Member News

Norfolk Citizens Advice – Foodbank and Crisis Adviser Hours: Monday to Friday Full time Locations: Norwich- Office Based Role Responsible to: Crisis and Energy Department Lead Salary: £23,144 per annum Annual Leave: 20 days plus bank holidays   Norfolk Citizens advice is seeking a dedicated Foodbank and Crisis Adviser to join our team. Are you a compassionate individual who wants to help and make a difference in people’s lives? Do you want to make a positive impact on the community? We invite talented individuals who share our visions and values to apply for this rewarding opportunity. The Role: You will collaborate with the Norwich foodbanks, Yorkshire Building Society and other teams to tackle underlying causes of poverty and hardships by providing advice on a range of issues based on the individual needs of each client. This may also include some limited casework which will ensure the client receives the most appropriate support over a period of time. We aim to reduce their need for foodbank support in the future and enable them to develop resilience and self-confidence in their lives.  The Food Bank and Crisis Adviser will also support volunteers to identify issues and provide appropriate information, signposting’s and referral routes. By leading with empathy and respect you will support our clients in delivering high quality advice.  This is rewarding opportunity to help others. Main Responsibilities:

• Ensure that all advice conforms to the organisations Quality Standards, policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, confidentiality and GDPR
• Maintain records on Casebook (our case recording and customer relationship management system) to ensure consistency and continuity.
• Ensure feedback is obtained from users of the service
• Produce reports, case studies and feedback for key stakeholders including funders and partner agencies
• Working with other colleagues in NCA, Trussell Trust, and partner agencies to ensure the service is available to all those who need it.

What we’re looking for:

• Excellent IT and telephone skills
• Ability to work independently as part of a team
• Ability to prioritise own work and meet deadlines
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of people using the service
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues
• Drivers Licence and car is essential

We are a strong supporter of equality, diversity and inclusive practices. The closing date for applications will be the end of business Tuesday 20^th September 2023. (we reserve the right to close this early should we need too)   Please APPLY HERE    

We will be taking a trip to the Wild Wild West this winter with our themed Christmas party nights for 2023. Think saloon bars and cowboy hats as you saddle up for an unforgettable night here at Carrow Road. Tickets are £45 per person and include an arrival drink, table nibbles, 2-course buffet and evening entertainment. These events are over 18’s only. Find out more here

Hatch Brenner Solicitors are proud to announce a 3-year partnership with Age UK Norwich, a local and independent charity dedicated to making Norwich an Age Friendly City. This new non-exclusive partnership aims to combine Hatch Brenner’s legal expertise with Age UK Norwich’s mission to improve the quality of later life, ensuring that people aged 50+ have access to the highest quality legal services tailored to their unique needs.

Caroline Billings, Partner at Hatch Brenner, commented: “We are thrilled to embark on this partnership with Age UK Norwich.  Their dedication to the well-being of older people resonates with our commitment to providing exceptional legal services to every member of our community.  This partnership will further enhance our ability to serve and support the senior members of our community.”

Jeremy Goss, Corporate Relationship Manager at Age UK Norwich, added: “Age UK Norwich are delighted to be partnering with such a well-known and highly respected Norwich based law firm such as Hatch Brenner. We look forward to building on an already close working relationship with an aim of developing mutual long-term initiatives that have a meaningful and sustainable impact on our clients and the local community.”

As part of the agreement, Hatch Brenner will be offering special legal clinics and workshops in collaboration with Age UK Norwich, focusing on areas such as wills, estate planning, and elderly care rights. Hatch Brenner Solicitors is a full-service law firm based in Norwich, offering a range of legal services to both businesses and individuals.  The firm has built a reputation for its client-centric approach and community involvement. Age UK Norwich is an independent charity in Norwich.  Their mission is to improve the quality of later life by working with residents to create an age-friendly and inclusive city where they can thrive, supported by opportunities and services that enhance and protect their health and wellbeing.

This Business Safety Week, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) wants to make sure all businesses in the county are aware of important changes which start next month. Business Safety Week takes place from 11-17 September and is run by the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC). From 1 October, new government fire safety legislation comes into effect throughout England and Wales. It means all businesses will need to record a fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full, regardless of the number of employees and size or type of business. There are also more requirements for cooperation and coordination between ‘Responsible Persons’ in multi-occupied buildings or those where the occupier and the owner are not the same person. Business owners and those responsible for buildings affected by the changes can access a range of information online to help and advise them:

• A five-step checklist for fire safety risk assessments from the Government website Fire safety risk assessment: 5-step checklist – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• A Government guides on how to carry out a fire risk assessment, targeted at different types of business https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-safety-legislation-guidance-for-those-with-legal-duties
• Advice on NFRS’s web pages about fire safety risk assessments Fire safety risk assessment guidance for businesses – Norfolk County Council

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, cabinet member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “We know business owners have a large number of responsibilities, which is why we’d like to make sure they are ready and prepared for these changes in fire legislation. “Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service would like to support the county’s businesses in these changes, which have come in from Government and are designed to help keep everyone safe.” NFRS is also running a series of social media posts this week to help business owners with the new legislation. You can find them on Facebook, X and LinkedIn. Gavin Tomlinson, NFCC’s Protection and Business Safety Committee Chair, said: “Fire and rescue services are committed to helping all types of businesses reduce the risk of fire in the workplace and be compliant with fire safety law. “We don’t expect businesses to be experts that’s’ why we are here to provide help and advice. “We encourage any business to work with their fire service to help prevent fires to help them remain productive, safe and legal.”

Our popular party nights featuring Delia’s Traditional Christmas recipes are back for 2023, bringing you all together for the festive period. With stunning views over the floodlit pitch, the evening includes a welcome glass of prosecco on arrival, a 3-course dinner followed by coffee with homemade chocolates and mince pies. Then dancing til the early hours to our resident DJ. Tickets are priced at £49.50. These events are over 18’s only. Find out more here

These special themed days are hosted throughout 2023 by Delia and Chef Alex Mackay. Your day includes coffee and cake on arrival, followed by a live cookery demonstration from Alex. This is followed by a three-course lunch and a tutored wine tasting with our wine expert Jason Banner from Peter Graham Wines. Delia and Alex will be happy to sign books, both old and new. Delia, Alex and other specialists will also take part in a Q&A session and after that tea is served and there will be a goody bag to take home as a memento of your day. Our Food and Wine workshops are the perfect gift for anyone who loves food and wine and would like to learn more. Find out more here

You are invited to the world premiere of the anticipated blockbuster ‘Never Mind The Danger’ hosted at Carrow Road, October 28. After being invited to the illustrious premiere of new action thriller ‘Never Mind the Danger’ your seemingly elegant and prestigious red-carpet evening is thrown into chaos as it soon becomes evident that bitter rivalries within the industry are at work to derail the cinematic masterpiece and eliminate the star-studded cast. Old lies, new truths, foul play and a killer on the loose, can you help decide Whodunnit? The action starts the second you walk through the door. So have your detective senses on red alert and try to take in as much information as possible. Find out more here

These special themed days are hosted throughout 2023 by Delia and Chef Alex Mackay. Your day includes coffee and cake on arrival, followed by a live cookery demonstration from Alex. This is followed by a three-course lunch and a tutored wine tasting with our wine expert Jason Banner from Peter Graham Wines. Delia and Alex will be happy to sign books, both old and new. Delia, Alex and other specialists will also take part in a Q&A session and after that tea is served and there will be a goody bag to take home as a memento of your day. Our Food and Wine workshops are the perfect gift for anyone who loves food and wine and would like to learn more. Find out more here

A young student, from East Anglian accountancy firm, Larking Gowen, has won the prize for the highest mark in the CPI (Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency) exam in England and Wales. Charlie Moss, who started his insolvency career in July 2020, joined Larking Gowen directly after his A-levels. “Taking the CPI exam was the natural progression in my career. It’s a well-regarded qualification and I thought it would expand my technical knowledge,” explained Charlie, whose study regime involved going back through five years’ worth of past exam questions. Learning the theory and making sure you practise how to apply it is Charlie’s single piece of advice for those considering the CPI exam. “There’s no point having knowledge/theory if you don’t know how to apply it,” he said. Andrew Kelsall, Larking Gowen partner, and one of the lead partners in the firm’s insolvency and recovery team, is full of praise for Charlie and his achievement. “Charlie is a young man with plenty of life experience. He’s an integral part of our great insolvency team at Larking Gowen. We’re delighted for him with his CPI result which is very well deserved, and we look forward to supporting him as he develops his career with us,” said Andrew. What’s next for Charlie? He says, “I have nothing planned but JIEB (Joint Insolvency Examination Board) will be on the horizon one day. Here at Larking Gowen, one of the partners, Lee Green, was a JIEB prize winner, so that’s a lot of pressure to deliver!”

Greater Anglia is showing its support for World Suicide Prevention Day, on September 10, by training more staff in suicide prevention and reintroducing Rail Pastors to the network, to help keep people safe on the railway. Already, Greater Anglia staff have helped to save almost 50 lives so far this year. Figures show that from 1 January to 31 August Greater Anglia staff have staged 48 interventions where they have helped vulnerable or distressed people at stations across the network. A total of 475 staff – more than 15% of the Greater Anglia workforce – have completed Samaritans’ managing suicidal contacts course, which is a one-day course tailored specifically to people working within the rail industry. It focuses on the benefits of a short conversation with someone who may be experiencing suicidal feelings and the techniques required to sensitively support that person and help begin their recovery. These emotional ‘first aid skills’ are also beneficial when responding to family and friends who may visit the location following a loved one’s death and when supporting a colleague affected by trauma. They are also valuable in our personal lives, listening to friends or family in need. The aim is to continue to increase the number of staff who have completed the course. Georgia Payne, Greater Anglia’s Safeguarding and Trespass Prevention Lead, said: “We work in partnership with Samaritans, British Transport Police and Network Rail to prevent suicides on the railway. For every life lost, six are saved and we’re very proud of our colleagues who have carried out interventions. “We are doing everything we can to keep people safe while using our rail network. More staff than ever before have completed Samaritans’ managing suicidal contacts course, which helps train rail staff to approach vulnerable or distressed people.” Rail Pastors are back patrolling the network from Shenfield to Southend Victoria, Shenfield to Colchester Town and Harlow Town to Cambridge after an absence of nearly three years due to the pandemic. Rail pastors, who returned to the network in June, patrol throughout the day and into the evening, visiting stations and boarding trains and helping anyone who is vulnerable, distressed, or in need of some assistance. Anyone who needs to talk can call Samaritans on 116 123.

Above: Screen shot showing the virtual tour of a Greater Anglia Intercity train (Norwich – London mainline). Credit: Greater Anglia Train operator, Greater Anglia, has launched online virtual tours for its entire new train fleet to help people travel with confidence. A first for the rail industry, the virtual train tours have been designed for all of Greater Anglia’s new train types to support journey planning, give customers a clearer picture of what they can expect on board and reduce anxiety about travelling. They are particularly aimed at helping disabled customers who are wanting to check how accessible their journey is. Virtual tours are available for Greater Anglia’s entire fleet of new trains and are available at https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/your-journey/virtual-tours on any device. Using the virtual train tours, people can find out where the toilets, accessible spaces and cycle spaces are located and ‘walk through’ the train using the navigation tools. Detailed 360-degree photography has been used to map each of Greater Anglia’s new train types, capturing all public areas, which people can navigate virtually. Members of Greater Anglia’s Accessibility Panel, a group of disabled customers who meet regularly with the train company, offered feedback during the development of the project and have been supportive of it. The web-based online virtual tour offers the option to navigate through the trains and an interactive map to see the entire train layout with ‘hot spot’ links to specific areas of the train. The technology was provided by The Virtual Tour Experts and the tours software has been designed to be accessible. It features an accessibility widget that enables the user to change to high contrast, large font size or audio transcribe. Future developments will look at incorporating British Sign Language videos as part of Greater Anglia’s commitment to improving customer information. Greater Anglia’s Accessibility and Inclusion Manager, James Bonehill, said, “In addition to our virtual station tours, I am delighted that the project has been extended to cover all types of new trains now running on our network. “This will greatly assist customers with their journey planning and reduce the anxiety about whether the station or train would create any accessibility barriers so that people can travel with confidence. “We are committed to making rail more accessible and providing quality information to enable more informed journey planning.” Neil Henderson, Managing Director of Virtual Tour Experts, said, “We’ve really enjoyed working on this project to create a number of industry firsts. The world of VR is developing fast but until now that development has not given due consideration to online accessibility. “This tour is the World’s first to incorporate an accessibility widget, guided tours, subtitled scene guides and there is much more to come. The user-first attitude of the team at Greater Anglia provided the perfect base for development and will ensure the platform continues to evolve.” 360-degree virtual tours are also available for 14 of Greater Anglia’s busiest stations – Bishop’s Stortford, Broxbourne, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ely, Harlow Town, Ingatestone, Ipswich, Manningtree, Norwich, Shenfield, Southend Victoria and Stansted Airport.

What a year we are having here at Byra; fresh from winning our second award of 2023, we are so grateful to be recognised for the success of our digital marketing endeavours. But, more important to us is the success we create for the Norfolk businesses we partner with. We proudly announce that we won Norfolk’s Best Small Digital Agency Award at the Southern Enterprise Awards 2023. Amidst the intensive competition, we were chosen as the winners by the panel at the Southern Enterprise Awards. But why did we win the award?

“Byra has delivered consistently high-quality digital initiatives for several Norfolk businesses in 2023. They have made a tremendously positive impact, reflected in their client retention rates, business growth and verified reviews.” Southern Enterprise Awards 2023

Best Start-Up Marketing Agency 2023 – East Anglia Here is another award we are very proud of winning earlier in 2023. The Secret to Our Success as a Multi Award Winning Digital Marketing Agency in Norfolk At the heart of Byra Marketing’s continued success is a blend of innovation, creativity, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. Our journey from humble beginnings to becoming a multi-award-winning agency showcases a few key factors that have propelled us forward: Strategic Vision Byra Marketing’s success story demonstrates the importance of having a clear and forward-thinking vision. Our ability to anticipate market trends and adapt strategies has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in our continued growth and success. Client-Centric Approach The hallmark of an exceptional digital agency is its dedication to understanding and fulfilling client needs. Byra Marketing’s emphasis on building strong client relationships and delivering tailored solutions has been a driving force behind increasing revenue for our Norfolk business clients. Team of Digital Marketing Experts Behind every successful agency is a team of skilled professionals. Our team of experts, each with unique skills, have collectively contributed to our innovative campaigns and groundbreaking strategies. Innovation and Adaptability Byra Marketing’s knack for staying ahead of the curve and embracing new technologies has set us apart from the competition. We meticulously track the results of our digital marketing campaigns and tailor them to deliver growth for our clients. Elevate Your Norfolk Business with Byra Marketing: Unleash Digital Success Look no further than Byra Marketing. Our award-winning expertise can revolutionise your online presence, from strategic campaigns tailored to Norfolk’s unique market to innovative solutions that captivate your audience. Let us help you with your digital marketing while you focus on your business. Contact us today