Member News

The Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) team at Tudor Lodge Consultants is pleased to announce our recent commencement of work with James Howard Education. Offering a novel approach to private tutors and tuition for studies at all levels from primary school through to university level, James Howard Education are an Ofsted accredited agency who are revolutionising the way people are looking at the private tuition industry. Whilst traditionally, pupils would need a one on one session with a specific tutor, James Howard’s approach differs.

They are able to offer both one to one tuition for those needing specific attention and also group tutorials and study groups run in relaxed and friendly settings. Based in North West London, James Howard Education caters to students from all backgrounds. Also, rather than offering tutors who cover numerous subjects to a mediocre level, James Howard provide expert tutors who specialise in a particular field and are experienced in getting students top results. This ranges from the sciences to religious studies, mathematics and beyond.

With shining testimonials and reviews of their tutors and services, James Howard Education have received a lot of customers and clients via referral and word of mouth.

James Howard Education approached the team at Tudor Lodge Consultants with the concern that they were not receiving much attention or traffic online. They already have a website, built on the Wix platform and seeking to improve organic traffic via Google and search engine results pages (SERPs), our team have been working on the website with the team at James Howard.

We have initially reviewed their website, its architecture, content and crawling factors (how Google and other search engines actually ‘read’ and rank the site for users.) Our team undertook the necessary initial keyword research to see where the online organic traffic in the tutoring industry lies. Having provided the results and consulted with the team at James Howard, we have been optimising the crawling factors such as their onsite meta titles and descriptions, H titles and content in general.

In addition, James Howard Education have never undertaken any digital PR campaigns in the past and therefore have had little to no online presence. They also have a non-existent backlink profile. Working across our network of strong, clean and SEO-friendly websites, we are working towards strengthening the domain of James Howard and also helping them to be found by increased numbers of users via referral traffic on strong and reputable third-party websites.

We are continuing our work on the James Howard Education website and look forward to further building on the work and progress already undertaken as well as that to come.

Atkins Gregory, Cambridgeshire-based commercial contract cleaning provider, and part of the Monthind Group, is both delighted and proud to announce that it has received the bronze award from the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), in recognition of our commitment to the scheme.

ERS encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Atkins Gregory’s Managing Director, Simon Biggs, says: “I am a veteran, ex-Army and a big supporter of the reservists. The Armed Forces Covenant is the nation’s commitment to those who serve in the armed forces and their families; that commitment continues after they leave the services. Reservists and veterans have a host of skills to bring to the workplace, but sometimes need a little extra support or a helping hand to during the transition to the civilian career ladder. Atkins Gregory is proud to be part of that. It’s not a totally altruistic gesture, though, as a company we benefit from the forces’ training, whether that is in management skills or general work ethics, it makes sense for us to invest in these people.

“Signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant ERS brings a host of positive outcomes to any organisation, it enhances the workforce, not only with skills but also with accredited training; it demonstrates a commitment to local community and Corporate Social Responsibility; and it gives something back to those who would give their lives for our freedom and safety.”      

For more details of Atkins Gregory’s services please visit https://atkinsgregory.com/ or call 01223 438118

We hate bad WiFi.  It really annoys us, especially when we have been working on an installation all day, check into the hotel for the night and the WiFi doesn’t work.  We always book a hotel on the basis that there is WiFi but its always a hit or miss experience.

That’s why we’ve been busy developing our https://www.wifiassure.com

The Norwich and Norfolk Eco Awards celebrate projects and schemes with a strong ecological or environmentally-friendly ethos, or groups and organisations which can show they adopt a sound eco approach to their business.

The awards recognise local unsung environmental heroes, who put the environment at the heart of their work. It’s free to enter and easy to apply, open now for applications until 1 December 2017.

All category winners will receive a trophy and certificate, as well as permission to use Eco Awards branding for marketing purposes.

The winner of the primary school category will also receive brand new tablet devices for their school.

The awards are hosted jointly by Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council.

Vote for your eco hero To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the awards, we’re giving you the chance to nominate someone (or yourself) for a new Eco Hero category. The winning eco hero should be able to demonstrate a passion for protecting or improving the environment. Our judges will shortlist four potential eco heroes in December, and there will be a public vote throughout January to choose the winner. So the nominees will have plenty time to drum up lots of support and get as many votes as they can.

Categories

1. Eco Hero – People’s Vote
2. Eco home
3. Eco food product
4. Eco primary/secondary school
5. Eco community group
6. Eco small/medium business

For more information and to apply click here. 

A district heating project installed by Attleborough-based Finn Geotherm has won a prestigious industry trophy at the national Heating & Ventilating Review (HVR) Awards 2017. The installation undertaken for housing association Flagship Group has been crowned Sustainable Project of the Year.

The HVR Awards 2017 celebrate innovation in the building services sector. The awards recognise and reward companies across the country that demonstrate excellence in their field, outstanding technology or exceptional customer service and true innovation in the way they operate or in what they produce.

The Sustainable Project of the Year Award was presented to Finn Geotherm for its ground source heat pump system, which is delivering domestic heating and hot water for 30 flats at Orchard Close in Watton, Norfolk. The first domestic heating scheme for communal use in the East of England, it will cut Flagship customers’ heating bills by two thirds, creating annual savings of hundreds of pounds. In addition, it enables Flagship to dramatically reduce its maintenance costs and CO2 emissions. The project is expected to be the first of many for the housing association, with Flagship hoping to roll out other ground source heat pump systems to other customers as part of its plan to create more affordable and environmentally friendly homes.

Guy Ransom, commercial director of Finn Geotherm, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award for our project at Flagship. District heating offers housing associations such as Flagship a fantastic opportunity not only to dramatically reduce the cost of heating for their customers but also to have a significant impact on the organisation’s carbon emissions and green credentials. Using heat pumps in this way should be the future of heating for every housing association and we’re very pleased to be recognised for enabling Flagship to become one of the first to really harness the potential of district heating.”

Matt Smith, Compliance Manager at Flagship, said: “To win this award is fantastic news. We have worked hard to get the scheme up and running, so to be recognised in this way is a great achievement for everyone involved. We are continually trying to improve the service we offer our customers while at the same time reduce our carbon footprint, and the system in Watton has allowed us to do both.”

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

Amid renewed calls for more housing to be urgently built across the country, Flagship Group is aiming to provide more homes for people in need in Norfolk.

The housing provider across the East of England has submitted plans to Breckland Council this week for a further 49 homes and public open space in Great Ellingham.

The properties off Attleborough Road would be in addition to the 39 homes and public open space provision granted planning consent in 2016 on land immediately adjacent. These works are anticipated to commence before next summer.

The new application includes a mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses and bungalows with 60% for sale and 40% affordable housing. The affordable housing will be owned and managed by Flagship and will include a proportion of shared ownership properties to assist first time buyers on to the housing ladder.

The proposal will help Breckland Council meet the current shortfall in its five-year land supply, which is a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework. In July, Breckland announced it is unable to demonstrate a five-year land supply, with calculations ranging between 2.4 – 4.6 years.

Tony Tann, Managing Director of Flagship Homes (Development) said: “It’s great news for Flagship to be undertaking its first mixed tenure development in Breckland, enabling us to provide new homes for people in need. With recent announcements indicating that 300,000 homes need to be built each year across the UK, we’re glad we can help to meet the housing shortage. I therefore hope this will be one of many new developments we can take forward across the region in the coming years.”

Everything DiSC® Productive Conflict transforms uncomfortable encounters into stronger relationships.

Workplace conflict is inevitable. Everything DiSC® Productive Conflict helps learners improve self-awareness around conflict behaviors. Rather than focus on a step-by-step process for conflict resolution, Everything DiSC Productive Conflict helps learners curb destructive behaviors so that conflict can become more productive, ultimately improving workplace results and relationships.

By increasing self-awareness around conflict behaviors, Everything DiSC Productive Conflict helps learners effectively respond to the uncomfortable and unavoidable challenges of workplace conflict.

A 22-page Everything DiSC® Productive Conflict Profile provides an in-depth report that highlights techniques to improve self awareness around conflict behaviors. With strategies to curb destructive responses, learners discover how to step back and reframe productive responses to conflict situations.

Contact us to find out more :

email        hello@corporategrowth.org

web         corporategrowth.org

call          01379 890313 or 07931 098 023

Cost Effective Recruitment  People Management and Development disruptor Human Capital Department offer a recruitment service which is different to what is typically offered by recruitment and employment agencies… “Our pricing model is different – rather than charging 10% or 15% of starting salary we charge a Fixed Fee of £995 for each recruitment assignment” said Peter Lawrence, Director of Human Capital Department.  

The quality of service we provide is also assured – we are a member of the Chamber of Commerce and our consultants are individual members of the Chartered Insitute of Personnel and Development [CIPD], which is our quality mark and means we are qualified to guide employers to ensure that they adhere to rules and regulations and apply best practice recruitment and selection processes and procedures. 

We go the extra mile, as well as conducting the initial pre-screening interviews and providing a short-list of suitable candidates, we can sit in on recruitment interviews if required, and can take up references to complete the process.   

Once you have the right person on board we can also advise on Induction and Performance Management ensuring things go smoothly from day one.  

Contact: Tel. 01553 609968 / 07469 744363

Email info@humancapitaldept.com  

www.humancapitaldept.com  

Cost Effective Recruitment  People Management and Development disruptor Human Capital Department offer a recruitment service which is different to what is typically offered by recruitment and employment agencies… “Our pricing model is different – rather than charging 10% or 15% of starting salary we charge a Fixed Fee of £995 for each recruitment assignment” said Peter Lawrence, Director of Human Capital Department.  

The quality of service we provide is also assured – we are a member of the Chamber of Commerce and our consultants are individual members of the Chartered Insitute of Personnel and Development [CIPD], which is our quality mark and means we are qualified to guide employers to ensure that they adhere to rules and regulations and apply best practice recruitment and selection processes and procedures. 

We go the extra mile, as well as conducting the initial pre-screening interviews and providing a short-list of suitable candidates, we can sit in on recruitment interviews if required, and can take up references to complete the process.   

Once you have the right person on board we can also advise on Induction and Performance Management ensuring things go smoothly from day one.  

Contact: Tel. 01553 609968 / 07469 744363

Email info@humancapitaldept.com  

www.humancapitaldept.com  

Active Norfolk’s Wrap Up and Step Out walking challenge is back this year to encourage you and your colleagues to reduce stress, improve wellbeing and get active by heading out for a walk this November.

Not only are we privileged enough to live in one of the most naturally beautiful parts of the world here in Norfolk, but now just by going out and exploring it, Active Norfolk is giving you the chance to win a host of wonderful prizes by logging your activity and sending in your photographs.

Whether your walk consists of a lunchtime stroll around town, a weekend ramble through the forest or a hike along coastal clifftops, you could be in with a chance of winning the prizes, including Osprey Daysacks, Klean Kanteen drinks bottles and cinema vouchers, simply by putting one foot in front of the other.

Plus, an additional weekly prize is up for grabs throughout November for the best photos from your walks that capture the beauty of Norfolk in autumn.

It’s completely free to get involved, just visit https://www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/activenorfolk for more information.

The same Norfolk Local Action Groups that were set up to deliver LEADER business growth funding now also distribute the new LIFT funding for the benefit of small and medium sized SME rural businesses and the local, rural economy generally. LIFT stands for Local Investment in Future Talent and can offer 50% funding to projects that will enable people living in rural areas to find paid employment or to start their own businesses. LIFT can also contribute up to 50% of staff training costs for those currently employed in rural businesses.

The funding comes from the Europeans Social Fund and grants in the region of £5k -£50k are available for approved projects.

 Applications can be from individual businesses but they  are particularly keen to hear from business networks or groups of businesses working in partnership. Also training providers that could offer staff training to a number of business customers that is subsidised by LIFT.

Companies that have links with local community organisations could also usefully pass on the message that LIFT is offering grants for projects that will work intensively with people to prepare for and find work. 

More information can be found at www.liftprogramme.co.uk or by contacting the LIFT team directly on 01603 222771 or by email to lift@norfolk.gov.uk

Leathes Prior’s Charity of the Year, OPEN Youth Trust has successfully submitted an entry to this year’s Aviva Community Fund for a minibus to support their outreach team. The 15-seater, second-hand minibus with diabled access will be used to collect young people, in and around Norfolk from schools and Youth clubs so that they can avail of all the activities and classes at OPEN. OPEN Youth Trust was established in 2006 to give young people in Norfolk the life skills and confidence to maximise their potential. They now make a positive difference to the lives of over 4,500 young people each year through their drop-in youth hub in the city centre, workshops, gym, dance studio and climbing wall. OPEN offer volunteering and mentoring workshops designed to get young people work ready and to help them to get to grips with the day to day challenges of independent living. The service is free of charge to young people and funded through their commercial activities. However, young people in rural areas of Norfolk are somewhat isolated and can miss out on the opportunities OPEN provides to get out and about, make friends and develop new activities and passions. OPEN want to be able to engage with these young people and offer them somewhere to go, someone to talk to, and something to do. However, Norfolk is a rural and sparsely populated county and it remains difficult to engage young people in geographically isolated areas. Transport links are poor in most of the county and, often, young people aged between 11-19 cannot afford public transport. Those who have physical disabilities can face further challenges. Gaining funds for the minibus would mean that OPEN can make the trip to the young people and pick them up outside of school hours, allowing them full access to their services before taking them home safely in the evening. This would have a dramatic and positive effect on the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people across our county. This is what one young person said to OPEN Youth Trust to describe how he feels about wanting to get to OPEN and his struggles due to the lack of public transport: “I would LOVE to be able to go to OPEN in the evenings. They do really cool stuff, it is great fun and loads of my Norwich friends go there. I really feel like I am missing out but I have no way of actually getting there, so please vote for OPEN and make this happen so that I can join my friends”.  OPEN has successfully got through stage one in the bidding process which is now open to the public to vote. Voting is easy; just follow this link register an email address or login with your Facebook account and cast your votes – you have until midday 21st November 2017.