We have a conference suite available today now if anyone needs it, fully air conditioned, natural daylight, a dedicated host and as much food and drink as you would like brought to you throughout the day. Norwich Conference Venue – BEST WESTERN Brook Hotel
Call Sarah Jones on 07436 162697 or email events@brookhotel.co.uk
As the world celebrates the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby son, the latest Royal Baby and third in line to the throne, he enters a very different world to that of his parents. The new Prince’s father was born 31 years ago into a very different age. In 1982 when Prince William was born, the mobile telephone had not yet become commercially available. It was not until 1983 that the first commercially available mobile telephone was sold. Today there are over 6 billion mobile phones around the world with more than 1 mobile phone for every person in the population of many countries.
As news of the Royal Baby’s birth spreads around the world, it is ‘trending’ on Twitter and news of the birth was learned quicker by Twitter users than by any other method. Twitter was only invented in 2006, the same year that the Prince’s father, Prince William graduated from Sandhurst watched by his future wife, Catherine Middleton. His parents were already dating at the time, but would not marry for another 5 years when the wedding would be watched by viewers of over 100 million streams over the Internet in 188 countries!
When the new Prince’s father was 9 years old, Sir Tim Berners-Lee posted the first web page to what is known as the World Wide Web. Last December there were estimated to be 634 million web sites on the World Wide Web and over 2.4 billion users. Assuming that the usage of the Internet and the World Wide Web continues at a similar rate to that which it has done for the last few years, by the time that the Royal Baby is just one year old, there will probably be in the order of 810 million websites and near to 3 billion users.
So why is all of this important? And why am I reading this on a page from a data centre company? It is simply this. Data centres are the foundation of the digital age. Without data centres the world would starve, and without data centres UK Plc would be bust within a day. These may sound like outrageous claims, but think about it … no data centres = no plane travel, no ship travel, no train travel, no car travel. No data centres = no financial transactions, no stock exchanges, no banking system, no money, no credit cards. No data centres = the world stops!
Yet, despite the fact that data centres are the foundation of the digital age, they are the critical infrastructure that the entire modern day world relies upon, if one asks most people what a data centre is, they don’t know. Most politicians certainly don’t know, most people don’t know, most business leaders only have a vague idea, yet this is the fundamental infrastructure upon which not just one fragile new born baby relies, but all of us – every single one – need data centres as much today as we need water, electricity and food, because without them we would be unable to produce and distribute water, or manage our electricity, or produce and distribute disease free crops of food for us to eat. Isn’t it about time we all learned a little more about the things that are keeping us alive?
There is a huge amount still to be done in developing, producing and distributing vital food, water and medicines and data centres are a part of the critical infrastructure that is needed in order to make this happen. Data centres won’t save the world, they won’t fix all of the world’s ills, but they are essential to world ‘operation’ today and will be even more so in the future.
As we welcome the Royal Baby into the world as the newest member of our Royal Family, we must remember that he has been born into the digital age and nothing that happens in his lifetime will be more important than ensuring that the critical infrastructure that is the foundation of the digital age is there, operational and available to whenever it is needed to support all of the new challenges that the world will face.
Our data centre is always on and we will do everything within our power to ensure that it remains that way. If the world continues to evolve at the pace that it has since his mother and father were born, the data centre will be even more critical in the future than it is today.
Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son! We welcome the new Prince into an exciting new world where the digital infrastructure will be an integral part of his growing up and future adult life.
Want to help spread the word and help others to understand what is the basis of the digital world we live in? Go on … Tweet this article and spread the word to those who, as yet, haven’t quite learned what a data centre does! You read this on the World Wide Web, using the Internet to access it and you almost certainly learned of the birth of the Royal Baby via the Internet in some way. All that relied entirely on the data centres that are its foundation!
At the end of 2025, the government published their
long-awaited Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy outlining their
plans to tackle an issue that has frequently been described as a “national
emergency.”
Whilst the strategy predominantly contained information
about the legislation that would be introduced, it also reminded businesses and
organisations of their responsibilities in tackling violence against women.
In the introduction to the strategy, the government called
on businesses to play an active role in “protecting employees, supporting
survivors and championing gender equality” in their workplaces.
With offences classed as violence against women accounting
for over 20% of all police recorded crime, it is likely an issue that will be
affecting workforces across the region and the country.
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) can include:
· Domestic
abuse
· Stalking
· Harassment
· Rape
· Sexual
offences
· Tech-based
violence/abuse
· Honour-based
abuse
The government hopes that improving understanding of these
forms of abuse, as well as giving businesses the knowledge of how to respond
effectively to support employees, will play a role in tackling violence against
women.
Why do businesses have an important role to
play?
Domestic abuse and other forms of violence not only impact
those experiencing it, but also have a massive effect on our society, our key
services, and the economy.
Figures released alongside the Domestic Abuse Act (2021)
estimated that domestic abuse costs society £66bn every year, with a staggering
£14bn coming from lost output – the costs to businesses and organisations
through staff absence, lack of productivity, or recruitment.
People experiencing domestic abuse are also likely to be
disciplined or even lose their jobs as a result of higher levels of absence
from work, poor time keeping or reduced productivity.
Knowing how to respond to domestic abuse is a challenge for
many businesses, particularly when it can be hard to spot the signs someone is
experiencing it and many are unsure how to provide effective support to those
affected.
There will also be many that do not have policies or
procedures around domestic abuse, making it difficult to know how to respond
effectively and consistently.
Whilst many employers will have clear guidance around
issues such as mental health, the picture around domestic abuse is unclear and
could be costing businesses.
Leeway’s Training
The training provided by Leeway aims to equip businesses
and organisations with the knowledge and ability to spot the signs of domestic
abuse, whilst also being able to signpost employees or clients to access
support.
Our Domestic Abuse Awareness sessions break down the
different forms of domestic abuse, how to spot the signs – providing real life
examples of what this might look like – and how to approach conversations
around domestic abuse and signpost someone to support.
We also provide bespoke training sessions tailored to meet
the needs of businesses and organisations, specifically covering the issues
that are most relevant to their area of business.
Leeway can also provide support for businesses and
organisations that are looking to draft or their policies and procedures
around domestic abuse.
Not only will this support businesses and organisations to
meet their duty of care to their employees, but we also believe that this can
save them money too.
To enquire about our training services and how Leeway can
support your business, please email training@leewaynwa.org.uk. More
information can also be found on the Leeway website.
While more and more countries around the world try to emulate Silicon Valley-style digitally-fuelled economic success, it’s ironic that the free flow of data is increasingly problematic for the governments that run them. The ease with which the Internet moves information, sans frontiers, seems to emphasise the smallness of national government compared to the ‘bigness’ of data. Privacy, defamation, national security, taxation and, of course in the news at the moment, pornography, are the regular flashpoints between the big Internet brands and governments in a battle which pitches the freedom web users against the laws of the State they live in.
Transparency The negotiation between citizen and state is as old as humanity and historically has been resolved with revolution, execution, imprisonment and, thankfully, most often by legislation. However, the Internet is a new factor in the relationship – empowering citizens to make choices, (some good, some bad and some ghastly), independently of the laws of their land on an unprecedented scale. Not surprisingly governments try to assert the law when one of their citizens uses the Internet to do something that they consider ‘ghastly’ – the problem is that what the state considers ‘ghastly’ varies from country to country. In fact Google deals with so many requests to modify or block online material from governments around the world that it publishes a Transparency Report listing them all. As the search giant explains:
“Like other technology and communications companies, Google regularly receives requests from government agencies and courts around the world to remove content from our services or to review such content to determine if it should be removed for inconsistency with a product’s community policies. In this report, we disclose the number of requests we receive from each government in six-month periods with certain limitations.”
Fascinating Reading! And fascinating reading it is – the number of content removal requests from government agencies has doubled to close to 2,300 in the last three years with over 30% of the them being concerned with defamation compared to just 3% over adult content. The detail of requests by country is an insight into the sheer breadth of world’s diversity in terms of culture, values and laws … and the Internet’s border-traversing ability to trample all over them!
The kind of ‘micro-management’ offered by Google – taking requests, considering them and then sometimes removing the content – clearly frustrates governments. The UK Prime Minister’s is the latest political leader to take on the issue, focussing on blocking child pornography on which he has massive support. While the moral mandate is clearly there, what precise action should be taken is already proving problematic. When the rubber hits the road and national legislation comes up against the physical reality of that sprawling bundle of hardware and software we call the Internet, control is difficult. Behind the beguiling simplicity of the Cloud is an international patchwork of servers, data centres and networks that host and transport the content that users call up via their search box. Where these servers and data centres are located in the world and which borders the networks cross really does matter, not only because there’s some web-content that we want to block, but also because there is web-content that we want to protect.
Where is your data stored? For web-based businesses, the location of the data centre where your data is stored is a significant factor in how much tax you pay, what legal protection you have if someone tries to violate your copyright, and what level of control and ownership you have over your data. Clients of MigSolv’s colocation data centre in Norwich, for example, can rely on the strength of the UK legal systems, a stable tax rate and benign Government interference when it comes to freedom of speech and expression, all of which amounts to security. When they say that in the Cloud it doesn’t matter where your data’s stored, it’s simply not true – while it’s important that, (most), data moves freely, it’s vital that web businesses can rely on a stable, secure and fair legal environment for their data.
The organisers behind the GoGoGorillas outdoor art trail that has captivated Norwich over the last few weeks are about to launch a programme of research. The aim of the research is to get feedback on the life-size art installations, while measuring the economic and social impact of the initiative and of course find out the most popular primates.
Local research agency, Zing Insights is partnering with the organisers to conduct the research and will be surveying residents and visitors to the city over the summer using their innovative interactive iPad research pods. Research will take place starting this weekend at Castle Mall (27-28 July), The Forum (8-9 Aug), Chapelfield (10-11 Aug), Norwich Station (3 Aug), M&S (5-6 Aug), John Lewis (17 Aug).
Jo Walther, Director of Zing Insights said “We hope the findings will show the benefits of projects like this, and will help support similar initiatives in the future. We urge residents and visitors to support us and give us their views”. Participants in the research will be entered into a number of prize draws to win GoGoGorilla merchandise worth over £100 including paint your own gorilla kits.
Zing Insights are working in collaboration with organisers Wild in Art and Break Charity. Charlie Langhorne, Director of Wild in Art said, “We are delighted with how the gorillas have been received. Visitor feedback is vital to enable us to enhance future events and we hope the results will demonstrate the positive impact GoGoGorillas! is having on the local community”.
Michael Rooney, Fundraising Manager of Break Charity said “As a locally based charity we are very pleased that some meaningful research can be undertaken, not only about the impact of the GoGoGorillas project itself, but also whether there has been an increase in the awareness of Break and the work we are involved in.”
Zing Insights Zing Insights is an award winning market research and insights consultancy run by a team of highly skilled research professionals with over 40 years experience of delivering world class business insights and specialism in day out experiences. Since launching in 2011, Zing have worked with an impressive list of clients including; Farnborough International Airshow, BBC Good Food Shows, Autosport International, Clotheshow Live, BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Taste of London, Banham Zoo and Norwich Cathedral. Zing were finalists for the EDP Business Award – Best New Business 2012 and are in the EDP Future50. Find out more at www.zinginsights.com
Wild in Art Wild in Art is the UK’s leader in the development, management and production of spectacular, mass-appeal public art events which engage the public through the creation of citywide trails of uniquely painted animal and other sculptures.
From ‘crashes’ of rhinos in Chester and São Paulo and prides of lions in Nairobi, to herds of Asian elephants in Melbourne, Wild in Art events have animated cities and enthralled people the world over, raising over £1.8m for charity partners along the way.
In 2013, you can find Wild in Art events in Colchester, Norwich, Southampton, Bristol and Torquay.Find out more at www.wildinart.co.uk
Break Charity Break, changing young lives, supporting children, young people and families:- • Young people in care and moving on • Children with disabilities • Families in need of support • Children at risk
For GoGoGorilla PR enquiries contact Jungle PR – Rachael Paddick, Kate Morfoot & Danielle Howard, Jungle PR tel ; 01362 694649
For further information on the work of Break, please contact Liz Richards, Senior Communications & Marketing Officer, email: liz.richards@break-charity.org, tel: 01603 670105, mobile: 07748 112709.
Break Head Office: Davison House, 1 Montague Road, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8WN, tel: 01263 822161 Registered Charity No. 286650 Follow GoGoGorillas on Twitter – @GoGoGorillas and Facebook gogogorillaswww.gogogorillas.co.uk
Bidwells, one of the UK’s leading property consultancies, today announced the launch of Bidwells TV
The new channel, which is accessible via PCs, laptops, Tablets (such as iPads) and smart phones will feature every residential property marketed by Bidwells in their offices in Nprwich, Cambridge and Saffron Walden. Each featured property, whether for sale or to let, will be promoted via a tailored, high quality animated walk-through video.
Recent research conducted by Nielsen, a leading global information and measurement company, concluded that property marketing via online TV channels, is more effective than traditional advertising methods and the most compelling medium to show case property.
Commenting at the launch of Bidwells TV Marc Langdon, Bidwells said
“Online video walk-throughs allow potential buyers to view new homes without having to step outside their front door – or even on their smartphones – wherever and whenever they want.”
“This innovative way of marketing is particularly popular because it enables the seller to display particular features of the property, which may not always be easy with more traditional methods of marketing, such as newspaper advertising.”
” Bidwells TV will be an integral part of every property marketing campaign we implement – ie the campaign will comprise print ads, portal campaigns (such as Rightmove and Zoopla), digital marketing and now virtual tours on a dedicated channel. No competitor can match that potent mix”.
For a virtual tour of a property visit www.bidwells.tv or access it via Bidwells’ website www.bidwells.co.uk.
BEST WESTERN Brook Hotel are looking to recruit a full time Receptionist in their Norwich Hotel, working 5 Reception shifts on a rota basis – early shifts are 7am to 3pm and late shifts are 3pm to 11pm, includes weekends.
Please apply if you have reception experience and a great customer care background.
Send your CV with covering email to sales@brookhotel.co.uk or by post to Sarah Jones, B.W. Brook Hotel, 2 Barnard Road, Norwich, NR5 9JB
Norwich based SaxonAir Charter Ltd has seen a record increase in air charter use during the first six months trading of 2013.
Aeroplane charter hours for the first half of the year increased by over 65% against the same first six months trading of 2012, with Helicopter charter hours at its Norwich base up by 41% in the same period. Christopher Mace, Group Commercial Director, believes this positive news is a further sign of increased business activity from the UK as companies see the value in optimising travel time for key staff away from both the office environment and family life. SaxonAir has recently undertaken a campaign to promote private air charter to the business community highlighting the time saving benefits, flexibility and potential boost in productivity that can be gained by using the service.
“Air Charter is not necessarily about living a luxury lifestyle, being served champagne and caviar on-board” advises Mr Mace. “The majority of our clients are in fact businesses who appreciate that air charter enables them to make the very best use of their time with pre-cleared check-ins, the ability to undertake work on board in private and secure surroundings as well as landing at private airports closer to their destination not served by the airlines.”
Travelling with scheduled airlines can take you out of the office for several days, driving to major airports and adjusting your day to fit into the airline schedule – plus there’s the stress of delays or missing your flight if your meeting over-runs, lengthy check-in queues and pricy city hotel stopovers. With SaxonAir’s air charter service you can be in the air within minutes of arriving at your local airport, arrive refreshed and ready for a productive day’s business being back home to your family that evening – and back at your desk the next morning ensuring your business keeps flowing.
“There is no substitute for meeting face to face” adds Mace, “a major contract could be in the balance, presentations to be given or multiple sites to visit. These are many of the reasons when our business clients use the service as part of their overall transport solutions. The increased use of our aircraft in the first half of this year is down to a better understanding of air charter, our staff’s commitment to customer service and the varied modern aircraft fleet that we can offer”.
SaxonAir operates from their headquarters in Norwich alongside operating bases in London, Cannes and Thessaloniki in Greece. The varied aircraft fleet on offer ranges from entry level Citation Mustang jets to midsize Hawker 900XP and both a single and twin engine helicopter fleet. In its six years of operation the SaxonAir group of companies has continued to expand and today sees its total number of staff at almost 50, bringing a significant boost to the East Anglian region’s economy and infrastructure at Norwich International Airport.
Has your local police officer, member of police staff or community volunteer gone that extra mile for you? Is there something they do for your community you would like to acknowledge?
Norfolk Constabulary is asking you to show your appreciation by voting for them in our Norfolk Safer Community Award (NOSCAs).
Now entering its sixth year, the Norfolk Safer Community Awards offer people the opportunity to support the continuing efforts of the community and the Constabulary in keeping Norfolk a safe county to live, work and visit.
The awards combine internal recognition with local communities voting for officers deserving of an award for their contributions to their local community. Additionally, if people know of an exceptional individual or group who deserve to be thanked they are encouraged to nominate them for an award.
T/Chief Constable Simon Bailey praised the Norfolk Safer Community Awards saying:
“Highlighting the crucial work officers, staff and members of our local communities undertake every single day to help keep their neighbourhoods safe is a fundamental part of policing. The Norfolk Safer Community Awards offer us the opportunity to recognise their contributions appropriately.
“If you know a police officer, police community support officer, special constable or member of the community who has helped you to feel safe in your home or neighbourhood, perhaps by tackling an issue which matters to you, then please vote for them in these awards.”
Readers of the Eastern Daily Press can choose their Community Officer of the Year from those nominated by district commanders at Norfolk Constabulary. Voting forms will be available in paper and online.
The three other categories that members of the public can nominate someone for are The John (Cecil) Mason Volunteer of the Year, Young Citizen(s) of the Year and Community Citizen(s) of the Year.
The Chief Constable’s Special Recognition Award is a new category for 2013. It is an opportunity for the Chief Constable to recognise the work of an individual or team where their contribution to delivering the Constabulary’s performance has been significant yet under-recognised.
Norfolk Safer Community Awards are funded by sponsorship from commercial and community partners.
The event has two gold sponsors who significantly contribute to the awards and we are grateful for their support. As media partner, the EDP promotes the event in paper and on the EDP24 website and Holiday Inn, Norwich Airport provides the venue and catering at a reduced rate.
Sponsors for 2013 include:
• Eastern Daily Press – Community Police Officers of the Year • Holiday Inn – venue sponsorship • Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk • City College Norwich • Norfolk Chamber of Commerce • Shell UK Ltd • Reed Specialist Recruitment • GSL Dardan
Nominations can be made for people from local communities through to police officers and police staff, who with their actions and words have made a difference to the area we live and work in.
The deadline for nominations is 7 August 2013. The winners and runners-up will be invited to a special awards evening taking place at Holiday Inn, Norwich Airport on 3 October 2013.
Entry criteria and voting forms are available to download on the Norfolk Constabulary website www.norfolk.police.uk
Ashton KCJ Solicitors is delighted to announce a number of new Associate appointments from within the firm.
Four members of staff have been appointed as Associates, having successfully completed Ashton KCJ’s Development Programme.
Congratulations go to Gillian Brasher, Jennie Kingham and Teresa Callender, from our Lifetime Planning team and Mark Watson from the Corporate & Commercial team. Gillian, who heads our Trust and Tax team, is based in our Cambridge office, Jennie is based in Ipswich, Teresa works at our Bury St Edmunds Guildhall Street office and Mark is based in Norwich.
Ashton KCJ’s CEO, Edward O’Rourke says: “I would like to congratulate Gillian, Jennie, Teresa and Mark on this achievement, which is richly deserved. These appointments demonstrate Ashton KCJ’s commitment to investing in the professional development of our staff. It is always rewarding to be able to promote talented team members from within the firm. These appointments take the number of associates in the firm to 17 – together with our 40 partners, they are working to meet a wide range of legal needs across the region and beyond.”
RenEnergy UK Ltd has today announced a series of strategic organisational changes designed to accelerate growth, strengthen alignment with Aggreko’s IPP Solutions team, and position the business for a successful 2026 and beyond.
From 1 January 2026 RenEnergy and the Aggreko IPP Solutions team in Europe will begin a closer alignment of capabilities. This development will open up selected IPP pipeline opportunities to RenEnergy, enabling both companies to benefit from shared expertise and resources. It will also help to establish more direct communication channels with the Aggreko sales team, creating new routes for lead generation and supporting stronger pipeline growth.
In a significant leadership transition, Damian Baker, who founded RenEnergy in 2006, has served as Managing Director for 20 years, will move into the newly created role of Chairman, where he will continue to influence the company’s strategic direction, leveraging his deep industry insight and extensive network to help drive business development and accelerate growth. It will also give him a chance to continue to build relationships with key suppliers and business contacts and to take on more mentoring and coaching, roles which he is passionate about and excels in.
Damian Baker, RenEnergy UK Founder & Chairman said, “I am very excited to take on the new strategic role as Chairman. RenEnergy has developed over the years and is the UK’s leading Solar Carport and Canopy company and is working on some exciting new products which will be coming to market over the next few months. I am looking forward to assisting Kieth with his transition into the business.”
Keith Hobbs assumed the role of Managing Director for RenEnergy from 1 January 2026. Keith joined Aggreko in February 2024 as Development Director, IPP Europe, and brings extensive experience across the full lifecycle of renewable energy projects. His previous senior roles at Infinis Energy and Sembcorp Energy UK underscore his strong track record in development and business growth. Damian and Keith will work closely together to ensure a seamless transition throughout Q1 2026.
Keith Hobbs, RenEnergy Managing Director said, “This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside Damian and the RenEnergy team. The business has strong capabilities across a broad range of renewable energy solutions, and I am looking forward to playing a key role in shaping its future and leading RenEnergy toward continued growth and a sustainable future.”
Key senior leadership team members Sales Director, Tom Lloyd, Consultancy Director, Fiona Keysell and Development Director, Stuart Smith will report directly to Keith. With two key RenEnergy leaders continuing in vital roles as part of Aggreko’s wider European structure. HR Business Partner Sue Pepperday will report to Aggreko’s People Director for Europe, Lucy Taylor, and Finance Business Partner Laurence Moore will report to Wayne Bradburn, Head of Finance for the UK & Ireland.
“These changes mark an exciting new chapter for RenEnergy,” said Alan Dunne, Aggreko Managing Director, UK & Ireland. “By strengthening our alignment with Aggreko’s IPP Solutions capabilities and welcoming Keith into a critical leadership role, we are setting the stage for continued momentum in the renewable energy sector. We are incredibly grateful for Damian’s longstanding leadership and look forward to his continued influence as Chairman.”
RenEnergy extends its appreciation to all employees for their continued dedication and looks forward to a dynamic and successful 2026 when it will also be celebrating its 20th Anniversary of incorporation.
Eight Norfolk businesses have received support from the latest round of the Jarrold Growth Fund, this year in partnership with Norfolk County Council. From hand-forged metalwork to artisan kombucha and innovative tech platforms, this year’s recipients showcase the diversity, talent and entrepreneurial spirit that make Norfolk’s business community so special.
The Jarrold Group launched its Growth Fund in February 2024 as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to Norwich and Norfolk and the business community. This year’s partnership with Norfolk County Council brings together shared values of innovation, sustainability and community, with £100,000 of combined support available through a mix of funding, mentoring and practical help.
More than 70 start-ups and established businesses applied to the scheme in March 2025 with eight successfully securing funding, investment or support.
The following businesses received a blend of financial and practical support from Jarrold Group and Norfolk County Council:
Urban Interiors was the first business to receive funding, allowing the founder to embark on training and benefit from professional support to elevate her local profile.
L V Bespoke are specialists in creating bespoke metalwork and point-of-sale displays for the horticultural and lifestyle sectors, blending craftsmanship, creativity, and functionality. The Growth Fund will enable LV to scale up their operations and develop the business in a structured, sustainable way.
Oichi Kombucha, run by three sisters in rural Norfolk, is dedicated to creating authentic artisan kombucha infusions, made with seasonal, fresh and foraged ingredients. Jarrold Growth Fund support will enable Oichi to develop new flavours and expand into vending machine distribution. Oichi will also receive support from Jarrolds’ marketing agency, Yawn, and its logistics resources.
Due Trade creates online ordering platforms for the B2B sector, enabling businesses to increase trade orders and save time on inbound enquiries. The Growth Fund will allow Due Trade to invest in a business developer to support its customers and support the company’s next phase of growth.
One of a Kind Club is a well-loved jewellery brand, already available throughout the UK. The Growth Fund will enable the business to launch a new sustainable range and develop a better understanding of high-street trends, visual merchandising, marketing expertise and customer preferences to inform future product development and retail strategy.
Norfolk County Council also provided funding to the following organisations:
Zoological Society of East Anglia was awarded funding to revamp its outside seating area at Banham Zoo, enhancing the attraction’s food and beverage offering.
Stepping Stones is a charity based in Norwich where adults with learning disabilities receive the education, training and support they require to fulfil their potential. Funding from the Growth Fund will enable Stepping Stones to further develop its range of student-made products, such as stationery, calendars, t-shirts and bags. This includes attending its first trade show in London to showcase products to a national B2B audience.
Dragonfly Flooring is an independent business in south Norfolk which received funding to help develop its marketing strategy, including an investment in impactful vehicle graphics to ensure it stands out.
Caroline Ellis is group business development manager at the Jarrold Group. “This year’s Growth Fund has shown once again how much innovation and heart there is across Norfolk,” Caroline explains. “We wanted to support businesses that combine creativity with a clear sense of purpose and growth in mind and our chosen applicants have that in abundance.
“At the Jarrold Group, we don’t just offer funding, we share our expertise in training, marketing, logistics, facilities management and retail to help these businesses grow in a way that’s sustainable and true to their vision. All the businesses we have selected as beneficiaries of the Jarrold Growth Fund will receive a relevant package of practical support to enable their sustainable growth and progression.”
Hannah Springham, co-founder of Farmyard Frozen, explains why receiving Jarrold Growth Fund investment in 2024 was a game-changer for her business.
“Jarrold’s investment in Farmyard could not have come at a better time for us,” Hannah explains. “It has helped us pivot into selling our Norfolk-made products to international first and business class airlines, which has been a real game changer for our business. The help, support and faith that the Jarrold team have provided has been incredible: we feel very fortunate and are really enjoying engaging with them and leaning into their experience and advice as we grow.”
“My advice for recipients is to be relentless. Never give up, there is always a way to make it happen,” adds Hannah.
Cllr Fabian Eagle, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Norfolk County Council said: “These innovative businesses will receive the support they need, both financial and practical, to grow in a way that is sustainable. You only have to read the comments from some of these ventures about the impact it will have to see its real value, and I’m delighted that Norfolk County Council has been able to collaborate with Jarrold to provide this support.”