Member News

A monthly round-up of news and analysis of the Norwich economy and labour market

A renewable technology evaluation considering a wind turbine and solar PV system has been completed on behalf of a West Norfolk farm. A 50 kW solar system and 11 kW wind turbine were evaluated in terms of suitability and financial viability with a return on investment identified of 8.8% for the solar PV and 10.9% for the turbine. The return on investment reflects the changes to the Feed in Tariff scheme which will come into effect from July and October respectively.

If you want to achieve an excellent return on investment, contact us to find out how more.

Land owners and farm estates have a lot to gain from impartial and independent advice and Clean Energy is pleased to join the CLA to provide services to its members. Impartiality and careful thought is the key to ensuring renewables are integrated into the countryside and that the financial and carbon saving benefits are realistic. With comprehensive experience in this area, Clean Energy looks forward to working with CLA members to ensure their renewable energy needs are met.

Contact us if you are a farm or estate and we will be pleased to help you.

We take great pleasure in welcoming Kevin Cooper as our new Business Telecoms Manager. Kevin joins us with 16 years’ experience in telecoms. It’s great to welcome someone into the team with such a vast background inthis fieldand who will be able to take our business telecommunications division from strength to strength.

Kevin says ‘This is an exciting opportunity to help Breakwater IT expand their telecoms business to both their existing client base and to new local businesses. After 16 years’ experience in the industry I am looking forward to be able to offer transparent and cost effective solutions that meet clients’ current business needs.

My experience is across the whole portfolio of Business Telecommunications including both traditional services such as fixed calls and lines to cutting edge unified communication solutions. The need for ever increasing bandwidth to support our voice and data applications is a major issue in a “rural” community and it is important to know if broadband, EFM or Leased line is the right product at the right cost for your business.

I believe Telecoms really do not need to be complicated. The basic principles should apply;

• Simple cost effective tariff • Transparent agreements with no hidden surprises • Clear and concise billing with ability to offer useful reports for your business • Quick and local response to enquiries • Streamline fault reporting with regular updates with quickest fix • Solutions tailored to your business’

“Breakwater is a dynamic and growing business and I am delighted to be heading up its expansion into Business Telecoms. It is a very exciting time both for me and for the company as a whole”

University of East Anglia: Doctorate in Education (EdD)

Application Deadline: 17 August 2012

Do you want to investigate educational, social, professional or organisational issues?

Would you like to acquire skills as an independent researcher, to conduct and design your own research?

Would you like to better understand issues related to your everyday work experience and context?

Is there a work problem or puzzle to research?

The University of East Anglia offers the four year, part-time Doctorate in Education (EdD) programme. The EdD is designed to provide an education in applied research – meeting the needs of professionals working in areas related to education, training and development who can draw on their everyday practice.

For further information and to apply, please visit: www.uea.ac.uk/edu/pg/dredu, or telephone: 01603 591515.

With rising energy costs a main driver and the commitment to offering the people of Watton and surrounding areas top class facilities, Watton Sports Centre has commissioned Clean Energy to undertake a renewable electricity and heating evaluation. With part funding from RevActive, the evaluation will enable the sports centre to make an easy and fully informed decision on how to invest in renewables and reduce energy costs.

Clean Energy Consultancy is pleased to have been a working partner with Norfolk County Council’s outdoor learning programme. The programme obtained funding from the Energy Saving Trust (LEAF) which has enabled it to work with Holt Hall to develop it into a centre of excellence for environmental technologies and training opportunities with a focus on young people. Clean Energy conducted a renewables evaluation considering solar photovoltaics, liquid biofuels, combined heat and power and a ground source heat pump which was followed up by an on-site training session with students from Norwich City College. Upon completion of the project a presentation was made to the community of Holt outlining the benefits of renewables considering carbon and energy savings. For information on the project visit https://sites.google.com/a/norfolkadvisory.com/leaf/home

LP’s mediation-1st and employmentor teams are to run a three day Certificate in Internal Mediation course, accredited by OCN Eastern Region. This commercially focused course has been designed for senior executives and HR professionals.

Learn essential skills to resolve workplace conflict, improve internal relationships and avoid costly disputes.

The Trainers

Martin Plowman

Already cited as “the best Mediator in East Anglia” by the independent guide, the Legal 500, Martin is now ranked the number 1 mediator in the UK by the independent National Mediator Database League Table. With twenty seven years’ experience in employment litigation and over 500 mediations to fall back on, together with a successful record of courses delivered to HR professionals, lawyers, and even to the Court Service, Martin is the ideal course leader for any workplace mediation course. He is described as “first class; knowledgeable and commercial and I cannot recommend him highly enough”.

Paula Lawn

Paula is a leading Employment Lawyer who over the years has become increasingly conscious that the vast majority of issues she deals with on a daily basis, for both employers and employees, could have been dealt with more effectively and without recourse to lawyers. Paula is able to provide a rare insight into where and how the use of mediation to resolve workplace conflicts sits within both a commercial and legal framework. Paula is a Partner at Leathes Prior Solicitors and specialist within employmentor, a unique fixed-fee annual service providing online and telephone Employment Law support to SMEs.

Dates: Tuesday 26 – Thursday 28 June 2012

Venue: The Seminar Room, Leathes Prior, 27-28 Tombland, Norwich NR3 1RE

Cost: £895 + VAT

Places for this course are strictly limited to 12 people to ensure individual attention and tuition can be given. To reserve your place please contact Mandy Hanby on 01603 281128 or mandy@mediation-1st.co.uk

Sumo Salad (www.sumosalad.com), an Australian fresh and healthy salad bar chain, has recently launched its first franchise in the UK. The outlet was opened in Norwich by Mike Dodd (centre). Advised by Ed Savory (right), an Associate in Leathes Prior’s Franchising team, and Mark Noakes (left), Managing Director of Morgan Woods, Sumo Salad has been trading for a few weeks and, assisted by the beautiful weather we are enjoying (!), seems to be going from strength to strength.

Ed Savory: “Advising franchisees is a key part of Leathes Prior’s offering of a full legal service in the franchising industry. Working with Mike was a pleasure due to his considerable commercial experience and rational approach to the obstacles that we had to overcome. It is always hard when advising the first franchisee but then again there does tend to be more room for negotiation with the franchisor. Advising alongside Mark was a joy. Mark is highly communicative and provides sensible commerical accountancy advice showing a willingness to think outside the box. It is one of the perks of the job to then be able to visit the outlet, see a new business and, in this case, enjoy a delicious salad. I wish Mike every success.”

Mark Noakes: “Fresh food and fresh ideas I think best describes Mike’s business and way of thinking. From day one of this project I have had no doubt that Mike would make a success of Sumo Salad. His sound judgement, enthusiasm for his product and ability to get things done has made it a pleasure advising him alongside Ed. Sumo Salad is a welcome addition of healthy food to my working lunches. I expect that many customers will enjoy the experience of having another leading franchise brand in our city. I look forward to working with Mike and Ed in the future and long may Sumo Salad be on the menu!”

Mike Dodd: “Without the specialist and professional advice I received from both Mark and Ed I would not have been able to get my Sumo Salad franchise off the ground. I owe enormous gratitude to them – not only in respect of their initial advice but also in respect of their ongoing support and, importantly, their continuing interest in my business. It is refreshing to work with advisers who are modern in their approach and take genuine care.”

Entries are welcomed for this years awards- details can be found at www.2012FoodandDrinkAwards.co.uk

There are many categories- and we are sponsoring the Exceptional Food Safety Management Award

Entries are required by 1st June; either online or from the entry forms in the EDP or EDP magazine

Cozens-Hardy is delighted to announce that the firm will be supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) this year.

As part of the firm’s sponsorship of the 2012 Norwich Triathlon, the Tri-Anglia Triathlon Club (the event organisers) has also nominated the EAAA as its official charity for the event which takes place on Sunday 1st July, at Whitlingham Country Park.

Said Philippa Rudd, Marketing Partner, Cozens-Hardy:

“Our staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance this year and we are delighted that Tri-Anglia has pledged its support for the Norwich Triathlon as well. One of our employees was very ill as a baby and an air ambulance played a critical part in her treatment – and I think everyone here at Castle Chambers appreciates what an incredible service the charity offers.”

Added Mark Philo, Race Director, Norwich Triathlon:

“The East Anglian Air Ambulance is a terrific local charity and it’s one that I’ve personally raised money for in the past. I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to nominate them as our official charity for the 2012 Norwich Triathlon. I hope that many of our competitors will take this opportunity to badger friends and family to sponsor them to complete the Triathlon – and we’ve uploaded a sponsorship form on our website to facilitate this.”

Jess Down, Area Fundraising Manager for the East Anglian Air Ambulance said:

“I am delighted that the staff at Cozens-Hardy have kindly chosen to support us, it’s wonderful news. We really look forward to working with them on some exciting initiative and events, including the Norwich Triathlon. The support of local people and businesses is invaluable to us and we are really grateful to have the support of such a prominent legal services provider.”

Anyone wishing to donate money to the EAAA, by supporting the Cozens-Hardy teams participating in the Business Challenge division of the Norwich Triathlon, can donate money by visiting the firm’s justgiving site: www.justgiving.com/cozenshardyllp.

– Ends –

Editors’ Notes

Despite receiving no direct government funding, the East Anglian Air Ambulance operates two air ambulances, 365 days per year, across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and needs to raise £4.2million a year to maintain the service. It has worked in partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) in developing the service, which operates from Norwich and Cambridge Airports.

For more information about the East Anglian Air Ambulance, contact the charity on 0845 066 9999 or visit its website at www.eaaa.org.uk

For further information please contact Clare Haylett: phone: 07764 270570 and email: clare@clarehaylett.net

Norwich BID promises to create a voice for the entire business community, irrespective of size or sector. The BID will help us to increase visitor numbers, create an even greener, cleaner city andwill meet the aspirations of our ambitious business community. A ‘yes’ vote for the BID gives thebusinesses – control over 100% of the BID budget which could be as much as £3million over the next five years. Please read the attached brochure for information on all the proposed projects and initiatives that Norwich BID will deliver to put Norwich first.

This money will be spent, according to local priorities to make improvements relevant to Norwich and that are important to the ongoing success of your business. In these challenging economic times, the Norwich BID will give us additional capital to invest in communications to promote and market our welcoming, safe city across the UK and abroad. These will be additional services and do not subsidise or replace funding for services provided by the local authorities. The resources will enable us to attract new inward commercial investment and drive footfall to our vibrant retail destinations.