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A help point at a Greater Anglia station. Credit: Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia is improving customer help points at stations, following feedback from customers about response times and connectivity.

The train firm is using AI technology on a number of its station help points to ensure customers can get the answers they need quicker.

Customers using help points at stations fitted with the AI technology will be able to get answers to questions such as what train they need to catch and what time the next train is leaving more quickly – simply by pressing the blue ‘information’ button.

The AI system, called ‘IVY’, will supplement teams who answer the help points manually, freeing up operators to deal with more complex queries.

The system will also automatically put a customer through to an operator if anyone says they need assistance or help in emergencies. Users can also press the dedicated green ‘emergency’ button.

The new system can be updated as it evolves with additional features in the future such as giving more information such as the cost of tickets.

The first help point with the new technology will be unveiled at Lea Bridge station on Monday 31 October, with Greater Anglia managers present between 10.30am – 12.30pm to show how it works and ask customers what they think about it.

The IVY system is also being installed in help points at Acle, Beccles, Braintree Freeport, Bury St Edmunds, Cromer, Dovercourt, Enfield Lock, Harlow Mill, Hythe, Ponders End, Prittlewell, Sheringham and Waltham Cross stations in the coming months.

Neil Atkin, Greater Anglia’s Head of Customer Experience, said: “We’re always listening to our customers and this innovative AI system has been developed based on their feedback.

“It will make our help points better for our customers, particularly at our unstaffed stations and when the connection may not be 100% clear or answered as quickly as customers always need.

“We’re looking forward to unveiling the first one at Lea Bridge on 31 October and seeing how the technology evolves going forward to help customers even further.”

Children and families came together for a sun-drenched day of belated Coronation celebrations.

Live music, face-painting, arts, crafts and a delicious afternoon tea were among the highlights of Saturday’s event at The Nook, in Framingham Earl.

Youngsters also enjoyed blowing bubbles and playing traditional garden games, in addition to interactive storytelling and a sensory tent

Others enjoyed having their picture taken alongside cardboard cut-out soldiers in a special photobooth.

The Coronation street party was attended by 60 people and organised by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

Wellbeing Lead Jayne Chesterton said: “It was a lovely afternoon and we were blessed with glorious sunshine.

“I was struck by how many people and areas of the organisation came together, from members of the Care team to colleagues from Fundraising, Marketing and Communications and Facilities.

“Everyone was there to make it a very positive and enjoyable event for families.

“There was a street party vibe and it was relaxing, quality time – a safe space for everyone to unwind and enjoy each other’s company.

“As well as the children, mums and dads, we were also joined by grandparents and one young lady brought her best friend as she wanted her to see The Nook.

“The children who were with us for care also joined in and their families came along to join in the celebrations.”

Also in attendance were some wonderful EACH volunteers, along with three volunteers from Center Parcs.

“The Clown Doctors, who use interactive, creative play and song to engage children, also came while a volunteer interactive storyteller captured families’ imagination and Jeff Sharkey, from Musical Keys, was an engaging, familiar and friendly face,” added Jayne.

“We also invited along a chap called Colin, who has been to previous events and brings along a traditional organ.

“His music provided a perfect backdrop and it turned out it was his 70^th birthday.

“It was wonderful that he came along to share his special day with us and I’m delighted to say he’s now signed up to become a fully-fledged volunteer.”

Two others, a 13-year-old sibling and one of the mums, were also celebrating their big days and Jeff, from Musical Keys, sang Happy Birthday.

EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Pictures: Karen Self/EACH

Lighthouse Safety are an established Health and Safety Training provider with an HQ in Kent.

Following a valued member of the training team relocating to Norfolk the decision was made to offer their first class training courses to this new location. Not only a beautiful place to live, Norfolk is emerging as an exciting enterprising community with a bright future, boasting a strong and diverse business base which is home to leading innovation centres and enterprises.

Lighthouse are offering courses that all businesses should have knowledge of including IOSH Managing Safely®, Qualsafe First Aid and NEBOSH Risk Assessment At Work.

Managing Safely®, the market-leading health and safety course for line managers, is tried, tested and trusted. Designed to provide all managers with the confidence and enthusiasm to apply knowledge to the workplace, this course is unlike any others as it covers all industries and will help you improve the safety awareness culture in your organisation, see your productivity increase and enhance your reputation within your supply chain by embedding safety and health across the whole organisation.

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require all employers to make arrangements to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. This includes carrying out a risk assessment, appointing a suitable amount of first aiders and providing appropriate first aid at work training, so Lighthouse’s Emergency First Aid course is an essential. It covers the key life saving skills to deal with the emergency injuries and illnesses that can occur in the workplace such as CPR, AED use, choking, recovery position and cuts and wound management.

Current courses are:

• IOSH Managing Safely®
• Qualsafe Emergency First Aid at Work
• Qualsafe First Aid at Work
• Qualsafe COSHH, Manual Handling and Fire Courses
• NEBOSH – Risk Assessment at Work
• NEBOSH Incident Investigation

Lighthouse deliver training in Norwich, King’s Lynn and Thetford in a relaxed learning environment. They have been classed as an ‘outstanding’ training provider, won awards for customer service and achieve fantastic pass rates, so why not contact them today on 01634 260 631 to enquire about a course or visit https://www.lighthousesafety.co.uk/training-courses-2/norfolk-training-courses/ to book

Fresh Start new beginnings hosted their second afternoon tea last Friday at the Mercure Norwich hotel. With over one hundred attendees, they also welcomed the Lord mayor, Sheriff and her consorts along with Deputy Lieutenant Alexandra Bartram and Karen Vincent Chairman of Norfolk County Council.

Fresh Start new beginnings provides therapeutic support for children and young people in Norfolk and Suffolk who have been victims of sexual abuse. As they continue to see demand for its services rise events like this become increasingly important to raise awareness.

The afternoon featured presentations from speakers Chris Sargisson and Jeremy Indika, about their lived experiences of child sexual abuse. Their bravery in sharing their stories, gave people an insight into how the trauma has impacted them throughout their lives, particularly when no support is available to them. They gave a voice to the 16000 children in Norfolk alone, that have been victims of sexual abuse. Highlighting the important work Fresh Start new beginnings do, that every child who has been affected by child sexual abuse should be able to access the support they need to recover and rebuild their futures.

Sandra Lucas – Corporate and event fundraiser says “We were so pleased with the positive feedback following the event. Many attendees commented that they had no idea about the prevalence of child sexual abuse. Since Friday we have been overwhelmed with the offers of support for the charity. We hope to continue to grow our service so that every child can access the support they want and need.”

With thanks to Larking Gowen for sponsoring the event, to all those that attended and to our speakers.

Age UK Norwich has launched its second ‘Happy to Chat’ bench, strategically located within the serene grounds of Norwich Cathedral. This initiative, aimed at combating social isolation and loneliness, has been made possible through the generous support of The People Kit and Leathes Prior.

The launch event, held on Thursday 31st July, saw representatives from all three partnering organisations gather to celebrate this significant addition to the community. Speeches were delivered by The Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, Dean of Norwich Cathedral, Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer (Age UK Norwich), Mary McGivern (The People Kit), and Mike Barlow, Senior Partner (Leathes Prior), all of whom highlighted the profound importance of fostering connections and reducing isolation. Mary explained “Who would have thought sitting on a bench and having a chat with a stranger would make such a difference to their lives, but it really does. I’ve experienced first hand the positive effect these chats can have. Always remember the person sitting next to you may well have not spoken to anyone for days or in some cases weeks”.

Attendees included staff and volunteers from Age UK Norwich, members of Leathes Prior, and members of The People Kit, creating a warm and collaborative atmosphere.

The ‘Happy to Chat’ bench is a simple yet powerful concept. It features a prominent sign inviting passers-by to take a seat if they are open to a friendly conversation. In today’s fast-paced world, opportunities for spontaneous social interaction can be limited. These benches provide a welcoming space for individuals to connect, share a moment, and potentially brighten someone’s day, helping to foster a stronger, more connected community.

This particular ‘Happy to Chat’ bench holds a special significance as it is dedicated to the cherished memory of Dawn Lossau, an employee of Leathes Prior and a truly devoted volunteer for Age UK Norwich. Dawn’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of older people was profound and inspiring. Her volunteering journey began as a telephone befriender, part of a corporate partnership volunteering programme between Leathes Prior and Age UK Norwich. Having completed this initial programme, Dawn’s passion for connection led her to continue her telephone befriending independently, outside of her work commitments. She deeply loved the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives, and it is this unwavering dedication that this bench commemorates. We sincerely hope that Dawn’s memory will encourage countless others to sit, engage in conversation, and in doing so, contribute to reducing social isolation within our community.

Mike Barlow, Senior Partner at Leathes Prior commented “We are incredibly proud to support this bench alongside Age UK Norwich and The People Kit and deeply moved that it honours our much-missed colleague and friend, Dawn Lossau. Dawn was a cherished part of the Leathes Prior family for 17 years, full of compassion, laughter, and warmth. She gave so much of herself to others, both through her work and her volunteer efforts.

This bench, inviting people to pause and connect, feels like the perfect tribute to someone who cared so deeply about making a difference. Dawn, and the colour she brought to the world, will remain forever in our hearts. We hope this simple space for conversation brings comfort, connection, and a bit of her spirit to all who pass by”

Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer of Age UK Norwich said, “We are incredibly grateful to The People Kit and Leathes Prior for their invaluable support in bringing this second ‘Happy to Chat’ bench to fruition. The concept of these benches is beautifully simple, yet its potential to combat loneliness is immense. To dedicate this bench to Dawn, a truly remarkable individual who embodied the spirit of connection and compassion, makes this launch even more meaningful. We hope it serves as a lasting tribute to her legacy and inspires many more conversations.”

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the new ‘Happy to Chat’ bench in the Norwich Cathedral grounds and embrace the opportunity for a friendly conversation.

If you are interested in having a ‘Happy to Chat’ bench in your local area in Norwich, please contact Age UK Norwich to discuss possibilities and how you can help bring more opportunities for connection to your community.

Why should your business embrace audio? Special interview with audio expert and coach, Rob Lawrence

How we build relationships with our customers, clients and contacts during the last year has changed dramatically. Podcasts have helped many business leaders reach their audience during the pandemic. They have helped fill the void where physical connection was almost eliminated, and in celebration of their 50th episode, James and Mark decided to reflect on why they chose to start Impromptu Business Chat, and chat to their audio expert producer, and owner of Podcast Plus, Rob Lawrence, on why businesses need to embrace audio.

Fundamentally podcasts are about relationships. They are also leverage in developing existing connections. Podcasts allow you to “have an intimate conversation with a football stadium of people!”

Rob is a qualified audio producer, podcaster and certified coach, helping creative entrepreneurs, high achieving professionals and business leaders embrace the power of sound and broadcast to get their message out; he helps those whose truths and passions are worth listening to!

As the world we live and do business in changes, business is not just about having a statement anymore, it’s about having an ongoing dialogue with your audience, and podcasts are a great way to have a conversation with your audience. An episode is an invitation to start a conversation, and this is why the podcast world is becoming more popular and relevant, and important for business leaders; whether they listen to the content of others or create their own.

As podcast audiences broaden and grow, this chat will help anyone struggling to understand and embrace the changes in the media landscape for businesses and why they should be, and those keen to step into the podcast world themselves.

Rob also offers a personal insight into his own journey with his mental health in the corporate world, and what led him to pursue his passion for audio and coaching. He states that knowing how you best absorb the world, means you can then jump into something you love, instead of doing something you just ‘like’ – his insights are particularly relevant now, as many people face huge shifts in their roles at work, changes in how they work as a result of the pandemic, and may be looking to make a leap of their own.

You can learn more about the work Rob does by listening to his podcast Inspirational Creatives or visit his website here if you want to know more about starting your own podcast.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, we would really appreciate a 5* review, as this helps other people find our podcast! We will be back in a couple of weeks for series 5, so click subscribe, and don’t miss out! 

Listen here!

LSI Architects has been ranked the best UK Employer for Workplace Wellbeing in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index 2020-21.

The Practice was ranked top of 114 organisations taking part in Mind’s fifth annual Workplace Wellbeing Index this year. Based on surveys with its employees, the Practice was recognised with a Gold Award, meaning it has successfully embedded mental health into its policies and practices and demonstrated a long-term, in-depth commitment to staff mental health.

Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index is a benchmark of best policy and practice, celebrating the good work employers are doing to promote and support positive mental health, and providing key recommendations on the specific areas where there is room to improve.

This year’s Workplace Wellbeing Index Awards were hosted by Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer, and took place online on 8 June. The event saw around 200 people come together to celebrate and recognise employers of different sizes and sectors who have prioritised and promoted staff wellbeing.

Every employer depends on having healthy and productive employees – valued and supported staff are far more likely to perform better and achieve peak performance. Mental health problems are common among employees, and research suggests that the past year has been particularly challenging for staff. Mind surveyed more than 42,000 employees across the 114 employers participating in the Index and included an additional section on the impact of Covid-19. The mental health charity found that two in five (41 per cent) of Index employees whose employers were taking in part said their mental health had worsened during the pandemic.

Ben Goode, Director at LSI Architects said:

“We’re incredibly proud to have been accredited Gold in the Mind Workplace Wellbeing Index again this year, and to have placed top of the Workplace Wellbeing Index in 2020/2021 because the achievement is largely based on what our teams have said.

“This has been such a challenging year and I don’t know anyone whose mental health and wellbeing hasn’t been affected.

“Mental health education is conspicuous by its absence in most people’s lives. As businesses, what we can do is help people to access more information around mental health and wellbeing to understand it, recognise triggers and provide strategies to keep people well and resilient.

By capturing things early we can signpost people to suitably qualified people earlier, often before they become a bigger issue. Employees who are less likely to experience poor mental health are simply more likely to be able to do their jobs effectively.”

Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said:

“Many congratulations to LSI Architects for being recognised as our top employer in this year’s Workplace Wellbeing Index. It has been amazing to see their journey over the last five years, going from strength to strength. Despite the challenging times we have all had recently, staff at LSI Architects told us they feel valued and that there is an open culture around mental health. I look forward to seeing how their approach to workplace wellbeing will continue to evolve.”

Who’s Naked?

We are a creative agency driven to help businesses in the region go from local to legendary – planning and delivering projects to improve their image and presence. We call it Big Brand Confidence, homegrown in Norfolk.

Established in 2002, over 23 years we’ve built on our design and print principles and expanded our expertise to include brand, design, communication and digital marketing.

We’re serious about what we do but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, our approach is stripped-down, open and honest. That’s why we’re called Naked. We’re passionate about people and relationships. Enjoying the journey and making an impact. 

The Role:

As our Client Services Manager, you’ll be at the heart of driving Naked’s commercial success. This is a hands-on, client-facing role where you will:

• Generate New Business: Proactively identify and pursue new opportunities for the agency, build relationships, and manage opportunities from initial conversation to starting work.

• Grow Customer Relationships: Strengthen bonds with our clients, recognise new opportunities to add additional value and support customer marketing objectives.

• Lead Marketing-Driven Growth: Help shape and execute campaigns that grab attention, generate leads, and reinforce Naked’s positioning.

  Find out full details about the role, benefits and how to apply by visiting our website.
  

At First Class First Aid, I’m passionate about equipping people with the skills and confidence to step in and make a difference when it matters most. That’s why we’re excited to announce that we’re now offering Mental Health First Aid training, helping people to recognise the signs of poor mental health and offer meaningful support, just like I already do with physical first aid.

I’ve teamed up with the brilliant team at Transpire Training, who specialise in delivering accredited Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) courses. Through this partnership, we’re now able to offer a two-day Mental Health First Aid training course to individuals and workplaces across Norfolk and beyond.