Member News

Freebridge Community Housing announces new chief executive

Freebridge Community Housing is delighted to announce Anita Jones as their new chief executive, taking over the role from Tony Hall, who is retiring after having been in post since Freebridge began as an organisation back in 2006.

Anita joins Freebridge from Havebury Housing in Bury St Edmunds, where she has been Director of Operations and Deputy CEO since 2012.  

Andy Walder, Freebridge Community Housing’s Chair, said: “I am delighted that Anita is joining us as our new Chief Executive. With her experience, knowledge and expertise she is well placed to lead Freebridge on the next stage of our growth and development. We look forward to working with Anita as we continue developing homes and creating opportunities for people within West Norfolk.

“I would also to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Tony Hall for the time and commitment he has given to Freebridge over the years, he will be much missed, and we wish him the very best in his retirement and in whatever challenge he decides to take on next.”

Tony Hall said: “Freebridge Community Housing has been a big part of my life for the past 14 years. We have achieved some great things and I have worked with a lot of passionate and dedicated people. It is difficult to say goodbye to such a fantastic organisation. I am sure Anita will take Freebridge forward with the same enthusiasm and I wish her and my colleagues the very best.”

Anita Jones, Freebridge’s new Community Housing Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted, excited and proud to be the new chief executive of Freebridge Community Housing, an organisation that is doing great things here in West Norfolk.  

“Like the rest of the Freebridge team and as a resident of West Norfolk I am passionate about working to support a better West Norfolk through the development of more and diverse homes, leading on initiatives that will help and support people and communities to be the best they can possibly be and delivering a high-performance housing service to our customers.  

“When I originally applied for the position at Freebridge I had no idea that of the situation we would all eventually find ourselves because of the coronavirus. That said it’s enormously reassuring to me that the employees have been coping so well in the circumstances, and it makes it clearer than ever the importance of the role that organisations like Freebridge have in West Norfolk.”

Anita will join Freebridge as the new Chief Executive at the end of summer.

We are delighted to announce details of a 15-minute film enabling viewers at home to enjoy the highly successful Art Deco by the Sea exhibition, available to view on BBC iPlayer. This project is part of BBC Arts’ Culture in Quarantine initiative which is designed to bring the best of arts and culture into the homes of audiences during this lockdown period. It is a great pleasure for the Sainsbury Centre to reconnect with members of the public and share its current major exhibition, organised in partnership with the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, on such a prominent BBC platform. This BBC iPlayer ‘Museums in Quarantine’ film gives future visitors to the exhibition an insightful preview of its wonders, and also reach a vast number of people who would otherwise have been unable to see it. Viewers can see highlights from this exciting new exhibition examining British coastal culture between the First and Second World Wars and the Art Deco style. Through selected works in all media including paintings, posters, brochures, drawings, photographs, fashion, furniture, ceramics and textiles, the film explores how Art Deco transformed the British seaside in a new age of mass tourism. Striking examples of Art Deco in Britain include iconic architecture from hotels and apartment blocks to cinemas and amusement parks, demonstrating how it became the seaside style. Beautiful designs from companies such as Poole Pottery, EKCO Radio and Crysède textiles show how the seaside became a site for innovative modern manufacture. Coastal amusements and activities which took off in the 1920s and 30s with the advent of healthy body culture are explored alongside sumptuous Art Deco fashion and the more ephemeral, popular culture of the seaside such as circuses, fairgrounds, pleasure parks, fun fairs and illuminations. In addition, a significant group of paintings explore how a fashion for realism underpinned much imagery of the seaside during the period. Ghislaine Wood, Acting Director and curator of the exhibition says, “The Art Deco by the Sea exhibition can now be experienced by people across the UK and the world. At this challenging time, there could be no better moment to examine Art Deco as a style that celebrated pleasure and escape.” Speaking about Museums in Quarantine and MuseumFromHome, Jonty Claypole, Director of BBC Arts, says: “These are buildings which carry our national collections and set the cultural agenda through exhibitions and artist commissions. They are, to an extent, the soul of our nation, revealing our history, our customs, our identity, and where we are heading. […] The ambition is simple: to ensure the public continues to have access to the collections and exhibitions they love even when they cannot enter the buildings that house them.” The Art Deco by the Sea exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre is curated by Ghislaine Wood, Acting Director. A major new publication, accompanies the show, edited by Ghislaine Wood with essays by Professor Bruce Peter, Glasgow School of Art; Gill Saunders, Victoria & Albert Museum and Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Sheffield University. The exhibition is organised by the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich in partnership with the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, where it will transfer to later in the autumn.

Tuesday, 05 May 2020

The Government has confirmed the window to submit applications for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and make a claim for Countryside Stewardship (CS), Environmental Stewardship (ES) and woodland legacy revenue payments will all be extended by one month.

Due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, farmers and land managers will now have until 15 June to submit their applications without penalty.

Farmers and land managers are still encouraged to submit claims and applications, in particular online for BPS and CS through the Rural Payments Service, as soon as they are able to, with a large number already received by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

The RPA will continue to monitor the situation carefully and consider if further measures are needed to support farmers. Applications for new CS Higher Tier and Mid Tier agreements are still being accepted ahead of their respective deadlines of 1 May and 31 July 2020.

Read more on the GOV.UK website here

Further updates and information on other COVID-19 finance matters are available on the MHA Larking Gowen COVID-19 Hub here

Norwich  Puppet Theatre closed its doors on 17th of March. That has hit us hard – with lost revenues of over £46000 and that’s just over the summer. At the same time our costs have not been greatly reduced, and our ability to work in the theatre or anywhere else is severely limited.

We have had some luck. Our team and our creative partners have worked with us to launch a new YouTube Channel  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90yGyJLmL04mep1vCnKm7w. We’d love you to explore that with your family and and discover the fun and accessible children’s creative journeys it offers. Do subscribe and give us your feedback.   We also have the funding for Research and Development work for our next major production, Pinocchio, but we think it will be September at the earliest before that can happen, instead of March. 

We benefit from a leisure sector business rates holiday, and the associated small business grant. 4 of our people are on furlough whilst 3 continue to work from home, checking our premises regularly for post, always hoping for cheques rather than bills, hygiene and security. The business related grants and the furlough scheme have been gratifyingly straightforward and timely to come through. We also had a grant from the Arts Council Emergency Response Fund, with which we were delighted and without which we would not have survived as long as we are doing. This enables us to make plans for pretty amazing new stuff and different scenarios for an exit strategy.

We thought you might like to join in a conversation about what happens next. Theatres are likely to be a long way down the pike in terms of opening for business and that affects what we plan to run in our lovely theatre in Whitefriars Norwich, on tour in all those other venues and festivals currently wondering about their exit strategies, and with our artistic partners.

We ponder many uncertainties specific to our sector but with many aspects in common with all business settings.

• How and when theatres can reopen
• What will the future rules be for social distancing and hygiene measures for staff artists and audiences
• Which artists will still be creatively productive and economic viable bearing in mind their fragile self-employed patterns of work
• How other venues and festivals manage the backlog of cancelled content alongside what they have booked for 2021-22
• Critically, whether audiences released from lockdown want to visit live performances and creative learning experiences with their children.

We think we have to be agile and fleet of foot and as a smaller business but we still have lead times raising funding and investment in new work and scaling up new online services, and we face a re really significant cash flow threat from projecting how we work with whatever new business models we can make work for us and our creative partners. There are advantages for smaller organisations over larger ones perhaps in terms of scale of financial risks, but weaknesses too in terms of resources and reach of our brands. So have a look at what we are doing on YouTube, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for latest news and offers, and if you have experiences to share with us, do please get in touch with us at info@puppettheatre.co.uk. Thanks for your interest Nic Hopkins, Chair of Board of Trustees

The coronavirus pandemic is a human tragedy and a long way from any conclusion. The subsequent lockdown has had an unprecedented impact on almost every business.

As our team work from home to support our clients, we’ve frequently discussed (by video call) the best ways to advise our clients and use marketing to create a brighter horizon.

As the news turns to relaxing lockdown measures, we look at how marketing can be used to keep businesses above water and begin the fight back…

The impact on B2B

Many of the headlines have focused on predominantly business-to-consumer (B2C) sectors, such as hotels, restaurants, airlines and retailers. However, the impacts of the lockdown on business-to-business (B2B) companies – in sectors like business services, engineering, technology and logistics – have often been just as profound.

It appears most B2B organisation currently fall into three groups.

The first saw an almost immediate cessation of business once restrictions hit.

The second and perhaps largest group, have seen a slow but steady decay in business as the lockdown has progressed.

The final and most fortunate group have actually seen an upturn in demand, such as those in essential goods supply chains.

Which you fall into will impact the market strategy you choose for your recovery.

Maintain a presence

Statistics show that companies which maintain their profile during a crisis or downturn recover quicker than those who cease marketing.

Marketing is largely about momentum. It takes time to become a recognisable and trusted name in your market place. However, you can quickly slip from mind once other issues take your customers’ attention.

If you’ve seen an overnight decimation of your business; no one will ever blame you for ceasing your marketing. It simply may not be that important.

However – if you’re able to – regular blogs, social media updates, emailing your customers and sending out press releases can all be low cost ways to remain on your customers radar.

It’s an emotional time, so try not to be too negative (or positive) with your messages. Keep the tone compassionate and informative. Though you may be desperate for new business, overtly salesy messages can appear ‘tone deaf’ to others’ concerns.

Stick to the plan

It’s a highly emotional time. Many of us remain in shock. For some, business has dried up and survival hangs in the balance.

The first temptation is to start looking at any and all ways you can create revenue.

It’s good to think outside the box and be prepared to diversify your business. However, attempting to appeal to ‘everyone’ is rarely effective, particularly if you dilute your focus and marketing.

With competition high and demand low, entering a new market segment or launching a new product or service may more difficult than usual.

Take a pragmatic look at what you do best and who your typical customers actually are. Focus your efforts and marketing on your true niche. It’s likely to be your quickest route to success now and as the economy heals.

Marketing to stand still

One lessons we can learn from B2C is that marketing can sometimes be about maintaining the status quo. Many large consumer brands spend eye watering amounts on marketing just to maintain the market share they have.

Quite rightly, this is less comfortable territory for those of us in B2B.

There are still some B2B segments for which marketing itself remains fairly unfamiliar. Though they may unknowingly rely on marketing such as networking, trade shows and customer relationship management, actively promoting what they do may be alien.

Entering a recession, many sectors will experience higher competition amidst falling demand. If resource permit, investment in marketing may be needed to simply maintain the level of customer you need until economic signs improve,

Build momentum for the fight back

The good news is that, as detailed earlier, those businesses which maintain marketing through a crisis or downturn statistically recover quicker.

Whilst ‘burst’ marketing (short lived campaigns) can work for products in times of high demand (think ice creams in summer), ‘drip’ marketing is much more effective for B2B.

The coronavirus crisis impacted in a matter of days. Though the overall recovery will take longer, some sectors could recover just as quick.

It’s very hard to build marketing momentum once markets have already picked up. Your canny competitors may have stolen the march.

Marketing now could help you be the first customers choose as conditions recover.

Which marketing is best?

Assuming you have some revenue or capital to invest in marketing, next you have to consider where best to invest your precious resources.

There is no ‘right’ answer as every business, market, segment and niche are different.

Here’s a quick overview of the main marketing channels and our experience of them at this extraordinary time:

Direct Marketing (email and mail)

Going direct to your ideal customers remains a strong tactic. Whilst direct mail marketing has limited effectiveness until staff return to their offices, we’ve found the open rates of B2B email campaigns have remained good and even risen.

Keep in touch with your clients and prospects with an email update about how you’re operating and meeting current challenges. Ensure you empathise with the fight against the virus.

Websites & SEO

More than ever, your website is your shop window.

With travel restrictions and new ways of working here to stay, it’s more likely than ever to be your customers first port of call. Make sure it’s up to date, represents your strengths and shows you’re open for business.

Beginning Search Engine Optimisation now may not help in the short term but it is going to be more vital than ever that your website appears organically in search results in the months ahead.

PPC (Paid Search & Google Ads)

Understandably, many B2B businesses paused their spending on Google Ads when the lockdown hit.

However, search engines will be the first place most businesses (working from home or their offices) look as they research the product and services they need to return to business.

The reality is that this unprecedented interruption to business-as-usual may sever some relationships and encourage businesses to source new suppliers. This could be turned into an opportunity.

Brochures, Presentations & Marketing Materials

If you have the time and capacity, now may also be an opportunity to review and improve your physical marketing materials, like brochures and presentations.

Just like your website, once business returns in earnest, you will want to project the very best messages about your products and services.

With trade events postponed, and face-to-face meetings off the agenda, physical (or digital) brochures and presentations may be even more effective at putting what you do in front of potential clients.

Social Media

Social media use has increased exponentially during the crisis. It remains a strong way to keep in the minds of your customers.

However, many of the normal challenges remain. Consumer-focused platforms like Facebook remain difficult for B2B businesses to use effectively and, though more suitable for businesses, Twitter relies on highly frequent posting.

LinkedIn remains the primary platform for B2B. However, ensure your posts reflect the tone of the moment. It’s good for updating your followers, sharing successes and commenting on developments. However, overtly salesy messages should be limited, especially if they run counter to your customers’ current concerns.

PR

Many publications and website are currently scrambling for content to publish, especially those in specific industrial sectors.

It’s a great time to show your business’s mettle with a press release on how you’re rising to current challenges or supporting others. Again, particularly if asked to comment by the publications, try to talk about the constructive and positive measures you’re taking.

Conclusion

It’s hard to offer advice when everyone is dealing with such unique situations and emotions.

Many businesses are simply doing their best to deal with immediate pressures like lost business, cash flow problems, anxious employees and an uncertain future.

For many businesses – but not all – using and preparing marketing now will be a vital ingredient in their recovery. The key is to be pragmatic, stick to a plan and put your business in the very best position for when demand begins to rise.

If you need support – even just as a sounding board or for some free advice – please get in touch: https://fullmixmarketing.co.uk

Local media company Archant, publishers of the Eastern Daily Press, has launched a £500,000 matched advertising fund for independent local businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  

Grants are available for a minimum of £200 and maximum of £2,000 matched advertising credits. These credits can be used towards print or digital advertising within Archant newspapers and associated websites in Norfolk and across the areas it operates. The fund is open to locally owned and operated independent businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus during the past few months.  Its aim is to help them kickstart their advertising in the critical time of May and June as we start to move out of lockdown so that they can let customers old and new know that they are open for business.  

All applications must be made in May to be used by June 30th. To find out more about the fund and how you can apply visit: www.archanthub.co.uk/grant. Full terms and conditions can also be found here.

For over 170 years, Archant has worked with small businesses and has helped them to achieve their aims and reach their desired audiences. This fund is just one of the ways Archant is helping local small businesses: take a look at archanthub.co.uk for a range of free guides featuring topics such as updating your messaging and maintaining your social media presence during the Coronavirus pandemic. You’ll find details of the ongoing free digital marketing insight webinar series there too.

Peter Simpson, CEO of Anglian Water, will be speaking about Business in the Community and Anglian Water are supporting the East of England during these challenging times. 

Covid-19: East of England National Business Response Network Webinar Date: Tuesday 12th May Time: 10:30 – 11:30 Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/698791722865806862

As the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on towns and cities across the UK intensifies, the need to link business support to community need at the right place, right time and at the right scale has never been more urgent. Business in the Community (BITC), part of the Prince’s Responsible Business Network, have launched the National Business Response Network to identify community needs across the UK and match them to the right business support. In the East of England, they are working with our Regional Board of business leaders who have risen to the challenge of identifying solutions to support community groups, schools, local authorities and others. They are meeting critical needs such as food provision, technology to enable people to stay connected, social care for vulnerable groups and professional support. This webinar will shine a light on success stories, looking at how they can continue to support communities in the East of England, helping them survive the immediate crisis and enabling them to recover and thrive in the future. During this webinar it will: 

•         Provide an overview of BITC’s National Business Response Network •         Share great examples of how businesses in the East of England have been delivering support directly to communities •         Hear from community partners on the challenges brought on by the crisis and the importance of the support they are receiving If you are unable to join the webinar but want to know more about the National Business Response Network, you can find out more HERE  

Today Safepoint are announcing a major new release. The Safepoint Alert Button is a small wearable device that allows users to send emergency alerts with just a single tap.

A Great Addition

The Alert Button connects with the award-winning Safepoint platform to make it even more powerful. You can find it on our new Safepoint Store.

Previously, Safepoint users could trigger an alert in two ways: either through timing out of a task or through hitting the emergency button within the app.

With the addition of the Alert Button, not only do users have an easy and discreet way of manually requesting help, but it can also detect if the user has had a dangerous fall (sometimes called a ‘man-down’ function).

Read the full article here

With the return to work post COVID-19 hopefully a not too distant idea for most, we decided to look into ways in which aspects of social distancing could be practised in the office environment.

Our latest blog is focused on how the use of innovative office furniture can ensure the needs of your employees are met.

Please use the link below to read our blog:

https://www.layrddesign.co.uk/post/social-distancing-in-the-workplace

Please get in touch if you would like to speak to us about how we could help you to be more compliant with social distancing in your workspace.

Two Sixth Form pupils from Norwich School are sweetening up life in lockdown through the development of their own fudge business, The Sweet Kitchen.

Created by Lower Sixth pupils Olivia Holdcroft and Scarlett Udy, The Sweet Kitchen business was set up as part of the Young Chamber programme at the school and produces luxury, yet affordable fudge for the Norwich community.

The inspiration behind the project came from their parents’ creative backgrounds and a love of all things sweet. The duo completed a food hygiene course and trialled a number of recipes to get the perfect product. They also used social media to promote the business to the community.

In response to the latest outbreak and to keep spirits lifted, we are taking The Sweet Kitchen out of school and into the community by making local deliveries.

Glyn Manton, Business Enterprise teacher at the school said “At Norwich School we have approximately 80 pupils that have been engaged in our Young Chamber Enterprise schemes this year, where they form their own companies from scratch.  This year the ‘Sweet Kitchen’ has been very successful in terms of sales.  We are delighted that Olivia and Scarlett have taken the initiative to adapt their business model so it can continue to operate safely and successfully as a delivery service.”

You can find out more and order your fudge at https://www.thesweetkitchen.co.uk/

Norwich City Council has already handed over £30m in Government relief grants to local businesses – and is reminding those eligible businesses which have not yet claimed their money to complete the online form.

So far, around £30m has been handed out in total 2,233 businesses, which represents 72 per cent of the businesses in the city that are eligible for the Government grants.

With the number of forms completed daily now starting to reduce, the council is phoning, emailing or visiting the remaining eligible businesses, where it has those contact details, to remind them of the importance of completing the online form on the council’s website.

Cllr Alan Waters, leader of the council, said: “We are working closely with New Anglia LEP, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce and other business groups to ensure our local businesses get the support they are entitled to during these challenging times.

“We are also asking residents to help get the word out by checking in with their local businesses to make sure they are aware of the grant support available.

“Our council staff have really pulled together to get the grants paid and we continue to pay money out daily. Our final push is to get those businesses who have not yet applied to do so.”

Businesses who think they may be eligible and who have not already applied should visit www.norwich.gov.uk/business-support to find the online form, as well as information about the grants.

For advice relating to the grants call Norwich City Council on 01603 212 898. For other business advice, contact the Growth Hub via 0300 333 6536 or www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk

We are delighted to start offering our renowned afternoon tea experience for you to enjoy safely during lockdown! Bring a little bit of the Norfolk Mead into your home and experience a well-deserved treat to keep you and your close family and friends smiling!

The details:

We will be producing our first batch of takeaway Afternoon Teas on Saturday 9th May.  All orders must be received by Friday 8th May at 11pm. We are pleased to be offering a special price of £15 per person.  We offer delivery from Coltishall within an approx 15 mile radius for an additional £3 per order. Subject to demand. We are pleased to offer house white/red/rose wine for £10.00 per bottle and house prosecco for £15.00 per bottle.  Free delivery for orders over £50.    Collection will be available from 1pm – 2pm. Deliveries will take place between 1pm and 3pm. Please order by email at info@norfolkmead.co.uk.  Please call with any queries on 01603 737 531. When ordering, please provide your name, number of people, a contact phone number and an address for deliveries.  Please do let us know of any dietary requirements although at this time it may be difficult for us to make changes or provide alternatives … we will inform you of what is available at the time of ordering.  Payment in advance only for deliveries via Paypal (link sent to you via return email).  Payment in cash on collection also available.    Your afternoon tea will be packed into a box. For collections, please help by observing social distancing of 2m – we will bring boxes directly to your car. We will approach your car and ask for your name when you arrive.    For deliveries, we will leave your order on your doorstep, knock and walk away and wait until we see you have received it.  We will continue to offer this every week subject to continued demand.  Orders open Monday 11th May for takeaways to be collected/ delivered on Saturday 16th May. Orders must be received by 11pm Friday 15th May.    Thank you so much to everyone for your continued support.