Kick back after work at The Lion’s Den, the ultimate riverside hangout by the River Wensum. Whether you’re sipping a hot chocolate by the fire or grabbing a glass of wine with new connections, this is networking— without the awkward small talk.
Join us for a laid-back, social evening on Thursday, May 1st, from 6 PM – 10 PM.
Ticket price includes a welcome drink and Lion’s Den toasties, and marshamallow toasting.
Relax riverside-style in comfy seating, under twinkling lights, around cosy fire pits.
No suits, no stress – just good vibes, great people, and easy conversations.
While Co.next is designed with under 35s in mind, we’re all about shared values, not age limits — everyone is welcome.
Format: In-person or hybrid, 2.5 hours, including Q&A and live demos
Overview:
This introductory session explores how AI is transforming work and business. We’ll demystify the jargon and help attendees understand where AI tools can help save time, generate content, and support customer engagement.
Facilitated By:
Patrick Hussey
Patrick has worked with enterprise leaders like Google, SAP, Adobe, Microsoft, and Vodafone, as well as startups, cultural institutions, charities, and consumer brands. His expertise lies in AI strategy, thought leadership, and helping organisations harness technology for competitive advantage and meaningful change.
Key Takeaways:
Understand what AI is and how it works (without the jargon)
Get hands-on with tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Sora
See real-world examples of AI supporting business processes
Identify areas in your business or role where AI can be applied
Bring your laptop to get the most from this hands on workshop to start you on the way to harnessing ai in your bussiness.
This year’s Innes Lecture is being delivered by Prof Sujit
Sivasundaram, Professor of World History at the University of Cambridge, who
will look at the history of pepper and the role it plays in the world.
It will be held on Tuesday 29 April in the John Innes
Conference Centre at Norwich Research Park. The event is free to attend and
open to all. Please book your tickets here.
Doors open at 6pm with the lecture starting at 6.30pm.
Pepper is the most widely used spice in the world, but its
widespread use was not always certain or predictable.
This lecture follows pepper’s journey from its origins in
South India, across the Indian Ocean, and through many different hands, before
the Portuguese sought to take control of it.
The way pepper was harvested and traded to meet growing
demand helped shape the plantation economy. The combination of the plantation
economy and European colonisation played a huge role in shaping the modern
world. Looking at how pepper was cultivated and traded, reveals different
ecologies, trade networks, labour systems and cultural influences.
Prof Sivasundaram’s last book, Waves Across the South: A New
History of Revolution and Empire, won both the British Academy Book Prize and
the Jerry Bentley Prize for World History. He is a Fellow of the British
Academy.
Chamber Members: Is Your Wellbeing Strategy Working as Hard as Your Team?
As a fellow supporter of local business, I’m offering exclusive wellbeing reviews for Chamber of Commerce members — designed to help you get more from your current health and wellbeing provision.
We’ll look at what’s in place, spot gaps, and explore tailored solutions that can:
Improve productivity
Reduce absence
Boost staff retention
And show clear ROI
It’s a no-obligation consultation that’s all about helping you create a healthier, more engaged workforce — because strong teams build strong local businesses.
Let’s book a time to talk. One conversation could change the way your business supports its people.
This four week course covers Agile from start to finish, equipping you with the knowledge and tools needed to take your team’s productivity to the next level. Using theory, case studies, activities and tools to take away you’ll become the ultimate project manager!
With £billions spent annually across government, local authorities, healthcare, and education; the public sector offers a powerful growth avenue for businesses of all sizes.
Unlock new opportunities for your business with Chambers East and Crown Commercial Service in this essential webinar on navigating public sector procurement under the UK Procurement Act 2023.
Webinar Hosts
· Neal Smith – Deputy Director, Cloud & Hosting, CCS
· Lucy McCormack – Commercial Lead, Digital Capability and Delivery, CCS
What You’ll Learn
– How recent procurement changes make bidding for contracts simpler, fairer, and more accessible
– Practical insights to help win new contracts and expand into public sector markets
– Expert guidance on streamlining your bidding process for a competitive edge
This session will help you understand how recent changes make bidding for contracts simpler, fairer, and more accessible, giving you a competitive edge.
Whether you’re looking to win new contracts, expand into public sector markets, or streamline your bidding process, this webinar will provide practical insights and expert guidance to help your business succeed.
Book now, and we’ll send over the joining link prior to the webinar.
A dictionary will tell you that negotiation is a strategic discussion between two or more parties that resolves an issue in a way that each party finds acceptable. This programme will equip you with the skills to maximise your chances of a successful outcome.
Key topics:
The negotiation process
Why should someone buy from you
Negotiation skills
Value engineering
Negotiation in practice
Dates for this course will appear here once confirmed.
Kickstart your personal and business development by joining the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Help to Grow: Management course with Norwich Business School. Led by UEA academics, the course equips your business with tools and strategies to bolster your resilience.
Help to Grow: Management is a nationwide course, and as a member of the Small Business Charter, Norwich Business School is currently open for applications for its fourth cohort starting on 6th March 2024.
The course is designed for business owners, CEOs and tomorrow’s senior business leaders, who each bring a diversity of experience. 50+ regional businesses from a wide range of sectors including science and technology, electronics and aviation, social enterprise, retail and logistics have participated to date. Over 1,700 teaching hours have been delivered since November ‘22, as well as 500 hours of mentoring and 400 hours of peer-to-peer advice.
Participants will enhance their management and strategic capabilities, learn how to innovate in their business and adopt digital technologies to boost productivity and operational agility.
The course supports managers and leaders of SMEs with 5-249 employees. Those with 10+ employees may apply for two places. The 12-week programme is designed to fit alongside full-time work commitments and is 90% funded by the Government, meaning the fee payable by participants is just £750.
Would you like to develop your skills in this role and gain
a qualification?
Norfolk Adult Learning offer a Level 5 Management and
Leadership Skills course, with the next programme starting in March 2025.
Achieving a Level 5
Diploma in Management offers numerous benefits for both the learner and employer,
significantly enhancing the overall performance and productivity of the organisation
Unfortunately we have had to postpone our backstage tour, but we look forward to announcing new dates as soon as we have confirmation from our friends at The Theatre Royal.
Since 2002 over 16 million theatergoers in 19 counties have thrilled to this awe-inspiring production of We Will Rock You!
We really hope you can join us – you’ll have to be quick as there are only 20 spaces!
You’ll have a Backstage Tour of the set of We Will Rock You, the worldwide smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton which returns to the UK, a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked the bands’ legendary live performances. During the hour tour you can experience first-hand the set, stage, sights and sounds of live theatre.
Network in the welcoming Kemp’s Resturant over breakfast comprising of a selection of local cheeses, local meats, artisan breads, granola, yoghurt, warm pastries, sliced fresh fruit, tea and filter coffee. We think its a great way to start your day! Norwich Theare Royal is one of the East of England’s largest and most successful theatres with over 250 years presenting theatre in Norwich….
Norwich Theatre Royal is the largest and most successful theatre in the East of England with over 400,000 people attending annually to watch 400 performances, ranging from shows for pre-school age children to grand opera, and everything in between. We feature the best of West End shows from big musicals to great dramas, alongside dance, comedy, family shows, opera and music – Click Here for the latest show information.
Our engagement groups represent local businesses in the community, to connect, support, and give voice to every business in Norfolk.
As well as having the opportunity to discuss key topics, you’ll also be able to network with fellow businesses.
Our aim is to have groups in many cities, towns, market towns, and villages across Norfolk, to connect, support, and give voice to every business in Norfolk. These groups are accessible to all businesses, whether you are a Chambers member or a non-member.
These groups will provide you with a platform to debate issues that are most important to you and your business. The Chamber network will lobby and influence on your behalf, using our dedicated team, our website, social media channels, and our digital platform.
Your feedback will be used by our team and the Chamber’s Board to help shape the strategic direction of Norfolk Chambers, ensuring we can truly be the voice of Norfolk businesses.
Whether the local challenge is skills, road, rail, digital infrastructure, recruitment, or the rising costs of doing business, we want to hear from you.
Agenda
9:00am
Arrival and Networking
Welcome from Norfolk Chambers
Introductions
Start of group discussions on key topics
10:00am
Power Hour: Maximising Your Membership Discover how to make the most of your Norfolk Chambers membership, including a guided overview of the Digital Chamber and tips for using our platforms to promote your business, share news, and engage with the local business community.
11:00am
Event Close
Refreshments
Complimentary tea and coffee provided.
Cancellations
If you are unable to attend the event, please notify us at [email protected].
