I’m excited to share that I’ve recently joined the UK Government’s Help to Grow: Management Programme as an official business mentor.
If you’re in Norwich and Norfolk, I’m here to help you:
. Get clear on where you’re heading (and how to get there)
. Build a stronger business strategy
. Make more confident decisions
. Create a better work–life balance
. Keep your business strong for the long term
For me, it’s all about helping local businesses and self-employed people not just get by, but actually enjoy running their business.
If you ever fancy a coffee and chat about your business ideas, challenges, or next steps, I’m always happy to meet up. Talking things through makes a huge difference.
Click here to find out more about how I can help your business. –Rob
Students studying Travel and Tourism and Air Cabin Crew at the College of West Anglia were given a valuable insight into life beyond college as global travel brand TUI visited to highlight career pathways and apprenticeship opportunities within the industry.
The visit provided learners with a real-world perspective on the range of roles available at TUI, including customer service, cabin crew, operations and management routes; as well as the skills and qualities the employer looks for in the future workforce. Students also learned how apprenticeships can offer a direct route into employment while continuing to gain industry-recognised qualifications.
TUI representative and CWA alumnus, Jack Gant, spoke about progression opportunities within the company, outlining how students can move from entry-level roles into long-term careers across aviation, travel and tourism. Learners were encouraged to ask questions about recruitment, application processes, and how to stand out in a competitive global industry.
Reflecting on his own journey, having studied Travel and Tourism (Level 3) in 2016, Jack added: “ I believe that the college gave me the skills and knowledge I needed to progress into my higher education and in my career.”
Student Katie Rose Shaw, studying Travel and Tourism (Level 3), welcomed the visit, adding: “ The opportunity to hear external speakers talk about different opportunities and pathways that are available to me because of the course I’m studying is really important.”
Visits from employers, such as TUI, play a key role in helping students connect their learning to real-world careers, building confidence, ambition, and a clear understanding of their next steps into employment and apprenticeships.
Many UK employers rely on standard drug testing panels to maintain workplace safety and compliance—but these tests don’t always tell the full story.
Routine drug screens typically detect substances like cannabis, cocaine, and heroin. However, a wide range of other drugs—including some prescription medications, synthetic substances like Spice, ketamine, and certain opioids—may go completely undetected unless specifically tested for.
This gap in testing could leave employers unknowingly exposed to safety risks, especially in safety-critical industries.
To help you better understand which substances may be missed, we’ve published a full guide:
A new cross-sector partnership involving Norfolk Citizens Advice, Age UK Norwich and Voluntary Norfolk has launched Healthy Ageing Norfolk, a coordinated programme designed to strengthen preventative support for older adults across Norwich, South Norfolk, Broadland and Great Yarmouth.
This partnership brings together established, high-impact services that already operate across the county and aligns them into a single, integrated offer. By combining decades of expertise in advice, community support, health coaching, volunteer mobilisation and ageing services, Healthy Ageing Norfolk aims to provide a seamless, non-clinical pathway to help adults aged 50+ maintain independence, resilience and wellbeing for longer.
Norfolk faces significant challenges around frailty, falls and the rising occurrence of multiple long-term conditions. National data, such as Age UK’s State of Health and Care of Older People in England (September 2025), shows that healthy life expectancy at 50 is declining, while more older adults are living with two or more chronic conditions. At the same time, access to statutory support has reduced, leaving many people managing increased levels of need with fewer resources.
Healthy Ageing Norfolk has been developed as a practical, locally focused response to these pressures. The programme strengthens the preventative end of the health and care system, offering earlier, community-based interventions that can reduce avoidable deterioration, delay the onset of frailty and support safer, more independent living.
What the new service looks like…
The partnership adopts a person-centred, strengths-based model that builds capability, confidence and connection. Core elements include:
Health Coaching and Group Workshops focused on strength, balance, nutrition and self-management.
Frailty Screening and Post-Fall Support to help maintain independence, reduce risk and prevent escalation into clinical pathways.
Community-Based Activities that build social connection, tackle isolation and promote active ageing.
Information and Advice Services to help people navigate financial, social care and housing challenges that affect wellbeing.
By aligning these existing services under one coordinated programme, Healthy Ageing Norfolk provides a clearer, simpler route for professionals and residents to access preventative support, reducing duplication and improving continuity.
What the service means for residents…
Referral into Healthy Ageing Norfolk is managed through local councils’ artificial intelligence (AI) system, ensuring that individuals with emerging or increasing needs are identified early and directed toward appropriate support. This targeted approach strengthens multidisciplinary working and complements clinical services by addressing wider social, financial and functional factors contributing to frailty.
Mark Hitchcock, Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk Citizens Advice said “We are pleased to collaborate on a unified preventative service for Norfolk residents. By bringing leading services together, we can expand our reach and support more people to address their life challenges and improve their overall wellbeing.”
Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer of Age UK Norwich added “Frailty is one of Norfolk’s most complex challenges. This partnership consolidates our respective expertise to offer a comprehensive package of support that strengthens independence and quality of life for older residents.”
Belinda Axten, Head of Volunteer Services at Voluntary Norfolk said “Healthy Ageing Norfolk strengthens the connections between statutory, voluntary and community services. By working together, we can coordinate support more effectively and ensure that older people receive timely, preventative help long before a crisis point is reached.”
Students from Witchford Village College were given the exciting opportunity to experience life in a professional kitchen as they took part in a special Novus Restaurant takeover at the College of West Anglia (CWA). Designed to inspire budding hospitality and catering students, the event offered a hands-on introduction to the fast-paced environment of a real working kitchen and restaurant.
Throughout the afternoon, students worked in CWA’s industry standard kitchens, where they prepared a three-course menu under the guidance of experienced catering lecturers and professional chefs. The session allowed them to explore new ingredients, develop technical skills, and gain confidence in both cooking and front-of-house tasks.
The 2025 School Takeover Menu challenged students to create a variety of mouthwatering dishes including Chicken Liver Pate with Red Onion Marmalade and Toasted Brioche, Sweet Potato, Chilli and Coconut Soup, Herb Crusted Pollock with Chickpea Fricassee, Rosemary and Lamb Burger with Glazed Goats Cheese and Truffle Fries, Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream, Eton Mess with Chambord Strawberries, and Lemon Curd Profiterole with Meringue Shard.
Student, Laila Omar said, “I found this to be an eye-opening experience since I’ve learnt how much effort and work goes on behind the scenes at a restaurant to make sure the customer leaves feeling happy and satisfied. I think that everyone interested in this type of job should come to the college and see the opportunities that students have. I enjoyed learning how to set tables and cleaning cutlery to a professional standard.’
Lola Carey who is also a student at Witchford Village College said ‘It was a great experience and I had so much fun. I really enjoyed learning how to make the food and talking to the students and staff. It is a really good opportunity to learn about kitchen environments, and I wish more schools did this.’
Juliet Martin, Head of Careers at Witchford College said ‘Hospitality & Catering students had a unique opportunity to access an industrial kitchen and prepare meals for their parents at the College of West Anglia. Not only does this enhance their skills for the qualification they are taking but allows them to understand aspects of a professional kitchen. Students were also given a thorough run down of how to lay a table and the other aspects of the hospitality side. The food was superb, and our students were supported by some amazing College of West Anglia students.’
In the evening, the students welcomed family members to dine at Novus Restaurant, taking full responsibility for service, presentation and guest experience. This allowed them to showcase the dishes they had created, while giving their families a unique insight into the opportunities available within hospitality and catering at CWA.
The Novus Takeover programme continues to strengthen links between local schools and the College of West Anglia, helping young people gain valuable experience and explore future careers in hospitality, catering and the wider food industry.
Local business and chamber member Native Origin has officially rebranded as MADE BY WOODSMOKE.
This change comes after director James Bussey took a three-month break from the business to tour Europe in a motorhome with his partner Kirsty and their two golden retrievers. James reflected:
“The trip was the best thing my partner and I have ever done, helping to gain a completely fresh perspective on life, on direction and what I knew my business needed to be. When you first set up a business, it’s easy to lose sight of why you were setting it up in the first place. The trip gave me the space and time to re-discover and design the next phase.”
Native Origin had already established itself as a creative business, providing local brands with video production, design, CGI, and website services.
The evolution to MADE BY WOODSMOKE represents a more focused approach to creating and—crucially—connecting all the creative services a business needs.
This strategic shift addresses a common challenge in today’s business landscape, where companies often treat their marketing and advertising efforts as disconnected components, each managed in isolation.
MADE BY WOODSMOKE advocates for businesses to view all their activities as an integrated system—a cohesive machine with interconnected parts working seamlessly and harmoniously.
The College of West Anglia (CWA) has been officially recognised by City and Guilds for its high-quality delivery of End Point Assessments (EPAs), receiving a prestigious plaque that celebrates the college’s commitment to industry standard apprenticeship outcomes.
The plaque was presented on 25 November at CWA’s Wisbech Campus, directly outside the new Green Skills Building; a landmark development designed to expand green technology training across the region. The new facility has been jointly funded by CWA, the Anglia Water Alliance, and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority sgthening CWA’s role in providing future-facing skills that support both local employers and the wider green economy.
Assistant Principal Funding, Performance and Projects, Rob Petto accepted the plaque on behalf of CWA from Rachel Knight, City and Guilds Business Development Manager. The recognition highlights the college’s consistent commitment to delivering high quality apprenticeship training and ensuring that learners are fully prepared for their EPA assessments and onward careers.
The award also reflects the strong collaborative working relationship between CWA and City & Guilds, supported by excellent apprenticeship success rates, rigorous training delivery, and high levels of employer engagement across multiple sectors.
Rachel Knight, Business Development Manager – Southeast at City and Guilds, said ‘City & Guilds are proud to be the End Point Assessment Organisation of choice for the College of West Anglia for a wide range of apprenticeships. This EPA award issued today is recognition of their excellence in apprenticeship delivery and successful outcomes for End Point Assessment. I have had the chance to speak to some of their apprentices on the day of their EPA, they were confident and well prepared ahead of this and very pleased with the training and support received.’
Rob Petto, Assistant Principal Funding, Performance and Projects at CWA said
‘This recognition for our apprenticeship endpoint assessments highlights the excellent work happening across our college and the strong relationships we’ve built with employers and the community. Apprenticeships are vital to our region’s growth, and we’re proud to play a key role in helping learners develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.’
This achievement reinforces the college’s dedication to maintaining high standards of apprenticeship assessment and providing training that meets both industry needs and national benchmarks. CWA continues to play a leading role in shaping the skilled workforce of the future across West Norfolk, Fenland, and beyond.
📍 This Week at Shield Health & Safety – Across East Anglia & Beyond!
It’s been another productive and wide-reaching week for the Shield team, delivering expert training and consultancy across East Anglia! Just look at where our instructors have been 👇
(see map image)
From Cambridge to Lowestoft, Ipswich to Norwich, we’ve been providing a wide range of high-quality training, including:
🚜 Forklift Training
🩹 Emergency First Aid at Work
🏗️ Overhead Crane Training
🚛 Shunter & Pallet Truck Training
🧠 Meanwhile, Craig has been working closely with clients, reviewing and updating risk assessments and safety policies — helping organisations stay compliant, confident, and prepared.
✅ A key reminder this week:
Risk assessments are only effective if they reflect your current working practices.
Workplaces change, staff come and go, and hazards evolve — so staying up to date isn’t optional, it’s essential.
💡 Has it been a while since your last review? Let’s make sure you’re not relying on outdated paperwork.
🎓 A special shoutout to one of our instructors who has just received his updated qualification certificates, ensuring continued RTITB accreditation and delivering training to the highest standards.
🛡️ Whether it’s consultancy, training, or ongoing support — Shield is here to help you stay safe, smart, and fully compliant.
It’s been a busy few weeks at Budease, a consultancy focused on helping small businesses simplify, systemise, and scale.
If we haven’t crossed paths yet, I’m Charles, founder of Budease, and a new member here at the Chamber. I work hands-on with business owners to fix what’s slowing them down, build what’s missing and scale what’s already working, especially across sales, operations and customer service, with hands-on growth support.
I’m currently speaking with trades, food & drink, retail, and service-based businesses across Norfolk, and I’ve opened up slots for short Discovery Calls throughout August. They’re friendly, no-pressure chats designed to explore what’s working, what isn’t and what we could do to unlock growth in your business.
If you or someone you know is trying to modernise systems, attract more consistent customers, or simply get out of the weeds, I’d love to help.
Public Protective Services (PPS) students at the College of West Anglia recently welcomed Dean Williams, Community Fundraiser for Help for Heroes, for an inspiring and impactful guest session. Dean served twenty-seven years in the Infantry and the Physical Training Corps, specialising as a rehabilitation instructor supporting wounded and injured service personnel in their recovery and return to work.
Drawing on his extensive career and lived experience, Dean provided students with a direct insight into the realities faced by service personnel during and after active duty. He also highlighted the vital role Help for Heroes continues to play in supporting veterans and their families through recovery programmes, welfare services and community networks.
During the session, students learned about:
The emotional and physical challenges faced by wounded service members.
The long-term importance of rehabilitation, both physically and psychologically.
Support available for veterans to rebuild confidence, skills, and independence.
The broader mission and fundraising work of Help for Heroes across the UK.
Dean also shared how Help for Heroes is often filling the gaps where other military charities cannot. Everything that the organisation provides to support individuals is to make it so there is ‘one less battle to fight’.
He also spoke about the realities of service life, including the thirty-two countries where British military personnel are stationed on peacekeeping missions, only to return home struggling to find peace themselves. Help for Heroes’ Recovery College plays a pivotal role in helping veterans regain control of their lives, empowering them through education, wellbeing support, and skills development.
Another key aspect highlighted was the charity’s focus on community strength: veterans who are further along in their recovery journey mentoring those who are just beginning. Dean also discussed the Very Seriously Injured (VSI) programme, which supports veterans who are living with life changing injuries, as well as the charity’s work funding specialist equipment that can transform independence and mobility.
The session resonated strongly with the students’ fundraising efforts, as they have just completed their challenge to collectively cover 155km, the distance from CWA’s King’s Lynn campus to Ypres battlefield, in support of Help for Heroes. Dean’s visit reinforced why these efforts matter as well as thanking them for their support and achievement in the challenge.
Dean went on to say ‘The students should feel incredibly proud – not only of what they achieved physically, but of the amazing amount they’ve raised. It’s an incredible effort that will go onto support veterans and those Help the Heroes support up and down the country.’
Rob Cooke, Public and Protective Services Lecturer added:
‘I would like to thank Dean for firstly, giving up his valuable time to speak with my students, and for providing them with such a wider understanding of the impact of military operations, and the support that Help for Heroes can offer them in return. The activities that the students have undertaken have been extremely challenging, both physically and mentally, and I am immensely proud of their achievement, but the activities provide them with a snapshot of what life can be like for members of our armed forces. I look forward to engaging my students in similar adventurous activities in the future and raising more money for the superb charities that support our uniformed services.’
This valuable talk broadened students’ understanding of the lived experience of service personnel, and the continuing support required long after their frontline duties end. It also highlighted the lasting importance of compassion, teamwork, and community in public service careers.