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Over the years, I’ve enjoyed - and endured - counselling, mentoring, business coaching, leadership development, business mentoring, worked with a management consultant and taken advice from an angel investor as well as family, friends and well-meaning clients. I’ve networked, spoken at events and hosted a successful networking group, before, during and after Covid. I’ve written countless columns and interviewed many business leaders over the years. One piece of advice that stands out for me was when I was told, by a business mentor, that I was ‘naïve’ to think that I could only work with people whom I respected. But where do you draw the line and go with your gut? The model for my business is disruptive. Pay-as-you-go PR really causes radical change in the marketing industry - the definition of disruption. The established public relations market is known for its more traditional retainer model and schmooze. We don’t do it like that. We’re straight-talking, hardworking professionals who manage outsourced marketing for SME’s across the two counties. We also manage interim campaigns for busy businesses who want extra support at busy times. Some love the freedom and some don’t. We love the excitement of a new challenge and doing our best for businesses who are in need of support. Like it or loathe it, pay-as-you-go really works for us and, more importantly, for our clients. It allows them to pick and choose when they want to tap into marketing to suit their business needs. It’s not that I’ve wanted to be disruptive, it’s just I’ve seen a chance to do something differently - that works. So, in summary, I prefer to work with like-minded people - both clients and associates - and don’t feel that’s naive. More than that, it’s not only a way that works for me and my business, I believe that it’s the way forward in many businesses. Is there, perhaps an intuitive link between working with the right people and a positive work experience? Can you have both? I think so, do you?

Julie Finch is CEO of Hay Festival, the world’s leading literary charity bringing writers and readers together in events to inspire, examine and entertain globally. Based in the Festival’s head office in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, Finch joined the charity in August 2022 to lead a new organisational strategy, working to enhance the organisation’s national and international standing, reach, impact, engagement with existing and new audiences, and its long-term sustainability. As a cultural leader, Finch is a passionate advocate for the arts in Wales and around the world with experience spanning the charity, private and public sectors. With over two decades of experience in the cultural sector, Finch’s achievements have included developing and leading the revisioning programme and 10-year strategy for Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park, setting up a cultural trust in Cheltenham, developing the concept for the new museum for Western Australia and reframing Bristol Museums Galleries and Archives around audiences. Whether conceptualising new museums (M Shed, Boola Bardip) or leading ambitious cultural change programmes (Cheltenham Trust, National Football Museum), Finch has been a champion of strengthening and modernising venues, engaging with audiences and partners and contemporising interpretation and visitor experiences. A member of Arts Council England Midland’s regional council, a former member of National Council, Arts Council England, Committee Member of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in the Southwest, Finch is a qualified executive coach and mentor, an experienced board member and is committed to enabling the sector to grow to meet the needs of 21st century audiences.

Samantha Lloyd, Partner and Head of Wills and Probate at SME Solicitors has won the President’s Award in last week’s Worcestershire Law Society awards. The Worcestershire Law Society (WLS) runs its awards annually and this is a discretionary award given to a recipient who is deserving of special recognition. The decision, even though it is called the President’s Award, had the unanimous support of the judging panel. Samantha Lloyd was awarded this special category win in recognition of her ability to successfully combine her role as Head of Department in a busy, city centre law firm, with her child’s diagnosis of a very serious illness in the depths of a pandemic, and the associated problems of dealing with hospital visits and treatments during that time, alongside the emotional and physical toll. As the Head of her department, Sam demonstrated determination to continue to serve her clients’ best interests, to hold the fort and to lead her team, even if that meant working and conducting Partners’ meeting remotely from the hospital bedside. Sam’s team has described her as an inspiration. President of the Worcestershire Law Society Andrew Chandler commented: “Samantha demonstrated extraordinary commitment and determination in continuing to serve her clients and work with her supportive colleagues during a prolonged period of personal difficulty, which was itself exacerbated by the pandemic. The WLS rightly recognised these qualities in Samantha and she is thoroughly deserving of the President’s Award 2022.” Sam Lloyd added: “I am honoured to receive this award; thank you to all the judges. I must recognise the unerring support of my fellow Partners at SME Solicitors and of our team here, who have been by my side throughout.” SME Solicitors is a full service firm of solicitors based at 8 Sansome Walk, Worcester. For more information, please visit www.smesolicitors.co.uk.

A collaboration between two health and wellbeing organisations will see Paycare partner with Kaleidoscope Plus Group (KPG) to deliver accredited mental health training courses. The organisations have always recognised their shared aims, having worked together before, with the not-for-profit Health Cash Plan provider Paycare hosting KPG’s Mental Health courses at its Wolverhampton headquarters Paycare House earlier in 2022. Following the positive impact of these sessions, they’ve decided to expand that partnership - Paycare will be partnering with KPG to deliver Mental Health First Aid England accredited courses to organisations, managers, and individuals in the region. KPG are a charity set up in the 1970s to champion mental health and wellbeing. They provide a range of support services and are experienced at delivering MHFA England accredited courses, which include a half-day (Mental Health Aware), day (Mental Health Champion) or two-day (Mental Health First Aider) course and MHFA refresher training too. KPG’s experts also lead training around additional specialist topics such as suicide prevention and stress management training. Paycare’s Commercial Director Anthony Burns explained: “Every day, we have conversations with leaders, HR managers and business owners about their concerns surrounding employee mental health and wellbeing. “It’s really important to cultivate an atmosphere within workplaces where individuals feel able to talk about their mental health, and it’s just as crucial to have team members who are knowledgeable and able to confidently support their colleagues. “It’s fantastic to be working with KPG who not only deliver MHFA England accredited training – part of a global programme which has trained 4 million people across the world – but also specialise in other areas of wellbeing training such as stress management, all extremely useful to employees and employers alike.” KPG Chief Executive Monica Shafaq added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Paycare, whose values, ethos and mission are aligned to our own. Everyone has mental health in the same way, we all have physical health so it’s important to know how to keep ourselves well emotionally, but also to be more resilient to everyday challenges that life can throw at us. “Paycare appreciate how critically important mental health is, especially in the workplace and it’s great to see that this partnership will help businesses and managers looking to support their teams.” Dates of upcoming training will be available on Paycare’s website (www.paycare.org) and social media soon. Find out more about how Paycare can support your organisation’s wellbeing at www.paycare.org/corporate.

James Grigg

The team, which spans the breadth of the country, provide “very professional advice from wise heads with long experience”, says one client in the leading directory. “We received sound, balanced advice from the outset” they continued. Worcester-based Partner Nadia Davis “receives a steady flow of instructions on a variety of complex and high-value cases that involve business, farming and agricultural assets”, the directory says. She’s mentioned as being “hugely experienced, extremely knowledgeable and reassuringly personable.” Partner James Osborne is noted as a key lawyer alongside Anita Hennessey and Christopher Finch, an “excellent lawyer” who works form the firm’s Hereford office. Recent new hires mean the team has grown to incorporate over fifty experts in all 11 of the firm’s offices - with knowledge across matters as diverse as divorce, wealth protection, international family law and children’s issues. According to another client quoted in the directory, they are “a formidable presence with a reputation for being tough and determined”. Northampton office Partner Sally Robinson is mentioned as a “significant new addition to the team”. She is one of several lawyers who have joined the Family Law team in recent months – helping to bolster the wide range of services the team provide to families and individuals across the country. Cambridge Partner Roopa Ahluwalia is listed as a leading individual, while Cardiff’s Richard Scott is named as a next-generation Partner. Head of team James Grigg and Cheltenham-based Partner Carolyn Green are commended as being “experts in their field.” The latest rankings further cement the team’s position as one of the UK’s largest and most experienced family law team. Where complex cases require a steady hand, our Family Law solicitors are with you every step of the way – not only providing advice, but also support and, most importantly, understanding. Our team of experts are in your corner and ready to tackle the issues which are difficult to face – just as they have for their clients quoted in the latest Legal 500 directory. Having an expert on your side who knows how best to help you, whether you’re facing a crisis or are simply frustrated by the situation, can be invaluable. This could range from making sure your children are listened to during divorce to protecting your wealth. Equally, you may wish to protect your assets when entering a new relationship – our specialists can draw up pre-nuptial arrangements to ensure that they are protected if the worst should happen. Our Family Law team’s Legal 500 rankings speak for themselves – but for further information on anything mentioned in this article, please don’t hesitate to contact Head of Family Law, James Grigg.