Member News

TaxAssist nominated for Best Franchise Award

TaxAssist is pleased to announce that it has been shortlisted for the 2015 Best Franchise Awards, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, in the Best Franchise £75k+ Investment category.

The awards are based on feedback from thousands of franchisees that have completed the Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark. The survey asks franchisees to anonymously rate their franchisor on everything from training and support to shared goals and how it has compared with their expectations.

The finalists will be invited to present to a judging panel on 17th November. The winners will be based 50% on the judges’ feedback and 50% on franchisees’ feedback.

The award winners will be announced at the Best Franchise Conference on 26th November. During the conference, TaxAssist Accountants will be presented with Continuous Improvement and 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction awards as we are part of a select group of franchisors which received outstanding feedback.

Bring a bag to work for EACH

Clear out your good quality, unwanted items and help your local children’s hospice at the same time!

We always need items to sell in our shops

Please help us by bringing a bag to work anddonating things like…

• Clothes …great if you have good quality clothes to donate • Books …any quality, but modern paperbacks are great • Bric-a-brac …good quality and preferably clean • Toys …of good saleable quality • Cosmetics (sealed/not used) • DVDs/CDs.

For more information pleasecontact James Bacon – NorfolkCorporate Fundraiser – james.bacon@each.org.uk / 01953 666768

Five Local Action Groups across Norfolk and north Suffolk (Brecks, Broads, Waveney Valley, Wensum & Coast and West Norfolk) are pleased to announce that they are open for business, and invite applications for their funding scheme. The funding is to achieve jobs and growth in the rural economy, anddelivered under the Rural Development Progromme for England under six priorities:

• Increase farm productivity
• support micro and small businesses and farm diversification
• boost rural tourism
• provide rural services
• provide cultural and heritage activities, and
• increase forestry productivity

The emphasis is that projects create jobs and economic growth in the rural economy.Applicants are advised to check the handbook to see if proposed activities are eligibile, and to reviewaction group funding priorities which are unique to their area. these can be found at www.norfolklags.co.uk, by clicking of the relevant local action group tab.

The fund is open until 2020, or until budgets have been assigned to projects.

Alice Henderson, who recently completed her Swarm Enterprise Apprenticeship with Free Bridge Housing was nominated for The Enterprise Learner of the Year Award held at the House of Lords on the 4th of November.

The award nominations was for recognition of an individual who has both embraced their learning programme with passion, and also shown a commitment to applying their newly acquired skills to pursue an enterprising activity.

The annual event was hosted by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) and the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI). It brought together educators, entrepreneurs and other key figures from the UK’s small business, enterprise and skills sector.

Alice Henderson, an Swarm Apprentice at Freebridge Community Housing in West Norfolk, has proven herself to be hard-working, meticulous, professional and able to use criticism constructively to improve her skills. At the end of her programme, Alice impressed senior members of staff by delivering a comprehensive presentation detailing the work she had put into a project designed to both attract revenue and support the local community. Freebridge Community Housing’s managers believe Alice to be a very strong young woman who will prove a great asset to the business.

Nic Preston, Chief Executive of SFEDI Awards, said:

“Freebridge Community Housing has been extremely fortunate to have Alice Henderson as an Enterprise Apprentice. This is a young person who has shown herself to have an innate talent for enterprise, on both a strategic and a practical level. Alice is someone whose future will be studded with success.”

Chris Perry, Managing Director of Swarm, comments

“I am especially proud of Alice as I took a personal interest in her journey through the training to become a very commercially savvy young business professional. Alice has and will continue to make a big impact at Freebridge and I look forward to watching her career blossom”

Alicewas appointed as a SwarmApprentice working for Robert Clarke – Director of Housing for Freebridge Community Housing a year ago, as part of her traning she had to come up with a new projectthat would add real value to the organisation and then pitch that project to her employers.Herprojectwas focused around raising tenant engagement to boost community social return. Her well communicated pitch, included a clear vision to increase tenant engagement through a new approach to marketing and promoting community events. The pitch was excellently supported by a detailed breakdown of the social return they could expect from this community investment and a clear costing model outlining initial investment, profit margins and how profit would be re-invested in local community projects.

Chris Perry goes on to say “Not only is this a fantastic example of what investing in a young person can bring to an organisation but also how growing the enterprising mindset is so important in developing and effectivefuture workforce.With the right support in teaching both the hands on skills and busineses attitude,apprentices can and will deliver impact to an organisation”

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Initiative aims to tackle skills shortage and boost local economy

A brand new pilot that will match military leavers with future employers is to be trialled in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

VETS East is the first regional hub for the Veterans Employment Transition Support Programme* VETS – a national partnership pilot launched this month – which provides registration, mentoring, ready to work and in-work support services for former members of the armed forces.

Research commissioned by the VETS programme** with nearly 800 former veterans, shows that many employers do not value military experience as highly as they should so the region’s businesses are missing out on a wealth of expertise and talent, such as leadership, strategic planning and problem solving. In the East of England only a quarter of former veterans feel their current employer fully recognises their skills and experience.

The national programme brings together the MOD and the Career Transition Partnership, which helps veterans gain civilian employment, with a coalition of corporate companies such as, Barclays, Deloitte and Jaguar Landrover, and service charities, such as Help for Heroes and Walking with the Wounded. Working with the existing landscape of transition support VETS provides end to end assistance to veterans and offers employers advice on how to recruit, support and get the best from veterans in their workforce.

VETS East, will focus on matching service leavers with the region’s businesses – in particular, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) – so employers will have direct access to this under-utilised future workforce as well as benefiting from savings in recruitment fees.

The regional programme is led by Andy Wood, CEO of Adnams, in his capacity as The Prince’s Ambassador for the East of England – an appointment made by Business in the Community (BITC)*** on behalf of HRH The Prince of Wales to promote responsible business in the region.

Last year at BITC’s Responsible Business Awards, The Prince of Wales said: “It is enormously encouraging to find companies not just tackling unemployment amongst young people generally, but making a real and targeted effort to support our troops as they return to civilian life.The extent of their commitment to providing practical training and job offers is remarkable and I hope many other companies will follow their lead.”

VETS East is the local business response. The project is also supported locally by Business in the Community, Barclays and New Anglia LEP.

Andy Wood, who is also Chair of New Anglia LEP’s Skills Board, said the region had a proud history of supporting the UK’s armed forces and called on SMEs to do what they can to help with employment opportunities. “We know that several hundred service leavers are looking for work across our three counties at any one time and we also know that many of our SMEs and larger companies are struggling with a real skills gap. VETS East aims to tackle both these issues bringing long term benefits to the veterans, new talent to our companies and a boost to the local economy.

Enterprises across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are packed full of talent and expertise, we are looking for them to share that experience by offering mentoring, interview coaching and work placements, and to consider ex-service men and women when they are looking to recruit new team members.”

Mark Pendlington, chairman of New Anglia LEP and a Group Director at Anglian Water, said: “My company is one of many that has signed the military covenant because we know how important it is to support our armed forces and recognise the excellent skills they can bring into the business world. As an organisation tasked with boosting economic growth and tackling the skills gap, The LEP is extremely supportive of this initiative and I would encourage enterprises across Norfolk and Suffolk and Essex to get involved and offer practical support and help.”

As the nation remembers those who have sacrificed their lives, in wars across the world, VETS East will be launched at a special business breakfast at Ipswich Town Football Club on Friday November 20 – with over 100 business leaders as well as former members of the armed forces who are now running or working in companies across our region. Businesses can still register for the event at https://www.bitc.org.uk/news-events/events/vets-launch

Attendees will hear how local companies have successfully employed service leavers to the benefit of both business and the individual and how more can benefit from the VETS East programme.

Businesses will be asked to pledge their support by offering mentoring, work placements and advertising job vacancies on the VETS East website, which is currently being developed.

Tim Seeley, Head of Corporate & Business Banking East Anglia, said: “Barclays is proud to have supported thousands of servicemen and women through our AFTER programme, which helps with the transition into civilian employment and highlights the economic value those from the military can bring to the corporate world. We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a broad range of businesses, charities and employment agencies, to take this support to the next stage.”back into civilian life and a rewarding career, as I did.”

Breakwater IT, a leading IT support and technology solutions company, and Swains Plc, one of the UK’s premier business telecoms providers recently hosted a morning of cars and communications at Lotus Cars, Hethel.

Businesses from around the region gathered in the Club Lounge at Lotus, overlooking their impressive test track, to engage in demonstrations from TalkTalk Business and Datto. TalkTalk focused on making a connectivity choice to match the needs of your business, highlighting the high performance capabilities of the Ethernet. Datto also focused on the rapidity of their technology – a business continuity solution that safeguards data and enables your business to be up and running again within minutes.

Speed had a continued presence in the morning as attendees received a first-hand experience of the inner workings of the Lotus factory, the facility in which all of their sports cars are individually hand-built.

The Lotus Exige was then given a spin on the test track, as 3 attendees had the chance to get behind the wheel of this remarkable car, swiftly followed by a hot lap with one of the Lotus Driving Academy’s experienced instructors (a chance for the acceleration of the car to really come into its own – as heard by those attendees watching from the Club Lounge). We hope that Tom Thornley, Director of The Original Cottage Company, Alton Nutile, Commercial Manager of Dardan Security and James Howells, Managing Director of Turning Factor all enjoyed feeling the power and sheer speed of the Exige.

Breakwater IT and Swains Plc are working together to ensure both IT and business telecoms can be dealt with as one. This event enabled businesses to get a taste of the benefits of an aligned approach to communications, as clients receive the latest technologies combined with an exemplary customer service.

Join us on Wednesday 25 November for a special evening compered by Stewart White of BBC Norfolk and auctioneered by Elizabeth Talbot of TW Gaze to raise vital funds for the Theatre.

We are thrilled to have received over 60 puppets from – amongst others – Michael Rosen, Maureen Lipman, Tom Conti, Toya Wilcox, Colin Self, Jenny Eclair, Geoffrey Palmer, Graham Linehan, Dame Cleo Laine and Ella Goodwin. You can take a little bit of puppet magic home by purchasing your favourite creation at the auction. View the gallery of puppets you can get your hands on! https://www.puppettheatre.co.uk/whats-on/puppetry/celebrity-puppet-auction-gallery

As a registered charity the funds raised will help make sure we can continue our work to benefit the local community, families and children. The 2010 auction raised over £7,000, with your help we hope to exceed that this year! Book now. to be sure of your specatcular souvenir programme a welcome drink and a whole lot of fun!https://www.puppettheatre.co.uk/whats-on/puppetry/celebrity-puppet-auction

KLM UK Engineering is delighted to announce that they have been awarded overall winners of Performance in Aviation Safety at the Baines Simmons Fourth European Aviation Safety Symposium on Tuesday 3rd November. The awards showcased the importance of moving beyond compliance to safety performance by illustrating practical examples of safety implementation and improvement from across the aviation industry

KLM UK Engineering (KLMUKE) was nominated for these awards by Alex Segens, Safety & Compliance Manager, who has been instrumental in the implementation of KLMUKE’s Safety Management System. KLMUKE started development of its Safety Management System in 2007 and over the last two years KLMUKE has put dedicated resource in place to embed its safety vision, values and behaviours across the business, with an internal brand recognisable by all ‘Accountable in everything we do’. Alex Segens comments, ‘Removing barriers, challenging cultural ‘norms’ and making risk based decisions is at the heart of KLM UK Engineering’s safety strategy’.

“Now is the time to act if companies want to exploit opportunities in the nuclear supply chain.”

That was the message from John Ransford, Lead Assessor for the Government’s Fit 4 Nuclear programme, speaking at New Anglia Growth Hub’s ‘Energise your Business’ event.

Held at Sprowston Manor on Thursday 12 November, the event highlighted growing opportunities for businesses to capitalise on the wide range of contracts across the energy industry.

Mr Ransford said that there is enormous scope for all sectors, not just manufacturing, to supply power stations across the East of England, UK and worldwide.

“We need controls and electrics, water systems, washing systems, fencing, catering, cooling and ventilation, fabrication, office equipment, transportation and much, much more. We need 10,000 pairs of safety boots, which need replacing every three months.

“If you want to supply nuclear, you’ll need a 60 year order book. Contractors are looking for sustainable relationships over a long period of time. There are 176 reactors to be built across the world. When you think about nuclear power stations, don’t just think about your local one. It’s a case of understanding where your products and capabilities could fit into the supply chain.”

Mr Ransford explained that only companies that can prove that they have the right systems and processes in place will be successful in procuring contracts.

He added: “Manufacturers will have to demonstrate the right culture and behaviour; that they invest in training and, importantly, can achieve zero accidents in the production of their components or delivery of their services.”

The event was organised by New Anglia Growth Hub, which provides free business support and has helped around 4,000 businesses since its launch in June 2014. Other presentations were given by Business Doctors, UK Trade & Investment and GROW:OffshoreWind.

“Competition for contracts is fiercer than ever before,” concluded John Stenhouse, Growth Hub Manager. “Businesses that draw upon the knowledge and experience of our partners, will have the best opportunity to win new business in these lucrative industries.

“We are delighted that over 30 businesses from across the East attended to better understand the opportunities for growth in the energy sector and we look forward to supporting these ambitions.”

New complimentary Patent Desk service provides companies with specialist guidance on obtaining and protecting patent rights.

Novagraaf has launched Patent Desk, a new and complimentary service for companies and individuals seeking to understand and capitalise on patent protection for new inventions. The service is provided by patent specialists in Norwich with additional support from Novagraaf’s London-based attorneys.

Both existing and new customers can contact the Patent Desk by emailing patentdesk@novagraaf.com or by sending in an enquirythrough the website.

What does the Patent Desk do? For many businesses, obtaining and enforcing patents can appear to be a complicated and expensive process. Unsure which inventions are eligible for protection, but without the budgets to take the necessary advice, many companies are missing the opportunity to fully capture and realise the possibilities of their intellectual assets.

Novagraaf’s new Patent Desk service seeks to redress this balance by providing complimentary advice for both existing and new customers, and by streamlining the process to minimise cost once inventions have been identified for protection.

How does the Patent Desk work? Companies are invited to send their patent enquiries to patentdesk@novagraaf.com. Our helpdesk specialists will review the enquiries, send back initial responses based on common queries or indicate where further information or specialist support is required.

For example, this could include advice on identifying inventions that are worthy of protection, selecting territories in which to obtain that protection, budgeting for IP filings, or understanding how best to protect and maximise patent assets in a competitive marketplace.

Is the Patent Desk right for me? Novagraaf’s Patent Desk service has been designed to facilitate the process of protecting and enforcing patent assets. It is a complimentary and confidential service that aims to provide much-needed support for businesses of all sizes and industries. Find out more by emailing patentdesk@novagraaf.com or by speaking to your Novagraaf consultant.

Delta-Simons Environmental Consultants Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Ferguson as Managing Director. Alex has been with Delta-Simons for 15 years, and has been instrumental in the ongoing development and growth of the company. Alex previously held the position of Operations Director within the business.

Other appointments include Damian Robinson, Divisional Director for Leeds and Manchester, who joins the Executive team. Whilst Paul Bennett has been appointed as Unit Director – Regions.

The new appointments reflect the enhancement of the senior management structure to support the continued success and growth of Delta-Simons. In 2015, the company opened offices in London, Manchester, Leeds and Dublin, and now operate from seven locations in the UK, with the HQ in Lincoln and offices in Norwich and Durham.

Delta-Simons provides support and advice within the property development, asset management, corporate and industrial markets. As a founder member of the Inogen Environmental Alliance, Delta-Simons is also able to deliver environmental, H&S and sustainability projects worldwide.

For more information about our employees, see Our People page.

A fire and rescue service has given the first service-free fire extinguisher its greatest “stamp of faith” – by signing exclusive rights to sell it.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is so impressed with the performance and cost-savings offered by the Norfolk invented and manufactured P50 it has signed a ground-breaking agreement with manufacturer Britannia Fire to be its exclusive distributor across five counties in the North East.

Money generated by the sales of the award-winning UK-manufactured extinguisher, made from the same material as bulletproof vests, will be injected back into the fire service to offset cuts.

County Durham and Darlington is the first fire and rescue service to sell the recyclable extinguisher that saves companies and organisations tens of thousands in annual service contracts. Invented and developed by Britannia Fire owner Roger Carr at his Norfolk factory, the Kevlar-wrapped extinguisher only requires three simple in- house steps.

The agreement to sell the P50 across Durham and Darlington, Tyne and Wear, Cleveland and Northumberland is the first commercial operation of the service’s new trading arm, Vital Fire Solutions (VFS) Ltd – a sister company to its Community Interest Company.

In return, Norfolk-based Britannia Fire will work closely with Durham to promote the service’s extensive portfolio of business and industrial safety training courses and its new multi-million pound state of the art training facility in Bowburn near Durham.

Britannia Fire General Manager Andy Spence said the agreement was a “massive endorsement of the P50” after a year of discussions.

“This is phenomenal for Britannia Fire and the endorsement we have worked towards. No fire service enters into an agreement like this lightly.

“For a fire service to recognise the value of the P50 as an efficient fire fighter and the cost savings it offers customers by eliminating the need for costly annual service contracts demonstrates the worth of the P50 in the market.”

“We are replacing metal extinguishers with the P50 across the UK and internationally via our growing list of distributors – in supermarkets, university campuses, the banking sector, police force buildings and other organisations.

“Our export market is across Europe and the Middle East, with discussions with potential distributors on other continents.

“Our factory is running at capacity now with new distributors in the UK and across the world joining every day.”

Tony Grufferty, Business Development Manager for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Interest Company, said: “For a fire service to do this is a stamp of faith in the product.”

“The P50 is endorsed by the service as an innovative product that we believe can help businesses, organisations and individuals protect their premises and keep people safe.”

The P50 was launched in 2010 after years of development by Britannia Fire owner Roger Carr, who has 50 years’ experience in the fire extinguisher industry. The P50 is the world’s first corrosion-free fire extinguisher.

Smaller 4kg and 2kgs are due to be launched later this year for the domestic and car markets.

Produced and distributed by TMS Media.Rachel Moore – rachel@tmsmedia.co.uk, 01493 662929