Member News

Before looking into SSL certificates, I had absolutely no idea what they were or what they did, which is surprising now that I know both of those things because they are very important for websites to have.

In short, an SSL certificate, or Secure Sockets Layer certificate, is a way to encrypt traffic on your website to make it more secure for users so that they are confident their information is secure on your website. This traffic could include transaction details, which is why an SSL certificate is essential for websites that handle transactions.

I’ve also learnt that there are different kinds of SSL certificates and which one you choose for your website requires some careful consideration. There are multiple kinds of SSL certificates that cater to different needs of the certificate holder. Some of these certificates are a Domain Validation certificate, an Organisation Validation certificate and an Extended Validation certificate .

The Extended Validation certificate provides the highest level of security because the applicant must provide a multitude of company details so that the Certificate Authority can verify the existence of the applicant, as well as their identity and their rights to use their website. This certificate comes with the highest price however and not all businesses will need an Extended Validation certificate.

That’s probably a lot to read and understand, it certainly was for me to begin with, so to put it in simple terms, each certificate application process has a different number authorisation steps before the certificate can be issued and the certificates that prove the highest levels of security and confidentiality to users of a website require the most information before it is issued.

There are many vendors of SSL certificates nowadays, as their use has grown substantially in the last few years, but some noteworthy ones are GoDaddy and GlobalSign. Certificates provided from these two Certificate Authorities, or CA’s for short, are trusted by most browsers and devices and have their Root Certificates stored in the browsers/devices root store, which is where the trusted root certificates are held.

The root store is basically a database that is used to store all of the trusted certificates that comes pre-installed with the browser or device.

A very wordy and somewhattechieexplanation of what SSL certificates areand what they do, I know, but hopefully it is an insight into what goes into making a website secure for users because I certainly had no idea!

Words:Lewis Leeds

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” – Captain Kirk, Wrath of Khan 1982.

From a Norfolk Developers, Naked Element and a personal point of view NorDevCon 2016 was a huge success. We had the largest number of attendees we’ve ever had by a significant margin. The Thursday workshops attracted a total of about thirty people, Friday saw over 400 and there were about 250 on Saturday. Surely the best of times.

In his presentation, “Silicon Broad: Bridges not Valleys” Jon Bradford, former MD of TechStars, said that nor(DEV):con needed to move to a new, larger venue and be 800 people next year. It’s true that in terms of numbers nor(DEV):con has come a long way from the 160 people who attended its first incarnation, SyncConf.

Our current venue is almost certainly the only option for the five track conference format we use. However, with 400 people in the main auditorium the sponsors and lunch area gets a little tight. The other four rooms we use have capacities of 120, 100, 40 and 18. When you take an average that’s 80 people in each room. Immediately it’s obvious that an even distribution of people wouldn’t work. Of course, people don’t usually distribute themselves evenly. It’s difficult to know which sessions are going to be the most popular, so knowing where to put which speakers is difficult and ultimately, we get it wrong sometimes.

While it’s fantastic that the conference is so popular, there are times when delegates can’t get to see the speakers they want because a room is full and almost every time there’s another room with only a handful of people in it. The worst of times.

So what to do about it? There are a number of options.

I’ve already identified that another venue isn’t really an option.

We could ask people to specify which sessions they would like to attend in advance and place the speakers accordingly. This would take quite a bit more organisation and is difficult as the programme is often changing right up until the day.

We could restrict the number of people on any one day to about 350, that would go some way towards relieving the overcrowding.

We’ve spent a long time scaling vertically (increasing the number of people on one day). We could consider scaling horizontally (more days, with less people each day) and perhaps dropping the smallest conference room. The issue with this is people having to spend more time away from work, which, given the eco system of small companies in Norfolk, isn’t likely to be popular.

This is usually where I would present the ideal solution, drawn from a consideration of all the options. However, this is one of those problems which requires a lot more thought and discussion with experienced individuals. The discussions and head scratching continue.

Words: Paul Grenyer

As part of our quest to develop enterprise across the region, Swarm is pleased to launch new bite sized workshops across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex which aredesigned to introduce employeesinto developing enterprising attitudes in the workplace and learning to measure their own impact across the business.

Developed by Swarm Enterprise in conjunction with leading business author and entrepreneur Robert Ashton,the aim of the day is to enable each delegates to look for more ways to they can deliver impact that can influence the growth of both the organisation and their own careers.

Chris Perry Swarm Group Managing director comments ” many of our business who have had a Swarm Enterprise apprentice have asked if we could do something for their existing staff as there is a real need for making employees more accountable inmeasuring the impact they have on the bottom line and becoming more entrepreneurial in the way they work. This one day taster session helps those who may not have the time to dedicate to a longer course but wantto understand how they can start to develop the enterprisingskills and attitude tomaximise their futureimpact and career”.

The workshops will be delivered by leading business author Robert Ashton and in conjunction with Carl Long ,Swarm Enterprise Trainer.

For more information on the workshop click here.https://sandbox.norfolkchambers.co.uk/events/member-training/new-one-day-workshop-developing-enterprising-attitudes

Ends

Today (Tuesday 8 March) is International Women’s Day, a chance to not only celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women worldwide but also to support this year’s theme by pledging to play a part in reducing gender inequality.

Organisations are being asked to make a #PledgeForParity in which they commit to helping achieve gender parity more quickly. This could be through helping women and girls achieve their ambitions, calling for gender-balanced leadership, respecting and valuing differences, developing more inclusive and flexible cultures or rooting out workplace bias. The theme has been chosen in response to findings from the World Economic Forum which has predicted that it will currently take another 117 years for the gender gap to close entirely, if more is not done to address the issue.

How can Pure help businesses make a #PledgeForParity?

Here at Pure we are strong advocates of achieving gender equality in the work place. This is because evidence shows that organisations with an equal gender balance at senior levels have a more collaborative and creative approach to problem solving, make better decisions, and are more considerate on how business issues will impact on their people, as well as the bottom line.

We’ve already worked with People & Performance to create our Women’s Leadership Programme. This has been designed specifically for women to develop their authentic leadership skills and for organisations to create a balanced talent pipeline, with the ultimate aim of achieving inclusive leadership at Executive or Board level.

Our aim is to inspire organisations to create rewarding work environments where any barriers to progression are removed and everyone is able to work in a way that makes them feel productive and engaged. Because this programme has a dual approach of developing both participants and their organisations, it will actively help to address the following three key gender parity accelerators identified in ‘Women. Fast Forward: The time for gender parity is now’ report:

Illuminate the path to leadership by making career opportunities more visible to women Speed up culture change with progressive corporate policy, such as paternity leave and flexible working Build supportive environments and work to eliminate conscious and unconscious bias

We are about to launch the second intake for 2016 of this successful programme with courses due to start in April. It is the ideal way for organisations make a #PledgeForParity this International Women’s Day. It is not only a commitment to helping aspiring female professionals to develop their careers and become more effective leaders, but also to developing a more inclusive culture in the organisation by actively mentoring delegates.

If you are interest in taking part as a delegate or sponsor, please contact Lucy Plumb on lucy.plumb@prs.uk.com or visit our Women in Leadership page for more information.

KLM UK Engineering have been supporting UTCN students with a core project as part of their year 12 studies. The project is designed to introduce students to industry and solving problems in a business environment. The winning team visited KLMUKE and presented its findings to the senior management team & had a tour of the facilities. The winning team ‘Crash Bang Wallop’ – Will Porter, Willow Woodmin, Brandon Jeakings and Ben Allen, are pictured below with Arjan Meijer, Luke Frost and their tutor Max Molenaar.

TheNorwich Fashion Weekcampaign went live on our digital signage networks across Norfolk yesterday afternoon which will be viewed by 500,000people per week with launch of our fourth screen.

Norwich Fashion Week was created in 2010 to celebrate and promote the vibrant fashion scene in the city. It brings together Norwich’s nationally-recognised, independent retail offering, and the city’s thriving student fashion design community, plus professional practitioners in fashion and beauty.

The BBA Digital Media network intends to increase awareness of such a fabulous event held in our fine city, and its great to be involved. The event stretches from March 10th – 17th hosting five different shows, the retailers show, the hair show, the vintage show, the designers show finishing with the fashion excess.

For more information visit the website:www.norwichfashion.co.uk

SMS, a subsidiary of Alderley plc, is pleased to announce that they have launched a new corporate website (www.sms-alderley.com). The website has been designed with a fresh new look, an uncluttered design and easier to navigate functionality through our Manufacturing, Services and Aftermarket offerings. Included in the design is SMS’s newly designed logo which highlights SMS’s affiliation with the Alderley Group.

As there is a general increase in the use of mobile devices, the website site has also been optimised for smart phones and tablets, which means that all visitors can access the website content on the go more easily.

Dave Howlett, Managing Director – SMS comments, “Our goal is to provide our visitors with clear and accurate product and service information. The new website has been designed with this in mind and we feel that it delivers, giving potential customers the detail they need when considering SMS products and services before getting in touch direct”.

Visit the new website at: www.sms-alderley.com

Accountants and business advisers Price Bailey has announced an expansion to its Insolvency and Recovery team with two new senior appointments.

Matt Howard joins Price Bailey from BDO Norwich as an Insolvency and Recovery Partner. He has extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency together with informal arrangements and turnarounds. Matt also brings experience in dealing with independent business reviews and solvent liquidations. He is a Fellow of the Insolvency Practitioners Association and the Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3).

Stuart Morton also joins Price Bailey from the BDO Norwich office. Stuart is a qualified Insolvency Practitioner and his remit is to offer prompt advice and effective solutions when businesses and individuals face financial pressure and distress. Stuart has particular knowledge and experience in areas including retail, construction and manufacturing.

“This is fantastic news for Price Bailey as it brings to the firm two big hitters in the East Anglian insolvency market,” said Head of the Price Bailey Insolvency and Recovery department, Paul Pittman. “Matt and Stuart will enhance our wealth of expertise which can be drawn upon to deliver the right solution for any given situation.”

A business that grew out of research laboratories at Norwich’s world-renowned John Innes Centre, has become a global force in the battle against infectious diseases and cancer.

Inspiralis supplies vital products and services to businesses and academics working at the forefront of drug discovery and antibiotic development. It is one of a number of innovative new businesses that have prospered within the supportive environment of the Norwich Research Park.

Founded in 2008 to service the needs of professionals working in specialist areas of biochemistry, Inspiralis’ customer base spans the globe – and it is widely recognised as the number one topoisomerase company in the world.

“A key element of our business is to supply the necessary tools and materials to develop and screen novel anti-infective and anti-cancer compounds,” said founder director Dr Nicolas Burton.

“The overseas demand for our services from research groups working in the pharmaceutical industry and academia around the world is so great that today 90% of our products are exported.”

Inspiralis has continued to go from strength to strength, recently expanding into new premises at the Innovation Centre.

Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, chief executive officer at Norwich Research Park said:

“Norwich Research Park provides a great environment for start-up science based businesses. The flexible accommodation and offer of shared equipment makes it the ideal location for companies, particularly at the early stages of their development when access to affordable scientific facilities and free business support is so important to their growth.”

“We provide the necessary tools and materials to develop and screen novel anti-infective and anti-cancer compounds,” said Dr Burton. “We supply enzymes such as topoisomerases (that regulate the overwinding or underwinding of DNA) and ligases (that act as catalysts in chemical reactions in which molecules are linked together). Also plasmids (DNAs capable of independent replication) and other DNA- and RNA-modifying proteins. We also provide substrates and kits for analysis, along with the enzymes from a range of organisms and a variety of mutants.”

Inspiralis developed from the John Innes Centre laboratory of Professor Tony Maxwell – a world leader in the field of topoisomerase research.

It still maintains strong links with Professor Maxwell’s lab, including sponsoring a student there. It also sponsors students within the school of biological sciences at the University of East Anglia.

“We have made good use of the greater space and enhanced office facilities created by the move into our own premises, expanding our supply of high-quality research products and screening services worldwide,” he said.

The founding directors are Tony Maxwell, Nicolas Burton and Alison Howells. They were joined by Tony Blake in 2010. Investors include Iceni Seedcorn Fund and Plant Bioscience Ltd represented on the board by Dr Martin Stocks.

Picture Caption: L-R Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, Chief Executive Officer Norwich Research Park with Inspiralis directors Alison Howells and Dr Nicolas Burton.

Flomotion Studio launch a new range of creative height adjustable sit-stand desks that offer a healthier way of working.

Launch: Thursday 17th March 2016 from 5.30 – 7.30pm St Andrews House (City College Building, opposite Bridewell Alley) St Andrews Street,Norwich,NR2 4TP

Heavily involved in the new start up family business and helping to deliver the message on sit-stand working, is a young entrepreneur and product designer from Norwich.

Amber Sayers, who shares an open plan studio space in the Norwich Lanes, helped form the company Flomotion Studio last year with her parents, Bev Grice and Floyd Sayers. She has joint responsibility for design, and research and development within the business. A year spent designing a sit-stand desk for her final year A-level project, researching the office environment and the serious health issues surrounding a sedentary way of working, combined with her parents sourcing the right frame supplier, meant everything fell into place – it was the perfect timing for them to start the business.

Amber Sayers from Flomotion ‘I see this a great opportunity to design new products and work with exciting new materials on something that has such a positive benefit for users. I’m very interested in design and creative business enterprise and as a fledgling entrepreneur want to run my own business one day. I have been offered a place to study industrial design and technology at Brunel in September, but could put this back a year, depending on how the business develops.’

The recommendation is that if you work at a desk you should alternate from a sitting to standing position regularly and spend a minimum of two hours on your feet at work, building up to an ideal four hours – movement throughout the day is key! Today, the average office worker sits for about 10 hours. Medical researchers have long warned thatprolonged sitting is dangerous,associated with a significantly higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and depression, as well as muscle and joint problems.

Flomotion are on a mission to help get Norfolk businesses moving. Height adjustable, sit-stand desks can play an important part in improving your health and well-being at work and their desks are as ergonomic, creative and flexible as they are functional and stylish. At the press of a button you can adjust your Flomotion desk in seconds, to the optimum working height for you, it couldn’t be easier.

As part of their commitment to customers, they provide lots of support and relevant information to help get them moving, including a free app as a reminder to stand, online stretching and exercise videos to do at your desk as well as a printed wall poster and downloadable info-graphics.

Trial a Flomotion sit-stand desk and experience the power of movement for yourself. Sign up for a free trial today. Or attend the launch event on Thursday 17th March and enter into the prize drawer to win a frame for your workspace.

nor(DEV):con attracted over 400 people this year, the biggest turnout yet! There were international speakers, fully booked workshops and a great atmosphere over the whole weekend.

This year’s new business track proved popular, especially Ermine Amies’ ‘Time Bandits‘ session, with delegates taking away practical tips and advice on how to better use their time, and Jon Bradford’s ‘Silicon Broad: Bridges not Valleys‘about the future of tech startups.

The EDP covered the conference,which will be held fromThursday 23rd to Saturday 25th February next year, and already has a number of big names lined up!

Keep an eye on the nor(DEV):con website, or follow them on Facebook and twitter to be kept up to date.

Lastly, a massive thank you to everyone who supported and attended the conference, it was a HUGE success because of you!

This was my first year attending Nor(Dev)con: and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The conference was held across three days, with the first day being full of workshops and the final two days hosting talks and presentations from a variety of speakers.

Nor(Dev)con: was set up a little differently this year, with the inclusion of more business sessions and talks which were brought in by popular demand, as well as tech sessions and talks and I think that it worked very well. There was a wide variety of sessions to go to and the majority of them were very engaging and interesting.

My favourite talk by far was presented by Dom Davis who talked about “Fake it until you make it” and gave a very engaging and well planned out presentation. He talked a little about ‘imposter syndrome’, which is where you feel like you are in imposter in a situation you are in and then went on to talk about people’s perceptions of other people and how one person may perceive him to be a confident speaker with excellent presentation skills, but in reality he perceives himself to be an anxious public speaker who must plan out and rehearse his presentation so that nothing is left to chance. He proved his point when he used voice commands to enable an assistance system in a game, but then explained that it was all staged for effect to give a better presentation and to leave nothing to chance. Faking it, until he made it.

The tech talks were brilliant throughout the day, with lots of tips and insights into the world of technology, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the inclusion of business talks as well. I went to a session that was run by Matthew Draycott and he covered the topic of building a ‘Growth Business’. I thought that this was a great session because it gave a lot of insight into the world of business, how you might wish to grow your business and the strategies you can use to build a long-term, successful business. It covered things that I wouldn’t have thought of myself and gave me useful tips for the future if one day I decide to start my own business.

Nor(Dev)con: 2016 was the most successful conference so far, with over 400 people turning up on Friday and around 250 people on Saturday. No small feat at all, but what I really liked was the wide variation in age groups that came along to both days of the conference. We saw people ranging in age from high-school students to those who have been running their own businesses for a long time and who were experts in their field. It was great to see a crowd of tech and business enthusiasts coming together at the many sessions that the conference had to offer.

Being my first ever conference, I am greatly looking forward to Nor(Dev)con: 2017 and am sure that it will be just as good, if not better, than this year’s.

For more information on the Nor(Dev)con: lineup, as well as information on all of the speakers, go to https://www.nordevcon.com/

by Lewis Leeds