DARE CREATE SUCCEED Tribute to Sir Paul Judge Page 22

ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2017 DARE CREATE SUCCEED Tribute to Sir Paul Judge Page 22

MILITARY AFFILIATION THE 30% CLUB – PARTNERSHIP FORGED – THE GUILD’S DYNAMIC WITH THE DEFENCE FEMALE FREEMEN ACADEMY OF THE UK Page 30 Page 26 PROMOTING EXCELLENCE THIS ISSUE

Freemen and guests at the Installation Dinner 2016

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The Master, Kate Jolly 3 A Freeman’s International Reach 24 The Installation Court and Dinner 2016 4 - 5 The London Capital Club 25 Welcome to New Freemen 6 - 7 The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom 26 Outreach + Education 8 - 9 Cyber Security 26 - 27 Bridging the Gap 9 Hc Svnt Dracones 28 Social Events 10 Whistleblowing 29 The Event Fixer 11 The 30% Club 30-31 Making of the spotlight videos 12 The DNA of an Entrepreneur 32 LinkedIn Masterclass 13 Food Glorious Food! 33-35 A Year In View 14 - 15 Second Life Entrepreneurs 35 The Spring Lunch 16 Switching Off From The Day Job 36-39 Brexit 16 - 17 A Day in the Life of... 40 The Appreciation Supper 18 The Junior Warden Elect 40 - 41 New Entrepreneur on Common Council 19 - 20 The Master Elect 42 - 43 All Hallows’ & St. Ethelburga 20 - 21 The Court and Officers 43 A Tribute to Sir Paul Judge 22 St Ethelburga’s Eve Dedication Service 43 The Dan Doherty Memorial School 23 and Artisan Food And Drink Fayre

2 guildofentrepreneurs.org INTRODUCTION

stage. In creating the Guild, he brought together If we are to grow and achieve the goal set for us a group of incredible people from different walks and to which we signed up then we need your of life, not least amongst them, the late Sir Paul help, please. There is a great deal to do and it Judge. As a team, they became unstoppable requires each Freeman to act where they can. and as our Sponsoring Alderman, Sir Paul put in There are two small items, both of which do not a great deal of time and effort to ensure that the require a great deal of time (although one may Guild became a reality. It is in no small measure require a cheque book!) that we owe our existence to the efforts and sheer graft put in by both men and the team of 1. We are keen to encourage more individuals unsung heroes who gave freely of their time and to join the Guild and this is where you come skills to bring the Guild to life – thank you. in. If each Freeman could nominate just one individual for the Guild then we would be close An entrepreneur is someone – anyone – who to achieving the level of membership that is risks their own money to build a business and required for our move towards livery status. who continues to battle, sometimes against the Remember, when we move to the next level odds, to achieve the best possible outcome for within the livery movement, all Freemen become all their stakeholders. This is not a description Liverymen and we join the livery movement as of recklessness but rather one based around a peer. So please dust off your contacts lists Master Kate Jolly with her sons Liam and Sean the tenet that as entrepreneurs we assess and share a coffee or glass with someone you risk based upon our industry knowledge and know. If there is interest then put them in touch FROM THE MASTER experiences and are willing to step over the with Shernaz Engineer who will be the Chair line at which colleagues may stop where we of Membership from November when Lars conclude that it is the right move. We don’t Andersen becomes Junior Warden or, even Dare, Create, Succeed! A tenet to stir the always get it right but we keep on trying, better, bring them along to the monthly drinks in soul: a belief to live up to! constantly expanding boundaries. London at the Capital Club. As entrepreneurs, the baton passes to each We have been blessed with solid foundations, 2. As you know, we are a not-for-profit group of us to reach the finish line – whether we are despite the untimely loss of both Dan and Paul and our Charity, The Guild of Entrepreneurs start-ups, mature SMEs or quoted corporates and this has been reflected in the sterling efforts Trust Limited, needs your cash! On behalf of – particularly in such protracted times of of our Freemen to promote the Guild and to my fellow Trustee directors we are very grateful uncertainty. Call me a romantic if you will, but I adhere to our livery oath. to all of you who are making donations to help fervently believe that as entrepreneurs we can our endeavours – thank you so much. However, each make a difference, no matter how small. Over the last year, we have seen exceptional there are many who have not yet completed examples of this work, including: the paperwork which we agreed to do when we It is that passion that drives us forward: to pick • Formalising the relationship between UK joined the Guild and we desperately need your ourselves up when others openly state that we Defence Academy and the Guild support too, please. The charity website is now are out of options and to never say never. • Holding our first entrepreneurial networking live with the relevant paperwork available or you event at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham can contact the Clerk, Duncan Simms- thank This is what brought me to the Guild. • Mentoring at Northumberland Park you! Community School (Sheriff’s London Preceding the birth of the Guild, I was fortunate Challenge) The Guild will see the appointment of our next enough to meet the late Dan Doherty just once • Providing ongoing mentoring and Master, Lee Robertson, in November 2017 over lunch at Home House. His motivation support to Bathtub 2 Boardroom and LBS and with Lee will come further progression of and determination to create tangible solutions, Entrepreneurs School our reputation in the City and livery movement, interspersed with an empathy rarely seen alongside growth of our plans to fulfil our goals. today, showed him to be the charismatic man The camaraderie which has been part of our 2018 will be a marvellous year for Lee and that he was: someone that I for one wanted to trademark from the start has continued with a I would encourage you all to give him every meet again in no small part to discuss in more full list of events occurring most months and support as he takes on the role as our senior detail how we could build a haven for our often for those of you who have yet to come along, officer, backed by a highly capable team of forgotten and beleaguered SME owners. Like please do make some time and come on your Wardens and equally astute Court (including a many of us, I hold strong aspirations to do what own or bring friends: you are always welcome! lowly Past Master J). I can to support and enhance the reputation of The events can be located on our website and the UK and the City of London to be the best in the Clerk’s Notices. The Court is launching So, welcome to this year’s magazine. It is it can be and in so doing, become and remain a buddy system effective September 2017 unashamedly, the best to date! The team the prime global choice for entrepreneurs of all through which each Court member will be has worked tirelessly and sought to create a sizes. allocated a few Freemen to contact, obtain diverse, yet wholly relevant, approach to its feedback and remain in touch with. This is subject matter. This has been achieved thanks In 2014, I had only a passing knowledge of just one step towards ensuring that you feel not only to their professionalism but also to the the livery movement and was unsure that the a valued part of this incredible organisation variety and capability of our Freemen – thank Guild would be the right place for me: after and I would urge you please to take up this you everyone: both of our late Past Masters all, I was focused on building, running and opportunity to join in the fun. would be justifiably proud and I echo those steering a business through its ups and downs sentiments: a superb job! (on occasion too many downs!): I was not an We continue to review how best to create the entrepreneur – I was a business woman. Like young entrepreneur membership level and I I count myself indeed fortunate and privileged many, I read the biographies of renowned serial sincerely hope that this is not long in reaching to be one of your team and the experiences business people who had attained great heights fruition: the world is rapidly shrinking and the of my time with the Guild, particularly as and so provided us mere mortals with idealistic combination of age and experience, alongside Master, will remain forever with me. I am truly role models. Those individuals were, in my latest thinking and perceptions will provide us thankful to all our Freemen for your support and world, entrepreneurs. with the armour needed to create a formidable encouragement along the way and a special force to be reckoned with on the global thank you to the unsung heroes who have given Dan changed my perception by identifying us as entrepreneurial stage. so much to make the Guild such a marvellous a profession and opened the door for all of us to success. shape the role that we could play on the London guildofentrepreneurs.org 3 November 24th 2016 – Installation

By kind permission of the Master and Wardens of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers, Freemen Entrepreneurs and their guests were warmly welcomed to Painters’ Hall on 24th November 2016. The event, the most important of the Guild’s annual programme of ceremonies and dinners, marks the anniversary of the launch of the Guild of Entrepreneurs on 24th November 2014, looks back at the year past, and ahead to the new Guild year, and its new Master.

The outgoing Master, Alderman Sir Paul Judge, presided over the admission of 10 new Freemen including the Guild’s Chaplain, The Reverend Bertrand Olivier, who was then called upon to dedicate the Dan Doherty Memorial Bell and promised fulfilment of the Court’s wish that the bell be rung annually in perpetuity as a memorial to the Guild’s inspirational Founder.

The second of Sir Paul’s commemorative duties was to unveil a portrait of the late Master. The Guild was privileged to welcome as its guest the artist Mario AC Della Casa, and there was joyous applause at the splendid artwork which had so capably represented the late Master in his prime.

The new Master, Kate Jolly, addresses the Guild The Chaplain dedicates the Dan Doherty Memorial Bell

The new Master invests Sir Paul Judge as Immediate Past Master

Sir Paul Judge (alongside the artist, Mario AC Della Casa) unveils the commemorative portrait of Dan Doherty

The Master, Immediate Past Master and principal guests pause for Grace by the Chaplain

The Immediate Past Master shares a Loving Cup with Vice Admiral Duncan Potts CB Rick Lowe is invested as Junior Warden 4 guildofentrepreneurs.org tion & Dinner

Sir Paul’s final act as Master was to review the huge successes of the past year, and to declaim the results of July’s Election Court. Accordingly, Ms Catherine Karen Jolly was duly sworn in as Master Entrepreneur; Alderman Peter Hewitt (who was currently serving his year of office as Master of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen) was confirmed as Senior Warden, Mr Lee Robertson was invested as Middle Warden and Mr Rick Lowe as Junior Warden.

A sparkling reception preceded the Installation Dinner in the magnificent surroundings of the Painters’ Livery Hall. The Chaplain pronounced the Blessing of the new Master and Grace before diners enjoyed a sumptuous and extensive feast with elegant and expressive wines, following which the Master bade the assembly join her in the sharing of a Loving Cup; The Dan Doherty Memorial Bell was duly rung by Court Assistant Neil The Director General of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (Vice Admiral Duncan Potts CB), Fullbrook, and the Master set out her vision the Master, and the Master Carmen (Mrs Marsha Rae Ratcliff) for the Guild’s year ahead under her capable stewardship.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 5 Welcome to New Freemen

Freeman Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE Freeman Jon Hammond Freeman Andrew Pullman

Freeman Jonathan Sweet Freeman Jenny Garrett Freeman John Davies

Freeman the Reverend Bertrand Olivier Freeman Jérôme de Lavenère Lussan Freeman Alison Hook

Freeman Deputy John Chapman CC (L-R, with the Wardens and Clerk) Freemen Neeta Patel, Joy Merriam, Nana Banton, Gary Dixon, Paul Forrest, Dr Sarah Malter, Nick Sellars

6 guildofentrepreneurs.org Nov-16 - Sep-17

L-R with the Wardens and Clerk) Freemen Amy McManus, Dave Pay, Emily Miller, Tony Harrison and Anand Verma

Freeman Simon Fordham Freeman Rajesh Agrawal Freeman Robin Baker

Freeman Tim Metson Freeman Professor Adam Beaumont Freeman Spirit de la Mare

guildofentrepreneurs.org 7 Outreach and Education

AS THE GUILD OF ENTREPRENEURS CONTINUES TO FLOURISH SO TOO DOES ITS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION WORK

We are now in our third year and from a Judy Hadden. Always the very best host, picked fashion entrepreneurs to share their standing start we can be proud of our growing Jeff assembled some of his brightest young growth plans and struggles with relevant awareness within the City and increased entrepreneurs for an evening of mutual ideas- Freemen as well as key industry experts. This momentum with the great work the committee sharing with our prominent Freeman. The is the first time we are trying an event like has orchestrated. hospitality was exceptional and the venue this and it is hoped that we can grow this to spectacular and over wine and canapés, the incorporate other sector specific dinners over One of the key hot buttons for new Freeman event was buzzing with conversation and the course of time. is the philanthropic opportunity to give back to networking. As a follow on from this, the others and O&E is now seeing a burgeoning Guild has put forward mentors for the second ROEDEAN SCHOOL interest from those joining the Guild to get year running for the LBS Summer School involved with the various new and ongoing programme and the feedback from Jeff so far Nicola Manning has been very busy this projects that we have before us. has been most positive. I, myself have been year and through her sheer hard work and mentoring a very bright American student determination has dramatically grown our As the Chair I have been impressed and whose business idea is for a new private jet Education projects. She has been steadily humbled by the professionalism, vision of and airline and I have been very impressed with the nurturing our partnerships with Roedean work ethic of my trusted committee members level of intellect and planning that has gone School in Brighton, where several Freemen - primarily Pippa Watmough, Nicola Manning, into his business plan. delivered a series of talks at two dedicated and Judy Hadden, supported by Avi Lasarow afternoon events for the pupils in November and Ronan Kearney. Recent additions to the BATHTUB TO 2016 and again in March 2017, and for this team are James Talbot who is helping us put BOARDROOM year there are more exciting projects currently structure and a more defined purpose to our being scoped out. endeavours and ensure we project the right Another example of our developing message to the City and our partners; and I relationship is with Bathtub to Boardroom am also pleased to report that Barnaby Wynter where last year saw the Guild’s Guide talk CHRIST’S HOSPITAL SCHOOL has thrown his hat in the ring and will soon be series run for the first time. I am pleased leveraging his marketing and brand talent to to report that this is again planned for this Christ’s Hospital School in Horsham has assist with our efforts. autumn and Pippa Watmough is finalising benefited from both an entrepreneur’s careers dates currently as well as tweaking the talk lunch in March 2017 where Freeman Rachel th Where possible we are trying to maximise subjects. This is a pertinent example of where Wang spoke to 6 form pupils about her our resource and skills so that assistance young entrepreneurs visibly benefit from first fascinating journey as an entrepreneur, and given our partners can be unitised elsewhere, hand interactions with other experienced an evening in June 2017 where pupils, former whether this be speaking at events, mentoring entrepreneurs from the Guild who not only talk pupils who have become entrepreneurs, and or indeed ensuring that projects the Guild on a subject of expertise e.g. marketing, fund Freemen of the Guild gathered in the school’s involves itself in have longevity so that they raising, HR etc. but also offer mentoring for prestigious new Mellstrom Careers Centre for a may be rolled out year upon year. participants who want to get into more depth. fabulous evening of networking and discussion The feedback has been very encouraging and led by Freeman David Mellor. THE LONDON we are seeing the value first hand that the Guild offers young entrepreneurs. BUSINESS SCHOOL THE ALDRIDGE FOUNDATION THE TRAMPERY Good examples of this are the London Our partnership with the Aldridge Foundation, Business School event this summer which The Trampery has been a relationship that a cause close to our late Founder Dan is the second time we have run this with Judy Hadden has been developing for some Doherty’s heart, continues to thrive and this the enthusiastic support of Dr Jeff Skinner time and we are currently putting together year Nicola has led the former Northumberland from LBS and the ardent effort of Freeman a dinner event for a small number of hand- Park Community School in Tottenham (now

(L-R) Steve Low (Head of Enterprise, Roedean School), Court Assistant Nicola Manning, Freemen Alexander Thompson, Nick Levens and Dr Sarah Malter, Richard Pofﬂey (Finance Director, Roedean School), Freeman Jenny Garrett © C Hegner

8 guildofentrepreneurs.org Summary by Rick Lowe, Chair and Junior Warden

Duke’s Aldridge Academy) through the Sheriff’s Challenge Inter-Livery Schools debating competition, with mentoring assistance provided to the pupils by Freemen Talan Skeels-Piggins and Joy Merriam. Although not one of the eventual two finalists, the school is showing true entrepreneurial determination and grit and will be putting up a team for the 2018 Challenge and we look forward to mentoring and supporting them to even greater success next year!

In addition, the Guild has assembled an experienced volunteer task force/advisory panel of Freemen to work with Aldridge on their planned entrepreneur apprenticeship initiative and we will also be planning a series of entrepreneurship-based projects in tandem with Duke’s Aldridge Academy for the upcoming academic year. The Guild also participated in the recent West London “Summer of Possibilities” programme led by Aldridge Foundation to support the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy which you can read about this separately in this magazine.

Due to the growth of O&E it has been decided that in order to give our sterling efforts the right path to develop, the Guild should now split them into their own individual disciplines from November onwards. Therefore I am pleased to announce that Judy Hadden will take the position of Chair of Outreach and Nicola Manning Chair of Education. As I move on to take up the reins of Middle Court Assistant Nicola Manning with the Northumberland Park Community School team Warden and the responsibilities involved I will still be very much an active participant as Judy and © N Manning Nicola expand their work and I have every confidence that they will do the Guild proud and further develop Outreach and Education to ongoing success.

ROEDEAN SCHOOL - BRIDGING THE GAP BY SASHA GLYNN

Freeman David Mellor in conversation with Sasha Glynn at the Summer Banquet 2017

Sasha Glynn is a solicitor specialising in most informative and inspiring presentations from the Guild, and since then, I have been IT and Internet Law currently working for about their own personal business journeys. invited to, and made to feel welcome at a professional services firm Deloitte in their They shared their opinions about the things number of memorable Guild events. Risk Advisory team. She is a Governor of that they thought made the difference between The highlight for me was being invited to Roedean School (one of the Guild’s chosen success and failure in business. They also attend the Summer Banquet by the Master Outreach Charities) and former President provided us with some handy tips as to how and Wardens of the Guild. I was treated to a of the Old Roedeanians’ Association. Her to tackle and approach the challenges life can sumptuous feast with wonderful wines and daughter is in Year 8 at Roedean. throw at us. superb company. The after dinner speaker was Doug Gurr the current CEO of Amazon After the talks and panel questions, we were all UK. Doug enlightened us about his career and The first I heard about the City of London invited to meet the entrepreneurs over drinks imparted some of the secrets to his success Guild of Entrepreneurs was an announcement and canapes. It made me very happy to see to date. in November’s 2016 weekly Roedean School the Roedean girls being given the opportunity Parent Bulletin. Amongst all the usual school to hone their networking skills with real live I have thoroughly enjoyed every Guild event announcements was an invitation to all parents entrepreneurs and to witness the entrepreneurs and I am extremely grateful to the Guild to attend one of the series of Enterprise being so receptive and generous by providing for choosing Roedean School as one of its Talks organised by the Roedean Careers them with incredibly thoughtful and helpful Outreach Charities. It is a huge privilege for the Department. This particular Enterprise Talk responses to their questions. I really wish we school and for me to be associated with such was entitled “How to Make a Difference in had had something like this when I was at a wonderful organisation. I am looking forward Business”. I was so pleased I was able to school! That afternoon, I had the privilege of to the forthcoming Guild events and am really attend because six diverse guest speakers meeting Nicola Manning who organised the hoping that some of the Roedean alumnae that from the Guild of Entrepreneurs delivered the event at Roedean, and the other speakers I have been able to introduce to the Guild will soon become Freemen. guildofentrepreneurs.org 9 The Guild of Entrepreneurs’ Events & Fellowship Committee, ably chaired by Court Assistant Neil Fullbrook, has put together some fabulous events this year, which have been educational, Events fun and reasonably priced.

DENNIS SEVERS HOUSE

Dennis Severs was the artist who created a spell-binding installation at 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields. On 24th May 2017, members of the Guild and their guests were granted exclusive access to this meticulously crafted museum.

Court Assistant Neil Fulbrook said: “It’s an entrepreneurial time-capsule and some! It follows an intimate journey throughout the centuries of a family of Huguenot silk-weavers from 1724 to the dawn of the 20th Century. We followed their fortunes through the generations in this breathtaking multi-storey town house close to Liverpool Street Station. The sights, smells and sounds of the house took their hold as the family (who had just fled) welcome you into their lives against the backdrop of ticking clocks, horses’ hooves on cobbles and the quiet chatter of passers-by. This is well worth the visit”.

GIN TASTING EVENT

Freemen and guests tour the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station © C Spiller

TOWER KEYS RNLI VISIT CEREMONY -WATERLOO © T Simmons On 26th April 2017 27 Freemen of the Guild and On 19th August 2017, Freemen enjoyed an their guests were treated to an exclusive tour afternoon on the river - with a difference! The On a warm summer’s night in August, Freemen of the Tower of London followed by a private RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station is situated on a of the Guild and their guests met for the regular reception held in the Yeoman Warders’ own pontoon at Waterloo Bridge, it’s the busiest monthly social drinks, this month with a slight club house. The evening was topped off with station in the country. twist and a large shot of Gin. the sombre Ceremony of the Keys – the official seven hundred year ritual when the Tower of The Tower station covers the Thames from Members of the Guild moved temporarily from London is secured for the night. This was Barking to Battersea, some 15 miles of river our regular spot at the London Capital Club to made even more special as Yeoman Warder and launched 517 times in 2016 and saved 18 explore the taste of English Gin at the yet to be Colin Smith MBE, hosted his final evening lives. They have already launched the boat 250 opened Tasting Rooms. With over 80 different welcoming private groups to his entertaining times this year. gins presented on the unique Gin Wall it was tours, before retiring. definitely an exploration of the senses and with Freeman Richard Savage said “What a no one man or women making it through all of Master Kate Jolly said: “This was a fascinating fascinating tour of RNLI’s busiest lifeboat the gins we are pleased to start planning our insight into a tradition that has taken place station with fellow Freemen, accompanied next visit! every night, bar one during the Second World by my 80 year old Dad and my 10 year old War, for the past 700 years. We were truly nephew. It was a remarkable insight into the It was lovely to see so many Freeman attend honoured to be welcomed as the final party by great work done mostly by volunteers both and a special thanks to the Master and Colin; his uniquely British humour will be sorely to rescue those in peril and keep the river a Wardens for supporting this event and to our missed”. safer place. Many thanks for engineering a distinguished guest the Master International thoroughly enjoyable afternoon”. Banker Mr Frank Moxon.

Freeman Amy McManus said: “Exclusive ‘secret’ venue, gin, cheese and good company. What more could you want? It’s always nice to do something different and find a hidden London gem in the process. Lovely evening!” 10 guildofentrepreneurs.org The Event Fixer

Court Assistant Tom Simmonds is one of the Guild’s Founder Freemen and sits on the Events & Fellowship Committee. He is the founder of The Event Fixers, a collective of top event managers. We asked Tom to tell us something about his job.

“Put simply, The Event Fixers are a collective of top event managers with a vast skill set, supplying expert planning, slick management and professional staff for any imaginable event. Having worked both nationally and internationally for many years, our team has an unrivalled experience and you’d be hard pressed to find a type of event we haven’t been a part of.

If you need something meticulously planned, expertly executed or professionally staffed, we will find the solution for you. The Event Fixers platform makes it easy for businesses to reach out to experienced event managers quickly and directly, resulting in a faster, more adaptable service”.

How did you become an Event Manager yourself? “I started off at UWE where I was studying a property degree. Out of the blue, I was asked to help organise a club night which was really successful. Then I was asked to do another and then another. After a while, I started arranging nights for myself and I found I had a real passion for the job and for promoting new artists. Being a student, I had very little money for marketing and so I had to make every pound go as far as possible and relied heavily on word of mouth. You were only as good as your last night! Founder Freeman, Tom Simmonds

Later on, I realised that I was enjoying the organising more than I was my course. I thought I’d stretch myself a bit further and so I applied for, and successfully secured a position at the London 2012 Olympics, where I was fortunate enough to manage a specialist team organising the logistics and transport for the duration of the games.

With the extra knowledge and contacts gained in London, I went on to work with various event and marketing companies before deciding to go it completely alone. I’d made a lot of great contacts and I found the key was to carefully select the right people with the right knowledge and put them in the right places – then everything else fell into place! I haven’t ended up in property, but I’m really grateful that my university experience put me on this incredible journey in a round about way, allowing me to discover my true vocation”.

What would a typical day in your job role be? “A day working in this industry can vary massively; it’s a crazy world! I plan, manage and problem-solve events, have client meetings, negotiate with suppliers and arrange logistics. No day is the same as the one before or the next, so there’s never been a ‘typical’ day, but there are always challenges. I’m rarely in the same place two days running either. According to the US job site CareerCast, event planning is the world’s fifth most stressful occupation, but I think I’ve learned to deal with the pressure and make sure the workload is distributed correctly”.

Which tools do you use to market an event? “There’s a place of course for the standard tools like direct mail marketing and press releases but those methods are dated. Social media allows much more creativity for a fraction of the price. Obviously, marketing through major social channels such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter is a great way to reach the right people, but more importantly it’s using the relevant influencers with powerful followings to maximise the effect. Blogging is also a surprisingly powerful tool especially if you combine it with ‘guest’ blogging. It’s a great way to get a lot of key event points across whilst creating good content and achieving higher exposure. And any ‘contra deal’ you can talk your way into is always a massive benefit”.

What key skills are needed to plan an event? “In events, I believe there are two main types of people – ‘planners’ and ‘executors’. A lot of people who are good at the planning stages may not necessarily be as good at running the event and vice versa. It’s important to surround yourself with the right team who have a range of skills that would include eye for detail, negotiation, management, problem-solving, practical and logical thinking, etc”.

Which elements should be considered before planning an event? “Communication, communication, communication. We know that any form of instruction can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. You have to be absolutely clear in communication and double-check and then check again that your message has got through. Any error in planning can send an event into disarray!”

Have you ever had something go wrong at an event? Did you solve the problem? “We always spend a great deal of time planning and so thankfully, nothing too drastic has happened at one of our events... touch wood! But I recall one event where extravagant centrepieces of tall flowers and candles made fantastic, eye-catching displays. Just before the first course of the meal, a gentleman accidently kicked a table leg causing one whole side of a table to collapse and everything to go flying! So, there was an embarrassed and rather angry man covered in hot wax, a room full of silent guests, flowers, crockery, glasses and cutlery all over the floor and two very shocked clients! To make matters worse, at that precise moment, the chefs and waiters were waiting for my guidance whilst balancing some very high-end plated food… I’m not sure how I did it because it’s all a bit of a blur, but I leapt in, organised a swift clean up and replacement tableware, and managed to get the show back on the road before the food was cold. The clients gave me a fantastic testimonial, thank Heavens!

I’ve found that you can never plan for every eventuality but if you remain cool and think logically, you can handle most things. No matter whose fault it is when something goes wrong it’s the event fixer that has to resolve it. The buck always stops with us!”

guildofentrepreneurs.org 11 Making of the Spotlight Videos by Freeman Rachel Wang

Rachel is the Founder and CEO of Chocolate Films, a film production company based in London and Glasgow which produces video content for a wide range of clients as varied as Jeep, Arup and Battersea Power Station. Chocolate Films is a leading content provider for museums and galleries across the UK and in Europe, making films for National Gallery, TATE, Museum of London, National Maritime Museum, Science Museum, the Bargello (Florence) and many more.

Rachel was appointed by the Prime Minister to the board of Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery in April 2017. She sits on the panel for Film London’s Film Hub, contributing to policy and strategy for promoting non-mainstream cinema. She is a Freeman of the City, and an active member of the Guild of Entrepreneurs.

Rachel was recently invited to become a Leadership Fellow at St.George’s House, © University of Law Windsor Castle. In July 2017 Rachel was awarded a Honorary Doctorate from content would be for such an organisation. the Guild, there was also a strong charitable Middlesex University. In 2015 she was The Guild of Entrepreneurs is unusual because side to the work of entrepreneurs, such as awarded ‘Lead Entrepreneur’ at the Black we all come from different industries. We Talan Skeels-Piggins’ organisation that teaches British Business Awards. Before founding have chosen to imagine, found and build disabled people to ride motorcycles, and the Chocolate Films, Rachel studied at Bristol businesses that are as diverse as we are from work of our serial entrepreneur and marketer University and did a Postgraduate at the each other. So I thought that it would be Barnaby Wynter who made the Marie Curie University of Law, becoming SFA registered fantastic to celebrate our individuality by daffodil famous. You can even find out about when she worked in the City as a Corporate profiling a selection of members and finding Chocolate Films in my film! Financier. As a film director, Rachel is out more about their personal story; the fascinated by social documentary. ‘Members Spotlight’ videos was developed What I have enjoyed most about making and from these initial conversations with our watching the films is hearing the wisdom and Her acclaimed feature documentary vibrant communications committee, curating experiences of the entrepreneurs. They have all ‘Afro Saxons’ followed a year in the lives the range and diversity within 11 short film been so open about the challenges and of the competitors in the UK’s biggest profiles was the next challenge. demands of being entrepreneurs. We have all Afro-Caribbean hair competition. She chosen to create our own paths, so issues of is currently producing the largest ever Fortuitously, we were in the process of time-management and raising investment are documentary series produced about a expanding Chocolate Films at the time, relevant to us all. Watching them as a series, city, www.1000Londoners.com , which and had just completed the lease of some it’s clear that there is a true desire from the comprises 1000 short video portraits of the additional space in our Battersea offices, so Guild members to share these experiences most diverse range of people who identify I tasked my team to set up an impromptu with new entrepreneurs. Barnaby Wynter says themselves with the city. studio. that he hopes ‘to help young business avoid the trap of being one of the four out of five Each Guild member had approximately 30 businesses that fail in the first five years’, a When I was invited to join the Guild of minutes to talk about themselves, their work sentiment which resonates with many of us. Entrepreneurs, one of the first things that I and their relationship with the Guild. They were thought was ‘What can I do for the Guild?’. edited into a one minute video for each of We hope that the films will be useful for new them. Watching the completed films it’s clear and prospective members of the Guild, to I’m the founder of Chocolate Films, and in that that we are a truly amazing organisation. help them find out about the kinds of people capacity, I spend my working life producing that they will meet and get to know when videos for a wide range of clients, primarily The range of businesses run by the they join the Guild. We also hope that they businesses, charities, art galleries and entrepreneurs in these first eleven films is will be useful for current Guild members, museums. So, for me the obvious answer was astonishing. to help us get to know each other a little to assist the Guild with its video content. I better. Unwittingly, one of the films now snapped up the chance of being a member of They include coaching (Jenny Garrett), feels like a tribute to the late Sir Paul Judge, the Communication Committee when it was financial trading (Rishi Gohill), international who has a moment to reflect on his life of offered to me and discovered that the existing recruitment and consultancy (Carrie Waley) entrepreneurship in his Member Spotlight film. members were keen to highlight the range and developing and publishing compliance Now that he has sadly passed, new members of experience and expertise we have in the software (Jerome Lussan). Our entrepreneurs will be able to hear a few words of his wisdom Guild on the website, I was inspired by the are linking genetics and sport (Avi Lasarow), for years to come. As he says, ‘Dare, create, idea. importing coffee beans (Rishi again) creating succeed’. 3D printed pet sculptures (Lars Andersen) and However, I had to sit down and think long and supplying licensed clothing and accessories www.guildofentrepreneurs.org/videos/ hard about what the most useful video (Rick Lowe). Unsurprisingly given the nature of

12 guildofentrepreneurs.org LinkedIn Masterclass

Emily Miller founded a social media training business that specialises in LinkedIn Stephen Wheatley was admitted as a training for the professional services and Founder Freemen in 2015 and elected financial services sectors in the UK and to the court in September 2017 and globally. She is a Freeman of the Guild of is a member of the Communications Entrepreneurs. www.linkedintutors.com Committee. He manages membership and content for the Guild on LinkedIn. How to raise the profile of the Guild of Entrepreneurs via LinkedIn He co-founded Europe’s first stolen We are a small but ambitious Guild with diverse vehicle recovery business over 20 members running a wide array of innovative years ago and has, since 2009, led businesses. Why not use your LinkedIn profile LimitEar Ltd - a UK company on a to raise the profile of the Guild? Not only will mission to prevent avoidable hearing this help you raise your own profile as an loss in headphone users. Stephen is entrepreneur, it will help the Guild attract new an innovative business development potential Freeman. © Doren Gabriel specialist, entrepreneur and sometimes inventor, who works extensively as a It’s an easy task. I suggest you do the consultant and mentor. 2. Join our LinkedIn group following: Why not join our LinkedIn group and Married with three grown up children, get involved in discussions about 1. Add the Guild as a ‘Volunteer Experience’: he divides his free time between them, entrepreneurship? It’s the perfect place to Why add it as a volunteer experience instead volunteering for the RNLI on the river share relevant content and ask for advice. of as an organisation? The organisation section Thames and cycling. of your LinkedIn profile is not prominent and To find our group, just type the Guild’s name logos of the organisations are not visible. If you [email protected] into the search field as shown below. Click add the Guild as a Volunteer Experience, the on the Guild LinkedIn group when it appears logo is visible and it appears higher on your in the search results. Once you are on our profile. LinkedIn group’s landing page, click on the join button. To find our LinkedIn group after joining, Firstly, go to your LinkedIn profile and click on click on the ‘Work’ icon highlighted below. the ‘Add new profile section’ button found on the right hand side of your LinkedIn profile (if you have a ‘Volunteer Experience’ section on your profile already – just scroll down to that section and click on the + to add the Guild). Add the Guild as seen below and make sure that you allow a notification to go out to your LinkedIn (make sure the ‘Share profile changes’ slider is blue) connections about your Freeman status. This may attract potential Freeman. Don’t forget to save it after you have completed the fields. 3. Follow our LinkedIn company page Why not follow our LinkedIn company page as well so you can get Guild updates? Conduct a search just as you did to find our LinkedIn group, but this time, click on the company page search result. While you are there, appreciate Freeman Stephen Wheatley’s photograph of London – it’s stunning!

We are an aspiring Guild with big plans for growth. Your LinkedIn activities can help us raise the Guild’s profile and attract ideal Freemen candidates – and in the process, raise your own professional profile as an entrepreneur as well. It’s a no brainer.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 13 A Year In View

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Senior Warden addresses Freemen and guests at the Summer Banquet 2017 The Master Hackney Carriage Driver (Mr Alan Roughan) and his Clerk (Mrs Mary Whitworth)

Representatives of the Defence Academy (L-R with The Junior Warden introduces the principal guests The Wardens (L-R) Junior Warden Rick Lowe, Middle Warden the Senior Warden) Captain Simon Carter RN and Air Lee Robertson and Senior Warden Alderman Peter Hewitt Vice Marshal Chris Luck MBE

(L-R with the Senior Warden) the Master Hackney Guest Dr Jeff Skinner (Executive Director of the Guest Dr Doug Gurr (Country Manager, Amazon UK) Carriage Driver, the Master Builders’ Merchant, the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, London addresses Freemen and guests Master Carpenter, the Prime Warden Shipwright, the Business School) Master Actuary, and the Master Educator

2016 2017 • Sheriffs’ London Challenge November January • United Guilds Service and Lunch at • Installation Court • Informal Drinks Carpenters’ Hall and Dinner at Painters’ Hall • Burns Night at the London Capital Club • Roedean School Enterprise Lectures February • Entrepreneurs’ Careers Lunch December • Informal Drinks at Christ’s Hospital • December Court Meeting • February Court Meeting • Informal Drinks • Admission of Freemen April • Carol Service and Reception and February Court Dinner • Ceremony of the Keys • Outreach & Education Showcase at • Informal Drinks The Trampery March • April Court Meeting • Informal Drinks • Admission of Freemen & the Appreciation • The Spring Lunch • Supper in the Guildhall Club 14 guildofentrepreneurs.org Court Assistant Judy Hadden applauds the after dinner speeches

(L-R) The Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (Ms Virginia Rounding) and the Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Educators (Dr Misha Hebel) share a Loving Cup

The Clerk keeps a watchful eye on proceedings The splendour of Cutlers’ Hall

May • Ladies Comedy Night • Admission of Freemen and September • Informal Drinks • Informal Drinks Court Dinner • Festival of the Sons & Friends of the Clergy • Guild Club Table • Guild Club Table • Visit to Dennis Severs House • Election Court and the Court Dinner • Sheep Drive

June August October • Summer Banquet at Cutlers’ Hall • Visit to RNLI Thames Station • St Ethelburga’s Eve Service and • Informal Drinks • Informal Drinks on Tour Artisan Food Fayre • LBS Networking Reception Evening - Gin Tasting in Borough Market • Guild Club Table • Networking Evening at Christ’s • West London Aldridge Social Hospital School Dragons Programme November • Guild Club Table • Informal Drinks September • Annual Entrepreneurs’ Lecture at July • Informal Drinks Pewterers’ Hall • Visit to the Defence Academy • September Court Meeting guildofentrepreneurs.org 15 to leave the European Union, leaving politicians and civil servants scrabbling around to work out how to deliver, let alone make the best The Spring Lunch of Brexit. We have seen major changes on the wider international stage too: Donald Trump is still raging against the establishment Sunshine and prosecco welcomed Freemen via Twitter despite being a major part of the and their business guests to the Guild of establishment himself now he is President, Entrepreneurs Spring Lunch, held in the and he is reshaping the world’s diplomatic magnificent Oriental Room of the London landscape. Closer to home Emmanuel Macron Capital Club on 28th March 2017. This event has overthrown the old order in France, not is greatly anticipated as one of the few just by becoming President but by creating occasions in the Guild calendar where “shop a new political party from scratch in a matter talk” is positively encouraged and where a of months which now dominates the country. weighty speaker expounds on current affairs in The old order is under siege and long-standing entrepreneurship. systems and conventions can no-longer be taken for granted.

This time of political turmoil is generally research body advising on Brexit). In a seen as bad for business, and it is true that wide-ranging and stimulating address, uncertainty will often prevent companies Mr Belchambers presented a nuanced from investing or expanding. Short-term interpretation of Brexit. He remarked that it is uncertainties about Brexit, in particular, are an opportunity for the UK to use its new-found causing many companies to wait and see regulatory freedom to ensure a proportionate which way the wind is blowing before making framework for SMEs, and reinforced this by important decisions. However, this unusual reference to developments in the UK, in the period of major change, especially in the EU, and in the USA. UK, means that there are also opportunities to lobby and shape the future business Mr Belchambers closed by suggesting that environment to an extent that has not existed Following the lunch, the barrister and noted the Guild could play a real role in identifying for decades. financial expert Anthony Belchambers and taking forward the Brexit priorities of its was welcomed and invited to address the members, e.g. enhancing their post-Brexit Brexit presents our nation with an opportunity assembled Freemen and guests. competitiveness, scaling back on needlessly we have not seen in a long time. In the short- onerous rules, facilitating their inclusion in the term, it means translation of EU regulations Mr Belchambers took as his theme government’s supply chain and enhancing and directives into UK law, probably without “Brexit, Trump and the New Landscape their export potential. As he put it, the much immediate change in an attempt to for Entrepreneurs” from his very informed Government were committed to a “better out offer stability to business, but also to ensure viewpoint as the Chairman of the Honorary than in” growth agenda and it was the Guild’s politicians have more time to scrutinise any Advisory Council of the Financial Services members who were the green shoots of proposals for change. But longer-term there Negotiation Forum (a neutral non-profit tomorrow’s growth. is scope to amend, improve, scrap or replace these regulations for the benefit of British businesses. In similar vein, the Government’s developing Industrial Strategy is perhaps linked to Brexit in many ways, but it also offers a wider look at how to boost business across SHAPING THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS the country, both region by region and sector BY FREEMAN AHZAZ CHOWDHURY by sector. And whilst not aimed at businesses Brexit directly, a continued policy of devolution to more and more parts of the country offers Ahzaz Chowdhury is Managing Partner at fresh scope for the newly elected Mayors to Nudge Factory. Az founded Nudge Factory try new ways of doing things, and they will be in 2011 after several years of working in consulting widely on everything from strategic national politics. He leads Nudge Factory’s planning and large-scale infrastructure professional team and maintains oversight investment to how to boost entrepreneurship on the delivery of all services across Nudge and employment across their regions. Factory’s client portfolio. Working to the motto “we do difficult” Az has led Nudge Feeding into these policy development Factory to develop and deliver cutting- processes – either participating in reactive edge public affairs, communications Government consultations, or proactively and community relations strategies for © Nudge Factory lobbying Departments and Ministers, perhaps clients ranging from global companies, through trade or industry membership international finance houses and some of organisations or maybe even as individual There was a time in the not too distant past the biggest developers in the world. companies with a stake in particular issues – is when if the subject of politics was raised the more important than ever, either to mitigate most likely response would be a weary shrug Az possesses a strong understanding of the against potential damaging changes or to and perhaps some comments about how legislative process as well as the ways in press for positive amendments that would all the parties were the same, nothing ever which opinion is generated and influenced benefit a particular industry, company or wider changes and so on. in the Westminster Village especially at community. There is the opportunity to lobby Ministerial and Cabinet level. Az is a Fellow for changes of culture and focus and even to Not any longer. Politics over the past two of the Royal Society of Arts, a Freeman of go back to basics and question why things years has thrown up surprise after surprise, the Guild of Entrepreneurs and a Member of are being done, or not done, a particular way. both at home and abroad. Here in the UK the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Anything and everything is potentially up for few predicted an outright Conservative In 2017, he was admitted into the British discussion and the expectations are that when Westminster majority in 2015, still fewer that in Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration Top 100 decisions are made on the back of those the aftermath of that election Jeremy Corbyn list. discussions, we will not be readdressing those would be elected Leader of the Labour Party issues for a very long time... and bring about the re-emergence of true socialist politics. And then there was the vote 16 guildofentrepreneurs.org ... And that is why we at Nudge Factory, as a corporate and public affairs consultancy, have found ourselves busier than usual over the past year, helping companies track developments in policy and personnel and working with them to most effectively communicate their needs to government and other policy-makers. Our client base has grown, ranging from globally listed companies, FTSE100’s right through to smaller businesses in niche industries, and we are finding ourselves tasked with taking on more workstreams for those different clients. This unprecedented opportunity to shape business policy is likely to last for two years or so, focused on Brexit negotiations and the translation or amendment of EU law onto the UK statute books, and then it is then likely to die down again. So an intense period of work lies ahead but we at Nudge are excited about helping our clients make the most out of the opportunities for change that lie ahead.

WHAT DOES BREXIT MEAN FOR EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS? BY FREEMAN ARPITA DUTT

Whether you are an advocate of a hard, soft Post-Brexit, the ECJ will no longer be part of 2. The Transfer of Undertaking Regulations or non-existent Brexit, the legal and economic the UK Court system, which takes away this (TUPE) is a complex, and regularly challenged consequences of leaving the European layer of appeal, and jurisprudence. The current piece of legislation which affords rights to Union are significant. Employment law is no proposal contained in the Great Repeal Bill employees on the transfer or outsourcing of exception - the UK’s existing framework of is that the UK will remain bound by historic business. It seems unlikely that it would be employment rights is vulnerable. In this article, decisions of the ECJ, but not future decisions. scrapped altogether (and again, UK legislation we explore this vulnerability and discuss what goes further than the EU requires) however, changes we may see to employment law as The reality in an aim to reduce ‘red tape’ it may be that a result of this seismic political and economic It is our view that we are unlikely to see a consultation rights before a transfer are relaxed shift. significant shift in UK employment law in the or that the rules that restrict harmonising immediate to short term post-Brexit for the employment terms after a TUPE transfer are Is our employment legislation at risk as a following commercial and political reasons: reformed. result of Brexit? A generous proportion of the UK’s existing • Politically it would not be expedient for the Taking back control employment law is derived from EU law. This Government to water down employment rights In the short term, it seems unlikely that includes the areas of discrimination, working in the short term. In the years after Brexit, we employment legislation will be significantly time regulations (including entitlement to may see amendments to employment law affected. That measure of certainty is good holiday, rest breaks and the 48-hour cap on to ‘cut red tape’ for businesses. There may for business. There is no doubt that Brexit will our working week) and the protection afforded also be pressure to facilitate trade deals with impact how businesses retain and engage to employees on the transfer of a business. the US and other countries that offer less employees, not least because of the potential Some of these rights are already incorporated protective employment rights. However, with impact on free movement of workers, and into our domestic framework; others are an insufficient majority in Parliament and an the emerging consensus between the main directly enforceable as EU Law. Either way, emboldened Labour party, legislative reform political parties on ‘managed migration’. exiting the EU creates a legislative hole. will be difficult. Should the Labour party form Whether ‘taking back control’ is a euphemism The UK Government proposes to address this a government, employment rights will be for reducing employment rights and regulations by implementing the Great Repeal Act which protected and, most likely, enhanced. remains to be seen. aims to enshrine all EU law into domestic law at the point of Brexit. This means that • In a number of areas, the UK already as at day one post-Brexit, the landscape of ‘gold plates’ employee rights going over and employment rights should be unchanged. above the EU standard or sitting outside of However, this stability could be short lived for it altogether. Unfair dismissal protection, for two reasons: example, is a UK right.

1 Inability to derogate from EU law • It has been suggested that even when Up until now, whilst the UK has had some leaving the EU, the UK would most likely have discretion as to how employment rights to retain EU employment law as part of any EU established in EU law are implemented trade deal - as the EU would want to prevent domestically, we have ultimately been bound employers from choosing to set up in the UK by a set of clearly established principles from because it had weaker employment rights which we could not walk away. At the point protection. of Brexit, we are no longer bound by those principles. This means that technically we David Davis (Minister for Exiting the EU) is also could see laws being changed, potentially widely quoted as having said that without proper parliamentary debate by use of ‘Henry VIII powers’. “British industrial working classes voted © BDBF overwhelmingly for Brexit. I am not at all For example, should the government decide attracted by the idea of rewarding them by Arpita Dutt is a Freeman of the Guild of that it no longer wanted to protect pregnant cutting their rights”. Entrepreneurs. She is a founding partner of women from discrimination in the workplace BDBF LLP, a leading specialist employment (an EU directive) , the law could be changed. In the longer term, there is likely to be some law firm based in the City of London. She legislative change – much of which will, we has 20 years experience of advising senior 2 Access to the European Court of suspect, be popular with employers. For executives and growing businesses on Justice and its jurisprudence example: future defining employment issues. She is a frequent commentator in the media on Whilst the UK remains a member of the 1. The General Data Protection Regulation high profile employment issues of the day, EU, it is impacted by the existence of and is due to be introduced in April 2018. This and is founder and editor of ‘Sacked in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice legislation creates a new set of onerous City’, a blogsite on the latest employment (ECJ). This creates a layer of accountability for obligations on employers which are likely to law news affecting City senior executives our UK Court system, and a layer of appeal for be unpopular. Whilst this may be a target for and businesses. Arpita was named a ‘Hot individuals who consider that the UK Courts change post-Brexit, it would be complacent 100 lawyer’ nationally for her expertise in are acting inconsistently with EU Directives (a for employers to assume that they need not whistleblowing and equality law, and is right which is rarely used but can be powerful). prepare for the GDPR. Parliament will be ranked as a leading lawyer in Who’s Who, Decisions of the ECJ have binding effect on focused on other legal issues in the transition Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 the UK Courts. phase after Brexit, and in any event, the UK directories. Contributions to this article will want to make sure that it continues to be are by Polly Rodway a partner and Rolleen seen as a safe island from a data protection McDonnell a solicitor at BDBF LLP. perspective.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 17 The Appreciation Supper

On Thursday 27th April 2017, the hijinks of the Entrepreneurs’ Appreciation Supper returned to the Guildhall Club. This annual supper, where Freemen Entrepreneurs and their guests are given the opportunity to rehearse some of the more peculiar customs of City dining in an informal setting, has become noted as much for its jocular atmosphere as its educational aims! The Guild’s Senior Warden Alderman Peter Hewitt, resplendent in his bright blue Warden’s robe, assisted by his lovely wife Fidelma, introduced the evening. Their instructive remarks on conversational etiquette, toasts and dress codes, were enthusiastically taken to heart and practiced with varying degrees of dignity. Freemen were delighted by the circulation of a Rose Bowl and Loving Cup, as well as spirited musical interludes for the procession and (after a bit of rehearsal) the singing of Grace.

The refreshing Rose Bowl of iced rosewater and petals The highly-informative menu cards Mrs Fidelma Hewitt theatrically deploys the rosewater

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Freeman Amy McManus shares a Loving Cup with guest Mr Tom Morris 18 guildofentrepreneurs.org Entrepreneur on Common Council MY ROLE AS A COMMON COUNCILMAN – FOUNDER FREEMAN RUBY SAYED

I had no particular aspirations of entering to be a voice for vulnerable people. After an politics and really fell into standing for election eventful and colourful journey, I was proud to by accident rather than design. Our then be called to the Bar in 1999 where I excelled new Alderman for Farringdon Without Ward, in my career and took on complex child abuse Gregory Jones QC, approached me asking cases. whether I would consider standing. We met for a coffee in Inner Temple where I also had the I was lucky enough to have some important pleasure of meeting the inimitable Edward Lord role models come into my life during my OBE. We spoke a little about what I do and teenage years and I will be eternally grateful issues that I feel passionate about. to them for believing in me and my abilities, which enabled me to achieve my hopes and Albeit, I am a born and bred Londoner ambitions. One of the first things I wanted to and have worked in the City for all of my do after qualifying as a Barrister was in some professional career, I realised that I knew very way to give back to the Community. I came little about City politics and the enigmatic across the Asian Women’s Resource Centre might that is the City of London Corporation. (London), which supports vulnerable and abused women and their children, and became I fall into the large proportion of the population a Trustee. I am now the Chairperson of this that finds itself disheartened and disappointed particular Charity as well as a Trustee of the by mainstream politics and the rhetoric and Bury St Edmund’s Women’s Refuge (Suffolk). populist attitudes that now prevail without the I also support and help a number of other transparency and substance that so many of Charities. us desire of our mainstream political parties. Had I been told that I would have to join a Unfortunately, I very badly broke my foot mainstream political party to have any hope several years ago which resulted in several of succeeding, then regrettably, I would have major surgeries and significant periods of Ruby Sayed and The Clerk Duncan Simms © J Hill walked away. Fortunately, my discussions being incapacitated and housebound. When with Alderman Jones QC and Deputy Lord this first happened and the seriousness of sparked an interest in me and I was attracted it all hit me, it felt like my world had come My background, insights and professional by the fact the City Of London Corporation crashing down around me. From being fiercely experiences have all contributed to why I is predominantly made up of politically independent and a workaholic, I ended up embraced the opportunity to stand for election. “independent” members. lying in bed, being reliant on others. I found The election process itself was fiercely fought this extremely demoralising and I suffered from with 22 candidates standing for 10 places. It My colleagues were quietly confident that a period of depression. I have been left with a was a privilege to get know and work closely I would embrace this new challenge which permanent disability which affects my ability with our team of 10. Remarkably, all 10 of us would be a bigger and broader platform to to walk or stand for too long. This has had a were elected in a landslide victory and we continue helping others and having a louder detrimental impact on my professional and continue to work very closely as a Team to voice. As soon as I had agreed to stand, a personal life. promote and represent the interests of our photographer miraculously appeared to take electorate in the Farringdon Without Ward – photographs for the election campaign – thus Not one to be defeated, I cast my net further The Temples, Fleet Street, High Holborn and the whirlwind of campaigning began. afield and explored other opportunities and Smithfield. things that I could do whilst cooped up at You may be wondering what motivated me home. Having always had an interest in the There were 26 new members elected to the to take on this new political challenge - I stock markets, and having spent endless Court of Common Council (the “Court”) this am a Barrister at 1 Pump Court Chambers, hours confined to my bed watching Bloomberg year. In the last 4 years, this has meant a specialising in Family Law, in particular TV and reading the FT (in between knitting turnaround of 51% of new members. Women Children Law and Domestic Violence. Coming scarves for friends), I took the plunge and and ethnic minority communities continue from an immigrant Asian Family, I was the first started investing in the stock markets during to be under-represented at the Court. I am from my immediate family to go to University, the horrendous crash of 2008/2009. With the the first of 3 Asian Women that have been where I read Law. I knew from about the age VIX volatility off the Richter scale, my heart elected to the City of London Corporation of 7 that I wanted to go into Law, although the constantly in my mouth, I grew my slush fund this year. I hope that this will present more romantic notions I had at that age were far which I subsequently invested in a few SMEs opportunities for people and women from removed from the realities of life as a Barrister. that were looking for investment as well as diverse backgrounds to consider standing for taking on Consultancy/ Non-Executive roles on election in the future. I didn’t experience a conventional upbringing their Boards. I also became an underwriter and and my teenage years were spent under lender on a peer-to-peer loan platform. When I first started, myself and the other new police child protection and in the care of social members were informed that the etiquette and services. Being told by some social workers I co-founded Nirvana Capital Ltd in 2012 which tradition is that new members do not speak at that “kids in care” don’t go to university and specialises in sourcing funding and alternative Court for at least 2 years. This to me seemed that I should forget any silly notions of being a finance for complex renewable energy projects somewhat bizarre given that we are there to Barrister, angered me. This is probably a story and property development projects. I also represent the interests of our electorate which for another time – they say that there is a book now own a luxury holiday business in the is a little difficult to do if you can’t vocalise this in all of us and hopefully one day I’ll have the picturesque, medieval village of Lavenham at Court! I am pleased to say that this unwritten courage to share my story. Suffice it to say, (Suffolk) called Lavenham Priory – perfect for a rule has well and truly been broken. New that my traumatic childhood and the resultant romantic getaway in one of our heritage rooms members have asked questions at Court and challenges this presented, served to reinforce through to idyllic longer holidays with the I gave my maiden speech a couple of weeks my determination to become a Barrister and family. Check out our website! ago...

guildofentrepreneurs.org 19 ...On behalf of our Ward, my colleagues and I are fighting and lobbying for a better working A Founder Member of The Guild of environment by way of supporting local and independent businesses, Courts that are fit for purpose Entrepreneurs, Ruby Sayed is an award and accessible to all, supporting the City’s 3 wholesale markets, addressing accessibility into the City winning Barrister and an Investment & and the Temples and traffic congestion; improving air quality; supporting workers and residents by Finance Entrepreneur, and a newly elected enhancing primary and urgent care facilities at St Bart’s hospital; better investment for those in need; member of the City of London Corporation, protecting vulnerable victims of domestic abuse and much more. Please don’t hesitate to contact me representing the Ward of Farringdon if you would like to learn more about what my colleagues and I are doing. Without. More recently, she has diversified her business interests by investing in the As a fellow entrepreneur, you may also be interested in learning that I am helping to set up a Business bespoke hospitality sector. Ruby also has Forum, so if your business falls within our Ward, then please do get in touch with me. I am also a number of years experience acting as a an elected member of the following Committees – Establishment, Markets, Hampstead Heath and Non-Executive Director for SMEs. Communities & Children’s Services, for the latter of which, I am now the Deputy Chairman and Lead Member for the Safeguarding Sub-Committee. I am also part of the City’s National Action Group for Much of her spare time is spent Fintech/ Insuretech. campaigning for and championing the rights of women and children and she is an So the first few months of being an elected member of the Court of Common Council have been a active Charity Trustee and Chairperson. huge learning curve and I am in awe of and proud to be part of the City of London Corporation and all that it does for the Square-Mile, across the UK and Internationally – it is a far cry from just a “Local She has a new-found passion for growing Authority”. The Corporation prides itself for being a Global Leader and Innovator with an annual organic vegetables, bee-keeping, jam turnover of more than £5 billion. The Charitable arm of the Corporation, City Bridge Trust donates making and cooking for friends and loved over £20 million a year to Charities. ones on her AGA. She divides her time between London and Suffolk. During my time as an elected member I hope to be able to continue promoting and help developing all that the City has to offer from business and investment through to its social and environmental [email protected] responsibilities. I also wish to ensure that the City continues to be open and inclusive to all, no matter www.lavenhampriory.co.uk what your social background, creed, colour, religion, age or sexual orientation. Furthermore, I hope to continue campaigning for and to be a voice for the most vulnerable in our society. All Hallows’ & St. Ethelburga

CAROL SERVICE SUMMER BARBEQUE AND VISIT TO ALL AND FESTIVE HALLOWS’ MUSUEUM- 4TH JULY 2017 RECEPTION James Mellor writes: All Hallows’ Church was filled to capacity on Thursday 15th December 2016 for a “Entrepreneurs are independent-minded people, always looking to do something new, different, service of carols and readings, as Freemen and in their own way. It was fitting that this year’s Guild of Entrepreneurs Summer barbeque fell on of the Guild of Entrepreneurs prepared for American Independence Day. The patron saint of the Guild is St Ethelburga (a very apt saint for a Christmas and the festive holidays. barbeque) and the celebrations took place at All Hallows’ by the Tower – the oldest church in the City of London, founded by Ethelburga Abbess of Barking in 675 AD. The Officers and Court, having met for the first time under the direction of the new Master The history of All Hallows’ is preserved in an amazing museum located in the crypt. Tourists flock Kate Jolly earlier that day, took their seats in to the Tower of London to experience the history there but many are probably completely unaware the front pews of the Church and were in fine of the treasures kept right below their feet at All Hallows’ Church. The museum is free to access and voice for a succession of Christmas carols well worth a visit. The church crypt boasts a shrine built from the stone of a Templar castle, poignant and hymns, interspersed with familiar biblical returned crosses from the Western Front and the crow’s nest from Shackleton’s last voyage. An passages and an uplifting homily delivered by event on US Independence day was even more appropriate as the church is connected to both the Guild’s Chaplain and Freeman Reverend President John Quincy Adams and William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Bertrand Olivier. As in previous years, the Chapel Choir of St Dunstans’ College led the Below your feet is the original pavement of Roman Londinium and above your head is the spire from singing, and delighted the congregation with which Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of London. The church is quite the historical treasure festive anthems and carol arrangements. trove. My original cartoon art, exhibited at the event (samples of which are replicated on the facing The Freemen and guests then repaired to page) was donated to the church by the Guild and proceeds from the sales of my book, Drawn from All Hallows’ Vicarage for a bountiful festive History - A cartoon journey through Britain’s past, on the night, have also been gifted in order to reception beautifully directed by outgoing sustain its ongoing ministry and maintain the Grade 1 listed building”. Chair of Events & Fellowship Fiona Taylor. Winter cocktails, and a seemingly endless www.jamesmellorcreative.com succession of canapés from caterer Chocolate -Strawberry.com, fortified and sustained a long evening of conversation and cheer.

20 guildofentrepreneurs.org THE GUILD’S PATRON: ST ETHELBURGA - AN EARLY ENTREPRENEUR

You could easily be forgiven for wondering why a Guild or Livery Company should have a patron saint at all, and then – even if you see the point – ponder on the relevance of a nun as such a figure. What do nuns have to teach us, you may ask.

In the City, traditions rule, and by tradition, Livery companies have over the age taken on the patronage of the saint of the parish or monastery where regular Guild services were held, and where prayers said for departed members. Spiritual and material welfare of their liverymen and freemen was important for the Guilds, and help was provided to those who were sick. Funerals were particularly important occasions, attended by all members of the company.

For modern Guilds, in the current multicultural setting of the City of London, it may seem anachronistic to choose a patron saint. Yet, of course, the livery movement thrives on traditions, and the presence of a saintly figurehead anchors our thoughts and prayers, and remind us of our charitable foundation even as we strive to break new grounds as a Guild of Entrepreneurs. After the church of All Hallows’ was chosen as the Guild Church for the Entrepreneurs, thoughts naturally turned to who could be the Guild’s patron saint. While a number of candidates were identified, in the © B Olivier end it was felt that Ethelburga, who had founded the church of All Hallows’ (Barking) by the Tower in the seventh century, was the most suitable candidate, for a number of reasons. The Reverend Bertrand Olivier is the Vicar of All Hallows’ by the Tower and Honorary First of all, Ethelburga has strong City connections. Born in the 7th century, she was the sister of Chaplain to the Guild of Entrepreneurs. the then Bishop of London, Erkenwald, and she therefore was well versed with the ways of the Before ordination, Bertrand founded a City, significantly different as it was then. Nevertheless, she saw it as a place where she needed successful PR agency, which he grew to 20 an outpost for her nuns, which led her to build the first church of All Hallows’ in 675. Secondly, for staff and eventually sold to the Fleishman those who think that a monastic vocation is simply a withdrawal from the world, think again. To join Hillard group. As a priest, he partnered a monastic order in those times was, of course, a religious vocation – when of course religion was with St Mungo’s charity to set up a social everywhere. But it was also a way for men – but more specifically women - to take full charge of enterprise providing training for the their lives and be in positions to exert their talents for the good, without depending on men. To be homeless. He was admitted as a Freeman the Abbess of a monastic house ranked as high as a Bishop, and there were a number of significant Entrepreneur in November 2016. women who made their mark on that period of rapid change in their positions of spiritual and temporal leaders of nunneries. Thus, to be an Abbess was not to be meek and mild and detached from the world, but instead, to be empowered and emancipated to do the work of God.

Although not a great deal is known about Ethelburga, she is remembered for her entrepreneurial zeal in developing the Abbey of Barking as one of the significant religious houses of the time, and then looking for new opportunities in founding All Hallows’ in the City. She was a strong and faithful leader, helping others to live out their Godly vocation in the great Benedictine tradition of radical hospitality. Thus, her house provided rest for the pilgrim, health to the sick, and education to the young. Ethelburga’s dedication was highlighted in her deep care for the sick during an outbreak of the plague in 664. This eventually killed her and most of her community. During this time she is said to have had a vision of a light “brighter than the sun at noonday” which inspired her and her community to carry out works of great compassion in caring for others.

Ethelburga’s strong and entrepreneurial spirit and her virtues of leadership and commitment to social action even to the point of self-sacrifice should chime with most Entrepreneurs, who have to rely both on inspired ideas as well as sheer hard work and dedication in order to implement them and bring them to fruition. She should therefore be a worthy and inspirational Patron saint for the Guild. In the Anglican calendar her feast day is October 11th and, on the eve of her feast, the Guild is organising this year for the first time a short atmospheric service at All Hallows’ to commemorate her and celebrate the connection with the Guild, followed by an evening celebrating local food and drink artisanal entrepreneurship with a monastic twist. We hope this will be the first of an annual event in the Guild’s calendar. (See photos on page 43)

A selection of James Mellor’s original cartoons kindly donated to the Guild by Court Assistant Judith Donovan CBE on 4th July.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 21 Alderman Sir Paul Rupert Judge (1949-2017)

FOUNDATION MASTER AND IMMEDIATE PAST MASTER BY THE SENIOR WARDEN, ALDERMAN PETER HEWITT

The news of the death of my fellow Alderman Past Master of the Marketors; a Liveryman and friend Sir Paul Judge, earlier this year, and Honorary Assistant of the Clothworkers; was both shocking and saddening. The illness a Member of the Court and the Sponsoring that had beset him last year, and from which Alderman of the Educators; and an Honorary he had recovered, returned fatally in May, and Freeman of the Management Consultants. He I, along with all his many City and business was also the Sponsoring Alderman for the City colleagues, was astonished that this vibrant Livery Concert; a Trustee of the Samuel Wilson force in our lives had been snatched away with Loan Trust; a member of the Community and so much more left to give. Children’s Services Committee and a member of the Epping Forest Committee. He had been Paul, at the age of just 68, could not only be a Member of a number of other Corporation described as a man who had achieved so Committees including Finance and Planning much, but as a man who was still achieving & Transportation; a Governor of the City of - daring, creating and succeeding in the very London School; the City of London School for best philosophy of the Guild that he helped to Girls and the City of London Freemen’s School. found. Indeed, a matter of days before his very sudden death, he was actively overseeing his Paul was born on 25th April 1949 and grew emerging Chinese projects, and stewarding up in South London, being an 11+ pupil at (with his characteristic scrutiny) his other St Dunstan’s College in Catford (which was educational and business interests by email founded in the Ward of Tower in 1408 at St and phone as he travelled throughout the Dunstan-in-the-East, an ancient parish now world. The Guild is hugely indebted to Paul, combined with Guild’s church of All Hallows’ not just because of the work that he did to by the Tower). He was awarded an Open establish it, but also because of the way in Scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, which he actively shaped and nurtured us as studying Natural Sciences and Management we grew. Studies. He subsequently gained a Thouron Fellowship to the Wharton Business School of Paul was the Guild’s Sponsoring Alderman the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with and it was he (with his vast knowledge of the an MBA. The first twelve years of his business City’s protocols and procedures) that steered career were with Cadbury Schweppes the Ordinances, Bye-Laws and Financial PLC, where he variously held the roles of: Sir Paul Judge addresses the Spring Lunch 2016 Plan through the Court of Aldermen in 2014. Group Deputy Finance Director; Managing Director of Cadbury Schweppes Kenya; When the Guild was officially constituted Marketing; Chairman of the Royal Society Managing Director of Cadbury Typhoo and in November 2014, the Court elected Paul of Arts; Deputy Chairman of the American Group Planning Director. In 1985, he initiated as the Foundation Master and he enjoyed Management Association in New York; a and led the £97 million buyout of the food a hugely successful year as the first Master Trustee of the Royal Institution and a Special businesses of Cadbury Schweppes to form Entrepreneur. It is thanks in no small part to Adviser at Chatham House. At the time of Premier Brands Ltd which was successfully his stature and reputation, that so many doors his death he was President of the Association sold in 1989. His career then moved into the were opened to the Guild in that first year of MBAs; Chairman of the Governors of public and political sectors as a government- – including Mansion House for its first Civic St Dunstan’s College; the British-Serbian appointed Member of the Milk Marketing Dinner. Chamber of Commerce; the Museum of Board; Chairman of Food from Britain; Brands and a Member of the Council of the Director General of the Conservative Party It was typical of Paul’s dedication that, when Crown Agents. His Honorary Doctorates and Ministerial Adviser at the Cabinet Office. Dan Doherty (the Guild’s second Master) include those in Law at the University of In 1990, he became the key benefactor of the was diagnosed with a serious illness (from Cambridge, in Letters at the University of Judge Business School at the University of which he sadly died in March 2016), Paul Westminster and in Science at City University. Cambridge which bears his name. willingly accepted the Court’s request that He was knighted in 1996. he continue as Master for the remainder of Paul was a pluralist and his other activities that year. When he passed the Mastership to His sons both went to City of London School include being Chairman of Schroder Income Kate Jolly last November, it was off the back and then to the University of Cambridge. One Growth Fund PLC; and a Director of Teachers of almost two whole years in the chair, and was an officer in the Royal Engineers and is TV; Boddington Group PLC; Grosvenor he remained active as our Immediate Past now a civil engineer and the other completed Development Capital PLC; WPP Group Master until the end. The Guild’s gratitude his PhD and works as an aerodynamics PLC; ENRC PLC; Tempur Sealy International for that unswerving commitment cannot be engineer for an automotive company. His Inc of the US; Standard Bank Group Ltd of overstated. Paul had been the Alderman for widow, Lady Barbara, is a Liveryman of the Johannesburg and Abraaj Capital of Dubai. the Ward of Tower since 2007 and had been World Traders and Chairman of the Institute of In addition, he was a Member of the Higher a Freeman of the City of London since 1970. Directors. The impact of Paul’s entrepreneurial Education Funding Council for England and During Sir John Stuttard’s Mayoralty, he was life on the City and on UK and international of the Advisory Board for Barclays Wealth. Chairman of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. In the business and charity was huge. His greatest Not-for-profit appointments have included year that the Guild was founded, Paul was legacy is the example he set for us of creativity, being President of the Chartered Management already serving as the Aldermanic Sheriff in determination and service. He is sorely missed, Institute and the Chartered Institute of readiness to serve as Lord Mayor. He was a and fondly remembered. 22 guildofentrepreneurs.org THE DAN DOHERTY MEMORIAL SCHOOL, MAKWANPUR DISTRICT, NEPAL BY COURT ASSISTANT NEIL FULLBROOK

The Guild of Entrepreneurs has grown into stability to the children affected by the disaster. the City’s eight hundred years. The sponsoring something of which our Founder and late Since the earthquake they had been schooled Alderman and Foundation Master, Sir Paul Past Master Dan Doherty would have been in makeshift classrooms which equated to a Judge, was installed (alongside Dan as Senior extremely proud. The Guild reconnects the piece of tarpaulin stretched high above rows of Warden) at Ironmongers’ Hall on November modern, innovative City with its ancient desks. Not an ideal way to learn!” added Neil. 24th, 2014. The launch of the Guild was so entrepreneurial roots, which is something that The school has created a lively entrepreneurial lavish a celebration that the then Lord Mayor Dan was passionate about, and it is a lasting hub, much like the Guild of Entrepreneurs has of London swapped his official engagements legacy within the City of his dedication to in The City of London. around so that he could bid the Guild a hearty entrepreneurship. Since his death in March welcome to the City Civic. The Lord Mayor 2016 after a short battle with cancer, Dan’s Dan conceived the idea of returning the City attended with his two Sheriffs and joined widower, Court Assistant Neil Fullbrook Civic to its entrepreneurial roots around five Masters, Clerks and representatives of half of has created another entrepreneurial legacy years ago. He set up a city-wide network the City’s Livery Companies and Guilds. overseas of which Dan would be equally as called the City of London Entrepreneurs. It proud. was the success of this network that inspired And now, not only will Dan Doherty’s legacy him to approach the highest authority in the live on through the Guild of Entrepreneurs, The Dan Doherty Memorial School in City of London (the square mile). The Court it will touch thousands of lives in Nepal as Makwanpur District, Nepal was opened in of Aldermen delivered their verdict on July 8th, trading and education makes its mark on the February 2017 by Neil. Not only does it provide 2014 that it would approve the formation of local community. essential education to the local children, it also The Guild of Entrepreneurs – one of barely 100 acts as an entrepreneurial hub and trading post such organisations to have been founded in www.thedandohertymemorialschool.org for the 10,000 people living in the Makwanpur Valley, some of whom travel miles to trade their goods.

Dan was a trustee for the charity Learning for Life, a UK charity which helps develop girls’ education in India and Pakistan. Since the charity’s creation twenty years ago, it has expanded its vision and commitment, working with street and working children, as well as impoverished communities across South Asia, in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Dan worked tirelessly for the charity, raising funds and helping to build a sustainable network across continents. In March 2014 Dan gave a keynote speech on The Dan Doherty Memorial School, Makwanpur, Nepal © Learning for Life the subject of how businesses can support charity to the business community in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Minaxi Desai, Chair of Learning for Life said: “I announced the idea of building a school/ trading post in Dan’s name is his memorial service at Trinity House in April 2016, and since then Neil and Dan’s friends have all worked hard to raise the £25,000 needed to build the school.” The generosity of Dan’s friends soon made the development a reality and the school was opened in February 2016. To date over £30,000 has been raised, which secures the © Learning for Life © Learning for Life build and the staffing of the school. The main fundraising activities took the form of extremely Primary school pupils enjoy learning at the school generous direct donations, sky jumps and regular monthly gourmet burger evenings at a local eatery close to Dan’s home in Rayleigh, Essex.

Neil said: “Dan would be so proud of the school. It’s a lasting legacy to his memory and provides local entrepreneurs with the facility to trade and build a stronger community by teaching children skills that would have otherwise have taken a back seat.”

The school building was urgently needed after an earthquake devastated twelve of Learning for Life’s schools in the region. Neil recounted that Dan received the news of the devastation while they were on holiday in 2014. “Dan spent a lot of time on the phone trying to organise fundraising for the charity in order to bring © Learning for Life guildofentrepreneurs.org 23 A Freeman’s International

vegetables and rice. She used her produce to Reach feed her children and sold the surplus to other families. But this was not enough for Rhoda so she took a second loan to grow paprika At the end of 2016 I decided to step down which she sells into the wholesale market from being the CEO of a large national and makes enough profit to reinvest into her organisation in order to “tick some things businesses which are now self sustaining. She off my bucket list” before the opportunities used some of her profit to buy an “Umboosi” disappeared! I decided I wanted to build a (or a goat to those of us who are not fluent in portfolio career and I now Chair a property Chichewa) to further secure food security for development company as well as being a her family. She was thrilled to tell me she was non-executive director on a number of other proud to be able to feed her children and her boards. However I did not want to lose my ambition was to continue to trade and make connection with the voluntary sector and profits which she would use to send her two readily accepted the honour of becoming a boys to school. trustee of the MicroLoan Foundation. Recently I was delighted to travel to Africa where I Florence lives in rural Zambia. She was met hundreds of amazing women who were widowed in 2004 leaving her as the sole united in their quest to give their children better provider for her six children. Florence took a futures. loan from the MicroLoan Foundation to set up a roadside stall selling fish fritters to passing Across the world over 750 million people live travellers. She is an engaging and friendly on around £1 a day. Half of the world’s poorest woman but is keen to be viewed as a serious people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and 70% of entrepreneur. She wears gold rimmed glasses the world’s poorest people are women who (that she found on the side of the road!) in are struggling to provide even the most basic order that people take her more seriously as © RNIB things for their families. It’s simply impossible a business woman. When I asked Florence if to provide food, medicine, shelter and her children would work at the fritter stall she difference it could add up to a step change for education on £1 a day. was completely horrified and assured me her the women and children of sub-Saharan Africa. children would have proper jobs where they Importantly, it could make living on less than a The MicroLoan Foundation works in Malawi “sat on chairs” in an office! She was a very £1 a day a thing of the past. and Zambia and has just started to operate generous woman but had no hospitality to in Zimbabwe. We work with women who offer me – so instead she hugged me and sang For more information contact the MicroLoan are living in extreme poverty. They are living a song extolling the virtues of the MicroLoan Foundation at in rural areas and many are illiterate because Foundation. www.microloanfoundation.org.uk their families could not afford to send them to school. They struggle to afford even the very basics – things that we all take for granted Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE such as food, electricity and water – let alone access to health care or education. Lesley-Anne was CEO of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) from 2004 But these are women with huge ambitions and until 2016. She had a long career in the an incredible and inspirational determination. public and voluntary sectors and before Whenever I spoke to one of the women and joining RNIB she was Director of Operations asked about her ambitions, the response for the Peabody Trust and prior to that always started with wanting to be able to feed Director of Housing for the London Borough their youngsters every day, live in a house with of Enfield. While at RNIB Lesley-Anne was a tin roof and be able to send their children to instrumental in uniting the fragmented sight school. Florence Phiri © Microloan Foundation loss sector through the development of the UK Vision Strategy. Following an extensive merger programme Lesley-Anne created The MicroLoan Foundation works with these the RNIB Group of charities. She is known inspirational women to help them make their for challenging the status quo through dreams become realities. The Foundation collaboration and innovation. provides small loans so the women can set up businesses. It also provides business support Lesley-Anne holds a number of non- and training. We all know how difficult it is to executive positions including Chair of be successful in business and the challenges Red Door Ventures Ltd. which is building are magnified in the poorest countries in the thousands of private rented homes for world. residents in East London. She is also a Non-

Executive Director of the Royal Brompton The MicroLoan Foundation is currently and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and directly supporting 30,000 women and many Rhoda Phonera © Microloan Foundation Metropolitan Housing. Lesley-Anne is a of these micro businesses grow and create trustee of the MicroLoan Foundation and employment for others. Our women are fierce a supporter of the Alzheimer’s Society. Two of the women I met made a particularly and determined entrepreneurs, business She is also a Freeman of the Guild of lasting impression. Rhoda lives in a small women who take their responsibilities very Entrepreneurs and Chief Baker at Alexander village in Malawi and is the secretary of the seriously. 99% of the loans are repaid in full Original Cakes! group of women in her village who have which means we can reinvest that capital.

micro businesses. She is 25 years old and Lesley-Anne was awarded a CBE in the has two sons aged 8 and 2. Rhoda took a Our ambition is to help many many more Queen’s 2012 birthday honours list and was business loan from the MicroLoan Foundation entrepreneurial women to trade their way out voted Britain’s Most Admired Charity Chief to buy seeds and fertiliser to grow tomatoes, of poverty. If everyone who can, makes a small Executive in 2015. 24 guildofentrepreneurs.org The London Capital Club

2ND TUESDAY DRINKS

All Freemen, Freemen-elect, guests and the downright curious are very warmly welcomed to the London Capital Club for the regular second Tuesday informal drinks. Your first drink is free, courtesy of the Club, and they have reserved the beautiful Members’ Bar for the Guild and its guests. As well as being great fun, these monthly events are very effective in encouraging new members. Drop in for a glass of something from 6pm (The Club’s Opihr gin cocktails with fresh ginger and juniper berries are to die for! Ed) and stay as long as you can. There is also an excellent array of food in the Club’s Tavern restaurant so do stay for supper too.

LADIES’ COMEDY NIGHT by Court Assistant Pippa Watmough

On 6th July 2017, the inaugural call for women to take a “night off from their day job” was made and with the generous assistance of London Capital Club, our first comedy evening took place in their beautiful Wren Room. A fizzy reception was followed with an exquisitely prepared three course meal and wine, with a raffle organised in aid of the Guild Trust, and then excellent entertainment from comedienne Abi Roberts, who entertained us with snippets of Russian and Opera, sometimes combining (L-R) Court Assistant Pippa Watmough, the Junior Warden, the two. BURNS NIGHT Freemen Spirit de la Mare and Colin Hegner, Court Assistant Nicola Manning, guest Sasha Glynn and Court Assistant Tom The evening was a great success with calls The beautiful Walbrook Grill of the London Simmonds © S Glynn for more and we may just let the boys come Capital Club was filled to capacity for the 2017 next time! Thanks to London Capital Club Burns Night celebrations on Wednesday 25th who were our hosts for the evening, as well as January. The Master and the Middle Warden generous raffle prize donors together with Lee were resplendent in ancestral tartans, whereas Robertson and Tara Dawn. A percentage of the Clerk (with no pretensions to a Scots (L-R) Kate Gordon - Clark, Alexandra Rock and Abi Roberts. the ticket proceeds goes to the Guild Trust. heritage) made do with his tweed trousers and © S Glynn hoped he had done enough!

Following a nourishing starter of Cullen Skink, the Haggis was piped in to a compelling rendition of Burn’s Address to a Haggis, and was consumed with evident relish. Venison followed, and the Club’s Cranachan to finish – all washed down with “guild auld Scotch drink”. Following a lusty rendition of Auld Lang Syne, the guests repaired to the Members’ Bar for a stirrup cup to refresh them for their homeward journeys.

CLUB TABLE

The Guild Club Table lunching opportunity is available to all Freemen and guests on selected Fridays (usually the last Friday of the month, but please check the calendar) at the London Capital Club, and is a perfect opportunity for Freemen to get to know one another over a good lunch at a reasonable price for a glass of fizz, three courses with house wine and coffee. Bookings are taken direct by the Capital Club on 020 7717 0088.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 25 The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

The Spring Lunch this year was preceded informative, the lunch good, and the by the official signing of the Guild’s Article of discussions very productive. There are five Affiliation with the Defence Academy of the distinct areas of cooperation, underpinned United Kingdom. by the Article of Affiliation signed earlier in the year. In prospering the affiliation, to the extent The Master made reference to the historical that each is able, the Defence Academy and importance of service and of the traditional the Guild agrees to: obligations of the City institutions to supply skills and resources to the armed forces. This 1 Share freely its expertise with the other; obligation endures and the Guild was, she 2 Publicise its connection to the other; (L-R) Vice Admiral Duncan Potts, CB, Master Kate Jolly, The said, proud to be following in this custom by 3 Teach and learn from the other; Clerk © The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom providing business minds and innovators to 4 Extend hospitality to the other, and the Defence Academy, and to collaborating enjoy fellowship together; actively. 5 Inspire and support the other

The Director General of the Defence Academy, It was a great privilege for the Guild to Vice Admiral Duncan Potts CB, spoke briefly to enjoy this reciprocal visit, and key decisions underscore the importance of the Affiliation in concerning support and joint activities are now bringing together the common purposes of the being agreed to fully effectuate the affiliation. two institutions. Representatives of the Defence Academy are a familiar sight at the Guild’s formal events, Pens poised, the Article of Affiliation was duly and the partnership is already being publicised © The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom signed into effect and the occasion marked actively and proudly, and the Senior Warden with the giving and receiving of beautiful and Clerk were delighted to have been commemorative certificates bearing the Guild’s invited as guests of the Defence Academy seal. to the Trafalgar Night dinner in October. As the Defence Academy looks to develop its In late July, the Middle Warden, Lee Robertson, Business Skills courses and expand its own spearheaded a delegation from the Guild business as an education provider, the Guild of Entrepreneurs on a visit to the Defence looks set to play a crucial role. Academy site at Shrivenham. Freemen Entrepreneurs can look forward to The visit was intended to strengthen the opportunities to give and to receive support affiliation and to actively develop ideas from the Guild’s military affiliate in the new year for partnership over the coming years. and beyond. © The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom The presentations and tours were highly

BY COURT ASSISTANT Cyber Security NEIL PARTRIDGE

Information Security is the responsibility In conversation with a ‘cyber expert’ you might element could be far higher, at up to 90%. of the leaders of every organisation. hear phrases such as ‘Phishing’, ‘Spoofing’, The ‘alarm’ sentiment is obvious, but what Ransomware’ and ‘Malware’. Brains spin as about the ‘hope’? Well, every organisation If your organisation is affected by an organisations try to understand what these has the opportunity to put measures in place information security breach, the very best mean and attempt to find solutions to beat to educate and empower staff to take action that you can hope for is to mitigate some of them. to protect the organisation; even just small the damage; no-one walks away completely changes in this respect can significantly unscathed, not ever. It is not unusual to encounter a ‘head in reduce risk. the sand’ approach from organisations; not Having supported UK businesses in regulated because they are complacent, but because Feel free to smile and nod as you recognise sectors and also multinational ‘household they assume that cybercrime occurs as a result probably having seen each and every one of names’ for almost two decades, the pursuit of of a technical or software failure and that by the following preventable information security keeping information secure is a subject close having a robust IT security solution in place, risks, all of which are ‘people problems’: to my heart. they believe that their organisation will be safe. Somebody using a laptop or sending an email Here’s a statistic that should therefore, give or making a business call whilst on a crowded I liken cybercrime to icebergs. Not only is cause for alarm, but it should also give hope: train, writing down a password on a post-it most of their extent hidden from sight, but that At least 63% of cyber breaches occur due note or having a password constituted of which is out of sight also changes shape, is to human factors in the organisation (not a the name of the family pet, opening a link in constantly in motion and in truth, is impossible technical or software problem). The insurer an email that purports to offer you tracking to avoid absolutely, no matter how careful you Hiscox recently suggested that the human fault information on the delivery that you are are. (apparently) expecting. These practices...

26 guildofentrepreneurs.org © L Scrase (PDA)

A Founding Freeman and Court Assistant to the Guild of Entrepreneurs, Neil Partridge sits on the Boards of PDA Legal, Cyber Primed and PDA Marketing. He is an accredited auditor for the Law Society of England and Wales and also a Board member of the Guild of Entrepreneurs Charitable Trust.

...are all inviting enormous risk and are entirely only recently realised that GDPR coming into Our team had been watching the rise and attributable to human error, but they are force is merely a matter of months away. Such proliferation of cybercrime for several years 99.99% preventable. organisations are now taking appropriate and it was when, nearly 2 years ago, we steps, but we know that there are hundreds heard the statistics as to the volume of cyber/ To put aside a myth, Apple devices are not more who are not suitably aware of GDPR or information breaches which were attributed to immune from contributing to the transfer of its implications. the human element, that we experienced our ‘nasties’ in the cyber world. A business team entrepreneurial ‘lightbulb moment’. might for example, be using Apple mobile On the subject of awareness, a common devices; one day one of the team receives an but rarely fully considered situation is that of With years of auditing, regulatory and risk- email on their iPhone that purports to be about cyber criminals (also known as ‘Threat Actors’) management experience to inform us, we a business event that they are due to attend. acquiring a portfolio of credible information wrote the most robust people-centric cyber/ They forward this to their colleagues back at about people by targeting the Facebook information security benchmark available in the the office who, having received the email from profiles of their children. This portfolio is then UK today, known as Cyber Primed. their ‘trusted colleague’ assume that the email used to attack organisations or their clients must be safe, and so they open it on their or suppliers. Along the way, the Threat Actors Cyber Primed is an advanced and interlinked desktop PCs and they click the link to ‘find are, with remarkable ease, likely to learn your set of rules and records; an auditable out more’ about the business event… tragedy name, what you look like, where you last went Standard, that provides organisations, their swiftly unfolds through the malware that is on holiday, the name of your pet dog, the clients, customers, staff, suppliers, regulators unleashed! names, photographs and dates of birth of your and insurers with verifiable independent children and those of your extended family, evidence that they have taken steps to protect But what if a breach takes place? Surely, if the type of car you drive and possibly even them and the organisation from cyber attack. organisations are able to plug the gap quickly the name of the educational establishment Moreover, Cyber Primed is flexible and and run a PR smokescreen to try to mop-up that your children attend. The spine-tingling responsive to the operating requirements/ the reputational damage, and their insurance awareness that you and your loved ones are conditions of each individual organisation company pays out, there ends their exposure being hunted, tracked and scrutinised like this and their regulatory frameworks; unlike other to risk on that occasion, right? Wrong! makes for uneasy contemplation, doesn’t it? benchmarks, Cyber Primed does not require organisations to completely re-write their Regulators with their viciously sharp claws Some organisations have attempted to own rulebooks. The approach is tailored and could step into the ring just at the point improve their level of protection by adopting is suitable for any organisation, irrespective that an organisation is already on its knees the Cyber Essentials scheme or attaining of size, location, industry or sector. Logistics following a breach. GDPR (General Data the ISO27001 benchmark on information companies, schools, law firms, marketing Protection Regulation) for instance, is likely to security. Achieving either standard/benchmark agencies, professional representative bodies, extend a zero-tolerance approach to failing to is certainly better than doing nothing at all county councils and publishing houses appropriately protect data and the penalties and both include a measure of focus on the are, to name but a few, organisations that are severe; just ask Ashley Maddison. ‘people’ element of information security. we have engaged with to take the Cyber Primed route. The Cyber Primed standard is Make no mistake, GDPR must be considered But, Cyber Essentials is by its own admission, based, independently, upon GCHQ’s NCSC by every organisation in the UK that holds data simply ‘basic hygiene measures’. And, requirements (it was GCHQ’s NCSC team that could be used to identify living individuals. in March of this year, the now notorious that helped to resolve the NHS ransomware In a world where 95% of organisations operate ransomware debacle produced near- breach in March of this year), with all of Cyber online and 60% of all staff use a computer at catastrophic consequences for a number of Essentials rolled in and almost all (ie. the work, and it is estimated that by the year 2022 NHS Trusts despite the fact that some of them relevant parts) of ISO27001 and elements there will be 50 billion computing devices on had ISO27001 in place. of the US’s Centre for Information Security the Internet, it is a matter of indisputable fact benchmark. that data protection is inextricably linked to So, if such standards and benchmarks are cybersecurity. failing, to whom does an organisation turn to If you would like to have a chat about seek help? And, what can it do to demonstrate how to best protect your organisation in We have a team at PDA Legal that is dedicated to its staff, suppliers, associates, customers, respect of information security, cybercrime to providing data protection consultancy, patients, regulators and insurers that it has and data protection/GDPR, we would be support and training to organisations all over taken significant and robust steps to protect it pleased to hear from you. Please contact the UK. Some of the organisations that we and them? me, Neil Partridge, at [email protected] have been assisting got in touch with us having or [email protected]

guildofentrepreneurs.org 27 HC SVNT DRACONES FREEMAN JENNY CAMPBELL JOINS BBC’S DRAGONS’ DEN

The Guild of Entrepreneurs is proud to Entrepreneur of the Year award and then won announce that Freeman Jenny Campbell the silver award for Turnaround Entrepreneur in has recently taken up residency in the BBC’s the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2013. In popular TV programme, Dragons’ Den and we 2014, she was named Vitalise Businesswoman are already enjoying her charismatic turn as of the Year. one of TV’s most recognisable cadre of leading entrepreneurs. Jenny has been a Freeman Entrepreneur since September 2015. One of her Leaving school at 16, Jenny climbed quickly favourite business mottos is “Live by through the banking ranks to become one of corporate standards, but breathe like an the few senior female bankers at the time in entrepreneur.” the UK. Jenny is passionate about supporting the next Jenny famously led the turnaround (and later generation of young entrepreneurs through buyout) of Hanco ATMs and then spent a her work with the Guild, Young Enterprise and decade as the CEO of the highly successful Tomorrow’s People. YourCash Europe, an independent automated teller machine (ATM) provider with operations Jenny lives in rural Suffolk with her husband, in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland, having brought up two now grown up sons. before selling the business in October 2016 for Her hobbies include championship breeding £50 million. and showing of Flat Coated Retrievers (a hobby she began in her teens, when she first In 2011 and in 2013, Jenny was recognised established the “Ronevorg” kennel name) and as the Ernst & Young Regional Finalist she is also an accredited breed judge. THE WEST LONDON SUMMER OF POSSIBILITIES PROGRAMME IN KENSINGTON – GLOBAL SOCIAL LEADERS CATALYST

The Guild’s Education Partner the Aldridge Foundation and its Founder, Freeman Sir Rod Aldridge, have been working closely with Academy staff and partners to provide the support their students and their community desperately need in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire last June.

The Kensington Aldridge Academy, situated immediately below the Tower, draws most of its population from within a half mile of radius, and so no one in its community has been unaffected by the tragedy.

In August 2017, five Freemen- Court Assistants Judy Hadden and Shernaz Engineer, as well as Court Assistant Shernaz Engineer being briefed for her dragon role. © Future Foundations Freemen Nana Banton, Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE, Sharon Wolter-Ferguson and her involved in putting on the programme. It for victims of crime, taking action against daughter Tatiana, responded to the call from was humbling but heartening to witness animal cruelty, through to tackling racism. Sir Rod to volunteer to be “social dragons” as the resilience of the children in action and All clearly subjects close to the hearts of part of the West London Summer Programme, I have no doubt that all of the participants some of the children directly or indirectly a coalition led by the Aldridge Foundation and their families will have greatly beneﬁted impacted by the Grenfell Tower tragedy”. and Ark Schools, and delivered by Future from this support initiative”. Judy Hadden Nana Banton Foundations, designed to support the young people and their families as they try to come to “I don’t think any of us were prepared for “The children were enthusiastic and terms with events and rebuild their future. how socially aware these kids are, and energetic. An afternoon spent with them the raw truths they exposed about the was fun, heartening and invigorating. Their “dragon” role was to listen to the challenges they face in their daily lives. It Kindness was mentioned by so many of students present their project ideas, to ask was a truly moving experience, a pleasure the children in their pitches which was so questions and to give advice on how they to give time to, and hopefully, the children heart-warming and humbling”. Shernaz can make their ideas reality. The aim of the understood that strangers were caring and Engineer programme was to provide a safe, calm, listening to them”. Sharon Wolter-Ferguson productive and fun space for the young “After just one hour in the company of people in the area to heal and rebuild over the “I was absolutely inspired and excited some of the most inspiring young people I summer. about the potential and capacity of Britain’s have ever met my mood shifted to optimism youth, demonstrated by the pitches made and hope. If the future leadership of our “It was an incredibly rewarding experience in the Social Dragons’ Den. The pitches society is in the hands of the 250 young for us and a privilege to have participated covered everything from creation of a people who attended the “Summer of and we were made to feel so welcome and community green space, an online resource Possibilities” programme then the world will appreciated by the children and all of those be a much better place than it is currently”. Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE 28 guildofentrepreneurs.org IS IT GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS? Whistleblowing BY FREEMAN ARPITA DUTT

For years, corporate whistleblowers have Given the potential benefits of whistleblowing, been bringing some of big business’s most one positive way to encourage individuals to flagrant infractions to light. Whilst this has speak up is to implement a whistleblowing led to the meltdown of companies such as policy. This can provide reassurance to Enron, it has also managed to save lives. potential whistleblowers that the company will take issues seriously and they should Some of the biggest scandals in recent times not fear reprisal for raising them. However, range from whistleblowers within General it is not simply enough to have a policy; a Motors, whose failure to disclose that millions genuinely open culture must be embraced, of its vehicles were built with faulty ignition with organisations making staff aware of the switches leading to deaths in accidents when © Shutterstock policy, training staff and management in its its vehicles suddenly shut off, to Edward implementation and continually reviewing how Snowden who revealed that the National the procedures work in practice. Benefits to business Security Agency’s (NSA) Prism program was In general, a whistleblowing policy should: Forward thinking businesses will recognise monitoring mobile phone logs in a counter- the wider advantages of encouraging terrorism effort. The trouble is, he disclosed • set out the principles on which it is whistleblowing in order to manage risk. The this to the press. Most recently Jez Staley, based, who can invoke it and the types of most damaging way an error can be exposed, the CEO of Barclays faced public criticism, wrongdoing that should be reported; both from a reputational and profitability a shareholder revolt and potential regulatory standpoint, is by the press. If raised internally, action, following his attempts to discover and • state that whistleblowers will be protected however, mistakes may be spotted early on, reveal the name of a whistleblower at the bank. and will not face reprisals; dealt with and contained. Steps can be taken to fully the understand the problem and its So, whilst there are potentially damaging • encourage issues to be raised internally, wider consequences, to have discussions with consequences for companies and senior initially with line managers, so that steps relevant staff, customers and regulators to management when individuals blow the can be taken to investigate without the protect relationships and maintain control over whistle, is whistleblowing a power for good need to disclose these issues externally; the internal and external messaging. to be encouraged by businesses small and large alike? To answer this, it is necessary to • explain that confidentiality will be Whistleblowing processes can foster a culture consider what ‘whistleblowing’ means in UK maintained; of self-regulation and accountability and help law. ensure the company’s business operations • be regularly monitored and reviewed to are protected. Action Fraud, the UK’s national Overview ensure effectiveness; reporting centre, estimates that 25% of small Whistleblowing involves the disclosure of businesses are affected by fraud annually, factual information (either in writing or verbally) • be incorporated into the risk management leading to losses of around £18bn to SMEs. that one or more of 6 different types of and compliance framework. It is estimated that around 43% of business malpractice has taken place, is taking place fraud comes to light as a result of issues raised or is likely to take place. This includes criminal If you have responsibility for the whistleblowing internally by staff (not least because one of offences, a breach of a legal obligation, policy and training, you should also protect the main protagonists of fraud are a company’ miscarriages of justice, danger to the health yourself by taking detailed notes and collating own staff). Allowing damaging situations to be and safety of an individual or the environment, evidence in order to show that you have left undetected can therefore come at a hefty and the deliberate concealment of any of discharged your duties. price. these. Such disclosures should be made in the public interest and can be made by workers Taking these steps and genuinely encouraging The numerous benefits to adopting a and contractors, not just employees. whistleblowing by implementing and operating whistleblowing culture can serve a business a fair policy could save your business well by promoting honesty and demonstrating Whether a disclosure is in the public interest money, time, its brand, and your hard earned a commitment to ethical business practices will depend on the facts of a case, the nature reputation. and corporate social responsibility, an area of the disclosure and the particular interests of of increasing importance in procurement a section of the public. A purely self-interested Arpita Dutt is a Freeman of the Guild of exercises and to investors. Transparency within disclosure is unlikely to be protected in law. Entrepreneurs and a founding partner of business is more likely to establish a culture of The disclosures must be made either to the BDBF LLP, a leading specialist employment mutual trust and confidence and cooperative employer, a prescribed regulatory body, an MP, law firm based in the City of London. She and content staff. and in extenuating but rare circumstances may has 20 years experience of advising senior be made directly to the press. executives and growing businesses on Encouraging whistleblowing future defining employment issues. She is In the wake of the financial crisis, the Once the person has protected whistleblower a frequent commentator in the media on Parliamentary Commission on Banking status retaliatory acts such as dismissal, high profile employment issues of the day, Standards report expressed shock that the being downgraded in an appraisal, having a and is founder and editor of ‘Sacked in the prevailing culture in banking had allowed bonus cut, being bullied or side-lined, when City’, a blogsite on the latest employment misbehaviour such as Libor-rate rigging to proven to be caused by the making of that law news affecting City senior executives go unreported. Aiming to tackle this and whistleblowing disclosure, would be unlawful. and businesses. Arpita was named a ‘Hot encourage a new culture of accountability, with 100 lawyer’ nationally for her expertise in effect from 7 September 2016 the Financial In circumstances where workers have whistleblowing and equality law, and is Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulatory experienced detrimental treatment, ranked as a leading lawyer in Who’s Who, Authority have strengthened whistleblowing Employment Tribunal claims can be brought Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 measures as part of new senior managers for all consequential financial losses, which directories. Contribution to this article by regimes implemented in the banking and could give rise to significant compensation if a Samantha Prosser, a solicitor at BDBF LLP. insurance sectors. person has lost their job.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 29 THE FEMALE PERSPECTIVE The 30% Club ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP With our own “30% club” of female Freemen in the Guild, as well as our first female Master this year, we asked a selection of them what they considered were particular challenges or advantages to being a woman Entrepreneur.

FREEMAN ELECT DEBBIE HATCHWELL: XANADU INTERIORS

For over 20 years, Debbie Hatchwell has been the driving force and inspiration for Xanadu Interiors, which was founded in 1984 to provide a comprehensive design service for private clients and property developers.

I would not term myself as an entrepreneur, but I think most business women would say the same. I set up the practice initially to give myself maximum flexibility with a young family and a lawyer husband, who worked long hours. Juggling the work/life balance can be more challenging for women. In my humble view, one of you, and it does not matter which, has to be available for school sports matches and parents evenings. I felt it important that although not always there for tea time, I was available for bath and bed time. Having my own business allowed me to leave when I needed to, and work at home later into the early hours if necessary.

Dealing with male stereotypical macho builders and tradesmen has not always been straightforward, but I grew up in the North of England and have always spoken plainly. I work hard not to be a fickle and difficult designer, and try to always act fairly. Working in the UK is definitely easier than in France, where I work predominantly in the Alps and where taking instruction from a woman appears to be a difficult, sometimes even insulting, reality.

Interior design is about offering a truly personal service. As a woman, I am conscious that I am not © Vanity Studios driven by status, ego and my own legacy, but instead by each client and project. The feminine touch is definitely helpful and I can empathise easily with my clients, whether male or female. I am certain that I could be more meticulous when it comes to cost cutting and profit maximisation across each project. However, I am equally confident that this is not a male/female issue, but merely a creative/financial one!

Interior design is often seen as a female domain, and it is true that I have rarely had to prove myself in an all-male forum. I like to think I have built my business up and achieved my success, because I am good at what I do, rather than because of my gender. There is no doubt there is a huge gender divide out there, but I always try to judge on peoples’ merits, and have to hope that most people do the same by me.

FREEMAN JENNY GARRETT: REFLEXION ASSOCIATES

Trainer, Speaker, Coach. Author of best-selling book, Rocking your Role. Transforming the World, One Empowered Woman at a Time.

As I reflect on the challenges of being a female entrepreneur, the most difficult have been pitches and competitive situations where I have felt that I need to take a more traditionally masculine approach to winning business. It’s taken me a lot of practice to navigate these in a way that feels authentic, to find my voice and story in a way that can still compete. I believe that more can be done by organisations to make these processes more inclusive.

One of the great things about growing your company is that you understand every role that is needed within it as you’ve done it yourself. This strength when overplayed can become a weakness. I, like many women was taught from an early age to absorb many responsibilities and I took this multi- tasking approach into the workplace, as a result I’ve found myself overwhelmed with tasks that I haven’t delegated because only I know how to do them, or making a decision that explaining tasks to others would take too long. This of course is a false economy and has kept me being operational and reactive instead of strategic and proactive at times. Delegation relies on recruiting good people who you can rely on, your precious time and a willingness to teach, but definitely reaps rewards of growth © John Cassidy for your business.

When I am very busy with my business, networking is usually the first thing to suffer. Meeting people with no direct business intention can seem frivolous. I’ve had to learn to be strategic about my networking, while also not neglecting it. When I first started networking for my business, I didn’t follow up, I didn’t think about how I could give to my network as well as gain from it, and I rarely asked for what I wanted. Being authentic and genuinely interested in others has helped me engage in networking in an authentic way. Networking has provided me with client referrals, moral support and ideas on my entrepreneurial journey. Joining the Guild of Entrepreneurs was a strategic decision for me to invest in a network that shares my values and perspective. I believe in giving back and making a difference for the next generation, as I do via my social enterprise Rocking Ur Teens.

Lastly, getting my balance right is a work in progress for me, whether that is balancing the time in the office, with that I spend with clients, balancing travel with work more locally, or balancing my work and family life. I am constantly checking if the balance is right for me. When it’s not right it makes me miserable and that ‘s not good for anyone. Creating rules that I want to work by helps, although there are always exceptions and learning to say no has been something that I’ve had to work on. Women are expected to be accommodating and supportive and saying ‘no’ doesn’t necessarily fit into that picture, but is an essential skill to learn. 30 guildofentrepreneurs.org COURT ASSISTANT JUDY HADDEN: OIL SPILL INSURANCE Pictured page 15

Co-founded, built up and sold two businesses, invested in another and now concentrating all her time, effort and money on developing and bringing to market, a range of environmental clean up insurance policies for homeowners and businesses that have oil tanks.

I have spent most of my business life working in the insurance industry and in the 80’s co-founded a general insurance broking company which we eventually sold some 18 years later and I moved on to pursue new opportunities. Another 10 years on, with experience gained in the environmental sector, I find myself back in the insurance industry.

My personal view is that the obstacles an entrepreneur faces are pretty much gender-neutral. The life of an entrepreneur is tough, incredibly hard work, sometimes lonely, often frustrating but also exciting, empowering, fun and in my case (as with most entrepreneurs) absolutely addictive; it should come with a health warning.

One of the main issues that I have faced is juggling and balancing my home and work life commitments and I haven’t always got this part right. I do think there are advantages of being a female entrepreneur, particularly in a male (still) dominated industry such as financial services. You do tend to get remembered, it is always good to be remembered and better still if in a positive way! Female intuition comes in handy on a regular basis and over the years male colleagues have often commented on my knack in this direction.

At the stage in life when I should be sunning myself on a beach somewhere and enjoying the spoils of previous company sale proceeds, I have instead founded Oil Spill Insurance, an online insurance scheme broking company to bring HomeSpill® and WorkSpill®, two new insurance policies that I have developed from scratch, to market. I have never worked so hard in my life and must be mad but this is where the addiction kicks in and I couldn’t break the habit even if I wanted to.

FREEMAN CLAIRE COCKERTON: PLEXAL

Claire Cockerton is the founder and CEO of Plexal, the 68,000 square foot innovation ecosystem for startups, scaleups and enterprises that’s based within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. She’s previously founded ENTIQ; an innovation advisory and delivery firm that delivered smart city pilot programme Cognicity, developed the Level39 tech accelerator in its first two years and founded Innovate Finance; which aims to create a more diverse, resilient, accessible and consumer-centric financial services sector.

As a Canadian woman working in Britain’s tech sector, I’ve always been a bit of an outlier. This perhaps became even more pronounced when I entered the male-dominated world of finance through my work at Level39, ENTIQ and Innovate Finance. There have certainly been moments when my gender and background has thrown up challenges but I actually think it’s been more of an opportunity than a hindrance. Being in a minority has helped me stand out from the pack and see things from a slightly different perspective. Women can do anything they want to – there are no inherent disadvantages to being a woman. That being said, there are some pockets of society that still need to catch up and accept women as their equals.

Having just welcomed my daughter into the world, I’m well aware that we’re living in complex and often difficult times. But there’s no use in dwelling on problems without turning your attention to potential solutions. I’m a big believer in the power of collaboration, which is why I’m a member of The Mayor of London’s Tech Ambassador Group, Tech London Advocates and of course the Guild of Entrepreneurs. I find that if you focus on what you’re setting out to achieve and surround yourself © Plexal with the right people, most obstacles are perfectly surmountable.

products, establishing them in the market, then 0.5m cups and my company was in profit. FOUNDER FREEMAN MANDY fully exploiting the potential of the intellectual We rapidly achieved a 40% market share in HABERMAN: INVENTOR property (IP) by global licensing. the UK. IP exploitation is a rocky road with many challenges particularly when the IP is Pictured on Front Cover © British Library My most successful product, to date, has commercially valuable. Former market leader been the Anywayup® cup, the world’s first Tommee Tippee (Jackel International Plc) had Inventor, entrepreneur and prize-fighter. totally non-spill toddler training cup that seen their cup sales eroded and pinched my Best known for the toddler cup that seals automatically when removed from the idea. A David and Goliath court battle followed, revolutionised the nursery market and child’s mouth. My most recent product is the establishing both validity and infringement for her David and Goliath legal battles to Suckle™ Feeder, designed to bridge the gap of my patent. Further legal battles followed, enforce her patent. between breast and bottle feeding and avoid against Playtex and Gerber in USA. the longterm health risks associated with bottle feeding. Anywayup was a challenge to Having successfully proven and enforced my I became an inventor in the early 1980s, when market. We needed big volume sales but the patent rights, global companies requested our youngest child was born with feeding supermarkets wouldn’t deal with my fledgling licenses, rather than risk infringement. problems and I improvised a solution. That company so, we used an unorthodox method Consequently, 40-60m cups with my improvisation developed into my first product, to persuade them. We sent an Anywayup cup technology are sold every year. The challenges the Haberman® Feeder and I set up a one (wo) filled with concentrated Ribena, through the of IP business are not gender specific, it is man mail-order company from my kitchen post to the buyer of Tesco. Without cling-film bloody tough for everyone. However, as a table to sell it. As a mum of three small or other protection, it was just a cup of juice product of the 1950’s, I was brought-up to children, with no prior experience in business, rolling around in a white cardboard shoe-box be a ‘nice’ girl, to please people and avoid when sales grew and orders started to come and a note saying, “If this reaches you as a confrontation. If, pre-1997, I’d been asked, in from hospitals all over the world, I was soggy mess, then we’ve shot ourselves in the “Would you risk losing your house to take on faced with a decision. Either, take premises, foot. BUT, if it hasn’t spilt, please give us a a multi-national corporation in the High Courts employ staff and shoulder financial liabilities, call”. She called! in order to defend your rights?” I would have or find a licensee to handle overseas sales laughed, “absolutely no way!” For me it has and distribution. I chose the latter route and Anywayup was on the shelves within a few been an interesting journey and I’ve learnt that effectively became an IP business. Its a model weeks. Other supermarkets followed and, no-one (male or female) knows what they are that I’ve followed ever since; developing by the end of our first year, we had sold capable of until it comes to the crunch! guildofentrepreneurs.org 31 The DNA of an Entrepreneur

these are the people who will share your ARE ENTREPRENEURS BORN OR MADE? successes and failures and be with you every A LOOK AT GENETICS AND DNA step of the way. Maintaining such relationships brings balance There has been a rapid change in perspective It is based on “1285 pairs of identical twins to your life and allows you to draw yourself regarding how we approach our health and (449 male and 836 female pairs) and 849 out of the zone of the business. We all need a wellness, fitness and nutrition ever since The pairs of same-sex fraternal twins (283 male break at some point. Having someone to go to Human Genome Project opened the door to and 566 female pairs), we found that females the movies with, or go out for dinner without discovering so much about ourselves on a have a strong genetic influence and zero having to discuss strategy, will not only provide deeper, personal level. Understanding DNA is shared-environmental influences on their stress relief but allow you to refocus your crucial to expanding our knowledge of how we tendency to become entrepreneurs. In priorities. as individuals interact with the environment at contrast, males show zero genetic influence, large and how through differences, we are all but a large shared-environmental influence… So, breathe, and take it easy. The life of an unique. such individuals appear to be ‘both born and entrepreneur is a hurricane of highs and made’.” lows, and a blinding passionate pursuit of This shift towards genetics has excited me the ultimate and it can be easy to fall into because as an entrepreneur I am always Wouldn’t you like to know if you had this gene, depression. But drawing yourself out of looking forwards. Since 2006 when Clive especially if you can already be considered an the maelstrom, you can often gain new Humby first said it, we can now see up close entrepreneur? I know I would, as it would be perspective in the most unlikely of situations and personal that the world that we live in interesting to discover if my genes influenced and you’re afforded time to rethink what your today is based on the knowledge that “Data me to start DNAFit, or any of my other intentions are and where you want to plug your Is The New Oil”. Organisations and individuals business ventures. ambition into next. alike make use of this data is a variety of ways to gain a deeper understanding of the state of Studies like the ones above do show how things. DNA is just another form of this data, it genetics are becoming more important being very human information. than ever before when it comes to our understanding of the world. It’s not only about For an entrepreneur, the growth of genetics predisposition to disease, ancestry, and race. as a science that can improve the quality of And the key component in all of this is having people’s lives provides a great opportunity data, and knowing how to use it properly. to harness this data and take control of the emergence of a brand new consumer space. What genetics is capable of is still growing, For too long there has existed a “hive mind” and this is what truly makes it exciting. One mentality whereby people follow what works thing for certain is that the science is growing for other people, but may not work for them. and our knowledge of the differences in And I have made it my mission to change this. our DNA at a molecular level is expanding each day. It makes me proud to be a part of But could this desire also be genetic? these groundbreaking discoveries that will revolutionise how we look at health, fitness and I have always been somewhat intrigued by life itself and is the reason why I continue to © DNAFit the possibility that this drive to disrupt and push to find out more about us, humanity, from innovate industries and break new ground what we are made of. Freeman Avi Lasarow is a multiple award in an exciting field is genetic as well. The winning South African entrepreneur referred research does need to be fleshed out a bit Back to entrepreneurship and we can see very to by the media as ‘a lifestyle genetics more, but researchers like Nicos Nicolaou have nicely that even though genetics may play a pioneer’ known for his work associated discovered a single nucleotide polymorphism role in providing a foundation for a person to with DNA testing. Avi is currently founder (rs1486011) of the DRD3 gene on be predisposed to such a lifestyle, there are and CEO of genetic testing company chromosome 3 to be significantly associated also environmental factors that play an equally DNAFit Life Sciences, which conducted the with the tendency to be an entrepreneur. This important role because being an entrepreneur world’s first peer- reviewed and published result is the first evidence of the association of not only means taking risks but making clinical trial using both genetics and a specific gene with entrepreneurship. sacrifices that other people with “normal” jobs exercise interventions. do not. It takes a unique breed of human to A recent study 1 at Kings College in London, translate their explosion of thoughts into reality He was recently named African headed up by Scott Shane, identified that and that feeling of energy coursing through Businessman of the year in London at the 37 to 48 per cent of the tendency to be an your veins and uplifting you never leaves after African Enterprise Awards. DNAFit has also entrepreneur is genetic, and that the tendency every success you achieve. It takes bravery been awarded the Lloyd’s Bank National to identify new business opportunities is and courage for the ultimate reward. Business Award for Innovation of the Year in your genes. If you take this study as in 2015, was a winner at the UKActive anything to go by, then this is remarkable, Multi-tasking comes naturally to entrepreneurs Flame Awards; won an award for Innovation as genetics account for almost half of what because in the beginning they’re essentially at the South African Chamber Awards; was is a determining factor in becoming an the business entity, alongside a few dedicated named in Fastcompany’s 2017 list for Most entrepreneur. individuals who believe in and share your Innovative Business and won at The 2017 vision. Still, don’t let your vaulting ambition Sports Technology Awards. Going even deeper, Zhang did twin studies to cloud the nucleus of people around you. find out if personality and gender play a role in Your friends, family and loved ones are more 1. http://on.inc.com/2xeBz8t the development of entrepreneurship as well. than likely to have been with you from the 2. https://nus.edu/2ffuH5Z Their study 2 can be regarded as verging on beginning, backing you as you strive for epigenetic as it uses the environmental impact, success. Having a support network of people as well as genes. you can really trust is invaluable, because

32 guildofentrepreneurs.org Food, Glorious Food!

The Guild of Entrepreneurs is fortunate to have a number of celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, and Livery caterers amongst its membership. Even our Master Elect is a restaurant blogger in his spare time! We asked each of them to share with us their entrepreneurial highlight of the year, and their most memorable meal of the year. Here’s how they answered...

© N Kapoor FOUNDING FREEMEN CYRUS TODIWALA OBE DL & PERVIN TODIWALA © J Hughes © Life’s Kitchen Husband and wife team Cyrus and Pervin FREEMAN GREGG FOUNDER FREEMAN Todiwala founded the fabulous Café Spice Namaste, Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen and WALLACE NICK LEVENS The Park Café. Cyrus was the 2014 BBC Food personality of the year, has authored Greengrocer, Restauranteur, Food Writer, Nick Levens is a founder Freeman of the numerous successful cookbooks, and he Television Presenter and now Television Guild of Entrepreneurs and a co-founder of appears regularly on TV and radio. He has Producer. Gregg is also a qualified rugby Life’s Kitchen Ltd, who manage several an MBE for his services to education and an coach and ambassador for two charities, Livery Halls in the City of London including OBE for his contribution to the hospitality Matt Hampson Foundation and The Painters’ Hall, where the Guild’s Installation industry. Pervin is a trained chef and Wooden Spoon Society. Banquet has taken place annually since entrepreneur in her own right and a 2013 2015. Nick is a SEMLEP Enterprise Adviser TIAN 100 World of Difference awardee. Entrepreneurial highlight: for Bedford College and an Undergraduate There is no one event that I can list as stand Mentor for Oxford Brookes University. Entrepreneurial highlight: out during this livery year, possibly watching This was our fourth year since having launched my friend Kate installed as a Master. Moreover, Entrepreneurial highlight: the Zest Quest Asia competition (http://www. it is the company of fellow entrepreneurs My most memorable moment of this Livery zestquestasia.com/) and it has soared. This that I have come to love. The shared Year would be speaking to a group of Year 7 February as we entered into our fourth finals, experiences, the discussion, the solving of (12-year old) Children in their school as part we saw major success as more colleges took problems, the amazing ideas, these things of my role as Enterprise Advisor for SEMLEP part and we had some fabulous sponsors on that all entrepreneurs experience, that only (South East Midlands Learning & Enterprise board. The Winning team went to Japan for ten other entrepreneurs understand. I love these Partnership). I ran a video of our company days partly sponsored by Panasonic. incredible conversations in a such an informal and its activity and spoke about my Industry That was the achievement story for us to help manner. Helped along of course with a nice and career opportunities. The session ended give British resident students the opportunity plate of food and a decent glass of wine. It is with a Q&A and the first question I was asked to look at Asian Cuisines as a full time these evenings I have shared in good company was “how much does the Chef in your video career choice. This year we have received with great conversation that are my memorable earn?”. Questions continued on this theme 34 College Applicant interests already for highlights. Indeed, highlights of my year. until one young man stood up and asked the 2018 competition. All excess proceeds how much I earned as the Managing Director! go into a Foundation we have set up called Memorable meal: As I was in the middle of explaining my The Todiwala Foundation to help young kids I got married this year, so the memorable earnings are directly linked to the success of with lesser means achieve their dreams of meal has to be one of the lovely dinners that the company a Year 7 girl stood up, looked becoming chefs or entering into the catering took place on my honeymoon. I sat down for straight at me and exclaimed in frustration “Will world. The aim is to raise more funds for this lunch in a simple restaurant in Porto Fino, I had you PLEASE just give us a number?” It was a to aid bursaries or grants etc. This will go live anchovies en bruschetta. I looked down at salutary lesson in giving a straight answer to a to the wider audience on February 12th 2018. my plate and I had basically a piece of toast, straight question. As the Founder standing up on that stage and salted anchovies from a jar, softened unsalted seeing a crowd of 300 for dinner was one of butter, the taste was divine. Salted fish, oozing Memorable meal: the most gratifying moments, then the look into slippery butter, atop the crunch of toasted Sunday Lunch in an American “Home-style” on the students’ faces and a showcase of bread, I had a big glass of chilled local white Diner half way between Las Vegas and their achievements culminates in a feeling of wine. I looked out across the sun glinting in Phoenix. We were a party of nine including exhilaration that YES! We have done it. the water of the harbour and whilst sitting five kids. The menu had well over fifty choices, with my beautiful wife, thought you Italians the restaurant was packed and I watched Memorable meal: are genius. There is nothing here, you haven’t in awe as the operation executed every Plenty that I can reflect back on but the one cooked a thing, yet everything tastes delicious order flawlessly, swiftly and cheerfully to the that will stick for a while is the meal Pervin and everything looks beautiful. broadest of demographics – the Restaurant and I had in Dubrovnik in March this year in a served over 1000 covers that day and the lovely restaurant called Proto. Simple yet very whole experience was a fabulous example of professional service and good honest food. consistently doing simple things really, really Pervin and I got the evening off as the rest of well. Some of the more “artistic” Restaurant the group wanted to do different things and so operators in London could learn an awful lot we could gorge on super fresh oysters, squid, from a visit to this place! hake and some very well cooked pasta.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 33 Food, Glorious Food!

© The Cook & The Butler © Everythingbutcucumber © Life’s Kitchen FOUNDER FREEMAN MIDDLE WARDEN FREEMAN DAVE PAY MARK GROVE LEE ROBERTSON Dave Pay joined the Guild of Entrepreneurs Mark Grove is a Founder Freeman of the When not running his multi award-winning in April 2017. He is a classically trained City Guild of Entrepreneurs, a Liveryman of the wealth management business, and and Guilds qualified Chef and started Life’s Poulters’ Company and the 2nd Master of preparing to be Master Entrepreneur in Kitchen with his business partner, Nick The Cooks’ Company. November, Lee is known for his love of fine Levens, in 2005. Life’s Kitchen cater at the dining and even has his own restaurant Livery Halls in the City of London and have He is the founder and managing director review blog, everythingbutcucumber.com had the pleasure to deliver some amazing of The Cook & The Butler Events Company events and to have met some great people Ltd, the City’s best-known and most Entrepreneurial highlight: over the last 12 years. widely-used caterer. The Cook & The Butler Being named as Wealth Management CEO is resident at a number of prestigious of the Year in the highly respected Le Fonti Entrepreneurial highlight: City venues (including Guildhall and HQS International Business Awards in Hong Kong Having only joined the Guild in April I would Wellington), where Mark and talented amongst senior executives from all sectors have to say that the Admission Ceremony is French signature chef Jean Deillon have and geographical areas. As Entrepreneurs my highlight this year. Having a business that built a reputation for fine food and stylish we know that this type of recognition is gold caters for the Livery Companies of the City events. dust for our businesses and to have received of London on a daily basis it was good to such recognition amongst the CEOs of so finally join one myself and to start enjoying the many larger, well known organisations was just experience from the other side! Entrepreneurial highlight: fantastic. There was something unforgettable about last Memorable meal: December’s Boar’s Head Feast for the Cutlers’ Memorable meal: Our Company Head Chef at Life’s Kitchen, Company. It was a significant anniversary It has to be an old favourite of mine, the Emlyn Sexon, this year celebrated 10 years (600 years) for the Cutlers, and (the guest- venerable English’s of Brighton. I went there with the company, which makes me immensely list having outgrown Cutlers’ Hall) the feast with a group of friends from Hove and we proud. To mark the occasion myself and my was held at Guildhall. It’s a positively unique sat outside on a glorious English summer’s business partner, Nick Levens, took Emlyn for traditional medieval affair – with multiple day eating some of the very best in oysters, lunch at the 2 Michelin starred Helene Darroze courses for over five hundred guests (over fish and seafood. As a purely seafood venue at The Connaught. I have to say that the food 3,000 plates of food), and the huge Boar’s this restaurant excels and I am a sucker for and service were some of the best I have ever Head served as the centrepiece with amazing a dressed crab and they really know how to experienced, I even talked about in the same pageantry. It’s a massive challenge for even pack the meat into the shell. All helped along sentence as dining at Harvey’s when Marco the most experienced team but The Cook & with another old favourite which is sometimes was in his prime back in 1991! The Butler, together with the ever-supportive seen as a little out of favour these days, but Beadle’s team from the Cutlers, worked hard I believe is a perfect partner for seafood, a for an exhilarating evening, which was greatly chilled Muscadet. enjoyed by all.

Memorable meal: It’s hard to pick a single meal – I have been lucky to enjoy so many great dishes this year. However, for consistency as well as excellence, I am still astonished and delighted by the cooking of Jean Deillon and his team. Every day he produces such fabulous food, and it is a real privilege to be able to enjoy this.

34 guildofentrepreneurs.org with an online presence, can be a powerful nd source of business leads. You can’t rush 2 Life Entrepreneurs networking. Build your relationships first so people are comfortable in your presence. Only after that will fellow networkers be comfortable 3 Surround yourself with quality seeking your help, or recommending you to Think ‘quality first’ when appointing anyone to others. Go too fast or salesy, and you could work on or in your business, be it as employee create a push-back effect.(If you remember or external service provider. Going for a cheap one thing about networking, it’s this: be fix could prove to be your Achilles Heel. I interested, not interesting. Be curious about recently surveyed attendees at one of my what people do and they will respond. And seminars, posing the question: “What’s the always let them speak first.) biggest business lesson you’ve learned?” One participant answered: “Don’t source your web 9 You have two ears, one mouth designer by just searching on Google.” Some of the quietest people I know are actually the ones who are the best at asking 4 Show some humility the right questions, which will lead eventually If you’re starting afresh in an entirely new work to a sale or a referral. It’s important to work on © J Holden direction, do your homework first. Read the your communication skills, but the number one industry press and above all, make sure you skill that people need to work on is usually how Freeman David Mellor started his first talk to plenty of people working within the new to listen. business aged 47 and has been helping sector. Be aware of the pitfalls before you even would-be entrepreneurs to start theirs for start, so that you launch with ‘eyes wide open’ 10 You’re never too old to stop learning the past 15 years. More and more of us are as opposed to ‘eyes wide shut’. I once met a Even old(er) dogs love learning new tricks! considering starting up a business in later high flyer who wanted to open a guest house Don’t stop investing in your personal life and according to the ONS, the average in Cornwall after leaving his current position. development. I still pay to go on training events age of the self-employed worker is 41 and His experience of this particular sector of the at the age of 63. Your brain wants to keep rising. Here, David shares with us his top 10 hospitality industry was “I stayed in a guest learning – keep it active! tips for those considering entrepreneurship house once.” I’ve haven’t a clue whether his as a second-life career. new venture was a success but a total lack of experience in your newly chosen field isn’t David has authored 3 books on transitioning generally the best foot forward! from employee to entrepreneur:

From Crew to Captain; 5 Polish your personal brand From Crew to Captain : A Privateer’s Tale; Having your own personal brand is a must From Crew to Captain: Commander of the have in today’s fast-moving, hyper-connected Fleet world. Before you even start posting on LinkedIn and Twitter, make sure you’re crystal clear on three things: who you are, what you Extract from an article which was originally do and what you stand for. Then make sure published in silvermagazine.co.uk and is all your posts reflect this. Failure to do this can create contradictory messages which Freeman Malcolm John with Court Assistant reproduced here with their kind permission. Nicola Manning © S Collier http://bit.ly/2ryxQCV will confuse potential customers. Confused customers take their business elsewhere. 1 Look in the mirror FREEMAN Workers who are leaving big institutions 6 Know your numbers MALCOLM JOHN – public, private or voluntary – are often Invest time in making sure you completely institutionalised. Often, they’ve been understand the financial drivers of your sheltered and protected from the full range business. Do you understand how to calculate Michelin-rated chef Malcolm John is of commercial realities. Most are experts in margins and break even or how to assess your the proprietor of Le Vacherin, a classic their own particular field, but they don’t yet liquidity? French bistro in West London, and sister have the broad skill-set needed to run their restaurants Brasserie Vacherin in Croydon own business. Your first step should be to 7 Make your business plan short and to and Sutton. create an inventory of your skills, behaviours, the point strengths and weaknesses. For example, if A long, complex business plan is destined only you’re naturally an introvert, throwing yourself to gather dust on your bookshelf. While it’s into networking will be a baptism of fire. Armed important to outline where you’re going and Entrepreneurial highlight: with this self-knowledge, you can identify how you’re going to get there, simplicity is key. I was fortunate this year to be a judge at where you’ll need extra help. I recommend writing a simple plan covering Richmond College for their level 3 students. four elements – objectives, goals, strategies We had one of their students on work 2 Don’t go it alone and measures. Here’s a very simple example placement for one year at our restaurant in If you’ve spent your career employed in large for a business selling t-shirts to football fans: Chiswick. I’m proud to say that she has now organisations, starting your own business • Objective: to be the number one supplier been given a full time role at the Dorchester will be a seismic change. If you are starting of t-shirts to football clubs. hotel. She has great future ahead of her. up following redundancy, this will be an • Goal: to be exceeding £1 million turnover The quality of cooking at the college was very emotionally charged time. Depending on the within 3 years. high and it was extremely difficult to pick just circumstances, you could be feeling anything • Strategy: to build trusted relationships with one winner. from fear and depression to elation. Not the official fan clubs of football teams. ideal frames of mind for making commercial • Measures: month-on-month growth of fan Memorable meal: decisions. While your partner or spouse can clubs signed up and shirts sold. My most memorable meal was in Sorrento, offer emotional support, they may not be best with my wife. The restaurant was on a pier. placed to advise you on business matters. A Measures like this will help you to determine if There was no menu or wine list. You drank and mentor can help you combat the loneliness of the business is moving in the right direction. ate what was on offer. The fish catch had to transitioning from a big organisation to a one- be winched up in a basket. We ate baked wild person start-up. They will act as a sounding 8 Nurture your network seabass with tomatoes & basil, and the wine board and help you ascertain whether your People buy from people before they buy from was a local Rosé. The flavours and smell still business idea has legs. a brand. Face-to-face networking, combined linger with me.

guildofentrepreneurs.org 35 Switching off from the day

Safely on the ground, Maia regained her Job composure and enjoyed the attention of our able helpers. Twenty minutes later, she was settled in her housing enjoying breakfast and I What do Entrepreneurs do when they’re was heading for the London train, shoes (and not entrepreneur-ing? The answers may hair) looking the worse for wear… surprise you! Discover below some of the more unusual hobbies and pastimes of our Harris Hawks are part of the buzzard family Freemen (and our Learned Clerk!) and both highly intelligent and sociable birds that naturally hunt in groups. They originate from the USA and their easy nature makes MASTER them an ideal choice for many falconers. It is a common practice to fit a bell into the tail ENTREPRENEUR feathers of your HH, very helpful when you go walking through woods. The birds will be free KATE JOLLY - and will follow you on your walk, occasionally FALCONRY using your head as target practice to dip their wings as they fly past. Just one of the reasons for the bell as a warning sound and why many falconers wear hats! The stunning colouring also masks the bird when it lands on prey and mantles and again, the bell will enable you to locate your champion.

Over the years I have learned to climb trees, drive off-road and sleep under the stars waiting on my precious cargo to return. As a result, I didn’t think twice when asked to take on an owlet. Having only experienced hunters, © K Wynter I had been led to believe that owls, whilst pretty, would be a great deal less work and very fine specimens that would grace any so, one wet Saturday, I trundled back from museum. Oxford complete with a baby European Eagle Owl [EEO] by the name of Sam. He spent the When at the age of 11, our family moved following weeks going everywhere with us, to The Cotswolds, a whole new era in my including the office, until he learned how to collection began as the local brickworks was a jump and finally to navigate his way around the veritable source of Jurassic jewels dating back rear of the ancient, rattling Defender 90 until he some 160 million years. was perched on the front seat! The stratum is one that runs from Lyme Regis Sam remains with me today and is a fabulous to Whitby crossing as it does The Cotswolds. bird with a distinctive character: heaven help My collection enlarged dramatically as did my you if he doesn’t like you!! He has a penchant interest over the following years with searches for chicks and anything small. However, in throughout the UK adding new dimensions the wild an EEO would typically hunt for hare each time, trilobites from Wales, sponges from but they have also been known to attack Oxfordshire, dinosaur pieces from the Isle of other birds of prey (such as Buzzards). All Wight and of course, birthday and Christmas in all, I count myself very lucky indeed to be gifts galore. Indeed, my wife bought me a able to work with and train these magnificent complete Mesosaur for my 30th, not the original creatures. one she located from a fossil dealer as this one was accidentally dropped whilst being formally identified at the Natural History Museum, but indeed one from their own collection as a FREEMAN BARNABY replacement. © G Fergusson WYNTER – FOSSIL Today many drawers, shelves and hidden As I sat listening to my colleagues debating COLLECTING recesses house a collection of over 10,000 the woes of a client matter, I looked down and fossils with my favourite being opal fossils from spotted the edge of a dishevelled feather stuck Australia. Ammonites, belemnites, gastropods, to the sole of my once pristine court shoes. I brachiopods, may not be familiar to you but wondered what they would think if they knew You can still find me once or twice a year with they have been at the centre of my lifelong that at dawn that morning, I had been at the my fossil hunting gear seeking the remains of a hobby of Palaeontology or fossil collecting. top of a tree in a cherry picker rescuing a Harris life once lived. The UK remains one of the few countries Hawk by the name of Maia who had been where collecting the remains of animals and mobbed by crows…. It seemed the right thing For me, no matter how stressed life can plants from millions of years ago is unlicensed. to do at the time until, with a tetchy bird of become especially as an entrepreneur, it The fascination for these creatures that prey in one hand and the other tightly grasping somehow all pales into insignificance when disappeared many millions of years ago, on to the side of the precariously wobbling compared to a creature or plant that graced started when my father took me collecting in vehicle as it lowered me back to the ground; I our planet millions of years ago and it helps one of the many fields he would walk as an remembered that I really didn’t like heights! remind me that life is transient and it is our agricultural consultant. Soon shelves in my responsibility to make every experience count bedroom became a trophy cabinet for some and be joyous.

36 guildofentrepreneurs.org COURT ASSISTANT COURT ASSISTANT NICOLA MANNING NEIL FULLBROOK – ENERGY HEALER – HORSE TRAINER

In addition to being the CEO of a trading company in West Africa, Business Development Manager, Solicitor, Mother of 5 and Grandmother of 2, I am also an energy healer, working in particular with the energies of both Usui and Karuna® Rei-ki, and Munay- Ki. I had been a devotee of alternative healing practices including acupuncture, for many years and have been working and training in energy healing since 2000 under two separate Rei-ki Masters. I became a Master Practitioner/Teacher myself in these fields, between 2004 and 2014.

Recently I have restarted running a series of © R Barker training courses in the Munay-Ki rites. Munay- Ki are a series of 9 empowerment rites based Working in the City can be exhausting. The on the initiatory practices of the Q’ero shamans sheer pace of life here, the early mornings and of Peru, as brought across the continent and late nights at events for my PR and marketing established here by anthropologist Dr Alberto business means that planning downtime to Villoldo who has spent many years studying let off steam, is crucial. Not many people © E M Kearney and working with the ancient tribes of the know that I am a horse trainer in my spare Americas including the last of the Incas. Munay time. Admittedly, the time I get to carry out my runner has done their time over endless in Quechua means “love and will” and Ki is favourite hobby is pretty limited as regrettably muddy fields in pursuit of glory. And unlike from the Chinese word for universal life force or I no longer have horses of my own and I with track running, for events like the National energy, combining to give the meaning: energy squeeze training into a very limited diary. I Cross Country Championships, the Olympic of love. would love to do more, but it’s just not possible greats will be found lining up and competing with my other interests of yoga, gym and alongside the newest local club recruits. They caring for my disabled dog Robyn. end up way in front, but in no other sport will the world-class elite line up and race as equals I passed my British Horse Society with such a representative range of sporting examinations in 1987 and haven’t looked back. talent. Although my three day eventing days are over due to a neck injury, I still enjoy occasionally I have been in athletics for a long time; I was calming half a ton of living flesh and blood. a sprinter when I was younger, and got into It’s no easy task and requires a lot of focus, endurance when my kids started running in © M Signonney patience and an eye for detail. Horses are school. Competitive sport teaches discipline, flight animals, so they won’t respond to anger, hard work and mental toughness and in no bullying or fright so keeping a level head at all The Munay-Ki rites work to transform and other sport are these qualities more important times is essential for getting the most out of upgrade our luminous energy field which than in running. Some people are naturally very these amazing creatures. I sometimes dip into surrounds our physical bodies. They are talented, but there is no replacement for hard teaching friends to ride and to communicate energetic transmissions that heal the wounds work. At elite level, those who make it have not more effectively with their own horses. All in of the past-the karmic & genetic programmes been the most naturally talented as teenagers, all, it’s a very fulfilling hobby that gets me off and beliefs we inherited. They re-inform our but the ones most prepared to work to achieve the concrete surrounded by skyscrapers and DNA, enabling us to grow a new body that their goals. on to grass in the shadow of trees. ages, heals, and dies differently. But it’s not all miserable graft. There are It is of course, immensely satisfying to switch endless studies showing that running off from the mundane, everyday world of COURT ASSISTANT promotes the release of endorphins, and business challenges and office politics and obviously it’s great for keeping in shape. And the daily routine of life, and absorb myself RONAN KEARNEY when it comes to Cross Country racing, there and my students in the universal energies of is something enormously satisfying at looking Nature and Creation that we so often take for – CROSS COUNTRY back at the hills behind you and knowing that granted as we focus on our more materialistic you CONQUERED that. Racing can be tough, but the finishing straight brings an unbeatable and worldly objectives. And when students It’s January, it’s drizzling freezing rain and the feeling of achievement. There is also a sense come back and tell me of their positively air is so full of mist it’s impossible to see across of camaraderie, even with people you’re changed experiences and shifts following the the field. A thousand men, aged 17 to over 70, racing against. Runners are usually very nice; transmissions, it all seems very worthwhile stand in shorts and vests shivering in a line they understand we can’t all be Olympic, indeed. over one hundred metres across. In different and they appreciate the effort behind every colours and with grim determination, when the performance. They are also usually people who I enjoy researching, writing and presenting the gunshot sounds the charge forward, the line understand the importance of a good piece of course materials, and introducing students advancing through fields of pitched tents and cake (beer!) post-race. to the world of Power Bands, Hummingbirds, churned-up mud resembles nothing so much Jaguars, Golden Helmets, Dragon’s Blood as medieval infantry going into the mêlée. incense, White Sage smudging sticks and Running is a way to unwind and clear the mind after a day’s work, and also a way to socialise. Pi-stones. With good reason I warn them how This is Cross Country, the backbone of the Running clubs usually cater to a full range powerful these energies can be, as during British athletics tradition, and the breeding of ability, and as a participant in the second the last training day my mobile phone literally ground for generations of champions. From largest sport in the country, you’re always overheated with all the energy in the room and Seb Coe to Mo Farah, nearly every great had to be put in the fridge to cool down before among friends. it would switch back on! guildofentrepreneurs.org 37 CLERK DUNCAN SIMMS – HAND KNITTER

Few readers of the previous editions of Dare, Create, Succeed will have failed to notice the sartorial leanings of our Clerk. Having spent most of his working life at the royal robemakers, you would certainly have expected some classical style (and a fair bit of ermine) to have rubbed off on him. However, for all his sharply-tailored suits, it is knitwear that really gets the Clerk’s juices flowing – and what he can’t satisfy off-the-peg, he makes himself! It’s a distraction that definitely helps him unwind when he closes the spreadsheets at the end of the working week, and the perfect antidote to running around after an energetic toddler.

“My mother is a brilliant knitter, and tried to teach me when I was very young, but I never seemed to get the hang of it.” he explains, as he rummages around for a well-loved tank top, “It was only when my wife took up knitting and crochet, that the combination of creativity © S Simms and precision really hooked me.” Indeed, the Clerk’s wife took her hobby to the next level and began selling her crocheted creations as part of her The Happy Moth clothing range. But, whilst Sabrina’s angle was always small, crocheted and commercial, the Clerk himself hankered after big, knitted, and strictly for personal use.

“I am a somewhat slow and tetchy knitter”, says Duncan, as he produces a fawn alpaca slipover – the very first garment he made. “It took me a long time and several attempts to get the pattern exactly how I wanted it, but it fits me well and it’s a joy to wear.” The obsession grew, and jumpers, hats and cardigans followed. The yarns are selected carefully: he shows us undyed Herdwick yarn from a remote Cumbrian farm that became a fisherman’s rib jumper; North Ronaldsay yarn (from seaweed- eating Hebridean sheep) that became a his ‘n’ hers set of thickly brioched hats; and a mustard-yellow blend of merino wool and yak hair that is meticulously being transformed into a complex cabled cardigan.

Then there is the ‘stash’. “Every knitter has a shamefully large repository of yarns, half-finished projects and samples, all of which were acquired or started in earnest, but are now ‘resting’ in one of several bags around the home.” The Clerk has well-organised hoarding tendencies. He bashfully unzips a carefully-wrapped trove of Icelandic Lopi yarns. “I’ve never knitted anything bigger than a coaster with it…” he admits, wistfully, “But its time will come.”

With a smile, he lowers his head and meditatively clicks his way through another row.

P.S. The Clerk also sings! Pictured in the organ loft with members of the Oxford Spezzati, Messrs Simms, Mumby, Smyth and Pasteur prepare for sung Evensong at the Guild’s St Ethelburga’s Eve dedication service at All Hallows’ Church on the 10th October ahead of the Artisan Food Fayre. © R Barker

38 guildofentrepreneurs.org FREEMAN COLIN HEGNER – CHICKEN REARING

It started one bleak November evening, talking over drinks about keeping chickens. Having spent my youth on a farm and having visited my son in New Zealand working there on a smallholding with over 30 chickens, it was always something that I fancied but had never got around to doing.

Urged on by friends I spoke with several breeders and read lots of books and found the © M. Hegner more I investigated the easier it seemed. Spitzenhausen of Swiss origin, like myself and jump on my lap and coo just like pigeons, By March 2016 the area at the back of my was able to track one down near Guildford foraging for titbits from my pocket. garden was cleared and I was ready to accept and got her at 12 weeks old along with a small my birds. I took delivery of three young 2 day brown ‘fluffy’ Pekin, with feathered legs and Chickens are such friendly birds and give old Maran chicks in mid March 2016 and they a Charlie Chaplin walk. Getting them all ready endless hours of satisfaction. They are very lived for the first 10 weeks in my conservatory to go outdoors was an experience as I had easy to look after, as long as they are watered in a large box under a heat lamp. The were 12 to bring them back in each night to their box and fed, and the coop cleaned and hosed in the original hatch and I took a chance and before they could live outdoors from 15 weeks regularly. They even eat most of the scraps chose one white, one brown and one black. onwards. from our table including their own egg shells. And out of the 12 only 4 were girls and I had The Marans will live for around 3 years, the managed to get 3 of them. How lucky was I have an average of 4 beautiful fresh eggs Pure Breeds for longer as they don’t lay in the that! Not so lucky when the brown one was per day and after a long day in the office, winter months, instead conserving their energy caught by a fox a few months later though... my chickens still give me many hours of to keep warm as they are usually much smaller amusement watching them scratching around birds. I wanted a rare breed Appenzeller for food. If I sit quietly and watch them, they

FREEMAN ANDREW BRIERLEY – OVERLANDING

Arriving at the Portsmouth ferry terminal in my trusty 1993 Land Cruiser, packed to the gunnels with food, equipment and a roof tent, marks the start of another adventure (we don’t use the term ‘holiday’). A 24 hour crossing to Santander followed by a full day’s driving to Tarifa in the South of Spain and we are nearly there. A short ferry crossing from Algeciras to Tanger-Med and another 1.5 days on Moroccan roads before we wave goodbye to tarmac. Is it worth it, you may ask? Without a shadow of doubt…!

I first came across ‘overlanding’ quite by accident around 10 years ago. Until then I © K Jolly thought that 4x4 off-road adventures meant exploring fields, green lanes and the occasional mud bath. Little did I know….! There are many off-road holidays in the UK, particularly in Wales and the Lake District, but these are not generally regarded as ‘overlanding’ which is a term more commonly used for expeditions in far flung places.

I was very fortunate in my early days to find one of the very best UK Guides – Paul Blackburn of OneLifeAdventure. A good guide makes all the difference to your adventure. Discovering how people and animals live in these often remote and wild areas; understanding the political and economic history of the country and how the physical landscapes have evolved. Finding ancient rock art, rock carvings, fossils and Neolithic artefacts 4,000 to 12,000 years old; towering cliffs and mountain plateaus blasted and seared by countless desert suns, whilst the proud Tuareg, wrapped in their blue/black robes, walk alongside their camels tracing routes from the heart of the desert and mysterious black Africa to the far south. The Tuareg may be Libya’s best known tribe but Berber, Duada and Toubou each have their own fascinating histories.

My ‘truck’ has been quite heavily modified with under-body protection, uprated suspension, long-range fuel tanks, air compressors, recovery winch, roof tent and, not least, a fridge for the essential beers! A 4.2L engine pulling 3.5 tons is quite thirsty, but with diesel at 20p per litre in North Africa is anyone really going to notice? But be careful, as N. Africa diesel often doesn’t contain an anti-waxing agent, so arriving back to a sub-zero UK can have disastrous consequences.

So where next? In 2019 I’m planning for a 6-week adventure from Cape Town via the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, and through the game reserves of Botswana to Victoria Falls. Do you fancy an ‘adventure’?

guildofentrepreneurs.org 39 A day in the life of Spotlight JUNIOR WARDEN, RICK LOWE on the

Rick is a Founding Freeman of the Guild of Entrepreneurs, and has been Junior elected to serve as Middle Warden from November 2017. He is a founder and is Managing Director of Brands In Limited, © H.Windsor a leading supplier of licensed apparel and Warden accessories to major fashion retailers I try to use the mornings where possible for including Amazon, Sports Direct, Shop speaking with retailers and licensors and Direct, ASOS and the Hut Group. Major afternoons for face to face meetings. This entertainment licences held include Disney, could be a meeting with Disney to discuss Elect Marvel, Star Wars, Warner Bros and a host the launch of the new Star Wars merchandise of music acts via Bravado. which is comfortable, or renegotiating a new contract which is more often than not LARS ANDERSEN I am an early riser so am up around 6am. I uncomfortable. The music licensors are have got into the habit of visualising my day - much less corporate and formal and the main sort of meditation if you like, just so I can get movers and shakers have all come from true At July’s Election Court, Founder Freeman myself mentally prepared. I am at my desk in entrepreneurial routes. These meetings I would Lars Bendik Andersen was elected to the office by 8am unless I have a breakfast hold at Home House in the West End or push be the Guild’s new Junior Warden from meeting which would generally be in the West back until the evening for a dinner get together. November. We caught up with Lars to find End. Two days a week I am with my personal out a bit more about our newest Officer. trainer who I have been with for over 10 years If not meeting with a licensor then it’s a retailer Lars is currently the Chair of the Guild’s - a ritual. I need the first hour of the working - this could be Primark, Top Shop or indeed Membership Committee and is assisting day to myself to catch up on progress from a European retailer. Amazon is now our most the Master with a review of the Guild’s the day before engaging with the people in the strategic retail partner and they are defining Ordinances. He lives in South London. business but also to prioritise what needs to the new world in terms of shopping. It is an get done today. exciting contrast to jump from a deal with a traditional bricks and mortar business to Congratulations on your election Lars! The retail licensing world is extremely dynamic Amazon where Brands In is rapidly becoming Can you tell us something about your early and every day guarantees twists and turns. I the biggest supplier of licensed clothing across family life and influences? try and talk to my key people in the business Europe. I was born in Oslo, Norway, in 1970, an only as they arrive at work so that we set the tone child of parents who were both engineers. As for the day. If it’s a Monday then we have all Interspersed throughout the day is the usual my mother had been one of only ten female our team meetings on that day to maximise barrage of challenges and opportunities to students at the main engineering university in time – a management meeting, trade meeting navigate through. We are constantly being Norway, she was very supportive of me going and one to ones if necessary. I am now offered new license opportunities and are now abroad to study when the time came. fortunate that the team in the main business fortunately at a stage where we can say no are experienced and proper grown-ups and unless we can see a safe route to profit. Retail You are known as something of a although that has taken a lot of time to get is very cut- throat and you are only as good as polyglot Lars! Where did you learn your 7 right, it now liberates my time exponentially to your last deal - the plan with our music license languages? get on with higher value activities. Our online roster is to get full exclusivity on supply and As a Norwegian, that is my mother tongue, marketplace business is relatively new and this will give us a unique position in the market. and then Swedish and Danish are easy to learn needs more massaging - discussing trade, once you know one Scandinavian language. challenges and getting people to understand I am generally at a business social event two I then studied for my undergrad degree in the priorities and focus. I am a big believer evenings a week also - this could be a gig or economics, in France, followed by a three year in stipulating an agenda and take aways for a movie launch of some nature. For example Masters spent in Paris, Oxford and Berlin so I all meetings to make sure they are effective. next week is the Licensing Awards at the became fluent in French, English and German It’s amazing how modern technology has Grosvenor Hotel and the following week we as well. I then taught myself Italian for fun. As made many people actually less efficient and have a corporate jolly to see the Rolling Stones my wife is a Japanese speaker, I understand a purely reactive and the discipline of setting show in Barcelona. little bit of Japanese too. and achieving objectives is a skill and one that needs to be constantly reinforced. I have I am not one to sit on the sofa in the evenings Did you do anything other career-wise banned the statement ‘ I don’t have time’ from so if I am not doing something work related before you became an entrepreneur? our office and now reframed it as ‘ please then I will be down at Home House socialising, Initially, I was working in corporate finance in help me with my priorities’. There will never at a Guild event or at a yoga class. London, mostly mergers & acquisitions work, be enough time in any case but the mind I am lucky that I do get to meet very interesting before “seeing the light” and becoming an shift in the staff from that new statement is people, both creative and entrepreneurial, and entrepreneur. transformational. I always try and learn as much as I can from these situations then apply the knowledge to When did you first start to think an My main strength is relationships, which my own business life. entrepreneurial career was for you? means talking to or meeting with my most I was trying to set up some internet companies important retail customers or licensors As the day ends I try and reflect on the during the dot-com era (1999-2000) but they regularly. Typically, this is setting up or closing rollercoaster and see where we won and lost didn’t work out. large merchandise deals to high street retailers, - and take a peep over the fence to look at or liaising with a Disney representative or a big tomorrow. What I have learned is that every When did you start your first business? music act regarding opportunities into retail. I day brings new challenges and opportunities I founded My Nametags (www.mynametags. do use email of course, but I am a firm believer and always will, so taking the time to live in the com) in 2004, to make iron-on and sticker that a phone call or a meeting is far more now and enjoy the journey is as important as name tags for labelling children’s clothing. valuable and insightful if you need to make the end goal. Having children born in 2001 and 2003, I saw a something happen. niche for high quality products in this area. 40 guildofentrepreneurs.org Describe what you do now. I am still running My Nametags 13 years on. We now sell nametags to more than 60 countries around the world. I have also set up a second company, Arty Lobster (https:// artylobster.com), that makes 3D printed pet sculptures. Customers give us 10 photos of their dog, cat, horse or pet, and we 3D print a full colour sandstone sculpture of their pet.

What other interests do you have? I like reading, mostly history and science fiction. But I do seem to spend most of my spare time at weekends along rivers watching my children row.

What are your other Livery or City connections? In 2004 I joined the Worshipful Company of © J Andersen World Traders as a Freeman and in the same year I was given the Freedom of the City and recently selected to row for GB (stroke in an became a Liveryman. I currently serve on the un-coxed quad for those in the know). More Events & Fellowship Committee of the World importantly, she beat the French! They have Traders. not yet shown a lot of interest in taking over the Over the years, I have been to other City family businesses, but it is still early days…. events, such as the election of Lord Mayor My wife worked as a solicitor for a magic circle and Sheriffs, and I have herded sheep across law firm and in investment banking, and she is London Bridge twice. now working with me in the business. We try not to talk shop at night… We love the photo Lars! You always look very striking at our formal events and I For the last seven years, I have been on an understand there is a bit of a family story annual road trip every November with my now behind this – can you share it with us? 81-year old dad. As he lives in Oslo, this is My grandfather was an upstanding man and a good opportunity to see each other, whilst entrepreneur in Oslo, and he owned multiple driving around a new place. This November we white ties, with top hat and gloves. Luckily I are planning on driving around northern Oman am the same size as him, so I have been able and the back roads of the UAE. to wear them all. And what better occasion to wear a top hat than a Guild of Entrepreneurs Thank you for this fascinating insight Lars, white tie dinner! and we wish you every success as the Guild’s newest Warden. Tell us something about your family life. My two girls, aged 16 and 13, are both pupils at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. My sixteen year old girl seems to be spending her life rowing on the Thames, and she was Guild of Entrepreneurs Charitable Trust

In keeping with the charitable obligations of the Guild’s charitable activities. It is also an the City of London’s Livery Companies, the essential component of the progression of the Guild of Entrepreneurs is looking ahead to Guild towards Company, and then to Livery an ambitious and substantial programme status within the City of London. The growth of charitable works, for which the Guild of of the Trust therefore directly prospers the Entrepreneurs Trust has been established. development of the Guild in addition to its aims Predominantly, the focus is on financing for entrepreneurship education and support. charities and projects that support the To begin or increase your donations to the development of entrepreneurs and help to Guild of Entrepreneurs Trust, or if you are bring the opportunities of entrepreneurship to considering a fund-raising activity, please young people. contact the Clerk.

The Trust is still in its capital-raising phase, The Trustees welcome applications from and any donation, great or small, helps to potential beneficiaries. (Registered Charity build the funds that will, in the next few years, 1166513) © J Andersen begin to provide a sustainable income for

guildofentrepreneurs.org 41 The Master Elect

we all worked together in the Halifax Group as A FEW WORDS FROM THE MASTER ELECT, well as getting me involved in the Livery via the Worshipful Company of Marketors which for LEE ROBERTSON, BA FCSI FRSA both of us is our mother Company.

some of the larger financial institutions based During her tenure as Master Kate has done in the City going public with some making a truly superb job in building upon the announcements on some of their operations enthusiasm you all show for The Guild and has being based in mainland Europe post Brexit handed it over in really good shape and I am although many are keeping their plans quiet sure we are all very grateful for her professional at the moment. Already, France is lobbying as well as personal touches during her year. hard to get ahead of Frankfurt on potential The other heartfelt thanks I would like to make City business migrants and the City will have on our behalf is to all of the Committee Chairs to work very hard to ensure that it retains its and Freemen who serve on them and who do reputation as the best place to do business, such fine governance, educational, outreach particularly in terms of international banking, and social event work on behalf of us all. insurance, finance and debt. The Guild would not thrive without their dedication and commitment, too many to As I write this the politics both at home and mention here but I would encourage everyone abroad are looming very large indeed. From to explore becoming a Committee member as the exchange of a huge majority for the a way of giving something back to The Guild need to secure political party allies the Prime and helping it flourish. The same can be said Minister looks to have hugely damaged her of The Trust and Neil Partridge and Kate are ability to lead the country and, perhaps even due a debt of thanks for navigating it through worse, her own party set against the backdrop the many Charity Commission, legal and of a resurgent opposition with a rather unlikely banking hurdles and I would again respectfully leader who not long ago looked like he would remind all Freemen of their commitment to be the victim of an internal political coup by the support the Trust financially. This will be one of After a 9 year career in the Royal Navy, shadow cabinet. my key themes during this year. and then 10 years working in a variety of insurance and banking financial groups, Lee From Russian cyber-attacks, North Korea Now that we are maturing as a Guild and founded Investment Quorum in 2000 and is missile tests, the Syria civil war to the Middle continuing our aspiration towards becoming a Chartered Wealth Manager and Chartered East States and Qatar, China militarisation of a Livery Company there is a lot to do. I FCSI. Amongst his other awards he is proud the South China Sea to the revolving door for would very much like this year to be when we to have been recognised in the definitive staff that President Trump appears to have continue to work together, recruit more fellow Spear’s Wealth Management Index as one installed in his White House. As is the new entrepreneurs, support our Trust but also have of the top ten wealth managers working norm there is rarely a dull moment in world a lot of fun along the way at the formal as well in the UK and was named their High Net politics. These are what we call macro events as the more informal events put together by Worth Wealth Manager of the year in 2016. in finance and these larger scale issues can the Events & Fellowship Committee who work He has also won UK Wealth Management impact in lots of small ways in the way we all hard to deliver events of great variety, keen CEO of the Year in the Le Fonti International go about our daily business and can have lots pricing and interest. Business Innovation Awards receiving his of impact in unforeseen ways. award at a gala dinner in Hong Kong earlier As many of you know, I am a bit of a foodie this year. An advocate of financial planning Against this backdrop however I retain the and this may well become a bit of a theme led wealth management, Lee’s personalised unquenchable optimism of the entrepreneur. In during this year as I am very keen that we draw advice style has led to great demand for his chaos lies opportunity and we are renowned in upon our highly developed entrepreneurial expert comment on wealth and investment the UK for our small business acumen. This is social skills and have lots of fun along the way. matters in the press and he also appears entirely evident within our Guild. I am always I hope to see many more of you at our spiritual regularly on TV. impressed whenever we gather in groups home in the City at the London Capital Club. large or small at our diversity, our drive and our The Club and Guild now host a combined Club It was a with a huge amount of pride and, if ability to express just how much we love what Table on the last Friday of the month. This is entirely honest, not a little trepidation that I we do and long may that continue. great fun and a lovely way to meet others and was voted Master Elect at the July Election to bring potential new Freemen along to see Court held at The Guildhall. However, I took I hope that during my tenure we will be able to a bit about how we meet up and interact with it as a good sign that during the busy Court build upon this feeling of drive and purpose. other business people. Court members will be we heard a band start up in the Guildhall Yard It is no secret that we have had a troubled taking the initiative on helping new Freemen and as we left to go to dinner at the rather and desperately sad start with the loss of settle in and ensure that there is something excellent Taverna Etrusca at the suggestion of both Sir Paul Judge who was our sponsoring of a ‘buddy system’ going on so that new the Master we were treated to the sight of the Alderman and our founder Dan Doherty, the members, particularly those who are younger band of the Rifles strutting their stuff in front of two Masters who did so much to conceive or less informed about the Livery, feel welcome a very decent sized audience. The motto of and get The Guild underway. There was, and and able to engage in our activities and know The Rifles is “Celer et Audax” which translates is, a keenly felt and obvious sadness that this that it is not all about gowns and speeches but as “Swift and Bold” which made me smile and brought as well as the inevitable disruption as much about fellowship and mutual support. I took it as a good omen as it is my opinion that we encountered. Two of the saddest days that this motto reads across rather well in of my adult life were those when I attended We are also working very hard to ensure that describing we entrepreneurs. Dan’s funeral in Essex and then attending his the communication amongst us improves as memorial service at our church, All Hallows’ we are acutely aware that busy entrepreneurs I shall be Master in a year when the by The Tower, and reading one of the three are also busy people. We all need to know negotiations for Brexit will be a major feature eulogies on the day. Many of you will know when we are going along to events, when they and the impact that this will have on the UK in that Dan, Neil and I had known each other for will be early enough to plan them in and to general and London and the City specifically almost thirty years and he gave me my first know when our friends are going along. That is very hard to predict. Already we are seeing management job in financial services when way we naturally all feel more inclined...

42 guildofentrepreneurs.org ...to attend, swell the numbers and ensure that Court Assistants Elect our social events continue to be a success. To At the Court Meeting held on 21st September 2017, the following were elected to serve as Court draw upon our own motto of “Dare, Create, Assistants from the Installation Court on 23rd November 2017: Succeed” this time, we dared, we created and now we must continue to succeed. • Freeman Gary Dixon • Freeman Alderman Alastair King In closing I feel incredibly humbled to have • Founder Freeman Stephen Wheatley been elected Master and be given the opportunity to continue to build upon on the * The Master writes: fine work done by Dan, Sir Paul and Kate, the Wardens and Committees and truly value your “There is a defined and identified need for a voice to be given to our profession but it must trust and support. During the year I hope we be based on a combination of knowledge, understanding and experience. It is therefore continue to swell the numbers of Freeman from my delight to advise that the Guild is forming a new Committee (PRIME), which will work the many entrepreneurs we all know who have towards the creation of white papers on matters of direct interest to our Freemen and our not yet considered joining our Guild, enhance stakeholders, such as those benefitting from our Outreach & Education programmes. That the size of our Charitable Trust, contribute to voice will be both balanced and focused on bringing together the highest standard of analysis our own professions and the wider business on matters of importance to you, our Freemen.” community as entrepreneurs but most of all have some fun and fellowship in our usual style. ST ETHELBURGA’S EVE DEDICATION SERVICE AND ARTISAN FOOD AND DRINK FAYRE

On 10th October 2017, the Reverend Bertrand Olivier welcomed Freemen and Guests to All Hallows’ by the Tower Church for a splendid evening of food and fellowship, celebrating the eve of the feast of our Guild’s Patron Saint Ethelburga with a poignant, traditional sung Evensong service of dedication, The followed by showcasing and generous taster plates/bottles from local London and Sussex artisan food and drink entrepreneurs including Wildes Cheese, Blackhand Charcuterie, Prestige Patisserie, Court & Chalice Mead, The Bread Station, Square Root Sodas and Dark Sugars Chocolates. Ofﬁcers

At the Election Court held on 20th July 2017, the following were elected to serve as Officers of the Guild from 23rd November 2017:

Master: Lee Robertson

Senior Warden: Alderman Peter Hewitt JP

Middle Warden: Rick Lowe

Junior Warden: Lars Andersen © R Barker The Master and Court Assistants Fiona & Ian Taylor amongst the guests and exhibitors © R Barker Immediate Past Master: Kate Jolly

Clerk: Duncan Simms

The Court Assistants for the Guild year 2017/8 continue as: Judith Donovan CBE (Chair of PRIME*, Church Liaison) Shernaz Engineer (Chair of Membership) Neil Fullbrook (Chair of Events & Fellowship) Rupa Ganatra Judy Hadden (Chair of Outreach) Jenny Hogan (Chair of Communications) Ronan Kearney © C Hegner © C Hegner Nicola Manning (Chair of Education) Neil Partridge (Chair of Awards, Archivist, Trustee of the Guild of Entrepreneurs Trust) Tom Simmonds “If more of us valued food and cheer and song Fiona Taylor above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier Ian Taylor (Chair of Finance, Treasurer) Pippa Watmough (Chair of Sponsorship) world.” J.R.R. Tolkein

guildofentrepreneurs.org 43 Editorial Panel Court Assistant Nicola Manning Court Assistant Jenny Hogan Freeman Spirit de la Mare Court Assistant Neil Fullbrook The Clerk

Designer Jake at JakeDavisDesign.co.uk

The Guild makes no charge to its members for Jonathan’s digital images, but the Guild and Jonathan Cherry should always be credited if The Guild Of Entrepreneurs using any of these images publicly. 15 Abchurch Lane London EC4N 7BW Properly accredited usage in good faith is almost always OK, but if you would like more Facebook: Guild-of-Entrepreneurs-London Tel: 020 3126 4924 formal guidance on acceptable use please Twitter: G_Entrepreneurs Email: [email protected] contact the Clerk’s Office. LinkedIn: #GuildofE Web: www.guildofentrepreneurs.org