SBT issue 463

BUILDING BRANDS TO LOVE AND LAST WE MEET BLUE PANDA CO-FOUNDERS LAURA PACE AND SARAH PICK

All business is symbiotic in nature. You can be inspiring your peers one day, learning from them the next. In the end, people buy people. That makes sharing our stories the most compelling way to connect with one another.

What’s needed is a platform to embrace and empower our regional business ecosystem. Where varied backgrounds and perspectives provide new context. Harnessing potential, enabling growth. And at the heart of it, a dedicated term of curators unlocking insights for the good of us all.

So we’re changing the way people think of connecting. Because we believe in self-reflection, rather than self-promotion. By demystifying the art of storytelling, we deliver authentic thought leadership through events, publishing and broadcast media.

We come together to discover, share and grow. But we won’t be limited by geography, or our imagination. Instead, we’ll seek out local leaders, visionaries and experts, wherever great businesses thrive. Growing communities, in partnership with the businesses that power them. And nurturing the enterpreneurial spirit in everyone.

SBTWelcome

Welcome to another issue of SBT

Celebrating women - their achievements and potential - is what International Women’s Day is all about. It raises women up, encouraging them to fulfill their dreams while highlighting the need for progress that goes beyond equality. We mark this year’s March 8 event with a Special Edition, packed with inspirational stories that aim to motivate women across Sussex and beyond.

#EmbraceEquity is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day. It highlights the need for both equality and fairness, so that equal opportunities recognise individual needs.

As well as throwing the spotlight on women who are leaders in their field, we shine a light on the Sussex businesses elevating women.

From law to sport and even the faux flower sector, we have compiled a truly awesome collection of stories.

Our cover feature this month is a perfect example of women

succeeding. We meet the female-led team at Yellow Fish who have launched an exciting new sister company, Blue Panda. It isn’t an idea they have plucked out of thin air, but a separation of a growing part of their workload. It’s a fascinating read and I am sure you will enjoy it.

Taking the initiative is to be celebrated.

Elsewhere in the magazine, you will find ideas for networking, legal advice and stories that will help you to grow and scale your business.

To have our publication date fall so close to International Women’s Day , a global event, has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase just how many women in Sussex are thriving. We have aimed to underline their successes to encourage more women to do what they are passionate about.

Sam Thomas, Managing Director

06

08

12

Monthly News

News from the Sussex Cricket Foundation and the Starr Trust charity.

New Business

A profile of start-up success story Tea & Grazing Limited.

16

Joint Managing Director/Publisher Sam Thomas sam@thebusinessgroup.co.uk

07894 762304

Joint Managing Director Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Production & Design Kim Butler kim@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Accounts Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk

19

Legal News from Mayo Wynne Baxter and 365 Employment Law.

Cover Story

We meet Laura Pace and Sarah Pick, of Yellow Fish, who have just launched a sister company - Blue Panda.

International Women’s Day Supplement

Meet the entrepreneurial women setting the Sussex business world on fire. Leaders in their respective fields, they offers inspirational advice and share their back stories. A must-read for anyone looking to jump-start their career.

Networking and Events

58

Network My Club examines why women are networking more, ACUMEN LAW is announced as the sponsor of the next Big Business Breakfast Club and Sonny Cutting, of Sussex Business Show, writes about getting the right mix of keynote speakers.

Motoring

64

All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Sussex Business Times Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Sussex Business Times Magazine assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisement contained within Sussex Business Times Magazine. All prices featured in Sussex Business Times Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

Copyright The Business Group Sussex Ltd. 2020 ©

66

Rivervale Group acquires Castle Minibus and we meet fleet services manager Jaymie Stanbrook.

Chamber News

A round-up of news from local chambers of commerce.

Wine of the Month

70

Michael Yeoman reveals the County Business Clubs Sussex March Wine of the Month.

CALLING ALL ST3 s & INTERESTED GP s

YOUR DREAM MEDICAL CAREER STARTS HERE

WHAT WE OFFER

Work at a dynamic, friendly practice with incredible premises and fabulous future opportunities? Live in the UK’s sunniest town, discover endless blue skies, pristine beaches and the sweeping downs.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOLD YET?

People who are the best: versatile & adaptive, but most of all, want to work as part of a team.

Full or part-time, salaried or partner. £11,000 per session salaried. Relocation expenses considered. Get your skates on - we are looking for three GPs to replace colleagues due to retire.

Tickets on sale for Where Cricket Meets… Sam Allardyce

The Sussex Cricket Foundation is proud to present its annual flagship fundraising event.

Tickets are on sale now for Where Cricket Meets…Sam Allardyce - an afternoon of hilarious stories and anecdotes from the former Bolton, West Ham and England football manager.

Monthly News

As well as managing multiple Premier League football clubs and the England national team, Allardyce’s playing career spanned 21 years and included stints at Bolton Millwall and Preston North End.

Being held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, the afternoon will include a Q&A discussion with ‘Big Sam’ alongside a three-course lunch and drinks, as well as a chance to win some amazing prizes in a charity auction and raffle.

The occasion is a major fundraising event for the Sussex Cricket Foundation, with all proceeds going to help support their mission to actively change lives through cricket across the community.

The afternoon will be sponsored by Sutton Winson, corporate partner of Sussex Cricket. Their Director, Richard Morley, is delighted to be

supporting such an important event. He said: “Sutton Winson is proud to be the headline sponsor for ‘Where Cricket Meets...Sam Allardyce’ and to continue a long-standing partnership with the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

“Sutton Winson looks forward to supporting SCF and all the great work being undertaken to ensure Cricket is available for all in the community.”

Last year’s event, with former England footballing legend Glen Hoddle, raised in excess of £40,000, providing vital funds for projects and initiatives across the county.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, added: “We are delighted to welcome Sam to Sussex this year to help support the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

“This is an important event as we look to raise significant funds to be able to continue growing the game and making the game as accessible as possible for all.

“We hope people are able to support us and learn more about what the Foundation does across the County.”

If you’re looking for a social event for you and your colleagues this spring, why not secure a table and spend an afternoon with Sam Allardyce, raising important funds for local projects in Sussex? The event is taking place on Friday, March 31.

Tickets are available to purchase now directly from the Sussex website or if you’d like to hear more about the event itself, or the great work the Sussex Cricket Foundation does, please email: foundation@sussexcricket.co.uk

https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/ tickets-sale-now-where-cricketmeetssam-allardyce

premierleague25years

Charity cyclists go sky high on Brighton i360 with Olympian

Olympic Gold Medallist Daley Thompson CBE joined cyclists and business sponsors last month to create awareness for the upcoming Bristol to Brighton Bike Ride in aid of the Starr Trust Charity.

said: “Never has it been more important to stay fit and healthy!

Monthly News

The launch was to create awareness of the upcoming cycling challenge and to welcome the local community to sign up and be part of this four-day Bristol to Brighton Bike Ride, taking place between 8th-11th June 2023. Registration is open now to cyclists of all abilities who will take on the task of cycling approximately 220miles, split across three overnight hotel stays, with an option of including a lap of the Isle of Wight on the way home!

Friend of the Starr Trust and founder of DaleyFitness, Daley Thompson CBE

“I always believe exercise should be accessible for all, and the Starr Trust bike ride challenge offers just that with its threetiered cycling groups to cater for all levels.

“If you are looking for a way to get fit and have fun this year with a fantastic bunch of people, then I urge you to get involved and do yourself proud.”

Sussex-based charity, the Starr Trust removes roadblocks for young people by supporting individuals and groups with financial grants, sharing connections and encouraging success. Awards are

granted to young people aged 10-25 years to help them succeed and thrive in whatever they put their minds to.

All fundraising through the challenge will go directly to support young people in need of help from the charity.

Businesses kindly sponsoring the bike ride include; The Dental Implant Centre, Gardner & Scardifield, Rubix VT and Brighton i360.

For more information about the event or to register, please visit: www.starrtrust. org/events/bike-ride-2023

by Jeff Mood

Photo

A travelling tea room business where global culture meets afternoon tea

A start-up success story: Tea & Grazing Ltd.

At the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Sussex, we meet start-ups on a daily basis with their unique ideas and stories and we are excited to support them on their business journeys.

One of these start-ups was Kim JackRiley with her business Tea & Grazing Ltd. We caught up with Kim and asked her to share her business story.

Can you introduce yourself?

I’m Kim Jack-Riley, a certified tea Sommelier and owner of Tea & Grazing, a Travelling Tea Room providing an

eclectic experience to enjoying Tea.

Tell us a bit about your background?

I was born and raised in North London but began travelling abroad at an early age for family trips to the Caribbean. My Dad was from Trinidad & Tobago, where I quickly learned that to refuse refreshments from your host was an insult, so food and drinks were a big part of the visits. At home in London, we lived across the street from a Tea Shop and I used to help out after school in the café.

My interest in tea was diverted when I moved with my parents to New York and

the coffee culture ruled. But travelling and that old London Tea Shop were already ingrained in my subconscious, and I established a career in the Travel & Hospitality industry with a master mission.

What gave you the idea to start this business?

While living in America, I always yearned to return to the UK and open a tea shop. My experience in hospitality and my knowledge as a tea sommelier provided a solid base, and although I didn’t want to leave the tourism industry, I knew that I wanted a change and more freedom to my workstyle. I wanted to be an entrepreneur and create a family business.

I relocated my family to Brighton from the US in 2019 with the intention of opening a bricks and mortar tea shop. COVID struck and I was fortunate to get superior business advice from the GOV.UK, Business Hothouse and the EU Regional Development Fund. They helped me restructure my business plan to transform it into a mobile unit aligning with the outdoor dining mandates brought on by the lockdown. Hence Tea & Grazing was born.

The current business model focuses on Tea Tastings which are a unique experience using exotic loose-leaf teas, mini meditation, and bespoke curated music. In the warmer months we pop up at fairs and markets.

How and where did you learn so much about tea?

While living in the US, everyone used to assume I knew everything about tea because I am British. It was such an annoyance and I’m a solutions person, so eventually I researched how to become a tea sommelier and set forth on the coursework with the International Tea Master’s Association. Learning about tea can be a lifelong study, there are many levels and

components but once I became certified, I gained a new confidence.

Why is it important for you to offer such unique tea experience to others?

My studies have shown me the importance of tea in health and wellbeing. Tea originates in most cultures as a medicine with a different tea for every ailment. Tea is a natural healer, and it is also an enjoyable social experience.

What is the best part about running Tea & Grazing and what have you most enjoyed?

I am a people person and there is no greater pleasure for me than to pour a lovely cup of tea in exquisite china and watch as the person enjoys the effects. When we are out at Markets it is so enjoyable to have the buzz of people and human interaction. For me, hospitality and serving people is the best part. I also enjoy working alongside my partner as we have been married for 30 years it’s nice to have a business where we can work together.

How did BIPC Sussex help you on your business journey?

I discovered the BIPC because our area wi-fi was going to be down for a

full week, so I went to the library. It was like finding an oasis. I was amazed at the business resources available to me and I set out to participate in as much as I possibly could. There are so many aspects of being an entrepreneur that can be overwhelming and the BIPC became my ‘team’ supporting so many of the critical components that either I did not have full knowledge or simply didn’t have bandwidth to do myself. In addition to the staff, the experts and the workshops, the databases are priceless.

What does a typical day look like for you, running your business?

Our diary is centred around actual client bookings for which there are a lot of logistics such as product procurement. The other days are spent marketing, planning and posting social media, and mining for sales leads. There is also the future planning of bookings for tastings which involves interaction with a lot of different third parties.

The last but not least component is research of tea because we curate the teas bespoke for each tasting. One integral aspect of our business is the music. My partner, Mark Riley, has a

long career in the music and media industries and he curates a bespoke playlist for each tasting and even the Fairs. He spends a lot of time curating the music.

What advice would you give someone starting a new business, especially a female entrepreneur?

I believe that starting a business requires a lot of courage and regardless of what the nature of the business is, I would encourage taking the leap, believing in oneself and identifying a passion that can be turned into a business.

I would advise working with a resource centre like the BIPC where you can access expert guidance because it cannot be done alone. Trademarking and protection of your name and product is crucial. Someone I thought was a friend basically tried to replicate my entire idea, so especially for women, I would say don’t share too much information about your business until you are ready yourself to launch otherwise someone else could just steal your idea.

What is your proudest moment and biggest achievement in business so far?

I have two. My proudest moment was our first day with a gazebo branded ‘Tea

& Grazing’ at a Fair at the Brighthelm Centre in Brighton. With my daughter, Viveca, her partner, Sam, and my partner, Mark we together launched our debut stall of Iced Teas and Sandwich boxes, and it fulfilled my dream of having a family business. My biggest achieving moment is that we recently partnered with Virgin Experience Days and bookings are coming via their portal.

Where are you most likely to be found in Brighton in your free time?

I am a vintage addict – usually looking for teacups – so I walk Brighton’s North Laine where I live and never tire of browsing the vintage shops and stalls. After that, I try to take a daily walk to the Seafront where again, I can never tire of simply watching the waves and taking in seaside life.

What books have impacted you?

Because I’ve worked in tourism, I tend to be drawn to travel books, cookery books or other ‘how to’ guides. Infused by Henrietta Lovell is a wonderful journey in tea and for novels I’m a big fan of Brighton resident Dorothy Koomson.

In life, The Red Tent Anita Diamant impacted me greatly because it is largely the tale of women banished to a tent

during their monthly cycle where the men think they are twiddling their thumbs and meanwhile the women in the tent are actually overcoming all sorts of world issues and problems. I love the fact that what the men see as the women’s weakest time is actually their most empowered.

What are your future plans for the business?

I would like to create my own brand line of teas and I would also like to travel to more of the beautiful tea fields of the world for research and inspiration.

www.teaandgrazing.co.uk

Would you like to be our next success story?

Get in touch with BIPC Sussex to book a free one-to-one session with one of our Information Specialist so we can help you develop your business idea or grow your existing small business.

Visit

The first female solicitors in the UK

With over 100,000 female solicitors currently practicing in the UK, it is hard to imagine a time when women were not allowed into the profession. And yet it was only 101 years ago in 1922 when the very first female solicitor was admitted to the role (entitles you to practise as a solicitor) in England.

Carrie Morrison was enrolled in the profession following the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 coming into force, which paved the way for women’s entry into the legal profession for the first time.This came after several previous legal attempts to allow women entry into the profession, most notably Bebb v Law Society, which challenged the Law Society to admit females to its preliminary exams - on the basis that

women came under the definition of a ‘person’ in the Solicitors Act 1843.

The 1919 Act was momentous legislation which meant that Morrison, together with Mary Pickup, Mary Sykes and Maud Crofts, were able to complete their Law Society examinations and finally qualify as solicitors.

Morrison’s career as a solicitor was very much one of standing up for those unable to defend themselves. During the years following her qualification, she spent her time working as a Poor Man’s Lawyer, a service that was established in 1891 and was the inspiration for our current legal aid system. Morrison often represented prostitutes in court and was the solicitor for the Women and Children’s Protection Society.

Most notable was her work towards the Divorce Law Reform. Morrison was the first lady solicitor to represent a woman petitioner, under the Poor Person’s Rules. Together with her ex-husband, also a solicitor, she advocated to make the divorce process more reasonable and fairer for both parties, as the law required that the process should be adversarial, with one party ‘placing blame’ on the other. It is particularly poignant that we celebrate Morrison in the same year that the divorce law finally left behind the archaic legislation and moved towards a more amicable process based on ‘no-fault’.

In 2020, the Law Society honoured Morrison by having a room, known as the Old Bookshop, renamed in her honour at its historic headquarters in Chancery Lane.

Lucy Gilman, a paralegal at Mayo Wynne Baxter, shares a fascinating history for International Women’s Day Legal

Morrison was preceded in Scotland by Madge Easton Anderson, who became the first female solicitor in the UK in 1920. Anderson also practiced as a Poor Man’s Lawyer within her community in Glasgow and, in 1937, she qualified as a solicitor in England, making her the first woman to qualify in two jurisdictions in the UK. She established the first all-female law firm in London with two other women, Edith Annie Berthan and Beatrice Honour Davy, proving her to be a true pioneer.

We owe a great deal to the likes of Carrie Morrison and Madge Anderson. They fought with sheer determination for women to have the right to work in law, a profession that was dominated by men at the time and is now, according to the Law Society, 53% female.

The coat of arms of the first female President of the UK Supreme Court, Baroness Hale, carries the motto ‘Omnia Feminae Aequissimae’, which means “women are equal to everything”. Carrie Morrison and Madge Anderson proved this to be true and, as female professionals working within law, we are proud!

And here at Mayo Wynne Baxter, we continue to prove that adage. Everybody wins with equality; we believe that we are stronger together and that our differences make us stronger. We can’t look to the next 101 years having only the same voices heard as in the last century. For a firm to thrive, we need diversity of views and representation at all levels. In a profession where, according to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority, only 35% of partners are women:

45% of our partners are female!

• 54% of our Heads of Department are female!

• 45% of our Senior Management Team are women!

• Our Head of HR is a woman!

• Our Practice Director is a woman!

And we are proud to be part of a wider group lead by a female Chief Executive!

Plus, in 2021 MWB appointed Helen Bell as our Board Chair!

Helen commented on this position: “It’s a privilege to be elected by my fellow partners as Board Chair and made even more so as I am the first female Chair to be appointed in the firm’s 125+ year history. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and to helping steer the firm to even greater success so that we around for at least the next 125+ years.”

To have come so far doesn’t mean we will be resting on our laurels. We have seen the benefit of reaching equality in positions of seniority, whether it is embedding flexible and hybrid working, having open discussions,

and training on menopause issues, or simply recognising the barriers we faced and eliminating them for our junior colleagues, male and female. By making it easier for women to achieve their full potential, everyone - including the menin the firm benefit.

Looking to the future, we know our strength lies in our people. The profession, and Mayo Wynne Baxter, has come a long way in the last 100 years to recognise the benefits that women bring, and we look to the time when our profession is fully representative of the communities we serve.

We have come a long way from having to argue that a woman is a person, but as we have seen in recent times, this remains a hot topic. However, we will be celebrating every one of our wonderful sisters, mother’s, grandmothers, daughters, friends, colleagues, partners, whoever they are on International Women’s Day and are looking forward to the next 101 years!

www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

Employment Law: International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 8th of March, and it is a day that recognises the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. It also serves as a call to action to further advance gender equality and women’s rights. In the UK, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made in terms of

women’s rights in the workplace, as well as the work that still needs to be done.

Legal

Historically, women in the UK have faced significant barriers to workplace equality. Prior to the 20th century, women were largely excluded from the formal labour force and were confined to domestic work, which was undervalued and often unpaid. Even when women did enter the labour force, they faced discrimination in terms of pay, promotion, and job opportunities. In

the mid-20th century, however, the feminist movement gained momentum, and women began to make significant strides towards equality in the workplace.

The introduction of the Equal Pay Act in 1970 was a major milestone for women’s rights in the UK. This legislation made it illegal for employers to pay men and women differently for doing the same work. Whilst being a powerful piece of legislation, the complexity of it (and

Alex Jones, Managing Director of 365 Employment Law, looks at major milestones but says more progress on women’s rights in the workplace is needed.

subsequent successor legislation on the right) means it is rarely used other than in large scale collective matters. It is a right that is often unused when there are clear pay differentials in small and medium sized employers.

The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 introduced the right to claim for sex discrimination for the first time. That right still exists today, and is covered under the Equality Act 2010. Women can bring sex discrimination claims for both direct and indirect discrimination acts, with the latter being the more commonly used route for claims, with employers often putting conditions in place that seemingly treat men and women equally, but when examined do not.

However, despite the progress made, the gender pay gap remains a significant issue in the UK. According

to the Office for National Statistics, in 2020, the gender pay gap for full-time workers was 15.5%. Women are also underrepresented in senior leadership positions and in industries such as technology and engineering.

There is a growing recognition of the importance of gender diversity in the workplace, and many companies are taking steps to address gender inequality. This includes implementing policies such as flexible working hours, parental leave, and mentoring and sponsorship programmes for women. In addition, initiatives that aim to achieve better gender balance on company boards, have been successful in increasing the number of women in senior leadership positions.

Looking to the future, it is essential that we continue to push for progress in terms of women’s rights in the workplace. This means addressing the root causes of the gender pay gap and creating more opportunities for women in male-dominated industries. It also means addressing other forms of discrimination, such as racial and

disability-based discrimination, that can disproportionately affect women. It is crucial that all employers take a proactive approach to addressing these issues and create workplaces that are truly inclusive and supportive of all employees.

International Women’s Day in the UK, whilst being an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made in terms of women’s rights in the workplace, is also a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. By continuing to address issues such as the gender pay gap and underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, as well as making access to justice easier, those steps can continue to be taken.

365 Employment Law Solicitors

Tel: 01903 863284

ajones@365employmentlaw.co.uk

www.365employmentlaw.co.uk

Alex Jones

Blue Panda - building brands to love and last

Passionate brand professionals at Yellow Fish are excited to launch a sister agency to the business. Blue Panda delivers a fresh approach to branding and marketing services that ensures brands are built to last. We meet Blue Panda co-founders Laura Pace and Sarah Pick to learn more. Cover Story

Helping build brands that can scale and grow comes as second nature to Laura and Sarah.

With stellar careers established at creative agencies in London, they have

supported ambitious start-ups to global multinational businesses with their branding and marketing – Unilever, Coca Cola and L’Oréal to name a few.

Working together at Yellow Fish during the pandemic, they pivoted how they

supported brands to being more broadly brand and marketing focussed, rather than events sector specialists the business had mainly been pre-covid.

While demand for live brand experiences remains huge, requests

for help with crafting powerful brands and executing effective marketing services grew too.

That work brought Yellow Fish to a crossroads.

“Alongside our live experience and incentive work, we have always had an offering to help businesses strategically and creatively with their brand and marketing efforts,” said Laura. “But, as demand for this work increased, we came to a crossroads and decided it made sense to separate the two.

“Our brand and marketing services offering has really grown in recent

years. Now feels like the right time to have a dedicated agency to expand this side of the business.”

Unique content creation has proved popular, with more brands recognising the need to tell their stories in a way that their customers will empathise with. Blue Panda’s offering ensures the right content is created for the right platform and the right audience. It’s not just compelling, it’s engaging - with narratives that truly deliver for brands.

Blue Panda was born with the aim to build brands that people don’t just love, but go on loving. Brands that last. This is achieved by the combination of powerful strategy and killer creative.

Its own brand name was created for that very purpose.

“Don’t think of a blue panda,” says Sarah. “See what we did there? We understand the psychology of branding – it’s so much more than a name and a logo. We help our clients figure out the mind space they want their business to occupy, and then we help them fill it.”

And it’s not just about creating a new brand name that sticks. When it comes to Blue Panda, Sarah adds: “We wanted something memorable but also something that would make people smile.”

While Yellow Fish has clients that include big hitters like BT, Currys, Mazda and

Ford MS-RT, Blue Panda will serve the needs of businesses of all sizes and from a wide range of sectors. That includes start-ups and businesses local to Sussex. In fact, it has already partnered with a start-up in Brighton, providing it with everything it needed for a successful launch.

Bigger isn’t always better

Laura says brands of all sizes love working with Blue Panda because ‘bigger isn’t always better’.

“We’re a small, tight-knit team which allows us to build personal, lasting relationships with our clients.”

Laura adds: “When you work with us, you work with our founders. That way, you get top-end strategic thinking and powerful creative, every time.”

Blue Panda’s first local partner is a neighbourhood grocery shop located in Seven Dials, Brighton. Porthall Stores launched last month and provides good quality, fresh Sussex-sourced produce, coffee and daily essentials.

As well as building the Porthall Stores’ brand, Blue Panda created content and built their website.

It aims to form similar partnerships with other local brands, including established businesses that want to expand or diversify.

Dig deeper, discover more

Laura says: “At the core of every great brand is a fundamental truth - the tricky part is finding it and bringing it to life. It’s worth it though. Which is why we start each project with a miner’s mindset, unearthing the best things about your business and getting them to shine.”

Importantly, Blue Panda meets its clients ‘where they are’ in terms of growth and aspirations.

“Whether you’re starting out, starting over or beginning to grow, we’re flexible enough to find a way that works for you,” Sarah explains. “That’s the beauty of being boutique – free from cumbersome layers of process and systems.”

Having a small, highly creative team means Blue Panda doesn’t have to pigeonhole itself.

Laura, who became the Managing Director of Yellow Fish in 2020, says: “We won’t be specialising in one particular sector. Our strengths mean we can apply the same level of creativity to ambitious start-ups as we do with global brands. And we like the idea of partnering to support brands in Sussex.”

Their business partnership is based on friendship, shared values, a genuine love for what they do. They are passionate about driving businesses forward through the building of brilliant brands and campaigns that deliver results.

www.wearebluepanda.com

sarah.pick@wearebluepanda.com

SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

INTERNATIONAL WOMANS DAY SPECIAL

MEET THE SUSSEX WOMEN WHO ARE AT THE VERY TOP OF THEIR GAME

International Women’s Day 2023#EmbraceEquity

We celebrate this year’s global event with a Special Edition that comprises a fascinating collection of inspirational stories. Meet the Susse x women who are at the very top of their game and learn why equity is not the same as equality.

It is the global event that raises women up. International Women’s Day inspires and motivates. It drives ambition and, importantly, it achieves this by shining a light on success.

To mark IWD 2023 on March 8, the Sussex Business Times is proud to throw the spotlight on inspirational women from across the county. Meet the change-makers who have succeeded, sometimes against all the odds, to ‘make it’ in their chosen fields.

From the legal profession to the charity sector, they are decision-makers and influencers. We discover what drives them and how they have achieved success.

In this section of the magazine, you will learn how that success has stemmed from a multitude of ideas - from turning a hobby into a business to wanting to change how a sector operates.

Looking for inspiration to go into business? You will find it here - along with some fascinating journeys to the top.

Like the woman who started one of

the best-known business law firms in the UK while battling aggressive cancer and parenting young children. Like the high-flyer who worked with celebrities but, by chance, found a passion that set her on a completely different course. Like the solicitor who wanted to work differently so others could.

We also share stories about women with new ideas - including one who believes women are key to the future of the frontline security industry in the UK.

And we meet the woman who wants to

tell you that there are opportunities for females in wine-making.

Of course, businesses across the county are doing their bit to ensure that women can achieve all of their goals. They too share stories and we are sure they will resonate with aspirational readers looking for that extra little nudge to make their career dreams a reality.

#EmbraceEquity

International Women’s Day doesn’t celebrate women. It aims to educate and cultivate change.

That is why the theme of this year’s event is Embrace Equity. It is urging people to not just consider equality but also fairness.

The organisers say: “The aim is to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.

“Equity can be defined as giving everyone what they need to be successful. In other words, it’s not giving everyone the exact same thing. If we give everyone the exact same thing, expecting that will make people equal, it assumes that everyone started out in the same place - and this can be vastly inaccurate because everyone isn’t the same.

“The concept of ‘fairness’ can get tricky as it’s often assumed that ‘being fair’ means that everybody gets the same thing. Often, this has been taught when we were growing up, but ‘fairness’ really only works when we’re all the same to start out with.”

Although a global event, IWD has found an early example of equity in English history - and it dates back to Medieval times.

It cites the way English courts settled disputes according to Common Law. Justice was uniform, but not necessarily fair. If two people both

commit a theft offence, but the stolen items have different values, should they receive the same punishment? No! That’s why our courts adopted the principle of equity. A case-bycase approach ensures they consider differing circumstances.

Inspiring women

Sam Thomas, Managing Director of the Sussex Business Times, said: “We are delighted to be supporting International Women’s Day again this year.

“The feedback we received from last year’s Special Edition was phenomenal. My hope is that the stories we share today will plant seeds that grow into future female role models and entrepreneurs.”

Wine sector an exciting place for women to be

Almost a decade at the helm of her family business, Ridgeview C EO Tamara Roberts shares her journey of breaking norms and encourages more women to join the wine industry.

In 2014, Tamara was appointed CEO of her 27-year-old English sparkling wine family business, Ridgeview, which was first started by her parents in the early 1990s. Working alongside her brother, Simon, Director of Winemaking, Ridgeview has enjoyed numerous successes over the years, including recently being accredited as a B Corp, one of only 25 wineries in the globe.

IWD Special

Through Tamara’s personal drive and passion, she has overseen the growth of Ridgeview not only in terms of production & sales, but also brand awareness. Furthermore, as a testament to Tamara’s experience and reputation she was awarded ‘Sussex Businessperson of the Year’ in the 2018 Sussex Business Awards and the Dynamic Award in the Women in Business Dynamic Awards 2022.

She says: “I was lucky to be born into a very supportive and entrepreneurial family who always focused on the person and not the gender. My father demonstrated the ultimate act of delegation by stepping aside and allowing me to become the CEO of Ridgeview a year before his passing. This inevitably left us all with a huge hole not only personally but professionally and it very much felt like sink or swim, which is probably why I felt an overwhelming feeling of determination to deliver Dad’s vision for the business.

I felt empowered by the trust and belief he had in me, and I learnt so much from him about what it takes to be a leader of an ambitious, growing SME, I thought I would share some of these learnings for International Women’s Day.”

In 2020 she was announced as IWSC’s (International Wine & Spirit Competition Awards) President. This was the first time that an English wine producer had been appointed since the inaugural competition in 1976 and is only the fourth women to have been appointed for this highly regarded role – proof to the rising global status of the English wine industry and most importantly, showcasing that females are becoming

trailblazers in an industry which, for so many years, has been male dominated.

“I feel very fortunate to be a woman in the position I am in at Ridgeview and the English Wine Industry at large, which is, in my experience far more progressive and open than many others out there. However, there is still a lot of tradition and unconscious bias that has and will, create obstacles in the workplace for women,” Tamara adds.

What makes a good leader?

“The key thing I’ve learnt about being a leader is it’s not supposed to be overly complicated. Much of the time

it comes down to listening, learning and being observant in order to know when change is needed and being brave enough to make and manage those changes through the business. I invest time in my own personal development with networks such as MDHUB and Vistage so I am held accountable for my commitments and actions.

“Any business coach or mentor will tell you that delegation is a key part of leadership and it’s critical if you want your business to thrive, I learnt this early on from my father. It is one of the biggest challenges in growing SME’s as often the leaders have been used to doing ‘everything’ which becomes impossible as the business grows. “Recognise when specialists are needed and define their roles and responsibilities within the business. Leaders must fully embrace this transition and guide rather than control – there is no point bringing in a specialist who probably has more experience than you in their field, to then micro- manage them, it is counter-productive.

“This also applies more widely to finding customers, suppliers and peers to work and hang out with who share your values. It will take time and effort to find

‘your tribe,’ but in the long run it will be better for all involved and allow the business and your team to flourish - I believe that’s what we do at Ridgeview.”

You’re only as good as your team

‘“In order to lead, you must trust your team and demonstrate this trust. Do you allow your Senior Managers to make decisions and commitments on behalf of the business without your prior approval, within pre-defined and well communicated limits? If not, why not? Good leadership is not a dictatorship and delegation of decision making is an important element to demonstrating the trust you have in your team.

“It is undeniable that understanding what motivates people in your team unlocks high performance. The skill is once you know what motivates someone, always ask yourself as a leader, how do I harness this for the benefit of the business?”

Are gaps opportunities?

“Being a woman in English wine production right now is really exciting, and with that brings a refreshing sense of freedom. That said, it is still a small

industry and senior roles are hard to come by, but I do see this changing in the future…it needs to. Having women in senior leadership positions is essential to a business’s success.

“Another noticeable gap is women in production roles. We need to have women across all areas of the industry to see our influence grow and to do this the industry needs to find ways to be flexible in these areas as well as more office-based roles.”

Can we have it all?

“I have been very fortunate that I have been able to have the flexibility to work and be a mother and would not change that for the world. However, I know many are not in the same position, that’s why I work hard to remove as many obstacles as I can for women wishing to work at Ridgeview – it’s not easy sometimes but we try to be as flexible as we can be. As I said, it’s crucial we get more women in the wine industry, and leaders need to ensure they’re providing the opportunities for their female employees to get to those more senior roles.”

https://www.ridgeview.co.uk/

The health vs wealth debate

Camille Pierson asks: What do you value more your health or your wealth?

Most people worry about money most of the time, whether you are an employee or business owner. Stats from the 2022 confidence survey states that 37% of business owners worry about cash flow with an extra 17% citing that non-payment of invoices was also a concern.

When we break down the worries of health, most people don’t concern themselves with health - unless something goes wrong.

So, in answer to the question – do most people value wealth more than their health?

In 2015 I founded The Float Spa, prior to that, I ran my life at a 1000 miles per hour, didn’t exercise, worked long hours, juggled childcare, feared losing my job if I didn’t stay an hour later than my finish time. Always arrived early and checked my emails in my spare time. Did this do me any favours??

Well no, in 2014 after a very traumatic event, I was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression and learned

the hard way that my health is more important than wealth.

Flash forward to 2023 and my work life balance is better than ever – I am a Naturopathic Health coach and run two businesses, yes I work hard but productively. I exercise every day, eat well and overall feel happier and healthier than ever in my life.

What changed for me and how can you do the same?

Money & Time are the most common

reasons for not getting healthy.

“I do not have time to exercise or cook” is the number one objection followed very closely by “I do not have the money to buy good quality food!”

In your daily life, how many times have you heard this? You may have even said this – I did pre 2014. I would argue that these are simply excuses and psychological barriers which are easy to hide behind and here is why.

Let’s begin.

Time: If it were for us to decide, we wouldn’t have time for anything. We are all constantly ‘busy’ and constantly doing something. Unless you make time to meditate, go for a walk, prepare your

lunch, read a book or anything else you simply won’t have that time. Time really shouldn’t be a constraint you should have when it comes to your health. If you are truly honest, it is an excuse. Recognising these are excuses is the very first step to making real change.

Here are some examples of how to incorporate movement and exercise into your day which requires no time. Take the stairs whenever there is a lift, or walk the escalators. When you pop the kettle on, why not do some push ups against the counter top or squats while it boils? After your lunch, go outside for a 5 minute walk.

These micro-practices allow you to incorporate health into your day without taking time away. Who has a gym membership? Do you enjoy going to the gym? If you do not you will simply not go, yes you could sign up to a personal trainer and set weekly sessions, but this takes a lot of time out of your schedule.

When faced with the concept of time, what can you do which requires a small amount of time, but focusses on your health?

My advice – if you do not like the gym, what movement do you enjoy? A dance class, a walk, table tennis, swimming, the list is endless – but finding what you like is the only way you will succeed.

Could you allocate ‘movement time’, ‘exercise time’ or ‘me time’ into your diary? Putting equal weight on yourself and your health into your work diary validates how important your health is to you.

My favourite quote by BJ Fogg, Stanford Behaviour Scientist: “People change best when they feel not, not when they feel bad.”

The second objective is money: Yes, we are faced with a cost of living crisis at the moment - I just paid £1.45 for a cucumber, it was only 69p a few weeks ago.

Where we spend our money is in our own control. Considering the food choices we make is an easy and simple way of focusing on your health. After a long day, it is easy to get home starving and grab a microwave meal as you cannot be bothered to cook. How about you remove the thinking of food on weeknights and meal plan (not meal prep) on a Sunday, when you have more energy.

This simple plan, which I do with my family, is a great way for the whole family to adopt healthier habits. I plan on a Sunday and write on a chalk board, so we know what we’re having. Then after a long day, the thinking is done and it’s a cooking job.

Yes, I make all meals from scratch. The best thing is – these meals cook in less than 15 minutes, even getting my kids involved to help. When we shop we know what food we are having for the week, so instead of grabbing a load of stuff we aren’t going to eat which ends in the bin, we only buy what we eat. This saves time, reduces waste and more importantly saves money – meaning we spend less on better quality food. Winning!!

To find out more about Camille Pierson or The Float Spa – visit www.thefloatspa.co.uk or connect on LinkedIn.

The ‘accidental activist’ putting women’s safety first

Brighton & Hove Resident Lisa Baskott is the founder and CEO of 2nd Line of Defence; the first female-focused security recruitment agency in the UK.

Lisa became a qualified Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed door supervisor in September 2021, and since then she has worked as part of security teams within the Brighton area.

On International Women’s Day, Lisa

explains why she believes women are key to the future of the front-line security industry in the UK...

On the 9th March 2021, police officer Wayne Cousins was arrested for the kidnapping, rape and brutal murder of Sarah Everard in Clapham, South London. This single event changed the course of my life; and the seed for what

would become 2nd Line of Defence, had been planted.

After Sarah’s death, the core theme that sparked widespread debate about women’s safety, and violence against women in the UK, centred around the right that ‘every woman should feel safe to walk on our streets without fear of harassment or violence’. Like

IWD Special

so many women at this time, I felt an urgent need to speak out about tackling this issue.

I often refer to myself as an ‘accidental activist’ and campaigner of women’s rights; I did not specifically choose to be on this path, rather it chose me. I realised at this time, still in part ‘locked down’ due to the social distancing measures imposed on us since March 2020, that we were at a pivotal point and crossroad in society’s response to gender-based violence (particularly towards women).

Times were changing and women’s voices were finally being heard, but I could sense that the odds were still very much stacked against us. Women’s voices have become increasingly more powerful since the #metoo movement started in 2017, right up until the brutal death of Sarah Everard in 2021. However, a new generation of young women had found its voice and was saying “enough is enough”.

The question as to how women can keep themselves safe (especially at night) has always been a talking point for women - but it is finally getting recognition from other sections of society, especially from within government.

Conversations are now being had around the need for more and better resourcing, in the right places to help create safer

environments. In 2022, Katy Bourne, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, successfully bid for nearly £1 million to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the latest round of the government’s Safer Streets funding scheme.

At the time, and as a mother of two young teenage children, I felt an overwhelming need to ensure that neither I, nor my children, would ever have to live our lives in fear. It was set against this backdrop of change that 2nd Line of Defence was born.

As a female-focused front-line security recruitment agency, my aim is to prioritise the safety of women and vulnerable groups within the nighttime cultural economy by addressing the massive under representation of women in the front-line security sector. Despite being regulated for over 20 years, women still only represent 10% of the 400k front-line licences issued in the UK.

Security remains to be a male dominated industry; sectors and professions are still unnecessarily gendered in the public consciousness and are often seen as ‘man’s work’.

We need to change this narrative.

This outdated view fundamentally misunderstands the complex role of a modern security operative. The industry has evolved beyond brute strength, and qualities such as communication, empathy and industry knowledge are critical to modern-day security sectors and highly valued by employers.

I’m advocating for a new approach to recruitment within the industry; one which highlights what women can specifically bring to the role. The security industry needs to recognise

that diversity is the key to success: if it doesn’t start making changes and moving forward in this area it’s going to fail to be relevant within many of the environments in which it operates.

The industry needs to think about the “customer experience” and ensure that the people that it engages with on a daily basis feel valued and listened to, because surely, respecting and reflecting the community in which it serves should be the ultimate goal.

So, I find myself on a journey that starts with invoking trust. I’m on a mission to bring about systemic change to make night-time life safer for all girls, women and vulnerable groups living in the UK. I want to show them that my business goals encompass their concerns, fears and hopes around the issues concerning their safety, But more importantly, to convince them that they are key to the overall solution.

So, if like me, you believe that a great night out should always end as well as it began; then please share my story with just one other person, and help vulnerable people reclaim their night!

Follow me here:

www.2ndlineofdefence.com

https://f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-top100-bio/lisa-baskott/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabaskott-116398241/

https://www.instagram. com/2ndlineofdefence/

A woman at the top of her game

Only few months ago we celebrated the 100th year anniversary of Carrie Morrison, the first woman solicitor in England, admitted on the 18th of December 1922. For history buffs, following the introduction of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, which permitted women to train as solicitors, Morrison qualified and spent much of her early post-qualification years working as a so-called ‘Poor

Man’s Lawyer’, providing pro-bono services to people in London’s East End. Here we are, 100 years later, having a great sense of pride on this important International Women’s Day, to have a woman solicitor as our founder and leader.

Penina may have a lot of glitz and glam attached to her reputation, but her journey was anything but. When Penina set up the firm, she had a new born baby and two other young children age six and nine. She had no financial backing with

no guarantee as to potential income and not even one client on board.

Go back to September 2007, that’s when the biggest recession in years hit the market. ‘The worst economic downturn since the 1920s’ screamed the headlines. Two established law firms closed their Brighton branches at around the same time Penina set up the firm. It was against such depression and concerning economic climate when Penina, being the main breadwinner,

We meet Penina Shepherd, Founder & CEO of ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW & ACUMEN PEOPLE SOLICITORS.

with her three young children, straight after maternity leave, was about to embark on a new business project.

“Penina may have a lot of glitz and glam attached to her reputation, but her journey was anything but..”

And as if all the above challenges weren’t enough, while setting up the business Penina was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer and had been told she might not survive.

“On the gender equality front, 75% of Acumen’s Heads of Departments are women.”

The legal industry is notorious for being old-fashioned and unaccepting of innovation. Penina’s vision was to innovate in a sector that doesn’t welcome change, not to mention, a woman leading the said change headon. As a female business lawyer and a businessperson wanting to set up a professional service firm, Penina was a minority in the “man’s world.” Both the legal sector and the clientele are maledominated and not so long ago this gender divide was extremely prevalent.

Despite all odds, what Penina did have, however, was an abundance of passion for making a difference in the legal industry. She did exactly that, and in spades.

ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW and its sister firm, ACUMEN PEOPLE, are unique firms, democratically run by all, with no secretaries, letter dictation or pretentiousness. Penina’s revolutionary vision, innovation, and business model have been remarkably successful. The key is the focus on staff satisfaction, diversity, and flexibility.

Penina puts people at the heart of everything she does, this includes staff members, clients and the community as

a whole and the firm flourishes with an extremely diverse team. On the gender equality front, 75% of Acumen’s Heads of Departments are women. Acumen is equally proud of the fact that nearly 50% of its staff members have roots and backgrounds from all around the world including Mauritius, Poland, Israel, China, Persia, Spain, India, Brazil, Thailand, and more!

Knowing what it is like to be pushed against the wall, a freshly new project was just launched, the ACUMEN PEOPLE AWARDS to do that extra bit for those who are rarely recognised. The ACUMEN PEOPLE AWARDS set out to distinguish and showcase 7 – 17 yearolds of the local community who have gone above and beyond in the below categories. These will include, Best Friend of the Year, Bravery, Fundraiser of the Year, Sporting Achievement of the Year, Sustainability Award, Sibling of the Year, Teacher’s Choice, School of the Year, and Young Carer of the Year.

This is Acumen’s way to showcase and highlight the achievements of extraordinary members within the community and thank them for what

they have done; showcasing those who would normally go unnoticed and those who can often feel left out. This is what is underneath Penina’s every step in her business journey; dedication to giving a spotlight to everyone, always remembering the time she herself was a woman in an unfavorable situation, working against the odds to make use of what she had.

Next, on the 24th of May 2023 at the Grand hotel in Brighton is the 13th annual ACUMEN BUSINESS CONVENTION. This is a not-for-profit business event, which is a staple of the Sussex business community. With approximately 300 decisionmakers, dazzling live entertainment, an extraordinary line-up of talks, Speakers Arena featuring local business heroes TEDx style, a sit- down lunch, and ample networking opportunities, all spiced up with Acumen magic and surprises.

And if you want to see Penina rap, yes rap, check out Penina’s TikTok account @LittleMissLegal

www.acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk

www.acumenpeople.co.uk

Becoming a leader in the faux flower industry

Maria Del Mar Jones is the Founder and CEO of Indelible Bouquet Ltd – a highly successful luxury faux flower company, which provides silk flower arrangements and artificial plants as a realistic and cost-effective alternative to fresh flowers and plants.

IWD Special

They say some of the best businesses start as a passion project, and that was certainly the case for me. Last Summer marked the 10th anniversary of our first corporate client, which provided me with a great opportunity to reflect on the journey that has led me to this point.

Like many of us, my career path has been far from linear. It started out in one place, but zig zagged off through a series of different roles in different industries. From working as a personal trainer for successful female entrepreneurs such as Gabrielle the singer, and Jacqueline Gold, the CEO of

Ann Summers, to becoming one of the highest earning corporate salespeople at PHS Group, each stage of my journey has provided me with learnings that have contributed to where I am today.

As someone with a deep appreciation of aesthetics, I’d always loved flowers. I hadn’t come across artificial flowers until I was working in a sales role for the interior landscaping division of PHS GREENLEAF, and, ironically, I remember feeling rather unimpressed at the time. To me, the faux flowers we provided looked rather tacky and inexpensive, but I was intrigued by the concept, and I began to explore it further outside of work.

One, two, skip a few, and after finding a supplier that provided silk flowers of a far superior quality, I started creating silk flower arrangements for my friends and family members. More than anything, it served as a great creative outlet for me. There was something therapeutic about choosing which flowers to go with which and gently bending and curving them to create the perfect display.

But as word spread and my arrangements became more popular, I had to start using my daughter’s shower room for storage space. Then, one fateful afternoon, I was picking my daughter up from her ballet class when I got talking to another parent. She had

heard about my silk flower displays and wanted to introduce me to her colleague at Euromoney who was responsible for the flower arrangements for their offices.

Before I knew it, I was meeting with Robert Jones, the Head of Facilities at Euromoney and discussing what I could offer them as an alternative to fresh flower arrangements. Robert explained that he had concerns around how frequently they were having to replace their fresh flower displays in the office. The upkeep was significant, as was the cost, and if I could provide a realistic and cost-effective alternative then he was all ears.

After a nerve-racking pitch on my end, he agreed to give me a shot. Our agreement was based on a monthly rental basis, whereby I would provide bespoke silk flower displays to their offices each month. I remember dropping off the very first arrangements, full of nerves, but to this day myself and Robert have a wonderful working relationship and I will never be able to thank him enough for giving me a chance and the belief in myself to pursue this dream.

Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, now servicing a multitude of high-end clients from NatWest Bank to Linklaters. In the

square mile in London alone, we are fortunate enough to service many of the iconic buildings such as the Sky Garden, Leadenhall, Bishopsgate and Aldgate Tower. We are a preferred supplier for leading hospitality companies such as Portico and property estate management Savills, and I’ve had to employ a wonderful team of women to help keep up with the demand. I love being part of an all-female business, surrounded by hard-working women who share my passion for the industry.

When I think about what I can credit my success to, alongside my own passion and determination, there are several contributing factors. One thing that has been key is that more and more people are waking up to environmental impact of fresh cut flowers. A lot of my clients are switching to silk flowers as a result of wanting to meet their ESG or CSR targets, having realised the carbon footprint associated with having fresh cut flowers flown over from other parts of the world, only to wilt and die a week later.

Secondly, I have been fortunate that the technology has come on leaps and bounds over the past decade since I started doing this. Long gone are the days of artificial flowers looking tacky or cheap. Now they are so realistic

looking that it’s impossible for clients to tell the difference.

Thirdly, the pandemic resulted in many more people only coming into the office one or two days a week, so suddenly the cost of displaying new fresh flowers every week seems even more extortionate with no one there to appreciate them. On average my clients are reporting annual savings of around 45% by switching to monthly silk flower rental agreements with us.

Finally, I must give some credit to my wonderful business coach, Jeremy Graham-Clare, for helping me to elevate my business. You can have all the passion and drive in the world, but sometimes you also need someone to keep you on track and focus you. I would always advise other female entrepreneurs to consider working with a coach for this very reason.

This year our focus at Indelible Bouquet Ltd is to continue to grow our client base, specifically across the Sussex region, and to continue to provide a luxury, bespoke service to all of our existing clients too.

You can visit our website at www.indeliblebouquet.com or connect with me directly on LinkedIn: Maria Del Mar Jones .

Speakeasy Coaching - a communications agency with a sense of humour

IWD Special

Louise’s journey as a stand-up comedian and writer to communications coach and CEO is an interesting one. Having performed alongside Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, and being pipped to the post as Channel 4’s Best Newcomer by Russell Brand, hers is not a typical business background.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s a brilliant day to be supported and celebrated by all. Working in male dominated industries like stand-up comedy and book publishing aren’t easy, though I feel that it is, slowly, getting better. There’s been many positive

changes in the business world too, more female entrepreneurs, leaders, and speakers. IWD is a busy time of year for me, and I’m always delighted to be asked to speak at these events. Being able to connect and inspire so many women to be bold, is a real privilege. Many of the clients we work with are women in business, so we know what women want to work on the struggles they face.

Why do people fear public speaking so much?

Fear of failure or embarrassing ourselves are the main reasons. Speaking in front of others can be hugely stressful. Stress doesn’t help us make the smartest decisions, but recent research shows that anxiety caused by

stress doesn’t just cause bad decisions, it can actually lower IQ. Being able to overcome that fear has much wider benefits not just our professional lives, but also in our personal lives.

What does Speakeasy Coaching do differently from other communications agencies?

Twenty years as stand-up comedian has given me the skills to communicate with humour and connect with my clients. My process helps clients feel comfortable. I evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and build a programme that encourages them by pinpointing solid improvements to excel and thrive in their communications. I’ve earned a reputation for putting clients

Meet Louise Stevenson, CEO of Speakeasy Coaching and Brighton Comedy Course.

at ease. I do this by being honest, and down-to-earth.

Also, our training is never boring. It’s fun. We work hard on the group coaching workshops but there’s also plenty of interaction and laughs. I coach my clients to be comfortable and authentic in their communications. We use techniques from the world of comedy to create engaging content and deliver it with style and confidence.

What is the most common misperception about communications?

That communications must be dry and devoid of personality. That you can’t use humour without losing professional gravitas. It’s complete nonsense. I’ve coached people delivering talks on cancer and suicide, or IT and data. The subject can be tough, though you can lighten technical or dry content with humour, it helps you connect with your audience. Communications have evolved so much over the years. Humour doesn’t necessarily mean jokes, it can be an entertaining fact, statistic, or anecdote. Audience engagement is key whether your presenting to the board, managing your team, or delivering a pitch. Know your audience. And be clear on your objectives.

What do you enjoy most about running your own business?

I love the variety of my work. One day I’ll be delivering a workshop to a Fortune 500 company, the next I’ll have back-toback 121 coaching sessions with clients working on an Angel investor pitch or making a case for a promotion or a Ted talk. My clients are as diverse and interesting as their objectives.

What’s new for 2023?

We’ve just launched our Stand up for Charity Challenge which is a unique opportunity for organisations to have their employees take up the challenge to write and perform their first ever 5 minutes of original stand-up comedy and deliver it live on stage, in front of their colleagues, clients, friends and family – whilst raising funds for a local charity. The brave souls need no comedy background as comedy training is provided to help learn the tricks of the trade in a safe and enjoyable environment. Much more exciting than a bowling tournament or painting a wall we think!

You had two books published during covid. How was that?

A lot of hard work. But I’m glad I did it. I completed my master’s degree in creative writing a while back so to have my first book, How to Be a Comedian and Smash your first gig, featured in the Scotsman Newspaper, and be interviewed by the BBC was a real thrill.

The feedback was great, especially from the readers, and both books continue to do well on Amazon.

In these tough times, how are companies prioritising training?

Budgets have been affected, but most companies know the value of having strong communicators. Retaining confident staff who can sell, pitch, speak at industry events and company meetings is more important now than ever in these competitive times. Speakeasy coaching’s core is confidence building, though we cover so much more. We create authentic and powerful communicators within teams and across the organisation.

How to get in touch?

If you’d like to discuss 121 coaching, team development days, or the 6-week workshops, then get in touch with louise@speakeasycoach.co.uk There’s plenty of tips and coaching options on our website https://www. speakeasycoach.co.uk/

For Comedy Courses and Stand up for Charity info go to https:// brightonstandupcomedy.co.uk/

Leaders in their legal fields

What exactly does it mean to be a woman in the legal industry?

It’s no surprise to hear that women are still significantly unrepresented in senior positions within legal firms across the country. Despite more than half of the solicitors in England and Wales being women, female representation in leading legal roles fails to mirror this. For example, The Law Society found that only 30% of women are partners in private practice, which is an incredibly worrying statistic to consider.

IWD Special

As the presence of women in law continues to rapidly increase, more needs to be done by law firms – and businesses in general – to level the playing field and make sure that there is equal opportunity for senior female roles in an industry traditionally dominated by men. It is incredibly monumental for firms to decide what the future holds for women in the legal world.

And Britton and Time Solicitors are doing just that.

So – what does it mean to be a woman at Britton and Time Solicitors? Our Managing Director, Paul Britton, prides himself on ensuring all members of our staff are treated equally and offered the same opportunities. With a workforce of 22 (and rising), women are represented across a variety of different roles at the firm, including heads of departments, paralegals and client care specialists.

The business will soon be also welcoming another two women to the Britton and Time family, one joining

as our new Head of Operations and the other as a paralegal. As you can see, women are represented across all areas of the business, with the freedom and support to progress and develop in their roles.

Elisabeth Squires, Sophie CampbellAdams and Theresa Wright are all qualified solicitors and were each given the opportunity to specialise in one particular area to excel and grow their department from scratch. They are all leading women in the legal industry, each spearheading their respective departments and developing our business in a number of ways.

Elisabeth is Britton and Time’s Head of Private Client and has shown the utmost dedication to her field time

and time again; having just completed the first stage of The STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates, she has recently launched Community Wills Sussex – a new community wills programme that collaborates with and promotes local charities in the area.

Sophie, our Head of Property Litigation, is one of the very few female property litigators in South East England. She has recently taken over as host for Property Professionals Lunch, the leading networking event for property professionals in Brighton and the wider area of Sussex, and continues to lead as an example for other aspiring businesswomen.

Our Head of Family Law, Theresa Wright, is a leading expert in family matters, specialising in divorce, financial settlements and child arrangements. She is a member of Resolution – a family law membership committee – and strives to resolve marital disputes compassionately through her extensive knowledge of the law.

These women being leaders of their respective departments demonstrates how Britton and Time support female roles in the legal industry, instilling success by providing equal opportunities to all. The firm has given them the platform, support and resources to prosper and achieve amazing things as leaders in law.

Sara Churnside is the firm’s first private client paralegal and is destined for great things. Having successfully completed the Legal Practice Course, and with the support of Britton and Time and the team as a whole, she is on track to become the firm’s first female trainee solicitor – a journey we’re excited to assist with.

Lastly, no business can thrive without

a dedicated client care team. Roslynne Tighy and Hanna Batkin ensure that our clients have an exceptional experience with our firm, showing outstanding care from their point of first contact and up until the end of their matter. Both Roslynne and Hanna have worked closely with leading women in the legal team to further develop their careers and give them a better understanding of opportunities for women in our industry.

Whilst other businesses may try to improve the careers of women by treating them differently or better than their male counterparts, Britton and Time find that this just isn’t the correct solution. Instead, women succeed here by simply being treated equally to others – a testament all other firms should follow.

Our firm’s dedication to promoting culture, diversity and inclusion ensures that the entire workforce has access to the same opportunities and prospects for development; we provide all employees with the support and confidence to progress in their careers and develop their respective skills. To have the pleasure of seeing so many successful women in leading positions at our firm is an absolute privilege, and we look forward to sharing these values with new employees as our workforce continues to expand.

https://brittontime.com/

If you would like to know more about the firm or have a legal matter that you need assistance with please contact us at 020 3007 5500 or info@brittontime.com

Change is possible. And still needed

By Donna Holland, Chief Executive of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

IWD Special

I’ve worked in the charity sector for more than 20 years. I’ve worked for big charities, small charities, national, international and local charities. Every single one of them campaigns for change, delivers services to those who need support, and advocates for a better world. At Missing People, it was for the rights of the families of missing people and young runaways, at The Mix it was for mental health services and support for children and young people, at Girlguiding it was fighting for equality, and equity, for girls and young women, and at Maternity Worldwide it was for

those who die in childbirth due to a lack of access to modern medicine.

Now at Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, it’s for children, young people and their families all over Sussex. Rockinghorse supports thousands of sick and disabled children across Sussex every year. We do this by providing lifesaving medical equipment, toys for children in hospitals, environments and spaces that help children feel more at home when they are in hospital, ground-breaking research in paediatric medicine, and additional staff to ensure kids get the best possible care. I’m incredibly proud to be leading a charity that is on the frontline supporting children.

Working in the charity sector means advocating for change every day. Standing alongside people, creating platforms for those without one, raising money for vital services, and delivering game-changing projects. It’s using your resources to make the world a better place. Usually one, very small step at a time. Change happens in ebbs and flows of evolution and revolution, and you need both to make real, sustainable change. You need the suffragettes and the suffragists! You need those people who are willing to use direct action, publicly and often under huge pressure (the suffragettes) and you need those behind the scenes, doing the daily grind of quiet change: lobbying, influencing and

campaigning (the suffragists). It takes all types of people to make change.

This year, Rockinghorse is working with the fabulous Stephanie Prior to put on Herstory Part II – to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023. The theme of this year’s event is The Power of Identity. Brighton is a city renowned for its inclusivity and diversity – a city where different identities live, work and love. It’s vital to celebrate people’s ability to bring their whole selves to work and to support those that can’t yet. People’s identities are made up of so many facets. Each one brings different challenges, and preconceptions, as well as benefits. Certainly, for me, it took time to be comfortable with them and owning those different identities. I’m a queer woman. I’m an introvert. I’m dyslexic. I’m a bookworm and a geek. I’m a CEO. I’m a roller derby player. Being able to bring all those things into work environments took time. But the freedom that comes with being able to be your whole self is, well, liberating. For employers, allowing your people to be their whole selves, creates open, inclusive, and diverse teams that do better, more creative and impactful work, and have higher levels of mental health and overall wellbeing.

I was recently involved in an interesting podcast that explores the paradoxes that exist in Brighton and Hove. It really is a tale of two cities. A place where so many contradictions co-exist. It’s a city of wealth, and poverty; a place of incredible inclusion yet enduring exclusion, a meeting point of creatives and renegades with enclaves of the archaic and traditional. As a society, we

still have so many paradoxes to address before we can #EmbraceEquity (the theme of International Women’s Day this year). Whether it’s challenging gender stereotypes, calling out language and ‘banter’ that bullies and belittles people, closing the gender pay gap, expanding flexible working, normalising menopause support or trans inclusive policies. There’s much work to do before we break down unequal practices that create barriers for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women.

And as a charity, we experience paradoxes all the time. We are a small local charity, but are so often seen as one of the big Brighton organisations. Every day we experience the joy of supporting children and their families, alongside the pain of knowing there’s so much more to be done. As an all-female team, we personally face the paradoxes that come with being women in the workforce. Somehow, I still find myself as one of the few women in a room. I still have to explain why banter isn’t harmless or defend those using suffragist and suffragette

tactics to evoke change. But change is happening – there are incredible people and organisations doing amazing things. I stand with them, and I thank them. Happy International Women’s Day.

• Check out what Rockinghorse is doing to change the landscape for sick and disabled children: https://www. rockinghorse.org.uk/

• Join us for Herstory Part II – The Power of Identity: https://www. rockinghorse.org.uk/events/ international-womens-day-herstoryii-the-power-of-identity/

• Check out the Brighton Paradox Podcast: https://www.rockinghorse. org.uk/news/brighton-paradoxpodcast-supports-rockinghorse/

• To hear more from Donna, listen to Sam Thomas’ brilliant 24-hour Podcast in aid of Rockinghorse: https://shows.acast.com/ countybusinesstalks/episodes/ e2424-the-world-needs-changingand-we-have-the-power-to-chan

Building mix and match capsule wardrobes

IWD Special

I am honoured to be part of such a fantastic group of women! Thank you, SBT. When I attend business-related events like this, people naturally ask me what I do. When I tell them, more often than not, I can see they are wondering if I am judging them. I am not. I do the opposite.

You see, I am a personal stylist. I have worked in TV and film for over 20 years with many actors, musicians and presenters, including Katy Perry, Jerry Springer (yes, really), Emma Thomson and Jim Broadbent. As you can see, a broad range.

About a year ago, I decided to use the

skills I had gained for the greater goodto help clients build wardrobes that mix and match easily and save time, money and space.

So many of us have a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear. Does that sound familiar? If so, you are not alone. I work with clients worldwide, predominantly online; their stories are very similar - they feel overwhelmed, frumpy, lost and do not have the time to fix it.

There are so many outside influences and pressures to look a certain age, style, or size for both men and women. We are constantly bombarded with images and idealistic lifestyle choices, but none make us happy. The point is none of us can become happier

through more stuff. Not only that, but fast fashion and how we currently buy is unsustainable. On the one hand, we are told we need to be more environmentally conscious. On the other hand, we are bombarded with messages telling us how inadequate we are and encouraging us to buy a product to ‘fix’ the problem.

Clients often come to me needing help finding their way. They feel overwhelmed with so many choices, have searched online to learn which colours and styles suit them and need clarification. Most of us want to look and feel good without being pigeonholed into a style that does not work for us.

A capsule wardrobe is the answer. There is lots of information around that will

How Michelle Barrett helps clients save time, money and space.

tell you that a capsule wardrobe is 30 items, 100 items of any other number. Restricting yourself to a number only works for very few people because everyone lives in different climates and has different lifestyles, tastes, budgets and working environments.

I had been looking at my purchasing habits for some time when I started my business. About ten years before I noticed that designers often gave famous clients gorgeous clothes. Their wardrobes were vast, and they had so many choices. But guess what? These men and women were more insecure about their appearance than anyone else. I realised buying more clothes to make you feel good;

• Does not make you happier

• Uses up more space that you then have to maintain

• Encourages you to spend money you do not have

• Creates too many choices, which leads to confusion

• Leaves you feeling low after the high through guilt or the realisation that you are left feeling the same as before the purchase.

Put simply, it doesn’t work. A much better option is;

• To learn which colours work for you, initially choose eight or under to start your wardrobe.

• Discover which styles suit your shape and choose clothes you love based on these guidelines.

• Edit what you have and remove anything that you never wear. For some reason, lots of women have too many black leggings!

• Become very intentional about what you buy and ensure it fits your colouring, shape, personal preferences and lifestyle.

The problem is that most of us wander around shops or browse online without knowing what we want. Either that, or we repeat patterns that do not work for us.

Instead of buying something on a whim or with very loose requirements, become intentional about everything you buy. You might need a pair of trousers for work and purchase the first black pair you see. With my help, clients shop intentionally. For example, when looking for a pair of trousers for work, you might;

• Choose navy because it is a colour you love, and you know it works for you.

• Consider flat-fronted with a side fastening and a wide leg because you have learnt you are an apple shape.

• Look for wool because you are purchasing them for winter.

• Need them lined because you do not like wool directly on your skin.

• Take the shoes you will wear them with to make sure they sit right.

When you have all the tools to shop intentionally, you feel better, save time, money and space and never make a wardrobe mistake again!

If this sounds like you and on this International Women’s Day you want to find your happy place and learn more, grab a ticket to my FREE live event at Eventbrite, or book a quick personal styling consultation.

Michelle Barrett www.capsuleclosetstylist.com

A powerhouse: challenging herself to the max

IWD Special

Aneela Rose is a multi-award-winning PR and Marketing agency owner and World and British Powerlifting Champion who has faced multiple challenges and broken down barriers to succeed, whilst inspiring others along the way within business and in her personal life.

From an early childhood ambition to become a pilot, to setting up a PR company, to achieving a world title in powerlifting, Aneela goes all out to challenge herself to the max.

Sadly, the dream of flying an aeroplane

was not to be as her eyesight severely let her down – but, fearless, Aneela pursued a related career, taking up a PR role in a flight simulator company.

She recalls: “It was my first PR job, very technical and within a male dominated environment. My boss was female though and I have a lot to thank her for. I had to learn fast, think fast, talk fast and I loved it!”

After this, Aneela headed up the PR for an IT Company before taking the plunge and setting up her own business in 2004.

“I launched Aneela Rose PR from my bedroom. I didn’t know what I

was doing! I had no idea how to find clients or what to charge them. I loved the unknown though and rather than seeing risks I saw opportunities and an adventure,” she said.

In the last 18 years, the company has reinvented itself three times embracing change and offering new services, and today Rose Media Group is positioned as a specialist B2B PR agency working within niche markets across the UK and abroad.

Like with so many, Covid did affect the business and Aneela found herself in the most difficult and challenging situation of a smaller team, fewer clients

Meet Aneela Rose, the inspirational founder and MD of Rose Media Group, an epic Team GB Powerlifter and doting parent.

and personal loss. Her confidence and spirit were hugely affected, but with the support of family, business friends and a close-knit team at work, the agency bounced back in true Rosy style!

In 2022, Aneela won the ‘Inspirational’ Dynamic Business Award for her admirable achievements and a few months later Rose Media won the ‘Creative Industries’ category of the Sussex Business Awards. An incredible comeback and wholly deserved recognition of the hard graft, resilience and sheer positivity that Aneela and her team exude. An inspiration all round.

Although Aneela is at the helm, she recognises that it is her team, clients, associates and family, including her two young children from whom she draws inspiration and motivation. She loves sharing her knowledge and supporting everyone around her in any way possible.

“I’ve entered a new phase of my working life now where I want to nurture talent and the next generation, I have so much experience to pass on,” she shares.

Sport and fitness have always been central to Aneela’s life from an early age. However, growing up in a Muslim household presented challenges when she declared to her parents, she wanted to throw the javelin for Team GB at the Olympics! She was already throwing at County level but gave it up when she went to university and then work pressures took over. Then in 2012 the Olympics came to London which inspired her to take it up again! But shoulder injuries meant she had to stop and she took up strength training instead.

Very quickly it became clear that Aneela was strong, in fact she was described as “freakishly strong” for her slight 5ft 2in frame and she was encouraged to take up powerlifting. True to her fiercely competitive nature, within a year she

had been selected for the British team by the Amateur World Powerlifting Congress (AWPC). Aneela has since won two British titles and a World Championship, and holds four British records in her age and weight class.

“It’s all a bit overwhelming when I think about what has happened these past few years. From extreme lows to absolute highs and everything in between,” she says. “I’ve worked so hard, committing every part of my being to my goals. Training 5 times a week in Eastbourne and Brighton, plus running my agency and being a wife and mum. But when my head is in the game, I’m on a different level and adrenaline becomes my superpower, which I use to my advantage in business and sport.”

As her company celebrates its 18th anniversary, Aneela looks back with pride at her achievements.

“It’s a really positive time, as we (my team and I) have renewed energy

from winning fantastic new business, partnering with a wonderful local charity and we’re also excited to be launching a new business, watch this space! I’m working with incredible PR mentors, so I feel supported and that they have my back. I now have real clarity about what I’m doing,” she says contentedly.

Aneela is proud to be supporting International Women’s Day: “It’s the perfect time to shout ‘We are here, we are doing this!’ A time to recognise the struggles and the wins from people all over the world. If my own story helps to close the gender and race gaps then I feel I am making a positive contribution to encourage more women to do the same.”

www.rosemediagroup.co.uk

Lewes FC: grabbing equality by the balls

Have you heard the one about the football club with lots of owners, beach huts, a vegetable garden and equal pay for women? asks Karen Dobres.

That’s right - it’s no joke – and it’s the awardwinning Dripping Pan, home of the pioneering Lewes FC.

Did I say owners? Well, yes, there are currently 2,400 of them and rising, in 40 countries around the world. Each owner pays £50 or £100 a year for a single share in the club, which buys them a vote to elect the board as well as the chance to stand for the board in the annual elections. The renewal rate for these yearly subscriptions is an incredible 97% - so those exclusive perks, special offers, Owners App, and

virtual town halls for Lewes FC’s many owners must be working.

Lewes is a football club that does things very differently: its mission as a collective is ‘to use football as an engine for social change’. In fact, Lewes supporters are known as ‘#Fans of Change’. The club is seen by its owners and directors as a ‘sacred community asset’, accessible to its whole community and with an agenda to create value for that community, whether its local, global, or the community of interest – i.e. football itself. We believe that we can do things differently.

Aware of the global language of the sport, its huge influence over hearts and minds the world over, and its resulting potential to impact the world, the club launched ‘Equality FC’ in July 2107. It became the first pro or semi-pro club in the world (and is still the only one) to value, resource and pay its women’s team equally to its men’s team, so creating international headlines in an instant.

Change is a hard road to travel. It would be easier to accept things as they are and put up with football’s wallpaper of sexism, homophobia, and racism, and leave the ground to the blokey-blokes to

beat their chests and abuse the ref. But Lewes FC is made of strong, determined stuff and grabs the chance to show the world what is possible when you treat people fairly and include and look after them. If sponsors would like to help us in our pioneering efforts to shift culture forward, please get in touch. We’re always looking for fellow travellers.

The club has a female CEO, a female Sporting Director, as well as a good supply of women on the board. Overt ED&I at Lewes has helped business. After the introduction of gender equality the women’s home attendances quadrupled in just two seasons. Equality doesn’t mean doing everything exactly the same, but recognising the differences and accommodating them (the men’s team wear white shorts but the women changed to black a couple of seasons ago – an easy win). The women’s team won a grant for a state of the art grass hybrid pitch, and the men are delighted

about it. One of the pitch perimeter boards proudly states ‘Equality is A Rising Tide That Lifts All Our Boats’.

As part of its campaigning initiatives Lewes FC has a network of ‘Sisterships’ – organisations that empower women and/or girls in some way, with which the club enjoys bespoke and mutually supportive relationships. From designing leadership courses for females in Sussex Police, to working with Survivors Network on Lewes FC Men’s #CallHimOut campaign (the players have sparked a movement to actively call out misogyny and sexism in themselves and others), this club does everything it can to welcome ‘unwelcome women’ to its ground, and create an atmosphere which everyone can safely enjoy.

If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, become an owner. And if you’d like to play an active role in assisting the club in its mission,

have a chat with Stef@lewesfc.com about sponsorship: we need as many people as possible on board to fulfil our mission and change the way women are perceived in the world through football.

And, finally, if it sounds like something you’d like to see in action – come to a game! Lewes take on Coventry in the FA Women’s Championship on Sunday 2nd April at 2pm. There’s a pre-match choir singing, loaded fries, oat milk for your tea, Prosecco on tap in the bar, and an 8-foot-high statue of 18th Century female pirates by the chip hut. You won’t be disappointed.

Karen Dobres, Board Advisor, Lewes FC. www.lewesfc.com

Changing perceptions of effective first aid

Did you know that there is one particular item of clothing that could seriously impact the effectiveness of a defibrillator on women? Jenny Legg is a

on a mission to help us understand and demystify this fact.

IWD Special

Jenny is the owner of Training Legs First Aid, lead trainer for First Aid for Mental Health, co-founder of the First Aid Facilitators Forum and head ambassador for her campaign ‘Bra Off Defib On’ #GetYourTitsOutForThePads.

This new campaign was launched last year after Jenny found out that women are 30% less likely to have a Defibrillator used on them correctly because they are wearing a bra, which should be removed.

Jenny’s new campaign aims to use clear messaging to tackle misconceptions

and break down barriers that prevent the correct use of a defibrillator. She teaches first aid trainees that women don’t just NOT mind, but actually need the defibrillator operator to cut away or remove their bra first, so that their lives could potentially be saved. She also wants to generate awareness amongst the general public, so that bystanders don’t try to prevent the bra removal and aren’t alarmed at this “shocking behaviour”, if you pardon the pun.

Jenny is a learning and development professional who has been delivering first aid training sessions since 2008. With a background in teaching adults and facilitating their learning in an

emergency, she aims to ensure that all first aid delegates who participate in her courses, go away from a course competent and confident in their abilities to save a life and prevent situations from worsening.

Throughout her career, Jenny has trained thousands of delegates specifically in first aid. She always makes sure the training is suitable for the delegates attending, as well as complying with Health and Safety regulations (HSE requirements).

Her company Training Legs First Aid, a clever play on Jenny’s surname, offers recognised qualifications for families and businesses in South East England.

lady

Jenny specialises in First Aid at Work, Paediatric First Aid, Defibrillator workshops and First Aid for Mental Health. The sessions are interactive, fun, and encourage participation. With her friendly approach, she aims to build confidence and competence in responding to medical emergencies. Her experienced and highly qualified team has trained over a thousand people in lifesaving skills, and are passionate about what they teach.

As Jenny puts it: “I am a mother of two boys who keep me well practised in the practical side of First Aid and I know firsthand what it is like to administer care to a loved one. I believe that everyone can help someone in an emergency. My job is to give everyone the ability through knowledge and learning a new skill.”

Training Legs First Aid has now grown to incorporate Mental Health First Aid under its offerings. Research has shown that work is the biggest cause of stress, stopping people from performing at their best. Mental health conditions are often hidden due to stigma and fear of discrimination and research has shown that a culture of fear and silence around mental health is costly to employers.

Mental Health First Aid courses provide learners with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, start a supportive conversation, and know when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help.

Jenny also volunteers in delivering first Aad to her local community groups, scouts and youth club. She is a school trustee and committed member of the Southwater Litter Pickers.

Recently, Jenny was named in the f:Entrepreneur #ialso100 campaign. The #ialso100 campaign celebrates a growing trend of women creating new ways of working, and new measures of success for entrepreneurship. They state; “We are moving from the single job career to a world where it is possible and encouraged to do many things, often interconnecting, at the same time across the work and personal spectrum – and be passionate about them all.”

By highlighting the many ways in which women are creating successful businesses and balancing work and personal passions, the campaign can inspire others to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams. Each member of #ialso100 is celebrated on their

website and social media and invited to numerous monthly events. By elevating the voices and perspectives of female entrepreneurs, the campaign is helping to raise awareness of the challenges they face and push for changes that can better support their success.

Clearly Jenny fits the bill perfectly. Her drive and passion to enable people to help others in an emergency, and her move to focus on the important, potentially life-saving ‘Bra Off Defib On’ campaign, as well as the many other areas in which Jenny is involved, are the epitome of the drive behind the #ialso100 campaign.

This dynamic lady has so much to celebrate and admire, and her positive energy is infectious. But if you take one thing away from reading about Jenny, right now she wants it to be her campaign slogan: Bra off, Defib on - a simple phrase with life-saving consequences.

www.traininglegsfirstaid.co.uk

In the footsteps of Carrie Morrison and still breaking the bias

Daisy Waldren and Caroline Watkins are both partners at EMW Law’s Gatwick office. They share their views on progress and explain why EMW is leading the way for women.

IWD Special

Daisy says: “Another year and another International Women’s Day. Last year marked 100 years since Carrie Morrison was admitted as the first woman solicitor in England and Wales.

“Carrie broke the bias by entering into what was a ‘man’s world’ profession and paved the way for us women.

“EMW Law LLP is leading the way in readdressing this balance. There are four partners at EMW’s Gatwick office and two of them are women, Caroline Watkins and myself. We both have families, lead our practices and make it

work in the legal property industry, so we are breaking that bias.

“I become a partner at just 30 years of age and since then have gone on to have a family and now head up the real estate finance team here at EMW. Whilst, it isn’t easy, what is in life if you want to live life to the full?

“In the real estate finance world, it has traditionally been a very male-dominated landscape, but over the last few years I am seeing women breaking this mould. More and more, I am working with female valuers, bankers and brokers who, like me, are paving the way for women and trying to ‘have it all’, the

career and the family life. This does involve flexibility from both the employer and the employee but, while the challenges of the last few years cannot be underestimated, I am pleased to see that there continues to be positive steps taken for women, both in law and in our wider society.

“EMW prides itself on its flexible working arrangements for staff which all staff can take advantage of without any detriment to our clients. This is a real cultural change and isn’t affecting career progression for women.

We are a finalist in the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards for the

‘best flexible working practice’. In our Gatwick office we will be holding a ladies’ event later this year for our many connections so please do get in touch with Jayne Bryant if you would like to come along –Jayne.bryant@emwllp.com “

Caroline says: “I have been the Head of Non-Contentious Construction at EMW since January 2020 and have been practising construction law since 2008. I’m proud to be in a leadership team that is entirely gender-balanced. Our firm is headed by a female CEO and a male Chairman – we are far from the stereotypical male, pale and stale legal outfit.

“I’ve been lucky enough to dip my toe into a number of different propertyrelated industries in my career, from the long-established, institutional professional indemnity insurance world to the unique and innovative water industry. What has become clear is that everyone seems to be pulling in the direction of unlocking the skills gap by closing the gender gap – but in

some industries in particular, there is a lot of catching up to do.

“The larger the organisation, the greater the challenge for management to ensure equality. What is required is more than a nod to a flexible working policy – real change comes from attention to culture. This is a hallmark of the EMW way and our focus on preserving and improving our unique culture is something that leads our decision making, commercial and administrative.

“At EMW, we actively engage with leaders and staff to ensure that our employees feel heard, seen and trusted. This involves feedback surveys, Diversity and Inclusion groups led by representatives recruited from all areas of the business, soliciting the help of external advisors to educate and enlighten our leaders and recruiting partners and department heads that actively represent the firm’s community.

“Locally, we are seeing greater representation in the property industry in the form of planning consultants,

construction consultants, surveyors and agents making senior-level female appointments. This is really encouraging to see. We are also finding that business development has a more female-friendly flavour; the golf days and football are still there (and enjoyed immensely by the women that attend!) but some strong networkers in the region are also devising events targeted at women, such as fashion shows and ladies’ day at the races.

“For my part, well, I like a spot of rugby and am currently captaining the first ever Sussex Vets squad for WoodenSpoon, the national children’s charity. Via the support of EMW (sponsorship and involvement from our wonderful team) we helped raise £12,000 from a standing start last year to be spent in Sussex on projects helping disabled and disadvantaged children. Change comes in many forms!”

The ‘ginista’ building a global drinks brand in Brighton

Kathy Caton founded Brighton Gin ten years ago to epitomise the Spirit of Brighton: unusual, fun-loving, fiercely independent and ethically conscious.

Based at the city’s first (legal!) distillery, she and her team of ‘ginistas’ produce super-premium, multi-award-winning Brighton Gin, just a stone’s throw away from the sea.

Their mission is to take the Spirit of Brighton to the world - Kathy wants to build a global drinks brand, producing

gin sustainably and with the highest quality at its core. She believes that business can be a force for good and so wants Brighton Gin to be part of the solution, not the problem and to contribute positively to the community in which we are rooted.

If there is a choice between one way and the better way, they take the better way. Choosing 100%

organic wheat spirit as their base alcohol, using a UK-made bottle that is at least 50% recycled glass sourced from beaches and making their local deliveries by e-Cargo bike rather than van all serve to limit their carbon footprint as much as possible! Brighton Gin is the UK’s first vegan certified gin, including not only the liquid, but the packaging, label gum and wax top.

IWD Special

Alongside the host of eco-friendly credentials, the team that produces, sells and delivers Brighton Gin (as well as doing everything else it takes to run an independent business!) is made up predominantly of women. More than 70% of the ginistas identify as female, a significant number of the Brighton Gin team are LGBTQ, there’s a range in age from mid-twenties to almost-80 and team members are from all sorts of different backgrounds.

As with just about all industries, the spirits industry is largely maledominated but this group could not be further from that norm. It’s always important to see lasting examples of female excellence in any walk of life and the team Kathy has built is very much testament to that, putting women-in-gin on the map for almost a decade. Being not just the only women in many rooms but also the only LGBTQ people in others has meant this is a business unafraid to be different from the rest, and in fact one which is exceedingly proud of its differences. Can you think of another gin brand where the founder’s Mum

is the one who fills, waxes and labels the bottles? Where the distiller is an ex-ballerina? We could go on!

Every year Brighton Gin collaborates with a different local LGBTQ artist to create a gorgeous, limited edition bottle design to celebrate Brighton Pride and raise money for the Rainbow Fund, as well as to give to unsung community heroes to say thank you for all the hidden hard work they do. Keep your eyes peeled for this year’s limited edition...

Kathy’s background in working in the community and voluntary sector has totally informed the Brighton Gin ethos. She presents a weekly communityfocussed show on BBC Sussex & BBC Surrey which is all about championing other women and getting their stories told on air. In the brilliant collaborative spirit of Brighton & Hove and the area around it, specifically focussed on supporting female entrepreneurs.

Brighton Gin also runs a “Community Spirit” programme which offers the donation of stock to support

community and voluntary groups. They also work closely with the Universities to provide placements for students and Kathy is a regular speaker at the Universities.

The Brighton Gin journey shows ten years of joyful difference from the norm, exceedingly ethical production, and glorious local booze-making. There have been challenges a-plenty and with the world in its current tempest there will no doubt be many more to come but, as with many things, aren’t all difficult things better faced with a fine gin in hand? Cheers!

To come and experience Brighton Gin for yourself (or to refill your empty bottle of gin and save £5) Come and see the distillery at 35a Vale Rd, Portslade, Brighton & Hove, BN41 1GD Book onto a distillery tour, a gin school or just pop in for a chat!

www.brightongin.com

@brightonginstergram (Instagram @brightongin (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok)

A testament to the power of determination, passion and hard work

Milly Stone is the co-founder and Managing Director of Whitespace Creative in Brighton. But Milly’s job doesn’t just end at the office - she’s also a full-time mother to two-year-old twins. As a successful businesswoman and mother, Milly’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Milly’s passion for creativity and design started at a young age. She had a flair for art and design, and studied art, graphic design and makeup. After graduating, Milly worked in various creative roles, including graphic design and marketing before launching Whitespace in 2018.

From the start, Milly knew she wanted to create a company that was different. Whitespace’s focus is on creating work

that is not only beautiful and functional but that also drives results for clients. Whitespace has slowly but steadily built a team of talented designers, developers and strategists who are all committed to this same mission.

In 2021 Milly became a mother to twins, a boy and a girl. She quickly learned that balancing work and motherhood was no easy task. However, she was determined to make it work. She knew that she wanted to continue to grow Whitespace, but she also wanted to be there for her children.

One of the biggest challenges that Milly faced was learning to manage her time effectively. She had to figure out how to be productive during the limited hours she had at work, while still being present for her family when she was at home. Milly credits the team at Whitespace for being a huge help during this transition. They worked together to streamline processes and improve efficiency so that Milly could maximise her time both at work and at home.

Another challenge that Milly faced

IWD Special

was learning to let go of control. As a business owner, it’s easy to want to be involved in every aspect of the business. However, with two young children to care for, Milly knew that she had to trust her team to take on more responsibility. This not only freed up more of her time but also helped to build a more cohesive and collaborative team.

Milly is a firm believer in the importance of work-life balance. She knows that being a successful business owner and a present mother are not mutually exclusive. Milly makes a conscious effort to prioritise her family, even if that means occasionally saying no to new business opportunities. She’s also implemented policies at Whitespace that promote work-life balance, such as flexible working attitude, generous holiday and additional ‘free’ days off.

Despite the challenges that come with being a full-time mother and a successful business owner, Milly’s positive attitude and determination have helped her to thrive in both areas of her life. She’s found a way to manage the split, and in doing so, she’s become an inspiration to other working mothers.

Milly’s story serves as a reminder that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. She’s helped build a successful creative agency from the ground up, while also raising two young children. Milly’s passion for design and her commitment to her family have allowed her to achieve a level of success that is truly admirable.

As a female entrepreneur and mother, Milly has faced unique challenges

that have only made her stronger. She’s shown that it’s possible to be a successful business owner and a present mother, and that work-life balance is achievable with the right mindset and support system.

Milly’s journey is a testament to the power of determination, passion, and hard work. She’s shown that it’s possible to have it all - a thriving career and a happy family life.

Milly’s story is an inspiration to working mothers everywhere, and a reminder that anything is possible.

https://www.whitespace.studio/

Thinking creatively and embracing choice to succeed

From where it all began for Lucy Tarrant, solicitor and Managing Director of Cognitive Law.

My passion for the law started many moons ago when I was a witness in a Magistrates’ Court for a road traffic accident case. I totally fan-girled the prosecuting barrister. Inspired by her. my career has developed into one of ‘firsts’ –through via a slightly winding route.

Not having graduated with a law degree (I preferred either spending my time with my nose in a novel or in the student union bar), I was required to do the conversion course.

This I did at the University of Brighton, part time, whilst working as a paralegal for what was then Lloyds TSB Bank. Having proved I could burn the candle at both ends, the bank agreed to sponsor me to complete the LPC at the College of Law in Guildford. They hadn’t done this before, but offered me the chance to study for my LPC part time whilst continuing to work as a paralegal. Better still, when I completed my LPC, I persuaded the bank to offer me a training contract, and I became their first ever trainee solicitor.

With an appetite for hard work and

continued determination, I worked in a few law firms before becoming a Partner in a large regional law firm. Here, I grew a team around me and honed my skills in commercial litigation.

Becoming Partner in a law firm is often regarded as the pinnacle of your career as a solicitor, but I still felt like I had so much more to achieve. So I decided to make another change and was appointed the first in-house solicitor at the G2 Group (an owner-managed group of recruitment companies), affording me a unique insight into the recruitment industry

and invaluable hands-on commercial experience. This also provided me with a stepping stone into following my true passion – creating a law firm which broke the rules and established a new way of delivering legal services, at the same time as giving solicitors their lives back.

I can’t take credit for the concept – that was the brainchild of the CEO of the G2 Group and my former business partner, the late Stuart Gillespie. Whilst working in-house, he proposed that we establish Cognitive Law and I agreed on the condition that we didn’t recreate the traditional model law firm and instead create something different.

Creating a law firm that champions choice

Cognitive Law was born out of the need for change and the desire to create a completely flexible working environment for solicitors. To re-think how and by whom legal services could be delivered. In 2014, with my non-lawyer business partner, I set up Cognitive Law which is a consultancy law firm based in Sussex with a network of consultant solicitors nationwide.

Cognitive Law is a firm where everyone manages their own time in a way that suits their lives. It is a place where solicitors can work to live and not live to work, borne from my deep-seated belief that having a passion for the law doesn’t have to mean sitting at a desk in an office all day, every day; or compromising our personal lives for which we work hard to enjoy. I wanted, needed even, to give myself and other solicitors a true worklife balance, without compromising client service or professional aspirations.

I have absolutely thrived on creating an alternative way of providing legal services. Cognitive Law was called a “challenger firm” by the Law Society when it first began, with few people comprehending how scrapping billing

targets and office hours could possibly succeed.

What started with just me in 2014 has now grown to five Head Office staff members and 15 solicitors, most of whom work remotely and flexibly. Thankfully, the consultancy model law firm is more commonplace now, but I continue to advocate passionately for giving solicitors their lives back and remain determined to keep building an alternative place to practice the law.

Inspiring the next generation

It’s important to me to enlighten young or aspiring solicitors to think differently when it comes to providing legal services. I hope the achievement of creating a law firm that puts a true work life balance at its very core, actively demonstrates to the younger generation that the legal industry has the ability to fit in with the modern-day way of working.

I am hopeful that I have shown, through Cognitive Law, that you can be a successful solicitor without compromising the rest of your life. Having been a lone parent, I know the struggle that female solicitors endure in order to achieve success in a traditional law firm. Now I can demonstrate that it is possible to have a fulfilling career and a family without one sacrificing the other or having to choose between them. I am a passionate advocate for “not settling” and for finding what works best for you. I champion having a choice in how you practice law.

I have been asked to talk a couple of times to the law students at BHASVIC (Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College). We talk not just about my journey, but about the students’ aspirations. I like to think I give them honest answers to their questions and provide an insight into the reality of a career in the law. We discuss the

different paths into the career, such as apprenticeships, which have opened up the profession to more comers. I love to share my story with the students, and truly hope that I can encourage and empower them to embrace a legal career if that is, like me, their passion.

My daughter, now 18 and studying law at University, saw from the youngest age how a legal career can be built –with hard work but without personal compromise. Her first job was opening and scanning post in Cognitive’s head office, and answering the phone. And as she embarks on her legal career, she is empowered with the knowledge that as a woman she can achieve whatever she wants to achieve without sacrificing her personal values or family life.

So this year, on International Women’s Day, I hope to empower women and girls into following their passion and progress into a career they love. I want them to know there is choice and not to be afraid to think creatively. If they have the desire, everyone has the ability to shape their career into exactly how they want it to be for them.

Angela Potter’s story to success

International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world to empower women to achieve their goals. Angela shares her story to success with the aim of inspiring others.

Angela Potter is a CEO who has made a name for herself in the recruitment industry. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is important to highlight her achievements and the impact she has had on the industry.

IWD Special

She started her career as a recruiter in the early 2000s and quickly gained the knowledge and skills required through working for the top 3 recruitment agencies in Brighton for 20 years.

Throughout her time working there, Angela continuously outperformed her colleagues and became extremely successful in the recruitment field.

A few years later, Angela decided to venture out on her own and founded her own recruitment company, Clearline Recruitment. She strived to create a company that was focused on providing a high-quality service to clients while providing candidates with their dream careers. She achieved what she had aimed for, Clearline Recruitment has

been hugely successful, and Angela has become one of the most respected CEOs in the industry. Clearline Recruitment were also nominated finalists for the Sussex Business Awards 2021, which was a massive achievement for Angela and the team and is an attribute for the company’s success.

In a male dominated industry, it is easy for a woman to feel intimidated. However, this didn’t stop Angela from chasing her dream. In 2019, Angela launched her sister company Next Step Apprenticeships.

Next Step Apprenticeships is a leading apprenticeship training provider also based in Brighton. They offer highquality apprenticeship programmes which trains young people in new roles, and also upskills existing staff in organisations throughout Sussex.

A key attribute to Angela’s success has been her aim to provide an inclusive and diverse company. As a female, Angela acknowledges the barriers that women in business face. Therefore, she firmly believes that diversity in her team is not only the right thing to do, but it also contributes to the success and growth of her company.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we interviewed Angela.

What made you want to start Clearline Recruitment?

“There has been a change in the recruitment industry, and as a result, there is now more saturation in the market and tougher competition than ever before. Recruitment companies who aren’t embracing the change are seeing effects on their candidates, employees, and client attraction and retention.

“While this may be a time of uncertainty and fear for some, it is an exciting time for me! I found a market that spoke to all my strengths and desires.

“It is liberating to find a business you love, a business that makes you happy and a sector that you crave knowledge about. As a result, I decided to give it a shot. There is nothing more enjoyable than being able to help talented candidates find great jobs.”

Is there anyone who has inspired you in your career?

“Throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to not

only meet but work alongside some very inspiring women in the staffing industry. While working with these amazing women, the main characteristic that stood out to me was their confidence. They presented themselves with ultimate professionalism and poise. Each of these women have courage in their voice and showcased the ability to empower, mentor, and motivate both females and males in the industry.”

What motivates you daily?

“In my career, I embodied determination and perseverance. I remained committed to my beliefs and my potential for success, never allowing setbacks to dissuade me. With unwavering commitment to my abilities, I remain vigilant in avoiding distractions. I approach each opportunity with a drive to surpass my previous achievements. My focus was never simply meeting expectations, but rather, finding ways to exceed them.”

How has your journey as a business owner been?

“What I appreciate most about the recruitment industry is its relative progressiveness compared to other industries. Despite persistent issues with diversity in many fields, the recruitment industry has shown a strong representation of women and minority groups. Though there is still room for improvement, I take pride in working

in an industry that has been a leader in promoting diversity and inclusivity.”

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is clear that Angela Potter is a role model for women in the recruitment industry. Her commitment to achieving her goals despite the barriers presented in a male dominated workplace has had a significant impact on the industry, and she continues to inspire others to strive for success.

If you are interested in learning more about Clearline Recruitment or Next Step Apprenticeships contact us on 01273 063769 or email info@ clearlinerecruit.co.uk, you can also visit our website: https://www. clearlinerecruitment.co.uk/

Women barristers ‘driving force’ of growth at Westgate Chambers

The Brighton-based Chambers celebrates the dedication of high-achieving individuals and highlights the connection between its values and International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day is our opportunity to publicly celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women whilst progressing the fight to accelerate and achieve gender parity.

IWD Special

At Westgate Chambers, we appreciate the enormous everyday achievements of the women in chambers; they are the driving force behind our recent growth and our increasing profile within the legal market. They are also unbelievably dedicated and high achieving individuals which should be celebrated in itself.

As March 8th comes around again, this is the perfect time to celebrate the hard work our female members do every day to ensure every woman looking to forge a career at the Bar joins a profession that genuinely lives up to the values of International Women’s Day.

We are proud of our female members’ commitment to lead by example. They have taken leading positions at the legal societies and associations shaping the future of the legal profession.

Linda Taylor is Chair of the Private Law Sub Group Committee of the Sussex Family Justice Board. Jodie Cudworth is the Social Secretary for the FLBA. These are only two examples; our members are also continually speaking to audiences of solicitors, law students and other community organisations.

Our female members lead aspiring female lawyers through the complexities of the most difficult

parts of the law, through mock trials and through pupillage and other placements, always on hand to motivate and inspire and taking every opportunity to share their enormous knowledge so other women can follow their achievements and make their own invaluable impact on the legal profession.

As we reflect on the hugely inspirational role women are playing in shaping the legal industry, it is also worth noting that while we are proud of the inspirational work our female members do, it is only part of a much wider trend. Female lawyers now lead Resolution, Sussex Law Society, Eastbourne Law Society, Worthing Law Society and the West Kent and East Sussex Collaborative Law Pod.

They are just as focused on making

sure Westgate Chambers continues to maintain the exceptionally high standards of diversity and equality we set early in Chambers’ life. Maria Hancock is our Joint Deputy Head of Chambers and heads our renowned Family Law team. Charmaine Wilson is Chambers Equality and Diversity Officer, whilst Laura Buchan is our Joint Head of Pupillage, working alongside Ayisha Robertson as Head of Mini-Pupillage. And our social side is just as focused on gender parity with our cricket team enjoying a successful chapter under the captaincy of Sarah Taite.

https://westgate-chambers.co.uk/

Breathe in peace and breathe out stress

Breathwork is a quick and effective practice that you can integrate into your busy day, helping you feel calm, explains Cara Murphy-Howell.

I have the honour of teaching meditation to children and adults - one of the most important skills that you learn is how to use your breath to feel relaxed and be present in the moment. You can use your breath as your remote control to your busy mind and it can help you regulate your nervous system. When we are rushing around we are often taking short shallow breaths and not aligning our busy minds and bodies to feel connected. By controlling your breathing we can shift our nervous system from the sympathetic (or fight-flight), to the parasympathetic state (enabling

rest-digest). If you are feeling stressed about your workload or public speaking, then here are some simple breathing techniques to try.

Resonant Breathing*

If you are struggling to sleep or feeling stressed then try this easy and effective breathing technique known as Resonant or Coherent breathing, to help you feel calmer and more present in the moment:

● Sitting comfortably, begin by checking on your posture

● If it is safe to do so, close your eyes (but you don’t have to do this to feel the benefits)

● Inhale for a count of 5

● Exhale for a count of 5

● Continue the above approach for at least a few minutes

Box Breathing*

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the busyness of life? If the answer is yes, try Box Breathing. You can do it anytime and anywhere:

● Visualise a box

● Sit comfortably, ideally with your back straight

● If it is safe to do so close your eyes and breathe through your nose while counting to four

● Hold your breath while counting to four

● Exhale to the count of four

● Listen to your body and repeat the above steps a few times

4, 7, 8 Breathing Technique*

I use this simple breathing technique when I am struggling to focus, get to sleep or if I’m feeling anxious:

● Sitting comfortably, scan your body for any tension

● If it is safe to do so, close your eyes and bring your intention inwards, try to disconnect from what is happening around you

● Breathe in through the nose for four seconds

● Hold your breath for seven seconds

● Exhale through the mouth for eight seconds

● Repeat the above steps 3/4 times regularly throughout the day

Yogic Three-Part Breath*

If you would like to align your mind and body to help feel a greater connection, why not take a few minutes out of your day to do this nurturing breathing technique? The steps are:

● Begin by getting comfortable

● Place your left hand on your stomach and place your right hand on the outer right edge of your rib cage

● Tune into your breath

● On your inhalations, feel the rise and fall of your belly, followed by the expansion of your ribs

● On the exhalations, feel the compression of your ribs, followed by the drop of your belly. Exhale completely

● Now bring your left hand to your chest

● As you inhale, breathe all the way into this area. Now exhale

● As you continue to breathe, keep your awareness of this three-part movement. As you take some deep relaxing breaths, notice the movement in your belly, ribs, and chest

● If this feels comfortable follow this approach for 3-5 minutes

Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique*

When I feel tense and my mind is racing, I use the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique to help me feel more relaxed. I learned this wonderful technique at a yoga class:

● Use your thumb and ring finger to alternate by gently closing one nostril at a time, whilst taking deep breaths in and out

● With your right nostril covered, close your eyes and exhale fully and slowly through your left nostril

● Once you’ve exhaled completely, release your right nostril and put your ring finger on your left nostril

● Breathe in deeply and slowly from the right side. Keep the breath constant and fluid

● Once you’ve inhaled completely, exhale through your right nostril

● Release your ring finger and close your right nostril with your thumb again. Breathe in and exhale fully from your left nostril

● Repeat the full process three or more times

● Listen to your body and be gentle with yourself

Try to integrate some of these breathing techniques into your busy day and enjoy the benefits. Please get in touch if you are interested in learning more about developing a bespoke well-being programme including sound baths, meditation or yoga in the workplace. I share lots of tips on LinkedIn (Cara Murphy-Howell). Telephone: 07841 108460 Website: themeditationeffectwithcara.com

* Note: If you have any medical conditions or you are pregnant, then please seek professional advice before trying these techniques. Listen to your body and stop if there is any discomfort.

Sources of inspiration: Breath: James Nestor, Everyday Yoga, Health Line, Medical News Today, Web.Med and Jay Shetty

More women networking to grow their businesses

They recognise the potential to build connections, writes Archie Hampshire, Marketing Assistant at network My Club.

Why?

Networking & Events

In 2022, women in the UK launched 151,603 companies, up from 145,271 in 2021 and more than twice the level in 2018, according to an independent review led by Alison Rose.

Over 60 female business owners are Network My Club members and more are joining every week to start or continue their networking journey.

Attending business networking events can be a great way for women to grow their professional networks and expand their business opportunities. Networking events provide a platform for women to make valuable connections with other company owners, learn about new trends and opportunities, and build business relationships.

However, not all networking events are sunshine and roses and events can quickly start to feel uncomfortable and overwhelming.

At Network My Club we have two incredible businesswomen who are experts at creating an open, friendly environment in which to network.

We understand networking can be intimidating, but here’s where our

brilliant team come in to make the journey much more enjoyable.

Let me introduce the two incredible women that take Network My Club membership and events to new heights every day.

Samantha Pond has been our Membership Manager since 2021. At an event you can find her zipping around offering support to those in need. Whether it’s calming the nerves of first time networkers to facilitating introductions amongst attendees, Samantha is on hand to ensure guests are comfortable and optimising your networking time.

Our fantastic Events Manager, Alicia Boxall, ensures every event, powered by Network My Club, is filled with the right mix of Network My Club members

and guests. Professionals and business owners that are there to build business relationships and not just waft a business card at you proceeded by a sales pitch.

It’s not just the Network My Club team that create a comfortable and open environment.

The supportive nature of our members makes a huge difference to the feel of a room, and in turn makes the process of meeting the right people for your business far less intimidating.

I asked Samantha and Alicia what advice they would give to professional women apprehensive about attending their first networking event.

1. Take a friend along to the networking event. It can be nerve-racking entering a room full of people you’ve never met before. Having a friend with you can help you feel more relaxed and ready to venture out and mingle with other guests.

2. Prepare good questions to ask. Having a set of insightful questions will increase your confidence no end. It will lead to a more purposeful conversation and help you to feel more connected, and better understand how your service/product can help them. Two questions we suggest asking are “What trends are you currently seeing in your industry?” and

“Describe your perfect customer – what keeps them up at night?”

3. Remember that everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is at the networking event to meet new people and make connections, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and start meeting the right people for your business.

4. Dress confidently. Wearing something that makes you feel comfortable and confident can help boost your self-esteem and make it easier to approach people.

Attending business networking events can be a great way for women to expand their business opportunities and grow their professional network. By following these tips, you’ll have the confidence to tackle your next networking event headon and make important connections for your business.

Interesting in finding a supportive network in Sussex? Book onto our next networking Lunch at the Amex Stadium in May. Find out more and explore how our membership can benefit you and your business.

Membership information: https://www. networkmyclub.co.uk/membership/ Networking lunch at the Amex Stadium: https://www.networkmyclub.co.uk/ events/networking-lunch-amexstadium-brighton-8/

Best of British Events hosts Paralympian for International Women’s Day

Networking & Events

Wow, just wow. What a truly fantastic and inspiring event from Best of British in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Last Thursday (March 2), 80 businessmen and women attended a lunch at Hotel Du Vin to hear from guest speaker Anne Usher MBE, a gold medal winning Paralympian for paracanoe in Rio.

Anne’s story had the room in silence for over 30 minutes. It was a story of an ordinary person who faced setbacks before going on to win many competitions - including Gold for Team GB in Rio in 2012.

The beneficiary of the special event was the GFS charity (Girls Friendly Society).

Anne was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and now lives in Oxted, Surrey.

She is a physiotherapist by profession and competed as an endurance

mountain biker until she ruptured a disc in her back in 2011, which led to her developing cauda equina syndrome. That injury resulted in permanent nerve damage in her right leg.

Anne was a volunteer Games Maker at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she met Colin Radmore, a canoeing coach, who invited her to try out for the Great Britain paracanoeing team. She had to overcome seasickness when she first took up the sport, and underwent a desensitisation programme similar to those used by fighter pilots.

In her first year of competition, she won gold at the 2013 European Championships and silver at the World Championships in the K-1 200m LTA class. In 2014 she successfully defended her European Championship title and won her first World Championship gold. In 2015 she won a third successive European Championship title and won the silver medal in the World Championships, competing in the K-1 200m KL3 class.

At the 2016 World Championships she won gold in the K-1 200m KL3 class.

Anne also won gold in the KL3 class at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, the first Paralympics to feature canoeing events, beating Amanda Reynolds by a margin of 0.03 seconds.

Anne was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to canoeing.

About the beneficiary... GFS is a feminine charity that has spent almost 150 years supporting girls and young women. Today, it runs volunteeredled weekly groups for girls, where every girl is valued for who she is. The groups aims to create space where every girl is able to learn about herself.

Congratulations, Best of British Events, for such a fantastic event.

The event was delivered in collaboration with Healys solicitors and kindly sponsored by Seico Insurance and Kreston Reeves.

Rio gold medal winner is guest speaker at packed Brighton hotel, writes Jackie Ashwood.

ACUMEN LAW to sponsor event with James Dempster as

guest speaker

The Big Business Breakfast Club is all set for its next networking event, with local charity Off The Fence the sponsor’s chosen beneficiary.

Networking & Events

February saw yet another sell-out event for The Big Business Breakfast.

This month, join us on Friday 17th March 2023 at Hove County Cricket Ground with sponsor

ACUMEN LAW. Guest speaker is James Dempster from Fox and Bear, alongside Alex Ryan from Marketing 101 who will give his usual marketing hints and tips.

We always give you plenty of time to meet other like-minded businesspeople in the room.

ACUMEN LAW have nominated Off The fence as their charity beneficiary for this event.

Book here now: https://www. bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk/

About our sponsor - ACUMEN LAW

Working with the entrepreneurs, business owners and changemakers, they are there to protect you and your business.

ACUMEN are Business Law specialists who quote fixed fees at the outset and advise clients from all over the world. Democratically run by all, with no secretaries, letters dictation or pretensionjust modern, approachable, smart lawyers and top-notch support of a different kind.

Sponsor’s nominated charity

Off the Fence provide short and long-term

solutions, through two day centres, three outreach vans and 15 local schools. This work takes the support of just over150 trained volunteers, staff and interns.

The mission of Off The Fence is to eradicate social and spiritual poverty in Brighton and Hove. It engages with those who need it and those who want to support the charity to to bring hope and transformation across the city.

About our guest speaker

James Dempster is the founder of Fox and Bear. The business was established in 2013, has 18 marketing experts, 300-plus happy customers and four office dogs.

Fox&Bear is a rebrand of Cobb Digital and Spoken, bringing together expertise in digital marketing, public relations, strategy, design, branding

and data insight. It creates fully realised brands and develops and executes integrated marketing strategies.

Having worked together for a number of years, they saw a need to provide clients with a full suite of digital marketing and branding services, packaged together under one roof, managed by one main point of contact, for one fee. Working with them means you can have confidence that one agency is fully accountable for all aspects of delivery and, perhaps most importantly, that your team of experts are actively working together on your goals and marching to the same beat.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a sponsor of the BBBC, please get in touch with the team at team@bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk

Keynote speakers - getting the right mix

I believe a keynote speaker should not just inspire but should shake up the status quo and offer their audience new and innovative ideas. They should motivate them and galvanise them, delivering their wisdom through powerful storytelling and relatable examples.

Not only do their stories need to be impactful and unforgettable, they need to deliver them in an amusing way. Being a successful keynote speaker is as much about engaging with the audience as the content they deliver – after all, what’s the point of great content if no one is listening?

It does require some careful consideration but getting the right mix is vital to creating a great business event. I firmly believe we’ve put together the perfect line up for the upcoming Sussex Business Show, supporting talented local entrepreneurs who offer real value to the delegates with what they have to say.

The speakers this year include business owners who are forwardthinking, entertaining, innovative and creative with plenty of tips and advice for Sussex’s business community. It’s

guaranteed to be a valuable learning experience for anyone attending.

First up is Flo Powell, joint MD of Midnight Communications, one of Brighton’s most respected PR companies. Talking about the secret ingredient for business growth, Flo will discuss how the right PR can help a business to grow, reposition itself and attract investment. She’ll also deliver examples of those who’ve done it right and reveal the common mistakes businesses should avoid.

James Dempster, co-founder of Fox & Bear, an award-winning marketing agency will follow. James, who is a huge fan of historical fiction and coach to Shoreham FC’s under 10s and under 7s in his spare time, will describe how delivering the right stories at the right time to get an emotional response can help level up any business.

Third keynote speaker Clare Griffiths will talk about turning ideas into innovation and launching successful businesses. Clare, who runs social enterprise Thrive, empowering students to start their own venture, is a hugely experienced innovator and awardwinning entrepreneurship educator.

The final speaker will be Gavin Willis, co-founder of Search Seven, who will talk about how charity fundraising can benefit business. Gavin, who runs a Brighton-based search marketing agency specialising in SEO, will share tips on charity events, engaging the community and building long-lasting partnerships.

What all four speakers have in common is a wealth of experience, the ability to hold an audience’s attention and to present a new perspective on common entrepreneurial issues. They are a great asset to our show, which also features business masterclasses and more than 100 exhibiting businesses, and are not to be missed.

The Sussex Business Show takes place on September 28, 2023, at The Dome, Corn Exchange, Brighton. As one of Sussex’s leading business shows it attracts companies from all over the county to network, build contacts and showcase their businesses in a relaxed and informal way.

Register for the show now at www.sussexbizshow.com

Choosing keynote speakers for any event is always a minefield, writes Sonny Cutting, of Sussex Business Show. Will they appeal to the audience? Are they great at public speaking? Do they have anything interesting to say?

Networking & Events

Flo Powell Gavin Willis

Clare Griffiths

James Dempster

Rivervale Group Acquires Castle Minibus

Rivervale, as well as, being a leading car and van leasing brokers, has over the last four years expanded its offering to include minibus, fleet management services and, more recently operating an electric van franchise under the Maxus brand.

The integration of Castle Minibus into the Rivervale Group will see Rivervale establish a foothold in the minibus market, utilising the relationships of each provider to further tis strengths as well as the experience of key personnel.

Chris Maynard, former proprietor of Castle for 26 years, sadly passed away in 2022 and was keen to ensure the business continued successfully.

Chris’s wife and business partner, Caroline, said: “‘We are all really pleased that Castle Minibus will continue to grow with the Rivervale Group. Chris was a passionate champion of Minibus Safety, and I am confident that Castle Minibus will go from strength to strength.”

Neil Chapman, Chairman of Rivervale, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Castle Minibus into the Rivervale family, the pairing of these like-minded businesses allows us to better serve our customers by offering a comprehensive range of minibus services, and we look forward to the opportunities and growth that this partnership will bring.”

Rivervale is currently going through a rebrand process which further exemplifies the commitment to evolving the business and pushing forwards.

The terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Castle Minibus is a minibus leasing provider with a strong reputation for reliability and customer service.

About Rivervale Group

Rivervale is a leading provider of leasing and rental vehicles in the United Kingdom, offering a wide range of cars, vans, and minibuses. Rivervale also offers fleet management services and an electric van franchise with Maxus. With a commitment to excellent customer service and a reputation for quality, Rivervale is dedicated to helping customers get on the road.

https://www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk/

The Rivervale Group has revealed the acquisition of Castle Minibus, one of the leading Minibus leasing providers in the UK.

Women in Broking: Jaymie Stanbrook

Jaymie accidentally started her career in automotive back in 2001 when she took a temporary job at a fleet management company while she prepared for a career in the police. That temp job developed into a broking career that has now spanned more than two decades.

Jaymie says: “My first fleet temp job made me realise I had the gift of the gab and the leasing industry suited me. I also figured out that the pay in automotive was much better than the police force!”

Jaymie built her career from the bottomup which she says was hugely valuable for learning the ropes and building up a strong understanding of the industry. Starting at administrative level, she quickly progressed into an account management followed by new business and then senior management roles. This has culminated in her current fleet services manager role for Rivervale Leasing.

Jaymie joined Rivervale Leasing in 2019 and was tasked with setting up a new fleet department from scratch. Despite the pandemic, Jaymie says that she is delighted the department has gone from strength to strength. In addition to leading the fleet department, her role includes managing and developing strategic policy, overseeing the management of fleet maintenance and project management of all departmental development and innovation.

One of the key drivers for Jaymie joining Rivervale Leasing was the fact that the business is a great equal opportunity

advocate and the company is constantly evolving. Within Jaymie’s fleet team 90 percent are women and were selected for the roles due to their excellent relationship skillsets. Jaymie feels broking is a great career choice, saying: “I love the variety of the work. I also really enjoy the customer management side of my role and developing relationships for the life of the contract. Also, post-covid, like many industries, broking now offers more flexible working which is appealing to many prospective employees. Broking is a really fun and rewarding industry to work in.”

She feels that she has been very well supported by the business and there has been good flexibility which is important to her. That support has meant that Jaymie is about to qualify as a special constable having trained during lockdown. She is thrilled that she is now able to fulfil her original dream of working with the police in tandem with a rewarding broking career.

During her time as a leasing broker, Jaymie has noticed an increase in women on the customer side – both in fleet management and senior leadership roles, but she feels that the broking industry is still very male dominated. Jaymie’s view is that there is more for both employers and industry bodies to do to encourage women into the industry.

She believes that there is a lack of both awareness and understanding of the roles available, saying: “Marketing is needed to highlight the roles we have in broking and the benefits of working in the industry. We need to encourage more women to put themselves forward. I’d say to any women considering a broking or automotive career, don’t be afraid to go for these positions, employers are really keen to bring in more women. Have courage in your convictions and just go for it.”

https://www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk/

Motoring News

Jaymie Stanbrook is the Fleet Services Manager at Rivervale, successfully and effectively leading the fleet team for over three years.

Meet April Baker, CEO of Together Co

April Baker joined Together Co as their new CEO last year. Speaking with Hannah Jackson from Brighton Chamber, she shares how she’s been settling in, what the biggest change has been moving into a charity CEO role, and how she maintains balance.

Can you tell us a bit about Together Co, and when you became CEO?

Together Co is a loneliness charity in Brighton & Hove that creates connections to change lives. We do this by raising awareness around loneliness and social isolation, and how it can be alleviated. I joined as CEO in June 2022.

In our city more than 44,000 people live alone, a third are over the age of 65. Connection is essential for people and its absence has severe implications.

Within a world of hyper-individualism, we work to establish social ties to rebuild a community of hyper-connectedness. We do this through befriending, social prescribing, and volunteering programmes, and by sharing our ideas and expertise nationally. We have more than 500 volunteers who support us (giving more than 17,000 hours) each year.

What’s been the biggest change moving into your new role?

Previously, I worked on the executive team of a homelessness charity in Worthing, and chaired the board of a homelessness charity in Brighton, but

never the CEO. It’s my first time in this seat and the biggest challenge for me to consider was, what is a CEO?

It’s an interesting role overseeing an entire organisation with many things to focus on. I had to think, where am I best placed? What do I need to do for the charity to thrive? Seven months in, I’m still very much on this journey, but I love learning each day and connecting with other CEOs.

Why was Together Co the charity for you?

In my early 20s I was living and working in London, had left a

Chamber News

relationship and moved into a house share in a new part of the city.

I was able to connect with people at work but started to find my evenings and weekends could be empty. I didn’t know many people where I lived, with no family nearby. I was lonely but I don’t think I wanted to admit it.

I struggled with my mental health during this time and largely think this was because of a lack of connection and belonging.

I’ve spent most of my career working in homelessness and mental health and recognise the importance of social and mental health in services I’ve managed.

Joining Together Co allows me to bring many years of experience to the organisation, but most importantly, I’m hugely passionate about our mission to raise awareness that people need people.

What qualities do you think are most important for heading up a small business or charity?

I believe you need to listen, love and learn as a leader of any business, especially in a charity with a social driven purpose.

I’m a firm believer in establishing and upholding peer-to-peer relationships; the more you empower and trust people to do the right thing, to work in the way they want or need, the more everyone gets from the working environment. I value being more of a coach, helping people to find their way in their roles.

Being kind can often be underestimated or dismissed. It has true depth and often requires courage as sometimes, to be kind is to be honest (Kim Scott’s ‘Radical Candor ’ book was highly influential for me).

At times, leaders make difficult decisions or hold difficult conversations. In such instances, I strive to consider and uphold people’s dignity and to be kind first, always.

Leadership is a never-ending journey marked by challenges and lessons, all of which are valuable. Beyond this, organisational growth is reliant on investing in people’s learning and development.

We hear you’re studying

I’m studying for a Masters in Positive Psychology and Coaching. This has been instrumental in developing my knowledge of how to work with organisation’s and people’s strengths, cultivate meaning in the workplace, and use coaching to empower people to realise their own potential.

Does that help or add to your workload? How do you stay productive and keep balance?

I use many of the tools and techniques

I’m learning. It’s about daily habits, small tweaks, moments of reflection. I schedule deep work time so I can focus on the things that matter without the noise of the outside world. I work four days a week, and I’m looking at how we can become a four-day working week organisation. The most critical thing I’ve learnt is that a good sleep routine is essential. Without this, no matter how many tools or techniques I use, I won’t be able to focus and be effective.

What does being a member of Brighton Chamber mean to you?

Brighton Chamber welcomed me to the city within my first few weeks and for this I’m forever grateful. We’re about creating connections and I love seeing how the Chamber does this daily for businesses across the city. I’ve attended Chamber Breakfasts, staff have attended workshops and other events, and every time we come away knowing new people and learning new things.

Thanks to the Chamber we’re working closely with the University of Brighton on a knowledge exchange event, and I’ve been introduced to charity CEOs across the city who are now my peers. We’re also working with Connected Brighton thanks to an introduction from a Chamber member, and the connections continue to grow.

With special thanks to April Baker. Together Co urgently needs more volunteers to create more connections across our city. Find out more on their website. https://togetherco.org.uk/

Brighton Chamber is a dynamic, supportive and welcoming membership organisation for businesses of all sizes. Find out more at brightonchamber.co.uk.

County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month March 2023

A sparkling gift idea for Mother’s Day

Sugrue South Downs’ Vintage 2016 Rose Ex Machina is the recommendation as we look forward towards spring.

This month, at the start of spring, I wanted to present a wonderful rose - a great gift to share for Mother’s day.

This sparkling wine is from who most prominent UK wine commentators would say is the UK’s finest winemaker. He also makes wines for many other wellrespected vineyards. After successive harvests in Champagne, Dermot Surgue was one of the architects of the rise of Nyetimber, followed by Wiston Estate and now onto his own exclusive brand, Sugrue South Downs, with his wife Ana.

Ana also has had a career in wine. Prior to joining Sugrue South Downs, she was Head Wine Maker at Plumpton Estate.

One characteristic of Dermot’s wine is that he ages his wines with the aid of large Burgundian French oak barrels which adds more complexity to his range of sparkling wines than his contemporaries.

Awards for Sugrue South Downs

Multiple but WineGB Trophy for Boutique Producer of the Year 2020 and 2021 shows the standard of wines produced.

Wine of the Month

For March 2023, it is Sugrue South Downs’ Vintage 2016 Rose Ex Machinathe first ever rosé English sparkling wine from Sugrue South Downs.

There are many reasons why I have chosen this wine. It could be that it

is multi vintage which compromising 2016 and reserve wine from 2009. This gives it a real depth of flavour and something to savour on the palate. It’s a wine that is great to drink now but will improve with age developing into a aged vintage rose.

Wine reviews from Anne Krebiehl MW, Falstaff, May 2022 - 95 POINTS. “Both orange peel and Red Delicious apple figure on the nose, alongside a subtle hint of fresh Viennoiserie that turns into shortcrust with more air. The palate strikes immediately with its effortlessness: there is that lovely balance between juicy freshness and mellow ripeness that you get in red apples. The slender body fizzes away with tiniest bubbles, lending creaminess and gentleness, expressing serenity, beauty and depth. Very elegant, lovely now, certain to evolve into a grandiose and gastronomic rosé.”

Key characteristics of Sugrue South Downs Rose Ex Machina 2016

MATURATION: Bottled July 2017. First release: four years ageing on lees, one year ageing on cork.

ANALYSIS: Dosage 9g/l Alcohol 12% abv CEPAGE: 50% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay VINEYARDS: Jenkyn Place Vineyard, Hampshire, planted 2004. Vines 13 years old at time of 2016 harvest.

Grape Varietals: 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier

ABV: 12%

Where to buy?

To buy this wine, you can buy directly online from Sugrue South Downs at

£65 per bottle. It’s pricey, but a fine vintage with great aging!

In summary

Sugrue’s Rose Ex Machina sets the mark for fine English sparkling rose. In addition, Sugrue South Downs is a mark to remember and to enjoy now for special occasions or lay down for the future where they will continue to evolve in the bottle. I would also recommend Sugrue’s delightfully named The Trouble With Dreams, the current vintage is 2017 and also well worth a try.

Wishing you a happy Mothers day and looking forward to the start of spring!

Michael Yeoman

Founder of Brighton and Hove Wine Club and Spirit of the Downs. Michael Yeoman specialises in working with small batch wine producers in and around Sussex and the South Downs. He originally founded Brighton and Hove Wine Club and also creates a range of small batch Sussex Brandies and Grape spirits through his brand Spirit of the Downs www.spiritofthedowns.co.uk

Nothing beats face-to-face marketing. It offers unrivalled opportunities. Brighton & Hove Business Show puts you in front of key influencers and delivers outstanding networking opportunities. If you want to promote your business to the right people, the Amex Stadium is the place to be on June 8, 2023

With hundreds of decision-makers in attendance, you are guaranteed to meet people who could be your next big client.

Don't take our word for it - check out Testimonials from last year's event. Benefits of exhibiting include:

Cost-effective marketing

Raise

Generate more leads

PLAY ON A PREMIER LEAGUE PITCH THIS SUMMER

SPONSORED BY IN AID OF

This summer we have a fantastic opportunity to play in our 7-a-side charity football tournament with your friends and colleagues at the iconic American Express Community stadium home of BHAFC, whilst raising money for some great causes.

Thursday 1st June 2023 at American Express Community Stadium home of Brighton & Hove Albion FC @ £1200 per team

In aid of Carpenter Box Foundation

Charity Beneficiaries for Brighton Tournament

TO REGISTER YOUR TEAM TODAY SCAN BELOW