B2B Exhibition Game Winner!
Congratulations to Alison, who was randomly selected as an Empresa winner from those that completed our game at the Norfolk Chamber B2B Exhibition on the Norfolk ShowGround. We hope you enjoy the Echo Dot and other goodies included in the bag!
KLM UK Engineering & Finnair Sign Line Maintenance Agreement
Paris, Amstelveen, Norwich – January 2018 – AFI KLM E&M subsidiary is delighted to announce the signing of a line maintenance agreement with Finnair.
A European leader in the regional jets & narrow body aircraft market and having an internationally acknowledged expertise on the Boeing 737, Embraer 170/190, BAe146/Avro RJ, Fokker 70/100 & Airbus A320 Family, KLM UK Engineering is delighted to confirm its contract with Finnair.
KLM UK Engineering will be supporting Finnair with their Embraer E190 & Airbus A320 Family aircraft providing line maintenance support in Edinburgh commencing early 2018.
Ian Bartholomew, Director Business Development & Sales – ‘KLM UK Engineering Limited will be supporting both Embraer & A320 aircraft for Finnair at our established line maintenance station in Edinburgh. Having been operating at Edinburgh for over 20 years, we are delighted that Finnair are part of our growing customer base and look forward to our future working relationship.’
Hatch Brenner Solicitors on Theatre Street in Norwich is delighted to launch a discount offer to all the NHS staff and other key workers who have been tirelessly supporting us all during the coronavirus pandemic. The new NHS and key worker offer for spring 2021 provides a 15% discount on our fixed fee structure for the preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs).
Read more: https://hatchbrenner.co.uk/services/fixed-fee-solicitors
Hatch Brenner Head of Private Client Caroline Billings commented: “It is absolutely the right thing to do to recognise and support our fantastic and hardworking key workers by offering them a discount on our private client services. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our NHS workers, Police, Care home staff, Paramedics and countless others. Having an up to date Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney in place means that individuals can have peace of mind that their future wishes have been recorded. With all of us having to confront real issues around our health and mortality, particularly true for these front line workers, we have seen an upsurge in enquiries for our private client services as people use the lockdown time to get their assets in order.”
The key worker discount is valid for appointments in March and April 2021, subject to availability. The scheme is open to anyone employed as one of the keyworker groups identified by the Government (see the list here). You will be asked to bring proof of your key worker status to your first appointment. We offer covid-safe appointments including via phone, video call, or within social distancing guidelines.
Read more: https://hatchbrenner.co.uk/news/lockdown-3-0-hatch-brenner-solicitors-remains-open-and-available
To make an appointment, please contact Hatch Brenner Private Client Paralegal Rachel Frammingham throughout February, March and April via 01603 660 811 or email [email protected]
Read more: https://hatchbrenner.co.uk/faqs/can-you-help-me-write-my-will
Renowned Norfolk retailer, Jarrold, has teamed up with local cancer charity Big C for a one-off online sale charity event which they have named BIG Clear Out For Cancer, launching on Wednesday 17th February. Helga Clarke, Senior Marketing Manager at Jarrold, said, “During the pandemic, as we have been spending much more time at home, many of us have been tidying, cleaning and sorting the areas of our home and things we never normally have time for. Part of this has been having a huge clothing clear-out. At Jarrold, while our shops have been shut, we have sorted some hidden treasures and some great bargains across our most popular brands to sell through our website and so the idea of a charity closet clear-out came to fruition! Just visit our website, sit back, take a minute and browse your size, you never know what you might find! We’d love it if our customers shared their purchases and showed us how they plan to wear them. We are delighted to partner with Big C for this initiative, donating £1 for every item sold to this much-loved local charity, as they too have suffered from not having their shops open.” Carole Slaughter, Head of Fundraising at Big C, said, “This is a fantastic, feel-good, fun initiative from Jarrold, which gives us all the chance for some retail therapy, which is exactly what we need at the moment and the opportunity to score a bargain, whilst raising much needed funds for those in our community affected by cancer. We are very grateful to Jarrold for their support.” Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Big C moved swiftly to transfer all support services online and over the telephone, to ensure ongoing vital support for those facing cancer and their families, in very challenging times. All Big C services are now available in this way including a specialist telephone support line, live chat support, telephone counselling, welfare advice, ‘Ask the Nurse’ support via Big C’s virtual centre, Get Moving fitness coaching programme and physical and mental wellbeing videos. In addition to this increase in demand for their services, Big C has experienced a sharp drop in income from closure of the shops and cancellation of fundraising events. www.big-c.co.uk
Norfolk based vegan protein brand Gorilla Juice have achieved Amazon Vendor Central status after engaging with Akcela to support with their business development and growth programme. Another milestone in a year which has seen the brand move from strength to strength.
Akcela have been supporting Gorilla Juice in their growth programme at key points, offering business coaching, mentoring and FMCG strategy.
Founder Harry Barratt describes the year as “exciting”, whilst looking forward to the future for the brand. “It’s been an interesting year. One where a lot of businesses have struggled. So we are grateful through this we can be seen as a good news story. When you see some of the news out there at the moment. What’s happening to businesses where things aren’t so good. It’s a tough time. When we came to Akcela. We knew the potential of the brand and we had something that struck a chord with people. We knew the quality the product carried and that’s been something we haven’t compromised on.” Harry stated.
“Working with Akcela, there’s been a raft of changes. I don’t think we could have got here without them. We have gained outside investment, which allowed us to ramp up our stock levels and buying power. We’ve turned a big corner in sales, which has helped give us a really great base to move on from. We are at a point now where we can start looking at the exciting things. The exciting customer opportunities and collaborations. It’s been a lot of work, but we were never shy about that. Now we are ready to really kick on.”
Akcela director James Adams commented on the success that Gorilla Juice has had over the past year, whilst keeping an eye firmly on the next stage of development.
“Gorilla Juice has been a great project for us, working with Harry and bringing others into the team for the long haul. I think early on, we saw the opportunity for the brand, but we had to put the fundamentals in place. The team have worked incredibly hard to achieve that.”
“Moving to an Amazon managed brand is great for Gorilla Juice as it helps to start to streamline the sales process and drives quantity through the business. The next stage for us is to actively seek out partnerships that continue to drive that brand awareness and growth. You don’t become an Amazon managed product without throughput and quality. Where Gorilla Juice really holds up is the quality of the product. It is a premium offering and that’s the next step for us. Finding premium partnerships that value the brand for its quality and its approach.”
Akcela will continue to work with Gorilla Juice, with James continuing his role as a member of the management team. If you would like to understand more about working with Gorilla Juice, or understand how Akcela can support in developing your FMCG brand.
This story was originally published on the Akcela website – or you can go to their website to find out more about Akcela management consultants.
When we first decided to take our first steps into creating a corporate film showing the work that goes in to distributing heating oil, little did we know the challenges ahead.
As we made plans over a year ago the landscape was quite different at this time and as lockdown 1 came, we decided to shelve this idea for later. However, with the realisation that this was now the new normal and could be with us for some time we decided to pursue the idea once more.
After a short tender process, we were delighted to appoint fellow Norfolk Chamber members Trendy Grandad as the production company who we would work with. The brief was simple we wanted to communicate what is involved in bringing heating oil to customers in the East of England, but to do this in a more imaginative way than just a member of Goff team talking to camera.
Working closely with Stokely and Adam from Trendy Grandad we soon had a script and an ambitious storyboard that we were all happy with. What’s more we were also delighted to be allowed access to one of the U.K.’s oil refineries, access to the refineries for obvious reasons is highly restricted so to be able to get the permissions in place to film really was an achievement.
The shoot itself was a little more stop start than we had planned with the emergence of lockdown 2 meaning that once again there was a slight pause to proceedings. But with lockdown lifted it was “Action”.
First up was a rude awakening as the team needed to be at the Wymondham Depot for 5 AM, ready to film the first of the fleet of our articulated tankers as they set out on their daily journeys to the refineries across the UK. Our host for the day was experienced driver Gordon and we followed and filmed every move that Gordon takes on this journey too Harwich and back.
The refinery itself was quite something as a mass of pipes and storage tanks take the deliveries of crude oil before refining them into the many different products that customers demand including, diesel, petrol and kerosene or heating oil as it’s known. Once the articulated lorry has taken on a staggering 38,000 litres of heating oil, then it’s back to one of Goff’s many regional depots where the oil is pumped out into storage ready to be delivered to local customers.
The next morning and a more leisurely start of 7am we follow one of the delivery tankers carrying 12,500 litres of heating oil set to be delivered to customers across Norfolk. This was a fascinating insight into the challenges that the oil delivery drivers face every day from access issues down tight country lanes, to navigating poor parking in tight cul-de-sac’s, locked all tanks and the odd lively dog. This was all water of a ducks back to our driver who tirelessly reeled his hose in and out and the many drops he made.
Shooting on a scheduled delivery round gave us a number of challenges, but it was essential that the film reflected what really happens. So, no actors or stand ins were used and the customers reactions are totally genuine, trickier to capture but in our opinion, it was definitely worth it. Thank you to all our fabulous customers who were happy to be involved.
With more footage than we knew what to do with the team at Trendy Grandad did what they do best, edit and edit until we had the desired 1 min film and here it is.
We hope you like it, we certainly enjoyed making it and would like to thank all those involved, from Customers, Goff employees, the refinery and those at Trendy Grandad.
Kevin Baker, a driver on one of the Norwich Park and Ride buses operated by Norse Commercial Services, recently received praise for coming to the aid of a female passenger who had collapsed.
Laura Campbell, who was twelve weeks pregnant at the time, got onto the 17:00 bus to return to the Park and Ride site at Norwich Airport.
As Kevin’s bus drew into the site Laura collapsed; she had become overheated and her blood pressure had dropped to a dangerously low level.
“The bus driver was ever so helpful and lifted me up from the floor and sat me down on the nearest seat until I had recovered,” Laura said, “and he even offered to ring my husband on my behalf.”
“Unfortunately I never got this bus driver’s name at the time and I would really like to pass on my thanks and gratitude for acting so swiftly and professionally. He gave excellent service and helped me when I needed it, and I can advise that my 12 week scan the next day revealed that the baby is fine and has a good strong heartbeat,” she added.
Paul Bonham, Commercial Director at Norse, said; “Kevin’s quick and caring reaction is typical of our drivers’ customer service attitude. It is not the first time that he has received praise from passengers for his helpful, ‘can-do’ approach and we are extremely proud to have him as a member of our team.”
“We are also very pleased that Laura and her baby are doing well and hope she continues to have a happy and healthy pregnancy.”
We are pleased to share with you Together We Can, our latest summary of partnerships activity from the last year.
The school is committed to making a positive impact in our community and Together We Can is a celebration of the different ways in which we seek to make a difference.
Our thanks go to the many charities, organisations and schools who have made all of this possible and we are grateful to the members of the Norwich School community who have shown a true dedication to helping others.
As ever, if there is a way in which the school could support a community partner, we would encourage them to be in touch with us.
More information about our current partnership projects can be found by clicking here.
Member offer – The Fritton Arms Hotel from £75 per night.
The Fritton Arms is please to offer Norfolk Chamber members special corporate rates
Finalist Best Independent Hotel in 2018 Norfolk and Suffolk Tourism Awards.
A boutique hotel and restaurant set in beautiful parkland on the banks of Fritton Lake, part of Somerleyton Estate. A selection of bedrooms which are elegantly furnished and comfortable with goose down pillows, soft cotton linen and luxury bathroom products. Exceptional food and surroundings with activites on the lake. Ample complimentary car parking. Close to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Just 35 minutes drive from Norwich.
Bed and Breakfast Monday to Thursday £75 per night, based on a single occupancy.
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast Monday to Thursday £100 per night, based on single occupancy.
To book email: [email protected] or call 01493484008.
The Fritton Arms Church Lane, Fritton NR31 9HA.
www.somerleyton.co.uk/fritton-lake/fritton-arms
Due to the situation regarding the coronavirus, as a business owner your team may be working from home for the time being. With less social interaction and face to face support in the workplace during this time, it’s vital to look after your mental health as well as your physical health. Now more than ever it’s important to ensure that your team are looking after their own mental health too.
So how can you support the mental health of your team while working remotely?
You may be well accustomed to having your team work from home, or it may be a brand new experience for you. However, making sure that you’re staying in regular contact, prioritising mental health and maintaining a positive work life balance are steps that can help to ease the pressure of remote working.
By Eugene Farrell, Mental Health Lead at AXA Health
In this week’s Business Insight Chat, Ian Fitch talks to William Coe, managing director of Coes, an independent company of department stores, who have been trading since 1928!
This chat offers an incredible insight into how a prominent local business has learnt, and continued to grow during a tough time for retail, and is not to be missed.
William speaks openly about a variety of issues that the business has had to deal with during lockdown, stating that the first lockdown “Couldn’t have been worse timing for clothing businesses”
He speaks candidly about the initial worry over suppliers not trading; how being told they had to cease trading might impact them paying their suppliers; the potential decrease in demand for some of their top products; planning ahead for trends and events (such as weddings) that may never happen; the frustration over how some businesses suddenly popped up as ‘essential traders’; the rollover of stock, and much more.
William also discusses the acceleration that COVID has had on how shop-based retail is adapting to technology and habits, and what this means for the future of the high-street. He offers fascinating insights into what he thinks businesses, councils and the government need to do in order to preserve the high street, including a focus on business rates and VAT; and what can be done to invest in Ipswich in particular.
He also reflects on the positives of the last 12 months, and how he has learnt to ‘fail quickly and learn fast’, and how his team have shown great resilience. He discusses how they improved their online offering, transferring what customers experience in store, online; and how they plan to keep their stores and website working together, and not in competition, post-COVID.
You can listen to Business Insights Chat on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss out on the next episode with Mark Ferguson from Castle Colour Packaging.