Member News

Providence Street Garden blooms into life.

Providence Street Placeshaping Community Centre has bloomed into life as a new garden is unveiled.

The garden was funded by generous donations from Lovell, Arc Fabrications, ElecSure, KJ Plastering Ltd, Westcoast Windows, Osborn & Kent and Proctor Roofing and Ground Control.

The structural work on the garden was carried out by Freebridge Community Housing Property Services, whilst the planting and general upkeep will be maintained by volunteers from the centre and the community.

The Norfolk Youth Offending Team contributed benches for the garden from their workshop nearby, whilst fencing was provided by West Norfolk MIND.

Robert Clarke, Freebridge Director of Housing, said: “We are really pleased to see this great new space available in time for the summer.

“As we continue to use our Placeshaping team at Providence Street to improve communities across West Norfolk we would like to express our gratitude to all the businesses and charities who have supported this and the many other projects we’re involved with.

“We would like to invite members of the public to come down and hopefully enjoy some summer sun in the garden.”

East Anglian mechanical engineering contractor Pruce Newman have announced the appointment of two new members to its Executive Board with effect from 1st June 2017. The new Operations Directors, Jamie Key and Darren Razzell, are both existing employees of the business, and bring specific industry skills and experience to the board to support Pruce Newman’s plans for further growth.

Jamie (pictured centre left) and Darren (centre right)  join existing directors Alan Pruce (left) and Tim Moorse (right), and Managing Director Graham Newman (centre), to form the expanded Executive Board of Pruce Newman, which has its head office and workshops in Wymondham, Norfolk. Established in 1970 by John Pruce and Brian Newman, Pruce Newman has developed from its entrepreneurial beginnings to become a prominent local employer with over 120 staff and a turnover of £10 Million, and still remains under family ownership. The company has bases in Norfolk and Essex, and provides specialist industrial pipework fabrication and installation services to clients across the South and East of England.

Driven by its core values of Quality, Safety and Trust, Pruce Newman has built a loyal client base in the region, counting many blue-chip organisations and international brands amongst its customers. Working in industries as diverse as oil & gas, power generation, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, food & drink and fuel storage terminals, the company has seen a sustained increase in demand for its services, mainly due to its high levels of craftsmanship and customer service, and its ability to undertake and manage projects ranging from simple fabrication to the design and build of complete new production facilities. With further growth planned over the next ten years, the Board believe that the appointment of two new directors to their team will provide a sound basis for moving forward.

Between them, Darren and Jamie have over 30 years’ experience of working for Pruce Newman, and 50 years’ industry experience. As the business continues to grow, they will take responsibility for Pruce Newman’s day-to-day contracting operations, ensuring that the company maintains its focus on safely delivering high quality projects for its clients.

Speaking about his appointment, Darren Razzell said:

“I was delighted to be invited to join the Board of Directors and have enthusiastically accepted the position. In previous employment with other organisations, I had often looked on with admiration at Pruce Newman’s well-respected business practice. Now, I hold a real sense of pride to work with such loyal, dedicated and talented colleagues who together equate to quite a unique business operation. I am looking forward to helping to lead the business and to compliment the board with alternative skills and experience which I hope will bring additional depth and variation to Pruce Newman’s opportunities.

“I am particularly excited about improving operating efficiencies within our Wymondham fabrication facility to enhance its offering both for internal sales and as a supplier to new customers. Furthermore, adding value with additional services to all clients by offering turnkey solutions, is an area that I’m keen to see driven forward.”

His sentiments were echoed by Jamie Key, who commented:

“It’s a great honour to be offered and to accept the role of Operations Director with Pruce Newman. Having worked my way through the ranks over the past few years I feel that I am now well positioned to help build on the foundations already put in place by the existing directors. I will do my very best to ensure that the future of Pruce Newman is prosperous and successful, for everybody associated with the company.”

With almost fifty years of successful trading under its belt, Pruce Newman believes that the appointment of the two new directors will give the business the stability that it requires to enter its next half-century, and the skills that it needs to deliver continued sustainable growth. As Graham Newman, Managing Director, explains:

“I’m delighted to welcome Jamie and Darren to the Board at such an exciting time for the business. Pruce Newman is proud of its strong family ethos, and both Jamie and Darren have been part of that family for the past 18 years. As we move forward and our business continues to grow, I’m gratified that our philosophy of nurturing and developing talent from within has produced two individuals with the skills, experience and abilities to lead that growth into the future.

“Jamie and Darren’ strengths compliment those of our existing Executive team, and their appointments emphasise Pruce Newman’s ambitions to continue to set the standard for companies in our industry. Once again, I’d like to congratulate them both on their appointment to the Board.”

After receiving such a positive response to the Norfolk Developers magazines at each conference, we’ve decided to release a magazine outside of the conference too! Each issue will contain tech articles, local features, news and interviews as well as tech events in Norfolk and further afield, but most importantly it will be free to download! But we need your help to make this a success. We’re asking for your suggestions and contributions for our first issue due for release in September. This first issue will be focused around different aspects of A.I. Contributions We need:

• News – are you beginning or completing a project? Expanding into a new area? Taking on new staff/premises/tech? Have you won an award or achieved something noteworthy you want to tell people about?
• Events – are you planning or hosting an event between September 2017 and the end of January 2018? Are you attending an event over the summer you think we should review or take photos at?
• Articles – do you have something tech related you would like to talk about or share with the community? Can you write an engaging and interesting piece for our pages?
• Columns – do you have something to say others would like to hear? An experience or opinion about something in the tech community or industry that others would enjoy reading?

Suggestions and comments for other articles or features are also welcome! What do you like about the past conference magazines? What don’t you like? What would you like to see more of? Less of? Advertisers

• Would you like to reach the tech community?
• Do you have a service or product you think we should know about?
• Are you holding an event that would benefit from being in front of the tech people of Norfolk?

We want to hear from YOU! This is a magazine for Norfolk’s tech community, so please help us to make it what you want it be. To get in touch, please email mag@norfolkdevelopers.com Norfolk Developer Magazine team

A major energy sector employer is set to expand further within Great Yarmouth – thanks to an agreement with Great Yarmouth Borough Council that will see the council delivering a landmark base built in the Enterprise Zone at Beacon Park.

Proserv approached Great Yarmouth Borough Council last year to discuss its ambitions 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, a growing hub for the energy sector, which is owned by the council.

Through an agreement between Proserv, the borough council and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the council will develop a new Great Yarmouth headquarters for Proserv to be called Artemis House on a prominent site on the park, which is part of the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft (New Anglia) Enterprise Zone.

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.

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

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

The council has awarded the construction contract to Morgan Sindall and is due to start on the 5.75-acre site in early June, with Proserv moving early 2018 into the new purpose-built base, which will be their new technology centre for subsea controls and communications.

In a joint statement, the council’s political group leaders, Cllr Graham Plant, Cllr Kay Grey, Cllr Trevor Wainwright and Cllr Adrian Myers, said: “This exciting development and Beacon Park more widely are part of the borough council’s work with partners to support sustainable economic growth and unlock its benefits for communities.

“This is a genuine win-win situation for the borough. These important skilled jobs, which are mostly filled by local people, will now stay within the borough, supporting the local economy and prosperity, and Proserv can expand to create more local job opportunities for local people.

“Proserv gets the huge benefits of staying in Great Yarmouth, world famous as England’s energy sector capital, and within a new, purpose-built, landmark headquarters on Beacon Park, a growing hub for energy sector businesses and the most successful Enterprise Zone in the country.

“This success has come about through close partnership working across the public and private sectors, and we look forward to welcoming Proserv and its staff to Beacon Park early next year.”

News of the latest development comes at a time of strong growth for Proserv after the company recently secured over £12m in contract awards for its new-build, after-market and decommissioning services.

David Lamont, Proserv CEO, said: “This is great news for the whole of Proserv but especially the team in Great Yarmouth. As an established employer in the region since the 1960s, we have developed an outstanding workforce that is well recognised globally for its expertise and engineering capabilities. Investing in this new facility firmly underlines our long-term commitment to Great Yarmouth and plans for growth in the area.

“Consolidating operations into a modern purpose-built site will make us leaner, more efficient and better placed to deliver for our global customer base, whilst creating capacity for future expansion. The centre will serve as a global hub and Centre of Excellence for our subsea communication and controls activities and ensures we remain at the forefront of our field.

“I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Great Yarmouth Borough Council for their unwavering support over the years in getting us to this exciting stage.”

Chris Starkie, managing director of New Anglia LEP, said: “This is an important development and we’re pleased to see work starting on site. As well as being a flagship building on our Enterprise Zone, it is great to secure the future of Proserv – a key energy sector supplier and employer – in Great Yarmouth.”

The Charity Golf Day has become an annual fixture in the Monthind Clean calendar, and this year the company is delighted to be raising money for its charity partner Little Havens Hospice. The venue for this year’s event on 19th October is the Gainsborough Course at Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa, and entrants will be challenged to beat the Female Pro, Laura McDonald. With prizes awarded for the best overall team, highest scoring individual player, longest drive, nearest the pin and best-dressed team, as well as an exclusive 5-star holiday to Mauritius for a hole-in-one, it’s time to sign up and get practising!

The only children’s hospice in Essex, Little Havens is a registered charity that relies on the support and generosity of the community to provide the palliative care and support it offers. The charity defines its objectives: When a family has been told that there’s no cure for their child’s illness, Little Havens Hospice can help. We’re here to make the journey as comfortable as possible, controlling pain and medication, offering respite and caring for children at the end of their lives. Our specialist care is free – for as long as is needed – within the family home and at our hospice. We’re a registered charity – not part of the NHS – and receive limited government funding. Our hospice can only exist because of the support and generosity of the community. Together, we’re ‘Making every day count.’

Simon Biggs, Operations Director and Monthind Partner, says: “The Charity Golf Day is a great opportunity for us to raise money for our chosen charity whilst having a wonderful time. Whether you play golf or not, there are lots of ways to be involved, and if you can’t get a team together, you can enter individually and join another team.

“If you would like to sponsor a hole or provide prizes for the raffle or charity auction, we will send a press release to the local media, include an article in our client/staff newsletters as well as information on our website promoting your passion for supporting Little Havens.”

With an opportunity to win great prizes and the kudos of beating the Female Pro, there is all to play for at the Monthind Charity Golf Day. If you would like to book your individual or team space please search for ‘Monthind’s Charity Golf Day’ on Eventbrite.co.uk, or email events@monthindclean.co.uk.

Order of play-

10.00am REGISTRATION

(Bacon Rolls, Tea/Coffee upon arrival)

11.00am – 12.00pm Tee Off

(Rolling tee start)

Followed by a light dinner, prize giving and charity auction

Cost- Team Entry £320, Individual Entry £80

On the 25th June 2017, three members of our team here at Monthind will be taking part in the Ipswich East Rotary Club 25 Mile Orwell walk. 

Tony Felgate, Andy Flatman and Andrew Marsh are all set to take on the 25-mile walk to raise money for two fantastic charities; The Bone Cancer Research Trust and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The walk will begin and end at the Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich. The gruelling 25-mile route follows the bank of the River Orwell as it makes its way towards Felixstowe. On its returns, the route travels through farmland and wooded sections back to the Gainsborough Sport Centre. 

The Bone Cancer Research Trust is a charity that carries out such important work, offering hope to people affected by primary bone cancer. The organisation receive no government funding so rely entirely on public support to continue their crucial work. 

Equally, The Teenage Cancer Trust offer treatment and support for young people aged between 13 and 24. They are the only charity in the UK dedicated to making this happen. Supporting this organisation means that they are able to continue providing specialised cancer care for young people across the UK.

If you are in a position to donate, please go to the Just Giving pages below to help both of these wonderful charities provide the best possible care they can. You would be helping to provide a service that is truly life changing. 

Tony Felgate – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tony-Felgate1

Andy Flatman – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Andy-Flatman

Andrew Marsh – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Andrew-Marsh6?utm_id=26 

Briar Chemicals welcomed a group of Chemistry students from the University of East Anglia who are studying Chemistry to provide an insight into the manufacturing industry.

The 2nd year Chemistry students met with a team of Briar’s Chemists and Chemical Engineers to understand first-hand how the chemistry they learn at University can be applied on an industrial scale.

The visit was arranged by Dr Tharin Blumenschein, Director of Employability at the UEA School of Chemistry, who has been working with Briar Chemicals over the past few years organising various student visits. Dr Blumenschein said: “A group of mostly 2nd year Chemistry students at UEA had a great time learning more about the Chemistry done at Briar. We were able to see reaction vessels up close, and understand the difference in scale between the Chemistry performed in the teaching laboratory and what happens in industrial settings. The weather helped, too, and made the walk between the different buildings very pleasant.”

“We finished the day with an impromptu discussion of the safety risks and precautions involved in Chemistry work.”

The group of UEA students were taken on a tour around the site; visiting the production plants, control rooms and analytical laboratories. Following the tour, they had the opportunity to talk to the team about the career pathways available in the chemical industry.

Briar Chemicals are passionate about providing a platform and sharing their knowledge with aspiring young scientists; to develop skills for a sustainable future.

Tim Green, Site Manager said: “It is our responsibility to develop skills for the future by investing in the next generation and the community in which we operate.”

As part of Briar’s education programme, the company offers work experience, summer placements and a year in industry student placement; helping to build a foundation of knowledge for the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Briar has been shortlisted for the UK’s Chemical Industry Associations Reputation Award for recognition of their involvement within the community and will be attending the awards ceremony in June.

Briar Chemicals are excited to announce they have been shortlisted for the Chemical Industry Association’s Reputation Award.

The prestigious Reputation Award is in recognition of a company who demonstrates excellence in enhancing a positive external reputation with key stakeholders, and that of the chemical industry.

Briar is passionate about encouraging young people to develop their interest in science and achieve their ambitions and actively encourages their staff to share their knowledge and skills by mentoring.

Susan Brench, Head of Commercial said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the CIA Reputation Award. We’re extremely proud of the work we do within our local community and are delighted that all the hard work has been recognised.”

Established as an independent company in 2012, Briar Chemicals are proud of the relationships with its neighbours and has excellent community relations, engaging with stakeholders through a varied and proactive programme of external activities.

The ethos of their education programme is to Explore, Inspire and Achieve; encouraging all stakeholders to play a part in the education of the next generation of scientists.

A new initiative, the ‘Farm to Fork’ campaign, is being introduced into local schools to teach children about the life cycle of crops and how Briar play a part in helping farmers maintain healthy crops and increase yields.

Briar also launched its 13th annual poetry competition, aimed at 8-11 year olds, this month for schools across the region. This year’s theme is ‘Planet Earth’ and young writers have been asked to take their inspiration from their surroundings and write creatively about their perception of the world.

The winners will be announced at the Chemical Industry Awards Ceremony which will take place at the Queens Hotel, Leeds on Thursday 15th June.

Briar Chemicals Young Poets of the Year competition launches to schools across the region.

This year’s theme is ‘Planet Earth’ and youngsters are asked to take their inspiration from their surroundings and write creatively about their perception of the world.

The final stage judge for the competition is Evolutionary biologist and TV presenter Ben Garrod. Ben has presented shows including Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur with Sir David Attenborough, his award-winning Secrets of Bones series and most recently The Day the Dinosaurs Died on the BBC broadcasted earlier this month.

The competition, now in its 13th year, is part of Briar’s Science in Schools programme, which aims to make science learning fun, informative and create opportunities for children to learn about science and the environment.

Tim Green, Site Manager at Briar Chemicals said: “Children are intrigued about their surroundings from an early age. This competition encourages them to use their imagination; helping create an interest and understanding of how science is all around us in our everyday life.”

Briar has been shortlisted for the UK’s Chemical Industry Associations Reputation Award for recognition of their involvement within the community and will be attending the awards ceremony in June.

The competition has two age categories; eight to nine year olds and 10 to 11 year olds and schools across the region are invited to take part. The competition is open to pupils from schools within the EDP circulation area. All entries should be submitted via the schools which will be receiving forms soon.

The winner of each age category will receive £100 and each of their schools will receive £500, courtesy of Briar Chemicals. Briar will also donate £500 to help support Mr Garrod’s chosen charity, the Marine Conservation Society. The winners will also have the opportunity to spend a morning at the EDP.

First stage judges this year are Prof Anne Osbourn from the John Innes Centre and founder of the SAW Trust (Science, Art and Writing, Lauren Cope from the EDP, and Sarah Piercy from Briar Chemicals.

The closing date for the entries is 21st July 2017, with the winners announced around National Poetry Day in September. For more information about the competition, email poetry.competition@briarchemicals.com.

In August this year Chris Brown, Monthind Clean’s Health and Safety Officer will tackle the challenge of the Tour De Broads Race in Norfolk. Chris successfully took part in the 100 mile bike ride last year with Partner Simon Biggs, and together raised £2,000 for Macmillan. The Tour de Broads is a fantastic event and is suitable for all ages and abilities as you can choose to ride just 3 miles or up to 100 miles. The longer route that Chris will be doing incorporates 16 Broads, 4 rivers and countless beautiful Broads National Park Villages. The 100 mile bike ride route can be seen in yellow in the image.

This year Chris will be raising money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity. ‘For people unfortunate enough to be involved in accidents or medical emergencies, the likelihood of a full recovery – perhaps even survival – can depend on the level of specialist medical care they receive and how quickly they receive it. This is where EAAA can help. Since 2000 they have attended over 20,000 lifesaving missions, touching the lives of many thousands of people. Their phenomenal crew compromises specialist pre-hospital doctors and critical-care paramedics, operating out of two high-tech helicopters from 07:00 until 19:00 from their Norwich base and from 07:00 until 01:30 from their Cambridge base. They are the first air ambulance in the country to attend helicopter emergency medical incidents in the hours of darkness to unknown and unlit sites.’ – EAAA

Best of luck Chris, from all the team at Monthind Clean LLP.

​https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/CHRIS-BROWN125

www.tourdebroads.com – for more information about Tour de Broads 2017

www.eaaa.org.uk – East Anglian Air Ambulance website

More than 60 business people from across the Eastern region attended Pure’s second Women’s Leadership Alumni event to continue discussions on progressing gender equality in organisations of all sizes and sectors.

The event, held at The Jockey Rooms in Newmarket on 24 May, brought together past and present delegates of the Women’s Leadership Programme, and their employer sponsors, as well as others interested in inclusive leadership.

The Women’s Leadership Programme was first developed in 2014 by professional recruitment specialists Pure, in conjunction with strategic HR consultancy People & Performance. It has already helped more than 65 aspiring female leaders in the Eastern region to strengthen their leadership skills, develop their confidence and to work with their employers to remove any barriers to progression.

Guest speakers at the event included Dr Andy Wood, Chief Executive at Adnams, who described how the renowned regional brewing business keeps its people and values at the heart of the organisation through their inclusive culture.  Despite a backdrop of significant competition and a declining market, Adnams has continued to grow and evolve and  Dr. Wood still considers the business to be ‘a 145-year-old start-up’ with the same level of focus still placed on the people and culture behind the business as when it was first founded in 1872.

David Britain, a strategic HR Consultant also led a workshop on aligning culture and values and Bree Sherwood, Director at PwC, gave a fascinating insight into the latest findings on gender diversity in the Eastern region. Lynn Morgan, CEO at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (ARHC) and Donna Talbot, Fundraising Director at the charity and previous programme participant, also attended to share the story of ARHC raising £10m to build the spectacular new, award-winning hospice which opened in Cambridge last year.

Lynn Walters, founder and director at Pure, said: “As well as supporting the continued development of aspiring female leaders in our region, this event provided an opportunity for all those involved with our Women’s Leadership Programme to continue discussions on developing a culture of inclusive leadership and building diverse talent pipelines. We were to delighted see a significant number of men at the event who are committed to building inclusive work environments where men and women will thrive and, in turn, the region as a whole will benefit. Our aim to inspire organisations across the region to create inclusive work environments, where any barriers to progression are removed and everyone can work in a way that makes them feel productive and engaged.”

The next Women’s Leadership Programme which begins in June is full. Dates for the November and January programmes have been released. For more information contact Lucy Plumb: lucy.plumb@prs.uk.com

The Royal Norfolk Show takes place over 28-29 June and is the largest annual gathering of businesses and traders in Norfolk. A few opportunities remain to be part of the Show and to connect with 81 000 visitors. Join us to celebrate Innovation and Enterprise at the region’s biggest county show. Be part of our new Retail look and feel.

Traders benefit from:

• Biggest county show in the region
• 81 000 footfall
• 55% AB (70% ABC1)
• 45% visitors directly engaged with Food, Farming and the Countryside
• 17 sectors and themed areas
• Business to business and networking opportunities
• Highly effective brand exposure
• Corporate hospitality and sponsorship opportunities

For further details please visit https://royalnorfolkshow.rnaa.org.uk/exhibitors/ or contact Sonia Bell tel: 01603 731968 email: Sonia.bell@rnaa.org.uk or Ben Hope tel: 01603 594462 email: ben.hope@rnaa.org.uk