RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch wants to introduce solar panels at its headquarters in AshwellthorpeCould you help RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch secure a sunny future as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations? Today (1 March) the RSPCA branch – who covers 2,500 square miles across Norfolk and Suffolk including Norwich, Cromer, Wymondham, Dereham and Lowestoft – has launched #EveryoneForEveryAnimal with Crowdfunder – a new campaign to create a better world for every animal – as animals face bigger challenges than ever. This year is a major milestone for the branch as it marks its 60th anniversary – whilst the RSPCA also marks its 200th birthday this year – and as part of their celebrations they are looking to the future to find ways of becoming more sustainable in order to ensure they can continue to support the community for many years to come. The Crowdfunder, which will be running throughout March, is asking for contributions towards the installation of solar panels at their Ashwellthorpe office. The new panels will help them reduce utility costs, reduce service disruption and become more environmentally sustainable. In 2023 the local charity found loving homes for 421 animals, contributed to 367 veterinary bills, issued 1,259 neutering vouchers and this year they are hoping to do even more good for the pet owners and animals of Norfolk and Suffolk. Unfortunately due to the cost of living crisis and rise in veterinary and utility bills, the branch has reported seeing a higher demand than ever for their services at a time in which they are already struggling with their own lack of resources. As well as rescuing and rehoming animals in need, the branch provides financial support and advice for local pet owners whilst also supporting local communities through its education outreach programme. In 2023, it cost them £715 to care for a dog, £500 to care for a cat and £295 to care for a rabbit for three weeks; this year they anticipate these costs will go up even more. The aim of the crowdfunder campaign will help the branch reduce utility costs so further investment can be made into their crucial animal welfare work. Branch CEO Gregory Brown said: “As an animal welfare charity, we recognise that the steps we take towards our own environmental impact is a crucial part of our charitable objectives. “The introduction of solar panels at our offices will not only help us take one step closer to becoming more sustainable but also help us reduce our own administrative costs. “By contributing to our crowdfunder you can help us to invest more money into local communities in Norfolk and Suffolk, creating a better world for animals and their owners.” To support RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch’s Crowdfunder please go to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rspca-norwich—solar-panel-project-1#start before the end of March. The first 30 people to donate £20 get an exclusive pin badge so make sure to get in quick! Find out more about the branch at www.rspcanorwich.org.uk
Completing this survey will help local charities and educational institutions identify the energy and climate challenges facing people and organisations in Norwich and to secure funding to help address those challenges Average completion time: Under 5 minutes. All required questions are multiple choice. Please click this link to complete the survey.All data is collected and processed by Future Projects for the purposes stated above only. All responses are anonymous, with no contact or personally identifiable information collected from respondents. Any demographic information collected in the survey is used only to identify trends affecting particular groups or areas. Raw data will not be shared outside of the charity partnership.
ARE YOU ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT EDUCATION? DO YOU HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO BE A VOLUNTEER? IF SO THEN WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We are looking for committed people to join John Grant School’s Governing Board as Co-opted governors. We have a number of vacancies in the co-opted govemor category and would welcome applications from people with experience in:
Finance (Accountant, Finance Manager etc)
Human Resources
Legal (Paralegal, Solicitor etc)
Health and Safety (H&S officer, union rep etc)
Capital projects management
The Governing Board of our school is made up of parent, staff, local authority and co-opted governors. The recruitment process initially requires you to complete an application form. The next stage is a skills review, to allow the Governing board to understand your skill set. The final stage is an interview with the Head teacher and Chair of Governors. The Governing Board operates at a strategic level and is not involved in the day-to-day running of the school. We are responsible for both the conduct of the school and for the promotion of high standards. We carry out this role by setting the vision for the school, ensuring that the school works efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision, and that the school provides a high quality education for its pupils. This is done by building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community, by both supporting and constructively challenging the school, and by ensuring accountability and compliance. Governors need not be experts in the field of education. What they do need is an interest in the school and in the welfare of its pupils, together with the time and willingness to get involved. The skills you have can be very useful to the Governing Board. Governors also need ‘soft skills’ – the ability to be able to build relationships with a range of people, to be able to work as part of a team, to be able to question, and to make connections between different types of information. All governors are expected to be able to read budget reports and data on school standards. Our Governing Board has certain expectations of governors, which currently are:
to attend and contribute to half termly meetings of the full Governing Board,
when required, to sit on any committee or working party and attend all associated meetings
to monitor a subject link area within the school, e.g. Numeracy, Literacy, Special Educational Needs, Early Years, etc., and meet with the staff subject leader on a minimum of a termly basis, reporting on each visit to the Governing Board
to visit the school formally for monitoring purposes as directed by the Governing Board,
to visit the school informally on occasion,
to commit to attend training courses,
to comply with the expectations set out in our Code of Conduct.
In return, our Governing Board commits to:
provide you with an experienced governor as mentor,
provide you with a structured induction,
provide access to quality training via the National College for Teaching & Leadership or local authority Governor Support
develop your skills in strategic management,
offer you an insight into the wider perspective of the school,
give you the opportunity to make a difference to our school and the outcomes for our pupils.
If you would like to find out more about how you can contribute to governance at our school, or have any questions about anything, then please contact the school office which will then arrange for a governor to contact you. To apply for one of the vacancies please contact our Clerk to Governors, Mrs T Brooks via the school office office@johngrant.norfolk.sch.uk
Leading independent Norfolk property services firm Arnolds Keys has announced the appointment of a new managing partner, and the creation of a senior partner role.
Nick Williams, who joined the firm in 2016 and was appointed a partner in 2019, becomes managing partner, with a focus on managing the firm and its operations, maintaining high client service standards, developing talent, and implementing the firm’s strategy.
Meanwhile, Guy Gowing, who has been managing partner for the past 19 years, will become senior partner, with a focus on professional advice for key clients and Business Development. He will continue to head Arnolds Keys’ Commercial Property division as well as providing advice to clients.
Mr Gowing commented,” I am delighted to be handing over the managing partner role to Nick after nearly two decades in the role. I know that he will continue to build on the firm’s strong foundations.
“As Arnolds Keys has grown and developed, the evolution with the management of the firm will enable us to focus even more closely on developing our offering, providing excellent service to our clients, and ensuring that we attract and develop the very best staff to take the business forward.”
Mr Wiliams said, “Having worked alongside Guy as a partner for five years, I am looking forward to leading the firm alongside him. We will both continue to build on Arnolds Keys’ strengths as we face an ever-changing business and property environment.”
Mr Williams joined Arnolds Keys in 2016 having trained and qualified with a firm in Cambridgeshire. He is a Chartered Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer.
Mr Gowing joined the firm in 1991, becoming a partner in 1998 and managing partner in 2005. He leads Arnolds Keys Commercial Property team, providing development advice and strategic property investment advice.
Delia’s Canary Catering are delighted to offer half price room hire for any meetings or events taking place throughout August 2024.
Whether you need a breakout space to upskill your team, or you’re hosting a large conference, training event or awards ceremony, our varied choice of rooms and spaces are available to hire. With a variety of rooms offering stunning pitch views, we can cater to events for up to 600 delegates. To claim this offer, please contact CanaryCatering@canaries.co.uk with your enquiry and quote Canary50 to get this exclusive offer. View our available rooms here: https://www.deliascanarycatering.co.uk/rooms *Offer subject to availability. [Carrow Road venue hire]https://www.deliascanarycatering.co.uk/venuehire
The challenges CityFibre and Up-Connect must tackle before any newly built, full fibre network can go live across the UK – including those for Project Gigabit. Fibre Exchanges are a critical part of CityFibre’s mission to rollout full fibre infrastructure to a third of the UK. Without them its broadband and Business Ethernet connections couldn’t be powered or managed. But, as the man who leads CityFibre’s Fibre Exchange Acquisition and Delivery Team explains, site acquisition would be much harder without its FEX hunters, Up-Connect. Unlike most UK network infrastructure builders that commonly use BT operated telephone exchanges, CityFibre has its own nationwide estate of over 120 modern Fibre Exchanges, used to power all its Ready for Service premises today. And when it comes to getting a new FEX in situ, there’s little scope for compromise. SEARCHING THE HAYSTACK “Finding FEX locations that work with our network design and meet our access and connectivity requirements is complex in itself,” explains CityFibre’s, Phil Johnson, who’s team is responsible for both FEX acquisition and delivery. “But agreeing lease terms with Landlords efficiently and securing any wayleaves so we can get each facility live, can be the difference between us delivering services to communities on time, or as much as a year later.” It’s this challenge that CityFibre shares with specialist property consultants, Up-Connect; experts in site sourcing, surveying and acquisition, as well as predicting and managing all the issues that can cause delays. The hunt begins as soon as Up-Connect receives a new FEX site requirement from CityFibre. Most suitable sites are not actively marketed by local commercial agents though, so proactivity and good local knowledge is the name of the game. “Once potential sites have been identified, Up-Connect validate them with our network design team to ensure they work from a network planning perspective”, continues Phil. They also check each Landlord is open to CityFibre’s purchase or lease terms. All viable options are then discussed, looking specifically at any design or build difficulties and the implications of existing services and land designations”. THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL Every FEX site requires full planning consent. This is often the most challenging part of a project and goes hand-in-hand with understanding the concerns of local communities and the councils that represent them. “Up-Connect help to minimise planning risks by looking into everything from flood, noise and ecological impacts, right through to the presence of nearby trees, homes, existing underground infrastructure and even bats! It’s a critical stage because the more that’s understood, the better placed we are to make adjustments and put minds at rest.” In parallel, Up-Connect continue to engage with Landlords. Their goal is to agree a robust set of Terms before any lawyers get involved, to minimise the cost and time to secure a lease or purchase. Due diligence is also needed during this phase to identify complications that could arise during the legal process – e.g. ransom strips and restrictive covenants. “Every stage demands attention to detail as well as great communication, collaboration and negotiation skills”, says Phil. “And so far, Up-Connect have been faultless, using their expertise to navigate every issue faced and ensuring a positive outcome.” LOCAL SUPPORT IS KEY Right now, house building is a priority across the UK. Not only does this make land increasingly hard to find, but building onto it can be strongly opposed by residents, especially when the intended use of land is poorly understood. Having the support of local authorities is vital, whether that’s helping to identify plots of land, supporting planning applications or assisting with wayleaves. Together CityFibre and Up-Connect have already engaged with numerous councils nationwide, explaining what a FEX is and what CityFibre’s investment and network presence means. “It’s time well spent because once local authorities understand the societal benefits of better connectivity and the economic upside of CityFibre’s investment, they are more likely to support us through the processes and help us explain the benefits to local people”. Without any local authority support though, it can be an uphill struggle, especially as CityFibre begins to extend its network into harder to reach areas as part of Project Gigabit. FAR-FLUNG PLACES, FIELDS AND FARMYARDS The nine Project Gigabit contracts that CityFibre has won so far, mean that over 464,000 government subsidised homes and businesses are now dependent on the team getting the new networks up and running on time. “Of the 30 FEX sites currently being ‘hunted’ for UK wide, over 85 per cent are related to our Project Gigabit commitments. For our FEX hunting team this means finding dozens of sites in a short space of time.” When CityFibre’s focus was almost exclusively on urban areas, Up-Connect would hunt for centrally located sites, like empty warehouses or small unused pockets of land in industrial areas. For Project Gigabit, the search often extends out to semi-rural industrial areas and even farmyards. “Sites need to tick similar boxes as before, but we also need to minimise ‘dead dig’ (excess fibre spans needed just to reach a far-flung community). Access to sites can be trickier because non-urban roads are often narrower and parking isn’t always so freely available. Street works must also be minimised because road closures in rural areas can cause much longer diversions than those in towns and cities.” Stepping up to meet the rural challenge is not for the feint hearted, but Up-Connect are already delivering results, with a number of Project Gigabit related FEXs already in build. “Since being appointed in 2020 to find and acquire land or leases, Up-Connect have secured around 80 FEX sites and assessed thousands of alternatives. The fastest took just over two months but the average is closer to six months. And so far they’ve never failed to find a site in an area we’ve instructed them on. They even found a suitable site in Bath – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – where two other firms had failed,” said Phil. Although Up-Connect clearly bring CityFibre the expertise that’s needed, they also share their understanding that speed is of the essence, in more ways than one. That’s because, ultimately, it’s all about delivering the benefits of reliable, multi-gigabit Internet connectivity, sooner rather than later.
Norfolk Heritage Open Days is back Friday 6 September – Sunday 15 September and local people, organisations, sites, venues and charities across Norfolk are invited to participate in this unique free Festival. This annual Festival gives everyone the chance to share their stories and celebrate local history with visitors from across the country.
Festival Dates Friday 6 September – Sunday 15 September
Heritage Open Days (HODs) is England’s largest free festival of heritage and culture. Every year thousands of people attend free HODs events, discovering more about England’s history, learning the stories behind some of our most loved buildings and organisations, and discovering the untold tales and unsung heroes of the country. 2024 brings Heritage Open Days’ 30th anniversary: marking three decades of honouring the ordinary and extraordinary.
Norfolk Heritage Open Days is coordinated by The Forum. In 2023 Norwich had the largest Heritage Open Days programme of any city in the country: demonstrating the incredible history and passion for our City of Stories. For 2024, Norfolk Heritage Open Days is looking forward to welcoming new organisers from across the county, as well as much loved favourites.
Katie Ellis, Norfolk Heritage Open Days Events Producer, says “Heritage Open Days celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024 and we can’t wait to hear about all the fascinating stories and experiences that Norfolk organisers will be sharing with visitors this year.”
Everybody is welcome to register as a Norfolk Heritage Days Organiser, and participation is completely free. 91% of 2023’s Norfolk organisers would recommend other organisations take part in HODs, and 72% welcomed more visitors during HODs than on a normal opening day.
2023 saw thousands of visitors exploring and discovering places across the county, with more than 310 events for people to attend. Organisers are welcome to hold a single event, or open their doors across the entire week: whatever is most convenient for them. Demand for Norfolk Heritage Open Days is huge, with many visitors attending multiple events and sites across the week, and pre-book events often fully booked within an hour of ticket release.
Venues and organisers interested in taking part can find out more by emailing hods@theforumnorwich.co.uk<mailto:hods@theforumnorwich.co.uk> or visiting norfolkheritageopendays.co.uk/get-involved. Organisers must register by Sunday 26 May for their events to be included in the Norfolk listings brochure, which has a print run of 25,000 and is distributed across the region.
This year’s Heritage Open Days theme is Routes – Networks – Connections, celebrating how people and ideas have moved and come together throughout history: from the impact of railways, to our own Norwich Strangers. Organisers are welcome to submit an event on the theme, or something else entirely!
Local Suppliers Invited to Meet the Buyer Event Local contractors and suppliers are being invited to attend a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event to find out about potential opportunities offered through the multi-million pound developments that are taking place in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk over the next 3 -4 years. Hosted by the borough council and its partners, the free event will take place on Friday 19th April 2024 at King’s Lynn Town Hall and will provide an overview of the significant development projects that are planned and underway for the town. This includes, the new Multi User Community Hub, Active Travel Hubs, St George’s Guildhall, and the Riverfront Regeneration, all being delivered as part of King’s Lynn Town Deal. In addition, there will be information on the Lovell Major Housing partnership with the borough council which is creating up to 1,000 new homes. And, there will also be an update on Norfolk County Council led highway schemes including the new West Winch Housing Access Road, as well as the Southgates and Gyratory highway schemes. The event will allow contractors and suppliers to find out about these projects, learn of opportunities to be part of principal contractors’ supply chains, and register interest for contracts. As well as presentations on the projects, there will also be bookable 1-2-1 slots available with the main contractors – Mace Group, Morgan Sindall Group plc, and Lovell Partnership Ltd – and the borough council’s procurement team. In addition, throughout the day projects and organisations which can offer advice and support – including New Anglia Growth Hub, College of West Anglia, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, and the Federation of Small Business – will also be on hand to talk to. Councillor Alistair Beales, Cabinet Member for Business said: “King’s Lynn and West Norfolk is benefitting from millions of pounds of investment, supported by different funding sources and streams, which is facilitating the delivery of some hugely significant construction and development projects over the next few years. “We are keen to ensure that this regeneration has a positive impact on the local economy and where possible, opportunities to be part of principal contractors’ supply chains are promoted. “This is an exciting time for the town, and our Meet the Buyer event will showcase the sheer scope of the investment that is being delivered for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, to benefit everyone who live, works, and visits here.” Councillor Chris Morley, Cabinet Member for Finance added: “This event offers a great opportunity for local suppliers to find out about the significant projects that are being delivered in West Norfolk, and the potential for them to get on board through procurement. “Our team will be on hand to talk about the procurement process, alongside the principal contractors from some of our key projects who will be able to detail next steps and plans for the coming months and years. “We know that there is a high level of interest in the transformational development that is gathering pace, and we look forward to updating local contractors and suppliers who wish to find out more at the event.” Anyone wishing to book their place at the event, which takes place from 9am – 3pm on Friday 19th April 2024 at King’s Lynn Town Hall, can do so here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-buyer-in-kings-lynn-tickets-858025155337?aff=oddtdtcreator
There are so many ways that external organisations benefit from the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) world-leading expertise that it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where the University’s team of Relationship Managers come in – find out more below…. UEA’s relationship managersYour questions answered…What do the relationship managers do? The University’s team of Relationship Managers liaise with businesses and external organisations, helping them to access UEA’s expertise and facilities. They have a good understanding of business and industry, their sector (including external funding opportunities), and the full range of services offered by UEA. Which sectors do the relationship managers work in? They cover agriculture, business services, creative, digital, engineering, environmental sciences, financial services, healthcare, heritage, legal services, life sciences, marine science, medical sciences and social care. So, whatever area you’re working in, the chances are that one of the Relationship Managers can help you. What exactly can the Relationship Managers help me with? It really depends on your business and your needs. For example, it could be that one of the Relationship Managers help you to access funding opportunities. The University recently supported organisations to bid for funding through the Agrifood Launchpad and a future funding round is expected in April this year – so do get in touch now to discuss this, or funding opportunities in other sectors. Or, you could access academic expertise and develop your business through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), or by getting involved in UEA’s postgraduate research. If you’ve got a problem to solve or want to fine-tune an exciting idea, UEA’s consultancy service can help you – or, if you want to turn ground-breaking research into cutting-edge products, our licensing scheme provides invaluable support. UEA could also provide bespoke training for your organisation. There are many other ways that you can benefit from UEA’s expertise, so do get in touch to find out more. What if I don’t have a budget, or a clear idea on which UEA service to access? There is no fee for getting in touch, and the Relationship Managers will find out your needs and look at the best ways of supporting you to achieve your goals. It all starts with a conversation, so do get in touch. How do I get in touch with the Relationship Managers? You can see the profiles of the relationship managers, along with their contact details, on UEA’s website. And if you’re not sure who to contact, just email business@uea.ac.uk and the University will put you in touch with the right person.
Law firm Howes Percival has acted for Amy and Charles Barwick, on the acquisition of Southwold Pier.
The pier was purchased by the Barwick’s for an undisclosed sum, from previous owner Curious Pier Limited, which is part of the Gough Hotels group which also runs the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and the Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich, as part of their portfolio. The husband-and-wife team are the co-owners of Pineapple Events Solutions, which manufactures bespoke chalets and provides food and drink solutions and event management for visitor destinations such as Christmas markets, music festivals and sporting events across the UK. The original Southwold Pier was built in 1900 as a landing platform for the Belle steamships, which carried passengers to seaside destinations from London Bridge. The present main building dates back from major refurbishment in 1937 but most of the pier itself is modern having been rebuilt between 1999 and 2001 to a length of 623ft. Amy Barwick, new co-owner of Southwold Pier said: “Charles and I are so excited to become the new custodians of the pier and we look forward to running it alongside the fabulous team we’ve inherited, for many years to come.” Charles Barwick, new co-owner of Southwold Pier said: “We are looking at an initial light refurbishment in places, but this will be phased, as we plan to keep the other areas open to the public as we go. We have great plans to invest in the pier and its facilities.” Howes Percival advised the buyers on all the legal aspects of the deal, bringing in expertise from the firm’s specialist Leisure & Tourism sector team to advise on commercial property, employment, planning, licensing and regulatory. The team was led by Richard Turner (corporate) with support from Guy Houldsworth and Katherine Channell (Commercial Property), Laura Brown (Employment), Jamie Childs (Planning and Licensing) and Robert Starr (Regulatory). Howes Percival’s Richard Turner commented, “This was a great transaction to be involved in. We know it is a challenging time at present for many businesses in the leisure, tourism and hospitality sector and so it was even more rewarding to be able to support our client who has great plans to invest in the pier and enhance its reputation as being one of the best loved tourism destinations in East Anglia.” For more information visit: https://www.howespercival.com/services/corporate/
“We loved hearing from people who organised their own events. They clearly had great fun, while doing something simple to raise funds for such a worthy cause” – after a successful debut, EACH’s Big Tea Break is back for 2024. Fundraisers are being encouraged to brew-up, tuck into a sweet treat and raise vital funds for charity. The Big Tea Break is being organised by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and will take place between 23rd and 29th March. This is the second year of the popular initiative after it made a successful debut in 2023. It gives the public an opportunity to put the kettle on, share a cuppa and spend quality time together, while also making a donation to EACH. Community Fundraising Manager Tina Burdett said: “We’re excited to be organising another Big Tea Break. “It was a completely new venture last year and we were very happy with the way it went. “We loved hearing from people who organised their own events. They clearly had great fun, while doing something simple to raise funds for such a worthy cause. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a small group or whole communities getting involved. “It’s about bringing people together and the idea ties in with the wellbeing and support services we offer. “One of our key messages is that we help families create memories together. “There’s a direct link because we want to encourage our supporters to take a break and make their own memories with family, friends and colleagues. “Please spread the word and for more information, including how to register an event and download a fundraising pack, check our website.” Supporters are being encouraged to snap, tag and share their photos online and anyone wishing to donate, but unable to host or attend an event, can contribute £3 by texting BIGTEABREAK to 70085. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one message at your standard network message rate. This year’s Big Tea Break is being sponsored by TREATT. For further information about this release please contact: Matt Plummer | Media and PR Manager | 07738 328058 | Matt.Plummer@each.org.uk
We are so proud to tell you that Wingfield Consultants are finalists in ‘The Mentoring Matters Awards 2024’. We have been nominated in the ‘Excellence in Mentoring Award’. What is particularly pleasing is that the nominations came from people and organisations that we support pro bono through the ‘Help to Grow: Management Course’ scheme.