A fantastic opportunity to meet local female entrepreneurs for the inspiration, ideas and support to start or grow your business from whatever stage you are at, with a rare chance to ask them questions and get honest feedback!
This Make It Your Business Event is hosted and organised by local businesswoman, Siobhan Stirling, Director of the Sharpminds Agency in Tunbridge Wells.
Our guest speakers are Claire Jarvis of Work in Harmony, Matthew Sankey of renowned Sankey’s brands, Alison Hazell of Temper Temper and Tara de Linde & Angie Pool of Atelier de Linde.
We’re planning a great event and a chance to build connections with other like-minded women both locally and further afield.
As usual, the Tunbridge Wells event is very kindly hosted by The Finance Hub, at the end of The Pantiles: Unit B, The Potteries, Linden Park Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5FQ.
The Finance Hub and The Property Hub is a collaborative hub of experts advising on all aspects of finance and property. More information on their services can be found at www.thefinancehub.money.
Tea and coffee will be served.
Siobhan Stirling is the founder and director of Sharp Minds Communications, a multi-award-winning marketing and PR agency based in Tunbridge Wells which celebrated its tenth birthday in 2022. Sharp Minds has won many awards since 2018 including in 2023 Best Creative Business and Outstanding Business at The Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards and was a nominated finalist at the SABRE EMEA Awards.
Sharp Minds’ why is: “Creating opportunities –for our clients, our staff and our community”.
Siobhan has a strong commitment to providing career opportunities for working parents and young people, having successfully nurtured four apprentices. Sharp Minds also proactively supports a number of charities and start-ups.
Previously a journalist, Siobhan spent nearly 20 years with the BBC as a reporter, presenter and producer on radio and TV,as well as writing for national newspapers and magazines.
She is also a published author, with her book “Sleep–helping your child to sleep through the night” published in several languages.
Matthew Sankey is a third generation of restauranteur, owning and operating the Sankey’s brand in Tunbridge Wells. These are; Sankey’s Seafood Kitchen & Bar on Mt Ephraim, and The Old Fishmarket in The Pantiles & Sankey’s. The Fishmongers: with a presence online, on both Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells High streets and Sankey’s Wholesale which supplies to over 200 restaurants in the South East.
In 2020 Matthew was also elected to Tunbridge Wells Council for the independent Alliance party and is the Business Champion for the Borough Partnership. As Business Champion Matthew is the link between the Council, its officers & elected members. Being able to add a real life approach to decision making within the council.
Matthew has two children, Margot aged 4 & William aged 14, he lives with his wife (Amy), 1 dog & a cat.
After spending most of her working life in communications and government relations, including 10 years as Director of Communications for Siemens plc, Claire is now enjoying a portfolio career. In 2021, having retrained in systems coaching and workplace mediation, she established her business, Work in Harmony, to support leaders to build engaged, high-performing teams. With a deep understanding of team dynamics, culture and communications, Claire combines her leadership and communications expertise with her skills in facilitation, coaching and conflict resolution, offering a range of services, including people skills training, team relationship coaching and workplace mediation. As a team player herself, she frequently partners with other businesses focusing on team dynamics and human leadership and is an associate of global consultancy Bailey & French whose mission is to humanise the world of work.
As part of her portfolio, Claire also works for her local community mediation charity, West Kent Mediation, and is an ambassador for Careershifters, an organisation that helped and inspired her during her midlife career pivot.
Running a business is never easy and can be challenging for anyone – especially as a mum of six (five girls and a boy). Over the years Alison has done a lot of different things, most of which have involved working and looking after children, including her own and other peoples! She loves teaching and learning new skills so has undergone a lot of different training programmes.
She took over Temper Temper in 2012 after it had been set up by someone else in 2007. When she first took over, the business was running mainly over the weekends. This worked for her to start with, having a large family and other work commitments throughout the week. It began with her daughter and her running it, and one of the ideas they had was to start working with schools. It quickly became necessary to take their weekend business to the next level and they opened their chocolate factory throughout the week. The kitchen became a hub of excitement, everyone loves chocolate! Especially when they learn the detailed process of how it’s created and all the different types of chocolate there are. It also teaches children a really important life skill – working in a kitchen.
They quickly took on extra staff and the team now comprises 3 full time members, 8 part time. Although Alison didn’t officially start the business from scratch, she is incredibly proud of her team and family for what they have grown the business into today. It’s hard work, but very rewarding.
She wouldn’t change what she does for anything and they are already opening their doors to exciting networking events, more corporate events, workshops and other innovative ideas!
Atelier de Linde is an award-winning RIBA chartered Architecture practice which was established in August 2022 by Tara de Linde and Angie Pool. Between them, the pair have decades of experience both here in the UK as well as South Africa where Angie is from, and in Europe on both residential and commercial projects. They decided to join forces after spotting a gap in the market for an architecture practice that offers a totally bespoke and unique approach to every project with sustainability at the core of everything they do.
Tara de Linde is a visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge and an examiner at both the Bartlett (UCL) and the Royal Institute of British Architects. She sits on the judging panel for the British Homes Awards and is a governor of Battle Abbey School in East Sussex, advising on property development. She has three children and enjoys fine dining , skiing, rock climbing and has recently run 17k of the Thames Path Challenge for Charity.
Angie Pool spent four years gaining experience with a developer before founding Dzelik Architecture in 2002 after her degree in South Africa, specialising in residential architecture for private, gated communities and eco estates. She consulted on Unique Restaurants and boutique hotels throughout Southern Africa and co-designed repurposed container pods for low-cost housing projects. After emigrating to the UK in 2011, Angie began consulting on residential projects throughout London, before moving to Kent. There, she established Atelier Design Consultants, offering turn-key solutions for architectural residential and redevelopment projects, whilst simultaneously working on private development projects in and around Kent. Angie also sits on the judging panel for the British Homes Awards. Angie has 3 children and many animals at home.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic event. Tickets sell out fast!! Secure your seat here
We look forward to seeing you at the event!
Venue and Parking
The event is at The Finance Hub, at the end of The Pantiles: Unit B, The Potteries, Linden Park Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5FQ
This is a new building and an alternative Postcode is TN2 5TW which is for The Grey Lady, and the venue is just down from them.
Car Parks near The Finance Hub
The Pantiles Car Park
Major York’s Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TP
(One of the closest)
Upper Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells 43O1
Upper Pantiles, Major York’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TP
(5-minute Walk to us)
Linden Park Road Car Park Tunbridge Wells
Sussex Mews, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5SJ
(One of the closest)
Spaces are limited
The Pantiles Finance Hub Limited
Unit B The Potteries
Linden Park Road
Tunbridge Wells TN2 5FQ
The Finance Hub is the trading name of
The Pantiles Finance Hub Limited. registered in England.
Company number 13467329
