The Cartier Women’s Initiative Award is looking for committed female entrepreneurs heading initiatives with the potential to grow significantly in the years to come. The selection of the finalists and laureates of the competition is done by an independent international Jury of entrepreneurs, investors, business executives and other profiles engaged in the support of female entrepreneurship.

Eligibility Criteria

The project to be considered for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards must be an original for-profit business creation in the initial phase (1-3 years old) led by a woman.

• The “for-profit” requirement: the business submitted for the Award must be designed to generate revenues. We do not accept non-profit project proposals.
• The “originality” requirement: we want your project to be a new concept, conceived and imagined by the founder and her team and not a copy or subsidiary of an existing business.
• The “initial phase” requirement: the project you submit should be in the first stages of its development with one year of operations and sales to account for but no older than 3 years.
• The main leadership position must be filled by a woman. A good command of English is required (both verbal and written) to take full advantage of the benefits the Award has to offer.
• All entrants must be aged 18 or the age of legal majority in their respective countries or states of citizenship, whichever is older, on the day of the application deadline.

For more information on how to apply, go here.

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The snow in Galway did not deter approximately 100 guests of Ulster Bank’s Business Women Can Ambassadors at The G Hotel to hear three fantastic speakers on the subject of Health & Wellbeing – The Key to Inspiring Your Success. This latest Inspiring Your Success Event is part of the varied supports provided by Business Women Can to women in business, professions and workforce.

Addressing the Health of the Nation

Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director for Health & Wellbeing for the HSE, shared the strategies employed by her team to address the health of the Nation. Dr O’Keeffe outlined the enormity of the task but also the importance to the person, the family, the community and the Country at large that we aim for improved health and wellbeing for all. She stressed that it required a whole of government but also a whole of society effort; the health of the Nation is impacted by poverty, education, housing, unemployment and all manner of other societal issues, requiring real joined up thinking from multiple Government Departments, Local Authorities and society to effect change. Dr O’Keeffe provided her audience with a hugely interesting macro view of the complex area of health. One of the most frightening statistic she shared was that 5,500 families are bereaved in Ireland each year due to smoking but reminded us that we each can be a positive role model for health in families, in the workplace and in the community and that great progress is being made and more is possible.

Candid account of one Man’s personal experience on Health & Wellbeing

Padraig O’Ceidigh’s contribution complimented Dr O’Keeffe’s macro view of Health by focusing on his own personal experience. He was starkly honest about his own journey growing a very successful business from nothing to a traumatic wakeup call in Coronary Care. His message was clear; people who are chronically stressed are in a bubble. They don’t know that they are in it but the people who care about them do and they would do well to listen. He would always have thought that there were two zones; the comfort zone and the stretch zone. What he failed to realise, and almost fatally, was that there is a third zone, the danger zone. He cautioned his listeners to recognise the signs when they are in the danger zone and make changes and critically to understand that the wealth of a business is not on the balance sheet, it’s in its people.

Coaching People to be the best they can

Jennifer Hughes, Head of Corporate Planning and Services Delivery for Ulster Bank drew on her experience managing teams within a large organisation and her role as Head Swim Coach to Team Ireland Special Olympics Team to address the importance of coaching for people to be the best they can be. She echoed Padraig’s words about stress and cautioned that stress can present as something completely different and a manager or a coach needs to be aware. Jennifer provided a fascinating insight into how to communicate with dignity and respect to ensure that messages are received and understood and that this holds true whether you are in the board room or the swimming pool.

The lively Q&A Session was ably managed by Joanne Murphy of TriTalking Sport as MC for the night, herself a dedicated triathlete.

Jennifer Hughes (Ulster Bank, Head of Corporate Planning & Service Delivery).Olwyn Long (Head of Region Midlands & West and Region South – Markets, Ulster Bank), Padraig O’Ceidigh (Founder of Aer Arainn), Caroline Miney (Senior Manager, Ulster Bank), Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe (National Director for Health & Wellbeing, HSE), Brendan McDermott (Regional Director, Ulster Bank), Moyra McMahon (Ulster Bank)

Joanne Murphy,( TriTalking Sport), Caroline Miney, (Senior Manager, Ulster Bank), Moyra McMahon, (Ulster Bank), Olwyn Long (Ulster Bank)

Audience

Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director for Health & Wellbeing HSE

Speakers at the BWC event – Padraig O’Ceidigh (Founder of Aer Arainn), Jennifer Hughes (Ulster Bank, Head of Corporate Planning & Service Delivery).Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe (National Director for Health & Wellbeing, HSE)

Faith Fahy (Financial Consultant and Insurance Broker), Lorraine Scully (Sherry Fitzgerald), Elsie Farragher (Ulster Bank), Laura Canavan (Ulster Bank), Noreen McKenzie (Sherry Fitzgerald)

Amy Gill (Roche Pharmacuticals), Maria Dooley (Forever Living), Maria McHale (Slainte Magazine), Joan O’Rourke (Ulster Bank)

The post #BusinessWomenCan Discusses Health & Wellbeing in Galway appeared first on Small Business Can.

The aim of the Ulster Bank Business Women Can network is to enable, connect and support female entrepreneurs and business leaders. Our event on 3rd December did just that, bringing together a wide range of business women to network with each other and learn from the personal experiences of four very successful NI female business leaders. The evening also had a focus on supporting local businesses, with a range of stalls, where female led Ulster Bank customers showcased their business and provided the opportunity for invitees to start their Christmas shopping.

Cathy Martin, Managing Director of CMPR kicked off the evening, speaking of the importance of networking and how her business has grown from contacts made at the first event she organised for Irish artist Terry Bradley. How opportunities can come from every event you attend and by spending your time wisely, networking can benefit long-term. As the founder of Belfast Fashion Week franchise, Cathy has her finger firmly on the pulse of current trends and shared her fashion tips with the audience; that metallics are big for the 2014 Christmas season and one of her top tips for your Christmas party is to bring a handbag big enough to carry those most needed flats for the way home!

Following Cathy, Brenda Shankey gave a very heartfelt and down-to-earth talk, of her experiences of running a men’s grooming business with her husband, Jason www.jasonshankey.com. She told of the challenges of investing in people and how by being so personally involved in the business and staff, it impacted her when some people have gone on to set up in competition with their business. Brenda’s message was very much about how to bounce back from difficult times and how the world of business is a continuous learning experience. Brenda ended with some tips on how to go from work – to – party at Christmas and how to achieve that much sought after party hair and make-up look in minutes.

Petra Wolsey, Marketing Manager of the Beanchor Group, was the third speaker of the evening, speaking of her career from waitressing initially and working her way through the ranks in a Company which hires over 300 people and runs some of the most successful bars and restaurants in Belfast. With over 50% of female representation on the Beanchor payroll, Petra is acutely aware of the importance of flexible working and the benefit of finding working solutions for both employee and management. Petra finished by reminding everyone of the importance of taking some ‘me’ time over the Christmas break and where better to relax than the beautiful spa at the Merchant hotel www.themerchanthotel.com/index.php/spa

Finishing off the speakers session, Ruth Wilson spoke of how the passion she had for decorating as a young girl who moved house 8 times, has developed into her business, Beaufort Interiors www. beaufortinteriors.co.uk which has seen her design homes for the rich and famous, as well as some royal clients! Ruth had prepared a beautiful display to demonstrate some options for decorating your home for the Christmas season.

Before and after the speakers guests had the opportunity to purchase from an array of products at the ‘UB Christmas fair’ ranging from flowers, gifts and cards, beauty products, jewellery, home made cakes and pastries, fabric goods, prints and chocolate. Check out each of our stall holders at their websites / facebook pages as listed:

• Ann’s Pantry – facebook.com/pages/Anns-Pantry
• Barely Cosmetics – barelycosmetics.com
• Beaufort Interiors – beaufortinteriors.co.uk
• Chocolate Memories – chocolatememories.co.uk
• Floral Creations – floralcreationscomber.co.uk
• In Magazine – in-magazine.co.uk
• Jason Shankey – jasonshankey.com
• Serene Skincare – sereneskincare.co.uk
• Sheldon Galleries – sheldongalleries.co.uk
• Style Story – stylestoryjewellery.com
• The Creativity Hub – creativityhub.com
• Willow Cards & Gifts – thewillowmoira.com

The post Preparing for Christmas with Ulster Bank Business Women Can appeared first on Small Business Can.

Sharing experiences and insights can help businesswomen overcome some of the challenges faced when starting, running or managing a business. That was the message to female business leaders and entrepreneurs at an Ulster Bank Business Women Can event held in Belfast.

More than 60 local businesswomen gathered at the bank’s Belfast headquarters for the event, which heard from leading local entrepreneurs, and saw local businesses showcase their wares in a Christmas market format.

Speakers included: Cathy Martin, founder of Belfast Fashion Week and Managing Director of CMPR; Petra Wolsey, Marketing Director at The Beannchor Group; Ruth Wilson, Founder and Managing Director of Beaufort Interiors; and Brenda Shankey Co-Director of Jason Shankey Male Grooming.

Shauna Burns, centre of Ulster Bank, with the speakers: Ruth Wilson, Founder and Managing Director of Beaufort Interiors, Cathy Martin, founder of Belfast Fashion Week, Brenda Shankey Co-Director of Jason Shankey Male Grooming, and Petra Wolsey, Marketing Director at The Beannchor Group.

Head of Ulster Bank’s Mid Ulster and Fermanagh Business Centre Shauna Burns said that the bank is delighted to support such events, where successful and dynamic business women can share their experiences and insights.

She pointed out Northern Ireland’s largest company, its largest bank, its government department for enterprise, and its Chamber of Commerce, for example, are now all led by women.

And she said that whilst much more needs to be done, there is an increasingly strong support network in place to assist female entrepreneurs and to encourage more female business leaders.

She continues: “There is no doubt that more women in business is a highly positive development for the economy. A recent global entrepreneurship report by the French giant BNP Paribas, for example, found that the average turnover of the primary business of women entrepreneurs, at $9.1 million, is higher, compared to $8.4 million for men. It also found that women entrepreneurs typically launch about 5 businesses compared to 4.3 for their male counterparts.

“Looking at the calibre of businesses represented at our Business Women Can events gives me cause for real optimism in 2015 and beyond,” she adds.

Business Women Can

Ulster Bank’s successful Business Women Can programme provides online and local support, which aims to offer help and understanding on the specific challenges to women starting, running or managing businesses. The programme is run with the support of programme ambassadors throughout the Bank.

Ulster Bank’s Business Women Can ambassadors are trained and focussed on understanding the products, services and practical support tools needed when starting or running a business and are committed to supporting businesswomen across Ireland.

Stallholders at the event

Style Story (www.stylestoryjewellery.com)

Tracey Tsang Fabric Goods

Jason Shankey (www.jasonshankey.com)

Serene Skincare (www.sereneskincare.co.uk)

In Magazine (www.in-magazine.co.uk)

Floral Creations (www.floralcreationscomber.co.uk)

Ann’s Pantry (www.facebook.com/pages/Anns-Pantry)

The Creativity Hub (www.creativityhub.com)

Sheldon Galleries  (www.sheldongalleries.co.uk)

Willow Cards & Gifts (www.thewillowmoira.com)

Chocolate Memories (www.chocolatememories.co.uk)

Barely Cosmetics  (www.barelycosmetics.com)

Delen Skincare

Beaufort Interiors (www.beaufortinteriors.co.uk)

The post Ulster Bank Continues Support for Women in Business appeared first on Small Business Can.