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Team HODL have completed the world’s toughest row and achieved a world record doing it! In just 38 days, the team rowed more than 2,800 miles from California to Hawaii. They secured a world record and finished first in the trios. This is the most incredible set of achievements by the three superstars, two of which are Langley alumni!

Huge congratulations to Luca, Cutu and Matt, who set out on a journey across the pacific to raise as much money as possible for The Ocean Cleanup along with a collective of people supporting them from afar. Their team name stands for ‘Hold On for Dear Life,’ which they certainly did throughout all the challenges they faced and they now have a world record to show for it. You are an inspiration Luca, Cutu and Matt!

Photos from @team_hodl

Through partnerships, innovation, student and staff spend, widening participation and public engagement, supported by world class teaching and research, UEA is committed to making a positive impact on the economic and social wellbeing of the wider community.

On Thursday 6 June launched it’s new report, CONNECTING PEOPLE + PLACES, at a business breakfast hosted by Vice-Chancellor, Prof David Richardson, at Norwich Castle. Connecting People + Places is a showcase of just some of UEA’s activity. The economic analysis has been carried out independently, and the case studies demonstrate some of the wide-ranging ways UEA makes a civic and social impact in the community. These activities encourage literature, sport, art, education, volunteering and music to flourish, and promote the ethos of collaboration and social responsibility that is at UEA’s heart.

Read the full report at www.uea.ac.uk/business to find out more.

Report design by Creative Sponge, and printed by Healeys

Video created by Meantime Media

“It’s become a regular school holiday event for us and we hope it encourages and entertains young readers throughout the summer”

A leading children’s charity is rolling out the ‘read’ carpet to young bookworms this summer.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is once again running its Free Books for Kids scheme across its 47 shops.

Children can pop in and pick up one free book per week throughout their long school holiday.

Ian Nicolson, EACH Director of Retail and Trading, said: “We’re excited to be running this fabulous initiative again because it proved popular in 2022.

“It’s since become a regular school holiday event for us and, as ever, we hope it encourages and entertains young readers throughout the summer.

“It’s always popular and well-received, particularly during the long summer break when families may be struggling for low-cost ideas to keep children entertained.

“We appreciate the value of reading and know how precious family story time can be. Through the work we do, we help families make the most of their time together and create memories that last forever.”

EACH delivers all-encompassing, supportive care to babies, children and young people, in addition to life-long support for families.

It relies on donations for the majority of its income and this year alone needs to raise £6.7 million from fundraising and £7.8 from its Retail operation.

The charity has shops across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. To find out where your nearest one is, head here.

Image provided by EACH.

Chantry Place Norwich is now home to 10 large animal sculptures as its free Safari Summer trail gets underway. The trail has got off to a brilliant start with over 200 trail maps given out every day since the trail launched on Saturday 22^nd July 2023.

The animal sculptures include a giant gorilla, a lion, a hippo, zebra and panda which will be at Chantry Place every day until Sunday 3^rd September 2023.

Free trail maps can be picked up from Deichmann on the lower ground floor at Chantry Place. Once complete, families can post their trail maps in the postbox in Deichmann, and collect a free goody bag offering a complimentary child’s ticket for free entry to Banham Zoo or Africa Alive, with a full paying adult, as well as an animal medal. Plus, everyone who enters their details will be in with a chance of winning a family annual pass to Banham Zoo and Africa Alive.

Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, comments: “Opening weekend of the safari trail has been popular, with our retailers handing out lots of trail maps and goody bags. Families are snapping pictures with the sculptures and taking selfies, and this free trail is putting a smile on little faces during the school holidays, and is also perfect as a rainy day activity too! Our Wild Wednesday arts and crafts sessions with SchooDoodle have sold out, and we’re confident that visitors will thoroughly enjoy all our free events this summer, including the zoos visiting us every Wednesday with educational activities. Feedback has already been brilliant, and we look forward to hosting a summer of safari fun for our visitors.”

From Wednesday 26^th July, ‘Wild Wednesdays’ will begin with local company SchooDoodle which is hosting free arts and crafts sessions, which are now sold out, and Banham Zoo and Africa Alive offering educational sessions.

Banham Zoo and Africa Alive education’s team will be at Chantry Place with animal artefacts, animal information and other zoo-related puzzles and games, every week during the school holidays.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust will be visiting Chantry Place on Monday 7^th August and Monday 21^st August, and will be educating visitors on urban wildlife, plus hosting free fun activities.

For more information on Safari Summer at Chantry Place, visit www.chantryplace.co.uk

Greater Anglia has unveiled a special train livery to celebrate Pride and the LGBT+ community.

The livery, which has been applied to an Alstom-built ‘class 720’ commuter train (number 720506), includes both the Pride and transgender flags adjacent to the driver’s cab, on both ends and sides of the five-carriage train.

The train operates between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge, between London Liverpool Street and Clacton, Harwich and Ipswich, and on many other Greater Anglia routes across much of Essex and Hertfordshire.

Launched at a special ceremony at London Liverpool Street station on Thursday 27 July, it also includes the word ‘Pride’, applied beneath the windows of the first and last carriages, in colours supporting the progress flag and representing visibility for marginalised LGBT+ people, as well as the wider values of diversity and inclusion.

The special livery, which was the idea of Lee Shaw, a train service manager at Greater Anglia (GA), and applied at the company’s Ilford depot, will now provide a year-round reminder of GA’s overall commitment to diversity and inclusion, and more specifically to LGBT+ staff and customers across its network.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said: “Many of our colleagues at Greater Anglia are members of the LGBT+ community, along with many of our customers too.

“It’s important we show that they and everyone else is welcome on the railway, right across all the many destinations we serve on the GA network.

“We’re pleased to celebrate our continuing commitment to diversity, inclusion and, in particular our LGBT+ colleagues and customers, with this livery showing that Pride is all year round.

“Suggested and developed by GA colleagues, it’s a really positive and very visible initiative, on a train which will operate on many of our routes, helping to embed and symbolise our ongoing work to make Greater Anglia a welcoming place for all.”

Two drivers who were directly involved in the event, by driving and accompanying the train from Ilford depot into the terminus for the unveiling, are supporters of the initiative.

Martin Burr, who drove the train from Ilford depot, is a diversity and inclusion representative for the depot and also gay himself, said: “I’m glad to be a part of it and take pride in being so.

“Ilford depot is one of the most diverse workplaces. We have different cultures from all over the world and different orientations here, and we’re reflecting the diversity in the depot by being part of the day.

“It’s nice to show respect for people who are represented by this livery, as well as showing your understanding and acceptance.

“These sorts of trains catch your eye and it’s just different from the day-to-day normal livery – it’s extra special and I’m sure it’ll make people feel respected and represented.”

Jason Winstanley, a trainee driver who is non-binary and who was in the cab, said: “Hearing that Greater Anglia was putting a Pride livery on a train at pretty much the same time I was joining the company filled me with happiness.

“I love the idea that trains are out there with the Pride flag on and that the railway shows that it accepts and welcomes the LGBT+ community.

“When I manage to drive the Pride train in passenger service, it will be a special day.”

The livery unveiling comes just weeks after station staff put up flags and bunting at a number of stations across the Greater Anglia network in celebration of Pride month in June.

It is part of Greater Anglia’s wider diversity and inclusion strategy, which sees the company working year-round to make itself a better and more inclusive place to work.

A group for LGBT+ colleagues and their allies’, called ‘Affinity’, was also set up earlier in the year.

The aim of the group, run by frontline and manager members of staff together, is to inspire action, education and connection, along with acting as a support community around the topic of sexuality and ensuring the company is as inclusive as possible.

Image provided by Greater Anglia.

“Those who sign up will be helping us continue our vital work, offering a family-centred, needs-led approach to care”

Businesses are being encouraged to rally together and show their support for the vital work of a leading children’s hospice.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has launched its Business Circle – a new corporate venture open to companies across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It will give them a chance to build connections and attend networking events, while at the same time making a financial commitment to EACH. The cost is £1,000 a year, including VAT, and Business Circle membership includes the chance to visit one of the charity’s hospices – The Nook, near Norwich, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and at Milton, near Cambridge.

There will also be opportunities to sponsor events at a discounted rate, in addition to being a host venue for networking functions.

“What better time to officially launch our new Business Circle than during Children’s Hospice Week?,” said EACH Corporate Fundraising Manager Caroline Allen.

“This national awareness week is so important for everyone here, to raise funds and heighten understanding of our vital work. We rely on voluntary donations and a key part of our fundraising income comes from corporate friends and supporters. This is a very special opportunity to cement that commitment, by pledging a certain amount every year – money that will make a tangible difference to the families, children and young people receiving our care and support. It’s also a golden opportunity for companies to come together and join us at one of our quarterly networking events. It will give them an opportunity to make new contacts and forge connections with businesses across East Anglia.”

Members will also have the benefit of PR opportunities, have exclusive use of the Business Circle logo for internal communications, be featured on EACH’s dedicated Business Circle webpage and be listed in EACH’s Report and Accounts. They will also have the opportunity to be a keynote speaker at networking events, feature in EACH social media posts and receive tailored updates on EACH’s work.

“We already have a Giving Circle for Major Doners and Supporters but are now very proud to introduce our Business Circle,” added Caroline.

“Those who sign up will be helping us continue our vital work, offering a family-centred, needs-led approach to care and ensuring all the needs of the children and young people we care for are met – whether that be psychological, physical, emotional, social or spiritual.”

To read more or sign up, head here.

Alternatively, email Caroline via ([email protected]), Laura Southcott (Norfolk) via [email protected], Hannah Forbester (Cambridge and West Essex) via [email protected], Billie Nugent (Suffolk and East Essex) via [email protected] or Rachel Mayes-Dally (Suffolk and North Essex) via [email protected]

Image provided by EACH.

When taking on any new service, as a business owner you will always want to know what your ROI and how it will benefit your business, your customers, and your employees.

And that’s certainly the case with workplace wellbeing.  Mindsets are shifting when it comes to workplace wellbeing and business owners are starting to take their employees mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing seriously.

The average cost to replace an employee is £30,614 (employee earning £25,000 a year or more) – so why not invest in your employees?

Workplace wellbeing is a great way of rewarding and recognising the work your employees do and a perfect way of supporting their health and wellbeing.  There are wellbeing services for every business and budget.

Our client, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils started a two-month trial with Hands On At Work earlier in the year and completed their own research into what effect the on-site workplace massages had on their employees.

After the two-month trial, they decided to continue working with Hands On At Work due to feedback from the employees.

What happens when you invest in your employee’s health and wellbeing?  Let us take a closer look at the results…

93% of respondents said that they were extremely satisfied with their chair massage.

Specific elements:

–94.5% of respondents said they were very satisfied with the massage therapist.

–81.6% were very satisfied with the materials provided.

– 90.8% were very satisfied with the time management.

Additionally, 91% of respondents said that having a chair massage had improved their physical/mental health at work, 83% said that having a chair massage had improved their productivity at work and 70% said their expectations of what the massage would be like were beyond met.

Things respondents liked the most about their massage:

• The friendly massage therapist.
• The relaxing nature of the sessions.
• The good massages.

Things respondents would like improved:

• Longer and more regular sessions.
• Option for lower leg massage.

Hands On At Work provide workplace wellbeing to businesses across the UK.  From inclusion in wellbeing strategies providing different services each month, to weekly and quarterly visits to companies.  There is something for every business and budget.  Our services include, but not limited to…

• Workplace Massage
• Couch Massage
• Reflexology
• Indian Head Massage
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Meditation
• Mindfulness
• Men’s Health
• Menopause
• Nutritional webinars
• Nourishing Diversity

If you’d like to invest in your employee’s health and wellbeing and explore the wellbeing services, we offer, contact [email protected]

We are delighted to start offering our renowned afternoon tea experience for you to enjoy safely during lockdown! Bring a little bit of the Norfolk Mead into your home and experience a well-deserved treat to keep you and your close family and friends smiling!

The details:

We will be producing our first batch of takeaway Afternoon Teas on Saturday 9th May.  All orders must be received by Friday 8th May at 11pm. We are pleased to be offering a special price of £15 per person.  We offer delivery from Coltishall within an approx 15 mile radius for an additional £3 per order. Subject to demand. We are pleased to offer house white/red/rose wine for £10.00 per bottle and house prosecco for £15.00 per bottle.  Free delivery for orders over £50.    Collection will be available from 1pm – 2pm. Deliveries will take place between 1pm and 3pm. Please order by email at [email protected].  Please call with any queries on 01603 737 531. When ordering, please provide your name, number of people, a contact phone number and an address for deliveries.  Please do let us know of any dietary requirements although at this time it may be difficult for us to make changes or provide alternatives … we will inform you of what is available at the time of ordering.  Payment in advance only for deliveries via Paypal (link sent to you via return email).  Payment in cash on collection also available.    Your afternoon tea will be packed into a box. For collections, please help by observing social distancing of 2m – we will bring boxes directly to your car. We will approach your car and ask for your name when you arrive.    For deliveries, we will leave your order on your doorstep, knock and walk away and wait until we see you have received it.  We will continue to offer this every week subject to continued demand.  Orders open Monday 11th May for takeaways to be collected/ delivered on Saturday 16th May. Orders must be received by 11pm Friday 15th May.    Thank you so much to everyone for your continued support.

A partner at a leading regional accountancy firm celebrates 40 years of a career that has involved recovering £3.5m in a compulsory liquidation from a Swiss bank; being involved in the arrest of a bankrupt on an incoming flight from Amsterdam; and a bankruptcy involving the sale of micro-pigs, which weren’t really micro!

Andrew Kelsall, of Larking Gowen, says he has seen huge changes in the financial landscape, with many more options available to people in financial difficulties than when he started back in 1983.

Andrew describes a varied career that is not without its dramas and quirks. In one bankruptcy case, an individual was supposedly selling micro-piglets as pets which caused a surprise for their new owners when they grew to full size.

“It’s been an interesting 40 years, and I still feel excited and enthused about going to work. Insolvency is a fascinating area. You are dealing with people from all walks of life, often at a very emotional time. Having life experience is a real asset,” he said.

“Over the years there have been massive changes in legislation and practice, that affect the way we do things and the general attitude towards insolvency from both a personal and corporate perspective.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in personal insolvency as consumer credit has become more available, and debt relief and forgiveness solutions have developed. The 1986 Insolvency Act introduced the Individual Voluntary Arrangement as an alternative to bankruptcy and usually with no court involvement.

“The stigma involved in using one of the personal insolvency procedures has been greatly reduced, although not eliminated, and it provides those in financial difficulty with choices to help with debt forgiveness and or repayment of debts.  Legislation has also been introduced in the last few years to give those in debt a ‘breathing space’, so again aimed at reducing the pressure of personal debt and having a period of time to consider options going forwards,” said Andrew.

Andrew first joined Larking Gowen in Norwich back in 1980, to start his training as a Chartered Accountant, then left the following year to study for his ACCA examinations at Norwich City College.

He then began a 29-year career with the Insolvency Service, which started at the Official Receivers Office in Norwich in 1983, moving to become the Deputy Official Receiver, at Southend in 1991, before he was seconded to the Insolvency Service Policy Unit in London in 1996.

The following year, he returned to Southend as Deputy Official Receiver, and in 1998 was appointed as Official Receiver in St Albans. In March 2002, he transferred to Official Receiver in Norwich.

2012 saw his return to Larking Gowen as Director of Insolvency, becoming a partner in April 2014.

“When I decided it was time for me to move on from the Insolvency Service, I didn’t have to look far. My first choice was to return to Larking Gowen, the firm where I started out, and where some of my former colleagues were still working. It’s reputation for dedication to client service and looking after people was an important part of that decision,” said Andrew.

“The future brings even more changes, with the Insolvency Service looking to be the sole regulator of all practitioners and conducting a review of 40-year-old legislation to decide if it’s still fit for purpose,” he added.

As well as his role at Larking Gowen, Andrew is Director of the Joint Insolvency Examinations Board (JIEB), and a committee member of the Smaller Practices Group (SPG) of R3 (The Insolvency Practitioners Trade Association.)

Image provided by Larking Gowen.

Undaunted by COVID-19, regional law firm Ashtons Legal has continued with a strategic management change planned before the pandemic took hold, and appointed a new Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Ben Hallatt, who initially joined the firm in 2017 as a Business Manager for the firm’s Business Law Group, steps up to take on the role with immediate effect.

In a further senior change, Norwich-based Partner Tom Bailey takes over the helm of the regional Commercial Disputes team while also moving from employee to becoming an owner of the business.

Both Ben and Tom are relishing their new roles in spite of the challenges presented by the current difficult trading positions.

Ben comments: “Like almost all businesses, Ashtons has been forced to do things differently over the past couple of months. The challenge ahead is ensuring that we don’t go back to ‘business as usual’ as some sort of normality returns, but instead capitalise on the benefits that we are seeing from enhanced use of technology and agile working with a vastly reduced carbon footprint. I’m very much looking forward to working with all at Ashtons to make this happen.”

Tom adds: “Our Commercial Disputes team continues to thrive and I’m delighted to have been asked to lead such a talented team of lawyers. Through our use of technology and agile-working, focusing on our clients’ commercial needs in a uniquely challenging time has been seamless. Our readiness to match commercial objectives with bespoke pricing for our own fees – including through Escalate – has kept much-needed cash flowing into our clients’ businesses, something that has really set us apart.”

Ed O’Rourke, Ashtons’ CEO, says: “Ben has done a sterling job as a Business Manager for our Corporate and Commercial teams but what we now need is a firm-wide approach to continuous change and Ben has the right skill set to help us deliver that. I am very much looking forward to working with him to help steer the Ashtons ship into its next phase of development.”

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia customers are advised to check before they travel due to industrial action taking place this weekend (Saturday 29 July) and next week (Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August).

The RMT trade union has announced strike action on Saturday 29 July. As a result, trains will be running across the company’s network between 07:00 and 23:00, with many routes having a normal or near normal service between those hours, but some routes having a reduced frequency and certain routes seeing no services at all.

The services which will not run at all are as follows:

Ipswich – Felixstowe
Manningtree – Harwich Town
Colchester – Walton-on-the-Naze via Colchester Town
Bishop’s Stortford – Stratford
Hertford East – London Liverpool Street
Meridian Water – Stratford

A summary of the service patterns for each route on 29 July are provided at the end of this release and more details are available on the Greater Anglia website.

Separate industrial action short of a strike, called by the ASLEF trade union, will affect the Greater Anglia network between the start of Monday 31 July and the end of Saturday 5 August inclusive.

It means there will be a small number of cancellations on most Greater Anglia routes while the action takes place.

A full list of the trains that will be cancelled from 31 July to 4 August inclusive is provided at the end of this release, as well as on the Greater Anglia website.

Alterations for Saturday 5 August are still being worked on and will be published as soon as possible.

Action short of a strike has also been announced by ASLEF for Monday 7 August to Saturday 12 August. This action is likely to have a similar impact to next week’s action, i.e. a small number of cancellations on most routes, but details will be confirmed as soon as they are available.

On all days affected by industrial action there is a risk of short notice service alterations or cancellations.

Other train operators are also affected by both sets of industrial action.

Passenger assistance arrangements will be available as usual on all days, but anyone requiring assistance should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said: “While the majority of services will be running as normal during the periods affected by industrial action, there will be some alterations and cancellations across our network, plus some routes where no trains will run at all on 29 July.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these service alterations and advise customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.”

Customers can find all train times by using journey planners on either National Rail Enquiries or www.greateranglia.co.uk

The full list of train frequencies by route for Saturday 29 July and alterations and cancellations for Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August is shown below.

Image provided by Greater Anglia