We’re very excited to be exhibiting at Norfolk’s premier tech event, Talking Technology, on 20th September. This Norfolk Chamber event is packed with great speakers (Facebook, Microsoft, Aviva, Ubisend) and interactive workshops. The event runs from 08:30 until 14:00 and is at the www.bigfork.co.uk
Bigfork have designed and launched the brand new website for TW Gaze, the leading auction house and estate agent. Our brief was to design a new website to increase enquiries, improve the user experience and integrate with their back end auction and property systems. You can see more here.
Bigfork – Intelligent Website Design
01603 513080
Tudor Lodge Consultants are thrilled to have started work on TOTEM Function Band’s website, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and online presence. TOTEM Function Band are a North London Based events production company and function band. Having been born in 2011 by their founders James Alexander and Brett Warren, TOTEM have been going from strength to strength ever since and have performed across the globe including in London, Hong Kong, Italy and many other locations.They have numerous well-renowned singers, instrumentalists and musicians as part of their repertoire and have seen their popularity grow over the last few years throughout the UK as well as across the world, opening up branches worldwide.
The Challenges
TOTEM Function Band approached the SEO team at Tudor Lodge Consultants with a website that was not being crawled [read] at all by Google and other search engines. In addition to this problem, their website lacked functionality, relevant content, strong calls to action and various other crucial SEO and online ranking factors.
The results of this have been that although they have seen increases in their popularity, with more and more clients using them for functions and corporate events, their online presence had fallen way behind.
Their website also did not properly showcase what they do, who they are, how they do what they do and why they are some of the best event organisers and producers and corporate event entertainment providers. Furthermore, whilst being a phenomenal function band, this has not been made clear enough on TOTEM’s website.
What We Are Doing
Being in the position they were, there has been (and continues to be) a lot of work to be done with TOTEM’s website and online presence. Firstly, we removed their existing Robots.txt file, which was instructing search engines to ignore the website. This alone has seen TOTEM start ranking for terms such as ‘function band’ and ‘TOTEM.’
We have also commissioned our design and development team who working with the team at TOTEM are in the process of creating for them a brand-new WordPress-based site with hugely increased functionality and opportunities to rank better online and be found by prospective clients and customers.
Furthermore, the content and SEO teams at Tudor Lodge Consultants are working hard on fresh and new content as part of the strategy for TOTEM’s website. Having carried out extensive keyword and competitor research, we have discovered the best keywords and search terms for TOTEM to target online in relation to their services and unique selling points (USPs). Moreover, with an initially weak domain authority we are working across our network of online PR providers to expand TOTEM’s online PR and reach across the board.
We will also be working on the technical aspects of their SEO such as fixing their meta data, ensuring their link profiles are clean and strong and their URL structures amongst the many other aspects of their site to be worked on in tandem with the development teams at Tudor Lodge Consultants. We are looking forward to continuing this budding relationship and we look forward to further progress and positive results for TOTEM online for the future.
Leathes Prior today welcomes three new members of staff with the recruitment of Trainee Solicitors Melissa Willrich, Lily Beel and Stefan Donnelly. Melissa graduated from the University of Sussex in 2016 with a law degree before completing her Legal Practice Course (LPC) at BPP University in Cambridge, where she achieved a distinction. Lily graduated from the University of Leeds with a law degree, before travelling to South East Asia after finishing University. Lily worked locally for a year and a half before joining Leathes Prior as a Paralegal in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team in November 2015. She finished her LPC in June 2017, achieving a distinction. Lily now commences the next stage of her legal career, as a trainee solicitor. As an undergraduate, Stefan studied Sport and Exercise Science combined with Geography at Loughborough University, graduating in 2014. He then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at the UEA in 2015. Stefan also had a spell at Leathes Prior as a Paralegal working in litigation and personal injury, before taking time out of studying to travel. He will be undertaking his LPC alongside his training contract. Dan Chapman, the Partner at Leathes Prior responsible for trainee solicitors, said “The firm is delighted to welcome all three trainees to the firm and I wish them the best of luck in their careers at Leathes Prior. This year’s intake shows our diverse approach to recruitment; Melissa has progressed through what is considered to be the more traditional route to becoming a trainee solicitor, whereas Lily took time out after her law degree to excel as a paralegal. Stefan is combining the final stage of his legal study with his training contract, and we recognise the importance of a flexible approach to recruiting the best solicitors of the future. We have high hopes for the three of them.”
OPEN Youth Trust, has appointed Karl Sandall, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive of The TaxAssist Direct Group, to its Board of Trustees.
City centre charity, OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN), whose mission is to make a positive difference to the lives of young people in Norfolk has appointed Karl Sandall, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive of The TaxAssist Direct Group, to its Board of Trustees.
Karl joined The TaxAssist Direct Group in 2000 after 26 years of working with Midland Bank/HSBC in Norwich and Cambridge. He is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Bankers and an Honorary Fellow of The Association of International Accountants which was awarded to him for services of merit to the profession of accountancy. Karl is also heavily involved in the local business community and is a member of the Westminster Club (run by Chloe Smith MP), the Norwich Castle Round Table 41 and the Strangers clubs as well as being a Governor of Wymondham College.
TaxAssist Accountants was founded in 1995 by a group of dedicated professionals and based on a concept that was, and still is, fundamentally simple: to bring first class professional services to the small business owner. Today there are over 200 franchise operations in the UK employing well over 500 people and looking after over 60,000 small businesses. There are a further 25 franchisees in Ireland and the Group is now expanding across Australia and Canada.
OPEN’s Chief Executive, John Gordon-Saker said: “We are honoured to have Karl on our Board of Trustees as he comes with a wealth of expertise having previously been involved with other children’s organisations (The Princes Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital and East Anglian Children’s Hospices). I have known him for over 40 years from our time together in Midland Bank (now HSBC) and since then he has gone on to run one of the country’s most successful franchise groups and is a respected and well-connected leader in the local business community.”
Speaking of his appointment Karl said: “As a family man of three teenage children I appreciate the importance of the work that OPEN offers to children and young people in Norfolk… they are after all the future of our community.”
Photo caption: OPEN’s CEO John Gordon-Saker (left) with Karl Sandall (right)
Professional recruitment specialists Pure has successfully completed the ultimate office cycling challenge to raise funds and celebrate the Papworth Trust’s centenary.
To mark its 100th anniversary, Papworth Trust has challenged business teams to go head-to-head in in its 100 Care Miles fundraising initiative. Organisations are challenged to cycle 100 care miles in one day, between just 10 people, raising money through sponsorship. The team which raises the most funds, or completes the 100 miles in the fastest time, will be crowned Care Mile Champions.
Teams from all four of Pure’s offices, in Norwich, Cambridge, Chelmsford and Ipswich, have now completed the challenge on the custom-built, stationery bike which is touring businesses across the UK. Together, the four offices have raised over £350 for the disability charity. Pure’s Ipswich team not only beat their colleagues in other offices, but is also currently top of the overall business leader board for the fastest time, having completed the 100 miles in an impressive three hours between just eight people.
Lucy Plumb, Executive Assistant at Pure, and one of the Ipswich team’s cyclists, said: “There are a lot of keen cyclists at Pure, so we thought it would be a great inter-office competition as well as an excellent fundraising opportunity. As well as going head-to-head with other businesses, there was a lot of friendly rivalry between our own four offices in the Eastern region as to which team would complete the gruelling challenge in the fastest time and raise the most money.”
Pure’s Norwich team was the first to take on the challenge on 14 August, the Ipswich team cycled their 100 miles on 30 August, the Cambridge team took part on 5 September, before the bike arrived at the Chelmsford office on 7 September.
The £350 raised by all four Pure teams will be donated to the Papworth Trust, based in Papworth Everard, Cambridge. The Trust supports disabled and older people, plus their families and carers, with disability advice and a huge range of essential services.
The next business to take on the challenge will be SEN Legal in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
BUSINESSES will have access to a wealth of advice and opportunities at a free business surgery at Beacon Park on Tuesday, September 19. The event is open to all businesses in the Great Yarmouth borough and those interested in moving to the area.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s Economic Development Unit has organised the drop-in event, at the successful Enterprise Zone, as part of its commitment to working closely with partners to support economic growth and job-creation.
Taking place between 11am and 2pm, at Unit 3, Malory Road, one of the highlights will be the opportunity to find out more about exporting from the Department of International Trade’s Export Hub, an impressive exhibition truck which is touring the region.
Alongside this, the advisors from New Anglia Growth Hub will be on hand to provide details of grants of up to £500,000. Groundwork will be on hand to offer guidance about BEE Anglia Business Energy Efficiency Grants of up to £20,000, in addition to providing free guidance on business resilience, with a particular focus on flooding.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council will be showcasing the brand new office and industrial units at Beacon Park, which offers business rates discount of up to £55,000 each year for five years for eligible businesses that can move in by March 31, 2018. Visitors will be able to view the available units.
Healthy workplace provider, Thriving Workplaces, will offer free support for employee health and wellbeing. Businesses can find out more from Norfolk County Council about Great Yarmouth’s proposed Third River Crossing and have their say in the public consultation.
In addition, the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses will be on hand to offer advice and promote local business networking events.
enterpriseGY, the borough council’s business support service, will be available to help businesses with their applications for the Spirit of Enterprise Awards, which are now in their 10th year and offer the opportunity for businesses to raise their profile in the borough.
Cllr Paul Hammond, vice chairman of the economic development committee, said: “There is a significant amount of support available in the borough for businesses, including grants and expert guidance, offered through various different organisations.
“This free drop-in surgery is really useful because it enables businesses to meet all these organisations under one roof, discuss the full range of advice and opportunities available, and really reap the benefits.
“This is all part of the borough council’s important work to support and encourage businesses to invest in, grow within and relocate to the borough. It is also fitting that we are staging the surgery at Beacon Park, an energy hub and top Enterprise Zone site.”
The surgery is a drop-in event, but businesses are encouraged to register in advance by emailing Kirsty.weavers@great-yarmouth.gov.uk
Ian Bartholomew Appointed Director of Business Development & Sales at KLM UK Engineering Limited
Paris, Amstelveen, 8 September 2017 – Ian Bartholomew has been appointed as Director of Business Development & Sales at KLM UK Engineering Limited as of 11th September. KLM UK Engineering is a wholly-owned AFI KLM E&M subsidiary specialising in maintenance & training solutions for regional and narrow-body aircraft fleets.
Ian started his aviation career at KLM UK Engineering, holding various positions including the role of Materials Manager. In 2003 Ian joined The Monarch Group as Marketing Sales Manager and went on to become Sales & Marketing Director, Commercial Director & finally to Accountable Manager & Managing Director, with Ian’s latest role at Etihad Airways Engineering in the Middle East. Ian has over 30 years of experience in the industry and will be a great asset to KLM UK Engineering.
On learning of his appointment, Ian Bartholomew said: “I am very proud to be returning to KLM UK Engineering Limited as Director of Business Development & Sales. With my previous experience within the Company and with Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd & more recently with Etihad Airways Engineering I will bring knowledge and experience to the business and look forward to working with the team.’
THRIVING businesses are invited to step into the spotlight by entering the Spirit of Enterprise Awards 2017, which marks its 10th anniversary this year with the introduction of a special category, Business of the Decade.
Considered the most prestigious annual celebration of business excellence in the Great Yarmouth borough, the annual awards scheme is organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support service.
Businesses are encouraged to put themselves forward for the various awards by noon on Monday, October 16. The awards are free-of-charge to enter online at www.spiritofenterpriseawards.co.uk and finalists will be profiled in a supplement in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, with winners appearing in a further supplement.
The special anniversary category, Business of the Decade, is open to all businesses in the borough – large or small – regardless of whether they have entered the competition before.
The finalists and winners will be showcased in the press and at a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Town Hall on Friday, November 17. The media sponsors are the Great Yarmouth Mercury and The Beach.
Each award is backed by a local organisation. Sponsors choose the winner in their category from three finalists shortlisted by a local independent panel or by the category sponsor themselves.
This year, enterpriseGY is delighted to announce that the main sponsor is Stephenson Smart, chartered accountants and business advisors, who will choose the 2017 Business of the Year from the winners of the other categories.
The categories and sponsors are:
· Business of the Decade – sponsored by Norse
· Great Manufacturing/Engineering – sponsor to be announced
· Great New Business – sponsored by Noritake Itron
· Great Business Growth – sponsored by Bateman Groundworks
· Great Business Idea – sponsored by Seahorse Guest House
· Great Customer Services – sponsored by Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area Ltd (GYTABIA)
· Great Family Owned Business – sponsored by Birketts
· Great International Growth – sponsored by Pasta Foods
· Great Investment in People – sponsored by P&S Personnel
· Great Community Contribution – sponsored by Potters Friends Foundation
The Spirit of Enterprise Awards help to highlight the borough’s many and varied successful businesses, supporting one of the council’s priorities, which is to work with partners to help champion and enable economic growth and job-creation in the area.
In a joint statement, the council’s political group leaders, Cllr Graham Plant, Cllr Kay Grey, Cllr Trevor Wainwright and Cllr Adrian Myers, said: “The Spirit of Enterprise Awards are this year celebrating 10 fantastic years of recognising and raising the profile of top-performing firms across the borough.
“This wonderful showcase of successful businesses helps to boost confidence in the strength of the local economy, helping to create favourable conditions for investment, sustainable growth and job-creation.
“For the businesses themselves, having the chance to shout about and be recognised for their achievements brings important benefits, including raising their stature and reputation, and boosting staff morale.
“There are lots of brilliant businesses across the borough and we look forward to some strong contenders this year for both the title of 2017 Business of the Year and the special anniversary category of Business of the Decade.
“We must also take this opportunity to thank the 2017 sponsors, including main sponsor Stephenson Smart, without whom this wonderful celebration of business excellence would not be possible.”
This year, help and advice with entries is available from TMS Media, which is working in partnership with enterpriseGY, by calling Steve Scott or Rachel Moore on 01493 662929. Video entries are also welcome.
Leading East Anglian insurance broker Alan Boswell Group is celebrating this week, having been shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards, thanks to its ongoing commitment to providing outstanding customer service.
The company has been named finalists in the Independent Broker of the Year and Commercial Broker of the Year categories at the Insurance Times Awards 2017.
The entries for both accolades focused heavily on the Group’s commitment to providing outstanding service and added value. With a firm focus on client needs, the company launched Alan Boswell Risk Management in April 2017, providing health and safety and engineering inspection services to businesses throughout the UK.
This sits alongside the introduction of core brand values, which reflect the firm’s vision to be the natural choice for friendly, expert advice on insurance and financial services. These values have been disseminated throughout the business, and are reinforced by the business’ ongoing training and appraisal process.
In support of the applications, the company pointed to the positive impact these actions have already had, including increased client retention rates and consistently positive customer feedback on independent review site Feefo.
The news comes just a fortnight before the UK Broker Awards 2017, where the Group has been shortlisted for the Customer Service Award.
Says Marketing Manager Lee Boswell: “Having been named Independent Broker of the Year at the Insurance Age Awards 2015, it’s thrilling to be a finalist once again.
“Our clients are at the heart of everything we do and this is reflected in our mission statement. We’re proud to be nominated for these awards, because it truly reflects our teams’ commitment to achieving our vision.”
The winners of the Insurance Times Awards 2017 will be announced at a ceremony on 7th December at the InterContinental London at The O2.
Attleborough based renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm, has been shortlisted in a prestigious national awards scheme for its district heating installation for housing association Flagship Group.
The Heating & Ventilating Review (HVR) Awards 2017 celebrate innovation in the building services sector. The awards recognise and reward companies across the country that demonstrate excellence in their field, outstanding technology or exceptional customer service and true innovation in the way they operate or in what they produce.
Finn Geotherm’s installation for Flagship Group has been shortlisted for the HVR Sustainable Project of the Year Award. The ground source heat pump system is delivering domestic heating and hot water for 30 flats at Orchard Close in Watton, Norfolk. The first domestic heating scheme for communal use in the East of England, it will cut Flagship customers’ heating bills by two thirds, creating annual savings of hundreds of pounds. In addition, it enables Flagship to dramatically reduce its maintenance costs and CO2 emissions. The project is expected to be the first of many for the housing association, with Flagship hoping to roll out other ground source heat pump systems to other customers as part of its plan to create more affordable and environmentally friendly homes.
Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for the HVR Awards which recognise the country’s most significant heating products and projects. Being placed as a finalist is both a testament to the forward-thinking strategic approach of Flagship and the hard work and skill of the team at Finn Geotherm in delivering the best possible solution for the organisation and its tenants. We thoroughly enjoyed working together on this project and hope we can soon be celebrating its success together too!”
Matt Smith, Compliance Manager at Flagship, said: “To be shortlisted for this award is fantastic news. We have worked hard to get the scheme up and running, so to be recognised in this way is a great achievement for everyone involved. We are continually trying to improve the service we offer our customers while at the same time reduce our carbon footprint, and the system in Watton has allowed us to do both.”
Winners of the HVR Awards will be announced on 26th October 2017 at a black tie event in London.
For more details on the Flagship installation, see https://finn-geotherm.co.uk/case-studies/. For information on ground and air source heat pumps and Finn Geotherm, visit www.finn-geotherm.co.uk.
Community groups supported by Freebridge fund
Freebridge Community Housing have donated £5000 to seven community groups across West Norfolk through the Freebridge Community Fund.
Each year Freebridge invite charities and community groups to apply for up to £1000 for projects that have will have a positive impact on health and wellbeing, the environment, support residents or bring communities together.
As always the fund received a high number of deserving applications, with the final selection being made by a judging panel comprised of Freebridge tenants and employees.
Groups who received funding spent an enjoyable lunch at Providence Street Placeshaping Community Centre on Wednesday 6 September with their fellow recipients, the judging panel, Freebridge Chairman of the Board, Ray Johnson, and Freebridge Director of Housing, Robert Clarke.
Robert Clarke, Director of Housing at Freebridge, said: “The Freebridge Community Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to donate much needed funds directly to richly deserving charities and community groups in our region. The number of applications we received only serves to highlight the fantastic work that is done by so many those groups.
“The Freebridge vision of supporting a better West Norfolk is something that continues to be an important aspect of the organisation, the Freebridge Community Fund and our other work with community groups out of Providence Street Placeshaping Community Centre are integral to fulfilling that vision.”
This year the recipients of funding were:
• Solace End of Life Support – £500 – To support operational costs and to train more volunteers to help with an increasing number of clients.
• West Norfolk Mind – £450 – To purchase a Tier 2 Spice Time Credits Membership in order to apply the Time Credits Model to aid volunteer recruitment and retention.
• West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association – £550 – To help provide riding lessons for 13 weeks on Wednesdays for children, young people and adults with physical and learning disabilities.
• South West Norfolk Youth Opportunities Project (SWAN) – £1000 – To deliver employability and training courses for young people who are in danger of exclusion from formal education and older young people who are in danger of becoming finding themselves not in education, employment, or training.
• West Norfolk Befriending – £1000 – To contribute towards volunteer expenses and office costs.
• The Purfleet Trust – £1000 – To run a winter night shelter on Friday and Saturday nights between October and March 2017/18.
• 4transform – £500 – To help fund activities of a new group, who are planning to run and publicise craft, art and upcycling sessions, for women experiencing domestic abuse.
Jackie Westrop, trustee of the SWAN project, said: “We are able to provide more help and support to young people because of grants like the one we have had from Freebridge.
“We will use it to encourage and support young people to build positive relationships, skills and contacts as they get ready for the world of work, without such grants our work in the community would be a great deal harder.”
Norfolk Community Foundation manages the fund on Freebridge’s behalf. Any community or voluntary group wishing to find out more about the Freebridge Community Fund can visit https://www.norfolkfoundation.com/Freebridge-Community-Housing-Fund or telephone 01603 623958 or email jennybevan@norfolkfoundation.com