Ashtons Legal is delighted to announce the appointment of its new CEO, James Tarling from 1 April 2022. James joined Ashtons in 2015 as a Corporate and Commercial partner and most recently has taken responsibility for the development of the firm’s future strategy. James takes on the CEO position from Ed O’Rourke who is remaining with the firm, initially in a new role to further develop the business client group within Ashtons. James says: “I am proud to be taking on the role of CEO of Ashtons Legal at an exciting time for our business. The firm has seen significant growth recently including through strategic acquisitions of a franchise consultancy, an HR consultancy, a specialist French legal firm, an insolvency team and most recently the full-service business of Steeles Law at the end of 2021. A key part of this growth has been the result of the work that Ed has done to establish an open and progressive culture within Ashtons Legal”. James adds: “We have ambitious plans for further growth of the Ashtons business over the next three years. We are looking to recruit further talented and ambitious individuals and teams who share our vision to be an exceptional professional service provider putting our clients at the centre of everything we do”. He adds: “I am lucky to be taking on the role in a flexible, inclusive and progressive business with the support of a fantastic team of individuals who are all focussed on working together to deliver excellent outcomes for our clients”. Ed O’Rourke adds: “I have enjoyed my time at the helm but it is time for new blood and fresh ideas and James is the best possible person to drive Ashtons forward”.
A leading children’s hospice has joined forces with two similar organisations to donate critical medical supplies to war-torn Ukraine. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) showed solidarity for refugee patients by offering unused personal protective equipment (PPE). EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions, worked in tandem with Luton-based Keech Hospice Care and Farleigh Hospice, in Chelmsford, Essex. The organisations sourced medical supplies and equipment to be sent to Sheptytsky Hospital, in Lviv, the largest city in Western Ukraine and just over 40 miles from the Polish border. In addition to caring for refugees, the besieged hospital is taking patients from other medical centres to free up beds for the military. Staff have been asked to expand their adult palliative care unit and start a children’s palliative care unit. EACH Chief Executive Phil Gormley said: “We’re watching on with a sense of shock and horror at the devastating scenes in Ukraine. “The medical teams out there are doing the most remarkable job in the most extreme, challenging circumstances and have our upmost respect. “Our hearts go out to everyone caught up in the conflict and hope this contribution helps in some way. “We’re only too pleased to do whatever we can to support the international aid effort and I’m grateful to our staff who made this happen at such short notice.” EACH’s care and retail teams rallied round to gather the PPE, which was collected from the hospices by van driver Glen Hammond, based at the charity’s Retail Distribution Centre (RDC) in Thetford. He went from RDC to The Treehouse – EACH’s hospice in Ipswich – and then onto Milton, before dropping the equipment at St Mary’s Church, in Clophill, Bedfordshire, on Wednesday. He then returned to pick up more PPE at Milton and took it to the church – a central point near Keech Hospice Care – before returning to RDC. Ambulances were due to deliver the medical supplies over the weekend. Earlier this month EACH announced plans to gather warm-weather clothing to be sent to civilians in stricken Ukraine. Staff and volunteers sorted through coats, hats and scarves that would normally be heavily discounted and sold in the charity’s end-of-season sale. They were then handed to two Norfolk haulage businesses, who transported donations to the Ukrainian border. *Photo of van driver Glen Hammond
Three shop sales assistants have hailed volunteering as a perfect springboard into paid employment. Paul Watson, Jayne Fry and Maria Clark gave up their time to work in East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) shops in Sheringham, Fakenham and Halesworth respectively. Now they have been rewarded by becoming paid members of the team. Paul and Jayne started in their roles earlier this month and Maria in January. They say volunteering was an ideal launchpad and would recommend it to anyone with designs on a career in retail. “Things have worked out brilliantly,” said Paul, 53. “I got involved a couple of years ago, after spotting an advert asking for someone to become an eBay Champion at the EACH shop in Sheringham. “I have a degree in photography and liked the idea of taking pictures of items to be sold on eBay and Amazon. “It was great and, in time, I started doing more and more, including working on the till. “I was at a bit of a loose end and began coming in most days, because I enjoyed it so much. “I didn’t have any previous retail experience but learnt new skills and loved being around customers. “Now it’s led to this, working two days a week, and it’s something I’d recommend to anyone. “First and foremost, it’s a very positive and rewarding feeling working for a charity that supports a children’s hospice. “However, it’s also a great thing to do on a personal level and I’ve found it extremely beneficial.” Paul, who lives in the town, works in the shop two days a week, just like Jayne at Fakenham. She started volunteering two years ago, shortly before COVID struck, in January 2020. The 61-year-old mum of three, who lives in Dunton, had been made redundant from her job is customer services just before Christmas. She said: “Losing my job was a huge blow, but I knew I wanted to do something with my time. I didn’t want to be stuck at home. “As a customer, I’d always loved the shop in Fakenham. “I’d always found it nice and friendly so jumped at the chance to volunteer, even though I didn’t have any retail experience. “I was ready for a change and now having this job is fantastic. “It’s been a breath of fresh air and everyone has been so helpful and supportive. “I’m over the moon and would definitely recommend it to others. Volunteer, bide your time and see what happens – you won’t regret it. “Volunteering in a shop like ours is a perfect way to gain experience, hopefully leading to paid employment. It’s about being in the right place at the right time. “It’ll certainly help career-wise but I also know volunteering makes the world of difference to charities like EACH.” Maria, 56, was a volunteer in Halesworth, where she lives, but has worked one day a week since January. She said: “I’d wholeheartedly recommend volunteering to anyone. “It’s great fun, interesting and gives you the chance to meet some wonderful people, from customers and colleagues. “There’s a fantastic sense of team spirit and you build strong relationships with people who have a real passion and vested interest in EACH. “The offer of a paid role was a real bonus and it’s something I’ve enjoyed very much, because it gives you a chance to see things from the other side of the fence. “It gives you a different perspective and dimension, in terms of the way our shop and the whole organisation is run. “I didn’t have any retail experience and had spent my working life doing very office, admin-based roles. “This, in contrast, is much more hands-on and it’s something I’ve enjoyed very much.” EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It has 44 shops dotted across East Anglia. For more information about volunteering, head to www.each.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering or email volunteerservices@each.org.uk *Photo – Sheringham shop manager Naomi Munro and Paul Watson, Photo – Jayne Fry
The move to cloud-based systems is an inevitable move for all businesses and with the payroll year end fast approaching now is the time to make the change. We are pleased to announce we will be moving to FreshPay on 6th April 2022. FreshPay is a solely cloud-based software which benefits both us and our clients.
Helping everyone towards paperless office goals – cloud software is an easy, secure, and smart way to manage payroll. You can input data about your employees hours, taxes, deductions, and holiday dates through your Internet browser. Once everything is entered you can send the information to the correct recipient. No waiting, printing, or downloading of data.
Automated Pension reporting included with direct feeds to most Schemes.
CIS module also integrated for those in Construction.
Disaster Recovery – Cloud services are easy to update with the latest compliance and offer an extra level of protection if ever the PC dies, or you need to operate in disaster recovery mode. This was never more evident than at the start of the pandemic and the lockdowns that caused disruption across every industry.
Compliance and data security. – with reports and employee payslips going directly from the software to the recipient, rather than as an email attachment, it ensures data is secure and GDPR compliant.
With this exciting news, we are offering Norfolk Chamber of Commerce members 10% discount off our payroll services for a limited time! Take full advantage of the FREE consultation and 10% discount by quoting CHAMBER10 when you get in touch on 01508 333040 or send an email to office@abcabacus.co.ukhttps://freshpay.cloud/
We’d like to kindly ask you to complete the following short survey. It will take 5-15 minutes. The survey is part of a wider study funded by New Anglia LEP, which aims at gaining insight on the challenges that companies in Norfolk & Suffolk are facing to achieve net-zero. This survey is undertaken by a team of researchers from Norwich Business School (NBS), UEA. It is carried out by the following NBS researchers: Prof Naresh Pandit, Dr Usha Sundaram and Dr Vanya Kitsopoulou. The survey is anonymous, no individuals or companies are identified or tracked. Please help us understand where companies in our region stand on their net-zero journey by taking part. You can access it via computer, mobile phone, or tablet by clicking on this link: https://nbsuea.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bl067ua719WcZKK Our findings will inform a Communications Strategy on best practices and how to overcome challenges that companies in our region are facing. If you have any questions, comments, or want to hear more about the study, please contact us at v.kitsopoulou@uea.ac.uk. We will be happy to hear from you or provide clarifications.
2021 was a year when the team at Walking With The Wounded pulled together and continued to work tirelessly to ensure that our support services were available to veterans and their families. It is without a doubt that 2021 was another challenging year for all of us. The Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact our daily lives, and we found ourselves yet again, facing restrictions and uncertainty. That said, 2021 was a year when the team at Walking With The Wounded pulled together and continued to work tirelessly to ensure that our support services were available to veterans and their families. Last year, our team:
Supported 3,009 veterans across the UK
608 veterans and their family members, were helped by our mental health team
247 people secured paid employment thanks to our incredible Employment Advisors
OP-REGEN, our volunteering programme, saw 170 people put their hand up to support their local community
WWTW Care Coordinators helped 486 beneficiaries
The Project Nova team supported 1,226 veterans who were on the periphery of the criminal justice system
It was also the year when our Grenadier Walk of Oman expedition team (*Reimagined in the UK) trekked from Wales to London to demonstrate how anyone can overcome adversity and injuries, whether physical or mental, Brian Wood MC ran 635 miles in just 30 days in memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, our annual Cumbrian Challenge event saw hundreds of eager teams climb the fells in the Lake District and raise a phenomenal amount to support those who served and President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden met with our Walk of America Expedition team whilst they were visiting the UK. Our achievements would not be possible without our supporters and people like you. Thank you for continuing to support Walking With The Wounded, whether that’s by signing up to our events, donating or simply subscribing to our newsletter.
We are delighted to announce that the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League (NCYFL) and Upp Broadband are to team up and work together for the 2022-23 season. Upp aim to deliver fast and reliable broadband to underserved areas. Upp’s full-fibre network is built for speed, using fibre optic cable, not just to your street, but all the way to your home. So the speed offered is the speed you can expect. Plus, full-fibre is more reliable – as well as more sustainable – than existing copper networks, making dropouts and buffering a thing of the past. As part of the partnership, the league cup at each age group will be known as the Upp Cup. NCYFL clubs and families will also be able to take advantage of the offering of Upp’s high speed broadband as their rollout continues across the county. Upp’s partnership with NCYFL stemmed from the company’s desire to support grassroots organisations and encourage young people to join local teams. Edward Money, Head of Brand and Communications at Upp said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League for their next season. As we expand Upp’s network across Norfolk, it will be a great chance to get involved with the local communities and provide more than just high-speed broadband!” Darren Iles, NCYFL Chairman said, “We are very proud to have Upp Broadband as one of our new partners with the league. We will run a competition throughout all our age groups with Upp. We can’t wait for the new season to start with Upp onboard!” You can find out more and sign up for information on Upp’s rollout of full-fibre by visiting www.upp.com
People will get their chance over the coming weeks to take a look at, and have their say on, a set of proposed actions that are designed to address key transport challenges over the next 14 years. The Norfolk Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) is set to drive the county’s transport strategy until 2036 and key challenges that the plan seeks to address include carbon reduction and air quality. Since the overall LTP4 strategy was adopted last year officers have been working to develop this implementation plan to achieve a number of goals, including net zero carbon. Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We want a low carbon, well-connected transport network in Norfolk. I’d urge people to take a look at the proposals and fill in the survey to let us know what you think as this will help shape the final version of the plan before it goes to councillors to decide upon.” The comprehensive plan also pulls together a wide range of forward looking schemes that can be delivered by the county council, including some already underway – such as the electric vehicle strategy which is set to boost the number of charging points across the county, and the popular Beryl Bikes and e-scooter trial in Norwich which already has 43,500 registered users. Norfolk’s ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan is also part of the LTP4 and aims 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. Key to achieving a number of the aims in the plan will be working in partnership with local and national bodies to achieve much needed rail improvements and better local and regional connections. The plan details proposals around seven key objectives:
Embracing the Future: emphasis is on the need to adapt to and use new technology to achieve better outcomes
Delivering a Sustainable Norfolk: working in partnership with others to help shape the county’s development plans and proposals
Enhancing Connectivity: providing better, faster and more reliable journeys in a way the puts transport firmly onto a net zero carbon trajectory
Enhancing Norfolk’s Quality of Life: carbon reduction, air quality improvement, conserving and enhancing Norfolk’s built and historic environments
Increasing Accessibility: working in partnership to plan and deliver
Improving Transport Safety: using the Safe Systems approach to reduce casualties
A Well Managed and Maintained Transport Network: a focussed approach to maintenance and network management
A bereaved mum is preparing for a monster walking challenge to support the children’s hospice that gave her “priceless” time with her baby son. Claire Wright is taking part in the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Pier to Pier event on 25th June. Alongside friends Beccy Ogston and Lesley Owen, the trio and about 150 others will trek 32 miles from Cromer to Great Yarmouth. They will be raising money for EACH – a charity close to Claire’s heart following the death of little Jacob, in April 2012. He was just 16 months old and had mitochondrial disease. There was no treatment or cure and he died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge. Claire and husband Bob received support at the EACH hospice in Milton and now, having taken part in previous fundraisers, she is both excited and nervous about her gruelling walk along the beautiful Norfolk Coastal Path. She said: “I’ve done the odd half-marathon and have a decent level of fitness, but the main thing is the mental side of taking on such a massive challenge. “It’s about telling your legs and feet to keep moving when the rest of your body is willing you to stop. “It’s such a long way but I know we can do it. We’ll get there and it’s nice doing something a bit less intense than running. “We’ll be able to walk and talk along the way and the three of us will spur each other on. When one is struggling, the others will be able to lift them. “I’m very proud to be taking part and when I tuck into my fish and chips at the end, I’ll be pleased to tick the challenge off my list and think ‘I did it’.” If Claire needs any inspiration along the way, she can turn and face Beccy – one of Jacob’s nurses at Milton. The pair lost touch but have since become great friends and ‘running buddies’, with both living in Sutton, near Ely. Their children go to the same primary school. Jacob was born in December 2010. He had health complications from the outset, including a cataract in one eye and mild hearing problems, but those issues intensified and he had a form of “uncontrollable” epilepsy called infantile spasms. Sadly, his condition deteriorated and he was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease in February 2012. He ended up in intensive care and it was at that point the family’s specialist nurse referred them to EACH. “By that stage we knew we didn’t have long left and met the team at Milton,” said Claire, who has a four-year-old daughter, Charlotte. “They were incredible and, from that moment on, all my fears about what a hospice was and meant went out the window. “It was the most amazing place I’ve ever been in my life. “Jacob died two weeks later. On the day he died, we’d been due to go in and spend the weekend together at Milton. “His little body was taken straight from hospital to the hospice for a further ten days and he went from there to his funeral. “Jacob lived for 501 days but I always think of his life lasting 511 days, because of those precious ten days. To me, they were just as important as the previous 500. “The staff at the hospice were, and continue to be, truly amazing people, helping others deal with an unimaginably hard and painful time in their lives. “They made the whole experience bearable, giving us time with our son – time we wouldn’t have had otherwise – and also giving other family members a chance to visit and say goodbye. “My eight-year-old nephew visited twice and I read him stories, next to Jacob’s cot. “After the second time I remember him saying ‘I think I’ve said goodbye now’. “It gave him some kind of closure and he’d never have had that opportunity without EACH. “Goodness knows what effect that might have had on him in later life.” Claire and Bob received help in terms of planning Jacob’s funeral. “Everyone at the hospice was phenomenal,” said the 47-year-old, an operations manager for the Lily Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting mitochondrial disease based in Warlingham. “Obviously they couldn’t make things better but they were there to help with things like the funeral, which lifted such a weight from our shoulders. “We were dealing with things we never thought we’d have to contend with and yet here was a group of people ready to help and support us. “Another memory that will always stay with me was waking up in the middle of the night and wanting to hold Jacob’s hand. “When I went into his room, they were playing nursery rhymes as though he were still alive. “To some people that might sound strange but to me it was just beautiful. “He was still my little boy and the fact they cared so much meant the world.” Claire continued having one-to-one counselling after the funeral, which she felt “helped enormously”. She also found a renewed purpose by throwing herself into fundraising, as well as raising awareness. She has previously taken part in an EACH Santa Run and, in April 2019, was the face of bold, hugely successful campaign to help drive donations to EACH shops. It was launched just days after the seventh anniversary of Jacob’s death. Life-sized cardboard cut-outs of Claire, partially hidden behind a board, greeted customers and the initiative was called Dress Claire. Donations soared and £30,000-worth of items were handed over compared to the same period the previous year. In total, across the two-week campaign, EACH received around 13,400 bags, representing a 30% spike from 2018. “The Santa Dash was the first thing I did and it gave me a new sense of purpose,” she said. “It was a catalyst for wanting to do more and from that point on I threw myself into doing whatever I could. “It feels like by raising money I have a new way of being Jacob’s mum. “If I give something back in any way, I always will. “It’s my way of saying thank you for everything the charity has done, then and now. “I remember the staff saying they’d always be there for me and they’ve been true to their word. “EACH is the most amazing charity and I honestly can’t imagine going through what we went through without it. It really is phenomenal.” To sponsor Claire, head 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 EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. It has three hospices – Milton in addition to The Nook, in Framingham Earl, just outside Norwich, and The Treehouse, in Ipswich. *Photos – One of Jacob, two of Claire, Bob and Jacob and one of Claire, Bob and their 4-year old daughter Charlotte
CyberScale are always on the lookout for new talent and right now we have 3 vacancies. We are currently looking for: Senior Security Consultant / vCISO Cyber Security Consultant Sales Executive Apprentice If you want to make an impact in a growing Norfolk business, or might know someone who does, you can see all the detail over on our website: https://www.cyberscale.co.uk/careers/
Photo of Nina Mae Fowler taken by Craig Wylie A renowned artist plans to raise money for charity by inviting portrait commissions with a difference – sitters are drawn while watching their favourite film. Norfolk-based Nina Mae Fowler has offered to draw ten portraits for £5,000 each and plans to donate ten per cent of her fee to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). A further ten per cent will go to Baroness Helena Kennedy’s Urgent Afghanistan Appeal. Nina’s gesture follows on from a successful fundraising project in 2020, when she produced 200 portrait sketches and raised £20,600 for The Trussell Trust’s Foodbanks. The 41-year-old is known for her detailed, large-scale drawings and in 2019 she was awarded a major commission for the National Portrait Gallery. She was asked to produce a series of ‘Luminary Drawings’ – portrait drawings of nine leading film directors watching a film of importance to them. Individuals selected included Ridley Scott, Sally Potter, Sam Mendes, Ken Loach and Amma Asante MBE. Now Nina plans to give others the opportunity to have a portrait of themselves or a family member captured while watching their favourite film. She said: “I initiated a similar project during the first lockdown in 2020. “It was a great success and I’m hoping this will carry similar momentum. “The cinema portraits are about capturing a normally unseen moment of rapture as the sitter is immersed in their favourite film. “Whether it’s a child or adult, I aim to portray them when they’ve forgotten they’re being watched and have lost themselves in the joy of great cinema. “Their faces lit only by the screen, we, as the viewer, get to share in that magical cinematic collapse of time.” Everyman Cinemas are supporting the project by offering the use of their venues for private client sittings. Alternatively, Nina can set up a cinema environment in her studio or the sitter’s home. She will take stills and make preliminary sketches that form the basis of the final pencil and charcoal drawing. Film star Jude Law and comedian Lee Mack have shown their support by sitting for Nina in order to help promote the project. More are set to follow of actress Sienna Miller, publisher and fashion designer Caroline Issa and playwright Polly Stenham. A limited edition print of Nina’s Jude Law drawing, priced at £120, is proving popular already and for each sale, 50% of the proceeds are being donated to Nina’s charities. That means £30 from each sale will be donated directly to EACH. The direct link to the shop is www.ninafowlerprint.com/shop/p/jude-law-charity-portrait Nina is delighted to be supporting EACH and said: “I’ve been a long-standing supporter of this charity, which is local to me in Norfolk. “Having recently visited The Nook, I’m in awe of the work they do to support not only children with life-limiting illnesses and complicated needs but also their siblings, grandparents and other family members. “They offer a safe haven of peace and comfort, staffed by the most incredibly caring people. “They need funding to continue their work on every level, from the heated pool which offers pain-free movement and a place to have fun to the smaller but equally important services like musical therapists, who bring joyful sensations to children facing unbelievably difficult emotional and physical circumstances.” Kevin Clements, EACH Director of Fundraising and Communications, says Nina’s offer will give people the chance to receive something “special, personal and unique” – as well as supporting the charity’s work across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. He said: “We’re absolutely thrilled and very excited to have been approached by Nina.“She’s incredibly talented and her body of work, and attention to detail, is truly breath-taking.“That’s what makes this such an incredible opportunity for anyone keen to commission one of her portraits.“They will be receiving something very special, personal and unique while at the same time generating vital income, helping us support families and care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions.” *Slideshow images- Portrait of Jude Law watching The Godfather and Lee Mack and daughter Millie watching a Harry Potter film.