Dynamic Magazine – issue 22

REGULARS

Events

2 Entries are open for the second Dynamic Business Awards

News

8 In The Right Direction: Good news stories from around the world

11 Bizarre News: A few stories to make your mind boggle

Wellbeing

30 Tanya Borowski looks at perimenopause - a very different beast to menopause

Further reading

34 Introducing Anna Eliatamby , who has just published the new series of pocketbooks to help people flourish in their careers and workplaces

Art scene

36 The artworks of Jemma Gowland, as described by art critic and curator Kellie Miller

Girl torque

40 Fiona Shafer gets all rock n roll in the VW T-Roc

What’s on

42 A brief snapshot of art and culture across Sussex and Surrey

SPOTLIGHT

26 Joanna Hunter, founder of Piglet’s Pantry, multi award-winning pie maker, talks to Dynamic about her journey

28 Karen Davis, award-winning beauty subscription box enterpreneur, flying the flag for middle-aged women

29 Emma Inch, award-winning beer writer among a host of highly respected UK female beer writers

38 TRAVEL

Going solo

Why Tess de Klerk believes everyone – women especially - should travel solo at least once

CONTACTS

FEATURES

The value of change

12 Alison Jones from Kreston Reeves underlines the importance change, and how we should embrace it not fear it

24

Circle of support

Your close-knit network is quite rightly made up of people you trust. But does your power team include a financial adviser?

PUBLISHER: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionas@platinummediagroup.co.uk

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EVENTS DIRECTOR: Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk

HEAD OF DESIGN: Michelle Shakesby design@platinummediagroup.co.uk

SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk

WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK

The seeds of success in every nation on Earth are best planted in women and children

Joyce Band

EDITOR’S NOTE

An extra special welcome to the March issue of Dynamic Magazine. Here at Dynamic, we tend to go all out on March 8th which is, of course, International Women’s Day. is year, the focus is on Embracing Equitysomething we like to believe that we strive for at all times.

In honour of this all-important day, we are delighted to announce that Dynamic is sponsoring a 12-week mini MBA course for all women who run their own business or are in a senior management role within any SME and are determined to level the playing eld. Read more about this on page eight.

On top of our regular features this month we’ve also approached many wise women and men and asked them what International Women’s Day means to them.

As always, we feature remarkable women in Spotlight, and among our regular features, Anna Eliatamby shares her knowledge of how to create psychologically safe environments in the workplace in Further Reading, while Tanya Borowski brings perimenopause to our attention in Wellbeing.

Our pages are jam-packed for your reading pleasure. I hope that you enjoy this month’s Dynamic.

Tess de Klerk

Editor, Dynamic Magazine tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Dynamic has a very special offer for all women who run their own business or are in a senior management role within any SME as we are determined to level the playing field.

The Help to Grow: Management programme as detailed here is normally 90% subsidised by the government and the participant pays only £750. Dynamic Magazine is sponsoring a number of places on the course therefore it will be totally free of charge to Dynamic readers!

This is a unique offer 100% sponsored by Dynamic Magazine

Helping women to grow

PROGRAMME DETAILS

This mini MBA-style programme is designed for business owners and senior leaders of small and medium-sized businesses, Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week course that helps your business reach its full potential for growth, resilience and secession planning.

Benefits:

n In-depth training

n Invaluable 1:1 business mentoring

n Bespoke Growth Action Plan

n Low cost, high impact

n Peer-to-peer networking

n Time away from your business to work on your business

This course, accredited by the Chartered Association of Business Schools, is being delivered by the University of Brighton. Working in collaboration with industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs, the course covers strategies for growth and innovation, digital adoption, leading high-performance teams, financial management and responsible business practices. With the support of an experienced mentor, you will also create a bespoke growth plan for your business.

Next course dates:

Brighton April 25th or June 12th

Crawley/Gatwick April 21st

MODULES AND

DELIVERY STYLE

To facilitate busy work schedules, the course is a mix of both online and in person workshops. 1

6

YOUR GROWTH PLAN

n Develop your leadership and management skills, enhancing employee wellbeing and engagement

n Identify what drives productivity and growth in your market, and understand what this means for you

n Learn how to advance responsible business practices, including more inclusive and greener practices

n Understand how to innovate your business model, including adopting and investing in new and digital technologies

n Identify key domestic and export markets for your business and develop strategies for segmentation, positioning and targeting

n Generate strategies to improve operational efficiency, allowing you to save time and money

100% FREE FOR DYNAMIC READERS

HOW TO APPLY

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for Help to Grow, the following criteria must be met.

Your business must

n Be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in the UK

n Employ between 5 and 249 people

n Have been operational for at least one year

n Not be a charity

You must

n Be a chief executive, owner/founder or senior manager

n Have at least one person reporting to you

n Commit to completing all sessions

THE HELP TO GROW: MANAGEMENT COURSE

You will be supported by an experienced business mentor who will support you in producing a growth plan, and taught by experienced academics and practitioners from the School of Business and Law.

❛❛ The content was fantastic and I found the session really engaging and well delivered ❜❜

ALICE MONK

Music Industries Association

The Help to Grow: Management is delivered by leading business schools across the UK who have been awarded the Small Business Charter (SBC) by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS).

Help to Grow is a 12-week course designed to be undertaken alongside full-time work. The time commitment is 50 hours over 12 weeks. Learning alongside other business owners,

To apply, send an email to info@platinummediagroup.co.uk, quoting the code PLATINUM100 to secure your place.

Don’t delay, apply today and power up your business

you have the opportunity to learn from your peers and network.

Using a combination of online and face-to-face sessions alongside case study workshops, you will have the opportunity to apply the concepts being taught to real-life situations faced by business leaders. By the end of the course, you will have a tailored Growth Action Plan to help you lead and grow your business.

WHY CHOOSE THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON?

The University of Brighton has a long history of working with small to medium-sized businesses, and a strong track record of delivering business growth programmes.

The school of Business and Law is home to the Centre for Change, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (CENTRIM), which works with partners in industry, academia and government producing groundbreaking concepts to explain, harness and improve innovation, entrepreneurship and change management.

The 2021 Knowledge Exchange Framework results place the University of Brighton in the top 10% for universities for public and community engagement, and in the top 20% for skills, enterprise, and entrepreneurship.

BOXING FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN GAZA

At Gaza’s first female boxing club, women and girls are fighting prejudice. In a region where boxing has traditionally been considered a man’s sport, the club is challenging gender stereotypes. It also provides a path for girls who want to pursue a career as a boxer, as well as a respite from life in the territory, which is surrounded by Israel and Egypt.

“I benefit a lot from boxing,” Farah Abu Al-Qomsan, a 15-year-old boxer at the club, told Reuters. “My ambition is to represent my Palestinian people and take part in world championships.”

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

SPEAKING OF FORESTS...

A WELCOME CHANGE IN THE AMAZON

An operation to drive out illicit miners from the Brazilian Amazon has begun. This is an encouraging sign that President Lula is keeping his promise to defend the rainforest and its Indigenous residents.

The area along the Uraricoera river, which is home to Yanonmami tribal lands, has been used by mining mafias to traffic tin and gold from illegal excavations since the 1970s. The presidency of right-wing Jair Bolsonaro saw an influx of 25,000 miners, along with bloodshed and disease among the Yanonmami people but government troops have now set up camp to protect the area.

Brazil’s environmental protection agency, Ibama, with support from the national guard, has destroyed aircraft, weapons, boats and heavy plant machinery used by illegal mining crews. Some miners were reported to be quitting the region ahead of the offensive.

Readers may be surprised to learn that Britain has temperate rainforests, but fragments of these habitats still exist along the Atlantic coast, and a project has been launched to expand them. The Wildlife Trusts, a conservation charity, has launched a 100-year project to protect and expand Britain’s temperate rainforests, thanks to a £38 million donation from the insurance company Aviva.

Rainforests grew all along Britain’s Atlantic coast hundreds of years ago, but now cover less than 1% of the land. They are vital carbon sinks, biodiversity hotspots, and natural wonders. “These woods are magical and much loved by those who visit and live near them,” said Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trust. “We’re looking forward to working with communities to bring back rainforests along the Atlantic coast.”

COLOMBIA SAYS NO TO FOSSIL FUELS

The Colombian government has announced that it will no longer approve new oil and gas projects.

Irene Vélez, Colombia’s minister for mines said, “We have decided not to award new oil and gas exploration contracts, and while that has been very controversial, it’s a clear sign of our commitment in the fight against climate change. This decision is absolutely urgent and needs immediate action.”

THE UK’S NET ZERO ECONOMY IS BOOMING

A report by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) suggests that net zero efforts are worth £70bn to the UK economy, and that green jobs pay more, with salaries averaging £42,600 compared to a national average of £33,400.

The report said that firms involved in the energy transition have brought jobs and investment to parts of the UK that were experiencing industrial decline. It calculated that 840,000 jobs are now linked to the net zero industry.

“Businesses in the net zero economy are adding £70bn to the UK economy,” said Peter Chalkley, director of ECIU. “The net zero economy is addressing levelling-up and the UK’s productivity problem, but with the EU and US investing heavily in clean technologies, the question now is – can the UK keep up?”

It spawned Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and The Specials, and now the Midlands has given birth to a new music scene comprised entirely of all-female, middleaged punk bands. What started with one performance in a sticky-floored venue in Leicester has morphed into the Unglamorous Music project, which so far has helped to launch seven bands. Albums out soon.

FREE AT-HOME RAPID HIV TESTS ARE

The UK government said in December that the end of HIV transmission in England was ‘within reach’, but warned that a drop-off in testing during the pandemic has hampered progress. As part of a national effort, free home HIV tests giving results in just 15 minutes, are now available.

Dr Thomas Waite, deputy chief medical officer for England, said: “If you have HIV, finding out early means you can start free treatment, live a long, healthy life and avoid passing the virus on to others.”

Tremendous amounts of talent are being lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt

Shirley Chisholm, first African-American woman elected to U.S. Congress

NOW AVAILABLE

I am thankful for my struggle because, without it, I wouldn’t have stumbled across my strength

Alex Elle

❛ ❛

Be messy and complicated and afraid and show up anyways

Glennon Doyle Melton

AN IMPROBABLE PUNK SCENE TOOK ROOT IN ENGLAND

BARBIE DOLL WITH SCOLIOSIS UNVEILED

A barbie doll maker has made history by introducing its first doll with scoliosis. The toy company’s line for Barbie’s little sister, Chelsea, will see a new addition that features curvature of the spine and a removable back brace, aimed at normalising the equipment and encouraging children to celebrate inclusion.

The team at Mattel worked closely with Dr Luke Macyszyn, a board-certified neurosurgeon and specialist in children’s complex spinal disorders, who advised the designers throughout the doll’s development.

The 15cm doll wears a pink dress and has a removable green back brace, white shoes, and her brown hair is styled in waves.

In 2022, the company also released its first Barbie with hearing aids – supported by Strictly Come Dancing winner, Rose Ayling-Ellis.

INDIA ASKS CITIZENS TO ‘HUG A COW’

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but India’s government-run animal welfare department appealed to citizens to mark the day not as a celebration of romance but as “Cow Hug Day” to better promote Hindu values. The government-run Animal Welfare Board of India said that, “hugging cows will bring emotional richness and increase individual and collective happiness.”

Devout Hindus, who worship cows as holy, say Valentine’s Day goes against traditional Indian values. In recent years, Hindu hardliners have raided shops in Indian cities, burned cards and gifts, and chased hand-holding couples out of restaurants and parks, saying it promotes promiscuity.

However, the day after the appeal, the Animal Welfare Board withdrew its request, because… politics.

bizarre NEWS

THE WEIRD AND SOMETIMES NOT SO WONDERFUL...

BURNT CHEESE TOASTIE

A group of students in London recently turned a toaster on its side in an attempt to make a cheese toastie, which sparked a blaze that soon gutted the entire room. There were, fortunately, no reports of any injuries.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Sidcup, Bexley, East Greenwich and Lee Green fire stations attended the scene. Part of the ground floor of the three-storey block was damaged by fire.

Firefighters are now warning people ‘not to use toasters on their side to make cheese on toast’. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ”The fire started after a resident placed a toaster on its side and inserted bread and cheese. They then left it cooking unattended. Only use electrical products for their designated use.”

‘DEAD’ WOMAN FOUND BREATHING IN FUNERAL HOME

An investigation has been launched after an 82-year-old woman was pronounced dead at a New York nursing home –only to be found breathing three hours later at a funeral home.

The woman was declared deceased at Water’s Edge Rehab and Nursing Centre at Port Jefferson on Long Island at 11.15am on Saturday February 4th. Suffolk County police in New York State said the woman was taken to the funeral home at 1.30 pm, where she was discovered breathing at 2.09pm.

She was later taken to a hospital, where no update on her condition was made available.

MAN RECEIVES BAN FOR DUI ON A SCOOTER

A man who wanted an early-morning snack after a night of drinking has been banned from driving.

Liam Smith, 20, was spotted on his step-mum’s three-wheel e-scooter with a woman on the back at 4am on January 14th. He was then seen staggering into a branch of McDonald’s in Malvern, Worcestershire, by police officers called out to another incident.

They breathalysed him and he was found to be three times over the drink-driving limit. Smith’s pursuit for a McMuffin has left him with a two-year driving ban and fines totalling £412.

MCDONALD’S TOLD TO REMOVE ‘TASTELESS’ SIGN

Fast food giant McDonald’s has removed a sign advertising one of its burgers after it was branded ‘tasteless’ due to its position opposite a crematorium.

The advertisement is for a chicken breast fillet in a crispy, crunchy coating. So when you advertise anything ‘crispy’ near an establishment responsible for putting deceased people into a huge furness, it’s hard not to make the connection.

Unfortunately, this connection wasn’t considered when the advert for the McCrispy appeared on a bus stop directly opposite Penmount Crematorium in Cornwall, as the sign is literally positioned behind another pointing to the crematorium, resulting in it being described as ‘tasteless’.

By ALISON JONES, Partner, Kreston Reeves

THE VALUE OF CHANGE

For reasons beyond all our control, 2023 is likely to be a year of change for many businesses and individuals. Change can be unsettling, it disrupts, and it is often feared. But not all change is bad or has negative consequences. Change can be an opportunity to revaluate business activities and operations and this in turn can add signi cant value to your business.

Times of great change historically have been when some of the most successful organisations and brands have been born including Disney in 1929, Revlon in 1932 and Microsoft in 1975.

Have you given thought to what changes could be on the horizon for your business and if there is an opportunity to add value or bene t from it? I’m sure the answer is yes given economic events of the last six months, but let’s just take a step back rst.

Few predicted (or be honest, took seriously) the risk of the global pandemic in the run up to March 2020, yet this seismic, global event and its legacy has ultimately

brought signi cant change for all of us. Personally, it has also brought bene ts to my working life and that of the wider team around me.

Bene ts my colleagues and I now have include a better work/life balance and change to workplace policies, such as the freedom to dress for the day ahead depending upon who you are meeting. We have more face-to-face meetings on platforms such as Teams or in person. All this means we’re more relaxed and open as a team, know each other better and this makes us more supportive, re ecting in our work for clients. is bene ts us personally, but also has a wider business value.

I think most people agree agile working arrangements suit most people, and they are here to stay. We’ve all proved the bene t to our businesses and the value to ourselves and it is now a key part of the recruitment package on o er by many rms.

Agile working has a value that, for many people, money simply can’t buy, as it buys time and choice within personal lives. It creates a signi cant amount of goodwill and trust within an organisation. It’s an intangible asset for many businesses, but one which also adds nancial value through happier and more motivated sta , better performing teams and reduced turnover of sta .

Dressing for the day might not be that new in many workplaces, although it used to be just ‘dress down Fridays’ for many rms. However, allowing us more personal choice about what we wear makes us feel more comfortable and con dent as well as giving us a certain amount of personal freedom. I think this makes us all feel more of an individual, and improves our business relationships.

Change can be unsettling, it disrupts, and it is often feared.

But not all change is bad or has negative consequences

Teams meetings have taken the formality out of many workplaces. We are used to interrupting delivery people, partners, children and pets. We know all their names and it’s refreshing to see that our colleagues have the same daily distractions that we do – it’s just life now. Teams also means we chat more to people face to face – rarely just over the phone now. at helps to build stronger, more personal relationships which are so important in many business sectors. Just three examples there but all changes which have been for the better.

If you have identi ed change on the horizon for your business, that’s good news, as in reality it can be very hard to predict. How your business prepares for and adapts to change is important.

Pre-Christmas, we noticed that clients seemed ‘stressed’. ey were busy, had a lot on their plate, were dealing with a lot of sudden change and many were a bit on the back foot. ere was the unexpected economic turmoil and uncertainty in the early autumn from the Liz Truss Premiership; this was di cult to have planned for.

At the same time, the nation also grieved for the loss of the Queen. Despite her grand age, I don’t think many of us had given a thought as to how her passing would a ect us and our businesses, and many people I spoke to feel a little part of our Britishness and cultural identity has been lost with her passing. All this a ected many people in many di erent ways, and it was di cult to predict or plan for.

e good news is that ever since Christmas, I think we’re seeing much more resilience in the wider business

community, and clients are feeling more in control and better equipped for riding out whatever ongoing economic storm – and the inevitable change it brings lies ahead. It is certainly going to be challenging for some business sectors with the squeeze on household budgets, but don’t forget the good news that the UK economy deed predictions and grew in November by 0.01%. is means it’s not technically in recession, and this will I think help many businesses at least maintain the status quo this coming year.

I encourage you to use this year to revaluate business goals, objectives and the plans needed to deliver them. Look at all the factors which in uence your decision making, talk to your stakeholders and especially your employees. ere are many more tools and real time data available to the business leaders of today to help make better informed and timely decisions than there has been during previous periods of economic uncertainty.

And remember having a good team around you, who you trust and can bounce ideas o is invaluable. So, let’s not fear change, let’s embrace it, meet it head on and make it work for us this year.

Agile working has a value that, for many people, money simply can’t buy, as it buys time and choice within personal lives

With March 8th being International Women’s Day, this is a great day of celebration for all that women have achieved, often within a system designed by men and, in the main, run by men. This is changing fast but not fast enough. Dynamic Magazine thought we would celebrate this all-important day by asking an array of high achieving women (and men) what the day means to them

#EMBRACE EQUITY

To Dynamic publisher, Maarten Hoffmann, IWD is around achieving is around achieving gender equality globally. The day is a chance for all genders to reflect on how far we’ve come to reaching this – and how much more we still need to do. We can use the other 364 days working hard to achieve it!

KAREN DOBRES

Former Director, Lewes FC

Speaking as a woman in a male bastion who trained myself not to make tea at board meetings, here’s how to celebrate March 8th. First, and you need to be a man to do this, make (don’t buy) female co-workers a hot drink. Ask them exactly how they like it beforehand, so you’ve the right milk, coffee, teabags ready. Then offer them a cuppa on March 8th.

TESS DE KLERK

Editor, Dynamic Magazine

To me, IWD invites celebration and reflection on how far women’s rights have come in a relatively short period of history. At the same time, I’m reminded of the lack of liberty faced by so many women in different parts of the world. There is still much work to be done.

JULIET

Founder & CEO, 2to3days

IWD is a stark reminder that men still earn the majority of the world’s wealth and women do the majority of the world’s work. According to the WEF it will take 132 years to reach gender parity! We all need to help accelerate the pace of change; actions speak louder than words.

ABI WRIGHT CEO, Spabreaks.com

Both within our team and within the wider spa industry we have always been privileged to work with incredible women. Within our own ranks we aim to bring supposedly female characteristics to our company culture, creating an environment that offers compassion, equality and strength for every member of the team. Jacinda Ardern recently said: ‘I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.’ I think that on International Women’s Day it’s that embodiment of female strength that we should celebrate and remember.

NICK HAMPTON

CEO, Tate & Lyle PLC

Gender balance is crucial for economies and communities to thrive. As a company, we will continue to keep this at the forefront of our commitments, and we are making good progress.

CLAIRE

Founder, Waking up to Autism

To me IWD is an opportunity to stop, reflect and be inspired by the incredible women who are doing incredible things in the world right now. Women supporting women is one of the most magical and empowering things and I am never not moved by how much strength and resolve we have - as individuals and as a group.

IWD is simultaneously an embodiment and celebration of the work done by the women on whose shoulders we stand, and a representation of the work that is still to be done before we can say that we live in a truly equitable – and, consequently, thriving – world.

KROST

ALEXANDRA NOTT

Trade Mark

Attorney, DEHNS

TURNBULL

Senior Corporate Counsel, DMH Stallard

Whatever we do in life there are certain times or dates that cause us to reflect and think. International Women’s Day is one of those for me. IWD is a time to focus on women’s rights and roles. For 2023, for me that is raising awareness of creating a work environment where all people feel accepted and valued.

In 1942, Mary Golda Ross was our trailblazer, she was the first female engineer at Lockheed Martin. Today, many, many thousands of women at Lockheed Martin continue Mary’s legacy as engineers, scientists, mathematicians and other key roles that are pivotal to the success of our company.

An opportunity to meet like minded women and younger women on their way up and share advice; But most importantly to keep the agenda for women as high as possible as key participants in society throughout the world, at a time when we seem to be going backwards.

Area Director, Lloyds Bank

IWD to me is around achieving gender equality globally. The day is a chance for all genders to reflect on how far we’ve come to reaching this, and how much more we still need to do. We can use the other 364 days working hard to achieve it!

Founder, the Float Spa

IWD is a day to celebrate the progression of women, to highlight the incredible achievements of the women around me and raise awareness. IWD is a positive global movement with a very strong global message, easy to relate to and something that is inclusive.

DEBBIE CENAJ

ABIGAIL OWEN

ROSEMARY FRENCH OBE

EMLYN TAYLOR

Group Managing Director, Lockheed Martin UK

CAMILLE PIERSON

DONNA HOLLAND CEO, Rockinghorse Children’s Charity

For me it’s a celebration of the achievements of all women and a call-toaction for the work that still needs to be done. It’s a moment to come together, share progress and unite in action. It’s a reminder that barriers still exist, perceptions still need challenging and that the fight for equality isn’t over.

TRACIE DAVEY CEO, Worthing and Adur Chamber

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate and reflect on how far we have come! There is still so much more to be done but we are on the right track. Together women are definitely stronger. Let’s keep being brilliant, keep supporting each other and keep making a difference.

Partner, Kreston Reeves

I told some of my team that we were co-sponsoring an event for International Women’s Day and I was surprised by the response of “why isn’t there a day for men?” In some ways this is a valid comment - why should women be treated differently with their own special day? But that is exactly the point. They are not treated equally and this day reminds us all.

YAMINI RANGAN CEO, Hubspot

As an industry we are making progress, but we can’t lose momentum. Women in tech are still grossly underrepresented in leadership, even though femaleled organisations are proven to perform better than those lacking diversity. At HubSpot, we’re investing in leadership development programmes for women and mentorship opportunities, as well as ‘Returners’ programmes for women to get back into the workforce.

ADAMCZYK Chairman, Honeywell

Women are integral to our success. They are innovators, mentors, visionaries, philanthropists, and most of all – they are leaders. Name a future-shaping innovation Honeywell has pioneered over the last several decades, and I’ll show you women who helped make it possible. With strong support for and leadership from women, there is no limit to the success we can achieve.

DARIUS

ALISON JONES

Vice-Chancellor,

Men have to be involved in conversations around equality. They need to take responsibility for their own actions as individuals and consider how their teams, their organisations and their own approach could be more inclusive. Not to do so is to be part of the problem.

Chief Executive, Eastbourne unLtd Chamber of Commerce

International Men’s Day in November raises important social issues like men’s mental health and is celebrated in 80 countries. Women are coming from behind somewhat in that we are still striving for gender equality and pay parity, as well as working to improve our mental health and that of our sons, fathers and partners. To celebrate International Women’s Day, as a businesswoman, I like to bring partners together to overcome barriers to business and benefit the local economy and community as a whole. Networking and supporting other women in business is vital for the benefit of the whole community; working together makes all the difference.

JOHN MAY

CEO, John Deere Tractors

While it’s vital to recognise the achievements of women, these celebrations cannot serve as proof that we’ve reached our goal. Instead, they should serve as an inspiring reminder of how much further we must go to reach gender equality and how much more we will accomplish when we do.

JULIE KAPSALIS

Chair, Coast to Capital LEP

IWD is an opportunity to celebrate the success of women but also to recognise ongoing inequality. It is a reminder of the women who have inspired and helped me on my journey as well as a reminder to call out behaviours that still challenge and discriminate. Lastly it’s a chance to empower the next generation.

PROFESSOR EDWARD PECK

Nottingham Trent University

CHRISTINA EWBANK

RACHEL WATKYN CEO, Tiny Box Company

It’s 2023. We shouldn’t need women’s day. Surely we have equality? The sad truth is that only 35% of parliament are women. In 2022 the gender pay gap stood at 14.9% and 40% of women have experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in the workplace. IWD is an opportunity to instigate positive change.

EMMA LANE Head of Client Relations, Allica Bank

For me IWD is about women’s equality in all its forms. On a business front, whilst women account for 51% of the population but only 10% of the seats at the top table, we have to continue to focus on how we can make a difference and ensure lasting change.

LOUISE PARKES CEO, Great Ormond Street Hospital

As there is no place for bias in the treatment and care of the children and families who access support through Great Ormond Street Hospital, there is no place for it within GOSH Charity. We are committed to doing more than just adhering to our legislative obligations when it comes to addressing gender inequality. We believe that everyone, regardless of gender, has the right to live and flourish without fear or prejudice, and to feel respected and valued.

KIRSTY SADLER Deputy Head of Agriculture, Lloyds Bank

Women play a hugely important role in our rural communities and in UK agriculture, making up nearly 20% of farm owners. International women’s day provides a platform to celebrate their influence and success and inspire future generations of women to join this vital and thriving industry.

ALEX BAILEY CEO & Co-Founder, Bailey & French

IWD shines a light on all the amazing work happening across the world so people can embrace equity. It supports our mission to humanise the world of work now, and for future generations. When there is true equity, we will all feel valued, respected and celebrated for our unique contributions.

In-house law departments have a tremendous opportunity to #EmbraceEquity in the legal profession by exercising their “power of the purse” to promote diversity at the law firms they hire. To help in-house and law firm leaders #BreakTheBias, Burford Capital has expanded its award-winning Equity Project, a programme to improve diversity in Big Law through a $100 million capital pool earmarked to finance commercial litigation and arbitration led by female and racially diverse lawyers.

AVIVIA WILL

Chief Operating Officer, Burford Capital

Is marketing all just digital these days, or could there be a better way to attract, engage and win favour?

Better understanding of your customer, developing the right go-to market strategy, and embedding physical communications in a digital world could become your superpower.

By JARMILA YU, Founder & Consulting CMO, YUnique Marketing

THE DIGITAL DILEMMA

In today’s volatile, uncertain and challenging business world, we need our sales and marketing investments to work hard for us. But how do we know what we should be doing to get the right results? “It’s all just digital marketing now, isn’t it?” is a phrase I hear a lot. My answer to that is “No, not if you want to stand out.”

e pendulum may seem to have swung right over to 100% digital marketing, but I suggest the way to make yourself stand out, in order to get the all-important cut through and engagement to ultimately win favour with your target audience, is to take a strategic integrated marketing approach – and use digital only as part of the mix.

Physical communications have the ability to make a direct connection with our audience on a human and emotional level. Digital can give you reach and measurement. When the right direct and digital strategies are combined in the correct way, starting with, at its core, deep customer insight and built on a strong go-to-market strategy foundation, you’ll be set up for success.

Did you know that “90% of human decisions are made based on emotions?”* Humans may use logic to justify their actions to themselves and others, but feelings have a huge importance in driving decision making and behaviour.

Whilst digital marketing can be a relatively a ordable option to allow you to access audiences far and wide, don’t underestimate the value of touch and physical interaction –between the customer and the business. Depending on your business, the options for ‘touch’ and ‘physicality’ will vary; what’s important is that you don’t overlook the opportunity to build these options into your brand to develop meaningful emotional connections between you and your audience.

In considering what you should be doing, we need to remember also that our customers:

• Are su ering from information overload and have a short attention span.

• Are craving human interaction and like to buy from people and businesses who are ‘real’ and ‘tangible’.

• Have preferences for what, when, where, how and why they consume content.

Did

Arthur Lefford

Adding direct mail or door drops to your marketing mix can increase your ROI by as much as 12%

you know that 90% of human decisions are made based on emotions?

All these facts indicate a need to take a step back, re ect and set the marketing strategy right – one where taking an integrated marketing approach can inform the right messaging development, content creation and individual direct and digital “connected” strategies and tactics.

Let’s talk about direct mail; for most of us a thing of the past, replaced by email. But today, who has time to sift through their unsolicited email inbox? And it’s potentially costly if you’re not getting results or, worse still, you’re making people unsubscribe from your database if they feel spammed.

But won’t integrated cost more because it involves more e ort? Not necessarily. In fact the business case for integrated marketing campaigns is extremely convincing. Who would not want a higher return on investment and improved customer experience and satisfaction?

For instance, adding direct mail or door drops to your marketing mix can increase your ROI by as much as 12%.**

In a B2B environment it can take ve to seven touches before your brand is remembered, let alone someone taking a positive step to interact with you. You can’t have all of those being email.

When text and video are presented on the same page, 72% of people prefer to learn about a product or service from a video.†

We all know that video is a top performing creative medium, but do we all know the multitude of assets where it can be shared from?

THREE TIPS

1Take a piece of content and reuse it in a different creative, innovative, ingenious way; repurpose it for different channels print and online; and recycle it for different audiences.

2 Add direct mail to your digital efforts for an uplift in awareness and engagement; follow up a digital download with print.

3 Use video to bring your team, products or services to life and deliver it in original ways, not just via email links.

YOUR BUSINESS CASE CHECKLIST FOR INTEGRATED MARKETING

n Best practice marketing aligns campaigns to customers and the buyer journey.

n Persona based campaigns/content drives customer focus and greater results.

n Drive the dialogue, own the customer.

n Increase quality and quantity of leads.

n Deliver a better customer experience.

I trust reading this you’re inspired to consider your marketing with a fresh perspective, and how taking an integrated marketing approach in the digital age can help you deliver a greater customer experience to ultimately help you attract, engage and win better business.

* Arthur Le ord

** Royal Mail MarketReach

† Survey the State of Video Marketing

To assess how well integrated your current marketing is, why not take our complimentary Marketing Performance Scorecard?

www.yuniquemarketing.com/scorecard

E: jarmila.yu@yuniquemarketing.com

With increased awareness about the importance of financial well-being, SAMANTHA KAYE from Her Wealth at Wellesley discusses the benefits of adding a financial adviser to your support network

CIRCLE OF SUPPORT

Your close-knit network is made up of the trusted people who support and empower you, and make your life more ful lling. Perhaps it includes family members and close friends as well as a business partner, tness coach or therapist. But how about a nancial adviser? Here are three attributes that make an adviser a great addition to your inner circle.

COMPOSURE

While we women are pros at juggling di erent responsibilities, if you can outsource some of the worry about money matters to a trusted expert, that’s one less thing to think about.

An experienced nancial adviser provides the support and stability required to ensure your nancial plans are acted on. We can also help to remove some of the mental load that comes with things such as planning for retirement, meeting tax deadlines or optimising your investment performance. In the last issue, I talked about why tax planning is more important than ever this year. An adviser can help you check you’ve made the most of your allowances before April 5th 2023.

REASSURANCE

ere are many advantages to having a seasoned professional helping to keep an eye on your nancial a airs. We o er practical, clear advice, as well as calming any nerves that arise from global events – from Covid to the cost-of-living crisis.

We can also give you back the luxury of time, as well as peace of mind, and security that an expert is keeping a watchful eye on your nances – even when it’s the furthest thing from your mind!

Financial advisers come from all walks of life, too – they might be a parent or have elderly relatives to care for and will understand the challenges you face.

Financial advice is collaborative –as advisers, we’re here to support you in making your own choices

Does your power team include a fi nancial adviser?

EMPOWERMENT

Financial advice is collaborative – as advisers, we’re here to support you in making your own choices. By becoming your con dante and having a close bond, we develop a deep understanding of your future goals. We can anticipate your wants and needs, have a like-minded view, and set goals that are tailored to you as an individual.

e adviser–client relationship is designed to be a longterm one, and people often nd that their adviser comes to feel like a member of the family, sitting around the kitchen table as a trusted source of personalised information who knows their situation well, guides them on key decisions and gives them the momentum to keep on top of everything.

POWER TO YOU

A good nancial adviser will get to know you as well as your friends do, bringing a level of tailored specialist support you simply can’t get from anyone else in your network. If you don’t yet have a nancial adviser in your power team, now’s the time to seek one out. Contact me today to arrange a no-obligation chat.

Samantha Kaye Chartered Adviser, Wellesley

E: samantha.kaye@sjpp.co.uk

www.wellesleywa.co.uk

e value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

e levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time. e value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.

St. James’s Place guarantees the suitability of advice o ered by Wellesley when recommending any of the services and products available from companies in the Group. More details of the Guarantee are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

Wellesley is a trading name of Wellesley Investment Management Ltd. e Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/about-st-james-place/our-business/ our-products-andservices. e ‘St. James’s Place partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. Wellesley Investment Management Ltd: Registered O ce: 44 e Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, TN2 5TN. Registered in England & Wales, Company No. 06530147.

A good fi nancial adviser will get to know you as well as your friends do

In our exclusive Spotlight feature, we highlight women who are doing good things in their community. They’re not always seen but we think they should be.

SP OTLIGH T

Joanna Hunter

Piglet’s Pantry was formed in 2010 as a small retail bakery outlet in Shoreham-by-Sea. It wasn’t started with a particular vision or goal; just to give founder Joanna Hunter a business and a salary to live on.

13 years and four premises later, the company is now a multi award-winning catering company selling mostly to over 370 sporting venues across the UK. Joanna spoke to Dynamic’s ALAN WARES about her journey so far

e rst thing you notice when you pull up outside Piglet’s Pantry’s factory in Worthing is the aroma. Don’t ever go there while hungry – the smell of freshly baked pastry, along with whatever lling is being prepared at the time, will send you dizzy.

is is Piglet’s fourth premises, and each one considerably larger than the previous one. Jo greets me in the reception area which has doubled for something it looks exactly like –a television kitchen set. It’s daubed in pink; all as a nod to the cartoon colour of piglets.

Jo tells her story. “It was in February 2011; Piglet’s had been launched six months earlier, and I had taken my sons to the new stadium at Falmer to buy their season tickets.

e Operations Director at Brighton & Hove Albion was walking around, and I asked just one question – ‘does “Community Stadium” mean you’ll be using people in the community to supply goods?’ I wasn’t actually thinking to pitch anything to them. I was actually genuinely interested.

“ ey had had a very large pie competitor in the day before but he had put them in the bin and he said they were awful.” Jo o ers a huge grin at that point. She was invited to pitch for the pie concession, having been told that she would need to make 2,500 pies per game. Upon mentioning that gure, she o ers another knowing grin, probably on the back of what we all know now.

Long story, short – she beat all-comers, won the concession, and her pies were an immediate hit. On the day of the stadium’s rst match, all pies were sold out in 15 minutes; 2,500 pies across 27 kiosks - all gone. Ultimately, after six weeks – or four matches – the pie order had gone up to 10,000. is was a major problem. Piglet’s had been using space

at the stadium to make the pies, and now they were being ejected because they were taking up too much room. New premises had to be found - and fast.

“I was given a tip by someone at the University of Brighton about some premises in Worthing,” says Jo. “From e ectively being made homeless, I had to set up a new kitchen, acquire equipment, make 10,000 pies and ful l that order all in one week. I literally didn’t sleep for three days. Others brought in sleeping bags just to get the order out.”

Standard business practice would probably dictate that going from nothing to 10,000 pies in no time at all isn’t the best business model. “It was so poor from my point of view. We had no infrastructure, no investment, no cash. I took out a personal loan with Lloyds. My bank manager back then was very helpful; though it’s the only time the banks have helped me.” Jo remembers.

“I can’t stress enough how having local networks has helped me. I have a nancial advisor, who has found me pockets of investment here and there over the years. ese days, I am a lot more experienced. Back then, I had to learn very quickly about the idea of knowing what I didn’t know. Without that network, I’d have failed.”

e order was ful lled, and - give or take the usual potholes along any business’ way – Piglet’s has since grown into a company employing over 100 full-time sta , and six permanent delivery drivers. e pies, sausage rolls and other

Where it all started. Piglet’s has sold in the region of two million pies since the Amex stadium opened in 2011

pastries have won multiple awards across the catering and sports industries.

When it comes to talking about a woman owning her own company in two heavily male-dominated industries - catering and football – Jo is fairly ambivalent, almost to the point of shrugging her shoulders.

“Luckily, females have more presece now. It’s good to see that there has been a change, but it’s taken years. I’ve always been in a male-dominated world. I was one female chef in a kitchen of 20 men. When I did my catering management apprenticeship, you were shouted out, things got thrown across the kitchen, you ducked…

“Within football, I learned that you surround yourself with good people. Always employ people who are smarter than you are. So if you don’t know enough about the nance, or sales, or whatever, go and nd somebody smarter than you, and you make sure that they can deliver for you.”

e ambivalence is an attitude she takes forward for International Women’s Day. “People send me good messages and say, ‘you’re an amazing woman in business’, etc, which is lovely. And I’m very grateful to all those people.

“But I do wish we didn’t have to do it,” she opines. “Yes, I am a businesswoman; a very proud business owner. But I just happen to be in business, and a woman – and it shouldn’t matter that I am a woman.”

When pushed, Jo sees herself as a disruptor, and her explanation for this self-appraisal makes sense. “We weren’t taken seriously at rst, which has allowed us to get on with what we do best. We’re now in 14 Premier League clubs (out of 20), and to have done that, in the manner that we have, is a rst. We changed the model within football.”

www.pigletspantry.co.uk

Piglet’s has since grown into a company employing over 100 full-time staff, and six permanent delivery drivers

Piget’s best-selling product –the Steak & Ale pie

Piglet’s has teamed up with Ridgeview to present its luxury picnic hamper

Piglet’s Pantry founder Joanna Hunter presents her award-winning sausage rolls

Karen Davis

Flying the flag for midlife women

Karen Davis is an Amazon No.1 best-selling author and founder of an award-winning beauty subscription box for women over 40. She’s touring major cities in the UK on her 1970s Raleigh Chopper bike (now painted bright pink) to help raise awareness of ageism towards middle-aged women.

At the age of 60, Karen understands that the bike might be a little ridiculous but says, “I think anyone who grew up in the 1970s like me will nd it both nostalgic and amusing – we can’t always take ourselves seriously!” Karen’s background is that of a beauty PR before moving into creating reader offers for the national press. In 2019, she launched her beauty subscription box TOYL (Time of Your Life) speci cally for midlife women.

e subject of midlife is one close to Karen’s heart. When she was in her 40s, the menopause was rarely discussed and many midlife women were made to feel they were ‘over the hill’. Karen went on to say, “In fact, midlife is a time when many women make major changes to their lives and, while there’s a lot of talk about the menopause, it’s not necessarily the de ning issue for us which is why TOYL Isn’t just about beauty, it’s about a community of midlife women supporting each other.”

Midlife women are the fastest growing demographic in the world, soon to be the largest demographic in the world yet Karen tells us that when you dive deeper into the statistics around older women, ageism does seem alive and well. She quotes as just one example that, although 36% of women in the UK are aged over 50, only 23% on TV are above this age.*

“Midlife women have an enormous amount to o er both in terms of wisdom, experience and common sense, we just need more opportunities to do this,” she said.

e TOYL Tour hits Brighton on March 25th and Southampton on April 1st, and while in town Karen is hosting an event at the Leonardo Royal Hotel for women to meet and chat about their lives during these years.

To nd out more about the TOYL Tour and dates visit www.toyl.co.uk/pages/ welcome-to-the-toyl-tour-2023 www.toyl.co.uk

www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/19/ men-tv-women-channel-4-study

The subject of midlife is one close to Karen’s heart. When she was in her 40s, the menopause was rarely discussed…”

Emma Inch

Emma Inch is an award-winning beer writer based in Brighton. She has been writing about beer and brewing for 10 years, and is part of the current crop of highly-respected female brewing writers.

She talks to Dynamic Magazine about her passion for the hop…

Can you start by letting us know how you got into beer writing?

I’ve always loved beer and writing so it was only logical that I found a way to bring the two together. When the modern ‘craft’ beer scene was just beginning to explode, I saw an opening for what became the UK’s rst beer show, on Brighton’s Radio Reverb. It was very successful and everything else went from there!

You’ve won several beer writing awards. Tell us about them.

I’ve won a few awards in both the UK and the USA but what I’m most proud of is being named the 2018 British Beer Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.

Brewing and beer has, for a long time, been seen as a mostly male pastime. But that hasn’t historically always been the case, has it?

Exactly. Women were the original brewers and, since the very rst civilisations, brewing was considered a domestic chore that women carried out alongside the cooking. It was only with the industrialisation of brewing that men took over production. Even the ancient goddesses of beer such as Ninkasi, Dea Latis and Hathor, are all portrayed as female entities.

How do you see the role of women within brewing – and beer writing – progressing?

ere is a growing number of female beer writers in the UK, and many are producing wonderfully creative, challenging and interesting work. It’s good to see the world of beer writing slowly evolving.

Like many industries, beer had its own ‘me too’ style reckoning, during which a number of women have spoken out to challenge the sexism (and worse) that exist in parts of the industry. More progress is still needed but I hope things are moving in the right direction. One great initiative is the International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day which takes place on March 8th every year and brings together women from all parts of the beer industry to network and brew alongside each other.

https://fermentationonline.com

EMMA’S TOP FIVE BEERS

These obviously change on an almost daily basis but I’ll give it a go…!

ANSPACH & HOBDAY

The Porter (6.7%) A true beer of London, all roasty and bitter (try their London Black – a nitro porter –it’s also an absolute cracker!

DARK STAR

Hophead (3.8%) The perfect pint for a sunny afternoon in a beer garden.

ELUSIVE

Oregon Trail (5.8%) An old-school style West Coast IPA with a finish as bitter as my heart.

HARVEY’S

Sussex Best (4%) A beer with so many layers of flavour you can lose yourself in it. I’m very lucky to live only a few miles from the brewery!

LITTLE EARTH PROJECT

Hedgerow Blend (4-6%) A barrel-aged sour beer produced once a year using foraged wild hops and fruits. As good as a trip to the countryside!

Women were the original brewers and, since the very fi rst civilisations, brewing was considered a domestic chore that women carried out alongside the cooking

There is no doubt that the topic of menopause is firmly out in the open; TV programmes, magazine articles and social media posts flood our screens and inboxes on a daily basis with tips and tricks for ‘managing’ the menopause.

By TANYA BOROWSKI

Perimenopause a very different ‘beast’ than menopause

ere is however, a vast di erence between the two life phases of menopause and perimenopause, and ‘treatment’ approaches need to honour these di erences, rather than apply a one-size- ts-all approach.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE?

Perimenopause can be described as the time of a woman’s second puberty. Hormones are beginning to change from the regular rhythms of our 20s 30s and early 40s, mirroring our rst puberty where hormones are just starting out. By our late teens, they settle into a pattern that we recognise as a menstrual cycle.

e life phase of perimenopause is the two to ten years before the nal period. By contrast, the graduation into the menopause life phase begins one year after a woman’s nal period.

e normal (yes, normal) age for the nal period is anywhere from 45 to 55, so the normal age for perimenopause is up to ten years before that; as young as 35. at’s why this popular narrative of ‘women are living longer’ and thereby experiencing more menopausal symptoms, is awed. Perimenopause is not about ageing but is instead about an important (and unavoidable) recalibration of the female hormonal system.

WHAT ARE THE HORMONAL CHANGES OF PERIMENOPAUSE?

As we can see in the image, in the early phases of perimenopause, the biggest change is lower progesterone. It takes a nosedive, where oestrogen (oestradiol) remains high. is plummeting progesterone is what contributes to feelings of anxiety, breast pain, heart palpitations, frequent migraines, more heavy periods (progesterone helps to lighten the period ow) and being overwhelmed.

At the same time that progesterone drops away, oestrogen spikes up to three times above normal levels which contributes to irritable mood, breast pain and the heavier periods (as there isn’t su cient progesterone around to counterbalance these oestrogen spikes).

Hot ushes are mostly associated with the withdrawal of these oestrogen spikes. Progesterone and oestrogen levels out during perimenopause. e fact that perimenopausal symptoms stem largely from losing progesterone, rather than oestrogen, is why the former is a more sensible therapy. is is especially helpful in the early phases of perimenopause, together with some highly e ective food supplements that can target these mechanisms and help alleviate symptoms.

In 2023 we surely have to move away from a blanket approach to women’s health that has plagued the medical system for too long

THE TIMING OF MENOPAUSE

All women are genetically programmed to graduate into menopause at approximately the age your mother did. If that happened to be on the younger chronological end of normal (mid-40s), it does not mean you’re ageing more rapidly than your friends, it’s a natural – normal recalibration.

If you enter menopause before 40, this is a medical condition of premature menopause or primary ovarian insu ciency.

CAN I GET A DIAGNOSIS OF PERIMENOPAUSE?

Menopause (including early menopause) can be diagnosed by two separate high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) readings (more than 40 IU/L) at least a month apart.

Perimenopause cannot be diagnosed by FSH or any other lab test. Instead, it’s best assessed based on age and symptoms. A midlife woman with regular cycles is likely to be in perimenopause if she notices any three of the following nine changes:

• new-onset of heavy and/or longer ow

• menstrual cycles become shorter (<26 days)

• new sore, swollen or lumpy breasts

• new mid-sleep waking

• increased menstrual cramps

• premenstrual night sweats

• new or markedly increased migraine headaches

• new or increased premenstrual mood swings

• weight gain without changes in exercise or eating.

In other words, if you’re older than 37 and have at least three symptoms on this list, you’re likely to be entering second puberty - perimenopause.

e recent decision by the government to reject the proposal made by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee for mandatory menopause education for GPs is disappointing at best.

Having access to a women’s health literate GP / health care provider who understands and is interested in these important hormonal nuances is every woman’s right.

In 2023 we surely have to move away from a blanket approach to women’s health that has plagued the medical system for too long. Simply turning o hormones with a prescription of the oral contraceptive pill or replacing them with HRT is not good enough. e time for a more sophisticated and bespoke approach to the dance of these beautiful hormones and life phases is well and truly here!

In health Tanya x

All women are genetically programmed to graduate into menopause at approximately the age your mother did

Tanya Borowski is a holistic health practitioner. www.tanyaborowski.com

● Oestradiol n Progesterone

Introducing Anna Eliatamby – clinical psychologist and workplace well-being expert who has helped the United Nations and global organisations develop mental health and well-being strategies and tackle toxic behaviours in the workplace. Anna has just published the new Decency Journey Series of pocketbooks to help people flourish in their careers and workplaces.

FURTHER READING…

Anna shares how to spot toxic behaviours, and how to create psychologically safe environments in the workplace

We know toxicity and we recognise it damages those who are targeted, the organisational culture and productivity. Most of us, as women, have experienced toxicity. Unfortunately, a few of us have used these behaviour, and the long-standing evidence tells us that none of this is new and has been going on for years. What can we do?

NOTICE, ACKNOWLEDGE AND NAME TOXICITY WHEN WE ENCOUNTER IT

It is di cult to identify people who use these behaviours as they are often adept at not using them in public settings. ey utilise actions that are low intensity, e.g., negative comments or withholding resources, but at high levels of frequency and so the impact is massive. If they are going to discriminate against someone’s di erence, they are more likely to use negative behaviours indirectly. Spotting these actions will be easier if we make e orts to ensure sta feel they can come to managers to talk about any concerns they may have.

An indirect e ect of toxicity is high sta turnover and sickness rates, especially if the medical certi cate shows that stress is the reason. Huge numbers of sta resigned during Covid and afterwards. e main reason they cited was toxicity.

It is worth looking at patterns of sickness and turnover, bearing in mind the need for con dentiality and respect for privacy. Other HR data sources, such as appraisal systems, are rarely used to address negative behaviours. erefore, they may not provide much helpful information.

Other signs will be cliques, especially if there is mobbing. You are unlikely to see relaxed communication and friendliness. You may notice a lack of compassion, respect or decency. Some people will keep quiet and just go about their work. Limited creativity will exist.

ere could be an atmosphere of intimidation with subservience to certain individuals. Especially if they have used threats to assert their power. “Well, you know your appraisal is next month and your contract renewal depends on it.”

You can notice these subtler signs by paying extra attention to the culture and the non-verbal and verbal behaviours. Stepping outside your o ce and talking to sta can help you understand the di erent aspects of the culture.

Another very important sign of toxicity is the leader’s reluctance to even acknowledge it if you bring it to their attention. ey may delegate, knowing that others will not address it. Or say that the latest ndings on toxicity are awful, even arrange meetings to discuss the research but then not take any further action.

We all have positive and negative behaviours. Most times, we work from our golden side and not the shadow

CREATING A PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Change is always easier if leaders show their willingness to adjust. Promoting psychological safety begins with you. We all have positive and negative behaviours. Most times, we work from our golden side and not the shadow. Carrying out a self-exploration of your leadership style will help you see if it promotes safety or not. ink about what you need to keep and what you need to let go of. Ask other leaders to do the same in a safe and challenging manner. is will facilitate others’ desire for change. Sustain all the exploration and planned change post re ection.

ink of how you will introduce collective accountability where ethics and values guide, where praise is normal. And where you handle negativity, collectively both publicly and sensitively. Do this through building trust. en people will name and work together to tackle any toxicity.

Help people to understand that those who use these behaviours will also need help even if they are reluctant.

ey are unlikely to have been given support to adjust and change. e targeted individuals will also need assistance to recover. All of this takes time.

True respect for di erence and how people want to live their di erence is important. Now people are more willing to be open and discuss diversity, but we should not see them as token experts. True inclusion enhances psychological well-being and safety.

An internal justice system helps mediation, reporting, investigation, access to legal services, counselling and welfare. Review all HR policies and take steps to ensure that there is fair use of them.

Leadership needs to be courageous enough to address all the suggestions above. Only then will toxicity diminish, and psychological safety embedded. If not, we will continue to let sta su er the pain of negativity. No-one will bene t from this.

Anna Eliatamby is Director of Healthy Leadership, CIC and co-author, with Blueprintforall of the Decency Journey pocketbook series.

Published by Healthy Leadership, 2022.

Change is always easier if leaders show their willingness to adjust

The artworks of Jemma Gowland.

By KELLIE MILLER

ART SCENE

Things I must not say or do

When we rst encounter Jemma Gowland’s artworks, we are drawn to their delicate and beautiful appearance. ese small to medium-scaled sculptures echo the gurines adorning the shelves of your grandmother’s house –inviting and collectable gures that cheer any home. On closer inspection, though, these sculptures speak of loss, introspection and fragility.

Jemma uses porcelain to produce her works. It naturally depicts purity and vulnerability and a preciousness worth protecting and holding.

Her pieces carry symbolic messages on the theme of the loss of childhood and social pressure. Jemma is interested in how the internet, technology and social media shape society and our children. Some of her pieces show children interacting with tech gadgets such iPads, mobile phones, and USB sticks.

Why do many of her characters wear a mask with a missing eye? Here she is saying that to play the part of a good girl, you must hide your intrinsic nature. One eye open and the other closed represents the contradiction of outward comparisons of appearances while simultaneously looking inwards to be self-critical.

British artist Jemma Gowland originally studied for a BSc in Engineering Product Design and worked in industrial design and architectural model-making before becoming a teacher of Design and Technology. With experience using an extensive range of materials for various purposes, ceramics became her abiding interest.

Jemma’s sculptures are highly collectable and can be viewed at Kellie Miller Arts, 20 Market Street, Brighton. BN1 1HH. www.kelliemillerarts.com

Kellie Miller is an artist, curator, critic and gallery owner.

Her pieces carry symbolic messages on the theme of the loss of childhood and social pressure

Birdsong

Party Dress

From the moment we are born, gender can dictate our future. Individual figures show the young child dressed for display, as a plaything for adults, an entertainment and ornament. Looks and behaviours are already prescribed. Stand up straight, smile nicely, say please Jemma Gowland

Why shouldeveryone travel solo AT LEAST ONCE

BY TESS DE KLERK

Istill recall my rst extended solo adventure; it was a very youthful me, myself and my ridiculously oversized backpack travelling by public transport from cosmopolitan Istanbul to southern Turkey and back. And by public transport, I mean various ancient, wrecked busses and occasional lifts from willing locals on, mostly, mopeds. is epic journey took just under two months and left me forever a devotee of the mind-expanding practice of solo travel.

Travelling with others, be it friends, family or colleagues all have their advantages, of course. at said, travelling by myself has o ered me some of the best experiences and opportunities for personal growth, and I want to encourage everyone to try it, at least once. So, the next time you’re inspired by some fantastic destination but can’t nd a travel companion, do yourself a favour – consider the following and book that trip!

THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM

is is probably one of the biggest reasons people like to travel solo; not to have any restrictions on one’s route, destination or timescale. Who has never had an argument with their travelling partner because you have di erent opinions on how to ll in your travel itinerary? Travelling solo means doing whatever you want, whenever you want and on a budget that you feel comfortable with.

MEETING PEOPLE YOU OTHERWISE WOULDN’T HAVE ink about it. ere’s a small group of friends or a couple at the next table. ey look like they’re close and having fun. How likely are you to join them? Or there’s a solo traveller propped up at the bar lea ng through a guide, occasionally looking up and chatting to the barman. More approachable? I also nd that local people are more likely to invite me to join them or visit their homes when I’m travelling sans partner. And I don’t think it’s out of pity or some nefarious intentions. No, one person is simply less daunting than a group.

Solo trips are a fantastic way to encourage resourcefulness and build self-confidence

YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO DO RANDOM, ENRICHING THINGS

Going back to my Turkey trip, for example, had I been travelling with some friends, particularly male friends, the o er of doing belly dancing would have been summarily rejected. However, as I was able to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, I belly danced (badly) the night away with people I would never normally meet – and had the best time doing it.

LOTS OF ME-TIME

Travelling independently makes it easy to cancel that activity if you’d rather sleep in. Or catch up on that Net ix series that no-one else seems to like; feast on books, meditate, or whatever ‘me-time’ means to you.

A GREAT WAY TO REMIND YOURSELF HOW CAPABLE YOU ARE

Even if you’re feeling apprehensive at rst, solo trips are a fantastic way to encourage resourcefulness and build self-con dence to take on the world. You’re near-guaranteed to return from your trip feeling more self-assured and empowered.

+ Super safe countries for newbie solo female travellers

FINLAND ICELAND JAPAN

NEW ZEALAND SINGAPORE BALI

AND A FEW DOWNSIDES TO SOLO TRAVEL…

Surely the main downside is that there is no-one special to share and remember those moments with, at least not someone you’ll be going back home with (well, who knows…?). You’ll have far fewer photos of yourself in amazing places; it’s unlikely that there will be someone to take care of you if you fall ill and, particularly as a female, you may get more unwanted attention than you would as part of a couple.

Regarding the unwanted attention from weirdos, keep these tips in mind to keep yourself safe:

• Don’t be afraid to say no, ASSERTIVELY. We can be so concerned with being polite that we may come across as timid. Remember that you’re travelling solo and don’t owe anyone anything.

• If you feel uncomfortable, just don’t be there any longer. Make your excuses and leave, you don’t have to explain why.

• Some destinations are safer than others, but as a general rule, avoid making yourself an easy target. When walking down the street, especially late at night, look like you know where you’re going and what you’re doing.

• Depending on your destination, it may be a good idea to leave the bling at home to avoid making yourself a shiny target.

• If you’re travelling to a conservative country, bring clothing that will allow you to blend in. Be mindful of the culture and traditions of the country so that you don’t attract unwanted attention.

As ever, the expectation in the name of a car conjures up an unconscious vision in advance as to what it might be like.

By FIONA SHAFER, Managing Director MD HUB

VW T–ROC The quiet ROC Star?

The T from T-Roc is shared with the rst letter of the other VW SUVs and the Roc, derives from the English word Rock. e model now sits between the Taigo and the Tiguan in the nine-strong line SUV family, with more models in the pipeline.

It apparently ‘combines dominance of an SUV with the agility of a compact hatchback model and the dynamism of the compact class.’ Let’s just say it as it is. is car feels as solid as a rock most of the time.

Hopping into the VW T-Roc immediately after a few days’ power experience in the Audi TTRS was like going back in time. Well, it was like going back in VW time to be exact, to another age when the shutting of their car doors were imperceptible (one of my top car tests of build quality), and you immediately knew what you were doing. How quaint in this day and age…

It’s a manual car with an original lift-for-reverse gear stick (not ‘Manuel knob’ as my late Grandmother accidentally called it). It also has a real key that you put in a key hole, and runs on petrol.

My immediate thought was that this would make a great car for grandparents who want a no-fuss, easy-to-drive car that is easy to get in and out of (sorry but it comes to us all and I am just trying to help), will host a row of small people very securely with ISOFIX ttings in the back, and is not going to burn rubber any time soon.

With its one-litre engine, it is a good car for calmly pootling about in. e six-speed gear box is a little like a bag of spanners, and not as smooth a change over as I would have expected. However, once I got used to it, it was good enough. You need to press the clutch down hard for a decent change (I did say it was like going back in time).

You can also see what you are doing in more ways than one before you even get into it in the dark. A slightly bizarre illuminated prison-like grill, the size of a man hole cover appears by the side of the front doors to light your way. How polite and courteous – and very German…

Just don’t say, ‘I’m a grandparent, get me out of here…’

I showed a colleague (40-ish) around it without sharing any of my initial thoughts and they said, “ is would be great for mum and dad…” Enough said.

If you just want to get from A to B as safely and as economically as possible without any aggravation (or excitement), but with a plethora of easy to access technology for all the family, this is well worth the investment.

My immediate thought was that this would make a great car for grandparents who want a no-fuss, easy-to-drive car

POSITIVES

• It is deliciously uncomplicated for a new car

• Super easy phone pairing - combining the functionality of Apple Car Play, Google Android Auto and Mirror link, allowing ‘mirroring’ of the smartphone display on the infotainment touch screen.

• The Ready 2 Discover Media Infotainment is one of the easiest ever to operate and understand; DAB Radio, SMS functionality when stationary, six speakers front and rear and streaming internet-based service to name just a few of the services available. It does not have the greatest sound quality (for a massive music fan like me) but it is good enough for the Archers, Saturday afternoon football scores and the cricket

• 2x USB charging points in both front and back.

• Lots of car seat attachments to hang things on.

• A huge boot with a handy lip on either side to pop it up on and wait for it…. a full-size spare tyre.

TECH STUFF

MODEL TESTED: T-Roc 1-litre TSI

ENGINE: 1-lite turbocharged

POWER: 110 bhp SPEED: 0-62 in 10.8 seconds

TOP: 115 mph ECONOMY: 47.1 mpg

PRICE FROM: £26,210 AS TESTED: £28,165

NEGATIVES

• Ridiculously hot heated seats (you might need to re-position your HRT patch otherwise you might have a permanent tattoo during this period in your life).

• Very little leg room in the back.

• Rear windscreen wiper has limited movement and rubs the window slightly.

• Some of the design ergonomics are quite narrow in the door

• Central console not ideal for water bottles and the plethora of stuff we now appear to carry with us these days.

A good solid

8/10

Just don’t say, I’m a grandparent, get me out of here

DYNAMIC

DYNAMIC

CHEESE AND WINE PAIRING EXPERIENCE AT DENBIE’S

Dorking

During the visit to locally-made Norbury Blue, you will learn about the cheese making process and experience firsthand, the opportunity to make cheese in the traditional way. Return to Denbies for a two course lunch. Denbies WSET wine expert will host your afternoon which will include instruction on wine styles, wine, and cheese pairing. The afternoon will conclude with a fun blind wine and cheese tasting. Your ticket includes all refreshments.

Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking

March 23rd / May 18th

www.denbies.co.uk

WHAT’S ON...

A brief snapshot of art and culture in Sussex and Surrey

EXHIBITION: BRICK BY BRICK

Hastings

The Brick by Brick exhibition gathers the work of 14 artists, designers and photographers from around the world who use LEGO® bricks as their medium or inspiration. Using this simple plastic construction block as their starting point, they have created stunning, thought provoking and often humorous artworks which will appeal to art enthusiasts and LEGO® fans alike.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery

April 1st - June 18th

www.hmag.org.uk/half-term-fun

EXHIBITION: THE BEACHY HEAD STORY

Eastbourne

The coastline around Beachy Head has forever presented challenges to mariners, and thwarted man’s urge to conquer the land in building on the edges of the chalk white cliffs. The clamorous waves repeatedly steal back the land, sometimes violently, sometimes with a calm stealth.

Ceramicist Julie Snowball, with ceramicist and glass artist Dr Anthony McIntosh, explore this monumental landscape in response to the physicality, temporality, archaeology, and social history of the site.

The Beachy Head pub, Nr Eastbourne

Until March 26th

www.visitsoutheastengland.com /events/tidelines-rock-pools-anamnesisexhibition-at-the-beachy-head-story-p2135441

THE GO! TEAM

Brighton

The Go! Team are a combined indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks, double Dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars. Their songs are a mix of live instrumentation and samples. The band’s vocals vary between performances: while live vocals are handled mostly by Ninja (with Tsuchida and Fukami-Taylor also singing some solos), vocals on record also feature sampled and guest voices.

Chalk, Pool Valley, Brighton

April 1st

www.thegoteam.co.uk

FOREST BATHING

Ardingly

Reconnect with nature and unwind from the stresses of everyday life at one of our forest bathing workshop. Based on the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing allows you to slow down as you immerse yourself in the environment. Swedish workshop leader Helena Skoog will show you how to use all your senses to connect with your surroundings, drawing on the power of nature to relieve tension, relax and nourish your sense of wellbeing.

Wakehurst Place, Nr Ardingly April 8th

www.kew.org/wakehurst

SPRING BIRDWATCH

Selsey

Whilst many of the wintering birds are still present throughout the spring and autumn period, the movement of many other birds at this time of year increases the diversity of the birdlife around the Reserve. As the spring progresses, the main interest is the plants that are starting to flower. You will notice the woodland flowers found around the hedgerows, the main species being primroses and snowdrops.

RSPB Pagham Harbour

Local Nature Reserve, Nr Selsey

All through March

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events

SELECTED SUSSEX AND SURREY COMEDY CLUBS

Barnstormers Comedy Capitol Theatre, North Street, Horsham

www.thecapitolhorsham.com

Comedy Cottage

The Harlequin Theatre, Redhill www.harlequintheatre.co.uk

Cool-Aid Comedy

New Material Comedy Night

Caroline Of Brunswick, 39 Ditchling Road, Brighton www.carolineofbrunswick.co.uk

Crawley Comedy Night:

The Grasshopper

The Hoppers, Ashdown Drive, Crawley www.thegrasshoppertilgate.co.uk/ news-offers-events

Electric Comedy Club

The Electric Arcade, Beneath Brighton Zip, Lower Promenade, Brighton www.electric-arcade.co.uk

Gag House Comedy Clubs

• Camberley Heath Golf Club, Camberley

• Godalming Borough Hall, Godalming

• The Compton Club, Spiceall, Compton

• The Star Inn, Guildford

www.gaghousecomedy.com

Komedia

Gardner Street, Brighton

www.komedia.co.uk

Outside The Box

56 Old London Road, Kingston-upon-Thames

www.outsidetheboxcomedy.co.uk

Screaming Blue Murder

Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, Dorking

www.screamingbluemurdercomedy.com

Secret Comedy Club

Artista Cafe & Gallery, 42 Waterloo Street, Hove

www.thesecretcomedyclub.com