New to BBA Digital Media’s digital signage networks are the wonderfulOmni Search- an innovative SEO Agency and website design company. OMNI take a bold approach to SEO and Website development, harnessing the individual skills, passion and drive of an exceptional team. OMNI have come on board with BBA Digital Media this June to spread the word about their 10 years of experience in providing the very best SEO services, Content marketing and Web design.
Check out their advert on our screens across the city reaching 500,000 people per week, and head tohttps://omnisearch.uk/about-omni/to receive a FREE SEO Analysis…You’re Welcome!
We are happy to welcomeBMA Estatesto our digital signage networks across Norfolk. Their beautiful motion graphic HD ad will be viewable across all our screens for the whole month. The newly opened Estate agents are using our network of screens and taking advantage of our high footfall locations to increase their brand awareness.
BMA Estates offer modern and energetic estate agency services across Norfolk. Their Norwich based offices showcase the best in the rental and buyers markets, and pride themselves in offering a truly personalised service. Their Sales team create a bespoke sales plan, utilising traditional and online sales marketing to make sure that your home achieves the price it deserves, whilst their rental team offer everything from full management to a comprehensive tenant find service.
Whether you are looking to rent or sell your own property, or you are searching for that dream home yourself – let BMA Estates take the stress out of searching and enjoy a tailored and personal modern service.
Watch out for their digital advert on all our screens throughtoutJune!
Norfolk Community Foundation would like to hear your views about work and community life in Norfolk!
Vital Signs is a report that is produced annually in various regions of the country (and worldwide) to measure social trends and issues, to help target charitable giving where it is most needed. The reports combine existing research with community consultation, to gain a full picture of the issues in each area.
We would like to know about the issues affecting you and your community in Norfolk to help us to produce our Vital Signs report which will be released in October. If you live or work in Norfolk, this is an opportunity to add your voice.
The survey covers the core themes that make up Vital Signs, including wellbeing, fairness, work, learning and housing and homelessness and asks for your perception of issues affecting people who live and work in the county. It should take around 10-15 mins to complete. All responses are anonymous.
Click here to complete our Vital Signs survey now – thank you in advance. The survey will close on 13 July 2016.
To find out more about Vital Signs, and how your information will help, please visit our Vital Signs webpage.
Salaries across East Anglia are starting to increase as the job market becomes more competitive, according to the latest salary and recruitment report by Pure.
The 2016 report, released by East Anglia’s professional recruitment specialists, reveals that employers across the region are now having to work harder to attract and retain high calibre staff. Previous reports showed salaries remained steady for the last five years, but this year average salaries are beginning to rise and more innovative benefit packages are being introduced.
Gill Buchanan, co-founder and director at Pure, said: “The increase is salaries could be partly attributed to the introduction of the national living wage. Salaries have increased for temporary and permanent office roles in particular, for example the average salary for a receptionist has risen to £18,000 in Essex, an increase of £2,000.
“However, as the Eastern Region economy improves more organisations are expanding and recruiting. Competition for talented employees is increasing and with more job opportunities available people are becoming more confident about switching companies. Candidates feel more empowered to negotiate better terms and employers need to be prepared for this. Our salary survey is not just provided for job-seekers; we also compile it to provide employers with the research needed to benchmark how competitive their salary offering is.”
The report shows that salary increases are particularly noticeable in Cambridgeshire, a county which currently has a number of industries facing a shortage of experienced employees. In the accountancy sector, salaries have remained reasonably consistent for higher level managerial positions but have significantly increased for the part-qualified market where demand is much higher. The average salary for newly qualified accountancy professionals is now £45,000, a 20% increase over the last two years.
In general, salaries across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have remained more consistent, but are predicted to rise as the job market continues to become more buoyant. For example, the number of job opportunities in Essex is staring to rise for the first time since the recession. Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and Private Equity Investment has had a positive effect on recruitment in the county which faces increased pressure from being close to London and competing with the capital’s weighted salaries.
Other factors highlighted have also shown that employers in the region are reviewing how to attract and retain good employees. In Norfolk and Suffolk in particular there has been a noticeable trend for increased investment in career development opportunities, highlighted by the number of businesses seeking to appoint learning and development or training specialists.
Gill added: “Being able to demonstrate an investment in employee development is an excellent way to help attract high calibre candidates. Candidates are still reluctant to move on salary alone and benefits, career progression and workplace culture remain significant deciding factors. However, employers also need to review whether the benefits they offer are still competitive. Pensions used to be a key differentiator, but with the Workplace Pensions roll out almost complete, employers are now starting to offer enhanced pensions to entice new employees. Benefits which used to make employers stand out from the crowd are also becoming more common place, for example 85 per cent of the companies we’ve surveyed now offer flexible working hours.”
Pure’s salary report covers its core industry recruitment sectors of Accountancy, Financial Services, Human Resources, Office Support and Marketing. The 2016 report also includes results for the IT sector, following the launch of Pure’s IT recruitment specialism in 2015.
The findings have been compiled using information from Pure’s Compare my Salary tool and the team’s extensive knowledge of the recruitment market in East Anglia. Compare my Salary is a unique online tool for candidates to benchmark their salary and benefits against like-for-like job roles in the region. It is also used as a benchmark for organisations to gauge salaries to acquire and retain top talent.
East Anglia’s top employers will be announced on 6 October at the next Best Employers Eastern Region event, an ongoing initiative run by Pure and eras Ltd to support the development of local organisations, boost the regional economy and to celebrate the region’s fantastic businesses.
With the date now confirmed, employers still have time to register to take part in the initiative and to attend the high-profile networking event. To register, organisations need to sign up for the free employee survey which is at the heart of the initiative. The survey is tailored for each organisation and provides employers with a better understanding of their workplace culture and employee engagement levels. All participating organisations are in with the chance of winning a prestigious accolade which will highlight the organisation as a great place to work. Research by Pure, East Anglia’s professional recruitment specialists, shows that organisations with these types of employer-focussed accreditations and awards typically receive twice as many applications when recruiting for a role.
Lynn Walters, co-founder and director at Pure, said: “Many employers already carry out their own staff surveys. We want to encourage them to incorporate these into the Best Employers survey as this is a unique opportunity with added benefits. Being part of the Best Employers initiative not only enables employers to monitor their own employee engagement levels, it is also a chance to benchmark their findings against other organisations in the region. Our aim is to provide employers with the tools and guidance to actively develop their own organisation, and the opportunity to work together with other business leaders to share successes and ideas. A collaborative approach from all the region’s best employers will help to put East Anglia on the map as great place to work and ultimately boost the regional economy overall.”
The Best Employers Eastern Region Survey provides employers with the data needed to understand and develop an organisation’s culture, values and employee engagement. Each organisation receives a tailored report summarising the culture, values and leadership style across their organisation, and an action plan for guidance on further development.
Margaret Burnside, Director of People Development at eras Ltd, added: “Running your employee survey through the Best Employers initiative not only provides organisations with reliable and accurate information on their own organisation, but also access to regional trends. This will help to really inform strategic planning and to deliver long term organisational change. Employers can choose to use our standard survey or customise it to suit their own business by incorporating any existing staff surveys or adding additional, bespoke questions. Because it is conducted by an external party, employers are also more likely to get honest answers and gain an authentic reflection.”
Previous participants, which have gone on to win Best Employer awards, include Benefit Cosmetics in Chelmsford, crowned the region’s Best Overall Large Employer at the last Best Employer awards in 2014, and Bidwells in Cambridgeshire, Rehabworks in Suffolk and Tobar in Norfolk. These organisations are now part of a growing network of Best Employers across the region, attending regular employee engagement seminars to share best practice.
Three key reasons to take part in the Best Employers Eastern Region initiative:
Become part of a growing network of Best Employers and share successes and ideas with other top employers to benefit the region as whole. Enhance your employee survey by accessing valuable data not only on your own organisation, but also regional trends which will enable you to benchmark your business against others across the region. Be in with a chance of winning a prestigious award which will enhance your employer brand and attract more talent to your organisation.
The Best Employers survey is open to organisations of all sizes and sectors across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. The confidential employee survey typically costs around £2,000, but is provided free of charge if businesses implement it as part of Best Employers initiative. The survey is open for employees to complete until September. For more information, visitwww.best-employers.co.ukor contact the team at Bestemployers@prs.uk.com.
With our recent focus on the growth of Delta-Simons Environment, Health & Safety team, we are pleased to welcome our new Operations Director for EHS, Rosanna Webb. Rosanna joins the company with over 20 years’ of EH&S experience having worked in the UK Construction sector for 13 years, then moving into consultancy for a brief period and more recently working in the high-tech software industry globally.
Having worked for the likes of Symantec and Veritas, Rosanna specialises in delivering Health & Safety solutions, focusing on key H&S risks for businesses such as ergonomics and emergency response as well as leading programs to develop robust and appropriate EHS Strategies and Management Systems. As EHS Operations Director based out of our Manchester office, Rosanna’s new role will be to develop the EHS offering to clients focusing initially on the high tech sector; working closely with clients to understand their company EHS requirements and then working to deliver effective and consistent solutions.
Comfortable and safe work places can increase productivity by 16%, and improve job satisfaction by 24% (source: RiskRight). Delta-Simons are delivering RiskRight EHS solutions designed by Antea Group, which aims to reduce and proactively manage Environment, Health & Safety risk factors in lower-risk environments i.e. non-manufacturing such as offices, data centres and retail stores. As RiskRight EHS practitioners, we work to understand a business’s culture to ensure the successful implementation of EHS or enhancement of the EHS services in place. This could be from air quality through to employee wellness – providing a rapid response to a specific local issue such as fire risk assessments, or delivering a strategic plan to address global risks.
Alex Ferguson, Managing Director, said of Rosanna’s appointment “We are thrilled to have Rosanna on board; we are seeing an increased need for EHS services within the lower risk environment, and Rosanna’s appointment and experience will enable us to deliver these services effectively, and to each client’s specific requirements”.
Norwich International Airport has become one of the first UK airports to sign the Autism Charter.
The Autism Charter is a document which has been produced in collaboration with people with autism and provides a framework for making venues autism friendly.
Working with Autism Anglia, a number of airport staff have completed an autism awareness training programme and are recognised as ‘Autism Champions’. The airport will continue to work closely with Autism Anglia to ensure all staff understand autism and how they can better support passengers and family members who have autism whilst using the airport.
Richard Pace, General Manager of Norwich International Airport said: “We are committed to making the airport experience an easier, speedier and less stressful one for all of our passengers. Autism Anglia has been a valuable source of guidance and information for the airport, delivering training sessions and resources to our staff. The introduction of the Autism Charter and on-going training programme for our staff is another step towards improving the passenger journey through the airport”
A number of resources will be made available at the airport going forward including leaflets and wristbands, with dedicated ‘Autism Champions’ available to offer support.
Jamie Price, Security Manager commented: “To further improve the airport experience, we are in the process of creating a ‘My Travel Card’ for passengers with autism to complete ahead of travel. This document will be available as a download from the airport’s website for completion prior to returning to the airport in advance of travel to ensure we are aware of their needs whilst travelling through the airport”
Anne Ebbage, Norfolk Autism Developments Advisor for Autism Anglia commented: “It was brilliant last year to be asked by Norwich International Airport to help them improve and promote their services for people with ‘hidden disabilities’. The Autism Charter and the Connect to Autism Project has been funded by the Department of Health and rolled out nationally by members of the Autism Alliance. As a member of the Alliance, Autism Anglia has been pleased to deliver this in the Eastern region. The project has aimed to build autism-friendly communities through raising greater awareness and understanding of autism. This will help people with autism and their families feel more welcome and accepted in the community. Autism-friendly environments give people with autism and their families the confidence to go out into their communities and to engage as equal citizens. This means that, often for the first time, they use facilities such as Norwich International Airport, visit shops, use leisure facilities, go to the cinema or theatre and much more.”
We are pleased that the airport has signed the Autism Charter and that we are able to support and assist them in their developments to make using the airport a more enjoyable experience for people with autism and their fellow travellers.”
TaxAssist Accountants, the UK’s largest network of small business tax and accountancy specialists, has added two experienced and qualified new staff members to its 40 strong team at the Norwich based Support Centre, further bolstering the support available to its franchisees.
Michael Whiteman joins as a Manager in the Technical Team, providing support, guidance, training and advice to franchisees on a wide range of accounts and tax matters. Michael has previously worked with Grant Thornton LLP on trust accounts and tax compliance and at KPMG in the Channel Islands Ltd as a Tax Consultant.
Fraser McKay joins as Communications Manager, working alongside the Business Development Team on all client facing communications. Fraser has more than 20 years’ experience in communications with a strong background and skill set in journalism as well as a wealth of experience in franchising. He is experienced in business-to-business and business-to-consumer PR and marketing in both the UK and overseas markets, and is highly experienced in both print and digital media. He is also qualified in NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) and CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) accredited.
Group Operations Director Phil Sullivan comments “We are all delighted that in Michael and Fraser we have found two high calibre individuals, who bring with them a wealth of talent and expertise. Their skills will further enhance the support we can offer to our network and we all warmly welcome them to the team.”
The TaxAssist Accountants Support Centre has won many awards over the years for the quality of its training and support it offers to its network of over 200 franchisees. These include Best Franchise and British Franchise Association awards, and a ‘5-star Franchisee Satisfaction Award’ for the last three years running, based on positive feedback from its franchisees.
Leathes Prior is delighted as the Norfolk County Football Association announces the recent deal that sees the firm sign up as their new official Player Registration Partner and Norfolk FA Veterans League sponsor.The firm will be supporting the annual registration process through which the Norfolk County FA register everyone that participates in the adult game and now also the youth game, totalling over 25,000 players, coaches and referees every summer.
The Norfolk FA Veterans League will also be supported by Leathes Prior. The league was formed in 2010 and has enjoyed a highly successful first four seasons. It is currently the only league centrally run by the association and is going from strength to strength. As of the 2015-16 season, the league operates with over 20 teams competing across three divisions. The partnership aims to align and strengthen both brands and also to support and develop grassroots football, impacting on even more individuals in the years to come.
Partner at Leathes Prior Dan Chapman said”I’m sure that this partnership with theCounty’s Football Association will have a positive impact on our firm and,whilst many people tend to focus on the top end of the professional game, theamount of grass roots work that the Norfolk FA do really is incredible.””As well as providing Leathes Prior with great exposure Norfolk-wide,there is a strong synergy with the work our sports business Full Contactundertakes – where we pride ourselves on our expertise in identifyingnon-league talent and taking them to the pro game. Let’s hope a hidden gem outthere in Norfolk will be next!”.
Shaun Turner, Chief Executive of Norfolk County FA said:”We are delightedto join forces with Leathes Prior, we have had a great working relationshipwith them over a number of years and for them to now become one of the CountyFA’s Official Partners is fantastic news. They are a leading Law Firm offering awide ranging services.”We are looking forward to working together in the coming months todevelop Norfolk Football even further and bring increased opportunity tothousands of players as well as the hundreds of coaches, officials andvolunteers involved in our beautiful game each weekend.”
NEW – Virtual Training Academy launches in Norfolk.
Imagine being able to study for a top class management qualification without moving from your desk or even your armchair! That possibility is now a reality as TIPS for Good Management (TIPS) launch their new Virtual Training Academy, thought to be the first in Norfolk. The flexibility of this learning is unrivalled. You can register anywhere in the world straight from a PC, tablet or laptop and interact with a live presenter, ask questions and get as involved as you want to.
Recordings are available after each session and can be personalised to meet the learning needs of a whole company or an individual. There is an extensive catalogue of subjects available from Time Management to Team Building. Additionally the prestigious Chartered Management Institute (CMI) qualifications can be studied via the Virtual Academy as well. Director Julian Hammond points out: “Never before has management training been so accessible. I wish this service had been available to me as an aspiring manager. There’s no need for lengthy journeys to a venue or complicated registrations, no need to sit next to strangers and feel that dread of having to say something in front of a group of people. It would have accelerated my learning immensely and in turn my management career would have developed more quickly”
The Virtual Academy is one part of a truly blended learning approach which includes e-learning support, live classroom delivery or 1 to 1 coaching sessions through a ‘Virtual Walk In Centre’.
This provides the most flexible, accessible and cost effective management and leadership development available anywhere in the world today. TIPS have already delivered sessions to learners in the Middle East, North America, Canada and Europe receiving some excellent feedback.
For more information on the courses we run please see our website or contact us on 01362 699392 emma@tipsfgm.co.uk
The Norfolk Economic Intelligence Reportbrings together key business, economic and labour market intelligence to provide a regular insight into the current state of the Norfolk economy.
The report is produced on a quarterly basis by the Economic Development Team and reflects economic activity in the county from the previous financial quarter.