Member News

The city centre games festival is back at The Forum Thursday 30 May – Sat 1 June, with free activities for all to enjoy from 10am-4pm, as well as a brilliant programme of talks, workshops, and more – tickets are on sale now! Norwich Games Festival (NGF) promises three days of fun, featuring the best in retro and contemporary gaming, the chance to play, and insight into the industry. There’s plenty for families to enjoy, as well as events for expert gamers, future creators, and competitive players! The Forum will host a fantastic range of exhibitions and activities, where everyone is invited to explore the world of games, have a go at something new, and get a glimpse into the industry, including showcases from innovative local creators. Visitors can play giant models of classic arcade games at The Actual Reality Arcade, explore immersive virtual reality with Infinite Form VR, or enjoy retro gaming on their favourite old console. Event highlights include a talk from YouTuber and comedian Stuart Ashens as he delves into the weirder side of video games, recording artist Bentley Jones sharing the story of his work composing for franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog, and The Big NGF Quiz where everybody will get the chance to show off their games knowledge. As well as events at The Forum, Chantry Place will be hosting the free Game On trail from Sat 25 May to Sun 2 Jun; where families can collect a map from The HMV Shop, and follow the trail through the Centre. Throughout the Festival St Peter Mancroft Church will be home to three days of tabletop gaming from 10.30am-3.30pm, where everyone can have go at the game of their choice, and on Fri 31 May – Sat 1 Jun visitors to Norwich Theatre’s Game Lounge can play on retro and modern consoles – all for free! Ellie Buchan, Norwich Games Festival Producer at The Forum, said, “Norwich Games Festival showcases the best in gaming from across the country, as well as fantastic local creators and developers. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to The Forum for three days of fun, inspiration, and imagination! I’m especially excited to give everybody the chance to learn about the industry, and hear from experts including the team at Norwich University of the Arts.” The NGF programme also features incredible industry insights, with workshops and talks exploring illustration, writing, development, design, and career advice. Students from Norwich University of the Arts, the lead partner of NGF, will be showcasing their work and explaining their creative development. Future students will also get the chance to hear from Games Course Leader Jake Montanarini, as he shares how Norwich University of the Arts ignites creativity, fosters innovation, and shapes the next generation of game developers. Associate Professor Mark Wickham, Director of Computer Arts and Technology at Norwich University of the Arts said, “Norwich University of the Arts is proud to be sponsoring the Norwich Games Festival as it makes its rightful return to The Forum. We’re privileged to have been part of the festival’s journey and a key component of each NGF since 2014. For us as educators and subject enthusiasts, this is a chance to showcase our work to the ever-growing community of game developers, players, and studios in the region; demonstrating exactly why Norwich is such a great place to make games. Amongst the multitude of professional talks, illustrating some of the world-leading game titles made here in the region, our students will showcase the variety of skillsets involved in games production throughout the festival.” The full programme for Norwich Games Festival can be found at: norwichgamesfestival.co.uk Norwich Games Festival is presented by The Forum, with Lead Partner Norwich University of the Arts, and with the support of Connected Innovation and Norfolk County Council.

One of the UK’s leading providers of nitrogen pumps – Norfolk based Prior Power Solutions – has this month announced the launch of a new direct to customer pump rental service that will support the oil and gas industry’s need for greater product availability. The 90k and 180k nitrogen pumps will provide owner operators with rental products that can be used across multiple applications including purging, well bore cleanouts, well fracturing and nitrogen perforation, and positions Prior Power Solutions as the first British Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to rent its own nitrogen units. The service – which have been launched specifically to provide a non-capex option – enables owner operators to benefit from the product without the cost of purchase. Speaking about the launch, James Rix, MD at Prior Power Solutions said: “The launch of this service comes as a direct response to market demand for the availability of this product in a rental form and the industry’s need for significantly more availability. “Since Covid, Capex has been less available to customers but the demand for high quality nitrogen pump products underpinned by increased productivity, reduced operational costs and enhanced safety, all whilst minimising environmental impact, has continued to surge. “By launching this offering we are responding to this customer demand, providing the market with new equipment that has been designed with ease of maintenance and operation in mind combined with the technical support and back up of a team that has been manufacturing these for over 30 years.” With an investment of £1million – and continued investment planned for the foreseeable future – the service provides customers with not only the latest state of the art pumping equipment but also with the training and access to manpower to support operators out in the field. And, with a supply chain located predominantly in the heart of Prior Power Solutions’ Great Yarmouth base, the business remains firmly committed to building the local economy, retaining and growing the number of highly skilled and specialist jobs in the area and continuing to invest in young people through apprenticeships and work placements. The only British nitrogen pump OEM to rent directly to customers globally, Prior Power Solutions has already secured its first order, prior to launch, and is expecting demand for the service to increase quickly. Prior Power Solutions is a leading provider in the design and manufacture of nitrogen pumps, fluid pumps, hydraulic power units, coiled tubing equipment, compressors, and generator sets for use in hazardous areas. The business also provides extensive equipment repair, overhaul, parts and maintenance services to the offshore oil & gas, renewables, marine, agriculture and construction sectors across the globe.

In our FIRST EVER episode, ‘Celebrating the synergy between Physical & Mental Wellness’, we are talking to Harriet Drewry, a personal trainer and massage therapist who shares her own personal traumas and how she uses fitness and well-being to build her resilience. In 2018, she faced the heartbreaking loss of her younger brother to suicide, and in sharing her story, she hopes to offer solace and support to others who find themselves in similar circumstances.

Listen here: Celebrating the synergy between physical and mental wellness. | Flourish

Lucas & Wyllys, a leading local legal firm established for nearly 200 years, is proud to announce it has been shortlisted for three prestigious awards at the Modern Law Private Client Awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements and dedication to excellence. The private client team at Lucas & Wyllys has a wealth of expertise in areas such as estate planning, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and probate. The team has earned a reputation for delivering comprehensive and personalised service that exceeds client expectations, which is reflected in the client reviews the team has received. The three awards for which the firm has been shortlisted are:

• Private Client Team – Wills & Probate (1 – 15 solicitors)
• Best Workplace Wellbeing
• Managing Partner of the Year

Commenting on the shortlisting, Amy Church, Managing Partner, expressed gratitude and pride in the team’s accomplishments, stating, “Being shortlisted for these awards is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team. We are deeply committed to providing the highest standard of service to our clients, and being shortlisted for these awards reinforces our ongoing pursuit of excellence.” Winners of the awards will be announced at the upcoming awards ceremony on 4^th July. Regardless of the outcome, Lucas & Wyllys remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering exceptional legal advice and support to its clients.  

Lovewell Blake Partner, James Shipp For existing non-UK businesses looking to set up a subsidiary or branch in the UK there are a number of key considerations to be understood in advance. At Lovewell Blake we have broad experience of assisting overseas entrepreneurs and corporate groups with the initial set-up and ongoing administration. Here are the main aspects to be considered. Company or Branch? Typically a UK company is the chosen structure when setting up a business in the UK. The separate limited company allows risk to be ringfenced and registration for UK taxes and bank accounts is simpler with a UK company number and registered office address. UK tax is likely to be payable on UK operations if the UK business is truly managed and directed from the UK. Our tax experts can set out the key differences between a company and a branch. If the subsidiary route is chosen, we can advise on the initial shareholding structure, incorporate the UK company on your behalf, host the registered office address and deal with ongoing local administration. Bookkeeping and payroll administration Once your business is established, you will be required to maintain accounting records and potentially file quarterly VAT returns electronically with HMRC. We work with our clients to establish a suitable bookkeeping system and will generally maintain and oversee the day-to-day accounting functionality. A Cloud Accounting system can typically work well so that access is available to Directors from any location. Our services can range from complete outsourcing of the entire accounting function to the provision of training and set-up services to your staff. Where staff are to be employed in your UK business, our payroll team can set up and maintain the UK payroll or indeed an overseas payroll if required. Our HR department can also prepare employment contracts and help deal with disputes. Annual Compliance UK companies are required to prepare and file annual accounts and a corporation tax return. UK corporation tax is payable annually. Larger companies, or those who are a member of a larger group, may also require a statutory audit. Our accounting, tax and audit teams can undertake all the required compliance work and report to the Directors in an efficient and timely manner. Where your business is undertaking Research and Development activities, our expert R&D team can also prepare your annual R&D claim for submission to HMRC and deal with any queries or enquires. Where the cost of a tax enquiry is a concern, we also offer a very competitive Tax Investigation Service which covers our costs for dealing with HMRC enquires. Tax Advisory Services Whether the shareholders are UK resident, overseas nationals or corporate entities, our tax advisory team will work with you to design a profit extraction strategy which suits your needs. Where businesses offer benefits to staff such as company cars it is also important to consult a tax specialist so that tax reliefs and incentives are maximised. Capital Investment attracts tax incentives in the UK and planning your expansion strategy is important. Where UK tax rules change or are capped by thresholds or allowances it is important to ensure you are maximising the opportunities for tax relief each year. We pride ourselves in providing a complete and joined up service so that tax advice can be seamlessly implemented into your accounting policies and practices. International support Your UK business may not be exclusively trading and hiring staff in the UK. There are complex areas to be aware of when international aspects are relevant. Since Brexit, the laws and rules around importing, exporting and VAT have changed and can be challenging. Our VAT experts can guide you through best practice and help you avoid common pitfalls. Bringing overseas staff to the UK or sending UK based staff to work overseas also requires consultation and our tax experts can help. From a compliance focus, where you have group auditors or a central accounting function, our teams are experienced in providing required information and documentation in line with the most challenging timescales. To discuss your specific requirements in detail please get in touch and we can set up an online meeting with our experts.

Mobilityways is on a mission to make zero carbon commuting a reality. Their ground-breaking climate tech helps large employers to measure, reduce and report commuter emissions. They are expanding their team and currently looking for an Administrator and Account Manager.

Take a look here for latest vacancies.

Becoming B Corp certified is an excellent way to ensure your business adheres to high standards of social and environmental responsibility. Smash Marketing dives into how this prestigious certification can set your company apart and align you with a global movement towards a sustainable future. B Corporations are companies that have been certified by B Lab to meet high social and environmental standards and demonstrate accountability and transparency in the way they operate. Achieving B Corp certification is an excellent way to demonstrate that your business is committed to fostering an environment and community that places value on people, not just profit. The certification is highly sought-after, for good reason. After becoming B Corp certified, you can be sure to attract like-minded talent and build trust with consumers and communities who prioritise sustainability and ethical business practices. By joining the B Corp community, companies become part of a global network of industries and leaders that are working together to drive a cultural shift towards a more inclusive and sustainable future. Smash Marketing has taken a significant step forward in our commitment to environmental sustainability by becoming a B Corp certified company. This certification demonstrates that we are mindful of the environment and the impact we make. It was a long but worthwhile process we undertook to achieve this certification. The first step was to ensure our mission statement and processes highlighted our commitment to upholding high standards of environmental sustainability and social consciousness. Through this, we were able to achieve a high B Impact Assessment score (which is currently displayed on the B Lab website). This holds our business accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders. We’re proud to be part of this global movement that champions ethical business practices, and we’re excited about the impact we can make together with our clients and fellow B Corporations.  

Property surveying company Up Connect are delighted to announce that they have been nominated for Best Business Services to the Fibre Community award at this year’s prestigious UK Fibre Awards. Best Business Services to the  This award category celebrates the very best in service support to UK altnets and fibre providers. Up Connect have drawn upon their numerous testimonials from key players in the industry to demonstrate how they are delivering tangible results for fibre providers. They have also demonstrated a proven track record in meeting client briefs, providing excellent project support, while delivering outstanding customer experience. The Directors, Scott Curtis and Charles Thomas said, “We’re especially thrilled to be nominated in this category, as we’re passionate about providing best in class services to the fibre community. This nomination is testament to the dedication and outstanding work of every member of the Up Connect team!” The awards reflect an excellent period of growth and momentum for the company, who are working with significant names across the telecoms, property, sustainability and utilities sectors. The awards take place on the 6^{th of} June at London Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel.

From Saturday 25th May until Sunday 2nd June 2024, Chantry Place Norwich will be hosting a free self-led ‘Game On’ trail as part of the Norwich Games Festival.

Visitors can collect a free trail map from The HMV Shop on the lower ground floor of Chantry Place and then collect the letters on the posters throughout the Centre to spell a word, while enjoying the designs created by Rudey Ratcliffe, creative enterprise student at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, and finding out games-related facts. Once complete, enter your details via a QR code on the map to be in with a chance of winning a £200 HMV Shop voucher.

Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, said: “Norwich Games Festival is returning to Norwich this year after a four-year break and we’re delighted that they asked us to host this trail for them. The ‘Game On’ trail is something free for families to enjoy in May Half Term as part of a day out in Norwich. It’s suitable for families and we think ages 6+ will really enjoy the trail.”

Ellie Buchan, Event Producer for Norwich Games Festival said: “It’s a real pleasure to be working alongside Chantry Place, and bringing a special Norwich Games Festival trail to the Centre. We’re thrilled to have worked with a local illustrator to create bespoke drawings that celebrate games in all their forms! This family friendly trail sits alongside a fantastic programme of events, workshops, and free activities that will be taking place at The Forum from Thursday 30 May – Sun 1 June as part of Norwich Games Festival. It’s well-known for its creative and welcoming events and part of NGF is about supporting other businesses and raising awareness of what is in the city – trails are a great way to do this, whilst also encouraging people to get out and about, do some exercise and engage with people and places in the city. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of local illustrators; it highlights the amount of talent in the area and gives them a platform to see their work appreciated”.

Norwich Games Festival returns on Thursday 30th May to Saturday 1st June. The Festival has amazing events, workshops, talks, and free interactive activities for everybody to enjoy! Norwich Games festival is presented by The Forum, with lead partner Norwich University of the Arts, and features lots of hands-on game play, including retro arcades and VR experiences, as well as industry events.

For more information on Chantry Place, visit www.chantryplace.co.uk/news

It is safe to say at Hands On At Work, we are buzzing! Our accounts for the 2023 2024 financial year confirm it to be our best year yet, with turnover and profit increased from previous years telling us businesses are treating employee health and wellbeing with the seriousness it deserves. Wellbeing in the workplace covers an enormous number of areas such as, health and safety, employee assistance, environment, workload management, HR support, occupational health and wellbeing activities and much more. What Hands On At Work offers is just a piece of the jigsaw but a valuable one nevertheless and we have expanded our services to meet client demands. The flipside of our expansion means we are also looking for more people to join our team or work with us in collaboration. We are looking for great, qualified massage therapists to get in touch and chat about working with us alongside their own businesses and local yoga practitioners to offer yoga classes to businesses both onsite and online. We would also like to hear from other wellbeing providers to see if we can work together to support each other’s businesses. Contact Kathy Scott on 07989 367669 or [email protected] for an informal chat.

Zip Water prides itself on providing water at its best. Subsequently, genuine Zip Water filters should always be installed to help ensure that your HydroTap consistently delivers the purest-tasting water. Our market leading 0.2 micron MicroPurity filters are 25 times finer than the average filter jug and combine carbon and sediment into one cartridge. This removes dirt, bacteria, microplastics and contaminants from the water path that other systems may not remove, and up to 97% of chlorine and 99.9% of microbiological cysts if present. This state of the smart filtration can be found in all our HydroTaps, ensuring that every drop of our water is fresh tasting. We also provide limescale filters to help support your HydroTap in hard water areas where required. To guarantee your HydroTap experience is seamless, we recommend our comprehensive service plan offering, HydroCare. A tailored HydroCare service plan will take care of everything, including filter changes. With a friendly team of over 100 dedicated UK engineers, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy a glass of pure-tasting water! If a service plan is not for you, our filters are available for purchase online at any time that suits you. To find out more, visit our website: https://www.zipwater.co.uk/shop/filters-co2-cartridges

The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House and tulip growers Mark and Susanne Eves of Norfolk Tulips are celebrating the completion of the biggest and most successful Tulips for Tapping event in its four-year history. The event which closed on Monday 29^th April after a two week run, drew over 25,000 visitors to the Kings Lynn area who travelled from all over the UK to see the spectacle of 6.3 million tulips in bloom. Every penny raised from the Tulips for Tapping event will go directly to the charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House to support vital end of life care to patients and their families. This year the event raised £322,294 which will pay for more than a month of care services for people across Norfolk. The event is supported by more than 200 volunteers who have spent more than 2,500 hours helping in all aspects of the event from setting up, manning the event and packing away at the end. Without their help, this event would not have been able to run and continue to be such a success, raising vital funds for the Hospice. Nicola Ellis, Chief Executive at The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Norfolk Tulips to deliver this incredible event again this year and so grateful to Mark and Susanne Eves for their continued commitment to us.  We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the visitors who came from near and far to see the magnificent sight of the tulip fields. “As a charity providing free end of life care and bereavement services to 4,500 people every year in Norfolk – both in our Hospice and in their homes – we are increasingly reliant on the income that events such as these raise. We need to raise more than £4 million each year to deliver our transformational services to patients and families. The past two years have been particularly challenging financially, so we were thrilled that Tulips for Tapping has once again been so successful! “The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House would like to thank everyone who came to see the tulips and I would especially like to thank all the volunteers, Norfolk Tulips, Michael Rae and Roydon Hall Farms for making this fantastic event happen”. Susanne Eves Director at Norfolk Tulips/PS & JE Ward Ltd said: “We are continually amazed by the interest in our tulip crop and astounded by the amount of visitors we have received over the 10 day opening, and yet we still can’t keep up with visitor demand. We would not be able to open the fields without the considerable efforts of the Fundraising Team and all the volunteers that give their time to raise funds for this cause that is very much close to our hearts. It is a privilege to work with those people who help put the event together”. The Tulips for Tapping event continues to grow each year, becoming one of the largest open air events in Norfolk and one of the largest charity events in the East of England. The tulip fields are now closed and tulips can no longer be seen in the field. The Hospice is working closely with Norfolk Tulips and Roydon Hall Farms to bring this event back for another year. No dates will be available until April 2025. For further information, please visit www.norfolkhospice.org.uk or contact The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House on 01485 601701.