8 minute read
International Womens Day
International Women’s Day Monday 8th March
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Signifi cant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.
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Marked annually on March 8th, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to: • celebrate women’s achievements • raise awareness about women’s equality • lobby for accelerated gender parity • fundraise for female-focused charities
What’s the theme for International Women’s Day?
The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is ‘Choose To Challenge’. A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day.
We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. So let’s all #ChooseToChallenge
So, hand up high to show you’re in!
Archana Jain, India
Olivia & Elin Mendola, Sweden
Share on social media using #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021.
Jessica Nakwo, Nigeria
Aminah Rahman, United Kingdom
ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Emma Foley opened Anorak, an independent fashion store in the heart of Bedford, 18 months ago, stocking forward thinking brands focussing on quality minimal classics, edgy fashion pieces and always with sustainability at the heart.
One of my aims for the shop has always been about an experience, to feel comfortable and have fun. I want customers to walk away with clothes that really suit them, will last and have a true sustainable and ethical footprint. Lockdown forced me to think in new directions and I now offer a free online styling service called style box.
13 The Arcade, Bedford MK40 1NS Tel 07900 804417 www.anorakshop.com
Celebrating Local Women in Business
ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Bonita is a dynamic PTSD trauma recovery therapist, coach and trainer who helps clients move from anxious to empowered by creating an individual and holistic care plan to achieve a future-proof self.
Specializing in PTSD, grief, anxiety and stress, fears, phobias, lack of confi dence and resilience using the ‘Integrated Trauma System’ developed from her previous teaching career, her knowledge of neuroscience, skills gained through working with clients and from her own experiences.
Bonita has set up The Anxiety Recovery School for women who want to grow, share and learn how to manage anxiety and learn techniques to help manage life better.
www.future-edgetherapy.co.uk www.facebook.com/groups/ theanxietyrecoveryschool/ https://www.anxietyrecoveryschool.com/tameyour-worry-monster www.linkedin.com/in/bonita-ackerman-dupreez-therapist
20 Susan Young Garden Design creates gardens for new and existing garden sites all over the region typically with budgets over £20k.
With a survey drawing and a brief Susan creates the garden concept and planting scheme, plan drawings and construction details for hard landscaping and plans for planting through to sourcing the plants and putting them in. Susan also has a small garden maintenance team who care for domestic gardens. In her spare time Susan is also a co-author of Stevington: The Natural History of a Bedfordshire Parish, organic allotmenteer and advocate for biodiversity and wildlife habitat in her half acre garden which has been open for the National Gardens Scheme charities and is currently undergoing extensive relandscaping works.
In January 2021 Susan became a Member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
DESIGNER MEMBER
Lucinda Sunda – LTS Cleaning Ltd
I started my business LTS Cleaning Ltd in 2015. I felt there was a need, fi rstly for cleaners in the industry to feel valued and secondly, I could see the need for a bespoke service that was compliant in every way. I have always been passionate about providing a service tailored to the clients needs.
Over the years we have trained an army of employees, specialising in areas such as medical practises has meant that we need to ensure we are fully CQC compliant and our staff all highly trained. We are also on the national register of education suppliers providing cleaning and facility management for schools, universities and nurseries (incensu registered).
COVID has drastically changed the way we do things we have adapted the way we clean to keep our frontline staff safe, and help combat the spread in all the premises we clean. We are looking forward to progressing in the future, and welcoming new clients. Tabitha Walker has been running Pure Heart Boutique, based within Milton Ernest Garden Centre, for fi ve years now and has some amazing and loyal customers.
I recently grew my business to include selling online, when I took voluntary redundancy from my job with British Airways.
I’m passionate about style and fashion and believe that whatever your age, shape or size you can look fantastic in great clothes.
I stock a large range of ‘Made in Italy’ and ‘Lagenlook’ clothing, scarves, jewellery and accessories with sizes ranging from an 8-24. My handpicked pieces change with the seasons, but always represent my signature style of casual, effortless elegance at affordable prices.
I would love you to come and say hello. I also sell some snazzy face masks!
If you prefer to stay in your pjs, browse at: Website: pureheartboutique.co.uk Facebook: Pure Heart Boutique VIP Instagram: pureheartboutique
Celebrating Local Women in Business
ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Anna Shreeves – Kempston Paper Bag
In 1967 my grandfather started Kempston Paper Bag selling paper bags above a sweet shop run by my grandmother. In 2019 I took over the business from my father David and aim to grow our support for businesses locally and within the UK with our products.
While we expanded online our customers have been amazing as we adapted our business during the pandemic. Staying on top of things last year to the demand for more products we have grown into a new warehouse and stocked more products than ever before.
Growing our support we opened up a separate online trade website and we still supply a trade delivery service locally, delivered by my father in his blue van, whom many customers recognise.
Today, we now supply cake boxes, takeaway bags, foil and plastic containers, multiple variants of tissue paper and have expanded upon our bag collections.
We stand together with all our fellow female entrepreneurs locally and across the UK, stay safe and here’s to a brighter 2021 Sophie Whelan – Bright Emotions
I started Bright Emotions in 2020; having battled with mental health from a young age and being a parent myself, I felt I understood the challenges faced by parents and children and realised there was not enough support available.
Through a BSc in Psychology and experience in mental health roles, my passion for emotional literacy developed.
Bright Emotions focuses on emotional literacy as an early intervention tool. We help children to understand, express and manage their emotions through a range of engaging and fun exercises.
‘If a child can do advanced Math, speak three languages, or receive top grades, but cannot manage their emotions, practise confl ict resolution or handle stress, none of the other stuff is going to matter.’ – Anon
www.brightemotions.co.uk Facebook – @BrightEmotionsBedford Instagram – @brightemotions_ brightemotions@hotmail.com
Kerry Cash, founder of 5th Avenue Hair & Beauty Spa in Bedford, is now entering her 24th year in business.
Who said running any business was ever easy? Determination, innovation, risk taking, problem solving, fulfi lling promises, keeping clients happy, building trust and consistently encouraging a team to share the same mind set, all contribute towards survival and success.
Since opening, Kerry has employed over 150 people and supports apprentices, students, and schoolwork placements. Her team are rewarded, motivated, offered regular training and coaching to boost confi dence and enhance customer service skills.
“It’s a delight to see my team eager for development, this really motivates,” she says.
During her reign as President of Beds Businesswomen, Kerry organised various community events for likeminded women to connect and gain business from each other.
“International Women’s Day event with Ruth Badger from TV Apprentice was a highlight. Joining forces with Bedford College; we staged a huge event to celebrate ‘women empowering women’ and raised vital funds,” added Kerry.
Over the year of Kerry’s Presidency, the group raised £23,000 for St Johns Hospice and Kerry won Beds Businesswoman of the Year award. communication and keep spirits lifted. The team continue to train online and regular email updates go out to the business database. All regular clients have been contacted personally to let them know how much they have been missed.
NEW online store now open! Offering a huge range of top hair and beauty brands, it’s a one stop shop for all shopaholics attracting 1000’s of visits since its launch in February. Products include ELEMIS, Redken, Decleor, Jessica, Mii, ghd and Spongelle. Please enter code: WOMENSDAY10 for 10% discount on your fi rst purchase on all products until end March 2021. Shop link:
http://bit.ly/5thaveshop
5th Avenue will be continuing all required Covidsafety measures upon return to work. Clients were impressed with the well-communicated Covid procedures put in place previously.
Fancy a change? They have a talented team of hair and beauty experts offering appointments 7 days a week with 4 late nights until 9pm.
