Our EACH Norwich Abseil is taking place on Sunday 14th April 2013 down theNorfolk Tower on Surrey Street.Due to the sell out success of this event last year the sequel is here and we want to beat the £17,000 we raised last year.
Its £25 to sign up and we are looking for a minimum of £100 to be raised in sponsorship by each participant. There aren’t many opportunitiesto do an abseil in Norfolkso if this is on your must do list then please sign up, have fun and raisesome money to support localchildren with life-threatening conditions.
£100could pay for either:
Art supplies for 20 sessions of specialist play.
5 essential carekits for our nurses to use when providing care in the family home.
3 sessions of music therapy of an hour long.
Its around 150ft straight down from the top of the Norfolk Tower on Surrey Street but there are some great views from the top so why not ask your friends or colleagues totake part as well.
Places are limited so to avoiddisappointment please visit www.each.org.uk/norwichabseil to enter on line or call 01953 666767 for an entry form.
The Flat Rate VAT Scheme (FRS) was set up by HMRC as a means to simplify and reduce the costs of compliance for small businesses. This meant that such businesses could apply a fixed percentage dependent upon the specific trade or profession they were involved in.
Under the FRS the business would charge full VAT rates to their clients when invoicing and therefore receive VAT at 20%. The business would then only pay the fixed percentage to HMRC i.e. if they fell within management consultancy they would pay only 14% of their invoiced value to HMRC.
The scheme does not permit recovery of input VAT other than in specific circumstances normally in relation to purchases of capital equipment with a value of more than £2,000.
Legislation
HMRC issued draft legislation in early December 2016 which introduced a new rate of 16.5% for ‘Limited Cost Traders’ (LCT) to take affect from 1st April 2017. A LCT is one whose VAT inclusive expenditure on goods is either:-
less than 2% of their VAT inclusive turnover in a prescribed accounting period
greater than 2% of their VAT inclusive turnover but less than £1,000 per annum if the prescribed accounting period is one year (if it is not one year, the figure is the relevant proportion of £1,000
Goods, for the purpose of LCT, must be used exclusively for the purposes of the business but exclude the following items:-
capital expenditure
food or drink for consumption by the FRS business or its employees
vehicles, vehicle parts and fuel (except where the business is one that carries out transport services -eg. a taxi business, and uses its own or a leased vehicle to carry out these services).
An additional downside to this test is that if you have goods that are used part for business and part private use should be totally excluded and not apportioned between business and private.
April onwards
From 1st April 2017 a LCT will have a choice to either remain as part of FRS and pay VAT to HMRC based on 16.5% or to be part of standard treatment VAT i.e. pay net VAT to HMRC having taken into account VAT on outputs at 20% and recover VAT on inputs where charged.
Under the anti-forestalling provisions HMRC have restricted any possibility of a LCT continuing to use any lower FRS rates from 1st April 2017 therefore action if not already taken should be taken now to avoid potential penalties.
If you are still within the first 12 months of VAT registration you will be able to continue with the 1% first year discount so would pay only 15.5% for the remainder of the 12 month period.
If under the legislation you are a LCT then you need to go through the numbers and consider which is the best direction for you. The potential impact on a small business may not be significant and the additional costs involved in fully accounting for VAT under the standard rate may well be more than the VAT involved especially as you will need to provide evidence of any expenditure on which you make a reclaim.
All such businesses will have their own unique situation and we would recommend you speak with your accountant or call the VAT advice line should you need help making a decision.
Heathrow Airport has confirmed that China Southern Airlines will be operating a second daily departure between the UK hub and the Chinese port of Guangzhou with effect from 1 June this year.
It said that the airline’s twice-daily service, the only direct connection between the UK and the southern Chinese city, is strategically important for “a global, outward-looking Britain”.
Using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the new service will lower transfer times to China Southern Airlines’ network of over 120 destinations in China, Japan and Korea, southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Located just 75 miles up the Pearl River bay from Hong Kong, Guangzhou is described as one of China’s most vibrant business markets as well as being its biggest port.
The addition of the new daily service will boost trade capacity to this booming city, by doubling the space for British exports to up to 8760 metric tonnes a year, Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland-Kaye said.
Welcoming the addition of the second service, he highlighted the benefits of increased connectivity to Guangzhou for Heathrow passengers and for British business generally.
“Direct connections to thriving markets like these are essential to keeping our country a global, outward looking, trading nation,” Mr Holland-Kaye concluded.
In 2016, more than 1.1 million passengers used Heathrow to fly to and from Chinese destinations, an increase of 7.3% over the previous year.
As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week officers from Environmental Health at Great Yramouth Borough Council will be holding a Health and Safety workshop for current or prospective businesses and managers inthe retail sector. Cost is £5 (includes refreshments).
The purpose of this workshop is to help you understand:-
Health & Safety responsibilities in the context of your business,
Principles of risk assessment and how to implement them.
A bespoke prototype designed by King’s Lynn based Southgate Global, a leader in the supply of packaging equipment, consumables and servicing in operational logistics and fulfilment, has helped a leading retail brand reduce their loading time by 50 per cent.
Working closely with the online grocery brand – who were experiencing too many touchpoints, as well as some manual handling safety issues, around transferring groceries from their warehouse operation into their vehicles, Southgate’s expert in-house Design Team designed a bespoke cart specifically to address these issues, working for the specifics of the client’s site, their space requirements and the people using it.
With each minor detail designed with a specific workflow in mind, the three-tier cart enabled the client to save 50 per cent in their loading time, increasing productivity for the business.
As the need to maximise productivity in all areas of an operation has never been so crucial, Phil O’Driscoll, Head of Innovation and New Product Development at Southgate Global, explained that customised products that meet very specific needs or address unique challenges are becoming more in demand.
“Customers either recognise an issue within their workflow but are unsure on how to fix it themselves, recognise that the standard equipment they are currently using just isn’t working to maximum potential, or they are being faced with new challenges that existing options cannot resolve.”
“It’s here that the benefits of bespoke solutions come into play, and our garment trolley is a prime example of this. Right from the initial survey to the design brief, prototyping and final implementation, we built a solution that was based on expertise and experience and with a specific goal in mind. A service you just can’t get with off-the-shelf solutions.”
With decades of experience serving over 3,000 customers in more than 20 countries around the world, Southgate prides itself on its expertise and range of operational logistics and fulfilment solutions that support some of the biggest organisations in the key sectors including 3PL, e-commerce, retail, post & parcel and general manufacturing.
Describing the Southgate Design Team as ‘problem solvers’, O’Driscoll explained the intricate process of each bespoke solution.
“We start each project from scratch with no assumptions or preconceptions. The team apply themselves to deeply understand the problem, ensuring to ask the right questions. Once we have the concept, we created a prototype before designing a final solution that meets the client’s exact needs.
“Whether we’re fitting equipment to existing architecture or helping to redesign the process of how they move products from A to B, it’s a form of flexibility and personalised service that you just can’t find from off-the-shelf solutions. This approach means the solution is something that organisations can use as a key differentiator to make them more competitive. In an increasingly challenging environment where price is often used as the only point of differentiation this approach can make all the difference.’
Innovators across 3PL are using bespoke design solutions to improve efficiencies to improve any manual handling.
As the challenges of running an efficient and cost-effective fulfilment operation continue to grow, Southgate continues to invest in creating innovative material handling equipment to help deliver a productive warehouse operation.
For more information on Southgate’s design services, click here.
Week 5 is another Norfolk Broad Insparation. This ‘behind the scene’ of the Occasional Table tells a great story, and it’s the perfect piece for anyone looking for unqieness.
Two meetings to be held in London in May will focus on the trade opportunities offered by countries in Africa.
Organised by the Business Council for Africa and British Expertise International, the meetings will bring together British diplomats stationed in both East and West Africa.
Both meetings will take place on 10 May. In the morning, a panel discussion at the Business Council for Africa (Lavington Street, London) will feature three Heads of Mission from East Africa: Susanna Moorehead, Nic Hailey and Sarah Cooke.
Susanna Moorehead, British Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, is the Permanent Representative to the African Union and UN Economic Commission for Africa. She has also served as the Director for Southern and West Africa at the Department for International Development (DFID).
Nic Hailey has been British High Commissioner to Kenya since December 2015. Prior to taking up his current position, he was Director for Africa at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), where he had responsibility for all UK policy towards, and operations in, 48 countries across Africa.
The High Commissioner to Tanzania, Sarah Cooke, was previously representative for DFID in Bangladesh.
Starting at 17.00 on 10 May, the second meeting will be held at the premises of Addleshaw Goddard (Chiswell Street, London) and will include five Heads of Mission from West Africa.
Among them will be the UK’s current High Commissioner to Cameroon, Brian Olley, who has previously served in Cyprus, Afghanistan and Finland.
George Hodgson, Ambassador to Senegal and non-resident Ambassador to Cabo Verde and Guinea-Bissau, will also participate in the panel discussion, as will the High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin.
In addition to the panel discussions, both events will also provide opportunities for networking. Further information can be found at www.britishexpertise.org.
Join us for an afternoon of high profile networking at the stunning Caistor Hall Hotel.
You will receive a drink and canapés on arrival followed by networking with local business owners.
We will be joined by Samir Sharma, CEO of Datazuum, who will be addressing some of the key areas of marketing for business owners.
‘If you’re not already identifying sources and finding ways to mine for your golden nuggets, it’s not too late. Start now – let us find your relevant data and build models that deliver useful trend and customer insights for your businesses’
For more information about our guest speaker, visit www.datazuum.com
There will be the opportunity to view our function rooms and 21 beautifully appointed bedrooms to see how Caistor Hall Hotel can be a suitable venue for your next corporate event.
Our friendly sales team will be on hand throughout the afternoon to deal with any enquiries you may have.
Date: Thursday 7th March 2013Venue: Caistor Hall Hotel, Caistor St Edmunds, Norwich. NR14 8QNTime: 4pm – 6pm
Aim; To give basic understanding of the causes of fire, its control (including systems and procedures) and the role of the fire warden
Objectives
*Understand the hazards and risks associated with fire in the workplace
*Understand how fire risk is controlled in the workplace
*Understand the principles and practice of emergency fire provisions
*Understand the role of the nominated fire warden
Organisation
Duration; 1 day programme
Exam/Assessment; A multiple choice examination, which is accredited by Ofqual
Cost; £125 + VAT includes notes, refreshments, lunch and the assessment & certification fees
Awarding Body; Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC)
Tutor; Richard Mills and Sarah Daniels
Differentiation; Level 1 in literacy or equivalent would be desirable.
Audience; Anyone involved in the management of fire safety in any workplace. This includes managers, supervisors, team leaders, fire wardens (marshals) and staff working in any area where there is a potential risk of fire.
Norwich-based Legal Technology specialists Tiger Eye are finding new ways to raise vital funds for the local community. The IT firm, based at The Henderson Business Centre, offered staff a chance to win an extra day’s holiday by purchasing tickets for a charity raffle draw. To add to the raffle’s appeal, the holiday up for grabs was the 21st of June (the Summer Solstice) which is the longest day of the year. The raffle raised over £100, with all proceeds donated to Norfolk and Waveney Mind, Tiger Eye’s charity of the year.
Alex Wilson, a Technical Analyst from Tiger Eye’s Project Delivery Team, won the raffle and plans to spend the day off in Norwich. Alex added: “I plan to spend my extra day of holiday with an old colleague and Liam from my team. We’ll be shunning the lovely sunshine by attempting to escape a virtual reality escape room, eating burgers or sushi, and venturing to Retro Replay arcade in Castle Quarter.”
This unique fundraising event features as part of Tiger Eye’s overall fundraising scheme for the year, with other events including tea and scones for the Jubilee and various other office activities. In January, Tiger Eye were pleased to announce Norfolk and Waveney Mind as their charity of the year for 2022 following a company-wide selection process.
Julie Wilson, Admin Services Director at Tiger Eye, added: “It has been a pleasure to find new and unique ways to fundraise for Norfolk and Waveney Mind, and we are delighted to make an impact in our community. As a business, we aim to create an environment where staff feel able to talk openly about mental health, and we highly value the crucial work of Norfolk and Waveney Mind in our area.”
Norfolk and Waveney Mind support those within the community with their mental health and wellbeing from prevention support to crisis support. The charity offers an extensive range of mental health services, along with associated training, advice, and information, working to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, support people in recovery, and champion better services for all. Whilst part of the Mind network, Norfolk and Waveney Mind are an independent charity who raise their own funds.
In October 2016 the Government announced the expansion of Heathrow Airport. An expanded Heathrow will double the airport’s cargo capacity and increase the number of domestic connections, boosting Britain’s exporters and ensuring every region and nation of the UK can get to global markets. With up to 40 more long haul destinations, the project will make Britain the best-connected country in the world.
Heathrow has committed to maximising opportunities for British businesses, including those in Norfolk, of all sizes who could benefit from being involved in the building one of the largest privately-funded infrastructure projects in Europe.
Interested applicants should visit https://procurement.heathrow.com to register their interest and complete an Expression of Interest questionnaire before 31st July 2017. All applications will be considered by Heathrow and a list of potential sites is expected to be announced later this year.
Use your experience to help students with CV and Interviews
We’re looking for businesses to donate their time in helping students at Wymondham College with CV and Interview Skills.
Wymondham College are holding their ‘Get Set for Success’ Employability Day for Year 10 students during Enrichment Week and are looking for business mentors to work with small groups.
It takes place on Wednesday 28th June, with two sessions running, one in the morning (approx. 9am – 11am) and one in the afternoon (1.30pm – 3.45pm), duration of each session is just over two hours.
Business mentors can choose to help out at one or both of these sessions, with groups of 6-8 students which are supervised at all times by school staff.
Printed booklets are provided for both mentors and students, and mentors guide their group through the activities and discussions, covering skills and qualities, the basics of CV writing and interview skills, and ending with a mock interview.
If you would like to take part, please contact us or click here and complete an online booking form.
