Member News

This week, James and Mark look back on their chat with Louise Newby, and how their conversation on mental health and wellbeing is still just as relevant now as it was back in November 2020, on their Impromptu Business Chat series. They also reflect on how this episode inspired them to put together their own Men’s Mental Health Special, in July 2021. We pull out and reflect on some highlights from the original episodes and discuss how they are relevant now when considering how to improve our leadership skills. In the clips they discuss the potential wider impact of remote working on our mental health. Whilst these insights were very much influenced by COVID, the benefit of hindsight now, and the fuller picture of the future of how we will work mean that Louise’s insights were very perceptive and relevant, moving forwards. She also discusses Parkinson’s Law, proactive Employee Assistance Programmes in businesses, and the power of positive affirmation. James and Mark also reflect on their Men’s Mental Health Special, and the positive influence of their mentor Dr Chris Mason (also a previous Impromptu Business Chat guest) on their wellbeing, and encourage men to seek help where possible, even if it’s not in a professional capacity. Louise is an experienced educator, and expert in the world of mental health, with a Master’s degree from Cambridge, and now works with Three Eggs, a mental health training provider. TRIGGER WARNING – this episode contains mention of suicide For show notes, how to get in touch with the podcast team and to listen to the podcast, click below. Listen here!  

We speak to Nigel Wood of Layrd Design partner Footprint Signs & Graphics to find out more about the role of signage in commercial interior design.

Whether you’re in an office, shop, gym or hotel, signs play an important role in the commercial interior. To find out more about how they can be used, we spoke to Nigel Wood of Footprint Signs & Graphics, a signwriting and graphic design company based in Cambridge.

Why is signage important in a commercial environment?

Signs play a key role because they act as an extension of the brand. They reflect the brand’s colour and message, helping to reinforce its image and perception. Space is also often at a premium in a commercial environment, which is where impactful signs come in.

There’s also room for a lot more creativity these days, which has made signage more important. We have more materials and finishes available, along with better technology for producing them. Clients therefore have a lot of options – they can be illuminated, they can have signs on the floor or graphics that cover entire walls.

What would you say are the top 3 functions of internal commercial signage?

Brand extension is the top function as it conveys your organisation’s message and reflects its colours and imagery. Wayfinding is the second function. Good wayfinding signage should give a clear direction for the customer to follow. Finally, interior signage gives a commercial enterprise room to be more creative and transform an area.

What is the role of colour in commercial signage?

Colour is massively important as it helps to create a specific atmosphere. It also shows whether a commercial space is staying on trend, allowing it to look ‘modern’ and relevant. For instance, many companies are opting for grey at the moment as it is a very trendy colour.

What role does signage play in seasonal events?

Temporary signage is very important here. Businesss may use them for promotions, to create a festive atmosphere or update the space. In Cambridge, we used signage to update the entire front display area of a shop so that it could be used for seasonal advertising.

How are floor signs used in commercial interiors?

Floor graphics can be very impactful and effective. They are also removable and short-term so they are ideal for commercial spaces. They really came into their own during the Covid-19 pandemic – they played a major role in highlighting social distancing, providing instructions on where to go and indicating one-way systems.

What is the most important thing to think about when it comes to designing signage for a business?

You need to think about what the sign is needed for and what overall impression you want it to make. For instance, we recently worked on a glass meeting room that the client wanted to update with a retro look, so we added a glass film to create a reeded glass effect.

You also need to think about font size and type. In particular, fonts that are too narrow will not display well.

How do signs affect a customer’s experience?

In a practical sense, signs help to guide customers around the area and offer important information so that they don’t have to hunt it down. You don’t necessarily have to be creative with this type of signage, just useful.

It is, however, possible to overwhelm with signage, which means customers may begin to block it out. I often don’t notice signage in large supermarkets because there is so much of it. I therefore think it would be a good idea to audit signs every year or so to check that they are still fulfilling their purpose, that they are in the right place and that they aren’t out of date. Fashions change quickly so you need to keep pace.

What should a good sign do?

It needs to be laid out well and have good font and colour. Don’t overcomplicate it! Continuity of signage is also important – do they complement your aesthetics, branding and other signs? And do practical signs offer continuity with each other? For example, do they all point in the same direction?

What is the most creative sign you’ve made?

The Riverlane project in Cambridge, which we worked on with Layrd Design. The client wanted to transform their office into a more inspiring space and interior signage played a key part in that.

Let Layrd Design Inspire You

Speak to the team at Layrd Design about your commercial interior design project on 01223 952992 today.

Captain Fawcett Ltd is simply delighted and immensely proud to announce winning a major award in the esteemed 2022 Pure Beauty Global Awards. Captain Fawcett’s Maharajah Eau De Parfum has been ‘Highly Commended’ in the Best New Niche Fragrance category, In the prestigious ‘Pure Beauty’ Global Awards Huzzah! Captain Fawcett’s founder, Richie Finney, said “It is a particular pleasure to be recognised in this hotly contested category for the second year in a row. The Pure Beauty Global Awards celebrate the most innovative achievements in our industry with hundreds of entries from prestigious world class brands in competition. “Each Captain Fawcett Signature Series Eau De Parfum is created in close collaboration, in this case with Viraj Singh of The Jodhpur Company, so this extremely special accolade is very much shared. “Fragrance evokes emotion and memory more powerfully than any other sense. As such,‘Maharajah’, an opulent Eau de Parfum, was created to express Britain’s long kinship with India. Maharajah takes you on a sensual journey through place and time, weaving authentic history with a mythic past, embraced by the warm heart of real life contemporary friendship and heartfelt cultural connection, narrated in scent. “It’s a truly remarkable honour for Captain Fawcett to be acknowledged amid such illustrious company. Well done to all highly esteemed fellow brands and perfumers.” www.captainfawcett.com/collections/maharajah-eau-de-parfum

Rail commuters in East Anglia can now buy flexi season tickets on ticket machines across the Greater Anglia network. The flexi season ticket is a bundle of 8 day passes for a specific journey between two stations to be used in 28 days. The tickets can be used at any time within the 28-day period. Customers can buy another flexi season ticket within the 28 days if they use up their eight passes. And now customers can buy them quickly and easily by using Greater Anglia’s self-serve ticket machines, making it quicker and easier to commute at a time convenient to them. Anyone who needs help using the ticket machine can press the ticket assistance help button on the machine to be connected to ticket office staff in Norwich who will guide the customer on the machine. Flexi seasons can be bought on any Greater Anglia ticket machine outside of the London oyster area. These tickets are also still available from the ticket office or to buy online from the Greater Anglia website. Flexi season tickets must be loaded on to a Smart card, which is more durable than a paper ticket and quicker and easier to use at the ticket gates. They are cheaper than buying anytime day return tickets on the day of travel and passengers can claim a refund on the dates not used, and they can cancel at any time. Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial, Customer Services and Train Presentation Director, said: “The pandemic has seen many people’s travel patterns change. We know our customers are spending part of their working week in the office and at home, and the flexi season helps them save money on their commute. “Since its launch last summer, the flexi season ticket has been incredibly popular with our customers and we’re pleased they can now buy it from our ticket machines, which are quick and easy to use.”

Volunteers have won funding to install swift and bat boxes at Thetford station in a bid to protect them from habitat loss. Greater Anglia’s station adopter group – who have developed a wildlife garden along the platforms – received a grant and planning permission from Breckland Council to fund six specially-designed boxes, and worked with Network Rail to install them at the top of the Victorian station building. Swift and bat populations have severely declined in numbers over the last 25 years, due to habitat loss and swifts are now considered highly vulnerable. The group has installed six ‘day and night’ boxes which are designed to house swifts during the summer months and bats all year round. Each box has a nesting chamber for a pair of swifts and a recess in the rear panel where bats can roost. Alongside the boxes they have also installed a solar-powered swift call emitting device to improve the chances of the boxes being found and used. As swifts are loyal to their nesting sites, the group’s long-term goal is to establish a swift colony. Lead volunteer, Fiona Rhind, said, “We recently became a Wildlife Friendly accredited station for the work we have done on the platforms, and we want to continually do more to show just what can be achieved in terms of greater biodiversity in an urban environment. “At Thetford station we’ve planted native hedges, established a wildflower area and installed 15 bird boxes – which we were delighted to see become home to blackbird and robin chicks this year. “It’s wonderful that we can now provide a refuge for swifts and bats as well – as our native species need all the help they can get. We’re really grateful to Breckland Council, Greater Anglia and Network Rail for supporting us in our aims to do everything we can to support our local wildlife.” Thetford station recently received a ‘Wildlife Friendly’ accreditation from Greater Anglia and Norfolk Wildlife Trust to formally recognise the achievements of its team of volunteer ‘station adopters’ to create a wildlife haven at the station. James Hogg, Norfolk Wildlife Trust Corporate and Membership Development Officer, said: “The alarming decline in the abundance of wildlife and the plight of species under threat means that just protecting the nature we have left is not enough; we need to put nature into recovery, and to do so at scale and with urgency. We are working to create a nature recovery network across Norfolk – and with fellow wildlife trusts across the UK – to create more space for wildlife. “This project with Greater Anglia is a fantastic example of how people can transform nature-poor areas into new nature-rich places – and change the way we think about land, seizing opportunities to help nature outside traditional nature reserves.” Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, “I’d like to thank the volunteers at Thetford for the incredible work they are doing to support biodiversity locally. The railway in increasingly recognised as an important corridor for wildlife and thanks to initiatives like this, stations are becoming a vital part of that corridor which helps wildlife to move around the landscape and become more resilient to the effects of climate change and habitat loss.” Rail stations across East Anglia are increasingly becoming havens for local wildlife thanks to the efforts of volunteers who last year transformed over 6,800 square metres of railway land into thriving wildlife gardens. In a recent survey, Greater Anglia station adopters reported a wide range of creatures visiting their stations including many different types of butterflies as well as bees, slow worms, bats, foxes, deer and many varieties of birds, recording more than 200 different species. Greater Anglia has pledged this land to WildEast, a nature recovery movement which aims to restore 20% of East Anglia back to nature by 2050 and has joined the rest of the rail industry in pledging to make stations across Britain more sustainable. Above: Thetford station adopters receiving their Wildlife Friendly Station Accreditation last month. Credit: Greater Anglia.

Dedicated volunteers have been hailed as the “heartbeat” of a leading children’s charity. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has paid tribute as part of this year’s national Volunteers’ Week. The annual celebration takes place between 1^st and 7th June and the 2022 theme is ‘a time to say thanks’. EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, feels fortunate to have 1,710 “loyal and supportive” volunteers. More than 1,000 of those – 1,088 – lend a hand in one of the charity’s 44 shops, scattered across East Anglia. There are 345 fundraising and events volunteers (447, including members of EACH’s friends groups) while 102 help in one of its three hospices – The Nook, near Norwich, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and at Milton, near Cambridge. Sixty-six people support the charity’s Help at Home scheme, which involves helping families with everyday jobs like shopping, collecting prescriptions, cooking, vacuuming, dusting, washing, ironing and gardening. A further seven provide support in EACH’s central services office, in Milton. Hannah Milbourne, volunteer services and development manager, said: “I’m sure many people already know how vital the support of volunteers has been to charities like ours over the last 12 months. “That’s why we’re so keen to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you for their support. “We value them so much, whether they help with fundraising, in one of our shops, helping a family at home or at one of our hospices. “We know many of our volunteers don’t like a fuss. “However, it’s important we take the time to let them know that whatever they do, they’re making such an enormous difference to the children and families we support in their community. It feels an ideal time to pause for a moment and say thank you. “They might not see it on a day-to-day basis but we really wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them. Without them, our charity would grind to a halt. “Not only that, during the pandemic, when many were unable to come in as usual, we really missed them. It’s great to have everyone back together again and to see their friendly faces. “Volunteers are the heartbeat of our organisation and play an integral role in allowing us to provide our vital care services, supporting families and caring for children across East Anglia.” The 38^th national Volunteers’ Week takes place during the #MonthOfCommunity, running throughout June. Hannah says that in addition to thanking existing volunteers, her team would love to hear from others keen to get involved. “This week is a time to celebrate everything that makes our communities great – and the wonderful volunteers at the heart of them,” she said. “That’s why, in addition to thanking our loyal and supportive volunteers, I’d also love to encourage others to step forward and join us. “We’re always looking for more people to join our friendly teams and, by agreeing to help, they will be joining together and becoming part of something that helps their local community – as well as taking the opportunity to put their skills to use, learn new ones and meet new people. “We offer a range of opportunities that are fun and flexible and can be done at a time to suit the individual, so I believe there really is something for everyone. “Whatever time someone can offer, even just an hour or two, will make a real difference.” Anyone interested in getting involved can contact EACH Volunteer Services for an informal chat via 01223 205183. To search the variety of opportunities available, visit each.org.uk or, for more information, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk

Carl Boardman explains the impact the recent inflation rise will have on the NHS Pensions Scheme for GP members. As we make a start on our medical clients’ tax returns for the 2021/22 tax year, a common question we’re being asked by GPs is “what will my annual allowance tax charge be this year, given the increase in inflation?”. My initial response has generally been something along the lines of “it will depend on your circumstances and level of earnings, but it’s likely to be quite significant”. However, with the recent announcement that inflation for April 2022 was at 9%, and suggestions that this could rise further throughout the year, the question really ought to be “what on earth is my annual allowance charge going to be for 2022/23 and is there anything I can do now to prepare for, or at least mitigate this?”. How do I know if this affects me? As a quick reminder, growth in the NHS Pension Scheme is geared to your pensionable earnings each year, plus an uplift on benefits accrued to date, which is linked to Consumer Price Index (CPI) rates. Your pension is allowed to grow by inflation each year, but the allowed growth is based on CPI inflation for the previous September, whereas the actual growth is based on the current year’s September CPI inflation rate, plus 1.5%. For the 2021/22 tax year the uplift is 4.6% (3.1% CPI for September 2021 plus the extra 1.5%) and the allowed growth is restricted to only 0.5% (CPI from September 2020), giving a net growth for annual allowance purposes of 4.1%. This is not entirely unusual, but as inflation rates have been coming down in recent years the growth has been much lower and generally under control, so the spike in growth this year is not unexpected. Fast forward to the 2022/23 tax year and based on current CPI rates, this growth increases to 7.4% (9% CPI plus 1.5% less 3.1% CPI) and could be higher still if inflation continues to rise. The 2021/22 tax year has already passed, so there’s very little that can be done now to influence the results, other than to start saving in case a charge arises or consider electing for scheme pays, however we’re still in time to do something about 2022/23. If you’re a hospital doctor, the calculations work differently for the 1995 scheme element of your pension, but this would still be relevant to you if you have built up benefits in the 2015 scheme or have had an increase in your pensionable pay. Can you give me an idea of the figures? As a very rough example, someone who has accrued £30,000 of benefits to date in the 1995 scheme and has a pensionable pay of £120,000 would have growth for annual allowance purposes of around £60,000 against an available allowance that year of £40,000. Assuming there was no unused relief available from previous years, this would give a taxable excess of £20,000, which taxed at 40% gives an addition tax charge of £8,000 for the year. Payments on account for 2022/23 would then increase by half of this, so a total increase in tax due in January 2023 of £12,000. For the 2022/23 year, the same example would generate growth of around £80,000 in total. This is £40,000 over the standard £40,000 allowance, pushing the additional tax charge up to over £16,000. Please note the actual calculations are far more complex than this, so the above figures are for illustrative purposes only. Those members with a long-standing service record and higher earnings will see much higher growth and may be exposed to the additional 45% rate of tax on the excess growth. If your taxable income is over £200,000, it’s likely that you will also see your annual allowance tapered down below the standard level of £40,000, which increases the annual allowance excess, and therefore additional tax charges even further. As a result, it’s certainly worth thinking about your own position now. It’s also worth noting that rising CPI rates increases the value of your pension for lifetime allowance purposes too, which could lead to additional tax charges arising when you draw benefits from the scheme. What can I do about it? There are several options available to you that can reduce the pension growth and tax charges arising, but these options have other implications and reduce your pension benefits on retirement, so there’s no simple solution. We’d be happy to help by reviewing your pension position and discussing the figures with you, so please get in touch if you would like to know more. We’d also recommend that you speak to an independent financial adviser before making any decisions which affect your pension. If you have any concerns regarding your pension tax charge or have any other questions, please get in touch with your usual Larking Gowen contact or look for contact details in the Our People section of the our website. Alternatively, call 0330 024 0888 or email enquiry@larking-gowen.co.uk.

The Thetford business awards were designed to bring many diverse businesses together to celebrate and further support one another within the community, now going into its 5th yeas we have our sponsors who joined us from the start and also our new sponsors who join us for a great journey into 2023. We also are now proud to announce our first gold sponsor HSBC bank east anglia region supporting the awards and many SME businesses within our area. Nominations are open and please do share to all your colleagues and freinds and family to nominate with two new great categories. https://www.thetfordandbrandontimes.co.uk/news/business/nominations-open-thetford-business-awards-2023-8940366  

The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (BCKLWN) is committed to safeguarding the environment and has established a position as a sustainability leader by focusing on implementing innovative and cutting-edge energy generation and efficiency technologies in its buildings. These reflect its values and deliver on the commitment it made to tackle climate change when it declared a climate emergency in 2021. BCKLWN, in collaboration with Ameresco, has completed and is continuing to pursue the Re:fit Project, which aims to gradually decarbonise council buildings, as part of its many efforts to combat climate change. We are putting in place a set of measures that includes solar, LED lighting, heat pumps, amongst others in our Re:fit work. Some of our completed and in-progress retrofitting measures are shown below. Picture bottom right: Cllr Paul Kunes and representatives from the borough council, Ameresco and Finn Geotherm inspecting the on-going work at the Dutton pavilion Pictures top and bottom left: Installation of ground source heat pump at Dutton pavilion Picture top right: installation of ground source heat pump at Council Depot

1. LED AND LIGHTING CONTROL

In many of the selected sites, fittings of lights that were previously high-consumption fluorescent lamps have been converted to high efficiency LEDs. Some of the successful examples are the buildings of Alive Lynnsport, Downham Market Leisure Centre, St James Pool and King’s Court.

1. GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

The UK government has identified heat pumps as one of the primary low-carbon options for decarbonising buildings. Heat pumps use electricity rather than gas, so where the electricity source is renewable, heating will be completely zero-carbon. Other advantages of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) include no fuel storage requirements, a long lifespan, and heating technology that is safe, silent, unobtrusive and out-of-sight. Ground source heat pumps are more efficient than air source heat pumps since heat is transferred through the ground via the movement of water, and water has a greater capacity to hold heat compared to air. Moreover, the temperature of the ground is fairly fixed at a constant 10 – 13°C all year round, so a ground source heat pump remains consistently efficient throughout the year, unaffected by seasonal changes. The Downham Market Leisure Centre and Dutton Pavilion are two successful sites with newly installed GSHP.

1. EQUIPMENT OPERATING SCHEDULES OPTIMISATION

Ameresco conducted a thorough night survey on the selected sites to identify equipment that was left running overnight and on weekends. For example, the half-hourly data at Downham Market and Oasis Leisure Centres show a baseload ranging from 15-25 kW and 20kW respectively during closing hours (23:00 to 06:00 and 22:00 to 05:30) for all seasons. This was caused by the pool circulation pumps, AHU fans, lights, UV filters, and other equipment remaining on. These load sources were identified, and then control strategies were implemented to avoid them, resulting in immediate savings. Based on prior experience, identified assets, and the type of activities carried out in the building, Ameresco estimates that at least 10% of the night load would be reduced now.

1. VSD INSTALLATION/OPTIMISATION

The amount of power consumed by a fan or pump increases as the cube of the speed (or frequency) at which it operates. As a result, a 20% reduction in operation speed can result in a nearly 50% reduction in power consumption. To achieve this, a Variable Speed Drive (VSD) is installed in fans and pumps. Further, many other measures such as BMS Upgrade/Optimisation, Heat Recovery and Utilisation, Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Solar Photovoltaic, PC Power Management, Boiler Replacement/Optimisation and Building Fabric Improvement are either already installed or in the process of being installed to the different selected sites under this project. The first 14 sites selected for the first phase or Re:fit 1 and their projected savings are listed below. Click on the following links to watch Cllr Paul Kunes of the borough council explaining the council’s goals and efforts to decarbonise the big carbon-intensive buildings in our fight against climate change: https://youtu.be/WIlZTgk_pIo https://youtu.be/kLlLGqA6b94 https://youtu.be/vtkIKpgNZk0 Join us at the King’s Lynn Climate Change Expo on 21st June. Free entry, simply register your details here.

Businesses in East Anglia with ambitious growth plans are set to benefit from a new marketing club being launched by a Norwich-based start-up marketing agency.

Rechenda Smith has launched Nurture Marketing in Norwich, to help businesses in East Anglia grow

Nurture Marketing is the brainchild of marketing expert Rechenda Smith. Originally from Sheringham, Rechenda has worked in the marketing field for over 18 years, for a range of in-house companies including Colchester Institute and Diss-based Hey Girls as well as regional agencies Mosaic Marketing in Colchester and Ipswich-based web agency, Itineris.

Nurture Marketing, launched this month, will offer a range of bitesize marketing courses delivered live and online by Rechenda, and members will also be invited to join a free online marketing club for entrepreneurs and regional marketing managers to share ideas and best practice. Courses will be £30 but Nurture Marketing will be running a monthly free taster marketing course for local businesses to take advantage of.

Photo: Rob Dodsworth

She said: “After nearly two enjoyable decades helping to grow other people’s businesses, it was time to make that leap of faith and set up my own enterprise. After working in web, email marketing, PR, comms and content, I felt I had a well-rounded suite of tools and expertise to help business in the region expand. I’ve also delivered a roadshow of regional email marketing training sessions in my career, including courses at Jarrold Training. I can’t wait to get stuck into The Marketing Club to create something of real value to local business owners and marketeers alike.”

Rechenda Smith, 39, now lives in Old Catton in Norwich was previously the national face of the Chartered Public Relations and was shortlisted for the East Anglia Young PR person of the year. She has established Nurture Marketing for start-ups and growing businesses in East Anglia that need marketing support and training.

She continues: “Nurture Marketing needed to offer something different to businesses, so as well as the training courses, I have developed a set of core values that will help attract like-minded partners.

“These include transparent pricing with all costs available to view online, price inclusivity so a start-up with little to no marketing budget can access free blog posts and webinars whereas larger firms in East Anglia can access regular managed marketing support or professional marketing training for their team.

We also care deeply about our planet. From offering recycled and sustainable print options to offsetting all projects through tree planting with Ecologi, Nurture is committed to reducing our impact on the environment. Where possible, we prioritise video meetings that can be done without travel, and – of course – only work with companies in East Anglia, which certainly helps.

“Finally, we’re committed to buying local and have signed up to the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, the Norfolk Network and Norfolk Pro Help to ensure we are serving the communities in which we work.”

Photo caption: Rechenda Smith, who was previously the national face of the Chartered Public Relations and shortlisted for the Young PR person of the year, is offering marketing support services as well as training for local businesses with her new Norwich-based start-up agency, Nurture Marketing (Photo: Rob Dodsworth).

Courses will run monthly and topics include Facebook for Business, How to Get Free Publicity for your Biz, How to get your Website Found Online, Content Strategies and Personal Branding for Business. Courses are £30 per person and can be booked online. For more information, please visit: www.nurturemarketing.co.uk

4.62 billion people around the world now use social media. We’re not saying you’re going to receive 4.62 billion customers but you may be missing out on a fraction of that by not having a social media account for your business.  

Show off and stand out from competitors  

As soon as you’ve made an account, you’re reachable to these users through their interests and data. ‘47% of buyers view 3 to 5 pieces of content before engaging with a sales representative’(mailchimp.com,2022). So, put on a show and stand out from the rest! It never hurts to show off something you’ve worked hard on, and you may receive the recognition you deserve. It’s important to be authentic with your business account online as you’re differentiating yourself from your competitors. Expanding your branding and showcasing your products/services enhances the buyer’s journey and potentially increases your website traffic! 

It’s all about perspective  

So, we’ll address the elephant in the room. Not a lot of businesses, or people for that matter, enjoy social media. We get it! More screen time, disrespectful people and fake news. But we know how to solve the stress of this for you! Within our selected package deals we include account management: this means we’ll be dealing with the difficult bits whilst you get on with your day and priorities. You’ll witness your account presence coming to life, with bespoke content expanding your branding and personalising your business. 

But which platform? 

There are a lot of social media platforms out there right now; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, and the list goes on. So, how do you pick? Well, your business sector and consumers determine what platforms work for you. After all, many platforms have great functionalities which allow your content to get the recognition it deserves.   Animations, reels, short-form videos, copywriting and photos are examples of the engaging types of posts we could create for your brand. Having a chat with us could give you great guidance in the digital world, starting off with where you launch your first bits of content. 

What type of marketing? 

Well, here at Imaginative Software we tend towards pull tactics within our marketing, which is more organic for customer reach and creates a non-pressured tone. We’ll always use a call to action in the content we produce, leading potential customers/clients to your website or to contact you. The majority of work we produce for your social account will be content marketing that grows potential customer relationships and increases engagement with your brand. 

Get started 

Ease into it with us. We’re not telling you to jump into the deep end, just jump on the bandwagon. Even if you have the smallest presence online, at least your potential customers know you exist, with a call to action at the ready. Our package deals get you started, especially our taster pack which allows you to trial Imaginative Software for a short amount of time. Our bespoke package, on the other hand, doesn’t hold you restricted; choosing this package allows us to make full use of the platforms you choose, with captivating, animated content, and consistent activity on your accounts.  The Imaginative Software team can help you ease you into the world of social media. Take on the opportunity your brand deserves and seek out fresh faces that will appreciate your business. Contact us for a helpful chat and more today!  References:   https://mailchimp.com/en-gb/  https://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-strategy/new-global-social-media-research/   

The Autumn Farming Conference, a brand-new event for farmers, growers, landowners, and those involved in the agricultural sector will take place on Tuesday 4 October 2022 at Trinity Park, Ipswich. It is being organised by Larking Gowen, a major regional independent accountancy partnership and one of the UK’s top 40 accountancy firms, in conjunction with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales. “The farming industry is at a massive crossroads right now, largely because of major changes in the sector post Brexit, together with the loss of the Basic Payment Scheme and the effects of climate change,” states Bruce Masson, the Larking Gowen Partner who originated the concept. “The impact of these and other factors has been amplified by the terrible situation in Ukraine, which no-one could have predicted and will have a significant global impact for the foreseeable future. “Farmers and rural enterprises have been severely impacted, so are looking for guidance and ideas. To help them plot a way forward we have brought together a compelling group of speakers whose talents and experience span a range of complementary fields.” Chaired by CLA East Director Cath Crowther, the event will include presentations by experts from across the farming sector on a range of topics, providing practical advice and an opportunity to meet others in the sector. The conference will include the following presentations:

• Steven Rudd, Larking Gowen’s Head of Farms and Landed Estates, which is the largest of its type in East Anglia and one of the largest in the country. Delegates will also learn more about the government’s viewpoint from Jo Churchill, Member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds since 2015 and current Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
• Stuart and Rebecca Mayhew, founder members of Regenerative Agriculture Community East (RACE). Formed in April 2022, it aims to connect the region’s farmers, retailers, and consumers, shortening supply chains, supporting sustainable farming, and helping improve food security. They will explain what regenerative agriculture is, engage in some myth busting about the concept and give examples of how it works in practice, as well as presenting a case study of their Old Hall Farm, Woodton near Bungay.
• An analysis of farming data and a review of last season by Alec Smith, Director of highly respected agricultural and advisory business Sentry Ltd. Based in Suffolk, the employee-owned firm has a footprint across 15 counties and 50 years of trading experience.
• A look at the future of farming by Jason Cantrill, a Partner at Ceres Rural. Based at the firm’s Norwich office, Jason is a qualified Chartered Surveyor, RICS Registered Valuer and agricultural valuer. Covering Suffolk and Norfolk, he specialises in the management of farms, together with the formation of contract farming and joint venture agreements.

• Emma Hayley from YANA (You Are Not Alone), the farming charity which provides mental health support for the farming and rural community. All profits from the conference will go to this much-admired organisation.
• Izzi Rainey, who grew up on her family’s farm in Norfolk, will give first-hand experience of farm diversification without stewardship, talk about the success of women in agriculture and give her perspective of the role of the next generation in the industry. After graduating from the Glasgow School of Art, she established IzzyRainey, a farm-based textile company which designs and manufactures high quality stationery and homeware products.

Further details of the Autumn Farming Conference are available at www.larking-gowen.co.uk/AFC and tickets can be booked online. The event on 4 October 2022 will start at 08.30 with arrival and registration before the first session commences at 09.15. The conference will conclude at 15.30.