(c)Women in Trade Magazine | N0.6 Summer 2015 Food & Drink Issue

(c) SUMMER EDITION 2015 - FOOD & DRINK ISSUE

The First Tradeswomen-Focused Magazine in the UK womenintradeuk.co.uk

Summer Edition 2015 Food & Drink Issue

EAT CLEAN with Emmy Nominated TV Chef & Food Writer

First Female Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay Group’s Savoy Grill

DRINKS THAT brighten you up

3 REASONS TO LOVE CELEBRITY CHEF

Summer celebrates WOMEN in…

What makes The Food and Drink Lesley glow?

Industry. Also in horticulture, aviation, “Exercise is my nutrition, travel, drug of choice; psychology, woodworking give me those endorphins any and blacksmithing. day of the week.”

3 Reasons to Love Lesley on Page 22

Celebrity Chef

LESLEY

Waters Page 22

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Our Contributors Dr. Sarah Schenker (UK) is a For smart inventive women Founder & Editor-in-Chief Janet Kirlew PA to the Editor-in-Chief Aimee Smith Wellbeing and Beauty Editor Elizabeth Rae Marketing Manager Primrose Archer

qualified registered Dietitian and Nutritionist and regularly contributes to titles as diverse as The Daily Mail, Reveal and Glamour magazine, as well as appearing on and consulting for shows including Fat Club, Watchdog and across BBC Radio. She has a BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Dietetics, PhD in Nutrition, Accreditation in Sports Dietetics and a member of the British Dietetic Association.

Connect: www.sarahschenker.co.uk | @SarahSchenker

ŠCopyright 2015. All rights reserved. This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. Materials submitted for publication are sent at the owner’s risk and do not reflect the opinion of this publication. Any views expressed within the publication by individual authors are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Whilst care has been taken to ensure that articles published and the content of advertising are accurate, neither Women in Trade Magazine nor its agents accept any liability for loss or damage. Although Women in Trade Magazine has endeavoured to ensure that all information inside the magazine is correct, details and prices may be subject to change.

Jamie-Lee Crick (UK) is the CEO & Founder of Be Distinctly Different a strategic, creative marketing agency that helps businesses to capitalise on their uniqueness and own their space in the marketplace. Often referred to as the travel guru she is an avid traveller who started her career in the travel industry working for a number of tourist boards and tour operators.

Connect: www.bedistinctlydifferent.com | @Bdistinctlydiff

Gordana Biernat (Sweden) is an inspirational speaker, talking about consciousness, creativity, leadership, art, reality and time. She is a mentor assisting those who seek self-development and a greater sense of being through intellectual and spiritual inquiry. Gordana holds an M.A. in Art History & Art Sciences, Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Communication and Media.

Connect: www.mypowertalk.com | @MyPowertalk

www.womenintradeuk.co.uk

4 Women in Trade

COVER FEATURE

Page 68

Women in Trade 5

Cover Story

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22

What makes Lesley Waters Glow? “Exercise is my drug of choice; give me those endorphins any day of the week.”

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What’s your glow? Our Summer Edition featu

glow and enjoyed sharing it with Women in T

100 103

What makes Kat Woodruffe Glow? “I glow after going for a run. I feel amazing and 'buzzy' afterwards.”

11

What makes Sophie g inner glow comes from be the campervan, feeling t

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What makes Kara Rosen Glow? “I glow when I spot my product on the shelf of someone I‟ve given advice to or mentored!”

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ures women who have discovered their inner Trade Magazine. We love you all too!

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glow? “My eing out in truly free.”

What is

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your GLOW?

Editor-in-Chief @womenintradeuk

Editor‟s Letter Summer - Food & Drink Issue “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Lavender Photo by Siew Feun Kylemark | Click Snap Shot Photography

- Benjamin Franklin In this issue, it’s all about connecting with your inner glow, and you can find this quite easily. If someone asked you “what makes you glow?” what would you say? Is it a soft kiss from your loving partner or being able to see the funny side of life? Perhaps it’s your nightly indulgence of a nice cup of Yorkshire Tea. Maybe you have been working on a design of some sort and are enjoying its comforts or it could be as simple as being able to get out of bed. Your glow can be absolutely anything. I glow for many reasons especially when I bite into a big bar of dark bitter sweet organic mint flavoured chocolate – well, you need a little something to keep you going. It's important to fill your world with good cheer and surround yourself with people who support you otherwise your glow may dim. So laugh for no reason at all, smile as if you received a love note, dance as if your favourite music is playing, as it’s in these playful moments that magic appears.

We are excited to feature on our summer cover, Emmy nominated TV chef and food writer, Ching-He Huang, the hottest British Chinese chef of the moment. What I love about Ching is her positive glow and she shares her secrets with us on how a wok changed her life on page 68.

I have always been a great fan of the lovely celebrity chef, Lesley Waters, enjoyed watching her on BBC2’s cooking programme Ready Steady Cook. Three reasons why you should love her on page 22.

We caught up with three amazing drink entrepreneurs in the UK, Kara Rosen founder of Plenish, Jules Quinn founder of The TeaShed and Anette Moldvaer Founder of Square Mile Coffee Roasters on how they did it on page 37. Other notable features are Melissa Cole, an amazing artist blacksmith, keeping one of the oldest trades in Britain alive on page 97. We are also thrilled to present in our female firsts, Kim Woodward, the first female Head Chef to be s e c la p appointed at Gordon Ramsey’s Savoy Grill in its 126g n zi 3 ama : r e m year history on page 86. m su is to visit th a)

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liday (St. Luci The BodyHo ill (UK) & The Clover M France) of th ou (S e Terre Blanch

Enjoy this issue.

Janet x Janet Kirlew Editor-in-Chief & Founder

8 Women in Trade

Stretch Denim Maternity Dungarees (stonewashed)

Summer Edition 2015 Food & Drink Issue | Connecting With Your Inner glow Cover Story

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68

Cover photography of Ching-He Huang

By Myles New

Features 22

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Women in Food

international TV Chef & Cookery Author, CHING-HE HUANG.

By Janet Kirlew

Celebrity Chef LESLEY WATERS, the chef with heart and personality. 3 reasons to love her. By Janet Kirlew

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Meet 3 Drinks Entrepreneurs Kara Rosen, Jules Quinn & Anette Moldvaer talk to us about how they did it.

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Frances Tophill : Horticulturalist & Presenter of ITV’s Love Your Garden Digging her way to garden utopia.

10 Women in Trade

COVER STORY Why we love

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British Airways Future Pilot Scheme Meet two BA pilots, Chloe Harrison and Kat Woodruffe on life in the cockpit.

109 British Female Designers Rock Featuring Artist Blacksmith, Melissa Cole and Woodworker, Sophie Heron.

Inside this issue...

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spotlight 58

Cynthia Stroud Founder of The Pretty Gorgeous Cake Company. The official cake supplier to the BRITs.

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Clare Heighway Founder of British online directory, Exquisitely British.

business 90

FDF Member Case Studies for Women in STEM | The Food and Drink Federation Attracting fresh talent into this vital sector. Featuring Angela Coleshill, Director of Employment, Skills and Corporate Services at FDF.

Self 20

2 Reasons To Have The Right Energy As An Entrepreneur.

124 Finding Your Inner Goddess Pt 2 POWERtalk with inspirational speaker, Gordana Biernat. “Sometimes we choose to stay in a situation just because it feels familiar.”

Health 94

Tackling Menopause Dr. Sarah Schenker’s approach to the menopause is tackling it with diet and lifestyle changes.

Women in Trade 11

Inside this issue...

Female Firsts Women in History 86

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Kim Woodward First Female Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay Group’s Savoy Grill, becoming the first woman to run the kitchen in its 126-year history.

MIND, BODY &

SPIRIT 60

5 Moods Not To Entertain Moods can occur for a variety of reasons.

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Relax, Reinvigorate, Rejuvenate Well-being Holiday’s in 2015 The BodyHoliday in St. Lucia, The Clover Mill in Worcestershire and Terre Blanche, South of France. By Jamie-Lee Crick

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The Magical Power of Laughter Often underrated and neglected.

108 A Cocktail for the Mind, Body and Spirit Must have herbs.

In Every Issue 8 Editor’s Letter 128 Directory | Classified Listings 129 Subscribe 12 Women in Trade

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LG G Flex 2 A curved body designed to flex Advanced camera with Laser Auto Focus Self Healing Technology

With its sleek curved design, 5.5-inch full HD display for immersive viewing, Self Healing Technology and Android 5.0 Lollipop, the G Flex 2 offers a unique smartphone experience.

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Women in Trade 13

–

Dedicated to making life’s little treats as yummy as possible

Mrs Crimble’s have created a new range of Pasta and Sauce in three amazing flavours – Fusilli with a Gourmet Mushroom and Cream Sauce and Fusilli with a Rich Tomato and Mediterranean Herbs Sauce and Fusilli with a Cheese and White Wine Sauce.

Pasta With Sauce - Fusilli with a Gourmet Mushroom and Cream Sauce.

Pasta With Sauce - Fusilli with a Rich Tomato and Mediterranean Herbs Sauce.

Pasta With Sauce - Fusilli with a Cheese and White Wine Sauce.

Buy Mrs Crimble’s Products Online Delivered straight to your home MrsCrimbles.com

Tweet Competition Winners Throughout April, we tweeted: “For a chance to appear in our Summer edition, answer this „What would you do differently if you had your life to live over?‟”

Well done ladies!

Tweets Social Solutions @clareandjude @womenintradeuk worry less about things that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things and have gone self employed earlier! Thx Social Solutions based in Berkhamsted

Angie Aspinall @Aspinall_Ink @womenintradeuk I would have gone into writing and being freelance at a much younger age!

Mia Spencer @cork_mia @womenintradeuk absolutely nothing! Each new experience have opened doors or taken me along a path of discovery #womenintradeuk We want to hear about your life and any positive experiences from reading Women in Trade Magazine.

Your letter, comments or tweet could appear here next time!

we loved

Spring

2015 @Pinkaboogifts “Lovely magazine. For those that haven‟t seen it, it‟s worth reading. Plus you can view it online!” @PinkLemonadePro “Just caught up with the latest issue of Women in Trade Magazine. I want to round up my friends and take on the world! Feeling empowered!” @EJLouiseBarlow “Great concept” @TanyaBrick “Have just come across @womenintradeuk - LOVE this!” @vanroeUK “Feeding my 10wk old, head in @womenintradeuk magazine.

What a fantastic resource for #womeninbiz #womenintrade

E: yourstory@womenintradeuk.co.uk

Women in Trade 15

Advertisement | Nutriment

NUTRIMENT: nourishes, promotes growth, provides energy, repairs body tissues & maintains life.

Single mum Suzanne Brock and her small team of fellow dog enthusiasts began life with 10,000 square feet of mothballed business premises, a small clutch of bank rejection notes and a disturbing mound of personal debt. Today, this pioneering pet food business stands tall as a 'leading light' within the premium pet food movement.

W

e live in an age when 24% of UK households own a dog. As well as being far more health conscious ourselves, we are also more aware of the importance of looking after the health of our pets. Nutrition is key and more pet owners than ever are taking the time to discuss their pet’s dietary needs. In the UK, latest figures show that around 45% of dogs are clinically obese. Over recent years, some dog owners and breeders have advocated a raw food diet, bridging the gap between dog and wolf,

Single mother Suzanne Brock is a dog lover and a pioneer with vision who spotted a niche in the market just waiting to be filled. That niche became Nutriment, a pet food business proud of its uncompromising stance to produce the finest quality pet food made wholly from human-grade meat, veg and a generous dash of metabolism-friendly superfoods.

Suzanne took a huge risk in establishing this business and encountered problems and

Continued on Page 18

Photos by Kenga Photography 16 Women in Trade

re-establishing a natural diet for our pets.

“

I have been blessed with a wonderful family and great friends. I have the most fantastic, loyal staff and I am also proud of my relationship with both my customers and my suppliers.

Advertisement | Nutriment

Nutriment opened for business in June 2013. The avant-garde pet food provider began life with 10,000 square feet of factory space, one wellgrounded founder, ten highspirited staff and a disturbing mound of personal debt. Two years on and this ambitious, award-winning business stands tall as a leading light within the independent pet food manufacturing fraternity.

“

When she first started Nutriment she thought banks were championing small

inspiration. For a long time she was a full-time mum. “The children and I did everything together and I was always there for them. Following my divorce I had to get a job which meant that very suddenly they had to become self-reliant in a very short space of time which wasn't easy for anybody. When the business started they had a mother who was stressed, worried and even frightened a lot of the time. In a small house it's never easy hiding one's feelings from two very bright children.” Her children have

I was often overwhelmed by the countless kind letters we received from Nutriment converts telling us about the significant difference we'd made to their pet's day-to-day lives.

They produce over 160 tonnes of top-notch RAW products a month, to meet the insatiable and relentless needs of loyal customers and a growing network of forward-thinking retailers.

A BARF diet is a bold, uncompromising stance taken by some dog breeders, owners and vets who recognise that nature has an uncanny tendency to know best. Dogs were hunting and scavenging

18 Women in Trade

long before words like pellets, tins and kibble had made it into the Oxford Dictionary. When thinking about the business, Suzanne felt that other RAW specialists offered a basic meat, bone and veg diet. Nutriment actively champions the importance of metabolismfriendly superfoods (coconut & salmon oil, kelp, kale, flax seeds, spirulina, bilberry powder & chicory roots) to create a range of balanced feasts.

businesses, however, after submitting a loan application, her bank rejected it. She was a few ‘squeaky seat’ days from signing the lease on their premises and had already recruited a skeleton crew and ordered machinery. She had no choice but to manage with the funds they’d raised and risk taking out a further mortgage on her house.

It is her children who provide Suzanne with the most

“

worries along the way but with the support of her family and friends she persevered and the business is going from strength to strength.

been so strong, resilient and supportive the whole time.

Suzanne and her team have nurtured Nutriment into what it is today – a thriving, successful business which has received glowing endorsements from industryrespected figures such as urban dog trainer and behaviourist, Louise Glazebrook.

Nutriment.Co

2

reasons to have the right energy as an entrepreneur.

When you love what you do, that same energy flows into every word you write, every pattern you cut and

every ingredient you add in your cooking pot so you need to ensure that when your customers are presented with your work they sense the love. If you no longer enjoy what you do, then they may notice this. There are days when you might be off key and so will everything else from emails to letters and text messages. Why? Because whatever you put out there comes back to you. In harbouring negative vibes you send out the wrong signals such as, “I wish to have an off day,” and “I hope my clients suffer when they eat my food or open an email from me.” So that is what you get. However, when you have a happy, uplifting time, each tweet, LinkedIn invitation, conversation and sales order is vibrant filling you with further good cheer. Why? Well, you know the answer now. So practice saying regularly “What can I achieve today?” “How would I like my customer to feel when they receive our delivery?” “Shall I make or break someone’s day with a tweet?” This should help you to find the solution to most things after all, before Richard Branson took his first flight, he didn’t say “I want this to fail, I hope everyone has a bad experience.” If you start asking these fundamental questions daily, you’ll always create the right energy no matter what, which in turn will attract the same.

People are not silly; they know and feel things naturally. They might sense from your voice whether you speak the truth or have a belief and passion in what you do.

Some look at the shoes you wear to determine the state of your bank account and for those spiritually awakened souls, ‘seers’ can tell who you are by your presence. If you wish to attract consumers to you or your products, you’ll need to become the attraction as you are your own brand. You’re the face and voice of everything you do and if that’s not appealing, they’ll not be interested. In having positive energy, you’ll be a magnet to those who will love you and what you do.

How can I achieve this? Start with this simple yet powerful long-lasting technique by affirming to yourself daily and feel it when you chant these. “I am extremely attractive.” “I attract an abundance of clients.” “People love me and my work.” “I love me and my work.” “I am happy.” “I create positive energy around me.” This takes effort as you may not believe these statements initially but after a while they’ll seem real if you keep repeating them and then you’ll realise that the good things you experience came from what you told yourself. It’s all about changing what you say every day, altering your current story. This reminds me of a film called Ink Heart. As the reader read the tale from this magical book, the words spoken breathed life into the characters and they appeared in physical form. If the narrator wanted to change the plot, for instance to make the characters leave, they quickly searched for that part and recite it out loud. It’s a compelling movie.

Love, enjoy, attract and grow!

You are on the right path

Three reasons to love

Lesley Waters…

1:

Lesley loves to cook seasonal food, creating simple dishes for people at home to

recreate, showing that cooking does not have to be complex and it’s something we can all do.

2:

She has a lively personality, a positive outlook and creative flair, making her a great role model for all budding chefs.

3:

Lesley has a huge heart, supporting charities and recently gave her support to Autism Wessex and their Big Brekkie campaign. This is a major fundraising initiative that encourages local people and groups to get together for breakfast in the days leading up to World Autism Awareness Day. She has also supported the children’s charity, Action Medical Research and their Cream Teas campaign. There truly is no end to her talents.

BY JANET KIRLEW

22 Women in Trade

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Lesley Waters, The Chef with Heart & Personality

L

esley Waters is a well-known celebrity chef who has made appearances on This Morning, Good Food Live and Ready Steady Cook. She is vivacious, energetic and her presenting and cooking styles have earned her a fan following making her popular to watch on TV. As well as being a gifted chef, she is also the author of several cookery books and a mother of two. In 2003 she became the proud creator of her very own business in Dorset, the Lesley Waters Cookery School at Abbot’s Hill Farm and the classes she offers focus upon more than creating healthy, simple food. It’s about the entire experience, from meeting people to soaking up an atmosphere where you can relax and have fun while learning to cook. We caught up with Lesley to chat about her fascinating career.

WiT: You've had an interesting career and achieved quite a lot already. What are the best bits? Lesley: As a young chef I won medals at Hotel Olympia which was amazing and the scholarship enabled me to work abroad. Working for Prue Leith was a major high point for me and this eventually led to my break on television and then to my role on Ready Steady Cook. Also, opening my own cookery school in Dorset in 2003 was a long held dream.

WiT: Tell us about your new cookery courses and where does your passion to teach come from? Lesley: We are diversifying from the full hands on days to offering shorter drop-in style sessions and workshops which are very popular along with corporate and bespoke events which we enjoy doing. Working and training at Leith’s gave me an appreciation and love of teaching. They had a different outlook from others in the industry. Good ingredients and unpretentious food was their thing, and that was refreshing, instilling in me a passion for creating healthy cuisine.

WiT: You are also a TV chef and author, how do you create balance in your life?

Lesley: It’s very difficult and not always achievable so there’s no easy answer to this…you can’t have it all, something has to give.

WiT: What are the best/worst parts about cooking on a TV show? Lesley: The worst things are the time pressure and nerves…. I’m always nervous. The flip side of TV is that it is a powerful media and gives you amazing exposure. I wouldn’t have my beloved cookery school if it wasn’t for programmes such as Ready Steady Cook.

WiT: What would be your food heaven and hell? Lesley: Hell is pig’s trotters and offal but heaven is a deluxe cheese board with buttery oat cakes and fabulous bread along with a glass of my favourite red wine.

Q&A Continued on Page 26

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A Great Role Model For All Budding Chefs WiT: Who would you most like to share a meal with and why? Lesley: I find this hard to answer as there are so many people. I’m a film buff so it would have to be an actor/director, maybe Michael Caine – he’s a firm favourite. He’s such a character and totally loves his food, a real professional.

WiT: If you could change one thing, what would that be?

Lesley: I would have loved to travel more and taken a year out when I was younger.

WiT: Favourite cooking tool? Lesley: A sharp knife and a good non-stick pan.

WiT: Favourite superfood?

Lesley: Avocado WiT: When things don’t go right?

Lesley: I…..swear!

WiT: Bugbear?

Lesley: Froth, foam and pretentious food.

WiT: Our summer editions theme is about connecting with your inner glow, what is your glow? Lesley: Exercise is my drug of choice; give me those endorphins any day of the week. My current favourite is Jillian Michaels but I’m also loving Julia Buckley and her Fat Burn Revolution.

WiT: What about spirituality, do you do anything to work on yourself? Lesley: I used to go to Sunday school as a child and have happy memories of the holiday camps, but it wasn’t churchy and some of that has stayed with me. I’m not a traditional church goer but I loved the kindness and happiness that came across.

WiT: What’s your pay-it-forward challenge? Lesley: I’m often approached by various charities and we do as much as we can. I’m currently supporting a local housing charity that is giving young people who have had a rough start the chance to get on their feet again.

WiT: Favourite quote?

Lesley: ‘Damn the torpedoes…full speed ahead.’

I heard this in an old forties movie at a point where everything was going wrong and it made me smile.

Sometimes when you feel that your world is caving in you just have to push through it because nothing stays the same and things will change.

26 Women in Trade

“

Sometimes when you feel that your world is caving in you just have to push through it because nothing stays the same and things will change.

Lesley Waters, The Chef with Heart & Personality

Women in Trade 27

plenishcleanse.com

NAHARA: Contemporary Fashion Infused with Eastern Promise. Clothes that Enable you to Connect to your Past.

N

ahara is a new London based womenswear label which Director Sonya Ahmed launched in 2013. Sonya lives in London but was born in Libya to Bangladeshi parents. She moved to the UK aged 10 and later became a doctor. From her travels to Kenya, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan she developed an interest in Islamic art, architecture and textiles.

In developing her label she has collaborated with London-based artists and designers. “The vision behind Nahara began with a feeling. It’s the feeling of tranquillity and awe experienced in the courtyard of an 800-year old mosque. It’s the excitement of walking through a centuries old street with crafts being made by hand on either side of you. During these moments you sense a deep spiritual connection; you feel alive. This is the power of sacred art.”

30 Women in Trade

while living in the present.”

Today the world is a very different place and in Western countries there is no immediate link with Islamic design. Sonya created Nahara with that in mind and states “Nahara is about allowing women to carry a fragment of that sacred beauty with them. It’s about identity and being connected to your past

As a little girl, Sonya had an obsession for fabric and textiles and often had piles of material lying around at home. Prior to Nahara she states “I had never done anything creative in my life!” From her growing interest in Islamic art and textiles came a deep rooted sense in combining the sacred with the functional.

This inspired her to combine fashion with art and Sonya wishes to enable people to be in touch with something spiritual.

This wish permeates her designs and can be experienced in many subtle ways such as the way the fabric in a dress moves away from the chest before coming back in at the waist. Unrestricted movement is essential and at Nahara, material flows like silk to fit and to flatter in exquisite fluidness.

Sonya believes that the concept of space and movement is just as

Advertisement | Nahara important as specific patterns or weaving techniques in expressing Islamic design. It is her intention to use the label to illustrate the wonderful work that is produced by contemporary artists inspired by fantastic concepts which led to her collaboration with artist Samir Malik.

Before starting the business Sonya spent six months researching the fashion industry. Only when she was certain of her vision did she approach a designer. In the beginning it was tough as when starting any new business. “Sometimes I get overwhelmed by how much there is to do. Nothing seems to go right first time, but I’m past the point of giving up now. It would be more like surrendering the life I want to be living – that’s not really an option!”

She has some endearing advice for when the going gets tough. “I’ve learned that there is no magic solution to overcoming obstacles. You simply plod on and one day you realise the obstacle that seemed impossible to overcome is behind you and you move on.”

She has learned that you can’t always work alone. When a group of young British Bengali women designers invited Sonya to a meeting, they talked about like-minded things – sourcing hand woven fabric from Bangladesh and the difficulties encountered by collaborating with highly skilled artisans who are conceptually limited to traditional designs. “We discussed the possibilities of working together to explore these ideas on a practical and conceptual level. I love the intellectual side of this business and having that balance through knowing people with different interest’s works well for me.”

Continued on Page 32

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Advertisement | Nahara

If she could change one thing, Sonya hopes it’s something she can contribute towards.

“There are skilled people in communities all over the world, such as India where they produce the most incredible embroidery and weaving patterns. However, their work is significantly undervalued because it’s considered to be traditional wear rather than fashion and the labour costs are low. I hope that through Nahara, I can be part of a movement to promote their skills and abilities so they gain the respect and remuneration they deserve for their generations long expertise and artistic capabilities.”

Whilst Nahara is relatively new, Sonya explains “It has been an incredible adventure so far exploring my creative abilities and meeting other people working within the creative industries. It’s proving an interesting journey for me to discover what’s been hidden beneath a medical career for the past 15 years!”

gentle stretch of flowing water to a raging torrent near the sea. Similarly there are traditions and values that remain constant in any spiritual tradition and so Nahara seemed a perfect fit with what Sonya is aiming to express.

It can be challenging to find the right name for your business and it’s something Sonya took her time over. Nahara means ‘river’ in Arabic and rivers can dramatically change from a

Sonya Ahmed has succeeded in establishing a luxury womenswear and scarf label that reflects Asian and Arabic traditions and she has shown the industry that her art and cultural aesthetics are capable of evolving to great unique heights of accessible fashion for both the Eastern and Western world.

Nahara.co.uk

32 Women in Trade

What makes

Ching glow?

“I glow whenever I hear moving inspirational stories.”

Cover Story Page 68

Photography by Myles New Eat Clean: Wok Yourself to Health by Ching-He Huang Published by Harper Thorsons

Cﾃ山OC Coconut is best enjoyed with pineapple juice, famously coined the Coco Loso.

Fresh coconut with a vanilla edge.

Creamy sweet coconut with a faint hint of tropical fruit.

Silky and smooth.

Cﾃ山OC Coconut Vodka 70cl Stockist: www.Amazon.co.uk

MEET THREE DRINK ENTREPRENEURS in the UK making positive changes to the drinks industry

HOW THEY

DID IT 37

Meet Kara Rosen Founder of PLENISH : Keeping

your body ahead of the curve Over the centuries, herbs and plants have been used for their medicinal properties, either ground up, applied or ingested.

38 Women in Trade

I

n Peru and Korea, juicing green juices became a part of rituals for healing. Later, in the 1920s, Max Gerson, a German scientist developed a therapy which combined raw juices with a vegetarian diet. His work continues to this day at the Gerson Institute and is now also involved in cancer care. Since then the methods of juicing and the required machinery have evolved and today many households own their own juicer.

When Kara Rosen, the founder of Plenish, set up her business, the journey was anything but smooth.

Three Drink Entrepreneurs : How they did it

Kara was told that nobody would drink green juice so her only option was to create the product she wanted and build her own juicery.

Manufacturers dictated that her product of green juices would never sell but Kara, already healing herself with her products knew otherwise. Determined and with a strong belief in her venture and objectives she persevered and has achieved success.

Her clients are living proof of that success as they too are enjoying the health benefits of Plenish. Her first book, Juices to Boost Cleanse and Heal is now available following a successful launch back in January. The theory behind Plenish is to keep your body ahead of the curve as opposed to replenish. It is about selfprevention and plenishing your cells putting you in the drivers seat.

Kara tells us how she did it.

WiT: How did you do it and what kind of obstacles did you find on your path? Kara: I started juicing in my late twenties as it was a big part of my recovery after being ill for two years. I was living in New York and flying weekly to LA for work. My illness stemmed from eating the wrong foods which I thought were healthy and not having enough fresh veggies. Given my hectic schedule, drinking juices became a very convenient way for me to squeeze in over 2kg of organic produce into one glass and keep my immunity and energy levels high. When I moved to the UK, I could not find the cold pressed, organic vegetable juice I had grown to depend on so I decided to make my own.

Women in Trade 39

Three Drink Entrepreneurs : How they did it

I

n the beginning I made juices for friends and family and then as demand grew, I upgraded my operation slowly and steadily.

yourself with people that have complementary strengths.

Don’t neglect your operations. It’s important to win the account but if you can’t deliver punctually and in full for more than 95% of the time, accounts won’t want to work with you. Make sure your engine room is set up to handle any volume you commit to.

There were heaps of obstacles along the way.

When I first started out, I looked for a manufacturer but no one had cold press juicers or they deemed the process too difficult. They also said that nobody would drink green juice and that I should add banana or apple to everything. My only option to create the product I wanted, was to build my own ‘juicery’ which I did! Once I got that sorted, I talked to retailers about selling our juices and cleanses, but they failed to see it could be viable as it was a new category. So I set up my e-commerce site and sold directly to customers.

Once we proved the concept, retailers opened their doors and the rest is history! It’s about seeing obstacles as an opportunity and to think more strategically on how to reach your goals.

Define your brand. Once you’re onto something successful, you’ll see “copycat” brands enter the space. What can’t be copied is a brand proposition and how you engage with your customers.

WiT: What are the health benefits of your organic juices? Kara: We press over 2kg of organic produce into one bottle of juice. It’s mainly veg so sugar contents are low but nutrient content is high. Juicing provides a convenient way to cram in lots of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients from the plant kingdom.

WiT: Tell us something no one else knows.

Kara: I’ve seen every city of the real housewives!

WiT: Your top 5 tips on running a drinks business? Kara: Stay true to your core objectives. Heaps of opportunities will come your way when you succeed like a private label, but if you’re building a brand, remain focused.

Know your strengths but know your weaknesses more. You can’t excel at everything so surround

40 Women in Trade

Enjoy the view. If you’re in a new business, it’s easy to look forward. Take a few minutes every once in a while to glance back at what you’ve created and accomplished so far. It will motivate you to keep up the momentum!

WiT: If you could change one thing, what would it be? Kara: Needing 8 hours sleep! There is so much more I want to do in a day.

WiT: Our summer editions theme is about connecting with your inner glow, what is your glow? Kara: I glow when I spot my product on the shelf of someone I’ve given advice to or mentored!

WiT: Favourite quote? Kara: “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”

- Anne Wigmore. plenishcleanse.com

Meet the founder...

Women in Trade 41

Meet Jules Quinn Founder of The TeaShed : Variety

is the spice of tea.

The quintessential cup of tea is synonymous with Britain, a country which has relied upon the import of tea for centuries.

42 Women in Trade

he custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China and it was not until the 17th century that it first arrived on English soil. It was initially imported

by Portuguese and Dutch traders with regular shipments being made by 1610. Yet it seems that the origins of its availability are somewhat entwined with coffee because it was the London coffee houses that introduced tea to England. One of the first coffee house merchants to offer tea was Thomas Garway in 1657. Three years later he was selling tea at £6 to £10 per pound proclaiming its virtues made “the body active and

Three Drink Entrepreneurs : How they did it

Jules got the idea for her business whilst on a rather dull work placement where she was nominated chief tea maker.

lusty” and that it also “preserved perfect health until extreme old age.” Such fascinating assumptions made more than four hundred years ago but Thomas Garway clearly knew what he was talking about because as many of us know today, tea is brimming with revitalising, rejuvenating antioxidants.

Merchants and selling practices have come a long way over the centuries and today we have people such as Jules Quinn, owner of The TeaShed which sells a fabulous selection of tea and gifts.

Jules got the idea for her business whilst on a rather dull work placement where she was nominated chief tea maker. While browsing the supermarket aisles one day, she was surprised by the large selection of coffee in comparison to tea and her idea was born. Whilst establishing The TeaShed has been hard work, she has received fantastic support from Fenwick’s in Newcastle, the first store to stock her products. Now Jules has international sales with a new distributor in Japan and are going from strength to strength, as tea, quite literally, sloshes around the globe.

Jules tells us how she did it.

Women in Trade 43

Three Drink Entrepreneurs : How they did it

WiT: How did you do it and what kind of obstacles did you find on your path? Jules: I was quite fortunate that I had my final year of my degree at Northumbria to come up with the concept and develop the TeaShed, so that when I graduated I was ready to make money straight away. I also didn’t have any responsibilities such as a family or a mortgage.

I think this all helps in throwing yourself completely into something which may or may not work! The most challenging are finances and making sure that you keep an eye on cash flow especially when you are growing a business as each time the order gets bigger, the more you have to outlay.

Think about smart advertising and marketing. How do people get to taste your products? Be more than just a drink.

WiT: Are there any health benefits to drinking tea? Jules: Yes, absolutely. Black and herbal teas have been used to help with ailments. I personally always drink mint tea after dinner and I have at least one cup of green tea a day.

WiT: Our summer editions theme is about connecting with your inner glow, what is your glow? Jules: My glow would be after I do crazy sporting events such as triathlons or cycling the coast to coast. I am literally glowing.

WiT: Your top 5 tips on running a drinks business? Jules:

WiT: Favourite quote? Jules:

Always look at other trends, in drinks but also in food and fashion and consumer trends.

WiT: If you could change one thing in your business, what would it be? Jules: It would be that I had more great staff.

WiT: Tell us something no one else knows. Jules: My ultimate goal is to have enough to open a shelter for dogs. The shelter would be more like a giant house where the dogs are taught how to integrate back into a household if they’ve had a troubled past. I would also love to foster children at some point.

“Never, never, never, NEVER QUIT.” - Winston Churchill

Have eye catching packaging.

Think about your supply chain and how this works when you become successful.

44 Women in Trade

The-TeaShed.co.uk

Meet the founder...

Women in Trade 45

Meet Anette Moldvaer Founder of Square Mile Coffee Roasters : Striving to make London famous for good coffee.

Coffee has been around for centuries and the selection available is astonishing but how old is this wondrous bean?

46 Women in Trade

A

ccording to legend, coffee trees originated in the Ethiopian province of Kaffa dating back to the 11th century. The fruit of the plant, known as coffee cherries, was eaten by slaves. By the late 1600s, the Dutch grew coffee in India and in 1699 took plants to Java, now known as Indonesia. It was the Dutch colonies who became the main suppliers of coffee to Europe. The 17th and 18th century saw coffee spreading to South America.

Three Drink Entrepreneurs : How they did it

Here in the UK, it was not until 1637 that a Turkish man introduced coffee into Oxford. It was popular among students and teachers who then established the Oxford Coffee Club. By 1652, a Greek man, called Pasqua Rosee opened the first coffeehouse in London.

Today, coffeehouses are everywhere and business is booming. Anette Moldvaer is the founder of Square Mile Coffee. It is an award winning coffee roasting company based in East London. Their goal is clear. They wish to make London famous for good coffee. They source, buy, import and roast the best quality coffee they can acquire. As they state on their website, “We’re working to build a London coffee culture and do our best to contribute to the global scene.”

Anette tells us how she did it.

WiT: How did you do it and what kind of obstacles did you find on your path? Anette: We started roasting coffee in 2008, having seen a gap in the market for high quality beans roasted to highlight their intrinsic expressions of terroir. We knew we could kick-start a new wave of coffee appreciation, and we did it by staying true to what we believed in and being open and welcoming to those who wanted to learn. There weren't really that many obstacles but the hardest thing was growing too fast and finding a way to scale the business responsibly without burning out.

WiT: Are there any health benefits to drinking coffee? Anette: There are several health reasons to drink black coffee. It is full of antioxidants and has been linked to improving or preventing symptoms in a range of conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and more. As with anything, moderate the intake by how you feel, everyone responds differently. Most people tolerate it well, but some will notice disrupted sleep or feelings of anxiousness from too much caffeine. Pregnant women might want to switch to a good decaf.

Women in Trade 47

WiT: Your top 5 tips on running a drinks business? Anette: Know your product, how it tastes and how it’s made. Make it something you can wholeheartedly stand behind and be proud of.

Accept that not everyone will like you or your product and be ok with that. You might not need, or even want, everyone to be your customer.

Don’t get complacent. Be interested in the industry and your competitors, but stay true to your vision and don’t jump on every fad.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice.

Relinquish control when you need to and hire brilliant people to do those things that you are not so great at.

Prepare for where you want to be in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, and plan for how to deal with growth. Then remember that while you plan, the universe laughs!

WiT: If you could change one thing, what would it be? Anette: I would have tried to keep a healthier work/life balance, and spent more time nurturing my personal relationships as much as the business.

WiT: Tell us something no one else knows. Anette: I sometimes go into work when no one else is around and sit quietly thinking about how lucky I have been to be blessed with such a great place to go everyday, and such a lovely team of people to work with.

WiT: Our summer editions theme is about connecting with your inner glow, what is your glow? Anette: I am happiest when I feel like my life and work has a purpose, when I get to spend time creating, seeing loved ones, or when I travel the world finding coffee and visiting farms.

WiT: Favourite quote? Anette: We’re here for a good time, not a long time.

48 Women in Trade

SquareMileCoffee.com

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booking!

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Receive an automatic free entry into our Spotlight.

REQUEST OUR MEDIA KIT Primrose Archer at sales@womenintradeuk.co.uk

An Interview with FRANCES TOPHILL Exciting times ahead for this beautiful young horticulturalist and gardener. She’s also a co-presenter on ITV’s popular show Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh.

Photography by Clare Winfield First-Time Gardener: How to plan, plant and enjoy your garden Published by Kyle Books 50 Women in Trade

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An Interview with

Frances Tophill: Digging her way to Garden Utopia Our gardens are our sanctuaries and we are becoming a nation of gardeners, with more people than ever wishing to be self-sufficient, growing their own food. Such practices evoke memories of wartime Britain and the ever constant Dig For Victory campaign. Back then the Women’s Land Army was out in force working the land. Now, there is a growing number of women gardeners and horticulturalists.

F

rances Tophill, the newest recruit to the TV show, Love Your Garden like her contemporaries, is flying the flag for gardening, leading the latest generation of gardeners and bringing a

52 Women in Trade

refreshing approach to creating outdoor spaces with the beauty and versatility of plants.

For Frances, television stardom beckoned while she was in Edinburgh studying Horticulture at the Botanic Gardens and the Scottish Agricultural College (SRUC). There was an email request at the Botanic Gardens for students interested in applying for a role as a presenter on a TV show with Alan Titchmarsh. As Frances says, “We all applied, and I happened to be successful.”

She first thought about becoming a horticulturalist and gardener after applying for a job as an apprentice gardener at the Salutation Gardens in Sandwich when she was twenty years old. Prior to this she had always been creative and attended Arts College where she specialised in silversmithing but she never felt it was her true calling. Her mother suggested that she apply for the apprentice gardener’s job but Frances was uncertain.

However, one day she awoke to the sound of rain on the window and realised how much she enjoyed being outdoors. So she went to the gardens and spoke to the head gardener and after a wander around the beautiful space she was hooked.

When she applied for the job, she was successful.

When asked about the most breathtaking garden she’s ever seen, Frances states, “There are so many kinds of gardens and different reasons for

appreciating them.” She describes Monet’s garden as potentially the most breathtaking with the vast array of flowers and the intensity of colour that hits you as you walk in. The Sierra Redwood Avenue at Benmore Botanic gardens is another and there’s a particular spot at the Salutation where you can stand and see every main vista in the place.

As Frances explains, “It is knowing a garden that brings out its beauty for me.”

Frances gains inspiration from her family, friends and everyone she has encountered at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. Her colleagues also inspire her daily. “Their passion for what they do and tireless efforts to do it whatever the weather are humbling.” But aside from people, she finds inspiration from places such as the white cliffs, surrounded by a beautiful, bleak landscape, with wild ponies and the sea.

“You never know where you’ll find inspiration for your work.

It could be one particular flower. That’s the exciting bit – not being able to predict it.”

To add another string to her bow, Frances has also written a book. She states, “Although I love writing, I have battled dyslexia my whole life, so I never thought writing was something I could realistically do.” Her book, First-Time Gardeners: How to plan, plant & enjoy your garden is out now.

“

I have battled dyslexia my whole life. I never thought writing was something I could realistically do

“

53

“

It is knowing a garden that brings out its beauty for me.

“ 54 Women in Trade

Frances Tophill : Digging Her Way To Garden Utopia

I

f you’re searching for some garden inspiration, Frances explains that scented plants have soothing properties, for instance lavender is well known for its ability to help with insomnia, anxiety and restlessness. Soft foliage such as Alchemilla or Stachys never fail to relax. If you’re choosing soothing colours go for the cool spectrum of blues, purples, pinks and whites which she says “are a fail safe.”

For edible plants Frances recommends black kale, spinach or chard which are nutrient rich.

For mental health benefits try intensive crops such as berries.

Gooseberries or black currants can be eaten fresh, used in baking or even jam making.

Herbs are fantastic sensory plants. The flower of a primrose is delicious as is the nectar from a honeysuckle flower. Sweet alyssum, wild garlic and angelica are often dug up and thrown away but they are all safe to eat.

Her TOP TIPS for creating a vegetable patch Get a nice rich soil plus the nine other essential plant nutrients from compost or manure and

What makes Frances glow?

you’ll be well away. Crop rotation is vital. You can’t plant the same crop in the same spot year after year as you deplete certain nutrients. Rotate between at least five beds and consider companion planting.

R

ight now she’s fascinated with plants, their habits and habitats and the way people have utilised them throughout history for medical reasons. Recently, she helped to design a safe, accessible, stimulating garden for her friend who has a daughter with a physical disability. “That is the sort of design I like; a collaboration where the design is not paramount but the interaction that the client will have with the space is the main concern.”

“I glow from my creativity. I make quilts, dabble in woodwork, make pottery, and I paint.

Human interaction keeps me sane, interested and makes me happy. Without creativity, ideas and people to bounce them off and hear their ideas in return, I would never glow.”

Her favourite quote comes from her boss. “A lazy gardener is not necessarily a bad gardener.” Frances says, “It’s a good philosophy and I think there’s some merit in it. It teaches you not to stress about things, just let them happen.”

Buy a copy at www.kylebooks.com

Women in Trade 55

Fathers Day GIFT GUIDE

Fairmont & Main Quips and Quotes Best Dad Mug, Cream

   

Ceramic tankard mug 300cl capacity Gift-boxed Microwave & Dishwasher safe

Misfit Shine Personal Physical Activity Monitor



 Bathtub Gin 70cl Notes of juniper, fresh citrus peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and much more besides combine to create this extraordinary gin.

Simple: Set your own goals with Shine to see your progress - no buttons, no cables, no charging. Battery lasts 4 months.

Multifunctional: Tracks activities such as cycling, swimming, soccer, tennis and functions as a watch.

Created in Tunbridge Wells by infusing fresh botanicals in highproof spirit in very small batches. If you're looking for the ultimate gin for a G&T, you've just found it. Huge, bright flavours that stand up in any tonic.

Best stored in a cool dark place.

Stockist details: Amazon.co.uk 56 Women in Trade

Stockist details: Amazon.co.uk

DALMORE 12 Year OLD MALT Whisky 70cl On the nose, citrus fruits, chocolate and aromatic spices.

Best served with Wensleydale cheese, Lindt orange intense chocolate and Davidoff Special 'T' RG52 cigar.

Audemus Spirits Bob’s Batch Pink Pepper Gin Developed to age and evolve, both in the bottle and the glass. When the bottle is young, or when diluted or chilled, fresher, spicy notes of pink pepper, juniper and cardamom are prominent. Over time, the gin evolves and warms up, allowing notes of patisserie; vanilla, tonka and honey to come to the forefront.

On the palate the ginn is full-bodied and intensely aromatic. Produced in Cognac, France. Perfect for sipping or in cocktails and classic G&T's.

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Spotlight WHO IS SHE? Cynthia Stroud is a qualified microbiologist with an MBA (distinction) from the University of Buckingham. In 2009 she set up Cakes by Cynthia, from her home kitchen. Her journey into business was a simple progression and when her venture flourished she sought larger premises and a new name to reflect their beliefs. The Pretty Gorgeous Cake Company was born and many of her designs have featured in prestigious magazines such as Vogue.

Cynthia Stroud, the QUEEN of CAKES

BACK STORY “After studying microbiology, I came over to England to study for my MBA and then worked for a few years. However, I found I kept changing jobs as no matter what I was doing it felt as if something was missing and I was bored. Returning home after work I would bake to relax! Then, whilst I was expecting my son, I took the decision to leave my job following maternity leave. I tried to earn a similar amount from making cakes whilst spending time with my son. It’s been a fantastic journey to reach this point, with the reputation the business has and becoming an official cake supplier to the BRITs.” PLANS FOR EXPANSION “Yes we are working on a couple of exciting projects to be revealed around October 2015. Keep an eye on the website or our Facebook page.”

CELEBRITY FANS “Yes, we’ve made wedding cakes for five celebrity couples and make them regularly for two others. I’m going to be boring though and not divulge any names.”

WHY WE LOVE CYNTHIA Cynthia is the queen of cakes who dislikes negativity and says we should count our blessings every day.

prettygorgeouscakecompany.co.uk

Photography by Andrew Buckle

Women in Trade 59

5 Moods Not to Entertain

60 Women in Trade

Negative Thinking is detrimental. It’s something that happens during a bad mood or a period of feeling sorry for yourself. It’s pointless and inflicts pain, causing the sufferer to live in the past. Negative thoughts drain energy and the longer you dwell on them the more difficult it becomes to focus on the positive. Try smiling, laughing and focussing on the good things in your life. Surround yourself with positive people and say positive things and remember, there’s always someone with worse problems.

Are you struggling with stress? Mental or emotional pressure can turn into stress when you’re no longer able to cope.

People react differently and it can affect everything you do, manifesting in sleep problems, loss of appetite and difficulty concentrating. You may also experience physical symptoms such as headache and nausea. Learning to manage it prevents it from potentially causing serious problems such as high blood pressure. Regular exercise, sleep and relaxation are all recommended.

Image Credit : Eni Turkeshi Imagery - Visual Artist

B

ad moods can occur for a variety of reasons.

There might be a medical condition such as depression which requires medical advice and possibly treatment. Other than that we might develop a bad or bleak mood through stress, frustration or perhaps a bad day at work. From failing an exam to another job rejection, bad moods can strike anyone, anytime and sometimes there does not appear to be a specific reason for them. For some, the mood will lift but for others, the darkness will remain.

5 Moods Not To Entertain

is often characterised

with sadness, an anxious feeling, fatigue, frustration, low self-esteem and anger but it improves over a short period. A low mood that doesn’t improve might be a sign of depression. This can occur at any time or at specific points in life, such as the winter months (SAD) and following child birth (postnatal depression). Depression is treatable and counselling and cognitive-behavioural therapy are beneficial. For SAD sufferers, making the most of outdoor natural light is beneficial and try to avoid stress. Using a light box has been found to be an effective treatment.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease perhaps due to worry or fear. Exams, job interviews or money worries are all triggers. Some people find it harder to control their worries than others. You might find it difficult to eat, sleep and concentrate. If it persists and affects your ability to live your life in the way you’d like, then it’s worth thinking about ways to help yourself. Try to eat balanced, regular meals, take enough rest and adopt positive thinking.

Taking exercise will also help, releasing your body’s natural endorphins which give you a positive feel-good boost.

Anger

Walnuts Walnuts: known as „Brain Food‟. Recent scientific studies have proven that walnuts promote brain function and helps as a mood booster. They contain omega-3 fatty acids known to increase activity of the brain.

Try it: Crush and sprinkle on

salads or yogurts for that extra added crunch. Try snacking on these when you need a mental lift.

salmon is associated with most moods. For

some it’s more complex and part of a medical condition such as depression. For others it arises from stress, anxiety or a low mood. We all need to control our anger – it’s something we all experience at times and again positive thinking is essential. Talking about your problems or worries might be useful and counselling can be a positive step. Diet, rest and exercise are important.

The simple message is to take care of yourself. Moods are varied and complex and eating well, exercise, avoiding stress and socialising are all useful things you can do to improve your overall wellbeing. Smiling, laughter and conversation are also a fantastic, revitalising tonic.

Salmon: a super food known to boost neuron function in the brain. It is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which is crucial for a healthy diet.

Try it: Grill your Salmon

fillet and serve on a bed of beensprouts and noodles.

Women in Trade 61

Salmon Image : Camilo Rueda Lopez | Walnut Image : Jonas Tana

Low mood

Relax, Reinvigorate,

Rejuvenate Lay back and relax on a well-being holiday in 2015

By Jamie-Lee Crick ____________________________________________________

F

or today’s career woman, life is fast-paced, constant change, stressful and just a little more crazy than it used to be. Our daily lives may have a negative effect on our bodies and minds and can contribute to ill-health unless we take the occasional break.

The advantages of taking relaxing time off to promote good health has long been understood: the ancient Romans and Greeks excelled in laying down the foundations for the modern spas we know today.

The latest craze is the holistic or well-being holiday where the focus is on the whole body, mind and spirit. Traditional breaks are normally a short lived relaxation whereas the benefits of holistic holidays last long after the suntan has faded. It’s no longer just about lounging by the pool, sipping cocktails and topping up your tan. A break that can have lasting health benefits, boost your fitness and help you lose weight is becoming a popular choice.

Holistic holidays include yoga, Pilates, or shiatsu massage – a therapy of Japanese origin. There are weekend packages which allow you to detox, or you may indulge in some rather more way‐out therapies, such as singing and tree hugging. There are many choices for those wanting to escape.

62 Women in Trade

Pamper your body at The BodyHoliday, St. Luc The Clover Mill at Night

A

life coaching holiday can benefit those who feel the need to regain control of their lives. Such weekends might include physical workouts and are also being used by companies to identify potential leaders. There are those who swear that the best stress‐buster of all is a ‘floatation tank’ where you relax in a salt bath. Holistic breaks are all about taking care of both ‘body and mind’, and not just about pampering yourself.

Some Top benefits of holistic holidays are: Connection or re-connection to self, nature and others It is the soul that enlivens all parts of our lives. When we come home to the inner peace of our soul, we feel inspired and fulfilled in a way that nothing else can touch. We have more energy, enthusiasm and love to share.

Personal development A relaxed atmosphere and a safe space is a perfect opportunity to re-examine your motivations, goals, and beliefs in life. Equally, it is a great environment to become re-acquainted with yourself.

Health Immersing yourself in yoga and meditation for a week allows you to create a strong foundation as a beginner and deepen your practice. It brings awareness to correct alignment, breathing techniques, concentration and meditation from which you can develop and grow.

New experiences Broadening your horizons sounds like a cliché but has proven to be true. An opportunity to learn something different in a foreign place, get to know new cultures and different culinary experiences can all contribute to your creativity.

cia

Delicious Cocktails at The Clover Mill

Indulge in some quiet time at The Clover Mill

Women in Trade 63 Luxury Spa at Terre Blanche, South of France

Relax, Reinvigorate,

Rejuvenate Lay back and relax on a well-being holiday in 2015

Looking to get away on a holistic break? Here are my favourite holistic holiday retreats around the world.

The BodyHoliday, St Lucia The BodyHoliday in St Lucia has a tempting offer – “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.” It uniquely combines one of the world’s most beautiful islands, an all-inclusive resort that provides a luxurious and personal service, a Wellness Centre with a range of treatments that will leave you feeling alive and various activities that could keep you busy from dawn until dusk. On top of this they cater for every taste in food and drink with five great restaurants and relaxing bars. It is an experience that allows you to be as active or as quiet as you want.

TheBodyHoliday.com

64 Women in Trade Image Credits: The BodyHoliday

Well-Being Holiday 2015 The Clover Mill, Worcestershire UK Inspired by her visits to ayurvedic retreats in Sri Lanka, Julie Dent left a successful career as a scientist and spent four years meticulously renovating this 17th-century water mill to bring her vision of an ayurvedic spa to life. She's a great hostess – attentive without being overbearing. Personally-tailored programmes are offered along with daily yoga classes, authentic ayurvedic treatments and homecooked organic meals. You sleep in gorgeous eco-lodges with decking and under-floor heating (powered by a wood pellet biomass boiler).

Try a new approach to holidays and experience the long-lasting positive effects on your body, mind and spirit.

TheCloverMill.com

Surround yourself with nature

A View From The Lake

Women in Trade 65

Well-Being Holiday 2015 Terre Blanche, South of France The perfect destination for a wellness and weight loss break. Shape up in June at this 300-hectare retreat in Southern France. Terre Blanche offers a range of healthy holidays to suit your individual goals, including specific wellness programmes tailored towards fitness, detoxing and spa slimming.

Enhance your well-being with activities ranging from circuit training to yoga and aqua aerobics to total body burner. In keeping with the resort’s core values, the spa delivers a range of indulgent therapies, all designed to leave you feeling completely revitalised.

Complement your healthy holiday with weight loss enhancing treatments, such as a lymphatic drainage massage or a slimming body wrap.

Terre-Blanche.com

66 Women in Trade

Well-Being Holiday 2015

Let go at Terre Blanche

Women in Trade 67

Photography by Myles New Eat Clean: Wok Yourself to Health by Ching-He Huang Published by Harper Thorsons

Ching-He Huang

BY JANET KIRLEW

CHING-HE HUANG

How a Wok

changed her life hing is a renowned TV chef and cookery writer, also known as the hottest Chinese chef of the moment. As a little girl she learned to cook by her grandmother’s side, sowing the seeds for her passion for food at an early age. Later, fresh from university she established her own food company. Today, with television success and several cookery books, she is her own successful brand and a woman with an important message. As an ambassador for Chinese cooking around the world, she firmly believes that what people eat forms the building blocks of what they become.

70 Women in Trade

Photography by Myles New Eat Clean: Wok Yourself to Health by Ching-He Huang Published by Harper Thorsons Women in Trade 71

Ching-He Huang hing is an inspiration, changing the face of Asian cooking, convincing people of the merits and benefits of wok cooking.

Her simple, accessible menus are proving to be a growing global phenomenon. In 2013 she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award as best culinary TV host in the United States.

As summer beckons people often think more consciously about their appearance.

Summer clothes, holidays and lounging by the pool, everyone wants to look their best. However, before thinking of diets, living on salads and any other extreme measures, it might be worthwhile to consider an alternative. What about cooking healthy food the Ching-He Huang way? Saucepans and roasting tins are out – woks are in. Cooking is changing and woks are fast becoming the hottest cooking utensil around. Ching turned to Chinese cooking in a bid to turn her own health around – it worked.

“

If our system is imbalanced then it gives rise to illness. If our bodies lose the ability to expel waste, bacteria breeds and toxins multiply. If the balance is not addressed, the toxins accumulate, clinging onto fat in the body.

“

Her latest book, Eat Clean, Wok Yourself to Health contains many fabulous recipes from her own journey of recovery. Ching’s ethos is to use ethically sourced ingredients and her recipes combine tradition with innovation, creating traditional Chinese food with a modern twist. With over one hundred recipes and a vast array of choice there is something for everyone and best of all it delivers essential nutrition in healthy meals. Ching, the maestro of her own healing is now sharing her personal journey with the world.

Today, Ching’s favourite cooking tool is her wok. Her favourite super-foods are dark leafy green vegetables, blueberries, Goji berries and citrus fruits, but it was not always this way.

In 2011, she began to suffer with allergies and her face and skin would turn blotchy after eating shellfish and nuts. For three years her diet was in disarray and she was extremely unhappy. With a reliance on anti-histamine tablets which she carried everywhere, she had to be very careful of what she ate because she did not know what was causing the reactions.

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The Maestro of Chinese Food It was at that point in her life she seized control as she embarked upon her own journey of detoxification. Ching realised that her body was brimming with toxins and any further ingestion of pollutants, preservatives or chemicals would send her system into overdrive.

Through research she discovered the cause of her allergies and came to understand that the human body is highly intelligent, designed to clean itself. However, with the continuous ingestion of toxins from the wrong foods over time, it begins to lose its natural ability to detox and to heal.

Ching explained, “If our system is imbalanced then it gives rise to illness.

If our bodies lose the ability to expel waste, bacteria breeds and toxins multiply. If the balance is not addressed, the toxins accumulate, clinging onto fat in the body.” This has an adverse effect because it makes us feel

Healthful asparagus, bamboo, shiitake stir-fry Recipes and images taken from EAT CLEAN: Wok Yourself to Health by Ching-He Huang (£16.99), eBook (£10.00) published by Harper Thorsons.

unwell and any further ingestion of fat cannot be broken down. This then has a negative impact upon the body’s metabolism. Gradually, the body loses its ability to regulate and burn fat efficiently because it’s too toxic and cannot deal with the growing accumulation of pollutants. As Ching says, “The problem lies in the quality of our foods. My own experience spurred me on to write Eat Clean and share the message that your health can be turned around by eating a ‘clean’ diet.”

Healthful asparagus, bamboo, shiitake stir-fry recipe 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil 1 garlic clove, crushed, peeled and finely chopped 1 teaspoon freshly grated peeled ginger 1 medium red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 1 small carrot, peeled and finely diced 50g/2oz bamboo shoots, drained and finely diced (optional) 50g/2oz asparagus spears, blanched and diced 3 shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, sliced 2 teaspoons low-sodium light soy sauce or tamari 1 teaspoon vegetarian ‘oyster’ sauce 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1 small spring onion, green part only, finely chopped 1 small handful of coriander leaves 150g cooked brown basmati rice (optional)

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Ching-He Huang When asked about the importance of breakfast, Ching is passionate about “firing up the body by getting the right food into it first thing in the morning.” This is vital for a fast metabolism and it also provides you with the essential energy to start your day. Eating a good breakfast keeps hunger pangs and cravings at bay and it helps us to resist the unhealthy in-between-meal snacks. ugar, Ching explains is best to avoid on the whole. However, fruit contains “good sugars” which are slower releasing, and are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. “Bad” sugars contain little nutritional value such as pure granulated sugar. But don’t despair about giving up sugar just yet – not before you flick through Ching’s latest cook book. You might be pleasantly surprised.

With success, comes demand. As a very accomplished chef, Ching has TV appearances, magazine features and cookery shows to contend with along with world travel. So to maintain health and manage stress, she recommends sweating to detox the body and quiet for the mind. Perhaps a trip to the sauna would do the trick.

For inspiration, Ching draws upon her travels, eating out and memories from the past when it comes to creating a menu. Buddha is the one person she would like to share a meal with as she would like to know “how one can live a life without contradictions.” If she could change one thing it would be world peace.

If you would like to know a few more things about Ching, you might laugh to hear that her bugbear is washing the dishes. Her favourite shopping place is Notting Hill – they have great boutiques and antique stores there. She practices Chi-Gong Meditation and says, “It helps me find inner peace and balance.”

Painting and singing are among her interests, although as she admits, she’s not very good at either.

When asked about the pay-it-forward challenge, Ching replied, “I sometimes drop small notes and coins in the street.” As her favourite quote by the great and talented Oscar Wilde goes, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”

For Ching, the best part of being a TV chef is being able to share her creations with the viewing audience and having cooks email her to let her know how much they enjoyed her dish. She also loves meeting and cooking for the many wonderful personalities she has met.

Her story is truly inspiring and her message is simple. Eat well, live well and your body will be restored to the temple it deserves to be. If you would like to follow Ching on social media, she uses twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. All her social media sites contain excellent resources including mouth-watering recipes, advice and tips for all budding chefs.

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A Revolutionary East-West Approach to Eating Well

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Ching-He Huang

BREAKFAST WITH CHING Revitalising oatmeal with blueberries, raspberries and manuka honey

This is a classic breakfast dish that is not only delicious but also full of nutritious goodies. Oatmeal is a great slow-releasing, complex carbohydrate and is also high in protein and a variety of vitamins.

It contains high amounts of soluble fibre, which can lower cholesterol and makes you feel fuller for longer. Blueberries and raspberries are packed with antioxidants and vitamins, which may provide a boost to your immune system, neutralise free radicals and are anti-ageing. Top this off with some amazing Goji berries – this superfood contains all the essential amino acids and has the highest concentration of protein of any fruit. They are also loaded with vitamin C and carotenoids and have 21 trace minerals. If you are working out and need extra protein, add protein powder while cooking the oatmeal.

60g/2.oz rolled oats 400ml/14fl oz cold water 1 serving vanilla protein powder (optional) 60g/2.oz mixed blueberries and raspberries 1 teaspoon manuka honey 1 tablespoon raw sunflower seeds 1 tablespoon Goji berries Combine the oats and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down to low and cook gently until all the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat, then add the protein powder (if using) and use a whisk to combine well.

Pour the oatmeal into a bowl and top with the blueberries and raspberries, then add the honey, sunflower seeds and Goji berries and eat immediately.

Per serving Cals Protein (g) Carbs (g) Sugars (g) Fat (g) Sat Fat (g) Fibre (g) Sodium (mg)

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62.8

14.2

13.3

1.2

9.4

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BREAKFAST

Revitalising oatmeal with blueberries, raspberries and manuka honey Recipes and images taken from EAT CLEAN: Wok Yourself to Health by Ching-He Huang (£16.99), eBook (£10.00) published by Harper Thorsons.

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Ching-He Huang

CHING‟S 20 ESSENTIAL EVERYDAY INGREDIENTS TO HELP EAT CLEAN 1

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A Revolutionary East-West Approach to Eating Well

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CHING‟S 20 ESSENTIAL EVERYDAY INGREDIENTS TO HELP EAT CLEAN Refer to pages 80-81

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Organic coconut oil – unprocessed, unrefined, pure coconut oil. Solid at room temperature, but melts as it hits the wok.

Coconut oil is a stable fat and the latest unconventional nutrition experts advocate using coconut oil, stating that it is good for the heart, reducing the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. (Source: Coconut Cures, Bruce Fife N.D.)

Seaweeds – wakame, nori, nori flakes, kelp – seaweeds come in many different forms. Dried nori seaweed makes a great low-fat snack and can be used in soups and salads. It is the perfect low-calorie ingredient that is high in Yíngyang. Seaweeds make a great sushi-style wrap for vegetables. Fish get their omega-3 from both seaweed and other fish, so go straight to source! While omega-3 quantities may be low, seaweed contains minerals such as iodine, which is proven to be good for thyroid function.

Fruit – eat only those that are in season.

Most fruits contain high sources of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Garlic – a good anti-fungal and antibacterial ingredient. Delicious grated raw in a salad dressing or used in a stir-fry.

Organic wheat-free tamari – if you are allergic to wheat, try using a wheat-free, gluten-free soy sauce (although it is high in salt, so use it in limited amounts). Do compare different brands, as some low-sodium soy sauces have a lower sodium content.

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Nuts – all kinds of nuts, but raw and unprocessed and preferably organic. With nuts, I wash them first (as you don’t know what dust, dirt or moulds have collected on them during harvesting and packing). Then drain and place on a roasting tray. Drizzle over sea salt water – minimal pinches of sea salt dissolved in filtered water (omit if you are on a low-salt diet) – and roast in the oven at 180ºC (350ºF/gas mark 4) for 10 minutes to crisp up and get all toasty (watch them so they don’t burn, as all ovens vary). Great crushed and sprinkled on salads and in soups or eaten as a fuelling snack.

Organic miso paste – great for making soup broths and contains some healthy bacteria from the fermentation process. It also contributes a delicious savoury flavour.

Be careful to use small amounts, as some can be high in sodium.

Extra-virgin olive oil – a healthy monounsaturated fat that helps decrease total blood cholesterol.

Fresh shiitake mushrooms – natural umami in flavour and rich in antioxidants.

Organic dark leafy greens – kale, cabbages, spinach, broccoli (and all other vegetables). The bonus is that this group of vegetables contains phyto-chemicals that are thought to combat cancer.

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Avoid ingredients in metal packaging.

Avoid processed ingredients.

Use organic ingredients where possible.

Some Asian foods can be high in sodium, so try to eat these recipes with other low sodium meals.

Limit sugar. Use organic soft brown sugar or caster sugar for natural goodness with just a pinch.

Avocado – in Chinese it is known as Niu-you guo, or nature’s butter. It has high levels of monounsaturated fat, which helps regulate blood sugar and is good for the heart.

Lemons and limes – great sources of vitamin C and are alkalising and cleansing.

Add zest and flavour to dressings and seafood dishes. The seeds are great, too, for cleaning the gut.

Eggs – make sure you buy organic. A good source of protein and also a source of choline, a nutrient that some of us may not be getting enough of. It’s also thought that choline may have anti-inflammatory properties, and may help protect against cardiovascular disease. Egg yolks also contain the antioxidants lutein and zeanthanin, which are thought to protect against macular degeneration.

Ginger – in Chinese medicine, this warms the body and is very yang, great for digestion and fighting colds and flus. Heat a little piece and rub it on the temples to relieve headaches and migraines.

Organic bouillon vegetable stock powder – quick and easy for making soup broths.

Look for low-salt options.

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Papaya seeds – excellent for naturally helping to expel parasites in the gut. Not used in conventional medicine, but from personal experience they work!

Goji berries – add them to your nut mix.

They contain myriad nutrients and are delicious in soup broths, teas and stir-fries.

Traditional Chinese medicine advocates they are good for eye health.

Seeds – pumpkin, sunflower, linseed and flaxseed are all organic sources and great sprinkled on foods. Seeds are rich in sources of fibre, vitamin E and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are good for our hearts.

Fresh chilli – adds flavour and vitamin C to dishes, delicious!

Dried spices – from turmeric (which has anti-microbial properties healing the gut of any inflammation), to cumin, which helps improve the appetite after fevers or vomiting, spices contain many healthful properties. Most spices are eaten in very small amounts, but usage helps to increase health according to Chinese food therapists.

The ancient Indian principles of Ayurveda hold the same belief.

To find out more about Ching and her delicious recipes, visit: ChingHeHuang.Com

The MAGICAL

power of LAUGHTER The power of laughter is extraordinary

and is often underrated and neglected.

L

aughter might indeed be the best medicine and has the power to heal, alleviate pain, improve immunity and relieve

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stress and anxiety. It helps strike a balance in life between good and bad, sadness and unhappiness and is perhaps the yin and yang of life. Humour is more infectious than coughs and sneezes and its benefits are immense. An old Yiddish proverb says, “What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.�

Without laughter and humour we lose a dimension of ourselves. Our character is dull, flat and we become isolated and may feel desolate, especially if you cannot understand the reason for laughter. Life is serious and harsh and for many of us we are shown that rough edge time and time again. Every one of us is at risk of succumbing to its

intensity and for the sake of our sanity and life itself, we cannot allow that.

Is life getting you down?

When pressures are building at home or at work, perhaps a good, hearty chuckle is just the tonic you need. Humour triggers the laughter you need to release stressful emotions.

It is so important to dispel stress and anxiety so we do not become enveloped in emotional despair. Laughter relieves stress, creates positive emotions, promotes communication and enhances social interaction and relationships.

Is life getting you down? The Magical Power of Laughter

Photo by Quentin Thompson

“Your sense of humour is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.”

- Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D. Nothing works better than a large dose of laughter to redress the balance of all things and to lighten the load.

It is a tool that enables you to connect with others and enhances relationships while supporting physical and emotional health.

Laughter is good for your health A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and de-stresses, leaving muscles relaxed for up to forty five minutes. Laughter causes physiological responses that protect the body from disease and help our vital organs repair themselves. Laughter

protects the heart, improving blood vessels and increasing blood flow. This can give protection against a heart attack or other cardiovascular problems. It lowers blood pressure and improves sleep patterns. Laughter also boosts the immune system. It decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, our body’s own natural feel-good chemicals – the same chemicals released when you exercise so you see it truly is a fantastic mental

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The Magical Power of Laughter

You will develop and flourish and people will react to you in a more positive way. workout brimming with physical benefits.

A study by the John Hopkins University Medical School showed that laughter and humour improves memory and mental performance. So if you can do one good thing today, do it with a smile.

Don’t take life too seriously Laughter has the feel-good factor. Even after you finish laughing, that overall good feeling stays with you for some time. Humour enables you to be positive and optimistic when times are difficult. It helps you to find meaning and hope in life, bringing joy and lifting your mood. On a social level, laughter attracts others to us, enhances teamwork and also promotes group bonding. In times of disagreements and conflicts, laughter can be a fantastic ice-breaker, helping to heal rifts and enabling you to find a way forward to resolving the problem.

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Laughter is infectious When someone you’re with laughs, and laughs, it’s catching and sometimes you laugh purely because they are. Shared laughter is not only enjoyable and sociable but it’s one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships exciting and fresh, helping to contribute to building stronger, lasting relationships. A room full of people can be instantly revitalised and warmed by a good injection of laughter, bringing people closer and forging amazing connections.

Laughter is a natural part of you and life Babies smile during the first weeks of life, chuckling away after a few months. The simple act of listening to a baby laugh can instil laughter, passing it on like a virus.

It is almost impossible not to feel the corners of your mouth twitch and flicker as you fight to suppress a smile.

Do you need to develop your sense of humour?

Often it’s easier than you think, just begin by not taking yourself too seriously. Life has a lighter side. Begin by laughing at yourself, sharing your embarrassing moments.

Perhaps try laughing at situations rather than bemoaning them. It helps to keep things in perspective as opposed to blowing up situations or problems out of proportion. Spend more time with your family, your children and friends. Watch children play and interact and soak up the simplicity of life.

Get a pet Animals are fabulous for making our lives fun and varied. They do crazy things and often take us to laughing, side-splitting realms with their antics. Studies have shown that people with pets have lower levels of depression and

Photo by Siew Feun | Click Snap Shot Photography

stress and have a reduced risk of heart disease.

The message is simple

Look for laughter

In this life, we need to laugh. Try to find the joy from the simple things. Find a reason to laugh each day. Even smiling has been shown to make us feel better so if all else fails, force a smile. A simple conversation can leave you with a glow, even if it’s a brief phone call and not face-to-face. So take charge today and smile and glow and live longer!

Read a funny book or catch up on your favourite comedian or comedy show. Laughter is all around if you’re looking for it.

As laughter and humour sneak into your daily life and become a part of your regular routine, you will benefit in so many ways. From health to social relationships to creativity. You will develop and flourish and people will react to you in a more positive way. In time you will be able to deal with life’s troubles and with life itself in a more relaxed and positive way, having a much more balanced perspective.

It truly is a fantastic mental workout brimming with physical benefits Women in Trade 85

Female firsts: Celebrating and remembering women in history.

Kim Woodward

Head Chef of Gordon Ramsay Group’s Savoy Grill.

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Kim Woodward Appointed as First Female Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay Group’s Savoy Grill, becoming the first woman to run the kitchen in its 126-year history. ecently, the Savoy Grill appointed Kim Woodward as its first female Head Chef in its 126-year history. Since taking up her new position, Kim has helped spearhead the success of the restaurant following the 2010 re-launch. The establishment has entertained regulars over the years such as Sir Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde, the Prince of Wales and Frank Sinatra. Kim says

“I feel very proud to be in this great iconic restaurant in the heart of London.” She loves her career and has a fine passion for cooking and exploring foods and tastes. When looking for inspiration for menus, the seasons play a key role as do all the chefs that she works with. Flavours and food that excite the palette are also paramount.

In considering whether enough is being done to encourage more women into this industry, Kim states, “I think it comes down to the fact that not all talent is spotted and perhaps that’s because women don’t necessarily shout as loudly about their talents, unlike men. I would love to improve on that here at the Savoy Grill and create an environment where everyone gets noticed for their hard work, irrespective of gender. I’m always looking for new, determined and talented people of both sexes.”

After leaving college, Kim spent several years honing her skills in America and in 2007 she returned to the UK and joined the Gordon Ramsay Group as a Junior Sous Chef at Boxwood Café. She also appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals, reaching the semi-finals of the highly competitive show.

Female Firsts : Women in the Food Industry

or Kim, food heaven is veal, sweetbreads, asparagus and almond foam, whereas food hell is liver and onions. The person she would most like to share a meal with is Tom Kerridge.

“He has such a passion for cooking – one I can really relate to and it comes from the love of food he creates in his restaurants. It would be amazing to experience that with him and pick his brain.”

As our summer editions theme is about connecting with your inner glow, we wondered what makes Kim glow.

“I take care to nurture my staff, so I guess you could say my inner glow comes from watching them develop and overcome the challenges presented to them daily in the kitchens, and seeing them become the best they can be. Growing and building a team and looking on as they succeed is an amazing feeling.”

Her pay it forward challenge involves taking on apprentices, teaching them in the hope that one day they may have their own kitchens to run.

Kim’s favourite quote is: “Life is what you make it.” That is so true and Kim has certainly made hers a success and we wish her well in her career at the Savoy. www.gordonramsay.com

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The Food and Drink Federation are on a mission to attract fresh talent WORDS: FDF

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the voice of the British food and drink industry which has a wide range of businesses, companies and trade associations within its membership ranks.

However, there is a significant skills shortage at present and as a result new initiatives have been implemented to attract fresh talent into this vital sector. One such initiative is the presentation of a Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline, with the aim of increasing the overall numbers of female engineering admissions.

Coca-Cola Enterprises have a graduate scheme – the University Talent Programme which is aimed at supporting talented individuals with their career development, preparing them for management-level positions. With a range of diverse roles and excellent career prospects, there are some fantastic opportunities available and as a direct address to women, your skills are highly sought, and the industry needs you.

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Angela Coleshill

Angela Coleshill, Director of Employment, Skills and Corporate Services at FDF, said: “UK food and drink manufacturing is facing skills shortages in a number of critical areas, in particular the current shortage of

FDF Member Case Studies for Women in STEM qualified food scientists and engineers. Through FDF’s careers campaign - ‘Taste Success – A Future in Food’ – we are working to show potential entrants that this sector is a great ‘career of first choice’ for opportunities, rewards and training.”

“In September 2014 we launched the food engineering Master’s degree at Sheffield Hallam University and it would be fantastic if we could raise the 15% average of female UK undergraduate engineering admissions as compared to 85% of male admissions.

Recruiting more highly skilled women is vital to increasing their presence in the boardroom. FDF’s continued support of incentives such as the Women into Stem pledge as part of the Your Life campaign and National Women in Engineering Day in June are all aimed at attracting more women into this sector. Science and engineering skills are required to improve manufacturing processes and retain competitiveness but we also offer a broad range of careers in disciplines such as HR, purchasing and marketing.”

FDF member case studies for women in STEM PepsiCo UK and Ireland Katherine Ebsworth gained some real life experience at PepsiCo and has now

progressed to a permanent role as a Process Specialist.

Katherine says: “During my degree I took the option to do a placement year within the Operations division of PepsiCo to gain practical, hands-on experience and to gain an insight into the world of work.”

position at PepsiCo. One of the most important things that I have gained is the confidence to work in a business environment with people from a range of backgrounds and varying levels of experience.

I've also attained important skills from working on challenging long-term projects that involve a lot of investigation and problem solving.”

“At PepsiCo they believe that training and development runs through the company as it strives to go one step further, something that I have ambitions of doing throughout my career!”

Katherine Ebsworth

“Part of this involved spending time working on data analysis to analyse the production process and ensure that everything ran smoothly.”

“I was exposed to so much responsibility that I was given the opportunity to build a computer software program from scratch, which controls the seasoning application during the production process of Walkers crisps. My aspiration is that this will now roll out to every Walkers plant!”

“During my placement, I was thrilled to be offered a full time

Premier Foods Louise Eaton is a Product Development Technologist at the R&D centre based at Premier Foods Workshop manufacturing site.

Louise Eaton

Louise says: “My job is so diverse - part of my time is spent managing the new product development

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FDF Member Case Studies for Women in STEM

process while the remainder involves being creative with the development of fresh products. I work cross functionally with different teams including marketing, operations, regulatory and the sensory team, to take produce from concept to launch. Seeing goods I've helped to develop on supermarket shelves gives me a sense of achievement.”

During her time at university, Louise Eaton combined her curiosity of science with her passion for food and completed her degree in Food Science.

After completing her placement year at Premier Foods, it opened her eyes to how dynamic this manufacturing industry is.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Danielle Epstein joined CocaCola Enterprises Ltd on their University Talent Programme in supply chain after studying a degree in Chemical Engineering.

Danielle says: “The University Talent Programme is a three year scheme with yearly rotations across supply chain.”

“The different roles will help me gain a wide skill set and a broad perspective of the many

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functions and areas of CCE's dynamic supply chain. The objective is to accelerate my development to support my career progression, enabling me to begin a career path towards becoming a future leader of the business.”

“My first role involved being an Asset Care System Supervisor, working in the Engineering Department. My main projects focused on organising efficient and effective maintenance of some of our key production lines in the factory.”

“My influencing skills are stronger as I don't have a direct team working for me in the engineering department and must rely on the operations team to help me with my work.

Equally my abilities in presentation and networking have grown as the graduate scheme gives me plenty of opportunities to present and meet the leaders of CCE's business.”

Danielle Epstein

“The food and drink sector is typically a fast moving business which makes it interesting and challenging as technology develops quickly and we adapt to meet our customer's needs.”

“My work in this field of manufacturing has enabled me to improve my communication skills as I liaise with people at different levels of the business and with different objectives.”

For more information: Alexandra Crisp Media & Campaigns Officer Communications Division Food and Drink Federation 6 Catherine Street London, WC2B 5JJ T: +44 (0) 20 7420 7120 M: +44 (0) 7946 340 998 W: www.fdf.org.uk

Spotlight Exquisitely British : Raising the profile of British businesses WHO IS SHE? Clare Heighway is the founder of Exquisitely British, a luxury online directory showcasing the best of British. She is passionate about supporting British manufacturing and helping business owners get more visibility.

She loves a good afternoon power nap and hates rude people and bad grammar. Her favourite quote, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

- Walt Disney.

BACK STORY “My work history before starting Exquisitely British was a little sketchy to say the least! This was mainly due to spending most of my 20's as a carer for my father who had dementia. Since the loss of my father, I found my wonderful fiancé Tom, and started a business I'm very proud of - and hope my father would be too.”

PLANS FOR EXPANSION “Oh definitely. It's taken a while (almost 3 years) to start turning a profit. In the next 12 months we will be looking to hire and move into new offices. Very exciting times a head!”

CELEBRITY FANS “American actor, Taye Diggs best known for his role in hit legal series Ally McBeal recently followed us on Twitter.”

WHY WE LOVE CLARE Clare is a sassy entrepreneur, passionate supporter of British manufacturing who adores her Labrador, Hobbes.

ExquisitelyBritish.com

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Tackling Menopause Dr. Sarah Schenker is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist. Her approach to the menopause is tackling it with diet and lifestyle changes.

U

nited Nations figures show that one in four women worldwide is over fifty. In five years’ time, that figure will rise to one in three and in fifty years, it’s estimated that half of all women in the world will have reached their half century.

Weaker bones, increased risk of heart disease, weight gain and hot flushes are just some of the conditions that women are more likely to experience as a result of the menopause. Yet increasing evidence says we can beat them with diet and lifestyle changes.

The menopause is defined by the time our periods stop. In women under fifty, the menopause is diagnosed after twenty four months without a period. In women over fifty, it’s twelve months following the last period.

The average age for this to happen is fifty one. Menopause is marked by a complex series of hormonal changes. The levels of oestrogen and progesterone, the key hormones that control our fertility and menstrual cycle, fall dramatically. This leads to a greater dominance of ‘male’ hormones such as testosterone. Stress hormones such as cortisol rise, and

BY DR. SARAH SCHENKER

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Wellbeing | Tackling Menopause

there are many other changes which affect appetite, blood pressure, fat storage and bone loss. Collagen, the connective tissue that keeps skin taut and bouncy, maintains the density and resilience of our bones and cushions our joints, yet five years following menopause we can lose thirty per cent of our collagen. Skin becomes thinner and wrinkled and thinner skin is less able to make vitamin D from sunlight.

Hormone changes also encourage weight gain, especially around the middle, and women become more predisposed to insulin resistance, a condition that can cause high blood sugar and eventually type 2 diabetes. It also increases chronic inflammation, which can make conditions such as rosacea and arthritis appear for the first time, or get worse.

Post menopausal women are also more prone to high blood pressure and higher levels of LDL (lowdensity lipoprotein) cholesterol and lower HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and higher levels of triglycerides, or fat in the blood, which also increases heart disease and diabetes risk.

Menopause Symptoms :

Hot flushes Low moods hormone changes Dry Skin

Symptoms of the menopause can be alleviated by including the right foods, here’s what you need to add, and why.

Phytoestrogens Phytoestrogens found in certain foods are oestrogenic compounds that bind with oestrogen receptor sites in the body cells, increasing the total oestrogenic effect. By acting in a similar way to oestrogen, they may help in keeping hormones a little more in balance. The best sources of phytoestrogens include linseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb, green beans, soya beans and soya products such as soya milk and soya flour and tofu.

Hot flushes Avoid eating foods that are likely to trigger or worsen hot flushes and night sweats such as stimulants like caffeine

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Wellbeing | Tackling Menopause

Avoid eating foods that are likely to trigger or worsen hot flushes (tea, coffee and dark chocolate), alcohol and spicy foods, especially at night.

Tiredness Choose foods with a low GI that release their energy slowly and maintain balanced blood sugar.

Avoid snacking on sugary foods – all too often a sharp rise in your blood glucose level may be followed by a sharp dip which leaves you feeling tired and drained.

contain vitamin E, zinc and calcium. These nutrients and the healthy oils in nuts and seeds may help prevent dry skin and normalise hormone levels.

Mood swings and lack of sleep Include foods that contain the amino acid tryptophan, this includes turkey, oats, legumes (such as peanuts) and cottage cheese. Tryptophan helps manufacture the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin helps moods and may help control sleep and appetite which can make you feel better in yourself. Other useful strategies to help you feel less irritable are to eat breakfast and not miss meals to balance your blood sugar levels.

Weight gain Metabolic rate slows as we age and can dramatically dip with the menopause as we start to lose lean muscle mass. Avoid weight gain by reducing portion size at every meal and making sure all meals are well balanced to include a fist sized amount of protein (lean meat, fish, soya, eggs), a quarter of the plate as whole grains or starch veg such as new or sweet potatoes, sweetcorn, peas and root veg and fill the rest of the plate with green or colourful veg.

Dry skin Legumes, nuts and seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower and almonds

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Bone health Women going through the menopause should increase their intake of food sources of calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and K to maintain good bone health. In addition, high amounts of phosphorous – found in red meat, processed foods and fizzy drinks – should also be avoided. Too much phosphorous in the diet accelerates the loss of minerals such as calcium and magnesium from bone. Reducing sodium, caffeine and protein from animal products can also help the body maintain calcium stores.

Include foods high in magnesium and boron. These minerals are essential for the replacement of bone and help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Boron is found in peanuts and nuts, dates, raisins, grapes, apples and pears.

Magnesium is found in whole grains such as brown basmati rice and nuts and green leafy veg.

Wellbeing | Tackling Menopause

Try this delicious menopause busting recipe

Thai melon brightener

Rice and date porridge Brown basmati rice releases its energy slowly and keeps balanced blood sugars level so helping to curb hunger pangs, sugar cravings and maintain weight. It’s a good source of fibre for gut health and magnesium for healthy metabolism. The dates give a natural sweetness but with a low GI, high in fibre and rich in minerals including iron, calcium, copper and manganese.

Serves 2 200g cooked brown Basmati rice 250ml soya milk 6 chopped dates ½ tsp mixed spice Drizzle of honey 1 small egg 1 tbsp of pumpkin seeds

Thai Melon Brightener by PlenishCleanse.Com: A light instant cooler and vitamin hit to lift your mood.

Try it: Buy Thai Melon Brightener juice from Plenish Cleanse.

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Combine the cooked brown rice, milk, spice and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Beat the egg in a small bowl. Temper the egg by whisking in some of the hot rice, a tablespoon at a time until you have incorporated about 6 tablespoons. Stir the egg into the rice along with the seeds and continue cooking over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken. Stir in the chopped dates just before serving.

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Image credit: British Airways

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ritish Airways recently launched its flagship Future Pilot Programme, a sponsored pilot training scheme in which they select and train future pilots. Applicants are not required to have had any prior flight training. BA aim to recruit candidates with the best aptitude and determination to succeed on this comprehensive programme. After training, pilots can look forward to employment with BA, one of the worldâ€&#x;s leading airlines and as a first officer with one of their Londonbased short haul fleets.

We caught up with two amazing female pilots, Chloe Harrison and Kat Woodruffe on life in the cockpit.

BY JANET KIRLEW

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Life in the cockpit Meet Senior First Officer Kat Woodruffe Boeing 777 (long-haul) Pilot Kat has been flying high for a while, steered in the right direction by her father, also an airline pilot with British Airways. The pair even fly together.

What attracted you to this industry? I grew up with Dad jetting off as a British Airways Captain so aviation has always been part of my life. I would tag along with him on his trips in my school holidays – my best month was three Grand Cayman trips in a row. Aeroplanes were my second home, and when I was about 12 it occurred to me that there was no other career I could imagine doing. I love the thrill of flying a large commercial aeroplane and I love travelling and meeting new people when I go to work.

What was the process of becoming a pilot? When Dad realised I was REALLY serious about being a pilot he steered me in the right direction with my A-level choices and advised me to start at flying college

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Image Credit : British Airways

Kat Woodruffe - Positive Role Model

British Airways Future Pilot Programme

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At 23 I was flying the 777 long-haul for British Airways. I've been very lucky.

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immediately. The British Airways Future Pilot Programme wasn’t available then. My Dad's advice worked and I was in my first paid commercial job at 20. At 23 I was flying the 777 long-haul for British Airways. I've been very lucky.

Your father is a British Airways Captain, and you have flown with him a few times. How did that work out? When Dad and I fly together it's just like flying with any other British Airways Captain. We all go through the same vigorous training and exams so being related doesn't affect the operation. The only difference is that I refer to the Captain as 'Dad' and he takes me for lunch down route!

Is enough being done to encourage young girls at an early age to believe that one day they could become a pilot? What changes would you like to see? I don't think that being a pilot is seen as an obvious choice for females and it’s still perceived as a male orientated job. My school were baffled when I said I wanted to be a pilot. British Airways has an awareness campaign of getting pilots into schools to talk to girls and demystify the job and make young girls aware of the amazing schemes out there. I also think a lot of girls will worry that being a pilot is not conducive with having a family. I have a two year old daughter and one more on the way and can say from experience it works really well.

Image credit: British Airways

What are your thoughts about British Airways Future Pilot Programme which is open to those with no prior flying experience? I think the Future Pilot Programme is such a fantastic opportunity for anyone - girls/boys/men/ women. It makes a career as a British Airways pilot a realistic option for anyone as it’s sponsored and lifts the cost barrier to self-fund training at an independent flight school. It wasn't available in my time but I was lucky enough to have my wise Dad guiding me in the right direction. Having the backing and guidance of British Airways, with all their knowledge of pilot training, would take the pressure off those seeking a route into aviation.

Besides being away from home and loved ones, what is the most difficult part of the job? Changing time zones is tiring and you do find yourself 'sleepless in Seattle'. However we all have our ways around this. I like to go to the gym or maybe an early morning run and sometimes use the jet lag to catch up with such glamorous things as admin or Skype the family.

What is the most breathtaking sight you have seen from the cockpit? I love flying over Greenland and seeing the glaciers seeping into the ocean. The approach into Seattle with the

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Kat Woodruffe

massive volcano Mount Rainier in the distance is striking and you never tire of Manhattan, Cape Town, Sydney and London on a beautiful day.

There's no such thing as a boring city or landscape from the air!

If you could change one thing, what would that be? I would love to see a balance of professional pilots in aviation, split 50/50 between male and female pilots - or even a female majority! It would be great to see more girls interested in flying and more women applying to become a pilot. As lovely as it is to be perceived as special, I’d like to see more of my gender take their rightful place in the flightdeck. Women make excellent pilots and it’s one of the few jobs that really does allow you to 'have it all' – a successful high powered career and a happy family life.

Favourite destination? I have a soft spot for Boston. I love America and Boston is a beautiful city with a slightly English colonial feel. It's lovely to go for a run along the river followed by a real American breakfast and maybe a spot of shopping... I may be a pilot but I still love shopping!

I also love Barbados which is probably an obvious choice!

Bugbear? People chewing gum loudly and washing up left on the counter for the 'washing up fairies' to do.

Our summer editions theme is about connecting with your inner glow, what is your glow? I glow after going for a run – and not just because I'm hot and flustered. I feel amazing and buzzy' afterwards.

Tell us something no one else knows….

Aviation answer: Pilots have to redo their

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simulator exams every six months and when you're jetting off round the world, 6 months go by quickly. They don’t get any easier and I think you worry about them more as you get older.

Although it was possible when I was 16 to listen to music, text friends and study at the same time I now find I have to be in complete silence in the library with the promise of a coffee break if I'm good.

Personal answer: I wanted to look more sophisticated, so I forced myself to eat olives every week until I liked them. I thought it very refined and grown up when I saw people sharing a bowl of olives as an aperitif. It took a year but now I have a real taste for them and can't stop eating the high salt high fat snack...

Not a sensible experiment in hindsight!

Favourite quote?

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference."

- From The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.

Image Credit : British Airways

Chloe Harrison - Positive Role Model

Life in the cockpit Meet First Officer & Pilot, Chloe Harrison Chloe has first-hand experience of the Future Pilot Programme and is one of its successes. It took her from being a young girl with a passion and love of space to the British Airways pilot she is today.

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British Airways Future Pilot Programme

“ I enjoy the variety of destinations, the ever changing daily scenarios and challenging conditions.

What was the process of becoming a pilot and what are your thoughts about the British Airways Future Pilot Programme which is open to those with no prior flying experience? At secondary school I joined the Air Training Corps and fell in love with aircraft and flying. Maths and science were my strengths so I studied them up to Masters level. After graduation I applied to the Integrated Flight Training Programme and secured a place, although I had to turn it down for financial reasons.

I got a job in International Recruitment to save the funds I needed for Flight Training which would have been close to £100,000! However, less than a year later, British Airways released the first round of the Future Pilot Programme. I can honestly say I would not be where I am today without it.

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I trained with CTC Aviation in Southampton, New Zealand, Bournemouth and went from a girl with a few air experience flights, to a fully qualified British Airways First Officer ATPL holder. I received personal mentoring from dedicated British Airways pilots and I recommend anyone wanting to become an airline pilot to apply!

The process takes you from zero hours and theory knowledge, to the right hand seat of an Airbus 320 with the best airline in the world!

Anyone can apply, aged 18 to 55. I loved every minute of training and still bring that same excitement to the Flight Deck every day.

Is enough being done to encourage young girls at an early age to believe that one day they could become a pilot? What changes would you like to see? Nowadays, women are working in more dominant and powerful positions and that’s great! I’d hope that while developing ambitions at school they’d recognise that it’s a job both sexes can do.

Image Credit : British Airways

“

What attracted you to this industry? When I was little I wanted to be an astronaut. I was always interested in anything to do with space or sciencefiction; my biggest passions are physics and flying.

Also my grandad used to work in the air traffic control tower at Gatwick and took me to aircraft museums and the International Air Tattoo.

Image credit: British Airways

Chloe Harrison

What is the most difficult part of the job? We can work long days, and you need to be flexible.

We don’t work nine till five and I work most weekends but for me it’s definitely worth it!

Some days are gruelling with delays, due to things like bad weather but it just adds to the challenge of doing a great job for our customers! Every day is different.

And the best bits? The physical flying of the aircraft will always be my favourite, being able to work on handling and perfecting my skills. I enjoy the variety of destinations, the ever changing daily scenarios and challenging conditions. I’ve been to some tough airfields and it’s always satisfying when approaches are smooth and efficient.

What's the biggest misconception people have about your job? Many people assume I spend large amounts of time in exotic places and

although that’s true for long-haul flying, I mainly do day trips. Although I fly to lots of amazing holiday destinations, we have to wave goodbye to our customers leaving the aircraft and return home.

What is the most breathtaking sight you have seen from the cockpit? That’s a mean question!

I can’t choose! I completed my training in New Zealand and I saw some incredible sights volcanoes, mountain ranges, sunsets and long beaches. When flying the Airbus for British Airways we fly over many picturesque views and London at night is breathtaking.

Who would you most like to fly with and why?

Captain Tom Pearce-Carr – a fellow British Airways pilot who sadly passed away a few years back, just a month after I found out I was accepted onto the programme. He was a huge inspiration and helped me get to where I am

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British Airways Future Pilot Programme today. He was the first person to tell me about the British Airways Future Pilot Programme and helped me all the way through the application process.

Favourite destination? In winter, Germany or Switzerland for the Christmas markets and in summer, France or Italy. I love mountain bike riding and surfing so really anywhere I can do those things!

Bugbear? Delays are frustrating and often out of our control. However, a level of professionalism is required at all times and the safe operation of the flight is most important.

Favourite shopping place?

I’m not much of a shopper. I’d rather spend time down route (at the destinations) taking one of the hotel bikes out, exploring the city or hiring a surfboard and catching some waves.

Our summer editions theme is about connecting with your inner glow, what is your glow? If I don’t speak the local language I still get a warm feeling whenever I have a smile returned even if we can’t communicate verbally.

Favourite quote?

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things.

- High Flight, John Gillespie Magee

Here’s to the future of more great British Airways pilots!

For more information about British Airways flagship Future Pilot Programme, please visit www.ba.com

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fairy

F 1

ive Top Tips for being Self-Employed In every issue, we bring you advice from experts in the industry. For summer, we have five top tips for being self-employed.

Have a plan. No matter what type of business you’re trying to build up, every possibility needs to be covered. Knowing what you’re doing can help to attract both investors (if you need them) and clients because it’s a much safer bet to opt for someone who has everything planned out!

2

Don’t underestimate the financial outlay. Many people start businesses and then find that they’re unable to afford to get things off the ground. Do your research; write down everything that you’ll need to begin and make sure you have that and more besides in case of any unexpected situations – there will be more of these than you think.

3

Plan a work timetable. When you’re self-employed, particularly if your business doesn’t require you to work office hours, you may find yourself procrastinating over finding work or from the work itself. Set times to work that suit you and stick to them.

4

Keep your paperwork up to date. You have to keep everything. Every invoice, every receipt, every bank statement. If you don’t keep this, you will run into trouble when it comes to completing your tax return further down the line. You have the option of hiring an accountant to do the maths for you, but you still need to retain all paperwork.

5

Don’t lose heart. There may be problems or people who don’t like what you do, but you have to try to overcome that and fight through it. Let struggles push you forward, not hold you back.

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A cocktail for the mind, body & spirit Herbs have been used for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians wrote their discoveries on papyrus, while Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician used herbs and documented his medicinal findings. Throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, monks also grew and used herbs as medicines. They have many uses, including flavouring for foods, perfumes, disinfectants and medicinal.

Mind (Lavender) is used in perfume and is one of the most powerful remedies in the herb garden. The essential oil is used to soothe conditions from aching muscles, eczema and fatigue to palpitations, stress and insomnia. It is also an antidepressant, analgesic and antiseptic. Try: A bundle of freshly cut lavender is great when left under a pillow to help with sleep and clearing the mind. Lavender oil is also available – add a few drops into a bath or an oil burner to help soothe the mind.

Body (Rose Oil) has antidepressant, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as many more. The rose has been proclaimed as one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, used to invoke spiritual relaxation, feelings of joy and positive thoughts. The astringent property of rose oil is known to protect against wrinkles, loss of teeth by strengthening gums and hair loss. It is also a great muscle toner and naturally lifts the skin. Try: Rose oil is used in creams for dry, inflamed skin. Add a few drops to creams and lotions to help reduce inflammation. Try adding some to hair shampoo too, to help strengthen roots.

Spirit (Sage) is used to flavour food, but its antibacterial properties make this herb an effective mouth rinse for gingivitis and sore throats. Burning sage is very powerful. It is also used to clear the aura or a sacred space, removing negative energy and allowing new, fresh, positive energy to enter. Try: Buy a good quality sage bundle from any holistic shop and burn in the same way as incense, being sure to fill the space with the smoke. Make sure windows and doors are open to allow negative energy to leave. This technique can also be used on your body, allowing the smoke to surround you while holding positive thoughts – a great energy booster.

Many things in life can weigh us down at times; however, if you encourage positive emotions in your life – whether it be through using herbs, practicing yoga, loving yourself more or being nice to others – you will find your journey will be a happier one.

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Proudly made in the UK

BRITISH

FEMALE DESIGNERS

ROCK SUMMER 2015

Melissa Cole

Sophie Heron

* Artist Blacksmith *

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Cole Artist Blacksmith As seen on Channel 4’s Grand Designs

www.melissacole.co.uk

Photography by Mark Somerville

“

I knew that I didn‟t want to be a traditional blacksmith or make weapons – this is my dad‟s specialist field. I needed to be more creative and contemporary in my design while applying traditional making techniques to those modern designs.

“

Melissa

British Female Designers Rock | Company: Forest Forge Studio Founder: Melissa Cole Trade: Artist Blacksmith Location: Puthall Farm, Wiltshire

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British Female Designers Rock : Featuring Melissa Cole

Artist Blacksmith Forging for the Future: Preserving the Craft

B

lacksmiths have been around for

centuries, creating objects from wrought iron or steel and forging weapons for battle. Today, in what is known as one of the oldest trades in Britain, they continue to shoe horses and create things.

However, today there are artist blacksmiths who create practical and artistic pieces from metal. Melissa Cole is one such artist, working from her Wiltshire forge.

Melissa was brought up watching her father Hector Cole, a blacksmith working from a small forge in their garage. He made items to sell at craft fairs and taught metalwork at a local school. For Melissa, spending time at the forge was not unusual and she would often tinker, making tent pegs and snakes, moving on to help her father drill holes for some large gates he made. She decided to study at Art College where she realised that working with metal was something she truly felt akin with. She says, “I must have iron in my blood.”

Once she completed her degree, she returned to her father’s newly built workshop and made a forged chair for her sister’s wedding present. Melissa designed pieces and her dad would show her the techniques in making them and that is how she learned.

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Melissa also runs introductory blacksmithing courses from her forge five days of the month where she teaches beginners “the thrills of blacksmithing.”

At present she has six projects at the design stage which range from a public art piece for a new development in Swindon to a candle holder for a church, a rose arch and some railings for a seaside property. She is also making new work to exhibit in the summer which allows her freedom to play with ideas that can’t always be fitted into a commissioned brief.

Melissa states that it’s key to be unique. “I really think it helps to have your own style and for me this has been a great help. People ask me to get involved in their projects because of the style of my work, not because I make the same works as other blacksmiths.”

Photography by Mark Somerville

BRITISH FEMALE DESIGNERS ROCK

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n 2009 Melissa was awarded the prestigious Bronze Medal from the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, making her an official Master Blacksmith. She says, “It’s a really big honour to have this award and the company do a great job promoting our craft.”

British Female Designers Rock : Featuring Melissa Cole

Her success reached television with an appearance on Channel 4’s Grand Designs. As she says, “It was great that there was no mention of me being a woman! This is usually the focus of any media piece and it was refreshing that it wasn’t an issue for them.” It was a fantastic experience and Melissa recalls how Kevin McCloud was really interested in her design process. “I do a lot of sketch work for clients using brush pens and inks to get a lovely flowing line.”

As for the most breath-taking sculpture she’s ever seen, it resides in Cardiff Bay. It’s the Merchant Seafarers’ War Memorial and features a massive, wrecked hull of a boat.

“As I approached it I could see the skeletal hull as a piece of great engineering but as you walk around there is a face on the outer shell. It was really moving and subtle and brilliant craftsmanship which is always something that I look for in art works.” The hull rests on a circular mosaic upon which are the words: “IN MEMORY OF THE MERCHANT SEAFARERS FROM THE PORTS OF BARRY PENARTH CARDIFF WHO DIED IN TIMES OF WAR.” It’s by the artist, Brian Fell.

Image Credit : Lost at Sea Memorials

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f Melissa could change one thing it would be to see more appreciation of the time it takes to craft works by hand as well as appreciating the training that has gone before. She would also like to see metal working re-introduced into the school curriculum. She feels that a vast number of young people would benefit from practical skills at school and it’s one way of preserving such skills for the future.

Everyone has bad days and when things don’t go right, Melissa leaves the workshop or does something else such as go for a pony ride to clear her head. It’s also a great way to get fresh inspiration, de-stressing and keeping fit after a day by a hot fire.

When asked about her inner glow, Melissa says her glow “comes from showing someone how to do some forging for the first time.” She also glows around her family who she says are “amazing, supportive and creative people that I can’t do without.”

MelissaCole.Co.Uk

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BRITISH FEMALE DESIGNERS ROCK

British Female Designers Rock : Featuring Melissa Cole

British Female Designers Rock

Heron Inspirational Woodworker As seen on Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces

www.madebyherons.com

“

I think it was the lifestyle I sought first – working with my hands and being out in the weather to witness the changing seasons.

“

Sophie

British Female Designers Rock | Company: Made by Herons Founder: Sophie Heron Trade: Woodworker Location: Woodworking studio, Leicestershire

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Sophie heron : Carving out a name for herself in woodwork 120 Women in Trade

W

oodworking is the skill of making items from wood which includes carving, joinery and carpentry. Wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. The Egyptians were the first civilisation to use woodworking, and it is depicted in many Egyptian drawings. Further examples of their skills in the form of Egyptian furniture has been found preserved in tombs. It is an ancient craft

BRITISH FEMALE DESIGNERS ROCK

Image credit: Madeleine Thomas

British Female Designers Rock : Featuring Sophie Heron and one which has survived and transcended over the centuries.

Sophie Heron runs a woodwork studio in Leicestershire, Made by Herons, where she creates small homewares and utensils from reclaimed wood. Whilst woodworking may seem like an unusual trade for a woman, it is no more so than engineering or building. She is carving a fresh image of the future workplace and of the future woodworking industry.

at some time or another. “The constant cycle of self-doubt in your designs, failure to achieve the concept you had in mind and then the highs of success when things go to plan are a struggle to deal with, and it’s important to keep in mind the long-term goal and know where you’re heading.”

Sophie has always had a love of nature and the outdoors since she was a child. She was taught to respect trees. “They were something that we needed to nurture and protect and so it seemed only natural then to work with wood.” It’s a product she can source locally, reclaim and inject with a new lease of life. “I think it was the lifestyle I sought first – working with my hands and being out in the weather to witness the changing seasons.”

She first used reclaimed pallet wood and salvaged building materials at eighteen to cobble together furniture as something to do, but she was astounded by the free availability of these materials. “I quickly turned to hardwoods, designing and carving smaller hand-held objects for the intricate, almost artistic nature of the work and then learning to create beauty from a simple piece of wood soon became addictive.”

She did not receive a formal education in woodwork and learnt from trial and error, with the added advantage of a stubborn streak for endurance.

Sophie experiences challenging and daunting times which affect most people in their work

A typical day for Sophie involves rising early, enjoying a builder’s cup of tea and completing the university work necessary for that day. Then she’s free to immerse herself in the workshop. “I find it easier not to engage my brain in the morning – too much thinking is bad for me – and just get my body moving instead.” She enjoys the freedom and flexibility of being her own boss. “I can get up when I like, and work into the night if I wish. I can walk the dogs, go for a run and eat scrambled eggs for lunch every day!” She also loves having her dogs in the workshop by her side. “Being able to take tea-breaks in the sun is also hard to beat.”

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She is an inspiring role-model and the face of a changing future

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British Female Designers Rock : Featuring Sophie Heron

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ophie has recently joined forces with a local silversmith to design a range of jewellery as she’s always loved how wood and metal complement each other. The jewellery is all handmade and cast in solid silver and she will make the gemstones from naturally coloured hardwoods.

Sophie has also experienced TV fame with an appearance on Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces. Her project involved the conversion of a VW campervan, re-fitting it with wooden adaptations of the original plastic and metal fittings. “We got to meet and work with incredible professionals during the production process. It was an exciting time for us and everything was new.” She states how she and her boyfriend, Ben were inspired to create better designs and be better woodworkers. “The best bit would have to be the reveal day – the accumulation of our efforts finally sunk in and we had a little celebratory beer!”

Her top insider tip is, “Never throw wood away!” Most of her products have come from recycled offcuts and pure scrap comes in useful for the wood burner.

Sophie thinks that woodworking and the industry in general could be more female friendly. “It’s such a natural thing for young people to want to build and create things, but that inquisitiveness is often stunted once they join the ‘real world’, and society steers them down a different path.”

You would never know it but until recently Sophie was training to be a doctor! Science and medicine are a great interest and now she’s studying Natural Sciences at the Open University.

When things don’t go right, she takes a break. “It’s easy to push yourself hard when you work for yourself and you can expect too much in too little time. Woodworking, requires physical and mental effort and you need these to be present simultaneously.

Sometimes that doesn’t happen for hours and the only thing you can do is wait until it does.”

Her bugbear is having to put a price on her own work. “Marketing that trade and the products you produce at a reasonable price is difficult, it’s like being asked to put a price on your skill.”

What makes Sophie glow? “I’d say my inner glow comes from being out in the campervan with Ben and the dogs with no deadlines. Feeling truly free is rare and you have to chase it to feel that glow.”

As a woman with a passion for her craft, a natural ability to create along with determination and perseverance, Sophie Heron is carving out a name for herself in woodwork. She is an inspiring role-model and the face of a changing future.

MadeByHerons.Com

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Self | Change is the Only Constant

Powertalk with inspirational speaker,

Gordana Biernat Finding Your Inner Goddess Part 2 Change is the Only Constant And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to Blossom.— Anaïs Nin (French-American poet, 1903-1977)

ometimes we choose to stay in a situation just because it feels more familiar than to open up to something new. We feel safer staying in "the known" even if it might be bad, than exposing ourselves to "the unknown" even if it might bring us joy. Why are we so reluctant to change and often afraid of the new when our natural state of being is seeking joy, trusting everything "the unknown" holds for us?

As children we couldn't resist the funny rush of surprise when trying new things because we knew intuitively that we are here for the joy of exploring physical reality by collecting moments of exciting new experiences. But growing up, we gradually somehow became "consumers-of-things" forgetting our original soul purpose as "collectors-of-experiences". We want to explore new things but we don't want to experience the uncertainty of change.

So, how do you explore something without being willing to change yourself with the experience? The answer is that you don't explore, you don't expand and you don't evolve. You simply exist. Habitually. Nature does not avoid change. It embraces and allows transformation because nature works in unison with the universe and the divine law of change, rebirth, renewal, revival and new beginnings. Everything simply flows perfectly 124 Women in Trade

Image Credit: Kent MacDonald

choreographed in an intricate dance of speed and calmness, light and dark, life and death. Breathing in...trust. Breathing out...patience. Breathing in...out.

In...and...out.

Like waves on a shore, in infinity, nature "knows" that change is an entangled part of being. That every now moment holds the element of change. Take for instance the symbol of yin and yang. It is the expression of perfect harmony, and yet it contains the aspect of change and chaos.

Have you noticed the small white and black dots in its perfectly balanced pattern?

They are important reminders of life's transitory qualities, of the simple truth that all things eventually change. You cannot breathe in without breathing out. If you hold your breath too long it becomes painful and you must release the pressure by breathing out. Letting it go. Allowing the new.

The only constant in our reality is change because everything else is in constant change. Nothing in the physical reality stays the same. Resisting this fundamental force is meaningless because the resistance itself will change you, molding you into someone you do not want to be. Allan Watts said: "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."

What seems to hold us back from "joining the dance" is the fear of not knowing how to move in the "right" way and of "dancing to the wrong music". So we hesitate and we fear change. And it is a painful fear because it comes from a persistent doubt in our reality. Our perception of the world around us is rooted in Women in Trade 125

Image Credit: Elisbeth Rose

conditioned beliefs that we live in a cold and harsh universe. A universe that presents us with a solid reality in which we are supposed to exist under already created circumstances and where our lives have little or no significance at all. It is a world view making us believe that there is a subjective, lonely "inside", without any power to influence or change, looking out on an objective, all powerful mechanistic and fixed "outside". ere is an alternative thought - leading edge science along with ancient knowledge tells us that there are no "real" boundaries between things, between "inside" and "outside".

Everything is connected and it needs an observer to exist. So, welcome to a reality where you are in a creative relationship with everything "around" you. You are in a creative relationship with the universe. Actually, the universe is your partner in creation. You are the observer.

The ever-changing universe is the abundant provider, patiently waiting to joyously expand in your desires, wishes and thoughts.

As Ana誰s Nin so eloquently put in the poem above, every flower is pushed into bloom by forces much stronger than fear, doubt or worry. The life force behind this opening "act" is a desire within all living beings to become more than you are, to expand yourself beyond all limitations in search of more experiences.

When you open up, you face more light, you embrace more air, you evolve and you change. The flower knows that it is the only way to grow. Actually, it knows that it is the only way to live, as do you.

Face the sun. Let it remind you who you are. Take pleasure in breathing. Allow the flow of change through YOU and enjoy the surprise. Change is the Only Constant. | @MyPowertalk

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