A team from professional recruitment specialists Pure braved lots of mud and obstacles to complete the Only The Brave charity race in aid of the East of England Air Ambulance on Sunday (2 April).
The four-strong team from the recruitment agency’s Cambridge office looked anything but pure by the time they had completed the tough course at Elveden Estate, near Thetford Forest. However, they all agreed it was worth it to help support such fantastic cause.
The Pure team consisted of Caroline Batchelor, Gemma Pritchard-Jones, David Atkin and Ellie Steinfeldt. They all completed the five-mile course, which this year was bigger and muddier than ever before. Between them they ran, crawled, climbed and scrambled their way to the finish line, tackling obstacles including mud pools, water slides, climbing walls, piles of hay bales and monkey bars.
Caroline Batchelor, Associate Director at Pure, said: “The words mud and mayhem definitely spring to mind! The organisers certainly lived up to their promise of making the course as gruelling as possible. But it was a great team bonding experience and lots of fun. This is a major fundraising event for the publicly-funded air ambulance. We’re all extremely proud to have played a small part in helping to raise the £11million needed to keep these life-saving helicopters in the sky.”
The Only The Brave event has been inspired by the East Anglian Air Ambulance’s pilots, doctors, patients and families. The air ambulance flies 365 days a year, taking highly skilled medical teams to people who have been unfortunate enough to be involved in accidents or medical emergencies in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The crews need to be brave, and overcome physical and emotional obstacles every single day.
Becky Wilson and Clare Fuller from Pure also gave up their time to be part of the team of volunteers which helped to ensure everything ran smoothly on the day.
As well as the entry fee to take part, the Pure team has raised a further £300 in sponsorship, with more donations still being received.
Pure will be hosting its second Women’s Leadership Alumni event, bringing together past and present delegates, and their employer sponsors, for a morning of continued development and inspiring guest speakers.
Held at The Jockey Rooms in Newmarket on Wednesday 24 May the event has been organised for previous participants of the Women’s Leadership Programme and anyone interested in finding out more about inclusive leadership.
The Women’s Leadership Programme was first developed in 2014 by professional recruitment specialists Pure, in conjunction with strategic HR consultancy People & Performance. It has already helped more than 65 aspiring female leaders in the Eastern region to strengthen their leadership skills, develop their confidence and to work with their employers to remove any barriers to progression. The second alumni event will be an opportunity for all those involved to come together and to continue discussions on progressing gender equality in businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Lynn Walters, founder and director at Pure, said: “As well as supporting the continued development of aspiring female leaders in our region, this event also provides a great opportunity for them to further develop their professional networks. Our aim is to inspire organisations across the region to create inclusive work environments, where any barriers to progression are removed and everyone can work in a way that makes them feel productive and engaged. We will be joined by guest speakers from the region’s leading organisations who will facilitate discussion and workshops around leadership, culture and strategy.”
The event’s speakers include Dr Andy Wood, Chief Executive at Adnams, David Britain, a strategic HR Consultant who will be leading a workshop on aligning culture and Lynn Morgan, CEO at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (ARHC) and Donna Talbot, Fundraising Director at the charity. Donna is a previous programme participant and, with Lynn, will share the story of ARHC raising £10m to build the spectacular new hospice which opened in Cambridge last year.
Limited spaces are still available for employers and aspiring leaders who are interested in finding out more about the programme and who would like to hear from those who have already taken part. All ticket sales will include a donation to the Arthur Rank Hospice and a special discounted ticket is available for not-for-profit and charities.
The next Women’s Leadership Programme will begin in June and a part-funded place is available for an aspiring female leader working at a not-for-profit or smaller enterprise in the region. Sponsored by the Blossom Charity, which supports women in the East of England to be the best they can be, applications for the sponsored place are open to female managers and directors working within social enterprises, not-for-profit organisations, early stage start-ups and SMEs across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
For more information about the Women’s Leadership Programme, attending the alumni event or the sponsored place on the next course, contact Lucy Plumb: lucy.plumb@prs.uk.com
East-Anglian contract and specialist cleaning services provider, Monthind Clean LLP has appointed Richard Redding as its new Sales Director.
Richard will lead the group’s sales team in generating new business, strengthening relationships with its existing client base across its East Anglia and exploring new markets in Kent and London. He will oversee all sales and marketing activities across the growing business, which includes Monthind Clean, and Cambridge-based Atkins Gregory.
Having spent almost 20 years in the facilities management industry, with the last eleven of those as Commercial Director at Facilicom, Richard brings a wealth of valuable experience to the Monthind group and its client base.
Although this is a new role for Richard, his relationship with Monthind stretches back some years, as he explains. “Monthind’s operations director, Simon Biggs and I worked together for some years at Mowlem’s cleaning division in London. When the opportunity to join Monthind came along and I saw the work culture, and the plans for growth, I decided I wanted to be part of it. The people-first ethos of the company, and the level of loyalty Monthind has from customers and staff says everything about Monthind. I’m delighted to have joined the organisation at such an exciting time.”
Now in its 41st year, Monthind has earned an excellent reputation, and the business has grown organically to exceed a £10 million turnover, with significant growth planned in the next five years. Simon Biggs says, “We’re delighted that Richard has joined us at this stage of our journey. To have him on board with the valuable experience he has, fits well with us, and our plans at this time. Richard’s experience of bidding for various types and sizes of contract and his proven ability in supporting a sales team, I know, will add to Monthind’s reputation of delivering a first class service across the region.”
The anticipation of the budget is now behind us, and as we decipher and work out what that means for businesses, as well as ours – it’s important to help each other through potential tricky times. I read a post, ahead of the budget from Nova highlighting that 86% of businesses within the Chamber are Small and Midsize Enterprises (SME’s) and the budget applies to a large proportion of us members.
Nobody likes a spreadsheet, so following the budget, we will factor what this means into our own forecasts via cutting-edge software to see what impact the changes have on our own business, as well as our client’s businesses in real-time. You could be manifesting devastation regarding your business affairs, when in reality, you can manage it. Or, you could feel that your business will get through the next year of trade, when it may not be as plain sailing.
Key facts:
-The National Minimum Wage will increase by 6.7% to £12.21 for a worker over 21. National Minimum Wage will increase for workers aged between 18 and 20-years old from £8.60 to £10.
– The lower rate of capital gains tax (CGT) will be increased to 18%, and the higher rate will increase to 24% from 30/10/24. CGT rates on residential property will be maintained.
– Employers NIC will be increased to 15% from April 2025. The secondary threshold will be reduced to £5k.
– Employment allowance will be increased to £10.5k from April 2025.
– Effective from 31 Oct 2024, there will be an increase in the Stamp duty land tax surcharge on second homes by 2% to 5%.
– Inheritance tax (IHT) threshold freeze will be extended until 2030. Inherited pensions will be brought into IHT from April 2027, with reforms on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief. From April 2026, the first £1m of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax at all, but for assets over £1m, inheritance tax will apply with 50% relief, at an effective rate of 20%.
Have you got a forecast to see the impact of the budget on your business? Does your current accountant have your business interests close to their heart to assist with big decisions like the budget? If not, JHW can help.
This May, leading independent insurance broker Alan Boswell Group unveiled a new incentive scheme, rewarding customers with up to 10,000 Avios for taking out an insurance policy.
The company will award Avios to new customers that buy a home, landlord (buy-to-let) or business insurance policy as part of the Avios Travel Rewards Programme. Avios can be used on a wide variety of rewards, including towards flights, hotel stays, holidays and airline upgrades, as well as a wide range of days outs and experiences. 10,000 Avios, for example, can be redeemed towards a return flight with British Airways, Aer Lingus or Flybe to destinations across Europe[1] such as Amsterdam, Paris and Milan.
Personal Lines Director, Heath Alexander-Bew says: “One of Avios’ core values is, ‘how does this help the customer?’ which reflects how we do business; we’re dedicated to providing friendly, expert advice every time, putting the customer at the heart of what we do. This partnership allows us to give something back to our customers, so they can make the most of their time out.”
Oliver Currell, Head of Partnerships at Avios, adds: “We’re thrilled to announce the start of this relationship with Alan Boswell Group, adding to the variety of ways that customers can collect Avios to enjoy the travel rewards we offer. Thanks to the strong collection rate on offer, one transaction alone could give homeowners and landlords sufficient Avios to be used towards return flights to a wide choice of popular destinations.”
With improving rail and road links in Norfolk, plus the many proposed developments, such as the proposed expansion of the University and Norwich Research Park, there are likely to be a lot of new people moving to the area.
This has led to a large number of new homes being built. Norwich Sunblinds noticed that people often plan all their finance around buying their new home but forget to budget for essentials, such as window dressings. “We decided to create packages so that customers could have fitted blinds in their new home at a set price,” says Fiona Garwood, a director of Norwich Sunblinds. The packages are available for various sizes of flats and houses, based on the number of windows and type of property. There are also executive packages available which include real-wood shutters and roman blinds. Of course, the house doesn’t have to be new-build. The packages are available to anyone who is moving home and needs new blinds, curtains or shutters for all their windows. “There is so much to think about when moving home,” says Fiona “we can at least take away the stress of fitting blinds to all the windows. We visit, measure, make and fit the blinds for our customers. After all, you want privacy as soon as you move in.” If you are excited about the colour scheme for your room, you will love the range of fabrics to choose from. Norwich Sunblinds is an independent family business, so is not tied to any one fabric supplier. However, if the thought of looking through fabric leaves you cold, Norwich Sunblinds can help you choose colours and styles to suit your home. It is this personal service, quality products and their 5-year guarantee, that gives rise to their 99% satisfaction rating on the Norfolk County Council Trusted Trader website. “Norwich Sunblinds have just installed vertical and roller blinds in my home and I am so pleased with the service provided by them, the quality of the blinds is outstanding and the installer was so polite and very neat and tidy; I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Norwich Sunblinds to anyone!” Norwich Sunblinds can be contacted on 01603 334047 or book an appointment online for your free home visit.Click here for details of package prices.
Eye Film are very excited to have been nominated in two categories at the Royal Television Society East Centre Awards, being held in Norwich on May 25th. We have our Leighton Park School film entered in the Best Promotional Programme category and our documentary Alderney: The Evacuation, nominated in the Best Factual Programme category. Do visit our website at www.eyefilm.co.uk to see more about the projects and good luck to all those who have been nominated.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has approved an exciting commercially-realistic vision to enhance the historic town centre for the 21st century as a destination where more people choose to live, work, invest and spend their leisure time and money.
The Town Centre Masterplan illustrates how, through close partnership work, Great Yarmouth’s unique central spaces, and the links between them, can transform over the coming decade to strengthen the town centre as a commercial and cultural hub, meeting the needs and aspirations of communities and the challenges all town centres face.
Shaped through two public consultations, positive discussions with a wide range of partners and careful commercial testing, the core aim of the Masterplan is to build confidence, highlight assets and opportunities, and secure investment, by setting out a clear, coherent, compelling vision, which is led by the borough council and backed by the community and key partners.
While the borough council will continue to take the lead, close partnership working is needed to bring the Masterplan to life, and the borough council is now set to bring together key players on a Partnership Board to guide the regeneration activities and monitor plans and progress.
The Masterplan is the longer term element of the borough council’s Town Centre Initiative to boost the town centre, a key public priority, which has already delivered enhanced town centre events, better marketing, visual and environmental improvements, plus a shopfront improvement grant scheme.
The six key Masterplan projects are:
Strengthening the Heart of the Town Centre By 2025, the heart of the town centre – around the junction of King Street and Regent Road – has regained its vitality with a range of new occupiers and operators including a leisure-based anchor (for example a cinema), cafes, bars and restaurants.
Improving the market and Market Place By 2025, trade and custom in the 6- & 2-day markets is greatly improved, supported by new stalls and service facilities and by the newly-paved Market Place. Together with the improved frontages this has created a beautiful setting for an expanded programme of events.
Transforming the Conge By 2025, The Conge is transformed, with new mixed-use development lining both sides of the lower half of the street, and the next phase ready for delivery connecting it to the renewed Market Place.
Creating a sense of arrival at the town centre By 2025, the setting of Fullers Hill, Acle New Road, the roundabout, train station and quayside creates a new sense of arrival at this key junction of road, rail and water, linked to the new development on The Conge.
Unlocking the potential of Hall Plain By 2025, the council has adopted guidance to ensure existing buildings are conserved and developed appropriately. With the 3rd river crossing near completion, there is significant commercial interest in refurbishment and new development.
Linking it all together By 2025, wayfinding is improved across the town through investemnt in key parts of the network of Rows and streets, with footfall significantly increased and commercial vacancies significantly reduced.
During the public consultation in January on the draft Masterplan, the council received more than 150 individual responses, with about 100 people attending workshops. Improvements made as a result of feedback include bringing forward the timetable of works for Hall Plain, expanding the station gateway project to include all gateways into the town centre and expanding the Masterplan area to include Great Yarmouth Minster.
In a joint statement, the council’s political group leaders, Cllr Graham Plant, Cllr Kay Grey, Cllr Trevor Wainwright and Cllr Adrian Myers, said: “Our vision for Great Yarmouth town centre is that, by 2025, new investment and employment in the town centre is generating renewed pride in Great Yarmouth and building confidence for the future.
“The public tell us that boosting the town centre is a top priority and we are responding. The Masterplan represents a powerful statement of intent from the borough council and community to make a positive change, to work together and make a compelling case for investment, setting out commercially-realistic yet flexible ambitions, and highlighting the unique features that make our town centre so unique and valuable.
“This exciting high-level vision has been shaped collaboratively, involving a wide range of individuals and organisations, and this approach and commitment will need to continue as we now focus on progressing the Masterplan together. These are big, challenging projects requiring significant investment and joint working, but we know they are deliverable and we urge everyone to remain positive and patient while work continues ‘behind the scenes’.”
Local marketing agency Example Marketing and Web Design had the pleasure of revamping the website of social enterprise Buy Local Norfolk.
Buy Local Norfolk’s purpose is to highlight the importance of supporting businesses that are proudly local to Norfolk. Having seen huge growth in recent years, now with over 200 members and new business joining every month, they felt it was time to give their website an update. Example Marketing has been a member of Buy Local for over 3 years and jumped at the chance. Emma Raines, owner at Example, explains more:
“We love Buy Local Norfolk. We wholeheartedly agree with what it stands for, and the Directors and members are a thoroughly positive bunch of people. We were keen to help develop a new, vibrant website that works for members and other interested parties alike.”
Every member of Buy Local has a business profile on the website. One of the main challenges for the new site was making it as easy as possible for visitors to find businesses they’re interested in. Emma explains:
“We spent a lot of time categorising members and then putting measures in place that enable people to search through the directory in several different ways. As well as improving user experience, we also wanted to simplify the back end of the site so the team of voluntary Directors could make updates more easily. We think we’ve achieved that.”
There has been positive feedback from members so far who are particularly pleased that visitors to the site can now rate and review members’ businesses. This feature, along with other updates to business profile pages, aims to make the site a really powerful resource for anyone who is interested in supporting local businesses.
Martin Lake, one of Buy Local Norfolk’s Directors, summarises:
“It was crucial for us to work with a website company that completely ‘gets’ our enthusiasm and pride for Norfolk, a company with the technical skills to deliver the functionality and accountability we need, and a company with the design skills to make our site look stunning, engaging and easy to use. In Example Marketing we got all this and so much more. Delivered on time and on budget, we are absolutely delighted with our new website.”
Visit the new website at www.buylocalnorfolk.org.uk
At Swarm Training we’ve been looking back at 2025, how we’ve made a difference and what we can be doing to build on this in 2026. Not just in an internal facing way, but also what we’ve done with our learners, employers, partners and local community. Earlier this month we visited Ormiston Victory Academy to donate a set of laptops to their students. We wanted to share this with you, not as a ‘look at what we did’, but to encourage everyone to think about how we can all support the community in our own way. Corporate Social Responsibility can sometimes sound like buzzwords or a box ticking exercise, but as Chamber members it’s what we are all about. Supporting each other, and our local community.
Our CEO at Swarm Training, Jennifer Perry, said, “As a CIC we are always looking for ways to support the local community. Community support doesn’t need to be complicated and is within every business’s reach to have something to offer.”
So what could you do? Maybe you have some surplus equipment or, you could offer a bit of mentoring time or share something you’ve learnt that’s helped you and your business. Also think about what aligns with your values. There are so many things we can give or do that could make a real difference. Whether it’s supporting young people, environmental projects or staff volunteering days, let’s do whatever we can to create a stronger local community for 2026 and beyond.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, from everyone at Swarm!