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Helena Bassett, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
Helena is a business coach, specializing in helping owners of small and medium sized businesses with their sales, marketing, finance, management and team building.
Lisa Evans, Arthur J Gallagher
Lisa has worked in the insurance profession for over 17 years in both broking and underwriting roles.
Lisa is the Learning and Development Coordinator for the Coventry branch and also manages the Enterprise team providing comprehensive insurance and risk management solutions for small to medium businesses and start ups.
Lisa is actively involved in promoting the insurance profession particularly to young people and has developed an apprenticeship programme that has now been running successfully for over five years. Alongside this Lisa provides mentoring to students through Career Academies helping them to increase their employability skills.
Vikki Whittemore, Wright Hassall
Business Development Director at Wright Hassall, Vikki was shortlisted in recognition of the ideas and structure she has introduced that have significantly improved the performance of the firm’s internal and external marketing, including the delivering of an improved website, refreshed collateral including three new high quality client publications (Law & Business; Law & Land; Law & Life) and the implementation of a new CRM system and account management protocols. Outside work, Vikki is providing pro bono marketing support to Age UK Warwickshire and has trained as a Dementia Friend. She is also one of just 12 marketers appointed to the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Professional and Membership Advisory Group, which upholds the standards of CIM members.
Keith Boxley, Relationship Director of Barclays explained: “FirstPro is a great celebration of the talent in the professional services in the sector.
“As well as being fun FirstPro always raises lots of money for the nominated charity, this year Coventry Samaritans. It’s a real pleasure to put something back through this match funding!”
Andrew Smith, partner at Shakespeares explained:“Our young professionals are extremely talented, with the drive and determination to take forward the sector in the region.
“We are delighted to sponsor this category and celebrate the very best of our young professionals.”
Business Services Professional of the Year 2014
Marie Bawden, Castel Froma
“I was very proud, and a little surprised, to win Business Services Professional of the Year,” said Marie Bawden of Castel Froma.
Castel Froma offers long-term and respite care plus rehabilitation for neurological conditions from its two care centres. “The previous year had been challenging and I believe this award recognised our performance and achievements in those difficult circumstances.”
She continued: “Winning the award has really boosted my confidence. I am more determined than ever to uncompromisingly strive for excellence.
“Anyone thinking of taking part should not hesitate!”
Partner Philip Costigan explained: “We work alongside many exceptional finance professionals in Coventry & Warwickshire. Sponsoring the category gives us the opportunity to recognise their achievements and celebrate their talent.”
“We have a strong commercial property team at Wright Hassall and so we understand the breadth and depth of property talent within Coventry and Warwickshire,” said Nick Abell, senior partner and Head of Property at Wright Hassall.
“We are delighted to have this opportunity to recognise the leading property professionals in the region, whom we work with on a daily basis, and who clearly demonstrate that you do not need to go outside of Warwickshire to receive City quality property advice.”
“Winning was a complete surprise,’ said Paul Saunders, partner at Shakespeares LLP and winner of Legal Professional of the Year 2014.
“The competition was strong and the judges certainly gave us a grilling. I think I won because of the sea change at Shakespeares in the delivery of legal services and client care. We have invested heavily in this area, concentrating our resources on making sure we deliver excellence to our clients and, in doing so, add real value to their businesses.
“Perhaps unexpectedly, winning has meant I can serve my clients better. They often want us to introduce them to new contacts and opportunities and the higher profile gives us greater visibility of the potential.”
Encouraging others to enter FirstPro 2015 Paul said: “Lawyers rarely shout about their achievements. FirstPro gives us an opportunity to change this and celebrate the legal talent in the region.”
Coventry and Warwickshire’s future business leaders can now accelerate their personal development through Coventry & Warwickshire First’s new Mentoring Scheme.
With the leading professional and financial services firms amongst its members, Coventry & Warwickshire First recognises the importance of developing the next generation of the sub-region’s business leaders. The Mentoring Scheme does exactly that, putting the focus firmly on the real learning needs of the mentee at a specific and personal level.
The initiative is being led by chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First’s Young Professionals Carl Malcolm (Dafferns) and board members, Andrew Smith (Shakespeares) and Martyn Howard (Drake Howard Property).
Carl Malcolm explained the value of the new Mentoring Scheme. “For a number of years I have been mentored by Andrew Smith and have really benefited from his input and perspective. Our meetings have given me the opportunity to test out ideas, explore issues and get valuable feedback.
“Our intention is that mentors and mentees will find the mentoring relationship rewarding and so we have designed it with input from both.”
Martyn Howard continued: “The two-way mentoring relationship i benefits the mentor at the same time as providing guidance and encouragement to the mentee. It is refreshing to hear and learn from the perspectives a talented young professional and I certainly left some of our sessions with new and unexpected insights.”
The Scheme has been structured so mentees are matched with mentors employed in a different professional discipline and according to information provided in a short questionnaire. This approach means mentors can offer a new perspective and an insight into another professional discipline while mentees can discuss issues openly and frankly without any constraints consequent on the mentor being a competitor.
To find out more about the Mentoring Scheme, whether a potential mentor or mentee, email Coventry & Warwickshire First.
The advantages of being involved in a mentoring relationship include:
Increased confidence;
A sounding board to test ideas;
Being able to draw on a fellow professional’s experience;
Access to support, encouragement and guidance;
A channel for constructive criticism and help in sizing up situations;
Discovery of new perspectives; and
Opportunities for enhanced career visibility through expanded networks of professional contacts.
Sackie Somal, Inward Investment Manager at Warwickshire County Council, was the winner of Property Professional of the Year 2014. “It was a real honour to win,” Sackie said. “To be recognised by my peers is very satisfying, particularly given it’s a tough industry that is currently coping with tough economic circumstances.
“For me this award is a reflection of the new investments me and my team have brought into the county and I include all our partners and stakeholders in that team. We work hard towards the common goal of supporting the local economy and by doing so creating growth and securing local jobs for local people. This award recognises the real impact we have had by working together as a coherent unit.”
Sackie’s message to anyone thinking of entering or nominating a colleague is do it! “It’s a great opportunity to show your appreciation of the contribution of a friend or colleague and it’s certainly a fun night out!”
This time last year Martin Vickery of Coventry City Council was named Young Professional of the Year and FirstPro 2014. Here he explains why you should enter!
“If you’re not sure about entering, just do it; if you think someone deserves to be recognised fill in the form and nominate them now,” says Martin Vickery of Coventry City Council.
“Never doubt yourself or your ability,” continued Martin. “As well as being able to take a moment to reflect on your achievements taking part means you meet great, like-minded people and build really useful networks amongst the region’s best and brightest.”
Speaking about his win Martin said: “Hearing my name read as the winner was a fantastic feeling. I’m passionate about Coventry and being recognised by my peers in this way, within my own city, was really rewarding.
“The personal recognition was of course incredible but it’s important to remember it’s also a reflection on the wider team I work with in the Council.
“The judges really put us through our paces and I felt the Young Professional category was particularly strong last year, with all the candidates delivering brilliant work. So I was incredibly proud they selected me as the winner.”
Martin is leading a programme that is fundamentally changing the face of Coventry. It incorporates everything from road and junction improvements, regeneration, job creation, economic growth and organizational change.