member

After six years of consistent growth, True Traders Ltd has broken through £1m turnover for the 2013/14 financial year. A family run company, True Traders are a leading seller of temporary barrier fencing, alongside many other products ranging from garden & allotment netting, to construction safety equipment.

They have grown considerably since their inception by Michael Bezance, in his garage, in 2007. The company has now outgrown two storage facilities and moved to their current warehouse, on Caister Road in Great Yarmouth, in April 2013. The new warehouse, at 6300sq ft, is more than double the size of their previous.

Marketing Director Tom Bezance said ‘Breaking the £1m turnover mark is a significant milestone for True Traders. It has been the main target of the company since day one and everyone here at True Traders has worked very hard to achieve it. We are very proud of where we are now.’ ‘Obviously the hard work doesn’t stop here. New targets have been set so we can continue to push forward and grow. We now have two new employees starting to help us lay the foundations for a larger and more dynamic company.’

The company currently run seven online shops, each with its own particular niche. One of a number of aims for the current financial year is to combine these shops into a single superstore under the True Traders brand. This would allow truetraders.co.uk to become a one-stop shop for products from all seven shops, something which will be a great benefit to customers.

Tom Bezance added ‘We want to make the whole experience for customers as smooth and effortless as possible. This new superstore, coupled with easily contactable sales staff, will be a huge step in the right direction. 2014 certainly looks like an exciting year for us.’

City College Norwich has celebrated its outstanding apprentices and the employers who have shown exceptional support for apprenticeships, at an awards night held at the Great Hospital in Norwich.

The College’s 2019 Apprenticeship Awards followed on from National Apprenticeship Week, which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

Eight awards were presented to individual apprentices for their achievements and progress, with an Overall Apprentice of the Year announced on the night. 

Awards were also presented to four of the college’s most outstanding employer partners.  These awards recognise employers’ exceptional support for apprentices – with categories for micro, medium and large employers – and there was also an Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships award.

City College Norwich currently has more than 1,200 Apprentices on its programmes, up to and including degree apprenticeships, and 676 apprenticeship employers working in partnership with the college. 

“These awards showcase the very best of apprenticeships”

Congratulating the award winners, Ed Rose, City College Norwich’s Director of Higher Education and Apprenticeships, said:

“As ever these awards showcase the very best of apprenticeships.  The diversity of our winners show that apprenticeships really do offer opportunities across the age groups and throughout all types of employer.  It’s a real challenge to pick an overall winner from so many outstanding candidates with such great stories.  We’ve been delighted to be able to celebrate our winners’ achievements.” 

Apprentice award winners

Oliver Holmes, a Contracts Manager with Norwich-based IT firm Osiris Technologies, was named Overall Apprentice of the Year.  Oliver is working towards the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. 

Oliver was praised for the contribution he has made to his employer using the knowledge and skills developed through his Degree Apprenticeship.  Osiris have implemented a number of Oliver’s recommendations in relation to the monitoring of its financial and service performance. 

The Overcoming Barriers to Achievement Award went to Rob Honeyman, who completed a Business Administration Apprenticeship with Flagship Group.  After spending most of his working life in the construction industry, Mr Honeyman was forced to change career because of a severe back problem.

Joining the health and safety team, and retraining through the Apprenticeship, represented a “huge change” in his working life and circumstances.  Rob was praised by City College Norwich’s apprenticeship team for maintaining his “positive attitude despite facing a massive learning curve” and for his participatory approach and “thirst for learning”. 

He was also “brilliantly supported” by his employer, Flagship Group, who showed great belief in him.  Rob has since been offered, and accepted, a permanent position with Flagship.    

Other winners included Tony Iacovazzo, a plumbing apprentice with Anglia Gas Services Ltd, who was named Construction Apprentice of the Year.  Last May Tony took first place in a national plumbing and heating skills competition, to take the title of HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year 2018.  He is now passing on what he has learnt by helping to coach this year’s City College Norwich entrant to the competition.     

Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships: Gasway

The Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships award went to Gasway, who have been key supporters of the new gas engineering apprenticeship which was launched by the college in December. 

Gasway have placed the new apprenticeship at the heart of their recruitment and training strategy, taking on 14 gas engineering apprentices and providing them with exemplary support.  Gasway’s support for the new apprenticeship has gone much further, however, as the company generously gave time and labour to assist the college in fitting out its new gas engineering workshop.            

Anne-Marie Seale, Head of HR and Apprenticeship Delivery, Gasway, said:

“We are delighted to accept this award and to be recognised by City College Norwich for our contribution to apprenticeships. City College are a progressive college and Gasway are passionate about growing our talent in order to address the skills shortage in our industry. This combination has allowed us to work collaboratively to build a sustainable partnership which will continue to create new engineering opportunities within our region.”   

Full list of City College Norwich’s 2019 Apprenticeship Award winners 

• Alex Curtis (Spectra Packaging) – Digital Apprentice of the Year

• Sarah Eley (Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital) – Health Apprentice of the Year

• Martha Frosdick (The Salon, Costessey) – Service Industries Apprentice of the Year

• Karl Gilbert and Eleanor Rose (Cecil Gowing Infant School) – Childcare, Education and Early Years Apprentice of the Year

• Oliver Holmes (Osiris Technologies) – Business, Management and Professional Services Apprentice of the Year

• Robert Honeyman (Flagship Group) – Overcoming Barriers to Achievement Award

• Anthony Iacovazzo (Anglia Gas Services) – Construction Apprenticeof the Year (Electrotech, Plumbing, Trowel and Wood Occupations)

• Stuart Meek (UCP Zeller) – Engineering Apprentice of the Year

• Chloe Adcock and Southlands Dental Surgery – Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (micro)  

• Pipeshield International Ltd. – Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (medium)

• UCP Zeller – Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (large)    

• Gasway – Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships 

Staff at local accountancy firm Aston Shaw have raised a grand total of £5,796.68 for Norfolk’s cancer charity, Big C.

Dominic Shaw, Director of Aston Shaw was delighted to present Dr Chris Bushby, Chief Executive of Big C with a cheque for £5,796.68 raised through a variety of fundraising events.

Over the course of the year the staff at Aston Shaw have a taken part in a range of fundraising activities, including a Colour 5k, Inflatable 5k, Dress Down Days, Networking Events, a Charity Pub Quiz and a Sponsored Silence by Aston Shaw’s ‘most talkative employee’.

Dominic Shaw, Director, said: “It’s a real pleasure to be able to donate such a sizeable sum of money to Big C, we’ve had a lot of fun raising it and we know that it’s going to a very worthwhile cause.”

Dr Chris Bushby, Chief Executive of Big C, said: “We rely on voluntary donations for the majority of our income, so support from local businesses is really important. We’d like to say a massive thank you to Aston Shaw for choosing us as their charity for the last year. It’s been a brilliant year working with the whole of the Aston Shaw team.”

Aston Shaw’s new charity of the year is East Anglian Air Ambulance, a life-saving charity delivering critical care to seriously ill or injured people in the region. Aston Shaw has stated that they aim to beat last year’s total and are aiming to raise £7,000.

www.astonshaw.co.uk

The EIT Digital Challenge is an annual Europe-wide call for the most innovative start-ups in digital technology ready to scale up. It is provided through EIT Digital- a European digital innovation and entrepreneurial education organisation.

EU-based start-ups can apply with their innovative digital technologies in one of the following five categories:

• Digital Industry
• Digital Cities
• Digital Wellbeing
• Digital Infrastructure
• Digital Finance

The Challenge offers an international growth package worth up to €100,000 to scale up businesses. In total, 25 scale-ups from the five categories will be selected to pitch their product or service in front of an international jury of corporates and investors at the final event in October. The two best companies per category will gain 12 months in the EIT Digital Accelerator worth €50,000 to scale up their business. On top of that, the first prize winner in each category receives a cash prize of €50,000.

Applicants should:

• Be a fast-growing European technology start-up ready to scale.
• Have a product / service leverage digital technology applied to industry, cities, wellbeing, infrastructure or finance.
• Already have market traction, customers and revenue.
• Be growing at a double-digit pace or faster.
• Require support in international customer acquisition and fundraising.

The 2019 programme closes on 14 June 2019.

Further information can be found by following the link:  2019 EIT Digital Challenge Fund

Corporate Finance specialist Stephen Reed has been promoted to partner at regional chartered accountancy practice Price Bailey. Based in their Thorpe St Andrew office, Stephen joined Price Bailey in May 2012 as Corporate Finance Director, and over the past two years he has been key to the development of the firm’s Corporate Finance offering not only in Norwich but across the whole of East Anglia.

Stephen’s wealth of specialist knowledge and experience has proven invaluable to a number of local businesses, including SignsExpress whom Stephen advised on last year’s management buyout and the owners of SK Sales which was sold to SIG plc. Stephen joins Daren Moore, Aaron Widdows, Richard Day and John Warren to bring the total number of Norwich-based partners to 5.

Commenting on his promotion, Stephen said: “I am delighted to be in a position to help with the continued development of Price Bailey’s corporate finance proposition. the team and our service offering have grown significantly over the past two years. As the largest SME-focussed Corporate Finance team based in East Anglia, we’re perfectly placed to help business owners and investors take advantage of market opportunities – whether this is by helping to grow businesses through acquisition, better planning and investment or by achieving optimum value from their business sale.”

Stephen would be delighted to hear from any fellow Chamber members who are looking to develop their business to discuss how hecan help. Please call on 01603 709330 or email stephen.reed@pricebailey.co.uk

Further information about the many ways in which our Corporate Finance team can help are featured on our website at www.pricebailey.co.uk/services/corporate-finance

Now in its 11th year, East Anglian recruitment agency Cooper Lomaz have released their annual Salary Survey and Recruitment Trends report.

The report, which presents findings from over 2,800 individuals across the East of England working within the technical and professional sectors, is now available to download from their website – https://www.cooperlomaz.co.uk/salary-survey-2019/

Simon Brown, Managing Director of Cooper Lomaz, said:  “In producing this annual report our goal is simple; to provide an unrivalled and unbiased insight into recruitment trends from the past twelve months from across our region.”

In addition to salary statistics for the Accounting & Finance, Engineering, Food Manufacturing, IT, Sales & Marketing, and Supply Chain sectors, this year’s report also highlights recruitment trends and hot topics including the gender pay gap. We found an alarming difference between the amount of money earned by men and women in the sectors we operate. Shockingly, we calculated that September 19th 2019 will be the day that the average women will stop earning their annual salary compared to men.

Simon added “This year we’ve discussed in more detail some challenging and thought-provoking trends. There are insight and analysis within the report which I suspect will make some feel uncomfortable, challenged and even possibly lead to difficult conversations. However, I believe that such debate is good for business, good for employees and ultimately good for the region.”

The effect of salary on satisfaction levels is another topic which showed some interesting insight. Can money buy love? According to the data, it appears not – well, at least not on its own. The report shows that training actually plays a key role in supporting a satisfied workforce.

The strong growth seen in the IT sector shows no sign of abating and we’re seeing an ever-increasing demand and competition for skilled candidates. 2019 will also see the continued rise of Digi-Tech start-ups and SMEs with Norfolk actually outstripping Suffolk and Cambridge for growth in the sector. It’s these companies who stand the greater chance of attracting top talent as they tend to offer more flexible working hours, the latest technologies and project ownership. It’ll be vital for established organisations to remain competitive by embracing modern working preferences and by recognising the value of their current IT and infrastructure employees.

For the first time in over 5 years, nearly one in four people do not feel secure in their current roles. The reason? While it would be easy to blame this trend on the wider economic and political landscape, it’s clear that businesses should be communicating with their employees about how any changes could affect them personally. For more insights into recruitment trends, download your copy of the Salary Survey and Recruitment Trends report now by visiting https://www.cooperlomaz.co.uk/salary-survey-2019/, or speak to one of their consultants on 01284 701302 | 01603 766760 | 01206 984321

We had an amazing time in the Smash Marketing office on Friday, getting into the Do Blue spirit for World Mental Health Day! A big shout out to Mind Norfolk and Waveney and all the local companies participating.

By wearing blue, raising donations, and joining in the conversation, you’re helping shine a light on mental health and making sure no one faces it alone. Every bit of support counts, and seeing so many people get involved reminded us just how much we can do together.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Architect Mirja Mainwaring and Architectural Technologist Matthew Clarke to the LSI Architects Board of Directors.

Director David Andrews commented that “As a Board we are unanimous in that we are all absolutely delighted that Matt and Mirja join us as Directors. Both appointments are of great significance to our practice, as Mirja becomes LSI’s first female Director and Matt becomes the first person to join the Board who initially joined the practice as a trainee following the establishing of our ‘grow our own’ policy to recruitment and employee development in 2002.”

Since joining in 2012, Mirja has played a key role in the development of the practices higher education portfolio.

Mirja has delivered a number of projects for the University of East Anglia, including the RICS award winning £9.5M Crome Court student accommodation, the £27M Hickling and Barton House student accommodation development and refurbishments of Earlham Hall, the lecture theatres and library.

Mirja is currently Project Associate on a landmark new £44M academic building project at the University.

Mirja has led the practice’s efforts to establish its presence in the residential sector and has been involved in projects such as the £8M fit out of The Loft Apartments at Manhattan Loft Garden’s in Stratford and the £34M Ebury Centre Development in Westminster.

In the eastern region Mirja has been involved in the development of a masterplan for a new sustainable community in Rackheath providing 200 new homes, and proposals for a small scale high quality sustainable residential development in Dickleburgh.

Matt joined LSI as a trainee Architectural Technologist in 2003, since then predominantly working on projects in the education sector which has formed a large percentage of the practice’s work.

Matt has undertaken the role of project runner on a number of successful projects in the education sector including UTC’s in Norfolk, Peterborough and Dagenham and the RIBA East Award winning Stephen Perse Foundation in Cambridge.

Outside of the education sector, Matt has delivered a new bioscience research and development facility for Leaf Systems on Norwich Research Park and Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Cley Marshes Visitor Centre.

Matt is currently delivering an £8M Integrated Health Centre in Kent and a £20M office development in Suffolk.

The shortlist for the annual Best Practice Awards has been announced today 10 May 2019 by work life balance charity Working Families

MHA Larking Gowen has been named as a finalist in the “Best Flexible Working Initiative” award category of the Working Families’ Best Practice Awards. Employers large and small from many sectors compete annually to reach the shortlist for the unique business awards for flexible, agile organisations.

Now in their tenth year, Working Families’ Best Practice Awards showcase and celebrate employers who are offering flexibility for all their people and going above and beyond in their support for parents and carers.

“We are delighted to be shortlisted for this award,” says Amanda Ninham, Head of Human Resources at MHA Larking Gowen. “The ability for our people to work flexibly around their commitments outside of work and achieve a sense of balance in their lives is extremely important to us.  Our flexible working approach dovetails perfectly with our wellbeing commitment too.”

Jane van Zyl, Chief Executive of Working Families and Chair of the judging panel, says,

“Working Families would like to congratulate MHA Larking Gowen, whose flexible working culture and employee-friendly workplace has earned them a much-coveted place as a finalist of this year’s Best Practice Awards.  MHA Larking Gowen’s outstanding entry in the Best Flexible Working Initiative category caught the attention of the judging panel and stood out amongst a record number of entrants.                                      

“Flexible working isn’t just good for parents and carers; it’s good for business. Employers reap valuable rewards when they give their staff members more control over their time-from improved employee engagement to better organisational performance.

“Our research shows an unmet demand for flexible working. 86% of parents want to work flexibly but less than half (49%) actually do.  Initiatives like those on the shortlist are key to helping parents take control of their time and find the work-life balance that works best for them.”

The full shortlist for the 12 categories:

Best Flexible Working Initiative – sponsored by NHS Employers

Larking Gowen

Suffolk County Council

Global Witness

Best for Mothers

Barclays

FYXER

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Mum & You

Best for Fathers

Response IT

Deloitte

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Best for Carers & Eldercare

Barclays

Centrica

Best for Embedded Flexibility – sponsored by Arnold Clark

Freestyle

Deloitte

Morgan Sindall

Best for Flexible Recruitment

Suffolk County Council

Arnold Clark

Best for Line Manager Support

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Best Innovation – sponsored by ILF Scotland

Waltham Forest Council

Arnold Clark

Best Returner Programme – sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada

Barclays

Allen & Overy

Morgan Sindall

Natwest Markets

Best Family Network

Barclays

Royal Bank of Scotland

Sky

Best for Mental Health & Wellbeing – sponsored by Schroders

Deloitte

QBE Insurance Group

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Financial Ombudsman Service

Best Small Employer

Response IT

9-2-3 Jobs

Slalom

The winners of each category will be announced on 20th June at London’s Vintners’ Hall.

Hicham Al Maghouch has opened a new TaxAssist Accountants shop in the heart of Lewisham.

The shop at 338 Lewisham High Street offers tailored tax and accountancy services for small businesses and individual tax payers across the Lewisham area. “I am so pleased with the look and feel of the shop. It will provide the ideal environment for me to meet with clients to discuss their tax and accountancy needs,” said Hicham. “My career has been spent working with a range of business clients of different sizes, but it has always been my passion to work with and support the small business community.” “I’m really looking forward to meeting individual taxpayers and small businesses in the area who are in need of an accountant and would encourage anyone interested in our services to pop in to arrange a free initial consultation.

I build my business on trust and integrity and my relationships with my clients are front and centre of everything I do”.

TaxAssist Accountants Lewisham specialises in providing accountancy services, company tax returns, self-assessment returns, payroll, bookkeeping, tax savings and tax advice to small businesses.

In addition, TaxAssist also offers QuickBooks Online and Receipt Bank which help business owners manage their finances, scan receipts and stay in control of their business.  

Join Our Team – Exciting Marketing Executive Role

Want to continue or develop your marketing career in a successful and growing agency?

Keen to work with a diverse range of businesses and deliver genuine results?

We’re seeking an intelligent all-round Marketing Executive to help with our continued growth.

Full Mix Marketing

Launched in 2016, we’ve quickly established a growing number of loyal clients and developed a strong reputation for our expert skills and delivery of results.

We provide highly-effective strategic, digital and creative marketing – ranging from totally out-sourced delivery to single elements like social media, direct mail and web design.

We’ve recently gained a number of new clients for whom we’re providing part or all of their ongoing marketing delivery.

The Role

We require an enthusiastic and intelligent marketer to join our team.

Working alongside the directors and other marketing executives, you will help schedule, create, manage and deliver ongoing strategic, digital and creative marketing – from inception to completion.

The role may initially be varied but can become more focused depending on your skills or ambition. Though a good understanding of marketing is vital, you will receive support to develop your skills.

Initially a Marketing Executive role, the right candidate will have a genuine opportunity to develop into a more senior role and share in our success.

The role is based in Cringleford, Norwich.

This is anticipated to be a full-time role. However, applications are also welcome from experienced marketers seeking a part time role of 20+ hours (please specify preferred hours in application).

Key Duties

• Contributing to the creation of marketing strategies and plans
• Overseeing and coordinating ongoing marketing delivery
• Briefing and supporting web designers, graphic designers and digital marketing specialists within team
• Creating and contributing to marketing including:
  • Press releases, blogs and other content
  • Social media
  • Website content, SEO and PPC
  • Email campaigns
  • Direct mail campaigns
  • Print design and advertising
• Identify and exploiting marketing opportunities for our clients
• Liaising with clients and reporting on progress and results
• Helping shape our own processes and direction

The Person

Essential

• Experience of marketing in a commercial or agency environment
• Good understanding of the principles of marketing
• Strong written and language skills
• Well organised and able to effectively plan own workload
• Attention to detail and keen to maintain standards
• Adaptive, dependable and keen to develop

Desirable

• Copy writing, PR or content creation skills and experience
• Experience of marketing management or coordination
• Graphic design, web design or digital marketing skills
• Business or marketing related qualification (e.g. degree, CIM)

Sound like the challenge you’re seeking? To apply email info@fullmixmarketing.co.uk or visit: https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/marketing-executive-ft-or-pt/37938766 

Closing Date 21/6/19

NORWICH, Thursday 24th April 2014 – Jobs boost at Norwich International Airport In preparation for the start of another busy summer season, over 50 new jobs have been created at Norwich International Airport.

The new staff will work in a number of passenger focused areas including baggage handling, working on the apron during aircraft turnaround, in the terminal on check in, customer care duties and within the security and catering concessions.

Pleasingly, for the first time this summer some of the vacancies have been filled by students from City College, Norwich. This came about as a direct result of the student takeover at the airport earlier this year.

Gary Blake, Customer Services Manager said: “We are delighted that the link established between the airport and City College, Norwich following the student takeover has resulted in us being able to offer the chance of employment to some of the students who applied for the positions following the takeover. Boosting staff numbers for the summer season helps ensure that customer services standards are met and our passenger’s journey through the airport is a pleasurable experience.”

Joe Mulhall from City College commented – “City college Norwich’s relationship with Norwich airport clearly demonstrates the benefits of real work experience for our students. Our students really enjoyed their work experience at Norwich airport and appreciated the support and opportunity to experience all aspects of the airport operational roles and we are delighted that this resulted in some of them securing jobs for the summer.”

Andrew Bell, CEO of Norwich International said: “We are pleased to welcome so many new recruits to our airport team this summer and delighted that our relationship with City College, Norwich has helped students take their first steps into their chosen line of work. Everyone at the airport works extremely hard to maintain high levels of service with the aim of being the airport of choice for friendliness and great customer service.” -End-