Bidwells, one of the UK’s leading property consultancies, has appointed Mike Derbyshire as its new Head of Planning.
Mike, joined the firm on 1st November 2013, as an Equity Partner, previously with Savills, where he was a Senior Director in their London office.
He has twenty five years’ experience in both the private and public sector. Prior to working for Savills, Mike was a Chief Planning Officer at Broadland District Council in Norfolk.
In his career, he has dealt with major projects for a variety of clients. Particular highlights include the delivery of the London Clinic’s “Quantum Leap”£300m scheme to expand and modernise their estate in and around Harley Street.
He has advised Caprice Holdings on all their London restaurants, which includes the Ivy, and now is an acknowledged leader in high end restaurants.
“Mike’s experience of planning at a national level will be invaluable in Bidwells’ continued evolution. Taking us in to new sectors, strengthening existing and accelerating the establishment of new services” said Patrick McMahon, Senior Partner at Bidwells.
Commenting Mike said: “Planning is at a pivotal point where it is crucial to the growth of our economy, I am eager to play my part in Bidwells’ growing national reputation in order to help deliver the major schemes and activities that our clients need.”
One of the Formula Student Teams we are sponsoring this year is Cardiff Racing! We sponsored them for last year’s Formula Student and this summer for a project they carried out using our Rohacell! Take a look at their newsletter to see just what they have been up to with our Rohacell and why they could quite possibly be the best looking Formula Student team this year !!
I came back from the Lincolnshire Food Festival full of energy, the event was fantastic and spending time with Levi Roots was great. I have also been made Business Professor at the Grimsby Institute. I am looking forward to embrace Norwich and Norfolk and do the same here….Contact me, I would love to hear from you.
Business telecoms mavericks, Comms Supply, attended the Eastern Daily Press Business Awards last night; one of three Norfolk companies shortlisted in the Future50 One to Watch category. The awards event took place on Thursday 7 November 2013 at the Royal Norfolk Showground.
The EDP Business Awards showcase the very best in Norfolk’s business community, honouring the achievements of individual companies and highlighting the region’s strength and depth. The Future50 One to Watch category, sponsored by NWES, is for early-stage firms able to demonstrate a pioneering approach to business and the potential to flourish and deliver impressive results. Judges look for evidence of drive, impact, vision and potential in assessing the finalists.
Comms Supply provides a wide range of business telecoms services: from comprehensive phone, mobile and broadband packages to simple line rental. Karl Alderton founded the company because he firmly believed that other telecoms suppliers simply weren’t up to scratch in terms of the service they supplied and their approach to customer relations.
Dramatic profits and upselling on individual jobs are not the focus for Comms Supply. Instead, clients are recommended solutions which meet their specific needs. The Comms Supply aim is to foster long-term relationships with clients and this extends to the total lack of automated answerphone messages within the business. When a customer calls, they immediately speak to a real person: if there is a problem the Comms Supply team ensures that clients are updated regularly. Unlike other suppliers, when wholesale telecoms costs dropped, Karl passed these price reductions on to his existing customers. “I believe that customers deserve the very best service and prices we can provide,” he explains. “That’s the only way we will secure their loyalty and have the opportunity to stay with them as their businesses grow.”
Comms Supply has been punching above its weight since day one. Karl works tirelessly to ensure that his clients have access to the best technology available; partnering with some of the world’s leading manufacturers to develop new systems that allow smaller businesses to integrate cloud-based phone systems into their operations.
The two other shortlisted businesses in the One to Watch category were Eco Classrooms based in Thorpe, which manufactures sustainable buildings, and Zing Insights, a market research consultancy located in Tharston. The award was won by Eco Classrooms.
“We were so chuffed to make it to the final of the Future 50 One To Watch category alongside Eco Classrooms and Zing Insights,” says Karl. “Even though we didn’t win this year, we’ve been really inspired to set our sights even higher: we’ll be pulling out all the stops to make the next 12 months even more successful for both us and our clients. The great news is that three of our clients won awards last night. Naked Marketing won Small Business of the Year, Blue Sky Leisure won Business of the Year and Liftshare won Outstanding IT initiative. We’re all about helping our clients to achieve amazing results so seeing them win is almost as good as winning ourselves.”
Karl explains more about the Comms Supply approach: “Many telecoms suppliers are tied to particular manufacturers. This means they have a limited number of products to choose from and can end up recommending products which suit them – and their profit margins – rather than their customers. Comms Supply is totally independent so, once we’ve spent time finding out what our customers want to achieve, we can provide our customers with the solutions that are completely right for them. Our way of working is quite different from many of our competitors but an open, honest approach is fundamental to our customers’ satisfaction and our business success.”
To find out more about the range of services that Comms Supply provides, or to arrange a free business telecoms audit, please call 0333 2020 900 or visit www.commssupply.co.uk.
A website that turns visitors into customers is the aim of most companies. Why else would you have a website?
Our latest article from our hugely popular series covers everything you need to know to improve your website conversions from writing copy that sells to the all important “calls to action”.
After being shortlisted for Best Small Business of the Year the Naked Marketing team decided to make an evening of it. All of the team got dolled up in there glad rags and headed to the Royal Norfolk Showground ready to enjoy the glitz and glamour of our first Eastern Daily Press Business Awards.
The EDP Business Awards have been showcasing the very best of Norfolk’s businesses for over 20 years and is regarded highly within the region.
The Small Business of the Year category, sponsored by Norfolk Chamber of Commerce is open to all businesses with an annual turnover of less than £1million and businesses should be able to demonstrate a passion to grow a sustainable business, underpinned by a strong financial performance through strong leadership.
It is fair to say we were thrilled to be a finalist alongside R A Brown Heating Services and Credo Asset Finance. As the evening progressed the team became more and more relaxed fuelled by great food and wine. Whereas I think it is fair to say that as the evening progressed Directors Ben and David became more and more tense as the award category got nearer and nearer.
When Naked Marketing were announced as the winners in this category it is fair to say the whole Naked team were over the moon. Ben and David were delighted to accept the ridiculously heavy trophy from Ian Hacon president of the Norfolk Chamber before a few light hearted questions were fired their way by the evenings compare Stuart White.
After a quick foray back stage to have photographs taken with the sponsors a much more relaxed Ben and David returned to their table in time to enjoy the final award of the evening, overall Best Business of the Year sponsored by Barclays the three finalists due to be announced on the evening.
Their faces were a picture as Naked Marketing was announced as a finalist in this most prestigious of all the categories. Ben and David found themselves on the stage sandwiched between two power houses of Norfolk business in Blue Sky Leisure and Pasta Foods. This award was won by Blue Sky Leisure but for all of team Naked it was just fantastic to be in the spotlight and felt almost as good as winning.
Andrew Thompson & Associates (AT&A) Insurance Brokers has now formally adopted the Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers (ABIB) name. The change follows our acquisition of AT&A in April 2025 and marks the beginning of a more cohesive brand presence for the Ipswich office within one of the UK’s leading independent insurance and financial services groups.
The move further integrates AT&A’s strong client service proposition into the Group’s multi-faceted offering while retaining the same people, expertise, and local focus that clients already rely on.
Andrew Thompson, who continues to lead the Ipswich operation, said: “Joining Alan Boswell’s last year has strengthened our ability to support clients with greater reach and services. Shifting to the ABIB brand reflects our shared ambition to build on AT&A’s foundations and invest further in the communities we serve. Our clients will see the same familiar faces, supported by the strength and scale of the larger group.”
With over 450 staff and offices across Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Norwich, Peterborough, Boston, and Grimsby, the Group continues to expand its offering across the region. In 2025, Alan Boswell Group was named Insurance Broker of the Year at The British Insurance Awards and Large Business of the Year at the Eastern Daily Press Business Awards.
The brand will be introduced across client communications, digital channels, the Ipswich office, and Ipswich business community in the coming weeks. Clients will continue to receive the same independent advice and personal service, now backed by the increased market presence and capabilities of the Group.
Refrigerental’, the brand-new dedicated temperature controlled vehicle rental operation from leading independent vehicle hire company Burnt Tree, made a triumphant debut at this years’ leading industry specific trade show, TCS&D 2013 in Peterborough.
Visitors to the stand were attracted not only by the offer of free ‘Refrigerental’ branded tubs of ice cream but also by the news of the launch by Burnt Tree of its comprehensive range of brand-new, state-of-the-art temperature controlled rental vehicles, ranging from car derived vans and panel vans, right up to 18tonne and 26tonne rigid trucks, covering both single and multi-temperature applications.
Burnt Tree’s Contract Hire Director Mark Howell said, “Following an extensive and detailed market appraisal, we felt that there was a major opportunity for Burnt Tree to expand its vehicle rental business into the temperature controlled market sector. The overwhelmingly positive reaction of visitors to the stand proved that we are on the right road with Refrigerental and we left the 2 day show with substantial new customer interest in our refrigerated vehicle rental business proposition.”
All the refrigerated vans and trucks in the Refrigerental fleet are brand-new 63 plate models, covering vehicle sizes from small vans up to 26tonne rigids, and as Mark Howell explains, “We have carefully chosen a comprehensive range of vehicle types and models to give customers the optimum choice of vehicles covering the majority of temperature controlled applications from chill to heavy chill and deep frozen. Refrigerental vans and trucks are available with a choice of single and multi-temperature refrigeration systems, and each vehicle uniquely features Silent refrigeration kits fitted as standard, making them ideal for typical noise sensitive urban deliveries.”
Since it is going to brighten up this weekend and be nice and warm we thought it might be nice to offer one last chance to get away before the Winter sets in… come and stay with us this weekend for just £50 a room for 2 people sharing! Call us to book before 8pm tonight to get this amazing deal! Call now on 01603 741161 or email [email protected] Last Minute Cheap Hotel Deal for Norwich Norfolk
There will be lots of special offers and hotel deals available throughout October so keep your eyes on our latest News!
Petans are running a schools competition to design a new livery for our helicopter. We would like an aspiring graphic designer / artist from a local school to give it a fresh new look! In return we are offering the winning student a summer design internship and cash prizes to the schools with the top three entries.
Petans is a registered charity and one of our aims is to invest our time and resources into education and skills. We are undertaking this project to raise awareness amongst school children of the oil and gas and wider energy sector in Norfolk and Suffolk. We feel it is important that local children are aware of what industries are on their doorstep and the opportunities that are available to them for future careers. We would like the competition and internship to provide a platform for an aspiring young graphic designer to develop a portfolio for their future career.
We are inviting selected schools to fill the first 4 places, with the 5th place being offered as part of a competition at “Choose your future” on 28th November at the Norfolk Showground.
We are delighted to announce that from 1 November 2013 Cole & Co Solicitors will join forces with Leathes Prior Solicitors.
This is very exciting for Leathes Prior and by welcoming the Cole & Co team the firm will add strength in depth to its Conveyancing and Private Client teams enabling the firm to offer an improved range of legal services to its clients. For the clients of the former firm of Cole & Co, not only will they know that they are still able to call on the services of those who they have dealt with at Cole & Co over many years, they will also benefit from access to a wider range of services whether through the firm’s Commercial & Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Family or Corporate Recovery teams.
Leathes Prior will operate from its 3 offices; the existing Cole & Co office in Tombland will house the firm’s centre for the Conveyancing team, the existing Leathes Prior office in Tombland will remain its Commercial & Corporate office and all other teams will operate from Leathes Prior premises in the Cathedral Close.
Mike Barlow Managing Partner of Leathes Prior said:
The Partners and staff of Leathes Prior are very pleased to welcome David Clarke and his team into the fold. I am sure that the clients of our combined firms will very much benefit from this exciting venture which reflects the confidence that the firm has in the strength of the legal sector and the economic outlook for the region.
David Clarke, Partner, formerly of Cole & Co, adds:
I and the staff of Cole & Co are delighted to have joined forces with Leathes Prior. Not only will this further strengthen our highly regarded and successful conveyancing and private client teams, but it will also allow our clients access to Leathes Prior’s renowned expertise in a wide range of legal services. It is a ‘perfect fit’ for both firms.
Bernard Matthews, Britain’s No.1 turkey producer, has today announced an exciting brand refresh, to coincide with the retailer Back to School season. Supported by a multimedia campaign that will cover national press, outdoor, online and in-store, the new food-focused look, starting with cooked meats, will begin rolling out to all major supermarkets from 8 August 2013.
The new activity includes:
A new modern Bernard Matthews logo
An eye catching new pack design for all its cooked meats, frozen and fresh breaded poultry products
Innovative new cooked meat lines
Million pound marketing investment.
The contemporary new logo and pack design gives the brand a new identity and provides excellent visibility on shelf. The new design has also been developed to reinforce the brand’s provenance and quality, its farming heritage and showcase the great taste and versatility of the products.
At the same time, Bernard Matthews is also introducing new flavours to its cooked meat lines starting with Wafer Thin Turkey Curry and Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast Slices. The first press ads will kick off in October, supported by outdoor, digital and in-store activity.
The new packaging will also include the Government’s new traffic light labelling system to help people make healthier choices.
Deborah Ewan, Bernard Matthews Commercial Director, says “Our new brand refresh gives the brand a distinctive new look, excellent stand out on shelf and a real point of difference. It also reinforces our farming heritage and product provenance, something that customers have continually told us is important to them. It is also essential that we support and create awareness of the new branding, and so we are delighted to be running a million pound campaign to showcase this new look and the launch of exciting new products. “