The August meeting of the North-Hampshire Women In Business Group, scored a ‘hole-in-one’ with members as they networked ‘at speed’ to one another.

Held within the sumptuous grounds of Dummer Golf Club, the event tee’d off to a great start, allowing members just one minute each to profile their business to another listening member, rotating in turn to another member every couple of minutes.

Every year, one of the meetings is dedicated solely to networking and promoting businesses to fellow businesswomen in this way, which is designed to create maximum awareness of the diverse products and services available.

This annual event is always very popular and this year was no exception, with 40 women attending, which just goes to prove that ‘women who talk together do business together’.

An additional fun element was included making good use of the grounds at Dummer Golf Club, by encouraging members to putt a golf ball nearest the marker. Winner, Sarah Cardew from Penningtons Solicitors, was so impressed with her amateur golf skills that she is even thinking of taking up golf as a hobby!

Pictured: Ann Davies of Lamb Brooks Solicitors tee’s off at Dummer Golf Club

Working together to reduce the area’s carbon footprint and planning for the effects of extreme weather will be top of the agenda when Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council hosts a climate change summit on Friday 14 September.

Businesses and local environmental and community groups will be sharing their ideas and experiences at the ‘Climate Change – What Can We Do?’ summit at Civic Offices in Basingstoke.  The morning event will feature a presentation giving the business perspective on climate change from Basingstoke-based international consultancy company Scott Wilson.

There will also be three workshops focusing on the topics of energy and transport; water and waste and planning, biodiversity and habitats.

The council has committed to work together with partners, businesses and the community to draw up a Climate Change Strategy for the borough by spring 2008.

The summit will give those attending the chance to contribute towards the strategy, which will focus on actions the borough can take to cut energy use, reduce congestion, adapt to the impacts of climate change and improve the local environment.

The council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change Champion Cllr Elaine Still said:

Tackling climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and we need all of our communities to take action.  It is important that our businesses get involved, as figures for carbon emissions for the borough show that 39 per cent is coming from industry and the commercial sector and 36 per cent from road transport, with 25 per cent coming from our homes.

We are putting together an action plan of how we can make a local contribution to tackling this global issue.  This is especially poignant as the recent floods in this area have highlighted the local impact of climate change.

This summit will give businesses and local organisations the chance to have a say in drawing up the action plan.  We want them to share their ideas on how we can contribute to tackling the problem and encourage businesses and residents to cut their energy use and carbon emissions.

Businesses or environmental and community groups can find out more about the event or sign up to come along by calling 01256 845278.

By splashing out to raise donations for local charity, Naomi House, Winterthur Life staff was presented in July with the award for top team at the Lions Club of Basingstoke’s 24th annual swimathon.

Winterthur was the only business organisation involved in this event, with three teams taking part. £1,700 was raised overall with half going towards their chosen charity, Naomi House, and the remaining half being donated to The Lions Club’s chosen charities.

Jill Livingstone, Corporate Fund Raiser of Naomi House, said,

We’re delighted with the ongoing support from Winterthur Life which makes a difference helping us to provide crucial care services free of charge for life limited children and their families.

Participants who swam the highest number of laps, and those who raised the largest sum of money were both awarded with trophies, presented to them by Lions Club president, Barry Morgan at Winterthur Life head office on July 24.

The swimathon took place on Saturday, March 3 2007, at Tadley Swimming Pool, with a total of seven teams taking part.

Winterthur staff who took part in the event were Gill Brooks, Michelle Finlayson, Teresa Cummins, Laura Soden, Rachel Welford, Richard Satchwell, Alice Cantelo, Amy Cantelo, and Deborah Plester.

Laura Soden, Project Co-ordinator at Winterthur, said,

There was a really good atmosphere throughout the evening and everyone was cheering each other on. It was a good, fun event that was well run by the Lions Club.

Richard Satchwell, Assistant Management Accountant at Winterthur, said,

People at Winterthur get involved with lots of charity fund raising. This is a very positive thing and I have enjoyed being a part of it every year during the five years that I have worked for the company. The main highlight was seeing so many people of different age groups and abilities taking part.

The Lions Club is a fundraising organisation that has been in operation since 1967. The annual swimathon is one of many charity events organised by The Lions Club. People of all ages and swimming abilities may participate in the event, raising as much money as they can for their chosen charities.

The Lions Club holds many events throughout the year; keep a look out for other Lions Club events this year to get involved in. For more information, call Barry Morgan on (01256) 358008.

Lifestyle coach, Alison Riches, was the guest speaker at the July meeting of the North-Hampshire Women In Business Group, held at The Red Lion Hotel in Basingstoke.

All of the women that Alison has worked with are successful, beautiful and talented and, to the outside world, confident and self assured. But, says Alison,

inside many are afraid to confront themselves and accept and connect with who they really are. Some are confused about their identity, others struggle to accept their bodies and long to look and feel differently about their physical selves. Some hide behind their clothes or use food and hard work as a comfort or a distraction!

Members were asked to think about the many ‘hats’ they wear, for example, being a mother, daughter, wife, cleaner, business woman etc. Alison then described how we juggle our lives around these many busy and varying roles.

Putting this into perspective, Alison (pictured with Sue Brown, President of the North-Hampshire Women In Business), explained a few strategies for us all to use in our every day lives to enable us to reach our full potential, both at work and socially.

One of the concepts was for us to learn to introduce “holi hours”, i.e. a holiday hour in the day to take a little time out every day to do something for ourselves. Alison explained that if this could be incorporated then, overall, we would all be less stressed and frantic and we’d achieve a lot more.

Alison runs regular workshops called ‘The Power To Be’, to encourage innovative personal and organisational development. To find out information on forthcoming courses, call Alison on 07976 695013 or email dare.to@virgin.net.
Also, this month, Lorraine Ashover, a Corporate Manager with Barclays Business Banking, was chosen to speak to the meeting about the SME businesses she looks after in the £2m-£20m turnover bracket, explaining that her passion is helping businesses across all industry sectors grow and succeed. If you would like to know more about how Barclays Business Banking can help your new or existing business please contact Lorraine on 07775 548821 or go to www.barclays.co.uk/business.

In rain-soaked June, the weather was relatively kind on the evening that Marylyn Abbott, owner of historical West Green House in Hartley Wintney, opened up her beautiful gardens to the North-Hampshire Women In Business Group.

The rain held off long enough for Ms Abbott to provide an insightful talk and walkabout on the latest development to her gardens. Marylyn is a keen supporter of sustainable agriculture and works with the Slow Food movement to help keep traditional ways of making food, like cheese and oils, alive. In keeping with her beliefs, Marylyn experiments every year with different ideas and a theme dedicated to growing a variety of plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables in a portion of her garden.

This year’s project is ‘Gardening with Dracula’! and Marylyn devoted her talk to the inspiration she gained whilst visiting Transylvania last year which gave her the ideas for her current theme.

Sue Brown, President of the WIBG, pictured left with Marylyn Abbott in her gardens at West Green House, Hartley Wintney.

Sue Brown, President of The North-Hampshire Women In Business Group, said,

“Thank you so much to Marylyn for, yet again, providing a truly wonderful evening that has certainly brightened up these wet June days we’re presently having! This is the 4th year that Marylyn has opened up her Gardens for us and this event always proves extremely popular with our members, all of whom gain inspiration for their own gardens!”

West Green Gardens opens annually: Easter to 30 September. Wednesday through to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 11.00am until 4.30pm (last entry).

A Thames Valley Enterprise Hub Breakfast Seminar

Wednesday 11th July; 8.30-10.00am

Absolutely Offices, Grove House, Lutyens Close, Chineham Court, Basingstoke

Thames Valley Enterprise Hub has the specific goal of helping technology and knowledge-based companies with pioneering ideas become thriving commercial concerns. July’s Breakfast Seminar will provide these companies with a practical insight into the steps required to protect and exploit their Intellectual Property (IP) by discussing:

• Exploiting IP for commercial benefit
• What, when, how and why protect IP which includes a step-by-step guide through the innovation process to exemplify the issues of exploiting IP rights
• How to protect products and inventions
• How to use IP databases to minimise costs and reduce risks
• The Management issues involved
• What can be done to avoid litigation

If you are developing potentially valuable IP it is critical that you attend this Thames Valley Enterprise Hub Breakfast Seminar.

The seminar is being given by Jason Burwell of Kogitant. Jason is an extremely experienced IP lawyer who is retained by SEEDA to provide advice to companies across the Enterprise Hub Network in the region.

This seminar if free to attend. To reserve your place please e-mail Tracey Sanderson at t.sanderson@reading.ac.uk or visit www.thamesvalleyhub.co.uk

May’s meeting of the North-Hampshire Women In Business Group played host to Sharon Bowles, a Member of the European Parliament for the South-East of England, at the Basingstoke Country Hotel at Nately Scures, Basingstoke. (more…)

Award winning Redrow Homes has helped raise over £15,000 for children’s charity Naomi House.

Redrow held a glittering dinner, at Oakley Hall in Basingstoke, for Naomi House, a charity which provides respite care, terminal care and bereavement support for children and families in central and southern England.

With the help of donations from local businesses in North Hampshire and with games and a raffle, with prizes including spa days, theatre tickets, an ipod, a case of champagne and Premiership football tickets, the evening raised £15, 217 to help Naomi House to carry on with their dedicated work.

Stuart Rowlands, managing director of Redrow Homes (Southern), based in Basingstoke, said:

As well as building quality homes across the country, Redrow strives to support the good work that local charities do. We’re proud of our link up with Naomi House and will endeavour to continue to support their worthy cause within the community.

Opened in 1997 and based in Sutton Scotney near Winchester, it now costs over £2.5 million a year to run Naomi House. With just 10% of the income coming from Government grants, the charity relies on voluntary and charitable support.

Jill Livingstone, corporate fundraiser for Naomi House, said:

The black tie ball organised by Redrow was a sparkling event enjoyed by all. It is a milestone year for us at Naomi House as we are celebrating our 10th anniversary and we are absolutely delighted to have the support of Redrow Homes during this very special year.

The ongoing support we receive from Redrow helps us to provide these crucial care services, free of charge, to children and their families at a time when they need it most. On behalf of everyone at Naomi House I’d like to say a huge thank you to Redrow for their tremendous support.”

Redrow’s Basingstoke based operation has a range of developments across the south of England, including schemes in Bracknell and Thatcham, in Berkshire, Eastbourne and Bexhill on Sea, in East Sussex, and Horsham and Crawley, in West Sussex, while new homes are planned for Hailsham, in East Sussex, and Farnborough, Hampshire.

Nationally, the house builder recently launched The Redrow Foundation, which aims to provide accommodation and related assistance for children in need, the elderly, the sick and the infirm. An amount of £50 from the sale of each new Redrow home goes to the Foundation.

Story Ref. UK Property News

Basingstoke-based design and web agency, The Escape, will be the official sponsor of Basingstoke Live 2007 organised by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, announced EVPS Events last week at The Escape’s office in Daneshill.

Music will be ringing out from four free outdoor stages from War Memorial Park to Festival Square and The Malls as well as a host of well known venues around town, including clubs, pubs and bars.

The open air stages will go live from 12 noon on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July with music to inspire every taste, including rock, pop, blues, jazz, folk, acoustic and classical sets from international, national and local musicians.

“The One and Only” Chesney Hawkes will be headlining the event on Saturday 7th July in War Memorial Park, with the legendary Mike Pender’s Searchers headlining the Sunday evening line up.

Cllr Keith Chapman, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, said,

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is committed to providing high quality events for the people of Basingstoke and beyond and is delighted to be working alongside a local company such as The Escape. Basingstoke Live promises to be an event that will bring the town to life with both local and internationally renowned artistes.

Craig Killick, Managing Director of The Escape added:

Having started our business in Basingstoke ten years ago this year, this is a great way for us to show our commitment to the town and community. Being in a position to support this event, and the diverse local talent involved, is something we are very proud of.

The event still has sponsorship opportunities available on larger and smaller scale, please contact David Williams if you are interested in getting involved.

The Women In Business Group invited Dr Patricia Ridsdale to speak at its April meeting, held at Centre Court Hotel in Basingstoke.

The subject matter, ‘conventional medicine versus homeopathy (or can they live and work in harmony?)’, proved to be an extremely popular topic judging by the packed audience at this event.

Tricia Ridsdale has worked as a GP in Hampshire for 14 years and has always been interested in the whole person and the dynamics of health. Tricia originally trained in Birmingham as a medical practitioner and she settled and worked for many years in Basingstoke. An opportunity arose a few years ago for her to expand her passion in exploring Homeopathy and to find more natural remedies to treat each individual person and their specific needs.

Tricia’s aim was to approach each person ‘holistically’ (i.e. the whole person) and sit their requirements alongside conventional medicine too.

The principle of Homeopathy is ‘like cures like’, using diluted plant substances to stimulate the body’s own method of healing. If you know what you are looking for, there are health stores on most high streets these days that sell homeopathic remedies. However, Tricia says there is no substitute for getting good, professional healthcare advice initially.

Between 14-16% of us today are taking a real interest in complimentary medicine and how it can help to treat our health and lifestyle issues and the number is growing all the time.

Tricia concluded,

It’s all about getting the balance right at the end of the day and having spent years training in both conventional and complimentary medicine, I firmly believe that the two can work very well in harmony together.

The rather patronising statement, “she can’t do much harm with water!”, commented by colleagues when Tricia embarked on her alternative quest, has proven to be wholly unfounded as her highly successful practice has shown.

(Dr Patricia Ridsdale (left) pictured with President of the Women In Business Group, Sue Brown.)

If you are interested in finding out more about Homeopathy, please visit www.trusthomeopathy.org.

For more information about the North Hampshire Women In Business Group, you can visit their website.