Training

10 Top Tips for Neuro-inclusive Workplaces

Written by on 19 May 2026.

Did you know our Neurodiversity at Work Training has been co-created by participants with lived experience?

We have curated some top tips for supporting neurodivergent employees in the workplace.

Small changes can make a big impact so if you’re ready to become an inclusive employer, book your training here.

Make neurodiversity a strategic priority.

Embed neurodiversity into organisational objectives, and actively involve neurodivergent colleagues in the design of strategies, policies, and processes.
Educate and equip leaders and teams.

Inform and train staff and managers to foster an affirmative workplace culture that goes beyond formal accommodations and permissions.
Listen and learn.

Proactively ask individuals what they need to thrive and perform at their best, and respond with openness and flexibility.
Make neuro-inclusion visible and normalised.

Encourage and legitimise sensory and self-regulation adaptations such as fidget tools, desk fans, headphones, sunglasses, movement, and taking breaks.
Design flexibility and inclusion into the workplace.

Where possible, build inclusive practices and environments by default (e.g. providing quiet spaces or low-stimulation areas accessible to anyone).
Communicate clearly and specifically.

Use plain language, articulate expectations clearly, and avoid unambiguous instructions.
Create space for thinking and clarification.

Encourage processing time and welcome clarifying questions, particularly in meetings and decision-making forums.
Use varied and accessible communication formats.

Combine verbal and written communication, and structure longer texts with bullet points, headings, and reader-friendly formatting.
Enable structured planning and predictability.

Provide information in advance, break work into manageable tasks, set clear deadlines, and minimise last-minute changes where possible.
Offer support with prioritisation and overwhelm.

Provide practical assistance when needed, such as help with task prioritisation, workload management, or navigating complexity.

(And as a bonus because we couldn’t just limit it to 10!)

Honour strengths as well as recognising support needs.

Recognise, value, and leverage the strengths of neurodivergent colleagues, rather than focusing solely on challenges or deficits.

TVC and EngEPA partner to launch Dig in Vision VR Welding Simulator in the UK

Written by on 13 May 2026.

The UK’s welding and fabrication industry is set for a digital revolution as The Validation Centre (TVC) Limited and EngEPA Ltd join forces to officially launch the Dig in Vision VR Welding Simulator. This strategic partnership combines world-class monitoring expertise with industry-leading assessment and cutting-edge virtual reality to address the growing skills gap in British manufacturing.

A New Era of Welding Training

The Dig in Vision Welding Simulator is not just a training tool, it is a high-fidelity XR (Extended Reality) platform designed to replicate the physics of a real-world workshop and, unlike traditional methods that require expensive consumables and pose safety risks to beginners, the Dig in Vision system allows trainees to master MIG, TIG, and Stick welding in a risk-free virtual environment!

Key features include:

Real-time physics in lifelike weld pool and puddle simulation that responds to speed, angle, and distance
Integrated AI provides instant, multilingual feedback to guide students through complex exercises
Instructors can track performance and progress via a digital dashboard, ensuring every student meets industry standards before ever striking a real arc
By eliminating the need for scrap metal, gas, and electricity during initial training, the system significantly reduces the carbon footprint and overhead costs of vocational programs

Click here to watch the full Dig in Vision video walkthrough.

Backed by Established UK Engineering Companies

The launch is backed by two established UK companies in the UK engineering sector.

Established in 1995, TVC is a global leader in welding monitoring, data logging, and NDT equipment. Based in Norfolk, our ISO-accredited expertise ensures that any technology they bring to market meets the highest safety-critical standards.

EngEPA Ltd is a premier End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) and specialises in engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships. Their involvement provides a seamless bridge between virtual practice and professional certification.

The Dig in Vision VR Welding Simulator is now available for demonstration and integration across UK colleges, training centres, and industrial facilities.

Norfolk and Waveney Mind Fully Funded Mental Health First Aid (Two Days)

Written by on 8 May 2026.

Norfolk and Waveney Mind have been allocated funding by Norfolk County Council to provide a limited number of Mental Health focussed training places specifically to VCSE’s and SME’s across Norfolk. This funding forms part of a wider initiative to help organisations provide health and wellbeing support to their workforce.

As an MHF Aider you will be able to:

Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention

Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports

Practise active listening and empathy

Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma

Discuss the MHFAider role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality

Practise self-care

Know how to use the MHFAider Support App®

Norfolk and Waveney Mind Fully Funded Mental Health First Aid Training (2 Days)

Written by on 8 May 2026.

This funding forms part of a wider initiative to help organisations provide health and wellbeing support to their workforce.

As an MHF Aider you will be able to:

Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
Practise active listening and empathy
Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
Discuss the MHFAider role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality
Practise self-care
Know how to use the MHFAider Support App®

UEA – Conference and Event facilities

Written by on 23 April 2026.

Host your next conference with us on our unique campus

UEA’s campus is home to iconic architecture, over 300 acres of beautiful award-winning parkland, a variety of unique spaces and impressive venues, and with excellent transport links, we’re the perfect location to host your next event.

We offer a range of high-quality venues across campus, including lecture theatres, seminar and meeting rooms and foyer spaces – the largest of which can seat 500 guests. All rooms have integrated audio visual and PC facilities, with WiFi available in all buildings.

Prices start from £200 per day and we can create a bespoke package tailored to your needs, including overnight accommodation, with all conference spaces and campus facilities (including SportsPark) just a short walk away. UEA’s catering service can supply a variety of menu options to meet your needs, whether that is an informal buffet lunch, an elegant dinner at the Sainsbury Centre, or a rooftop drinks reception with canapés.

Should you want to explore further afield, Norwich’s vibrant city centre is just a short bus ride from UEA, with public transport readily available from campus.

Our Events team has extensive experience facilitating and managing a wide range of academic and cultural conferences and events. We will work closely with you from preparation to delivery to support your unique vision – whether that be a residential conference spanning several days or a shorter one-day event.

Half-Price Mental Health Training for Chamber Members This May

Written by on 8 April 2026.

I wanted to share something I’m really pleased to be able to offer this spring.

On 4th–5th May 2026, I’ll be running a two-day Supervising First Aid for Mental Health course, and I’m offering 50% off for Chamber of Commerce members.

I’ve timed this to sit just ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, as I’m a big believer that awareness is only useful if it’s backed up with practical skills. This course is about giving supervisors and managers something concrete to take back into their workplaces — not just recognising when something isn’t right, but knowing what to say and how to respond.

A big advantage of these dates is that Monday 4th May is a bank holiday, which makes the two-day format much more manageable for people who would otherwise struggle to step away from their business for training.

The course is delivered online, and I teach it from my perspective as an NHS doctor, using real-world scenarios from clinical practice. We cover how to spot early signs of difficulty, how to approach sensitive conversations (including around self-harm and suicide), and how to offer appropriate support while keeping clear professional boundaries.

It’s a nationally recognised qualification, delivered in association with NUCO Training, and is Ofqual-regulated and HSE-compliant.

If you’ve been thinking about strengthening how your business supports staff wellbeing, this is a good opportunity to do that in a structured, practical way.

If you’d like more information or to book a place, you can reach me at:

[email protected]

Forefront Team Leader Development -11 June 2026

Written by on 31 March 2026.

Do you have frontline managers who:

Were promoted from within because they are technically good?
Are new to the role and / or inexperienced at managing others?
Need improved confidence in managing people and problems?
Find it difficult to balance the pressures of delivering for management while remaining part of the team?
Could make a significant contribution to the company’s profits if they were able to improve the performance of themselves and their teams?

If the answer is “yes” to any of the above questions, you will find that the Forefront course provides solutions to these and many other issues that stretch today’s team leader. The Forefront Team Ledaer Development course has been specially designed to give practising or aspiring first line managers a solid foundation in their formal development as a manager. Delegates will also complete a project which is to identify a problem within the workplace and implement an effective solution.

Your employee will receive:

An Insights Discovery personal profile
1-2-1 coaching sessions
A fun and challenging learning experience

Forefront – Team Leader Development – 02 June 2026

Written by on 31 March 2026.

Do you have frontline managers who:

Were promoted from within because they are technically good?
Are new to the role and / or inexperienced at managing others?
Need improved confidence in managing people and problems?
Find it difficult to balance the pressures of delivering for management while remaining part of the team?
Could make a significant contribution to the company’s profits if they were able to improve the performance of themselves and their teams?

Your employee will receive:

An Insights Discovery personal profile
1-2-1 coaching sessions
A fun and challenging learning experience

Minute Taking Course – Friday 17 April 2026

Written by on 31 March 2026.

The course runs from 9:30am through to 4:30pm.

You will learn in a relaxed environment with a small group of people. A specialist tutor will guide and encourage you through all the learning necessary to develop your skills and questions are always welcome.

Detailed course content

Effective Minuting

Why do we call it minutes?
What are minutes used for
The role of the minute taker

Ensuring meetings are effective and efficient

Expected standards of minutes for different meeting types
Exploring elements to ensure both virtual and face to face meetings are productive
Determining objectives of the meeting to maintain focus
Who should be attending the meeting
Confidence in your own preparation
The importance of an agenda

Standards required during the meeting

Should I type or handwrite my notes
Frameworks and structure
Speed writing, abbreviations & shorthand
Why is it so challenging to maintain your focus
Enhancing your ability to actively listen
Putting it into practice

Post Meeting Responsibilities

Minutes structure
Action logs
Summarising
Distribution of your minutes
Proofreading
How can technology support

Change Management – Free Lunch & Learn Webinar

Written by on 30 March 2026.

Join Elliot Symonds, Head of Learning & Development, for a fast paced, thought provoking webinar exploring the change models that actually work in the real world.

Drawing on experience with organisations including BBC, Octopus Energy, NICEIC and Fairfax & Favor, Elliot cuts through theory to share the approaches that resonate, stick, and spark meaningful action.

Expect insight, storytelling, and a few moments that make you stop and think.

If you’re leading change, living through it, or quietly resisting it, this session is worth your lunch hour.

Doctor-led First Aid at Work Requalification (2-Day Course)

Written by on 24 March 2026.

This two-day requalification course is designed for
those who already hold the three-day First Aid at Work qualification and need
to renew their certification. It provides a structured refresh of
essential first-aid knowledge while reinforcing confidence, decision-making,
and practical skills for real-world emergencies.

The course revisits core first-aid principles, updates
learners on current best practice, and allows experienced first aiders to
refine their approach through practical scenarios and discussion. Emphasis
is placed on maintaining calm, effective responses in workplace emergencies
while remaining fully compliant with current standards.

On successful completion, participants will renew their
First Aid at Work certification for a further three years, ensuring
continued legal compliance and confidence in their role as a workplace first
aider.

Training is delivered by an NHS doctor with over 10
years’ experience and is grounded in the realities of emergency care, highlighting
common pitfalls focusing on developing first aiders who are calm, confident,
and — most importantly — capable when it matters.

The
course is delivered in association with NUCO Training, is
FAA-certified, HSE-compliant, Ofqual-regulated, and is valid for three
years.

Group
discounts and on-site courses are available. Please contact us at: [email protected]

First Aid for Mental Health Awareness FAA level 1 qualification

Written by on 23 March 2026.

First Aid for Mental Health Awareness – 4 Hours

This short, practical course is designed to build confidence
and awareness around mental health in the workplace, without taking staff away
from their roles for a full day. It helps employees recognise early signs of
stress or distress in colleagues and members of the public, understand how
mental health can affect work, and respond appropriately and professionally.

Training focuses on realistic workplace situations and
clear, respectful communication, supporting staff wellbeing while helping
organisations demonstrate duty of care and a positive mental health culture. It
is an ideal entry point for businesses looking to invest in staff wellbeing in
a proportionate, cost-effective way.

The course leads to a regulated FAA Level 1 Award,
which is Ofqual-regulated and HSE-compliant.

Group
discounts available. Please
contact us at: [email protected],
or book online at: www.mckay-medical-services.co.uk/book-online