As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.
Ian Hetherington is Fuel Terminal Manager of Asco UK Ltd in Great Yarmouth. Asco have been members of the Chamber for 10 months having joined in March of 2013
Ian’s question to the Chancellor was:
“According to reports this month the big six energy firms received almost £900 million last year through consumer subsidies. This was worth £200 million more than the electricity produced by on and off shore wind farms. Onshore farms receive approximately 50% of their income through subsidies and with offshore wind farms; it’s about twice the value of electricity produced. With this in mind, can the Chancellor say with any certainty that electricity generated by wind farms will at some stage become self-sufficient and affordable, thereby removing the need for consumer subsidies (and also government subsidies) and if so, how will this affect investment in future wind farm construction projects? i.e. will we see it decline?”
Find on the attached document the written response from the Department of Energy & Climate Change.
As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.
Andrew Sherwood is Human Resources Director at Bernard Matthews who are not only one of the Norfolk Chamber’s Gold Patrons but is one of Norfolk’s biggest known brands.
Andrew’s question to the Chancellor was:
“The Prime Minister has recently announced a review of ‘Green Energy Taxes’ following the recent increases in energy prices by the major energy companies. This will bring a significant level of uncertainty to investors and developers alike, supporting the green energy agenda. Green Energy taxes make up a 9% of the average dual fuel bill and support the government’s commitment to carbon reduction and renewable energy.
Can the government give the commitment to provide certainty with green energy taxes moving forward to provide the confidence to allow investments to continue to be made in this sector?”
Find on the attached document the written response from the HM Treasury.
People across west Norfolk are being asked to join in this year’s Love West Norfolk Day which is focused on the theme of ‘celebrating and protecting our beautiful west Norfolk environment’.
Taking place on 14th February, the fifth Love West Norfolk Day will provide an opportunity to highlight the natural beauty of west Norfolk, as well as some of the ways that individuals and organisations can protect the environment. And, the Love West Norfolk logo has gone green for this year to mark the theme.
One way in which people can get involved in west Norfolk’s special day is through a photography competition that is launching today (Friday 21st January). People are being invited to share their images of beautiful west Norfolk scenery to win one of three prizes and all of the images submitted will also be published on Love West Norfolk’s social media throughout Love West Norfolk Day. People can enter the competition through the website: Love West Norfolk
In addition, competitions for west Norfolk schools are set to take place with junior and secondary pupils invited to come up with ideas to protect the environment, and infants asked to draw a picture of a beautiful west Norfolk place. There will be prizes for the children, and the winning entries will be published after Love West Norfolk Day.
On the day itself, people can also join in by taking ‘one step’ towards protecting their local environment, such as by picking up one piece of litter. And, anyone wishing to organise a community litter pick on Love West Norfolk day can – subject to availability – access Love West Norfolk litter pick kits from the borough council.
It is be hoped that once again social media will be filled with the #lovewestnorfolk hashtag on Love West Norfolk day as people join in the celebration and share pictures and comments. Organisers are keen to hear from both individuals and organisations who also may wish to highlight some of the work that they are doing to protect the environment in west Norfolk.
A Love West Norfolk day engagement pack will be available online from 1st February with all the ways that people can join in with this year’s Love West Norfolk Day.
James Bagge, Love West Norfolk Ambassador said: “Love West Norfolk Day gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate our wonderful part of the world, and this year, we’re focusing on the beautiful natural environment which is in abundance here.
“As well as celebrating this environment, we felt it was also important to consider how we can protect it, and the difference we can all make, which is timely coming after last autumn’s COP26.
“As always, what makes Love West Norfolk Day so successful is the many, many people who get involved by adding their voices to our special celebration. I would ask people to please, once again, join us on 14th February and let’s highlight this very special area.”
The Love West Norfolk campaign is organised by the West Norfolk Strategy Group which includes the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Freebridge Community Housing, the QEH, the College of West Anglia, King’s Lynn Police, Norfolk County Council, and Community Action Norfolk. The campaign is also working with partners Discover King’s Lynn and Visit West Norfolk.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the day, including getting involved, can visit Love West Norfolk and follow the Love West Norfolk social media channels: Twitter @LoveWestNorfolk Facebook: @LoveWestNorfolk Instagram: love_west_norfolk and LinkedIn: Love West Norfolk.
We are delighted to be partnering with local mental health charity, Norfolk and Waveney Mind as our official charity for 2022.
The need to support ourselves, colleagues, family and friends couldn’t be more-important, with up to 84% of people thought to experience a mental health problem at some point during their lifetime
The partnership will see Fosters organise and volunteer at fundraising events, and help raise public awareness of the importance of mental health and the work of the local charity.
Ashley Bunn, Director of Strategy and Development at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, explained the importance of their work: “Norfolk and Waveney Mind are busier than ever, 60% of adults and young people who did not experience poor mental health before the pandemic, are now experiencing mental health issues.”
Fosters’ Chief Executive Chris Brown, added: “Norfolk and Waveney Mind have for years undertaken great work in our community and the need for their services has never been higher. When our staff nominated Mind to be our Charity of the Year, the commitment and enthusiasm to get involved in such an important issue was huge. It means alongside our fundraising efforts, we can be involved in some of their important and engaging activities throughout 2022.”
These special themed days are hosted throughout 2023 by Delia and Chef Alex Mackay. Your day includes coffee and cake on arrival, followed by a live cookery demonstration from Alex. This is followed by a three-course lunch and a tutored wine tasting with our wine expert Jason Banner from Peter Graham Wines. Delia and Alex will be happy to sign books, both old and new.
Delia, Alex and other specialists will also take part in a Q&A session and after that tea is served and there will be a goody bag to take home as a memento of your day.
Our Food and Wine workshops are the perfect gift for anyone who loves food and wine and would like to learn more.
Accountancy training firm, First Intuition, reveals a host of virtual events and resources ahead of National Apprenticeship Week 2022, to give students and businesses the opportunity to learn more about accountancy apprenticeships.
First Intuition reveals its programme of apprenticeship-related events and resources to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2022. Between Monday 7th– Friday 11th February, the accountancy training firm will be hosting a number of virtual events and Q&A opportunities, as well as publishing testimonials and a podcast. These events and resources will be useful for employers, young adults, parents, and school and college teachers who want to understand the way that apprenticeship programmes operate in the accountancy and finance sector, and to hear first-hand from those who use the programmes. The events and resources are free and available to anyone.
It is hard to overstate the transformational impact that apprenticeships have had on the way that entry-level accountancy trainees are recruited, onboarded and supported towards their qualification. In just five years, First Intuition’s proportion of learners who are apprentices has increased from 5% to 85%. This covers accountancy students working in practice, for businesses in industry, and in public sector organisations such as the NHS.
First Intuition is committed to educating businesses and students about the benefits of apprenticeships in accountancy to ensure all trainees and employers have the best chance at prospering. That is why First Intuition centres across the country have organised a comprehensive programme of apprenticeship-related resources that has something for everyone. Some of the resources released during National Apprenticeship Week include:
For employers:
· Virtual Event: The Value Apprentices can bring to a Business – Employers will have the opportunity to hear from Triple Bottom Line, a business that recently made the switch to using apprentice
· Virtual Event: Building Your Talent – For businesses using apprenticeships to learn what they can do to ensure their apprentices are utilised to their full potential
· Apprenticeship Case Study: Greene King – Managers at Greene King answer questions about why they decided to move to the apprenticeship programme and their experience working with apprentices
For students:
· Student Event: Career Guidance and Interview Tips from a Recruiter – Students can hear career guidance and top tips from a recruiter at Goldhawk Associates
· Student Webinar: Ask a Graduated Apprentice – Hosts will be joined by a panel of recently graduated apprentices as they discuss their experiences, what it is like being an apprentice, and life after graduating
· Testimonial: Current Apprentice – Students currently studying on an apprenticeship programme share what it is like to be an apprentice and why they choose this route of education
· Testimonial: Graduated Apprentice – A fully qualified accountant who recently completed an apprenticeship share their experience on the programme and life after qualifying
· Student Podcast: Life after Graduating as an Apprentice – Hear a graduated apprentice speak about their experience of life as a qualified accountant
These will add to the wide selection of resources about accountancy apprenticeships already available on the First Intuition website. Including information on accountancy apprenticeship programmes, incentives, apprenticeship testimonials, and the programme’s First Intuition offer.
First Intuition pride itself on delivering the best accounting apprenticeship programmes possible. Working with hundreds of employers to support them in the introduction and delivery of their apprenticeship programmes, along with supporting apprentices to give them the tools to build their future and ensure they get the most from their apprenticeship. You can find more information about the accountancy apprenticeship programmes First Intuition offer here.
As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.
Sally-Ann Forsyth is the Chief Executive at Norwich Research Partners who have been members only a short time having joined the Chamber in June of 2013.
Sally Ann’s question to the Chancellor was:
“Norwich Research Park is a concentrated science cluster comprising the complete innovation supply chain from fundamental research to clinical trials all within a 1km radius. The aim is to encourage the translation of this world class UK research in to world class innovations for the Global Market.
On site we are building a thriving science and innovation community that supports the establishment of new companies, nurtures SMEs and aims to attract inward investment to drive economic growth in the region. What role does the Chancellor see for Norwich Research Park in supporting the commercialisation of UK leading science to generate growing companies and how will the Government help it to achieve this?”
Find on the attached document the written response from the Department for Business Innovation & Skills.
As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.
TaxAssist Direct Ltd are based in Norwich and have been members of the Chamber for just under a year now. Karl Sandall is the Chief Executive at TaxAssist Direct Ltd.
Karl’s question to the Chancellor was:
“We have heard that the British bankers Association are working with the banks to set up a team of Business Mentors who will help small business owners raise finance. Are Government aware of and in support of this initiative and what else are they doing to support small businesses in obtaining lending from the banks?”
Find on the attached document the written response from the Department for Education.
We are delighted to introduce a fresh new look to Fosters Solicitors across our digital, print and physical branding.
Our new logo forms part of this exciting change, supported by a brand-new website and the use of fresh imagery and fonts across all of our communications.
Clients and visitors will also see new signage when visiting our Norwich city-centre, Wymondham and Lowestoft branches – as well as across inventory through our key partners, including Norwich City Football Club.
With Fosters a key part of its community for over 260 years, it has been important through this process to appreciate the firm’s tradition but understand its continued development and requirement for the brand in a digital age.
Commenting on the news, Fosters’ Chief Executive Chris Brown, said: “We are excited to be able to finally share our refreshed brand and new website, which is a culmination of months of engagement and consultation with our colleagues and clients to create our fresh approach.
“We feel this is the right time to make these changes, with the firm seeking to build on the growth we’ve experienced in recent years, especially digitally, and we believe this new brand identity will help us unlock further opportunities.”
He added: “We have balanced a new strong primary colour and fonts to highlight simplicity, warmth and accessibility, but with a hint to our Norfolk and Suffolk heritage through a supportive colour pallet.
“We also want to visualise our core values of transparency, unity and collaboration and the building of relationships, and through the introduction of the message ‘You + Us’, we want to make all our interactions with our clients, partners and community, feel friendly, approachable and easy to navigate.”
Ignite your workforce and start a community engagement project this year!
Community engagement takes a strategic approach to the interactions and relationships between your business and the local community to try to influence outcomes for both.
When you engage with your local community, it can help you develop a more socially responsible business and make more informed decisions.
As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.
Gerard Mulqueen is Business Unit Director at the King’s Lynn based agricultural company Germains Seed Technology.
Gerard’s question to the Chancellor was:
“It is predicted, from various government papers and scientific journals, that a 60% increase in food supply will be required by 2050 to meet the needs of the nine billion global population, putting increasing pressure on the current global agricultural supply chain. This will also be experienced in the UK, where although we export in the region of £12billion of food and drink (2007), we are reliant on 40% of imports to supplement our internal food needs; an increasing trend.
As referenced in ‘A UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies’, funding is ear-marked to support the commercialisation of research into sustainable intensification of agriculture. What proportion, and in what form, will this funding be available for the Agri-tech cluster in Norfolk?”
Find on the attached document the written response from the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs.
Fosters Solicitors and Norwich City Football Club are delighted to confirm the renewal of their partnership in a new multi-year deal, taking the relationship through to the 2024/25 season.
Having first partnered with the Canaries back in 2011 to become the club’s official legal partner, Fosters also supports the Norwich City Community Hero initiative and the Norwich City Fans Social Club.
Throughout our decade of involvement with the club, we have helped provide legal support to many Norwich City supporters and its wider community, currently offering a 15% discount on our range of services to season ticket holders and members.*
Sam Jeffery, Norwich City commercial director, said: “Our partnership with Fosters is one of the most long-standing of our partner portfolio, and with us now entering an 11th season working with this brilliant local firm, we’d like to place our sincerest thanks to them for their continued support.
“As well as supporters, colleagues and partners able to access their legal expertise, the relationship is also firmly embedded in the club’s community, with their wider support for our Community Hero initiative and through the Norwich City Fans Social Club, the Community Sports Foundation. We are proud to be able to extend this key partnership and look forward to working with Fosters as a primary partner for another three seasons.”
Andrea Spooner, Fosters’ practice director, added: “The building of relationships forms part of our core values at Fosters, and this partnership embodies this for us. We take enormous pride in having worked together with the commercial team and wider club for over a decade.
“Many of our colleagues and clients are Norwich City supporters, but more than that, through the community work and reach of the club and its fans we’ve been able to highlight and support the wonderful work of key charities, people and good causes in our local community.”
She added: “This week we have been delighted to launch a fresh new look for Fosters Solicitors, which includes a brand-new logo and website. This will mean a change across our digital, print and physical branding, and we’re thrilled to highlight this new look across our signage and digital assets at Carrow Road at today’s match and those moving forward.”