Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure) was recognised at the recent 2014 FDs’ Excellence Awards, held on 1 May. The awards, sponsored by the ICAEW, saw Pure shortlisted for the third consecutive year for the prestigious Recruitment Firm of the Year Award. Pure were thrilled to be acknowledged once again for the award.
The prestigious event saw Tim Score from ARM Holdings in Cambridge accept the well-regarded FTSE 100 FD of the Year award. Also, Joe Lister from UNITE group took home FTSE 250 FD of the Year.
Established by Real Business and supported by the CBI, the FDs’ Excellence Awards recognise finance directors and service providers that support Britain’s finance community using the results of a survey, in which UK finance directors and financial decision-makers recorded their opinion.
Ian Walters, Managing Director of Pure, said “It is such an honour for us to be recognised on a national basis. Although we are based in the East of England, our exceptional reputation as a first class recruitment consultancy firm has ensured that we were considered alongside larger, nation-wide companies.
Ian adds, “Although we may not have taken home the award this year, we continue to be inspired to develop Pure to provide our clients and candidates with excellent customer service and specialist regional recruitment knowledge.”
Pure was judged, alongside other shortlisted companies, on criteria including business knowledge, innovation and quality of advice. The firm continues to enhance its expertise and develop new and relevant initiatives such as the Best Employers Eastern Region, Women’s Leadership Programme, auto-enrolment seminars and senior finance forums which add value for our broad range of clients.
To find out more about Pure’s professional recruitment services, contact Anna Hill, Marketing Manager, on: 01223 209888 or Anna.Hill@prs.uk.com.
The Rt Hon Norman Lamb MP joined Mental Health First Aiders from Flagship Group as the company marked Mental Health Awareness Week.
The North Norfolk MP, a passionate mental health campaigner, heard first-hand from some of Flagship’s qualified Mental Health First Aiders about the impact the training has had in supporting others. The housing provider has 75 trained Mental Health First Aiders and 100 people on the waiting list to receive the training.
The MP, a former Minister of State for Health, also found out how the company is embedding mental health support to improve wellbeing, including through bitesize workshops, a wellbeing forum, awareness sessions, and a confidential contact point for employees to use.
Mr Lamb talked to Flagship staff reaffirming that ‘mental health shouldn’t be inferior to physical health.’ He also explained the importance of leadership in supporting mental health in the workplace. The MP also spoke about the importance of opening up, commenting that ‘the fear of sharing and also coping with mental health can be overbearing’.
Norman Lamb commented: “It is so encouraging to see that Flagship has a culture where people can come forward and get help.
“Organisations should do more to support their staff, it is enlightened self-interest for business to focus on the wellbeing of people as Flagship is both in individual and the organisation benefits. It’s the right thing to do.”
The visit was the culmination of a week of events which also saw ex-Norwich City and Bordeaux footballer Cedric Anselin give a moving talk about his own experiences with mental health.
Cedric, who at the height of his career played against teams such as AC Milan, talked about how he felt when his football career faltered, and that subsequently, he struggled with his own mental health.
Cedric also shared how he hid his mental ill health before hitting his lowest point and reaching out to fellow former footballer Clarke Carlisle. Now, manager of Norwich United FC Cedric has taken the decision to talk openly and told the room that his experiences ‘make me the person I am today’ and ‘we must educate ourselves to care about each other.’
He said: “I’m so humble to share my story and to encourage others to open up about mental health during Mental Health Awareness Week.
“It is magnificent of Flagship to promote mental health in the workplace and I think other companies should take this as an example, helping and educating each other it’s ok, to not be ok.”
Throughout the week, staff also tried their hand at Laughing Yoga and Meditation sessions, providing people with the opportunity to try out some practical techniques to support wellbeing. And, teams from across the group had the chance to play on the pitch at Carrow Road in a football tournament which helped to promote physical wellbeing.
David McQuade, Chief Executive said: “We are creating a stigma-free workplace, where we can have open and honest conversations about mental health, where our people can access support, and where wellbeing is promoted.
“We were delighted to meet with Mr Lamb to discuss the importance of mental health in the workplace, and share with him what we are doing. It was also a privilege to hear Cedric Anselin talk so openly and honestly about his own struggles with mental health.
“We have marked Mental Health Awareness Week with some thought-provoking and interesting activities but for us it doesn’t stop here and we will continue to make sure that Flagship is a place where mental health is supported.”
Larking Gowen is pleased to announce its role as sell-side
advisor to Dynamic Fluid Solutions Limited (DFS) in its successful acquisition
by Vestum AB (publ), a Swedish-based group specialising in infrastructure
services and products.
DFS, headquartered in Suffolk, is a leading UK supplier of
industrial pump and pipework systems, primarily serving the water and
wastewater sectors. DFS will now form part of Vestum’s Flow Technology segment.
With a strong reputation for bespoke pumping solutions and a
high proportion of recurring rental revenue, DFS has become a trusted partner
across a wide range of industries requiring water movement solutions.
The acquisition marks a strategic expansion for Vestum into
the UK market, positioning the group to benefit from significant upcoming
infrastructure investments, including the UK’s AMP8 water investment programme
and the development of Sizewell C nuclear power station.
Larking Gowen prepared the confidential sales documentation,
financial model and acted as lead advisor on negotiations as well as supporting
throughout the due diligence process.
“We are delighted to have advised the shareholders of DFS
on this landmark transaction” said Jack Minns, Corporate Transactions
Partner at Larking Gowen “The deal reflects the strength of DFS’s market
position and the strategic value it brings to Vestum’s Flow Technology segment.
It has been a pleasure working with the team at DFS and we wish them continued
success as part of the Vestum group.”
Larking Gowen worked closely with Prettys Solicitors, based
in Ipswich, who provided legal advisory services to the shareholders of DFS
throughout the transaction.
“It was a pleasure to work alongside Larking Gowen on
this transaction, supporting the shareholders of DFS through the legal aspects
of the sale” remarked Daniel Bilson, a Partner at Prettys Solicitors “The
collaborative approach between our teams ensured a smooth and efficient
process, and we’re delighted to have played a part in helping DFS take this
exciting next step.”
Ben Buckmaster and Luke Steward from Dynamic Fluid Solutions
Limited added,“We’d like to express our sincere
thanks to the Prettys team, led by Dan, and Larking Gowen’s Corporate Finance
team, led by Jack, for their outstanding support throughout the sale of our
business. Both teams were not only highly professional and knowledgeable, but
also a real pleasure to work with.
They guided us through the process with clarity and calm,
while helping to build a positive and constructive relationship with the buyer.
The teams dovetailed extremely well, working seamlessly together to make the
transaction as smooth and efficient as possible. Their dedication,
responsiveness, and commitment to achieving the best outcome for us were
evident throughout.
We would absolutely work with them again in the future,
and couldn’t recommend them more highly to any business going through the sale
process.”
This deal underscores Larking Gowen’s continued commitment
to supporting ambitious businesses in the industrial and infrastructure
sectors, delivering expert advisory services across the full lifecycle of
corporate transactions.
The first ever World Food Safety Day will be celebrated on 7th June 2019 to draw attention and inspire action to help, prevent, detect and manage food borne risks and so contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, tourism and sustainable development. It is a joint initiative between the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Any food safety incident is one too many, it affects the health of consumers as well as the food trade.
The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency is promoting World Food Safety Day and raising awareness of the food withdrawal and recall system that exists in the UK.
Following an employee satisfaction survey carried out by independent research agency WorkBuzz, TaxAssist Accountants has been named as a ‘5 Star Employer’.
To celebrate TaxAssist’s achievement, staff were invited to a special presentation event over lunch, which saw Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive Director, receive the award certificate from Steven Frost, CEO of WorkBuzz.
“We are delighted with the results of this survey. We are above benchmark compared to businesses of a similar size and industry, so this is quite an achievement,” said Karl.
“We recognise just how important it is to have happy, engaged and experienced Support Centre staff in Norwich at the heart of our organisation.
This in turn benefits new and existing franchisees who can feel reassured they are being well looked after by a stable support team.
“As part of the survey, WorkBuzz created a ‘word cloud’ derived from asking what three words staff would use to describe the TaxAssist Accountants culture. Again, we are delighted with the response to this question and, in particular, seeing words such as friendly, caring, progressive, family and supportive.” The biggest challenge facing many organisations is recruiting and retaining the best talent. With the UK’s ever-changing job market, the expectations of employees are rising – they have faster career progression expectations and demand instant change based on their feedback. The WorkBuzz 5 Star Employer Award was launched to overcome these challenges and recognise employers of choice.
What makes gaining WorkBuzz 5 Star Employer status unique, is it is based on feedback from thousands of employees, who complete regular, confidential Engagement Surveys.
Steven Frost said: “For several years, we’ve been helping leading organisations gather feedback from their employees, improve employee engagement and reduce staff turnover. Through the WorkBuzz 5 Star Employer awards, we will now be able to recognise employers who are truly leading employee engagement to improve the working lived of their people.”
If you are interested in finding out more about joining the TaxAssist Accountants network of franchisees, please call Nikki Haythorne on 0800 018829. We look forward to hearing from you.
Fakenham residents have clubbed together with a locally based wildlife charity to buy a significant wildlife site just a stone’s throw from the centre of the town, protecting it against the danger of development.
Protecting the land began 5 years ago with the purchase of neighbouring meadows, but this latest purchase completes the conservation jigsaw in the area. Star Meadow has been bought by a number of local residents in collaboration with Hawk and Owl Trust, a national wildlife conservation charity that has its headquarters based at nearby Sculthorpe.
The meadow is on the west side of town behind the Tesco superstore and is part of an area of meadows just off of Gogg’s Mill Road and, on 22 May, some of those who donated funds were able to explore the area they have helped to secure.
The whole area, once known as Back Common, is along the old course of the River Wensum before it was canalised and the river moved to its current course. With a rich history, but never having been ploughed, these meadows represent a rare link with natural habitats and will revert to wild flower meadows relatively quickly with the reintroduction of careful grazing and habitat management.
Fakenham resident Robin Parker (74) bought the neighbouring fields – known as Edmundson’s Acres – in 2014 and, with the help of Hawk and Owl Trust, is already turning these into a nature reserve with special emphasis on wildflowers and invertebrates.
Star Meadow will be added to the area being conserved which already consists of a Site of Scientific Interest and a Norfolk Wildlife Trust County Wildlife Site, and all lie within a Special Area of Conservation and will help provide a link between the Hawk and Owl Trust’s Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve and Norfolk Ornithologists’ Association’s Hempton Marsh to the west and Pensthorpe and Senowe Park to the east.
Star Meadow was previously owned by Tesco, who had hoped to develop the land but as access was difficult the meadow had been left. Robin saw the opportunity to buy the land and immediately set about investigating ways to raise the funding to ensure that the land was removed from the danger of further town development and save the orchids, Bog Bean and Ragged Robin (all scarce wild flowers) that could be found growing there. Barn Owls, Tawny Owls and Otters are frequently seen and the meadow is a site for the rare Desmoulin’s Whorled Snail.
Robin approached the Operational Director Adrian Blumfield at the Sculthorpe Moor Hawk and Owl Trust Nature Reserve who was keen to help.
As the Trust already work with Robin – who is also one of the volunteers at the Trust’s Sculthorpe reserve – on Edmundson’s Acres it was an obvious collaboration, but Robin also galvanised other Fakenham residents who were equally keen to preserve the area and prevent it being developed.
The Trust used its management expertise and through the lengthy negotiations persuaded Tesco to sell the land. It is down to the generosity of Robin and eight other concerned residents and the Hawk and Owl Trust that the necessary funds to buy the land were raised and donated to the Trust.
Conservation management has already begun and, in the short term whilst the very wet site is being carefully and gently turned back into havens for wildlife access to the area will be via guided walks, which will be advertised in the town and at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Robin Parker, said “Star Meadow is a wonderful place, joining up with Edmonson’s Acres in the important and beautiful River Wensum valley, and securing this place will enable us to protect this site for wildlife and the community for ever.”
Adrian Blumfield, Chief Operations Director of Hawk and Owl, said “This is a fantastic place in the centre of Fakenham, which many residents didn’t even know was here.
It will now take several years of conservation work to restore the land and we plan to engage with the residents and schools when we are able to offer activities. It is through Robin’s skills and the generosity of all the donors that has made this possible!”
Contact information – available for interviews.
Adrian Blumfield (Chief Operations Director, Hawk and Owl Trust) Office: 01328 850598 (8am to 4pm) Email: admin@hawkandowltrust.org.uk
Su Gough (Communications and PR Officer) Office: 01328 850 598 (direct dial) (8am to 4pm) Mobile: 07769 270994 (anytime) Email: su.gough@hawkandowltrust.org.uk
The Grand Norwich Duck Race has grown into one of the biggest events of the summer calendar for Break, as well as Norwich, raising £87k to date to #changeyounglives with a much-loved local charity. The event this coming year will be held on bank holiday Sunday, the 25 August, in conjunction with the Ribs of Beef, Broads Authority and Norfolk SUP Company. Ducks are launched from St Georges Bridge and race to Fye Bridge (Ribs of Beef) – the winner of the corporate race gets the Crystal Duck Trophy! As a Norfolk Chambers of Commerce Member, we are offering you the EXCLUSIVE chance to own a duck for just £90 – a saving of 10% on the normal £100. For this, you get a large 32cm duck along with acrylic paints and then you can create your own #ducktransformation – corporate logos on, or feathers and fur – it’s all up to you. It represents a small part of your marketing budget for the year, plus a charity donation, all in all adding up to a great way to join in on a hugely fun event and support Break. You can see ideas on ducks and decoration by looking back at 2018 ducks here. Following the race the ducks get preened ready for the #GNDR19 Auction at the Maids Head on Thursday 5 September where there is an opportunity for you to re-enter the duck next year if you buy him/her back. “I gained more twitter followers and interaction with my duck than ever before as part of the Grand Norwich Duck Race” Keith, Select Planning. We then ask you to join our quacking crew on twitter @norwichduckrace . . . gone are the days of tweeting into the abys – now you have a group of like minded local companies and individuals to tweet to and meet at our regular events and get togethers. We already have a ‘Tweet-Up’ arranged for Thursday 15 August at the Ribs of Beef, a lovely social where we can put faces to twitter handles! To book your duck today please click here.
Steeles Law is holding a Legal Clinic at its 2 Mount Street, Diss offices on Friday 30 May, with pre-bookable 15 minute consultations available between 3.00 and 6.00pm.
Whether you a private individual or business owner, you can book a complimentary appointment with a legal professional in connection with any of the services we offer.
Please call 01379 652141 to make a booking. Appointments are offered on a first come, first served basis and must be booked before the day.
Businesses are being invited to tell the Department for International Trade (DIT) what they think about the UK’s proposed post-Brexit trade remedy measures.
Trade remedies are currently an EU competence, with investigations, decisions and monitoring of initiatives such as anti-dumping duties performed by the European Commission.
As part of its preparations for Brexit, the DIT is preparing an independent UK trade remedy framework to be implemented by a new mechanism to investigate cases and propose measures.
It is proposed that a new body should be created to investigate trade remedy cases and make recommendations on the basis of clear economic criteria.
The DIT points out that the EU currently has over 100 measures in place on imported products originating from 25 different non-EU countries (with China the main culprit).
Where those products are important to UK industry, the Government is intending to maintain existing trade remedy measures in order to provide certainty to businesses and to ensure continuity.
In order to develop appropriate safeguards, the DIT wants to identify UK businesses that produce goods currently subject to EU anti-dumping or anti-subsidy measures, or to an associated ongoing investigation.
The consultation seeks views from those businesses on whether they support, are neutral to, or oppose the UK maintaining existing measures under its independent trade remedy framework.
Any existing measure that does not receive an application to be maintained, or does not meet the required criteria, will end once the UK regime begins to operate. Further information about the consultation can be found at www.gov.uk.
The deadline for responses is midday on Friday 30 March 2018. Responses received after this time will not be considered.
Two Norfolk men have spent a night sleeping rough in a city centre doorway to highlight the plight of young homeless adults. Simon Linstead is Managing Director of Nurture Financial Planning and Chris Elliot, Marketing and Fundraising Manager of Norfolk Charity, The Benjamin Foundation decided to sleep out in Norwich for a night to help raise awareness and funds to assist with tackling homelessness in Norfolk.
Simon’s company Nurture is proud to be supporting The Benjamin Foundation in 2014. He commented: “We thought that by making this minor sacrifice of just one night on the streets, it might help in some small way with the fantastic work this Charity does to support people in Norfolk dealing with many challenges that life throws at them, including homelessness. The night was a real eye-opener.’
The popular Charity helps about 2000 people every year in the county by providing hope, opportunity and stability. One of the biggest issues is homeless young people.
Explaining why he was up for this night out on the streets, Chris said: “What we did doesn’t come anywhere near the real misery and reality of those sleeping rough, night after night. Simon and I were in a controlled environment and we went home early in the morning to a hot bath and a rejuvenating breakfast. Those living on the streets cant do this – they face this ordeal in far worse conditions than we experienced.’
Chris and Simon are on course to raise more than £1000 for their sleep-out, which will go towards helping many others finding themselves in a position of homelessness. But they urge more donations by going to www.mycharitypage.com/SimonNFP or www.benjaminfoundation.co.uk
Marcin ‘Magic’ Pomierny (age 34), Head Chef at the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich and Chef of the Year in the EDP Norfolk Food and Drink Awards 2016, is a semi-finalist in the 2019 Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year competition. This is the second year running that Magic has reached the semi-final.
Forty chefs, split into four semi-final heats, will be competing on June 11 for a place in the final. The winner of each heat, plus the six best runners up, go through to the final, which is at The Restaurant Show on Tuesday, October 1.
Magic’s semi-final heat is at Sheffield College. The brief for the chefs is to produce a creative three-course summer lunch menu.
Magic, who was a finalist in the 2008 Craft Guild of Chefs Young Chef of the Year competition said: “I am very excited to have reached the semi-final of the National Chef of the Year competition for the second year running. I learned a lot at last year’s semi-final and will do my very best to secure a place in the final for the Maids Head and Norwich.”
Christine Malcolm, General Manager, Maids Head Hotel said: “Magic has worked very hard over the last six years to raise the profile of the hotel as a fine dining destination. We achieved a second AA Rosette in 2016 and Magic’s ambition is to raise the bar further and achieve a third AA Rosette. We wish Magic all the best for the National Chef of the Year competition.”
Marcin ‘Magic’ Pomiernycomes from near Krakow in Poland. He trained as a chef in Poland and studied catering for diabetics as an additional subject. Magic moved to Norwich in June 2005; his brother and sister were already in the city.
He spoke little English at the time and his family helped secure him a job as a kitchen porter at Tatlers, where he did washing up and food preparation for one year. Then Magic worked for Pulse and The Library for 18 months, followed by McIntoshes Kitchen for another 18 months.
His next job in 2009 was Sous Chef at Rare Steak House and he moved on to The Mad Moose where he was Sous Chef for two years and Head Chef for one year. Magic arrived at the Maids Head Hotel as Sous Chef in May 2013 and was promoted to Head Chef in September 2013.
MENTA has announced its free business start-up training will take place at locations across Norfolk. The series of three, four-hour business skills workshops cover subjects vital when setting up a business; planning, marketing and bookkeeping. The sessions have been well received and over the past three years more than 500 people have completed the training and more than 270 of them have made their dream a reality and set up a business in Norfolk or Suffolk. The start-up Start Right workshops are designed to help people who are thinking of setting up their own business or have taken the plunge during the last 12 months. MENTA’s mission is to help people achieve their dreams of becoming self-employed or running their own successful company. MENTA trainer, John Clarke said, “I meet people from all age groups and backgrounds who come along to gain expert support and business skills training. The sessions are informal and the feedback we receive is fantastic, people get a lot of practical advice which they appreciate.” The start-up training is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and isn’t affected by Brexit. MENTA’s long-term aim is to produce more employment opportunities and prosperity in Norfolk. The workshops are held in Gt Yarmouth, Kings Lynn, Norwich, North Walsham and Dereham. For more details visit the MENTA website www.menta.org.uk and go to the ‘start up’ page or call 01284 760206 for details. Booking is essential.