? Save the Date – Charities United is back for 2026!
Join us for our next quarterly Charities United on Tuesday June 9th for a space to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the amazing work happening across Norfolk’s charity and CIC sector.
? Calling all local charities and CICs!
Do you have a venue you’d love to showcase? Or a project, initiative or story to share? We’re looking for hosts and speakers for our 2026 Charities United events.
This is your chance to:
?️ Show off your space
? Share what you’re up to
? Simply connect with sector colleagues and partners
? If you’re interested in speaking, hosting or sharing, drop us a message – we’d love to hear from you!
Jan McLean has joined Larking Gowen as a Director in the specialist medical team.
She will be working from the Ipswich and Norwich offices, supporting the teams in both locations and further strengthening the firm’s offering across East Anglia.
Jan has more than 30 years’ accountancy experience. She qualified as a chartered accountant in 1997, and 2010, she started specialising in the healthcare and medical sector. During this time, her clients were GP practices, hospital consultants, locums, pharmacies, limited companies and other healthcare related clients. Within the medical sector, she has a specialisation in NHS pensions.
Jan said: “I joined Larking Gowen because I wanted to stay in medical specialisation and use the skills I’ve acquired to continue supporting NHS staff and those in private practice. Apart from understanding the intricacies of GP finance, I particularly have a wealth of knowledge in the NHS pension scheme and the associated tax implications, which is a complicated area.
“I knew many of the Larking Gowen healthcare partners from the AISMA annual conferences. Their business is highly respected in the medical sector which was a huge positive for me. The whole team have been friendly and supportive in welcoming me to the firm.”
Andrew Burwood, Partner and head of the medical team at Larking Gowen, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jan to our team. She brings a wealth of experience having looked after many clients within the NHS and private healthcare sectors over several years, and we look forward to her sharing her knowledge and expert guidance with both our clients and our team.
“Jan is a perfect fit for Larking Gowen and our clients, and she strengthens our commitment to remaining an independent firm with a real focus on the community we are so proud to be a part of.”
? Save the Date – Charities United is back for 2026!
Join us for our next quarterly Charities United on Tuesday December 1st for a space to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the amazing work happening across Norfolk’s charity and CIC sector.
? Calling all local charities and CICs!
Do you have a venue you’d love to showcase? Or a project, initiative or story to share? We’re looking for hosts and speakers for our 2026 Charities United events.
This is your chance to:
?️ Show off your space
? Share what you’re up to
? Simply connect with sector colleagues and partners
? If you’re interested in speaking, hosting or sharing, drop us a message – we’d love to hear from you!
We’re delighted to welcome Phil Wilding, Head of Learning & Development at Mills & Reeve, to lead our March Co.next session on Building Relationships and Authenticity.
Phil brings a wealth of experience across a mix of industries and is passionate about helping people grow — whether that’s boosting leadership skills, improving job performance, or driving cultural change. At Mills & Reeve, he heads up a talented L&D team and works closely with senior leaders, delivering coaching and development that really sticks.
In this interactive session, Phil will share practical insights on how authenticity strengthens relationships at work, why trust matters more than ever, and the small actions you can take to build deeper connections in your career. Expect to walk away with ideas you can apply straight away – and plenty of food for thought.
? Save the Date – Charities United is back for 2026!
Join us for our next quarterly Charities United on Tuesday February 10th for a space to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the amazing work happening across Norfolk’s charity and CIC sector.
? Calling all local charities and CICs!
Do you have a venue you’d love to showcase? Or a project, initiative or story to share? We’re looking for hosts and speakers for our 2026 Charities United events.
This is your chance to:
?️ Show off your space
? Share what you’re up to
? Simply connect with sector colleagues and partners
? If you’re interested in speaking, hosting or sharing, drop us a message – we’d love to hear from you!
Norwich, UK – Bauer Media, through Greatest Hits Radio Norfolk and Hits Radio, is offering businesses across Norwich and Norfolk the opportunity to grow their brand with audio sponsorships.
Norfolk is powered by agriculture, tourism, retail, and a growing creative and tech economy. With businesses competing across both rural and urban markets, sponsorship provides a powerful way to stay top of mind – whether through traffic updates on the A47 and A11, weather forecasts for farming and coastal communities, or the radio shows that bring people together across the county.
Bauer Media research demonstrates:
Sponsorships drive +23% uplift in consideration
48% of listeners take action after hearing a sponsorship
Sponsorships are up to 2x more effective than traditional advertising.
“Norfolk businesses thrive on loyalty and reputation,” said Nathalie Marshall, Bauer Media. “Radio sponsorship offers them the chance to strengthen that connection and be part of people’s everyday listening.”
There are sponsorship opportunities available right now in Norwich and across Norfolk, giving businesses the chance to align with Bauer’s trusted stations.
About Bauer Media Bauer Media Audio UK is the country’s leading commercial radio broadcaster, reaching over 20 million listeners every week across stations including Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Absolute Radio, Magic Radio, KISS, Jazz FM, Kerrang! and Planet Rock. Our sponsorships and creative partnerships help local and national businesses connect with audiences in trusted, everyday moments, delivering measurable results across the marketing funnel.
How well do we listen in the workplace? – Discussion Group
Effective listening offers fundamental benefits to business. At Norwich Samaritans we know how to listen … and listen well.
‘How we listen’ , ‘when we listen’, ‘why we listen’ and ‘what we listen out for’ can become ingrained habits that, when explored in more detail, often reveal gaps which surprise us. These gaps are commonly created through good intent, but leave colleagues, customers and other stakeholders feeling ‘unheard’. Share ideas and take away insights to ‘mind the gap’ around how well we really listen…
Book your place at the table to join the discussion, exploring skills, tips and techniques to support workplace wellbeing. The knock-on benefits for your business … improved relationships, customer service and productivity.
Places are limited to eight per group, with a maximum of two attendees per organisation in any one group.
Discussion Group – How well do we listen in the workplace?
Effective listening offers fundamental benefits to business. At Norwich Samaritans we know how to listen … and listen well.
‘How we listen’ , ‘when we listen’, ‘why we listen’ and ‘what we listen out for’ can become ingrained habits that, when explored in more detail, often reveal gaps which surprise us. These gaps are commonly created through good intent, but leave colleagues, customers and other stakeholders feeling ‘unheard’. Share ideas and take away insights to ‘mind the gap’ around how well we really listen…
Book your place at the table to join the discussion, exploring skills, tips and techniques to support workplace wellbeing. The knock-on benefits for your business … improved relationships, customer service and productivity.
Places are limited to eight per group, with a maximum of two attendees per organisation in any one group.
Discussion Group – How well do we listen in the workplace?
Effective listening offers fundamental benefits to business. At Norwich Samaritans we know how to listen … and listen well.
‘How we listen’ , ‘when we listen’, ‘why we listen’ and ‘what we listen out for’ can become ingrained habits that, when explored in more detail, often reveal gaps which surprise us. These gaps are commonly created through good intent, but leave colleagues, customers and other stakeholders feeling ‘unheard’. Share ideas and take away insights to ‘mind the gap’ around how well we really listen…
Book your place at the table to join the discussion, exploring skills, tips and techniques to support workplace wellbeing. The knock-on benefits for your business … improved relationships, customer service and productivity.
Places are limited to eight per group, with a maximum of two attendees per organisation in any one group.
This free, in-person event will inspire you with what technology is out there to solve business challenges and how to approach technology projects so that you can buy it confidently and achieve value for money.
The full agenda will be released closer to the event date and it will feature:
Technology built by SMEs
Solutions for Procurement teams
How to write software specifications
Considerations for your contracts
Sustainability, opening the discussion on the impact our technology has on the environment
A panel of Procurement leaders sharing their experience in procuring hardware and software
For energy recovery and gasification plants, annual shutdowns are more than just a scheduled pause in operations; they’re an essential opportunity to maintain, repair, and upgrade critical systems. But with so much activity compressed into a short timeframe, shutdowns can also present significant risks if not carefully managed.
The key to success? Planning. Done properly, it ensures safety, compliance, and efficiency, helping you minimise downtime and maximise performance once operations resume.
Why Planning Matters
A shutdown brings together multiple teams, contractors, and vendors, often all working on-site at the same time. Without a clear plan, there’s potential for confusion, delays, and safety hazards. Proper preparation ensures:
Worker safety – Hazards are identified and controlled before work begins.
Regulatory compliance – All activities align with HSE requirements.
Efficiency – Work packages are coordinated to reduce downtime.
Cost control – Unexpected delays and incidents are avoided.
Key Elements of a Safe & Successful Shutdown1. Pre-Construction Planning
The groundwork for a successful turnaround starts months in advance. This includes defining scope, scheduling, and resource requirements, as well as identifying potential hazards and mitigation measures.
2. Vendor Package Reviews
Contractors and vendors play a major role during shutdowns. Reviewing vendor packages ensures that all third-party partners understand safety protocols, project timelines, and compliance requirements.
3. Induction Development
Every worker on-site needs to understand the safety rules and procedures. A robust induction programme sets the tone, making sure everyone knows the risks, controls, and expectations before work begins.
4. Health and Safety Management During the Shutdown
Even the best plans need active monitoring. Dedicated health and safety management during the shutdown period helps spot issues early, enforce compliance, and keep safety front of mind throughout the project.
The Value of Expert Support
Shutdowns are complex, and even small oversights can lead to costly consequences. By partnering with experienced safety professionals, businesses can:
Reduce downtime through streamlined processes
Ensure compliance goes beyond the minimum standard
Protect workers and contractors with proactive safety measures
Annual shutdowns are a vital part of maintaining the reliability and efficiency of energy recovery and gasification plants. But without proper planning, they can create more risks than rewards.
By investing in thorough preparation, from pre-construction to health and safety management, you can deliver a safe, compliant, and efficient turnaround that sets your operations up for long-term success.
Get in touch if you need health and safety support for your annual shutdown.