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Alpha 7 Excels at Cadwell Park

Alpha 7 showcased its racing prowess at the 4th round of the Caterham Graduates Racing Series held at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire. Fielding five cars, three in the 150 class and two in the 135 class, the team navigated the weekend’s unpredictable weather conditions with skill and determination.

Arriving on Thursday afternoon, the team faced persistent drizzle and the ever-present threat of rain. These challenging circumstances provided valuable opportunities to fine-tune wet setups and master slippery driving lines during Friday’s testing. The mixed weather conditions proved to be a formidable test of driver adaptability and strategy.

Qualifying was particularly demanding due to the triple-header format, requiring drivers to post three fastest laps to determine their starting positions for each race. The cloudy, damp, and drizzling conditions made this task even more challenging. Choosing between a wet or a dry car set up was a constant gamble! In the 150 class, Jamie Ellwood emerged as the top qualifier for Alpha 7, securing P3, P3, and P9 for the weekend’s races.

The weekend’s three races in the 150 class were marked by thrilling battles and changing weather. In Race 1, Jamie Ellwood engaged in an epic duel with Harry Senior, ultimately emerging victorious. Thomas Horton narrowly missed the podium, finishing in 4th place. Race 2 saw another intense battle at the front, with Thomas Horton improving to finish 3rd, while Jamie Ellwood secured 5th place. Race 3 brought further excitement as Jamie Ellwood surged from P9 to P5 in mixed weather conditions. Unfortunately, Thomas Horton had to retire after his A-frame broke, despite a strong start. Ellwood’s fastest lap of the weekend set a new club record, underscoring his impressive performance. After many races, Thomas Horton finally won best-presented car in the 150 class, sponsored by ‘Luxbox’, based in Fakenham.

In the highly competitive 135 class, Amanda Anderson and Mark Barrett represented Alpha 7 among a field of 28 cars. Mark Barrett consistently demonstrated his skill with remarkable starts, gaining an average of seven places on the first lap and finishing P21, P17, and P17 across the three races. Amanda Anderson, starting from P12 for each race, faced her own set of challenges. After a spin at Hall Bends relegated her to P20 in Race 1, she recovered to achieve P14 in Race 2 and capped off the weekend with a top-10 finish after a dramatic last-lap battle.

Alpha 7’s success at Cadwell Park highlights not only their competitive spirit but also their commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a passion for motorsport. If you’re inspired by the excitement of competitive racing, Alpha 7 offers comprehensive driver development programmes tailored to transform novices into skilled racers. Whether you need professional car management or wish to hire a top-performing Caterham, Alpha 7 is dedicated to helping you achieve your racing dreams.

Ready to take the first step toward your racing ambitions? Contact Alpha 7 today to learn how we can support you in hitting the track with confidence and skill.

EACH is launching its new Help Hydrotherapy Happen campaign

“Spending time in the pool can help reduce pain, increase flexibility and mobility, stimulate senses and improve balance” – shop customers are being asked to donate 25p to help fund hydrotherapy sessions for the next 12 months Customers at leading charity shops across the region have the chance to club together and help fund hydrotherapy sessions for families receiving care from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The new Help Hydrotherapy Happen campaign is being rolled out in EACH’s 48 shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. When paying at the till, customers will have the option to donate an extra 25p and the target is to raise £9,000 – enough to fund a hydrotherapy session every week for the next 12 months. Ian Nicolson, EACH’s Director of Retail, said: “We’re calling on all our customers to help raise just £23 a week in every shop from 5th August to 29th September. “If just one in four customers donates 25p we’ll raise over £9,000 during the campaign and that would help pay for a hydro session every week for the next year! “Of course, there’s no obligation to donate and customers certainly don’t have to give anything extra when they pay for their items. “However, just 25p would help us greatly, when added together with money raised across the region. “It’s an exciting campaign that will undoubtedly make a tangible difference to the children and families receiving our care and support.” EACH has hydrotherapy pools at each of its hospices – at Milton, near Cambridge, The Nook, near Norwich, and The Treehouse, in Ipswich. They are warmer than recreational pools and allow families to take a dip together in a private, safe and supportive environment. “From a child’s perspective, spending time in the pool can help reduce pain, increase flexibility and mobility, stimulate senses and improve balance,” added Ian. “It’s a wonderful way to enable special memories for families.” EACH Physical Therapies Technician Lauren Wright hopes customers give generously and says hydrotherapy has become a real passion. “It’s incredible and has such benefits for the children, for so many different reasons,” she said. “We’ve got a young girl who lost the ability to walk on land. However, when she gets in the pool, she’s able to take steps in the water, which is huge for her. “Then we’ve got slightly older children who aren’t able to have much physical contact with their parents, because they’re in wheelchairs and their movement is so restrictive. “When we’re able to get them in the pool, they’re able to hug their parents, which is very emotional and so important for families. “It’s an amazing thing to witness and experience and I consider myself very lucky to come in and do this as my job. It’s a real passion of mine.”

Hands On At Work 24-hour hackathon

Although most of our work involves visiting workplaces, where we set up in a small quiet area or meeting room, some requests are just a little different. Hands On At Work was asked recently to provide some seated massage sessions for a client but it was slightly different to the usual request. Barclays were holding a Gen AI Hackathon event. What’s one of those? We must admit to having to check what that means! Basically, they hosted a 24 hour event across nine locations globally, which saw employees working through the night to brainstorm ideas of how AI would affect the world of banking. We were on hand at their Radbrook Centre from 8am the following morning to soothe tired and aching bodies and minds with our back neck and shoulders and head massages. We were placed right in the middle of the event balloon arch, next to the huge count down screen, what a great atmosphere! Our seated massage is ideally placed to bring fun and relaxation to events. We have another one in the next couple of weeks where it is essentially a two-day corporate event but as most of the staff are very young, the client wants to create a festival vibe. We will be in a marquee, playing chill out music, offering massage and yoga over the two days. Versatility is our middle name! If you are thinking about organising an event or would like to have some massage or other wellbeing services at your workplace, get in touch. We don’t mind how wacky the ideas are, in fact we relish the challenge! Contact Kathy Scott on 07989 367669 or at info@handsonatwork.co.uk

Best Managed IT Services Firm 2024 – East Anglia

We are pleased to announce Uptech has been honoured with a prestigious award from SME for Best Managed IT Services Firm 2024- East Anglia!  We sat down for an insightful interview with SME to explore Uptech’s journey;  the challenges we’ve overcome, the milestones we’ve reached, and the driving force behind our continued innovation.  Established in 1994, Uptech is a premier Managed Service Provider that holds a commitment to delivering comprehensive IT solutions designed to empower businesses to achieve their strategic goals. The leading IT support provider in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Uptech has been named in the UK Enterprise Awards 2024. Below, we catch up with Business Development Manager James Fowler. Read more here

Do you have what it takes to be Big C’s next Chief Executive?

This is a rare opportunity to become the leader of a well-respected and much-loved local charity. The role requires a strong leader of people, someone with a wide corporate and commercial skill set, able to develop and implement robust strategic plans whilst also remaining in touch with the needs of local people affected by cancer. If you feel up to the challenge, able to deliver on our vision and values and are confident in your ability to strengthen Big C with sound organisational and business principles, then the team would love to hear from you. Find out more and apply: https://www.big-c.co.uk/about-us/vacancies/ Deadline: Sunday 1 September

Legal requirements for document retention in the UK – do you know how long you need to keep your documents?

In any business, document retention can be a challenge. Knowing which documents to keep and for how long can be particularly difficult as there are various time frames for different types of record. As there are legal requirements for document retention in the UK, overcoming these challenges and staying on top of the amount of data and number of documents being produced is a must. A document retention policy can help you to do this. But what should it include? Read more here

Join the QEH Youth Council

Are you aged 16 to 25 and want to have your say on what happens at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn? The hospital is setting up a Youth Council which will ensure the voice of young people is heard by decision-makers at the hospital and members can also update their friends and communities about what is happening there. The group will set their own priorities, work closely with departments in the hospital, and be a crucial new way of boosting the links between the QEH and the local community. Anyone interested in finding out more and signing up for regular updates can log onto www.teamqehyouth.co.uk During the early autumn, the first fifteen youth council members will be selected. They will then meet every six weeks and decide on the first areas to focus on. Youth council members will not get paid as this is a voluntary independent role, but they will be reimbursed for their travel and other expenses relating to their role. Alice Webster, Chief Executive of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “It is important that we make sure we are hearing from the under-25s in the communities that we look after. Their ideas, suggestions and connections are so important to us both in terms of continuously improving the care we give and helping us shape our new hospital. Antonia Hardcastle, the hospital’s Lead Governor, added: “We are only as good as the information we hear about when we are meeting our communities. The Youth Council will be vital in helping us understand the issues, concerns, ideas, and views of the younger members of the communities we care for. “Being part of the Youth Council is a useful springboard into further education, apprenticeships, or work for some. We are also really keen to hear from those already in work and looking to develop and enhance their skills, as well as bring their own life experience, empathy and personality to the council.”

Alpha 7 Track Club Thrives at Cadwell Park

Alpha 7 Track Club recently enjoyed a fantastic day at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire, embracing the unique charm and challenge of this iconic circuit. Designed for drivers of all abilities, the club is perfect for enthusiasts who love the thrill of the track but prefer to avoid the stress of competitive racing. The track day, hosted by Javelin Trackdays, saw Alpha 7 running five cars, three owner-driver vehicles and two available for hire, making it an inclusive and exhilarating experience for all participants. The day began with damp conditions, offering a prime opportunity for drivers to hone their skills in varying weather. By the afternoon, the sun broke through, creating ideal track conditions and a perfect backdrop for a social gathering. The event was not just about driving; it was a celebration of shared passion, as members exchanged on-track stories and deepened their connections.

Are you passionate about the adrenaline rush of track day driving? Do you enjoy the camaraderie that comes with participating in driving events? If so, the Alpha 7 Track Club is your ultimate destination. We unite like-minded enthusiasts who share a love for high-performance driving and the vibrant social atmosphere of our events. If you have your own Caterham we can help with technical support and transport logistics. If you don’t have your own Caterham, why not hire one of ours?

Alpha 7 Track Club is dedicated to ensuring everyone has a great time, whether you aspire to become a racing driver or simply want to enjoy driving on a circuit without competitive pressure. We welcome drivers of all skill levels and can’t wait for you to join our community!

Interested in taking the first step toward your track day dreams? Contact Alpha 7 today for more information on how we can help you hit the track with confidence and skill.

Anglian offers free waste audits to help businesses cut costs and boost recycling

Norfolk Chamber member Anglian Waste Recycling is offering free waste audits to help businesses reduce costs and increase recycling.

The free, no obligation waste audits are available for businesses and organisations of all size and industry types. Carried out by the expert team at Anglian, the audit takes around 15 – 30 minutes and includes an assessment of the waste being produced and any recycling currently taking place. The audit is followed up by a report which highlights any opportunities within the waste streams to increase the amount of waste being recycled. Kelsey Cram, sales executive at Anglian, said: “We’re committed to doing our bit to help businesses across the region to improve their sustainability credentials. By offering free, no obligation waste audits, we can identify opportunities to reduce the amount of materials going into general waste. By increasing recycling rates, businesses may also be able cut the cost of their general waste collections, so it’s a win-win for them and the environment too.” Anyone interested in booking a free waste audit can do so on Anglian’s website: Waste Audit | Waste Recycling (anglianrecycling.co.uk)https://www.anglianrecycling.co.uk/waste-audit Anglian Waste Recycling is the region’s fastest growing waste management company and part of the Group which also includes demolition, asbestos services, scaffolding and earthworks and remediation. To find out more, see www.angliandemo.co.ukhttp://www.angliandemo.co.uk / www.anglianreycling.co.ukhttp://www.anglianreycling.co.uk

Polar bears and prosperity: Larking Gowen tourism insights at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park

Leading Suffolk tourist attraction, Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, was the setting for the official launch of Larking Gowen’s 2024 Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Business Survey results. Guests, representing some of the top tourist destinations in the region, were given a tour of The Lost Lands of the Tundra reserve at the farm, where polar bears Ewa, Flocke and Tala are now in residence. Venue host, Jimmy Doherty, spoke about how he saw the tourist industry as massively important for the region beyond the £10bn income it generates. Jimmy chatted to Chris Scargill, Tourism Partner at Larking Gowen, about the changes he has seen over the years in customer behavior and trends, what tourism really means to him, and of course, the red tape tourism businesses are often held back by, and more. You can listen to the full conversation on the podcast Tourism Business Chat here larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights. There you can find more content from the results seminar, including a chat with Jimmy’s Park Director, Stevie Sheppard, and other guests, on another episode. “Tourism isn’t just another industry. It provides amazing jobs and makes the most of our landscape and wonderful towns and beaches. It provides a fantastic respite for a nation that needs it now more than ever, with everything we’ve been through in recent times. I think the tourism industry should be seen as a national tonic sometimes,” he said. Speaking in discussion with Chris, Jimmy said the story of the polar bears coming to the farm had seized people’s imaginations and brought them into a closer relationship with the farm. “It’s really important that you have something new to offer, and these days you need investment just to move your business forward. To make that pay, you’ve really got to tell the story. It’s all in the storytelling, which has got to be authentic and has got to have purpose. To take people on a journey is a skill we have to learn, and it’s part of our world now,” he said. “We did this, not for the visitors, but because the polar bears we were rescuing needed a home, and animal welfare and conservation is at the core of our business. We’re fortunate that the story of the construction and rescue mission struck a chord with the general public and, as a result, we’ve seen an increase in visitor numbers. It’s important for our staff to see the business developing and staying true to our values whilst doing so,” he said. Chris Scargill said that although there was more negativity in the sector in comparison to the results of the 2023 survey, there were signs of light on the horizon. You can view the full Tourism Business Survey results brochure here.

Norwich Research Park event showcases the research and technology platforms innovative businesses can access

Anglia Innovation Partnership, the campus management organisation at Norwich Research Park, hosted its latest Enterprise Tuesday event on Tuesday 11 June at the John Innes Conference Centre, showcasing novel technology platforms and debating the value of ‘science push and industry pull’ activity in the cluster.

The event entitled ‘Research and Technology Platforms Open for Innovative Business’ presented case studies to explain how the specialist facilities were created, at the campus, how they are used in publicly funded research, on the campus, and their current and future potential application in industry.

Four of the platforms presented:

Dr Carolina Grandellis and Dr Iain MacAulay introduced the Biofoundry at the Earlham Institute, an engineering biology and automation facility for processing biological samples by using robots to do experiments faster and more accurately for microbiology and biotech companies wanting to screen a high number of bacterial strains.

Dr Alan Brailsford, Operations Manager, Quadram Institute presented information about QIB Extra which is the Quadram Institute’s commercial arm that works with industry partners in the food, diet and health sectors to provide its expertise and services to help develop their products with the profits being reinvested into further research.

Dr Penny Hundleby, Senior Scientist, John Innes Centre talked about the Crop Transformation platform which offers transformation and genome editing for a range of species including wheat, barley and Brassica crops. It can help to advance research in many areas of plant science by providing functional characterisation of genes of interest and by providing knock-out mutants using CRISPR/Cas9 based technologies.

Dr Ofir Meir, Chief Technology Officer at Tropic explained the working of its GEiGS (Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing) platform a frontrunner in the agriculture gene editing sector which uses universal gene editing tools such as CRISPR, to minimally edit the host’s own non-coding genes and redirect their silencing activity (RNAi) towards any desired target gene or gene family enabling critical disease resistance and valuable quality improvement traits across crops, livestock and aquaculture.

The second half of the event was a panel discussion – ‘Strengthening engagement through ‘science push’ and ‘industry pull’’ chaired by Dr Nick Goodwin, COO of Anglia Innovation Partnership featuring James Phillips, Head of Translation and Innovations Capability at the Biotechnology and Biology Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Linda Bedenik, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager, The Bioindustry Association, Luke Young, CEO and co-founder of Alora, Dr Jonathan Clarke, Head of Business Development at the John Innes Centre, Prof Brian Reid, Professor of Soil Science, UEA, Dr Jenny Longmore, Director of Research Operations, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and Dr Cathrina Edwards, PulseON Foods.

Roz Bird, CEO, Anglia Innovation Partnership, said: “Norwich Research Park is one of the largest research clusters in Europe, with over 30,000 people on site every day.

Our aim is to raise awareness of our technology and research platforms and encourage more research collaborations, and more industry access, to maximise the impact of the enormous amounts of publicly funded research taking place on the campus.

“These events are a really good way to highlight the genuinely fantastic opportunities that exist here and the importance of our facilities. We actively support fledgling companies with access to funding, facilitating collaborative partnerships and introducing them to useful business networks. Our unique combination of top-class facilities, access to funding and ease ofcollaboration means we can fast-track ideas to become viable start-up companies.

It was great to be able to show case unique technology and new enterprise activity yet again and to get a great response from our audience of over 100 delegates.”