Member News

Norwich-based Full Mix Marketing have become official Google Partners, helping further demonstrate their expertise as effective digital marketing experts for their clients.

The Google Partners programme is for digital marketing agencies who manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of businesses or brands. Google Partners status is awarded to agencies who have demonstrated suitable experience delivering Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns and achieved a number of exams and certifications within their team.

“As part of our comprehensive digital marketing services, we’ve helped many businesses get the best from Google” says Laura Nunn, Full Mix Marketing’s Digital Marketing Executive. “This is great recognition of how committed we are to doing everything correctly to turn our client’s budget into meaningful results.”

The full-service marketing agency currently manages Google Ads and other paid search and display campaigns for business in sectors as diverse as TV advertising, IT services, logistics, manufacturing and even boat sales. As well as traditional paid search adverts within search results, they also deliver display ads, shopping ads, remarketing ads, mobile only ads and social media advertising campaigns. They differentiate themselves from others by taking a more proactive approach when managing campaigns.

“Instead of relying on automation or algorithms, we balance analytics with common-sense and experience” continues Laura. “We get to know our clients and their customers so we can actively target the search terms which turn into sales. Whatever their budget, we thoroughly manage every campaign to ensure the very best results.”

Full Mix Marketing is a growing agency with clients throughout Norfolk, East Anglia and beyond. As well as individual digital, offline and creative marketing, they also help businesses identify the correct marketing strategy and can act as their outsourced marketing department. Within digital marketing they provide web design, paid search (PPC), search engine optimisation (SEO) and social media marketing.

“As this area of our business continues to grow, we aim to work towards other specialisations in the Google Partner programme” says Sarah West, Full Mix Marketing. “As a team full of marketing professionals, third-party recognition is great for showing businesses the results we can deliver.”

For more information, visit: https://fullmixmarketing.co.uk/ppc-paid-search/

A very big well done to our member, who was named as one of the ‘UK’s Top Ten Town Pub’ in the Good Pub Guide. The Bank House in King’s Lynn is going from strength to strength, as this is the fourth year in a row it has been highlighted by the Good Pub Guide, as a top place to visit creating “excellent, imaginative food.”

The recently refurbished, Bank House owned and managed by Michael Baldwin also won the prestigious ‘UK Town Pub of the Year Award’ back in 2016. Of course, all this positive success comes down to having a good team of staff, which Michael highlights “We are delighted. The Good Pub Guide is the industry’s bible and this award is a real testament to the enthusiasm and dedication which we and our team put into the running of Bank House.”

Find out more and read the recent article in the Lynn News . If your interested in visiting the Bank House do get in touch

Today, September 9 2019, almost 100 key supporters gathered to raise a glass and celebrate the launch of a major 3-year project at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve. Earlier this summer the Hawk and Owl Trust who manage the reserve near Fakenham in Norfolk purchased the two parcels of land adjoining the existing nature reserve, extending it from 45 acres to over 200 acres.

David Lindo – The Urban Birder – well-known broadcaster, writer, naturalist, photographer, public speaker and tour leader, ceremonially launched the project by digging the first couple of digger buckets-full of soil from an area that will become a new open water scrape, designed to encourage wildlife, including scarce migratory birds, on part of the new land.

The land on either side of Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve was purchased using funds raised through the amazing generosity of the public and major donors such as Heritage Fund (previously Heritage Lottery Fund), Viking Optical, Garfield Weston Trust and the Norfolk LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) as part of a £1.7million pound project.

The launch of this 3-year project marks the beginning the on-going development and maintenance of the area as a nature reserve and community project. The Trust’s vision for Sculthorpe Moor is one where a rich ecosystem co-exists with the local community. Access for all is, and always has been, an essential part of what makes the reserve special. This project contains a large element of allowing everyone, no matter what their mobility and abilities, to enjoy, connect with and learn from the wildlife and countryside around them.

The popular and highly-regarded existing reserve is recognised as being important for its wildlife, with breeding Marsh Harriers, Barn Owls and a range of other birds of prey and owls making their homes on this small area, which is also the national headquarters of the Hawk and Owl Trust. Over the next three years the project will ensure that the new parts of the reserve will become equally attractive and essential for a whole host of wildlife such as Marsh Tits, Brambling, Cetti’s Warblers, Bearded Reedlings, Bullfinches and Kingfishers. Wild flowers will be encouraged, meaning insects will be abundant and diverse and mammals including Otter and Water Vole will make the new reserve their home.  

David Lindo, The Urban Birder’ said “There’s so much wildlife here it’s incredible and I’m so amazed by the amount of love that’s been shown to the Trust and reserve over the past two years of the appeal by the donors, supporters and volunteers.

Nigel Middleton, Sculthorpe Moor Reserve Manager, said “It was 18 years ago, cutting my way onto the overgrown land of Sculthorpe Moor, whilst monitoring Marsh Harriers nesting in the valley of the River Wensum that I first experienced what would become the reserve. From that point on I’ve dreamed and believed that we could expand the reserve and turn it into a significant place for wildlife and community. To reach this point is just amazing, and we couldn’t have done it without our fantastic volunteers.”

Adrian Blumfield, Chief Operations Director, H&OT said “Only with the generosity of over 1,300 individual donors has allowed us to start to realise Nigel’s vision for the reserve. Expanding the land is the first step. Now this drastic looking work will ensure a wonderful habitat for wildlife for the future. It will be astonishing how quickly this settles and starts attracting birds and other creatures.”  

In April 2019, Liftshare.com Ltd were honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the second time for, what the judges called, ‘exceptional contributions to the environment’ and enabling significant reductions in carbon emissions and monetary savings for both organisations, employees and members of the public.

This week their CEO, Ali Clabburn, was presented with the award by Lord-Lieutenant, The Lady Dannatt, at their Norwich based office.

Founded 21 years ago by CEO Ali Clabburn from a student bedsit, Liftshare aim to make the world a better place by making travel simple, affordable, sustainable, shared and happy.  Liftshare do this by providing market leading services for workplaces that solve parking and recruitment problems, but they also provide a free car sharing platform for the public to use for any journeys ranging from daily commute to travelling to festivals.

The platform helps people find others travelling in the same direction. This results in significant transport cost savings for businesses and individuals alike, solves workplace parking issues and provides transport options when there are few available, all whilst easing congestion on the roads and making substantial CO2 and emissions savings.

During the presentation, HM Lord-Lieutenant, The Lady Dannatt, said “It’s such a pleasure to be here to celebrate a business based around caring, sharing and making the world a better place. All three of which are so important and relevant in our world today.

“Liftshare were one of only six winners in the Sustainable Development category so a huge commendation to Ali for building such a successful business.”

Ali Clabburn responded “It’s such an honour for us to receive this award, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the amazing achievements of my incredible team and a lovely way to thank them all for their hard work over many years. By the end of this year our one million members will have saved just under one billion car miles, £100 million, and 200,000 tonnes of C02.”

Now in its 53rd year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country with winning businesses invited to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.  If you’d like to find out more about what Liftsharing could do for you, or your organisation, you’ll find all the information you need to know on our website https://liftshare.com/uk or on our business site https://business.liftshare.com/.  

Norfolk Community Foundation, together with the Eastern Daily Press, is excited to be bringing together local Thetford leaders to launch a new community funding initiative, Thetford shines brighter. The breakfast launch will take place on Thursday 17th October from 8.00-9.30am at Thetford Garden Centre, Kilverstone. There, Norfolk Community Foundation will be sharing their research into the key issues facing Thetford communities and discussing where there are gaps in local support. Those consulted include representatives from local charities and community groups, local councils, housing associations, police, health services, and local residents via a street questionnaire. Bringing together a wide range of voices ensures a strong community response so that support will be targeted where the need is greatest in Thetford. Significant funds have been secured from local people and the Foundation is inviting local leaders to prioritise issues and raise further funding at the launch. Initiatives to improve local lives can then be planned and initiated, with their impact closely monitored to ensure they are making a real difference. Claire Cullens, CEO of Norfolk Community Foundation, said: “We’re excited to be working with the Eastern Daily Press and the Thetford community to identify and tackle the key issues facing the local area, helping to transform local lives. Working together, we can make a real difference and help Thetford shine brighter.” The launch is a key opportunity for businesses and leaders to demonstrate that they care and want to take action in Thetford. Those who would like to attend are invited to contact Tessa Clarke at Norfolk Community Foundation via tessaclarke@norfolkfoundation.com or telephone 01603 623958.

County Broadband is looking to work with new housing developers to ensure their homes can access Hyperfast, future ready broadband.

We have secured a £46million investment from Aviva Investors, which we are using to deliver this network to homes across Norfolk.

Hyperfast broadband is delivered by Fibre to the Property (FTTP) and delivers connectivity that is only available to 8% of the UK – homes with this type of broadband access are highly desirable to new home buyers.

As technology evolves, homes will require future ready internet connections to keep up with the demands of streaming, gaming, multiple device sharing, download and uploading – only Hyperfast FTTP broadband will ensure that your newly built homes can keep up with these demands.  

County Broadband is looking to build this type of next generation broadband network in your new housing development to enhance the selling potential of your homes.

Please contact Graham Day on 07850 971222 or email graham.day@countybroadband.co.uk and join us on our journey to make Norfolk Hyperfast.

A team of TaxAssist Accountants from the South of England will be using pedal power for Tour de TaxAssist – a three-day cycling challenge across East Anglia – to help increase awareness of Type 1 diabetes and to raise funding for the charity JDRF UK

Charlie Walker from Bedford, Nadeem Iqbal from Walthamstow, Robin Johnson from Norwich North, Martin Thomas from London Victoria, Jeremy Gilks from Norwich South, Eliott Betts from Bury St Edmunds and Tony Hall from Beverley, will saddle up in their London & Zurich and TaxCalc sponsored jerseys on 12th September for the 233 mile ride, which starts at Charlie’s TaxAssist Accountants Bedford shop and ends there three days later.

The magnificent seven will be covering the 87 miles from Bedford to Swaffham via King’s Lynn on the Thursday, followed by the 81 miles to Bury St Edmunds via Norwich on 13th September, while the final day will see them cover the 65-mile home run back to Bedford. Over the three days Team de TaxAssist will also be using TaxAssist’s growing network of shops as pitstops by visiting those in Bedford, Norwich, Cambridge, King’s Lynn and Bury St Edmunds.

Charlie, who came up with the idea of the Tour de TaxAssist, said: “As a keen cyclist and having Type 1 diabetes for 40 years, I recognised the great business networking opportunity provided by cycling. Tour de TaxAssist, therefore, provides the perfect chance for me to combine my passion for cycling and raising money for JDRF.”

The charity is very close to the hearts of TaxAssist Bedford, and the funds raised from Tour de TaxAssist will go towards helping find a cure so that children don’t face a lifetime of painful insulin injections five times a day and more.

If you would like more information about Tour De TaxAssist or to make a donation, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tour-de-taxassist

The Maids Head Hotel, in Tombland Norwich, has acquired a rare 1950 Bentley Mark 6, left hand drive convertible, with a Park Ward body. Only four of this particular model were made and only two survive.

The Mark 6 was Bentley’s first post war luxury car and was manufactured between 1947 and 1952.

This is the hotel’s second classic car; earlier this year a 1963 Bentley S3 was purchased and has proved very popular, taking hotel guests on chauffeur driven explorations of the city. The bride and groom at weddings hosted by the hotel are also able to take a spin in the Bentley, with resident chauffeur Dave Currums, and have photographs taken at Pull’s Ferry, at St James Hill, overlooking the Anglican Cathedral and the city centre and in the Market, buying and ice cream.

Christine Malcolm, General Manager, the Maids Head Hotel said: “We are very excited with the addition of this very rare Bentley to the Maids Head’s family. The new Bentley will also be providing classic car experiences for our guests and will, I am sure, be a very popular photography ‘prop’ for our weddings.”

The team at Ellgia are building on their success with key appointments across the business. They have recently recruited Adrian Smith for Head of Operations at Scunthorpe, Mark Goodchild as General Manager for Southern Operations, David Chamberlain as Head of Marketing & New Business Development, Tony Steventon and Christine Heaver.

Adrian joins with a wealth of experience in Senior Management, Operational Delivery, Waste Processing and Fuel Production. He has spent a number of years within Suez in the role of Production Manager delivering 120k tpa of SRF per annum and has spent time running the PFI contract for Biffa in Leicester incorporating both the collection and waste processing businesses. Of late Adrian was the Operations Director for the significant processing and production of SRF at Mid UK.

Jack Lavington Operations Director For Ellgia said:

‘It’s great that Adrian has decided to join The Ellgia team in Scunthorpe, the Team have done an amazing job in helping transition the business from the transfer station to waste processors to product manufacturers. It is all credit to their commitment, dedication and work ethic that we’ve been able to transition so quickly.  It is now absolutely the right time to compliment those efforts with the additional skill and expertise that Adrian will undoubtedly bring allowing us to continually develop not only our operational capabilities but also our efficiency and ability to deliver the next stage of our sites evolution’.

‘Ellgia has very quickly become one of the most recognised forces within the recycling community, particularly in the regions of the east of England, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. I’m extremely excited to have been given the opportunity to join the business in a time of significant growth and transformational change. I’m looking forward to working with the already fantastic Team of people at our main processing site in Scunthorpe and with my expertise help to build on the great work that has already been undertaken’.

Adrian Smith Head of Operations

David joins Ellgia having worked on a consultative basis for the past 12 months. Through his hard work, passion for the Business and perseverance he has made a significant contribution not only on the Businesses brand recognition & marketing position but also on the development of new working relationships between key regional partners along with forging strong partnerships with new customers across the entire Ellgia Business. David has a wealth of experience in marketing/design & digital/social media platforms having operated his own Business Origin8 Limited for the past 23 years.

“Having had the opportunity to work on a consultancy basis for Ellgia over the past 12 months, in developing its brand recognition and building NEW and exciting Business Partnerships I’m now extremely excited to now be joining the business in a full-time capacity.

What the last 12 months have demonstrated to myself is that Ellgia as a business will not accept second best, the attitude and aptitude to grow the business from top to bottom is of a Business much bigger than it currently is. The challenge for me is to make sure that we reach the heights we aspire to and I’m very much looking forward to meeting that challenge head on.’

David Chamberlain Head of Marketing & New Business Development

“We are delighted that David has decided to join Ellgia on a permanent basis and look forward to him continuing the fantastic work that he and the rest of the Team have already delivered. We’ve a huge appetite to grow the business and its capabilities and David’s role is an integral part of those ambitions and to build on the incredible growth we have already enjoyed over the past 7 years.”

Jack Lavington, Operations Director  

A Norwich-based food processing equipment manufacturer has penned a collaboration deal with a leading Italian firm.

Fabcon Food Systems, which manufactures, supplies and installs handling and processing equipment for the food industry, has signed a deal with Turin-based Engi Technologies – who make presses for snacks and rice cakes.

The deal will see Engi’s new brushless drive processing machine, Snack-Tron, integrated into Fabcon’s seasoning and distribution systems. The agreement between both companies also hands Fabcon exclusive sales and distribution rights to market Engi equipment in the UK and Ireland.

Trevor Howard, managing director of Fabcon Food Systems said: “Engi Technologies has first-class credentials across the food production industry and are well known for their unique processing equipment which helps produce healthier non-fried snacks and rice cakes.

“We both recognise how our respective equipment can be complimentary. Our partnership will open up new opportunities for our seasoning and distribution systems in the UK and further afield, while our customer base will help Engi introduce their range to new markets.

“It’s going to add a new dimension for us and brings together a rare blend of British engineering and Italian innovation.”

Gianni Ensini, Engi Techologies managing director added: “To formally link up with a manufacturer like Fabcon is an exciting move for us and will bring benefits for both businesses.

“Our Snack-Tron technology is attracting lots of attention across the industry and working with Trevor and his team will showcase how it integrates with other systems. Importantly for us, this is a partnership which will also open and expose us to new markets.”

Founded in 2015, Fabcon Food Systems is based in Delta Close. Fabcon’s team of 25 supply systems and machinery to customers in the UK, mainland Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Africa and India.

MHA Larking Gowen is pleased to welcome new trainees to the firm. 

The students, who will be based across Norfolk and Suffolk, will each be completing either their AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) or ACA (Association of Qualified Accountants) apprenticeship with the firm.  Once qualified, they will have the opportunity to take up exciting challenges as they grow their career within the business. Many of our people at the firm started out as trainees and are still with us years later.

Jon Woolston, Managing Partner, said: “We are pleased to welcome our new trainees, who bring with them a host of talent to support the firm across the eastern region. Our flexible training programme will allow them to achieve their chosen qualification and gain work experience to give them a strong background in essential areas of accountancy.”

As a member of MHA, a national association of independent accountants, MHA Larking Gowen is networked throughout the UK and internationally through the MHA membership of Baker Tilly International. Through these connections we can provide our people with potential opportunities for secondments and continued growth in their career. 

Jon Woolston, Managing Partner MHA Larking Gowen (centre) pictured with the student intake for 2019.

Residents of Quayside Court in Lakenheath, Suffolk, are enjoying warm homes with significantly lower heating bills, thanks to a new communal ground source heat pump. In partnership with East Anglia’s largest heating company, Gasway Services, part of Flagship Group, Norfolk-based renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm has completed yet another district heating system.

Owned and managed by housing association Flagship, the 21 bungalows in Quayside Court were built during 1970s. Heating was provided by individual electric storage heaters and a shared oil boiler, which were inefficient and expensive to run. Having completed an award-winning district heating scheme for Flagship in 2017 for 30 flats in Watton, Finn Geotherm were appointed to design and install a similar solution.

The new district heating scheme uses one central ground source heat pump to provide heating and hot water for all homes on the estate. Heat is collected from under the ground via 14 boreholes installed beneath the parking area and two ground source heat pumps generate all the heating and hot water for each home. Every bungalow is individually metered and customers are only charged for the energy they use. The heat pump equipment is housed in a standalone plant room meaning that maintenance and servicing can be undertaken without having to disrupt residents in their homes.

By installing this renewable energy heating system, residents at Quayside Court are enjoying cheaper energy bills – costing around 56% less than before. Energy use has also been cut by 70%, making a significant impact on carbon emissions and providing a more affordable and efficient living environment for Flagship customers.

In addition, the installation qualifies for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a Government scheme which assists with the project’s capital cost by providing quarterly payments for 20 years, allowing Flagship to roll out the much-improved heating systems for more customers in the future.

Charlie Conley, Head of Asset Investment at Flagship, said: “Working with heating experts such as Finn Geotherm and Gasway allows us to explore further opportunities to reduce the cost of living for our customers, and the savings should make a real difference for them. Quayside Court is our second district heating installation and we hope to see many more in the future. It is also interesting that this technology, which was actually developed in 1945, can help towards tackling fuel poverty.”

Guy Ransom, Commercial Director at Finn Geotherm, said: “We are delighted to complete this second district heating installation for Flagship, which has had such a positive impact on the residents at Quayside Court. Not only does this system eradicate fuel poverty and create homes that they can enjoy living in, but the system will also significantly reduce energy use and cut carbon emissions. It is a pleasure to be working with an organisation which not only puts its customers at the heart of its operations, but also its environmental responsibilities.”

Key benefits of the project include:

• Heating bills cut by 56%
• Energy use reduced by 70%
• Encourages customers to heat their homes, positively impacting on their health and wellbeing
• System lasts three times longer than a conventional boiler

For more information on ground and air source heat pumps and details on Finn Geotherm, visit www.finn-geotherm.co.uk.