Latest News

Our August meeting saw an insightful presentation which highlighted the importance of using social media for your business and keeping up to date with what your customers are saying and what your competitors are up to.

As a pilot project this event was available to follow online, so members and guest-viewers could interact and ask questions from home and network with other online guests.  Although most of the presentation was broadcast we were not able to consistently maintain connection, which once again highlights the need for improved broadband connection in the Highlands.   On the communication front, if you did see most of the presentation then your questions may not have come through.  Please feel free to still put any questions you may have by email. 

After the meeting a number of HBWC members requested workshops on different aspects of social media.  These are currently being arranged so if you are interested watch this space.

Maggie's Highland and Eastgate Shopping Centre shortlisted
Carole Bridge of Maggies Highland and Jackie Cuddy of Eastgate Shopping Centre have been shortlisted for the ASB awards categorie Best Charity/Business Partnership!  The winners will be revealed at the Awards Dinner on Friday 18th September 2009 in Glasgow.

HBWC voices Member's Views
Committee member Anni Cole Hamilton writes for the Inverness Courier Business Comment Column about the broadband concerns expressed by our members during an interesting discussion on topics that hinder or benefit our businesses in the Highlands, which followed a brainstorm session in May - see here for a summary of the findings.

Araveli wins Best British Newcomer Award!
Araveli, in the Victorian Market, was launched on 31st May 2008 by HBWC member Ruth Ralph , who was among four hundred guests at the glittering undisputed premier gift industry awards affectionately known as The Greats at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel where she picked up the prestigious award. 

The Greats recognise and celebrate not only the top independent and multiple gift retailers regionally and nationally, but also the new breed of gift retailers as well as outstanding retail employees.  More info..

 At the April meeting a cheque for £7,000 was presented to last year's nominated charity: Maggie's Highland Cancer Care Centre.  Past President Jackie Cuddy handed over the Club’s cheque and Carole Bridge, manager of Maggie’s Highland told Club members how important she had found “the opportunity to raise the profile of Maggie’s. 
Members have been so supportive of our efforts this year which has resulted in us raising the most money ever for our nominated charity”.

The Inverness and District Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is the chosen charity to be supported by the HBWC in 2009/2010

 Awards Winners Announced!

HBWC Awards for Achievement 2009

The prestigious HBWC Awards well deserving winners 2009 are:

The HBWC Most Enterprising Business of the Year Award,
sponsored by Highland Opportunity, went to:
Moray Firth School, founded and managed by Anni Cole-Hamilton

The HBWC Business Woman of the Year Award (director/self employed),
sponsored by Tulloch Home Farms, went to:
Fiona McLaren of McLaren Tractors

The HBWC Professional Business Woman of the Year (employee),
sponsored by MFR, went to:
Carole Bridge of Maggie's Highland Centre

Congratulations to the winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors.

MORAY FIRTH SCHOOL, Inverness’s only independent school, was founded seven years ago by HWBC member Anni Cole-Hamilton.  It’s a unique concept, offering as it does not only full-time education but part-time, too.

Anni told HBWC that visiting children can not only enjoy After-School Activities but, more surprisingly, they can also join its mainstream curriculum on a part-time basis.  “This is something of real interest to home-educating families, who want to take charge of much of their children’s education but see real advantages in using our service for subjects either outwith their own expertise or best enjoyed with others, such as languages, sports, music and drama.  For example, we put on high-quality stage shows twice a year and our part-timers have always made important contributions to these.”

The School is currently a Junior and Middle School, taking children through to Secondary 2 level, but plans are afoot for its Senior School, which will also offer this unique approach.  “We see demand from home-educating families and from pupils who want to study subjects not on offer elsewhere, and plan a broad range of choices with “twilight teaching” for part-timers who want to join us after their own school day.  Adults, too, have shown interest and we are already running informal evening classes in French, Japanese and Spanish.”

Moray Firth School is located between Inverness and Nairn but is searching for land or premises in or nearer the city.  “We are anxious to move to Inverness and hope that 2009 will make that dream come true.  It would not only make life easier for our full-time families, some of whom travel long distances,  but allow us to grow the part-time concept for many more pupils.” 

You can find out more, not least about the School’s forthcoming TASTER DAY on Friday 6th February, at 01667 461188 or  www.mfschool.co.uk . 

(Mrs) Anni Cole-Hamilton
Principal
Moray Firth School
Gollanfield, Inverness IV2 7QP
01667 461188
info@mfschool.co.uk
www.mfschool.co.uk
Moray Firth School is a Scottish Charity No. SCO32771

We will review the event soon and decide if this is to be repeated annually and we would love to hear your comments or suggestions regarding location, set-up, workshops etc. What did you like and what could be done better or differently? And if you didn't attend - we would love to hear why not! Please send us your valued thoughts by email.

The raffle in Aid of Maggie's Highland was drawn during the club meeting after the Women in Business event on the 1st of October. The winners will be contacted directly. If you would like to know who the lucky winners were click here.

Emma Day wins ASB Most Enterprising Business Award
September 2008

The Highlands has Talent! For the second year in a row, the Most Enterprising Business Award from the Association of Scottish Businesswomen (ASB) goes to the Highlands. Emma Day from Highland Biosciences Ltd, won the HBWC Award for the same category last March, and went on to represent the Highlands at the ASB Awards, scooping the national award at the prestigious Awards Dinner in Troon last Friday 12th September. Congratulations to Emma!  

'WOMEN IN BUSINESS' 
Wednesday 1st October, 12noon - 7pm
Drumossie Hotel, Inverness.

This business exhibition in beautiful surroundings with plenty of parking, will provide and ideal opportunity to present your business to both the public attending our open event but also to fellow members.  Not to mention some serious networking!

Exhibition stands will be located in the function suite of the Drumossie Hotel with workshops / breakout session held throughout the afternoon in the Culloden suite. The workshops include: recruitment, sage, marketing, Employment Law & Safety in the Workplace, Tax & VAT and HIE presentation on Knowledge Transfer.

Special Guest Speaker at 12:30pm:
David Sutherland of Tulloch Homes; "The future of Business in the Highlands"

Exhibition stands can be booked in either:
6ft at a cost of £50 for club members /  £100 for non-members, or
12ft at a cost of £100 for club members / £150 for non-members

Included in the charge for a stand is table linen, lunch for 1 and morning and afternoon coffee/tea. Additional lunch and tea/coffee tickets can be purchased in advance at a cost of lunch: £12 and tea/coffee: £3.
Stands will be allocated on a first come basis.

For more information and to book see Next Meeting.

ENTRY TO THE EXHIBITION & THE WORKSHOPS IS FREE

Young Enterprise Business Advisers

Anyone willing to give time to this most worthwhile project should either email linda.thomas@virgin.net or phone Linda on 01349877258.

See Mama Mia at a discount!

Mama Mia is showing at Eden Court from 11 - 24 July and members of HBWC can see it with a discount. Just show your HBWC card for the concessionary £5 ticket rate.  In addition groups of 10 will get one ticket free.  Groups should prebook and quote HBWC.

ASB seeking support for Wildhearts Trust

The ASB have joined with The Wildhearts to launch our own Wildhearts Trust Group with the money raised going primarily to women wishing to start or expand their businesses in Ghana. More information on the Noticeboard.

Awards Winners Announced!

HBWC Awards for Achievement 2008

The Club's Annual Awards Dinner, held on Friday the 14th of March at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness, was again a greatly entertaining evening.  

With Sally Magnusson as our host and guest speaker for the evening, the prestigious HBWC Awards were presented to this year's well deserving winners. 

• The HBWC Most Enterprising Business of the Year Award went to
  Emma Day of Highland Biosciences
  
• The HBWC Business Woman of the Year Award went to
  Hazel Passmore of Hazel Passmore Contemporary Jewellery
  
• The HBWC Professional Business Woman of the Year (employee) went to
  Jane Fraser of Cobbs

Read more

MAGGIE'S HIGHLAND CHOSEN CHARITY FOR 2008/2009

At the AGM it was announced that the members of the club have voted for Maggie's Highland to be the charity the club will support for 2008/2009.

ASB AWARDS 2008 - nominations invited

The Association of Scottish Businesswomen are inviting nominations for 2 categories of their awards:

The ASB Outstanding Contribution to Business Award, which showcases achievement among the female business community in Scotland. It is not necessary to be a member of a businesswomen's club for this category to enter.

Amongst the criteria Judges will assess are:

• The Individuals contribution to business and the professions in Scotland including, but not exclusively, promoting the role of women.
• Demonstration of value added/ evidence of having “given back” to business/the community.
• Drive and determination
• Demonstration of commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility
• Though not principal assessment criteria, a strong business/career track record, Networking, Leadership and Communication skills are a pre-requisite and should be evidenced within the application/judging process.

The ASB Young Business of the Year Award, which is open to businesses that have been trading for less than 3 years.

Amongst the criteria judges will assess are:

• Originality of business idea
• Marketing strategy and business development mechanisms in place
• Use of IT to develop and promote business
• Leadership and communication skills displayed
• Organisational and planning ability

It is NOT necessary to be able to demonstrate all of the criteria before applying. Both awards are open to all employed and self-employed women in the business professions, private, public and voluntary sectors in Scotland.

The deadline for entries to be in with the ASB is the 4th July.

Award nominees will be shortlisted by the 18th July. Judging will be on the 7th August.
The ASB Awards Dinner will take place on the 12th September in Marine Hotel in Troon.

Email us for an application form if you are interested.  

 
HBWC AWARDS FOR ACHIEVEMENT 2007

HBWC Director/Self-Employed Business Woman of the Year

Donna Barnett, Unique Beauty

Shortlisted
Denise Barras, Les Enfants Nurseries Limited
Angela Paterson, HiJobs.co.uk Limited

HBWC Most Enterprising Business of the Year

Les Enfants Nurseries Limited (Denise Barras)

Shortlisted
HiJobs.co.uk Limited (Angela Paterson)
Celtic Source (Margaret Kirk)

HBWC Professional Business Woman of the Year (employee)

Louise Innes, Halifax Bank of Scotland plc

Shortlisted
Zoe Wishart, Blue Arrow/ABC Contract Services, Inverness
Claire Macdonald, Highland Homeless Trust


Congratulations to all the winners, thanks to all who took part and to the sponsors.