Member News

It’s Been A Busy 2022 For Layrd Design! Moving Office, Awards and New Team Members. We moved into our new office space in November and have welcomed three new team members over this year. Emily Batten and Gina Clarke joined us as new Interior Designers and Emily Gray joined as our brand new Design Studio Manager. Our Director, Will, won the Silver Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards too! Sketch & Social December Meet Our sketching group will be at St Paul’s Church, Cambridge, from 6pm on 14th December.  You can sketch a live yoga class (or the amazing architecture), then join us for a festive drink afterwards. All abilities welcome – just bring along a sketchpad and pens! Completed Projects In 2022 Layrd Lounge at Cambridge United Football Club.   We worked with fantastic local businesses to create the spectacular Layrd Lounge, the executive hospitality area for match days and non match days at the club. Read our case study below and get in touch if you’d like a tour! Yawn Marketing Boardroom, Norwich   We completed the full design and fitout for this Norwich marketing agency’s meeting space. Read our case study to find out more about this project. What’s Coming In 2023? Future Spaces is back for 2023. We’re bringing conversations around sustainability and wellbeing in design to Cambridge’s West Hub venue in March. We can’t wait to welcome everyone! We’re looking forward to the opening of a new street food market, The Yard, in Ely next year. We’ve designed, obtained planning permission and project managed this scheme – completing in Spring.   Interesting Reads & Recommendations. As Interior Designers, we love immersing ourselves in the latest trends, publications and tools (and we think you’ll find them interesting too!) Dezeen – Super inspiring and accessible architecture, design and interiors online magazine. Design Milk – Quirky online magazine, all about trends in the design and home furnishing world. Interior Design Magazine – High end interiors and architecture magazine. Coolors – Free tool to generate colour palettes for your space! TED Sustainability by Design – Curated playlist of TED talks, all about sustainability in design. ArchDaily – Online blogs covering a variety of global architectural news, projects and events. https://www.layrddesign.co.uk/

Help to Grow: Management is an applied course supporting managers and leaders of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). Learn new skills, boost your profits and improve business performance, resilience, and long-term growth. The programme is accredited by the Small Business Charter, with funding support from HM Government. The curriculum will support you to build your capabilities in leadership, innovation, digital adoption, employee engagement, marketing, responsible business, and financial management. You will receive one-to-one support from a business mentor, and by the end of the course you will have developed a tailored growth action plan to help release the full potential of your organisation. The 12-week programme is 90% funded, meaning the fee payable by participants is £750.  Help to Grow: Management has been designed to fit alongside full-time work commitments. You can find our more via our web pages here: https://t.co/GmHlMIYq1D and register yourself for the course directly via this link: https://smallbusinesscharter.org/h2gmcourse/uea-ee-cohort-2/.

Burnout should not be the cost of success After a gruelling 3 years of pandemic and recovery which took the rug from under us all, many organisations have been made to review how they worked, how they could survive and, if they did, how they could reinvent themselves. CEOs of all organisations have taken the brunt of critical decision-making. Business leaders, whether in the not-for-profit sectors or commercial world are used to working under high-pressure, however in the not-for-profit sector where CEOs may be working with a smaller team the onus is on them to ‘keep the ship afloat.’ Pressure from funders, Boards of Trustees and stakeholders can be immense and is taking its toll. At CBR Business Solutions, we are seeing the impact of these pressures on CEOs in the voluntary sector. Our conversations with CEOs and trustees highlight the huge strain that CEOs have been under and the impact this is having on them. The pressure to ‘lead by example’ means that many CEOs follow a culture of overwork.  They are often preparing for worst-case scenarios which may include considering restructures and redundancy scenarios, directly affecting the people they work with and rely on. On top of Covid and Brexit, the cost-of-living increases, balanced against downturn in income and the prospect of delivering all of these messages to staff they care about, can increase anxious thoughts. Whatever is happening within the organisation, CEOs can feel a need to look strong and positive in front of their staff and Boards of Trustees and feel that any show of vulnerability will be seen as a weakness.  This increases a feeling of loneliness. “Give up the delusion that burnout is the inevitable cost of success” is a well-known quote by Arianna Huffington, Co-founder of The Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global. Whilst CEOs are the decision-makers who help lead others, as individuals they are not super-heroes/heroines. There is a need for strong support from their Boards, not only in terms of organisational strategic decision-making, but also wellbeing, mental health and resilience. A duty of care towards your CEO In our work providing HR support, we are often seen as trusted advisors – people who know the organisation well but are independent. An increasing number of our conversations are with CEOs feeling the pressures of the role, or trustees concerned about how to support the CEO and mitigate the risks for the organisation that over-reliance on one person may bring. What is often overlooked, is that the CEO is also an employee of the organisation. Under employment legislation they have the same rights as any other employee. Every UK employer has a duty of care which looks to the critical health, safety and general welfare of all employees, regardless of the size of an organisation. Generally speaking, employers’ duty of care comes into force when a person or group of people do something that might reasonably harm someone and this harm may be in the form of mental or physical injury. With work-related stress now widely recognised in the UK as a serious health and safety issue, employers are duty bound to treat this condition like any other workplace hazard. From a legal perspective, an employer who has failed to identify and take reasonable steps to prevent work-related stress, can find themselves exposed to claims for constructive unfair dismissal where employees have felt forced to resign due to stress.  Equally the dismissal of an employee on grounds of capability because of stress, may result in a claim for unfair dismissal. Trustees of a charity have a responsibility towards all staff (and volunteers) and must ensure that the charity complies with relevant law including employment, pension, equality and health and safety legislation.  Trustees therefore have a vital role to play, in supporting their CEOs through effective lines of communication and support and by understanding their responsibility for ensuring that the health and wellbeing of their CEO is taken account of. How CBR Business Solutions can help As HR Consultants with particular expertise in the voluntary sector, we are working daily with CEOs and Trustee Boards with their decision-making processes and plans and considering how those may impact employees. Having a third party, independent professional to be able to have a confidential, open discussion on upcoming strategic decision making, which will inform in-time next steps and ensure legally complaint HR practise, is hugely beneficial to any process. “We  have used several HR providers in the past but would rather buy from a fellow infrastructure organisation.  The advantage we have with CBR is they know the VCSE sector, our value base, why we want to do things a certain way. The benefit of external HR is they are independent.  We have CBR for some specific pieces of HR work, but they are also useful for assurance when implementing change.” CEO – MACC – Manchester. If you are facing similar issues and would like to discuss how we can support your organisation, you can find out more here or contact our HR consultants Kate and Nicola: HR@cbrsolutions.org.uk Image provided  by CBR  Business Solutions

An end of year message from the CEO As this year draws to a close, it seems fitting to reflect on the work that we as your local Branch of the RSPCA carried out over the course of 2022. From rabbits to rheas, goats to gerbils and (a lot more than two) turtle doves, we’ve seen it all this year… At this time last year many of us would have been looking back on the impact of the pandemic and looking forward with the hope that 2022 would be a much better year. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine and the subsequent impact on the cost of living added an additional financial strain on many people. We are nothing if not adaptable, and over the course of the year, the Branch has dealt with an unprecedented volume of requests for assistance from members of the public, ranging from financial aid towards veterinary costs and/or subsidised neutering, to people who sadly were no longer in a position to keep their animals, to people who simply could not afford to even feed their animals. At the time of writing, we have had our busiest year ever, with over 700 animals being accepted into Branch care, and over 600 animals so far being adopted into loving new homes, which is something that we are very proud and privileged to be able to do. Alongside this, our Animal Welfare Team has issued hundreds of subsidised veterinary welfare and neutering vouchers to members of the public to ease the pressure on people looking after their animals in the face of challenging financial circumstances. We have also been supporting the foodbanks in Norfolk and Suffolk with regular deliveries of animal food for pet owners to use, and we have been supplying our fellow animal welfare organisations with additional food to enable them to continue to do the fantastic work that they do too. We recognise that bringing about positive animal welfare change is an issue that the RSPCA cannot solve on our own, so in conjunction with our animal welfare colleagues from the Cats Protection Dereham Adoption Centre and Norwich Lost & Found Cats, the Branch ran our first subsidised microchipping event since the start of the pandemic. This was a big success with many cats, dogs and rabbits being implanted with microchips on the day. This is the start of several joint initiatives being carried out in the future, and we pledge to continue this partnership working throughout 2023 and beyond. Whilst frontline animal welfare will always remain at the core of the work the RSPCA carries out, we also increased our education and awareness work following a pause during the pandemic, with a primary focus on educating the public about good animal welfare and the work that we as your local Branch carry out. This has been very popular with audiences across the 2,500 square miles that we cover and we are confident that this proactive approach is having the desired effect of promoting the animal welfare message that is necessary to impact true positive change. All our animal welfare and education efforts require significant funding to undertake and we are so grateful to the tireless work of our seven shops for their amazing efforts in generating much-needed income, along with the generous support that we receive from the public. Without the continued efforts from our dedicated Income Generation Team and the wonderful generosity of our supporters, we would not be able to achieve anywhere near as much as we have for the animals across Norfolk and Suffolk – thank you all so much. To all our supporters and to the staff, volunteers and Trustees that make up the team here at the RSPCA Mid Norfolk & North Suffolk Branch – have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – we look forward to helping even more animals in 2023! Gregory Brown Chief Executive Officer   Record year for animals finding a home! It’s been a very busy year for the Branch with lots of animals needing our help! We’ve helped everything from cats and dogs to rabbits, mice, goats, guinea pigs, chickens, ferrets, peacocks and giant African Land Snails! And amazingly, we have rehomed more animals as a Branch than ever before. As of 1st December, we have found homes for 605 animals! Below, is just a small selection of them,can you spot your newest family member? ‘Reindeer’ kittens dumped in a field three weeks before Christmas Sadly, just a few weeks before Christmas, our team was recently called out to help with nine cats and kittens which were handed into a vet after being found abandoned in a field. The nine cats, mostly kittens from various litters and a very worn out Mum, were found in crates by a member of the public who soon alerted the local veterinary practice. Our Animal Welfare team were quick on the case, ensuring that all of the cats received veterinary treatment and were checked over for signs of neglect and abuse. Thank you everyone who came and supported us at the Hockwold Hall and Norwich Forum events! We will provide full updates on our festive events in the January newsletter. Our final event of 2022 is a Canine Carol Concert – bark the canine angels sing!

Venue: Holkham Hall

Date: Tuesday 20^th December

Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm

The concert takes place between 10.00am and 11.00am on the lawn outside the Hall, then there will be stalls to browse until 2.00pm in the Courtyard. Bring your pooch, enjoy the carols, browse the stalls then maybe enjoy a walk around the beautiful Holkham Estate. (Parking charge applies). Details on the Holkham Hall website. Adoption Star Catch Up This month we are catching up with the owners of a gorgeous cat called Pula who was adopted from our Branch in March of this year! Pula came into our care as part of a multi-animal household after her owner was found to be keeping them illegally after being banned from keeping them. She and her siblings needed a lot of love and care when they came to us as all of them had medical issues from being neglected. This lovely lady along with her previous housemates all landed on their feet, however and soon found a second chance of happiness in a new, safe home. Pula has been living in her new home for over six months now and her new family couldn’t be happier! Pula has settled in really well. She no longer bounces off our bed at 1.00am. Pula loves her brush first thing in the morning, from Daddy, before he gets himself washed and dressed. At around 9.30pm, she starts looking for a game with Mr Duck, who she knows is kept in Mummy’s desk drawer.  If we stop playing with her, with Mr Duck, she picks him up and carries him across the room, meowing all the time, bless her. Pula is a very intelligent pussycat and very obedient, and an absolute joy. Keeping your pet safe at Christmas The festive season can be an exciting time for all including our four-legged companions. Here’s some advice to keep your pets safe and happy. Christmas food Festive food is delicious to us, but to our pets, much of it is highly toxic and dangerous. Avoid giving your pets these foods as treats as it can make them unwell:

• Chocolate
• Mince pies
• Christmas pudding
• Onion gravy
• Alcohol
• Bones from carcasses – these are a dangerous choking hazard

Christmas decorations and trees Some festive plants and flowers can be toxic to pets, including poinsettias, holly, ivy, mistletoe and lilies, so avoid buying these if you have pets. Tinsel and wrapping paper might be tempting for your pet to play with, but make sure they don’t eat it. From children to adults, we all love a Christmas tree, but they can cause problems for our pets. It’s best to only allow your pets around the tree when you can keep a close eye on them, because:

• Hanging edible decorations, such as chocolate, are poisonous to dogs and can make them seriously ill

Cats and dogs might be tempted to chew or play with fairy lights or hanging tree decorations Keeping pets safe in cold weather With darker nights and colder days, we want you and your pets to stay safe and warm this winter. Read our top tips and find out how you can keep your pets happy and comfortable. Walking dogs in winter

• Stay safe when walking your dog in the dark. Wear reflective clothing and think about a reflective collar or light for your dog’s collar. A good torch is also a must-have to light the way for you both!
• If you have an elderly or sickly dog, buy a special coat or jumper to keep them warm.
• Keep dogs away from ponds and lakes that are iced over – thin ice may break under a dog’s weight.
• If it’s snowing outside, watch out for your dogs’ paws becoming compacted with snow, which is uncomfortable for them.

Be aware that antifreeze and rock salt can be poisonous to pets. Wash their paws thoroughly after walking your dog in areas that may have been gritted with rock salt. Keeping cats safe and warm

• In the coldest months, it’s important that your cat has access to a warm environment, such as your home or another heated indoor area.
• Check your feline friend’s bedding is away from cold draughts and stays warm and dry.
• Microchipping your cat is important as they might try to find somewhere warm nearby, which might not be the safest place for them. Ensure the details are up to date, so that they can be traced back to you.

Check under your car for sleeping cats. In the winter months, it’s not uncommon to find outdoor cats seeking shelter underneath your car. Before setting off, make sure you tap the bonnet of your car and check around the wheels and on top of the tyres before you start the engine and drive. Rabbits and guinea pigs

• Outdoor pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, need extra bedding such as dust-free hay in the winter months. Keep their home protected from bad weather by using blankets or covers, to help insulate hutches in the winter months. Remember to make sure they’re still well-ventilated.
• Keep your pets dry in rainy weather by making sure the indoor area of their enclosure has a sloped roof to allow water to drain away. Raise it off the ground by at least four inches and place it in a sheltered position, facing away from wind and rain.

As the temperature drops, you could move their enclosure into an outhouse shed or unused garage. If you decide to bring your rabbits or guinea pigs indoors, they’ll need plenty of time and room to exercise in a safe and secure environment. Charity Christmas Cards Christmas cards are available to purchase in all our charity shops or online via our eBay shop We have lots of lovely animal themed designs to choose from, all cards are recyclable and 100% of the proceeds go to our branch. Petplan Advent Calendar The Petplan Advent Calendar is back! Throughout December, there’ll be twenty four doors to open full of exciting prizes, goodies and competitions!  On the 7th and 13th December, you’ll also be able to nominate our Branch to win a £1000 donation! This money will make a huge impact for the animals in our care and enable us to give them all a very Merry Christmas indeed so please remember to nominate us! Christmas Opening Hours  Ashwellthorpe HQ Our Branch office will be closing at midday on Thursday 22nd December for the Christmas holidays. To report an animal that is sick, injured or distressed please contact the National RSPCA Cruelty Line on 0300 1234 999. Our shops Saturday 24th December – closing at 3.00pm Christmas Day – CLOSED Boxing Day – CLOSED Tuesday 27th December – CLOSED Wednesday 28th, Thursday 29th and Friday 30th December – all open as usual Saturday 31st December – closing at 3.00pm Sunday 1 Jan – CLOSED Monday 2 Jan – CLOSED Tuesday 3rd January – all open as usual Sign up to our newsletter here

Norwich-based processing equipment manufacturer Fabcon Food Systems has prepared for its next phase of global growth with a series of new appointments and promotions. Fabcon, which manufactures and installs handling and processing equipment for the snacks sector, has bolstered its team on the engineering, sales, logistics and management sides of the business. Andrew Peek, who co-founded the Delta Close-based firm in 2015 with Managing Director Trevor Howard, becomes Operations Director and adds research and design to his engineering, technical and design portfolio. Andrew’s move to a more strategic position sees Luke Cossey promoted from Senior Design Engineer into a new Engineering Manager role. The company’s leadership team has also seen a further boost with James Bradford becoming Production Manager, moving from his role as Supervisor and Compliance Officer. In the engineering department Jakub Bak joins as a Mechanical Design Engineer, with Nick Kittle coming on board as Controls Engineer following many years working as a sub-contractor for FFS. The Fabcon sales department has also been expanded as Adam Harvey joins the team as a Sales Engineer, working closely with new and existing customers. In further key appointments, Jim Ayre joins as Parts and Logistics Coordinator, in charge of purchasing and managing the stock and materials required for Fabcon’s growing list of orders. Meanwhile, Kevin Wrathall is appointed as Project Manager on a contract basis and will coordinate a variety of UK and global build and installation projects. Trevor Howard, Managing Director of Fabcon Food Systems said: “We are in a hugely busy but exciting period of growth with orders for our British-built machinery coming in from across the world. “This means we need more specialists but also an improved management structure to make sure we are giving our customers the best possible service, managing processes well internally, and also being out there developing relationships and winning new business. “All eight appointments and promotions are fully deserved and we really do have a first-class team in place as we look towards 2023 and a variety of global projects we have in the pipeline within the snacks industry.” Founded in 2015, Fabcon Food Systems manufacture, supply and install handling and processing equipment for the food industry. Designed and built at the company’s Norwich factory and design hub in the UK, the expanded Fabcon team of 30 supply systems and machinery to customers in the UK, mainland Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. Image provided by Fabcon Food Systems  

Haven’t got your Christmas email campaign sorted yet? “Don’t worry, there’s still time,” explains Rebecca Hartley, Marketing Manager at Smart Messenger: Can I let you into a little secret? Before I joined the Smart Messenger team, I always let out a small groan in December when it was time to sort out the company’s Christmas email campaign. As Christmas grew ever closer, the sales team were clamouring to get their seasonal greetings out to customers and suppliers while I was still struggling to complete various other urgent projects before the holiday shut down. The Christmas campaign felt like the least of my worries. That is, until I couldn’t delay it any longer and minor panic set in! Who was going to design it? How was I going to send it? How could I make sure it stood out from the crowd and made recipients feel extra special? Sound familiar? I won’t tell you how I managed to get those campaigns out of the door, except to say I found various ‘solutions’ including expensive purchased templates from questionable websites, homemade designs (which I was quite proud of at the time!) and quickly cobbled together campaigns using online services which were clunky to navigate and largely unfathomable, with no support when I ran into an issue. This year, it’s a totally different ball game. Now, I’m lucky enough to be the Marketing Manager for Smart Messenger, a leading UK-based email marketing solution that’s affordable, easy to use and has got Christmas covered for busy marketers! The platform comes with unlimited support from lovely people – including Holly Stibbon, Dave Hall and Sapphire Cullington – who are all experts in email comms. No more grappling with chatbots or googling for answers for our clients! It’s a game-changer for businesses that need better results from their email marketing. I wish I had known about it in previous roles – it would have made Christmas campaigns so much more enjoyable to create and a whole lot more effective. Last-minute help is at hand If you’re a bit of a last-minute Christmas marketer like I used to be, the good news is there’s still time to send a really professional Christmas campaign to your contacts with Smart Messenger. Even better, Smart Messenger clients have automatic access to a choice of nine free Christmas email templates that are customisable with their own branding and messaging. We create fresh designs each year, so there’s always something that’s sure to appeal. Get up and running straight away, with full support If you’re not yet a Smart Messenger customer, our team can help you get up and running straight away and we’ll provide full training to get you started without any fuss. The platform is very user-friendly but if you need help, our account managers are always on hand to provide full support over the phone or check over your emails before you send them to ensure they’re optimised and good to go. You’ll never need to struggle with an email campaign again! Extra special Christmas emails and managed sends As well as the free Christmas templates that are available to all Smart Messenger clients, we also create bespoke Christmas email templates for customers who want a design that’s completely unique to them, incorporating their own images or animations. Prices for bespoke templates start at £149 and a Smart Messenger package costs from just £10 per month. If you’re really pushed for time, we can manage the send and reporting for your campaign too. Ready To Get Started? With Smart Messenger, there’s no need to put off your Christmas campaign any longer, so why not get in touch with our team? We can help you tick this job off your list with an eye-catching and effective campaign that will bring some added sparkle to your communications this season. (And, we’ll also be on hand to support you with your 2023 email campaigns too!) If you’d like support with your Christmas email campaign, call us on 01603 858250 to discuss your needs or enquire via our website. We’d love to help you. Image owned by Smart Messenger

Loyal customers are the holy grail, for any business or brand. If you get caught out pulling the wool over your customers’ eyes, you can kiss goodbye to loyalty. Loyalty starts with trust, and a great way to earn trust is through transparency.

That is where the name ‘Naked’ came from. We wanted to be known as a brand that took an open and honest approach to business – we believed transparency plays a huge part in lasting relationships. It was the type of business we ourselves would most want to do business with, so it became a core part of Naked and how we work – from our name, our core values, our pricing, even our language.

So a question for you…

Does transparency live at the heart of your brand? And if so, do your customers feel it – how do you show it?

Read the full article here

Image provided by Naked Marketing

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is reminding people that four days of strikes next week are set to severely disrupt rail services. The train company is advising people to avoid travelling on their trains for two 48-hour RMT strikes on Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December. Greater Anglia will only be able to run mainline services to London Liverpool Street from Norwich, Colchester, Southend Victoria and Cambridge and the Stansted Express airport service – with first trains from 07.30 and last trains completing their journeys by 18.30. Train services on Thursday 15 and Sunday 18 December will start later in the morning – from 07.30 – and are expected to be busy as a result of the two 48-hour strikes. The RMT has called a further strike from 18.00 on Christmas Eve until 05.59 on Tuesday 27 December. Details are still be finalised, but it’s likely to leave Greater Anglia running no trains after 16.00 on Christmas Eve, no Stansted Express services on Boxing Day and first trains on Tuesday 27 December will starting later than usual and not until after 07.30. Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles said: “We are very sorry that these strikes are disrupting people’s festive plans and badly affecting businesses counting on Christmas custom – as well as making it difficult for people to get to work and school or college. “Unfortunately, we are left with no option but to ask people to avoid travelling with us because as with previous strike days we are only able to run a small fraction of our usual services. “We will do all we can to run the best possible service in the days between strikes – from Sunday 18 to Friday 23 December. “The rail industry remains committed to settling has tried very hard to try to settle this dispute and talks are continuing.” Trains running on 13,14, 16 and 17 December are:

• Intercity service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street: one train an hour, with first train from Norwich at 08.00 and last train back from Liverpool Street at 16.30.
• Stopping service between Colchester and London Liverpool Street: one train an hour, with first train from Colchester at 07.30 and last train back from Liverpool Street at 17.00.
• Service between Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street: two trains an hour, with first train from Southend Victoria at 07.30 and last train back from Liverpool Street at 17.30.
• Service between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street: one train an hour, with first train from Cambridge at 08.20 and last train back from Liverpool Street at 16.25.
• Stansted Express – Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street: two trains an hour, with first and last from Liverpool Street at 08.10 and 17.40 and from Stansted Airport at 07.42 and 17.12.

Anyone who has booked a ticket to travel on strike days will be able to travel either the day before or up to and including Tuesday 20 December instead, or they can contact their retailer for a refund or to change the date. Tickets for 24, 26, and 27 December can instead be used on 23 December or up to and including Thursday 29 December. Trains not running due to the strike will not be replaced by buses. The RMT has further strikes planned for Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January. RMT members due to strike in December and January include Greater Anglia station, catering, revenue protection, train cleaning and conductor teams, along with Network Rail signallers and maintenance staff. Further information about the strikes can be found at greateranglia.co.uk/strikes.

Above: One of the new help points. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is improving customer help points at stations, following feedback from customers about response times and connectivity. The train firm is using AI technology on a number of its station help points to ensure customers can get the answers they need quicker. Customers using help points at stations fitted with the AI technology will be able to get answers to questions such as what train they need to catch and what time the next train is leaving more quickly – simply by pressing the blue ‘information’ button. The AI system, called ‘IVY’, will supplement teams who answer the help points manually, freeing up operators to deal with more complex queries. The system will also automatically put a customer through to an operator if anyone says they need assistance or help in emergencies. Users can also press the dedicated green ‘emergency’ button. The help points with the new technology are now installed at Acle, Beccles, Bury St Edmunds, Cromer, Dovercourt, Enfield Lock, Harlow Mill, Hythe, Lea Bridge, Ponders End, Prittlewell, Sheringham, Stansted Mountfitchet and Waltham Cross stations. The new system can be updated as it evolves with additional features in the future such as giving more information such as the cost of tickets. Neil Atkin, Greater Anglia’s Head of Customer Experience, said: “We’d love customers to put the help points to the test by asking them questions and letting us know what they think of them. “We’re always listening to our customers and this innovative AI system has been developed based on their feedback. “It will make our help points better for our customers, particularly at our unstaffed stations and when the connection may not be 100% clear or answered as quickly as customers always need, and there is always the option to talk to one of our customer service agents if needed.”

Christmas is a wonderful time of year for many, but it can also be a time of great demand, monetarily, socially, and emotionally. We put great pressure on ourselves to be happy, generous and organised, and many will be struggling to balance pay cheques through the rising costs of, well, everything. James and Mark believe mindfulness is key to surviving the season – it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the idea of a fairy-tale Christmas. Learn how to embrace imperfections and manage expectations as they sprinkle some Christmas cheer and give us one of the best free gifts, some sage advice and wisdom, with a little bit of humour, in this re-release of the 2021 Christmas special episode, as relevant now as it was then. We also announce some exciting changes for Leadership & Life Chat Season 3! We wish all our listeners a joyful, relaxing and mindful festive season, and we can’t wait to see yule in 2023! You can now watch us on YouTube! Click here GET IN TOUCH! Leave us a voice note here, we would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, and you might even feature in our next episode! You can also email us on podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk Listen here! © Larking Gowen LLP

Chatsbrook has organised a Santa Run event starting at Ketteringham Hall at 10am on Tuesday 20th December 2022. Hot drinks and bacon rolls will be available before departure! The convoy will leave Ketteringham Hall and head towards EACH at The Nook for 11.30am! and we will be staying at The Nook until 2.00pm. We are asking for a minimum charity donation of £10 per car (but we are sure we can do a bit better than that!) there will also be a prize draw for a Lotus Track Day Experience courtesy of Chatsbrook. The event is being shared with Porsche Drivers Norfolk and Norfolk Performance Cars due to limited numbers being allowed at the venue. We’re hoping to put some big smiles on some children & their families faces! Thank you for all your support. We will make sure anyone not attending can make a donation, should they wish to. The Team at Chatsbrook  

Employment Tax Specialist Tessa Brown is getting in the festive spirit this week, and what’s more festive than tax! Many businesses will be looking at handing out gifts and throwing parties for their teams over December, so Tessa outlines all the important HMRC info they need to consider. She explains the definition of Trivial Benefits and Annual Functions Exemption as well as the implications of employees receiving gifts from third parties. She also discusses the impact of PAYE settlement agreements and a few VAT and Corporation Tax considerations. Okay, so not really very festive – we know! But these factors are important to consider to avoid any complications further down the line, particularly for new business owners. For further information on today’s topic, and how we can help support you and your business on all tax related matters, click here. GET IN TOUCH! If you have any questions on today’s episode, and would like us to get in touch, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! You can find more episodes from this series on our website here. Listen here! © Larking Gowen LLP