Member News

A devoted mum says volunteering in a charity shop helped her children deal with anxiety and develop social skills. Kate Williamson is a valued member of the volunteer team at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ (EACH) Poringland shop. She lends her support twice a week, on a Thursday afternoon and all day Saturday, and has previously been joined by twins Rhiannon and Rhys, now 20, and daughter Elizabeth, 18. All three happily gave their time and got the volunteering bug after needing to complete work experience while at school. “Volunteering is something we’ve all enjoyed together, as a family,” said Kate, who lives in Alpington. “It’s had a big impact on us all. “All my children suffered from anxiety. Their social skills weren’t great and they lacked confidence. “The shop helped coax them out of their shells because they were suddenly in a position where they were interacting with people. “It didn’t happen straight away and to start with they were very shy, barely talking unless they were spoken to and only replying by saying ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘thank you’. “However, that quickly changed, and within time, they were having full-on conversations with people.” Kate feels others in a similar position would enjoy similar benefits and was speaking during EACH’s ‘Be the difference’ campaign – a volunteer recruitment drive running until the end of October. “Rhiannon, Rhys and Elizabeth enjoying meeting customers and making friends and their confidence flourished,” she said. “Not many teenagers would be pleased to get an alarm call on a Saturday morning. “However, my three loved it. They were up before me and clock-watching because they knew the shop opened at 9am. “Despite a difficult start to life, they’ve stepped up to the plate and made real progress. “I’m immensely proud of them and all three have taken those skills into adulthood and their university and college lives.” Like her children, Kate feels she benefits enormously from volunteering and would encourage others to get involved. “Would I recommend it to others? 100%,” said the 59-year-old, who has been helping in the shop for three and a half years. “It’s enjoyable, rewarding and great fun. My message to anyone would be to give it a try because they won’t regret a thing. “I absolutely love it and find it thoroughly enjoyable. “I’ve got to know so many wonderful people, making some great friends, and love chatting to the customers. “It feels like I’m part of a family and if I’m having a tough time I know I can always ring someone from the shop, be it staff or one of my fellow volunteers. “They’ll always lend a friendly ear or reply with some good advice. Life can be a battle sometimes but it’s always good to talk.” For more information about volunteering, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk To find your nearest EACH shop, head here.  

Kind-hearted family members have stepped up to the plate and answered an urgent ‘SOS’ call by offering to volunteer at a popular charity shop. Sabrina Fenn manages Fakenham’s East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) store and is so desperate for help that she has called on support from husband David, 56, daughters Yolanda and Betty, 17 and 16 respectively, and son Joseph, 14. All four have duly rolled up their sleeves, using their respective skills to make it a genuine family affair. “It’s so lovely and I’m very proud of them,” said Sabrina, who urgently needs help from more volunteers keen to join her team. “They’ve answered my SOS call! They know how desperate I am for extra help and have kindly offered to give their time. “It’s much-appreciated and lovely for us to be together as a family. “It’s precious, quality time and I know they find it rewarding, doing something to help such a worthwhile cause. “It’s also a very positive, productive thing for my children to do in their spare time, rather than sitting at home.” Yolanda, who is at college, comes in every couple of weeks and helps dress the shop window. “She’s got a real talent when it comes to visual merchandising and we’ve had the most outstanding feedback from customers,” said Sabrina, who became manager last December after previously working for The National Trust. “They’ve been so impressed and say she should be doing it for a living. “Betty, who has just started at sixth form, comes in because she’s keen to get some retail experience and build her self-confidence. “She’s had some lovely comments from customers and also does the artwork for our chalkboards, making them look fabulous. “Joseph comes in every weekend to get some work experience. “It’s great for him to be able to say he’s had some till training and he spends time listing books for us to sell on Amazon. “All of them are building their skill sets, while at the same time supporting an amazing cause and helping their mum into the bargain! “It works on so many levels and they’re genuinely making a difference, helping everything run smoothly.” To complete the family circle, Sabrina, 46, also receives help from husband David, who works at Gresham’s School, in Holt. “After finishing work, he’ll often come in for a couple of hours and do whatever’s needed, including steaming donations and carrying boxes up and down the stairs,” she said. “He’s brilliant, as they all are, and I’m very grateful for their support, along with the whole volunteer team. “Our shop is flying and it feels like we’re ahead of schedule, rather than chasing our tails. “We have systems in place and our volunteers have been a major part of that, giving us their ideas and feedback. “We’ve made massive progress together and the figures testify that.” While grateful to her existing volunteers, Sabrina is desperate to hear from anyone else interested in lending a hand. She was speaking during EACH’s ‘Be the difference‘ campaign – a recruitment drive running until the end of October. “There are days when I’m flying solo and it’s a real struggle,” said Sabrina. “It can be a strain and it would be great to have another two or three regular volunteers on board. “It doesn’t have to involve the till, which I know puts some people off. “Not everyone wants to be customer-facing and I appreciate that. “There are so many other jobs they can do, either on the shop floor or upstairs behind the scenes, and we’re so appreciative of any help we get. “We’re flexible and can fit in with people’s busy lives. “There’s no heavy lifting involved and this is an opportunity to do something very enjoyable and rewarding to make a genuine difference.” To find out more, pop into the shop on Upper Market, email Sabrina via sabrina.fenn@each.org.uk or phone 01328 863297.

Leanne Gill, operations manager for Attleborough-based renewable heating company Finn Geotherm, has beaten off stiff national competition to win a prestigious award for women in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry. Leanne won HVAC Woman of the Year in the Heating & Ventilating Review (HVR) Awards 2023. The awards champion innovation, excellence and achievement across the heating and ventilating industry. The hotly contested HVAC Woman of the Year category was new for this year and looked to recognise a woman who has made an exceptional contribution to her employer’s business, stands out among peers for her hard work and dedication, and upholds the highest standards in business. Finn Geotherm’s longest serving employee, Leanne joined the company 15 years ago as a receptionist and administrator to work alongside technical director David Alston as he set up one of the UK’s first heat pump installation companies. She has been a driving force in the growth of the business ever since whilst developing her career to become a qualified accountant, operations manager and, in 2022, company secretary at Finn Geotherm. Joining the heat pump industry at a time when people didn’t know what heat pumps were or what they could do, Leanne was also one of the very first women in the HVAC sector. Working in a very male dominated industry, Leanne was among those leading the charge for women in HVAC and shifting perceptions of females. Today, her knowledge of the systems and how they work is second only to Finn Geotherm’s most senior heat pump engineers. Leanne represents not only determined and driven women but also working mums. She managed to juggle working and progressing her career at Finn Geotherm with having a young daughter. During the past 15 years, Leanne’s role has also grown to cover new regulations within the heat pump industry and the necessary compliance for Finn Geotherm, as well as taking on project management for increasingly complex installations as Finn Geotherm continues to be appointed for more challenging heat pump projects. Leanne Gill, operations manager at Finn Geotherm, said: “I am delighted to have won this national award. As a female in the HVAC industry, my role has been challenging at times but I always had the full support of Finn Geotherm behind me. Things have moved on a lot in the past 15 years – there are now more women taking up key roles in HVAC and I hope the next generation of project managers and installers will be filled by many more. “I love this job. No day is the same. Every project is unique and has different requirements. We’re genuinely making a difference to people’s lives and, at the same time, we’re doing our bit to help the environment which is crucial right now. The large-scale projects we’re currently working on at Finn Geotherm are really exciting and cutting edge and I’m looking forward what HVAC brings in the future.” Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm said: “We are immensely proud to see Leanne receive this prestigious national award. Leanne’s dedication to our company, and her rapidly accelerating role and responsibilities, has been incredible. It has been a pleasure to watch this amazing young woman develop in confidence, skill and knowledge – her abilities evolving as the demands placed upon her have increased enormously over the past 15 years. Leanne is a fantastic role model. We are honoured to have her in our team at Finn Geotherm and representing women in the HVAC industry.” Continuing its success at the HVR Awards 2023, Finn Geotherm was also awarded Collaboration of the Year alongside heat pump manufacturer Panasonic, for the partnership developed to specify and install the first 210kW air source heat pumps in Europe for University of West London’s Paragon House. For more information on Finn Geotherm, see www.finn-geotherm.co.uk. Photo caption: Leanne Gill receiving HVAC Woman of the Year. From left to right:  Kelly Bullivant of Fujitsu Air Conditioning; Leanne Gill, operations manager at Finn Geotherm and TV and radio presenter Lindsey Chapman who hosted the awards Image: HVR Awards Copyright: HVR Awards Photo caption: Finn Geotherm’s Leanne Gill has won HVAC Woman of the Year Image: Finn Geotherm Copyright: Finn Geotherm

A bereaved grandad has spoken of the heart-wrenching pain he suffered following the death of his ten-day-old granddaughter. Little Violet-May had a serious heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, as well as pulmonary valve dysplasia and mild pulmonary valve regurgitation, and received end-of-life care at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base near Norwich. She died in October 2021. Grandad Ziggy Nash has reflected on the harrowing time and was speaking during Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW), which runs until Sunday (9^th to 15^th October). It is a chance for families all over the world to commemorate the lives of their babies and share memories of the brief time they had together. “As a grandparent, it was a real double-whammy,” said Ziggy, who celebrated his 38^th birthday last Friday. “I lost my gorgeous, special and precious granddaughter, who brought love beyond words and will have a special place in my heart. “However, I also had to stand by and watch my daughter, Baylee, suffer. It broke my heart. “Everyone grieves in their own way and there’s no right or wrong way to cope. “However, Baylee has done amazingly and I’m very proud of her. “She’s only young herself and no-one should have to go through such a daunting, life-changing experience.” Baylee and partner Tom Pipe were able to create special memories during their time at The Nook, including going into the sensory room, taking their baby for a walk around the grounds and giving her a bath. They are still receiving support and feel they would have struggled to cope without EACH. “I’ll always hold onto the special moments I shared with Violet-May,” added Ziggy, who lives in Norwich. “I’m beyond proud of what such a tiny baby went through, and the way she fought, in such a short period of time. I’ll forever treasure the bond we have.” In his quest to raise funds for EACH, Ziggy took part in The Boss Hog challenge on Sunday. The fundraiser, an event featuring more than 40 obstacles over a sapping seven-mile course, took place at Wantisden Hall, in Wantisden Valley, Woodbridge. He rallied a team of 12, including friends and colleagues from Anglian Water and the IMRWR Alliance, and they called themselves Violet-May’s Water Boys. “We had a brilliant, fun day and it felt great doing something so worthwhile, supporting a cause so close to our heart,” said Ziggy, who raised more than £1,000. To show your support and sponsor Ziggy, head here. Ziggy and other family members took part in The Piglet Junior Hog fundraiser in July 2022, raising nearly £2,000.

Volunteers have the chance to make a “significant, positive and lasting” contribution to their community by sparing time to support a leading children’s charity. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is on the lookout for extra help in its 47 shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The organisation’s retail operation is a vital source of income to help run its hospices in Milton, near Cambridge, Framingham Earl, near Norwich, and Ipswich. It relies on voluntary donations and needs to raise £7.8 million this year alone from its shops across the region, in addition to its Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. Volunteers play a crucial role and now EACH is launching its ‘Be the difference’ campaign, to encourage more would-be helpers to step forward and join its team. The initiative started this week and runs until the end of the month. Posters will be on display in-store and staff and existing volunteers on hand to answer questions and explain more. “It’s hard to emphasise enough just how special and important our army of loyal, dedicated and selfless volunteers are,” said Hannah Milbourne, EACH’s Volunteer Services and Development Manager. “Quite simply, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them and now the hope is that we can encourage more people to step forward and join them. “We’re always so grateful to hear from anyone interested in lending a hand and volunteering in one of our shops is the perfect way to make a significant, positive and lasting contribution to the community, as well as the children and families receiving our care and support. “They’re also a vibrant, welcoming and fun place to be and I love visiting our shops. The atmosphere and enthusiasm you’ll find there is infectious. “When people think of volunteering, they think of someone offering a whole day. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. “We appreciate people have busy lives and giving a morning or afternoon once a week or fortnight would make the world of difference in your local shop. “The hours people donate are entirely flexible and a friendly welcome is absolutely guaranteed.” Hannah also pointed out that there is a range of jobs in the shops, to suit people’s tastes, skills and backgrounds. “Some people enjoy serving customers, but others are less keen to use the till and that’s absolutely fine,” she said. “There are so many other things they can do, including sorting and organising donations and listing eBay items – something that is a particular need for us. “There’s something for everyone and I’d encourage anyone to go along to their local shop and give it a go. “As well as finding it genuinely enjoyable and rewarding, our existing volunteers tell us it’s very sociable and a lovely way to meet new people and make friends.” For more information, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk To find your nearest EACH shop, head here. Image credits EACH

The Carbon Charter is an environmental award scheme and sustainable business network, providing support and recognition to organisations throughout Suffolk and Norfolk as they take positive action towards Net Zero. The Carbon Charter is delivered by environmental charity Groundwork East, in partnership with the Environment Agency and Suffolk County Council, and is just one of the sustainable business services which Groundwork delivers across Norfolk.  Our team also deliver Carbon Literacy training, and bespoke carbon management services including carbon footprinting and decarbonisation plans. To help businesses identify their next steps to reaching net zero, the Carbon Charter has recently launched a new Net Zero Diagnostic Tool which Norfolk businesses can access for free at: https://carboncharter.org/net-zero-diagnostic-tool/ The new  Net Zero Diagnostic Tool will generate a bespoke Net Zero action plan for your organisation outlining our recommended next steps – with actionable advice, guidance on what to prioritise, and where to find help on your journey towards Net Zero. Membership of the Carbon Charter provides a clear and visible statement of your commitment to reduce the environmental impacts of your business operations – and is open to every business across our region regardless of size or sector. Members also receive on-going support and advice from our team of sustainability consultants, as well as regular networking and training opportunities. Find out more about the Carbon Charter and the benefits for your business visit: www.carboncharter.org Photographer – Emma Cullen

Investment and Expansion Department for Business and Trade Investment Minister, Lord Dominic Johnson, joined South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss for a tour of award winning UK manufacturer Peerless Plastics and Coatings, based in Thetford, Norfolk. Peerless is one of only a handful of companies in the world capable of producing specialist hard coated, polycarbonate sheets, developed and marketed by Peerless as PolyGuard™. This unique selling point of hard coated, anti-scratch, anti-fog, anti-static and anti-glare means that Peerless’s products feature in multiple industries across the globe from electric vehicles incorporating PolyGuard™ as a viable lightweight, shatter proof alternative to glass, to personal protection equipment including face protection and safety glasses. Over the past 24 months, Peerless has invested nearly £1m in new business, machinery and technology, growing the work force from 30 to over 50 and is now looking to rapidly scale-up around the world. The Peerless Plastics & Coatings team, including Managing Director Peter Llewellyn-Stamp and Sales Director Max Bromley, explained to Lord Johnson the extensive range of services the company provides its customers across a broad swathe of industries including Aerospace, Rail, Automotive, Medical, Retail and Construction. Having diversified its service offering, Peerless is able to offer a single-source solution for many plastic manufacturing requirements, reducing supply chains and ultimately the carbon footprint of their customer’s products. This ethos goes very much hand-in-hand with the sustainability journey the company is on, having significantly reduced energy usage in recent years through many initiatives that include renewable energy from solar panels and reduced consumption via voltage optimisation. The PolyGuard™ is a new and unique range of products that Peerless has developed ready for international distribution. PolyGuard™ include specialist hard coated Polycarbonate sheets offering enhanced surface performance, making this a sustainable plastic solution for many applications. The PolyGuard™ range consists of six coated Polycarbonate products: Hard, Anti-Static/ESD, NIR Blocking, Anti-Fog, Anti-Glare and Formable. Minister for Investment Lord Johnson said: “I had a very insightful visit to Peerless Plastics’ factory and was incredibly impressed by the innovations they are making and the growth being achieved. The opportunities for export are tremendous, and Peerless Plastics’ success demonstrates the type of innovation that is driving UK manufacturing. I was very pleased to hear about the company’s future ambitions for growth and to discuss the vision and support that the Department for Business & Trade has for helping businesses like Peerless Plastics to grow and export across the world.” Liz Truss MP added ‘It was great to be able to introduce Lord Johnson to the Peerless team so he could see their dynamic and innovative work for himself. Thetford, in my South West Norfolk constituency, is home to a diverse manufacturing hub, with a wealth of talent and expertise that can proudly compete on the world stage – and Peerless is very much at the forefront of this.’ Having recently launched PolyGuard™, Peerless has secured distributors in the UK and Europe, with further opportunities across the world. Peter Llewellyn-Stamp said, “It has been great to welcome Lord Johnson and Liz Truss to Peerless and show them our new sustainable plastic product. Peerless’s PolyGuard™ is very unique; we have spent time developing a product that is so versatile, one that will not only transform the way we make and build things, but also a product that ensures good value for money and is sustainable, this makes it an extremely attractive and viable purchase for the long term. We have serious ambitions to expand the distribution of this product on a global scale and are ready to speak with investors who will help fast track this growth. The guidance provided by Lord Johnson was invaluable”.

89 Howes Percival lawyers mentioned in 2024 guide for their standout contributions to their practices The 2024 edition of The Legal 500 – the authoritative guide to the UK’s leading law firms – has recommended Howes Percival for 21 different legal specialisms and awarded the firm top tier ranking for 11. The guide, which is based on independent research, interviews and feedback from clients about the service they receive from firms and lawyers, also recognises the UK’s leading lawyers – 89 Howes Percival lawyers received specific mentions in this year’s directory, an increase of 12 on last year’s report. Howes Percival has achieved top tier rankings for:

• Corporate and Commercial
• Dispute Resolution – Commercial Litigation
• Dispute Resolution – Debt Recovery
• Finance – Insolvency and Corporate Recovery
• Human Resources – Employment
• Private Client – Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
• Real Estate – Commercial Property
• Real Estate – Environment & Planning
• Real Estate – Property litigation
• Real Estate – Social Housing
• Technology, Media & Telecoms – Intellectual Property

Ten further Howes Percival specialisms are recommended in the guide; Agriculture and Estates, Banking and Finance, Construction, Contentious Trusts and Probate, Family, Licensing, Public Sector, IT and Telecoms, Media and Entertainment and Health and Safety. The Legal 500 highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.  26 Howes Percival lawyers are recognised by the legal directory as ‘leading individuals’, with 8 Partners achieving ‘Hall of Fame’ status – Paula Bailey (Employment), Steven Beach (Commercial Property), Geraint Davies (Litigation and Insolvency), Gerald Couldrake (Corporate and Commercial), Tessa Haskey (Commercial Property), Michaela Henson (Commercial Property), Graham Irons (Employment) and Matthew Talbot (Intellectual Property). Howes Percival’s clients range from individuals and families to global businesses and government departments. In August, Howes Percival confirmed it had created 50 new roles in the last two years to meet increased demand for its services.  Over the next two years, the firm plans to continue recruiting across all six offices, creating a further 50 additional new roles, including partners, solicitors and support roles. Howes Percival’s chairman, Geraint Davies commented; “This is a fantastic set of rankings and recommendations, and I’m absolutely delighted for the whole team. The results reflect our traditional strengths in corporate and commercial, insolvency and litigation, employment, real estate, IP and private client but also the way we have been able to invest and develop new areas for example in technology and media, regulatory and now social housing – our most recent top tier addition.  We are on a roll, as a firm, growing our market share in all locations, investing in our people and in creating new teams and with a clear plan to grow further over the next two years.” Full details of Howes Percival’s rankings can be found on The Legal 500 website

OCTOBER 2023 — Entrepreneur Kelly Cartwright wowed guests at the National Federation of Builders’ Top 100 Influential Women in Construction (WIC) Awards last night, wearing a showstopping gown fashioned entirely from PPE to highlight the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in the sector. The owner of Core Recruiter, a specialist construction recruitment company based in Norwich, was nominated for the Local Hero (Eastern Region) category. Her neon-orange dress was specially made for the event by dressmaker Hannah Wilde and was paired with her steel-toe-capped boots to complete the look. “This dress is my armour,” states 31-year-old Kelly. “I asked Hannah to make it because I wanted to feel strong and confident at this year’s ceremony. “I feel most comfortable out on a building site, wearing my PPE. I don’t feel that way in a ballgown at an awards ceremony. You can only be comfortable when you wear something that truly resonates with who you are, so I’ve often joked about going to an event in my PPE! “Women always power dress for confidence. For instance, wearing a blazer might make you feel powerful, or popping on your favourite heels might put an extra swing in your step. Clothes are a powerful way to express yourself, while shielding vulnerabilities, insecurities or buried emotions. Why should it be any different in construction?” As the winner of last year’s Ally award, Kelly is vocal about the importance of authenticity in the sector, living by her motto ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. By making her own career path highly visible, she hopes to encourage more equality, diversity and inclusion into the industry, bringing unique skills and perspectives with them. And armour can help to quell anxiety about bucking industry stereotypes. As a woman who has worked in the construction sector for more than a decade, she emphasises that you should be comfortable with who you are and not change your identity to suit your industry. You may sometimes feel that your differences make you vulnerable, but if you’re driven and are good at what you do, your differences should be no limit to how far you can go. It’s important to note that Kelly has also allowed her vulnerability to be as visible as her success, demonstrating that everyone experiences moments of insecurity. She recently opened up about her struggles with anxiety, showing that social media doesn’t paint an honest picture of success. Earlier this year, she published images of herself getting ready for an awards ceremony on LinkedIn, with an anxiety-induced rash visible on her chest. She used the photograph to highlight that although she may seem confident on the outside, she often suffers from doubt, Imposter Syndrome and anxiety – particularly at awards ceremonies and public-speaking events. She wore armour at this year’s WIC Awards to simultaneously shield and draw attention to her feelings of vulnerability. The dress is also a nod towards the Chartered Institute of Building and Construction Management magazine’s #PPEthatfits campaign, which highlights the lack of diversity in protective equipment, and how this is having an impact on safety on site, while also hampering the industry’s ability to attract and retain a more diverse workforce. Their research found that the majority of protective clothing isn’t suitable for a diverse workforce, potentially leaving them at risk on building sites. By using 6 extra-large hi-vis vests to make a dress, Kelly hopes to reinforce the need for change in this area, to ensure everyone feels both confident, inclusive and safe on building sites.

August into September was one of the busiest times we’ve had since launching Huxley Events.  We’ve had some seriously detailed, large-scale parties which we have planned and delivered at some incredible venues, including rooftop bars in London, and the Bowling House in Norwich. These events were not “off the shelf” parties, but required all sorts of fun and quirky event extras, and “out the box” ideas to bring our clients’ vision to fruition.  Bespoke, detailed, and different is where we excel, so we absolutely loved the challenge. Alongside these parties, we have also delivered multiple crime themed team building events, our signature event, “The Killing”, one of which was at the stunning Renaissance Hotel, St Pancras in London. We were definitely tempted to hop on the Eurostar to escape to Paris for a weekend…. but we of course didn’t, as our inbox and clients were waiting for us back home in Norwich. Alongside our usual events and parties, we are also super excited to be working on something completely different, something to benefit our local community and a massive passion project for us. We’re delighted to be holding the first “Little Sprout Bump, Birth & Baby Show” “Little Sprout Bump, Birth & Baby Show” at the Mercure Hotel, on 29th October. It will be a day filled with amazing talks from pregnancy, baby, and toddler experts, and will give people the chance to meet some amazing local baby businesses, all focussed on supporting parents in their parenting journey from pregnancy, to birth, into parenthood and beyond.  The day will be lots of fun for everyone, and littlies are welcome so bring them along. Advance tickets are £3 per family/couple and under 16’s go free. The complete talks timetable and FAQ’s can be found on the Little Sprout Baby Fair website. B2C is not our usual type of event, but with experience in exhibitions, and a drive to do something which supports the community, this seemed like the perfect project. Alongside working with our own clients directly, we also love working with other events companies, who trust us with their clients! We’ve recently delivered a range of team building events for them all over the country, notably visiting some beautiful venues in Surrey and the Midlands. We love collaborating, and exceeding expectations when it comes to representing other brands. Last but not least, adding to our corporate work over the past few months, one of our directors, Steve, has been running some exclusive small group immersive experiences, themed around “The Great Train Robbery” and “Criminal Psychopaths,” which have had incredible feedback from the guests who attended. We are currently supporting our clients with their Christmas parties, and January kick off conferences, so if you have a need for event support, please get in touch team@huxleyevents.com. You can see some CLIENT FEEDBACK HERE.  

A bereaved dad raised more than £4,500 for charity after completing a 200-mile bike ride across Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Andy Hutton was joined by university pals Steve Formoy and Piran Borlase-Hendry for the poignant challenge, which included trips to the three East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) bases. They also called at Ipswich Town, Norwich City and Cambridge United Football Clubs, as well as Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge. Andy organised the ride as a way of raising funds and awareness for EACH, the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) and Brain Tumour Research, in memory of daughter Grace Zuzu, who was 21 months old when she died in May 2022. It followed a six-month battle against a rare and aggressive type of brain tumour, embryonal tumour with multi-layered rosettes (ETMR). “I had to have 30 seconds before we came up the drive at The Treehouse, because I saw the room where Grace and I stayed as we came over the bridge,” said the 45-year-old. “I said it would be emotional and it definitely was. I’d only been back once, shortly after she died, and the tears came. “It was wonderful to see the familiar faces of the care team and we’re always indebted to the kindness and support of everyone at EACH.” Andy, Steve and Piran embarked on a circular route, starting from Grace’s home in Holton St Mary, on the Suffolk-Essex border. They then travelled to The Treehouse and Portman Road, before heading to The Nook, in Framingham Earl, and Carrow Road, home of the Canaries. After an overnight stay in Norwich, they cycled to Milton and Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium, and then home via Addenbrooke’s. “The ride went really well,” said Andy. “We covered 215 miles in total – the original plan had been to do 200 but we rerouted as I thought it would be nicer to go through Thetford Forest. “That was true, although the ‘Thetford cycle loop’ isn’t really designed for anything other than mountain bikes in places, so ten miles took two hours. It was like riding along a beach because the track was just sand for miles. “We also discovered that the National Cycle Network stops about five miles outside Milton. “It meant we had to walk along a footpath for a mile or so and then we had ‘navigational difficulties’ coming into the village. “It was quite dark when we arrived and gone 7pm.” The trio also made a short detour to Grace’s nursery, Constable Country Childcare, where there is a fibreglass owl, called Amazing Grace, dedicated to Grace. It was part of Ipswich’s Big Hoot art trail, in 2022. “It made for an emotional end to our ride,” added Andy. “Overall, it was great fun and we’re really happy with the way the fundraising went. “The aim was to raise as much as possible for three special causes – three charities we love and want to support – and we’re delighted to have surpassed £4,500. “All three do an amazing job in financially challenging circumstances and the work they do is desperately needed.” Andy, Steve and Piran completed their challenge on 22^nd and 23^rd September. To show your support and make a donation, head here.

Attleborough-based Finn Geotherm has received second place for the National Renewable Heat Installer & Contractor of the Year Award in the prestigious National Energy Efficiency Awards 2023. The National Energy Efficiency Awards, which took place on Friday in Birmingham, are long-standing awards that aim to showcase best practice within the energy saving and efficiency industry. Finn Geotherm was up against very stiff competition from renewable heating contractors of all sizes from across the UK, and for the company to be awarded second place is a great achievement. Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm, said: “The National Energy Efficiency Awards celebrate the crème de la crème of companies within the energy efficiency sector and we are delighted to receive this award. To be recognised within Renewable Heat Installer & Contractor of the Year is testament to the vast skill and expertise of the team at Finn Geotherm in delivering the best possible heating solution every single time. We take huge pride in all our installations and have completed some of our largest and most complex projects to date over the past 18 months, which have really shown our unrivalled knowledge and passion for harnessing the great potential of heat pumps.” Established in 2006, Finn Geotherm has always focused solely on heat pumps, having completed more than 1,000 installations date in a vast range of buildings from care homes and universities to stately homes and bungalows. For more information on ground and air source heat pumps and details on Finn Geotherm, visit www.finn-geotherm.co.uk.