Come on down to Captain Fawcett’s HQ in King’s Lynn for a simply splendid summer shindig hosted by Noni Stannard and none other than the Captain’s Right Hand Man himself!
There’ll be a van flipping scrumptious burgers and the splendid Captain Fawcett bar. All drinks proceeds will be going to the brilliant charity Make-A-Wish, which makes dreams come true for seriously ill children and their families. Huzzah!
And to cap it all, Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum will be open for the delectation and delight of curious visitors from far and wide. Discover tonsorial treasures dating back over 400 years – each with a fascinating story to tell! Owner and curator Richie Finney, will be on hand to share a tale or two about his remarkable personal collection – believed to be the largest of its kind anywhere in the world!
Of course, anyone keen to spruce up for the new season will be able to sample Captain Fawcett’s simply delectable range of ‘First Class Gentlemen’s Grooming Requisites’ which includes the ‘Hair Couture’ styling collection, Beard and Moustache care and award-winning fine fragrance – not to be sniffed at!
Friends are asked to be mindful of others when parking and make sure no-one gets blocked in, so all can come and go as they please. Once the parking area is full, please pull up your trusty steed along the road side.
Norfolk Chambers of Commerce and proud to be supporting the Norfolk Enterprise Festival. Ahead of the 2019 festival, they have launched a new app! Are you a budding entrepreneur? Do you own a business in Norfolk? Do you wish to add your voice to the local enterprise community? Or do you just want a fun day out with the family? Attend the Norfolk Enterprise Festivals on Saturday 13th July at Hoveton Hall Gardens. The festival is one of the only enterprise festivals in the whole of the UK and invites the local business community (and their families) to connect through an immersive, fun and informative day of interactive talks, workshops and experiences. The programme spotlights Norfolk’s key innovations (including farming & agri-tech, green energy, tech & smart mobility) alongside inspirational insights from the grassroots entrepreneurial community. Sparking conversations that can, in turn, strengthen the enterprise ecosystem in meeting local ‘sustainability’ challenges …there’s even the chance to pitch for NEF Angels’ Den investment! By attending the NEF 2019 you can be part of the NEF’s living network of local entrepreneurs through their very own festival app! The app, acting as a ‘Norfolk based ‘linkedin’, provides a platform for attendees of the festival to secure lasting connections with potential investors, business partners and the local business community long after the festival takes place. You can download the app by purchasing a ticket for the NEF 2019, and by searching ‘Norfolk Enterprise Festival’ on your app store.
We are delighted to have partnered with Norfolk Enterprise Festival to offer Chamber Members a 20% discount on tickets!
You can book your tickets today and don’t forget to use the code ‘norfolkchamber’ for 20% off all tickets! Book tickets now.
80% of businesses surveyed (92% of whom are SMEs) attempting to recruit have faced challenges, with hospitality and manufacturing firms still the most likely to report difficulties
Almost six in ten (59%) businesses are actively trying to recruit staff
BCC calls on Government to work with business on solutions including skills training, investment and urgent reform of the Shortage Occupations List (SOL)
The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO), a survey of more than 5,000 UK firms of all sectors and sizes by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) reveals businesses are still facing record high difficulties in hiring new staff.
The first quarter results for 2023 show that recruitment difficulties have fallen just two percentage points from the record high level of 82% in Q4 2022.
Attempted recruitment in Q1was virtually unchanged from the previous quarter, with 59% of those surveyed looking to find staff (61% in Q4 2022).
While recruitment difficulties are being experienced across the economy,firms in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors were the most likely to report recruitment difficulties (83% in each sector).This is closely followed by the construction and engineering sector (81%) and then professional services; and public, education, health sector on 79%.
The recruitment pressure points vary across sectors. For firms who struggled to recruit in the construction and engineering sector, 71% faced difficulties in finding skilled manual/technical workers. However, for hospitality businesses that struggled to recruit, 64% faced difficulties in finding semi/unskilled workers.
Investment in training remainsstubbornly low inan environment of increasing cost pressures. Just over a quarter of firms (27%) reported an increase in their training investment plans over the last three months (24% Q4 2022), while 14% report a drop.
Overall, 67% of businesses say labour costs are a source of inflationary pressure, with a similar number (66%) worried about energy costs. Concerns around labour costs are highest in manufacturing (76%) followed by construction and engineering, logistics, and hospitality (each at 70%).
Responding to the findings, Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive at the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:
“People shortages are a massive issue and employers can see little sign of improvement. The high number of unfilled job vacancies is damaging businesses and the economy. Norfolk firms are struggling to fulfil order books and turning down new work.
“Whileinvestment in training ispart of the solution, it is being held back byrising overall cost pressures and a lack of time and resource at firms to mentor and support new recruits.
“There is no quick fix and employers and the government need to work together to find solutions. While firms can do more to make workplaces more flexible and jobs easier to access, the government mustredouble its efforts to encourage and help people into work.
“Support for parents and carers, older workers and those with health issues will be crucial. At the same time, where there is evidence of urgent and critical skills shortages that are crippling business sectors, the government must adopt a sensible and pragmatic approach to immigration and ensure that the Shortage Occupations List reflects the reality on the ground.
“The Chamber Network is rooted in its communities, representing businesses of all sizes across Norfolk and the UK, and these are the big issues they are telling us need addressing if we are to get the economy growing again.”
Join the Age UK Norwich team, at the historic Maids Head Hotel for a spooktacular Halloween quiz event. Hosted by local quiz masters, the night will offer the opportunity to laugh, enjoy and raise vital funds for our charity.
With Halloween themed quiz categories as well as general knowledge, compete with other teams to be crowned our winner. Teams can be made up of 4-6 people with your donation entitling you to a free drink on arrival. There will also be the opportunity to order food and take part in a charity raffle.
Ever wondered what it would be like to spend a night in a zoo? Now’s your chance!
Take part in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Experience a night under the stars, out in the open surrounded by the animals in their natural habitat – all while raising crucial funds for Break and ZSEA Banham Zoo.
And you’ll not just be sleeping. There will be a range of activities and challenges on offer including a night Torch Walk with the keepers!
Food and refreshments will be provided to keep you warm, just like the animals!
Timings
Arrival from 4pm.
Zoo lock in at 6pm.
Participants can leave from 8am the following morning.
Over 18s only.
By signing up to this event, you are pledging to raise a minimum of £150 split between Break and ZSEA Banham Zoo
£25 registration fee: Includes a ‘Big Zoo SnooZe’ exclusive travel mug and beanie, and refreshments.
Break changes the lives of young people living in care, or moving on from care. With 1 in 4 care leavers ending up homeless our aim is to give these young people the young people the love, support and opportunities they deserve. Through this event participants will get a glimpse of the challenge that sleeping in the cold can bring.
ZSEA Banham Zoo cares for hundreds of amazing animals – with giraffes, tigers, leopards, meerkats, penguins and more. Fundraising plays a vital role in supporting the care and well-being of all our animals and also contributes to our conservation initiatives and breeding programs, both locally and internationally.
Hitachi Energy has been appointed by Ørsted, the world’s most sustainable energy company, to deliver the construction of two HVDC Converter stations Link 1 & 2 for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm. The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce worked closely with Hitachi Energy to deliver an event which gave Local Businesses the opportunity to showcase their skills and expertise to Hitachi Energy.
Businesses from different sectors joined us on Tuesday 25th April to meet and discuss the opportunities to work on the Hornsea 3 project with Hitachi Energy.
Meet the Buyer was an opportunity for local businesses to sit down and have a 15 minute meeting with a representative from Hitachi Energy to learn more about the project and showcase how their business can support them.
Several attendees joined us at Hitachi Energy’s Meet the Buyer after attending our previous Meet the Buyer in November 2022, including Wensum Print. Oli Smith from Wensum print said “This is the second meet the buyer we have attended, we provided the signage for the Hornsea 3 Onshore Cable Works project after attending Meet the Buyer at the end of last year and we have come back today to represent our business again and showcase what we can offer and hopefully build some new business relationships.”
Office Water Supplies also attended the event after being subcontracted after last year’s Meet the Buyer. When asked how important do you think it is that the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce are apart of an event like this they said: “It is massively important that the Chambers are a part of an event like this, it’s a huge opportunity for us and many other local businesses.”
After the event, Michael Chappell from Hitachi Energy said:
“The one-to-one meetings provided meaningful new potential suppliers for which we will be looking to explore more in the coming months.
In addition to which, Simon Knapper, who welcomed visitors to the Hitachi Stand, received significant interest and thoroughly enjoyed discussing how Hitachi’s HVDC technology is bringing power from the Hornsea Offshore Windfarm into the UK transmission network at Necton.
Initial feedback from the Hitachi team was all extremely positive.”
Amy Wright, Events Manager, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce:
“I would like to thank all the businesses who attended the event, it was fantastic to hear the buzz of the networking area and to meet some of our members. Norwich City Football Club’s hospitality was outstanding and it was a very engaging environment to be in.”
Thank you to Sizewell C Supply Chain and Hitachi Energy for exhibiting at Meet the Buyer and thank you to Norwich City Football Club for their venue space in the Top of the Terrace.
Anglian Waste Recycling are excited to have launched their latest initiative, the Anglian Green Scheme, which aims to educate school pupils on the importance of waste reduction and responsible recycling. The waste management company hopes that this engaging scheme will create a long-term change in the way young people approach recycling to protect our environment.
With concerns over climate change and environmental damage on the rise, the recycling initiative seeks to inspire students across the region to reduce the amount of waste they produce and introduce positive recycling behaviors into their daily routines. Influencing the next generation to make sustainable choices that have less harmful impacts on the environment will play a key role in the solution to limit global warming in the future.
Designed to make recycling fun, interactive and accessible, Anglian aspired to make all activities within the scheme rewarding, to encourage children to recycle using the separate waste streams. Participating schools receive a range of educational resources including workshops and assemblies led by Anglian, digital toolkits, and their most popular learning tool, the Anglian Recycling Station.
“We believe that educating our future generations about the importance of recycling is crucial in creating a sustainable future,” said Matthew Raven, Field Sales Executive of Anglian Waste Recycling. “Through the Anglian Green Scheme, we hope to ignite a passion in young people to become environmental stewards by instilling a culture of recycling in them from an early age.”
Bawburgh School are one of the first schools to sign up to the Green Scheme initiative to increase recycling rates within their facility. Zoe Courtney, Caretaker of Bawburgh School, said “It’s fantastic to see how Anglian Waste Recycling have helped to raise awareness for recycling among our pupils. Our students are having so much fun while they learn about this topic and it’s wonderful to see them taking an active interest in protecting our environment.” After running a recycling themed poster competition for the students at Bawburgh, Anglian hosted an assembly where the two winners were announced and awarded with goody bags – Asta (Kingfishers – Year 2) and Evie-Rose (Jackdaws – Year 4). The two poster designs have been printed onto the Anglian Recycling Station in the playground by CIM Signs & Graphics, who kindly donated their time and materials to this project.
Anglian Waste Recycling would like to encourage all schools in East Anglia to participate in the Green Scheme to support their local communities in creating a cleaner, greener environment for all.
Established in 2007, Anglian originated as a demolition and asbestos company, but has rapidly grown over the years to include multiple divisions, including waste management. Providing commercial waste and recycling collections, skip hire and scrap metal processing, they are also the new preferred waste supplier for Norwich Business Improvement District – offering levy payers access to exclusive rates to increase recycling across Norwich City.
To stay up to date with Anglian Waste Recycling’s initiatives, visit their website, www.anglianrecycling.co.uk or find them on social media.
THINK FLOYD RETURN TO PERFORM THE WALL IN ITS ENTIRETY PLUS OTHER CLASSIC FLOYD TUNES. This extraordinary band, dubbed the Definitive Pink Floyd Experience, are renowned for their stunning celebration of the music of one of the world’s greatest musical phenomenon.
Following the hugely successful tour of The Wall in 2019, Think Floyd continue their celebration of this classic album with a new production for 2020 featuring a complete performance of the iconic album as well as the whole range of classic Pink Floyd from the Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and much more.
Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason describes the band as “Brilliant! – They are really good.” In an interview on LBC the legendary drummer commended Think Floyd and rather generously called them “better than we are”.
Think Floyd pride themselves in faithfully recreating Pink Floyd’s timeless music, backed by their dedicated team of sound and lighting engineers, this exciting production will recreate all the atmosphere, visual magnitude and musical excellence of Pink Floyd live on stage.
It’s no wonder they are widely regarded as the UK’s number one Pink Floyd tribute show.
Think Floyd will be performing two sets. The first one begins at 8pm and will be the whole of their classic album The Wall. The second performance will begin at 9.30 and will feature some of the best tracks that aren’t on The Wall. This show is seated
Reacting to the latest GDP data from the ONS, Alex Veitch, Director of Policy at the BCC, said:
“Today’sdata show that while consumer price and core inflation remain stubbornly high, businesses’ input priceshavefallen.
“While firms’ costs are now much higher than a year ago, the fall in the input ratewill givesome hope that consumer price inflation will soon start to ease. However, the drivers of price riseshave shiftedwith labour costs now the most significant factor.Thismay slow down the rate of CPI decline–due to the high number of job vacancies.
“Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey in July, of 5,000 businesses, showed that fewer firms are now expecting their prices to rise, and while inflation remains the top concern, the numbers worried have been falling since the end of 2022.
“The drivers of inflation are diverse with most (68%)now citing labour costs as a key pressure, 63% citing utilities, and 45% citing raw materials. Labour costs may remain an issue for business for some time; although the figure has been steadily falling, there are still around 1 million job vacancies in the UK.
“However, for manufacturers, 75% cited raw materials as the main cost pressure, and hospitality firms were far more likely than all other sectors to cite utility costs as a worry.
“But overall, our data show there has been optimism building in the business community that future prices risesmight not be inevitable. Today’s ONS findings will be an important factor for the Bank of England to consider going forward.”
The full ONS data can be found here for CPI and here for PPI.
We hear a lot from our SME businesses that accessing government funding support and the wider routes to finance can be tricky.
If that sounds like you, then UK Parliament’s Treasury Select Committee want to hear from you! Have your voice heard and submit evidence to the Treasury Committee.
The Committee will examine the accessibility of finance and lending to SMEs, by considering the key challenges SMEs face when seeking finance, the regulation of SME lending and the role Government can play in enhancing lending to SMEs.
The nucleus of the group is lead vocalist/cellist/keyboardist Lucia Holm and fellow keyboardist Paul Carnell. The group has also, at times, included Darren Woodford, Rob Fricker, Sean Wright, Nick Slingsby (aka “Bongo Ted”), and DJ Dave Valentine.
Sunscreem released a 12″ promo of “Love U More” on the Sony Soho Square record label in 1991, a song that went on to spend two weeks at #1 on the U.S. Dance chart in March 1993. The group also had club hits in the UK with the singles “Walk On” and “Pressure” (also on Sony Soho Square) before releasing its successful first album O3 on multiple labels in 1993. Other singles from O3 included “Perfect Motion” and a cover of the Marianne Faithfull song “Broken English.”
“Love U More” was one of the first techno songs to hit the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, climbing to No. 36 (to date it is their only Hot 100 entry). It was subsequently covered (usually in a bowdlerized form, omitting the climactic reference to rape and toning down other images in the lyrics) by other artists including Paul Elstak, LMP, Rollergirl, and Steps.
The band is known for having its songs remixed by a wide variety of dance music producers, including Leftfield, Band of Gypsies, Carl Cox, Push, Rollo Armstrong from Faithless, Red Jerry, Matt Darey, Slam, X-Press 2, Trouser Enthusiasts, Robbie Rivera, Jimmy Gomez, K-Klass, Armand Van Helden, and Fire Island (Pete Heller and Terry Farley) among others.
