Ashtons Legal has recently donated over £5,000 to seven charities and causes across the Eastern region as part of the firm’s Wills Year campaign.
The Ashtons’ Wills Year campaign has run for a number of years and involves the firm making a donation to charity for each new Will completed and billed in an entire year.
The seven charities supported by the 2020-21 year are Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust in Cambridge, Arthur Rank Hospice, also in Cambridge, Gatehouse who are based in Bury St Edmunds, Norfolk Family Carers, Priscilla Bacon Hospice in Norwich, St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich and St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds. Each charity received £725.
Head of Individual Client Services at Ashtons Legal, Alan Brown said: “Due to the pandemic and the huge loss in only what can be described as a time of crisis for most charitable organisations in the UK, it is more important than ever to offer our support to the charities and causes close to us, and our clients. We are therefore delighted to be able to share funds with these hugely worthwhile causes who are vital in our local communities.”
Big Sky Additions is an owner managed business run by Justin Murray and Sam Holt who are the faces and hands on expert consultants of a growing successful local business specialising in Accountancy Search & Selection.
We provide a professional, honest and consultative service to companies and candidates across Norfolk. Our expertise and knowledge of the accountancy job market makes us ideally placed to help you find the right staff or the right job with the minimum of fuss.
We offer permanent, contract and temporary solutions within industry, public sector and professional practice.
Above all we focus on delivering a fresh, innovative and personal approach specifically designed to meet our clients ‘needs and candidates’ skills.
The recruitment industry has changed. Yes, the internet has made it easier for agencies to find more candidates, but too often this means a less targeted approach, resulting in disappointment for client and job seeker alike. This is where we’re different.
We rely on personal recommendation and referral
We combine innovative advertising with a continually refreshed database
We employ headhunting, networking and social media
This means we reach the 80% of the market not already on the job market. Which means greater quality and choice and less duplication for the client.
We work closely with local businesses in advising, targeting and sourcing highly skilled Accountancy professionals.
Big Sky Additions are not restricted to a 9-5 working day, you are VERY welcome to call us outside of these hours.
Businesses across the UK, including Norfolk, are being asked to nominate planning regulations to be simplified or removed as part of the government’s “Red Tape Challenge” initiative.
Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Opportunities 2013’ event on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club is the perfect place to boost your business skills and knowledge, because the event will feature a series of three, free 40-minute topical and interactive workshops designed to give a real competitive business edge.
The first workshop is entitled: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success. Mark will explain how many people attend networking events but very few get anything out of it. The reason for this is that they don’t understand what networking is really about, and they don’t have a clear strategy for networking or the skills to enable them to get results from their networking.
Mike Jones, of Modello, will deliver a workshop called: ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’. BT Business will be hosting this workshop to complement their exhibition presence and will use the session to explain how small to medium sized businesses in the UK are driving further cost savings, improving efficiency and keeping ahead of the competition, by grasping the full potential from broadband services.
Lastly, David Tillyer, from 101 Smart Ltd, will give a workshop called: ‘How to get results for email marketing’. This workshop will focus on explaining how to use email marketing to its full potential and improve your business.
Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, said: “In business we need to continue to learn and broaden our skills; to keep up to date with the latest technology and methods of communication. These workshops are designed to be bang up to date and to help businesses to really gain an advantage and enhance their offering.”
‘Opportunities 2013’, which is free to attend, also includes a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 35 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.
The ‘Opportunities 2013’ event also features Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, where suppliers from around the region can promote their products and services. The exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.
For the first time, the event will feature a Networking United event that will bring together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections.
To sign up for the workshops, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here
At today’s Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Board meeting, the members of the Board approved both the Business Plan for 2013/2014 and the new ‘Unlocking Growth Plan’. The Unlocking Growth Plan sets out the Chamber’s priorities for 2013, as identified by the Norfolk Chamber members. The key areas to be addressed in 2013 are:
Championing Norfolk Business
Improving Infrastructure
Supporting Competitiveness
Removing Barriers
The Chamber’s key theme of ‘Unlocking the Potential of Norfolk’s Young People’ will run through the delivery of all its services and is identified in the ‘Unlocking Growth plan’.
Abellio train operator Greater Anglia has won the Train Operator of the Year award at the annual national Rail Business Awards for 2012. This independent recognition for the regional train operator comes only just over a year into its franchise, which began in February 2012. It provides a major external endorsement of the improvements made to date by the company in many aspects of its operations.
This includes better punctuality, higher customer service standards, greater customer engagement, improved ticketing, station upgrades, integrated transport improvements and reduced weekend service disruption for passengers (as a result of a new agreement with Network Rail as part of the alliance between the two companies). Greater Anglia was also complimented for its excellent service during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Praising Greater Anglia for its winning entry, the judges said: “Performance during the first year of operation has been very impressive. This came across very clearly in its excellent submission.”
The accolade follows an increase in customer satisfaction amongst Greater Anglia’s passengers in the most recent National Passenger Survey to 83% and improved annual punctuality to over 92%, the highest level for the East Anglian franchise in at least 12 years. The company has also made ticket purchase much easier with more ticket vending machines, a smartphone app, trials of mobile ticketing and “print-at-home” ticketing. In addition, Greater Anglia is also playing a leading role in the development and delivery of the East Anglian Rail Prospectus, working proactively with regional stakeholders to make the case for greater investment in rail services in the region. Commenting on the recognition of Greater Anglia’s progress Ruud Haket, Managing Director said: “I am delighted that barely a year into our short franchise, we have received this independent endorsement of our achievements. To be bracketed amongst the leading UK train companies at such an early stage is a tribute to the commitment and dedication of our employees.
“We know we have much more to do to achieve the consistency of service that our customers rightly expect, but we have made significant steps forward in punctuality, information provision and ticket purchasing facilities already and we are passionate about delivering high standards of customer service day in, day out, for passengers across our network.
“We are committed to making further service improvements over the remainder of our short franchise to July 2014 and to continue to work with regional stakeholders to help secure the long term investment needed to further upgrade train services in East Anglia – focusing on the priorities highlighted in the East Anglian Rail Prospectus. Our focus will always be on continuously improving rail services for the customers and communities we serve.”
Norwich For Jobs today provides its first campaign update, covering progress made in the first month of operation.
Aims
Norwich For Jobs seeks to halve Norwich youth unemployment in two years.
Launched on 25th January 2013, we believe that we can encourage the creation of 1,000 new jobs and good economic opportunities for young people in our city.
There are currently around 2,000 young people, aged 18-24, registered as unemployed in the Norwich area. Our aims are:
Investment- Encourage local businesses to invest in young people
Opportunities- Connect young people with opportunities to gain skills and employment
Community- Focus the collective efforts of the community to get young Norwich working.
First Month’s Progress
During February 2013, Norwich For Jobs has achieved the following:
20 employers formally backing campaign so far. You can see these updated regularly on our website, www.norwichforjobs.org.uk. All are willing to be interviewed by media
Dozens more have indicated their interest and are in discussion with the campaign
101 jobs have been pledged
36 apprenticeships have been pledged
78 work experience opportunities have been pledged
Quotes
Chloe Smith, leader of Norwich For Jobs, said:
“We are delighted by the reaction to the launch of the Norwich for Jobs Campaign. Enquiries by potential employers and those willing to offer work placements have exceeded our expectations.
“We’ve made good progress in our first month in engaging with employers, partners and young people and wish to continue this success in subsequent months.
“Our key goal for the first month way to get the key aims of the Norwich for Jobs Campaign across, which I think we have achieved. We are now moving forward in following up on all lines of enquiry that have come to us and will seek to help and support businesses wishing to offer an opportunity to a young person in Norwich.”
Julia Nix, East Anglia District Manager for Jobcentre Plus, comments:
“Our sincere thanks go to our first set of employers who have pledged their support by offering jobs, apprenticeships and work experience to our talented young people. I would encourage any employer to make contact to help us further.”
Dick Palmer, Chief Executive Officer of City College Norwich, said:
“This is a really fantastic start for Norwich For Jobs and shows how supportive our local employers are. It shows that local employers, big and small, really do get that young people are our future.”
Next month includes Apprenticeships Week. Expect more updates from Norwich For Jobs on apprenticeships and more.
First Intuition, the award-winning accountancy training provider, is now offering a bespoke apprentice recruitment service to assist employers in their search for the best talent. With an extensive network and 10+ years of expertise in training accountants, First Intuition will consult, advertise, screen, and advise potential candidates. The service is free and available upon request to businesses recruiting accountancy apprentices who will study with First Intuition.
The expert team will set up an initial discussion to establish what role(s) employers are looking to be filled. The team will then handle advertising the role to First Intuition’s bank of candidates and networks, as well as screen all applicants to present the best. Lastly, the team will advise on the recommended learner journey for the chosen candidate(s) and provide resources to support the apprentice(s) into the workplace.
Apprentice Recruitment Service:
1. Initial consultation
Whether it’s one vacancy or a wider intake of multiple apprentices, First Intuition will ensure we select suitable candidates that are well suited to the role and organisation. That way you can focus your time on interviewing candidates who have a good chance of filling your vacancy.
The initial discussion will explore the role(s), what criteria you would like to set in terms of academic achievement, personal specification, transferable skills and discuss the appropriate programme(s).
2. Advertise the role
We will then list the vacancy on the National Apprenticeship Service website for as long as required to get the necessary responses and reach out to candidates who have reached out to First Intuition directly.
3. Screen the applicants
We will check over each application, rejecting any that are unsuitable. Any that we think fit your criteria will be sent across to you for consideration. Once a shortlist has been drawn up, we will put you in contact with the candidates for you to interview/screen.
4. Advice on next steps
We will continue to support you with advice on interviews, funding, eligibility and training programme options for your shortlist/new candidates. This includes our range of pre-start resources which are free for you to share with your new apprentices to help them prepare for and settle into their role with you.
Apprenticeships offer a significant opportunity for both employers and apprentices. We believe an apprenticeship offers a real alternative to the standard routes of work or higher education. We work with them and their employers to develop their individual technical and all-round skills that help businesses to thrive and grow. Apprenticeship funding is available for both large and small employers with First Intuition.
Ofgem warns of rising prices and energy shortages The outgoing chief executive of Ofgem, Alistair Buchanan, has warned that the UK faces higher energy bills over the coming years due to shortage of energy supplies. In a major speech he said that a fall in the UK’s power production capacity is likely to lead to more energy imports and he predicts power station closures could mean a 10% fall in capacity by April alone. He said the UK needs more gas supplies and an improvement in energy efficiency to fill the shortfall.
Prime Minister hails clean energy on Indian trade mission The prime minister has underlined his support for green technologies during a major trade trip to India. He was accompanied by several green companies and climate change minister Greg Barker on the trip. At his first stop, the Unilever office in Mumbai, he touted the benefits of clean energy as a key to UK economic growth.
Nuclear power According to reports in the Guardian the government is proposing to sign contracts guaranteeing subsidies for new nuclear for up to 40 years. The paper said that ministers are proposing the timeline in order to keep the guaranteed wholesale cost of each unit of energy below the politically crucial figure of £100 per megawatt hour. DECC said in a statement that: “No commitment has been made on commercial terms or a strike price.”
Energy Bill decarbonisation amendment tabled Conservative MP Tim Yeo and Labour’s Barry Gardiner have tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill that would require the government to introduce a decarbonisation target for the power sector by April next year, paving the way for a potential Commons rebellion. Yeo, who chairs the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, and Gardiner, who serves on the Committee and also acts as Labour leader Ed Miliband’s Climate Change Envoy, put forward the amendment after the Bill Committee Stage.
EU-wide offshore oil and gas law The EU proposed its first law to regulate safety in offshore oil and gas drilling across the 27-member bloc and prevent any repeat of BP’s Gulf of Mexico spill. The law still needs final endorsement from member states and the European Parliament. Politicians from Britain were among the first to welcome it. As they argue British standards of safety are already excellent and the new law would oblige others to follow suit. Britain was among those who campaigned for the law to be a directive rather than an EU regulation.
Marine power Two British companies have today been awarded a share of £20 million to help drive forward growth in the UK’s marine energy industry. MeyGen Ltd and Sea Generation Wales Ltd have both won funding under the government’s Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD). MEAD was launched in April last year, to support the development and testing of pre-commercial marine devices in array formations out at sea.
Upcoming developments
Energy Bill completes Commons Stage and goes to the Lords
New strategies on nuclear, oil and gas and offshore renewables to be published
Carbon Floor Price to be introduced in April
Decision on next stage of UK and Ireland wind trading
Capacity market design proposals due to be published in the spring
Strike Price proposals due to be published in the summer
BIS Publish Industrial Strategies (Offshore Wind, Nuclear, and Oil & Gas)
James and Mark chat about how desk-bound workers can increase their energy levels despite the increasing demands of virtual meetings. As usual, they provide 3 top tips, and along the way they take inspiration from Aubrey Marcus’ recent podcast with author and body alignment expert Aaron Alexander (episode #319), American social psychologist Amy Cuddy and James’ 90’s smash hit Sit Down! Show notes:
We would love to hear from you – you can get in touch with us on podcasts@larking-gowen.co.ukIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, we would really appreciate a 5* review, as this helps other people find our podcast!
The EU and Canada have agreed to co-operate more closely by building on their existing customs co-operation agreement and extending it to include supply chain security and related risk-management matters.
EU Customs Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta said: “In a globalised world with globalised trade, no country can ensure the security of their supply chain in isolation. International co-operation is essential to protect citizens’ security while allowing the smooth flow of trade.”
The agreement would, he went on, provide the tools to improve customs controls while cutting red tape for safe traders in both territories.
Co-operation will include working towards mutual recognition of risk-management techniques, risk standards, security controls and trade partnership programmes, ie the EU’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) and Canada’s Partners in Protection (PIP).
The agreement will be concluded after the ratification process in the EU and Canada, which is expected to take place in the coming months, is completed.
More information on EU customs co-operation agreements is available on the European Commission website.