Member News

Norfolk and Waveney cancer charity, Big C, has appointed a new Head of Fundraising. Carole Slaughter joins the team from Jarrold, where she worked for 16 years, 15 as Marketing Manager. Carole says, “Big C was one of the first charities I worked with during my time at Jarrold, when the Big C Support and Information Centre was being built at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. It has now come full circle and I go into my new role with enthusiasm for the challenges ahead. I have joined the charity at such an exciting time, with the recent launch of the Nearer to Home Appeal for a new central Norwich support centre and the In Good Company corporate partnership programme, both of which will make such a difference to those affected by cancer in our community.”   Dr Chris Bushby, Chief Executive at Big C, says, “We warmly welcome Carole to Big C. Big C is at a key point in the charity’s development and are we are looking to strengthen our relationships with local business and our community support base. We are delighted that Big C is to benefit from Carole’s excellent local networks and experience in management and organising community fundraising and events.”   To learn more about the work Big C does to improve the lives of those affected by cancer in Norfolk and Waveney, please visit www.big-c.co.uk

MENTA has extended its management team by creating the role of Commercial Manager and has hired former Greene King Brand Portfolio and Innovation Controller, Sarah Brindley.

The new role is designed to broaden the reach of the business support organisation by building upon its existing links with business leaders across East Anglia and further connect the entrepreneurial spirit of the region.

Sarah has worked with some of the world’s most recognisable brands as well as running her own styling business.   

MENTA CEO, Alex Till says “I’m thrilled that Sarah is bringing her brand and commercial connections to MENTA, these are exciting times for the team as we prepare to launch a series of new business products that include a range of remote learning and business support portals“.

Sarah said “I am delighted to be appointed as Commercial Manager for MENTA and I am really looking forward to helping MENTA and the businesses that they help, flourish and grow. I am excited for what the future holds and to be part of the MENTA community of entrepreneurs”.

Sarah’s new role will include business development and working on the expansion of MENTA’s patron package.

MENTA existing patrons include – Ensors chartered Accountants, Atkins Thomson, Fleximize and HS direct.

To speak to Sarah about working with MENTA, please email sarahb@menta.org.uk

Award-winning developer Hopkins Homes has a strong track record of supporting local causes and has now been announced as the headline sponsor for the Eastern Daily Press’ Stars of Norfolk and Waveney Awards 2019.

The East Anglian housebuilder has developments throughout Norfolk and two years ago announced a £500,000 charitable fund. The fund supports charities and groups throughout East Anglia via small grants, charity votes and one-off donations as well as separate funding for the conservation of war memorials in the area. In addition, last winter, Hopkins Homes created a £150,000 Winter Crisis Fund to help alleviate some of the difficulties vulnerable people face when the weather gets colder. In Norfolk this included a £30,000 donation to the Eastern Daily Press’ Surviving Winter campaign and a rapid intervention fund.  

Joshua Hopkins of the Hopkins Charitable Fund said: “At Hopkins Homes we are committed to supporting local charities and organisations, ensuring we build thriving communities as well as homes, which is why we felt sponsoring the www.hopkinshomes.co.uk  

Pictures: Jamie Honeywood @EDP

The Compettionand Markets Authority ( CMA) currently has a campaign to highlight to businesses about fair contract terms. There is information on their website with guidance and a quiz to take .

Have a look at:

https://fairterms.campaign.gov.uk/

Great Yarmouth Borough Council are launching a new scheme for people aged 18 to 30 with something to sell on the marketplace. 

Young Trader Markets will take place on Wednesday and Friday weekly or monthly depending on the trader’s preference.  As part of the scheme a young trader will have access to one to one business support and help getting set up on the marketplace.

https://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/youngtraders

As part of the wider Go Trade initiative, we are looking for any organisations who work with people in that age bracket to help us connect with them; alternatively take part in a launch event in September outlining your business and what you can offer Young Traders who want to take part.

Please get in touch with Stacy Cosham via stacy.cosham@great-yarmouth.gov.uk for more information.

City Centre charity, OPEN Youth Trust (OPEN), is launching a new fundraising initiative to help change the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people in Norfolk.

The campaign is aimed at the local business community, to make them aware that every penny of profit from the venue in Bank Plain is used to help disadvantaged young people aged 11-17. Despite positive developments over recent years, the charity still suffers from a problem of perception.  This initiative is being led by one of OPEN’s Trustees Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive of The TaxAssist Direct Group, the international franchise group based in Norwich. (Known as TaxAssist Accountants)

The Regional HQ of Barclays Bank on Bank Plain was sold in 2003 to The Lind Trust and, after its refurbishment, the building was leased at a peppercorn rent to OPEN and now the vision of it becoming a hub for youth services in Norfolk is coming to fruition.

Mr Sandall said of the initiative: “The work of OPEN is nowhere near appreciated by us all living in Norwich and the county and I was tremendously impressed when I discovered the reality. With funding increasingly hard to come by, the team at OPEN is working hard towards self-sustainability for its youth work by growing commercial income through full venue occupancy and increasing capacity. This will take time to achieve and I am hoping that local companies and philanthropists will help to fund the gap.”

OPEN’s new corporate social responsibility brochure, which has been produced specially for the campaign, outlines how every penny of profit from the venue benefits young people in Norfolk . . . it’s a compelling proposition, especially if businesses are looking to enhance their CSR activity, either by donating a regular sum or hiring the venue’s excellent technical and catering facilities to help communicate with various stakeholders. 

The recent removal of the Bridge has restored the Banking Hall to its former glory, creating the largest and most flexible multi-purpose space in Norwich, increasing its capacities for seated events and making it the largest dining hall in the city centre, which will help OPEN achieve its long term goal of self-sustainability.

17 year-old Olivia, is one of the young people who have benefitted: “Before I came to OPEN I was very shy and faced bullying at school because of my weight. I regularly participate in dance, drama and musical theatre classes and help as a young volunteer, often running warm ups for dance classes. Without OPEN, I wouldn’t be the person I am today and honestly don’t think I would be alive if it wasn’t for the support and understanding I’ve received from members of the youth team.”

As well as performing arts, young people can find new directions in the gym with classes in boxing and mixed martial arts, but the creative writing group has also generated a lot of interest with the first group publishing a book of poems and short stories. 

Youth worker Johnny Raspin said: “Working with young people who have never written before has been inspiring and I challenge anyone reading the group’s first anthology not to be moved by recurring themes such as bereavement, disengagement, love, loneliness and suicidal thoughts. We would love to publish a second edition, but of course this requires funding, so Karl’s campaign is coming just at the right time for us.”

Mr Sandall added: “Without OPEN I don’t know where young people like Olivia or the creative writing group would go or what might happen to them. It’s thanks to the opportunities that OPEN offers young people of today, which helps them on the right road to success for tomorrow.   I would love any business to support the charity with a meaningful sum for a minimum of two or three years until the venue can maximise its commercial income to support the charity entirely. 

In return for becoming a Friend, I will work hard with the senior management team and fellow Trustees to ensure funds are used wisely, promoting your business or individual widely throughout the building, during events, in social media and on OPEN’s website. However, to fully appreciate our work and how the building has changed over the years, I recommend a tour, which may well spark further ideas of how companies can help either through sponsorship or taking advantage of the facilities for their own communication needs.

If anyone would like to take up this offer, John Gordon-Saker, CEO of OPEN and I would love to show you around.”

A regular monthly donation of £100 would cover 20 gym memberships for young people; £200 a month would pay for 80 bursary places on OPEN’s school holiday programme; £250 each month could fund a 12-month apprenticeship.

To discuss how you could help or to arrange a tour, contact Karl Sandall, Group Chief Executive, TaxAssist Direct Group, karl.sandall@taxassist.co.uk or John Gordon-Saker, CEO, OPEN, john@opennorwich.org.uk

PHOTO CAPTION: Olivia Muir centre with Elite Dance Team at OPEN – Credit OPEN Youth Trust

NOTES FOR EDITORS

•  Over 10,000 young people a year attend youth-related events, shows and conferences in the old Banking Hall, but OPEN is also a multi-purpose venue for conferencing, live music, meeting room hire, hospitality and secure storage.  

•  All profits from the venue are donated to its youth charity, which over the past eleven years has made a massive positive difference to the lives of young people in Norfolk. 

•  4,500 young people a year engage with youth workers in its drop-in social hub, which has a gym, café, climbing wall and dance studio. 

•  1,500 of the most disadvantaged are given the life skills and confidence to make their own way in life and into work by attending workshops and activities.

•  Schools send their most troubled pupils who may be struggling with secondary transition or in the last stages of intervention for re-engagement by OPEN’s experienced youth team.

•  The youth team now works with 12 youth clubs in areas of rural isolation around the county, whose funding has been withdrawn.

•  The charity delivers to young people most in need of on-going support as they may be suffering from poor mental health or low self-esteem, because of bullying, abuse or disengagement from their families and friends.

The workplace expert also won the Pay Gap award and a highly recommended award in the Disability Confident sector at the event hosted by the Law Society on 2 July.

This year the judges reviewed entries across 22 categories, with Acas competing against organisations such as the Home Office, The Telegraph and the NHS.

The awards are enei’s opportunity to recognise organisations achieving diverse and inclusive workplaces and celebrate the teams and individuals who are making a difference.

Acas Head of Diversity, Julie Dennis, said: “We are truly delighted to be recognised by the industry experts in diversity and inclusion. To have won not one but three awards puts paid to all of the hard work that our hugely talented teams and individuals have done to make Acas the inviting and inclusive place to work that it is. 

“Diversity and inclusion is integral to every part of Acas and informs all the work that we do. We will continue to strive to be the exemplar of workplace diversity and inclusion and we look forward to helping workplaces across the country benefit from the value that a diverse and inclusive workforce brings.”

Acas has produced guidance and advice for workplaces on equality that is available here: www.acas.org.uk/equality 

Acas will be having a stand at Norwich Pride this year, it takes place on Saturday 27 July with Norfolk Day, and welcome businesses and members of the public to come and visit the team on the day.

The Food Standards Agency has issued a letter to businesses wishing to export food after Brexit. They wish it to be communicated to as many food exporters as possible. Please see attached letter.

Our Summer Programme which we are running week commencing 19th August, to allow young people to come into our centre and try out some of the activities we offer.

For more information, or to book your place, please email admin@st-eds,org.uk or call 01603 622035′

Click below for full size poster

Cloud, connectivity and data centre experts MIGSOLV have announced a new solution with partners blocz IO to help organisations unify their data with VMware.

US software leaders VMware provide a suite of products which help businesses create a common operating environment across on-premises, private cloud and public cloud services. With their partners blocz IO now members of the VMware Cloud Provider Program, MIGSOLV are offering VMware to support their ultra-secure colocation and cloud environments.

“Many businesses are seeking hybrid networks to provide the right environment for their data” states David Manning, Managing Director of MIGSOLV. “With our colleagues at blocz IO, we can now blend colocation and private cloud in our world-class data centre, with on-premises and public cloud, to create the perfect IT eco-system for any organisation.”

VMware allows MIGSOLV and blocz IO to consolidate on-site IT infrastructure and data centre colocation with native and public cloud to create a single virtual environment. For businesses with complex or legacy infrastructure, it can help rationalise their IT, facilitate better protection and improve flexibility. It enables organisations to run applications across clouds and devices, while maintaining consistent operations.

“We’re thrilled to have joined the VMware Cloud Provider program,” states Lee Norvall, CEO of blocz IO. “Working with VMware software will increase MIGSOLV’s and our own ability to provide robust, dynamic and agile cloud solutions for growing and established businesses.”

MIGSOLV deliver East Anglia’s only purpose-built commercial data centre, renowned for providing world-class levels of protection, connectivity and support. As well as the colocation of organisation’s existing IT, 2018 saw MIGSOLV launch a unique private cloud solution which helps businesses improve protection and avoid high costs associated with mainstream cloud services.

“VMware is another next-generation solution from MIGSOLV for protecting, connecting and managing business’ IT and data” adds David. “It’s a further move away from prescriptive answers towards the flexible and scalable solutions our clients have come to really value from us.”

MIGSOLV initially partnered with blocz IO to create a fully-encrypted stand-alone backup for organisation’s critical data, housed in their data centre. This next step offers businesses higher flexibility and security, while enabling increased IT agility. MIGSOLV also provide solutions for enterprise-level cyber security and enhanced connectivity.

For more details visit www.migsolv.com

Hatch Brenner Solicitors and Norwich Theatre Royal have confirmed their continued partnership with the announcement of two new Season Sponsorships for the newly released 2020 programme.

The first is Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, which will be in Norwich from Tuesday 18 – Saturday 22 February 2020. The Red Shoes is a tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion. Matthew Bourne’s triumphant adaptation of the legendary film returns to Norwich after winning two Olivier Awards and dazzling audiences across the UK and the USA. The production boasts music by golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, orchestrated by Terry Davies, with cinematic designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Paul Groothuis.

The second production is worldwide smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton We Will Rock You, which will play in Norwich from Monday 4 -Saturday 9 May 2020. The show offers the scale and spectacle that marked the band’s legendary live performances, with more than 16 million theatre goers in 19 countries having been thrilled by this awe-inspiring production since 2002.

‘A kind of magic. Spectacular. Magnifico!’ The Sun

‘An unmissable event and a sumptuous piece of musical theatre. The Show Must Go On, and on’ Capital Radio

‘Exhilarating and great fun’ Time Magazine

The production features Queen’s biggest hits including We Are The Champions, I Want To Break Free, Don’t Stop Me Now, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust and, of course, We Will Rock You. A musical phenomenon not to be missed!

These productions are in the latest brochure released by the Theatre, and will be on sale to the public from Tuesday 2 July 2019.

Dawn Parkes, Managing Partner and Private Client Expert at Hatch Brenner commented: “We are delighted to announce these two new productions to take our partnership with Norwich Theatre Royal into 2020. We have evolved our relationship with our Theatre Street neighbours over time, as demonstrated by the widening of the productions we are involved with from purely dramas, to a wider ‘Season’ sponsorship involving dance and musicals. In particular I can’t wait to see The Red Shoes with our guests from the business community. Matthew Bourne’s productions are consistently fabulous and it is very exciting to see The Red Shoes return to Norwich.”

More details about both productions can be found at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

We’re pleased to be embarking on our second year providing a range of marketing for pressure and gas flow measurement specialists, Chell Instruments.

Chell have seen notable growth over the last year as we’ve delivered social media, blogs, press releases and email marketing on their behalf. With ambitious plans and new products, they’ve asked us to deliver a number of additional activities throughout the months ahead.  

“We’ve had a strong year with support from Full Mix Marketing” explains Jamie Shanahan, Sales Director. “Sarah and her team have helped maintain contact with our valued clients and found new ways to reach and educate potential customers about our innovative products.”

Chell Instruments produce pressure, vacuum and gas flow measurement and control solutions. They have provided high-precision instrumentation for more than 40 years, to industries including Formula One, aerospace and pharmaceuticals. They’re internationally respected for the quality of solutions their engineers deliver.

At Full Mix Marketing, we’ve been pleased to work with the senior sales team to take away the pressure of delivering successful marketing, whilst autonomously creating new ideas and opportunities.

“We’re really pleased to be entering a second year working with Jamie, Nick and the Chell team” says our Managing Director, Sarah West. “They’re a terrific business, easy to work with, always positive and receptive to ideas. We’re very glad to have fulfilled our promise to truly understand what they deliver and become trusted to get on and deliver quality marketing.”

At Full Mix Marketing, we’re a results-focused marketing agency which provides all the strategic, digital and creative marketing businesses need to grow. Based in Norwich, we’ve helped a number of businesses with complex industrial or technological products to achieve further success through the right mix of marketing.

We’re very excited about the year ahead and would like to thank all at Chell.

For more information contact www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk