Coast to Capital celebrates women in business

A series of female business leaders shared their perspectives of business leadership and their involvement with Coast to Capital including Julie Kapsalis - Coast to Capital Board member, Sue Livett - Managing Director of the Aldingbourne Trust, Zoe Wright - Group Director of People at B&CE and Coast to Capital Skills 360 Board member and Janina Cooper - Founder of the Base Skate Park.

 

The speakers shared their journey as inspirational women in business who have worked closely with Coast to Capital on schemes to boost the economy from membership on the Board, Investment in local projects and influencing the Skills agenda for the future.

Julie Kapsalis, Coast to Capital Board Member and Diversity Champion said:

 

"I am proud to have served on the Coast to Capital Board for almost five years and we have always benefitted from an exceptionally strong and inclusive board - although there is always more we can do to ensure that we are representative of the geographic boundaries and communities that we serve. I am passionate about supporting women in business and to access board appointments. This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate some of the women led businesses that Coast to Capital has invested in and to hear their inspirational stories. On a personal note, I have found my time on the Coast to Capital Board both highly rewarding and it has been key in supporting my career development."

 

Katie Nurcombe, Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Coast to Capital said:

 

 

"Coast to Capital is an inclusive organisation that values and promotes diversity. We work across a diverse and vibrant region and believe that our impact is enhanced through championing inclusion, and reflecting the dynamic businesses and communities that we support."

 

Tamara Roberts, Chief Executive at Ridgeview Wines said:

 

"An important aspect of the leadership of any business is to ensure its growth is financially sustainable and the Coast to Capital grant programme has supported us with this over the years. Ridgeview has successfully applied for and been awarded critical funding by Coast to Capital, including the purchase of essential equipment and the renovation of a warehouse into offices."

 

Janina Cooper, Founder of the Base Skate Park said:

 

 

"In 2013 I had a conversation with my neighbour around the unsuitable outdoor skate facilities in the area, and she highlighted that if she had the money then she would build an indoor skate park. So that's what I decided to do. I told my sons and they contributed to developing the brand name and colour, and within a short amount of time I had pulled contacts together for support. Within 364 days from the initial concept, the Base Skate Park opened in Bognor Regis. The Coast to Capital grant of £36,767 was the biggest contribution and helped immensely with the fundraising of the project."

 

 

Sue Livett, Managing Director at The Aldingbourne Trust said:

 

 

"The Coast to Capital investment of £1.96 million towards the Aldingbourne Trust Visitor Centre, gave other funders the confidence to invest in a project based around social care, as they could then see that it was a project that could work and was believed in. The new Visitor Centre and facilities allows us to support more people with learning disabilities and/or autism in the area, in order to live independent lives."

 

Zoe Wright, Group Director of People at B&CE and Coast to Capital Skills 360 Board member said:

 

"When I became the Group Director of People at B&CE, I was the only female on the Senior Leadership team (92% male at the time). Since then the company has grown and we now have a 60/40 ratio in our senior team, with the aim of being 50/50 by 2025. I am also now a member of the Coast to Capital Skills 360 Board, as well as other organisations including the Manor Royal BID Board and the Women in Finance Charter Industry Board, where I aim to make inclusion a reality."

 

The LEP is committed to creating an inclusive organisation that promotes and values diversity and is currently recruiting for a Vice Chair, find out more at www.coast2capital.org.uk/work-for-us.