Bring the Brasserie home… Enjoy delicious food, lovingly created with locally sourced produce. Local Chef Mark Elvin, has devised mouth-watering dishes for the Brasserie at Barnham Broom, which you can now prepare and enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Equipped with full instructions, elements of pre-prepared items and all the ingredients required, you can now cook along with Mark from your own kitchen. Pre-order by clicking the button below, giving 24 hours’ notice. Collection available Friday’s and Saturday’s.
This is an important piece of voluntary sector research conducted every two years by leading property advice charity the Ethical Property Foundation, in partnership with the Charity Commission.
Whether your organisation rents or owns its premises, by completing the survey – which takes just 5 minutes – you will be contributing to a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector at this time of significant change.
The finished report will be of vital importance for everyone involved in the sector, whether service users, staff, trustees, funders, advisers, landlords, policy makers or local authorities.
The 2014 survey showed that:
45% of voluntary groups viewed property as the biggest threat to their organisation’s long term sustainability;
Over 40% experienced difficulty sourcing core funding to cover premises costs;
Just one third of charities had paid for property advice in the last three years.
Please help the voluntary sector find its collective voice about property and complete the Survey TODAY.
I’ve heard a lot in the last week about how the problem with getting young people leaving school in Norfolk into jobs is a lack of aspiration. I’ll go into some of the reasons I’ve heard this is the case in another post. What’s interesting is what’s being done about it in West Norfolk.
The Centre for Advanced Knowledge Engineering is a £350M development being built on the old Burnham Market RAF base. The intention is to attract Artificial Intelligence and other high tech firms to the region. As well as office space, the site will include a conference centre, incubator space and a new site for a local academy allowing it to double in size to 1500 students in anticipation of the growth expect in the region as a result of building the centre. Local infrastructure improvements, including an upgrade to Ely station, and 600MB broadband are also planned as part of the development.
John Beer is clearly passionate about making a difference and I believe that the Centre for Advanced Knowledge Engineering will do just that. I also think it will even out the distribution of tech jobs and firms in Norfolk. At the moment, as you would expect, it’s very Norwich centric.
John told us about the plans for the centre, the history of the project, the companies involved and his personal story along the way. It was fascinating and would have easily made a much longer session.
The Norfolk Developers breakfasts are held quarterly with the intention of exposing people with a more general interest in tech to the group. They take place in the Oak Room of the Maids Head in Norwich which comfortably holds 20 people and the excellent breakfast is from the buffet.
Associated British Ports (‘ABP’) has seen timber volumes double this year at the Port of King’s Lynn, as the demand in the U.K. has increased for timber for use in construction, manufacturing and DIY, such as home offices, decking, home and garden improvements. Typically imported from Sweden, Finland and Latvia, over 88,800 tonnes of timber have been handled by ABP’s Port of King’s Lynn, which is more than twice the quantity that was handled in the first half of 2020.
The port handles a diverse mix of imports and exports, including forest products, minerals, aggregates, fertilisers, scrap metal and various types of grain. Grain is both imported and exported, depending on the quality of both the UK and European harvests, but the trend in rising timber volumes is estimated to continue with demand.
ABP is investing circa £1.25 million in new undercover storage provisions for forest products, a Dutch Barn storage facility, which will be finished later this year. Over the last few years, ABP has regularly made large investments in the infrastructure of the port, completing the installation of new lock gates this year, and investing over £3 million in a new crane and other equipment in 2017. ABP has also recently invested in surfacing improvements for timber, demolished redundant and time-expired warehousing, and replaced a number of pieces of handling equipment, as well as introducing new access control arrangements.
Kim Kennedy, Port Manager for King’s Lynn, Associated British Ports, said:
“We are delighted to be having the busiest year that we’ve had for some years. Everyone has been brilliant in their attitude of coming to work and adapting to the challenges and conditions of the last 15 months, completing the safe and ‘Covid-secure’ loading and discharging of approximately 200 ships during this period.”
Not only are timber volumes likely to continue, but if the predictions for warmer weather are correct, then the wheat harvest in the UK should mean that the port will far exceed the estimate of handling 450,000 tonnes of cargo for the year. Working tirelessly towards ABP’s mission of “Keeping Britain Trading”, the Port of King’s Lynn continues its commitment to support the recovery of the UK economy, and the variety of industries in which ABP’s customers are involved.
Today (Monday 12 July 2021) sees the launch of a major consultation on the future of the Norwich Lanes as Norfolk County Council and the Transport for Norwich (TfN) partnership ask for your views on a series of proposals to change how the area functions and feels. ‘Connecting the Norwich Lanes’ is a range of inter-connected schemes which make up the overall vision for the area. The proposals include; a new riverside footbridge between Duke Street and St Georges Street, making the temporary measures to remove general traffic on St Benedicts Street and Exchange Street permanent, a new cycle track and crossing facilities on St Andrews Street and creating a better environment for enjoying the St Giles Street area on foot. Councillor Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, and chair of the Transport for Norwich Joint Committee said: “‘Connecting the Norwich Lanes’ is a programme of measures that aim to make it safer and easier to get around on foot or by bike, support opportunities for outdoor hospitality, boost the local economy and improve air quality. “All residents and businesses within the area impacted by the proposals have been written to directly and we are also running a wider campaign to raise awareness of the consultation and encourage people to have their say. “We’ve listened to feedback from stakeholders while the temporary measures on Exchange Street and St Benedict Street have been in place and have sought to address any concerns in what’s been put forward but this is just one aspect of the overall vision for the area. “The programme brings together projects funded by DfT’s Transforming Cities Fund with those from other sources and we want everyone to see them in context and help shape the future of this fantastic city asset and important destination for residents and visitors alike.” Norwich City Council councillor Mike Stonard, cabinet member for inclusive and sustainable growth, said: “I welcome this opportunity for the public to comment on these proposals. “This is another important step in making Norwich more pedestrian and cycle friendly, that contributes to cleaner air and helps boost footfall, which leads to local economy growth. “The St Giles street proposal is part of our ambitious Norwich Town Deal Public Realm project, and set to benefit from government funding, while the city council-led River Wensum Strategy partnership has helped to develop the riverside footbridge scheme – it’s fantastic to be part of such a collaborate effort to make the city an even more inviting place to live and visit.”
Cllr Jamie Osborn, who represents the area for both council’s said: “Many residents have spoken to me about the need for cleaner air and healthier, low-carbon modes of transport after the experience of lockdown. The proposals to make the Norwich Lanes area more connected for walking and cycling is a step towards that positive vision. The vision to reclaim space for people in the heart of Norwich is exciting, and something that I am sure the public will want to have a say on.”
Jonty Young, spokesman of the Norwich Lanes Association said: “”There are some really interesting ideas here and the Norwich Lanes Association certainly hope that as many local businesses, residents and regular visitors to the area, take part in this consultation.”
Stefan Gurney, Executive Director of the Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) said: “This is a bold proposal for a much-loved part of the city, and we’d encourage everyone – particularly the businesses in the area – to feed into discussions about ‘Connecting the Lanes’. Accessibility and transport are key to the city centre economy and trading. Looking to the future, the ability to adapt will only make Norwich more resilient, and these plans have the potential to be an exciting development for the Norwich Lanes. Norwich BID will take into account our businesses perspectives and input our views, in order to do ensure this proposal is right for the city.” The public are invited to view the plans on the project website www.norfolk.gov.uk/norwichlanes and comment on the proposals overall or the detailed changes proposed in each area via the online surveys. The consultation will run for 4 weeks until Monday 9 August. Hard copies and alternative formats can be provided on request from Norfolk County Council’s main switchboard and virtual meetings via Zoom or telephone are also being offered to answer questions and discuss the proposals in more detail. All feedback received will be analysed and, where appropriate, the plans revised in response before reporting back to local councillors along with the final proposals for scheme delivery. The web page above will be kept up to date with the latest information, progress and any relevant committee dates.
Free to attend event will help businesses tackle the climate crisis as aviation charter company ‘Clear the Air’ around sustainability
Within the next three decades, sustainable practices will become second nature to us all, not only as a nation but across the globe as we strive to cut emissions to net zero by 2050. A recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report explicitly places the responsibility for the rise in annual temperatures on human activity and warns that we must act now to address the impacts of global warming.
Already, many businesses have requirements to implement sustainable business practices and demonstrate to their customers that sustainability is a priority within their operations with many companies scoring potential suppliers on this important aspect when awarding tenders for major projects. SaxonAir’s “Clearing the Air” event seeks to bring local businesses together and inspire them to innovate, connect and collaborate on their sustainability goals and climate change at large. The focus of the event will be around activity that meets reduce, reuse and repair objectives. There will be designated areas within the event space where various exhibitors will be showcasing and demonstrating their products in relation to each ‘R’ and how businesses can take ideas away and apply them to their own operations. Hosts SaxonAir have already implemented many of their own sustainable business practices, with more in the pipeline. The aviation industry often comes under fire for its contribution to the climate emergency, but in reality contributes only 2% to global annual carbon emissions and is continuing to meet reduction targets set in 2009. It also innovates in carbon reduction and zero emission technologies, and SaxonAir are committed to reducing their carbon impact and taking responsibility for their contributions to climate change, having targeted being carbon neutral by 2025. The journey has been a challenging one for the aviation charter company, who say access to resources hasn’t always been easy: “We are committed to a sustainable future for aviation and beyond and the IPCC report cements this for us. Our ambitious sustainability goals keep us motivated, but accessing the resources needed to support these goals has often been difficult and sometimes confusing,” said Rebekah Hill, Wellbeing and Sustainability Manager at SaxonAir. “Because of the barriers we’ve faced in gaining access to resources, we want to make it as easy as possible for other businesses, particularly those small businesses who have limited resources, to find the help and guidance they need to commit to a sustainable future.” “Climate change affects us all – we’re all in this together! So, it’s important that we help each other to reduce our carbon emissions and prioritise sustainable operations. By doing so in a networking event style, we can connect local businesses and facilitate the sharing of best practice and innovative ideas, with the added benefit of being able to network for the first time in what feels like forever!”
County Council’s proposal for the Long Stratton Bypass moves a significant step closer today after the Government confirmed vital funding for the project. Approval of the council’s Outline Business Case, submitted in January, has now been received from The Department for Transport along with a funding commitment of £26.2 million towards the cost of the building the new road, which will cut congestion and support the local economy for years to come. The council is working in collaboration with developer Norfolk Homes Ltd/Norfolk Land Ltd to bring forward the proposals for the long-awaited bypass, which will feed into a revised planning application expected to shortly be submitted to South Norfolk Council by the developer. As part of the planning process, South Norfolk Council will then complete a consultation on the planning application details. Cllr Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport and member of Transport East said: “This is fantastic news and a most timely announcement from government, particularly in view of the Covid-19 recovery. The A140 through Long Stratton is a real pinch point that affects thousands of road users, and the people who live and work in Long Stratton, on a daily basis. We want to deliver this vital scheme as soon as possible to cut congestion, help the local economy and vastly improve this major regionally important route linking Norwich and Ipswich. The bypass is set to create hundreds of new jobs and homes, open up improvements for cycling and walking, and solve traffic and transport issues local people have been facing for more than a generation.”
South Norfolk District Councillor, Alison Thomas said: “Having campaigned for a bypass for Long Stratton since 1997 I am delighted that funding has been agreed as we have lobbied hard and the government has listened. Our role now will be to ensure the project is delivered within budget and timescales to improve the safety and well-being of all those living, working or travelling through Long Stratton. This is a great day for Long Stratton residents and one many feared would never come!” The proposed new A140 bypass will be a single carriageway road that will provide a new junction at Church Lane to the north, extending from this junction on the east side of Long Stratton in a southerly direction for approximately 3.9km, where it will re-join the existing A140 just south of Oakside farm. The estimated overall cost of the bypass is £37.44m with the remaining funding primarily sourced from local developer contributions and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Subject to receiving all of the necessary statutory approvals, including planning permission, the target date for work to start on construction is mid-2023, with the road open to traffic before the end of 2024.
The much-anticipated Budget Statement has been released on Tuesday 27 October, giving the current Chancellor the opportunity to announce the latest Budget without national restrictions in place. Whilst we’re still feeling the impacts of COVID-19, we can now see the start of an economic bounce back, with forecast revenues ahead compared to the Budget announcement in March 2021, there comes a new optimism in the Chancellors announcement.
Some of the key policy changes announced were:
Increased spending for –
Transport – £6.9bn (however this is only £1.5bn as it includes the 2019 promise of £4.2bn)
Health – £5.9bn to tackle the backlog in the NHS
Health research – £5bn over the next 3 years to help R&D
Education – £2.6bn to create new school places for those with special education needs, with a £1.6bn over 3 years for the rollout of new T-Levels
Although there are no major increases, there is a continued effort to focus on investment and growth, whilst keeping the books in balance in a recovering economy.
During the Budget Statement the Chancellor further announced:
Inflation is likely to rise in the new year
There will be a new Charter for Budget Responsibility
There were no increases to mention in tax, other than the previously announced Health and Social Care Levy which is in effect a 1.25% tax increase on all earnings and dividends.
Other highlights include:
Removal of the public sector pay freeze
Increase in the National Living Wage to £9.50 from April 2022
The 100% tax relief available to businesses on the first £1m of capital spend will be extended until 31 March 2023
Cuts on Air Passenger Duty rates for domestic flights from April 2023
Retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors will receive a 50% relief on business rates in 2022/23, with a cap of £110,000
Alcohol rise cancelled, and lower strength alcohol will receive a drop in rates, with a further relief for draught sales and sparkling wine to be equal to still wine, based on wine strength
The planned tapering of Universal Credit will be cut by 8% with the aim of slowing the cut by December 1, to help those relying on the claim
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the latest Budget announcement, please get in touch, call 0330 024 0888 or email [email protected].
National treasure and cancer survivor, Stephen Fry, has voiced his support for Big C’s new cancer centre in Norwich via video.
In the recording, Mr Fry talks about the urgent need for increased support for those affected by cancer in our local communities. He urges everyone who can, to keep fundraising and to help make the charity’s vision a reality.
To date, over £640,000 has been raised by Big C’s loyal supporters for the Nearer to Home Appeal, of which every penny will go directly towards a new state-of-the-art Cancer Support and Information Centre in Dereham Road in Norwich.
Carole Slaughter, Big C’s Head of Fundraising said “We have just over £100,000 left to raise to enable completion of the centre building and for the facility to become operational. We are hugely grateful to everyone who has donated so far and we’re asking for one last push to help us to deliver this very special support service for Norwich and the wider region.”
Norwich’s new Cancer Support and Information Centre will offer a warm welcome to those visiting, with a light, calming central seating area and a bright space for group activities. There will also be private rooms for one-to-one counselling and a sensory wellbeing garden. Once open, the centre will provide a centre of wellbeing with services such as support groups, counselling, the opportunity to talk to registered nurses, complementary therapies, welfare advice, bereavement support and individually tailored health and fitness programmes.
Lotus named ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ at prestigious News UK Motor Awards
Lotus wins national award, voted for by The Times, Sunday Times, The Sun and Driving.co.uk
Lotus commended for “impressive additions to its range and pioneering exciting new product development”
Judges commented: “The Evija and Emira are simply sensational… the future is bright”
Award collected at London ceremony by Lotus Design Director Russell Carr
“The future is bright for one of the world’s most iconic car brands” – the words of Rob Gill, Motors Editor at The Sun, as Lotus was honoured as ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ at the News UK Motor Awards 2021.
The prestigious award was presented by respected political journalist and Times Radio presenter John Pienaar at an exclusive ceremony, and collected on behalf of Lotus by Design Director Russell Carr.
The judges included a number of highly respected motoring writers and commentators. Together they felt Lotus was a worthy winner as it has… “continued to up its game in the last 12 months, making impressive additions to its range and pioneering exciting new product development”.
On behalf of the judges, Rob Gill commented: “We are starting to see the first harvest from Geely’s huge investment in Lotus and, wow, the Evija and Emira are simply sensational. The Evija is the perfect blend of art and science, the Emira is a shrink-wrapped supercar, and the transformation of the historic Hethel HQ will warm the heart of every true car fan.”
He concluded: “The workforce has doubled to 1,700 people, Delia Smith is running the kitchen, and the famous old fountains have been switched back on again. The future is bright for one of the world’s most iconic car brands.”
Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus, said: “This is a massive honour for Lotus, and a tribute to everyone working tirelessly at our facilities all round the world to transform our business and brand. That transformation got underway with the launch of the world’s first British electric hypercar – the Evija – and was followed by its younger sibling – the Emira – revealed in July to a reception that’s been nothing less than sensational. Things are moving fast at Lotus, so watch this space – there is so much more to come.”
Collecting the award, Russell Carr (above, right, with Will Dron from driving.co.uk) commented: “Rob Gill’s reaction when he visited Hethel recently suggested we are doing something right – he seemed very impressed with all we have achieved, from the new design language on our cars to the refurbishment of the site. I didn’t expect it to lead to this wonderful award, but we’re very honoured and proud that all the hard work and achievements of Lotus in the last couple of years have been recognised in this way.”
The Motor Awards is in its fourth year and brings together the collective expertise and audiences of The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, Driving.co.uk and talkSPORT. Rob Walsh, Automotive Director, News UK, commented: “Motors is a cherished subject here at News UK, a love shared by our editorial teams and our readers and listeners. The ambition is therefore to celebrate motoring best in class and support the automotive industry during challenging economic times.”
Blue Sky Professional Development held their annual Student Graduation this week at the Assembly House, which coincided with their 3rd birthday. Students, their families, tutors and guests joined Kate Woods and Beth Russell, Directors of Blue Sky, for a celebratory evening of drinks, superb canapes and the presentation ceremony. They were joined by Steve Way, HR Manager with Aquaterra Energy Limited who gave a very interesting speech on the transferable HR skills required in a range of Industries and what Steve saw as the future issues facing HR. Also giving a brief talk on the Chartered institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) was Tony Chapman, Centre Development Liaison with the Institute. This year was another successful year for Blue Sky’s students with all 3 levels of CIPD qualifications being achieved, as well as, for the first time, the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.
Blue Sky Professional Development delivers ILM qualifications in Leadership and Management at levels 3 and 5, and CIPD Qualifications in Human Resources and Learning and Development at levels 3. 5 and 7 to students from across East Anglia from their offices in Norwich, and training venues in Colchester.
Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure) hosted its annual Norwich charity quiz night on Thursday 24 March, bringing local businesses and clients together for a fun evening which raised £2,000 for the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
With 43 teams of four, including teams from Wensum Tailoring and Harrods UK, there was plenty of friendly rivalry on the night. The overall winners were a team from NBI Norwich Biosciences and each team member was presented with a bottle of champagne.
The event, held at the Sprowston Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club, also included a raffle to help raise further funds. The prizes included cinema tickets, bottles of champagne and an afternoon tea voucher: all kindly donated by local businesses. There was also a silent auction for a tailor-made jacket from Wensum Tailoring, which raised £250.
Joseph O’Sullivan, Manager of Pure’s Norwich Office, said: “This is the seventh year we’ve run our annual quiz night in Norwich and it was a huge success once again. We’re delighted to have been able to raise such a wonderful amount for EACH. I would like to thank everyone that attended, donated and contributed generously to the event and hope they can join us again next year.”
EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The charity relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income and needs to raise almost £6 million to deliver its services every year.
Last year’s Norwich quiz night also raised over £2,100 for this worthy cause. Pure’s annual quiz nights, held at all four offices throughout the year, are just one of the many charity events the leading recruitment consultancy runs throughout the year. To date it has raised over £100k for 24 charities.