Member News

Help us to build back better after the pandemic – that’s the message from Norfolk County Council’s leader to the Chancellor.

Council leader Councillor Andrew Proctor has written to Rishi Sunak, ahead of the comprehensive spending review later this month.

The letter says:

Dear Rishi

Thanks for all your support over the last few months, which has helped us to protect and support our communities during the first phase of the pandemic. I also welcome your economic measures, including the extension of the furlough scheme and additional help to the self-employed.

In the current circumstances, I appreciate why you are planning a one-year comprehensive spending review this year, but you know that we need far more certainty for our long-term funding especially for all aspects of adult social care. Recognising, but remaining concerned, that longer term solutions to adult social care and children’s social care funding have been delayed, we need additional, one-year support to cope with the spike in demand that followed the initial lockdown phase and which is currently moving through our system.

I know that Northern colleagues have spoken up for additional resources – but it’s important not to forget the East, which is a net economic contributor and, therefore, making a positive return on your investment.

Economic support and recovery will rightly be a key focus of your plans for the next year. I am keen to see opportunities where we can work together to support the skills agenda and accelerate our infrastructure projects – whether roads or broadband – which will revitalise the economy and offer hope to the thousands who are already losing their existing jobs.

I am sure you realise that support for social recovery is equally vital. Councils have played a key role in supporting the thousands of additional people who came forward for help during the first wave in Norfolk and this new level of need is not going to subside quickly.

Continued hardship funding will be required for those who, by no fault of their own, have lost their jobs, seen their earnings plummet or their businesses, especially small businesses, decimated. This funding should be channelled through councils as the most effective way of supporting our communities.

I would also welcome a marker about future intentions. A commitment now that next year’s comprehensive spending review will finally address the issue of sustainable long-term funding. We continue to support our vulnerable residents such as adults with disabilities and poor mental health, but our resources are finite without having to raise taxes disproportionately and so that certainty would be appreciated by all councils.

With the right blend of investment in social care and community support, economic recovery and infrastructure, Norfolk can help you to build back better and ensure there is a positive legacy from this traumatic pandemic.

I would be very happy to speak to you about more detailed examples of where, with appropriate support from Government, we can work together and deliver on our shared objectives of economic and social recovery.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Andrew Proctor

Leader

Did you know a health and social care worker is attacked every 30 minutes in the UK?

Today we launch the https://safepointapp.com/every30minutes

In this week’s episode James and Mark talk about ways businesses can increase sales performance during lockdown and extended furlough. As usual they end up with 3 top tips, and along the way they make reference to Toy Story 4, Kurt Cobain and, yet again, the film The Matrix!

You can subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, or listen below.

Don’t forget, if you have missed the special interview episode with Sue Liburd MBE, and Andy Nicol, on diversity in the workplace, this unmissable episode is still available to listen to Listen here

• Break charity launches Coffee Break van during lockdown, offering real work experience to young care leavers
• Working on the van has given Jack Nicholls, 21, new hope. Jack shares his story this Care Leavers Week (26th October – 1st November)

A mobile coffee van business, launched by charity Break in September 2020, is giving young care leavers the chance to gain real work experience and new skills to improve their employment prospects.

The Coffee Break project supports young people aged 18 and over after they have left the care system and are living independently.  By helping them acquire new skills, it aims to boost their confidence and help them secure paid employment; enabling them to go on to live fulfilling, independent lives.  

An idea developed by Break, a leading children’s charity in East Anglia, the mobile coffee van is currently based in Norwich two days a week, serving hot and cold drinks, sweet and savoury snacks.  The van is staffed and managed entirely by young care leavers with guidance from trained barista and project manager Joe Walden.

One of the young people who has been instrumental in launching and running the initiative is Jack Nicholls, 21, from King’s Lynn.

After living in care for most of his teenage years, Jack moved to his own flat in 2017 and has received ongoing support from Break’s Moving On Team.  In recent times, his confidence and self-belief had suffered after a series of bad job experiences.   But after joining the Coffee Break team and with the additional support of Joe Walden Enterprise and Youth Development Lead at Break, or the ‘the coffee van man’ as he’s affectionately nicknamed, Jack has broken this cycle, discovering newfound confidence and a sense of purpose.

Joe Walden Enterprise and Youth Development Lead from Break explains; “The world of work can seem scary and daunting for any 18 year old, but for someone leaving the care system, with no family support around them, it comes with lots of extra challenges.  The Coffee Break van means young care leavers can discover what they’re really capable of, by engaging them in ‘real’ work, offering training opportunities and the chance to learn new skills which they can take with them for life, all offered in a safe space.  If someone is late for work, or they make a mistake, we address it and we help them learn from it without destroying their confidence.  It’s all carried out in a supportive way, without the fear of potentially losing that job.”

Jack and a team of five other young people aged between 17 and 21 have kickstarted the project.  Mentored by Joe, they created a business plan, sourced suppliers, created the branding, designed the layout of the van and considered all the health and safety implications of launching a mobile catering business.  They have also completed barista and food hygiene training; skills and qualifications that can help them find work in the future.  

Joe adds; “The Coffee Break van is not just about serving lattes.  Our young people have gained real business skills that will benefit them for life.  Last summer, they joined forces with the UEA Business School to devise a business plan, assessing the project’s viability and costing it all up.  They drew up a bid for funding and presented their case to the Break board of trustees and corporate supporters.  In July, the funding was approved and by the end of August everything was set up and ready to go. These young people have essentially launched a business.  Something many of them thought they would never achieve. And it’s all been done during a global pandemic.”

Part of its Staying Connected services, Break aims to roll out the Coffee Break project to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough too where the charity it also continues to offer support to care leavers after the age of 18, and for as long as they need it.  There are also plans to start a small-scale coffee roastery in Norfolk, supplying the van as well as Break’s charity shops. 

Break’s Coffee Break van is available to hire.  If you’d like to book it for your office or organisation, please contact coffee@break-charity.org

Ashtons Legal has appointed Sheila Small as a commercial property partner in the firm taking the total number of partners to 36. She is joined by a further 350 staff across East Anglia and Leeds. It is the firm’s second partner appointment in three months – Andrew Skuse joined the residential property team in August.

Sheila specialises in strategic land and development work. Sheila has moved to Ashtons from her role as in-house counsel for a land promoter and developer in the east of England. Her background and experience gives her considerable insight into the full spectrum of work involved in both commercial and residential development schemes, from initial scoping and viability prior to land acquisition through to planning, delivery and disposal. She also has experience of large-scale infrastructure projects, predominantly in the health and education sectors, which together with her knowledge of development work will prove invaluable to Ashtons’ existing client base.

Sheila says: “I am really pleased to have joined Ashtons Legal’s thriving commercial property team in Cambridge. The team has a great reputation, good feedback from legal guides Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners and I am looking forward to working with such a dynamic and progressive team of lawyers”.

Sheila adds: “My previous experience has given me the opportunity to look at legal implications from a different perspective and I am excited to be able to share my insights into development work and the local and regional property markets with a broad range of clients”.

Edward O’Rourke, CEO at Ashtons says: “Sheila’s appointment enables us to strengthen further our property presence in the Cambridgeshire area. I am delighted that in these tough times we are stable and strong and able to attract new talent to the firm”.

Whilst COVID-19 has dominated the conversation of late, and many of us had almost forgotten about the ‘B-word’, movements around Brexit have continued. With the deadline of 1 January now looming, MHA Larking Gowen, chartered accountants and business advisors, has an online Brexit Hub. Their team of experts will be compiling their insights through blogs, helpsheets, podcasts and more!

Recent additions to the Hub include brochures on Customs Grants Extension and Authorised Economic Operator Status, as well as the following blogs:

• UK Global Tariffs post-Brexit may be good news for the agricultural machinery sector
• Brexit: What are you waiting for?
• Is your farm fit for Brexit?
• How can the manufacturing industry prepare for Brexit?
• VAT on Brexit
• The agricultural subsidy of the future. Will it be a success?
• The future of the Basic Payments Scheme
• Is the agricultural sector about to be thrown under the bus?

Partner at MHA Larking Gowen and Brexit expert, Chris Scargill, recently launched a new Bitesize Brexit podcast as part of MHA Larking Gowen’s Insights series. Episodes so far include:

• Government funding for training on customs declarations
• UK warehousing and duty problems
• Tariffs, and how they may impact you

You can visit the dedicated Brexit Hub at www.larking-gowen.co.uk/brexit-hub/

If you have any questions about Brexit and how it affects you and your business, please get in touch with your usual MHA Larking Gowen contact, or alternatively, call 0330 024 0888 or email enquiry@larking-gowen.co.uk. If you want to contact our team directly for advice or support, you can reach out on Our People page.

Can your firm still benefit from CBILS?

Yes! And even if you were one of the lucky few businesses that have secured a CBILS facility already, there is still time to apply for another. Fortunately, here at Credo, we have access to additional lenders who can consider a further facility of up to £250k.

The scheme has been extended to 31st January 2021!

This means that you can still lodge an application via Credo until 31st January 2021. As it stands new applications cannot be lodged after this point.

As of 18th October, just over 73,000 firms had benefitted from a CBILS facility, a total lend of £17.16bn. Many of these firms have benefitted from multiple facilities.

If you’ve already accessed a facility via your bank and still feel your business could benefit more from the scheme, there’s potential for further access. If your current borrowing on the scheme is less than 25% of your company’s annual turnover, then please get in touch as we could help you further.

Questions to ask yourself before considering this;

• Under the scheme, how much have I already accessed? What was my annual turnover in my last set of accounts?
• In the next 12 months, am I confident that my company’s cashflow will not need any support?
• Can I utilise this loan facility to benefit my business for the next 12 months and further?

If you would like to discuss your options then give us a call today and let us do the hard work.

If you have a project that you are thinking about or an area of your business that you feel isnt secure enough do get in touch so we can help take at least one trouble off your mind. We specialise in CCTV, Fire Detection, Intruder Alarms & Access Control.

Established in 1989, Dragon Security Systems supplies and installs the very latest electronic safety & security systems in Norfolk, Suffolk and the surrounding areas for a wide variety of clients including domestic, public and commercial. 

We specialise in the design and installation of systems to suit any budget, and our work always comes with an extended and lifetime warranty. Our qualified engineers are available on a 24/7 basis to carry out emergency attendance and repairs; this service is also available for systems previously installed by others. As part of our complete service package, our team can also carry out preventative maintenance checks.

Enquiries: mail@dragonsecurity.co.uk

Tel: 01603 783958

Website: www.dragonsecurity.co.uk

• Twice-weekly flights to Tenerife in winter 2021/22
• 9 destinations on offer for summer 2022
• More demand expected for 4 & 5-star all-inclusive hotels with private pools or villas

TUI UK has launched winter 2021 and 2022 holidays from Norwich and is set to put summer 2022 holidays on sale from 5th November, with thousands of free kids’ places, low deposits from £75 per person and £0 deposit on direct debit bookings made online on offer. This comes as 86% of customers surveyed in September said they expect to have gone on holiday again by next summer – reinforcing the growing appetite for future travel post Covid-19.

With on-going travel corridor uncertainty for some regular favourites this winter, those craving sunshine during the coldest months have already booked for next winter, with strong demand for Tenerife so far from Norwich Airport. For winter 2021/22, TUI will operate two weekly flights to Tenerife which will also connect with five Marella Cruises itineraries, including Canarian Flavours, Colourful Coasts and Island Explorer.

With 57% of customers saying they expect to book a Mediterranean beach holiday for 2021, TUI anticipates greater demand for summer 2022 as people want to ‘make up’ for not being able to go away this year. So far, Greece is the standout destination of choice based on current bookings for next summer, with Turkey and Egypt also popular, and patterns indicate these trends could continue into 2022.

The summer 2022 programme from Norwich Airport will see nine destinations on offer, with reintroduced flights to Ibiza, three flights every week to Majorca and three Greek islands on offer.

TUI is seeing an upward trend in 4 and 5-star all-inclusive hotel bookings for next summer, with over 40% of customers surveyed expressing this preference. This includes hotels which offer the ‘best of both worlds’ with villas or room options with private pools and accommodation as families in particular seek to continue to feel safe in their ‘bubble’. TUI will be offering 233 different options in 155 hotels for this growing category in summer 2021 and expects this trend to continue for summer 2022.

In the same vein, 18% of customers surveyed said they would look to book a villa holiday with car hire included, making social distancing easier on holiday. TUI is offering 150 villas with flights and car hire included for summer 2021 and summer 2022 in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, mainland Spain, Portugal, Italy and Florida. 

Richard Sofer, Commercial & Business Development Director at TUI said: “Our latest customer survey and booking patterns for next summer indicate that the great British public are looking forward to future holidays even more so as they may have been unable to take one this year. This is why we have launched our future holiday programmes through to the end of October 2022, so that families and couples alike can plan ahead to next year and beyond to make informed choices about what will make their perfect holiday from the wide range we have on offer.”

Richard Pace, Managing Director of Norwich Airport said: “The launch of TUI’s winter 2021 and summer 2022 programmes gives passengers the opportunity to book with confidence and look forward to a well-deserved break. It’s fantastic news for our airport and our region, with air travel and international connectivity critical to both. We welcome TUI’s announcement and look forward to seeing a return to passenger growth, with a clear demand for travel post-COVID-19, and a variety of routes offering passengers a great choice of destinations.”

Now more than ever we need to support our teams in the workplace.  They may be working from home, anxiously using public transport to get to work, or battling to soothe their childrens mental health, not to mention their own anxiety about what the future will bring.

When did you last invite everyone to get together and support them ? It’s crucial right now to offer a safe regular interactive space so that your team can hear some positive news and learn some simple techniques to enhance their wellbeing and general health.

From the benefits to massage, explaining the Menopause, diet and weightloss, stress managment and how to embrace change, we have a long list of key topics to offer in monthly capsules.

Sign up for a minimum of 6 months, choose your topics and we will do the rest.

Get in touch at www.wellbeinginternational.co.uk or phone us on 01379 677335.

The Norfolk Mead have re-launched their popular takeaway Afternoon Tea menu for lockdown 2.0 in November.

The autumn-inspired menu includes a flapjack with ruby chocolate frosting, mixed berry cheesecake with caramelised white chocolate crumb alongside owner Anna’s famous chocolate brownie with coffee caramel topping. The full cream team also includes fresh sandwiches which have been refreshed to include smoked ham with Dijon mayonnaise, mature cheddar and chutney, and egg mayonnaise with mustard cress. For savoury fans, there is an apple and sage sausage roll, and of course, our amazing plain and fruit scones with clotted cream and fruit jam. 

James Holliday, Owner of the Norfolk Mead commented: “Whilst we are all devastated to have to close for the second time this year, we understand that we are all in this together when it comes to managing the coronavirus pandemic. Following the hard work of core members of our team throughout the lockdown earlier this summer, we are well placed to launch our refreshed cream tea takeaway service by this coming weekend. A cream tea has proved to offer a feel good uplift for people, and we hope our customers enjoy this moment amongst these worrying times.   “As we offer cream tea delivery, it’s also a great option for people to share with their loved ones who they can’t see in person during lockdown – and we are sure our kind hearted customers will once again treat their neighbours or elderly relatives. We are very grateful for the ongoing support of our local community.”    Priced at £16 per head, delivery is £3.50 within 18 miles of Coltishall (NR12 7DN), and the team will consider further deliveries – although this may be subject to an additional delivery charge. Afternoon tea can also be collected directly from the Hotel in line with the most recent social distancing and Covid-secure guidelines.    The Takeaway Afternoon Tea Delivery and collection is available every weekend throughout November. Order Norfolk cream tea delivery here, or email info@norfolkmead.co.uk

Barnham Broom, will be back soon!

We may be closing our doors but this is only temporary and we will still have our sales teams on site, so you can still make plans as the show still goes on…

From 2nd December 2020 you can come back and use all of our facilities:

Hotel – 46 bedrooms including 2 beautiful suites

Golf – two 18 hole golf courses

Spa with 5 treatment rooms and retail available to purchase

Health & Fitness Club with gym, pool and steam room + sauna which is currently being refurbished

Meetings and Events for 1 to 1 meetings or events for up to 100 people (subject to government guidelines)

Brasserie for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week

Valley Bar and Lounge for a hot beverage, drinks and Afternoon Tea noon through to night

Sports Bar for snacks, meals and drinks each and every day

We are also taking bookings for CHRISTMAS!!

A Truly Magical Christmas at Barnham Broom Experience mystery, with a magic and mind show featuring Sean Alexander. Filled with fine food, fantastic atmosphere, plenty of festivities and a truly mind-blowing performance. 2 and 3 course lunches, and 4 course dinners are available in our suite. Held on selected dates throughout November and December. For more information, please visit our website www.barnham-broom.co.uk/christmas Or, to enquire about a booking, please contact our friendly events team by emailing sjones@barnham-broom.co.uk