Member News

Above: A new train at Lowestoft Credit: Greater Anglia People in and around Lowestoft are invited to board a brand-new Greater Anglia train on Saturday to have a look round it and see the new layout and features during a special event to help people travel with confidence. The event has been organised by the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and Greater Anglia as part of a national ‘Community Rail Week’ with the theme ‘Give the train a try’ and in celebration of the 175^th anniversary of the railway reaching Lowestoft. One of Greater Anglia’s new Stadler bi-mode trains will stand in platform 4 from 11am until 3pm on Saturday 28 May. The public is invited to come along and experience the train and its improved features – such as more seats, dedicated cycle areas and spacious wheelchair spaces which are clearly signposted on the outside of the train as well as accessible toilets and an accessible seating area with room for friends and family. The trains are better for the environment too with an energy-efficient, aerodynamic design and regenerative braking which delivers energy back into the electrical supply network rather than waste the energy, through heat, as conventional brake systems do. Greater Anglia staff and volunteers from the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project will be on hand to answer questions and receive feedback. At the same time a new exhibition ‘Last Train Gone’, by acclaimed railway photographer David Pearce, will be open at the station’s Parcels Office. Community Rail Week, organised by the Community Rail Network and sponsored by Rail Delivery Group, runs from Monday 23- Sunday 29 May. The ‘Give the train a try’ theme is aimed at encouraging people to try train travel, to increase travel confidence and support a shift to greener journeys that don’t add to traffic and pollution, as the country begins to recover from the pandemic. Martin Halliday, Rail Development Officer for the Community Rail Partnership, said, “We’re delighted to work with Greater Anglia to have one of their brand-new trains standing at Lowestoft for people to come and see the transformation in terms of comfort and accessibility. It’s amazing to think how far the line has come since the railway reached Lowestoft 175 years ago! “We hope that people who have not used the train before, have not yet seen one of the new trains, or people with accessibility needs will come along and have a look round the train to see how its improved features might help them to use rail safely and confidently.” Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “Community rail partnerships and station volunteer groups across Britain – including the many in the East Anglian region – have long played a vital role engaging local groups, young people and families to boost rail travel awareness and confidence, increase access to opportunity, and break down barriers. It’s increasingly important for environmental reasons too, to reduce local traffic and pollution and help tackle the climate emergency. “Community Rail Week aims to shine a light on our growing grassroots movement working tirelessly alongside our railway partners, and get the message out to more people about the benefits of rail travel. More than 70 activities are taking place nationwide, and it’s fantastic to see this important initiative coming to Lowestoft’s sunny shores – raising awareness and exploring how we can enable and empower more people to feel confident and able to travel by train.”

Norfolk astronomer Mark Thompson – Pic credit JMA photography Norfolk astronomer Mark Thompson talks about why East Anglia is perfect for stargazing in a new episode of Greater Anglia’s Life on Rails podcast. Mark, a One Show and BBC Stargazing Live regular, reveals how he became interested in astronomy and science thanks to a visit to Norwich Astronomical Society as a ten-year-old boy. In the episode, Life on Rail hosts Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright, from the rail company’s PR team, chat with him and then recommend somewhere astronomy-related for him to visit on the Greater Anglia network. The podcast also includes an interview with Greater Anglia’s managing director Jamie Burles, who talks about what it’s like to run a big train company and how bad he feels whenever there is disruption on the railway. Jamie has driven improvements in performance over the past few years, with the company now regularly achieving record-breaking punctuality, as well as overseeing the replacement of every single train on the Greater Anglia network with new trains. Network Rail’s head of communications for the Anglia region, Kate Snowden, talks about engineering works on the railway – why they are crucial for safety and performance and factors determining when they are carried out. Other slots on the podcast cover how Greater Anglia is making stations more energy efficient in an interview with head of facilities management Mark Ellis, and tips on travelling for less with the company’s fares guru, Ken Strong. Network Rail’s head of communications for the Anglia region, Kate Snowden, talks about engineering works on the railway – why they are crucial for safety and performance and factors determining when they are carried out. Other slots on the podcast cover how Greater Anglia is making stations more energy efficient in an interview with head of facilities management Mark Ellis, and tips on travelling for less with the company’s fares guru, Ken Strong.

ASAMS will be exhibiting at Subcon 2022, the UK’s premier subcontract manufacturing supply chain show between 7th-9th June 2022 at NEC, Birmingham. We are looking forward to being part of this large scale in-person event, now in its 45th year, which brings together the best suppliers within the manufacturing and engineering industries to share the latest innovations and build new partnerships and business strategies. You can find us at Stand D80 across the 3 days – please visit us there to learn more about our range of materials testing services, or contact us beforehand to schedule some time to chat. Read the full newsletter in full here – https://mailchi.mp/848f7b381799/asams-may-2022-e-news

Today the Workplace Wellbeing Research Team at the University of East Anglia and RAND Europe launch: www.evolveworkplacewellbeing.org The new website provides a toolkit of free, evidence-informed workplace wellbeing resources to help businesses evolve their workplace wellbeing approach and thrive. For an overview: watch our introductory animation. The online toolkit includes:

• A business case calculator – The calculator gives benefits and costs of different types of wellbeing initiative in pounds and pence, allowing a direct comparison to aid decision making.
• A guide to the ‘explore and embed’ approach to workplace wellbeing – Handy diagnostic questions point businesses towards areas they need to explore to improve workplace wellbeing.
• An online Wellbeing at Work course – The course is evidence-informed and includes bite-sized videos and cases. Watch a taster of three course videos here.
• Short case studies – Find out what other businesses are doing in the wellbeing space as new case studies are researched and uploaded.
• Videos of previous events – Make use of our back catalogue of webinars and videos on workplace wellbeing topics. See new videos here after future events.
• Contact us – Keep up to date with the latest workplace wellbeing research findings by signing up to our newsletter, or send us a query about workplace wellbeing!

Join us at Evolve Workplace Wellbeing and take the next step on your organisation’s workplace wellbeing evolution.

The facilities site manager at a leading children’s hospice is stepping into fundraising action after witnessing first-hand the amazing work it does. Jim Mowatt works for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and is based at Milton. He joined in December and soon signed up for the charity’s popular Pier to Pier walk, taking place on 25^th June. The fundraiser takes participants on a 32-mile trek along the beautiful Norfolk Coastal Path, from Cromer to Great Yarmouth. Jim, 58, is taking on the challenge with wife Carrie. He used to be a keen runner before being hit by injury. “We’re both looking forward to it and have already walked some of the route,” he said. “It came as a bit of a shock, to be honest. Despite being on the coast, there were these geographical peculiarities known as hills out there and we’re not used to that here in Cambridgeshire! “The most we’ve ever managed is 22 miles so it’s going to be a real challenge doing 32. “The soles of our feet were so tender on that occasion but hopefully the more we walk, the stronger and tougher they’ll get. “More than anything, we’re looking forward to it and pleased to be raising funds for EACH.” Jim, who lives in Milton, previously worked for a manufacturing company and before that Cambridgeshire County Council. He says his new job is very different but extremely rewarding. As facilities site manager, he is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings at Milton. “Living where we do, I’ve always been aware of EACH,” he said. “When I saw this job advertised, I loved the idea of working at the hospice. “I saw it as a great opportunity to utilise my experience and knowledge and I find it very rewarding and enjoyable. “Doing the job I do, and being on site every day, means I see first-hand the amazing work my colleagues in all different departments do. “Milton is an incredible place and, before signing up, Carrie and I also spent time reading family stories on the EACH website. “This organisation clearly makes such a difference to so many people and I’m very keen to support it, both through my work and by signing up for events like this.” To sponsor Jim, click here. There is still time to sign up for EACH’s Pier to Pier walk, which gets underway at Cromer Pier and finishes at Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth. All walkers will receive a finishers’ medal and t-shirt. There will be regular refuelling stops with snacks and drinks, a lunch break and hot food at the finish. The route is clearly marked and medical assistance will be available, if needed. Tickets cost £30 or £40 with an optional coach transfer from the finish line at Yarmouth to the start line at Cromer. Walkers are asked to have a target sponsorship of £150. For more information or to book a place, click here or go to each.org.uk/support-us/events/pier-to-pier-2022/

On the 22nd July the team at Chatsbrook are going to jump out of a plane raising much needed funds for Norfolk and Waveney Mind. Mind do a superb job of reducing the stigma of Mental Health and making sure everyone has the ability to talk and seek the help they may need. If you are in a position to do so please donate and show your support through our Just Giving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chatsbrook-skydive

With two weeks to go until The Platinum Jubilee Beacons, organisers have announced that over 2,800 beacons will be lit all over the UK and Commonwealth. On Thursday 2nd June, the first day of the Jubilee Weekend:

• Over 2,800 beacons will be lit by charities, community groups, local councils, and others all over the UK.
• Beacons will be lit in all 54 Commonwealth member states, with the first ones expected to be lit in Tonga and Samoa, and the final one in Belize.
• The Principal Beacon will be lit at Buckingham Palace by a Senior Royal. This will take the form of a lighting installation with The Queen’s Green Canopy ‘Tree of Trees’ sculpture and projections onto the front of Buckingham Palace.

Some highlights of beacon lighting in the UK include:

• Scouts are lighting at least 70 beacons in honour of their Patron, The Queen. These range from as far south as Cornwall all the way up to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They’ll be lit as far west as Merthyr Tydfil and as far east as the Norfolk Broads. One in Wilton, Wiltshire will be lit in the same place and by the same Scout Group where a beacon was lit on the night of the Coronation.
• At least 70 beacons will be lit by Girlguiding members in honour of their Patron, The Queen, across the UK and beyond to mark each year the Queen has been on the throne. Girlguiding has also created a virtual beacon that the charity will be ‘lighting’ on Girlguiding Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages at 9.45pm on Thursday 2 June.
• Walking With The Wounded will light beacons on the four highest peaks of the UK: Ben Nevis, Scotland; Scafell Pike, England; Mount Snowdon, Wales; and Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland.
• Over 40 beacons will be lit at 30 locations across the communities of Hadrian’s Wall Country from Muncaster to South Shields, forming a chain of light of more than 120 miles.
• Beacons will be lit at other historic sites such as Lambeth Palace, the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle, and the Royal Estates of Sandringham and Balmoral.

As well as traditional beacon lighting, other creative ways will be used by individuals and communities to mark the Queen’s Jubilee. These include:

• Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is lighting a sustainable beacon, outside of the Werneth Building on Fountain Street in in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Old and broken hospital beds will be melded into a crown-shaped beacon, which will be illuminated in a light display.
• Illuminated River, the world’s longest public artwork, will be lighting up nine central London Thames Bridges in a celebratory sequence of majestically evolving colour and light.
• Iconic buildings like BT Tower will be lighting up.
• Several English Cathedrals – namely, Durham, Ely, Lichfield, Peterborough and Rochester – will all be lighting up red, white, and blue.

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, said:   “The Queen has lit up the nation and the Commonwealth for 70 years, and it is only fitting that we do the same for her. It’s amazing to see the range of charities, community groups, and faith groups taking part. For the first time ever, we are taking beacons all over the Commonwealth, to each of the 54 countries. It’s wonderful to see people wishing to take part in so many ways from traditional beacon lighting and bonfires to lighting up buildings and monuments.”

• Akcela Ventures – Norwich’s only city centre business incubator based in Fuel Studios
• Tom Wood – Has left global digital design agency Foolproof, the Norwich-founded digital design agency he founded in 2002 and sold in 2016. He is joining Akcela Ventures as a shareholder and part of the incubator team
• Announcement – will be at the official launch of Akcela Ventures at an event in their office at 3pm Tuesday 10 May

AKCELA VENTURES : Press release: Norwich, England, May 10, 2022 — Digital experience expert, Tom Wood has joined the management team and shareholder board of Norwich-based tech incubator — Akcela Ventures. He will work closely with start-ups in the incubator, bringing his specialist skills in product design and user experience as well as his knowledge about building and managing teams in high-growth businesses. Akcela Ventures is Norwich’s only city centre business incubator.  The Akcela incubator provides business advice, desk-space and a lively community of entrepreneurs and mentors to help new businesses succeed and grow. It is privately owned and privately funded. It opened at Fuel Studios on Pottergate, Norwich UK in November 2021 and already has 9 early-stage start-ups working in its incubator space. Tom Wood was the founder of global digital design agency Foolproof and was Managing Partner at the firm for 19 years. He started the company in Norwich in 2002 and grew it to have an international client base with a team of over 200 people in offices in Norwich, London, Singapore, Cape Town and Pune. He sold the business in 2016 and left last year. James Adams, Managing Director at Akcela Ventures explained how Tom Wood’s arrival on their board will allow the incubator to grow and flourish in the years ahead. “We’re really excited to have Tom join our team. As a founder and entrepreneur he has experience which will be incredibly valuable to the early-stage companies we support. Tom is well-known for his commitment to tech and creative businesses in the city. He’s been a community leader in business for over two decades.” “Tom joining us further expands the wealth of experience the Akcela team has to offer early-stage companies, offering them more global knowledge and entrepreneurial support that will help businesses to break out and become national and internationally recognised brands. It’s another part of our drive to build skills, opportunity and wealth for the region.” Tom Wood explained what motivated him to join Akcela:  “Working in a start-up incubator is exactly my kind of fun. There’s enormous energy and enthusiasm around early-stage companies. While I’m here to share some of the things I’ve learned from my career I’m also in a place where I can learn something new every day. Norwich is already known nationally for a lively start-up scene. I think that’s now at a tipping point where we can create some superstar companies of the future which will take on the world while making their home here in the city.”

*Photo owned by Ashtons Legal – Top row is Mark Watson and David Sloman, Bottom row shows Paul Whittingham and Catherine Turner. Members of Ashtons Legal’s Corporate and Commercial team have recently advised and assisted three clients on the sale of their businesses. Senior Associate Mark Watson led a team who worked with 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. Associate David Sloman and others advised ubisend, the Norwich-based conversational AI company, on their sale to Soprano Design, an international communications platform supplier. Partner Paul Whittingham and solicitor Catherine Turner assisted Subgero Ltd in the sale of Ordtek Ltd, an ordnance risk management and geoscience provider, to wind energy service provider Venterra Group. Interim Head of Ashtons’ Business Client Group, Ed O’Rourke says: “After an uncertain couple of years we are seeing a sharp upturn in businesses now wishing to sell and companies wishing to acquire and grow. Ashtons’ Corporate and Commercial team have a wealth of experience assisting businesses of all sizes and through long-term relationships have been able to provide the best advice to AR Peachment, ubisend and Subgero”.      

*Photo taken by Warren Page of PagePix and features 14 of the 17 staff. Pictured (left to right): Senior Associates – Roger Loomes, Joanna Cotgrove, Joanna Baker and Louisa Bradberry.     Associates – Emily Sullivan, Jacqui O’Neill, Zoe Byford, Tom Chevous, Amanda Cavanagh, Tony Shord, Ross Blows, Naomi Everett, Alice Trainor and Victoria Cole. Ashtons Legal announces the appointment of six new Senior Associates and 11 new Associates from within the firm. Promoted to Senior Associate level are Fabienne Atkin, Joanna Baker, Louisa Bradberry, Joanna Cotgrove, Roger Loomes and Emma Starr. Fabienne works in Ashtons’ French property team in Leeds, Joanna Baker in the dispute resolution department in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, Louisa Bradberry heads up lifetime planning in Norwich, Joanna Cotgrove leads the family team in Cambridge and both Roger Loomes and Emma Starr work in the Ipswich office in the top-tier personal injury and business systems respectively. Promoted to Associates are Ross Blows, Zoe Byford, Amanda Cavanagh, Tom Chevous, Victoria Cole, Naomi Everett, Sophie Hearle, Jacqui O’Neill, Tony Shord, Emily Sullivan and Alice Trainor. Working in Ashtons’ Bury St Edmunds office are Ross Blows in the Court of Protection team, Zoe Byford, Executive Assistant to the CEO and COO, Amanda Cavanagh in Clinical Negligence, Victoria Cole from the family team, Naomi Everett from residential property, Sophie Hearle from French property and Jacqui O’Neill from the firm’s Facilities and Admin team. In Ipswich, the new Associates are Tom Chevous from business systems, Tony Shord from the personal injury team and Emily Sullivan who is the firm’s PR and communications manager. Alice Trainor is the final Associate – she is based in the Norwich office and works in the dispute resolution team there. On route to their promotions all completed the Becoming an Effective Leader and Leading Effective Teams programmes that Ashtons’ deliver internally. Ashtons CEO, James Tarling says: “These appointments demonstrate the commitment we have to investing in the professional development of our staff and I would like to personally congratulate all on this huge achievement, which is richly deserved. It is always rewarding to be able to promote talented team members from within the firm and to recognise the work they all do to meet a wide range of legal needs across the region and beyond”.

One of the best ways to re-focus our personal resilience is completely free: practice gratitude! The impact of gratitude on our physical and mental wellbeing can never be underestimated. Both dopamine and serotonin are brain chemicals that bring proven benefits to our overall health. Experts across the globe agree that being content with what you have and aiming to ‘be better’ is the first step to success in all areas of life. James and Mark look at how to achieve meaningful gratefulness by discussing the power of journaling; the negative impact of catastrophising; the 5,4,3,2,1 method; and, how embracing neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) can help you to reprogramme your brain and make you a better leader. Lizzie chimes in again, as the team reflects on how expressing gratitude reaps great personal rewards. For show notes, how to get in touch and to listen to the podcast, please click below. Listen here! 

Does your business have an idea worthy of innovation funding? Get free mentoring and bid writing support to help you secure the grants you need to develop your project or idea! Innovation funding can help you take your business to the next level, but getting the funding can be a complicated process and take a lot of time. We’re here to help Norfolk and Suffolk micro, small and medium businesses submit strong applications. Increase your chances of getting funding today – visit the Innovation Grant Mentoring Project website.