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Who are St Eds? We operate a diverse range of vocational training courses aimed at young people who have strong practical skills in Construction, Mechanics, Catering and Hair and Beauty.

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Get in touch with St Eds today 01603 622035 admin@st-eds.org.uk   

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Chao Pang has opened a new walk-in tax and accountancy shop on 28 Stonecot Hill, Sutton.

Chao is a CIMA-qualified accountant with a very successful 15-year career in industry, latterly as a deputy Director of Finance. 

She decided the time was right to open her own practice and is thrilled with the look and feel of the shop.

“The new shop looks great and provides the ideal environment to meet with the small business owners in the area to discuss their tax and accountancy requirements,” said Chao. “I would encourage anyone interested in finding out more to pop in for a free consultation.”

Chao explains what attracted her to become part of the TaxAssist Accountants network: “My career has progressed well, but as I started getting closer to directorship in my late 30s, I started to think about my goals for the next 20 years. I wanted something more exciting and inspiring where I could build on my knowledge, experience and hard work and that has the potential for growing – however far I want the business to grow. “I came to a discovery day in early 2018 and Karl Sandall [Chief Executive of the TaxAssist Group] and the management team were very open. After doing my own feasibility analysis and speaking to many franchisees, my husband and I were convinced by the business model and decided to go for it.

“The process of joining was very smooth and everything has gone very well so far. The Support Centre team in Norwich have been very helpful and knowledgeable and things have progressed well in terms of setting up the practice. I look forward to being a member of the TaxAssist family for many years to come!”

If you would like to find out more about joining the TaxAssist Accountants network, please give Nikki Haythorne a call on 0800 0188297.

The next step is to attend a discovery day at the Support Centre.

Rigby Group Acquires Norwich International Airport

Rigby Group Plc has today announced the acquisition of Norwich International Airport from Omniport for an undisclosed sum.

Norwich International Airport is the principal aerial gateway to and from East Anglia, serving Norfolk, Suffolk, and East Cambridgeshire. It has a long history and sound levels of activity on scheduled and charter passenger activities, as an aircraft maintenance base and an operating hub for the southern North Sea oil and gas industry.

The facility will now be managed by Rigby Group’s airport division Regional & City Airports (RCA), which also already owns and operates Coventry and Exeter Airports – which it acquired in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

The company also holds management contracts for both Blackpool International Airport and City of Derry Airport and is actively building its portfolio of owned or managed airport assets across the next five years.

Chairman and Chief Executive Sir Peter Rigby said: “We have continually reiterated our belief in the importance of regional airports to local and regional communities and their economies. We are intent on developing our aviation business within the Rigby Group, and have made another significant acquisition here. I am delighted to welcome Norwich’s staff to a workforce that now safeguards approximately 650 aviation jobs, and look forward to working with them as we plot out a secure, sustainable and positive future for the facility.”

The move will see the management teams at Norwich, Coventry and Exeter work together for mutual benefit as well as attracting more corporate and general aviation.

Norwich International Airport CEO Andrew Bell added: “This is a significant and very positive day for the Airport. As a highly respected and stable organisation, Rigby Group’s involvement will enable us to build on the many achievements of recent years, safeguarding the future of the business and providing us with a platform from which to build an even more prosperous future for the Airport itself and the region.”

We are delighted to announce that One Broker Limited has purchased 100% of the share capital of N W Brown Insurance Brokers Limited, forthwith. One Broker already owns Knowlden Titlow Insurance Brokers (KTIB) in Norwich and the acquisition of N W Brown Insurance Brokers represents an exciting opportunity for the One Broker Group to grow its presence in the schemes arena and at the same time expand its geographical footprint. NW Brown Insurance Brokers will continue to operate from their premises in Regent Street under the same name.

Robin Plaster has become Managing Director of N W Brown Insurance Brokers Limited and Phil Thorpe is Broking Director, with responsibility for running the operation on a day to day basis, along with fellow Directors Sean Lenton and Richard Rampley. In addition to which Phil Thorpe will join the board of KTIB as Non-Executive Director and John Knowlden the board of N W Brown Insurance Brokers as Non-Executive Director.

Commenting on the agreement Alan Kefford , Chairman of NW Brown Group said ” This final step is the logical culmination of a long process of co-operation. Whilst our position in East Anglia as a top quality Financial Services operation is strong I am delighted to have access to better specialist services for our clients via KTIB. We are always seeking ways of improving service for existing clients and of introducing new clients for whom we can provide that high level of service and this closer partnership gives the prospect of doing both.”

Robin Plaster, Managing Director of KTIB said “We have both built our firms on high quality advice and efficient execution. I look forward to working with our new colleagues to grow our business in what is perhaps the most exciting area of the country intellectually, technologically and financially. Our insurance solutions have applications in all areas and I look forward to working with Phil and his team to develop our strong presence in East Anglia. We are confident that the combined skill set of the two firms will make us a recognised leader in our chosen field. ”

N W Brown Insurance Brokers will continue to develop the business in their specialist sectors such as Education, Technology, Financial Liabilities, Landlord and Tenants and Listed Buildings.

Where is your prescription painkiller ending up?

NHS and Veterinary prescription drugs are increasingly ending up on the streets of the UK and being widely abused in combination with other drugs including class A and B street drugs. “Ask any teenager about Ketamine?” suggests Mike Garside, Director of UK DrugTesting. They’ll tell you exactly what it does as a party or festival drug. They won’t know its a veterinary anaesthetic used to tranquilise horses.

The NHS has adapted to trends in prescription drug abuse over the last 20 years. Many of the older prescription painkillers have been restricted or even removed from the national formulary. 

Replacing these have been the modern substitute drugs, perceived as safer and less likely to be abused and with fewer side effects and overdose risks. In reality, this perception has led to a reduced surveillance of their use, particularly in the elderly and increasingly the often overlooked use in veterinary practice.

Chances are if your dog needs a painkiller it will be prescribed Tramadol. Often 10-14 days are supplied, most of which do not end up being required. The rise of Tramadol abuse on the streets of the UK has risen rapidly over the last 10 years. “Not many people realise they are being supplied a powerful opiate agonist painkiller,” said Kate Garside, Director of UK Drug Testing and an ex GP. These drugs are increasingly being scheduled, as the abuse becomes recognised and recorded.

These pills are being sold on and end up on the streets. Some are being obtained deceptively as a source of income, some are just being shared in family groups and leach out into general supply. And it’s not just Tramadol, Oxycodone, gabapentin pregabalin, fentanyl and ketamine. All drugs you may not have heard of, but chances are, may have been prescribed to a family member or pet for a range of chronic conditions, including pain relief.

Theft from pharmacies and vets is another source of supply. There is no reliable up to date data on just how common these drugs are. Most studies are already historic by the time of publishing, and in the world of drug abuse, supply is dynamic and immediate. 

While nobody has been screening for these drugs, no reliable tests had been developed. Abuse grew, effectively under the radar of both healthcare and enforcement agencies. 

In the last 12 months, driven principally by requests from the criminal justice agencies, the biotechnology has finally caught up, with screening tests for point of care or instant testing for both new psychoactive substances and modern painkillers.

Earlier this year UK Drug Testing introduced a new 16 panel drug testing cup which included tests for most of the new prescription painkillers in addition to the more traditional street drug groups. “we expected these to sell to the prisons and drugs teams” said Kathy Calvert, the UK trade and NHS manager for UKDrugTesting. “what we found is they are selling to individuals, wanting the most comprehensive test available” 

With the rapid growth in the abuse of these groups of drugs, it makes sense to include them in any new testing program, especially for safety-critical employment roles such as construction and those requiring trackside certification. The UK Drug Testing Behemoth 16 drug test cup is available to buy online and makes an excellent broad-spectrum cup drug test kit choice for the workplace, as well as healthcare drug screening.

Website https://www.ukdrugtesting.co.uk 

A new Edith Cavell interpretation board was unveiled in Tombland, Norwich next to the Edith Cavell monument on Saturday, October 13.

Explaining the significance of Edith Cavell and the sacrifice that she made, the new board marks the centenary of the unveiling of the monument, by Queen Alexandra, on October 12, 1918, the third anniversary of Edith Cavell’s execution in Brussels, by a German firing squad.

The monument was originally in front of the Maids Head Hotel, next to the Edith Cavell Rest Home for Nurses, which was also opened by Queen Alexandra in 1918. The Norwich rest home was the sixth in a series of Edith Cavell rest homes, funded by public subscription, and opened across the country. The homes cared for exhausted nurses, traumatised by the impact of the First World War. Their work continues today through the Cavell Nurses Trust.

The building that housed the Norwich Rest Home was acquired by the Maids Head Hotel in 1956 and includes a meeting room on the ground floor, named after Edith Cavell.

The new interpretation board project was coordinated by Nick Miller, Edith Cavell archivist for St Mary’s Church Swardeston (Edith Cavell’s home parish) and was unveiled by Dawn Collins, Director of Nursing for the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust.

The production of the board was sponsored by Norwich Cathedral, the Bishop of Norwich, the Maids Head Hotel, Care UK Cavell Court, Norwich High School for Girls and the Bowen family.

Nick Miller explained: “We hope the new board will keep Edith Cavell’s challenging story alive. She died in front of a German firing squad for having assisted allied soldiers to escape. What was her view of her work? Her own word tell us, in conversation with Rev’d Stirling Gahan in her cell the night before she was executed: “Don’t think of me as a heroine and martyr, think of me simply as a nurse who tried to do her duty. Standing in the light of God and eternity I have realised that patriotism is not enough: I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.”

“This statement draws deep on her roots and upbringing and the Christian faith which sustained her through 20 years as a nurse. When she saw her ‘brothers’, the British and French soldiers needing shelter and help to escape, she believed her duty was to help them, whatever the cost to herself. She risked all, housing them, feeding them, nursing them and walking with them to a rendezvous with Belgians who would take them onward to the Dutch frontier to freedom. She courageously persevered at this for nine long months, helping at least 200 men.”

Edith Cavell was born in 1865, the first of four children of the vicar of Swardeston. She worked as a governess in the east of England and Brussels. Aged 30 she returned to care for her sick father and then enrolled as a trainee nurse, wanting to do ‘something useful for people’. After nursing for ten years in the poorest parts of London and Manchester, she moved to Brussels in 1907 to create the first Belgian professional nurse training school.

On holiday in Norfolk in July 1914, with her widowed mother, she chose to return to Brussels to support her nurses as war was imminent. Under the German occupation she secretly hid British and French soldiers, often wounded and helped them to freedom in Holland. She and all involved knew they risked being shot for this. Eventually she and her network were betrayed. Thirty five were arrested, interrogated and tried by a German military court. She and a colleague were shot at dawn on October 12, 1915. After the First World War her body was brought back to the United Kingdom and she was buried at the east end of Norwich Cathedral on May 15, 1919.

For more information about Edith Cavell see www.edithcavell.org.uk

Our plans for The Sky House, a new home for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities that also unlocks the Grade II-listed Lasdun Wall for refurbishment over the next decade, have been unveiled following approval from the University of East Anglia (UEA). The Sky House is the most significant new build project the UEA have undertaken since the Lasdun buildings and will become home to Arts and Humanities and some Social Sciences schools from 2022. The new building will allow staff and students to move out of the Lasdun Wall and enable the start of the phased refurbishment of the Historic England-listed 1960s block. The Sky House will be located on a site at the end of the Lasdun Wall, across from the Registry, and will act as a new main reception point for the UEA campus. The c. £65 million The Sky House will include: •general purpose teaching and seminar spaces •flexible informal learning spaces •language learning lab •drama studios •rehearsal spaces •screening room •café facilities •faculty and school offices •provision for HUM’s postgrad community •PGCE teaching rooms •a new reception point for the University •learning and teaching hub The development of The Sky House is the key to unlocking the Lasdun Wall’s major refurbishment. The Lasdun Wall, completed in 1970, is listed by Historic England for its special architectural and historic interest but is at the end of its design life. Very significant investment in the Lasdun Wall is now needed to ensure it is safe, secure and fit for the future needs of UEA staff and students. UEA Vice-Chancellor Professor David Richardson said: “Investing in our UEA campus means investing in our people and the spaces they need to work, learn, study and teach both now and in the future. The Sky House will be the new gateway to UEA for visitors and provide collaborative and communal working spaces for our staff and students.”

LSI Architects have joined the Architects Declare movement, a campaign led by the UK’s leading Architectural Practices to take action on the twin crises of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, the most serious issue of our time. Director Peter Courtney comments that: “We wholeheartedly agree that there is no alternative but for Practices to follow the commitments that Architects Declare have laid out. We acknowledge the crucial role that architects play in reducing the energy consumption of our built environment, and consequently sustainability is embedded in our core values. We believe that as a practice we are already well on the way to following these commitments, through our Sustainable Design Guide and use of environmental modelling software, whenever the opportunity allows. Our approach to sustainable design begins at first principles, as we believe this is the most effective way of engaging clients and project sponsors in the importance of a considered approach. In a project with fixed financial resource the design team must initially look to cost neutral design moves to help achieve sustainability goals as these can be more easily agreed upon with the client. In our experience securing these essential elements allows the project to be driven forward with sustainability at the heart of its concept. We are aware however that there is more work for us to do as a profession to continue to raise awareness of the issues and of the significant benefits that a sustainable approach to projects can deliver for clients. As co-curators of our future, we need to embrace a change of perception within the industry. LSI Architects confirms that we are ready to support this challenge.” Follow the link to view the Architects Declare page: www.architectsdeclare.com/

At ESE Direct we pride ourselves on getting the best people in to our team. Everyone at ESE Direct is dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate about what they do.

ESE Direct has been enjoying a year on year growth for the last four years and with that comes the expansion of our warehouse by 40% and growing our team of truly talented individuals.

We have especially been growing our team steadily in 2014 and our newest members are Kelly Raynsford who very recently joined us as our newest Sales Co-ordinator and Julie Davidson who joined in February as our Sales Development Executive.

We were thrilled when Julie joined us in February; she brings with her a wealth of experience in sales having previously worked at a major educational book retailer as well as a national pest control company.

You may hear from Julie in the very near future to see whether we can help with any of your business product requirements.

Kelly joins us from Quotatis where she was as an account manager having previously worked at BT Local Business; she has experience in lead generation, sales as well as knowing the importance of customer service.

So the next time you call through to our team you may very well be talking with Kelly.

We are also growing our I.T department and we have welcomed Kevin Tootill who has previous experience with Aviva, RAC and the Co-Op. Kev will be helping to develop and optimise the website as well as increasing performance across mobile device channels.

We give Kevin, Kelly and Julie a warm welcome and look forward to their contribution to the ESE Direct family.

Alongside Birketts, Pure is proud to once again be sponsoring the prestigious Best Employer Award at the Norfolk Business Awards 2019, which are now open for entries.

The Norfolk Business Awards are the opportunity to come together as a business community and to celebrate the many inspiring and progressive organisations in our region. Norfolk has such an incredible range of business sectors that make up a vibrant local economy. It is home to multi-nationals, SMEs, small businesses and a large number of family-owned firms who recognise the value of happy employees and the benefits of growing staff skills and retaining top talent. This is what makes Norfolk such a great place to work and to do business, and why many organisations could be in the running to win the coveted Best Employer Award and further strengthen their employer brand.

We are always particularly thrilled to be able to sponsor the Best Employer Award. As a specialist professional recruitment company we know how important staff engagement and workplace culture and values are when it comes to recruiting and retaining high-calibre employees. Even in these uncertain times, there is a continued appetite for sustainable growth, and providing opportunities for people to enjoy stimulating and rewarding careers here in our region. The working world has changed and people want to be part of a business whose success is measured by an engaging culture and its reputation in the market. This award will celebrate the organisation that has achieved great success by putting people first, having clear values and engaged employees that are excelling in their field.

By entering the Best Employer Award, organisations will have the opportunity to demonstrate how they have made significant progress in their people and talent strategy through engagement, learning and development, retention and employer brand. They can also showcase how the organisation’s vision, values and purpose are embedded, reward and recognition strategies are driving performance, positive and inclusive cultures are being created and its approach to employee wellbeing and community support.

Through the judging process we are always delighted to come across undiscovered gems that have put staff engagement at the forefront of business. The winning organisation will achieve an external accolade which highlights how its success and growth can genuinely be attributed to putting people, values and culture at the heart of everything it does. The winner’s story will share and promote why it is a business which everyone wants to be part of and how it is changing people’s lives.

For more information or enter the awards visit the Norfolk Business Awards website. The organisations entering the Best Employer category will also be required to also complete the Best Employers Eastern Region employee survey, providing real-time data on employee engagement levels within the organisation.

Norwich solicitors Cozens-Hardy LLP are pleased to announce the appointment of two highly experienced new members of staff to the firm’s residential conveyancing department.

Solicitor Michaela Watts joins the firm from Fosters. Michaela deals with all types of residential conveyancing – freehold/leasehold sale and purchases, transfers of equity, re-mortgages and the purchase of new build property.

Conveyancing Executive Yvonne Adams joins Cozens-Hardy from Leathes Prior. Yvonne deals predominantly with sales and is able to assist with purchases.