Join us on this interactive webinar to get confident managing the PR for your Food and Drink business.
PR is an essential tool to get support from the public (i.e., consumers, employees, shareholders, society and the media) its’ objective is to improve the image of the organisation.
This webinar is interactive so you will get the basics of PR and the tools to start implementing it in your business.
Topics
What is PR?
Overview of the media
What makes news?
How to write a press release?
How to build relationships with journalists?
How to maximise the PR you receive?
After the workshop you will have:
Ideas for how to get your brand and product into the media
A template press release
Tips on how to approach journalists
Recommended tools to make your life easier
Get to know Polly
Polly Robinson is a communications and PR expert who specialises in helping food & drink brands tell their story, raise awareness and build a presence in the media.
Polly has led PR campaigns for a wide range of established and start-up food & drink businesses including Aspall, Hillfarm Oils, Hodmedod, Binary Botanical Beer, Small Giants, Parson’s Nose butchers, The Cookaway and Blushing Cook securing product reviews in the national lifestyle press, business features in the trade press and opinion pieces in the national newspapers and broadcast.
She is currently running a PR campaign for the Broadland Food Innovation Project.
Inside Netmatters: Driving Productivity Through AI
Managing a business today means juggling countless tasks – from client communications to internal reporting. Off-the-shelf software can help, but it often comes with limits: updates stop, workflows get blocked, and your team ends up adapting to the software rather than the other way around.
AI workflow automation changes this. By designing a system that understands and adapts to your processes, you can save time, reduce errors, and make smarter decisions. In this article, we’ll show how our AI assistant, Sofia, transformed our daily operations and how the same approach can benefit your business.
What is AI Workflow Automation?
AI workflow automation uses intelligent software to handle recurring business tasks automatically. Unlike basic automation, AI adds adaptability: it prioritises tasks, predicts bottlenecks, and responds to changing circumstances in real time.
Key benefits include:
Time saved: Routine tasks completed automatically.
Proactive alerts: Problems flagged before they escalate.
Scalable operations: Processes grow with your business without extra headcount.
Who is Sofia?
Sofia is our bespoke AI workflow assistant, who we built specifically for our business needs in 2017. As of this year, she manages over 350 recurring checks and background tasks each month, including IT audits, KPI monitoring, and email management.
Sofia doesn’t replace people; she frees the team from repetitive work so they can focus on high-value tasks. Giving her a name also helps integrate AI naturally into the workplace – and we love her!
How Sofia Transformed Daily Operations
Smarter Task Management
Sofia has transformed the working day at Netmatters by organising task lists dynamically, prioritising based on urgency, resources, and dependencies. If a project slips due to staff unavailability, Sofia reshuffles priorities, updates deadlines, and notifies relevant team members automatically. This means that no deadlines get missed and our team can stay ahead of the curve!
Automated Reporting & System Health
Sofia automates all sorts of daily tasks for us so we can keep focused on delivering great results. For example, in our IT department, Sofia runs daily Automated System Health (ASH) reports and helps resolves minor software issues. However, she also helps cut manual processes like invoicing, by ensuring invoices are exported to payroll systems without the need for human intervention. These are just a couple of ways that Sofia helps free up the team from repetitive tasks and improve productivity for the business.
Real-Time KPI Tracking
At the heart of most teams are KPIs. They keep us on track and make sure we’re hitting targets. By integrating Sofia with our system, she’s able to monitor KPIs in real time. When a metric slips, she identifies the cause and alerts the relevant manager. Problems are resolved in hours rather than weeks, giving leadership actionable insights instantly.
Admin & Compliance Management
From email archiving to holiday scheduling, Sofia handles routine administrative tasks efficiently. She also completes recurring audits, onboarding steps, and compliance checks automatically, reducing risk and keeping workflows smooth.
Results Achieved
Since introducing Sofia:
Routine admin time dropped dramatically
Decision-making accelerated thanks to real-time updates
Team satisfaction increased as repetitive tasks were removed
Operational risks decreased through proactive detection
AI workflow automation isn’t about replacing people—it’s about enabling your team to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Sofia has transformed our operations and delivered measurable gains in efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness. And if you still need to read more, discover how AI can benefit your business.
Book a consultation with our AI consultancy team today and start your journey to smarter workflow automation.
An award-winning kitchen tap designer and manufacturer has lent its engineering expertise to a 3D printing project to make face shields that will protect frontline NHS staff in the fight against coronavirus.
Cawston based, Greg Rowe Limited, responded to a plea from the University of East Anglia/Team East Anglia project and was notified yesterday that it had been selected from hundreds of applications to commence an initial 3D printing run.
Design engineer Iain Prosser (pictured), who is usually engaged in the design of the company’s QETTLE 4 in 1 boiling water taps, will deliver the first batch of shields to a secure area of the UEA’s campus tomorrow.
Greg Rowe Jr, who is the managing director of the family-owned company says:
“We got in touch with Team East Anglia as soon as we heard about the need for businesses with 3D printing facilities and knowledge of specialist, 3D printing software.
“We invested in our second 3D printer around two years ago – and ordinarily, it’s used for the rapid prototyping of parts for our QETTLE taps, which, in addition to dispensing flows of hot and cold water, also deliver 100°C boiling and filtered drinking water. However, we are both delighted and proud that our engineering expertise can be deployed to support the national effort to help the NHS.”
What are Angel Investments and is it right for your business?
What to expect when approaching an angel group
How to be prepared before approaching Angel Investors
The do’s and don’ts of pitching
About Angel Investments
Angel investment brings over £2 billion of capital to small businesses in the UK annually, and 63% of scale-up businesses have received angel investment as part of their early growth.
According to research done by Harvard and MIT professors, angel-backed companies are more likely to succeed and it is logical to assume this is because of the support, experience and connections that business angels bring with them when they invest in a start-up.
Historically, Norfolk and Suffolk have suffered from being grouped with Cambridge when it comes to government assessments of investment and start-up activity. In 2021, the East of England saw 169 equity deals done, which was only surpassed by the South East and London. However, we know that Cambridge is the epicentre of nearly all of that activity. This programme has been designed to reduce this disparity by supporting and guiding early-stage companies in the region to achieve their potential by securing angel investment.
About Hannah Smith
Hannah is the Managing Director and Investment Director of Anglia Capital Group. She has spent her 7-year career in the start-up funding arena, with experience in established Cambridge-based angel networks and early-stage co-investment funds, as well as a brief stint in SME debt finance.
Dads and other male family members receiving support from a leading children’s hospice came together for a jam-packed day of fun and workshops.
The all-day event was hosted by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in conjunction with the StrongMen charity.
It took place at The Nook – EACH’s hospice near Norwich – but was also for dads, grandfathers, male carers and older male siblings connected to the charity’s other hospices, in Ipswich and near Cambridge.
It was for those whose children currently access services, as well as those who are bereaved.
They came together for a selection of tailormade sessions, all run by top coaches in their field.
There were workshops on nutrition, self-defence, fitness, psychoeducation, wellbeing, coaching and survival techniques and there was also an osteopath on site to offer support and advice.
Most of the activities took place outside and there were welcome drinks to start with, followed by lunch and refreshments throughout. The day then finished with a barbecue.
Lucy Hynes, EACH Groups and Events Coordinator, said: “It was a huge success and very positive experience.
“Friendships were made and it was a great opportunity for dads and male family members to meet and share their experiences, while learning new skills and having fun.
“The feedback was superb and we’re sincerely grateful for the support we received from StrongMen.
“The wonderful team were just brilliant and the choice of activities perfect.”
StrongMen was set up initially to support men following bereavement and the free EACH event took place on Saturday (29th April).
Seventeen men took part, in addition to two of EACH’s Service Managers, Nathan Muskett and Mike Higgins, and The Nook counsellor Andy Jaggard.
Efrem Brynin, co-founder of StrongMen, said: “It was amazing to be there and all of us felt privileged to meet and support the guys from EACH.
“They’re outstanding individuals, backed by an amazing facility and team.
“To listen to the dads and male family members and hear what they do and go through every day was truly humbling.
“We hope the support we delivered helps their wellbeing in some way and genuinely look forward to working together in the future.
“These men are truly amazing.”
For more information about StrongMen, head to www.StrongMen.org.uk (Social Media: @StrongMenOrgUk).
We are an independent, local Branch of the RSPCA covering an area of 2500 sq miles from North Norfolk to Thetford and across to North Suffolk. We rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in that Branch Area, in 2022 over 700 animals came into our care.
Each year Branches of the RSPCA come together on one day to hold a fundraising and awareness raising event. This year we have the beautiful Holkham Hall Estate as our host.
Our “One Fun Day” event is to be held on Saturday June 17th at Holkham Hall. The event itself is from 10-3pm with set up from 8am.
We are looking for local businesses to support our event by booking a pitch in our “shopping area”. We are dividing our space around a dog show ring, with games and fundraising one side and sellers, crafters etc the other.
Our event last year at Centre Paws in Wymondham had almost 1000 visitors and being at Holkham Hall means we take advantage of visitors to the Hall and Grounds on that day in addition to our own supporters so it should be a very well attended event.
There will wifi as we are positioning stands near the Cricket Pavilion where I have been assured is good for wifi.
Each pitch is £50 and is standard gazebo size 3×3, happy to discuss a larger area though if needed.
You would need to provide your own gazebo, table, chairs etc.
In the lead-up to World Mental Health Day on 10th October, we invite you to be part of two amazing events: “Do Blue” and the Night Walk
“Do Blue” returns for another year to turn Norfolk and Waveney into a community of colour, hope, and conversation. During the day schools, businesses, and individuals across the county will be ‘doing blue’ – through clothing, decorations, baking, and so much more! Joining our “Do Blue” campaign is a simple gesture with a powerful message: mental health matters, and together we can make it visible.
Sign up your friend group, household, workplace, or school on our website norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk/do-blue to get a free mailout of goodies to help you “Do Blue”.
In the evening, our Night Walk will take over the streets of Norwich. Covering a 5km route, hundreds of fundraisers will walk side by side in honour of loved ones, to celebrate their own journey, or in solidarity of those facing poor mental health. The route will be illuminated by local businesses lighting up blue and our incredible fundraisers glowing with the warmth of shared purpose and, well, glow sticks! We’ll round off the night by dusting off our dance moves at The Forum for a silent disco.
Events like “Do Blue” and the Night Walk are more than fundraisers; they are lifelines. They remind people they are not forgotten, they are not weak, and they are never alone. With your help, we can ensure no one in Norfolk and Waveney has to face poor mental health alone.
Speciality Food Magazine defines it as ‘Christmas in July’ – the marketing phenomenon that sweeps through the Food & Drink industry every year; understanding the trend and behaviour changes that consumers are going through ready for the festive splurge. The Cost of Living Crisis plans to make the festive period even more competitive as consumers decide how to allocate their hard-earned and retained income.
Across the Summer Snowcase we will be providing F&D businesses with the opportunity to learn about the festive trends for 2023 and beyond, and the steps that must be in place to ensure a successful campaign, including:
Ingredient and Product Trends
Consumer Behaviour Changes
Social Media Campaigns
Production and Distribution Planning
The Summer Snowcase provides F&D businesses with the opportunity to ‘Snowcase’ or launch their seasonal campaign.
Following this comprehensive workshop, we will then celebrate the achievements of the Broadland Food Innovation Centre, hearing from a panel of project beneficiaries, and understanding what has been accomplished through the project, and what we will continue to do for businesses.
Finally, the Summer Snowcase evening is open to all. Network with other local Food & Drink businesses, local authorities, and project stakeholders, including our resident businesses based at Broadland Food Innovation Centre.
As always at our events, food will be served.
We look forward to seeing you and celebrating with us.
This week, Mark and Becky connect with a local Norfolk organisation, whose insights have global relevance – why businesses should embrace a strong Corporate social responsibility (CSR) package. (And we find out who Mark’s favourite Womble is!)
Voluntary Norfolk connects businesses and charitable organisations, to help businesses meet their community objectives. In previous episodes, Mark and Becky have discussed the change in what younger generations are expecting from employers, and how they now look beyond just salary in job searches. CSR forms a huge part of most company employment packages and is a key part of Employer Brand, our guests this week discuss why volunteering initiatives are a popular offering, and the benefits they bring to the employee, as well as the business. Laura is a Volunteer Coordinator, supporting organisations and matching them to volunteers, and Nicola is a HR Consultant at CBR Business Solutions, who works as a consultant to SME businesses and voluntary social enterprises.
They discuss the opportunities available to people who have had career breaks and are perhaps lacking in confidence and up to date skills, the changes lockdown brought, and they identify the mental health impact that strong CSR packages are proven to bring to the employee, and how this in turn helps to cultivate a healthy and more profitable work environment. They also discuss how hesitant business owners should see volunteering as an opportunity to identify skills in their teams that they were not aware of, and how neutral environments not based on ‘a night out’ can embolden teamwork and unity, all things that are good for business!
Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk
Hosted by our new CEO, Simon Gray, we invite you to join us for a light lunch and bubbles, where we’ll toast to the success of this year’s campaign and reducing the prevalence of youth homelessness in Norfolk and Suffolk. A fantastic opportunity to meet members of our team and learn more about our vital work across the two counties while enjoying a nibble or two.
We are delighted to partner with the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce for our 2023 Norfolk campaign, who will be using their extensive network of contacts to promote this important cause to the business community.
We also give thanks to our campaign sponsors, Birketts.
Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment!
Best wishes,
Stephanie & The Events Team
Agenda:
12.30 – 1pm: networking, bubbles, soft drinks & nibbles served
1-1.20pm: speeches
– Welcome speech w Simon Gray
– Q&A w Housing & Homelessness Service Manager
1.20-2.30pm: networking, bubbles, soft drinks & nibbles served
FAQs
– There is no parking available on site but there are plenty of carparks nearby. Please get in touch if you have accessibility needs.
– All dietary requirements will be catered for.
Norfolk Sleep Out takes place on Friday 6th October 2023 at The Cloister at Norwich Cathedral. Learn more and secure your spot here:
Take this time to upskill or refresh you or your staff’s training – it really is the perfect time!
The RedCat Partnership Ltd are a long established professional Health and Safety Consultancy and Training business based at their own premises at No8 Thorpe Road, Norwich
We have created an awesome set of blended courses which are a mixture of live interactive webinars, plus some self directed learning!
We offer a suite of accredited compliance based training courses, but also bespoke course!
Action Short of a Strike will also cause some cancellations from 15 – 20 May inclusive
Rail passengers in East Anglia are advised to check before they travel on 12/13/31 May and 3 June when strike action will affect Greater Anglia services. In addition, action short of a strike will lead to some cancellations between 15 and 20 May inclusive.
On 12, 31 May and 3 June, there will be a reduced service on a limited number of routes. Most routes, including all regional lines, will have no service at all.
Where services do run, they will start later and finish earlier than normal, with start/finish times varying across the network.
On 13 May, services will operate between 07.00 and 23.00, with all last trains reaching their destination by 23.00. Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but many routes will have a normal or near normal service during the hours that trains are running.
Some of the first services on Sunday 14 May, Thursday 1 June and Sunday 4 June may also be affected. Although these are not strike days, there will be some knock-on effects from the days before.
Summary for 12 and 31 May
We will operate a reduced service on a limited number of routes.
Engineering works will affect some regional and mainline services between Norwich and London on 3 June. Timetables will be released nearer the time.
Hourly service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street; Colchester and London Liverpool Street; Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street; and for Stansted Express services between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street
Trains that do run are expected to start from 07.00 onwards, with all last trains operating until mid to late evening and finishing earlier than normal
One train every two hours between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street from 08.00 until early evening, with the last train from London back to Cambridge at 18.58
No services running on other lines, including on regional/branch lines, other than those listed above
Summary for 13 May
On Saturday 13 May many more services will operate with trains running on all Greater Anglia routes, except Hertford East to Broxbourne (passengers are advised to use Hertford North) and for longer hours (between 07.00 and 2300, with all last trains reaching their destination by 23.00).
Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but many routes will have a normal or near normal service during the hours that trains are running.
Rail replacement buses will run between Ipswich and Colchester, Ely and Cambridge, and Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
Summary for 15 – 20 May
Due to action short of a strike from 15 – 20 May inclusive, there will be cancellations on many Greater Anglia routes on all of those days. A full list of the cancellations for Monday 15 May to Friday 19 May are included at the end of this release. The cancellations for 20 May will be added to the Greater Anglia website as soon as they are confirmed.
Details of services operating on 3 June will be confirmed nearer the time.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We are very sorry that once again our customers will be disrupted by strikes. Customers are advised to check before they travel on all strike days, as the number of services affected varies, with trains operating on very few routes on 12 and 31 May, but on most routes and more frequently on 13 May. The rail industry is working hard to resolve these disputes and talks will continue with ASLEF and RMT to try and reach an agreement.”
Anyone who has pre-booked tickets to travel on strike days can change them, use them to travel on either the day before or up to two days later, or apply for a refund by going back to their original retailer.
Passenger assistance will be available as usual for all trains which are running. Anyone requiring assistance who cannot avoid travelling by train on strike days should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible.