Come and enjoy our Street Food Sundays! We will be launching this exciting new menu on Sunday 15th June for Father’s Day.
To celebrate Father’s Day, we will be offering Street Food and an Ale Flight (which includes 3 of our favourite ales from the Maids Head Bar). To make Dads Day extra special book a complimentary spin in one of our Vintage Bentleys!
Just £20 per person.
To book call us on 01603 272008 or email events@maidsheadhotel.co.uk
Celebrate Norwich Wine Week and join us for an evening of Wine Tasting Wine with Chet Valley Vineyard. Wines will be expertly paired with our Chefs butcher boards to accompany wines.
Date and Time: Friday 20th June 7pm-10pm
There will also be a quiz at the end of the evening! £35 per person.
To book please call us on 01603 272008.
To keep up to date with our events and news follow us on our socials.
Skills Bootcamps
As Suffolk’s economy continues to evolve, the need for a skilled and adaptable workforce has never been more critical. Skills Bootcamps – part of the Government’s wider Skills for Life initiative – present a powerful opportunity for employers and individuals to respond to these changing demands.
These flexible, employer-led training programmes are designed to equip adults with sector-specific skills over a short period (up to 16 weeks), supporting people into new roles or helping existing employees progress within their organisations. For employers, Skills Bootcamps offer a practical route to address recruitment gaps, upskill teams, and shape training that aligns directly with real-world needs. You can read more about businesses experiences on our case studies page.
In Suffolk, Skills Bootcamps have already supported local businesses in sectors such as digital, health and social care, construction, green energy, logistics and more. They can be tailored to support both new entrants and current employees looking to take on higher responsibilities.
What’s next?
Our Wave 6 Skills Bootcamp tender is now live! This is an exciting time for growth of these programmes and is successful we hope to expand the range of Skills Bootcamps to include additional Construction, AI Digital, Visitor Economy, Hospitality, Bus Driving, and Retrofit. The tender can be found via the following sources:
Government – Find a Tender
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031212-2025
Suffolk Sourcing
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/suffolksourcing/aspx/ProjectManage/18857
There will be a Tenderer Briefing taking place via Teams Monday 16th June at 2.00 p.m. To access the link please sign up to Suffolk Sourcing.
Why it matters:
Businesses across the county are encouraged to explore how Skills Bootcamps can support growth, recruitment, and staff retention — particularly in sectors where vacancies are hard to fill.
If you’re interested in partnering on Skills Bootcamps or would like to receive updates on the upcoming procurement, please contact skillsbootcamp@suffolk.gov.uk or visit https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/business/supporting-employers-training-your-workforce/skills-bootcamps or register on the Suffolk Sourcing e-tendering portal: http://www.suffolksourcing.uk/
At Leading Business Services, we believe that good advice begins with great people. As we celebrate our 10th year supporting businesses across the UK, we’re proud to introduce the team helping us deliver practical, compassionate, and effective solutions in times of change.
Jamie Playford – Director & Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Jamie founded Leading in 2015 after nearly two decades in the insolvency industry. He first gained his licence in 2009 and built a successful East Anglian practice before launching Leading. Under Jamie’s leadership, the firm has grown to four offices across East Anglia, the Midlands and London, and a 70-strong team focused on helping businesses and individuals navigate financial difficulty with confidence.
Alex Dunton – Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Starting out in London with a focus on complex, litigation-led insolvency, Alex gained his licence in 2015 and joined Leading in 2019. Now managing his own team, Alex brings extensive experience in formal appointments across East Anglia and the Midlands, combining technical knowledge with a practical, people-first approach.
Michael Roome – Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Michael joined us in April 2025 to lead our Midlands expansion from our Nottingham base. With nearly 30 years in the industry, Michael has advised directors and lenders, helping them develop and implement tailored recovery strategies.
Liam Walker – Partnership Manager
Liam’s background spans over 20 years in business finance, including 14 years running his own firm. With deep experience in turnaround finance and SME support, he now heads our partner relationships, working with introducers, banks, and advisors to connect clients with the right support.
Claire Pitt – Business Manager
Claire plays a central role in keeping the business running smoothly – from marketing and professional partnerships to HR, wellbeing and recruitment. With a focus on building trusted relationships with accountants, IFAs and lawyers, Claire ensures our clients receive well-rounded, holistic support.
We’re proud to have grown into a team of over 70 professionals, each bringing a unique mix of skills, qualifications and experience, from licensed insolvency practitioners and finance specialists to client care and support staff. While our backgrounds differ, we all share the same goal: supporting individuals and businesses through change with empathy, clarity and expertise.
Your Partner in Planning for a Stronger Tomorrow
At Leading Business Services, we believe that no business should wait until a crisis hits.
Whether you’re experiencing financial strain or simply want a health check to strengthen your foundations, our business advisory team is here to help.
You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at mail@leading.uk.com.
Our E-Learning Suite Is Now Live!Thursday 8th May 2025
We are delighted to announce that our E-learning suite is now live!
As well as our First Aid courses we are now able to provide you with over 100 online e-learning modules, providing certification accredited by various awarding bodies. These cost-effective courses can be completed at your own leisure and cover a wide range of topics, including, business skills, health & safety and health & social care.
You can access our full range of e-learning courses below or by visiting the ‘E-Learning’ tab on our website.
Business Skills
Health & Safety
Health & Social Care
To support the launch, we are offering a 10% discount on all available courses until Friday 6th June 2025! Apply discount code INTRO10 on the payment screen under ‘Coupon’ to receive this introductory offer. Please note, we are unable to apply the discount to any courses once they have been purchased.
We’re a friendly little team in Norwich with over 40 years’ combined experience in getting businesses seen online.
Whether you’re a plumber in Peterborough or a florist in Fakenham, we’re here to help you:
📈 Show up on Google
📲 Get clicks on social
💻 Have a website that doesn’t scare people off
We know our stuff, and we care. It’s that simple.
Ready to stop guessing and start growing? Book a quick call with us on 01603 343640
Researchers at the John Innes Centre at Norwich Research Park have helped to solve a historical puzzle that could revolutionise the breeding of the humble pea and other legumes leading to improvements in their nutritional value and lessening the reliance on pesticides.
This landmark work, published in the journal Nature, comes at a time when peas and other legumes are being called upon both as sources of plant protein and as sustainable crops which can fix their own nitrogen. It could result in pea and other legume crops, needing less chemical fertiliser to grow, becoming more economically viable for future growers and potentially lowering land and river pollution.
The groundwork for this latest study was laid 160 years ago by Gregor Mendel, a citizen scientist. He famously performed a series of experiments in the mid-nineteenth century where he cross-bred 28,000 pea plants to understand how their traits were inherited by future generations. Although at that stage the concept of genes didn’t exist, Mendel concluded that plants were passing on hereditary ‘factors’ to their offspring that determined whether they inherited what turned out to be ‘dominant’ or ‘recessive’ versions of genes known as alleles.
Mendel’s work on peas was described by the science historian Allan Franklin as “the best experiments ever done.” He focused on seven pea traits: seed shape (round or wrinkled), seed colour (green or yellow), pod shape (constricted or inflated), pod colour (green or yellow), flower colour (purple or white), plant size (tall or dwarf) and position of flowers (axial or terminal).
Over many years of experiments, involving thousands of plants, he established fundamental rules of inheritance, how characteristics are passed down through the generations, and single-handedly laid the groundwork for the science of genetics.
Three of Mendel’s original seven pea traits had not been linked to a particular gene. That is until now. An international research collaboration between the John Innes Centre, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and other contributors in China, France and the UK, has used genomics, bioinformatics and genetics to map the diversity of a global pea collection and revealed the genes associated with the remaining three Mendel pea traits.
This new set of gene bank and genomic resources which will now be available to researchers and breeders worldwide could revolutionise pea breeding and research into this environmentally important crop.
Dr Noam Chayut, one of the study’s leading authors, at the John Innes Centre, said, “Our collaboration has created a genomic resource of extraordinary depth and breadth that includes the whole genome sequence data for the 700 pea types representing the global species diversity. We already have researchers and multi-national companies ordering seeds corresponding to the novel genomic resources which will revolutionise how companies breed peas and how scientists study them, right across the world.”
“In Mendel’s time, pea was an important crop that he wanted to improve by solving problems that were facing gardeners and growers at the time. This study not only shines a light on Mendel’s fundamental discoveries, but it also opens the route to growing pea in many parts of the world, including the UK. Pea is a crop which can deliver a sustainable source of plant-based protein and has a major role to play in the future of farming.
“The six-year study was only successful because of the interdisciplinary nature of the team, with each member bringing a necessary skill to the partnership. The most important and beautiful part of this research is the collaboration”.
The study’s researchers selected a genetically representative sample of around 700 pea accessions from the collection of 3,500 held at the John Innes Centre’s Germplasm Resource Unit, a national capability, funded by BBSRC. This generated 62 terabytes of raw data, comprising 25.6 trillion pieces of information which, if printed out, would cover 3.6 billion sheets of A4 paper.
From this data, amassed from the 700 pea genomes the team created a global genomic map of pea, from the highly bred and cultivated pea, through to locally adapted varieties from all around the world; called landraces, and wild relatives.
Using this map and a technique called Genome Wide Association Studies, they identified regions of the genomes that corresponded to valuable trait variation. The research has connected more than 70 agronomic traits to corresponding genomic locations. The many different genetic markers at each of these locations can be used to accelerate pea improvement.
Looking forward, the new resource, coupled with other modern technologies such as gene editing, long-read DNA and RNA sequencing, will open up unprecedented opportunities for novel gene discovery. It will also pave the way for more predictive breeding such as using AI models which can combinations of genes to deliver better yielding, disease-resistant, agronomically viable pea plants.
Prof Shifeng Cheng of the CAAS Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, said, “Mendel discovered what we now call the laws of inheritance without knowing what a gene was. Today, using modern tools, we can see the exact genes and the precise mutations that he unknowingly tracked.”
The market for pea protein is among the fastest-growing of those for all alternative protein sources and researchers want to learn more about creating productive pea plants specially studying genes associated with pod size, plant yield, seed protein content and resistance to disease.
6 May 2025, Suffolk: Rachel Mann, a breast cancer survivor from Great Waldingfield in Sudbury, Suffolk, has been invited by pioneering mobile cancer care charity, Hope for Tomorrow, to attend a Royal community reception this month hosted by HM The King and HM The Queen. The exclusive event on 30 April at Buckingham Palace is being held in celebration of community-based cancer support initiatives raising awareness of the needs of patients. It follows Hope for Tomorrow’s royal recognition by HRH Prince Michael of Kent at the charity’s special event in October last year, held at the Honourable Artillery Company, the historic home of the oldest regiment in the British Army. Rachel’s invitation recognises not only her inspiring personal journey but her continued dedication to supporting the charity’s mission – to bring vital cancer treatment closer to communities with groundbreaking mobile care units. This saves patients both travel and hospital-related costs while easing pressure on NHS oncology departments across the country. In 2017, Rachel underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment aboard Frisbey, the charity’s mobile cancer care unit at Sudbury Community Health Centre. The unit is named in memory of the grandmother of Martin Brundle, a patron of Hope for Tomorrow, who lost her life to cancer. Since then, Rachel has been a volunteer dedicating herself to advocating for the charity and raising awareness about the importance of Hope for Tomorrow’s work. Rachel, who was diagnosed with cancer at just 39, will join members of the Hope for Tomorrow team alongside Tina Seymour, CEO of Hope for Tomorrow, and patients, volunteers and NHS partners, at the Palace reception this month to acknowledge her strength and commitment to helping make a difference. Rachel said: “Cancer completely disrupts your day-to-day life – it becomes a constant cycle of hospital visits, leaving little room for anything else. “It was really important for me to keep my work life as normal as possible throughout treatment. Having Frisbey come to Sudbury Community Health Centre every Thursday made a huge difference. I could step away from my desk, have my ten-minute chemotherapy session, and be back at work within 45 minutes.” Hope for Tomorrow partners with nine NHS trusts across England, operating Frisbey as one of its 14 mobile treatment units and support vehicles nationwide.
Stationed at West Suffolk Hospital in partnership with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Frisbey visits Newmarket, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Thetford, and saw 2,540 patients last year. The charity has a second unit in the region, Maureen, located in Colchester General Hospital in partnership with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust. Maureen travels between Halstead, Manningtree, Stanway and Tiptree and last year was visited by 4,086 local patients. Rachel continued: “On the rare occasions I had to travel to West Suffolk Hospital, I’d be away from work for most of the morning. Being able to avoid those long trips made such a difference. Thanks to Hope for Tomorrow’s fantastic mobile unit, I was able to maintain a fairly regular presence at work and hold on to much of my normal daily routine. “I was completely overwhelmed when I received the call from Tina inviting me to attend Buckingham Palace. It’s a huge honour and a privilege to be attending as part of Team Hope for Tomorrow. The work the charity does has such a massive impact on the daily lives of cancer patients and it’s wonderful that it’s been recognised in this way.” Tina Seymour, CEO of Hope for Tomorrow, said: “We are incredibly proud to be attending such a prestigious occasion. It follows our special event last year attended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Our recent royal recognition is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team, who work tirelessly to ensure that our mobile cancer care and support services reach patients across the country. “Of course, this incredible work would not be possible without the support of our team, and our amazing fundraisers, event sponsors and corporate partners. Whether through Pay for a Day donations, which fund one of our units for a day, participation in and sponsorship of our Cuppa for Cancer Care campaign, which takes place each February, or the brilliant efforts of our individual fundraisers – each contribution is vital to our commitment to bring cancer care closer.” Hope for Tomorrow’s units provide cancer care to up to four patients at a time and an average of 20 patients a day, with a total of 26,760 patient visits across 42 locations between 2023 and 2024. 50% of these patients saved over £6 per visit on parking and reduced their travel by an average of 17.4 miles. On average they saved 2.5 hours per visit. Over half said it improved their chances of completing their treatment and 93% found it more convenient to have their cancer care on the mobile unit – giving their experience an overall rating of 4.91 out of 5. Tina added: “The last few years have been incredibly difficult for the charity sector with individual donations down on average around 50% as the cost-of-living crisis persists. This comes as cancer diagnoses continue to rise. As a charity we have remained incredibly agile to support our fundraisers and corporate partners, and, as a result, we’ve launched a ‘Royal Edition Corporate Sponsorship Pack’ in honour of this event with unique ways for businesses to get involved. We’ve also designed a special edition Hope for Tomorrow brooch, which we will be proudly wearing at the Royal reception as a symbol of support. “Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of everyone we have managed to continue to invest in our services. From originally offering treatments, we now support the NHS with diagnoses and screening too. Exciting innovations include the recent launch of the world’s largest mobile lung assessment unit in Manchester in partnership with Cobalt Health, bringing cancer screening and diagnosis closer to communities.”
This week, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming a talented work experience student to Brancaster House Financial Planning in the form of Mcauley Holmes, 17, from Taverham Sixth Form.
Currently studying Economics at A-Level, Mcauley has been able to connect his studies with real-world financial planning, from observing market behaviour, going through financial annual reviews with clients, sitting in on marketing meetings and learning how economic decisions impact savings and investments.
Mcauley said: “I’ve enjoyed my week at Brancaster House Financial Planning. It ties into my interest in economics, financial markets and investments. I’m still deciding whether I want to do an apprenticeship or a degree, but this week has given me a firm grounding in the sector.”
Work experience students offer small businesses fresh perspectives. They can enhance productivity, provide a potential pipeline for future hires, and allow staff to develop mentoring skills. Hosting students also strengthens community ties.
Shane Julian, Director of Brancaster House Financial Planning, said: “We have been really impressed with Mcauley’s enthusiasm and curiosity – it’s great to see there is interest in this industry and to nurture the next generation of talent.
“It’s been a privilege to support Mcauley’s development and watch his confidence grow. At Brancaster House, we believe nurturing future talent is one of the best investments we can make.”
We are so pleased to be able to showcase this amazing lady, Zoe Green at NCFE, who studied with us for the MRS Advanced Certificate and not only achieved a Distinction but then went on to be awarded the MRS Excellence Award for her qualification achievement and her commitment to the industry.
This is thoroughly deserved and Zoe will be presented with her award on 6th June at the MRS Excellence Awards lunch at the prestigious Smith & Wollensky venue in London to recognise her.
She also studied with us for her Apprenticeship in Level 4 Market Research and achieved a Distinction on that course too! With apprenticeship success under her belt, Zoe not only had the foundational knowledge but had also developed a thirst for more Market Research training and took on the Level 5 qualification. It’s not essential to do the Apprenticeship before the Advanced Certificate and both can be done independently. We recommend starting with the Apprenticeship if you are new to Market Research or go straight to the MRS Advanced Certificate if you are more, well, advanced! What worked well for Zoe though was that because she achieved a Distinction on the Apprenticeship, it meant that she didn’t have to do the written “Integrated Assignment” part of the Advanced Certificate and could just study for and sit the exam. We’ve loved watching her progression as she’s grown in expertise and confidence.
Her tutor, Suzanne, said… “Zoe has been a pleasure to teach, she works hard and is committed to progressing her career in Market Research. The result is a very fitting one for both her Level 4 Apprenticeship and Level 5 Certificate. We have every confidence that she will have a very successful career”
Zoe very kindly gave us a testimonial to sum up her experience studying with us:
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I have recently completed my Market Research Society (MRS) Advanced Certificate with Swarm Bluewater. It was a great opportunity to continue learning and progress on from the Level 4 Market Research Executive apprenticeship. I was taught by Suzanne who was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable throughout the whole course. The learning was engaging, I had plenty of opportunities to practice mock exam questions and received helpful feedback.
In my current role as a Research Analyst I work on a variety of different projects that require using various research methods. I am using the skills and knowledge I have gained from the qualification on a daily basis in my current role. I have not only developed new skills, but the course has also helped me to solidify my knowledge making me more confident in decision making and taking on new projects.
Zoe Green, Research Analyst, NCFE
MRS Advanced Certificate Graduate
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If you would like to study for the MRS Advanced Certificate or would like to offer the opportunity to an employee so they can turbo-charge your marketing strategy, it can really open doors for both learner and employer. For a brochure please contact Sally Harris on 07434 947944 or email her on sally.h@swarmgroup.org.uk. Feel free to request a meeting with one of our tutors if that would help you to get more insight into the course.
At Brancaster House Financial Planning, we take great pride in being part of the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity corporate network. Supporting such a meaningful cause has not only helped us contribute to our local community but has also brought incredible benefits to our business and team. Here are five key advantages we’ve experienced since joining this fantastic initiative.
1. Giving Back to the Community Through Free Financial Consultations
One of the most rewarding aspects of our involvement is offering free financial consultations at the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity. We understand that financial concerns can be overwhelming, particularly when facing illness. By providing guidance on matters such as estate planning, pensions, and savings, we hope to ease some of the stress for patients and their families. Being able to use our expertise to support people in difficult times has been deeply fulfilling.
2. Team Bonding Through Fundraising Events
Our participation in the Inflatable 5K at the Norfolk Showground was not just about raising funds – it was also a fantastic team-building experience! Taking on the inflatable obstacles together was a great way to boost team morale, have fun, and work towards a shared goal. Plus, the event helped raise vital funds for the charity, making the effort even more worthwhile.
3. Strengthening Our Local Connections
Being part of the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity corporate network has introduced us to other like-minded businesses that are equally passionate about supporting their community. This has led to valuable networking opportunities, and a stronger presence in the local business community.
4. Aligning Our Values
At Brancaster House, we deeply understand the importance of compassionate end-of-life care. Many of our team members have personally experienced the invaluable support that Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity provides to families during difficult times. That’s why we are proud to support the Hospice.
5. Quality Hospitality And…Sausage Rolls!
As a regular user of the Hospice building, we have benefitted from the fantastic hospitality that the staff and volunteers provide in the café, on reception…in every area! The café is open to the public and offers a range of drinks, snacks and light bites. We particularly love the sausage rolls. The staff and volunteers create a welcoming atmosphere and enhances the overall experience for anyone that visits the building.
Join Us in Supporting Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity
We are proud to support Priscilla Bacon Hospice and would highly encourage other businesses to get involved. The experience has been enriching in so many ways – from making a difference in people’s lives to strengthening our team and business relationships. If your company is looking for a meaningful way to give back, this is a fantastic opportunity to do so.
For more information on how to support the Hospice, email Amy Wright at AmyWright@PriscillaBaconHospice.org.uk
At Leading Business Services, supporting our clients is what we do best, but supporting our community is just as close to our hearts.
Over the past two years, we’ve raised over £4,500 for charities doing life-changing work across our region and beyond. From Break and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) to the Mental Health Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support, our team has come together to champion causes that mean a great deal to us all, with many of our team members also regularly taking on their own personal fundraising challenges, which our team has helped support.
Our fundraising efforts have taken many forms, from bake sales and office fundraising days to sponsored hikes, charity raffles and even rubber duck races! Most recently, we raised £345 for the Alzheimer’s Society with our Easter raffle and are continuing to build momentum with the Macmillan Mighty Hikes challenge this May.
It’s all part of our commitment to making a meaningful difference, both through the work we do and the causes we support. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re aiming even higher with an ambitious fundraising target — and we’re just getting started.
A huge thank you to everyone who’s donated, baked, hiked, and helped us along the way.
Your Partner in Planning for a Stronger Tomorrow
At Leading Business Services, we believe that no business should wait until a crisis hits.
Whether you’re experiencing financial strain or simply want a health check to strengthen your foundations, our business advisory team is here to help.
You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at mail@leading.uk.com.