We have been informed today (3 May 2018) that the Central Bank of Egypt has cancelled the regulations regarding bank to bank transfer of export documentation, as per the PDF attachment.
The following regulation has been cancelled. “Import transactions concluded under documentary collections, the conclusion of those transactions shall take place only via documentary collections directly received by the banks from banks existing abroad, provided that the documentary collections directly incoming into clients’ accounts shall not be accepted.”
it has been decided that it is acceptable for trade documents to be sent directly to clients rather than through the bank in the Exporter’s country to the Egyptian bank. This applies to all exported products.
For more information, please contact Madalina Iamandei at the Egyptian-Chamber of Commerce on 020 7499 3100 or email madalina@theebcc.com
Located in Hosham St. Faith, The Black Swan is just over six miles from the centre of Norwich and just a few minutes from the NDR. With ample off road parking and a full a la carte menu (also available for takeaway), coupled with ‘Cask Marque’ real ales, The Black Swan is the perfect retreat for couples and families to eat, drink and relax.
The Black Swan is part of the eat out to help out scheme whereby every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August you can take advantage of a 50% discount on all food and non-alcoholic drinks (maximum £10 per diner). With no voucher required, no limit on how many times you come, no reservation necessary and no limit on your spend, why not treat yourself, your loved ones and your family to a long overdue trip out to the spacious and welcoming atmosphere at The Black Swan.
This is the fourth in an annual series of ground breaking Tech Nation reports that give deep insight into the UK tech ecosystem to further the understanding of the sector’s key challenges, opportunities and trends for the year ahead and beyond.
It highlights the unique strengths of clusters and considers how to support their growth in an evolving political climate. The Norwich Tech cluster features continued growth and highlights the growing number of digital/tech jobs, as well as the strengths and challenges faced by digital and tech companies in our region.
Overall the UK has cemented its position as a global tech leader.
Its digital tech sector is a shining light not only in Europe but also on a global scale. In London, 33% of tech company customers are based outside the UK, compared to 30% in Silicon Valley and 7% in Beijing. The report shows that the UK’s global connections are key to domestic success. With 25% of the world’s entrepreneurs reporting a significant relationship with two or more others based in London, a figure beaten only by Silicon Valley.
Jobs in digital tech are on the rise.
From 2014 to 2017 digital tech sector employment rose 13.2%. In Norwich the digital tech jobs rose to a total 13,411 in 2017. UK workers are more productive, on average, by £10,000 per worker. Jobs requiring digital tech skills command higher salaries, at £42,578 compared to £32,477 for those that do not. Only 19% of the digital tech workforce is female. Despite the stereotype that digital tech jobs are for millennials, 72% of workers are aged over 35.
Mad HR recently interviewed Norfolk Chamber Members Expert Print Management as part of their Covid-19 Spotlight on businesses. Print management is owned and managed by Paul Youngs is a successful Norwich based business working with marketers and marketing departments of businesses throughout the UK. Paul has over thirty years’ experience in the print industry, and over that time has seen significant change and survived economic turmoil more than once, but nothing quite prepared him for 2020.
All three areas of the business – print, banners and promotional products – started to experience a slowdown in early March and by 20 March when lockdown commenced, all orders had stopped coming in.
“After a challenging 2019 influenced by Brexit, January and February had been buoyant. Just as it felt the economy was picking up, Covid-19 hit and stopped activity overnight. No one had a clue what was going to happen next,” remembers Paul.
Paul had restructured in late 2019 leaving him running the business alone. This gave him the benefit of not having the worry of employees’ welfare or dealing with furlough, but it also meant he had no team to talk to or discuss decisions with. His positive attitude and determination to keep going provided the motivation that he needed.
“I follow Brad Sugars so took his 12 Day Survival Guide course and kept reading coaching materials. I also rang around my clients and contacts that were still open, to find out more about what people needed and what has happening out there. I realised it was important to speak to other positive business owners to keep a positive mind-set” says Paul. He notes that for those who continued to work, some strong relationships have developed and is pleased with the attitude and mind-set local businesses have shown: “There is definitely an attitude of collaboration and working together for the common good, with a less selfish approach than before lockdown. I formed some great working relationships and hope they continue. The change in approach surprised me to a certain degree but is very welcome”.
Paul quickly realised that print alone was not going to be enough to keep the business afloat during the lockdown and that he needed to diversify. Those still operating needed floor stickers, signage and banners to support social distancing and hand hygiene, which he was readily set up to provide. Paul decided to take it to the next level; “If organisations needed signage about hand hygiene, they also needed sanitisation stations and the consumables to fill them. I decided to diversify into all Covid-secure products, not just the signage and print element”.
Paul set up a separate website, using the same branding of Expert Print Management but under the name https://www.covidessential.online/. He started looking for new supply chains and new markets. He opted for local suppliers where possible with the stainless steel sanitiser and hand sanitiser being made in Norfolk. The new website was put together and went live within five days. Paul kept communication open and continued to blog, sharing Government advice and signposting businesses to support. There have been many long days, and early starts to get everything in place and Paul acknowledges it was a steep learning curve. “It started with the idea of providing Covid-secure print-related products and moved on to sanitiser stations, and PPE. In the future, I am planning to include all cleaning products and materials, eventually moving away from a Covid- driven demand, towards a more generic clean and hygienic work environment demand”, explains Paul.
Paul has taken advantage of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Small Business Grant Funding, that have helped to ensure both sides of the business are in a strong financial position moving forward.
The future is looking positive. The print business started to pick up again in mid-June and the Covid Essential business is increasing in range and clientele every day. Paul has plans to develop and grow the business over the next three to six months, including the recruitment of a new team member and taking on warehouse premises. “This is not something that I had planned or envisaged. I recognised a new demand in the market and decided to move quickly to fill it. Once the decision was made, I have just ploughed on. The next few months are going to be interesting”, states Paul.
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) is highlighting worrying gaps in road safety knowledge as the key theme of Injury Prevention Week 2020 which is running from 17-21 August.
Research by YouGov commissioned by APIL revealed many parents were unconfident about their children’s understanding of how to stay safe on the roads. In addition, the research found most adults who do not drive did not know that white lights indicate a parked vehicle is about to start reversing.
Colin Cook, Head of Dispute Resolution at Hatch Brenner and APIL accredited senior personal injury litigator and brain injury specialist commented: “We are pleased to be supporting the vital work of APIL in highlighting the importance of road safety. The Green Cross Code remains a key tool in educating children and young people about every day dangers on our roads. As we approach the back to school period, I would advise parents to take the opportunity to have a discussion with their children about being ‘roadwise’.
“Whilst we remain dedicated to helping those who have sustained an injury and who are in genuine need both financially and in terms of rehabilitation, the ideal situation is for people not to be injured in the first place. Through their development of a national strategy for the prevention of needless injury and awareness campaigns like Injury Prevention Week, APIL champion avoiding unnecessary harm and suffering in our communities.”
Any accident which takes place on a public highway or other public place can be termed a road accident. There is usually a vehicle of some sort involved, either colliding with another vehicle, or with a cycle, motorbike or pedestrian.
A recent Department for Transport report found that those aged under 15 accounted for around a quarter of pedestrian injuries and deaths on British roads in 2019.
Hatch Brenner Solicitors advise on very simple or very complicated cases which will always be dealt with by a member of our experienced and qualified team, able to provide you with the best legal advice. We have experience in acting on behalf of individuals dissatisfied with the way in which claims have been handled by their own insurer panel firms. Our team has successfully recovered damages for individuals who had elements of their injury previously overlooked (for example subtle head injury and chronic pain).
Contact Colin Cook, Personal Injury Solicitor and Head of Dispute Resolution at Hatch Brenner at colincook@hatchbrenner.co.uk or via info@hatchbrenner.co.uk
News has emerged that preferential rates are to be scrapped for some goods coming out of Cambodia. Here is Tracey Renshaw’s update on how this will affect importers in the UK.
For many years, the WTO has promoted trade with less well-developed countries through implementation of preferential or zero duty rates. By building the international trade of the least well-developed countries, jobs are created and economies become more robust. It also means these countries become less dependent on international aid and more self-sufficient.
Preferential rates are granted to such countries provided they meet stringent criteria on issues like human rights and the safety and freedom of their inhabitants and visitors. For many years Cambodia has benefitted from preferential duty rates. However, following what the EU Commission describes as “Serious and systematic violations of principles laid down in the ICCPR” it has decided to withdraw preferential duty rates on products which are imported into the EU under the following HS codes: 1212 93, 4201 00, 4202, 4203, 4205 00, 4206 00, 6103 41, 6103 43, 6103 49, 6105, 6107, 6109, 6115 10, 6115 21, 6115 22, 6115 29, 6115 95, 6115 96, 6115 99, 6203 41, 6203 43, 6203 49, 6205, 6207, 6211 32, 6211 33, 6211 39, 6211 42, 6211 43, 6211 49, 6212, 6403 19, 6403 20, 6403 40, 6403 51, 6403 59, 6403 91, 6403 99, 6405 and 6406. The ruling comes into effect for goods leaving Cambodia after 12th August 2020 and means that imported goods in these categories will attract the full rate of duty. For example, products with current code 4202929890, leather bags with a textile coating, which are of Cambodian origin were being imported with 0% duty, but now will have a duty rate of 2.7%. As this will impact margins it will be worthwhile reviewing your product ranges to find affected products as it may influence on where you source affected products in future. If you need any assistance on classification or origin issues with your products please contact us For more information on the Commissions findings click here
Great Yarmouth Borough Council is inviting small foodservice and hospitality businesses in the local tourism sector to apply for grants to help towards the costs they incurred in order to adapt their business to become Covid-safe.
Businesses can claim 50 percent of their eligible expenditure between May 1 and July 31 2020, up to a maximum of £2,500, providing this exceeds £500 and they can prove it relates to equipment and supplies purchased to trade safely in line with the Government guidelines.
Applications to the £100,000 adaption grants programme are invited from hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, cafés, restaurants, pubs, and takeaway food outlets within the borough. Hospitality accommodation providers must demonstrate that they are part of the tourism sector.
Click here for the link to the online application form, eligibility criteria and further business advice. Applications close at midnight on Monday, August 24 and grants will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, with only one claim accepted per business.
Examples of items that businesses could claim for include posters, signage, sneeze screens, floor stickers and markings, barriers and other controls to ensure social distancing, sanitiser stands and dispensers. Consumable PPE such as gloves, masks and hand sanitiser can also be claimed.
The adaption grants programme is part of Norfolk’s tourism sector support package from the Norfolk Strategic Fund. The project, led by Norfolk County Council in partnership with all seven district councils and Visit East of England, is being put in place to help the tourism sector to recover from the impact of Covid-19.
Update your business continuity plan
The global pandemic has highlighted the importance to all businesses and organisations of having in place robust and up-to-date continuity plans, identifying key risks and setting out approaches for safeguarding staff, buildings, stock and their operations in a civil emergency. Businesses are advised to update their plans to reflect the ongoing situation with Covid-19, thinking through how they would protect themselves in the event of a second wave of Covid-19 and other potential disruptions such as severe weather, ICT system failure, power cuts, fire or chemical spills. The website of the Norfolk Resilience Form has free advice and guidance on how to develop your own plan.
Do you have your ‘Good to Go’ mark yet?
If you have read and applied the Government’s guidance, understand the guidance from Public Health England and have a Covid-19 Risk Assessment in place, you can apply for Visit Britain’s ‘We’re Good to Go’ Covid-19 consumer confidence mark to display at your premises. Simply complete a self-assessment here. To assist all businesses to meet their responsibilities, the council website has all the latest guidance and support for businesses, including funding opportunities, advice on operating safely, along with a downloadable pack of useful materials including safety posters. Click here.
What to do if a guest has Covid-19
Check our Norfolk County Council’s free toolkit for accommodation providers and the tourism sector, aimed at helping Norfolk visitors keep themselves and others safe. It contains a step-by-step guide on what you need to do in the unfortunate event of a guest with suspected Coronavirus, as well as a guest poster and guest information leaflet. Click here.
KLM UK Engineering is delighted to announce the addition of CASA Part 145 approval to its portfolio from June 2017
A European leader in the regional jets & narrow body aircraft market and having an internationally acknowledged expertise on the Embraer 170/190, BAe146/Avro RJ, Fokker 70/100, Boeing 737 & Airbus A320 Family, KLM UK Engineering has extended its services to include CASA Part 145 approval to meet the growing demands from its customer base. This latest offering complements the existing portfolio at KLM UK Engineering’s base maintenance facility, where it can maintain 5 lines of heavy maintenance, provide onsite workshop support and operates a technical training college delivering Part 147.
Peter van der Horst, Managing Director commented “We currently hold EASA Part 145, FAA and many other worldwide approvals and we are delighted to be adding CASA Part 145 to our extensive portfolio. We will continue to offer a competitive rate, high quality product & short turnaround times to this new market. We have a wealth of experience delivering heavy maintenance services and it will enable us to broaden our customer base to new regions. We look forward to welcoming our first customer that will benefit from this latest approval addition”.
We’re very excited to announce the launch of our newest and most powerful feature yet, GuardianPlus. This allows you to give your staff 24/7/365 protection through our fully accredited Safepoint Response Centre!
This means that to protect your staff every second of every day all that you need to do is download the Safepoint app and sign up, that’s it! What’s more, this process only takes around 5 minutes!
Protecting your staff has never been simpler. Check out our 14-day free trial – you don’t even need a credit card to get started!
Businesses in King’s Lynn town centre are being invited to help to shape plans for the town at a virtual Vision King’s Lynn workshop taking place from 5.30pm – 7pm on Wednesday 9th September.
The workshop, organised by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Discover King’s Lynn, will see businesses asked to share their ideas on topics such as making use of empty units and enhancing the town centre offer.
The feedback in the workshop will help to inform activities and improvements in the town centre, including the Town Investment Plan. The Town Investment Plan is currently being developed and through it, King’s Lynn has the opportunity to potentially access £25M in investment from the Town’s Fund.
The workshop follows on from recent Vision King’s Lynn consultation to understand consumer and business confidence in the town centre. The findings from these surveys will be shared shortly, and there will be an opportunity for businesses to discuss some of the emerging themes at the workshop.
Graham Purkins, Chair of The Town Board which is overseeing the development of the Town Investment Plan said: “We know that businesses in the town centre, like so many others across the area, have felt the impact of Covid-19 significantly over the last few months.
“That is why it is so vital that we get their views. We want to hear their ideas for what we can do to help the town centre to bounce back from the difficulties caused by the pandemic and thrive into the future.”
“I would urge businesses in the town centre to please do join us at this important workshop and tell us what you think – your views are vital.”
*If you’re a King’s Lynn town centre business, don’t miss out on the opportunity to join the free workshop. Register your attendance today by emailing michelle@engaging-people.co.uk or get in touch via the website www.visionkingslynn.co.uk or the social media channels – Twitter: @vision_lynn or Facebook: Vision King’s Lynn.
The closing date to register a place is Friday 4th September 2020.
In this week’s episode James and Mark consider what differentiates great businesses from good businesses. In their usual informal but informative style they come up with 3 valuable tips drawn from the likes of Gary Player, Sir Clive Woodward and Roy Keane, whilst Mark confesses to a mild case of Tsundoku.