Member News

Aston Shaw, a local accountancy firm, has been busy fundraising and raising awareness for the local children’s charity EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices) since it first launchedthe campaign in February of this year. The main event – a grouptandem skydive with 25 staff members – has been hugely successful, raising over £10,000 for the local charity.

The day itself was a nerve-racking experience for some, followed by feelings of relief and an overwhelming sense of pride. One of the brave skydivers commented: “I was really anxious and apprehensive on the day, but afterwards I couldn’t have been happier – it was an incredible experience and I’m tempted to do another!”, these feelings were echoed amongst most of the staff who took part at Aston Shaw.

The skydive took place at Beccles Airfield, on August 22nd, the weather was perfect and the day ran as smoothly as possible.All the staff are pleased to have surpassed the initial target set by the firm. Post-skydive donations continue to roll in, and the total continues to rise.

EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire,Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk and relies heavily on donations from fundraising activities. The £10,000 raised by Aston Shaw will largely go towards thenookappeal; EACH is raising money for a new, bespoke hospice to be built in the heart of Norfolk. The new hospice will be much better equipped to provide the services that the children need, and will bring new facilities for the children to enjoy.

With statistical research predicting an approximate annual death toll of 2,450 deaths this year alone, the devastating and far-reaching consequences of asbestos exposure are clear. With 1st September 2015 being National Asbestos Awareness Day, this article seeks to examine civil claims in relation to asbestos related diseases within the employer-employee context, given that many asbestos related injuries involve historic employment experiences.

Asbestos is a term attributable to a collective of six different fibrous materials that occur naturally in the environment; such substances include amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophylite. As asbestos minerals have long, strong, flexible fibres that are fire and heat resistant, it has typically been used in the manufacture of yarn, cloth and building materials, the latter of which are comprised of insulating material, corrugated roofing and cement wall tiles.

Exposure to asbestos occurs in a variety of ways. Disturbance or damage to asbestos can result in fibres being freed which, if inhaled, can lead to an array of diseases. Lung and throat cancers, asbestosis and non-malignant pleural diseases are some of the main diseases associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres. Additionally, mesothelioma – a form of cancer – is another disease caused by the release of asbestos particles. Unlike other ailments, mesothelioma can be caused by the release of a single asbestos fibre. Such conditions take approximately 15 to 60 years to become apparent and diagnosable following an individual’s exposure to asbestos.

A plethora of legislation has been developed to regulate the use, removal and management of asbestos; central to this has been the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/632). This sets out a number of duties on the employer, such as the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises as well as to inform, instruct and train employees, amongst many other regulations. Defendants charged with a breach of the CAR 2012 regulations, can cite a defence that they took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid such a breach. Failure to comply with these regulations constitutes a criminal offence and, as such, is beyond the scope of this article.

Regarding a civil claim, under the Limitation Act 1980 a claimant may bring a claim in the three years following the date on which they become aware that a claim can be made. Given the latency period for asbestos-related diseases, this is usually from the date the asbestos-related disease is diagnosed or when the claimant could have reasonably started to explore the possibility of making a claim.

With respect to any asbestos induced disease, a claimant must prove, on the balance of probabilities, the following:

The defendant owed him a duty; The defendant breached such duty; and As a result of the breach the claimant suffered an injury.

Based on the above listed factors, an employer-employee relationship carries a sufficient degree of proximity between the parties to impose on an employer a duty of case, this is as noted in Caparo v Dickman. Alternatively, a defendant can also be liable for negligently exposing an individual to asbestos. Despite knowledge of the perilous effects of asbestos being well-documented from the mid-60s forwards, it is necessary to ascertain what the employer knew, or ought to have known, of the dangers of exposing an employee to asbestos. The employer must balance the risk in terms of the potential for an injury to occur and the consequences of such an injury against the efficacy, expense and difficulties of implementing safeguards. Stokes v Guest, Keen and Nettlefold outline the following key points to consider in any claim:

The court will not consider an employer to have fallen foul of the standard expected of a reasonable and prudent employer if he followed a recognised practice. This is subject to the exception of the practice followed being in itself poor; An employer must keep up-to-date with developing knowledge concerning asbestos and must apply such knowledge to their workplace in an efficient manner; The employer is not able to rely on a defence that they were not aware of the harm that may be caused as a result of exposing an employee to asbestos; An employer is not able to cite a defence that their industry was, generally speaking, unaware of the risks of asbestos exposure without further information about the general state of knowledge available being advanced.

Given the time lapse between exposure to asbestos and a related disease becoming unearthed, it is likely that possible defendants could become insolvent, uninsured or they may have ceased trading; this clearly impacts on the damages available to victims. In assessing damages, a distinction must be drawn between diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer compared to mesothelioma. In the former category, where the claimant has been exposed to asbestos over the course of several different job roles and varying employers, the courts rely on the principle of proportionate liability. Consequently, damages are apportioned against all potential tortfeasors in accordance with the dose of asbestos for which they are responsible. This is assessed by the duration and level of exposure to asbestos caused by each employer. Comparatively speaking, as mesothelioma can be caused by a single instance of exposure to asbestos, a defendant employer can be liable for a claimant’s ‘single exposure’ to asbestos, as per the ruling in Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd. Section 3 of The Compensation Act 2006 reversed the dictum of Barker v Corus by allowing a claimant the right to seek full compensation from any potential defendant liable in negligence of breach of the above listed statutory duty for having exposed them to asbestos. It is then for the defendant to pursue the other likely defendants for a contribution towards the damages. Thus, the common test for causation is the ‘but-for’ test. However, in relation to mesothelioma cases, the claimant solely needs to prove that that particular defendant materially increased the risk of the injury, as here each potential defendant is jointly and severally liable.

With regard to contributory negligence, it is worth noting that the court can order a reduction to a claimant’s damages as a result of their smoking, or their exposing themselves to asbestos whilst self-employed.

LSI Architects has announced that the Practice hasthis year been accredited with the Gold standard by Investors In People!

As part of the reaccreditation, the Practicewas assessed in a number of areas including Business Strategy, Involvement and Empowerment, People Management and Continuous Improvement.

A few of the highlights,described as “WOW” areas in the assessment report, were:

• the Practice’s clear vision, aims and objectives which are openly communicated and understood by all
• the Practice’s strong core values are seen by everyone as right for the organisation and guiding it’sculture
• the importance of social responsibility to the organisation and individuals was recognised together with a strong emphasis on sustainability, both in terms of the future of the organisation and in the design ofbuildings
• the Practice’s culture is supportive and open
• managers are seen as good role models andPartners are well respected and trusted to lead the Practice; and,
• people feel fulfilled, valued and believe they have the opportunity to realise their potential and make the most of their talents,everyone interviewed believes LSI is a great place to work!

Partner Rupert Kitchen said “LSI Architects are proud to have been accredited by Investors in People (IIP) for a number of years which recognises us as a good employer. Always ones to challenge the status quo, when our reaccreditation was due this year, we decided to stretch ourselves and aim for “Gold” standard. Receiving IIP gold accreditation is a wonderful accolade for LSI and one we are very proud of.

This does not mean we are complacent however as there are always things we can do better. The great thing about IIP accreditation is that it gives us the opportunity to stand back and reassess our processes; consider how they all fit together and see where things can be improved. Also, having IIP specialists talk to members of the team about how they see things gives a truly objective view – a fresh pair of eyes.”

Katrina Parsons,HR Manager at the Practice, said “As HR Manager, I’m incredibly proud to be part of an organisation that is full of so many vibrant and talented people who care passionately not only about the quality of the buildings they design but the impact these have on the lives of those who use these buildings; or as we call itLife Touching Design.”

Congratulations to everyone who has received their A Level or GCSE results in the last couple of weeks. For those now looking to get a foot on the career ladder, we’ve put together some top tips for writing your first CV.

There’s an awful lot of advice out there about things to include, and what to avoid, when writing a CV and we’ve summarised these in a simple, handyguide. We’ve also made a CV template available todownload, which will help you structure and format your CV in a clear and concise way.

If you have just left school or college, knowing what to include when writing a CV for the first time can be a challenge, so we’ve also compiled some extra tips to help those looking to secure their first ever career role.

1. Make your opening profile stand out

Including an opening profile, summarising your key experiences, achievements and aspirations is a great opportunity to make sure the important information is set out immediately. Make sure you tailor this to highlight anything relevant to the role you are applying for and include the reason why you would like to work in this type of industry. It’s not just employment experience which counts. What relevant subjects did you excel in at school? Are there any personal hobbies or activities which show your suitability? Have your teachers praised your approach to work or studying?

2. Education is about more than just the grades

At this stage in your career it makes sense to list your academic achievements first, as this is predominately what is going to sell you. Set out your education in reverse chronological order with your most recent qualifications first. Don’t feel you have to list every exam you’ve taken, but do include those which are most relevant or impressive for the role you are applying for. You can then use the extra space to include a short summary of what you most enjoyed about the subject, details of any key projects completed and examples of any extra skills it has helped you to develop e.g. leadership, presenting, teamwork or organisation.

3. All work experience counts

Any work experience, however brief, is relevant when it comes to writing your first CV. Employers are keen to see evidence of direct experience within the world of work, in whatever shape or form. Don’t dismiss something because it was only a day’s work experience, or a job which only took up a couple of hours a week. Anything which shows you’ve already developed a work ethic, or commitment to learning new skills, should always be included at this stage.

4. IT skills are a key selling point

Using computers and social media may seem like a simple, every-day part of life to you, but these are skills which employers really value. Make sure you highlight the computer packages you are experienced in using as part of your personal statement, education qualifications, and interests and hobbies if appropriate. Don’t be afraid to include details of your social media accounts such as Twitter if you are confident they are a positive reflection of you. It’s becoming increasingly common for employers to search for potential employees online, so including this information makes it easier for them to find you.

5. Hobbies and interests

A hobbies and interests section is optional on a CV. However, if you lack any notable work experience, they can be a great way of getting your personality across. If you have an interest which backs up your reasons for applying for a role, make sure you include it. But don’t just write that you are enthusiastic about something. Demonstrate through examples and supporting details, how it has provided you with knowledge, skills, experience or simply the determination to complete a project or achieve a goal.

Good luck to everyone currently applying for roles. And don’t forget our expert team can provide additional help, advice and access to jobs currently being promoted. Get in touch with your localPure Resourcing Solutions officefor more information.

Norse’s Facilities Management division recently completed a total fit-out for the Norwich cash and carry warehouse of Capital Hair and Beauty.

Norse briefed, co-ordinated and managed the range of specialist sub-contractors, including electricians, plumbers, gas engineers and racking and display suppliers involved in taking a shell building to a fully functioning 140 square metre wholesale warehouse for the hair and beauty salon sector.

Dan Vanstone, Head of FM at Norse said; “This was the first time that Capital, who are one of the UK’s largest trade suppliers to Hairdressers, Beauty Therapists and Nail Technicians, have used a single supplier to fit out one of their warehouses. Our experience in managing multiple aspects of clients’ facilities was a perfect fit with the Capital’s requirements for a sole project management company.”

David Jackson, regional manager for Capital said; ” It was a positive experience and a huge benefit to be able to work closely with the Norse FM Team -Importantly our customers very much like the new shopping environment that has been created which I am sure will lead to increased sales. We are very pleased with the outcome of the project.”

This is a data logger device. It has the following characteristics:

• 3G Cellnet integration for data upload to the cloud.
• Long battery life. Calculated to be10 years on a tri battery model. Featured device is 2 battery model.
• Assembled and designed in Australia.
• Modbus peripheral attachments to read levels, temperatures, hydrocarbons and the like.
• Small compact design.
• Cloud based software written to report on the gathered data results.

So if there are any environmentalists out there or anyone with a remote sensing requirement please get in touch for more information.

All for now.

David

The key objectives of the Great Eastern Rail Campaign and the thousands of businesses and commuters who support it, will today (Wed Aug 26) be highlighted to all three companies bidding to run the Great Eastern Main Line.

Chloe Smith MP and Mark Pendlington, chairman of New Anglia LEP, joint chairs of the GEML Taskforce, will meet senior representatives of National Express and FirstGroup, as well as Abellio East Anglia Ltd, a joint venture between Abellio, the current franchise holder and Stage Coach, in Ipswich today (Wed).

Top of the list will be the requirement for new faster trains, more reliable services and better timetabling, which are all vital to delivering Norwich in 90 minutes, Ipswich in 60 and Colchester in 40, along with infrastructure improvements which are expected to be delivered by Network Rail.

Mark Pendlington, Joint Chair of the GEML Taskforce, said he wanted to see new ideas and original thinking to transform the rail line, often described as the “golden thread” running through the economies of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, that has the potential to deliver £4.5billion economic benefit and over 50,000 new jobs to the region.

He said: “We will be driving home to each of the bidders the importance of achieving our goals and delivering on the key recommendations from our campaign. This is so much more than business as usual, it’s about fresh ideas and innovative thinking and about transforming the Great Eastern Main Line into the 21st Century service that passengers need and deserve, and which is so essential for our growing successful economy.”

Chloe Smith MP for Norwich North and Joint Chair of the Taskforce said: “Thousands of passengers joined our campaign for better rail, which has won commitment to all the investment we asked for. We’ve arranged these meetings with franchise bidders to make sure they are in no doubt what passengers want in East Anglia. We are setting out high standards and we expect them to make sure their bids are good enough. The best bidder will be the one to bring in new trains, which is one of the central demands we have secured. We aim to achieve all the improvements we need in the next ten years.”

The three companies passed the pre-qualification stage in June. They are now working with Government to develop their proposals before receiving an official invitation to tender, expected in September.

Bidders have already been asked to show how they will improve the region’s railways including reduced journey times to London and how they could achieve the recommendations of the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce.

The new operator is due to take over the franchise in October 2016.

Marsh employees are invited to join the nationwide Shake Up September challenge. Fresh from Workplace Challenge, the programme which combines cutting edge technology with sport & physical activity opportunities, Shake Up September encourages employees across England to increase activity levels by trying at least one new activity or sport during

Simply log your levels of sport, physical activity and active travel online or using our app during September! Every activity you log will allocate points to you and your workplace! And points mean prizes!

The Challenge runs from Tuesday 1st to Wednesday 30th September 2015 but you can sign up at any time and back date your entries – so you don’t even have to log on daily!

To sign up for this FREE Challenge visit www.workplacechallenge.org.uk

Plus to help Norfolk employees get more active, Active Norfolk is putting on a range of taster sessions throughout September including badminton, sailing, climbing and skiing. These are all free or low cost, so no excuses – get your teams together and join in the fun – as well as getting you more active they are also a great team building experience for you and your colleagues. Log on to www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/activenorfolk to book your place.

There will also be weekly spot prizes available for those taking part in Shake up September including cinema tickets, swimming passes, a fitbit, craft hire vouchers for Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre, Get Into Golf vouchers and ping sets.

Win win win! Plus as an extra incentive anybody that signs up to the Workplace Challenge on Thursday 27, Friday 28 or Saturday 29 August will be put into a draw to win £100 Chapelfield vouchers (one winner drawn each day).

Already signed up? There is an incentive for you too – refer a friend and be in with a chance of winning a FitBit. The person who refers the most people wins.

Businesses are being urged to sign-up for this year’s Takeover Day as Norfolk County Council begins preparations for the annual event.

Takeover Day takes place every November and gives children and young people the chance to work with adults for the day and get involved in decision making.

Led locally by Norfolk County Council, the event was pioneered by the Office for the Children’s Commissioner for England and is aimed at giving young people valuable experience of the world of work.

This year’s event will take place on Friday, 20 November and Norfolk County Council is hoping it will be bigger and better than ever.

Last year more than 100 children from across the county took part, taking over a diverse range of jobs, including the roles of Managing Editor at the EDP and Chief Fire Officer at the County Council.

This year it is hoped that more businesses will take part and recognise the benefit to their company and staff.

Annie Baldwin, Member of the Youth Parliament for Broadland, is helping to organise the day.

She said: “With the support of businesses and organisations, young people can understand more about the world of work, consider different careers, gain valuable experience and have their voices heard.

“This is an opportunity to show young people what it is like to do your job and to explain what the benefits are of working in your industry. Young people are more likely to become interested in seeking employment in a field of work that they have experienced.

“You will get a better understanding of what children and young people think about what you do and young people will arrive at work with fresh ideas, suggestions and a different perspective.”

Norfolk County Council was described as an ambassador for Takeover Day earlier this year by the then Children’s Commissioner Dr Maggie Atkinson.

In her report she highlighted the range of opportunities young people in the county had experienced, including the chance to debate in the council chamber at County Hall.

James Joyce, Chair of the Children’s Services Committee at Norfolk, said: “Takeover Day is a brilliant opportunity for Norfolk’s young people to experience the world of work, learn valuable skills and give employers a fresh perspective on their business.

“As one of those who had my role taken over I am keen to highlight the benefits for all of those involved and I would love to see more businesses take part this year, extending the range of careers and skills that Norfolk’s young people can experience.”

Takeover Day can be tailored to businesses and organisations from every sector. Last year the majority of the young people spent the day with County Council officers, ranging from the Managing Director and Chief Fire Officer, through to a Commissioning Manager, Public Health Officer and a Flood and Water Partnership Coordinator.

Young people also spent the day with people from a whole range of other organisations, including: the EDP, NPS and Norse Group, Lambda Films, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Norwich Clinical Commissioning Group, Chloe Smith MP, Brandon Lewis MP andthe constituency office of Norman Lamb MP.

The County Council is hoping a wider range of businesses will take part this year so that even more young people in the county can take advantage of what the day has to offer.

Businesses interested in taking part should contact Chris Williams, Senior Consultation and Involvement Officer at Norfolk County Council on 01603 495107 or email chris.williams2@norfolk.gov.uk.

If you’re under 50 you’ve probably never thought of needing comprehensive holiday travel insurance. But if you’re over 50, with some health issues, it becomes essential to get the right cover at the right price. We recently had the pleasure of producing the first TV campaign for MedicalTravelCompared.co.uk, an Insurance comparison site that does exactly that.

Aside from being a rather challenging concept to illustrate, they particularly wanted to avoid the insurance commercial cliché of grey, dreary visuals with a voiceover earnestly imploring you to get cover, or reap the consequences! Nope, MedicalTravelCompared.co.uk wanted quirky and fun!

So, after researching their brand, we set out to create a live-action commercial with a twist – it would use real footage but ultimately have the look and feel of an animation, tied-in to the imagery on their website.

We filmed models live in our infinity cove, and a combination of visual trickery and slick motion graphics during post-production allowed the performers to interact within an entirely digitally-created environment.

To generate a silhouette effect in post-production, yet still pick out and highlight specific elements in each scene, the performers underwent some unusual costume requirements – including a lot of neon paint and even some fishing wire!

A warm, mature voice artist added yet another layer of character to the commercial and really brought our script to life.

The commercial airsUK widefrom 24th August on a selection of digital satellite channels.

KLM UK Engineeringwere pleased to welcome the Prime Minister to their Norwich based facility today. He met with the Senior Management Team, current & ex-apprentices and also had the opportunity to see first hand our engineers at work in the hangars.

Steeles Law has announced the appointment of its first apprentice, together with the promotion of a former office junior to a trainee legal role.

Georgina Harris, who recently completed her A Levels at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, has joined Steeles as Marketing Apprentice, supporting the firm’s marketing and business development function. Georgina will complete her apprenticeship with training support from Norwich City College.

Alison Beales joined Steeles Law’s central administrative team in 2012, having previously studied for her A Levels, including Law, at Wymondham College. Alison has been promoted to the role of Paralegal in Steeles Law’s conveyancing team and is looking forward to undertaking further training in the law.

Stephen Drake, Managing Director at Steeles Law, commented: “At Steeles, we have a long history of encouraging staff from non-traditional backgrounds into the legal profession. For example, Denise Traube, a Chartered Legal Executive in our dispute resolution team, was recently named Newly Qualified Lawyer of the Year in the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society’s Excellence Awards. Denise joined us in 2002 in a junior administrative role and has steadily risen through the ranks, whilst undertaking her legal studies. I am confident that Alison and other candidates alike will follow in her footsteps.”

Stephen added: “We are delighted to welcome Georgina as our first apprentice, supporting our busy and growing marketing and business development team. We are committed to supporting more young people looking to enter the legal and other business professions through this increasingly popular route.”