‘Who knew? The New Normal’– Business Village shines spotlight on mental health
Swindon networking group Business Village shines spotlight on mental health at its next online meeting.
Attendees will see a presentation exploring how businesses are coping during the pandemic. And its effects on mental health. ‘Who knew? The New Normal’ is in the intriguing title of Gail’s presentation.
Gail’s talk will cover how to recognise the changes that have occurred. Both the obvious and the more subtle. And how to get the best result for your business in the current climate. What the benefits are of the changes to our lifestyles and what we can do about our own fears and anxieties.
“I’m a qualified mental health instructor for both MHFA England and the British Safety Council. As a small business owner, I understand the pressures that put on business people during this pandemic,” said Gail.
About the event
The event costs a mere £5 to attend. Attendees also get the chance to network and deliver a one-minute introduction to their business.
Swindon Business Village meetings aren’t limited to speaker-only events. The varying formats include business problem solving sessions, and focused networking sessions.
Presentation on videos is in the frame for Swindon Business Village
Popular networking group Swindon Business Village is in the frame with its first meeting of the autumn season. It’s kicking off its new season of online meetings with a focus on how to use video content to win more clients.
Since lockdown, Swindon Business Village has met online from 8-9am on Thursdays. But, as always, the group took a break for August.
On Thursday September 3, the first meeting back will feature a talk from Holly Wagner, of Swindon-based Green Kiwi Productions. She’ll kick the new season off with: Getting Started with Video Marketing for Your Business.
Holly’s talk will focus on how to create effective and engaging video marketing content, which helps to win new clients.
“I’ll also explain the basics of video production. Things such as where to position the camera, and try to help with any fears or blockages people may have around video,” said Holly.
“I’ll also explain the basics of video production. Things such as where to position the camera, and try to help with any fears or blockages people may have around video,” said Holly.
What the presentation will cover
The presentation will explore different ideas for videos, what to say to get people watching. It will also look at how, using nothing more than a smartphone, you can create engaging video content.
Holly added: “I’ve studied video production for over a decade and this is the only career I’ve had. I set up my video production business straight after university at the age of 21. In the last year I’ve moved over to video coaching, teaching people how they can create their own video content using their smartphone alone.’
The event costs a mere £5 to attend, and attendees also get the chance to network and deliver a one-minute presentation.
Star quality at Swindon Business Village
Swindon Business Village is also looking for other speakers for the forthcoming season.
PR consultant Jo Smyth, of Word Worker, who helps run Swindon Business Village, said: “We’re always looking out for good speakers for our Thursday meetings. We’ve had some great talks covering a wide range of topics, from marketing to sales, and even had one on how to deliver presentations. Our criteria are that the presentations have to be useful, informative and not promotional. Ours is a very friendly networking group. We’ve been going for at least ten years, and we are always an attentive and appreciative audience.”
Swindon Business Village meetings aren’t limited to speaker-only events. The varying formats include business problem solving sessions, and focused networking sessions.
Jo Salter, the UK’s first female fighter pilot, will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Business Club event at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.
She was the first female fast-jet pilot flying The Tornado GR1. She admits that her first flight was the high point of her career at that time of her life. Today, Jo is the Chief of Staff to the Head of Technology and Investment at PwC (Price Waterhouse Cooper).
Helen Webb, Head of Marketing for the Royal International Air Tattoo, said: “We are thrilled Jo has agreed to come along and share her inspirational story with us. She is still heavily linked to the RAF, is a trustee of the RAF Club and a member of 601 Squadron RAuxAF. We know our guests will enjoy hearing more of her experiences.”
Jo was inspired to join the RAF after attending several airshows during her childhood in Croydon. After taking A levels in maths, physics and electronics, she applied to join and, aged 18, became an engineering officer in the Comms-Electronic branch. She also knows Wiltshire and the Cotswolds well as she spent three years studying for her undergraduate degree at Shrivenham and lived nearby during those years.
“I am looking forward to sharing my view that leadership and achievement are about the person rather than the sector someone works in or the size of their business. I ran my own consultancy for some time and I have learned that from personal experience,” Jo said.
“Diversity isn’t just about gender, race or religion, it’s about thinking differently and allowing people to be their true selves in the workplace.”
Jo will be one of a number of speakers at The Air Tattoo Business Club which will be held for the first time at the show where companies can network in one of the Air Tattoo’s premier hospitality suites.
Guests will spend the day with like-minded organisations, enjoy business round-table discussions with pilots and aircrew who will drop in throughout the day for photo opportunities.
The event starts at 9.00am with refreshments and structured networking followed by guest speakers from 10am-11am. The flying display is from 11am-3pm with lunch served during this time – those who want to stay in the room can take part in facilitated round-table discussions. Afternoon tea will follow at 3.00pm with guests departing from 4.30pm.
Optimum hosts its first Swindon business breakfast.
Swindon-based Optimum Professional Services are throwing open its doors next month, for its first networking event in its new headquarters: a free breakfast for local businesses.
The firm, which provides accountancy and legal services, relocated in March from serviced offices to far larger and newly renovated premises in Stratton.
On Wednesday June 5, the team will host the free networking breakfast, from 7.30-9am.
All local business people are welcome but you must book!
‘When we were looking for new offices, one of the criteria was to have a large enough space to host free events so we could add value to the service we offer to our clients and the local business community,’ said Richard Mathews, CEO of Optimum.
‘This first event is a general networking breakfast. We also plan to run themed events with presentations which will benefit businesses across various sectors. For example, we hope to run an event for landlords to update them on various legislative changes.’
Optimum combines, under one roof, a range of professional services.
The accountancy team offer business planning, personal and business tax planning, audit, bookkeeping, and payroll. While the legal team offer wills and probate, commercial and residential conveyancing and associated services. Things such as such as equity release, powers of attorney, remortgaging, land acquisition and sale.
Ian Locke and Shirley Hensher will jointly deliver a presentation: ‘Fit for business: achieving personal wellbeing is key to your business success’ on Thursday January 10.
Ian is a personal trainer and nutrition coach. He runs Thrive Personal Training, helping people move, eat and live in ways which improve their health and wellbeing. Shirley, under her business banner The Change Agent, enables corporate professionals and business owners to shape working lives which fit with their values and aspirations.
Shirley said: “The presentation is aimed at helping business owners who want to manage their health and fitness with the same level of energy and focus with which they manage their business. In other words, business owners who need motivation or support to create the opportunities for more ‘me time’ in their working week.”
Ian added: “For many of us, we are the most valuable asset our business has but we often ignore our own wellbeing in favour of the needs of the business. At the heart of our presentation is the question, your business needs you, but are you fit for business?”
The event, on Thursday January 10, is the first after the group’s Christmas break, and is free to anyone wanting to attend, as well as Business Village regulars.
It runs from 7.30-9am at The Campanile, West Swindon, and includes networking, one-minute introductions and breakfast. The usual charge for each weekly, Thursday meeting is £10 for booking online in advance (£9 early bird) or £12 on the door. The group charges no membership fee.
For more information and to book for the presentation, and other events on the Swindon Business Village calendar, visit https://businessvillage.org/.
In their separate businesses, Ian and Shirley both work with corporate executives and business owners seeking personal transformation.
Please note you will be able to get your duck tickets for this year’s race from us at Asda Saturday 31 March,10am to 4pm, The Co-Op Old Town 14 April 10am to 4pm, GWH 25 April 9am to 3pm;
Christchurch Beer Festival 11, 6pm to 10pm & 12 May
10.30am to 4.30pm GWH 9 to 3pm; Co-Op Old Town 19 May 10am to 4pm
It’s a fun day out, all in a great cause – and you never know – your duck might win!
‘The Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town meets every Wednesday morning to share breakfast with likeminded friends before work.
We meet on Wednesday mornings at Hotel 20 (formerly the Kings) in Wood Street SN1 4AB for breakfast. In just over an hour a week, you’ll have the opportunity to meet other professionals who want to offer their service in the community, share ideas for fundraising, hear great speakers and get connected with the local community. Together we can do so much more. For more details contact us at Swindonoldtownrotary@mail.com‘
Now a bit about the Rotary Club in general: You might not be aware bit the Rotary Club is an international, global organisation of:
‘1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.’
The Rotary movement began in 1905 in Chicago when Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney, formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on the 23rd February. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members. Who knew? Not me.
