Start your Christmas celebrations by joining us for our carol service at the Gresham’s School Chapel for a festive family orientated evening. The service will include traditional carols and readings as well as performances by the Cantilena Choir and children fromGreshams Prepand Sheringham PrimarySchools. Refreshments are also being providedso please come along – the more the merrier.
Our first Early Bird seminar for 2014 will offer an indispensable guide to the covert monitoring of employees’ activities.
We will provide practical guidance on ….
> the procedural steps you must take before you covertly monitor employees; > the limitations on what you can monitor, for what purposes, for how long; and > how to use covert evidence in disciplinary and tribunal hearings.
Employee surveillance can take many forms. Do you, or are you considering ….
> monitoring employees’ email and internet traffic? > operating CCTV on your premises? > tracking your company vehicles? > using evidence from social media? > monitoring a sick employee suspected of malingering?
If so, our Early Bird seminar will help to ensure that you make fair and appropriate use of the information you obtain without infringing privacy laws, such as the Data Protection and Human Rights Acts.
All delegates will benefit from a practical case study that explores common privacy issues and you will receive a helpful checklist on employee monitoring.
For more information, please contact Pia Walton at pia-walton@birketts.co.uk (01473 406250).
On Wednesday, we were joined by 200 guests at our seventh instalment of our half-day technology conference, Talking Tech 2017. The event proved to be our busiest yet, filling up the fantastic venue, The Space, with people keen to hear (and see) the latest technological innovations taking place on a national and local scale.
The vibrant and spacious venue was filled with 13 exhibitors, including sponsors of the event Barclays Eagle Labs and Computer Service Centre. We were also joined by PC World, 101 Ltd, Ashton Shaw to name a few, making it our most interactive and engaging exhibition yet! After mingling over tea and coffee, the guests were then introduced to our keynote speakers by the host for the morning, our very own CEO Chris Sargisson.
We first heard from Dom Davis, who spoke about the Rise of artificial intelligence, whose impassioned presentation was both informative but light-hearted. He was followed by Dean Withey who spoke about ubisend’s innovative use of Chatbots. John Carr from Facebook then took to the stage to inform the audience about Facebook’s influence on businesses, its focus on mobile use and the emphasis the company are putting on video. Prison Voicemail and Aviva then spoke about their respective use of technological advances to achieve their goals and make waves in their industries.
The guests then took part in the four workshops provided by local experts Immersive VR, The User Story, Integro and Innershed. Following on from these interactive workshops, it was back to the auditorium for the lightning talks.
This is when local tech pioneers took to the main stage to showcase their journeys and their influence on the tech scene in Norfolk. We heard from Stacey Harris (Foolproof), Claire Riseborough (Step into Tech), Tim Robinson (Tech East), James Horne (BlueSky UAV Drones) and Peter Green (CSS Cloud Ltd).
Following from the Q+A with the audience and our lightning talk speakers, Chris then wrapped up the stimulating and interesting event and welcomed guests to the Networking Lunch, complete with a fantastic spread of sandwiches and sweet treats. This gave the guests another opportunity to visit the engaging exhibition and catch up with their fellow members of the local business community.
FULLY BOOKED Technology and how we use it is evolving rapidly, but is Norfolk’s digital infrastructure keeping pace? A special breakfast seminar hosted by AF Affinity exploring digital connectivity across our region, the current landscape and future ambitions. Join us for a morning with plenty of networking opportunities and a light breakfast. Jon Duffy, CEO of AF Group will be talking about the latest innovation in agriculture and food industry. Also learn about the newly launched Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme by Rural Broadband and how this may benefit your business. This event is FREE to attend at aimed at business leaders, tech/digital businesses and those interested in developments in connectivity across the region. Click here to download directions.
Since the beginning of the year Norfolk Chamber, together with other strategic partners has been working with New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership to draft the new economic strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk. The strategy is the culmination of collaborative process which has sought to enrich the understanding of the Norfolk and Suffolk economy, establish a shared vision of the kind of place and economy we want the area to be and set out the means by which it will be achieved.
Back in June and July, Norfolk Chamber held a series of events across Norfolk to gather feedback and opinions from local businesses at to what they wanted to see in the strategy and much of that feedback has been incorporated in the current draft.
The first draft is now out for endorsement from key strategic partners across Norfolk and Suffolk and will be ratified by the New Anglia LEP Board on 25 October. In parallel to the endorsement process, the strategy together with the evidence report will be checked by a professional proof reader to iron out any remaining glitches.
Some of the key targets to 2036 include:
· 30,000 new successful businesses
· 88,000 new jobs
· Grow the economy by £17.5 billion
· 66% of the population will have NVQ3+
· 140,000 new homes
Commenting on the draft Economic Strategy, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber said:
“Chamber members of differing sizes and a diverse range of sectors from across Norfolk have contributed to the drafting of the new Economic Strategy. The Strategy lays out the direction for the Norfolk and Suffolk economies through to 2036, highlighting where key strengths can be supported and where improvements are necessary and the Norfolk Chamber is happy to endorse the document.”
The finalised Economic Strategy and the Evidence Report to be published on New Anglia LEP’s website on 26 October – this will be an interactive online document, which will use linked page turning software to help direct readers to more information on specifics including programmes, initiatives, organisations and other relevant documents.
During the autumn, a range of events and opportunities will be held to raise awareness and publicise the new Economic Strategy. Watch this website to find out more information as it becomes available.
Publishing the strategy is by no means the end – and over the next couple of months New Anglia LEP, working closely with Norfolk Chamber and other business representative groups, local authority partners and sector groups will be developing a plan of action to implement the new economic strategy.
If you have any feedback on the pre-endorsement document, or wish to add your endorsement to the Strategy, please email: Nova.fairbank@Norfolkchamber.co.uk
It’s Panto season, and we’re inviting you join us on our exclusive networking event and backstage tour of the traditional family pantomine, Cinderella! Oh yes we are!
We really hope you can join us – you’ll have to be quick as there are only 20 spaces.
You’ll have a Backstage Tour of the set of Cinderella, the timeless tale of a rag to riches servant girl who falls in love with Prince Charming. The star-studded cast includes Hollyoaks and Dengineers favourite Joe Tracini, Casualty’s Amanda Henderson, Wicked & EastEnders David Witts and Norwich’s pantomime favourite Richard Gauntlet. Joining them will be returning panto star David Gant, Alix Dunmore & Kara-Lianne Jones.
During the hour tour you can experience first-hand the set, stage, sights and sounds of live theatre. Network in the welcoming Kemp’s Resturant over breakfast comprising of a selection of local cheeses, local meats, artisan breads, granola, yoghurt, warm pastries, sliced fresh fruit, tea and filter coffee. We think its a great way to end your week! Norwich Theare Royal is one of the East of England’s largest and most successful theatres with over 250 years presenting theatre in Norwich….
Norwich Theatre Royal is the largest and most successful theatre in the East of England with over 400,000 people attending annually to watch 400 performances, ranging from shows for pre-school age children to grand opera, and everything in between. We feature the best of West End shows from big musicals to great dramas, alongside dance, comedy, family shows, opera and music – Click Here for the latest show information.
Commenting on the announcement made by the government today on proposals to launch a consultation on no fault dismissal rules, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Employers have long argued that rules around dismissal do not work for business, so a new no fault dismissal route would be an extremely positive step forward, and would send the message that the government is serious about de-regulation. If these proposals are given the go ahead, it would allow for the swift resolution of a dismissal, and some firms would be willing to pay a premium to achieve this.
“This is a big step in the right direction, but it should be part of a package of reforms, including reforming redundancy rules and introducing tribunal fees for claimants. A substantial overhaul of employment regulations will give businesses confidence to invest and grow, and in turn drive economic recovery.”
A new Transatlantic service made its first call at Britain’s largest container port, Felixstowe, earlier this month as part of a link between northern Europe, the UK, a selection of US East Coast ports and Panama.
Operated by The New World Alliance Lines, the Americas Europe Express (AEE) service is the Alliance’s third transatlantic route complementing the two existing weekly services that also call at Felixstowe.
The service offers shippers competitive Westbound transit times (of eight days) between Felixstowe and New York.
The AEE service rotation is: Manzanillo (Panama), Charleston (USA), New York (USA), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bremerhaven (Germany), Felixstowe (UK), New York (USA), Charleston (USA) and Manzanillo (Panama).
The Alliance of APL, Mitsui OSK Lines and Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has deployed high-reefer-capacity ships on the weekly service with an average effective capacity of 3200 TEU (20-foot equivalent units, the standard measure of containers).
APL will supply three of the vessels deployed and HMM and MOL will contribute one each. As with the Alliance’s APX service that already calls at Felixstowe, Maersk Line will take slots.
The first Eastbound vessel is expected to arrive at the Suffolk port on 24 March.
Norfolk County Council today (Monday 2 October) confirmed that the A1151 Wroxham Road – the busiest route into the heart of the Norfolk Broads – will close at 8pm on Friday, 6 October, and is likely to stay closed until 6am on Monday 16th.
The closure to all traffic – including cyclists and pedestrians – is unavoidable because a wide trench has to be cut across Wroxham Road to allow the installation of a deep drainage culvert as part of construction of Norwich Northern Distributor Road. Thrust-boring under the road without a closure is not possible in this environmentally sensitive location, which includes the nearby fishing lakes at The Springs. There will be no access to the fishing lakes during the closure.
Work will be continuing throughout the ten nights and nine days of the closure. As well as construction of the culvert, the closure will be used to complete as much as possible of the A1151 Wroxham Road roundabout on the NDR.
Diversions
Light traffic will (from Norwich direction) be diverted via Norwich Ring Road, Salhouse Road and Green Lane West. However, the 7.5 tonne weight limit on Green Lane West means that HGVs – including those serving Rackheath Industrial Estate – must continue on Salhouse Road to Salhouse and use to the B1140 to re-join the A1151 at Wroxham. The diversions will operate in reverse for traffic heading towards Norwich.
Legal Order backs up Horsford right turn ban
A right turn ban from Church Street on to the B1149 Holt Road in Horsford today (Monday) became mandatory after a Temporary Traffic Order came into force. When Holt Road south of Horsford closed in August, an advisory right turn ban was introduced to encourage Horsford-bound traffic to loop around the nearby New Drayton Lane roundabout, with the aim of reducing queues on Church Street. This has only been partially successful, so Norfolk County Council has obtained a Legal Order to make the right turn ban mandatory and enforceable by the police.
Join us for a relaxed morning of networking 0930 – 1130 in Great Yarmouth. We will be there along with Great Yarmouth Borough Council as well as having an expert speaker with us to help build your business toolkit by imparting their knowledge and answering your questions.
This is a super informal networking morning, you’ll have free networking time when you arrive followed by a quick round-table introduction so you can get to know your fellow business people in the room and understand what it is they do. After this our expert will “take the stage” to present on their area of expertise, when they’ve answered everyone’s questions the networking commences again.
This month we have Neil Foley on behalf of Norfolk Community Foundation talking about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), hear how to effectively embrace CSR not only as the right thing to do, but as a business differentiator too. A good, well thought through CSR policy can lead to greater employee engagement, and help with recruitment and retention by providing a sense of purpose. We can support our local communities, where many of our customers, staff and suppliers live, making a real difference by either gifting time, money or both!
Let’s look at the business argument with an informal discussion backed up with some hard hitting facts too
All are welcome so feel free to pop along to find out what it’s all about, grab a cuppa and get chatting!