The Eastern Technology Alliance was warmly welcomed at its official launch event on 18 May; a memorable evening that saw the three companies within the Alliance – Breakwater IT, EBS Ltd. and Swains Plc. come together to entertain a host of guests.
It was the clients that came along to show their support for this enterprise that made the evening a real success though – toasting the future of the Eastern Technology Alliance with a selection of wines and canapes, whilst taking in the impressive views from the Weston Room at Norwich Cathedral.
To add a dash more entertainment to the traditional tasting event the wine experts, HarperWells, were on hand to challenge quests with a quiz as they sampled some enjoyable wines – with clients leaving happy in the knowledge that they knew which winemaking country gave its name to a dinosaur…
a)Argentinosaurs b)Francosaurs c) Chileraptor
One lucky quiz winner, Ben Shread from Inspiration Trust, certainly knew his wine facts and received a voucher for a meal for 2 at Roger Hickman’s restaurant.
The Eastern Technology Alliance looks forward to working with organisations, across the region and beyond, with a mutual resolve to deliver the range and quality of technologies businesses require. Simplicity is at the core of the Alliance’s service offering – with IT, print and business telecoms all managed through three companies working seamlessly together.
Greater Anglia passengers can now enjoy new state-of-the-art trains across the whole of the network as new commuter trains entered service between Ely and King’s Lynn.
New trains are now in service on every single route in the Greater Anglia network, with many routes operated exclusively by new trains.
The new trains went into service on the King’s Lynn route on Monday 7 February, when the company started running extra services as commuters carry on returning to the office.
In the new timetable, two services every weekday are running to King’s Lynn.
The new trains are scheduled to run as the 06.18 King’s Lynn to Liverpool Street and 19.07 Liverpool Street to King’s Lynn, both via Cambridge and Ely.
The new electric commuter trains on the King’s Lynn route have been made in the UK by Alstom, who are supplying 133 five-carriage trains which can be coupled to run as ten-carriage trains.
Each carriage of the new Alstom Aventra Class 720 trains is longer with more seats than carriages of Greater Anglia’s old trains.
They have USB and plug points, fast free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, improved accessibility features including an accessible toilet on every train, passenger information screens and dedicated cycle spaces.
The trains are the first in the UK to have underfloor heating which works with an overhead heating and ventilation system to improve passenger comfort and increase foot room for passengers sitting in window seats.
They feature regenerative braking which delivers energy back into the electrical supply network, rather than wasting the energy through heat, as is the case with conventional systems.
Some are already in passenger service on routes between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge, Hertford East, Southend Victoria, Southminster, Braintree, Clacton, Ipswich and Colchester Town. Ely to King’s Lynn is the final route on the network to see the new trains.
Andrew Goodrum, Greater Anglia client and programme director said: “We’re very pleased that customers between Ely and King’s Lynn are now able to enjoy our new trains.
“We know from customer feedback that customers enjoy the added comfort, the plug and USB sockets and other improved features these new trains have.
“We’ll continue rolling out new trains in the coming months as part of our plan to replace all our old trains with brand new trains.”
There are already new trains operating all services on the Norwich–London Intercity, Stansted Airport–London Stansted Express, Norwich–Cambridge/Stansted Airport, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Sheringham, Ipswich–Cambridge, Peterborough, Felixstowe and Lowestoft, and Marks Tey –Sudbury routes.
The company is continuing with enhanced cleaning and sanitisation paying particular attention to high touch areas such as push buttons and grab handles.
The company is also asking passengers to continue to wear face coverings on trains and stations, following government advice to wear them in busy places.
Fosters Solicitors is delighted to introduce a fresh new look across its digital, print and physical branding.
A new logo forms part of this exciting change for the East Anglian firm, which will be supported by a brand-new website (www.fosters-solicitors.co.uk) and the use of fresh imagery and fonts across all of its communications.
Clients and visitors will also see new signage when visiting the firm’s Norwich city-centre, Wymondham and Lowestoft branches – as well as across inventory through its key partners, including Norwich City Football Club.
With Fosters a key part of its community for over 260years, it has been important through this process to appreciate the firm’s tradition but understand its continued development and requirement for the brand in a digital age.
Commenting on the news, Fosters’ Chief Executive Chris Brown, said: “We are excited to be able to finally share our refreshed brand and new website, which is a culmination of months of engagement and consultation with our colleagues and clients to create our fresh approach.
“We feel this is the right time to make these changes, with the firm seeking to build on the growth we’ve experienced in recent years, especially digitally, and we believe this new brand identity will help us unlock further opportunities.”
He added: “We have balanced a new strong primary colour and fonts to highlight simplicity, warmth and accessibility, but with a hint to our Norfolk and Suffolk heritage through a supportive colour pallet. “We also want to visualise our core values of transparency, unity and collaboration and the building of relationships, and through the introduction of the message ‘You + Us’, we want to make all our interactions with our clients, partners and community, feel friendly, approachable and easy to navigate.”
During 2021, East Norfolk offered their first ever Football and Basketball Camps to give local children the opportunity to use high quality facilities whilst also increasing their physical activity.
The Holiday Activity Fund, which was coordinated by Active Norfolk and supported by Great Yarmouth Borough and Norfolk County Councils helped the College to offer camps in the summer and at Christmas.
On the back of the success of the camps, the College decided to provide its own subsidised camps in the October Half Term and is offering them again in February Half Term for Norfolk from 14-18 February 2022 and for Suffolk from 21-25 February 2022
Over 1600 students attend East Norfolk aged 16-19 so why would East Norfolk wish to open doors to younger children?
East Norfolk has always been a Community Sixth Form College that seeks to continually adapt and meet the needs of our local community by giving children the opportunity to be inspired by the new 3G Football Pitch that has been constructed during 2021 and our existing high quality double Sports Hall.
East Norfolk even a decade ago, was a very different organisation. Long gone are the temporary buildings and the waterlogged football pitch and even the outdoor quad areas have been replaced with new IT classrooms and presentation spaces. This means there is a world of opportunity for sports and other activities for locals. This year we will be increasing our work with and for our local community and want to expand our offer in the evenings and weekends.
If you would like to book a place for your child at one of the camps please do get in touch via our website www.eastnorfolk.ac.uk or by contacting [email protected]
Barclays Scale Up UK is an innovative programme which aims to enhance the performance and competitiveness of high-potential early-stage businesses with growth appetite as well as growth potential that are deemed to be engines of growth in the UK. The programme is designed to support the companies by helping them formulate, articulate and implement a growth plan for their business through defining and articulating the business value proposition, designing a sustainable business model, enhancing operational and leadership capabilities and strengthening financial literacy.
The ethos behind the programme
Many founding teams reach a plateau and struggle to grow their business further. They think that they lack funds and resources. But is growth just increase of sales or hiring more people? Often founders fail to tackle difficult questions, focusing mostly on the business and fail to bring their leadership team together and develop a growth plan.
Our approach is one of a deep and personal engagement with each founding team and their company (diagnostic meeting, interview, questionnaires, initial assessment, coaching through the programme) that results with a tailored growth plan for each company. We aim to understand and help the early stage business solve the “unique” company-specific challenges being faced by participants.
The programme provides access to the latest management thinking, facilitate the sharing of insights about commonly experienced challenges and a range of possible solutions.
The scent of the sea, the wind in our hair, the sun on our backs… July 2015 found the JMS team dreaming of luxury, transatlantic cruises. And how could we do otherwise, when working with Imagine Cruising?
After we made their previous TV commercial in 2013, we were more than happy to welcome back top specialist travel agency Accord and their client Imagine Cruising.
We wanted this campaign to capture the way it might feel to leave home knowing you were heading off on a heavenly cruise. It all began with a casting day and a photographic shoot in central London, to select the couple who would be ‘setting sail’. Meanwhile, we got to work designing and building the stylish living room/hallway set, from scratch, in our studio. The shoot day arrived, as did the models, who were filmed ‘going away’ from their specially-constructed ‘home’. And that was it. None of us had to take one step outside of the UK – our editing team worked their usual magic and blended the studio shoot with beautiful shots of the cruise ships and stock shots of their romantic destinations.
Once we’d added the perfect music track and a silky voice-over … well, see it for yourself on ITV and C4 from 7th September 2015 – it’s guaranteed to have you reaching for your passport!
Christmas may have passed but Barnham Broom are bringing it back this March. Everyone loves a Christmas party, full of glitz, glamour and festive spirit, but many missed the opportunity to celebrate in December due to covid.
That’s why, on Friday 18th March, Barnham Broom will be hosting their ‘It’s not Christmas, Christmas party’, with plenty of fizz, delicious dishes and music from their resident DJ. It’s the perfect opportunity to get dressed up and make new memories.
So, for those that did miss out last year on the turkey and the tinsel, want to get together again to socialise or are just Christmas fanatics, join Barnham Broom for a party night not to remember!
Make the experience extra special and combine their Christmas party with an overnight stay, relax in one of their rooms, unwind with a Spa treatment, enjoy a game of golf and make use of their leisure facilities.
Barnham Broom is a resort near Norwich, Norfolk. Overlooking 300 acres of beautiful countryside and the River Yare Valley, the venue features a luxury four-star hotel, spa, leisure centre, two golf courses, award-winning Brasserie restaurant, Sports Bar and conference room. It is a popular choice for weddings and events. Visit www.barnham-broom.co.uk to find out more
“An Employment Bill was announced in 2019 and is expected to be passed in 2022. This includes the introduction of statutory neonatal leave and pay for parents of babies requiring neonatal care, and the extension of the redundancy protection period for employees on maternity leave to up to six months after they return to work.
The government has also confirmed the introduction of carer’s leave as a new statutory right. This will entitle employees with caring responsibilities to take up to one week of unpaid leave per year from day one.”
Third party harassment
“Changes to harassment laws are expected in 2022, including an extension to the time period employees have for raising tribunal claims and enhanced protection against harassment from third parties, such as clients, customers and members of the public. Training for employees will need to be updated on this point, as will organisational policies.”
This article first appeared in the Norwich Evening News ‘School Focus’ by Penny Cottee on Saturday 12 February 2022.
A group of students from Norwich High School for Girls has helped pupils from nearby Parkside School to create artwork which was put on display as part of the high school’s public exhibition at the Forum in Norwich.
The independent day school’s annual Winter Arts Festival exhibition, including work from the Parkside School, ran from February 7 to 9.
Norwich High School for Girls has been working with The Parkside School, which is a specialist communication and interaction school, for the past five years.
A group attends once a week as part of the Lower Six community-based enrichment programme, and works with children with complex needs to express themselves through art.
For the girls, meeting the Parkside school children provides them with a rewarding learning experience.
“It has been a genuine pleasure to see the artwork that the children have managed to accomplish and to have helped them along the way,” said student Shadan Damnesh. “Having particularly enjoyed talking with the children, I now feel significantly more confident in my communication skills to different audiences, and as a prospective medical student, this experience has motivated me to help out further in any ways that I can.”
Fellow pupil Abi Smith added: “I thoroughly enjoyed helping with this project, it has been very inspiring for me to see how creative the group is and how interested in the project they are. I loved seeing how proud they were of the finished outcome, and I think it turned out amazingly.”
For this year’s annual Winter Arts Festival exhibition, students have been producing artwork based on the artist and designer, Christopher Marley, who uses natural artefacts as his medium of expression, to enjoy mark making techniques using a variety of materials.
Prior to the project with The Parkside School, Norwich High School for Girls also worked with Harford Manor and The Clare School, which are also schools for pupils with complex needs.
The value of collaboration
Sarah Taylor, Head of Art at Norwich High School for Girls, said, “We really value the ongoing relationship we have with The Parkside School and the opportunity it gives us to help the children produce final pieces they can see in a public place. The children we are working with at Parkside are 12 years of age and it gives them a real sense of pride to see their work on display. The quality of the pieces is fantastic, and we were really impressed with the exhibition.”
Jenny Ross-Nevin, from The Parkside School, said, “Norwich High School for Girls students shared their art skills generously with Shark Class at The Parkside School over a period of several Monday afternoon sessions. Sharks really looked forward to working with the girls, chatting with them and learning some exciting mark making techniques. This collaborative effort, which involved a lot of preparation on the part of the High School girls and some very expressive mark making from the Sharks, really enriched the Parkside children’s experience of art in action.”
Assistant Head – Enrichment at Norwich High School for Girls, Owain Hall added: “Enrichment encompasses so much of what we do at Norwich High School for Girls, and we certainly offer stretch, challenge and fun beyond the classroom. Our enrichment programme helps enable students to unlock their potential and develop in confident and resilience, equipping them with the skills and values required in our changing society.”
The Norwich High School for Girls Winter Arts Festival 2022 encompassed various events between 4 to 11 February which were open to the public, including two concerts and “The Great Outdoors” art exhibition at the Forum. There was a finale celebration at the Norwich Playhouse. the full write up from the festival can be seen here.
Students studying for accountancy qualifications at the Colchester Institute were given a free career advice session from Pure.
Craig Cordle, accountancy recruiter at Pure’s Ipswich office, delivered the session to 35 Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) students. The event, held on 19 May, was organised to help ensure the students understood how they could make maximum use of their qualifications and to give them an overview of the region’s current financial job market.
The students were also given advice on how they could stand out against other candidates when competing for job roles. Topics discussed included CV structure and content, interview preparation, interview skills and what to expect from potential personality profiling or psychometric tests.
Craig Cordle said: “Accountancy and financial services are two of Pure’s key specialisms and we are keen to help develop and support the region’s up-and-coming talent in these areas. As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in placing accountancy candidates, both in house and in public practice, we were able to provide some top tips on how to make a winning first impression when competing for jobs in this sector.”
It’s your energy, personality, values, and more personality! It’s a way to connect and build a relationship with your customers on a more deep and meaningful level and create a connection that goes beyond your logo.
People want to buy from brands with heart and soul – they want to know who they’re investing in and that you are invested in them.
It’s a busy online marketplace and we have just seconds to capture customers’ attention.
If you’re happy squirrelling away on a laptop, working 1-2-1 with a client in your therapy room, or practising your scales in your studio, your customers want to see you doing what you do best!
What do you think?
I want you to fall in love with marketing your business, and the first step to getting there is images that highlight your unique personality, experience and expertise so that you can proudly market why you do, what you do and how you do it, with fresh confidence!
So say goodbye to digging through old holiday snaps for your LinkedIn profile, and using stock photos on your website.
Not convinced you need new business images? Here’s what some people had to say:
“Working with Rob has transformed my business. I hired Rob based on the many recommendations I had received from friends and the photography he provided was first class. The images have significantly enhanced the quality of my website and social media content. The service was professional, creative and just what I was looking for. I can 100% recommend Rob to anyone looking to improve their business profile.” Matt Fever – Personal Trainer
“Rob is a wonderful person to work with, and the result has always been beyond expectations.” Henriette De Vrijer – Violin Teacher
Ready to book something in? Let’s create photos that are uniquely you, uniquely your brand, and ready to show your business off to the world!
Bleat Creative is thrilled to announce two exciting additions to the team: Simon Griffith as Account Director and Lydia Moll as Junior Account Executive.
Simon Griffith: Account Director
Simon Griffith brings over a decade of experience in marketing, merchandise management, and agency leadership to his new role at Bleat Creative. With a career spanning both client-side roles and agency positions, Simon has cultivated a deep understanding of marketing strategy, SEO, apparel design, and client relationship management. His wealth of knowledge will strengthen Bleat Creative’s client services department, which he will now lead.
“We’ve been headhunting Simon for the past two months, and we’re delighted he chose to join us. Simon’s experience and innovative thinking are a perfect fit for our agency. We’re excited to grow together and expand the services we offer to our clients with his leadership.”
Scott McKay, Founder of Bleat Creative
Simon’s impressive career journey, including delivering creative and strategic solutions for high-profile clients and brands. His arrival signals a new chapter of growth and client-focused excellence for Bleat Creative.
Lydia Moll: Junior Account Executive
Lydia Moll joins the team as Junior Account Executive following a successful two-month internship. A recent graduate of the University of Chichester with a degree in Drama, Lydia has quickly proven herself as an invaluable member of the Bleat Creative team. During her internship, she made a significant impact, including leading the successful casting process for an upcoming TV commercial.
“In a short time, Lydia has become an integral part of our team. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and drive have already made a positive impact, and we’re committed to supporting her as she develops her career with us.”
Scott McKay, Founder of Bleat Creative
Lydia will work closely with both Simon and Scott to support the agency’s growing client base and ensure seamless service delivery.
These new appointments reflect Bleat Creative’s commitment to investing in top talent and delivering exceptional results for our clients. The team looks forward to an exciting future with Simon and Lydia onboard.