Are you doing everything you can to retain your EU staff post-Brexit?

Official Brexit day is here. Are you doing everything you can to retain your EU staff post-Brexit?

Emma Brooksbank is Partner and Head of Freeths’ northern immigration team and has the rundown of what steps you can be taking here...

The impact of losing European members of staff would be detrimental to most businesses, large and small. We will look briefly at the current status for European nationals in the UK and at the steps that employers can be taking now to support their employees in retaining their entitlement to reside and work lawfully in the UK.

Current Status of EU Nationals in the UK

EU nationals currently benefit from free movement provisions. These are expected to come to an end on 1 January 2021. All European nationals need to secure leave to remain under our domestic legislation if they are to retain their rights after the end of free movement. The EU Settlement Scheme is the mechanism for European nationals to secure their rights. The deadline for applications will be 30 June 2021, ideally though applications would be made before the end of free movement, by 31 December 2020. If they are required to register and they fail to do so, European nationals will technically be residing unlawfully in the United Kingdom and will not be able to continue in work until they resolve their immigration status.

Top Tips for Employers of an EU workforce

• Ensure that all employees are aware of the EU Settlement Scheme and that those affected have the support and resource they need to make their application. You could provide links to Home Office guidance, time during the working day to apply, access to a PC and/or mobile device, advice workshops and/or one to one support.

• Use this year to proactively consider who in your business will be impacted by Brexit and ensure that you have a mechanism for monitoring registration to the scheme. You will need to identify those who have not applied prior to the deadline and offer additional support as required. 

• Be alert to the new immigration system which will be introduced in January 2021. Use this to inform your recruitment planning for 2021 and beyond.

Emma Brooksbank is Partner and Head of Freeths’ northern immigration team. 

Emma’s key focus area is business immigration, particularly matters involving Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 5 of the Points Based System. Emma predominantly acts for HR teams in Higher Education Institutions and corporate entities. She operates across sectors but with particular focus on higher education, digitech, logistics, NHS, private health and care, and drinks, hospitality and leisure. 

Emma has close links with senior policy advisors at the Home Office and has been engaged in the roll out of the settled status scheme for European nationals in higher education and the consultation process for the 2021 immigration system. 

If you're confused about Brexit and your business and want to make sure your business model is sustainable, then get in touch to see how we can help. As part of local growth hub The Women's Organisation act as a broker to offer advice, guidance and connection to support. Call 0151 706 8111 or e-mail hello@thewo.org.uk.

5 Tips on How to Grow Your Business

You’ve done it: you’ve finally started a business. You’ve got clients and money coming in, but how do you take that next step to make your business grow into something bigger and better?

Here’s five to tips on how you can successfully grow your business:

Get to know your customer base

Your existing customer base can provide you with invaluable information on how you can make your services better. Encourage honest feedback, and really get to know their needs – that way, you can develop your services with the knowledge of what your customer really wants. Be sure to nurture your existing customers, too, maybe by offering a loyalty scheme or survey incentives, to encourage them to provide that much-needed feedback on your business. You can gather contact information and send them regular updates through several email marketing platforms, making it simple for people to see what’s going on, and allow them to opt out if they wish to.

Look for new customers

It’s all fine and well nurturing your existing customers, but you will need new ones in order to grow. Use market analysis to see where the people you want to sell to live, work, socialise etc., and get to grips with what social media is most popular amongst the market you wish to break into. Opportunities are everywhere, so always be on the lookout for trends that you can get on board with that may open up your customer base to a wider market.

Use social media

On average, people spend at least 2 hours and 15 minutes on social media per day – that’s one minute out of every three!

It’s impossible to avoid social media if you want to create and grow a successful business. It’s now the most powerful tool for marketing, and it’s free! It’s easier than ever to promote your services and reach a massive potential customer base.

Social media allows you to gain a valuable insight into social trends through ‘social listening’: what are your customers thinking? What do they want? What appeals to them? Using social media allows you to stay ahead of the trend and provide your customers with what they really want.

Plan, plan, plan!

There is truth in the old adage: ‘fail to prepare, then prepare to fail’. If you fail to plan for the future, you may well be caught unawares of dips and trends in business; there will always be obstacles that you can’t foresee, so plan for every eventuality. Do plenty of research, and be aware of the possible risks that may affect your business.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Planning your milestones for where you want to be in 1, 5, 10 years helps you stay motivated and driven towards making your business successful, and helps set a benchmark for you to know if your business is improving.

Think innovatively

If your current model isn’t working, then change it! Fundamentally, innovation means introducing something new into your business. Is there a way you could diversify your business to make it appeal to a wider market? For example, a wedding cake maker might make ‘how to decorate a cake’ tutorials, or provide workshops for those wanting to learn. You could collaborate with another business to introduce new services, or learn a new skill which you could incorporate into your business model. Whatever you decide, innovation is key in making sure your business remains new and exciting.

If you are a woman running a business in the Greater Manchester area that is working through these dilemmas and other business growth pains, our Excelerate Labs team may be able to help.

Part funded by European Regional Development Fund, Excelerate Labs can link you with a local adviser to explore growth strategy and help you to get all your ducks in a row.

Contact excleratelabs@thewo.org.uk for more information.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool hails Women’s Super League Merseyside derbies for promoting “equality for all”

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Anna Rothery has described next week’s historic Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool’s Women on February 9 at Goodison Park as proof that the city is “genuinely committed to equality for all,” as she met players from both sides. 

Everton Club captain Danielle Turner and on-field captain Lucy Graham, and Liverpool’s vice-captain Niamh Fahey and midfielder Rachel Furness visited the Lord Mayor at Liverpool Town Hall this week to talk about the highly-anticipated fixture, which will see Goodison Park host its first ever Barclays FA Women's Super League Merseyside derby (kick off 2pm).

The game will be the second meeting of the two teams this season following Everton's 1-0 victory in front of a derby record crowd of 23,500 at Anfield in November.

The Lord Mayor, who is the mayoral lead on equality said, “I think it says that as a city we are genuinely committed to equality for all – it is not just words. The first game was fantastic. I attended, and I saw how many people turned up and how proud they were to see the women play. I think there is genuinely the support there for women’s football in the city – it is now about hosting the games and ensuring that people have access to tickets.”

Lucy Graham - who scored in Everton’s victory at Anfield in November - and Danielle Turner presented the Lord Mayor with 20 complimentary tickets for each of the Lord Mayor’s official charities: The Anthony Walker Foundation, Amadudu Women’s Refuge, Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation and Merseyside Somali Association.

The Lord Mayor added, “Obviously there are barriers to attending football games, mainly financial, but there are other barriers also. The charities will disseminate them, so people who may never have thought about attending a game, or who have been unable to, will now have the chance to go. Once they have attended one women’s game, I am sure they will want to come to all of them. We really appreciate the gesture of the Club - it means a lot to us.” 

The Club has also invited all girls’ grassroots teams in the Merseyside area to apply for free tickets to attend the match. 

The game comes ahead of Everton Women’s move to a brand-new stadium at Walton Hall Park, which will bring elite women’s football into the heart of the city of Liverpool on a regular basis.

Lucy Graham said, “The Lord Mayor is a very powerful woman in her own right and you know what she stands for - that is equality and diversity - whether that is in sport or in everyday life. She is a role model, has shown a great interest in our sport and comes along to the games – it is fantastic that she will be attending both derbies to show her support for women’s football.”

Danielle Turner added: “Liverpool is a big footballing city, and it was an honor to meet the Lord Mayor and to push women’s football in the city ahead of the derby game.

“We saw the crowd at Anfield and we want to replicate that or go one better at Goodison. The support we received on that day was brilliant. The fans have been fantastic for us this season, and hopefully the crowd at Goodison will be the best we’ve seen.”

Tickets for the game are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for over-65s and juniors.

Everton Season Ticket, Lounge and Official Members can attend for free but need to claim a ticket and select their seat in advance.

A premium admission ticket is also available, priced at £10, and includes a pie and pint or soft drink on arrival, as well as access to a cash bar in The People's Club Lounge and a premium seat located within the Sir Philip Carter Park Stand.

To secure a ticket for the women’s Merseyside derby visit evertonfc.com or call the Everton Fan Centre on 0151 556 1878.

Supporters can also buy tickets in person by visiting the Goodison Road box office or by calling into the Club's city centre ticket facility in Everton Two.

Premium admission tickets are also available online by clicking here.

'Empowering, Insightful, Though-Provoking': #SetYour2020Vision Business Club

At the first Business Club of 2020, we invited members to set their vision for the coming year.

‘New year, new me’. We’ve all said it at some point, then gone and bought a gym membership, opened a savings account, made extravagant plans for the coming year. But then, after a few weeks, our momentum slows, life gets in the way, we sleepwalk through the year, then suddenly it’s December again and nothing has changed.

In an inspiring session ran by Lin Hankinson, we invited our Business Club to set their vision for the coming year, and learn how to manifest that vision.

Networking before guest speaker Lin Hankinson

Lin Hankinson is an experienced counsellor, mindset coach, and founder of ‘What If…You Can’. As an entrepreneur, she has a wealth of experience in what is takes to start and maintain a successful business, and now coaches people in removing the mental barriers preventing them from reaching their full potential, and helps them to create the life they want to live.

Lin started out by saying: ‘We create our own reality, so let’s create the best life and best story that we can. 2020 is going to be my year – I want it to be your year too!’

With this in mind, Lin set us the task of ‘creating our best life’. What changes do we want to have made by next year?  What habits do we need to shake? What habits do we need to begin? What do we honestly believe our purpose on this planet is?

What do we want our lives to look like next year?

This got everyone thinking… It’s not often that we’re forced to be introspective, and it even sparked tears from a few people!

We went on to imagine our life in a year’s time: how do we want to be? What do we want to do? What do we want to have? How does the thought of being, doing, and having them things make us feel?

Lin demonstrated to us that these dreams and desires are very much within our grasp, but the programming of our brains from childhood mean we’re hardwired to believe, or not believe, certain things about ourselves and the world around us. Fortunately, we can retrain our brains to think more positively, and override these negative beliefs – we just need focus and support from those around us.

 

We followed up with plenty of networking, and it was great to see so many brilliant women connecting and sharing tips. One member has even arranged a trip to the top of the cathedral with a member from Russia!

We had lots of wonderful feedback from the session. Here’s just a taste:

‘Really stimulating, and great to learn about a new framework to guide my thinking. Such great energy!’

‘Just a lovely and inspiring morning with Lin. Lots of food for thought and big dreams. Thanks for the safe, inspiring and calm space, and opportunity to attend.’

‘It was empowering, insightful, and thought provoking. Really enjoyed it.’

‘Lin’s workshop was a wonderful opportunity to be challenged and empowered to take the wheel of my life and take responsibility for steering it in the direction I want to go. I LOVED IT!’

‘Amazing! I came so far in such a short amount of time. Lin was brilliant and pitched this workshop perfectly. Magic stuff happened here!’

Thanks to everyone who came, including our wonderful speaker Lin Hankinson. You can catch her upcoming events over on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WhatIfWorkshops/

Our next Business Club event is our International Women’s Day event on Friday 6^th March – it’s going to be an exciting one, so make sure to save the date ♀️

Business Club is rebranding to WO Connect! We’ll be creating a new Facebook group for members to exchange tips and ideas, and including a corporate membership option, for women who wish to attend events on behalf of big businesses. Keep an eye out for our new logo, launching soon…

All Time High for Women on Boards

For the first time in history, the proportion of women on the boards of Britain’s largest companies has reached 30% - an increase from just 9.5% back in 2010.

Board diversity is crucial; not just in terms of gender, but also ethnicity, age, socioeconomic background, as well as professional diversity, to increase the different perspectives represented on the board.

The benefits of having a diverse board are numerous. Organisations with more diverse boards are more adaptable to change, increase profits, can improve their reputation and brand, and can more easily keep up with market trends.

However, with government targets and mounting public pressure to widen gender diversity on boards, there is a worry that many big companies are recruiting women as board members mainly to tick boxes. There is mounting evidence that women have shorter tenures and are less likely to be promoted into senior roles than their male counterparts – the average term for women on boards is 3.3 years, compared to 6.6 years for men.

Luckily, there are a number of groups that address these issues, connecting women with board vacancies that tie in with their expertise, and promoting the benefits of board diversity to companies. Women On Boards is an organisation specifically set up to break down the barriers of the board room, providing encouragement, advice and connections; they also help women to understand their transferable skills, and point them in the direction of a board that could be right for them.

There’s no doubt that the face of the boardroom is changing. In ten years, female board membership has tripled. In another ten, who knows where we could be?

Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership currently have several vacancies for boards across the Liverpool City Region. For more information visit: https://www.liverpoollep.org/work-with-us/

Business Forward: Innovation & Resilience Drop in Clinic

Are you looking for support to sure up the sustainability of your business or plan to grow but don’t know where to turn?

Starting Thursday 30th January, we’ll be running monthly Business Innovation and Resilience Clinics to give you the opportunity to get the advice you need to ensure your business can sustain and grow. 

The Business Forward clinics will be available to tenants of 54 St James Street and the wider business community and will host a team of business experts, who’ll be on hand with advice to help you sustain and grow your business. 

Advice will be available on:

• Business Finance
• Business Planning
• Marketing
• Business Strategy
• Sustainability
• Innovation funding and support

 Whatever support your business needs, we can give you on the spot advice or signpost you to someone who can help you further.

All clinics will be held at 54 St James Street, L1 0AB the last Thursday of each month:

Thursday 30th January 2020 - 09:30-12:30

Thursday 27th February 2020 - 09:30-12:30

Thursday 26th March 2020 - 09:30-12:30

Thursday 30th April 2020 - 09:30-12:30

Business Forward: Innovation and Resilience Clinic Team

Siwan Smith 

Within the Knowledge Transfer Networks Access to Finance and Funding team, Siwan delivers the KTN’s Diversity and Inclusion programme, including providing business support for Innovate UK's Young Innovators and Women in Innovation programmes. She ensures that her communities get the support and funding they need by building strong networks to connect people to relevant support, funding and investment networks. Siwan is an experienced Member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing and has a wealth of knowledge across a wide range of sector areas, to deliver real growth.

Ali McGrath

Ali has been an Enterprise Enabler working with The Women’s Organisation for over 12 years to support women in Merseyside and Greater Manchester to start and grow their business enterprise. Coming from a banking background with over 20 years in supporting businesses with finance, Ali specialises in supporting businesses to assess investment readiness and link with banking services and growth finance.  Ali also work with businesses to assess capacity, growth strategy, capcity planning and team motivation. An all round keen eye for entrepreneurial opportunity. 

Natalie Hughes

Natalie has over 12 years’ experience in banking and has spent the last three years specialising in business development. An ambassador for women in business she holds an accreditation in NatWest’s Everywoman program which supports female business owners to turn their dreams and ambitions into a reality.

Following the Alison Rose review into Female Entrepreneurship, Natwest has developed the Expert in Residence. Natalie has been selected as the Expert in Residence for the Liverpool City with aims to encourage collaboration and to deliver positive action by supporting and profiling diversity and inclusion in business. Natalie was also awarded the Women in business champion award 2019 from The Women’s Organisation in October of this year.

Jennifer Gallagher 
Director at commercial law firm Freeths, Jennifer specialises in all aspects of corporate law, including merges and acquisitions (ranging from large multinational companies listed on various stock exchanges to SMEs) and private equity (acting for investors, founding shareholders and management teams). Having spent 6 years at a large global law firm and a further 4 years at an international firm based in Dubai, Jennifer has extensive experience of UK and UAE cross border merges and acquisitions, shareholders’ agreements and implementing complex and high value joint ventures, corporate sales and acquisitions.

Business brokers

Our business brokers have years of experience helping businesses across the Liverpool City Region and Manchester to grow. They will be able to advice you on issues you’re currently facing and connect you with resources or opportunities to help you achieve and maintain a successful business.

To find out more information about the Business Innovation & Resilience Clinic get in touch on hello@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8111

**Drop in sessions are open to any business looking for advice to grow. Each drop in spot will be 15 minutes** 

Lucy is Leading the Way as part of Northern Power Women's Future List

It is our absolute pleasure to announce that our Senior Marketing Executive Lucy Cashman as been selected to be added to the 2020 Northern Power Women - Future List.

Senior Engagement and Marketing Executive Lucy Cashman

The list was compiled through process of open nomination, and selection by a panel of judges, It recognises change makers disruptors and trail blazers who are making a difference supporting the Northern Power Women mission of accelerating gender equality from the North. 

Lucy, 25, is already amplifying the discussion around gender equality and promoting the achievements and voices of women everywhere overseeing brand communications for The Women's Organisation. Making a name for herself as a 'twitter influencer' Lucy's posts reached over 3.6mil twitter contacts with messages around empowering women in Dec 2019 alone.

Also responsible for curating a calendar of events for the organisation, Lucy is creating a platform for women in leadership roles to highlight their impact in business and communities, and more generally for women to develop their skills and ambition. An example of these is ‘Women Who Lead’ at Museum of Liverpool held in September of last year which saw over 150 attendees eager to hear women’s stories of success. That same day, #WomenWhoLead was the top trend on Twitter in Liverpool. 

Recognising her potential Lucy was also invited on an ‘Aspiring Young Women Leaders’ trip to Brussels last year to visit European Parliament and meet with female MEPs and EU leaders from across Europe to discuss how we can support more northern women into political roles. 

Speaking about her achievements Lucy reflected "As well as coverage from a number of high-profile news outlets including Guardian, The Pool, BBC News and more, I am most proud of organising a live interview with CEO of The Women’s Organisation Maggie O’Carroll on BBC World (the world’s largest international broadcaster reaching 210 million per week), discussing the need for female-focussed business support and talking women in business on a global platform. What a difference an intervention like that can make for the equality agenda."

Lucy is proud to be part of Northern Power Women's Future List

Northern Power Women launched the Top 50 at the first Northern Power Women awards in March 2016 as a way of recognising and celebrating role models across and from the North.  Each year since they have added to the Future List,  to shine a spotlight on the amazing role models we have in, or from, the north. 

NPW say "It is critical that women figure in key decisions and thinking when talking about the Northern Powerhouse. If we are to balance the economy and realise the true potential of the north we need to promote the women who are involved across all of our sectors." 

Alongside the launch of the list, Northern Power Women are encouraging people to join in their #IAmNPW campaign to support Northern Power Women and share what they are doing to accelerate gender balance from the North.  

The list announced on 22 January 2019 will be celebrated at the fifth Northern Power Women Awards on the evening of the awards, 16 March 2020 at Manchester Central Convention Complex.  If you would like to attend please book your tickets here

Lucy was also chosen recently as one the Liverpool Echo's '30 Under 30'.  

Sustainability is Possible in Business

Sustainability and business might not sound like compatible topics, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Climate change, green issues and sustainability are set to be hot topics for 2020 and beyond for both businesses and individuals.

According to HSBC's ‘Made for the Future’ report, around 69% of businesses will be working to make their manufacturing, buildings and practices more sustainable.

This includes opting for biodegradable materials, reviewing their waste and recycling policy and choosing reusable wherever possible.

You and your business could do the same.

By becoming greener at work, you could stand up and fight for the future of our planet, get ahead of your competition and be at the forefront of innovation, ecological awareness and progress.

Here are some easy ways you can help your business to become more eco-friendly.

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle

Reduce your impact on the planet quickly by reducing your consumption, choosing reusable items that last and recycling as much of your waste as possible.

●     Start by going paper-free, keeping your documents digital whenever possible. If you do need to print, make sure you use both sides and opt for recycled paper wherever possible.

●     Also, avoid using single-use items such as plastic water cups or plastic coffee cups for your refreshments and instead bring a reusable mug from home. This will also help your office feel more like home and you’ll add a splash of your personality to your work environment too.

●     If you need to buy items or equipment for your office such as printers, scanners or even new seating, avoid buying new whenever possible. This will help reduce your consumption of the earth’s natural resources and keep your carbon footprint down too. Free sites like Freecycle and Freegle are great places to start, as are second-hand stores.

●     Recycle everything you can, including paper, cardboard, glass, metal and compost your food waste wherever possible. Many local authorities offer a local food waste collection if you don’t compost at home. If you’re worried about space you can use a clever recycling storage system, or consider investing in a recycling compactor to keep everything compact.

2. Become mindful about your waste

Sustainability isn’t just about how much you manage to recycle. It’s also about how your buildings emissions affect the local environment.

An effective septic tank can be a good option that helps protect the local environment.

According to liquid tank providers Tanks for Everything, “A septic tank allows the waste to break down naturally, separating the solids so that the resulting liquid can then be treated. Only when this has happened is the liquid allowed to seep into the ground through a drainage field.”

3. Just switch off

Whenever you’re not using something, turn it off. This includes:

●     Lights: consider adding an automatic sensor if you forget. Also, use natural sunlight as much as possible.

●     Computer: don’t just let it sleep. It will still use energy. Use the energy-efficient mode to further reduce energy demands.

●     Printer/ photocopier: just switch it back on when needed

4. Reconsider your commute

A huge amount of carbon emissions come from transport, so look for cleaner, greener alternatives whenever possible.

Many towns and cities now offer fantastic public transport such as buses and trains, in addition to extensive cycle networks. Depending on your location, you may also be able to walk to work.

Also, consider whether you could work from home. Thanks to modern technology this is easier than you think.

As eco-conscious website Tree Hugger says, “Instant messaging, video conferencing and other innovative workflow tools make it easy to telecommute. So hold phone conferences, email documents and take online classes; you'll save time and spare the air.”

5. Use natural cleaning products

Many regular cleaning products contain potentially toxic chemicals which can pollute the waterways, kill wildlife and even harm human health.

So make a green decision and opt for natural, non-toxic cleaning alternatives instead. Easy!

6. Consider renewable energy

Even if you can’t install solar panels on your roof, you can choose to use greener, cleaner energy in your office.

Numerous energy suppliers in the UK now offer renewable energy such as solar and wind to help you reduce your environmental impact, at home and at work.

This is a sector that looks set to grow significantly over the next decade. Speaking in October 2019, The Guardian newspaper reported; “The renewables record was set in the third quarter of this year after its share of the electricity mix rose to 40%.”

Stay ahead in business and stand up for what you believe in by making sustainability a key factor in your decision making, policy and office life.

What will you do today to make your business more sustainable?

Thanks to our guest blogger Chloe Walker. Chloe is a freelance writer who’s main focus is on working life and the business world. When she isn’t writing Chloe can be found curled up in front of the fire with the newspaper.

We're up for a DOUBLE at this year's Northern Power Women Awards!

We've been shortlisted for two awards at this year's Northern Power Women Awards!

The Women’s Organisation is shortlisted for Small and Medium Organisation alongside our CEO,  Maggie O’Carroll, who is in the running to be this year's Transformational Leader.

Local trailblazers InnovateHer and the Girls Network are also shortlisted in the Small Organisation category for their work supporting and mentoring future talent. While Rob Melling, CEO of Curtins and Zoe Wallace, Director at Agent Academy, are also up for Transformational Leader.

Now entering into their fifth year, the Northern Power Women Awards (founded in Liverpool in 2015), which is sponsored by EY, celebrate the women and men who work towards creating gender balance in organisations and who passionately support equality across the North.  

Northern Power Women is the only pan-northern campaign accelerating gender equality and involves a range of connecting, influencing, and thought leadership, and an annual awards ceremony.

Simone Roche MBE, founder and CEO of Northern Power Women, said that this year’s awards have seen an impressive 55% increase in the number of nominees across the ten award categories.

Simone Roche MBE, founder and CEO of Northern Power Women

“Once again this year I have been absolutely amazed at the outstanding number and quality of nominations we’ve received and it has been hugely impressive to see the range of organisations represented – from bus and rail companies to our military, Olympians and explorers,” said Simone.

“I’ve always known there were incredible role models in and from the North, but after received almost 1500 nominations, I have to say that even I was astounded. Our incredible category panels made up of 65 judges had a difficult – but inspiring – time identifying the shortlisted nominees.”

Among the 81 shortlisted nominees are fantastic trailblazers and advocates from the Liverpool City Region, representing a range of industries and professions.

“Previous awards winners, including Erika Rushton ((2018) winner of the (Transformational Leader)) and Jacquie Johnston Lynch ((2016) for (Person with Purpose)) show that the area is leading the way in helping to promote gender diversity,” said Simone.

“It’s great to see that so many people (and organisations) are continuing this important work, which is obviously form the impressive list of shortlisted nominees from the area this year.”

“Indeed, each person on this shortlist is a role model who can inspire both current and future generations and help create the step-change we need to advance gender equality.”

The winners of the Northern Power Women Awards will be announced on 16 March at a gala awards night and dinner at the Manchester Central Convention Complex. Individual tickets and corporate tables are now available to purchase and the event will once again offer 'Pay it Forward' and discounted tickets through a ballot for individuals who may otherwise not be able to attend (to date this has supported over 200 individuals to attend).

Change it: Are You Ready For a New You?

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to put 2019 behind me, dust myself off and start again in 2020. That’s the beauty and fun of a New Year: we can reinvent ourselves and begin something exciting which we have maybe always wanted to do. 

When people change their lives, it always begins with an idea or a vision of how we want our life to be, and sometimes that’s where it stays - in our heads.

Your vision could be to do with changing your mindset, getting a new job, or even setting up that business you always had in mind.  However, for many women, our lack of confidence and self-belief holds us back, and stops from becoming the best version of ourselves.

Change It is just what 2020 has prescribed for you. This personal growth programme will empower you to dream bigger, and after the sessions, you will walk away with a plan for success and a toolbox of tips to help you achieve it.

We cover many elements in the Change It programme which can help you to turn your life around, such as:

Assertiveness: You’ll learn how to communicate effectively and reduce misunderstandings, plus be able to stand up for yourself and for others.

Beliefs: Our beliefs can come from our childhood, our schooling or our socialisation. We show you the skills to effectively challenge a negative self- belief and create new ones that enable you to reach your true potential

.

‘Stinking thinking’: Our thoughts create feelings, our feelings create behaviours, our behaviours create more thinking… Your thoughts can impact how you react to situations, whether that be negatively or positively. The skills you gain from this programme will help you switch negative thoughts through thinking shifts, and thereby altering negative behaviours.

Motivation: What drives, inspires and motivates you to make a change in your life? Of course, the answer to this will be different for everyone, as we all want different things out of life. These sessions help you to develop a ‘can do’ attitude and encourage self-awareness of your needs and values in your own life.

Over the past three years, we have had hundreds of women pass successfully through the programme. Afterwards, they have found the confidence to do many things they thought they could never achieve, from enrolling in courses at Adult Learning Services to starting their dream business with the help of the Women’s Org Business Enterprise. 

For some women, it was all about getting the confidence to go back to work after looking after the kids, and in other cases, women had found the courage to access the support needed to address domestic abuse in the home. Whatever the change you need to make, there is plenty of support in the Liverpool area, many of which the Women’s Organisation link with.

We run Change It in a few places around the city: either outreach in the community, usually children’s centres, or in 54 St James Street.

These can be over eight sessions, or four full days in the Women’s Organisation. We offer childcare for sessions in the Children’s centres, which has proved very helpful to many women.

Personal debt is a barrier preventing many women from maximising their potential and changing their lives for the better. 

This has led to the Change It programme partnering up with Citizens Advice, who support many people in getting out of debt with the Better Off Finance programme. Through this initiative, a key worker will support you in finding solutions out of debt and helping you reach the life you want.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got, so this is your time to shine and get the life you really want – not the one you believe you ought to have.

Please feel free to contact The Women’s Organisation for a friendly chat about the Change It Programme or any other programmes we run on business related enterprise.

Let’s make 2020 the best one yet!

If you're looking to get started on building a positive future, we still have 'Change it: Progress to Success' dates available:

Monday 24th February - (4 sessions) 54 St James Street

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.