We are now launching our Warm Workwear Bundles for the winter season. Women’s and men’s workwear, this is ideal for outdoor trades, seasonal market traders, retailers, hospitality, caterers, construction and building sites. Our competitive pricing includes embroidery of your logo and the set-up fee worth £20 + VAT. This is a limited time offer and bundles are limited per customer. See our website for more details: Branded workwear
Howes Percival’s Corporate team has completed 37 deals in the immediate run-up to the Budget.
The deals included a variety of transactions where a pre-Budget completion was requested by the client, including MBOs, business and share acquisitions and sales, share buybacks, exercise of options, and solvent corporate group reorganisations.
The deals also spanned a wide range of sectors from professional services, media & publishing, care and manufacturing to food & beverage, automotive and property.
James Stephen, Partner and Head of Corporate, commented, “The whole team have been amazing over the last few weeks and I’m incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve. We will always go the extra mile for clients, but this was an extraordinary effort and is a testament to the experience and commitment of our team.”
Howes Percival’s Corporate, Commercial and Banking team has grown rapidly in recent years, along with its reputation, following an influx of top talent. The team is supported on transactions by the full range of specialist legal teams including our colleagues in IP / IT / Data Protection, Commercial Property, Employment and Immigration, Private Client, Regulatory and Tax.
For more information on Howes Percival’s Corporate team, visit: Corporate & Business Law – Corporate Solicitors – Howes Percival
Our Founder, Simon Wingfield, recently obtained his certification in effective coaching and mentoring. He graduated at The Insurance Hall in London on Wednesday 23rd October 2024.
This certificate helps with:
§ Being able to assess your own skills, knowledge, and behaviours as a coach and mentor
With regard to this accreditation, Simon commented: ‘This helps Wingfield Consultants to support organisations with coaching and mentoring both teams and individuals, in addition to the consultancy services we already provide. Many organisations need deeper support and guidance that required professional accreditation and this certificate helps us deliver excellence through knowledge and application’.
Useful Links:
Level 5 Certificate and Diploma in Effective Coaching and Mentoring
The Joe Dix Foundation is a charity member of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce based in Norwich. The foundation was set up following the murder of Joe Dix in Mile Cross Norwich in January 22. The full story surrounding Joe Dix is told on our website www.joedixfoundation.co.uk.
The Foundation’s organisers have recently been invited by the Prime Minister at a meeting in Downing Street, to become part of the coalition to end Youth Violence and Knife crime over the coming years.
In addition to promoting understanding and awareness of the problems involved, the Foundation has put together a programme designed to alter the pathways taken by some young people and help them manage their lives away from the draw of criminality and violence. The programme is a structured one and contains of a mixture of Shock and Awe and the understanding of the person and choices that can be made. It is not simply to preach right from wrong but to also offer guidance to realistic alternative pathways.
Apart from funding support which remains a difficulty in the voluntary world, we need volunteers who could be trained to become mentors and show young people that hard work through business and the like, can bring rewards too. If you feel that you have a little time to spare and would be interested in helping us and those in need, please feel free to contact us as we would welcome any enquiries/ problems we see are faced by society as a whole and can happen to anyone irrespective of their background or situation.
Norwich-based asset finance provider, Credo Capital Finance, along with its sister companies in the STAR Asset Finance Group, has been awarded Asset Finance Broker of the Year 2024 at the prestigious Leasing World Gold Awards.
The national accolade recognises the hard work and dedication of STAR’s entire team in delivering financial services to businesses across the UK. Alongside Credo, a leading provider of vehicle and asset finance for SMEs in East Anglia, the companies that make up STAR include Kennet Equipment Leasing in Coleshill, First Capital Finance in Bournemouth and Ignition in Truro.
The Leasing World Gold Awards, held at the Hilton Bankside Hotel in London, celebrate excellence across the financial sector. Receiving the Asset Finance Broker of the Year award demonstrates STAR’s commitment to providing high-quality service and support to its clients.
Steve Swift, CEO of STAR Asset Finance Group, commented:
“Winning this award is a tremendous honour and a reflection of our team’s efforts to consistently deliver exceptional financial solutions. We remain committed to serving our clients with the highest level of expertise and service.”
With its offices across the UK, STAR Asset Finance Group combines the benefits of a national business with local expertise and personalised service. STAR has also been recognised with multiple industry awards, including the Business Moneyfacts Awards earlier this year.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion and Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, Martin Beable (Credit: Greater Anglia)
Greater Anglia has unveiled a special livery on a regional train dedicated to fallen veterans in armed conflicts, and all those who give so much in service of their country, ahead of Remembrance Day.
The livery has been launched during the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal which will see poppies on sale at a number of Greater Anglia stations across the rail network in East Anglia.
The livery, which has been applied to a Stadler-built ‘class 755’ regional bi-mode train (number 755414), includes the words ‘Lest We Forget’ surrounded by poppies, towards both ends and on both sides of the four-carriage train.
The livery will remain on the train year-round as it operates services between Ipswich and Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Cambridge and Peterborough; between Norwich and Cambridge/Stansted Airport, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Sheringham; and between Marks Tey and Sudbury.
The new livery also includes more poppies towards the front of the train and was launched at a special ceremony at Norwich station on Thursday 31 October. Local retired veterans and representatives from the Royal British Legion joined Greater Anglia staff members, many of whom are former military personnel.
Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, said:
“This special livery is dedicated to veterans and recognises their service and sacrifice, along with all those who give so much in service of their country.
“The train will pass through communities across East Anglia to honour those who have fallen in armed conflicts, and we are proud to unveil this livery alongside local veterans and representatives from the Royal British Legion.”
Two other Greater Anglia trains are due to receive the special livery – an intercity Class 745 electric train and a suburban Class 720 electric train – so it will be seen right across the Greater Anglia network.
The inspiration behind the poppy train livery came from a Greater Anglia driver, Stephen Drake. From 2003 to 2013, Stephen was heavily involved in his local Royal British Legion branch in Great Wakering near Southend. Stephen presented the concept of a poppy train livery to a Greater Anglia ideas panel in early 2024 and he has been instrumental in its delivery.
Stephen Drake, a Greater Anglia driver based at Ilford, said:
“The livery is beautiful and is a sincere tribute to everyone who has lost their lives in armed conflicts around the world.
“I had family members in both the RAF and Army, and I am truly proud that my idea has now resulted in this special livery that will be seen by people right across our network.”
The poppy trains are being launched during the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. Poppy collectors will be collecting donations for the appeal at major Greater Anglia stations including Norwich, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford and Colchester. Other station collections will be announced in due course. Collection pots will also be available at some local stations.
The Royal British Legion’s Director of the Poppy Appeal, Lucy Inskip, said:
“The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2024 highlights the mental scars that can be left for some from their experiences in military service. From risking their lives in warzones to the struggle of upheaval for family members and children and being away from loved ones, the mental health needs of the Armed Forces community are complex.
“Seeing members of the public wear a poppy means so much to our Armed Forces community and donations raised help the Royal British Legion to continue its vital work. Every day, ex-serving personnel who suffer from the demands and pressures of having served their country come to the RBL for expert advice and practical support. From recovery to finances and camaraderie, your poppy will help the RBL to support the Armed Forces community.”
Greater Anglia has also confirmed that it will be among the train companies that will offer military personnel and veterans free travel to key Remembrance events during the nation’s annual commemorations. Details of the free travel are available via the Rail Delivery Group website.
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Taylor Investigations provides various investigation services as well as genealogy research, led by our genealogist and researcher, Michelle.
Case 1
A gentleman recently contacted us, hoping to solve a lifelong mystery for his father, who, now in his 80s, yearned to know who his own father was. Both father and son had taken DNA tests through Ancestry and had even engaged an expert from the platform. Despite these efforts, the identity of the unknown father remained elusive, though they had uncovered hints of possible cousins.
With access to both of their DNA results, Michelle took on the challenge. She meticulously worked through their DNA matches, building a family tree based on shared connections. The closest match was a second cousin, which allowed her to deduce that the unknown grandfather came from Wales. She eventually narrowed down the possibilities to one of four brothers.
Our next step was to trace the descendants of each brother. Most were grandchildren, though one brother still had a living daughter in her 90s. Out of respect for her age and wellbeing, we decided not to approach her directly, as learning about a potential unknown sibling could be unsettling.
Instead, we reached out to the grandchildren of the remaining three brothers, sending consent letters that explained our search and invited them to take a DNA test through Ancestry. We knew that DNA results would confirm or eliminate each brother based on the amount of shared DNA, which reflects the closeness of a relationship.
The very next day, we received a call from one of the granddaughters. She was open to taking the test, although she was convinced her grandfather couldn’t possibly be the missing link. Nevertheless, she was happy to help us clarify and was even curious to connect with our client, as she hadn’t realised the extent of her grandfather’s family—three brothers and three sisters. She was eager to learn more about her extended family.
The client arranged for a priority DNA test, which was dispatched directly to her. She completed and returned it promptly, and within three weeks, we had the results.
We monitored the DNA matches of our client and his father, eagerly awaiting the appearance of this new potential connection. Then, finally, there it was.The granddaughter matched as a half-cousin to our client and a half-niece to his father. Our search was complete: her grandfather was indeed the unknown father and our client’s biological grandfather. The joy and relief shared by our client and his father were palpable—they finally had the answers they’d sought for so long.
As for the granddaughter, her initial shock gave way to curiosity and, ultimately, delight. She wished her own father had lived to meet the half-brother he’d never known existed.
We wish them all the best as they embark on this new chapter of family connection and discovery.
Case 2
We were recently approached by a client who needed help building a family tree to support his application for a Lithuanian passport. To qualify, he had to prove his lineage and believed he was eligible because of his grandfather, who he understood to be a Jewish man born in Lithuania.
Our client had taken a DNA test and shared his results with us. Reviewing his ethnicity estimate, Michelle was surprised to see that his DNA composition was 80% English/North European, with the remaining 20% being Scottish and Irish—yet there was no trace of Jewish ancestry. Typically, one would inherit around 25% of their DNA from each grandparent, with a margin of 20-30%, so some evidence of Jewish heritage would be expected if his grandfather were indeed Jewish.
Michelle then began working through the client’s DNA matches, identifying a first cousin as the closest relative. This discovery led to a surprising conclusion: our client’s grandfather was not who he had always believed.
Through careful research, Michelle uncovered the identity of his actual grandfather, an English-born man with no Jewish heritage. The delicate task of sharing this revelation with the client was left to Charlotte.
Charlotte made the sensitive call, and the client received the news calmly. He noted that everyone involved in the story had since passed away but realised he’d need to sit down with his son, who had recently joined the Jewish society at University.
Fortunately, our client could still proceed with a passport application, though not for Lithuania. It turned out his grandmother had been born in Ireland, which allowed him to apply for Irish citizenship—a detail he hadn’t known before.
Curious about discovering an unknown ancestor? A DNA test could reveal the answers paired with our genealogy research. Get in touch with us today to find out more!
[email protected] | 01603 904031 | www.taylorinvestigations.co.uk
Overall, this year we’ve seen a lot more interest in Men’s Health, both physical and mental – which is great news.
If you would like to train your own Men’s Health Champions, who can offer support and signposting within your organisation, we provide the perfect solution or if you would like to support your male employees with male and heart health – we have the perfect webinars for you. By providing training to your employees, you could save your business time, money and lower stress and absenteeism in your employees.
Training available:
Men’s Health Champion Course
A 4 hour, online course covering:
?The leading causes of death in men
?Mental health, burnout & suicide
?Prostate health
?Testicular health
?Diabetes and CV health
?Other cancers
?The workplace
?The role of a Health Champion
?Signposting and support
Webinars available:
Heart Health
?Improving heart health
?Angina, heart attacks& strokes
?Lowering blood pressure with nutrition
?Reducing cholesterol with nutrition
?Alcohol, diet,exercise & smoking
?Top Tips
Men’s Health
?Three key areas of male mid-life health
?Does andropause (male menopause) exist?
?How to improve heart health
?Prostate and mental health
?The male health check-list
Length: 45 minutes plus 15 minutes for Q&A
For more information, prices or book a training session for your business, email Kathy and Chantall on [email protected]
This isn’t a new direction for us, it’s just a wonderful acknowledgement of the work we’ve already been doing to support our neurodiverse clients in ways that are flexible, empowering, and truly personalised.
I’ve seen firsthand how different brains bring different strengths, and that’s why our services are all about embracing those differences. Whether it’s creating workflows that adapt to your unique rhythms, building project systems that feel right for you, or simply being a support system when things get busy – we’re here to help every step of the way.
This accreditation is just an “official stamp” on our mission to make sure everyone, including our wonderful neurodiverse clients, feels heard, understood, and set up to thrive.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey so far – let’s keep breaking down barriers and making work, work for everyone!
Want to know more about our services? Take a peek here: www.thecreativedesk.co.uk
The anticipation of the budget is now behind us, and as we decipher and work out what that means for businesses, as well as ours – it’s important to help each other through potential tricky times. I read a post, ahead of the budget from Nova highlighting that 86% of businesses within the Chamber are Small and Midsize Enterprises (SME’s) and the budget applies to a large proportion of us members.
Nobody likes a spreadsheet, so following the budget, we will factor what this means into our own forecasts via cutting-edge software to see what impact the changes have on our own business, as well as our client’s businesses in real-time. You could be manifesting devastation regarding your business affairs, when in reality, you can manage it. Or, you could feel that your business will get through the next year of trade, when it may not be as plain sailing.
Key facts:
-The National Minimum Wage will increase by 6.7% to £12.21 for a worker over 21. National Minimum Wage will increase for workers aged between 18 and 20-years old from £8.60 to £10.
– The lower rate of capital gains tax (CGT) will be increased to 18%, and the higher rate will increase to 24% from 30/10/24. CGT rates on residential property will be maintained.
– Employers NIC will be increased to 15% from April 2025. The secondary threshold will be reduced to £5k.
– Employment allowance will be increased to £10.5k from April 2025.
– Effective from 31 Oct 2024, there will be an increase in the Stamp duty land tax surcharge on second homes by 2% to 5%.
– Inheritance tax (IHT) threshold freeze will be extended until 2030. Inherited pensions will be brought into IHT from April 2027, with reforms on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief. From April 2026, the first £1m of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax at all, but for assets over £1m, inheritance tax will apply with 50% relief, at an effective rate of 20%.
Have you got a forecast to see the impact of the budget on your business? Does your current accountant have your business interests close to their heart to assist with big decisions like the budget? If not, JHW can help.
Attleborough based multi-service contractor Anglian, has won a prestigious Sub-contractor Award from leading construction firm Kier.
The Positive Attitude & Conduct Award was presented by Kier Eastern & Midlands to John Bergin, project manager at Anglian, for his work on a demolition project at Samuel Pepys School in St Neots.
Undertaken during the summer, the project saw a range of demolition work at the school including internal soft stripping of the buildings, and hand demolition and propping on a series of internal walls. Anglian had a team of four working at Samuel Pepys led by John, alongside demolition operatives Dev Blundell, Dean Nelson and Lee Beckett.
The Positive Attitude & Conduct Award was given to John in recognition of his exceptional conduct and professional attitude towards Safety, Health, Environment and Quality. The award was presented to John by Dennis Cotton, regional director at Kier – Cambridge & Midlands, at Kier’s offices in Waterbeach.
Paul Nelson, contracts manager at Kier, said: “This was awarded following the great work completed by John and his team at Samuel Pepys School. John kept a tight ship and despite the demolition works being tricky to complete. All activities were carried out safely, working spaces kept spotlessly clean and the team had a positive approach to working with the Kier team and others on site.”
John Bergin, project manager at Anglian, said: “Health and safety is paramount to every project we undertake at Anglian and I am honoured to receive this award. This was another great job for Kier and the entire team deserve recognition for their hard work throughout.”
Anglian has been working with Kier for many years on a range of projects. A multi-service contractor, Anglian’s divisions include Anglian Demolition & Asbestos, Anglian Scaffolding, Anglian Earthworks & Remediation and Anglian Waste Recycling. For more details, see www.angliandemo.co.uk.