SaxonAir once again host the Royal Air Force Red Arrows this year, one of the world’s premier aerobatic teams. The team are renowned throughout the world, acting as ambassadors of Great Britain.
The Reds visited us at our Business Aviation Centre at Norwich Airport on Friday 22nd August, SaxonAir always look forward to hosting the team at the airport and were especially privileged to be a part of their ongoing celebration for their 50th display season.
This year the Reds mark their 50th Anniversary of display seasons from their first in 1965. A number of activities are planned in the coming months to highlight this milestone occasion and the Team hope people will join in and share the celebration. It is an opportunity for the Red Arrows to thank supporters from both the United Kingdom and overseas for their continued, and valued, interest in the Team.
Use #Reds50 on Twitter to keep up-to-date with all of the news on the 50th display season and follow the Team @rafredarrows or like RAF Red Arrows on Facebook.
As a travel consultant, I aim to bring your travel dreams to life by researching, inspecting, and delivering tailored recommendations. Mid-December, I had the privilege of experiencing five stunning resorts from Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection across Fuerteventura and Lanzarote on a FAM trip.
Each resort showcased its unique charm and the breathtaking beauty of these islands. This hands-on experience allows me to share personal insights, ensuring my recommendations are heartfelt and truly special.
Here are a few interesting facts about Fuerteventura: The island had no electricity in the 1960s. The first tourists visited in the early 1970s, at a time when there wasn’t a single proper road on the island. Back then, the journey from the airport to the resort took longer than the actual flight! Fuerteventura experiences very little rainfall—sometimes going several years without a single drop.
Bringing the past to life with our colourful selectionof 2015 vintage & retro calendars. Each one features classic 20th century advertising images from The History of Advertising Trusts amazing archives.
The University of East Anglia (UEA) has leapt to 14th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015, its highest ever position in this well-respected league table.
According to the guide: “The University of East Anglia is seldom outside the top 10 in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide analysis of the National Student Survey (NSS) – and this year is no exception, ranking fifth in the UK for student satisfaction. Its 15,000 students appear to like the scale of this relatively small campus university, as well as the quality of its courses and the accessibility of staff.”
The guide also highlighted the university’s world-leading Creative Writing programme, its fast-developing health studies schools, and UEA’s sharpened focus on employability with a strategy that promotes the development of the academic and wider skills that employers demand through the curriculum.
Vice-Chancellor Prof David Richardson said: “It is extremely pleasing to see the hard work of staff and students recognised with this tremendous result.
“Over the past few years we have firmly established UEA in the top 20 of UK universities and we will continue that upward trajectory. Delivering a first class student experience, combined with internationally-renowned research and teaching, is key to our high position in the league tables, and I look forward to our continued success in the years to come.”
The results are the latest league table success for UEA, following a climb to 14th in the Guardian League Table, 15th in the Complete University Guide and a second year in the top 3 of the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey.
This is the second year that the Sunday Times and Times have published combined league tables.
As more and more organisations are relying heavily on technology, we at Pure think it’s great that increasing numbers of IT professionals are climbing the ladder to senior jobs. And let’s face it – we all need these masters of tech to make sure our workplaces tick over nicely!
The days of IT experts being recruited just for their niche skillset are fast becoming history. For example, in the USA organisations are recruiting more tech-savvy people into top roles so they can have more input into high-level decisions.
As we launch our new IT recruitment division (you should check out the fantastic IT Manager job in Ipswich, by the way), we’re feeling positive about technologists’ careers. In fact, we think they can bring huge benefits to organisations when they’re one of the head honchos! So, this week, we’re looking at how these very talented people can influence the success of your workplace.
1. Keeping you safe from harm Digital technology is key to our economy but, unfortunately, threats from cyberspace have become a serious issue. Whether it’s hacking into databases to source confidential information, or to simply cause glitches, having an IT security expert at the top can help protect an organisation from serious damage.
2. Networking know-how Whether it’s email, video calls or file sharing, sending and receiving information over digital networks is now the norm. With workplace communications becoming more ‘techy’, having someone at the top who understands the complexities is enormously helpful. Of course, it’s not just about trouble-shooting. A chief with tech knowledge could also have a deeper understanding of how and why networks need to constantly improve to keep up with the fast-paced changes of industry.
3. Making sensible investments It’s no fun working with an unreliable internet connection when superfast broadband could boost productivity! That’s why it’s great to have an IT guru at senior level, who’s able to input into big spending decisions on new technology. It can be a long-term investment, so a senior specialist can use budget wisely, based on their knowledge of the market, and what works for the organisation.
4. IT acumen is good for custom Getting technology right isn’t just about how your people work – it also influences your customers’ experiences. And since everyone’s much more tech-savvy nowadays, it’s an important issue that IT workers need to consider. They know that out-of-date systems can impact an organisation’s efficiency and the customer experience. Having a senior-level IT pro’ on the board could improve how you engage with your customers, and possibly lead to more business!
5. Handling ‘Big Data’ If you’re in IT or marketing, you’ve probably come across this industry buzzword a lot recently. Basically, ‘Big Data’ is huge amounts of complex data (e.g. customer details, social media, website statistics) that traditional databases struggle to process and store safely. And since data informs how we approach business, it needs to be handled very carefully, and employees need to be able to get to it easily.
This is now a huge challenge for organisations of all kinds, and it’s fast becoming clear that IT experts in strategic, decision-making roles can help tackle the problem.
This is just a short list of the ways IT experts can boost business if they’re in top jobs. After all, it’s good for them, their organisations and our economy.
Find your very own tech guru today! Contact Pure’s Associate Director, Scott Woodrow on 07879 841 906 or email: [email protected], who takes care of IT jobs in the East of England.
Step Back in Time
– VE Day 80th Celebration at Saxon Air
Saxon Air is excited
to invite you to a weekend of live music, local history, and community
spirit—right inside our aircraft hangar—as we mark 80 years since VE Day. It’s
a great way to enjoy the May half-term with something for everyone.
Saturday 31st May
– VE Day Celebration Evening
Join us for a 1940s-inspired
evening with:
A
live 17-piece big band and swing dancing
A
specially curated Ritz-style dinner
A
special appearance by an iconic Spitfire
Vintage
flair and storytelling throughout the night
Tables of 10 are
available to purchase, or individual seats can be booked at £100 each for
general admission. (Please note: VIP tables are now sold out.)
🎉 Book your dream holiday with me and enjoy ZERO deposit! For 6 days only, secure your getaway with Jet2holidays, EasyJet holidays, or TUI without paying upfront. 🏖️✨ This exclusive offer is valid for bookings made between 2nd January and 7th January 2025 and applies to holidays departing from 1st July 2025 to 31st October 2026. Don’t miss out—contact me now to take advantage of this amazing deal! 🌍✈️ Terms apply.
The winners of the inaugural Commute Zero Hero Awards have been announced, celebrating outstanding achievements in sustainable commuting by workplaces across the UK. These initiatives have supported more than 53,000 individuals to make greener journeys over the last twelve months.
Hosted by the climate tech provider Mobilityways, the awards honour organisations and individuals driving innovative commuting solutions that reduce carbon emissions and foster a culture of sustainability.
Entries showcasing creative projects poured in from both the public and private sectors. Among the winners are Heathrow Airport, with the UK’s largest single-site Liftshare scheme; University Hospitals Dorset, whose travel team introduced the Footbus app to enhance safety for colleagues using public transport at night; and West Sussex County Council, recognised for its Active Travel Strategy prioritising school journeys.
Commenting on the win, Cllr Joy Dennis at West Sussex County Council said: “WSCC is committed to making sustainable travel journeys a safer, more convenient and more accessible option for our residents and visitors alike. A cornerstone of this commitment is our approach to Active Travel, which is about providing our residents with the ability to choose to walk, wheel or cycle instead of using their cars for journeys to school, work and many more destinations. Our Active Travel to School programme provides site-specific footway and cycle improvements, with behaviour change interventions to build the habit of travelling actively from a young age.”
Meanwhile, Encirc was honoured with the Best Workplace Initiative Award for its car-share solution with a reward system that’s saved 3.33 tonnes of CO2 and 16,938 miles within the first six months.Stuart Jensen, Head of Reward and Analytics said: “Sustainability is at the core of all we do at Encirc. The car-sharing initiative rewards our people for taking part in the scheme and helps us to cut back significant emissions on the commute to work. This recognition is a timely boost for our car-share solution at Encirc as we look to increase and develop further its impact across the business.”
Mobilityways Managing Director, Julie Furnell, commented, “The Commute Zero Hero Awards recognise those leading the charge in making commuting greener, healthier, and more efficient. Our winners have developed best practices that deliver measurable impacts in the mission to make zero-carbon commuting a reality. From reducing emissions to improving the health, wealth, and happiness of their teams, these organisations demonstrate the transformative power of sustainable commuting solutions. We’re delighted to celebrate their success and inspire others to follow suit.”
Often overlooked, Scope 3 commuting emissions account for 5% of the UK’s total carbon footprint, equating to 18 billion kilograms of CO2e annually. As more workplaces encourage a return to the office, reducing the environmental impact of commuting is essential for achieving ambitious net–zero targets.
The National Franchise Exhibition is one of the largest franchise events in the UK franchise calendar each year. The exhibitors include a range of franchise companies from a wide variety of different industries together with franchise specialist consultants and legal and financial franchise experts. The National Franchise Exhibition is exclusively supported by the British Franchise Association (bfa).
Leathes Prior’s dedicated Franchising Team will be at Stand L150 over the course of the two-day exhibition and will be providing advice on the legalities of franchising. Ed Savory, partner and head of the Franchising Team, will also be giving a seminar on ‘What to Consider When Choosing a Franchise’ on Saturday 4 October at 10.30am.
If you are considering franchising your business and would like to talk to a member of our Franchising Team, please contact us on 01603 610911 or visit us at the Exhibition on Stand L150.
If you would like more information about the upcoming National Franchise Exhibition, including free advance tickets, please visit the Franchise Info website www.franchiseinfo.co.uk
Digital marketing agency, Bigfork, have substantially increased online enquiries in a digital campaign for Norfolk based house builder, Abel Homes. Bigfork were appointed to design a new website and carry out digital marketing for Abel Homes who have developments in Shipdham and Watton.
“Our brief was to market new homes in Norfolk for Abel Homes by targeting people in East Anglia and the South East. We successfully carried out search engine optimisation and pay per click campaigns using Google Adwords, Bing and Facebook which has generated over 300 quality enquiries so far,” says Mark Ellaway, a Bigfork Director.
Nearly all the homes have now been sold at both developments and Abel Homes are launching a new development, ‘Swan’s Nest’ in Swaffham, in 2015. “Working with Abel Homes has been a real pleasure. They are a family owned, local firm who have shown that they can compete with regional & national builders by building traditional and contemporary homes, that come with a full range of energy efficient features and a choice of fitted kitchens as standard.” added Mark.
Centrum, Norwich Research Park’s research, innovation and business hub is the ideal location for the new private investor network, giving the company direct access to the movers and shakers at the Park and beyond.
According to Struan McDougall, Chief Executive of Anglia Capital Group “The agri-tech, food, life sciences, engineering and energy sectors, all vital for future economic prosperity, are experiencing rapid growth in the region.” Capitalising on this rich seam of opportunity is a primary reason why the company has chosen to base themselves within Norwich Research Park’s new hub building, Centrum.
Anglia Capital Group is a private investor network developed to link angel investors to the right opportunities in Norfolk and Suffolk. The group is managed by Anglia Angels Ltd, a company established by founders and local Norfolk based members of the successful Cambridge Capital Group, which has grown to 60 member investors and supports high tech businesses around the Cambridge cluster. Through this relationship with Cambridge Capital Group, Anglia Capital Group is already well connected with most active investment funds in the region.
Struan is confident of the benefits of being based at Norwich Research Park and feels it is the ideal location for Anglia Capital Group to have a presence, placing them at the centre of the innovative science and research taking place on the Park, in addition to facilitating easy access to other high growth sectors such as engineering, energy and digital technology that are thriving in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Struan commented of the move: “We are delighted to take space in the new Centrum building at Norwich Research Park. It is a true ‘hub’ building with open access for all based at the Park as well as welcoming visitors from off site – an essential ingredient when looking to build and establish new connections and relationships. The state-of-the-art meeting rooms are extremely versatile, allowing us to hold investor and potential applicant meetings as well as larger events for our members and the look and feel of Centrum certainly gives the right impression from our perspective. In addition, and importantly for our business, being located at Centrum gives usdirect access to all the key decision makers within the management team and wider institutions on the Park.”
Centrum is the new hub building located at the heart of Norwich Research Park. Centrum’s two upper floors provide customisable laboratory and office suites on flexible lease terms ideal for growing companies who wish to enjoy the benefits of being located alongside the innovative businesses and cutting edge research institutes already located at the Park. The ground floor is home to impressive meeting and networking facilities, as well as a 140 seat contemporary restaurant and café, all of which is open to both Park residents and visitors alike.
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth CEO of Norwich Research Park says that Anglia Capital Group are a well timed addition to the Park. She adds:
“Recognition of Norwich Research Park as a nationally and internationally important centre of excellence for bioscience, both academically and commercially is tremendously exciting. The commercialisation and application of the impressive science and research being developed at the Park is a key driver in our success and having a direct source of early stage funding available on site via Anglia Capital Group, with a proven track record in delivery is very encouraging for our institutions and businesses.
“Anglia Capital Group epitomises what our new hub building, Centrum, is all about. Face to face interactions are an intrinsic part of how they do business and Centrum’s facilities and location within Norwich Research Park provides the ideal platform for forming these long lasting relationships.”
Struan endorses this view: “Some crowdfunding is done online these days. While these are useful tools for some small investors, they do not allow for the benefits of face to face discussions required by serious business angels to really understand the potential in a business and the passion of those involved in it.
“We already feel part of the Norwich Research Park community and look forward to supporting great businesses in the region.”
SSCS have been shortlisted for the British Business Awards 2014 (hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce in China and China-Britain Business Council) and are one of 5 finalists for the category “GREAT British Product”.