inspiring women - Bath Business Women`s Association

“inspiring women”
newsletter
recent events august
A great source of potential business referrals, an
opportunity to raise the profile of your work, and the
beginning of new friendships.
You will experience all this and more from the
BBWA.
“beginning
of new
friendships”
The newsletter is a way to communicate with
members of the BBWA in between events, to
showcase the many different businesses of which
you are a part and to network in a virtual capacity
with like-minded women in and around Bath.
We hope you enjoy the new-look newsletter – now
an e-newsletter – and we welcome any feedback
and suggestions for future editions. We would also
like you to use it as much as possible for your
business.
So please send information on you, your business,
events, news, successes, anything that you think
would be interesting and informative for your fellow
BBWA members.
Please email me: [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you
Lizzie Heffer
“BBWA built for speed”
Noise levels were higher than usual in one of Bath’s
local coffee houses recently! Nearly forty of Bath’s
Business Women met at Jika Jika in George Street for
a speed networking event that was businesslike as
well as fun.
The Bath Business Women’s Association runs a
different networking event every month and the recent
meeting gave members a chance to try out speed
networking, which meant that everyone had a real
chance of talking about their businesses to many
more people than normal.
The BBWA is one of Bath’s most vibrant networking
groups with around 150 members from many different
occupations in and around the Bath area. Members
come from as far afield as Bristol, Bournemouth and
even Wales!
Vice Chair, Julie Cooper said: “The BBWA really is a
vibrant and energetic group, with a wide variety of
occupations between its members, ranging from
plumbing to media, legal and accounting to event
management. There is so much opportunity for
passing business to one another as well as helping
each other with advice and support when times are
tough. We encourage members to come along and
bring guests each month and we invariably get new
members each time”.
“BBWA
lunch on the 21st”
All those of you who were at the lunch in June will
agree, I’m sure, that it was an inspirational talk by our
guest, Betty Thayer.
Betty Thayer started her career in strategic management consulting following an MBA at Vanderbilt
University. Working in the US, Europe and Japan, she
became a recognised expert on lean manufacturing
particularly in the aerospace, defence, automotive and
rail industries. In 2001 she entered into the internet
market with the launch of www.ExecAppointments.com which quickly became the world's
leading executive jobsite. The sites www.nonexecs.com and www.MBA-Direct.com were also part
of the product portfolio. She sold the company in
2007 to the Financial Times for $15m. She is highly
regarded in the recruitment industry and lectures
internationally about the online recruitment market and
being a Non-Executive Director. Following her
retirement as Deputy Chair and CEO of ExecAppointments Ltd, she joined the Appointment
Commission (which oversees NHS and other government board appointments) as a Non-Executive
Director. She maintains a portfolio of roles and
activities including coaching senior executives on
transitioning to portfolio careers and is a mentor for the
ICAEW's high-flyer programme. She is the Chair of
the US Friends of the Piccola Accademia di Montisi, a
Non-Executive of Genius Consultancy
(www.geniusconsultancy.co.uk), a Trustee of the Bath
Mozartfest, a Trustee of the Church Urban Fund, a
visiting lecturer at the Cranfield School of Management
and on the advisory board of the University of Bath
School of Management. For more information on
Betty, visit her website at www.bettythayer.com
“the BBWA lunch
is open to
business women,
both members
and non-members”
“Who I work with
is more important
to me than
what I do.”
Betty Thayer.
in focus
The BBWA lunch is open to business women, both
members and non-members and anyone wanting
more information about the BBWA or the next lunch
should call Julie Cooper on 08444 154 880 for more
details or visit the website: www.bbwa.biz
the rainbow centre
BBWA is full of inspirational women but I’d like to tell
you about one more:
Sarah has been receiving treatment for lung cancer for
the last 4 years. Sarah, her husband Alex & children
Jason, 7 & Katie, 4 are clients at The Rainbow Centre
for Children – a charity for children and families affected
by bereavement & life threatening illness run by BBWA
member Angela Emms. Sarah describes the support
her family receive from the Centre "Most of us never
think about it happening to us, so we are not prepared
if it does.
"A lot of focus is placed on dealing with the physical
aspects but you get plunged into crisis when dealing
with the emotional and mental side of things.
"The Rainbow Centre has not only been a great help to
our children but also to Alex and myself. The work they
do is so valuable and is provided free to users for as
long as they need it."
Sarah & Alex have been fantastic advocates for the
Rainbow Centre persuading friends to be sponsored to
run the Bath Half & London Marathon to raise funds for
the charity. Their support doesn’t stop there. Despite
her illness Sarah is now organising “Party 4 Life” a
fundraising ball on Saturday, October 2, with entertainment from the Bath Blues Brothers and other entertainers at the Conygre Hall in Timsbury.
“the work they do
is so valuable
and is provided
free to users for
as long as they
need it.”
If you can help or would like to know more about the
work of The Rainbow Centre please contact Angela on
0117 9853354 or email [email protected].
bespoke finery
May saw lots of changes and developments for
Bespoke Finery. On 28 May the lovely new web site
was launched. Still www.bespoke-finery.co.uk, it is so
easy to navigate, and very pretty. Already there has
been positive feedback and enquiries.
Also new, is the hat trimming service. This has come
about through being involved with 'Far Away', a play by
Caryl Churchill, which was on at The Theatre Royal,
King Street, Bristol, in June. Bronwen Grover assisted
at a hat making workshop, made and trimmed hats at
home, and then couldn't resist being part of The
Community Chorus, who created the parade of hats,
two of which were Bronwen originals.
There has been renewed involvment with The Jane
Austen Centre in Bath.
Bronwen has created two original designs, suitable
wear for a Regency Ball, and these are available via
The Jane Austen Centre web site, linked with Bespoke
Finery.
Enjoy the new look web site, which has new designs
on view. These include 'Selina', which would be
fabulous for Ladies' Day at the Races.
“fabulous for
ladies’ day
at the races”
therapeutic value
Elizabeth Griffin (ITEC qualified)
Elizabeth qualified as a massage aromatherapist and
reflexologist in 2000 and has achieved some remarkable results whilst working with addictions, epilepsy,
skin complaints and chest conditions. Elizabeth
wholeheartedly supports the use of aromatherapy
massage and reflexology for their therapeutic value as
touch therapies and their efficacy of returning the body
to a state of balance often within a quite short space of
time.
Massage
Massage is a hands-on therapeutic treatment that
works on the soft tissue of the body, using a variety of
movements. Massage can improve blood and lymph
circulation and restore the flow of energy through the
body. It is used for relaxation or stimulation, relief of
stress, tension and pain, and to bring about a general
sense of well-being. It can also have an emotional
effect, enabling people to laugh, cry or talk openly
about how they are feeling.
Aromatherapy
The main differences between Aromatherapy and
Massage is the amount of pressure used and the
inclusion of different essential oils and the parts of the
body they work on. Aromatherapy essential oil is the
extracted essence of the plants/flower/tree. Physically
it is primarily eliminative strengthening the body’s
immune system. Psychologically it is deeply calming,
balancing and revitalizing.
up to date
Reflexology
Reflexology massage works on the feet and sometimes
treatments are given to the hands. It is based on the
principle that each area of the feet and hands corresponds to a different part of the body. Pressure applied
to these areas stimulates energy flow around the body
encouraging the body’s ability to heal itself. It stimulates
the nervous system allowing proper functioning to take
place. Blood circulation is improved and all other
systems of the body regulated.
Aromatherapy and Reflexology can be used effectively
on their own or in conjunction with orthodox medicine.
They can be used just once but benefits are best felt
with regular use.
the BBWA lion
Do not try to fight a lion if you are not one yourself. “
African Proverb
Sound advice indeed and, thankfully, our lion is not for
fighting…..
The BBWA lion – Auroara Sulis – is gracefully standing
in Queen Square for all to see. It has been beautifully
painted by artist, Jo Russell. For more information
about Jo, visit her website: www.johannarussell.co.uk
Speaking about the inspiration behind the BBWA lion,
Jo said,
”I originally came up with the name AuRoara as it had a
lion 'pun' (for want of a better word) in it. It was then
suggested adding the Sulis part to make it relevant to
Bath. The design was chosen after I studied images of
the northern lights or the aurora borealis, we decided to
keep it mainly purples and lilacs to fit in with the BBWA
colours. The skyline is based on the skyline of Bath
with Georgian architecture, church spires and the
Abbey. The shooting stars represent hopes and
dreams.”
BBWA brides and babies
There have been two good reasons to celebrate
recently with a baby and a wedding!
As most of you will know Jessica Gibson has been
sporting a lovely ‘bump’ for the last few months, and
on the 30th May she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl
called Sorrel Emily. Although two weeks late, Sorrell
weighed in at a very respectable 7lbs 2ozs and
accordingly to her proud mum has a ravenous appetite
already – we know where she gets that from!
Jess owns Whitmore Plumbing so has lots of practice
with leaky pipes – should stand you in good stead now
Jess with all those nappies!!
Our congratulations to Jess and Neil on the birth of
Sorrel and best wishes from us all.
Lots of you will remember Rachael Abbott who was a
member for quite a while before she moved away from
the area to practice law in Bristol. Rachael however,
has kept the connection with BBWA when she invited
BBWA Vice Chair, Julie Cooper from FAB! to put her
wedding in place recently.
“there are two
great reasons
to celebrate
this month”
Thankfully the sun shone and skies were blue on Friday
28th May when Rachael married her fiancé Paul
Thomas at a beautiful church in Frampton Mansell in
the Cotswolds. The reception took place afterwards at
Chavenage House a 16th Century Manor House just
outside Tetbury with over sixty close family and friends
and Rachael and Paul even took up dancing in the
weeks prior to the wedding so that they could get that
first dance just right. Strictly – eat your heart out !
Rachael had always said that when eventually Paul
proposed (which he took his time about!) she would
ask Julie to sort her wedding day out – which is exactly
what she did. Planning started back last summer and
in fact the BBWA link was strong throughout as not
only did Rachael use purple as her colour theme,
Pauline Nation from Studio Flowers was also her florist.
Rachael and Paul had a fabulous day and Rachael
looked particularly stunning as you will see from the
photograph. It was a very happy day and we all send
them our congratulations and wish them every
happiness for the future.
“congratulations”
committee new members
Don’t forget Rachael you can still be a member in
Bristol !
Louise Rushford
Founder/Artist/Designer
Arthouse Originals
Unique designs for stylish homes and businesses
www.arthouseoriginals.co.uk
Victoria Rawlinson
Massage Therapist
Lifestyle Coach
Nutritional Advisor
Personal Trainer
Helping you to successfully achieve your everyday
goals and those special targets that you thought you
would only ever dream about .....
www.lifefit.co.uk
Margaret Stratton
J&M Stratton Consulting LTD
BBWA contacts
BBWA website
Chair
Alice Ellis, 07711 370481
Vice Chair & Secretariat
Julie Cooper, 07702 410058
Lunch Events
Beverley Lee, 07799 411127
Evening Events
Sarah Ryder, 07968 441692
Newsletter Editor
Lizzie Heffer, 07919 620 278
Treasurer
Liz Cox, 07775 818421
www.bbwa.biz
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
inspiring women in business