Our News Archives - Page 7 of 11

Sarah’s former ponytail!

Sarah Before Her Haircut

Sarah had her 6 weekly hair cut at Sally Montague’s this week for her usual trim. On arriving she heard that Sally’s teams in Derby are supporting The Little Princess Trust. This brilliant charity provides free real hair wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland that have sadly lost their own hair due to cancer treatment and other illnesses. Sally said her team are asking customers with long hair if they would mind having their hair cut so that the hair can be donated to the charity and used to make wigs for the children. Sarah, never one to pass up a good cause, agreed wholeheartedly.

After learning more about Little Princess Trust, Sarah had a great idea – Lets reach out to other Derbyshire female business owners and professionals with #Hair2SpareDerbyshire! Sally Montague has 5 thriving hair and beauty salons across Derbyshire with Sadler Gate and St Peter’s Street in Derby city centre. The Belper and Ashbourne salons also offer a host of spa treatments and facilities. So pop in, have a wonderful haircut and know you are supporting a wonderful charity!

Sarah’s New Haircut!!

This morning it was brilliant to hear from Ian Evans, Editor at East Midlands Business Link that Sarah-Louise Wykes here has successfully been shortlisted as one of the finalists in the Fastest 40 Professional category this year! We are all thrilled for her but also for all the other finalists too. These awards are designed to bring much needed recognition to all the up and coming professional businessmen and women making a valuable contribution to their respective businesses and teams.

An Overall Winner – sponsored by NTU Employability – will be selected from the winners of each category.

The awards ceremony is set to take place on Tuesday 16th May, 4pm-6.30pm at Genting Casino Riverlights Derby and it is fair to say everyone here will be there with fingers crossed for Sarah-Louise!

Congratulations to all the other finalists who are detailed below…

Fastest in Tech & Creative – Sponsored by High Growth

Mary Baird-Wilcock, The Simplifiers; Tom Craig & Aaron Dicks, Impression; Ross Davies, Strafe Creative; Jon Martin, Hallam Internet; Sam Stoffel, Profit Accumulator; Rob Twells & Liam Nelson, Frogspark; Matt Wheatcroft, Purpose Media

Fastest in Professional Services – Sponsored by East Midlands Business Link

Jahid Ali, Spearing Waite; Kay Botley, Duncan & Toplis; Simon Browning, UHY Hacker; Young Zoe Dowthwaite, Flint Bishop; Ginny Hallam, Halborns Sarah-Louise Wykes, Astute Recruitment

Fastest Restaurant and Bar – Sponsored by Poppleston Allen

Craig Bunting, BEAR; Sophie Green, The Cross Keys; Craig Poynter, The Bakehouse; Christian Wirizlay, The Pillar Box

Fastest Owner-Manager – Sponsored by Qdos Consulting

Tom Craig & Aaron Dicks, Impression; Mark Dryden, Box 09; Tim Emmony, MNE Accounting; Bradley Gough, Davies Gough Recruitment; Ed Hollands, DrivenMedia; Matt Wheatcroft, Purpose Media

Fastest in Property – Sponsored by Cartwright Communications

Arran Bailey, ALB Investments; Graham Bancroft, BB&J Commercial; Tom Drew, LK2; James Roys, David James Estate Agents

How to scale up your business for financial success

Bring your leadership team for Astute Recruitment’s powerful breakfast workshop focusing on the Four priorities that you need to master to successfully grow your business.
Neale Lewis is an international coach and acknowledged expert in helping SME businesses and start-ups put in place the key strategies for growth.

Join us at 7.30am Friday 21st July 2017 at the Dave Mackay Suite, Pride Park Stadium, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8XL. You will learn from Neale the tools to overcome the four critical issues facing every business: –

Attracting and keeping the right PEOPLE
Creation of a truly differentiated STRATEGY
Driving flawless EXECUTION
Having plenty of CASH to weather the storms

You will also learn about the key strategies you need to adopt in your business and team including: –

ALIGNMENT – How to get faster results with less effort by developing organisational clarity and accountability
ACCELERATE – How to develop a strategic advantage over your competitors and position your brand as a market leader
ADVANCE – See your company’s reputation and revenues soar as employees fulfil 100% of all promises

Neale is owner and director of Neale Lewis Associates whose services are specifically designed to help growth minded entrepreneurs, companies and business professionals achieve their potential. His team recognise the challenges that come from developing a company from the ‘Start Up’ to ‘Scale Up’ phase helping to achieve clarity on the numbers right through to developing a powerful business growth strategy.

This is the fourth business breakfast event hosted by Astute Recruitment and follows on from the great successes of our first event “Strategies to win in business with Neil Back MBE”. and two subsequent breakfasts on “Emotional Intelligence for Business Success with Lisa Spencer-Arnell”

Neale Lewis ★ Scale Up Expert ★ High Growth Business Coach ★ Leadership Trainer ★ Strategic Planning Consultant ★ Keynote Speaker

Programme:

7:30 Registration, complimentary tea / coffee and breakfast

7:45 Introduction

7:50 Neale Lewis

8:45 Opportunity for Q & A/ Networking

9:00 Close

Free car parking is available and if you have any special dietary requirements please contact Mary Maguire – [email protected]

This event is strictly by invitation only. To find out more please contact the team at Astute on 01332 346 100.

It was great to host our second event on ‘Emotional Intelligence For Business Success’ at Alfreton Golf Club. With over 30 local professional businessmen and women in attendance it proved to be a great morning. Here are some of the photos… Our thanks to Lisa Spencer-Arnell, and to everyone who attended on St Patricks Day!

It’s important to all of us here that our events are useful, engaging and enjoyable so we took feedback from everyone who came. …. Some of their comments are below…

“I found the event very informative and gave me some good ideas to use with my current team”

“Very interesting topic. Thanks for the invite!”

“A very relaxed and interactive session – I found it to be quite inspiring”

“It was a great event with a really interesting speaker”

Our next event will be on 21st July at Pride Park with guest speaker Neale Lewis, business scale up expert, high growth business coach, leadership trainer and international strategic planning consultant. Neale will be talking about how to scale up your business and career for financial success. We will announce more details on this event in the next few days.

Neale Lewis, International Business Coach, Trainer and Speaker

A brand new networking group – Derby’s Finest – aiming to celebrate and support women who make a positive contribution to the city – was officially launched with a great event at Derby College’s Engine Shed restaurant at the Roundhouse in Pride Park.

This new group has been set up by Claire Twells from Smith Partnership, Bev Crighton from the University of Derby and Amanda Strong from Mercia Image Print in Little Eaton. Fifty women from a wide range of businesses and organisations attended the launch event to hear about plans for future events and about the chosen charity of the year – Prostate Cancer UK. This first event raised nearly £300 for the charity and the target is to grow this to thousands over the coming year.

Sarah-Louise Wykes and Mary Maguire went along as guests and look forward to supporting Derby’s Finest with their future events!

Emotional Intelligence and mindfulness are both of interest for employers and employees alike. In a bid to help Midlands business gain a better understanding of these terms, consultant Lisa Spencer-Arnell will be speaking at a breakfast event (17 March) at Alfreton Golf Club.

The event is the third business breakfast event of its kind, organised by specialist accountancy recruitment agency Astute Recruitment. It aims to help professionals gain a better understanding of how emotional intelligence and mindfulness can impact work and leadership.

Recently, emotional intelligence and mindfulness have become recognised and acknowledged as key elements of business and personal success, outstanding performance, happiness and good health, with events like this in demand.

Managing director of Astute Recruitment, Mary Maguire said: “Due to popular demand, we are delighted to be hosting our second event on emotional intelligence with guest speaker, Lisa Spencer-Arnell. Our first event on this topic was so popular among attendees that we have booked Lisa again for another breakfast event.

“We are proud to be holding this event and hope it will benefit those in attendance to gain a better understanding of emotional intelligence and mindfulness in the workplace.”

Lisa Spencer-Arnell is ideally placed to explain emotional intelligence and wellness through her highly successful career as an international consultant, coach, speaker and author. Lisa’s extensive work on emotional intelligence has been widely praised and recognised.

Recruitment is a multi-award winning accountancy recruitment agency offering bespoke solutions to clients and helping candidates to find suitable positions. Astute is working to create events which inspire its clients and candidates across the East Midlands.

Breakfast will be served to attendees from 7:30 am, with speakers commencing at 7:45 am and the event closing for 9:00 am

The event, which is free to attend has limited spaces and can be booked online at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/emotional-intelligence-for-business-success-tickets-31964190755

Roger & Joanna sharing top tips at NTU’s Employability Workshop

Deborah Labatte Giving Tips To IoD Student Members

Simon & Dean Sharing Their Wisdom on Interview Tips With IoD Student Members at NTU

Graham & Mary Sharing Tips On Assessment Centres & Psychometric Testing

It was a great evening working working with NTU’s Employability Team to provide support to the IoD’s Student Members. Splitting into 4 teams each led by a business owner and member of NTU, we each advised groups of IoD Student Members on tips and how to prepare for interviews, assessment centres, psychometric tests and more. The evening was a great success with really positive feedback from the students who attended. Thanks to the team at Nottingham Trent University, Deborah, Simon, Roger, Mary and of course the IoD Students!

Astute Recruitment hosting 2nd event on Emotional Intelligence for business success

Due to popular demand, Astute Recruitment are delighted to announce our second event with guest speaker Lisa Spencer-Arnell. Our first event at the end of last year in Branston on Emotional Intelligence was so popular amongst attendees with those who couldn’t make it saying that they would definitely attend another event if it was to the north of Derby closer to Junction 28 of the M1. So we are all delighted to announce we have booked Lisa again!

Our event will be held at Alfreton Golf Club, Wingfield Road, Oakerthorpe, Alfreton, DE55 7LH on Friday 17th March 2017 and will commence from 7.30am with complimentary teas/ coffees and breakfast cobs. Emotional intelligence and wellness at work have become key topics of importance to business professionals.

What is more important to your financial success? IQ or Emotional Intelligence (EI)?
What has the biggest impact on achieving extraordinary results, building great relationships and being fulfilled in life?

Over recent years Emotional Intelligence and mindfulness have become recognised and acknowledged as key elements of business and personal success, outstanding performance, happiness and good health.

In this interactive session, you’ll hear about and experience the positive difference EI can make in your  business and team, including: –
·      What EI really is and the role it plays in work & leadership.
·      What the research tells us about IQ & EI.
·      How our amazing brain works and what we can learn from neuroscience to get the best out of ourselves and others?
·      How you can increase your self-awareness through EI.
·      Mindfulness and the impact on your focus, clarity, and effectiveness.
·      The most important question you can ask yourself.
·      3 ways to raise your game and impact your results.

Lisa Spencer-Arnell is ideally placed to explain Emotional Intelligence and Wellness at work through her highly successful career as an International Consultant & Coach – Inspirational Speaker and Published Author. Her work on Emotional Intelligence has been widely praised and recognised.
This is the third breakfast business event hosted by Astute Recruitment and follows on from the great success of our previous events: –
“Emotional Intelligence For Business Success with Lisa Spencer-Arnell” at Branston Golf Club
“Strategies to win in business” at Geldards on Pride Park with Neil Back MBE.

Again we only have a limited number of spaces to attend our forthcoming breakfast on emotional intelligence so please register HERE to register and confirm your place on our dedicated Eventbrite Page.

Lisa Spencer-Arnell speaking at Astute Recruitment’s first business breakfast event on Emotional Intelligence at Branston Golf Club

Lisa Spencer-Arnell: – Treasure Seeker, Leadership Consultant & Coach, Author, Speaker

Programme: –
7:30             Registration, complimentary tea / coffee and breakfast
7:45             Introduction
7:50             Lisa Spencer-Arnell
8:45             Opportunity for Q & A/ Networking
9:00             Close

Free car parking is available and if you have any special dietary requirements please contact Mary Maguire by email: – [email protected]

Astute’s Mary Maguire is looking forward to tonight’s employability event in conjunction with East Midlands IoD and Nottingham Trent University. This evening businessmen and women will be sharing tips and best practice to the IoD’s Student Members on key topics covering CV’s & application forms, Interviews, Assessment Days and Psychometric Testing and Networking! There will be an opportunity for questions and networking at the end which should give the IoD Students some key takeaways to enhance their employability in a competitive employment market. Mary will be working with small teams of students talking about assessment centres and psychometric tests giving some important advice to help the students secure a new career opportunity.

EMC – Enterprising Women Awards 2017 – THE WINNERS!

Our team at Astute enjoying the evening including our finalist Sarah-Louise Wykes

It was a great night at Colwick Hall celebrating the success of EMC – East Midlands Enterprising Women. Everyone who was recongised as a finalist are winners in their own right – including our very own Sarah-Louise Wykes who we are all really proud of.

The list of winners and their categories: –

Sharon Redrobe OBE & CEO of Twycross Zoo – East Midlands Zoological Society awarded Inspirational Woman of the Year.

Dr Redrobe was one of six women and a team presented with awards at the dinner. Six more and another team were highly commended. The awards recognise the achievements of women in business, many of whom have to balance running families and households to achieve their success.

The other winners included:

Business Woman of the Year – Suzanne Smith of Soteria Asbestos
Community Champion of the Year – Barbara Cathcart of Nottingham Hospitals Charity
Enterprising New Business Woman of the Year – Mital Thanki of Spark Academy
Team of the Year – Geldards Family Team
Female Employee of the Year – Min Rose, of The University of Nottingham

The event was co-Chaired by Jean Mountain, a Director and Immediate Past President of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), and Eileen Richards, business owner and former Chair of Integra for Women in Business in Leicestershire, which merged with Enterprising Women.

Eileen said: “We were very impressed with the quality of the applications this year and level of support for women in business.”

The gala dinner was hosted by freelance presenter Emma Jesson, who was GMTV’s first weathergirl, later working for ITV Central and ITV Granada.

Each of the awards was sponsored with the event’s headline sponsor, Cambridge & Counties Bank, coordinating a ‘Women in Business mentoring scheme’, which is supported by Enterprising Women.

Eleven mentees were shortlisted to take part in an assessment day. The successful mentees, which were also announced last night, were Amanda Overend of Books & Pieces, Jade Patel of Cambridge & Counties Bank, Neha Kadiwar of Hastings Direct, Sarah Wilkins of Lumbers and Lynsey Hyslop of The Rugby Players Association.

Jean, who launched Enterprising Women 20 years ago, said: “Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Enterprising Women Awards. These awards are all about acknowledging and celebrating their achievements.

“There are some very talented and hard-working businesswomen in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire who play a massive part in the success of their business but are often not recognised for their hard work and determination.

“These enterprising women make an important contribution to the local economy and their success stories will hopefully inspire other women to pursue their business dreams.”

Sarah-Louise Wykes Finalist of the EMC Enterprising Women of the Year awards – Female Employee Of The Year 2017

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Mike

16:04 13 Mar 23

Highly recommended! Josh and Sarah have been fantastic at Astute. They've found and placed me in 2 jobs now between them, both really responsive and excellent at keeping you up to speed with things. Very knowledgable about the roles and happy to talk to companies with any queries you have.

C R.

10:45 27 Jan 23

Great agency one of the best ones I've worked with! Liz has been a great help and support in helping me towards a new direction in my career life. She is very attentive and keeps me in the loop at all times! She makes the extra effort to work with my preferred requirements for work and even if it isn't completely attainable she meets me in the middle and does as much as she can to help! Also Liz is very funny might I add 😂 and I'm happy that I can now put a face to the name after all these years! Thank you again Liz for all your help and support! 😊

Christine

10:32 20 Dec 22

Josh and the Astute team was very swift to help me to find roles that matched my profile. They are really reliable and will help through every step of the recruitment process going out of their way to assist and follow up when needed. Could not find a better recruitment agency!

Helen Pinegar

16:19 18 Dec 22

Fantastic recruitment agency.. Josh was extremely enthusiastic, encouraging and clearly knowledgeable about what was needed from both the employee and the employers point of view. Extremely supportive especially in regards to interview preparation and endeavoured to procure feedback promptly. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Astute in the future to both candidates and recruiting businesses particularly for the right fit for the role!!!

Lisa Leigh

11:56 30 Nov 22

I have worked as a candidate for Astute and they have been excellent. Super friendly service and professional agents keen to fit the right person to the right job. It has been a pleasure dealing with them and I would happily work for them again in the future. Highly recommend this agency.