Chamber News

Health and Safety Advice for Small Business

• Health and Safety Made Simple is a website, developed by the Health and Safety Executive that will help small businesses to get started in managing health and safety, by bringing the basic information they need into one place.

  The site will help businesses save time on managing health and safety by using the streamlined guidance and direct links to supporting material.

• The health and safety toolbox – how to control risks at work builds on the basics in Health and Safety Made Simple by providing the next level of advice to help businesses understand, manage and control workplace risks with just a few clicks of a mouse.

  It’s the first time that quick, simple guides and interactive tools on how to identify, assess and control common workplace hazards, such as slips and trips and working with electricity and machinery, have been pulled together.

Health and Safety Laboratory

• The Health and Safety Laboratory is undertaking research to gather evidence and investigate employers, schools / academies and work placement organisers’ perceptions of health and safety in relation to young workers (aged 18 and under), particularly for work experience.

  They are very keen to speak to businesses in the service, manufacturing and construction sectors about their views and experiences. This will involve a brief telephone interview to answer some key research questions.

  If you are able to help with this work please contact Jo Bowen on 01298 218460.

• Ofgem warns of rising prices and energy shortages The outgoing chief executive of Ofgem, Alistair Buchanan, has warned that the UK faces higher energy bills over the coming years due to shortage of energy supplies. In a major speech he said that a fall in the UK’s power production capacity is likely to lead to more energy imports and he predicts power station closures could mean a 10% fall in capacity by April alone. He said the UK needs more gas supplies and an improvement in energy efficiency to fill the shortfall.
• Prime Minister hails clean energy on Indian trade mission The prime minister has underlined his support for green technologies during a major trade trip to India. He was accompanied by several green companies and climate change minister Greg Barker on the trip. At his first stop, the Unilever office in Mumbai, he touted the benefits of clean energy as a key to UK economic growth.
• Nuclear power According to reports in the Guardian the government is proposing to sign contracts guaranteeing subsidies for new nuclear for up to 40 years. The paper said that ministers are proposing the timeline in order to keep the guaranteed wholesale cost of each unit of energy below the politically crucial figure of £100 per megawatt hour. DECC said in a statement that: “No commitment has been made on commercial terms or a strike price.”
• Energy Bill decarbonisation amendment tabled Conservative MP Tim Yeo and Labour’s Barry Gardiner have tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill that would require the government to introduce a decarbonisation target for the power sector by April next year, paving the way for a potential Commons rebellion. Yeo, who chairs the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, and Gardiner, who serves on the Committee and also acts as Labour leader Ed Miliband’s Climate Change Envoy, put forward the amendment after the Bill Committee Stage.
• EU-wide offshore oil and gas law The EU proposed its first law to regulate safety in offshore oil and gas drilling across the 27-member bloc and prevent any repeat of BP’s Gulf of Mexico spill. The law still needs final endorsement from member states and the European Parliament. Politicians from Britain were among the first to welcome it. As they argue British standards of safety are already excellent and the new law would oblige others to follow suit. Britain was among those who campaigned for the law to be a directive rather than an EU regulation.
• Marine power Two British companies have today been awarded a share of £20 million to help drive forward growth in the UK’s marine energy industry. MeyGen Ltd and Sea Generation Wales Ltd have both won funding under the government’s Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD). MEAD was launched in April last year, to support the development and testing of pre-commercial marine devices in array formations out at sea.

Upcoming developments

• Energy Bill completes Commons Stage and goes to the Lords
• New strategies on nuclear, oil and gas and offshore renewables to be published
• Carbon Floor Price to be introduced in April
• Decision on next stage of UK and Ireland wind trading
• Capacity market design proposals due to be published in the spring
• Strike Price proposals due to be published in the summer
• BIS Publish Industrial Strategies (Offshore Wind, Nuclear, and Oil & Gas)

Abellio train operator Greater Anglia has won the Train Operator of the Year award at the annual national Rail Business Awards for 2012. This independent recognition for the regional train operator comes only just over a year into its franchise, which began in February 2012. It provides a major external endorsement of the improvements made to date by the company in many aspects of its operations.

This includes better punctuality, higher customer service standards, greater customer engagement, improved ticketing, station upgrades, integrated transport improvements and reduced weekend service disruption for passengers (as a result of a new agreement with Network Rail as part of the alliance between the two companies). Greater Anglia was also complimented for its excellent service during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Praising Greater Anglia for its winning entry, the judges said: “Performance during the first year of operation has been very impressive. This came across very clearly in its excellent submission.”

The accolade follows an increase in customer satisfaction amongst Greater Anglia’s passengers in the most recent National Passenger Survey to 83% and improved annual punctuality to over 92%, the highest level for the East Anglian franchise in at least 12 years. The company has also made ticket purchase much easier with more ticket vending machines, a smartphone app, trials of mobile ticketing and “print-at-home” ticketing. In addition, Greater Anglia is also playing a leading role in the development and delivery of the East Anglian Rail Prospectus, working proactively with regional stakeholders to make the case for greater investment in rail services in the region. Commenting on the recognition of Greater Anglia’s progress Ruud Haket, Managing Director said: “I am delighted that barely a year into our short franchise, we have received this independent endorsement of our achievements. To be bracketed amongst the leading UK train companies at such an early stage is a tribute to the commitment and dedication of our employees.

“We know we have much more to do to achieve the consistency of service that our customers rightly expect, but we have made significant steps forward in punctuality, information provision and ticket purchasing facilities already and we are passionate about delivering high standards of customer service day in, day out, for passengers across our network.

“We are committed to making further service improvements over the remainder of our short franchise to July 2014 and to continue to work with regional stakeholders to help secure the long term investment needed to further upgrade train services in East Anglia – focusing on the priorities highlighted in the East Anglian Rail Prospectus. Our focus will always be on continuously improving rail services for the customers and communities we serve.”

Norwich For Jobs today provides its first campaign update, covering progress made in the first month of operation.

Aims

Norwich For Jobs seeks to halve Norwich youth unemployment in two years.

Launched on 25th January 2013, we believe that we can encourage the creation of 1,000 new jobs and good economic opportunities for young people in our city.

There are currently around 2,000 young people, aged 18-24, registered as unemployed in the Norwich area. Our aims are:

• Investment- Encourage local businesses to invest in young people
• Opportunities- Connect young people with opportunities to gain skills and employment
• Community- Focus the collective efforts of the community to get young Norwich working.

First Month’s Progress

During February 2013, Norwich For Jobs has achieved the following:

• 20 employers formally backing campaign so far. You can see these updated regularly on our website, www.norwichforjobs.org.uk. All are willing to be interviewed by media
• Dozens more have indicated their interest and are in discussion with the campaign
• 101 jobs have been pledged
• 36 apprenticeships have been pledged
• 78 work experience opportunities have been pledged

Quotes

Chloe Smith, leader of Norwich For Jobs, said:

“We are delighted by the reaction to the launch of the Norwich for Jobs Campaign. Enquiries by potential employers and those willing to offer work placements have exceeded our expectations.

“We’ve made good progress in our first month in engaging with employers, partners and young people and wish to continue this success in subsequent months.

“Our key goal for the first month way to get the key aims of the Norwich for Jobs Campaign across, which I think we have achieved. We are now moving forward in following up on all lines of enquiry that have come to us and will seek to help and support businesses wishing to offer an opportunity to a young person in Norwich.”

Julia Nix, East Anglia District Manager for Jobcentre Plus, comments:

“Our sincere thanks go to our first set of employers who have pledged their support by offering jobs, apprenticeships and work experience to our talented young people. I would encourage any employer to make contact to help us further.”

Dick Palmer, Chief Executive Officer of City College Norwich, said:

“This is a really fantastic start for Norwich For Jobs and shows how supportive our local employers are. It shows that local employers, big and small, really do get that young people are our future.”

Next month includes Apprenticeships Week. Expect more updates from Norwich For Jobs on apprenticeships and more.

Employers should email [email protected] to show their support.

Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Opportunities 2013’ event on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club is the perfect place to boost your business skills and knowledge, because the event will feature a series of three, free 40-minute topical and interactive workshops designed to give a real competitive business edge.

The first workshop is entitled: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success. Mark will explain how many people attend networking events but very few get anything out of it. The reason for this is that they don’t understand what networking is really about, and they don’t have a clear strategy for networking or the skills to enable them to get results from their networking.

Mike Jones, of Modello, will deliver a workshop called: ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’. BT Business will be hosting this workshop to complement their exhibition presence and will use the session to explain how small to medium sized businesses in the UK are driving further cost savings, improving efficiency and keeping ahead of the competition, by grasping the full potential from broadband services.

Lastly, David Tillyer, from 101 Smart Ltd, will give a workshop called: ‘How to get results for email marketing’. This workshop will focus on explaining how to use email marketing to its full potential and improve your business.

Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, said: “In business we need to continue to learn and broaden our skills; to keep up to date with the latest technology and methods of communication. These workshops are designed to be bang up to date and to help businesses to really gain an advantage and enhance their offering.”

‘Opportunities 2013’, which is free to attend, also includes a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 35 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

The ‘Opportunities 2013’ event also features Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, where suppliers from around the region can promote their products and services. The exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

For the first time, the event will feature a Networking United event that will bring together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections.

To sign up for the workshops, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here

At today’s Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Board meeting, the members of the Board approved both the Business Plan for 2013/2014 and the new ‘Unlocking Growth Plan’. The Unlocking Growth Plan sets out the Chamber’s priorities for 2013, as identified by the Norfolk Chamber members. The key areas to be addressed in 2013 are:

• Championing Norfolk Business
• Improving Infrastructure
• Supporting Competitiveness
• Removing Barriers

The Chamber’s key theme of ‘Unlocking the Potential of Norfolk’s Young People’ will run through the delivery of all its services and is identified in the ‘Unlocking Growth plan’.

Big Sky Additions is an owner managed business run by Justin Murray and Sam Holt who are the faces and hands on expert consultants of a growing successful local business specialising in Accountancy Search & Selection.

We provide a professional, honest and consultative service to companies and candidates across Norfolk. Our expertise and knowledge of the accountancy job market makes us ideally placed to help you find the right staff or the right job with the minimum of fuss.

We offer permanent, contract and temporary solutions within industry, public sector and professional practice.

Above all we focus on delivering a fresh, innovative and personal approach specifically designed to meet our clients ‘needs and candidates’ skills.

The recruitment industry has changed. Yes, the internet has made it easier for agencies to find more candidates, but too often this means a less targeted approach, resulting in disappointment for client and job seeker alike. This is where we’re different.

• We rely on personal recommendation and referral
• We combine innovative advertising with a continually refreshed database
• We employ headhunting, networking and social media

This means we reach the 80% of the market not already on the job market. Which means greater quality and choice and less duplication for the client.

We work closely with local businesses in advising, targeting and sourcing highly skilled Accountancy professionals.

Big Sky Additions are not restricted to a 9-5 working day, you are VERY welcome to call us outside of these hours.

www.bigskyadditions.co.uk

Businesses across the UK, including Norfolk, are being asked to nominate planning regulations to be simplified or removed as part of the government’s “Red Tape Challenge” initiative.

Do you have any planning regulations that you would like changed?Pleaseleave your comments on the Red Tape Challenge websitebyThursday 7 March 2013.

Norwich City Council has released their latest Economic Barometer. The report highlighted that retail sales fell unexpectedly in January with volumes falling 0.6% over the month as a result of heavy snow. The Pound continued to weaken against the US Dollar and the Euro as a result of persistent worries about the health of the UK economy. In addition, umemployment has risen and has now surpassed the previous peak from February 2010. The UK housing market showed signs of improvement with mortgage lending increasing, led by a big rise in first-time buyers. The Council of Mortgage Lenders also reported that the number of homes being repossessed fell to its lowest annual level since 2007. InCrops, an Adapt Low Carbon Group initiative, based at the UEA, has received £750,000 of additional funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This additional funding will allow InCrops to continue their programme to promote innovation in alternative and non-food crops until March 2015. Two HMV stores in Norwich and one in King’s Lynn have survived a round of cuts by the adminstrator, Deloitte, despite increased speculation that a least one store in Norwich would closed to help drive down the debts of the beleaguered retailer. A new era in local television broadcasting was launched at the end of January with the start of the country’s first dedicated web TV. Mustard online will stream an array of videos aimed specifically at viewers in and around Norwich. The full Norwich Economic Barometer report is attached.

Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, ‘Opportunities 2013’ on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club, is a must-attend for businesses looking to exhibit their products and services because there will be a guaranteed footfall of people attending throughout the day.

You can take a stand in one of six themed business zones designed to help visitors to grow their business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, which is holding the event, said: “Suppliers wanting to enhance their business are advised to take a stand at the event because there is so much going on throughout the day, which means there will be a huge footfall of potential customers. For suppliers, this will be a vital captive audience to promote themselves and be part of the region’s biggest business show.”

Highlights of the event include a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 36 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

Visitors will also be attending a series of three, 40-minute interactive and informative workshops designed to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.

Also likely to bring in a great deal of visitors is the event’s Networking United event, which brings together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections. This presents an ideal opportunity to bring along some business cards and make contacts.

To book your stand, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here

If you’re a supplier looking to sell your products and services, don’t miss Meet the Buyer, which is part of the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Opportunities 2013’ event on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club. Open4business is delivered in conjunction with Norfolk County Council and is a tried and tested Meet the Buyer event that will bring the region’s buyers and suppliers together under one roof.

Suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at up to four pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 36 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

Caroline Williams, Norfolk Chamber CEO, commented. “These Meet the Buyer events are hugely successful and are a rare opportunity for suppliers to get in front of the region’s key buyers. The list of buyers attending is growing all the time and we are confident that some very profitable relationships will be forged on the day.”

‘Opportunities 2013’, which is free to attend, also includes three other elements; a business exhibition, a series of informative workshops and a Networking United event.

The business exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

The three 40-minute topical workshops at the event are interactive and informative, to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.

Making its debut, the Networking United event brings together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections. This is an ideal opportunity to bring along some business cards and make contacts.

To book your place at Meet the Buyer, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here

If you want to make business contacts through networking, then don’t miss Networking United which is part of the Opportunities 2013 event to be held on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club.

For the first time, the free-to-attend Opportunities 2013 event will feature Networking United held 12.30 – 1.3.30 in the Norfolk Lounge, which will bring together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections.

Prior to the Networking United will be held a free workshop called: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by the dynamic Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success who was such a success at the Chamber’s Unlocking Success conference last November. To book please go onto the event website

Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, commented: “Networking is one of the most successful ways to do business, make contacts and form new business relationships, so we have created the Networking United event to bring the business community together in one place. We advise anyone to come along with a stack of business cards and make those connections.”

‘Opportunities 2013’ also features Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, where suppliers from around the region can promote their products and services. The exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.

In addition, ‘Opportunities 2013’ includes a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 35 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.

Visitors can also attend a series of three, 40-minute interactive and informative workshops designed to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.

To register for the Networking United, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here