Member News

Norwich Research Park is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Belinda Clarke as the first Agri-Tech Cluster Director for the East of England.

The cluster focus will be on linking the hugely successful organisations in the Norwich-Cambridge region, aiming to create new opportunities that increase innovation, employment and economic growth in the UK. It is hoped that the region will attract new investment, to build on existing activities and help fund new start-up companies in this important sector.

Dr Clarke gained a PhD in Plant Biochemistry from the John Innes Centre and worked as Science Liaison Manager for Norwich Research Park Science for more than 6 years. Also, she has worked for UKTI, One Nucleus, ideaSpace and is currently Lead Technologist for biosciences at the Technology Strategy Board; she brings tremendous experience of organisations that are the initial building blocks of the new cluster.

Norfolk and Cambridgeshire County Councils and the Local Enterprise Partnerships have worked closely together to focus on the social and economic impact that agri-tech will have in the East of England, which has unparalleled expertise in relevant research and agricultural technology.

The cluster boasts internationally recognised organisations, three of which are Partners on the Norwich Research Park – The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia and John Innes Centre. Others include the National Institute of Agricultural Biology (NIAB) and the University of Cambridge. Large-scale growers in the region, such as those brought together in the G’s Group, have built up tremendously successful businesses and export both produce and innovative ideas.

Dr Clarke commented “We will work to build on the strengths we have, through collaboration and sharing ideas and best practice. We will establish a strong, sustainable cluster, creating synergies between the players and delivering real economic value. The national agricultural strategy gives big opportunities for the UK to grow and I am delighted to be taking on the Director role.”

Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, CEO of Norwich Research Park said: “we are delighted with Dr Clarke’s appointment to this post and look forward to working with her. Dr Clarke brings with her a wealth of scientific and industrial expertise that will be tremendously advantageous for fostering collaborations between research institutions and industry. We are excited by the opportunities that the cluster will bring, both for Norwich Research Park and the East of England as a whole.

Dr Clarke takes up her post next month and a launch event will be held on Monday 17th March to coincide with Cambridge’s 2014 Business Awards Week.

Breakwater is pleased to announce that they have formed a new alliance with Netmatters, the Norfolk based Web Development Company.

The two companies will work closely together with Breakwater helping Netmatters’ clients with their Business Telecoms’ needs as well as helping out with larger IT Projects.

In return Netmatters will help develop websites for Breakwater’s clients and will work on any bespoke software applications that they may require.

Breakwater IT Chairman Peter Davies said “We started working with Netmatters when they developed our own website and we were really impressed with the way that they delivered the work on time and on budget. We quickly realised that there was a natural synergy between the two companies and an opportunity to work much more closely together in the future”

Netmatters MD Chris Gulliver said “Breakwater IT has a very good telecoms offering in terms of connectivity and phone systems. Our clients often ask for advice on telecoms and previously we were unable to assist but now we can introduce Breakwater IT with confidence as we have experienced the quality of their services first hand. Breakwater IT is known as a leading provider of IT services and we also plan to partner together on larger UK projects”

Breakwater currently runs the IT and Telecoms for some of the best known companies in the East Anglian region and have recently completed major IT projects for The East Anglian Air Ambulance, M+A Partners and Norfolk Country Cottages. Their head office is on the Meridian Business Park in Norwich but increasingly they are working across the country. They are currently working on a large national project taking in many of the major cities of the UK.

Peter Davies continued. “Our aim is to focus on delivering what we are best at, i.e. IT and Telecoms and having a partner for software development perfectly fits in with our long term strategy for the business. I sincerely hope that this will be the start of a long term partnership that will enable East Anglia’s companies to get a unified approach for help with all their future technical needs”

Netmatters Ltd was founded in December 2008 by brothers Christopher & James Gulliver. The business is focused on becoming the leading provider for web development services in Norfolk. Netmatters has grown through acquisition of trade and companies and is currently employing 21 full time staff. Based in Wymondham on the Gateway 11 Business Park, Netmatters is set to grow further this year through providing professional web design, bespoke cloud based software and by developing strategic relationships with high calibre companies such as Breakwater IT.

Abellio Greater Anglia’s pioneering new ‘Cab and Go’ taxi booking service is to be extended to more stations after a successful pilot phase.

Cab and Go is the train operator’s new, free app and website which lets rail passengers book a taxi to or from the station, providing a fast, simple way of arranging transport and the confidence that onward travel from the station is ready and waiting. After a successful introduction at Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ely, Ingatestone and Norwich stations, the service will be rolled out to 42 more rail stations from Monday 3rd March 2014.

As an introductory offer, Abellio Greater Anglia will give £5 off ‘first time ‘bookings, in the form of a refund once the customer completes a feedback survey.

From Monday, Cab and Go will be available at the following 48 stations: Angel Road, Audley End, Beccles, Brentwood, Brimsdown, Broxbourne, Bruce Grove, Bury St Edmunds, Bush Hill Park, Chelmsford, Chingford, Colchester, Colchester Town, Cromer, Diss, Dovercourt, Edmonton Green, Elsenham, Ely, Enfield Town, Great Chesterford, Harwich International, Harwich Town, Highams Park, Hythe, Ingatestone, March, Newport, Northumberland Park, North Walsham, Norwich, Ponders End , Roughton Road, Rye House, Sawbridgeworth, Shelford, Shenfield, Silver Street, Southbury, Stansted Airport, Stansted Mountfichet, Sudbury, Thetford, Tottenham Hale, Turkey Street , Waltham Cross, White Hart Lane and Whittlesford Parkway.

Abellio Greater Anglia’s Commercal Director, Andrew Camp, said, “The new service is a further step in making rail travel even more convenient for our customers. It will be a useful tool that will provide extra confidence, and more options, for those travelling on business or visiting unfamiliar areas. Passengers can quickly and easily use the app from wherever they are to organise a cab to take them to or from the station with no hassle.”

For more information or to download the app visit www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk/cabandgo or www.cabandgo.com

The new Cab & Go service is delivered in partnership with Cabline UK Ltd and T Dispatch Ltd.

Specialised Management Services Ltd (SMS), a leading service provider and manufacturer of hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical control systems, will be exhibiting at the Southern North Sea Conference: “SNS 2014: The Sea of Opportunity” at the Royal Norfolk Showground in March.

SMS will showcase their range of products and services to local and prospective customers and demonstrate their full project and multi-disciplined engineering capabilities which have seen their team successfully secure a number of orders in the region. Projects have included the delivery of Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs), Installation and Workover Control Systems (IWOCs), Chemical Injection Units (CIUs), Testing and Flushing Hydraulic Power Units (TFHPUs) and Topside Umbilical Termination Units (TUTUs).

In addition to the SMS manufacturing division, their Offshore and Site services has seen an extraordinary flow of enquiries and requirement for labour. They offer a blend of fully trained, highly skilled and experienced technicians to provide comprehensive and cost effective operations to their local and international clients.

Gary Morrow, Sales Manager, comments, “SMS have been providing services to the Southern North Sea sector for more than 15 years. Through our experience of local standards and technical knowledge we deliver excellence throughout our projects and have acquired a local reputation for being a high quality service provider.”

For more information on SMS and the products and services they have delivered you can visit them at stand B11 at the SNS2014 event, Norwich from 5th-6thMarch 2014.

In attendance will be Gary Morrow (Sales Manager), Phil Turner (Sales Manager) and Emily Phillips (Sales and Marketing Coordinator).

To book a meeting with us please contact Emily on bookings@smsgrp.com

The stereotype of an ambitious woman can often be less than flattering. Sadly, with the media often still using headlines that portray go-getting ladies as alpha-males, such clichés remain stubbornly intact.

Such old-fashioned ideas can actually put off the very women who should be at the top, making key decisions for the good of our businesses.

As positive economic evidence mounts in favour of more senior female workers, this attitude needs to change for everyone’s benefit. And we at Pure have developed our Women’s Leadership Programme to help support this change.

Women can do a lot themselves to become powerful professionals with the qualities of superb business leaders and, it doesn’t need to be at the expense of their ‘authentic self’.

Here are a few tips on how to be successful without ditching your fantastic female qualities…

1. Find a role model

Some of the world’s most powerful women have not made their way to the top by being egotistical or aggressive. But they are calm, smart and self-assured. Whether it’s Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel or another woman you admire in your industry, find a role model and study her approach – notice her body language, how she speaks and how she handles tricky questions. It’s an inspiring way to learn how female leaders influence, develop useful networks and deal with heated situations without losing their cool.

2. Work on your body language

Around 95% of communication is non-verbal; body language such as posture and eye contact is essential in getting your message across with confidence. Practising ‘power postures’ in front of a mirror will help you get a feel for how other people see you when you hold yourself differently. Amy Cuddy, a Harvard professor and researcher in non-verbal behaviour offers entertaining insight and more important advice.

3. Just be yourself

There’s a false belief in society that women need to behave like men to get to the top. More assertiveness may be needed, but by our very nature we have different perspectives and characteristics, which can help business boom – and complement male colleagues’ approach. For example when senior men and women work together, more balanced and sustainable decisions are made. So don’t be afraid to be yourself, but do focus on enhancing key skills and learn how to make your voice heard.

4. Balance political with the emotional

Women are known for high levels of emotional intelligence, which can be the perfect partner for sometimes difficult workplace politics. Dealing with conflict sensitively, appreciating differences in opinions and personalities, nurturing good working relationships, and investing in staff wellbeing can help create a positive working environment for all.

5. Plan your career

Many women expect to have to take long breaks in their career to bring up children, while others assume they’ll have to give up work entirely. Of course each person should choose what works best for them, but with such expectations it’s no surprise that businesses are yet to make changes that will enable women to stay at work and become senior employees. So if you’re in a junior position now and hope to start a family in the coming years, start looking for employers who offer flexibility, are happy to create opportunities and make arrangements that support your career. If you are about to go on maternity leave, it is a good idea to plan ways to keep connected with your employer and keep your skills and knowledge up to date.

6. Find a networking group

There are plenty of local networking groups out there aimed at female professionals. You can get to meet women who’ve smashed through that ‘glass ceiling’, attend talks and join lunch clubs. Look at Women in Business Network or Meet Up to get started. In addition to womens’ networks, also consider joining general business networks so you have a balance and you don’t risk narrowing down your opportunities too much. Good luck and have fun!

You see, there’s no reason to exchange your more feminine attributes for classically male traits to get ahead. The world is changing – and the government is placing senior women workers at the heart of these changes, alongside their male colleagues.

Pure has much more advice for employers and women on this topic – get in touch to find out more!

Whether you work for an SME, a blue chip company or an international corporation, you are probably curious about what you could be earning in your sector. As good news filters through that the economy is on the way to recovery, some people could be preparing for their next career move after a long hiatus.

As the market picks up people can expect to receive more calls from headhunters and recruitment agencies. The latest industry research shows that permanent placements have risen the strongest since October 1997 and salaries for permanent staff in southern England have increased at the fastest rate since May.

Therefore, it is even more important that during this time employers look at how they can retain talent to help them keep up with economic development. This salary survey can be used as a useful a benchmark for what organisations should be paying its staff this year. Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), the recruitment consultancy with offices in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, has gathered the latest salaries across the East of England for jobs in Accountancy, Financial Services, HR, Marketing and Office Support.

Looking at sectors including high tech, pharmaceuticals, professional services, health services and not-for-profit, the extensive research indicates a positive picture for 2014. Regional salaries have remained very steady over the last three years, and in the last 12 months, there appears to have been a trend towards focussing more on additional benefits such as study packages and flexible working.

With trading prospects anticipated to be more positive over the next six months, businesses are expecting to see increased demand and profits, and take on more staff by the end of this year. This could trigger increased pressure on salaries with a continued focus on those employee benefits to keep them on board.

Focus on the East of England It has been an interesting year in Cambridgeshire. Recruitment has increased significantly, although Pure’s research found that despite a rise in permanent recruitment, employers are keeping a strong focus on fixed-term contracts and temporary roles. The regional economy has continued to grow as international businesses expand within the Cambridge tech cluster. In addition, local SMEs, the education and retail sectors have expressed more confidence in 2014.

Our survey results from Norfolk reveal that food production, manufacturing, tourism, public sector, financial services, energy, and oil and gas play a significant part in the county’s economy with employers indicating a positive outlook over the next year. Vacancies among professional accountancy firms are on the rise.

Suffolk’s diverse industry, which includes manufacturing, brewing, the ports and financial services, is seeing new staff arrive as the trend of relocation from London continues.

Conversely, Essex employers are under pressure as some struggle to attract and retain quality talent without the ability to compete with the higher London-weighted salaries. The regional strategy has been to place more emphasis on the benefits of work-life balance and short commute times, which in turn enables companies to successfully attract candidates.

Average regional salaries

Overall, Cambridgeshire employers offer some of the highest average salaries. Below is a glimpse at some of the survey results:

• For businesses with more than £100 million turnover, a Cambridgeshire finance director’s typical annual wage is £140,000 and dips to a lower £93,000 in Suffolk. • The income for an HR officer varies little across the region (between averages of £26,000 and £28,000), but director-level salary peaks at £110,000 in Essex. • PA to directors can expect a yearly average of £24,000 in Norfolk and Suffolk, while Cambridgeshire and Essex offer £27,000 and £25,000 respectively. • If you are a marketer, or you employ marketing staff, you may like to know that Suffolk boasts the highest figure of £110,000 for a director role. Cambridgeshire employers pay marketing executives up to £35,000.

Staff benefits on the rise

As mentioned above, employees around the East of England also enjoy a variety of benefits. Health and wellbeing appear higher on the agenda this year with companies offering perks such as discounted gym memberships, counselling, free fruit and private health cover. Such packages create incentives and organisations are seeing increased success in attracting and retaining staff.

Flexible working is prominent in Cambridgeshire as the survey shows an increasing trend to offer employees the option to work from home. While in Norfolk and Suffolk there is more interest in benefits. The salary reveals that:

• Half of companies offer childcare vouchers • Two-thirds provide a form of private healthcare • 8 out of 10 offer flexible working hours • 70% offer staff study support for professional qualifications • 1 in 10 employers give staff more than 27 days of annual leave • 40% have a form of bonus scheme

For more information on the salary survey, contact Anna Hill, Marketing Manager at Pure, on: 01223 209888 or Anna.Hill@prs.uk.com.

Follow the link to find out more about Pure;https://www.prs.uk.com/

UFS Ltd, established in 1963 are a European Road Freight Operator with daily services to / from Switzerland / Germany / The Netherlands / Belgium and France

We are currently able to offer short to long term storage facilities and / orrecently upgraded offices at our premises in IP24 Thetford, Norfolk

Warehousing

551.57 m2 (5,937 sq ft) / Sunken floor suitable for chemical storage / 5.42m Eaves height / Secure shared yard space / 24-7 on site security staff /CCTV and Alarm system / Mains drainage, water and electricity are available

Offices

First & Ground floor suites with options to let along with adjacent warehousing or stand alone / Fully air conditioned / Total 128.9 m2 (1,388 sq ft) comprising of First Floor 51.8 m2 (558 sq ft) and Ground Floor 77.1 m2 (830 sq ft) / 24-7 on site security staff / CCTV and Alarm system / WC and kitchen facilities shared with the current occupiers

Competitive rates on application and available to view at a mutually convenient time

Please contact David Cowell (Sales Manager) on +44 (0)1842 751751 or sales@uniex.co.uk

Norwich hotel and airport set for biggest student takeover as college celebrates hospitality milestone

To mark 100 years of hospitality and catering at City College Norwich, more than 100 students will take part in the most ambitious student takeover yet – which this year has been extended to include Norwich International Airport.

The week of 24th to 28th February will see a series of firsts for what is believed to the largest student takeover in the UK:

 The takeover of the Holiday Inn Norwich North will extend to 5 full days, involving around 100 students;  12 travel and tourism students will take over roles at Norwich International Airport and at the airport’s travel agency in the city centre for 3 days;  Students will cater for two major functions at the hotel, each for around 300 guests, with the Big Hospitality Conversation and the College’s hospitality centenary gala dinner.

Since the first hotel takeover in 1998, the number of students involved has grown each year, extending to include not only hospitality and catering but also students on sports, personal fitness training, and travel and tourism courses. At its heart, the annual takeover remains about working with employers to give students a unique opportunity to experience first-hand what it is like to work in hospitality.

During takeover week staff throughout the 4-star Holiday Inn Norwich North hotel, up to and including General Manager Bill Heath, will take a step back and allow students to take on their jobs, covering everything from reception, to housekeeping, bar management, food preparation, food service and supervisory and management roles.

As if this was not enough of a challenge (with the students required to maintain the hotel’s usual high standards of service at all times), the takeover students will also be providing catering and front of house service for two major functions:

 The Big Hospitality Conversation on Thursday 27th February, convened by the British Hospitality Association, will bring together employers from the sector to meet with young people and talk about tackling youth unemployment, the importance of work experience and apprenticeships;  The College’s Hospitality and Catering Centenary Gala Dinner on the evening of Thursday 27th February will see 300 guests enjoy a dinner and dance in the Lancaster Suite and will help fundraise for hospitality charity Springboard and City College Norwich’s Student Opportunities Fund.

A stone’s throw from the Holiday Inn Norwich North, travel and tourism students will also be putting their skills to the test as they stage a takeover of Norwich International Airport, on a smaller scale, from Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th February.

Six students will be putting in some early starts at the airport – with some shifts beginning at 5am – to work on the customer service and information desk, at check-in and boarding.

Meanwhile six of their fellow students on the Level 3 Diploma in Travel and Tourism will be gaining valuable experience on the sales and bookings side of the business, working at the airport’s travel agency, Travel Norwich Airport, within the airport terminal building and at Castle Mall, Norwich.

Bill Heath, General Manager, Holiday Inn Norwich North, said:

“The experience the students gain from this initiative is invaluable in their understanding of the hotel industry. Nothing beats real, hands-on, work experience and because they’re here for a week they’ll get to see all aspects of how a busy hotel and conference hotel operates from one day to the next. We are delighted that Andrew and his team from the airport are joining us this year and we look forward to it being a long and enjoyable partnership.”

Andrew Bell, CEO, Norwich International Airport, commented:

“The Airport team is looking forward to welcoming the City College takeover students to Norwich Airport and we hope that this will mark the beginning of a long term association with this excellent initiative.”

Corrienne Peasgood, Principal, City College Norwich, added:

“The hotel and airport takeover is one of the best examples of how employers and colleges can work together to develop real learning experiences for students, which is a key part of our commitment as a Gazelle College. We are very proud of our partnerships with employers, which help support the development of the future workforce whilst ensuring our courses continue to keep pace with changing industry needs.”

Tickets for the College’s Hospitality and Catering Centenary Gala Dinner on Thursday 27th February, which includes a 3-course meal, arrival drink and canapés and a live band, are available now by calling (01603) 773227. Full payment of £22 per person is required at the time of booking and the last day to book is Wednesday 19th February.

Notes to editors

100 years of hospitality and catering at City College Norwich City College Norwich is celebrating the recent landmark of 100 years of hospitality and catering training. It was in 1913 that the then Technical Institute formally absorbed the Norfolk and Norwich School of Cookery, establishing a Domestic Science Department within the college for the first time. In the 100 years since then thousands of students have been trained in City College Norwich’s highly regarded Hotel School, going on to work in leading restaurants and hotels in Norfolk, throughout the UK and indeed around the world.

The Hotel School’s reputation for training excellence saw its students heavily involved in catering for Her Majesty the Queen at Sandringham as part of both the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Notable alumni of the Hotel School include Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens, Richard Bainbridge (head chef at Morston Hall in Holt), Danny Savage (head chef at the Kings Head, Bawbrough), Julia Hetherton (head chef at Strattons Hotel), Richard Knights (head chef at Byfords) and Andy Snowling (Executive Chef of Animal Inns).

The Big Hospitality Conversation The Big Hospitality Conversation, led by the British Hospitality Association, together with Springboard and Business in the Community, brings together influential leaders from leading hospitality businesses and invites them to meet young people, stimulating dialogue and encouraging more quality work experience, apprenticeships and jobs in the UK for 16-24 year olds. As well as generating work and opportunities, the Big Conversation enables the industry, through the BHA, to take a powerful message to government on hospitality’s significant contribution to economic recovery, tackling youth unemployment and stimulating growth.

In the past twelve months over 1,200 industry representatives have attended the Big Hospitality Conversation events, pledging the creation of 33,000 new job opportunities between now and 2015 (with more to come).

The Big Hospitality Conversation in Norwich is being held at 9am at the Holiday Inn Norwich North on Thursday 27th February 2014. For more information, please contact Julia Svetlosakova, Communications Executive, BHA, on 07701 050 216 or email Julia.Svetlosakova@bha.org.uk.

Ends

Technical lead will ensure company self-sufficiency plus excellence in service delivery and results.

Norwich based business telecommunications company, Comms Supply, an EDP Future50 company, announces the appointment of a new senior member of staff. Paul Frost, in the newly created position of technical lead, is now responsible for telephone system installations and the smooth running of technical services for all Comms Supply clients, across East Anglia and beyond. The appointment is significant for Comms Supply because even the most technical issue or installation associated with business telecoms can now be handled in-house.

Karl Alderton, managing director of Comms Supply, said: “In the last 18 months we have grown from a team of two to a team of seven. Paul Frost joining us is a huge asset; he has over 18 years experience within our industry and can easily explain technical issues in simple jargon free language that our customers from all walks of life understand. We can now guarantee excellence for our customers in terms of service delivery and results, without having to rely on external contractors.”

Paul Frost, technical lead at Comms Supply said: “Telecoms is the lifeblood of any successful business and the impact if something goes wrong can be immense. I enjoy my job and find making things easier for people incredibly rewarding. One of the things that attracted me to Comms Supply was that open, honest communications is at the heart of everything the company does. I know from experience that it is easy for the telecoms industry to bamboozle customers with technical jargon; putting people at an unfair disadvantage when it comes to understanding systems or making informed purchasing choices. This straight talking ethos is particularly crucial in my role at Comms Supply as technical lead, which is really refreshing.”

In June 2013, Comms Supply achieved £1million turnover and continues to exceed its targets. Along with a core business base within East Anglia, Comms Supply has clients across the UK, including Devon, Manchester, London and Yorkshire. In Norfolk, Comms Supply is proud to work with Nelson’s Journey, Air Livery, Seajacks, NWES, The Forum, East Anglian Air Ambulance and Blue Sky Leisure, and many others.

To find out more about Comms Supply or to book a free business telecoms audit visit www.commssupply.co.uk or call 0333 2020 900.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Amber Davis or Pippa Lain-Smith at Plain Speaking PR 01603 487 291amber@plainspeakingpr.co.uk | pippa@plainspeakingpr.co.uk

Notes to editors:

Comms Supply launched in early 2012, providing customers across East Anglia, and beyond, with a range of business telecoms services: from basic phone or broadband line rental to complete systems.

Find out about Scholarship opportunities for those looking to study Law at UEA.

The Law School at the University of East Anglia is offering a number of scholarships for its specialist Taught Masters (LLM) degrees starting in September 2014. The awards available include up to ten Academic Excellence scholarships worth between £1,000 and £4,000. In addition, there is an automatic 10% Early Application Scholarship for both UK/EU and International offer holders on an LLM degree.

The Law School offers a number of LLM degrees on a one-year full-time basis. We work with you to improve your employability through the development of legal and transferable skills which are integrated into all LLM degrees. Law graduates are highly regarded by employers both in and outside the legal profession and the School has well-established and excellent relationships with many local, regional, national and international law firms.

The deadline to be considered for each award varies, the earliest of which is 4 April 2014, though you are advised to apply early for the Academic Excellence Scholarships. To view the full range of scholarships and their associated application requirements please see our website. If you have any questions about our postgraduate scholarships please contact our Admissions Office.

The issue of gender diversity within the workplace is hotter than ever. Next month the 2014 Female FTSE Board report is out, providing an update on how the UK’s leading businesses are doing in terms of getting more women board members. Signs so far this year are positive with reports of more than 20% of FTSE 100 company boards comprising women directors.

So why is it such a burning topic? Well, it has been proven that more gender diverse boards generate better profits and arrive at better decisions. As a consequence, the government and the EU want to see British businesses taking this task seriously to aid economic recovery and sustain a healthy bottom line.

On a regional level Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), a recruitment agency specialising in Accountancy, Financial Services, HR, Office and Executive roles, is approaching this challenge with passion. The newly developed Women’s Leadership Programme offers aspiring professional women a unique opportunity to make the most of opportunities and develop their careers. It sets itself apart from other female development programmes with its dual approach, which enables participants to become effective leaders while receiving support from a sponsor who will act as their mentor.

Run over six to eight weeks in partnership with People & Performance Ltd, the programme helps professional women develop their leadership style, maximise on opportunities at home and work, and be their authentic selves at work. In addition, the programme invites women and men in senior roles to be sponsors of the women in their organisation who are enrolled on the course.

Lynn Walters, Director of Pure, says: “Simply developing women and dropping them back into the same organisational culture without any additional support is not effective. Our programme’s distinctive dual approach seeks to develop and challenge workplaces so they can enable women’s senior career development, while also developing their skills and confidence.” Christina Youell of People & Performance says: “By including the sponsor the delegates will have a better chance of putting into practice what they learn from the programme, resulting in long-term success. The sponsors will support women by, for example, recognising and addressing workplace behaviour that could impede women’s career progression, and by providing advice.”

The Women’s Leadership Programme has struck a chord with employers, with many of the region’s top businesses already signing up delegates. Employers appreciate that it will enable them to make real progress on improving gender balance.

In addition, the programme has already attracted highly esteemed female figures who joined potential sponsors at a recent series of meetings across the eastern region.

“We were delighted to have two very accomplished and inspiring women speak at recent breakfast meetings for the programme,” adds Lynn. “Ann Cotton OBE is the Founder and President of Camfed – a charity that tackles poverty through educating girls in rural Africa – and Dame Rachel De Souza is CEO of The Inspiration Trust. Both gave inspiring talks and reminded us of the value of female leadership.”

Ann drew parallels between Camfed’s work and the Women’s Leadership Programme, which both aim to empower women to reach their full potential. An example of how Camfed supports women is the wonderful story of Runyararo from Zimbabwe. At 13 she was taken out of school to work in the fields after her father fell ill with tuberculosis, but thanks to the charity’s support she was able to return to education and went on to study medicine and become a paediatrician.

Dame Rachel De Souza is busy transforming the education landscape in Norfolk. She is currently working to improve standards at seven schools, which are significantly benefitting from her inspirational leadership approach. Rachel has achieved a huge amount in education and was made a Dame in the 2013 New Year Honours list. At one of the recent meetings with programme sponsors Rachel shared advice based on her own strategies and insights into aspirations of female students in the East of England.

The Women’s Leadership Programme is taking place in Cambridge and Ipswich between March and May. If you would like to be a delegate or be a sponsor for a woman from your organisation, contact Lynn Walters, for details on: 01223 209888 or lynn.walters@prs.uk.com.

Follow the link for further information on the Women’s Leadership Programme; https://www.prs.uk.com/media/119237/Women_in_Leadership_Information.pdf

Greater Anglia’s Revenue Protection team has been awarded the prestigious ‘Investor in People’ Silver status in recognition of its progressive approach to business improvement through its people.

Around 350 members of staff work in the train operator’s Revenue Protection team, the team is made up of Revenue Inspectors, Making Travel Safer officers and Gateline Operators.

The team was able to demonstrate that they have achieved the 39 requirements needed to secure the standard IIP Status, which they have held since 2009, plus an additional 76 points of evidence that led to them achieving the Silver Status. The award shows that the Revenue Protection team takes a forward thinking and expansive approach to cascading best practice through every level of the organisation.

In his report, the IIP Assessor commented that: “There has been excellent development of a more appreciative culture throughout Revenue Protection. Employees at all levels acknowledge the efforts made to show appreciation for their contribution to the success of the organisation.”

Abellio Greater Anglia’s Head of Revenue Protection, Kim Gorman, said: “The award of ‘Investor in People’ Silver Status for our team is another key milestone in our approach to offering customers a consistent, professional and high-quality standard of service. I am pleased to offer my warmest congratulations to the team, who have all worked extremely hard in achieving this award.”

Currently just 6% of UK businesses achieve the Bronze, Silver and Gold IIP accreditations.

Other teams within Abellio Greater Anglia to hold the accreditation include the Catering Team (Silver Status) and the Customer Contact Centre (Gold Status).