Plans for the future of trade in Northern Ireland (NI) continue to emerge. Here’s the latest Import Export Support update, along with links to pages of particular interest to any business that trades through NI.
Trader support service
The Institute for Export have introduced a Trader Support Service (TSS) to support businesses through the changes to Northern Ireland trade which take effect on 1 January 2021. The free-to-use service will provide guidance and training, a digital service to support declarations, and support from customs experts, delivered by the brand new Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy (NICTA) and funded by the Government. The service is open to traders, intermediaries and carriers moving goods into and out of Northern Ireland. To access the programme, you need to register your business. Register your business To apply you’ll need the usual business information to hand, including:
VAT Number
EORI Number
Once registered you can access free training either as a downloadable guide or a webinar. Currently there’s one webinar available ‘Introduction to Customs’. The first session was fully booked but there are more scheduled. Training info here More support in the form of guides and webinars is promised, so it could be worth bookmarking the page. How-to guides here There’s also a useful jargon buster to help you get a grip on all those awful terms and acronyms. Jargon buster here If you need any help or advice on imports or exports, please call me. Click here for our website
Alpha 7 Track Club recently enjoyed a fantastic day at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire, embracing the unique charm and challenge of this iconic circuit. Designed for drivers of all abilities, the club is perfect for enthusiasts who love the thrill of the track but prefer to avoid the stress of competitive racing. The track day, hosted by Javelin Trackdays, saw Alpha 7 running five cars, three owner-driver vehicles and two available for hire, making it an inclusive and exhilarating experience for all participants. The day began with damp conditions, offering a prime opportunity for drivers to hone their skills in varying weather. By the afternoon, the sun broke through, creating ideal track conditions and a perfect backdrop for a social gathering. The event was not just about driving; it was a celebration of shared passion, as members exchanged on-track stories and deepened their connections.
Are you passionate about the adrenaline rush of track day driving? Do you enjoy the camaraderie that comes with participating in driving events? If so, the Alpha 7 Track Club is your ultimate destination. We unite like-minded enthusiasts who share a love for high-performance driving and the vibrant social atmosphere of our events. If you have your own Caterham we can help with technical support and transport logistics. If you don’t have your own Caterham, why not hire one of ours?
Alpha 7 Track Club is dedicated to ensuring everyone has a great time, whether you aspire to become a racing driver or simply want to enjoy driving on a circuit without competitive pressure. We welcome drivers of all skill levels and can’t wait for you to join our community!
Interested in taking the first step toward your track day dreams? Contact Alpha 7 today for more information on how we can help you hit the track with confidence and skill.
Location: Carrowbreck House, 300 Drayton High Road, Norwich, NR6 5BJ.
With over a billion users active across the globe you can not ignore Facebook. Over 50% of the U.K population has a Facebook account! A country with a population
of approx 65million. If your target market is on facebook and your business is not, you’re missing out! Nothing comes close to competing with Facebook in terms of it’s user base and Businesses like yours can benefit from knowing how to optimise it.
This course is for you if you are a SME, Business Development Manager, Sales manager, Marketing Manager, whichever industry you’re in, and you are keen to utilise Facebook for your business to drive traffic and get results.
Duration: Half-day course (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Equipment: No equipment is necessary for you to bring to the course. Pens and note paper will be available.
Lunch provided:Light refreshmentswill be provided. If you are also attending the LinkedIn course in the afternoon a sandwich lunch with crisps, cakes and fruit will be provided.
Course Content How to maximise your business page Building your brand on Facebook Why visual rocks Marketing the Facebook way Driving traffic to your website with Facebook The power of cross promotions and advertising Why engagement keeps Facebook happy
In any business, document retention can be a challenge. Knowing which documents to keep and for how long can be particularly difficult as there are various time frames for different types of record.
As there are legal requirements for document retention in the UK, overcoming these challenges and staying on top of the amount of data and number of documents being produced is a must. A document retention policy can help you to do this. But what should it include?
Various speakers from UEA, BAS, Cefas and SAHFOS Zicer building / ENV Laboratory
Have you ever wondered what causes plankton blooms so large they can be seen from space; how marine life copes with the turbulent, low visibility underwater world we dive in? Or, how ocean currents are monitored by underwater gliders?
This fascinating two-dayinteractive oceanographycourse at UEA, created by divers who are also professional oceanographers, is open to anyone with an interest in the marine environment.
Join us at Sprowston Manor Hotel, Golf & Country Club for a day filled with wedding inspiration and planning. Meet with a variety of vendors offering everything you need for your special day, from flowers to decorations. Explore your beautiful grounds and envision your dream wedding coming to life.
If your business submits Intrastat reports or uses the UK Trade Info site, we’re highlighting changes that may affect you.
Action this week
Users of UKTradeInfo may know that the site relaunches on Monday 19 October – that’s next Monday. We want to highlight that data you have saved to the site won’t be migrated to the new site, so export and save all the tables you’ll need in the future. The IT team behind the relaunch are warning of some bugs in the new site, so expect that from Monday the new site may not be 100% reliable and plan accordingly.
Action from 1 January 2021
For businesses who currently make Intrastat reports, it’s important to know you must continue to submit Intrastat reports after January 1 2021, as well as submitting import and export customs declarations for goods crossing the EU border. For more on this subject, on the HMRC site there’s a useful FAQ document on Intrastat declaration requirements for 2021, including the reports required for trade through NI. Intrastat FAQ here
I regularly post on the IES blog where there’s lots more relevant to the import export business. IES Blog
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is clearly still a vital tactic for businesses, more so than any other activity such as social, email and PPC.
What isn’t clear is how businesses like yours can do successful SEO.
Our free SEO Takeaway workshop will provide you with up to date information and tactics you can use to improve your SEO. This 1 hour session will include:
How does Google rank websites? What content do your users want? 12 SEO tactics you can take away
This free 1 hour session is for anyone involved in website management and needs to improve traffic and performance.
Where?Henderson Business Centre,51 Ivy Road, Norwich, NR5 8BF
They’ve done it again! We’ve been awarded Highly Rated by Autotrader for the 4th year in a row!
🏆2024 🏆2023 🏆2022 🏆2021
Thank you for the incredible level of customer service and unrivalled professionalism you provide to all our customers – you really are the dream team!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Alpha 7 showcased its racing prowess at the 4th round of the Caterham Graduates Racing Series held at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire. Fielding five cars, three in the 150 class and two in the 135 class, the team navigated the weekend’s unpredictable weather conditions with skill and determination.
Arriving on Thursday afternoon, the team faced persistent drizzle and the ever-present threat of rain. These challenging circumstances provided valuable opportunities to fine-tune wet setups and master slippery driving lines during Friday’s testing. The mixed weather conditions proved to be a formidable test of driver adaptability and strategy.
Qualifying was particularly demanding due to the triple-header format, requiring drivers to post three fastest laps to determine their starting positions for each race. The cloudy, damp, and drizzling conditions made this task even more challenging. Choosing between a wet or a dry car set up was a constant gamble! In the 150 class, Jamie Ellwood emerged as the top qualifier for Alpha 7, securing P3, P3, and P9 for the weekend’s races.
The weekend’s three races in the 150 class were marked by thrilling battles and changing weather. In Race 1, Jamie Ellwood engaged in an epic duel with Harry Senior, ultimately emerging victorious. Thomas Horton narrowly missed the podium, finishing in 4th place. Race 2 saw another intense battle at the front, with Thomas Horton improving to finish 3rd, while Jamie Ellwood secured 5th place. Race 3 brought further excitement as Jamie Ellwood surged from P9 to P5 in mixed weather conditions. Unfortunately, Thomas Horton had to retire after his A-frame broke, despite a strong start. Ellwood’s fastest lap of the weekend set a new club record, underscoring his impressive performance. After many races, Thomas Horton finally won best-presented car in the 150 class, sponsored by ‘Luxbox’, based in Fakenham.
In the highly competitive 135 class, Amanda Anderson and Mark Barrett represented Alpha 7 among a field of 28 cars. Mark Barrett consistently demonstrated his skill with remarkable starts, gaining an average of seven places on the first lap and finishing P21, P17, and P17 across the three races. Amanda Anderson, starting from P12 for each race, faced her own set of challenges. After a spin at Hall Bends relegated her to P20 in Race 1, she recovered to achieve P14 in Race 2 and capped off the weekend with a top-10 finish after a dramatic last-lap battle.
Alpha 7’s success at Cadwell Park highlights not only their competitive spirit but also their commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a passion for motorsport. If you’re inspired by the excitement of competitive racing, Alpha 7 offers comprehensive driver development programmes tailored to transform novices into skilled racers. Whether you need professional car management or wish to hire a top-performing Caterham, Alpha 7 is dedicated to helping you achieve your racing dreams.
Ready to take the first step toward your racing ambitions? Contact Alpha 7 today to learn how we can support you in hitting the track with confidence and skill.
Location: Carrowbreck House, 300 Drayton High Road, Norwich, NR6 5BJ.
This accredited qualification has been designed for delivery to any learner working or preparing to work in a customer service role or where using the telephone is a part of their role. The qualification covers the principles of customer service including how to meet customer expectations, the importance of appropriate behaviour and communication techniques as well as ways to deal with problem customers.
Equipment: No equipment is necessary for you to bring to the course. Pens and note paper will be available.
Lunch provided: For full day training courses a lunch with sandwich or salad, crisps and cake or fruit will be provided. Refreshments will be available throughout the duration of this course.
Course Content Principles of customer service. Understand how customer needs and expectations are formed. Know the interpersonal skills and appropriate behaviour required in the customer service environment. Understand the principles of responding to customers’ problems or complaints.
Subject to passing a 30 question multiple choice exam paper delegates will gain the Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance Level 2 Award in Customer Service.
You will be given a HABC Customer Service manual to take away and keep after the course for future reference.
“Spending time in the pool can help reduce pain, increase flexibility and mobility, stimulate senses and improve balance” – shop customers are being asked to donate 25p to help fund hydrotherapy sessions for the next 12 months
Customers at leading charity shops across the region have the chance to club together and help fund hydrotherapy sessions for families receiving care from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The new Help Hydrotherapy Happen campaign is being rolled out in EACH’s 48 shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
When paying at the till, customers will have the option to donate an extra 25p and the target is to raise £9,000 – enough to fund a hydrotherapy session every week for the next 12 months.
Ian Nicolson, EACH’s Director of Retail, said: “We’re calling on all our customers to help raise just £23 a week in every shop from 5th August to 29th September.
“If just one in four customers donates 25p we’ll raise over £9,000 during the campaign and that would help pay for a hydro session every week for the next year!
“Of course, there’s no obligation to donate and customers certainly don’t have to give anything extra when they pay for their items.
“However, just 25p would help us greatly, when added together with money raised across the region.
“It’s an exciting campaign that will undoubtedly make a tangible difference to the children and families receiving our care and support.”
EACH has hydrotherapy pools at each of its hospices – at Milton, near Cambridge, The Nook, near Norwich, and The Treehouse, in Ipswich.
They are warmer than recreational pools and allow families to take a dip together in a private, safe and supportive environment.
“From a child’s perspective, spending time in the pool can help reduce pain, increase flexibility and mobility, stimulate senses and improve balance,” added Ian.
“It’s a wonderful way to enable special memories for families.”
EACH Physical Therapies Technician Lauren Wright hopes customers give generously and says hydrotherapy has become a real passion.
“It’s incredible and has such benefits for the children, for so many different reasons,” she said.
“We’ve got a young girl who lost the ability to walk on land. However, when she gets in the pool, she’s able to take steps in the water, which is huge for her.
“Then we’ve got slightly older children who aren’t able to have much physical contact with their parents, because they’re in wheelchairs and their movement is so restrictive.
“When we’re able to get them in the pool, they’re able to hug their parents, which is very emotional and so important for families.
“It’s an amazing thing to witness and experience and I consider myself very lucky to come in and do this as my job. It’s a real passion of mine.”
