NNEEWWSSLLEETTTTEERR August 2021 CCOONNTTEENNTT LLIIINNKKSS KEY KKEEYY DATES: DDAATTEESS SBN Thoughts from the Chair th SBN meeting dates Thursday 12 August 2021: Coffee Catch-Up at the Curio Lounge in King Street Stroud SBN Announcements - 9.00 am – 11.00am. Open to both SBN Members and Members’ news & offers Friends for a chat over a coffee. Courses Information, resources, Please note we are not holding an August Members’ funding & support Networking meeting. About Us 30th September 2021 Join Us! Members’ Networking meeting on Zoom with inspirational speaker Sabrina Pace-Humphreys plus a Member shout out. SSEENNDD UUSS YYOOUURR NNEEWWSS We welcome your news, offers and any Guests who would like one free meeting are also welcome other local resources or information you to try us out. Contact us on the email below. wish to share with other members via our newsletter which is issued 10 times a year. Feel free to submit your CCOONNTTAACCTT UUSS articles during the month so that we have your news in good time for our next issue. Members articles may be [email protected] shared to our Facebook group. news submissions : [email protected] Please send less than 200 words in plain text without any images. CCOONNNNEECCTT WWIIITTHH UUSS Ensure that you include your contact details and please check all details Facebook Group – Our closed group for Members carefully and that your links are Facebook Page- SBN Business info, events and information correct! Send submissions to [email protected] Twitter – Keep in touch with SBN conversation and events Disclaimer: Stroud Businesswomen’s Network (“SBN”) accepts no responsibility or liability with regard to the information provided in this newsletter. The views and opinions expressed in articles are those of the individual contributing members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SBN or its committee members. Information is intended to be of a general nature only and is not necessarily comprehensive. Where there are links to external websites, SBN assumes no responsibility for the information contained in those entries or on those websites. Personal Data: Stroud Businesswomen’s Network takes data very seriously. You have received this newsletter because you are registered as a member or friend of SBN. If you would like to see a copy of our privacy statement please click here. If you would like to opt out of receiving this newsletter please email [email protected] Stroud Busiinesswomen’ss Network Chaiir Beth Whiittaker Stroud Businesswomen’s Network Chair Beth Whittaker Thoughts from SBN Chair Beth Whittaker…. One of the many unanticipated discoveries of this pandemic was the way our communication methods have morphed – whether for business or pleasure - with online meetings becoming an accepted alternative. Once your SBN Committee knew we couldn’t continue meeting face to face, we embraced the concept and have held our monthly Members’ meetings on Zoom. We were very gratified to welcome up to 30 Members every month to our ‘virtual’ meetings – attracted no doubt by the quality of the amazing speakers who gave up their time to inform and entertain us. As you will know, we are continuing to meet on Zoom for the rest of the year (although our coffee and chat at the Curio Lounge will be 'face to face'), so let’s take a moment to remember the wonderful women we have welcomed in 2020/21 – worth every penny of your annual SBN Membership, we hope you agree! · Karina Methven from Magic Bean Media who gave us essential advice on how to make our social media work harder · Roz Savage MBE, the first woman to row solo across THREE oceans, after giving up her job as a management consultant · Julie Wickham told us about the extraordinary work of the Stroud Valleys Project protecting and enhancing our local environment · Natalie Ferrari from Gloucestershire’s Start and Grow Enterprise outlined the initiative’s FREE support for freelancers, entrepreneurs and new businesses · Our MP, Siobhan Baillie, gave us an insight into her first year juggling being an MP and a mum! · Abi Wood and Delia Parnham Cope opened our eyes to the challenges faced by the new Trustees of the Stroud Subscription Rooms and a tantalising glimpse at its future · Lotte Lyster Connolly, landlord of The Prince Albert pub in Rodborough, shared how the pub’s fortunes have been transformed thanks to being part of the ‘Saving Britain’s Pubs’ TV series with (Gloucester-born) top chef Tom Kerridge · Emily Gravestock from the UK Space Agency took us on a journey out of this world looking at the positive impact of satellites and drones on every part of our day to day lives · Stroud Book Festival’s Louise Brice and Caroline Sanderson told us about the history of the Festival (they have welcomed more than 200 authors over the years) and about this year’s fantastic celebrations due to take place in October! This Autumn, we have another winning streak of speakers including Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, former owner of an award-winning PR agency and now a force in ultra-running and a sought-after motivational speaker; Emma Hall, founder of Silver Spot Ceramics, who will share her experience of growing an online business and Shalize Nicholas, clothes designer and founder of unique luxury clothing label Madia and Matilda, specialising in upcycled and sustainable fabrics. Looking forward to seeing you (online for the time being) in September! Beth Chair Back to contents SSttrroouudd BBuussiiinneesssswwoommeenn’’ss MMeeeettiiinnggss SBN meetings 2021 *Earlier in the month due to school holidays Download your copy PDF with 2021 dates here. What’s happening with SBN meetings for the rest of the year? Our Zoom meetings have been a great success and so for now we are holding our 2021 meetings on Zoom for September, October and November 2021. We have a fantastic line up of inspirational speakers coming up – Sabrina Pace-Humpreys 30th September, Emma Hall 21st October and Shalize Nicholas 25th November – full details for these events can be found here. For a full list our past and future speakers for 2021 click here. Back to contents TThhee SSBBNN CCoommmmiiitttteeee ooff VVoollluunntteeeerrss Our Committee left to right below: Chair: Beth Whittaker [email protected] Training: Sam Collins ([email protected]) Training: Kirsty Preece ([email protected]) Events & Technical: Tammy Kwan [email protected] Website: Karen Blaylock [email protected] Finance: Stella Jensen [email protected] Photo courtesy of Tammy Kwan – TammyLyn Photography WWhhaatt hhaappppeennss aatt tthhee SSBBNN mmeeeettiiinnggss?? We run three different types of main MEETINGS at suit all tastes! We have a rolling programme of different styles of meetings. Meeting style 1: Local interest speaker: recent speakers include Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie, Lotte Lyster Connolly of the Prince Albert Pub & Stroud Book Fesival’s Louise Brice and Caroline Sanderson. Meeting style 2: Dedicated to learning new business skills and networking: helping members meet each other using structured and informal networking techniques, so people get to know each other better, and gain more confidence in networking generally. Meeting style 3: Inspirational businesswomen: one keynote business speaker, usually a successful and inspirational businesswoman from in and around the Stroud district, sharing ideas and aspirations. Recent examples are Emily Gravestock from the UK Space Agency and extreme ocean rower Roz Savage MBE. Shout Outs - Within these meetings according to time we offer member 'shout outs' when members get the chance to tell everyone about their business and, hopefully, share some tips and useful information. Back to contents SSBBNN mmeeeettiiinnggss –– PPllleeaassee JJooiiinn UUss!! The Stroud Businesswomen’s Network meets twice a month for two very different types of meetings. Our get-togethers have been very successful and well attended on Zoom over the past 12 months+. Members report feeling very welcome and supported during the meetings, and the sense that they are not alone coping in the current crisis which is hitting many businesses very hard. Our Members’ Networking Meeting (usually on the last Thursday of the month) usually welcomes an inspirational guest speaker and encourages networking and the sharing of information and business knowledge and skills. Everyone has a chance to introduce themselves and their businesses. Member benefits include attending main meetings with a variety of speakers, individual shout outs, newsletter articles posted online, promotion of your business on our Facebook group and SBN Page along with subsidised training events. Find out more details here. The Networking meeting is for SBN Members only, but if you are interested in joining the Network, you are welcome to try us out for one meeting, as a Guest. Just email admin here [email protected]. Our informal Coffee Catch-Up (usually the second Thursday of the month) is open to anyone for support, social and business chat! If you’d like to become an SBN Member please Join online - https://www.stroudbusinesswomen.org.uk/Join-now SSBBNN AAddmmiiinn –– CCoonnttaacctt UUss If you have a query or question for us please contact our Administrator. Admin : Diane Young [email protected] Photo courtesy of Tammy Kwan Back to contents MMeemmbbeerrss’’ NNeewwss aanndd OOffffeerrss New at Severnbites ! – Article submitted by Danielle Ellis Breadmaking at Severnbites from the autumn will offer both online and in person classes and now you can help me plan! It’s been a remarkable time for me adapting my business from purely in person classes to online as well. Please take a few minutes to complete my survey by 10 August https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/5AIS43/ How about short online sessions covering a breadmaking technique with the chance to ask questions? Or perhaps you have a holiday letting business and would like to add a new activity for your guests? Or organise a personalised In person classes for 4 people to learn tips and techniques to make bread successfully at home.