---

Local accountancy firm Aston Shaw, provided its staff with free lunches throughout January in an attempt to keep the winter blues at bay.

Staff based at Aston Shaw’s Norwich office in The Union Building, Rose Lane have been enjoying hot, freshly prepared meals at the Rooftop Gardens restaurant recently, courtesy of their employer. Mark Noakes, the firm’s Director behind the initiative, commented: “January can be a tough time of year for many, it’s cold, dark and summer feels a long way off. We wanted to keep spirits high, and what better way to do that than with good food? We have a restaurant on the top floor of our building, so it seemed a shame not to make use of it.”

Just some of the hearty winter meals to be had by staff included Steak & Ale Pie, Beef Stew and Bangers & Mash. As staff looked forward to tucking in to a delicious free lunch each day, Director Mark Noakes quickly noticed a positive change in the office atmosphere: “Our offices have always had a positive energy about them, a unique vibe I think you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. This energy has been amplified over the past month and I think I speak for the majority of business owners when I say there are few things as satisfying as seeing your employees feel good about coming into work.”

The free hot lunches proved such a success that Aston Shaw have decided to continue providing meals for staff at a subsidised rate, branding it the ‘Aston Shaw Staff Canteen’. Mark Noakes, added: “The response was so positive that we’ve decided to make the initiative a permanent staff benefit by continuing to offer meals at a subsidised rate, allowing staff to have a healthy, filling and nutritious lunch for around the same price point as a supermarket meal deal”.

---