Arthur Jary & Sons Ltd. are having an ‘Open Afternoon’ at their memorial showroom and workshop, on Northgate Street in Great Yarmouth, on Friday 25th April. Please come and meet our staff, and see how our craftsmen create a lasting memory to a loved one.
Window graphics are a fantastic way to announce to the world (well, at least your passing customer traffic) of any seasonal promotions or new services you may have. They are cost effective and more importantly they’re not permanent – meaning your message can be readily changed to suit your promotion.
Take for example Easter (because let’s face it, it’s literally around the corner!), using bright and engaging temporary window graphics could be the difference in securing a sale from a passing customer who may otherwise have gone to a competitor.
Shallow, we know, but we are all guilty of being attracted to pretty things – and there’s nothing wrong with that. But why not increase your potential sales by making sure your windows are the prettiest out there? It’s fast and easy to do resulting in dramatic effects on the look of your business exterior for a relatively low cost.
If you go to an experienced and reputable sign maker (like us, for instance) then you can even ask them to create the graphics on your behalf to make sure your message packs the punch it really deserves and is targeted to the right market audience. Plus, window graphics can be turned around pretty quickly (depending on the complexity) so even if you think it might be too late to meet a seasonal promotion, it’s always worth asking.
These days there are lots of different materials to choose from, making sure you can always create the perfect display for your purposes. Take a look at our portfolio for a little bit of inspiration and then get in touch to see how we can help.
Steeles Law is holding a Legal Clinic at its 2 Mount Street, Diss offices on Friday 30 May, with pre-bookable 15 minute consultations available between 3.00 and 6.00pm.
Whether you a private individual or business owner, you can book a complimentary appointment with a legal professional in connection with any of the services we offer.
Please call 01379 652141 to make a booking. Appointments are offered on a first come, first served basis and must be booked before the day.
Following its success in reaching the last six of the prestigious Business Moneyfacts Broker Awards in 2012 and 2013, Norwich based commercial finance broker B2B Cashflow Solutions has gone one better in receiving a ‘Commendation’ this year at the recent awards in London.
A privately owned and independent commercial finance, business banking and financial management consultancy, the business has been shortlisted three years running.
The company was nominated and recognised from within the industry based on the high level of excellence across all aspects of its business model throughout the year prompting Director Simon Reynolds to comment “We are delighted that this industry award has not only continued to acknowledge the work we are doing on behalf of SME’s, but has recognised our ongoing development compared with the two previous years. Some would say this is a case of ‘third time lucky’ but perhaps we are simply delivering our strategic development objectives (with an element of luck thrown in!)?”
Simon reflected “In an ever challenging financial climate for UK businesses we believe we continue to fly the flag for Norfolk by being shortlisted in the Business Moneyfacts Broker Awards for the third year running. Furthermore we finished in the top three this year marking an improvement on our top six finish in the previous two years. This reaffirms acknowledgment for B2B Cashflow Solutions in regard the quality of our service and our overall creativity in championing financial solutions within our local business community. Our business model offers region-wide coverage throughout East Anglia, with dedicated local support, and it is encouraging that our approach is recognised within the industry.”
B2B Cashflow Solutions was launched back in 2006 with a vision to broaden the scope of asset finance lending through innovative products and services. Following the 2008 banking crisis, the directors identified the opportunity to develop more diverse funding solutions, within an increasingly restrictive financial climate, which complement those offered by the banks and other traditional lenders, on behalf of their business customers.
Simon continues: “Our differentiation in creatively bringing together a wide range of elements to build financial solutions is underpinned by our consciously relationship driven and person- centred approach to our customers, partners, and our business.”
This approach has proven very successful. B2B Cashflow Solutions has gone from strength to strength in their eighth trading year, with lending in excess of £20,000,000 facilitated on behalf of local businesses in its current financial year.
Today, more than 50% of the company’s business originates from referrals from the major financial institutes while maintaining and developing a direct, proactive approach to relationships with business customers to deliver asset based lending solutions throughout the East of England and beyond.
For the third consecutive year Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), a leading recruitment consultancy in eastern England, has been shortlisted for the Recruitment Firm of the Year Award at the 2014 FDs’ Excellence Awards.
Nominated by a record-breaking 1,800 chief finance officers, financial directors and other senior financial decision makers within the UK’s finance sector, the Excellence Awards applaud service providers including recruitment firms, auditors, business banks and financial software suppliers.
“We are very proud to make the shortlist for this prestigious awards category and we are the only regional independent recruitment agency to do so!” said Ian Walters, Managing Director of Pure. “The nomination means a lot to us because it is based on the opinions of our clients. It is great to know that our personal approach is highly valued by the people we work with and have recognition for that. And, as a regional recruitment consultancy, we are honoured to be shortlisted alongside the large national recruitment agencies.”
The shortlisted businesses were judged on a range of criteria including business knowledge, innovation and quality of advice. Over the last year, Pure has continued to build on its reputation as an expert in its field by offering clients guidance and information on a variety of subjects, from recruitment and retention to employee engagement.
Pure has always strived to develop new and relevant initiatives within their region that add value. Recent examples include the Senior Finance Forum in partnership with Deloitte-, Best Employers, Eastern Region with eras ltd- an initiative that identifies and promotes the best employers and encourages employee engagement and more recently, Women’s Leadership Programme. For more information on these initiatives please visit our website The winners will be announced in a ceremony, taking place at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square on May 1st, which promises to be a superb, entertaining and inspirational event.
To find out more about Pure’s professional recruitment services, contact Anna Hill, Marketing Manager, on: 01223 209888 or Anna.Hill@prs.uk.com. Or visit www.prs.uk.com.
For more information about the FDs’ Excellence Awards and the full shortlist visit: www.fdsawards.co.uk.
Air Malta commenced Norwich summer flying programme 4 weeks early. Excited holidaymakers descended on Norwich International Airport yesterday for the first Air Malta holiday charter flight of the summer 2014 season direct to the sunshine island of Malta. A welcome addition to the April flying programme following Air Malta’s decision to offer four extra departures from Norwich this April to accommodate the noticeable increase in demand for off-peak holidays from regional airports. Andrew Bell, the airport’s CEO commented “It was great to see the Air Malta aircraft land at Norwich yesterday, Malta is an exceptionally popular destination from our region and we are pleased that Air Malta has increased their service and enhanced the travel options from Norwich International Airport this spring”. Air Malta flights operate every Tuesday through to 21st October 2014 with holidays and flights available through numerous tour operators and travel agents. Flights are also bookable on www.airmalta.com
Crowdfunding is fast becoming a popular source of alternative finance for entrepreneurs and business start-ups who are unable or unwilling to approach a bank or other ‘conventional’ source of investment.
The idea is simple – business owners and entrepreneurs ‘pitch’ their ideas to a large number of individual investors, usually via a crowdfunding website. Those seeking finance can publish details of their project, including how much cash they need, how they will use it and how investors stand to profit. The ‘crowd’ can then choose whether or not to invest.
Whilst there are a variety of different models, many investors consider equity crowdfunding to be the purest form of crowd investment. The idea is compelling: individuals pool small funds together to become equity stakeholders in early stage companies, when the opportunities – and risks – are the greatest. Many insiders anticipate the growth in equity crowdfunding will transform startup finance.
The growth in the US is already considerable – angels have invested $393 million on the 10 largest equity crowdfunding platforms to date, with $90 million of that being invested in the first quarter of 2014 alone. So what is behind this growth? The payback from equity crowdfunding can be enormous.
‘Facebook’ and ‘Dropbox’, two headline businesses that have benefitted from crowdfunded investment, achieved returns on investment of 62,000% and 39,000% respectively. Whilst not all investments could achieve that sort of stellar performance, a long-term investment of five to eight years in the right startup could produce higher returns than any other asset. Indeed, such is the growth in crowdfunding websites, London based UP Investments is seeking to raise £100,000 on Crowdcube to establish a ‘crowdfunding supermarket’ where investors can view pitches from dozens of crowdfunding websites across the UK.
Local businesses are already benefitting. Yippydada, a Buckinghamshire based business which has developed a stylish baby bag range, hopes to secure £100,000 through Crowdcube, in return for a 10 per cent stake. ‘Ready Steady Mums’, a Cambridgeshire based fitness enterprise for mums, has recently secured £57,190 for a 6.68 per cent stake in its business on crowdfunding platform Seedrs.
Against a backdrop of low interest rates for savers and a general perception (however accurate) that banks are reluctant to lend to small entrepreneurial businesses, it is perhaps no surprise that crowdfunding is becoming more mainstream. It cuts out the middle man, allowing small businesses to get the funding they need without banks taking a slice of their profits. For savers, these ventures offer the potential for much greater returns and to potentially qualify for special tax reliefs under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) or Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) rules.
But what about risk? The Financial Conduct Authority is taking a close interest in crowdfunding and wants to ensure private investors fully understand the risks they are taking. Under new rules which came into force on 1 April, equity based crowdfunding is now subject to the ’10 per cent rule’. This means that investors must certify that they are not committing more than 10 per cent of their net investible assets (excluding their home, pensions and life insurance). The new rules are only waived for those deemed sophisticated investors and do not apply to peer-to-peer loans.
Some platform providers have claimed the increased regulation may prove detrimental to both investors and businesses alike, unfairly disbarring small investors and ultimately leading to a “thinning of the crowd”. Peer-to-peer lenders on the other hand, fear that the rules are not tough enough to protect individuals from bad debts.
Whoever is right, the phenomenal growth in crowdfunding looks set to continue. Recent figures suggest that over £1,700 per hour is currently being raised through crowdfunding in the UK, with more than 45 new equity and rewards projects having being launched each day in the first three months of 2014. Although this represents only a fraction of the total value of investment being raised, crowdfunding is clearly becoming an attractive means of raising finance for businesses who need that vital injection of cash.
Mark Whittaker Associate Ashton KCJ Solicitorsmark.whittaker@ashtonkcj.co.ukwww.ashtonkcj.co.uk
After six years of consistent growth, True Traders Ltd has broken through £1m turnover for the 2013/14 financial year. A family run company, True Traders are a leading seller of temporary barrier fencing, alongside many other products ranging from garden & allotment netting, to construction safety equipment.
They have grown considerably since their inception by Michael Bezance, in his garage, in 2007. The company has now outgrown two storage facilities and moved to their current warehouse, on Caister Road in Great Yarmouth, in April 2013. The new warehouse, at 6300sq ft, is more than double the size of their previous.
Marketing Director Tom Bezance said ‘Breaking the £1m turnover mark is a significant milestone for True Traders. It has been the main target of the company since day one and everyone here at True Traders has worked very hard to achieve it. We are very proud of where we are now.’ ‘Obviously the hard work doesn’t stop here. New targets have been set so we can continue to push forward and grow. We now have two new employees starting to help us lay the foundations for a larger and more dynamic company.’
The company currently run seven online shops, each with its own particular niche. One of a number of aims for the current financial year is to combine these shops into a single superstore under the True Traders brand. This would allow truetraders.co.uk to become a one-stop shop for products from all seven shops, something which will be a great benefit to customers.
Tom Bezance added ‘We want to make the whole experience for customers as smooth and effortless as possible. This new superstore, coupled with easily contactable sales staff, will be a huge step in the right direction. 2014 certainly looks like an exciting year for us.’
The 2014 financial year has ended on a high for Norwich International Airport with final passenger numbers reaching over 465,000, an increase of 10% on the previous year.
Such a positive rise is attributed to growth in several sectors. The biggest increase was seen in holiday traffic, driven by Thomson/First Choice who doubled their summer 2013 activity boosting holiday charter passengers by almost 47%. Thus over 108,000 people enjoyed the benefits of flying to the sun from their local airport in the year.
The booming offshore industry contributed 19% growth in offshore helicopter traffic which accounted for over 100,000 helicopter passengers using the airport in the year. This cements Norwich as the busiest Airport for offshore helicopter passengers in the UK after Aberdeen.
KLM’s hub feeder service to the award winning Amsterdam Schiphol Airport had another strong year as a result of the addition of the fourth daily flight throughout summer 2013 which saw passenger numbers grow by 10% on this route. The fourth daily flight has already been reintroduced for this summer and forward bookings are looking very strong.
Andrew Bell, CEO of Norwich International, said, “2013/14 was a good year and I am satisfied with this significant increase in our passenger numbers. Not only did we achieve strong volume growth in 2014 but our drive for service excellence was recognised by Thomson/First Choice who awarded Norwich International first place in their national Airport customer service program. This focus on putting the pleasure back into flying will continue as we now move into the summer season, and I plan to build on the progress made last year. Furthermore, airlines such as Loganair are buying into our approach to doing business as demonstrated by their decision to base another of their aircraft at the Airport, thereby offering better service frequencies to passengers.”
Norfolk based Fendercare Marine, one of the world’s foremost suppliers of marine products and services, has won a significant contract to supply Yokohama fenders to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The three year contract is for the supply of 3.3m x 6.5m Yokohama original pneumatic fenders. Fendercare Marine has supplied 18 of the fenders to date, with potentially more to follow. Fendercare Marine has been working closely with the MOD to design a protective tyre net which would not only be non-marking to the ship’s hull but would provide minimal fender maintenance issues.
Fendercare Marine has been a supplier of fenders and marine hardware to the MoD since 1999 and also supports navies throughout the world, winning a $29 million contract with the US Navy in 2012. From a base in the Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth, their Naval Solutions division also provides fabrication, welding and coating services for the MoD, having worked on nuclear submarines, warships and naval support vessels.
Sonia Crane, Fendercare Marine Sales Manager commented “We are delighted to have secured this contract with the Ministry of Defence. Our 15 year relationship with the MoD is one that we really treasure and this contract is further evidence of our commitment to supplying reliable and innovative products, supported by excellent customer service.”
Fendercare Marineare proud to havebeen listed at number 37 in the Top 100 companies in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Top 100 list, published by the East Anglian Daily Times and Eastern Daily Press, profiles leading companies based on turnover and profitability
Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure) in Norwich hosted a fun-packed annual charity quiz night last Thursday (20th March 2014) at the De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel, raising £1,784 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Forty teams from local businesses with team names such as “Goodbye Doctor Who”, “We Thought It Was A Disco”, “Les Quizerables”, “The Scrambled Eggheads” and “Sew Smart…Not” gathered at the De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel for the annual charity quiz evening which was organised by Pure – a leading specialist recruitment consultancy businesses in the East of England.
Norfolk businesses including Heinz, South Norfolk Council, Parker Andrews, Broadland Housing, Wensum Tailoring and Larking Gowen came along for the evening of friendly rivalry. It was “TEAM Name” from Team Energy that claimed the quiz crown, with each lucky team member winning a bottle of champagne. A raffle also proved popular with superb prizes including a round of Golf for 4 at Dunston Hall, Booja Booja chocolates, Chapelfield shopping vouchers and Kettle Foods donated a large case of crisps. In addition, an iPad mini was generously donated by NHS professionals!
Gill Buchanan, Director of Pure, said: “The charity quiz evenings that we organise annually are always such an enjoyable occasion… Not only do they encourage local businesses to join together and contribute to such a fantastic charity as EACH, but also the amount raised always surpasses our expectations. I’d like to thank all of the businesses that contributed to the event. Our relationship with EACH is very important to us and we are so proud to be supporting a wonderful charity.”
Gary Cook, EACH Norfolk Fundraiser, said: “We are extremely grateful to Pure Resourcing Solutions, Norwich for once again supporting EACH with their annual quiz. We would also like to thank the local business community for getting involved in this fun event whether that is by entering a team into the quiz or supplying a raffle prize. The fantastic amount raised from the event will go a long way to helping us to deliver our services of caring for local life-threatened children and supporting their families.”
The quiz brings the total that Pure has now raised for EACH in the last decade to over £52,000. To find out more about Pure’s fundraising activity, contact Anna Hill, Marketing Manager on: 01223 209888 or Anna.Hill@prs.uk.com.