Member News

We have an exciting career opportunity for two Apprentice Maintenance Engineers at our Norwich Site. The Briar Apprenticeship will be both rewarding and challenging; whether that be developing practical skills and knowledge during your Training Programme; or working with experienced engineers in a fast-paced manufacturing environment of an Upper Tier COMAH Site; your working day will be interesting and varied.

The Apprenticeship Programme lasts for approximately four years and includes both practical training and further education. During your first year you will undertake off-the-job training at the EEF Training Centre in Birmingham to gain broad-based engineering skills and a BTEC qualification. You will return to site the following year to commence work in the Maintenance Department, building your skills and knowledge to achieve the Level 3 in Mechatronics Maintenance. You will also be required to attend the Birmingham Centre on a block release basis in the second year, to complete your BTEC studies.

Maintenance activities that you will be involved in include: 

• Operation and maintenance of CHP plant, which includes gas compression, steam generation, electricity generation 
• Daily and weekly monitoring of plant 
• Mechanical maintenance on a variety of Process Plant including pumps, vessels, separation equipment, heat exchangers, hydraulic /pneumatic and piping systems 
• Fault diagnosis, strip down and re-assembly of equipment 
• Basic electrical work on such items as electric motors and starter circuits 
• Equipment inspection, computerised report writing and general use of information systems

We set the bar high and our Apprenticeship Programme is no exception, providing the opportunity to gain a range of valuable skills and experiences within the Chemical Industry. As such, first year off-the-job training will take place in Birmingham on EEF’s Residential Apprenticeship Programme where you will be expected to reside at EEF agreed accommodation from Sunday evening until Friday each week.

Prospective candidates should have achieved a minimum of GCSE Grade C or 4 and above in Maths, English and a Science subject. Ideally with a Grade B or 5 in Maths.

If you would like to be considered for this role, please contact Human Resources – email HR.Recruit@briarchemicals.com

Visit our website for more information www.briarchemicals.com/careers

Chemistry students were invited to Briar Chemicals to gain a valuable insight into the chemical manufacturing industry and the diverse range of careers opportunities available.

Pupils from Taverham High School, Notre Dame High School and Hellesdon High School joined a team of Chemists at Briar Chemicals for the afternoon, along with their teachers.

Briar’s ‘Insight into Industry’ visits offer a unique chance for students to see how the chemistry they learn at school and college is used in a manufacturing environment. Students are given a tour of working laboratories, production plants and the control rooms and can see how energy is produced by the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant and the solar panel installation on site.

Dr Sean Thurston, Royal Society of Chemistry Education Coordinator said: “It really is fantastic to get students and teachers together on an active industrial site like Briar Chemicals. Seeing and hearing first-hand what it is like to work in chemical industry is invaluable when these students make their future career choices. It also allows their teachers to talk to future students more confidently about what local careers are available.”

The ‘Insight into Industry’ events are aimed to inspire pupils to ask questions and learn more about the varied roles of the highly-skilled and qualified Chemists and Engineers working at Briar. It also offers an opportunity for teachers to learn different aspects of chemistry and how to demonstrate new and creative ways of learning. Briar actively encourages its staff to share their knowledge and skills by mentoring.

Tim Green, Site Manager at Briar Chemicals said: “We are passionate about hosting education visits for local students interested in STEM subjects. We have developed excellent relations with teachers and lecturers in the community who visit us year on year, praising our staff for their time.”

Every year Briar Chemicals welcomes a number of work experience students, summer placements and offers a student in industry placement from Loughborough University studying a degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering.

A student placement in 2015 recently joined the company as an employee on completion of his Chemistry degree and is now part of the team working on an exciting new project for Briar.

Briar Chemicals and the Royal Society of Chemistry have been working closely for many years; organising yearly student site visits and playing host for the annual Royal Society of Chemistry Top of the Bench Competition.

Briar is proud sponsors of the Norwich Science Festival Chemistry Day and is delighted to continue their support again this year. Working in partnership with Royal Society of Chemistry volunteers, Briar hosted a fun-filled day of experiments – the busiest day of the two week festival welcoming over 1,200 people. The festival welcomed over 75,000 people and looks to build on this success this year with the help of the festival sponsors.

Term: Full Time, Permanent   Salary: £30,785 – £34,538 per annum   Closing Date: 14th August 2017, 09:00   Interview Date: 21st August 2017

North Norfolk District Council is looking for someone with the dynamism to develop our diverse business base, working within a team dedicated to delivering the Council’s economic growth priorities. With highly develped communication skills and experience of engaging businesses and building productive relationships, you will play a leading role in driving business growth and investment in North Norfolk.

Working with individuals, networks, sector groups, and partner organisations you will help realise the growth plans of indigenous businesses and nurture inward investment opportunities. This is a pivotal role in helping businesses to make key decisions and as such you will need to be able to confidently build a network of contacts and work closely with your team colleagues in order to facilitate solutions.

A job description and application form is available at https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/jobs/business-development-officer/

 Starting a business can seem daunting especially if you’ve been in employment for a long time or are returning to the world of work.

In Diss and Beccles three, free, four hour workshops are available to Suffolk and Norfolk based people who are thinking of being their own boss and starting a business.

The Start Right workshops are let by experienced business trainers and cover a wide range of subjects including, business planning, maarketing a start-up, tax and book keeping.

Funded by the European Regional  Development Fund the courses in Beccles and Diss are available now to book on line at

https://www.menta.org.uk/menta-business-advice-for-start-ups

Holkham Studios at Holkham Hall, Norfolk is the venue for the next Coffee Means Business networking event. For the organisers, business support organisation, Genix, Friday 28th July will be the 10th networking event they’ve held in North Norfolk, and the second at Holkham Studios. Genix chief executive, Alex Till said, “Coffee Means Business at Holkham in April attracted 40 businesses who not only networked in fantastic surroundings but also had a tour of the managed office space available at Holkham Studios. “Once again, we’ve planned a memorable morning to include bacon rolls, networking in beautiful surroundings and a tour to include Holkham Forge.” Holkham Forge, which for the past eight years has been operating from the 19th century forge on the Holkham Estate are one of the tenants who uses the facilities at Holkham Studios. The collective of three artist blacksmiths, James Spedding, Roger Foyster and Helen Spedding (and their apprentice Robert Stewart-Baldrey) are passionate about creating bespoke metalwork for clients. Recently they created gates and railings for a Gold Medal winning Show Garden at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, commissioned by Blind Veterans UK and discussed the project with HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex who is the patron of the charity. James said, “It was fantastic to be recognised for the high standard of work we produce. “I’m extremely pleased Coffee Means Business is returning to Holkham Studios. On this occasion we’ll have the opportunity to showcase the varied work we produce here, in North Norfolk. The previous networking event held at Holkham was extremely useful. I met many business people who I wouldn’t otherwise meet.” Coffee Means Business will be at Holkham Studios, Holkham Hall NR23 1RU on Friday 28th July from 9.30am until 11.30am. There are no joining or membership fees, just £2 payable on arrival, thanks to Genix Patron, Box-it East who sponsor the events. North Norfolk District Council appointed Genix in 2016 to organise and host Coffee Means Business in the North Norfolk area as they could see there was a need for a regular networking opportunity for businesses which didn’t involve expensive membership fees. Genix was chosen because it is a not for profit organisation which, for over 20 years has been supporting businesses. In Norfolk Genix provides business advice sessions for established businesses and start-ups, subsidised business skills training courses and events for companies, business owners and self-employed people. More details regarding Coffee Means Business can be found at www.genix.org.uk or by calling 0800 096 3013.

Leading insurance broker Alan Boswell Group is celebrating this month, having been shortlisted for a prestigious industry award, thanks to its commitment to providing outstanding customer service.

The company decided to enter the UK Broker Awards’ Customer Service category earlier this year, because providing outstanding service every time is one of the Group’s core values. The terms of entry for the award, which is run by Insurance Age magazine, include proof of consistent customer satisfaction, responsiveness to market demands and evidence that service has had an impact on client retention rates.

ABG is renowned for its focus on customer service and has implemented several new practices to cement this core business value. The introduction of independent customer reviews via Feefo, for instance, not only reflect the high quality of customer service, but also provides an aide for appraisals and ongoing, in-house training in order to maintain standards.

This is in addition to introducing a new, mobile responsive website in 2016, which is easier to navigate and provides a better online experience for all users.

Says Marketing Manager Lee Boswell: “Being shortlisted for such an important award is a fantastic recognition of our ethos and the dedication of our staff, who all play a vital role in giving our clients a superior service every time. We can’t wait until the ceremony and wish all the finalists the very best of luck.”

The winner will be announced on September 15th at a ceremony at The Brewery in London.

Naked Element are a software development company based in Norwich looking to recruit a self motivated, outgoing, well organised person looking for variety in a small, yet progressive tech company. There is opportunity for the right person to grow into a more specialised role, based on your strengths, as the company grows.

Salary: £18-20,000 per annum salary (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: New Patricks Yard, 2 Recorder Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1NR

Application Deadline: 28th July 2017

Essential skills and qualities: Good client and communication skills Exceptional organisation Self motivated You thrive in a fast-paced office environment Competent user of email systems, document creation and management software packages Ability to prioritise Desirable skills and qualities: An Interest in Software, Technology, Development, or any wider part of the ICT industry Previous Administration and Office Management experience A Level 3 qualification or equal in Administration or Business Management Main Responsibilities:

Office Management Running the office on a day-to-day basis depending on the needs of the business, it’s directors and employees Purchasing stationery and equipment Liaising with suppliers Answering the phone Preparing agendas, documents and contracts Company Administration Book keeping Managing finances Financial forecasting/producing reports Paying and raising invoices Paying bills General administration Payroll Social Media & Marketing Assistant Assisting the commercial director in all elements of marketing as required Setting up daily social media Preparing and sending marketing material Attending networking events Exhibiting at events Sales Assistant Assisting the commercial director in all elements of sales as required Prospecting Warm calling Meeting prospects & clients Sandler training provided Account & Project Management Day to day running of projects Project reporting Liaising with all stakeholders during projects Regular client reviews & other account management as necessary Executive PA Managing diaries for both the Commercial Director & CEO Booking events & meetings Booking travel Benefits Pension after 3 months 6 Month probationary period A lovely, air-conditioned working environment in the centre of Norwich Flexible working hours This is the perfect opportunity for those looking for an interesting, never the same each day role to grow their skills. You will benefit from the guidance of staff with over 20 years experience in Business, Finance and Project Management. This is also a chance to gain an in depth insight into the software development industry.

If you would like to apply for this opportunity, please send CV’s to emma@nakedelement.co.uk 

Leah Hurd, Pure Senior finance professionals from across the East of England have come together to discuss the UK’s departure from the European Union at a series of Finance Director (FD) Breakfast Clubs organised by executive recruitment consultants Pure Executive and accountancy firm Grant Thornton.

Five breakfast sessions were held in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough, Ipswich and Norwich between 20 June and 13 July and were attended by over 160 finance professionals. These regular, interactive events are designed to provide forums for finance leaders to come together and discuss topical issues likely to impact on businesses and the local economy.

The latest breakfast sessions were organised to help finance leaders understand how the key issues of Brexit are likely to impact on businesses in the Eastern region. The discussions included preparing for Brexit, trade and cross border activity, adapting finance processes and systems and future talent recruitment and retention.

Tom Earl, Director at Pure Executive, a division of professional recruitment specialists Pure, said: “The triggering of Article 50 represented the first major step towards the UK’s departure from EU and marked the start of a two-year period of negotiation. The shape of the UK’s relationship with Europe beyond March 2019 maybe unknown but this doesn’t stop businesses from starting to plan how they can prepare for Brexit and beyond. The Future FD clubs provide a great forum for like-minded senior finance professionals from our region to come together to discuss topics like this and to benefit from shared experiences and expertise.”

The FD Breakfast Clubs were first launched in 2014 by Pure Executive and Grant Thornton to help support the local business community and to grow the regional economy. Subjects covered at previous sessions have included Corporate Governance, Apprenticeship Levy, Cyber Security and Data Protection, Risk and Reputation and International Growth. The FD Breakfast Clubs are open to all senior finance professionals. For more information about future events email Tom Earl at Tom.earl@pureexecutive.com

A new course to help managers to have better conversations about mental health has been launched – as research shows that employees feel unable to talk to their managers about their wellbeing. 31% said they feared their career would suffer if they said something.

The ‘Mental Health for Managers’ course will take place on 3rd October at The Open in Norwich and will provide an insight into the challenges around mental health in the workplace. It will show managers and HR professionals the signs to look out for and practical tips on how to talk about mental health and offer immediate support.

The workshop is being run by workplace mental health experts Bamboo Mental Health and people engagement and workplace wellbeing specialists The Engaging People Company. It comes after a recent survey by Bamboo Health found that 35% of respondents feel unable to talk to their manager about mental health problems. 39% ignored the worker or offered poor support.

Tom Oxley, Director of Bamboo Mental Health said, “Our research confirms people are working unwell in Norfolk and staying silent. Yet the first point of help should be their manager. People need to speak up and get support before, during and after absence.

“When managers spot the signs, ask and listen, an employee can get help sooner – and may avoid time off which is costly to employers and can disengage workers.”

By the end of the course, attendees will feel confident to have better conversations with their direct reports, leading to improved manager-employee relationships, better wellbeing and, ultimately, increased engagement and satisfaction.

Michelle Gant, Director of The Engaging People Company explained:

“Managers have an absolutely critical role in supporting and promoting wellbeing within the workplace but conversations about mental health can be daunting. We want to equip managers with the skills, knowledge and confidence to be able to talk to employees and offer them the support they need, which will benefit not only the individuals but the organisation.”

Some of the comments shared during the research included:

·         ‘I wanted to leave and look for another job but my self-esteem was so low.’

·         ‘I was told I did not have a problem and should not waste their time. I felt belittled and worthless, I felt very resentful towards my employers and it did nothing to make me an effective member of staff.’

·         Managers were ‘not adequately trained’

·         ‘Feeling incredibly stressed and undervalued and felt like walking out.’

·         ‘They had no real concern about my health apart from when I would be back at work and refused to give me a more beneficial work hour pattern.’

Visit here to find out more or contact Michelle Gant on 07834 578872 or Tom Oxley on 07718 130930 to book a place.

We are delighted to announce that we are working with the historic Clifton Pub in St John’s Wood, London. The popular pub is said to be more than 200 years old and was frequented by Edward VII. However, the establishment faced closure in 2013 and then the pursuit of a wealthy individual to turn the estate into a mansion, equipped with a basement, home cinema and gym. Following the signing of thousands of local supporters, The Clifton Pub was saved and is now back in business thanks to two entrepreneurial brothers Ed and Ben Robson.

What Work We Are Doing With Them

The challenge for The Clifton NW8 is helping their website to rank on Google for their brand name such as The Clifton and The Clifton Pub. There are several other Clifton’s out there with big businesses and older domains including a school, hotel, club and even a bridge.

The SEO Approach

We have built up their domain by gaining some local press through the likes of the Kilburn Times, Ham & High and St John’s Wood Times. This has strengthened their domain and proven that they are a local business too. 

We have had to make amendments to their website including cleaning out the code to ensure it is faster and is easier to crawl on Google.

With little content on the website, we have had to sharpen up all their meta-titles, meta-descriptions, headings and ensure that every image has an alt-text too. 

The site has made considerable progress on Google, including several page one positions within 6 weeks of implementing the changes. We are encouraging the client to add regular content to the website to show Google that they are active and use it as an opportunity to bulk up the content site of the site.

GROUND has been broken for a multi-million-pound landmark headquarters on the Enterprise Zone at Beacon Park, which will enable a major energy sector employer to expand further in the area.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is developing a new Great Yarmouth base for Proserv on a prominent site at the park, a growing hub for the energy sector which is owned by the borough council.

The development, to be called Artemis House, will enable the business to consolidate and grow its Great Yarmouth operation under one roof. It currently employs about 190 staff at three sites across the borough. Most of these employees already live within 10 minutes of Beacon Park.

To celebrate the traditional ground-breaking ceremony, the council’s political group leaders gathered on-site, part of the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft (New Anglia) Enterprise Zone, together with representatives of Proserv, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and construction contractor Morgan Sindall.

The borough council has invested £4.5m in the development, with an additional £1.5m coming from New Anglia LEP’s Growing Places Fund. Proserv is contributing up to £2m towards the fit-out for their requirements and will be taking a 20-year lease on completion.

The development will be completed in early 2018 and will form another part of the borough council’s important property portfolio, generating significant rental income which is used to help support vital public services.

In a joint statement, the council’s political group leaders, Cllr Graham Plant, Cllr Kay Grey, Cllr Trevor Wainwright and Cllr Adrian Myers, said: “Over the coming months, people travelling through the park on the new link road will see this landmark building take shape: a clear symbol of this council’s close work with partners to support sustainable economic growth and unlock its benefits for communities.

“This ground-breaking is another chance to celebrate what the development will bring to the borough. Importantly, these skilled jobs, mostly held by local people, will continue to be based within the borough, supporting the local economy and prosperity. In addition, Proserv will have the capacity to invest and expand further in this purpose-built base, creating even more local job opportunities. We would like to thank the team who helped to bring this development into fruition.”

Comprising 65,000sq ft of modern office and production floorspace, the prestigious building, flanking the new link road, will be one of the largest commercial buildings in terms of floorspace ever constructed in the borough. There is also an option to add a further 20,000sq ft of workshop capacity at a later date.

Simon Harvey, Head of Operations at Proserv, said: “This is a significant milestone in the development of our new facility which will serve as a global hub and Centre of Excellence for our subsea communication and controls activities. We would once again like to extend our sincere appreciation and thanks to Great Yarmouth Borough Council for their continued support in getting us to this exciting stage.”

Chris Starkie, Managing Director of New Anglia LEP, said: “This is great news for Proserv, their employees and the wider economy. It’s also a real shot in the arm for our all-energy coastline – within which Proserv is a key supplier and employer – and further evidence of the significance of our Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Enterprise Zone in attracting and retaining investment in the East.”

Saul Humphrey, managing director of Morgan Sindall’s East Anglia business, said: “We’re pleased to have broken ground at this new commercial warehouse site. Once complete, the building will provide Proserv with the office, storage space, and specialist facilities they need, helping to deliver real efficiencies for the business.

“The 6,050 sq.m warehouse is one of the largest steel frame buildings being built in Norfolk at the moment and we’re working closely with the council to deliver this important and ambitious scheme.

“Morgan Sindall has experience delivering projects of this nature and we’re looking forward to completing the scheme in spring 2018.”

There is a real need for businesses to embrace the concept of producing short, engaging video content as a way to attract, retain and perhaps even to entertain their customers with content. Here at Eye Film we have created a two day training course to help you to do just this. Learn how to shoot the footage you need, with professionals showing you what you should be thinking about, and giving you the technical and creative insights to create high quality content that you can use and share. On day one you will cover what types of videos can be produced, what works and what doesn’t and the basics of camera work, sound and editing. You will return on day two with footage you have shot at your own business and will edit and upload your own video for your business or organisation to use – while still having Eye guide you through. The training will build your confidence to go away and start your own video marketing! Sound interesting? Our next course is now planned for Monday 9th/16th October at EPIC Studios in Norwich. Do see our website for more details at www.eyefilm.co.uk or contact us at info@eyefilm.co.uk or on 01603 727750 for a chat.