Some clients who need assistance from either Family Law Solicitors or Criminal Solicitors, may be entitled to legal funding through the Legal Aid Agency. As part of this, at times Process Serving and enquiries are needed to progress the legal case and this is exactly where we come in.
At Taylor Investigations, we are now able to offer Process Serving and Civil and Criminal case enquiries under the Legal Aid Agency rate structure across England and Wales.
Based in Norwich but we have a network of agents throughout the UK
Yes, we are based in Norwich but we have a network of agents throughout the UK to assist with your requirements anywhere in the country.
Process Serving is the personal service of documents in relation to legal proceedings. For Legal Aid matters, this tends to include, but not limited to Non Molestation Orders or Witness Summons.
Legal Aid enquiries tend to include, but not limited to, scene visits to obtain photographs and drawings for Jury bundles, prison visits to obtain photographs or statements and tracing of witnesses.
All Legal Aid instructions are dealt with as a priority
All instructions are dealt with as a priority as we are aware there is usually an urgency to the case and we will invoice as per the rate structure set out. So, if you are family law solicitors or a criminal solicitor, you can rest assured knowing your Legal Aid case can proceed without delay.
With competition for customer’s attention becoming ever fiercer, a new chamber member aims to help local businesses develop a competitive advantage through marketing.
“Marketing is key to growth for lots of Norfolk businesses” says Sarah West, Managing Director of Full Mix Marketing. “However, many are unsure where to begin or disappointed by their current results. Our ambition is to become the fastest growing marketing agency in Norfolk, simply by helping our clients become some of the fastest growing companies.”
A Chartered Marketer and former winner of Young Marketer of the Year, Sarah has most recently been Strategic Marketing Manager for leading UK holiday company, Hoseasons. She’s now established a strategic, digital and offline marketing agency to give local businesses all the marketing they need to grow.
“I’ve hired many marketing agencies but become frustrated by their focus on design rather than results. Whether it’s a website, direct mail campaign or full marketing strategy, it has to produce more business. Whatever our client’s size or needs, we’re focused on ensuring the marketing we deliver creates the best possible return” adds Sarah.
To help businesses get a head start, Full Mix Marketing have created a number of free guides, including advice on how to use marketing to grow, avoid digital marketing mistakes and get better results from advertising. These can be downloaded free by chamber members at fullmixmarketing.co.uk/guides.
“We understand that – large or small – businesses in Norfolk invest in marketing because they want to see a return. It doesn’t make sense to just pay for activity when its results you need. Because we’re confident we can improve results, we even offer our clients a guarantee” states Sarah.
As to why she joined Norfolk Chamber, Sarah says “I’ve previously worked for three businesses who were active members of the chamber. It gave them a voice in the business community and, of course, helped them grow. When I started my own business, I naturally wanted to become an active member.”
Full Mix Marketing’s free guides and details of their guarantee can all be found at www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk
Join wine expert Graham Donaldson as we re-visit one of the most popular regions for a wine tour of Spain’s finest vineyards. Graham will hand-pick his favourite Spanish wines which will be carefully matched to a delectable four-course meal.
There are five glasses of wines to enjoy and each one will complement each course of the Spanish inspired menu. Expect a light-hearted evening, with excellent food, first-rate company and wines to make your mouth water.
Where? In the Top of the City at Norwich City Football Club, from 7.30pm until 11pm How much? £55 per person
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published the report of an independent review of apprenticeships and their accessibility to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by business owner and social entrepreneur Jason Holt.
The Education and Business Secretaries commissioned Mr Holt’s report in February 2012 to advise them on what more could be done to help SMEs take on apprentices. Drawing on his discussions with small firms, in this report Mr Holt identifies why the take-up of apprenticeships amongst SMEs is comparatively low. It goes on to review potential barriers and difficulties, and makes recommendations as to how SMEs can more easily offer apprenticeships and how to make apprenticeships more rewarding for SMEs.
Key measures include recommendations to:
Work with the people that SMEs look to for advice, including lawyers and accountants, to promote apprenticeships to their SME customers.
Enable SMEs to get their apprentices the training they need, by providing better information on availability and investigating how to give them a greater say in developing the skills they need.
Improve the performance of providers of training to SMEs by agreeing standards and the consequences of not meeting them.
Improve the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers by making it simpler and more accessible to more employers.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Only a small minority of SMEs currently employ apprentices. Many of the rest are missing out on an effective way of growing and up-skilling their businesses. “We hope that the measures announced today will make a difference by raising awareness of the benefits of apprenticeships amongst SMEs and making it as easy as possible for these businesses to take on an apprentice.”
The Government has already taken a number of steps to help small companies recruit apprentices, including reducing the burden on training providers and employers by removing all health and safety requirements that go beyond what health and safety legislation demands, and establishing a dedicated Small Business Team within the National Apprenticeship Service providing a bespoke service to employers with fewer than 250 employees.
The full report of the Holt Review is available to download at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website
The beloved Larking Gowen Norwich Half Marathon is set to make a triumphant return to the streets of Norwich this year, with new organisers at the helm. Good Running Events proudly announces the revival of this iconic event, bringing together the running community for a day of camaraderie, competition, and celebration of athleticism.
After a hiatus of over three years, the Larking Gowen Norwich Half Marathon is back, poised to reclaim its status as one of the region’s premier running events. Good Running Events is also proud to confirm that returning as title sponsor will be Larking Gowen, one of the region’s largest accounting and business advisory firms. Larking Gowen will be taking on the title sponsorship of the event for the next three years.
“We are thrilled to welcome back the Larking Gowen Norwich Half Marathon,” said Aaron Murrell, Director of organisers, Good Running Events. “This event holds a special place in the hearts of many runners and the local community. Our team is dedicated to delivering an exceptional experience for participants, spectators and sponsors alike.”
The Larking Gowen Norwich Half Marathon has long been cherished for its scenic route, which winds through the picturesque Norfolk countryside, with the Half Marathon beginning and ending at the iconic Norfolk Showground. From seasoned runners to first-time half marathoners, the event welcomes individuals of all abilities to challenge themselves and achieve their personal goals.
Julie Grimmer, Managing Partner at Larking Gowen, said, “We’re proud to be returning as the title sponsor of the Norwich Half Marathon. Larking Gowen has been involved with the event over 15 years, and we’re pleased to see the event back on the running calendar. We can’t wait to see the inspiring runners and fundraisers, back on the course in November.”
The Larking Gowen Norwich Half Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday 24 November 2024, starting and finishing at the Norfolk Showground. Entries for the event will open at 7.00AM on Monday 8th April, offering participants the opportunity to secure their spot in this highly anticipated race.
For more information about the Larking Gowen Norwich Half Marathon, including registration details and partnership opportunities, please visit http://www.norwichhalfmarathon.co.uk/
“Some Other Substantial Reason” as a fair reason to dismiss is not as commonly used as other forms of dismissal and if often misapplied.
This comprehensive and practical HR Forum, sponsored and delivered by Howes Percival, will explore this area of dismissal law in more details and how best to handle SOSR dismissals. It will include discussions around when and how to dismiss and employee for breakdown in trust and confidence, or due to personality clashes in the workplace.
In addition, Howes Percival will review forthcoming legal reforms and recent case law decisions and identify how these developments will impact on local businesses.
Your speakers:
Nicola Butterworth, Associate Solicitor at Howes Percivaladvises on all areas of employment law, including day-to-day HR issues, employment status, whistleblowing, discrimination, change managementand TUPE. Nicola has particular expertise in the defence of complex employment tribunal claims.
Hannah Pryce, Solicitor at Howes Percivaladvises clients on a broad range of employment law issues. Her contentious experience includes unfair dismissal and discrimination. Having acted for both employees and employers, Hannah has developed a good understanding of the key needs and interests of each party.
With the nation suffering from post-Olympic blues and missing the highs of cheering on the UK’s sporting stars, Norfolk residents are being encouraged to maintain their sporting fever into September and to support the athletes taking part in a challenging and unique event on their doorstep.
The Birketts’ Round Norfolk Relay is an annual demanding team relay race around Norfolk, covering 197 miles in 24 hours. This year’s event starts on Saturday 15 September and will see over one thousand runners race through the night into Sunday morning, passing the baton at each leg of the route which mirrors Norfolk’s county borders.
Pete Goddard, partner at event sponsors Birketts LLP and Round Norfolk Relay participant, said: “The Birketts’ Round Norfolk Relay has become a notorious event in the British Athletics Calendar and it attracts top runners from across the UK. and further afield. The beauty of this event is that for many people in Norfolk the runners will literally race past their doorstep. With a nation inspired by Team GB’s sporting stars we hope that this year we will be able to attract even more supporters.
“I can speak from personal experience when I say that spectators cheering us on can really make a huge difference to each relay runner. It can make or break how fast each leg of the race is completed and impact on the final results and winners.”
The event, which was originally founded in 1987, has itself received backing from Olympic heroes with guests of honour including the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes and former European and Commonwealth marathon champion Ron Hill who was the celebrity guest for last year’s 25th anniversary event.
Explaining more about the event, Race Director Paul Sullivan said: “This event is truly unique as it is the only continuous, long-distance relay in the UK athletics calendar. It is the ultimate runners’ club challenge as it requires a high degree of commitment, endurance, team spirit and hard work. It’s also just as much an organisational challenge as it is run over 24 hours without a break and needs special preparation, planning and support.
“This year we have over 60 teams taking part from clubs including City of Norwich AC, The Stragglers and the Birketts’ Runners Athletics Club made up of team members from our event sponsors Birketts. We would especially encourage spectators along the pretty coastal routes which are run during daylight hours.”
The award-winning Birketts’ Round Norfolk Relay will follow on from the Tour of Britain leg around East Anglia on 9 September, providing plenty of opportunities for people in the county to maintain the sporting enthusiasm.
Starting and finishing in Kings Lynn, each runner in a 17 strong team will run one stage of the race, with each stage varying between 5 to 20 miles. The route will take the participants through Hunstanton along the coastline to Cromer and then back through the roads to Great Yarmouth by which stage night has usually fallen. The runners then race through Breckland and across the Fens to follow the Great Ouse River back into Kings Lynn. Paul Sullivan added: “There is an additional opportunity for runners, teams, supporters and helpers to get involved this year as we have launched a prize-winning photo competition to encourage participants to capture images of this unique event. With the runners racing their way along Norfolk’s vast sandy beaches, open spaces and picturesque towns and villages there will be plenty of opportunities to capture some stunning images of the event. This year the competition categories are ‘Running in the Dark’ and ‘Jubilation & Celebration’ as well as an Open class.”
More information about the photography competition and the event route can be found at www.roundnorfolkrelay.com
Over the past quarter, the UK’s small and medium-sized manufacturers saw new orders grow at the fastest pace in two years, according to the latest SME Trends Survey produced by the CBI.
Based on responses from 422 manufacturers, the Survey reveals healthy growth in total new orders over the last quarter, underpinned by a strengthening in domestic demand.
Companies said they expect new orders to continue to grow solidly again over the next quarter, with the outlook for both domestic and export demand described by the employers’ group as “upbeat”.
CBI Principal Economist Alpesh Paleja said: “Activity among SME manufacturers is ticking along nicely, with new orders growth reaching a two-year high. The pick-up was largely shouldered by domestic demand with exports yet to see any material boost from the weakness in sterling.”
He went on to warn, however, that the lower pound is clearly stoking cost pressures, which in turn is pushing up factory gate prices and this is likely to mean that consumer prices will also rise.
The survey results show that output continued to grow modestly over the past quarter, but that firms anticipate an acceleration over the short-term.
More than a quarter (29%) of manufacturers surveyed said they were more optimistic, while 14% said they were less optimistic, giving a rounded balance of +16%.
Nearly a third (32%) of respondents reported that their domestic orders were up, while 20% said they were down, giving a balance of +12%. Almost a quarter (23%) said that export orders had risen over the past three months, with 19% saying they had fallen.
In terms of export prices, a balance of +44% anticipate them rising over the coming quarter – the highest level recorded since the survey started in October 1988.
We are delighted to announce the launch of our completely redesigned website.
The new website has been designed to provide the ultimate user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality throughout; whether you’re looking to upload your own content, browse through our huge collection of events or find out more about how we can help your business.
With the user experience firmly in mind, our new website has been designed to be more mobile-friendly, load much faster and easier to navigate.
New features:
New Workbench
We have now introduced the ‘workbench’. This is where Chamber members can manage and upload their content more efficiently. You can see which stage your content is at; ‘draft’, ‘needs review’ or ‘published’.
We have enabled the ability for Chamber members to update their online directory listings.
Content Filters
We have now implemented filters onto our Events, Training, News and Blogs to make things easier to find.
Why should you upload?
The Norfolk Chamber website can be used by our members as a free PR platform to promote their activities. The type of content you can promote includes case studies, a new product or service, any events you are running, Blogs and training courses.
Some of the benefits in doing this include:
Average of over 10,000 visitors per month
Raise your business profile in Norfolk
Highlight yourself as an expert within your sector
We always aim to promote our members content in a variety of ways to maximise the amount of exposure.
Member News and Blogs are always pushed out on our Twitter feed to a following of over 7,600, and put forward for inclusion in our bi-monthly magazine, Norfolk Voice, which has an estimated readership of 10,000 business people.
Member Events and Training Courses are included in our own monthly Events Newsletter to a database of over 9,000 business contacts.
Bookings for this event are now closed. For availability please email events@norfolkchamber.co.uk. Thank you.
Following on from the success of our previous two Lite Nite Events in May and June, Bank House Hotel are once again opening their doors to businesses in West Norfolk for an evening of networking, drinks and canapes.
If you are a West Norfolk business come along and make those all-important contacts in a relaxed, friendly environment.
Norfolk Chamber and Bank House Hotel are teaming up to strenghten and grow the network of businesses in West Norfolk;book now to be part of it.
This event is for businesses located in West Norfolk, North Norfolk and as far East as Fakenham. If your business is located out of these areas, please contact the events team before booking.
The Comm-Tech Technology Day titled ‘Smarter Ways of Working’ is a one-day B2B event focusing on giving an in-depth insight into how the latest communication products can make businesses ‘Work Smarter’.
The Technology Day will be held at Comm-Tech’s headquarters in the prime city centre location of Norwich. Not only will you be able to meet leading manufacturers from the communications industry, you will also be able to attend FREE seminars on how their products can benefit your business.
Seminars topics will focus on the latest business propositions from Nokia, Samsung, HTC, BlackBerry and more. Vodafone will demonstrate how One Net and Microsoft Office 365 can improve your business efficiencies. Crystal Ball will identify how Mobile Monitor and Lone Worker solutions can ensure you are obeying government legislation’s while maximising the use of your workforce.
Our dedicated account management team will be available on the day to offer one-to-one chats about your business communication needs, we can also discuss whether you are currently receiving the best value for money on your current solution.
Even more homes and businesses in Norfolk will be able to access a high-speed broadband connection and all the benefits this brings, as an extension to Norfolk County Council’s and BT’s Better Broadband for Norfolk (BBfN) programme is now underway.
More than £11 million of new funding is being invested in the latest tranche of BBfN’s rollout of superfast broadband in the county, and as a result the availability of high-speed broadband is set to be extended to more than 95 per cent of Norfolk’s premises by spring 2020.
Five of Norfolk’s district councils – Breckland, Broadland, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, North Norfolk and South Norfolk – have committed over £3m which has been match funded by central government, and this money will be spent to improve broadband coverage and speeds specifically in these five districts. The rest of the funding is made up of the gainshare ‘success dividend’ from BT from the first contract which has been made available following a higher than expected take-up of broadband services in some areas. In addition, around £10m of underspend from the first contract will be re-invested into this phase of the broadband roll-out.
This will bring the total investment in the BBfN programme to £68m since it launched at the end of 2012. Since then, hundreds of roadside broadband cabinets and thousands of miles of fibre-optic cables have been installed in the county. This means that 87 per cent of households and businesses in Norfolk can get a superfast broadband service (24 Megabits per second and above), more than double the number who could get these speeds four years ago before the BBfN programme got underway (42%).
The BBfN programme is part of Norfolk County Council’s drive to make Norfolk an even more attractive place to live, work and do business. Widespread availability of high-speed broadband is vital in helping the county’s rural businesses to thrive and attracting employers to the area, as well as increasing children’s and adults’ learning opportunities, reducing social isolation and enabling people to work from home and shop and bank online.
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said: “The confirmation of further investment in Broadband for Norfolk is welcomed. However there is still more work to be done to reach those businesses that still don’t have access to superfast broadband and also to make it easier for businesses in connected areas to take advantage of the improved broadband speeds. Norfolk Chamber will work in partnership with BBfN and the broadband providers to encourage greater engagement with the business community to ensure there is improved clarity and understanding on how to access improved speeds.”
Cliff Jordan, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “In just a few years we’ve made a huge difference to tens of thousands of people living and working in the county. Bringing high-speed broadband to 95 per cent of homes and businesses will be a great achievement but we won’t be satisfied until everyone in Norfolk can access a good broadband service. So we will continue to push for more investment and make the money we already have go as far as possible.”
Tim Whitley, BT’s regional director for the East of England, said: “The new funding from the district councils, when added to the gainshare success dividend of £5.2m based on good take-up of the service already deployed, will enable the Better Broadband for Norfolk programme to reach even more homes and businesses with high-speed broadband. BT’s network now reaches more than 370,000 homes and businesses across the county when you combine it with our commercial rollout. We’re aware there’s more to do, and the roll-out continues into 2020.”
Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said: “In just four years, our rollout of superfast broadband has doubled the number of premises in Norfolk who can get superfast speeds. But we know that more needs to be done. This is why the Government together with five of Norfolk’s district councils and BT are now investing another £11 million in taking superfast broadband to thousands more local homes and businesses.”