Yorkshire BusinessWoman April 2023 Edition

EVENTS, TOURS AND CORONATION STREET

TACKLING THE SHORTFALL OF WOMEN IN STEM

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EditorsNotes

by group editor Gill Laidler

Has the world changed after the pandemic?

Spring is in the air and life is getting busier and busier as there seems to be more events than ever, thankfully the pandemic seems to be well and truly over as the world returns to normal. Or has it?

Discussing the benefits of print over digital or vice versa here in the office a few years ago has completely changed. We discussed the fact that we thought the world would be digital within 10 years, we now believe the pandemic has accelerated that and everyone now seems to be embracing and wanting digital. This has resulted in us stepping up our digital offering for our partners and members, as well as having the advantage of print! I would be delighted to hear your thoughts on this subject, editor@yorkshirebusinesswoman.co.uk

We celebrated International Women’s Day this year talking to students at Ossett Academy, the ‘we’ are myself and our associate editors Freda Shafi and Rachel Rowling. I love events like this as I always come away having learned something from the students and it gives us insight into what young people want today, so important as they prepare to enter the world of business.

We have attended a number of events, co-hosting a lovely evening with our partners Phillip Stoner Jewellers in

Victoria Quarter, had a stand at Not So Beige events at Oulton Hall and coming up we are supporting the FB Fashion Ball on 27 April, the BH40 charity ball on 9 June and on 4 April will be at the creative industries conference at The Rose Bowl, do come along and say hello and pick up a copy of our latest edition.

When we launched our Podcast a few months ago it proved to be very successful, so much so that we are now relaunching, partnering with This is Distorted, which means some of our podcasts will now be filmed. Check them out on your usual podcast app.

Finally, I was invited to test drive the new Lexus RX by Lexus Leeds, ‘wow’ was the word I came up with, read how I got on page 72.

Gill x

You can email us at hello@ yorkshirebusinesswoman.co.uk or call us on 07711 539047

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Aubergine shortlisted for PRMoment Award 2023

test to the UK market, creating a launch product release which was followed up with a series of emotive founder interviews, profiles and newsjacking.

The campaign achieved coverage with a circulation of 378 million in 77 titles including Women’s Health, Mail Online, the Mirror and Marie Claire. The coverage and media attention has opened doors for national retail listings such as Superdrug and Whitworths Chemists, and funding for the startup.

Aubergine previously picked up the same accolade at the 2020 awards for a campaign for a health drink.

Leeds PR and content agency, Aubergine, has been shortlisted for an award at this year’s PRmoment Awards for the North.

The virtual team which specialises in food, tech, health and sustainability, is up for Media Relations Campaign of the Year.

Winner of PRMoment’s New Agency of the Year in 2019, Aubergine has thrived in a challenging climate. Set up for remote working before the pandemic hit, the team of expert consultants has levelled up its client base.

The agency has carved a niche within sustainability and has created headturning campaigns which consistently beat KPI’s and contribute to the growth

of its global clients. In the last year, Aubergine has grown turnover by 50% and makes a six-figure profit thanks to low overheads. The team has employed its first full time employee who is joining a roster of experienced freelancers.

Accolade

To earn the Media Relations Award nomination, the team created a powerful campaign for the new eco pregnancy test company Hoopsy. Aubergine was tasked with launching the brand’s eco 99% paper pregnancy

Aubergine’s co-director, Verity Clarke, commented: “We’re so proud that Aubergine has once again been shortlisted in the PRmoment Awards. We pride ourselves in our unique virtual team of experts, many of whom are former journalists, and our ability to meet so many different client briefs across numerous sectors.

“Femtech and sustainability really are in our wheelhouse, so we’re thrilled our media relations campaign for Hoopsy has also been recognised. We’re now appointed on an ongoing retainer basis by the brand thanks to our success with this media push.”

Aubergine has worked with a broad swathe of clients in the sustainability space, including Foodsteps, Be the Future, Round Our Way, Hope for the Future, WWF, Organic September, Organic Textile Week and London Food Tech Week. It has also recently launched sustainability reports for Finlays and Filippo Berio.

The chief operating officer of Northern has used Women’s History Month to urge women across the North of England to join her on the railway, declaring: “There’s never been a better time to be a woman in the rail industry.”

Tricia Williams, who leads the team responsible for the safe day-to-day operation of trains, stations, engineering and control – and who has helped drive the organisation’s equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy for the past two years - said: “We’ve made great strides in creating a supportive and flexible environment that women and other people want to work in.”

“Our aim has been to create a culture where everyone feels included and

valued and make Northern a great place to work for everyone.”

Dozens of volunteers from across the business came together to advise on matters relating to EDI and to ensure the organisation continues to foster inclusive culture.

Since 2020, they have helped to introduced workplace policies on menopause, domestic violence support, becoming a parent and transgender support.

Recognition

Northern’s flexible and agile working policy offers the benefit of working outside of the traditional 9-5 schedule and can include home working and compressed hours if their role allows,

which can have a huge impact on wellbeing as well as work-life balance.

They have also introduced blind sifting meaning information on CVs that could indicate a person’s background or gender is removed to ensure there is no potential unconscious bias and that recruitment focuses on the skills required for the job. The policy gained recognition nationally and across the industry.

Northern Power Women, a leading equality campaign group, has also shortlisted Northern as the ‘Large Organisation of the Year’ at its upcoming 2023 awards.

The group praised Northern for its commitment to developing an inclusive culture in the workplace by demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to recruitment, development and retention of talent.

Tricia added: “Of Northern’s 7,000-strong workforce, just over 1,300 of them are female. We want that to change. My message to women everywhere is ‘Don’t Delay, Apply Today’.”

There’s never been a better time to be a woman in the rail industry

Yorkshire Businesswoman host glittering event with Phillip Stoner

Senior wealth management consultant from Sovereign Health Sheena Doherty met members of the Phillip Stoner team at a networking event hosted by Yorkshire Businesswoman.

Jonathan and Sheena welcomed guests at the invite-only event at Phillip Stoner’s luxurious Victoria Quarter boutique, giving their clients an opportunity to mingle and relax in good company.

Guests enjoyed a welcome cocktail courtesy of The Cut & Craft, champagne and canapes, a complimentary hand massage by Molton Brown, complimentary jewellery cleaning from Phillip Stoner and a tour of the jewellery workshop and a chance to meet their goldsmith, before leaving with a goody bag of treats from some of Victoria Leeds most luxurious brands including Neom, Charbonnel et Walker, Penhaligon and L’Occitane.

Sheena Doherty has over 25 years’ experience as a financial advisor, working with business owners, directors and professional individuals regarding their

personal and business financial planning goals. Her aim is to provide straight forward, jargonfree, holistic financial planning advice.

Yorkshire woman named as Theatre board member

completing her PhD in Sociological research at The University of Sheffield.

Utopia Theatre has an experienced board of trustees, chaired by Maxine Greaves MBE, leading the organisation through its next stages of growth. It is also seeking partners and businesses to build on success and reach new audiences and participants.

Kaltum said: “I’m so excited to be joining Utopia Theatre at such a pivotal time in the organisation’s history. So much has been achieved already, in particular in telling important stories about African heritage to new audiences, and I’m looking forward to helping to drive the theatre forward as it reaches even more people.

Knowledge

The first African female councillor to be elected in South Yorkshire has joined the board of trustees at Sheffieldbased African theatre company, Utopia Theatre.

Kaltum Osman Rivers, who has also held the position of commissioner for the Race Equality Commission in Sheffield, has been appointed a Utopia Theatre trustee as the charitable organisation continues its work to widen participation and inspire the next generation of artists.

Utopia Theatre has recently been named a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) by Arts Council England and launched its own Youth Academy.

Kaltum has lived and worked in Sheffield since 2005. She was

elected as the first African female councillor in South Yorkshire in 2018 and has been an activist most of her life. Kaltum has previously held the position of commissioner for the Race Equality Commission in Sheffield and Black and Minority Development Officer for Children and Young People at Voluntary Action Sheffield.

In her working life, Kaltum has led research in health inequality, housing, education and social care and works at CK Consultancy Group. She is currently

“It is my intention to use my experience and connections to bolster Utopia Theatre’s success by making sure we are in as many South Yorkshire communities as possible; alongside staging wonderful productions nationally and internationally. We want to welcome as many people as possible through our doors, whether they take to the stage or watch.”

Maxine Greaves MBE, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Kaltum to the Utopia Theatre board. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge, drive and enthusiasm which will be a huge support to our board of trustees. We aim to empower and engage African communities in arts and culture and I can think of nobody better to do that alongside us.”

Kirklees College Celebrates Record Numbers at Open Day Events

Kirklees College recently entered a new phase of their successful corporate partnership with Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA).

The renewed partnership allows the two organisations to support and promote one another more than ever, as three new staff members from YABA have begun working from the college’s Huddersfield Centre.

Some of the staff members already working for YABA are also enrolled on apprenticeships with Kirklees College and will continue their training and employment with the college.

Representatives from YABA and Kirklees College were joined by Councillor Masood Ahmed, Mayor of Kirklees for a meeting to celebrate the partnership.

He said: “Having attended and worked at Kirklees College, it is always a pleasure to return to see how it has developed over the years. The partnership with the Yorkshire Asian Business Association

will hopefully see both organisations flourish and enhance the education and employment opportunities for young people in our borough.”

Palvinder Singh, Principal and CEO for Kirklees College commented:“This new stage of our partnership marks the beginning of a new venture for both YABA and the college. Working with YABA allows us to expand our opportunities for young people in a way that reflects the diversity of Kirklees.”

We look forward to welcoming our new apprentices to the KC community and by having them work in our offices, we will be able to support YABA’s corporate, business and community ventures.” Sharon Jandhu OBE from YABA added:

“It was excellent to meet with the Lord Mayor of Kirklees Cllr Masood Ahmed,

Palvinder Singh and the team at Kirklees College to discuss and launch the new and exciting partnership YABA has with Kirklees College, with a shared purpose of improving the lives and opportunities for young people in Kirklees and across the Yorkshire region.It was inspiring to see the hard work that the Kirklees College team have done to help local young people and we cannot wait to work with them to continue to improve the lives of the young people. We look forward to bridging the gaps between companies and the college and seeing this new partnership flourish.”

To find out more about YABA, visit www.yabauk.com/. Applications for September 2023 are now open. To find out more about Kirklees College’s apprenticeship provision, visit www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk/ apprenticeships/.

First Muslim woman appointed as CEO of a major international charity

Penny Appeal, the Muslim international humanitarian charity based in Wakefield, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ridwana Wallace-Laher as its new chief executive officer.

Ridwana, a former teacher at the Yorkshire (Bradford) Coop Academy Grange, is wellversed in empowering and mentoring people from all sorts of backgrounds. Ridwana’s appointment comes after being part of the Penny Appeal team for three years, with experience of working in various roles, including her most recent position as senior director of growth. She has a strong track record of leading diverse teams, building

relationships with stakeholders, and encouraging collaboration.

Ridwana says: “It has been an honour to have been part of the core unit that has led the positive change Penny Appeal has made in the faith-led charity sector globally. My commitment to greater governance, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, combined with my background as a senior teaching professional, make me confident that I can drive Penny Appeal’s success even further in the future.

Mohammed Jahangir, chairman of Trustees, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ridwana WallaceLaher as new CEO. She stood out against all other candidates through

a tough selection process, and I am proud to have her as our new CEO.”

Jahangir continues, “Ridwana is the first Muslim woman to hold the CEO position at a major international charity; may she be the first of many Muslim women to do so! At a time when the world is facing a global economic crisis, when many in the UK and abroad are struggling to feed themselves and pay electricity bills, and when people in Turkey and Syria are suffering due to the recent earthquake, we at Penny Appeal are trying our best to help those who need it by supporting them and providing aid during these times or events. The trustees are confident that Ridwana is woman who will take Penny Appeal to new heights in order to help those in need! We believe she will transform and grow the charity for the digital age whilst staying true to our core values of helping those in need. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that Ridwana will have on the charity and her leadership to make the world a better place!”

Event transport expert for theatre and film takes centre stage at new Leeds premises

been a pleasure to work with as we searched for — and moved into — our new home.

Stagefreight Limited has agreed a five-year lease on a new headquarters in Leeds, with property lettings professional, Towngate PLC.

Existing tenants at the Towngateowned Copperworks site on Haigh Park Road, Leeds, Stagefreight boasts a specialist understanding of set logistics and an impressive database of clients. A team of experienced drivers operates across Leeds, Birmingham, and London, — coverin events throughout the UK and regularly travelling the globe.

Formerly comprising 250,000 sq ft, the Copperworks 2 unit has been divided, to accommodate smaller areas of the large industrial and distribution footprint. The property sits in an excellent location, just one mile from both junction 44 (M1) and junction 7 (M621).

Stagefreight Limited’s director, Ian Uttley, said: “The Towngate team has

Housebuilder submits plans for £23.5m development in Barnsley

Sheffield-based housebuilder Honey has submitted plans to deliver a £23.5m development comprising 95 new two, three and fourbedroom homes on Barnburgh Lane, Barnsley. Called Iris, if planning is granted the eightacre development will be the Sheffieldbased housebuilding company’s first in Yorkshire since launching last October.

Honey was founded by former Avant Homes chief executive officer and Sheffield native, Mark Mitchell. The company is being funded by private equity firm Alchemy Partners via its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.

Iris will feature 16 house types which

Honey says have all been specifically designed to combine “style, substance and sustainability” for the benefit of buyers.

“The new Leeds site will make the perfect space for our operation. Plus, the close proximity to the motorway network is extremely beneficial for our fleet of vehicles.” Tom Lamb, property manager at Towngate PLC, added: “We are delighted to have assisted Stagefreight with its expansion plans in the Leeds area. The property is ideally located in close proximity to the motorway network and the city centre — allowing the company the freedom to transport equipment speedily and efficiently. We wish the team lots of luck in their new home.”

If given the go ahead by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, work at Iris is anticipated to start in June with the first residents expected to move into their new homes in the first quarter of next year.

Mark said: “It’s a great feeling to have submitted plans for our first development in Yorkshire. We have started the year at pace with two planning applications and have more in the pipeline.

“All our house types have been painstakingly designed to provide buyers with high quality, high specification properties that suit today’s lifestyles.

“We now look forward to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council considering our plans to deliver much needed new homes for the residents of Barnburgh and surrounding areas.”

Company of the Month

UK workers risk diabetes by sitting for 8 hours a day

85% of employees want their company to be more proactive in boosting employee health, wellbeing, and healthy habits.

New data has revealed one in five UK employees are sitting for more than eight hours each day, contributing to the decline in physical or mental health experienced by 79% of employees in the past year.

The findings place UK employee health in the ‘high’ to ‘very high’ risk category. This is particularly concerning as Diabetes UK report that more people than ever are at risk of type 2 diabetes due to their working habits.

The UK-wide Health, wellbeing & habits study asked over 1,000 employees for insights into their health status over the last year, and was conducted by disposable vape retailer Vape Club. The aim was to discover how changing working patterns are affecting employees’ health and wellbeing, and how UK companies can better support their workforce in this area.

The study found that employees who do at least 2.5 hours of exercise a week

were less likely to experience negative physical or mental effects from their work. Only one in seven workers in gets this much exercise.

Opportunities

The findings also raise concerns about the impact of hybrid working on employees as it continues to be the working norm in the UK. Compared to office working and work-from-home (WFH) employees, hybrid workers were found to be the most likely to spend over eight hours a day sitting at their screen. They were also the most likely to work outside of their contracted hours.

What can companies do?

• 33% of employees think training managers to provide better support is the answer

• 32% of workers believe in promoting the use of sick leave when people are struggling with physical or mental health

• 25% of employees want access to stress management training

Companies also benefit when contributing to their employees’ health and wellbeing: it leaves 38% feel more productive at work. A third (33%) of employees feel engaged with the work they do and 31% say they’re less likely to seek job opportunities elsewhere.

Chris Myers, clinical specialist physiotherapist and owner of

Complete Physio says: “It’s important to encourage employees to ‘move’ regularly during the day, so offering things such as a sit-to-stand desk can be a great idea. Sitting still all day in the ‘perfect posture’ won’t help you.

“It’s also beneficial if employees get outside on their lunch break and get some fresh air or have a walk: there is a lot of research which links physical and mental health. A lot of employers also offer wellbeing perks such as gym membership, Pilates or yoga classes.

Important

“Employees should try to schedule breaks into their day at appropriate points. This will help them focus, but also give their bodies and minds a break. Having some social interaction will also reset their thinking and help them become more creative.”

Lyndsay Hirst, physiotherapist at Your Pilates says: “One of the impacts of someone sitting for 8 hours a day is the effect it has on their musculoskeletal health. I tend to find those who are desk based for long periods of the day are weaker in their posterior chain of muscles.

“It’s really important to change positions regularly during the day. I am a big fan of the desk that can be adjusted to standing. Businesses should consider standing meetings or even sitting on the floor (where possible), just to alter the hip and spine positions.

“There are lots of companies investing in the health of their staff. For me, allowing them time to do a workout during the working day is one of the best things they could promote!”

LinkedIn – has anything really changed in a decade?

It’s been 10 years since Judy Parsons set up The LinkedIn Lady, helping people generate leads on the world’s oldest social media platform. Here, she shares her insights into the platform, what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how you can make it work for your business.

building the foundations of a successful LinkedIn strategy.

Change is the only constant

It’s no surprise how much LinkedIn has changed in a decade. In 2013 you could tag the contacts you made and add notes about how you’d met. You could even set reminders to get in touch, with LinkedIn starting to feel like it was heading towards becoming a kind of Customer Relationship Management system.

And you could run a search for a keyword, filter down the results and save the list of people you ended up with. Of course, LinkedIn realised how valuable this functionality was, and it’s now been moved into its paid-for Sales Navigator tool.

looked and felt very different. Originally adopted by a very corporate audience the platform was research and detail heavy. It didn’t really serve much purpose for the small business community.

Starting my business in 2013, things were already different. And another gear change came along when Microsoft spotted LinkedIn’s potential, buying the platform in 2016. Now with 900 million worldwide users, it’s certainly not to be overlooked.

But what is LinkedIn actually for, and how can small businesses get any value out of spending time on it when you could be doing so many other things?

My view from the beginning was that LinkedIn is a gift for people wanting to connect, engage and build online

relationships with others. If you use it that way, it’s a gold mine for prospecting for business.

Think about LinkedIn as a logical extension of networking and marketing. You can stay connected to the people you meet, engage with what matters to them, and share some of your expertise or maybe a contact from your digital little black book. If you use it with this purpose in mind, you’ll already be

The Microsoft acquisition in 2016 for $26.2 billion was one of the largest social media deals in history. In 2017 the platform got a makeover and reintroduced hashtags for search – they had previously been introduced in 2011 and “retired” in 2013.

The new interface removed the functionality that allowed you to tag people’s profiles – even those you weren’t connected to. The desktop view was rearranged to reflect the new mobile interface, demonstrating the mobile-first approach LinkedIn was now taking.

Even before Microsoft bought the platform, people were realising that they could be more authentically themselves. People buy from people, so for many using the platform to its full potential, the emphasis had shifted from presenting a sanitised corporate front on LinkedIn to being more of a real person.

The Microsoft acquisition in 2016 for $26.2 billion was one of the largest social media deals in history...

The idea of personal branding was gaining traction, and LinkedIn is the perfect place to really hone yours with the same original purpose in mind – to connect and engage with people.

Content and the future of LinkedIn

At the start, LinkedIn only allowed 150 “editorially selected” business luminaries to publish anything other than its version of a status update. Think Bill Gates, Richard Branson, President Barak Obama. But in 2014 it realised the power of publishing.

With LinkedIn Publishing (also previously called Pulse) it extended that influencer programme, giving every user the privilege of publishing once reserved for a hand-picked few. Now you can take your place alongside Arianna Huffington, Jeff Weiner,

Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, and all the other preordained LinkedIn Influencers.

This marked a change for LinkedIn, branching out from being a virtual rolodex of contacts, to becoming a destination site for professionals to read industry updates and publish their own ideas and insights to spark discussion.

Now we can post videos, documents and create newsletters as well as posting articles on LinkedIn – which incidentally is one of the highest-ranking sites in search engines, making it an incredibly valuable place to put your content.

In a fundamental change, people can choose to follow you, meaning they still see your content without being connected to you.

As long as you’re following great practice for any kind of publishing – writing for

your audience, tackling topics they want to know about and answering their questions – LinkedIn can work incredibly well as a showcase for your insights and ideas. Combined with a strong suite of connections, LinkedIn is still the perfect companion for your other sales and marketing activities.

Ten years on, the potential of LinkedIn is still incredible. Used with the intention of building and extending connections, it really can demonstrate an outstanding return on your investment – and needing that isn’t something that’s changed so much in 10 years either.

Find out how Judy can help you unlock LinkedIn’s potential, so you Get Found, Get Famous and Get Clients on LinkedIn. Get in touch www.linkedin.com/ in/judithparsons or judy@ judithparsons.com

YBW Bernadette Gledhill to host fashion event

Yorkshire Businesswoman member Bernadette Gledhill is hosting an exclusive fashion event with the Community Foundation for Calderdale and Harvey’s Department Store, Halifax after the store has closed on Thursday 20th April 2023.

Tickets are £25 each and available to buy from Harvey’s Department Store. Following fizz and canapes on arrival, guests will be treated to a fashion show showcasing the new Spring Summer trends to get ideas on how they can update their look along with make-up demonstrations. Shoppers will have exclusive afterhours access to the store as well as lots of offers, competitions

and will leave with a goody bag too.

Rachel Oates, also a Yorkshire Businesswoman member from CFFC explained, “This is a collaboration between ourselves and Harvey’s, giving people inspiration of how to look and feel great in the new season. Long standing friend of CFFC, Bernadette Gledhill is very talented at choosing and styling pieces and will be a great host and I’m sure that it will be an uplifting and fun evening.” Tickets are available to buy from till points in Harvey’s Department Store.

Yorkshire weavers and artists bring industrial loom backto life

Hannah, who is also a Lecturer in Woven Textiles at Bradford School of Art, explained:

“I wanted to work with other artists to open the process of weaving, which can be very technical and hard to access outside of an industrial setting. Weaving is a magical process that offers infinite possibilities in terms of design, colour, and surface. It has been stimulating for me to see how each collaboration has unfolded and the results are distinct and surprising.”

The Jacquard Project celebrates the weaving heritage of West Yorkshire through creative exchange and collaboration. These new textiles have a contemporary and conceptual edge, presented as large panels on wooden frames. The cloths carry evidence of the making process - the experimentation and exploration, colour and scale variations, yarn testing, and the glitches of the loom.

In March Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley presented a unique exhibition of collaborative work led by weaver and artist, Hannah Robson.

Hannah created a series of dynamic woven textiles using an industrial jacquard loom that was, until 2021, in disrepair at Bradford College.

Thanks to ‘The Jacquard Project’, supported by Arts Council England, Bradford College, and Leeds Inspired, Hannah coaxed the machine back to life with the help of local weavers and loom tuners, who generously offered advice, replaced parts, and serviced the machine.

The striking fabrics have been developed in partnership with four other local artists: Alice Chandler (jeweller), Anna Ray (mixed-media artist), James Thompson (sculptor), and Jodie Posen (weaver)

The exhibition aimed to demystify the weaving process and invited visitors to follow the threads as one artist’s work blends into another’s. The show took place in the iconic 1912 Mill at Sunny Bank Mills - itself a former worsted mill and weaver of fine cloth. The year 2023 marks ten years of arts and culture at the Mills, and this exhibition formed part of that year-long celebration.

Greenarc Ltd expands its service offering with latest acquisition

Greenarc Ltd, a national supplier of fuel and green energy solutions is delighted to announce its latest acquisition of Key Finance & Leasing Limited (KeyFleet).

The Lancashire-based business has provided vehicle leasing and fleet management services for over 15 years and specialises in supporting its customers with the transition to Electric Vehicles. Greenarc Limited is focused on guiding its commercial, public sector and residential customers towards a decarbonised future.

Chris Bingham, Greenarc Ltd chairman & CEO said: “We are really excited to welcome KeyFleet to our fast-growing business. Greenarc supports both homes and businesses across the UK with their fuel and low carbon energy services, and with the green evolution a huge priority, being able to offer our

customers a one-stop solution for their fuel, solar, batteries, EV charging points and now their electric vehicles are a great place for us to be.

We’ve worked closely with Marc and the team at KeyFleet for several years and we’re delighted to have them with us on our journey. With their focus on electric vehicles, they are the perfect business to join Greenarc as we continue to grow and develop to become a central figure in the transition to renewable energy and sustainable transport for both the commercial and domestic markets.”

Marc McLoughlin, KeyFleet managing director, who will join the board at Greenarc as part of the sale, said “Since the business was formed back in 2007 my aim has always been to build a unique and worthwhile business that would

Since the business was formed back in 2007 my aim has always been to build a unique and worthwhile business that would genuinely make a difference...

Marc McLoughlin, KeyFleet managing director

genuinely make a difference and leave a legacy that we can all be proud of, and I’ve been fortunate enough to attract a highly skilled team that buy into that vision.

This acquisition by Greenarc Ltd allows us to fulfil our potential as a business by providing both the platform and the resources we require to take advantage of the electrification of vehicles which is no doubt the

single biggest opportunity in the fleet sector since the invention of the motor car.

We are excited to lead the charge towards sustainable motoring and electrification nationally as part of the Greenarc group of businesses that will see us expand our services into other renewable solutions as we build a total decarbonisation offering.”

Employee-owned distributor Moorland Fuels invests in HVO distribution

Thanks to investment made by Moorland Fuels in HVO storage facilities, businesses across Devon and Cornwall can now access stocks of the greener alternative fuel which is a direct drop-in replacement for diesel.

The employee-owned fuel supplier has invested in its tank farm infrastructure to store HVO at the company’s head office in Okehampton to provide B2B suppliers, customers, and businesses with a 100% renewable alternative to red and white diesel. The fuel is suitable for use in any diesel engine without prior modifications and reduces emissions by up to 90%. Manufactured from sustainable, renewable feedstocks, the alternative fuel is certified under the UK Renewable Fuel Assurance Scheme and has proof of sustainability from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).

The cleanest alternative

The Gd+ HVO Fuel, supplied by GBF, is the cleanest alternative diesel on the market, supercharged with an engine-enhancing additive.

This additive results in engines running more effectively due to the higher cetane number of 70+ making it more efficient to burn, which considerably reduces the need for additives, such as AdBlue, it also has an excellent cold weather performance down to -35 °C.

KeyFleet, is based in the Ribble Valley and currently employs a team of 22 which includes regional relationship managers who are based across the whole UK. KeyFleet will join northernbased Greenarc Ltd which employs over 50 people within its existing group of businesses. This acquisition was facilitated by Clarion Solicitors. Tax advice was provided by BHP Chartered Accountants and funding by Barclays Bank.

With green initiatives high on everyone’s agenda and with Devon County Council’s goal of reaching net zero 2030, now is the perfect time for businesses to consider the transition to HVO.

Abby Turner, director commented: “Having been a local business within Devon for the past 20 years, it’s important to us that we remain true to our roots and support the local area with the transition to a greener future – that’s why we have invested in HVO and can now distribute it directly from our depot in Okehampton.”

Moorland Fuels is an employee-owned business which supplies the local area with fuel and has been a part of the local landscape for 20 years.

Leeds Heritage Theatres appoints four new trustees

Leeds Heritage Theatres is pleased to announce the four new trustees who will join the board are Anna Franks, freelance marketing and audience development consultant;

Dawn Holgate, choreographer and arts education (from August); practitioner Rebecca Morgan,

fundraiser and currently senior philanthropy manager at King’s College London; Madi Robinson,

controller of corporate legal & governance at Channel 4.

As a registered charity, Leeds Heritage Theatres is led by a board made up of volunteers who give their time and expertise to ensure that they fulfil their

Dawn Holgate

Anna Franks

Rebecca Morgan

Madelienne Robinson

charitable purpose, provide strategic oversight to their vision and ensure the organisation is run legally and remains financially resilient. Board members come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, both in the private and public sectors with each member bringing a skill set to benefit and progress our organisation.

Anna Franks brings an understanding of commercial business, alongside a passion to help organisations connect with their audiences and communities in an ethical and inclusive way.

Anna said: “Having been part of a charitable board several years ago, I was looking for an opportunity to join a new board and contribute my experience and skills. This felt like the perfect opportunity to combine my passion for theatre, film and culture with my knowledge and experience of the cultural and creative sector, and I look forward to combining these two elements and contributing to the leadership of these iconic venues in Leeds.”

Dawn Holgate has a range of experience, including 10 years as the resident choreographer and movement director for Leeds Grand Youth Theatre, choreographing the company’s annual musical and leading on creative movement experiences for all company members. She will join the board in August following the Leeds Grand Youth Theatre production of The Addams Family.

Dawn said: “I’m looking forward to getting stuck in! I see the potential for the arts to make a difference and to literally change people’s lives. Dance did that for me! I want to make a difference and being a trustee will ensure that I’m in the room and at the

table, enabling me to be involved in purposeful and relevant discussions that will unlock access and provide opportunity.”

Rebecca Morgan is an experienced fundraiser, having held positions across the arts and higher education sectors. She is now senior philanthropy manager at King’s College London, where she works to secure philanthropic income from organisations and individuals to support the university’s work.

Rebecca said: “I strongly believe in the power of theatre and the performing arts to bring communities together and create connections between people of all ages. The work of Leeds Heritage Theatres is doing just that across Leeds and it’s a real privilege to be part of.”

Madi Robinson from Channel 4, leading the department carrying out all the non-programme-related legal work. She is also a member of the Channel 4 leadership team and is a Channel 4 appointed non-executive director on several joint venture companies, including Everyone TV and YouView.

Madi said: “It’s important that people across the whole of the UK should have access to brilliant and engaging live performances close to where they live. That’s why I wanted to join the team at Leeds Heritage Theatres. I love that while they put on the large productions, that’s not their key drive. The vision is all about making its venues and productions accessible to reach a wider and more diverse audience. Also, it’s not just about entertainment but also about education and using its charitable status for the greater good. It’s a vision I share and am passionate about.”

I’m looking forward to getting stuck in! I see the potential for the arts to make a difference and to literally change people’s lives. Dance did that for me! I want to make a difference and being a trustee will ensure that I’m in the room and at the table...

Dawn Holgate

Horse of a lifetime inspires equestrian entrepreneur

A Belton-based showjumper, who defied the odds to represent Great Britain in both Para and able-bodied equestrian events, is hoping to share her passion for horses with others after successfully transforming five acres of unused wasteland into her dream riding school.

Sarah Cumberland launched the Avalon Mill Equestrian Centre in 2022 after securing loan funding from alternative lending provider Finance for Enterprise. Since securing the funds, Sarah has invested in over 400 tonnes of stone

and 330 tonnes of sand to transform unused land into an all-weather surface, which she uses to help teach others how to ride.

Sarah began exploring the idea

of launching her own riding school when her promising show jumping career was thrown into jeopardy after she experienced a life-changing accident, which left her with a broken back, fractured pelvis and a dislocated shoulder. As a result of the accident, she had one of her fingers amputated, and to make matters worse, during her recovery, Sarah was diagnosed with cancer.

Facing the very realistic prospect of

never being able to ride competitively again, Sarah used her recuperation to explore ways of passing on her knowledge and experience to others. She began working towards completing her coaching qualifications, and then she spotted an opportunity to give a new lease of life to some unused farmland, which had fallen into a state of disrepair. With terms agreed with the landowner, Sarah approached Finance for Enterprise to help her secure the vital funds needed to put her plans into practice.

Working with experienced business lending manager Jane Cusse, Sarah was able to access the financial support her business needed, and as she started taking the steps towards her recovery, she began laying the foundations for her fledgling business.

Today, Sarah regularly finds herself back in the saddle, and after successfully entering three shows and securing three wins, she decided to name her new horse-riding school in honour of her horse, Avalon Mill. Together, both Sarah and Avalon Mill have gone from strength to strength. The duo finished top of the table in last summer’s British national para show jumping league and have also represented Great

Britain and British Show jumping on several occasions. On her return to competitive show jumping, Sarah was invited to compete against ablebodied riders in Munich, going on to finish in place overall. A year later Sarah and Avalon followed up their success in Bon Heiden, Belgium,

where she went one step better to secure first place.

Although para show jumping is not currently an internationally recognised Paralympic event, Sarah still dreams of representing her country at the Olympic Games and is currently considering whether to compete in dressage events.

Since successfully launching her riding school, Sarah has continued to diversify her business. Today, she actively supports rescue horses and ponies, helping them to recover before being found foster homes, and she is hoping to expand her horse-riding school by launching Isle Ride to Recover, a dedicated charity aimed at helping children with hidden and visible disabilities to experience horse riding in a safe environment.

Sarah said: “I’ve been horse riding for nearly as long as I could walk, but despite the injuries I experienced, it never crossed my mind to give up, and I could never have imagined a future where horses didn’t play a part in my life. The accident made me more determined than ever to be able to compete again, and although I was initially told it could take over a year before I could even think about horse riding again, I was back in the saddle within just eight months. During that time, I began thinking about my career to date and how I could use the knowledge I’ve built up during my lifetime to help inspire others. I would regularly ride past the land I’d identified and felt it would make a great place for a riding school, so I decided to approach the landowner.

“To my surprise, she listened to me and eventually agreed to let me use the land. I realised that to achieve what I wanted, I would need to raise additional funds, and when she allowed me to buy the land from her, I decided to approach Finance for Enterprise to help fund the improvements I wanted to make. As the business was a new concept, I wasn’t sure whether I would be eligible to access a business loan, but my lending manager Jane listened to what I had to say. She helped to guide me through the application process, and when she called me to tell me my application had been successful, it felt like I’d won the tournament of my life! I decided to name my business after my horse, Avalon Mill. She’s a once in a lifetime horse, and I wanted to call the business after her to recognise everything

that she’s made possible in my show jumping career. She must be something of a lucky charm for me, as I’ve not only continued to enjoy success in the events I’ve entered, but the business has also gone from strength-to-strength, and I’m hoping to launch a charitable arm to the business soon.”

Jane Cusse, business lending manager, Finance for Enterprise, said: “It was clear from our very first meeting that Sarah is an incredibly driven and motivated individual who won’t let anything hold her back. Sarah was very clear from the outset what she wanted to achieve, and since launching the Avalon Mill Equestrian Centre, the unloved and largely forgotten about land has been transformed beyond all recognition.

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Events, tours, and Coronation Street

Some of our readers will need no introduction to Clemy Crowther, as she hosts several our member events, but here, Yorkshire Businesswoman editor Gill Laidler caught up with her to find out a bit more about her and her career.

Clemy attended the University of Huddersfield for five years, studying event management for four of them, whilst completing a placement year delivering various events freelance for 12 months, before returning to university for her final year. “I then continued to study, completing a master’s degree in marketing communications,” she told us.

After leaving university, Clemy’s first job was as an events assistant for Huddersfield Golf Club. “I worked on many events during the time I was there, from dinners to private functions, all of which gave me fabulous experience, running events from the venue’s perspective,” she explained. “Growing up I always knew I wanted to work with people but wasn’t quite sure what that would be exactly. I remember putting my

name forward as a volunteer for open days at school and then college, it was then it became clear that this was going to be the career for me.

At the end of 2022, Clemy decided to take a leap from an employed role to become a full-time freelance events manager. “I had always carried out event management projects alongside my full-time job and whilst studying, but decision last year if not now, when? I’ve never looked back.”

As well as working in the events industry, at weekends Clemy is a tour guide and duty manager for the Emmerdale and Coronation Street tours. “I’ve been doing this for about four years and recently promoted to the management team, helping to deliver the operation. I love it, my favourite thing about the role is

meeting fans for both shows from all over the world and giving them a once in a lifetime experience of showing them behind the scenes of the television sets and an insight into the television world!”

The pandemic was difficult for most people, so what was it like for Clemy in the events industry?

“I was one of the lucky ones within the industry as I was still in my full-time role, so had to adapt and create our new events strategy, all virtual. Suddenly for me and others in my company, virtual events on Zoom and Teams were the new trend. Everyone came together to help one another through all the uncertainty which

was great. I became a member of various communities for event professionals which was useful and great to share ideas and advice with others in the same position.

“Outside of work, seeing my community come together was fantastic. I met neighbours I had not known before and really saw

the community come together and help one another as much as they could.

We organised a dedicated team that helped deliver food parcels to the elderly and vulnerable people within the community and held quiz nights on zoom as well as helping spread some Christmas

cheer, organising activities for families.”

So, what is the best part of her job?

“Oh, lots of things,” she continued. “Being freelance I get to work on lots of different exciting projects across the world, both virtual and in person. I am constantly learning from others, my clients and industry colleagues. Quite often, I can be working on two projects at the same time, with completely different goals, objectives, and content, so would say the variety of experience and the people I meet along the way is the best part.

“I also like the fact that I can be flexible with my week, and I can work from anywhere in the world. Some weeks I can be travelling around the UK for site visits and meetings which I feel so lucky to be able to do, enabling me to complete my event project work wherever I am. No two days or weeks are the

FACT FILE:

What do you do in your leisure time?

I love socialising with friends and family and exploring new restaurants and bars. I also love a good spa day!

Where is your favourite restaurant?

I love going to CASA in Brighouse and looking at the lovely views!

What is your favourite food and drink?

My mums Sunday roast! and definitely a mojito!

Where is your favourite place in Yorkshire?

The Piece Hall- whether this be for a social visit or working from one of the outlets, I love visiting it!

What couldn’t you live without?

My support network and cheerleaders.

same, I am part of a 6am club with some of my industry friends, where we share our goals and intentions for the day, which helps me keep accountable. One day could start with a face-to-face meeting with a client discussing event requirements, followed by Zoom meetings with suppliers or colleagues for a different project,” she continued. “When I am working on event days as the operations manager, I could be at an arena in a big city on tour with artists (I have had a few of these pinch-me moments recently!) overseeing the operations of a corporate conference, setting up very early morning, or working on a charity ball until the early hours!”

So, what are Clemy’s plans? “I don’t have a set plan, but I have big goals that I want to achieve in the next few months. I am working on some exciting projects with industry peers and existing clients, so watch this space,” she laughed.

Mum running Sheffield beer business says indies are key to re-building the community

Jules set up Hop Hideout in 2013 and says shopping local this Mother’s Day and beyond has both an economic and social benefit

A busy mum and owner of beer shop and tasting room Hop Hideout is taking part in a ‘mums love local’ campaign encouraging people to think local when they spoil their mum this Mother’s Day, supporting local businesses at the same time.

Jules said: “I came to Sheffield to study, and working in bars helped to fund my degree. That, and my mum

being a beer drinker too, is where my passion for craft beer came from. After my degree, I moved into the brewing side and in 2007 got a job at a big brewery in Leeds, working in everything from technical support to sales, procurement, and logistics.

“This was the time when people were getting really excited about British brewed beers and real ales, and new

artisanal independent breweries started to produce these interesting beers. I decided it was time to do my own thing.

“Women are a minority in the beer industry, and I certainly faced barriers getting into it, so it’s important to me to champion minority owned breweries through Hop Hideout, especially as a mum to my little girl Ivy, who just turned one.

“There has been a big rise in female

entrepreneurship and women realising they have the skills, the knowledge and the experience and setting up on their own. It is hard setting up your own business but it’s very fulfilling to be able to follow my passion and introduce people to new beers and new breweries.

“We’re celebrating our 10th year in 2023 which is a real achievement, especially after the challenges of the last few years. The hospitality industry has been hit hard and many people left the sector. I was only able to find one staff member, so my maternity leave lasted a month and there was a lot of working around nap times.

“I now have two fantastic staff members, which helps me to juggle childcare, plus the support of my husband, friends, and other independent business owners. It’s great for Ivy to have a positive female role model and know that she can work in any industry she chooses to.

“Brewing is a creative process. At Hop Hideout, we love the ‘funky’ beers, farmhouse ciders, low intervention wine with lots of Sheffield and Yorkshire beer. Hybridisation is also a new thing, such as beers inspired by cocktails, beer, and cider blends. Experimentation and creativity are key.”

Hop Hideout is one of almost 90 businesses who are part of the Sheffield City Centre Gift Card. Jules says that independent business is key to re-building the community after the pandemic:

“We’re part of the Sheffield City Centre Gift Card because I think it’s a real positive championing of the city. Small businesses often don’t

have the marketing budget or the ability to have a high street presence. The Sheffield City Centre Gift Card is a great way for helping people to discover the Sheffield food, drink, retail and shopping scene, including lots of independents.”

The Sheffield City Centre Gift Card launched in 2017 as a way to drive footfall to the city, and lock in spend locally. Richard Pilgrim, project manager at Sheffield BID said: “We introduced the Sheffield City Centre Gift Card to showcase all we have to offer here in Sheffield, from high street brands to local

independent businesses run by skilled and passionate individuals like Jules. This Mother’s Day, the Sheffield City Centre Gift Card is a gift that can be spent in so many ways, which allows mums to explore what’s on their doorstep, and perhaps discover some hidden gems.”

Sheffield’s gift card is part of the award-winning Town & City Gift Card initiative from Miconex active across the UK. Local gift cards giants Town & City Gift Cards are leading the national ‘mums love local’ campaign alongside Sheffield BID.

Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex: “The idea behind our ‘mums love local’ campaign is to meet the mums behind our local businesses, who are working hard to keep our communities vibrant, interesting places to live, work and socialise. When you spoil your mum this Mother’s Day, you can also support many other mums running and working in local businesses.”

Brewing is a creative process. At Hop Hideout, we love the ‘funky’ beers, farmhouse ciders, low intervention wine with lots of Sheffield and Yorkshire beer...

Sisters celebrate fifth anniversary of successful HR

develop and grow in the way that we wanted, and which would suit our family lives.

“I was getting ready to go back to work, which would have involved regular travel across the UK and Europe, and it didn’t feel right anymore for me.

“So, Siobhan and I began to brainstorm and pull together our business concepts, and very quickly the idea of Norton Loxley was born.”

Siobhan, said they each paid £50 to purchase a domain name and set up a basic website, and the business quickly began to evolve.

“What started out as a pipedream very quickly became a reality,” said Siobhan. “We established a client base of eight businesses in the first month, most of which are still clients today.

Sisters who set-up a HR and recruitment consultancy with just an initial £50 investment each are this week celebrating their fifth anniversary and a bumper year of growth.

Siân Whelan and Siobhan Collyer are toasting their success after deciding to take the plunge and go it alone by launching York-based Norton Loxley HR and recruitment agency in 2018.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, the sisters shared their story in the hope it provides inspiration and confidence to other would-be entrepreneurs.

The sisters, who both juggle the demands of running their own business whilst raising young families, said they had not looked back since

launching and encouraged others to take the leap.

Managing director Siân said: “Both Siobhan and myself have worked in HR for a number of years and initially had the idea of setting up our own consultancy whilst enjoying a weekend away together with our families.

“I was due to return to work following maternity leave and Siobhan was at a natural crossroad in her career, so it felt like the perfect time to create a business that we could both really

“We initially started as a HR consultancy but found that our clients were also looking for support with recruitment, so saw this as a great opportunity to grow our business and the services we offered.

In 2022, we introduced specialist HR recruitment and search as a standalone service, meaning we could support more organisations in developing their HR functions, and we haven’t looked back since.”

As they mark their fifth anniversary, the sisters are celebrating their best year yet. In 2022, they undertook an extensive rebrand of the business in line with their growth plans and also hired their first e

“We’re really excited about what the future holds,” said Siân. “We’ve since grown the team and are set to grow again in 2023.

This Is Distorted, Leeds based audio first content agency

A multi-award winning agency specialising in emotionally connecting brands, businesses and audiences through the power of sound. Passionate about audio as a power for good.

Why are so many business owners starting podcasts?

We now know that 40% of UK adults listen to podcasts each month and that number is only increasing! The podcast audience is growing, diversifying and increasing their time listening - which all in all makes for an attractive audience.

Authenticity and realness are the new metrics of desirable content.

The need for truth and connection has replaced the highly filtered, curated gloss we readily consumed only a few years ago. Society wants real, relevant and meaningful and the consumer has come to expect this of the brands and businesses they choose to engage with, regardless of platform.

Podcasts offer the perfect space to humanise your content and touch points with personal, meaningful conversations and storytelling.

What we do?

We work with you to strategically shape and plan audio focused content solutions that form part of PR and marketing plans garnering real business results.

We have a range of services available from studio hire and marketing support to full production.

If you are thinking about starting a podcast or are ready to take yours to the next level then get in touch and let’s have a coffee becky@thisisdistorted.com

Tackling the shortfall ofwomen in STEM

Elaine Ball, Founder of Elaine Ball Ltd

How can we help to bridge the predicted shortfall of female talent into STEM roles including those in the geospatial and survey industries?

The STEM industries have always had an issue in achieving a fair balance between men and women, and the gender divide is set to continue. Whilst many of us, myself included, are striving towards increasing the number of females within these job sectors; there is still a lot to be done.

Currently, reports indicate that with the female STEM workforce makes up just 24% of overall employees. But without an increase in strong female’s coming up through the ranks from Generation-Z and the Millennial years, this figure could be even more disparate.

And while gender equality has come a long way in the past 50 years, there are still active steps and strategies that need to be put in place to make the STEM industries more open, inviting and exciting for women to join.

So, what can we do?

It starts when we’re young. Not just young adults, but really young. When our minds and imagination are at their most vivid and we’re captivated by new worlds, adventures, and discoveries. This is where industries like science, engineering, geospatial and surveying can captivate the minds of children and show them the bright and exciting future that roles in these industries can have.

As a young child I was lucky enough to be inspired daily by the work of my father, a hydrographer and mine surveyor who made the geospatial world come alive for both me and my sister.

It’s because of him that my sister and I launched Get Kids Into Survey, which is part of a global recruitment

campaign to educate school children in the importance of surveying. This was all done out of the passion for industry, we want to see and teach budding geospatial experts that there is more to this profession than muddy boots and high-vis jackets. For children, industries like ours need to come alive for them. All children, regardless of background or gender, should have the chance to explore their passions and interests including STEM subjects. Exciting careers don’t have to include vlogging, TikTok, football or fame. They can show a world of discovery, adventure and exploration, which many of the STEM industries can offer.

education to get behind us. We need to see the national curriculum showcase geospatial terminology and skills in the right light to engage young minds before they embark on next stage of their education or career journey.

We also need other women to be the driving force behind opening interest in STEM careers. This isn’t just about exploring a career in surveying and geospatial but all professions that use science and maths. These subjects underpin so many important elements of everyday life, and without people continuing to work and study them, they will simply die out. Careers in engineering, science, research, mathematics, technology, software and geospatial as well as countless others are essential, and they need more talent; especially female.

It’s a common misconception that the geospatial industry is boring and dull. But in fact, it has shaped some of the coolest parts of science and history including the Egyptian pyramids, space exploration, Stonehenge, the finding of the Titanic, the study of Volcanoes, the discovery of lost cities, and even helped in the development of bestselling computer games.

Yet children and young minds are in danger of never knowing this. We need that to change to ensure the STEM industries are taught to be exciting and diverse, rather than dull and boring and simply another subject to pass exams in. For this to happen, we need schools and

The STEM industries are crying out for more women, more female talent, and women with bold, ballsy personalities as well as those with quiet determination and passion for the subjects they love. As a woman who isn’t afraid of being heard, I enjoy being in a man’s world but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to change it. The world of survey and geospatial has been synonymous with white, middleaged men in a hi-vis for far too long.

It’s time for a new generation of women to step up and lead the charge to bring on more bright young minds and keep STEM industries like geospatial alive.

Elaine Ball is the Founder and CEO of Elaine Ball Ltd,a dedicated business&marketingconsultancy for the global geospatial industry. Elaine is also the co-founder of Get Kids into Survey, which aims to educate and inspire the next generation about the geospatial industry.

The STEM industries are crying out for more women, more female talent, and women with bold, ballsy personalities

A few bags and a new coat

through its bold and honest modus

Brazil to visit her brother who too had made his way to the UK.

Mara was intrigued and inspired by everything the UK had to offer, and to earn her keep, she worked as a cleaner for her brother’s domestic cleaning business whilst teaching herself to speak English.

Time went on and Mara’s curious, restless and industrious nature took hold of her and she made the decision to stay and forge a new life here, where opportunities to earn were more plentiful than in Brazil.

Decision made, she purchased four small contracts from her brother which equated to just 20 hours per week, which she grew to one hundred hours and one weekly contract and in just five years she diversified into commercial premises.

Now some, ten years later, Mara is the founder (along with her husband

Fabio) of a business which is creating great shakes amongst the industry and becoming widely known for its approach to good business.

A business which is built on integrity, honesty and respect. Nova Services looks after its clients and its people respectfully and pushes boundaries on transparency and service expectations

The driver of the brand, Mara is determined to grow the business amongst numerous sectors through the old-fashioned marketing approach of recommendation and good word of mouth.

Motivated by roots, Mara is an inspiration to any foreign person looking to carve out a life for themselves in a new country.

“The bravest thing I have ever done was to leave my comfort zone, my family and my country. Everything else is easy compared to this. So, nothing really scares me. I love and live by Susan Jeffers quote “Feel the fear and do it anyway”.

One things for sure, this incredibly motivated woman is set to inspire her peers and industry alike through her determined and shrewd attitude.

A business which is built on integrity, honesty and respect. Nova Services looks after its clients and its people...

Kayleigh Morgan, an account manager at Yorkshire-based PR and marketing agency Wild PR, has been shortlisted for the Young Professional Award at the PRmoment Awards 2023.

The national awards celebrate excellence and recognise and reward outstanding campaigns and exceptional talent in the UK PR and Communications sector. The Young Professional Award recognises the brightest and most promising PR communicator under 30 years old working in either an agency or in-house role.

Kayleigh joined the business in January 2020 as a junior account manager and is responsible for looking after a portfolio of clients across multiple industries, including manufacturing, professional services and tech.

Thanks to her passion and drive for Wild PR and its success, the clients she looks after, and the team she manages, Kayleigh is among four finalists shortlisted for the award. The winners will be announced at an award ceremony on Tuesday, 25th April 2023, at Hilton Deansgate, Manchester.

Speaking on the shortlist, founder and managing director of Wild PR, Katrina Cliffe, said: “Kayleigh is an example of the type of employee that any agency would value. Throughout her career, she has taken on feedback to enable herself to grow in her role, and when she sets an ambition, she works hard to achieve it, demonstrating all our key values in her day-to-day work, particularly passion.

“This shortlist is an incredible achievement. Regardless of the award night’s outcome, she is a winner in our eyes!”

Wild PR account manager shortlisted at PR Moments Awards

Kayleigh added: “The shortlist was a huge surprise, and I am absolutely elated. I can’t thank Katrina enough for bringing me on board those three years ago; if it weren’t for the enormous opportunities, core values and the fantastic team we have at Wild PR, I wouldn’t be able to do any of it.”

partners Wild PR’s purpose is to create growth opportunities for the clients they work with, the people who work for them, and its community through a mix of marketing and PR tactics.

To find out more about Wild PR, the team and the services they provide, please visit https://wildpr.co.uk/about-us/

TopicUK and Yorkshire Businesswoman

New retail events heading to Pavilions of Harrogate

Pavilions of Harrogate has secured a number of new highend retail events as the Great Yorkshire Showground’s venues celebrate a hugely successful start to 2023.

A January and March are record months for the 14-room event space which is based on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

Last month saw Reiss at the Pavilions for the first time and last week Brodie Cashmere held their debut event at the venue.

The Sweaty Betty Sale started on Monday 20th March for two days and the Joules Sale opened on Thursday 23rd. The Boden Sale will be held on Wednesday 20th September and Thursday 21st September.

In the first quarter of the year Pavilions will host 150 events ranging from retail sales, to funerals, dinners and conferences.

It marks a hugely successful start to the year as sister venue, the Yorkshire Event

We have had a series of really successful retail events at Pavilions of Harrogate which continue to attract a new audience to the showground...

Centre has also signed up a number of new events. This includes Fully Charged LIVE North 2023, the World’s no.1 Electric Vehicle and Clean Energy Show on Friday 19th to Sunday 21st May.

Comic Con will be at the Yorkshire Event Centre on Saturday 3rd June and Sunday 4th June as part of a national tour. Expect big guests, amazing set and prop builds, major attractions, cosplay, anime, traders, gaming and more.

Organisers of the UK’s biggest outdoor holiday home show recently announced their relocation to the Great Yorkshire Showground. Rebranded as The Great Holiday Home Show, it will be held from Friday 8th September to Sunday 10th September for the public followed by a trade-only show from Tuesday 12th September to Thursday 14th September.

Heather Parry, managing director of Pavilions of Harrogate and the Yorkshire Event Centre which are both based on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate said: “We have had a series of really successful retail events at Pavilions of Harrogate which continue to attract a new audience to the showground. Event organisers tell us they are impressed by the venues, our commitment to sustainability and the passion and dedication of our wonderful team. We are proud of our track record and continue to strive for excellence in all we do. We are excited that 2023 will be our most successful year ever in both our venues.”

Supercharge your confidence with PR

By Jo Swann, PR Coach for Female Entrepreneurs

A highly qualified expert this lady is a truly knowledgeable coach - she has huge value to add and provides transformational results for her clients - but personal circumstances have seen her confidence knocked and her self worth crushed. PR has built her back up. The power of 3rd party recognition has not only shown others she can be trusted, but it has mirrored this back to herself. It has showcased her as being knowledgeable and credible in the eyes of the media she respects. This has supercharged the value she places on her work - and has seen her show up with more confidence and radiate an energy that is truly magnetic.

How many times this year have you stopped yourself doing something because of selfdoubt? A task that keeps getting put to the bottom of your list, a conversation you’d like to have but haven’t, a launch or lead you’d like to pursue but have blocked yourself from?

I do it all the time, and I must check myself, tap into my tools for overcoming Imposter Syndrome, then make myself rise to the challenge. So many women I work with go through this process too, and one of the joys of PR is it can become one of your tools - part of your amour.

One of my clients this week shared with me how getting her in magazines such as Glamour, Vanity Fair, Business Insider, and Health & Wellbeing Mag for example has had a profound effect on her - much further reaching than just the business benefits of such PR. She told how it had helped her believe in herself.

Jo Swann is the founder of Chocolate PR, an awardwinning agency specialising in working with female founders to help them harness the power of PR, so they can spread their message, knowledge and impact via the power of the media. Connect with Jo on Insta @ jochocpr

Knowledge

PR builds confidence. When you must show up as the best version of you to be taken seriously by journalist you show up as the best version of you. When you present yourself as an expert you step up as that expert.

This has a deeper power than you can possibly imagine. It’s magic to see.

Are you getting in your own way? Could you do with being supercharged? ……PR is most definitely up for the job.

• Business Structures & Reorganisations

• Commercial Debt Collection

• Commercial Disputes

• Commercial Property

• Contracts

• Employment

• Intellectual Property

• International Trade & Transactions

• Internet Trading

• Mediation of Business Disputes

• Mergers, Acquisitions and Disposals

• Planning & Licensing

• Starting In Business

• Accident Claims

• Child Care

• Collaborative Law

• Dispute Resolution

• Employment Problems

• Matrimonial & Family

• Medical Negligence Claims

• Planning for Retirement

• Residential Property

• Road Traffic Cases

• The Law & The Elderley

• Wills, Trusts & Probate

Emma’s glittering career

BBC jewellery star Emma White talks to Yorkshire Businesswoman about her success on the All That Glitters hit television series and her love of jewellery

Anyone who watched the excellent BBC2 series All That Glitters last year will have been impressed not only by Emma White’s amazing ability as a jeweller, but also by her ability to show grace under pressure. That quality was most in evidence when, as the show reached its climax, Emma narrowly missed out on being crowned Britain’s Next Jewellery Star.

The consensus was that Emma ‘was robbed’ and her many fans took to Twitter to express their outrage. It was certainly a strange decision as Emma had been a strong competitor throughout the series and then won both challenges in the final. Firstly the ‘bestseller’ where her Sapphire Engagement Ring was placed first by the judges Shaun Leane and Dinny Hall and secondly the ‘bespoke’ where celebrity Shirley Ballas, head judge of BBC hit show Strictly Come Dancing, chose Emma’s necklace in the ultimate challenge of the series.

Emma is remarkably relaxed and gracious about the result, “I have no regrets,” says Emma with a smile. “The show was an amazing experience. It taught me so much about myself and pushed my design and making skills,

and I’m proud that I performed even under huge pressure. I met some lovely people, especially the wonderful host Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan. And I also got to design and make that amazing necklace for Shirley Ballas. I’m very proud of what I achieved and glad that I went out on such a high by nailing the final.”

So, when,did Emma fall in love with jewellery?

“Very early on, when I was a child. I loved to watch my glamorous mum get ready to go out for an evening, perfecting her look with sparkly jewellery. I am from a long line of strong women, the type that knocked down walls and carried the family load whilst still wearing lipstick. This strong femininity is a theme that I carry through my work and my life and an ethos that translates into everything that I do.”

Emma is a jewellery designer, storyteller and teacher, originally from Scotland, now living and working in her adopted village of Farsley, where she is based in a beautiful studio at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, near Leeds.

Emma makes jewellery to sell, offers a bespoke service for special oneoff pieces, and teaches jewellery making classes and workshops, from her studio in the historic and prestigious Sunny Bank Mills, which is home to many creative businesses.

“I love my large purpose-built jewellery studio, fully equipped with everything needed to run a creative and professional jewellery hub. Dramatically decorated with bare brick and dark grey walls, hung with my own paintings and with touches of rustic wood and brass, it’s a creative space that perfectly balances style and practicality, a

Jewellery courses - 6 week blocks

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday

6.30 - 9pm £180

Friday mornings 10am-12pm £144

Upcoming workshops:

Saturday 22nd April 2023

Stacking Saturday

(make a triple stack of silver rings or bangles) £90/£120

Saturday 3rd June 2023

Inspired by Botanicals Silver Clay Workshop £125

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th

September 2023 (a two day workshop)

Carve and Cast a Silver Ring £245

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th

Emma’s jewellery is borne of a love of people and the emotions that drive them. As an empathetic and emotional overthinker, all of Emma’s jewellery comes loaded with feeling. Her designs are inspired by life’s journey and the

important people and events that come together to make us who we are.

Her most popular collections are a development from the key pieces she made on All That Glitters and include Held, the silver hands that were inspired by the protective symbolism of Fatima’s hand, clasping a heart representing the love of a family unit. Answered was inspired by the decision making YES/NO spinner ring, perfect for deciding not to decide and allowing fate in, while Feathered was inspired by the peacock single statement earring, a piece which was inspired by the dual symbolism of eternal love, love that outlasts life, representing a friend’s loss of her beloved mum.

November 2023 (4 half day workshops to choose between)

Silver Heirloom Christmas Decoration £45

(Coinciding with the Christmas Makers Market)

One to one teaching - POA Emma and the team also offer the opportunity to work on a one to one basis, do get in touch to find out more.

Web: https://thejewellerymakers. co.uk

Email: info@thejewellerymakers. co.uk

Instagram: https://instagram. com/emma.white.jewellery

Facebook: https://facebook. com/thejewellerymakers

Emma is also a natural storyteller, she is articulate, witty and empathetic. A people person at her core, Emma is passionate and energetic, and everything that she does is inspired by the people around her and the stories that they tell. A mum of three and step mum of three more, she can tell you a story on a variety of topics around motherhood, step parenting and complex family dynamics, to design, fashion and food and can be heard on local radio or appearing as a guest on podcasts and articles discussing topical issues on family life and juggling family and business life.

Emma is an enthusiastic and skilled jewellery teacher. She and her small team of experienced tutors offer various ways to learn jewellery making skills, for those interested in learning in greater depth there is a running programme of evening classes, booked in six-week blocks, or join for a day or weekend on a project based workshop.

bit like the family of strong women that I grew up around.”

Leeds fashion retailer reinvent the wheel

This is just the start of The Style Attics Spring/Summer Campaign which will see their previously predominantly online shop take to festivals and events across the country.

But it’s not just showcasing their fashion goods that the team are concerned about. The Style Attics’ huge online community sees the brand boast loyal customers and followers across England and beyond.

With their ability to take the brand mobile, the team hope to be able to meet their incredibly supportive community of customers further afield.

In a world where everyone is striving to have Insta-perfect identikit homes, wouldn’t it be nice just to be you?

Local Fashion retailer, The Style Attic, hit the streets of Leeds recently to unveil their latest project, a mobile campaign to empower and boost the confidence of women.

When, on a whim last August, female founder Leigh Unwin and her team purchased a disused ice cream van, the idea was branded as crazy and impulsive. But the vision came to fruition just in time to mark International Women’s Day.

The all-female team took their newly renovated promotional van to Briggate to share words of affirmation and token gifts to the women of the city.

The Style Attic customers came out in full force for the campaign’s launch and to celebrate International Women’s Day together, despite the snowy conditions.

Laura Cundall, just one of the many customers who braved the weather said, “What a fantastic day it’s been celebrating International Women’s Day with The Style Attic! This strong, fierce, loving army of fashionistas has given me the confidence to believe in myself, my worth and made me believe no matter what size or shape you are, fashion can be a part of your life!”

Leigh said, “When I purchased this broken, old ice cream van last summer, I got home and thought to myself, what have I done? But I’m a firm believer in the saying, ‘if you’re not evolving, you’re falling behind’ and I knew that I wanted to keep pushing myself, and the brand, to keep growing.”

She continued, “Every week, we speak with customers online who tell us they wish they could come to our events, and to the shop, but they’re not from the area. So, I thought instead, why not bring The Style Attic to them. And, as an all-female brand, it made perfect sense to launch this mission on International Women’s Day!”

Over the next few months, The Style Attic will be taking to the road and hitting festivals and events aplenty as they continue to spread their body confident message across Yorkshire and beyond.

Social

enterprise The Wren Bakery has moved into a ground floor unit in Mill 6 at Mabgate Mills, in a deal negotiated jointly by CHP Management and Carter Towler.

Founded in 2019 by Clare Sanderson and Emma Flint, The Wren Bakery is a social enterprise offering training and employability skills to women in Leeds for whom the challenges they face have a devastating impact on their lives and their ability to work. This includes women who live with domestic violence, criminal records, addictions, and poor mental health, and who face barriers that exclude them from participating in society.

Clare explains: “Here at Wren, we believe in second chances and see the potential in every one of the women we work with. We seek to empower and equip these women, giving them the tools, they need to build a better future for themselves.

“Our training provides a safe and supportive environment for women to make steps towards employment. We use baking and barista training as tools to develop opportunities for our women and to give them valuable transferable skills. We invest in their well-being, supporting them to be healthy in life and work. We are a fabulous community of women, journeying together, facing our fears, and doing it anyway!”

Siobhan Riley of CHP Management who manage Mabgate Mills added: “Clare and the team at The Wren Bakery are doing an amazing job. I’m so pleased that they are taking over the café at Mabgate. Now the business will have a fabulous base for them to further develop their successful enterprise.”

Innovative women’s charity expands into Mabgate Mills

Commenting on the deal, Carter Towler director Rick Fraser said: “This is such great news for Mabgate Mills, not only does this fantastic business get the opportunity to offer more women the help they need but the other tenants and visitors to the mills get a great place to go for coffee and delicious cakes! I hope the new location proves to be a positive move for The Wren Bakery.”

There are now over 30 businesses in the mills which provides a mix of business premises ranging from incubator units and studios to office suites. There are currently a small number of offices available of varying sizes from 195 – 2,447 sq ft sq ft.

Caption: L-R The Wren Bakery trustee and trainer Jackie Barber with founder Clare Sanderson

Guide to self-publishing for budding authors

By Cat Yaffe, PR Coach for Female Entrepreneurs

Publishing your own book doesn’t have to be as complicated as you think. In 2017 I self-published my first non-fiction book, and since then have gone on to self-publish two crime fiction books, with a third due out in April. All three books have reached the top of the Amazon Kindle chart, and I have more than covered my costs

I chose to self-publish after turning down a contract with one of the big five traditional publishers. As I looked through their offer, things weren’t as exciting as I thought. It would take a minimum of two years for the book to be published. I didn’t get a say in the final cover. I would have to do much of my own marketing and after their fees and several other costs, I would earn around 2% of the sales. With Amazon, I earn 70% of the selling price so it was a no-brainer.

The path I followed will work for any book, and any genre so if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, here’s my five-point plan.

Self-publish your book

With the rise of e-books and printon-demand services, it’s easier than ever to turn your manuscript into a published book. You have complete control over the process, you can publish your book quickly and easily. You can choose the cover art, design the interior, set

the price, and decide when and how to promote your book.

Design your book’s cover

When you design your book’s cover, you want to create something that will appeal to your target audience and make them want to pick up your book. You can outsource this, or if budget is tight, you can create your own using Canva or BookBrush.

Choose your book’s format

There are a few different ways you can format your book when you selfpublish. The most common formats are paperback, and e-book. The format you choose for your book will depend on your budget, your audience, and your personal preferences. If you want to reach the widest audience possible, it is

best to format your book in multiple formats.

Wide or Exclusive

This is a term that’s banded about a lot in the self-publishing world.

Wide means making your book available everywhere, so Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple books, Google books and just about any other platform you can think of.

Exclusive means you go all in with Amazon. I have chosen that option until I built a bigger audience. That means that the eBook is only available through Amazon, but the paperback is available anywhere (including Waterstones).

Writing the blurb. Next, you need to write your book’s blurb. This is a short description of the

Help alleviate poverty with charity ball

Every child, young person, and adult in any location globally, we believe should have food, clothing, and access to basic academic knowledge, as well as feel loved, valued and supported – without worry…

BH40 were founded just over 2 years ago, with a goal of turning despair caused by poverty for children and youths into happiness.

book that will go on the back cover or on the page where potential readers can learn more about your book. Make sure the blurb is interesting and catches people’s attention. Don’t

underestimate or rush this step – it can make or break your success.

Once you have your cover and blurb ready, it’s time to start publishing your book. You can use a service like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Ingramspark to get your book out there for people to buy.

All the online programmes walk you through the process step-bystep, and when you’ve done it once, it’s a doddle.Finally, no book can be published and be successful in isolation. Consistent marketing, online and in person is essential in my experience. Build your social media following, start an email list before you write your book and network with library events, book signings and support other authors. It’s a lovely, welcoming community and hopefully I’ll see you there soon.

To help them do this they are holding their annual charity ball to help raise funds.

The Charity ball at The Marriott Hotel in Leeds, on Friday 9th June 2023, includes a 3-course meal, red carpet arrival, new youth band, 360 video fun rotator, DJ, live piano youth performance, auction, raffle

etc and much more including a surprise feature.

Tickets per person: £60.00 Table of 10: £600.00 (exclusive discount available for YBW members £50.00pp,Table of 10: £500.00). To reserve your place, visit our website: https://beh40.com/

Solicitors expand their Family Law team

Bridge Law has invested in its Family Law division with the appointment of specialist family law solicitor, Jill Walker, who has joined the firm’s Holmfirth team.

The announcement comes following a busy 12 months for the firm at their Yorkshire base in Holmfirth.

Founder and director Claire Stewart shared: “The team and I are absolutely delighted to welcome Jill.

“Jill has an outstanding reputation locally and across Yorkshire having had an impressive career specialising in Family Law for over 20 years - her passion, skill and knowledge in the area of Family Law shines through when you meet her.”

Jill has joined after several years working successfully as a Locum solicitor, at both large city centre and local high-street firms across Yorkshire and the Northwest. Prior to being a Locum Solicitor, was the head of the family and mediation departments at a firm in Oldham.

Commenting on her appointment, Jill said: “After a number of years working as a Locum solicitor, when

the opportunity arose to join a firm with a brilliant reputation, that is based in the heart of my own community, it was an easy decision to make.”

In addition to Jill’s appointment, the team have also invested in the career progression of aspiring family solicitor, Lucy Butler, who joined the team as a legal assistant in 2018 and was promoted to paralegal in 2021. Lucy is currently studying for her master’s in law and Solicitors Qualifying Examinations at the University of Law in Leeds and is on track to become a Solicitor at the firm in 2024.

York Fashion Week announces calendar with headline name, Gary James McQueen

Organisers have announced that Gary James McQueen, nephew of the late Alexander McQueen and former Head of Menswear Textiles at the House of McQueen, will launch York Fashion Week Spring Summer 2023 on 27th April at Yorkshire Museum at 7:30pm.

The event – Gary James McQueen: The Legacy - will run from 7:30pm –10.00pm and will open with a showing of Guiding Light – a digital display by the visionary artist and designer that showcases his latest collection and highlights his remarkable technical expertise along with his futuristic approach to fashion and innovation.

This will be followed by a question and answer session with the designer, where topics will include Gary’s early life and career; his work with Alexander McQueen; how he is continuing the legacy of McQueen; the importance of digital fashion; and his journey into the art world. Guests

will then be invited into the exhibition space to enjoy a drink and mingle with the designer himself.

Gary explained: “I’m delighted to take part and support York Fashion Week this season. It’s imperative that we as an industry support the next generation of designers and creatives – something the organisers of York Fashion Week are clearly passionate about. I’m excited to meet a whole new community of creatives that bring a different energy to the industry, and to see more of York.”

Nicky Hayer, creative director at York Fashion Week added: “It’s an honour that such a renowned designer and trailblazer in terms of fashion innovation has agreed to take a central role in York Fashion Week and further strengthens our position and prominence as one of the leading fashion events in the North of England. As a recognised platform for grassroots designers and advocate of indie brands that are revolutionising the fashion scene,

we’re really excited that Gary will be sharing his vision for the future of fashion in a digital world and we’re really looking forward to welcoming him to the city.”

York Fashion Week will return to the city from 27th April – 1st May. Across

I’m delighted to take part and support York Fashion Week this season. It’s imperative that we as an industry support the next generation of designers and creatives...

five days, the city will play host to a number of theatrical runway shows, intimate in-store events and dynamic installations all carefully curated for the fashion loving audience. The city will be taken over by events with Fenwick, Jigsaw and Browns Department Store, plus two headline

runway shows at The Guildhall, which will feature all independent brands. Back by popular demand will be Fashion Avenue - a day of complimentary lectures and talks for students. Hosted by York content creator and lecturer, Kat Atkinson, the day is dedicated to the variety

of avenues available to those keen to embark on a career in the world of fashion and will include highly acclaimed hair and makeup artist, Sonia Schofield, and the MD of Master Debonair, Simon Whitaker.

Key sponsors of York Fashion Week include NIMA, York BID, The Vices York, Blossom Cosmetic Clinic and The Guildhall.

Stepping out in style at FB Fashion Ball

By Lisa Darwin life coach & fashion stylist

I love this time of year; Spring is on the horizon and my favourite event FB FASHION BALL is fast approaching, we are looking forward to the glamorous Ball on 27th April at New Dock in Leeds and celebrating 25 years this year!

As a stylist, I love working with everyday people and this event allows me to style and get to know hundreds of individuals working in the Yorkshire business community. Professionals sign up to model and strut their stuff for their chosen local charity, raising awareness for numerous good causes across Yorkshire, last year we supported 32 charities.

Every person involved is amazing and they really do put on the greatest show to an audience of hundreds of

Don’t miss out on this spectacular fun event, offering glamourous networking, sparkling drinks reception, delicious 3-course dinner, celebrate Yorkshire Hero Awards, ...

professionals, representing so many businesses in our region. I’m living my fashion stylist dream working with my ongoing fashion partners John Lewis & Partners, Reiss, Ted Baker, Jigsaw, Hawes & Curtis and Rebecca Rhodes, as their SS/23 collection is looking amazing! So much colour, texture and designs to choose from, the model looks are strong, vibrant and classic, the outfits speak for themselves. On the hair and beauty front it is a treat to

partner with Charlotte Tilbury, The Beauty Society and Creative Ambition, our experts on creating the polished model look. One of our prestigious Catwalk Sponsors, Phillip Stoner The Jewellers is providing the sparkle and enhancing outfits with their beautiful unique pieces of jewellery.

Don’t miss out on this spectacular fun event, offering glamourous networking, sparkling drinks reception, delicious 3-course dinner, celebrate Yorkshire Hero Awards, shopping fair, live fashion show and dancing until late.

Yorkshire Businesswoman has only a few discounted places left at their table so don’t walk, run to book your seat today. If you would like to get involved with in event or wish to book your own table, or tickets again get in touch quickly as places are limited!

Contact: Lisa Darwin E:lisa@ fbfashionball.show or www. fbfashionball.show. Hope to see you there, glammed up with your dancing shoes on!

The importance of gut health and supplements

Many healthcare professionals agree that our health is intrinsically linked with our digestive system; our gut and balanced microbiomes are key to our health, wellbeing and longevity.

What is the microbiome?

Microbiome is a term that is used to describe the trillions of bugs that live on and in the human body from bacteria and viruses to fungi and protozoa. More than half of our bodies are made up made up of microbes! Scientists estimate that human cells make up just 43% of the body’s cell count. The other 57%, some 39 trillion cells – is microbial*

Source :*brain health network

Many of them are located in our gut; our initial exposure to them come from the mother’s breast milk we are fed as babies. As we age, our microbiomes can change with our diets, exposure to the environments we live in, as well as internal factors such as stress and chemicals in medicines.

The bacteria in our gut have an array of functions from helping us to digest food, to regulating our immune systems and producing vitamins vital for our health and wellbeing. Microbiomes must be balanced properly to defend our bodies from serious conditions that include obesity, diabetes IBS and more.

Brain function and microbiomes

Our gut health has been shown to impact our brain health; with a number of serious conditions linked to alterations in the gut microbiomes that include Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis,

and depression. Our gut and brain are indeed connected by millions of nerves, so we consider 90% of our “happy chemical” serotonin emanating from gut bacteria, it is not surprising that any changes directly affect our mood.

*Recent studies show that people with dementia have a difference balance of bacteria in their gut to those without the condition.

Some scientists believe this disruption to the gut microbiome accelerates, or even triggers, Alzheimer’s by fuelling the growth of beta-amyloid, the sticky brain protein that is a hallmark of the condition. Source : *brain health network

To summarise, the microbiomes present in our gut are critical if not vital in keeping our brain health, metabolism and immune system, hormonal balanced and overall health working efficiently.

The importance of the correct nutrition and supplements

Whilst you will get some vital nutrition from eating wholesome foods containing microbiomes, we all need supplements too. Through modern farming methods, coupled with mass production, even our most natural foods sadly do not contain enough of the right nutrients or the right amounts that are critical to a healthy functioning gut. Neutrient Neu Biotic capsules have been specially formulated to support gut health. They contain a multi strain formula to help replenish friendly bacteria to keep your gut healthy and support optimal levels of gut friendly microbiomes.*

*Please note, as with all supplements, a healthy and balanced diet together with regular exercise is recommended. For a healthy gut-friendly winter salad recipe, head to the website: https://yorkshirebusinesswoman.co.uk/ the-importance-of-gut-health-andsupplements/

Rayhanneh Mazinani: Simplifying car and van sourcing through Trayd

By Daneile Moore

She began building the business using LinkedIn, visited car dealer groups, and made hundreds of cold calls searching for business and contacts.

She admits the first 8 months were tough “I lived hand to mouth, struggled to manage myself, my high energy and understand exactly what I needed to throw myself at to make it work”

Trayd, supplying dealer groups with cars and vans, and vehicles for companies within the private sector, was founded in 2021 by Ryahanneh Mazinani who after 5 years of working in car sales was feeling frustrated and unfulfilled at not being able to progress in her career as quickly as she wanted.

Rayhanneh say “I studied economics and business and always had a genuine interest in the economy, the factors at play and how they interact and lead to growth or in some cases recession.

I grew up watching the apprentice aspiring to be in business and relished the opportunity to work under pressure and outside of my comfort zone. That was something I

dreamed of, I craved, the excitement, the unpredictability and to ultimately be really put to the test.

I was very entrepreneurial as a child, charging my siblings to tidy their room, remove spiders or straighten their hair! At university I entered several business competitions and threw myself into the challenges, I loved every minute of them. I made money but most importantly I enjoyed doing it!”

Disillusioned in her role, and realising there is no time like now, Rayhanneh handed in her notice and the keys to her company car. She started the business with no money, no contracts, buyers, or stock, but she was not deterred and knew what she needed to do.

Covid had thrown the market into chaos, there weren’t nearly enough cars to match the demand which opened many opportunities to supply dealer groups who would otherwise have always bought from the same traditional buying channels, so Rayhanneh capitalised on this, networked wherever she could, attended events, trade shows and continued to visit buyers and suppliers.

This is when she began to really understand the market, and how she could fulfil demand and the business started to come together.

A helping hand from AD:VENTURE

Over a year into the journey, Rayhanneh decided to look at what support was available for business owners, and she discovered AD:VENTURE. The fully funded programme provides hands on business support and advice to newly established business owners who have ambitions to grow.

On joining the programme, she was assigned a dedicated business adviser who met with her and guided her through the help available for the business, also offering advice and

About the company

guidance in future planning. He also helped her with lots of connections and helped her to further build her network in the local business community.

Rayhanneh was delighted with the support she was given “I can honestly say there are individuals I met, decisions I have made, and achievements met that I would not have done without making that initial phone call. It is a phenomenal, underestimated resource.

There is a saying I hear often ‘you don’t know, what you don’t know’ and that sums it up. You don’t always understand that you need help, guidance, and resources until you speak to people and hear their perspectives, recommendations, and advice.

I was also lucky enough to attend a Women in Business Seminar at the Hepworth Gallery where I got listen to prominent females from the district and listen to their stories and struggles. There is so much to be gained through discussion and sharing experience”

So, what’s next for Trayd?

Growing rapidly the business has turned over just short of £7,000,000 since starting. Rayhanneh says “It sounds a big figure but it’s a drop in the ocean within the motor industry and I know there is a hell of way to go to achieve my ultimate ambitions. The first steps are the hardest and I’m happy I didn’t listen to my previous employers who told me ‘I wasn’t quite ready’. I’ve always been ready to take the driving seat, and I am enjoying being sat in the greatest roller coaster of my life so far!

My immediate goal is to scale the

volume of stock reaching dealerships, maintain the key business relatio nships I have and source more stock. The business model is built on well described desirable stock. Something at the forefront of all my decisions. Scaling a business can sometimes impact upon the quality and level of service being delivered, but to me knowing the market as I do and the available buying channels, this is my point of difference and a nonnegotiable.

I will be looking to take a full-time driver and administrator so that my time and focus can be channelled into selling and building suppliers and buyers”

You can find out more about Trayd by contacting Rayhanneh on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/rayhanneh

T0 find out more about AD:VENTURE, visit https://www.ad-venture.org.uk/

Pre-loved Brighouse boutique sets the trend for charity shopping

A new style charity boutique is set to raise the bar for pre-loved shopping as it opened its doors this month.

Replenish, by Focus4Hope, offers a curated selection of high quality preloved goods, including designer brands and handmade items, aiming to attract a new generation of thrift shoppers to the town.

Founder and head of fundraising at Focus4Hope, Louise Reed said: “We didn’t want to open just another charity shop. Pre-loved fashion has never been more on trend and yet thrift stores have a reputation for being fusty and out of

date. At a time when we are all looking for ways to save money, as well as do our bit for sustainability, Replenish offers a fresh and funky pre-loved shopping experience.”

The new pre-loved boutique, situated on Huddersfield Road is part of a ground-breaking new development from Focus4Hope which also includes a Community Hub and Social Supermarket. Staff and volunteers have been working round the clock to transform an empty shell into a unique space delivering essential support services to the most vulnerable people in the community.

The pioneering Social Supermarket

offers a lifeline for lowest income families, replacing the need for food parcels and offering a dignified and sustainable way to access essential grocery items.

“Proceeds from Replenish will help us restock the shelves in our Social Supermarket, situated within the new Community Hub,” continued Louise, “With the help of an amazing team of volunteers and incredible support from local businesses, we have created a unique charity operation. We are hopeful that Replenish will generate funds we need to continue offering the help, advice and activities vulnerable people rely on.”

Opening hours at Replenish are 10am3pm Wednesdays to Saturdays.

Details of the full range of support and services offered by Focus4Hope can be found on the charities website www.focus4hope.co.uk For further information please contact Louise Reed on 07542 941636

Levi Solicitors adds to its growing Private Client Team

Managing partner Steven Newdall said: “We’re experiencing a sustained increase in demand for many of our legal services, despite the current economic climate and are delighted to have Leanne and Nafisa join us.

joined Levi’s Private Client team.

Leanne and Nafisa both advise clients on a wide variety of matters including Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Court

career and practice there.”

Nafisa commented that she was “excited to join the team and look forward to meeting and helping a wide range of new clients”.

“As the demand for our services continues to grow, their commitment and drive will help us deliver the very best legal advice and services to our clients across the region and beyond. We have an exceptional team at Levi Solicitors, and we are in the process of adding more specialist expertise to the team in the coming months across various roles.”

Picture L-R Leanne Parkinson, Nafisa Hussain and partner and head of private client team

Andrew Milburn

Wilkinson Woodward expands with new appointment

Calderdale and Kirklees law firm Wilkinson Woodward Solicitors is pleased to welcome Katarzyna (Kasia) Zatorski to its expanding Family Law team.

Following her graduation from the University of Huddersfield in 2012, Kasia worked for Sheffieldbased Wosskow Brown before starting a training contract at Benjamin Roberts in Halifax. Upon qualification, she joined Ramsdens Solicitors, from where she moved to Truth Legal.

victims of domestic abuse across England and Wales.

Commenting on her appointment, managing director Maureen Cawthorn said: “We are delighted to welcome Kasia to the Wilkinson Woodward family. She has extensive experience in family law, and we believe her skills and insight will unlock significant value for both our firm and our clients.”

Kasia has a wealth of experience in family law, specifically in matters concerning children and domestic abuse, and most recently worked at Truth Legal, where she established the firm’s Family Department.

In her new role, Kasia will form part of Wilkinson Woodward’s Family Law team. In addition, she will continue to work closely with various Polish and English organisations and charities to assist

Kasia’s appointment comes as Wilkinson Woodward is experiencing a period of strong growth as a result of unprecedented demand for its services. Says Kasia: “I am thrilled to be joining the team and look forward to making a lasting contribution to both the team and the communities we serve.”

The rise of legal technology in the city of Leeds

In 1876 Albert Gibson, a newly qualified solicitor, began advertising for pupils who needed coaching for the Law Society examinations. In 1881, he was joined by his first pupil, Arthur Weldon, to form Gibson & Weldon, which went on to pioneer legal professional training.

and there is now a real hum of activity surrounding this project. In April this year, Leeds will host its second annual legal tech conference. A Legal Tech in Leeds Steering Group has also been established and recently met with Mike Freer MP, as part of the Minister of Justice’s ‘Great Legal Services’ initiative.

The University of Law is taking a central role in developing and promoting Legal Tech in Leeds. The University of Law’s Legal Tech department, ULTRA, has been looking at the future of Legal Services for the last 5 years and the University now offers Tech and Innovation Courses to all students from school leavers to post graduate. Students can learn about entrepreneurship, innovation, artificial intelligence and blockchain and even complete the MSC in LegalTech. The fact that there are brand new opportunities to use technology to craft a different career in law highlights how legal services are changing. The University of Law holds regular events such as the Legal Innovators Breakfast Club which aims to connect lawyers and technologists.

Gibson & Weldon subsequently joined with the Law Society and became the College of Law, which in turn became the University of Law; the institution that we now are today.  Although more than one hundred years have passed, our mission remains the same; to shape the next generation of the lawyers entering the profession through innovative and inspiring professional training.

At the time Gibson would have been training as a lawyer, the industrial revolution was transforming Leeds from a small market town on the banks of the River Aire, to the “city that can make anything” in a very short time. In 2023 thanks to the collaborative efforts of law firms, technologists, local government

and the University of Law, a new revolution is gripping the city – this time it is legal technology (‘legal tech’), and it is already gaining national attention.

Legal tech in Leeds really took off following an inaugural meeting between Leeds City Council, Leeds Law Society and the University of Laws four years ago, which was set up to discuss the capability of the legal and tech sectors in Leeds. From that meeting, WhiteCap Consulting were commissioned to produce a report that mapped the city’s capabilities in law and in tech,  and this generated widespread engagement with stakeholders throughout the city in both the law and tech sectors. Much has been achieved over the past few years

It’s never been more important for all those who work in legal services to understand technology and to harness the power of innovation. The ambition is for Leeds to be at the centre of this tech renaissance.The LegalTech in Leeds Annual Conference will take place on 26th April 2022 and you can reserve tickets and find out more at the websitewww.legaltechinleeds.com.

Find out more about ULTRA and the University of Law’s work in Legal Innovation and Tech at www.law. ac.uk/ultra

Patrick Grant, Project Director (North) Legal Innovation & Technology, The University of Law

Let’s celebrate women in Beauty

By: Janet Milner-Walker - Founder of Bespoke Advantage

Let’s Celebrate Women in Beauty

‘The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.’

Albert Einstein

The 8th March 2023, was a global day that recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day that calls attention to women’s equality. First introduced as National Women’s Day in 1909 in New York, when 15 000 people marched the streets, and advocated for better pay for women, in 1911 it was introduced as an international day.

What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than to pay homage to British women who are making strides across the beauty industry? The beauty and wellness industry is big business, with an array of brands, catering to all categories, and developed by large power houses, indie brands, celebrities, and dermatologist. So, let’s say ‘Thank You’ to women who are supporting us in looking good and feeling great!

Charlotte Tilbury

When it comes to creating Hollywoodinspired makeup, no one does it quite like Charlotte Tilbury. Her two-decade-long

ABOUT JANET MILNERWALKER

Janet Milner-Walker is the founder and managing director of Bespoke Advantage, and BeautytoLife. She is also an international speaker, a freelance writer, and a trusted advisor to companies in the beauty and wellness sector. Bespoke Advantage is an international consultancy working with clients in the beauty and wellness space. Their award-winning client based includes beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors and trade bodies, whom they support in developing and building their brands in the marketplace www. thebespokeadvantage.com.

career as a celebrity makeup artist has seen her work with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Kim Kardashian.

However, despite her decades of experience, it wasn’t until 2013 that she launched her long-awaited beauty line. In addition to being an amazing make-up artist Charlotte is also a long-time ambassador for Women for Women International, a charity that helps female survivors of war rebuild their lives. In 2019 she pledged £1million to fund their projects, and she continues to

Let’s Celebrate Women in Beauty

‘The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.’

all categories, and developed by large power houses, indie brands, celebrities, and dermatologist. So, let’s say ‘Thank You’ to women who are supporting us in looking good and feeling great!

quite like Charlotte Tilbury. Her twodecade-long career as a celebrity makeup artist has seen her work with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Kim Kardashian.

Albert Einstein

The 8th March 2023, was a global day that recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day that calls attention to women’s equality. First introduced as National Women’s Day in 1909 in New York, when 15 000 people marched the streets, and advocated for better pay for women, in 1911 it was introduced as an international day.

What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than to pay homage to British women who are making strides across the beauty industry? The beauty and wellness industry is big business, with an array of brands, catering to

Charlotte Tilbury

When it comes to creating Hollywoodinspired makeup, no one does it

However, despite her decades of experience, it wasn’t until 2013 that she launched her long-awaited beauty line. In addition to being an amazing make-up artist Charlotte is also a long-time ambassador for Women for Women International, a charity that helps female survivors of war rebuild their lives. In 2019 she pledged £1million to fund their projects, and she continues to support them via ongoing initiatives and collaborations.

Charlotte Knight

Has over 20 years’ experience in the beauty industry, and she is the founder of Ciate London, an innovative nail art, polish, and treatment range. which she launched in 2009; Lottie London, a cost-effective cosmetics

range launched in 2014, and most recently Skin Proud, a skincare range launched in 2020, as Covid dawned. All three brands have won many awards, achieving phenomenal success.

Jo Malone

We all love a Jo Malone candle and scent, and who doesn’t like receiving one as a special gift?! The fragrance legend has over 20 years’ experience in the business. Initially she trained as a facial therapist but fell in love with fragrance whilst working from her skincare clinic. Discovering a talent for creating beautiful, scented products by hand in her kitchen in 1993, word of mouth for her lovely potions spread quickly and so the brand grew. It was such a success that she sold it to Estee Lauder in 1999, and she continued to support Estee Lauder with the brand up until 2006, when due to breast cancer, she decided to step away. From 2006 to 2011, she had a non-compete agreement with Estee Lauder for five years, preventing her from starting up another fragrance brand. In 2011 she launched her second brand, Jo Loves, which is once again a great success.

Liz Earle

Writer, TV presenter and entrepreneur. She is also the founder of Liz Earle Beauty Co, Liz Earle Wellbeing, Liz Earle Fair an Fine, and she delivers a weekly podcast. She has written over thirty-five books on topics from health, to beauty, wellbeing, menopause, and gut health. Whilst Liz Earle Beauty was bought out first by Avon, and then by Walgreens Boots Alliance in 2015 she continues to share her knowledge and expertise across the industry, and she was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen in 2009.

Nails Inc

Renowned as a nail polish brand created for women on the go by Tatler’s fashion editor Thea Green. She realised that the UK was lacking in professional, high quality nail services for professional women with time constraints. Now with a portfolio of more than 150 polish colours and special effects and celebs like Alexa Chung and Victoria Beckham creating their own collections, the brand has come full circle with a growing presence in America. Nicola Elliot is the founder of Neom, formerly a journalist for seven years she decided to retrain as an aromatherapist, and started creating her own blends, leading to the launch of her organic wellness brand, embracing a plethora of highly fragranced essential oils and candles, embracing peace of mind, balance and tranquillity.

Real Techniques was created by Sam and Nicola Chapman, a.k.a. the nieces of Princess Diana’s makeup artist Maggie Hunt. After achieving big-time YouTube fame via their channel Pixiwoo, the makeup artist sisters launched their brush line in

2011. It is now available in all wellknown retailers.

Having already achieved success in fashion, and with a very big following, it comes as no surprise that Trinny turner her hand to beauty, launching Trinny London in 2017. This is a must have in our makeup bags with stackable products the hero of the range along with BFF SPF 30 Cream skin perfector, a cosmetics-skincare hybrid that promises to give you a flawless glow whilst helping to protect your skin day-to-day.

This is just a flavour of the many success beauty brands launched by British women, with numerous more in the pipeline. Next time you reach out to buy your preferred products, consider for a moment, the women behind the brands, and the time, courage and commitment they have put into developing a much loved brand.

Entrepreneur enters new chapter opening Meadowhall

Candle making entrepreneur and friend to the stars, Hannah Chapman, has announced the opening of her first retail outlet in Meadowhall, Sheffield, as she continues to build her brand and her business, with a new product range.

As many businesses are retracting fearful of the impact of recession, Hannah, 27, is instead choosing to invest in building her brand through experiential in person connection and is excited for this new chapter, which includes launching a new product range including eco-friendly packaging.

Hannah first started her candlemaking side-hustle in her kitchen four

years ago, in July 2018. She started it as a hobby to supplement her full time job at a social media agency, but within a couple of months, she was able to quit her corporate job to begin her entrepreneurial endeavour full time. Hannah said she has social media to thank for her success.

With 235K followers on social media, not only has Hannah’s business grown in popularity, but so has Hannah’s own profile, becoming a part of the online entrepreneurial space and often seen at parties and business influencers events

alongside the likes of; Stacey Soloman, Mrs Hinch and Mario McKnight.

Hannah said; “I am so excited to be stepping into retail and selling my products in person. I’ve been working hard behind the scenes with my team to create our new five bespoke fragrances, with my core scents. I know I’m bias but they are all gorgeous – each one is very different and unique too. I’d like to think there’s something for every taste in the range. With our new packaging, it has meant that with this range we have also been able to ditch

the plastic too – in our commitment to continually become eco-friendlier and more sustainable.

“The site at Meadowhall is stunning and I can’t wait for all my Ava May Aroma customers to see it. It’s defo worth a trip to Sheffield for”

The Ava May Aromas Kiosk at Meadowhall will stock Hannah’s new five bespoke fragrances, with her core scents, which are:

• Rose Water & White Musk

• Saffron, Pepper & Oud

• Pear, Patchouli & Orange Blossom

• Bergamot, Coconut & Tonka

• Grapefruit, Lavender & Amber

Across the five fragrances the entire range is available from a single wax disc, to the wax disc box (4 discs), wax melt tin (6 discs) to the new style candle with stainless steel lid, they are also available in room spray and aroma oil.

Ava May Aromas Kiosk is at Meadowhall in the main entrance, located between Omega & Breitling.

Elegance and style come as standard

The motoring landscape is changing as we drift towards electrification, but some manufacturers are already well ahead of the game. Like Lexus for example.

They have been pioneers in battery power since 2005 when they launched their first hybrid model. The hybrid technology was so good

that it enabled sizeable cars like the RX to achieve excellent mpg figures. The other advantage of hybrid power is that if you need

some extra oomph, the battery powered electric motors can join the party.

You end up with a double whammy… good economy and great performance.

Lexus have now gone the extra mile and introduced plug-in hybrids and

fully electric powered cars to their well-established range.

Lexus Leeds asked Yorkshire Businesswoman editor Gill Laidler to test drive their newly launched RX. “Wow is the first word I came up with. This car is beautiful both inside and out, I couldn’t wait to drive it.

“After a quick explanation of the stylishly laid out interior and controls, I pressed the start button and assumed it hadn’t worked! Silence. I was about to press it again when I was informed that the engine was in fact running, silent! I knew the instant I left the car park I didn’t want to hand the car back. I have test driven lots of cars but this one somehow felt special, quiet, elegant, and comfortable.

“I was lucky enough to drive this car for a few days and not once did it disappoint, I was finding every possible excuse to go out so I could drive it. Having been used to driving a 3-door vehicle with a limited amount of space in the back, the Lexus RX was most welcome when I collected my daughter and her two young children, lots of room for everyone. The generous boot space was large enough to take a sizeable double buggy, along with lots of bags and toys that young families must transport. The leather seats are handy too with little sticky fingers!

“I was impressed with the range of ‘goodies’ available for the driver too. The car seamlessly connected with my iPhone and the very large generous screen was easy to navigate. It seemed to have everything, including a wireless phone charger, sat nav, voice command and one of my favourite things, heads up display, where the current speed limit and driver speed are reflected on the bottom of the windscreen, making it super easy to adhere to the speed limit, in what could be difficult in such a responsive car.

The beauty of the cars in the Lexus hybrid range is you can charge them at home or at work and enjoy your daily commute without using any petrol. The RX in full electric mode will cover up to an impressive 43 miles. This is great for people like me who quite

often use the car for shorter journeys, and daily commutes, as I would benefit from using the car as full electric, but when I do make longer journeys, I have the confidence that I am not going to run out of power, or have to stop and wait to charge, as the 2.5 litre petrol engine will keep me moving. It’s the perfect solution.

Sat nav, DAB radio, reversing camera, heated steering wheel, LED headlights, leather upholstery, powered and heated front seats, powered hatch and a cracking audio system all come as standard too, so not just the driver, but all passengers benefit, my daughter was impressed at how roomy the car is and found installing two small children in the back easy.

“My verdict? I loved it and was prepared to back this up, when I returned to the showroom, I bought the NX! Having had my Range Rover for the last ten years, it was time for a change and as stunning as the RX is, it was a little

too large for my needs, so opted for the slightly smaller NX450+, all the quality of the RX but slightly smaller.

There is a Lexus to suit everyone. The NX is the smaller stablemate to the RX but just everything else is the same, top-quality build, comfortable, good levels of safety equipment, burst proof reliability, in fact, it’s so good that What Car? magazine named the Lexus NX450h PHEV as their Best Plug-In Hybrid.

Throw in the fact that both the RX and NX look seriously smart, and you can see why demand for these two cars is so high. My recommendations? Do go and experience the Lexus RX or NX for yourself, the staff are experienced and friendly and make a great coffee!

To book a no obligation test drive contact Lexus Leeds: 0113 5372920

Domestic Road Holbeck Leeds LS12 6HG

My verdict? I loved it and was prepared to back this up, when I returned to the showroom, I bought the NX!...

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Breaking down barriers

Helping female entrepreneurs realise their potential

Samantha Senior, Founder of The Aesthetics Accountant and SAS Senior Accounting Services, Accounting for Women, shares her experiences of the unique

challenges many women in business still face. She also explains how her accounting innovation is helping set female entrepreneurs on the road to success.

Despite a widely held view that today’s women really can have it all, the statistics say otherwise. A recent survey by financial platform Tide revealed that half of all UKbased female entrepreneurs have

been turned down for a loan to fund their new business.

Samantha is one such businesswoman who struggled to secure funding for her business during the Covid pandemic, just when she needed it most. Her own challenges have led her to become one of Tide’s ambassadors and voice for Women in Business.

Samantha recalls, “I discovered I wasn’t eligible to claim any Government support or self-employment grants, as the Covid support packages only took the previous three years of trading into consideration. My business had recorded a loss during this time due to my being on maternity leave.”

However, hard work and determination have seen Samantha build The Aesthetic Accountant into a market leader providing bespoke accountancy services to medical aesthetics professionals. This continued success has, not only given her insight into the challenges women face in business but made her a passionate advocate for female entrepreneurs too.

Innovative

As a qualified accountant and single parent, what drove Samantha to start her own business was the need to provide for her two children, yet still be there for them. From part-time bookkeeping grew her own business, SAS Senior Accounting Services, helping new and existing businesses with their accounting needs. Samantha ran her business from home, balancing work around her children’s sleep routine.

Like many women professionals, Samantha found that childcare presented a barrier, particularly when it came to growing her business. She currently fits her working hours around

the school run and then works extra hours in the evenings and weekends.

However, she acknowledges, “As I have to balance my work life with the needs of my children, I’ve had to turn work down, which has affected my earning potential at times.”

This highlights another challenge that female professionals face –attitudes. Regardless of their jobs, women are nearly always expected to be responsible for childcare. It’s almost always the mum who has to collect sick children from school, drop off missing PE kits, or ferry children to after-school activities. This is why many women opt to work part-time or for themselves.

As Samantha states, “I’ve chosen to be self-employed, as it gives me the flexibility to be able to balance the needs of my children alongside my career.”

Traditionally held attitudes have presented one of the biggest barriers of all, particularly in the accounting profession. Samantha says that she and other female accountants have frequently come up against the view that accountancy is a male-dominated profession.

She explains, “Some established male accountants perceive that women professionals take the industry less seriously than their male counterparts. We can be seen as part-timers, fitting work in around our children.” It’s Samantha’s desire to challenge these misconceptions that has motivated her to create an innovative new product aimed specifically to empower women in business.

Combining her accounting expertise with her experiences of setting up her own business, Accounting for

Women has been designed to help female start-ups and small business owners manage their own accounts without the expense of hiring an accountant. The starter package is aimed specifically at new businesses on a tight budget to help them build good accounting practices from day one.

Empowerment

Samantha explains, “The whole ethos behind this is that prevention is better than cure. We don’t want to wait three years until somebody needs an accountant. We want to get everyone on the right track from the very start of their business journey.”

Not only does Accounting for Women equip female entrepreneurs with the essentials of bookkeeping, but it provides them with one-to-one support and accounting resources too. The package also includes exclusive offers and discounts specifically procured to support the female entrepreneur in the early stages of business growth.

But the overriding ethos of Accounting for Women is all about empowerment. It’s aimed to give female entrepreneurs the skills and knowledge to be able to take control of their business finances. Through their access to real-time information, they will have the tools to not only manage their business, but to make decisions about strategy and growth too.

As Samantha says, “This will help women lay the foundations for business success and be taken seriously. After all, knowledge is power.”

For more information on Samantha and her Accounting for Women starter package, check out https:// senior-accounting-services.co.uk/ accounting-for-women/

Setting boundaries in business

By Ros Jones - Business Coach

It can be easy to immerse ourselves completely into our business to the detriment of our own personal life, health and wellbeing. This is why it’s so important to set boundaries from the start of your business journey.

Without boundaries, you can find yourself saying yes to everyone regardless of whether you have the time, energy or resources to deliver on whatever you said yes to.

Here are 7 ways you can set up boundaries in your business.

Know your values

Your boundaries will be aligned to your values.

If it’s important to you that you eat an evening meal with your family, one

boundary will be the time you finish work to enable you to have that family time.

Know there is enough

Be clear about how many customers you can serve to the standard you promise. Set up a waiting list when you reach that limit.

Know that there is enough for everyone so resist the urge to say you can deliver because you don’t want to lose a customer.

If the customer genuinely wants to buy from you, they’ll be happy to go on a waiting list for a time when you can deliver to them.

Learn to say no more.

Saying yes to everything will leave you double booked, having to go back to apologise, letting people

down and causing you stress. It’s important to learn to say no.

Be clear about your price.

Do not under value yourself just because you can’t bear to lose a customer who says they can’t afford you. Know your worth – and stick to it.

Get good at communicating expectations upfront.

This is the best way to set boundaries in your business relationships.

With your customers, be clear about payment terms, your availability, when you’ll respond to emails and what guarantees you can offer.

With your team members, be clear about when they should come to you for answers (after they’ve tried figuring it out for themselves), what you expect them to achieve on a daily basis and when you cannot be disturbed.

Set boundaries between business and home.

This is even more important with so many people operating from their home.

Taking care of your personal health and wellbeing

It’s impossible to work solely on your business with complete disregard for your personal life. It’s unsustainable.

Be sure to schedule time in your diary for your own personal health and wellbeing, whatever that means to you.

Ros Jones, Coaching & Personal Development rosjones@ businesswellbeing.club

NEW Digital Workshop offering from awardwinning Leeds agency

In today’s digital era, it’s vital that businesses adapt to new opportunities and understand the benefits of different social media platforms. Led by client demand, Leeds based Marketing solutions agency, Youbee Media have developed what they feel is the solution; low cost, time effective online workshops.

Launching 1st April, Youbee Media aim to de-mystify social media and online marketing for small businesses. The workshops can be used as handy stand-alone modules, or combined into a comprehensive knowledge base.

The 90-minute workshops will be available online, presented by Youbee Media’s lead, Rebecca Hopwood. The content is designed to be accessible, combining straightforward information

with marketing industry insights. The workshops cover a variety of popular topics and will arm you with the knowledge and confidence to use social media, short form video and surprisingly accessible graphics as highly effective marketing tools.

A small business owner herself, Rebecca appreciates how vital it is to make the most of your time and optimise your online marketing. Each workshop features tips and ‘hacks’ to ensure you generate maximum productivity from a minimum investment of time.

So, if you want a starting point from which to grow your social media activity, Youbee Media can help with these workshops:

• How to attract - and convert! - your target audience with Instagram

• Optimising your Social Media plan for maximum impact

• (Relates to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok)

• What is short-form video marketing, and why should I care?

• How to harness the power of SFV with straightforward insights and strategies.

• (Relates to TikTok, Reels and YouTube shorts)

• Tips and insider tricks to thrive as a small business on TikTok

• No graphic designer? No problem! How to create appealing social media graphics on Canva

Each session comes with a PDF content summary and you’ll have lifetime access to the online workshop. There’s also an option to tap into further consultancy support or 1-2-1 training.

Combining workshop purchases saves money, while increasing knowledge! Individual sessions are priced at £49.99 + VAT, while investing in any three workshops together increases value at only £129 + VAT. They will be available via the Youbee Media website from 1st April: www.youbeemedia.co.uk

Follow Youbee Media’s socials for more information as the workshop launch date approaches!

Food, Faith and Unity

Food, faith and unity is a project commissioned by Leeds Church Institute (LCI) which explores ways in which our diverse culinary heritage is a natural conduit that unites various faith groups in and around Yorkshire.

There will also be events to celebrate and discuss culinary regions and the various food therein, such as staple foods - grains, rice and other simple rustic foods that have been used for centuries at gatherings and religious festivals to unite to share and disseminate goodness.

This programme has already engaged culturally and religiously diverse communities within Leeds and beyond, to discuss every aspect their particular cuisine and how it resonates with their faith and also can be a contentious subject that divides communities.

Leeds based technology consultancy, Axiologik, recently appointed Rachel Mcelroy, as head of marketing.

Rachel has worked in the technology sector for over a decade and was previously at Cloud Gateway. She is part of the Yorkshire board of the Certified Institute of Marketing (CIM) as Vice Chair of Comms.

Rachel commented: “Axiologik is an unbelievable success story from Leeds having delivered some of the most impressive large scale digital services projects of recent years, including the Covid vaccination national roll out. I am delighted to join them at a pivotal time of growth and exciting new programmes of work that will impact society for the better.

This year, it will produce amongst other things, a publication and recipe cards from each community which will be beautifully rendered through photography, works of art, exhibitions and installations in Leeds.

LCI will be hosting a large scale event later in the year that brings together the contributors to celebrate and talk about religious cultural groups and foods such as challah bread from the Jewish community, other types of bread and grains associated with other faith groups in Leeds. The cook book will explore the history and origins of the kind of food over the centuries that have been appropriated through cultures mixing together or even clashing but culminating in beautiful world cuisines.

Axiologik invests in Marketing head

build on communicating our value proposition and the Axiologik brand. She shares our vision for focusing on what matters for our customers which enables us to keep supporting them to evolve to be the best version of themselves. Strategy and execution at speed has never been more critical to navigate challenging climates and the demand for digital delivery of services.

Ben Davison, co-founder of Axiologik said: The hire of Rachel into the business allows us to increase our service offering to customers and

Axiologik’s ethos is to make digital make a difference. Their work combines both strategy and delivery, helping customers control costs, build resilience and create impact through digital.

Bookmark recipe card produced by LCI

Fruit & veg high cost and low availability

With fruit and vegetables reaching sky high costs and that’s if you can get your hands on them, Michaela Axford our regular gardening contributor shares tips with us on what we can plant and grow ourselves.

Crikey! The price and availability of some fruits and vegetables have become a literal and metaphorical hot potato in the last few weeks.

I’ve been taking a keen interest in the discussions, and it has really had me thinking about long-term food sustainability, Now is the perfect time to give some serious thought to growing the foods we can. I am very lucky to have a large amount of space to grow a wide variety of crops, and I know not everyone is as fortunate. So, I’ve been thinking about how to maximise the bang for your buck in a small area at low cost.

Grow what is expensive to buy:

This is what I was advised when I first joined the “nursery plot”. Beautiful varieties of tomatoes, peppers and soft fruits can be grown very easily in limited space. I am currently trying a variety of tomatoes that can be started as seedlings now, giving the earliest opportunity of a crop in the early summer. I have also had some success germinating seeds that I took from a bog-standard red bell pepper. They need warmth and light to germinate, so pop them on a sunny windowsill and give them 7-14 days for signs of growth to appear. Strawberries are very easy to grow, and can be grown in hanging baskets, as can some cherry tomatoes. Blueberries,

the children’s favourite can be costly in the supermarket, but are easy to grow in pots and make an attractive plant for the patio. Just remember to use ericaceous (acidic) compost. If you do your research and keep the shrub happy, fed and watered, you’ll have a bumper crop, and they freeze beautifully providing a rich source of Vitamin C and antioxidants.

Varieties to try:

Tomato “Tigerella”, “Moneymaker”, or for hanging baskets “Tumbling Tom”

Sweet Pepper “Topepo Rosso”

Blueberry “Spartan”

Strawberry “Evie”, or “Toscana”

Reuse/Recycle

Container growing is addictive! You can maximise the varieties you grow and move your crops as you need to.

There’s also a lot of fun to be had reusing old compost sacks, tyres, pallets, or planters that have a bit of space for an edible variety. This year, I’ll be removing neglected wallflowers to make way in the planter for silverskin onions. And as I mentioned in the last edition, I’ll be planting courgettes in a couple of old Bags for Life. Of course, if you want to be really chic, put a VegTrug on the wishlist. I’m dropping some huge hints for one of these babies. This spring however, I haven’t invested in buying new plant pots, I’ve made my own from yoghurt and noodle pots with holes drilled into them for drainage. The hanging baskets in the polytunnel are lined with old compost sacks. Waste not, want not.

Try:

Courgette “Midnight”

Salad Potatoes “Charlotte”

Join a local community

One of the greatest wellbeing benefits from growing your own, is the social aspect and community support. There is a myriad of growing networks to be found on social media and joining one will introduce you to the world of seed swaps, tool sharing, and if you’re really lucky - a share of a fellow-grower’s glut crops. I admit feely that I take home as much produce from other plot holders as I do my own. Nobody likes their lovingly nurtured produce to go to waste, and people are very generous with the excess, so take advantage of this community spirit. Tools are essential depending upon the area that you wish to dedicate to edible produce. If you don’t have

the budget or inclination to spend a fortune on gardening tools, you can find them on Gumtree and Freecycle at a fraction of the cost. Anything you might use occasionally, such as edging shears in my case, can be bought very cheaply second-hand.

Plan for success - dig for victory!

Okay, so we may have to embrace our inner Baldrick and eat more turnips than we would like for the foreseeable future. I will certainly be investing more time in researching winter crops that can be stored or harvested to make a change from the usual root veg. I regret not considering winter pea varieties, for instance, as they make for a superb primavera sauce as an alternative to my usual arrabiata. But I love choice as much as anyone, and without the luxury of a heated greenhouse, I too must buy imported supermarket tomatoes and peppers in the colder months. I can’t help but think this might not be all bad - bear with me - maybe the key to sustainability lies in appreciating our seasonal harvests. If you have never tasted a home-grown tomato before now, well frankly I am excited for you. A long-awaited, organically grown tomato harvested at ripeness is an unsurpassable gastronomic joy. To produce those perfectly red spheres of sweetness, full of skin-enriching lycopene, vitamins and potassium whilst attracting pollinators and creating habitats for our minibeast friends is, in my opinion, the greatest dopamine-hit that you can achieve. Maybe that is something worth waiting for. And as the seasons again become cooler, a coleslaw made from fresh carrots, red onions, and winter cabbage to top those baked containergrown potatoes, is a simple yet comforting accompaniment to slow-

cooked brisket or grilled chicken. The science is clear - by choosing seasonal and freshly harvested produce, you will get sweeter, fresher and more nutritionally

dense food that just tastes better. I will certainly be reframing my winter home cookery menus, what might you consider growing over the coming months?

Farm shops and markets see increase in demand

Farm shops and farmers markets are experiencing increased demand, partly due to the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in some supermarkets in recent weeks.

As supermarkets continue to ration some fresh produce after bad weather in north Africa and southern Europe hit crops, the Farm Retail Association is reporting a brighter outlook for customers of farm shops and farmers’ markets.

Farm shops and farmers’ markets, with their focus on locally produced produce, are still able to offer customers a full range of fruit and vegetables, thanks to their short supply chains.

One farmers’ market benefiting from increased footfall has seen a 30 per cent increase in visitor numbers since the start of the year.

Farm Retail Association chairman Emma Mosey said: “The current issue really underlines the importance of being able to buy local produce. Our members sell vegetables that they either grow themselves or sourced from nearby growers so when there are issues further afield, they can step into the breach. Not only does this reduce food miles, it also ensures support for the smaller businesses which play a vital role in food production in the UK.”

“Farm retailers are also happy to

pay producers fair prices, even in times of hardship. They always put both the customer and the producer at the heart of what they do, and because of this, their shelves and customer’s baskets are full.”

The bad weather resulted in supply chain issues for supermarkets with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and lettuce and left some supermarket shelves empty, prompting the Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, to suggest that people should focus on eating UK produced seasonal vegetables, such as turnips.

Sandra Woodfall, the farmers market representative on the FRA Council, agreed: “Shoppers should embrace the opportunity to consider the seasons when choosing what to buy. Farmers Markets offer a great opportunity to do this - not purely fruit and vegetables but also fish, game etc., Some of the growing seasons have been extended in the UK because of tunnel grown items or items grown under glass.

“Many of the real farmers markets in the UK have been running for a number of years now and are working to a set of criteria to help with traceability of items, seasonality, reducing food miles and the person behind the stall being involved in the production of the item.

“Throughout COVID the farmers markets and stallholders, many who are very small businesses, adapted to the changing circumstances and offered home delivery schemes of their items and offered a vital service when people most needed it.” She said footfall in 2023 had remained good, with shoppers wanting to support local producers and learn more about the items they were purchasing.

Can food protect us from sun damage?

Watermelon - Tomatoes are known for containing lycopene (an antioxidant) but watermelons contain far more. Lycopene absorbs both UVA and UVB radiation.

Nuts and seeds - Walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flax all contain omega-3. Our bodies can’t make omega-3s, so it’s essential we get it from our diet. Omega-3s help us cope with the effects of spending a little too much time in the sun.

Carrots and leafy greens - Our bodies convert beta carotene into vitamin A, which is vital for skin health. Leafy greens are high in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These have been found to protect against wrinkling, sun damage, and skin cancer.

By Rachel Rowling - Associate ediitor nutrition & health

For some, the lure of a suntan is irresistible. Whether you want the sun-kissed glow from time spent in the sun or not, we all need 15-minutes a day of sun to ramp up our vitamin D production. Research shows that here in the UK, sun damage starts at about 11-minutes of exposure.

What is sunburn? It’s an inflammatory reaction to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage, to the skin’s outermost layers. That sentence never makes easy reading.

Can foods protect us from sun damage? Yes, absolutely!

Foods rich in antioxidants protect us by neutralizing the free-radical damage that sun exposure causes.

These protective little compounds (I hope you can hear the affection I have for antioxidants) have natural anti-inflammatory properties, allowing

So where do we get antioxidants from? Antioxidants are found in plants and animals. On average, plant derived antioxidants have 64 times more antioxidant power than red meat, poultry, fish, dairy and eggs. Herbs and spices are generally very high in antioxidants. Animal derived antioxidants are produced from proteins during digestion. When it comes to antioxidants, plants are your all-time best friend; nothing compares.

Blueberries are extremely rich in antioxidants. They’re also a very good source of vitamin C, which can help prevent wrinkles.

Cauliflower – I bet you didn’t expect this to be on the list. When it comes to antioxidants, the general rule is, the deeper the pigment, the greater the power and protection but don’t let cauliflower’s pale florets fool you. Cauliflower is the exception to the rule and is incredibly potent in terms of antioxidant power. In addition, it’s also a naturally sun-protective food thanks to histidine. This alpha-amino acid stimulates the production of urocanic acid, which soaks up UV radiation. Some of us may find eating cauliflower a bit of a challenge on a regular basis (me included), so consider trying this; buy a bag of frozen cauliflower and add it to smoothies in place of avocado. You’ll still get the creaminess you get from avocado with all the extra benefits we’ve just discussed.

Last point – None of these actions protect in isolation and are to be combined with other protective measures, including SPF and sunprotective clothing. Antioxidants are your big, protective, best friend. They do all the hard work; all you must do is eat them.

Food Blogger launches spice range

Spotlight on Chandra Patel, a Leeds based home cook and food blogger who recently launched her chai spice range on Etsy. Chandra shares her wonderful culinary journey with us this month

I’ve been cooking since I was seven years old. Recently, I’ve started cooking more as a leisure activity for friends and family who serve as my tasters (and provide me with their honest feedback) and who have inspired me to share my cuisine and recipes. My mother, who is an excellent cook, and my father, who is her primary taster and critic, are the sources of my inspiration for flavours, thus food and cooking run in my family.

Recipe

After getting encouragement from my children and friends that it was okay to share my love and perhaps get some recognition, I dared to go public and started sharing my meals on Instagram under the handle @ leedshomecook, improving my plating and recipe development.

After obtaining all necessary licences, social media allowed me to pursue fullhouse supper clubs, cooking classes, and private chef work. It’s basically wholesome, delightful fusion food.

Chai Spiced Turmeric Almond Milk (or of choice)

Serves 2 Prep & Serve 10 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon Ground Turmeric

• Or 1 teaspoon grated fresh root turmeric

• 500ml unsweetened almond milk (or of choice)

• 2 teaspoon honey optional

• 1 level teaspoon chai spices

Method

1. Gently warn the milk over a low to medium heat

2. With a small hand whisk, mix in the turmeric and chai spices

3. Ensure stirring until is the milk is hot enough to drink

4. Lastly add choice of sweetener, honey in this case

5. Strain directly into heatproof cups.

(Optional - top with a layer of foam/froth milk)

A few benefits of turmeric subject to studies

Improves body inflammationEnhances the immune health

Increases the body’s antioxidant capacity

Relieves joint pain aids mobility

And much more!

Simply displaying my meal wasn’t enough. As I was chatting with my mum over many cups of tea, inspiration suddenly struck me. Everything started with her chai masala recipe, which I recently chose to modify, package, and sell on Etsy.

My wish is to highlight the variety of chai spices by adding various flavours. You may use it for many things such as simply tea, baking, breakfasts, hot drinks, cold drinks, and more! Everything is about the flavours!

Sometimes I question if I should continue to work toward my goals at age 57 or take things easy.

Small ways to help with climate change

Photo by GEORGE DESIPRIS:

Did you know that a staggering 2.5 billion tonnes of food goes uneaten and is wasted every year and about 70% of food is wasted in our homes.

Many people don’t realise that this contributes to climate change because of the energy and water used to grow the food. So, what can we do about it? Food waste is fixable, and we can all help to reverse climate change, just by making small changes in our homes and how we cook and handle food. With some planning and a few easy recipes to follow, we can eat all the food that we have in our fridges.

We all should be looking at ways to preserve food and store anything that we don’t have time to eat. Most foods can be frozen for later or added to other dishes, it’s about being creative. We are all guilty of cramming our cupboards and fridges with ingredients that will be forgotten then thrown away.

Grow your way to better health

by Michaela Axford

Start by getting organised, plan out your food storage, this would be

freezer bags and glass airtight storage jars, which keeps food fresher for longer. By using freezer bags, food can be stored flat giving you more room in the freezer, but make sure you label everything so not only are they easier to find, but you can also be sure they are still fresh when you need them. Ice cube trays can be useful for storing left over wine, berries, and sauces, then once set, transferred into bags. Frozen fruit is delicious in cocktails! Most frozen food can be safely stored for up to three months, but do not refreeze once defrosted.

Food stored in the fridge should last up to three days, but do use the smell check, if it smells and looks OK, it generally is. Always store raw meat and fish at the bottom of the fridge as this could drip and

spread bacteria. Potatoes with a few sprouts are fine, just cut them off but if they are soft or green, throw them on the compost. Vegetables beginning to look a little ‘floppy’ can be revived in cold water and mushy avocados can be mashed into a guacamole and frozen. Soft fruits can be pureed and added to smoothies or make delicious desserts. Just get creative!

It’s useful to have a selection of herbs and spices that can be added to ‘jush-up’ leftovers and are delicious added to vegetables when roasting. Produce in tins will last for years and are a useful addition in our cupboards when time is precious.

Are you a saver or a waster? We would love to hear from you. Perhaps you could share your tips with readers of how you save, store, and use up leftovers? Do let us know: editor@ yorkshirebusinesswoman.co.uk

Menopausal me

At the risk of jinxing myself, I’m pleased to say I feel normal again!!!!

No more running with what felt like a bowling ball full of water instead of a bladder.

No more needing 18,000 wees a day.

Far fewer random symptoms and constant worrying about why I feel so bad.

It’s about bloody time to be fair. Because the physical and mental impact of the menopause had seeped into all areas of my life.

Take exercise. I think many of us in midlife appreciate the benefits of getting active for our overall health and wellbeing. But because my symptoms

revolved mainly around an ongoing UTI, plus constant aches and pains, I didn’t feel able to do much exercise at all. Overlay that with the chest pains and anxiety I felt at the start of my journey, my hobby (running) couldn’t have felt less viable.

So, I slowly stopped, replacing halfhearted and increasingly uncomfortable runs with watching from the sidelines. One Saturday at the Parkrun, I was mortified to burst into tears when, yet another lovely and wellmeaning running club friend asked me why I wasn’t running and if I was ok. Of course, I wasn’t crying because I couldn’t run – I was crying because I was worried and frustrated. Was this it? Was this how I’d feel forever?

Sitting in the doctor’s office and asking for help - again - because my symptoms

just weren’t getting better, she asked me how I felt about HRT. I agreed wholeheartedly that I wanted to give it a go and left with a prescription for tablets.

It took over three weeks to start feeling the benefits, but how glorious it was to emerge from a very dark tunnel into a life made up of all the beautifully familiar things I love.

Returning to the Parkrun has been amazing, as has restarting social runs with my club. Enjoying fresh air and a chat are two things that are easily taken for granted but hugely underrated. Cnews

And with my confidence continuing to grow, I’m now thinking about the races I might want to do over the spring and summer.

Fully, unashamedly fuelled by HRT. Claire can be found on Facebook and Instagram as @ my40pluslife.me and you can join her #SoloSaturday Instagram live between 7 and 8pm every Saturday.

40 plus blogger Claire Kenny is sharing her early menopause journey with Yorkshire Businesswoman readers.

Roasted red pepper chutney

By Freda Shafi - Associate editor food & health

Love a homemade chutney? This one is more than that -  it can be used as a marinade and a great addition to many things from pasta sauce, curries to casseroles. Peppers and tomatoes are coming into season now so it’s a great way to preserve them and stretch seasonal produce. You can even freeze it and use over the year. It’s also a nice gift / offering to friends and family when its put into your own personalised jars as shown.

Ingredients

• 4-6 red bell peppers

• 6 vine tomatoes

Hello everyone and welcome to Spring!

Longer days, spending more time outdoors and spring produceso much to celebrate !. Many of us are now growing our own produce; home grown tomatoes have been a real hit the last few years. The first recipe; my homemade roasted red pepper and tomato chutney is a great way to preserve them and enjoy even after tomato season.

Also showing you how to make a hearty burger without the meatwith my spicy mixed bean burger; another brilliant recipe for the warmer days as it’s great to enjoy al fresco. A couple of bonus recipe this month to make the most of dates – they are a staple during the month of Ramadan, if you’re taking part; you can incorporate dates into so many dishes – I love them in cakes and energy balls

Hope you enjoy!

With love, Freda x

• 2 bulbs garlic sliced across the middle to reveal garlic inside the bulbs

• 1 cup White vinegar

• 1 tbsp black mustard seeds

• 1 cup tomato ketchup

• 2 heaped tbsp. sweet paprika

• 1 tsp chilli pow der

• Salt ( to taste)

• 1 tbsp Indian spice blend known as ‘Achar blend’ which you can get hold of in Indian grocery stores; if not, substitute with  Cajun spice blend ( optional)

Method

• Pre – heat the oven to 160C or 140C fan forced

• Cut the red peppers into 8 pieces taking out all the seeds

• Lay on a baking tray and sprinkle with olive oil and generously with rock salt

• In another tray, place the whole tomatoes and halved garlic bulbs and sprinkle generously with oil and rock salt

• Roast the peppers and tomatoes for approximately 20 minutes until sizzling and slightly charred on the edges (peppers)

• Remove from the oven and leave to cool

• Place 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan

• When the oil is hot add the mustard seeds and wait until they start to “pop” – you’ll hear a popping sound

• Add all other whole spices  and stir fry for a few minutes

• Add the roasted tomatoes (remove the vine) and garlic which should have come away from the peel.

• Add the peppers and stir into the whole spices

• Add the ground spices, spice blends, vinegar and ketchup and turn down the heat to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes

• Check the seasoning and add more spices in particular salt if necessary

• After 20 minutes, take a hand held blender (or place in a food processor) and process until relatively smooth. It doesn’t have to be too smooth, some texture is good. Let it cool down before transferring into jars and refrigerating. Lasts up to 2 months in the fridge As well as being a wonderful chutney and condiment, you can use it to flavour your meals and create marinades- Add it to your cooking such as pasta sauces, – it’s so versatile! Enjoy

Spicy Bean burgers with roasted red pepper chutney and mint yogurt

A really healthy way to enjoy a hearty burger without meat!! You can make a large batch of these and freeze, they are so economical to make and feed the family. With 4 different types of lentils and beans, a healthy dose of veggies and all topped with homemade sweet pepper and tomato chutney. Everything you need to satisfy your veggie burger craving right here. So healthy, so wholesome and just so easy to make.

Ingredients

Makes 8 generous patties

• 1 tin mixed beans

• 1 tin puy lentils or green lentils

• 3 spring onions finely sliced

• 2 carrots grated

• 1 zucchini grated

• 1 cup breadcrumbs

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp cumin powder

• 1 tsp good quality curry powder

• 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

• Salt to taste

• Garnish

• 1 cup Greek yogurt

• 1 tsp mint sauce

• Red pepper chutney (recipe shared above)

• Bread buns to serve

Method

Pre-heat the oven 200C or 180C fan forced

Place all the ingredients in a large bowl

Using a wooden spoon mix up all of the elements. Feel free to use your hands

If necessary use a potato masher to break down the beans and lentils Once thoroughly combined, make patties in the palm of your hands  Place them carefully on a lined baking tray with vegetable oil (ideally sprayed onto the baking paper)

Bake in a pre-heated  oven for 20 minutes until golden and crispy on the outside

Garnish:

Combine the yogurt and mint sauce

Serving suggestion

Place the cooked bean burgers on a bed of salad over half a bread bun (toast the bun if desired)

Place a tsp Greek yogurt and 1 tsp red pepper chutney over the burger

Cover with the other half of the bread bun

Eat immediately and enjoy!

Fruit and Nut Cake

Fruit and nut cake. Sometimes baking cakes can be a good way of using up ingredients you have squirrelled away as I do; such as dried fruits, nuts and these gorgeous glacé cherries. This is so easy to bake and it goes down well with a  cuppa

Ingredients

• 4 free-range eggs

• 225g/8oz caster sugar  plus a little extra for dusting the finished cake

• 225g/8oz  self raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 225g/8oz butter   at room temperature, plus a extra to grease the tin

• 200 dried mixed fruit - sultanas, cranberries, raisins etc

• 100g chopped nuts - hazel nuts, brazil nuts, walnuts and pistacchio (use whatever you have )

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas

4. Grease and line 1 round 20” cake tin

Cream together the eggs, sugar, and butter then gradually add the flour, baking powder. Mix together until well combined with an electric hand mixer or wooden spoon.

Add the mixed fruit and nuts and stir through

Place the mixture into the cake tin.

Bake the cake on the middle shelf of the oven for 40- 50’minutes.

The cake is ready when it’s goldenbrown and coming away from the edge of the tin

Place on a cooling rack and dust with extra sugar and serve with whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Do We Really Need to Walk 10,000 Steps A Day?

By Rachel Rowling - Associate editor nutrition & health

Which came first, the marketing campaign for walking 10,000 steps a day or the scientific evidence?

As Japan prepared to host the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, focus on the fitness of the general population increased, as well as a greater awareness that regular exercise was an effective way to fight lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and strokes. Tracking the number of steps walked needed to be simplified and twelve months later a new device called ‘Manpokei” was launched.

Who decided 10,000 was the magical number? The marketing department. The manufacturer’s marketing department came up with the name Manpo-kei believing it to be catchy and well, ‘marketable’.

Ten thousand is a nice round number that sounds taxing enough to be a goal but achievable enough to be worth striving for. Manpo-kei literally translates to the’10,000-step meter’ and became the pedometer as we know it today.

What does the science say? Even though the scientific community had no part in setting the 10,000 steps a day goal, it turns out there is something special about that number. The evidence-base is robust, and studies have consistently found that 10,000 steps (about four to five miles depending on your stride) is linked to a 30% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, risk of cancer is reduced by 30% and dementia by 50%. Most health benefits peaked at 10,000 steps.

What if you don’t do 10,000 a day? Let’s be realistic, not all of us are able to do this; time is an

obvious constraint but so is ability and desire. Whilst walking 10,000 steps a day is ideal, walking fewer steps may still confer many health benefits.

For every 2,000 steps, the risk of heart disease reduces by 10%. Walking 3,800 steps a day cuts your risk of dementia by 25%. For those over 50 years of age, walking 4,000 steps a day reduced mortality by half compared to those who walked 2,000 steps a day.

Science isn’t static – the very latest research suggests that 6,000 steps is more likely to be the optimal number to prevent developing diseases that may shorten our life. The evidence also confirms the health benefits are equal regardless of the speed you walk.

Back to the question, do we need to walk 10,000 steps every

day? If I had to give a straight yes or no, based on evidence and my clinical experience, I’d say no. For people looking to cut their risk of heart disease, cancer and strokes, activity is one element but not the only element. The combination of nutrition and lifestyle is the balanced approach to health that

produces long-lasting results. Where possible, my recommendation would be to consistently include ‘some’ activity (dancing, tennis, kickboxing, shopping, swimming or simply moving) into your everyday life. Health benefits are not achieved in week or a month

Collagen supplements, are they worth it for ever-lasting youth?

By Rachel Rowling - Associate editor nutrition & health

What is collagen? It’s the most abundant protein in the body and our body makes it for us. It provides structure, support and strength to your skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissues.

Collagen is a protein structure that keeps us looking youthful. We have it in our nails, hair, and skin and this is where the beauty claims come from. We make less of it over time, so as we age, collagen supplementation may become more appealing. Expect to pay between £40 and £100 for a month’s supply in the

hope of transforming your skin but will it really work?

In reality, your body will use it as your body chooses. You have zero control over it. Whilst your intention is for it to be used on skin, hair or nails, your body will decide its own priority and could use it to repair your knee or an injured Achilles tendon. Your body is more likely to use it to repair an injured or weak area of your body than your skin. Can we support collagen production without taking supplements? 100% yes! We have two very powerful approaches we can rely on. First, we look to minimise

but over a lifetime of consistent, daily choices. The health benefits from walking are undeniable but are not exclusive to that activity. If you only remember one thing: Consistency beats perfection every time.

the things that break collagen down and then we ensure we give our body exactly what it needs to support collagen production. It really is that simple.

To avoid depleting your collagen levels watch your sun exposure, alcohol consumption, smoking, ensure you get adequate sleep and exercise. All these factors contribute significantly to a general reduction of collagen in the body. At the same time, eat a balanced healthy diet, rich in protein. Animal products are the only food source that contain collagen, but you can get rich protein from plants as well (legumes, soy and nuts).

What does the research say? Scientific research is lacking and most of the studies for collagen supplements are beauty industry funded. The funding issue doesn’t necessarily make the findings unreliable but there is a huge amount of inherent bias when a company is paying for the research.

Are we saying don’t take supplements? No. If you feel it’s working for you, carry on but there are lots of other options. Remember though, just taking a supplement on its own isn’t enough. A well-balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle give your body the raw ingredients it needs to make collagen naturally.

This is a huge topic and one that generates masses of questions. If you have any questions, email us hello@rowlingnutrition.co.uk

Thyroid Disease:What are the symptoms and how is it diagnosed?

By Rachel Rowling - Associate editor nutrition & health

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your throat. It produces thyroxine, an essential hormone for energy and metabolism.

Women over forty have a one in 10 chance of suffering some sort of thyroid issue. Thyroid symptoms are often mistaken with other diseases and conditions, such as the perimenopause, and subsequently not investigated properly. When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can affect your entire body.

What is thyroid disease? Thyroid disease is a general term for a medical condition preventing your thyroid from making the right number of hormones.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is when your thyroid does not make enough thyroxine and symptoms include:

• Weight gain

• Hair loss

• Fatigue, brain fog and memory problems

• Digestive changes

• Hot flushes

• High cholesterol

• Depression and anxiety

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is when your thyroid makes too much hormone. Symptoms include:

• Weight loss

• Hair loss

• Rapid heartbeat

• Hot flushes

• Anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue

The standard diagnostic test is a blood test. It measures thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). In a perfect world your test would include TSH, free T4 and thyroid antibodies, giving you a complete thyroid profile. We often write to GPs and explain family history and presenting symptoms, to help justify additional testing.

In clinic, thyroid disease is a huge percentage of our caseload. We work with people who have been diagnosed and people who haven’t. A diagnosis leading to medication helps people cope on many levels but is rarely the complete answer to managing the condition. The most effect method of symptom control is nutrition, lifestyle, and medicine. The improvements achieved and maintained this way are incomparable.

What can you do if your blood tests come back ‘normal’? This is the most common scenario we see in clinic. Often, by the time we get to meet a person, they’ve endured a long history of symptoms, had numerous blood tests, and then been told everything is ‘fine’. From experience I can tell you the person sat in front of me is most definitely not fine. They know they

don’t feel ‘fine’, and often don’t feel they look fine. Lack of energy is the most reported invisible symptom with weight concerns and thinning hair being the most visible.

Being told your test results are ‘normal’ does not mean you aren’t struggling with symptoms. It does not mean you feel well. It does not mean they’ve got to the bottom of your issues either. Firstly, ‘normal’ in most conventional medicine tests means nothing anyway. The ‘normal’ bracket is often far too wide and looks at what the average person would need to be well, but if you have something wrong with your health, you are not the average person. Looking at one marker in many diagnoses misses a massive part of the picture.

If you still feel ‘not fine’ but one marker has shown that you are ‘normal’ and there’s ‘nothing wrong’, don’t just accept it. Do not accept that you now must live with these symptoms. Do not accept this is your new normal life. Find a practitioner who will look at the full picture and your whole body.

We know thyroid disease responds massively to diet and lifestyle interventions and we’ve seen consistent, measured improvements in clinic. If you need any help with thyroid health, email hello@rowlingnutrition. co.uk

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