Although women-owned businesses are on the increase there still aren’t enough female role models, is the claim of the leading women’s organisation, Women on Their Way.

Most people still think that the majority of businesses are run by men due to the stereotypical images that we see all around us. That’s why Tabitha Potts is delighted to be short-listed for the prestigious National Women on Their Way Awards 2010 in the Online Business Award category.

Women are equally qualified to run businesses as men but also need more opportunities to connect and do business together.

The competition this year has been particularly tough so it’s a huge honour for Tabitha Potts to be short-listed. Tabitha is a mother of two very interested in the environment and good design. When she started looking online for products for her children and realised that there were not many websites aimed at families which combined a strong design ethos and environmental awareness, she came up with the idea of creating an online shop to do just that. She started her company Mimimyne, showcasing the best in UK and European eco design for kids, in September 2008, and it has been expanding its range and developing a loyal customer base ever since. Tabitha has run the business single-handed while caring full-time for her two sons (aged 7 and 5) and doing a part time job alongside it.

Since her company started trading, Tabitha has been a Runner-up for the Mum-Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 and a Finalist in the Archant Environmental Awards and the Thames Business Gateway Awards. She has been featured in the Daily Express and the Sunday Times Business section as well as in various well-regarded design blogs. She has presented a session on selling online at the Everywoman conference (www.everywoman.com) and also runs a regular ‘Mumpreneurs Meetup’ for fellow entrepreneurs in East London which is sponsored by BT Tradespace. One of the products she helps to promote, the Splat Chair by Spinifex, has been exhibited in the V&A Museum of Childhood!

There are four short-listed candidates for each award and the winner will be announced on Friday 19th March at the Women on Their Way Annual Awards Lunch taking place at Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham from 11.00 to 15.00.

The awards event is in its second year and aims to connect women through the UK, to inspire and to increase their self belief.

The Women on Their Way Awards is the brainchild of former Apprentice Candidate Jo Cameron and her Co-Director Lisa Ibbotson.

Jo Cameron added “we are delighted that Tabitha Potts has been shortlisted. There are so many amazing women in the UK who don’t always recognise the impact they have made and it is my absolute privilege to be inspired by so many incredible women. We are very much looking forward to announcing the winners in a few weeks time”

This year the judges include Gill Fielding and Caroline Marsh of TV’s Secret Millionaire and other esteemed women from both the public and private sectors. They will be judging the shortlisted candidates over the coming weeks.

There are twelve awards this year including Start Up and High Growth Businesses, Online Business, Woman in Finance, Law, Transportation, Construction/Engineering, Woman in The Community, Public office, The outstanding contribution to Women’s Learning and Development, Young Woman in Business, Outstanding New Product and Woman’s Advocate. This year the coveted prize for the overall Woman on her Way is a weekend away for two included flights and accommodation to Milan.

Tickets are priced £65+VAT each or £600 +VAT for a table of ten places. With up to 500 guests it provides opportunities for networking and to meet other leading and aspiring women.

Last year’s winner of the Legal Award, Laura Kearesley added ““I was thrilled to win the Women in Law award last year; it was a real honour. It was a fabulous day, where I made some really good contacts. Since winning the award and the subsequent publicity I have also been approached by other potential business partners, so it has been really positive for me personally and for business!”

Tabitha Potts, Director (Me Me Mine Ltd trading as Mimimyne)
Phone 0208 133 0962
Mobile 07984 291 409
Twitter @mimimyne
Skype tabithapotts
Email tabitha@mimimyne.com
Web www.mimimyne.com

For more information on the Women on Their Way Awards please contact Women on Their Way press office + 44 (0) 870 2626 555 or email talkto@womenontheirway.co.uk or call Lisa Ibbotson on Tel: 07968 368630 email lisa@womenontheirway.co.uk

Photo of Tabitha Potts courtesy of Ian Billinghurst

Mimimyne (Me Me Mine Ltd) is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Southampton based Freeset Ltd has been successful in satisfying key criteria to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, which identifies them as trading for social and environmental purposes.

The Social Enterprise Mark was launched nationally on February 1st at Voice10, the Social Enterprise Coalition’s national conference. The Social Enterprise Mark is the brand for social enterprises. The Mark will identify businesses which meet defined criteria for social enterprise, and consumers will recognise that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and planet.

Freeset Ltd joins other ethical businesses that have been recognised by being awarded the Mark such as the Eden Project, Hill Holt Wood, Bristol Wood Recycling Project and the Co-operative Group South & West. The Social Enterprise Mark builds off the pilot work run by RISE, the voice for south west social enterprise.

Social enterprises are working to make a difference across the UK and beyond, but not enough people know what they are or how they work. The Social Enterprise Mark aims to raise awareness of what social enterprises do in order to get more people to buy from, engage with, start up and work for social enterprises.

Freeset was started as a social enterprise at the close of 2006 to provide employment to women who had been trafficked into and exploited by prostitution.  Through working with partners in India and creating conference and promotional bags along with great gift items, Freeset ensures that women vulnerable to exploitation are able to take part in dignity-giving employment. The women learn new skills of making handmade bags and gifts. All our seamstresses are paid fair wages and have healthy working conditions. Through this work, the women become free from sexual exploitation and are free to make the choices they want for their lives.

Mark Wakeling, Executive Director said, “We’re really proud to have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark.  Freeset is absolutely committed to supporting sustainable businesses and consequently helping local communities to thrive and prosper”. 

Lucy Findlay champion from the Social Enterprise Mark Company (manager of the Mark) advised:

 “As the distinctive and exciting brand for social enterprise, the Mark identifies businesses which meet defined criteria, enabling consumers to recognise those that are trading to benefit people and planet. It also helps those businesses promote their business ethics and values. We hope that the Social Enterprise Mark will do for social enterprise what the Fair Trade Mark did for fair trade.”

Visit www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk or www.freesetbags.co.uk to find out more.

Freeset is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Ethicalonestopshop.com was launched in August 2005 with the aim to make it as easy as possible for people to shop ethically. www.ethicalonestopshop.com

By joining this company, you will be  joining many big brand ethical names, including Ecover and Lavera. You can be a part of this business, all for FREE!!!

 NO JOINING FEE!

 NO HOSTING FEE!

NO ADVERTISING FEE!

How it works?

All you have to do it upload the product as a CSV file or you can add new products manually. We will then negotiate the commission together. When customer orders a product from the website, an email will be sent to you, you will then log in to secure the  website for payment and you will dispatch the product to the customer!

 To join follow this link  http://ethicalonestopshop.com/eoss/joinus/d/retailers+join+us/  

 ethicalonestopshop is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Why wait for the New Year to make a change? Go ‘green’ with our Eco-Friendly Business Cards.

Printed on 100% recycled quality white matt card using biodegradable inks you can do your bit towards making you and your business a little bit more planet friendly. What’s more if you put your order in before 1^st January you will get 15% extra business cards printed free!*

We can print any number from 50 to 2000 so please give us a call on 01722 340 350 or send me an email at james@ecoprintuk.com for more information and our excellent prices.

Please see our website to find out more about us www.ecoprintuk.com

*Terms and conditions apply.

Looking at Business Success,  What does it mean and how do we get there?

For those interested in Rebuilding Trust, I recommend this one day conference and the networks associated with it.

• A one-day event looking at successful ethical business from sole-traders to structured organizations.
• Using the Quaker Business Method, you will discern true business success for your business in this time of ethical turmoil.
• The day will include the option to follow the ethical business thread or to mix it with learning on equitable governance, enhancing life at work, and getting the right business.
• Sharing and problem solving in small group workshops with advice and guidance from leading Quakers in business.
• Optional evening buffet,Tuesday 24 November: 19.30 – 21.00 at FH , £12 per head.
• Conference Fee £55, members £80 non-members.

Please go to the Q&B website for more information and to book:
http://www.quakersandbusiness.org.uk/

An invitation to a Mumpreneurs
Networking Event in East London as part of Business
Mum Week 2009!

Wednesday 7th October 12 noon to 2pm
Venue: Ping Pong Dim Sum (Private Room) 3 Appold Street London EC2A 2AF
tel: 020 7422 0780 Nearest Town: London

Informal networking lunch for mumpreneurs/ businessmums and women
running or interested in running their own businesses, come along and
meet Antonia Chitty, author of The
Mumpreneur Guide, who will be giving her top tips for mumpreneurs.

Antonia Chitty will have a prize draw for her book, The Mumpreneur’s
Guide, retail cost £18, and some other prizes, so bring your business
cards to enter the draw!

Alison Rothwell, of the SEO Training Club, is also going to attend and
give her tips on Twitter for business.

Lana Hersak-Mullins, Business Counsellor for the East London Small Business Centre
will give a short talk on what is currently on offer to entrepreneurs
in East London, and will be happy to answer any questions women might
have about starting up a small business.

The event, in the gorgeous private dining room at Ping Pong Dim Sum (www.pingpongdimsum.com),
is free to attend although you will have to pay for your own lunch,
however the menu is very reasonably priced and delicious! Free copies
of eco-directory The Book of Green
and the Business
Mums Journal will be available to take home.

We’ve been neglecting keeping our compatriots at Ethical Junction in the loop about developments in Leap’s world… Here are some of the latest happenings including the Leap designed – Good Energy Shop winning the observer ethical awards, a Leap designed children’s book ‘Tales of Porth’, winning a Big Tick for Climate Change from Business in the Community, gaining an ISO-14001 accreditation for our Environmental Management System, confrimation that Leap had achieved the Ethical Company Organisation’s Ethical Award and winning gold medal at the Hampton Court Flower Show in association with the Lost Gardens of Heligan…

Back
in April we were told of our success on behalf of the Cornish Language
Partnership and their Leap designed children’s book series ‘Tales from
Porth’:

PICTURE
CAPTION: From Left to Right: Matt Hocking, Director of Leap-design for
change; Pol Hodge, Cornish Language Consultant; Jenefer Lowe,
Development Manager for Cornish Language Partnership; Brian Hoskin,
Illustrator; Will Coleman, writer of ‘Tales from Porth’ and Kieran
Holden, Designer for Leap (Other Illustrator Emma McCann Not Pictured).

In June we won a Big Tick for Climate Change from Business in the Community:

PICTURE
CAPTION: From Left to Right: Peaches Gelding, Regional Director,
Business in the Community; Chris Maynard, PR and Marketing Coordinator
for Leap.

At around the same time the Good Energy Shop won The Observer Ethical for Best Online Retail Initiative:
“We can now say that Leap
designed the most ethical online retail site in 2009! That’s right
folks… Good Energy Shop won! Everyone is thrilled at the news and
we’d like to congratulate everyone at Good Energy for ensuring that a
great website is backed up with a great team and customer experience.
As the award was decided by nominations from customers, we’d like to
add to Good Energy’s words by thanking all those customers who voted
for the site.”

PICTURE
CAPTION: From Left to Right: Lucy Siegle, The Observer’s ethical living
columnist; Barney Rhys Jones, Good Energy MD; Colin Firth, actor, Oxfam
Ambassador and director of Fairtrade coffee shop chain
Progresso and Sophy Fearnley-Whittingstall, Head of PR and
Communication for Good Energy.

During July we were given our ISO-14001 accreditation for our Environmental Management System:
“After two years of hard graft and the training of four of our five
employees, we have now (last Tuesday in fact) been given our ISO-14001
accreditation.This is culmination of a huge amount of work and
drive by Matt and Jonny and singles us out as the only graphic design
studio in the South West (and maybe the country) that has achieved this
prestigious recognition.
The 14001 accreditation is concerned with
Leap’s environmental management system and calls for a measurable
reduction in all of its outputs year on year.”

Also in July Leap, in association with the Lost Gardens of Heligan won a gold medal at the Hampton Court Flower Show:

PICTURE CAPTION: From Left to Right: Lorna and Sarah with Claire England, Designer for Leap.

PICTURE CAPTION: From Left to Right: Sarah and Lorna Tremayne, Marketing and Media Manager from Heligan.

Last month we received confirmation that 

Leap had achieved the Ethical Company Organisation’s Ethical Award:

The 4th Annual GREEN AWARDS^TM to recognise creativity in promoting sustainability announces its call to entries.

The awards, now firmly recognised on the eco calendar as the leading industry awards for sustainability in marketing and communications were established to reward any organisation or individual communicating their sustainability in a creative, engaging and original way. And of course entrants must also be able to demonstrate the positive impact of their campaigns.

Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury Chairman of both the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) & Chairman, The Environment Agency commented, “The need to care for our planet, husband our resources wisely, and sustain our environment is becoming ever more urgent and important.  These awards help to put that cause at the very heart of our creative economy.  They will help us to aim higher.  They will both reward and encourage best practice; and as a result I give them the warmest of possible welcomes.”

The awards set out to illustrate the crucial role that needs to be
played by communications in informing people about green issues,
products and lifestyle choices. It’s evident now there’s an increasing
appetite from business and industry for examples of excellence and best
practice in communicating sustainability and green issues which the
GREEN AWARDS^TM showcases.
The GREEN AWARDS^TM
recognises excellence in 16 categories from Best Green International
Campaign open to global entrants to Best Green Campaigner for
individuals and small groups championing sustainability.

This year, four new categories have been introduced to acknowledge the ever-increasing breadth and depth of green marketing:

• Best Green Public Sector Campaign
  Award – for the best communication that has influenced public
  behaviour, whether through transforming consumption patterns,
  recycling, or smarter driving etc
• Best Green Charity Award -
  for groundbreaking and engaging campaigns that raise awareness of
  environmental issues from social enterprises, not for profits and NGO’s.
• Best Green Event Award – to recognise sustainability in the execution
  of events and evidence of working with the supply chain to reduce their
  carbon footprint.
• Best CSR Report Award – for outstanding
  reports that really engage readers and communicate sustainability
  issues in a clear, transparent and effective way.

 The
2009 judging panel will consider design and media along with
sustainability of approach and messaging. As part of the RSA’s
Environmental Award Accreditation Scheme evidence must be given of the
positive sustainable impact of the campaign in terms of environmental,
social and economic benefits. This year’s judges include John Sauven,
Executive Director Greenpeace UK, Marc Sands,  Marketing Director, The
Guardian, and John Grant, Author The Green Marketing Manifesto. An
international panel of judges also includes Satinder Bindra, Director
of the Division of Communications, United Nations Environment
Programme, (UNEP) Kenya, and Michael Lee, Executive Director of the
International Advertising Association, (IAA) New York.

At the awards ceremony the guest speakers will include Jonathon
Porritt CBE, Founder Director of Forum for the Future and Chairman of
the UK Sustainable Development Commission. According to Porritt “In a
world of imploding certainties and deepest doom and gloom, we need more
than ever to be celebrating the work of those who are already building
that better, more sustainable world that is emerging from the chaos -
and that’s exactly what the GREEN AWARDS^TM are all about”.
At last year’s Awards Nokia walked away with the GREEN AWARDS^TM
Grand Prix with their internal communications campaign ‘The Power of
We’. Other notable winners included Green Thing ‘Walk the Walk’ for
Best Green Digital entry and Friends of the Earth for their ‘Big Ask’
Website Campaign.
GREEN AWARDS^TM 2009 will take place on
18 th November.  Iain Patton, Event Producer explains ‘It’s always
interesting to see which companies are entering and leading the way in
sustainability communications. The increasing standard of work gives
the industry a chance to improve business and the environment at the
same time.

The deadline for GREEN AWARDS 2009 entries is 18th September. For further details on categories and submission guidelines visit www.greenawards.com

Whether you are going on an afternoon picnic to the park and want
minimal cleanup, or having a party and simply don’t have enough forks,
knives and spoons stocked in your normal supply, sometimes disposable
is the only way to go.

Because, frankly, it’s just not convenient to always pull out the stainless steel kitchen cutlery.

Huge amounts of single-use cutlery, tableware, and food packaging
are used and disposed of yearly – about 39 billion items in the US
alone.

These alarming numbers encouraged provide eco-friendly
items for the food industry and individuals. Food-related businesses
are the leading contender in using and abusing plastic, Styrofoam, and
paper one-use cutlery and tableware – and a planet-promoting
alternative was much needed.

EnviroCentre has sourced an
environmentally friendly, sustainable, and economic solution with our
natural starch cutlery. Developed from 100% biodegradable non-GMO corn
and potato starch, they are the perfect replacement for their plastic
counterparts.

They are manufactured using Plastarch (PSM),
which is a thermoplastic resin made from natural starches, in this
case, potato and corn. Despite this, it can withstand high heat, which
has been tested to withstand heat up to  105°C/220°F!

Because
biodegradation occurs within 180 days, we don’t really recommend
storing them for a long period of time. Moist environments enhance the
biodegradability, too, so keeping them in a dry, covered storage area
is your best bet.

Although plastic forks and knives are
reusable, most people don’t – they just toss them out. Our cutlery,
despite their natural materials, are reusable, too. Just wash and dry
them, the store in a dry environment. Make sure you do it right away
though: if you leave them to soak in water overnight, or don’t dry them
very well, the outside will become tacky as it starts to disintegrate.

One
of the most frustrating things about plastic cutlery is that they
easily break – try to stab at a cauliflower in your pasta salad, and
see how far you get. And the knives? Ever try to slice a sandwich in
half? It’s a bit of a challenge. Our forks, knives and spoons are
(almost) as durable as your normal eating utensils, with the usability
of the disposable kind.

Many plastic alternatives have rough
edges, that threaten to slit the sides of your mouth as you take a
spoonful of your favourite ice cream. The smooth edges are about twice
the thickness, ensuring comfort in every bite.

In addition to
cutlery, we also offers tableware, cups, containers, take-out
containers, napkins, and more in sizes from packs of 25 to cases of
5000 and even wholesale pallets on request.

To view the range click here