SME News were proud to announce the return of their Business Elite Awards for 2024, and were delighted to advise that they recognised Wingfield Consultants Ltd with the following title: WINNER: Best Business Growth Solutions Consultancy 2024 – East England Simon Wingfield, Founder of Wingfield Consultants, said: ‘We are really pleased to be recognised by SME News for the support we give local businesses in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire’. This is the THIRD big win for Wingfield Consultants in 2024. It follows the CorporateLiveWire Global Awards 2023-24 win for Business Consultancy of the Year – UK win and The National Mentoring Awards – Excellence in Mentoring Award win (for Simon Wingfield). Useful Links:Wingfield Consultants Ltd (2024 Winner: Business Elite Awards) – SME News (sme-news.co.uk)
CWA Training, the training division of the College of West Anglia, is dedicated to helping your staff develop the right skills to improve their effectiveness, quality and productivity – key factors in improving the competitiveness of every business. We have been providing training solutions for a wide range of clients for over 25 years. Our team of dedicated highly skilled and experienced industry professionals bring a wealth of knowledge to our range of accredited and tailor-made programmes. We have earned a reputation for delivering high quality training with particular attention being paid to meeting customer needs. From initial enquiry, CWA Training work to build effective relationships with our clients to develop and deliver programmes which are relevant to particular problems or identified skills gaps. Through dialogue our aim is to align courses specifically to the organisational needs of business. We ultimately aim to deliver training which results in meaningful improvements in skills, staff effectiveness, quality and productivity. This comprehensive guide highlights a range of our most popular accredited and bespoke programmes; however, this is not an exhaustive list as we aim to provide bespoke training solutions even if these popular courses may not specifically meet your training requirements. READ THE CWA TRAINING GUIDE HERE
Norfolk-based gentleman’s grooming and global lifestyle brand Captain Fawcett is proud to announce his new ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder has been acclaimed as a ‘Men’s Grooming Products & Accessories’ Finalist in Cosmoprof Bologna’s internationally renowned ‘Oscars of Beauty’.
The Cosmoprof & Cosmopack Awards in partnership with BEAUTYSTREAMS celebrate excellence in the global cosmetics industry and with over 700 entries, from across the globe, the contest is extremely competitive, with just 3 finalists per category.
Products are independently judged on category criteria including Innovation, Creativity, Packaging & Design, Product Benefits, Ethics and User Experience.
The Captain’s new ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder is the latest addition to his highly acclaimed ‘Hair Couture’ collection, created for both professional barbershops and salons, and also for convenient, luxury styling at home.
Captain Fawcett founder Richie Finney was delighted to join fellow global industry leaders at the The Grande Soirée Cosmoprof & Cosmopack Awards Ceremony in Bologna, Italy on Friday 22 March.
He attended the glittering occasion with Valentino Bergamini, CEO and Founder of Captain Fawcett’s highly esteemed Italian distributor Bottega della Barba Srl.
Richie says ‘It is a huge honour for Captain Fawcett to be recognised as being amongst world leaders in the beauty and grooming industry. Being named as a Finalist amid such impressive competition from all across the world is testament to the ambition and hard work of the whole team, not least our simply magnificent distributors who do so much to support the Captain Fawcett brand in their home territories. Captain Fawcett thanks all colleagues and friends for each playing their hugely appreciated parts as we continue to forge ahead in 2024!’
As we approach the end of March and the first quarter of 2024, we really have had a lot to celebrate. At the beginning of the year, we welcomed two new team members, Ben and Steve. Ben and Steve are both our new process servers and investigators. Between them, they bring a wealth of experience to the business and ensure we can accommodate more clients with process serving and investigations. In February, we had a work anniversary for our investigator and process server, Jamie. Jamie celebrated 4 years with Taylor Investigations. Jamie has grown and developed his skills in the investigation industry and he really is the glue that keeps the case files prioritised. Jamie survived lockdown with us, and we couldn’t be prouder of all he has achieved so far! Later in February, followed by our very own business birthday, where we celebrated being 8 years old! The past 8 years really have flown by, but with consistent growth and helping clients across the country and worldwide, we cannot wait to see what else is to come! Finally, this month, we joined Norwich Theatre Royal as associate sponsors and are being showcased on the safety curtain! This is a huge milestone for the business and also for me personally as a huge theatre lover. So, there will be a lot of celebrating and probably a few too many doughnuts for us! Reflecting back on 8 years in business, it has undoubtedly come with its ups and downs, although overall lots of ups. When I started the business 8 years ago, I never imagined what I could achieve and how we would grow. I can’t wait for the next 8 years as I am sure it will be just as much a rollercoaster! Thank you for your continued support, and as ever, we are ready to go for that case you need answers to! Charlotte Notley
From 1st April 2024 businesses and not-for-profit organisations based in North Norfolk will be able to receive a free decarbonisation plan and additional support and guidance to help them reduce their carbon footprint. This is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant programme being delivered by North Norfolk District Council. Alongside the free support there will be a small grant fund to help deliver some of the identified carbon reduction measures. These grants will support energy efficiency or net-zero adaptations for businesses to make them more sustainable and efficient. NNDC are partnering with community and environment charity Groundwork East to deliver this free service to businesses. This will be delivered through a North Norfolk Net Zero Business Advisor Service. The service is free and impartial, and advisors will calculate a carbon footprint for the organisation, identify carbon reduction measures and compile these into a bespoke decarbonisation plan. Businesses are increasingly being asked by customers and government to report on their energy use and carbon footprint. Working with Groundwork’s business advisors can support organisations to understand their carbon footprint and reduce emissions, often leading to reduced running costs. Businesses that have completed their plan may be eligible to apply for a small grant which can be used for measures to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs. Support through this programme is open to small businesses from all sectors, with a particular focus on North Norfolk’s tourism and manufacturing businesses. To kick this off, Groundwork East and Visit North Norfolk are co-hosting a Net Zero webinar for North Norfolk’s tourism businesses on 25th April 2024, which will examine what net zero means and how the carbon reduction grants can be accessed. For further information and to register for the free webinar visit: https://carboncharter.org/events/visit-north-norfolks-net-zero-webinar/Amy Coulter, Sustainable Business Team Manager at Groundwork East said: “The support our team is providing will help businesses to measure their emissions, and cut their carbon footprint and their running costs. We will be helping North Norfolk’s businesses identify key measures to improve their energy efficiency and will be supporting them to access grant funding to make their carbon reduction plans a reality’. Cllr Adam Varley, North Norfolk District Council, portfolio holder for Climate Change and Net Zero, said: “I am really pleased that we are partnering with Groundwork East to ensure that our businesses have this vital knowledge and understanding on tackling their carbon footprint. One size does not fit all, and having a bespoke plan for each business will ensure that they are best equipped to incorporate those significant measures which will decrease their carbon emissions and help booster their business. This is fundamental as we strive to decrease carbon emissions and achieve net zero in North Norfolk by 2045.” Cllr Paul Heinrich, North Norfolk District Council portfolio holder for Sustainable Growth, said: “This is an important project that not only supports our net zero ambitions but will enable businesses to not only reduce their carbon footprint but also to improve their energy efficiency resulting in significant cost savings that can be used to support further investment in the business.” Visit carboncharter.org/net-zero-business-advice-north-norfolk/ to find out more.
RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch wants to introduce solar panels at its headquarters in AshwellthorpeCould you help RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch secure a sunny future as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations? Today (1 March) the RSPCA branch – who covers 2,500 square miles across Norfolk and Suffolk including Norwich, Cromer, Wymondham, Dereham and Lowestoft – has launched #EveryoneForEveryAnimal with Crowdfunder – a new campaign to create a better world for every animal – as animals face bigger challenges than ever. This year is a major milestone for the branch as it marks its 60th anniversary – whilst the RSPCA also marks its 200th birthday this year – and as part of their celebrations they are looking to the future to find ways of becoming more sustainable in order to ensure they can continue to support the community for many years to come. The Crowdfunder, which will be running throughout March, is asking for contributions towards the installation of solar panels at their Ashwellthorpe office. The new panels will help them reduce utility costs, reduce service disruption and become more environmentally sustainable. In 2023 the local charity found loving homes for 421 animals, contributed to 367 veterinary bills, issued 1,259 neutering vouchers and this year they are hoping to do even more good for the pet owners and animals of Norfolk and Suffolk. Unfortunately due to the cost of living crisis and rise in veterinary and utility bills, the branch has reported seeing a higher demand than ever for their services at a time in which they are already struggling with their own lack of resources. As well as rescuing and rehoming animals in need, the branch provides financial support and advice for local pet owners whilst also supporting local communities through its education outreach programme. In 2023, it cost them £715 to care for a dog, £500 to care for a cat and £295 to care for a rabbit for three weeks; this year they anticipate these costs will go up even more. The aim of the crowdfunder campaign will help the branch reduce utility costs so further investment can be made into their crucial animal welfare work. Branch CEO Gregory Brown said: “As an animal welfare charity, we recognise that the steps we take towards our own environmental impact is a crucial part of our charitable objectives. “The introduction of solar panels at our offices will not only help us take one step closer to becoming more sustainable but also help us reduce our own administrative costs. “By contributing to our crowdfunder you can help us to invest more money into local communities in Norfolk and Suffolk, creating a better world for animals and their owners.” To support RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch’s Crowdfunder please go to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rspca-norwich—solar-panel-project-1#start before the end of March. The first 30 people to donate £20 get an exclusive pin badge so make sure to get in quick! Find out more about the branch at www.rspcanorwich.org.uk
Completing this survey will help local charities and educational institutions identify the energy and climate challenges facing people and organisations in Norwich and to secure funding to help address those challenges Average completion time: Under 5 minutes. All required questions are multiple choice. Please click this link to complete the survey.All data is collected and processed by Future Projects for the purposes stated above only. All responses are anonymous, with no contact or personally identifiable information collected from respondents. Any demographic information collected in the survey is used only to identify trends affecting particular groups or areas. Raw data will not be shared outside of the charity partnership.
ARE YOU ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT EDUCATION? DO YOU HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO BE A VOLUNTEER? IF SO THEN WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We are looking for committed people to join John Grant School’s Governing Board as Co-opted governors. We have a number of vacancies in the co-opted govemor category and would welcome applications from people with experience in:
Finance (Accountant, Finance Manager etc)
Human Resources
Legal (Paralegal, Solicitor etc)
Health and Safety (H&S officer, union rep etc)
Capital projects management
The Governing Board of our school is made up of parent, staff, local authority and co-opted governors. The recruitment process initially requires you to complete an application form. The next stage is a skills review, to allow the Governing board to understand your skill set. The final stage is an interview with the Head teacher and Chair of Governors. The Governing Board operates at a strategic level and is not involved in the day-to-day running of the school. We are responsible for both the conduct of the school and for the promotion of high standards. We carry out this role by setting the vision for the school, ensuring that the school works efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision, and that the school provides a high quality education for its pupils. This is done by building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community, by both supporting and constructively challenging the school, and by ensuring accountability and compliance. Governors need not be experts in the field of education. What they do need is an interest in the school and in the welfare of its pupils, together with the time and willingness to get involved. The skills you have can be very useful to the Governing Board. Governors also need ‘soft skills’ – the ability to be able to build relationships with a range of people, to be able to work as part of a team, to be able to question, and to make connections between different types of information. All governors are expected to be able to read budget reports and data on school standards. Our Governing Board has certain expectations of governors, which currently are:
to attend and contribute to half termly meetings of the full Governing Board,
when required, to sit on any committee or working party and attend all associated meetings
to monitor a subject link area within the school, e.g. Numeracy, Literacy, Special Educational Needs, Early Years, etc., and meet with the staff subject leader on a minimum of a termly basis, reporting on each visit to the Governing Board
to visit the school formally for monitoring purposes as directed by the Governing Board,
to visit the school informally on occasion,
to commit to attend training courses,
to comply with the expectations set out in our Code of Conduct.
In return, our Governing Board commits to:
provide you with an experienced governor as mentor,
provide you with a structured induction,
provide access to quality training via the National College for Teaching & Leadership or local authority Governor Support
develop your skills in strategic management,
offer you an insight into the wider perspective of the school,
give you the opportunity to make a difference to our school and the outcomes for our pupils.
If you would like to find out more about how you can contribute to governance at our school, or have any questions about anything, then please contact the school office which will then arrange for a governor to contact you. To apply for one of the vacancies please contact our Clerk to Governors, Mrs T Brooks via the school office [email protected]
Leading independent Norfolk property services firm Arnolds Keys has announced the appointment of a new managing partner, and the creation of a senior partner role.
Nick Williams, who joined the firm in 2016 and was appointed a partner in 2019, becomes managing partner, with a focus on managing the firm and its operations, maintaining high client service standards, developing talent, and implementing the firm’s strategy.
Meanwhile, Guy Gowing, who has been managing partner for the past 19 years, will become senior partner, with a focus on professional advice for key clients and Business Development. He will continue to head Arnolds Keys’ Commercial Property division as well as providing advice to clients.
Mr Gowing commented,” I am delighted to be handing over the managing partner role to Nick after nearly two decades in the role. I know that he will continue to build on the firm’s strong foundations.
“As Arnolds Keys has grown and developed, the evolution with the management of the firm will enable us to focus even more closely on developing our offering, providing excellent service to our clients, and ensuring that we attract and develop the very best staff to take the business forward.”
Mr Wiliams said, “Having worked alongside Guy as a partner for five years, I am looking forward to leading the firm alongside him. We will both continue to build on Arnolds Keys’ strengths as we face an ever-changing business and property environment.”
Mr Williams joined Arnolds Keys in 2016 having trained and qualified with a firm in Cambridgeshire. He is a Chartered Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer.
Mr Gowing joined the firm in 1991, becoming a partner in 1998 and managing partner in 2005. He leads Arnolds Keys Commercial Property team, providing development advice and strategic property investment advice.
Delia’s Canary Catering are delighted to offer half price room hire for any meetings or events taking place throughout August 2024.
Whether you need a breakout space to upskill your team, or you’re hosting a large conference, training event or awards ceremony, our varied choice of rooms and spaces are available to hire. With a variety of rooms offering stunning pitch views, we can cater to events for up to 600 delegates. To claim this offer, please contact [email protected] with your enquiry and quote Canary50 to get this exclusive offer. View our available rooms here: https://www.deliascanarycatering.co.uk/rooms *Offer subject to availability. [Carrow Road venue hire]https://www.deliascanarycatering.co.uk/venuehire
The challenges CityFibre and Up-Connect must tackle before any newly built, full fibre network can go live across the UK – including those for Project Gigabit. Fibre Exchanges are a critical part of CityFibre’s mission to rollout full fibre infrastructure to a third of the UK. Without them its broadband and Business Ethernet connections couldn’t be powered or managed. But, as the man who leads CityFibre’s Fibre Exchange Acquisition and Delivery Team explains, site acquisition would be much harder without its FEX hunters, Up-Connect. Unlike most UK network infrastructure builders that commonly use BT operated telephone exchanges, CityFibre has its own nationwide estate of over 120 modern Fibre Exchanges, used to power all its Ready for Service premises today. And when it comes to getting a new FEX in situ, there’s little scope for compromise. SEARCHING THE HAYSTACK “Finding FEX locations that work with our network design and meet our access and connectivity requirements is complex in itself,” explains CityFibre’s, Phil Johnson, who’s team is responsible for both FEX acquisition and delivery. “But agreeing lease terms with Landlords efficiently and securing any wayleaves so we can get each facility live, can be the difference between us delivering services to communities on time, or as much as a year later.” It’s this challenge that CityFibre shares with specialist property consultants, Up-Connect; experts in site sourcing, surveying and acquisition, as well as predicting and managing all the issues that can cause delays. The hunt begins as soon as Up-Connect receives a new FEX site requirement from CityFibre. Most suitable sites are not actively marketed by local commercial agents though, so proactivity and good local knowledge is the name of the game. “Once potential sites have been identified, Up-Connect validate them with our network design team to ensure they work from a network planning perspective”, continues Phil. They also check each Landlord is open to CityFibre’s purchase or lease terms. All viable options are then discussed, looking specifically at any design or build difficulties and the implications of existing services and land designations”. THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL Every FEX site requires full planning consent. This is often the most challenging part of a project and goes hand-in-hand with understanding the concerns of local communities and the councils that represent them. “Up-Connect help to minimise planning risks by looking into everything from flood, noise and ecological impacts, right through to the presence of nearby trees, homes, existing underground infrastructure and even bats! It’s a critical stage because the more that’s understood, the better placed we are to make adjustments and put minds at rest.” In parallel, Up-Connect continue to engage with Landlords. Their goal is to agree a robust set of Terms before any lawyers get involved, to minimise the cost and time to secure a lease or purchase. Due diligence is also needed during this phase to identify complications that could arise during the legal process – e.g. ransom strips and restrictive covenants. “Every stage demands attention to detail as well as great communication, collaboration and negotiation skills”, says Phil. “And so far, Up-Connect have been faultless, using their expertise to navigate every issue faced and ensuring a positive outcome.” LOCAL SUPPORT IS KEY Right now, house building is a priority across the UK. Not only does this make land increasingly hard to find, but building onto it can be strongly opposed by residents, especially when the intended use of land is poorly understood. Having the support of local authorities is vital, whether that’s helping to identify plots of land, supporting planning applications or assisting with wayleaves. Together CityFibre and Up-Connect have already engaged with numerous councils nationwide, explaining what a FEX is and what CityFibre’s investment and network presence means. “It’s time well spent because once local authorities understand the societal benefits of better connectivity and the economic upside of CityFibre’s investment, they are more likely to support us through the processes and help us explain the benefits to local people”. Without any local authority support though, it can be an uphill struggle, especially as CityFibre begins to extend its network into harder to reach areas as part of Project Gigabit. FAR-FLUNG PLACES, FIELDS AND FARMYARDS The nine Project Gigabit contracts that CityFibre has won so far, mean that over 464,000 government subsidised homes and businesses are now dependent on the team getting the new networks up and running on time. “Of the 30 FEX sites currently being ‘hunted’ for UK wide, over 85 per cent are related to our Project Gigabit commitments. For our FEX hunting team this means finding dozens of sites in a short space of time.” When CityFibre’s focus was almost exclusively on urban areas, Up-Connect would hunt for centrally located sites, like empty warehouses or small unused pockets of land in industrial areas. For Project Gigabit, the search often extends out to semi-rural industrial areas and even farmyards. “Sites need to tick similar boxes as before, but we also need to minimise ‘dead dig’ (excess fibre spans needed just to reach a far-flung community). Access to sites can be trickier because non-urban roads are often narrower and parking isn’t always so freely available. Street works must also be minimised because road closures in rural areas can cause much longer diversions than those in towns and cities.” Stepping up to meet the rural challenge is not for the feint hearted, but Up-Connect are already delivering results, with a number of Project Gigabit related FEXs already in build. “Since being appointed in 2020 to find and acquire land or leases, Up-Connect have secured around 80 FEX sites and assessed thousands of alternatives. The fastest took just over two months but the average is closer to six months. And so far they’ve never failed to find a site in an area we’ve instructed them on. They even found a suitable site in Bath – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – where two other firms had failed,” said Phil. Although Up-Connect clearly bring CityFibre the expertise that’s needed, they also share their understanding that speed is of the essence, in more ways than one. That’s because, ultimately, it’s all about delivering the benefits of reliable, multi-gigabit Internet connectivity, sooner rather than later.