A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia will run two special additional trains to help people get to and from the Cromer Carnival on Wednesday 17 August. In the morning, alongside the normal timetabled services, Greater Anglia will run an additional service which will depart Norwich at 10.10 calling at Hoveton & Wroxham (10.25), North Walsham (10.38) and Cromer at 10.54. An additional service will also run in the evening. It will leave Cromer at 22.10, calling at Roughton Road (22.16), Gunton (22.22), North Walsham (22.28), Worstead (22.33), Hoveton & Wroxham (22.40), Salhouse (22.44) and due to arrive in Norwich at 22.57. Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director, said: “Cromer Carnival is a popular event and we’re very pleased to run extra services so people can leave the car at home and take the train. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to attend, and there will be extra members of staff helping people with their journeys. “To save time and beat the queues, passengers are advised to buy tickets online or via the Greater Anglia app before they travel and people travelling in groups of three or more can save money with GroupSave. “Our new trains are longer and have more seats, however we would ask everyone to be patient while boarding as we are expecting higher than usual passenger numbers on these services.” Customers are advised to use the full length of trains and platforms. Full details of train times and fares can be found at www.greateranglia.co.uk
With dog ownership soaring, BDH Tullford’s new pavement sign is a great way for dog-friendly businesses to encourage dog owners and their pets to paws and unwind. We’ve always had a soft spot for our canine friends here in the UK, but dog ownership has risen to new heights since the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA), the UK dog population now sits at a staggering 13 million, up from an already sizeable 7.6 million in 2010. For businesses, opening up their doors to dog owners and their furry friends therefore offers a great opportunity to increase sales. To help local dog-friendly restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops promote that they welcome dogs, Norwich-based point-of-sale experts BDH Tullford has designed an eye-catching pavement sign with a built-in water bowl, which is perfect for attracting the notice of dog owners while they’re out and about with their dogs. When the pup stops to enjoy a much-needed drink on a warm day, their owners can be enticed inside by the sign’s messaging, where they can get some refreshment of their own. On a crowded high street, this can really help a business to stand out from its competitors. Each sign is easy to assemble for minimum fuss and comes with all fixings and costs just £85(+VAT) including delivery. The welcome sign package also includes:
A graphics panel manufactured from powder-coated and tempered aluminium for flexibility and durability. Its sides are UV varnished to provide protection from the weather.
A tough recycled black PVC base.
A non-slip 6.5” stainless steel water bowl, secured by a bowl holder made from durable 3mm polycarbonate.
UK delivery.
For more information or to order, please contact: sales@bdandh.co.uk or call 01603 620780. Image credit – BDH Tullford and the Kings Head Letheringsett
Rail strikes on Saturday 13th, Thursday 18th and Saturday 20th August. We are very sorry to inform you that our services on these days will be severely reduced. Please avoid travelling on our trains on these days. There will be:
No services on our regional and branch lines
Heavily reduced services on our lines into London Liverpool Street from Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria
No services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street on Saturday 13 August and Saturday 20 August and a heavily reduced service on Thursday 18 August.
On Thursday 18 August and Saturday 20 August, we will only be running trains from 7.30am, with most last trains much earlier than usual, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
There will be no rail replacement buses to replace trains not running because of the strikes. If you have plans to go by train to concerts, shows and events in London or to football matches on strike days, you are advised to make alternative travel arrangements. You can get a refund, change your ticket or travel on the day before or two days after your booked date instead. Please note London Underground is also affected by a strike on Friday 19 August. Services on Sunday 14th, Friday 19th and Sunday 21th August will start later in the morning than usual, as the 24-hour strike has a knock-on effect into the next day. Please also note that there is major engineering works between Cambridge, Bishops Stortford and London Liverpool Street on Sunday 14 and Sunday 21 August, involving a rail replacement bus service for part of the journey. You should expect rail replacement bus services to be very busy with long queues as we anticipate more people than usual travelling on Sunday as a result of Saturday’s strike. There are no direct Stansted Express trains. We’ll update our website and social media with timetables and last train times as details are finalised. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience this causes. You can find further information and updates on our website.
Inspirational Francesca Lennon enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of three East Anglian children’s hospices as part of her epic cycling tour of the UK. The trailblazing children’s nurse is pedalling to all 54 of the UK’s children’s hospices – a mission that will see her clock up 3,200 miles over 70 days. Her aim is to raise vital awareness and funds for children’s hospices and, as part of her eye-watering journey, she visited Milton, near Cambridge, The Nook, in Framingham Earl, near Norwich, and The Treehouse, in Ipswich, run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). She was greeted by staff and met families and children, all keen to show their support and offer words of encouragement. “Visiting East Anglia was such an incredible experience,” said Francesca, 35. “I’m not too familiar with your part of the world. I’d been to Suffolk before, for the Latitude Festival, but it was my first-ever visit to Norfolk. “I was given such a warm welcome at all three hospices and it was very overwhelming. “It was great to meet staff, family members and children and I thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about the amazing work EACH does. “It was such a privilege and a real joy for me to chat to different people and hear what they do. “Hearing about the positive things that happen in a children’s hospice never fails to blow me away. “It’s a reminder of the great work that goes on every single day. It’s truly incredible and makes me feel very appreciative.” Francesca, who worked as a children’s nurse in the NHS for more than nine years before moving into the children’s hospice sector, is calling her eye-catching challenge ChatUK (Children’s Hospices Across The UK). She got underway at the start of Children’s Hospice Week, on 20th June, at Helen and Douglas House, in Oxford. It is the first time anyone has attempted to cover the distance between the farthest-reaching children’s hospices in the UK, stopping at each one along the way to learn more about staff and the families they support. Her aim is to raise a huge £500,000, which will be shared between each children’s hospice through Together for Short Lives’ National Fundraising Scheme. She also hopes to raise awareness about the vital work children’s hospices do to support families caring for a seriously ill child. “I’m a bit tired but riding high after another fantastic week,” added Francesca. “I had this idea three years ago and it was something I started properly planning during lockdown. “It’s a tough challenge but I’m thoroughly enjoying the experience and passionate about raising funds and awareness. “Having worked for two children’s hospices myself, I know how important their work is. “Seeing first-hand what families experience managing the needs of a sick child alongside family life and the challenges and barriers they face made me determined to help families caring for a seriously ill child.” Francesca visited Milton on 2nd August, The Nook on 3rd August and The Treehouse on 4th August. They represented stops number 35, 36 and 37 on her tour and afterwards she was heading to Essex and into London. Her final port of call will be at Charlton Farm, in Bristol, on 25th August. She is attending a Downing Street reception on Tuesday (9th August), as she has been awarded a prestigious Points of Light award. These recognise outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community. For more information about Francesca’s journey and Chat UK, head here Donations can be made by clicking here and you can follow Francesca’s progress on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @chatuk54. Image credits – EACH
Image – Richard Miller – Managing Director, Proeon Systems. Credit Proeon Image – Alan Ryder, CEO RSK Group. Credit RSK RSK Group Ltd has announced the addition of Proeon Systems, a specialist systems integrator supplying industrial grade control and safety solutions, to its thriving business portfolio. The company provides complete control and automation systems incorporating both hardware and software solutions. Proeon specialises in solving control and monitoring issues within some of the harshest of environments, including Nuclear; Renewables (Offshore Wind) to Deepwater subsea for the Oil & Gas sector. Proeon has an enviable reputation for design, build, and installation of control solutions from: multi-level communications platforms. The Norwich-based business was established in 2004 by Kevin Magee and Eddie Pond, initially as a specialist consultancy business and as Proeon has developed over the years it has a solid reputation and strong client base which includes National Grid, Procter & Gamble, Shell and Crosswind, along with contractors such as Balfour Beatty and Worley. Proeon Systems Managing Director Richard Miller, who will continue to lead the business, said: “Proeon’s flexible approach to challenging control system problems, together with its dedicated team, has allowed it to grow into new emerging markets in recent years. The Proeon team is focussed on providing unique robust cost-effective solutions for our clients. The business also maintains multiple accreditations that allow it to service highly regulated industries where many system integrators cannot. “In joining the RSK family, our more than 50-strong team will continue to deliver the quality services needed to exceed client expectations and will explore new growth opportunities that come with being part of a larger group.” RSK Group CEO Alan Ryder said: “RSK is proud to add the business-critical skills and expertise of Proeon Systems to the group. Proeon takes great pride in its company culture and core values as these inspire their employees and partners to rise to the challenges of a competitive business climate. This provides sustained growth, which RSK fully supports, and will create opportunities for the group to access new and growing sectors.”
Employers can find out the potential financial benefits of increasing employee wellbeing with an innovative cost effectiveness calculator, launched today.
It is part of a new web-based toolkit of free, evidence-informed workplace wellbeing resources, drawing on cutting edge research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and RAND Europe, as well as insider insights, so that businesses can take action to help themselves evolve and thrive. A key feature of the ‘Evolve Workplace Wellbeing’ website, the calculator is an interactive tool which demonstrates the financial savings that could be associated with different kinds of workplace initiatives via improved employee wellbeing and boosts to productivity. Employers can enter figures and characteristics about their business and, as far as possible, the calculator gives benefits and costs in pounds and pence, allowing a direct comparison to help decision-making. Dr Helen Fitzhugh, of the Workplace Wellbeing research team at UEA’s Norwich Business School, said: “This resource, particularly the cost effectiveness calculator, helps employers build a business case internally for wellbeing initiatives in the workplace. Hopefully it will be of interest to HR departments, small businesses, as well as employer bodies. Ultimately it’s about showing how improving wellbeing has benefits for both staff and employers.” The calculator allows employers to choose from a range of initiatives which aim to encourage healthy behaviours, such as: alcohol or smoking reduction, improved physical fitness, healthier eating, & health checks; and others which aim to support mental health and wellbeing, such as mindfulness apps, financial wellbeing, and workplace volunteering. It shows the estimated wellbeing effects that might arise in a workplace that offers the selected intervention. This includes the benefits per employee of improved physical or mental health and job satisfaction. It will also estimate the value to the business of any improvements to productivity that arise due to reduced absenteeism or presenteeism per employee. The wellbeing and productivity benefits will depend on whether employees are aware that their employer provides these initiatives, and also on how widely used they are within the organisation. The tool allows the user to see what benefits may arise if there is greater awareness of the initiative and will provide details of which sorts of programmes are typically more effective. The calculator has been developed using insights from Britain’s Healthiest Workplace Survey, and analyses conducted by Dr Ritchie Woodard and Prof Sara Connolly at UEA, and Dr Emike Nasamu at the University of Chester, in collaboration with Dr Martin Stepanek at insurance and investments company Vitality and Will Phillips at RAND Europe. The Evolve Workplace Wellbeing website is based on the outcomes of a research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council called Practices for Health and Wellbeing at Work, led by Prof Kevin Daniels from UEA. The website distils the findings into a useful and practical resource for employers and practitioners. Prof Daniels said: “The UEA team’s collaboration with RAND Europe has focused on identifying what good organisational practice looks like, but also how organisations sustain and evolve those practices that comprise strategic and innovative approaches to employee health and wellbeing.” RAND Europe executive vice president Chris van Stolk said: “A key objective of this project was to provide actionable, evidence-based tools and information that can help organisations to best support their employees. “Through partnering with the UEA we’ve been able to develop this calculator and a number of other valuable resources that will make a difference to workplace health, wellbeing and productivity.” There are different resources available depending where on the workplace wellbeing journey businesses are, whether they are new to thinking about it or have already evolved a sophisticated wellbeing approach. It offers the latest workplace wellbeing insights via podcasts, and recordings of seminars and events, as well as a free online course with videos and case studies, and opportunities to network and take part in further research. Image provided by UEA www.evolveworkplacewellbeing.orghttps://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/business-calculator/https://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/diagnostics/#questionsPollhttps://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/professional-development/
Screenshot of the updated app. Credit: Greater AngliaGreater Anglia has updated its app, bringing a host of new features – including Apple pay and the ability to change journeys – to rail passengers in East Anglia.The new app update, which will start appearing on phones from Thursday 4 August, makes it quicker and easier to buy tickets, and gives customers more flexibility.Customers can now purchase tickets with Apple pay, add e-tickets to their Apple wallet, apply for a refund and change their journeys on the app.Other significant changes that Greater Anglia app users should be aware of is that travel updates, including information about disruption, can now be found under Announcements in ‘my account’ and is marked with a blue circle. Live travel updates are also displayed on the homescreen. There is an orange button with three lines in it in ‘my tickets’ for scanning Smartcards. The orange symbol, which is being adopted by all train operators across the country, helps customers upload Season and Flexi Season tickets on Smartcards via the app.Journey information is also improved, showing all stops the train is due to make and the scheduled times.Customers can also buy tickets using railcards and benefit from deals such as Groupsave, where groups of three or more can save a third on fares when travelling together.Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director, said: “Our app is very popular with customers and these updates will make train travel quicker and easier. We know how important clear information is while travelling, and the app provides information which is easy to access.“For the best prices, customers should buy tickets direct from Greater Anglia, and we would like to remind people that we do not charge booking fees. We have many great value fares available, and the earlier people book, the more they can save.”The app is free to download from app stores.
Ashtons Legal is happy to be able to now publicise that in January of this year a multidisciplinary team from Ashtons Legal assisted the shareholders of renowned marine engineering specialist AR Peachment Limited in the sale of the company to a member of the Alliance Marine Group, a French recreational boating and marine equipment distributor. Created in 1966 by Anthony (Tony) Peachment and his wife Daphne, AR Peachment quickly became renowned as a marine engineering specialist, bringing complete solutions in marine mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems. When the time came for them to retire, Anthony and Daphne handed the reins over to their sons Kevin and Andrew Peachment, keeping the business in the family. The company grew rapidly and built its reputation on expert service and reactivity, combined with the ability to develop custom drive systems to meet the needs of inland waterways charter companies in particular. The current team of 10 at AR Peachment remains unchanged, with Kevin and Andrew remaining as Managing Director and Technical Director respectively, who will continue to be supported by their expert team. Advising on the sale was Mark Watson from Ashtons’ Corporate and Commercial team. He was expertly assisted by Charlotte Vallins (Commercial Property) and Jessica Piper (Employment). Chris Bidgood at Lees Accountants provided the necessary accounting and tax advice. Mark Watson said: “AR Peachment is a well-known and well respected local marine business which can look forward to the next stage of its development as part of the Alliance Marine Group. I have known the shareholders at AR Peachment for some time and it has truly been a pleasure to advise them on this transaction. I wish them and the business every success in the future”. Kevin Peachment adds: “This is a very exciting time for us and we look forward to the new prospects and new challenges ahead that come with being a part of an enlarged group. This opens a new chapter for AR Peachment to move forward and strengthening our customer base Europe wide and taking advantage of new opportunities”. Kevin goes on: “We have been extremely grateful for the excellent advice and support we were given during the transaction by the team at Ashtons Legal. Ashtons deliver their advice in a clear and concise way, always offering solutions to any problems we faced and always with our best interests at centre of everything. Mark Watson is very commercial and pragmatic in the advice that he gives. You always felt that Mark genuinely cared about the transaction, which filled us with an immense amount of confidence. We got the result that we wanted and Ashtons guidance made what could have been a very stressful time a more pleasant and manageable experience”. Image property of Ashtons Legal
Wymondham-based Orchard Toys has smashed its £10,000 fundraising target for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) – and presented a cheque for £11,125. It follows in-house fundraising among staff, who have held cake sales and charity football matches, alongside customer and JustGiving donations. In particular, customers have been encouraged to donate if they take advantage of Orchard Toys’ misplaced pieces service, whereby if anyone loses a playing piece from their favourite game they can request free replacement pieces. Orchard Toys has been raising funds for EACH since 2011, and plans to continue pledging donations to the children’s hospice charity. Managing Director Simon Newbery said: “There’s a real ‘synergy’ between the two companies, and we’re proud to have a long-standing relationship with EACH – a local charity doing great hospice work here in the heart of our community.” Laura Southcott, EACH Corporate Fundraising Assistant, added: “We’re extremely grateful to everyone at Orchard Toys and their wonderful customers. It’s great to have their continued support. It’s a phenomenal amount of money and will make a real difference.” EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It has three hospices, including The Nook, at Framingham Earl in Norfolk. Image credit – EACH
A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Railway passengers, including football fans and people going to see Coldplay at Wembley Stadium are being advised to avoid travelling on Greater Anglia and Stansted Express trains on Saturday 13 August due to a train drivers’ strike. The strike by train drivers’ union ASLEF will leave Greater Anglia – which also runs the Stansted Express service – able to run only ten per cent of its usual services. There will be no trains between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street or on any Greater Anglia regional and branch lines including all trains to the seaside, except for Southend. A heavily reduced service will run between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Colchester and Southend Victoria. There will be no direct Stansted Express trains due to engineering works along the route, with a very limited rail replacement bus service between Waltham Cross and Harlow Town to connect with trains which are only operating between 7am and 7pm. Airport travellers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements. Five football teams from East Anglia have fixtures on Saturday 13 August – Norwich City, Cambridge United, Ipswich Town, Peterborough United and Colchester United, with Arsenal also playing at home that day. In addition, Coldplay has a concert at Wembley Arena. Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles said: “We know that many people from our region would have been planning to travel by train either to the football or to see Coldplay or for the many other events around our region on Saturday. “Unfortunately, our advice is avoid travelling on our trains because with our train drivers on strike we can’t run 90 per cent of our services. “Work is continuing at an industry level to try to resolve the dispute with ASLEF, the RMT and TSSA, so we can resume our usual punctual and reliable service. “We are very sorry for the inconvenience these strikes are causing our customers.” Timetables and details of first and last train times will be available on the Greater Anglia website, app and social media as soon as they are finalised. There will be no rail replacement bus service operating instead of any of the trains which are not running because of the strikes. Passengers can use tickets bought for a strike day either the day before or the two days after the strike day, or they can change their ticket to a different date or get a refund. Services on Sunday 14 August will start later than usual due to disruption caused by the 24-hour strike. There will be no direct Stansted Express services on Sunday, but a limited alternative rail service will be available between London and Stansted Airport using Great Northern and Thameslink trains between Kings Cross and Cambridge and Greater Anglia and Cross Country trains between Cambridge and Stansted Airport. Other train companies affected by the ASLEF strike on Saturday 13 August are Avanti West Coast, Cross Country, GWR, Hull Trains, LNER, London Overground and Southeastern. Train operators in the region not affected by strike action on Saturday 13 August are Elizabeth line, c2c, EMR and Great Northern so their services may be a helpful alternative for some journeys. Local bus operators may also be an option for some shorter distance journeys. The RMT has announced more national rail strikes for Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August. London Underground is also affected by RMT strike action on Friday 19 August. Greater Anglia members of rail union, TSSA are taking industrial action short of a strike from 18-20 August. Service information for Saturday 13 August There will be no services on the following routes on Saturday 13 August:
Between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge North
Between Norwich and Cambridge/Stansted Airport, Sheringham, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth
Between Ipswich and Cambridge, Peterborough, Felixstowe and Lowestoft
Between Marks Tey and Sudbury
All other branch lines: Hertford East to Broxbourne, Braintree to Witham, Southminster to Wickford, Harwich Town to Manningtree, Clacton/Walton-on-the-Naze to Colchester, Colchester Town to Colchester, Meridian Water to Stratford.
The following services will be running:
Intercity service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street will be one train an hour, with first and last trains from Norwich at 08.00 and 19.00, and from Liverpool Street at 10.30 and 21.30
Stopping service between Colchester and London Liverpool Street will be one train an hour, with first and last trains from Colchester at 08.13 and 20.13, and from Liverpool Street at 10.00 and 22.00
Between Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street will be one train an hour, with first and last trains from Southend Victoria at 08.13 and 22.00, and from Liverpool Street at 09.47 and 23.45
The Stansted Express service between London and Stansted Airport is affected by engineering works. There will be one service an hour, including a limited rail replacement bus service between Waltham Cross and Harlow Town, between 07.00 to 19.00. Airport customers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements. Buses are expected to be busy with long queues throughout the day.
Gearing yourself up for a difficult conversation is never easy. Whether it’s with a parent, a partner, or your confrontational child, we can all find ourselves tongue-tied and out-played by a better debater. So what if that tricky conversation needs to involve a professional relationship, and a sensitive topic you fear might undermine your current career standing? Research consistently shows that even in an age of society talking so much more about mental health, employees still feel anxious about speaking out on this topic to their boss. Changing this, for the most part, lies with the culture created within a business, and the way in which leaders and line managers are encouraged to adopt appropriate strategies to compassionately hear the experiences of their staff. Having said that, even if your corporate culture seems to be somewhat less than perfect on this area of sensitivity, it is certainly NOT a reason to deny yourself the opportunity to speak out and reflect your health status. By sharing your story, and allowing your manager to understand your state of wellbeing, you play a role in ensuring that others are subsequently well supported too. Before you even engage in the conversation with your employer, take time to think about what it is you want to say, where and how you might say it. Prepare by making some notes if it helps – reflecting on what impact your issues are having, and why you think they need addressing. Think also about what you might want to hear from your employer. Are you seeking time away from work altogether to recover, or do you need ‘reasonable adjustments’ to your daily activities and responsibilities? For some, it feels naturally more appropriate to attend an appointment with a medical practitioner first, perhaps to confirm in a healthcare setting, what it is you are feeling and thinking. If this is the case, know that if you share your clinician’s advice, you are protected by law from discrimination on these grounds, and it is upon your employer to seek to do all they can to support you. You may also want to preface your conversation by exploring what healthcare support is available to employees like you. Is there an employee assistance package in place, which you might want to access? When it comes to the ‘actual conversation’, do make sure you block time with your employer and schedule the chance to have such a confidential and important moment. You don’t want to be having such a chat in a busy corridor, or to do so in the canteen, because that’s the only place you think your manager will give you five minutes of their time. Remember also that you are perfectly entitled to request that the chat happens with another party present – perhaps your HR advisor, or an employee engagement lead in your firm. During the conversation, try to cast aside any sense of embarrassment, and certainly don’t feel you need to underplay your true state of wellbeing. Being candid really counts, and a good employer will certainly not be passing judgment on you. Try to conclude the meeting with a sense of what each party has said they will do – and by when. This can help everyone to reflect on necessary actions and to follow-up in a timely way. You may also want to quickly take note of what was said, and in particular ‘what was promised’, just in case you should experience difficulties in receiving ongoing support and understanding from the business and its leaders. Above all, remember that mental health issues are extremely common, and that you do yourself, your employer, your colleagues, or your family or friends, no good whatsoever to mask your state of health. Author Credit – Deborah Watson Image provided by MAD-HR