Dynamic Business Magazine - issue 25

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

The Dynamic Awards 2023

All the winners named Flex-working Well-being boost or career curse?

DINING

A Michelin star Interlude

Banish

‘Superwoman’

Dame

The B-Corp journey

MOTORING The best driving tunes

TRAVEL

Leonardslee House

BATTLING TO SAVE JOHN LEWIS

Sharon White

Admiring women who are elevated to superwomanhood isn’t something that’s always appreciated. In fact, it can have the opposite effect

The age reached by Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician whose calculations astronauts would trust over the computers

PLATINUM MEDIA GROUP

❛

❛ You hate when people see you cry because you want to be that strong girl. But then you hate how nobody notices how broken and torn apart you are.

REGULARS

News

6 Upfront: The top international news stories involving women in business

22 In The Right Direction: Good news stories from around the world

Spotlight

26 Highlighting two female business leaders who ought to get more recognition that they currently receive

Further reading

30 Jenny Garrett MBE on strategies to reduce microagressions in the office

Art Scene

32 The work of PX Miranda, focusing on eyes being the window to the soul

Travel

34 Tess de Klerk checks in to the 19th Century Leonardslee House for the night

Wine & Dine

36 Still at Leonardslee, the restaurant, Interlude, offers 18-course dining. Count them.

What’s On

38 A brief snapshot of art and culture cross Sussex and Surrey

FEATURES

Flexi-working

20 Samantha Kaye of Wellesley discusses whether the flexible working model can be a well-being boost or a career curse

B Corp - our journey

24 Alison Jones and Jennifer Williams of Kreston Reeves talk about their journey to achieve the coveted B Corp status

Pull up to the bumper, baby...

Four keen drivers attempt the virtually impossible – to name their top five all-time songs to hit the highway to

CONTACTS

The CEO of John Lewis & Partnership, battling to save the company from unwanted outside investors

PUBLISHER: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionas@platinummediagroup.co.uk

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EVENTS DIRECTOR:Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EVENTS MANAGER: Zaneta Bealing zaneta@platinummediagroup.co.uk

HEAD OF DESIGN: Michelle Shakesby design@platinummediagroup.co.uk

SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk

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If you’re beautiful, you’re led to believe that you can’t also be smart. But you can be fun and fit and be really smart. And the smarter you are, the more capable you’ll be to handle whatever challenges come up in life.

Regina Agyare, Founder of software company Soronko Solutions

BIG STORY

Dame Sharon White

GIRL TORQUE

EDITOR’S NOTE

A very warm welcome to June’s edition of Dynamic.

We are all about celebrating women and their achievements here at Dynamic, and that is exactly what was done at our annual Dynamic Awards 2023. A fantastic evening was had by all! Congratulations to all our winners as well as each and every nominee - we have been overwhelmingly impressed by all your passion, hard work and dedication.

In the same vein, our regular Spotlight feature continues highlighting remarkable women within our community while Wellbeing this month focuses on the importance of acknowledging that we are human, not superhuman, and that Superwoman expectations can be more harmful than helpful.

You will also find our other regular features such as Travel and Art for your reading pleasure plus, do have a look at Wine & Dine if you’ve ever wondered what an 18-course menu entails.

We had a fantastic time compiling this month’s magazine, and hope that you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed creating it for you.

Editor, Dynamic Magazine tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

UNDERPAYMENT RAGES ON

Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay £215 million to settle claims by former female employees that the Wall Street bank has systematically underpaid women compared to men. The agreement brings to an end the class action lawsuit that started in 2010 and involves 2,800 female associates and averts a damaging trial that was due to start in June. Companies across all sectors are facing increasing pressure to do more to improve equality and diversity, and a quarter of a billiondollar fine might just focus some attention on the matter.

UPFRONT

ALL THE LATEST BULLETINS FROM THE WORLD OF BUSINESS

WOMAN IN CHARGE OF FOOTBALL

The first female chair of the Football Association (FA) is to visit Nottingham to deliver a lecture. Debbie Hewitt will speak at Nottingham Business School for the second of its Business Leaders Lectures series. Ms Hewitt will talk about her career at household names including White Stuff Ltd and Marks & Spencer, as well as her time as the first female managing director of RAC.

Attendees will be able to ask her questions at an open Q&A session. In 2021, British Vogue listed Ms Hewitt in the Vogue 25 –its annual list of the UK’s most influential women and she took on her current FA role in January 2022.

You don’t have favourites among your children but you do have allies.

Zadie Smith, novelist

INVESTMENT PAIN CONTINUES

Women continue to set up and expand businesses. Yet female founders’ share of funds from backers remains stubbornly low. “There is still a big issue of unconscious bias against women founders,” says Sutin Yang, head of scale-ups at Virgin StartUp, a UK organisation which has pledged to fund equal numbers of male and female entrepreneurs. “Investors tend to be more likely to interrogate a female founder’s business projections and ask questions around downside risk,” Yang adds. As a result, female founders lower their business projections and valuation, and are “less ambitious in their pitch”. Venture capital funding that went to female-led start-ups in the US fell from 2.4% in 2021 to 1.9% last year. But it rose to 17.2% if the management team included at least one man.

IF IN DOUBT, LEGISLATE

New rules are to come into force next year requiring businesses who want to float on the UK stock markets to have four in 10 of its board members be women, or explain why not.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said companies will need to account for diversity in their top teams and will report against targets the watchdog sets a year from now. The FCA added that some firms will not be able to meet the targets but should be able to explain why. At least 40% of a company’s directors should be women, and a woman should hold at least one of the senior board positions - either chair, chief executive, finance boss or senior independent director. At least one member of the board should be from an ethnic minority background.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Almost two-thirds of young women have experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse at work, according to a new poll. Some 62% of those in the 25-34 age group reported being pestered or persecuted on work premises, as well as during virtual meetings, over email and on the phone, the survey by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found.

Overall, 58% of women of all ages reported they had experienced being harassed, bullied or verbally abused while trying to do their job. However, it was not just colleagues who were responsible for the mistreatment. The poll found that in almost 40% of the most recent incidents to affect a victim, responsibility lay with a third party, such as a customer or client. The findings come amid scrutiny of workplace treatment of women following a string of recent allegations of sexual misconduct at high-profile organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Its new director general recently apologised to female staff following claims of a “toxic” culture at the business lobby group, including allegations of sexual misconduct, some of which police are investigating.

To demonstrate the damage done by such harassment, the CBI Board has engaged lawyers for advice on a potential insolvency ahead of crunch member vote.

You will be defi ned not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive

Sheryl Sandberg

Do what you love and success will follow.

Passion is the fuel behind a successful career

Meg Whitman

John Lewis & Partnership has just survived a morality scare when its CEO, Dame Sharon White, thumbed her nose at a cherished century-old legacy, while searching for outside investment for the group. Who is Dame Sharon, and what did she do to cause such concern? By

ALAN WARES

Never knowingly underinvested

Sharon White was born in east London on April 21st 1967, and brought up in Leyton, where she attended Connaught School for Girls. Her parents came to the UK from Jamaica in the 1950s, when her father was aged 15 and her mother 11. White attended Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, from where she received a BA degree in economics. She later earned an MSc in economics from University College London.

She was the first black person to become a Permanent Secretary at the Treasury

CIVIL SERVANT

White joined the British civil service in 1989, and went on to have an astonishing career within several levels and departments. She worked fi rst at the Treasury and later for the British Embassy in Washington DC. She also worked at the 10 Downing Street policy unit during the Tony Blair premiership; at the World Bank, also in DC.

Additionally, she has worked in many government departments, including occupying the role of director general at the Department for International Development in 2003–09 (a department that no longer exists) and then at the Ministry of Justice in 2009–11, and also at the Department for Work and Pensions.

THE JOHN LEWIS STORY

John Lewis, a philosopher and town councillor and founder of the chain of home stores in his own name, was born on February 24th 1836 in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, and became an orphan at the age of seven. Having served as an apprentice to a local draper from the age of 14, he moved to London to become a silk buyer, working in Peter Robinson’s Department Store at Oxford Circus by the time he was 20.

He first opened his eponymous flagship store on Oxford Street, London, a drapery shop, opened in 1864. In 1905, Lewis acquired a second store, Peter Jones in Sloane Square, London.

Lewis was not considered a popular employer, with a habit to dismissing staff arbitrarily. The stores had difficulty retaining staff – there was a strike in 1920 – and performed poorly compared to some of his rivals. His sons constantly disagreed with his business methods. It was his eldest son, John Spedan Lewis, who began the John Lewis Partnership, a workers’ cooperative – in 1929 after thinking up the idea during his days in charge of Peter Jones. He also thought up the idea of the

LIFE AFTER THE CIVIL SERVICE

At the end of 2014, Ofcom, the broadcast and media regulator announced White would be the chief executive from March 2015, replacing Ed Richards as the previous chief executive and Steve Unger as interim chief executive.

It was a role she held for just over four years. In June 2019, White announced that she would be leaving that role to replace Sir Charlie Mayfield as the chair of the John Lewis Partnership (JLP).

White was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for public service

At the Treasury, she supervised a review of the fi nancial management of government and the Treasury’s management response to the banking crisis of 2008. She was Director General for Public Spending at the Treasury from 2012-13, ultimately replacing Tom Scholar as Second Permanent Secretary in 2013.

She was the fi rst black person to become a Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, and the second woman after Dame Anne Mueller in the 1980s.

MR & MRS TREASURY

White married economist Robert Chote in 1997, when she was working at the British embassy in DC, and Chote was working for the International Monetary Fund. Chote has been the chairman of the Office of Budget Responsibility since 2010. Th is led certain parts of the media to dub them, “Mr and Mrs Treasury”.

White was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for public service. She took the name Dame Sharon White, Lady Chote.

White succeeded Mayfield during a meeting of the John Lewis Partnership Council on February 4th 2020, on a salary of £990,000 – a significant increase on her previous salary, which was £341,700 according to data released by Ofcom.

INVESTMENT CONTROVERSY

The John Lewis Partnership had been started in 1929 by John Lewis’ eldest son John Spedan Lewis. It was effectively a co-operative or mutual society where profits were reinvested back into the business to its workers.

At the end of 2022, Dame Sharon, seeing the trouble the company was in, sought to bring in outside investment. Previous chairman Sir Stuart Hampson was appalled

+ CULTURALLY INFLUENTIAL

In 2014, The Voice named White the seventh most powerful black person in Britain. White has been recognised for her influence as one of the most powerful black British people in the UK on a number of occasions by Powerlist, topping the 2023 list; as well as regularly ranking in the top 10 since 2016.

Gazette, the partnership’s in-house magazine, first published in 1918.

The founding John Lewis died in Hampstead, London in 1928, at the age of 92, having also served as a Liberal councillor at London County Council.

The John Lewis Partnership plc (JLP) now operates John Lewis & Partners department stores, Waitrose & Partners supermarkets, its banking and financial services, and other retail-related activities. The privately-held public limited company is owned by a trust on behalf of all its employees – known as ‘partners’ –and a bonus, akin to a share of the profit, is paid to employees.

NEVER KNOWINGLY UNDERSOLD

In 1925, Spedan Lewis devised the slogan ‘never knowingly undersold’ at Peter Jones, a John Lewis subsidiary, based in Sloane Square, London. It was intended mainly as a control on

at the notion. He felt the proposal – aimed at raising as much as £2 bn – could kill off the ‘spirit’ of the retailer’s partnership model.

He insisted that John Lewis is a ‘different kind of business’ where service levels are better because ‘the person behind the counter is the owner’. He dismissed the idea that it might be able to find a supportive investor who shares its ideals. For the business to sell a minority stake – for the fi rst time in its 159-year history – would be ‘very inappropriate’, he said. Additionally, retail consultant and television personality Mary Portas accused the group of losing its soul.

It was a blow for Dame Sharon amid a chorus of scepticism, mostly from worker/shareholders - who tend to get angry when they don’t get their ball back - about the idea of bringing in external funding, which critics said would threaten John Lewis’ cherished employee ownership structure.

For her part, White told the John Lewis Partnership Council that the partnership would always be owned by its employees.

“No ifs, no buts there is absolutely no question of de-mutualisation,” she said. ”If at any point the partnership were unable to fund all our plans through our own means, the board could consider external investment,”.

But she stressed any arrangement would have to be aligned with the partnership’s rules and values. White also

sourcing merchandise, but it also came to mean that customers could shop knowing that they were not paying more at Peter Jones than they could buy identical goods for at other stores. This principle, which was refined several times, was introduced at John Lewis’ stores, and became a celebrated motto for nearly a century. The most notable refinements were to exclude retailers who traded only online, and to include extended insurance and delivery charges when comparing prices. It was honoured until August 2022, when it was replaced with a general commitment to providing competitive value on its own label merchandise.

John Lewis had around 80,800 partners/employees as of 2020. The chain’s image is upmarket, and its customers are likely to be more affluent consumers. The Partnership also supplied the Ocado web supermarket until 2020 with Waitrose own-brand foods and John Lewis own-brand nonfood items such as furniture.

said targeted efficiency savings of £900m meant the group was on a “clear and secure path back to profitability”.

In the final analysis, staff - the shareholders – in what was seen by many as a vote of confidence, gave their backing to boss Dame Sharon despite this attempted move. However, the governing body, elected by workers, rebuked her over the group’s performance in 2022 - where the partnership lost £234m and scrapped the workers’ partner bonus – in votes that are symbolic rather than binding.

The performance of the partnership, including financing – whether internal or external – will determine Dame Sharon White’s fate at the top of the John Lewis Partnership. As many articles in Platinum have already pointed out – time and time again - you lose the goodwill of your staff at your peril. For now, she has that backing; the next move is up to her.

No ifs, no buts there is absolutely no question of de-mutualisation

Dame Sharon White

THE AWARDS 2023

Winners of the prestigious Dynamic Awards were announced at a sensational gala dinner on May 25th at The Grand Brighton. Over 400 guests enjoyed a sumptuous three-course dinner, inspiring keynote speakers and entertainment before the awards presentation by comedian, Jo Caulfield.

Maarten Hoffmann, Managing Director at Platinum Media Group, the event organiser, said: “This event is the night of the year where the community comes together to celebrate businesswomen across the South East. The atmosphere was full of passion, camaraderie and excitement, and the audience raised the roof as they showed their support and appreciation for women in business.

“The Awards, now in their second year, attracted an excellent mix of applications from all business sizes and sectors, with the standard being very high. I’d like to congratulate all the winners and shortlisted finalists of this year’s awards.”

The Awards celebrate the achievements of businesswomen from across multiple sectors and industries, from start-ups to established businesses; from entrepreneurs to trailblazers.

Thanks to the astonishing generosity of the guests, we raised £7,000 in a ten-minute raffle with 100% of the amount raised going to make a huge difference to Waking up to Autism.

A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Susan Fleet MBE, who received her MBE for services to music and charity fundraising over the past four decades. This follows the first ever such Dynamic Award in 2022 which was presented to Rosemary French OBE.

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❛❛ An uplifting evening of pure celebration ❜❜

Pam Loch, CEO, Loch Associates Dynamic Lawyer of the Year 2022

❛❛ What an incredible night!

Absolutely thrilled beyond words to have won ❜❜

Emma Draper Businesswoman of the Year 2023

Julie Kapsalis, Chair, Coast to Capital LEP & CEO, Nescot College

Fiona Shafer, MD, MDHUB

THE 2023 WINNERS

❛❛ Well done to Platinum for putting on such a slick, well-attended and inspiring event. ❜❜

Debbie Cenaj, Area Director, Lloyds Bank

THE AWARDS 2023

❛❛ I was absolutely delighted and somewhat overwhelmed to win. For me this is a highlight of my legal career

Gilva Tisshaw

Lawyer of the Year 2023

Best New Business

Sponsored by Let’s Do Business Finance

KRISTINA PERECKAITE

South East Angels

Financial Services Award

Sponsored by Dynamic Magazine

KIRSTY WILSON

Knill James

Lawyer of the Year

Sponsored by Innovation Capital Team

GILVA TISSHAW

Tisshaws Family Law Solicitors

CSR Excellence Award

Sponsored by Loch Associates Group

VANESSA FORD-ROBBINS For Earth’s Sake

HR & Recruitment Award

Sponsored by Crest Coaching & HR

HANNAH COOPER Leaders Romans Group

Employer of the Year

Sponsored by MDHUB

HARRIETT & MOLLY FRESHWATER

The Secret Linen Store

Inspirational Award

Sponsored by Kreston Reeves

JULIE KAPSALIS

NESCOT | Coast To Capital LEP

Businesswoman of the Year

Sponsored by DMH Stallard

EMMA DRAPER

Velvet Stores

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❛❛ Platinum does an amazing job for regional business ❜❜

Matt Edwards Skills Partnership, Middlesex University

Innovator of the Year

Sponsored by Sussex Innovation

DR SOPHIE CARR

Bays Consulting

Creative Industries Award

Sponsored by InspoHub

FIONA ALLMAN-TREEN FAT Promotions

Young Professional of the Year

Sponsored by University of Brighton Help To Grow DANIELLE REYNOLDS

DVR Equestrian

Property Professional of the Year

Sponsored by Metro Bank

CLARE DE BATHE

Chichester Community Development Trust

PR & Marketing Award

Sponsored by CB Solutions

CAROLINE COSKRY

The Oracle Group

Community Hero Award

Sponsored by Legal & General KATHRYN HIBBERD-LITTLE

The Mug Tree Tea Room

❛❛ Being present to celebrate the achievements of others – especially strong, passionate and skilled women –is always wonderful and to be a winner was an honour ❜❜

Kathryn Hibberd-Little Community Hero Award 2023

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sponsored by University of Sussex Business School

SUSAN FLEET MBE

Company of the Year

Sponsored by Wellesley

HELEN CANNON

ISON Travel

Dynamic has a very special offer for all women who run their own business or are in a senior management role within any SME as we are determined to level the playing field.

The Help to Grow: Management programme as detailed here is normally 90% subsidised

by the government and the participant pays only £750. Dynamic Magazine is sponsoring a number of places on the course therefore it will be totally free of charge to Dynamic readers!

This is a unique offer 100% sponsored by Dynamic Magazine

The Help To Grow programme extends to Crawley

PROGRAMME DETAILS

This mini MBA-style programme is designed for business owners and senior leaders of small and medium-sized businesses, Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week course that helps your business reach its full potential for growth, resilience and succession planning.

Benefits:

n In-depth training

n Invaluable 1:1 business mentoring

n Bespoke Growth Action Plan

n Low cost, high impact

n Peer-to-peer networking

n Time away from your business to work on your business

This course, accredited by the Chartered Association of Business Schools, is

being delivered by the University of Brighton. Working in collaboration with industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs, the course covers strategies for growth and innovation, digital adoption, leading highperformance teams, financial management and responsible business practices.

With the support of an experienced mentor, you will also create a bespoke growth plan for your business.

MODULES AND DELIVERY STYLE

To facilitate busy work schedules, the course is a mix of both online and in person workshops.

1 Strategy and Innovation

2 Digital Adoption

THE HELP TO GROW: MANAGEMENT COURSE

You will be supported by an experienced business mentor who will support you in producing a growth plan, and taught by experienced academics and practitioners from the School of Business and Law.

The Help to Grow: Management is delivered by leading business schools across the UK who have been awarded the Small Business Charter (SBC) by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS).

Help to Grow is a 12-week course designed to be undertaken alongside full-time work. The time commitment is 50 hours over 12 weeks. Learning alongside other business owners, you have the opportunity to learn from your peers and network.

Using a combination of online and face-to-face sessions alongside case study workshops, you will have the opportunity to apply the concepts being taught to real-life situations faced by business leaders. By the end of the course, you will have a tailored Growth Action Plan to help you lead and grow your business.

3 Internationalisation and winning new markets

4 Vision, mission, and values

5 Developing a marketing strategy

6 Building a brand

7 Organisational design

8 Employee management and leading change

9 High performance workplace

10 Efficient operations

11 Finance and financial management

12 Implementing growth plans

YOUR GROWTH PLAN

n Develop your leadership and management skills, enhancing employee wellbeing and engagement

WHY CHOOSE THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON?

The University of Brighton has a long history of working with small to medium-sized businesses, and a strong track record of delivering business growth programmes.

The school of Business and Law is home to the Centre for Change, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (CENTRIM), which works with partners in industry, academia and government producing

groundbreaking concepts to explain, harness and improve innovation, entrepreneurship and change management.

The 2021 Knowledge Exchange Framework results place the University of Brighton in the top 10% for universities for public and community engagement, and in the top 20% for skills, enterprise, and entrepreneurship.

n Identify what drives productivity and growth in your market, and understand what this means for you

n Learn how to advance responsible business practices, including more inclusive and greener practices

n Understand how to innovate your business model, including adopting and investing in new and digital technologies

n Identify key domestic and export markets for your business and develop strategies for segmentation, positioning and targeting

n Generate strategies to improve operational efficiency, allowing you to save time and money

NEXT COURSE DATES

Gatwick/Crawley: September 22nd 2023

Brighton: September 25th 2023

100% FREE FOR DYNAMIC READERS

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for Help to Grow, the following criteria must be met.

Your business must

n Be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in the UK

n Employ between 5 and 249 people

n Have been operational for at least one year

n Not be a charity

You must

n Be a chief executive, owner/founder, senior manager or decision maker

n Have at least one person reporting to you

n Commit to completing all sessions

Here is even better news

90% of the programme cost is covered by the Government, and your cost would therefore be a total of £750. While courses at Brighton are sold out, this amazing offer also applies to those who wish to enrol at Crawley.

Men who apply using the PLATINUM100 code will receive 50% discount off the cost of the course at Crawley, courtesy of Platinum Business Magazine, and their course will cost £375.

Meanwhile, women using the same code with receive 100% discount discount off the cost of the course at Crawley, courtesy of Dynamic Magazine, meaning their course is FREE.

This month we are catching up a female business leader who has recently completed the Help to Grow Management course to see what she thought of it and how it may benefit her organisation and, more importantly, her personal development

Help to Grow programme: CASE STUDY

BETH NEAVE, OPERATIONS MANAGER Vehicle Replacement Network Ltd

❛❛ This course came just at the right time as I had taken on a new leadership role. The marketing strategy module has been especially useful and I have already started engaging the rest of the team on further developing ours. Using the tools and models provided by the course, we’ve improved what we already do. I especially liked the opportunity to take a ‘helicopter view’ of our business. I would recommend that anyone joining the course starts with an open mind, as this allows them to engage fully with the others to share knowledge – and learn from others. I really appreciated the supportive community spirit we developed. It was an excellent course and everyone involved was fantastic. ❜❜

BETH NEAVE, OPERATIONS MANAGER Vehicle Replacement Network Ltd

SPECIAL OFFER

90% of the programme cost is covered by the Government therefore a total cost of £750. The good news is that for Dynamic readers there are a number of FREE places for women on the Gatwick programme when you quote PLATINUM100 when signing up.

More information www.brighton.ac.uk/help-to-grow

While flexible working can go some way in enhancing women’s well-being, could it end up being detrimental to your finances?

SAMANTHA KAYE from Wellesley investigates…

FLEXI-WORKING: well-being boost or career curse?

Flexible working has seen a staggering increase in popularity in recent years and is now the job perk of choice for many.

Families across the country are reaping the benefits – more fathers are managing the school run, and it helps mothers balance childcare and other caring commitments. It can also provide some extra ‘breathing space’ in our hectic schedules, not to mention no longer needing to have that awkward phone call with our boss asking to work from home because menstrual cramps made for a poor night’s sleep.

But, while many women are enjoying the lifestyle benefits of this new way of working, it potentially won’t do your career – or your finances – any favours.

For all the many benefits, there’s nevertheless a risk that more flexible working could hold several stings in the tail for women

STILL A STIGMA?

The stigma historically associated with home working is starting to dissipate since the pandemic proved that business doesn’t have to suffer as a result. But despite this, in some working environments, starting work late after your child’s school assembly can be perceived to be a lack of commitment.

THE PRICE OF FLEXIBILITY

The issue for women goes further than the potential stigma. Working part-time or fewer hours might affect your earnings and long-term wealth, not to mention having an impact on your position in the labour market. There’s still bias against women returning to work from maternity leave too, with lower expectations about their commitment standing in the way of progress.

Lastly, it can be much harder to establish clear boundaries around the start and end times of your working day. As for the time you’re saving on the commute, is it being spent on boosting your well-being or do you fi nd yourself working a longer day or checking emails after hours?

THE NEW NORMAL?

There are no two ways about it – flexibility can help support women. It can help us strike a better home/work life balance or allow us to better care for young and elderly family members without having to forfeit our career.

There’s also acknowledgement among employers that the normalisation and support of flexible working can encourage a more diverse workforce.

But for all the many benefits, there’s nevertheless a risk that more flexible working could hold several stings in the tail for women, with a potential knock-on effect on your fi nances as well as your retirement plans. It’s therefore important to fully assess your position in order to help you make a success story of this way of working.

I can help – contact me today to arrange a no-obligation chat.

Samantha Kaye, Chartered Adviser,

House, 50 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9LH E: samantha.kaye@sjpp.co.uk www.wellesleywa.co.uk

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.

St. James’s Place guarantees the suitability of advice offered by Wellesley when recommending any of the services and products available from companies in the Group. More details of the Guarantee are set out on the Group’s website www. sjp.co.uk/products.

Wellesley is a trading name of Wellesley Investment Management Ltd. The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/about-st-james-place/our-business/ our-products-andservices. The ‘St. James’s Place partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. Wellesley Investment Management Ltd: Registered Office: 44 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, TN2 5TN. Registered in England & Wales, Company No. 06530147.

Wellesley

COULD THIS BE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE PLASTIC TUNNEL?

Scientists have discovered microorganisms able to digest plastic at 15ºC as opposed to previous discoveries of microbes that need very high temperatures to do the same job. The higher the temperature needed, the more expensive and CO2 intensive the process.

These newly identified microbes, found in Alpine and Arctic soil, could be a recycling game-changer as it opens up new perspectives for recycling certain types of plastics, according to scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute. Unfortunately, these microbes are not able to break down all plastics, including polyethylene, one of the most common plastics used. The next step is to identify the plastic-degrading enzymes produced by the microbes and optimise them for use at scale.

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

‘LUNG TRUCKS’ IMPROVE CANCER DIAGNOSES

The roll out of ‘lung trucks’ in England means people in deprived communities are now more likely to get an early cancer diagnosis, figures reveal.

The mobile screening units (pictured) have been deployed in supermarket car parks since 2018, and are now at 43 sites across England. New data from the NHS suggests they have diagnosed more than 1,700 cases of lung cancer. 76% of cases in deprived areas were spotted at stage one or two, compared to just a third in 2018.

TOYMAKER (SOMEWHAT) STEPPING UP

Mattel’s Barbie has been aiming to represent diversity in its dolls for some time now. The dolls currently have representations of 35 skin tones and 9 body types, and include dolls with various abilities and a range of occupations.

The American giant’s latest launch is a Barbie with Down’s syndrome to “celebrate inclusion”. Ellie Goldstein, a British model with Down’s syndrome, was chosen as an ambassador for the new Barbie.“When I saw the doll I felt so emotional and proud,” Goldstein wrote on Instagram. “It means a lot to me that children will be able to play with the doll and learn that everyone is different.”

The Barbie’s launch coincides with Goldstein’s appearance on the cover of Vogue. If only Mattel could do better when it comes to sustainability; aiming to reduce plastic packaging by 25% per product by 2030 is simply not good enough.

PACK YOUR COSSIE FOR A DIP IN THE SEINE

The River Seine has been closed for swimmers since 1923 due to unacceptable levels of pollution in the iconic waterway but, just over a century later, the waters are due to be safe again for swimmers in 2024, just in time for the Summer Olympics. The major clean-up has been so successful that native species, including salmon, are now returning.

GREECE FOCUSSING ON ACCESSIBILITY

Describing access to the sea as an inalienable human right, Greek tourism authorities are retrofitting 287 beaches across the country with self-operating wheelchair ramps. ‘Self-operating’ means that wheelchair users can operate it by themselves without assistance from anyone, offering a flexible freedom rarely found in difficult terrain such as beach sand.

So far, the Seatrac system has been installed on 147 beaches. The scope of the project goes beyond beaches though, as seen at the Acropolis of Athens which is equipped with a wheelchair elevator. Many other sites are also receiving renovations to make wheelchair-bound visitors more welcome, including bathrooms, sidewalks and walkways, snack bars, and other amenities.

The government of Greece created a website for all the info needed to plan a wheelchair-included trip to the beaches of Greece, including a map of all the beaches nearby equipped with the Seatracs.

OUR DNA MAP DIVERSIFIED

It’s hard to believe that, up until now, the benchmark for everyone’s DNA has been against that of the genetic material of just one man but progress has been made. Scientists have announced that they have updated the template using data from 47 people, including women, from people across four continents. The new DNA map –dubbed the pangenome – better reflects human diversity and could lead to new drugs and treatments that work for a wider range of people.

SOCIAL MEDIA INSPIRED MORE KIDS TO READ

British and Irish children read almost a quarter more books last year. The 2023 What Kids Are Reading report, compiled by educational software provider Renaissance, surveyed 1.3 million kids and found they read more than 27m books in the last academic year, up 24% on 2020-2021.

However, it also sounded a note of caution, recognising that reading comprehension declined in the transition from primary to secondary school, and suggesting older readers need to take on harder books more suited to their age.

The news coincides with a resurgence of bookshops in the UK, and a record year for the UK publishing industry.

You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you

Mary Tyler Moore

I have an idea that the phrase weaker sex was coined by some woman to disarm some man she was preparing to overwhelm

Ogden Nash

In March this year, Kreston Reeves achieved B Corp status, sending a strong message to staff, clients, and stakeholders of the firm’s commitment to being a sustainable and socially conscious adviser.

ALISON JONES and JENNIFER WILLIAMSON

explain why

B CORP – our journey

The B Corp movement was established 17 years ago with a vision to make business a force for good. B Corp recognises that businesses have many stakeholders. Putting shareholders fi rst drives decision making that focuses on short term planning and is not responsive enough to the wider societal and environmental issues.

THE BUSINESS CASE

There are sound commercial reasons for considering and adopting B Corp status.

There is a growing desire for a better business model –one that benefits all stakeholders. Where people, planet, the environment – and yes, profit – work in harmony. Business, we believe, must be conducted in a way where people and place matter.

We know it is increasingly important that all businesses play in both supporting change and being responsible for being part of that change. For several years, we have chosen to publicly support four of the UN Sustainable Development Goals - climate action, quality education, good health

and well-being, and reduced inequalities. The B Corp assessment is a great model to benchmark our work and to guide our continued efforts to become a business meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

We fi nd in our own business and in our clients’ businesses that competition for talent is tough. It is called a ‘war for talent’ with good reason, with individuals able to choose where they work. And increasingly, individuals want to work for organisations that reflect their own values. B Corp status is a pillar of a strong employer brand, supporting recruitment and retention.

B Corps are a fast-growing community of businesses, with over 6,000 worldwide and 1,200 in the UK

Clients too look to buy from and work with organisations that share common values with them, and who can meet and demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. We increasingly fi nd our role, as trusted business advisors, goes beyond the fi nancial and technical advice that are the mainstays of our profession, and we’re speaking with our clients and communities about impact, our role within it and its importance for us all in strategic planning. The independent certification required by B Corp is a clear statement of those values.

B Corps are a fast-growing community of businesses, with over 6,000 worldwide and 1,200 in the UK. It is an engaged and active community, with B Corps wanting to work with each other. We are proud that Kreston Reeves, one of the largest accountancy fi rms to achieve B Corp status, joins businesses that include the Jamie Oliver Group, Innocent, The Guardian, Pukka and Charity Bank. These are all businesses that choose the B Corp route and look to balance profit and purpose.

OUR B CORP JOURNEY

Kreston Reeves started its B Corp journey in 2020 when defi ning its purpose - ‘to guide our clients, colleagues and communities to a brighter future’.

We recognised then that there is more we can do to become a purpose-led advisory fi rm. Our vision for the fi rm, set down in 2021, is ‘to be known for our commitment to CSR’ and to ‘embrace the majority of the principles of a B Corp, balancing purpose and profit’.

B Corp accreditation was the next step in that journey – and it is important to note that is a continuing journey, not the destination. We were, at the time, unsure how close or how far we were from meeting those B Corp standards.

We do know, however, that all our 500 members of staff choose to work at Kreston Reeves, and we have a duty to make their careers and time at the fi rm as fulfi lling as possible. That is achieved through our shared values and purpose, our training, alignment with personal purpose, providing engaging work, and the social aspects of working at the fi rm.

We too recognise that we have a wider responsibility to our suppliers, the communities in which we work, our clients, and future colleagues.

Being on the journey as a B Corp provides us with guiding principles and goals to work towards,

It is not a quick and easy process. It requires a business to look at its social and environmental performance, operations, and how its business model impacts people, community, and clients. It also looks at your supply chains, charitable giving, and workplace.

Certification is measured across five broad areas:

• Governance – such as the fi rm’s mission and transparency.

• Workers – such as career development, health and wellbeing, engagement, and worker-owned.

• Environment – such as environmental management, air and climate, water use and waste, renewable energy, transport, and suppliers.

• Community – such as diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring, supply chain management, civic engagement, local economic development.

• Customers – such as customer stewardship, education, economic empowerment.

Businesses are required to re-certify every three years, creating a journey of continuous improvement.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR KRESTON REEVES?

It’s not easy to make a difference; investing time, energy and resource in what can feel like the face of some overwhelming challenges as the national and global position becomes even more difficult for many.

But that’s even more reason to do it, right? Nothing worth doing is ever easy.

And it does matter, that we’ve started this journey and are committed to making a difference. It matters to our business, our people, our clients, our communities, and the wider community.  If everyone thought it was too difficult, then where would we be?

But we know there are areas we can still improve, and we’ll continue to focus on making those improvements. We want to have clarity and confidence in how we can defi ne, measure, and communicate our impact.

Fundamentally, becoming a B Corp provides us with a benchmark for continuous improvement where people, place and profit all sit comfortably alongside each other, and it underpins our purpose of guiding our clients, colleagues, and communities to a brighter future.

There is a growing desire for a better business model –one that benefits all stakeholders

In our exclusive Spotlight feature, we highlight women who are doing good things in their community. They’re not always seen but we think they should be.

SP OTLIGH T

Sophia Spencer

Founder and Director of Callisto Associates, Sophia Spencer, chats to us about her journey and her love and passion for what she does.

Once a “reluctant entrepreneur,” I now deeply appreciate the lessons I’ve learned from the entrepreneurial journey I never imagined I would take, and which has made me more resilient, courageous and confident than I would have believed possible.

Having thoroughly loved my corporate career, I genuinely feared swapping the security of employment for the unpredictability of freelance work. However, over time, I’ve grown to love running my own business more, valuing the freedom and flexibility it offers.

My company, Callisto Associates, has evolved over the past 12 years, shifting from a one-person show to a dynamic team of six, and now streamlined to myself and my amazing assistant, supported by a trusted network of multidisciplinary professionals. We work flexibly, offering specialised services when necessary, underscoring our adaptability in the face of change.

My mission is to empower ambitious entrepreneurs and assist them in maximising productivity while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I work directly with decisionmakers – primarily CEOs – delivering a wide variety of services which range from managing daily tasks like diary and inbox management, travel and event management, to more complex responsibilities such as designing and implementing sales and marketing campaigns, or providing ad hoc business consultancy and problem-solving sessions.

During the pandemic I set up and ran a tech business, managing an international team and personally navigated the terrain of seed funding and crowdfunding campaigns, which has provided me with the ability to offer first-hand insights and strategic advice. Regularly attending board meetings for several clients, I am intimately involved in decision-making processes.

Today, I am truly proud of what I’ve achieved with Callisto. All my clients have come to me through word of mouth (we haven’t had a website since 2015) and I feel genuine pleasure when I see them experiencing the success they seek both at work and in their personal lives.

www.twitter.com/CallistoAssoc

My mission is to empower ambitious entrepreneurs and assist them in maximising productivity

Rachel Watkyn

Rachel, founder and owner of the Tiny Box Company, shares with us some of her journey and her motivations

Rachel was ready to launch a fair-trade jewellery business when her sister suggested that she would need ethical, environmentally friendly packaging – but this proved to be tricky. Rachel noticed a gap in the market and set about creating her own line of packaging.

Thus, in 2007, Tiny Box Company was born. By 2022, Rachel’s business was serving approximately 120,000 customers in 42 countries... and counting. Here at Dynamic, we have been so impressed with what Rachel has built that we awarded her the Dynamic Business Award for Businesswoman of the Year 2022.

MY JOURNEY

As a child, I thought of the cost of everything in relation to sweets. ‘How many sweets could I buy with five pounds?’ I couldn’t ever find anything that measured up to the value of that sugary goodness and, to this day, still struggle.

I know what you’re thinking but no, I did not end up as the real-life Willy Wonka, as natural as that road of progression probably sounds. No, I went down the other obvious route –running a packaging company.

My childhood, being extremely destructive and unstable, had me bouncing between different schools for years. I came out the other side resilient, and eventually put myself through A-levels and university where I studied business.

After not being able to find beautiful, ethical packaging for a fairtrade-type jewellery business I had started, I created Tiny Box Company from my bedroom, hoping to fi ll a gap in the market for small businesses similar to mine who were looking for packaging solutions.

Fast forward, past Dragons’ Den, past immense growth, past every kind of challenge thrown at us, and we end up here – turning over around £10m.

MY MOTIVATIONS

Behind the scenes, I’ve faced my own personal challenges; the classic imposter syndrome and lack of self-confidence that so many women in business face. It’s an issue not helped by the lack of female role models in entrepreneurship. I’ve had three run-ins with cancer, the last ending in a double mastectomy just one month after deciding to take on a new venture called Know The Origin - talk about not being able to control the future.

Th rough all of these challenges, I’ve experienced the joy of watching three young people grow into confident, skilled managers, who have helped and supported me every step of the way. If all else had failed, my proudest moments have been watching them grow into the people they are.

I still have a lot to do, though. My biggest passion is supporting young people in business. Knowing that someone might hear my story and think ‘I can do that too,’ is enough motivation to get me out of bed in the morning.

www.tinyboxcompany.co.uk

Behind the scenes, I’ve faced my own personal challenges; the classic imposter syndrome and lack of self-confidence

I’m fed up with the casual bandying around of the term ‘Superwoman’. Coined 40 years ago by a Cosmopolitan editor, it is now time to be merciful and give Superwoman a well-deserved rest. By Tess

de Klerk

Away with you, Superwoman!

Superwoman, someone who can apparently effortlessly juggle a successful career (and side-hustle – why not?), raise well-rounded, privileged children and have a delightful partner at their perfectly kept home has become deeply ingrained in our society. It is often seen as the pinnacle of female achievement, a standard that women are expected to meet or surpass. However, this idealised image of the superwoman is not only unrealistic but also harmful to women’s mental and physical wellbeing.

Listening to exhausted working mothers, desperately trying to do it all, anxiously doubting their ability to do it all, feeling disheartened by the constant stream of ‘success stories’ shared by their peers on social media, leading them to question their own worth and why they don’t always feel capable of handling the workload as effortlessly, stylishly, or gracefully as others seem to, leads me to propose the idea that the term superwoman, despite its frequent use, is a harmful and disempowering cocept. It has become an impossible competition that challenges us to prove who is doing the most, creating an environment where it seems we should strive to be the busiest woman. But having it all should not be mistaken for doing it all.

In fact, Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz first coined the term ‘superwoman syndrome’ in 1984 in her book of the same name, suggesting it comes to pass when a woman neglects herself as she strives to achieve perfection in every role she is fulfilling, measuring success or failure against tangible outputs.

These days ‘syndrome’ has fallen away and we are left with only ‘superwomen’, the term too often implying that women should be able to handle everything, without any assistance or support. It creates an unrealistic expectation that women should excel in all areas of their lives

TIRED EXCUSE

A recent YouGov poll for World Cancer Research asked 2,086 UK adults what prevented them from taking better care of their health with results showing 29% of men and 40% of women answering, ‘feeling too tired’.

simultaneously, without experiencing any setbacks or moments of vulnerability. By glorifying the superwoman archetype, we discourage people from seeking help or relying on others, perpetuating the notion that asking for assistance is a sign of weakness.

The danger in being surrounded by falsely-perceived superwomen is that we may feel compelled to constantly prove ourselves and measure up to the seemingly effortless accomplishments of others, which too often completes the circle of self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. This pressure to be superhuman can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout which then, all too often, is taken as a sign that we’re not capable enough, smart enough, strong enough to have everything we want. And to add insult to injury, recent published studies have suggested thatsociety tends to hold women to a higher standard than men and rewards them for not making mistakes.

Another problem with the outdated Superwoman notion is that it suggests that women can ‘have it all’ without making any sacrifices – but I am yet to meet such a woman. In reality, achieving balance requires making difficult choices and setting priorities. By promoting the idea that women can effortlessly do it all, we dismiss the challenges and sacrifices that women make behind the scenes. Without recognition there are no ‘thank you’s.

Additionally the term opens the door to undermine the importance of support systems and sharing responsibilities. No one can do everything alone, and the expectation that women can simply multi-task more is unfair and unrealistic. We are led to believe that the extra load should be an honour to carry but being congratulated and admired for taking on more than your fair share can be an insidious type of manipulation, after all heaping onto your load is lightening someone else’s.

So, let us be kind, let us be conscious. Keep in mind that we all have our own unique circumstances and that gushing over a fellow female’s superhuman abilities to seemingly do it all is likely more harmful than helpful. Let us measure success not by how much we do but by how well we prioritise and find fulfilment in various aspects of life. We should celebrate the strength and resilience of women without pressuring them to be superhuman.

You can't do it all. No one can have two full-time jobs, have perfect children, and cook three meals, and be multi-orgasmic 'til dawn...

Superwoman is the adversary of the women's movement

Gloria Steinem

FURTHER READING…

STRATEGIES TO USE TO REDUCE MICROAGGRESSIONS IN THE WORKPLACE

Introducing Jenny Garrett OBE, who is an award-winning career coach, diversity expert, TEDx speaker and author of ‘Equality vs Equity: Tackling Issues of Race in the Workplace’. She is also co-founder of a social enterprise Rocking Ur Teens which connects corporates with a pipeline of future talent. Here, Jenny shares some of her wisdom with us.

Retaining diverse talent is a huge challenge for organisations right now. Staff will not stay in organisations where they must endure death by a thousand paper cuts, as microaggressions are often described.

Microaggressions are statements, actions, or incidents regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of an underrepresented group, such as women and those from ethnically-diverse backgrounds.

Microaggressions can look like the four Ds below. Here’s how to challenge them and, as a result, reduce the instances of them happening in your workplace:

• e double takes – Assuming that a colleague isn’t senior because they are from an underrepresented group “Th is meeting is for grade x only, you must be in the wrong room.”

What would make you question their grade; the meeting invites to the people who should be in the room?

INVISIBLE WOMEN DATA BIAS IN A WORLD DESIGNED FOR MEN

Caroline Criado Perez Vintage Publishing 2019

Winner of the 2019 Financial Times; the McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award, and Winner of the 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize. From economic development, to healthcare, to education and public policy, we rely on numbers to allocate resources and make decisions. Because so much data fails to take into account gender, it treats men as the default and women as atypical; meaning bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. Caroline Criado Perez investigates this shocking root cause of gender inequality.

❛ ❛ Gender equality is the goal that will help abolish poverty that will create more equal economies, fairer societies and happier men, women and children

Graça Machel

• e doubting - Questioning colleagues from underrepresented groups on their education as their level of intelligence surpasses others’ biased expectations of them. ‘You’re really intelligent aren’t you? What university/school did you attend? You’re so articulate.’

Everyone here is intelligent we only recruit the best. If you want to give your colleague a compliment, let’s make it constructive.

• e dismissals - When someone from an underrepresented group shares an experience of pay discrimination, and they receive the response ‘Why are you worrying about a pay rise? Your partner can support you, can’t they?’

You may not have meant to offend, but referencing someone’s partner is not relevant in pay discussions or decisions. Let’s factually assess who has earned a pay rise.

• e domain - Your environment illustrates that certain people succeed there, illustrated by the books on the shelves, the photos of past post holders on the wall and so much more.

We seem to only buy books from certain authors. Are we inadvertently saying that wisdom only comes from one part of the world? How can we change this?

Reducing microaggressions is a step toward enabling leaders to recruit, manage and promote differently resulting in more inclusive, productive, and profitable workplaces.

Jenny Garrett OBE is an award-winning career coach, leadership trainer, speaker and author of Equality vs Equity: Tackling Issues of Race in the Workplace.

RUN TO WIN

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN

CHANGING THE WORLD

Stephanie Schriock, Christina

Reynolds, Kamala Harris

Dutton 2021

Run to Win is for all women who are looking to lead and comes with impressive endorsements.

“I have long believed that women who dream big, work hard, and get back up after they get knocked down can do anything; Stephanie Schriock is one of those women. I’m so glad her thoughtful guidance is now available for women everywhere.”—Hillary Rodham Clinton.

UNDAUNTED

OVERCOMING DOUBTS AND DOUBTERS

Kara Goldin

Harper Collins 2020

A Wall Street Journal bestselling business book, Undaunted is one woman’s journey past doubts and doubters to become the award-winning CEO of Hint water. After interviewing dozens of business leaders for her podcast, Kara Goldin uncovered the overarching key to their success based on the way they handle and move past obstacles and their own insecurities, which she unpacks in these pages.

Reducing microaggressions is a step toward enabling leaders to recruit, manage and promote differently resulting in more inclusive, productive, and profitable workplaces

The works of P.X. Miranda

By KELLIE MILLER

ART SCENE Windows of the Soul

The saying ‘the eyes are the windows of the soul’ has been attributed to William Shakespeare. However, the exact origins are unknown and could be accredited to the bible or derived from the Arab world.

Paulo Coelho de Souza, lyricist and novelist, states: “The eyes are the mirror of the soul and reflect everything that seems to be hidden; and, like a mirror, they also reflect the person looking into them.”

Shakespeare suggests that the eyes reflect emotions and fears communicated through the gaze. The eyes will reveal a person’s true nature. Coelho goes one step further to include the viewer, the person looking into the eyes of another.

Chilean artist Paulina X Miranda (P.X. Miranda) captures these moments in the eyes of her portraits. The eyes mesmerise us and draw us in. We wonder who these characters are and what stories they could tell.

Paulina is fascinated by history and historical figures. She uses literature, poetry and music as inspiration for her paintings. She combines these elements to create thoughtfully composed works, giving them a timeless and narrative quality. Medieval tapestry, the Arts & Crafts movement, Renaissance portraiture and William Morris also inform her art.

P.X. Miranda’s oil paintings unapologetically embrace nature and beauty. As Paulina’s artistic skill, vision, and style continue to evolve, her work is formulated into specific series that aspires to seek harmony between certain cultural and natural elements.

To aspire to harmony and beauty in one’s work is a powerful message, celebrated in the various details she includes in her pieces. Her portrait paintings are bold, with a contemporary twist on historical characters. An intensity emanating through the eyes of each painting invites us to explore each subject in her works while being lured into their stories.

Her earliest collection, Los Despiertos (The Awakened), began with an assemblage of notable historical portraiture (primarily, but not exclusively, from the Renaissance and Mannerism periods). With a deep interest in consciousness, Paulina sought to revive these figures through her process, providing them with a new narrative.

Building on this idea, the Los que Saben (Those Who Know) series introduced a symbolic emblem on the chest of her portraits. Placed above the heart, these symbols offer subtext, further unfolding her subjects’ stories.

P.X. Miranda is an acclaimed artist whose works are highly collected and celebrated, and Kellie Miller Arts is the fi rst gallery to represent her works.

Kellie Miller is an artist, curator, critic and gallery owner. www.kelliemillerarts.com

Paulina is fascinated by history and historical figures. She uses literature, poetry and music as inspiration for her paintings

Leonardslee House is where timeless elegance meets nature’s grandeur, nestled in the lush countryside of West Sussex, a mere half an hour’s drive from Gatwick.

By TESS DE KLERK

Leonardslee House: a tranquil oasis

You’ll fi nd a luxurious haven for those seeking something really special; a place of beauty and romance reminiscent of a bygone era. From the moment we set foot onto the grounds of Leonardslee House, the hustle and bustle of the outside world melted away as we were welcomed by professional staff exuding genuine warmth and hospitality. They were clearly proud of where they work and it was easy to see why; Leonardslee House and its gardens are simply lovely.

Built in 1855, this Italianate manor house has been carefully restored to now seamlessly blend classic grandeur with touches of the contemporary to welcome guests into a world of understated opulence. I loved the tasteful fusion of period antiques, plush furnishings and modern art. I also loved the indulgent use of open space - there’s nothing cramped or stuff y here - and the atmosphere of bygone elegance.

ROOMS

Leonardslee offers ten bespoke guest rooms, each with country-house charm, each individually decorated, stamped with the style of designers such as William Morris and Penny Morrison. No shiny bling here; think more along the lines of a classic English Garden. Our suite was the spacious Magnolia and all I can say is that if you can book Magnolia then do, you won’t regret it. Not a single detail overlooked while the relaxing, muted pastels work well to lull one into sublime submission. Pastels can so easily feel outdated, but they don’t here. The views are stunning, including from the roll-top bath. All the bedrooms at Leonardslee offer en-suites and their own unique, feminine loveliness.

I loved the tasteful fusion of period antiques, plush furnishings and modern art

+ EXTRAS

• Guests have the privilege of after-hours full access to the spectacular Grade 1 listed gardens

• Enjoy a delectable English afternoon tea while gazing over the beautiful gardens

• Follow Leonardslee’s Sculpture Trail

• Peek at the Doll’s House Museum where you’ll see the estate and neighbouring villages at a 1:12 scale.

• Visit Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate (3 miles away) which is under the same ownership as Leonardslee, for golf and wine tasting.

WINE & DINE

Find the cosy little bar for creative pre-dinner drinks before being dazzled at Interlude, Leonardslee’s Michelinstarred restaurant with ever-changing set menus based on the 240-acre outdoor pantry. Our 18-course taster menu deserves a review on its own – read more about it in the following pages.

The overall atmosphere of Leonardslee House is one of ease and indulgence. Members of staff are warm and attentive, ensuring that every guest feels like a cherished visitor. The serene surroundings and gentle melody of chirping birds provide the perfect backdrop for unwinding and immersing oneself in the beauty of nature. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway or a peaceful retreat, the hotel’s ambience sets the stage for a truly memorable experience. Take someone special – you won’t regret it.

From £355 per night, inc breakfast

www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/leonardslee-house

ease and indulgence

+ GOOD TO KNOW

• ACCESSIBILITY: Bedrooms are not wheelchair friendly. Restaurants are accessible and large parts of the gardens are too.

• FAMILY-FRIENDLY: Yes. Family bedrooms are available.

• PET-FRIENDLY: Only guide dogs allowed in Leonardslee House. The gardens welcome well-behaved dogs.

The overall atmosphere of Leonardslee House is one of

RESTAURANT INTERLUDE pure artistry

By TESS DE KLERK

Michellin-starred Restaurant Interlude continues the impeccable attention to detail found at Leonardslee House; a continuation of a unique old-world elegance blended with modern tastes. The very talented South African-born executive chef, Jean Delport, is truly an artist who uses food as his medium. And what a palette he has! The entire 240-hectare woodland estate that is Leonardslee is his to forage, his to ponder, his to experiment his alchemist ways with, and that he does.

Ever wondered what an 18-course menu looks like?

His degustation menus adjust with the seasons and are guided by what is available in the garden, aiming at bringing the gardens to life within his restaurant. And I feel that was skilfully achieved; never before had I known the taste of pine trees or the silver birch I had so admired earlier in the day – fl avours clearly coaxed out with great care.

But don’t expect just a meal at Interlude – expect something akin to theatre. Guests are invited to woodland-inspired pre-dinner cocktails at the charming little bar before being escorted to the spacious manor house dining area where staff are attentive to a fault.

The enthusiasm and knowledge of servers and the convivial sommelier, Simba, are apparent. Each plate of the 18-course sample menu is explained, in detail and accompanied by a little map showing where the ingredients were taken from the gardens. Stunningly creative dishes appeared in front of me with flourish, paired with a selection of fantastic South African wines and pure artistry in presentation. I was slightly concerned that such a lengthy menu would become dreary but the evening flew by in a haze of wonder and perfectly paired wines.

It’s easy to maintain razor-sharp attention to detail in the planning, execution and serving of a three-course meal but 18? Yet, not a crumb out of place, nor a hair of the servers askew during Interlude’s delectable production. A true feat.

www.restaurant-interlude.co.uk

+ THE MENU

Ever wondered what an 18-course menu looks like?

1 Estate venison

2 Foraged flan - start of spring

3 Poached oyster - nettle, kaffir lime

4 Scallop - Exmoor caviar - Alexanders

5 Vetkoek - lobster, wild garlic

6 Rabbit ears carrot

7 Trenchmore beef - pumpkin - pine

8 Potbread - wild seeds, fermented honey

9 Snail porridge - bone marrow, oak

10 Chef’s pasture raised egg

11 Turbot - juniper, Sussex saffron

12 Shot pheasant - black pudding

13 Baron bigod - preserved damson

14 Sloe berry - Leonardslee gin, nasturtium

15 Elder - blackberry, local raw milk

16 Our honey - sunflower, marigold

17 Bespoke Sussex chocolate - yeast, birch

18 Woodland box

Don’t expect just a meal at Interlude – expect something akin to theatre

MOM, HOW DID YOU MEET THE BEATLES?

Chichester

In the Swinging ‘60s, playwright Adrienne Kennedy leaves New York for London, intent on adapting John Lennon’s book ‘In His Own Write’ for the stage, though things don’t go to plan. Kennedy’s autobiographical play is a mesmerising and disquieting tale of a young Black woman’s betrayal at the hands of the establishment.

Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester

June 16th - July 8th

www.cft.org.uk/events/ mom-how-did-you-meet-the-beatles

WHAT’S ON...

A brief snapshot of art and culture in Sussex and Surrey

ROTHESAY INTERNATIONAL

Eastbourne

June will see Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park open its doors once again to the Rothesay International (Eastbourne) WTA tournament, which has run in Eastbourne since 1975, showcasing some of the world’s finest female tennis talent as well as the men from the ATP tour as they prepare for Wimbledon.

Devonshire Park, Eastbourne

June 25th - July 1st www.lta.org.uk/fan-zone/international/ rothesay-international-eastbourne

AUSTIN 7s

Lamberhurst

Join us for the Pre-War & Classic Transport Rally & Picnic. A great chance to see some classic pre-1978 cars, commercials and motorbikes, chat about classic cars with other enthusiasts, and maybe even acquire some spare parts at the auto jumble. Open to all pre-war cars, motor cycles, vans etc and post-war classics up to 1978.

Bewl Water, Lamberhurst

June 18th

www.bewlwater.co.uk

THE WHO – HITS BACK!

Hove

See the legendary rock band The Who - live in Hove! The band are set to perform music from throughout their nearly 60-year career, including sections devoted to classic albums ‘Tommy’ and ‘Quadrophenia’, as well as other beloved Who songs. They will conclude their UK tour at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove on Sunday 23rd July 2023. They will also be supported by UB40 featuring Ali Campbell.

The 1st Central County Ground, Hove July 23rd https://sussexcricket.co.uk/the-who

AN EVENING WITH DAME JOANNA LUMLEY

Polegate

Join us for entertainment and al fresco dining at the luxurious Folkington Manor. The evening’s entertainment will consist of performances by the talented Orpheus students.

Sir Richard Stilgoe will then be joined by special guest Dame Joanna Lumley for a fun, enlightening conversation about her ‘fabulous’ career!

Folkington Manor, Polegate

July 15th

www.orpheus.org.uk/ event/folkington-manor

LOVE SUPREME FESTIVAL

Glynde

The Love Supreme Jazz Festival is a three-day greenfield jazz festival held in the first weekend of July in the stunning surroundings of Glynde Place. It is the first full weekend camping jazz festival in the UK but also welcomes day-trippers and non-camping weekend visitors.

Glynde Place, Glynde

June 30th. - July 2nd

https://lovesupremefestival.com

NAKED HEART WALK

Nr Horsham

Working with British Naturism to host an early evening Naked Heart Walk at Leonardslee to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Get your heart racing on the Naked Heart Walks while you ditch your clothes or be semi-clothed and meet like-minded people as you experience the joys of being naked in the great outdoors of our 240-acre gardens.

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Lower Beeding

June 17th

www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/ all-events/british-heart-foundationnaked-heart-walk

SPECIAL ROSE WEEK

Nr Wadhurst

The roses are glorious at Pashley Manor – the perfect time to visit with a Special Rose Week at this English garden on the border of Sussex and Kent. Over the Special Rose Week, you can take a guided rose themed walk round the gardens, and there is a great selection of potted roses, from 27-times Chelsea Gold Medal winners Peter Beales Roses.

Pashley Manor, Ticehurst

June 16th-24th

www.pashleymanorgardens.com/ events/special-rose-week

PHOTO CREDIT: KATE-WILSON

Pull up to the bumper, Baby...

By FIONA SHAFER

For a little change, I thought I would go ‘off-piste’ this month and write a piece on a subject that is often discussed – your favourite driving tunes.

The trouble with coming up with bright ideas that people have a lot of opinions on – within a limited framework – is that we tend to break the rules. That is definitely what happens when you asked four seasoned entrepreneurs to name their ‘Top Five Driving Tracks’ – and why…

Fiona Shafer MD of MDHUB, and Dynamic Motoring Editor

Where do I start? Music of all genres from a very, very early age has played, and continues to play, such a massive part in my life. Most of my favourite driving tracks are high energy songs that make my heart literally swell and do great job of keeping me focused on the road ahead, especially on long road trips which I love to take.

1. ‘Sweet Emotion’ by Aerosmith

2. ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin

3. ‘Moving on Up’ by Primal Scream

4. ‘Like Sugar’ by Chaka Khan

5. ‘Pull Up to the Bumper’ by Grace Jones

Driving at night, especially on a warm, summer’s evening with the roof down on my old Saab Convertible has been one of life’s very sweet pleasures, especially when listening to ‘Lover Come Back’ by City and Colour, ‘Give Me One Reason’ by Tracey Chapman or finally, the timeless and beautiful ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon

Phil Green Director of MDHUB

The whole concept of driving songs evokes blue sky, sun, an open-top car (’65 Mustang?) and open road. Sadly, the reality of a closed in car on a miserable wet day in a M25 gridlock is more likely. However, the music can make the difference to my mood regardless of what’s happening outside.

But what to play? I guess a classic – ‘Born to Run’ by Bruce Springsteen is always high on the list for pure energy lifting power in its nice build up and driving chorus.

If I need a quicker mood transformation, then ‘American Idiot’ by Green Day wakes me up. ‘A Town Called Malice’ by The Jam is a more lyrical lift but still a big steering wheel tapper. If I need to cool down then ’20 Years’ by The Civil Wars or ‘Killing the Blues’ by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss fits the bill. The de-stress chill out is between William Grant Still with his ‘Afro-American Symphony’ or ‘Beethoven’s Pastorale’

I’ve already gone over five driving songs but as I always have music on in the car it is difficult to limit – so an honourable mention to: ‘I Still Believe’ by Frank Turner; ‘The Jean Genie’ by Bowie (I get a mention in that one – have a listen) and ‘Watching The Detectives’ by Elvis Costello.

Maarten Hoffmann

CEO, Platinum Media Group and Group Motoring Editor for Platinum

Fiona’s not wrong, how on earth to get this to five! I have a confession to make – l am a singer (in the car) and quite what l look like to passing cars, l dread to think. Also, l used to work professionally in music and the best tracks to me are all memory tunes – they take me straight back to a time and place that even photos can’t do.

• ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder

The Valbonne Club in Carnaby Street with dancers on a rostrum in a pool, and this was playing when some clown threw five piranhas in the pool as the track was drowned out by screaming.

• ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ by ZZ Top

During the Live Aid week, l produced Fashion Aid, a huge live show in London with 6,000 guests, all famous designers and live TV. Jean Paul Gautier did a scene to this track and watching supermodels strut down the catwalk, dressed as ZZ Top, beards and all, will remain in my memory – and that of Prince Charles who was in attendance, but perhaps for different reasons...

Nikki Gatenby

Non Exec Director, Guest Speaker, MDHUB Advisory Board Member and bestselling author of ‘Superengaged’ and ‘Better Business on Purpose’

It’s like carpool karaoke in my car... so many to choose from, here’s an eclectic mix of what’s on my playlist at any given moment when jumping behind the wheel:

• ‘Pump It Up’ by Elvis Costello

You cannot help but tap it out on the steering wheel.

• ‘Mr Brightside’ by The Killers That riff into the classic singalong makes any journey go a little bit faster. After all, destiny is calling me…

• ‘One Kiss’ by Dua Lipa Shoulder raises from the very first beat, you cannot sit still with Dua in your ears.

• ‘Get Lucky’ by Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers – plectrum at the ready.

• ‘Ride It’ by Regard - I defy you not to head-bop and chill; perfect for a long winding road.

Basically, any track with the potential for a singalong, air guitar, air drums or the odd percussion clap has to be a winner (with both hands on the steering wheel at all times, obvs).

• ‘Fool on the Hill’ by Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 l lost my virginity to this track in the Bluebell dancers dressing room at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club – nuff said! Only now do l appreciate the irony of the name of the song!

• ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ by James Taylor

His voice just gets me every time. l last saw him in Brighton in 2022. Every track is a winner and this got me to Tignes and back in a Lamborghini, playing the one album all the way and singing like a screaming banshee.

• Anything by Barry White and that’s… (not the name of a song) anything. He was the great love whale and, much to the chagrin of two of my four children, l occasionally remind them that they were conceived to ‘Can’t Get Enough of Your Love’ It is my unalienable right as a father to embarrass my children.

And you cannot forget in any list ‘Killing Me Softly’ by Roberta Flacka seminal track for ever.