Member News

Today I had a review with Ermine Amies. Naked Element have been training the Sandler way with Ermine for some time now and reviews are an incredibly useful part of the process. We discussed a lot of aspects of Naked Element’s business in detail and Ermine offered great help and advice. As is often the case we got to talking about calling prospects (or potential clients). I don’t like calling it cold calling, because that is something which Naked Element doesn’t usually do. In most cases a prospect will be ‘warmed up’ with a LinkedIn connection and message, a brochure in the post or through meeting at a networking event.

Nobody really likes calling to speak to a prospect for the first time. Ok, so someone is going to put their hand up and say “I do! I just love talking to people.” and that’s fine, of course. Today, speaking to Ermine made me think how calling a prospect is like riding my bike to work. I don’t like doing it. The anticipation of getting on my bike can be crippling. It’s so much easier to get in the car or on the bus, but when I do do it and even more so when I do it every day for a week, I feel very good about it. I feel a sense of achievement and I’m pleased with myself.

Calling a prospect is much the same. I put it off and put it off and find almost anything else to do, but when I pluck up the courage to do it, it’s usually fine. Gatekeepers for the most part are friendly, even if they don’t put you through to who you want to speak to. There are those few calls every so often where you find yourself chatting away to a prospect like you’ve known them for years and a bond develops which may lead to work in the future.

The point I’m making? Calling prospects for the first time is like riding a bike, the more you do it, the stronger your muscles become and the easier it gets.

I attended my first User Stories Workshop today. It wasn’t as intense or as complicated as I thought it might be, but the potential client was surprised at how much we got done in such a short space of time. Aspects of their business process came up that they hadn’t considered before too, which was reassuring – it felt like we were being thorough!

My job was to take note of the users we identified with the client, and then write each story on an index card. I’d only read about the process before but it struck me as so simple and yet effective a way to narrow down exactly what was required. I was complimented on my ability to listen and write at the same time – a skill I’ve honed over years of music journalism and interviews I guess. I also managed to eat chocolate chip cookies at the same time. Multi-tasking level: Expert.

Now all we have to do is assign each story a measure of complexity, work out what must be in the first phase and how much we can fit in around that, then divide that by time to get our velocity so we can determine how long the whole thing will take and come up with a final estimate.

Easy. Sort of.

Lauren

The fourth issue of the company magazine is featured around balancing work with play and contains regular features such as real Swarm experiences, a Business Spotlight article, and innovative approaches to work. In this edition you can read more about how Generation Y/Millennials are changing business culture,how mindfulness can add real value to your work, and how office perks could help you get more from your employees.

You can read the latest edition online here.

Steeles Law is delighted to be sponsoring the Charity Property Matters Survey 2016.

This is an important piece of voluntary sector research conducted every two years by leading property advice charity the Ethical Property Foundation, in partnership with the Charity Commission.

Whether your organisation rents or owns its premises, by completing the survey – which takes just 5 minutes – you will be contributing to a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector at this time of significant change.

The finished report will be of vital importance for everyone involved in the sector, whether service users, staff, trustees, funders, advisers, landlords, policy makers or local authorities.

The 2014 survey showed that:

• 45% of voluntary groups viewed property as the biggest threat to their organisation’s long term sustainability;
• Over 40% experienced difficulty sourcing core funding to cover premises costs;
• Just one third of charities had paid for property advice in the last three years.

Please help the voluntary sector find its collective voice about property and complete the Survey TODAY.

A BIG welcome toWymondham College, the first school to jump on board our digital signage networks across Norfolk! A hugely popular boarding state school across the UK and beyond, Wymondham College are using our network of displays to promote their up and coming open days in March. The main school open morning will be held on 12th March and the boarder taster evening will be held on the 11th March.

A unique state day and boarding school Wymondham College offers an educationalexperience unlike any other. Their students come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and overseas and achieve outstanding academic success and renowned for their sporting accomplishments. There are six boarding houses within the college campus, these surround the school buildings and oversee the extensive 83 acre site. There are a range of facilities, including a sports hall and gym, sports pitches, a drama studio and indoor swimming pool. The college enjoys close links with local and international businesses and has a network of partner schools in countries as diverse as France, Germany, Czech Republic, China and Argentina. In 2012 the OfSTED Boarding Inspection confirmed Wymondham College as one of the country’s outstanding boarding schools.

The Wymondham College campaign can be seen on our ‘Domination Circuit’ consisting of three screens viewable by 350,000 people per week. You can register for the open days by emailing marketing@wymondhamcollege.org

Once again, one of our biggest clients,Adam & Eve DDB(the agency behind John Lewis’ “Man On The Moon” advert), requested the JMS team to work quickly and closely with them on a Spotify campaign for their client, Volkswagen.Supplied with a comprehensive worksheet and scripts by the agency, we were requested to record, mix and supplyover 51 audio tagsfor a Volkswagen Golf Event campaign for use across the UK Spotify service.

‘Tags’ – address or offer changes within a commercial – are quite popular with National advertisers because the main ‘branded’ element of the commercial remains consistent, whilst the end of the commercial benefits from a more regional or local reference – such as a specific address or offer.

As can often be the case with campaigns, the turnaround was tight with airtime looming, so the mantra of the day was, “Link … Record … Edit … Mix … Repeat”, with the entire process being completed within 6 hours.

JMS regularly provides radio campaign tagging, Spotify campaign tagging, and ISDN voice links foradvertising agencies across the UK. Our studio is recognised as having excellent sound- being used for manycontributions to national TV and radio advertising campaigns, feature films, television dramas,and programme trailers. Find out more by visiting our websiteorcall us on 01603 811855.

It’s national Work Your Proper Hours Day today (Friday 26 February) and there’s lots of excellent reasons why the Trades Union Congress (TUC) felt the need to start this national awareness day 11 years ago, with the aim of supporting employers as well as employees.

The reason this awareness day takes place today is because, according to TUC research, if all the people in the UK who do unpaid overtime added it all up at the start of the year, today would be the first day they would start to get paid.

The TUC campaign for proper working hours aims to highlight the amount of unpaid work carried out by employees and the negative impact of a poorwork/life balance, as tired and burnt out staff are bad for business. From a recruitment point of view a culture of long hours makes it difficult to attract and retain top talent and to be seen as agood employer.

While it is occasionally necessary for employees to put in extra hours, this should be the exception rather than the norm. If it becomes a regular pattern it can lead to low morale, exhaustion and stress. These are all known to decrease productivity and are often the causes of long-term absence, both of which have a significant impact on the bottom line.

People work long hours for many reasons and employers need to try and uncover the mentality behind it. It could be because they are unable to cope with their workload, or because tasks are not being delegated efficiently enough for them to be able manage their time.

It may be that there is a historical culture of presenteeism, and bosses can help to address this by leading by example. So make a start today and take a proper lunchbreak and then leave work on time to enjoy your Friday evening.

If you’re tempted to stay longer, here’s three reminders of the serious impact of regularly working long hours.

1. Poor physical health

Working excessive hours leads to exhaustion and a lack of concentration. This impacts on yourwell-beingby increasing the risk of headaches, digestive problems and even heart disease. Overworking can also cause people to smoke and drink more. A recent study also showed that working long hours can significantly increase your risk of suffering a stroke. Those who worked 55 hours or more a week were 33% more likely to have an attack than those clocking up the standard 40 hours.

2. Mental health problems

A recent study found that workers clocking at least 11 hours a day have a higher risk of depression than people working a standard seven or eight hour day. Longer work hours can make you morestressedand means less time to invest in your own self-care. Everyone needs time to relax, remember, even Winston Churchill supposedly took a nap every afternoon.

3. Strained relationships

Long hours make caring for children and dependents more difficult. They can also cause personal relationships to suffer as a result of not being able to spend time with loved ones. According to Axa, 27% of people have cancelled time with family and friends due to work constraints, while 18% of parents have missed a school play or parents’ evening.

Jim Crawford, currently Station Director for Sizewell B power station has been appointed as Project Development Director for EDF Energy’s Sizewell C project.

The new role takes effect from 1 March and will see Jim take responsibility for leading the Sizewell C project to a successful final investment decision and into construction.

EDF Energy’s Paul Morton takes over from Jim Crawford as Sizewell B station director. Paul has a long history with the energy sector and joins Sizewell B from EDF Energy’s Cottam power station in Nottinghamshire.

Speaking about the appointment Jim Crawford said: “I have been proud to be station director of Sizewell B. The station had a record year of power production in 2015 and has saved some 126 million tonnes of carbon dioxide since it started operating in 1995.

“Sizewell C provides a great opportunity to build on this, to provide more local jobs, more contracts for UK businesses and more opportunities for young people in education whilst delivering power generation for 5million homes for 60 years.”

Paul Morton said: “Sizewell B is a fantastic power station with a great track record. I am delighted to take on this new role and am looking forward to getting to know the team at the station and the local community.”

Jim Crawford was appointed Station Director of Sizewell B power station in March 2010 following two years as the stations Plant Manager. Jim graduated in 1979 from Strathclyde University with a degree in Chemistry and was awarded an MBA in 2001. He has been in the nuclear industry for 36 years with the last seven years based with his family in Suffolk.

Paul Morton brings 25 years’ experience in the power industry and has worked for CEGB, PowerGen, EON and EDF Energy at High Marnham, Ratcliffe, Connah’s Quay, Enfield, Grain (Oil & CCGT) and Cottam.

Sizewell B delivers safe, reliable power to over 2million homes and businesses every day and is on track to have a ‘breaker to breaker’ run of generation over the last 18months. Which means non-stop electricity was delivered to the grid between the maintenance outage in 2014 until the next outage in April 2016.

Sizewell B achieved a UK industry record in 2015 by delivering 10.45TWhrs of power generation. The station will operate until 2035 but this could be extended by 20 years.

The station is a key employer in the eastern region bringing some £40million pounds each year into the local economy. Over 550 people are directly employed at the site on the Suffolk coast with a further 200 carrying out contract roles.

Sizewell C is a proposed new nuclear power station that would be built to the north of Sizewell B on the Suffolk coast. It would have two reactors, known as UK EPRs, capable of generating enough electricity to supply around five million homes. The project would create 5,600 jobs during peak construction and 900 jobs during operation. EDF Energy has completed the first stage of consultation on the project.

Cottam and its sister station West Burton A are coal-fired power stations near Retford in Nottinghamshire, capable of generating enough electricity for approximately 7.5 million UK homes. Cottam is a 2000MW station which began generating power in 1969 and employs 220 people and around 175 contract partners

TaxAssist Accountantsare helping OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN) on Bank Plain, Norwich, to explain the world of tax to its young people as part of the charity’s Life Hack workshops.

Robin Johnson who runs TaxAssist Accountants, based on Aylsham Road, Norwich, provides a wide range of accountancy services including tax returns, annual accounts, payroll and bookkeeping and is part of the largest network of accountants offering a wide range of experience and expertise to over 59,000 small businesses right across the UK.

Ally Flatman, OPEN’s Youth Project Officer, explained that the Life Hack sessions prepare young people to find their own way in life – doing the shopping, washing and tidying, budgeting and understanding banking or insurance. “Explaining the basics of tax to a group of teenagers could be exceedingly dull, but TaxAssist make the sessions interactive and interesting, so much so that we tend to lose track of time.”

The sessions include an explanation of PAYE, tax codes, NI, pay slips, payroll, self-assessment, sick pay, maternity and paternity pay, pensions and the difference between PAYE and self-employment.

Robin Johnson, Director of TaxAssist in Norwich said: “Working with these young people keeps me on my toes as they ask far more questions than any of my clients. None of them had any idea about tax so it’s great that OPEN gives them opportunities like this to learn about something that will impact on their working lives so much in the future.”

John Gordon-Saker, CEO of OPEN, is very grateful for TaxAssist’s support and generosity of time: “By bringing in professionals our programmes are given added credibility. Not only have TaxAssist supported our ambition to get every young person who comes through our doors into work, but they have also sponsored our own first apprentice youth worker and I hope they are the first of many Norfolk businesses who will want to help us make a difference to young lives through enlightened social responsibility.”

SaxonAir Charter Ltd, one of the leading UK based private air charter companies has invested in enhanced training for their crew on in-flight health and safety. The training ensures all staff on board are able to better deal with any illness or injuries that may arise mid-flight, in addition to their standard crew training.

The course was held by MedAire, a health and safety company for crew of airlines in business aviation and yachts, and the crew qualified after a period of intense training at Inflite Jet Centre, Stansted Airport. The course taught crew members the skills to successfully and confidently respond to medical events before, during and after a flight, integrating first responder training with the medical kits that are available on board an aircraft and is taught by instructors from medical, triage & aviation backgrounds.

Phil Stead, Head of SaxonAir Crew Training says ‘I believe it is accepted by the pilots and cabin staff that following attendance of the MedAire course, they are now better prepared to meet today’s increased demand for passenger safety and welfare in addition to SaxonAir’s ongoing commitment to enhancing training requirements to facilitate a safer and more acceptable environment for our clients.’

In addition to the course, SaxonAir made it their highest priority to purchase defibrillators for their longer range aircraft ensuring maximum safety to all passengers and crew. This is not a standard requirement in the industry so the company is proud to be one of few to have invested in this equipment. Pilots and flight attendants of SaxonAirs midsize & heavy jet fleet are now proficient in dealing with illness and injury in many areas including; CPR techniques and AED use, hypoxia signs and response, altitude physiology & trauma management.

Norwich Research Partners LLP has appointed Paul Reed as its new financial controller.

Home to over 40 science and technology based businesses and covering 230 hectares, Norwich Research Park is dedicated to developing a thriving science and innovation park by supporting start-up businesses and attracting a range of organisations involved in science and technology.

Mr Reed, who joins the team from the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association brings with him an outstanding wealth of accountancy experience, gained working for a diverse range of major East Anglia-based businesses.

Paul said: “It is wonderful to be at the centre of such a forwarding-thinking organisation that is dedicated to supporting innovative developments. Having previously worked for start-up and corporate organisations, I can very much identify with challenges both new and established businesses face.

“I am absolutely delighted to join the team and finding out more about life here at Norwich Research Park.”

Norwich Research Park chief executive officer Dr Sally Ann Forsyth said: “Financial controller is a pivotal role and we are really pleased to welcome such an experienced financial manager as Paul to our senior team. I am very much looking forward to working with him.”

Tax Assist Accountants are helping OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN) on Bank Plain, Norwich, to explain the world of tax to its young people as part of the charity’s Life Hack workshops. TaxAssist Accountants, based in Aylsham Road, Norwich, provide a wide range of accountancy services including tax returns, annual accounts, payroll and bookkeeping and are part of the largest network of accountants offering a wide range of experience and expertise to over 58,000 small businesses right across the UK. Ally Flatman, OPEN’s Youth Project Officer, explained that the Life Hack sessions prepare young people to find their own way in life – doing the shopping, washing and tidying, budgeting and understanding banking or insurance. “Explaining the basics of tax to a group of teenagers could be exceedingly dull, but TaxAssist make the sessions interactive and interesting, so much so that we tend to lose track of time.” The sessions include an explanation of PAYE, tax codes, NI, pay slips, payroll, self-assessment, sick pay, maternity and paternity pay, pensions and the difference between PAYE and self-employment. Robin Johnson, Director of TaxAssist in Norwich said: “Working with these young people keeps me on my toes as they ask far more questions than any of my clients. None of them had any idea about tax so it’s great that OPEN gives them opportunities like this to learn about something that will impact on their working lives so much in the future.” John Gordon-Saker, CEO of OPEN, is very grateful for TaxAssist’s support and generosity of time: “By bringing in professionals our programmes are given added credibility. Not only have TaxAssist supported our ambition to get every young person who comes through our doors into work, but they have also sponsored our own first apprentice youth worker and I hope they are the first of many Norfolk businesses who will want to help us make a difference to young lives through enlightened social responsibility.”