Aspire Issue 6

April - June 2014

Your new look newsletter for 2014 Features | Interviews | Tips | Networking | News | Development | Career | Inspiring | Role Models | Aspire | Respect

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Woman on top

We meet Christina Blacklaws, Director of Policy at The Co-operative Legal Services

18 pages of inspiring interviews and special features - including interviews with Lucy Powell MP Loose Women star Jane McDonald Coronation Street writer Martin Sterling

PLUS Lots of features about this years International Women’s Day and so much more!

Welcome to your Aspire newsletter

What’s An introduction from Sharon Pegg inside: Chair of the Aspire network

3 : What International Women’s Day means to some of our senior co-operator’s

Dear Aspire Members,

involved itself in a number of political campaigns designed to improve the political

It gives me great pleasure to bring a special edition of Aspire to you within the month of March.

International Women’s Day started the month with a bang! If this wasn’t reason enough to celebrate, we also have Aspire’s 2nd birthday and our Aspire Woman of the Year award. This award goes to a member of the Aspire Steering Group and votes were

and legal position of women. Females were also encouraged to join trade unions and lobbied for a minimum wage and equal pay.

This sense of history and time helps you appreciate just how vital it is to nurture our Aspire Career Network and it’s growing membership, through periodic Newsletters containing a range of topical articles and

5 : Five minutes with Loose Women star Jane McDonald 6-7 : We meet the inspiring Christina Blacklaws 8-9 : Find out what the South East Co-op Membership team got up to on International Women’s Day 10 : Meet Heather Jackson Founder of An Inspirational Journey 12-13 : We go behind the scenes with Corrie writer Martin Sterling

supportive feedback.

14-15 : We talk family life with Lucy Powell MP

year’s award goes to a very special lady who

Please enjoy this latest edition and if you

Plus lots more.

time and time again has gone out of her way

fancy putting pen to paper then please do.

to help and support fellow Aspire members.

Some of you have done just that and we have

You can find out who this year’s winner is

enjoyed hearing from you! Remember, this is

whilst enjoying your latest Aspire Newsletter!

your newsletter. It’s about you (our members)

collected from fellow Steering members. This

and is a fantastic opportunity to get your International Women’s Day is not only a time for celebration but reflection. The

voice heard, raising issues to benefit your Aspire Career network!

Co-operative movement has its own very special history dating back to 1883, when The Co-operative Women’s Guild was founded in 1883 by Alice Acland and Mary Lawrenson.

Alice edited “Women’s corner” of the Co-operative News.

First, it promoted the principles of the Co-operative movement through publications like “The Importance of Women”. Second, it

I’m delighted to bring you the second issue of the ‘new look’ Aspire newsletter. I have really enjoyed being a part of the relaunch of the newsletter and it has been wonderful hearing all the

Look forward to hearing from you!

Warmest regards

Sharon

positive feedback following the

yone u to ever Thank yo edback e their fe v a g t a th f st issue o on the la keep e want to Aspire. W d better an making it better!

publication of the last issue.

Thank you!

Thomas Anderson Editor of this issue and Co-Chair of The Co-operative’s inclusive ‘Respect’ LGBT network Thomas.Anderson@cooperative.coop

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In the last issue of Aspire we URSULA told you all about LIDBETTER International Women’s Day, is the Chair of 8th March. We were delighted The Co-operative Group and CEO of to see so many senior coLincolnshire operator’s from all over the What does UK come out and show their International support of the day. Here’s Women’s Day mean to you? what they had to say.......

Co-operatives are about treating everyone equally and reflecting the diversity of our memberships. I’m proud to be part of a movement which encourages such a diverse range of views and backgrounds and aims to represent them all.

What can be done to

It is a chance to

CHRIS HERRIES is a Director of

think about those

Co-operatives UK.

where women don’t

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

A celebration of the struggle of all the fantastic women who have gone before us and on whose shoulders we are standing, together with a look to the future and the realms of gender equality both here in the UK and around the world.

What is your experience as a woman in a co-

It also gives us an opportunity to reflect on and appreciate the great strides we have made. For example, my grandmother wrote ‘votes for women’ on the blackboard at school. Now, it’s hard to imagine a time when women didn’t have the vote.

What is your experience as

My early experiences in parts of the consumer

a woman in a co-operative-

years that has changed significantly for the better.

equality within the

have power over their lives.

operative-focused organisation? movement were not always welcoming, but over the

improve

parts of the world

movement?

Strong role models are the key to further improvement in the future. If women can see people like them working in a range of roles – whether it’s a female store manager, pharmacist, member of the board or anything else – it’s a good example. It shows that they can aspire to do the same.

focused organisation?

Through working with enlightened women and men in the cooperative movement we have made good progress in developing a positive attitude to gender equality and are now seeking to replicate the excellent results in some sectors across the whole of the movement.

GILL BARR is Head

the contribution of women in

of Marketing for The

contribution to global peace and

Co-operative Group It is easy to forget how, even in the West, women have been suppressed

society and particularly their security. We need to celebrate the enormous progress that women have made but also remember that gender bias still

and treated

exists and the

unfairly until

deprivation of

relatively

basic rights is a

recently.

reality for many,

What can be done to improve equality within the movement?

The Co-operative Women’s Challenge has highlighted the fact that many women see mentoring as a very

many women

Globally, the

across the world.

struggle for equality goes on and in so many

valuable type of support. Setting up a group of women

countries, we see women denied

who are happy to be mentors and linking them with

basic freedoms; for example, you

aspiring women will help empower more women to

would have been unable to drive

take their places in all sectors and at all levels.

to work this morning if you lived in Saudi Arabia. The United

Thank you to Co-operative News

Nations started International

for Chris and Ursula’s interviews

Women’s Day to commemorate 3

The very serious struggle of women has yielded a rich seam of humour. Hard not to smile at Joseph Conrad who observed that ‘being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.’

In the news 70% of women fear taking a career break A new survey from London Business School shows that women are anxious about the effect taking time out for maternity leave or travel will have on their career.

The survey was conducted at the recent Women in Business conference and sent to

contrasting trends in smoking habits in men

In Scotland, lung cancer rates in women have

and women.

almost doubled over the past 40 years and are

The charity says the proportion of men who

among the highest in the world.

smoke has been declining since the 1950s,

Rates of lung cancer among women now

while figures for women did not start to drop

stand at 41 women in every 100,000

until the 1970s.

Lung cancer remains the second most

Overall, lung cancer rates across the UK have

common cancer in the UK and the biggest

fallen by 20% since 1975.

cancer killer. Around 87% of cases are attributable to smoking.

the business school’s Strategy Review mailing

The latest figures show there were around

list. Over 2000 women responded to the

43,500 cases of lung cancer in the UK in

survey and it also revealed that nearly half of

2011 - approximately 23,800 men and

those questioned expected to have between

19,700 women.

four and six career changes over their lifetime.

In the same year there were around 35,200

For women, taking a career break generally

deaths from lung cancer, including 19,600

The UK continues to lag behind many

means taking time off for maternity leave or

men and 15,600 women.

comparable major economies for the scope

stepping back from the workplace to look after

The new figures reveal that rates of

children. What do you think?

lung cancer among women now stand at 41 women in every 100,000, up from

UK urged to close gender pay gap and improve participation rates

and fairness of women's employment, new research has shown.

According to a survey of 27 OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation

Katy Perry becomes the most

23 in every 100,000 in 1975.

followed person in Twitter

For men, the lung cancer rate is now 59 in

UK's overall record on women's

history

every 100,000, down from 112 per 100,000

participation in the labour market puts it

The "Dark Horse" singer surpassed 50 million

people in 1975.

18th out of 27 nations. The latest index

followers on Twitter on Feb. 1, making her not

The highest rates in England are found in the

only the queen of the social media platform,

north, while the lowest rates are in the east,

but also the user with the most followers in the

south-east and south-west.

history of Twitter.

and Development) member nations, the

measured gender pay gap, women's participation rate, unemployment rates and proportion of women in full-time, rather than part-time, employment.

While the UK has made progress in

Follow Katy on Twitter @katyperry

equalising earnings between men and women and getting more women into the

Lung cancer rates among

workplace, the slow pace of change has

women in the UK increase by

seen it outstripped by other countries since 2000. The difference in pay has diminished

73%

from 26% in 2000 to 18% in 2012 in the

Lung cancer rates among women in the UK

UK – slightly worse than the OECD average

have risen by 73% since 1975, while falling by

differential of 16%.

47% among men.

The PwC Women in Work index ranks the

Cancer Research UK, which has released

UK far behind the Nordic countries, with

the figures, says the changes are because of

Norway still leading the way, followed by Denmark and Sweden.

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Aspire Woman Of The Year Helen Baldwin Senior Support Officer The Co-operative Group This year’s “Aspire Woman of the Year” is Helen Baldwin. Helen has been nominated by her fellow members of the Steering Group.

Helen is part of the Career Support Team and as a Senior Support Officer this role has enabled Helen to combine her skills to help and support members of Aspire in the same way.

Five Minutes with star of Loose Women and the ‘Singer of Your Songs’

Jane McDonald You must be very excited about the release of your new album ‘The Singer of Your Song’?

It’s gone mad. It is very exciting to be releasing a new album. It’s always nervewracking though. I am always thinking ‘do people really want it?’.

What can we expect from the album?

Helen’s passion for helping members of

It’s an album that is good to pop on if you’re feeling down. There’s lots of

Aspire has not gone unnoticed by the

classic songs on there. It has a real classic sound. If I was twenty years younger I couldn’t have recorded this album. Lots of the songs are about

Steering Group.

reflection and looking back. ‘Love Is All’ is a real fan favourite and features on Sharon Pegg – Aspire Chair says “Helen’s passion to drive and deliver new initiatives for Aspire has been a great asset. We feel very fortunate to have such a role model. Being

the album. I stuck it at the end of the set on my tour last year and the fans went ballistic for it. I’m slightly different to other acts that I have been doing this for so many years. I play to my fans and give them what they want. If they like me singing a certain song, I’ll record it.

part of Aspire has provided inspiration to

You have written the title track for the album ‘Singer of Your Song’

many and without Steering Group members

too. How did that come about?

Aspire would not be here. It is a great opportunity to not only to highlight Helen’s

I’ve written a whole lot of songs in the past and do a medley at the end of my shows. This song came about when it was Winter, I got the fire burning, Ed was

commitment but also; all members of the

away and I had solace. I wrote the song for those that mean the world to me,

Steering Group.”

my fans. I’m the singer of their songs. I do it for them. I want my fans to feel fulfilled when they leave my show or listen to my album.

The Aspire Steering Group are looking for members to get more involved with the Aspire Magazine – please inbox Aspire if you would like to share your skills!

Jane’s new album ‘The Singer of Your Song’ is out now Buy it direct from her website at www.jane-mcdonald.com or from Amazon Follow Jane on Twitter @TheJaneMcDonald 5

Christina, can you tell us a little about you, where you work, how your career started, how long you’ve worked for The Co-operative?

I have had an amazing career to date!

For 20 years, I ran community law firms covering crime, mental health, social welfare and family law. We were privileged to help some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded in our society.

I specialised in the

Woman on top We meet Christina Blacklaws, Director of Policy The Co-operative Legal Services

representation of childrenmainly in public law cases where local authorities are concerned that a child might be being neglected or abused. It was incredibly demanding but also highly rewarding work.

I joined The Co-operative with my colleagues, Jenny Beck and Chris May, to set up our family law business in 2011, becoming the Director of Family Law. We started from scratchdesigning the best, customer focused processes involving fixed and transparently priced fees delivered by experts who really care.

In our first year we helped over 10,000 people!

You’re an incredibly successful Director,

could help people and, when I was still at school, I started to understand how important law is to all of us and how it affects each

make you feel inferior without your consent'.

This really chimed with me even when I was young. In order to succeed, you

part of our lives. This fascinated and motivated me. So I studied jurisprudence at Oxford University and then

need to hold on to your self belief and don't let anyone else (and especially not you) take that away.

became a Solicitor.

If you have that solid foundation of self belief, you really can do anything!

Was there a ‘defining moment’ that made you realise a legal

The Solicitors

career would play a

Regulatory Authority

key part in your future?

wants to encourage

I guess I was a bit of a geeky kid in that from a young age I was interested in world politics!

range of personal and educational up a legal career.

or thought of him as a terrorist. I joined the antiapartheid movement (aged 12!) and began to really understand how the

promote the social

law could be used for good and evil and that if I wanted to be involved in changing the world, maybe law could be the way.

Our Pearls Programme provides advise and career support for female managers in middle through to executive

but did Christina the primary school pupil

you cherish from

always dream of

those closest to you?

becoming a lawyer?

Like many people, I had a

wrong. I always knew I wanted a job where I 6

backgrounds to take

When I was young Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned on Robin Island for decades, people had forgotten about him

management. What ‘pearls of wisdom’ do

I think most young people have a very clear sense of justice- what is right and

people from a diverse

wonderfully inspirational teacher at school who always used to quote Eleanor Roosevelt: 'remember, no one can

From a professional perspective, how are you able to practically mobility agenda?

This is something which lies very close to my heart and those of my colleagues at CLS. Social mobility is a massive problem in the legal services industry. These days, the cost of becoming a solicitor can run into many tens of thousands.

This precludes many bright and able people from joining. In an attempt to address this and to ensure that every person working in CLS has a satisfying and rewarding career, we worked with Manchester Metropolitan University to set up our 'Learning Academy'. Through this, we hope to bring talent into the business- not just from people who have gone down the traditional route- but also from school leavers and career changers.

grumpy faces on Monday mornings!

Why chose to

and confident –

whom in your

specialise in family

especially when

professional journey to

law rather than any other legal field?

challenged from another person in part

Director of Family Law and Policy?

Finally, for all our

Family law is highly vocational work. You only do it if your motivation is to help people. In family,

of the interview ‘set

I have been very lucky in my career to be surrounded by wonderful, generous and supportive female

is your top tip for professional success?

we're supporting people who are often at the worst point in their lives. Our job is to help them to resolve their problems- in the best interests of everyone involved especially their kids- and move on. For me, it's incredibly important, rewarding and varied work.

I love it!

It can be very challenging balancing both personal and professional demands.

How do you think you do on an ongoing basis?

Like most womensometimes well, sometimes badly!

I'm lucky to have some flexibility in my work life which really supports balance. I also try and contain work during family time so if I have to do extra, it doesn't interfere with that. For example, it's not unusual for me to be up really early tapping away on my iPad if I've got an urgent deadline!

Christina, you have a high profile career and it’s not unusual to see you on the TV or hear you on the radio offering the Co-operative viewpoint on current legal issues.

You always appear incredibly composed

up’. What is your secret?

Thank you! It has got easier over the years I've being

colleagues. I have made many true friends along the way- women who lift you up and hold you there.

However, my greatest

doing this but I get as nervous as the next person.

My trick is to be able to compose myself beforehand. Relaxation

supporter is my fellow Director, Jenny Beck who is a constant, true and loyal friend.

techniques really work. This allows me to actually enjoy the process and perhaps that comes across as well!

Do you take a conscious decision to

“Women no

professionally network? If so, have

longer need to

Aspire members, what

For me it is all about integrity: the ability to stay true to yourself and stand up for what you know is right. Of course, you also need to treat others with respect and kindness so the combined effect can be powerful, indeed, transformational in your career.

Women no longer need to behave like men to succeed professionally, we just need to be our own marvelous selves!

they been formal or informal networking

behave like

initiatives?

men to

Absolutely, I do.

Networking has a bad reputation but it's just about getting to know people with whom you may have

succeed professionally,

something in common. It needn't be intimidating or unpleasant! I enjoy chatting to people about issues I'm interested in. However, I

we just need to be our own marvelous

don't think anyone responds well to a pushy networker so there's a fine balance to maintain!

selves!”

You are asked to

You are now asked to

appear on Radio 4’s

appear on TV’s Room

Desert Island Discs, name your top three

101. What three things irritate you to the

choices?

point of despair?

What a difficult question!

Off the top of my head, I'd say David Bowie: Wild is the Wind, Joni Mitchell: A Case of You and George

Only three!! Ok- as I travel by train most days, I’m going to say- people who shout into their mobile phones, men in suits in seats who pretend not to have seen pregnant women who need a seat so they don't

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue.

Have you felt

have to give up theirs and

supported and if so by 7

If you’re looking for your next career move, head over to www.co-operative.jobs to see what opportunities are available across our Co-op business areas.

If Christina has inspired you to think about a career in law, there are lots of opportunities listed for The Co-operative Legal Services business. Roles are based in Bristol, Manchester and London.

The Co-operative Membership celebrate International Women’s Day 2014 Colleagues and

offered a chance

responses

members were

to network, listen

included:

invited to help

to inspirational

celebrate

speakers and a

“I’m celebrating

International

market place to

the role of women

Women’s Day at

buy Fairtrade

in Fairtrade.”

Coin Street

goods.

Hannah

Neighbourhood

At the start of the

Centre, London on

event everybody

Saturday, 8

was asked what

March. This event

International

was hosted by The

Women's Day

Co-operative

meant to them

Membership

and, importantly,

(South East

what they were

Region) and

If you have something, share

Move over Ellen. The team get in on the #Selfie action!

it!Then women can be at the front,

A selfie from the @CoopMembershipSE twitter feed from the day of the event

not the back!”

Latvia from Tanzania

celebrating and

Some photo’s from the day “It’s about hope, progress and unity.”

Donna

Above: Daniela Cedron, wine producer from Argentina, Charlotte Borger from Divine, Mercy Zaah and Mavis Adu Gyamfi, cocoa producers for Kuapa Kokoo Co-operative in Ghana discuss Fairtrade Production – A Women’s Perspective. Divine chocolate is owned by the Kuapa Kokoo co-operative.

The Membership Team from SE Region get ready to host Women's’ Day 2014

The session ended with a Q and A opportunity for the audience

George Waters, Emilie Fellingham and Alex Baker enjoy the marketplace

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There was a diverse panel of speakers and exhibitors at the event, including;

Christine Gent Director of Fairly Covered Guest speaker Christine Gent is an expert on Fairtrade and Director of a Fairtrade textiles company working with producers in India, Mali and Bangladesh. Christine shared stories of how Fairtrade empowers women.

She said: “There are families living near water that runs purple because of the textile dyes.

We are working to promote small scale technologies, to bring about small scale solutions. It makes such a difference to local women.”

Kuapa Kokoo When internal marketing of cocoa was liberalized in Ghana, a group of farmers led by Nana Frimpong Abrebrese established Kuapa Kokoo as a farmer’s cooperative in 1993 with assistance from Twin Limited UK . Two years later, the union received its first Fairtrade certification. The cooperative works at improving the social, economic and political wellbeing of its members. Kuapa Kookoo simply means Good Cocoa Farming.

About 28% of Kuapa Kokoo's members are women. Fairtrade gives them a voice in decision making where they might have struggled to be heard. As women, the benefits of Fairtrade reach far beyond just them, spreading out to their families and into their communities.

To find out about other events organised by The Co-operative Membership visit www.co-operativememberevents.coop You can also follow The Co-operative Membership South East Region on Twitter @CoopMemberSE 9

Betty Makoni CEO and founder of Girl Child Network Worldwide Girl Child Network Worldwide is the lead organisation in empowering and educating girls in Africa, inspiring girls to take leadership in gender equality at community level.

Betty shared her experiences of growing up in Zimbabwe, where around a third of girls will experience sexual violence.

Betty works to encourage girls to share their stories, so that others may be protected.

She said: “International Women’s Day is about that women with no voice, the invisible woman, stepping out of poverty. I promised one day I would tell people that silence kills. I decided that everyone should know my story and see that we can make a difference. Do something with passion; with dedication; to the end and to the finish; until it is done. Do something to inspire so others aspire.”

Founder and CEO of “An Inspirational Journey”, Heather Jackson embodies

never crossed my mind to not want to be personally, individually, financially independent and secure, and never to be self reliant on another

what many of us see as a

accept I have only one life and in making choices, I have stuck by them and concentrated on them, accepting at an early age that I could not have everything I wanted in life but I could

successful working mother.

But each of us sees success in a different way, Heather

have everything I chose.

describes this in her latest

So here are my choices

blog.

To be a good mother – one who has

“First question I asked myself when asked to write this blog was what does success mean to me?? I thought if I covered this I could go some way to answering this question and you would understand that what success looks like to me may often be something else to someone else. So I am writing this from my own personal angle of what success looks like to me for me.

Success to me is being able to have choice and control in doing what I want, how I want to do it, when I want to do it, and to the best of my ability being able be there for my two children, my team and the people within my organisation and my friends and family.

I’m a single mum of two teenage children who just happens to be the Founder and CEO of an organisation; “An Inspirational Journey” an organisation that through its programmes and activities works to address the imbalance of talent that exists at the top of corporate Britain, ensuring the future is one where the best talent can lead regardless of gender. We are currently working with some 52 global organisations and reaching out to some 5000 women in the talent pipeline, and, I am proud to say, we are delivering tangible results on this serious business imperative.

When I say I have choice and control my main achievement in this was, I had choice and control to be a working mum or not to be a working mum. To be honest the latter was never really a consideration for me. My father, an artist and successful business man, had brought me up on the readings of Genghis khan (be master of your own ship), and it

am indeed making choices and have control of my life. To think this way, for me, is the only way I can survive (and to date it seems to be all holding up).

To be the success I am I have also had to

naljourney.com www.aninspiratio r @jackson_heathe individual.

I also had choice and control in being a mother. This is something I have never regretted, and indeed am grateful that I never take for granted the fact I am very fortunate to be able to have been able to have children in the first place. However that said, I never anticipated the strength of unconditional love and the huge strain of responsibility and guilt this brings with it.

To embrace and achieve success in my life, I have had to learn to live with the guilt that being a working mother brings with it.

Guilt that: You are not giving enough time to your children when concentrating on the business and its needs; Guilt when you are with your children you are not giving enough time to your business and its needs; and Guilt when you get 2 minutes of personal time to indulge in a run, the cinema, a spa or a weekend away that you are not giving enough time to your children or your business!!

To be the success I have had to try and live with the guilt and accept that it is part of life and the package I have chosen to create and in order to achieve this I have had to accept I am not Joan of Arc and its not about making sacrifices. I 10

done to date everything in her ability to support, direct, guide, provide and love her children to the very best of her abilities.

To be a good business woman – to deliver a business that would allow my team and myself to not only deliver and produce effective results on a serious business issue, but also allow my team to flourish and grow as individuals.

To be respected as an influencer and catalyst to economic and societal change.

To be a good friend and loyal supporter of my closest and dearest friends.

To be healthy and happy.

Please note intentionally throughout this I have aimed to be “good” not “great”.

There is no point trying to be something you can’t be and I have always believed that never over promise on anything, especially with yourself. Why set yourself up to fail?????

My final inspirational choice, is my biggest failing, as like many women, I tend to concentrate on everybody else first. However, I am not complaining.

So in a nutshell, that sums up to me. Why I might consider my life to date a success, and how I manage it – please like twitter, this is my own personal take on success from my own personal point of view, so please accept it in the spirit it has been written, and the honesty and integrity provided.

Thank you to Heather Jackson for this great blog and personal insight into what success means for her.

JOHN WHAITE BAKES OV

20 RECIP ER 1 ES

WINNER OF BBC2’S THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF

NEW! OUT 27 TH MARCH BAKE FOR EVERY OCCASION WITH THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF WINNER JOHN WHAITE

Aspire meets the man

be less prominent. He was a good

behind some of the

drifted away when my parents

Dad when I was growing up, but

most loved characters

divorced. A sadness, of course, but I

and memorable story

dog, Tammie, would be with me. I was

lines on TV. Ladies and

was 24 when she died. As I was an

haven’t let it trouble me in life. My first given her for my 10th birthday and I

gentleman, say hello

only child, she was my best mate

to

my life. I can’t imagine not having one.

Martin Sterling

minder, Doris Mattley. My mother

growing up. But then I’ve had dogs all Also present would be my childworked to give me a better life – at a

Senior storyline writer

time when it was still frowned on – so

portrait and it would have an early

Doris, a neighbour in her 70s, minded

James Bond poster outside. My

on Coronation Street

me. There were no CRB checks in

imagination was fired in that cinema

those days, of course; neighbours

and my love of Bond has never waned

just looked you after you! We must

since. I’ve even written two books on

have made an odd couple but we

the subject. Through the window of

were firm friends and my deep

the picture of my house, you’d see the

respect for older people was forged

TV. I was TV mad as a kid. The TV

then. I also spent many afternoons

would be showing Doctor Who. Jon

with a friend of hers - an old man

Pertwee, of course. He was my hero

who’d been in the trenches in the First

growing up. He’s never been bettered

World War – and even at a young age I

as the Doctor in my opinion!

Martin, you grew up in Manchester during late 60’s, early 70’s. If you could paint a picture that reflects Martin Sterling growing up as a young boy during this era what would we see in the gallery?

At its heart would be a very happy little boy (me). I had an idyllic childhood, thanks to my mother. She’d had a tough time growing up; her family were poor and she was determined to give me all the things she’d never had. So she would feature large in the portrait. My father would

never failed to be astonished by the extraordinary lives seemingly ordinary people had led. It fuelled my interest in people, which is vital in a dramatist, and also my love of history.

The backdrop to my portrait would be a view of Hyde, where I was brought up, and our house. We’d see the cinema, the Theatre Royal, in the

Almost everyone you meet, particularly in the North West, has a memory or connection to The Co-operative. Do you have a ‘nugget’ to share with us?

The Co-op was something that was always “there”, of course. But as my parents and grandparents were all staunch working-class Tories, it was somewhere we never seemed to go or have any dealings with. My childminder, Doris, used to pop into the shop for cat food, though. I honestly don’t recall her buying anything else there, so for many years I associated the Co-op with cats! Of course, as I got older, I became much more knowledgeable about the history of The Co-operative and just how important a part of the history of the North West it was.

Martin outside the famous ‘Kabin’ with Coronation Street legend Rita (Barbara Knox MBE)

12

The transition from a banking career to that of a journalist and writer is almost as dramatic as one of your Coronation Street storylines!

How did this happen? Was it part of a masterplan or unexpected opportunity?

people. I even became the Coronation

something about Northern women

Street correspondent for Women’s

that’s so strong – and it’s as true

Weekly in the mid-90s. But it was

today as it was when Coronation

interviewing the-then Corrie

Street started in 1960 - which I don’t

producer, Kieran Roberts (he’s now

think you get anywhere else.

our Executive Producer) that led me

Certainly, EastEnders’ matriarchs

to Corrie properly. I was invited to

never quite ring true to me in the way

take part in a storylining workshop in

ours do, although obviously I’m

No, there’s been no masterplan. In

2004 and taken on more or less

biased. I was lucky to know both my

immediately after that. I suppose I

great-grandmother and my great-

was in the right place at the right time

great aunt (the latter was born in 1886

done in life. We were living in Norfolk

and suddenly found myself working in

and lived to be 102). They were

by the time I was leaving school and

TV for the first time at the unlikely age

working in the mills before women

of 42.

even had the vote! And yet they were

fact, I’ve fallen into most things I’ve

careers advice in those days was pitiful. I recall telling the careers advisor I wanted to be a writer. Her withering reply was, “People like you don’t write.” That was how I ended up working for Barclays when I left school – a dull, secure job was all the school expected of me. Banking wasn’t for me, though I can’t say I hated it. And I get very angry when politicians use bankers as their whipping boys now because there are a lot of very hard working people who work in banking – I was one of them.

The economy couldn’t function without banks and the crash of 2008 wasn’t solely the fault of bankers, however much it suits some politicians to peddle that myth now.

I used to write in my spare time and I was still working for the bank when my first book was published in 1987. I fell into journalism and broadcasting for the BBC through doing the PR for that book. I’ve never had a lesson in journalism in my life, though the late Jean Rook, the legendary columnist on the Daily Express, guided me considerably. I found I had a knack for interviewing – you can either do it or you can’t, you certainly can’t be taught - which led me to meet and interview some hugely interesting

From left to right: Elsie Tanner, Annie Walker and Ena Sharples

such strong, independent women

Coronation Street is as renowned for its strong female characters as it is for depicting cobbled streets in the opening titles. Ena Sharples, Elsie Tanner, Minnie Caldwell, Hilda Ogden, Bet Lynch, Liz McDonald...the list is endless!

Where does the inspiration come from to create such strong Northern women? Dare we ask if this is based on ‘real life’ personal experience?

right up until the end. So if I ever need

Well, the show’s creator, Tony

women, she’s the epitome. Like all the

Warren, set the template. He always

great Coronation Street characters,

says that growing up, he realised that

Rita is a real survivor. She’s suffered

‘the hand that rocks the cradle, rules

so much heartache over the years,

the roost.” Many of those strong

but has dusted herself down and not

women Tony created originally – Ena

let life grind her down. She might be

Sharples, Annie Walker, Elsie Tanner –

crying inside, but she’ll fight those

were inspired by the women he’d

tears with a caustic remark. I love the

known. Now, of course, since Tony

character and adore Barbara Knox,

was young, the role of women has

who plays

changed so much for the

her.

inspiration, I just have to trace all the women on my Mum’s side of the family from the 1880s onwards!

Who is your favourite female character, past or present, and why?

Easily Rita Tanner. She was my favourite in the 70s when I first started watching the show and she remains so. Rita represents everything the show is about for me. If we’re talking about strong Corrie

better. But that spirit he discerned somehow remains.

It’s quite difficult to explain but there’s

Read part 2 of our interview with Martin in the next issue of Aspire!

13

Coffee and cake with Lucy Powell

Member of Parliament Manchester Central

What motivates and drives you?

Trying to improve things and create more equal opportunities for my constituents, my city and the country.

Who is your role model? Did anyone help/support or influence you growing up?

I have lots of role models including my mum and dad, but politically their are many ranging from Nelson Mandela, Emiline Pankhurst to the modern era of Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman!

“The Labour Party is doing much better on the representation of women than other parties and this is down to the determination to address this.”

Do you feel we’ve bridged the equality gap for women?

We have made some remarkable strides which we should be really proud of.

working are still major barriers here. It means that we have to realise that family friendly policies are an important part of the new strive for equality.

We still face a huge challenge of underrepresentation of women in politics. The

Women in today’s Britain can access a range of professions and occupations which were unthinkable in previous generations and girls growing up today have more opportunities than their mothers

Labour Party is doing much better on the representation of women than other parties and this is down to the determination to address this. But we still have a way to go. One part of the

or grandmothers. I don’t think we should forget that there is still much to do.

When we look at wages, again we see a wage gap between men and women. After many years of narrowing we’ve seen more

choose between one or the other is false.

Firstly, as I alluded to in my previous answer, for many people this isn’t a choice, it simply reflects the economic position they are in, in that both parents need to work or

solution has been all women shortlists.

Not everyone agrees with these but we can see the results. 34% of our MPs are women and this is set to greatly increase after the next election. Also just under

recently, this gap widening again. All too often women’s chances are hindered by time out to have children and the lack of flexible working patterns or affordable childcare means it is hard for them to get

perhaps a parent is bringing up a child alone. I also don’t accept the argument that you have to choose between being a good parent or having a career. Men can be extremely successful as well as being a

50% of the Shadow Cabinet are women.

the same status in work as they had before having children. Childcare and flexible

fantastic dad and I think that the same is true of women.

What challenges do women in politics face?

“I also don’t accept the argument that you have to choose between being a good parent or having a career.”

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Can women have a career and family life?

Of course women can have a career and a family life. I think the idea of having to

A family life shouldn’t just be about women either. I know that a lot of men would love to be able to be more involved in their family life but are too often prevented from this by their work commitments or inadequate paternity leave or options for flexible working. In the past I think we have downplayed the role that Government can play in creating the right culture for people to work and have a family.

Have you faced any personal challenges related to being a career woman with a family?

Like any working mum or dad, getting the right balance between work and family life is a constant struggle!

What would an ideal world look like for working women?

I have already alluded to some of the things I think are necessary in my previous answers but I think that encouraging a culture of flexible working for both women and men, increasing men’s access to parental leave and offering more help with the cost of childcare would start to create real culture changes in Britain’s workplaces.

What does International Women’s Day mean/ symbolise to you?

For me it is important to recognise that there are unique and specific issues to women. Women in the UK have had a distinct history and their struggle has a separate narrative and I think that this fact should be recognised. In previous answers I have explained some of the ways that I think the UK political and economic system uniquely affects women and I think it is good to have a forum for

those issues to be discussed and brought forward.

I think could have a profound impact on women and families.

You only have to look around the world to see how women are affected by a whole host of unique suffering, from mass rape in conflicts, genital mutilation, forced marriage and sex slavery to appreciate the need for women to organise to get these issues on the agenda. I think it is a responsibility of women in the UK to champion these issues which are still too often downplayed in the media.

How important do you think The Co-operative model of business is in society today?

I think that the financial crash raised some big questions about business and some of the very worst aspects of greed in society and the Cooperative model should be very well placed to offer an alternative which reduces some of the risks associated with those practices.

“The Co-op movement, because of its history, values and special role, should put gender representation as well as representation of others as a high priority.”

What challenges do you think The Co-operative movement/model of business face in engaging women? Are there any challenges that are unique to The Co-operative as opposed to a PLC? The Co-op movement, because of its history, values and special role, should put gender representation as well as representation of others as a high priority. I think there's still much more the Co-op could do to improve on that and I look forward to working with you on this.

What are your future aspirations?

Well, I am still delighted to have been elected as the MP for Manchester Central and I want to keep working hard to represent my constituents, many of whom have been terribly affected by this Government’s cruel policies.

I am also glad to have been given the chance to lead for the Labour Party on something which I am so passionate about- childcare and early years.

How do you engage with your audience?

People’s lack of engagement with politics is a massive problem for me and it’s something which I think we need to address.

Unfortunately my own election was marked by a very low turnout and we see problems associated with disengagement on a much wider scale across society. I have tried to look into the reasons for this by taking part in Labour’s People’s Politics Inquiry which involves going around my constituency attending

As a politician my main ambition at the moment is to help Labour to win the general election in 2015. I know that Labour would be better for the country and I want the chance to implement some of the things 15

groups and listening to what people have to say about politics. It’s surprising once you start doing this, just how interested people are in political issues but yet still don’t vote and this trend is even more marked in the young. It’s one of the reasons I support votes at 16 and am glad that Ed Miliband has committed us to it because I think it is a good idea to get people engaging with the democratic system at a young age when they are still in education or training.

I find that people struggle to engage with the language of politics sometimes and want their politicians to be more straightforward with them which is something I try to do with my constituents.

Do you use social networking and how powerful do you think this is?

I do use social networking and anyone is welcome to follow me on Twitter (@LucyMPowell) I think it can be a really useful way of keeping in touch with a range of people and organisations. I regularly have contact with constituents on Twitter and I also use it to find out what people in the childcare and early years sectors are thinking to help me in my role as Shadow Minister.

Inspire

The 50 most influential women in British sport To celebrate this years International Women’s Day, The Guardian announced their 50 most influential women in British sport. They asked their panel of experts to cast their votes for the females making the biggest impact on the UK's sporting landscape. Here we reveal the Top20.

1. Debbie Jevans

2. Liz Nicholl

CEO, England Rugby 2015

CEO, UK Sport

Their leading lady of British sport, Debbie Jevans (pictured above) is the first female chief executive to organise a Rugby World Cup, and the first woman to be appointed director of sport for an Olympic Games when she led the double triumph

Responsible for a budget of £125m a year, Nicholl primarily oversees the development of Olympic and Paralympic sports at a performance level. With Great Britain winning 65

of an Olympic and Paralympic Games at London 2012. There, managing 20,000 staff and a budget in excess of £160m, Jevans cemented a name for herself as an extraordinary individual in sport, having already played a key part in winning the

Olympic and 120 Paralympic medals at London 2012, Nicholl is the driving force behind the organisation's aim to become the first nation to win more medals in the next Olympic and

bid for London in 2005. With so few women seated alongside her at sport's top tables, Jevans has been unequivocal in speaking out against gender imbalance in sport - most recently calling for quotas to be considered, despite a lifelong aversion to the concept. Formerly a professional tennis player – she once beat Judy Murray – Jevans is also a member of the All England Lawn Tennis Club's Committee of Management and Championships Committee, as well as a Sport England board member and sits on the UK Sport Major Events Panel.

2

3

3. Jessica Ennis-Hill Athlete “The face of London 2012” overcame extraordinary levels of pressure to win Olympic gold – her image became synonymous with the Games, appearing everywhere from TV and billboards to a painting of her the size of 15 tennis courts positioned in a field under the Heathrow flight path. As a result, Ennis-Hill's profile hit stratospheric levels, picking up 1.3m Twitter followers, and estimated 16

Paralympic cycle immediately after hosting a home Games. A former netball international, Nicholl was the chief executive of England Netball for 16 years before taking on her role at UK Sport where she also leads on the bidding and hosting of major sporting events in this country. Nicholl has been vocal on the lack of women in sports boardrooms, backing a Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation target of 25% by 2017, and suggesting that sanctions may be put in place for governing bodies who fail to make the grade. earnings of several million pounds.

When news broke, ahead of the Games, that a senior figure at UK Athletics had described the tightly honed Ennis-Hill as “fat”, there was national outrage, prompting a sustained focus on female body image, sexism, eating disorders and bullying in sport and launching Ennis-Hill as a figurehead for a growing female movement in sport. When the 28-yearold announced her pregnancy earlier this year she again made national news. Even in a year where she is not competing, Ennis-Hill categorically remains the most influential sportswoman in Britain.

6. Clare Balding Broadcaster

(pictured to left)

Dubbed the “Grande Dame of British TV” after the nation fell in love with her inimitable coverage of London 2012 – from that Bert le Clos interview, to her role in inventing the “Mobot”, she has become one of the most popular figures in British sport. An LGBT icon and vocal campaigner on sexism – last year Balding refused to host coverage of the Open golf championship at Muirfield because the club does not admit women – she is said to have influenced BT Sport's commitment to women's sport as part of her contract negotiations with the broadcaster. So in demand is the 43-year-old that she now presents a vast array of sport across several major channels.

Here are some of the other

4. Barbara Slater

inspiring people who made the

Director of sport, BBC

list:

Overseeing 450 staff and an output consumed by more than 40% of the UK population, Slater is the most senior woman working in British sports media today. The former Great Britain gymnast, who made history as the first ever female director of

5. Baroness Tanni

7. Jennie Price : CEO, Sport England 8. Maria Miller : MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport 9. Heather Rabbatts : Non-executive director, FA 10. Karren Brady : Vice-chair, West Ham 11. Ellie Simmonds : Swimmer 12. Alison Kervin : Sports editor, Mail on Sunday 13. Sue Campbell : House of Lords crossbencher 14. Clare Connor : Head of women's cricket, ECB 15. Princess Royal : British representative to IOC 16. Judy Murray : Captain, British Federation Cup team 17. Gabby Logan : Broadcaster 18. Jan Paterson : CEO, British Olympic Foundation 19. Penny Briscoe : Director of sport, British Paralympic Association 20. Nicola Adams : Boxer

Grey-Thompson

11

13

15

20

sport at the BBC, was a natural choice having worked within the BBC Sport department since 1984 specialising in outside broadcasts across golf, racing and tennis. A champion of women's sport, Slater famously cut Zoo and Nuts editors from the judging panel for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist, following the 2011 furore when women were entirely absent from the final 10.

Retired athlete; crossbench peer First renowned as Britain's greatest Paralympian for winning an impressive 11 gold medals, four silvers and one bronze across five Games, GreyThompson's influence in sport's corridors of power has grown since she retired from competition.

Appointed to the House of Lords as a non party political crossbench peer in 2010, she is co-chair for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Women's Sport and a prominent figure in political discussions around gender and disability.

Internationally her reputation is far reaching. In 2012 Grey-Thompson was asked by cycling's global governing body, UCI, to sit on the threeperson independent commission investigating the Lance Armstrong doping case.

Full list at www.theguardian.com/sport/ng-interactive/ 2014/mar/50-most-influential-women-in-british-sport 17

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18

breath away.” Maya Angelou