Member News

Our team are thrilled to announce that we are working with long-term client, JosTec (Jostec.co.uk) on a total refresh and rebrand.

Having worked with JosTec (formerly RJ Acoustics) for over 5 years, we are delighted to have seen them through significant periods of growth and business progression. Working with their design, development, technical, branding and PR teams, JosTec are now well on their way to success with a new and improved brand.

Although the previous website performed extremely well in the building acoustic testing and building regulations compliance spaces, the brand was in need of a refresh and all the opportunities this would present. Thus, there has been a great deal of search engine optimisation (SEO) work we have been working with JosTec on to ensure a smooth transition and a strong progress plan.

Pages and URLs – One of the key elements of moving from an old to a new site is making sure that the page URLs are not too drastically changed. Therefore, there is a great deal of ‘page mapping’ that is needed to ensure a smooth switch and seamless transition from an older to a newer site.

Crawling Factors – There are, in SEO various key factors, often referred to as ‘crawling factors,’ which are those that are key to Google and other search engine’s crawling and understanding of any website. IT is crucial that these are updated when any site goes live; whether a refresh or a brand-new website.

On Page Content – A key tenet of SEO is the content which is found on any and all pages of a website. Making sure website content is up to date is key. When refreshing a website, combing through and auditing the content is an important consideration, to allow for overall better performance when the new site goes live.

Website Feel and Design – As with any refresh of any website, design elements like colour schemes as well as the look and feel are always going to be updated and this is always a great opportunity to pay attention to important SEO factors and elements like site speed, user experience and mobile factors.

Time For You at Barnham Broom Make some Time For You at Barnham Broom. The resort offers perfect escapism for guests to relax, feel at ease and prioritise themselves and their own valuable time. The meaning may be different for everyone, but there is something for all to enjoy here. The two championship golf courses provide individuals an idyllic countryside setting to escape the everyday. In addition, members and visitors can enjoy premium practice facilities and expert yet friendly tuition, a Pro shop and much more. It’s the perfect opportunity to get into golf. The Edge Health & Fitness Club offers a state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, spin bikes, onsite and virtual fitness classes, tennis and squash courts and much more. It’s the ideal place to focus on wellbeing and make a positive change to exercise routines. Meanwhile, for spa-seekers looking for peace and tranquillity, The Spa at Barnham Broom will take the weight off those shoulders. Whether looking to relax with a massage, get spoiled with a luxury spa experience or feel flawless with a facial, the specialist therapists are on hand to prioritise guests. Or, for those who relish indulgent food, visit the award-winning Brasserie at Barnham Broom. Delve into decadent afternoon teas in the sunshine with friends, or cherish a moment with a loved one, whilst devouring delicious locally-sourced dishes. Watch our full video to see how guests, visitors and members enjoy Time For You at Barnham Broom: https://youtu.be/rLm9Zpm8J88 For more information on memberships, spa treatments or dining, visit www.barnham-broom.co.uk Alternatively, please get in touch using the details below: Golf and Health & Fitness Memberships – membership@barnham-broom.co.uk The Spa – spa@barnham-broom.co.uk The Brasserie – enquiry@barnham-broom.co.uk

In this weeks episode of Impromptu Business Chat, Mark and James share their views and personal experiences of Covid induced anxiety. They offer 3 top tips to help reduce anxiety levels, and along the way they make reference to the theory of Hedonic Adaption, the book Getting Things Done by David Allen, the work of Peter Crone (AKA The Mind Architect) and the song-writing skills of family entertainer Ken Dodd!

Find about more about David Allen’s Getting Things Done here and Peter Crone, The Mind Architect here.

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After so long with only very limited engagements with audiences in our unique theatre by the Barrack Street and Whitefriars roundabout in Norwich, we are opening little by little and bit by bit.

This weekend we host Norwich Fringe Pride Weekend

Next week we are open for Norfolk County Council family scheme, as well as hosting a lovely wedding group.

On Sunday 8th of August we are delighted that Bishop Graham Usher has opened the Bishop’s House Garden for our Charity. We hope you will take the opportunity to visit this wonderful garden and enjoy with us the entertainment of Puppet activities, music and dance as well as refreshments.  Here’s the info on our new website https://puppettheatre.co.uk/event/norwich-puppet-theatre-in-the-bishops-garden/

For the rest of August we shall have community drop in days for children and families, with refreshments and storytelling.

in September we launch a new Youth Theatre programme.

Our big Puppet Theatre “Reawakening” will be later in October for half term week with a teenage and grown up,show as well as a family version in an action packed programme. Watch this space for details!

Norfolk is famous for a lot of things, and back in 2015 when the BBC commissioned a behind the scenes reality TV series about life on Wiveton Hall Farm; Normal for Norfolk, the captivating Desmond MacCarthy was added to the list! Chris chats to Desmond about life on and off camera; Desmond’s passion for the environment; and how you pivot a business model from fruit picking and farming, into a successful tourist destination. Desmond highlights the importance of sustainability within the tourism sector, how agricultural firms need to embrace this, and how all those in the sector need to start engaging with the concepts of sourcing local, reducing their carbon footprints and how returning to traditional farming techniques may be the key.

They delve into life in lockdown, and the impact that this had on the farm café and, along with Brexit, the ongoing struggle of recruitment within the fruit farming facet of the business, which is intrinsic to the USP of the café. They also discuss the practical changes that COVID brought to the day-to-day running of the business, and what will stay as a result of the positive impact they had on profit and minimising outgoings.

They discuss the potential for growth in the sector throughout Norfolk, and the unique positioning it has in the region, and how investment has been key for them, particularly with their holiday cottage lets. Desmond also takes us back in time, on a whimsical journey into his family heritage, and the evolution of the family business.

Chris gets Desmond to open up about his time being filmed by the BBC, what impact his celebrity status had on the farm and its visitor numbers, and the pro’s and con’s this brings when you have a message you want to get out into the world, but all they are interested in are your ‘animated’ eyebrows!

This is an unmissable chat with one of Norfolk’s most eccentric, interesting, and well-known figures, working successfully, and consistently pivoting within the sector. Desmond is proof that a positive attitude and a love of people is key to success in customer facing business.  

You can learn more about Wiveton Hall Farm here

Catch up on Desmond’s antics on Normal for Norfolk on BBC iPlayer, or on YouTube here

Thank you for listening, and for supporting the podcast into series three! Don’t forget you can still catch up on previous episodes, and subscribe on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Audible, or wherever else you get your podcasts! We would love you to rate and review us where you can, it helps others to find our podcasts. You can also catch up by visiting our website here.

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Norfolk’s newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has launched his Police and Crime Plan consultation asking people across the county to tell him what matters most to them about crime and policing in their area.

Giles Orpen-Smellie was elected Norfolk’s PCC in May 2021. As PCC, one of his primary responsibilities is to publish a Police and Crime Plan within his first year of office setting out the priorities for Norfolk Constabulary during his term.

Ahead of developing his Police and Crime Plan, Giles has launched a public consultation on his proposed policing and crime priorities for Norfolk and is urging people to share their views by taking a short online survey.

“As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I am responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account for operational policing,” said Giles. “One of the ways I achieve this is by developing a Police and Crime Plan that takes account of the local policing priorities that matter to you.

“When you take part in my survey I will be able to use your responses, along with information from the Chief Constable and other partner organisations, to inform the development of my Police and Crime Plan. That plan will set out the policing objectives for the county for my term as PCC and demonstrate how I will work with other key stakeholders and partners to help keep Norfolk safe.”

The consultation will run from Monday 26 July until Friday 20 August 2021. To find out more and share your views with the PCC, visit www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/police-and-crime-plan/consultation  

Norwich City Council have released their latest economic barometer. The report highlighted:

Locally

• The plans to expand a city hotel could see a top celebrity chef opening his first restaurant in Norwich.
• Around 35 per cent of Norwich’s office workers have returned to their desks in the city
• A buyer has been found for the former Debenhams store in Orford Place – a sign of good news for the high street.
• Norwich University of the Arts has been rated second in the world for Design Education Institution by the World Brand Design Society awards.

Nationally

• Strong growth in output across the UK private sector being among the fastest since January 1998.
• Manufacturing remained in a strong growth phase, with rates of expansion in output, new orders and employment among the best seen during the near 30-year survey history.
• The recovery in UK construction output gained further momentum, with overall construction activity expanding at the fastest pace since June 1997.

  For full details of the latest economic barometer, click here.

County Council’s proposal for the Long Stratton Bypass moves a significant step closer today after the Government confirmed vital funding for the project. Approval of the council’s Outline Business Case, submitted in January, has now been received from The Department for Transport along with a funding commitment of £26.2 million towards the cost of the building the new road, which will cut congestion and support the local economy for years to come. The council is working in collaboration with developer Norfolk Homes Ltd/Norfolk Land Ltd to bring forward the proposals for the long-awaited bypass, which will feed into a revised planning application expected to shortly be submitted to South Norfolk Council by the developer. As part of the planning process, South Norfolk Council will then complete a consultation on the planning application details. Cllr Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport and member of Transport East said: “This is fantastic news and a most timely announcement from government, particularly in view of the Covid-19 recovery. The A140 through Long Stratton is a real pinch point that affects thousands of road users, and the people who live and work in Long Stratton, on a daily basis. We want to deliver this vital scheme as soon as possible to cut congestion, help the local economy and vastly improve this major regionally important route linking Norwich and Ipswich. The bypass is set to create hundreds of new jobs and homes, open up improvements for cycling and walking, and solve traffic and transport issues local people have been facing for more than a generation.”

South Norfolk District Councillor, Alison Thomas said: “Having campaigned for a bypass for Long Stratton since 1997 I am delighted that funding has been agreed as we have lobbied hard and the government has listened. Our role now will be to ensure the project is delivered within budget and timescales to improve the safety and well-being of all those living, working or travelling through Long Stratton. This is a great day for Long Stratton residents and one many feared would never come!” The proposed new A140 bypass will be a single carriageway road that will provide a new junction at Church Lane to the north, extending from this junction on the east side of Long Stratton in a southerly direction for approximately 3.9km, where it will re-join the existing A140 just south of Oakside farm. The estimated overall cost of the bypass is £37.44m with the remaining funding primarily sourced from local developer contributions and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Subject to receiving all of the necessary statutory approvals, including planning permission, the target date for work to start on construction is mid-2023, with the road open to traffic before the end of 2024.

• Flagship Group is carrying out consultation with residents of the Abbey estate in Thetford to shape the future of their community;
• After the first step of consultation in June, local people are being invited to give their views on three possible options and solutions which have been developed based on community feedback;
• The consultation comes after Flagship carried out extensive community engagement between 2019 and 2020 to understand what matters to local people;
• Further consultation will be carried out this autumn for local people to identify a preferred option for the Abbey.

Residents on the Abbey estate in Thetford are being asked to help to shape the future of their area as community consultation gathers pace.

Last month, Flagship Group began consulting local people on possible options and ideas for the Abbey which had been developed in response to themes highlighted by the community.

Four options and a range of improvements to tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour, parking, use and condition of the garages, and safety and connectivity across the estate were presented to residents for their views.

These included improvements to the garage courts, a new neighbourhood park, new homes, a wider choice of shops, new play facilities, better lighting, and suggestions for the river area, amongst others.

Around 440 local people took part in the first step of the consultation which revealed:

• Improved facilities for young people, better parking across the estate, and better lighting were the most important improvements for local people;
• Better lighting across the estate and a new neighbourhood park were the ideas people liked most;
• An adventure playground and trees and planting were the top choices for a new neighbourhood park;
• Improved parking was the most important improvement residents would like to see on their street.

Residents were also asked to choose which of four options for the estate they would like, with the least preferred option now removed from further consultation.

Based on the feedback, Flagship Group is consulting again and is presenting solutions to the issues and themes raised in step 1. This includes parking improvements and more detail on a new neighbourhood park. And, people will this time be asked to rate three possible options for the estate.

Peter Hawes, Chairman of Flagship Group said: “Thank you to everyone who shared their views in the first step of our consultation with Abbey residents.

“We have listened to what you’ve told us and as a result, we’re presenting solutions in response to the issues and feedback that emerged from step 1 of the consultation.

“We are committed to the Abbey estate. We know it’s a place with a great community spirit but with a number of challenges too. We want to work with local people to tackle these, bring significant and sustainable improvements, and make the estate an even better place to be for today’s, and tomorrow’s, residents.”

Every resident on the estate is receiving a brochure that sets out the possible options and solutions and they can have their say by completing the form sent out with the brochure – returning to the neighbourhood centre or in the freepost envelope – or online: www.givemyview/abbeyestate/polls  The closing date for feedback in this step of the consultation is Monday 9 August 2021.

Flagship is also offering residents the opportunity to find out more about the consultation by taking part in a 121 drop-in at the neighbourhood centre on these dates:

• Monday 26 July                 12pm – 5pm
• Wednesday 28 July          4pm – 8pm
• Thursday 29 July               12pm – 5pm
• Friday 30 July                     12pm – 5pm

The consultation comes on the back of extensive community engagement between 2019 and 2020 to find out what matters to local people in their area, with drop-in events and online polls held to gather feedback.

Peter Hawes added: “I would urge Abbey residents to please tell us what you think. We want to know what you want for your community, what you would like to see, and what improvements are the most important for you.

“We don’t know yet what the future will look like – and these are long-term plans – but we do know that we will do something: because of the feedback we’ve heard, doing nothing is not an option. But, whatever we do will be shaped collaboratively.”

Flagship is committed to working with community partners and organisations, including Norfolk County Council and Breckland Council. In November 2019, Norfolk County Council and Breckland Council agreed to work collaboratively with Flagship Group for the Abbey estate.

Norfolk County Councillor Graham Plant, deputy leader and cabinet member for growing the economy, said: “I’d encourage all Abbey estate residents to come forward with their views on how to transform the estate, its surroundings and its services. I look forward to seeing what ideas emerge.”

Cllr Paul Claussen, Breckland Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development and Growth, commented: “This is an exciting opportunity for local people to help shape the future of the Abbey estate, from the housing there to community facilities and services. I urge residents to come forward to share their views and outline what is most important to them, so Flagship can shape their proposals with people’s comments in mind.”

This is just the second step in a process which will see further consultation later this autumn when residents will be invited to choose the option they want for the Abbey.

Any resident wishing to find out more can do so – www.givemyview/abbeyestate or Abbey Engagement Updates | Facebook Residents can also get in touch: 0808 168 4555 or abbeyengagement@flagship-group.co.uk

To start season 5 James and Mark respond to a specific listener request to chat about a very important topic; men’s mental health. They share their personal experiences and offer ideas and practical tips to help promote better mental well-being (which are applicable regardless of gender). As usual, they sprinkle the episode with references to a mix of credible authors and speakers, along with some light-hearted musical links!

Special thanks to Louise Newby at Three Eggs Training for inspiring this episode. If you would like to learn more about the work Louise does with Three Eggs, you can visit their site here.

To jump to a specific top tip skip to the below:

03:08 Tip #1: Buddy systems

14:20 Tip #2: Journaling

21:08 Tip #3: Positive Role Models

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, we would really appreciate a review, as this helps other people find our podcasts!

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21 June 2021: Residents and businesses across Norwich will benefit from a £50m digital infrastructure project with the build set to begin in early September. 

CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, is mobilising ahead of work starting and has now appointed a contractor to deliver the build programme. This will see full fibre connectivity laid across Norwich, giving almost every home and business in the city access to the game-changing technology.  

Utilities specialist Telec Networks will serve as contractor and will use a range of construction methods while working in close partnership with Norwich City Council and local communities to deliver a fast rollout while minimising disruption to residents. 

Norwich is one of a growing number of locations in the UK to benefit from CityFibre’s £4bn Gigabit City investment programme which will bring new and better broadband infrastructure within reach of up to eight million homes and businesses nationwide.  

To spearhead the project, CityFibre has appointed Charles Kitchin as City Manager. As City Manager, Charles will be the main point of contact between stakeholders and the CityFibre team, ensuring the project continues to be implemented with minimal disruption to Norwich communities.  

Charles Kitchin, CityFibre’s City Manager for Norwich said: “The next chapter in Norwich’s story starts here. Our builders will soon get to work on a city-wide full fibre network – and we think people will be blown away by the difference it will make, both now and for generations to come. We cannot wait for residents and businesses to see what is possible with digital connectivity that propels you forward rather than holds you back. 

“The appointment of a contractor is a major step forward for us as we prepare to bring full fibre connectivity to the city at the same time as creating new jobs and opportunities. I look forward to working closely with Telec Networks, residents of Norwich and local authority partners to deliver this vital project which will future-proof the city’s digital infrastructure.” 

Peter Butler, Operations Director at Telec Networks, added: “We’re delighted to be CityFibre’s chosen build partner for this exciting full fibre roll out programme.  This is a great opportunity for the local community, as well as businesses including homeworkers, as digital technology becomes increasingly integrated into our lives. The project will also create local employment, and we are already engaging with Norwich for jobs to support recruitment, as well as sourcing local suppliers for our supply chain.” 

Unlike copper-based ’fibre broadband’ services available today, full fibre networks use 100% fibre optic cables to carry data at lightning speed all the way from the home to the point of connection. This gives users consistently speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps for upload and download, near limitless bandwidth so everyone at home can work, study, stream or game simultaneously, while providing connectivity users can depend on.  

Alan Waters, leader of Norwich City Council, said: “Norwich is an amazing place for people to live, work in and enjoy and investment in its digital future is paramount to achieving one of the five key ambitions in our 2040 vision for the city: a connected city. 

“We’re so pleased to be working with CityFibre, Telec Networks and Charles to deliver this important project and are really looking forward to our residents and businesses taking advantage of the benefits it will bring. 

“This project is an extremely important step forward as we seek to restore the local economy and support local businesses as part of our key priorities in our covid-19 recovery plan.” 

As work is completed in each neighbourhood, internet service providers (ISPs) will ‘light up the network’ with some of the fastest and most competitive broadband packages available in terms of both data and price.  

In Norwich, services will be available from an increasing range of broadband providers. Across the UK, CityFibre is already working with launch partner Vodafone to supply full fibre infrastructure for customers on selected Vodafone Pro Broadband plans, while TalkTalk and other providers are expected to join the network soon.  

Residents interested in giving their home broadband a boost can find out more about the build, pre-register their interest and find out when new ISPs join at www.cityfibre.com/residential.  

Meanwhile, Telec Networks is currently looking to recruit new members to its team to support the rollout programme, with 100 jobs set to be created during the life of the project. Local people interested in finding out more about job opportunities can register their interest at https://buildthenetwork.cityfibre.com/.

ENDS 

Issued on behalf of CityFibre by Weber Shandwick. For more information or images, contact: Scott McLeod smcleod@webershandwick.com   

Notes to Editors:

About CityFibre:   

CityFibre is the UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform. With existing networks in more than 60 towns and cities, CityFibre provides wholesale connectivity to multiple business and consumer service providers, local authorities and mobile operators.  

CityFibre has network rollouts underway with plans to pass up to 8 million homes and businesses with open-access full fibre infrastructure. A growing number of Gigabit City projects have been announced for full-city rollouts and CityFibre continues to prime its existing network assets for expansion. 

CityFibre is based in London and is jointly controlled by Antin Infrastructure Partners and West Street Infrastructure Partners.

With increasing rhetoric and fears of shortages being experienced in Northern Ireland and more concerns being raised by major High Street retailers, the Prime Minister has today acknowledged that the current solution for Northern Ireland is unworkable.

“Unfortunately, one vital area of this partnership is not working well – the arrangements relating to Northern Ireland set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol’ … It is increasingly clear that we cannot solve the problems simply by a rigid and unpurposive application of the Protocol in its current form.”  Boris Johnson You can read for yourself the changes proposed by clicking here To help I have picked out a few highlights from the document that was released just a few hours ago. What are the key Issues Businesses of all sizes have faced new requirements for customs declarations whether goods are staying in Northern Ireland or not. Those moving agri-food goods have faced additional burdens in securing multiple health certificates for each of the thousands of items making up consignments, even when they are destined for sale on shelves in Northern Ireland. Supply chains have been disrupted and costs increased, with staff redeployed to deal with new bureaucracy, impacting investment and growth. Consumers have seen real impacts: at least 200 companies in Great Britain have stopped servicing the Northern Ireland market

• plants and trees long-sourced from Great Britain can no longer be stocked in nurseries or garden centres in Northern Ireland;
• supermarkets have reduced their product lines due to the delays and barriers in moving goods; and the costs of deliveries for those who do serve the market have continued to increase.

The effects are felt more broadly too.

• Medicines are at risk of discontinuation because the hurdles to clear to reach the small Northern Ireland market make supply unviable.
• And pet owners, including those reliant on assistance dogs, have faced the prospect of unnecessary vaccinations and treatments, and bureaucratic certification hurdles simply to travel

What can we do about it? Option 1: Invoke Article 16, the safeguard mechanism in the agreement. If you remember the EU used Article 16 amid the row over vaccines supplies in January this year, but quickly back tracked. Article 16 can be invoked “Where the application of the Protocol has led or would lead to serious societal and economic difficulties liable to persist, or where diversion of trade is borne out in practice or would occur” Option 2: Rather than use Article 16, we can try to find a consensual path i.e. negotiate a new deal on this with the EU. ‘”We now need urgent talks that can try to find a new balance for the Protocol: one that fully respects Northern Ireland’s place in the UK market, while maintaining the integrity of the EU’s own market” What needs to be reviewed?

• Customs – formalities
• Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures – certification and checks
• VAT and excise – costs
• Enforcement – reciprocal data-sharing arrangements
• Unfettered access – Documentary requirements from NI to UK
• Circulation of goods within Northern Ireland – full dual regulatory regime in Northern Ireland
• Subsidy control – Northern Ireland remains part of the EU’s subsidy control framework in certain areas
• Governance – putting in place new institutional arrangements making the UK and EU into a partnership of equals
• Consultation and legislative processes – EU/UK consent mechanism to be agreed

What next? Freeze things as they are. “To provide space for these discussions, the Government believes it is vital to provide certainty and stability for businesses in Northern Ireland in the short term. Accordingly, we believe we and the EU should agree a ‘standstill’ on existing arrangements, including the operation of grace periods in force, and a freeze on existing legal actions and processes, to ensure there is room to negotiate without further cliff edges, and to provide a genuine signal of good intent to find ways forward.” “We invite the EU to join us in an intensive process that resolves these issues on a durable, sustainable basis, and enables us to look forward to the better future beyond.”