Member News

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• Watch an outdoor showing of much-loved movie ‘The Greatest Showman’ in Norwich and raise money to tackle homelessness on World Homeless Day, 10 October;
• The event marks the launch of new charity, Hopestead, which aims to end homelessness in the East of England and ensure everyone has a place to call home;
• The film will be shown at the Drive in for Hope event at Heartsease Lane, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to support the good cause.

People in Norfolk have the opportunity to watch a much-loved movie and raise money to end homelessness in the East of England at a special drive-in cinema taking place on 10 October, World Homeless Day.

The ‘Drive in for Hope’ is set to be held at Heartsease Lane and will see the musical drama ‘The Greatest Showman’ shown, with the proceeds of all tickets going to support those who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.

The event is taking place to mark the launch of Hopestead, a new charity established by Flagship Group, a social housing provider with a goal to solve the housing crisis in the East of England. Hopestead is Flagship’s commitment to ending homelessness.

Marie-Claire Delbrouque, Managing Director of Hopestead said: “We believe everyone deserves a place to call home and our goal at Hopestead is to end homelessness in the East of England.

“We know this is a big challenge. But by tackling the causes of homelessness and working in partnership with likeminded organisations already working hard to eradicate homelessness, we believe we can meet that challenge.

“To mark our launch, we wanted to connect people – safely – because we believe in community. And what better way than through a film which is universal and unifying. Drive in for Hope will not only be a fantastic evening, but it will also allow us to raise vital funds that we can use to support those in need. Please do join us.”

Tickets for the Drive in for Hope cost just £30 per car (plus a small booking fee) and can be bought here: www.hopestead.org

The Norfolk event, which will take place from 7pm – 11pm, will be mirrored on 9 October at Trinity Park in Ipswich, with The Greatest Showman also being shown there.

The film showing will be preceded by short videos from people who Hopestead has been supporting during Covid-19.

Although officially launching in October, in fact, Hopestead began an initiative earlier, offering support to Flagship Group customers during the pandemic, when it became clear that Covid-19 had the potential to increase homelessness. In response, Hopestead has since given out in excess of £350k to support nearly 700 families who might be at risk of losing their homes.

Marie-Claire added: “Now more than ever we are seeing people and communities struggling – which is why the role of Hopestead is so vital. We believe that we have a fundamental responsibility to end homelessness – including working to prevent people losing their homes, such as the financial help that we were able to provide earlier this year during the pandemic.

“We know that ending homelessness matters because sustainable communities benefit absolutely everyone.

“We believe passionately in our purpose and we are looking forward to working with partners and organisations with a common interest to bring about this change for good – because we believe that everyone deserves a place to call home.”

*Tickets are on sale now, available from: www.hopestead.org

In this week’s podcast, James and Mark build on previous episodes to help business leaders and their teams feel more energised in work and life. Breaking tradition, this time they provide a bonus forth top tip, taking inspiration from the likes of Dr John Briffa, the 5am Club, Fat Boy Slim and cold showers.   You can subscribe to Impromptu Business Chat on Apple Podcasts here, or listen now!

Are you interested in establishing in the (East) Netherlands to help grow your business? The Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), and Oost NL would like to invite you to attend our webinar “The (East) Netherlands: your gateway to Europe” on Tuesday 29 September 15:00 – 16:15 CEST The webinar is centered on providing best practice information to help you establish in the (East) Netherlands to help grow your business.

Anthony Royle has opened his first shop at Unit 1 Pluto House, 19-33 Station Road, Ashford, TN23 1PP.

Anthony Royle purchased TaxAssist Accountants Ashford a year ago. In that time, he has taken on over 150 clients and has been busy assisting them with all their small business needs. Recently he has been helping with Coronavirus furloughing claims, grant applications and business advice while fitting out his new shop which is in central Ashford and services the Ashford, Bethersden, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, High Halden, Smarden and Tenterden areas.

Anthony explains: “It’s been an unprecedented business environment over the last few months, but I’m pleased to say that I’ve managed to assist my clients with the various government support schemes. I’ve now opened the new shop, which looks fantastic and is in a great location with convenient parking close by. I look forward to welcoming new and existing clients to arrange a visit.

“Having lived in the Ashford area for over ten years, I feel I have a good understanding of the local business environment and am passionate about supporting my fellow small businesses through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. I would encourage anyone interested in finding out more about our services to contact us to book a free initial consultation – which can be either face-to face, by telephone or online. We provide a comprehensive tax, accountancy and advisory service to small businesses and can talk clients through a range of software solutions, to help them select the right package for their needs.”

A COVID-19 hub has been created on the TaxAssist website with all of the latest news and guidance, and clients are kept up-to-date via text messages, emails and webinars, explaining the latest government announcements and how it affects them.

For more information about Anthony’s services, please visit his website https://www.taxassist.co.uk/ashford or call on 01233-771926.

Alex Chidlow has opened his first shop at 33 Queens Street, Horsham.

Experienced accountant Alex Chidlow has recently opened a walk-in tax and accountancy shop servicing the small business community in Horsham.

Alex has almost 20 years’ accountancy experience behind him, in a variety of roles which has provided him with a broad commercial and financial knowledge from which to draw on to support his clients.

He said: “I really enjoy getting to know clients and helping them with their businesses. Obviously, it’s been a real challenge for many small businesses over the last six months, but it’s been rewarding to have a direct impact on their survival by assisting with cash flow projections, furlough and grant applications.

“I’m really pleased the shop is now open for business and I’d like to encourage anyone interested in finding out more about our services and how we can help to pop in for a free consultation. We are also operating a telephone or online service for those who feel more comfortable with these methods. We provide a comprehensive tax, accountancy and advisory service and can offer a range of software solutions, to help clients select the right package for their needs.”

For more information about Alex’s services, visit his website www.taxassist.co.uk/horsham

If you are interested in joining the TaxAssist Accountants network, regular Virtual Discovery Days are being held, where you can find out more about the technical, marketing and business development support on offer. Call 0800 0188297 to request attendance.

How we grew from grand halls to gardens to beat Covid and reconnect with our Norfolk roots…

By the end of March 2020, Image Display and Graphics had seen an entire calendar of events work evaporate. Being specialists in the design, production and installation of exhibition stands and experiences, we stood at the forefront of an industry now decimated by Covid-19. A previous year of growth and investment swiftly turned to a struggle for survival despite our strong finances. Amidst shaken confidence and the ongoing efforts to manage the pandemic, our team was under no illusions that the events calendar we once relied on, would remain unreliable for the foreseeable future. That was, until the virus was better controlled and the ‘new normal’ begins to return to the old one. In the meantime the question remained, what do we do with our 30 years of expertise in 3D design, timber engineering and creating experiences for our clients? The answer would mean the difference between whether we survived covid or not. Turns out it was sitting in the garden, or at least, it would be.

Taking stock of the technology and dedicated team at his disposal, our Managing Director Iain, recognised the potential to pivot right into this new sector that was literally in his back garden. “We realised we could work with the same mind-set we apply to our exhibition stand projects. Very few garden rooms are specifically designed with the users’ needs in mind, fully decorated and ready to use immediately. That’s where we come in as an end to end design and build service, all about creating a great experience.” So the journey to creating Image Garden Rooms rapidly began. No matter what we wanted to ensure we captured the essence of what it meant to work with Image. Complete peace of mind and professionalism unify our projects, working to immovable deadlines and the highest standards. Why should your garden room be any different? In short, it shouldn’t. This is why whatever shape our garden rooms end up taking, they are always built around you.

To develop our new range of garden rooms, we drew inspiration from this unique events background, modern architecture and of course, our home county of Norfolk. Quickly, the ‘Classic’, ‘Knightsbridge’ and ‘Norfolk’ formed our pre-designed garden room range. Together with an entirely bespoke service we had carefully planned the basis for the Image Garden Rooms offering you can now readily explore. Full of choice, customisation and creativity, we sought to well and truly put the Image stamp on our latest extraordinary endeavour. Not only essential, but exciting, our family-run business has embraced the opportunity to deliver a product directly to our local community. Passionate about collaborating with fellow Norfolk businesses, the materials, groundworks, landscaping and even windows and doors are all sourced from within the county. With our new website, local advertising campaign and partnerships being forged across Norfolk, we’re laying the foundations for future success, and we’d love for you to be part of it.

For a limited time, Image Garden Rooms are offering a 5% discount on all ‘showcase projects’. In exchange for an interview with our clients, an opportunity to take some photos and video of the finished, we’re knocking 5% off any of our garden rooms. So if this sounds like something you’d like to be involved in, or know someone who would please explore our garden rooms and get in touch.

We’re also on the look out for collaborators, be theyr creative or construstion based, we’d love to support fellow Norfolk businesses in our new venture.   Reinvigorating our Norfolk roots and resolving to beat Covid, together we want to prove that you can grow a business in the garden too!

www.imagegardenrooms.co.uk

hello@imagegardenrooms.co.uk

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The UK government has issued guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain (GB) from 1 January 2021. This includes guidance on when the new UKCA mark should be used and how to use it. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-mark-from-1-january-2021 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-eu-market-from-1-january-2021 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain-from-1-january-2021 All those manufacturing and distributing products in the UK should read the guidance and consider what immediate action is needed. You should identify which rules apply from 1 January 2021 and the guidance focusses on goods which are subject to the EU’s “new approach” product safety rules, which includes toys, electrical and electronic equipment, and personal protective equipment. There are different rules for chemicals, medicines, vehicles and aerospace. You should check to see if you need to change your conformity assessment or marking. —————————————————————————- In other news with new legislation being published this week, the ban has now come in regarding plastic straws, cotton buds and plastic stirrers from 1st October 2020. Charging for single use carrier bags is extended in April 2021 to all retailers and the minimum charge is changing from 5p to 10p. Drink containers with straws attached are banned from 3rd July 2021. There are some exemptions and businesses are allowed to use up existing stock obtained before the legislation came into force but only until March 2021.

WLP have a new addition to the team!

“We are extremely pleased to announce the arrival of Lydia Stephens to our growing team of specialists”

Take a look at Lydia’s bio to find out more about her expertise and experience in the healthcare sector.

https://w-l-p.co.uk/author/Lydia-Stephens/#Lydia-Stephens

We are excited to introduce to you our Founder & Principal Consultant, Darren Chapman. Here you can find out all you need to know about the person behind one of cyber security’s up and coming security companies, CyberScale, in a recent 60 Second Interview.

Tell us briefly about your background in IT?

I’ve been in IT for longer than I care to remember (it’s more than 20 years!), in a range of roles from 1st line support through to managing high performing consulting teams.  Throughout that time, I’ve had a lot of involvement in security, but also a lot on the productivity side, so I understand that balancing both sides is critical in business.

How do you keep up to date with trends in the industry?

Lots of discussions with peers and peer groups including government and law enforcement, dedicated time for me (and the rest of the team) and a thirst for learning. Podcasts and audiobooks are gold!

What does the future look like at CyberScale?

Bright, exciting, scary and fun.  I feel like we’re building something that can really make a difference to our client’s ability to deal with an ever-growing business risk without stifling their ability to do business.

What process is most important in creating a secure business environment?

Understanding what you have and why it is important to your business and your clients.  It’s not until you’ve done that that you can really make good decisions about where to put your focus.

Where do you see the enterprise IT department in the future? 

Ever changing, ever more critical to the business.  IT (and security) should be a business enabler, that’s what it’s there for.  Automation is huge, but we’ll always need smart people.

What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self over a coffee?

Hey 21-year-old Darren – when you create your web design company in a couple of years, and it seems like it’s not going anywhere – stick with it!  You’ll be a bit too early, but it’s going to be huge!

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

There’s two – consistently positive feedback from employers and clients over the entire course of my career and building CyberScale from nothing after a huge leap of faith!

You can connect with Darren on Linkedin here or follow CyberScale here

Performance and train services

Performance continues to be very good with punctuality in the current 4-week period over 95% across our network. Everything went smoothly last week as schools re-opened and more people returned to work. We were already running a full service everywhere except the intercity service, where most services are running, and the Stansted Express, where an extra 8 services a day were added to the current half hourly service from Monday 7 September. We’ll maintain our daily monitoring to enable us to assess when it’s appropriate to add in the remaining intercity and Stansted Express services.

Travelling with confidence

Across the rail industry, train operators are encouraging customers to “travel with confidence”, reflecting all the steps taken to provide an excellent service for passengers. The actions in our safer travel pledge, which are focused on providing more services and capacity, additional cleaning, making it easier to keep your hands clean and providing information to help you travel safely, are all being delivered.  We’ve outlined a number of the extra steps we’ve been taking here at Greater Anglia in support of this commitment in previous updates over the last few months.  

Just a helpful reminder that it is mandatory for customers to wear a face covering when using public transport, in stations as well as on trains, to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. Children under the age of 11 and people with a disability or medical condition which means they cannot wear a face covering are exempt from wearing them. The vast majority of people are complying with the requirements, but the British Transport Police do have the power to impose fines of £100 for non-compliance, if necessary.

We have invested in additional cleaning measures – including more train cleaners, new PacVac equipment for turnaround train cleaning during the day and special testing equipment to carry out random hygiene tests on trains (to help us raise standards even further) – as well as cleaning every single carriage with fogging guns (which disinfect all surfaces, including seats, arm rests, grab handles and windows) to supplement the extra cleaning already being implemented in these high contact areas. We’re also carrying out extra cleaning at stations, where the fogging guns come in handy for larger indoor areas, such as waiting rooms.

It’s still important to observe social distancing. We’ve introduced a wide range of measures to make it easier for customers to do so at stations and on trains – including floor markings, one-way systems, new signs and queuing systems.

We’re looking forward to seeing more and more people taking the train again in the weeks and months ahead. 

Thanks again to everyone across Greater Anglia for delivering a very good service to our customers and communities across East Anglia, with valuable support from colleagues at Network Rail, Siemens, Stadler, Bombardier and our other rail industry partners