Member News

Supply Chain Management  In today’s hyper-connected world, supply chains are the lifeblood of global commerce. Many businesses rely on an extended network of suppliers to deliver products, systems, and services to enable them to deliver their product to their customers. The intricate nature of these networks creates a vast attack surface for cybercriminals to exploit however, and the consequences can be devastating. Imagine a domino effect, where a security breach at one supplier ripples through your entire network disrupting operations, exposing sensitive data, and eroding customer trust. The potential impact this could have on your organisation is immense.  What is supply chain management?  Supply chain management involves overseeing the entire production process from start to finish, including the delivery of the final product to the consumer. From a cybersecurity perspective, supply chain management focuses on ensuring the safety of the interconnected network of organisations, processes, and technologies involved in bringing a product from conception to delivery.  In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of cyber-attacks as a result of vulnerabilities within the supply chain. These attacks have targeted third party software providers, website builders, third party data stores, and hardware providers. The 2023 Cybersecurity Breaches Survey found that only 13% of businesses review the risks posed by their immediate suppliers.  Securing the supply chain  It is vital to understand the cybersecurity threats within your supply chain before implementing security measures.  

• Why might someone attack your supply chain? (Financial gain, disruption, espionage) 
• Who are the likely attackers? (Cybercriminals, competitors, state actors) 
• Where are the exploitable weak points in your supply chain?  
• What would happen if these vulnerabilities were exploited? (Financial loss, reputational damage, operational disruption) 

Once you have identified the critical aspects of your organisation that require the most protection, establish a repeatable and measurable approach for assessing the cybersecurity of your suppliers. 

• Pinpoint the data, systems, and processes most crucial to your business. 
• Create tiered security profiles for supplier based on the potential impact they could have on your assets, defining increasing security requirements for each tier. 
• Decide how to assess your suppliers using a combination of techniques including surveys, interviews, site visits and independent audits. 
• Develop strategies for managing non-compliant suppliers, including continued assessments and remediation plans. 
• Implement standardised contract clauses addressing cybersecurity expectations and potential scenarios. 

It is important to note that a single assessment will not be enough to guarantee your cyber security standards are being met. Regular monitoring of your supplier’s cyber resilience will help you identify any gaps and work with your suppliers to address them before they are exploited and become an issue.  Continuous Improvement  Evaluate your framework and its components on a regular basis and adjust the process accordingly so that it provides the correct level of risk/reward for your organisation. Once the initial assurance of your supply chain is complete , it is important to understand that the risks to your business are constantly evolving. Stay informed about new threats and use the knowledge gained to update your supply chain’s cybersecurity measures.   Securing the supply chain is a crucial task that requires a collective effort from everyone involved. Collaborate with your vendors, share threat intelligence, and participate in industry forums to stay ahead of the curve. Adhering to established industry standards like ISO 27001 can provide you with invaluable guidance and demonstrate your commitment to security.  Cybersecurity is not a destination but an ongoing journey. It is crucial to continually evaluate your practices, adapt to evolving threats, and invest in ongoing training and awareness programs. By prioritising supply chain security, you can build your resilience and safeguard your business against any potential cybersecurity threats.  

Organisations in the United Kingdom are faced with a constant barrage of digital dangers where cyber threats lurk around every corner. Almost half of UK organisations fall victim to cyber security breaches every year, and all are faced with the challenges of building robust defences against malicious actors and how to respond in the event of a cyber incident.  Just over a third of organisations report being insured against cyber security risks in some way, and for most of these organisations their cyber security insurance is part of a wider insurance policy. Less than 10% of organisations overall have a specific cyber security insurance policy, with larger businesses being more likely to have specific cyber security insurance.  Cyber security insurance provides a safety net which is designed to mitigate the financial fallout of a cyber breach, covering costs like incident response, forensic investigation, and restoration of lost data. Many cyber insurance products come with access to a network of security professionals who can assist with incident response, vulnerability assessments, and general cyber security improvements. Access to a knowledge base like this can be invaluable to smaller organisations which may not have this level of expertise in-house.   Insuring your organisation against cyber risk can be a double-edged sword, where the existence of an insurance policy creates a moral hazard of investing less in the organisational security due to a perceived safety net provided by the insurance.  Insurance policies are notorious for their complexity and can be full of exclusions. It is essential that organisations understand their coverage before assuming they are fully covered. Common exclusions include attacks linked to nation state actors, losses arising from critical national infrastructure outages, and losses caused by supply chain attacks. The constantly evolving nature of cyber threats can make it challenging for insurers to keep up, which could leave to coverage gaps when faced with emerging threats.  Cyber security insurance should be seen as a single layer of a defence-in-depth approach to securing your organisation. Insurers will require you to show you take security seriously and are equipped to mitigate as many threats as possible by implementing certain security controls and best practices which can lead to a stronger security posture for your organisation.  Staff awareness training is integral to educate your employees about cyber threats and can cover a wide range of topics including identifying phishing scams and malware traps, creating strong passwords and using multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspicious activity. 80% of data breaches in the UK involve some form of human interaction, so by training your staff to be more cyber-aware you can significantly reduce the risk of your organisation falling victim to an attack. Regular and relevant training will help to create a culture of security within your organisation.  Incident response exercises are an essential part of an organisation’s cyber security preparedness plan, which typically involve simulations of real-world cyber-attacks that allow your team to test their skills, identify weaknesses in your defence, and refine your response procedures.  Cyber insurance is a valuable tool, but not a substitute for proactive measures. Investing in robust security practices is crucial, and insurance should be seen as a complementary safeguard and not a defensive solution. 

We made an heroic impression at the Thetford Academy Careers event held on Friday, March 22nd. Our brand-new promotional stand, accompanied by Estee and two former apprentices, stood out among numerous local businesses and training providers attending the event. The Thetford Academy Careers event drew enthusiastic participation from young people, eager to explore various career opportunities. Warren proudly supported this initiative, engaging with students who showed immense interest in our offerings. A highlight was our Lego challenge, which this time was to create an electric vehicle along with EV charger – quite fitting as it resonates with our commitment to sustainability, reflected in their electric fleet of vehicles. Our new stand got attention for its striking design and drew positive feedback from the attendees. The inclusion of the Lego superhero on the display stand added an extra dimension of excitement, sparking the imaginations of young attendees and reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation and engagement.

M+A Partners, an independent firm of Chartered Accountants, Chartered Tax Advisers and Auditors, announces the appointment of a new Partner. Effective from 6 April 2024, Isobelle Webster joins the firm’s partnership, a reflection of her dedication, knowledge, and the significant and ongoing contributions she has made to the firm. During her time with M+A Partners, Isobelle has undertaken senior roles within audit, corporate finance and most recently managing a portfolio of businesses ranging from sole traders to medium and large corporates, covering a wide range of industries with a particular focus on agriculture. Isobelle’s swift progression through the firm’s Senior Promotion and Development Framework is testament to her depth of expertise, commercial understanding and the excellent relationships formed with clients and within the M+A Partners’ team. Isobelle commented: “M+A Partners is a firm with a supportive and ambitious culture, providing a clear pathway for team members to accomplish their career goals and develop individual strengths. It is working within this collaborative environment that has enabled me to grow professionally, building on my own knowledge to confidently take on each new opportunity. Becoming a Partner marks a significant next step in my career journey. I am delighted to have been invited into a partnership that enables me to work alongside a team of similarly dedicated colleagues, each working together to shape the future of our firm and helping to realise our plans for growth.” Alistair Fish, Partner commented: “Promoting the next generation of talent is an essential part of developing the breadth and high-quality of service that is our foremost priority for clients – Isobelle exemplifies this commitment to excellence and I am delighted that she is joining us as a Partner of the firm. Isobelle is a well-established figure in the business community, with a highly regarded knowledge of local sectors and I know she will positively contribute to the long-term success of M+A Partners.”

• Norfolk distillery beats stiff competition from around the world, including Scotland’s finest, to win one of whisky’s ultimate accolades…
• Just 17 years after laying down its first casks
• £59 bottles are available now, but be quick they’re selling fast!

A pioneering English distillery that opened its doors just 17 years ago is celebrating winning one of global whisky’s ultimate accolades after scooping Best Single Malt at the annual World Whiskies Awards. Norfolk-based The English Distillery became the first operational whisky distillery in more than 100 years when it opened for business in 2006. Now it has claimed an even more impressive first by beating off stiff competition from some of the world’s oldest and rarest whiskies with a sherry cask matured single malt whisky that it launched less than six months ago to critical acclaim. Bottled by hand at its Breckland-based distillery, The English Sherry Cask is an unpeated single malt whisky, which has been matured from start to finish in the finest PX sherry casks to create a stunning expression that it said had been “well worth the wait”. The distillery learned of its world-winning success in front of the whisky industry’s finest at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on Wednesday evening (20^th March) as awards organiser Whisky Magazine celebrated “the best people, places, and products in the whisky world”. Founded by farmer James Nelstrop to fulfil a lifelong dream, the distillery – guided by the experience of legendary Master Distiller Ian Henderson – began to lay down whiskies in its dunnage warehouses, with the sole aim of making world class single malt whisky in England following a century’s absence of whisky making in the country. Like all its whiskies, the winning whisky was made using barley grown locally and on the Nelstrop family farms. The entire distillation process of milling, mashing, distilling with a pair of traditional and beautiful copper stills, maturing in the finest oak casks and hand bottling, all take place at the distillery. James’ son Andrew, who has led the 20-strong team at the picturesque distillery since his father’s death in 2014. Andrew said: “We’re stunned. Whilst any whisky maker hopes to win an award, winning the big one is the realisation of my father’s sole goal of creating world class single malt whiskies in England, and sharing them with whisky lovers around the world.” Father of two Andrew, whose wife Katy works alongside him as The English Distillery’s Marketing Director, added: “This is a super way to celebrate our 18th year of whisky distilling. It’s a testament to our distillers’ work and I know my father would have been hugely proud of this achievement, as are we. “As the English Whisky category continues to grow with pace, this award is another milestone for whisky making in England, particularly when it’s judged against some of the finest single malt whiskies from around the world, including Scotland.” The winning whisky boasts aromas of rich dark fruits from the sherry-filled casks, which combine in a nose of raw honey and vanilla, leading to a burst of sweet toffee, cherries and digestives on the palate. The result is a wonderfully balanced and rich whisky that is not outshone by the wood. Bottled at 46% abv, non chill filtered and natural in colour, The English Sherry Cask is a no age statement whisky that is part of the distillery’s core range, which includes The English Original and The English Smokey (both RRP £47.50, 70cl bottle). Stockist House of Malt describes the winning whisky as a “delightful newcomer to The English Distillery’s core range… with a luxuriously thick sherry character, brimming with flavours of crumbly biscuits, smooth vanilla caramel, simmered berries, and sun-dried figs”. It is also available to purchase directly from the distillery’s online shop @ https://www.englishwhisky.co.uk/ and through leading global retailers including Bottle Apostle, The Spirt Specialist, and The Whisky World.

The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House is delighted to be relaunching our invaluable Hospice at Home Service. We feel patients at the end of life must have access to high quality care, advice and support in their preferred place of care, and that care extends to their family and informal and formal care-givers. The Hospice promotes care and support that are delivered in a culture that respects patient autonomy and is centered around individual end of life care wishes. The commitment of the local Integrated Care Board to the financial support of this service is welcomed by our CEO Niki Ellis who has campaigned for many years for the development of this much needed service. “Caring for patients who are in the last weeks of life is a specialist and vitally important service. When delivered well, with compassion, knowledge and shaped by what is important to the person – it is a powerful and moving experience. We only get one chance to get it right for the patient and their family and our team go to extraordinary lengths to ensure we get it right every time.” The main objective of the service is to allow those who wish to die at home to be supported to do so by a team of Hospice staff with specialist expertise in end of life care. Care is based on a holistic approach that focuses on the needs of the patient and their family, respecting people’s beliefs and values. The service complements and supports existing services including GPs, community nurses, domiciliary care agencies and care homes. As a charity the Hospice continues to fundraise within the community; if you would like to find out more about how you can make a difference please contact the Fundraising Team on 01485 601701 or by email fundraisingteam@norfolkhospice.org.uk

SME News were proud to announce the return of their Business Elite Awards for 2024, and were delighted to advise that they recognised Wingfield Consultants Ltd with the following title: WINNER: Best Business Growth Solutions Consultancy 2024 – East England Simon Wingfield, Founder of Wingfield Consultants, said: ‘We are really pleased to be recognised by SME News for the support we give local businesses in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire’. This is the THIRD big win for Wingfield Consultants in 2024. It follows the CorporateLiveWire Global Awards 2023-24 win for Business Consultancy of the Year – UK win and The National Mentoring Awards – Excellence in Mentoring Award win (for Simon Wingfield). Useful Links: Wingfield Consultants Ltd (2024 Winner: Business Elite Awards) – SME News (sme-news.co.uk)

A monthly round-up of business news and a snap-shot of the local economy by analysing the most up to date official statistics. Economic Barometer – Feb Economic Barometer – May Economic Barometer – June

CWA Training, the training division of the College of West Anglia, is dedicated to helping your staff develop the right skills to improve their effectiveness, quality and productivity – key factors in improving the competitiveness of every business. We have been providing training solutions for a wide range of clients for over 25 years. Our team of dedicated highly skilled and experienced industry professionals bring a wealth of knowledge to our range of accredited and tailor-made programmes. We have earned a reputation for delivering high quality training with particular attention being paid to meeting customer needs. From initial enquiry, CWA Training work to build effective relationships with our clients to develop and deliver programmes which are relevant to particular problems or identified skills gaps. Through dialogue our aim is to align courses specifically to the organisational needs of business. We ultimately aim to deliver training which results in meaningful improvements in skills, staff effectiveness, quality and productivity. This comprehensive guide highlights a range of our most popular accredited and bespoke programmes; however, this is not an exhaustive list as we aim to provide bespoke training solutions even if these popular courses may not specifically meet your training requirements. READ THE CWA TRAINING GUIDE HERE

Norfolk-based gentleman’s grooming and global lifestyle brand Captain Fawcett is proud to announce his new ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder has been acclaimed as a ‘Men’s Grooming Products & Accessories’ Finalist in Cosmoprof Bologna’s internationally renowned ‘Oscars of Beauty’.

The Cosmoprof & Cosmopack Awards in partnership with BEAUTYSTREAMS celebrate excellence in the global cosmetics industry and with over 700 entries, from across the globe, the contest is extremely competitive, with just 3 finalists per category.

Products are independently judged on category criteria including Innovation, Creativity, Packaging & Design, Product Benefits, Ethics and User Experience.

The Captain’s new ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder is the latest addition to his highly acclaimed ‘Hair Couture’ collection, created for both professional barbershops and salons, and also for convenient, luxury styling at home.

Captain Fawcett founder Richie Finney was delighted to join fellow global industry leaders at the The Grande Soirée Cosmoprof & Cosmopack Awards Ceremony in Bologna, Italy on Friday 22 March.

He attended the glittering occasion with Valentino Bergamini, CEO and Founder of Captain Fawcett’s highly esteemed Italian distributor Bottega della Barba Srl.

Richie says ‘It is a huge honour for Captain Fawcett to be recognised as being amongst world leaders in the beauty and grooming industry. Being named as a Finalist amid such impressive competition from all across the world is testament to the ambition and hard work of the whole team, not least our simply magnificent distributors who do so much to support the Captain Fawcett brand in their home territories. Captain Fawcett thanks all colleagues and friends for each playing their hugely appreciated parts as we continue to forge ahead in 2024!’

As we approach the end of March and the first quarter of 2024, we really have had a lot to celebrate. At the beginning of the year, we welcomed two new team members, Ben and Steve. Ben and Steve are both our new process servers and investigators. Between them, they bring a wealth of experience to the business and ensure we can accommodate more clients with process serving and investigations. In February, we had a work anniversary for our investigator and process server, Jamie. Jamie celebrated 4 years with Taylor Investigations. Jamie has grown and developed his skills in the investigation industry and he really is the glue that keeps the case files prioritised. Jamie survived lockdown with us, and we couldn’t be prouder of all he has achieved so far! Later in February, followed by our very own business birthday, where we celebrated being 8 years old! The past 8 years really have flown by, but with consistent growth and helping clients across the country and worldwide, we cannot wait to see what else is to come! Finally, this month, we joined Norwich Theatre Royal as associate sponsors and are being showcased on the safety curtain! This is a huge milestone for the business and also for me personally as a huge theatre lover. So, there will be a lot of celebrating and probably a few too many doughnuts for us! Reflecting back on 8 years in business, it has undoubtedly come with its ups and downs, although overall lots of ups. When I started the business 8 years ago, I never imagined what I could achieve and how we would grow. I can’t wait for the next 8 years as I am sure it will be just as much a rollercoaster! Thank you for your continued support, and as ever, we are ready to go for that case you need answers to! Charlotte Notley

From 1^st April 2024 businesses and not-for-profit organisations based in North Norfolk will be able to receive a free decarbonisation plan and additional support and guidance to help them reduce their carbon footprint. This is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant programme being delivered by North Norfolk District Council.  Alongside the free support there will be a small grant fund to help deliver some of the identified carbon reduction measures. These grants will support energy efficiency or net-zero adaptations for businesses to make them more sustainable and efficient. NNDC are partnering with community and environment charity Groundwork East to deliver this free service to businesses. This will be delivered through a North Norfolk Net Zero Business Advisor Service. The service is free and impartial, and advisors will calculate a carbon footprint for the organisation, identify carbon reduction measures and compile these into a bespoke decarbonisation plan. Businesses are increasingly being asked by customers and government to report on their energy use and carbon footprint. Working with Groundwork’s business advisors can support organisations to understand their carbon footprint and reduce emissions, often leading to reduced running costs. Businesses that have completed their plan may be eligible to apply for a small grant which can be used for measures to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs. Support through this programme is open to small businesses from all sectors, with a particular focus on North Norfolk’s tourism and manufacturing businesses. To kick this off, Groundwork East and Visit North Norfolk are co-hosting a Net Zero webinar for North Norfolk’s tourism businesses on 25th April 2024, which will examine what net zero means and how the carbon reduction grants can be accessed. For further information and to register for the free webinar visit: https://carboncharter.org/events/visit-north-norfolks-net-zero-webinar/ Amy Coulter, Sustainable Business Team Manager at Groundwork East said: “The support our team is providing will help businesses to measure their emissions, and cut their carbon footprint and their running costs. We will be helping North Norfolk’s businesses identify key measures to improve their energy efficiency and will be supporting them to access grant funding to make their carbon reduction plans a reality’. Cllr Adam Varley, North Norfolk District Council, portfolio holder for Climate Change and Net Zero, said: “I am really pleased that we are partnering with Groundwork East to ensure that our businesses have this vital knowledge and understanding on tackling their carbon footprint. One size does not fit all, and having a bespoke plan for each business will ensure that they are best equipped to incorporate those significant measures which will decrease their carbon emissions and help booster their business. This is fundamental as we strive to decrease carbon emissions and achieve net zero in North Norfolk by 2045.” Cllr Paul Heinrich, North Norfolk District Council portfolio holder for Sustainable Growth, said: “This is an important project that not only supports our net zero ambitions but will enable businesses to not only reduce their carbon footprint but also to improve their energy efficiency resulting in significant cost savings that can be used to support further investment in the business.” Visit carboncharter.org/net-zero-business-advice-north-norfolk/ to find out more.