Ashton KCJ Solicitors is delighted to announce a number of new Associate appointments from within the firm.
Four members of staff have been appointed as Associates, having successfully completed Ashton KCJ’s Development Programme.
Congratulations go to Gillian Brasher, Jennie Kingham and Teresa Callender, from our Lifetime Planning team and Mark Watson from the Corporate & Commercial team. Gillian, who heads our Trust and Tax team, is based in our Cambridge office, Jennie is based in Ipswich, Teresa works at our Bury St Edmunds Guildhall Street office and Mark is based in Norwich.
Ashton KCJ’s CEO, Edward O’Rourke says: “I would like to congratulate Gillian, Jennie, Teresa and Mark on this achievement, which is richly deserved. These appointments demonstrate Ashton KCJ’s commitment to investing in the professional development of our staff. It is always rewarding to be able to promote talented team members from within the firm. These appointments take the number of associates in the firm to 17 – together with our 40 partners, they are working to meet a wide range of legal needs across the region and beyond.”
RenEnergy UK Ltd has today announced a series of strategic organisational changes designed to accelerate growth, strengthen alignment with Aggreko’s IPP Solutions team, and position the business for a successful 2026 and beyond.
From 1 January 2026 RenEnergy and the Aggreko IPP Solutions team in Europe will begin a closer alignment of capabilities. This development will open up selected IPP pipeline opportunities to RenEnergy, enabling both companies to benefit from shared expertise and resources. It will also help to establish more direct communication channels with the Aggreko sales team, creating new routes for lead generation and supporting stronger pipeline growth.
In a significant leadership transition, Damian Baker, who founded RenEnergy in 2006, has served as Managing Director for 20 years, will move into the newly created role of Chairman, where he will continue to influence the company’s strategic direction, leveraging his deep industry insight and extensive network to help drive business development and accelerate growth. It will also give him a chance to continue to build relationships with key suppliers and business contacts and to take on more mentoring and coaching, roles which he is passionate about and excels in.
Damian Baker, RenEnergy UK Founder & Chairman said, “I am very excited to take on the new strategic role as Chairman. RenEnergy has developed over the years and is the UK’s leading Solar Carport and Canopy company and is working on some exciting new products which will be coming to market over the next few months. I am looking forward to assisting Kieth with his transition into the business.”
Keith Hobbs assumed the role of Managing Director for RenEnergy from 1 January 2026. Keith joined Aggreko in February 2024 as Development Director, IPP Europe, and brings extensive experience across the full lifecycle of renewable energy projects. His previous senior roles at Infinis Energy and Sembcorp Energy UK underscore his strong track record in development and business growth. Damian and Keith will work closely together to ensure a seamless transition throughout Q1 2026.
Keith Hobbs, RenEnergy Managing Director said, “This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside Damian and the RenEnergy team. The business has strong capabilities across a broad range of renewable energy solutions, and I am looking forward to playing a key role in shaping its future and leading RenEnergy toward continued growth and a sustainable future.”
Key senior leadership team members Sales Director, Tom Lloyd, Consultancy Director, Fiona Keysell and Development Director, Stuart Smith will report directly to Keith. With two key RenEnergy leaders continuing in vital roles as part of Aggreko’s wider European structure. HR Business Partner Sue Pepperday will report to Aggreko’s People Director for Europe, Lucy Taylor, and Finance Business Partner Laurence Moore will report to Wayne Bradburn, Head of Finance for the UK & Ireland.
“These changes mark an exciting new chapter for RenEnergy,” said Alan Dunne, Aggreko Managing Director, UK & Ireland. “By strengthening our alignment with Aggreko’s IPP Solutions capabilities and welcoming Keith into a critical leadership role, we are setting the stage for continued momentum in the renewable energy sector. We are incredibly grateful for Damian’s longstanding leadership and look forward to his continued influence as Chairman.”
RenEnergy extends its appreciation to all employees for their continued dedication and looks forward to a dynamic and successful 2026 when it will also be celebrating its 20th Anniversary of incorporation.
Eight Norfolk businesses have received support from the latest round of the Jarrold Growth Fund, this year in partnership with Norfolk County Council. From hand-forged metalwork to artisan kombucha and innovative tech platforms, this year’s recipients showcase the diversity, talent and entrepreneurial spirit that make Norfolk’s business community so special.
The Jarrold Group launched its Growth Fund in February 2024 as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to Norwich and Norfolk and the business community. This year’s partnership with Norfolk County Council brings together shared values of innovation, sustainability and community, with £100,000 of combined support available through a mix of funding, mentoring and practical help.
More than 70 start-ups and established businesses applied to the scheme in March 2025 with eight successfully securing funding, investment or support.
The following businesses received a blend of financial and practical support from Jarrold Group and Norfolk County Council:
Urban Interiors was the first business to receive funding, allowing the founder to embark on training and benefit from professional support to elevate her local profile. L V Bespoke are specialists in creating bespoke metalwork and point-of-sale displays for the horticultural and lifestyle sectors, blending craftsmanship, creativity, and functionality. The Growth Fund will enable LV to scale up their operations and develop the business in a structured, sustainable way. Oichi Kombucha, run by three sisters in rural Norfolk, is dedicated to creating authentic artisan kombucha infusions, made with seasonal, fresh and foraged ingredients. Jarrold Growth Fund support will enable Oichi to develop new flavours and expand into vending machine distribution. Oichi will also receive support from Jarrolds’ marketing agency, Yawn, and its logistics resources. Due Trade creates online ordering platforms for the B2B sector, enabling businesses to increase trade orders and save time on inbound enquiries. The Growth Fund will allow Due Trade to invest in a business developer to support its customers and support the company’s next phase of growth. One of a Kind Club is a well-loved jewellery brand, already available throughout the UK. The Growth Fund will enable the business to launch a new sustainable range and develop a better understanding of high-street trends, visual merchandising, marketing expertise and customer preferences to inform future product development and retail strategy. Norfolk County Council also provided funding to the following organisations:
Zoological Society of East Anglia was awarded funding to revamp its outside seating area at Banham Zoo, enhancing the attraction’s food and beverage offering. Stepping Stones is a charity based in Norwich where adults with learning disabilities receive the education, training and support they require to fulfil their potential. Funding from the Growth Fund will enable Stepping Stones to further develop its range of student-made products, such as stationery, calendars, t-shirts and bags. This includes attending its first trade show in London to showcase products to a national B2B audience. Dragonfly Flooring is an independent business in south Norfolk which received funding to help develop its marketing strategy, including an investment in impactful vehicle graphics to ensure it stands out.
Caroline Ellis is group business development manager at the Jarrold Group. “This year’s Growth Fund has shown once again how much innovation and heart there is across Norfolk,” Caroline explains. “We wanted to support businesses that combine creativity with a clear sense of purpose and growth in mind and our chosen applicants have that in abundance.
“At the Jarrold Group, we don’t just offer funding, we share our expertise in training, marketing, logistics, facilities management and retail to help these businesses grow in a way that’s sustainable and true to their vision. All the businesses we have selected as beneficiaries of the Jarrold Growth Fund will receive a relevant package of practical support to enable their sustainable growth and progression.”
Hannah Springham, co-founder of Farmyard Frozen, explains why receiving Jarrold Growth Fund investment in 2024 was a game-changer for her business.
“Jarrold’s investment in Farmyard could not have come at a better time for us,” Hannah explains. “It has helped us pivot into selling our Norfolk-made products to international first and business class airlines, which has been a real game changer for our business. The help, support and faith that the Jarrold team have provided has been incredible: we feel very fortunate and are really enjoying engaging with them and leaning into their experience and advice as we grow.”
“My advice for recipients is to be relentless. Never give up, there is always a way to make it happen,” adds Hannah.
Cllr Fabian Eagle, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Norfolk County Council said: “These innovative businesses will receive the support they need, both financial and practical, to grow in a way that is sustainable. You only have to read the comments from some of these ventures about the impact it will have to see its real value, and I’m delighted that Norfolk County Council has been able to collaborate with Jarrold to provide this support.”
Recent local media reports have indicated that more over 60s are getting divorced. This follows a recent report published by the Office for National Statistics.
Emma Alfieri from our family team comments: “The team has seen an increasing number of Divorce Petitions being brought amongst the older generation, particularly those in their 60s and 70s. The reason for the steady rise appears to be down to a number of social factors, including the fact that both sexes are living longer as it is reported that life expectancy has increased, particularly for men.
We are experiencing many older clients that are becoming disillusioned with their marriages once the children have flown the nest and for many, the view seems to be that retirement is the start of the next phase of their lives, not the end.
There also appears to be an increase in women’s independence, and cultural values give the perception that divorces are now more socially acceptable”.
Financial matters can be more complicated when over 60s are going through divorce proceedings, particularly when pensions are in payment. Therefore we would suggest that early legal advice is sought.
For further information please contact our family team.
In the current heatwave, Labour MP Linda Riordan has tabled an early day motion which could make it law for workplaces to send staff home when temperatures reach more than 30C. The group of MPs behind the campaign, which it seems is unlikely to succeed, claim that it could prevent potentially fatal accidents.
The Halifax MP said ministers should “resolve uncertainty for employers about their duty to combat excessive heat in the workplace by introducing a maximum working workplace temperature of 30 degrees C (86F) and of 27 degrees C (81 degrees F) for those doing strenuous work”.
The motion warns that employees in workplaces are often subjected to temperatures which can “impact seriously on their health and well-being”.
“While the current warm weather can make some workplaces uncomfortable, I think it would be very difficult to enforce a maximum temperature as humidity and air quality vary so much from one workplace to another,” said Big Sky Additions’ director, Justin Murray. “We would encourage all employers to do as much as they can to make workplace temperatures bearable to ensure high levels of productivity and staff welfare are maintained,” he added. “Simple things like using blinds to block out direct sunlight, providing free standing fans close to windows to circulate cooler air and turning off unnecessary computer equipment can all help to keep office temperatures down,” suggested Justin.
There are currently guidelines regarding minimum workplace temperatures, but nothing to cover the current heatwave conditions. An official code of practice introduced in 1992 as part of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations states that workplace temperatures should not normally drop below 16 degrees C – or 13 degrees C if the work involves severe physical effort – but there is no suggested maximum limit.
Karl Alderton, the founder and managing director of Norwich-based telecoms company, Comms Supply, an EDP Future50 company, has hit out at other suppliers in the business telecoms sector. He is calling for all suppliers to pass on recent wholesale telecoms price reductions to their existing clients.
Wholesale telecoms costs have dropped three times during the past 18 months. The first two reductions were in landline to mobile call costs. These were triggered by Ofcom, the independent regulator for the UK communications industries, capping the cost of mobile termination rates. Ofcom introduced a staged plan to reduce costs which will conclude by 2015. The most recent wholesale reduction is in physical line rental.
Increased competition amongst the biggest players within the industry is also bringing about improved access to advanced technologies and cost efficiencies. For example, Talk Talk, Vodafone (who have recently taken over Cable & Wireless) and BT Wholesale are pushing hard against each other, particularly in the area of leased lines. Leased lines, or Ethernet services, allow data to be transmitted over a direct fibre ‘pipe’ from a client’s office to an exchange and have, historically, been too expensive for smaller businesses. With the big three players making major advances in this technology and making it available to smaller businesses, leased lines are becoming a cost effective option for more and more organisations.
These price drops, technological advances and efficiencies have saved business telecoms suppliers significant amounts of money across their client contracts and yet the vast majority of suppliers have not passed any savings on to their existing customers.
Comms Supply has passed all their wholesale savings straight on to customers and will be making a further reduction in charges on 1st September 2013. This means that customers will see the third reduction in their monthly bill in less than two years.
“I’m sure that many business owners would say that my decision to reduce our potential profits by passing on wholesale price reductions to customers is a foolish one,” says Karl Alderton. “But I set up Comms Supply with a very public commitment to treating my customers with respect and being open and honest in the way we operate. If I didn’t pass on these savings to customers then that promise would be completely meaningless.”
“I’m incredibly frustrated by the widespread business practice of offering new customers a special deal or reduced rates to tempt them in,” continues Karl. “In my view, existing customers deserve the very best service and prices we can provide. That’s the only way we will secure their loyalty and have the opportunity to stay with them as their businesses grow.”
Comms Supply launched in early 2012, providing customers across East Anglia – and beyond – with a range of business telecoms services: from basic phone or broadband line rental to complete systems. The company has invested heavily in developing new technology including a hosted solution which provides a cost effective and efficient option for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Comms Supply’s open and honest approach has been well-received by customers. The company reached an annual turnover of £1million in June this year and has more than doubled its workforce in the past 12 months.
To find out more or to arrange a free business telecoms audit please call 0333 2020 900 or visit www.commssupply.co.uk.
Stepping into self-employment is exciting, but it’s also a bit of a whirlwind. When Tim Voller launched Voller Surveying Services Ltd, he was ready to throw himself into the surveying work he loves. The only hurdle was that the financial side of running a limited company felt like a completely different language.
Tim admits it himself: “I had no experience of being self-employed as a limited company. The complexities around self-assessment, taxation, dividends, invoicing, GDPR, and just generally running the financial side were a huge challenge.”
And Tim isn’t alone. Many new business owners quickly discover that doing the work is the easy part; it’s everything behind the scenes that becomes the headache. Tim wanted to spend his time surveying, quoting, and supporting clients – not juggling admin, deadlines, and tax terms.
“Claire and her team handle all the accounting side of my business,” Tim explains. “Claire, Ruth and Danny are always friendly, professional, and offer helpful advice or remind me when I need to do something!”
From managing his accounts to offering ongoing guidance, the team took the pressure off. Their proactive support has meant Tim can stay organised without constantly worrying whether something important has slipped through the cracks.
A Team That Truly Cares
For Tim, one thing stood out more than anything else: the personal touch.
“They’re always approachable. They take the time to reply to all my many questions and respond promptly in a way that makes sense. I feel they genuinely care about my business and its success.”
That genuine care and clear communication have given Tim the reassurance that his finances are in safe hands.
Seeing the Impact
Two years on, Tim can see the results every single day in his business:
More confidence in his finances
More time to focus on surveying and looking after his clients
Better clarity around cash flow and time management
Less stress, more headspace
Pay It Forward
Tim first came to Jennison Accounting because a friend recommended them, and now he’s more than happy to pass that recommendation on.
“I would highly recommend working with Jennison Accounting. They’ve been so valuable in helping my business over the last two years. I have confidence in their ability, which allows me to focus on the areas where I’m skilled to do so.”
The recent case of Newbury v Sun Microsystems [2013] serves as a useful reminder of the importance of expressing documentation to be “subject to contract” whilst under negotiation. In this case the High Court held that correspondence between two parties negotiating a settlement sum amounted to a binding agreement. In order for negotiations to have continued the parties should have used the words “subject to contract” in the correspondence.
An employee (Newbury) brought a claim for unpaid commission. In response the employer counterclaimed for the recovery of overpaid commission, thus a dispute entailed. To avoid going to trial the employer’s solicitor sent a letter offering a settlement sum to the employee’s solicitor containing the following terms:
“Our client is willing to settle the entire proceedings by paying the Claimant within 14 days of accepting this offer, the sum of £601,464.98 (the “Settlement Sum”) inclusive of interest by way of damages, by means of an electronic transfer into his nominated bank account, in full and final settlement of the Claim and counter-claim plus the sum of £180,000 in relation to his legal costs, such settlement to be recorded in a suitably worded agreement.”
The letter was not expressed as being “subject to contract” and the employee’s solicitor responded accepting its terms. As a result there was an offer, an acceptance, consideration and an intention to create legal relations; all the ingredients required to form a legally binding agreement.
The employer had intended to negotiate further terms of the settlement contract, in particular with respect to income tax, confidentiality and the form of the consent order. Therefore the employer argued that there was not an intention for the correspondence to form a legally binding agreement.
The High Court held that there was a contract contained in the correspondence and that the conduct which occurred after the date of the letters could not be used to determine whether there was an intention to create a legally binding agreement. As the letter was not expressed to be “subject to contract” there was a demonstration that there was an intention for the offer to be legally binding. If the words “subject to contract” had been used, then it would have been clear that the terms would not be binding until a formal contract was finalised and agreed.
This case is a classic example of why, when offering or negotiating a settlement of any dispute or agreeing terms of a contract, it is important to add the words “subject to contract” to correspondence where it is intended that further terms are to be negotiated. In fact it is often very sensible or even tactical to focus on key terms at the initial stages of negotiations to enable efficient progress and to then look to introduce certain subordinate or ancillary terms later.
So remember: always express correspondence to be “subject to contract” until you are satisfied with all of the terms and you intend to make the agreement legally binding.
I was really pleased to receive a written testimonial from one of our new customers, Climate Air Conditioning Ltd. Company Director, Phil Rees, wrote “having only 2 telephone lines with a ‘least cost routing company’, I didn’t think it would be worthwhile looking at; however my bill arrived the day before my meeting with Kevin so I gave it to him just in case. His response was immediate, not only was he able to offer me better rates for line rental and calls he also found I was paying for a service I didn’t need. Just by switching to Breakwater I will save over £400 per annum”.
The moral of Phil’s kind letter was to emphasise that you are never too small to take the time to review your telecoms services and look for saving. However, my view was quite different because you are never too big either. If a business with just 2 lines can save £400 per annum, does that mean a 4 line customer can save £800 and a 20 line customer save £4000?
So how did I save Phil money, especially when he was using a so called “least cost routing company”? It was easy, over the last 18 months the wholesale cost of fixed to mobile calls have reduced twice and line rental is reducing this September. At Breakwater IT we are very fortunate because our wholesale partner has passed discounts onto our customers all 3 times! So, I reduced Phil’s line rental by a little and his cost of calling mobiles by a lot, 70% in fact.
Having 20 years’ experience in the telecoms industry, I am very quick to identify cost savings and calling plans that just do not work for customers. Call commitments, call capping, call allowances, call set-up charges, minimum call charges, inclusive minutes, are all terms that just don’t seem to deliver what they promise especially when they are not billed properly. Earlier this year I met Julian Garrood, Director of Drayton Caravans and Norfolk Caravan Hire. I completed a similar audit of their telecoms bills. They have 5 lines so according to Phil’s experience they should get a saving of £1000? In fact annual projected saving was £1290, but that’s not all. 4 of the lines were digital ISDN2e and were on a tariff called “Start-Up” which includes a £20 per line per month call allowance. However their provider was not passing the allowance on due to a billing error. Julian was very pleased with an additional refund of £391 which we claimed back.
So, if you like the prospect of saving money on your telephone bills together with the comfort that your rates are pro-actively monitored then a free Breakwater IT telecoms audit could be for you. Not only that, our fixed line services are only contracted over 30 days as we are confident that you won’t need to look no further.
And again, you are never too big or too small to use Breakwater IT for telecoms services. Phil will receive his line rental reduction on the 1st September along with East Anglian Air Ambulance, Seajacks, M+A Partners, Norfolk Country Cottages and many more.
Breakwater IT offer IT Support and Business Telecoms solutions across the East Anglia region.
Specialised Management Services (SMS)will be exhibiting at the 40th SPE Offshore Europe Conference and Exhibition, Aberdeen at the beginning of September 2013, as part of the Alderley Group.
Alderley has won over £57 million worth of orders over the last 10 months and will be delivering a range of projects that include brownfield refurbishments of metering and control systems in the North Sea, produced water treatment and bespoke hydraulic solutions. As an independent system integrator, Alderley has supplied more than 250 systems in the North Sea alone and at Offshore Europe will be demonstrating how they provide clients with technology that best fits the application, is best in class and best for their clients’ business.
Eric Maddock, Group Business Development Director says, “Alderley have been providing a range of applications to the North Sea fields ever since 1975 when we became the first to measure oil from this region. We have used our experience in technology and local standards to delivery technical excellence throughout our projects.”
Eric continues by saying, “We look forward to returning to Offshore Europe 2013 to further establish our relationships with our local clients and highlight our range of capabilities and new offerings in the oil and gas industry.”
Over the past 18 months, Alderley have delivered to the Jette Field a Hydraulic Power Unit and Topside Umbilical Termination Unit to NORSOK standards, a Produced Water Treatment skid package designed to to treat produced water from upstream production and test separators to the Luno field and are in the process of shipping a gas metering system and an oil metering system along with their associated controls systems to Korea for the BP Quad 204 project.
For more information on Specialised Management Services and the projects they have delivered you can visit them at stand C60 at the Offshore Europe 2013, Aberdeen from the 3rd – 6th September 2013.
Norse Commercial Services has expanded and upgraded its call centre, creating six new jobs at its Norwich head office.
The new facilities have been created to handle increased volumes of facilities management operations, brought about by the company’s consistent growth over the last 12 months.
“We’ve seen over £30 million of new and renewed business over the last year,” said Sales Director Geoff Tucker, “with a number of new multimillion pound joint ventures with local authorities around the country, and substantial new contracts with private sector and educational establishments. All this has created increased demand for the support services that are controlled via our call centre hub.”
The helpdesk is the communication hub for Norse’s Facilities Management Division which operates at approaching 300 sites across the UK.
“The FM Division has always had a 24/7 function but with the growth of not only the FM Team but the organisation as a whole, there was a need to move to new, larger dedicated facilities at Fifers Lane, where there is room for further growth,” commented Emma McMurdock, FM Business Manager at Norse. “There has been a substantial investment, with new offices, operations facilities and meeting rooms being created, all of which will help maintain a highly efficient service to our clients’ sites.”
The centre which currently employs 10 call operators, has also invested in the latest computer telephony technology to log and monitor work requests.
“As the company continues to grow, and call volume also increases as more service divisions start to use the centre, there will inevitably be further job opportunities in the future,” McMurdock said.
As well as receiving and coordinating tasks such building maintenance issues, security issues including alarm activations, cleaning requirements, staffing calling in unwell, and management of the company’s lone worker system, it also manages all the associated administration.
The centre even got a call recently regarding the whale that was stranded on Gorleston beach, as Norse is often a first point of contact for local authorities looking to escalate environmental or human welfare problems under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
The new building work was carried out by the Norse in-house teams of FM Service Engineers who installed the electrics, air conditioning and data cabling, with local contractors building the internal structure.