We’re now less than 5 weeks away fromNorDevCon 2015and the Early Bird tickets are available until the 13th February at £95 + fees – less than half the standard ticket price!
This year, not only will the conference be a gathering of some of the brightest minds from the tech community, but over 100 business representatives from businesses in and around the county.
With some business based sessions and the opportunity to network with investors, designers and everything in between, the conference is the perfect chance to mingle with like minded folk and attend interactive sessions demonstrating how technological advances can add efficiency and value to a company’s business model.
Ali Clabburn, of Norwich based Liftshare, will be speaking on “How to get the best from developers when you haven’t got a clue.” which promises to be an insightful session and may be of particular interest to members.
Great Yarmouth based True Traders have bought local courier consolidators Diamond Logistics Norwich after being the largest customer of the company for over a year. True Traders were so impressed with the transformation of their operations after partnering with Diamond Logistics Norwich that they decided to buy the company!
Previously owned by Kevin Baker, Diamond Logistics Norwich are a Multi-Carrier Solution for parcels. It utilises national contracts with most major courier and logistics companies, which allow significantly lower rates than can be achieved individually.
True Traders is a family run online retailer that specialise in building, garden and outdoor products. Managing Director Michael Bezance explained the investment: ‘Given how Diamond Logistics Norwich have changed the way we work, and the potential within the company, once the opportunity presented itself to us it was a very easy decision to make. For True Traders to continue our rapid growth we have to compete with the big online retailers like Amazon, Tescos, B&Q etc, and Diamond Logistics Norwich has allowed us to do just that. The business has reduced our costs, while significantly increasing levels of service both for the customer and from the courier. We liked the company so much we just had to buy it!’
New Managing Director of Diamond Logistics Norwich Tom Bezance said ‘Kevin has done a great job with the company so far, but we felt that with the resources within True Traders we stood a very good chance of growing the company rapidly. The ‘MultiCarrier Solutions’ service can benefit many local small and medium sized businesses, taking away a lot of the cost and hassle of sending parcels and allowing them to spend more time growing the business. This is already a proven formula for True Traders for both UK deliveries and abroad.
Tom and experienced Business Development Manager Chris Wilson hope to see the company flourish in the future. ‘We hope to quickly increase our customer base in the Norwich and Great Yarmouth areas to begin with, we know there are plenty of businesses out there that would benefit considerably from our services.’
The Government’s adviser on local growth Lord Heseltine visited Ipswich recently to meet the New Anglia Growth Hub team, based at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce on the waterfront.
Established last summer by New Anglia LEP, the Growth Hub is a one-stop-shop for business support and funding information. It is one of several Growth Hubs set up nationally to give business owners a clearer route to business support.
Lord Heseltine has called for more powers to be devolved from London to the regions to help local business leaders access help and support they need to grow.
During his visit, Lord Heseltine met with five local businesses who the Growth Hub has helped to grow by signposting them to specialist providers of business support. He spent time talking to each of the businesses to learn more about the ways they had been supported.
Crossing a range of sectors, the businesses were Aponic, an innovative hydroponics company from Sudbury, Howard Nurseries who are a plant wholesaler near Diss, Seers Medical, a manufacturer of therapy and medical beds in Debenham, Orbital Media, a leading social media and digital agency in Stowmarket and The Naughty Sheep who are a quality jam, marmalade and chutney artisan factory located in Ipswich.
Lord Heseltine has previously been a customer of Howard Nurseries. The Growth Hub has worked with them to secure a funded internship to boost their sales and marketing. Owner Christine Howard commented; “We would never have accessed this support without our meetings with the Growth Hub Advisers.”
John Stenhouse, Growth Hub manager said: “It was great to be able to show Lord Heseltine first-hand the businesses we have helped in our first year. We’re committed to supporting all businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk across all sectors and at any stage of development and the team of advisers will travel to any business to offer face-to-face support.”
To find out how the Growth Hub can support your business, call 0300 333 6536 or email [email protected]
Petans are pleased to announce that we have funded the uniform and equipment for the Potter Heigham Areas Community First Responders Group, helping them to aid and assist life threatening emergencies within the Catfield, Ludham, Potter Heigham, Martham and Hickling area. Our very own Jennie Douse (Financial Controller) has been a volunteer member at Potter Heigham group since August 2014 and instigated the relationship between Petans and The First Responders. Fellow members, Shelley Moore and Ashley McNeill came to the Norwich training centre to show off their new uniforms and equipment, along with Andrew Barlow – Community Partnership Manager for East of England Ambulance Service.
Petans have helped to fund 3 uniforms, and a response bag, a Welmed Ipad SP1 defibrillator, Pulse Oximetor and suction equipment for the team, helping the group to cover such an extensive area. Being a charity that’s top priority is to benchmark a high standard of safety within the energy sector; it is easy to see the importance of schemes such as the Community First Responders.
Swarm as asocial enterprise is focused on supporting and developing young people in employemnt to deliver the greatest possible impact.Now there’s an opportunity for even greater impact with the introduction of a Level 5 apprenticeship in ‘Innovation and Growth.’
Unlike the Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships Swarm supports, there is no upper age limit for Government funding. That reduces the likely cost to the learner or their employer, making this qualification a realistic and affordable option for many wishing to grow their entrepreneurial skills.
Chris Perry Swarms Managing Director comments- ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for people to gain a degree level qualification in the workplace that concentrates on business growth and development. It unlocks new doors for both Swarm and the business community, enabling organisations to upskill existing employees or recruit new people to high calibre management roles.’
He continues, ‘We recognise that to grow opportunities for young people you need to grow businesses. With this qualification we have a unique opportunity to support the senior leader’s business to drive innovation and growth which will have a wider impact, not just for young people but for the whole regional economy.’
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber comments “Exciting news for Norfolk businesses and young people and another first for Swarm. Another step forward in the provision of apprenticeships”
Robert Ashton, Swarm’s founder and Chairman added: ‘this new qualification will challenge people to see, and then seize their opportunity to lead innovation and growth at work. It’s accessible, affordable and as with everything Swarm does, has enterprise at its heart.’
The first group of ten will start this May, with the qualification being delivered by Swarm in partnership with Norfolk County Council Adult Education. If you’d like to be one of the ten, or to find out more, ring Chris Perry on 01953 609752 or visit www.swarmapprentice.org.uk
Serene Safety, a leading health, safety, and risk management consultancy based in Norwich, has been distinguished with the highest-tier accreditation by NEBOSH (the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health), achieving Gold Learning Partner.
This esteemed recognition signifies Serene Safety’s ongoing commitment to delivering world-class learning to the students it supports. NEBOSH awards Gold Learning Partner status only to providers who meet rigorous standards of quality teaching, learner support, and outcomes. As a Gold Learning Partner, Serene Safety brings unparalleled expertise and proven training methodologies to health and safety education for businesses in Norfolk and across the UK.
NEBOSH is a UK-based awarding body recognised around the world for setting the benchmark in health, safety and environmental qualifications. Established in 1979, NEBOSH qualifications are taken in over 130 countries and are widely regarded as essential for anyone with health and safety responsibilities at work.
As a NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner, Serene Safety will be delivering a range of recognised qualifications, starting this Autumn, including:
Jonathan Reynolds, Partner at Serene Safety, said: “We’re rightly proud to achieve NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner status. It reflects the dedication of our team to providing practical, engaging and supportive training. This has been a long-term goal of ours to grow the business and offer these types of qualifications to our customers. Health and safety training should never be a tick-box exercise; our aim is to give people the skills and confidence to make a real difference in their workplaces, safe in the knowledge that we are always nearby when they need that little extra help and support.”
Based in Norwich, Serene Safety provides health, safety and risk management services to businesses across Norfolk and beyond. Alongside its NEBOSH-accredited training, the company also offers retained competent person services, audits, incident investigation and bespoke workplace training.
We’re the Flagship Group – the east of England’s largesthousing association. We are a strong business,providing homes for affordable and market rent,and for sale. And we maintain homesand support the communities they’re part of.
To help deliver our ambitions, we’re looking for people withsuccessful entrepreneurial or commercial backgrounds:
Non-executive directors
Flagship Group Board x 2*
£12,330 pa – under review
RFT Board (our maintenance company) x 1
£6,000 pa
(*x 1 for March 2016)
Board co-optees
Flagship Group Board x 1 or 2
£2,000 pa retainer, plus day rate
To apply, visit: flagship-housing.co.uk/jobs-and-careers
Six months on from the merger and re-brand of Aston Shaw and Morgan Woods, the newly amalgamated firm has enjoyed higher than predicted growth since August 2014. The number of employees has risen from approximately 70 at the time of the merger, to almost 90 employees as of today. Over the course of the year Aston Shaw took on 17 apprentices with more current employees finishing their first year with exam passes.
Dominic Shaw, Director, commented: “The reaction from clients has been extremely positive and we couldn’t be happier with the way things have gone. Everyone has adjusted superbly and the new processes and systems put in place have been embraced by both staff and clients. It’s a big change for everyone who works here but it is a positive one – we’re really excited for what 2015 can bring”.
As a result of the merger, Aston Shaw now has 5 offices in Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth ad Dereham. This has given clients the benefit of less travel and easier access to their dedicated Client Manager.
One of Aston Shaw’s Norfolk based clients added, “We’ve been using Aston Shaw as our accountants for the best part of 10 years now and we are really pleased with the new changes. They have managed to keep the personal touch which made us stick with them and their added resource means my business is dealt with quicker than ever”.
To coincide with the merger Aston Shaw, re-branded and released a brand new website: www.astonshaw.co.uk.
Despite considerable efforts from the Government it would appear that businesses are not heeding the warnings and are delaying their transition to auto enrolment systems from any existing pension provision.
The Pensions Regulator produces a quarterly compliance report and the latest edition highlights an increase in the number of fixed penalties being issued for non-compliance with the new pension rules.
It is likely that these numbers will rise over the next few months as the deadlines (staging date) for many smaller and medium sized businesses to comply approaches.
It is clear, from this evidence that businesses are underestimating the time they need to prepare for auto enrolment. Six months is regarded as the bare minimum.
Many more businesses will come under the new pension rules this year. If this is going to have an impact on your business, it’s important to know exactly what you have to do to ensure that you don’t fall foul of the rules or miss your staging date.
As members of Norfolk Chamber we felt it remiss not to provide businesses the opportunity to improve their knowledge of this complicated process and so we have adapted our seminars to become a Chamber Session.
You can find out about the free training session here
Alan Boswell Group has been recognised by Norwich City College as winners of the ‘Overall contribution to apprentices and workplace learning’ award. The annual awards were hosted by the Principal at Norwich City College, Corrienne Peasgood, to recognise local businesses who are supporting apprentices through the College.
The event was run to coincide with National Apprenticeship week which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Director of Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers, Heath Alexander-Bew, said: “We are delighted to have won this award. It reflects the excellent opportunities our scheme provides and how important nurturing young talent is to the organisation. The enthusiasm of the apprentices is also key to the success of the scheme and adds a real positive vibe to the business.”
Also attending the awards were some of Alan Boswell Group’s current and previous apprentices; Jess Read, Lydia Warnes and Tom Cullum. Lydia said: “The evening was a lovely event celebrating apprentices in Norfolk. It was great to meet and speak to other apprentices and employers about their experiences and how their apprenticeship scheme differs to ours.”
Alan Boswell Group will shortly be advertising the opportunity for two new apprentices to join the award winning scheme which is now in its sixth year. The programme spans three years and allows the individual to gain experience across the business including commercial business, underwriting and claims. Apprentices work towards an NVQ and the Chartered Insurance Institute Certificate in partnership with City College Norwich. If you are interested in applying or would like further information about joining the scheme please contact Gillian Anderson Brown on 01603 218015 or [email protected]
Leading specialist tour operator, Omega Holidays are delighted to announce a new 7 night escorted holiday by air to the beautiful Devon, Cornwall and the Eden Project departing on Sunday 26th July 2015.
The holiday includes return flights, seven nights 3* hotel which includes 3 course dinner and full English breakfast, transfers and admission to the Eden Project, and full day excursions to Torquay and Dartmoor National Park. The holiday is priced from £599 per person.
Omega Holidays will also be offering a flight only option on the service from just £99.00 return.
Dino Toouli, Head of Sales at Omega Holidays commented “Having successfully operated an evening excursion to view the Northern Lights earlier this year, and a new programme of holidays to the Black Forest region of Germany and Austria this summer, we are delighted to add this fully escorted holiday to the popular regions of Devon and Cornwall from Norwich International.
Richard Pace, Airport Operations Director & General Manager said “The south west is a very popular summer destination and we are happy that Omega Holidays have taken the opportunity to include this region to the summer flights from Norwich this summer, we are sure this will prove to be a popular option for local holidaymakers.”
For further information visit www.omega-holidays.com or contact your local travel agent.
Blue Sky Professional Development held their annualStudent Graduation last week at the Assembly House, which coincided with their 2nd birthday.Students, their families, tutors and guests joined Kate Woods and Beth Russell, Directors of Blue Sky, for an celebratory evening of drinks,superb canapes and the presentation ceremony.John Cunningham, Head of Qualifications at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)gave a very informative speech and presented the successful students with their certificates. Katewas pleased to reportthat 41 students had successfully achieved their qualifications across all 3 levels this year, an increase on last year.
Blue Sky Professional Development delivers Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualifications in Leadership and Management at levels 3 and 5, and CIPD Qualifications in Human Resources and Learning and Developmentat levels 3. 5 and 7 to students from acrossEast Anglia from their offices in Norwich. Next year’s graduation will see the first ILM level 5 students receive their certificates as wellas CIPD Foundation Awards in HR/L&D Essentials, the latest qualification to be added to Blue Sky’s programmes.