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Help us harness the power

Norfolk County Council is calling on businesses to make the most of the Tour of Britain as it heads through the county in September.

As the build-up to the event intensifies, together with our district council partners we want to help businesses maximise the opportunities presented by worldwide TV, media and marketing coverage and the fact that around 70,000 people are expected to watch the race. 

We are also looking to inspire schools and local communities to take part in activities, boosting interest in cycling and sport in general, and particularly among Norfolk's children and young people.  

The race will start at 11am at the Tuesday Market Place in King's Lynn on Thursday 16 September, preceded by a number of events.  It will finish in Great Yarmouth at around 4pm after passing through North Norfolk, the Broads and Norwich.  

This will mean closing some roads in town centres, although we will be working with the police and the race organisers to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.

During June and July we will be releasing more detailed information on how local business can be more closely aligned with the high profile race.

In the meantime, we would be delighted to hear from businesses that are interested in becoming sponsors.  James Dunne can be reached on 01603 228989 or email james.dunne@norfolk.gov.uk

Did you know?

• Around one in two households own at least one bicycle, making cycling the nation's most popular leisure sporting activity for six to 16-year-olds, after swimming
• The Tour has the biggest live spectator audience for a sporting event in the UK
• It has featured World, Olympic and Tour de France Champions.

Demand faster broadband

Norfolk County Council is working with Shaping Norfolk's Future to develop a broadband strategy and action plan that aims to ensure Norfolk's businesses and residents have access to reliable broadband.

To complement the work being carried out, a new broadband website - www.broadbandnorfolk.com has been launched, providing businesses and residents with information on what broadband is, where they can get it, the benefits and latest news and documents. Campaign updates and details of how businesses and residents can be involved are also on the website.

The website also directs people to the Eastern Region and Broadband Uplift Scheme (EREBUS - www.erebusonline.org.uk) run by EEDA.  The aim of the scheme is to encourage commercial suppliers to invest in the next generation broadband structure for the East of England. 

Please register your demand for faster broadband services on the EREBUS website and urge others to do so too! 

World Class Norfolk campaign update

The World Class: Normal for Norfolk campaign aimed to increase awareness of the positive aspects of the county as a place to live, work and do business, to influence decision-makers, inspire people and businesses of Norfolk as advocates, and attract investors and talented employees.

Evaluation in March 2010, at the end of the six months of major campaign activity, showed (against the same period in the previous year):

• Inward investment enquiries to NCC up from 62 to 108
• Knowledge based jobs created up from 161 to 262
• 15,000 unique visitors to website - including 2610 recognised business addresses
• 10M people exposed to advertising at gateway sites - Norwich airport, Liverpool St, King's Cross, Stratford and Westminster rail and tube stations
• 3.5M ABC 1 adults had the opportunity to see TV ads on Anglia and ITV London
• 130 articles about the campaign to date, including 52 in the national media
• 500+ Twitter followers - retweeting campaign messages to an audience of more than 32,000 people worldwide.

In addition, six sectoral films have been created for lasting promotional use for the energy, engineering, financial services, future sciences, creative industries and tourism sectors.  Some of them have already used by the UEA for an international recruitment drive. 

The films and the 30-second TV ad can all be seen at www.worldclassnorfolk.com

Watch out for the next part of the campaign, a four-page supplement  'Doing business in Norfolk' written by Financial Times journalists and published on 9 June.  

Norwich in 90

Norfolk County Council and Shaping Norfolk's Future have joined forces to lobby for a shorter rail journey time from Norwich to London - 90 minutes. The campaign hopes to achieve:

• More reliable services; new spacious, clean and comfortable Inter-City style trains, with a wi-fi service
• More train capacity to overcome peak hour crowding, particularly at the southern end of the route
• Improvements at stations, including better car parking and high quality on-station facilities
• A franchise that is longer than 10 years in order to secure the levels of investment needed

If you haven't already done so, please sign the online petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/norwich-in-ninety.html and encourage colleagues, friends and family who use the service to do the same.

The Future Jobs Fund

Although the Government has announced the discontinuation of the Future Jobs Fund scheme, they will be honouring the contracts which are already in place. This means that Norfolk County Council will be able to continue to create jobs until March 2011.

The scheme offers young people under the age of 25 who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six to 12 months a paid work placement which includes training.

The jobs created run for six months and are fully subsidised at national minimum wage for 25 hours a week, offering jobseekers valuable work experience and a regular income.

Employers interested in creating new jobs for young people can apply for financial support through the Future Jobs Fund. There is no obligation to continue with the employment after the six months is up, although you may wish to.

For further information please contact Eve Cronin, Project Development Officer, Norfolk County Council, at eve.cronin@norfolk.gov.uk or call 01603 222302.

Support for rural businesses

The following are programmes that can provide access to training and advice for rural businesses.

LandSkills East has been set up to provide rural businesses with improved access to skills and training opportunities in the region.

If you are a business and feel that your staff would benefit from training go to www.landskillseast.co.uk and look to find courses that meet your needs.

LEADER is a source of funding for farmers and rural businesses and is available to support rural diversification and the development of business projects across the Brecks, Waveney Valley, Norfolk Broads and Coast.

A fastrack process is available for grants of up to £50,000 but you must have a sound match-funding package in place, be it your own funds or borrowings - for more information go to www.ruraladvice.co.uk/lag

News in Brief

Could you be a Trusted Trader?

The Norfolk Trusted Trader scheme is growing and we are always looking for new businesses to join so consumers can choose from a range of services with confidence.

Up until now the types of businesses joining the scheme have been those offering services within the home - but Norfolk County Council Trading Standards would like to open it up to businesses offering wider services to consumers - perhaps IT consultants or motor traders, to name two.

There are a number of ways an accredited businesses can boost its profile:

• By using the Trusted Trader logo
• With a listing in the printed and online directory
• Through customer feedback published on the website

So far nearly 5,000 printed directories have been delivered on demand across the county and there have been nearly 40,000 visits to the website since June 2009.

If you are interested in joining the scheme, or if you know a trader or business you think could benefit, then visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/trustedtrader to find more  about the terms and cost of the scheme.

To see how the online directory works or to find a trader visit www.referenceline.com/tradingstandards/norfolk

FREE Meet the Buyer event

Royal Norfolk Show 2010
Wednesday 30 June and Thursday 1 July
Stand 252 - Spirit of Enterprise

An invitation to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to book 10-minute appointments with senior buyers from some of Norfolk's large organisations and businesses.

There are real opportunities to do business here. Our buyers, with a combined annual budget in excess of £2bn, are actively seeking suppliers in areas as diverse as grounds maintenance, PAT testing, nursing home care, cleaning services and local food manufacturing.  That supplier could be you!

These 10-minute appointments secure face-to-face meetings with specific buyers of your choosing to explore what opportunities are available now and coming in the near future - and how to approach those contracts.

For more information on the buyers and to book your appointments please visit www.shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk/booking

This 'meet the buyer' event is free, however, you will need to purchase a ticket to gain entry to the Royal Norfolk Show.  An adult ticket is just £18 so to book your ticket now please visit www.royalnorfolkshow.co.uk

FREE Meet the Buyer event

Royal Norfolk Show 2010
Wednesday 30 June and Thursday 1 July
Stand 252 - Spirit of Enterprise

An invitation to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to book 10-minute appointments with senior buyers from some of Norfolk's large organisations and businesses.

There are real opportunities to do business here. Our buyers, with a combined annual budget in excess of £2bn, are actively seeking suppliers in areas as diverse as grounds maintenance, PAT testing, nursing home care, cleaning services and local food manufacturing.  That supplier could be you!

These 10-minute appointments secure face-to-face meetings with specific buyers of your choosing to explore what opportunities are available now and coming in the near future - and how to approach those contracts.

For more information on the buyers and to book your appointments please visit www.shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk/booking

This 'meet the buyer' event is free, however, you will need to purchase a ticket to gain entry to the Royal Norfolk Show.  An adult ticket is just £18 so to book your ticket now please visit www.royalnorfolkshow.co.uk

View this eMagazine online at:
http://www.norfolkpublications.org.uk/businessmatters