Tag Archives: Business

City women hitting new heights

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A website that set out to be a “little black book” for professional women in London, providing professional development, networking and lifestyle information, is celebrating after achieving a new record of over 60,000 unique visitors and 1.6 million page views in May, up 47% on the month before.

WeAreTheCity.com was founded by Vanessa Vallely, considered to be the most connected woman in London, voted one of the 100 most influential women in Banking globally and a Pearly Queen of the City of London.

“The website was started three years ago to provide the connections and insight that I felt was lacking for London women” Vanessa (39) said. “I’m passionate about empowering women in all aspects of their lives, driving diversity in the workforce and encouraging celebration and sharing of our successes, which women are notoriously bad at. I’m thrilled at how quickly We are the City has become a much-loved part of so many women’s lives.

Vanessa provides content and PR for the website in her spare time alongside a small team, with husband Stewart responsible for technical development of the site.

“Our events listings get 600,000 hits a month so we have just launched an entirely new micro site dedicated to development and lifestyle events specifically for women in theLondon area – events.wearethecity.com ” Stewart commented. “Over the next three months we have a host of other new features coming online including the launch of our Female Job Board, where we intend to partner with Corporates and Recruitment agencies that are passionate about increasing the opportunities available to talented females across the UK. On the lifestyle side, we have celebrity female bloggers, a gallery of user photos sharing snapshots of London living, and tried & tested reviews.”

The celebrity bloggers already lined up include award winning Garden Designer Kate Gould, Entrepreneur and charity fundraiser Charlotte Hogg and Made in Chelsea star Gabriella Ellis.

“We are looking for more women to join our team of “City Guineas” to test and review products, gadgets, technology, fashion and beauty products, bars, restaurants and networking events, providing unbiased reviews back to other women” Vanessa finished. “Anyone interested in volunteering their time or writing for our site should email pr@wearethecity.com to register.”

Warren Buffet Has Cancer – But Vows to Fight it.

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Warren Buffet has revealed he has prostate cancer, but has assured his followers that he will fight it. Buffet will undergo treatment for early stages prostate cancer.

 

The 82-year-old billionaire and Berkshire Hathaway founder described his condition as; “”not remotely life threatening or even debilitating in any meaningful way” He went on to say,

“I feel great – as if I were in my normal excellent health – and my energy level is 100 per cent,” 

 

Prostate cancer is treatable and also common in people in Buffet’s age. He will undergo two-months of radiation and will not be able to travel, but will still be working.

 

Buffet was diagnosed on last Wednesday and continued working as doctors made sure it had not spread- luckily it had not.

 

Buffet also disclosed that the name of the next chief executive has been decided upon by his board. He also promised to let investors know if anything changes and will keep working.

Why not make your home a Handmade Haven and help your local economy at the same time?

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By Gillian Montegrande

You don’t need me to tell you that we are smack bang in the middle of a really awful economic
slump, created dare I say, as a result of the ‘buy now, pay later’ culture we have come to know but
not necessarily love. Couple this with the ‘discard that and buy the next model’ attitude, it’s no
wonder we’re in the mess we are.

What happened to the time when we saw something that we really wanted or needed and then
knew that it would take us ‘X’ amount of weeks to save up for it? Then, wasn’t it a sweet moment
when we could go along and make our purchase? Furthermore didn’t we value such an item all the
more because we were only too aware of the effort in acquiring it?

There is nothing wrong in having to wait for something, surely we now realise that in most cases,
instant gratification is just that ‘instant’ and the pleasurable after effect is very short-lived.
I would like to suggest that by altering our attitude to the way we purchase and what we purchase,
we will not only help our economy but we will actually be providing ourselves with a more
meaningful, sustainable and happier existence.

I speak specifically about handmade products and services.

Today the media is full to bursting, of programmes and articles dedicated to the tangible
achievements of the past, where experts extol the virtues of craftsmen and craftsmanship. They talk
about the detail, the design, the skill, the workmanship and the fact that many of these items are
still in working use, literally hundreds of years later.

It may be surprising to learn that there is still, to this day a thriving handmaking and craft industry in Britain today worth an estimated, £3bn per annum to the UK economy* and if common sense has
any part in our future then this figure will rise exponentially.

In buying handmade products and services we are not only making a considered purchase, we are
making a connection with another human being, who has taken it upon themselves to learn a
particular skill, coupled with their life experiences, to produce the most beautiful, useful and
desirable things, that will not only make a statement and command attention in our home, but
which will also become treasured possessions and heirlooms of the future, that have meaning far
beyond their aesthetic or functional value. Our homes will truly become ours when we fill them with
individually crafted interiors that reflect who we are as people rather than the generic profile of
some large chain store. While we will be secure in the knowledge that we are not only spending our
ever more hard-earned cash really well but that we will be genuinely contributing to our local
economy by supporting our local craftsmen and women. (Source: how to buy XRP debit card)

And while we not only have the economy but the environment to consider, we will be much closer
to having a positive effect in this direction as well, if we purchase products and services that have
been created with an almost instinctive awareness of sustainability because handcrafted items are
more often than not produced from renewable or recycled resources.

So my message would be ‘buy once but buy well’ and keep your local craftsmen and women going.
Don’t think for a minute that I am talking about turning your house into a living museum, as an
homage to purely traditional/heritage crafts; There is some really cutting edge, contemporary stuff
out there, it just happens to have been beautifully crafted by hand and will almost certainly outlast
it’s machine-stamped counterpart by years if not generations. If that’s not value for money I don’t
know what is!

Gillian Montegrande

Founder of Made by Hands of Britain

* (Creative and Cultural Skills Report 2008).

Investment capital firm set to salvage Game

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Following on from Junior Smart’s articles on Game Group going into administration, an announcement is expected from the investment group, Opcapita, that it is buying a large part of the troubled Game Group out of administration.

However many experts believe that the Game Group needs to change its approach in order to survive in this tough retail landscape.

Danny Jatania, a consumer champion and CEO and Chairman of Pockit, says, “If a company like Game is to survive, it’s imperative for it to adapt and innovate to consumer spending patterns. Currently the high street is going through a major evolution as a result of consumers using the huge savings offered by the online retailers to purchase goods. Game will have to completely rethink its strategy and will need to work in harmony with this growing trend.”

Danny concludes, “More and more retailers are using deals, vouchers, in-store and online cashback, in the face of a fiercely competitive retail environment. It is important for retailers to extend these deals to the high street to increase foot fall as part of their growth plans.”

EX-MINING TOWN PIONEERS ‘CROWD FUNDING’ MOVEMENT

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EX-MINING TOWN PIONEERS ‘CROWD FUNDING’ MOVEMENT ALLOWING COMMUNITIES TO TAKE PLANNING PUBLIC SPACE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

I really love this story, it shows what can happen if you but your mind to it.

Stephen Fry, Martha Lane Fox, Wales’ rugby heroes and firms including Admiral, Asda, Tesco and Deloitte have all helped to pioneer a new online hub allowing communities to fund public developments that have suffered following a halving of council spending.

The ex-mining town of Glyncoch, South Wales, has become the unlikely pioneer of a “crowd-funding” movement that harnesses private funding for community building projects.

After spending seven years chasing state cash for a much-needed £792,000 community centre, residents turned to Spacehive.com, an award-winning new initiative, to reverse their fortunes.

With tens of thousands still to raise before their grants expired, the town appealed to local families, celebrities and businesses to fill the void. Using Spacehive.com as an online hub for donations, the town was able to garner support from an unlikely array of places.

The site works by allowing anyone with an idea to pitch it online and, once it’s been certified by the Spacehive.com if it achieves the necessary funding, it can go ahead and get built.

Their success this week, after Tesco contributed the final £12,000, raised hopes that Spacehive’s model could help revive hundreds more community building projects hit by the economic downturn.

State spending on such projects, from sports facilities to parks and playgrounds, is estimated to have halved from a pre-recession average of £500m a year, according to the British Property Federation.

Glyncoch’s campaign was boosted by comedian Stephen Fry who asked his four million Twitter followers to each donate “the cost of a cucumber sandwich”, Matha Lane-Fox, the government’s “digital champion” and co-founder of Lastminute.com, and Welsh comic Griff Rhys Jones, who urged supporters to: “help Glyncoch win.”

Fresh from their Six Nations triumph, the Welsh rugby team also encouraged people to dig deep. Yesterday Captain Sam Warburton said: “We think what Glyncoch has done is amazing and an inspiration to us all. We’re right behind the community. The regeneration of this town – which has produced so much rugby talent over the years – is another victory for team Wales!”

Corporates including Deloitte, Asda, and Wales and West Utilities quickly added to the pot, alongside local businesses from the coach firm to the golf club. Henry Engelhardt, founder of Admiral Insurance gave £10,000 and Tesco finished the campaign off with a £12,000 donation.

Residents themselves dug deep, raising thousands through street collections, bingo nights and even a sponsored silence by the town chatterbox. Pledges came as far afield as Newfoundland, where a Welsh descendant pledged £100.

As the community celebrated yesterday Deputy Mayor Doug Williams said: “We’re absolutely ecstatic that by summer we’ll see a state-of-the-art centre offering the types of training and education that will kick-start people’s ambitions.

“Glyncoch is a deprived area; people are used to being let down. Now people are thinking ‘we can get out of this rut.’”

Lucy Neville-Rolfe, from the Tesco Charity Trust, the retailer’s charitable arm, said: “This unique project shows just how much communities can achieve when they work together. We’re delighted to help the people of Glyncoch reach their target.”

Spacehive aims to shake up neighbourhood planning by allowing anyone to pitch proposals for community building projects and anyone to pledge funding through Spacehive.com. Funders are only charged if the project goes ahead.

The model, co-designed by Deloitte, means the cost of popular projects can be split between hundreds of individuals, businesses, and councils.

Projects in Spacehive’s pipeline range from new playgrounds to the transformation of a derelict East London dock into a creative hub and marina.

Founder Chris Gourlay said: “Success in Glyncoch, one of the UK’s most deprived towns, really shows the potential power of Spacehive’s model in helping communities to transform where they live.

“This isn’t about privatising planning. The state mustn’t shrink from its responsibilities. It’s just an approach that allows communities cut through the inertia and make popular projects happen. We think town planning should be faster, more people-powered, and more fun.”

Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, which along with the Royal Institute of British Architects is a supporter of Spacehive, said: “We support the government’s intention to create a planning system that supports economic growth but the reality is nearly £300m of funding for capital public space developments has been lost.

“Enabling the public to take direct action through Spacehive.com could help ensure vital improvements go ahead by channelling funding from companies and individuals.”

The Glyncoch pilot was supported by Nexters, an initiative to boost online giving in the UK, which helped the local community reach corporate backers.

Efforts to regenerate Glyncoch were kicked-off by social action network Your Square Mile a year ago. Paul Twivy, the network’s Chief Executive, said: “To see everyone from local family firms to the country’s biggest retailer coming together to help this entrepreneurial community is heartwarming.”

Frost editor chosen as one of Britain's female entrepreneurs.

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Frost editor Catherine Balavage was chosen by the FSB as one of the top Female entrepreneurs in the UK and was featured in a book to celebrate International Women’s Day. The book can be viewed here. Well done Catherine!

Frost is looking for more stories of entrepreneurs. Do you own a business? Get in touch.

Faiza Seth: Businesswomen, Socialite and Charity Founder.

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Frost has interviewed the glamourous businesswomen, Socalite and Charity Founder Faiza Seth. She has worked in the city, set up charities and started her own business. Definitely an inspiration women. The charity she founded is called Soham for Kids.

 

Faiza founded the Soham for Kids School in Hyderabad, India in 2010 because she believes that educating the impoverished is a long-term solution to alleviating poverty. This strategy requires self-enabling individuals to permanently break the cycle of poverty and eventually provide for themselves and their families. Faiza developed the holistic concept of establishing this completely free school that not only delivers a well rounded education, but also provides food, clothing and healthcare to 100 children across four grades ranging from pre-school, lower kindergarten, upper kindergarten to first grade. The charity aims to expand the school one grade each year. Soham for Kids is one of a few charitable schools in India that is non-denominational promoting a culture of acceptance and open-mindedness.

What can people do to help? People can donate or if they do have teaching experience, volunteer. There is always a need for clothes, blankets, books and toys, so people can donate these for the Soham for Kids students as well.

You used to work in the city, but now have your own business, was the transition scary? It is always scary to start your own business, because this has greater risk associated with it, and less job security. However, starting small and adding overheads slowly as business grows is a way to mitigate the risk.

Tell us about Casa Forma

Casa Forma Limited, a London-based architectural and interior design company specialising in creating bespoke luxury, turn-key properties. Casa Forma was founded in 2007 to develop properties in super prime locations of London and also offers its interior and architectural design services to third parties. Since inception, Casa Forma has successfully completed over 60 luxury residential and commercial projects in London as well as internationally. Our international practice provides a comprehensive interior design and architectural design service for residential, commercial and hospitality properties.

Our award-winning team of over 15 interiors designers, several of whom are qualified architects, can help you turn a space into a bespoke luxury living environment of impeccable quality by improving the functionality of a space thereby improving the value of a property both intrinsically and commercially. Casa Forma’s experienced team of interior designers and architects is led by world-class experts from the fields of decorative and structural design place absolute importance on understanding the particular needs and wishes of their clients for a professional service delivered to an uncompromisingly high standard. We are firm believers that the home is an extension of the homeowners’ personality, personal style, lifestyle, and tastes.


What is big in interior design right now? Currently, art deco, handmade products, and Asian influenced decor seem to be the prevalent trends in interior design.

Do you think women can “have it all”? Women can have it all, but not at the same time. There are only 24 hours in a day, and women can only balance so much. Sometimes work, family, or other commitments take different priority at different stages in a woman’s life.

How do you relax? I relax by watching TV, watching movies, getting a massage, spending time in nature, and yoga. Also just spending time with my Yorkies Dopey and Fizz automatically makes me smile and relax.

What is the best piece of business advice you ever had? ‘Think different, think Smarter. Otherwise, if you’re trying to be like someone else, the best you’ll ever be is second best.’ which was given by my husband Pallak Seth.

What’s next for you? I want to expand Casa Forma into the hospitality and commercial sectors. I also want to expand Casa Forma geographically into the emerging markets. I want to increase the class size of Soham for Kids so I can help some more impoverished and underprivileged children.

Girlie question now; what is your favourite beauty product? I love MAC Smoulder eyeliner. The eyes are the most expressive and beautiful feature on ones face and I think eyeliner really is the one product that can impact your look most.

VEUVE CLICQUOT BUSINESS WOMAN AWARD 2012 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

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Veuve Clicquot announces the shortlist for its Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award at the WIE (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise) 50 Power Breakfast at The London Stock Exchange chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, bringing together shining examples of female entrepreneurship and business success across sectors ranging from fund management to fashion and hospitality. The finalists are, in alphabetical order:

· Anya Hindmarch: Founder, Anya Hindmarch

· Helena Morrissey: CEO, Newton Investment Management

· Ruth Rogers: Chef & Owner, The River Café

Regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of female entrepreneurs and business leaders, the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award, now in its 40th year, celebrates entrepreneurial women who have made a significant contribution to business life in the UK. The Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award nomination criteria are those ideals epitomised by Madame Clicquot: Entrepreneurship, financial success, Corporate Social Responsibility and acting as a role model.

All Finalists selected by the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award judging panel demonstrated the strongest evidence of all nomination criteria. Notable achievements included Helena Morrissey’s groundbreaking 30% Club, which helps champion the issue of women on boards, Anya Hindmarch’s entrepreneurial story and global pioneering of her ‘I am not a plastic bag’ initiative which raised the issue of plastic bag usage amongst the public’s consciousness as well as the government’s agenda, and Ruth Rogers’ steady growing business, changing how we perceive, as well as cook, Italian cuisine.

Carolyn McCall, previous winner of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award and current Panel member, noted: “The nominees for this year’s award are all great role models and have all the attributes that Veuve Clicquot looks for in its Business Woman Award. This award has played a vital role in recognising and celebrating women in business.”

Sian Westerman, MD of Rothschild and member of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award Panel commented: “This strong shortlist, drawn from an excellent long list, exemplifies what women can achieve in business: strong entrepreneurship and leadership, combined with a desire and ability to deliver real change in society. Spanning areas key to the UK economy of fashion, finance and hospitality, they are great role models for all who aspire to succeed in business.”

The winner of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award will be announced at a high-profile Champagne reception at The Ballroom at Claridge’s, London on the 18th of April 2012 at 6.30pm.

The Award’s 20-strong judging panel is comprised of business leaders, including Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, easyJet, Jasmine Whitbread, CEO Save the Children, Duncan Bannatyne, Entrepreneur and Dragon, Caroline Michel, CEO, Peters, Frasers and Dunlop as well as Sian Westerman, MD, Rothschild and other key industry experts.

Christina Jesaitis, Senior Brand Manager, Veuve Clicquot said: “As we reach our 40th year of the award, social and environmental responsibility are still a key focus for our judges and this year’s finalists all represent business women that have embedded these important attributes into their organisations. The award also looks for those women that are able to act as more than just an example of a successful business woman, but rather an inspiration and mentor for future female entrepreneurs; we believe that all of our three finalists have demonstrated this quality.”

Created in 1972 as a tribute to Madame Clicquot and now operating in 27 countries, the annual Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award champions the success of business women worldwide who share the same qualities as Madame Clicquot; her enterprising spirit, her courage and the determination necessary to accomplish her aims.