Member News

Senior management blanched. Crew fell silent. Account Handlers looked bemused. But the Creatives ploughed on regardless. “We just shoot it on a mobile phone. We don’t try and make it LOOK like it was shot on a mobile phone. We don’t torture it into some grainy documentary style. We just use a phone”.

And so it was, dear reader, that JMS put away its many thousand pounds worth of gleaming camera gear, spent 50 quid on some stick-on lens-extenders and hit the road with an entire crew, including a features cameraman, a sound recordist, make-up… plus a mobile phone.

The result? Everything our client, Anglian Water, and the JMS Creatives had wished for!

A natural, youthful and vigorous, warts and all, free-flowing glorious selfie, targeted at a teenage audience. This unusual vlog took-on the tough challenge of engaging kids in the serious issue of our water treatment systems being choked by thoughtlessly disposed-of fats, oils, grease and wipes. Anglian Water and JMS were forced to confront the age old conundrum of avoiding trivialising a heavy subject with too light a touch, yet conveying something grown-up and serious without alienating a young audience.

It wasn’t all down to the selfie-style of course. The programme benefitted massively from a delightfully unaffected and game-for-anything pro-performer who never complained once about spending two days scampering around sewage farms and drains remembering her lines whilst holding, and talking to, the cameraman’s hand. (She dragged him around whilst he held the camera to guarantee the framing. It was a HOOT to watch!).

Telling a colour grader to ignore a massive colour-shift mid shot, or instructing an editor to stop crying and put-in jump cuts where we didn’t need a cut in the first place, was all part of our learning experience. But we loved it. And the client loved it. And above all the audience loved it. But don’t, er, don’t tell anyone will you? About the phone…

The installation of highly innovative thatched cassettes cladding the £11.6m Enterprise Centre – the UK’s greenest commercial building – marks another key construction milestone at the University of East Anglia.

A completely new way of using thatch, the cassette cladding is one of the key sustainable elements being incorporated into the build project, developed by the Adapt Low Carbon Group and delivered by Morgan Sindall.

The cassettes have been constructed by local joiners, Fox Joinery, and thatched in straw from the Norfolk Suffolk borders by a skilled team led by the Master Thatcher of East Anglia, Stephen Letch

Combining traditional craft with modern methods of construction, it is the first time this unique thatch cassette cladding system has been used anywhere in the world. It is anticipated that the technique, which comes with a wide range of economic, environmental and safety benefits, could be replicated on many future construction projects – paving the way for thatch to return to its former position as a mainstream construction material. Read more here.

Pure has kicked off 2015 by launching its first ever Graduate Training Programme. If you’re a young professional with bags of drive and motivation, why not apply?

Not only are we a friendly and vibrant bunch, but we make every effort to support all of our staff in their careers. Many people stay with us for years. Our regular staff surveys show that people are happy here. We also ask everyone how they think we can improve their time with Pure – we take people’s opinions seriously.

We are looking for graduate trainees at each of our offices in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich. As a trainee you’ll be busy working on innovative projects and develop into a high calibre consultant yourself.

With the deadline for applications on January 30th, there’s no time to waste! But before you apply for a place, let us tell you about the fantastic ways you’ll benefit from training with Pure. We’re pretty sure you’ll like what you read…

1. More opportunities with a successful business!

Pure is a successful, growing business, working with fantastic clients and candidates across the East of England. We’re recruiting new staff members at Pure all the time and we need new, fresh talent like yours to help us expand further. Because our consultants have such excellent experience, as a trainee you’ll get first-rate guidance and a wide range of exciting opportunities to develop essential skills. And individual quarterly reviews with your manager track your achievements, helping you to progress.

2. Get the Pure ‘can do’ attitude

Our consultants are known for their positivity and hard work, and they enjoy their work. We’ll support you all the way so you’ll not only grow into an expert in recruitment and the regional job market, but we’ll help you further develop an instinct for hitting targets and taking on exciting, new challenges.

3. A unique experience

All year round Pure runs a number of campaigns aimed at businesses across all of our counties. From our ‘Best Employer’ initiative, which supports and promotes good employers, and professional seminars for senior executives, to our Women’s Leadership Programme, you’ll develop diverse skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to be part of exciting, unique projects in an industry that is moving beyond straightforward recruitment.

4. Understanding corporate-charity partnerships

Pure is like a big family – and a growing family at that! And we’re very proud of our people and their enthusiasm for supporting local charities. Because we believe that businesses have an important role to play in helping good causes, you can get involved in fundraising, and learning about the people we help.

5. How to build business relationships

Building relationships with clients is fundamental to any successful business. And at Pure we strive to give our clients much more than the average recruitment firm. During training, you’ll learn how to develop and nurture essential relationships with clients over the phone and face-to-face.

6. How to match people with places

One of the secrets of successful recruitment is matching people to an organisation, not just a job description. We make sure our candidates fit with employers on many levels. From day one, you’ll also develop an instinct for finding job seekers that suit an organisation’s culture, and learn where to find the best talent for a client.

7. Great salary, rewards and benefits

We offer trainees competitive salaries, as well as a fantastic benefits package and rewards such as bonuses. With 25 days’ annual leave, private healthcare, a matched contributory pension scheme and a busy company social calendar, you’ll get heaps more than just on-the-job training!

Only Pure’s training programme can give you this fantastic array of benefits. Interested? Then contact with Gill Buchanan, Pure’s Director, on 01223 209888 or [email protected].

We hope to see your application very soon!

Fiona and Lesley from Norwich Sunblinds have just presented the December 2014 Charity cheque to Chris Elliott of The Benjamin Foundation for £755.00.

The Benjamin Foundation is a great Norfolk Charity founded in 1994, helping children, young people and families with issues like homelessness and to repair broken family relationships. They provide hope, opportunity, Stability and independence Everything they do is driven by the needs of people in Norfolk

We have had a charity for each month of 2014 and have enjoyed supporting and meeting the people who work hard for each charity.

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of couples attending family mediation in an attempt to avoid a bitter court dispute. This is following a drive from the Government in recent years to try and deter couples from going to court and instead to deal with matters in a more conciliatory and less confrontational way.

Mediation helps couples work things out together. It is not a form of relationship counselling, or a way to help a couple get back together. Instead it helps couples who are separating decide on the way forward.

How does it work?

• A referral is made to a family mediator (either from a family lawyer or directly from the client). A family mediator is a person who has been professionally trained as a family mediator and generally has a background in family law.
• Each of the parties will separately attend an assessment meeting (MIAM) with the mediator to ensure that they are suitable for the mediation process. Both parties will be asked to provide their financial disclosure.
• Following the assessment meeting, provided the mediator believes that both parties are suitable, they would arrange a meeting for both parties to attend with the mediator. At this meeting, both parties would be encouraged to try and address the issues between them and to try and work towards reaching an agreement.
• Further sessions may then be required until the parties can reach an agreement. At any point, either party may choose to terminate the process or take their own independent legal advice regarding the discussions.
• Once matters have been agreed, the mediator will prepare what is known as a “Memorandum of Understanding”, which will record the agreement that the parties have reached.
• Both parties will then be advised to seek their own independent legal advice upon the Memorandum of Understanding, to ensure that they fully understand the implications and further, to enable the client to receive advice as to whether the agreement reached is fair given their particular circumstances.
• If, after having taken legal advice, both parties still wish to proceed, a formal Consent Order may then be prepared and submitted to the court for approval. There is no requirement for either party to attend court in this scenario.

Emma Alfierifrom Steeles Law’sfamilylaw team comments: “Parties who meet certain criteria will qualify for public funding in respect of family mediation and even if only one party qualifies, the other party would also receive the first session free, even if they do not qualify themselves.”

Emma added: “There appears to be is a misconception that seeing adivorcesolicitor is going to result in court action. This is not the case, as today family lawyers are trained to deal with matters in a non-adversarial way. These days the ethos is very much focused on encouraging the parties to reach an agreement and to avoid court at all costs. Often, we see clients for an initial appointment and encourage them to attempt mediation. If the client agrees, we will refer them to mediation and will be there for our client in the background to assist them with advice throughout the mediation process and following the mediation, to assist in formalising the agreement reached.”

Whist Steeles Law do not offer a mediation service in house, we offer a specialist service in assisting clients through the mediation process. This work can be done on the basis of a fixed fee or on a “pay as you go” service.

For the month of January, Steeles Law is offering 30 minutes advice for free to clients looking to get a divorce. Pleasecontact usnow to make your appointment.

We’re just weeks away from NorDevCon 2015 and 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.

Speakers who might be of particular interest to members are Keynote Speakers, Jon Skeet, software engineer at Google, Harry Harrold and Rupert Redington, owners of local business Neontribe, as well as others from the Business Track. Details of speakers can be found hereNorDevCon 2015

Digital marketing agency, Bigfork, were appointed to improve Advanced Metalcraft’s website. The company’s expertise is in steelwork and architectural metalwork and they required a website that both showcased their work and supported tenders. Strong photography was used to visually show what Advanced Metalcraft do and the high quality of their work and a new projects page highlights the range of expertise the company has. Health and safety is the highest priority in the construction industry and all Advanced Metalcraft’s certifications and policies had to be easily seen in the new website. With a SilverStripe content management system, Advanced Metalcraft can easily update the website inhouse.

To see more visitwww.advancedmetalcraft.co.uk

Bigfork –we make websites stand out

www.bigfork.co.uk

t:o01603 513080

(East Anglia: January 2015)Aston Shaw, a leading accountancy firm based in East Anglia has enjoyed significant growth last year taking on 17 apprentices across all 5 offices. In 2014, the firm commenced an apprentice recruitment drive which propelled total staff numbers to over 90 employees.

Mark Noakes, Director, commented “At Aston Shaw we are confident in our approach and believe that nurturing young talent is beneficial to both the firm and the apprentice. We are able to mould highly driven young individuals to adopt the working methods and ethos we want and in turn, they get qualifications and invaluable experience.

Each apprentice is allocated a mentor to work alongside on a on a day to day basis. This promotes the filter down of skills, expertise and experience as well as ensuring that the apprentice’s work is closely monitored. The vigilant training and support procedures in place really help to build a strong team, within which the apprentice is fully integrated”.

Apprenticeships can prove to be highly beneficial to businesses, with Government funding available to those who take them on. For the apprentices, it is reported by Matthew Hancock, Minister of State for business and enterprise that apprentices who study on an advanced level course earn approx. £147,000 more over their lifetime than those who don’t.

In 2015, Aston Shaw have pledged to take on another 10 apprentices; the firm are passionate about creating jobs and giving local young people chances they might not necessarily find without leaving East Anglia.

The nook business network is a corporate scheme which will help EACH deliver a new purpose-built children’s hospice in the heart of Norfolk. The scheme has been developed to encourage local companies to commit to raising either £10,000, £15,000 or £25,000 over the duration of the appeal in return for a number of benefits and support from the charity.

Whether a small, medium or large business, EACH is calling upon you to join other companies to create a Norfolk network to help those who need it most.

Fulfilling Corporate Social Responsibilities, picking your charity of the year for 2015 and setting your staff goals to improve team work are just some of the motivations to join the nook business network.

Gary Cook, the nook appeal corporate fundraiser, said: “We’re looking to Norfolk’s businesses to help make our vision of a new purpose built children’s hospice in the heart of Norfolk a reality.

“Many businesses in the county rely on local people for their income, so it would be great if they were able to invest time and effort into the nook business network to give something back to their local community. We already have great support from the business community, of which we’re incredibly grateful, but there are countless other businesses out there that we’ve yet to engage with and hope this new scheme is an attraction for them.

“We won’t be able to realise our vision without the support of all elements of the Norfolk community – individuals, community groups, schools and of course the business community will playa vital role in this.”

All companies which sign-up to the nook business network will get a dedicated account manager, charity information and appeal updates to share with staff, social media interaction, a nook appeal e-signature banner and logo to use on correspondence and materials, certificate, award and company name and web link on the dedicated EACH nook business network page.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the nook business network or the appeal generally, should visit:www.each.org.uk/the-nookor contact the Norfolk Fundraising Team on 01603 666767 or[email protected]

We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Area Sales Manager for Norfolk, Brendon Lansdowne.

Brendon joins us with over 20 years experience in the automotive industry, all working in the Norfolk area. He has worked in operational roles, as well as sales within the vehicle rental industry. During the last 4 years, he has worked in a B2B position within a local dealership.

His experience will be a valuable asset to colleagues and customer alike within the Norfolk area. Should you wish to contact Brendon to discuss your own vehicle fleet, please call him directly on 07500 008015 or email[email protected].

Leading regional recruitment consultancy firm, Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), is launching a new Graduate Training Programme to encourage young professionals to join the exciting industry.

Pure, which has offices in Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich and Chelmsford, is calling for graduates with some employment experience on their CV to apply for the programme before January 30th.

The initiative lasts for 12 months and successful candidates will receive comprehensive training, taking on a variety of challenging tasks, with no two days being the same. Trainees will develop their skills, progressing to the position of Recruitment Consultant.

Applicants must be degree educated, have commercial employment experience, and plenty of drive and motivation. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential, as is the desire to deliver a first class service to all customers, at all times. They must also be a fast learner, be self-motivated and be confident working in a team as well as independently.

Gill Buchanan, Director of Pure, encourages young professionals to join the innovative company, which also has a reputation as a very supportive employer.

She says: “Pure is an exceptional place to work. Our culture is vibrant and flexible, and we stick to sensible hours, but everyone works hard. Not only is Pure a fantastic place to start a career in recruitment, but we are committed to supporting our trainees to achieve their goals and build long term careers with us.

“As well as competitive basic salaries, rewards and benefits, Pure organises lots of fun social events and we do a lot of charity fundraising. Pure really is a great place to work!”

For more information, contact Gill on 01223 209888 or[email protected].

2015 was already set to be an exciting year for TVC so we are all the more thrilled to be announcing our sponsorship of motorcyclist Rob Barber of father-and-son race team PRB Racing https://www.prbracing.co.uk/

With a career spanning nearly two decades and a spectacular track record, including winning the first Zero Emissions Race around the TT track in 2009, we are proud to be associated with such a prominent name in racing.

We wish him every success in his races at the TT and UGP as well as at Pikes Peak on Zero bike, ‘Buckeye Current’ https://current.osu.edu/