Women's Business Conference sponsored by Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Description

Join over 100 business professionals from across Herefordshire & Worcestershire for our annual Women’s Business Conference in association with Harrison Clark Rickerbys in the beautiful settings of Crumplebury Farm. Hear from our inspiring speakers, benefit from plenty of networking opportunities throughout the day and enjoy a delicious buffet spread.

Guest Speakers –

Alice Perrin, Tattoo Artist
Originally from Hereford, Alice began her tattooing apprenticeship whilst studying a BA in Fine Art at Hereford College of Art. Alice is best known for her role on E4’s popular series Tattoo Fixers where she covers up regretful tattoos for the general public. Alice is now a well established tattoo artist, who has a number of years experience in the profession and specialises in feminine tattoos that compliment the body. Alice will take part in a live Q&A session for the audience.

Dr. Phininder Balaghan , Global AI Capability Lead at QinetiQ, Innovation and Engagement lead at Naimuri
Topic: Innovating with AI in SMEs
Description: AI is the hot topic of the moment – how can small businesses take advantage of AI? What are the pitfalls? How can you stand out in a field that is growing massively – no matter what application? In this talk I will explore what is AI, what is Innovation – how do we do this in a SME context. I will also leave time for Q&A, and will discuss my own personal journey in the business world.

Liz Barclay, Small Business Commissioner
Having worked as a freelance broadcaster, writer and journalist, or running her own production company for most of her working life, alongside running her communications coaching business and working as a NED in the third and private sectors, Liz has a wealth of experience of business in organisations of all sizes and in various capacities, at all levels. She has also produced and presented 60 small business programmes for BBC2 and presented the BBC Radio 4 consumer affairs programme, You and Yours, for more than 10 years.. She has also written for most of the national newspapers on small business and for various magazines and websites, and has published 5 business books. All of this experience led to a successful application run the independent arm’s length body, the Office of the Small Business Commissioner. It was established in 2017 to change the Business to Business payment culture in the UK, make sure small suppliers get paid fairly and on time, find the support they need for their business, and that the concerns of small businesses reach the ears of Ministers.

Sally Gibson, the Managing Director of Dawleys, brings over 30 years of diverse experience in both the public and private sectors. Sally’s extensive background spans sales, marketing, and IT, and her leadership has been pivotal in driving innovation at Dawleys, a leading outsource provider of business services including eCommerce fulfillment, customer service, sales teams, and data management.
In this talk, Sally will share her journey of scaling Dawleys to meet its full growth potential. She will discuss the strategic initiatives she has implemented to enhance the business skills of her team and the positive impact these changes have had. Attendees will gain insights into:
• Effective strategies for scaling up a business.
• Practical tips for starting and managing your own growth programs.
• Real-life examples of what worked and lessons learned from what didn’t.
“This has probably been the most exciting, stimulating, and challenging project I’ve worked on. I’ll be discussing the transformative effects it has had on our team and our business, sharing some practical advice and key takeaways.

Jane Brook – House of Colour
With an accountancy background, I am always focussed on fashion maths and making sure wardrobes work hard.
My mission is to make getting dressed in the morning easier, quicker and more successful so we can rid the world of dull and dodgy outfits one by one.

I have worked with hundreds of business professionals, run team sessions, presented at corporate events, styled for magazine shoots, and appeared as the style expert on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester.
Whether you’re a trendsetter, a fashion enthusiast or simply someone who wants to level up their style game, I’m here to smash all your preconceived ideas about colour analysis into a million sparkly pieces!
After all, you’re probably wearing clothes as you read this, and I’m here to make them count!
My session
Signature Style? Do you really need one?
Well, here’s the thing – like it or not, you already have one…..we all do.
First impressions count
Yep, I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true!
In business, how we look is often the first thing people notice.
Aligning your wardrobe with WHO you are and HOW you want to be seen is a game-changer.
Let’s explore what your clothes say about you.