Published on 19 July, the Experian Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) report for the first six months of 2018 ranked Larking Gowen’s Corporate Transactions team joint first in the region, with the firm advising on ten deals for the East of England and a further two deals nationally. James Lay, Partner at Larking Gowen and head of the Corporate Transactions team, says, “We are absolutely delighted to feature prominently again in the Experian Market IQ league tables for the volume of deals completed. These latest results demonstrate the high level of experience and expertise within our growing Corporate Transactions team. It is very pleasing to be able to advise our clients, both buyers and sellers, on so many transactions. We are finding the market place very active and have had good success leveraging our national and international networks to broker deals for our clients.” Jack Minns, Manager of Larking Gowen’s Corporate Transactions, added, “We have concluded some exciting deals over the first half of the year, generating great returns for our clients. There are many more deals in the pipeline for the rest of the year and beyond.” The East of England contributed 7.6% of the total number of transactions recorded in the UK. There were 3,279 reported deals in the UK, which is approximately 14% down on the 3,807 deals recorded during the first half of 2017. However, this fall is generally seen as a robust return given the uncertain economic and political climate, and there was an encouraging increase in deal activity in the second quarter of 2018 after a relatively subdued first quarter. Although there was a 25% reduction in the number of large deals, the number of deals in the SME segment, on which Larking Gowen focus their attention, was up from 448 to 514, an increase of 15%. For more information about Larking Gowen Corporate Transactions offering go to: https://lgcorporatetransactions.co.uk/
On Friday July 27th the County of Norfolk will experience the first ‘Norfolk Day’. This is a great chance to celebrate all the things that the local community love about the county.
Cooper Lomaz Recruitment are long standing and proud members of the Norfolk business community, as such they are looking forward to celebrating all that is great about Norfolk with their clients. Cooper Lomaz Recruitment will be hosting a Business Breakfast for its Norfolk clients to kick the day off in style. The event will take place on Friday 27th July from 8.00am to 10.00am at The Library on Guildhall Hill in central Norwich.
On choosing to host the venue, Jayne Raffles, Director at The Library said ‘We are looking forward to being involved in Norfolk Day celebrations. Beginning the day with a networking business breakfast with Cooper Lomaz Recruitment and celebrating the history, culture, business, innovation and of course the best of Norfolk produce. All of this in our stunning historical building. Above all, we are proud to live and work in this beautiful county, working alongside many Norfolk suppliers’.
Guests will join Cooper Lomaz Recruitment from 8am – 10am where they will sample food sourced from local suppliers from the Norfolk Region. On the menu will be Norfolk favourites, including, Meat sourced from Toombs Butchers, Bread Rolls from TimberHill bakery, Apple juice from Ashill Farm in Thetford and local sparkling wine from Flint Vineyard Winery based in Earsham, Norfolk.
Simon Brown, Managing Director of Cooper Lomaz, said “I am delighted to host this event and be a part of Norfolk Day. I am proud to work with businesses within the Norfolk area and Norfolk Day gives organisations that opportunity to celebrate together, promoting everything that is unique and so great about the County and the people of Norfolk”.
Cooper Lomaz Recruitment do have a small number of places still available for this event. If you work at a business based in Norfolk and would be interested in attending please contact our events team on contact@cooperlomaz.co.uk or 01603 766760.
As part of Start-Rite ‘s journey in continuing to invest in future growth, 16 staff members at its Norwich HQ recently completed a 12-month LEAN programme, to learn tools and techniques that improve operational performance in the workplace.
The fun and interactive course, delivered by Fedden USP in conjunction with MIT Skills, demonstrates the practical application of LEAN principles in today’s business environments in order to improve profits through continuous improvement. The course consisted of five-days of theory, followed by eight days of mentoring to help the candidates deliver two work-based improvement projects that would benefit both them as an individual and the business.
The course was delivered by sector specialist Colin Allaway, who has over 20 years’ experience using best practice within various sectors, including extensive supply chain and logistics experience. Topics covered included the basic principles of LEAN, its origins from the Japanese automotive industry and how it applies to both operational and office environments; improving productivity and reducing lead-times; mapping out the customer journey to improve service levels; workplace organisation techniques; problem solving; creating standard operating procedures to capture best practice; and cost/benefit analysis.
Colin said: “Our workshops have a big emphasis on fun, as we use a range of games and business simulations to get the message across and ensure that people enjoy being part of the improvement workshop. The real benefit is in the use of work based projects to embed the learning, whilst also providing an ever more important opportunity for both individual and team development. This has been most prevalent with the Distribution Team in particular and has been very rewarding.”
Implementing LEAN business processes across the business has helped Start-Rite to empower its workforce, improve productivity, increase the levels of innovation within the business, and support collaborative and cross function working for future business initiatives.
Chris Knights, PM Shift Supervisor, at Start-Rite said: “I think the single most important factor regarding our LEAN course is the message it’s sent to the workforce. From day one, what your employers are doing is stating that not only do they value the constructive input of their staff, but they want to nurture and encourage it. My experience in working on the course with the Distribution Centre team has been extremely positive. A noticeable confidence is evident in some members of staff who previously may have been less likely to put their ideas forward or take ownership of a project, and this has made the course entirely worthwhile.”
Rebekah Lake, AM Shift Supervisor, at Start-Rite, said: “I found the LEAN course extremely interesting and beneficial, as it taught me a lot about saving time, energy and money for the company. It incorporates the meaning of a team effort and was an eye-opener into how a company can become more profitable.”
Ian Watson, Start-Rite CEO, said: “The development of skills within our office and distribution centre teams has had beneficial results for the business and individuals, in particular, helping to deliver a complete overhaul of our DC working practices to improve our service levels to customers and consumers.” On completing the course, all candidates received a Level 2 NVQ qualification.
To find out more about the benefits of the LEAN development course visit www.fedden-usp.co.uk.
Flagship Group and their suppliers have raised £5,500 for the charity Metabolic Support UK through their charity golf day that took place on Friday 13 July.
The charity was chosen by Liam Betts, Managing Director of RFT Services and Gasway after they supported his family when his son was born with a genetic condition.
Staff from the Group including Flagship Homes, RFT Services and Gasway were joined by a number of local and national suppliers in a round of golf followed by a raffle and auction at Dunston Hall near Norwich. The winners by a narrow victory were the team from Mr Overalls, a supplier of clothing and equipment based in Wymondham.
Neal Simmons, organiser of the event and Head of Supply Chain at RFT Services, said: “Today has been a great success and cemented this as an annual event in our calendar. I would like to thank all of the sponsors for their generous donations and players for taking part and making it a successful day.”
Liam Betts, Managing Director of RFT services and Gasway said: “This has been a great opportunity to get together with our suppliers and raise funds for a fantastic cause which is close to my heart as they helped us through a challenging time to understand and cope with my son’s condition when he was born.”
Are you a Norfolk manufacturer based outside of Norwich and Great Yarmouth City Centre?
You might be eligible for 50% skills funding!
Labour and skills shortages are widely recognised as a huge concern and financial drain for Norfolk businesses. In recognition of the need to support Norfolk manufacturer’s productivity and growth, Cassandra Andrews Ltd has developed an ‘Engaging Manufacturing for Growth’ programme to ensure you have a talent and succession plan to support the growth of your manufacturing business.
The programme is currently being considered for 50% funding from the European Social Fund and in consequence would offer a significant discount and value for money.
Rather than providing line management ‘skills training’ in isolation, the programme will look holistically at your business, identifying your business challenges and focusing on achieving success through your workforce. The programme will support you with a way forward that is flexible, adaptable and driven by you including:
An on-site review of current engagement levels in your business, based on the Engage for Success enablers.
Motivational Maps for the management team to identify what individual managers are motivated by and to what extent their key motivators are being met.
A simple review of current people management practices.
An action plan aligned to business priorities with key metrics to monitor success of the programme eg absence/turnover rates, productivity, H&S accidents etc
A bespoke line managers skills development programme, including three days formal training and three days on-site coaching. This will be created and delivered from a menu of short courses/sessions such as motivating and engaging your team, performance management, absence management etc
Professional development has proven effective in retaining top talent, maintaining quality levels, and achieving competitive advantage. In addition, it is widely reported that 75% of employees leave their line manager not the business. As this is one of the four drivers for engaged employees, it is critical for your bottom line that all line managers understand the key business benefits of an engaged workforce and how to lead, motivate and engage their teams.
Important Information
You should be a manufacturer based outside Norwich and Great Yarmouth City Centre. With particular interested in manufacturers based in West and North Norfolk
You should employ less than 250 people
It is expected that the programme would start Autumn/Winter 2018
Bolting specialist Gee-Force Hydraulics is opening its doors for a customer awareness week to showcase its expanding equipment range of portable products for offshore and manufacturing engineering.
It is inviting its clients and potential clients to its Great Yarmouth headquarters in the week beginning Monday 23 July when expo vans from manufacturers HTL and Climax will be on site.
The company, which marked a record £1m turnover last year and is on course to break that record this year, wants businesses to feed back on what equipment they would like to see on its Beacon Park shelves.
Managing Director Graeme Cook said including the portable range from Climax, which includes pipeline repairs, re-facing flange facers, and pipe preparation, was in response to customer demand.
“We will be the only company having these portable machines here,” he said. “We will be carrying stock on our shelves in Great Yarmouth, which will take out excessive carriage charges for customers. We already have some out on hire now.
“There is much demand for this portable machine – for manufacturing, offshore work, including flange facing and use at the Bacton gas terminal by different companies.”
The equipment has been used by Gee-Force customers working as contractors on the Spirit Energy offshore project at Morecambe Bay and also at Bacton Gas Terminal.
“We’re expanding our shelving to accommodate the pneumatic or hydraulic flange facers, pipe bevellers and clam shell cutters. We would like to hear from the market place about any other equipment our clients and potential customers would like on our shelves for hire and purchase. Gee-Force Hydraulics was acquired by its rental and training partner, the national HTL group, bringing an even larger product base for its increasing customers, while maintaining its Gee-Force Hydraulics identity.
Business, especially deliveries of equipment to the Bacton Gas Terminal, has been brisk.
“We are very happy with business in the first six months this year,” said Mr Cook. “If we can maintain this level of growth, our turnover will be another record for us this year in terms of turnover and profit.”
Another innovation is the i-calibrate software on all its torque wrench equipment – manual, hydraulic and pneumatic. Certification and calibration information about each piece of equipment is revealed by hovering a smart phone over the QR code on each piece of equipment.
To take part in the customer awareness week, contact Gee-Force Hydraulics on 01493 603797.
A local firm of independent financial advisers is settling into life on the outskirts of Norwich after their recent office move. Having taken on six new members of staff since February this year, Face to Face Finance is growing fast and was in desperate need of more space. Managing Director Julie Hunt explains:
“Our city centre office on Rose Lane had served us well for 11 years, but with the team continuing to grow, we were getting a bit crowded – the only space left for my desk was on the landing! So we took the decision to move to our new premises at the Cringleford Business Centre where there’s room for us to grow.”
The firm puts their unprecedented growth down to their focus on customer service. As the name suggest, their ethos is to conduct as much of their business as possible face to face with their clients. Julie continues:
“Some of the areas of work we cover can be complicated or difficult for our clients to discuss. Making them feel comfortable and able to ask any questions they may have is important. It enables us to give them the very best financial advice for their individual circumstances – it’s very personal.”
As the team continues to grow, this emphasis on a personal service remains the same. The firm positively encourages visits to their new office where a warm welcome awaits from Julie and the team:
“Our office is always busy. But we encourage a relaxed environment – you’ll find us in our slippers! Believe it or not, it’s been proven that wearing slippers can make for a more productive workforce, and we stand by that! I’m extremely proud of our hard-working team.”
Breakwater IT have welcomed two new arrivals on their Service Desk – Dave Parlour as a Level 1 Engineer and Thomas Secker as a Trainee Systems Engineer.
Breakwater support apprenticeship and work experience schemes within the business and were fortunate to have Thomas join the team during his studies to discover what it is like to work for an IT service provider.
Thomas now returns as a Trainee Systems Engineer, having just completed his A-Levels, and will be learning more about how Breakwater delivers IT services to organisations within East Anglia and beyond.
Another former apprentice within Breakwater, Toby Kalkman, has now progressed to the position of Level 1 Engineer and achieved his CompTIA A+ certification.
Dave Parlour joins the company with valuable experience of supporting users in technological environments. He will work along-side our growing Service Desk team to resolve enquiries, helping many varied organisations use technology to enhance the way they operate.
CSSCloud celebrated a year since the newly-formed company completed a merger to create the region’s new I.T. Support powerhouse with an Open Day. The event was in part a celebration, but also a chance to show off their newly refurbished premises, which has been a significant investment in their Great Yarmouth base. The company also raised funds to install a life-saving defibrillator on-site.
The Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Cllr. Mary Coleman opened the building and launched the festivities on the 6th of July.
The team were joined by customers and local businesses to enjoy food, drink and games in an open-air “street party” – featuring retro arcade games and raffle prizes. Being a technology company, the top prize was a new iPad, which was taken home by lucky Ronnie Blyth from ABC Diesels Ltd.
Besides the festive atmosphere, the event struck a serious note by fundraising for a public defibrillator to be installed at CSSCloud, for the use of everyone on Gapton Hall Industrial Estate.
This equipment is provided in partnership with Heart2Heart Norfolk, set up by Jayne Biggs following her 7 year old daughter’s sudden cardiac arrest. Thankfully, a defibrillator saved her life and Jane now campaigns to ensure this life-saving equipment is freely available around Norfolk.
Capitalising on people enjoying the food, drink and party atmosphere, the team at CSSCloud were able to raise enough money to cover the defibrillator plus a further donation to Heart2Heart’s funds.
Suffolk County Council and New Anglia Growth Hub have also awarded grants totalling almost £40,000 towards the cost of the building refurbishment. Converting the building into CSSCloud’s new premises, appropriately named Nimbus House, has given a prominent building on the estate a new lease of life and created a hub for the region’s tech talent.
Peter Green of CSSCloud was overjoyed with the turnout:
“Thanks to everyone who visited and made this day possible. A massive thank-you goes out to Jayne and Heart2Heart Norfolk for making a difference in our community and to Suffolk County Council and New Anglia Growth Hub for the grants.
Hopefully, we won’t have to use the defibrillator, but it definitely makes us feel more at ease. The CSSCloud Open Day is one we are never going to forget!”.
For more information contact Alexis Brackpool, FurtherMore Marketing lexi@furthermoremarketing.co.uk or call 01603 273131
The 23rd Lord Mayor’s 5K City Centre Classic Road Race took place in Norwich this weekend, with a record-breaking number of participants. Sponsored for the first time by chartered accountants, Larking Gowen, the race was set up in 1996, and has a reputation as one of the toughest on the UK race circuit, attracting top athletes from the county, and around the UK. “Larking Gowen has an eleven year association as sponsor of the City of Norwich Half Marathon,” says Larking Gowen Managing Partner, Jon Woolston, who presented race winners with prize money at a ceremony in Tombland on Saturday evening, “so we’re delighted to support the Lord Mayor’s 5K road race this year. This high-profile event is challenging, and exciting to watch.” Jon adds, “It’s great to be a part of that, especially as the half-way cut off in front of the Larking Gowen offices, will add some early drama.” “The Lord Mayor’s 5K Classic is an elite race,” says City of Norwich Athletic Club road race coordinator, Richard Polley, who set up the 5K race along with race director, Granville Courtnell. “The city centre roads are closed for the Lord Mayor’s Procession, which is what makes this race possible,” Richard explains, “but we only have a 20-minute window before the procession starts. If a runner doesn’t make the 10-minute halfway point in time, they are automatically disqualified. That adds to the excitement for the 50,000 spectators.” Race director, Granville Courtnell, says, “We are delighted that Larking Gowen is headline sponsor of the Lord Mayor’s 5K. We have a long and beneficial relationship with the firm through their support of the city’s half marathon, which includes providing volunteer marshals, so to have them involved with the 5K is special to us.”
East Anglian Engineering company Pruce Newman are delighted to announce that for the next 12 months they will be supporting The Benjamin Foundation as their Charity of the Year, through a range of fundraising events and promotional activities between now and June 2019. Keith Dixon (Compliance Manager, left) and Alan Pruce (Operations Director, right) recently met with Chris Elliott of the Benjamin Foundation (centre) to launch the partnership and to plan activities for the coming 12 months.
The Benjamin Foundation was set up by Richard and Vanessa Draper in 1994 following the death of their son Benjamin in a motorcycle accident. Starting by providing rural youth services in North Norfolk, the charity has since grown to help around 2,000 people across Norfolk and Suffolk each year, providing them with hope, opportunity, stability and independence.
The charity offers a wide range of services, including:
Accommodation centres for homeless young people. These provide support and a safe place to live for vulnerable 16-25 year olds with no home, helping them get their lives back on track. They can also accommodate young people who may benefit more from living in a family home.
Support to strengthen family relationships by working with parents and children. The Benjamin Foundation works in more than 80 schools where they support children with their emotional wellbeing, and parents who need some extra help.
Help with every day issues such as finding affordable childcare, with their nurseries and pre- and after school clubs in North Walsham and Ditchingham. These help parents continue with their jobs, knowing their children are in safe hands.
Five retail stores, the profits from which go back into the charity. The Benjamin Foundation has furniture store branches in Holt, Dereham and Norwich, which sell donated furniture and white goods. Their Re-use shop in Ipswich sells a wide range of second-hand items, and Kidstore, in North Walsham, sells nearly new kids clothing, baby equipment and toys.
Pruce Newman, which fabricates and installs specialist industrial pipework and steelwork across the South and East of England, has a strong commitment to delivering positive change in the communities in which it works, and chose the Benjamin Foundation as its 2018-19 Charity of the Year from a wide range of potential charity partners suggested by its staff. Speaking about the selection, Alan Pruce commented:
“After completing a successful 12 months of fundraising for EACH, we have accepted the challenge of helping The Benjamin Foundation, and we are confident that we will be able to provide a similar level of fundraising and support for this worthwhile cause during the next year. The Benjamin Foundation provides much-needed services, operating in a similar geographical area to Pruce Newman, and we’re delighted that we can play our part by raising money and raising awareness for this local charity which is going from strength to strength.
“We’re already planning a packed calendar of events, to keep fundraising momentum high throughout the year, and our staff have already suggested some great ways in which they would like to support The Benjamin Foundation over the next 12 months. As well as participating in their Sleep Out, we’ll be announcing our own challenges – encouraging our staff, customers and suppliers to join in and raise as much as possible for the charity.”
Chris Elliott, Marketing & Fundraising Manager at The Benjamin Foundation, said:
“We are delighted to have the support of Pruce Newman for the coming year. Their support will allow us to continue to provide hope, opportunity, stability and independence to over 2,000 local people who need us each year.”
The Norwich Sleep Out, which builds awareness of the issue of homelessness in the region, is the Benjamin Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event. This year, the event takes place at Carrow Road, on the 15th November. Pruce Newman will be entering a team in the event, and will be publicising details of this, and other fundraising opportunities in the near future. If you’d like to donate, the Pruce Newman team have set up a Virgin Money Giving page – click here to visit the site.
More information about The Benjamin Foundation, and the support that they provide, can be found at benjaminfoundation.co.uk