Apprenticeships Norfolk has launched a survey as part of a wider research project to capture insights and feedback from Norfolk businesses, in terms of understanding the challenges and barriers they face when considering setting up an apprenticeship in their organisation.
All businesses can fill it in – while we are very interested in the non-levy (SME) sized businesses in Norfolk, insights from larger organisations are also welcome. A business can complete the survey if they have had apprentices before, or if they haven’t – and the best bit, it is very quick to complete, under 3 minutes on average. The survey is completely anonymous (unless you choose to leave details if they would like us to make contact – however, this is completely optional).
The survey responses will help us shape future service offers to provide solutions that our Norfolk businesses tell us they need. Please could you help us to gain Norfolk-wide insight, by completing the survey? The link is here: https://forms.office.com/r/4DW6tAz1WP
As always, thank you in advance for your help/support – we really appreciate the opportunity to work together to understand more about our Norfolk businesses and how we can support increased apprenticeship activity.
Break has released details of its GoGoDiscover 2022 Learning & Community Programme, sponsored by Dipple & Conway Opticians, and is calling for schools, colleges and community groups from across the county to stomp on board and sign-up to get creative with a T.rex sculpture.
Once decorated, the smaller T.rex sculptures, named Breakasaurus, will join the larger sculptures on the GoGoDiscover trail in Summer 2022. The Breakasaurus sculptures will be exhibited across public spaces in cultural and leisure hubs across Norwich, before being returned to the schools and community groups who decorated them.
Peter Marron, GoGoDiscover project manager for Break, comments: “The learning and community programmes have always been an integral part of the success of our previous trails and I know that this one will be just as important and exciting for everyone involved. Norfolk is filled with so much creative talent and this project really offers young people the opportunity to show off their skills. The activity also inspires learning in the classroom and, in addition to receiving the amazing T.rex sculpture, the package includes a creative educational resource pack for teachers filled with lesson plans and fun activities for everyone to really sink their teeth into.”
Packages are available now with an early bird offer until 1st July 2021. However, there are a limited number of Breakasaurus sculptures available, as Peter continues: “The main objective from all the trails and this Learning & Community Programme is to raise vital funds for Break, so that we can continue giving children and young people living in care, on the edge of care or leaving care across the region, the time and support they need to achieve their full potential. I am grateful to Dipple & Conway for sponsoring the Learning & Community Programme and excited to be working with them to bring this wonderful educational programme to life. It is thanks to all our sponsors and partners who support the charity, that we can deliver such a fantastic programme of events.
The GoGoDiscover Learning & Community Programme is delivered by East Anglian based children’s charity Break, in partnership with Wild in Art. The main sponsor for the programme is Dipple & Conway Opticians, with support from Roarr! and Norfolk Museum Services.
Matthew Conway is a director of Dipple & Conway Opticians. “We loved being part of GoGoHares back in 2018 and being able to help Break to support local children and families,” says Matthew. “We knew we wanted to get involved with GoGoDIscover and the Learning & Community Programme sits perfectly within our values and ethos as an independent, family-owned business. We’re committed to providing the best possible clinical care, and eye-health education, to our clients and to playing an active role in the communities where we’re based. We are looking forward to working with Break, local schools and community groups over the next 18 months to help people discover their county and explore their creativity.”
Schools and community groups interested in getting involved in the Learning & Community Programme should visit break-charity.org/gogodiscover-2022
The first GoGoDiscover T.rex trail this summer takes place from Monday 12th July until Saturday 11th September 2021 and then the trail goes larger with even more T.rex and a new Steppe Mammoth sculpture to discover across Norfolk. Dates for the 2022 trail will be announced soon.
For more information about Break visit break-charity.org
Text TREX to 70085 to donate £3. Texts cost £3, plus one standard rate message. #GoGoDiscover
Ashtons Legal has recently donated over £5,000 to seven charities and causes across the Eastern region as part of the firm’s Wills Year campaign.
The Ashtons’ Wills Year campaign has run for a number of years and involves the firm making a donation to charity for each new Will completed and billed in an entire year.
The seven charities supported by the 2020-21 year are Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust in Cambridge, Arthur Rank Hospice, also in Cambridge, Gatehouse who are based in Bury St Edmunds, Norfolk Family Carers, Priscilla Bacon Hospice in Norwich, St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich and St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds. Each charity received £725.
Head of Individual Client Services at Ashtons Legal, Alan Brown said: “Due to the pandemic and the huge loss in only what can be described as a time of crisis for most charitable organisations in the UK, it is more important than ever to offer our support to the charities and causes close to us, and our clients. We are therefore delighted to be able to share funds with these hugely worthwhile causes who are vital in our local communities.”
When it comes to commercial interior design, it’s easy to get hung up on the visual impact of your space – but beware. The excitement of choosing fixtures, fittings and furniture may mean you overlook other important factors, such as workplace acoustics.
That’s why, at Layrd Design, we explore workplace acoustics at the start of your project. Plus, it ensures that all aspects of your workspace are fit for purpose. For instance, healthcare providers may need soundproof rooms to protect sensitive patient information, while hospitality and retail spaces often benefit from a little ambient noise.
As if the reasons above weren’t important enough, we should also mention that it can be difficult and expensive to retrofit acoustic measures once you’re up and running. Ignore them at your peril!
ABC of Workplace Acoustics
Interior designers and architects use three key techniques to manage sound:
<li d love to help you to find a solution. Simply give us a call on 01223 952992 or email [email protected].
We are delighted to be runners up for Tastiest Breakfast at the 2019 Eviivo Awards!
We were announced as runners up at the glittering black tie awards event at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms on Tuesday 15th October. The results were decided following a live cook-off, where our Head Chef Kieran Barrett cooked our famous full English breakfast for judges including celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager. The judges commented on the quality of our ingredients and how well everything was cooked. https://awards.eviivo.com/awards/tastiest-breakfast/
In this edition of Talking Business with Andy Gray, Local Enterprise Manager at Natwest Business our Director & Principal Consultant Darren Chapman talks about why cyber security is really important and what smaller businesses can do to better protect themselves…grab a drink and take half an hour to learn some valuable insights about small business cyber security…
Natwest business and the Local Enterprise Managers offer small businesses a wide range of support across the East of England through a range of programmes, services and partnerships all aimed at enabling local enterprises to flourish. This activity includes work with the local LEP, one to one mentoring and attendance at local events.
At CyberScale we are keen to work in partnership with organisations supporting the overall development of businesses in the region, with a focus on supporting businesses to protect themselves against the wide range of cyber threats they face so that they can concentrate on running and growing the business and not worrying all the time about the threats they face.
If you are concerned that your business needs some support in assessing what cyber risks mean for you, get in touch with us today and talk to one of our team about how we can support you or signpost you to some of the great resources available to you.
Two night package now bookable for January, February and March 2020
The Norfolk Mead will be your cosy, luxurious base for exploring the unspoilt, wild beauty of both the Broads National Park and the Norfolk coastline. Arrive on a Monday and relax in the the grounds of The Norfolk Mead. Enjoy Tea and Scones in our Lounge or Bar in front of our open fires. Indulge in a two course evening A la Carte dinner in our two Rosette AA awarded Restaurant, followed by a relaxing stay in a Deluxe room. Rise and shine on Tuesday for breakfast. After breakfast enjoy your tour presented by the amazing Helen Storer, Norfolk Photography Tours. Finish the day back at The Norfolk Mead with another relaxing two course dinner whilst you ponder the sights and delights you have captured on your photography day. Check out of your room on the Wednesday after enjoying a full A la Carte breakfast. During the winter months, the landscape is stunningly fresh and bewitching. Following your photographic adventures, warm up by the fire and enjoy a delicious and innovative meal at The Norfolk Mead, made with the best local ingredients. Explore the unique surroundings of Norfolk through a lens. Package priced at £690.00 for two guests. Contact the team at The Norfolk Mead for more information on 01603 737 531 or via [email protected]. Available to book for January, February and March 2020. Please note: Own transport required for the tour. Location maps will be provided.
With two weeks to go until The Platinum Jubilee Beacons, organisers have announced that over 2,800 beacons will be lit all over the UK and Commonwealth.
On Thursday 2nd June, the first day of the Jubilee Weekend:
Over 2,800 beacons will be lit by charities, community groups, local councils, and others all over the UK.
Beacons will be lit in all 54 Commonwealth member states, with the first ones expected to be lit in Tonga and Samoa, and the final one in Belize.
The Principal Beacon will be lit at Buckingham Palace by a Senior Royal. This will take the form of a lighting installation with The Queen’s Green Canopy ‘Tree of Trees’ sculpture and projections onto the front of Buckingham Palace.
Some highlights of beacon lighting in the UK include:
Scouts are lighting at least 70 beacons in honour of their Patron, The Queen. These range from as far south as Cornwall all the way up to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They’ll be lit as far west as Merthyr Tydfil and as far east as the Norfolk Broads. One in Wilton, Wiltshire will be lit in the same place and by the same Scout Group where a beacon was lit on the night of the Coronation.
At least 70 beacons will be lit by Girlguiding members in honour of their Patron, The Queen, across the UK and beyond to mark each year the Queen has been on the throne. Girlguiding has also created a virtual beacon that the charity will be ‘lighting’ on Girlguiding Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages at 9.45pm on Thursday 2 June.
Walking With The Wounded will light beacons on the four highest peaks of the UK: Ben Nevis, Scotland; Scafell Pike, England; Mount Snowdon, Wales; and Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland.
Over 40 beacons will be lit at 30 locations across the communities of Hadrian’s Wall Country from Muncaster to South Shields, forming a chain of light of more than 120 miles.
Beacons will be lit at other historic sites such as Lambeth Palace, the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle, and the Royal Estates of Sandringham and Balmoral.
As well as traditional beacon lighting, other creative ways will be used by individuals and communities to mark the Queen’s Jubilee. These include:
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is lighting a sustainable beacon, outside of the Werneth Building on Fountain Street in in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Old and broken hospital beds will be melded into a crown-shaped beacon, which will be illuminated in a light display.
Illuminated River, the world’s longest public artwork, will be lighting up nine central London Thames Bridges in a celebratory sequence of majestically evolving colour and light.
Iconic buildings like BT Tower will be lighting up.
Several English Cathedrals – namely, Durham, Ely, Lichfield, Peterborough and Rochester – will all be lighting up red, white, and blue.
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, said:
“The Queen has lit up the nation and the Commonwealth for 70 years, and it is only fitting that we do the same for her. It’s amazing to see the range of charities, community groups, and faith groups taking part. For the first time ever, we are taking beacons all over the Commonwealth, to each of the 54 countries. It’s wonderful to see people wishing to take part in so many ways from traditional beacon lighting and bonfires to lighting up buildings and monuments.”
Dr Mathew Hampshire-Waugh is the author of Climate change and the road to net zero but doesn’t describe himself as an environmentalist; the self-confessed ‘city boy’ simply wants to give the climate change low-down to those people not already sold on it. His book has been described as; “Blowing away the entrenched idea that solving climate change is a trade-off between the economy and environment to reveal why a twenty-year transition to NET-ZERO is a win-win for all on planet Earth”.
Mathew has a science background, which led to a varied career where he worked on improving building energy efficiency, and later with technology trend companies within the investment banking sector. His book describes how energy usage has affected civilisation over the centuries, the problem economists are now facing, and the impact inaction will have on our future. He chats to James and Mark about the path forward including how we need to adapt our personal and business lives, without compromising on quality, and the cost implications.
The team discuss everything from the impact of fossil fuels and what transition plans businesses need to put in place, to the investment opportunities available for businesses. Mathew offers up alternatives and ‘swaps’ that we can all make in our personal lives, and the personal actions we can all take, including buying green, and investing in renewables. He deep dives into how businesses need to lead from the front, and how the UK, as one of the world’s richest economies, needs to take responsibility and act.
There is something for everyone in this episode, whether you’re in the know on climate change, or on the fence. Mathew even has an invaluable tip for how you use your boiler, which is not to be missed!
A special delivery has brought Christmas joy to families receiving care and support from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Every year EACH hosts a Christmas party for children, young people and their families and thanks to Loads4Less, the Norwich-based removals and storage firm, party equipment and presents were delivered from Quidenham hospice to the party venue at the Norfolk Showground ensuring everyone had a great time.
Staff from Loads4Less gave up their time voluntarily to deliver presents to the party free of charge as well as delivering and returning equipment; saving the charity valuable funds, resources and staff time.
Megan Seaman, EACH Facilities Coordinator at Quidenham hospice, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the generous support from Loads4Less which saved us a great deal of time and money and ensured the party ran smoothly. All of the families had a great time and it was lovely to see so many smiles when Father Christmas came to visit to hand out the presents. Volunteers are vital to EACH as Loads4Less have proved.”
Loads4Less Director Adam Soall said: “As a business, we feel it’s important to support our local community, and we can’t think of a more worthy charity to support than EACH because of the amazing work they do.
“It was a delight to offer our services free of charge to ensure the party was a great success, and to ensure EACH staff didn’t have to spend their valuable time doing deliveries. We’re looking forward to continuing supporting EACH and all the future opportunities the relationship will bring. It’s rewarding to support a local charity and we’d encourage other businesses and individuals to get involved.”
To find out more about EACH visit www.each.org.uk and to find out more about volunteering at EACH please contact the charity’s Volunteer Services Administrator: [email protected] or call 01223 205183
Huxley Events are delighted to announce the launch of a fresh, new virtual team experience “Property Empire”! Perfect of groups from 10-100+ Guests wanting to immerse themselves into something completely new!
An exciting, unique and never done before, realistic glimpse into the complex world of real estate investing
Created by real life investors who are walking the walk and talking the talk
If you’re looking for a new experience to get your team talking and their hearts racing then this is the one for you.
The aim of the game is for teams to build a property portfolio, accumulating as much wealth as possible.
The winning team are the team with the most money at the end. They do this through three rounds and during each, they acquire varying amounts of investment properties and cash. Their choices at the start of each round, and their success in navigating the different challenges that await, will determine their position at the end.
After a short introduction into the world of property investing, teams will be given the choice of what investment strategy they want to follow first. Their choice will determine their possible score, which will add to their wealth.
The first round is a series of property-themed multiple-choice riddles and brain teasers, with questions designed to engage all participants, varying from mathematical puzzles to wordy brain teasers (no prior knowledge of the property world required).
Round 2 then takes teams to their second choice of strategy. After they have decided their investment route, they must work through a series of light hearted but realistic, hypothetical property-based scenarios (scenarios range from tenant issues to moral dilemmas, to how to deal with shady investors). With each scenario teams must decide what kind of investor they want to be, and how much risk they are willing to take. This will really test a team’s communication, risk analysis and decision-making skills, whilst giving them a glimpse into the ever surprising, and sometimes murky world of real estate.
The final round is a series of fast paced questions and challenges, where a team effort is required if they are to answer all the questions in time. The questions are fun and interesting, and are based on wealth and real estate.
In between rounds, teams will see their wealth increase or decrease before their very eyes, based on their decisions and scores, encouraging competition and excitement. In addition, throughout the event, teams will have the opportunity to boost their wealth through bonus questions, and other surprise elements. However, as is true in the real world of property investing, teams’ journeys won’t always be plain sailing. There will be curve balls and setbacks, which could damage their investments, and ultimately jeopardise their position on the leader board. It will be down to each team to decide how to respond!
Are you brave enough to build your empire?
Contact the Huxley Team to chat about your event, or event for your client! www.huxleyevents.com or call 01953 308386