Inspiring Women Wales | Ysbrydoli Menywod Cymru University of South Wales & NatWest

More women than ever are starting new businesses and, for the first time, women are starting businesses at a faster rate than men.

But male-led businesses are far more likely to scale up. What causes this growth gap - and, crucially, how do we support women to overcome it?

In this episode Gemma chats to Lianne Weaver, founder of Beam Development and Training, about continuing to do a job only because you think it's what's expected of you; connecting with yourself, finding your 'why' and being honest about what would really make you happy; and learning to delegate and bring in others to enable your business to keep growing.



Mae mwy o fenywod nag erioed yn dechrau busnesau newydd ac, am y tro cyntaf, mae menywod yn dechrau busnesau ar raddfa gyflymach na dynion.

Ond mae busnesau sy'n cael eu harwain gan ddynion yn llawer mwy tebygol o gynyddu. Beth sy'n achosi'r bwlch twf hwn - ac, yn hollbwysig, sut mae cefnogi menywod i'w oresgyn?

Yn y bennod hon mae Gemma yn sgwrsio â Lianne Weaver, sylfaenydd Beam Development and Training, am barhau i wneud swydd yn unig oherwydd eich bod yn meddwl mai dyna sy'n ddisgwyliedig ohonoch chi; cysylltu â chi'ch hun, dod o hyd i'ch 'pam' a bod yn onest am beth fyddai'n eich gwneud chi'n hapus mewn gwirionedd; a dysgu dirprwyo a dod ag eraill i mewn i alluogi eich busnes i barhau i dyfu.



Episode Topics / Pynciau Pennod:

01:15: Beam's focus on personal development and wellbeing training for organisations worldwide / Ffocws trawst ar ddatblygiad personol a hyfforddiant lles i sefydliadau ledled y byd

02:41: Early career in HR and leaving due to childcare responsibilities / Gyrfa gynnar mewn AD a gadael oherwydd cyfrifoldebau gofal plant

05:57: Retraining in book-keeping and accountancy to fit around family life / Ailhyfforddi mewn cadw llyfrau a chyfrifeg i ffitio o amgylch bywyd teuluol

08:52: The importance of self-awareness in following your career and business dreams / Pwysigrwydd hunan-ymwybyddiaeth wrth ddilyn eich gyrfa a breuddwydion busnes

10:12: The illusion of having a successful life versus the reality of being unhappy / Y camargraff o gael bywyd llwyddiannus yn erbyn y realiti o fod yn anhapus

11:58: Checking in on your motivation for doing a job or running a business / Gwirio eich cymhelliant am wneud swydd neu redeg busnes

16:29: Bringing her husband into the business to allow the business to keep growing / Dod â'i gŵr i'r busnes i ganiatáu i'r busnes barhau i dyfu

19:04: Setting boundaries to keep work life and home life separate / Gosod ffiniau i gadw bywyd gwaith a bywyd cartref ar wahân

22:28: Looking after yourself as an entrepreneur, and the scientific research which proves why taking regular breaks is so vital to success / Mae gofalu amdanoch eich hun fel entrepreneur, a'r ymchwil wyddonol sy'n profi pam mae cymryd seibiannau rheolaidd mor hanfodol i lwyddiant



Visit Beam Development and Training's website here: http://www.beamtraining.co.uk/training

Read more about the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship here: https://natwestbusinesshub.com/articles/rose-review-2022-a-fresh-drive-to-boost-the-number-of-female-entrepreneurs

Find out more about the NatWest Accelerator Programme here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html

Find out more about NatWest's tailored support for women in business here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/women-in-business.html

Family care responsibilities are the number one barrier to business success for female entrepreneurs with children.

That was one of the key findings of the Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship published in 2019. Since then we've seen women bearing the brunt of domestic load during the pandemic, and now the rising cost of living and childcare represents another significant challenge.

So how can we best support mums to start and scale their businesses?

In this episode, Gemma is joined by Ceri Gillett, CEO of Mubo, a social enterprise for female entrepreneurs, to talk about offering tailored support to parents; speaking up about what you need as you start up and scale up; and finding your own community to give you vital support along the way.



Cyfrifoldebau gofal teuluol yw'r nifer sy'n atal llwyddiant busnes i entrepreneuriaid benywaidd gyda phlant.

Dyna oedd un o brif ganfyddiadau'r Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship a gyhoeddwyd yn 2019. Ers hynny rydym wedi gweld menywod yn dwyn brunt llwyth domestig yn ystod y pandemig, ac erbyn hyn mae costau byw a gofal plant cynyddol yn her sylweddol arall.

Felly sut allwn ni gefnogi mamau orau i ddechrau a graddfa eu busnesau?

Yn y bennod hon, mae Ceri Gillett, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Mubo, menter gymdeithasol i entrepreneuriaid benywaidd yn ymuno â Gemma, i siarad am gynnig cefnogaeth wedi'i deilwra i rieni; Wrth siarad am yr hyn sydd ei angen arnoch wrth i chi ddechrau a graddfa i fyny; a dod o hyd i'ch cymuned eich hun i roi cefnogaeth hanfodol i chi ar hyd y ffordd.



Episode Topics / Pynciau Pennod:

01:11: Leaving a corporate career after becoming a mother / Gadael gyrfa gorfforaethol ar ôl dod yn fam

04:22: Losing her identity after leaving a corporate career / Colli ei hunaniaeth ar ôl gadael gyrfa gorfforaethol

06:27: Starting Mubo to help mothers into business / Dechrau Mubo i helpu mamau i fyd busnes

10:21: What Mubo offers / Beth mae Mubo yn ei gynnig

13:34: Having an awareness of the support you need at different stages of your business / Cael ymwybyddiaeth o'r cymorth sydd ei angen arnoch ar wahanol gamau o'ch busnes

19:02: Being aware of a lack of confidence holding you back / Bod yn ymwybodol o ddiffyg hyder yn eich dal yn ôl

22:26: Considerations in setting up as a social business / Ystyriaethau wrth sefydlu fel busnes cymdeithasol

24:52: Advice for a parent or caregiver thinking of setting up a business / Cyngor i riant neu ofalaeth sy'n meddwl sefydlu busnes



Visit Mubo's website here: https://www.wearemubo.com/

Read more about the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship here: https://natwestbusinesshub.com/articles/rose-review-2022-a-fresh-drive-to-boost-the-number-of-female-entrepreneurs

Find out more about the NatWest Accelerator Programme here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html

Find out more about NatWest's tailored support for women in business here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/women-in-business.html

What does the future hold for business communications?

Anna Burke is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Anglesey-based creative visual design agency, Animated Technologies. They are 'visual communicators', specialising in using virtual reality and augmented reality to help businesses and other organisations - even schools - to get complex messages across in a visual way.

As well as helping others to share their products and services effectively, Anna is clear about the importance of good communication in all aspects of business. In this episode, she chats to Gemma about how 'sales' can be approached in a collaborative way; being honest with colleagues about the effects of hormone fluctuations and monthly cycles; and why good networking isn't all about talking.



Beth sydd gan y dyfodol i gyfathrebu busnes?

Anna Burke yw Cyd-sefydlydd a Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr yr asiantaeth dylunio gweledol creadigol sydd wedi'i lleoli yn Ynys Môn, Animated Technologies. Maent yn 'gyfathrebwyr gweledol', gan arbenigo mewn defnyddio realiti rhithwir a realiti estynedig i helpu busnesau a sefydliadau eraill - hyd yn oed ysgolion - i gyfleu negeseuon cymhleth mewn ffordd weledol.

Yn ogystal â helpu eraill i rannu eu cynnyrch a'u gwasanaethau'n effeithiol, mae Anna'n glir am bwysigrwydd cyfathrebu da ym mhob agwedd o fusnes. Yn y bennod hon, mae'n sgwrsio â Gemma am sut y gellir mynd at 'werthiant' mewn ffordd gydweithredol;  bod yn onest gyda chydweithwyr am effeithiau amrywiadau hormonau a chylchoedd misol; a pham nad yw rhwydweithio da yn ymwneud â siarad.



Episode topics / Pynciau Pennod:

02:21: Pilot project using VR for language learning in schools / Prosiect peilot yn defnyddio VR ar gyfer dysgu iaith mewn ysgolion.

05:03: Moving from a background in graphic design to animation / Symud o gefndir mewn dylunio graffeg i animeiddio.

06:11: Setting up in business and seeking support with strategy, sales and target market / Sefydlu mewn busnes a chwilio am gefnogaeth gyda strategaeth, gwerthiant a'r farchnad darged.

11:24: Mindset and resilience / Meddylfryd a gwytnwch.

15:04: Imposter syndrome / Syndrom Imposter.

17:09: Women's cycles and hormone imbalances affecting work / Cylchoedd menywod ac anghydbwysedd hormonau yn effeithio ar waith.

19:21: Networking - the importance of listening as well as talking / Rhwydweithio - pwysigrwydd gwrando yn ogystal â siarad.

23:48: Getting your message right in a pitch / Mynnwch eich neges yn iawn mewn cae.



Visit Animated Technologies website here: https://www.animatedtechnologies.co.uk/

Read more about the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship here: https://natwestbusinesshub.com/articles/rose-review-2022-a-fresh-drive-to-boost-the-number-of-female-entrepreneurs

Find out more about the NatWest Accelerator Programme here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html

Find out more about NatWest's tailored support for women in business here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/women-in-business.html

Can you turn something you're truly passionate about into a successful business?

Frankie Hobro spent years travelling the world, working in far-flung and exotic places on conservation projects for critically endangered  species. It involved not only ensuring the species was saved, but also working closely with local communities, inspiring them to carry on the sustainability work once she had moved on.

In this episode, Gemma chats with Frankie about drawing on the skills, resourcefulness and resilience built during those years overseas in her role as Director of Anglesey Sea Zoo. They discuss having confidence in your gut instinct about the direction of your business; why planning is so important to get your business through challenging times; and how to keep following your dream even when those tough times hit.



Allwch chi droi rhywbeth rydych chi'n wirioneddol angerddol amdano yn fusnes llwyddiannus?

Treuliodd Frankie Hobro flynyddoedd yn teithio'r byd, gan weithio mewn llefydd pell ac egsotig ar brosiectau cadwraeth ar gyfer rhywogaethau sydd mewn perygl difrifol. Roedd yn cynnwys nid yn unig sicrhau bod y rhywogaeth yn cael ei hachub, ond hefyd yn gweithio'n agos gyda chymunedau lleol, gan eu hysbrydoli i barhau â'r gwaith cynaliadwyedd wedi iddi symud ymlaen.

Yn y bennod hon, mae Gemma yn sgwrsio gyda Frankie am dynnu ar y sgiliau, y dyfeisgarwch a'r gwytnwch a adeiladwyd yn ystod y blynyddoedd hynny dramor yn ei rôl fel Cyfarwyddwr Sw Môr Môn. Maen nhw'n trafod cael hyder yn eich greddf perfedd am gyfeiriad eich busnes; pam bod cynllunio mor bwysig i gael eich busnes drwy gyfnod heriol; a sut i ddal ati i ddilyn eich breuddwyd hyd yn oed pan darodd yr amseroedd anodd hynny.



Episode topics / Pynciau Pennod:

00:46: Frankie's conservation work around the world / Gwaith cadwraeth Frankie ledled y byd

03:36: Anglesey Sea Zoo, and how her background prepared her for running the business / Sŵ Môr Môn, a sut wnaeth ei chefndir ei pharatoi ar gyfer rhedeg y busnes

07:43: Having confidence in gut instinct about the direction of the business when others were doubtful / Cael hyder wrth reddf y perfedd am gyfeiriad y busnes pan oedd eraill yn amheus

11:48: Funding renewable energy for the business / Ariannu ynni adnewyddadwy i'r busnes

14:17: Recognising that skills built in a job or in everyday life are valuable for starting and running a business / Cydnabod bod sgiliau sydd wedi'u hadeiladu mewn swydd neu mewn bywyd bob dydd yn werthfawr i ddechrau a rhedeg busnes

17:37: Guiding the business through the Covid pandemic / Tywys y busnes drwy'r pandemig Covid

25:37: Taking care of  yourself whilst running a business . Gofalu amdanoch eich hun wrth redeg busnes



Links:

Visit Anglesey Sea Zoo's website here: https://www.angleseyseazoo.co.uk/

Read more about the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship here: https://natwestbusinesshub.com/articles/rose-review-2022-a-fresh-drive-to-boost-the-number-of-female-entrepreneurs

Find out more about the NatWest Accelerator Programme here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html

Find out more about NatWest's tailored support for women in business here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/women-in-business.html

Can you really leave a corporate career to build a successful business from a passion project?

Accountant Valerie Creusailor loved hosting barbecues for family and friends. They would compliment her and her husband on the sauces they made, which were inspired by their African heritage. Their guests suggested they should sell them - and there the idea of Goch & Co was born.

In this episode, Gemma chats with Valerie about finding the confidence to invest in the new business, managing cashflow, and lessons that can be carried over from a corporate career - and even personal life - to a family business.



A allwch chi wir adael gyrfa gorfforaethol i adeiladu busnes llwyddiannus o brosiect angerdd?

Roedd y cyfrifydd Valerie Creusailor wrth ei fodd yn cynnal barbeciws ar gyfer teulu a ffrindiau. Byddent yn ei ategu hi a'i gŵr ar y sawsiau a wnaethant, a gafodd eu hysbrydoli gan eu treftadaeth Affricanaidd. Awgrymodd eu gwesteion y dylen nhw eu gwerthu - ac yno cafodd y syniad o Goch &Co ei eni.

Yn y bennod hon, mae Gemma yn sgwrsio gyda Valerie am ddod o hyd i'r hyder i fuddsoddi yn y busnes newydd, rheoli llif arian, a gwersi y gellir eu cario drosodd o yrfa gorfforaethol - a hyd yn oed bywyd personol - i fusnes teuluol.



Pynciau Pennod:

01:07: Cefndir i Goch &Co, wedi'i ysbrydoli gan dreftadaeth Affricanaidd.

03:06: Coginio i deulu a ffrindiau a chael eu hysbrydoli i fynd i fusnes.

04:51: Graddio o goginio gartref i symud i safleoedd masnachol.

06:47: Cael yr hyder i fuddsoddi yn y busnes.

09:15: Awgrymiadau am reoli llif arian.

11:26: Gwerth rhwydweithio a chydweithio.

14:28: Tyfu eich tîm ac adeiladu diwylliant da.

17:26: Dod â sgiliau o yrfa flaenorol neu fywyd personol i fusnes.

19:19: Cynlluniau i'r dyfodol.

20:07: Gwneud prosiect angerdd yn fusnes llawn amser.



Episode topics:

01:07: Background to Goch & Co, inspired by African heritage.

03:06: Cooking for family & friends & being inspired to go into business.

04:51: Scaling up from cooking at home to moving into commercial premises.

06:47: Having the confidence to invest in the business.

09:15: Tips for managing cashflow.

11:26: The value of networking and collaborating.

14:28: Growing your team and building a good culture.

17:26: Bringing skills from a previous career or personal life into a business.

19:19: Future plans.

20:07: Making a passion project a full-time business.



Links

Visit Goch & Co's website here: https://www.gochandcompany.co/

Read more about the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship here: https://natwestbusinesshub.com/articles/rose-review-2022-a-fresh-drive-to-boost-the-number-of-female-entrepreneurs

Find out more about the NatWest Accelerator Programme here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html

Find out more about NatWest's tailored support for women in business here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/women-in-business.html

How do you build a business which can withstand the type of shocks the economy has experienced over the past few years?

Hospitality is one industry bearing the full brunt of those challenges, from Covid lockdowns to a recruitment crunch, from soaring energy bills to a general cost of living crisis.

In this episode, Gemma chats with Natalie Isaac, Director of the 44 Group which owns renowned tapas bars, restaurants and now a hotel. Natalie discusses her journey from bringing a taste of Spain to south Wales, to coping with momentous decisions in the face of multiple crises - and how building good relationships, a strong team culture and support networks are key to business resilience.



Sut ydych chi'n adeiladu busnes sy'n gallu gwrthsefyll y math o sioc mae'r economi wedi'i brofi dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf?

Mae lletygarwch yn un diwydiant sy'n dwyn brunt llawn yr heriau hynny, o gyfnodau clo Covid i wasgfa recriwtio, o filiau ynni esgynnol i argyfwng costau byw cyffredinol.

Yn y bennod hon, mae Gemma yn sgwrsio gyda Natalie Isaac, Cyfarwyddwr y Grŵp 44 sy'n berchen ar fariau tapas enwog, bwytai a bellach yn westy. Mae Natalie'n trafod ei thaith o ddod â blas o Sbaen i dde Cymru, i ddygymod â phenderfyniadau arwyddocaol yn wyneb argyfyngau lluosog - a sut mae meithrin perthynas dda, diwylliant tîm cryf a rhwydweithiau cymorth yn allweddol i allutwch busnes.



Pynciau Pennod:

00:50: Sut dechreuodd Grŵp 44 a thyfu.

05:06: Bod mewn busnes ochr yn ochr â'i brodyr, a bod yn fenyw mewn diwydiant sy'n cael ei ddominyddu gan ddynion.

09:46: Strwythuro partneriaeth i chwarae i gryfderau.

11:36: Ymdopi â chyfnodau clo Covid.

16:19: Pwysau argyfwng recriwtio, costau ynni a chwyddiant yn codi.

18:16: Adeiladu diwylliant tîm pan fo amseroedd yn anodd.

23:46: Dod o hyd i gymorth fel perchennog busnes.



Episode topics:

00:50: How 44 Group started and grew.

05:06: Being in business alongside her brothers, and being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

09:46: Structuring a partnership to play to strengths.

11:36: Coping with Covid lockdowns.

16:19: Pressures of a recruitment crisis, energy costs and rising inflation.

18:16: Building a team culture when times are tough.

23:46: Finding support as a business owner.



Visit 44 Group's website here: https://grupo44.co.uk/

Read more about the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship which Gemma mentions here: https://natwestbusinesshub.com/articles/rose-review-2022-a-fresh-drive-to-boost-the-number-of-female-entrepreneurs

Find out more about the NatWest Accelerator Programme here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html

Find out more about NatWest's tailored support for women in business here: https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/women-in-business.html