Member News

Lovewell Blake Financial Planning are offering an initial consultation, at no cost, with a qualified financial planner for people to go through their current pension situation, with guidance on how to plan, prepare and proceed with their pension arrangements.

“The full State Pension is currently £230.25 a week, although this figure does depend on whether you have a full national insurance record,” said Stephen Metcalf, Director at Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

“Even those receiving the full State Pension may find that they need extra pension savings to give themselves the retirement lifestyle they desire.  Many people accumulate several different pension pots during their working lives, with different providers, and often they don’t really understand the extent of their pension pot or what it will give them in retirement.

“It is never too early to start thinking about pensions, which is why we are offering these sessions during Pension Awareness Week to help people get to grips with their retirement futures.”

Among the questions which will be answered during the sessions are:

Among the questions which will be answered during the sessions are:

How much money might my state pension be?

Should I get financial advice before I retire?

How much money do I need to retire?

How long will my pension last?

Should I buy an annuity?

Can I take a lump sum from my pension?

The pension guidance sessions are available throughout Pension Awareness Week (15th – 19th September).

Appointments can be booked by filling out our pension help sheet or by calling Tracy Cox on 01603 663300.

Every business is unique, but lately, I keep seeing the same three challenges crop up.

1. Too much going on, not enough structure

2. Sales that rely too heavily on one source

3. No real time to step back and fix things

Different industries. Different business sizes, but the same operational friction.

It’s not because people don’t know what to do; it’s because they’re flat out, doing everything at once.

That’s where Budease comes in. I help business owners clear the fog, get things running properly and build in a way that actually scales.

If any of those points hit close to home, you’re not alone. These aren’t signs of failure. They’re just growth without structure.

The good news? It’s all solvable! If you’d like to chat and hear a fresh perspective, please get in touch!

Charles

Leeway has a range of exciting fundraising events coming up from bucket list challenges or fun run events that are perfect for team building! 

At the end of the month (31st August), our popular skydive event returns, offering supporters the chance to jump from 13,000ft whilst raising money for Leeway. 

Or if you fancy a slightly different challenge, on Saturday 4th October, we have an Abseil event at The Forum in Norwich, giving supporters the chance to descend from one of the city’s most iconic buildings!

If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, don’t worry because we have an exciting Inflatable 5k running event at the Norfolk Showground on Saturday 11th October. 

Battle your way through, over, under and around a series of obstacles to complete the fun course! It’s a perfect opportunity for some team building and a bit of friendly office competition! 

We also have places for the popular Blickling Half-Marathon event on Sunday 19th October, with the route taking in the spectacular North Norfolk countryside and iconic Blickling Hall. 

So, if you fancy raising money for a good cause whilst trying something different, why not take part in one of our events! 

For more information about all our upcoming events and how you can sign up to take part, please visit our dedicated events page on our website: www.leewaysupport.org. 

How Does Fundraising Support Leeway?

At Leeway, the money raised at fundraising events goes towards things like providing activities for those that we support or providing essential items for our residents in refuge. 

Many of the people that we support arrive with very few, if any, personal belongings. They often don’t have the chance to bring many of the things that we take for granted like clothes and toiletries. In the case of children, that may mean going without toys, games, and books too. 

In recent years, our fundraising activities have helped us to put together starter packs for our new residents, providing essential items like food, clothing and toiletries to help them to get settled in refuge. 

This would not be possible without the support that we receive, and we want to continue to be able to deliver this as well as expanding the support that we can provide. 

Here are some examples of how your fundraising helps us! 

£10 could provide an activity pack and a toy for a child coming into a refuge.

£15 could provide a starter pack for families – such as toiletries and towels.

£20 could provide a mobile phone which can be locked to an emergency number. 

£50 could provide 2h phone line crisis advice and support. 

£100 could enable 10 women to receive outreach support. 

Your support can really help us to make a difference! 

To find out more about our upcoming events, visit our website (www.leewaysupport.org/events) or email our Fundraising team – [email protected]. 

What’s better than 1 Emma – 2 Emma’s – Emma Clough joins us as Director of Eudaemonia Consultancy! ?

hashtag#mentalhealth hashtag#teamwork hashtag#wellbeing

Norwich Samaritans, a dedicated self-funded local branch of the national Samaritans charity, is calling on compassionate, skilled individuals to step forward and join its Board of Trustees. The organisation, which offers 24/7 emotional support to people in distress or at risk of suicide, is looking to expand its board with new voices and perspectives that reflect the vibrant community it serves.

With a mission that no one should face things alone, Norwich Samaritans is appealing to those who want to make a real difference in people’s lives to consider this impactful leadership role.

“What if your next leadership role changed someone’s darkest day?” That’s the question the charity is asking potential applicants—especially those with experience in areas such as finance, HR, fundraising, law, marketing, IT, or community engagement.

“We rely on our trustees to guide our strategy, ensure strong governance, and help maintain the long-term sustainability of our work,” said Jane Brown, Director and Chair of Trustees at Norwich Samaritans. “We’re particularly keen to hear from people who bring professional expertise, lived experience, or a passion for supporting underrepresented communities.”

Trustee Role Details:

• Location: Primarily Norwich-based (St Stephen’s Square), with hybrid meeting options available
• Time Commitment: Approx. 8–10 hours per month
• Application Deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025, 11:30pm
• Contact: Anna McNeil – [email protected]

No previous trustee experience is necessary. Training and ongoing support will be provided. Applicants from all backgrounds and identities are warmly encouraged to apply.

What Trustees Will Gain:

• A meaningful opportunity to support suicide prevention in the local community
• Experience in charity governance and leadership
• Personal and professional development
• A welcoming and supportive team environment

To apply, candidates should submit a CV (no more than two pages) and a completed application form outlining their interest and relevant experience. Applications should be sent to [email protected]. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an informal interview with current trustees.

For further details, including how to apply, visit https://www.samaritans.org/documents/3212/Norwich_Samaritans_Trustee_Recruitment_Pack_2025.pdf for a copy of the Norwich Samaritans Trustee Recruitment Pack or contact Anna McNeil [email protected] for an informal conversation about the role.

Note

Founded in 1964, Norwich Samaritans has been supporting our local community and people across the country day or night, 365 days a year.    Norwich Samaritans is a self-funding branch, which means we do not receive financial support from the central Samaritans charity or the government.  

? 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.

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.

Discover more about MADE BY WOODSMOKE’s services by visiting: https://www.madebywoodsmoke.com

We are proud to say that we are launching a new Apprenticeship standard at Swarm, the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship!  It is one we have a real heart for and take great pride in being able to offer to the education profession in our schools across the country.  Obviously as a training provider we have a passion for education but a number of us have indeed come from teaching in schools, supporting children in their early years education to be able to learn how to learn, love their learning and to set up solid foundations for their life ahead.  So, we know the importance of early years education and the value our teachers and teaching assistants have in helping children to excel. 

Therefore, if you are a Teaching Assistant, either just starting out in your career, or wanting to progress in your role further, give us a call or drop us a line to ask about this career enhancing Apprenticeship standard.  It is free to do as it is fully funded by the Government and your school will give you time each week for your studies because it is performed practically as part of your role.  And because our tutors know your profession well and have experience on the frontline, exactly as you do, they won’t just go through the motions of theory learning, they can help you to apply the learning in practice in your specific situation.

If it’s something you’re interested to hear more about for you or one of your team, we’d like to invite you to attend our free webinar on 26^th August at 12pm to 1pm called “Considering an Apprenticeship?”. In this online session, one of our apprenticeship experts will talk you through exactly what happens on an apprenticeship, how it dovetails with your existing job for the benefit of your learning as well as for your employer. We are hoping that our tutor for this course will be on the call as well so that she is able to speak specifically about the knowledge, skills and behaviours the apprenticeship covers, what exactly you will be doing and be able to answer any questions you might have.  For more details and to register, follow the link to EventBrite here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/considering-an-apprenticeship-tickets-1530305457819

We hope to see you there!

Or, for just an informal chat about apprenticeships and the Teaching Assistant course, please contact Louie Stronach on:
[email protected]

Age UK Norwich has launched its second ‘Happy to Chat’ bench, strategically located within the serene grounds of Norwich Cathedral. This initiative, aimed at combating social isolation and loneliness, has been made possible through the generous support of The People Kit and Leathes Prior.

The launch event, held on Thursday 31st July, saw representatives from all three partnering organisations gather to celebrate this significant addition to the community. Speeches were delivered by The Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, Dean of Norwich Cathedral, Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer (Age UK Norwich), Mary McGivern (The People Kit), and Mike Barlow, Senior Partner (Leathes Prior), all of whom highlighted the profound importance of fostering connections and reducing isolation. Mary explained “Who would have thought sitting on a bench and having a chat with a stranger would make such a difference to their lives, but it really does. I’ve experienced first hand the positive effect these chats can have. Always remember the person sitting next to you may well have not spoken to anyone for days or in some cases weeks”.

Attendees included staff and volunteers from Age UK Norwich, members of Leathes Prior, and members of The People Kit, creating a warm and collaborative atmosphere.

The ‘Happy to Chat’ bench is a simple yet powerful concept. It features a prominent sign inviting passers-by to take a seat if they are open to a friendly conversation. In today’s fast-paced world, opportunities for spontaneous social interaction can be limited. These benches provide a welcoming space for individuals to connect, share a moment, and potentially brighten someone’s day, helping to foster a stronger, more connected community.

This particular ‘Happy to Chat’ bench holds a special significance as it is dedicated to the cherished memory of Dawn Lossau, an employee of Leathes Prior and a truly devoted volunteer for Age UK Norwich. Dawn’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of older people was profound and inspiring. Her volunteering journey began as a telephone befriender, part of a corporate partnership volunteering programme between Leathes Prior and Age UK Norwich. Having completed this initial programme, Dawn’s passion for connection led her to continue her telephone befriending independently, outside of her work commitments. She deeply loved the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives, and it is this unwavering dedication that this bench commemorates. We sincerely hope that Dawn’s memory will encourage countless others to sit, engage in conversation, and in doing so, contribute to reducing social isolation within our community.

Mike Barlow, Senior Partner at Leathes Prior commented “We are incredibly proud to support this bench alongside Age UK Norwich and The People Kit and deeply moved that it honours our much-missed colleague and friend, Dawn Lossau. Dawn was a cherished part of the Leathes Prior family for 17 years, full of compassion, laughter, and warmth. She gave so much of herself to others, both through her work and her volunteer efforts.

This bench, inviting people to pause and connect, feels like the perfect tribute to someone who cared so deeply about making a difference. Dawn, and the colour she brought to the world, will remain forever in our hearts. We hope this simple space for conversation brings comfort, connection, and a bit of her spirit to all who pass by”

Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer of Age UK Norwich said, “We are incredibly grateful to The People Kit and Leathes Prior for their invaluable support in bringing this second ‘Happy to Chat’ bench to fruition. The concept of these benches is beautifully simple, yet its potential to combat loneliness is immense. To dedicate this bench to Dawn, a truly remarkable individual who embodied the spirit of connection and compassion, makes this launch even more meaningful. We hope it serves as a lasting tribute to her legacy and inspires many more conversations.”

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the new ‘Happy to Chat’ bench in the Norwich Cathedral grounds and embrace the opportunity for a friendly conversation.

If you are interested in having a ‘Happy to Chat’ bench in your local area in Norwich, please contact Age UK Norwich to discuss possibilities and how you can help bring more opportunities for connection to your community.

Are you on the hunt for your next hire? Do you have flexible or part-time roles to fill? Or are you looking to attract new graduate talent to your business? Did you know you can promote your vacancies for FREE to thousands of current students and recent graduates from UEA?

Introducing MyCareerCentral, a user-friendly and completely free platform for advertising vacancies directly to UEA students and alumni. Register for a free account and easily post your internships, placements, graduate positions, part-time jobs, and volunteer opportunities.

Additionally, we provide enhanced vacancy advertising packages to boost your visibility and engage more UEA students and graduates, while also elevating your company’s profile.

We also run careers events throughout the year giving you the chance to meet our students and graduates, and promote opportunities within your business. Upcoming events include our Part-Time Student Jobs Fair on Wednesday 24 September which is always popular with students starting or returning to UEA and looking for ways to earn while they learn. Stands are still available, so please do reach out to us if you’d be interested in coming along.   

Curious to learn more? Check out our employer brochure at https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/…

Join us in connecting with the next generation of talent!

Banham Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of twin red panda cubs – an exciting achievement for the zoo and a significant step forward in conservation efforts for this endangered species.

The adorable cubs were born on 22nd June 2025 to proud parents Jasper and Lushan (affectionately known as Lu).

Red pandas are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with wild populations declining due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and poaching. It is estimated that fewer than 2,500 remain in the wild.

As part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme (EEP), and following a breeding recommendation, we were pleased to welcome Lu just over a year ago from West Midlands Safari Park to join our male, Jasper.

 Banham Zoo continues to play a vital role in securing the future of these beautiful animals through active participation in conservation breeding programmes, with the invaluable support of both the EEP and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).

Providing the highest standards of expert care and spacious, naturalistic living conditions, our dedicated team ensures the well-being and development of the red pandas, creating an environment where both adults and cubs can thrive.

“Welcoming a new litter of red panda cubs is a truly special moment for everyone at Banham Zoo,” said Deborah Harris, Animal Manager. “Lu is proving to be an incredible first-time mum, showing great care and dedication to her little ones. These births represent a significant step forward in conserving this endangered species, and we’re proud to contribute to their survival through the European Endangered Species Programme.”

The arrival of the red panda cubs perfectly coincides with the summer holiday season, making it an ideal time to visit Banham Zoo, support vital conservation efforts, and enjoy a memorable family day out.

Although the cubs are likely to stay in their nesting den for a few more weeks, visitors may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them venturing out later this summer.

https://www.banhamzoo.co.uk/

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.

Book a call:

 https://calendar.app.google/xvYZnJSwvJ85nqyy6

Learn more:

https://budease.co.uk/

Or just drop me a message on 07795184328.

Looking forward to meeting more of you soon!