Digital marketing agency, Bigfork, carried out a successful automated marketing campaign for kayak manufacturer, Tootega. The main goal of the campaign was to turn one-time visitors to the website into long term customers. Our new case study shows how we turned new kayak online registrations into a successful automated and personalised email marketing campaign. You can see the full case study here on our website.
Our new Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work course dates have just been set.
Aim; Provide the skills to deliver basic first aid to a suitable level for most businesses.
Objectives;
*Understand Roles and responsibilities of a first aider
*To be able to assess and manage a first aid incident
*To be able to manage an unconscious casualty
*To be able to manage a casualty who is not breathing normally
*To be able to manage a casualty who is choking
*To be able to manage a casualty who has a bleeding injury
*To be able to manage a casualty who is in shock
Organisation
Duration; 1 day course
Date; Tuesday 20th October
Exam/Assessment; Practical assessment plus an examination consisting of 15 multiple choice questions. In the practical assessment, candidates will be tested on the following five elements:
* Recovery position * Cardiopulmonary resuscitation * Choking * Bleeding * Shock This is an Ofqual accredited qualification.
Cost; £85.00 +VAT Includes exam fees, course handbook & materials, lunch and refreshments
Awarding Body; Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) OR Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC)
Tutors; Justin Cowles
Differentiation; None – Just enthusiasm
Audience; This is the right first aid qualification for 80% of all businesses; the course is open to anyone who wants to become a first aider.
Our Level 4 Award in Health and Safety course is taking place in August at No8 Thorpe Road, Norwich.
Aim; This qualification provides those in managerial and supervisory positions with appropriate knowledge and understanding of health and safety hazards, controls, and their management. It is also suitable for those wishing to deliver CIEH health and safety qualifications as part of their training provision.
Objectives;
*Understand the meaning of ‘management of health and safety’
*Understand the structure of UK and European law, and to interpret these requirements
*Understand most workplace hazards, their control, and to design safe practices and procedures
*Develop monitoring and auditing programmes
*Liaise with enforcement officers
*Have sufficient technical knowledge to teach level 1 + 2 health and safety training (with appropriate training skills)
Organisation
Duration; 6 days course consisting of 5 days in the classroom and the 6th day for assessment
Date; 14th, 20th, 21st, 27th & 28th August
Exam Date; 25th September
Exam/Assessment; Controlled assignment and examination. The course is accredited by Ofqual.
Cost; £595 plus VAT includes notes, refreshments, lunch, the assessment & certification fees
Awarding Body; Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
Tutor; Richard Mills or Sarah Daniels
Differentiation; Prior knowledge of health and safety is required: CIEH Level 3 Award in Health & Safety would be desirable. This is a challenging course; candidates require a moderate level of academic skills and ICT ability. Access to a computer, for assignment research, email, etc is strongly recommended.
Audience; This qualification is for business owners, managers and supervisors, who devise, implement and monitor a company’s health and safety, and for those who want to become trainers
Last Minute Space Available on our Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety course which is taking place in July at No8 Thorpe Road in Norwich.
Aim; To equip delegates to put food safety management systems in to place, through detailed understanding of the hazards, legal requirements (including HACCP) and the issues surrounding the implementation of control measures.
Objectives;
*Understand the meaning of ‘management of food safety’, and the elements of a management system, including HACCP.
*Detailed understanding of the four main hazards; biological, allergens, chemical and physical.
*Understand the format of UK and European food safety legislation.
*Understanding operational procedures for cleaning and disinfection, pest control, design and construction of facilities etc.
*Managing people; information, training, supervision etc.
*Maintaining food safety management procedures; monitoring and verification.
*Liaise with enforcement officers
*Have sufficient technical knowledge to deliver level 1 and 2 food hygiene training (with appropriate training skills)
Organisation
Duration; 5 day teaching programme + 1 day for assessment.
Exam/Assessment; Two hour controlled assignment and a 2.5 hour written examination (both normally completed on the same day). This is an Ofqual accredited qualification.
Cost; £597 plus VAT includes notes, refreshments, lunch, the assessment & certification fees. The course cost also includes a course book and a course folder with a resource CD & DVD
Awarding Body; Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
Tutor; Richard Mills or Sarah Daniels
Differentiation; Prior knowledge of food safety is required: CIEH Level 3 Award in Food Safety would be desirable. Candidates should be familiar with, or aspire to, the role of management. This is a challenging course, technically and academically. Candidates require reasonable spoken and written English, and a moderate level of ICT ability. Access to a computer, for assignment research, email, etc is strongly recommended.
Audience; This qualification is for managers, supervisors and QA/QC/ senior hygiene personnel, who devise, implement and monitor/audit food safety systems, and for those who want to become trainers.
Feedback; “Richard Mills – without doubt the most knowledgeable, patient and diligent tutor and course leader I have met. You have made an arduous and technical subject live and breathe and have a relevance to my work every day since completing the course.” Ben Cullis, Stoke High School, Ipswich
The team at Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure) are delighted to have been named as finalists in the Corporate Social Responsibility category of the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2015.
This particular award recognises the companies which have demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and consideration for their role as a corporate citizen. Entrants were expected to demonstrate commitment to a number of good practices within the normal everyday commercial running of the business. In particular the judges were looking for evidence of:
Culture – demonstrating how the business engages with all aspects of working life Ethics – integrity when dealing with customers and business partners Diversity and inclusion – showing a consultative and enriching environment for employees People development – evidence of opportunities for staff to progress themselves Health and safety – ensuring the working environment is a safe, healthy and happy place for employees who are able to balance work and family commitments.
Pure was selected as finalists because of its obvious commitment to staff development and welfare, flexible working practices, continued fundraisingfor local charities, and its ongoing support for local businesses and the career development of people in the region through initiatives such as the Best Employers Eastern Region and Women’s Leadership Programme.
In praise of Pure, the judges said: “There is a vibrant and energetic atmosphere at Pure which clearly helps staff within their roles and flows over into a working environment that is inclusive and supportive.”
Consultants from the Ipswich office enjoyed a fantastic evening at the awards ceremony which was held at Trinity Park in Ipswich on Thursday 9 July.
Jodie Woodrow, Manager of Pure’s Ipswich office said: “We were up against strong competition from other local businesses, so we were delighted to have been crowned as one of the top three companies. Right from the start we set out to be different and we genuinely believe in ‘putting people first’. This doesn’t just relate to our employees, but also to our clients and to those within our wider communities. We bring this to life through our values, which all our staff were involved in implementing. Our congratulations go to Spring as the overall winners and also to MLM as our fellow finalists.”
Kier Construction Eastern has won five Norfolk Association of Architects Craftsmanship Awards. The five projects in and around Norwich were presented with the awards on the 9th July 2015.Kier’s Kevin James, Chris Lowe, John Claydon, Dennis Cotton, Andrew Richman and Mark Wright, along with guests from the UEA, LSI and Ingleton Wood Architects attended the event at the Barnham Broom Hotel.
Earlham Hall – Class C – Restorations, Alterations and Additions – Full Award
Earlham Hall is an important Norfolk house. It dates from c1580 and is now owned by the University of East Anglia, used as their School of Law. The building was not so much restored as painstakingly rebuilt – brick by brick and timber by timber.
Crome Court – Class B – New Non-Residential – Full Award
The £10.1m 232-bedroom, 5 to 7 storey Crome Court, is hailed as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the UEA’s east campus, and met all their aspirations for their new student residence block. It is constructed from Cross Laminated Timber with modular bathroom pods.
Norfolk UTC – Class C – Restoration, Alterations and Additions – Full Award
Kier remodelled the 5400m2 former factory to create a 600 pupil University Technical College. One half of the building holds computer suites, classrooms and laboratories, independent study spaces, a dining area and an employer’s lounge. The other half is devoted to technical learning – electrical and electronic, materials and engineering sciences.
City College Norwich – Class C – Restoration, Alterations and Additions – Full Award
The project involved constructing a Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) unit, which also houses a classroom and printroom. This is to provide a facility for disabled students to enable them to learn and thrive in a mainstream educational environment.
Julian Study Centre – Class B – New Non-Residential – Full Award
This sustainable four storey building with a glazed frontage and vibrant pink render is thought to be the first time a cross-laminated timber structure has been used with termodeck.
TaxAssist Accountants, the award-winning national network of accountants for small businesses, have relocated their headquarters to Broadland Business Park in Norwich.
Moving from former premises on Thorpe Road, Norwich, TaxAssist has moved into a suite taking 5,033ft2 (468m2) on the second floor of the Bankside 300 building.
The new address is:
Second Floor Bankside 300 Peachman Way Broadland Business Park Norwich Norfolk NR7 0WF
Established in 1995, TaxAssist has a network of over 195 franchised practices across the UK servicing more than 50,000 small business clients. In August 2014, the company achieved what is thought to be the first franchisee-assisted management buyout, leaving TaxAssist 32 percent owned by franchisees, 53 percent by the senior management team and 15 percent by longstanding external business partners.
Karl Sandall, Chief Executive of TaxAssist, said: “With more than 35 staff in our head office, we needed more space to continue our rapid growth and Broadland Business Park provides us with quality premises and surroundings our business needs.”
“In 2009, we set up our Dublin franchise and in February this year, we announced TaxAssist’s entry into Canada. We’re well on the road for continuing our global expansion into other new markets such as Australia, New Zealand and the US. This new office will stand us in good stead for our ambitious future plans.”
A large number of the region’s major businesses have been attracted to Broadland Business Park, including Aviva, Bertram Books, RBS, NHS Norfolk, Start-rite Shoes, Lovewell Blake, KTIB, Evander, D & F McCarthy and Menzies Distribution. It is located adjacent to the Postwick Junction of the A47, affording excellent access to London, the Midlands and east coast ports.
Simon Radford, Chief Executive of Lothbury Investment Management, advisors to the Park’s owners, said: “We are very pleased to welcome TaxAssist to Broadland Business Park. The company has achieved exceptional growth and we are delighted to be able to support its ongoing expansion plans. With first class facilities and premium quality office accommodation, not to mention excellent links to the main road networks, Broadland Business Park is an ideal choice for leading businesses in the area.”
Customer information is being improved at rail stations across the Abellio Greater Anglia network with the installation of new Customer Information Screens.
159 new screens are being installed which will display train running information in a clear, easy to read format.
Audley End, Battlebridge, Billericay, Bures, Burnham-on-Crouch, Chappel and Wakes Colne, Cheshunt, Cromer, Dovercourt, Great Bentley, Great Chesterford, Great Yarmouth, Halesworth, Harwich Town, Hatfield Peverel, Hoveton and Wroxham, Kelvedon, Lowestoft, Needham Market, Newmarket, Oulton Broad North, Reedham, Saxmundham, Shenfield, Sheringham, Stowmarket, St Margarets, Sudbury, Thetford, Thorpe Le Soken, Thurston, Ware, Wickford, and Witham stations are all benefiting from the investment.
The project will see the old customer information screens replaced with the latest LED technology. This will mean a real improvement in the provision of information for customers at the stations with brighter, clearer screens.
Andrew Goodrum Greater Anglia’s Customer Service Director: “We have been focusing our efforts on improving information provision for our customers and these new screens demonstrate our commitment to providing up-to-date information, in a clear, user-friendly format.”
Norse Commercial Services has pledged the company’s support to the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).
Paul Bonham, Commercial Director at Norse said: “We are delighted to be supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance, a vital local service that over the last 15 years has helped over 16 000 people in a wide variety of life-threatening situations. As a company we have exciting plans to involve a number of our different divisions in helping to promote and raise money for the service, and I know our staff will be equally keen to show their support. We are really looking forward to working with the dedicated staff and volunteers at EAAA and to helping them to continue providing their often crucial emergency response.”
The company will be placing ‘Proud to Support East Anglian Air Ambulance’ stickers on Norse vehicles minibuses, school buses and maintenance vehicles, helping to raise funding and awareness of the work of for the EAAA.
The company’s catering division will also be looking at opportunities to help promote ‘Tea@1500’, events the EAAA is running to celebrate its 15th anniversary year.
EAAA Norfolk Fundraising Manager, Holly Lambert said: ‘We are enormously grateful for Norse’s support of EAAA and are very much looking forward to working with them on a number of campaigns and initiatives. The EAAA does not receive regular direct government funding and so is dependent on our generous supporters to help raise the £8.6 million needed every year to keep our life-saving service flying’.
Peri’s Leisure, the family run company behind Norwich’s most popular nightlife venues,Mercy XS, Roccos and Elements all on Prince of Wales Road, Norwich are the latest company to sign up to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) nook business network scheme.
The nook business network asks for companies small, medium and large throughout Norfolk to commit to raising either £10,000, £15,000 or £25,000 over the duration of the appeal in return for a number of benefits and support the charity will provide. These funds will in turn help EACH to build the nook; a new purpose built children’s hospice in the heart of Norfolk.
The Peri family, who have a long history of supporting charitable causes, signed up to the scheme after learning Courtesy Taxis were members. Both companies are based in Prince of Wales Road and know each other well.
The Peri’s opened Roccos Bar and Restaurant on Christmas Day last year and the family – Steve, Dawn, Ibish, Dogan, Nicole and Reece – decided to support families who had been involved with domestic abuse and violenceand invited them to join the family for Christmas lunch, enjoy some entertainment, with the children receiving Christmas gifts that were supplied by the family, members of the public as we as local businesses.
There were a number of gifts that were left over and Dawn contactedEACH to offer these to the charity for the children at the hospice and to utilise in the EACH shops to raise funds.
Dawn, who along with Steve, are the owners of Peri’s Leisure, said: “We had a great Christmas Day helping others but realised we had bought far too many gifts whichmeant we had a lot left over. We have a very good relationship with Mark Streeter, of CourtesyTaxis, also on Prince of WalesRoad and he suggested that I speak with EACH, as he had just committed his company to raising funds by signingup tothe nook business network scheme. When Gary popped over to collect the gifts and explain more about the appeal I knew we could get involvedand help more and so was more than happy to sign up to the scheme as well.”
Gary Cook, the nook appeal corporate fundraiser, said: “It was great to meet with Dawn and collect the giftswhich will be put to great use but to also have the family offer its support even further with a fundraising target of £25,000 is absolutely fantastic.
“We are really looking forward to working with the Peri’s as well as Toby Middleton who manages the venues to see how we can garner the support of the thousands of customers they see each and every week.”
The New Anglia Growth Hub continues its work to support new and existing businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk by providing a clear path to business support, with easier access to sources of funding, grants and expert advice.
The hub marked their first anniversary with a reception at the Anglia Farmers pavilion at the Royal Norfolk Show in July. (Pictured: Clarke Willis, Chief Executive of Anglia Farmers with Mark Pendlington, Chairman of the New Anglia LEP).
A number of Norfolk Chamber members have enlisted the guidance of the Hub’s ten business growth advisers and they include Howarth Engineering Ltd based on the Rackheath Industrial Estate. The company has over 40 years’ experience making components for the telecoms, marine, automotive and power generation sectors and the company specialises in CNC milling and turning services.
They have been Chamber members since February 2008 and have attended informative training and networking events and exhibited at Norfolk Chamber of Commerce’s B2B exhibition in 2014 and will be returning this year.
Stella Rice, business growth adviser covering North Suffolk and South Norfolk met with Karen Plummer, Business Development Manager at the company, to discuss their business expansion plans and the many different types of support the Hub could offer with these.
They already have three apprentices in place and are now exploring how the Employer Training Incentive Pilot (ETIP) may be able to help with the costs of several training projects. ETIP is a joint venture between Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce to incentivise non-mandatory training by offering 25% money back up to £1,000 per employee. The business must be a small or medium enterprise, the learner must be over 19 years of age and the grant can cover non-accredited training.
Stella has also pointed Howarth Engineering in the direction of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) as they will be expanding into an additional manufacturing unit. MAS offer support via their specialist consultants to businesses with the potential to improve and grow. They will be helping the company with their new processes, layout and systems for the additional manufacturing unit.
Karen commented: “This is an exciting time for Howarth Engineering, I would like to thank Broadland District Council Economic Regeneration Team, New Anglia Growth Hub, the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and MAS for all of their help and advice as we are able to implement our vision of expanding in a more efficient and effective way. The funding will allow us to accelerate our plans faster than we could on our own.”
Stella added: “For a long established family business, Howarth Engineering has an exceptionally clear vision of where their future lies. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to assist and support them to fulfil their exciting growth plans.”
Simons Landscaping Ltd are the latest company to sign up for the nook business network scheme to raise funds to enable East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) to build the nook, a new purpose-built children’s hospice in the heart of Norfolk.
The nook business network scheme asks for companies small, medium and large throughout Norfolk to commit to raising either £10,000, £15,000 or £25,000 over the term of the appeal. The firm is a perfect fit for EACH as it was established over 30 years ago and provides its landscaping services in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge; the same areas that EACH covers.
As well as raising significant funds for the charity, the company will also look to promote the appeal to its suppliers, customers and clients encouraging them to offer their support to this appeal.
Simon Cruickshank, Director, Simons Landscaping Ltd, said: “We’re a family run business who are the leading landscape gardeners in Norwich, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and we’re pleased to support the nook appeal. As parents ourselves, we can imagine how other families must feel when they need to rely on hospice care for their children. In going through such heart-breaking situations EACH gives families the best in worst possible situations, and we hope our support goes some way to helping those families.”
Gary Cook, the nook appeal corporate fundraiser, said: “It’s fantastic the team at Simons Landscaping want to help us achieve our financial target to enable us to make our vision of a new hospice for local life-threatened children and their families a reality.
“Simons Landscaping work is very much in the same community that EACH serves and it’s this community whether it is individuals, schools, community groups or in this case the business sector that will, by working together, help provide the funds for this much needed hospice.”
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the appeal or the nook business network, should contact the Norfolk Fundraising Team on 01953 666767 or funding@each.org.uk or for more information on Simons Landscaping please visit www.simonslandscaping.co.uk