The Maids Head Hotel, in Tombland Norwich, has acquired a rare 1950 Bentley Mark 6, left hand drive convertible, with a Park Ward body. Only four of this particular model were made and only two survive.
The Mark 6 was Bentley’s first post war luxury car and was manufactured between 1947 and 1952.
This is the hotel’s second classic car; earlier this year a 1963 Bentley S3 was purchased and has proved very popular, taking hotel guests on chauffeur driven explorations of the city. The bride and groom at weddings hosted by the hotel are also able to take a spin in the Bentley, with resident chauffeur Dave Currums, and have photographs taken at Pull’s Ferry, at St James Hill, overlooking the Anglican Cathedral and the city centre and in the Market, buying and ice cream.
Christine Malcolm, General Manager, the Maids Head Hotel said: “We are very excited with the addition of this very rare Bentley to the Maids Head’s family. The new Bentley will also be providing classic car experiences for our guests and will, I am sure, be a very popular photography ‘prop’ for our weddings.”
If I could give my 20 year old self one piece of advice it would be:”GET A QUALIFICATION!”
But wait a minute, I think my parents did tell me that and I think I completely ignored that advice! Many years later, we at TIPS for Good Management (a CMI Approved Centre) are passionate about convincing new managers and young people coming into industry that gaining a management qualification will put them towards the front of a lengthy queue…..
Here’s why, straight from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the leading organisation for Leadership and Management Qualifications in the UK.
CMI qualified managers and leaders make a positiveimpact on businesses helping them to grow and thrive. Research shows that management and leadershipdevelopment leads to 23% increases in organisationalperformance and a 32% increase in employeeengagement.Chartered Managers on average deliver£391k of value to their organisations.CMI membership and resources makes you a bettermanager and leader, improving your career prospectsand getting you to the top of your profession.
Professional Qualifications and Chartered status are crucial if individual managers and organisations are tosucceed.Holding a professional Qualification leads to additionalearnings of £81,000 over a career for individuals.A professional Qualification makes individuals 9% moreemployable.
It’s easy to see the positive benefits of a management qualification, but without it you may well be starting at the back of a very long queue when it comes to career opportunities. We offer personal coaching together with affordable and accessible learning. Queue jumping was never made easier!
Start your qualification today. Don’t hesitate, call now, enquire via our website or e-mail us.
The way to donate transparently this Christmas! Your Own Network.
There is so much great stuff going on, that those of us that want to reach into our pockets to make a donation are often overwhelmed. And local businesses are no different
Your Own Network offers the solution!
Your Own Network offers the unique opportunity to give direct to a vulnerable young person setting up home for the first time.
And we’re launching our campaign in partnership with Norfolk Chamber of Commerce – they too see the benefit of #transparentgiving. They will be supporting Your Own Place to reach local businesses.
Who wouldn’t want their hard earned cash to go direct to the person benefitting rather than disappear into the company accounts? And it’s no different for local businesses who also want to make a difference at this time of year and may be feeling the squeeze.
How it works:
Young people starting out on life and moving into their own place without family to help them out need furniture and household items. We all know that a house is not a house when it’s empty. Research tells us that if our homes are not furnished and looked after, we are less likely to hold onto them and could end up homeless.
We’ve teamed up with Argos so that young people create a wishlist of furniture and smaller household items. Donors – individuals or businesses can find out a bit about the young person on the website and buy them something from their wishlist. This helps to prevent youth homelessness!
This is giving with a difference #transparentgiving #yourownnetwork
What Aaliyah says about the things she has received: “Well I really appreciate the items that I received as had some money problems. I feel so grateful that random strangers want to help out. It’s given me hope”.
A bit more about Your Own Place Your Own Place CIC is based in Norwich and Ipswich and operates across Norfolk and Suffolk. We’re a social enterprise that works with over 150 young people a year to prevent them from becoming the future homeless population. We do this as a sustainable business working with all members of the community to secure a diverse income.
Your Own Place is a member of the Future 50 group.
We were also shortlisted for the FSB Small Business Award in 2018, the Homeless Link Social Enterprise Award in 2018, the EDP Skills of Tomorrow Award in 2017 and the PwC Social Impact award in 2016.
We were founded in 2013 by Rebecca White. Rebecca has recently featured in the Natwest Wise100 women social entrepreneurs in the country.
OK so we’re a bit early – consider this a timely reminder to start booking your Christmas digital advertising now! It may be four months away, but the busy Christmas period is probably something you’re starting to think about. The same is true of all the major brands across the UK, so now is the time to secure your digital signage advertising slotsbefore they sell out.
Timing is everything when trying to book on our digital screens, it’seven more important at peak times like Christmas. Companies like yourselves, especially in the retail sector, launch their big Christmas campaigns from the second week of November onwards. They’ll be starting to buy up large numbers of our space soon; some have started already!
The great news is that it isn’t more expensive to book during the busy Christmas period, but there are fewer advertising slots available due to high demand.It’s not too late to promote your business on our digital screens in prime locations across Norfolk, but you’ll need to get cracking!
A team of TaxAssist Accountants from the South of England will be using pedal power for Tour de TaxAssist – a three-day cycling challenge across East Anglia – to help increase awareness of Type 1 diabetes and to raise funding for the charity JDRF UK
Charlie Walker from Bedford, Nadeem Iqbal from Walthamstow, Robin Johnson from Norwich North, Martin Thomas from London Victoria, Jeremy Gilks from Norwich South, Eliott Betts from Bury St Edmunds and Tony Hall from Beverley, will saddle up in their London & Zurich and TaxCalc sponsored jerseys on 12th September for the 233 mile ride, which starts at Charlie’s TaxAssist Accountants Bedford shop and ends there three days later.
The magnificent seven will be covering the 87 miles from Bedford to Swaffham via King’s Lynn on the Thursday, followed by the 81 miles to Bury St Edmunds via Norwich on 13th September, while the final day will see them cover the 65-mile home run back to Bedford. Over the three days Team de TaxAssist will also be using TaxAssist’s growing network of shops as pitstops by visiting those in Bedford, Norwich, Cambridge, King’s Lynn and Bury St Edmunds.
Charlie, who came up with the idea of the Tour de TaxAssist, said: “As a keen cyclist and having Type 1 diabetes for 40 years, I recognised the great business networking opportunity provided by cycling. Tour de TaxAssist, therefore, provides the perfect chance for me to combine my passion for cycling and raising money for JDRF.”
The charity is very close to the hearts of TaxAssist Bedford, and the funds raised from Tour de TaxAssist will go towards helping find a cure so that children don’t face a lifetime of painful insulin injections five times a day and more.
A King’s Lynn manufacturer of male grooming products has doubled exports to Australia after attending a trade show in Melbourne, with support from the Department for International Trade (DIT).
Captain Fawcett, launched in 2010, makes men’s hair and beard grooming products and fragrances which it sells directly to consumers and trade clients. More than 80% of the company’s sales are overseas, with its products available across 35 markets, such as Italy, Holland and Canada.
The business has boosted its sales to Australia – which has a cosmetics market worth $4.2billion, up 2.3% year on year according to market research company, IBISWorld – after taking part in the largest hairdressing event in the Southern Hemisphere, Hair Expo. It attended the trade show in September 2018 with funding secured through the Department for International Trade (DIT).
At the event, the team from Captain Fawcett was able to network with potential distribution partners and showcase its portfolio of grooming products.
After attending the event, the company’s annual sales to Australia increased from £50,000 to £100,000 thanks to deals secured with distributors. Sales are projected to increase by 50-100% over the coming year.
International Trade Advisers (ITAs) at DIT also helped the business understand regulations governing the sale of cosmetics in Australia and helped to draw up distribution agreements with its new partners.
Following Captain Fawcett’s success in Australia, the business has now set its sights on India, as male grooming grows in popularity across the country.
Richie Finney, founder of Captain Fawcett, said: “There’s no better way to establish trading connections than by meeting potential distributors face-to-face.
“Much of our international trading has been forged through establishing one on one relationships with our overseas partners. This way, you’re able to quickly identify if a potential partner is the right fit for the business or not.
“One of the biggest challenges we face when it comes to this approach to doing business abroad is arranging the logistics of travelling and ensuring we meet with the right kind of people when we are there. With DIT support, we’ve been able to visit markets such as Australia to raise the profile of our brand, build relationships and increase our market share. If we can do all of this and succeed, so can others.”
Thinley Topden, Head of Region for DIT East of England, said: “Accessing distribution networks in overseas markets can be a significant challenge for local businesses looking to export. Captain Fawcett’s ambition and admirable entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with DIT helping to secure funding for it to attend the Hair Expo, has meant they’ve been able to face those challenges head on.
“DIT offers a range of support to help businesses wherever they may be on their exporting journey. From advice and training, introductions to valuable international contracts or to help with travel funding.
“We have a network of International Trade Advisers based on the ground in the East of England, and we encourage local firms to get in touch.”
Companies looking for support should call 01707 398 398 or email eastinfo@mobile.trade.gov.uk. They can also visit great.gov.uk, which has information on live export opportunities and includes general information on exporting and events.
County Broadband is looking to work with new housing developers to ensure their homes can access Hyperfast, future ready broadband.
We have secured a £46million investment from Aviva Investors, which we are using to deliver this network to homes across Norfolk.
Hyperfast broadband is delivered by Fibre to the Property (FTTP) and delivers connectivity that is only available to 8% of the UK – homes with this type of broadband access are highly desirable to new home buyers.
As technology evolves, homes will require future ready internet connections to keep up with the demands of streaming, gaming, multiple device sharing, download and uploading – only Hyperfast FTTP broadband will ensure that your newly built homes can keep up with these demands.
County Broadband is looking to build this type of next generation broadband network in your new housing development to enhance the selling potential of your homes.
Please contact Graham Day on 07850 971222 or email graham.day@countybroadband.co.uk and join us on our journey to make Norfolk Hyperfast.
Norfolk Community Foundation, together with the Eastern Daily Press, is excited to be bringing together local Thetford leaders to launch a new community funding initiative, Thetford shines brighter. The breakfast launch will take place on Thursday 17th October from 8.00-9.30am at Thetford Garden Centre, Kilverstone. There, Norfolk Community Foundation will be sharing their research into the key issues facing Thetford communities and discussing where there are gaps in local support. Those consulted include representatives from local charities and community groups, local councils, housing associations, police, health services, and local residents via a street questionnaire. Bringing together a wide range of voices ensures a strong community response so that support will be targeted where the need is greatest in Thetford. Significant funds have been secured from local people and the Foundation is inviting local leaders to prioritise issues and raise further funding at the launch. Initiatives to improve local lives can then be planned and initiated, with their impact closely monitored to ensure they are making a real difference. Claire Cullens, CEO of Norfolk Community Foundation, said: “We’re excited to be working with the Eastern Daily Press and the Thetford community to identify and tackle the key issues facing the local area, helping to transform local lives. Working together, we can make a real difference and help Thetford shine brighter.” The launch is a key opportunity for businesses and leaders to demonstrate that they care and want to take action in Thetford. Those who would like to attend are invited to contact Tessa Clarke at Norfolk Community Foundation via tessaclarke@norfolkfoundation.com or telephone 01603 623958.
This November, Design and Marketing Executive Charlotte Baxter, celebrates a year working for successful Norwich-based marketing agency Full Mix Marketing.
We sat down with the digital and graphic design specialist to hear about her experiences working in a growing agency.
Congratulations Charlotte on your anniversary! Tell us about yourself and how you began with Full Mix Marketing?
As a child, I was always the creative type, drawing and designing things whenever I could. Originally from the Wirral, I studied design at the University of Derby before moving to Norfolk with my partner. I’ve worked exclusively as a graphic and digital designer, first in a busy digital creative agency, then a national photography brand, before joining Full Mix Marketing.
Despite being a young company, Full Mix already had an impressive client list and a growing reputation. Our Managing Director Sarah West is really passionate about marketing, delivering results and doing things right. I saw an opportunity to work for varied clients, use all my skills and develop new ones. It’s been great to be an important part of something going places!
What does your role entail?
We have a number of clients for which we provide ongoing marketing and others for whom we deliver individual elements or projects. Naturally, my role is creative, I build websites, design print materials, create ad campaigns and provide artwork for social media etc. As so much modern marketing is digital, I’m also an experienced coder, constructing websites so they not only look great but function well too. However, everything we do is a team effort, playing to the strengths amongst my colleagues.
What’s been your most enjoyable project this year?
We recently rebranded a luxury travel group, which I thoroughly enjoyed. We really got to know them and their customers so we could create a strong design brief from which I worked. I got to be very creative with my concepts and the feedback from the client was excellent.
As a Graphic Designer, branding is one of my passions. Whatever the business, it can be incredibly powerful. It was my main focus at University and my first job in Norwich was working on small branding projects.
What has been the biggest challenge this year?
Probably the most challenging and rewarding aspect has been developing new digital skills. It’s such a vital part of marketing and design now to understand how things work online. For example, search engine optimisation has to be considered right from the start with website design.
Fortunately, Sarah is very big on learning, keeping up to date and developing new skills, so we always find time to do so. As our own marketing says, we really want our client’s businesses to shine online!
What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead?
Full Mix and the team are growing. I’ve some really talented colleagues. We’ve exciting new clients and many more we’ve delivered great results for. It’s nice to be part of something which is not only developing but I feel we can all influence where it’s heading.
Personally, I just want to continue honing my skills and learning new ones. Over this past year I’ve really grown as a designer. At the centre of everything we do is effectiveness and I’ve learned how to think like a marketer whilst creating like a designer. Other than that, I’m looking forward to planning my wedding and finally finishing our garden landscaping!
Today, September 9 2019, almost 100 key supporters gathered to raise a glass and celebrate the launch of a major 3-year project at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve. Earlier this summer the Hawk and Owl Trust who manage the reserve near Fakenham in Norfolk purchased the two parcels of land adjoining the existing nature reserve, extending it from 45 acres to over 200 acres.
David Lindo – The Urban Birder – well-known broadcaster, writer, naturalist, photographer, public speaker and tour leader, ceremonially launched the project by digging the first couple of digger buckets-full of soil from an area that will become a new open water scrape, designed to encourage wildlife, including scarce migratory birds, on part of the new land.
The land on either side of Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve was purchased using funds raised through the amazing generosity of the public and major donors such as Heritage Fund (previously Heritage Lottery Fund), Viking Optical, Garfield Weston Trust and the Norfolk LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) as part of a £1.7million pound project.
The launch of this 3-year project marks the beginning the on-going development and maintenance of the area as a nature reserve and community project. The Trust’s vision for Sculthorpe Moor is one where a rich ecosystem co-exists with the local community. Access for all is, and always has been, an essential part of what makes the reserve special. This project contains a large element of allowing everyone, no matter what their mobility and abilities, to enjoy, connect with and learn from the wildlife and countryside around them.
The popular and highly-regarded existing reserve is recognised as being important for its wildlife, with breeding Marsh Harriers, Barn Owls and a range of other birds of prey and owls making their homes on this small area, which is also the national headquarters of the Hawk and Owl Trust. Over the next three years the project will ensure that the new parts of the reserve will become equally attractive and essential for a whole host of wildlife such as Marsh Tits, Brambling, Cetti’s Warblers, Bearded Reedlings, Bullfinches and Kingfishers. Wild flowers will be encouraged, meaning insects will be abundant and diverse and mammals including Otter and Water Vole will make the new reserve their home.
David Lindo, The Urban Birder’ said “There’s so much wildlife here it’s incredible and I’m so amazed by the amount of love that’s been shown to the Trust and reserve over the past two years of the appeal by the donors, supporters and volunteers.
Nigel Middleton, Sculthorpe Moor Reserve Manager, said “It was 18 years ago, cutting my way onto the overgrown land of Sculthorpe Moor, whilst monitoring Marsh Harriers nesting in the valley of the River Wensum that I first experienced what would become the reserve. From that point on I’ve dreamed and believed that we could expand the reserve and turn it into a significant place for wildlife and community. To reach this point is just amazing, and we couldn’t have done it without our fantastic volunteers.”
Adrian Blumfield, Chief Operations Director, H&OT said “Only with the generosity of over 1,300 individual donors has allowed us to start to realise Nigel’s vision for the reserve. Expanding the land is the first step. Now this drastic looking work will ensure a wonderful habitat for wildlife for the future. It will be astonishing how quickly this settles and starts attracting birds and other creatures.”
Norwich-based Full Mix Marketing have become official Google Partners, helping further demonstrate their expertise as effective digital marketing experts for their clients.
The Google Partners programme is for digital marketing agencies who manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of businesses or brands. Google Partners status is awarded to agencies who have demonstrated suitable experience delivering Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns and achieved a number of exams and certifications within their team.
“As part of our comprehensive digital marketing services, we’ve helped many businesses get the best from Google” says Laura Nunn, Full Mix Marketing’s Digital Marketing Executive. “This is great recognition of how committed we are to doing everything correctly to turn our client’s budget into meaningful results.”
The full-service marketing agency currently manages Google Ads and other paid search and display campaigns for business in sectors as diverse as TV advertising, IT services, logistics, manufacturing and even boat sales. As well as traditional paid search adverts within search results, they also deliver display ads, shopping ads, remarketing ads, mobile only ads and social media advertising campaigns. They differentiate themselves from others by taking a more proactive approach when managing campaigns.
“Instead of relying on automation or algorithms, we balance analytics with common-sense and experience” continues Laura. “We get to know our clients and their customers so we can actively target the search terms which turn into sales. Whatever their budget, we thoroughly manage every campaign to ensure the very best results.”
Full Mix Marketing is a growing agency with clients throughout Norfolk, East Anglia and beyond. As well as individual digital, offline and creative marketing, they also help businesses identify the correct marketing strategy and can act as their outsourced marketing department. Within digital marketing they provide web design, paid search (PPC), search engine optimisation (SEO) and social media marketing.
“As this area of our business continues to grow, we aim to work towards other specialisations in the Google Partner programme” says Sarah West, Full Mix Marketing. “As a team full of marketing professionals, third-party recognition is great for showing businesses the results we can deliver.”
Residents voices are heard whilst enjoying a day of roaring family fun at Lenwade’s 85-acre Dinosaur Park
Some say that Dinosaurs developed the earth’s first strong social communities and for Housing Associations’ Flagship Homes and Victory Housing Trust it’s a crucial part of what they do.
On Saturday 7th September, for the first time, since a recent partnership which saw Flagship and Victory come together, over 1,000 residents who live in and around North Norfolk, joined 70 staff volunteers for a day of feedback and fun at Roarr Dinosaur Park.
The event offered residents and their families an opportunity to share their stories and views about the homes and communities in which they live, whilst experiencing all that the 85-acre Dinosaur Park had to offer.
Jo Wicker, Director of Engagement and Insight for Flagship Group said “Finding out what matters to our residents is vitally important and we are committed to doing just that. It was all about coming together, building strong relationships with the people that live in the communities we serve and understanding resident priorities”
In the housing providers’ aim to start breaking down some of the common misconceptions about social housing and in supporting the National Housing Federation campaign “Together with Tenants”, this was a great opportunity to consult residents on a range of topics including communication, accountability and giving residents a louder voice.
Jo continued “By giving our residents opportunities to be involved in matters that affect them and enabling them to have a voice and influence over how their homes and communities are managed, it means we can deliver an even better service in the future”.
During the fun, staff from both Victory and Flagship talked to residents and their families seeking their views on how their homes are managed and gathered feedback on what mattered to them.
In addition, NatWest, RSPCA and Green Energy Switch offered advice and information on scams and fraud prevention, pet advice and positive energy use.
Lisa Collen, Interim Managing Director for Victory Housing Trust said, “It’s so important to be able to have an honest, open and transparent relationship with residents. Bringing both Flagship and Victory together in our heartland has helped us hear, first-hand, how they feel. If we can make their priorities ours, we can deliver a service that helps people and communities to flourish”.
Residents attending explained that the event has provided them with a great opportunity to play a part in the management of their homes and communities whilst spending quality time with their family, friends and neighbours – fostering a greater sense of community pride.
Nishaa a resident of Victory Housing Trust attended the event with her family and said“the day was such a good idea, not only have we been able to have a lovely day out with our son but we have been able to spend time with people who live in our community and chat face to face with the staff who manage our homes. My son has loved it”