Member News

A far reaching transport group is launching a scheme to provide apprentices in Norfolk with an affordable way to travel to and from work

Next month (March 2016) Kickstart – a Dereham based charity which hire’s mopeds to help people attend work, education or training – will offer the new scheme to young apprentices aged between 16 and 18.

The new project will specifically tackle the problem many young apprentices face trying to afford travel expenses to get to work and back. Now, Kickstart will be offering young apprentices free motorcycle clothing and a one day compulsory basic training (CBT) course to enable them to legally ride a moped or scooter. The charity will then offer the apprentices’ subsidised hire of a 50cc moped for only £2.86 per day.

Barry Lynes, rider coordinator for Kickstart, said: “We are extremely happy to be launching this scheme, which we hope will help many young apprentices across Norfolk. Many of these young people do struggle financially whilst learning their trades due to a combination of low wages and lack of available benefits. For many of these aspiring young people affording transport to and from their place of work can be a significant problem, which we hope this scheme will help them to overcome. Once the apprentices have completed the CBT and been handed the clothing they are able to hire a fully insured, taxed and maintained moped for under £3 per day for the remainder of their apprenticeship.”

A BIG welcome toCiscoe’s Pan Asian & Sushithe latest Norfolk based business to jump on board our Digital Signage networks across Norwich! Using our network of screens Ciscoe’s are looking to increase brand awareness of the restaurant and reach out to those food fanatics looking to indulge their tastebuds with bursting flavours from the Far East.

Norwich is a great place to eat out, Ciscoe’s Pan Asian & Sushi is located right in the heart of the city centre, offering fine dining selections of gourmet dishes from around the world. Ciscoe’s serve the very best of Asian flavours by using traditional and modern recipes specialising in Japanese, Korean & Vietnamese food.

Their Executive Chef Francisco “Cisco” Papica’s professional career spans over three decades, as an up and coming chef he was educated by some of the world’s greatest. As a young man Ciscoe travelled the world learning how to create traditional dishes from the country of origin he was visiting. His travels through Europe eventually brought him to our beautiful city, where his talents were spotted by foodie entrepreneur Ian Cooke, and together they founded Ciscoe’s Pan Asian. Ciscoe’s personal dedication to the traditions and skills of Japanese cuisine is balanced by his creativity within the varied cuisines of the Pacific Rim: It’s exactly this that makes Ciscoe’s Pan Asian a unique experience that their dedicated customers enjoy over and over again.

It’s a real pleasure to be working alongside one of our favourite and most exciting restaurants in Norwich, the entire team at Ciscoe’s shows great passion towards it’s product, service and customers from the chefs, front of of house and it’s owners. Voted as a top 10 sushi chef in the UK, offering a great in house dining experience and a delivery service through Just-Eat.co.uk or their own app, the experience of dining at Ciscoe’s Pan Asian & Sushi will blow both your mind and your tastebuds.

The ad can be seen on our ‘Domination Circuit’ comprising of four screens with a weekly audience of 450,000+ people.

Last year we were approached by Halls’ Garden Centre about production of three TV Commercials for their online storeGardensite.co.uk. They asked us to create some modern, stylish commercials that would really stand out from their competitors’ commercials, showcase their ever-changing offers and highlight the ease of purchasing online.

Our team of copywriters came up with a selection of concepts, and once everyone was happy with the final creative we began preparing for the shoot!We sourced a gorgeous location to film in, and luckily (despite being shot in November!) the weather held out for us! We filmed using the Arri Amira, which has a wide dynamic range and allowed us to record more detail in highlights and shadows. The camera sensor processes footage with a cinematic quality that complements skin tones and adds a more realistic, natural feel to the footage.

To show the convenience of shopping online, we created an interesting transition between the digital world and the real-world environment of the garden; the visual ‘swipe’ effect by which the lady changes the products in her garden through the window mimics the swipe effect of a touch screen.

We decided to utilise a ‘doughnut’ technique across the three commercials – the top and tail of each commercial would remain the same, but the middle section can be altered to show different offers depending on season and availability. Combining the visual ‘swipe’ effect with the graphical insert of the tablet made for a great way to mix the sophistication of a live action commercial with the flexibility & cost of a graphics based ad!

The first commercial aired from the 27thJanuary onSky AdSmartchannels in selected postcodes.

Interesting in knowing more about Sky’s AdSmart delivery method?View our Sky AdSmart presentation.

Naked Element are proud to be part of the forthcoming Digital City Walk. Held over five days, the trail aims to encourage young people to visit Norwich tech businesses to find out more about what they do and what it might be like to work in the tech industry.

Norwich is a Tech City and younger people should be made aware of the opportunities available in our Fine City. We are at No. 1 on the map, along with Axon Vibe, Sean Clark Ltd and Applin Skinner. Our colleagues Rainbird AI are at No. 7 and Neon Tribe are at No. 11.

The walk takes place during half term between the 15th and 19th of February and we will be available every day except Thursday. Come and say hi and find out what we’re all about!

The Naked Element team was up bright and early (well, early anyways) to take part in the first MyTech event in Norwich. Organised by Inspired Youth, the event aimed to bring local tech industries and interested students together for networking and advice.

After DevelopHER‘s Vickie opened the event, our director Paul was part of the first panel of employers answering questions about their career path and industry sector. After that we met with students for the rest of the morning, answering questions and giving advice where we could.

We were between DevelopHER Code Club and Develop, meeting each of the small groups of students in turn. It was interesting to hear that there was lots of interest in computer science, with many of the pupils in attendance studying it at GCSE, but many said they were not considering going to university.

The most common question we were asked over the day was if programming and coding needed specific qualifications. Our answer was ‘not as far as we’re concerned!’ An interest in code and a passion to learn is vital, as is some evidence that tech is something that fascinates you. A program you’ve written, or computer you’ve fixed, is worth much more than a high grade.

Hopefully the students we met today got something useful from the day and perhaps we’ll be seeing them on the tech scene very soon!

MD Thompson Electrical Wholesalers have two exciting positions. Both roles contribute to the overall team that makes us the successful business we are today.

MD Thompson Electrical Wholesalers Ltd – Warehouse Operative

The successful candidate will be required to work 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri) and one Saturday a month (7.30am – 11.30pm)

Working as part of the warehouse team the role will include picking orders, packing and loading for deliveries, therefore accuracy and attention to detail is essential

A full driving licence is required as some aspects of delivering/driving may be required when needed within the team.

All applications to be sent via email to [email protected] by the 26th February 2016.

MD Thompson Electrical Wholesalers Ltd – Lighting Showroom Assistant

The successful candidate will be expected to work 29 hours a week (preferably 10am – 3pm five days a week, but negotiable) and every Saturday morning 7.30 – 11.30am.

Previous sales experience is essential both on a face to face basis and over the phone, however knowledge of the electrical industry is preferred but not essential.

General showroom duties will include, unpacking deliveries and allocating stock. Ensuring stock is replenished within the showroom. Displaying stock to promote availability and generally maintaining the showroom to a high standard at all times.

The ability to use a computer is essential, training on internal systems will be provided.

All applications to be sent via email to [email protected] by the 26th February 2016.

Starting a business? Use Norfolk Library & Information Service’s free subscription to MINT to find out info about your competitors or find new customers.

MINT MarketINTellegence

Mint UK is a comprehensive database of UK Company and business intelligence. It includes information on companies’ financials, management and corporate structures, plus additional intelligence such as news and industry research.

Mint contains information on over 5.5 million companies, including 1.2 million unincorporated businesses.

Using Mint you can combine search criteria to find companies with specific profiles. For example, it’s simple to find insurance companies in Norfolk or food companies across the UK with a turnover between £5 and £50 million. Use Mint’s search criteria, in any combination, to find companies that you want to sell to.

Use Mint to give your business a competitive advantage:

Find out who your competitors are

Find out more about the companies you’re talking to

Find all the companies in specific areas of interest

Norfolk libraries are offering 200 free MINT database searches to support the development of business and marketing plans.

Visit: The Business library, Norfolk & Norwich Millennium library, The Forum, Norwich

Call 01603 774775

Email [email protected]

Tito Clark, a business management degree student at City College Norwich, has launched a new branding agency with a distinctive mission: to help launch the professional careers of design students and recent graduates.

Mr Clark set up his Brand 21 agency after learning from friends that graphic design graduates were often finding it hard to break into the industry for which they have trained.

The agency employs talented young graphic designers on a freelance basis, providing graphic design for everything from company logos, to business cards, flyers, T-shirts, menus and other printed materials. Brand 21 also offers branding services, web design and marketing consultancy.

As well as looking to make Brand 21 successful as a business, Mr Clark says that there is a strong element of social enterprise running through his company:

“From talking to my graphic design friends I could see that there was an issue of students and recent graduate designers needing experience and projects to show on their CV. The idea of setting up a businesses that could really help with that appealed to me.”

The journey to setting up Brand 21 originated during the first year of Mr Clark’s BA (hons) Business Management degree course, in which students had to complete a project related to starting up a new business.

This inspired Mr Clark to go further and during the summer holidays he began working on setting up his own business for real. The 20 year old from Norwich recalls: “I just really enjoyed the process of starting up a new business” and Brand 21 quickly took shape.

Mr Clark, who is now in the second year of his degree, has gone on to devote a lot of time and energy outside of his studies to developing the business. To date Brand 21 has secured work for three current design students and two graduates, undertaken for a wide variety of clients.

Mr Clark has developed Brand 21 with support from the StartUp Lounge at City College Norwich, which provides advice and support to students wishing to set up their own businesses as well as opportunities to network and learn from local businesspeople.

Tito Clark, Managing Director, Brand 21, commented: “I am really enjoying the process of starting a business and seeing it grow. Brand 21’s designers are highly motivated to establish their reputations and build up their portfolios, so we are able to offer clients an excellent and very competitive service. The aim now is to grow our client base and in the process support our designers to progress in their careers.”

For more information about Brand 21 visit https://www.brand21agency.co.uk/ or email [email protected]

One of the goals for Naked Element in 2016 is to make more of their Norfolk Chamber of Commerce membership. We’re doing well so far, it’s early February and we’ve already attended our second event. Both events have yielded interesting new contacts with plenty of potential for both Naked Element and Norfolk Developers.

The venue for this year’s annual Norfolk Chamber MPs event was a marquee in the grounds of the Marriott hotel. Following an introduction by chamber CEO Caroline Williams, Emma Hutchinson, Political Correspondent at ITV Anglia, took over introducing the MPs and chairing the event. The format was differing groups of MPs discussing issues such as linking Norfolk nationally and globally, economic growth and young people and skills. After the discussions, led by Emma, questions were invited from the audience.

The questions and discussions were wide ranging and incorporated the state ofthe A47 (described as a third world road as you leave Great Yarmouth), rural broadband, lack of housing, spending while interest rates are low and, as you would expect, the potential Europe exit. I was also interested to learn that offshore wind is a growing industry in North Norfolk and that the NHS still sends and receives a lot of faxes.

Much to my surprise I was very impressed with the light-hearted approach and attitude of the MPs and the number of questions which actually got straight answers. There was plenty of conviction and not much sitting on the fence.

My overall impression was that it was an exceptionally good event and I’ll be back next year. Hopefully it won’t be a Friday afternoon and Clive Lewis will be available too.

The OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN) on Bank Plain is pleased to announce thatMark Jeffries has become its fourth patron, joining The Rt. Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, Richard Jewson, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk and Chief Constable Simon Bailey. Mark was the Senior Partner of national law firm Mills & Reeve until last year but remains a consultant whilst also holding non-executive board roles at the Department of Education, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, R G Carter and NW Brown.

Talking of his appointment as patron Mark Jeffries said: “OPEN plays a vital role in providing facilities and delivering services for young people in Norfolk. I am delighted to be able to support the energetic team there who are working so hard to deliver the benefits of education, industry and commerce working together. There is enormous potential for the future.”

John Gordon-Saker, Chief Executive of OPEN said: “Every penny of profit generated through conference and event hire goes directly to the benefit of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. Mark is widely respected in the business, education and health sectors and can help tell our compelling story to organisations that might be looking for socially responsible opportunities in the local community. I am thrilled that he so readily agreed to be a patron.”

M+A Partners Georgina Lemmon has been studying for her ACCA qualification since September 2014 and in her Corporate Reporting exam taken last December she beat over 16,700 other trainees worldwide who took the same exam. This was Georgina’s seventh exam out of eleven and she has been in the top 2% for the previous six.

Georgina said “I am so pleased to be the global prize winner for P2 from the December 2015 sitting. I had been warned before starting my ACCA exams that P2 was going to be a tough paper, therefore I am delighted to have done so well. It is very motivational to face such a challenge and in turn be rewarded for all the hard work you put in. This achievement has made me feel very proud, as there are so many talented minds around the world taking the ACCA journey. I really appreciate the support M+A Partners has provided me during my studies. Without their help I would not be able to perform at my best and I would like to say thank you for helping me to learn and progress in my career”

M+A Partners Managing Partner Jeremy Robson said “We are extremely proud of Georgina for her accomplishment. We endeavour to support our staff in any way we can to allow them to grow whilst they are with us. Georgina is one of many staff achieving great things and we wish her and all our other trainees continued success with their exams”.

Georgina will receive a cash prize from the ACCA and M+A Partners has matched this prize.

KLM UK Engineering & KLM Cityhopper jointly present an ex-Fokker 70 Rolls Royce Tay620 aircraft engine to University Technical College Norfolk. The engine will remain on display during 2016 for students and teachers to promote aviation and inspire students to lead the way to careers in aviation industry.

KLM UK Engineering Limited (KLMUKE) & KLM Cityhopper (KLC) are delighted to be presenting University Technical College (UTC) Norfolk with a rebuilt ex-Fokker 70 Rolls Royce Tay620 Engine, which will be displayed in the facility’s auditorium. The engine flew 26 years of revenue service at different airlines, and since 1996 operated for KLM Cityhopper (formerly Air-UK / KLM-UK).

The 2.4m-long engine, which has a dry weight of 3,310 lb (1,501 Kg) was received in a disassembled status from KLC and rebuilt by hand at KLMUKE by two engineering technicians over the last couple of months. UTC Norfolk has a broad engineering focus and is the perfect place to host this engine to build a bridge between students and real-life technology. The next host for the engine will be the International Aviation Academy in Norwich, which will receive the engine early 2017 when the new facility is commissioned.

Arjan Meijer, Managing Director, KLM UK Engineering – ‘Our Company is strongly dedicated to promoting aviation careers within the region, not only because working in aviation is motivating, challenging and fun, but also because we strongly need local skills and knowledge from the region to support our company in the future. This Rolls Royce engine will bring students at University Technical College Norfolk as close as possible to some of the prime technology behind flying aircraft and will help them take the right decisions for their future careers’.

Stefan Vermeeren, Fleet Manager Fokker 70 at KLM Cityhopper – ‘This Rolls Royce Tay engine played an important role for the 2.1 million passengers it carried. It connected them to their families, loved ones, holidays, careers and many other events. Driven by technology, engineering and maintained by professionals, this now continues at UTC Norfolk, made possible by KLMUKE and I hope it will inspire many students for years to come’.

Alex Hayes, Principal UTC Norfolk – ‘We are thrilled to receive this engine on loan from KLM UK Engineering and KLM Cityhopper. I am sure that it will inspire many young people to find out more about the fascinating world of aviation engineering. Indeed, I hope that many of our students will follow in the engine’s path as it makes the journey, next year,to its permanent home at thenew Aviation Academy’.

Potential students will be able to see the engine on display at UTC Norfolk for the next few months and will be in place for the Open Morning that is taking place on Saturday 6th February 2016 (10am-1pm).