News and ideas for sharing - 1 September 2024

Welcome to your weekly round-up of business ideas, curated by Business Writers Ltd . If you like this newsletter, please share it with people in your network because it might inspire them.

We highlight stories relevant to our region, such as developments in digital creativity, technology, renewable energy, sustainability, and manufacturing.

There's also sometimes news of networking events and funding competitions that can help the enterprise ecosystem in Norfolk and Suffolk thrive.

Plus Jobs: when we find them, we share local opportunities - scroll to the end to see the latest.

1) Innovate Local: East of England - 12 September 2024

Innovate UK East and Connected Innovation are hosting this event at Norwich Research Park to drive business innovation and growth throughout the East of England. It is open to any business in any sector or industry, whether a small start-up or an established enterprise. Find out more and book tickets here: Innovate Local: East of England - Connected Innovation.

2) Institute of Directors East of England Expo 2024

The IoD East Business Expo takes place on Tuesday 24 September at Colchester United Football Club . Your chance to meet regional members showcasing their products and services and to hear from business leaders. More details here: IoD East Business Expo - 24 Sep 2024.

3) West Suffolk Business Festival 2024 - 30 September to 11 October

Now in its 14th year, the West Suffolk Business Festival offers entrepreneurs and business leaders a diverse schedule of networking and development events. The aim is to support business growth in the region. Find out more: Welcome to the Business Festival website.

4) Norfolk's biggest B2B networking event is BACK!

Norfolk Chambers of Commerce will host their annual B2B exhibition at the Norfolk Showground on Thursday 17 October 2024. This event attracts more than 900 visitors and 120 exhibitors, including industry leaders, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and local businesses from across Norfolk. More details here: B2B24 - Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.

5) Business opportunities at Suffolk FutureSkills Fair - 4 November 2024

Suffolk New College will host this careers and skills event for people aged 14 to 24. Through a range of interactive workshops, engaging presentations, and hands-on activities, it aims to help attendees make informed decisions about their future careers. Businesses that would like to get involved should contact the organisers: FutureSkills Fair - Suffolk New College.

6) Business opportunity to sponsor the 10th #SyncTheCity in Norwich

Sync the City unites aspiring entrepreneurs, developers, and designers, with business and marketing experts for a 54-hour start-up challenge. This year's 10th anniversary event in Norwich - Thursday 28 November to Saturday 30 November 2024 - offers a great opportunity to build your business brand with a dynamic audience. Find out more here: Sync the City.

7) DISCOVER OUR BETTER BUSINESS WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR SMES

Are you keen to create engaging and persuasive content for your organisation? If so, take a look at our half-day writing workshops with Broadland Council Training Services. We’re delighted to be running these again later in the year: you can choose from Friday 27 September or Friday 22 November. More info and booking here: Better business writing .

8) The Brecks Outdoor Festival 7-22 September 2024

The Brecks’ Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme is in its fifth and final year of delivering community-based landscape and heritage conservation projects. To celebrate, it is hosting more than 50 events in September, many of them free, for all ages and abilities. Find out more here: brecks.org .

9) Get ￡50 when you switch to Octopus Energy with this invitation

Looking to switch home energy supplier? Want a ￡50 sign-up credit? Then join Octopus Energy using my special invitation link https://share.octopus.energy/plum-lake-506 . They provide a good service and neat online dashboard. They'll split ￡100 between us when you complete your switch - or ￡200 (￡100 each) if you are a business - Win/Win! Here's that link again - enjoy: https://share.octopus.energy/plum-lake-506 .

PLUS Jobs

Our occasional round-up of interesting roles in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge:

• Centre Manager at EpiCentre, Suffolk - deadline 17 September - apply here Centre Manager.
• Not a job but good news that the Minister for Skills at the Department for Education has approved phase 2 of the Norfolk & Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). More here: Local LSIP delivers employer engagement and skills success.
• [Your offer of a great career opportunity could go here.]

"Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." - Mary Oliver

We hope you find these updates interesting and useful.

Please share with your network and post your thoughts below.

Thank you for reading,

Huw

Chief Engagement Officer

Bonus content

To find innovation hubs and clusters across Norfolk and Suffolk, follow Connected Innovation .

For inward investment and business relocation advice, contact Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited .

PS: Feel free to contact me on LinkedIn or at Business Writers Ltd Ltd .