Member Blog

The recent weather that the UK has been having of late has highlighted to us – as experienced and qualifiedsign makers and fitters – just how important it is not to scrimp when it comes to making sure all types of signage are fitted correctly from first installation.

We are the UK and Ireland’s leading signs and graphics company – and we didn’t get that accolade by chance. It’s come from making sure all of our centres undergo the correct training, have the right ethics and take pride in everything they do. Being the leading company in the industry doesn’t always make us the most price competitive – not because we’re in it to ‘make a quick buck’ but because we know the true cost of designing, printing and installing quality signs – and this in turn is reflected in the quotes that we provide.

In the past, our honest pricing policy has seen us lose out on business to other sign makers who perhaps don’t realise the importance on investing in the right equipment, fixtures and fittings when completing a sign project. With the weather we are having at the moment, many of these companies have now been back in touch with our centres because their original signage and fixtures, installed by one of our cheaper competitors, has since rotted and is no longer safe – in some instances the signs have indeed blown free from their fixtures and are in fact hazardous.

We’re obviously more than happy to correct these problems and we always make sure that all the signs that we produce are fitted using industry standard procedure and the correct materials for the job. What we’d really like to see, however, is a change in the mentality to all sign making companies. Yes, corners can be cut and prices driven down – but for what gain? We believe public safety to be the utmost importance and would never fit any signage without making sure it was as safe and secure as possible.

Next time you need a quote from a sign maker, take a detailed look at the costs provided – if the value for fixtures and fittings looks too low compared to the other quotes you’ve received there’s probably a reason. Make sure you investigate it thoroughly before rubbing your hands together in glee at the few pounds you may save yourself in the short run because it could end up costing you much more in the future.

For more information on the quality of service, products, materials, fixtures and fittings you can expect if you approach one of the 70 Signs Express centres across the UK and Ireland, then Managing Director, Craig Brown, would be more than happy to discuss our ethics and policies with you.

Make sure you wrap up warm in these high winds and floods, look out for one another and most importantly stay safe.

The first rule of marketing: know your customer.

The second rule of marketing: really know your customer.

I can’t emphasise it enough. No amount of flashy marketing will help your business if you’re not targeting it at the right people. And the only way to make sure you’re reaching the right people with the right messages is to know who you need to speak to in the first place. Marketing is, after all, about satisfying a customer need. It may sound really obvious, but it’s often overlooked – an expensive mistake to make.

What should you know about your customer?

The specifics of what you need to know about your customer will vary slightly depending on the type of business you’re running, but here are some suggestions:

Where are they? If you’re a plumber, for example, you may well be targeting a local area. But how wide should your target market be? If you’re offering a wider service, is it national or international? Are most of your customers focused in certain areas?

What are they looking for? If you’re a pub, for example, are most of your customers (or potential customers) looking for somewhere to have a quiet drink? Or are they after some food, or somewhere they can bring the kids? What’s important to your customers?

What would motivate them to choose you? Is price the most important factor, or is it quality? Is it where your goods come from? Is a personal service important to them?

Where would they start if they were looking for your goods or service? Would they search online? Or ask a friend? Or might they simply be driving by and like what they see?

How much are they willing to pay for your goods or service? How affluent are your customers? Are you pricing yourself correctly? Would customers like to see different pricing options for your service (e.g. for different delivery times)?

How can you find out?

As a small business, you might not be in the position to commission an extensive piece of market research to find out more about your customers. Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take yourself to get to know your customers better.

1) Speak to them. You don’t need to grill every customer that comes your way, but it’s helpful to ask, for example, how they heard about you.

2) Analyse the data you already have. What can you already tell about your customers from any previous sales? Can you begin to define their geographic location? What are most people ordering or buying and what is the average spend?

3) Use social media. Never before has it been so easy to have a conversation with your customers. Building up a business network on social media can take time, but you could even use your personal Facebook account. Ask your friends to imagine they were looking for your business and tell you where they’d start and what they’d look for.

4) Run a short online survey. You can create a simple online survey for free using an online tool like survemonkey.com . It’s really simple and it collects all your results so you can see them easily. Let people know about it on your invoice/receipt/menu and offer an incentive to get them to complete it. This is also a great way to collect testimonials that you can use on your website and marketing literature (just make it clear on the survey that you might use any quotes in this way).

5) Run a focus group. There is an art to running a great focus group, but getting a few of your target market into a room and asking them a few questions could still give you some valuable feedback. Just remember they are only a small sample and may not be representative of all your customers.

6) Use free tools like Google Analytics. If you have a website, you should have Google Analytics running behind the scenes. This will give you lots of data about your site visitors to help build up a picture of who they are and what they want from you.

What next?

Once you’ve built up a pretty good picture of who your customers are and what motivates them, you can use this information to plan some really targeted marketing to help you grow your business.

For example, if most of your customers say they would start trying to find you by searching online, you need to make sure your website looks great and that it ranks well in Google. If customers say they’re mainly motivated by price, you could try running a special offer for a short time to attract new customers. If you’d like to expand your geographic reach, find out where your customers are at the moment, then target the next town or village out with a leaflet drop, local advert or event.

The one thing you can be sure of is that being clear who your customer is, or indeed who you want them to be if you’re just getting started, will help you plan your marketing more effectively. Good marketing always starts with the customer.

A well thought out and executed staff survey can be gold dust to your organisation’s development plan, but how do you go about it?!

As luck would have it, Pure has just launched the 2014 Best Employer, Eastern Region (BEER for short) staff survey with our partner eras ltd. Designed for organisations large and small in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk or Suffolk, this survey is free (yes, free!) to implement. It’s your perfect opportunity to gauge how you’re doing as an employer. First ran in 2012, this tried-and-tested survey has helped employers including Benefit Cosmetics, the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Jackson Civil Engineering and creative agency Spring continue to develop their corporate culture and values to the benefit of staff, customers and the whole organisation. You also receive advice and guidance throughout the process, and a free tailored report (also free) which you can download instantly at any point in the process. Not only that, but you could also scoop a ‘Best Employer’ award, presented at our Best Employer seminars in your region this autumn! The survey covers a broad spectrum of themes that, together, form the corner stones of good business practise, employee wellbeing and customer loyalty. When the results are reported back, you’ll get an accurate insight into aspects that are going brilliantly, and which areas need improvement with valuable guidance on how best to do so. Here are a few examples of those key themes… 1. Communication Staff communications are essential in keeping your staff engaged in your organisation’s developments. It’s also vital for workers to have forums where they can voice their ideas and opinions. Noticeboards, newsletters, access to management and clear HR procedures are all forms of internal communications, which are critical to building staff trust, and, therefore, commitment. 2. Customer focus Customer service is not only key to successful business; it can also impact on your employee’s own pride in their work. Knowing how to meet your customers’ needs can help your staff do their jobs well. By misjudging customer requirements your employees may be at the receiving end of negative feedback and will struggle to feel as if they’re able to do their work well. It helps everyone by getting to know your customers and keeping up to date of changing trends.

3. Quality working standards Providing an excellent standard of working practises can positively influence employees’ attitude to work. An audit of internal procedures and conversations with staff about how you can improve efficiency is a great way to start this process 4. Innovation When an organisation uses innovation and motivates employees to create ideas, it leads to new ways of working, improved customer satisfaction and increased income. Innovation is also essential if you want to stay ahead of the curve in your industry, and offer customers something unique. Your employees also get to use a wide range of skills and feel part of something exciting in being among the first to explore new techniques. 5. Team work When working in teams staff feel supported and collaboration with others can be instrumental in enhancing their wellbeing. When a team is working towards the same goal, but accountable for their own contributions, everyone feels part of a broader vision, which is essential for employee morale and to create that all-important sense of achievement. 6. Physical environment Giving staff a positive, comfortable working environment cannot be underestimated in terms of boosting their performance. Everyone wins by creating a workplace that employees look forward to walking into every morning, and know that their mental and physical health isn’t put at risk.

If the opportunity to get your employees involved in a survey sounds interesting, when we tell you that the usual value of the survey is around £2,000, we’re pretty sure you’d like to find out more! The survey is available for a limited time only and closes in July. Get the ball rolling today by talking to Anna Hill, Marketing Manager at Pure, on: 01223 209888 or [email protected].

TELEPHONE FRAUD

Telephone Fraud, Phone Hacking, Dial Through Fraud, Phreaking – whatever you want to call it, this sophisticated crime is real and is happening in the UK now.

The recent economic down-turn is seeing a rise in this form of criminal activity and the UK is one of the top 5 countries being hit and it is currently reported to be costing UK businesses around £1.3 billion per year.

Typically, criminals will hack into your phone system on weekends, public holidays and outside your office hours when they are least likely to be detected and usually will call out to premium or international numbers. It is hard to say how much telephone fraud could cost your business, but it can range from £1,000 to over £90,000 depending on the destination dialed, the number of calls made and how long it is allowed to continue before being detected and stopped.

Many businesses will think it won’t happen to them or affect them if it does. What they do not realise is, that the liability of the debt caused by this criminal act lies with the company or person contracting the phone lines. Due to the nature of the fraud, justice is very rarely served and any recovery of costs is primarily based on your insurance cover and maybe any goodwill that your provider may offer.

There are some simple steps your business, system maintainers or phone line provider can take to reduce the risk of phone hacking:

Bar Premium and International Numbers

If your business does not need to make international or premium rate calls, ask your line provider to put a bar in place so they cannot be made.

Lock Down Phone Systems and Change PINs and Pass Codes

Phone hacking is most commonly perpetrated by gaining access to a company’s internal telephone system or PBX. Often, this is achieved by dialing in and accessing the voicemail, then they set up a call divert to another number (often an expensive international destination). It is essential that you change your voicemail PIN / pass code on a regular basis (and ensure they are not still set to the default “1234”). If you don’t require the dial through or divert facilities on your phone system, disable them or ask your system maintainer to do so.

Make Sure You Are Alerted To Suspicious Activity

Where you can, set up email alerts with your provider to highlight any unusual activity.

Check Any Firewalls Attached To Your Phone System

Make sure any firewall has as many ports disabled as possible and has a strong password.

DON’T BE A VICTIM, TAKE ACTION NOW AND PREVENT CRIMINALS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR PHONE SYSTEM

With the glamorous movie industry award season upon us, we’re joining the buzz of the glitzy ceremonies by adding our own little twist.

Not only is it the Hollywood elite hoping for recognition for their hard work, but we want employers in the East of England to also seek out awards that’ll boost their profile. A bit of media coverage always helps – whether you’re the amazing Cate Blanchett or alocal cupcake baker. The benefits of making the finalist list, let alone winning, are multiple.

But before you start indulging in the fantasy of working your way to the stage in your tuxedo or oscar style frock to collect your award, let’s go back to the beginning. Let’s look at how you can win the award in the first place!

1. Read criteria and eligibility guidelines

Before putting in any work into the application make sure your organisation is actually eligible. Check the rules for geographic restrictions, size of workforce, turnover or form of organisation (e.g. social enterprise, profit-making or charity). Also, think about cherry-picking aspects of your business that meet the award’s criteria. So you have a strong sustainability policy? Do you have a highly successful employee engagement strategy, which is reaping fantastic results?

2. Check the small print

As with many competitions worthy of winning, there are rules to obey! Take the time to read every word so you don’t complete an application only to have it disqualified immediately. Find out if you can enter more than one category. And, importantly, note the submission deadline. Mark it in big red letters on your wall planner, in your private diary and in colleagues’ diaries if they’re involved. Miss the deadline even by one hour and you could be left bitterly disappointed.

3. Find out who the judges are

Researching the judging panel could help you plan your application. For example, including case studies of projects that are of more interest to middle managers when the judges are director level, you probably won’t do yourself any favours. Show them something new or show off your innovation. Whatever you do, blow their socks off with a relevant application that is aimed at senior decision-makers.

4. Understand the scoring system

Do you know how the awards will be scored? Will you be scored highly on areas that you feel may be your weaker points? If so, is it worth applying this year? By looking at the scoring you can plan your application strategically and pull out areas of your work that are appropriate to the highest scoring sections.

5. Ask questions

Some award programmes offer webinars or videos to help applicants with the process. Alternatively, give the organisers a call to go through your questions. It’s always better to make sure you have everything straight before you even so much as fill out your name on the application form.

6. Write inspired words

Completing award applications can be a bit of a time-consuming exercise, but don’t let your language reflect your fatigue! Remember, the judges are likely to be busy professionals who are looking for applications that grab their attention immediately. Although some of the text may need to be a little dry (to describe services or functions for instance), you can still make your narrative engaging. Aim to build excitement through your writing – include the best results, key customer benefits, favourite testimonials and use words that have an impact (but don’t go over board since you’re not writing the awards speech – yet!).

7. Always be truthful

You can talk about being the best in your field, but stick to the facts. Don’t exaggerate or be dishonest; if you get the award your customers are likely read about why you won. If they recognise misleading information you can bet they’ll either question you, leave you or, even worse, tell the world about it via their social media networks.

8. Proofread your application

Get someone else to give the application a final proof before you submit it. Especially if you’ve left it until the last minute and it’s been a bit of a rushed job (it happens!). If you want the application to reflect your organisation’s excellence in your application, typos and bad grammar will drag down the quality and undermine your chance of being shortlisted.

As a quick, final summary: choose your awards and categories carefully, plan your approach and put effort into it. If you’ve done a good job, you’ll soon be dusting off that black-tie outfit and practising your Oscar-worthy smile for the cameras. Good luck – we’ll keep our fingers crossed for you!

Your business has gone well and now you have too much work to do!

So now, you think you need an employee to grow the business.

Firstly, if you are doing everything, look at the admin tasks you can give to someone else or automate.

For example, who enjoys doing the bookkeeping or procedures.

• There are good bookkeepers who are freelance. For as little as an hour a week, they will keep things in order and probably lower the accountant’s fee at the end of the year.
• There are health and safety specialists who write procedures for a living.
• There are people who word process from dictation at all hours.
• Use something like google diaries and ask for access to your subcontractors’ diaries.
• There are others.

After these adjustments, you will spend more time using your real expertise with less irritation. If you still have more than enough work. Do you know others that will freelance with you and not steal your customers?

Draw up an agreement you can find sources to cover the issues. However, the experience, loyalty and motivation of the person are much more important. What will they do when tempted with short-term gain versus delayed gratification? If they do not pass this test, you do not want them. (put Marshmallow Test into Google).

You need to make sure they are really self-employed see https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/esi.htm None of the above involves any major change in cash flows. If you want to take on an employee, it does involve looking at cash flow and the employment laws.

If you have made the decision to join the Chamber to promote your business or to get involved in the network that works together to affect the business landscape, you will be part of a dynamic business network with forward thinking businesses.

Members are the ‘DNA’ of the Chamber and successful businesses members need an equally dynamic and forward thinking Chamber to help them grow even further. Working with our members, we have developed a range services that support you in being more successful in business, by offering a comprehensive range of systems, events and services to enable forward thinking businesses to have a platform from which they can really boost their local business profile and learn from other successful business leaders.

So how do our successful business members use the Chamber services? Well, below are some great tips on the kinds of services that our dynamic businesses use as Chamber Members:

1. Promote their business successes in our online media: You don’t have to leave your office to engage with the Chamber and our members. Being loud and proud about your achievements or your work in the community can have a huge impact on your brand profile and get your business recognised. We allow members to upload their good news stories on our website at www.norfolkchamber.co.uk. Popular articles will be considered for this magazine so make your content count;

Tip: When you use our online media, remember that we then promote that content via our social media channels to thousands of businesses, so it’s vital to make sure you have content that is engaging and will grab people’s attention.

1. Offer other Chamber members a discount on products and services: Being together as part of the network means your amongst likeminded business who may be your next customer. Why not upload a Chamber exclusive special offer to our website for other members to enjoy.

Tip: Use our media to promote a launch of a new service or product and then why not link your article to a special offer for members to maximising your exposure.

1. Learn from other successful businesses at our free training sessions: Our Chamber sessions are free and run by Norfolk’s very own top business professionals who will give tips and training in their field,. They are designed to give you a whole range of business topics to choose from that will really help you take those steps in growing and bettering your business.

Tip: If you have looked at the above tip and wondered “what kind of content shall I promote?” Then why not attend our Online Digital media range to get some tips on content for your articles and using online media to promote yourself effectively.

1. Stand out and share your knowledge with a blog: You no doubt are a professional in what you do or you may have had success in a certain area of business so why not share this knowledge to the business community and raise your personal and business profile. Our Knowledge section of our website enables you to upload your very own professional blog that will be sent out via social media for others to enjoy.
2. Get Involved and allocate time to attend Chamber events, Its time well spent: All too often I get told by members that they “don’t have time to attend events”. Attending events should be a fundamental part of your business development plan and enables you to interact with other business leaders who may be your next customer or may point you to someone who is. They may even just give you that key piece of advice that takes you and your business to the next level.

Tip: Don’t avoid policy orientated or political events. In fact if you can only attend a few then pick those. Our region’s most influential businesses are part of the Chamber because they want to help us influence policy and have their say. Influential people in these organisations attend these events so if you want to meet our Gold Patrons and the decision makers of big and small businesses then these are defiantly a must.

1. Sponsor an event, it’s a very cost effect way to really grab people’s attention: The Norfolk Chamber events are well known for their high quality, influential speakers and attracting media attention. Sponsoring an event gives you instant brand exposure to senior business leaders not just at the event but via social media/website and even in the media. All this for a lot less money than you think.

Tip: Lots of businesses spend thousands of pounds on adverts in magazines and publications without considering sponsoring an event. You may be surprised to find the cost can be cheaper to sponsor a Chamber event and have a greater impact.

1. Get to know us: You have paid for your membership, so let us help you use it. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our membership team, who are on hand to help you with registering on the website, engaging with the services and give you advice on which events are available.

We want to know more about you so we can help you use our events and services to enable you maximise the benefits of your membership.

Please call 01603 625977 and press 1 for the membership team or e-mail [email protected]

Remember, getting involved is everything. Joining the Chamber is like joining a gym. If you don’t go and use it, you won’t get the benefits that you joined for in the first place.

The Food Information Regulations 2014– what do these mean for your business?

The Regulations, which come into force in December 2014, will require allergy information to be provided on non pre-packed foods including those sold in Catering & Licensed businesses such as pubs, hotels, restaurants, take-aways, staff canteens and cafés. In addition foods supplied at events will also be covered, e.g. wedding buffets. Under the rules, the 14 food allergens listed in the Regulation, including peanuts, milk, eggs and cereals containing gluten, will need to be specifically highlighted to customers.

The purpose of the Regulations is to reduce the incidence of allergen adverse reaction by consumers eating undeclared allergens.

Food Business Operators will be able to provide allergy information in the ways that best suit their individual business. Some businesses will have fixed menus, others menus that are changing frequently. The provision of information on a menu, a chalkboard or as part of a conversation with staff will secure compliance with the Regulations. However, in reality it is likely to be difficult to demonstrate effective compliance if a business relies only on verbal communication by staff.

Therefore, if your business sells non pre-packed foods you should begin to review your menus, train staff, engage with suppliers as to ingredients and review food preparation (in terms of cross-contamination) over the coming months, to ensure that they will be in a position to comply with the Regulation from 13th December 2014 onwards.

The regulations will be enforced by both Environmental Health & Trading Standards Staff from the local council

The key messages for Food Business Operators are;

• Make sure that the information that you have on your ingredients is up to date
• Keep up to date ingredients information for any ready-made foods that are bought in (for example, packaging, or website details from your suppliers)
• When preparing food, make sure you know what is in the ingredients you are using- for example cooking oils, dressings, toppings, sauces, garnishes- again this will need to be kept up to date
• Ensure you staff are aware of allergens, and what to do when any ingredient or menu changes are made
• Think about how allergenic ingredients are stored and labelled on your premises
• Be careful of cross contamination- boards, utensils, serving spoons, woks etc
• Thoroughly clean work surfaces and equipment, and wash hands before making food for someone with an allergy

The new allergen requirements will also apply to labels on pre-packed foods. Pre-packed foods containing any of the 14 allergenic ingredients must be labelled so that the allergenic ingredients are clearly referred to. Allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list of a product using a different typeset (for example bold). The ‘allergy information boxes’ that customers in the UK are familiar with will not be permitted if they repeat the allergens in the ingredients list, but can be used to refer customers to the ingredients list.

Responsibility for the information on labels will rest with the operator under whose name the food is marketed or the importer into the EU (so for ‘own brand’ products, the responsibility will rest with the brand). However, even operators (including retailers) who do not affect the information at all, must not supply food which they know or presume has non-compliant labelling.

The regulators & the Food Standards Agency will be issuing guidance before December and indeed the FSA has updated its online Allergy training- this is open to all; the training can be found here https://food.gov.uk/policy-advice/allergyintol/#.UtcANdJdW8A This training is suitable for business owners & senior members of staff, who can then go on to train other staff

Businesses will be committing an offence if;

• The Food Safety Management System lacks Allergen Management Practices
• There is poor training/ knowledge/ understanding
• There is poor communication from the business to the consumer

In England and Wales, the primary mechanism for enforcement will be information & guidance followed by the issuing of improvement notices & sampling in accordance with councils’ Enforcement Policies; The primary objective is to achieve compliance in the most effective way. Interventions by the Enforcing Authorities will be in accordance with risk – think “reasonably practicable” & “due diligence” Appeals to improvement Notices will be to Tribunals (more guidance will be issued in due course). Enforcement officers will enquire about Allergen Management on routine inspections and advisory visits, but will also respond to incidents & complaints

In summary, before December Food Business Operators should;

• Understand Allergens & the link into your current Food Safety Management System/ HACCP
• Decide what system your business needs to comply
• Ensure staff are trained and aware
• Communicate with consumers

If you happen to be a natural introvert, the very thought of promoting yourself at work probably feels more like an unwelcome chore rather an opportunity to develop your career. Also, the Brits’ rather polite culture can make self-selling seem a bit crass.

However, there are moments in our working life when we really shouldn’t shy away from the spotlight – especially when everyone stands to benefit.

We all know someone who talks very loudly about their numerous accomplishments and, understandably, you may prefer to avoid becoming known as the office bragger. Yet, it’s very possible to get the attention you deserve without over-egging it. And there’s even a place for subtly.

At Pure we meet very talented professionals from Cambridgeshire, Essex Norfolk and Suffolk who feel daunted by this aspect of career progression. We don’t want you to risk being overlooked at work; read on to find out how you can self-promote without feeling too pushy!

1. Start with your confidence

You think that you’re great at your job. You may also suspect very strongly that if you left, your employer would find it difficult to replace you. Turn such beliefs into certainties: write down your key accomplishments and how they’ve helped the company. This can help build a strong foundation for greater self-assurance. People will notice without you uttering a word – confident body language does all the talking for you.

2. Bid farewell to fear

“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” So proclaimed former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt,. Take his words as inspiration. Look at what you’re afraid of when it comes to talking about achievements or putting forward ideas. Is it rejection? Are you scared of looking foolish? Acknowledge your doubts, but simply put them to one side and do it anyway. The chances are that you’ll discover you had nothing to worry about and that your ideas have made a valuable contribution

3. Impress others

Finding your voice isn’t just about communication. Passion is infectious and people want to work with colleagues who value what they do. Be open with colleagues about why you enjoy your job. Turn problems into obstacles that can be overcome by adopting a positive approach. Deliver consistently great work and offer to support others with advice. This way you’ll raise your profile while building solid relationships across the company.

4. Go beyond your comfort zone

If you want to be noticed for your achievements, you need to take steps to create them in the first place. By seeing things from different perspectives and exploring outside you’re usual routine you get to develop your skills and discover new abilities. You might even catch the eye of a senior colleague who needs someone like you to help create new opportunities for the business.

5. Be smart

Aimless bragging is not the way forward. It’s annoying for others and it can smack of over-compensating for lack of real skill. If you want to voice your opinion or highlight a recent success, choose your moment wisely. For instance, reminding your line manager of the big, new deal you’ve just reeled in at a team meeting probably won’t go down well if colleagues have been struggling and the mood is strained. It’s simple: think before you speak – timing is everything!

6. Show integrity

If you have a fantastic idea, make sure you have the knowledge and background research to back up why you think it would work. You need to be ready to answer questions without fudging it. A little preparation to construct your business case – whether it’s for a meeting or a one-to-one – will help keep you focused and confident.

Finding your voice without treading on toes may take effort, but it’s the sensible alternative to becoming the human version of a flashing neon sign. Let your talents glow and persuade, rather than dazzle and daze. It’s time to get out there and show them what you’re made of!

Business leaders from across the region attended the first ever Best Employer, Eastern Region (BEER) Festival at Ickworth Park near Bury St Edmunds November 15th 2013. The event was organised by Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure) specialist recruitment agency and eras ltd providers of psychometric testing and people development solutions.

Chief executives and managing directors were among delegates Norfolk attended the unique event, to find out more about how employee engagement can benefit their business and staff, and to share knowledge with their peers.

Footage of the presentations are now live on the website www.best-employers.co.uk or on YouTube link below…

For more information on the BEER please visit the website or call Lynn Walters on 01223 209888

Most family lawyers report an increase in the volume of enquiries after the festive period and in the first few weeks of January. Counsellors and GPs will also see an increase number of patients seeking support during the anguish of a relationship break down. After the Christmas period when most people have spent a longer time than normal with their families, cracks can begin to show in their relationships. Indeed, some may take the view a new year requires a new start.

Family lawyers frequently report that though January heralds an increase in enquires, it is not the only time of year when relationships struggle. Another spike in the number of enquiries is usually in September just after the school holidays when the pressure of entertaining the children and the cost can take its toll.

It is important to bear in mind that divorce and separation can be progressed in a dignified manner without costing the earth if a sensible approach can be adopted. Here is my top 10 guidance steps that may help if you are faced with this new year dilemma:

1. Make sure you have tried all options available to you to see whether you can make the relationship work. Have you looked at couples therapy or taken other professional guidance to see whether or not changes can be made to make the relationship work or to help you (both) manage the transition.
2. If your partner has told you the relationship is over burying your head in the sand and denying it is happening will almost certainly not help you or your partner. A great number of my new clients say they were terrified about the prospect of taking legal advice but the majority all say that after an initial consultation they feel much better, just for being armed with helpful and clear information reducing their fears and concerns of the unknown.
3. Think carefully about the benefits of having the help of a professional lawyer as compared to a DIY approach. Many people who attempt to deal with matters themselves come unstuck later down the line and it can prove more expensive to try to rectify these errors. Even if you decide to use the DIY approach you can still use a solicitor to provide background information and advice to ensure that the “wheels do not fall off”.
4. Be careful if you think you have agreed something verbally with your ex partner and then seek to rely on it. Agreements do0 need to be a formalised in writing – preferably with a court order.
5. Don’t be fearful of uncontrolled legal fees. You can seek to agreed them at the outset.. Make sure you are given a clear breakdown on how fees are charged and calculated so you understand what these are and be comfortable with them before you confirm your instructions to a lawyer.
6. Try to be pragmatic and reasonable if you can, and try to settle the matter rather than litigating which is timely and expensive. Arguing over matters of principle is rarely productive and will be stressful, time consuming and, probably, expensive.
7. Don’t think withholding details or information is the best way to proceed.as Almost invariably a lack of honesty and transparency with your lawyer will lead to an increase in your costs and can detrimentally impact upon your case.
8. Attempting to hide money is never a good idea and all lawyers will advise against this. Good forensic accountants and clever lawyers will always find hidden money. If you have done it, it will lead to severe court penalties, and a court order can be set aside (discharged) if the money is located after an agreement or court order has been obtained.
9. Make sure that you only settle the financial aspects of your divorce when you are happy with the quality and extent of the information that has been provided as once an agreement has been made in relation to finances it is difficult to alter and change.
10. Children- No matter how the divorce or separation has come about always try to keep your mind focussed on your children. It’s not their fault, and unless your divorce is managed carefully they are the ones who will probably suffer long into their adult lives. Consider creating a pack (often known as a parenting plan) with your ex, setting out “rules” and principles as to how you will co-parent. You should do this even as the divorce process starts, as it’s never too early to start working on this.

In conclusion, go and meet your lawyer and decide whether you are happy with him or her and that you feel comfortable with the advice they give you. Divorce is one of the most personal aspects of law you can ever be involved in and you need to be comfortable with your legal representative.

If you would like more information in respect of the contents of this article please contact Ginny Colman LLP on 01603 756431

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging businesses to focus on their legal responsibility to ensure lives are not put at risk and make the safety of workers their top priority for 2014.

The HSE advocates sensible Risk Management, and appreciates that life is not risk free, but local employers are urged to review their Health and Safety Management

The HSE has launched a fresh appeal as new figures show that 16 people lost their lives while at work across the East of England in 2012/13 and 1,923 suffered a major injury. This compares to 19 deaths and 2,116 major injuries the previous year. A step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go

The latest provisional figures show that the number of deaths across Great Britain has fallen in the last year, with 148 people killed at work, compared to 171 deaths during 2011/12. More than 20,600 workers also suffered a major injury in 2012/13, representing a 10.8 per cent drop on the previous year. Five in every million workers were killed while at work between April 2012 and March 2013.

High-risk industries still include construction which had 39 deaths last year, agriculture with 29 deaths, manufacturing with 20 deaths and waste and recycling with 10 deaths – making up over two-thirds of all workplace deaths in Great Britain during 2012/13.

Annette Hall, HSE Regional Director for the East of England said:

“The families of those workers in the East of England who lost their lives last year had to face Christmas without them and hundreds of other workers have had their lives changed forever by a major injury.

“Whilst the number of workplace deaths and major injuries has decreased nationally, these statistics highlight why we still need good health and safety in workplaces. I therefore urge employers to spend their time tackling the real dangers that workers face and stop worrying about trivial matters or pointless paperwork.

“It’s important to remember that while we still have one of the lowest rates of workplace deaths in Europe, one death is still one too many. I would urge businesses to focus on helping to cut the number of deaths further in 2014.” Information on tackling health and safety dangers in workplaces is available on HSE’s website at www.hse.gov.uk.

The website includes much free information which can be downloaded, and adapted to suit individual businessess. We particularly like the templates and would urge business owners and Health and Safety Managers / trainers to make full use of this resource