In this week’s episode of Impromptu Business Chat, James and Mark chat about the likely challenges businesses will face as lockdown restrictions are eased and hopefully removed as the UK moves targets its “VC Day” on 21 June 2021. As usual they come up with 3 top tips to prepare businesses for the ‘new normal’, and along the way they take inspiration from MHA Larking Gowen, Silicon Valley, and Madonna.
Staff safety solution Safepoint has been appointed by the East of England Co-op – the fourth largest consumer co-operative in the UK – to offer a tech-based safety solution to protect its growing fleet of lone delivery drivers. Each delivery driver is now equipped with a wearable Alert Button allowing users to request emergency help – anytime, anywhere – with a single tap.
The East of England Co-op has recently partnered with grocery delivery app Snappy Shopper to offer home delivery from 32 of its 122 food stores across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. This new service enables Co-op customers to purchase items and have them delivered directly to their door in as little as 30 minutes.
During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the UK government added food delivery drivers to the list of UK key workers, demonstrating their importance in society. Whilst drivers are working long hours to meet increase in demand, they are also at a high risk of infection – delivering to those self-isolating and asymptomatic – potentially exposing themselves to the virus. Delivery drivers are recognised as carrying out an essential role, but compared to their counterparts, are in some cases offered the least protection.
Callum Coombes, CEO of Safepoint, says: “Protecting lone workers in transport is not only a matter of safeguarding your employees but your business too. Safepoint is extremely proud to be partnering with the East of England Co-op to provide a solution which will ensure their fleet of delivery drivers feel safe when out on the road and delivering to their valued customers”.
Lee Hammond, Head of Security for the East of England Co-op, says: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is always our first priority. With the introduction of our home delivery service, we wanted to make sure our colleagues felt safe as they travelled across our trading area”.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that ‘up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve someone who is at work at the time. This may account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week’. Driving on the roads will always present a danger – but for delivery drivers there are additional risks to consider when working both on-site and with the public.
Safepoint’s safety solution makes use of automated alarms with no need for a mobile phone signal – ideal for rural areas in the East Anglia region. Alerts can be triggered in a number of ways – if the user taps the panic button on the app or Alert Button, if the device detects a fall, or if the user fails to check-in within a limited time. Alerts are then monitored and received at Safepoint’s GuardianPlus Response Centre – a fully accredited state-of-the-art monitoring and alarm receiving centre (ARC), manned by a team of highly skilled and qualified experts, trained to deal with emergency situations.
Lee Hammond adds: “As a fellow local business and having collaborated with Safepoint for some time at the ARC, we’re extremely proud to be strengthening our relationship. The technology they have in place is incredibly easy to use, which is important for our colleagues when they are out on the road. Allowing us to track the progress of our delivery drivers and respond swiftly to any calls for support, is a comfort to our colleagues as they carry out their vital role for our communities.”
Callum Coombes concludes: “The convenience sector has really ramped up their online and delivery offerings as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We know how important these services are for people, particularly when they are unable to leave their homes for essential items. We’re happy our technology can help play a part in keeping not only the delivery drivers safe, but the public too”.
Safepoint’s partnership with the East of England Co-op is alongside the rollout of the Snappy Shopper online home delivery service across 32 of its stores in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, with plans to roll out the service to further stores over the next 12 months.
For more information about Safepoint visit www.safepointapp.com
For more information about the East of England Co-op visit www.eastofengland.coop
Akcela are delighted to confirm that James Adams and Matt Lawley have joined Readingmate as advisors and shareholders as the company begins its journey towards accelerated growth.
Readingmate offers parents a unique approach to encouraging and developing the love of reading in children. This is achieved through a three-pronged approach; the Readingmate app (to encourage and inspire children to read), the Readingmate learning Hub (to empower parents and educators) and the bookshop that gives back (through donations to schools and charities).
Speaking on the engagement, James Adams – Director of Akcela was delighted to be involved with such a worthwhile cause. “Readingmate brings together two incredibly powerful elements. Firstly, as a cause it’s something that resonates with people easily. There’s a clear outcome to what is trying to be achieved. Secondly, we have been able to work together to create a clearly defined differentiated value proposition. The next few months are going to be incredible exciting for Readingmate, and we are delighted to be a part of that.”
Co-Founder James Rix has been impressed by the work Akcela have achieved in bringing Readingmates’ core value proposition to a commercialised offering and implementation strategy so quickly. “We knew we had a great product, we knew what we wanted to achieve, but we had hit a bit of a wall in terms of commercialisation and next steps. There’s been a lot of work with our system, what we know it can do, what separates us from the others. We’ve been able to revisit this and reframe that at the centre of what Readingmate is. That’s exciting, because you can see the goal, you can see it’s achievable, but we also have milestones to make it happen.”
Co-Founder Hannah Rix was focused on how recent developments help deliver the foundation that Readingmate was set up to achieve. “We have a real sense of purpose with Readingmate, how we strive to develop the opportunities of young people through the love of reading. We will soon be actively engaging schools in and around Norfolk to discuss the business in more detail. When we look at what every party gains by being involved, it really is a win-win-win situation. We think we have something special with what we want to do.”
Reading Mate contacted Akcela based on their experience supporting Start Up businesses throughout Norfolk, their proven market segmentation approach to business growth as well as their experience of working as consultants within the education sector.
With dates for the 2021 GoGoDiscover T.rex trail set to be announced very soon, Break has revealed that this year’s event will form the first half of a two year trail of prehistoric proportions, with even more T.rex and another gigantic species to discover next year!
The 20 T.rex forming a Jurassic jaunt around Norwich in Summer 2021 won’t fade into extinction, and will return in Summer 2022 for 10 weeks, with more new T.rex friends and a mighty herd of Steppe Mammoth – and this time it will go county wide!
Bringing colour, fun and beautiful art across Norwich and Norfolk, GoGoDiscover is delivered by East Anglia based charity Break in partnership with Wild in Art and the 2022 trail will celebrate the Deep History Coast.
The new Steppe Mammoth sculptures tie into Norfolk being home to the discovery of the largest and oldest mammoth ever found in Britain. The T.rex and Steppe Mammoth sculptures will be decorated by local and national artists and sponsored by businesses from across the region.
Following the 2021 and 2022 GoGoDiscover family-friendly trails, a charity auction of most of the sculptures will be held in October 2022 to raise vital funds for Break; transforming futures and changing lives of vulnerable children and young people across the region.
Break will be announcing some of the partners and sponsors who have already stomped on board for 2022 very soon, but is now calling out for other businesses to get involved by sponsoring a T.rex or Steppe Mammoth. Peter Marron, GoGoDiscover project manager, comments:
“We are so excited to once again be working with Wild in Art to bring a two year art trail to Norwich and Norfolk, which will bring tourism and economic benefits to the region, put smiles on people’s faces, encourage adventure and exploration of our beautiful county and raise awareness and vital funds for Break. Money raised from the trail will support young people right here in East Anglia. We’ll also be launching a Learning & Community Programme to get even more people involved and getting creative! The 2021 T.rex all have sponsors already and look amazing – we can’t wait to start sharing more news and sneak peeks of them very soon! But now is the time for businesses to sign-up for 2022 and be part of this truly unique and exciting event, while supporting Break.”
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art said:
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Break and unveil our latest project, which will be brought to life across Norwich and Norfolk, giving new audiences the chance to enjoy public art in a fun and engaging manner. We passionately champion the importance of art for everybody and the social, cultural and educational benefits which it provides. We hope that through GoGoDiscover we can introduce new businesses to the arts, inject additional funds into the creative sector, and encourage people to explore the cultural offer in Norfolk.”
Businesses and community groups interested in getting involved in GoGoDiscover should visit the page or email peter.marron@break-charity.org. GoGoDiscover follows the success of GoGoHares in 2018, GoGoDragons and GoGoGorillas. Previous GoGo sculpture trails have raised over £1million for Break.
Employee satisfaction survey reveals staff have risen to the challenges posed by home working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the third year running, above benchmark results compared to businesses of a similar size and industry, has led to TaxAssist Accountants being named as a ‘5 Star Employer’, following completion of an anonymous Support Centre Staff survey by independent research agency WorkBuzz.
Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive Director, said: “In what has been the most unprecedented of years, we are incredibly proud that TaxAssist Accountants has once again received this award.
“The 60 members of staff at the Support Centre have seamlessly adapted to working from home and have done a fantastic job during the pandemic, pulling out all the stops to maintain truly exceptional levels of support to our network of accountants and their clients. I really cannot praise them highly enough.
“It was a pleasure to learn from the survey that 98% of staff are proud to work for TaxAssist and 96% would recommend the Support Centre as a great place to work. I hope this gives our franchise network reassurance that they are fully supported by a happy and engaged workforce who are committed and dedicated to helping their businesses thrive.
“We always value feedback, and the results from this survey will help us to understand what matters most to our staff, so we can respond to their needs.” Steven Frost, CEO of WorkBuzz, said: “For several years, we’ve been helping leading organisations gather feedback from their employees, to 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 lives of their people.”
For more than 30 years ASAMS has developed its reputation for accuracy, reliability and professionalism with friendly service. One of the next goals is to develop our focus on sustainability. This means addressing the impact that ASAMS has on the environment and society. As one of the UK’s leading metallurgical laboratories, we believe that reviewing our practices such as our carbon footprint, water usage, community development efforts and team diversity will have a positive impact to drive our business. Our focus is to “Do well – run a profitable business” and “Do good – influence social and environmental problems in a positive way”. We believe that this should enable us to continue to support clients in line with their sustainability goals. Sustainable Metallurgy We probably all recognise that metallic materials have been critical to human development over thousands of years. The unique properties of metallic materials mean that significant demand is forecast to continue. The processes to extract and manufacture these materials are energy, resource and waste intensive. Dependent on the material, significant savings in energy can be achieved by recycling metals and there is a large focus within industry on creating a circular economy, where resources are continually reused and recycled. There are also great efficiency savings being made with near-net shape manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing and metal printing.
Although the material testing part of the manufacturing process is a small component of the supply chain, it is important that all parts of the supply chain contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the process. Some examples of what we are doing at ASAMS to have a direct and indirect impact on sustainability in metals testing are: Any waste produced by ASAMS is sorted and separated to ensure as much waste material is recycled as possible. In excess of 95% of waste produced by the company is currently recycled. We work with clients to enable them to develop increased product. longevity by ensuring materials exhibit the correct properties. We also ensure that test pieces are extracted efficiently, minimising any waste produced. The ASAMS laboratory in Great Yarmouth uses green heating solutions and 30% of the energy used by the company in 2020 was from renewable sources. It is our intention to convert the company fleet to all electric vehicles by the end of this year. The move to electronic reporting has saved paper and the resources required to deliver hard copies of reports to the client. ASAMS has begun the journey to gain accreditation to ISO 14001, along with ISO 45001, we hope to complete the accreditation process by the end of 2021.
Every year ASAMS supports the community and in recent years has donated funds to local sports teams, Cancer Research and Nelson’s Journey, a charity that supports bereaved children. Most recently we have supported the Great Yarmouth Food Bank, The Salvation Army “Toy and Tinsel Appeal” and Norfolk Headway. All staff get involved to decide which organisations to support as it is a key part of the staff engagement culture. “The effect the company has on the environment and community around ASAMS is an important part of what the company does. As a company with over a 30 year history, it is important to create a long-term sustainability culture.” Thomas Whiskin – Director (pictured)
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Small business specialist accountant Tony Hall, who runs TaxAssist Accountants Beverley, has now expanded his practice to include Hull.
Experienced accountant Tony Hall has recently bought TaxAssist Accountants Hull, from Darren Tomlinson.
FCA qualified Tony, had 14 years’ experience working with a range of businesses, before launching his practice in Beverley three years ago. He is now looking forward to sharing his expertise to ensure that existing clients continue to receive the high-quality service they have become accustomed to, as well as meeting with new clients in and around Hull.
“The pandemic has certainly challenged us all, in so many ways, and my services have never been in such demand,” comments Tony.
“As a small business owner myself, I know and understand what pressures businesses are facing right now, and it is vital for small business clients to stay close to their figures and take expert advice and guidance to help them to navigate through these unprecedented times.
“This is where we can help. Clients have access to our full range of services, including Self-Assessment Tax Returns, Year End Accounts, Payroll and Bookkeeping, as well as help with furlough and grant applications, R&D Tax credits, employment law, business-starts ups and debt recovery. We also offer advisory services, assisting with business planning and Cash Flow Management, using the latest software, with all of the time saving and efficiencies this brings.
“Small business owners need a good pro-active accountant now more than ever before and I’d encourage anyone interested in finding out more about our services to contact us for a free initial consultation – either face-to-face, by telephone or online,” said Tony.
Tony Hall is based at 623 Spring Bank West in Hull. Please contact him on 01482 563312 or via his website www.taxassist.co.uk/hull
TaxAssist Accountants is the UK’s largest network providing tax and accountancy advice and services specifically for small businesses. There are more than 395 TaxAssist Accountants offices nationwide, providing services to 77,000 customers, including sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and personal tax payers.
If you share a passion to help your local small businesses, a TaxAssist franchise can provide the systems and support you need to be successful. Regular Virtual Discovery Days are being held, where you can find out more about the technical, marketing and business development support on offer. Call 0800 0188297 or submit an enquiry via the button at the top of the page to register your interest.
Local Businessman wins top national award.
Peter Lawrence from Human Capital Department was awarded Enterprise Nation’s Top HR Advisor Award at a Ceremony in the City of London on Monday night.
The top 50 advisors across ten business categories were invited to the ceremony. Peter picked up the award as Enterprise Nation’s Best HR advisor from a field of over 500.
Emma Jones from Enterprise Nation and Ian Graham of sponsor, Experian, presented the certificate.
“Larger organisations and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have been telling people for years that “people make the difference” and “people are our organisations greatest asset” – it’s great to work with smaller businesses and help them translate this sentiment – helping them put the right HR Policies, Procedures, and Processes – to recruit and retain the best talent – and to get the best from their people”.
“I’d like to thank everyone who vote for me and Human Capital Department which is very gratifying and humbling – and yes with the prize money I will be buying a tie!”
Howes Percival has advised on the successful management buyout of the Falcon Tower Cranes Group from the founding shareholders.
Originally established in the 1970s as a self-erecting tower crane rental company, Falcon has evolved from a regional tower crane supplier to an international brand, selling and renting tower cranes all over the world. The firm’s head office is based in Shipdham, Norfolk.
Managing Director, Andrew Brown said,
“This deal marks an important milestone for our business and I am thrilled to have led the management team towards this exciting new phase. We are delighted that the founders, Doug Genge and Barbara Brown will remain on the board to pass on the benefit of their experience to the new management team. Since it was established, the business has gone from strength to strength and we look forward to driving it towards the next chapter of its impressive journey. It was a pleasure to work with the team at Howes Percival, who provided a seamless service throughout and we look forward to continuing our relationship as we move ahead.”
Corporate law specialists, Oliver Pritchard and Brigitta Naunton from Howes Percival advised the management team on the legal aspects of the buy-out. Corporate finance and tax advice was provided to the management team by Cambridge based, corporate finance specialist, PEM Corporate Finance.
Commenting on the deal, Oliver Pritchard, a Partner at Howes Percival said,
“We are delighted to have supported the management team of this fantastic local business which is going from strength to strength. The company has an incredible story and we are looking forward to working with the management team as they continue to grow the business over the coming years.
“There was much speculation that capital tax gains rates would increase in the March budget, which undoubtedly increased the level of deal activity over the last couple of months. Now that this particular issue has gone away, at least for now, with no CGT rate rises announced by the Chancellor, we expect to see continued high levels of activity in the market generally. Within the East Anglia region alone, our work includes deals across a diverse range of sectors from construction to technology, manufacturing to renewable energy, and fashion to education. Trade buyers and institutional investors are showing a strong appetite for sectors which are either Covid-resilient or, increasingly, those which are likely to bounce back strongly post lockdown.”
For more information on Howes Percival’s corporate advisory services visit: https://www.howespercival.com/services/corporate/
GENIX, the business support specialist has announced that Stephen Pitkethly, chief executive of Ludham based, Dad’s Boats will be the speaker at its networking event, Coffee Means Business which is being held on Tuesday 17th April at Northrepps Cottage, Cromer.
The company was set up in 1950 by Stephen’s father in law, David and builds bespoke paddle boats. In January 2018 Dad’s Boats exhibited at The London Boat Show.
Leanne Castle of GENIX said, “We hold ten networking events, at various locations across north Norfolk each year. The informal and friendly sessions are ideal for those who run small and micro businesses. It’s a great way to make new contacts and gain information over coffee and biscuits.
“We’re pleased to have Stephen from Dad’s Boats as April’s speaker, he will share his company’s story and top tips for growing a business.”
In 2016 North Norfolk District Council commissioned GENIX to organise Coffee Means Business in north Norfolk after recognising the need for a regular networking opportunity for businesses which didn’t involve expensive membership fees.
Cllr Nigel Dixon, Cabinet Member for Business and Economic Development said: “If you own or run a small business, I would thoroughly recommend attending a Coffee Means Business event. They are a great way to meet new people, share business ideas and gain valuable business support in a relaxed environment.”
Coffee Means Business is held from 9.30am until 11.30am, it costs £5pp payable on arrival and booking isn’t essential. The next event will be held on Tuesday 17 April at Northrepps Cottage Country Hotel, Cromer NR27 0JN. For more details visit the events page at www.genix.org.uk or call 0800 096 3013.
GENIX provides a wide range of affordable services and resources for established businesses and for start-ups.
This week, Chris speaks to Richard Hughes, Chef Director at The Assembly House in Norwich, and founder of the Richard Hughes Cookery School. In his long career, Richard has gone head-to-head with Gordan Ramsey for National Chef of the Year; worked in Michelin starred restaurants; worked at the Ritz and Norwich Theatre Royal, amongst others; he’s even cooked for the Queen Mother!
Richard is credited for the resurgence of The Assembly House and, whilst remaining relentlessly positive throughout this last year, the fact remains that major changes had to be made in both of his businesses. Richard reflects honestly on lockdown, giving his insights into what the day-to-day has looked like for The Assembly House this past year; now “the poshest drive through in the city” – his words.
Richard chats about how policing the social distancing rules, when they could open, was tough, and how plans made in the first lockdown went to waste, as they didn’t account for further restrictions. He talks openly about how Eat Out to Help Out was financially a life raft, but probably not the morally right thing to do.
The hospitality trade is historically a tough sector to work in, but Richard believes that the ‘badge of honor’ that came from working 17-hour shifts on no sleep is a thing of the past. He describes the sense of family that teams can reach when staff wellbeing is a key component of a business model, and that retaining loyal staff, and investing in them, is vital for long-term success.
Chris asks Richard about the reduction in VAT; new trends in bookings; how he thinks people will view local businesses moving forwards; and his number one rule in business, “Don’t let anyone else sign your cheque book!”
Richard also lets us in on his “apple pie syndrome” and his uplifting message for the sector. Insights not to be missed, from a man at the top of his game.
The campaign to raise funds for a Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist in Norfolk or Suffolk reached a milestone this week when the fund exceeded £20,000.
Historic exposure to the banned substance asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a form of cancer which often proves fatal and kills sufferers in a tragically short period from diagnosis.
The Anglia Asbestos Disease Support Group, made up of patients, carers, supporters and volunteers alongside Brian Wallis, Ambassador for Mesothelioma UK and representatives of Ashtons Legal, embarked on a fundraising campaign back in 2019 to employ a specialist nurse in either Norfolk or Suffolk. There are currently just two specialist nurses based in the Eastern region – one at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge and the other at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. Not having a mesothelioma nurse in Norfolk or Suffolk means many sufferers living in those areas have a very difficult, and sometimes impossible, journey to get the specialist nursing support they need.
The provision of specialist mesothelioma nurses lies with Mesothelioma UK (a cancer charity specialising in asbestos related diseases) but funds are understandably hard to come by. These nurses make a big difference to the lives of sufferers. They are experts in all issues related to mesothelioma including prevention, treatments, clinical trials and finances; and work with clinical teams to ensure equitable access to the best treatments in the UK. It costs approximately £60,000 to fund a Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist for two days a week, over a two year period. Thereafter, the post is funded by Mesothelioma UK.
Ashtons Legal act for many clients whose historic exposure to asbestos caused irreversible damage to their lungs and ultimately their death. They help clients and their families identify where that exposure took place and under a number of legal acts such as the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers Compensation) Act 1979 and the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme, bring a legal claim for compensation.
To donate towards the Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist fund for Norfolk or Suffolk go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/anglia-asbestos-disease-support-group.