Welcome to our Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver AKA The Zinger chats with tech whizz and Director Jason Carlton and Business Development Manger James Fowler, of Uptech.
As one of our Strategic Partners, Uptech work closely with the Norfolk Chambers, James is involved in our Norfolk Knowledge Hub, contributing Uptech’s knowledge, skills and expertise freely to everyone who uses the Hub.
Jason discusses what’s new in tech and how upcoming innovations will re-define our workplaces, the resilience and strength of his team and how their core values are pivotal to their success.
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In todays’ podcast Haze Carver, AKA The Zinger is chatting with John Nortcliffe, Founder and Director of Redhead Architects, an architects firm based in the heart of Norwich.
They talk about the challenges and successes of setting up a business just as Lockdown began, starting his career working in practices in London and Bermuda until the pull of living a family life in Norfolk came calling.
“The plan is to keep it simple, be nice, work hard and listen to our clients to produce the best designs we can.”
Good design made simple
Redhead Architects is a chartered practice, located in the heart of Norwich. We deliver new-build and retrofit projects, ranging from one-off homes, city apartments, hotels, commercial and heritage projects. We use sound design principles to seek the potential for joy in every scheme. (No matter how well-hidden). Over the years, we feel lucky to have shared fantastic experiences working with amazing people on a vast array of residential, commercial, education, conservation and master-planning projects both in the UK and Bermuda for several great practices. …Redhead Architects is the culmination of these experiences.
Having worked for many practices over the years, we wanted to seek out a better, more collaborative way of working and sharing ideas. We use simple sketches, BIM models and Virtual Reality to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of their project, right the way through from concept to completion. We use these tools to test our ideas and fine-tune our projects throughout the design process and into our production information.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers Podcast, in todays’ podcast Haze Carver AKA The Zinger chats to the incredible Nor-folk wonder woman that is Fiona Burrage.
Fiona is the Creative Director and founder of vegan bodycare brand Sop and lifestyle brand Nor–Folk. She is also host to a retreat, the Water Cabin, set within the Broads National Park, and co-founder of co-working space Studio Inn.
Fiona runs an all inclusive football club called Left Field. Fiona has built her companies and passion projects within a framework of a more simplistic and intentional way of living so listen in to find out interested to talk about how you combine this workload and your create and personal mission.Audio Player
Sop ~ Scents of place is a bodycare and fragrance brand made in Norfolk and inspired by our local landscape and language. All our products are vegan and cruelty-free. Sop wants to put down strong roots to help us grow, which is why our sustainable, nature- nurturing approach is central to our philosophy.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in todays’ episode we’re going to chat to the brilliantly energetic Kathy Ennis, Director and Founder of LittlePiggy.
Kathy is an ideas person with 20+ years in Business, an Author, a Mentor and an Entrepreneur – and one of our most engaged members. From Freelancers, Side Hustles and Solopreneurs to the pandemic opportunities and pushing people to re-evaluate their careers and futures, this is a brilliant podcast to listen to if you’re thinking of starting a side hustle, a new venture or you need to be inspired!Audio Player
Thousands of people are coming up with brilliant ideas, spotting gaps in the market, transitioning from employee to entrepreneur or turning their hobbies into successful businesses.
We will turn your ideas into a brilliant and profitable business.
Working together we will cover key areas so that you start your business the right way and nothing is left to chance.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, In todays’ podcast Haze Carver, AKA The Zinger is chatting with Gary Parker, Associate Director at EY Breakthrough Incentives and our very own Andrea Wilson, AKA The Connector, who is working with Gary as his Norfolk Chambers Account Manager. Today we’ll be talking about EY’s Strategic partnership with us, and the innovative and successful projects Gary and his team are working on.
EY helps small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are producing innovating ideas within their sector to claim R&D tax relief as additional government support. You have filed over 1,500 claims to date and have claimed millions of pounds for SMEs.
From discussing R&D tax relief, one of the biggest funding mechanisms for research and developing projects to becoming a Strategic Partner with the Norfolk Chambers, Gary talk about his role within EY.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in today’s episode Haze Carver is chatting with Chris Spinks, Managing Director of Westcotec.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Chris Spinks joined the Police Force at 19 –working in response policing then specialising in roads policing and firearms including Royalty Protection and security convoy driving. From Constable in Norwich and Wymondham through Armed Response Vehicle Crew to Sergeant in Fakenham and to Inspector in King’s Lynn, and then Chief Inspector, a Head of Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing and firearms operations.
Westcotec thrive on innovation, relishing the challenge of bringing new approaches to old problems. Alongside traditional speed limit warning signs the company produces very specialist devices including, Road Flood Warning and Bridge Height Warning systems and Collision Avoidance System.
Westcotec manufacture in their own factory based in Norfolk, utilising high quality, rigorously tested components. The single site for Manufacture, Technical Support, Research, Development, Sales and Marketing provides an ability to react swiftly to customer’s requirements particularly in the more specialist areas, this flexibility has led to custom in not only in the UK but also across Northern Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
They are one of only a few to have obtained the required CE mark for their VAS products. Westcotec has pioneered alternative energy with wind and solar options, available throughout most of its product range. Westcotec are determined to reduce their carbon footprint so for every sign sold a tree is planted in the company owned woodland, to date this numbers in excess of 8000 trees.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in today’s episode Haze Carver is chatting with Neil Foley, Founder of the Business Growth Club.
Neil helps small business owners in Norfolk to stop competing on price, increase sales and grow.
“I’ve run my own business for over twenty-six years, so completely understand the trials and tribulations we small business owners go through.
My first business started from scratch and I have never forgotten how hard it was to gain traction. So many different hats to wear, all at the same time!”Audio Player
Small Businesses have been under intense pressure over the past two years, and with energy costs rising – growth of the small business is going to be challenged even further.
The Norfolk-based road safety technology firm Westcotec is advising local authorities of the importance of understanding and using good data before committing to potentially significant road safety investments. Effective collection and expert analysis of data helps to ensure that resources can be targeted where they are most needed, and avoids the risk of paying large sums on interventions that may not be appropriate, Westcotec says.
Will Spinks, a member of the Westcotec sales and marketing team, cites the example of road monitoring activity from a location in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The monitoring allowed the local authority to analyse average speeds and traffic volumes at all times of day in the week before lockdown, and to compare them directly with speeds and volumes once lockdown had begun.
“The biggest difference in volumes was recorded at 10 o’clock in the morning, with 500 vehicles per hour recorded in the week of 16 March and just 320 vehicles per hour in the week of 23 March – a 36 per cent reduction.
“Where average speeds were concerned, analysts could see immediately that between 8am and midnight there was a consistent 3mph rise between 7am and midnight, peaking at 9am with a rise of almost 4mph.
“This kind of precise, location-specific data can be examined alongside casualty data to determine what interventions, if any, may be effective at the location.” Will’s remarks are supported by advice from independent road safety consultant Iain Temperton of Traject, who sets out the need to be much smarter in the use of data when planning initiatives for road safety, air quality monitoring or modal shift to help ease congestion and pollution.
“Progress in casualty reduction has slowed over the last decade, so it is vital that road safety professionals use data and evidence to inform their practice in the years to come. Now that we have the international call to halve road deaths by 2030 and reach Vision Zero targets by 2040, we simply cannot afford to waste time and money on schemes of work that are not effective. We must also harvest our data from every possible source.
“Roadside monitoring is a valuable tool as the right equipment can provide high volume, good quality and granular information. If it can also enforce or educate at the same time that is a definite win/win. There are a lot of road safety issues to address post lockdown, but there are opportunities to exploit as well. If you are dealing with modal shift, air quality or road safety, the right analysis will point you in the right direction.”
A Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is a new initiative from the Department for Education (DfE) that will set out the key priorities needed to make technical education and skills provision more responsive to the changing needs of employers and the local economy by:
ensuring a better match between the supply of and demand for the skills employers most need to thrive and boost productivity, as well as helping to drive greater collaboration between providers to realise the benefits of economies of scale and specialisation;
making provision more accessible and addressing barriers to progression, especially for the adult workforce, such as driving greater join-up between skills offers, including work programmes; and
recognising that improving the supply of skills must be accompanied by demand-side measures that drive greater employer engagement and investment in skills and support potential learners through effective careers guidance.
In other words, the LSIP will put employers at the heart of the skills agenda in Norfolk and Suffolk.
There are 38 LSIPs across the UK. Our local LSIP reaches across the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk. So Norfolk Chambers are working in close collaboration with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to ensure both business communities are engaged.
The remit for the Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP is in four parts:
Articulate the employers skills needs – what are the skills employers need locally and struggle to find?
Translating employers needs into changes in provision – how can those employers needs best be met by the provider in more responsive ways?
Address learner demand and employer engagement – what can local stakeholders and employers do to raise demand for and make better use of those skills?
Report annually to the DfE on what we want to achieve, why it matters, what changes are needed, and who needs to be involved. In other words what does skills success look like?
The LSIP contract runs from September 2022 until March 2025, but the ‘heavy lifting’ of designing the LSIP programme and processes has to be done in the first 8 months, as we need to submit our Local Skills Improvement Plan for the approval of the Secretary of State for Education by 31 May 2023.
The DfE have made it clear that the LSIP is about quality engagement with a wide range of businesses. To achieve this, we will be working in close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across the region including: Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, New Anglia LEP, all the universities and colleges across Norfolk and Suffolk and several sixth form colleges. We will also work with the private training providers, charities and the voluntary sector, as well as the DWP/Job Centre Plus and other business organisations such as the FSB, NFU, IOD and the CBI.
But the most important people will be the business communities across Norfolk and Suffolk. We want to hear from businesses of any size: from sole traders and micro businesses to medium size enterprises to large corporates – all views and opinions will be sought.
In today’s podcast Haze Carver (The Zinger) chats with Simon Best, Funding and programmes specialist & Harry Harris, Business Advisor from Great Yarmouth Borough Council to find out more on the success of their incredible £20 million grants programme, securing the town centre regeneration fund and what this means for the future of Great Yarmouth.
From the £13.7m investment Future High Streets fund, bringing to life the vision to transform and revive the town centre as a vibrant economic, cultural and community hub to the processed £20 million worth of Business grant applications during 2020, listen in to hear more about the exciting plans for Great Yarmouth.
If you’ve had to reassess and shelve some of your businesses goals, then listen in to today’s episode as Andy will share some top tips for Visioning and setting measurable goals to help you grow.
Andy Gray is a Local Enterprise Manager at NatWest and is responsible for supporting businesses across the East of England through a range of programmes, services and partnerships all aimed at enabling local enterprises to flourish. This activity includes work with the local LEP, one to one mentoring and attendance at local events.
Amongst the programmes Andy will be supporting is NatWest’s Business Builder. Business Builder has been developed and tailored to support businesses and entrepreneurs at all stages in their development whether they are just starting out or already established. The programme is free, and participants don’t have to be a NatWest customer to join. Business Builder includes a portal which hosts modular content of bitesize, self-lead modules which cover the three main pillars of business support: growth, mindset and financial support. It also includes access to a Facebook group with more than 5,000 members to share skills and experiences with.
Welcome to our Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode we’re talking to the incredible Nor-folk wonder woman that is Fiona Burrage.
Fiona is a creative director and founder of vegan bodycare brand Sop and lifestyle brand Nor–Folk. Fiona is also host to a retreat, the Water Cabin, set within the Broads National Park. She also is co-founder of co-working space Studio Inn and an all inclusive football club called Left Field.
