Member News

Second shop for franchisee Baksho Hayer, which she runs in conjunction with her Walsall shop.

Having been a part of the TaxAssist Accountants network for four years, Baksho Hayer has recently celebrated the opening of her second shop. Along with her two members of staff, she has seen her business bloom and now looks after more than 300 clients across her West Midlands territory. “My practice has grown well in Walsall, and with a growing small business culture in the region, this felt like the ideal time to open a second shop. The open, welcoming TaxAssist shops are a real draw for clients and I am looking forward to meeting with new clients and establishing a presence in Great Barr,” said Baksho. CIMA-qualified Baksho had over 15 years of experience in the service sector and had been working as a self-employed Financial Controller when she saw an advert to join the TaxAssist Accountants network. She made enquiries and quickly realised this was the opportunity she was looking for. “I’d always wanted to run my own practice but wanted the extra support for myself and my clients, offered by a well-known quality franchise,” said Baksho. TaxAssist Accountants now has more than 300 shops and offices around the UK. If you would like to run your own TaxAssist Accountants practice, call us today on 0800 0188297 to find out if your preferred area is available. July 2018  

Richard Brookes has recently celebrated 10 years as a TaxAssist Accountants franchisee, moving to a larger shop and the opening of a second shop.

Richard Brookes has been very busy of late, buying and moving to a new shop on Mill Road in Cambridge and opening a second shop on Histon Road in the north of the city.

“I’ve had a very successful 10 years with TaxAssist and it was the time to look for larger and additional premises to maximise efficiency and visibility for the practice across the city”, said Richard. “Both of the shops look absolutely fantastic, providing a literal shop window for our friendly walk-in services and both have plenty of parking available nearby. I couldn’t be happier with the location and indeed the client walk-in rate for both shops so far.”

Chartered Accountant Richard joined the franchise after a successful career working for two large multi-national companies. In early 2008, the opportunity arose to exit his employer with a lump sum and, rather than look for another job, he decided it was time to work for himself, and, familiar with franchising, decided to turn to this sector.

“If I had decided to just be my own boss I would have needed to buy things like technical support, systems, training as well as marketing support – so why not have them all under one roof as part of a franchise,” explained Richard. “The key thing is that being part of a successful franchise has meant that my business has grown much, much quicker than it would have done otherwise. I just wish I could have done it sooner!”

Richard runs his franchise with the assistance of nine members of staff and will be looking to take on more staff in the near future.

If Richard’s story has inspired you, please call or e-mail us for further information and to book onto a discovery day 0800 0188297 or franchiseenquiries@taxassist.co.uk

July 2018

Local business, Example Marketing and Web Design, has achieved prestigious Google Partner status, proving the team are true experts in their field.

Being a Google Partner demonstrates that the Dereham-based marketing agency is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest Google product knowledge. It’s also official recognition of the team’s ability to create a highly successful Google Ads campaign. 

Owner at Example, Emma Raines, explains why this achievement is so significant:

“There are lots of marketing agencies out there who offer search marketing as one of their services. Becoming a Google Partner helps mark us out as amongst the very best in the industry.

There are several hours of exams involved, so there’s a real sense of achievement in having successfully passed.”

Google Ads is an online service that businesses can use to reach their audience at exactly the right time. The adverts are triggered when people are searching for terms which match a business’ service. But it’s not quite as simple as that! Emma continues:

“We’ve come across plenty of businesses who’ve used Google Ads in the past, but many stopped because “it doesn’t work”.

It really does work, but only if you know how to do it properly. That takes a lot of knowledge, experience and time. That’s where working with a Google Partner who really knows their stuff pays off.”

Right Angle Corporate Ltd (RAC) have been appointed as a preferred supplier of team building events on non-match days at Twickenham Stadium.

An exciting new addition to the team building specialist’s venue portfolio, the stadium will offer outstanding event spaces providing clients with a truly unique and memorable experience.

The team at Right Angle are most excited about hosting their fun and engaging Crime and Dine team building event where clients become experts in fingerprinting, forensic dentistry and blood spatter analysis whilst working together as a team to investigate a crime over dinner.

Johanna Byrane, Head of Business Development at Twickenham Stadium says, “We’re looking to challenge the industry to think of new ways to do things in our events space and Right Angle have the creativity to offer something different for our clients, and a chance to use the stadium in new ways.” “With the launch of our East Stand in the autumn, we want to ensure that we have a selection of team building activities for our clients to choose from, whatever the occasion or size of event and something that would generate interest, conversation and a talking point among guests.”

Steve Gaskin, Director at RAC comments: “Twickenham Stadium is internationally recognised and a place that inspires so many guests whatever their reason for visiting. We are delighted to be working with a venue with such a broad variety of space, both indoor and out, it gives us real flexibility in the activities we can offer.”

Crime and Dine is perfect for a unique Christmas event or a celebratory dinner with a twist. If you would like to find out more about hosting this event at Twickenham Stadium, please get in touch with a member of Right Angle’s team.

Telephone: 0207 1676 717 Email: info@rightangleevents.co.uk Live Chat: www.rightangleevents.co.uk

The OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN) invites you to celebrate 250 years of the circus with a Big Top Fundraising Dinner on Thursday 1st November. The evening promises a night of glamour with first-class entertainment, food from Proudly Norfolk, a charity raffle and auction, featuring fantastic prizes and some of the youth charity’s finest young performers for a one-night-only circus experience.  John Gordon-Saker, Chief Executive for OPEN said “This is a most prestigious event for us which will raise much needed awareness and additional funds for our charity.  All those attending will help make even more of a positive difference to the lives of young people living in Norfolk, especially those from a disadvantaged background, whilst helping us on our journey to become self-sustainable by 2020.” With a moving performance of how OPEN makes a positive impact on thousands of young lives, the largest event in OPEN’s social calendar is a night not to be missed and your chance to support their work with young people. Tickets are priced at £500 per table of eight and includes entertainment, a three-course dinner and four bottles of wine. A limited number of tables of ten are available upon request.  To book a table follow this link opennorwich.org.uk/whats-on/gigs-events/fundraising-dinner/ The charity are also looking for high quality prizes and sponsors for the evening. As the main sponsor of this high-profile event, included in your sponsorship package will be a table at the dinner for up to ten guests, a full page advert in the event programme, logo displayed on the 7 metre HD screen and plasma TVs within the venue, as well as a mention in all pre and post publicity and a partnership mention on their website for three months.  Other sponsorship opportunities include just £300 for an advertisement in the event programme. For further information about sponsorship packages, to book a table at this event, or if you would like to donate in another way, please contact Harriet Davies, Fundraising Co-ordinator – harriet@opennorwich.org.uk or call 01603 25 21 12. All proceeds from the event go towards OPEN Youth Trust.

Did you know the cost of fraud in the UK is estimated to be a staggering £190 billion (Annual Fraud Indicator 2017) every year? That’s more than the Government spends on the health and defence budgets combined. The criminals committing these offences aren’t always obvious. They won’t be sitting on a big chair stroking a cat like a Bond villain. They could even appear to you as someone you know or a company you are doing business with, but it won’t be that person or company. Their aim is to get you to divert a legitimate transaction over to them by simply tricking you into believing you are doing your job. They may contact you and say you need to amend your bank details they are holding for you. The request may appear to be genuine but you need to check if it is. The Metropolitan Police have recently released a short video promoting some of the fraud prevention techniques available to combat payment fraud. The techniques don’t require sophisticated computer software or expensive equipment – just that you take a minute to think about things when a change request is made, or you have received a request for a payment. Often a simple phone call to the organisation or person using a number you know to be correct is all it takes to prevent the fraud.

https://youtu.be/O1tktyF0-Tg

Monthind Clean are recruiting for a mobile cover cleaning operative for the Norfolk area.

• Van provided
• 35 hours minimum per week
• Norfolk area
• General office cleaning
• Uniform provided
• Previous cleaning experience an advantage, though full training will be given
• Salary TBC
• Immediate start date

An enhanced DBS check will be carried out prior to employment with company.

Monthind Clean LLP is an equal opportunities employer.

Please email your CV to RichardA@monthindclean.co.uk

The Maids Head Hotel is working with Wilkinson’s of Norwich to create a special afternoon tea blend for the hotel. Sam Masters, Food Services Manager, visited Wilkinson’s shop on Tuesday, August 14, to get the process going.

Sam, assisted by Debbie Harris Owner/Director of Wilkinson’s selected a Darjeeling and a Ceylon tea which were then blended and tasted to check the mix. The tea will be sampled by staff at the hotel before the final mix is agreed and the tea is added to our Afternoon Tea menu.

Ten of Wilkinson’s Teas from Breakfast Blend, to Gunpowder Green, Cornucopia and Decaffeinated Ceylon are a special feature of our Afternoon Tea menu, which is served daily from 12noon to 5pm.

Here at Round House we are going through fundamental changes, to become a more customer centric organization and to be considered “Best in class”. We have a clear vision and strategy that will help us to form close partnerships with our existing and prospective customers, our suppliers and with the local community. In the first ¼ of this year we have seen growth of over 30% compared to last year and have invested in new equipment, recruitment, training and development of our staff as well as bringing in the next generation of talent with our new graduate scheme. We have restructured our board of Directors and management team to deliver the next phase of our strategy to drive through the improvements needed on our journey towards becoming a world class metal fabricator. With the implementation of 5s and Lean manufacturing initiatives we will become more cost competitive and reduce lead times as well as offering some new services like upstream design support to our customers. The full integration of our MRP system will enable us to capture live data, manage capacity, schedule more efficiently and will further improve our level or responsiveness to customer demand.

The effects of these changes can be seen already and due to our growth in revenue 18% more staff and will offer further job opportunities for the local community as the effects of the fundamental changes we have made continue to grow our business.

Our team at Round House believes in “working together, winning together” 

East Anglian accountants and business advisors, Larking Gowen, has been shortlisted in the Best Rural Professional Services category of the Rural Business Awards for the eastern region. “We’re delighted to have made the shortlist for this prestigious award,” says Larking Gowen Partner, Ashley Smith. “This is a real pat on the back for the team. I’m delighted their expertise and commitment have been recognised in this way. We have been advising rural businesses since we were founded in 1888, and are now one of the largest agricultural accounting specialists in the UK. In fact, we’ve supported many clients through generations.” Now in their fourth year, the Rural Business Awards, in partnership for the first time with Amazon, recognise the contribution of rural businesses to the regional and national economy. Award categories reward excellence in manufacturing, food and drink, retail, education and training, among others, as well as rural professional services. “Each year, the Rural Business Awards highlight the strength and diversity of rural businesses here in the East,” says Ashley.  “In our work, we see that sense of shared community and support everywhere. We’re proud to be in the company of such outstanding businesses from our region.” The winner of each category will be announced at a ceremony in October at Trinity Park in Ipswich.  Finalists will be put forward to the national awards, and winners announced early in 2019.

The Norfolk Enterprise Festival will take place on the 22nd September from 11am – 6pm, in the beautiful grounds surrounding the West Acre Theatre. The vibrant festival will be hosting Norfolk-based entrepreneurs, start-ups, micro businesses, and SMEs from across the whole county! We’ll also be welcoming investors for the ‘Angels Den’, interested in becoming part of the most exciting projects happening in Norfolk today.

All attendees are welcome to have families in tow. Be prepared for creative arts workshops, forest schools, nature trails and delicious local food and drink stands, as well as inspirational speakers from the top of Norfolk’s business community. Let’s inspire Norfolk and ensure it’s a hub of entrepreneurial activity! Register now for this free event

Visit our website for live updates of the event programme. We have a few last spots for speakers, so if you own a business and wish to share your knowledge contact us through our website! www.norfolkenterprisefestival.co.uk

Keep updated on our social media: 

https://www.facebook.com/NorfolkEnterpriseFestival

https://twitter.com/FestivalNorfolk

https://www.instagram.com/festivalnorfolk/?hl=en

See you at the event! Norfolk Enterprise Festival

In March 2018 the New Anglia Enterprise Adviser Network hosted ‘Bridging the Gap’ – The New Anglia Careers and Enterprise Conference which involved over 150 delegates in discussions around the importance of effective employer engagement and career education. Our ethos, to place students at the heart of the event; starting with a ‘real life’ recruitment process we offered positions to eleven student volunteers, who helped to support and run the event.

Students reflected post event;

“I really enjoyed my interview; it was equally challenging and stimulating and gave me experience of an interview situation …. I was pleased to be able to contribute to a conference where the importance of providing young people with experiences that inspire them and raise their aspirations…was highlighted.” – Yr 13 Student, Taverham High School

“The conference was an amazing experience. I learnt so much …. The highlight of the event for me was standing up in front of so many people, being able to say I had performed as well as I could. Coming away and saying that I was so proud of myself was an amazing feeling.” – Yr 10 Student, Wymondham College

“The skills I most enjoyed using on this day were communication skills. There were points that were more difficult than others, but we dealt with it as a team; when we couldn’t find something out we used our initiative and worked together to solve problems.” Yr 9 Student, Litcham High School

“I am still unsure on what I would like to do …. I am interested in engineering and I met a female engineer who spoke to me about her life and what it takes to be a successful woman in STEM” – Yr 10 Student, Wymondham College

The students summed up the themes of the day as collaboration, inspiration and exploration. Their ask of delegates; to continue to increase business engagement with education.

The New Anglia Enterprise Adviser Network gives schools, colleges and businesses the chance to do just this. Volunteers work with education to help them increase and improve the quality of student employer encounters. Find out more here – https://newanglia.co.uk/the-new-anglia-enterprise-adviser-network/.