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We’re in Q4, folks, and it’s crucial for businesses to start preparing their marketing for the Christmas rush.

Getting a headstart is key to maximising your visibility and sales during this peak shopping period.

Smash Marketing understands the importance of being prepared and can ensure your campaigns are ready and vibrant for the holiday season.

Not sure what to plan?

Here are a few tips to get you started.

Learn More: Christmas Marketing Ideas For Small Businesses | Smash Marketing

Nominations are now open for the Broadland District and South Norfolk Councils’ Business Awards 2025, sponsored by local law firm Birketts LLP.

Businesses based in the two districts are invited to nominate themselves in any of the ten categories to be in with a chance of winning one of these prestigious awards.

Broadland District Council’s Cabinet Member, Cllr Martin Booth, said: We have such a wide variety of businesses operating across both districts, from huge multi-nationals to one-man bands, in sectors as diverse as food and drink production, retail, insurance and tourism. These businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy and deserve to be recognised for their dedication and the hard work of their staff.”

South Norfolk Council’s Cabinet Member Lisa Overton-Neal, said:

“South Norfolk is proud of the local businesses that make our district such a vibrant place. We have a huge range of independent shops and businesses as well as multi-national concerns and this is a chance to congratulate them on their success and recognise their tremendous work.”

Businesses are invited to nominate themselves in the following categories:

Business Growth, Business Innovation, Employer of the Year, Environmental Impact, Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Excellence in Insurance, Financial and Professional Services, Food and Drink Producer of the Year, New Business, Small Business of the Year and Tourism Business of the Year.

Residents are also invited to vote for their favourite Retailer of the Year and Pub of the Year. By voting they will automatically be entered into a prize draw and be in with a chance of winning £100 of shopping and pub vouchers. There will be four lucky winners, two from each district.

Nominations close on Friday 13 December and winners will be announced on 19 March at an awards ceremony at Norwich City Football Club, with the support of headline sponsor Birketts LLP.

To nominate your business, or to vote for your favourite retailer and pub visit the Business Awards page: Broadland and South Norfolk.

Business Awards 2025 flyer A5

Prestigious Fundraising Event for Tapping House marks the launch of new Hospice brand.

Norfolk, 18^th October – Last Friday evening, the magnificent Sandringham House set the stage for a remarkable night of opera, generosity, and community spirit as Tapping House hosted a prestigious fundraising event that honoured the care the Hospice provided to the wife of Charity Ambassador, Giuilo Codacci-Pisanelli. This elegant evening celebrated both the exceptional care given to Giuilo’s late wife and all the brave patients supported by the Hospice, making the night a heartfelt tribute to the Hospice’s dedication to compassionate care.

The event also marked the official launch of Tapping House’s exciting new brand identity, symbolised by the iconic dragonfly—a timeless emblem of transformation, hope, and resilience. This dragonfly now embodies the Hospice’s mission to provide compassionate care to patients and their families across Norfolk, continuing to be a beacon of support for those facing life-limiting illnesses.

Set against the backdrop of royal grandeur, the evening was filled with heartfelt performances and a reminder of the community’s connection to the Hospice’s mission, making the evening even more special.

Attendees were treated to a breath-taking evening of Verdi’s much loved opera ‘La Traviata. Performed beautifully by Diva Opera in an intimate setting in the state Ballroom. Mingling amongst distinguished guests and enjoying the beauty of Sandringham, Jeanette Hill had these lovely words to say about the evening, “Thank you for an amazing evening at Sandringham. It exceeded our wildest imagination. Everything about the evening was just perfect.”

Tapping House is also delighted to announce that the evening’s fundraising efforts raised an incredible £43.348 for the Hospice, a sum that will go directly towards supporting its excellent and outstanding care services. Care that Tapping House has been providing to the community of North and West Norfolk for 40years. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who attended and contributed to this memorable event, the generosity of those who bid in the auction, our generous sponsors and the kindness of those who donated such wonderful items, played a pivotal role in the night’s success.

Nicola Ellis, CEO gave an emotional speech on the night, sharing her excitement about the new chapter Tapping House is about to enter and her optimism for the future, she said this about what the evening and refreshed brand means to the Hospice, “The dragonfly symbolises our commitment to embracing change and moving forward with grace and purpose, and there could not have been a better way to launch this new chapter than at Sandringham with such wonderful people by our side. Every person who attended has helped us continue our mission of care, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”

This enchanting evening marks a new era for Tapping House as it embarks on an exciting new chapter under its refreshed brand. But this wonderful event also launches a year of upcoming celebrations of Tapping House providing 40 years of outstanding palliative care to those who need it most.

There’s a saying in business that changing your branding should be a ‘symbol of change’, rather than an excuse to simply ‘change a symbol.’ 

The first time we’ve undergone a serious rebrand in 22 years is a symbol of a changing Naked, evolving to stay up to speed with the world around us. Our core values and beliefs we live by remain as relevant today as in 2002. But in truth, our message had become muddled. Our overall look and feel, rather dated.

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The final round of the Caterham Graduates Racing Series brought Alpha 7 Motorsport to Donington Park National, with the team running seven cars across the 135 and 150 classes. Following Jamie Ellwood’s dominant performance at Anglesey, where he secured the CGRC 150 Class Championship, he switched to the 135 Class for the weekend, borrowing teammate Amanda Anderson’s car.

Friday began with frustration as fog delayed the start of testing, adding a tricky element for drivers to deal with. Once it lifted, the track dried out, allowing for some good dry running, although many red flags throughout the sessions led to a stop-start rhythm. Despite these interruptions, the team prepared well for the races ahead.

Saturday’s 150 Class qualifying session was wet, setting the tone for what would be a challenging day for the drivers. However, Race 1 was dry, offering some respite from the earlier conditions. Amanda Anderson encountered gear selection issues right at the start of Race 1, dropping her to the back of the pack. Despite this setback, she staged a strong recovery, engaging in a fierce battle with Andy Johnson for 11th place. In one of the weekend’s closest finishes, Johnson narrowly beat Anderson by just 0.03 seconds, earning the People First Millisecond Award.

Matthew Willoughby had a mixed weekend, retiring from Race 1, but his efforts throughout the season were rewarded as he secured second place in the overall 150 Championship, a fantastic achievement for the Alpha 7 driver. Meanwhile, Ian Anderson enjoyed some exciting on-track battles, particularly with Charles Elliott, who pushed him hard in both races. Ed Benton, in his debut season, successfully completed his required six racing signatures, allowing him to remove his novice cross. His progress continues to impress, and he now sets his sights on the CGRC Novice Cup as he looks to build on this promising start.

The second 150 Class race took place under heavy rain, with visibility drastically reduced. The spray made the opening laps particularly dangerous, but all drivers navigated the conditions well, showing impressive car control in such treacherous weather.

In the 135 Class, Jamie Ellwood, driving Amanda Anderson’s car, faced similarly tough conditions. The damp track made Race 1 a challenge, but Ellwood was determined. He battled fiercely with up-and-coming female driver Megan Bruce, leaving his move for the lead until the final lap at the last chicane, where he snatched victory in a thrilling finish. Race 2 saw a continuation of this battle, but after losing the tow, Jamie had to settle for fifth position.

Darren Butler’s weekend got off to a rough start when his gear knob snapped during qualifying, forcing him to miss most of the session and start both races from the back of the grid. Despite this setback, Butler delivered two impressive drives, fighting his way through the pack and showing remarkable determination. Sean Cronin also had a promising start to the weekend, putting in solid performances in the 135 Class. Unfortunately, Race 2 saw him involved in an accident at the start, forcing him to retire early with a DNF. However, the team remains optimistic, and Cronin’s car will be repaired over the winter, ready for a strong comeback next season.

As the season draws to a close, Alpha 7 is already looking ahead to 2025 with exciting driver announcements and new plans on the horizon. The team will celebrate their season’s achievements at the upcoming CGRC awards dinner in November, where Alpha 7 drivers will be vying for various seasonal honours.

It’s been a fantastic season for Alpha 7 Motorsport, and all involved are eager to carry this momentum into the next year.

Banham Zoo is excited to announce the completion and opening of a new Tiger Territory enrichment platform for our Amur tigers, made possible by the generous support of UK Power Networks, Scanpole, and MKM Building Supplies. The project, with a total value of £27,000, was fully donated by these partners and marks the official launch of ZSEA’s new corporate partnership programme, as part of the “Together for Wildlife” campaign.

UK Power Networks’ supplier, Scanpole, donated specially crafted untreated utility poles for the project, and MKM Building Supplies generously provided the labour, materials, and equipment needed for construction.

The new platform enhances the habitat for our Amur tigers – Mishka and her two sons, Kash and Kumi – part of the European Breeding Programme for this critically endangered species. The habitat improvements were completed in mid-October and are now open for public viewing.

Upon completion of the new platform, Banham Zoo’s Tiger Territory is now proudly sponsored by MKM Building Supplies.

Conservation in Action: Protecting Endangered Species The Amur tiger, the largest tiger subspecies, is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only around 400 individuals remaining in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching. Banham Zoo, part of the Zoologica Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), is actively involved in preserving this species. Thanks to ongoingpartnerships and donations, ZSEA is making a meaningful impact on the conservation of these magnificent animals.

A Collaborative Effort for Wildlife “We are incredibly grateful for the support from UK Power Networks, Scanpole, and MKM Building Supplies in bringing this project to life. The new platforms will provide our tigers with a more stimulating and enriched environment,encouraging natural behaviours and improving their overall wellbeing,” said Holly Naylor, Carnivore Team Leader at Banham Zoo.

Alan Archer, Asset Engineer at UK Power Networks, commented, “We were thrilled to contributto this project. Working with Scanpole to supply the untreated poles was a unique way for us to help protect an endangered species.”

Adrian Marr, Operations Manager at MKM Norwich, added, “MKM is passionate about supporting local charities and wildlife conservation. By sponsoring Tiger Territory, we’re helping to create an enhanced habitat for these majestic animals and contributing to their long-term welfare.”

Join the Movement: Partner with ZSEA The launch of this project marks the start of ZSEA’s corporate partnership programme, encouraging businesses to join the “Together for Wildlife” campaign. By collaborating with ZSEA, organisations can contribute to critical conservation work and connect with local and global communities through wildlife protection initiatives.

If your business or organisation would like to get involved with ZSEA, please contact partnerships@zsea.org to explore partnership opportunities. For more information, please visit: https://www.fundraising.zsea.org. Together, we can help protect endangered species and promote conservation.

We also invite all visitors to visit Banham Zoo during the upcoming October Half-term to witness the newly completed Tiger Territory Platform, an example of how conservation and enrichment go hand-in-hand for animal welfare.

https://www.zsea.org/

Equipment readiness is vital for all organisations operating in e-commerce, retail, manufacturing, post & parcel, warehouse and 3PL, especially in peak season.

Recognising this, King’s Lynn based Southgate Global, a leader in the supply of operational logistics equipment, consumables, and technical and design services, has launched a new mobile application – the Southgate ServAgree app – to help customers reduce downtime as well as maximising capital investment in equipment.

Using the app, customers have access to Southgate’s Mobile Repair Service with rich data supplied daily, and the ability to manage all their servicing needs and inventory in one place. The app gives easy and direct access to Southgate’s Technical Services team whose mobile onsite expertise provides repairs and maintenance, ensuring the reliability of material handling and packing equipment, to help avoid unexpected downtime and costly delays.

Southgate’s Technical Services team service a range of equipment including strapping and wrapping machines, WAT dispensers, and many others, as well as material handling equipment such as carts and trollies. It operates across the UK and Europe, with over 40 technicians servicing, maintaining, and repairing over 3,800 pieces of equipment every week.  This team has the expert knowledge required to take care of a customer’s entire inventory of packing and material handling equipment, regardless of manufacturer.

The new Southgate ServAgree app has already helped one large e-commerce customer reduce downtime by up to 40 per cent by reducing repair time and lowering costs by reusing, repairing, and repurposing machinery and equipment instead of replacing them.

The software application, which is the first to provide a personalised service, also manages the documentation of repairs and tracks scheduled maintenance. This reporting can include details of every repair and service, itemising all the parts used, offering accurate information about the key pinch points, and tracking any reoccurring issues which can then be rectified.

The app can also create an asset register which allows users to plan maintenance, track service history as well as prepare for inspections, all of which help to reduce the risk of equipment failure.

John Maher, Head of Technical Services at Southgate Global, said: “We understand how detrimental it can be to a business if even one trolley or machine stops functioning correctly. The app has been designed specifically to mitigate the risks of downtime with numerous functions such as managing regular maintenance checks.

“At Southgate Global, we’re committed to providing customers with the quickest and most efficient service possible, which is why we’ve launched the Southgate ServAgree app.

“Servicing underpins everything we do, helping with our customers’ productivity goals, while maximising the value from their equipment investment. The app gives organisations everything they need to know about the servicing of their machines and equipment in one easy-to-use place.”

Visit the Southgate Global website to find out more about its Technical Services offering and arrange your survey with its experienced technicians to identify your needs and create a tailored service proposal.