Calling all generous businesses and individuals! Age UK Norwich is hosting a series of exciting fundraising events to support adults in later life our community. But to make them truly unforgettable, we need your help! We’re seeking donations of fantastic prizes that will excite our attendees and encourage them to participate. Whether it’s a luxurious spa day, a weekend getaway, a gift basket filled with local goodies, vouchers, or a bottle or two of wine, your contribution will make a big difference.
Here’s why donating a prize is a win-win:
Support a worthy cause: Your generosity will directly contribute to vital services that help adults in later life in Norwich live a happy and fulfilling life.
Boost your brand awareness: Showcase your business to a large audience of engaged supporters.
Demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility: Show your community that you care about making a positive impact.
By donating a prize, you’re helping us:
Create a fun and engaging atmosphere for our fundraising events
Increase public awareness of Age UK Norwich’s work
Raise crucial funds that allow us to continue supporting adults over 50 in our city
It’s easy to donate! Simply contact our fundraising team at [email protected] and let them know what amazing prize you’d like to offer. Keep an eye out for our upcoming fundraising events that you can get involved in on our LinkedIn page.
Major engineering works affecting services to/from London and to/from Cambridge
Greater Anglia has today (10 October) issued travel advice to passengers planning to use train services over the Christmas and New Year period, with engineering work affecting services to/from London Liverpool Street and to/from Cambridge.
Rail passengers are reminded to check before they travel this Christmas and New Year, so they are aware of earlier last train times on Christmas Eve, and timetable changes due to bank holidays and engineering works.
Many services to/from London will terminate at or start from Stratford with connections to/from central London via the Elizabeth line and London Underground services.
Customers can find all train times using the journey planner on the Greater Anglia website or app.
On Christmas Eve, there will be an early shutdown with most services finishing by 22.15.
There will be no services on Christmas Day, and only a revised Stansted Express service will run on Boxing Day.
Customers are advised that there are major changes to services throughout the entire period between Christmas and New Year as Network Rail undertakes engineering projects.
Strengthening work on Bishopsgate Tunnel and projects to improve the passenger experience at London Liverpool Street mean the station will be closed from Wednesday 25 December to Wednesday 1 January inclusive, with services resuming on Thursday 2 January.
Great Eastern Mainline services and West Anglia services will start/terminate at Stratford. Stansted Express services will start/terminate at Tottenham Hale.
Engineering work including track renewals, renewal of the signalling system in the Cambridge area, and construction work for the new Cambridge South station, means there will be no services between both Royston/Audley End and Cambridge/Cambridge North between Wednesday 25 December and Sunday 5 January. Rail replacement bus services will be in place between affected stations except on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (so from 27 December to 5 January inclusive).
Network Rail will also be continuing to build the new station at Beaulieu Park, including signalling and track work. This means there will be rail replacement bus services between Billericay and Witham on 27 and 28 December.
On New Year’s Eve, most normal scheduled services will operate, with rail replacement buses between Audley End and Cambridge, and between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
Bank holiday timetables will be in place on New Year’s Day and normal services will resume on Thursday 2 January across the majority of the network.
Martin Beable, Managing Director, Greater Anglia, said:
“While most of our services will be running over the festive period, so that people can continue to travel across East Anglia and beyond, engineering work is taking place and will affect passengers travelling on both main lines to and from London and in the Cambridge area.
“Since the railway tends to be much quieter over this period, Network Rail uses it to carry out essential upgrade work that will help Greater Anglia to continue operating a very punctual and reliable service for customers in 2025.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the service alterations, and we urge passengers to check before they travel as some journeys may take longer than normal.”
As part of its strategy to maintain and improve the railway across the east of England over the Christmas and New Year period, Network Rail is planning to deliver a large package of maintenance and construction programmes.
Having started the year really worried about funding, we are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded 5 years support for our Open Access service from the Lottery Community Fund. A huge thanks to Lucinda for her support and guidance and to all who play the Lottery. Our flagship Open Access service supports around 120 young people every week with immediate access to experienced and qualified staff and a safe space to be. It is a hugely important service and we are extremely happy that the Lottery Community Fund recognised this. We continue to raise funds for all of the other services we offer alongside Open Access.
New, up and coming, creative design agency Bleat Creative, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Focal Point Digital, a long-standing fixture in the Norfolk photographic and video production industry.
Focal Point Digital, established in 1976, has a rich heritage, having worked with iconic clients such as Lotus Cars and Colin Chapman in the early years. The family-run business has evolved from traditional film photography to become a fully digital studio, offering a wide range of services, including commercial photography, video production, and digital content creation.
Bleat Creative’s Managing Director and Founder, Scott McKay, who has had a professional relationship with Focal Point for 20+ years, has acquired the business through a Management Buy Out. McKay joined the team this year to initially assist Craig Middleton and soon saw the acquisition as a natural progression, and one that marks a new chapter, ensuring continuity for employees and clients.
Scott McKay, Managing Director of Bleat Creative, said:
“Bringing Focal Point into the Bleat Creative family means we can offer even more value to our clients. Whether it’s through photography, video, or digital content, this acquisition enables us to deliver complete brand and marketing solutions. With over 25 years of experience in agencies and the past six years in Head of Marketing roles, I understand our clients’ pain points. By integrating Focal Point’s expertise, we can offer cost-effective and creative solutions that truly resonate with their needs.”
Craig Middleton, former Managing Director of Focal Point Digital, commented:
“I’ve been searching for the right person to take Focal Point into the future, and with Scott’s experience and understanding of our processes, I’m confident that we’ve found the perfect fit. I’m also thrilled to be staying on part-time, allowing me to enjoy semi-retirement while still being involved in the business.”
Both companies will continue to operate independently from their current location in north Norwich with Focal Point Digital maintaining its own brand identity. However, a fresh rebrand is underway and will be rolled out soon, reflecting the new direction and partnership between the two companies.Focal Point Digital’s services — ranging from room set photography, product pack shots, and TV advertisement production to digital content creation — will now be further enhanced by the marketing, digital, and design expertise of the growing team at Bleat Creative. This collaboration will strengthen the creative services offered and provide a seamless operation under the one roof.
The staff at Focal Point Digital will remain unchanged, with Craig Middleton continuing in a part-time role as he transitions into semi-retirement. Scott McKay assumes full control, driving the business forward and building on its successful legacy.
The team will be at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce B2B Exhibition on Thursday 17 October at the Norfolk Show Ground on Stands 83 and 84. They will be offering a Free LinkedIn profile picture to visitors at their Stand, and the new rebrand will be available to see in the flesh.
We’ve all seen the Government’s campaign to encourage businesses to be ready for the changes in EU trading arrangements on Jan 1st. But, are you sure your business is completely ready? We’ve put together a checklist of the jobs most businesses will need to do. We hope it’s useful for you.
Checklist: declarations for goods that travel between the UK and the EU
Define who will be Importer/Exporter of record in UK, needing an EORI starting with GB
Define who will be Importer/Exporter of record in EU27, needing an EORI starting with NL, FR, DE, ES etc.
Appoint an Agent/Customs Intermediary in UK, to submit the Import/Export Declaration
Appoint an Agent/Customs Intermediary in EU27, to do corresponding Export/Import Declaration
Ensure that data required for customs declarations is available before the goods leave warehouse
Ensure the accuracy of the data, check compliance on import declarations
Ensure the accuracy of the data entered on export declarations and check compliance for VAT zero rating
Define and capture the declaration process with forwarder to pre-lodge export declarations, get P2P status for all exports and link the MRN to the GVMS in an SOP
Define Inco Terms with customers and suppliers
Review classification: UK will use the UK Global Tariff
Review classification: EU will use the Common External Tariff, current rates are listed next to the UKGT
Decide whether use Postponed VAT Accounting for import VAT from 1st Jan.
Understand changes for movements to Northern Ireland (NI) and register for TSS
Register for Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) when available through Government Gateway
Continue to submit Intrastat arrivals, if you meet the threshold for arrivals after 1 Jan 2021 you will be required to submit for 12 months
If you can put a tick next to all fifteen items, congratulations on a high level of preparation. If not, our advice is that, if you can work through these tasks, your business will be well prepared for the new trade environment starting in just a few weeks. I regularly post on the IES blog where there’s lots more relevant to the import export business. IES blog
Nominations are now open for the Broadland District and South Norfolk Councils’ Business Awards 2025, sponsored by local law firm Birketts LLP.
Businesses based in the two districts are invited to nominate themselves in any of the ten categories to be in with a chance of winning one of these prestigious awards.
Broadland District Council’s Cabinet Member, Cllr Martin Booth, said: We have such a wide variety of businesses operating across both districts, from huge multi-nationals to one-man bands, in sectors as diverse as food and drink production, retail, insurance and tourism. These businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy and deserve to be recognised for their dedication and the hard work of their staff.”
South Norfolk Council’s Cabinet Member Lisa Overton-Neal, said:
“South Norfolk is proud of the local businesses that make our district such a vibrant place. We have a huge range of independent shops and businesses as well as multi-national concerns and this is a chance to congratulate them on their success and recognise their tremendous work.”
Businesses are invited to nominate themselves in the following categories:
Business Growth, Business Innovation, Employer of the Year, Environmental Impact, Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Excellence in Insurance, Financial and Professional Services, Food and Drink Producer of the Year, New Business, Small Business of the Year and Tourism Business of the Year.
Residents are also invited to vote for their favourite Retailer of the Year and Pub of the Year. By voting they will automatically be entered into a prize draw and be in with a chance of winning £100 of shopping and pub vouchers. There will be four lucky winners, two from each district.
Nominations close on Friday 13 December and winners will be announced on 19 March at an awards ceremony at Norwich City Football Club, with the support of headline sponsor Birketts LLP.
To nominate your business, or to vote for your favourite retailer and pub visit the Business Awards page: Broadland and South Norfolk.
Prestigious Fundraising Event for Tapping House marks the launch of new Hospice brand.
Norfolk, 18th October – Last Friday evening, the magnificent Sandringham House set the stage for a remarkable night of opera, generosity, and community spirit as Tapping House hosted a prestigious fundraising event that honoured the care the Hospice provided to the wife of Charity Ambassador, Giuilo Codacci-Pisanelli. This elegant evening celebrated both the exceptional care given to Giuilo’s late wife and all the brave patients supported by the Hospice, making the night a heartfelt tribute to the Hospice’s dedication to compassionate care.
The event also marked the official launch of Tapping House’s exciting new brand identity, symbolised by the iconic dragonfly—a timeless emblem of transformation, hope, and resilience. This dragonfly now embodies the Hospice’s mission to provide compassionate care to patients and their families across Norfolk, continuing to be a beacon of support for those facing life-limiting illnesses.
Set against the backdrop of royal grandeur, the evening was filled with heartfelt performances and a reminder of the community’s connection to the Hospice’s mission, making the evening even more special.
Attendees were treated to a breath-taking evening of Verdi’s much loved opera ‘La Traviata. Performed beautifully by Diva Opera in an intimate setting in the state Ballroom. Mingling amongst distinguished guests and enjoying the beauty of Sandringham, Jeanette Hill had these lovely words to say about the evening, “Thank you for an amazing evening at Sandringham. It exceeded our wildest imagination. Everything about the evening was just perfect.”
Tapping House is also delighted to announce that the evening’s fundraising efforts raised an incredible £43.348 for the Hospice, a sum that will go directly towards supporting its excellent and outstanding care services. Care that Tapping House has been providing to the community of North and West Norfolk for 40years. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who attended and contributed to this memorable event, the generosity of those who bid in the auction, our generous sponsors and the kindness of those who donated such wonderful items, played a pivotal role in the night’s success.
Nicola Ellis, CEO gave an emotional speech on the night, sharing her excitement about the new chapter Tapping House is about to enter and her optimism for the future, she said this about what the evening and refreshed brand means to the Hospice, “The dragonfly symbolises our commitment to embracing change and moving forward with grace and purpose, and there could not have been a better way to launch this new chapter than at Sandringham with such wonderful people by our side. Every person who attended has helped us continue our mission of care, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”
This enchanting evening marks a new era for Tapping House as it embarks on an exciting new chapter under its refreshed brand. But this wonderful event also launches a year of upcoming celebrations of Tapping House providing 40 years of outstanding palliative care to those who need it most.
There’s a saying in business that changing your branding should be a ‘symbol of change’, rather than an excuse to simply ‘change a symbol.’
The first time we’ve undergone a serious rebrand in 22 years is a symbol of a changing Naked, evolving to stay up to speed with the world around us. Our core values and beliefs we live by remain as relevant today as in 2002. But in truth, our message had become muddled. Our overall look and feel, rather dated.
The final round of the Caterham Graduates Racing Series brought Alpha 7 Motorsport to Donington Park National, with the team running seven cars across the 135 and 150 classes. Following Jamie Ellwood’s dominant performance at Anglesey, where he secured the CGRC 150 Class Championship, he switched to the 135 Class for the weekend, borrowing teammate Amanda Anderson’s car.
Friday began with frustration as fog delayed the start of testing, adding a tricky element for drivers to deal with. Once it lifted, the track dried out, allowing for some good dry running, although many red flags throughout the sessions led to a stop-start rhythm. Despite these interruptions, the team prepared well for the races ahead.
Saturday’s 150 Class qualifying session was wet, setting the tone for what would be a challenging day for the drivers. However, Race 1 was dry, offering some respite from the earlier conditions. Amanda Anderson encountered gear selection issues right at the start of Race 1, dropping her to the back of the pack. Despite this setback, she staged a strong recovery, engaging in a fierce battle with Andy Johnson for 11th place. In one of the weekend’s closest finishes, Johnson narrowly beat Anderson by just 0.03 seconds, earning the People First Millisecond Award.
Matthew Willoughby had a mixed weekend, retiring from Race 1, but his efforts throughout the season were rewarded as he secured second place in the overall 150 Championship, a fantastic achievement for the Alpha 7 driver. Meanwhile, Ian Anderson enjoyed some exciting on-track battles, particularly with Charles Elliott, who pushed him hard in both races. Ed Benton, in his debut season, successfully completed his required six racing signatures, allowing him to remove his novice cross. His progress continues to impress, and he now sets his sights on the CGRC Novice Cup as he looks to build on this promising start.
The second 150 Class race took place under heavy rain, with visibility drastically reduced. The spray made the opening laps particularly dangerous, but all drivers navigated the conditions well, showing impressive car control in such treacherous weather.
In the 135 Class, Jamie Ellwood, driving Amanda Anderson’s car, faced similarly tough conditions. The damp track made Race 1 a challenge, but Ellwood was determined. He battled fiercely with up-and-coming female driver Megan Bruce, leaving his move for the lead until the final lap at the last chicane, where he snatched victory in a thrilling finish. Race 2 saw a continuation of this battle, but after losing the tow, Jamie had to settle for fifth position.
Darren Butler’s weekend got off to a rough start when his gear knob snapped during qualifying, forcing him to miss most of the session and start both races from the back of the grid. Despite this setback, Butler delivered two impressive drives, fighting his way through the pack and showing remarkable determination. Sean Cronin also had a promising start to the weekend, putting in solid performances in the 135 Class. Unfortunately, Race 2 saw him involved in an accident at the start, forcing him to retire early with a DNF. However, the team remains optimistic, and Cronin’s car will be repaired over the winter, ready for a strong comeback next season.
As the season draws to a close, Alpha 7 is already looking ahead to 2025 with exciting driver announcements and new plans on the horizon. The team will celebrate their season’s achievements at the upcoming CGRC awards dinner in November, where Alpha 7 drivers will be vying for various seasonal honours.
It’s been a fantastic season for Alpha 7 Motorsport, and all involved are eager to carry this momentum into the next year.
Banham Zoo is excited to announce the completion and opening of a new Tiger Territory enrichment platform for our Amur tigers, made possible by the generous support of UK Power Networks, Scanpole, and MKM Building Supplies. The project, with a total value of £27,000, was fully donated by these partners and marks the official launch of ZSEA’s new corporate partnership programme, as part of the “Together for Wildlife” campaign.
UK Power Networks’ supplier, Scanpole, donated specially crafted untreated utility poles for the project, and MKM Building Supplies generously provided the labour, materials, and equipment needed for construction.
The new platform enhances the habitat for our Amur tigers – Mishka and her two sons, Kash and Kumi – part of the European Breeding Programme for this critically endangered species. The habitat improvements were completed in mid-October and are now open for public viewing.
Upon completion of the new platform, Banham Zoo’s Tiger Territory is now proudly sponsored by MKM Building Supplies.
Conservation in Action: Protecting Endangered Species The Amur tiger, the largest tiger subspecies, is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only around 400 individuals remaining in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching. Banham Zoo, part of the Zoologica Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), is actively involved in preserving this species. Thanks to ongoingpartnerships and donations, ZSEA is making a meaningful impact on the conservation of these magnificent animals.
A Collaborative Effort for Wildlife “We are incredibly grateful for the support from UK Power Networks, Scanpole, and MKM Building Supplies in bringing this project to life. The new platforms will provide our tigers with a more stimulating and enriched environment,encouraging natural behaviours and improving their overall wellbeing,” said Holly Naylor, Carnivore Team Leader at Banham Zoo.
Alan Archer, Asset Engineer at UK Power Networks, commented, “We were thrilled to contributto this project. Working with Scanpole to supply the untreated poles was a unique way for us to help protect an endangered species.”
Adrian Marr, Operations Manager at MKM Norwich, added, “MKM is passionate about supporting local charities and wildlife conservation. By sponsoring Tiger Territory, we’re helping to create an enhanced habitat for these majestic animals and contributing to their long-term welfare.”
Join the Movement: Partner with ZSEA The launch of this project marks the start of ZSEA’s corporate partnership programme, encouraging businesses to join the “Together for Wildlife” campaign. By collaborating with ZSEA, organisations can contribute to critical conservation work and connect with local and global communities through wildlife protection initiatives.
If your business or organisation would like to get involved with ZSEA, please contact [email protected] to explore partnership opportunities. For more information, please visit: https://www.fundraising.zsea.org. Together, we can help protect endangered species and promote conservation.
We also invite all visitors to visit Banham Zoo during the upcoming October Half-term to witness the newly completed Tiger Territory Platform, an example of how conservation and enrichment go hand-in-hand for animal welfare.
Captain Fawcett is absolutely thrilled to announce his ‘Nebula’ Eau De Parfum Signature Series with John Petrucci has won the Silver Medal at the prestigious Pure Beauty Awards 2024 in the Best New Fragrance category.
Winners were announced on 24 October at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London at an exclusive black tie Awards ceremony. Finalists had been selected by the Pure Beauty Awards independent judging panel with the Winners chosen by a public vote.
Captain Fawcett founder Richie Finney says: “The Captain Fawcett crew are absolutely thrilled to win the Silver Pure Beauty Award. It was hugely exciting for the ‘Nebula’ Eau De Parfum to be selected as a Finalist by highly esteemed industry experts, this in addition to the public choosing ‘Nebula’ as an outright Winner is simply out of this world!
“As beauty insiders the judging panel has significant influence across the international industry, yet what makes this Silver Medal even more special is that it was won with the power of the public’s vote – a true testament to Nebula’s impact and appeal. Having the public cast the final vote is the veritable icing on the cake.
“As such, it is a fantastic honour for Captain Fawcett to be recognised by professional and public alike as producing some of the very best Gentleman’s Grooming collections available anywhere in the world.”
The Pure Beauty team says: “Massive congratulations to this year’s winners. Your product has stood out from hundreds of entries and we’re thrilled to celebrate your achievements in the industry!”
Captain Fawcett’s ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder from his ‘Hair Couture’ collection was also a Finalist in the BEST NEW HAIR STYLING PRODUCT category of the Pure Beauty Global Awards 2024.
The complete list of finalists was published in the September issue of Pure Beauty Magazine. Readers, followers and subscribers number over 29K, comprised of key figures in the Trade, such as Retailers, Beauty Buyers, Consultants, Department Stores, Makeup Artists and Consultants. Pure Beauty encourages readers and subscribers to scout the year’s latest innovations and engage with the winning brands.
The Pure Beauty announcement comes as Captain Fawcett launches his latest ‘Bianco Classico’ range for silver hair this autumn. Keep an eye out for more news soon!
