Member News

We are pleased to be working on an exciting project with Pelican Rouge Coffee Solutions (https://www.pelicanrouge.co.uk/) on their online profile and search engine optimisation (SEO) presence. Pelican Rouge is a very established brand in the UK and around the world. Established in Antwerp, Belgium in 1863, they have more than 150 years of experience in efficiently providing a multitude of clients with high quality coffee around the year.

As part of our ongoing work with Pelican Rouge we have had to make a number of assessments to their site’s workings and we are working on a number of further updates and improvements.

Pelican Rouge as a brand have websites for their presence in a few countries and around the world. Therefore, one of our initial actions has been to carry out a comprehensive audit of the existing UK Pelican Rouge website. This included analysing all of their website traffic, their target keywords, how their site is crawled by Google and what improvements can be made to their site to benefit their online presence and boost their performance on search engines.

In addition, we also carried out a detailed audit and analysis of some of Pelican Rouge’s main competitors to identify new channels we may pursue through SEO; specifically for the vending and coffee industries. Having carried out the audit and website analyses, we have been moving towards a comprehensive and detailed online strategy for Pelican Rouge.

With regards to the SEO we have been working to provide new meta data for their website, ensuring that each and every page has its own unique meta data, complying with SEO best practices and avoiding duplication. The site has hundreds of pages, providing great scope for opportunities on this front.

We have also been working continuously to ensure that the website is efficiently and properly crawled and ranked by Google. These changes have already yielded very positive results, with Pelican Rouge now being found on the first page of Google for a few key industry terms.

As well as ensuring the site gets ranked properly by search engines through meta data updates we are constantly monitoring the link profile and all inbound and outbound links for Pelican Rouge. We have also been working on acquiring high quality and industry related links for Pelican Rouge to build up their link profile and we are working towards a thorough on and off-site content strategy to increase the offering and resourcefulness of their website.

We will be continuing to work with Pelican Rouge through 2017 and look forward to continuing with the already exciting progress.

If you are considering an office refurbishment, aside from the design style and quality of workmanship, there are many things to consider when choosing an office design company.

As a business owner, you will know the importance of health and safety in the workplace and how difficult it can sometimes be to abide to the regulations put in place.

With that in mind, Bluespace are pleased to report that we have received a much sought after accreditation from the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS).

What is CHAS Accreditation?

In a nutshell, CHAS helps both buyers and suppliers in the assessment of health and safety competence. This accreditation helps you with the often lengthy process of assessing a contractor’s health and safety standard and work practice. In order to receive the accreditation, CHAS have already carried out any assessments required and the award confirms that the company in question is performing to the best H&S standards and following up to date policies.

Continued dedication to Health and Safety

We are delighted to have reached the high standards that CHAS have in place, with regards to our health and safety policy statement and our organisation’s health and safety arrangements.

Bluespace are dedicated to ongoing health and safety training of our staff and continual updating of our policies, leaving you safe in the knowledge that when you trust your business to us for an office refurbishment or fit out, we have health and safety covered.  

Specialist premium party food manufacturer Frank Dale Foods Limited has called a creditors’ meeting for 28 February 2017 to appoint a liquidator.  Norwich based business rescue and insolvency specialists McTear Williams & Wood is acting on behalf of the Company.

The Company employs 57 staff at its factory in Bunwell, South Norfolk whose jobs are now at risk.

Established in 1994 the Company traded successfully for many years but experienced a downturn in 2016 caused by production difficulties servicing sales after a period of significant growth. The resulting trading losses put strain on cash flow and efforts to refinance proved unsuccessful.

Frank Dale Foods Limited is best known as an upmarket manufacturer of savoury and dessert canapes, quiches and tartlets. It has won a number of national awards and in 2012 provided products for Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee.

Nigel Cushion, Chairman of the Company, said “sadly time has run out for the Company but we are hopeful that a buyer can be found for the business and assets so jobs can be saved and that is the Board’s main focus now”.

The Company will continue to trade up to liquidation in the hope that a buyer can be found for the business and assets as a going concern. Andrew McTear said ‘We are working with the board of directors to market the business and assets for sale and have already received serious interest. Anyone interested in buying the business should contact us immediately on 01603 877540’.

We at Tudor Lodge Consultants have recently started working on an exciting project with Medicareplus International (medicareplus.co.uk), a UK based manufacturer of a range of medical devices and products. Based in the heart of North West London, Medicareplus have over the years grown and now supply a range of companies and healthcare trusts with many devices and healthcare products including peak flow meters, gauze products, dressings and more.

Their website is a WordPress e-commerce site with a number of sections and various bespoke features. The problem faced by Medicareplus has been the difficulty in getting found for relevant terms as well as the explicitly product-related terms they are found for. With products falling under various categories each and with there being such a wide array of products and devices, there has been no shortage of opportunities to improve things online.

Ensuring that the content management system (CMS) used by Medicareplus is updated for SEO, with all security and ranking updates made was an initial priority. This was completed to make sure that all subsequent work’s effects are truly maximised.

We have worked to ensure that their site is properly crawled by Google and the content read appropriately. This has been done through various clean search engine optimisation (SEO) practices. We started the project by ensuring that all broken links on their site were fixed. These broken links effectively lead Google’s ‘spiders’ that crawl and rank sites to dead ends which have been holding back the site’s performance.

We have also ensured that all of the meta data on the site is fully optimised, with no duplications and no omissions across the entire site (which has over 150 pages; many of which are products.) We have maintained SEO best practices for all of the meta data and with feedback from Medicareplus International have made sure that the keywords and search terms targeted are completely relevant to their aims, goals and prospective customers alike.

We have started embarking on an exciting and resourceful content strategy with Medicareplus and this is sure to see their rankings on search engines increase further. We are looking to building on this budding relationship over the coming months.

Norwich data centre firm MIGSOLV joins PSTG to offer full tech package to local businesses

Norwich-based data centre operator MIGSOLV – a Norfolk Chamber Gold Patron – has struck a partnership with IT company PSTG to offer a full packaged technology service to local businesses. This includes data centre ‘colocation’, IT system design, computer hardware and support.

MIGSOLV provides IT colocation services from its ultra-secure Gatehouse facility in Norwich – the only major data centre in the Norfolk/Suffolk area. The company provides flexible rack space for public bodies and companies across all sectors securely to site their IT systems. It also provides a service to help customers move into The Gatehouse and comprehensive, round-the-clock support.

Professional Services Technology Group (PSTG) is a provider of computer hardware which provides a comprehensive set of associated services from initial systems design through to support. It operates across many sectors – with particular expertise in health, finance and hospitality – working with vendors including HP, EMC, IBM, Cisco, Dell and Microsoft.

The new partnership enables PSTG to offer its customers a highly secure data centre in the East of England, while it enables MIGSOLV to offer hardware and associated consultancy services. It also enables the two companies to bid jointly for requirements for a full packaged service.

David Manning, Managing Director of MIGSOLV, explains: “The partnership makes great business sense for us, PSTG and our collective customers. We’re now able to call on PSTG’s expertise in computer hardware and related services for clients who want the convenience of an integrated package. We’ve already had customers ask if we can provide a service of this kind. Our relationship with PSTG now makes this possible.”

Colin Woods, Business Development Manager at PSTG, comments: “We need to be able to offer our customers the best data centre services on the market. Our strategy is to team up with independent operators rather than the big players, as we believe that will give our customers better flexibility, value and customer care. MIGSOLV fits the bill perfectly. We’re extremely impressed by the professionalism and security of its Norwich data centre, and I know we’ll work well together to deliver what our customers need.”

For more on MIGSOLV, people should visit www.migsolv.com, call 020 3600 1000 or email enquiries@migsolv.com. For more on PSTG, they should visit https://pstg.co.uk or call 0208 303 7622. 

For more media information & images, please contact:

Tariq Khwaja from TK Associates on:

tariq.khwaja@tk-associates.com

01932 224 212

A trade’s person or small business won’t do well if their business acumen isn’t up to scratch. Understanding how to gain and keep happy customers, how to keep the cash flowing for work done and keeping the tax man happy are important to ensure a business is to succeed.

Genix, Norfolk’s business support organisation understands the importance of local businesses, the self-employed and start-ups having access to free business advice and subsidised courses. It’s crucial that people gain the knowledge and information which is key to growing a business and is why Genix provide s their services in North Norfolk as well as in Norwic

Alex Till, chief executive of Genix, a not-for -profit organisation said, “Helping people improve their business knowledge can make a huge difference to both their business decisions and their confidence.  I’m pleased we’re holding half day sessions covering both book keeping and understanding accounts in Fakenham and Cromer. We recently held a marketing course which attendees found very useful.”

Genix’s trainers are friendly and experts in their field, and aim to run their courses as informally as possible. By using venues in North Norfolk saves people having to spend time getting into Norwich.

The organisation are also planning a free session for people thinking of being their own boss, to be held in North Walsham during April.

For details and dates regarding Genix’s free advice sessions and business skills courses go to www.genix.org.uk or email info@genix.org.uk

Leanne @genix.org.uk  www.genix.org.uk  07496713103

Norwich based chartered insurance broker, Hugh J Boswell, has recently announced they’ve become a Patron of Genix, the business support agency.

Michael Jobson, of Hugh J Boswell, said, “We attend Genix’s regular networking events, Coffee Means Business, and have been impressed by the number and variety of businesses who attend. The range of masterclasses and seminars held by Genix providing Norfolk’s business community with information and knowledge ensures businesses continue to thrive and prosper in the county. At Hugh J Boswell we want to ensure Genix continues to expand its services for the local business community.”

Alex Till, chief executive of Genix is delighted the insurance brokers has joined as a Patron and commented “Hugh J Boswell are professional, innovative and committed to provide a high standard of customer care and it’s great that Genix are working with the team. “

“At Genix we’re committed to ensuring Norfolk businesses continue to grow, employ and upskill local people and for the eastern region to prosper.”

For more details regarding Genix go to www.genix.org.uk or call 0800 096 3013.

Genix  – www.genix.org.uk      info@genix.org.uk

Hugh J Boswell, Norwich –  Micahel.Jobson@hughjboswell.co.uk   www.hughjboswell.co.uk

HR GO, the national recruitment group with a joint venture in Norwich, is celebrating 60 years in business.

For nearly a third of that time – 17 years – the Lobster Lane office has placed around 600 people a year in permanent and temporary roles.

To celebrate the diamond anniversary, it has joined a nationwide 60 Acts of Kindness campaign by planning two big fund-raising events this summer, probably a Golf Day and a Quiz.

HR GO Norwich is one of few agencies undertaking assessments and Thomas International psychometric tests for all candidates seeking permanent jobs.

Lesley Harrison FIRP, managing director of HR GO Norwich, said: “We are delighted to be part of a family-owned recruitment company that has achieved so much in 60 years. We have enjoyed serving the businesses and people of Norwich and Norfolk for 17 years and look forward to working with them for many more.”

lesley.harrison@hrgo.co.uk, 

01603 763500. www.hrgo.co.uk

Peter Lawrence & Rod Lee from Human Capital Department have been helping buisnesses in the Care Sector to implement Performance Management Processes which have improved motivation and commitment of staff which in turn means a better service for their clients.The attached article first appeared in Caring Times [Feb 17]. For more details contact us;

• Tel. 01553 609968  
• Email. info@humancapitaldept.com
• Web. www.humancapitaldept.com 

Peter Lawrence & Rod Lee from Human Capital Department have been helping buisnesses in the Care Sector to implement Performance Management Processes which have improve motivation and commitment of staff which in turn means a better service for their clients.The attached article first appeared in Caring Times [Feb 17]. For more details contact us;

• Tel. 01553 609968  
• Email. info@humancapitaldept.com
• Web. www.humancapitaldept.com 

Women have made significant contributions to science through the years, however despite the remarkable achievements the proportion of the UK’s female STEM workforce is only 21%, according to Women in Science and Engineering (WISE).

Briar Chemicals are passionate about encouraging more girls into STEM careers and are proud to sponsor and lead exciting initiatives that offer first-hand experiences.

Education is vital to the future of science and our industry. We produce and supply companies all over the world with crop protection products, helping farmers to grow and protect their crops. By contributing to the industry, the future young scientists have the opportunity to work in a career in which they can contribute to society and really make a difference.

Our Education Programme is designed to inspire the next generation to discover the world of science. We actively encourage our staff to share their knowledge and skills to the young people within our community. By improving engagement with schools and colleges, it allows pupils to recognise their potential and the exciting STEM career opportunities available.

We offer industrial placement opportunities for chemistry and chemical engineering students keen to get an early insight into the wide range of careers in STEM. Carmina, our Student Placement from Loughborough University, who is currently studying for her Masters in Engineering said: The chemical industry offers great opportunities for a diverse career, working in different locations across the globe. Before joining Briar Chemicals, I spent five months at a University in Italy within a Chemical Engineering Research department; a fantastic experience, which, along with my time at Briar Chemicals, will help me further my career. “

Our ‘Insight in Industry’ visits offer a unique chance to experience STEM-related work in an industrial setting. Students meet with our highly skilled workforce who have qualifications in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and have the chance to look around working laboratories and production plants.

Introducing young people to influential and inspiring role models is a great way to teach them how science is applied to real life environments. In addition to engaging with our staff, we have also worked with role models such as TV Astronomer Mark Thompson and Zoologist Jess French as part of our annual science-themed poetry competition.

As proud sponsors of the Norwich Science Festival Chemistry Day, we aim to engage with people of all ages. Hands-on experiments and activities help show chemistry is part of their everyday life. By interacting with parents and teachers, we hope that they encourage children from an early age to explore the wonder of science.

On 8th March, as part of our celebrations of International Women’s Day, we will be hosting a ‘Girls in STEM’ event. Female pupils from local high schools will be invited to meet with women working within the industry at our manufacturing site, as pictured above. With many inspirational women in science, we support and develop those with aspirations of pursuing a career in STEM. Dorothy Hodgkin, a British biochemist, was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her pioneering work into the structures of vitamin B12 and penicillin and remains the only British woman to receive a Nobel Prize for science.

For more information about careers at Briar Chemicals, please contact our HR team on hr.recruit@briarchemicals.com

Pure has always been strongly committed to supporting local charities and to date, the professional recruitment specialists have raised over £120k for 24 charities in the region. This year the Norwich office has pledged to support The Big C by participating in the charity’s own key events and by organising its own fundraising, donations and volunteering activities.

Joseph O’Sullivan, Manager of Pure’s Norwich Office, said: “As part of our values as an organisation, we believe in supporting and taking part in the communities that surround us. The Big C is an exceptional charity, based on our doorstep, and one we are incredibly proud to support. Our first key fundraising event will be our annual quiz night in April. We’ve been running our annual charity quiz nights for seven years and they always prove popular. It’s a fun filled battle of the brains in which organisations get to pit their wits against each other in aid of a good cause. They are incredibly successful in raising funds and, with help from local businesses taking part, we are hoping to raise £2,000 during this fun evening.”

The Big C provides drop in support and information centres across Norfolk and Waveney. These are used by thousands of people affected by cancer every year and provide valuable information about diagnosis, treatments, side effects and recovery. The support also includes trained staff who can provide emotional help, support and complementary therapies.

Pure’s Norwich Quiz Night in aid of The Big C takes place on Thursday 13 April from 6pm at Sprowston Manor Hotel. Teams consist of 4 players and costs £40 per team with all proceeds being donated to the charity. To book a team place visit www.prs.uk.com or email April Gotts on april.gotts@prs.uk.com