Bliss MBE, CEO on 01603-622035 or 07850 031255.

Website: www.st-eds.org

Dear Friends,

In September, millions of people from around the world will strike to demand that governments take radical action to address the climate crisis. This started exactly a year ago with young Greta Thunberg protesting by herself outside the Swedish parliament. Since then it has led to multiple school strikes earlier in the year and a massive strike is now planned with working people around the world joining the youth strikers. You can find out more here: globalclimatestrike.net

Employees of Hudson Architects will be joining them by striking in Norwich on Friday 20th September. Our team care passionately about this topic and believe this is the moment to turn that passion into action. So for one day, the practice will be supporting employees to down tools and add their voices to those across the country and beyond. The practice will be contributing by hosting a public climate change exhibition event in our ground floor gallery space on St Andrews Street, whilst some employees will be joining the school strikes protest outside City Hall.

We will not be alone. Many companies, including other architectural practices, are signing up to allow their employees to take part. In the UK, the strike has the backing of the RIBA and the UK Green Building Council. Further afield, Germany’s service sector union, Verdi, has called on its 2 million members to join. A global movement is building.

We would like to invite you to join us by striking in any way you can. The more individuals and businesses that sign up the more likely world leaders are to heed our call. You could organise your own strike event, however small. The important thing is that our voices are heard so please do publicise your actions through whatever channels you can.

We believe it goes without saying that the climate crisis is real and poses an enormous threat to our environment and society, not to mention our businesses. This is the issue of our lifetimes and the time to act is now. We cannot continue with business as usual.

I hope you will consider joining us.

Warmest regards,

The team at Hudson Architects

The EDP EADT Norfolk & Suffolk Tourism Awards 2020 are now open for entries, and we’re on the hunt for the best marketing campaigns our region has to offer.

Show off your marketers! It’s quite often the case that excellent marketers produce some fantastic work behind the scenes. Customers might love their campaigns, but they’re not often recognised for all their hard work. That’s why we’re on the lookout for the best marketing campaigns within the region’s tourism industry. This award provides an opportunity for businesses, attractions and organisations to gain recognition for their efforts in adopting a proactive approach to marketing – be that through print, online, outdoor, press activity or a mix of all these.

Do you have what it takes? Think you can wow our judges with your creative campaigns? Enter the awards today! It takes just a couple of minutes, and is completely free. Entries close 29 September

ENTER NOW 

A new coaching and mentoring programme aimed at new or inexperienced line managers has been launched by a Norfolk-based training provider, designed to deliver results and create meaningful change through other people.

The Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) programme is the idea of Andrew Denny of Andrew Denny Consulting, who, after talking to a number of organisations, believes that too many first-line leaders are unprepared for their role and wishing they’d had more guidance before becoming a manager. Andrew feels that there is a gap in the market for those who simply want to gain practical experience in getting the best out of their people through effective day-to-day leadership without attending time consuming and sometimes expensive one-off training courses.

“Very often supervisors, team leaders and managers are promoted to their role, but their previous role has not prepared them for management work. People have to quickly learn new skills, the most important being performance management. The LEAD programme helps bridge the gap between any formal learning and the massive amount of information available online into something meaningful and relevant to those involved. Many people don’t learn from being in a formal environment learning leadership theory. Most of us develop from having the practical experience and learning from the mistakes we make”, says Andrew.

The flexible six month coaching led programme takes business owners, individuals or groups of managers, looks at them individually, and helps them create meaningful change for themselves, their teams and the organisation.  The programme combines group and/or individual coaching sessions with self-development projects and real time, on-the-job coaching to support positive change in behaviour and to help embed the learning.

The programme starts by focusing delegates on where they currently see themselves within several different management areas. An initial group workshop helps individuals to identify their own learning and leadership style. This session includes a goal setting session before the coaching begins.

Over the following weeks each individual is coached either as part of a group or individually, the aim being to challenge and keep them continuously learning and improving. The programme deals with specific topics such as self-awareness, leading through times of change, motivation and engagement, communication skills, delegation and time management, as well as with live issues yet always keeping an eye of the central goals.

The coaching sessions end with delegates summarising what they have learnt before setting out the actions they will commit to going forward. This may include self-learning or planning an activity to help apply the learning within the workplace.

The coaching ends with the group reconvening to reflect on the journey and talk about how they will continue this beyond the programme.  

Further details about the programme can be found by visiting www. andrewdennyconsulting.co.uk/lead-programme/ or by calling Andrew on 07798 616237.

Our vision for Passport to Puppetry

Many young people live in financially restricted households or difficult circumstances, unable to afford access to creative cultural experiences which can greatly improve children’s health and well-being, sense of aspiration and ambition.

For 40 years Norwich Puppet Theatre has inspired, entertained and enriched audiences both nationally and internationally. This unique asset in Norwich is one of only three dedicated building based puppet theatres in the country.We champion the ancient, unique and multifaceted art of  puppetry, welcoming children, young people, families and adults into a world of imagination and storytelling.  Committed to providing creative entertainment and skills for everyone, Norwich Puppet Theatre has a long history of producing high quality puppet shows and workshops.

We would like to invite Norfolk Chamber members to consider supporting the first wave of a new fund enabling Passports to Puppetry.  NPT Passports to Puppetry sponsorship will give children access to enjoyable, exciting and inspirational creative and cultural activities for free whilst at the same time supporting Norwich Puppet Theatre to provide meaningful and enriching experiences for everyone.

How it works • Companies and individuals donate to our Passport Fund.  • The passport fund will support the work of Norwich Puppet theatre and allow us to offer Passports to children, enabling them to share and enjoy the wonderful world of puppetry. • 10 donations of just £250 will enable 25 passports allowing access to show and workshop events at Norwich Puppet Theatre. With the help of our project partners, passports will be issued to a child, family or group most in need of some smiles and will be valid for 1 year. Choosing from the exciting and vast array of performances and workshops in our public programme, each passport holder will have the opportunity to journey into the magical art of puppetry.  To sample our wares please try https://www.puppettheatre.co.uk/whats-on. Maybe book yourself! This is the earliest stage of developing an exciting initiative which we hope to grow well beyond our launch critical mass of 25 passports throughout our 40th Anniversary Year, 2020.  We are working with leading local charities – Break, Benjamin Foundation, and a number of others – to set up safe and secure channels between the families with children we aim to benefit and ourselves.  We are also talking to transport providers to find ways to overcome transport difficulties which will undoubtedly arise, including Norwich Door2Door. We are really excited by the opportunities and hope you will be inspired too, and become a foundation sponsor helping to shape and grow a remarkable benefit for many children in need.  In return, if your company wants to become a foundation sponsor, you will share in the opportunities to use stories of your involvement in subsequent publicity and profile opportunities, brand placement, joint marketing and promotions. Contact our lovely team via info@puppettheatre.co.uk or 01603 515564 to discuss this further. Advanced Date for your diary! 9th October Learn about us and help launch NPT Passport to Puppetry https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/events/be-good-company-norwich-puppet-theatre

Staff from Aston Shaw’s payroll team have completed a 52-mile walk from the source of the River Yare in Dereham, to the mouth in Gorleston. They did this all within 24 hours in varied and difficult weather conditions, including 29-degree heat, torrential rain and strong winds.

The challenge, named ‘Mission Yare’, raised over a thousand pounds for East Anglian Air Ambulance, a charity that receives no government funding and relies solely on donations from the public.

Payroll Manager, Ben Revell, said: “Mission Yare was no walk in the park! Walking for 52-miles without sleep and in awful weather conditions took a toll on the team but by the end of it we all felt a great sense of pride. It’s a charity that’s close to my heart and so I was delighted when I learned we raised over one thousand pounds.”

Fellow team member, Gary White, added: “Approximately 10 miles in we saw a helicopter from East Anglian Air Ambulance fly overhead, and this gave the team and I a boost that carried us through to the end. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved as I know the money raised will be put to good use, potentially saving someone’s life.”

In total, each member of the team walked 120,000 steps and climbed 3,485ft (as high as Mount Snowdon) all within just 24 hours. If you would like to donate, you can still do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aston-shaw-team-payroll.

East Anglian Air Ambulance exists to save lives by delivering highly skilled doctors and critical care paramedics by air or car to seriously ill or injured people in the region. They are a life-saving charity that is only kept airborne thanks to its supporters.

https://www.astonshaw.co.uk