Member News

Would Your Business Benefit From an Extra Pair of Hands?

Why Work Experience is the answer.

I’m often asked by schools and students if I can offer work experience, everything from a few days to summer long placements. At Naked Element we’ve always found the experience enjoyable and often learned as much about ourselves as the students did about our business. Bright, ambitious and free of those bad habits we all learn along the way in the world of work, work experience students can inject energy and enthusiasm into a business.

Many employers and businesses feel that they don’t have the time or resources to commit to a work experience placement, as much as they’d like to help a young person as they’re starting out, but there are in fact lots of benefits to your business that make work experience a win-win situation for both student and business. Here’s just a few:

Early access to emerging talent

Lots of employers find that work experience programmes are a great way to recruit top talent straight from schools and colleges. Extensive research by City & Guilds shows that staff taken on following work experience placement are more effective, require less training, have more respect for their supervisors and have a greater ability to work in teams. Plus, many small businesses struggle to find young people who have even the most basic work skills and taking on a work experience candidate is a great way to test their skills before you commit to them.

Fresh Ideas

In most cases your work experience candidate will be eager to learn or they wouldn’t be with you in the first place. In an effort to impress they’ll be keen to get stuck in and maybe even bring something new to the table. Perhaps your company is lacking a social media presence that your work experience candidate can address?

Today’s youth are tomorrow’s consumers

Research has shown that “the consumer power of under 16 year olds has grown faster than that of any other age group. This has led marketers to identify three roles which young people can fill for businesses as ‘current consumers; influencers and future purchasers’ (Miller, 1998, p 316).” Work experience helps businesses and brands get up close and personal with their target markets or future consumers.

And of course…

Giving Something Back

One of the biggest benefits of offering someone work experience is the chance to give someone a helping hand in the often overwhelming world of work. Businesses are placing more and more emphasis on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and work experience is a great way to do your bit in up-skilling the next generation of workers. Enjoy the feel-good factor of giving someone an opportunity they might not have otherwise had and encourage their interests in business. You never know – they could be the next Gates, Branson or Jobs…

If you’re interested in finding out more about how your business can benefit from offering work experience, get in touch with Paul paul@nakedelement.co.uk who’ll help you get in touch with top talent.

Following the success of last year’s Norfolk Developers Conference (Nor(DEV):con), which attracted an unprecedented 263 speakers, delegates and sponsors, Nor(DEV):con 2016 promises to continue the record breaking trend. Run by Norwich­based web, mobile and enterprise software services provider Naked Element, the Winter conference is in it’s fourth year and will bring together delegates and companies from across the whole professional spectrum.

The conference is a meeting of minds for business and technology experts, who’ll come together to explore the fundamental role technology plays in the East of England’s economy. Nor(DEV):con will take place from Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th of February 2016 at the King’s Centre on King Street in Norwich.

Back by popular demand, the conference will feature the dedicated business presentation stream to highlight how essential technology is for the wider business economy. The 2016 agenda is peppered with business­centric sessions (indicated by blue briefcase icons). Paul Grenyer, Nor(DEV):con organiser, said, “Once again we’re proud to lead the way with Nor(DEV):con, now in it’s fourth year. It’s all about helping the tech community to reach out to the wider business community to demonstrate how we can all work together for stronger, more efficient businesses. Norfolk continues to be tipped as one to watch in the UK’s technology sector and is already considered a centre of technical excellence. Today technology is so ingrained and intertwined with the local economy that one cannot exist without the other and Nor(DEV):con is a celebration of this.”

The content­rich conference will feature keynote speeches, workshops and talks from industry influencers, including:

• Jon Bradford, Managing Director of Techstars in London, co­founder of F6S and tech.eu, will present ‘Silicon Broad: Bridges not Valleys. Jon will talk about how tech ecosystems evolve, tie that into tech and tech startups in London and the rest of the UK, and then talk about how this relates to the Valley. Jon will wrap up the session with advice for soon­ to ­be tech startups.
• Matthew Draycott will be presenting ‘The Myth Buster…The Real Secrets to Building a Growth Business’. Matthew will discuss his philosophies for building effective high growth companies. Based on his own experience he will focus on five key tasks which he believes every owner and management team should be engaged in if they hope to build a successful, rapidly growing business.

Norwich ­based Axon Vibe will be Nor(DEV):con’s Elite sponsors. John Fagan, CTO at Axon Vibe said “We are excited to support another great local technology event and welcome any opportunity that builds on Norwich’s reputation as a Tech City. We hope we will further cement Norwich’s position on the national and international stage by choosing Norwich as the platform for launching our mobile app SoJo ­ A live view of your world globally in 2016.”

The conference features a programme packed with interactive sessions demonstrating the latest and greatest advances in technology and will give businesses a real insight into how they can use technology to add value to their own business. The popular dinner and evening wine reception gives delegates the chance to network as well as a thought provoking Q&A sessions with the speakers.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to book tickets, visit www.nordevcon.com

The full conference agenda can be found here www.nordevcon.com/agenda

­Press enquiries:

Paul Grenyer at Naked Element

01603 383 458

paul@nakedelement.co.uk

At Novagraaf, we love a Christmas puzzle, so to celebrate the holiday season, we’ve put together another of our annual IP teasers. This year, all you need to do is reorder the 26 logos into the alphabetical order of their trademarks. Get them all right and you’ll be in with a chance to win this year’s prize: a unique French designer watch!

After having to guess the correct country and brand logos in our previous holiday puzzles, this year’s teaser has an extra twist: you will need to identify and then drag and drop the logos into A to Z order before you can submit your entry.

Free prize draw: win a watch worth 145 euros Enter the 2015 Novagraaf Holiday Puzzle and you’ll be in with a chance to win a designer watch from the new French watch brand Charlie Watch, founded in Paris in spring 2014. Offering both classic and modern unisex designs, and interchangeable straps in a multitude of colours, Charlie Watch watches are assembled in the heart of Paris in the purest tradition and to the highest quality. The winner of the Holiday Puzzle can choose between three designs (the Buci, the Soma or the Union) and can also choose their preferred strap.

How does the puzzle work?

• Identify the brand associated with each logo fragment.
• Move the logos into A-Z order by clicking on the image and dragging it to a new location.
• Enter your name, email address and telephone number to enter the free prize draw.
• Once you’ve placed the logos into your chosen order, click ‘Submit’.

Don’t wait any longer and enter the 2015 Novagraaf Holiday Puzzle now!

TaxAssist Accountants has been awarded a ‘Best Franchise’ award in its category, at the Best Franchise conference and awards ceremony, which took place in Milton Keynes on the 26th November.

The awards are based on feedback from thousands of franchisees that have completed the Smith & Henderson Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark survey. The survey asks franchisees to anonymously rate their franchisor on everything from training and support to shared goals and how it has compared with their expectations.

The Top 3 franchisors from each investment category (less than £25k, £25 – £75k and £75k+ investment) were shortlisted, all having received the highest feedback compared to their peers, and were asked to present to a judging panel. The Best Franchise Awards are unique, as they are based 50% on feedback from actual franchisees and 50% on the judges’ scores.

During the conference, TaxAssist Accountants was also presented with a 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction award as TaxAssist is part of a select group of franchisors which received outstanding feedback. To get this recognition TaxAssist had to receive above average feedback in all of the key areas of the survey:

Training & Support Franchise System Culture & Relationships Stewardship & Leadership General Satisfaction

Just 15 franchisors received this award.

“Winning the Best Franchise Award is a fantastic vote of confidence from our network,” said Karl Sandall CEO of the TaxAssist Group. “We are also delighted to have received the 5-Star franchisee satisfaction rating for the third year in a row, which proves our business model and support continue to work well.”

Steve Frost, Founder of Smith & Henderson said: “5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction is only awarded to franchisors that receive better than average feedback in all the key areas of our survey. TaxAssist Accountants is part of an elite group of the UK’s best franchisors.”

Pictured above are Karl Sandall CEO of The TaxAssist Group, Jody Fiveash UK Recruitment Manager and David Paulson Senior Manager International Development.

A BIG welcome toWinsor Bishopthe latest Norfolk based business to jump on board our digital signage networks across Norfolk.Winsor Bishop are using our screens to maximise business during the busy festive period. The advertisement can be seen on our ‘Domination Circuit’ – comprising of both the gym screens and the new screen viewable to the public, located at Riverside. Switched on 24/7 the domination screen increases the audience we reach in excess of 350,000+ additional consumers a week.

Working alongsideBlanc Creativewe went with some Christmas cheer, creating a fun and festive advertisement. The video footage starts with the opening of the shop door, beginning the wonderful shopping experience. As the frames continue throughout the advertisement, the footage reveals the treasures that can be found inside to give viewers an interactive advertising experience. The companies branding remains static throughout, including contact details and the website address. The ad finishes off with the warming message: “…where Christmas Fairytales Begin”.

Winsor Bishop was first established in 1834 and has been situated at its present site for 180 years. Renowned for the finest watch portfolio in East Anglia, Winsor Bishop continually strives to bring the very best brands and some of the most exclusive timepieces to Norfolk, includingROLEX,Patek Philippe & Co.,Breitling,Officine Panerai,TAG Heuer,OMEGA Watches,Bremont WatchesandLONGINES. Based in Norwich, their jewellery offering is one of the most complete in the region providing engagement rings, eternity rings, pearls, precious stones, costume jewellery, vintage jewellery, diamond stud earrings, diamond pendants and diamond necklaces. Winsor Bishop also house popular brands such asMIKIMOTO,Georg Jensenand Schoeffel.

Delta-Simons are now able to complete works under the Bat Low Impact Class Licence (BLICL) after Unit EcologyManager, Charlotte Sanderson, recently qualified as a registered BLICL consultant, one of 120 suitably experienced ecologists in the UK that are certified to offer the service. The BLICL aims to reduce the administrative burden on Natural England when assessing and issuing European Protected Species Mitigation Licences (EPSML), where development works are proposed to impact bat roosts of low conservation significance.

As part of Natural England’s earned recognition project in collaboration with the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), the Bat Low Impact Class Licence permits works that have an impact on roosts of low conservation significance occupied by a small number of bats of common species. As an example, this could apply to a commercial building where a day roost of a couple of common pipistrelle bats has been found.

Launched at the beginning of April 2015, the BLICL offers a much efficient and proportional approach to licensing for sites that meet the criteria:

Faster processing of licence applications: 10 working days as opposed to 30 working days;

Reduced burden for clients affected by delays to works and increased costs;

Robust legal approach: not requiring completion of Reasoned Statement, however necessary planning permissions must still be in place.

The Bat Low Impact Class Licence still requires full surveys to be carried out to determine the bat species as well as the type of roost present, so contact us to discuss whether a Low Impact Bat Class Licence is appropriate for a site under consideration.

View all Delta-Simons ecology services.

Contact: Charlotte Sanderson, Unit Ecology Manager

Photo: Common pipistrelle

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner is calling on the business community to play their part in keeping the county safe by breaking down barriers to employment for ex-offenders.

PCC Stephen Bett is asking 100 organisations to pledge to offer a new opportunity to someone with a criminal conviction, with the aim of getting those individuals into long-term employment.

“Repeat offenders are responsible for a significant amount of the crime we have in Norfolk,” Stephen said. “We know that having a job can reduce the likelihood someone will go on to reoffend. But for many, the difficulty they face in finding employment can be a huge barrier to leaving their offending past behind them.”

The PCC brought 50 business representatives from all over Norfolk together at The Great Hospital to enlist their support for the Gateway to Employment campaign, launched in partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions.

Launching the campaign, Stephen said: “75% of employers will use the declaration of a criminal record to discriminate against a job applicant. Yet many of them have a skills shortage and would benefit from an increased pool of suitable candidates from which to recruit.

“There are 10 million people in the UK with a criminal record. Many of these people could be dedicated, trained and reliable workers. They just need to be given the opportunity to prove themselves.

“We are asking our business community to show their support for Gateway to Employment by pledging to offer a new opportunity to someone with a criminal conviction. That could be an apprenticeship or work experience, or a training, mentoring or job opportunity.”

Among those already supporting the campaign are Chloe Smith MP, Clive Lewis MP, Richard Bacon MP and Will Styles and Steve Rodford, governors of Norwich and Wayland Prisons respectively. Gateway to Employment is also being backed by Sam Delcoure from Norse and Davina Tanner who set up Norwich’s Britannia Café – providing work experience and skills training for serving prisoners.

“There is a compelling business case in helping ex-offenders to turn their lives around by finding employment”, Stephen added. “The opportunities, skills and hope our businesses provide for people with convictions can help break the cycle of offending, which means fewer victims and less cost to public purse of the revolving prison door.

“If businesses support this campaign and offer the tools needed to secure a job for the future, in return, they’ll get a wealth of ability, loyalty and hard work.”

More information on Gateway to Employment can be found at www.gtoe.co.uk

A Norfolk PR, marketing and design agency is celebrating two clients winning Business of the Year awards on the same night in two counties.

EPIC International and Ivy House Country Hotel, both clients of Great Yarmouth-based TMS Media, each won the overall trophy at their respective award ceremonies in Norfolk and Suffolk.

EPIC International, an offshore engineering company that employs up to 100 people from its Great Yarmouth base, was named Business of the Year in the EnterpriseGY Spirit of Enterprise Awards at Great Yarmouth Town Hall last Friday.

Across the border in Suffolk at the same time, Ivy House Country Hotel was named Business of the Year in the Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce Awards, at the gala event hosted by the Oulton Broad hotel in its new Ivy Hall function room.

Earlier in the evening, EPIC International, set up 15 years ago by managing director Dave Rowan, had also scooped the Spirit of Enterprise Great Engineering/Manufacturing Business and Great New Business Idea awards.

Meanwhile, Ivy House Country Hotel was presented with the chamber’s Business Investment Award for the £1.6m injected into refurbishing the 20-bedroom hotel, building Ivy Hall and Eve’s Bar by owner biochemist and entrepreneur Dr Adrian Parton MBE.

Ivy House was also among the three finalists in the EDP Visit Norfoolk Tourism Awards on November 26, awarded highly-commended.

TMS Media managing director Steve Scott said targeted award entries was an important element of the companies’ PR strategies to shape and raise profiles of both businesses in their communities and respective industries.

“EPIC and Ivy House are two very different businesses operating in very separate arenas, both with impressive achievements, which we believed the community and their industries should know about.

“We have been working closely with them to shape media coverage for their projects, business values and ambitions as well as seeking out other PR opportunities. Community and industry awards are an increasingly important part of the PR mix.”

“We are delighted that their efforts were recognised concurrently on the same night, even though it presented some logistical difficulties!”

TMS Media has worked with regional, national and international businesses for 26 years, offering PR, design, website development and exhibitions and event design and construction.

Ivy House Country Hotel is also a one of three finalists in the Best Independent Hotel category of the EDP Tourism awards.

Another TMS client, Britannia Fire, the UK’s last remaining fire extinguisher manufacturer, was among the three finalists in the EDP Business Awards Business Development category.

“Award entry writing is a new work steam for us. That independent judges spotted the excellence in our clients gives us great satisfaction.”

TMS Media clients include the East of England Energy Group, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, the East of England Energy Zone, the Pier Hotel, Gorleston; OrbisEnergy and Great Yarmouth Tourism.

In what has been a year of unprecedented growth for leading accountancy practice Aston Shaw, the firm are pleased to announce the acquisition of a local tax practice ownedbyRichardHarris after he retires on 1st December 2015. This deal marks the second practice acquisition in under 6 months for the firm, continuing Aston Shaw’s ever growing presence in the East Anglian region.

Richard Harris is a seasoned tax advisor with a notable background as an HMRC Inspector, tax lecturer, in-house trainer and tax manager for some of the UKs most high profile firms such as PWC, KPMG,BDO & Grant Thornton, before setting up his own tax practice in 1994. The Norwich based practice boasts an impressive 350 strong client base and offers a full range of specialist tax related services to both individuals and SMEs in Norfolk.

Commenting on the transaction, Richard Harris said: “The practice has been a big part of my life for more than 20 years. I am delighted to have found a successor with such an enviable reputation for expert technical tax advice, that is ideally placed to continue to consult and implement intricate tax strategies for my clients.”

Mark Noakes, Director of Aston Shaw added: “The acquisition is a strategic move for us, taking advantage of the improving economic climate within the region and driving forward our plans for continued sustainable growth. The deal complements Aston Shaw’s core assurance, advisory and tax capabilities – we work closely with clients to create and maintain an optimal tax position that is of benefit to them and their business.”

This is the latest in a series of moves to drive expansion of the 6 office regional firm – with even more developments in the pipeline before the end of the year.

The Chancellor’s Spending Review has delivered a huge boost for business as Norwich Research Park is named as an Enterprise Zone site.

Currently home to over 12,000 people and more than 40 businesses, the development will allow the thriving science and technology Park to further develop by enabling businesses to tap into a wide range of benefits, including business rate discounts and simplified planning processes.

Focusing on supporting more spin out businesses in the food, health, IT and plant science sectors, Norwich Research Park is one of ten innovative locations named in the Autumn Statement this week which will make up the new Norfolk and Suffolk Enterprise Zone.

Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, chief executive officer, Norwich Research Park said: “This is tremendous news for the region. Enterprise Zones are internationally recognised as areas which support businesses by offering tangible assistance such improved access to superfast broadband and reduced business rates.

“Enterprise Zone status will enable us to build upon our existing foundations and further strengthen our position as a leading destination for innovative businesses.”

John Fuller, Leader of South Norfolk Council, the district authority in which the 25-hectare Enterprise Zone site is located.

“The work done at Norwich Research Park leads the world in addressing the challenges facing humanity in food, health, energy, the environment and genetics.The Enterprise Zone status will help turn this basic research into products that people at home and abroad want to buy to generate jobs and wealth for Norwich & Norfolk,” he said.

The combined bid for one of the Government’s prestigious new Enterprise Zone sites for Norfolk and Suffolk was co-ordinated by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and local authority partners.

Its chairman, Mark Pendlington, said: “This is fantastic news for companies locally, nationally and internationally looking to capitalise on the expertise of the East – from world-class food and health research, our thriving all-energy sector and innovation in ICT and digital – this zone will be a magnet for inward investment, help create thousands of jobs and drive our productivity.”

Norwich Research Partners LLP was formed in 2012 and has outline planning permission for over 160,000 sq m of research, health and ancillary buildings. A partnership between theUniversity of East Anglia, theNorfolk and Norwich University Hospital and four independent world-renowned research institutes – the John Innes Centre,Institute of Food Research,The Genome Analysis Centre andThe Sainsbury Laboratorylinked to theGatsby Charitable Foundation. The John Innes Foundation and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council are also partners.

Peter Lawrence from Human Capital Department shared his views on the impact of low oil price on HR strategies with a panel of experts.

The OPEN Venue on Bank Plain in Norwich are establishing a comedy clubwith the first event taking place next Februaryand looking for a sponsor.

If you would like to have your organisation name associated with the Comedy Bank at OPEN, please give either Peter Marron, Venue Development Manager or Hayley Gerrard Marketing Manager a call on 01603 763111.