Member News

We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Area Sales Manager for Norfolk, Brendon Lansdowne.

Brendon joins us with over 20 years experience in the automotive industry, all working in the Norfolk area. He has worked in operational roles, as well as sales within the vehicle rental industry. During the last 4 years, he has worked in a B2B position within a local dealership.

His experience will be a valuable asset to colleagues and customer alike within the Norfolk area. Should you wish to contact Brendon to discuss your own vehicle fleet, please call him directly on 07500 008015 or emailbrendon.lansdowne@burnt-tree.co.uk.

Leading regional recruitment consultancy firm, Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), is launching a new Graduate Training Programme to encourage young professionals to join the exciting industry.

Pure, which has offices in Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich and Chelmsford, is calling for graduates with some employment experience on their CV to apply for the programme before January 30th.

The initiative lasts for 12 months and successful candidates will receive comprehensive training, taking on a variety of challenging tasks, with no two days being the same. Trainees will develop their skills, progressing to the position of Recruitment Consultant.

Applicants must be degree educated, have commercial employment experience, and plenty of drive and motivation. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential, as is the desire to deliver a first class service to all customers, at all times. They must also be a fast learner, be self-motivated and be confident working in a team as well as independently.

Gill Buchanan, Director of Pure, encourages young professionals to join the innovative company, which also has a reputation as a very supportive employer.

She says: “Pure is an exceptional place to work. Our culture is vibrant and flexible, and we stick to sensible hours, but everyone works hard. Not only is Pure a fantastic place to start a career in recruitment, but we are committed to supporting our trainees to achieve their goals and build long term careers with us.

“As well as competitive basic salaries, rewards and benefits, Pure organises lots of fun social events and we do a lot of charity fundraising. Pure really is a great place to work!”

For more information, contact Gill on 01223 209888 orgill@prs.uk.com.

2015 was already set to be an exciting year for TVC so we are all the more thrilled to be announcing our sponsorship of motorcyclist Rob Barber of father-and-son race team PRB Racing https://www.prbracing.co.uk/

With a career spanning nearly two decades and a spectacular track record, including winning the first Zero Emissions Race around the TT track in 2009, we are proud to be associated with such a prominent name in racing.

We wish him every success in his races at the TT and UGP as well as at Pikes Peak on Zero bike, ‘Buckeye Current’ https://current.osu.edu/

This is an exciting opportunity in an established and growing agency with a diverse client base. We will require you to become involved with liaising with clients on a daily basis (so it’s best if you like people). You’ll work closely with our designers and suppliers to support our account Director (his name is Ben) in his quest to deliver great marketing solutions and strategies that simply work.

You’ll need bags of initiative and be able to use a computer. Oh, and if you hate the phone, then don’t bother as we all muck in here at Naked. It goes without saying that you’ll need excellent communication skills, good marketing knowledge and if you also happen to be a digital marketing whizz then what are you waiting for?

Grab a pen, keyboard or carrier pigeon andget in touchexplaining why you should be on our short list, include your CV and salary expectations!

We’re waiting to hear from you…

www.nakedmarketing.co.uk

The Adapt Low Carbon Group, an innovation management consultancy and investor, has secured a resource efficiency project with British Sugar – the UK’s leading sugar supplier.

Adapt, part of the University of East Anglia, will research and advise British Sugar on opportunities for developing new productsand technologies that could help future-proof the business. Adapt will also seek to identify ways to maximise British Sugar’s factory processing efficiency and capacity, and improve its carbon and water footprints.

A key element of this will be finding sustainable solutions that will help British Sugar stay abreast of market challenges as well as responding proactively to changes in production and export quotas for sugar and cereal-based sweeteners from 2017.

Read more here

Norse Commercial Services’ Transport Division has been awarded accreditation under an award winning initiative which has been developed by Freight Transport Association (FTA).

‘Van Excellence’ is an industry-led initiative, in conjunction with some of the UK’s leading van operators, which aims to:

• Enhance standards of van operator compliance
• Raise standards within the industry
• Improve the perception of vans and light commercial vehicles
• Enhance the reputation of organisations operating van fleets

The award is only made following an independent audit covering two aspects of vehicle operations:

Vehicle related understanding including, roadworthiness, safe working environment, vehicle standards, and administration; and driver related undertakings, including licensing, behaviour, compliance, competence, training, and identification. “The recognition of excellence is the cornerstone of the Van Excellence scheme, and this accreditation demonstrates Norse’s commitment to safer, more efficient and sustainable van operations,” John Mellor, Group Transport Manager at Norse, said.

“In turn, this will help our standing with customers and employees and reassure both the public and Government that van operators are addressing the issues of concern to them. Traffic Commissioners also recognise the high standard require to gain the Van Excellence award. This is our second successive year of accreditation and it is a credit to all in the Transport team,” he added.

Norse is one of the first 50 operators in the region to receive the Van Excellence accreditation.

The award covers Norse’s Norwich based fleet operations, which include around 400 vans and minibuses. Nationally Norse operates a fleet of 1600 vehicles through its Head Office and UK subsidiaries.

It is a sad reality that the New Year brings about a peak in separations and applications for divorce and dissolution of civil partnership.

Every January this subject receives a lot of media coverage. A number of dates are often cited as being the most popular date on which to start a divorce, with some media reports even going so far as to refer to the first Monday in January as “divorce day”. Our data over the past few years suggests that it is true that sadly often parties do take the decision to separate early on in the New Year, however, sometimes we find that client’s wait a few weeks or even months before contacting us for advice.

For couples facing separation, it can be hard to know where to start in such a strange and emotionally challenging process and therefore we list below 10 considerations to make when faced with divorce:

1. Get legal advice at an early stage

Even if you do not intend to formally instruct a divorce solicitor, it is always advisable to have an initial chat with a specialist family lawyer regarding the way forward. This ensures that you know your legal position and your rights before proceeding.

2. Don’t panic

Be cautious about making hasty decisions as you could make wrong decisions. For example, moving out of a property without seeking legal advice about your position first.

3. Don’t rely on advice given by friends

There will always a friend or colleague who is keen to offer you their advice. The thing to remember is that every divorce is different due to the individual circumstances. Therefore, the likely outcomes are different and one can rarely rely on advice given by people on their own experience.

4. Don’t assume

Many people make assumptions without taking legal advice. However, there are so many myths associated with divorce and separation and therefore assume nothing.

5. Remain amicable and consider mediation

Try and have a discussion with your spouse about the way forward. The days of parties going to court for a judge to make a decision in respect of financial matters are becoming infrequent. The ethos now is to try and deal with things in an amicable way whilst also minimising costs for both parties.

6. Get organised regarding your finances

We are often concerned by the number of clients who seek advice and do not know their own financial situation. Ensure you know about what bank accounts and debts are held in joint names and be aware of the level of joint debt, to include credit cards and mortgages. It is always wise to know and be in control of your own financial situation.

7. Focus on the best interests of the children

If you have children, there is no need to involve them just because you and your spouse are not getting along. Always discuss the situation out of earshot of the children and avoid making the children feel that they have to take sides. Focus on the children’s best interests.

8. Be realistic

Be realistic in your expectations – whatever agreement is reached has to be workable and therefore do not set your expectations too high. Ultimately, the matrimonial finances are going to be divided somehow and both parties’ future housing needs will need to be met.

9. Consider using a counsellor

Divorce and separation can be a very stressful time and there are many counsellors who are able to offer support. Discussing purely emotional matters with your lawyer is not the best use of your funds. By employing an expert counsellor this can work out much more cost-effective in the long run.

10. Do not comment about your spouse on social networking sites

Commenting about your spouse on a social networking site will only antagonise the situation further and is not advisable, whatever they may have done. Sometimes it is appropriate for us to advise clients to temporarily close such accounts until matters are concluded to avoid the temptation to post inappropriate content.

Our specialist family law team at Steeles Law offers expert advice regarding divorce, separation, dissolution of civil partnerships and all family law matters.

We offer fixed fee services as well as pay-as-you-go services, meaning that you only pay for advice as and when you need it. Our team is supportive and empathetic and we tailor our advice and support to each individual case.

During the month of January, we are also offering a 30 minute initial consultation free of charge. Contact us to make an appointment to discuss your current situation and options going forward in more detail.

For more information please contact our family law team.

Listers King’s Lynn are currently working out of temporary accommodation as the previous BMW showroom has been knocked down and is in the process of being rebuilt. The new showroom and the expanded and renovated MINI showroom are well underway and should be open for business by the end of February.

The process started this spring with phase 1 of the build, the rear of the site has been surfaced, specialised outdoor valet bays constructed and dedicated MOT bays moved to external buildings. In July, phase 2 began, with all staff being moved into temporary accommodation and the BMW showroom was completely demolished. At the time of going to press, the framework for the new BMW showroom is in place and the MINI showroom has been extended in size.

Key features of the new build: – 12-car BMW showroom (previously 6) – 7-car MINI showroom (previously 4) – 2 bespoke handover areas – State-of-the-art workshop – Greater used car pitch – Larger customer lounges

Nigel George, Head of Business at Listers King’s Lynn, is very much looking forward to the new premises:”At the moment it’s business, just not quite as usual. Whilst the temporary accommodation is excellent, we’re certainly looking forward to moving into the new premises. All the staff have been a credit to the business due to their perseverance and flexibility throughout the process, their performance has remained at a constant level and customer service has actually improved! Excitement is definitely growing, as there is daily progress with the new showroom.’

Autocar magazine have reviewed the BMW 5 Series Saloon and concluded it is”the finest company car that money can buy”.

Read the full article here

Over 90,000 rail tickets are on sale now for just £5 one way as train operator, Abellio Greater Anglia, reduces the price of its cheapest standard advance fare in a New Year promotion.

The bargain price tickets are now available for off peak travel between 5 January and 27 February 2015, and are ideal for shoppers wishing to hit the January sales in London or at Stratford’s Westfield shopping mall or those looking for a Valentine or half term getaway.

The £5 one way fares will be available from all stations on the Norwich – London mainline route and its connecting branch lines such as Bury St Edmunds, Clacton On Sea, Cromer, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Sheringham and Walton on the Naze.

Abellio Greater Anglia’s Customer Service Director, Andrew Goodrum, said, “We’re delighted to offer these cut price tickets which will help over 100,000 passengers to banish the post-Christmas blues with a bargain day out for shopping, leisure or family fun.”

The £5 tickets can also be combined with Abellio Greater Anglia’s range of 2 for 1 offers on attractions and restaurant deals to make the pennies stretch even further.

To take advantage of the discounted fares passengers must book in advance via the train operator’s web site at www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk between 14 December 2014 and 4 January 2015. Terms and conditions apply.

To mark the beginning of the construction of the new manufacturing facilities for Specialised Management Services Ltd (SMS) a ground breaking ceremony was held on the 10th December at the new site: Beacon Park Business Park, Great Yarmouth.

The Directors of SMS, Dave Howlett and Liz Culyer, Managing Director of Wellington Construction, Paul Pitcher, and the Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Trevor Wainwright, gathered on the construction site to officially begin the build with a spade ceremony. In addition Jon Harper of Allman Woodcock, Cllr Bernard Williamson, the cabinet member for transformation and regeneration, Robin Neve, Beacon Park Project Delivery Manager, Bruce Hart and Graeme Reeve of PRP Architecture, James Denny of Wellington Construction and Daniel Bycroft of Bycroft Estate Agents also attended, showing their support towards the investment SMS will be making in the borough.

This move is fundamental to the future of SMS as it starts to outgrow its current facilities. The layout of the building has been precisely designed to SMS’s specifications and will have easy access for HGVs. The additional land bought will enable SMS’s manufacturing capabilities to increase as the business continues to expand its client base and product portfolio.

At the inauguration ceremony it was revealed that the new building will be called Starling House. It is named after the North Sea oil field for which SMS manufactured and installed its first ever hydraulic power unit (HPU) in 2006 for Aker Solutions (formally Aker Kvaerner Subsea). The HPU award was a milestone achievement for early SMS and marked the beginning of the manufacturing success the company enjoys today.

Dave Howlett, Managing Director of SMS Ltd comments, “The relocation to larger facilities is vitally important to SMS in achieving their objectives as well as servicing the requirements for both existing and future clients. The ground breaking ceremony was an exciting occasion and signifies the start of a new and exciting year ahead.”

Cllr Trevor Wainwright, the leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “Many businesses in the energy sector supply chain are continuing to invest in the borough, indicating huge confidence in the local economy, the skills of the workforce, the port and business park facilities, and the Enterprise Zone status.”

“Next year, the borough will celebrate 50 years of supporting offshore operations in the southern North Sea – and this investment by SMS Ltd proves that the sector has a bright future.”

The construction is expected to be completed by November 2015.

These days, it isn’t enough to have a website for your business – your digital footprint needs to extend to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and it’s time to start using them to their full potential.

Social media is a great way to connect with other businesses and engage with your customers. With over 240 million active monthly users on Twitter, 1.2 billion monthly active Facebook members and over 300 million users on LinkedIn – there’s no shortage of opportunities to connect. But why is it that many businesses are successfully tapping into social media effectively, while others are still struggling?

We think it’s because businesses have to learn to not only create content that stands out but also listen to the social chatter and respond in a way that aligns their brand and customer expectations.

One example of a great Twitter campaign is East Coast Trains’ ‘I Love Trains’ week. This campaign cleverly established a connection with their audience, encouraging them to fall in love with train travel again by using the hashtag #ilovetrains and creating a narrative with their audience. The result? Thousands of tweets, lots of shared content, increased online traffic and high customer satisfaction levels.

Industry professionals suggest that brands on social media that blog generate 67% more leads per month on average than non-blogging firms and they predict consumers will become even more willing to interact with brands through social media channels in 2015. So, should 2015 be the year your business takes the plunge and invests time into social media?

If you would like to give your social media a kick-start in 2015, why not join us for our next Twitter workshop, packed full of useful tips for creating engaging content to increase your profile and audience.

For more information and to book your place, please visit Eventbrite.