In this podcast, we’re joined by Richard Seppings, Founder of Anglia Car Charging, an independent installer of electric car charging equipment.
From working in his family-run business on a Norfolk farm, getting into Newcastle University with tons of determination and grit and working within the agricultural sector before discovering the world of green energy. This podcast is full of sustainability, electric cars, and environmental issues.
Delivering EV charging solutions for businesses and organisations of all sizes across East Anglia
We are number 1 in East Anglia for the supply and installation of EV charging systems. Based just south of Norwich, we cover the whole East Anglian region.
Commenting on today’s Bank of England interest rate rise, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“The decision by the Bank of England to raise the base rate to 2.25% is further evidence they are taking a hard line on tackling inflation. Our research shows that unrelenting inflation, largely driven by rising energy costs, is by far and away the top business concern at present.
“But the Bank faces an increasingly tricky balancing act. The interest rate is a very blunt instrument to control inflationary pressures that are largely driven by rocketing energy costs and global supply chain disruption. The Bank’s decision to raise rates will increase the risk for individuals and organisations exposed to debt burdens and rising mortgage costs – dampening consumer confidence.
“Recent energy price cap announcements will have provided some comfort to businesses and households alike and should place downward pressure on the rate of inflation.
“Friday’s fiscal statement by the Chancellor is now a critical moment. He has the unenviable task of shoring up the economy whilst avoiding additional inflationary stimulus.
“The Bank, looking to dampen consumer demand, and Government, looking to increase growth, could now be pulling in opposite directions.
“What businesses will want to see is a plan to address the short-term drivers of inflation as well as a long-term strategy to promote investment that gives them confidence for the future and counteracts the recessionary pull of rising interest rates.”
Reacting to the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) World Trade Report 2022 released at COP27, Nova Fairbank, CEO at the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, said:
“World leaders will do well to pay attention to this report. The WTO’s call to action is clear – trade in environmental goods and services to mitigate climate change isalso good for Norfolk jobs, productivity and investment.
“It is so important that we seize this moment now;any failure to raise levels of green trade will otherwise damage supply chains, lead to production shortages, and weaken infrastructure in the future. “We need to see a step change in the political response. The report finds green trade has multiplier effects in achieving the transition to low-carbon technologies across the world. Reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers now, could increase green exports by 5% by the end of the decade and cut global emissions too.
“Business is ready to meet this challenge – but we also need global leaders and trade ministers to step up and provide the trade opportunities that allow us to develop growth and lower carbon emissions hand-in-hand.”
An executive summary of the WTO World Trade Report 2022 can be found here.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in today’s episode Haze Carver is chatting with Neil Foley, Founder of the Business Growth Club.
Neil helps small business owners in Norfolk to stop competing on price, increase sales and grow.
“I’ve run my own business for over twenty-six years, so completely understand the trials and tribulations we small business owners go through.
My first business started from scratch and I have never forgotten how hard it was to gain traction. So many different hats to wear, all at the same time!”
Small Businesses have been under intense pressure over the past two years, and with energy costs rising – growth of the small business is going to be challenged even further.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in today’s episode Haze Carver is chatting with Lauren Farley, Business Development & Events Coordinator at Norwich Theatre Royal.
Lauren discusses her jam-packed year at the Theatre – with some of the most incredible performances from Carlos Acosta to Waitress and Les Miserables as well as Jack and the Beanstalk our 2022 pantomime!
“We have re-launched our corporate scheme, enhancing the offering for businesses and employees alike, offering more benefits as well as unique opportunities through the corporate scheme. Our Creative Engagement team are about to launch an unbelievable Autumn programme of events, which kicks off with our Open Day and Family Festival in July, where we are opening our doors once again and giving people an opportunity to see behind the magic and stand on our very own stage.”
International Men’s Day is approaching, and we spoke to Jason Carlton, Director of Uptech on the importance of raising awareness of mental health in organisations.
“International Men’s Day is a good talking point to embrace the people around us and take the opportunity to check in with loved ones, family members, friends and work colleagues on how there are….is anything troubling them that they may be willing to share and open up with.
A high percentage of men are very good at masking their true thoughts and feelings and not sharing with others with their real problems. We have the tendency to allow our thoughts to build up challenges and problems that confront us which in turn can trigger our vulnerabilities that leads to an unclear state of mind into what we think is the way out.
Our mental state and wellbeing is clearly not just down to gender or age its a massive problem across for board and is wrapped around different layers in what is perceived to fit in culturally and accepted in our environments and communities which can isolate us and single us out and have a huge impact on our mental wellbeing feeling alone.
If there is a takeaway in awareness of mental health issues – I would encourage business owners – leaders to roll out mental health champion training within their organisations.
For family members and friends to get involved in your local organisations within your community in learning skills be part of how you can help.
It’s so important with many of us losing someone because we couldn’t see the symptoms …. So to be able to try and recognise when someone is screaming for help but no one hears them!
From personal experience first-hand what I know now has helped me understand more about having the tools and the ability to help others and point them to seek the right help before it’s too late.
Being a mental health champion is not about being the fixer or giving professional advice, for me it’s being the beacon and being able to act when there are obvious signs, when talking to someone who may well be suffering on the inside but doesn’t know how or won’t cry for help!”
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is chatting to Lorraine Bliss, MBE and CEO of St Edmunds Society.
Lorraine is heading up a dedicated, passionate team at St Edmunds Society. St Ed’s are the Leading provider of employability skills for young people, providing support for young people living in poverty and struggling with mainstream school.
Lorraine talks about the difficulties, challenges, and wonderful successes that every student at St Ed’s faces and goes through. From the challenges of funding, and donated kitchens for the students to fit, to their recent awards ceremony earlier this year at The Halls in Norwich, Loraine’s determination and passion for her resilient students shines – she remembers every student and each and every story.
Since recording the podcast we are thrilled that St Ed’s won at the recent CSJ Awards! Enormous Co.ngratulations to Lorraine and everyone at the St Ed’s family!
You can listen to the full podcast below
Short on time? Listen to the bitesize Co.next version here
St Edmunds Society are a Norwich-based charity, offering vocational training and employability skills training to young people aged 16-18 (or up to 25 if you have an EHCP). We work with tutors and in partnership with industry experts, to give young people the skills and experience to build their future.
Jordan talks to Haze about Curlyworm’s beginnings in 2019, keeping it going through covid when she lost all her income overnight, up to building her agency from a 5 figure turnover in 2 years to the point where she is bringing in someone else to join the team.
If you missed Jordan’s workshop at our recent flagship B2B event, then listen in to this brilliant podcast to find out more about female empowerment, job titles with a twist, and working your socks off as a family-run business.
We’re proud anti-hustlers
You won’t find us bragging about being part of the “5am club” in fact, we love a good lie-in. Curlyworm Creative was founded to give us the freedom to live life on our terms. And that’s exactly what we do for our clients. Hell, we’ve even helped people give up their 9-5s, all through our awesome content.
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is talking to Thomas Panton, CEO & sustainability expert at Canopey.com (formerly Greenr).
“Your home for better buying. Quantified impact data, ethical brands, better impact products. Fight back against the big-boy polluters, it’s time to Bin B*zos and Buy Better.”
Thomas is CEO and resident sustainability veteran at Canopey, having worked in the industry for a decade with organisations like Greenpeace UK and Surfers Against Sewage. As a previous startup founder, Climate Change MSc student, and LinkedIn Top Green Voice, Thomas is Canopey’s lucky volunteer when it comes to speaking at events, and talks to Haze on all things sustainable – from crowdfunding, angel investors, hot summers to how perfectionism often hinders the progress we need to make in the climate change movement.
Thomas Panton is an experienced speaker for the London Speaker Bureau in the environment sector, spending his time educating, inspiring, and engaging different audiences to begin their journey to become more sustainable. He also talks about mental health in high pressure roles, and advises other founders on wellbeing and making tough decisions.
We’re proud to have Thomas as a Business Climate Leader for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Thomas is Co-creator of The Topic, with Nadiah Arif. A podcast that talks about everything from climate change to human rights, raising awareness on these important issues and educating people on how to get more involved in challenging the status quo.
He is also Founder of Festovers, upcycling leftover consumer waste. One of IQ Mag’s Green Guardians. BBC Oxford’s expert on festival tent waste and sustainability.
We’re not just building a shopping platform, we’re building a community of people and brands that want to create a greener future.
We want to make it easier for everyone to shop more ethically and become a platform that educates people on sustainability issues so they can learn how to create the change they want to see. Our vision is to make sustainable living, living.
Good value, better values
We’re not just about making shopping more ethical: better values are at the core of everything we do. From creating a diverse and talented team, to ensuring our marketing is accessible.
“The challenges facing businesses in the UK labour market remain very much the same. We have a critical shortage of skills and labour that is damaging firms and holding back growth.
“Once again, the data shows the number of job vacancies remains at record highs, adding to inflationary pressures.
“With confidence waning as we enter recession, and the expectation of even tougher economic times ahead, we may see more recruitment freezes, job losses and business closures.
“But the underlying problem is unaltered – unless we address the ongoing mismatch of skills available and business needs, this drag anchor on the economy will persist and hinder recovery.
“Concerns are growing about the numbers of people who are leaving the labour market through long-term illness – as well as those choosing early retirement. This will damage opportunities for individuals and the economy.
“The government and employers must work together to solve the labour market conundrum. We must look at ways to help people experiencing ill-health stay in work and to encourage skilled and experienced retirees to return to the workplace.
“We need to remove barriers to work, by offering flexible workplaces, rapid re-training opportunities and better access to childcare and public transport.
“And, crucially, we need to invest more in the training and upskilling of everyone in the workplace so that we are ready to grasp new opportunities for growth.
The Chancellor has an opportunity on Thursday to start fixing the labour supply problem in our economy. If he misses it, growth will remain hard to come by.”
Welcome to the Norfolk Chambers podcast, in this episode Haze Carver is with Izzy Lerpiniere | East Norfolk Sixth Form College.
This week’s podcast is with Izzy Lerpiniere, High Schools and Alumni Coordinator at East Norfolk Sixth Form in Gorleston, a top performing sixth form for Great Yarmouth & Waveney.
Izzy coordinated the Eco-Schools campaign for the college, completing the project and application work, and achieved their Green Flag accreditation with a distinction!
“We are an education provider, so funding and regulations are governed by external organisations, however we have the power of lots of young people who hold sustainability a priority – and we are able to harness this and use it in our sustainability strive.”
With her new role as High Schools Coordinator, Izzy talks about her hope to run sustainability workshops with high school students, and is also keen to do more sustainability engagement with primary schools, through working with our Schools & Community Champion.
Izzy is also working with the UKSSN (UK Schools for Sustainability Network) and is involved with our Business Climate Leaders programme – You can view Izzy’s profile here
Listen to the full podcast below
Short on time? Why not listen to Izzy’s advice for under 35s below
Stress Awareness Month falls on April every year since 1992. This month is to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. Find out more about Stress Awareness Month here
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF STRESS?
Stress is a body’s reaction to a negative change in a person’s life. Our bodies react to life situations very differently and when negative, unexpected situation arises we all respond very differently. Some can cope whereas others may feel completely lost, under pressure and having very little control over the dilemma. The impact of stress may result into temporary (or long term) mental health problems and emotional turmoil. Examples of stress symptoms include unable to concentrate, panic attacks, breathing problems, crying and lack of sleep.
The cause of stress could be due to a number of things such as a breakdown in relationship, money problems, bereavement, exams, being bullied and being over worked.
Stress can impact work, friends and family.
HOW TO MANAGE STRESS
All employers have come across the issue of a stressed employees due to work place or personal issues at home. So what can an employer do to help?
Talk to your employees. Get your employees to open up and talk. If the employee does not want to talk – encourage them to seek GP advise. Some organisations offer an employee assistance program (telephone support). Such program assists employees with personal problems and/or work-related problems.
There are a few reputable organisations who offer employers and employees support with stress (telephone and website) such as www.mind.org.uk and www.samaritans.org .
Talk through stress busters such as exercise. Exercising can help reduce tension and stress whilst releasing positive mental endorphins. Exercise can also help with self esteem and may help employee to sleep better.
Healthy eating is also another good option to explore with your employee. Healthy Eating is key. A well balance diet and getting the right nutrients to stay healthy is fundamental.
If the employee is stressed with work, encourage the employee to take regular breaks. Set smaller and more achievable targets so that they are in control of their work. Put a performance plan in place so the employee can focus on key tasks.
Encourage the employee to take a break away from work – perhaps focus on a short holiday, a couple of days away from the office, a change of scenery.
This year, the charity ‘Mind’ is encouraging employers to create a ‘stress awareness space’ at work so staff can share their thoughts and feelings about what makes them stressed. Trial this and see if staff can open up. The aim is by sharing information employees maybe able to get some great support and tips.
If you have any questions in regards to stress in the workplace please call us on 0333 240 7208 or contact us today.
