2011 was a highly eventful year at The Lively Crew, so put your feet up and get a cup of tea as we look back over the year that was 2011:

January
 January saw two new staff members joining the team. Andrew Lawn joined as Marketing Manager, following working on the campaign to keep Tesco out of his hometown of Sheringham. Andrew was joined by Robert Ediker who started a year's Apprentice scheme while he completed an NVQ in Customer Service from Broadland Council Training Services. During the coming 12 months, Robert would prove a very driven, talented and ambitious member of the team and will be joining the team permantly in 2012.

February
In February we were delighted to win a contract with South Norfolk Council to supply the area with a dedicated Online Business Directory, similar to those we were already managing from Breckland and Broadland District Council's. The new Directory was officially launched in June with a free business networking event, which also kicked off a year of quarterly Business Breakfast Forums for the area.

March
During March we undertook the official reckie ahead of the Disabled Motoring Alps Challenge in June. The reckie highlighted just what a mammoth undertaking the Alps Challenge would later prove to be, but was invaluable as a result.

April
During April we oversaw the official rebrand of national disabled motorist charity Mobilise, to Disabled Motoring UK. We were delighted to have managed the re-brand from start to finish, including developing a long-term business plan to re-model the charity, appeal to a younger generation and reverse declining membership numbers. We were also responsible for designing the new logo and accompanying stationary and managing the process of re-branding. Since the name change we are delighted that member numbers have increased and we have been able to attract new celebrity supporters and ambassadors to the charity, including motor-racing star Nicolas Hamilton.

May
May saw another permanant arrival to The Lively Crew staff, with Jodie McGill joining as Business Development Executive. Jodie has taken on all aspects of the BOLD Group and our Online Business Directories and has become an integral part of the business communities in Breckland, Broadland and South Norfolk.

June
The month that saw the Alps Challenge. Joined by celebrities including Ade Adepitan, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Nicolas Hamilton, we managed the challenge from long before the official start line at the Queen's House in Greenwich, down through England, across France and over the Swiss Alps, before returning North, through France once more and up to the finish line opposite the House's of Parliament in London. The event was a huge success and generated huge awareness of the charity both at home and abroad.

June also saw us launch the third of our Online Business Directories in South Norfolk.

July
In July we were delighted to launch our new logo and website, to better reflect our sustainable, environmental and socially responsible company ethos. To celebrate the new website we are continuing to offer a free marketing diagnostic to all businesses looking to ensure their marketing is measurable and working for them.

August
To help spread the message of sustainability and cutting waste, our Director Valerie and Business Development Executive Jodie McGill headed to the Peterborough Green Festival to talk to businesses and consumers about our environmental products in Fresh Pod and Enviro Pod.

September
In September we oversaw the official Disabled Motoring Awards Ceremony at the Goodwood Revival Festival. The Awards were to celebrate and recognise the achievements of disabled people and organisations, who have contributed to a better day-to-day life for disabled individuals across the United Kingdom. Winners, which we helped judge, came from right around the UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland and included motor-racing star Nicolas Hamilton, Cambridge City Council, Peatlands Park and mobility scooter display team the Red Wheelies.

October
Two Business Breakfast Forums kept us busy in October with both Thetford and Broadland business leaders meeting to discuss the latest business news and developments in their respective regions.

November
During Movember our Marketing Manager undertook Movember and raised over £100 for Prostate Cancer whilstmaking himself look seedier than a flower in Spring. The whole team got involved, partly through their generous sponsorship efforts but primarily by making sure Andrew felt as ridiculous as he looked and pointing this out to all they could

December
Throughout December we ran Light for Life events for our Charity of the Year; Star Throwers. By attending numerous Christmas light switch-on events across Norfolk, we helped raise a massive £1,115.43p for the cancer charity based in Wymondham.

 Norfolk marketing, sales and events agency The Lively Crew have raised £1,115.49 for Wymondham based cancer support charity Star Throwers after a series of successful Light for Life events across Norfolk, whereby people light a candle in memory of somebody touched by cancer.

Star Throwers, who were founded by Dr Henry Manning in 2007, is a not-for-profit charity run entirely by passionate volunteers, dedicated to supporting and advising people in East Anglia who are affected by cancer, or are at particular risk of developing cancer. Star Throwers provide free, independent and unbiased advice on all types of cancer treatment, care and support.

The Lively Crew, who have offices in Norwich and Bridgham, have supported Star Throwers as their Charity of the Year since 2010, donate staff time, money and their marketing expertise to the charity. As part of this, every Christmas staff from The Lively Crew put on the Light for Life events across Norfolk, to raise awareness and vital funds for the charity.

The name 'Star Throwers' was inspired be a freak weather incident which left thousands of starfish stranded on a beach and fast drying out in the sun. A little boy, began the arduous task of throwing them back into the sea one-by-one. A passer-by mentioned to the little boy that, due to the number washed up, his efforts were wasted and would make no difference, to which the little boy replied whilst returning another starfish to the water "well it did to that one".

Photograph courtesy of the EDP

 Today (Friday 16th December) is the last chance to order your Enviro-Pod products to ensure delivery in time for Christmas.

With 10% off the entire Enviro-Pod range by quoting unique code "2011", this is your chance to finish your Christmas shopping in one-go and by emailing info@enviro-pod.co.uk or by calling 08456 345 185, you can do it all without having to leave the comfort of your home.

Business Development Executive Jodie McGill is the 2011 Christmas Bake-Off Champion after a tree-mendous festive chocolate fudge cake.



Jodie, who went to the lengths of purchasing sparkling gold spray in a bid to win the crown from Director Valerie Bullard,, pipped Chris Reeve who has been with us on a work experience placement from Norwich City College, to first place.

Chris made a non-festive Lemon Drizzle cake, but his intense lemon-flavour helped him overcome the festive doubters.

In third was our Marketing Manager Andrew Lawn, who had the help of his domestic goddess girlfriend Aisha Smith, in making some Christmas bon-bons.

In fourth and fifth place was Sue Morter and Robert Ediker who made cheesecake and biscuits respectively. Robert's biscuits reminded everyone of their days at Playgroup but sadly their taste and non-conformist shapes left the judges unimpressed.

 We are delighted to announce that we have set-up a Just Giving page to help us raise even more money and awareness about Norfolk cancer charity Star Throwers.


Alongside our fundraising efforts around Norwich and Norfolk in the build-up to Christmas, we hope that our page will help us raise in excess of £1,000 for the charity.