Member News

As part of National Apprenticeships Week (4-8 March), Flagship Group are celebrating their first Apprenticeship Ambassadors in trade.

Electrician Charlotte Savage and Plasterer Tayla-Jayne Johnson have now completed their apprenticeships with Flagship’s in-house repairs and maintenance company – RFT Services, becoming the only females in those roles at RFT.

Charlotte and Tayla recently joined the Norfolk Young Ambassador Apprentice Network (YAAN) to help pass on their knowledge of what it is like to undertake an apprenticeship and promote it as a positive career choice.

Tayla, who is 23 from Bradwell in Norfolk said: “I would definitely encourage others to take on an apprenticeship as you gain hands on experience and knowledge of the job role but also you gain a qualification at the same time. This means that you get a better understanding of the work entailed and will help you progress further.

“The most enjoyable aspect of being a young ambassador is meeting new people and knowing that I’m passing on my knowledge and experiences of apprenticeships to help others.

“I would recommend this to other apprentices as it opens you up to a community of people that you wouldn’t necessarily meet at any other time who are doing an apprenticeship but are from different jobs.”

Charlotte, who is 20 and from Norwich said: “So far I’ve really enjoyed meeting the other people on the training day (as part of YAAN) who do apprenticeships in so many different fields and hearing their apprenticeship story.

“I really believe that apprenticeships are the future. You can earn whilst you get a qualification and also you get the experience that employers look for.”

Head of Learning & Development at Flagship, Nadine Tapp, said: “We are passionate about growing our own talent which is why we invest in our Apprenticeship Programme. We are proud to have offered so many opportunities across our business areas to individuals to learn and develop.”

Flagship Bright Futures apprentices Matt Levesley, 19, and Ellie Colk, 20, both from Norwich, are also Young Apprenticeship Ambassadors. They started their Housing Policy and Practice Apprenticeship in 2017 and will complete the course in 2020. At that time, both will have gained a degree and have permanent employment with Flagship.

Flagship Group has recruited 44 apprentices to date through its Apprenticeship Programme with 28 people currently on apprenticeship programmes.

A chance to share business ideas with a group of like minded small business owners, all looking to grow and expand.  We always have an interesting and packed agenda, covering all aspects of sales and marketing – practical easy to do things that will make a difference. 

I can promise an action packed start to your day, plus the chance to meet some great local business owners.  No need to book, just turn up and we have free tea and coffee too!

We meet in Poringland with an 8am start, finishing by 10. 

Check out further details here: https://businessgrowthclub.net/up-and-coming-events/

Despite all the uncertainty in today’s current climate, the UK jobs market for specialist positions is still extremely competitive and fast moving. Which is why Ben Lurton, a consultant at Pure, is advising employers to be agile like a hare, and not tortoise like, when it comes to competing for top talent. 

Ben explained: “As an example, a candidate I am currently working with was put forward for redundancy a week ago. Having immediately put out feelers about new roles, they are already at various interview stages for five different potential positions. This is becoming increasingly common. When a good employee comes on to the market, we often find a range of businesses keen to hire them.

“This is where the Tortoise and the Hare come in. It has long been believed that rushing any kind of process can lead to inaccuracy and poor decisions. Whereas a well thought out and thorough process will create a more robust and reliable outcome. While I agree with this in principle, when the competition for high calibre employees rises, as it has done, it is often the first organisation to the finish line who will win the race to employ the top talent. There needs to be a balance between being agile and quick, without being rushed. Here are some tip tips to achieving this.”

Be confident in knowing what you want

Make a conscious effort to always be aware of the additional skills and expertise your organisation could benefit from. Where are their gaps now? What resources do you need to achieve your business objectives and future growth plans? In knowing this, you will know when it is time to act quickly if the right person comes along.

Have a concise yet effective hiring process

Make your hiring process appropriate for the specific role rather than having set company-wide recruitment procedures for every position. This means you can just choose the appropriate processes to gain the information you need to make a good hiring decision quickly. For example, if team fit is paramount then include a staff meeting within the interview process. If the role is more centred on knowledge and experience then organise a panel interview, appropriate tests and request detailed CVs. 

Make yourself available

Always remember that another organisation may have been able to meet someone on the Monday, do a second interview on the Tuesday and have made an offer by the Wednesday afternoon. If you don’t prioritise making the time to meet with high-quality candidates, they could already have accepted another job before you have even read their CV. Making yourself available shows commitment. It will make candidates feel wanted and will demonstrate that you are eager to get them on board.

Understand why the candidate wants to move

Get a clear understanding as to why the candidate is looking to make a career move. There are many different reasons it could be, from increased progression opportunities through to a better work-life balance or a desire for a different organisational culture and working relationships. Understanding the reasons why will help you to create the most attractive job offer. It will also help to you spot if you need to be wary about the motives behind the move. For example, if it is mainly money orientated, there is a strong possibility they may get a counter offer from their current employer and end up staying anyway.

Be prepared to compete in different ways.

Whilst money shouldn’t be the only priority for any good candidate, they will be aware of their market value and what their knowledge, experience and expertise is worth to an organisation. Be prepared to offer a fair and competitive salary, and also look to compete in other ways. This could include employee benefits and elements which impact on a candidate’s working lifestyle, such as the organisational culture, working environment and flexibility. People realise that they can still be ambitious without having to be in an office for over 12 hours a day. Look for ways, suitable to the role, which could give the candidate more time outside of work to do the things that are important to them. For example, reducing the time they spend commuting by offering the option to work from home some days or the offer of working flexible hours.

The Maids Head Hotel was very pleased to welcome 85 members of The 74 (F) Tiger Squadron Association to the hotel over the weekend of Friday 1 to Sunday 3 March, on their first visit to Norwich for a reunion.

The reunion included a special dinner in the Minstrel Suite at the hotel and a trip to City of Norwich Aviation Museum where a new display about Tiger Squadron’s time based at RAF Horsham St Faith (now Norwich International Airport), has just been opened.

Tiger Squadron had a long and distinguished operational RAF history. Founded in July 1917 during the days of the Royal Flying Corps, the squadron was on the front line from March 1918 to the end of World War I.

During World War II, Tiger Squadron was heavily involved in the Battle of Britain, including a short spell based at RAF Coltishall in Norfolk. The squadron also flew its Spitfires in the Mediterranean and North Africa theatres, as well over Germany after D Day.

Soon after the War, Tiger Squadron, headed to RAF Horsham St Faith for a long residency, during which it flew Meteors and Hawker Hunters. In 1961, the squadron was chosen to introduce the Lightning F1 to operational service and moved to RAF Coltishall, where it was based until 1964.

That marked the end of the squadron’s connection with Norfolk. The final operational phase was from 1985 to 1992 when it flew Phantom’s from RAF Wattisham. The Tigers then became a training squadron flying Bae Hawk at RAF Valley and were finally disbanded in 2000.

A Norfolk link was re-established during the Phantom era when Norwich Airport Aviation Group invited members of the squadron to Norwich. Bob Cossey a member of the Aviation Group was soon commissioned to write the history of Tiger Squadron and was invited to be Secretary of The 74 (F) Tiger Squadron, a post he holds to this day.

Bob has written four books with links to Tiger Squadron: the history, which is called ‘Tigers’, ‘A Tiger’s Tale’ – a book about John Freeborn, Battle of Britain pilot, ‘Upward and Onward, The Life of Air Vice Marshall John Howe’ and ‘An Eye in the Sky’, the Royal Flying Corps and RAF career of Air Commodore Henry George Crowe.

For more information about the books contact Bob Cossey direct: secretary@74squadron.org.uk

The Office of Product Safety & Standards has issued guidance for businesses dealing with cosmetics, in the light of a potential no-deal Brexit. There may be actions that need to be taken by businesses.

After a loyal service of over 26 years at Knights Hill Hotel & Spa in King’s Lynn General Manager Bernard Ducker (pic) has taken on new challenges at our sister hotel, Le Strange Arms in Old Hunstanton. 

Bernard said “When I joined Knights Hill in 1992 with just under 50 bedrooms, the directors had a vision to develop and grow the business and I have enjoyed being part of this. Our focus on delivering a quality stay with a professional and friendly service earned us the Best Western Large Hotel of the year award 2 years running. 

Now a thriving hotel with 79 bedrooms, on-site spa and pub, the complex is a popular choice with both holiday makers, corporate guests and locals and this is down to the loyal and dedicated team, and I will miss them immensely.

It was not an easy decision but I am looking forward to further developing the Le Strange Arms to meet emerging challenges in the industry and will ensure that the hotel continues to offer a quality experience to all who stay or visit”

Bernard’s move has opened up further opportunities within the existing management team with Nicholas Searle being promoted from Operations Manager to General Manager at Knights Hill Hotel & Spa (Pic) and Joanne Rayner previously Front of House Manager taking the position of Deputy General Manager.  Nicholas said “I started work at Knights Hill 19 years ago as a kitchen porter and have progressed within the company performing various roles over the years, most recently Operations Manager.

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to undertake the position of General Manager and I am looking forward to the challenges that this brings.  I learned a great deal from my previous managers and look to continue their good work with the help of the team.”

Bernard, Nicholas and Joanne have a wealth of experience and are an asset to the company, clocking up over 65 years of loyal service between them.

Wishing them every success in their new roles!

If you employ the services of a professional industrial cleaner, you may think that a workplace spring clean is an unnecessary expenditure for your business. However, unless your contract is structured to include specific tasks several times a year, you may be leaving your employees and customers at risk. We’re sharing our top tips for an inclusive Spring Clean to ensure you are rid of all the winter dirt and banish the lingering germs.

Clean those carpets

Nesting in the fabric of carpets, chairs and any other soft furnishings around the typical office environment, dust mites thrive in warm conditions. As these pests multiply, dust mite allergy sufferers will experience symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing and eczema. An allergy to dust mites is more common than you might realise, with an estimated 12 million sufferers in the UK – that’s one in five people.

Whilst thorough vacuuming cleans some of the 1,000 allergen waste particles a single dust mite produces, it’s near impossible to maintain removal of all allergens. With a gram of dust containing as many as 1,000 dust mites and 250,000 allergenic dust mite faecal pellets, you’ll need professional carpet cleaning to help to manage the problem.

Get your windows shining

Nothing shows up the winter dirt and streaks on your windows like a beautiful sunny day, and nothing gives a worse first impression than filthy windows. If your staff can’t see out of the windows when they are seeking some creative inspiration, productivity could suffer, and if they see grey, dirty glass every time they look up, that could have a lasting effect on morale. Employ the services of a window cleaning team that utilises advanced cleaning systems for fast, safe, efficient cleaning and ensure that they put the health and safety of your staff and customers on the same level as their operatives. Monthind has invested in water purification technology that not only cleans better than untreated water, it also stays clean for longer.

Boost your kerb appeal   

As spring approaches and the daffodils begin to bloom, it’s a good time to go for a stroll and review the effects winter has had on the outside of your business premises. From sweeping the car park, and removing debris to maintenance, cleaning the fascia, cladding and signage, clearing gutters and downpipes, and jet washing bins and bin storage areas, investing in a quality clean gives a good return on investment.

Treat your business to a deep clean        

Spring towards summer with a morale-boosting, image enhancing deep clean for your company premises. Monthind offers a range of deep cleans to meet the special requirements of hygiene sensitive areas such as kitchens, restaurants and washrooms. Make sure you are meeting legislative requirements of these sensitive areas by using an accredited contract cleaning company that can carry out this work quickly and efficiently using both chemical and steam-based technology.

De-clutter your way to boosted efficiency

Tidy desk, tidy mind? Everyone works differently, but most work more efficiently if they are not buried under a mountain of files and paperwork. Help your compliancy team and your staff by encouraging a clear desk policy (imperative if you work a hot-desking scheme). It makes it so much easier to keep keyboards, desks etc. cleaner and more hygienic. Clear out those old files and brochures, making sure you shred any sensitive literature. You may be surprised at how much clutter has been accumulated over the past year.

Let Monthind Clean help…

If you’re looking for a professional industrial cleaning company that delivers, contact the team at Monthind Clean. We can take care of everything from daily cleaning to seasonal, specialist and emergency cleaning, including window cleaning, gutter and fascia cleaning, floor refinishing, carpet cleaning and biohazard cleaning.

Telephone 01206 215300 to organise a no obligation quote. 

Waveney District and Great Yarmouth Borough Councils have commissioned Norwich-based Building Partnerships Ltd. to review their six Enterprise Zones sites across Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Enterprise Zones are designated areas across England that provide tax breaks, simplified planning and enhanced Government support to drive business investment and growth. Enterprise Zones form a key part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Enterprise Zones, launched in 2012 and expanded in 2018, cover over 130 hectares of land and aim to attract at least 200 businesses, generating more than 9,000 direct jobs over its 25-year life span.

To date, they have delivered a staggering 1,720 news jobs across 59 businesses. 55,000 sq.m. of new commercial floorspace has been built, attracting £48 million of private sector investment.

Paul Knowles, Chairman at Building Partnerships Ltd. said “We’re delighted to have been commissioned to deliver this review of the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Enterprise Zones, recognised as one of the best performing Zones in the country for stimulating investment and job creation.

“Our job is to review what has been instrumental in bringing forward these sites to date, to test and refine demand for the type of amenities business need, and then find new and alternative ways to accelerate investment in infrastructure, buildings and facilities.”

The Zones are focussing primarily on the energy sector and its supply chains, recognising the importance of the oil & gas, offshore renewables, and nuclear power sectors to the local area.

This latest review will inform future investment and development on the six sites. Building Partnerships is working closely with energy-sector specialists Nautilus Associates Ltd. and local property experts from Brown & Co.

Based on recent capital investment forecasts in energy projects from Nautilus, the region could see more than £59 billion invested in new offshore energy and infrastructure projects between now and 2040, with more than half of all forecast spend being in offshore wind.

Johnathan Reynolds, Director at Nautilus Associates, said “We are seeing huge new investments in new offshore wind projects off the East Anglian coast, with an annual operational spend close to £1.3 billion per year by 2025. Offshore oil and gas activity is picking up following the most recent downturn, and decommissioning projects are now being contracted. It is an exciting time to be in the energy supply chain with so many opportunities for growth.”

Businesses and organisations are being consulted to gather intelligence on their plans for growth over the coming years, and to explore the types of facilities that may be required to meet those needs.

An online survey and facilitated workshop dates have been announced. The survey will take no more than 5 minutes to complete and is available at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/enterprisezoneconsultation

Free-to-attend workshops will be held at the Marketing Suite on the Beacon Park Enterprise Zone on Monday 18th March and at OrbisEnergy, Lowestoft on Tuesday 19th March.

For more information and booking details, go to:

·         Great Yarmouth workshop – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-yarmouth-lowestoft-enterprise-zones-consultation-workshop-tickets-57523485293

·         Lowestoft workshop – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lowestoft-great-yarmouth-enterprise-zones-consultation-workshop-tickets-57523676866

 If you own or operate a business that is interested in development opportunities on the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Enterprise Zone sites, please contact pknowles@buildingpartnerships.co.uk

Larking Gowen welcomes Rob Skilton to its specialist VAT team. Based at the Norwich office, Rob has worked in the accountancy profession for 20 years and has 8 years expertise in VAT, guiding businesses through this area of tax.

“VAT is a complex tax, made more challenging because the regulations, as well as HMRC and legal interpretations of those regulations, are constantly evolving,” explains Rob Skilton, who joins Larking Gowen as Senior Manager, “but it is the changing nature of VAT that makes it so interesting to me.”

Rob qualified at a Cambridge-based firm, where he gained a broad foundation in accountancy. This was followed by a move to the not-for-profit sector, where his interest in VAT was sparked, and which in turn led to full-time employment as a VAT specialist for eight years.

“For me, the opportunity to advise businesses of all kinds, from charities, SMEs, the agricultural sector, to national and international corporates, is a real advantage of joining Larking Gowen’s respected VAT team,” continues Rob Skilton, who is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. “We help clients navigate the complexities of VAT. It’s hugely satisfying to help streamline the process for them. We reduce their administrative burden, ensuring compliance and avoiding problems with HMRC at a later date,” Rob concludes.

“We’re delighted to welcome Rob as a senior manager,” says Richard Proctor, lead tax partner at Larking Gowen, “our VAT team is respected for its ability to respond to our clients’ needs, as well as for its knowledge of national and international tax opportunities and challenges. Rob’s expertise and keen interest in VAT is certain to enhance our ability to provide constructive and supportive advice in this area” Richard Proctor concludes.

Biohazard Cleaning is a daily occurrence in certain sectors, and with increases in regulatory control and health and safety guidelines, it is becoming more frequently used in others. From an industrial accident in a factory to a Friday night brawl in a pub, from the aftermath of a flood to a death, the emergency services do not have the time or resources to deal with biohazards such as trauma clean-ups or blood clean-ups. More importantly, emergency service staff are not trained or qualified to free a scene of biological hazards.

Biohazard situations are categorised into four groups, according to severity and impact.

• Category 1 incidents include train crashes, plane crashes, bomb blasts and large scale road traffic accidents. Significant resources are required to eliminate any visual or bacterial remnants of the event, and must be attended by a bioengineer with a Primary Qualification.
• Category 2 incidents include decomposition, fall from height, suicide on railway, and road traffic accidents. The incidents affect a more confined area and will require fewer resources than a Category 1 incident although the expertise needed to address the challenges for decontamination are the same and a bioengineer with a Primary Qualification must be present.
• Category 3 incidents including an act of violence, minor industrial accident, flesh wounds and presence of sharps. They usually result from a minor incident involving a single person and are primarily required for the clean-up of bodily fluids. A bio first aider with a Secondary Qualification can attend Category 3 incidents without the supervision of a bioengineer.
• Category 4 incidents include domestic incidents, minor injuries and occupier purges. A bio first aider with a Secondary Qualification can attend Category 4 incidents without the supervision of a bioengineer.

In the workplace, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, give employers a legal duty to protect the health and safety of employees and anyone else that may be on the premises. Outside of the workplace, if an incident occurs on private property, the property owner is responsible for arranging the clean-up, even if the emergency services attended. Fortunately, these property owners do not have to don their industrial rubber gloves and grab a bucket, because there are a lot of specialist cleaning companies ready, willing and able to do it for them.

But what criteria should be met when choosing a good company?  How can you tell if they have done a good job? Monthind Clean LLP, East Anglia’s leading contract and specialist cleaning provider, has been providing Biohazard cleaning services to a range of clients for many years. Operatives should not just be trained in the processes of Biohazard and Trauma Cleaning, they should also be trained in how to deal with the local press, general public, local authorities and family of the deceased. There should be counselling available to affected operatives in traumatic events, and management support to ensure ongoing training and monitoring of staff wellbeing. All work should be risk assessed and quoted for prior to any work commencing so a client understands what will be done and how it will be carried out. A reputable specialist cleaning company will be able to provide evidence of its staff qualifications and will audit procedures regularly.

At Monthind Clean LLP, we have a response team in place and offer a 24/7 call out service. Our fully equipped response vehicles are always ready to undertake any type of bio cleaning required. We have Safe Systems of Work for every aspect of Biohazard and Trauma cleaning and our management team ensures they are always adhered to. With the correct Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and procedures in place, bio-cleaning can be a very satisfying and safe job, but if the potential dangers to health for both cleaning operatives and people attending the site, during and after a clean, are ignored, the results could be catastrophic.

The risks to health include viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, which bodily fluids and faeces can carry. Pathogens can come in the form of bacteria, viruses, mould spores, or protozoans; they can cause disease and often have a significant presence in sewage waste. If flood waters have been in contact with sewage they will contain pathogens, and even if they haven’t, they are still likely to contain disease-causing micro-organisms. If post-flood clean-up is not carried out properly, mould spores can present a health risk in the future.    

Decontamination and cleaning of soiled areas are vital in order to reduce and eliminate the risk of infection from exposure. By having up-to-date Safe Systems of Work, cleaning a potentially overwhelming trauma scene can be approached systematically, ensuring there is no cross-contamination and no area is missed.  At Monthind, no corners are cut, nothing is missed. You’re not talking about a dusty shelf being overlooked; you’re talking about life-changing and life-threatening implications if the job is not done properly. Our operatives understand this, and it is important for potential clients to understand this too. The risks associated with employing companies providing inferior services, can prove to be very costly, and not just in a fiscal sense.

For more information, call 01206 215300.

Staff at the Maids Head Hotel in Tombland, Norwich are celebrating today, having won two awards at the 2019 Norfolk and Suffolk Tourism Awards staged on Thursday night at Open in Norwich.

The hotel won Best Independent Hotel, along with the Investing in the Future accolade. The wins at the Tourism Awards follows hot on the heels of last November’s Best Employer win at the Norfolk Business Awards.

Christine Malcolm, General Manager said: “We have been privately owned by the Chaplin family for the last six years. During that time we have embarked on a phased multi million pound renovation programme to ensure that the historic building meets the expectations of 21st century visitors. The hotel has continued to trade successfully and grow the business during this period, with a reputation for friendly and professional staff and a burgeoning reputation for the quality of the food in the restaurant. Our success at the Norfolk and Suffolk Tourism Awards is wonderful acknowledgement for all our hard work.”

We are pleased to announce that we have teamed up for the 5th year running as the official video partner for the Norfok and Norwich Festival. At the official launch last night the trailer for 2019 was screened and the Festival Programme announced! This year will again be packed with ground-breaking music, unique theatre and performance, breath-taking circus, inspirational literature and visual arts treats and more. Head to the NNF website for a full look at what is in store and to book tickets at https://nnfestival.org.uk/whats-on/ and watch out for more of our festival films being released over the next few months on social media @eyefilm.