Over many years visiting Norfolk homes and offices and helping customers choose the fabrics for their handmade blinds, local people have been asking for countryside themed blinds. Although Norwich Sunblinds source fabric from a wide range of suppliers, they felt that their customers wanted more choice. And what better way to do this than to commission a local artist to produce some bespoke designs.
Talented local artist, Mandy Clarke, has created two exclusive designs for Norwich Sunblids, which are available as limited edition fabrics.
The design is printed onto the fabric, which is then made into bespoke blinds. The fabric is water-resistent and wipeable, which makes it ideal for kitchen windows.
There will be only 100 of each blind, and the lucky owners will receive a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.
Fiona Garwood, Director of Norwich Sunblinds says:
“We wanted some cheerful floral countryside type fabrics, which would sit well on kitchen windows, and particularly wanted a poppy design, as lots of clients have poppy designs on their mugs and dinner plates.
The bramble fabric has some nice colours to blend with lots of colour schemes, and brings the outside in on a dull winters day.”
These fabric designs are exclusive to Norwich Sunblinds and can be viewed in either of the Norfolk Showrooms or you can book an in-home appointment:
Make The Right Decisions – I’m not indecisive… am I?
The decisions we make every day, whether big or small, help to shape our lives and our businesses. In this episode, Mark and James share their thoughts and some trusted tools to help improve our decision-making skills. To help bring their tips to life, they refer back to Dr Susan Jeffers, Steven Spielberg and the late, great David Bowie.
Did you know that the official flower of Norfolk is the Poppy and that this was the inspiration for choosing Poppy Red for our Goff delivery tankers over 45 years ago?
Since then Goff Petroleum has proudly carried Poppy Red on it’s lorries, uniforms and logo, inspired by the County where the company started and where it is still based.
This year as Remembrance Day approaches and the Poppy becomes nationally symbolic, we have extended our Goff Good Causes community support to include The Royal British Legion, who famously use the Poppy as a key part of their fundraising.
The Poppy has long been a national symbol of Remembrance and Hope and this message of Hope seems as poignant today as the world battles with the impact of Covid 19.
To help The Royal British Legion with its fundraising in these difficult times and to enable it to continue its support of our Armed Forces, their community and families; we are pledging to make a donation of £1 for every order placed on Nov 11th and aim to raise over £500 with your support.
The TaxAssist Group has once again been shortlisted for ‘Best Large Business’ at the Norfolk Business Awards.
After an incredibly busy year supporting the TaxAssist Accountants network and their clients, staff at the Norwich-based TaxAssist Group Support Centre have been rewarded with a further award nomination for the all-round strength of the business.
This recognition follows hot on the heels of being announced as a finalist for the bfa HSBC ‘Franchisor of the Year’ award and winning ‘Best Franchisee Marketing Support’ at the Franchise Marketing Awards earlier in the year.
The TaxAssist Group will be competing with three other well-known businesses from the Eastern region, with the winner announced on Tuesday 24th November.
Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected as a finalist in the ‘Best Large Business’ category.
“2020 has been quite a year for everybody, but we are so proud of the resilience shown by our network of accountants and the way our Support Centre staff have risen to the challenge to provide quite exceptional levels of service and support.
“Small business clients have needed our assistance like never before to help them to survive and thrive and we have ensured that we have been able to support our accountants to assist in this increase in demand.
“Being a finalist in this prestigious award category is a fantastic way of saying ‘well done’ and ‘thank you’ to our brilliant team of staff who are so passionate about providing a truly first-class service. It also serves as a testament to our robust business model and innovative approach to accountancy services.”
Business Editor, Richard Porritt, said: “The innovation, desire and simple hard graft shone through from the entries we received for every category. Never before have we had such a high standard of firms that deserve recognition for their achievements prior to and during this ghastly pandemic. As a judge myself I know the task of choosing a short list and ultimately a winner was incredibly difficult. So everyone who has been chosen should be very proud.”
If you are interested in joining the TaxAssist Accountants network, monthly Virtual Discovery Days are being held where you can spend a day with the team to find out more about the business opportunity and support on offer. Click here for more information.
In this week’s episode James and Mark highlight the importance of handling disappointment, which is particularly relevant in the current climate with many people and businesses facing some challenging lockdown measures. As usual, they come up with 3 top tips, and along the way they make reference to Yale University studies, George Bush Snr and Mark’s mildly impressive but slightly embarrassing lawn bowls career!
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices are looking for companies to enrol in Payroll Giving. You can help us care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions by making a regular contribution through your payroll. Just £10 a month, the equivalent of one takeaway coffee a week, could help a child receive an hour of specialist therapies such as music therapy. Working from home? Donate the equivalent of a week of fuel and you could fund over 12 hours of bereavement care. Find out more and sign up visit each.org.uk/payroll-giving or email [email protected]
We were overjoyed when the client passed on the fantastic news that we had been awarded “Best Stand” at the BCI World Conference and Exhibition in London recently.
Awards don’t come along every day and the accolade isn’t offered by many B2B trade show organisers nowadays, so it’s really rewarding when they do. It’s a great feeling for the client, reassurance knowing that they made the right choice in choosing us as their event partner and reaffirmed confidence for us for using the term “award winning” in our marketing. Over the years we have been fortunate to have won many awards at many major events; London Motor Show, GLEE, Baby Shows and Grand Designs to mention just a few. However in each case the awards have been purely incidental, the focus for us has always been presenting the client’s product or service effectively and getting them to market at events successfully.
BCI World is the “must attend” event for the business continuity and resilience professional. This year’s keynote speaker being, until recently, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police who had national responsibilities which included leading counter terrorism policing throughout the UK and protecting the government. The stand we provided for SUNGARD focused on “Disaster Recovery” of IT systems in the event of a variety of threats or issues set against a corporate themed mountain landscape. We chose an interactive 4wd challenge which featured an authentic scaled model of a Land Rover Defender tackling a number of “themed” obstacles, each highlighting a particular threat to company IT and business continuity. Visitors attempted the course against the clock in an attempt to walk away with the awesome prize of the remote controlled Land Rover used on the stand. Needless to say quite apart from winning best stand award the interaction made the client the most popular at the event!
As rates of coronavirus in Norfolk continue to rise, people are being urged to stick to the essentials and follow the national guidelines.
The current restrictions mean that people should only leave home if it is essential:
To shop for essentials
To do essential work, because you cannot work from home
To only carry out essential journeys
For essential education
For essential exercise.
It is also essential that people isolate immediately if they have symptoms, test positive or have had close contact with someone who has coronavirus and it is essential to work with NHS Test and Trace and local contact tracing teams, to help keep communities safe.
Cllr Andrew Proctor, Chair of the Norfolk Engagement Board and Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “It is essential that Norfolk follows the national restrictions to halt the ongoing rise in Covid cases.
“That means only leaving home for essential reasons and if you do need to leave home, following the hands, face, space advice.
“It’s essential that you work with contact tracing teams if you test positive because it is our most effective way to track the virus and keep people safe. We know isolating is inconvenient, but it is absolutely vital – you don’t have to have symptoms to spread this virus and anyone can catch it and pass it on.
“As councils we are here to help – if you need support to isolate or you are struggling to get access to food or medicines please contact us so that we can get you what you need. “
In Norfolk rates of coronavirus have increased from 100 per 100,000 in the week to November 6 to 149 in the week to November 13. The highest rates are currently in South Norfolk (222) and Great Yarmouth (214).
Cases in South Norfolk are thought to be linked to social gatherings in the lead up the national restrictions coming into effect two weeks ago. Those affected are mainly working age adults and it is believed that most cases can be traced back to events that happened in the days before lockdown.
Dr Louise Smith, Director of Public Health for Norfolk, said: “It’s essential that people stay home as much as possible. It is essential those with symptoms isolate and get a test and it essential that people work with test and trace teams and give details of their contacts.
“If you’ve been in contact with someone who has the virus you can’t test your way out of isolating – you might be carrying and passing on the virus even if you don’t have symptoms or you’ve had a negative test. It’s essential that we all work together to reduce the spread of the virus, so that we can protect our loved ones and our communities.”
Dr Smith said those who should be isolating should also try to stay away from other members of their households, if possible, to prevent passing on the virus.
She added: “If you have symptoms, you should stay away from other people you live with as much as possible. I know this isn’t practical for everyone but if you can avoid sharing beds, using shared spaces and use a separate bathroom if you have one, then that can help you to protect your family.”
As national restrictions continue Covid marshalls or support officers continue to be recruited and deployed across the county. The aim is for them to advise, educate, and engage with businesses and members of the public – being the eyes and the ears and report back concerns and repeat offenders. They are also doing leaflet dropping and working closely with the police around how to enforce the restrictions.
Due to an increase in the overall satisfaction score for three consecutive surveys, TaxAssist Accountants also received a ‘Continuous Improvement Award’.
TaxAssist Accountants is proud to have once again been awarded 5-star Franchisee Satisfaction from WorkBuzz, a leading independent franchise consultancy, joining a select group of just four franchisors to have won this prestigious honour for eight years running.
Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive Director at TaxAssist Accountants, said: “It is a fantastic achievement to have won this key award once again. To have also increased our overall satisfaction score in 2020, a year which has seen so many challenges for everybody, is outstanding.
“Our Support Centre staff have all worked tirelessly to maintain truly exceptional levels of support throughout the pandemic, and this award is testament to the care and hard work they have provided. It is heartening to hear back from our franchisees that they appreciate and recognise the support we have given them.”
The WorkBuzz survey works by inviting existing franchisees to participate in an anonymous online survey which asks them 31 questions about their franchise ownership experience. Using a consistent methodology, the franchise is assigned an overall FSB score.
Due to positive feedback, TaxAssist Accountants received above average benchmark results in key areas of the survey which inform the final Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark report. These include training and support, franchise system, culture and relationships, leadership, value and rewards and general satisfaction. Visit www.5starfranchise.co.uk for more information about how 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction is determined.
The highest performing franchisors are recognised in the annual Best Franchise Awards. Visit www.bestfranchiseawards.co.uk/ for more information about the awards.
In this week’s episode, Mark and James discuss the often overlooked importance of good listening skills in business and in life generally. Starting with a fascinating fact which illustrates just how little time we spend on developing our listening skills, they come up with 3 top tips, and along the way they take inspiration from Jim Kwik, the 5 levels of listening and Slade’s Noddy Holder! here!
I am delighted to present Captain Fawcett’s simply fabulous Christmas Selection. Including gifts from as little as a fiver, there is truly a splendid little something for everyone! At the close of a somewhat challenging year for one and all, a touch of luxury is certainly in order to treat one’s kith and kin or, indeed, one’s own good self.
SIGNATURE SERIES SPLENDOUS! Captain Fawcett’s renowned Signature Series now includes two brand new collaborations… NEBULA WITH JOHN PETRUCCI American Rock Royalty meets an English Gentleman Explorer – this melodic collaboration with guitar maestro John Petrucci of Dream Theater has produced a work of true majesty! Indeed, first orders for Nebula came so thick and fast extra staff were needed to fulfil them. This launch is truly flying from the shelf! The new range offers a Beard Balm, Beard Oil and Moustache Wax, distinguished by a simply delectable fragrance. Top notes of exhilarating bergamot & aromatic myrtle riff with a bittersweet tang of grapefruit, rising to an intense heart of earthy, violet orris, dark coffee & tenacious woody cedar. A pulse of seductive musk trails a smoky backbeat laced with vetiver & luxurious leather. And there’s an extra special gift for rock star chums! Each 50ml Nebula Beard Oil includes a Limited Edition Nebula Guitar Flow Pick, designed and created by John Petrucci in collaboration with Jim Dunlop. While stocks last! John Petrucci’s virtuoso composition with Captain Fawcett is quite simply out of this world.
ALESSANDRO MANFREDINI EAU DE PARFUM Alessandro Manfredini is a sculptor, graphic artist and silver bearded model. He is also survivor, a gentleman who fought to rebuild his spirit when an earthquake destroyed his dreams. His collaboration with Captain Fawcett has produced a most seductive Eau De Parfum evocative of Italy’s capricious seasons. And the story of his resilience is a magnificent inspiration for our times. Woody spiced top notes of rosemary and star anise combine with mid notes of fresh green cyclamen on a bed of mineral ambergris, calming cedarwood and sun toasted tonka. This deeply sensuous fragrance is presented in a stunning iridescent bottle adorned with an antique beetle motif, the ancient talisman of strength and regeneration. A scent rich with memory bringing faith in tomorrow.
STOCKING FILLERS
Captain Fawcett loves a well stuffed stocking, thus he presents a selection of handsome treats for discerning gentlemen…