Member News

Costa Coffee, the Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop*, is getting ready to relocate at Chantry Place. The much-loved coffee company is about to upsize and open a brand new and larger store on the upper ground floor of the Centre, which will feature an uplifting and modern new store design for shoppers to enjoy. Due to open on Wednesday 16^th November 2022, Costa Coffee’s investment in the new store will create five new jobs in addition to the eight team members moving over from the current store. The new store will provide a bright, warm, and contemporary environment where customers can enjoy their favourite handcrafted drinks in the comfort of modern furniture. There’s even a new ‘Rinse & Refill’ station so visitors can top up water bottles and clean out reusable cups for free. Not only that, but the investment brings with it a range of innovative new digital features that provide a seamless customer experience. Digital menu boards will soon make browsing the menu easier than ever, and the Click & Collect service on the Costa Club app will give customers the chance to order in advance and collect on-the-go. The Costa Club app also provides access to Costa Coffee’s loyalty programme, which rewards members with a free handcrafted drink after eight purchases. The scheme even encourages customers to choose to reuse by offering an extra ‘green bean’ with every purchase of a handcrafted drink in a reusable cup. With only four purchases needed for a free drink, it is both a nice boost for customers and helps to reduce the number of takeaway cups used. Commenting on the opening, Costa Coffee Area Manager for Norfolk, Corne Veldtman, said: “We can’t wait to unveil our new Costa Coffee store in such a prime location at Chantry Place. We’ve put our customers and community right at the heart of our uplifting new store experience and our team members are excited to continue serving them their favourite, perfectly crafted, Costa coffee in our new space.” Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, comments: “We would like to thank Costa Coffee for their continued support and investment in the Centre. While work is done on your new Costa Coffee, its current store opposite Apple remains open, so that our customers can enjoy its barista-crafted coffees, sweet treats and sandwiches. Of course, it also opens in perfect time to serve its famous Christmas menu. It remains an exciting time for the Centre with Lisa Angel also undergoing a refurbishment and expansion. This year we have also welcomed Rituals, Whistles, Hobbs and Phase Eight and a Hotel Chocolat café to the Centre with more announcements coming soon.” The new Costa Coffee store will be located on the upper ground floor next to Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight, and also Rituals. For more information on Chantry Place, please visit www.ChantryPlace.co.uk or follow chantryplacenorwich on social media. For more information on Lisa Angel, visit www.lisaangel.co.uk or follow @lisaangeluk on social media. Image provided by Chantry Place

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is warning that a new strike called by train drivers’ union ASLEF for Saturday 26 November will cause widespread disruption, with trains on many routes unable to run. The company is advising people to avoid travelling on its trains on Saturday 26 November. Details are currently being finalised, but the service is likely to consist of:

• Trains running only on routes between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria and the Stansted Express service.
• No trains on any other routes, including Cambridge to Liverpool Street.

Services will be less frequent than usual and will operate within limited hours, which will be confirmed over the coming days. Anyone who has booked a ticket to travel on Saturday 26 November will be able to travel either the day before or up to two days afterwards instead, or they can contact their retailer for a refund or to change the date. Trains not running due to the strike will not be replaced by buses. First services on Sunday 27 November, will start later than usual as a knock-on effect of the 24-hour strike. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We’re very sorry that once again we must advise people to avoid travelling on our trains, but with our drivers on strike we have no other option. “We know people will have been planning to go Christmas shopping, visit the Christmas lights in London, go to shows and events or to watch FA Cup matches on Saturday 26 November and that now they will be disappointed. “We will continue as an industry to carry on talking to ASLEF and other rail unions to try to resolve these disputes, to bring an end to these very disruptive strikes.” Full details of timetables, refunds and other information will be available from www.greateranglia.co.uk/strikes. Other train companies affected by the ASLEF action are Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, London North Eastern Railway, London Overground, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Transpennine Express, and West Midlands Trains.

Tourism specialists, Julia White and Martin Sanders, chat about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and other current economic strains on the sector. They discuss VAT, energy costs, staffing and what they’re seeing within their clients’ businesses, and explore how to relieve the pressure.

You can find Martin’s and Julia’s details on the Our People section of our website here – please reach out if you’d like to speak to our specialists.

See how our Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality team could help your business here.

GET IN TOUCH! If you have any questions on today’s episode, and would like us to get in touch, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.

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You can find more episodes from this series on our website here.

Listen here!

We are pleased to announce we will be continuing our sponsorship of the Ipswich Half Marathon for the next two years. Organised by not-for-profit events company, Run For All, next year’s race will take place on Sunday 17 September, 2023. The Larking Gowen Ipswich Half Marathon is expected to raise thousands of pounds for a number of local and national charities. Next year’s race will see the town’s 40th staging of the event. Starting out with just over 500 participants at its inaugural race, it’s hoped thousands more will sign up for the event’s 40th milestone year. Starting outside Portman Road Stadium, the route will take runners down Duke Street, through Ipswich Waterfront and along Cliff Lane. Continuing around River Orwell, runners will then head to Wherstead Road before returning to the grounds of Ipswich Town Football Club for the big finish. Despite the poor weather conditions, thousands of runners braved the rain to take part in this year’s event. Some came for a personal challenge, a few hoped to win and others simply aimed to get around the course, but all helped make the 2022 Larking Gowen Ipswich Half Marathon a brilliant success. Larking Gowen Partner, Ian Fitch, said: “The Ipswich Half Marathon is a great event for the local community, adding value to the business community through destination tourism and raising much needed funds for charities in the region. We are really pleased to be supporting it once again.” Mike Tomlinson, CEO at Run For All, said: “We are delighted to be once again partnering with Larking Gowen for the Ipswich Half Marathon. The event is so well received within the local community of Ipswich, so I have no doubt that this will be another rewarding and enjoyable event for all those involved.” Entries for the 2023 race are now open. To sign up and check out the route, go to www.runforall.com.

In our most popular episode to date, climate change expert Dr Mathew Hampshire-Waugh chats to James and Mark about the realities of what’s ahead, and what steps businesses can take to protect themselves. In this BITESIZE episode, we focus on Mathew outlining the history of the climate crisis and how we got to where we are, as detailed in his book, Climate change and the road to net-zero. Listen to the full episode here, or why not watch this engaging chat in full on YouTube. GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk or leave us a voice note here. You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcast, or click here to listen now! We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk

Above: A defibrillator at a rail station. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia has installed life-saving heart resuscitators at more of its stations in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. Fifteen Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been installed at Alresford, Braintree, Braintree Freeport, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge North, Chappel & Wakes Colne, Cheshunt, Diss, Needham Market, Sawbridgeworth, Soham, Stowmarket, Thetford, Waltham Cross and Weeley. The defibrillators are small, safe and lightweight and deliver a shock to treat someone in cardiac arrest. They can also monitor the heart’s activity and give instructions to the users. Anyone can use them. If there is an incident on the station, call 999 to be given a code to open the defibrillator’s storage box and follow the instructions given. It follows the recent installation of five defibrillators at stations between Hertford East and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. Greater Anglia’s Head of Facilities Management, Mark Ellis, said, “Statistics show that 20% of cardiac arrests occur in a public place. “There is compelling evidence that defibrillation at the earliest possible point after a person collapses can significantly increase their chances of survival, so it’s vital that this life saving equipment is available in public places, particularly somewhere very busy like rail stations.” “The installation of these defibrillators means that we are better prepared to provide assistance in the event of a first aid emergency.” Above: A defibrillator at a rail station. Credit: Greater Anglia

• Output and Optimism Indices fall to lowest levels since third national lockdown in February 2021, now sitting in contractionary territory
• BDO’s Inflation Index reaches record high after energy price cap increases in October
• Rising inflation and dampened outlook drive a fall in employment with further declines expected in coming months

October saw BDO’s Output and Optimism Indices fall to their lowest levels since the third national lockdown in February 2021, as record-high inflation continues to dampen the economy and prompt fears of a recession, according to the latest Business Trends report from accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO. The latest figures indicate that inflationary pressures are to blame for the decline across three of BDO’s four indices, as Optimism, Output and Employment all recorded their weakest readings for at least six months. BDO’s Inflation Index reached an all-time high in October forcing businesses to re-evaluate production in line with demand and supply-side headwinds and exercise caution in their outlook and hiring intentions. October saw BDO’s Output and Optimism Indices plummet to 93.10 and 94.63, respectively, their lowest levels since the third national lockdown in February 2021. Both indices now sit in contractionary territory, below the 95-point mark – regarded as the watershed between growth and decline, an indicator of a recession. The dip in productivity was driven by a fall across both the Services and Manufacturing Indices for the second month in a row. Continued disruption to global logistics networks and increased input prices have pushed manufacturing activity into negative territory, whilst the cost-of-living crisis has impacted consumer demand, driving down services output. Confidence amongst businesses followed a similar downward trajectory as the weaker macroeconomic environment drove a seventh consecutive month of decline for BDO’s Optimism Index. BDO’s Inflation Index rose by 1.67 points in October to a record high of 120.67 following an increase in the energy price cap which caused consumer price inflation to climb. At the same time, diminished spending power due to a weaker currency put considerable upwards pressure on input inflation leading to a record high of 121.26, as businesses importing goods paid higher prices. Driven by inflationary fears, the Employment Index mirrored waning confidence among businesses with a fall of 1.14 points to 113.05 last month. However, the index has remained resilient, and the unemployment rate stood at a historic low of 3.5% on the most recent reading in the three months to August. Despite the index remaining firmly in positive territory, hiring intentions are set to decline in the longer-term as businesses continue to tackle mounting inflation and a recession, resulting in further falls in the index over the coming months. Peter Harrup, partner and Head of East Anglia at BDO LLP, said: “A contraction in both optimism and output is a concerning bellwether for firms, as inflation is expected to continue climbing in the run-up to Christmas. A weaker currency and drop in consumer spending power will have real and tangible consequences for firms relying on imports or customers in the retail and services sector, alongside the knock-on effects of managing political and economic uncertainty. “We also know that rising energy costs are a top concern for nearly half of mid-sized businesses this winter as we’re only just beginning to see the impacts of the energy price cap rise. Firms will be looking to the Autumn Statement for the support they need as they navigate a tough period ahead.” Image provided by BDO of Peter Harrup

• 50 people are promoted across East Anglia at accountancy firm, BDO
• Corporate finance specialist, Vinod Patel, promoted to partner in Transaction Services team.

Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO has announced the promotion of 50 people across its team in East Anglia, including one promotion to partner. Effective from 1^st November, Vinod Patel, has been promoted in the Transaction Services practice, covering East Anglia as part of his remit. Having joined the firm in 2003 as a trainee, Vinod has become an integral part of the national Transaction Services team and leads the East Anglia region, with experience in both acquisition and vendor due diligence on behalf of corporate and trade acquirers, private equity investments, debt financing and public market / IPO transactions. Despite the challenging environment, BDO has a strong pipeline of deals in the region and in his role, Vinod will work alongside John Gethen, head of M&A, to support privately owned, private equity backed and publicly listed businesses in East Anglia with their corporate finance and strategic initiatives. Peter Harrup, partner and Head of East Anglia at BDO LLP, commented: “Vinod is an important part of a core area of the business that has significant scope for further growth, as we look to develop our regional offering. By bringing together expertise across key specialisms and offering our clients a complete proposition across the advisory board, we can support entrepreneurial and high-growth businesses across the piste.” He added: “The raft of promotions we have made across the region is highly indicative of our continued desire to invest in our business while, at the same time, placing us in a much stronger position to support the businesses we work with as they attempt to navigate the macro-environment headwinds.” In East Anglia, BDO has promoted 11 people in Cambridge, 30 people in Ipswich, and 9 people in Norwich. Piers Harrison, partner and Head of the Cambridge office, said: “Every promotion represents BDO’s commitment to investing in our people and the future of our business in the region and nationwide, and we’re delighted to reward our people who have demonstrated true commitment, dedication and passion in their chosen specialisms.” Image provided by BDO of Vinny Patel

Pictured: Rob Bush, General Manager of the East of England Energy Group Photo credit: East of England Energy Group / CHPV Pictured: Sophie Skipp, joining the East of England Energy Group as Head of Energy Skills in December 2022 Photo credit: Sophie Skipp “Providing a single, unified voice to drive forward the East of England” – EEEGR announce strategic appointments ahead of “promising” 2023 East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) announces strategic appointments of people & skills expert Sophie Skipp and business relationship professional Karim Massaad. A new era is on the horizon for the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR). Following the success of Wind Week 2022 East of England, EEEGR announce the strategic appointments of Karim Massaad as Business Relationship Manager and Sophie Skipp as Head of Energy Skills. Sophie, who joins the organisation from the University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN), will be vital in uniting the skills agenda in the East of England to ensure industry is speaking in a common language around energy skills. With the Offshore Wind Industry Council predicting the need for nearly 100,000 jobs nationally by 2030, the eastern region will deliver a significant portion of anticipated offshore wind farms. Sophie’s transition from UTCN to EEEGR will be a seamless one, using her pre-existing network to link industry and education in a much more streamlined way. Ahead of her official appointment as Head of Energy Skills in December, Sophie Skipp said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the team at EEEGR to champion not only their important Skills for Energy programme but support our members in addressing the skills gap as we hurtle towards net zero.” “I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and connecting with our members to understand their priorities when it comes to skills, alongside increasing EEEGR’s impact on students and reaching more educators,” she concluded. Karim Massaad, who has extensive experience in project management and business development, is already making waves as the organisation’s Business Relationship Manager: “Since joining EEEGR in October, I have been fortunate to connect with so many of our members and learn about the great things they are doing, whether it’s the important wellbeing services offered by members like KW Life Solutions or the innovative solutions being offered by companies such as PPI Quality & Engineering.” “I joined the company just in time for Wind Week 2022 East of England, which was a fantastic introduction to the lively, vibrant energy community we have here in the East of England. I look forward to attending future events the coming months such as our End of Year Awards and Gala Dinner, House of Commons Reception and SNS 2023 and connecting with even more of our members.” The organisation’s role in the East of England’s energy sector has never been more relevant or more important, says General Manager Rob Bush: “Our members are the most important and exciting part of what we do here at EEEGR; they’re our reason for existing. With the appointments of Sophie and Karim, this will bolster the impact we have on our region’s skills agenda, the benefits to the supply chain in our region, as well as providing a single voice to drive forward the East of England at Westminster and beyond.” “I have recently made the move from Operations Manager to General Manager and our hope going forwards is that we will offer our members a level of consistency. We have plans to undertake a Member Survey in 2023 allowing our members the opportunity to have their voice heard and for us to understand how we can best support them going forward,” he finished. As 2023 rapidly approaches, EEEGR’s Customer and Stakeholder Manifesto will be refreshed to reflect the progress made over 2021 and 2022 and what’s to come in 2023. First released in 2021, the manifesto outlines EEEGR’s road map for 2021, 2022, and 2023. EEEGR are also taking their events to the next level, working with Norwich company Huxley to deliver future events including SNS 2023. The partnership has already seen great success in the form of Wind Week 2022 East of England, with promising prospects for 2023’s suite of events. – ends – About EEEGR The East of England Energy Group is an industry specific membership organisation representing over 200 organisations ranging from energy producers and developers through to supply chain companies. EEEGR is a key voice for the sector, putting the East of England and its expertise on the radar of major international players and influential politicians at regional and national levels. EEEGR has close links with education and training institutions through its Skills for Energy programme. A programme created to ensure that there is an ongoing pipeline of talented individuals for the current and future wellbeing of the energy industry.

Wear a festive hat or a silly scarf, or create crazy hair and get every single person you know to do the same! Then donate £3 – it is that simple! You don’t need to buy anything new, why not get crafty and decorate an old one. You could even pop along to your local Break shop and see what they have on offer? Spread the word! Share with your network and friends, download your Hatty Christmas poster here. Tag Break on social media and use #hattyxmas to show us how Hatty you are! Donate It’s just a simple text to take part! Text HATTYXMAS 3 to 70085 to donate £3 Text HATTYXMAS 5 to 70085 to donate £5 Text HATTYXMAS 10 to 70085 to donate £10 Texts cost your donation pledge plus one standard rate message Your money this Christmas will directly go to support vulnerable children and young adults. Working together we can make amazing things happen. https://www.break-charity.org/charity/

Farewill has been voted best rated on Trustpilot and won National Will Writing Firm of the Year 2019 and 2020. That’s why we have teamed up with them to offer free wills to our supporters. As a small, independent charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to enable us to help animals in need. We exist to help pet owners and local animals through adoption and rehoming, financial aid and our reduced cost microchipping and neutering schemes and every year we help thousands of vulnerable animals across Norfolk and Suffolk. You can claim a free will without leaving a gift to us but we hope that after you have catered for your loved ones, you would consider leaving even a small share of your estate to the animals in our care. With your help, we can create a kinder future for animals. You can choose to write your will online or If you would prefer to speak to someone you can also call them. Every will is checked by one of their specialists so you can be confident that your wishes will be respected. Get started now Go to www.farewill.com/rspcamn-news Or call 02080502686 and quote ‘RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch.’

This survey is being carried out to help Norfolk County Council understand the needs of local businesses and to help inform the development of its emerging investment strategy. This strategy is intended to achieve a “step change in pay, productivity and skills, to drive sustainable growth in the county over the medium to long term”. It identifies four challenges which need to be overcome in order to achieve this ambition. These challenges include: ·       Grand Challenge 1: Opportunities for residents ·       Grand challenge 2: Efficient public services ·       Grand Challenge 3: Future–proof business clusters ·       Grand Challenge 4: Protect from climate change In completing this survey, we are keen to understand the appetite of businesses across Norfolk in relation to their future financing needs. We welcome your thoughts and views on the current funding landscape. The survey should only take 10 minutes. Your views are key to helping the council to identify gaps in funding and investment for local businesses and social enterprises across Norfolk and different sectors and business stages. Complete the survey here