How to Use COBRA
A workshop showing you how the COBRA (Complete Business Reference Adviser) databasecan help get your business started. Find all the information you need to get your business off the ground.
Where: The Business Library, 2nd Floor, Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library
When: 6.00-7.00pm
Cost: Free for a maximum of 6 people. Booking required
Phone: 01603 774740
Email: askus@norfolk.gov.uk
Head out to the world’s most iconic cities and lap up in the spectacular show they put on. Don’t limit yourself to a short-haul destination, when there are so many long-haul city breaks that tick all the boxes and more. Switch it up with a city break further afield, followed by a beach stay after! The world really is your oyster.
The city that never sleeps is the ultimate city break; a dazzling hub of culture, history and entertainment. From incredible shows on Broadway to catching a baseball game in the Bronx, you’ll never be short of activities. A must-visit is a trip to the top of the Empire State Building, get your camera ready for this one as the views are something else. To get your shopping fix, head to Fifth Avenue and indulge yourself with big names such as Saks, Tiffany & Co., Armani and more. Head to the home of the world-famous singing waitstaff and some of the best food in the country, Ellen’s Stardust Diner, and you won’t be able to stop yourself tapping your feet along with the show taking place around you.
Think colonial history and cutting-edge innovation and you’ll have Boston down to a T. The restaurant scene is a dynamic experience, with a choice of acclaimed restaurants to local hidden gems you’re sure to find somewhere to please any taste bud. Each of the city’s neighbourhoods has a story, each with their own tone and style from Back Bay’s cosmopolitan streets to North End’s 17-century streets. Today it’s known as one of the country’s most forward-thinking and barrier-breaking cities. Arts have thrived ever since the 19th century where Boston’s cultural stage has expanded the art, music and theatre scenes. Our top tip for Boston: eat as much seafood as possible and indulge in the local specialities!
Toronto is Canada’s east coast wonder city. It’s Canada’s answer to Manhattan, the young and vibrant city is infectious. It’s a top choice for a city break holiday and after just one holiday you will want to pack your bags and move here. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the Great Lakes, the surrounding Greater Toronto Area is the country’s cultural, financial and entertainment hub. This is what makes holidays to Toronto so attractive to people wanting to explore Canadian Culture. Canada’s largest city is buzzing and fast-paced, alive with fun and excitement making for a very enjoyable trip. Toronto offers one of the best shopping areas in the world, so whether you are planning a shopping trip with friends or just want to squeeze in some retail therapy, the Eaton Centre should definitely be number one on your list.
It’s no secret that Dubai is a playground for young to old. With so many incredible attractions, amazing shopping and limitless dining opportunities, you really are in for a holiday of a lifetime. From beachside fun, indoor thrills to skiing in a mall, Dubai really does have it all. The Burj Khalifa is a true icon Dubai, standing at 828 metres high, the world’s tallest tower dominates the Dubai skyline, but you need to get up close and personal and venture inside to truly appreciate it. Head to the 124th floor for the observation deck for outstanding views of Dubai, topped only by the views for the Top Sky Lounge on floor 148. Located at the base of the Burj Khalifa, you’ll find an awe-inspiring water dance which gives the Bellagio a run for its money. This popular dancing water show jets water streams as high as 150 metres in the air.
Kuala Lumpur has long been in the running when it comes to an impressive city break, it’s a feast for all senses. You’ll find skyscrapers dominating the skylines, mega-sized shopping malls, epic street markets and lively nightspots. To truly connect with the locals, indulge in their two favourite things: shopping and eating. The glitzy malls are like nothing you’ve seen before full of designer fashion as well as bargains. As you stroll the city on foot, you’ll find yourself discovering some of the best dining spots: hawker stalls and traditional neighbourhood kopitiam (coffee shops)!
Are you ready to book your next city break? Get in touch with your Personal Travel Consultant today!Business focused networking event“Bio-derived surfactants and detergents for agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care” Keystone Innovation Centre, Thetford.
The event will: • Demonstrate how to add novel functionality to product formulation and benefit from replacing chemical surfactants with their bio-derived alternative, biosurfactants; • Explore formulation and product development using biorenewables and naturally-derived formulation agents such as detergents, emulsifiers and surfactants; • Discuss current research and development in the biosurfactants sector; • Highlight the options for using bio-derived materials and manufacturing processes to improve the sustainability profile of your company; • Offer pitching opportunities for businesses to showcase their biosurfactant technology ideas or development to major manufacturers; • Highlight funding opportunities for innovation and product development; • Present a networking opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs to meet with larger companies that are aspiring to develop a portfolio of technologies in the area of biosurfactants
Cost£15 (inc VAT).Register here. Places are limited and priority will be given to businesses. If you are an academic please contact us prior to registering.
Who should attend? Businesses, technology or bioprocess developers in the cosmetic and personal care, animal care/hygiene, agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors interested in engaging in the development or commercialisation of biosurfactants.
Pitch to the industry.If you have an idea to present during the pitch session (5 minutes), please contact Dr Liliya Serazetdinova (l.serazetdinova@uea.ac.uk) by 17 February 2015.
The Adapt Group is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund and offers a range of free consultancy and advice to companies interested in biosurfactant applications. It also offers contract consultancy and venture funding to support innovation.
Illya Shpetrik was born to a middle-class family in the 1980s with nothing truly remarkable in his life. However, he has now amassed an impressive portfolio of fashion work and a lot of charitable work to go alongside it. Illya Shpetrik is not a fashion designer and inventor who craves the spotlight. As he puts it: “it is easier to foist yourself into the limelight with unimaginative fashion concepts. The brand that is Illya Shpetrik is all about the innovation and inspiration that makes fashion, what it is today; the limelight is not even secondary to that…it’s tertiary.”
Shpetrik has always had a strong interest in the world of fashion and the wider culture that surrounds each and every piece of clothing we all wear. He did however, at a young age have somewhat of an epiphany when his mother, a supermarket worker came home with her shopping.
Even at the young age of six years old, Illya realised that there was a lot of plastic and a lot of polluting materials at the heart of everyone’s shopping trip. His mother, coming home with a few plastic carrier bags, in which there were various items further packaged in plastic was all it took for his journey to fashion to begin.
A keen environmentalist who regularly donates to several environmental causes, Illya Shpetrik always strives to ensure all the clothing and all fashion he has a hand in is made from renewable and wherever possible, biodegradable materials. He understands the impact of fast fashion on the world, ecosystems and the wider environment and from the very start of his carer he has sought to be very different.
To find the inspiration that makes his work what it is today, Illya Shpetrik has travelled far and wide to inspire and educate himself. With his father currently living in Belize and his mother in North America, Shpetrik has naturally found himself travelling between north and south of the continent.
Having excelled in school in the sciences, particularly biology and chemistry, subjects Illya still holds dear, he is always conscious about what the make-up of any of the materials and products he uses could do if abandoned to the elements. This, Shpetrik believes is one of the key things that sets him far apart from all other fashion designers.
“Other fashion labels and designers create their brands and clothing and only when it is pointed out to them that their brands are being found across the world in landfills or even in the oceans do they take action. You will never, ever find an Illya Shpetrik label in any landfill and in any ocean. We do things the other, what I believe to be correct way round…what is the environmental impact of this design and these materials and thus, should we produce it?”
The next Breakwater IT Platform to Share, held online, will be hosted by our expert team. We’ll dive into some of the latest updates on Microsoft Teams, as well as how PowerApps can help streamline your business. As businesses are encouraged to continue working from home where possible, we’ll be highlighting some of the updates Microsoft Teams has made over the past few months. These updates have been designed to support employees working from multiple locations. However, they may not be well known features. We will look at how custom PowerApps can enhance the workflow of your business. We’ll be demonstrating some of the apps we’re recently made, and how they can support your business. Data loss prevention tips will close the event, giving you simple methods to secure your data. The event will also feature an update on Breakwater IT over the past few months.
Gaming has seen its stock grow in the last decade and a half. Advancements in the performance of consoles as well as the rise of its marketability as a pop-culture cornerstone and as a profession have led the hobby and industry to a new tier. PC gaming is understood to be the pinnacle. It’s also the potentially most expensive way to do it. Despite this, and despite the plethora of options on the market which enable gamers to access video games at various price points, PC gaming sales went up 13% in the last year.
As mentioned, PC gaming is widely touted as the best way to play major and indie titles. The performance capabilities far exceed that of console or mobile gaming. Not only that, but they can be upgraded.
As technology develops games demand more and more of what’s running them such as memory, storage space, graphics capability and zero latency. Of course, there’ll be games which don’t have high spec requirements – either those smaller indie titles which are downloaded on console and PC or browser games for mobile like those at (for example) slotsia.com/uk/mobile-casinos/no-deposit and their PC equivalents – and there’ll be those which ask the world of it. Cyberpunk 2077 is an example of the latter, which, upon its release, was essentially unplayable on the PS4 and Xbox One – what were then the leading consoles.
Whereas console and mobile players have to wait for totally new products and upgrades to be released so that certain games run at a high quality, PC gamers can transform their rig with a single component, making them go from unviable to viable. Admittedly, these single pieces can cost as much as consoles, but if this one thing still creates a disparity between what the PC can do and the console can do, then the investment, if it’s possible, is potentially worth it.
Not only this, but, at their core, obviously, they are computers. These powerful machines can also accommodate other functions beyond gaming: working, video editing, cryptocurrency mining. So investment in them can cover multiple needs should gamers need them for employment purposes.
In the last ten years, PC gaming’s sales have been steady, consistent. This is the first year where it’s seen major growth. This came during a year when the much discussed next-generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft were announced to be hitting the shelves. The PlayStation 5 and the Xbox X/S Series were tipped to close the performance gap between console and PC. Upon their releases, reviews and customers were backing this up: never before had consoles felt like a reasonable alternative to the PC gaming experience.
Mobile gaming, while immensely popular, and offering some similarities, in terms of game styles – like battle royales thanks to the PUBG mobile versions, for instance, and other simulation-strategy games – doesn’t quite exist in the same decision space as console vs. PC, so it’s impact on PC – in its current iteration – is minor.
Why are gaming PCs receiving such high interest? One reason may be the rise of streamers and influences. Most of them play on PCs and their fans may be swayed with their preferences and expertise – as well as their giveaways and discount codes. This is the exposure normalise PCs, overriding the assumption and narrative that they are niche and expensive.
PC gaming will face some technological advancements which could affect its growth – namely cloud gaming. While Google Stadia looks like it’s on a bit of a wobble at the moment, a medium which basically alleviates the need for top of the range hardware to process and run games, could see the necessity for premium rigs reduce. Mobiles could move to the forefront.
Also, as mentioned, another year of hype and another year of purchasable stock for next generation consoles could see them become more attractive to PC gamers should they wish to keep gaming slightly simpler.
Gaming PC’s sales figures are a reaction to certain contemporary trends. It makes sense that they’re doing well. As it’s not a surprise, then, is the assumption that it’ll be a sustainable growth – that what is happening may not entirely bottom-out and plummet?
It’s hard to imagine life before the internet. All the information you could ever need on any subject is just a few clicks away and, armed with all that information, it’s theoretically possible for us to become experts on just about anything.
It’s no surprise, then, that we’ve seen a sharp rise in DIY holiday planning, which is often seen as a way to cut costs.
Why, then, according to ABTA, do 45% of holidaymakers still prefer to use a travel company or agent? Even people in the tech-savvy 18-24 year old age bracket prefer to avoid DIY holidays, with 62% feeling more confident when booking through a travel professional.
The fact is that there’s still no denying the expertise, experience and level of access that travel consultants can offer – that even the best comparison websites can’t.
A travel consultant is fully embedded in the world of holidays – planning and booking trips to dream destinations is something they love to do and it’s something that they have done countless times – their experience is really second-to-none. It is so important to book your holiday with an ATOL protected company like Not Just Travel as this will provide you with protection if anything goes wrong. A travel consultant will also provide you with a personalised service where your every requirement is catered for.
A dedicated travel consultant can tell you:
It’s all information that can be used to guarantee an unforgettable experience at the right price – one that’s tailored to your tastes, expectations and requirements.
From the most elaborate trips to those that are seemingly straightforward, a travel consultant can ensure you have a simple and successful holiday experience at each and every stage.
When holidaymakers trust a travel consultant to plan their holiday, it’s because they can be certain that every stop, visit and journey has been planned with military precision. Every potential complication has been considered, everything is taken care of and, if anything changes, your agent is just a phone call away.
Planning and booking your own holiday may seem like a more affordable option, but it’s often a false economy. For only slightly more, an experienced travel consultant can help you avoid the hidden costs of a holiday you may not have considered – from overpriced currency exchange to costly connections.
At the same time, travel consultants often have access to deals that simply aren’t available as an individual. At Not Just Travel, we have a buying power of more than £1 million every day, giving us a unique advantage when it comes to finding a holiday you’ll remember at a price you’ll love.
And finally, it’s a question of value. The right travel consultant won’t just give you the same old trip you could’ve picked up through a comparison website. It’s a tailor-made, one-of-a-kind holiday where everything is decided with your needs in mind – where every detail is considered and nothing is left to chance.
Get in touch to try the travel consultant experience for yourself, and see how we could create your perfect holiday.
Join us in celebrating the success of Norfolk’s apprentices at one of two Apprenticeships Graduation Ceremonies:
Thursday 9 July – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange
or
Friday 17 July – St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich
For more information and to book visit www.apprenticesnorfolk.co.uk or call 01263 735486
The airport. For most of us, it’s a busy, chaotic, stressful place to be. After the frustration of parking, getting through security and then finally boarding your flight, it’s no surprise you need a holiday.
For children, the airport can be just too much to take. With so much going on, the rich combination of holiday excitement and airport boredom hits fever pitch. That’s a recipe for disaster.
It doesn’t have to be that way. With a little preparation, you can turn the airport into a deserving start to your family getaway. Here are five ways to make life at the airport easier, and make the journey part of your adventure.
Long before you leave, take some time to think about what your kids will need to stay entertained. From gadgets and portable video games to a good old-fashioned colouring book, let children get involved with packing their own hand luggage.
Of course, snacks are also an excellent addition to your packing. Just be sure to strike the balance between treats your kids will enjoy and an overdose of hyperactivity-inducing sugar.
It’s easy to think of airports as boring when you’re a grown-up. But just think of all the exciting things to see and explore around the airport from the perspective of your child.
Again, a little preparation goes a long way. You could make your own airport bingo cards with things to spot and tick off, or plan a scavenger hunt that takes you from the entrance right through to the gate. And if that kind of preparation isn’t your thing, a game like “I Spy…” never gets old.
Even with the best of intentions, you’ll never make every moment of your time at the airport child-friendly. Security can often be challenging – a long, uneventful wait that leads to favourite toys being taken and scanned by scary-looking people in uniform.
Our best tip here is to get it over and done with. Most airports now offer fast track passes from as little as £3 per person, so you can skip the queue and go to the VIP lane instead. It’s a small price to pay for getting your trip off to the best possible start.
Other than security, the gate itself is probably the most boring, cramped space in any airport. There’s nothing worse than arriving early to the gate and already struggling to get a seat for your frustrated toddlers or teens.
When you arrive at the terminal, get a sense of how long it would take to get to the gate. Be aware that some gates are quite a distance away. Then, forget the gate until the last possible moment and, instead, explore the terminal itself.
At best, you’ll find children’s play areas, a choice of shops, and plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from. At worst, you’ll probably find a lot more seating and space for your little ones to run around.
Finally, always keep an eye out for signs that tell you about airport services, or speak to a member of staff when you arrive. A lot of airports go the extra mile to make things easier when travelling with children.
In particular, we’ve made good use of valet parking and family parking spaces, as well as early check-in services. We’re also big fans of airports that let you take your pushchair right up to the gate, then hand it over for last-minute stowing on the plane.
Live classical guitar from Peter Tyrell , Thursday 11th June in the lounge bar @ the Library Restaurant , why not turn up early and take advantage of our 2-1 cocktail offer and maybe indulege in some our our summer tapas while listening to the authentic sounds of Spain
Ensuring your employees are stable and positive in their jobs is essential in your role as a business owner or manager. More often than not, employees are not happy enough in their jobs because their employers don’t do enough for them. As time goes on, many business experts are setting the future state of employment and how businesses should be run. Keep reading to find out how you can deal with emotion at work as an employer.
When it comes to staff relations, it is important to seek some expert advice to ensure you are doing everything in the correct and legal way. For example, we recommend seeking the expertise of an employment law firm like the team at springhouselaw.com. Employment solicitors are able to help with a plethora of different things such as privacy policy, contract law as well as employee relations. With regards to emotion at work, employment solicitors can help you handle grievance, employment terms, redundancy and contract termination. It’s never fun to deal with these issues on your own as a business owner, so seeking expert advice will help lead you down the right track.
To keep your employees comfortable within their employment, you should do all you can to offer an excellent training program. It can become very difficult for employees to settle into their roles and be happy when working if they do not know the intricacies of their job. Therefore, if you develop and provide outstanding training and support, this will help them in turn. There is nothing worse than showing up at a job every day, not being entirely sure of how it works or how to do it. Make things comfortable for your team and keep their emotions settled throughout their term of employment.
Thirdly, you can also deal with emotion at work by providing mental health support to your employees. This can be done by you or you can outsource mental health support and counselling services for them. Work can become all too overwhelming for many of us, and this is especially the case now that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has hit. People are continuously worried about losing their jobs and falling through the net. Consistently remind your workers that their jobs are safe and don’t lie to them. Being fully transparent as a business owner is what your employees want.
Many employees can become too overstimulated and stressed at work if they have too much on their plate in their personal lives. It is becoming more apparent as of late that not everyone can handle the usual nine to five schedule. This might be due to family commitments or due to general health and wellbeing. With this, we recommend that you offer flexible working hours for your employees if possible. This is also more attractive to applicants and people jump at the opportunity of being able to clock in hours when they can. Flexitime will allow your staff to handle stress more easily and work on their own terms.
Lastly and perhaps one of the most important ways to handle emotions at work is to treat your employees with kindness. It truly means a lot to employees when their employers see them as a person instead of a worker. Yet again, others want to keep their private and working lives completely separate. With that being said, it doesn’t mean you can’t ask your team how their weekends were.