Running a business which has a sub brand called ‘Branded.Photo’ I thought I had better listen to Robert Jones, the speaker at Jarrold’s Business Club on Wednesday.
He spoke about Ikea and their brand – which wasn’t about making flat pack shelves, but: “a better everyday life for the many people”
I figured that I had better work out what my brand value was – and who better to ask than ChatGPT… now I use Chat a lot, so it has a lot of my history.. This is what it came up with:
Your brand is not photo booths. It is social proof on tap.
You stand for removing friction from shared moments.
No queues.
No limits.
No awkward tech moments.
No “we’ll send it later”.
Your belief shows up everywhere.
Unlimited prints.
Staffed booths.
AI used for delight, not gimmicks.
Multiple formats so guests join in their own way.
Weddings. Corporate. Community. Same behaviour.
You obsess over outcomes, not equipment.
Did people engage.
Did they laugh.
Did they share.
Did the host look good.
Your competitors rent boxes.
You engineer participation.
A tight brand message, stripped of fluff.
“We make it easy for people to show up, join in, and take something home.”
Or shorter.
“We remove the awkward from shared moments.”
If you dislike those, good. That means you are close.
Volunteering with PACT offers individuals an
opportunity to give back to the community while developing valuable skills.
PACT’s charity shops are a cornerstone of the organisation’s fundraising
efforts, providing essential income to support animal rescue, rehabilitation,
and rehoming across Norfolk and beyond. Every sale directly contributes to
improving the lives of animals in need.
Why It Matters
Retail volunteers are at the heart of PACT’s operations,
ensuring shops run efficiently and customers receive a warm, welcoming
experience. Their dedication transforms generous public donations into vital
funds that sustain the charity’s animal welfare work. The contribution of
volunteers has a direct and lasting impact on hundreds of animals each
year.
Hear from our Head of Retail, Gareth Austin Mills,” Volunteers are the heartbeat of our charity retail operation. They bring energy, commitment, and community spirit into every corner of our shops. Without them, we simply couldn’t function they’re essential to keeping our doors open, our shops full, our standards high, and our mission moving forward.”
Opportunities Available
We have a range of volunteer roles available to suit
different interests and skill levels, including:
Front
of House: Greeting customers, operating the till, and providing
friendly, helpful service.
Back
of House: Sorting and preparing donations, organising stock, and
keeping the shop running smoothly behind the scenes.
Driver’s
Mate: Assisting with collections and deliveries, helping move
donations between locations.
Visual
Merchandising: Creating attractive displays and layouts to showcase
our donations and inspire customers.
Online
Sales: Supporting our digital retail operations through photographing,
listing, and managing online shop items.
Interested in
Getting Involved?
Take the first step and complete our volunteer application form: Volunteer
with us
Norfolk County Council (NCC) has issued formal communication to adult social care providers outlining its proposed fee uplift for 2026/27. Alongside this, NCC has opened a short feedback window ahead of Cabinet decision-making later this month.
This is an important opportunity for providers to ensure their views and evidence are fully considered. Responses received will be summarised in the Cabinet paper, enabling elected Members to take account of the collective position of the sector before a final decision is made.
As the sector’s representative body, we have already fed into NCC’s fee review on behalf of providers. Our full response is available to view here.
What providers need to do
All providers are strongly encouraged to complete NCC’s survey to share feedback on the proposed uplift.
Deadline: 9:00am on Monday the 12th of January 2026
Even if you have previously engaged through surveys or sector meetings, this is the final opportunity at this stage to ensure your organisation’s views are formally captured.
Key points from the proposal
NCC is proposing a 3.2% uplift across all adult social care markets for 2026/27.
This is below the fully weighted cost pressure uplift, which NCC estimates as 3.53% for most providers and 3.63% for home care providers. This difference is based on an updated weighting of: staff and none staff costs of 70% staff, 30% non staff for most providers, and 75% staff, 25% non-staff for home care providers.
The proposed uplift reflects a range of national pressures, including:
A 4.1% increase in the National Living Wage
Forecasted inflation of 2.2%, as set out by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility
NCC has acknowledged that the consultation timetable is tight. This is due to the timing of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and the need to finalise papers for Cabinet consideration.
Why your feedback matters
While provider engagement has already taken place throughout 2025 via surveys and sector meetings, NCC has confirmed that this survey represents the final formal feedback opportunity before Cabinet decision-making.
The volume and quality of responses will be critical in demonstrating the strength and breadth of sector concerns, particularly in the context of ongoing workforce, cost and sustainability pressures.
Key dates for your diary
Survey closes: 9:00am, 12th January 2026
Cabinet paper published: 16th January 2026
Cabinet decision: 26th January 2026
Outcome communicated to providers: February 2026
Need support?
If you experience any issues accessing the survey, NCC has advised providers to contact:
market.development@norfolk.gov.uk
We urge all providers to take a few minutes to respond to the survey and ensure that the realities facing adult social care services in Norfolk are clearly evidenced at this critical stage.
Norwich digital marketing agency, Bigfork, have completed the new website for the Norwich based charity, Asperger East Anglia.
The charity does a huge amount of work in the region to help people with Asperger syndrome and their friends and family. As with all small charities they need your support so please visit the new website at www.asperger.org.uk/
The new website has an improved navigation system making it easier for visitors to find their way around a content rich website. The design follows their branding guidelines and has a SilverStripe content management system to allow them to manage content inhouse.
Same-sex couples in England and Wales who want to get married on the day that gay marriage becomes legal – 29 March 2014 – can register to do so from today.
Couples have to give 15 days’ notice of their intention to marry at a register office, and need to do so today if they want to be among the first to benefit from the passing of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
The Act received Royal Assent in July 2013 and media reports suggest that many gay couples are planning to celebrate their new right by tying the knot just after midnight on 29 March 2014.
The Government is also hopeful that couples who want to convert their civil partnerships into marriages and married people who want to change their legal gender, whilst remaining married, will be able to do so before the end of the 2014.
Same sex couples who married abroad under foreign law are currently treated as civil partners in England and Wales, but they will be recognised as being married from today.
Emma Alfieri, family practitioner, commented that today marks an important step forward for gay couples up and down the country. Further news about when existing civil partnerships may be converted into marriage is eagerly awaited from the Government.
For further information please contact Steeles Law’s family team.
A Consent Order is the legal document recording the financial division upon, or following, divorce. A Consent Order is made by the Court and must be adhered to by both parties. However, occasionally the situation arises where one party attempts to try and avoid implementation of the Consent Order.
Until recently there was not a great deal of case law on this topic, however, two recent law reports have dealt with this issue. Both cases involved applications for breach of financial orders:
The case of Hope v Krejci [2014] EWHC B5 (Fam) was an application by the wife against the husband for breach of a consent order made in July 2012, requiring him to transfer to her two cars and a motorbike. By the time the wife’s committal application was heard in January 2014, the husband had failed to transfer the vehicles to the wife. The Judge was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the husband was in contempt of court for failing to transfer the vehicles to the wife, as required by the order of the Court. To ensure the money was paid, the Judge made an order committing the husband to prison for two months, suspended so long as the husband pay the sum of £16,000 to the wife’s solicitors by 15 March 2014. If the money is paid, then the committal order will be discharged but if it is not paid by that date, the husband will be sent to prison.
The case of Pocock v Pocock [2013] EW Misc 26 (CC) concerned a consent order reached between the parties on 22 August 2011, under which the husband had agreed to transfer the former matrimonial home to the wife, to pay the mortgage repayments and to redeem the mortgage on or before 9 September 2011. The redemption of the mortgage had not happened and the mortgage payments had only been made sporadically. This caused considerable stress to the wife, who had to return to the Court repeatedly. The wife applied for the husband’s committal to prison for breach of the order. The Judge made a fourteen day order of imprisonment against the husband. The order was suspended, so long as the husband paid the mortgage (he had brought it up to date just prior to the hearing) but the Judge warned him that it would be activated if there was any further breach of the consent order.
Emma Alfieri, from Steeles Law’s family team, commented: “These cases provide a stern warning of the possible consequences of failure to comply with court orders and the importance of ensuring they are efficiently implemented”. For further information contact the family team at Steeles Law.
Local Children’s Hospices EACH Selected as Focus for Bidwells’ Norwich Office’s 175th Anniversary Celebrations
Bidwells, one of the UKs oldest property firms, today announced that its Norwich office has selected East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) as the focal point of its celebratory 175th year. Not only will all members of the Norwich office be fundraising for Quidenham’s EACH hospice, but they will also be using their official volunteering days to help local charities, organisations and initiatives. The Firm has gifted every employee two fully paid Volunteer Days, which can be deployed for any good cause of their choosing. EACH supports children, young people and their families address the challenges which having a life-threatening condition brings. Services are provided either in the family home, the community or one of their hospices. Camilla Haycock, EACH “We are delighted that Bidwells has chosen EACH to support in their 175th Anniversary year. We see the partnership as a great way to engage their staff in exciting fundraising initiatives whilst helping them to celebrate their anniversary in a positive and meaningful way. Many of the Bidwells offices, including their headquarters, are based in East Anglia and their fundraising will help EACH to continue with its work to support and care for children and young people with a life-threatening condition, as well as their families in the same region.” “The work EACH does is absolutely critical to every community it serves because it steps in when parents, families and children are at their most vulnerable and in greatest need for support and guidance” said Paul Clarke, Head of Norwich Bidwells. “Having personally visited the EACH hospice in Quidenham, I am twice as determined to help them with the great work that they do. “Please help us make a difference in any way you can.”
About Bidwells Established 175 years ago, today Bidwells is one of the UK’s leading property consultancies. We employ almost 500 people in 12 offices across England and Scotland and provide a full range of services across the Commercial, Residential and Rural sectors. Bidwells celebratory year will run from 1 March 2014 to 28 February 2015.
NORWICH, Monday 17th March 2014 – AIRPORT SECOND IN TOP 30 UK AIRPORTS FOR ANNUAL TRAFFIC GROWTH The positive trend for passenger traffic at Norwich International is confirmed in the latest CAA UK official UK airport annual traffic results released on 13th March 2014.
The report lists Norwich International as seventh in the UK for annual traffic growth 2013 compared to 2012 (for airport with annual traffic of twenty thousand passengers or more). Total passengers are listed at 463,401 versus 396,676 being a 17% increase in people from the region using the city’s airport year on year.
However, of the top 30 UK airports Norwich International growth is second overall for the percentage increase year on year.
The passenger boost was in a number of different sectors with the biggest increase being in the holidaymaker category which increased by 45% on 2012, with over 107,000 people enjoying the benefits of starting their holiday from their local airport.
Offshore helicopter traffic enjoyed yet another year of record growth with over 98,000 passengers travelling offshore, an increase of 18% on the previous year with Norwich now the UK’s second busiest offshore heliport after Aberdeen.
KLM’s hub feeder service to Amsterdam Schiphol had another strong year as a result of the addition of the fourth daily flight throughout the summer months. This service continues to play a key role in connecting the region’s economy to the rest of the world and the popularity of the service continues to grow with the region’s business and leisure travellers alike.
Andrew Bell, the airport’s Chief Executive commented, “Posting strong passenger growth is good news for the airport and the region, as ultimately the flights that are operated from the airport must be used by the travelling public if they are to remain on offer. We recognise that we still have a great deal to do in order to satisfy the demands of the region’s business and leisure travelers alike and we are working hard to bring back routes that proved popular in the past, and to identify new route opportunities. However, the CAA result, with Norwich second out of the top 30 UK airports, is testament to the hard work the airport has undertaken over the past few years and confirmation that Norwich Airport is moving in the right direction”.
When a workplace accident or near miss occurs, knowing what happened is only part of the picture. Understanding why it happened and how to stop it from happening again is what truly protects people and businesses.
That’s where the NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation course comes in.
Serene Safety is proud to offer this highly respected, specialist health and safety qualification, designed to give learners the confidence and practical skills needed to investigate workplace incidents effectively and proportionately.
Why incident investigation matters
Every incident, whether it results in injury or not, is a learning opportunity. Poor investigations often stop at surface-level causes, missing the underlying human and organisational factors that increase risk.
This course equips learners to:
Identify root causes, not just immediate issues
Develop effective risk control measures
Contribute meaningfully to team investigations for more complex incidents
Support a proactive, learning-led safety culture
Ultimately, better investigations mean fewer repeat incidents, reduced risk, and safer working environments for everyone.
A qualification developed by the experts
The NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation has been jointly developed by NEBOSH and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – the UK’s leading health and safety regulator.
This partnership ensures the course reflects best practice, current legislation, and real-world expectations, making it a valuable and credible qualification for organisations across all sectors.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for:
Managers and supervisors
Health and safety champions
Union and employee representatives
Those with health and safety responsibilities
Anyone aspiring to move into a health and safety role
No matter your industry, if you are involved in responding to incidents or improving safety performance, this course provides a strong, practical foundation.
What the course covers
The qualification consists of one unit, which must be completed within six months. During the course, learners will explore:
The moral, legal and financial reasons for investigating incidents
Human and organisational factors that influence safety
How to investigate accidents and incidents effectively
Positive interview strategies and common barriers
Advanced accident and incident investigation techniques
The focus throughout is practical application, helping learners feel confident applying their knowledge in real workplace scenarios.
Course details at a glance
Qualification level: Level 3
Study time: 1 day + assessment
Tuition period: Up to 6 months
Cost: From £300 +VAT
Why choose Serene Safety?
At Serene Safety, we believe training should be engaging, practical, and relevant, not a tick-box exercise. Our approach supports learners to build confidence, ask questions, and leave with skills they can apply immediately in their workplace.
If you’re looking to strengthen your incident investigation processes and improve safety outcomes across your organisation, the NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation is an excellent place to start.
The Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 have been laid before Parliament and will come into force on 31 January 2014. Professional support lawyer Elizabeth Stevens summarises the changes.
Last year the Government consulted on its proposed changes to the existing TUPE Regulations and collective consultation requirements under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA). The TUPE Regulations have been criticised by the business sector in the past as being ‘gold-plated’, going beyond what is strictly necessary under the European Acquired Rights Directive (2001/23/EC). See our previous briefingon the Government’s response to the consultation.
The final amending Regulations have now been published and laid before Parliament, to come into force on 31 January 2014. The Explanatory Memorandum to accompany the amending Regulations states that the intention behind the amendments is to reduce the risk that they are interpreted more restrictively than is required by the 2001 Directive.
The key changes resulting from the amended Regulations are as follows:
• The express provisions covering ‘service provision changes’ (outsourcing) will remain, but are clarified to provide that the activities carried out after the change in service provider must be “fundamentally or essentially the same” as those carried on by the previous service provider;
• The requirement for transferors to provide employee liability information increases from a minimum of 14 days to 28 days before the transfer, for transfers taking effect on or after 1 May 2014;
• Terms derived from collective agreements will transfer and remain ‘static’ post-transfer (ie if any changes are subsequently collectively agreed without the transferee’s involvement). Transferee employers will be able to change any such terms one year after the transfer, provided the changes are no less favourable to the employee overall;
• Minor changes to the wording of existing provisions relating to dismissal because of a transfer, and a new provision that changes in the workplace location following a transfer are expressly included within the scope of an ‘economic, technical or organisational reason’ entailing changes in the workforce (meaning that a ‘place of work’ redundancy resulting from a transfer is no longer automatically unfair);
• Minor changes to the wording of existing provisions and restricting the variation of terms post-transfer, and now permitting variations that are either for an ‘economic, technical or organisational reason’ and are agreed by the employee, or if the terms of the contract permit the employer to make the variation;
• Amendments to TULRCA will clarify that consultation that begins prior to the transfer can count for the purposes of the collective redundancy consultation requirements, provided both the transferor and transferee agree and that the transferee carries out meaningful consultation;
• Micro-businesses (10 or fewer employees) will not be required to hold an election and will be permitted, from 31 July 2014, to consult directly with affected employees about the transfer if there is no recognised union or existing representatives.
The amending Regulations are available here. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has also published new guidance on TUPE, to reflect the amendments.
Comment
In practical terms, the changes to TUPE are unlikely to have a significant impact on the majority of transfers. Many of the amendments only serve to ensure that the revised TUPE Regulations reflect the current interpretation of TUPE resulting from existing caselaw, both domestic and European.
Interestingly, the Government’s Impact Assessment, published alongside the new Regulations, suggests that the number of employment tribunal claims arising from TUPE will be reduced by 50% as a result of the amendments, providing an annual reduction in costs to businesses of an estimated £6.5m annually. This contributes to an estimated overall annual net benefit of £8.7m resulting from the reforms to TUPE.
Whilst the amendments may go some way in clarifying and simplifying the TUPE process for employers, it seems rather optimistic that TUPE-related claims will be reduced by such a large percentage. There will no doubt be future litigation concerning the scope and effect of the amended provisions, and it is too early to speculate to what extent, if at all, the number of claims will be reduced as a result.
For further advice on any employment law issue, please contact Steeles Law’s employment team on 01603 598000 or employment@steeleslaw.co.uk
Howes Percival’s Senior Partner Andrew Barnes is to address a major Anglo-China conference at the University of East Anglia on Monday 27 January.
The China Business Forum will also be addressed by Andy Wood OBE, Chair of the New Anglia LEP and Chris Cotton, Director of the China Britain Business Council. The event will be used to launch the 2014 China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition.
The China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition, now in its 7th year, is an internationally successful initiative which encourages new business ventures between China and the UK. It is widely supported by universities, governments, and businesses in both China and UK and enables UK businesses to make significant connections with a large number of Chinese provincial regions.
It will be the first time the event, which is also supported by the Chinese embassy in London, has been held in the East of England. It aims to bring together existing businesses and new student-led start-ups that are looking to develop commercial relationships and exploit market opportunities offered by collaborations between the two countries.
Mr Barnes, who took part in a UK Trade and Investment trade mission to China in November 2012 and has developed strong links with Chinese business representatives in the UK since, will address the conference on ‘East Anglia’s view on China business’ and the importance of working with China in the future.
Mr Barnes commented; “It is fantastic to see such a prestigious event in our region and I’m honoured to be invited to speak. We’ve been working hard to develop direct and meaningful links between East Anglia and Chinese businesses and this gives us another opportunity not only to collaborate but also to promote the importance of closer working.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that by working with influential organisations and representative bodies such as the UEA, the New Anglia LEP and EEEGR, and with the skills and expertise we have in our region, we can play an important part in Anglo-Chinese business relations.”
The China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition is part of the PMI2 (Prime Minister Initiative II) Connect project, supported by British Council and the Confucius Institute programme funded by Hanban. Teams will be selected for the chance to win a £5,000 cash prize, and an investment opportunity of £250,000 for the best business plans.
The Organizers of the competition are: University of East Anglia, Lancaster University, University College London, University of Edinburgh, China Innovation and Development Association UK, Tianjin Association for Science and Technology and Chongqing National Science Park
To see the launch program please download the file attached:
Loddon based consultancy Risk & Policy Analysts (RPA) have kicked off the new year with the announcement of the opening of a satellite office in Central London, which comes as part of their 2014 expansion drive.
The office, which is adjacent to Hatton Garden in Kirby Street, Farringdon, is ideally placed to bring the company closer to its clients based in the London area and further south, as well as provide a convenient base from which to reach major clients on the Continent, including several Directorate Generals at the European Commission in Brussels and Luxembourg, the International Manganese Institute in Paris and the European Chemicals Association in Helsinki.
Director, Meg Postle commented:
“Not only will this help us retain our high quality staff who want to move to London for personal reasons, but it also reflects our positive outlook for the company RPA in terms of growth. We feel fortunate to have established our head office in the stunning Norfolk countryside, but we’re also proud to show that the County’s businesses are well-equipped to compete in the fast-paced heart of the capital”.
The recent drive has also seen expansion in the Economics department, with the recruitment of local Economist, Shaun Da Costa, who joins the team straight from a placement with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in Vienna, Austria.
RPA is an independent consultancy based in Norfolk, providing expert advice to both public and private sector clients around the world, assisting decision makers with the development and implementation of sustainable policies. As well as the aforementioned organisations, the team’s main clients include UK Government bodies (such as the Environment Agency, Natural England and Defra) and major EU industries.
Since its formation, RPA have been commissioned to work on more than 800 projects, covering a broad range of policy areas, including flooding and coastal erosion, chemicals and REACH compliance, impact assessment and evaluation, environmental economics, managing water, ecosystem services, and consumer policy.