July 2007
Rachel Sweet of SweetSkills has had an amazing change in direction just recently. She
has just been appointed as a Director on the Board of the Somerset
Chamber of Commerce for 3 years. She told us “I was the only female so I
am absolutely delighted that members elected me and will do my very
best to represent the members in the future”.
Rachel Sweet set up
SweetSkills to help businesses to grow through delivering training,
giving advice or even rolling her sleeves up to make a difference.
SweetSkills helps businesses to get new customers and indeed look after
their existing customers.
Rachel
has organised lots of events and supported business networks
particularly in the Somerset area. Over the past year, Rachel is known
for her business networking tips, speed networking facilitation and for
putting on events with a difference such as business networking on the
steam railway. Rachel is also a UK Female Ambassador and is keen to
support other women who are thinking of starting a business or indeed
need support and encouragement.
As an accredited training
consultant specialising in Customer Service, Rachel is keen to ensure
the training she delivers does not become regimented and boring, so
always ensures the training is fun and engaging.
With
over 15 years of experience, Rachel has worked for such companies as
Virgin, Business Link, The Somerset Chamber of Commerce & Industry,
Superdrug, Western Provident Association (WPA) as well as smaller retail
and tourism organisations in the South West.
Rachel’s other news
is equally as exciting for her. She told us “My baby is due around the
20th February 2008 so I might miss just one Chamber Board meeting and
have to send my apologies!”
“Having not had kids before, I’m
sure I am in for a shock no matter how much I think I have prepared
myself, although I want to prove to myself more than anyone else that I
can have a baby and run my own successful business without comprising on
the care for my child and of course my husband George”.
“There
were several reasons why I started my business, to be in control of my
own destiny and decisions, to get out of the 9-5 rat race, to earn a
decent living and to ensure that I wouldn’t pack off any kids in to the
crèche 5 days a week. I am very lucky to have a very supportive husband
and family which also helps”.
All the team at SWIRE wish Rachel every success in her new roles!
HEALTH BATTLE INSPIRES ZOE TO HELP OTHERS - 28 June 2007
Some would say being diagnosed with a hole in your heart at the age of 25 is an extremely scary prospect, but for Zoe Cook it was a relief. Read more.
25th June 2007
Have you heard of the Women's Enterprise Ambassadors? Well you soon will! Many of us have volunteered to join this national network which is sponsored by the DTI and thus the RDA's (Regional Development Agencies). It is all about working together to encourage and inspire women to set up their own business - I think we are pretty good at that anyway.
Some of us were lucky enough to be invited to the launch in London on Monday 25th June. When we realised there was no help with expenses Kath was really cheeky and made contact with Taunton Jaguar. Stuart Martin, the Dealer Principal kindly agreed to help us out with a car and a driver to take us to London for the day-wow! So we arrived in style in a brand new XJS and celebrated by taking tea at the Savoy after the meeting. It was a great day and we are very hopeful that the Ambassadors network will become very important - more at our meetings, so do come and join us.
6th June 2007
The South West Regional Development Agency are looking for Board members and would welcome women with significant business experience. Contact Kath for more details.
16th May 2007
Kath has been asked to join a 'Task and Finish Group' set up by the RDA as part of there work to support women in business in the South West. The aim of the group is to understand the difficulties women face when seeking finance to support their business as it grows. If would like to make a contribution please drop Kath a line.
22nd March 2007
Swire Chair, Kath Gigg, Proves Successful Cheese Champion and Business Woman
A Passion for cheese and a good head for business led to a meeting with the Prime Minister for a SWIRE’s Chair, Kath Gigg, this month.
Kath runs The Cheese Gig, an online cheese retailer, from her home and her involvement in the business led to her helping to establish the Somerset Women In Rural Enterprise - SWIRE - business group.
Read more