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View the quarterly report here: https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Quarterly-Report-April-June-2024.pdf

Episode 2: You are important | Flourish 

This powerful podcast, ‘you are important’, is a follow on from our previous release where Lotty, Harriet’s wife, talks of secondary trauma and being forgotten in grief. She tells her story of conflict between enjoying moments of happiness whilst dealing with terrible trauma and how important resilience really is!

Imagine waking up one morning, turning on your computer, and finding that all your crucial files – everything from customer data to financial records – are locked. Completely inaccessible.

Then, a chilling message appears, demanding a ransom to unlock them.

This is ransomware in a nutshell. It’s a type of malicious software that hijacks your data and holds it for ransom.

It often begins with an innocent-looking email or link. You might receive an email that appears legitimate, asking you to click on a link or open an attachment.

This is known as a phishing email, where the sender pretends to be genuine but isn’t. Once you click, malicious software is silently installed on your system. From there, the cyber criminals swiftly take action.

They encrypt your files so you can’t access them. Then comes the dreaded ransom note, demanding payment in exchange for a decryption key to unlock your files. Paying the ransom is a risky move because there’s no guarantee you’ll get your data back, and it only encourages the attackers to target more victims.

2023 was particularly severe for ransomware, with attacks surging after a two-year decline. According to a report, there was a significant increase in ransomware incidents, breaking a six-year record.

One reason for this spike is the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS). This model allows cyber criminals to “rent” ransomware tools, making it easier than ever for them to launch attacks.

Consequently, more businesses are finding themselves listed on data leak sites, with a 75% increase in the number of victims between 2022 and 2023.

Ouch.

And it gets worse. Attackers are becoming more sophisticated. They’re developing new variants of old ransomware, sharing resources, and using legitimate tools for malicious purposes.

They’re also working faster, often deploying ransomware within 48 hours of gaining access to a network. They tend to strike outside of work hours, such as when you’re tucked up in bed, making it less likely they’ll be noticed.

If your business falls victim to a ransomware attack, the consequences can be devastating. You might face significant financial losses, not just from the ransom itself but also from the cost of downtime and recovery.

There’s also the risk of losing critical data if you can’t decrypt your files.

Your reputation could take a hit if customers find out their information was compromised. Moreover, your business operations could be severely disrupted, affecting your ability to serve your clients.

The crucial question then: How can you protect your business from this growing threat?

Educate your team. Ensure everyone knows how to spot phishing emails and avoid suspicious links and attachments.

Regularly back up your critical data and securely store those backups offline.

Keep your software and systems up to date with the latest security patches, and invest in strong security tools.

Limit access to your data. Only give employees access to the information they need for their jobs.

Monitor your network for unusual activity and have a plan in place to respond to incidents quickly.

If you do get hit by a ransomware attack, don’t panic. Work with cybersecurity experts (like us) to resolve the issue.

Remember, it’s best not to pay the ransom, as it only fuels the cyber criminals’ activities.

My team and I help businesses take proactive action to protect their data. If we can assist you, get in touch.

What Are Recruiters Looking For When You’re Applying for Roles?

Let’s cut to the chase—recruiters are no longer just looking for your typical suit-and-tie, resume-touting candidate. They want the real deal. Here’s what will make you stand out in today’s job market:

1. Skills and Experience: Sure, knowing your stuff is still key. But don’t just list your skills—show them off! Put it front and centre.
2. Soft Skills: Think you can coast by on technical skills alone? Think again. Communication, problem-solving, and teamwork are non-negotiable. Show you’re not just a cog in the machine, but someone who makes the whole engine run smoother.
3. Cultural Fit: Are you a match for the company’s vibe? Do your values align with theirs? Pro tip: Do your homework. If the company’s all about innovation, show how you’ve been a trailblazer in your past roles.
4. Adaptability: The only constant is change. Whether it’s picking up new tools or shifting gears on a project, your ability to adapt is a hot commodity.
5. Digital Know-How: In case you missed the memo, we’re in the digital age. Being savvy with the latest tech isn’t optional; it’s expected. From project management software to social media smarts, show you can handle the digital landscape.

How the Next Generation is Shaping the Construction Industry

Forget the old stereotypes of construction being all about hard hats and heavy lifting. The new generation is turning the industry on its head with some seriously cool innovations:

1. Tech Titans: Young pros are bringing in the big guns—think AI, drones etc.. This isn’t your granddad’s construction site.
2. Green Giants: Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword. The new kids on the block are all about eco-friendly practices, pushing for green buildings and reducing the carbon footprint. It’s not just about building; it’s about building smart.
3. Diversity Champions: Say goodbye to the old boys’ club. The next-gen is making the industry more inclusive and diverse, ensuring a variety of voices and ideas contribute to the future of construction.
4. Collaboration Kings and Queens: Teamwork makes the dream work. The younger crowd values collaboration and flexibility, fostering a work environment where ideas flow freely and innovation thrives.
5. Learning Machines: Continuous improvement is the name of the game. They’re not just resting on their laurels—they’re constantly upskilling and staying ahead of the curve.

Construction: The New Sexy Industry to Be In?

Yep, you read that right. Construction is the new sexy. Here’s why it’s turning heads:

1. Innovation Central: With smart buildings, sustainable practices, and the latest tech, construction is where innovation happens. It’s not just about laying bricks; it’s about creating the future.
2. Impact Players: Want a job where you can literally see the fruits of your labour? Construction lets you build things that last, shaping skylines and communities.
3. Career Bonanza: From project managers to sustainability consultants, the opportunities are endless. And guess what? The money is pretty mega too!.
4. Dynamic Days: Ditch the cubicle. Construction offers a variety of tasks and settings, keeping things fresh and exciting.
5. Competitive Edge: As demand for skilled workers rises, so do the perks. Competitive salaries and benefits packages are making the industry more enticing than ever.

Office Jobs Are Out, Construction Is In

The nine-to-five grind in a cubicle? So last decade. Here’s why construction is where it’s at:

1. Real Impact: Office jobs can feel like you’re just pushing paper. In construction, you’re building something real and lasting.
2. Health and Activity: Tired of sitting all day? Construction keeps you on the move, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
3. Flexibility and Adventure: With opportunities to work on diverse projects in different locations, every day is an adventure.
4. Hands-On Experience: Prefer doing over talking? Construction gives you the chance to get your hands dirty and see immediate results.
5. Resilient Careers: Automation is coming for many office jobs, but skilled construction work? That’s not going anywhere soon.

The job market is evolving, and the construction industry is emerging as a powerhouse of innovation and opportunity. Whether you’re looking to make a big career move or just want to know where the future is headed, construction is the place to be. So gear up, get out there, and start building your future—literally.

Anglia Innovation Partnership, the campus management organisation at Norwich Research Park, hosted its latest Enterprise Tuesday event on Tuesday 11 June at the John Innes Conference Centre, showcasing novel technology platforms and debating the value of ‘science push and industry pull’ activity in the cluster.

The event entitled ‘Research and Technology Platforms Open for Innovative Business’ presented case studies to explain how the specialist facilities were created, at the campus, how they are used in publicly funded research, on the campus, and their current and future potential application in industry.

Four of the platforms presented:

Dr Carolina Grandellis and Dr Iain MacAulay introduced the Biofoundry at the Earlham Institute, an engineering biology and automation facility for processing biological samples by using robots to do experiments faster and more accurately for microbiology and biotech companies wanting to screen a high number of bacterial strains.

Dr Alan Brailsford, Operations Manager, Quadram Institute presented information about QIB Extra which is the Quadram Institute’s commercial arm that works with industry partners in the food, diet and health sectors to provide its expertise and services to help develop their products with the profits being reinvested into further research.

Dr Penny Hundleby, Senior Scientist, John Innes Centre talked about the Crop Transformation platform which offers transformation and genome editing for a range of species including wheat, barley and Brassica crops. It can help to advance research in many areas of plant science by providing functional characterisation of genes of interest and by providing knock-out mutants using CRISPR/Cas9 based technologies.

Dr Ofir Meir, Chief Technology Officer at Tropic explained the working of its GEiGS (Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing) platform a frontrunner in the agriculture gene editing sector which uses universal gene editing tools such as CRISPR, to minimally edit the host’s own non-coding genes and redirect their silencing activity (RNAi) towards any desired target gene or gene family enabling critical disease resistance and valuable quality improvement traits across crops, livestock and aquaculture.

The second half of the event was a panel discussion – ‘Strengthening engagement through ‘science push’ and ‘industry pull’’ chaired by Dr Nick Goodwin, COO of Anglia Innovation Partnership featuring James Phillips, Head of Translation and Innovations Capability at the Biotechnology and Biology Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Linda Bedenik, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager, The Bioindustry Association, Luke Young, CEO and co-founder of Alora, Dr Jonathan Clarke, Head of Business Development at the John Innes Centre, Prof Brian Reid, Professor of Soil Science, UEA, Dr Jenny Longmore, Director of Research Operations, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and Dr Cathrina Edwards, PulseON Foods.

Roz Bird, CEO, Anglia Innovation Partnership, said: “Norwich Research Park is one of the largest research clusters in Europe, with over 30,000 people on site every day.

Our aim is to raise awareness of our technology and research platforms and encourage more research collaborations, and more industry access, to maximise the impact of the enormous amounts of publicly funded research taking place on the campus.

“These events are a really good way to highlight the genuinely fantastic opportunities that exist here and the importance of our facilities. We actively support fledgling companies with access to funding, facilitating collaborative partnerships and introducing them to useful business networks. Our unique combination of top-class facilities, access to funding and ease ofcollaboration means we can fast-track ideas to become viable start-up companies.

It was great to be able to show case unique technology and new enterprise activity yet again and to get a great response from our audience of over 100 delegates.”

“We’re very excited to release details of our new Summer Family Challenge. As well as creating some fun, friendly competition during the school holiday, it’s a fantastic way to support our charity” – families are being encouraged to complete six challenges in six weeks and raise £60.

Families are being encouraged to tackle a range of fun, quirky challenges this summer and raise vital funds for charity.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has released details of its first-ever Summer Family Challenge – with the objective being to complete six challenges in six weeks and raise £60.

There are a range of activities to choose from, including a sensory scavenger hunt, a recycling craft challenge and a family sports day.

Others include visiting new places, trying new foods, a baking challenge, hosting a games night marathon, learning a new language or circus skill, camping out overnight, completing acts of kindness and creating a memory box.

“We’re very excited to release details of our new Summer Family Challenge,” said EACH Community Fundraising Manager Tina Burdett.

“As well as creating some fun, friendly competition during the six-week school holiday, it’s a fantastic way to support our charity – raising vital funds to help us continue our vital work across the region.

“Anyone who signs up will receive a special fundraising pack and it’s choc-a-block with fun, quirky challenges, as well as top tips and information.

“There’s something for everyone, to suit a family’s location, budget and abilities, and when you register you’ll receive a link to an online giving page.

“This can be shared with family and friends to let them know you’re raising funds for EACH. Hopefully they’re kind enough to make a small donation and the goal for each family is to raise £60.

“That could pay for a counsellor for three hours or a music therapist for two hours. It would also fund 30 hand and footprint kits for memory-making.”

Families can register by heading here or to each.org.uk/SummerFamilyChallenge

As well as receiving a fundraising pack crammed with challenge suggestions, they will also get a special chart to illustrate their progress.

After completing the challenge, they will then receive a certificate.

“Our challenges are family-friendly and only need resources you’ll usually find at home,” added Tina.

“There’s nothing to stop a family adding their own challenge, or tweaking one of ours, and while we suggest one challenge a week, that’s only a guide. It’s up to each family to come up with a schedule that best suits their holiday plans.”

For more information, email community@each.org.uk or call 01223 800807

The next sculpture trail for Norwich has been revealed with not one, but five majestic beasts straight from the African Savannah with everyone’s favourite the Gorilla, last seen in Norwich in 2013 alongside a new elephant, a lion, a giraffe and a rhino coming in summer 2025 – and local businesses are being encouraged to get involved before it’s too late!

Delivered in partnership with Wild in Art, Zoological Society of East Anglia, Norwich Bid and Chantry Place, GoGoSafari will run for 10 weeks next summer and incorporate sculptures sponsored by local businesses and organisations. Over thirty have signed up already including Alan Boswell, Leathes Prior, Norwich City Football Club and Production Bureau. But for anyone not yet signed up, time is running out with businesses having until the end of July to secure their choice of sculpture.

“We’re delighted to have all these fantastic businesses join us on GoGoSafari we’re and looking forward to working closely with them on bringing this exciting trail to Norwich and Norfolk,” comments Break Senior Partnerships and Projects Manager Pete Marron. “We have a variety of flexible sponsorship packages available and are always looking for more organisations to join our herd. It is such a great way for businesses and their teams to be involved in an inclusive public art event that is profile raising, community focused and that also has both positive social and economic impact on the region.”

The trail will be bringing together a wide variety of organisations from across the county and Break are encouraging local businesses to join these sponsors and take advantage of this unique opportunity.

GoGoSafari will the fifth trail that the charity will have delivered in Norwich, as well as being responsible for Cows in Cambridge in 2021 and Cambridge Standing Tall, with all proceeds going towards supporting young people from care, enabling Break to continue to be there for them, giving them opportunities so they can truly flourish and shine.

For more information on the trail and how to get involved visit https://www.break-charity.org/break-trails/gogo/sponsors/

Don’t make love wait! We are really excited to launch our Covid-secure Intimate Wedding Package.

Experience our romantic wedding venue for your small but perfect post-lockdown wedding ceremony.

Set in eight acres of gorgeous riverside grounds in the Norfolk Broads National Park, The Norfolk Mead, a stunning red brick Georgian country house wedding venue, offers a touch of luxury. We hold a wedding licence, so we can host your boutique civil wedding ceremony or civil partnership in our beautiful grounds. We are specialists in diversity and an inclusive approach and welcome couples from the LGBT+ community.

Relax and take your time, with just the most important people present to witness your personal day. We have tailored our usual wedding menu for this package, and can work with you to put together a fantastic menu using locally sourced Norfolk produce.

Our 15 person intimate wedding package is priced at £2,200 including:

• Exclusive Hire of the stylish Garden Room Venue within our atmospheric walled garden
• Ceremony fee
• Experienced event planner
• Glass of prosecco arrival drink and toast drink for all guests
• Delicious three course sit down meal
• Half bottle of house wine per person
• White linen and white napkins
• Chiavari chairs
• Round tables
• Cake knife and table
• Easel for your table plan

The Norfolk Mead micro wedding package is valid on any day and any month from now until March 31 2021. Contact our wedding event planners Francesca and Victoria to enquire about availability and secure a date with a £500.00 deposit. Please contact the wedding team for more information via events@norfolkmead.co.uk or 01603 737 531.

Leading Suffolk tourist attraction, Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, was the setting for the official launch of Larking Gowen’s 2024 Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Business Survey results.

Guests, representing some of the top tourist destinations in the region, were given a tour of The Lost Lands of the Tundra reserve at the farm, where polar bears Ewa, Flocke and Tala are now in residence. Venue host, Jimmy Doherty, spoke about how he saw the tourist industry as massively important for the region beyond the £10bn income it generates. Jimmy chatted to Chris Scargill, Tourism Partner at Larking Gowen, about the changes he has seen over the years in customer behavior and trends, what tourism really means to him, and of course, the red tape tourism businesses are often held back by, and more. You can listen to the full conversation on the podcast Tourism Business Chat here larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights.

There you can find more content from the results seminar, including a chat with Jimmy’s Park Director, Stevie Sheppard, and other guests, on another episode. “Tourism isn’t just another industry. It provides amazing jobs and makes the most of our landscape and wonderful towns and beaches. It provides a fantastic respite for a nation that needs it now more than ever, with everything we’ve been through in recent times. I think the tourism industry should be seen as a national tonic sometimes,” he said. Speaking in discussion with Chris, Jimmy said the story of the polar bears coming to the farm had seized people’s imaginations and brought them into a closer relationship with the farm. “It’s really important that you have something new to offer, and these days you need investment just to move your business forward. To make that pay, you’ve really got to tell the story. It’s all in the storytelling, which has got to be authentic and has got to have purpose. To take people on a journey is a skill we have to learn, and it’s part of our world now,” he said. “We did this, not for the visitors, but because the polar bears we were rescuing needed a home, and animal welfare and conservation is at the core of our business. We’re fortunate that the story of the construction and rescue mission struck a chord with the general public and, as a result, we’ve seen an increase in visitor numbers. It’s important for our staff to see the business developing and staying true to our values whilst doing so,” he said. Chris Scargill said that although there was more negativity in the sector in comparison to the results of the 2023 survey, there were signs of light on the horizon.

You can view the full Tourism Business Survey results brochure here.

Providing written terms and conditions – including to seasonal staff – is not just a legal obligation, but hugely beneficial, says Kelly Hanley of Lovewell Blake.

With the summer holiday season upon us, many businesses in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector will be boosting their workforce to cope with the increased demand from customers, with seasonal and temporary workers taking much of the extra strain.

For employers, this is an excellent and flexible way of dealing with the seasonal fluctuation in business.  But because these workers will only be working for a finite period of time, there can be a temptation to treat them differently from more permanent staff, right down to omitting to give them a written statement of particulars detailing key terms and conditions.

This is especially true in smaller businesses (which tend to make up the bulk of employers in this sector), which do not enjoy the luxury of an in-house HR department.

But not giving every individual – even temporary and seasonal workers – a written statement of terms and conditions of employment is a big mistake, and one which could land employers in a whole lot of trouble.

First of all, it is a legal requirement to provide every worker/employee with a written statement of employment particulars, of which the ‘principal statement’ detailing the main terms and conditions of employment must be provided from the first day of their employment.  This is a legally binding agreement that contains prescribed information and outlines the main terms and conditions between employer and worker/employee.

An employment contract is a much wider document, which contains enhanced terms and conditions of employment, and offers businesses greater flexibility and protection.  It is important for this document to be carefully drafted so that the employment status (worker vs employee) and relationship with the individual is clearly defined and reflects what happens in practice.

Certain aspects of employment contracts are governed by UK law, such as minimum wage, working time regulations, and discrimination rules.  Other legislation provides a framework for legal rights and obligations, such as the Employment Rights Act 1996, which covers areas such as unfair dismissal, redundancy pay and maternity rights, and the Equality Act 2010, which protects against discrimination in the workplace.

Understanding these legal requirements is essential to ensure compliance and avoid potential legal consequences.

But it’s not just about meeting your legal obligations: a well-drafted employment contract can help protect your business by setting clear boundaries and expectations for your employees.  It can deter potential conflicts and disputes by ensuring that both parties are on the same page about the terms of employment.

For employers, the contract can help protect their business interests, with provisions to protect confidential business information, intellectual property rights and client relationships, as well as providing a mechanism for addressing performance issues, enforcing disciplinary procedures, and if necessary terminating the employment in a way that complies with UK law.

For employees, it ensures that they are treated fairly and in accordance with the law, safeguarding their rights to fair pay, safe working conditions, and protection from discrimination or harassment.  It also provides a clear outline of their job responsibilities and expectations, reducing the risk of disputes over job performance.

To ensure legal clarity and comprehensive protection, an employment contract should include several key components such as:

• Job information: job title, job description, location of work
• Remuneration: salary or wages, bonuses and other benefits
• Working hours: standard hours, overtime policies, break allowances
• Termination terms: details about notice periods and grounds for dismissal
• Confidentiality and non-disclosure: provisions to protect sensitive business information
• Grievance and disciplinary: the process for raising issues or complaints, and how disciplinary matters will be handled
• Leave entitlement: annual leave, sick leave, maternity and paternity leave

Even for seasonal and temporary workers, providing a clear, well-written contract on day one is an absolute must.  By ensuring all the relevant components are included, both employers and employees/workers can foster a transparent, respectful and legally compliant working relationship – and that is the best way to ensure the maximum benefit to your business form all staff.

Plans for the future of trade in Northern Ireland (NI) continue to emerge. Here’s the latest Import Export Support update, along with links to pages of particular interest to any business that trades through NI.

Trader support service

The Institute for Export have introduced a Trader Support Service (TSS) to support businesses through the changes to Northern Ireland trade which take effect on 1 January 2021. The free-to-use service will provide guidance and training, a digital service to support declarations, and support from customs experts, delivered by the brand new Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy (NICTA) and funded by the Government. The service is open to traders, intermediaries and carriers moving goods into and out of Northern Ireland. To access the programme, you need to register your business. Register your business To apply you’ll need the usual business information to hand, including:

• VAT Number
• EORI Number

Once registered you can access free training either as a downloadable guide or a webinar. Currently there’s one webinar available ‘Introduction to Customs’. The first session was fully booked but there are more scheduled. Training info here More support in the form of guides and webinars is promised, so it could be worth bookmarking the page. How-to guides here There’s also a useful jargon buster to help you get a grip on all those awful terms and acronyms. Jargon buster here If you need any help or advice on imports or exports, please call me. Click here for our website

Medical finance experts, Lizzy Lloyd and Andrew Burwood of MHA Larking Gowen, are collaborating with Rob Day from Mills & Reeve to deliver these upcoming webinars, giving medical professionals an update on Primary Care Networks and Incorporation of GP medical practices. 

Primary Care Networks update

Tues 20 October 1pm – 2pm

Topics will include:

• PCN funding

• Accounting for the PCN surplus in 2019/20

• Latest position re VAT and clinical director role

• PCN structures and incorporation

There will also be a live Q&A session at the end. This webinar will be recorded, but we ask you to register to make sure you get a copy of the recording after the event.

Book your place here