This Business Builder webinar is one of a series of five being run in partnership with the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Norfolk. Visit BIPC Norfolk to find out about the free and low-cost support they offer to start-ups and small businesses in Norfolk
We all have goals, certain things we strive for; a certain level of turnover, multiple product streams, etc. Goals are usually personal and so when something like COVID-19 comes along, a lot of the goals and plans we put in place must be shelved, leaving us feeling deflated and demotivated.
Join the NatWest Business Builder team as we look at creating long term visions to keep you inspired and motivated and keep your business moving forward. We’ll break those visions down into milestones that feel manageable and allow you to feel regular progress whilst keeping the needs of yourself and the business at the heart of every decision you make.
Nova Fairbank, CEO for The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce commented on the latest ONS figures, saying “The 0.3% fall in monthly GDP for August 2022 is a warning sign that the economy was already stalling before the market turmoil of recent weeks.
“Our research indicates that business confidence is falling at an alarming rate. Volatility in the currency and bond markets following recent Government announcements will have only exacerbated this.
“The six months energy support package will have provided some breathing room for businesses facing eye-watering energy costs.
“To build business confidence, Government must rapidly provide more detail on its fiscal policies and supply side reforms, particularly at a time when businesses face the twin crises of rising interest rates and high inflation.”
England’s Coast is an exciting new marketing and booking tool delivered by the National Coastal Tourism Academy. It’s designed to increase the number of international visitors to the English coast and is aimed specifically at German, Dutch and French visitors.
Its new interactive video technology allows holidaymakers to create their own itineraries and book direct with coastal businesses via an itinerary builder, but the scope of the project also targets the travel trade through independent and group itineraries. You can visit the website here.
To explain more about England’s Coast, we’re holding two free workshops on Tuesday 15th May at Pensthorpe Natural Park, Fakenham – starting with refreshments at 10:30am and 2:00pm.
Register now to book your space on the morning session, and find out more about attracting international visitors to your business!
Responding to the Chancellor’s statement this morning, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:
“The Chancellor’s buzzword was stability. But what we’ve seen from himis a plan for today and nothingfor tomorrow.
“Following the economic turmoil of the last few weeks he hadto pressthe reset button.
“But businesses will be dismayed by the decision thatlooks set to strip back the energy support for firmsfrom next April.This will be a hammer blow for many who were already worried about how they will survive.
“The government must commit to a full consultation with firms ahead of thatcliff-edge to provide some certainty on where any targeted support will go. Energy costskeep business owners awake at night, alongside rising inflation and interest rates.
“Keeping support for the NICs reversal in place will be some relief for hard-pressed firms, but on its own will not be enough.
“The Chancellor hasa delicate balancing act to carry out. He mustrestore order to the markets if he is to prevent further damage to business and consumer confidence. But if he is serious about stability and growth, he must speak to our Chamber Network to truly understand the pressures firms face.
“People run businesses and businesses rely on people. The Government is failing to fully understand that the cost of living and cost of doing business crises are two sides of the same coin. We still need a clear visionon how it will support firmsand the communities that rely on them to thrive.
“It must be clear in how it plans to do this, to prove it is serious about helping businesses through the difficult months ahead. Time is of the essence.”
Do you want your business to be commercially stronger and competitive?
Do you want to be an employer of choice who can both attract and retain talent?
Join us on Norfolk Day for the launch of Engaging Norfolk, a new initiative linked to the Engage for Success movement.
This free event will:
• Kick start a movement in Norfolk to address the skills gap by raising awareness of the benefits of an engaged workforce. • Share with you the four key drivers of employee engagement. • Demonstrate how engagement drives both sales and profit. • Offer the opportunity to network with like-minded Norfolk businesses. Engaging Norfolk is being led by Cassandra Andrews, a Norfolk employee engagement specialist and is supported by Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, Birketts LLP and Pure.
We are incredibly fortunate to have David Macleod OBE as our Key note speaker.
David himself is an author, former CEO, has been a NED to three Government Departments and has carried out work within the Cabinet Office. In 2007 he co-authored “The Extra Mile: How to Engage your People to Win”. Following on from this in 2009, David was invited to report on Engagement in the UK with Nita Clarke, which later lead to the publication of “Engaging for Success” also known as the “MacLeod Report”. In 2009, David set up the “Engaging for Success Moment”.
To secure your free ticket or for further information go to:
First Intuition is hosting FREE bite-size leadership and management sessions. Each session will have a guest speaker providing insight as well as panellists from companies to discuss the hot topic.
This is a great opportunity to learn from our expert tutors on the topics your company is facing today as well as hearing first hand how companies have implemented the changes.
In this session we will consider leadership styles, techniques, methods and tools for success. Our panel will focus on attraction, development, retention and motivation of individuals and teams.
A recent survey, CIPS/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) highlighted growth contraction in August 2015. The index was down to 51.5 from the previous July figure of 51.9. The reading for employment growth also turned negative for the first time in 26 months, as larger manufacturers made cut backs, though small businesses continued to increase their staff levels. Exports also fell for the fifth month in a row, with many blaming the strength of the pound, weak sales in the Eurozone and the slowdown in China.
One of the largest independent business surveys in the UK is the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey. The previous results for QES Q2 (March – May 2015) showed that the Norfolk results, whilst mixed, were demonstrating signs of cautious growth. In particular, Norfolk’s manufacturing export sales and orders were stronger and higher than the national results and employment in the Norfolk manufacturing sector also rose in comparison to the national results.
The fieldwork period for QES Quarter 3 is currently underway and is open until 14 September. If you have not already completed this survey, you can have your say now. It will be interesting to see the results of this survey (due to be published at the beginning of October) and see whether Norfolk’s manufacturers will continue to buck the national trend, or whether the unsettled climate in the Eurozone and the slow down in the Chinese economy will have an impact.
Over the StartUpCycle weekend, teams will come up with initiatives that will ditch landfill and form a circular economy instead: better for the planet and the pocket.
Using Sync the City‘s can-do attitude and hackathon expertise, and Norwich BID‘s knowledge of Norwich’s rubbish, you’ll work together in teams to figure out practical solutions to our big waste problem. It’s not just about Norwich – this event is part of an EU funded project, and by participating and presenting your Upcycle Start-Up, you’ll reach businesses across Europe, and could build something that will help change the world.
Norwich BID have already completed a large audit of over 300 companies, and identified valuable forms of waste (such as Coffee Grounds, Cardboard, Optician Lenses, Food Waste, Textiles, Polywrap, Pallets, Orange peel and post juiced oranges, Wasted Hops, Coffee Cups, Carpet, Glass Offcuts & more). These waste streams are not currently being used in a commercial way, but they should be: to save the money and help save the planet.
To get you inspired. Have you heard about UEA student George Bailey? He created a startup that creates spectacles that are upcycled from fishing nets, check it out here.
You’ll also benefit from expert mentoring, amazing networking opportunities, and develop plenty of professional skills: from presenting to problem-solving, with lots in between. Plus, you could win up to £4000 in prize money.
Over 48 hours, teams of 6-8 people will work together to build and launch an UpCycle startup, which transforms waste from local businesses into something new and valuable. We need you, whether you’re a tech expert, eco-warrior, or marketing pro: we’re looking for people who want to make things happen and be part of a more sustainable future. You don’t need any specific skills or upcycling knowledge to get involved, just willingness to jump in at the deep end.
Norfolk County Council has awarded the contract to design and build the Norwich Western Link to Ferrovial Construction, a leading construction and engineering company.
Ferrovial Construction will start work immediately alongside the council’s existing project team to further develop the design of the Norwich Western Link, including the new 3.8 mile dual carriageway road between the A47 and Broadland Northway and many of its associated measures.
This work will feed into the pre-planning application public consultation which is scheduled for the autumn, which in turn will inform the planning application for the project, due to be submitted in early 2022.
Cllr Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, said: “Ferrovial Construction have a great track record in designing and building large-scale infrastructure projects and will bring specialist expertise to the project, including in relation to the design of the viaduct across the River Wensum.
“Creating the Norwich Western Link is a priority for this council and it’s vital to ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place to not only tackle existing congestion and delays but to accommodate future population and job growth. We’re looking forward to working with Ferrovial Construction to deliver such an important project for Norfolk.”
Karl Goose, UK Managing Director, Ferrovial Construction, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver the Norwich Western Link. We will be bringing our expertise and experience at delivering highways projects in the UK, Ireland and around the world to provide Norfolk County Council and the region with a world-class piece of infrastructure.
“We will be delivering this project with local teams, opening new opportunities for people in Norfolk and a gateway to careers in the industry and sustainable career development paths.”
Ferrovial Construction were the highest scoring bidder from a competitive procurement process for the project which began in summer 2020 and during which they began developing their proposals for the project. Their appointment today followed a decision by the county council’s cabinet earlier this month to award the contract.
At the same meeting cabinet members also agreed to approve the outline business case for the Norwich Western Link, and this has now been submitted to the Department for Transport. The business case demonstrated that the project would provide high value for money, significantly reduce many journey times to the west of Norwich, improve road safety and reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. If the outline business case is approved, this would provide a funding commitment from government which is expected to cover 85% of the £198 million total project costs.
For more information about the Norwich Western Link, please visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/nwl.
UK growth in Q2 unrevised with the service sector and consumer spending driving growth.
The QES for Q3 2015 signals moderate economic growth over the next year.
US interest rates kept on hold for now amid continued global uncertainty.
The latest monthly economic review by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) showed that UK Economic Growth remained unrevised at 0.7%. However the UK’s recent GDP history has been upgraded by the Office of National Statistics. This is due to upward revisions to GDP growth between 2011 and 2013. The UK is now 5.8% above its pre-recession peak, up from an earlier estimate of 5.2%
The latest QES for Q3 2015 revealed weaker balances for both the manufacturing and service sectors but the survey did signal moderate economic growth over the next year. Click here to view the full Norfolk QES results.