Greater Anglia customers are advised to check before they travel (credit: Greater Anglia) Greater Anglia customers are advised to check before they travel between Monday 17 and Saturday 22 July, due to six days of planned industrial action by trade unions. From Monday 17 July to the end of Saturday 22 July, action short of a strike called by the ASLEF trade union, means there will be some cancellations on most Greater Anglia routes throughout the week. The RMT trade union has also called 24-hour strikes on Thursday 20 July and Saturday 22 July. A further strike has been called for Saturday 29 July. Services will operate on most routes between 07.00 and 23.00 on these days, but some alterations and cancellations will also occur. There is also the potential for some short notice alterations throughout the period from 17 to 22 July, although everything possible will be done to try and prevent these happening. More details are provided of both the cancellations due to the action short of a strike, along with a summary of the service alterations on the strike days of 20 and 22 July, are provided at the end of this release. On all days affected by industrial action, passenger assistance arrangements will be available as usual. Anyone requiring assistance should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible. Other train operators are also affected by industrial action, so customers are advised to check all their journey details before they travel. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said:“While the majority of services will be running as normal during the period affected by industrial action, there will be some alterations and cancellations across our network.“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these service alterations and advise customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.” Customers can find all train times by visiting either National Rail Enquiries, using journey planner apps, visiting www.greateranglia.co.uk or, where appropriate, other train operators’ websites for their service alterations. Full timetable details for services on Saturday 22 July and Saturday 29 July are still being worked on and will be published as soon as details are confirmed.
Sharp-shooting colleagues have the chance to enjoy a day of networking while raising vital funds for charity. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is staging its very first corporate clay shoot event in October. It is taking place at High Lodge Leisure, in Haw Wood, Hinton, near Darsham in Suffolk. Participants will enjoy tea, coffee and bacon rolls on arrival, before testing their skills by shooting at 100 clays and having mid-morning refreshments. They will then have a two-course lunch, followed by an auction, raffle and prize presentations for Top Gun, Top Team and Top Novice. “We’re very excited about this brand new venture,” said EACH Corporate Fundraising Manager Caroline Allen. “We’re stepping into the unknown but confident it’s going to be a popular and welcome addition to our busy schedule. “It’s an opportunity for businesses, corporate friends and major donors to join forces, network and have a relaxing day of fun together.” The cost is £1,000 per team of four and the event is taking place on Friday, 6th October (9am until 4pm). There are sponsorship opportunities available. All participants must be able to shoot and hold a full valid licence, which will be required on the day. Non-shooters are also welcome but will need to be in separate teams. The cost per team of four for non-shooters is £1,200. For both shooting and non-shooting teams, a 20% early bird discount applies to anyone booking before 31st July. Cartridges will be sold from reception on the day and no game cartridges are allowed. For more information, head here or email corporate@each.org.uk EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It has three hospices – The Treehouse, in Ipswich, The Nook, near Norwich, and at Milton, near Cambridge.
We are not too sure how we have suddenly got to the end of June, but here we are! The last 3 months have whizzed by with our Easter activity program kicking off the quarter. Young people joined us for 4 days of crazy fun with an Easter theme, and time to socialise with friends and take part in positive activities. Over 100 spaces were filled for these days, which form part of the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun package. We then moved straight onto our Community Open Day, where anyone could come and see the project and ask questions about what we get up to. We had some local businesses come along to find out more, including McDonalds and King and Partners. We displayed some of the amazing artwork that our young people have produced recently, which really does look fabulous. In April we celebrated with our Cameron being nominated for the Young Person of the Year at the Local Hero Awards. We are so proud of the work he has put into our project and how much he has grown over the last 5 years, he is such a fabulous role model to others. We wish him so much luck as he embarks on his apprenticeship in the coming months. Read the full report below
Fitness fanatics put their bodies to the test for a day of mud-filled challenges, obstacles and fundraising. Forty staff and members from Norwich’s Body Transform Fitness took part in the gruelling Tough Mudder 15k event at Belvoir Castle, in Grantham. They tackled 30 intriguingly-named obstacles including Arctic Enema, Cage Crawl, Mud Mile, Kiss of Mud, Pitfall and Augustus Gloop and, in the process, raised nearly £3,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). “It was a fantastic day and we were delighted to raise such an amazing amount of money,” said Gym Manager Dean Rudling. “We weren’t sure what to expect, given the cost-of-living crisis and the fact everyone is having to be careful with their money. “We’ve organised fundraising events before but wanted to focus our efforts on one specific charity this year. “One of our members, Caroline Allen, is Corporate Fundraising Manager at EACH and she arranged for myself and (coach) Scott Williams to have a tour of The Nook. “It’s an incredible place and an amazing charity – one that helps children and young people but also entire families. “We were blown away and it made me feel very emotional. “Although some of the stories were hard to hear, to see and hear first-hand how EACH helps these young people and their families was a real motivator for us wanting to raise as much as possible. It was an incredible experience and one I’ll never forget.” Body Transform Fitness has set itself a target of reaching £5,000 this year and already has £2,900, after Tough Mudder. “We were one of the biggest, if not the biggest, teams there,” added Dean. “It’s great bringing our members together for a big social event and it was definitely a highlight of the year. Everyone was positive and raving about it afterwards. “It’s physically challenging, of course, but great working as a team and having fun together. “Everyone’s there to support, motivate and encourage each other and it was fantastic to be part of.” Body Transform Fitness is now planning a ’12 in 12’ event, to be held overnight on the 25th August. Both members and non-members will have the chance to gain sponsorship by pledging to complete a dozen workouts in as many hours. “There’s been lots of interest already and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Dean. “We’re going to organise a mix of workouts, including cardio and strength and conditioning ones. “We’ll also be keeping it fun with some themed sessions and others involving music, to keep everyone alert and pumped up in the small hours of the night!”
“Gain insight into our Sleep Out campaign from past Sleep Out attendees who joined us for the launch event for Sleep Out 2023. Thank you TreeFrog, for capturing footage and valuable insights from our launch event: https://www.treefrog.uk.com/Interested in attending this years Sleep Out event? Get in touch with us at events@benjaminfoundation.co.uk”
THE PERFECT VENUE FOR YOUR NEXT CORPORATE EVENT Centrum, at Norwich Research Park, offers flexible corporate event space for your offsite meetings, team events and celebrations. Whether you have a summer social event to plan, a networking event to bring people together or a formal sitdown dinner for clients, Centrum is the venue for you Our prices are competitive and include use of AV, Wi-Fi and parking. Our onsite catering company can make sure your event is accompanied by great hospitality from coffee and cake, a buffet lunch, fine dining, to a bespoke menu. Whatever your needs we can tailor a package for you. Norwich Research Park Corporate Event promo flyer July 2023
Help your business grow – Apply for free digital advice and £500 grant here Go Digital funding programme Free digital business support available for small and medium sized businesses in Norfolk. Learn how to better use digital tools to identify business opportunities and help your business grow. Get free expert advice Business owners and managers can apply for this free funding programme. You will be matched with a digital adviser and get expert advice on:
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Your adviser will do a complete digital audit of your business and produce a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations. Get a digital business grant Business owners and managers can also apply for a grant of up to £500 to help you implement a digital action plan. Applications are on a first come first served basis. Apply today Check the eligibility criteria and apply now. Apply for Go Digital Find out more For further information email econdev@norfolk.gov.uk Case studies – Real life examples of how the Go Digital programme has transformed businesses here
Sustainability is a hot topic this year, businesses are becoming more aware of their environmental impact and want to make better choices. Print is often frowned upon, by being bad for the environment with the use of paper. But what people don’t realise is that print doesn’t have to be completely dismissed from marketing and business. I see many businesses using the term ‘paper free’ or ‘e-communication is better’ .This is something that comes from little knowledge on the use of paper. One of the most common myths is that using paper is bad for the environment, when it’s actually one of the most recycled materials in the world and comes from sustainable natural sources. Businesses that use the term ‘paper-free’ or ‘go-green’ give an impression that digital is better for the environment than using paper. If you actually break down the lifetime of both of those, you begin to realise that it’s not always the case. Paper is a renewable and sustainable product made from wood which is harvested from sustainable European forests. Because more businesses and individuals are using digital and e-communication instead, this means that data has to be stored somewhere, usually using a cloud service. The ‘cloud’ is not that thing up in the sky, they’re actually colossal data centres. These centres hold machinery and servers that are commonly made using finite raw materials which are precious and non-renewable. As well as being incredibly difficult to recycle, these data centres produced 53.6million metric tonnes of e-waste in 2019. Just to put that into perspective that’s around the weight of 150 Empire Estate buildings. Call me biased but I think print marketing is one of the best ways to make an impression is to have something in your hands to touch and actually feel, this is called haptic communication. Triggering the senses is more likely to secure trust and a potential sale, rather than looking at something on a digital screen. So, how can you make your print marketing more sustainable?
Explore the fun range of materials that are on offer; something like plantable seeded paper which grows into wild flowers attracting bees and wildlife into your garden. Not only is this great for the environment being biodegradable, but it gives a second use to your print and is also fully compostable. Seeded paper can be used for lots of different print formats, such as business cards, flyers and postcards.
Use 100% recycled paper, this is made from PCW (post-consumer waste), paper from our bins. It’s a great cost-effective option, but importantly allows you to let your customers know that you are eco-conscious and you want to make a difference. As this is a plain white sheet, it’s a great option for business stationery, flyers and leaflets.
Scrap those roller banners, they aren’t recyclable and never last very long. Make the switch to my new product. The ‘eco-board’, a strong material that is made out of recycled cardboard boxes. We use print using vegan ink on these boards, again something else that can be used on your marketing to show your customers you’re making better choices.
It’s very rare that you see signage that is non-recyclable, but there are so many options on offer that are fully recyclable. One particular material which I like to use for a Correx replacement is Triaprint, it’s a PVC free plastic material that I like to call ‘for sale sign’ board. This is a great alternative which can now be put in the recycling bin.
Eco-friendly merchandise, for things like pens, cups and key rings, use recycled plastics or make sure that everything is recyclable. And then clothing and bags, use organic cottons.
Businesses quickly jump to the idea of being paper free because they think it’s the right thing to do, understandably it sounds like the best thing for the environment. But businesses just aren’t aware of what eco-friendly print is on offer. I agree with being more conscious with print to an extent, for example no need to be printing every email. I think it’s just about being a bit more careful of what you choose to get printed therefore being more sustainable. If you’re interested in seeing how you can make the switch to eco-friendly print then please don’t hesitate to book in for a chat today.
Blickling Estate is the perfect setting for days out full of fun and adventure. Create, explore, move, wonder, make-believe – try everything from building dens and giant nests as you discover five play stations nestled in the woodland and parkland. Head into the gardens to discover stacks of possibilities to play all day – who can’t resist pushing a wheelbarrow around the Walled Garden and digging in our play patch? Ever dreamed of being on stage? Now’s your chance to get dressed up to perform on our mini theatre! After oodles of play, head to The Stables, Farmyard or Muddy Boots cafés for ice-creams, refreshing drinks and light meals – with colouring sheets while you wait. Summer of Play activities are free (normal admission applies), so if you don’t manage to try them all on your first visit, you can come back again and again. Find out more : https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blickling-estate/family-days-out-at-blickling
BDO’s Optimism Index rises to its highest point since August 2022 despite a decline in manufacturing and services output growth
The UK’s labour market sees fifth consecutive increase in BDO’s Employment Index amid stronger hiring intentions
BDO’s Inflation Index declines to its lowest point in almost two years as input price pressures begin to subside
UK businesses have shown stronger optimism and hiring intentions as inflation shows early signs of falling, according to the latest Business Trends report from accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO. BDO’s Optimism Index reached a 10-month high in June, recording a 0.65-point increase to 100.40 and crossing the 100-point threshold which indicates above-average positivity. Increases were driven by net-positivity across the services sector, which remains high at 100.67, and a return to improvement across manufacturing optimism which picked up by 1.00 point. Despite this, manufacturing optimism still sits in contractionary territory, below the crucial 95-point mark at 92.56, as businesses tackle ongoing supply side headwinds. Stronger hiring intentions in June reflect the generally more positive outlook from businesses. Buoyant employment levels drove a fifth-consecutive improvement in BDO’s Employment Index, as a 0.60-point increase saw the index rise to 111.96. Increases in the number of self-employed and part-time workers in June contributed to the resilience of the UK labour market. Confidence from businesses has been buoyed by the expected easing of inflationary pressures in the coming months. June saw BDO’s Inflation Index record its weakest overall reading since August 2021, when the country was emerging from a third national lockdown, falling by 2.06-points to 103.68. Price pressures are predicted to subside for businesses in the coming months. However, higher interest rates will place further strain on households leading to more cautious consumer spending, despite inflation slowly easing. Despite net growth across the Optimism and Employment Indices, supply chain pressures have dampened business productivity. BDO’s Output Index fell to 95.95, its weakest reading since March, indicating a slowdown in growth. Both the Services and Manufacturing Output Subindices declined in June and whilst services remain in in positive territory at 97.78, manufacturing witnessed a larger fall of 3.19 points to a deeply negative reading of 81.52. This marks manufacturing’s worst output reading since May 2020 when manufacturing output was curtailed by the first national lockdown. Peter Harrup, head of BDO in East Anglia, said: “It’s encouraging to see business confidence and hiring intentions reflect the resilience we’re seeing and hearing from firms, in the face of ongoing supply side challenges. “Whilst there’s hope that the new Ofgem price cap will drive down household energy prices and in turn ease inflation, the recent rise in interest rates and stagnating price growth indicate that this may still be a long way off. “Firms will need a helping hand from Government with targeted policies or we risk business growth stagnating and plans for expansion falling through.”
The Benjamin Foundation are hosting their annual ‘Sleep Out’ event at the Cloisters at Norwich Cathedral on Friday 6th October.Can you spend one night outside so a young person doesn’t have to? Sleep Out challenges people to get sponsored to spend one night sleeping outside and has raised over £300,000 to support their work since 2015. The Benjamin Foundation are the regional partner of the EveryYouth movement which seeks to reduce the prevalence of youth homelessness across the UK. With an estimated 129,000 young people facing homelessness in the UK last year (source: Centrepoint), and the Foundation’s estimates suggest 3-4,000 here in Norfolk and Suffolk, this cause has never been more important. The Benjamin Foundation provides stability for young people at risk of homelessness to flourish on their journey to independence. Providing a safe home to around 250 young people each night, they also help them learn essential life skills, such as cooking and budgeting, and support their education and career aspirations while building their resilience and self-esteem. Eventually helping young people to move on to independent living and manage their own tenancies. This year, The Benjamin Foundation hosted a launch event for the campaign, which was attended by local dignitaries, businesses and previous supporters, including The Lord Mayor of Norfolk, James Wright (who has supported the Sleep Out events for many years) and the Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, Caroline Jarrold, all showing out to celebrate the start of our 2023 Sleep Out campaign. The Benjamin Foundation are delighted to partner with the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce for the Norfolk campaign this year. Nova Fairbank, CEO of the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, spoke at the launch event and had the following to say on why they are partnering with The Benjamin Foundation for campaign this year: “Norfolk Chambers of Commerce are delighted to be supporting the Benjamin Foundation for their 2023 Norfolk Sleep Out Campaign. We’re looking forward to sharing the latest updates with the business community and seeing them get involved with the campaign too. An event like Norfolk Sleep Out is vital to raise awareness of the challenges of youth homelessness and some of the Chamber team joining in the Sleep Out too. We are proud to collaborate with The Benjamin Foundation on their journey.” Speaking at the launch event, Matt Garrod, The Benjamin Foundation Director of Operations for Housing and Homelessness explained: “We were delighted so many people across different organisations and businesses were able to join us for our Norfolk 2023 Sleep Out Launch events. Interest in the launch event and the pending Sleep Out in October shows the deep concern our community has for young people who have experienced homelessness and a willingness to work collaboratively with The Benjamin Foundation to combat this issue”. The event this year is sponsored by Birketts LLP, who have participated in the campaign for many years. Jonathan Agar, the Chief Executive at Birketts, had the following to say: “Birketts is delighted to be sponsoring this year’s 2023 Sleep Out campaign. As long-time supporters of The Benjamin Foundation, we know just how important the charity is in tackling youth homelessness and helping young people who need it into safe homes. We are looking forward to this year’s event in October, joining many others in spending the night outside to raise much needed funds for our local community.” Manager of one of The Benjamin Foundation’s accommodation services, Ray Cook, knows first-hand how important the funds that are raised through Sleep Out are for the charity: “Sleep Out gives a tiny insight into the reality of young people having to sleep outside when they are homeless and without support or a safety net. Alongside raising awareness about this vital issue, the funds raised help us to provide them with the accommodation and help they need to get back on track, enjoy a better life off the streets and achieve their life goals.” Each of the EveryYouth member charities around the UK organise Sleep Out events each Autumn to help support young people to lead successful, independent lives, raising over £6M for the cause since its inception. Join the movement today! For the first time The Benjamin Foundation are offering a discount for early signups. Use the code EARLYBIRD at checkout to receive £10 off your booking, redeemable until 1st August. Bookings for the Sleep Out event is now OPEN. Book your place today:NORFOLK SLEEP OUT, Friday 6th October: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norfolk-sleep-out-2023-tickets-611169653887Based further afield? Join the Suffolk Sleep Out instead!SUFFOLK SLEEP OUT, Friday 13th October: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/suffolk-sleep-out-2023-tickets-615746754117?aff=ebdssbdestsearchCan’t attend but want to support ending youth homelessness in Suffolk? Make a donation to the campaign: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/norfolksleepout2023Sleep Out is open to those aged 18 or over. For more information, please contact events@benjaminfoundation.co.uk
The TaxAssist Accountants National Support Centre, based in Norwich, has been shortlisted for the In-house Marketing Team of the Year award, at the prestigious Accounting Excellence Awards 2023. The annual awards are a highlight of the accountancy industry, showcasing forward-thinking firms, individuals, teams and projects. All 21 categories are judged by a line-up of industry experts and senior professionals covering a wide range of specialisms from within and outside the accounting community. James Mattam, TaxAssist Group Business Development Director, said: “Being nominated as a finalist for this award is a huge achievement, where even to make it to the shortlist is hotly contested. I’m incredibly proud of the team who do an outstanding job of supporting our network of over 200 UK accountants and their 78,000 clients. “The award entry required us to show the value of the campaigns and strategies we operate on behalf of our accountants, providing clear evidence of measurable impact on brand engagement and return on investment, as well as positive feedback from our clients. We had to demonstrate our objectives and audience understanding, and how we ensure this integrates with our marketing, sales and service line growth objectives. “It was important to demonstrate the work that goes into making TaxAssist Accountants a market leading brand and coming hot on the heels of our recent 5-Star franchisee satisfaction award, and also being shortlisted for the SME Accountancy Firm of the Year award at the British Small Business Awards, this is great validation of our business model.” The winners of the awards will be announced at a ceremony at the Round House in Camden, London on the 3rd October 2023.