People doing business in North-East Fife are being invited to hear Eden Mill owner Paul Miller speak at St Andrews Business Club’s AGM Evening on April 18.
In the event, open to all, to be held at the Old Course Hotel, Mr Miller, who founded the distillery and brewery brand in a former paper mill at Guardbridge in 2012 after almost three decades working for global brewing and distilling brands, will be the guest speaker.
Non-members should arrive after the club’s AGM formalities have concluded at 6.15pm for networking, food and refreshments before Mr Miller’s talk begins at 6.45pm.
Anyone wanting to attend is asked to book a ticket on Eventbrite.
Inspiring woman – Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews, shared the University of St Andrews women who’ve inspired her in her keynote talk. Pic: ASM Media & PR
Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews, joined an award-winning businesswoman in sharing her story and talking about the University of St Andrews women who inspired her in our event on the eve of International Women’s Day.
Attendees gained inspiration, as well as the chance to question both Prof Mapstone and Nicola Dames, in the well-attended ‘Inspiring Women’ event at the Old Course Hotel.
Professor Mapstone, who gave the keynote at the event, has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews since September 2016. Before taking up the role, her academic career was spent at the University of Oxford. Earlier in her career she worked as an editor in the book publishing industry.
She talked about the female role models who inspired her in her career, including several connected with the University of St Andrews.
First woman student
In 1862 Elizabeth Garrett became the first woman to matriculate there. Sadly, she was later removed from the list of students and prevented from attending medical classes.
She nevertheless went on to become the first woman to qualify as a physician in Britain, co-founding the first hospital staffed by women, and becoming Dean of the London School of Medicine for Women.
Her determination paved the way for other women, including Agnes Forbes Blackadder – who in 1895 became the first woman to graduate from St Andrews – and Margaret Fairlie, who in 1940 became the first female professor in Scotland after being appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College, Dundee, then part of the University of St Andrews. It was a long time till the next.
Despite diversity and equality at St Andrews moving on greatly since – now a fifth of its professors are women and 44% of research students are female – Prof Mapstone said she felt “we are still not there yet”. Which is why she’s started several initiatives to improve that, including a mentoring programme for women in senior roles named after Elizabeth Garrett.
Finally, Prof Mapstone said she felt the most inspiring women are those who push for change not just for themselves for those who will follow them.
Inspiring woman – Nicola Dames, founder of Vanilla Blush, talked about her entrepreneurial journey as a result of bowel disease. Pic: ASM Media & PR
Nicola Dames shared how her life changed forever when she started to suffer with Ulcerative Colitis while a nurse in her 20s working in London. After surgery to remove her large colon, she found underwear available for women with stomas lacked femininity.
So she created her company, Vanilla Blush, in 2008 to provide attractive underwear for women like her. She now designs, makes and sells that and swimwear for all genders and is about to extend the range into sportswear.
In 2011, Vanilla Blush had its first range listed as a Class 1 Medical Device and in 2014 was named Post-Surgery Brand of the Year. In June 2016 Nicola secured £50,000 in Scottish EDGE funding. In December last year, she was included in Lingerie Insight’s Power List 2018.
Both speakers answered questions on their advice for women and who inspired them. Prof Mapstone named Michelle Obama, whom she’s met. Nicola Dames nominated her namesake, Nicola Sturgeon.
They were warmly applauded by the large number of attendees.
For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.
Inspiring women – (left) Nicola Dames and Professor Sally Mapstone.
A multiple award-winning businesswoman who created her company to help women like her affected by bowel disease has been announced as the second speaker for St Andrews Business Club’s Inspiring Women event on March 7.
Nicola Dames had her life change forever when she started to suffer with Ulcerative Colitis in her 20s. After surgery to remove her large colon, she found underwear available for women with stomas lacked femininity. So in 2008 she started Vanilla Blush to design, make and sell what women like her wanted.
Since then it’s grown to become a multiple award-winning brand specialising in selling swimwear and medical lingerie to people like her, directly and via the NHS, and has grown from online-only to opening a store in Glasgow and contracted to eight European countries.
In 2011, Vanilla Blush had its first range listed as a Class 1 Medical Device and in 2014 launched its pioneering innovation with Hernia Prevention and support available on NHS prescription. It continues to invest in leading-edge research to inform its product design.
In 2014, Vanilla Blush was named Post-Surgery Brand of the Year and in June 2016 secured £50,000 in Scottish EDGE funding. Nicola rejected a £2.7m offer for the business in June last year because her brand’s mission and financial projections meant too much to simply “grab the cash and run”. In December last year, Nicola was included in Lingerie Insight’s Power List 2018.
Keynote
Nicola joins Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews, who will give the keynote at the event, open to all, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 5.30pm.
Professor Mapstone has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews since September 2016. Before taking up the role, her academic career was spent at the University of Oxford, where she read English Language and Literature, gained her doctorate in Older Scots literature and became Professor of Older Scots Literature in the Faculty of English Language and Literature.
Earlier in her career she worked as an editor in the book publishing industry. Prof Mapstone is an Emeritus Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford and an Honorary Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford and St Cross College, Oxford, as well as a member of the board of Universities UK, a member of the Higher Education Policy Institute advisory board, and a member of the National Centre for Universities and Business Growing Value Scotland Legacy Project Advisory Group.
Attendees will gain inspiration as well as the speakers’ career lessons and the chance to question them.
Club President, Alistair Morris, said: “We’re delighted to have two truly inspiring women speaking at this event on the eve of International Women’s Day to recognise the immense contribution women make to the world and how stories like theirs can inspire anyone to make positive changes in the world.”
Anyone wanting to attend can book their place on Eventbrite.
Lynda Hamilton Parker, of Lynda Hamilton Communications, explained how best to make customers love your business by communicating your business messages effectively with marketing & PR. Pic: ASM Media & PR
Award-winning former national magazine journalist and travel writer, experienced business editor and PR consultant Lynda Hamilton Parker shared how to use the media and other marketing channels to raise the profile of your business, as well how the media works and operates.
Lynda also debunked some of the myths and mysteries around PR.
For more information about this subject, you can visit her website.
For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.
NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is Feb 28: Learning Lunch – Modern Apprenticeships, when John McFarlane, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator responsible for the Modern Apprenticeship programme at Fife Council, and Heather Brown, Co-ordinator for DYW Fife will explain the benefits to employers of Modern Apprenticeships.
People doing business in North-East Fife can learn how Modern Apprentices can help their business, and Scotland, at St Andrews Business Club’s next business learning event on February 28.
In the learning lunch, to be held at The Old Course Hotel from 12.30pm, John McFarlane, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator responsible for the Modern Apprenticeship programme at Fife Council, and Heather Brown, Co-ordinator for Foundation Apprenticeship at Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Fife, will teach attendees about the features, benefits and costs of Modern Apprenticeships.
Anyone wanting to learn about this important business topic for business, as well as network, is asked to book via Eventbrite.
Award-winning journalist and PR consultant Lynda Hamilton Parker will teach attendees about how to communicate their business messages.
People doing business in North-East Fife can make a date with St Andrews Business Club on Valentine’s Day to learn how best to make customers love their business by communicating their business messages effectively.
In the latest event of the club’s season, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 5.30pm, award-winning journalist and PR consultant Lynda Hamilton Parker will teach attendees about how to communicate their business messages by using the media and other marketing channels to raise the profile of their business.
PR
Lynda will also describe how the media work as well as debunking some of the myths and mysteries around PR.
Anyone wishing to learn about this important business topic, as well as network, is asked to book via Eventbrite.
A Club record number of people doing business in North-East Fife came to the Old Course Hotel to hear what to expect in the economy of North-East Fife in 2018 from Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews.
Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews, talked about the factors he believes will influence what 2018 will hold for the university sector and businesses in North-East Fife at the event held by St Andrews Business Club at The Old Course Hotel.
Professor MacKay talked about Post-EU scenarios for the higher education sector, particularly Brexit as well as Eden Campus, the opportunities it will create and how they will be realised.
Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council, talked about the factors he believes will influence what 2018 will hold for businesses in North-East Fife at the event held by St Andrews Business Club at The Old Course Hotel.
Keith Winter explained Fife’s approach to delivering economic growth, the current environment, the county’s economic and social make-up and external influences before detailing its challenges and opportunities.
In particular, Keith explained the role of Fife in the Tay Cities Deal and the role of the Plan for Fife.
Thanks were given to Keith and Brad for sharing their insights.
For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.
NEXT EVENT:The Club’s Next Event is February 14, when Lynda Hamilton Parker, of Lynda Hamilton Communications, will explain Marketing – getting your messages across.
Since the start of the Club’s 2017-18 Season last September, we’ve been delighted with the feedback we’ve received on our events programme from the growing number of business people attending them.
So far at least 80% of attendees taking our post-event survey have typically rated their event Excellent or Very Good overall. And many have gone on to join the Club as a result.
Today we’re announcing the details of our business learning events for the rest of the season.
Business learning
The event topics, some of which were suggested by members, have been chosen to provide you with essential information on today’s key business issues you can use straight away. They will be:
January 24:Thebusiness environment in North-East Fife in 2018 – with views from Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews. This will include the results of research Brad has done into Brexit and business decision-making and Keith talking through the likely impact of the City Deals on Fife.
February 28: Modern Apprenticeships with experts John McFarlane, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator responsible for the Modern Apprenticeship programme, Fife Council, and Heather Brown, Co-ordinator for Foundation Apprenticeships, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Fife, Fife Council.
For those looking for more personal learning and feedback on their situation, we also have a pilot informal Problem-solving networking lunch on March 28 – for a small number of people to discuss over a light lunch how a business issue or problem was or can be dealt with.
VIP tour
As a result of the positive feedback we’ve had about the Members & Guests-only Business Visits held so far, we’ve taken the opportunity to arrange an extra business visit to a site which will play some role in the business lives of many of us in the next few years – the University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus at Guardbridge. Members and their Guests will enjoy a VIP guided tour on June 27.
Networking
Opening most of our events to non-members – so they can get a taste of the business learning and networking we offer – has proven to be popular too. And the minimum 45 minutes networking time built in to our events is being well used!
We’re expecting plenty of that at our St Andrews 10 x 30 event on May 9, where Members will be drawn at random to present 10 slides for a maximum of 30 seconds each on a topic of interest to all. It promises to be a fun night!
Whether you’re already a member, a past one or someone new to the Club, we’d be delighted to see you at our events this year. And hear what you think of them – so we can keep making the Club better.
Details of the full season’s topics, dates, speakers are here
Details of membership benefits and how to join the Club are here
For latest news from the Club, its members and the North-East Fife business community, follow the Club on:
– Twitter
– Facebook page
– LinkedIn
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a key part of the UK Government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs. But the timetable for which businesses will be affected, and when, are different.
Although the implementation deadline has been pushed back as a result of the 2017 Finance Bill, no business should leave preparing for it till the last minute.
One of the recommended changes is moving to online accounting software, for which there are other compelling commercial benefits, including significant cost savings, increased efficiency, improved management information and 24/7 mobile access to your data.
In our first Learning Lunch of 2018, Mark Gibson and Elaine Cromwell, Partners at Thomson Cooper Accountants, explained how online accounting delivers streamlined processes, resulting in improved business performance.
The presentations began with Mark talking about personal tax accounts and MTD.
Mark talked about personal tax accounts and MTD.
The presentations ended with Elaine taking attendees through moving to online accounting and the benefits of doing so, aside from preparing for MTD.
Elaine took attendees through moving to online accounting and the benefits of doing so, aside from preparing for MTD.
For more information about this subject, you can visit Thomson Cooper Accountants website at http://www.thomsoncooper.com/
For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.
Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews, will talk about what they believe 2018 will and may hold for St Andrews and North-East Fife which will affect businesses and for which they need to have a plan.
People doing business in North-East Fife are being invited to hear Eden Mill owner Paul Miller speak at St Andrews Business Club’s AGM Evening on April 18.
