Member News

The National Franchise Exhibition is one of the largest franchise events in the UK franchise calendar each year. The exhibitors include a range of franchise companies from a wide variety of different industries together with franchise specialist consultants and legal and financial franchise experts. The National Franchise Exhibition is exclusively supported by the British Franchise Association (bfa).

Leathes Prior’s dedicated Franchising Team will be at Stand L150 over the course of the two-day exhibition and will be providing advice on the legalities of franchising. Ed Savory, partner and head of the Franchising Team, will also be giving a seminar on ‘What to Consider When Choosing a Franchise’ on Saturday 4 October at 10.30am.

If you are considering franchising your business and would like to talk to a member of our Franchising Team, please contact us on 01603 610911 or visit us at the Exhibition on Stand L150.

If you would like more information about the upcoming National Franchise Exhibition, including free advance tickets, please visit the Franchise Info website www.franchiseinfo.co.uk

September has arrived. As children start a new school year, many offices come alive once again with employees making plans for the next quarter.

As we get back into the swing of things, filling our diaries with meetings and new projects, it is essential not to neglect our wellbeing. Why? Because our health underpins everything we do. Your mental, emotional and physical fitness is key to building your career, and positive wellbeing is connected to good business.

So, if you want to be a success at work, you need to make sure that you are staying on top form. And with around 170 million working days lost every year through ill health, you can also keep your sick leave to a minimum, maintaining an excellent attendance record.

Leading East of England recruitment consultancy firm, Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), often advises job seekers and workers on the importance of wellbeing for professional performance. Grab your notebook and jot down some of Pure’s tips on keeping your wellbeing wonderful:

1. One o’clock workout Use your lunch hour to improve your fitness and work away any stress you may have built up during the morning. It is very easy to stay at your desk, but taking a break can actually boost your productivity. Try Zumba, yoga or speed-walking – whatever you opt for, make the most of your break and recharge your batteries for the afternoon ahead.

2. Nip worries in the bud Personal worries can impact how well you do at work. If you are going through a tough time, you could benefit from talking to a counsellor. Your employer may already offer free counselling, if not, look for a professional who is qualified to help. Sharing your problems can help free up your mental energy so you can fully focus on work and home life again.

3. Make posture your priority If you are suffering from back issues, shoulder problems or headaches, you may need to look at how you sit at your desk. It is very easy to unintentionally get into bad habits; slouching, cradling the phone handset between your chin and shoulder, or looking down on your computer screen can all impact your health. Your HR team should be able to look at your desk set-up, or they may even invite an expert into the office to help you manage chronic problems.

4. Request flexible working In June this year all workers were given the right to request flexible working from their employer. It is not guaranteed that you will get it, but it is always worth asking. Being able to flex your hours, or work from home and other locations can work wonders for your wellbeing. Whether it is the simple change of scenery or the comfort of working in your own living room, it can help lessen stress levels and it can even encourage more creative thinking.

5. Be selective with snacks Since food plays a huge role in our health, boosting your nutrition can only support your performance at work. Certain foods can boost concentration levels and help you stay alert for longer. So, avoid sugar-laden treats and caffeine that can cause sugar crashes and lead to fatigue, and opt for tasty, wholesome options instead. Top tip: stock up each week so you do not run out (and give in to the temptation of the vending machine)!

6. Take on a pro bono project Does your workplace have a charity partner? Are there any opportunities to support the organisation’s work? These days many businesses offer free expert advice to not-for-profits, so enquire with your manager about opportunities. Giving something back is immensely rewarding and it gives you a welcome break from the daily routine.

About Pure Resourcing Solutions Founded in 2002, Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure) is a leading and innovative recruitment consultancy firm in the East of England. Employing more than 65 staff across four regional offices in Cambridge (head office), Ipswich, Norwich and Chelmsford, Pure offers clients and candidates recruitment services that go above and beyond the industry norm.

Growing from a specialist accountancy recruitment business, Pure now provides temporary and permanent recruitment services for accountancy, executive, financial services, human resources, marketing and professional office support, and from September 2014, IT. Pure provides services such as assessment centres, proficiency testing, psychometric testing, training, salary benchmarking and coaching. Not only that, but the firm runs business seminars and workshops for clients throughout the year, and is very active in charity support.

From major FTSE 100 corporates, regional companies and SMEs, to charities and public sector bodies, many clients have made Pure its recruitment consultancy of choice. Find out more: www.prs.uk.com.

Pure’s Initiatives • Compare My Salary, the UK’s first ever live, peer-to-peer salary comparison website. • Women’s Leadership Programme is unique, offering aspiring female professionals a wonderful opportunity to develop their careers using a dual approach. Participants learn new skills, and are also supported by senior sponsors, who usually come from the delegates’ own organisations. • Best Employer initiative is run by Pure and eras ltd. It promotes employee engagement and identifies the region’s best employers with a survey, awards, seminars and a festival.

If you would like to find out more, contact Anna Hill, Pure’s Marketing Manager, for more information: anna.hill@prs.uk.com or 01223 209888.

Brent Council did. UEA graduate Leeana Pitt contacted UEA’s Research and Enterprise Services to help with a customer service training need in 2013.

Leanna was put in touch with *Cast, UEA’s role-play services company, who were asked to deliver a series of 22 role-play sessions aimed at improving the communication skills of Brent’s social workers.

The resultant training was such a resounding success that Brent Council saw an increase in ‘excellent’ customer experiences from 58 to 73 per cent with no poor customer experiences recorded at all after the sessions.

The Customer Service training, which received consistently positive feedback from the delegates, was based on a review of the current performance of a group of 200 social workers, care assessors and contact agents. The review highlighted the need for a more reflective social care practice when communicating with customers, and the importance of a diverse ability to adapt communication styles depending on the needs, age, and culture of the client.

*Cast works with businesses to deliver communication, presentation and customer service skills training by providing realistic, simulated customer-service environments. The commercial company, led by Val Taylor of UEA’s School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, employs students, graduates and professional actors to perform scripted role-play scenarios built around each company’s specific needs.

“Cast were professional, flexible and co-operative to work with. They delivered an excellent quality of service and talented actors, who worked hard to meet our specific requirements to ensure the sessions were as successful as possible.” Leeana Pitt, Team Manager, Brent Council.

*Cast is just one area where UEA has been able to help an organisation find a business solution, to find out how we can help you, contact business@uea.ac.uk, or +44 (0)1603 591578 or visit our website.

The University of East Anglia (UEA) has leapt to 14th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015, its highest ever position in this well-respected league table.

According to the guide: “The University of East Anglia is seldom outside the top 10 in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide analysis of the National Student Survey (NSS) – and this year is no exception, ranking fifth in the UK for student satisfaction. Its 15,000 students appear to like the scale of this relatively small campus university, as well as the quality of its courses and the accessibility of staff.”

The guide also highlighted the university’s world-leading Creative Writing programme, its fast-developing health studies schools, and UEA’s sharpened focus on employability with a strategy that promotes the development of the academic and wider skills that employers demand through the curriculum.

Vice-Chancellor Prof David Richardson said: “It is extremely pleasing to see the hard work of staff and students recognised with this tremendous result.

“Over the past few years we have firmly established UEA in the top 20 of UK universities and we will continue that upward trajectory. Delivering a first class student experience, combined with internationally-renowned research and teaching, is key to our high position in the league tables, and I look forward to our continued success in the years to come.”

The results are the latest league table success for UEA, following a climb to 14th in the Guardian League Table, 15th in the Complete University Guide and a second year in the top 3 of the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey.

This is the second year that the Sunday Times and Times have published combined league tables.

www.uea.ac.uk

As more and more organisations are relying heavily on technology, we at Pure think it’s great that increasing numbers of IT professionals are climbing the ladder to senior jobs. And let’s face it – we all need these masters of tech to make sure our workplaces tick over nicely!

The days of IT experts being recruited just for their niche skillset are fast becoming history. For example, in the USA organisations are recruiting more tech-savvy people into top roles so they can have more input into high-level decisions.

As we launch our new IT recruitment division (you should check out the fantastic IT Manager job in Ipswich, by the way), we’re feeling positive about technologists’ careers. In fact, we think they can bring huge benefits to organisations when they’re one of the head honchos! So, this week, we’re looking at how these very talented people can influence the success of your workplace.

1. Keeping you safe from harm Digital technology is key to our economy but, unfortunately, threats from cyberspace have become a serious issue. Whether it’s hacking into databases to source confidential information, or to simply cause glitches, having an IT security expert at the top can help protect an organisation from serious damage.

2. Networking know-how Whether it’s email, video calls or file sharing, sending and receiving information over digital networks is now the norm. With workplace communications becoming more ‘techy’, having someone at the top who understands the complexities is enormously helpful. Of course, it’s not just about trouble-shooting. A chief with tech knowledge could also have a deeper understanding of how and why networks need to constantly improve to keep up with the fast-paced changes of industry.

3. Making sensible investments It’s no fun working with an unreliable internet connection when superfast broadband could boost productivity! That’s why it’s great to have an IT guru at senior level, who’s able to input into big spending decisions on new technology. It can be a long-term investment, so a senior specialist can use budget wisely, based on their knowledge of the market, and what works for the organisation.

4. IT acumen is good for custom Getting technology right isn’t just about how your people work – it also influences your customers’ experiences. And since everyone’s much more tech-savvy nowadays, it’s an important issue that IT workers need to consider. They know that out-of-date systems can impact an organisation’s efficiency and the customer experience. Having a senior-level IT pro’ on the board could improve how you engage with your customers, and possibly lead to more business!

5. Handling ‘Big Data’ If you’re in IT or marketing, you’ve probably come across this industry buzzword a lot recently. Basically, ‘Big Data’ is huge amounts of complex data (e.g. customer details, social media, website statistics) that traditional databases struggle to process and store safely. And since data informs how we approach business, it needs to be handled very carefully, and employees need to be able to get to it easily.

This is now a huge challenge for organisations of all kinds, and it’s fast becoming clear that IT experts in strategic, decision-making roles can help tackle the problem.

This is just a short list of the ways IT experts can boost business if they’re in top jobs. After all, it’s good for them, their organisations and our economy.

Find your very own tech guru today! Contact Pure’s Associate Director, Scott Woodrow on 07879 841 906 or email: scott@prs.uk.com, who takes care of IT jobs in the East of England.

Bringing the past to life with our colourful selectionof 2015 vintage & retro calendars. Each one features classic 20th century advertising images from The History of Advertising Trusts amazing archives.

Click the below link for details

www.hatads.org.uk/news/91/2015-calendars-now-on-sale

Following on from our auction of a rather unique piece of memorabilia signed by Brian Blessed, Norfolk at the Pictures was also selected to be our July Charity for our monthly #ESECharityDay.

Receiving 5% of our online profits on the last Friday of July the charity was presented with a cheque for £420.00, Marc Atkinson was kind enough to give us a tour of the cinema whilst he told us what the money raised will be used for.

The project aims to collect and preserve memories of cinema going in Norfolk as well as offering an educational aspect, both to schools and the general public. The funds will be used to renovate part of the building offering better facilities including a lift offering much improved disability access to their premises.

You can keep up to date with the charity by reading their blog,or following them on twitter and facebook.

SaxonAir once again host the Royal Air Force Red Arrows this year, one of the world’s premier aerobatic teams. The team are renowned throughout the world, acting as ambassadors of Great Britain.

The Reds visited us at our Business Aviation Centre at Norwich Airport on Friday 22nd August, SaxonAir always look forward to hosting the team at the airport and were especially privileged to be a part of their ongoing celebration for their 50th display season.

This year the Reds mark their 50th Anniversary of display seasons from their first in 1965. A number of activities are planned in the coming months to highlight this milestone occasion and the Team hope people will join in and share the celebration. It is an opportunity for the Red Arrows to thank supporters from both the United Kingdom and overseas for their continued, and valued, interest in the Team.

Use #Reds50 on Twitter to keep up-to-date with all of the news on the 50th display season and follow the Team @rafredarrows or like RAF Red Arrows on Facebook.

https://www.mustardtv.co.uk/browse/flying-visit-red-arrows-thrill-crowds-at-norwich-pit-stop/

The new website for the Ormiston Families “Walk with a Fork” charity event is now live at www.walkwithafork.org. When we saw the name of the event and were then asked if we would design the website for it, we knew we simply couldn’t refuse!

Ormiston Families is a very worthy local charity helping children throughout East Anglia and do lots of great work in Norfolk. Like most charities they rely on donations to keep going and this event is a great idea if you love walking and love food. The idea is you walk 8 miles sampling food from local food and drink suppliers along the way. The Norfolk “Walk with a Fork” takes place on Sunday 5th October at Sennowe Park, see you there!

Bigfork – we make websites stand out

t:01603 513080www.bigfork.co.uk

Aston Shaw are proud to announce that they are sponsoring the Wymondham Falcons U8 team for their forthcoming season. The youth side play their home fixtures at Kett’s Park, which is located in Wymondham adjacent to the police headquarters. The sponsorship will see the Aston Shaw logo emblazoned upon the Falcon’s kits.

Dominic Shaw, Director of Aston Shaw commented: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Wymondham Falcons and show our support for the local community. There are a lot of people here who are incredibly passionate about young people being involved in sports and this was a fantastic way for us to demonstrate that”.

Aston Shaw are an independent chartered accountancy firm offering a comprehensive range of accountancy and business services, with 5 offices located throughout East Anglia.

The Falcons begin their campaign on Saturday 13th September, the team fully rested after the international break. Aston Shaw wishes the Falcons the best of luck for the season and will look forward to hearing how they are getting on, home and away.

For more information about Aston Shaw click here.

When British paintbrush manufacturer Hamilton was asked to challenge category thinking in the decorating tools sector, they called us for our expertise. We designed and presented brand concepts for two new ranges of paintbrushes, rollers and decorating tools for leading DIY retailer B&Q.

We understood that Hamilton didn’t want a product that was everything to everyone, and with the end user in mind, we created two brands with their own distinct identities.

Vantage was devised with a premium look and feel, for the experienced decorator focused on quality of the finish. Easy was designed to be approachable and familiar, offering reassurance to the growing number of female DIY enthusiasts.

All products were packaged with their own new identity, supported by the Hamilton brand, giving consumers instant confidence in the quality and heritage of the products.

We quite literally stood category thinking on its head when we rotated the paintbrushes to hang from the handle, challenging the sector’s approach and the limitations of the packaging.

Research showed that most consumers want to feel the paintbrushes, in particular the bristles, to determine the quality of the product, so we were careful to leave the bristles free when we designed the packaging.

Research showed that most consumers want to feel the paintbrushes, in particular the bristles, to determine the quality of the product, so we were careful to leave the bristles free when we designed the packaging.

There is no escaping social media, but it’s not just about sharing memes or funny cat videos! It is commonly used by many individuals and organisations in numerous different areas of working life: from advertising new jobs and networking with peers, to communicating directly with customers. Whether you have accounts with LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, as an employer you also have these fantastic tools at your disposal to engage with employees. People want to feel valued and that they are contributing to a broader vision – social media provides the perfect channel to help make this happen.

These digital platforms have become key to building relationships, but, as with other employee engagement methods, you still need a strategy. And, importantly, you need to stay involved since your employees expect you to not only post, but to also use social media for two-way communication. This makes it a true engagement tool.

Take a look at some of our ideas for enhancing employee engagement through the power of social media.

1. Tweet about your events To build excitement for your events, promote them on Twitter. For instance, if you’re taking part in an industry conference, ask your staff to get involved and retweet your updates. Also, Christmas preparations, fundraising and other fun activities create a perfect excuse for showing your followers what goes on ‘behind the scenes’, promoting transparency. If you have guidelines for staff to use your organisation’s Twitter account, they can also participate. But make sure all content is approved before it goes public!

2. LinkedIn job profiles Ask staff to contribute to your organisation’s LinkedIn page by writing a short paragraph about their job, how they got it and what advice they’d give to someone else looking for a similar role. Although some may be camera shy, most people are probably happy to help (after all it’ll also help raise their own professional profile).

3. Make staff your star bloggers Ask staff to contribute to your blog and to comment on others’ posts. Having articles written by a diversity of people at various levels of seniority also paints a picture of your organisation’s culture for the outside world. Encourage people to come up with ideas for the blog (e.g. A typical day in their job, comment on industry news, a project they’ve just completed). Why not run an awards scheme of ‘Star Bloggers’ to add an extra incentive?

4. Promote your PR Share the glory of any media coverage you get to encourage feelings of pride among everyone. There’s a chance your workers will share the link on social media, causing it to reach beyond your organisation’s walls. If you have video or images, that’s even better; this kind of social content is ideal for engaging people.

5. Collaborate on Facebook Setting up a closed Facebook Group can give a project team a private online space where they can discuss ideas and share information – from graphics to film. This is ideal for people based at different sites who need to exchange information frequently. Enabling people to collaborate using an innovative tool like Facebook supports them in their work, while giving it a feeling of informality, which is great for co-working.

Although the challenge is to stay on top of activity and constantly generate ideas, if you think ahead and tie it in with your business plans, you should find social media very a rewarding route to engaging your people.

We’d love to hear from you if you’re already using social media for engagement! Send your story to Anna Hill, Pure’s Marketing Manager: anna.hill@prs.uk.com.