Member News

A new Chief Executive has been appointed to run iconic landmark The Forum in Norwich city centre. Chris Gribble, the Chief Executive of the National Centre for Writing based in King Street, will take over The Forum Trust, which runs The Forum building and Norwich Science Festival amongst a rich mixture of other events including coordinating the county’s Heritage Open Days programme. Chairman John Fry said: “We were delighted to get such a strong field of applicants which reflects the success of The Forum and the high regards it’s held in across Norfolk and beyond. “The Forum has very quickly become established in people’s minds as a place for everyone to visit and enjoy. We have a clear strategy to reduce our environmental impact, to widen the reach of The Forum’s activities and to continue to maintain and develop the building ensuring we make a real impact on the economic life of the city and beyond. “I have no doubt Chris’s background and expertise will help with all of that and look forward to what he, The Forum team and our many partners come up with to continue to build the impact and the reach of The Forum’s activities.” Chris Gribble said: “It’s a real honour be taking on the Chief Executive role at The Forum and I’m very excited to get going in the autumn. The Forum lies at the heart of Norwich and Norfolk’s public life and as it approaches its 25^th anniversary, the team and partnerships that have been behind its success have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate that first quarter of a century and look forward to the next. I can’t wait to start the conversations with all those who visit and use The Forum to explore what the coming years might look like.’ He succeeds Tim Bishop who has been in charge of The Forum for the last 11 years. Tim Bishop is a former Editor of the Evening News, BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Look East. Tim Bishop said: “It’s been a privilege to be involved in such a fantastic place with a great team and the huge opportunity to make a real difference in the city. “I was very fortunate to take over such a successful place thanks to the pioneering work of The Forum’s founders, notably my predecessor Robin Hall who got The Forum built on time and on budget which was a huge achievement. “Those rock-solid foundations have allowed us to develop the offer to the public and The Forum is now part of the life of the city to the point it’s difficult to imagine Norwich without The Forum. “Working with our partners we created the Norwich Science Festival, which has now become a much loved and anticipated event at venues across the city centre and is waving the Norfolk and Norwich flag nationally showing we are both a lovely heritage city but also at the centre of some ground-breaking scientific research. “Since 2016, The Forum has been coordinating the county’s Heritage Open Days programme which is the biggest and most successful event of its kind outside London. And we’ve built a wide range of other inspiring events that are very much part of the Norfolk calendar – notably the Norfolk Makers Festival, Run Norwich and the always bustling Norwich Games Festival. “I think getting Run Norwich off the ground was the trickiest event to get started I’ve ever been part of, dwarfing some of the national events I was involved in as a journalist from the coverage of Princess Diana’s funeral to the events marking the 2012 Olympics across the region. “I look forward to visiting The Forum in my retirement and seeing what Chris and the team do next.” The Forum is 20 years old and was created in partnership by Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council and the then Millennium Commission which provided around £80 million of funding to create a Millennium Project for the East of England alongside the Eden Project in Cornwall, the O2 and the Millennium Bridge in London amongst others. The Forum gets no regular public funding and is run by an independent Charitable Trust. Image provided by The Forum

Our new 2023 catalogue, with a host of new products for your business, is now available. You can request a copy at https://www.esedirect.co.uk/t-digital-catalogues.aspx, or take a look at our innovative new digital interactive catalogue. This useful tool enables you to scroll through the pages online or navigate quickly to the section you need. You can click on a product code and select ‘more info’ to get more details and a closer look at the product you are interested in, and even click through from there to the relevant product page on our website to make a purchase. We’ve also added the ability to create a list of your favourite products, to share pages with colleagues, to print pages you need or to download a copy of the catalogue. Take a look at https://bit.ly/ESEcatalogue2023 or call us on 0808 258 1182 for more information.

Wednesday, 17 May 2023 With Claudia Roberts, CEO of the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) Whatever your moral feelings towards zoos, there’s no denying that conservation is vitally important in a world with ever-decreasing natural habitats, and Banham Zoo is a leading example of this. Claudia Roberts is CEO of the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) which operates Banham Zoo and Africa Alive. The charity was formed in 2013 to secure the long-term future of the zoos and in the interest of improving animal welfare, or as Claudia puts it ‘profit for purpose’ Claudia’s step into both the zoo and charity world was a big one, having previously been commercial director of a national garden centre chain, leading the retail buying and marketing. She was brought in to help get things back on track after the catastrophic impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns, giving an us insight into her time in front of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee for support. Claudia doesn’t shy away from the criticism and controversy that surrounded her appointment, and how she handled media scrutiny. She maintains that a strong, resilient business model is needed to back up charitable objectives, and believes that you need to take the stakeholder along with you when making changes. GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights You can also now watch on YouTube too, just click here Listen here © Larking Gowen LLP

Above: A poster about the new survey. Credit: Greater Anglia Train operator, Greater Anglia, has launched a new customer satisfaction survey to help improve passengers’ journeys. The ‘We’re All Ears’ survey gives customers the opportunity to leave feedback about every aspect of a specific journey, including but not limited to, the provision of information, the helpfulness of its team or general comments about stations and trains. Using intelligent software, the survey system categorises the responses and asks extra, more detailed, questions on areas that customers identify as needing attention.  The survey asks a small number of open and closed questions in order to best understand customer perceptions. Greater Anglia’s Head of Customer Experience, Neil Atkin, said, “We’re looking to use the information from our new survey to better understand what the recurring issues are, make appropriate changes and so provide a better service. “We want to continually improve in the areas that customers tell us are most important. “The more passengers that complete the survey, the more insight we’ll have to enable us to do this.” The survey can be filled in anytime, anywhere and only takes a few minutes to complete. It can be reached through greateranglia.co.uk/allears or by scanning the QR codes at stations. A direct link to the survey will also be available soon through Greater Anglia’s WiFi portal.

East Anglian firm, Canham Consulting, has announced that it has transitioned to an employee-owned business, with the formation of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). An EOT is a trust established for the purpose of holding shares in a company on behalf of and for the benefit of the employees of the company The move comes after the business, which provides support to homeowners, fellow construction professionals, the public sector, and many private businesses, considered various succession options, including a management buyout and trade sale. The primary objective of any future ownership model was to build on the culture and provide longevity to the business. This transition ensures that the ethos of the business will continue for generations to come. The employees at Canham Consulting are excited about their role in the ownership model and how they can all work together to drive the firm forward and continue to be a leading business in Norfolk. Managing Director, Rob Panter, is hugely excited about the future of the business, stating that he is delighted that the employees will all share in the ownership of the business and continue to play an active part in developing Canham Consulting. The company is committed to continued growth, both within East Anglia and beyond. Transitioning to employee ownership has only been possible with advice and guidance from specialists in this field. Our Corporate Transactions and Tax Advisory teams provided governance, tax, and financial advice throughout the process. Legal advice was provided by Leathes Prior Solicitors. The team involved gathered on 28 April to make the transition official. James Lay, Corporate Transactions Partner at Larking Gowen, said, “An EOT is a great succession route for the owners of Canham Consulting and their team of employees. It will further reinforce the company’s people-first culture and independent status. It’s been a real pleasure to work with the shareholders and management to help make this viable option a successful reality.” The Larking Gowen teams prepared a valuation of the shares in the company, advised on the qualifying conditions for the EOT, provided guidance on the structuring of the sale to the EOT, obtained tax clearances for the transactions from HMRC, and reviewed the legal documentation to ensure that it properly implemented the transactions.

Emira was voted ‘New Car of the Year’ by both motor retail managers and AM judging panel

• AM Awards from Automotive Management Online,  recognise and celebrate motor retail excellence, market-leading vehicles and business leadership
• Award received on behalf of Lotus by Geoff Dowding, Executive Director, Commercial Operations

Lotus Emira, the last Lotus petrol-powered sports car collected another accolade by being named as ‘New Car of the Year’ at the annual AM Awards 2023, held in London this week. To win The New Car of the Year Award, the Lotus Emira was voted for by both motor retail managers and the AM judging panel: “Clearly the Emira is being seen as a fantastic start of a new chapter for Lotus and its dealers. It is the most accomplished Lotus road car yet, balancing a high level of driver engagement with the practicality of an everyday sportscar, and our audience – including dealers with rival brands – is now certainly very excited about the Lotus brand’s future. Emira will certainly attract new customers to Lotus and this will giv  e the carmaker great foundations for growth,” said Tim Rose, editor, AM Online. Receiving the award on behalf of Lotus, Geoff Dowding, Executive Director, Commercial Operations said, “The Emira has won a number of accolades around the world, but this award from AM is particularly special as it was voted for by the well informed AM judging panel and a discerning automotive industry, including retailers, dealers and senior management. Not only is the Emira is a brilliant sports car and the best in breed but also this award reinforces the confidence and excitement that the industry has for Lotus as it rapidly moves towards the EV future with the Lotus Evija and Lotus Eletre.” Geoff Dowding, Executive Director, Commercial Operations for Lotus (centre) with Charlene White, ITV News presenter + awards host and David Paterson Managing Director of award sponsor Supagard Powered by either a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine or a 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘i4’ through a manual, automatic or Dual Clutch Transmission, the Lotus Emira accelerates to 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 180mph. The Emira is manufactured at Lotus’ global HQ for sports car and hypercar operations in Hethel, Norfolk. Subassembly manufacturing for the lightweight and high tech aluminium chassis is at Lotus Advanced Structures in Norwich. The Lotus Emira is one of three high tech performance cars built by Lotus, along with the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper-SUV and the Evija, the world’s first all-electric British hypercar.

Norwich’s Lady Mayoress says clothes bought from a charity shop have helped her look the part during an “extraordinary” year. Julie Keane, who volunteers at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) store in Unthank Road, has been in the prestigious role since May 2021. Her partner, Cllr Dr Kevin Maguire, is Lord Mayor of Norwich but his term ends on 23^rd May. Normally the position only lasts for a year but it was extended to two because of Covid. Julie says it has been a whirlwind year but she has enjoyed carrying out her duties while also helping in the shop every Tuesday afternoon. “I’m a retired nursery teacher and started volunteering when the shop reopened after the first lockdown,” said Julie, who was speaking during EACH’s Be the Difference campaign – a fortnight-long drive to recruit more volunteers for its 46 shops. “I was concerned that so many charities had reduced funding during the pandemic and wanted to help. “The shop itself is lovely, with all the outfits arranged by colour. “The staff are very creative in their presentation and I always notice the window displays and the way the store is changed to keep it fresh. “I’ve found working at EACH really useful for getting appropriate clothes for my role as Lady Mayoress. “It’s been a real boon and if ever I’m complimented on what I’m wearing, I always tell people where I got it from.” The Lord Mayor is the first citizen of Norwich and represents the people of the city, alongside the Lady Mayoress. Julie and Dr Maguire recently enjoyed one last big date, having been invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party on 9^th May. “The first year was quite subdued, but this year has been extraordinary,” said the 67-year-old, who wore a fascinator bought at Unthank Road. “We celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee with various activities, including lighting a beacon. “The Lord Mayor’s Procession in July had the Jubilee as its theme, so we wore crowns. Then, very sadly, we had the death of the Queen and the Lord Mayor read the Proclamation of the new monarch from the steps of City Hall. “For the Coronation, we attended a service at the Anglican Cathedral and another at St Peter Mancroft. “We often go to church services and I was honoured to read a lesson in the Cathedral at the EACH Christmas Carol service. “Unfortunately, it all ends for us when a new Lord Mayor takes over on 23^rd May. “However, I’ve already suggested to his wife that, if she needs them, she’ll find some lovely clothes at Unthank Road!”. Julie feels a strong connection to EACH and partly due to personal circumstances, because son Iain died in a canoeing accident when he was at university in Wales, in 2000. He was 19 and just days away from coming home to Norwich for Christmas. “It’s often hard for parents to talk about children they’ve lost – not because of our pain, but because of the reaction of the listener,” said Julie. “Other people imagine the loss of their own child and are so upset they shut the conversation down very quickly. “I haven’t visited The Nook yet, but I imagine that’s one of the strengths of the hospice – that there are people who’ll always understand. “To be truthful, it hadn’t occurred to me until recently that my loss had anything to do with my support for EACH. “It was a sort of ‘ah ha!’ moment, but then it seemed obvious. Thinking things through gave me insight into why I might have chosen to work for EACH.” Julie says volunteering suits her personality and would recommend it to anyone. “I’m a very chatty person so often work on the till,” she said. “I love talking to customers, but, having lost a family member recently, I’m also aware that sometimes people are bringing in items they’re clearing from the house of someone who’s died. “We handle those donations with particular care. “I was talking to one man about a table centre piece he’d brought in after clearing his parents’ house. “He said it was always used for parties, but he wasn’t sure if anyone would want it. “I told him it would be popular and that we’d certainly be able to sell it. “He went away happy, but, just as we were closing, he knocked on the door and asked if he could have it back. “Talking about how his parents had used it had brought back memories and he realised he wasn’t ready to let it go.” Julie, who has two surviving children, also loves working for a children’s hospice because of her career working with youngsters. “I retain my interest and love to see them playing in the children’s area,” she said. “I particularly like telling families about the free children’s books we give out in the school holidays. “It’s fantastic but while I find my volunteering both fun and engaging, I never lose sight of the reason we do it.” EACH relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income. This year alone it needs to raise £6.5 million from its Retail operation, which includes stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex and a busy Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. For more information about volunteering, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk

Hosted by our new CEO, Simon Gray, we invite you to join us for a light lunch and bubbles, where we’ll toast to the success of this year’s campaign and reducing the prevalence of youth homelessness in Norfolk and Suffolk. A fantastic opportunity to meet members of our team and learn more about our vital work across the two counties while enjoying a nibble or two. We are delighted to partner with the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce for our 2023 Norfolk campaign, who will be using their extensive network of contacts to promote this important cause to the business community. We also give thanks to our campaign sponsors, Birketts. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! Best wishes, Stephanie & The Events Team Agenda: 12.30 – 1pm: networking, bubbles, soft drinks & nibbles served 1-1.20pm: speeches – Welcome speech w Simon Gray – Q&A w Housing & Homelessness Service Manager 1.20-2.30pm: networking, bubbles, soft drinks & nibbles served FAQs – There is no parking available on site but there are plenty of carparks nearby. Please get in touch if you have accessibility needs. – All dietary requirements will be catered for. Norfolk Sleep Out takes place on Friday 6th October 2023 at The Cloister at Norwich Cathedral. Learn more and secure your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norfolk-sleep-out-2023-tickets-611169653887

• Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing and Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post at the end of September 2023 after 17 years He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in Norwich on 2 October 2023
• Recruitment for Chris Gribble’s replacement will commence over the coming weeks. See nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for details

Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing (NCW), based in Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post in September 2023 after 17 years of growth, transformation, and achievement. He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in October, replacing retiring CEO Tim Bishop. Chris moved to Norwich in 2006 to join the organisation under its original name of New Writing Partnership. Beginning as a small, regional start-up of three staff, he has steered the team through an extraordinary period of evolution which saw them develop into Writers’ Centre Norwich, the literature development agency for the East of England, and then National Centre for Writing: a national and international hub of creativity which supports early-career writers and literary translators and invites individuals and communities to explore and celebrate the power of creative writing. Chris said: ‘Leading the growth and development of NCW over recent years has been a huge privilege and enormous fun. The NCW team and our partners have always ensured that the challenges we’ve faced have been ultimately surmountable and I feel very lucky to have worked in such an amazing city, region and sector. I have always been passionate about the ways in which words and stories can change lives, and this role has given me unparalleled opportunities to explore this passion in projects that have stretched from intimate partnerships with local communities in Norwich to global partnerships with British Council and Arts Council England. I am looking forward to taking this commitment into my next exciting role and seeing the next chapter of National Centre for Writing as it develops.’ Chris and his team led the bid for Norwich to become England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, only the sixth in the world at that time and now one of UNESCO’s 42 Cities of Literature worldwide. He also led the £2.2m capital development of NCW’s physical home at Dragon Hall in 2018, which saw Patrons Nobel laureate JM Coetzee, Margaret Atwood, Rose Tremain, Ali Smith, Professor Kei Miller, Elif Shafak, Jon McGregor, John Boyne, Anthony Horowitz and Sarah Perry – all attendees of NCW events and visitors to Norwich over the years – pledge their support for NCW’s work. Chris has championed the work of local writers and artists and worked tirelessly to secure the future success of arts and culture in the region, including the delivery of a four-year project to support the development and diversification of the next generation of arts leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk in partnership with Arts Council England, New Anglia LEP, UEA, Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council. He has also brought NCW’s work to the global stage; building long-term, ongoing partnerships with, among others, British Council, Arts Council Korea, National Arts Council Singapore and partners in India, Japan, Myanmar, the US and across Europe, to support the development of literary translation and best practice in writer development internationally. Alan Waters, Chair of the NCW Board and Leader of Norwich City Council said: ‘Chris has done a magnificent job of putting stories, literature and writing at the heart of Norwich’s cultural identity and putting Norwich on the map globally as a centre of literary exchange and excellence. We are pleased he will be remaining in the city and are excited to welcome his successor to NCW later in the year to carry on telling NCW’s story.” Sarah Crown, Director of Literature for Arts Council England, added: ‘NCW is a critical part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of arts organisations and Chris has done a brilliant job of leading his team and the wider stakeholders and partners over recent years. Professor Sarah Barrow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at University of East Anglia and NCW Board Member, said: ‘UEA has been a core stakeholder in NCW since its inception and we are as proud to have been part of its past as we are to be part of its future. As the home of Creative Writing in the UK, UEA understands the vital role writers and literary translators play in our creative, cultural and economic lives and support the outstanding work NCW does and local, regional, national and international levels.’ Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Chairman of the Communities Committee for Norfolk County Council, said: ‘NCW plays a critical role in the cultural and social life of our county and Norfolk County Council has been proud to support Chris and his team delivering for the people who live here, work here and visit here in a range of projects, partnerships and initiatives over many years. We’re looking forward to welcoming a new leader to NCW in the autumn and carrying on our partnership.’ NCW will be recruiting Chris Gribble’s replacement over the coming weeks. Please see nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for more details.

The Norfolk Showground is set to generate 102% of its electrical needs each year after collaborating on one of Norfolk’s largest solar panel projects with Norwich-based energy consultants, Indigo Swan. Fearn Ainsworth, RNAA Commercial Development Manager and Oliver Denison, Head of Sustainability at Indigo Swan with one of the solar panels at the Norfolk Events Centre. Photo: Paul Macro. The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and Norfolk Showground champion working with local businesses. Fearn Ainsworth of RNAA and Oliver Denison of Indigo Swan. Photo: Paul Macro. Indigo Swan, a local energy consultancy based in Norwich that already works with Norfolk Showground, produced a comprehensive package of the solar panels it could supply, what the whole project could look like, and what the return on investment could be. Once contracts were agreed upon, Indigo Swan worked with Power Different who completed the installation of the panels – a system of 624 JA Solar 380kW panels, installed on the south side of the Norfolk Events Centre roof, spanning the whole length of the building. 624 JA Solar 380kW panels have been installed on the south side of the Norfolk Events Centre roof. Photo: Power Different Fearn Ainsworth, Commercial Development Manager at the RNAA and Norfolk Showground couldn’t be happier with the finished product and the working relationship between these two local businesses during the entire project. She said, “The whole process has been fantastic, right through from contract negotiations, to selling the electricity back to the grid, it’s just been great.” Oliver Denison, Head of Sustainability at Indigo Swan, who oversaw the project, was thrilled to be working with Norfolk Showground on one of its largest projects. “It’s been fantastic to work on a project with the Showground, an extremely well-known name in the region, and because of the lovely work that they do. It was a privilege to work with Chris and his team at Power Different, who played a vital role in the installation. With the Showground hosting multiple events we had to also work closely with Mike Parker, Norfolk Showground Site Delivery Manager to coordinate the installation around the calendar of events and limit the disruption to the site, whilst managing the challenges of over-sheeting the roof and erecting scaffolding during the installation. It was a great team effort from everyone involved!” The Solar PV panels have been such a success that the return on investment has already been reduced from five years to three years. Photo: Power Different A sunny outlook for future energy production It is anticipated that the panels will generate 102% of Norfolk Showground’s electrical needs across the whole year, which is an approximate equivalent of 210,000kW hours annually. This will have a significant impact on the consumption at the busy Norfolk Events Centre, with the Showground looking ahead to hopefully expand on this and add panels to the north side roof in addition to what has already been installed. Currently, the main feed of generated electricity goes directly to the whole of the Norfolk Showground site, with any additional energy produced being sold back to the grid. In the future, there are hopes to use battery storage as an alternative so the site can benefit from all the energy produced. After such a short time, the panels are already seeing a much larger increase in the generation of electricity than was originally anticipated. In the three months since the installation, even with this being during the winter months, the sunshine has had such an impact that the forecasted return on investment has already dropped from five years to three years. This is such a positive outcome and shows how successful renewable energy initiatives can really be. What does the future hold for the RNAA’s and Norfolk Showground’s sustainability plans? Currently, the Association is completing a review of Norfolk Showground’s carbon footprint, with the recent solar panel project being the first piece of work towards its sustainability initiative. Not afraid to take on the challenge, it aims to be the exemplar events venue in the East Anglian region by pushing forwards with this sustainability agenda during 2023 and beyond. To support this goal, the Showground is also working with Anglian Demolition and its waste solutions, so that from the Norfolk Events Centre’s waste, everything possible is either recycled or reutilised for energy purposes. For events, the centre has reuseable cups and cutleries and it doesn’t allow generators on-site during the Royal Norfolk Show. It is also working on a sustainability program for any event organisers that are using the Showground with a list of dos and don’ts of things that the centre expects from a sustainability perspective. Any boards or booklets used at the Royal Norfolk Show are all produced on either recycled or recyclable materials. For a list of events taking place at Norfolk Showground’s Events Centre or to find out how to organise your own event there, please visit norfolkshowground.co.uk

• Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing and Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post at the end of September 2023 after 17 years He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in Norwich on 2 October 2023
• Recruitment for Chris Gribble’s replacement will commence over the coming weeks. See nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for details

Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing (NCW), based in Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post in September 2023 after 17 years of growth, transformation, and achievement. He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in October, replacing retiring CEO Tim Bishop. Chris moved to Norwich in 2006 to join the organisation under its original name of New Writing Partnership. Beginning as a small, regional start-up of three staff, he has steered the team through an extraordinary period of evolution which saw them develop into Writers’ Centre Norwich, the literature development agency for the East of England, and then National Centre for Writing: a national and international hub of creativity which supports early-career writers and literary translators and invites individuals and communities to explore and celebrate the power of creative writing. Chris said: ‘Leading the growth and development of NCW over recent years has been a huge privilege and enormous fun. The NCW team and our partners have always ensured that the challenges we’ve faced have been ultimately surmountable and I feel very lucky to have worked in such an amazing city, region and sector. I have always been passionate about the ways in which words and stories can change lives, and this role has given me unparalleled opportunities to explore this passion in projects that have stretched from intimate partnerships with local communities in Norwich to global partnerships with British Council and Arts Council England. I am looking forward to taking this commitment into my next exciting role and seeing the next chapter of National Centre for Writing as it develops.’ Chris and his team led the bid for Norwich to become England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, only the sixth in the world at that time and now one of UNESCO’s 42 Cities of Literature worldwide. He also led the £2.2m capital development of NCW’s physical home at Dragon Hall in 2018, which saw Patrons Nobel laureate JM Coetzee, Margaret Atwood, Rose Tremain, Ali Smith, Professor Kei Miller, Elif Shafak, Jon McGregor, John Boyne, Anthony Horowitz and Sarah Perry – all attendees of NCW events and visitors to Norwich over the years – pledge their support for NCW’s work. Chris has championed the work of local writers and artists and worked tirelessly to secure the future success of arts and culture in the region, including the delivery of a four-year project to support the development and diversification of the next generation of arts leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk in partnership with Arts Council England, New Anglia LEP, UEA, Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council. He has also brought NCW’s work to the global stage; building long-term, ongoing partnerships with, among others, British Council, Arts Council Korea, National Arts Council Singapore and partners in India, Japan, Myanmar, the US and across Europe, to support the development of literary translation and best practice in writer development internationally. Alan Waters, Chair of the NCW Board and Leader of Norwich City Council said: ‘Chris has done a magnificent job of putting stories, literature and writing at the heart of Norwich’s cultural identity and putting Norwich on the map globally as a centre of literary exchange and excellence. We are pleased he will be remaining in the city and are excited to welcome his successor to NCW later in the year to carry on telling NCW’s story.” Sarah Crown, Director of Literature for Arts Council England, added: ‘NCW is a critical part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of arts organisations and Chris has done a brilliant job of leading his team and the wider stakeholders and partners over recent years. Professor Sarah Barrow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at University of East Anglia and NCW Board Member, said: ‘UEA has been a core stakeholder in NCW since its inception and we are as proud to have been part of its past as we are to be part of its future. As the home of Creative Writing in the UK, UEA understands the vital role writers and literary translators play in our creative, cultural and economic lives and support the outstanding work NCW does and local, regional, national and international levels.’ Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Chairman of the Communities Committee for Norfolk County Council, said: ‘NCW plays a critical role in the cultural and social life of our county and Norfolk County Council has been proud to support Chris and his team delivering for the people who live here, work here and visit here in a range of projects, partnerships and initiatives over many years. We’re looking forward to welcoming a new leader to NCW in the autumn and carrying on our partnership.’ NCW will be recruiting Chris Gribble’s replacement over the coming weeks. Please see nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for more details.

Sharon Allison from Ashtons Legal LLP has been appointed as the first female chair of The Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL). Sharon previously held the role of Vice Chair and took up her new role in May 2023. SCIL is a member organisation for specialist claimant solicitor firms who work in the field of clinical negligence.  They have 75 members and are led by an executive team made up of the very best specialists in the field. The Society works closely with its membership to drive changes and clarity on a wide range of issues relevant to practitioners. Previous successes include making the process easier for obtaining records of deceased patients, drafting the COVID-19 Clinical Negligence Protocol which led over £30 million in costs savings to the NHS/ the taxpayer and challenging the Government on its proposals around Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRC). There is an annual conference for members which in her new role, Sharon will be leading and delivering along with the executive team. Sharon is Head of Medical Negligence at Ashtons Legal, which is ranked Band 1 for Clinical Negligence by Chambers and Partners.  She sits on the management board at the firm and is also a Fellow with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), a member on the esteemed specialist panel for AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) and is a Leading Individual with legal commentator, Legal 500. Sharon comments: “I’m very proud to have been elected as SCIL’s first female chair. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by incredible specialists in their field who have a wealth of knowledge and experience which makes SCIL the ‘go to’ organisation for claimant Clinical Injury lawyers. A lot of the lawyers I work with in my day job and with SCIL have followed a very traditional route into law whereas mine has been quite different. I had an interest in medicine and the law but I did not have any legal qualifications when I joined the firm almost 23 years ago. I was given the opportunity to learn and qualify as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives whilst working and I was able to absorb and focus my efforts on doing the best I could for my clients. That enriching experience has given me a deep and longstanding passion for Access to Justice and fighting for better patient safety and this is a passion I share with my SCIL colleagues. I am delighted that they have the faith in me to Chair the organisation through some challenging times ahead.”