7 of the finest minds in Yorkshire when it comes to women in the business, legal and marketing fields.
KATHRYN ANDRASSY
Independent Financial Adviser, Tony Revans Financial Planning
What's special about your business?
Being a Gold Standard Chartered Financial Planner at an Independent Financial Advisory Firm, we offer advice and guidance in all areas of personal and corporate matters and as such are free to offer an unbiased bespoke service to all of our clients resulting in efficient recommendations and implementation. We take pride in nurturing long term relationships for both life and financial planning.
What do you love about your job?
Total satisfaction in seeing our clients achieving their goals and dreams. It is also rewarding to offer support and comfort; and be of assistance during good times as well as bad. Every day is different and being a people person it is a privilege to meet people from all walks of life, hear their stories and be of help to them. I am also keen to devote some of my time to secondary schools to offer financial education, careers guidance and to try to encourage more women to join the industry.
How do you unwind?
I enjoy my appearances with the BBC as a guest financial expert on their "Professionals" team and after a rewarding day I like nothing more than a long dog walk, a catch up with my family and a glass of wine whilst cooking dinner.
1a Clarke Hall Farm, Aberford Road, Wakefield WF1 4AL 01924 380777 tonyrevans.co.uk
EMMA THOMPSON
Head of Agency, Golley Slater - Consumer Brands
What's special about your business?
Where to start! I truly believe that Golley stands out from the crowd. As a creative agency, we don't burden ourselves with unnecessary complex solutions that baffle our clients. We are all straighttalking & customer centric. We use marketing theory yes, but also instinct and personal experience to answer any creative challenge.
If you could go back and tell your 13 year-old self something, what would it be?
I grew up in the 80's. My dad once said, 'you have a good face to be a receptionist!' and this was not an insult. Back then, that was the level of expectations put on women in business. My 13- year-old self would be told to shoot for the stars and believe in yourself no matter what. Strength of character is the best quality to couple with intellect to drive success in anything you do.
What keeps you focused?
The people I care about and their future. I believe in a mantra 'The freedom to pursue betterness' and always believe in progression, not settling for the same as yesterday. I encourage it with the people I work with and my own children and I demonstrate this daily in my own actions. To all, I love to coach and help them realise their best personal and professional self.
Richmond House, Otley Road, Guiseley, Leeds LS20 8BP 01943 484848 golleyslater.com
SARAH BRADLEY
Chief Executive Officer, The Kerfoot Group
What's your best piece of business advice?
Fact based analysis is important but it's equally important to believe in yourself and trust your intuition and judgement. Don't be afraid to take some risks, just make sure you understand and can live with the consequences!
What do you love about your job?
I'm fortunate to work with some very talented and passionate colleagues who genuinely care about our business and making a real difference for our customers. I love listening to our people and hearing their ideas about how we can be a better business.
If you could go back and tell your 13 year-old self something, what would it be?
Don't worry too much about making mistakes; it's character building. Just make sure you learn from them! Always be true to yourself, your values and principles even if it makes you stand out from the crowd - it's not always a bad thing to be different.
Olive House, Standard Way Industrial Park, Northallerton DL6 2XA 01932 766790 kerfootgroup.co.uk
JOANNA STEPHENSON
Managing Director, PHD Marketing Ltd
What's special about your business?
We are a specialist B2B agency focussed specifically on print, plastics, packaging, technology and bio sciences. We make the complex simple, and the messages stand out!
What's your best piece of business advice?
Make sure you have the A team behind you. While great business vision and hard work may be the keys to success today, having a fantastic accountant, lawyer and bank manager all rooting for you can make all the difference in your early days. It's then about building trusted supporters who truly care about the business and make it enjoyable, sustainable and worthwhile.
What do you love about your job?
The variety. One minute I can be in a print shop learning about a new laminating technique, the next working with a client on an ingredient launch for the cosmetics industry and then jump on a plane to Nashville to support a technology event. All in a day's work!
The Barracks, Wakefield Road, Pontefract WF8 4HH 01977 708643 phdmarketing.co.uk
LAURA HARRIS
Branch Manager (Bradford), Moss Europe Ltd
What's special about your business?
We specialise in classic British car parts, everything from a Classic Mini to an E-type Jaguar. We have four branches in the UK and one in Paris. Most of our employees are genuine classic car enthusiasts with years of experience in the subject, so as well as selling parts we are also able to offer advice about problems our customers might have with their cars. On a personal note, I'm a Woman in a very male industry and Moss Europe have been very supportive and see me for my abilities and not my gender - that also makes them special!
What do you love about your job?
Classic cars have been my hobby since I got my first Mini aged 17, so being able to work with them, has been the dream job"and I get my parts cheap! I've also managed to amass a small collection including two Minis and a 1961 MG Midget. I've also met many people in the in the last thirteen years and many of them have become good friends.
How do you unwind?
I started motor racing 7 years ago in the Mighty Mini Championship, and spending weekends with my racing family is like holiday for me" it can also be very stressful, an accident in 2017 put me out of racing for 2 years, but I'm back in 2020! I've still managed to get my speed fix by taking my Suzuki SV650S motorbike out for a blast. I also relax by going to the gym regularly, I love weight training.
Unit 12 Acorn Park Ind Est, Otley Road, Shipley BD17 7SW 01274 539999 moss-europe.co.uk
CHLOE HAMPSON WARD
Creative Director, Comms Kick
What's special about your business?
We make PR and marketing accessible. For too long, outsourcing communications has been seen as something that only big companies can do. When I launched the business in 2018, after ten years in the sector, I vowed I'd never use a lot of jargon. Whether it's explaining how you can improve your digital strategy or reporting on press coverage we make recommendations, reports and training clear and easy to understand. It's led to Comms Kick being shortlisted for Best Communications Business in the Rural Business Awards North 19/20 and, actually, this ethos has ended up appealing to larger companies as well as SMEs anyway.
What's your best piece of business advice?
I work in a rapidly changing industry. So my advice to anyone setting up a business would be "you're never too experienced to learn". Keep up with developments in your industry and say 'yes' to any training opportunities. You never know what's around the corner.
What do you love about your job?
The variety. Every day I am working on something different whether it's coaching a sole trader on digital content, working with a TV Producer on a feature idea or story-boarding a promotional film.
Skipton 07969 791338 commskick.com
KIM MORRIS-BAUMBER
MD / Specialist Financial Planner MIFS Dip FA, Momentum Financial Solutions Ltd
What's special about your business?
The ability to listen to our clients, this may sound simple, however, it's a vital part of what we do. Combined with a desire to ensure our advice is personally tailored and specifically designed to meet every client's individual needs and aspirations, whilst aiming to keep what can often be quite a complex subject, simple and straightforward. By keeping our clients at the forefront of what seems to be an 'ever changing' financial horizon we can assist them in maximising opportunities when circumstances are appropriate. By taking this approach, we have developed strong bonds of trust and respect, resulting in many of our long-standing clients feeling more like family than clients.
What do you love about your job?
Receiving thank you cards from clients, who are pleased with the help and guidance they have received. Followed by telephone calls from their friends, family and business colleagues, who would like to arrange a meeting. Working with several generations of the same family or corporate entity. Being there for clients and their families when tragedy happens and knowing they have a way forward because of the financial planning we have put in place.
How do you unwind?
This is probably the hardest question, as I love what I do and after 30 years still have the same passion and desire. However, my favourite way of unwinding is to be around my daughter's horses and supporting her career. Plus, the occasional glass of wine at the end of a day!!
Granary Hall, Everingham York YO42 4LQ 07774 680000 / 01759 301282 momentumfinancialsolutions.com
