Member News

Golfers clubbed together and raised a tee-rific £32,000 during a special fundraiser in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). More than 100 players signed up and competed for honours at Royal Norwich Golf Club. The triumphant quartet came from Barclays but the real winner was EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people across Norfolk and the rest of East Anglia. In addition to raising much-needed funds, the day was organised in memory of Stanley McLean. Stanley, the son of EACH Trustee Brad, was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, complicated by a missing pulmonary valve, at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. He died when he was just 18 months old, in July 2012. Twenty-eight teams of four competed on the day, teeing off on a two-tee start from 10am. There were various course competitions, including nearest the pins, beat the pro and a chipping competition into a boat on the lake on the 17^th hole, sponsored by Marine Power. EACH Corporate Fundraising Manager Caroline Allen said: “It was a hugely successful day and we were thrilled to raise £32,000. It’s an incredible amount. “Our thanks go to everyone who signed up. We hope they had a wonderful day and enjoyed the occasion. “Royal Norwich generously donated the course for free, which was a such a kind gesture, and we were indebted to the businesses that supported us, in particular our headline sponsor, MCB Financial Services. “Managing director Mark Burton is also vice-chairman of the golf club and an integral part of the organisation of the day. “Our thanks also go to Adrian Flux (who sponsored the auction brochure) and Daly Group (who sponsored the putting green), in addition to the individual hole sponsors – Ledan Windows, Bateman Groundworks, PNC Business Credit, Planning Manager Ltd, Mediterranean Shipping Company and KKD Finance.” The Golf Day took place on Friday, 8^th July and all participants were welcomed with a full breakfast and glass of fizz, followed by refreshments as they made their way around the course. These were provided by WhataHoot Gin, Bruha Brewery and ice cream courtesy of Ice Cream Dreams. They also had the chance to tuck into pizza at the halfway point. The day finished with a sumptuous buffet and barbecue, a prize presentation and an auction. Barclays were the victorious team while the runners-up were last year’s winners, Daly Group. Picture Credits: Glenn Hands – glenn@evocativeimages.co.uk

Photo credits – Greater Anglia Here’s this week’s update from Greater Anglia (GA), with information on performance, updates on industrial action and extreme weather-related issues, details of other recent developments and our latest Stakeholder News e-zine. Performance It’s generally been a very good week for performance across our network, with punctuality averaging 95.0%. There were a few issues during the hot weather on Sunday and Monday, but we were still averaging 90% punctuality on those days which, compared to where we would have been before the roll out of the new trains and recent infrastructure upgrades (e.g. the overhead line renewal on the Southend line), shows the positive progress of the last few years. Industrial action update – strikes currently called for 23 July, 27 July, 30 July, 18 August and 20 August Unfortunately, we now have five further strike days in prospect – with action called for drivers in the ASLEF union on Saturday 23 July and Saturday 30 July and for members of the RMT union on Wednesday 27 July, Thursday 18 August and Saturday 20 August. The action on Saturday 23 July is only on Greater Anglia. All the others affect multiple train operators (and in the case of the RMT ones, their members who work for Network Rail as well). Work is ongoing at an industry level to try to reach an agreement with the trades unions and to avert strike action. However, we strongly advise anyone planning journeys on the dates involved to plan on the assumption that the strikes will go ahead. We are currently working on the plans for the dates from 27 July onwards. We can confirm the position for Saturday 23 July, which is as follows : Our advice is to avoid travelling with Greater Anglia on 23 July if the strike action does go ahead. With drivers on strike, we are only able to run about 10 per cent of our services. There will be no services between Cambridge/Bishops Stortford and London Liverpool Street or on any regional or branch lines on Saturday 23 July. The following services will run:

• Norwich – London Liverpool Street Intercity service, 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
• Colchester – London Liverpool Street, 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
• Southend Victoria – London Liverpool Street, one train an hour, first and last trains from Southend Victoria at 08.13 and 22.00, and from Liverpool Street at 09.47 and 23.45
• Stansted Express between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street, one train an hour with first and last trains from Stansted Airport at 05.30 and 00.30, and from Liverpool Street at 04.10 and 23.25

A reminder that the routes where there will be no services operating are as follows :

• 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
• Or on the other GA branch lines/connecting routes : 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.

Full timetables for services on 23/24 July will be available in the middle of next week. There will be no rail replacement bus service operating instead of any of the trains which are not running on Saturday 23 July because of the strike. Customers are advised to look at alternative options for journeys for that day.  Other train operators are not affected by strike action and should be operating as normal, while details of bus services, which may be an alternative for some shorter trips, can be found at www.traveline.info. 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. Please also note that trains will start later than normal on Sunday 24 July and that major engineering work is planned, affecting all Greater Anglia routes into London (both Great Eastern and West Anglia lines) on that Sunday, so please do check service options before you travel. We are very sorry for the disruption strikes are causing for customers and communities across our network. As previously mentioned, work will continue at a rail industry level to try to resolve the dispute as soon as possible and prevent any further disruption which adversely affects passengers’ journeys. We will continue to update you with information on any further developments. Extreme weather warning – only travel if necessary on Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July The Met Office have issued a Red Extreme Weather Warning for Monday/Tuesday 18/19 July due to the very high forecast temperatures. We are advising people to only travel if necessary, given the likelihood of widespread disruption to rail services across the region and the rest of the rail network.  Network Rail is imposing speed restrictions across the whole of the Greater Anglia network to ensure the safe running of trains and in a bid to protect the rail infrastructure from damage and thereby prevent the line blockages and severe delays that could result from the adverse impact of the extreme temperatures. As a result of the speed restrictions, many journeys are expected to take longer, as trains will be travelling at slower speeds than usual, and service alterations will take place on many routes, plus there could be further problems and short-notice cancellations, especially from the middle of the day onwards when the hottest temperatures occur (potentially up to record high levels of up to 40 degrees Celsius). Other train operators will also be affected as the heatwave is forecast across the whole country. Although the full details are still being finalised, the core service position is expected to be as follows :

• A reduced service will operate on the Norwich-London Liverpool Street and Cambridge-London Liverpool Street main lines and on the Southend-London Liverpool Street route.
• A shuttle service will operate on the Harwich-Manningtree, Braintree-Witham, Southminster-Wickford and Clacton/Walton/Colchester Town-Colchester branch lines to a normal frequency, but without direct services to/from London.
• A normal timetable is currently planned for regional services between Norwich and Sheringham, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Cambridge/Stansted Airport; between Ipswich and Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Cambridge and Peterborough; and on the Marks Tey-Sudbury line.
• The Stansted Express service between Stansted Airport and London is likely to remain half-hourly but journeys will take longer.

We reiterate the advice to only travel if you really need to do so. Passengers who do choose to travel on Monday and Tuesday should wear cool clothing, have plenty of water and consider using hand-held fans. They should allow plenty of time for their journeys and expect cancellations and delays. More details of services will be available over the weekend as they are finalised. Anyone planning to travel should check details and the service status before they do so. Our website will be kept updated with relevant information. Other developments Back on more positive news, other recent developments have included :

• The continued roll out of our new trains means we are close to reaching another notable milestone – the withdrawal of the old Class 317 trains (picture attached) on our West Anglia route services.  They are now only being used on a cover and contingency basis and, within a few weeks, they are all due to have finished operating on our services completely. To mark their impending withdrawal, we running them on a pre-planned basis for the last time tomorrow on services between London Liverpool Street and Hertford East, enabling rail enthusiasts to say their farewells. They will continue to appear on an ad hoc basis for a little time yet, but this was a nice way for those interested in saying “goodbye” to these trains, which have served West Anglia passengers well for over 30 years, to take a final trip on them.
• Some of our managers held a Careers Day for young asylum seekers at Southend Victoria station recently. The event was facilitated by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership, who are working with Southend Adult Community College to improve social inclusion and career prospects for young refugees and asylum seekers. Students aged 16-19 from the college’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course met with members of our management team to discover the various job roles that are available on the railway. The college’s Head of Adult Learning, Patricia North, said, “We were really grateful to the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (ESSCRP) for facilitating this really beneficial link. Thanks to the Greater Anglia team at Southend, too, for their time and help outlining all the possible job opportunities as we prepare our students for the world of work. It was a real eye opener for our students – especially the girls from Afghanistan who met a female train driver, something that is almost unheard of in their country – and it was great for them to be able to practice their English-speaking skills as well.” Catherine Gaywood, from the ESSCRP, said, “We were delighted to help the college with an introduction to possible careers on the railway with the added benefit of helping young asylum seekers to feel more integrated and confident in using public transport.”
• The latest episode of our Life on Rails podcast, which casts a light on what goes on behind the scenes at Greater Anglia, is now available. This episode includes a powerful account of what it’s like for train drivers when people trespass on rail tracks from Glen Harwood, a driver trainer manager at Greater Anglia. There’s an interview with film liaison consultant Adrian Booth, who reveals why he sometimes is an extra on the many films and TV programmes shot on the Greater Anglia network and one of our area customer service managers Paula Wilson talks about what it’s like to manage the busy Southend Victoria line and Shenfield stations. Greater Anglia fares guru Ken Strong explains how to save money this summer and Juliette and Lucy talk about lost property, while the special guest this time is  YouTuber, TV presenter and podcaster Robbie Knox. Robbie, co-host on popular comedy podcast Jaackmaate’s Happy Hour, reveals how a pandemic video about putting out the bins led to the setting up of a “virtual brewery” resulting in partnerships with breweries across the country. Juliette Maxam, our senior media and PR manager, said: “It’s another episode packed full of interviews with very interesting people – perfect listening for when you’re on a train journey. You can find the podcast on any of the usual podcast platforms, please subscribe and leave us a review.” Anyone who wants to suggest further features to include in the next episode, can Tweet @greaterangliapr. The podcast is available on all podcast platforms and at greateranglia.co.uk/podcast.

And finally….. Please find attached the latest edition of our Stakeholder News e-zine which provides a regular update on a range of recent developments and progress here at Greater Anglia. Thanks to everyone across Greater Anglia and colleagues at Network Rail, Stadler, Alstom and our other rail industry partners, working hard to deliver a good service across the region this week.

Leading armed Forces charity, Walking With The Wounded (‘WWTW’), has been recognised by the UK Government for outstanding support towards the Armed Forces community. Representing the highest badge of honour, the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards identifies businesses that employ and support those who serve, veterans and their families. A total of 156 organisations have been recognised this year, the ninth year of the awards scheme. Fergus Williams, Walking With The Wounded CEO, commented, “It is an honour that Walking With The Wounded has received an Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award from the Ministry to Defence. Our team works tirelessly to support veterans and their families as they transition from the Armed Forces to civvy street. Furthermore, we are proud to have those who have served and Reservists on the Walking With The Wounded team. We recognise the invaluable skillset, knowledge, and expertise that a life of Service can bring to the wider community, and we strive to help ex-forces personnel to get back on their feet and making a positive contribution once more.” To win an award from the Ministry of Defence, organisations must show that they provide 10 extra paid days leave for reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, reserves, Cadet Force adult volunteers and spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces. They must also advocate the benefits of supporting those within the Armed Forces community, by encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme. Minister for Defence People, Leo Docherty, said, “Regardless of size, location or sector, employing members of the Armed Forces community is good for businesses. These awards recognise the outstanding support for our Armed Forces from employers across the UK and I would like to thank and congratulate each and every one.”

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia has announced more details of the heavily reduced service which will be running on the next rail strike on Saturday 23 July. Train drivers’ union ASLEF is holding a 24-hour strike across the Greater Anglia network on Saturday 23 July – which is then followed by major engineering works on the day afterwards, Sunday 24 July. With drivers on strike, Greater Anglia is only able to run about 10 per cent of its services and the company is urging people to avoid travelling on its trains. There will be no services between Cambridge/Bishops Stortford and London Liverpool Street or on any regional or branch lines on Saturday 23 July. The following services will run:

• Norwich-London Liverpool Street Intercity service, 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
• Colchester-London Liverpool Street, 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
• Southend Victoria- London Liverpool Street, one train an hour, first and last trains from Southend Victoria at 08.13 and 22.00, and from Liverpool Street at 09.47 and 23.45
• Stansted Express Stansted Airport-London Liverpool Street, one train an hour with first and last trains from Stansted Airport at 05.30 and 00.30, and from Liverpool Street at 04.10 and 23.25

There will be no rail replacement bus service operating instead of any of the trains which are not running on Saturday 23 July because of the strike. 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. On Sunday 24 July, there are major engineering works on all Greater Anglia routes into London, with rail replacement bus services for part of the journey. Greater Anglia is advising customers to expect rail replacement bus services on Sunday 24 July to be very busy with long queues as more people than usual are likely to travel on Sunday as a result of Saturday’s strike. Services will also start later in the morning than usual with some early morning services not running, as a result of the strike. Full timetables for the next weekend will be available in the middle of next week. Unions have announced further national strike dates which will affect Greater Anglia services. Members of the train drivers’ union ASLEF are also due to strike on Saturday 30 July. RMT members, including Network Rail signallers and Greater Anglia conductors, revenue protection and station teams will be taking action on Wednesday 27 July – and the RMT have also announced strikes for Thursday 18 August and Saturday 20 August, unless talks can resolve the issues before then. Greater Anglia members of another rail union, TSSA, have voted for industrial action short of a strike but with no details at this stage of what that action might be or their potential impact on services. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We know that the weekend of 23/24 July is really busy – the start of the summer holidays, the Latitude Festival and other events in London. “We are genuinely very sorry for all the inconvenience these strikes will cause our customers, especially on Saturday 23 July when it’s followed by major engineering works the next day, when we anticipate more people might be travelling because they’re unable to make their journeys on Saturday. “Negotiations to try to resolve the pay issue causing the strikes are continuing at an industry level and we hope we can resolve this situation soon.” Commenting on the engineering works, Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This work on Sunday 24 July is vital to upgrade the railway to support new, longer trains for West Anglia passengers and to support the next stage of opening of the Elizabeth line programme which will provide better connections across London.” Other train operators in the region, Elizabeth line, c2c, Cross Country, EMR, Great Northern and London Overground, are not affected by strike action on Saturday 23 July, so their services may be a helpful alternative for some journeys. Local bus operators may also be an option for some shorter distance journeys. Information about the strikes, including how to get a refund on all tickets including season tickets is available on the Greater Anglia website. The company is updating its website, app and social media as soon as details of services affected by strikes are finalised.

Norfolk County Council and local bus operators have joined forces to create a campaign to encourage more people to ‘Choose the bus’ in Norfolk. The campaign which launches today (Thursday 14 July), will showcase the many reasons that people choose to get the bus. Whether it is making the day more fun for the kids, saving money as fuel prices continue to increase, wanting to reduce your carbon footprint or being able to have a drink with friends after work – the campaign shows that the list of reasons to choose the bus is long. Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said; “The bus is a great option for so many different reasons and many people may not have even considered it. This campaign demonstrates the many benefits that getting the bus can bring and aims to make bus the first choice for more people across Norfolk. Being a rural county, our bus services are essential in ensuring people can access key services. Although we have seen a great recovery since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, we now need to see a further rise in passenger numbers – across all services – to avoid seeing any of our vital bus routes struggling to continue.” During the covid-19 pandemic bus services were hit hard with passenger numbers dropping significantly and, in some areas, to as low as 10%. This year passenger numbers have seen a steady rise and are now back up to around 80% of pre-covid figures across most services. David Jordan, Marketing Manager for First Eastern Counties Buses said; “We’re delighted to be working with Norfolk County Council on increasing awareness of the many bus services available to both residents and visitors across the county.  With both the rising costs of fuel and the ever-increasing awareness of environmental issues, there’s never been a better time to either try the bus for the first time, or a return to choosing this as a regular mode of transport, thus also ensuring the long-term sustainability of bus services for all.” Steve Royal, Network Manager for KonectBus said; “We are delighted to collaborate with Norfolk County Council and local bus operators to encourage more people to consider the bus as a sustainable alternative to the car. Rural bus networks have kept our local communities connected for many years and with the escalating cost of living, people are now having to revaluate their travel plans” In March Norfolk County Council received an indicative offer of £49.6m from the DfT to put the Bus Service Improvement Plan published in 2021 into action. The County Council is now working alongside bus operators to shape details of what the money will be spent on. The plan outlines the ambitions for the next 5 years. The plan includes ideas to; simplify ticketing and journey information, cut fares for under 25s, bring in cleaner and greener buses, improve accessibility and bus stops, and make better and more frequent links between the places people live, work and shop. Graham Smith, Commercial Manager at Lynx Bus in King’s Lynn said; “It’s undoubtedly an exciting time for bus travel in Norfolk as bus operators work closely with Norfolk County Council to develop and deliver transformational schemes that help make buses the mode of choice for travel throughout the County.”  The campaign is the first to be launched as part of the new ‘Travel Norfolk’ brand which will be used across both campaigns and infrastructure projects which aim to help people make the smart choice when travelling around the County. Councillor Lana Hempsall, Norfolk County Council’s member champion for sustainable travel said; “Campaigns like this one, along with improved infrastructure are vital to help people to leave the car at home. Getting both our residents and visitors to use buses and other more sustainable transport options is key to us achieving our Net Zero ambition.” To find out more about buses in Norfolk, plan your bus journey or find your nearest bus stop visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/choosethebus Image credit – Norfolk County Council

Photo credit – Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is advising people to only travel if necessary on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July, when temperatures are forecast to be extremely high and widespread disruption to rail services is likely across the region and the rest of the rail network. Network Rail is imposing speed restrictions across the whole of the Greater Anglia network to ensure the safe running of trains and in a bid to protect the rail infrastructure from damage. Buckled rails, sagging overhead lines or other major faults prompted by the conditions could block lines completely and cause severe delays in extreme high temperatures. Many journeys are expected to take longer, as trains will be travelling at slower speeds than usual, and service alterations will take place on many routes. Passengers are warned to expect widespread disruption and short-notice cancellations, especially from the middle of the day onwards when the hottest temperatures occur, with Britain set to experience record high temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday. Other train operators will also be affected as the heatwave is forecast across the whole country. A reduced service will operate on the Norwich-London Liverpool Street and Cambridge-London Liverpool Street main lines and on the Southend-London Liverpool Street route. A shuttle service will operate on the Harwich-Manningtree, Braintree-Witham, Southminster-Wickford and Clacton/Walton/Colchester Town-Colchester branch lines to a normal frequency, but without direct services to/from London. A normal timetable is currently planned for regional services between Norwich and Sheringham, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Cambridge/Stansted Airport; between Ipswich and Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Cambridge and Peterborough; and on the Marks Tey-Sudbury line. The Stansted Express service between Stansted Airport and London is likely to remain half-hourly but journeys will take longer. Passengers who choose to travel on Monday and Tuesday should wear cool clothing, have plenty of water and consider using hand-held fans. They should allow plenty of time for their journeys and expect cancellations and delays. Water fountains with free cold water are at 13 of Greater Anglia’s stations and at London Liverpool Street. Details of services will be available over the weekend as they are finalised. All passengers should check before they travel. Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles said: “We are very sorry to be disrupting our customers’ travel plans, but the safety of our customers and rail staff is of paramount importance. “Our trains will be running at lower speeds because we want to minimise the risk of heat-related damage to the railway tracks and signals, which could then cause huge delays in record-breaking, sweltering temperatures putting our passengers at risk of falling ill due to the heat. “Whilst we have air conditioning on the majority of our trains now, if they are held up in long delays and the power to the train is cut off, temperatures would rise and it could become very uncomfortable. “Please listen to the weather warnings, stay cool, drink plenty of water and avoid travelling on Monday and Tuesday.” Details of services will be available on the Greater Anglia website, app and social media over the weekend as they are finalised. All passengers should check before they travel. Customers with tickets for Monday and Tuesday will be able to use their tickets on another day or apply for a free refund, by going back to the original point of sale.

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is advising rail passengers about a weekend of disruption caused by a 24-hour strike, followed by major engineering works on the company’s two main routes. ASLEF union train drivers are striking on Saturday 23 July, leaving the company unable to run about 90 per cent of its services. The following day, Sunday 24 July, major engineering works are scheduled on the Cambridge to London Liverpool Street and Norwich to London Liverpool Street main lines, with a rail replacement bus service operating for sections of both routes. Greater Anglia is urging people to avoid using Greater Anglia trains on Saturday during the strike and then to expect rail replacement bus services to be very busy with long queues on Sunday as the company anticipates more people will be travelling than usual. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We know that the weekend of 23/24 July is really busy – the start of the summer holidays, the Latitude Festival and other events in London. “We are genuinely very sorry for all the inconvenience the strike will cause our customers, followed by major engineering works the following day when we anticipate more people might be travelling because they’re unable to make their journeys on Saturday. “Negotiations to try to resolve the pay issue causing the ASLEF drivers’ strike are continuing at an industry level and we hope we can resolve this situation soon.” Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “This work is vital to upgrade the railway to support new, longer trains for West Anglia passengers and to support the next stage of the Crossrail programme which will provide better connections across London.” Strike disruption On Saturday 23 July, as a result of the drivers’ strike, there will be:

• No services between Cambridge, Bishops Stortford and London Liverpool Street
• No regional or branch line services
• A severely reduced service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street, Colchester and London and Southend Victoria and London
• A less frequent service between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street

There will be no rail replacement bus service running instead of those trains which are not running on Saturday because of the strike. The exact timings of services due to be operated on the strike day are still being finalised. Timetables should be available by Wednesday next week. The 24-hour strike will have a knock-on effect on Sunday, which is also affected by major engineering works. Where trains are running, they will start later than usual, with most services starting between 07.00 and 07.30. Passengers can use tickets purchased for the Saturday on either the day before (22/07), the day after (24/07) or the following Monday (25/07). Alternatively, they can change their ticket to a different date or get a refund. Other train operators in the region, Elizabeth line, c2c, Cross Country, EMR, Great Northern and London Overground, are not affected by strike action on Saturday 23 July, so their services may be a helpful alternative for some journeys. Local bus operators may also be an option for some shorter distance journeys. Engineering works Engineering works on Sunday 24 July will affect passengers travelling between London Liverpool Street and Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Network Rail is upgrading power at Pudding Mill Lane near Stratford to provide power for Elizabeth line services, affecting services to London on the Norwich and Southend Victoria lines. A rail replacement bus service will run between Ingatestone and Newbury Park and Billericay and Newbury Park. Greater Anglia is carrying out work to extend platforms on the West Anglia line ready for its new longer ten-carriage trains. A rail replacement bus service will run between Waltham Cross and Bishop’s Stortford and between Waltham Cross and Hertford East. Passengers should check before they travel for revised times and to see if their journey is partly by rail replacement bus and allow extra time for their journey if that is the case. More details about the strike and engineering works are available on the Greater Anglia website, including how to change tickets or get refunds as a result of not being able to travel due to the strike.

Howes Percival’s Norwich development team, one of the largest and most skilled teams of specialist development lawyers across the Eastern region, is celebrating its 10th anniversary and has announced a new management team, promotions and new hires. The team’s impressive client portfolio includes many of the major UK house builders, local and regional developers, landowners, and public sector organisations. They have been involved with many of the region’s largest development projects, providing a range of clients with expert advice on land assembly, planning and delivery. Established in 2011 by Senior Partner, Tracey Hughes, the Norwich development team, offers clients a ‘cradle to grave’ service – from site acquisition through the planning, development, and construction stages, to its ultimate disposal. The team includes specialist lawyers in real estate, real estate finance, environmental law, and construction law and tax. Howes Percival’s development team also boasts its own, nationally recognised, planning team, led by Jay Mehta across the Eastern Region and Paul Hunt across the East Midlands. The planning team advises many of the largest clients within the region and nationally, on all aspects of planning law. Following Tracey Hughes’ retirement, four partners Chris Cubitt (development), Nicola Curle (development), Estelle Corner (social housing), and Jay Mehta (planning) will take the department forward. The team is also celebrating promotions of Tom Skinner to Director, Will Bond to Senior Associate and welcomes Georgie Siddall as a newly qualified Associate Solicitor. The planning team also welcomes Bethany Boucher as a newly qualified Associate Solicitor. Nicola Curle, commented, “Tracey has been a cornerstone in our success over the last decade. She brought together a team of incredible people, including Chris Cubitt who re-joined Howes Percival as partner in 2019 and is recognised locally as a ‘go to’ lawyer for development legal work. We wish Tracey all the very best in her retirement. The succession plan and the smooth handover has been something we’ve been working towards for some time and the strength of the senior team now means that we are in a great position to think about the next 10 years and continuing to grow the practice. “Despite the pressures and difficulties presented by the Pandemic, the development team has continued to provide excellent client service, winning new clients across the Eastern region and being appointed to national legal panels, and continuing to strengthen relationships with its large existing developer client base. Recent addition to the partnership, Estelle Corner, is now expanding her specialist social housing team, and adds, “At a national level, clients are facing challenges in providing much needed, affordable housing in a constantly changing legislative and regulatory environment. Specialist advice in property, planning, construction, and finance from lawyers who understand the issues faced by the sector is essential. “Locally, we’re seeing issues regarding the rural supply of affordable housing, pressures on supply in tourist hot spots and second homes. In growing employment areas such as Cambridge, supply and cost are also key factors.” Jay Mehta, commented “We thank Paul Wootton for his valued contribution over the last 7 years and wish him all the very best in his retirement. The planning team’s reputation at a national level continues to grow, attributed to our specialisms and depth of expertise, and having advised on some of the largest development and infrastructure projects across the country. We are delighted that we have teams of experts within the Eastern Region and East Midlands that are well positioned to serve our client’s needs across these regions and beyond.” Howes Percival has a strong reputation for its commercial property work – receiving top-ranking for three different Real Estate categories in the most recent Legal 500 guide. The Development team forms part of the firm’s Commercial Property department that Legal 500 cites as ‘a specialist and responsive team who are available when required with the advice needed to progress matters efficiently’. For more information on Howes Percival’s Development Team click here.

  YouTuber, TV presenter and podcaster Robbie Knox. Credit: Robbie Knox Spot filming liaison consultant Adrian Booth as an extra on films and TV programmes made on Greater Anglia network. Credit: Adrian Booth A train driver manager describes how he had to turn away when he thought he was going to hit a man chasing his dog down a railway track, despite putting on the emergency brakes, in a new episode of Greater Anglia’s Life on Rails podcast. The powerful account of what it’s like for train drivers when people trespass on rail tracks is given by Glen Harwood, a driver trainer manager at Greater Anglia. “I put my brake into emergency and I’m sliding towards him. And that’s all I can do. I actually turned sideways. I was convinced I was going to hit him. And the train came to a stand and I didn’t hear a thud” said Glen. “I was all over the place. My heart was pounding,” he added. Life on Rails is a magazine-style podcast which casts a light on what goes on behind the scenes at Greater Anglia – and includes a “travel surgery” with a special guest, who in this episode is YouTuber, TV presenter and podcaster Robbie Knox. Robbie, co-host on popular comedy podcast Jaackmaate’s Happy Hour, reveals how a pandemic video about putting out the bins led to setting up a “virtual brewery” resulting in partnerships with breweries across the country. Listen to the Life On Rails podcast to find out where presenters Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright, from the company’s PR team, send him on the Greater Anglia network. Other features in this episode include an interview with film liaison consultant Adrian Booth, who reveals why he sometimes is an extra on the many films and TV programmes shot on the Greater Anglia network. One of the company’s area customer service managers Paula Wilson talks about what it’s like to manage the busy Southend Victoria line and Shenfield stations, while regular Greater Anglia fares guru Ken Strong explains how to save money this summer and Juliette and Lucy talk about lost property. Juliette Maxam, Greater Anglia senior media and PR manager, said: “It’s another episode packed full of interviews with very interesting people – perfect listening for when you’re on a train journey. “You can find the podcast on any of the usual podcast platforms, please subscribe and leave us a review.” Anyone who wants to suggest further features to include in the next episode, can Tweet @greaterangliapr. The podcast is available on all podcast platforms and at greateranglia.co.uk/podcast.

Branding is a word that gets tossed around a lot in marketing, but not everyone understands what it means.

For example, you might think branding is just a logo or a name. But it’s much more than that.

In this article we’ll explain what website branding is, why it matters, and how to apply it to your own website.

Why?

It all boils down to the way brands are perceived by consumers: Mercedes-Benz is seen as luxurious, high-quality car brand while Škoda is seen as cheap and lower quality even though it sells good cars at low prices. That’s the power of branding.

Your brand is your company’s personality

It includes your logo, colours, tone of voice, typography, and the overall look and feel of your communications. It’s also about who you are and what you stand for. All these things will contribute to how people perceive your business and what they can expect.

A website’s brand encompasses the way it looks, feels, and acts.

How important is branding to your website?

Your brand is the most important thing about your business. It’s what sets you apart from the competition; it’s what makes people want to do business with you. If your brand isn’t strong, or if it isn’t what you think it is, then everything else you do is a waste of time and money.

Recent studies show that consumers are willing to pay significantly more for products from brands they consider to be premium compared to ones from lesser-known brands. The study also found that the higher price was associated with more value placed on quality and performance, in addition to the perception of prestige or exclusivity.

Branding can provide perceived value that leads to increased sales over time – even if your prices are higher than your competitors’.

Your website is often the first impression people have of your brand, and it’s critical that your site accurately represents who you are. If it doesn’t, you risk looking unprofessional or out-of-touch—and that can damage your credibility.

Branding and website design

It’s all about consistency: your logo, fonts, colours, typography, messaging, and tone of voice all need to be unified across all your communications. Which of course includes your website.

If you have existing branding, your website designer or agency will consider how the branding strategy fits into the website design, tying everything together seamlessly. Done properly, your business website should be instantly recognisable and your brand will shine through.

If you don’t have branding, then we’ve some tips below. Even better, employ a good branding agency to help you.

Website branding tips

You want your website to be a clear reflection of your business and its values. This is the best way to stand out from competitors and attract the right customers. But how do you achieve that? Here are some key tips to help:

1. Know who you are

First, analyse your audience. What do they want? What are their needs? What does your company have to offer them? Once you know the answer to these questions, you can make sure your brand reflects what’s valuable to them.

2. Define your message

What makes you unique? Why should people choose you over someone else? Figure out what differentiates you from competitors, then get that message across in every aspect of your brand’s visual identity—from logo design to colour palettes and typography. The clearer you define yourself, the easier it will be for people to understand what they get by choosing you.

3. Develop a tone of voice

Use words that fit your brand. For example, if you’re selling high-end products, then don’t use slang terms like “cool” or “awesome.” Instead, choose words that sound sophisticated and elegant like “comfortable” or “sleek.”

Don’t be afraid to show personality. This doesn’t mean that you should try too hard; just make sure that the personality of your business comes across in your content.

Examples of great website branding Apple

Apple’s website branding is a shining example of how to create a consistent experience across all product pages. Their famous “hero” images do a great job of showing off their products in action, while their clever overlays highlight key features, making the text stand out while keeping the design simple and clean.

Users are directed to brand-specific pages through the navigation bar at the top of the page, which allows them to delve deeper into what makes each product unique. And on each individual product page, users can easily find all relevant information at a glance. Overall, this is an excellent example of how to present a streamlined user experience while still showcasing your brand’s specific personality and style.

Airbnb

Airbnb is an excellent example of a strong brand identity. Their brand is well defined, consistent, and visually appealing. The logo is simple and memorable, while the colour scheme, use of white space and strong photography make it easy to navigate the site.

National Geographic

National Geographic has been around for over 100 years and their brand identity has been strong throughout that time. Their iconic yellow border was introduced in the 1920s and has been synonymous with their name since then. Their logo is consistently visible on every page of their site, and is referenced throughout the design to highlight titles, features, and links.

In summary

There you have it. These basic tips should help you get your website on-brand for a consistent and relevant customer experience. You don’t need to be a major multinational like our examples either, any business or organisation benefits from a strong brand.

Of course, the work doesn’t end here.

As with any part of your online strategy, branding is a fluid process that must evolve with your company and website. Just be sure to get these basics right—and make sure you’re designing with purpose.

Visit the Bigfork website to see more top website tips.

Greg is Head Coach of British Para Table Tennis and a performance coach. He believes that the best performers rely on their gut when it matters, whether that’s on a track, field or in business. But this only works if you know yourself! They discuss how you can learn to focus on yourself, and understand what makes you tick, and how knowing your strengths, triggers and blind spots will help you perform under pressure, and nurture positive personal relationships. Greg deep dives into the process of performing under pressure – a tactical approach, physical preparation, and how we can’t ignore how we operate under stress, as this can negate any technical ability. They also look at constraint based learning; how to adapt efficiently to cope with context; and how to harness positive and empowering relationships, particularly at work. Greg lets us in on what it really takes to ‘make it’ at Olympic-level sport, and what he has learnt from the inspiring journeys of the Paralympic athletes he has worked with. He also discusses his work in trying to dispel the stigma behind the Paralympics, and how we can all learn from what it really takes for coaches to train the top level. Listen here!

On Track Norfolk and Future Radio have come up with a creative idea to support young people to develop soft skills with the aim of moving closer to employment, education or training. On Track participants will create one hour radio shows, which Future Radio will broadcast on 107.8fm & DAB across Norfolk, and worldwide on www.futureradio.co.uk. This activity provides opportunities for young people to get industry experience in radio, discuss ideas which are important to them and to become involved with their local community. The show is called On Track On Air, a show where Norfolk’s young people choose the tunes. Future Radio is Norwich’s Community Radio Station and part of the charity Future Projects. The radio station engages the community, builds skills and provides opportunities through great music, conversation and people. Future Radio offers opportunities in presenting, producing, journalism, editing, audio & image creation and administration. Future Radio works with organisations throughout Norfolk and Norwich to help them deliver services and to promote their product, service or event. On Track is a project which clears barriers to work for young people in Norfolk who have multiple and complex needs. The project helps to support young people aged 16-24 to get into education, training or employment. Young people who participate in the project receive extensive tailor-made coaching, mentoring and guidance to help them fulfil their career goals, as well as practical support to break down the barriers to achieving these goals, such as help with childcare, transport or equipment to start a college course or job. Since On Track started in 2014, the project has worked with 873 young people living in Norfolk who are not in education, training or employment. This project is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund. Lea Denley, Participant Support Officer at On Track said “The On Track radio show will bring a number of benefits to the young people we work with, such as developing their confidence in group settings and giving them experience in the radio industry. We are thankful to be able to work with Future Radio who have supported and guided us at every step”. Christopher Remer, Business Development Manager at Future Radio said “We are delighted to be working with On Track and are very proud to be playing a part in helping young people start out in life. Our partnership with On Track and this project goes a long way towards helping us to fulfil Future Radio’s charitable objectives as Norwich’s community radio station.”