Shield Health & Safety- keeping you safe at work.
We just have a few dates available in August if your business is looking for Health & Safety training please get in touch.
sales@shieldhealthandsafety.co.uk
The 18th & 19th are available for Emergency First Aid at Work training.
Other available dates: 21st, 22nd. W/C 26th August.
The 2025 PhD studentship grant round for local cancer charity Big C is open until the end of August, reinforcing its commitment to funding world-class cancer research and investing in the next generation of cancer researchers.
Grants of up to £50,000 per studentship are available to support PhD-level research projects that deliver clear public benefit in the field of cancer.
Applications are open to PhD researchers based at the University of East Anglia, or institutions across the Norwich Research Park and regional NHS trusts. Eligible projects can span a broad range of cancer-related disciplines, such as:
· Social sciences
· Basic and translational research
· Clinical or psychosocial research
· Population and behavioural research
“The PhD studentship grants are central to our mission in supporting groundbreaking cancer research right here in Norfolk,” said Karen Vincent, Big C Chief Executive. “Research is about unlocking possibilities, and we’re proud to invest in early career scientists and clinicians at Norwich Research Park who are shaping the future of cancer research, both locally and globally.”
Amanpreet Bhatt, a current PhD student, spoke about the impact of being part of the Big C research community. “Knowing that my work is supported by an organisation with such a meaningful mission is incredibly motivating,” she says. “I am part of a community that truly cares about improving cancer outcomes.”
Jake Rigby, who completed his PhD in 2024, highlighted the practical value of the support he received. “Big C’s funding made a big difference. My monthly stipend meant much less financial anxiety, which allowed me to focus on delivering high-quality research.”
Big C’s funding will contribute towards a proportion of tuition fees and the full stipend for a maximum of four years, with the remaining costs to be covered by the host institution, University of East Anglia. Applicants may also propose three-year projects if this is preferred.
To be eligible for a grant the principal applicant must be based in Norfolk and hold a post at an institution of higher education or research institution, and their contract must cover the length of the studentship. Co-applicants or collaborators may be based at other institutions.
The closing date for all applications is 31 August 2025 at 5pm.
To learn more about the scope of funded projects, or to explore previous PhD studentships supported by Big C, please visit www.big-c.co.uk/our-research/funding-for-postgraduates
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:
👉 What Drugs Don’t Show Up on a Standard UK Drug Test
Special Offer for Chamber Members
As a valued member of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, you can get 10% off all online orders at UK Drug Testing.
Use discount code: CHAMBER10 at checkout.
(Valid on all online purchases until 1/11/25 only one coupon code can be used per order)
Independent financial advice firm Planit Financial® has announced the launch of a new initiative to bring free financial education to schools across Norfolk. Starting this September, the company will fully fund one financial education session per month in a different Norfolk school, delivered by national experts The Money Charity.
Each month, the public, including parents, guardians, and teachers, will be invited to vote for a Norfolk school to receive the session, ensuring the initiative reaches a wide range of communities across the county.
Planit Financial is led by Managing Director Rebecca Penny, a passionate advocate for making financial advice and education accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy.
“We believe that access to financial education is one of the most important ingredients to a confident financial future,” said Penny. “After all, children start forming thoughts and beliefs around money from a very young age. That’s why we’ve partnered with The Money Charity, the UK’s leading Financial Capability charity, to deliver these impactful sessions.”
Since 2010, The Money Charity has reached over 325,000 young people across the UK with their engaging and practical financial education workshops. The charity offers tailored content for primary, secondary, and university students, including bespoke sessions for those with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
Their workshops are completely impartial, free from promotion of financial products or brands, and are focused on building confidence and money management skills. Feedback from students shows impressive results:
Michelle Highman, Chief Executive Officer of The Money Charity, said: “We are proud to partner with organisations like Planit Financial who share our commitment to improving financial wellbeing and access for all.”
This new initiative adds to Planit Financials’ ongoing mission to make financial knowledge more accessible. With a career spanning over two decades, Penny is known for her down-to-earth approach and deep commitment to helping everyday people feel confident about their money. Planit Financial is supporting clients with everything from pensions and investments to life cover and financial planning for families and small businesses.
“As we grow, so will our commitment to the children of Norfolk,” added Penny. “This is about more than advice; it’s about making sure the next generation has the knowledge and tools to shape their own confident financial futures.”
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, guardian or simply someone who cares about giving young people the tools to succeed, you can nominate a school in just a few clicks.
Visit https://getinvolved.planitfinancial.co.uk/nominate-a-school to nominate a Norfolk school you think deserves a free financial education session.
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.
Too much going on, not enough structure
Sales that rely too heavily on one source
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 – fundraising@leewaynwa.org.uk.
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:
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:
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 vacancies@norwichsams.org.uk. 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 admin@norwichsams.org.uk 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 26th 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:
louie@swarmgroup.org.uk