December 2015
BWL Christmas Lunch at Branston Hall Hotel 
Guest Speaker
We were absolutely delighted to welcome Major (Retired) Dennis George Hannant MBE as our guest speaker. Dennis told us more about his fascinating career.
Now retired from the Army after 43 years service with many stories to tell about tours of duty around the world, Dennis became a
semi-professional singe; the highlight of his singing career so far has been performing for the
Princess Royal at St. James' Palace last December and being awarded the
MBE last June, for his work raising money for military and civilian
charities.
Musical Entertainment
We were pleased to welcome violinist Stephen Clarke and colleague on
the keyboard again this year, entertaining us with a beautiful selection of festive and popular
music choices during the networking and lunch.
November 2015
Getting Better Connected - Link up with Linkedin
Business Women’s Link members and guests enjoyed the opportunity to
meet with a social media expert to discover more about how to make the
most of the professional network LinkedIn.
Liam Lally of Zaddle Internet Marketing presented the BWL Group with an
introduction to LinkedIn and explained how people can use this online
network to expand their business and attract new enquiries.
Liam shared tips on ways people can make their profile stand
out from the crowd, talking about good usage of the basic customer
relationship management system within LinkedIn and highlighting how
people can increase awareness of their products and services by using
the LinkedIn Publish Post!
Liam started Lincoln-based Zaddle Internet Marketing in 2008. He has
more than seven years experience in marketing businesses online. In
addition, he is a qualified Google Partner for AdWords and has passed
the Google Analytics IQ exam, as well as the Google Analytics
fundamentals exam.
Liam has trained over 1,000 businesses over the last four years in all
aspects of Social Media, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Facebook,
Pinterest & YouTube.
Thank you Liam...we had a very interesting and enlightening presentation this evening and will benefit from our more informed approach forward in our use of Linkedin.
September 2015
Smiffys Springs a Surprise
Business Women’s Link members and guests underwent an amazing transformation when they toured a major Lincolnshire company!
During a visit to Smiffys in Gainsborough, the party heard how the family business, which is more than 120 years old, now sells its fancy dress costumes, carnival wear, wigs and accessories worldwide to 42 countries.
The ladies also visited the firm’s showroom, which is packed with every imaginable fancy dress outfit, whether partygoers are in search of an Elvis outfit, or want to dress up as Willy Wonka or Shaun the Sheep.
Smiffys’ HR Manager then sprang a special surprise, inviting BWL members to sit down, pop-on some party make-up, and slip on a few accessories, including giant false eyelashes, outrageous colourful wigs, mini top hats and tiaras.
Now totally unrecognisable, each person was photographed and later received a quirky mobile phone cover, featuring their individual image.
The fun-packed (and educational) evening also included a buffet and time to network.
July 2015
Summer Luncheon
We had a beautiful day for the ever popular BWL Summer Luncheon. Our venue for this year was the historic Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa.
Former international events rider Annabelle Rose inspired Lincolnshire business women to keep reaching for the stars, even when the going gets really tough.
Annabelle, who was guest speaker at Business Women’s Link (Lincolnshire) Summer Lunch at The Petwood Hotel, in Woodhall Spa, told her audience how she got back in the saddle and went on to launch her own business, after a life-changing fall.
Against all the odds, Annabelle recovered to ride competitively again and today, she also runs a highly successful dressage yard.
Annabelle began by revealing that her family originated from Gainsborough and were the owners of the famous Rose Brothers engineering firm. Her great-grandfather and grandfather, Alfred and William Rose invented the packaging machine used to wrap the famous Roses chocolates.
But, while they were busy inventing, her grandmother Ruth and Annabelle’s mum Sarah were more interested in introducing her to horses. Despite coming off a horse and landing in a watery ditch at an early age, Annabelle was soon hooked by the equine world.
Encouraged by the female line of her family – she became passionate about eventing - dressage, showjumping and cross-country – and represented England at pony and junior levels. Her enthusiasm and sheer speed led to a fall and Annabelle spent a week in a coma.
After dusting herself off, she later went on to become a working pupil to Cheshire-based events rider Neil Fox. However, at the height of a successful career, tragedy struck when she suffered another fall. This time Annabelle was devastated to learn that she had broken her back.
Paralysed, and in a wheelchair, the future looked pretty bleak. However, after eight operations and seven months in and out of hospital, she was determined to get back in the saddle.
After months of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, she did. Since then she has gone on to make her mark in the world of dressage. Annabelle has also done particularly well since being backed by Lincoln-based Greenray Turbines and has secured her place in the England and Northern team for another year.
Annabelle also runs a successful dressage yard at Ingham, where she is encouraging other riders to aspire to be the best in this highly-competitive field.
Sixty business women went along to the BWL Summer Lunch, where they enjoyed time out for networking, The event also featured a bumper raffle which raised £451 for the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.
May 2015
Preparing for an Interview
We were delighted to invite Ruth Hardy, Senior Business Manager of Hays Specialist Recruitment to talk about how interviews are being conducted and what to
expect.
Hays have recently completed their 2015 survey into salaries
and recruitment trends; this survey received over 10,000 responses and
indicated that 61% of those questioned anticipate moving jobs within the next 12
months.
With this in mind, performance at interview is key to securing that
role and Ruth provided an interesting insight into the pitfalls of the interview process & the reasons
why individuals are not successful.
Ruth Hardy is a Senior Business Manager with Hays Human
Resources and has worked for Hays for almost 19 years, nearly 10 of those in
the Lincoln area. She presented an interesting and interactive insight into how to
research for an interview, what questions are likely to arise and how to
perform to the best of your ability.
Ruth took the time to explain how to get the best out of an interview, both in the preparation and presentation stages. The event was extremely information and engaging, with members having the opportunity to discuss points of interest and share their own perceptions and experiences...a great evening !
April 2015
BWL Annual General Meeting
Lincoln - A Hot Destination for Tourists
EVERYTHING is in place to give Lincoln’s tourism economy – which attracts more than 3.7 million visitors, spending over £168m a year – a major shot in the arm.
2015 marks a major milestone in the city’s history which promises to put Lincoln on the international map like never before and, in the process, boost its contribution to a sector worth more than £1 billion to Lincolnshire.
Visit Lincoln Partnership Manager Emma Tatlow, who was guest speaker at Business Women’s Link’s (BWL) annual meeting said: “Lincoln’s tourism and hospitality sector is responsible for 2,380 jobs and, countywise, provides work for 39,000 people.”
The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership wants to see the value of the visitor economy double by 2020. “2015 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us. Lincoln Castle has re-opened after a £22m revamp, which has included the installation of the state-of-the-art David P J Ross Vault housing Lincoln’s copy of 1215 Magna Carta and the 1217 Charter of the Forest. Excitingly, this is the only place in the world where they can be seen together,” said Emma.
“Lincoln BIG and its partners are hosting the Great Magna Carta Weekend, on June 13 and 14, which will be bursting with family events. Lincoln BIG will also be launching the Lincoln Magna Carta Charter Barons’ Trail – made-up of 25 Baron sculptures. It will stay in place until September 26.”
The Lincoln Tank Memorial is due to be unveiled on May 10, Lincoln Castle will be officially re-opened by a Royal visitor on June 8, and the Bomber Command Memorial Spire is also taking shape alongside a special visitor centre on Canwick Hill.
“In addition to a packed programme of summer events, Lincoln will welcome the National British Cycling Championships, from June 25 to 28, and Lincolnshire’s Great Exhibition runs from June 27 to September 27, so our visitors really will be spoilt for choice this year. Everything is being heavily promoted,” said Emma.
“Together with our key partners locally and nationally – such as Visit England and Visit Britain - and as a member of England’s Heritage Cities, we are using multi-channel marketing to ensure everyone knows that Lincoln is THE place to be.”
BWL members asked a variety of questions and those who had explored Lincoln Castle since its re-opening, said they had thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The annual meeting included time for members and guests to network, exchange business cards and relax over refreshments.
December 2014
Christmas Lunch at Washingborough Hall Country House Hotel
Guest Speaker
We were delighted to have the opportunity to listen to the tales of our guest speaker at the lunch. Local Lincoln resident, Margaret
Green, who is an expert on Lincoln ghosts and ghostly tales presented a fascinating talk on the history of ghostly sighting
and tales from the Lincoln area. We all had opportunity to ask
Margaret questions during her talk and learn more about what it might be when we hear "a bump in the night".
Musical Entertainment
We were pleased to welcome violinist Stephen Clarke and colleague on
the keyboard again this year, entertaining us with a beautiful selection of festive and popular
music choices during the networking and lunch.
October 2014
Money Saving Matters and Crystal Ball Gazing
Businesswomen were left with plenty of food for thought and a renewed determination to review their finances, after professionals encouraged them to get tax-savvy!
Experts from accountancy firm Wright Vigar in Lincoln gave members of Business Women’s Link (BWL) (Lincolnshire) lots to mull over, after updating them on the latest legislation and sharing ways in which they could make their money work harder.
The firm’s Director of Taxation Julia Clarke and Senior Tax Manager Pam Durham simplified the complexities of taxation for their audience at Langleys Solicitors in Doddington Road, by shedding light on pensions, saving schemes and tax-efficient investments.
Pam said: “People need to check their tax codes and to look at claiming any reliefs and allowances which they might be missing out on. “Married couples and civil partners might think about moving assets from one to the other, to save tax. A manager earning more than £100,000 could be paying the 60 per cent tax rate, so they might choose to increase their pension contributions to take themselves out of that bracket.”
Julia said there are many attractive tax-efficient options for individuals with spare cash, from popular savings schemes to business angel-style investments. “On the savings front, ISAs just got NISA. Since July there has been a subscription limit of £15,000 and you can now have any combination of cash and stocks and shares products,” she said. “Investors interested in the Enterprise Investment Scheme can now get relief of up to £300,000 in the year they invest (i.e. 30 per cent of a maximum investment of £1 million). “Similarly, the SEIS version allows tax relief of up to £50,000 in the year of investment (50 per cent of a maximum of £100,000).”
Pam and Julia were asked many questions, and with the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement due on December 3, they also did a spot of “crystal ball gazing” and attempted to predict what might be on the horizon.
BWL members and guests were also challenged to come up with some bright ideas for the Chancellor and the Beneficial Trust & Will Company’s Head of Operations, Amy Peters, won a bottle of wine for hers. Amy suggested that there should be an increase in income tax rates for store-based Santas who were dressed in “inferior quality red suits and who sported “low grade white beards!”
For more information about personal and corporate tax issues, contact Wright Vigar directly -
www.wrightvigar.co.uk
September 2014
Okie Coco Chocolate Alchemy
Chocolate Tasting Session Gets the Thumbs-up!
Chocolatier Rosella Gugliotta had a rapt audience when she offered business women an irresistible treat – the chance to taste her handcrafted temptations!
Rosella, who is the owner of the Okie Coco Chocolate Alchemy shared the Secrets of great chocolate-making with members and guests of Business Women’s Link (BWL) at the organisation’s September event, at Langleys Solicitors in Doddington Road, Lincoln.
Rosella told how she has devised her own varieties and is able to create bespoke chocolates, which can be packaged to feature company logos and given as corporate gifts.
BWL chairman Jo Richardson said: “It was really interesting to hear the full chocolate-making story, from bean to bar, and about the different qualities of chocolate and how they can be flavoured.
“However, I think the tasting session proved to be the most popular part of the evening!”
BWL members and guests also had the chance to buy some of Rosella’s chocolates, whilst engaging in some valuable networking.
July 2014
Summer Luncheon
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