Member News

SMS, a leading manufacturer and service provider of hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical control systems, will be exhibiting at the EEEGR event “SNS 2016: The Sea of Opportunity”held at the Royal Norfolk Showground, Norwich at the beginning of March 2016.

SMS will be promoting its range of Hydraulic, Pneumatic and Electrical Control Systems along with their offshore and onshore services. The business will also demonstrate its full project and multi-disciplined engineering capabilities which have enabled the SMS team to successfully secure a high number of orders in the region.

Gary Morrow, Business Development Director, comments, “SMS is well known for delivering quality solutions and services that meet the specific requirements of our customers both internationally and within the southern North Sea. SNS is a great event for us to showcase SMS’s full portfolio and to discuss with our customers how we can support them locally.”

Gary continues by saying, “SNS2016 is a highly targeted event and there are always more opportunities to speak to attendees than at the bigger oil and gas tradeshows. We are therefore pleased to not only exhibit again this year but also to be one of the main sponsors.”

For more information on SMS and its products and services you can visit the sales team at stand B15 at the SNS 2016 event, Norwich on 2nd and 3rd March 2016.

Why choose a Flomotion height adjustable sit-stand desk.

So, you’ve decided to buy a height adjustable, sit-stand desk. You search online and a host of suppliers come up. How do you choose from the many sit-stand desks available on the market?

We’ve set out some of the reasons why we think we’re different and why you should choose one of our sit-stand desks.

Switch between standing and sitting effortlessly

A Flomotion sit-stand desk allows you to effortlessly switch between sitting and standing. At the touch of a button you can adjust the height of the desk – take your finger off the button and the desk will stop at your chosen height.

Five year warranty

It took us over a year to source what we think are the best height adjustable desk frames on the market. Combining stylish Danish design with the latest technology our desk frames all come with a five year warranty and a choice of three colours, black, white and grey.

Handmade desk tops

We’ve created desk tops from pine railway sleepers, vintage oak, recycled floorboards and antique pine reclaimed from 100 year old French railway carriages to name a few. Don’t worry, if you work in a more traditional office environment, we also offer laminate and veneer desk tops too.

Made to order sit-stand desk

If you’re looking for a desk with specific features, you can choose to have a bespoke, handmade desk top created just for you! The Hi-Rise was a commissioned piece that includes storage draws and two hidden compartments featuring Iroko wood sliding screens.

Any image or design

As creative people we love coming up with new designs but we also enjoy collaborating with local artists, designers and illustrators to design and produce a variety of inspiring designs printed on our birch ply desk tops. We can also custom print desk tops, if you can imagine it, we can create it, a unique desk top just for you!

Free two week trial

We offer a free two week trial and are pretty confident that once you’ve tried one of our desks you will want to keep it!

The trial includes free delivery and set up plus lots of information and advice on how to ergonomically optimise your workspace and maximise the benefits of using a height adjustable, sit-stand desk. Set up of the desk can normally be done within the hour.

Affordability – fit a frame to your existing desk top

If you have a desk or table that you really want to keep, we can fit one of our frames to your existing workstation. This is the most affordable option available and only costs £499. Information regarding interest free payments, available on request.

Health, well being and productivity

There are many benefits of working at a sit-stand desk. Research has shown that people who adopt a sit-stand approach to work tend to be much healthier than those who sit for long periods. Sit-stand working improves productivity and concentration, reduces the risk of type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease, increases blood flow, and improves posture. Standing at your desk burns 50 more calories an hour than sitting. If you stand for only four hours a day for five days, you’ll burn 1,000 calories. Over a year this adds up to approximately 52,000 extra calories!

Under development

Exciting new designs that are under development include a desk with an easel/drawing board feature and a lightbox desk. We’re also looking into the feasibility of a polished concrete desk top and exploring new ecological materials like boards made from straw and tomato vines and polished pulp.

Sit-stand working free stuff

As part of our commitment to customers we also offer a free app that reminds you to sit and stand throughout the day. Printed material on exercise and stretching routines are included as well as free downloads on exercise, health, fitness and well being. Our website will also be updated regularly with the latest health information and well-being research.

Please give us a call on 01603 490054 to book your free trial or to discuss your requirements.

Staff from Norwich based shop Angling Direct have shown they can reel in more than big fish as they raise valuable funds for a local children’s hospice charity.

Members of the Angling Direct team, lead by Norwich store manager Andy Flint, joined forces with staff from Phoenix Gym Norwich to take part in a charity carp fishing match to raise money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

The match, which was held in October 2015, saw 12 anglers, fishing over a 48 hour period on Norfolk’s Coston Day Ticket Lake.

The anglers raised money through all competitors and sponsorship. Angling Direct staff recently presented a cheque for the event total, which stands at an impressive £3,620.

Andy Flint, Store Manager from Angling Direct, said: “The event was fished in great spirits. Some cracking fish were banked and good fun was had by all, but the main aim of the event was to raise money for EACH.

“We’re so pleased with the amount raised. Everyone at Angling Direct would like to say a massive thanks to everyone who sponsored the event or pledged any money to EACH. We look forward to continue and grow our relationship with what we believe is a great cause.”

James Bacon, EACH Norfolk Corporate Fundraiser, added: “On behalf of everyone at EACH, I’d just like to say a massive thank you to everyone at Angling Direct and Phoenix Gym involved with the event and in raising such an amazing amount of money.

“EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk and supports their families. We rely heavily on voluntary donations and would not be able to continue to provide these vital services without support from local businesses such as Angling Direct.”

Angling Direct stock a wide range of fishing tackle and fishing equipment for all aspects of angling. For more information visits their website, www.anglingdirect.co.uk, or pop into their store at 279 Aylsham Road, Norwich.

A Norfolk based photography company will be focusing their attention on a new aim this year as they pledge their support for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) nook appeal.

Camera specialists Wex Photographic, who run an online shop and have a showroom on Drayton High Road, Norwich, are the latest local company to sign up to the nook business network scheme, and have pledged to raise at least £10,000 over the term of the appeal.

EACH launched the nook appeal in November 2014. The appeal aims to raise £10 million to transform children’s palliative care across the county, which includes a new purpose-built hospice ‘the nook’ on a 5-acre woodland site in Framingham Earl just south of Norwich.

The nook business network asks for companies small, medium and large throughout Norfolk to commit to raising either £10,000, £15,000 or £25,000 over the duration of the appeal in return for a number of benefits and support that the charity will provide. More than 25 local companies have now pledged their support for the scheme.

WEX Photographic are already supporters of EACH and donated a camera with accessories worth over £450.00 to the charity’s current hospice in Quidenham in December 2015.

Louis Wahl, Chief Customer Officer at from Wex, says: ‘”As a Norfolk-based business, we understand why the work done through East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices is so important for affected families, and for the whole community. We are proud to support EACH and the Nook Appeal’.”

James Bacon, EACH Norfolk Corporate Fundraiser, said: “We’re delighted that WEX photographic have pledged their support for our business network and are committed to helping make our vision of a new hospice for local life-threatened children and their families a reality.

“We need the support of all sectors of the Norfolk community – individuals, schools, community groups and of course the business sector to achieve our fundraising target , so support from WEX is fantastic and we very much look forward to working with them.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the nook appeal and the nook business network should visit: www.each.org.uk/the-nook or contact the Norfolk Fundraising Team on: 01953 666767, funding@each.org.uk.

For more information on Wex Photographic visit: www.wexphotographic.com.

If you’ve worked hard to attract and recruit talented employees, you will need to put in even more work to keep them. While employees will choose to move on for many different reasons, some of which you can’t control, we’ve compiled ten top tips on what can be done to help retain valuable members of staff.

1. Find the right fit

You’re more likely to retain talent if you recruit effectively in the first place. Make sure you create a clear job description which sets out realistic expectations of the role so that a candidate doesn’t accept a position they are not suited for. It’s also important to recruit based on those who are a good cultural fit for your organisation, as well as on skills and experience, to ensure long term success.

2. Provide a good induction

Poorly designed or non-existent induction programmes can create disengaged employees from the outset. Create an induction plan which ensures new employees feel confident and equipped to succeed in the role from the start. This should include everything from the basics of introducing any equipment or software they may not be familiar with through to pairing up a new employee with a highly experienced colleague who can act as an induction mentor. Regular meetings should also be held throughout the induction period to establish if any further support or guidance is required.

3. Offer development opportunities

Hang on to top talent by providing a robust and meaningful development plan with clear progression opportunities outlined. Let employees have a say in what they would like to achieve by encouraging a two-way dialogue in which they can openly discuss aspirations and further training required. Development plans don’t have to involve additional costs, training could be provided by more experienced colleagues, or offering the chance to work in a different part of the business will help people to develop new skills. If there’s not many chances for promotion within your organisation, think about offering more responsibility or autonomy instead.

4. Balance strong management with trust

It is becoming increasingly common to find four different generations of people working together, including the current generation known as ‘Millennials’ (born 1977 to 1994), expected to make up 75% of the UK’s workforce by 2025. Studies show that the millennial generation in particular both values and benefits from consistent management feedback, preferably on a weekly rather than a yearly basis. Make sure that your managers are effectively equipped and trained to provide ongoing performance management. Balance this strong management with a trust in people to do the job they are paid for. If you enable employees to shape the way they work, and the projects they get involved in, they are more likely to be engaged and fulfilled.

5. Give employees a voice

One of the key enablers for achieving employee engagement is to ensure that employees have a ‘voice’. Develop a culture where new ideas can be expressed and a collaborative approach is adopted to fuel discussion and engagement. A company where staff feel empowered to speak their minds is one that is likely to have good levels of employee retention. It is equally important to ensure clear processes are also in place for employees to voice any dissatisfaction. Issues can usually be nipped in the bud, before they escalate to the point of someone leaving, if they can be raised through appraisals or grievance procedures etc.

6. Support unsung talent

Sometimes the most talented employees are too busy quietly doing a great job to shout about it. These are the employees who know the organisation inside out and seem to be able to tackle pretty much anything you throw at them with very little fuss. It is particularly important for managers to spot these valuable people and to support them. Check they aren’t taking on too much and slowly burning out. They may not push themselves forward, but they need to feel just as valued as those who do, or there’s a danger that they could gradually get fed up and finally leave.

7. Help employees to achieve a work/life balance

The journey to and from work and a lack of work/life balance are now the two biggest factors for people choosing to leave a job. It’s vital for employers to help employees strike the delicate balance between work and home life so they can effectively manage their careers, stay healthy and continue to feel engaged. Review your organisation’s practices around flexible working and look for opportunities to support employees in successfully juggling work and family life.

8. Recognise and reward success

Make employees feel valued and proud of what they do by sharing the bigger business picture and the impact their role has had in the overall success. This could be as simple as sharing reports or statistics on the effect a particular project has had. Rewarding any successes highlighted doesn’t have to be financial. Although money still holds considerable importance, and salaries and benefits should be regularly reviewed to ensure they remain competitive, simple and sincere acknowledgements still go a long way. Cakes on Friday, or breakfast rolls on a Monday are inexpensive treats which still speak volumes.

9. Monitor engagement levels

Consistently monitoring employee engagement levels will help you to spot any potential areas for development before they become an issue that could cause an employee to leave. If you already conduct an annual staff survey try adding short ‘pulse’ surveys throughout the year as well. This will help to capture immediate feedback on particular issues without having to wait for the yearly results roll round. Through our Best Employers Eastern Region initiative we also offer a free employee survey which will provide insight on how employees perceive an organisations culture, learning and development, values, leadership style and communication: which all impacts on engagement levels.

10. Establish the reasons why

If employees do choose to move on, try to establish the reasons why. Exit interviews are good practice but remember people may not be entirely honest. It is human nature to be reluctant to directly criticise managers, colleagues or a business overall. They may also be worried about protecting their reference. If possible, get an external provider to conduct the interview to encourage honesty and to gain a more accurate picture. If this isn’t possible, make sure the person conducting the exit interview is someone as impartial as possible, and not the individual’s direct manager.

Chamber member Cintra Translations has purchased language services agency First Edition, fuelling the companies’ own growth by supporting their clients’ success here and in export markets.

Announcing Cambridge-based Cintra’s purchase of First Edition early in February, Cintra CEO Jerry Froggett, said: “Quality is in the DNA of both companies. We have in common a consistent emphasis on quality and trust that has earned both companies many loyal clients here and internationally.

“Now with First Edition on board, Cintra is exceptionally well-placed to offer a wider range of translation and interpreting services to the many diverse Norfolk businesses operating here in what is one of Europe’s fastest growing and most dynamic regions. We look forward to considerable growth in our market share.”

First Edition Translations Director, Sheila Waller, who owned and ran the company from 1997, will play a key role in realising that vision for growth. She commented: “Our shared commitment to quality and integrity is fundamental to our plans for the future.”

The companies will continue to trade as Cintra Translation and First Edition Translations respectively with no immediate plans for a change of business entity.

A far reaching transport group is launching a scheme to provide apprentices in Norfolk with an affordable way to travel to and from work

Next month (March 2016) Kickstart – a Dereham based charity which hire’s mopeds to help people attend work, education or training – will offer the new scheme to young apprentices aged between 16 and 18.

The new project will specifically tackle the problem many young apprentices face trying to afford travel expenses to get to work and back. Now, Kickstart will be offering young apprentices free motorcycle clothing and a one day compulsory basic training (CBT) course to enable them to legally ride a moped or scooter. The charity will then offer the apprentices’ subsidised hire of a 50cc moped for only £2.86 per day.

Barry Lynes, rider coordinator for Kickstart, said: “We are extremely happy to be launching this scheme, which we hope will help many young apprentices across Norfolk. Many of these young people do struggle financially whilst learning their trades due to a combination of low wages and lack of available benefits. For many of these aspiring young people affording transport to and from their place of work can be a significant problem, which we hope this scheme will help them to overcome. Once the apprentices have completed the CBT and been handed the clothing they are able to hire a fully insured, taxed and maintained moped for under £3 per day for the remainder of their apprenticeship.”

A BIG welcome toCiscoe’s Pan Asian & Sushithe latest Norfolk based business to jump on board our Digital Signage networks across Norwich! Using our network of screens Ciscoe’s are looking to increase brand awareness of the restaurant and reach out to those food fanatics looking to indulge their tastebuds with bursting flavours from the Far East.

Norwich is a great place to eat out, Ciscoe’s Pan Asian & Sushi is located right in the heart of the city centre, offering fine dining selections of gourmet dishes from around the world. Ciscoe’s serve the very best of Asian flavours by using traditional and modern recipes specialising in Japanese, Korean & Vietnamese food.

Their Executive Chef Francisco “Cisco” Papica’s professional career spans over three decades, as an up and coming chef he was educated by some of the world’s greatest. As a young man Ciscoe travelled the world learning how to create traditional dishes from the country of origin he was visiting. His travels through Europe eventually brought him to our beautiful city, where his talents were spotted by foodie entrepreneur Ian Cooke, and together they founded Ciscoe’s Pan Asian. Ciscoe’s personal dedication to the traditions and skills of Japanese cuisine is balanced by his creativity within the varied cuisines of the Pacific Rim: It’s exactly this that makes Ciscoe’s Pan Asian a unique experience that their dedicated customers enjoy over and over again.

It’s a real pleasure to be working alongside one of our favourite and most exciting restaurants in Norwich, the entire team at Ciscoe’s shows great passion towards it’s product, service and customers from the chefs, front of of house and it’s owners. Voted as a top 10 sushi chef in the UK, offering a great in house dining experience and a delivery service through Just-Eat.co.uk or their own app, the experience of dining at Ciscoe’s Pan Asian & Sushi will blow both your mind and your tastebuds.

The ad can be seen on our ‘Domination Circuit’ comprising of four screens with a weekly audience of 450,000+ people.

Last year we were approached by Halls’ Garden Centre about production of three TV Commercials for their online storeGardensite.co.uk. They asked us to create some modern, stylish commercials that would really stand out from their competitors’ commercials, showcase their ever-changing offers and highlight the ease of purchasing online.

Our team of copywriters came up with a selection of concepts, and once everyone was happy with the final creative we began preparing for the shoot!We sourced a gorgeous location to film in, and luckily (despite being shot in November!) the weather held out for us! We filmed using the Arri Amira, which has a wide dynamic range and allowed us to record more detail in highlights and shadows. The camera sensor processes footage with a cinematic quality that complements skin tones and adds a more realistic, natural feel to the footage.

To show the convenience of shopping online, we created an interesting transition between the digital world and the real-world environment of the garden; the visual ‘swipe’ effect by which the lady changes the products in her garden through the window mimics the swipe effect of a touch screen.

We decided to utilise a ‘doughnut’ technique across the three commercials – the top and tail of each commercial would remain the same, but the middle section can be altered to show different offers depending on season and availability. Combining the visual ‘swipe’ effect with the graphical insert of the tablet made for a great way to mix the sophistication of a live action commercial with the flexibility & cost of a graphics based ad!

The first commercial aired from the 27thJanuary onSky AdSmartchannels in selected postcodes.

Interesting in knowing more about Sky’s AdSmart delivery method?View our Sky AdSmart presentation.

Naked Element are proud to be part of the forthcoming Digital City Walk. Held over five days, the trail aims to encourage young people to visit Norwich tech businesses to find out more about what they do and what it might be like to work in the tech industry.

Norwich is a Tech City and younger people should be made aware of the opportunities available in our Fine City. We are at No. 1 on the map, along with Axon Vibe, Sean Clark Ltd and Applin Skinner. Our colleagues Rainbird AI are at No. 7 and Neon Tribe are at No. 11.

The walk takes place during half term between the 15th and 19th of February and we will be available every day except Thursday. Come and say hi and find out what we’re all about!

The Naked Element team was up bright and early (well, early anyways) to take part in the first MyTech event in Norwich. Organised by Inspired Youth, the event aimed to bring local tech industries and interested students together for networking and advice.

After DevelopHER‘s Vickie opened the event, our director Paul was part of the first panel of employers answering questions about their career path and industry sector. After that we met with students for the rest of the morning, answering questions and giving advice where we could.

We were between DevelopHER Code Club and Develop, meeting each of the small groups of students in turn. It was interesting to hear that there was lots of interest in computer science, with many of the pupils in attendance studying it at GCSE, but many said they were not considering going to university.

The most common question we were asked over the day was if programming and coding needed specific qualifications. Our answer was ‘not as far as we’re concerned!’ An interest in code and a passion to learn is vital, as is some evidence that tech is something that fascinates you. A program you’ve written, or computer you’ve fixed, is worth much more than a high grade.

Hopefully the students we met today got something useful from the day and perhaps we’ll be seeing them on the tech scene very soon!

MD Thompson Electrical Wholesalers have two exciting positions. Both roles contribute to the overall team that makes us the successful business we are today.

MD Thompson Electrical Wholesalers Ltd – Warehouse Operative

The successful candidate will be required to work 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri) and one Saturday a month (7.30am – 11.30pm)

Working as part of the warehouse team the role will include picking orders, packing and loading for deliveries, therefore accuracy and attention to detail is essential

A full driving licence is required as some aspects of delivering/driving may be required when needed within the team.

All applications to be sent via email to Rachael@mdthompson.co.uk by the 26th February 2016.

MD Thompson Electrical Wholesalers Ltd – Lighting Showroom Assistant

The successful candidate will be expected to work 29 hours a week (preferably 10am – 3pm five days a week, but negotiable) and every Saturday morning 7.30 – 11.30am.

Previous sales experience is essential both on a face to face basis and over the phone, however knowledge of the electrical industry is preferred but not essential.

General showroom duties will include, unpacking deliveries and allocating stock. Ensuring stock is replenished within the showroom. Displaying stock to promote availability and generally maintaining the showroom to a high standard at all times.

The ability to use a computer is essential, training on internal systems will be provided.

All applications to be sent via email to Rachael@mdthompson.co.uk by the 26th February 2016.