Howes Percival’s employment law experts are advising employers to ensure that they are aware of the forthcoming changes to employment law that may affect their businesses.
In particular, a new fee regime for the submission of employment tribunal claims, is due to be implemented on 29 July 2013. Under the new fee system, like in the civil courts, a claimant will be required to pay a fee (or provide an application for fee remission against that fee) to present an employment tribunal claim, as well as a further fee if the claim proceeds to a full tribunal hearing.
Also in the pipeline is the introduction of a new type of employment status, from 1 September 2013, which will provide for an “employee shareholder” to be awarded shares in their employer, in exchange for giving up certain of their employment rights, including the right to unfair dismissal (except for automatically unfair dismissal protection) and the right to a statutory redundancy payment.
Harriet Howes and Nicola Butterworth will be discussing these reforms, and the potential impact they may have on local businesses, at the forthcoming Chamber of Commerce HR Forum on 25 June 2013 at Dunston Hall. The session will also look at the tax implications of paying in lieu of notice and practical pointers for managing redundancies.
Police have issued a warning to businesses to be vigilant to cold callers following two incidents in Norfolk and Suffolk. It comes after a company based in Harleston, Norfolk received a call on Monday 17 September from someone claiming to be ‘Sergeant Mark Shepherd’ from Suffolk Police and asked to speak with the director. He then stated he ‘was doing a campaign involving going into schools and talking about safety issues and requesting sponsorship’. When the call recipient declined, the caller put the phone down. On Wednesday 26 September a company based in Hadleigh, Suffolk received a similar call from someone claiming to be ‘Mark Shepherd’. He stated he was from the media department of the police and was asking for charity donations. When challenged he stated he was a freelancer and provided an invalid phone number. Later in the day a further call was received from a man to a sister company which shares the same address and was answered by the same member of staff. The man was challenged after he repeated his request to speak to a director and he then gave his name as ‘Steven Gerrard’ before the call was ended. Officers have this advice: Never give out personal information about your bank account to anybody over the phone. If someone calls claiming to be a police officer, ask for their identification number and police force. Hang up and call 101 using a different phone. If you can’t use a different phone, wait at least five minutes before calling back. A genuine police officer will not mind waiting while you check. Police and banks will never ask you to give out personal details such as account numbers or PIN numbers. If you have given out information which could compromise your bank account security in any way, call your bank to cancel your cards as soon as possible. Never hand over money to someone at the door to be sent off elsewhere. Anyone with concerns about such calls should contact Norfolk Police on the non-emergency number 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress. Alternatively, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Cold Calling Alert – Cold callers offering to sharpen and coat blades and tools – 27 September 2018
Businesses need to be aware of cold callers visiting premises offering to sharpen and coat tools and blades. This follows an incident where a member of staff at a company was approached by individuals offering this service quoting a price ‘per unit’. The cold caller also offered a free sample of the service which was accepted. Following this an agreement for a number of items to be sharpened and coated was agreed. Since then the company has been invoiced for a vastly inflated amount as the cold caller is stating the unit in the ‘per unit’ price relates to ‘per centimetre’ not ‘per item’. Always be very wary of claims made by cold callers to your premises and never agree to services, buy items or for return visits if approached in this manner. If you are looking to contract work out only deal with reputable companies you have researched and chosen yourself, and always obtain a written quotation from them in advance of the work commencing. If you receive a cold call to your business from someone offering to sharpen and coat tools or blades we would advise that you decline the offer, ask the cold caller to leave your premises and then report the incident to us via our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.
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Abate Pest Management has set the wheels in motion to grow a network of pest control franchises throughout the UK. The business from Morley near Wymondham is owned by husband and wife team, Jon and Jill Blake, started operating in 1999 and has grown to be a major player throughout the Eastern region working to prevent and cure pest problems.
Abate has developed a client base throughout the region servicing domestic and commercial customers including Anglian Water, Intu Shopping, Best Western Hotels, Johnston Logistics UK and Greene King. In addition to the normal wasps, fleas, mice and rat problems they also specialise in property woodworm treatment and bird proofing solutions.
The business has created a new team to roll out and manage the franchising. In addition to Jon and Jill, Neil Foley joins, who has spent 40 years in sales and business coaching and Jonathan White who has supported Abate for the past 8 years in Sales and Marketing. The business has also appointed franchise experts Morgan Blake Solutions Limited.
Jon Blake Managing Director said “We have worked extremely hard on becoming a quality company delivering a quality service. We are triple ISO accredited, a full member of the British Pest Control Association and hold Safecontractor and CHAS certification. All of this has proved to be very successful in our client growth and retention strategies. The geographical area we work in has become much larger with client activity reaching out to Essex and Hertfordshire and we often get asked if we can cover areas which are even further afield. We can now replicate our service with our standard operating processes, quality accreditations and training programmes to other areas of the UK. Franchising is a perfect solution to support our growth.”
Abate Pest Management are looking to have their first franchise in operation by January 2019 and 15 franchises by the end of the year. Jon also said “One area we are looking at for our franchise recruitment plans are current pest controllers, who want to step up, have additional support with all the legislation and accreditations and to build a business. There are currently 35,000 pest controllers in the UK!”
Photo – Left to right: Jeffrey Rafftree, David Noble, Morgan Blake Solutions Ltd. Jill Blake Director, Tracey Jeckells Senior Business Administrator, Jonathan White Director, Neil Foley Director, Jon Blake Managing Director.
On November 1st, NANSA is supporting disabled people to take part in a fashion show organised by Karen James-Welton also known as The Fabulous Miss K who runs her own vintage and stylist business and Sarah Henry who runs The Vintage Shed.
NANSA has worked for over 60 years to improve the lives of people in Norfolk with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.
NANSA is a local independent charity and believes that all people with disabilities are entitled to full inclusion in society.
NANSA aims to empower people in Norfolk with disabilities to achieve their life aspirations.
The show follows a sell-out fashion show held earlier this year which was based on the idea of having a women’s vintage fashion show for all, to highlight the need of making fashion accessible and wearable no matter what.
NANSA were delighted to be asked to take part in the show and are thankful to Karen and Sarah who supported 3 of NANSA’s Train and Trade trainees modelling their own clothes at the fashion show.
Tom Garrod, NANSA Chief Executive, who attended the show earlier in the year commented: “The NANSA trainees excelled in their catwalk performances and the increase in their self-confidence was clear to see.
These young women are no different in their interest of fashion than any other woman and there is no reason for others to perceive them any differently. NANSA actively seeks opportunities to challenge the perceptions of disability and to offer every client the chance to achieve whatever they want to achieve in life and it’s great for us to work with partners like Karen and Sarah to enable this to happen”
The event was such a success that another fashion show is planned for November 1st and is being held at The Oaklands Hotel, Norwich. NANSA will be supporting 4 trainees modelling their own collection taken from a selection of items donated to their 5 charity shops based in and around Norwich.
Sarah Henry said “Due to their excellence on the catwalk at the first show, the trainees were part of the pre shoot which advertises the Every Woman Vintage Fashion Show taking place next month.”
NANSA’s Head of Charity Trading, Amanda Lockwood, commented:
“Charity shops provide the ideal opportunity for people to buy into the “anything goes” fashion trend we are currently seeing. Our trainees love working with fashion. Being asked to provide models and show our collection at the “Every Woman Vintage Fashion Show” means that NANSA can be part of challenging the perception of who fashion is for. Fashion should be for everyone and we are passionate about making this a reality.”
If you would like to support NANSA by attending the fashion show, please follow the Facebook link for tickets and more details or search Facebook “Every Woman Vintage Fashion Show”.
Growing Franchise takes a further suite at Broadland Business Park
The TaxAssist Group, the award-winning national network of accountants for small businesses, has expanded its Norwich Support Centre, moving into a second suite at Bankside 300 on Broadland Business Park.
TaxAssist, which has more than 220 franchised areas in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Australia, and operates from over 300 shops and offices, moved its Support Centre to Broadland Business Park at the end of 2014 when it took a suite of 5,033ft2 (468m2).
Their new expansion sees them increase by an additional 4,797ft2 (446m2) by taking the neighbouring second floor suite.
Karl Sandall, Chief Executive of the TaxAssist Group, said: “We chose to move our Support Centre to Broadland Business Park with an eye on expanding our operations when the need arose.
With the many exciting UK and global developments ahead for the TaxAssist network in the coming months, the time has come to do just that as we grow our existing team of 45 highly experienced staff.
We are confident the modern serviced offices offered by Bankside 300 will continue to play an important part in our expansions.”
James Allen, partner at Roche Chartered Surveyors, said: “TaxAssist’s expansion into the final available suite in Bankside 300 is very good news indeed.
This is a highly successful business that fits Broadland Business Park’s profile very well and underlines the popularity of the Park for companies looking for Grade A office space in a very attractive landscaped environment.”
TaxAssist Accountants is one of the largest networks of franchised accountants specifically servicing the small business sector.
In July 2018, the UK network had over 69,000 clients and gross recurring annual fees in excess of £45 million.
There are over 200 franchises operating across the UK, with a further 200 territories still available. If you’d like to find out more about operating a TaxAssist Accountants franchise, please call 0800 0188297 or visit the website www.taxassistfranchise.co.uk
Abate Pest Management recently worked with Stonbury, specialist contractors to the water industry, on the 1953 Dennington Water Tower in East Suffolk to replace bird netting as part of the tower’s refurbishment project.
Abate was awarded the project due to their bird proofing specialisms and that they are Safecontractor and Chas accredited. Health and Safety would certainly play a big part in this project, especially when the water tower is nearly 200ft tall.
“Even before the survey began a full health and safety induction was given” said Jon Blake MD of Abate. “Like any project where we work at height, safety measures such as double lanyard clipping to ladders automatically takes place.”
The water tower project included a complete guano clean of the outer void, which is the area between the outer wall and the huge water tank. When the clean was complete all of the wires and fixings were replaced and new finer gauge netting was installed. Jon also said, “as the tower is fitted with communication masts, we also installed zips at access points to allow engineers to unzip the netting rather than just cutting into it, this will reduce additional maintenance in the future.”
Working at heights always gives a different outlook in pest control, the team certainly had some amazing views over the Suffolk countryside.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council is now inviting not-for-profit small and medium-sized enterprises to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £7,500 to offer innovative employability training courses helping residents in the borough.
The new Inclusion Project will assist long-term unemployed and economically inactive residents who face complicated life challenges and who are most disconnected from community support, including from entry-level training, volunteering and work placement opportunities.
As part of the initiative, which is funded by the borough council and the European Social Fund, the council is making available £120,000 over three years to not-for-profit SMEs in order to develop employability services that address gaps in the training currently available and meet residents’ needs.
Following a successful project launch recently, which was attended by 14 SME organisations, the council is putting out its first call for grants applications to provide employability skills. Applicants can be based anywhere in the UK, but must deliver their proposed new services within the borough and be prepared to match-fund their requested grants, either from other funding sources or in kind.
Eligible enterprises interested in finding out more or applying should contact Tracey Read, Inclusion Project Coordinator, via tracey.read@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or 07468 764753. The closing date is October 25.
Cllr Andy Grant, chairman of the housing and neighbourhoods committee, said: “This is a great opportunity for not-for-profit SMEs to help drive towards inclusive economic growth in the borough by assisting those furthest from the workplace into training, education, volunteering and ultimately jobs. We invite any eligible SMEs interested in these exciting grant-funding opportunities to get in touch.”
Businesses are reminded they have until noon on Monday, October 15 to enter the Spirit of Enterprise Awards 2018, the most prestigious annual celebration of business excellence in the Great Yarmouth borough.
Organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support service, the popular awards aim to recognise and raise the profile of the borough’s top-performing companies, while boosting confidence in the strength of the local economy.
The awards have nine categories, the winners of which will be considered for the sought-after title of 2018 Business of the Year by overall award sponsor Noritake Itron.
Time is running out to enter, as businesses only have until noon on Monday, October 15 to put themselves forward for the various categories. The awards are free-of-charge to enter online at www.soea.co.uk and finalists will be profiled in a supplement in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, with winners appearing in a further supplement.
The finalists and winners will also be showcased at a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Town Hall’s prestigious Assembly Room on Friday, November 23.
Each award is backed by a local organisation. Sponsors choose the winner in their category from three finalists shortlisted by a local independent panel or by the category sponsor themselves.
The categories and sponsors are:
Great Manufacturing/Engineering – sponsored by P&S Personnel
Great New Business – sponsor to be announced
Great Business Growth – sponsored by Bateman Groundworks
Great Business Idea – sponsored by Aston Shaw
Great Customer Services – sponsor to be announced
Great Family Owned Business – sponsored by Birketts
Great International Growth – sponsored by Pasta Foods
Great Investment in People – sponsored by Norse Group
Great Community Contribution – sponsored by Potters Friends Foundation
The media partners are the Great Yarmouth Mercury and The Beach radio station.
Cllr Graham Plant, the council leader, said: “This awards scheme is another way that the council is supporting the local economy, boosting investor confidence by showcasing the many brilliant businesses of all sizes and sectors from across the borough.
“We always have great feedback, with past winners saying the recognition has helped to boost staff morale, their profile and their reputation with customers. This is a fantastic opportunity and a great celebration of business excellence that has only been made possible thanks to the sponsors, including main sponsor Noritake Itron.
“It is completely free-of-charge to enter – so if you think you could win a category or even be crowned 2018 Business of the Year, then please make sure you submit the entry form by noon on Monday, October 15.”
Andy Stubbings, of Noritake Itron, said: “We are honoured to be the overall award sponsor for the Spirit of Enterprise Awards, having previously sponsored the Great New Business category for several years.
“Entering these awards is a chance for businesses to showcase their achievements on the public stage, helping to boost their stature, reputation and staff pride. There are some excellent businesses right across the borough and we know it will be hard to choose the 2018 Business of the Year.”
Entrants and potential sponsors seeking more information are invited to visit www.soea.co.uk or call Michaela Smith-Moore on 01493 846380.
CyberScale, a Norfolk cyber services company, is launching a new and innovative cyber security service for small and micro-businesses. Starting in August in Norwich, the new programme will give small businesses the chance to gain an insight in to cyber security and risk reduction that is usually only accessible to larger organisations. The six-month Cyber Security Foundations programme combines training sessions, support and practical guidance tailored for small and micro-businesses.
Darren Chapman, founder of CyberScale, stated, “Last year 43% of businesses said they had cyber security breaches. Small and micro businesses struggle to deal with this, without the resources of larger businesses. That is where the Cyber Security Foundations programme comes in. It is a practical, tailored and easily understandable programme aimed at helping small business leaders to be aware of the issues, reduce their risks and build sensible, personalised security improvements in to their day to day activities.”
The programme involves an innovative approach including monthly face-to-face workshops, individual action planning, security “quick wins”, direct access to advice through video conferencing, updates on the latest threats and progress monitoring. Practical advice will include securing and backing up your data, preventing malware damage, avoiding phishing attacks, using passwords to protect data, keeping your mobile devices safe, use of Cloud services, handling data breaches and standards and policies for your business.
Darren continued, “This programme is designed specifically for small and micro businesses. It takes a pragmatic approach, providing straightforward information to understand the risks and to create a plan with practical changes tailored to your business. Cyber threats are a daily occurrence and their impact can be devastating for businesses and individuals, so it is essential that organisations are prepared and protect themselves, but that this doesn’t get in the way of making a success of their business.”
The first two programmes commence in late August. A programme of morning sessions is available at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce in Norwich and a lunchtime sessions programme will be delivered at the SugarBeat Eating House, Swainsthorpe. On completing the programme, participants will receive certification of their commitment to Cyber Security and may decide to move on towards attaining the formal Cyber Essentials accreditation.
Darren concluded, “An effective Cyber Security strategy isn’t just about IT, it is far more than that, including your people, processes and preparations – all covered during the course of the programme.”
CyberScale was set up in 2017 by Darren Chapman to deliver pragmatic IT security support and solutions to businesses large and small. CyberScale offers Cyber Security assessments, Data Protection and GDPR data security support, Advisory services and Awareness Programmes. Its particular aim is to enable businesses to prepare and protect themselves without getting in the way of doing business, hence Pragmatic IT Security.
Darren has worked in IT for over 20 years, in technical, consulting and management roles for large and small companies, with a focus both Security and User Experience. Darren is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), having gained this accolade in 2017. This is the most sought-after qualification in the field of Information Security, requiring at least 5 years verified experience in the field of Information Security, passing an exam and ongoing learning. He has also previously gained numerous other qualifications in the IT field including MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), PRINCE2 (Project Management) and ITIL (Service Management).
We thought we would give you an update on what’s happening here at the BEST WESTERN Brook Hotel…
Last Thursday’s Welcome Event was a great success and was lovely to see some of our fellow Chamber Members and other local business representatives for a glass of wine, Sean Goodman our Magician and Peter with his Casino Tables were very entertaining and helped make the evening.
We have now been live on the Best Western system for 3 weeks and seengreat response as a result which has contributed to us being fully booked most nights this week.
Norfolk Chamber are boked in with us for their next “Meet the Chamber” Event which is to take place here on Wednesday 4th September.
Father’s Day is coming up and we are running 2-4-1 mains and desserts from 12pm to 6pm so come along with the family to ttreat your dad to his favourite meal – a delicious British Roast!
Anything you need as always feel free to contact Sarah any time on 07436 162697 or by email to sales@brookhotel.co.uk
TMS Media is looking for a WordPress developer and PHP programmer with experience in creating plugins and themes. Contact steve.scott@tms-media.co.uk. No agencies please.
Based in our Great Yarmouth offices, you will work with a team of fellow developers, designers and copywriters on a wide range of web projects. You’ll need a good practical knowledge of the inner workings of WordPress, CSS and jQuery.
Do you need low-cost training on food allergens for your business ? With more tragic cases highlighted in the news recently , it is an opportunity to receive training in this important area.
The venue is at Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE.
There are a number of dates:
3rd December 2018
15th January 2019
18th February 2019
11th April 2019
The cost is £50 per person and the course can be booked here: