With rising energy costs a main driver and the commitment to offering the people of Watton and surrounding areas top class facilities, Watton Sports Centre has commissioned Clean Energy to undertake a renewable electricity and heating evaluation. With part funding from RevActive, the evaluation will enable the sports centre to make an easy and fully informed decision on how to invest in renewables and reduce energy costs.
A renewable technology evaluation considering a wind turbine and solar PV system has been completed on behalf of a West Norfolk farm. A 50 kW solar system and 11 kW wind turbine were evaluated in terms of suitability and financial viability with a return on investment identified of 8.8% for the solar PV and 10.9% for the turbine. The return on investment reflects the changes to the Feed in Tariff scheme which will come into effect from July and October respectively.
If you want to achieve an excellent return on investment, contact us to find out how more.
To ensureGreat Yarmouth Borough Councilprovide the best support, the Economic Development Unit and enterpriseGY team would like to know how your company is performing to ensure that we are better placed to support businesses in the Borough.
If you could take the time to complete the short questionnaire below it would be very helpful. All responses will be confidential and used only to measure the current business climate in the Borough, to improve the services that we offer and to identify gaps and opportunities.
The survey has now closed – thank you for all your responses. A short summary will be posted soon.
Thank you
A monthly round-up of news and analysis of the Norwich economy and labour market
With the first quarter of 2012 behind us we look into how the insolvency market has performed based on the statistics recently released by corporate research specialists Hardman & Co.
Corporate Insolvency
The increase in corporate insolvencies for the first quarter of 2012 (512 more cases (+8.8%) than during the last quarter of 2011) was to be expected and reflects the normal seasonal upturn in the post Christmas period. However, the 6,316 new corporate insolvencies in the first quarter of 2012 was also a 4.2% increase on a year-on-year basis and follows three quarters in which numbers reduced quarter-on-quarter.
It is the fifth successive quarter that there has been an increase in corporate insolvencies on a year-on-year basis. However, the rate of growth has decreased in each of the last two quarters. The Insolvency Insights report released by Hardman & Co suggests this may be due to a “benign enforcement environment” which they believe may see the number of corporate insolvencies remain depressed.
Conclusion
It would seem that despite Britain’s slipping back into recession in the first quarter of this year, what Hardman & Co describe as a benign enforcement environment combined with low interest rates may enable many companies to survive in the near future, suppressing growth in the number of corporate insolvencies. However, the future is very uncertain and should interest rates increase or creditor support wain the industry could see a sharp rise in the number of corporate insolvencies.
We would urge the management of any company struggling to meet its liabilities to seek advice. The eventual failure of a business that has traded on in spite of insolvency can have repurcussions for the personal wealth and liberties of those involved in the management of them. Leathes Prior are non-appointment taking insolvency and restructuring specialists who offer advice to the management of struggling businesses with a view to protecting them against the pitfalls of trading in difficult circumstances.
University of East Anglia: Doctorate in Education (EdD)
Application Deadline: 17 August 2012
Do you want to investigate educational, social, professional or organisational issues?
Would you like to acquire skills as an independent researcher, to conduct and design your own research?
Would you like to better understand issues related to your everyday work experience and context?
Is there a work problem or puzzle to research?
The University of East Anglia offers the four year, part-time Doctorate in Education (EdD) programme. The EdD is designed to provide an education in applied research – meeting the needs of professionals working in areas related to education, training and development who can draw on their everyday practice.
For further information and to apply, please visit: www.uea.ac.uk/edu/pg/dredu, or telephone: 01603 591515.
Monday 28th May 2012 – Isle of Man now within easy reach from your local airport.
Flybe’s franchise carrier Loganair and Norwich International Airport officially marked the inaugural flight to the Isle of Man on Saturday.
The flights will operate once a week on a Saturday during the summer 2012 season and will finish on 22nd September 2012. Flybe and its franchise partner Loganair will also offer a choice of convenient connections between Norwich and the Isle of Man on other days via Manchester to enable passengers to find flights to suit their travel plans.
This is East Anglia’s first non-stop service to the Isle of Man and is designed to offer an easy and convenient link for those holidaying, visiting Friends or relatives.
The flights have proven to be extremely popular and with flights on several dates throughout the summer fully booked the airline responded to this demand and extended the summer timetable earlier this year.
Andrew Bell, Chief Executive of Norwich International Airport, said “It is fantastic to be able to offer the Isle of Man for the first time from Norwich International and we are delighted that the destination is proving popular with both the local holidaymakers and business travelers of East Anglia.”
The grant of an injunction by the Irish High Court against a former Yoga Therapy franchisee serves as a stark reminder of the advantage of having professionally drafted post termination non compete restrictive covenants within a franchise agreement.
Yoga Therapy claimed that after terminating the franchise agreement (which contained non-compete provisions) in October 2011, its former franchisee, Ms Henkel Murphy, had been poaching its students by using confidential information which gave her an unfair competitive advantage which was damaging the franchisor’s business. The franchisor also claimed Ms Murphy was using source material belonging to the yoga centre to teach her students.
Under the terms of the court order, Ms Murphy is prohibited from operating yoga training courses in respect of students enrolled by her during the operation of the franchise agreement.
Leathes Prior Velo Club (LPVC) upped the ante this year with each rider completing the Norwich 100 Cycle in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
The route starts in the Close in Norwich and heads North out of the city to Reepham and then up to the coast at Morston before turning East onto the “Hills of Doom” running along the coast to Cromer. From there the cyclists continue round the coast to Horsey before turning Eastwards via Wroxham and back to Norwich.
LPVC’s Peloton Romeo (Mike Barlow, Aidan Tidnam and Ed Savory) blasted round in just under 6 hours with Peloton Juliet (Catherine Hepworth and Polly Langford) completing in 6 and a half hours.
The firm’s heroic triathlete, Paula Lawn (a Norwich 100 miler last year), opted for the Norwich 50 followed by an 8 mile run.
After the cycle Mike Barlow, the firm’s Managing Partner, commented: “I have fought some tough litigious battles in my time. The ride was harder but just as satisfying. The real difference is that I don’t tend to waddle out of court!”
Job Description
We could tell you that the successful applicant will have input on the design of our marketing strategy. That (together with an assistant) they will take responsibility for delivering that strategy across multiple websites and through advertising, PR, literature, marketing events, newsletters, and social media. We could tell you that it’s a great opportunity to develop your career at a well established and successful solicitors’ firm. And that would all be true. But, if you’re the kind of person we’re looking for, you’ll have worked that, and a lot more besides, out for yourself. In fact, you could have written all of that yourself, probably in your sleep.
So how about we’re up front and frank with you instead? It’s like this. False modesty aside, we like to think we’re quite good at what we do. Which is the law, or more accurately, helping our clients with their legal issues. The independent guides to the legal profession recommend us quite a lot, and some of us are acclaimed as leaders in our fields, not just locally, but nationally. Which is great. But, we’re not very good at marketing. Some of us aren’t even that interested in marketing. We’re too busy helping those clients with their legal problems. Which means, to be blunt, that in marketing terms, as a firm, we punch below our weight. We make less of a splash than we should given our professional reputation.
And we’ve been ok with that, because, as we said, we’re mostly interested in helping our clients with their legal problems. But, the law is changing. Tesco law, social media, all of that. This role is a real opportunity for the right person because it’s not just about having great communication, or design, or IT skills (though you’ll need all of those). It’s about working with a marketing team to take a successful and established law firm’s marketing (and with it, your career) to the next level. To develop and implement a strategy that will get the message about what we do out: to tell our story better, to connect us better with our clients and potential clients. Isn’t that what marketing is about? And if you’re up for that challenge, we’d like to talk to you, and if you can deliver, it could be very rewarding for you.
Starting salary is at least £25,000 per annum, depending on what you can bring to us, core hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm but a willingness to work outside these hours on occasion (including weekend events) is essential, as is your own car and a clean driving licence.
To apply please send a copy of your CV (two pages maximum – normal sized typeface) with a one page covering letter (also normal sized typeface) to:
Anna Godfrey, HR Manager: [email protected]
Closing date: midnight on Thursday 14 June 2012
Ingeus in King’s Lynn has worked its magic at local care home, Courtenay House, by not only providing a talented activities coordinator to help keep the home’s 42 elderly residents entertained, but by also conjuring up a mobile magician to perform shows there.
The care home, based in Tittleshall near Fakenham, turned to local Work Programme provider Ingeus having struggled to recruit suitable staff in the past. Ingeus, which works with employers to support unemployed people back into work across the East of England, quickly recommended Sam Bunting from Great Ryburgh for the activities coordinator vacancy. Having worked with Sam to develop a new CV, Paul Hunt from Ingeus’ Employer Services team recognised that her organisational skills as a lone parent and her voluntary work hosting reading groups and organising trips at her son’s school would perfectly qualify her for the job.
After two years out of work, Sam, 35, now loves spending her working day organising quizzes, games, trips and other social activities for the Courtenay residents. She is also busy planning an awareness event with local partners for National Falls Week in mid-June and couldn’t be happier.
“Every day is different and I love chatting with the residents, we have a real giggle,” said Sam.
“I’m delighted to be off benefits and back in work after getting nowhere trying on my own. Ingeus kept me motivated throughout my job search, found this vacancy and encouraged me to apply. My family commitments have made it difficult to find suitable work in the past but I can happily manage both here.”
In addition to Sam, Ingeus is also supporting Heacham magician Paul Williamson, also known as Magical Paul, in his quest to find work. Paul, 36, turned a childhood love of magic into a profession and spent many years working abroad and on cruise ships as an entertainer. Returning home in 2009, Paul was unsuccessful in finding work and was referred to Ingeus by Jobcentre Plus at the end of 2011.
Ingeus provides a broad range of job-seeking support to unemployed people, including the option to be self-employed. With Ingeus’ help, Paul is building a business plan, sourcing funding and actively targeting local care homes with details of his act. He is a regular performer at Courtenay House where he clearly has the residents under his spell.
“We love Paul’s shows and we wish him all the best in building up his business,” said home manager, Sharon Hipper. “The residents love both him and Sam.
“It is important to provide stimulating and interesting activities for our residents and Sam’s come up with some great new ideas. She’s settling in brilliantly.
“We’ve struggled to recruit the right people in the past, many applicants not understanding the nature of the work or the practicalities of working in a rural location.
“Ingeus only put forward qualified, motivated people who were well briefed on the role. Advertising and spending time processing applications can be expensive and time consuming, whereas Ingeus’ services are fee-free and hassle free.
“We have some more vacancies for staff coming up and I will certainly be calling on Ingeus to work its magic again.”
Visit www.ingeus.co.uk/employers or contact Paul Hunt atIngeus King’s Lynnon 01553 668880 for further information and the range of free recruitment services provided to employers.
We’re off to catch more rain in Devon and Cornwall on 28th and 29th June at the local franchise exhibition. These events are focused on local business partners and we hope will start the process of finding franchisees who want to run their own supply teacher business for schools.
Our ambition is to identify mature people who have the drive and determination to succeed. As with all businesses the ability to manage one’s own time and to interact well is essential. We anticipate people connected with schools or with a teaching or a recruitment background will find the opportunity to run their own business compelling.
We are also looking for a franchisee in Norwich to develop the business for local schools in Norfolk. This will be a great opportunity locally as we already have teachers able to work as supply teachers in Norfolk today.