Doing good IS good for business

Who?

With 15 years working in the world of packaging design, having worked with some of the countries leading brands, I’ve learnt that a brand is more than a pretty logo/packaging – its about the values and ethics that lie behind that image, and I also learnt from my days in marketing that really understanding your target market, understanding your brand values, and creating simple strong messaging and emotional connection will create a loyal customer base – be authentic!

I am passionate about giving back and supporting businesses and charities, encouraging collaboration. More businesses want to deliver their ESG/CSR but don’t know how and charities need to understand that rattling a bucket is not the solution, they need to understand a business and its needs, and create solutions to ensure long term partnerships, rather than businesses giving ‘go away money’.

I have created many projects that I am very proud of, from the Cornwall Food and Farming Awards,  Cornwall 100 Club that brought businesses together to create a philanthropic club for the Community Foundation and the  Large Enterprise Action Group for the county’s Chamber whilst living in Cornwall.

To the creation of Gloucestershire Forwards a networking event for Gloucester rugby to bring charities and business together to break down the silos, to the creation of the Association of Gloucestershire Business Groups to help our towns promote themselves and create a sustainable business model …but sadly both projects died as a result of Covid, but I hope to restart them!

I sit on the board of Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce and have been instrumental in setting up Together Gloucestershire, working with Cirencester Chamber and FSB. The idea behind this is that the big businesses are embracing the Social Value Act, they want to reduce their carbon footprint and they want to engage with local suppliers. Work in progress and happy to say that we are securing funding to create a directory to make it easy to find local suppliers, including social enterprises who can deliver good through the supply chain.

I am also a trustee of Gloucestershire Community Foundation (having worked for Cornwall Community Foundation ten years ago).

My clients have ranged from pharmaceuticals, Alumier, to Spirax Sarco Footsie 50 business, and Mid Counties Coop, to public sector Cheltenham Borough Council, Vale of Glamorgan Council, and the delivery of Visit Gloucestershire, for Glos County Council. I have helped membership groups with support and guidance, such as Rotary HQ, and local clubs. I have also supported numerous charities, including ITSA, and Glos VCS with talks, creative ideas.

I have a passion for Social Enterprise, having sat on the the board of Fifteen, Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Cornwall, and went on to sit on the board of the School of Social Entrepreneurs and mentor and lecture for them and the West Midlands School. Businesses can deliver good through their supply chains which is often forgotten.

There is one consistent objective, to create long term partnerships that work for both the business and the charities, ensuring win win for all

I love to volunteer and have worked with so many exciting inspirational charities, CCP, Glos City Mission, Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre, to name but a few and I have had the pleasure of judging various awards in Glos and Cornwall over the years!

Finally, a hidden love of writing… I have written a regular articles for Cotswold Style magazine, ‘Claire in the Country’ – great fun but again, did not survive Covid sadly.