We, at Paul Robinson Partnership (UK) LLP, are delighted to see Bus Industrial Tools’ new base at Great Yarmouth South Denes Enterprise Zone is featured as a success story in the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership newsletter. We worked closely with Bus Industrial Tools in developing the site and it was interesting to learn from some of the innovative technical approaches the Dutch engineers brought to the project.
Indeed, we have worked extensively on the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Enterprise Zones since their inception and continue to do so to this day. For instance, we’ve just achieved the Planning go-ahead for a workshop on Beacon Park in Gorleston and an extension to a commercial site at Mobbs Way in Lowestoft. Both expected to roll onto site in 2020.
Over the years the Enterprise Zone has been in place, we have developed the early Beacon Park masterplan, we’ve designed and run bespoke projects for many companies, along with speculative developments. All of which have a high degree of take up and success.
For more information about Enterprise Zones or if you wish discuss any projects which require planning and design services, we would love to hear from you – please contact Bruce Hart on 01603 397057 or email [email protected]
Are you aged 16 to 25 and want to have your say on what happens at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn?
The hospital is setting up a Youth Council which will ensure the voice of young people is heard by decision-makers at the hospital and members can also update their friends and communities about what is happening there.
The group will set their own priorities, work closely with departments in the hospital, and be a crucial new way of boosting the links between the QEH and the local community.
Anyone interested in finding out more and signing up for regular updates can log onto www.teamqehyouth.co.uk
During the early autumn, the first fifteen youth council members will be selected.
They will then meet every six weeks and decide on the first areas to focus on.
Youth council members will not get paid as this is a voluntary independent role, but they will be reimbursed for their travel and other expenses relating to their role.
Alice Webster, Chief Executive of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “It is important that we make sure we are hearing from the under-25s in the communities that we look after. Their ideas, suggestions and connections are so important to us both in terms of continuously improving the care we give and helping us shape our new hospital.
Antonia Hardcastle, the hospital’s Lead Governor, added: “We are only as good as the information we hear about when we are meeting our communities. The Youth Council will be vital in helping us understand the issues, concerns, ideas, and views of the younger members of the communities we care for.
“Being part of the Youth Council is a useful springboard into further education, apprenticeships, or work for some. We are also really keen to hear from those already in work and looking to develop and enhance their skills, as well as bring their own life experience, empathy and personality to the council.”
Never has a dark, foggy drive been more happily made than Thursday mornings journey from Norwich to our first Great Yarmouth networking breakfast of 2020!
Even with the dark January early start, the Royal Assembly Rooms was warm and welcoming and the room was filled with coffee and chat.
It was great to catch up with our members after the festive holidays and hear their exciting plans for the upcoming year and to introduce guests who are looking to join the Norfolk Chambers.
We were thrilled that the event got off to a roaring start with our guest speaker David Field, CEO of the Zoological Society of East Anglia talking about his journey and joy of running the charity that leads Banham Zoo and Africa Alive!
David’s energy and enthusiasm for his conservation work is encouraging and awe inspiring! David was also joined by Suzy Jackson, Head of HR to talk about the charity work of David and the team at the ZSEA.
In a talk that we wished wouldn’t end, he took us from the 18th Century’s first Zoo to the cultural impact of zoos on society, to AA Milne’s meeting with the real Winnie The Poo. He told us how his mother finally stopped asking when he was going to get a ‘proper job’, when he started meeting influential people such as HRH The Queen and Lord David Attenborough.
When David is not in Madagascar working on one of the many ZSEA’s conservation projects, or inviting protestors to take a walk with him around the zoo, he is passionately working to bring his mission and vision to life. It’s a mission to connect communities to nature for conservation and a vision that our world will be a haven for wildlife and people.
Uptech Ltd, a multi-award-winning managed service provider based in Kings Lynn, has acquired Lincolnshire IT firm Jalapeno Business Services. This strategic move will enhance the services and resources available to Jalapeno’s clients while maintaining a high level of service.
Under the Uptech umbrella, Jalapeno Business Services based in Bassingham near Lincoln will transition to operating under the Uptech name.
James Fowler, Business Development Manager at Uptech Ltd, said: “This merger marks a significant milestone, promising enriched service offerings and greater innovation.
“Jalapeno Business Services will operate under the Uptech Ltd name and the transition will allow us to leverage Uptech’s extensive knowledge base, cutting-edge technology solutions, and industry-leading expertise.
“Our commitment to delivering high-quality service remains unchanged, and we are excited about the enriched service offerings and greater innovation this partnership brings.”
Mark Brown, owner and director of Jalapeno Business Services, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with Uptech Ltd. This partnership allows us to provide our clients with even more comprehensive and robust IT solutions, backed by Uptech’s decades of experience and success.
“Our clients will benefit greatly from the additional resources and expertise now available to them.”
Despite the change in branding, all Jalapeno’s current employees will stay on board, continuing to operate from the same office locations. This continuity will ensure that the company’s clients will receive consistent and familiar support while gaining access to the expanded capabilities that Uptech brings to the table.
Uptech Ltd has a long track record of excellence, marked by numerous awards and recognitions within the managed service industry in Norfolk and East Anglia, including Best Managed IT Services Firm 2024 in East Anglia.
As it celebrates its 30th anniversary, Uptech continues to pioneer innovative solutions and deliver exceptional results for businesses across various sectors.
For more information about the transition and the enhanced services now available, visit www.uptech.co.uk or contact James Fowler at [email protected]
Greater Anglia is adding more weekday services from Monday 7 February in anticipation of more people travelling to work in the wake of Plan B restrictions being lifted.
More trains will run on all the main routes into London Liverpool Street from Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford, Southend Victoria, Cambridge, Bishop’s Stortford and Hertford East.
The intercity service between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London Liverpool Street will become half hourly for most of the day, only operating hourly for parts of the evening.
A normal regional weekday service will operate, including four additional peak services on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth line, which will be reinstated.
The Stansted Express service between London and Stansted Airport will continue with mostly two trains an hour but with three trains an hour at certain times.
The company has seen a steady increase in passenger numbers since the Government lifted Plan B restrictions – including removing work from home guidance – with numbers expected to grow in coming weeks as companies prepare to welcome workers back into offices.
Greater Anglia’s commuter numbers are expected to reflect widely reported changes to working patterns, with people doing a mixture of working from home and going into the office, and mid-week days being the most popular for travel.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “We’re pleased to be to welcoming customers back, whether they’re travelling to work or school and college, or for a fun leisure trip. We’re aiming to match the number of services we run to the number of passengers using them.
“We want to provide a safe, reliable and punctual service for our customers, but we also want to provide the best possible value for taxpayers as we are now funded entirely by the government and so ultimately taxpayers.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have altered our services depending on passenger numbers and government guidance.
“Although like everyone we hope the pandemic is nearing an end and that we are approaching a more normal period, we will continue to monitor passenger numbers and make any further adjustments to our services if necessary.
“It’s safe to travel on our trains, even when it’s busy, as we have good ventilation on board and we will continue with our enhanced cleaning and sanitisation.
“We’re asking passengers to continue to wear face coverings on our trains and stations, following government advice to wear them in busy places.
“We look forward to seeing more and more people travelling by train again over the months ahead and to providing the best possible service for them.”
Passengers can check train times on the Greater Anglia website.
Anyone who has tickets for a train which is no longer running as a result of these timetable changes can catch the service either immediately before or after it or can apply for a refund free of charge.
MAD-HR has won the Feefo Gold Trusted Service award for 2022 for the second year running and it is fair to say that we’re feeling a little giddy as a result! This follows on from us being recognised as a finalist in the Suffolk Business Awards in the Customer Excellence category.
Since 2014, Feefo has recognised the businesses who deliver exceptional experiences, using feedback from real customers.
The Trusted Service Awards are unique as they are based purely on feedback from real customers. This means they are a true reflection of commitment to outstanding customer service.
Feefo have given Gold Trusted Service awards to businesses who have collected at least 50 reviews between January 1st 2020 and December 31st 2021, with a Feefo service rating of between 4.5 and 4.9.
Liz Owers, Head of Client Services commented: “We’re thrilled to receive this award from Feefo. It means a lot because it’s based on feedback from our clients and, ultimately, keeping them happy is why we come to work each day. The award also recognises just how hard our team have worked in really difficult circumstances. We’re fully committed to the highest quality of service, so it’s vital for us to listen, understand and respond to all our customers.”
Congratulating MAD-HR, Tony Wheble, CEO at Feefo, said: “The Trusted Service Awards recognise companies who above and beyond to provide the very best customer experience.
“I’m so impressed by how our customers have overcome the challenges of the past two years. I can’t wait to see what they achieve in 2022.”
If you would like to learn more about how we support our clients and more importantly how we can support you and your business, please get in touch.
About Feefo
Feefo is a leading global customer reviews and insights platform on a mission to empower its clients to fully understand how their customers experience their product or service.
The Feefo suite of software, combined with its technical solutions expertise, enables its clients to gain a deeper understanding of customer sentiment, behaviour and intent, empowering them with insights to make better business decisions and improve their return on investment. With 96% of customers relying on reviews to purchase, Feefo also creates trust between consumers and businesses by adopting a unique approach to only collect verified reviews from real people.
Leading regional accountancy firm, Larking Gowen, has appointed two new Partners working across its offices in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
Giles Kerkham, who has been with the firm since 2000, becomes a Partner within the Audit and Advisory Team leading the Not for Profit and Education practice, while Dominic Carter has been appointed Partner for the firm’s Tax Advisory team.
Giles commented, “This is a diverse and exciting sector with a wide range of clients, from care homes and hospices to theatres, cinemas and even zoos. Being promoted to Partner is something I’m extremely proud of. The firm has a strong commitment to this area, and I’m looking forward to leading and developing the team further,” he said.
While Giles’ principal focus has been the Not for Profit sector for several years, the team remains a key part of the wider audit team, also working closely with others across the firm.
“It’s essential to be able to draw on the knowledge and experience of colleagues with different expertise so that we can provide complete and rounded advice to our clients,” he said.
“The way that we collaborate and work together to do this is what sets us apart and differentiates the service we provide to clients. We have excellent and supportive teams and I’d like to continue to develop the first-class service we offer to our clients.
“Our ambition is to be the firm that charities think of first, for expertise, service, experience and delivery.”
Dominic Carter joined the firm’s Ipswich office as a Tax Director in 2019, supporting the tax advisory offering across the business. He has more than 20 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant in national and regional firms.
“My role is mainly with larger owner managed businesses, where we have seen a very high demand for tax services, both from a company and shareholder perspective,” he said.
“We have been looking at property tax aspects, re-organisations, share schemes and equity rewards. Clients are thinking about how they want to position themselves for the future, and the ability of our team to support them has driven growth for us.
“The response to this demand from Larking Gowen has been absolutely fantastic. The growth reflects how we operate as a firm. There is a mindset across all parts of the business and at all levels, to look for opportunities to help our clients and look at their needs holistically.”
He said that since lockdown, clients had become more proactive about changing the structure of their companies and planning for the future of their businesses.
“COVID has made people think strategically about the future. They’ve had time to contemplate and challenge the way things are done, not just as business owners, but also as individuals. By working together across the firm, we’ve been able to cater for these changes,” he said.
Larking Gowen Managing Partner Julie Grimmer said, “I’m delighted to see Giles and Dominic in their new roles as Partners. They have both already made a huge contribution to the firm, and I look forward to seeing their teams going from strength to strength.”
Following on from Chambers Chief Executive, Chris Sargisson’s call for member input into a now shared column of the EDP, and the thoughtful ‘change’ themed response from Dave Wilson at Tiger Eye, we were left with plenty to think about. Moreover we were energised into sharing some of our own thoughts about change within business, especially in our field, event marketing.
For many in the business community, ‘change’ is often synonymous with themes of modernity and progress as well as perhaps disruption and challenge. Take the events industry for example, all too often the demise of live events has been touted by those riding the crest of a wave of ‘change’. The internet, digital marketing, social media, viral marketing…all examples of when a change and indeed evolution in the approach to marketing, was thought to have put a final nail in the coffin of live events. Yet events and exhibitions remain a crucial and undeniably valuable part of the modern marketing mix. So was the ‘change’ wrong? Well no, but perhaps just badly marketed (ironic eh)?
When change is spoken of in industry, all too often it can been deemed ‘disruptive’. A term regularly used by the tech industry in particular, with technological advancements ready to disrupt industries and shake up the established order. Whilst we don’t disagree with the need to disrupt some industries, businesses and practices, it would be myopic to assume that such disruption has a place across all of them. Heading back to our events example, arguably this idea of disruption is nothing new. There was a time when the internet was seen as the great disruptor, why would people waste their time on events when they could video conference and email? Indeed for a while people believed this, live events saw a downturn…in fact so radical was the perception that the internet would reign supreme, that cinema and theatre were also impacted. But it didn’t last.
Yes the internet and video conferencing and social media and digital marketing and influencers and content and all that incredible ever-evolving change in how we market and communicate our business and brand, remain pivotal to our success. Yet so do events. Why? Because they have not been disrupted by change, they have been augmented by it. Far from being the butt of a digital joke that only the most ‘modern’ of brands can giggle at, events more than ever are being included and augmented into this change. Where else can you shake an entrepreneur’s hand and see in their eyes the passion they have for that product that your business needs? Far from being left guessing how to pitch or tone your communications to serve your audience, you can respond in real time to the human being standing in front of you, laughing, smiling…doing business the ‘old fashioned way’. But then again you’re not, you’re at a modern event. You’re at an event that you’ve spent time promoting digitally, pre-arranging appointments via email, engaging with live via social media, an event that has been enriched by change, an event that embodies change.
Some may say it’s purely semantics whether change is ‘disruptive’ or ‘augmentative’, perhaps so, but it’s the attitude behind that’s what we really want to get at. We revelled in Dave Wilson’s person-centric and value led attitude to change, it’s this same attitude that we apply to our own work. When change is led by values and purpose it not only leads to improvements, but the protection of those core components that already provide value to us. It’s an important reminder that whilst ideologies like ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it‘ are insidious for business, so too are those that blindly embrace a disruptive approach to change without considering value, or purpose or people. It’s those reasons that keep events relevant in the modern marketing mix and why we are so passionate about every business having opportunity to use this unique and very personal platform. Even if it means changing, how they think about events in this ever evolving, ever more digital business landscape.
Hey there, tech explorers! 👋 If you’ve been googling “best technology for website” lately, you’ve probably seen enough acronyms to make your head spin. React or Vue? Node or Python? Headless or traditional CMS? Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage – we’re about to make this whole tech choice thing a lot less painful.
The “Wait, What Actually Matters?” Guide
First things first: your website’s technology stack isn’t about winning nerd points (though they’re fun to collect). It’s about making your website work for your business. Let’s break down what really matters.
1. Speed: Because Nobody Likes Waiting
Remember dial-up internet? Yeah, let’s not go back there. Modern tech stacks can make your website faster than a caffeinated cheetah, but only if you choose wisely. Here’s what’s cooking in 2025:
Static Site Generation (instant loading, like magic but actually science)
Edge Computing (bringing your content closer to users)
Modern JavaScript frameworks (they’re not just for show)
2. Scalability: Room to Grow
Your website should be like a good pair of stretchy pants – comfortable now but ready to expand when needed. Modern tech stacks offer:
Cloud-native solutions (grow without the growing pains)
Microservices architecture (fancy way of saying “flexible”)
API-first approach (connect all the things!)
3. Security: Because Hackers Never Sleep
In 2025, security isn’t optional – it’s as essential as coffee on a Monday morning. Modern stacks come with:
Built-in security features (no more bolt-on solutions)
Regular security updates (staying ahead of the bad guys)
Enhanced data protection (keeping the good stuff safe)
The Real MVP (Minimum Viable Pick) for 2025
Let’s cut through the noise. Here’s what your tech stack absolutely needs to have:
Must-Haves:
Performance optimization out of the box
Strong security foundations
Easy content management
Mobile-first capabilities
SEO-friendly structure
Nice-to-Haves:
AI integration capabilities
Analytics tools
Marketing automation options
Multi-language support
The “Don’t Get Trapped” Warning Signs
Some red flags to watch out for when choosing your tech stack:
Outdated technology (if it looks like Windows 95, run)
Limited support community (you don’t want to be alone in this)
Poor documentation (because mind reading isn’t a skill yet)
Inflexible licensing (nobody likes being locked in)
Making the Smart Choice
Here’s the thing: the best tech stack isn’t about having the newest, shiniest tools. It’s about having the right tools for your specific needs. At Wisecoda, we’ve seen businesses succeed with various technologies because they chose based on their actual needs, not just what’s trending on Tech Twitter.
The Bottom Line
Your website’s technology should work for you, not the other way around. Don’t get caught up in the hype of what’s “cool” – focus on what works for your business goals, budget, and future plans.
Need help figuring out the right tech stack for your project? We speak both tech and human – let’s chat about what would work best for you! No jargon, no pressure, just honest advice about your options. 💡
P.S. Remember, the best technology is the one that helps your business grow, not the one that gives developers bragging rights at meetups (though that can be fun too!).
People often ask me…”Why has the value of antiques declined in recent years?”
This is a question I get asked several times a day usually in response to me sympathetically telling a client that their much loved family heirloom is worth far less now than it was 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. It’s a sad fact of life that many areas of the market are deflated to say the least and in some cases are seemingly at ‘rock-bottom’, so let’s take a look at this and try to make some sense of it.
To start with let’s blame the Swedes! Yes, over the past 20 years the Ikea model of clean lines and minimalism has had a major effect on how we decorate and dress our homes. To the vast majority of the under 50’s the very thought of walls filled with pictures, cabinets full of ornaments and shelves packed with clutter is anathema and this is largely because Ikea gleefully swept all this away and told us “No, you must not have a house that resembles that of your grandparents”. This of course meant that in a virtual blink of an eye antique furniture in particular became all but obsolete to an entire generation! A Victorian chiffonier once worth £400 was suddenly £100, a Georgian bureau which would have set you back £600 in 1980 was readily available at £150, and worst of all perhaps, a good Edwardian inlaid mahogany display cabinet which many once aspired to own was now all but impossible to sell. The reason for the latter of course is that now we were living in a clutter free world, nobody was buying the ceramics and glass to fill the darned things! That beautiful stylish cabinet which once took pride of place in every lounge in the country was now replaced as the focal point by a 50″ TV!
So it’s all about how we live our lives and view our homes today which leads me on to Art. When I started in this business many moons ago I would enter the house of an average client and there would be pictures in the hall, pictures up the stairs and pictures filling every nook and cranny in the lounge, whereas today other than the obvious family photographs the fashion seems to be to have two or three large pictures usually in the contemporary style taking pride of place and surrounded by empty walls. Not only that but these pictures are entirely transient in that it’s not about how well loved they are, but about how well they fit the current colour scheme. Try selling a typical Victorian English landscape today and you will seriously struggle. Even artists that used to command prices of say £500 – £1000 can often be picked up for £100 or so. So traditional art is out and contemporary art is very much in…… but often only until you change your wallpaper!
So just what do people want to buy and collect in 2019? Well there is no simple straightforward answer to this so let’s address the point loosely. I have a theory that means looking at things from a male and female point of view. Firstly, it seems that ladies particularly those of retirement age are largely speaking simply not collecting. Those empty shelves and lack of clutter have become heaven for the housewife and it seems that she doesn’t want to return to the days of moving copious amounts of china and glass before she can dust the shelves……, and before you accuse me of chauvinism this does too apply to the average househusband!. So traditional feminine collectables such as chintzy bone china, figures of crinoline ladies by Royal Doulton and others, cut glass and Wedgwood Jasperware are deemed old fashioned and therefore completely undesirable. BUT if we move onto what I would term masculine or men’s’ collectables then there are areas that are thriving. For instance in recent years there has been an upsurge in collectors of Militaria and all its off-shoots, medals and vintage cameras. This suggests to me that whilst ladies are blissfully content in their retirement provided they are not surrounded by the aforesaid clutter, men need to shut themselves away and indulge themselves by becoming sexagenarian geeks!
Another area of course which is growing more rapidly than any I have ever seen is the nostalgia driven Vintage & Retro market. But that’s for another day!
People often ask me…”How does a young person learn about antiques?”
Mark holding a seminar for 40 managers of the West Country’s biggest chain of charity shops. Whilst it would be easy for me to say read as much as you can and watch educational videos, and of course you will learn a certain amount through doing this, there is one definitive answer…….handling the goods!
I have found that for most people their love of art and antiques becomes rooted at a young age, say 11 or 12 years old, so by the time they’re ready to leave school they are often set on following their passion to work with what they have grown to love. So where do they start?
Naturally, the first thing they would be likely to do is look at the options available within higher education and with many universities, colleges and indeed private institutions offering courses it appears that the options are there. However, most of these courses are in Fine Art and therein lies something of an issue! Now these programs are by and large run by extremely knowledgeable academics and by the time a student has gained their degree or diploma they’ll be able to recognise and date paint types and canvases and probably be able to give a fairly respectable opinion on the whys and wherefores of whether a newly discovered El Greco is genuine or not. BUT stop and think just for a moment! Let’s go back to that 12 year old child going to the local monthly antiques fair and immersing themselves in their love of all that surrounded them. A Georgian walnut lowboy, a Beswick figure, an Edwardian nickel plated police whistle or a trio of World War One medals……..but NOT an oil painting claiming to be a lost El Greco!
So these courses are fabulous if the intention is to move into the world of high brow fine art but not particularly useful if you see yourself working in a provincial auction house, which rather ironically is where most of these graduates end up! So, on leaving school where should they be looking? Well lets use me as a perfect example, not a perfect example of manhood of course…..although I do have my admirers!…..but a perfect example of the ideal route to follow. Like many others before and since I really had no idea what to do once I had finished my education but I had always been interested in history and ‘old things’ so when my father came back from the local auction house and told me that they were looking for someone to fill in for six months and perhaps I should approach them I jumped at the chance. I was duly taken on as a temporary junior porter and ended up many years later as their Senior Valuer!
From day one I learnt ‘hands on’, so for instance after a short while I was able to recognise different woods through not only looking at the polished finish but by being able to open a drawer and look at the interior where it was unpolished. After a year or so I was able to tell from sight alone whether a piece was likely to be solid silver or silver plated or if a porcelain figure was German or French by looking at the scroll work on the base. After a while I was trusted to do some basic cataloguing and within a year or two of this I was lotting our entire general sales which included the lesser antiques and art as well as household goods. And so it went on, although obviously it did take a good few years before I was cataloguing entire antique and fine art sales which encompassed everything from furniture, through paintings, ceramics, glass, silver, rugs, militaria, toys and much, much more!
In my line of work you really do learn something new every single day and this still applies with me, even though I’m now well into middle age. In fact, the one piece of advice I always give to young valuers is “Don’t ever think you know it all…..because you’ll learn something new tomorrow.”
So, once again lets go back to that 12 year old who wants to learn about and maybe forge a career in antiques. Approach your local auction house and offer to work at their evening viewings or perhaps during the school holidays. You’ll be starting at the very bottom but theres a lot to learn and you’re lucky enough to have a whole lifetime ahead of you. You will never learn it all………..but you’ll have a lot of fun trying!