Member News

Norfolk County Council have produced a briefing for retailers looking to trade safely during the Tier 2 restrictions. Coronavirus infection rates are still high in Norfolk. You could have customers on your premises who are infectious but may not be aware they have the virus and may have no symptoms.  As a retailer, you have a lot of influence with your customers. Please play your part to encourage safer behaviour in the community. The less face to face contact between people the less chance of them catching or passing on the virus. As a responsible retailer, you can help by:

• Encouraging your customers to shop online and use delivery / click & collect. If you don’t have your own online shop, you could sell via one of the established websites such as Etsy or Not on the High Street (others are available) or your local district council may offer support for getting a digital offer off the ground. Promoting online browsing or offering virtual shopping appointments online can reduce the amount of time that customers need to be in the shop. 
• Limiting the number of customers on the premises at any time. Staggering or expanding opening hours where possible can help so that footfall isn’t concentrated.
• Encouraging your customers to use hand sanitizer, wear face coverings (unless exempt) and socially distance whilst on your premises.
• Ensuring that any forming queues are socially distanced. Outside your premises, marking 2m boxes on the floor with tape can be effective for social distancing.  
• Encouraging a continuous flow of customers around your premises (and so avoid gatherings).
• Avoiding promotions that will encourage increased footfall likely to result in crowds (such as one-day only offers).
• Ensuring your staff:
  • know what is expected of them to operate in a Covid-secure way
  • know what you want the customers to do 
  • are trained to encourage Covid prevention among customers

Following Covid prevention actions will always be better for business than having to manage an outbreak or have to move to tighter restrictions, so please do all you can. For further help and support visit the Norfolk County Council website.

Working together to protect Norfolk

Working closely with our communities has been a key focus for every district across Norfolk during the Covid 19 pandemic.  With the Tiers coming into place on Wednesday 2 December, Covid marshals and support officers will continue to be recruited and deployed across the county.  Their aim is to advise, educate, and engage with businesses and members of the public around the restriction, working together to tackle the threats we all still face and bring us down into Tier 1. As well as providing support to the communities they work in, they also act as the eyes and the ears of the districts, reporting back improvements that could be made, concerns and repeat offenders.

While they all share similar role profiles (see examples attached), each district is using their marshals, support officers or support advisors slightly differently. The funding for the roles has been provided by the central government Covid Outbreak Management Fund.

Highlighting the importance of the role Tom McCabe, Norfolk’s Resilience Forum Chair, said:  “Many Covid-19 marshals and support officers have been in place for some weeks now, supporting businesses and helping to encourage, engage and educate people in how to protect themselves and those around them.

“The feedback on their role has largely been really positive, with our communities recognising that these officers are working with them to keep us all safe. The role is likely to evolve over the coming weeks and months as we move different types of restrictions with the expected changes to local and national regulations, but they will continue to be out on the streets and will be happy to help where they can. “

Breckland Council has recruited 10 Covid Support Staff – one Lead Covid Support Officer to coordinate and supervise a team of nine Covid Support Officers – with officers in post before the end of the current restrictions period. The role of this team will be to provide advice and support to businesses, engage with residents and support with the track-and-trace and door-knocking work in the community.  They will be a flexible resource that will move between the work on the high street and contact tracing, dependant on the priority at the time. Breckland has also recruited two Covid Compliance Officers to support the new enforcement powers that districts have been given.

Broadland and South Norfolk have interviewed and made offers of six month fixed term contracts to 10 Covid Support Advisors who will start on Monday next week, following the attached role profile. They will be managed through two district team leaders, due to be interviewed shortly, who will provide daily briefing and tasking from their offices in Thorpe St Andrew and Long Stratton. It is important to note that these are support and advice roles rather than enforcement roles. Enforcement will be picked through their existing regulatory teams, however, as most Covid issues, things are moving at pace and there may be changes to this position at short notice. All Covid related roles will liaise closely with district command policing and – on the ground – with beat managers.

Great Yarmouth has had Covid support officers in place since early October, with an average of six officers patrolling each day. They have proven to be so effective in educating, advising and engaging with businesses that Great Yarmouth is currently recruiting for more on a six month contract basis. The aim is to have 10 FTE support officers along with a team of flexible officers to support when needed. On a daily basis the team talk to businesses and the general public, assist with social distancing at schools and leaflet drop where appropriate.

Norwich have Covid 19 Support Officers, who during lockdown have been a core group of four to six patrolling the city each day between 10am and 4pm. The officers have been working with those businesses that are permitted to open to ensure that they are maintaining high levels of Covid protection and have been identifying businesses that may be trading when the legislation requires them to be closed. The team is managed by their Events Team and any issues that are identified by the support officers are relayed to the Environmental Health Enforcement Teams.

As the city reopens, they will be increasing the number of Covid19 Support Officers to pre-lockdown levels of up to 20 people on duty per day. To increase the impact of the officers, they will work in two shifts to cover the daytime business economy of 9am to 6pm. They will work to increase their interaction with the public and focussing on the key messages of hands: face: space. Street signage will be improved and there will also be the provision of information booths offering hand sanitiser and face coverings.

North Norfolk are building on their successes during the summer and will have six Covid-19 Support Officers working in their market towns and seaside resorts including Holt, Fakenham, Cromer, Sheringham, Wells-next the Sea and North Walsham. They will be a visible presence in areas of high footfall across the district from Wednesday, working six days a week. The Covid-19 Support Officers will provide advice, guidance and reassurance to residents, visitors and businesses on the latest Covid-19 restrictions. They will promote the important public health messages such as hand washing, social distancing,  and the wearing of face coverings and will provide a vital link between communities, their Environmental Health Team and policing colleagues, providing information which will allow them to focus their resources more effectively.  

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk have recruited a number of marshals, including some who are contracted SIA qualified security staff. They also have staff from alive Leisure and students from the college supporting them.  They are following the 3 Es and referring to EHOs for enforcement. They are visiting all parts of the borough, including retail areas, shops near schools, school gates where issues have been reported and providing people with up to date advice and guidance on the latest guidance, signposting to other sources of support such as funding, and how to develop a click and collect service.  This enables the finite resources EHOs to be focussed more effectively where enforcement is unfortunately required.

• New charity Hopestead has launched its Christmas appeal to support local charities and organisations across the region this winter;
• The Hope At Christmas 2020 appeal is seeking a variety of donations including food, clothing, toys, and vouchers;
• It comes after Hopestead, part of Flagship Group, officially launched in October with the aim of ending homelessness in the East of England.

A Christmas appeal, launched by new charity Hopestead, is inviting donations from the public to benefit good causes across the region this winter.

The Hope At Christmas 2020 appeal is seeking donations of food, vouchers, and clothing such as jackets, jumpers, and socks. In addition, Hopestead – which aims to end homelessness in the East of England  – is collecting new and unwrapped toys for all ages, helping to make sure no-one misses out this festive season.

Practical donations such as supermarket vouchers, are also sought, as well as second-hand mobile phones and tablets, pocket torches, and flasks.   The appeal is also seeking foil and plastic food containers and reusable cutlery and paper bags

And, furry friends on the streets are not forgotten with requests for LED light up dog collars, dog blankets, and dog treats.

Alternatively, people can make cash donations via the Hopestead website from 14 December (www.hopestead.org) or they can choose items from the Amazon wish list: Amazon.co.uk (and select ‘Hopestead’s gift registry address’ for items to be sent direct to their head office).

Marie-Claire Delbrouque, MD of Hopestead, said: “With the pandemic, this winter poses even more risks and challenges for people who are experiencing, or are at or on the brink of homelessness. That’s why we are absolutely committed to offering support through our Christmas appeal.

“Our collection will support some of the amazing grassroots organisations which are making such a difference within local communities, and which we are proud to be partnering with.

“We know how generous and supportive people have been during the pandemic, giving donations and time to help others. We would ask, if you can, please do get involved with our Christmas appeal: your donations could make a big difference for someone.”

To collect people’s donations, the Hopestead vans will be stopping at Flagship offices across the region. Anyone wishing to support the appeal can drop off their donations – safely, and in a socially distanced manner – at the following locations between 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm:

• Monday 14 December – Michael Chaplin House, Station Road, Dereham, NR19 1DA
• Tuesday 15 December – Cedar Lodge, Chiswick Avenue, Mildenhall, IP28 7BD
• Wednesday 16 December – Station Road, Riduna Park, Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1QT
• Thursday 17 December – Tom Moore House, Cromer Road, North Walsham, NR28 0NB
• Friday 18 December – 31, King Street Norwich, NR1 1PD and Coppice House, 5 Greenwood Court, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7GY

People will also be able to make monetary donations via card at these drop offs, should they prefer to do so.

Or donations can be posted to Hopestead, 39 Montagu Drive, Saxmundham, IP17 1FL

Some of the organisations which the Hopestead Christmas appeal will benefit are:

• The People’s Picnic, Norwich
• FABB (Food and Beverage Buggies), Norwich
• Ipswich Winter Night Shelter
• Salvation Army
• Winter Comfort for the Homeless, Cambridge
• Street Vets.

This appeal comes after Hopestead officially launched in October with two drive-in cinema events that raised almost £4,000 to support those who are experiencing homelessness, or are at or on the brink of homelessness.

Prior to this, Hopestead had begun operating an initiative earlier this year when it became clear that the pandemic had the potential to increase homelessness. Since then, Hopestead has awarded in excess of £350k to support nearly 700 Flagship Group families who might be at risk of losing their homes.

Now the charity’s fundraising efforts are focused on its Christmas appeal. With the winter months ahead, and Covid-19 likely to impact further on homelessness, Marie-Claire Delbrouque emphasised just how vital the support provided by the Christmas appeal will be. She said: “This year has already posed so many difficulties for people and unfortunately, the coming months, look set to be equally challenging.

“That is why we would ask people to please help in whatever way they can. We want to provide resources and support to these brilliant organisations which are making a difference throughout Christmas, and beyond.

“This appeal is just one step towards achieving our overall goal of ending homelessness in the East of England. By working in partnership with likeminded organisations already working hard to eradicate homelessness, we know that we can achieve this together. Because we believe that everyone deserves a place to call home.”

You can find out more by visiting www.hopestead.org or Hopestead on Twitter @_hopestead or Instagram @_hopestead and Facebook Hopestead | Facebook

The full list of donations being sought through the Christmas appeal are:

• Men’s jackets, and jumpers
• Men’s tracksuit trousers and jeans
• New and unwrapped toys for all ages
• Stationery and crafts
• Puzzles, word searches, board games
• Second hand mobile phones and tablets
• Greggs £5 food vouchers
• Supermarket vouchers
• Foil and plastic food containers,
• Reusable cutlery and paper bags
• LED light up dog collars, dog blankets
• Dog food and treats
• Tinned food of all varieties
• Coffee, hot chocolate sachets, and tea bags
• Hand warmers, and socks
• Pocket torches and flasks.

Donations made to the Just Giving site (live from 14 December) will be used to buy vouchers and top up additional items required.

On entering Tier Two in Norfolk after the second national lockdown, we are able to open our office to the public once again including for client meetings from Wednesday 2 December.

We remain respectful of the government guidelines and will ensure all required cleaning, hygiene and social distancing measures are in place for both face to face meetings with clients, and for our staff. We also will continue to offer alternative solutions to meeting face to face including virtual meetings by video call or telephone, plus correspondence by email.

Please ensure you have an appointment in advance before arriving at our office and you will be required to wear a face covering. You can book an appointment via your usual Hatch Brenner contact, call 01603 660 811 to speak to our receptionist or email info@hatchbrenner.co.uk

Please do not attend the office if you are unwell. In line with the most up to date guidance:

If you have coronavirus symptoms:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

Get a test and stay at home.

We will continue to review the government guidance throughout the pandemic to ensure the utmost safety for our clients and staff. Many thanks to all our clients, contacts and staff for their continued support this year. If you have a legal issue which you would like to discuss with our team, please call 01603 660 811 and we would be delighted to assist.

Christmas and New Year closure 2020

Please note, we will be closing the office this year between Christmas and New Year. We will be closed from close of business at 5.15pm on Wednesday 23rd December until 9am on Monday 4th January.

Hatch Brenner Solicitors on Theatre Street is once again celebrating after being ranked as among the top firms in the UK for Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury work by the legal directory Chambers and Partners for their 2021 edition.

Chambers and Partners has been the leading source of legal market intelligence for over 30 years, with 85 experienced researchers ranking law firms and solicitors in the UK, providing a wealth of localised knowledge and market insight.

Hatch Brenner Solicitors has been recommended for Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury in the latest rankings released in October 2020 following a submission by former Morgan Jones Pett specialists Sara Westwood and Simon Bransby:

Clinical Negligence – mainly Claimant – Norwich and surrounds

Hatch Brenner Partner Sara Westwood is ranked in Band Two and noted for her strength in birth injury, delayed diagnosis and failure in treatment cases. One market source points out that she “gets to grips with the medical evidence, identifying the strengths and weaknesses,” adding: “She is very practical in her approach and gets good results for clients.”

Personal Injury – mainly Claimant – Norwich and surrounds

Hatch Brenner Chartered Legal Executive Simon Bransby is ranked in Band Two as a notable Personal Injury practitioner. The guide recognises the firm’s reputation for having a solid team handling a range of claims with particular expertise in workplace injury cases and expertise regarding road traffic accidents, as well as trips and slips.

Simon Bransby’s extensive work portfolio is referenced, including cases involving workplace injuries and RTAs. Commentators appreciate that “he is persistent in fighting for his client.”

If you would like to discuss a potential personal injury or clinical negligence legal claim with our highly regarded team of specialists, please call 01603 660 811 or email info@hatchbrenner.co.uk

If you’ve started thinking about whether an electric car might be right for you, you probably have lots of questions. If you’ve never driven electric before, you might be wondering about the day-to-day practicalities of owning an electric car. And with the formal announcement expected soon to bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-fuelled cars to 2030 – five years earlier than previously planned, this is a subject that many are talking about right now.

So to help our customers make an informed decision we decided to put electric cars to the test and answer some of the most frequently asked questions with the help of Motoring journalist, Andy Russell.

Andy Russell has more than 30 years of experience as a motoring journalist, editor and content provider, for both print and online, and has driven around 2,000 new cars. He has seen huge changes in the automotive world and is particularly interested in new technology and excited about the advent of electric vehicles, having driven his first electrified car at the start of the new millennium. He is also a keen, and hardy, all-year motorbike rider and has passed both advanced car and motorcycle tests.

So, if you are thinking about going electric for your next car but not sure whether to take the plunge, then this video could give you the answers you need!

We cover a range of questions, including some of the main topics:

• What is an electrified vehicle?
• Why are pure electric vehicles becoming more popular?
• How far can an electric vehicle travel on a single charge?
• How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?
• How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?
• How long do the batteries last?
• Some electric vehicles are based on traditional petrol and diesel models. Do they differ apart from the power source?

If you would like further information or you would like us to help you with a finance quotation on an electric car then please get in touch on 01603 381955 or e-mail sales@credoassetfinance.com

Captain Fawcett Ltd is delighted to be a finalist in the Small & Medium Business category of the Eastern Daily Press Norfolk Business Awards 2020.    A category sponsored by Archant, the Small & Medium Business Award is to acknowledge companies demonstrating all round strength including sales growth, profitability, customer service, branding, leadership, corporate social responsibility, best HR practice and innovation.     This news is a great boost to morale for the whole Fawcett team, particularly welcome in this, the company’s 10th Anniversary year.  Celebrations to mark the occasion have, of course, been somewhat delayed due to somewhat momentous global events yet all at HQ have been ‘Keeping a Stiff Upper Lip Regardless’ – a phrase which may be said to have become the team’s motto. Meanwhile, plans for further developing product ranges and reaching out to new territories have continued, albeit with meetings taking place online rather than the company’s preferred face-to-face approach.     Combining a unique brand of Edwardian derring do with a humorously idiosyncratic take on what it means to be a gentleman in the 21st century, Captain Fawcett Ltd is a manufacturer, purveyor and exporter of simply ‘First Class Gentleman’s Grooming Requisites’.  Formulated at his Gentleman’s Emporium in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, UK, all of Captain Fawcett Balms and Oils are produced in-house along with the legendary wax which is still made by the company’s founder himself.  Captain Fawcett Ltd is proud of being a niche brand, uncompromising on quality. All packaging is made in the UK, as is the majority of Fawcett’s products.  Attention to detail is paramount.     While waiting for news of the winners, due to be announced on 24th November, Captain Fawcett’s founder Richie Finney says ‘All at HQ are truly delighted. This extraordinary year has been challenging for us all both personally and as a company but the team at Captain Fawcett share a can do, pulling together attitude which gets us through.  Plus lashings of tea and cake of course!  All the finalists are nothing short of inspirational in a gloriously entrepreneurial and ever more outward-looking county.  We are proud to be in their number.’

In this weeks Impromptu Business Chat, James and Mark speak to Louise Newby, an experienced educator in the world of mental health and wellbeing, in this highly relevant episode. Louise has seen first hand the detrimental effect that poor mental health and lack of training and support can have on business leaders and their teams. At the end Mark and James reflect on their 3 key take-away’s from the valuable insights and numerous practical tips shared by Louise.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, please like us, and leave a comment. We would love to hear what you are enjoying about the podcast, and it helps others to find us!

If you would like to learn more about the work Louise does with Three Eggs, you can visit their site here. 

Listen to this weeks episode here 

Norfolk Trading Standards Trusted Trader scheme

The Business of the Year award is a prestigious category, with the judges selecting just four finalists from all of the awards entrants.

The TaxAssist Group has triumphed at the Norfolk Business Awards 2020, a year that has seen its accountants and Support Centre staff rise admirably to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its Support Centre based in Norwich, the TaxAssist Group provides marketing, training and technical support to the TaxAssist Accountants network in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada and the USA which currently totals over 259 franchises.

Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive Director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award against some very successful and well-known businesses in Norfolk.

“In what has been a very turbulent and challenging year it is highly rewarding for our 60-strong Support Centre team to have their hard work and achievements recognised in this way.

“I’m incredibly proud of the whole team who do such a sterling job supporting our network of accountants but have really risen to the challenges posed by the pandemic. We’ve received brilliant feedback from both the franchisees in the network and their clients on the levels of support and communication provided and winning this award really is the icing on the cake.

“To have our business recognised in this way is truly heartening and bodes well for our future UK and International expansion plans.”

Sophie Stainthorpe, writing for the Eastern Daily Press (EDP), said: “With the onset of COVID-19 and the support requirements from its client base, it would have been easy for the network to have been overcome by the deluge of enquiries surrounding the many Government support schemes.

“The Support Centre team rose to the challenge and with daily updates, webinars and blogs, provided practical interpretations and advice on the evolving Government support mechanisms, sharing over one million emails to their clients during the initial lockdown period.

“Subsequent client feedback has been outstanding, with 96% of respondents being prepared to recommend their local TaxAssist Accountant to their friends and family.

“Strong financial performance of the franchisor has been maintained, despite it being flexible on fees to its franchisees during the first peak of lockdown.

“‘Rooted’ firmly in Norwich, this business has a massive opportunity for further growth in the future and is certainly one to watch!”.

For more information about the Norfolk Business Awards visit the EDP website here. To watch a video of the four finalists for Business of the Year click here.

For a number of years Goff Petroleum has ran its own good causes campaigns helping support some of the smaller charitable and not for profit causes across the region. Most recently donations have been made to a number of village halls across the region including Shelfanger and Bunwell village halls in Norfolk.

This year on November the 11th Goff Petroleum team pledged to make a donation of £1 for every heating oil order placed to the Wymondham branch of the Royal British Legion.

Will Goff commented “One of our team highlighted the challenges that the Royal British Legion were having in fundraising this year, due to the restrictions and vulnerability of individuals, there was no way the usual street collections could be done safely. We thought we could help spread awareness of the continued importance of Remembrance Day and the work the Royal British Legion carries out and thanks so much to our fantastic customers for getting behind this fundraiser we were delighted to donate £782”.

Goff Petroleum are continuing to work tirelessly throughout these lockdowns to ensure that heating oil is readily available for all those in the region as winter draws nearer.

Ann Rogerson, Poppy Appeal Organiser commented “2020 and the challenges we have faced this year have been tough for all those who need to raise charitable funds, our Poppy Appeal was very different this year with no street collections and a limited number of boxes in shops. Goff Petroleum’s fundraising endeavours are really appreciated by all those at the RBL Poppy Appeal”.

If you know of a local good cause that could benefit from Goff Petroleum’s support then please visit our website and let us know via the Good Causes form.

To lend your support to The Royal British Legion please visit britishlegion.org.uk

Every Christmas we put together a campaign, normally to thank our clients. But this year, we want to do something different. We want to help and support local businesses we love, who have a great story to tell. 

Our big idea was to put together an email marketing advent calendar with a different small business featured every day. A few of the businesses are our clients, but the majority are not. They’re just awesome small businesses that one of us in the team has loved buying from or interacting with. 

Why are we doing this?

This year has been extremely tough for everybody and we want to produce something to put a smile on a few faces and give a little back to some of the great small businesses in our local area. 

At Naked we have always championed small, local businesses. 

Why you should join in?

The warm fuzzy feeling you’ll get from being a part of something lovely. Failing that, a chance to discover lots of epic Norfolk based brands, products and companies. 

So what do you say?

Yay or Nay

If it’s a yes and you’d like to join in follow this link and sign up: https://bit.ly/Join_The_Naked_Christmas_Adventure

If it’s a no, we still love you.