Providing support for
OUR MISSION
We started by inviting a number of senior women from different areas of business to join a steering group to identify how We Can make a difference. We Can was born and we now have a team committed to making We Can happen. The We Can team finalised the details for a pilot female mentoring scheme in June 2017; by November we had recruited our first mentees and are now taking the first steps in the programme.
THE PROGRAMME
1 YEAR PROGRAMME
A designated mentor to work with each candidate through their 1 year programme.
skills assessment
To help develop a 1-year programme, based on the candidates goals and aspirations.
Monthly meetings
With your mentor – to map progress and help ensure they keep on track.
other mentors
Monthly fire-side chats with the other mentors – identified to help with specific goals.
Networking skills
Supported by Lucy Marks from Norfolk Network
Training workshops
A programme of events including training workshops and seminars.
Year-end review
And long-term personal development plan
alumni membership
Membership of the We Can alumni and on-going access to the network of mentors
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
meet our mentors
MICHELLE RAPER
ROSTRONS
One half of the We Can dynamic duo, Michelle has over 15 years’ experience as Director at Rostrons Chartered Accountants.
ELIZABETH CLAXTON
ROSTRONS
The yin to Michelle’s yang, Elizabeth has over 21 years’ experience as Director at Rostrons Chartered Accountants.
SOPHIE HIND
STRATEGY & OPERATIONS
Sophie’s life reads like a journey through media and entertainment. After starting her career at ITV in London, the last 30 years have been a tour of some of the biggest media companies in the UK.
vanessa fletcher
FD STRATEGIES
Vanessa Fletcher is a Chartered Accountant with more than 35 years’ experience including working in corporate finance at Ernst and Young and holding directorships in a number of high-profile entrepreneurial East Anglian businesses.
Tessa Haskey
HOWES PERCIVAL
Tessa has been a partner of Howes Percival for umpteen years and Chairman for the last 4. She is passionate about her staff progressing through their careers, and enjoying their work at Howes Percival and in the law. Tessa is thrilled to be a founder member of We Can and a mentor.
Barbara Reed
BREED EVENTS
For events entrepreneur Barbara Reed the decision to start her own company, Breed Events, was a no-brainer. She looks forward to bringing her expertise and passion to champion other women in business.
ANNA DOUGLAS
UEA
Anna is relationship manager for business, financial and legal services at the University of East Anglia. Her role is to promote collaboration and partnerships with external organisations to support growth and innovation.
BEVERLEY LONG
BBL FAMILY LAW
Beverley Long is co-founder and director of BBL Family Law. As a Norwich family law solicitor and mediator she is well known for promoting betters ways of assisting couples going through relationship and family breakdown.
OLIVIA BUCHER
ANDERSON WEALTH PLANNING
Olivia joins us from a career background in wealth management where her dedication and ambition took her from graduate trainee to fully qualified adviser for a prestigious FTSE100 company.
All of our mentors give their time for free, and are passionate about enhancing the future of our bright, talented female workforce. Read on to find out what inspired them all to join the programme.