Member News

Specialist control and safety systems integrator Proeon Systems ltd is building on its success with Fit For Nuclear (F4N) and Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR).  Proeon are delighted to have been named as winners of the “People Development” Category announced at the first UK Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) Summit Awards in Rotherham on 12^th October 2023. Proeon systems are a specialist control and safety systems integrator providing critical control for complex applications typically used in the energy sector, often in the harshest environments imaginable. The company, part of RSK Group, is based at the Hethel Engineering Centre in the heart of Norfolk and employs 68 people. The award recognises success in the Fit For Nuclear (F4N) programme which is intended to help companies meet the very high standards required to supply the nuclear industry. The journey began in 2016 and the award celebrates the outstanding progress that Proeon made.   An industry expert provided by the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear AMRC helped Proeon through the process, benchmarking against a variety of business excellence measures along with sector specific assessment and development activities.  These activities examined all aspect of the way the company developed and led its people.  A particularly challenging activity was anonymous employee consultation surveys.  Although the feedback was sometimes challenging, it was also massively beneficial to the business.  The findings of this and the other activities enabled the company to identify gaps and close them.  Proeon has reached the “Maintain and Sustain” phase of Fit For Nuclear (F4N). The company has since engaged in another similar programme called Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) which it sees as very important as a large amount of Proeon’s work today comes from wind energy projects. Proeon’s Commercial Director Dr Dorian Hindmarsh said:  “an important point that was reinforced during the process was that people are the companies most important assets.  Our people were always valued, but this programme enabled us to put time and effort into people excellence, improving engagement, development, and training. These topics are now cornerstones of the business” Since starting this programme Proeon has increased development resources offering a mixture of on-line training, in-person sessions, optional Lunch & Learn workshops as well as external courses.  Proeon has launched a graduate programme which engages with local colleges and universities to offer placements within the company where individuals gain practical experience of control and safety systems.  Many former participants joined the team on completion. Proeon are also proud to provide apprenticeships partnering with local education establishments to offer the opportunity of paid training while gaining qualifications. Several former apprentices went on to join the company after completing their apprenticeship and now have roles as engineers and administrators.  Proeon also has a Work Experience Programme which typically runs over 2 weeks, giving young people a practical hands-on introduction to control systems and the world of work. Proeon always understood how important it is for people to feel included and informed about what the business is doing.  As part of F4N an information sharing plan was implemented which promotes the regular sharing of business strategy and results to the team. When asked if the time and effort put into F4N had benefited Proeon, Managing Director Richard Miller commented: “taken together the results speak for themselves.  Better staff engagement and the increase of skills has helped Proeon win new projects and better serve its clients.  This is enabling our company to grow and operate successfully within the transitional energy sector, working towards the net zero goal”. Press contact: Mrs Lesley Swift LesleyS@proeon.co.uk For more information:  https://www.proeon.co.uk/   https://namrc.co.uk/services/f4n/

“Each Christmas our Young Carer’s group leaders are always really excited to be able to browse the gifts that have been donated to choose an individual present for the Young Carers in their groups. When it comes to our final group before Christmas and we bring the bag of presents in to distribute to the Young Carers it’s such a pleasure to see their faces.“ Our work means that over 3,000 young people, children, and families, have hope, opportunity, and stability this Christmas and beyond. By supporting our Christmas appeal, you can make an impact in your local community, and help us to continue our vital work. Interested in supporting this year’s campaign? For information on making monetary donations or physical gifts please see below: How you can support our work this Christmas:

• Make a monetary one-off or regular
• donation: https://benjaminfoundation.co.uk/donate/christmasappeal/
• Organise a fundraising event to raise vital awareness
• Join our Gift Appeal and donate physical presents for a young person supported by our charity
• Volunteer to help sort and organise donated gifts

Please note that our deadline for physical gifts is Friday 8th December. This is so that there is enough time for our services to collect and deliver presents to our young people in time for Christmas. View our Gift Appeal Handbook to find out how to register. Your support can help ensure children and young people supported by our charity receive the gift of hope, opportunity and stability this Christmas. Thank you. Any questions or queries? Don’t hesitate to get in touch on Joshua.antcliff@benjaminfoundation.co.uk

Family members came together for poignant gatherings to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week. Seventeen people attended a reflective event organised by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) at The Nook. Parents and children made window crystal suncatchers, in memory of their babies, and had the chance to tie blue and pink ribbons to trees in the hospice grounds. They were also given a bag to take home containing a candle, snowdrop bulb and poem. “Families enjoyed the activities and the opportunity to talk and be together,” said EACH Child and Family Worker Rachel Cowles. “Baby loss is something many of us will have in common, whether from personal experience or through families, friends or colleagues.” The gathering took place on Sunday, 8^th October and the 21^st annual Baby Loss Awareness Week began the following day, running until Sunday, 15^th October. On the latter date, families had the chance to attend a virtual Wave of Light candlelit ceremony, tying in with the global Wave of Light. The tri-site event was led by EACH Spiritual Care Lead Emma Scott and also open to families from Milton and The Treehouse, in Ipswich. “This honours babies who died during pregnancy, childbirth or infancy,” added Rachel. “It serves as a global moment of remembrance for families and individuals who have experienced the loss of a child. “Families across the world unite together by lighting a candle and leaving it burning for at least an hour to remember all babies that have died too soon.” Image credit – EACH

Norfolk Citizens Advice presents ‘Share a Plate’ – Give the gift of Advice this festive season!

Give the gift of high quality, confidential advice this festive season! When you are booking your dinner celebrations, add a plus one to the list and donate the extra money to our cause! The cost of one meal = quality advice to someone in need.

The festive season is a time of giving and spreading joy…

What better way to do that than by sharing a plate with those in need?

We’re launching our charity fundraising campaign “Share a Plate” to encourage participants to donate the cost of an additional meal at their festive dinners to go towards our service of providing free, accredited advice.

Join us in making a difference this winter by giving the gift of advice. Your donation, no matter how big or small, will help ensure that our vital services can continue to support those in need. Together, we can make a real impact and bring hope to those who need it this holiday season.

Our charity provides a lifeline for individuals and families struggling with a wide range of issues, from mental health and financial difficulties to legal problems and more…

‘Laura came to us in November of 2022 because she was distressed about supporting her family over the oncoming festive season. They were living off of foodbank parcels and had been unable to top-up their electric pre-pay meter. Laura was concerned about being unable to provide home comforts and proper meals for their partners daughter who was coming to stay for Christmas.

An adviser made sure they were able to access basic living necessities such as clothes and toiletries and issued them a foodbank voucher. The fuel-voucher usually issued by the Warm & Wise team was incompatible with the client’s submeter so they were instead supported with £300 transferred to their account for energy costs.

Laura was emailed an additional £100 supermarket voucher so that she could switch her empty fridge-freezer back on ready to be stocked up for Christmas!’

A devoted mum says volunteering in a charity shop helped her children deal with anxiety and develop social skills. Kate Williamson is a valued member of the volunteer team at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ (EACH) Poringland shop. She lends her support twice a week, on a Thursday afternoon and all day Saturday, and has previously been joined by twins Rhiannon and Rhys, now 20, and daughter Elizabeth, 18. All three happily gave their time and got the volunteering bug after needing to complete work experience while at school. “Volunteering is something we’ve all enjoyed together, as a family,” said Kate, who lives in Alpington. “It’s had a big impact on us all. “All my children suffered from anxiety. Their social skills weren’t great and they lacked confidence. “The shop helped coax them out of their shells because they were suddenly in a position where they were interacting with people. “It didn’t happen straight away and to start with they were very shy, barely talking unless they were spoken to and only replying by saying ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘thank you’. “However, that quickly changed, and within time, they were having full-on conversations with people.” Kate feels others in a similar position would enjoy similar benefits and was speaking during EACH’s ‘Be the difference’ campaign – a volunteer recruitment drive running until the end of October. “Rhiannon, Rhys and Elizabeth enjoying meeting customers and making friends and their confidence flourished,” she said. “Not many teenagers would be pleased to get an alarm call on a Saturday morning. “However, my three loved it. They were up before me and clock-watching because they knew the shop opened at 9am. “Despite a difficult start to life, they’ve stepped up to the plate and made real progress. “I’m immensely proud of them and all three have taken those skills into adulthood and their university and college lives.” Like her children, Kate feels she benefits enormously from volunteering and would encourage others to get involved. “Would I recommend it to others? 100%,” said the 59-year-old, who has been helping in the shop for three and a half years. “It’s enjoyable, rewarding and great fun. My message to anyone would be to give it a try because they won’t regret a thing. “I absolutely love it and find it thoroughly enjoyable. “I’ve got to know so many wonderful people, making some great friends, and love chatting to the customers. “It feels like I’m part of a family and if I’m having a tough time I know I can always ring someone from the shop, be it staff or one of my fellow volunteers. “They’ll always lend a friendly ear or reply with some good advice. Life can be a battle sometimes but it’s always good to talk.” For more information about volunteering, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk To find your nearest EACH shop, head here.  

Kind-hearted family members have stepped up to the plate and answered an urgent ‘SOS’ call by offering to volunteer at a popular charity shop. Sabrina Fenn manages Fakenham’s East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) store and is so desperate for help that she has called on support from husband David, 56, daughters Yolanda and Betty, 17 and 16 respectively, and son Joseph, 14. All four have duly rolled up their sleeves, using their respective skills to make it a genuine family affair. “It’s so lovely and I’m very proud of them,” said Sabrina, who urgently needs help from more volunteers keen to join her team. “They’ve answered my SOS call! They know how desperate I am for extra help and have kindly offered to give their time. “It’s much-appreciated and lovely for us to be together as a family. “It’s precious, quality time and I know they find it rewarding, doing something to help such a worthwhile cause. “It’s also a very positive, productive thing for my children to do in their spare time, rather than sitting at home.” Yolanda, who is at college, comes in every couple of weeks and helps dress the shop window. “She’s got a real talent when it comes to visual merchandising and we’ve had the most outstanding feedback from customers,” said Sabrina, who became manager last December after previously working for The National Trust. “They’ve been so impressed and say she should be doing it for a living. “Betty, who has just started at sixth form, comes in because she’s keen to get some retail experience and build her self-confidence. “She’s had some lovely comments from customers and also does the artwork for our chalkboards, making them look fabulous. “Joseph comes in every weekend to get some work experience. “It’s great for him to be able to say he’s had some till training and he spends time listing books for us to sell on Amazon. “All of them are building their skill sets, while at the same time supporting an amazing cause and helping their mum into the bargain! “It works on so many levels and they’re genuinely making a difference, helping everything run smoothly.” To complete the family circle, Sabrina, 46, also receives help from husband David, who works at Gresham’s School, in Holt. “After finishing work, he’ll often come in for a couple of hours and do whatever’s needed, including steaming donations and carrying boxes up and down the stairs,” she said. “He’s brilliant, as they all are, and I’m very grateful for their support, along with the whole volunteer team. “Our shop is flying and it feels like we’re ahead of schedule, rather than chasing our tails. “We have systems in place and our volunteers have been a major part of that, giving us their ideas and feedback. “We’ve made massive progress together and the figures testify that.” While grateful to her existing volunteers, Sabrina is desperate to hear from anyone else interested in lending a hand. She was speaking during EACH’s ‘Be the difference‘ campaign – a recruitment drive running until the end of October. “There are days when I’m flying solo and it’s a real struggle,” said Sabrina. “It can be a strain and it would be great to have another two or three regular volunteers on board. “It doesn’t have to involve the till, which I know puts some people off. “Not everyone wants to be customer-facing and I appreciate that. “There are so many other jobs they can do, either on the shop floor or upstairs behind the scenes, and we’re so appreciative of any help we get. “We’re flexible and can fit in with people’s busy lives. “There’s no heavy lifting involved and this is an opportunity to do something very enjoyable and rewarding to make a genuine difference.” To find out more, pop into the shop on Upper Market, email Sabrina via sabrina.fenn@each.org.uk or phone 01328 863297.

Leanne Gill, operations manager for Attleborough-based renewable heating company Finn Geotherm, has beaten off stiff national competition to win a prestigious award for women in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry. Leanne won HVAC Woman of the Year in the Heating & Ventilating Review (HVR) Awards 2023. The awards champion innovation, excellence and achievement across the heating and ventilating industry. The hotly contested HVAC Woman of the Year category was new for this year and looked to recognise a woman who has made an exceptional contribution to her employer’s business, stands out among peers for her hard work and dedication, and upholds the highest standards in business. Finn Geotherm’s longest serving employee, Leanne joined the company 15 years ago as a receptionist and administrator to work alongside technical director David Alston as he set up one of the UK’s first heat pump installation companies. She has been a driving force in the growth of the business ever since whilst developing her career to become a qualified accountant, operations manager and, in 2022, company secretary at Finn Geotherm. Joining the heat pump industry at a time when people didn’t know what heat pumps were or what they could do, Leanne was also one of the very first women in the HVAC sector. Working in a very male dominated industry, Leanne was among those leading the charge for women in HVAC and shifting perceptions of females. Today, her knowledge of the systems and how they work is second only to Finn Geotherm’s most senior heat pump engineers. Leanne represents not only determined and driven women but also working mums. She managed to juggle working and progressing her career at Finn Geotherm with having a young daughter. During the past 15 years, Leanne’s role has also grown to cover new regulations within the heat pump industry and the necessary compliance for Finn Geotherm, as well as taking on project management for increasingly complex installations as Finn Geotherm continues to be appointed for more challenging heat pump projects. Leanne Gill, operations manager at Finn Geotherm, said: “I am delighted to have won this national award. As a female in the HVAC industry, my role has been challenging at times but I always had the full support of Finn Geotherm behind me. Things have moved on a lot in the past 15 years – there are now more women taking up key roles in HVAC and I hope the next generation of project managers and installers will be filled by many more. “I love this job. No day is the same. Every project is unique and has different requirements. We’re genuinely making a difference to people’s lives and, at the same time, we’re doing our bit to help the environment which is crucial right now. The large-scale projects we’re currently working on at Finn Geotherm are really exciting and cutting edge and I’m looking forward what HVAC brings in the future.” Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm said: “We are immensely proud to see Leanne receive this prestigious national award. Leanne’s dedication to our company, and her rapidly accelerating role and responsibilities, has been incredible. It has been a pleasure to watch this amazing young woman develop in confidence, skill and knowledge – her abilities evolving as the demands placed upon her have increased enormously over the past 15 years. Leanne is a fantastic role model. We are honoured to have her in our team at Finn Geotherm and representing women in the HVAC industry.” Continuing its success at the HVR Awards 2023, Finn Geotherm was also awarded Collaboration of the Year alongside heat pump manufacturer Panasonic, for the partnership developed to specify and install the first 210kW air source heat pumps in Europe for University of West London’s Paragon House. For more information on Finn Geotherm, see www.finn-geotherm.co.uk. Photo caption: Leanne Gill receiving HVAC Woman of the Year. From left to right:  Kelly Bullivant of Fujitsu Air Conditioning; Leanne Gill, operations manager at Finn Geotherm and TV and radio presenter Lindsey Chapman who hosted the awards Image: HVR Awards Copyright: HVR Awards Photo caption: Finn Geotherm’s Leanne Gill has won HVAC Woman of the Year Image: Finn Geotherm Copyright: Finn Geotherm

A bereaved grandad has spoken of the heart-wrenching pain he suffered following the death of his ten-day-old granddaughter. Little Violet-May had a serious heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, as well as pulmonary valve dysplasia and mild pulmonary valve regurgitation, and received end-of-life care at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base near Norwich. She died in October 2021. Grandad Ziggy Nash has reflected on the harrowing time and was speaking during Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW), which runs until Sunday (9^th to 15^th October). It is a chance for families all over the world to commemorate the lives of their babies and share memories of the brief time they had together. “As a grandparent, it was a real double-whammy,” said Ziggy, who celebrated his 38^th birthday last Friday. “I lost my gorgeous, special and precious granddaughter, who brought love beyond words and will have a special place in my heart. “However, I also had to stand by and watch my daughter, Baylee, suffer. It broke my heart. “Everyone grieves in their own way and there’s no right or wrong way to cope. “However, Baylee has done amazingly and I’m very proud of her. “She’s only young herself and no-one should have to go through such a daunting, life-changing experience.” Baylee and partner Tom Pipe were able to create special memories during their time at The Nook, including going into the sensory room, taking their baby for a walk around the grounds and giving her a bath. They are still receiving support and feel they would have struggled to cope without EACH. “I’ll always hold onto the special moments I shared with Violet-May,” added Ziggy, who lives in Norwich. “I’m beyond proud of what such a tiny baby went through, and the way she fought, in such a short period of time. I’ll forever treasure the bond we have.” In his quest to raise funds for EACH, Ziggy took part in The Boss Hog challenge on Sunday. The fundraiser, an event featuring more than 40 obstacles over a sapping seven-mile course, took place at Wantisden Hall, in Wantisden Valley, Woodbridge. He rallied a team of 12, including friends and colleagues from Anglian Water and the IMRWR Alliance, and they called themselves Violet-May’s Water Boys. “We had a brilliant, fun day and it felt great doing something so worthwhile, supporting a cause so close to our heart,” said Ziggy, who raised more than £1,000. To show your support and sponsor Ziggy, head here. Ziggy and other family members took part in The Piglet Junior Hog fundraiser in July 2022, raising nearly £2,000.

Volunteers have the chance to make a “significant, positive and lasting” contribution to their community by sparing time to support a leading children’s charity. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is on the lookout for extra help in its 47 shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The organisation’s retail operation is a vital source of income to help run its hospices in Milton, near Cambridge, Framingham Earl, near Norwich, and Ipswich. It relies on voluntary donations and needs to raise £7.8 million this year alone from its shops across the region, in addition to its Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. Volunteers play a crucial role and now EACH is launching its ‘Be the difference’ campaign, to encourage more would-be helpers to step forward and join its team. The initiative started this week and runs until the end of the month. Posters will be on display in-store and staff and existing volunteers on hand to answer questions and explain more. “It’s hard to emphasise enough just how special and important our army of loyal, dedicated and selfless volunteers are,” said Hannah Milbourne, EACH’s Volunteer Services and Development Manager. “Quite simply, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them and now the hope is that we can encourage more people to step forward and join them. “We’re always so grateful to hear from anyone interested in lending a hand and volunteering in one of our shops is the perfect way to make a significant, positive and lasting contribution to the community, as well as the children and families receiving our care and support. “They’re also a vibrant, welcoming and fun place to be and I love visiting our shops. The atmosphere and enthusiasm you’ll find there is infectious. “When people think of volunteering, they think of someone offering a whole day. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. “We appreciate people have busy lives and giving a morning or afternoon once a week or fortnight would make the world of difference in your local shop. “The hours people donate are entirely flexible and a friendly welcome is absolutely guaranteed.” Hannah also pointed out that there is a range of jobs in the shops, to suit people’s tastes, skills and backgrounds. “Some people enjoy serving customers, but others are less keen to use the till and that’s absolutely fine,” she said. “There are so many other things they can do, including sorting and organising donations and listing eBay items – something that is a particular need for us. “There’s something for everyone and I’d encourage anyone to go along to their local shop and give it a go. “As well as finding it genuinely enjoyable and rewarding, our existing volunteers tell us it’s very sociable and a lovely way to meet new people and make friends.” For more information, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk To find your nearest EACH shop, head here. Image credits EACH

The Carbon Charter is an environmental award scheme and sustainable business network, providing support and recognition to organisations throughout Suffolk and Norfolk as they take positive action towards Net Zero. The Carbon Charter is delivered by environmental charity Groundwork East, in partnership with the Environment Agency and Suffolk County Council, and is just one of the sustainable business services which Groundwork delivers across Norfolk.  Our team also deliver Carbon Literacy training, and bespoke carbon management services including carbon footprinting and decarbonisation plans. To help businesses identify their next steps to reaching net zero, the Carbon Charter has recently launched a new Net Zero Diagnostic Tool which Norfolk businesses can access for free at: https://carboncharter.org/net-zero-diagnostic-tool/ The new  Net Zero Diagnostic Tool will generate a bespoke Net Zero action plan for your organisation outlining our recommended next steps – with actionable advice, guidance on what to prioritise, and where to find help on your journey towards Net Zero. Membership of the Carbon Charter provides a clear and visible statement of your commitment to reduce the environmental impacts of your business operations – and is open to every business across our region regardless of size or sector. Members also receive on-going support and advice from our team of sustainability consultants, as well as regular networking and training opportunities. Find out more about the Carbon Charter and the benefits for your business visit: www.carboncharter.org Photographer – Emma Cullen

Investment and Expansion Department for Business and Trade Investment Minister, Lord Dominic Johnson, joined South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss for a tour of award winning UK manufacturer Peerless Plastics and Coatings, based in Thetford, Norfolk. Peerless is one of only a handful of companies in the world capable of producing specialist hard coated, polycarbonate sheets, developed and marketed by Peerless as PolyGuard™. This unique selling point of hard coated, anti-scratch, anti-fog, anti-static and anti-glare means that Peerless’s products feature in multiple industries across the globe from electric vehicles incorporating PolyGuard™ as a viable lightweight, shatter proof alternative to glass, to personal protection equipment including face protection and safety glasses. Over the past 24 months, Peerless has invested nearly £1m in new business, machinery and technology, growing the work force from 30 to over 50 and is now looking to rapidly scale-up around the world. The Peerless Plastics & Coatings team, including Managing Director Peter Llewellyn-Stamp and Sales Director Max Bromley, explained to Lord Johnson the extensive range of services the company provides its customers across a broad swathe of industries including Aerospace, Rail, Automotive, Medical, Retail and Construction. Having diversified its service offering, Peerless is able to offer a single-source solution for many plastic manufacturing requirements, reducing supply chains and ultimately the carbon footprint of their customer’s products. This ethos goes very much hand-in-hand with the sustainability journey the company is on, having significantly reduced energy usage in recent years through many initiatives that include renewable energy from solar panels and reduced consumption via voltage optimisation. The PolyGuard™ is a new and unique range of products that Peerless has developed ready for international distribution. PolyGuard™ include specialist hard coated Polycarbonate sheets offering enhanced surface performance, making this a sustainable plastic solution for many applications. The PolyGuard™ range consists of six coated Polycarbonate products: Hard, Anti-Static/ESD, NIR Blocking, Anti-Fog, Anti-Glare and Formable. Minister for Investment Lord Johnson said: “I had a very insightful visit to Peerless Plastics’ factory and was incredibly impressed by the innovations they are making and the growth being achieved. The opportunities for export are tremendous, and Peerless Plastics’ success demonstrates the type of innovation that is driving UK manufacturing. I was very pleased to hear about the company’s future ambitions for growth and to discuss the vision and support that the Department for Business & Trade has for helping businesses like Peerless Plastics to grow and export across the world.” Liz Truss MP added ‘It was great to be able to introduce Lord Johnson to the Peerless team so he could see their dynamic and innovative work for himself. Thetford, in my South West Norfolk constituency, is home to a diverse manufacturing hub, with a wealth of talent and expertise that can proudly compete on the world stage – and Peerless is very much at the forefront of this.’ Having recently launched PolyGuard™, Peerless has secured distributors in the UK and Europe, with further opportunities across the world. Peter Llewellyn-Stamp said, “It has been great to welcome Lord Johnson and Liz Truss to Peerless and show them our new sustainable plastic product. Peerless’s PolyGuard™ is very unique; we have spent time developing a product that is so versatile, one that will not only transform the way we make and build things, but also a product that ensures good value for money and is sustainable, this makes it an extremely attractive and viable purchase for the long term. We have serious ambitions to expand the distribution of this product on a global scale and are ready to speak with investors who will help fast track this growth. The guidance provided by Lord Johnson was invaluable”.

89 Howes Percival lawyers mentioned in 2024 guide for their standout contributions to their practices The 2024 edition of The Legal 500 – the authoritative guide to the UK’s leading law firms – has recommended Howes Percival for 21 different legal specialisms and awarded the firm top tier ranking for 11. The guide, which is based on independent research, interviews and feedback from clients about the service they receive from firms and lawyers, also recognises the UK’s leading lawyers – 89 Howes Percival lawyers received specific mentions in this year’s directory, an increase of 12 on last year’s report. Howes Percival has achieved top tier rankings for:

• Corporate and Commercial
• Dispute Resolution – Commercial Litigation
• Dispute Resolution – Debt Recovery
• Finance – Insolvency and Corporate Recovery
• Human Resources – Employment
• Private Client – Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
• Real Estate – Commercial Property
• Real Estate – Environment & Planning
• Real Estate – Property litigation
• Real Estate – Social Housing
• Technology, Media & Telecoms – Intellectual Property

Ten further Howes Percival specialisms are recommended in the guide; Agriculture and Estates, Banking and Finance, Construction, Contentious Trusts and Probate, Family, Licensing, Public Sector, IT and Telecoms, Media and Entertainment and Health and Safety. The Legal 500 highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.  26 Howes Percival lawyers are recognised by the legal directory as ‘leading individuals’, with 8 Partners achieving ‘Hall of Fame’ status – Paula Bailey (Employment), Steven Beach (Commercial Property), Geraint Davies (Litigation and Insolvency), Gerald Couldrake (Corporate and Commercial), Tessa Haskey (Commercial Property), Michaela Henson (Commercial Property), Graham Irons (Employment) and Matthew Talbot (Intellectual Property). Howes Percival’s clients range from individuals and families to global businesses and government departments. In August, Howes Percival confirmed it had created 50 new roles in the last two years to meet increased demand for its services.  Over the next two years, the firm plans to continue recruiting across all six offices, creating a further 50 additional new roles, including partners, solicitors and support roles. Howes Percival’s chairman, Geraint Davies commented; “This is a fantastic set of rankings and recommendations, and I’m absolutely delighted for the whole team. The results reflect our traditional strengths in corporate and commercial, insolvency and litigation, employment, real estate, IP and private client but also the way we have been able to invest and develop new areas for example in technology and media, regulatory and now social housing – our most recent top tier addition.  We are on a roll, as a firm, growing our market share in all locations, investing in our people and in creating new teams and with a clear plan to grow further over the next two years.” Full details of Howes Percival’s rankings can be found on The Legal 500 website