WomansWork

WomansWork
September 2013
Hi, Readers,
Welcome to the Essex Notebook. It's
back to school month for most of our
Mums out there and focus on getting
back into the swings of things. There is
lots happening this month for business,
so grab your diary and read on.
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Your News
Your News
Opportunities
Your Arts & Crafts
Holistics
Articles
Networking
Training / Workshops
Your Websites
Your Books
Useful Information
Deadlines & Copyright
Opportunities
Free Social Enterprise Support
Inspire2Enterprise is a unique free-to-access service
for the social enterprise sector providing information,
specialist advice and support from start-up through
initial growth and beyond. Inspire2Enterprise is
designed for people looking to start, grow or improve
their social enterprise and is delivered by qualified
advisers and specialists, many of whom have worked
with the sector for many years.
Our service is delivered by telephone, email or online
via webcam, enabling immediate access to the support
you need. Specialist advice includes legal and financial
services, procurement, investment readiness and
social impact measurement. The Inspire2Enterprise
service is available to new and existing social
enterprises throughout the UK.
Voluntary and community groups, charities and social
enterprises can also benefit from free resource
efficiency advice and support. This support includes:
workshops, environmental site visits and resource
efficiency grants. For support or to find out more call
0844 9800 760 or email [email protected]
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Your Arts & Crafts
Holistics
Mind, Body Spirit Events
Saturday 7th September at Mersea Island Mind Body Spirit
Festival, The Mersea Centre, 38a High Street, West Mersea,
Essex CO5 8QA.
Exhibitor spaces for therapists and unique unusual gifts.
 Sunday 20th October at Colchester Mind Body Spirit
Festival, Marks Tey Parish Hall, Old London Road,
Colchester, Essex CO6 1EJ.
 Saturday & Sunday 16-17th November at Woodbridge
Xmas Holistic Fayre, Woodbridge Community Hall,
Station Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4AU.
Exhibitor spaces available at the following events:
 Saturday & Sunday 19-20th April 2014 – Woodbridge
Mind Body Spirit Festival, Woodbridge Community
Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4AU.
 Saturday 6th September 2014 at Mersea Island Mind
Body Spirit Festival, The Mersea Centre, 38a High
Street, West Mersea, Essex CO5 8QA.
 Saturday & Sunday 25-26th October 2014 at
Colchester Mind Body Spirit Festival, Marks Tey Parish
Hall, Old London Road, Colchester, Essex. CO6 1EJ.
 Saturday & Sunday 16-17th November 2014 –
Woodbridge Xmas Holistic Fayre, Woodbridge
Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk
IP12 4AU.
Exhibitors please note, I ensure a great balance of type and
number of each category. If you are an interested exhibitor
email your details to [email protected] For more
information please visit www.lifearts.co.uk
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Taming your Presentation Demons
by Rebecca Winn, www.winnthinking.co.uk
Most businesswomen will have to
make a presentation at some time.
It might be a sales pitch, a
networking talk, a training session,
during an interview, presenting a
report... and too many of us seem
to think that we are the only one
that ever suffers from nerves when
we do it.
So it might make you feel better to know that in survey after
survey, the majority of business leaders cite public speaking as
their most stressful business activity. In other words, if you get
nervous of presenting, you are in a healthy majority!
Nerves are a hangover from our caveman days, when a
stressful situation meant finding the strength either to stand and
fight off that sabre-toothed tiger, or being able to outrun it.
Having that extra shot of adrenaline under stress is meant to
give you the edge: sharper thinking, greater spatial awareness
and the energy levels you need to perform at your peak.
Unfortunately, as a presenter you are unable to use up all that
lovely energy by running away (unless you get completely
overwhelmed by the occasion!), so instead, that surge of
adrenaline manifests itself as shaky hands, wavering voice,
sweaty palms, knocking knees, etc. Sadly, evolution hasn’t
quite caught up yet.
Nevertheless, nerves are a key part to presentation success.
Someone very wise once said to me: “the fact that I still get
nervous is how I know I still care about getting it right.” Well
said.
Understanding what it is about public speaking that causes
anxiety is the first step towards getting it under control. Four of
the most common fears are said to be:

Fear of the unknown

Fear of oneself

Fear of the audience

Fear of failure
Three Keys to Unlock Social Media
Success!
By Gemma Thompson
Using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or
any other social media platform to
market your business, can seem scary
at first. So here are the 3 key things
you need to know to make it work for
you.
1. Have a strategy
Last month’s piece was all about choosing someone to help
you create your strategy but even if you choose not to consult
over this you still need to know what you want from social
media.
Do you want to use it to raise brand awareness? Or are you
more interested in interacting with your customers and getting
feedback? Or do you want it to actually bring you sales? It may
be a mixture of those or something else entirely, but whatever
you want, know what it is!
2. Update regularly
It sounds obvious but I know a lot of people that set up
accounts then never bother to update them! I also know lots
that waste hours on social media sites without getting much
from it.
So how can you avoid these traps? Do these two things:1. Set times to spend interacting with people.
2. Schedule updates to go out when you can’t be online.
Tip - Think about when your audience is most likely to see your
updates, if your target market is a mother of school age
children, don’t post during the school run!
3. Monitor your results
Whatever you want to achieve with social media, monitor what
happens. Before you start make sure you know how many
regular customers you have and how often they buy, then
remember to put social media sites as a lead codes on your
CRM or invoicing system so you know whether that new
customer found you on Facebook or twitter.
You can therefore reduce many of these reasons at a stroke, by Also remember to check your website analytics regularly to see
being really well prepared, knowing your subject matter inside if people are clicking through from social media sites, and to
out, understanding your audience and practicing, practicing,
see if they go from your website to connect with you elsewhere.
practicing.
If you find particular updates or actions have a positive effect do
And the best presenting tip I ever got was from my husband,
them more often! Similarly, if you find you lose followers after
who is a musician. There have been many occasions over the certain posts do them less often (or never!). Many businesses
years when I’ve seen him singing the wrong words or hitting a have no idea what delights or offends their followers so make
sure you do.
bum guitar string. Did anyone else notice? No, because he
didn’t let on. How will the audience know you messed up unless
I hope this helps you make more sales or whatever it is you
you tell them?
want from social media. For more help (and lots more free info!)
you can sign up to my weekly social media dispatch here –
There’s so much you can do to polish your presentation skills
http://eepurl.com/BzPuP And I’m happy to connect with you on
and get your nerves under control. If you’d benefit from some
any of the social media sites.
one-to-one coaching, drop me a line.
For help growing your business through twitter, facebook,
blogging or LinkedIn get in touch –
www.socialmediailluminaton.co.uk
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Networking
Biz'ee Women & Biz'ee Mums Meetings
Double Whammy Networking
Th launch of a new networking organisation in Essex:
Double Whammy Networking will be the not-for-profit arm
of the Organisation for Responsible Businesses (ORB.)
The events are quality networking events but they also
raise money for local good causes. But there’s no raffles
or auctions, all the charity money is in the ticket price.
Here is the link for our first event:
http://doublewhammylaunch.eventbrite.co.uk/.
We are also looking for ORB Ambassadors in north and
west Essex. Our ambassadors need to have good
business connections and be passionate about ethics
and responsible business practices. Please contact Jill on
01702 468387 or e-mail [email protected].
9 September – 10am – 12pm - Monday
Billericay - Biz'ee Women
The Ivory Rooms - CM12 9LD
10 September 2013 – 9.45am - 11am- Tuesday
Thurrock – Biz'ee Women inc. Biz'ee Mums
Brewers Fayre -Chafford Hundred - RM16 6YJ
16 September – 10am – 12pm - Monday
Brentwood - Biz'ee Women
Marygreen Manor - CM14 4NR
17 September 2013 – 12.30pm – 1.45pm – Tuesday
Writtle – Biz'ee Women inc. Biz'ee Mums
Ceramics on the Hop - Writtle -CM1 3YA
20 September – 10am – 12pm – Friday
Hornchurch - Biz'ee Women
Vertigo Lounge - RM12 6JL
23 September – 10am – 12pm – Monday
Chelmsford - Biz'ee Women
Pontlands Park - CM2 8HR
27 September – 10am – 12pm - Friday
Southend - Biz'ee Women * NEW LOCATION *
Holiday Inn - SS2 6XG
Tendering Breakfast Club
Our next networking event is due to take place on the
10th September 2013 at Charnallies Restaurant and Bar,
Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex from 7:30am –
9:30am
Agenda
7:30am Meet and Greet
7:55am - 8:00am A Welcome from our Hosts
8:00am - 8:30am Full English Breakfast
8:30am - 9:00am Guest Speaker
9:00am - 9:30am Networking
9:30am Finish.
Tendring Breakfast Club meet every second Wednesday
of every month, twelve months a year. Check out the
website for more information.
www.tendringbreakfastclub.co.uk
The Athena Network
25th September
The Queen’s Theatre will be hosting the monthly Wednesday
Wednesday 23rd October
networking group on Friday 6 September 2013 7.30am
– 9am. It’s FREE to attend and open to all. For more
information and to register go to:
http://hornchurchnetworking.eventbrite.com
Wednesday 27th November
Meeting at The Olive Tree, 258 High Road, Loughton,
Essex IG10 1RB.
Thursday 19th September
Thursday 17th October
Thursday 21st November
Meeting at Prezzo, Elmhurst, 98 High Road, South
Woodford, London E18 2QH.
Friday 13 September 2013, 10.30am – 12.30pm - The
Griffin, 64 Main Road, Danbury CM3 4DH. Contact Lucy
Cracknell Tel: 07803 281049 Email:
[email protected]
Membership is open to professional business women
who own their own businesses. It is also open to
women employed by companies in roles where they
are responsible for generating business and gaining
new clients. To book for the next Loughton meeting or
to discuss membership, please telephone on 07889
923719 or email [email protected]
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Training / Workshops
Workshop with Ankrah Associates
Dream It, Plan it, Do It! - Your blueprint to success
Wednesday 23 October 10am-4pm, Manor of Groves
Hotel, Golf and Country Club
Early Bird offer- book before 30 September - £97
£127 - Places are limited so book early. Refreshments
and Lunch provided
A solid foundation and clear direction will support you in
developing your successful business. Whether you have
been in business for six months or six years this intensive
workshop:
Free Master classes for small businesses and selfemployed in The East of England
NIAB Innovation Farm has received ERDF (European
Regional Development Fund) funding to provide a series
of free practical master classes for small and medium
size enterprises (SMEs) based in the East of England.
Eligible businesses must:
 be based in one of the 6 counties in the East of
England (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire,
- learn how to create goals that you will implement and,
Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire),
- give you tools to make sure they happen.
 be a registered sole trader, partnership or
You will create a realistic plan to move your business
registered company
forward!
 have fewer than 250 employees
Want more information or to book? Contact
 have less than 25% of the business owned by an
[email protected]
enterprise that in itself is not an SME

have a turnover under €50 million
Ankrah Associates works with women to achieve their

have received under €200,000 grants or state
business dreams. We particularly focus on women who
aids in the last three tax years
are running their businesses from their kitchen tables! We
 not be in the farming (animal or primary
provide marketing consultancy, coaching and mentoring.
production) industry.
www.ankrahassociates.co.uk
These courses are only free until the end of October
2013, so hurry to book your place:
Marketing and Communications
Barclays Ready For Business' Workshops
And… What Do You Do? (How to Talk About
Your Business in 60 seconds)
FREE and invaluable for helping you develop your vision.
The Art of Meaningful Networking
 9th September
Clacton
Getting the Most Out of Social Media
Managing Business Growth
 16th September
Ipswich
Securing Suitable Finance
 19th September
Harlow
Financial Management for Early Stage
Businesses
Call NWES on 0845 60 99 99 1 to find out more and to
Social Media – What Next?
book your place.
- will enable you to create your strong vision,
Calling All Creatives!
A nominal fee of £53.65 is charged by the organisers per
event to ensure that people who take up the places do
attend the training; however this is refunded once the
attendees have been to the master class. Booking details
for all the master classes:
http://innovationfarm.eventbrite.co.uk
Would you like your work to be recognised and its true
value appreciated? If you’d like to be making real money
from your talent as an artist/crafter, join us for a seminar
“How to break down the barriers to making more money
Courses fill up very quickly so if one of the courses you want is fully
from your talent.”on Wednesday, 2nd October at
booked, please do add your name to the waiting list which is on the
Newmarket Leisure Centre, CB8 OEA.
booking page of each course and we will contact you if tickets
10.00am – 1.00pm Artists
become available or if we organise another one due to high demand.
2.00pm - 5.00pm Crafters
We’ll show you how some small, simple changes in your
thinking and approach to business can bring real
rewards. Be quick, though – we only have 8 places at
each seminar!
Book now at http://www.risebusinesscircle.co.uk/events/
£15 per ticket Special Offer Book one of the first 3 tickets For more information please call David Broach, Finance
and pay just £10!
co-ordinator, on 01223 342227.
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Useful Information
Free Business Advice
We’re pleased to announce our latest taster session, to
be held at Cambridge Business Lounge, 52 Burleigh St,
Cambridge CB1 1DJ, on Wednesday, 25 September,
10.00am - 1.00pm
Come along and find out how we can help your small
business grow & prosper: it’s just £27 (or book with a
friend & 2nd attendee pays £17) for a morning of solid,
practical, hands-on training.
Email Liz Lyon at [email protected].
Visit www.RiseBusinessCircle.co.uk
For Small and Medium businesses HMRC are currently
running a series of free informal advice days for those
new to business and for those who need some help with
understanding their tax obligations, inc. RTI. We
recommend booking as this will help you to plan your day
with us. From www.business-events.org.uk just enter
your postcode or location, and choose “Tax” from the
“Topic” drop down menu to give you direct access to the
events in your area.
HMRC News
HMRC has recently announced that their Team will no
longer be delivering any face-to-face education.
Intermediary partners will instead be offered digital
alternatives, such as e-learning packages, Tax Widgets,
YouTube videos etc. Individual customers will be able to
choose webinars (online seminars) instead. There is a
choice of static presentations, available 24/7, or
interactive presentations. These can be booked at
website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/webinars/index.htm
HMRC E-learning Packages
Your Websites
Enterprise Rockers
A free to join, independently owned, UK based
community interest company working to make life better
for micro business owners, those that employ between 0
& 9 members of staff. Visit www.enterpriserockers.co.uk
Your Books
Get A Life – The Guide Book
By Lisa Whitehead
Lisa invites her readers to
take very practical daily
steps in order to transform
their daily lives from a
stressful blur into a truly
joyful and fulfilling
adventure. Lisa manages to
convey profound spiritual
wisdom in a delightfully
warm and accessible way.
Available direct at
http://www.getalifeuk.co.uk/get-a-life-theguide-book.html or a kindle
version.
* Tax Advice for Childminders
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob2/cm/index.htm
* Tax & your Agriculture Business
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob2/a_b/index.htm
* Tax for Foster Carers
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob/fc/index.html
* Tax Advice for HABIA
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob/hair/index.html
* Trading with other EU Countries (UKTI)
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob2/ukti_tr/index.htm
Free Trial Scam
The consumer is offered a free trial of a product, usually
over the Internet, and is asked to provide their credit or debit
card details for the £3 – £4 postage and packaging costs.
Some customers have found that a month later, around £60
– £90 has been taken from their bank account in return for a
monthly subscription of the product.
When the terms and conditions are read carefully, they state
that the consumer has to cancel within 10-15 days,
otherwise they’ll automatically be charged for a monthly
supply of the product. Often it is hard to cancel the contract
as the email address and telephone number for the
company are not answered. Therefore cancelling the credit
card is often the only option to stop payments.
Trading Standards advise:
* Read the terms and conditions of ‘free’ trials in fine detail
* Avoid signing up to any long term contracts
* Research the company – see if there are any reviews from
other consumers
* Be wary about who you give your credit/debit card details
* Keep an eye on the transactions in your account
* Check the company contact details. Without them it may
be difficult to contact them to cancel!
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Deadline
October 2013 Edition
Please send your information no later than 12
noon on Wednesday 25th September 2013.
To make life easier please send your information
to me as soon as possible at
[email protected]
© Woman’s Work
Design by Lesley Kershaw © 2012.
Layout by Carla Marasek & Sharon Hakwins © 2013.
Disclaimer: Your items are always welcome regarding forthcoming news,
events, opportunities, training etc. to be included in The Notebook. However,
any services, products, events etc. included in this section are not necessarily
endorsed by The Notebook or Woman’s Work. It is the responsibility of all The
Notebook readers to use their own judgement at all times.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this
publication before distribution.
However, all readers must satisfy themselves to its accuracy.
All subscribers to The Notebook must ensure they own the copyright of the
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