Member Blog

We were delighted to welcome Fiona Ryder, President of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, as our guest speaker for the Women’s Leadership Programme Sponsors’ Dinner on Wednesday 30thJanuary.

As one of only two women to ever hold the office of President at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, in her inaugural speech Fiona expressed her desire to promote the modernisation of corporate culture and boardrooms to ensure better economic outcomes. As a real champion of initiatives that effect positive change for our region, the award-winning entrepreneur, mother of three and prominent business leader was an inspiring guest.

We also took the opportunity to interview Fiona and share more about her career progression, her new role as president of the Chamber and her ambitions to help businesses recognise where they may be limiting their economic growth by conscious or unconscious bias.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I started my first company at the age of 26 and I’ve since grown several successful businesses including The Cube Group of Companies, an in-store audio visual and marketing business for high street retailers, which I sold for a seven-figure sum to a plc in 2006. Many local people will be familiar with my role as the founding Managing Director of Mustard TV. Being involved from the start meant developing the local TV station from scratch, including writing the winning bid to secure the licence from Ofcom.

I’m currently the Managing Director of TCD Media, a broadcast and digital production company based in Norfolk. Alongside this, I hold a range of Non-Executive Director positions including the Ipswich Building Society and the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce. I’m a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Honorary Treasurer of the Royal Television Society (East).

1. Why did you agree to speak at the Women’s Leadership Programme event in January?

I know it can be hard to deal with prejudice and negative stereotypes of women in the workplace, whether it is conscious or unconscious bias in a culture where women are still largely the ones to take career breaks while raising a family. The next generation of female leaders need to be empowered to take their rightful positions. I hope that by sharing some of my own experiences, I will be able to help embolden and motivate more women to progress up the career ladder.

1. What are the biggest challenges facing female professionals in our region?

We still face a gender imbalance within the senior management teams and boards of our region’s organisations. In fact we are approximately seven years behind the FTSE 350 in terms of gender diversity on boards. There are so many positive business benefits to boards which are gender balanced and I want to encourage meritocracies, where people are selected as business leaders based on their merit, whatever their gender or background.

1. What do you think stops female professionals from aspiring to progress to senior management or board level roles?

Women can unintentionally hold themselves back from progressing up the career ladder because of a tendency to be more modest about their achievements. As a result they are not always as good at putting themselves forward for promotions. They need to have the confidence to go for it and not simply hope that hard work will get them noticed.

1. How do you think training programmes, like the Women’s Leadership Programme, can address these challenges?

The Women’s Leadership Programme helps women to address the factors which might be consciously or unconsciously holding them back. It will give them the tools and confidence to succeed at higher levels. It also makes employers more aware of the issues faced by women and helps them to understand how they can explore their talent pipeline and look to overcome any barriers which may be preventing inclusive progression.

1. How do you think the Women’s Leadership Programme will make a difference to individual participants?

It will really help the delegates to enhance their confidence as well as developing their leadership skills. It will give them the support they need to take the next step in their career, build their courage, networks and help them to understand and counteract any ingrained negative stereotypes.   

1. How do you think the Women’s Leadership Programme will make a difference to participating organisations?

The organisations showing the commitment to supporting their aspiring female talent to progress are also helping to create role models within their organisation and the wider region. The Women’s Leadership Programme is developing a network of like-minded professionals who will help to inspire and support each other. By participating, organisations will also help to evolve cultures and reduce the stereotypes which can hold women back.

1. How is the Norfolk Chamber promoting the development of leaders and talent in our region?

As only the second female President of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, I’m championing the need for cultural innovation in businesses. The key is to aspire for balance in our board rooms and senior management teams. I want to highlight, support and promote the women already in leadership positions and help businesses to understand and recognise where they may be limiting their economic growth by conscious or unconscious bias.

For more information regarding our Women’s Leadership Programme please visit: https://womeninleadership.prs.uk.com/ or contact Lucy Plumb on 01223 666455

Completing a new office for a leading East Anglian law firm, we are proud to be celebrating another success at Bluespace. Spending time in the picturesque countryside surrounding Bury St Edmunds, our team enjoyed creating an enlivening working environment for the well-established local business.

Requesting a comfortable environment which would be well received by both staff and clients, our designers got to work using an inviting colour scheme that made for a nice contrast to the exposed wooden ceiling beams.

Ultimately, we wanted to create a space that people would look forward to spending time in, finding inspiration in the contemporary look and feel of the various areas. Using a selection of furnishings from our sister company, Office Furniture Scene, we are confident that we’ve fulfilled the client brief.    

At the launch of the new office, Leonard Newcome, Leonard Newcombe, the Head of Facilities at Ashtons Legal, described how: “The project to convert this old barn into an exciting office space was a long one, but totally worth it. We couldn’t have achieved this without the help of Bluespace, who helped not only design and fit out this new office but with our recent Cambridge office refit too. Our staff are happy, the surroundings are outstanding, and our clients are impressed”.

We have thoroughly enjoyed working with compliance experts, Robert Quinn Consulting, over the last few months. The company has a presence in both the UK and US and specialises in compliance and regulatory help for asset managers, fund managers and more. Being compliant is key to any regulated business and Robert Quinn have positioned themselves as a friendly, professional and experienced team that covers bodies such as the FCA, SEC, NFA and more.

What we have done for them

Keyword Analysis

As SEO specialists, our role is to help sites improve their rankings and search positions on Google. We always start a campaign with what are the main focus keywords that you are looking to target. This involved speaking to the client and getting some feedback. Since we have done a lot of work in the insurance and loans sector, we assumed that they would want to target similar keywords. However, with a more corporate focus on asset management, fund managers and hedge funds, the keywords had to be more focused in this direction and also more general keywords such as compliance consultants and regulatory experts were included.

Our role is to then incorporate these keywords into the site naturally, whether it is the homepage or creating specific landing pages to target each keyword – which will include characteristics, the service that they provide and a clear contact form.

Site Optimisation

To ensure the site is fully optimised for Google, we ensure that every meta-title, description, heading, image, internal link is fully optimised, with the help of tools such as Screaming Frog and SEMrush.

In addition, we ensure that there is a fully functioning sitemap and no broken links or crawl errors that will affect the indexing of the website.

Link Building

A good SEO campaign always incorporates link building into the mix, which relates to having good links pointing to your site. To consolidate the position of regulation and compliance, we have performed outreach to secure links on news, finance and business driven websites. In addition, we have been creative by writing articles on very specific questions that people might be looking for, such as:

• How to become FCA authorised
• What happens if you are not compliant
• Which industries are not regulated

With a clear link back to Robert Quinn, not only does it strengthen the domain but also lead to enquiries from potential customers.

We currently have 10 target keywords on page 1 and around 30 keywords on pages 2-4 of Google. We will continue with our clean up and linking efforts and aim to have secured top positions by Q2 this year.

Decision making is a vital skill for business owners, managers and workplace leaders, all of who have dozens of choices to make every single day. Many important decisions are complex and multi-faceted, and so there is no single solution. Rather, each decision needs to be approached as a unique challenge with its own set of factors and circumstances. This requires a logical approach which uses relevant information and expertise to guide your actions towards the most positive expected outcome.

Decision Making In The Workplace

Every manager will know that business decisions come in all shapes and sizes. Many are financial. Successful businesses depend on their ability to secure funding, balance their cash flow, protect and expand assets, and set budgets. Managers may also face decisions around company structure and partnerships, business strategy, product releases, employment, operations, and resource management.

Just as there are many different issues to deal with in business, there are also many different types of decision making. The appropriate approach will depend on factors such as the nature of the problem, your position of expertise, and the amount of information available to solve the issue.

For example, when you have all of the information available, you can make a purely analytical decision based on the facts. If you are negotiating a deal on the spot, you may not have all of the information, but may rely on a more heuristic method, or make your choice based on expertise alone if the situation calls for it.

What’s important is that you don’t make these choices blind. Decisions are only stressful when you can’t get a grasp of how to make the correct choice.

Making Logical Business Decisions

Whatever the problem you are faced with, you can take the following steps to make sure you are making the most logical and positive choice possible given the factors at play.

Recognise the problem – You can’t find a solution until you’ve recognised the problem. This step may seem simple, but it can be a process in itself. Issues can be complex and need to be picked for you to identify the main challenges involved. Be absolutely sure you are aware of actionable problems before moving forward, as this will save you time and resources later on.

Gather Information – Next, you should gather all of the information and data necessary to understand the challenge and its possible solutions. This step is all about sourcing the right amount of info from reliable sources. Keep it relevant to the problem, and don’t overload yourself. Ask yourself, “What do you need to know?” and “Who do you need to speak to?” to fill the gaps in your knowledge. Solid data will lead to more analytical decisions.

Identify Possible Solutions – Every business problem you face will have multiple possible solutions, or there wouldn’t be any need to make a decision! This step involves mapping out every reasonable solution. For example, if you are lacking the money to launch a product, possible alternatives may include seeking funding, investment, reducing costs, or a combination.

Weigh Up Options – Next, weigh up all of the data against the possible solutions to see which one has the most positive expected outcome. Even if you don’t have all of the information needed, or there are factors outside of your control, it’s important to quantify your decision making. This type of approach is emphasised by poker player Liv Boeree in her latest TED talk. When assessing your options, try to understand the risk involved with each, and consider the extent to which each is feasible, and is likely to lead to a desirable outcome.

Take Action – Once you have considered each of your options, you can come to a conclusion that is based on evidence. It will be logical and, based on the data you have available at the time, it will be the most likely to lead to a positive outcome. Now you can finally take action. Gather the resources that you need, negotiate with partners, and get your teams on board with your decision.

Review the Outcome – Effective decision making is a process of continual review and readjustment. After you make every major decision, ask yourself whether it was as effective as you expected. What worked and what didn’t? Is there anything you would do differently next time? This is all valuable data that should form part of a feedback loop that in turn leads to stronger decision making in the future.

Decision making is a learnable skill which you can develop with time. Come back to the basic rules outlined above and there will be no business dilemma which you can’t overcome. 

Keeping the entrance to your building spotless, especially the floor, isn’t just aesthetically pleasing (although first impressions have a well-recorded impact on your business), it ticks health and safety and budget control boxes too.

With Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics showing that the top cause of non-fatal injuries to employees in 2017/18 was slips, trips or falls at 31%  and 90% of slip accidents in public buildings occur on wet floors, it is vital to take measures to reduce the amount of water being traipsed through your premises. One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of doing this is to install quality barrier matting, preferably on both sides of the threshold, reducing unsightly dirty flooring once inside the building. As more than 70% of dirt and moisture in buildings is tracked in by pedestrian and wheeled traffic preventing its spread is paramount. Depending on the footfall of the premises, it may be prudent to continue matting to the reception desk, lifts and stairwells.  

Using barrier matting doesn’t just prevent falls and keep your entrance looking nice, though, it also prevents soiling and increases the lifespan of all your building’s floorcoverings. Combined with a good cleaning regime, you can keep on top of the winter weather and keep your floors looking pristine.

The ROI of regular contract carpet cleaning is excellent as it doesn’t just prolong the life of the flooring it also ensures dust, dirt and mites are eliminated, which helps reduce the number of days of staff absence as a result of allergies and other related sicknesses. Obviously, it depends on a number of factors, including the colour, pile type, carpet quality, and amount of traffic your floors receive, when deciding on a carpet cleaning schedule, along with the nature of your business and we would recommend discussing this with your cleaning contractor. If they are treating stains regularly and vacuuming frequently, you may be able to get away with deep carpet cleaning twice a year. Equally, hard floor cleaning and refinishing extends flooring lifespan and improves hygiene levels.

So, if you invest in quality flooring, including entrance matting and maintain a regular, robust cleaning schedule, you will hopefully get through the winter with shiny floors and no nasty accidents. If you want your foyer to be the talk of the town, call Monthind on 01206 215300 to find out more about our contract and carpet cleaning services.  

What Has 2018 Brought For Chatsbrook?

Since its conception in 2016, Chatsbrook has gone from strength to strength and 2018 has been no exception. Looking back over our year of successes, 2018 has been the year of organic business growth.

Adrian Brooks, Director of Chatsbrook, specified that Chatsbrook’s greatest achievement this year has been “our organic growth through reputation of the business and the service we deliver. Clients have come to us for our reputation, which is evident as some of our clients have used our services numerous times throughout the year!”

At Chatsbrook we are proud to state that we always go the extra mile for our clients. We believe it is important for customers to receive not only the most competitive deal, but the best service too from the outset – Transparency is a key driver to the business.

2018 has also brought an enhancement of our product portfolio. Adrian articulated “Our product portfolio has extended into personal and commercial loans. This enables us to offer alternative finance solutions where security against an asset may not be the preferred choice or required. We can also look to consolidate outstanding agreements with one monthly manageable payment for customers. Furthermore, 2018 has also seen our contract hire offering expanded with new dealer partners for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.”

Our extended product portfolio means that we provide a seamless service for our clientele. Our ability to source, supply and finance vehicles means that our customers only have to use one service.

Catering for diverse markets has subsequently meant that we have financed an array of varying assets. But for Adrian there were two particular assets that stuck in his mind. “A 1980’s Matbro telehandler-which although was over 30 years old we successfully placed the funding for! The other was a stunning Rosso Corsa Ferrari 488 for a local customer.” I believe that highlights the extremities of what we can finance for our clients.

Furthermore, this year we have been able to build up brand awareness. We have attended more shows than ever before, from the likes of The Goodwood Festival of Speed, The Norfolk Show  and the Construction Show in Birmingham. Our presence at these shows have enabled us to conjure more business and build new partnerships. What we enjoy most about these shows is the fact that it allows us to interact with the general public and answer any questions that they may have.

Having had a great year of business and with hopes of expanding Chatsbrook further, we look forward to what 2019 may bring. Having made headway with the technology and classic car industry, one of our priorities this coming year is to build partnerships and generate more business within these sectors.

We pride ourselves on providing an unmatched, excellent customer service and 2019 will be no exception. We would like to say thank you to our clients for recognising this and for being a pleasure to work with. Without the flow of recommendations and reviews we couldn’t have enjoyed this success without you.

Top Tips To Improve Your Credit Rating

Credit scores offer a fast, objective way for lenders to assess your eligibility and credit risk. Lenders combine your credit score with the information in your credit report to assess your risk as a borrower. Your credit rating builds up your financial picture which enables financial institutions to predict your future behaviour based on what you’ve done in the past. For instance, if your score is high, you seem like less of a risk; if your score is low, lenders may not be inclined to let you borrow as you present a risk. It is important to maintain a healthy credit rating as your credit score affects many aspects of life such as, your mortgage, car finance, prospective jobs and your ability to start your own business. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to deter yourself from bad credit…

Setting up payment reminders may seem obvious, but one missed payment to a lender could greatly affect your credit score. Setting up direct debits means that you can make minimum payments on your credit cards without having to think twice.

Check that you are on the electoral roll. Lenders need to be sure you are who you say you are and without assurance of your address and ID it is much harder to get accepted for credit. You can register to vote at any time on [email protected] to make contact today.

Read how our consultant helped Matt cut his daily commute down by nearly two hours.

About

Crisp Malting Group Ltd is an independently owned malting company which makes and supplies malt to the world’s leading breweries and distilleries. It operates five sites across the UK and is based in Great Ryburgh, which is at the heart of North Norfolk’s premium malting barley growing area. Crisp dates back to the 1870s and its mission is to produce and supply the best possible quality of malt, and to back that up with the customer service, technical experience and support they need to produce great beer.

Challenge

Following an exciting period of continued growth and development, Crisp was looking to recruit a new Group Head of IT. They were looking for an experienced senior IT professional who could cover all aspects of a complex and busy IT function. The chosen candidate would also be part of Crisp’s senior management team, and therefore they also wanted someone who had the vision and experience to drive IT strategy and commercial development, and with an eye for the usability of systems and the ability to simplify and help the end user. 

Solution 

Crisp appointed Pure to help them source a suitable candidate for the role. Ruben Davis met with the team to find out more about the position, and the organisation itself, to ascertain the essential and desirable criteria and culture fit.

Having been instrumental in establishing Pure’s Technology specialism, Ruben was able to use his local and sector-specific experience to implement a recruitment plan which included identifying and headhunting any potentially suitable candidates. During this process, Ruben found Matt Swain, a graduate in Computer Systems Engineering with 15 years IT career experience. Having seen that Matt also lived locally to Crisp, Ruben approached him about the role.

Matt said: “Ruben was fantastic. He guided me successfully through every aspect of the recruitment process, supporting, advising and helping me both in and out of working hours. This ultimately resulted in Crisp offering me the job and my acceptance.”

Benefit

When Ruben approached Matt, he was living in Swaffham but commuting to Huntingdon every day. However, he was looking for a role which was closer to home and which would enable him to spend more time with his young family. The approach from Pure about the Crisp position was very welcome and it has ultimately cut his daily commute down by nearly two hours.

Matt added: “When the call first came in from Ruben, I initially let it ring as it was a number I didn’t recognise. But I did take the call before my voicemail kicked in and I am very glad I did. At the time I was waiting for an offer from another job. Up to that point I had attended multiple interviews and had a verbal offer, but nothing in writing.

“This new position really made a big difference to my life. My youngest one-year-old son has some challenges and Pure’s efforts on my behalf have ensured I’m now home more with the children. Out of all the recruiters I have worked with, both for myself and the positions I have recruited for, Ruben and Pure have provided the best experience.”

Reviewing staff resources for the year ahead doesn’t have to mean committing to the cost of recruiting full-time employees. Temporary workers can quickly fill any gaps within teams and bring a wealth of other business benefits too

Gemma Pluck, senior recruitment consultant at professional recruitment specialists Pure, explains some of the reasons why employers should consider hiring temps and the options available to bring temporary talent into an organisation.

Whatever you need, our specialist temp recruitment experience puts us in the best position to support you at every stage of the process, so you can gain the following benefits of professional interim support.

Instant, effective support

A temp can usually start a new role within a matter of days and make an immediate difference. Those who thrive in interim positions are likely to be highly self-motivated individuals, they have cultivated the flexibility and adaptability to hit the ground running and to achieve results in the short term.

Increased morale and reduced sickness absence

If the current workflow is unmanageable, recruiting an interim will boost the morale of your full-time workforce by relieving the team from an excessive workload. This can prevent a potential drop in productivity or increase in sickness absence caused by employees feeling snowed under.

Fresh perspectives

Temps and freelancers are likely to have worked across many different organisations, both in the same industry and outside of it. They can bring experience and knowledge of different systems and processes which could spark ideas you may not even have considered.

Specific skill sets 

By bringing in a professional interim to complete a special project you can gain access to strategic skill sets and experience you may not already have within the organisation.

Avoid potentially costly recruitment mistakes

Temporary employees can not only provide an immediate injection of skills and experience, they can also help to buy you time when you are recruiting for a permanent position. Taking on an interim to manage the workload in the short term could help you to avoid recruiting the wrong hire due to time pressures.

Extended interviews

In some instances, employing temps can also lead to meaningful hires in the long run. Taking on an interim allows you to assess their suitability for the role, team fit and skill set, prior to hiring someone on a permanent contract.

At Pure, we have developed a network of highly experienced temps, freelancers and consultants, which we place with organisations on a short-term basis to provide a temporary injections of skills, resources and specialist knowledge. We support organisations with temporary recruitment solutions across all levels and for a variety of different reasons, whether it is covering employees on leave, planning additional support for particularly busy periods or bringing in additional expertise for a specific project.

Temporary workers can be employed on a fixed term basis, where the employee is contracted for a specific time period and is set up on your own payroll system and subject to the terms and conditions of your organisation’s contract. Alternatively, we can support you to employ a temp as an agency worker who is paid on an hourly or daily rate. In this instance, we will manage the temp’s pay on a weekly basis so there is no need for you to have to administer the payroll, and in most instances both the employer or the temp only need to give one week’s notice to terminate the assignment.

If you would like more information about recruiting temporary workers or to discuss any temporary candidates, contact one of our consultants. www.prs.uk.com

The purpose of life insurance is to provide financial protection for your loved should anything happen to you. Despite this, according to leading insurer Legal & General, 50% of UK parents do not have life insurance cover. It is therefore very wise to have a good idea of 7 key factors which may impact the cost of premiums. Saving the good people of Norfolk money…   

Age (the younger you are, the cheaper it is)

As you would expect, age is a hugely influential factor when it comes to the cost of life insurance premiums. Generally speaking, the younger you are when taking out cover, the cheaper the premium. The thought process being, you are statistically less likely to make a claim. A great way to secure the lowest rate is to take out a life policy whilst you are in your 20’s or early 30’s. Unfortunately, many people only think of getting cover in later life, as their circumstances change, (have children, take out a mortgage etc).

Health and lifestyle

The majority of life insurance policies are medically underwritten, (apart from over 50s plans). Insurers factor in things like your BMI, alcohol consumption, if you smoke and whether you exercise regularly when calculating premiums. Insurers simply need to cover their risk, therefore if you are overweight and live an unhealthy lifestyle, you are likely to pay more. In contrast, if you are a healthy weight and exercise regularly, your monthly premiums will be cheaper. If you have a poor medical history, perhaps had a heart attack or a stroke, or currently suffer from a medical condition you would be considered an impaired risk and thus your premiums will be higher. If you are in good health you may wish to carry out a medical exam, to reassure the insurer of your current wellbeing.

Smoking (this includes nicotine replacement products)

Due to the proven link between smoking and serious illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, smokers statistically live shorter lives. As a result, smokers will pay more for their premiums, as a claim is more likely. In fact, it is not uncommon for smokers to pay as much as twice as much as non-smokers for comparable coverage. Insurers only classify you as a non-smoker after you have given up for 12 months minimum.This includes the use of nicotine replacement products such as e-cigarettes, patches and gum.

The cover amount

Generally speaking, the greater the level of protection, the higher your monthly premiums. Life insurance is all about enabling your loved ones to continue living the life they are accustomed to, even if you are no longer around to provide.The amount of cover you require commonly depends on how many dependents you have and your level of debt. For example, if you have 4 young children and a large mortgage, you will require significant protection in order to cover these expenses. Although it is important to make sure you cover all expenses, being over-protected could unnecessarily inflate your premiums.

Life Insurance Policy type

Which type of life insurance policy you choose will also influence the cost of your premium. For example, whole of life policies, which guarantee a pay out, will be more expensive than term-based premiums, which only pay out if you die during a set period of time. Also, whether you choose a guaranteed or reviewable premium can have an impact on the cost. Guaranteed premiums, as the name suggests, remain fixed throughout the policy term and initially can be more expensive than reviewable premiums. However, reviewable premiums are likely to increase in cost at regular intervals throughout the policy and in the long-term can be more expensive. Also, if you want additional protection, like critical illness cover, you will pay more for your premium. These policies will pay out both if you die, or if you become critically ill and are therefore unable to work.

Length of the policy term

The length of the policy term is also a very influential factor in the cost of your life insurance. Generally, long-term policies are likely to carry more expensive premiums, compared with a shorter policy, simply because statistically you are more likely to make a claim. It is about making sure you have the right length of term to protect your family. For example, you may require a 25-year term to run as long as your mortgage runs, ensuring your family are not burdened with property debt. Or until your children turn 21 and are likely to be financially independent, after university. Too shorter term could leave your family exposed, to longer term, and you may unnecessarily be paying over the odds.

Family medical history

If there is a history of severe hereditary illness in your immediate family, (biological parents or siblings), this is very likely to increase the cost of your premiums. An insurer will ask questions about your family history during the application process. Hereditary illnesses which could affect the cost of your premiums include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and some cancers. Usually, an insurer will only require information on your family medical history up to a certain age, for example, 60. Thereafter there is a common understanding that certain illnesses are statistically more likely.

There are a various of factors which will impact the cost of your life insurance.

If you want to save on the cost of your premium, you could:

1. Take out a policy while you’re young

2. Shop around or use a broker, to compare multiple quotes

3. Don’t take out more protection than you need

4. Choose an appropriate term length

5. Lose weight, get fit, stop smoking.

What’s more, different insurers employ different underwriting processes, thus costs can vary. The best way to ensure you get the most cost-effective quotes is to shop around yourself or get a broker/comparison site to do the work on your behalf. The most important thing is to have life insurance protection in place.

Pause a moment and think. Social enterprises are no longer charitable endeavours you support out of kindness. They are increasingly commercial ventures, with a profit beyond purpose. In fact research by Social Enterprise UK shows that there are more than 100,000 social enterprises in the UK, between them contributing more than £60bn to the UK economy.

The shift to more socially responsible business is accelerating. Public concern about the behaviour of corporates is increasing. People are not happy that shareholders continue to profit, even at the point of business failure. Even respected operators are being caught out by the dubious accounting of once loved high street brands.

Locally we have some excellent examples of social enterprises large and small. Independence Matters, our County’s largest provider of day care, has shifted from County Council department to a community interest company, investing its profits in those vulnerable people it exists to support. And many of us have enjoyed the excellent food and views to be found at Café Britannia, a vibrant city café that employs men coming to the end of their prison sentence. The Britannia brand is growing across the city, not because they’re a social enterprise, but because they offer fantastic food and service.

But you’re running a business. How can you benefit from this growing social enterprise movement? You want your staff to be motivated, competent and focused on building your venture. Have you or they got time to get involved in the social economy? Do social enterprises deliver what your business needs? Well one, above the rest, stands out as being relevant to nearly every business.

Swarm Apprenticeships CIC is a social enterprise. Founded by Robert Ashton in 2013, Swarm has grown steadily over the past five years, thanks to two rounds of social investment. Swarm has also benefitted from the changing apprenticeship landscape; upskilling people within organisations, across all ages and roles’. You no longer have to be young to be an apprentice.

Pprofits also go back into the educational journey of the learners, as well as the new Futures CIC; set up  to provide the coaching and support many youngsters need to get back on the education and employment ladder. They benefit too from volunteer mentors, often recruited from amongst those going through a Swarm apprenticeship. It’s a good way to see the world outside the bubble of their employment.

So there really is no excuse in 2019 for not doing business with a social enterprise. As a movement it will continue to grow. Why not make this year the year the year you profit by working with a social enterprise?

Our popular 3for2 offer is back!

Order two venetian, vertical, pleated or roller blinds by the end of January and get a 3rd blind for FREE.

We will visit you at your home to take measurements and show you fabric samples, so make sure that you book your appointment in time to get a quote and make an order by the end of the month.

You can book online here: https://www.norwichsunblinds.co.uk/book-a-design-consultation/

or you can phone us on 01603 334047.

This offer applies to domestic blinds. Click the links if you would like more information about each type of blind:

Roller Blinds

Vertical Blinds

Venetian Blinds

Pleated Blinds

The blinds are made in our Attleborough factory and all come with a 5-year guarantee.

We offer a fantastic range of fabrics from independent suppliers. We are very excited to be able to offer you a brand new Disney, Marvel and Star Wars range of fabrics as well as the normal classic styles – look out for more details, or arrange an in-home appointment to view samples.