Friday, 20 November 2009
Congratulations to the winners of the Womens Enterprise Celebration Lunch. Hemingway Corporation arranged this stellar celebration to honor role models for Womens Enterprise in the South West. The full story is at - http://www.bristol247.com/2009/11/18/top-women-entrepreneurs-celebrated-at-awards-ceremony/
I would like to thank all the networking organisations in the South West who supported me in creating a fantastic High Impact event.
I would like to thank all the networking organisations in the South West who supported me in creating a fantastic High Impact event.
Friday, 18 September 2009
The weeks are running by, there is so much movement and energy in the business at the moment. All positive, not least the appointment of our new FD. This is a pioneering step for my company; John is bringing such valuable experience and strategic clout to the table, we have a real heavyweight among us. The sky is the limit! Watch this space, things are about to get really interesting...
http://www.sourceuk.net/article/13/13688/hemingway_corporation_secures_investment__ramps_up_talent.html
http://www.sourceuk.net/article/13/13688/hemingway_corporation_secures_investment__ramps_up_talent.html
Monday, 3 August 2009
Wonderful team!
Just a brief note to direct you to the latest work by our Head of Learning and Development - You can see it at: http://EzineArticles.com/?id=2657565
Well Done Di!
Well Done Di!
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Messages
Have had trouble writing anything for a few weeks - combination of a lack of time and all my thinking effort going towards solving problems - not done so I thought I would ask the universe - well anyone who may read this!
Problem one - Hemingway Corp, we have two new projects I want to take to market and I am still tied up making the one I am currently taking to market actually bed down in to running itself. Basically I am just being impatient and I need to give it time for the projects to catch up with me. So I need some tips on how to be patient and not carry on like a train at 100mph.
Problem two - I cant find a way to describe flexible working that sounds like anyone can do it and shows what a great way of life it is. This is for the front of LifeWorklife - how do I design desire in to this site.
Oh and any tips on surviving the menopause would be great!
Thats all my asks for this week - if you dont get the newsletter from Emotional Intelligence at Work or the notes from TUT then you should - thats my tip of the week!
Problem one - Hemingway Corp, we have two new projects I want to take to market and I am still tied up making the one I am currently taking to market actually bed down in to running itself. Basically I am just being impatient and I need to give it time for the projects to catch up with me. So I need some tips on how to be patient and not carry on like a train at 100mph.
Problem two - I cant find a way to describe flexible working that sounds like anyone can do it and shows what a great way of life it is. This is for the front of LifeWorklife - how do I design desire in to this site.
Oh and any tips on surviving the menopause would be great!
Thats all my asks for this week - if you dont get the newsletter from Emotional Intelligence at Work or the notes from TUT then you should - thats my tip of the week!
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Sugar and Spice
Another week flies by - its almost impossible to remember what happened. One of the things that invoked passion in me this week was the announcement that Alan Sugar was appointed as an advisor about Enterprise. Slap me soundly, I cant believe that anyone could be that shortsighted, he is the same man that wouldnt hire women of childbearing age incase they had a child, he bullies people in the board room and has given the 'company director' such a bad name in my opinion that he deserves to have his knighthood taken away.
I delivered a Leadership programme this week to a group of about 50 women in banking. It was about using tools to help us to plan to succeed. Some of the simplest things that we do can produce the most amazing results. SWOT analysis, Action Planning and remembering to say well done to ourselves. I cant wait to find out how they get on and whether they put these things in to their weekly routines.
There was a great Womens Networking meeting in a church, I went to support a friend who had helped me with LifeWorklife and Hemingway Corp. She had done a fantastic job and had loads of people there. I met someone who helped me with some advice about my fitness training and caught up with some other friends in the process.
Some of my week was having lots of fun with my children playing football - I am so hopeless at football but they really dont care. They were just happy that I had the time to play, and they loved laughing at me missing all the kicks - oh well!
So generally worked my life and work in to a good balance. It could all go to pot tomorrow though as I am running a 20 mile hill race - yikes.
I delivered a Leadership programme this week to a group of about 50 women in banking. It was about using tools to help us to plan to succeed. Some of the simplest things that we do can produce the most amazing results. SWOT analysis, Action Planning and remembering to say well done to ourselves. I cant wait to find out how they get on and whether they put these things in to their weekly routines.
There was a great Womens Networking meeting in a church, I went to support a friend who had helped me with LifeWorklife and Hemingway Corp. She had done a fantastic job and had loads of people there. I met someone who helped me with some advice about my fitness training and caught up with some other friends in the process.
Some of my week was having lots of fun with my children playing football - I am so hopeless at football but they really dont care. They were just happy that I had the time to play, and they loved laughing at me missing all the kicks - oh well!
So generally worked my life and work in to a good balance. It could all go to pot tomorrow though as I am running a 20 mile hill race - yikes.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Fantastic
Isnt it just fantastic the way we judge one another. I have had a lot to do with Judging over the last week. I was privilged enough to be asked to judge a business competition for Young Enterprise South West this week at Bristol Airport. The young people had worked really hard and had some great ideas that I could well see turning in to profits so it was quite difficult to choose; I managed it with my partner from Rolls Royce.
I saw a programme about mothers who leave thier children and got really cross that some sanctimonious mother was judging others who had to work or had other priorities. It made me so cross that this woman was so blinkered in her view of life that she could not see others ideas. My belief is in the power of the individual. One of the mothers had been through a divorce and was seeing her children on a part time basis yet she was still considered to have abandoned then. Lummey!
We had our first multi network meeting about Women’s Enterprise day and our area celebration. One of our goals is to appoint 5 fantastic women role models to bring enterprise to communities who may not get to engage. I cant wait to see who gets picked and I sincerely hope they are human beings who have had to make unpopular choices – those and how we deal with them are what should be celebrated – not one way for all!
I saw a programme about mothers who leave thier children and got really cross that some sanctimonious mother was judging others who had to work or had other priorities. It made me so cross that this woman was so blinkered in her view of life that she could not see others ideas. My belief is in the power of the individual. One of the mothers had been through a divorce and was seeing her children on a part time basis yet she was still considered to have abandoned then. Lummey!
We had our first multi network meeting about Women’s Enterprise day and our area celebration. One of our goals is to appoint 5 fantastic women role models to bring enterprise to communities who may not get to engage. I cant wait to see who gets picked and I sincerely hope they are human beings who have had to make unpopular choices – those and how we deal with them are what should be celebrated – not one way for all!
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Workwise Say - Home working revolution could rescue British business
A new article was published last night by WorkWise UK -
More people than ever are working from home according to research
by the TUC
Today (Friday, May 15) is National Work from Home Day, when it is expected that five million people will be taking part. And with
organisations discovering in these straitened times the cost and productivity benefits of home working more of us are doing it, according
to TUC research
The number of UK employees working from home (excluding self-employed has increased by almost a third, or 31.8 per cent, over the last decade to 2008. More than 3.5 million people work from home, representing 12.3 per cent or one-in-eight of the population, an increase of 650,000 since 1997.
Regionally, the highest growth in the past decade has been seen in the East Midlands with 48 per cent, followed by the South West with 47.2 per cent, Yorkshire and Humberside with 41.0 percent and the West Midlands with 39 per cent.
The highest proportion of home workers is in the South West with 15.4 per cent, followed by the South East with 14.5 per cent and Eastern England with 14.2 per cent. The lowest is in Scotland with 9.1 per cent, followed by the North East with 10.0 per cent.
"Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, organisers of National Work from Home Day, now in its in fourth year, said: "In a tough
economic climate many businesses are reaping the benefits of employees working from home. Not only can they save through cutting office space overhead costs, but reducing commuting time and stress also helps boost productivity.
"Additionally, should swine flu become a serious pandemic home working could help limit its spread while allowing people to continue working.
"There are also the benefits of reduced congestion and emissions arising from cutting journeys, as well as enabling people to work more flexibly and improve their quality of life."
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, said: "As the recession puts the squeeze on company finances, encouraging staff to work from home is a great way to save money and offer a better work-life balance.
"Working from home can save on office rent, energy and transport costs, making it an attractive solution for employers and their staff during the recession."
The growth of internet enabled smart working practices like home working have allowed most business to cut their office space requirement by a quarter, according to a study by the British Council of Offices.
Home working is one of the smarter working practices being promoted through the Work Wise UK campaign, which is entering its fourth year.
Others include flexible working, such as condensed hours and nine-day fortnights, mobile and remote working. Work Wise partners are led by the TUC, CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, BT and Transport for London. The
campaign aims to encourage half the working population, some 14 million people, to be offered smarter working by 2011.
To assist organisations wanting to adopt smarter working practices, Work Wise UK provides guidance and assistance through its website.
LifeWorklife and Hemingway Corp agree wholeheartedly with this view - its crucial to our success!
More people than ever are working from home according to research
by the TUC
Today (Friday, May 15) is National Work from Home Day, when it is expected that five million people will be taking part. And with
organisations discovering in these straitened times the cost and productivity benefits of home working more of us are doing it, according
to TUC research
The number of UK employees working from home (excluding self-employed has increased by almost a third, or 31.8 per cent, over the last decade to 2008. More than 3.5 million people work from home, representing 12.3 per cent or one-in-eight of the population, an increase of 650,000 since 1997.
Regionally, the highest growth in the past decade has been seen in the East Midlands with 48 per cent, followed by the South West with 47.2 per cent, Yorkshire and Humberside with 41.0 percent and the West Midlands with 39 per cent.
The highest proportion of home workers is in the South West with 15.4 per cent, followed by the South East with 14.5 per cent and Eastern England with 14.2 per cent. The lowest is in Scotland with 9.1 per cent, followed by the North East with 10.0 per cent.
"Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, organisers of National Work from Home Day, now in its in fourth year, said: "In a tough
economic climate many businesses are reaping the benefits of employees working from home. Not only can they save through cutting office space overhead costs, but reducing commuting time and stress also helps boost productivity.
"Additionally, should swine flu become a serious pandemic home working could help limit its spread while allowing people to continue working.
"There are also the benefits of reduced congestion and emissions arising from cutting journeys, as well as enabling people to work more flexibly and improve their quality of life."
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, said: "As the recession puts the squeeze on company finances, encouraging staff to work from home is a great way to save money and offer a better work-life balance.
"Working from home can save on office rent, energy and transport costs, making it an attractive solution for employers and their staff during the recession."
The growth of internet enabled smart working practices like home working have allowed most business to cut their office space requirement by a quarter, according to a study by the British Council of Offices.
Home working is one of the smarter working practices being promoted through the Work Wise UK campaign, which is entering its fourth year.
Others include flexible working, such as condensed hours and nine-day fortnights, mobile and remote working. Work Wise partners are led by the TUC, CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, BT and Transport for London. The
campaign aims to encourage half the working population, some 14 million people, to be offered smarter working by 2011.
To assist organisations wanting to adopt smarter working practices, Work Wise UK provides guidance and assistance through its website.
LifeWorklife and Hemingway Corp agree wholeheartedly with this view - its crucial to our success!
Monday, 11 May 2009
National Work Wise Week!!
Hey all
Its Work Wise Week and we have an opportunity to try out smarter working.
The programme will be as follows,
Mobile Office Day (Tuesday, May 12) - the first day will encourage people to work while on the move, instead of travelling to a central office.
Remote Office Day (Wednesday, May 13) - this day will encourage people to use remote offices instead of travelling to a central office. These would include serviced office space, touch down centres or even hot spots such as coffee shops.
Virtual Meeting Day (Thursday, May 14) - this day will encourage people to conduct meetings by audio or video conferencing or go online instead of travelling to meetings.
National Work from Home Day (Friday, May 15) - this will be the fourth time this popular day has been run. It will encourage people to work from home on that day, instead of commuting to their usual place of work.
Smarter Travel Day (Monday, May 18) - the concluding day of the week will encourage people to travel outside peak times. Coming into work an hour early, and then leaving an hour early at the end of the day, or going an hour later, and leaving an hour later. This will reduce the peak rush hour, and make the commuting experience far more bearable for many.
If anyone is doing anything for this I would love to hear from you.
take care
Kiz
Its Work Wise Week and we have an opportunity to try out smarter working.
The programme will be as follows,
Mobile Office Day (Tuesday, May 12) - the first day will encourage people to work while on the move, instead of travelling to a central office.
Remote Office Day (Wednesday, May 13) - this day will encourage people to use remote offices instead of travelling to a central office. These would include serviced office space, touch down centres or even hot spots such as coffee shops.
Virtual Meeting Day (Thursday, May 14) - this day will encourage people to conduct meetings by audio or video conferencing or go online instead of travelling to meetings.
National Work from Home Day (Friday, May 15) - this will be the fourth time this popular day has been run. It will encourage people to work from home on that day, instead of commuting to their usual place of work.
Smarter Travel Day (Monday, May 18) - the concluding day of the week will encourage people to travel outside peak times. Coming into work an hour early, and then leaving an hour early at the end of the day, or going an hour later, and leaving an hour later. This will reduce the peak rush hour, and make the commuting experience far more bearable for many.
If anyone is doing anything for this I would love to hear from you.
take care
Kiz
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Busy Week
Its been a busy week - I have had a lot of driving to do and meetings to have. It was productive. I added up my expenses at the end of the week and submitted them to myself for authorisation. Big bill, so I checked my work! I was glad not to be a politician in some ways although all mine were kinda boring - I dont have any first class travel high priced lunches so I think mine would stand up to scrutiny
Fantastic publicity for LifeWorklife this week at the BBC. I was asked to join a panel of experts discussing identity cards - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p002z2gv/The_Morning_Show_with_Emma_Britton_07_05_2009/
Enjoy!
Fantastic publicity for LifeWorklife this week at the BBC. I was asked to join a panel of experts discussing identity cards - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p002z2gv/The_Morning_Show_with_Emma_Britton_07_05_2009/
Enjoy!
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Decorating
I have been decorating my house with my partner over the last few weeks. The transformation is amazing and it feels great to get behind all those cupboards and have a good clear out. When it came to the office I realised how many invitations, letters about new products and other stuff I have held on to in the vain hope that I may get a chance to read them. Getting that time to 'decorate' gave me the opportunity to rediscover some of those ideas I had had earlier in the year and as a result I contacted a few people and moved some of the projects that I am working on a little further forward.
I have resolved to take one hour off a week to de clutter my desk and re check my emails to make sure I didnt miss anything. How many people do this already? Sometimes when you discover something that helps you often feel like the only one - but I bet everyone does it eh!
Last night Robson Green was on with his 10 most extreme fishing stories. The number one spot was about the Blue Marlin - he related the story of Ernest Hemingway and the Old Man and The Sea - brilliant reading. But I hadnt realised that in this scenario it really meant something to Robson Green as he identified with the relationship with the fish. Looking at it from the point of view of someone who experienced fishing was like looking with a new pair of eyes. Quite refreshing, so many experiences can be enjoyed again from a different view point - that idea could help me with some of my more mundane tasks.
So whats that drivel got to do with helping me do my job - I guess in both instances I have learned something - not anything I can describe particularly well but something I can relate to being better at what I do and something I can use to help me later. And I didnt have to pay to attend a course to do it!
I have resolved to take one hour off a week to de clutter my desk and re check my emails to make sure I didnt miss anything. How many people do this already? Sometimes when you discover something that helps you often feel like the only one - but I bet everyone does it eh!
Last night Robson Green was on with his 10 most extreme fishing stories. The number one spot was about the Blue Marlin - he related the story of Ernest Hemingway and the Old Man and The Sea - brilliant reading. But I hadnt realised that in this scenario it really meant something to Robson Green as he identified with the relationship with the fish. Looking at it from the point of view of someone who experienced fishing was like looking with a new pair of eyes. Quite refreshing, so many experiences can be enjoyed again from a different view point - that idea could help me with some of my more mundane tasks.
So whats that drivel got to do with helping me do my job - I guess in both instances I have learned something - not anything I can describe particularly well but something I can relate to being better at what I do and something I can use to help me later. And I didnt have to pay to attend a course to do it!
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Flexible Working
What I love about working flexibly is that control element. I have been decorating this week - and at the same time - because I work from home - I have been able to carry on working. Any minute now my friend Helen will turn up to go runnning and as I have been at my desk since about 7ish I am ready for the break. Its a completely different way of looking at work life balance - anyway - here are three of my top tips for getting it right:
I will post some more top tips later but now I better go for my run - to many cakes yesterday!
- Set goals – start by working out what are the things that are important to you in your life and then rank them; things like, your children, your hobbies, your family, your pets, your self, your business or your work and then all the other things that mean something to you. This doesn’t have to be in tablets of stone as things will change week by week so give your self a rough idea. Then look at the logistics, for example – though my children are number one to me they are at school from 9 until 3.30 so that time is available, they go to bed at 8.30 so I have time in the evening. My goal with my children is to be with them as much as possible. You may have other first priorities that are not part of your work life.
- Plan your day – because of my goals I know that I want to spend time with my children and the best time to do that is from when they finish school to when they go to bed. So I finish work at 3.30pm and do the last few hours of my day from 8.30pm. This allows me to achieve my – being with the kids goal! I also want to be fit and healthy and have energy and me time – so I start my day early, before the rest of my house is awake I go for a run. I also understand my natural work rhythm – I know I am most creative in the morning and most organised at night so I set my tasks accordingly.
- Set expectations – now that you have a plan you know what everyone can expect from you. Tell people when you intend to be available and when you are not free. My children know that I expect them to be in bed at 8.00 lights out 8.30 as I have to go back to work then. Of course we have the odd niggle on that but generally everyone understands. My customers know that I stop work for the day at 3 but if they forget that is also fine I can generally talk to them for a little while and they understand that I am usually involved in some sort of children’s activity and that they will have to email me to follow up the conversation.
I will post some more top tips later but now I better go for my run - to many cakes yesterday!
Friday, 13 March 2009
Selling
Gordon and I began to sell today. Its a hard slog trying to speak to people who may be interested in training as they are inundated with callers. It strikes me that there must be a way for us to differentiate ourselves. We know we have a unique approach and we know we are great at what we do. Its just so hard to find a way of telling people about what we do without sounding like everyone else.
Cold calling can be daunting but I actually enjoy it. It helps me to find out what is interesting to the people I am trying to sell to. To be honest, I don't think I have actually made a sale over the phone but I hope to get better with practice. Most of our business comes through referrals or from answering requests for competitions.
Anyway - its all good - selling as best we can and trying always to be ethical and honest surely we will get there in the end.
Cold calling can be daunting but I actually enjoy it. It helps me to find out what is interesting to the people I am trying to sell to. To be honest, I don't think I have actually made a sale over the phone but I hope to get better with practice. Most of our business comes through referrals or from answering requests for competitions.
Anyway - its all good - selling as best we can and trying always to be ethical and honest surely we will get there in the end.
New Website Live
Our new website will be live very shortly. We hope you like it, any comments about it are greatfully received.
Leadership at Hays
| Hemingway Corporation and Hays Plc launched the Hays International Management Academy this week. “Developing our team to be our business leaders of the future is part of our culture of meritocracy” said Nichola Nair HR Director - Continental Europe, Brazil, Canada & UAE. “We chose Hemingway Corporation to partner us because of their reputation for high standards and their ability blend many types of learning to create a programme that would standardise leadership internationally”. Kirsten Hemingway Arnold from Hemingway Corporation said “It is exciting to work with a company that places a high value on their team and really understands that training has to be effective not just motivational.” The academy consists of an assessment centre, a three day residential course, mentoring from within the company, four webinars, assignments and a two day residential course at the end. Following the programme each attendee will face a final interview panel for the role of a Hays Manager. |
Another Award for NWCPH
| Well done North West Central Procurement Hub for being the – ELP Winners 2008 Best Cross Function Project. |
Monday, 9 March 2009
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