Women leading the way for business in Caerphilly county

Following International Women’s Day, held on Wednesday, March 8, celebration of female success is very much still in full swing, and with this in mind it’s safe to say that Caerphilly is home to some exceptional female business talent.

Here, Denise Lovering, Chair of Caerphilly Business Forum, highlights the ambitious women making their mark on the Caerphilly business scene and shares their top tips on how to succeed in the commercial world.

Cariann Emanuelli
Managing Director Wize Consulting

With a background in sport and exercise science, Cariann, 28, from Ystrad Mynach, is proof that your degree choice does not have to cement your career path.

After graduating, Cariann took on multiple roles before joining Wize Consulting, sparking her entrepreneurial spirit where she started the virtual administration side of the business after spotting a gap in the market for such services. This department is now the largest in the business.

She said: “You don’t have to have business experience to set up on your own. Running a business was brand new to me, but this didn’t scare me, and that’s been key to my success.

“You need to ensure you’re prepared. You can find a lot of useful advice just by looking online and joining business forums.

“I would recommend joining start up communities, where you can meet other people in the same position and support one another. Whatever queries you may have, chances are there will be someone who will have the answers.”

Mandy Weston
Chief Operating Officer
Welsh ICE

One of the founders of the award-winning Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (Welsh ICE) in Caerphilly, Mandy’s career saw her move between numerous corporate jobs before co-founding Welsh ICE where she oversees administrative and support services for its members.

Also providing one-to-one mentoring for new start-ups, Mandy was named the ‘Women in Business’ winner at the Caerphilly Business Forum Awards 2016.

Mandy’s main advice for prospective entrepreneurs is to thoroughly research your business idea. She said: “Make sure you know your topic inside out so you can become an expert in that field but don’t try to be a jack-of-all-trades.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help in areas you lack confidence.”

Mandy also stresses that while finding a balance between family life and work can be difficult, it can be done.

She added: “Women need to be braver about setting out their terms for a work-life balance with children. This might mean cutting down your hours and working flexibly, but ultimately it’s about working smarter, not longer, and using your time to the best of your ability.

“Many senior women in high-level global positions are mums and have faced similar challenges, so we know it’s certainly possible to be a great parent, as well as being great at your job.”

Liz Morgan
Founder of Ultimate Arcade Cabinets

Liz Morgan, 42, became a Director at Bedwas-based Ultimate Arcade Cabinets after 16 years working in numerous finance positions.

Responsible for the management of all financial and operations affairs for the company, Liz has helped it grow to become a key supplier for customers all over the world.

“Different jobs gave me the knowledge and insights that I now use on a daily basis”, says Liz. “While my accountancy background was a big help, working in-house at companies provided me with varied skills and awareness into how to run a successful business, demonstrating to me what works and what doesn’t. You can’t beat on-the-ground experience when it comes to learning.

“My advice is, if there’s something out there that you want to do, don’t be afraid to try it, and most importantly, don’t be worried if you don’t get there right away.”

Kathryn Morgan,
Managing Director,
Focused Recruitment

Accepting a short-term temporary position working directly for a high street recruitment agency, while waiting to start a teaching degree, Kathryn fell in love with the fast-paced recruitment environment. She subsequently turned down her place in university, in order to pursue a career in the industry.

Five years later she set up her own agency, Focused Recruitment which has become a strong contender against established recruitment names and has been recognised as a Fast Growth 50 organisation.

Her main piece of advice for those looking to start a business is to seek assistance: “When you own your own company, it’s easy to get bogged down with the running of the business, distracting from the very reason you started the business in the first place. Seek help for these areas so that you can concentrate on the bigger business picture and the things you are really good at.”

She also stressed the importance of not giving up: “I started out pitching to blue chip companies as an unknown business going in against much more established contenders. Thankfully we secured the work which is phenomenal and very much due to the quality of our brand and service. We still deal with those clients ten years on! Proving we do deliver. There will always be people who will offer to do things cheaper, but the level of service is what will determine your success and what people will ultimately remember.”

Marsha Ward
Founder of The Number Hub

Having worked her way up to board level within the legal and medical sector while raising a family single-handedly and completing a Masters, Marsha decided it was time for something different, and the Number Hub was born.

The company offers accountancy support to start-ups across the country.

For Marsha, staying on top of your game in your chosen industry is essential: “Look for gaps in the market and find the most interesting and innovative ways possible to fill them.

“When you offer people something different to what has always been done, you achieve results that haven’t been achieved before. Also, always consider things from your customers’ viewpoint, in order to ensure you break things down in a way that they understand. After all, without your customers, you have nothing.”

She added: “But most importantly, be passionate and care about what you’re doing. It will rub off on other people and they’ll be passionate about what you do too.