Next week Peter from Human Capital Department will be jetting off to Qatar and Dubai. “It sounds like a holiday but it’s really not” said Peter.
The purpose of his visit is to meet potential clients of Human Capital Department’s HR Consultancy and Training Serivces.
In particular Peter is working with companies looking to improve and streamline their leadership development programmes.
“Companies across the GCC region are feeling the effect of low oil price on revenue and profits and implemeting cost reduction strategies. At the same time they do not want to cut back on investement in national talent as this represents the future for the region – we can help in re-focussing existing talent mangement strategies and re-design of management and leadership programmes”.
It is a short trip but should prove productive as Peter lived and worked in the region for eight years and so has many contacts there and will be also be speaking at the Qatar HR Forum on the 23rd March. .
A vacancy exists for the role of Business Support Administrator for Realise Futures Careers Solutions. The prime purpose of this role will be to offer administrative assistance to the RFCS team. You will need to ensure that tasks are completed within a timely manner and to the levels of RFCS and the challenging demands on the National Careers Service contract.
This is a varied and complex role that requires excellent communication skills and the ability to liaise with peers and senior managers.
Banham Zoo is celebrating a historic milestone as four maned wolf pups were born in January 2025 – the first maned wolf birth at the zoo in 20 years.
This exciting event makes Banham Zoo one of only a handful of UK zoos to have successfully bred this Near Threatened species as part of a vital conservation programme.
The pups were born to first-time parents Enya and Thiago, and all four are thriving under their mother’s care. Now one month old, they are beginning to explore their surroundings while being closely monitored by our expert zookeepers to ensure their healthy development.
A Crucial Conservation Achievement
Maned wolves are classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, road collisions and human/wildlife conflict across South America. This successful birth represents a significant step forward in the conservation of the species, strengthening the European Breeding Programme (EEP) in which Banham Zoo proudly participates.Only three UK zoos have successfully bred maned wolves in the past year.
This birth highlights Banham Zoo’s ongoing commitment to conservation, animal welfare, and species survival.
Maned wolf pups typically remain with their mother for up to a year, learning crucial survival skills before gaining independence – making this an important period for their development.
We are also proud to acknowledge the support of Towergate Insurance, whose generous sponsorship of the maned wolves will allow us to make critical improvements to the habitat, enhancing the care and well-being of these magnificent animals. It also supports our continued involvement in vital breeding programmes, ensuring the long-term survival of this rare species.
“We’re delighted to sponsor the habitat of the maned wolf pups and congratulate Banham Zoo on their breeding success of this near threatened species. It’s fantastic to see such an achievement happen in East Anglia, a region that we’re deeply proud to operate in. As a regional insurance broker, we take great pride in the achievements of the local communities and look forward to watching the pups grow in their wonderful habitat that we’re thrilled to support.”
Kirsty Wainwright-Noble, Towergate Insurance.
“The birth of four maned wolf pups is an incredible milestone for both Banham Zoo and the conservation of this unique species. It is the first maned wolf birth here in 20 years, making it a significant achievement – not just for our team but for the wider efforts to safeguard the species. Formally listed as near threatened in 2015, in recent years, the populations have decreased rapidly, and it’s believed they are at threat of extinction.
With only three UK zoos having successfully bred maned wolves in the last year, moments like this truly highlight the vital role zoos play in protecting and preserving endangered wildlife for future generations. The pups are already out and visible, and wecan’t wait for our guests to share in the joy of seeing them. We hope that births like this will inspire the next generation of zookeepers and conservationists.”
Deborah Harris, Animal Manger at Banham Zoo
Watch the Pups & Support Conservation
Banham Zoo is releasing exclusive footage to mark this incredible occasion, offering the public a first glimpse at these rare and special pups.
We invite visitors to come and witness this landmark conservation success and learn more about how Banham Zoo is working to protect endangered species like the maned wolf.
MOA are proud to have been involved with Break charity andthe GoGoDragons! project for the last 18 months. Working with this small charity with a big heart has been an emotional journey. We have touched many lives and given young people a better start in life as a result. We produced this short video as one of our dragons headed towards the auction from it’s home. The Artist John Stokes, a Shakespearean Actor who has performed at the Maddermarket theatre many times, an accomplished graphic artist and all round gentleman says farewell to GoGoMadder in his own style.
Avendra Narayan CPA has become the first Australian TaxAssist Accountants franchisee. Avendra, who has over 45 years’ experience in accounting, business and finance has opened a shop in the Liverpool district of Sydney, New South Wales.
Joining Australia’s newest network of accountants, and becoming its first franchisee held no fear for Avendra, who was attracted to the shop concept and business development initiatives offered by TaxAssist. “Many people will ask what makes TaxAssist so different?” said Avendra. “Really, it boils down to offering a more comprehensive, all round service, specifically for small businesses – if you like – a ‘one-stop-shop’.”
All TaxAssist shops are based in accessible, convenient locations. Avendra continues “The look and feel of the shops are completely different from traditional accounting practices. We know clients will appreciate our open, welcoming look and we want clients to enjoy coming through the door. Gone are the days of feeling inhibited by a trip to your accountant. The shop certainly seems to be working too, in the first two weeks of opening, I signed 14 clients, the majority of which were walk-in clients!”
The Liverpool shop joins the Forster, Woolgoolga and Taree branches, which opened in January and are operated by Master Franchisees Terry Murphy and Celeste Godwin.
TaxAssist is looking to grow its network by joining forces with other accountants. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit the Australian franchisee recruitment website www.taxassistfranchise.com.au.
TaxAssist has over 280 practices in the UK and over 20 in the Republic of Ireland.
Campaign is aleading magazine in the advertising industry that often features work from the biggest London brands and agencies. Every year,they publish a ‘School Report’ that ranks agencies according to billings,based on datafrom Nielson.
2016 is the first time that JMS has been featuredin the published list and is the only company based inEast Anglia, with the exception of creative production houseFall Off The Wallin Hertfordshire. It can often be challenging for a rural media company to compete with others from large media hubs, such as London, Manchester and Birmingham, but 2015 was a busy year for JMS that involvedworking with big names in cruising, toysand services.
The company is thrilled to berecognised amongst the top players in the industry and looks forward to helping more brands grow this year through TV advertising, which continues to be the most effective advertising medium and is constantly evolving to become more targeted and more accessible for smaller brands.
If you would like to know more about TV or radio advertising, visit the JMS Group website or call 01603 811855.
David Paulson, Senior Manager for UK and International Recruitment, and James Mattam, Senior Business Development Manager at TaxAssist Accountants, are back from a successful trip to Australia, where they delivered training, looked for future shop sites and attended the Sydney Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo with TaxAssist Master franchisees Terry Murphy and Celeste Godwin.
Terry and Celeste are business partners who have been running their own practices across New South Wales and Queensland for over 10 years and are TaxAssist’s first Australian Master Franchisees. They have so far rebranded three of their existing premises in Forster, Woolgoolga and Taree into TaxAssist offices, and have taken on their first franchisee, Avendra Narayan, who has opened a shop in the Liverpool district of Sydney, New South Wales.
David comments, “Terry and Celeste have done a fantastic job so far in promoting the TaxAssist brand in Australia. Myself and James have enjoyed seeing how far things have come already, and offering advice and guidance on further development. The potential for both master franchisees and franchisees is huge in Australia, which has a buoyant small business market which is largely untapped. The franchise exhibition, at which we had a stand, was very well attended and we were inundated with enquiries, so we are hopeful that we should see more franchisees joining us soon.”
Banham Zoo is delighted to share some heart-warming festive news with the announcement of two newly hatched African black-footed penguin chicks, a joyful milestone for this endangered species.
Earlier this summer, in June, Banham Zoo proudly welcomed a group of African black-footed penguins from Hertfordshire Zoo, adding to our already established colony of African black-footed penguins as part of the international breeding programme dedicated to safeguarding the future of the species. We are thrilled to report that the penguins have settled in exceptionally well and are already playing a valuable role in conservation efforts.
Maneno and Jozini have successfully hatched chicks: Pumpkin, born on 31st October, and Spice, who followed shortly after on 3rd November. Keepers report that both chicks, along with their attentive parents, are doing extremely well.
With African Black-footed penguin populations continuing to decline and fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining worldwide, every successful hatching represents a vital step forward. Alongside its breeding efforts, Banham Zoo is proud to support the vital conservation work of SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds), whose teams work tirelessly in South Africa to rescue, rehabilitate and release African penguins affected by oil spills, climate change and food shortages.
Sophie Imhof, Team Leader of the Bird team at Banham Zoo said,
‘We couldn’t be happier to welcome Pumpkin and Spice, especially at such a magical time of year. Seeing Maneno and Jozini settle in so quickly and successfully raise two healthy chicks has been wonderful for the whole team. With African black-footed penguins under so much pressure in the wild, every new chick really does matter and these two are a lovely reminder of why conservation work like this is so important.’
To celebrate the arrival of Pumpkin and Spice, Banham Zoo has launched new penguin adoption packs, offering supporters a meaningful way to help protect this endangered species. Adopters will be able to follow the penguins’ story as they grow, while directly supporting conservation efforts both at the zoo and in the wild, making it a truly special gift this Christmas.
Just to note – As a precautionary measure due to current bird flu restrictions, visitors are not able to enter the penguin habitat at this time. However, there are several designated viewing areas around the habitat, offering guests the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the penguins and observe the family from a safe distance.
James Reed, Chairman of the Reed Global group of companies, will officially open a REED Megasite in Norwich on Tuesday 19th April. The aim of the office will be to continue to serve the business community across a number of fast growth sectors in the East of England.
Employing more than 30 people, the site will deliver specialist recruitment services to businesses across a number of disciplines. These include Accountancy, HR, Finance, Marketing and Creative, Business Support, Hospitality and Leisure for both temporary and permanent workers.
Melanie Marjoram, business director at REED Norwich, says: “Opening an office of this size is a real measure of the growth the city has experienced in recent years. Norwich has an exciting and varied jobs market which is why it needs a recruitment centre that can offer a variety of bespoke options for all recruitment needs.”
In addition to catering for jobs in a number of sectors, the REED Megasite in Norwich will offer enhanced facilities for both candidates and clients. These will include a number of workshops, including skill set and role play workshops, testing suites and interview rooms. There are a growing number of REED Megasites in the UK and across the globe in specially selected areas where jobs and industries require a wide range of specialist skills to suitably provide for the market.
Melanie Marjoram continued: “The facilities for both individuals and businesses at the site are high quality. With a range of training options to improve and expand skills, the opportunities to develop with REED are vast. The skills gained will help candidates and REED work together to set a successful career path, and businesses to flourish. With the new Megasite bringing so much to the local community, it will be great to have our chairman James Reed to open it on April 19th, and launch all the good work we want to do.”
The new REED Megasite is located at Seebohm House, 2-4 Queen Street, Norwich, NR2 4SQ. The Launch will commence from 15:00 to 18:00. Please join us in our celebrations with refreshments and Canapes on offer.
To attend, or for more information, please call Michelle Topley, Office Manager at REED Norwich, on 01603 616190 or email michelle.topley@reedglobal.com
Jen Little, Practice Recruitment Specialist at the Cambridge office of Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), has completed a 75km trek across the Sahara desert to raise money for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (ARHC) and has described it as ‘the most amazing and phenomenal experience’.
Having spent six months undergoing some intensive preparation training, Jen was one of eight members of Team ARHC who took on the epic walk through temperature conditions ranging from a scorching 40 degrees in the day to just 0 degrees when camping at night. The other team members included the charity’s CEO Lynn Morgan, staff at the hospice and other local business people including Steve Mitcham, CEO of Cambridge Business Society.
The group hiked across the desert for several days from 17th March with just their guide, and the camels who were carrying the minimal luggage they were allowed, for company. Having made it safely back in one piece, aching legs and the odd blister aside, Jen has already said she would return to the Sahara in a heartbeat.
“However much I thought I knew what it would be like, it was even more beautiful than I could have imagined”, said Jen. “It was an amazing and phenomenal experience as well as being hard work and scary all at the same time. Essentially we just walked, ate and slept but we really bonded as a team throughout and got to see some spectacular sights. We were up before 6am each morning and watched the most beautiful sunrises and the sunsets were equally as stunning. We were in bed by about 8.30pm most nights but we did also have time to marvel at the stars. Because there is no light pollution in the desert you really can see every star in the night sky.”
The team had to battle through a sand storm towards the end of the trip which meant they actually completed the journey slightly quicker than they had anticipated.
Jen, who has been an ambassador for ARHC for the last eight years, added: “When the sand storm came in it really reduced our visibility and dropped the temperature. We were advised to either all bunker down in one tent until it passed or to keep on walking through it to escape the storm quicker. We choose to keep on walking which meant we reached our finish goal earlier than we expected. But it was like being completely sand blasted and the only bits of ourselves we really dared have exposed were our hands. When we reached the end we all felt an overwhelming sense of achievement. We’d taken on a challenge and really risen to it and conquered it as a team.”
The sponsorship money for Team ARHC is still coming in, but with all eight team members having already averaged around £2,000 each, the overall amount looks set to be a significant amount for the charity. ARHC is the only adult hospice in Cambridgeshire and provides specialist palliative care and support to adult patients and their family, friends and carers. The money raised will be used to support the creation of a new 24-bed facility at the hospice which is set to be an exemplar in hospice design and will offer patients a more spacious, attractive and therapeutic environment.
Age UK Norwich and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) have released a powerful new video aimed at healthcare professionals to raise awareness about the growing issue of frailty and falls in Norfolk.