Norwich-based design agency, The Click Design Consultants, are delighted to discover their advertising campaign for the National Trust, titled Nature’s Playground, has been shortlisted for the ‘Writing for Design’ category in the 2014 Design Week Awards.
The winners will be announced on 15 May at The Troxy, a stunning Art Deco former cinema in East London.
Creative Director, Bobby Burrage, says: “It’s a cliché, however, to us, being shortlisted is like winning already – the calibre of the competition is truly outstanding. We’re honoured and, quite frankly, surprised, that we’ll be allowed in the same room as these design gods! We’re looking forward to what will be a great night.”
It seems that all the signs currently point towards a post-recession Britain. As we ease ourselves out of the economic slump some of us are now beginning to look at growing business.
Employers can make the most of the upturn by looking at their employee engagement strategy. Proven to boost the bottom line through increased productivity, lower staff turnover and improved customer satisfaction, employee engagement is becoming ever more important.
A recent report by the Harvard Business Review (HBR) surveyed companies around the world and confirms that employee engagement is vital in competitive job markets – and it’s beginning to heat up out there with job vacancies increasing! Also, a staggering 71% of companies surveyed rank engagement as very important in achieving organisational success.
So whether you’re an SME or big employer recruiting staff in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk or Suffolk, you really need to address what you are doing to keep employees close.
Why not take a look at your communications. They can strengthen the relationship between employer and employee, by sharing news, recognising achievements and asking for opinions. Taking inspiration from the HBR report, here’s how you can tap into communications:
1. Involve senior management
Senior-level management need to listen to what their teams are telling them, and respond effectively. Be it survey feedback or face-to-face discussions, getting to the root of issues is essential. Decision-makers can then set business objectives that their employees can realistically implement, and feel they’re achieving their goals. After all an employee’s drive can come to a sudden halt if they feel their given tasks are unachievable.
2. All-staff meetings
Public recognition is fantastic for morale! When a team or an employee is thanked in front of the whole organisation they’re going to feel that their hard work is valued. This can be an easy route to engaging with staff on a regular basis. Updates on your organisation’s successes and charity work is another way to showing staff that their efforts are worthwhile. Thanking anyone who is leaving for their contribution will also encourage staff to take positive stories with them to their next job.
3. Staff development
Giving employees opportunities to train and expand on their skill base is fundamental in keeping their loyalty. As the employer you get to invest in your people which helps to build your business. Whether it’s first aid, leadership skills or professional qualifications, giving staff the time to focus on their development leads to increased levels of satisfaction. Everyone wins!
4. Staff intranet or magazine
From news stories, staff surveys and case studies to employee interviews, how-to guides and fact sheets, your intranet or magazine is a fantastic resource for engagement. Running stories on employees’ achievements (both in and out of work) can be really uplifting. It not only helps build a family atmosphere, but it’s another form of public recognition that most of us love! Encouraging the sharing of knowledge and providing guidelines in areas such as IT can help employees do their jobs better and help them save a lot of time spent looking for answers.
5. Corporate social media
Some employers use social media to engage staff. The professional networking platform, LinkedIn, can be a fantastic tool to keep apprentices informed of company news and entry-level job vacancies, for example. Also connecting social media to your intranet means your news can go viral among colleagues, their friends and family.
6. Detailed job descriptions
Employee engagement starts with recruitment! Making sure you recruit the right person and managing their expectations will support your engagement strategy, and increase the chances of the staff member being able to do their job well. A thorough description of the job’s objectives and limitations is vital in attracting the best applicant for your organisation.
Taking just a couple of these examples could be a great way to test out new approaches to employee engagement. There’s a plethora of information online, or you could get a specialist in to get thing rolling. In fact this year’s ‘Best Employer, Eastern Region’ survey gives you the chance to find out what your staff think. Why not get involved?
As I meet and talk with other Norfolk businesses I am greatly encouraged by their strength and resilience, with a significant number reporting increased confidence despite continuing economic pressures and cash flow pressures.
It is a credit to the innovative, flexible and determined nature of business people within our county that, across the diverse range of sectors that make up the commercial community, many are upbeat about sales levels, export opportunities, investment plans and employment creation.
Norfolk has never been a ‘boom and bust’ area and its stability is seen as a positive by the hubs of excellence that have chosen to locate here.
In the county there are now innovative hi-tech firms and highly successful service industries, cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art training and further education facilities, niche manufacturing and tourism operations that are competing on the national, and indeed international, scene. These organisations, along with the solid base of new and established smaller businesses, help keep Norfolk successful as a profitable commercial county.
We still lack some of the essential infrastructure in communications that will be necessary to guarantee sustainable, long-term competitiveness, but with the significant improvements to important parts of the transport network and the county’s push for better broadband coverage, we are addressing the issues. And, importantly for the wider perception of Norfolk as a brand, we are seen to be addressing them in a robust and resolute manner.
At Norse we have enjoyed considerable expansion over the last twelve months, both locally and across of the UK, and have seen first-hand the green shoots of recovery. Hopefully as these encouraging signs start to strengthen Norfolk businesses will be at the forefront of this renewed confidence.
Peter Hawes Managing Director Norse Commercial Services
The waste recycling facility operated by Norse Commercial Services on the outskirts of Norwich has begun a major £8 million redevelopment aimed at increasing capacity and throughput, and expanding the range of materials that can be recycled.
“The expansion will save Norfolk’s councils considerable amounts of revenue as we will be able to handle much more waste and avoid unnecessary landfill,” said Norse Operations Director Dave Newell. “In addition there will be significant environmental benefits in that it will enable us to process waste quicker, and handle new waste streams in the future,” he added.
The expansion will include an extension to the existing building, together with new advanced processing machinery and the latest mobile plant.
This is yet another substantial investment by Norse, aimed at improving waste recycling services within Norfolk,” said Commercial Director Ruth Metcalf. “With pressure on local authorities to increase the amount of waste recycled, this commitment to providing a state-of-the-art facility within the county will mean that Norfolk is at the forefront of addressing environmental concern over sustainable waste management.”
It comes on top of a record year of growth for the company in terms of new business, all of which contributes much needed revenue to Norfolk County Council that will help safeguard vital frontline services,” she added.
Building work has recently started with completion planned for the end of July 2014. Installation of cutting-edge technology equipment and machinery will then be installed and commissioned during August and September.
Norse’s sister company NPS Group are to act as consultants and project manager for the construction of the new facility, with R G Carter carrying out the ground-work and building.
2 RED Ltd is a Nottingham-based privately owned business. With over 25 years of combined experience in property development, thermal insulation and renewables technology we understand the need to provide a high quality affordable living experience.
It is a renewable sales organisation focusing on the supply of quality sales surveys for loft and cavity wall insulation measures under the CERT programme. The business has always focused on delivering quality in terms of service regardless of its business activities and places high priority on the overall customer experience and journey.
With the introduction of Green Deal and ECO earlier this year, the business decided that it wanted to offer a cradle to grave offering from capturing the customer enquiry to final install and commissioning, allowing us to better control the journey.
With the journey starting from the initial enquiry, the management of 2 RED Ltd wanted to ensure that the website which would be the key marketing mechanism for generating the initial enquiry was simple yet effective and inviting from a customer perspective to generate enquiries for energy efficiency measures.
With regard to agency selection, Metalfrog Studios Limited of Norwich, Norfolk was appointed due to their quick understanding of our needs as a client and their exceptional knowledge of digital marketing and Internet behaviour, and helping meet our objectives. Through a clear structured plan, Metalfrog was able to develop a comprehensive website, which was delivered in time and within budget, whilst offering a level of flexibility in terms of design changes as the project evolved. This was created with the knowledge of our competitors, our market, and how we were going to take our marketing forward.
The next stages of the journey involve Metalfrog Studios Limited coming up with a strategy which will deliver enquiries through the website – https://www.2red.co.uk and bringing more business to us. We are confident that this will happen and that we have chosen the best UK digital marketing agency to deliver.
Pete Goodrum’s latest book gets off to a flying start! NORFOLK BROADS; THE BIOGRAPHY, my latest book, has got off to a flying start. Published by Amberley Books it was in store just last week, and by Saturday had already entered the Jarrold/Eastern Daily Press Local Best Sellers chart. The book tells the history of the Broads form their earliest beginnings through to the present day. It’s an insight into the development of this unique area and how the Broads have helped define the county. Available at all good booksellers and online retailers.
Eastern Airways, which operates scheduled flights from Norwich International Airport, is expanding the size of its Saab 2000 fleet to nine with the introduction of an extra aircraft.
The regional airline, which provides a comprehensive domestic network of scheduled services, and is the UK’s leading provider of fixed wing air services for the oil and gas industry, will see the Saab 2000 entering service in the coming weeks.
The Swedish manufactured 50-seater Saab 2000 is one of the world’s fastest turbo-prop aircraft with its two Rolls Royce engines producing a cruising speed of 425mph, and low fuel burn due to its efficiency.
This latest addition will be assigned to its charter services operating for the oil and gas industry, which also includes the recently awarded major contract with BP flying between Aberdeen and Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles.
Paul Alcock, Eastern Airways’ managing director, said: “The Saab 2000 is an extremely flexible aircraft that can operate on both short and longer runways, which is ideally suited to our long term charter services for the oil and gas industry. The aircraft type is also used on our scheduled network and to European destinations for ad-hoc charters.”
The airline has operated flights from Norwich for over 14 years, and currently provides three flights each weekday, plus a Sunday service from the airport to Aberdeen.
Saab 2000 aircraft were first introduced to Eastern Airways fleet in 2004 and the latest addition increases the fleet to nine. The airline is also the largest operator of British Aerospace Jetstream 41s in the world with a fleet of 18. The remainder of the fleet comprises of four regional jets, including two Embraer 135 and two Embraer 145 aircraft.
A network of services across to 20 airports in the UK, Norway and France is operated by the airline on a fleet of 31 regional aircraft.
In January 2014, the airline started a new scheduled service between Leeds Bradford and Southampton and also launched its third domestic route in France with flights between Lorient and Lyon.
The Everline and Real Business Future 50 Awards celebrate the UK’s most disruptive businesses. The annually published list provides definitive analysis of game-changing UK companies and is a major programme to support disruptive organisations that are triggering change in their markets.
The 2014 entries were as diverse as they were brilliant, showcasing businesses poised to revolutionise the way we do just about everything: from the way we shop, to the way we communicate, the way we travel, the way we eat, and even the way we die!
The final 50, which included Norwich-based Liftshare, was announced in the heart of London’s start-up scene and was hosted by comedian Seann Walsh. Liftshare’s founder, Ali Clabburn, attended the event: “The Liftshare team has always maintained a start-up mentality that keeps our thinking fresh and our approach innovative. We established the UK’s sharing economy, which is fast becoming a mainstream movement – Forbes tipped it as the hottest trend for 2014 and the Government is also eager to lend its support. We are hugely proud to have remained at the forefront of this dynamic industry and this award is further recognition that Liftshare is setting trends for others to follow.”
Several other businesses from the East made it onto the prestigious list including Norwich-based Rainbird and ServiceTick, confirming the city’s position as a hub for talent and innovation.
The list was compiled by professor Julian Beer, pro-vice chancellor (regional enterprise) at Plymouth University; serial technology entrepreneur Shakil Khan; Anthony Eskinazi, founder and chairman of Parkatmyhouse; Darren Westlake, CEO of CrowdCube; Cate Trotter, founder of Insider Trends; Matthew Rock, former editor of Real Business and Russell Gould, managing director of Everline.
Russell Gould, managing director of Everline, said: “We had hundreds of high-calibre entries to this year’s Future 50, showing that small businesses are continuing to find innovative ways to drive the UK economy. The UK continues to prove itself as a hub of innovation and we’re really proud to support and celebrate the achievements of these businesses and wish them every success in the future.”
Do you want to join a dynamic and developing charity that has been changing the lives of young people for nearly 50 years?
Why not become a Break Trustee
Break is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee which has been providing a diverse range of specialist residential and community based services for vulnerable children, young people and families across East Anglia for nearly 50 years.
Break is seeking to appoint new Trustees to strengthen the Board and to work with us to achieve our mission to ‘Change Young Lives’ by providing services of the highest quality, working together to create stability and improve opportunities for a better future.
We are looking, in particular, for Trustees with commercial and financial expertise.
NORWICH, Monday 17th March 2014 – AIRPORT SECOND IN TOP 30 UK AIRPORTS FOR ANNUAL TRAFFIC GROWTH The positive trend for passenger traffic at Norwich International is confirmed in the latest CAA UK official UK airport annual traffic results released on 13th March 2014.
The report lists Norwich International as seventh in the UK for annual traffic growth 2013 compared to 2012 (for airport with annual traffic of twenty thousand passengers or more). Total passengers are listed at 463,401 versus 396,676 being a 17% increase in people from the region using the city’s airport year on year.
However, of the top 30 UK airports Norwich International growth is second overall for the percentage increase year on year.
The passenger boost was in a number of different sectors with the biggest increase being in the holidaymaker category which increased by 45% on 2012, with over 107,000 people enjoying the benefits of starting their holiday from their local airport.
Offshore helicopter traffic enjoyed yet another year of record growth with over 98,000 passengers travelling offshore, an increase of 18% on the previous year with Norwich now the UK’s second busiest offshore heliport after Aberdeen.
KLM’s hub feeder service to Amsterdam Schiphol had another strong year as a result of the addition of the fourth daily flight throughout the summer months. This service continues to play a key role in connecting the region’s economy to the rest of the world and the popularity of the service continues to grow with the region’s business and leisure travellers alike.
Andrew Bell, the airport’s Chief Executive commented, “Posting strong passenger growth is good news for the airport and the region, as ultimately the flights that are operated from the airport must be used by the travelling public if they are to remain on offer. We recognise that we still have a great deal to do in order to satisfy the demands of the region’s business and leisure travelers alike and we are working hard to bring back routes that proved popular in the past, and to identify new route opportunities. However, the CAA result, with Norwich second out of the top 30 UK airports, is testament to the hard work the airport has undertaken over the past few years and confirmation that Norwich Airport is moving in the right direction”.
Local Children’s Hospices EACH Selected as Focus for Bidwells’ Norwich Office’s 175th Anniversary Celebrations
Bidwells, one of the UKs oldest property firms, today announced that its Norwich office has selected East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) as the focal point of its celebratory 175th year. Not only will all members of the Norwich office be fundraising for Quidenham’s EACH hospice, but they will also be using their official volunteering days to help local charities, organisations and initiatives. The Firm has gifted every employee two fully paid Volunteer Days, which can be deployed for any good cause of their choosing. EACH supports children, young people and their families address the challenges which having a life-threatening condition brings. Services are provided either in the family home, the community or one of their hospices. Camilla Haycock, EACH “We are delighted that Bidwells has chosen EACH to support in their 175th Anniversary year. We see the partnership as a great way to engage their staff in exciting fundraising initiatives whilst helping them to celebrate their anniversary in a positive and meaningful way. Many of the Bidwells offices, including their headquarters, are based in East Anglia and their fundraising will help EACH to continue with its work to support and care for children and young people with a life-threatening condition, as well as their families in the same region.” “The work EACH does is absolutely critical to every community it serves because it steps in when parents, families and children are at their most vulnerable and in greatest need for support and guidance” said Paul Clarke, Head of Norwich Bidwells. “Having personally visited the EACH hospice in Quidenham, I am twice as determined to help them with the great work that they do. “Please help us make a difference in any way you can.”
About Bidwells Established 175 years ago, today Bidwells is one of the UK’s leading property consultancies. We employ almost 500 people in 12 offices across England and Scotland and provide a full range of services across the Commercial, Residential and Rural sectors. Bidwells celebratory year will run from 1 March 2014 to 28 February 2015.
A Consent Order is the legal document recording the financial division upon, or following, divorce. A Consent Order is made by the Court and must be adhered to by both parties. However, occasionally the situation arises where one party attempts to try and avoid implementation of the Consent Order.
Until recently there was not a great deal of case law on this topic, however, two recent law reports have dealt with this issue. Both cases involved applications for breach of financial orders:
The case of Hope v Krejci [2014] EWHC B5 (Fam) was an application by the wife against the husband for breach of a consent order made in July 2012, requiring him to transfer to her two cars and a motorbike. By the time the wife’s committal application was heard in January 2014, the husband had failed to transfer the vehicles to the wife. The Judge was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the husband was in contempt of court for failing to transfer the vehicles to the wife, as required by the order of the Court. To ensure the money was paid, the Judge made an order committing the husband to prison for two months, suspended so long as the husband pay the sum of £16,000 to the wife’s solicitors by 15 March 2014. If the money is paid, then the committal order will be discharged but if it is not paid by that date, the husband will be sent to prison.
The case of Pocock v Pocock [2013] EW Misc 26 (CC) concerned a consent order reached between the parties on 22 August 2011, under which the husband had agreed to transfer the former matrimonial home to the wife, to pay the mortgage repayments and to redeem the mortgage on or before 9 September 2011. The redemption of the mortgage had not happened and the mortgage payments had only been made sporadically. This caused considerable stress to the wife, who had to return to the Court repeatedly. The wife applied for the husband’s committal to prison for breach of the order. The Judge made a fourteen day order of imprisonment against the husband. The order was suspended, so long as the husband paid the mortgage (he had brought it up to date just prior to the hearing) but the Judge warned him that it would be activated if there was any further breach of the consent order.
Emma Alfieri, from Steeles Law’s family team, commented: “These cases provide a stern warning of the possible consequences of failure to comply with court orders and the importance of ensuring they are efficiently implemented”. For further information contact the family team at Steeles Law.