VENUS ny
E mo UID Cere G UR rset YO s Do rd wa sA
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DORSET ISSUE 1
TARA
MUSSELL DORSET’S QUEEN OF SOFTWARE
OUR HANDBAG PICKS FOR THE BOARDROOM LILACH BULLOCK How to use social media to grow your business
WHY FEMALE
ROLE MODELS
ARE CRUCIAL TO BUSINESS SUCCESS
BARBARA COX
10 TIPS FOR
EATING AT YOUR DESK
Awards, Competitions & Qualifications
Judged and voted by the Industry at The NAILYMPICS Top UK Nail Professional 2013 Top UK Nail Professional 2012 Top UK Nail Professional 2011
NAILYMPICS 2013 – Gold Medal NAILYMPICS 2012 – Gold Medal International Nail Championships 2012 – Bronze Medal NAILYMPICS 2011 – Gold Medal and Silver Medal
Scratch Stars Finalist – Liquid & Powder Professional 2014 Scratch Stars Finalist – Liquid & Powder Professional 2013 Scratch Starts Finalist – Nail Artist of the Year 2012 Scratch Stars Finalist – Liquid & Powder Professional 2012
CND Masters - Gel and Acrylic Systems EZFLOW Masters - Gel and Acrylic Systems Denisenko Academy - Silver Brush & Gold Brush
Venus Business Award Winner Employer of the Year 2013
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FEATURE
BUSINESS
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
COVER STORY
COVER STORY
COVER STORY
COVER STORY
15
20 Our handbag picks for the boardroom
Why female role models are crucial to business success COVER STORY
46 Tara Mussell Dorset’s queen of software
24 Lilach Bullock
How to use social media to grow your business
10 Barbara Cox
10 tips for eating at your desk
56 Ally Case
Five of the best romantic European getaways
VENUS AWARDS DORSET CEREMONY PROGRAM Inspirational Woman in Technology 28
Business Mother of the Year
Digital Media & Online Business
29
Manager of the Year
New Business Networker of the Year Entrepreneur of the Year
33
Professional of the Year
40
36
Small Business
41
30
Influential Woman of the Year 37
Customer Service
42
31
Inspiring Woman
38
Marketing & PR
43
32
Musical Talent
39
Company of the Year
44
INSPIRATION Q&A
CREDITS & CONTRIBUTORS Editorial (44)+1202 559039 info@venusawards.co.uk Publisher Venus Awards Ltd Editor Dr Susan England Features Rachel Hall Designer Sebastian Hall Cover & Feature Photography Zelda De Hollander Studio Shotz Photography Writers & Contributors Lilach Bullock Barbara Cox Ally Case Tara Howard Advertising (44)+1202 559039 charlotte@venusawards.co.uk
52 Fizzing with success Amanda Thomson and Skinny Champagne
EDITORIAL
52 Lucinda Bilboe CEO and Founder of BOXXX
Welcome to the first Dorset edition of the Venus magazine. This edition features interviews of successful business women, business articles, some top tips and lifestyle features for women in business. Lilach Bullock, our very own UK based social media Consultant was recently listed on Forbes as one of the top 20 women power inuencers. She shares her insights into business growth with social media.
Published by Venus Awards Ltd www.venusawards.co.uk Distributed by Venus Awards Ltd Follow us @WomensAwards @venus_voice Disclaimer: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in or re-introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the Venus Awards Ltd.
Barbara Cox, leading nutritionist and co-author of my favourite cookbook Rainbow Recipes, shares her top tips for eating at your desk. The Venus team scoured the online shops for the best business handbags, a favourite accessory of mine! Also please keep an eye out on our social media channels for the launch date of our new website VenusVoice.co.uk. In a nutshell, Venus Voice will be the place where local female entrepreneurs and
business women can ďŹ nd useful information, advice, insights, resources and inspiration for running and growing their businesses. Super importantly, this is our special Awards Ceremony edition and introduces the wonderfully inspirational 2016 Dorset Venus Awards Finalists. We hope you enjoy it.
where unique doesn’t have to be expensive
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10 tips for eating at your
1
Chew slooowwwly Many people eat as if they’re in a race to get the food in their stomach as fast as they can. They shovel the food into their mouth, chew for a few seconds and then swallow. What they’re not realising is that the process of chewing is actually a vitally important first stage in digestion due to the effects of an enzyme in our saliva. Slow down and chew for longer and you should see an improvement in your digestion.
2
Don’t eat on autopilot Commonly, when we eat at our desks, we’re not focusing on our food but on our work instead. This habit can lead to poor portion control, weight gain and digestive problems.
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4 10
Don’t overeat Picking on food all day in addition to having main meals at regular intervals can lead to weight gain, digestive problems and lethargy.
Avoid feeding bacteria Keep your desk, keyboard and phone clean so you’re not creating a feeding ground for bacteria! Wash your hands or use hand wipes to cut the risk of germs spreading. Bring food from home in an insulated cool bag with an ice pack and store them properly in a fridge. Finally, if you’re going to heat something, do so thoroughly so that you kill any bacteria. Half-hearted warming won’t kill bacteria but will actually give them the nice cosy conditions they need to multiply.
5
Keep hydrated Your brain is at least 85% water so keep it hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. Offices with commercial air handling systems can be quite dry so make sure you’ve got a plentiful supply of water.
VENUS LIFESTYLE
desk with Barbara Cox
6 Watch out – while you’re sitting at your desk expanding the boss’s profits, you may be expanding your own waist line! If you’re in the habit of eating at your desk, you’ll be well advised to bear in mind the following top ten tips.
Beware of caffeine overload Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, energy drinks and some soft drinks are relatively harmless in small quantity. However, too many can cause dehydration and caffeine overload, leading to sleepless nights and underperformance the next day.
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Eat at regular intervals Skipping meals can cause a drop in your blood sugar levels that lead to dizzy spells and lack of concentration. Make sure you go to work after having a good breakfast – cereals with dairy-free milk are best. Don’t skip lunch and don’t eat dinner too late or you won’t enjoy a good night’s rest.
Healthy snacks If you feel the need to snack between meals, first have a glass of water – people often mistake thirst for hunger. If you do need a bite to eat, go for something like fruit or a cereal bar that’s free from additives. Beware that junk food doesn’t give you the prolonged energy flow you need to get through a busy day. After an initial energy rush, sugary food often leads to a drop in blood sugar levels causing the jitters, sugar cravings, a lack of concentration and lethargy.
9 10
Don’t drink and eat If you’re having a meal or a snack, avoid the temptation to drink anything with it. Your digestive juices are trying their hardest to break down your food, so the last thing they need is for you to start diluting them, even if it’s with a glass of pure spring water.
Barbara Cox is an expert nutritionist who owns and runs BC Nutrition Ltd
Don’t drink and eat Christmas and birthday parties don’t have to be unhealthy. Organize fruit and vegetable platters and a healthy snack hamper. As for the booze, you can’t find anything better than an organic Cabernet Sauvignon, which contains cancer-fighting antioxidants.
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What is Extra Help? Extra Help is a management franchise network that operates in a rapidly growing, recession-resilient market. ¢ȱ ȱĚ ¡ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ literally anyone who needs them, from the elderly to new parents and working professionals. ȱ ȱ ǰȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ meet those clients’ requirements. Extra Help’s unique, Ȭ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱĚ ¡ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ with. For example, if you have elderly relatives who live alone, you’ll understand what’s important to them and ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ children, you’ll understand the issues that other parents face and can tailor your services accordingly.
Could you be Extra Help’s next franchisee? Extra Help is currently searching for caring and motivated franchisees to join their growing ǯȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ franchise team today:
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The Extra Help franchise package Investment: £12,000 Extra Help’s franchise package provides you with everything you need to get started immediately. You receive your own, unique, post-coded territory; promotional literature and stationery; a telephone ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ email address; regular marketing and social media Dzȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Plus, Extra Help will even pay your Health and Social ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ¢ Ƿȱ
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VENUS
BUSINESS
Why female role models are crucial to business success
H
SBC’s latest report to mark International Women’s Day 2016 surveyed 501 entrepreneurs from the UK showing female entrepreneurs are building businesses with a higher turnover than their male counterparts, with an average turnover of £4.1m in 2015 compared to £4m for their male counterparts. This is tremendously uplifting because it’s testament to the resourcefulness and ingenuity of female entrepreneurs – yet it doesn’t quite show the whole story, which is that female entrepreneurs also fail in greater numbers than their male counterparts. One of the reasons given for women not being able to realise their full potential as entrepreneurs and professional working women is the lack of female role models and mentors. It’s fair to say that unlike men, women still do not have easy access to a contacts network, something invaluable when starting up your own business or climbing the corporate ladder. In other words the “Old Boy Network” is not matched, yet, with an “Old Girl Network”. There is a generational ballast of successful role models that men can emulate or approach
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for mentoring. For every Richard Branson, Bill Gates or Martin Sorrell there’s likely been a whole regiment of successful business men in their lives who have helped them along the way, perhaps by encouraging a change of direction, offering fresh insights or perspectives, helping with the development of new products or services, or even investing. It’s not really surprising that a whole publishing industry sprang into life in the twentieth century and continues to prosper from the wisdom distilled by successful business men in each generation. Think of Dale Carnegie whose best-selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People, continues to sell in big numbers, and was first published in 1936. Because the simple truth is that no woman (or man) is an island. It’s not just that women are up against gender bias in the workplace, nor that women are lacking in energy or determination to succeed. It’s also partly because women are not so at ease about shaking off the natural inhibition to ask for referrals and new business opportunities. I think this inhibition can sometimes extend to reaching out to other women who can give them good ideas, encouragement, and new contacts; and to networking actively and aspiring to build an ecosystem of connections in their industry sector and way beyond. Not having a tangible reference point for successful female entrepreneurship and corporate advancement does have an effect on aspiration; the chance to make your dreams and ambitions a reality. I truly believe that this can be transformed by women who have spending power either in their own businesses or as managers of corporate budgets, say in marketing, PR or CSR
VENUS (Corporate Social Responsibility). Through these channels they can support female entrepreneurship and professional development with a variety of initiatives such as sponsorship, female networking events, business lunches, professional coaching, charitable and social enterprise collaborations, PR campaigns, and online mentoring and business coaching. Successful women in STEM and STEMM are doing more by the day to reach out to young women who are at the beginning of their careers; and professional women
countries, from Myanmar to Austria, and Chile to Croatia. Being able to see women in positions of political power and international influence can only reinforce the idea that women are fully able to reach the pinnacle of their chosen career. The 2012 research study “Leading by Example” undertaken by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) showed that the increased presence of local female political leaders helped to raise the career aspirations and educational performance of
BUSINESS
100 boardroom recruits in the six months to March 2016 were women, the lowest level since 2011. A positive in the report reveals that Diageo, the owner of Guinness, had the largest proportion of women on its board with five of 11 Boardroom seats at the drinks company occupied by women. However, fewer than 10% of the top three executives at any one UK company are women, with three companies, Shell, Babcock and Provident Financial having no women in executive jobs at all. This shows that there are still more people called John chairing Boards than there are women. I believe the Venus Awards are a good example of how women, when they come together, provide the very role models we need. We have a Venus family that every year brings more and more women into the fold across our operational regions. I am so proud of what our Venusians achieve in their lives, sometimes against incredible odds. Our ambition is to make the Venus brand and family one that will not just touch thousands but hundreds of thousands of women. Venus Awards is doing their bit to showcase what women achieve. With the vast female “hood” we can show that success for all women whether in business, work, education, politics and leadership is entirely do-able. But we mustn’t forget how important reaching out, establishing connections, nurturing relationships, and supporting each other’s dreams, is a potent way to change the conversation about women and success.
There are now 24 women who are either Heads of State such as our Queen, Elizabeth II or Premiers of their countries, from Myanmar to Austria, and Chile to Croatia. in the media can be brilliantly inspirational. The changing face of Women’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 now challenges many of the social norms about the lives of women, with a growing audience of male listeners. Musicians, artists, writers, the list goes on. The world of politics is also a key driver in creating female role models. Theresa May now occupies No. 10 Downing Street, the second woman to do so; Hillary Clinton is the first woman ever to be a U.S. Presidential candidate and the race for the White House is on; Angela Merkel is the most influential political leader in the European Union. There are now 24 women who are either Heads of State such as our Queen, Elizabeth II or Premiers of their
young women, the result being to decrease the gender gap. The other benefit to come from the greater presence and involvement of female role models is by sharing their personal experience of the work-life balance with other women. Just by relating their stories of success, how they prioritise, manage expectations, delegate, plan their time, juggle family life, is hugely helpful and inspirational. Women need to know that they can turn to women who have been there, done it, and got the tee-shirt! Yet, and even with the steadily growing numbers of visible female role models there is a lot of work to be done if the findings of the latest report from the Female FTSE Board Report are accurate. For instance, a quarter of FTSE
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GET YOUR BUSINESS NOTICED!
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• Supportive, Encouraging, Non-Competitive • We believe Networking and the Power of word of mouth marketing is an essential element in building and maintaining a successful business • We are a membership organisation we appeal to women who are serious about expanding their business by building their Network and their knowledge base via good conversations, connections and collaborations
Visit our website at www.wibn-ssw.co.uk or ring us on 01202 666637
• Helping you grow your business. • Let’s face it, Business Networking can be a bit hit and miss. There are plenty of them to choose from, but it can get disappointing very quickly if you don’t choose carefully. • First and foremost, The Boardroom Network is all about business. We focus on decision makers such as business owners, directors. Professionals and managers; those that can buy and sell. • Our monthly business breakfast events take the best of other networks with an engaging format, a commercial agenda (managed by our resident MC Jay Rachet) more open networking, one-to-ones and table swaps so you get the best out of your time. • Attitude - welcoming from the moment you step in the room. What better way to start the day!
Visit our website today www.theboardroomnetwork.com or call us: 01202 282336
Our handbag picks Sure handbags are sassy, stylish, and they can add a little flair to your outfit, but boardroom handbags have to be more than that. They should have a roomy interior, sturdy yet stylish leather finish, and strong straps so you can carry around your work essentials without any hassle. We have picked five of our favourite work-ready handbags from both designer and high-street brands to make sure that whatever your taste or needs, we’ve got you covered!
The Business Expert Jennifer Hamley Model KT
Right from the outset this bag is gorgeous; it’s vibrant and organized. This two-time winner at the prestigious Independent Handbag Designer Awards is more than a handbag, it’s a stylish all-in-one briefcase, the ultimate work bag for women. Even better the company itself specializes in business appropriate handbags which means that every detail is aimed towards making this bag practical and stylish.
Over 17 organizational compartments:
£395 The Eco-Warrior Mat & Nat Tacoma-Chili
This bag is just beautiful and vegan certified, making it a top pick for those of you who are eco-conscious. Structured, stylish and minimalist this handbag will go with any work outfit. It also comes with a detachable shoulder strap making it very good for commuting.
Environmentally Friendly:
Mat & Nat are committed to not using leather or any other animal-based products in their designs. Even better since 2007 they have only used linings that are made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles!
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That’s right - Model KT feature all those pockets, slots, and pouches to help you become more productive, more organized, and have all the important bits-and-bobs to hand whenever you need them.
£155
VENUS LIFESTYLE
for the boardroom
Lightweight Traveller £149 The KNOMO Curzon Shoulder Tote 15” We particularly love the light grey colour of this bag that will carry you stylishly through all seasons, so a great buy. KNOMO themselves are excellent for laptop bags and offer a wide range of bags to suit any style. Ultra Lightweight: Made from high quality linen-cotton blend with leather trim this bag is super lightweight, which is great when on the move. It’s also expandable with two handy poppers which will add extra capacity if needed.
The Label Lover
Burberry Large Banner in Leather and House Check Although not everyone will be interested in spending so much money on a bag, we wanted to highlight that you get what you pay for! With beautiful detailing and gorgeous quality this bag is a must for designer lovers.
Investment:
Although this bag is our most expensive bag choice we do think that buying a designer bag is somewhat of an investment. Not only is there a re-sale factor but also designer bags are notoriously more hard-wearing and last for years.
£29.99
£1,195
The Bargain Hunter Zara Convertible Crossbody Bag
Don’t let the minimalist look and appeal fool you; the handbag has a colossal interior large enough to house a 15-inch laptop or tablet. This bag also converts into a backpack to offer great support for when you have a heavier load to carry.
Low-Price High Quality:
We love this handbag and it’s a great buy for someone not looking to spend a fortune on a work handbag, and our least expensive option. Zara are a well-known brand that offer great quality products despite their affordable prices.
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CHAT TO OUR BUSINESS TEAM TODAY
Relax
insuring busy businesses is our business
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coversure.co.uk/poole
Grow your business
with social media by Lilach Bullock a digital marketing consultant and social media expert
1
First things first: make a plan
One of the things I’ve often noticed with businesses using social media is that there is no planning or strategy behind their updates. You can just tell that they’re posting the requisite few updates a day, a few blog posts, a few shares and they’re done. But if you truly want to get results from social media, this is simply not enough. The best way to make sure you get everything right is to create a strategy before you start posting anything. Start by setting your goals: what do you want to achieve from social media? Want more traffic to your blog? Want to improve your brand awareness and get more engagement with your target audience? Whatever your goal is, it makes it easier to create a strategy once you’re clear on your objectives. Afterwards, start creating your strategy: which social networks should you join? Who will manage each one of them? What types of updates should you post and how often? What hashtags should you be using in your updates?
2
Go where your audience is
Do you know where your audience is? Ideally, you should try and keep up profiles on several social networks so as to reach as many people as possible and to help you figure out which social network brings in the best results. That said, if you don’t have the resources to manage multiple social media profiles or you aren’t getting results because you’re stretched too thin, it’s better to focus on fewer networks and hopefully get more results. If you’re unsure which social platform is best for you, create profiles on multiple networks and use analytics to compare your results and figure out where you should be focusing your attention and resources.
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Here are seven ways that you can grow your business using social media.
3
Your brand voice
As a business, it’s very important to stay true to your brand voice while on social media. Set guidelines as to what types of updates you should post and what your tone of voice should be and make sure your team is made aware of them. It’s important that your social media profiles reflect your brand as sincerely as possible, including its brand voice.
4
Build a strong following
When working on building your social media following, it’s important to remember that quality trumps quantity. While having lots and lots of followers looks good and makes you feel good about yourself, what good does it do if that audience isn’t interested in your business or your social updates and aren’t taking action? Instead of focusing on getting as many followers as possible, try to find followers that share your interests and are active on the respective platform – this way, they are much more likely to engage with you, share your posts and click on your links; meaning, this is the way to get results. For Twitter, use a tool like Followerwonk to browse through bios and find perfect users to follow.
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The key to social media success is to engage as much as possible, with as many people as possible. Engaging is not just about sharing and retweeting posts, but rather starting and joining conversations actively with other users. Use a social media management tool like Agorapulse to monitor conversations and perform keyword searches and find conversations that you can join in real time. This way, you will not only improve your engagement levels, but you will also improve your following, get more traffic and improve your brand exposure.
BUSINESS
Social media influencers
Building relationships with social media influencers can really help you boost your success on social platforms. Influencers have a strong following on social media and their audience care about their opinions and views. Use a tool like BuzzSumo to research and identify influencers in your niche and start building a relationship with them by following and engaging with them as much as possible. Once you’ve solidified these relationships and you start getting mentions and shares from them, it can help you reach more people, get more engagement, get more traffic and improve your brand awareness. The results can be amazing; but you will need to keep at it as it can take time to build strong relationships. You might already have some influencers already following you on social media. Use a tool – the aforementioned Agorapulse can help you with this – to identify any influencers that might be following you and start building a relationship with them. The fact that they’re already following you will make it much easier!
7 5 Engage!
VENUS
Promote your content on social media
Social media is a perfect platform for sharing and promoting your content. If you have a blog, use your social profiles to promote your posts. Twitter is a particularly great platform for sharing blog posts, compared to Facebook for example. Mostly, because Twitter users are always on the lookout for great new content, there aren’t any algorithms keeping them from seeing your posts, and you can re-post your links several times.
Social media is a great marketing platform for promoting and growing your business online. Although it can take time to build a strong, engaged following, it’s very much worth it as it’s inexpensive and very efficient in improving reach, brand awareness, getting more traffic and more engagement. 25
Venus Spotlight Annette D’Abreo
Annette D’Abreo is Managing Director of Ceuta Healthcare UK, based in Bournemouth. She started the company 22 years ago with partner Edwin Bessant who is now the Group CEO. Over the last few years Ceuta Group has transformed into an integrated platform of highly praised outsourcing services. Ceuta manages and develops brands in OTC healthcare, and in food and drinks through its Go2Grocery division. The Ceuta International Alliance is a network of distributors around the world who fulfil similar services. Ceuta has enjoyed rapid and sustainable growth through build out its services to meet the needs of the fast changing retail sector with the acquisition of a range of companies offering field marketing, brand design and strategy, shopper insights and point 26
of sale design and manufacture. Annette, Edwin and the Ceuta business has been recognised in many awards over the past few years including winning industry brand marketing accolades and Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs. Ceuta is also a patron of The Prince’s Trust and is an Investors in People Gold company. Annette was most notably Asian Business Woman of the Year, Venus Director of the Year and Women in Business Director of the Year in 2015. Outside Ceuta she sits on the boards of the PAGB and Bournemouth University. ■
Ceuta Healthcare Recognised as the leading international outsource partner within the health and beauty sector, Ceuta Healthcare helps to launch, develop and build over-thecounter (OTC) brands in both UK and international markets. With an annual turnover of circa £50 million, D’Abreo is in charge of the UK arm, while co-founder and CEO Edwin Bessant looks after the international team and grocery division.
VENUS
AWARDS
Introducing the Dorset 2016
VENUS AWARDS
In Association With
Finalists The Venus Awards are special. They discover the unsung heroines working in local businesses and organisations. Venus calls attention to the vital contribution women make to their local economies and communities, their commitment and dedication. Staged in 10 regions across the UK, we are very excited to say the Dorset 2016 event marks the 25th Awards Ceremony. Tara Howard Founder of the Venus Awards
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VENUS
AWARDS
Inspirational Woman in Technology Jane Askew
Carers Connected
Jane’s an IT teacher and supporter to many people in Dorset, but mainly for the 60-95-year-olds. She teaches with tolerance, loves her job and is no doubt fulfilled. She aims to brighten people’s lives. Jane also loves yoga. Carers Connected aims to connect people with each other. A particular focus lies on those who care for loved ones. The service offers set-up, teaching and support. Teaching is based on the individual’s needs with tolerance and expertise.
Covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics disciplines
Emma Friendship-Kilburn Emm-Power Ltd
Emma is a tenacious and enthusiastic marketeer with a background in assisting Cloud Software and Technology clients discover and win new business and to break into international markets. Her focus and desire is for her clients and peers to succeed. Emm-Power Ltd is a direct marketing consultancy for SMEs with experienced B2B cold-callers at the helm with a focus on technology and analysis to optimize ongoing marketing and sales strategies.
Sponsored by
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK
Within the Dorset area we are one of the largest employers of scientific and technical staff with a workforce of over 200 employees, many of whom hold post degree qualifications and are members of professional institutes. Within the Company we pride ourselves on our innovation and world leading technology.
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Tania Humphries-Smith Bournemouth University
Tania is a Product Design Engineer who started her career in industry before moving to academia. Latterly she was Head of the Department of Design & Engineering at Bournemouth University; now she is Chair of the Institution of Engineering Designers and Associate Professor. Bournemouth University is a mediumsize university that offers a range of postgraduate and undergraduate courses in Product Design and Engineering Design as well as undertaking a variety of research activities in this field.
VENUS
AWARDS
Digital Media and Online Business Arabella Lewis-Smith Salad Creative
Arabella is in love with what she does. Her secret has been finding – and putting faith in – lovely, talented people who share that passion. Salad Creative is an award-winning creative company with a proven record of designing clearly defined brands and developing uniquely digital products and experiences.
Sponsored by
Ratio
50%+ online or develops/supports online technology We’re Ratio. We’re a software company. We make our own software. The team work together with a simple aim: to build products that bring simplicity, elegance and efficiency to complicated and archaic markets.
Karina Grassy Slumbersac Trading Company Ltd
Karina is an entrepreneur and hard-working and driven. She solely founded her business when she was a single parent mum with a 2-year-old girl. She is an inspiration to her team. Since the acquisition of the brand by MD Karina Grassy in 2012 Slumbersac Trading Company Ltd has become one of the leading children’s sleeping bag manufacturers and online retailer, successfully operating in Europe, Australia and the USA.
Eve Rykaczewska Supreme Baby Limited
Eve is very professional in her approach to her work, highly educated and a very-hard working individual always on the go. She is a successful business woman and mother of two who is always there to support others. Supreme Baby Limited is a young but very ambitious wholesale and distribution business established in 2012 and trading in the nursery sector. The aim of this company is to promote new ranges of European brands and products in the UK.
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AWARDS
New Business Sue is dedicated, friendly and always willing to help. She is very knowledgeable in her work and is always looking for ways to extend her knowledge. She’s also hard-working and gives every task 100% attention.
Sue Weller
Furry Feasts Ltd
Furry Feasts Ltd is a raw pet food shop which is approved by Defra. It produces all its minces fresh in the shop. It also sells meaty bones as well as carcass and dried natural treats.
A business less than two years old Tracey Verrall
NU-VO Hair and Beauty
Tracey is driven, hard-working and a true fighter who will never give up hope. She is determined to keep things running and provides her staff and clients with the best she can give. NU-VO is a busy modern salon with a great team. It now offers free help, beauty tips and makeovers for people who suffer from cancer and hair loss. Tracey was diagnosed with cancer herself and wants to give something back for the help that she received.
Sponsored by
Tigerlilly
Tigerlilly provide our customers with an exceptional nails and toes service. Offering all treatments from Shellac, Minx, Swarovski through to damaged natural nails and competition standard nails.
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Ali Dolphin
Mindful Solace Ltd
Ali is passionate about enabling and equipping others. She is dedicated in supporting people to release their potential and master their success and well-being. She is committed to her work and enthusiastic about facilitating opportunities for growth. Mindful Solace Ltd offers an eclectic mix of resources to enable people to find a sense of well-being. Courses to sleep well and manage stress, reiki and mindfulness, plus individual sessions are available. It commits to helping people feel great.
Networker of the Year Zelda is an established and professional female photographer operating from her Christchurch Photographic Studio.
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AWARDS
Zelda De Hollander Studio Shotz Photography
Studio Shotz Photography is an independent, boutique photographic studio based in Christchurch, Dorset. With an established and qualified photographer, Zelda de Hollander, Studio Shotz has many years’ experience in the photographic industry. Its photographic service is designed around its clients.
Consistently refers contacts with her business community
Dawn Cook
Dorset Women in Business Dawn is friendly, open, honest and great at connecting people. She helps them to find solutions for their health, wealth and business needs.
Lorna Trent
Parrot Enterprises Lorna is an excellent networker, delivering results through excellent communication and negotiation skills. She has an ability to think on her feet. Her working life has been spent bringing people together and making a difference to those working in Bournemouth. Networking can be time consuming and for some scary. Parrot can help by networking on your behalf. You can gain the benefits of networking and face to face referrals without leaving the office or facing a room full of strangers.
DWiB was designed by local business women for women in business across Dorset and beyond. Informal, friendly and fun. Women attending a DWiB networking meeting represent a wide range of local businesses. There are new people coming every time.
Sponsored by
Playgolf Bournemouth
Playgolf Bournemouth is a family friendly golfing centre with more than just a course to offer! Practice on our 50 bay driving range or play a round of Footgolf before relaxing with a bite to eat in our clubhouse restaurant.
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AWARDS
Entrepreneur of the Year
Lucinda Bilboe BOXXX
Lucinda is a mum and business woman. She is talented and an innovator, always thinking of new ideas. She is intelligent, forward thinking and has a tenacious attitude. She’s also sincere and kind in helping others achieve their goals. BOXXX is the UK’s first Sex Box subscription service. It is a great way for couples and singles to explore, experiment and enhance their sex life. BOXXX also offers an elegant and sophisticated online store showcasing premium products.
A woman who dares to take risks in business that pay off
Kate Atkinson
Bridal Reloved Franchising Ltd Kate is funny, honest, dyslexic, always asking how to spell stuff, energetic (even though she has a bad back and tells people about it), never stops working, ambitious, a great driver and encouraging. A franchise of wedding dress boutiques selling preowned top and high end designer wedding dresses.
Georgina Hurcombe LoveLove Films
Sponsored by
Christchurch Jewellers We are renowned for our competitively-priced new and diamond jewellery but our specialty is the vast range of second-hand jewellery, antique jewellery and pre-owned quality Swiss watches, all at unbeatable prices.
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Georgina is the award-winning Managing Director of the Bournemouth-based multimedia production company LoveLove Films. Her media career spans over 15 years; she founded LoveLove Films in 2010. She produces music videos, TV adverts, promotional media and documentaries. LoveLove Films is a multi-award winning multimedia production company that produces a diverse range of media. Successes include producing multiplatinum selling musician Joss Stone’s most successful music video, producing over 50 TV adverts and more than 100 web videos.
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AWARDS
Business Mother of the Year Michelle Bartlett
Live Laugh Love Ladies Club
Michelle is enthusiastic and works from the heart. She facilitates ladies to come together and listen to a variety of speakers whilst making friendships. She lives for today, loves people and laughs with everyone. She inspires us to live life.
The Ladies Club is a social club, which brings ladies from all ages over 18 together to make new friends, relax and listen to inspiring speakers. With food, drinks, raffles and laughs included, Live Laugh Love Ladies Club franchisees are just launching to unite women across the UK.
Kerry-Rae Pocock
Make a Space Kerry is an enthusiastic and empathetic individual with a passion for supporting her clients to make a space in their lives for the things they want and love. She brings calm to situations and makes the overwhelming feel achievable. Make a Space supports people who wish to get control of their belongings and make space for the life they want, through the process of letting go of things from the past that do not support this vision, and practical organisational tools.
Miriam Phillips Bright Daisy Publishing Ltd Miriam is a journalist, editor and mother. She founded Bright Daisy Publishing in order to create a publishing company that focuses on the amazing and creative talents in Dorset. Bright Daisy Publishing Ltd was founded in 2015 by journalist Miriam Phillips. It creates great independent journalism and photography and publishes a new lifestyle magazine called Celebrating Poundbury aimed at promoting independent retailers in Poundbury, Dorset.
A woman who successfully juggles business and family life
Sponsored by
Talbot Heath Talbot Heath is a leading independent school in Dorset that offers girls aged 3-18 an outstanding education within a strong and supportive community. The Daily Telegraph described the school as “a gem in its own right: a small but palpably warm school where individual girls get the attention they deserve.�
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Awards Night Sponsor
At Coversure we offer specialist insurance solutions for personal and commercial insurance. We offer a friendly service to the local area and our office has a great amount of knowledge in the insurance industry. Please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to discuss any of your insurance needs.
The Venus supported Dorset Charity of 2016
The aim of Boo is to help children of Africa disadvantaged through economic poverty. We provide help in a variety of ways, including food, shelter, health, education, life-skills and emotional support. The overriding ethos of Boo will always be to provide Opportunity not Charity. As one orphaned youngster we met on our first trip to Kenya said “Don’t just give me a fish, teach me how to fish.” Boo is a very low cost charity being run by the Trustees and a team of volunteers. This enables us to use all your money on our projects, which directly help the children who really need it.
Awards Night Sponsor
At Move On Sales and Lettings, we exceed expectations in all areas and provide you with the highest level of service. We demonstrate honesty, trust and mutual respect. We seek to be different and employ a professional manner with a sense of humour which we believe enriches your experience, whether you are renting, buying, selling or investing.
Awards Night Sponsor
Nativ cuisine is Bournemouth’s first core African restaurant offering you the best of African cuisine using healthy, organic food. Serving everything from Jerk Chicken, Lamb Burgers, Goat Curry’s, Soups, Vegetarian and Vegan options, Suyu, Stews, Beans & Plantain and more.
Awards Night Sponsor
BB UK
BUSINESS BANK EXCHANGE
If your business has the ability to take on more business without increasing costs, in other words spare capacity, then a complimentary currency could work for you as has been demonstrated by BBX UK.
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AWARDS
Manager of the Year
Sponsored by
MPLOY
Staffing Solutions
Natalie has had a successful and varied fifteen year managerial career. Her excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as a strong background in HR and PR and her natural enthusiasm contribute to her outstanding achievements.
RiskSTOP Group Ltd
Effectively managing risks to improve the bottom line requires a range of carefully crafted and well delivered services. RiskSTOP provides a comprehensive suite of offthe-shelf solutions ranging from on-site risk surveys to assisting policyholders with risk improvements.
Established in 2001 MPLOY Staffing Solutions are the South’s leading privately owned recruitment specialists. With a 7 branch network and 45 strong team of recruitment professionals ready to help. We payroll in access of 1500 staff and invoice over 300 clients per week. We pride ourselves on integrity and our success is underpinned by building long term lasting relationships with quality businesses.
An outstanding manager
Mandy Kittlety Luxury Care
Charlotte Wills Ageas UK
Charlotte is a seasoned HR Service Delivery Manager supporting the UK business with an eye for detail and strong customer focus. She is passionate about leading her team through major periods of change and is a creative and strategic thinker. Ageas UK is the seventh largest non-life insurer in the UK providing award-winning personal and commercial insurance solutions, insuring around nine million customers. Ageas UK employs over 5,500 people with offices based across the UK, all supported by Charlotte’s team.
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Natalie Joyce
Mandy Kittlety is Director of Care for the Luxury Care Group. Mandy is married with 3 children and two granddaughters and has 6 dogs. Mandy has worked in social care for 38 years and loves the daily opportunities she gets to make a difference to people’s lives. Luxury Care is a local and family run business. The company has 4 care homes in the Bournemouth and Poole area that specialise in high quality dementia care in luxury surroundings. It has more than 400 employees that work hard to enrich the lives of the people they care for.
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AWARDS
Influential Woman of the Year Amanda is a very motivated person, who is creative, hard-working and caring. Using ideas and bringing them to reality with 100% passion and commitment is her specialty. She loves to involve and share her ideas with others.
Amanda Jenner
Potty Training Academy
Potty Training is a training pack to help parents as well as carers to tackle the big milestone of potty training. The aim is to unite parents and nursery schools to use the same training programme and use it consistently.
Motivates others and makes a difference
Rebecca Anstey
UK School of Modelling
Rebecca is driven, creative and determined. She is like a Pit Bull with a ball. Once she’s got something in her mind she won’t let it go until she makes it happen.
Jaya Da Costa Pause Cafe
Through charity and community work, volunteering for a number of causes, Jaya motivates others to get involved in projects that help others in Dorset, Africa and beyond. Driven by helping others to overcome challenges and reach their potential. A quirky and exciting new concept bringing real happiness to the local community. Serving healthy, high quality, local and ethically sourced food and drink in an environment that encourages togetherness and helping one-another...with a secret twist...watch this space!
The UK School of Modelling is internationally connected and acclaimed with a team of experts with over 15 years’ experience. In the international modelling field, it is at the top of the industry.
Sponsored by
Mercedes-Benz of Poole Mercedes-Benz of Poole, based in Holes Bay Road, Poole are the proud Associate Sponsor of The Venus Awards. They are specialists in Mercedes-Benz, smart and AMG with a focus on delivering the best possible experience for all their customers.
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Inspirational Woman
Sophie is inspirational. She fights tirelessly to reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide and to reduce transphobia and homophobia. With her honesty and openness, she is helping thousands of people through her nationwide talks and media work.
Sophie Cook
A woman that goes out of her way to help others
Samantha Everard SAMEE
Samantha is always busy! She loves to support others and offers them opportunities that they may not have been able to get on their own. The Samee Project is all about hand-holding because that is what matters most to her. Samee offers a hand-holding service so that everyone can make an informed choice about life. Samee helps to remove the barriers to self-employment by asking about hopes and fears and working with the client step-by-step.
Supported by
Bournemouth University Our vision builds on BU’s current success to create a distinctive offer based on academic excellence underpinned by service excellence. At the heart is the powerful fusion of research, education and professional practice, creating a unique academic experience.
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Sally Harvey
AOK Rucksack Appeal
Sally is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease but this has not stopped her from starting a charity to help the homeless, particularly in helping them back into society. She works with all the top local agencies and her work is much appreciated. AOK Rucksack Appeal is unique. It cooperates with the major homeless agencies in getting homeless people OFF the streets, into accommodation and back into the community whilst using a philosophy based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
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AWARDS
Musical Talent Carley Dawson
BeeCreative Company
Carley is driven, determined, organised and always wants to help. With her motivation to care for others, she is kind-hearted and warm to be around. Carley is fun, calming and a great listener. BeeCreative Company is designed to help people reach their full potential through creativity. It runs Confidence through Drama classes for ages 4-18, gives interactive workshops about mental health in schools, performs theatre in education days and much more.
Sponsored by
Fizz Benefits
A woman whose business is her talent Fizz Benefits offer a market leading range of cash-back, discounts, store cards, vouchers and offers through a mobile platform that is accessible from any device. It’s unique approach simplifies the user experience and delivers on employee engagement.
Jenny Oag Jenny is a very bubbly person. She always helps others, is very loyal and hard-working. She has a passion for her career, is a wonderful friend, wife and mum to her daughter. Simply a role model to everyone. Jenny’s a Prince’s Trust Business and she performs around Dorset at various venues and vents. She works for 2 Stage Schools and also stages and manages her local theatre. She’s worked with people in the music industry with a big highlight in 2015 when she sang with Idina Menzel.
Helen Jenkins Helen Jenkins is a professional vocalist who specialises in a wide range of genres. She creates dynamic sets and performs versatile songs for events, from birthday parties to corporate functions and wedding ceremonies. With over a three-and-a-half octave range she is able to sing any song at the drop of a hat. Helen has honed in on her singing more than ever over the past eight years, and with the help of her vocal coach Lynsey Simon, she has become phenomenal. Examples of her work include the talents of Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Minnie Ripperton and Etta James.
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AWARDS
Sponsored by
ASH Elite
Professional of the Year Natasha is an experienced corporate lawyer having trained and practised in London before relocating to Bournemouth last year. Natasha advises a range of clients across different sectors and her practice focuses on mergers, acquisitions, banking and company restructures.
Natasha Duffy-Jones Laceys Solicitiors
Laceys is a leading, forward thinking local law firm that delivers a high grade personal service to suit each client’s individual or business needs across the broad spectrum of specialist areas of law.
ASH Elite is Dorset’s only Specialist Legal Recruitment Consultancy. We act for legal professionals at all levels, from entry level through to senior partner. We pride ourselves in offering a personal service and making ‘perfect fit’ placements. In the last year, 94.4% of all candidates sent for an interview were offered the position.
A highly qualified woman womanwho whoexcels excels in her professional occupation
Amy Cousineau-Massey Steele Raymond LLP
Michelle Dixon Humphries Kirk LLP
Michelle is an Associate Solicitor who specializes in Construction and Engineering Law. Michelle is professional, approachable and hard-working and prides herself on giving practical and commercial advice to achieve the best outcome for her clients. Humphries Kirk is a leading law firm practicing in Dorset, Somerset, London and internationally – providing legal expertise to private and commercial clients. Humphries Kirk keep it simple and personal, it’s an approach that has served them and their clients well for almost 300 years.
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Amy is a dedicated and passionate employment solicitor. She is direct, tenacious and delivers practical and straightforward advice in a difficult area of law that is always changing. She is approachable and enjoys public speaking. Steele Raymond is a leading regional commercial law firm based on the south coast. Their Top-Tier teams serve business clients across a wide variety of sectors. They also provide a full, high quality personalised service to individuals. Put simply, they aim to be the best at looking after their clients.
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AWARDS
Small Business Hollie Power
Cherry Soda Club & Forever Gorgeous
Hollie is filled with ideas and inspiration. She is constantly seeking for new opportunities and ideas. Business is truly her passion! Hollie’s spa, Forever Gorgeous has been her shining light since 2009 and has grown incredibly. A VIP member scheme has been launched to work with local businesses too.
Rebecca Woolford Rebixit Consulting
Rebecca is determined, hard-working and has lots of energy. She’s always looking for new opportunities and keeps herself busy. She aspires to be a role model for women in business. Rebixit Consulting is a sales agency adding value to their partners through lead generation and inside sales. Their model sets them apart in the B2B sector, working closely with their partners on every deal from appointment, right through to PO.
Mandy Fitzmaurice Purple HR
Mandy is driven, personable, and down-to-earth and has been a dynamic force in the success of Purple HR. Thoroughly involved in the Dorset community, she is dedicated to aiding others both inside and out of work. Purple HR is the brainchild of its two directors Mandy Fitzmaurice and Leanne Pick. Purple HR provides a range of HR solutions from a fully managed and outsourced HR department to an advice line for essential backup support whenever needed.
A small business with a big attitude
Sponsored by
Dutton Gregory Solicitors
Meeting the needs of companies and private individuals UK-wide, our expert hands-on teams of solicitors provide specialist legal services to meet all your requirements.
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Customer Service
Rosy has been responsible for Customer Services at BEBC for over 30 years. She is approachable, efficient, calm and popular. Rosy is also supportive and sensitive to the needs of both customers and staff.
Rosy Jones BEBC
BEBC is Britain’s major bookseller of English Language Teaching materials. It has an established reputation for speed, service and stock-holding. Known locally, nationally and internationally it is a one-stop shop for all publishers’ titles.
The individual or business who goes the extra mile
Suzanne Barnes Aish Technologies
Suzanne is a dedicated and passionate person who is driven by a desire to provide top quality service at all times. She has exceptional strength in paying attention to detail and is always very supportive in everything she does. Aish Technologies is a design and manufacture organization supporting tier one supplies to the MOD. They pride themselves on quality, delivery and cost. It is a company that likes to keep its subcontractors to the Dorset demographic that allows a close working relationship to develop and grow.
Sponsored by
Interlink Express Interlink Express is one of the UK’s leading time critical services carriers and can satisfy all your distribution needs whether your consignments are for the UK or elsewhere in the world.
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Judith Browning SPS Print Group Ltd
Judith is efficient, hard-working, welcoming and incredibly passionate about her job, her team and especially her customers. She’s always aspiring to achieve bigger and better things and eager to share new ideas that will benefit both her suppliers and SPS. For nearly 50 years the SPS Group has brought energy, passion and commitment to every project. From state-of-the-art 120,000 sq. ft. sites they create, automate, print and distribute point of sale marketing materials for retailers. Partnering with their clients, they help streamline processes to optimise their client’s budget, working with many household brands delivering spectacular point of sale with proven results in saving time and money.
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Marketing and PR Suzanne Revell Churchill Homes
AWARDS
Suzanne is a dedicated, knowledgeable and motivational leader, and a bubbly and inspiring person to be around. She works tirelessly towards Churchill’s mission to be the most successful house-builder in the UK, but always with a smile on her face. Churchill Retirement Living is a privately owned, family run British company specialising exclusively in developing attractive, purpose-built one and two bedroom retirement apartments in the UK. Our retirement developments are designed to provide the best lifestyle choice for an independent, safe, secure and fulfilled retirement.
Sponsored by
Exterion Media
A business that stands out We are the market leader in advertising on public transport networks in all towns and city centres throughout the UK. We reach the heart of communities, with over 32 million people across the UK regularly seeing our adverts.
Fiona Carter UK Health Online Fiona joined health insurer, Health-onLine in 2011. Her natural curiosity and forward-thinking approach helped propel her to Brand & Marketing Manager; a role that has seen her embody the Company’s values whilst using innovative technology to create effective messages and increase brand awareness. Health-on-Line is a Private Medical insurer based in Bournemouth that has grown tremendously over the past 15 years. Underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare since 2005, Health-on-Line has grown to be a strong competitor within the market; providing consumers with modular plans to suit their individual needs and budget.
Lesley Fereti Lester Aldridge
Lesley is a results driven senior marketing and business development professional with extensive client-centric marketing experience from strategy development and business planning to traditional ATL/BTL and digital campaigns encompassing social media alongside P.R., event management; communications and branding. From offices in Bournemouth, Southampton and London, full service law firm Lester Aldridge advises businesses and private individuals on a regional, national and international scale. Their core practice areas include real estate, litigation, corporate & commercial services and private client.
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AWARDS
Company of the Year
Rowena is an inspiring, supportive leader. She’s compassionate, kind, caring, tough, nurtures talent and encourages people to be their best. She’s strong in business, with impeccable commercial intuition and has a fabulous sense of humour.
Rowena Bird
Representing Lush
Lush invent, manufacture and retail fresh handmade cosmetics. A beauty company with a campaigning heart, Lush operate a strict policy against animal testing and leads the cosmetics industry in combating over-packaging by developing products that can be sold “naked” to the consumer.
For a great female company with 50 employees or more
Rosie Kennar
Representing Hoburne Rosie is fourth generation Chairman of the Hoburne Holiday Park Group and sister company Burry and Knight. She is the face of the Hoburne Group, passionately promoting key values such as business integrity, and excellent staff and customer relations. Hoburne is a family business, first established in 1912. With seven holiday parks in the south and south west of England, Hoburne provides traditional, quality family holidays. The Group also owns and operates three golf clubs and a properties company.
Sponsored by
Enhanced
Enhanced uses its experience and industry knowledge to help companies reach their potential through IT. It gets to know their clients, their businesses and ambitions in order to recommend tailored solutions, implement changes and provide award-winning support.
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Anna Rosier Organix
Anna was born in Wimborne and studied Economics at Swansea University. Always having a high work ethic, Anna worked as a student for Marks and Spencer and post-graduation worked for Coca Cola. Anna returned to Bournemouth and joined Organix, which in 2008 was sold to Swiss company Hero – Anna was appointed Managing Director. Organix launched in 1992 with the fundamental belief that everybody deserves to eat well and that great-tasting organic ingredients and delicious recipes can encourage a life-long love of good food. They don’t just make tasty, organic food for children; they aim to help educate parents and children too.
At Dutton Gregory we understand the importance of family life and our dedicated team of specialists are on hand to ensure that your family is provided for both now and in the future.
Corporate & Commercial Employment Landlord & Tenant Commercial & Property Litigation
WHO DOES MUM TURN TO FOR ADVICE?
Commercial Property & Planning Divorce, Separation and Child Access Wills, Probate & Estate Administration Personal Injury Clinical Negligence
WWW.DUTTONGREGORY.CO.UK For more information please visit our website or call the office on one of the numbers below: WINCHESTER 01962 844333
SOUTHAMPTON 023 8022 1344
POOLE 01202 466669
BOURNEMOUTH 01202 315005
LONDON 020 7816 5983
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Tara
FEATURE
Mussell is a two-time Venus Awards winner, Venus
Awards sponsor, mother of two, loving wife and also the COO and co-founder of Ratio, a leading digital and technology start-up company in Bournemouth that builds software and websites. We decided to pay her offices a visit so we could learn more about Tara and her business.
A
s soon as we walked into Ratio’s offices we knew this company meant business! The space itself was open plan with clean, crisp lines, an abundance of natural light, and different levels of work space designed for sitting or standing, a definite plus for a healthy lifestyle while working in an office. Matched perfectly with its modern design was an array of high tech display screens showing real time statistics on all of their customers and software. However, most striking is the buzzing atmosphere and the happy faces of all the staff. It was very clear to see that everyone loved coming to work and relished the challenging and dynamic atmosphere Ratio has created. When asked how she encourages this motivational environment, Tara suggested
three things: value for staff, transparency, and a constant supply of coffee and cake! Tara hasn’t always been interested in business; she actually started her career as a dancer. At 18 she moved to London where she had been offered a place at a dance school. After completing her course, she began dancing on cruise ships for an American firm, travelling around the world. It was while on a break between contracts she spotted the job that would change her life direction forever. Starting at the Richmond Group really ignited Tara’s love of business and before long she had climbed the career ladder. “I just started in sales really, but it became apparent as I am a bit nosey, that I was keen on understanding what other areas of the business were doing. I actually ended up taking a manager’s position and after 47
a short time, I was invited to work on the CEO’s core team. That’s when I met my business partner, Marc, where we started working together on special projects. Our remit was fixing broken companies and starting new ones. That’s when we started Ratio.” Even though she left her dancing career to start a life in the digital industry, she still revisits her roots as a way to de-stress and re-focus, regularly attending evening ballet classes to unwind. Ratio has a simple aim, to bring “efficiency, elegance and simplicity to complicated and archaic markets”. To do this they need to have a dynamic and innovative approach to the way their business works. 48
This innovative spirit was in critical need when the company was first created as their business idea was quickly copied by another company. It was Tara’s biggest challenge in business to date, for it made it increasingly difficult for Ratio to trade in the same way. “We overcame this challenge by continuing to innovate. We thought well, maybe we should look at doing something that’s a little bit more difficult to copy.” From there the company has gone from strength-to-strength working on many different products and ideas including Tara’s favourite, their price comparison site www.choose-wisely.co.uk “We were solving a real problem of finding
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financial products for consumers that were being excluded from main stream banks. So it’s an extraordinary website for ordinary people. It’s been great to see an increase of people month on month visiting the website and finding products.” Another notable Ratio creation that has changed the way businesses work is Remora (www.remora.so). Remora uses modern “exit intention technology” to help businesses make the most of their online customers, communicating the right message at the right time compelling visitors to engage. As a business woman herself Tara is passionate about increasing the female voice in her industry.
FEATURE
“I think the female voice is definitely lacking from the digital space. It seems the further you get away from London, the less women there are in senior positions in the digital space.” Not only is she keen for women to take more opportunities and accept managerial positions, she wants businesses to understand that having women in their core team delivers great impact. “Women could have the most impact, I think, on the bottom line of a business. Women are responsible for a huge proportion of all consumer spending. They also manage household expenditure on the whole as well. Women are thrifty, so I think for 49
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FEATURE
an organisation they are brilliant at looking at how much you are spending, how much you are generating and know what strings to pull to achieve a healthier business.” Tara isn’t only a leading lady in innovation and business she’s also a wife and mother of two children, Daisy and Freddie. The support from Tara’s husband has played a major part in her ability to balance work and family. Tara spoke about her husband being undoubtedly the man who has had the most positive influence on her life. “When I first started out in business he actually took on the role of stay at home dad which was a sacrifice on his part but it really freed up the time for me to focus on the job at hand. Knowing that my children were being looked after by their dad at home and not having to worry about childcare was a relief. Then he showed me that anything is possible by completing marine training at the age of 31. So never say never to anything.” Another man who has had a big influence on Tara’s professional life is her business partner Marc. Marc has been there since the conception of Ratio and it’s obvious they work so well together as a team. While Tara admits she is occasionally guilty of worrying too much about the business, Marc, on the other hand, has the characteristic that Tara admires in men – an ability to remain calm under pressure. “I think when you’re faced with difficult business decisions it’s super important to feel confident and not over-react or try and fix something too quickly. That’s one thing I think my business partner, as opposed to me, handles really well. We sleep on it, we come back to it the next day and nothing is as scary as it first seems.” So what’s in store for Ratio and Tara? A short-term aim is to find new office space they can put their own stamp on, which is very exciting, and if it’s anything like their office now it will be beautiful. Long and medium term goals are centred round the growth of Ratio and adding value to the business. Might this mean some new and innovative ideas coming our way? You bet it does. So watch this space!■ Tara Mussell is Co-Founder of Ratio. www.ratio.co.uk 50
Whichever you choose, you’ll find a range of modern, luxury accommodation, a long list of on-site facilities and a warm welcome from a family-owned firm with over 100 years’ experience. •
Entertainment complex
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Heated outdoor pool
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Restaurant, bar, coffee shop & takeaway
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Kids adventure playground
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9 hole, par 3 golf course
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Direct beach access
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Cycle hire
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Sammy & Tommy’s children’s clubs Heated indoor pool
For further information contact us on
01425 282358 or visit
hoburne.com
Find us on facebook.com/hoburne and twitter.com/hoburneholidays
At Organix we only use the very best organic ingredients so your little ones get great tasting food, without the junk. From babies at the start of their weaning journey to growing toddlers on the go, our foods provide a range of tastes, shapes and textures to help inspire a lifelong love of good food. Find out more at www.organix.com
Facilities vary at each park. Please ask for details.
Seven beautiful holiday parks, perfect for exploring all that the south and south west of England has to offer.
Fizzing with “The basic bitch drink of summer 2016 - you know you want in, so don’t even try to pretend you’re too cool.”
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ouldn’t you just jump with joy if your business idea had a review as fantastic as this one from a leading British broadsheet newspaper: “The basic bitch drink of summer 2016 - you know you want in, so don’t even try to pretend you’re too cool.” I know I would! This is exactly what happened earlier this year to Amanda Thomson, CEO and Founder of Thomson & Scott Skinny Champagne and Skinny Prosecco, marking just how far she has come in creating an entirely new and exciting sector of the drinks business. Her idea to launch a no sugar / low-sugar champagne that was both alcoholic and top quality was seen as slightly bonkers when she first began trailing the idea to exporters and wine merchants. She very much views herself as a “disrupter”, an entrepreneur who has taken on an industry known for its tradition and the technical language it uses, often impenetrable to most people. This year she’s added Skinny Prosecco to her drinks portfolio and plans to make this into a great export success. As a vegan I’m happy to report that it’s not only low
success
VENUS
INSPIRATION
Amanda Thompson and Skinny Champagne
sugar but also vegan and organic. As Amanda says, “Clean food and drink is most definitely the future.” Her background is not one you would normally associate with entrepreneurship. Until 2009 she was working as an Arts Broadcaster for the BBC on a comfortable salary of £50,000. Life changed dramatically when she moved to Paris with her husband Ian and their two children aged seven and two, to study for a Diploma in Wine at the world-famous Le Corden Bleu School. The aspect of Amanda’s success story that struck me as being truly inspirational is the sheer determination and single-mindedness that kept her moving towards her goal. She has learnt above all else in business that you have to stick like glue to your idea and never waver. If your belief in something is so solid that you’re prepared to gamble almost everything then the very least you deserve is a fair shot. You have to have grit and not just passion to take on naysayers and prove them wrong especially in the case of Amanda who’s operating in a male-
dominated sector that places huge value on vast wine knowledge before any other area of expertise. What you also need when starting out in business is bags of confidence; this is something that Amanda has admitted to “faking” at times when negotiating with buyers in the tradition-soaked world of wine. I know from personal experience why confidence it so essential because if you don’t personify and communicate it when asking others to buy in to what you are “selling” then you’re handicapping yourself from the get-go. This doesn’t mean that you have to be on full throttle all the time, besides an astute person will know when you are not being authentic, when something is forced. The one big take away from Amanda’s trailblazing is that you have to stay strong in your belief that you can make it. There will be tough times but these come almost always as learning opportunities in disguise. As someone once said, “Stay the course, light a star, change the world, wherever you are”. ■
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Five of the best
romantic European getaways Europe boasts a wealth of beautiful, charming and picturesque cities, perfect for a romantic European getaway. With so much choice on offer, Ally Case from Travel Counsellors has compiled a list of her top recommended romantic cities to give you a bit of inspiration. From Paris, the city of love to breath-taking Venice there’s a city to suit everyone’s tastes, guaranteed to deliver a romantic getaway to remember!
PARIS Where better to spend a romantic weekend away than The City of Love? As one of the most visited cities in the world you may have already been to Paris. However, aside from the conventional tourist spots, the French capital has a lot more to offer, like cute Parisian cafés and boutique bars and restaurants perfect for a small, candlelit table for two. The Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysée and Notre Dame are added bonuses to a city that always has something new to discover. With regular flights from Southampton and with new flights from Bournemouth this makes Paris an ideal weekend getaway.
VENICE Venice, The City of Water, is one of Europe’s most romantic cities. From the moment you arrive in the city by water taxi, love is in the air. There are some lovely, chic Venetian apartments available, which are often more intimate than the bustling hotels. Italian cuisine is one of the most desirable on the planet and Venice is famous for its fresh seafood, particularly in the brilliant food market near Rialto Bridge. Spend a romantic evening at the opera at La Fenice, Venice’s famous opera house, where you are guaranteed to turn into Romeo and Juliet. 56
VENUS LIFESTYLE
FLORENCE Florence oozes romance, whether you are watching the sun set over the River Arno or going for a gentle stroll in Boboli Gardens you are helpless to the effects of this Italian city. There are intimate dining opportunities in Santa Croce square and sublime walks at dusk through rustic Italian avenues, like Via dei Calzaiuoli, or through Piazza Santissima Annunziata. For many, Italy is synonymous with romance and Florence encapsulates that. The only drama you’ll have in Florence is trying not to cheat on your partner and fall in love with the city itself !
BUDAPEST Budapest remains to be of Europe’s most underrated cities but awaiting you is a calm and relaxing location for a romantic break. Budapest is a beautiful city with historical attractions, whether it is a picnic at Margaret Island, a soak in the warm, clear waters of Széchenyi Thermal Bath or a stroll through the wine, beer or chocolate markets you are sure to find some romantic activity in this Hungarian city. The River Danube and its embankments provide the perfect backdrop for an affectionate evening in a city that has not been ruined by mass tourism and maintains its traditional identity.
PALMA The capital of Mallorca (Majorca) is the perfect blend of bustling city life, history and relaxation, and a wonderful choice for a couple’s weekend getaway. With regular flights from our local Bournemouth airport you can be enjoying traditional Spanish cuisine on the veranda of a restaurant within a few hours of leaving the UK. After your meal why not sample some of the local vino in Palma’s authentic wine cellars. During the day there are some beautiful sights to be seen, such as Catedral de Palma de Mallorca, alongside magnificent artwork, winding streets and open-air markets. The warmth of the sun on this Spanish island sets the perfect ambience for a romantic trip. Ally Case is a Personal Travel Counsellor with Travel Counsellors Ltd. 57
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05/09/2016 15:56
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Lucinda Bilboe
CEO and Founder of BOXXX One of three Finalists for this year’s Venus Awards Entrepreneur of the Year Her online subscription company BOXXX certainly piqued our interest and we were keen to learn more about her background and the business itself.
BOXXX is for
couples and singles to explore
their sex life.
Can you give a brief description of your business and how you got the idea? I started BOXXX in 2015 and the idea came to me when I was opening my monthly subscription box service for beauty products. It was at a time of my life when I had just had a baby, I probably wasn’t feeling particularly confident, so I wondered if anyone was out there doing something for couples to regain a bit of confidence in their sex life. There was nothing out there so, I decided to do it!
Tell us about your career history – the jobs you’ve had and the path that brought you to where you are today? My working career started in my father’s family business. When I was 15 I think, I started working for him. He had a shop and I went to University and studied interior design. Then I incorporated that into my father’s business and after that I opened my first shop in 2005. It was called LuLu’s in Lymington. I had that shop and another shop for about 12 years then unfortunately we closed because I was pregnant. I knew I was going to struggle having a retail situation 60
and having a baby, so I decided to close that and start a new business. It was a really hard time, but it actually turned out to be the best thing for me, because it means I have a really exciting new business that allows me to spend so much time with my son, which is incredible.
There was a lot going on for you when you first started, how did you keep focused with your business plan? When I first started BOXXX I was a new mum and I had also just had a hip replacement, so in some ways it meant I did have a little bit more time as I was recuperating, and to really think about what I wanted to do, and work on the website and things like that. It was hard, I did have to keep focused about the end goal and what I wanted. Where I wanted to take the business and why I wanted to start it in the first place. So it means I just have to keep myself motivated.
What advice would you give to women thinking about starting up their own business? My advice to somebody starting their own business would be to keep motivated, remember why you wanted to do it in the first place and remember all the positive things, even when it’s getting really hard and you feel like giving up. Just keep the end goal in mind of why you started.
VENUS Sex is obviously a huge part of your
business, but it’s quite a taboo subject. How has this affected your business growth and acceptance?
It is a huge part of my business, it is the main part of my business, but I have found having talked to people about what I do, it’s actually not as taboo as I thought it was. People are really open and honest and have been really accepting. Even my friends and family who I was dreading telling about my new career, were really excited for me. My dad actually offered to buy something, I was like “NO! Please don’t!” So, yes, I have been amazed at how everybody has been really, really positive. It’s been great.
Do women and men react differently when they find out about your business? Women and men do react differently when they find out about my business. Men are quite blasé and say, “Oh, OK”. Whereas women say, “Really? Oh my Gosh tell me more. I have this problem and that problem. I do it this way and that way”, so yes, I definitely think women are much more open to talking about things. People do tell me, literally the ins and outs of everything. When they did it last, where they did it last, things like that. Also how they need a bit of help and what could I suggest for this or that. I have become like a counsellor, for people’s sex life, which is great and it’s really fun and positive.
What’s it really like working in your controversial industry as a woman? Working in my industry, as a woman. I don’t feel it’s any different. It’s one of the most open-minded industries I have ever come across. I have had nothing but positive reactions to being a woman in the industry. I do feel like there is a gap in the market, to have a woman’s touch on what we do. BOXXX is very elegant and very upmarket and I think that’s something that’s definitely needed.
What are the main advantages and difficulties of running your online business from home? The main advantages of running my online business from home would be that I can plan
Q&A
it around family life and day-to-day life with my husband and little boy. Also it means I can be flexible so if there are things I want do, or places I want to go then I can work around it so that’s perfect. The main difficulties for running my online business from home is the fact I can never leave work. I am always here. So sometimes I am working until the early hours of the morning just because I can. Which is great, but also on the other hand some days it’s really hard to get off the sofa and go to work. So those are two conflicting sides.
Did you have any help in the beginning of your business and if so, what was the help and how did you go about getting it? In the beginning I had help firstly from my husband. He supported me and allowed me to have freedom to do something on my own. He also helped with the business plan and helped with things like Google ad words and things like that. He put money into the business as well. The first website I actually built myself, but it needed to be a little bit more technical so I have a friend that built the new one for me which now does everything it needs to do and it’s all whizzy and amazing. He has also taught me how to use it, which is great. I also had some really good help from my suppliers who in the beginning were happy for me not to hold any stock, and to put their products on my website so that I could just go collect as and when, or they would ship to me, so that was really amazing. That was just done by chatting to them. They liked my idea and decided they would just let me do it that way, which was great. I wish I had had more help with marketing and social media. I would love to have had more shares and follows and postings on Facebook. I think because of the nature of my business it’s not necessarily something people want to share or let everybody know about.
What are the future plans for BOXXX? Short term I would like to perfect what we are doing now, and really get the name out there. Then, I want to expand to BOXXX nights which would be a party service for people to hold evenings and talk about BOXXX in their own home with their friends. Long term I have bought two new domain names which will open up BOXXX to two particular markets that we’re not in at the moment, so yes that’s where I am going in the future. 61
Women make more key purchasing decisions! It’s a fact. Marketing, advertising, promoting, targeting and selling to women – is a really simple idea already utilised by a small group of savvy business owners. And that’s why, with the help of sponsors, partners & supporters like you, I am committed to growing Venus Awards to a national audience. Are you one of these local businesses already taking advantage of the new economic force, WOMEN, in your local market?
Stop and think about this for a few moments… For more than a decade, leading global news commentators, including The Economist, have identified growing female spending power and influence as a ‘growing business trend’ heralding women ‘the fastest growing economic group on the planet’, based on global insight, research and the study of spending data. Through the Venus Awards Event Series, your company can now publicise, showcase, promote, influence and engage with women in business, presenting a more femalefriendly face to existing and new customers.
Over 100 companies have sponsored the Venus Awards Venus Awards Sponsors recognise the value offered in our 7-month marketing campaign. Running throughout the Event Series and culminating at the annual “Working Women’s Oscars”, many sponsors sign up with multiyear agreements. Join over 100 national, regional and local sponsors and benefit from our growing business network of women in business in your region. “A growing wave… As I hit the road networking and producing numerous events every year it never ceases to amaze me the challenges and obstacles than many women overcome to start small enterprises or even go to work for someone else. Often juggling family and child-care commitments on a daily basis before they even start their work. It is with ‘constant enormous admiration’ that I am driven to reward and recognise as many women in business as I can.”
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How Enhanced Help Businesses Grow
W Beauty Salon HI Therapies crowned
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t a lavish awards ceremony at Manchester’s stunning The Monastery, HI Therapies, a Bournemouth based beauty salon founded by Jemma Cooper at the ripe old age of 27, beat hundreds of salons to the title of Beauty Salon of the Year South West in the prestigious Professional Beauty Regional Awards. Established to recognise excellence in the beauty, spa, nails and aesthetics markets, the Professional Beauty Regional Awards acknowledge the salons that stand out from the crowd and are world-class players in the industry. A panel of independent industry experts judged all the Finalists before mystery clients put them through their places experiencing treatments and reporting back to the expert judges. Jemma has a background in complementary therapies gained through studying a degree in Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She is an upcoming enterprise champion representing the Venus Awards around the country as National Ambassador, regional supporter and public speaker. Jemma is also involved in supporting the Enterprise Programme and National Campaign and on a local Charity board.■
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ith the speed of which the world of IT is progressing and growing, a company’s technology consultant is as important to their business as a solicitor or an accountant. A good IT consultant is essential in order for a company to succeed and achieve their planned business growth. They form part of your advisory team that can either make or break a business. Enhanced work with a wide range of business sectors, including professional services, warehouse and distribution, finance and accounting, charities and retail. However, they all have one common belief and that is to grow their business it is essential to have the right IT solutions and systems in place. With over 20 years of expertise in finance and business systems, Enhanced offer only the very best of professional services. They have a proven track record of helping companies, both local and national, thrive. Their consultants offer robust and accurate solutions across all resources, plus real time management reporting. On the technical side they can manage the entire core server and communication infrastructure taking the pressure off internal resources and giving companies 100% assurance and backup. The team consider themselves to be creative people in a technical world where they will do more than fulfil a company’s requirements. They will probe, challenge, make suggestions to help, make cost savings, improve efficiency and solve problems. “Our focus is customer solutions and care,” says Simon White CEO, “we have a passion for growth and for helping companies who want to expand. That’s why we go the extra mile to understand each and every company we work with and their goals so we can deliver a tailored IT strategy that will support their plans.”■
Congratulations to all finalists and winners of the Venus Awards Dorset 2016! Mercedes-Benz of Poole - proud Associate Sponsors of the Venus Awards Dorset and the ‘Influential Woman of the Year’ Award. Visit Mercedes-Benz of Poole to view the latest model now in the showroom, the all new GLC Coupé.
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Dorset 2016