Member News

Steeles Law is a supporter of Dying Matters Awareness Week (12-18 May 2014), which has been organised by the Dying Matters Coalition to encourage people to talk openly about dying, death and bereavement.

The theme of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014 is “You only die once”, or #YODO, an action-focused phrase emphasising that we only get once chance to have our dying wishes met, which is why it’s vital to talk, plan and make arrangements for the end of life – before it’s too late. Dying Matters will be encouraging members of the public to take five simple steps to make their end of life experience better, both for them and for their loved ones. These are:

• Write your will
• Record your funeral wishes
• Plan your future care and support
• Consider registering as an organ donor
• Tell your loved ones your wishes

Angela Ireland, Chartered Legal Executive in Steeles Law’s wills, probate and tax team, said: “We are proud to support Dying Matters Awareness Week. We look after many local clients who want to ensure that their future wishes are taken care of – whether these relate to protecting their family finances, or important decisions regarding their own care and well-being. We would encourage people of all ages to discuss these issues with their families, and give careful consideration to making a Will, Lasting Power of Attorney and Advance Decision.”

Steeles Law is one of 30,000 members of the national Dying Matters Coalition, all of whom have an interest in supporting the changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards dying, death and bereavement. Members include organisations from the health and care sectors, community groups, social care and housing, faith groups, the legal profession and the funeral sector.

Set up by the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) in 2009, the Dying Matters Coalition aims to encourage people to talk about their own end of life issues with friends, family and loved ones in order to make “a good death” possible for the 500,000 people who die in England each year.

Research for Dying Matters has found that many people have specific wishes about their end of life care or what they would like to happen to them after their death, but a reluctance to discuss these issues makes it much less likely that these will be met. There is a major mismatch between people’s preferences for where they would like to die and their actual place of death: 70% of people would prefer to die at home but more than half currently die in hospital.

Claire Henry, Chief Executive of the Dying Matters Coalition and the National Council for Palliative Care said: “Every minute someone in England dies, but many people still feel uncomfortable talking about end of life issues. Talking about dying, death and bereavement is in everyone’s interests as it can help ensure that all of us can get the care and support we want, where we want it, at the end of our lives. Through being more confident in talking about dying and taking the five steps we are promoting during Dying Matters Awareness Week to plan for the future, we can make a big difference.”

Steeles Law is holding a free Legal Clinic at its 2 Mount Street, Diss offices on Friday 30 May, with pre-bookable 15 minute consultations available between 3.00 and 6.00pm. Please contact 01379 652141 to make a booking to discuss any of the matters mentioned above with a legal professional.

Did you know that you can claim free training credits for this Marketing Course in Norfolk?

Contact: Nial Adams

t. 0843 289 6877 e. apply@thepushacademy.co.uk

The PUSH Academy has recently announced the release of Training Credits for their Summer Term Foundation Course in Norfolk.

This Learning Gateway provision is available to small business owners and managers under the Regional Enterprise Initiative. Giving you the chance to apply for £100 of training credits towards this next course.

The current batch of Training Credits are strictly limited but will be offered to Chamber Members first. So please read details and act quickly if you would like to claim yours.

More details can be found here –

www.thepushacademy.co.uk/norfolk-chamber-gateway/

“How You Can Claim £100 of Free Training Credits For This Marketing Course”

The PUSH Marketing Academy supports the Regional Enterprise Initiative for Small Business Training.

We’re delighted to announce the release of a batch of Free Training Credits that can be redeemed for our next Foundation Course in Norwich.

Training Credits can be use to reduce the cost of training and support your gateway to learning. They are offered conditionally and on approval, with certain Terms & Condition (see below).

We are releasing £1,000.00 of Training Credits for the forthcoming course

The Foundation Course – Learn Sales & Marketing in Norfolk

The most valuable thing you can do for your business this year is to increase you knowledge and skills in the areas of Sales & Marketing. The two are fundamentally linked and yet so many business owners and managers leave this to chance.

Designed specifically for the SME business owner or manager, The PUSH Academy is a new way to get the knowledge that will help propel your business forward. These marketing courses are not online, home-study or distance learning, They’re up-front, ‘live and unplugged’ if you like!

This course is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need to create powerful change in your business, fast! Training and support is practical, not text-book theory, and is drawn from years of live business experience.

Our Programme is also regularly updated to ensure you’re learning about the most powerful marketing concepts of the moment.

We know these tactics and strategies work and have the evidence to prove it. What’s more, our delegates give testament to the value of this experience:

If you want to know more about marketing, are stuck in a rut, not sure which way to go, or just not getting anywhere with your business then you must enroll on The Push Academy. The amount of valuable information and knowledge Nial gives you is phenomenal.

Not only does he give you all this knowledge but he helps you to apply it directly to your own business immediately, working through ideas with you and giving you his valuable input. It’s like having your own personal mentor! – Claire Williams, Director, The Business Base, Norfolk.

On this Marketing Course you’ll to attend one Group Study Day each month with a small group of like-minded peers and learn direct from the personal experience and knowledge of Nial Adams, our Principal Tutor.

The Course Programme is centred on current and relevant information that’s been assembled to ensure you can apply it to your micro or SME business in real-time and watch the new results you’re getting.

There are some great academic courses out there on sales and marketing, and you can learn all about how the big names apply strategic and brand marketing to capture large chunks of the global market; but we’re guessing that you’re much more interested in knowing how you’re going to improve your own business, without massive budgets, or a marketing team the size of Saatchi & Saatchi!

Our Foundation Programme will help you become confident with the essential basics of marketing. This Programme is ideally suited to the owner/manager of a new business or start-up, as well as the more established enterprise looking to dial up results through better marketing.

Read this Personal Invitation to join The Academy from Nial Adams

Norwich based digital marketing agency, Bigfork, have developed the new Cosy City website for Norwich City Council. Cosy City is a new scheme to help Norwich householders save energy and money. The website allows visitors to register to see of they are eligible for grants and an assessment. An information video and energy saving tips are also included on the website. To find out more visit the website here.

Bigfork – we make websites stand out Tel: 01603 513080

Elaine Green says that those appraising academy leaders need to develop within themselves more resilient judgement skills.

Click here to view the article in full published by Academy magazine (p.46).

McTear Williams & Wood, East Anglia’s largest business rescue and insolvency practice, raised £1,600 for charity at its annual bowls tournament.

Eight teams of professionals from firms across the region battled for the “McTear Williams & Wood Bowls Challenge Trophy” at the event which was held at the Diss & District Bowls Club on Tuesday 29 April 2014 and continued with the usual tradition of contestants wearing an array of novelty slippers.

The individual winner was Peter Hazell who was also part of the winning team from Thetford-based auctioneers and valuers George Hazell & Co.

During the event we were delighted to receive a visit from the current Ladies World Bowls Champion Katherine Rednall who challenged some of the contestants to a game.

Funds raised from the event have gone to Autism Anglia which provides a range of services to enable people with autism to live as independently as possible and experience choice and inclusion in society.

The cheque was presented by associate and organiser of this event Roger Barnbrook to Anne Ebbage from Autism Anglia.

McTear Williams & Wood extend their thanks to everyone who took part and to the Diss & District Bowls Club. Plans are underway to repeat the event next year.

Relocating is a big deal, especially when you’re taking a leap of faith and looking for a job after the move.

Making a fresh start somewhere new can be a stressful time that’s mixed with the feelings of excitement and apprehension. So, before you pack up and hand over the house keys, take a few minutes to read our tips that’ll get you bouncing back to the job market in your new neighbourhood.

Plan ahead

Even if you’re already in the late stages of preparing to move it’s worth researching your new location. Look at the kind of businesses in the area and search for job vacancies online. There are plenty of national and international job websites that list a wide variety of roles.

Bear in mind that if you apply for jobs from afar the employer may still want to interview you face-to-face, so be prepared to travel. But some companies are happy to do phone or Skype interviews. You may find you have no luck until you move, but don’t be disheartened.

Tune into local media

Regional newspapers, TV and radio stations are treasure troves of information about their communities. Many also have websites so take a look at job adverts, business news and forthcoming events. In fact, look for anything that can open the door to your new business community.

Update your CV

Don’t forget to update your contact details on your CV before sending it to potential employers and recruitment agencies.

If you have a LinkedIn profile update that too and add your last job to the ‘Experience’ section.

Local recruitment agencies

Regional recruitment consultancies such as Pure know their business communities inside out, so register with the ones you feel can help you with your job search. Talk to a consultant about what you’re looking for – you may pick up some invaluable advice!

Social media is a fantastic way to find out about the latest vacancies. It’s worth signing up and following your chosen recruitment agencies.

Do your homework!

If you want a big change in both your home and work life, consider a role that enables you to work at home. This is ideal if you’re relocating to a rural setting that is a long drive to the nearest places of work. Make sure you have a reliable internet connection, however.

Remote working can also bring you flexibility if you have a young family and it has the added benefit of allowing you to save on those petrol costs!

Have a ‘Plan B’

Relocating and finding work may prove more challenging that you originally expected, so make sure you have a ‘Plan B’!

If you’re ultimately looking for a full-time job, be open to part-time, temporary or even voluntary roles at first. All of these can help you get to know the local area, make new contacts and prevent any career gaps on your CV.

Should the job search be really difficult, perhaps your fresh start could include re-training or going self-employed. Before doing so, however, do your research and don’t rush into any decisions!

Specialised Management Services Ltd (SMS), a leading specialist in hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical control systems is celebrating its 15th anniversary since inception on 30th April 1999.

In its earliest incarnation SMS was a small support company which manufactured small and low value control units in Great Yarmouth. Following an intensive period of business development and international support of parent company, Alderley plc, SMS has grown into a well-established global manufacturer of large control system packages, successfully delivering over 150 units with a total value over £34 million since 2005.

Through investment in infrastructure SMS now boasts a strong operations team of coordinators and technicians offering a vast range of offshore hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical services on a global basis. The SMS projects team has grown from strength to strength and has more than doubled in size since 2007. Through strong collaboration across the whole team, which consists of project engineers, CAD engineers and a QHSE department, they ensure all projects are delivered on time and customers are fully satisfied with the service provided.

Innovation has always been an important element for SMS and in 2012 they developed and successfully delivered the first containerised IWOCS HPU (Installation and Workover Control Systems Hydraulic Power Unit) to a leading international oilfield services company. Since then SMS has seen a surge of enquiries and successful contract wins for similar Well Intervention equipment from various major end-users.

SMS has established themselves as a recognised quality service provider and trusted partner for major EPC’s and producers. This is reflected by ongoing positive client feedback, demonstrated recently by receiving a gold award from a major client for their high standard of customer services, project management and consistent delivery of product excellence.

Dave Howlett, Managing Director of SMS, comments “We are thankful to our many clients for their support over the last 15 years. This coupled with the loyalty and focus of our employees has made our growing success achievable. Through this ongoing commitment we will continue to successfully meet and exceed customer requirements in an increasingly varied and challenging industry.”

Timeline of events

1999 SMS was established2000 SMS acquired C&M Hydraulics2001 SMS doubled its employees2002 Moved to bigger facilities in Great Yarmouth2003 SMS acquired by the Alderley Group2004 SMS opened Aberdeen facility2005 Launched training services2006 SMS awarded its highest value manufacturing project to date2007 SMS employed 10 apprentices from Lowestoft College2008 Delivered the first NORSOK project2009 SMS achieved ISO 14001 & BS OHSAS 18001 certification2010 SMS scored top marks in FPAL audit2011 Dave Howlett became General Manager of SMS2012 SMS achieved 55% financial growth2013 Expanded its electrical onshore and offshore service department2014 Celebrating 15 Years of Innovation

Need some expert advice on setting up your business or just want to find out the essentials? ‘In The Spotlight’ is a series of workshops run by the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library at The Forum, Norwich, aiming to give you the lowdown on key elements of business, such as promotion, finance, ideas and planning.

For more information email millennium.library@norfolk.gov.uk

Sponsored by Norfolk Knowledge.

Monday 28th April 2014 – More choice, more variety and local routes for Norfolk’s sun seekers

Thomson and First Choice increase capacity from Norwich airport and introduce a new route for local holiday makers

Thomson and First Choice are pleased to announce that in summer 2015 they will be increasing capacity at Norwich airport through the introduction of a new route to Mahon, Menorca. The plans for summer 2015 also include the addition of a further weekly flight for existing route Dalaman, Turkey.

The move to introduce this new route is part of the UK’s largest tour operator’s strategy to ensure customers across the UK can fly from their local airport and stay at the best hotels in some of the most exciting destinations. The new route went on sale on the 24th April.

Not only will customers from the Norwich area now be able to fly to the beautiful island of Menorca, but they will now also have the opportunity to choose varying durations in Turkey – not just the standard seven and 14 night stays thanks to an additional flight to Dalaman. Customers travelling from Norwich will now also have access to some of Thomson and First Choice’s most popular flagship hotels. These include the brand new for summer 2015 Thomson Sensatori Resort Fethiye in Turkey’s Dalaman region as well as the already popular First Choice Holiday Village Menorca. The new build Sensatori Resort Fethiye will offer an amazing pool scene, gourmet dining, action packed activities, an ultra-relaxing spa and extensive facilities for families, and promises to be as luxurious as neighbouring Sensatori Resort Turkey in Side. Karen Switzer, Director of Aviation Planning for Thomson and First Choice, said of the move: “Adding additional capacity from Norfolk and the introduction of a new route to Menorca demonstrates our commitment to Norwich Airport and the local area, and following the success of the additional summer 2014 flights, we know that further demand is there.

“Expanding access to our portfolio of destinations and hotels is a key part of our overall strategy and we hope that this move will enhance the holiday experience for our customers.”

Andrew Bell, Chief Executive of Norwich International Airport, said, “Our objective is to provide an ever increasing range of top quality holiday destinations and product to the holidaymakers in our region. Working closely with Thomson and First Choice, we are making good progress in achieving this.”

-ends-

Your weeks / months / years of website planning, design and development are finshed and your website is live. But what next?

In our latest guide (the last in our highly popular series) we go through the key performance data you need to track to make sure your website is performing successfully. To read the full article please click here.

If you would like to catch up on the rest of our website design and digital marketing articles then you’ll find them all on our resources page.

Bigfork are a successful Norwich based website design agency with an impressive client list.

Bigfork – we make websites stand out

www.bigfork.co.uk

t:01603 513080

Back in 2012 we ran the first ever Best Employer, Eastern Region (BEER) survey, when employers around the East of England invited staff to tell them how they truly felt about working for them.

The result gave organisations of all sizes the opportunity to identify what needed to change to keep employees happy, and to create a more positive working environment. Why? Well, satisfied people means better business!

The survey, which has just launched for 2014, covers a range of key topics, but one which many employers can easily overlook is that of innovation. You’d be excused for thinking that innovation is solely relevant to hi-tech start-ups and trendy software companies! It’s actually an area of business that can be used by all types of organisations to engage their staff and boost the bottom line.

Let’s take Benefit Cosmetics and creative agency Spring: both picked up 2012 BEER awards. Their survey results revealed that staff were happy partly thanks to the firms’ use ofinnovation in their daily work. Although one is a global brand and the other is a Suffolk-based SME, both harness the creative talents of their staff and encourage original thinking.

So what role does innovation play in keeping workers engaged? Read on to discover what you can do to create a culture of innovation, and develop a workforce that is utterly dedicated to your vision!

1. Make employees’ ideas count

Encouraging a culture of innovation means letting staff contribute ideas without the fear of being shot down. When people feel valued for their own small innovations, they are likely to feel closer to the organisation – especially when they see their ideas being put into practise.

2. Create pride in doing something different

Whether you’re a local charity, a manufacturer or retailer, innovation can get you ahead of the competition. And people enjoy working somewhere that has a reputation in its industry and community for taking a bold approach. It gives them a sense of pride when talking about their work and when dealing with customers. And on that note…

3. Innovation + happy customers = happy employees

Innovative thinking results in unique services or products, which attract customers who value your approach. It doesn’t need to be earth-shattering innovation, but coming up with unorthodox ways of solving customers’ problems can take you a long way. Not only that, but your employees can confidently go about their job knowing customers are going to love what they get. In turn, employees provide great customer service and the customers keep coming back. Spot the cycle?!

4. Provide a platform for ideas

Not everyone wants to pitch their latest ideas in front of their colleagues. So it’s very important to provide a platform open to everyone who’d like to contribute, creating a culture of inclusion. Your directors could have an ‘open door’ policy, where the more reserved staff members, who prefer a one-to-one chats, can still be heard.

5. Attract people who have the right talent

Developing a culture of innovation isn’t just about employing amazingly creative minds – you also need brilliant people who bring structure and practicality in order to make ideas reality. During the recruitment process promote your vision and be open about your expectations that employees will participate in shaping new ways of working.

6. Don’t be afraid to break from tradition

Why not let your people work in different environments to trigger the creative process? Away days can do wonders for the generating new ideas since the usual barriers and office-based politics become less dominant. Choose somewhere unusual: punting, a stately home or a picnic perhaps? Giving staff the chance to work differently, or remotely, sends a message of trust – a building block of mutual commitment.

So, you see, you don’t need to be Google to engage employees through innovation! You may not have the HR or research and development budget of a dotcom giant, but by making your people an integral part of innovation, you’re giving them more reasons to join you and stay with you.

Have you got a project that could use an extra pair of hands, or are you looking to inject fresh energy into your workplace? Then consider recruiting an enthusiastic and ambitious graduate from the University of East Anglia (UEA). The UEA has a pool of bright and intelligent individuals who are looking for an opportunity to prove themselves and make a difference within a local organisation, through a highly successful Graduate Internship Programme.

With this cost-effective and flexible scheme, internships can be full-time or part-time, for up to 12 weeks – or new this year, for 12 months. You could ask your UEA graduate intern to investigate new services, research and develop new products, launch e-commerce websites, evaluate marketing plans or materials, streamline processes, or implement a low carbon plan.

UEA graduate internships are paid at the hourly national minimum wage. As an example, hosting a graduate intern for 12 weeks at 37.5 hours per week would total around £3,119 plus VAT. This makes it a really cost-effective way of getting bright, new people into your team.

Recruiting a graduate intern is a great way for you to get a new or outstanding initiative off the ground or to address specific business or technical needs. The whole process is easy and straightforward to set up and the UEA team will do the advertising, payroll and paperwork for you.

Wayne Taylor, head of software development at EposNow in Norwich, has even found the programme to be a successful way of recruiting new team members. “The support provided by the internship team at the University makes the whole process so easy,” he says. “After taking part in the internship programme, it is difficult to see why businesses would recruit in any other way. Given the opportunity and guidance, our interns soon become valuable members of staff.”

To find out more about the programme, visit www.uea.ac.uk/business/working-with-students-graduates/internships, email internship@uea.ac.uk, or call 01603 593917.