http://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/G/3/z/GNTSH data feedMon, 21 May 2012 03:07:17 GMTen-gb We've just uploaded the video to the Cardiff Business Club website of the lunch event with the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg. Click here to see the video.

The event was the last in the 2011/2012 season, and saw 230 people attend for what was a bumper finale.

Our new season starts in June, and we will be posting details, events and invitations shortly.. watch this space...
]]>wTchris.haines@evolvin.com (Chris Haines)Mon, 14 May 2012 05:30:10 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/wTCBC LinkedInCBC Twitter As part of the continuing series to introduce the board members of the Club, the following questions were put to Alison Hoy, CBC Board Member, and Chief Executive of Berry Smith.

What is the single most important thing you have learned in business?
Integrity is rare, so do not believe everything you are told.

Are there any people/businesses you particularly admire?
Richard Branson who built a brand name which people identified with no matter what the product or service he was selling.  That was and still is an incredibly powerful concept.

Has anyone been especially influential in your business career?
My parents, they taught me that anything is possible if you persevere and work hard.

What best defines the reasons and opportunities open to business in Cardiff?
The location is excellent for quality work life balance.  It has access to commerce and trade and beaches and mountains.

Instinct or analysis – what matters most?
Instinct followed by careful analysis.

For more details on Alison you can read her profile piece Alison Hoy. ]]>wbchris.haines@evolvin.com (Chris Haines)Mon, 14 May 2012 05:19:59 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/wbCBC The Chairman of Cardiff Business Club is well known to all of us. Gerald Davies is a Rugby legend, having played for Wales as well as the British and Irish Lions, he is a board member of the Welsh Rugby Union and its representative on the International Rugby Board, and also a member of the British and Irish Lions Trust and a Trustee of the Barbarians Football Trust. Gerald has also served as Chairman to HTV,  is a member of the Eisteddfod Gorsedd of Bards and also a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gwent.

1. What would you consider to be the single most important thing you have learned in business? 
That while there is great merit in urgency, there is even greater merit in careful deliberation. This is even more so in circumstances which allow correspondence by email to dominate. In the long run to ponder on the matter in hand for a little while longer will save time, effort, possibly money – and embarrassment!!

2. Are there any people/businesses you particularly admire?
Those companies who value all the work force and recognise that company success is a collective effort and everyone is encouraged to share in that success. A bonus scheme – if there is one – applies to all.

3. Has anyone been especially influential in your business career?
There are several people who have been role models, but I would not care to name names. All I will say is that in whatever walk of life we choose we are all indebted to the kindnesses of good people.

4. What best defines the reasons and opportunities open to business in Cardiff?
There is the close-knit community spirit. The political, business and cultural institutions are all within easy reach for proper collaboration and effective implementation.  The key personnel  form a cluster of influence and partnerships. This is a core strength from which success should spring.

5. Instinct or analysis - which matters most?
Clearly both are essential. The mind can often get cluttered with too much analysis which, as they say, might lead to paralysis. And instinct, which can inspire invention and innovation, would not curry favour with the financial whiz kids who might care to put their hands in their pockets to invest.
It is instinct which provides the belief and passion. Analysis  makes the thing work.

To see more details about Gerald and all the other Board Members, Sponsors and Members of Cardiff Business Club please browse our website. ]]>Gychris.haines@evolvin.com (Chris Haines)Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:39:20 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/GyCBC Meet Melanie Hamer, a Director of the Club with a day job as a senior partner and co-founder of Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice LLP, established in 1996 as the first niche family law firm in Wales.

 
1. What would you consider to be the single most important thing you have learned in business?
 
Always listen to your gut instinct!  I’ve found in the past that when I listen to my gut instinct, things tend to turn out well, whereas on the odd occasion when I’ve ignored my natural reaction, I’ve regretted it and things haven’t turned out as well as they could have.  Trust your initial reaction! 
 
It’s also very important to always be professional, making sure you do the morally correct thing.
 
2. Are there any people/businesses you particularly admire?
 
I’m always impressed by what I’d call “true entrepreneurs” – people who have maybe come from a humble background, who perhaps don’t perform overly well in school, and yet have this inner entrepreneurial soul which gives them success in business.
 
3. Has anyone been especially influential in your business career?
 
One person that especially comes to mind would be one of my training partners from Eversheds, Roger Thomas OBE, who is now High Sheriff of South Glamorgan.  He used to amend my letters when I was his trainee and I remember there was often more red on the page than black!  He made me justify every word in every sentence in every letter I ever wrote, and as a result he taught me what I think is a very concise, non-flowery, professional way of writing letters. He also taught me to always return clients’ calls the same day.
 
4.  What best defines the reasons and opportunities open to business in Cardiff?
 
I’ve now worked in Cardiff since 1987, and it’s changed hugely during that time (in the right way!)  It’s become a very vibrant city, and yet it’s still retained its friendly business environment.  Business contacts in Cardiff always seem really keen to help you.
 
5.  Instinct or analysis - which matters most?
 
Definitely instinct first and analysis later.  If instinct tells you “no”, then don’t waste your time analysing it; if your instinct tells you “yes”, that’s when you should follow through with an analysis, to see if your instinct is right.  Again, it’s important to trust your initial judgment.
 
To see more details about Melanie and all the other Board Members, Sponsors and Members of Cardiff Business Club please browse our website. ]]>GKFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:57:16 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/GKCBC As part of our commitment to making Cardiff Business Club an open and welcoming environment we would like to take the opportunity to introduce Directors, key Staff, Sponsors and Members over the coming months.

The first introduction we would like to make is that of Jemma Terry, a Director of the Club with a day job as Managing Partner at Odgers Berndtson, the UK’s pre-eminent executive search firm.

What would you consider to be the single most important thing you have learned in business?

You are only as good as your last piece of work – so deliver well and be proud of what you do. In a small market like Cardiff this is even more important.
 
Are there any people/businesses you particularly admire?

There are many businesses that I admire in Cardiff, across Wales, nationally and internationally.  There are too many to mention ranging and these range from SMEs to mid caps and FTSEs too. The companies I most admire have in common the following: passion, sustainable success, confidence and a personality. 
 
Has anyone been especially influential in your business career?

My first line manager in Marks and Spencer (where I started my career) who was highly demanding, expected outstanding results and had incredibly high standards. Delivering for him was extremely difficult but it gave me a fantastic grounding in setting one’s standards high, knowing one’s commercial figures and believing that if you set out to do something, it should be the very best it can possibly be or else why bother?   
 
What best defines the reasons and opportunities open to business in Cardiff?
 
Cardiff is a small but very special place which lends itself well to companies who wish not only to be successful and trade here but also to become part of the wider fabric of our business community.  I think this engenders a more considered, responsible and longer term business view by companies.  Relationships are strong and people like doing business with people they are familiar with, feel comfortable with and who they trust.  There are many opportunities in Cardiff if one considers the uniqueness of having so many organisations across the private, public and third sector, the Welsh Government, the National Assembly, the National Museum, the Millennium Centre and the Millennium Stadium etc. all within just a few square miles.  This unique blend creates a small but highly active business community suited to those who want to be a part of the future success of our small, clever city and country.
 
Instinct or analysis - which matters most?

I am certainly instinct first and analysis second – both are important in business but if something feels right, it probably is.

To see more details about Jemma and all the other Board Members, Sponsors and Members of Cardiff Business Club please browse our website.  ]]>G5Cardiff Business ClubSun, 15 Jan 2012 13:25:35 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/G5CBC There's never a quiet day behind the scenes of Cardiff Business Club, even if you thought it was all about that one event every few weeks.

We are pleased to announce that we are making video of the events available on-line, and have this evening uploaded the first few for your viewing pleasure.

The edited videos you see here are under 10 minutes, but will certainly give you a flavour of the calibre of speakers you can see at our events.

We have to give a special thanks to Drake for filming and hosting the videos for us, and if you should want access to the full versions you should contact them directly in the first instance.

So please click the links below to see the edited videos, and if they are too small for you to view you can click the little expand icon to see them full screen, which is bottom left of the progress bar at the bottom of the video:

Simon Murray CBE : http://www.cardiffbusinessclub.org/events/archive/details/?eid=47

Peter Swinburn : http://www.cardiffbusinessclub.org/events/archive/details/?eid=48

Sir Gus O'Donnell GCB : http://www.cardiffbusinessclub.org/events/archive/details/?eid=49

If you are not yet a member and would like to see more of our speakers throughout the season, please come and join on our website by clicking here.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for any of our events, we would be more than happy to discuss suitable events with you, so feel free to give us a call, or drop us a line, details here.
]]>Ghchris.haines@evolvin.com (Chris Haines)Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:05:38 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/GhCBC Following a fantastic event on Tuesday with Sir Gus O'Donnell as our speaker, we have now published pictures of the event on our website.

You can see all the photos by clicking the link below.
http://www.cardiffbusinessclub.org/events/archive/details/?eid=49

It was very refreshing to hear someone who has been in the thick of Westminster for so many years, have such a sensible view of the whole thing. It is an absolute shame that Sir Gus is set to retire soon, and I am sure his input will be difficult to replace.
]]>Gzchris.haines@evolvin.com (Chris Haines )Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:43:57 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/GzCBC
As with previous years the Club will announce its list of dates and speakers for the season, and provide an opportunity for existing and potential members to meet, share a drink and have a good conversation or two. You don't need to be a member to attend the launch, so come along and see what the season will bring.

This season has a few changes for the Club too; we're listening to members and potential members, ushering in some changes, embracing the social network and increasing the benefits to members.

We understand that it can be daunting walking in to the packed reception room, so we are pleased to invite potential and new members to join us 10 minutes before the official start times of the events for a quick drink, so as to meet some friendly faces and get to know each other prior to joining the rest of the attendees. Just let us know if you would like to attend these early start sessions.

You may also like to know that the Club has a very active LinkedIn group with over a thousand members and very active discussions on local and business matters. If you aren't a member of the group click here to join up and then join in.

We've launched a whole host of changes to our website this season, so if you are a member please make sure you tell us your website URL, Twitter name and LinkedIn profile, so that we can provide links for members to follow each other.

We hope you can join us on September 19th, and look forward to seeing you. ]]>4chris.haines@evolvin.com (Chris Haines)Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:37:53 GMThttp://beta.totalsocialhub.com/rss/item/4CBC RSS