Women in business focus on mental health at Socially Shared conference

Businesswomen gathered for the 5th Annual Socially Shared Women in Business Conference 2023 at Ansty Hall, near Coventry. Organised by the network's founder Karen Heap, the topic was ‘Mind your Business'’ and dedicated to mental health and mindset. Wellbeing is a critical topic in business now because it significantly impacts the success of individuals and organisations. Collectively, the speakers set out key points around mindset, what we perceive as "normal", and how our childhood can influence our beliefs, thinking and actions. Much talk was about women's identities, the expectations others place on them, wanting to please people and live up to those expectations. They explored how all of us can lose sight of who we are, but most importantly, how to regain self-identity and purpose and overcome barriers to success through an improved and focused mindset.

Dishi Attwood, Director of Membership and Development at Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland, shared stories and information about the fantastic charitable projects that have empowered and supported women and girls in Africa and worldwide.

Speakers from Rugby included Dr Hayley Poole, Clinical Psychologist, and Miranda Khilstrom, Wellness Coach; from Kenilworth, Liz Paolone, Holistic Practitioner; from Leamington, Dishi Attwood, Soroptimists International; from Coventry, there was Nishi Mehta, Career and Mindset Coach,

Cathy Connan MSC, Psychotherapist, Jacqui Jagger, Leadership & Mindset Coach and from Nuneaton Clare Hopkins, Mental Health and Wellbeing Coach; and London Elizabeth Platt, Hypnotherapist and Transformational Coach.

Speaker Nishi Mehta said: “When I was asked to do a talk on value, I decided to talk about my journey with knowing, understanding and valuing my personal worth as it’s been a journey for me. I worked on myself by leaning into my vulnerability and produced solutions that served me and my business, recognising that we are forever evolving.”

Socially Shared operates across Warwickshire, West Midlands, Leicestershire and Staffordshire and will expand into Northamptonshire later this year. The headline event of the year, the 'Women in Business Conference', attracts women from across the Midlands.

For more information: https://sociallyshared.co.uk/

Digital Media student lands dream BBC apprenticeship

different college and realised it wasn’t for her. After an unsuccessful application, she knew she had found her passion in media so started at Stratford-upon-Avon College on the Digital Media Production course.

A Digital Media Production student from Stratford-upon-Avon College is celebrating after being offered an apprenticeship with the BBC.

Becca Turrell, 19, from Hampton Magna, is completing her second year of the College’s Level 3 Digital Media Production course and is excited to be taking up a BBC Local Radio Apprenticeship.

Becca applied for a BBC apprenticeship after she began an Early Years course at a

Media students at the College have access to a state-of-the-art TV and radio studio and develop skills in a range of areas such as writing, directing, editing, camera operation, presenting and much more. Throughout her time at college, Becca was able to try out all these related areas to see where her passion lay. After creating episodes of a TV show and podcasts for various projects, she realised her dream job was to be a radio or TV presenter and decided to try again for the BBC apprenticeship.

Becca said: “I definitely think completing my course gave me a better application; it gave me the experience I needed and examples of how I have applied my skills practically in my work. I especially developed my persistence and perseverance skills as well as being more creative.”

The apprenticeship will be based primarily in Coventry, with some work in Birmingham and Salford, and will last for 18 months, with the chance to apply for internal vacancies upon completion.

Becca added: “I knew this is the way that I wanted to go: this apprenticeship was what I wanted to do. I am passionate about creating work that is representative and allows people’s voices to be heard and this apprenticeship will help me towards a career that will help me do that.”

Media Lecturer, Shamaila Zaid, said: “The course fully prepares the students because, not only are they able to work with industry standard equipment, but they are also given an element of creative freedom to enable them to flourish. The course covers film, television and radio production so the students gain experience in a variety of areas and develop transferable skills that support communication, organisation and problem-solving as well as those in preproduction and production.

“The students are also offered a range of opportunities to work with external clients and submit work to competition. These experiences provide the students with the opportunity to experience professional work as media practitioners.”

Media lecturer, Sarah Downing, added: “Becca deserves this apprenticeship because she is imaginative and creative. She always goes above and beyond what is required of her and has demonstrated maturity and professionalism when working with external clients. Becca is also a good team player and is self-motivated to ensure that she completes work to a high standard.”

For more information on any of Stratfordupon-Avon College’s courses, visit www.stratford.ac.uk