The Library Restaurant Bar and Grill Fashion Gala Dinner for Charity
Local Charity Leeway Domestic Violence and Abuse services Wednesday 25th July from 6.30pm and will involve presentations from Rachel Glick of Lingerie Indiscrete and Claire Bunton of Claire Bunton Image Consultancy, followed by a beautiful two course meal and a fashion show from Style Quarter, a new, independent fashion company.
This event is aimed at all women with an interest in fashion and will provide them with an ideal opportunity to learn more about the importance of wearing correctly fitted lingerie and also how they can make the most of their image with colours, shapes and textures.
Tickets available from www.leewaysupport.org.uk or calling 0845 241 2171 (extension 4). Ticket 20.00pp with a two course supper and welcome drink
Gordon Secker is taking a fortnight off work as auditor with PKF Accountants and business advisers for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get involved in the Olympic games.
The Lowestoft man has been selected for the team of Olympic volunteers and will help organise travel for more than 25,000 journalists – even though it has meant giving up tickets to see a couple of the actual events.
“It wasn’t an easy decision but it’s something different; something I have never done before and will never do again and rather than watching I will be playing an active part and savouring the atmosphere across the Olympic Park,” he said.
It means a significant few weeks for the 38-year-old senior business adviser who has also just completed 10 years service with PKF in Great Yarmouth.
More than 12 hours training has prepared him for the Olympic role where he will join a team ensuring smooth passage for broadcasters and writers using a shuttle bus system to various Olympic events. He’ll work 13 eight-hour shifts and get to keep his official uniform as a souvenir.
PHOTO: Bubbly moment for Gordon Secker (left) as he marks 10 years at PKF and prepares for his Olympic role. Bob Hawkins, PKF partner, hands over the Champagne.
I had a great day yesterday meeting up with fellow business leaders from many Chambers as the British Chambers of Commerce celebrated its Annual General Meeting, as well as the Parliamentary launch of Chamber’s ‘Business is Good for Britain‘ campaign. It was really good to see the Chamber network out in force and influencing government actually inside Westminster.
The launch was attended by, amongst others, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, Business Minister Mark Prisk both of whom I managed to engage in a short conversation to put forward Norfolk’s case for investment. Also there supporting us was Brandon Lewis MP, amongst a range of other MPs and peers, despite the fact that it clashed with a hastily-arranged debate on how to investigate the recent scandals that have rocked both business and public confidence in the banking sector.
We now have the backing of over 30 MPs for an Early Day Motion in support of the ‘Business is Good for Britain’ campaign, and that support is growing day by day, thanks to cross-party leadership by friendly MPs and efforts nationwide to get local politicians to sign on. I am hoping that all our local MPs will sign up soon to show that they believe that ‘Business is Good for Norfolk’ too!
As noted at both the Parliamentary event and at the BCC’s Summer Reception, critical decisions are needed over the coming months to create the sort of enterprise-friendly environment we need to enable business growth for years to come. The Chamber Network will continue to put forward bold and imaginative proposals on business finance, infrastructure, and ways to boost international trade. And as Sir John Peace, chairman of Standard Chartered, Burberry and Experian noted in his address to reception attendees, the Chamber Network will also focus together on youth employment and the development of tomorrow’s workforce.
You may have also noticed yesterday that I have finally got the ‘twitter bug’ so please do follow me to make it all worthwhile! @nccCaroline
Caroline Williams with John Longworth, Director General of the British Chamber of Commerce
After a delicious buffet lunch at Yours Business Networks, Paul Leggett gave an insightful and honest account of the importance of investing in people. As Director of HR & Administration for Cooper Roller Bearings he understands that people are key to any business. Paul discussed the many ways that businesses can invest in people, including less direct ways such as through supporting community projects and charities.
He discussed how some employees only feel valued when they perceive that the investment is directly benefitting them, so it is important to share success with employees through newsletters, appraisals and rewards. He finished by mentioning the importance of apprenticeships and explained how Cooper Roller Bearings have an excellent apprenticeship scheme themselves.
Delegates also had the chance to hear from two ‘Sixty Second Spotlight’ speakers Paul Kunes, MTL and Gérard Spencer, Europeducation. As well as hearing from Carl Woodwards, the event sponsors Lloyds TSB. The event was hosted by Heather Garrod, President, West Norfolk Chamber Council who is passionate about West Norfolk Businesses and agreed with Paul that investment in people is vital.
Commenting on today’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“The £50bn increase in Quantitative Easing (QE) announced by the MPC may have only marginal benefits to the real economy. Arguments for increasing QE have been strengthened by the threat posed by the eurozone crisis to the UK’s financial system, but there are other policies that could help boost economic growth.
“While the increase in QE may produce some modest benefits, the policy is not risk-free, and could be counter-productive. It may limit the decline in inflation in the long term. It may limit the decline in inflation in the long term, at a time when we need falling inflation to underpin real incomes and boost demand in the UK economy. QE was the right response in earlier years, but at the present time its benefits for the real economy are at best likely to be marginal.
“There are better and more effective ways to tackle the challenges faced by the UK financial system and the real economy. For example, we believe the government and Bank of England should implement the lending and liquidity schemes recently announced at the Mansion House swiftly. To boost lending to businesses, the MPC must agree to purchase private sector assets, and the government must initiate moves towards the creation of a business bank.
Commenting ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision tomorrow (Thursday), David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Given the difficult economic circumstances, both in the UK and across the world, many expect the MPC to announce a £50bn increase in Quantitative Easing (QE). The argument for more QE has been strengthened by the effect of the eurozone crisis on the UK financial system, with the resulting increase in higher funding costs for UK banks harming both businesses and consumers.
“While an increase in QE may have some benefits, the effect will be marginal. Increasing QE is not risk-free, and could be counter-productive. It may limit the decline in inflation in the long term, at a time when we need falling inflation to underpin real incomes and boost demand in the UK economy.
“There are other ways to tackle the challenges faced by the UK economy – for example if the government and Bank of England are able to implement the two recently announced lending and liquidity schemes quickly, and forcefully. To support lending to businesses, the MPC must agree to purchase private sector assets, and the government must initiate moves towards the creation of a business bank.”
Commenting ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision tomorrow (Thursday), David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Given the difficult economic circumstances, both in the UK and across the world, many expect the MPC to announce a £50bn increase in Quantitative Easing (QE). The argument for more QE has been strengthened by the effect of the eurozone crisis on the UK financial system, with the resulting increase in higher funding costs for UK banks harming both businesses and consumers.
“While an increase in QE may have some benefits, the effect will be marginal. Increasing QE is not risk-free, and could be counter-productive. It may limit the decline in inflation in the long term, at a time when we need falling inflation to underpin real incomes and boost demand in the UK economy.
“There are other ways to tackle the challenges faced by the UK economy – for example if the government and Bank of England are able to implement the two recently announced lending and liquidity schemes quickly, and forcefully. To support lending to businesses, the MPC must agree to purchase private sector assets, and the government must initiate moves towards the creation of a business bank.”
Norfolk Chamber Board members Jonathan Cage, Create Consulting and Peter Foster Hugh J Boswell, Caroline Williams CEO, joined Norfolk MPs, New Anglia LEP and Senior Public sector figures to unveil a blueprint for the future of the region’s rail services today. This manifesto calls for huge investment in the Norwich to London line and puts forward the case for faster trains, more track and better stations.
The manifesto highlights that due to decades of under-investment the trains in the East of England are not fit for purpose and threatens our economic future. It is to be presented to the Department for Transport with a debate on East Anglia’s rail network due to take place in parliament on Tuesday 3 July.
The second in the current series of Chill Time, the Norfolk Chambers after hours networking event, got underway last night with a full house at Vodka Revolution with great business being done.
Ben Farrin, Managing Director of the Student Pocket Guide Ltd, shared his story with delegates, how he founded his company in his bedroom in 2005 and how that company turned into a multi-award winning business.
Attendees then took full advantage of the brand new mojito mixer, a networking icebreaker activity that got everyone talking and making new connections. The newly acquainted groups then took to the bar and learnt how to make a cocktail like pros.
A selections of photo’s have been uploaded to the Chamber’s Facebook and Google+ page, be sure to have a look to see fun and successful business networking in action.
Over the past year, at Norfolk Chamber we have been encouraged by the Government’s rhetoric on growth and frequent speeches about helping businesses expand. But ministers are in danger of breaking these promises. There is still a lack of measures out there to help companies emerge from recession. Repeated commitments to deregulation, more financial support, and help for firms looking to hire, have failed to translate into real change for businesses.
Getting the economy back on track should be the number one priority and ministers should be doing everything possible to squeeze every drop of potential growth from companies across the country including here in Norfolk. Over the past quarter, business surveys including those which include feedback from Norfolk companies within the British chamber of Commerce QES, have shown a more positive picture than many of the economic indicators suggest. Our members tell us they don’t identify with such pessimistic statistics and are cautiously optimistic. These are the people who are out in the real world, working hard every day to run their businesses and, in turn, drive the recovery. Whether this remains the case, though, relies on two things.
Firstly a government that is willing to meaningfully engage with business, become truly enterprise-friendly and set forward a bold plan for growth. Secondly, we need businesses that are willing to take advantage of opportunties in a period of uncertainty.
The first depends on the Government delivering on those measures it has repeated again and again: improving access to finance, creating robust infrastructure such as energy and transport networks, cutting red tape, and making it easier for firms to take on staff.
Reforms to planning rules promised in Westminster must make it out to the real world so businesses can expand their premises. We know that reducing the deficit is crucial to sustaining a recovery, but prioritising some of these measures will free up business to grow.
If the Government makes good on these promises and improves the environment in which companies operate, it can create confidence among our businesses and growth will follow. If it chooses not to listen, the economy will continue to bump along the bottom rather than return to growth.
In the meantime, businesses are busting a gut in an uncertain environment. And they will have to continue to do so. The economy has been on a roller-coaster ride over the past few years. But that hasn’t deterred many firms from finding new markets to export to, hiring a new member of staff, or taking a new product to market.
Businesses now have to accept uncertainty will remain for some time. By acknowledging that, the economy is likely to continue to fluctuate over the coming year and by understanding the implications of this, businesses can be confident and thrive regardless.
Instead of worrying about changeable economic conditions, as businesses we need to accept uncertainty as the new norm, and with this knowledge, be confident to invest, grow and create more jobs.
The Government recently announced its intention to amend legislation regarding parental contact with children, following the Family Justice Review published in November 2011.
Many have raised concerns over the plans to amend the current legislation which aim to make it clearer to those going through separation/divorce that children must have an ongoing relationship with both parents following their separation; unless contact with either parent causes concerns over the safety and welfare of the child.
The current legislation in this area is covered by the Children Act 1989. Section 1 makes it particularly clear that “the child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount consideration”.
In practice, some couples going through separation/divorce will find that they are able to finalise contact arrangements between themselves without the need to involve Solicitors or the Courts. Many will find they require a little assistance from Solicitors and others will need more help from Solicitors and will also need the involvement of the Court system to reach a suitable contact agreement.
Whichever route is taken, whether it includes the Courts or not, the child’s best interests will always be the overriding factor.
The Government propose to amend section 1 of the Children Act 1989 to require the Court to ‘work on the presumption that a child’s welfare is likely to be furthered through safe involvement with both parents – unless the evidence shows this is not to be safe or in the child’s best interests’.
Practically the amendments appear to make little difference to what happens within the Courts now. The current position adopted by the Courts is that ideally both parents should be involved in the child’s upbringing with contact being the most important way of achieving this.
The proposals clarify the need to be fair and reasonable when finalising contact arrangements with both parents. The proposals do not attempt to verify the minimum amount of time each parent is to spend with their child, nor will they be suggesting an equal division of the child’s time between each parent. Realistically these suggestions would be impractical and are matters to be decided on a case by case basis.
It seems the proposals are to make it clear to parents who are or have separated that, in cases where there are no concerns for the child’s safety, consideration must be given to the importance of the child seeing both parents regularly in order to maintain a meaningful relationship with each of them.
The amendments will mean it is no longer acceptable for a parent to deny the other parent contact with their child where there are no concerns for safety or welfare because of the legal presumption of shared parenting.
The consultation on the above proposals closes on 5 September 2012.