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Norfolk-based BLS Safety and Training has welcomed three new members to the training team – Amanda Merrin, Melanie Walker and Richard Hughes – who will be providing first aid and health and safety training to businesses and individuals across the county.

This brings the total number of trainers and assessors to eight, including owner-manager Justin Cowles and trainer Clive Wells, who joined the team in September last year. Together, they provide health and safety consultancy services, fire risk assessments, face fit testing, and training courses for businesses and organisations throughout Norwich and Norfolk.

Amanda Merrin is a passionate trainer in a wide range of health and social care subjects, and has a natural love for teaching in both physical and mental health first aid. Amanda is hugely experienced in her subject fields, with over 10 years’ experience working in mental health services across Norfolk.

Melanie Walker has over 20 years’ experience as an emergency department nurse at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and more recently qualified as an emergency nurse practitioner specialising in minor injuries. She has a natural flare and passion for teaching and loves passing on her experience and knowledge in dealing with real-life workplace injuries. Mel will be delivering a full range of clinical and first aid courses for BLS in both workplace and clinical settings.

Richard Hughes is a paramedic with over 15 years’ frontline experience within the East of England Ambulance Service. Richard is passionate about training and his hands on experience brings every course to a new level in with dealing with scenarios. He delivers first aid at work courses, clinical courses and, more recently, courses in manual handling and moving and handing of people.

“I am delighted to welcome Amanda, Melanie and Richard to BLS Safety and Training,” says Justin Cowles, managing director.

“They each bring a huge amount of skill and industry experience, which further strengthens the team, maintains our high standard of training and enables us to offer an even wider range of training courses, including mental health training.”

Justin Cowles set up BLS Safety and Training in 2013 having gained many years’ experience as an emergency medical technician within the private ambulance sector. In April 2023, the business celebrates ten years of providing health and safety services to businesses across Norfolk.

To celebrate ten successful years, Justin is offering 10% off every training course booked during the month of April. These can be booked via the website, email or telephone.

For more information on the services offered by Norfolk Chamber of Commerce member BLS Safety and Training, and to view the training courses on offer, please visit the website: https://www.blstraining.co.uk/booking/

Image one | Amanda Merrin

Image two | Melanie Walker

Image three | Richard Hughes

Norwich Airport has teamed up with Norfolk and Waveney Mind as its chosen charity of the year.

Airport staff will be organising a series of events and fundraising activities over the coming months to help people in need of mental health support.

Norfolk and Waveney Mind, supports people in crisis, as well as those looking for general advice and information about dealing with mental health issues.

Norwich Airport’s HR Manager Stephanie Dyball said teams across the site were already working on some creative ideas to support this year’s good cause.

Plans include a spring raffle, bake sale and even a ‘onesie Wednesday, where staff can come to work in their all-in-one outfit and make a donation.

“There will be some exciting things to look forward to, I’m sure,” said Stephanie. “Our staff here are very good at coming up with different suggestions and organising events.

“It’s really important for us that we do our bit to help our local charities and we recognise that we can play a big part in raising awareness of the work they do.

“We want to do whatever we can to support the work that Norfolk and Waveney Mind does.

“Any one of us could be affected by problems with our mental health and it’s vital that people feel able to talk to someone when they need to most.”

The team at Norfolk and Waveney Mind believes no one should have to face a mental health problem alone.

Expert staff there offer urgent help to people worried about themselves, or a member of their family or a friend.

They also help to signpost people to relevant organisations, including community support groups and well-being activities that can help in the longer term.

Pete Boczko, CEO at Norfolk and Waveney Mind said: “Each year the demand for our services increases as more and more people seek support for their mental health. As Norfolk and Waveney’s leading mental health charity, we supported around 30,000 local people last year through our wide range of services and support programmes.

“We couldn’t continue to do what we do without the help of our corporate partners and can’t thank Norwich Airport enough for choosing us to be their 2023 charity of the year. The fantastic activities they have planned will help us to raise both funds and awareness and truly make a big difference to local people.”

Norwich Airport selects a different local charity every year to support, with staff raising thousands of pounds in the past through hosting a wide variety of events.

Last year, the airport supported The Big C, raising more than £700 for the Norwich-based cancer charity.

Richard Pace, Managing Director at Norwich Airport, said: “Our staff have already shown that they are fantastic at organising and getting behind fundraising events. We were able to collect £1,000 for The Big C, which we’ll be handing over to the cancer charity later this month.

“We’re proud to be supporting Norfolk and Waveney Mind as our new charity of the year.

“The work they do is relevant to all of us in some way and we’re pleased to be able to do our bit for this important local organisation.”

For more information about Norwich Airport, visit www.norwichairport.co.uk and to find out about Waveney Mind visit www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk

The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House and tulip grower Mark Eves of Belmont Nurseries are thrilled to announce the return of Tulips for Tapping once again this Spring.

The unique event, which will take place from Thursday 27th April to Monday 8th May (closed Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd May) is a rare chance to visit and walk through working tulip fields, taking advantage of special photo opportunities and enjoying a day out unlike any other in the country. The tulip fields are located just off the A148, close to the Sandringham Estate in King’s Lynn.

The exact location will be given to ticket holders at the time of purchase. Tickets will be for 45 minute slots with first entry at 10am and last entry at 3.15pm. Adult admission is just £5 each, children (aged 5 to 17) are £3 each and under 5s are free. There will also be a special late afternoon/early evening opening on Thursday 4th May where the last entry will be 5.45pm.

Norfolk Hospice Tapping House invites everyone to come and join in this wonderful celebration of the tulip season. All proceeds will go towards the Hospice which provides vital services in the local community offering free care, comfort and compassion for people who are living with a life limiting illness, whilst also providing support for their families and friends. Nicola Ellis, Chief Executive at The Norfolk Hospice said “This year’s Tulips for Tapping event promises to be fantastic.

The tulip fields are a spectacular sight and with local traders selling food and refreshments, it really is something a bit different for people to enjoy. We hope people will support the event as all proceeds will go towards the crucial services the fantastic teams at the Hospice provide.” To ensure entry, tickets must be pre-booked in advance, online at norfolkhospice.org.uk. Tickets go on sale on Monday 17th April at 10am.

There will be local traders selling food and refreshments, toilet facilities, free parking, and a stall selling merchandise at the event. Nicola added: “We are so grateful for the support of the local community and we hope that by organising events such as Tulips for Tapping we are able to provide people with unique experiences, while fundraising for the Hospice at the same time. I would especially like to thank the team at Norfolk Tulips, Michael Rae and Roydon Hall Farms.” Dogs and drones are strictly forbidden on the fields, and wheelchair and pram use is discouraged due to uneven terrain.

Please also note that the site is a no-smoking zone. The terrain is uneven and can be either muddy or dusty according to weather conditions – please bear this in mind before you visit and ensure you wear appropriate footwear. For further information, please visit www.norfolkhospice.org.uk or contact The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House on 01485 601 701

Image credit Mark Eves

The new Hill Coaching Company website is a starting point.

It’s the starting point for Oliver’s vision of personal development and business coaching which is unlike anything that is out there already.

It is a version of coaching that gives you everything you need to become the best version of yourself. It is a version of coaching that doesn’t give you an ‘expert opinion’ or tells you what you should do. It’s a version of coaching that focuses on your talents and your strengths to help you to discover your own insights and to forge your own path to success.

Native Origin has been working with Oliver Hill since January to create this website, video content, photography and graphics. And working on this website has been an incredible opportunity to collaborate with some of the most amazing, creative and passionate individuals I’ve ever met. These individuals include Rob Lawrence, Kate White, Ian White and Chris Reeve.

But this website is just the start, and as a team, we have so, so much more to come….

If you’re interested, you can access the new Hill Coaching Company website here. 

5th of April 2023

Written by Lee Hart, Head of Knowhow

Energy Overview
Headlines:
✓ Gas and Electricity Wholesale prices are higher.
✓ EU Gas Storage levels remain high at 56% full.
✓ OPEC announced further Oil production cuts.
✓ EU Gas Storage levels are 96% full.

As of the 5th of April, Gas and Electricity Year Ahead Wholesale costs were higher, when compared to last month’s report. OPEC announced further Oil production cuts on top of those from last year, in an attempt to pressure prices higher. Russia also stated the intention to extend their cuts until the end of the year. Prices have rebounded from $73 per barrel over the last month to $85.

There has been a small reduction in the EU’s Gas Storage levels from 59% full to 56%. This is significantly higher than the 30% seen in both 2021 and 2022. The EU target for November 2023 is 90%, in readiness for the winter demand, which will require Gas injections through the warmer months. Large numbers of LNG deliveries are still being made to Europe, compensating for the lower Gas flows from Russia, some of which are instead being diverted to China, which may reduce their future demand for LNG.

As Gas is the main source of generation, the price of Electricity closely follows, despite the contribution from much cheaper Renewables. The growing diversity of supplies, which includes Nuclear and Hydro Imports from the continent, aims at reducing the reliance on expensive carbon sourced generation such as Gas and Coal.

View the full report below