Member News

With summer 2020 shaping up like no other, BDH Tullford is helping its clients find innovative solutions to unique challenges.

The Norwich-based company was recently contacted by Kelly’s of Cornwall, part of the Froneri group, which was seeking a way to support small shops and confectioners post-lockdown. 

Due to social distancing measures, small outlets can only accommodate one or two people at a time, which is unfortunate if you want to buy treats for the whole family. Customers may be put off buying cones if they have to dash in and out of the store to deliver ice-creams before they melt.

Rising to the challenge, BDH Tullford developed a cone carrier, which allows customers to carry several ice-creams at once.

Designed to compliment our countertop ice-cream holders, which are distributed to companies across Europe, they’re lightweight and easy to use. 

The server simply places the carrier over the holder, before putting cones in the slots and stepping away, leaving the customer to lift the carrier by the handles and distribute the ice-creams outside. 

Not only is it ideal for social distancing, but it’s:

• Cost-effective

• Fully branded

• Recyclable

• Flatpack

• Light​

Needless to say, Kelly’s of Cornwall is delighted with the product!

Got a post-pandemic challenge? Give us a call to find out how we can help you!

01603 620780 / hello@bdhtullford.co.uk

Orange Heating Supplies has moved to a bigger unit, we haven’t gone far, we are now in a different unit on the same commercial park, this has allowed us the space to grow and show our customers in the plumbing and heating industry more of what we can offer.     It also has allowed us more social distancing for our customers and staff to keep everyone safe and we have hand sanitiser available at the entrance.   Orange Heating Supplies supply all plumbing, heating, renewable heating, underfloor heating parts to trade, see the map for their new location.  All customers welcome, pop along to see our new showroom for all plumbing and heating supplies.

We are so looking forward to fully opening our doors once again when it is safe to do so. A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us and the whole team during this time – whether through your kind messages checking in on us or your takeaway Afternoon Tea orders.

We remain hopeful that we can re-open across the Hotel, Restaurant, Treatment Rooms and Garden Room venue on the 4th July and are taking bookings now for that date and beyond.    In line with the latest government guidelines, we have started undertaking the required changes to our operations to ensure we reopen safely but with our usual luxury home from home experience still in full evidence so you will be able to book with confidence. We are fortunate in having so much space across our buildings and grounds to allow you to relax and enjoy some time away with us.     Our measures include:  – Reduced occupancy and dining numbers – In depth cleaning and protective equipment including gloves and masks where appropriate – Distance reminders – Distant and contactless service – Team member training and health monitoring – Flexible cancellations in line with our usual 72 hours notice policy if things change and mean you can no longer travel to us.    If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us via info@norfolkmead.co.uk, or you can book or enquire about hotel gift vouchers, beauty treatments, event venue viewings and hotel rooms on our Norfolk luxury hotel website.    Keep safe, and keep in touch and we hope to see you soon.     James, Anna and Team Mead x

A New Chapter in a City of Stories : Image Development

Stories. We all have them. They have the power to capture imaginations, impart wisdom, engage and excite. Ours began in 1989. Along with Taylor Swift, The Simpsons and the World Wide Web, Image Development was first born. Our offices on Norwich’s Cathedral Street housed our design and admin, whilst an unassuming garage belonging to the father in law of Managing Director Iain, housed our production facilities. From this first humble chapter, our story unfurled. We grew from our passion of helping clients share their very own stories. Getting them noticed with striking displays, immersive events and a knack for finding that interesting angle.

As we grew, we became even more specialised in events and exhibitions, incorporating as Image Display & Graphics Ltd. in 1996. From there, we gained a reputation as award winning exhibition stand design and build contractors, with this fast becoming over 80% of our business. In recent years however, our wider marketing expertise has taken a more central role in the events we deliver for our clients. Many have touted the ‘end of events’ as we know it at many points in our history. Of course we’ve seen events change. Yet far from ending, they have evolved, with more integration of digital and the wider marketing mix. Importantly we never lost sight of our roots, allowing us to evolve with this growing need for a cohesive understanding of marketing in all our work. It was natural as more clients came to us for their events needs, we had grown in a specific direction, but our multi-talented roots were never far away. So what does this have to do with a new marketing brand in 2020?

Inspired by the bustling community of creatives, independent businesses and entrepreneurs of our home city of Norwich, we knew it was time to grow. In order to do so we looked back to our roots, our story. From here we took the design, marketing and brand development services we were originally built on and injected them with the experience and event led work that has come to be our mainstay. The result? An experientially driven creative marketing service built around you, our wonderful clients, collaborators and colleagues.

So what is #NorfolkBiztory?

To mark our launch and share the power of stories in building brands, we want to hear yours! To share the network of incredible people and brands in our local business community, we’re asking you to use the hastag #NorfolkBiztory to get involved.

As we reopen and recover, making clients a part of your story will be more important than ever, so let’s start sharing them together…

Using #NorfolkBiztory, you could share:

• A unique insight into your origin story

• The problem you set out to solve for your clients & customers

• The reason you do what you do

• A value or values that underpin what you do

So use #NorfolkBiztory, tag us @ImageDevelop across your socials (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram…you can find us on Linkedin too), and spread the word and a little experience of you!

Learn more about Image Development & our services here.

Learn more about Image Display & Graphics here.

Since we last published a catalogue in October 2019 we have moved to a ‘digital first’ catalogue and also integrated many of the Packer products into the Southgate range. The beginning of 2020 saw something none of us expected, with a pandemic sweeping across the world and changing how we all communicate and do business. This gave rise to home working, virtual meetings and the opportunity to support businesses getting back to work with a range of welfare products. With packaging enquiries continuing and social distancing still in place we recognised the need to provide a digital catalogue available. In an unstable market with prices likely to fluctuate the catalogue is unpriced to reduce discrepancies. For current contractual prices, stock levels and the ability to place orders 24/7, contact us for your login details to the Southgate Shop. Within this catalogue you will now see references to Packer products. Where a Southgate product code is followed immediately by a Packer product code this indicates the Southgate Product code will take precedence. Where a Product appears displaying the Packer logo this denotes a Packer product has been added to the Southgate range but will continue with the original Packer product code. We are excited to present an extended range of knives and cutters, heat shrink chambers and glue guns. Our focus on sustainability continues as we introduce the new Carbon Neutral and PaperWave Pillow Film for use with the Pacplan AirWave, along with plain or bespoke printed Paper Mailing Bags, the eco-friendly alternative to plastic. These are strong, resilient, cost-effective and available in a range of sizes. Click here to subscribe to your free digital edition of the Southgate Catalogue

As for many businesses across the country, we have been working hard in line with the most up to date Government guidance, as we prepare to reopen our Norwich city centre offices to clients and staff from Monday 15 June. We have completed a robust risk assessment covering our client facing reception and meeting room areas, as well as our internal risks due to staff work areas, transport needs, office cleaning and maintenance requirements and, importantly, the impacts on staff communication and well being.

This has led to the implementation of the following reopening measures:

• Clients will be seen face to face by pre-appointment only. Appointments will also need to be made in advance for document signing including obtaining certified copies of documents for property transactions
• Only two client meetings to take place in the office at any one time, with calendar management allowing sufficient time between appointments for cleaning routines and to avoid crossover
• Distance signage reminders installed throughout the offices
• Perspex screen installed at the 4 Theatre Street reception
• Increased cleaning routines with hand sanitiser and bacterial wipes available
• Masks and gloves will be available for staff to use as required
• On site staff numbers will be reduced with some remaining working from home and a staff rotation system for those on office premises
• No member of staff will be required to return to the office to work if they do not feel comfortable to do so pending the further easing of restrictions and the provision of additional government guidance
• Staff have been briefed and will be required to maintain social distancing
• Staff workstations will be in individual office rooms where possible
• Client deliveries will not be accepted at Dencora House. Please direct any post to 4 Theatre Street
• Please do not attend the office if you are unwell. In line with the most up to date guidance, anyone with coronavirus symptoms must self-isolate for seven days from when their symptoms started. Anyone who does not have symptoms must self-isolate for 14 days from when the first person in their home started having symptoms. See: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

We would like to reassure clients and contacts that we feel confident in maintaining our historically high level of client service within the new normal circumstances. Our staff remain accessible and ready to help you navigate your legal issues – whether you would prefer to continue to liaise via phone or email, or if you would feel comfortable to arrange a face to face meeting.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions at all. Please call or email your usual Hatch Brenner contacts, or our Managing Partner Dawn Parkes is available to discuss any concerns via dawnparkes@hatchbrenner.co.uk

Employers could be forgiven for having forgotten about some of the Employment Law changes which came into force on 6 April 2020 amidst the COVID19 pandemic. However, this is unlikely to provide a defence to any claim which might arise as a result. Below we summarise the changes which employers must action, if they have not already done so.

Written statement of terms

A written statement of terms must now be given to employees on or before the first day of employment, rather than within two months of employment starting.

In addition to the information that was already required by Section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, the written statement must now also include:

• the days of the week the worker is required to work, whether the working hours may be variable and how any variation will be determined;
• any paid leave to which the worker is entitled;
• details of all remuneration and benefits;
• any probationary period; and
• any training entitlement provided by the employer, including whether any training is mandatory and/or must be paid for by the worker.

Furthermore, the right to a written statement of terms now extends to all workers, rather than just employees.

Holiday pay reference period

The reference period for determining an average week’s pay (for the purposes of calculating holiday pay) has been increased from 12 weeks to 52 weeks, or the number of complete weeks for which the worker has been employed.

Parental bereavement leave and pay

A statutory right for employees to take one or two weeks off work following the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth now applies (‘Parental Bereavement Leave’). A new statutory payment may be payable during parental bereavement leave, depending on the individual’s length of service and earnings (‘Parental Bereavement Pay’).

Repeal of the ‘Swedish Derogation’

The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 have been amended to remove the ‘Swedish Derogation’. By no later than 30 April 2020, temporary work agencies must provide agency workers whose existing contracts contain a Swedish Derogation provision (which, in some circumstances, allows employers to pay contracted workers less than direct employees) with a written statement advising that, with effect from 6 April 2020, those provisions no longer apply.

Key information documents for agency work-seekers

Employment businesses must provide agency work-seekers with a key information document, before agreeing the terms by which the work-seeker will undertake work. The document must include information such as the type of contract under which the work-seeker will be engaged, the minimum rate of pay, any deductions that will be made to their pay, how they will be paid and by whom, and annual leave entitlement.

The Hatch Brenner team of Employment Solicitors in Norwich has experience in advising employers and employees across a range of Employment Law matters. Call 01603 660 811 to speak to one of our specialists.

Colin Cook, Hatch Brenner Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution commented: “As many Claimant practitioners will be painfully aware, Defendant legal teams, instructed by insurers, regularly seek to depart from costs budgets on detailed assessment to effectively use the budgeting process to gain a double assessment of the Claimant’s costs. This can open up opportunity to obtain additional reductions on costs bills where work has been genuinely and properly undertaken in accordance with the approved costs budgets.   “In many instances this undermines the purpose to budgeting.   “One of the latest tactics has been to use the fact that there has been an underspend on the budget as a reason to invite the assessing costs judge as a reason to depart from the budget.   “It is a quite incredulous argument.   “Imagine if you were provided with an estimate for building works and the final bill came in under the original estimate. Would you then challenge the costs because is was too low?   “This is the point some Defendants have been making on costs assessments.”   In the case of Utting v Norwich City College in which Hatch Brenner Solicitors was instructed in the High Court, Master Brown ruled against the Defendant legal team (DWF LLP) seeking to raise this point in his written judgment:   “… if an underspend were to be a good reason for departing from a budget it would be liable to substantially undermine the effectiveness of cost budgeting. As the Judge effectively observed, solicitors who had acted efficiently and kept costs within budget would find their costs subject to detailed assessment, whereas less efficient solicitors who exceeded the budget would, absent any other “good reason”, receive the budgeted sum and avoid detailed assessment. There is however nothing per se unjust if a receiving party were to receive a sum by way of costs which is less than the budgeted sum. This is, of course, to be contrasted with the situation where a phase is not substantially completed, where it would, to my mind, be unjust for a receiving party to receive the full amount of a budgeted sum in circumstances where only a modest amount of the expected work had been done. ”   “… one of the perceived benefits of cost budgeting is that the need for, and scope of, detailed assessments would be reduced … – an aim which is liable to be thwarted if ‘underspend’ could of itself be a “good reason” for departing from a budget.”   “Even if ‘underspend’ were a “good reason” for the purpose of CPR 3.18, it does not follow that there should be a deduction from the sums claimed. Plainly, the fact that a party has spent less than its budget for a phase does not mean there is therefore in fact a good or appropriate reason for any further reduction and I was not satisfied that there was any additional “good reason” for any such reduction.”   Colin Cook is a Personal Injury Solicitor with specialist experience in Brain Injury legal cases. Email colincook@hatchbrenner.co.uk or call 01603 660 811.

We currently have two Solicitor vacancies. Would you like to join the small and friendly Hatch Brenner team on Theatre Street in Norwich City centre?

Part-time Employment Law Solicitor Vacancy

Are you looking for a new challenge? We have a flexible opportunity for a Solicitor within our Norwich city centre office. We are currently looking for a Solicitor with particular expertise in Employment Law to join our Dispute Resolution team on a part time basis (minimum three days a week). With at least three years PQE, the successful candidate will be equipped to support employer and employee clients on a range of legal matters. Some business development experience and an existing network of local contacts would be ideal to continue to develop our Employment Law services.

Residential Property Solicitor Vacancy

We are currently looking for a new Solicitor to join our busy Residential Property team. With at least three years PQE, the successful candidate should have an extensive network of local contacts to help develop our residential property services and provide guidance and support to the existing successful team.

Please send a copy of your CV to Ian Johnson at ianjohnson@hatchbrenner.co.uk

You may think that if the estate you are dealing with is not looking likely to breach the Inheritance Tax threshold that you don’t need a professional certified valuation of the chattels. Think again! Are you quite certain that an old master isn’t languishing in the attic? Are you positive that the old pot that holds dried flowers and sits in the corner of the conservatory isn’t a rare 17th century Chinese Imperial vase? If you’re quite happy in your ability to recognise one of these hidden gems thats fine,but if not……..read on!

Several years ago, a charity shop local to me at the time, had a large box containing various clothing and other bits and bobs left on their doorstep overnight…..quite clearly the residue from a deceased estate. On unpacking the items they found what they described as “an old broken wooden thing” and decided that they had better bring it along for me to take a look at. This, after it had sat on the shop shelves priced at £10 for twenty minutes or so.

This “old broken wooden thing” was quite probably the rarest Chinese carved bamboo brush pot ever to come up for auction and it subsequently sold for over £350,000………yes, over a third of a million pounds!

Now obviously this in itself meant that the value of the estate from which it originated breached the IHT threshold but there is something else of huge importance to factor in here. And that is that the sum achieved in auction was a ‘life changing’ amount of money, and with the contents not being checked by a professional prior to dispersal……..somebody missed out in a big, big way!

Did we ever find out just where the brush pot came from? No we didn’t although a few did come forward and ‘claim’ that it came from within their family. However without a ‘gift aid’ form being filled out there was no valid grounds for any compensation anyway, so it will remain a mystery.

So what is the moral of this story……..because there is always a moral to a good tale!

Well its quite simply this. ALL deceased estates should have the chattels valued by a certified professional prior to probate…….a service I offer throughout Norfolk, its neighbouring counties and beyond.

For the sake of the fees involved you can save a lot of potential heartache!

For further details take a look at my website mfvaluations.com Contact me via email at mfvaluations@gmail.com or give me a call on 07806 360312

Anglian Water has today announced who will form its new Strategic Pipeline Alliance after a competitive procurement process.

The water company will join forces with construction and engineering giants Costain, Farrans, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald Bentley as part of a contract worth over £350 million, to complete one of the largest strategic water infrastructure projects the UK has ever seen.

The programme forms a key part of Anglian’s Water Resources Management Plan which looks 25 years ahead to manage and secure the water resources by safe-guarding against the potential future impacts of water scarcity, climate change and growth, while protecting the environment.

A vital element of the ambitious plan is to create up to 500km of interconnecting pipes and associated pumping equipment, as well as upgrading existing infrastructure to allow water transfer across Anglian Water’s region. Its single aim is to make the East resilient to the risks of drought by securing water supplies for future generations.

By installing new pipework to better join up the existing water network, the water company will be able to move water more freely around the region in stages, from areas of water surplus in north Lincolnshire down, to the south and east of the region, where it is less readily available.

Strategic Pipeline Alliance Director, James Crompton, said: “The challenges of population growth and a changing climate are felt nowhere more keenly than here in the East of England, which is one of the driest parts of the UK. Starting this project is a significant part of our planned investment in the region over the next five years, which will begin to tackle those challenges and secure customer supplies well into the future.

“The programme will make it possible to reduce the amount of water taken from the environment, as well as strengthening resilience by reducing the number of homes and businesses which rely on a single water source.

“It will be a complex and challenging major infrastructure development. It presents an exciting opportunity for these civil engineering, design and construction experts and we’re delighted to have four such prestigious partners on board.”

Anglian Water has already proven the durability and success of an alliancing way of working. In 2015, the company signed 15-year contracts with its existing partners but recognised the need for specialist engineering and construction for such a large-scale project. The tendering process to form the new strategic alliance began last year.

James continued: “We’ve seen how successful and powerful a truly integrated and collaborative alliancing approach can be and now we’re building on it. Each of our new partners bring not only a wealth of experience but they also bring new mindsets, thinking and innovation for what is an incredibly exciting project, but also collectively, one of the largest investments in our water infrastructure we’ve made in recent years.”

• One in seven (15%) people in the East of England lack the ‘essential digital skills’ needed for day-to-day life online
• But, more than a third (39%) have boosted digital skills during lockdown

One in eight (13%) people in the East of England were unable to use the internet by themselves prior to lockdown, lacking the basic skills required to communicate, shop or bank online, the latest Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index (CDI) has revealed.

Technology is now a necessity for keeping connected, working remotely and accessing vital information. Research1 carried out before the introduction of lockdown restrictions showed that one in seven (15%) of those surveyed in the East of England lacked the digital skills needed for everyday life2, with more than one in ten (11%) unable to connect a device to a Wi-Fi network, and around one in ten (9%) unable to turn on a device and log into accounts or profiles they have.

However, in a separate poll3 carried out after lockdown measures were introduced, more than a third (39%) of people said they have now taken action to boost their digital skills for work, health and well-being during the crisis.

Matt Hubbard, Lloyds Banking Group’s Ambassador for the East of England, said: “Being online has proven to be incredibly valuable in recent months as we all adapt to working from home and keeping in touch with loved ones remotely.

“It’s worrying to see that there are still people in the East who are struggling with essential digital skills. But, with so many people in the region working to boost their skills, we’re narrowing the digital skills gap and it’s clear that many are doing their bit to help friends and loved ones stay connected.

“We also understand that it shouldn’t fall to individuals alone to boost their digital skills and are committed to helping people and businesses with this challenge. That’s why we’ve got Digital Champions on hand to help people get online, and for those wanting to develop their skills there is the Lloyds Bank Academy, a free online resource designed to help with basic online training.”

Even before lockdown, people in the East of England with high levels of digital engagement recognised the benefits of these skills, with eight in ten (80%) saying it helps them stay connected to friends and family, more than half (54%) say it improved their ability to get a job, and more than a third (35%) reporting it helps manage and improve their physical and mental health.

Boosting skills in lockdown

In the last few weeks of UK lockdown, almost nine in ten (87%) of people surveyed in the East of England believe that the situation has escalated the need to be online and over eight in ten people (86%) have felt that technology has been a vital support during the outbreak.

Almost one in four (39%) across the East of England have taken action and boosted their digital skills, with more than a third (35%) reporting they have up-skilled for work reasons, while four in ten (41%) are using technology more than usual to help them with their health and wellbeing.

Of those in the East of England who have improved their skills, six in ten (61%) are self-taught, a fifth (21%) are calling upon family members for support and a similar proportion (20%) are relying on friends.

More than one in three (39%) in the East of England have also helped other people improve their digital skills during this period. Staying in touch with others is the most popular reason to ask for help, with more than two thirds (68%) of people helping their family members to use apps such as Zoom or WhatsApp. This is followed by banking and shopping cited by more than a third (38%) of respondents.

Encouragingly, more than half (59%) of people in the East of England want to continue to boost their skills beyond the current climate, with almost a quarter (23%) having used the time at home to do online learning to improve digital skills.

Stephen Noakes, Managing Director, Retail Transformation, Lloyds Bank, said: “The impact of lockdown has brought into sharp focus just how important digital skills are, when all of a sudden it may be the only way for some people to stay connected to loved ones, buy food or get hold of other essential items such as medicine.

“While this unprecedented situation may have a greater impact on those who remain digitally excluded than those who are online, it is encouraging that this has focused people’s attention on digital capability as a vital life skill. We and many others have responded to this with extra support, including free training through our Academy, but more needs to be done to close the digital divide.”

Helping to address the digital divide

The latest Consumer Digital Index also shows that without any intervention, by 2030, a quarter of the UK will still have a very low level of digital engagement.

To help people improve their skills Lloyds Bank is running online digital skills training via the Lloyds Bank Academy. Free webinars are held each week providing access to digital experts, training on key skills and opportunities for virtual networking to support individuals, local businesses and charities. Everyone can access free online resources at www.lloydsbankacademy.com.

In addition, through a new partnership with WeAreDigital, a specialist phone line has been introduced to help up to 20,000 customers access the internet and learn new skills to help with everyday digital tasks such as online shopping and connecting virtually with family and friends, as well as online banking. Over 20,000 of the Group’s Digital Champions are also using online volunteering platforms and telephone services to help the most vulnerable in society during this difficult time.