Member News

A-level students with a head for figures are being urged to opt for work-based training in accountancy rather than going to university.

“You get paid while you’re learning the profession and you’ll be qualified a year earlier than someone who’s gained a degree. It just makes complete sense,” said James Shipp, partner in charge of the Great Yarmouth office of BDO accountants and business advisers.

“Perhaps more importantly, you won’t be saddled with a student loan debt of £30,000 or more,” he said.

BDO is looking to appoint up to five A-level students this year to enrol on its award winning School Leavers Programme and work at its offices in Yarmouth and Norwich.

“We’ve often struggled to attract young people who have just finished their A-levels because most of them appear to see a university degree as the only route into the profession. We still recruit a large number of graduates each year and whilst BDO’s graduate training programme is a fantastic option for graduates it is by no means the only way into the profession.

“By joining a firm like BDO after sixth form they can be qualified in five years, compared with six years for someone who has gone through university,” said Mr Shipp, who himself joined a Norwich accountancy firm after A-levels and at the age of 36 now runs BDO’s Yarmouth office.

He said accountancy wasn’t just about maths and number crunching. Students had to have an interest in business, commerce and the wider economy. They should also be confident and have good people skills, as much of their work would involve meeting clients face-to-face and advising them on how to develop their businesses.

Dominic Smith, 20, from Cantley, joined BDO nearly two years ago after completing A-levels at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Gorleston. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I started college but I became really interested in accounting and eventually realised it would be a great career for me,” he said.

“I thought going to university would be a waste of time as I could learn on a training programme and save myself the massive burden of a student loan. It just seemed like a no-brainer and I’d advise anyone to consider this route. It’s a really interesting and rewarding profession. BDO provides plenty of support and have made me feel part of the team from day one.”

BDO’s School Leaver Programme enables trainees to earn a salary while they are learning and this increases as they progress through the scheme. They learn from experts in their field, working on real business projects from the start. The programme offers school leavers the opportunity to work across a broad range of clients and sectors, progressing towards a professional qualification with either the ICAEW or ACCA.

Sam Grimmer, aged 21, of Carlton Colville, who is based at BDO’s Norwich office, said, “I had applied for a university place and been accepted but then I read about the School Leaver Programme on the website. It seemed a good alternative as you finish up with the same accountancy qualifications as someone joining from university. Plus, you would have three years good experience under your belt.” Sam is a former student of the Sir John Leman High School, Beccles.

Ends

Issued for BDO by TMS Media. For further information please contact: James Shipp at BDO on 01493 382531 or james.shipp@bdo.co.uk Steve Scott at TMS on 01493 662929 or steve.scott@tms-media.co.uk

Leading offshore safety training provider Falck Safety Services (Falck) has joined forces with aviation provider SaxonAir in Norwich to offer helicopter safety training to correspond with new offshore regulations.

Falck, which is based in Aberdeen and Teesside, will provide specialist safety courses at SaxonAir’s Business Aviation Centre Headquarters at Norwich International Airport ahead of new UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) helicopter regulations, introducing Category A Emergency Breathing Systems (EBS).

The new EBS equipment was recently approved by the UK CAA as part of a series of measures to increase the safety of offshore helicopters. The new course and equipment are now an industry requirement due to the updated guidelines which come into force on 1 September 2014, and stipulate passengers will not be allowed to sit on the inside seats of a helicopter travelling to and from offshore installations without EBS. From 1 January next year, all passengers will be required to wear the device.

Colin Leyden, managing director for Falck said: “The latest UKCAA safety requirements for offshore helicopter transportation are an important step forward. Falck has been closely involved with the process surrounding the EBS system development, with rigorous training and testing carried out ahead of launching the course.”

“The training at Norwich will ensure that companies comply with the new regulations, putting the safety of offshore workers at the forefront of their operations. Our partnership with SaxonAir in Norwich will allow us to deliver seamless and quality training to individuals based or living in the East Anglian region.”

Falck Safety Services, which delivers realistic training in a safe and controlled environment using state-of-the-art industry standards, has recently invested more than £3.5m in its UK training facilities. The firm, which has 32 training centres across the world, has strong industry expertise servicing the global oil and gas, shipping, renewable energy, military and aviation industries, and last year trained over 340,000 people.

SaxonAir’s £6.5m Business Aviation Centre is strategically located to serve the Southern North Sea energy sector and currently handles over 50,000 offshore passengers and 700 tonnes of freight movements per year.

The dedication of long-serving staff at Great Yarmouth-based lifeboat capsule company Survival Systems International UK (SSI) has prompted managers to introduce a new reward scheme for loyalty.

“We were increasingly aware of the large number of employees who have devoted much of their working life to us and thought it was time we did something to recognise it,” said George Teece, SSI’s vice-president Eastern Hemisphere operations.

Depending on length of service, the lucky employees will be awarded vouchers worth from £250 to £1500. They will also have holidays extended.

“its encouragement for them and also an incentive for new people joining us,” said Mr Teece. ” We work a lot with the oil & gas industry where everyone seems to be on the move and we want to show our appreciation at the support we get from our team.

“Loyalty payments used to be quite common but are seen less often now. So, in days where skills and expertise are in short supply we are grateful to those who give us all that experience,” said Mr Teece, himself a long-serving member of SSI.

The rewards will be handed out as employees reach a key milestone in their length of service.

Working alongside its American owners, SSI manufactures, maintains and inspects lifeboats to meet demanding emergency evacuation requirements for cruise liners, offshore installations and the shipping industry.

ASTON SHAW MERGES WITH MORGAN WOODS

East Anglia, August, 2014: Long established leading accountancy firm, Aston Shaw and fast growing newcomer Morgan Woods have joined forces; bringing together more than 50 years of experience in servicing individuals and businesses both big and small across East Anglia. The merger, which is taking place in August 2014, will create an exciting new entity, operating from 5 offices (Norwich, Ipswich, Cambridge, Dereham and Great Yarmouth) and employing 70 staff. Jointly heading up the newly combined firm will be Mark Noakes (former Managing Director of Morgan Woods) and Dominic Shaw (former Director of Aston Shaw).

Under the terms of the deal, the new firm will maintain the name of Aston Shaw. However the service offering will represent the combined range of specialisms and capabilities from both firms – a comprehensive selection of accounting, audit and tax advisory services; along with targeted strategic business guidance and support. A key motive behind this venture is to amalgamate the traditional expertise and experience of Aston Shaw, with the innovative and modern practices embraced by Morgan Woods – ultimately resulting in the provision of a more efficient and comprehensive service for both individuals and businesses operating in the modern business environment.

The changing nature of the industry has been one of the main driving forces behind the merger and both firms are among the few that have been able to retain value, despite the economic climate. The union plays an important role in the firm’s expansion strategy, enabling the impressive growth rate experienced over the last year to continue. Through economies of scale as well as the exchange and consolidation of expertise and resources – the quality and efficiency of service can be optimised. The new firm’s geographic footprint will also offer clients more accessibility to services and personnel.

Mark Noakes, Managing Director of Morgan Woods comments: “The real beneficiaries of this merger will be the clients, who will profit from the strengthening and expansion of the new firm’s capabilities. I am very excited to be leading the next chapter for what are already two impressive accountancy practices and creating a dynamic new model for our current and future clients.”

Dominic Shaw, Director of Aston Shaw comments: “It is a bold and an exciting move forward for both Aston Shaw and Morgan Woods. Our combined expertise will make the amalgamated firm well equipped to provide companies and individuals with the highest level of service. We extend a warm welcome to the clients and staff of Morgan Woods as they join us.”

The announcement of the merger comes at a time when the accountancy market is entering a period of rapid growth after the economic downturn back in 2008. Based on last year’s UK market report published by Key Note, it is estimated that between 2013 and 2017 the market for accountancy services will grow by nearly 20% and it would seem that Aston Shaw is ahead of the curve. It is expected to take 3 months to complete the merger process; however business will continue as normal during the transition period.

Launch Event: To launch the newly merged and re-branded firm, Aston Shaw will be holding an ‘Open Week’ at each of the five offices commencing Monday 11th August. During this week, existing clients are encouraged to pop in to see our new brand and to discuss any queries regarding this exciting step forward.

For more information please contact:

Natasha Carr Marketing Manager Aston Shaw Email: natasha.carr@astonshaw.co.uk Telephone: 01603 616300

We are delighted to announce that Metalfrog Studios Limited of Horsham St Faith, Norwich is celebrating its 7th birthday today. As a total digital marketing agency, Metalfrog Studios is a business which offers a complete service to help you improve your marketing online.

With humble beginnings (located at Drayton Old Lodge, Norwich, in a single office back in 2007) Metalfrog Studios Limited now has a wide-ranging variety of clients which enjoy a combination of services which include web design, web development, search engine marketing, social media management, email marketing and digital design and logo creation.

The business continues to thrive and has survived through successive recessions – without any external funding. It now supports a dedicated team of 14 personnel. These team members are not only knowledgeable in multiple aspects of the business, but they are hand-picked to work at Metalfrog because they also exude commercial awareness and an appreciation that our clients are paramount to our continued success. They also empathize with clients who necessarily have not had previously good relationships with their marketing partner.

Although some people have left the business, the management team is more or less as it was at the beginning. This means our marketing messages have never wavered, our customer service has improved, and our attention to our clients remains focused and strong.

Although not perfect, our buzzword at The Pad is Improve.

We always try to improve as individuals (all the way through the team, both in personal development and in the way we deliver our part of a project to our client). Equally, we improve our technologies and practices for creating strong, powerful and unique messages for our clients’ and their clients. We improve our responses, our support mechanisms and the way the business improves in general. We take nothing for granted in our business.

We look forward to working with you for the next 7 years and we welcome all comments.

We are constantly growing which means we always have capacity for new business. If you are interested in finding out how we could make a positive difference to your business, why not get in touch by calling us on 01603 861830, checkout our website – https://www.metalfrog.co.uk or email us: ideas@metalfrog.co.uk

Find out why we really are an agency with a difference!

Yes indeed the Health and Safety at Work act is 40 years old on the 31st July!

But what has it achieved I hear you ask?

Much of the press around Health and Safety relates to the ‘Nanny State’, its Boring, it’s a waste of time, the compensation culture etc etc

But let us reflect on the facts below….. (facts provided by the HSE, opinion by me Sarah Daniels Chartered Practitioner)

148 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.5 fatalities per 100 000 workers- this has been coming down steadily over the last 40 years; from 1974 to 2013 by 85 % to be exact; something to be really proud of; how many of you remember the Olympics – the Health and Safety legacy was that no one died in the construction of the games; a huge step forward and a pat on the back for Team GB

78 222 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 311.6 per 100 000 employees. This is a drop of some 77% to 2012; again something to be mighty proud of! 175 000 reportable injuries (defined as over-7-day absence) occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey, a rate of 610 per 100 000 workers. This is a difficult figure to compare to 1974 as the parameters have changed, as has the way we work. But it is generally in a downward trend. Ill health- the tough bit of Health and Safety!

1.1 million people who worked during the last year* were suffering from an illness (long-standing as well as new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work. 0.5million of these were new conditions which started during the year*. This is fortunately in decline

A further 0.7 million former workers (who last worked over 12 months ago) were suffering from an illness which was caused or made worse by their past work*. 2291 people died from mesothelioma in 2011 and thousands more from other occupational cancers and diseases such as COPD. These diseases are as a direct result of work many years ago, and should now be going into decline, Asbestos has been banned for the last 14 years- but of course it is still present & often hidden in buildings Enforcement

I am from an Enforcement background ( I left over 15 years ago) but enforcement is about protecting all of us- the HSE & Local Authorities have a tough task with dwindling resources; it would be great if every employer & every employee accepted their Health and Safety responsibilities; but some sadly flout the law!

So 574 cases were prosecuted by HSE in England and Wales. With a further 105 cases being prosecuted by local authorities in England and Wales (Environmental Health & Fire Officers) – some may think we need more prosecutions? I think more personal responsibility and education! 27 cases were prosecuted by the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland. 13 503 enforcement notices were issued by all enforcing authorities. These are a mixture of improvement & prohibition notices; many of these are public documents. We also now have the Fee For Intervention Scheme in place which allows the HSE to recoup the time it takes in rectifying significant & material breaches found by its inspectors.

Working days lost 27 million days were lost overall in 2011/12* due to work-related ill health or injury (17 days per case). 22.7 million due to work-related ill health and 4.3 million due to workplace injury. A more recent estimate for injuries indicates that 5.2 million days were lost in 2012/13 (no data is available for ill health). The biggest areas are Stress & Musculoskeletal – both preventable; and like fatalities and injuries these cases involve a real human cost. People need to understand the consequences of their actions, to themselves, to the business and to society as a whole. As the Economic costs to Britain is…. Workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) cost society an estimated £13.8 billion in 2010/11 (based on 2011 prices). This is jaw dropping- and can be money better spent!

A great step forward in PR for Health and Safety in April 2012 has been the Mythbuster series https://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/ we regularly tweet these out from @NewsfromRedCat you do wonder what some people think is Health and Safety!

Another plus from the HSE has been making lots of its resources free! Yes free including templates and guidance; you do need to understand your requirements so may need external help- but there is a wealth of information at www.hse.gov.uk.

And lastly the HSE also launched a Consultant’s register; www.oshcr.org so you can check the background / qualifications etc of your external Health and Safety Consultant- if they are not on the register you need to ask them why!

So I will be celebrating the fact that the Health and Safety at Work Act is 40 years old; I still have a copy from my training days- it is a great piece of legislation – it has not been altered in all those years, because it is succinct to the point and ensures the Health, Safety & Welfare of us all at work!

*These are 2011/12 figures

Increase in entrepreneurial activity at the Park attracted patent attorneys, who expertly combine local knowledge with global connections

“A very exciting time” is how patent attorney Dr Peter Wilson describes the move of Novagraaf to the Norwich Research Park. The international company is the first tenant to move into the Park’s new hub building Centrum, which is to be officially opened later this month.

Novagraaf is an international patent and trademark consultancy that advises clients on Intellectual Property (IP) strategy and management. Its head office is in the Netherlands and it operates globally.

Dr Wilson of Novagraaf, says that he has seen an increase in entrepreneurial activity across the Norwich Research Park and regards it as a focal point not only for the growing life sciences sector, but also for innovative businesses across the region.

“We are seeing a growth of innovation across Norfolk particularly within life sciences, engineering, food research and the energy sectors. This is creating new business opportunities and is a good indicator of future prosperity for the local economy. For smaller companies, IP can be their only asset, so advice on managing this and developing an IP strategy that matches their commercial objectives is very important.

“My colleague Dr Oliver Harris and I have both worked at research institutes on the Park so we understand the requirements of knowledge-based businesses. In addition, our managing director, Tracey Cooke, was previously assistant general counsel, patents, at GlaxoSmithKline and so can advise on what big pharma is looking for in new products. This provides smaller organisations with invaluable insights into how to make an attractive offer to potential partners and customers.”

Dr Harris adds: “We look to provide long-term strategic support to our clients, and our network of contacts across the world can assist those who are involved in international negotiations or trying to protect their IP in new territories.”

A hub for Norwich

Centrum is the new hub building located at the heart of Norwich Research Park. Centrum’s two upper floors provide customisable laboratory and office suites on flexible lease terms ideal for growing companies who wish to enjoy the benefits of being located alongside the innovative businesses and cutting edge research institutes already located at the Park. The ground floor is home to impressive meeting, networking and event facilities as well as a 140 seat contemporary restaurant and café which is open to both Park residents and visitors alike.

Dr Sally Ann Forsyth CEO of the Norwich Research Park says that Novagraaf will be a big asset to the Park. She adds:

“The East of England has found that creating clusters of organisations and businesses with shared interests builds momentum in an industry sector. The Norwich Research Park is well placed to support the growing life sciences sector with world-class research across the academic Park partners and businesses. It provides infrastructure in terms of meeting space and fast IT networking and access to specialist equipment and skills.

“Professional advisors are a vital part of this mix and it is excellent that an international company such as Novagraaf sees the potential that Norwich Research Park offers.”

Dr Wilson agrees: “The new facilities in Centrum will give us space to grow and also offers the right high-tech environment in which to host meetings and workshops. Networking is an important part of growing a cluster, so by encouraging entrepreneurial companies on to the Park, we will be supporting the growth of the life science community.

“We are delighted to be involved at the start of this exciting venture,” he says.

Howes Percival’s Andrew Barnes – a founding member of the ground-breaking Norwich for Jobs initiative – has welcomed the news that over 1,000 young people have been recruited to paid employment and apprenticeships as a result of the project.

The Norwich for Jobs project was established in January 2013 by Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, Andrew Barnes of Howes Percival, City College Norwich, Job Centre Plus and Archant. The aim was to halve Norwich youth unemployment in two years – from around 2,000 young people, aged 18-24, registered as unemployed in the Norwich area, down to 1,000.

The project has been successful in achieving its aim by encouraging local businesses to invest in young people, connecting young people with opportunities to gain skills and employment and focusing the collective efforts of the community to get young Norwich working.

Andrew Barnes, Senior Partner at Howes Percival in Norwich, Steering Group member for Norwich for Jobs and chair of its employer panel commented, “Helping young people get started with their career is vitally important and I’m absolutely delighted that so many local businesses have got behind the Norwich for Jobs project. Reaching the 1,000 jobs target well within two years is fantastic, however, the challenge of reducing youth unemployment continues. We believe strongly that now is not the time to let-up in any way – to the contrary, we want to redouble our efforts, and maintain the momentum. I would encourage local employers to join the campaign and find out how they can contribute to reducing youth unemployment and improving skills in the area”.

Progress To-Date

•1,085 Jobs and Apprenticeships Pledged

•370 Work Experience Placements have been pledged

•1,032 Total number of young people who have entered paid opportunities. – 900 young people have begun employment directly as a result of the project – 132 young people have begun apprenticeships directly as a result of the project

•172 young people have begun work experience placements directly as a result of the project

• 140 Employers are formally backing the campaign so far

• Dozens more have indicated their interest and are in discussion with the campaign

To learn more about the support they could give to young people, businesses interested in joining the campaign can visit www.NorwichForJobs.org.uk

A thorough investigation of a grievance or a disciplinary matter is crucial to determining the outcome of internal proceedings and Tribunal claims and general fairness in the way staff are treated. However most organisations press busy, untrained managers and executives into the role of investigator and even those HR professionals supporting the investigator will often not have received any formal training on how to deal with the tricky issues and judgements that invariably arise in most cases. One thought is that fully trained HR Professionals should act as dedicated investigators with managers reserved as hearings and appeals officers to decide the issues based on the case presented to them. The scrutiny under which an Employment Tribunal will inspect the investigatory evidence is significant. The employee’s explanations and defences must be as carefully looked into as much as the original allegations. Witness statements can be unhelpful as compared with interview notes and the issue of recording meetings is becoming more challenging with the advance of technology with Tribunals ready to hear all evidence including that which has been covertly obtained or includes the deliberations of disciplinary panels. There are numerous minefields to overcome to make a case fair and it all starts with a really good investigation.

In my experience of legal practice I have discovered that many HR professionals have adopted processes and have fairly confirmed views on how things should be done which if tested in a Tribunal are in my view unlikely to be condoned. Questions such as what is the key difference between a grievance and a disciplinary investigation? can employee representatives attend grievance investigation meetings but not disciplinary investigations?, what can employee representatives say and do or not say and do in an investigation meeting?, what and when can you allow witnesses to remain anonymous and what do you say to a witness who says at the end of an interview that they don’t want to be a witness or cooperate any further? and how much of the evidence should you let an alleged “perpetrator” see or know about in advance of an investigation meeting? need to be answered correctly and fairly if an employer is to avoid the risk of constructive unfair dismissal as well as a later finding of unfair dismissal. In addition since the case of West London Mental Health NHS Trust v Chhabra which was decided by the Supreme Court at the end of last year employers also need to be more wary of being the subject of injunctive action. Injunctive action is a powerful tool in an employee’s armoury. If successful an employee may persuade a High Court Judge to halt proceedings against them, rehear or redo an investigation or disciplinary hearing, drop certain allegations and even reinstate them following a dismissal. Certainly injunctive action will significantly delay a case and give rise to unwanted publicity and legal costs which may not to be insured for those employers who have taken out Tribunal insurance cover. The key point is that even where the procedures you operate are not contractual the implied term of trust and confidence requires fairness in the detail of how you go about the investigation, disciplinary and grievance processes.

So to learn how to avoid some of the key pitfalls and ensure that your organisation is best placed to avoid injunctions and findings of unfairness come along to the next HR Forum presented by myself and my colleagues from Birketts employment team on Wednesday10 September from 2pm at Dunston Hall. I can guarantee that it will help you reassess and re-appraise the way you go about things.

Diamond Logistics Norwich was formed a mere 11 months ago in August 2013 and has already caused a stir. Its first big customer was True Traders Ltd of Great Yarmouth who liked the business model so much they bought a third of the company! Now Diamond Logistics Norwich handles all the outgoing parcels for True Traders customers in the UK and abroad.

Kevin Baker is Managing Director of Diamond Logistics Norwich: “We are parcel consolidators. We are part of the rapidly growing Diamond Logistics UK ‘MultiCarrier Solutions’ service that takes parcels from small and medium sized business and send them through our major account contracts with national carriers such as Yodel, CityLink, TNT, ParcelForce and others – soon to include Royal Mail and Collect Plus. Because of the size of our national contracts with carriers we can often offer our customers a better price and a better service than using the Carriers direct.”

True Traders are the rapidly growing online retailers based in Great Yarmouth. Managing Director Michael Bezance explains the investment: “To continue our growth we have to compete with big online companies like Amazon, Tescos, B&Q etc. Our previous arrangements direct with Carriers did not provide us with the cost effective high quality service that these big competitors have. Now we have reduced our delivery charge to our Customers and we can deliver to the remote parts of the UK and overseas at a sensible price. The service level to our customers has also improved by using Diamond Logistics Norwich – we still have lost parcels occasionally but now we know what is happening and can explain to our Customers. We decided that this was such a good model for the growing number of internet retailers like us that we just had to invest! We feel that our future logistics is now in control and we can concentrate on the other areas of our business. This financial year we are already seeing a 25% increase in sales.”

True Traders are now launching a new business called ‘True Parcels’ which will take parcels from Great Yarmouth customers who want to use the Diamond Logistics service for small volumes. This should appeal to EBay sellers and other retailers as well as private individuals. As an example, a standard parcel up to 3kg can be sent on a one to three day service, within mainland UK, for as little as £5.00 per parcel!

Diamond Logistics Norwich have now moved to The True Centre in Great Yarmouth.

Gnaw, the Norwich-based makers of a quirky range of sumptuous handcrafted chocolates, has seen their business grow by a massive 50% (£250k) this year, making it one of the region’s most compelling commercial success stories.

The company is now expanding even further with more customers both at home and abroad, and is breaking into the gift market with the launch of a brand new range of tempting treats.

Since it opened its creative kitchen in 2011, Gnaw has become globally recognised as one of the most innovative creators of fun, new chocolate ideas and the leader in its field. And, of course, it’s all handmade in Britain.

With its compelling, colourful packaging and dedicated workforce of ‘squirrels’ who love their craft, Gnaw’s values are simple, but very effective – chocolate should be fun; only the finest ingredients will be used; and they will lead the way in terms of chocolate creativity and innovation.

Gnaw owners, husband and wife team Matt and Teri Legon, originally ran a sweet shop, but could never find chocolate bars that were as exciting and innovative as they wanted them to be. So they decided that if they wanted an interesting product, they would have to make it themselves!

Matt said: “Our idea was a simple one, we believed that chocolate shouldn’t be a ‘serious’ product. It should be fun and make people smile. After all, it is supposed to be a treat…and it tastes delicious too!

“We set out to develop a quirky, exciting range of products that use only the best ingredients from around the world, that use no artificial colours or flavours and that are handcrafted.

“Creativity – coming up with exciting and original flavours is vital to us. We wanted to eat chocolate that tasted of things we wouldn’t expect – like banoffee pie or lemon meringue. So we conjured up some interesting flavour combinations ourselves and quickly found a niche market both at home and overseas, where ‘British-made’ is very popular.

“We have just unveiled our new Great British Nibbles range, which we have created for the expanding gift market. The Butter Fudge, Lemon Coconut Ice, Chocolate-coated Honeycomb, and Salted Cashew Nut Brittle are Gnaw’s own fun twist on well-loved flavours and we’re sure they will be loved by chocolate fans of all ages.”

Gnaw has also made a new addition to its imaginative and enticing range of chocolate bars – a Salted Caramel and Peanut flavour.

“We may be a small enterprise, but we believe in our product. We are passionate, ambitious and confident – without being arrogant,” says Matt.

That passion and creativity is clearly a heady mix and Gnaw has conjured up some increasingly popular chocolatey magic, with a range that includes bars, buttons, Hot Choc Shots, Goodeee Boxes and Chocolate Chompers.

“We now export to 25 countries,” says Matt, “and we are hoping soon to start exporting to Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea. In the UK our products have 1000 outlets, including East of England Co-op stores, Picturehouse Cinemas, 176 BP service stations and the Garden Centre Group. We also supply many great delis and farm shops throughout East Anglia. Our turnover in 2014 is expected to be £750k.”

But back to those squirrels! The chocolatier’s kitchen is a mysterious world – full of steam, vats of things simmering away – and some pretty fabulous smells as well.

“Our gang of hardworking squirrels is part of our personality, and we love the way they are committed to our ideals and working very long hours for a few extra nuts!” says Matt. “They run the business very efficiently for us and get good publicity for their pains.

“Our operation is expanding very fast, so adding even more furry friends to our team is on the cards.”

Howes Percival will be holding their popular National Employment Conference on Wednesday, 15 October 2014 at Towcester Racecourse.

The National Employment Conference is an all day event starting at 8.45am and ending at 4.30pm.

This annual event gives delegates the opportunity not only to receive an update on recent developments in employment law by respected employment law barrister David Monk, but also to attend workshops to explore key employment topics in more detail.

Once again the conference will be held at the highly rated venue of Towcester Racecourse which is only a few minutes from the M1 and M40 motorways and which benefits from free parking for delegates.

Our dedicated team of employment specialists will lead the workshops which give delegates the opportunity to share experiences and interact within small groups.

The Employment Team at Howes Percival is rated in the ‘top tier’ in the latest edition of the Legal 500. It goes on to state that department head Paula Bailey is a “strong negotiator” and that Director Alex Payton is “reassuring”. The Legal 500 has also previously highlighted the employment team’s “human touch” and that Employment Partner Graham Irons is “very responsive, has deep knowledge of UK employment law, and offers practical and creative advice”.

The Day – 15 October 2014

8.45am – Registration and Breakfast

9.15am – Employment Law Update

David Monk, head of the employment team at New Walk Chambers in Leicester and lecturer in employment law at the University of Leicester. David will address delegates on recent developments to employment law over the past 12 months and look ahead to proposed changes that will come into effect over the next few years.

11.05am – Workshops

1. Protecting your Business (from your employees!)

2. Stress Relief

1.00pm – Lunch

2.00pm – Workshops

1. Taking the Grief out of Grievances 2. Sensitive Issues in the Workplace

4.30pm – Finish

Workshops – Morning Session

Protecting your business (from your employees!)

Whether it be a secret recipe, a key customer list or confidential business plans, employees are exposed to a wealth of sensitive information in the workplace and this information can often hold the key to a company’s success. Trying to protect this information can be a tricky business both during employment and after the employment relationship has come to an end.

This interactive session, run in conjunction with our Intellectual Property team, will focus on what employers need to do in order to protect the confidential information, client lists, trade secrets and other intellectual property contained in their business. We will cover the following:

• What pre-employment checks should employers make?
• Top tips on drafting effective restrictive covenants and confidentiality clauses.
• How can employers capture all of the IP created by their employees?
• What effect has social media had on IP and business protection?
• What remedies are available to employers and how can rights be enforced?

Stress Relief

One of every three absences at work are due to stress according to an official Government survey. In this workshop, we aim to take the stress out of managing stress related issues. We have joined up with Medigold, occupational health provider, to provide you with a session focussed on:

• What is stress (and how to spot it);
• An employer’s obligations in relation to stress;
• The legal claims which can be brought as a result of stress and how to reduce the risk of such claims;
• Best practice when managing short and long term absence;
• Practical guidance on how to get the most out of occupational health referrals; and
• How to deal with grievances and disciplinary issues involving employees with stress.

Workshops – Afternoon Session

Sensitive issues in the workplace

• Do you have the hangover of dealing with an employee with alcohol issues?
• Are you choking at the thought of approaching an employee with personal hygiene issues?
• Ever felt like you had become a family counsellor when personal relationship breakdowns start impacting the workplace?

This workshop will seek to tackle those sensitive issues that can be the stuff of nightmares if handled the wrong way. Working through a series of practical case studies, we hope that you will be equipped to resolve the most personal of HR issues.

Taking the Grief out of Grievances

Providing practical tips on handling tricky grievances, this session will explore some of the particularly difficult issues facing employers when dealing with complaints from employees. This will be an interactive workshop with a case study to enable delegates to consider how to effectively manage the whole grievance process, including:

• Investigations – getting the right information;
• Dealing with reluctant witnesses;
• Evidence – evaluating and collating relevant evidence; and producing grievance outcomes.

Cost – £250 plus VAT.

The price includes breakfast on arrival, lunch, tea/coffee and refreshments.

Book before 31 August and receive one place free for every paid place booked (i.e. book 2 delegates for £250 + VAT, book 4 delegates for £500 + VAT)

To book a place, please email employment@howespercival.com.

Please confirm in the email your choice of one morning workshop and one afternoon workshop and specify any dietary requirements.

We look forward to seeing you there!