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King’s Lynn Co-producing events with Young People, Call for Co-producers

Background Discover King’s Lynn is the Business Improvement District for King’s Lynn Town Centre. Our aim is to create a town centre of which we are all proud, where businesses thrive, new and creative opportunities are encouraged , and visitors choose to return again and again. To fulfil our aim we want to foster a greater sense of pride in the town, and help generate feelings of vibrancy and optimism. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) is the UK Government’s long term funding stream to replace EU structural funds. It is intended to help support the UK Government’s Levelling Up policy.  The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has been allocated funding from the UK SPF and has chosen to invest in three priorities, including Communities and Place. This project will support the delivery of intervention E6 – Local arts, cultural, heritage & creative activities For further information about the West Norfolk Shared Prosperity Fund go to West Norfolk SPF In addition to the above, King’s Lynn is the recipient of £25m from the Towns Fund. Three of the five Towns Fund projects in King’s Lynn will stimulate and support the creative industries. Most notably, through the regeneration of the Guildhall and setting up of a Creative Hub, as well as the Riverfront project, which will provide infrastructure and new spaces to support year round events. For more information about the Town’s Fund projects go to  Vision King’s Lynn Through our involvement in the Towns Fund and engagement with local business as a Business Improvement District, we know that employers are struggling to recruit and retain young people, and that young people feel dissatisfied with what the Town has to offer them. We want to use this project as a starting point to engage with young people who work in the Town, to build a sense of pride and relevancy, and provide an opportunity for their voice to be heard. Brief We are looking for a co-producer to work with young people aged 18-30 who work and / or live in King’s Lynn town centre, to develop and deliver up to 6 events or “happenings” in the town. Through participation and co-production, the aim is to start to redress the perceived balance of focus from heritage and history towards the present and future. We want to contribute towards strengthening social connections amongst young people in King’s Lynn, and building a sense of local pride and belonging.   As a Business Improvement District, we have been tasked by professional services businesses to find ways to motivate and encourage young professionals to become invested in the Town and base their career here. We think we have a legitimate remit to engage with young people who work in King’s Lynn to gather their ideas and support them to make change happen. Arts and Culture is a good way to do this. Our target audience will be young people aged 18-30 who work for a business in King’s Lynn town centre and /or who live within the Town centre. We will connect with local partners to ensure a wider participation of young people in this age bracket, particularly those who might be more difficult to engage due to mental health issues or low self-esteem, or because they are neither in employment nor education. Benefits of this project in the short term

  • Greater sense of connection with the Town Centre
  • Greater sense of personal satisfaction and self-worth through connecting with others and contributing to a wider social benefit
  • Boost to sales for some night time economy and hospitality businesses who might get involved in trial events.

Med-long term

  • Change in perception of the Town by young people
  • Boost to footfall as consequence of the event
  • Boost to local economy by using local businesses to support the delivery of the event
  • Increase in PR for the Town
  • This event and piece of work could be the catalyst for other actions led by and / or for younger people in the Town.

Guiding Principles We’d like to highlight some guiding principles that underpin this project. Environmental sustainability – we want to ensure that the whole process, from engagement activities through to the final events are undertaken with minimal impact on the environment. Supporting local businesses – as a Business Improvement District we aim to use local businesses in our projects as much as possible in the purchasing of goods and services. Inclusivity  – it is important to us and our funders that all aspects of this project are accessible and welcoming to all young people within the target age group. About you We are looking for a co-producer with demonstrable experience of working with young people in this age group and with a broad experience of organising and designing events of all shapes and sizes.  You will be creative, energetic and approachable, with knowledge about cultural “happenings” in other parts of Norfolk, England and beyond that might be used as examples to inspire and generate ideas. Project Timelines These are the project milestones as set out in the project proposal that was approved by the Borough Council. The end point of 31.3.24 is non-negotiable.

  • Appoint Co-producer – early September
  • 1st event – by mid October
  • Reflections on 1st event – by end October
  • 2nd event – November
  • 2 seasonal events – December
  • 1 event – January 2024
  • Final event – March 2024

Budget The budget for the co-producer and events is £7,800. There are separate budgets for marketing, promotion, young people expenses, and meeting space. Requirements If you are interested in delivering this project, please respond via email to Vicky Etheridge, BID Manager, vicky@discoverkingslynn.com with the following information by close of play on Monday 28th August, with potential interviews on Wednesday 6th September.

  • Your experience and examples of previous, relevant work
  • Your approach to engagement, particularly at the start of the project to get young people on board.
  • How you will measure the impact and success of each event and work with the young people to use these reflections to shape the next events.
  • Your costings and key milestones.
  • Any resources or support you might need from Discover King’s Lynn to undertake this work.

  Please set out the above on headed / branded paper and return via email. We look forward to hearing from you!  

National Road Victim Month

It’s National Road Victim Month, a campaign organised by the RoadPeace charity to mark a month of remembrance for victims of road crashes while raising awareness of the importance of road safety, as five people are killed, and 60 people are seriously injured on Britain’s roads every day. Founded following the tragic death of Princess Diana the campaign aims to raise awareness and promote road safety.

In this article, we visit a case study of a road traffic accident case dealt with by Hatch Brenner Solicitors Chartered Legal Executive and Personal Injury specialist, Simon Bransby. This road traffic accident is particularly unpleasant and the claimant was lucky to come out alive as can be seen. Fortunately, he made a pretty good recovery on the whole.

Working and living in and around Norfolk we do see a lot of tractors on the narrow country lanes and it is important to be aware of them and be particularly vigilant when driving one (as sadly this particular tractor driver was not).

The road traffic accident

The Claimant was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a road traffic accident when hit from behind by a tractor. He was knocked unconscious and pulled from the vehicle which burst into flames. He was very lucky to escape and was taken by air ambulance to hospital.

The Claimant suffered a head injury in the course of the accident and was an inpatient for three days but made a relatively good recovery. He was able to return to work within only a few weeks although suffered from some level of personality change, impact on confidence and a small risk of increased epilepsy. He suffered headaches and dizzy spells. He also had some whiplash-type symptoms and travel anxiety.

On the whole, the Claimant made a good recovery but continued to feel that there was an element of loss of confidence, still some headaches and dizziness. He would struggle to carry out the more complicated areas of his career resulting in an inability to take more senior positions.

The case settled for a six-figure sum following a settlement meeting.

What to do if you’ve been in a car crash

If you have been in a road traffic accident or car crash within the last three years and think you have a claim, contact Simon Bransby today on 01603 214 220 or email simonbransby@hatchbrenner.co.uk.

Hatch Brenner Family Team strengthens through internal promotions

Hatch Brenner is pleased to announce the addition of two promotions to its family team. Sophie Key and Carly Sullivan have been promoted to Senior Associates. Sophie joined Hatch Brenner in 2021 and has a wealth of expertise supporting clients relating to the dissolution of marriage and civil partnerships. Since gaining her accreditation, Sophie has been providing advice to clients in Norwich and Norfolk. Carly graduated in 2006 and began working for Hatch Brenner in 2017. Carly specialises in children’s law, focusing on both private and care concerns relating to children. The effort and thought invested in the process reflects their dedication.

New Increase To Statutory Legacy On Intestacy

Starting July 26, 2023, the statutory legacy on intestacy will increase from £270,000 to £322,000. This increases the amount a surviving spouse or civil partner is entitled to receive from the estate in the event of the deceased’s intestacy, especially when there are children involved and no valid will has been made. Understanding the estate administration process and the law is crucial for planning for the future of loved ones. Even if a valid Will is in place, the law determines what happens to the estate. The increased statutory legacy amount will result in a larger payout for a spouse before their children. A legitimate Will is the easiest and most efficient approach to safeguard loved ones after death. In case of incapacity, a Lasting Power of Attorney can help manage affairs and protect assets. Our Private Client team can assist with retirement planning, drafting a Will, and dealing with the estate of a deceased loved one.

Six figure settlement for man with mTBI symptoms

The Claimant, aged 29 at the time of the motorcycle accident, was riding the motorcycle while disqualified when he pulled out of a side entrance to a local business on the Norwich inner ring road. Such was the force of impact that the Claimant was catapulted through the air before coming to rest on the ground some distance from the point of impact. The Defendant’s disputed liability raises allegations in relation to the quality of the Claimant’s riding, leaving the Claimant without access to rehabilitation during the important early aftermath of the accident. The Claimant sustained multiple orthopaedic, psychological, and neurological injuries (affecting attention, concentration, and memory). The Claimant reported increased levels of fatigue, irritability, anger, and sleep disturbance. As a consequence of his reduced cognitive skills, his business failed. While the principled approach of the insurers in this case was in some ways understandable, their application of the law in relation to the issues was wrong. Instead of maintaining an absolute denial of liability, a more respected approach would be to have conceded liability at a much earlier stage and instead relied upon arguments in relation to contributory negligence. Even though the claimant was riding a motorcycle illegally, the claimant could not entirely avoid responsibility for causing the claimant’s significant injuries. The final settlement involved a concession that the Claimant contributed to his own injuries as a result of his own negligence.

Norwich rail station receives ‘Wildlife Friendly Station’ status

Above: The station adopter team at Norwich receive their Wildlife Friendly Station accreditation. Credit: Greater Anglia Norwich rail station has received a ‘Wildlife Friendly’ accreditation, recognising the work of the station’s community volunteers to improve biodiversity and support nature. Greater Anglia has partnered with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust to formally recognise the achievements of its team of volunteer ‘station adopters’ to create wildlife havens at stations across its network, through creation of the ‘Greater Anglia Wildlife Friendly Stations Accreditation Scheme.’ The team of adopters at Norwich received the award following assessment by a Norfolk Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer to determine how well the station supports local flora and fauna. The ecologist’s report noted several areas of microhabitat such as a wildflower area, shrubs and trees, as well as 28 plant species, that are all helping to support wildlife in an urban environment. James Hogg, Development Officer at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: “The alarming decline in the abundance of wildlife and the plight of species under threat means that just protecting the nature we have left is not enough; we need to put nature into recovery, and to do so at scale and with urgency. “This project with Greater Anglia is a fantastic example of how people can transform nature-poor areas into new nature-rich places – and change the way we think about land, seizing opportunities to help nature outside traditional nature reserves.” Each assessment also offers tips and advice for how to make the stations even more wildlife friendly and the reports can also be used as examples of best practice to help spread good ideas around all Greater Anglia’s stations. Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, “We’re delighted to partner with the region’s wildlife trusts to formally recognise the valuable work of our station adopter volunteers in supporting wildlife and improving their local environment.” “I’d like to congratulate the volunteers at Norwich station on receiving this recognition and thank them for the incredible work that are doing that is help to support biodiversity locally. “Their work also makes the station more attractive for passengers and the local community.” There are now 19 stations across the Greater Anglia network which have received the “Wildlife Friendly” accreditation, with more expected to be certificated over the next year. Rail stations in East Anglia are increasingly becoming havens for local wildlife thanks to the efforts of over 300 volunteers who last year transformed over 7,400 square metres of land into thriving wildlife gardens. In a recent survey, Greater Anglia station adopters reported a wide range of creatures visiting their stations including many different types of butterflies as well as bees, slow worms, bats, foxes, toads, lizards, deer and many varieties of birds, recording more than 200 different species. Greater Anglia has joined the rest of the rail industry in pledging to make stations across Britain more sustainable. Action to reduce waste, support local wildlife and cut the carbon footprint of railway stations will be informed by the industry’s Sustainable Stations: Best Practice Guide, which details ways in which train operators can meet this commitment in support of global goals of decarbonisation, reducing waste and supporting local plant and animal life.

Howes Percival set to continue growth plan with 2 year recruitment drive

Firm to create up to 50 brand new roles nationally to meet increased demand 

Leading law firm Howes Percival has confirmed it has created 50 new roles in the last 2 years to meet increased demand for its services post-pandemic and is set to extend that growth with a new, two-year recruitment plan. 

In the coming two years, the firm plans to create more than 50 additional new roles with new positions across the firm’s six offices, including partners, solicitors and support roles.  Support roles include accounts, IT and HR/People functions while the firm will be recruiting fee earners across all areas of the business. 

The recruitment follows unprecedented growth across all offices and all of the firm’s practice areas. 

The firm’s Corporate team, which celebrated a record year in 2022 completing over 150 deals with a combined value of £700 million, has seen a 23% increase in headcount. The Litigation team has grown by 38% and Commercial Property by 30%. Other teams that have seen significant growth include Employment, Private Client & Estates, and the Property & Social Housing team. 

Howes Percival’s decision to invest in new offices in Cambridge and Milton Keynes has also paid off, with the latter doubling in size and Cambridge forecast to have significant strategic growth as it has now become a full-service office.  

Howes Percival is currently ranked in the ‘UK’s 100 Best Large Companies to Work For’ and is ranked 8th Best Law Firms in the country to work for.  The firm has also been accredited for 20 years for Investors in People and has been shortlisted in the Top 20 UK Employer of the Year Accredited 250+ organisations in The Investors in People Awards 2023. 

Howes Percival’s Chairman, Geraint Davies, commented, “The firm has enjoyed significant success which has created more interest in our business and more demand for our services.  It has definitely been a case of success breeding more success. We have been investing in our teams for a number of years, and as a result, the word got out that we were winning more business, which has generated more interest, both in terms of further instructions and increased recruitment.  

“Our people are at the heart of that success, consistently providing excellent service to our clients and our continued growth will be based on the ongoing investment we make in our people, both through external appointments and nurturing our existing talent. We’ve created an incredibly strong support mechanism around our teams to not only safeguard their wellbeing but also recognise and help those who want to progress their career with us. 

Natalie Clarke, Head of People continues: We’ve always had a strong reputation for our training programme and promoting from within, and we have built on that recently with our new leadership development programme (LEAPS). As a result, part of the plan is definitely to attract talented juniors who are looking for somewhere they can grow and continue their careers, while strengthening our existing teams.  

“As well as wanting to attract the best legal talent, we are building our non-fee earner teams so that we can support our people and constantly deliver the best possible service for clients.  While we have remained extremely busy, and we hope there are signs that the market is looking brighter, we do see the next year as an opportunity to attract top talent.” 

For more information visit: https://www.howespercival.com/ 

“It’s going to be an incredible experience and a real challenge as there’s 12,925ft of climbing – almost half the height of Mount Everest” – Steve is cycling to a sound cradle factory in Germany

A cyclist raising money to buy a specialist piece of musical equipment for a children’s hospice is riding to the factory where they are produced in Germany. Steve Swindon wants to fund a sound cradle – a musical instrument made from layers of beech and birch veneer, bonded together to create a semi-circular shape – for the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base in Milton. EACH has one at The Nook, where his partner, Jane Rous-Milligan, is a Music Therapist, but not at its Cambridgeshire hospice. The cradle can be laid, stood vertically to provide a ‘sound shower’ or turned upside down like a dome. On each side are 18 strings, which are tuned to a monochord. When played, they resonate the entire instrument – a resonance felt intensely throughout the body, providing a sense of safety and containment. Steve, who lives in Holt, needs to raise £4,000 and has already completed the 100-mile RideLondon event, the 200-mile Round Norfolk Epic and the 112-mile Dunwich Dynamo overnighter. Now he is gearing up for a special ride to the factory where the sound cradles are made, in Bad Zwesten. “It’s going to be a special visit and something I’m excited about,” said Steve. “I’ve swapped lots of emails with the co-founders of the company that produce the sound cradles and they’ve been very interested in my fundraising. “We’ve arranged to see their showroom, visit the carpenter’s workshop and have a meal together afterwards.” Steve is making the trip with friend Mike Hill, who is co-founder of Norwich-based One Planet Pizza. The business produces vegan pizzas in a factory owned by Conveni, in Liessel, in the Netherlands. The pair are planning to stop at the company’s headquarters on day three of their journey. Steve and Mike are getting underway on 16th August, cycling from The Nook, in Framingham Earl, to Harwich, before getting an overnight ferry to Hook of Holland. Their total cycling distance for the whole trip will be 395 miles. “It’s going to be an incredible experience and a real challenge as there’s 12,925ft (3,940m) of climbing – almost half the height of Mount Everest,” said Steve. After the Germany trip, my final ride is scheduled for 23rd September when I’m visiting all three EACH hospices – The Nook, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, Milton and then back to Norfolk. “The estimated distance is 175 miles, which will bring my approximate distance for the year to 982 miles. “Raising this money is very important to me, having learnt about the power of music therapy through Jane. “It’s not something I knew much about beforehand but now, thanks to her, I have more understanding. I had no idea how profound an impact it has on people and the sound cradle is an incredible, stunning piece of kit.” Steve, who runs his own ecommerce company, is already a third of the way towards his £4,000 target. To show your support and make a donation, head here.

Accountancy firms in East Anglia see a 6% increase in salaries

Accountancy training firm First Intuition has released the findings from its most recent salary survey for accountancy employers. The Accountancy Salary Guide collected data from First Intuition’s clients in May 2023 and monitors average salaries paid to trainees and qualified accountants in East Anglia. Additionally, the guide highlights preferred rewards and benefits, as well as insights into recruitment and retention trends. Noteworthy findings from the data analysis include:

  • East Anglia has seen an average salary increase of 6% across all levels of accounting since 2022
  • 95% of employers plan to increase their salaries over the next 12 months
  • 70% of employers are finding it difficult to recruit new staff, this compares to 64% in 2022
  • 23% of employers are finding it difficult to retain new staff, this compares to 29% in 2022
  • Accountants working in Industry are paid 9% more than those in Practice
  • The Public Sector has seen an 8% increase in salaries from 2022 to 2023
  • 42% of employers expect to increase recruitment levels between May 2023 and May 2024
  • 39% of employers are currently recruiting for Junior/ Assistant Manager roles
  • 38% of employers are finding it difficult to recruit First-year Trainee accountants, this has increased from 17% in 2022
  • 70% of employers offer staff hybrid working arrangements as a method to retain staff, compared to 18% in 2021

The findings indicate that average salaries in the accountancy sector have risen by an average of 6% across East Anglia since 2022. Among the regions surveyed, Chelmsford has experienced the highest percentage change in average salary, with an impressive 18% increase. The job level that has seen the most significant pay increase is Newly Qualified AAT staff, who have seen their salary grow by 11%. Furthermore, the majority of employers (95%) have expressed their intention to further raise salaries over the next 12 months, anticipating continued salary growth in 2023. In 2023, a significant number of accountancy employers (70%) reported challenges in recruiting staff, compared to 64% in 2022. More employers in Practice are finding it hard to recruit (80%) compared to those in Industry (50%). This suggests a growing challenge for employers in recruiting qualified staff. The difficulties in recruitment could be partly attributed to employers not effectively reaching potential candidates. This is evident in the disparity between where employers advertise job vacancies and where students typically search for them. Moreover, 38% of employers said they were facing challenges in recruiting first-year trainees, a significant increase from 17% in 2022, further indicating that young adults starting their careers in accountancy are harder for employers to find. Despite this, only 23% of respondents said they were finding it difficult to retain staff in 2023, this compares to 29% who said the same in 2022. These findings suggest that employers are experiencing a comparatively easier time in retaining their workforce compared to the previous year. First Intuition Chief Executive Gareth John commented “I am proud of the engagement and feedback we receive from employers about such an extremely valuable report. Every year employers eagerly await its publishing, and I receive numerous positive comments from clients about how useful they find both the data and the insight at a time when they are especially keen to get their salary and benefit offerings right.” First Intuition hope to continue to monitor average salaries year on year, not only to offer guidance and information but to track change. You can download the full East Anglia Accountancy Salary Guide 2023 here: www.firstintuition.co.uk/accountancy-salary-guide-2023. Image provided by First Intuition

Complete Commercial Finance sponsors hotel of the year award at West Norfolk Food & Drink awards 2023

East Anglia’s Complete Commercial Finance, an independent business finance brokerage based in King’s Lynn, has announced its sponsorship of the Hotel of the Year Awards at the inaugural West Norfolk Food & Drink Awards. The new awards scheme aims to recognise the region’s incredible food and drink businesses with ten categories across the leisure and hospitality sector. Entries must be made by 5pm on Friday 18 August ahead of the presentation of the awards on 4 October at The Assembly Room, King’s Lynn Town Hall. “We are delighted to lend our support to these new awards,” says Complete Commercial Finance’s Karl Lanham, “which builds on our previous sponsorship of the Leisure & Tourism Award at the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Mayor’s Business Awards. “It’s hugely important to us to support the local business community, and we are fortunate to work with many successful leisure and hospitality companies in the region. With this new award we are excited to recognise the achievements of hotels in our area who have endured some incredibly tough trading conditions in recent years. The pandemic, followed by the staycation boom, rising operational costs and labour shortages have created the most challenging of periods for this sector and to see so many overcome these obstacles to deliver outstanding travel and dining experiences for their guests is hugely impressive. We look forward to judging those who enter and to reward the winner in October.” Leisure and hospitality can enter the West Norfolk Food & Drink Awards at https://www.iliffemediapromotions.co.uk/west-norfolk-food-drink-awards/

Do you understand the risks to your business?

Without understanding your risks can you successfully define your objectives and achieve them? Risks to a small business could affect your growthfuture plans or even affect your revenue streams. Check out what we believe are the Top 5 Risks to small and micro businesses.  Are they risks you have considered that could affect your business? Our specialist Cyber Security Consultants can help you gain a holistic view of your business and identify your risks. Get in touch today 01603 339550

Do you know the risks of a cyber attack to your business?

We know that cyber threats are a risk to your business but appreciate that you may need help in understanding the specifics. Let us introduce you to our One Day Cyber Assessment specifically designed for micro businesses and small businesses. Our One Day Cyber Assessment includes; ✅ An interactive workshop with a cyber specialist ✅ We will translate threats into simple language ✅ We will identify what you need to be secure ✅ Professional report specific to your business ✅ Clear action plans ✅ Realistically priced to help you control your costs We will help you clearly understand how to; Understand your risks  Improve security  Improve resilience  Protect your business  ✅ Become more cyber aware The delivery of the One Day Cyber Assessment is flexible to suit your business, in house or remote are available, you choose your preferred option.