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In today’s world, sustainability has become a pressing concern for businesses of all sizes. With growing awareness about the impact of our actions on the environment, companies are seeking ways to adopt eco-friendly practices in their operations. One such environmentally-conscious choice that has gained popularity is the use of seeded paper for business cards. Seed paper business cards offer a unique blend of professionalism and environmental responsibility, making them an ideal choice for any forward-thinking business. What are Seed Paper Business Cards? Seed paper business cards are a creative and eco-friendly alternative to traditional cardstock. Made from PCW recycled paper, these unique cards incorporate seeds with the fibres. Once the card is no longer needed, it can be planted by covering with a thin layer of soil. Through the natural process of degradation, the paper disintegrates, providing nutrients to the soil, and the embedded seeds germinate, giving life to beautiful wild flowers. This innovative approach not only reduces paper waste but also contributes positively to the environment. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable The primary advantage of seed paper business cards lies in their eco-friendliness and sustainability. Traditional paper production often leads to deforestation, increased carbon emissions, and excessive water consumption. In contrast, seeded paper cards are manufactured from post-consumer recycled paper, reducing the need for new raw materials and minimizing the strain on forests. Additionally, sustainable printing processes further lower the environmental impact by employing non-toxic, soy-based inks that do not harm the ecosystem. A Memorable and Unique Experience Seed paper business cards provide a memorable experience for recipients. When someone receives a seeded paper card, they are not just handed a piece of information; they are also given the opportunity to participate in an eco-conscious act. Planting the card and watching it grow reinforces the memory of the interaction and the company it represents. This personal touch can foster stronger connections with potential clients or partners, making seed paper business cards an excellent marketing tool for businesses looking to leave a lasting impression. Demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility In today’s socially aware landscape, consumers prefer to engage with companies that actively demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using seed paper business cards showcases your commitment to sustainable practices and environmental preservation. By aligning your brand with environmentallyconscious initiatives, you can attract like-minded clients who appreciate your efforts in making a positive impact on the planet. Not only does this reinforce your company’s values, but it also helps you stand out in a competitive market Promoting Biodiversity and Wildlife Beyond the environmental benefits of using seeded paper, it also contributes to promoting biodiversity and supporting wildlife. The seeds embedded in the paper consist of native wild flowers which are crucial for sustaining local ecosystems. As the plants grow, they attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, playing a part in conserving endangered species and strengthening the overall ecosystem. In conclusion, opting for seed paper business cards offers numerous advantages for environmentally-conscious businesses. The use of sustainable materials and printing processes reduces the carbon footprint while promoting responsible consumption of resources. These unique cards provide recipients with a memorable experience and demonstrate your commitment to corporate social responsibility. Moreover, by supporting biodiversity and wildlife, you actively contribute to the conservation of our precious environment. So, the next time you need business cards, consider making the eco-friendly choice and embrace the benefits of seed paper. Embody your commitment to sustainability while leaving a lasting impression on your clients, partners, and the world. With seed paper business cards, you’re not just handing out contact information – you’re sowing the seeds of a greener future. If you’re interested in discussing this amazing product for your next print project please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat. We’re on hand to help. E: [email protected] T: +44 7901 141117

Bookworms have the chance to combine their love of literature with helping a leading children’s charity. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is on the lookout for volunteers to help support its fast-growing online Book Shop. The busy store has become a vital income stream and helps the charity continue its work supporting families and caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. EACH Book Shop Deputy Manager Sue Nettleingham said: “This is a role anyone who loves reading will thoroughly enjoy. “We sell all genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and it’s fascinating what gets donated. “They range from classics and children’s favourites to others that are rare and niche. “There’s so much variety and, alongside the books, we’re now introducing mixed media in the form of CDs, DVDs and Console games. “It’s great fun and we’d love to hear from anyone willing to get involved, even just for a morning or afternoon a week. “As well as being fun, volunteering is also hugely rewarding and this is an opportunity to help our wonderful charity. “Selling books and media is a key income stream and the money we generate makes such a difference. “However, we can only do it with the help and support of volunteers and the community.” The Book Shop is run from EACH’s Retail Distribution Centre (RDC), in Brunel Way, Thetford. Volunteers would be asked to unpack and organise boxes of donated books, including sorting them and checking their suggested price online. Profitable books are then listed for sale and sent to customers. Others might be sold in the charity’s many book rooms and even those worth little can be pulped and generate recycling income – at the same time saving them being sent to landfill. In an average week, EACH sells around 170 books, with an average selling price of just over £8. The scheme usually generates more than £1,000 a week and, typically, there are around 2500 books on the EACH account. “I’m in desperate need of extra volunteers and poster campaigns have drawn a blank,” added Sue. “Two of my three regulars are leaving for full-time work and I’d be delighted to hear from anyone willing to join me and get involved. “It would be ideal for anyone of any age, including students fresh out of school or university. “It’s a chance to pick up new skills, make friends and get a taste for doing something completely different. Others have described it as a brilliant experience.” To find out more about volunteering, contact Sue via [email protected] or contact her at RDC on 01842 821620. Meanwhile, more volunteers are needed to help in the main warehouse at RDC with the sorting and storing of donated goods. The team sort and process all donations and then distribute them to EACH’s 47 shops across East Anglia. One of the roles includes being a ‘driver’s mate’, with duties including loading and unloading vans. To find out more about volunteering opportunities at RDC, email Warehouse Operations and Supply Chain Manager Stephen Ball via [email protected] Image provided by EACH

Darryl’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Darryl was already living with degenerative eyesight, resulting in becoming legally blind, when he was brutally attacked at 17. Rather than recoiling from the world and pursuing resentment, he decided to embrace empathy and his life and career of thinking was brought hastily forward. Darryl achieved his doctorate at Duke University and wrote his thesis on building trust in hostile environments. Inspired by Darryl’s guide dog Drake, who serves as his company’s ‘Director of Goodness’ (DOG), they talk about how to pursue a life of positivity, integrity, embracing neutrality in toxic work relationships, and how vulnerability is the key to building trust, which is proven to improve business levels. Mark and Darryl nerd out on their shared interest in tribalism and the bigger philosophical questions around leadership and discuss Darryl’s equation: Uncertainty x vulnerability = risk. GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at [email protected]. We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! You can also now watch Leadership & Life Chat on YouTube! Click here Show notes Building Trust – Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World – Darryl Stickel trustunlimited.com Leadership & Life Chat – The new office, and the generation gap Thinking, Fast and Slow: Daniel Kahneman Listen here! Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP Image provided by Larking Gowen

An adventurous pair of caped crusaders tackled a fundraising mission with a difference – driving from Norwich to Barcelona via a host of European hotspots and clocking up 1,800 miles in a banger-turned-Batmobile. Pals Tim Boucher and Paul Sayles completed the four-day Wacky Rally to show their support for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The duo’s monster journey took in the Swiss Alps, rolling hills of Italy, French Riviera and Spanish Catalan capital and, in the process, they raised more than £1,500. The Wacky Rally, an annual event, featured a host of bangers and drivers – all supporting charities of their choice – and participants got underway from Lille, in northern France. They followed a set route via seven countries, staying in designated locations along the way, before converging in Barcelona. “It’s the second time we’ve done it but, once again, such an adventure with so many highlights,” said Tim, who is chairman of Poringland Parish Council. “It’s definitely something we’ll look back on with fondness and I’m so glad we did it. “It was great fun but hard going at times, with lots of hours behind the wheel. “Most days we drove for around 11 hours and on the first alone, we clocked up 550 miles. “Some of the bangers were amazing and we were very pleased with our converted Batmobile. “We painted it black, put logos on both sides and it looked as close to the real thing as possible. “We saw some great reactions when people saw us coming. There were a lot of double-takes and it must have been a very odd sight. “To the eye, it looked amazing but, from a driving perspective, it was a rusty old heap. “It was a 19-year-old Audi TT with 176,000 miles on the clock, more dents than a steel drum and had been used as a dog bed for the previous four years! “Lots of things either didn’t work or went wrong along the way.” To get in the spirit, Tim, 45, and Paul, 44, who are old schoolfriends, spent much of the trip dressed as Batman and Robin. The first day of their challenge took in five countries – starting in Lille before driving through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland – in time for an overnight stay in Thun, nestled in the heart of the Alps. Day two included the Gran St Bernard pass, where The Italian Job was filmed, and finished in the Italian ski town of Salze D’Oulx. Tim and Paul then travelled from the heart of the mountains to the French Riviera, passing Monte Carlo, before arriving in the historic city of Arles. The challenge then ended with a short drive to Barcelona, including a detour to the Costa Brava, before finishing with a party and award ceremony on the iconic Las Ramblas. The Wacky Rally took place from 30^th June to 3^rd July and Tim recently visited The Nook to present a cheque to Community Fundraiser Ellie Miller. In his professional capacity as a surveyor, he was involved with the design and delivery of the hospice during the early stages its development. “I live less than half a mile away, have been there several times and have a young family of my own, so it felt like the right charity to support,” said Tim, who has also visited The Treehouse, in Ipswich. “EACH makes such an enormous difference to the children, young people and families needing care and support. The thought of what they go through is unbearable. “It’s an amazing charity and the fact it’s almost entirely run by fundraising and income from its retail shops, with so little help from statutory sources, means it’s such an important cause to support.” Tim and Paul’s fundraising page is still live. To show your support, head here.

This week’s draft legislation to change the UK R&D regime will go too far too fast if it is implemented from April 2024, according to accounting and business advisory firm BDO. Commenting on the draft legislation, Tim Goram-Smith, Associate Director and R&D Lead in East Anglia at BDO, said: “Following the review of R&D reliefs launched in Rishi Sunak’s 2021 Spring Budget, the government has taken many steps to reduce the costs of the UK’s R&D scheme to get better ‘value for money’ – while this is understandable, I’d argue that this latest move is going to prove the most disruptive yet. “Given the very high rates of error and fraud that HMRC now estimates occur under the current SME scheme (£1,060m in 2020/21 compared to just £90m under RDEC¹) it is no surprise that if a new combined single R&D scheme goes ahead it will be based on the RDEC rules. However, the government has already changed R&D relief rates from this April and HMRC is imposing new claim requirements, in the form of an Additional Information Form, from 8 August this year to tackle the error and fraud issue. Given all the recent changes, creating yet more uncertainty by changing the R&D regime again for accounting periods beginning on or after April 2024 could risk turning innovative businesses away from investing in the UK. “The current SME and Research & Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) schemes offer different rates of relief with the SME scheme being more generous – even after the reductions in tax relief from 1 April 2023. Under today’s proposals, many start-up and growing businesses will be concerned that they will get even less tax relief under a combined scheme – although the higher relief for R&D intensive businesses looks set to continue – albeit running alongside the new scheme. “In the long term, many agree that there are practical benefits to aligning the way R&D relief is claimed. For example, the combined scheme would be based on the current RDEC rules which help to raise the prominence of the R&D function within a business by recognising the R&D incentive in a company’s pre-tax income. But the government must remember that not everyone claiming under the current SME scheme is a fraudster – on its own estimates 75% of claimants are compliant and the impact on them of moving to a new combined scheme needs to be managed carefully so as not to damage their growth prospects and the wider economy. “The draft legislation includes design proposals many will welcome. The original proposals on who claims relief where R&D work is subcontracted could have caused problems for many businesses. Thankfully, the draft legislation allows outsourcing costs to be claimed where the work is outsourced to a UK company. Although loss making companies will still be capped on the amount of R&D relief they can claim, the proposals adopt the PAYE/NIC cap currently used in the SME scheme (which is more generous than the RDEC cap). “Probably the most significant downside, is the new rule that any R&D project which is subsidised, (including via a grant), cannot be included in an R&D claim. This will have a wide-ranging impact on many businesses, particularly given HMRC’s recent, extremely broad definition of ‘subsidised R&D’. The new rules will also likely make it impossible for contract research organisations to claim UK R&D relief on work they carry out for client companies. This will change have a big impact on many companies’ pricing and contractual arrangements. “In addition, the rules as drafted could potentially prohibit companies outsourcing work to the self-employed and personal service companies as these companies can only claim such costs if the ‘externally provided workers’ fall within PAYE. “Businesses understand that government will move the goalposts to make it harder for fraudsters to win tax reliefs from HMRC. But making radical changes to tax law at short notice not only creates uncertainty for compliant businesses but also risks introducing new rules with loopholes that fraudsters can exploit further down the line. The government has not made a final decision to push these changes through from April 2024 and I believe the changes should be delayed until at least 2026 so that they don’t damage the R&D investment the relief is supposed to support.”  

Spirited Susan Cox soared to new heights in her quest to raise funds for charity. The 69-year-old daredevil was left on cloud nine after completing an epic wing walk – in the process raising £1,500 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Her adrenaline-filled challenge took place at Shuttleworth Aerodrome, in Bedfordshire, on 7^th July. “It was a fantastic experience,” said Susan, who lives in Woodton. “My heart was racing as we taxied down the runway but before I knew it we were up, up and away. “The feeling of speeding to the ground was absolutely thrilling and I’m so glad I did it. It’s something I’ll never forget. “It’s something I intend doing again next year – hopefully with a loop-the-loop thrown in for good measure!” Retired Susan has raised just over £3,000 so far which, minus her expenses, means donations of £1,500 to both EACH and her other chosen charity, East Anglian Air Ambulance. She has long admired EACH’s work, having lived close to its former Quidenham hospice. She recently visited The Nook, in Framingham Earl, and was given a guided tour by Community Fundraiser Anne Austin. “It’s a great cause right here on my doorstep, caring for and supporting people in our community, and I’ve had friends who have used the services,” she said. “It’s nice doing something not only for the children being cared for but also the parents, siblings and wider family members who are being supported so well.” Susan’s fundraising page is staying open until the end of the month. To sponsor her, head here. Image credits EACH

Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern Counties business has been appointed by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) to deliver a new £25 million state-of-the-art diagnostic centre near to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.  

Procured through the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) framework, the new NNUH Diagnostic Centre will include five MRI machines, four CT scanners, two Ultrasound rooms and two X-Ray machines, bringing essential health services closer to the local community.  

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is a large NHS academic teaching hospital in the Norwich Research Park on the western outskirts of Norwich. The Norwich Research Park brings together four independently renowned research institutes; John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory with the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH).  

The new 40,000 sq. ft structure will be situated next to the Quadram Institute on the Norwich Research Park, connecting the pre-existing infrastructure at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to the new services. A steel frame will be installed with brick façade in keeping with the rest of the University Hospital estate.  

As part of Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach to supporting its customers to decarbonise, the Eastern Counties business will implement carbon reduction measures throughout the design and construction process. The team will utilise Morgan Sindall’s carbon reduction tool CarboniCa, which will ensure that potential carbon outputs are managed and reduced across the entire building lifecycle.  

The new diagnostic centre will benefit from an air source heat pump system and is aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating.  

The Eastern Counties business has a strong track record in delivering high-end healthcare facilities across the region, having recently celebrated a topping out ceremony at the charity-funded Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice and completing a number of vital upgrades at James Paget University Hospital during the last decade with live further works being delivered.  

Alister Broadberry, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern Counties, said: “Bringing essential, specialist services closer to local communities is paramount in serving the area in which we operate, as new facilities such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s diagnostic centre will play a key role in supporting patients and healthcare staff in the rapid diagnosis of disease, relieving pressure on waiting times and hospital workloads. 

“Our open and collaborative approach means that we have been able to deliver sustainable healthcare facilities locally, regionally and nationally that are adapting to the changing needs of the community. The diagnostic centre is set to become a prime example of great design and the team’s forward-thinking approach, further enhancing Morgan Sindall’s reputation in the region.”   

Simon Hackwell, Director of Strategy & Major Projects at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) said: “Demand for almost all aspects of diagnostics has been rising year on year. Imaging is such an important part of so many of our clinical pathways, including cancer and other urgent referrals. The centre at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital will be in a new building on the Norwich Research Park. This means it will be separate from the hospital’s emergency and inpatient demand and allows us to maximise throughput with planned appointments. Taken together the programme across Norfolk is the largest investment in health facilities since the Norfolk and Norwich hospital was built over 20 years ago. After so long in the planning we are really looking forward to working in partnership with Morgan Sindall to get on and deliver this for our patients,” 

Image provide by Morgan Sindall.

SNS2023 | East of England Energy Group Conference & Exhibition with Huxley Events Exhibitions serve as an excellent platform for businesses to showcase their products and services, connect with potential customers, and bring together experts in a similar field. However, organising an exhibition is a complex and challenging task that requires a team of experts to ensure its success. Exhibition organisers play a significant role in making sure that an exhibition runs smoothly and achieves its objectives. In this blog post, we discuss why you should come to experts to organise your next exhibition. Expertise and Experience from Exhibition Organisers A successful exhibition requires months of preparation and hard work. Exhibition organisers have the knowledge, expertise, and experience required to manage every aspect of an exhibition, from pre-event planning, to budgeting to post-event evaluation. They also have the skills to handle different challenges that may arise during the event, such as technical issues, last minute changes, and Exhibition organisers also have the experience and industry knowledge that is invaluable in ensuring that an exhibition is successful. They know the trends and best practices in the industry, and this knowledge enables them to apply the most effective strategies to make your exhibition a success. We always talk about “the power of one”. You should never leave planning down to just one person.. you never know what might happen. We had a client whose organiser left one month before the event with no hand over instructions! We always recommend having at least 2 people working on it. Huxley Events team during the Exhibition Build at The Norfolk Showground Arena Time and Resource Management Organising an exhibition requires significant time and resources. From venue selection to organising logistics, coordinating speakers and marketing the event, there are many things to be done. As a business owner, you may not have the time or resources required to do all of this yourself. However, professional organisers are experts in managing time and resources efficiently. They have the capacity to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritise them based on their importance. This ensures that no aspect of the event is neglected, and the event runs smoothly.  When you enlist the professionals to help you, they shoulder the responsibility of managing all aspects of the exhibition, allowing you to focus on running your business without the added stress of event management. Attention to Detail Organising an exhibition requires impeccable attention to detail. Every aspect of the event is essential, and a minor oversight can have a significant impact on its overall success of the exhibition. Professional exhibition organisers have great attention to detail and focus on every aspect of the event, no matter how small…from the signage, to the seating arrangements, they pay attention to each and every detail. They are meticulous in their work and strive to ensure that everything is in place and running smoothly, so that your event is memorable and enjoyable for your attendees. Exhibition organisers also have a deep understanding of the customer journey and understand what drives customer engagement. Having them as part of your team can be invaluable to your enjoyment of the event, and the overall success of the event. Here at Huxley we have a passion for exhibitions, and a solid track record in planning, budgeting, and executing exceptional events! Many say the best exhibiton organisers in East Anglia! Home – Huxley Events Images provided by Huxley Events

SuperFoil’s “Greatest Showman” themed party – organised by Huxley Events We like to think we’re the best of the best when it comes to planning company parties and making them a success. We are a team of experts when it comes to event planning and know exactly how to take your event to the next level. We know what it’s like to be “dumped” with organising the company party when you also have your day job! Planning a company party doesn’t have to be a nightmare, and we are here to take all of the stress away. We can brainstorm ideas with you and create something truly unique for your company. With Huxley events, you can sit back, relax, and let us work our magic. Our approach is one that is professional but also creative, tailored to your needs with a personal touch. We know exactly what it takes to create a party that everyone will love, with everything from the venue to the entertainment being executed to the highest level! Nobody wants an empty glass or to be standing in awkward silence. What sets us apart from the rest is our ability to think of every detail. We leave nothing to chance and make sure that every aspect of the party is perfect. We work with the best vendors and service providers around, from flair mixologists to amazing musicians. We even provide exciting activities that will continue to be talked about for years! From Roller Reindeer to intense batak competitions, 360 photo booths to glitter bars. What do you want to achieve with your party? What’s important to you? We are experts when it comes to organising corporate events and parties. We take the time to get to know our clients and learn about what they would like to achieve from their party. From there, we can start to work our magic! We use our expertise and creativity to develop a personalised event that meets all of your requirements. We understand that company parties are a reflection of your brand, so we take the time to ensure that the event is a true representation of who you are. Our company party planners can help guide you through every detail, from event theming and decor to creating a menu that will wow guests! We work hard to ensure that your party is unforgettable. We take pride in our work and that your time is valuable, so we make sure to stick to timelines and ensure that the party is delivered on schedule. To ensure that your party is a huge success, we offer a range of different services that cater to your every need. These can include anything from catering and decor to entertainment and activities. Whatever your requirements, we have got you covered! We provide guidance, expertise, and advice along the way, ensuring that every detail is perfect and that the event runs smoothly. If you are looking for a company party planner who can deliver an unforgettable event, then get in touch with us! Home – Huxley Events Images provided by Huxley Events

We are looking for a Marketing and Events Coordinator at The Feed, Waterloo Park. Key parts of the role

• Develop and run a range of events including at our Sandys-Winsch Community Room above our Waterloo Park café.
• The location of the role will vary but often it will be necessary to work at our Waterloo Park venue to manage events there.
• Produce content for our social media accounts and have experience in using a scheduling platform. Good written skills are important.
• The role is for 20 hours per week. The times of work are flexible but some weekend work will be required.

About you

• You will be organised, a self-starter, with an eye for detail and can-do attitude.
• You will be a team player, be kind, patient and approachable.

Full job description

Families enjoyed a day of foam-filled fun and helped raise more than £80,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Despite blustery conditions, the charity’s popular Bubble Rush event took place at the Norwich Showground, on Sunday. More than 2,500 people signed up – 1,000 more than last year – and the fundraising total nearly doubled the £45,500 raised in 2022. “It was an incredibly successful day and we were delighted to raise such an extraordinary amount of money,” said EACH Events Fundraiser Emma Cook. “It’s the most we’ve ever raised from a mass-participation event of this nature and everyone had great fun. “The feedback has been positive and we’ve loved seeing people’s colourful photos on social media. “We had lots of first-time sign-ups and it’s something people of all ages and abilities can take part it, including those with pushchairs or in wheelchairs. “It’s very family-friendly and therefore a great fit for EACH.” The Bubble Rush came hot on the heels of EACH’s Piglet Junior Hog event, held near Woodbridge the previous Sunday, which had over 1,300 participants and nearly hit the £50,000-mark. “It’s been a busy but amazing fortnight, with our two mass-participation events taking place on back-to-back weekends,” said Emma. “Both were huge successes and the record-breaking figures from both made all the hard work worthwhile. “In terms of the money raised, it will make such an monumental difference to the children, young people and families receiving our care and support. “Thank you to everyone who signed up and took part and, in terms of the Bubble Rush, I’d also like to thank our main sponsors, Bateman Groundworks. “We’re also grateful for the support of our three main bubble arch sponsors – A-Plan Insurance, Landscaping by Bangs and Donnelly Watson. “Lastly, I must also thank the staff and brilliant volunteers who turned out in force to ensure the smooth running of the event. It wouldn’t have been possible without them.” The course featured four bubble stations along a 2.5km route. Participants could do one lap or double their enjoyment by completing the circuit twice. Each bubble station had a cannon which pumped out coloured foam to create a four-foot deep bubble bath. Among those to take part were families receiving support from EACH and bereaved mum Deborah Goddard, who was joined by family and friends for a poignant hen party with a difference. She wanted to raise funds for the charity as it supported her following the death of her baby daughter in April 2022. Jovie was just a year and 11 days old and, afterwards, Deborah and her family spent time making memories at The Nook. She said signing up and raising funds was her way of giving something back. “Although it was blustery, we were grateful that the wind dropped significantly compared to Saturday,” added Emma. “Had it not, we would have had to cancel the event and that would have been heart-breaking. “As it was, we reduced the number of gazebos and weren’t able to use our normal inflatable arches at the start and finish. “However, apart from that, there was very little disruption and we were able to press on as planned.” Both the Piglet and Norwich Bubble Rush have already been booked for next year. Click here to register your interest and benefit from super early-bird prices. The next big event for EACH is its new Suffolk Pier 2 Pier walk, from Lowestoft to Southwold, on 2^nd September. Pictures: Karen Self/EACH

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is big news at the moment, with tech firms saying it promises the best of all future worlds, while others – including several high-profile pioneers – warn that the implications for jobs are complicated and uncertain. Even as far back as 2017, physicist Stephen Hawking said the emergence of artificial intelligence could be the, “Worst event in the history of our civilisation”. Whichever side of the digital divide you sit on, AI is undoubtedly here to stay and changing many aspects of our lives, including the way we access finance.

WHAT IS AI IN FINANCE?

Most of us have heard of Chat GPT, which stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer, which was developed by an AI research company, OpenAI. Launched last year, in the first five days after it was released it attracted more than 100m users. Chat GPT allows users to have human-like conversations with a chatbot, along with helping them to create content and web code.

Already used by many businesses to direct customers’ enquiries quickly and efficiently, in finance AI is increasingly using machine learning (ML) to mimic human intelligence and decision-making about managing, investing and protecting money.

From chatbot assistants to automated tasks and fraud detection, over the past few years we have become familiar with the way that tech is changing the way we manage our personal finances. In commercial finance too, AI is increasingly used to predict and assess loan risks, manage underwriting and spot fraud.

Speak to Complete Commercial Finance’s expert team on 01553 611619 to organise a business loan today. IS AI IN FINANCE A GOOD THING?

Some have argued that the use of AI for large data analysis could help to avert future financial crises and bridge the gap between financial institutions and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and reduce corruption.

However, others warn that the abilities of machine learning models are limited by the data on which they are trained, and also that AI chatbots can, on occasion, generate false information – known as ‘hallucination’ – which can incorrectly disrupt transactions and frustrate customers.

While we are on the cusp of change in the way that AI affects our financial lives, the future governance of these types of applications is important to prevent bias or manipulation for commercial gain. The proposed EU AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI law, is a step towards creating an ethical financial ecosystem for the future, and this area is likely to be closely regulated as it evolves.

For personalised advice on your business’ finance application, speak to Complete Commercial Finance on 01553 611619. WILL AI REPLACE FINANCE MANAGERS?

In many sectors, AI has the potential to replace real people in the workplace –  from call centres to retail, technology can eliminate the need to have a human being at the end of a phone call or to take payments in-store.

Yet, interestingly, in a study of one call centre where AI was introduced to manage calls for a luxury brand, rather than increase productivity as expected, the benefit of AI was that it transformed staff into successful sales agents, as AI enabled them to up-sell products rather than simply answer questions or log calls. Used sensitively, AI can support and enhance employees’ abilities, rather than replace them.

Some call centre companies have also spoken of their concern about adopting AI to replace staff, saying that it risks irritating customers who like to speak to a ‘real person’. The reality is that most of us prefer to be able to connect with someone who can help us with our query, and this is undoubtedly true in finance too.

It has been suggested that banks could train chatbots to provide investment information to help clients to make informed decisions or help with financial planning, yet the confidence of customers to follow AI advice may be some time off. The human touch is still very important, particularly when it comes to financial decisions, and while AI is a valuable tool it cannot replace years of expertise, experience and knowledge of the market.

Many businesses are frustrated by the increasingly centralised operations of banks, and few have a direct contact to call for help and advice in organising a bank loan or funding. Regional companies such as Complete Commercial Finance, which has consultants in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex can bridge the gap and provide ‘real person’ advice and guidance to maximise a company’s ability to tap into the right business finance.

Most companies want to work with someone who understands their individual needs and goals and can provide personalised advice. While AI is becoming increasingly sophisticated, it still has limitations and the value of a commercial broker’s judgement in presenting a funding application to the right lender to achieve a positive outcome for a business cannot be undervalued.

Image provided by Complete Commercial Finance