The Brook Hotel, Norwich has recently appointed a new management team to get the Hotel on the map as one of Norfolk’s finest! Gareth Stone and Sarah Jones join forces to make this happen…
Gareth Stone joined the Hotel at the end of 2012 as General Manager, Gareth has always worked in the Hotel industry and has a chain/branded hotel background offering a very structered way of working which is sure to see the Hotel’s already highly improved standards continuing to climb! Gareth has already seen great improvements in the bedrooms, restaurant and conferencing standards.
Sarah Jones joined this month as Sales Manager, Sarah has worked in the Hotel and Sales industries since school and has a background in smaller privately owned hotels with some corporate sales training from some time in Estate Agency. Sarah plans to get the hotel on the map and everyone talking about it.
“The Brook Hotel has some really great features with a beautifullounge bar andrestaurant, capability of up to 6 event suites or one large suite for up to 200 people, gardens and of course the bedrooms and not enough people know about themand take advantage of this lovely hotel which is ideally situated for the A47, city centre and Norwich International Airport”
The owners who purchased the hotel 3 years ago have already invested over £500’000 and there is still more being done… so watch this space!
Special Offer . . . sponsor a corporate duck in the Grand Norwich Duck Race in August for just £80. . . normal price£100.
This is a great opportuity to promote your organisation to over 1,00 people and other corporates. You can provide your banner for thebanks of the River Wensum, outside the Ribs of Beef Public House, and we hvae a strong presence on facebook and twitter where we will aslo promote your involvement.
We provide you with everything you need – you get a large duck to decorate as you wish and acrylic paints – but you just need imagination!
Please contact me on 07826 893368 or email [email protected] for more information
If you are an SME with aspirations to save money through energy, water or waste efficiency measures or technologies then the Grants4Growth programme can help. A much wider range of interventions then you perhaps think can potentially be funded including;
New heating systems
New lighting units
Building fabric improvement
Fenestration upgrades
Fleet and vehicle replacements
New plant and machinery, and much more
If there is a more efficient alternative to what is currently in use then it is likely that funding can be made available to assist with the capital expenditure.
Equally if you are a Low Carbon and Environmental Products and Services SME company then a small revenue grants fund is available to assist with marketing and promotional activities.
Both ERDF funding streams are subject to eligibility criteria and approval of a Grants Panel. Grants of up to 28% for capital expenditure and up to 30% revenue expenditure are available. Typical grants range from £1,000 to anything up to £20,000 depending on the total cost and whether jobs are secured and created as result.
Specialist Business Brokers are employed by the programme to assist SME’s with checking their eligibility and suitability, and completing the application forms required.
Within the first 8 weeks of the programme businesses have already benefited and many others are in the process of applying for grants. The programme runs until 31st March 2015.
If you are not sure whether your proposed investment qualifies or just want to know what we can fund then please get in touch for an informal chat. If suitable then one of our Busines Brokers can come and see you and talk you through the simple application process.
Patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions in Norfolk are set to get more support following the opening of a new centre.
Officials and supporters from the Norwich and district branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society gathered yesterday for an open day at their new base, which will provide a range of support, treatment and therapy services. The official opening of the £250,000 centre, near Norwich International Airport, follows 12 years of fundraising by volunteers and an extensive search to find larger premises in the Norwich area. The facility replaces the branch’s cramped headquarters in Witard Road and was funded solely on local fundraising and donations. Officials from the MS Society branch hope to double their membership, which currently stands at 400 people from across Norfolk, with the opening of the centre at Iceni Court in Alkmaar Way, which has consulting and therapy rooms as well as educational facilities and a meeting place. Diane Proctor, head of service development at the MS Society branch, said the centre would make a huge difference to patients, particularly when a stair lift is installed and the first floor of the building is fully operational. “It has taken so long and I am absolutely thrilled. “We have built some strong relationships with colleagues at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and colleagues at social services so patients get the best deal,” she said. The venue was officially opened by Jeff Cochius, clinical director of neurology at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with Norwich’s Lord Mayor Ralph Gayton also attending. Dr Cochius said the last 12 years had been a “roller coaster” of emotions for the volunteers and it had been a “monumental task” to get the centre opened. The centre received the support of Norfolk adult social services, MS Society, Norfolk and Waveney NHS, and Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust. For more information, contact the centre on 01603 488561 or email [email protected].
Steeles Law is celebrating the launch of a brand new service. The firm has appointed human resources specialist Sarah Turner to head Education HR, an HR support service designed especially for schools. The service is the first of its kind to be delivered by a solicitors’ firm in Norfolk.
Education HR is a bespoke service aimed at schools, academies and other educational institutions. It builds on the success of Steeles Law’s commercial services which have assisted a growing number of local schools in the academy conversion process. The service includes unlimited telephone/email support; providing advice on topics such as redundancy, disciplinary procedures, grievance, discrimination complaints, maternity advice and absence management. Based on their needs, clients will pay a fixed fee each month.
Sarah Turner joins Steeles Law from a national legal firm, where she provided customer-focused HR consultancy services and advice on complex employment matters, mainly to schools and the not-for-profit sector. Sarah’s HR background spans the private, public and voluntary sectors, including experience within the NHS and education environment. “Our new service has been specifically designed to assist schools and, in the longer term, small to medium-sized businesses, helping them to address and resolve day-to-day HR issues”, Sarah explains. “As we are local, we can provide on-site support. Our aim is to initially meet with the client and conduct an audit of areas such as employment contracts and policies, or discuss any specific problem areas or concerns they may have. From there, we can agree a bespoke service agreement that perfectly suits their particular needs.”
Steeles Law will also be developing a similar service for small to medium-sized businesses to complement the work undertaken by the firm’s talented employment law team, which works with employers throughout the region and beyond.
Oliver Brabbins, head of the employment team at Steeles Law, said: “Workplace issues and administration can be hugely time-consuming and worrying for many businesses and educational establishments. We’re here to provide organisations that aren’t large enough to employ a full time HR professional with the peace of mind that comes with having an HR specialist on their team. If our clients face more complicated issues that require the input of a lawyer, we can provide a seamless approach by bringing in a member of our employment law team. The HR support services we are planning to offer really do reassure employers and allow them to get on with what they do best – running their business.”
The launch of Education HR coincides with the relocation of Steeles Law’s head office to Number 2, The Norwich Business Park. The firm is consolidating its two premises at The Norwich Business Park to create a single Norwich base.
“Because two of our private client teams have recently moved to our Diss Office we’re now in the position where all our Norwich staff can be under the same roof,” explains Managing Principal, Stephen Drake. “We’re excited about this move as it will enable us to bring people together more often; sharing ideas and best practice and ensuring we continue to provide our clients with exceptional customer service.”
For all enquiries, Steeles Law’s main phone number will continue to be 01603 598000. For further information on Education HR or Steeles Law’s HR support service for businesses, please contact Sarah Turner.
In the case of Prest v Prest the Husband a successful oil tycoon was estimated to be worth circa £37.5 million. The couple were married for 18 years and had 4 teenage children. They had lived a comfortable lifestyle throughout the marriage with the Husband drawing from his business what he needed as and when he needed it. Unsurprisingly, when it came to the divorce the husband was not very accommodating to the wife’s request for a settlement proportional to his wealth.
The husband was ordered to pay a settlement of £17.5 million to the wife . This was based upon 11 properties held by the companies being transferred to the wife. The judge ruled that he regarded the Husband as entitled to these properties as they fell within his control to be transferred in this way.
This outcome was appealed by the companies and two commercial judges held on the facts of the case the previous Judge had been wrong in concluding the husband was beneficially entitled to the properties. Company law makes it clear that a company is a legal entity is independent of the shareholders. Ownership of the company by the husband did not justify the piercing of the corporate veil to remove assets, even in Divorce! The Courts did recognise a distinction between an asset held by the company on trust or on behalf of a nominated third party .Such as in Prest case the former matrimonial home was held in a trust for the husband and this asset could be transferred to the wife.
The matter has now been further appealed by the wife and the judgement from the Supreme court is expected anytime now.
In the absence of a successful appeal there is a real issue here for wives whose husbands lock up their property assets within the companies they own and run. A company could be a safer vehicle to use for a husband than a pre or post nuptial agreement. The law appears to give a director/shareholder a wall behind to hide or preserve wealth and prevents access through the company wall by arguing that “fairness” shall apply.
Cynically wives need to be warned at the start of their union and husbands will make use of the potential protection a company can offer to them. We await seeing what the Supreme Court decides but this might herald a new age of divorce law. London may well lose it’s title as the wife’s divorce capital of the world if savvy director spouses start to place their property assets within the companies they run.
For more information please contact Ginny Colman a senior associate in the family and matrimonial team of leading East of England law firm Birketts based in Norwich at[email protected]
Ginny undertakes all aspects of family work specialising in high net worth financial cases involving pension and company issues. She also advises on cohabitation disputes and children issues. Ginny has four years experience as a collaborative lawyer giving her clients the choice to resolve their difficulties in a non-contentious manner.
Last year saw the demise of the Business Link advisors, so in response to this the Business Shaper Group have introduced a voucher scheme to help businesses gain free impartial, practical advice to help them not only survive in this hard economic environment, but look to grow their organisation.
In the recent Budget the Chancellor mentioned that it is the SME companies that will be increasingly pivotal in the UK economy. With East Anglia being the largest concentration of these businesses. That is why the Business Shaper Group have chosen this part of the UK to trail this scheme.
Gary Douglas-Beet commented “the Business Shaper Group is passionate about helping companies make small changes that will affect there business in a big way – they just need a fresh perspective and that is where these vouchers can really help“.
We find that there is a drought of hands on practical advice for the small company, and we know that having to deal with not only trying to run their company, but to deal with finances, staff, sales and marketing, together with all the other challenges facing a small company. That is where the Business Shaper Group can help; we can work with individuals and small teams to implement steps that will show immediate results.
What is a Business Shaper Group Voucher? They are one hour sessions where you will have the opportunity to discuss issues, problems or opportunities you have in your business.
Why call us today to book in your first session? If you …
Would just like a fresh pair of eyes on your organisation?
Have a new product or service that you would like to promote and would like some advice?
Want to increase your market share – getting more customers, paying you more?
Would like to carry out a restructure but not sure where to start?
Or would simply like some free impartial practical advice and guidance on any aspect of your orgnisation?
Call the Business Shaper Group now to find out how to obtain these vouchers 01953 605521 or [email protected]
Great Yarmouth-based international energy services company Proserv has officially launched a global research and development (R&D) hub in Norway to design innovative subsea controls and communications technologies.
This new group strengthens Proserv’s rapidly evolving international infrastructure in support of its subsea production systems business which includes facilities in the UK providing subsea systems test and assembly in Aberdeenshire and subsea controls systems design & manufacture in Norfolk.
This state-of-the-art R&D facility at Trondheim, Norway, represents a significant investment for the company and features an advanced electronics workshop spanning 500 sq m², a technology showroom for demonstrations and 1100 sq m² of office space for 50 new offices.
Chief executive officer at Proserv, David Lamont, said: “The R&D facility represents another major milestone in Proserv’s exceptional growth story. The centre will serve as a global hub for all of our subsea communications & controls R&D activities, which are at the core of our business, and where we will develop fit-for-purpose systems and solutions that are reliable, efficient and delivered in an ingeniously simple way for clients around the world.
“As Norway’s capital of technology, Trondheim was a natural fit for our R&D hub. It is home to The Norwegian University of Science and Technology and SINTEF, the largest independent research institute in Scandinavia, plus there is a large presence of energy companies based in the city.
“New technology is the life-blood of Proserv and through the work of our talented engineering team in Trondheim, we aim to expand the Group’s R&D capabilities. Some of the most exciting developments we are currently involved with are in the subsea controls and communications market and we see demand for these products and services growing significantly.
“In line with Proserv’s R&D plans, we are continually recruiting talented people to support our order pipeline and expanding technology portfolio, further reinforcing our commitment to growth and prosperity globally.”
The County Mayor of Trondheim, Tore Sandvik, who joined representatives of Norway’s business and energy community to mark the launch of Proserv’s facility, said: “It is of immense value to the city of Trondheim that companies like Proserv choose to place their global research centre here. Large investments like this create new opportunities for our technical community here in Trondheim, and demonstrate that Norway really is at the forefront of new technological innovations globally.”
Proserv is recognised for its innovations. The Trondheim team developed Proserv’s Seahawk™ in-situ video surveillance system, a ground-breaking technology for environmental monitoring including retrofit on brownfield subsea installations.
The technology can be installed on a subsea Christmas tree or manifold to provide visual monitoring of potential leakages. High-quality video is taken by the camera which uses image analysis to detect gas leakages. It can provide an automatic warning through the customer’s SCADA system and alerts the operations team to use the Seahawk™ to focus in on the area of concern without the need of subsea intervention. The Seahawk™ was developed as a permanent alternative to the costly and time-consuming method of deploying remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) subsea for the monitoring of assets offshore.
Proserv, which is headquartered in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, is a leading global provider of production technology services to the energy industry. The company operates worldwide from 30 sites in six geographical regions namely North UK & Africa, South UK & Europe, Scandinavia, the Americas, Middle East & North Africa and the Far East & Australia and currently employs over 1,700 people globally.
Sarah Jones looks forward to looking after your corporate acccommodation and event requirements here at The Brook Hotel.
Sarah joined the hotel on Monday 8th April to help bring the hotel forward and make sure you are all thinking of the Brook Hotel for all of your accommodation and event requirements in the future.
If you would like any details or would like to speak to Sarah why not contact her today by email to [email protected] or on 07436162697.
Gareth Stone also joined the Hotel 6 months ago as General Manager, Gareth has already made lots of changes to bring the hotel standards to a high level and our event suites and bedrooms up too… Gareth looks forward to meeting you next time you use the hotel!
Bigfork have designed and built a new website for local, independent house builders, Abel Homes. The key focus was on improving the navigation process for customers looking for new homes and launching their new Oak Meadow home development at Shipdham. The new site has lots more features and is backed by the powerful SilverStripe CMS allowing the Abel team to update the websites everchanging content inhouse. It was a pleasure working with Abel Homes who are passionate about building quality homes and communities.
NORWICH, Thursday 11th April 2013 – Job boost at Norwich International Airport
Norwich International Airport is looking forward to a bumper summer in 2013, with a number of new routes launching in the next few weeks.
In preparation for the start of the summer season, over 20 new jobs have been created. The new staff will work in a number of passenger focussed areas around the airport. Their roles include working on the apron during aircraft turnaround, in the terminal on check in and customer care duties, in security and in the catering concessions.
Gary Blake, Customer Services Manager said: “We are delighted to be creating jobs in advance of our busy summer season. All of our new staff will be fully trained to ensure that the passenger’s journey through the airport is a pleasurable experience.”
Andrew Bell, CEO of Norwich International said: “Our staff work extremely hard to maintain high levels of service with the aim of being the airport of choice for friendliness and great customer service.”