In Part 1 of Our Guide to Workplace Acoustics, we explored the impact of noise on wellbeing and productivity, as well as the ways in which structural elements can reduce its effects. However, there’s more to minimising noise than permanent fixtures.
In this article, we turn from the building to its contents, exploring how furniture and moveable objects can also be used to minimise workplace noise and distractions.
*WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS* NEW WEBSITE: Hello 🙂 We’re very pleased to be able to share our new professionally designed website, thanks to the guys over at Think – Digital Marketing. We have partnered up with their team based in Norwich, and instructed them to become our new ‘Marketing department’. So we’re super excited for the launch of a new three month campaign to recruit more properties in Norfolk and Suffolk, starting next week. If you’d like to chat to us about joining our team of owners, please drop us a message. NEW TEAM MEMBERS:
We’re very happy that Paul and Tom at Mortgage Response have come on board, and as such we can now offer a fully comprehensive turn-key service. Between us we can offer property acquisition, in-house mortgages, Project Management, Marketing and full Property Management.
COMING SOON: We have a new and exciting tasty collaboration launching on the bank holiday weekend with Erics of Thornham, two further properties being added in Cromer and Knodishall, and a sixth team member joining us to help run the office shortly. TWO NEW OFFICES: As well as our beautiful coastal office in Bacton, we now have two new hubs in Norwich and Diss. THREE NEW HOLIDAY HOMES: We’re also super excited to be able to share three stunning new fully managed properties with you. Two of them are available to book now too, so we hope you love them as much as we do: SEAWAVES COTTAGE
Availabale from the 10th September, Seawaves Cottage is a gorgeous Edwardian holiday home located around 150 yards to Pakefield’s glorious golden sandy beach. This property combines all the convenience of a very well thought out and stylish new-to-market home, while oozing the charm and sophistication of a coastal house. You’ll love the stylish interior, comfy beds, ample garden and quiet location – sleeping up to 5 people in 3 bedrooms and welcoming 2 doggies. Shops, restaurants, cinema, theatre, all within walking distance.
https://www.eastcoasthideaways.co.uk/seawaves-cottage-pakefield/ KIRKLEY REACH
Kirkley Reach is a new-to-market Victorian bay fronted house, a stone’s throw to Kirkley’s sandy beach. This grand property boasts a fully enclosed South facing rear garden, and all the convenience of a well thought out home, while oozing the charm of a stylish seaside bolthole. It sleeps 8 people in 4 bedrooms with an extra room sleeping 2 if needed. It welcomes 2 doggies and will be having a hot tub fitted in October.
https://www.eastcoasthideaways.co.uk/kirkley-reach-kirkley/
Norfolk County Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council would like to hear your thoughts on proposals to improve our active travel network in Great Yarmouth, but please act quickly because the survey closes on 8th September. The plans are a result of work to create a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, which supports the Government’s ambition to make cycling and walking the natural choices for making short journeys in towns and cities. The proposals include seven routes, which could see a range of improvements over the coming years including redesigned junctions to help walkers and cyclists to use them more easily, new and improved cycle lanes and footpaths, improved cycle parking and junction safety improvements. In addition, there are also plans to improve pedestrian accessibly within two priority walking zones. These are situated in Great Yarmouth town centre with a link to the seafront and Gorleston High Street and seafront. To help prioritise the proposals Norfolk County Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council are inviting local businesses and organisations to review the improvements and to share feedback by completing a simple on-line survey. I have attached a short briefing document which contains a summary of the proposals and any feedback received will be used to help shape and prioritise the initial plans as well as identify any new schemes. To find out more and to complete the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston cycling and walking survey please visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/activetravel before 8th September.
Free to attend event will help businesses tackle the climate crisis as aviation charter company ‘Clear the Air’ around sustainability
Within the next three decades, sustainable practices will become second nature to us all, not only as a nation but across the globe as we strive to cut emissions to net zero by 2050. A recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report explicitly places the responsibility for the rise in annual temperatures on human activity and warns that we must act now to address the impacts of global warming.
Already, many businesses have requirements to implement sustainable business practices and demonstrate to their customers that sustainability is a priority within their operations with many companies scoring potential suppliers on this important aspect when awarding tenders for major projects. SaxonAir’s “Clearing the Air” event seeks to bring local businesses together and inspire them to innovate, connect and collaborate on their sustainability goals and climate change at large. The focus of the event will be around activity that meets reduce, reuse and repair objectives. There will be designated areas within the event space where various exhibitors will be showcasing and demonstrating their products in relation to each ‘R’ and how businesses can take ideas away and apply them to their own operations. Hosts SaxonAir have already implemented many of their own sustainable business practices, with more in the pipeline. The aviation industry often comes under fire for its contribution to the climate emergency, but in reality contributes only 2% to global annual carbon emissions and is continuing to meet reduction targets set in 2009. It also innovates in carbon reduction and zero emission technologies, and SaxonAir are committed to reducing their carbon impact and taking responsibility for their contributions to climate change, having targeted being carbon neutral by 2025. The journey has been a challenging one for the aviation charter company, who say access to resources hasn’t always been easy: “We are committed to a sustainable future for aviation and beyond and the IPCC report cements this for us. Our ambitious sustainability goals keep us motivated, but accessing the resources needed to support these goals has often been difficult and sometimes confusing,” said Rebekah Hill, Wellbeing and Sustainability Manager at SaxonAir. “Because of the barriers we’ve faced in gaining access to resources, we want to make it as easy as possible for other businesses, particularly those small businesses who have limited resources, to find the help and guidance they need to commit to a sustainable future.” “Climate change affects us all – we’re all in this together! So, it’s important that we help each other to reduce our carbon emissions and prioritise sustainable operations. By doing so in a networking event style, we can connect local businesses and facilitate the sharing of best practice and innovative ideas, with the added benefit of being able to network for the first time in what feels like forever!”
James and Mark chat about how desk-bound workers can increase their energy levels despite the increasing demands of virtual meetings. As usual, they provide 3 top tips, and along the way they take inspiration from Aubrey Marcus’ recent podcast with author and body alignment expert Aaron Alexander (episode #319), American social psychologist Amy Cuddy and James’ 90’s smash hit Sit Down! Show notes:
The Human Body Operating Manual w/ Aaron Alexander podcast
We would love to hear from you – you can get in touch with us on podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, we would really appreciate a 5* review, as this helps other people find our podcast!
In our last monthly update we shared the exciting news that construction work had begun on our new Big C Cancer Support Centre on Dereham Road in Norwich. Four weeks later and we are making great progress on the Centre. The first stage demolition has now taken place – and as you’ll see from the picture there is little left of the original frontage of the Blockbusters building. This footprint at the front of the new building will include the Garden Room, Consultation and Therapy room and a meeting room. Surrounded by our Sensory Garden.
Since last month we have also raised a further £40K for the new Centre, currently totalling £590,000 of our £750,000 goal.
Help us raise the further £160K by either fundraising for Big C or donate directly to our #NearerToHome appeal here. Nearer to Home Appeal – JustGiving
When it comes to commercial interior design, it’s easy to get hung up on the visual impact of your space – but beware. The excitement of choosing fixtures, fittings and furniture may mean you overlook other important factors, such as workplace acoustics.
And with sound negatively affecting the concentration, productivity and creativity levels of 69% of workers, it can be an expensive oversight. In fact, a recent study reveals that chatty coworkers and office noise are cited as the top distractorsi n the workplace, while another shows that 44% of workers said that workplace noise had a negative impact on their wellbeing.
That’s why, at Layrd Design, we explore workplace acoustics at the start of your project. Plus, it ensures that all aspects of your workspace are fit for purpose. For instance, healthcare providers may need soundproof rooms to protect sensitive patient information, while hospitality and retail spaces often benefit from a little ambient noise.
As if the reasons above weren’t important enough, we should also mention that it can be difficult and expensive to retrofit acoustic measures once you’re up and running. Ignore them at your peril!
ABC of Workplace Acoustics Interior designers and architects use three key techniques to manage sound:
Norwich Airport sees the return of flights to Guernsey this week with the first of five weekly Saturday services for anyone looking for a Channel Island break.
Guernsey’s own airline Aurigny is operating the flights until September 18, marking the return of a summer service that it last operated from Norwich in 2019.
Malcolm Coupar, Commercial Director of Aurigny, said: “Aurigny are delighted to be returning to Norwich airport this weekend with the first of five weekly Saturday flights direct to Guernsey in just 90 minutes.
“The seasonal service has always been popular and gives many the opportunity to visit the beautiful islands of Guernsey, Herm, Sark, Lihou and Alderney, which together make up the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Guernsey provides the safety of home yet the exotic appeal of an overseas location with much to see and explore. We look forward to welcoming aboard our visitors from Norwich and the surrounding areas.”
Richard Pace, Managing Director of Norwich Airport, said: “It’s great to welcome Aurigny back with their flights to Guernsey and to be able to offer passengers another exciting destination from Norwich.
“This week has also seen the return of flights from Norwich to Corfu with TUI, and we’re looking forward to their Tenerife service re-starting next month. In July we saw flights resume to Majorca, Exeter and Edinburgh, adding to our services to Amsterdam, Aberdeen and Jersey, which are all operating now.
“Our 2022 holiday season is already shaping up well with flights to Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Italy and Bulgaria from May.”
To book Guernsey flights with Aurigny visit www.auringy.com. For a full list of destinations from Norwich Airport and details of how to book, visit www.norwichairport.co.uk
In this episode, James and Mark chat to the woman known as ‘The Business Motivator.’ Susannah Brade-Waring is a renowned and trusted business advisor and coach for SME businesses. A member of the global business coaching platform, Mindshop, Susannah recently received the coveted Value to Others award for European advisors.
She started out with a Master’s degree in IT from Loughborough University before becoming a Director of a start-up business, where she helped the ‘non-family’ family business build to a £10m turnover before facilitating a management buyout (MBO) in 2008. Susannah notes that for many business founders, their company is their baby; an expression of what they want in life. As it was important to her father to know the people would be looked after, Susannah stayed to facilitate the MBO. She’s honest about what drives her; what a ‘non-family’ family business looks like; and the realities of having to work harder than everyone else to prove yourself within one.
Susannah then moved on to found her own advisory business, Aspirin Business Solutions, which focuses on equipping and energising leaders, HR professionals and coaches to build stronger businesses and teams.
One of Susannah’s key specialisms is Motivational Maps, which provide a comprehensive understanding of motivation in business – what it is, how to measure it and, most importantly, how to improve it. She also discusses the difference between Motivational Maps and psychometric testing.
She chats to James and Mark about her own desire to learn what motivates her team, and how to engage best with them. She acknowledges that our motivations are linked to our beliefs, which can change during our course of life. She also notes the importance of recognising that everyone has ‘stuff’ going on, and if you get a reflection of their ‘stuff’, don’t take it personally! They also discuss growth mindsets and working on emotional intelligence and development, which she admits didn’t come naturally, and how to develop this as a skill set. Susannah is an example of the heights you can achieve by developing your unconscious competence.
With real life stories of owners and managers of businesses Susannah has worked with, her insights include fascinating reference points, such as Netflix’s open and honest leave and expenses policies, and the analogy of ‘one ring to rule them all.’ This is a conversation not to be missed!
You can learn more about the work Susannah does by visiting her website here and about Motivational Maps here.
Show notes: Susannah Brade-Waring LinkedIn profile. Stephen R Covey ‘7 habits of highly effective people’ website. Michael E Gerber ‘E-myths Revisited’ website. Robert Cialdini ‘The Influence’ website. Ricardo Sembler website.
Time stamps:
2:37 – Susannah’s background
16:07 – Motivational Maps: 22:34 – How do Motivational Maps differ from psychometric testing?
37:57 – Practical examples of how someone might increase their motivation levels
General Coaching:
54:24 – Common habits or behaviours running through the best performers
54:48 – What do you see as the biggest issues to overcome over the next year or so.
Ashtons Legal has recently donated over £5,000 to seven charities and causes across the Eastern region as part of the firm’s Wills Year campaign.
The Ashtons’ Wills Year campaign has run for a number of years and involves the firm making a donation to charity for each new Will completed and billed in an entire year.
The seven charities supported by the 2020-21 year are Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust in Cambridge, Arthur Rank Hospice, also in Cambridge, Gatehouse who are based in Bury St Edmunds, Norfolk Family Carers, Priscilla Bacon Hospice in Norwich, St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich and St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds. Each charity received £725.
Head of Individual Client Services at Ashtons Legal, Alan Brown said: “Due to the pandemic and the huge loss in only what can be described as a time of crisis for most charitable organisations in the UK, it is more important than ever to offer our support to the charities and causes close to us, and our clients. We are therefore delighted to be able to share funds with these hugely worthwhile causes who are vital in our local communities.”
The Employer Training Incentive Programme (ETIP) now extended so SMEs in all sectors can apply for training grants!
This programme is part of Norfolk County Council’s Bringing Employment and Skills Together initiative and now allows all types of businesses that are self-employed, small, medium or micro businesses to apply for funding to train their teams. The size of the up-front grant has changed as well, increasing from 50% to 75% to help employers retain and upskill their staff.
Training can cover a huge range of courses – just so long as is it supporting your business to grow, develop or diversify or help you upskill staff and retain jobs. From digital marketing to drone training, employers are getting involved and booking training for their teams. The training can be:
The training can be delivered face-to-face, online only or blended learning – it is up to you, though we need you to start your training by June 2022. You can pick the courses that best suit your business and tell us about them on the easy to complete application form.
You can also choose your own training provider – all we ask is that they are UK-based and preferably local!
The grant will fund up to 75% of training costs and there is a maximum award of £1500 per registered business. You’ll need to pay 25% of the course costs up front to your training provider and we will now pay the remaining 75% to your training provider. Remember not to book any training before you have completed your application form and had it approved as we can’t pay for any pre-booked courses.
The first thing you need to do is check out our website https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/etip for more information or email us at etip@norfolk.gov.uk with your contact details and where you are based. Our dedicated team will be in touch. They can support you by talking through your business needs, assisting you to find training or simply helping you complete an application form. Once that application is approved you can go ahead and book your training.
If you are an existing ETIP grant holder and want to get in touch about the scheme changes, again, contact us at etip@norfolk.gov.uk and we’ll be happy to talk it through with you.
So, if you are looking to use training as a way to attract or upskill new staff or simply looking to develop your present team, get in touch today and we’ll do what we can to see how the Employer Training Incentive Programme can help your business.