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We are looking to hire a Level 3 Business Administration
Apprentice in partnership with training provider Swarm Apprenticeships. This is
a full-time position with the opportunity for the right candidate to learn
and gain valuable skills to build a successful career. 

All information about the application process can be found here:  https://swarmgroup.vincere.io/careers/apply/34042 

We can’t wait to hear from you! 

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is making a final call to any eligible local businesses which haven’t yet claimed their Covid-19 Government Business Rates Grant, as the scheme is due to close on Friday, August 28.

Since March 2020, the council has encouraged eligible businesses to complete the simple online form as swiftly as possible in order to get their grants, with just over £30m so far paid out to assist 2,722 businesses in the borough.

With the Government closing its scheme on Friday, August 28, the council is making a final call for completed forms from businesses which might be eligible for either:

• A Small Business Rate Relief Grant of £10,000
• A Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant of either £10,000 or £25,000, dependent on rateable value.

For the link to the online form, information and support about the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice:

CLICK HERE

Under the Government’s rules, the claim must come from the ratepayer, and they must have been trading on March 11, 2020 to be eligible.

A business may be eligible if they are in receipt of small business rates relief, or have a rateable value under £51,000 and their business is within the retail, hospitality or leisure trade. Even if a company’s liability is already covered through small business rate relief, they may still be eligible for a grant. 

Providence Street Garden blooms into life.

Providence Street Placeshaping Community Centre has bloomed into life as a new garden is unveiled.

The garden was funded by generous donations from Lovell, Arc Fabrications, ElecSure, KJ Plastering Ltd, Westcoast Windows, Osborn & Kent and Proctor Roofing and Ground Control.

The structural work on the garden was carried out by Freebridge Community Housing Property Services, whilst the planting and general upkeep will be maintained by volunteers from the centre and the community.

The Norfolk Youth Offending Team contributed benches for the garden from their workshop nearby, whilst fencing was provided by West Norfolk MIND.

Robert Clarke, Freebridge Director of Housing, said: “We are really pleased to see this great new space available in time for the summer.

“As we continue to use our Placeshaping team at Providence Street to improve communities across West Norfolk we would like to express our gratitude to all the businesses and charities who have supported this and the many other projects we’re involved with.

“We would like to invite members of the public to come down and hopefully enjoy some summer sun in the garden.”

Big C has launched an online physical activity and wellbeing intervention programme ‘Get Moving with Big C’ to enhance the wellbeing of cancer patients who are spending more time at home due to the pandemic. All participants will be screened prior to taking part in the sessions which will consist of safe, low intensity mobility and stretch exercises including gentle exercise and stretch, yoga with mindfulness and gentle Pilates. The programme is being delivered by Simon Gooch, Big C’s Health and Education Officer, who has completed a Level 4 Specialist Course in Cancer Rehabilitation Through Exercise Referral and specialist coaches. Patients will be offered 12 weeks of weekly sessions, as this is the recognised duration to implement behaviour change. Following this they will receive a ‘Keep Active’ newsletter with links to pre-recorded sessions, wellbeing information and news of opportunities for keeping active, such as Big C challenges. It is hoped that going forwards it will also be possible to offer occasional meet ups, where those that have completed the programme can get together and exercise, for example with a session of Tai Chi in a local park, or a walking group. Dr Melanie Pascale, Director of Operations at Big C, said, “A physical activity programme is something we have wanted to add to our portfolio of support for some time. Increasingly, research is showing the important role that physical movement can have, before, during and after cancer treatment, with strong evidence of it being safe and providing improved recovery and patient wellbeing. * “The Covid-19 pandemic has brought additional need due to the effects on the wellbeing of those cancer patients who have needed to shield or self-isolate for long periods. The launch of our online physical activity sessions and telephone support will help service users maintain physical and mental wellbeing as the pandemic continues, in a safe and supervised manner. Looking ahead, we can also see the benefit of online sessions for those that live rurally and find it more difficult to access Big C centres.” Simon Gooch, said, “We are really excited about launching our ‘Get Moving’ programme and we have already had a lot of interest from people who may usually visit our centres. Grateful thanks also to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity for their financial contribution to the project.” To find about more about Get Moving with Big C, please visit https://support.big-c.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Get-Moving-with-Big-C_Info_Sheet.pdf Email physicalactivity@big-c.co.uk or call 0800 092 7640.

Delia’s Canary Catering at Norwich City Football Club are delighted to confirm reopening plans for all conference and meeting spaces at Carrow Road from Thursday, October 1.

After a long period spent away from your team and colleagues, we are thrilled to be able to offer you the space to bring everyone back together for the first time.

We are so fortunate to have a wealth of space available, with 17 function rooms of varying sizes, and 41 executive boxes ideal for breakout sessions, small meetings, or even temporary office space.

Our unique venue means we have a suitable space for all requirements.

Across the stadium, we have four stands each with their own entrance which also allows us to offer you the opportunity to book a stand that is entirely self-contained, should you require it.

Following an investment in 2019, our rooms now feature state of the art technology to complement your meetings and ensure it is an interactive experience. This includes: HD projectors and screens, PA systems and microphones as well as the facilities for video conferencing, allowing us to host “hybrid” events.

We also must mention that under the Delia’s Canary Catering brand, all of our menus are created from Delia’s very own published recipes, and everything is freshly prepared in-house to ensure that dining at Carrow Road is not only a safe experience, but a truly memorable one.

The safety of our customer remains our number one priority, and as a result of government advice and guidance, we have put a number of procedures in place across our venue to ensure you are as safe as possible. For a detailed list of guidelines, click here.

We are really excited to be able to offer a really safe and unique environment for clients looking to hold corporate events such as training courses, meetings, away days, as well as private events such as family dinners, anniversary, wedding or birthday celebrations. 

To book, visit the Delia’s Canary Catering website or call 01603 218704.

Global markets push higher on growing signs of recovery

Global equity markets largely pushed higher this week on positive economic data. The Nasdaq hit a new record high, as did the gold price, while the S&P500 is now less than 1% below its February peak of 3386. Global purchasing managers’ indices, which are used as a way of measuring how businesses are performing, showed improvements in most regions suggesting we are on the road to recovery. 

Please here to read this week’s market summary in full.

As people turn to accountants for advice and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, TaxAssist Accountants registers its highest ever number of July new business client leads.

In the most turbulent of times, small business specialists TaxAssist Accountants have proved to be an essential hub for local business communities as a result of unsurpassed levels of support and communication.

With over 230 franchises across the UK looking after more than 76,000 clients, TaxAssist Accountants has seen its services in demand like never before.

The Norwich-based Support Centre team is working tirelessly to ensure its franchisees have correct and up-to-date information to meet its network’s clients’ requests for help, and the timely advice and online and centralised email campaigns offered by TaxAssist Accountants during the pandemic have been very well received from clients who have praised the proactive help and advice offered.

James Mattam, Group Business Development Director at TaxAssist Accountants said: “July was an unprecedented month for new business client leads generated by the Support Centre, with over 800 qualified by our team of call handlers.

“All of our accountants have been incredibly busy supporting their clients through the COVID-19 crisis, with grant applications, funding and furloughing claims and cash flow advice. As a result of the quality, responsive service our network has offered, we are receiving a huge number of new business enquiries and referrals from existing clients, happy to recommend TaxAssist’s services. We are also receiving calls from businesses looking to migrate to our network who are feeling unsupported by their current accountant in these challenging times.

“All of our accountants are open for business and offer flexible ways to meet, either over the phone, via video consultation or safely in one of our shops or offices. We provide a full service offering to clients utilising the very latest online software solutions, taking the guesswork out of managing financial business records. We regularly hear back from clients that they enjoy the ease and clarity of the software, coupled with the personal, local service that our accountants provide.

“I’d encourage anyone wanting to find out more about TaxAssist’s services, or to request a free initial consultation to give the team a call on 0800 05 23 555.”

A fostering campaign for Norfolk County Council

JMS worked with Norfolk County Council Fostering Service to produce an advertising campaign across TV, Radio and Social Media.

The aim was to attract new foster carers to the profession.  

With the recent rise in people looking for a change in career due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, combined with an ever increasing demand for foster carers, Norfolk County Council Fostering and Adoption Service wanted to reach as many people as possible that either wanted to make a difference or take up a new vocation that is not only life changing for them, but for a child as well. NCC chose the Sky AdSmart platform to help reach as many potential foster carers as possible and encourage them to consider fostering.

With the tag line “It’s not what you can do for a living, it’s what you could do for a life” and “Open your heart, and open your home” the commercials appeal to those that could provide a child with a loving and stable home.

Making the most of a tight budget 

With funds being tight for public services, we needed to make the most of a limited budget.

Our campaign featured a mix of traditional advertising channels like radio, proven digital channels on social media, as well as newer forms of advertising such as addressable TV…

AdSmart from Sky allowed NCC to specifically target viewers in Norfolk, by District Council and profiling of their target audience defined which Mosaic groups would best fit our commercials. We ran two commercials one aimed specifically at adults who currently look after children such as Teachers, Teaching Assistances and Heads of Schools, the second advert was aimed at people who were looking for a change of vocation during the Pandemic.

The precise targeting of the AdSmart platform ensured limited wastage of the marketing budget, which enabled the use of Radio as well.

In contrast to a regular TV Commercial, AdSmart also has the benefit of providing fully trackable statistics based on performance, allowing NCC to fully evaluate the campaigns effectiveness and return on investment.

The ‘Enhanced Fostering Services’ video illustrates what the role of a foster carer entails. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that fostering can be a challenge. The video was used across NCC’s social channels and featured on screen text to ensure that the message could still be clearly communicated even if the video was viewed with the sound off.   Simple Sums, Seeking Foster Carers and Change Your Profession were all different creatives produced closely with NCC’s marketing team to use social media, AdSmart and radio in combination to get the message out locally.

“At the height of the pandemic the team at JMS went above and beyond to help create a series of creative and emotive TV and Radio adverts within a matter off days. Fortunately we had already been working on a separate project with JMS so they already had a key understanding of our service and messaging required.

The team produced scripts, storyboards which where discussed over conference calls where further ideas were brainstormed. I cannot thank JMS enough for all their help during such a critical time throughout the world. JMS made the process seamless and easy from initial brief to final delivery of our adverts. We saw a gap in the market and did not want to be left behind especially when we continuously require new foster carers to step forward and help change a child’s life.”

Scott McKay, Fostering and Adoption Marketing Manager – Children’s Services, Norfolk County Council.

 Norfolk County Council Fostering Service

There are children across Norfolk who need a foster parent. Children enter the care system for many different reasons. Although every child is unique, all children will require patience, understanding and stability from a good foster carer. You could play a significant part in the life of a child – whether you’re looking after the child for just a few days or a few years.

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer then please contact Norfolk Fostering Service on: 01603 306649

Website link: www.norfolk.gov.uk/fostering

Social links:

Facbook @norfolkfosteringservice

Twitter @fosterinnorfolk

A local ‘Customer Experience’ business has developed a unique solution to ensure team members can feedback their safety concerns when they return to work.

“We know from our own research conducted, that business leaders are worried about well-being and how their team members may be feeling about the safety of their workplace when asked to return to work. We also know team members are really concerned too, especially as more of their colleagues and customers re-engage,” says Judy Randon CX Specialist for Norfolk and Suffolk. “The reasons are varied and understandably, each person is different in regard to their perception and the different circumstances they are working in. With this system, we have that covered.”

To help, and to enable a successful and sustainable return to trading, insight6 has created a “COVID-19 Stay Safe Team Checker”. The feedback system gathers instant feedback with team members about their concerns, freeing up management time to invest in helping those who need help and running the business. The system will send an instant, real time notification to a nominated person in a business, so if a team member is worried about their safety whilst at work, it will trigger a dialogue between the leader and their team members who needs more support and reassurance to sustain their happy return to work.

The platform can be expanded to other parts of the business and gather customer sentiment and confidence levels too.

The team at insight6 HQ can have businesses set up and receiving feedback within 48 hours. To support all business types, the system is being offered at an investment of £150 plus VAT for three months with full and on-going support.

About insight6 Norfolk & Suffolk

Insight6 Norfolk & Suffolk specialises in helping forward thinking businesses to increase sales through consistently delivering a great customer experience to their customers. Judy Randon is based in Norwich and has 20 + years of business experience in a variety of sectors including food, tourism, leisure, hospitality and retail and will help you build and deliver a 6-step sustainable customer experience strategy, whatever your business type or sector. Across the UK insight6 partners and supports more than 800 businesses.

To find out more, or to arrange a virtual or socially distanced meeting please contact Judy Randon on 07909 542737

Hatch Brenner Solicitors have joined the Law Society and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners in welcoming plans announced by the Government to introduce temporary legislation in September 2020 allowing the digital signing and witnessing of wills in England and Wales.

The new legislation, which is being introduced following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, will be backdated to apply to wills made since 31 January 2020 and it is expected to remain in force until at least 31 January 2022.

Alexandria Martin, Trainee Solicitor within the Private Client team at Hatch Brenner Solicitors in Norwich commented: “As we all adapt to the ‘new normal’, it is vital that legal legislation keeps pace with the demands of social distancing and pandemic prevention measures. This temporary legislation allowing the virtual signing and witnessing of wills and codicils via video conference technology like Zoom or Skype should be welcomed. Particularly during uncertain times, the process of drawing up a legally valid will gives individuals peace of mind and ensures their wishes will be carried out in the event of their passing.

“It is worth noting that the government guidance states that digital signing and witnessing via video link should be a last resort and where individuals can sign their wills in the conventional way, then they should do so. Hatch Brenner Solicitors has procedures in place to allow our clients to physically sign wills – either in our office on Theatre Street or at their home, within social distancing and covid-secure guidelines.”

Read more: Confessions of a Private Client Solicitor: will signing during a pandemic

Until now, for a will to be legally valid, it must be signed in the physical presence of two independent witnesses at the same time, who must then sign in the presence of the testator of the will. The new legislation varies the requirement of “presence” to allow for those witnessing a will to include virtual presence via video link as an alternative to physical presence. The standard formalities for executing a will under The Wills Act 1837 otherwise remain in force. The legislation may remain in force for a shortened or extended period than initially announced as deemed necessary.

The Ministry of Justice has stated that there are no additional plans in the immediate future to further relax the strict protocols around will signing and witnessing – for example to allow electronic signatures or counterpart wills.

If you would like to enquire about making a will, we offer a fixed fee will service. Contact alexandriamartin@hatchbrenner.co.uk or call 01603 660 811.

Located in Hosham St. Faith, The Black Swan is just over six miles from the centre of Norwich and just a few minutes from the NDR. With ample off road parking and a full a la carte menu (also available for takeaway), coupled with ‘Cask Marque’ real ales, The Black Swan is the perfect retreat for couples and families to eat, drink and relax.

The Black Swan is part of the eat out to help out scheme whereby every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August you can take advantage of a 50% discount on all food and non-alcoholic drinks (maximum £10 per diner). With no voucher required, no limit on how many times you come, no reservation necessary and no limit on your spend, why not treat yourself, your loved ones and your family to a long overdue trip out to the spacious and welcoming atmosphere at The Black Swan.

We look forward to welcoming you soon.