Vanessa

Babies at your desks: The gender gap solution for 2016?

Posted on by Vanessa

If you are a working female in your mid to late twenties you may have got some strong hints from family members during the festive period that you should now be thinking about starting a family! For those of us who are warming up to this idea which includes myself, there are two burning questions that keep surfacing.

  1. Would I be able to afford the cost of childcare?
  2. How and if taking time away from my career to start my family will affect me later on?

When speaking to friends and colleagues in the same situation, I found that my concerns were widely shared. In London the cost of childcare is a massive £6,000 per year averaging £115.45 a week – which is no small amount! So the prospect of returning to work on a full time basis will require some creative budgeting solutions.

A recent article in the Guardian explored this issue and it seems that a growing number of employers are offering childcare solutions that may assist women with re-entering the workplace on a quicker timescale than they had thought. These employers are offering an onsite crèche service and in some cases completely changing the work environment to allow parents to bring in their young children into the actual office! (this is not exclusively for mothers, fathers are benefiting from this also).

Babies in the workplace seems to have really been embraced in the US where around 200 organisations have adopted the ‘babies at work’ policy and more recently UK Taxi firm Addison Lee experimented with this idea. Marissa Mayer, Yahoo CEO apparently has a nursery right next to her office for her children!

In an interview with Working Mums, Clare Bishop, Head of HR, Addison Lee said that “despite an initial drop in productivity, she expected an increase in staff loyalty and retention “ I think the most important thing is retention of staff and knowledge, the cost to replace staff due to family commitments could cost businesses huge amounts in some instances a cost of £30,000 upwards.

Babies at Work is an interesting concept which could allow new parents to not feel so guilty about returning to work early. It has the added bonus of allowing them to continue to drive their careers forward and to have the option of seeing their children during a lunchbreak and having the chance when they have a clear diary to spend quality time with them at work.  The consideration of colleagues would have to be considered and clear structures will need to be in place to take into account those who are not avid babies’ lovers and those who may need quiet time. Ok, maybe having babies at the desk is a step too far out the box however I do think the facility to have a crèche service onsite as part of a benefits package is a happy medium.  And one that would be appreciated by all employees.

I have yet to take the step into motherhood however I do hope that my employers would explore this idea as a means to strengthen employee relationships and retain staff in particular women at all levels.

Joanne Green

Girls Talk London Ambassador

Recruitment Account Manager

 

7 ways to save money in 2016

Posted on by Vanessa
  1. Open a savings account – If you don’t already have a savings account then 2016 is the year to get one. You don’t have to put away much every month just whatever you can manage. Even if you just save £1 a day – it will add up to a hefty sum by the end of the year… £366 to be exact! 
  1. Budget everything – Make a budget and stick to it on everything. Budget how much you can spend on food, clothes, make-up and even going out each month and do not exceed your limit. It may take a couple months to get used to being strict but it’ll be worth it when your bank balance looks good.

credit-card-1104961_1280

  1. Don’t ignore your statements – Sounds obvious, but around 6 million Brits don’t always open important bills or financial statements. You might find you’re paying for things you don’t need, use or want anymore such as magazine subscriptions and gym memberships. Checking your statements regularly will highlight which areas of your life you can save the most money.
  1. Save by switching –Check what you’re paying for your phone, broadband and energy. It may be worth your while to switch but make sure your getting the best deals by using a comparison site such as this one on MoneyMagpie.com. You can even save an average of £70 a yearby switching your bank account so give it a go.
  1. Open a help-to-buy ISA – If you’re saving for a first-time property this year it is essential that you open a help-to-buy ISA. You can earn up to 4% tax-free interest, plus the Government will add 25% on top (up to a maximum £3,000) when you go for the mortgage.

the-hangover-car

  1. Car share on your commute – If you and your colleague both drive to work then why not save money and car share this year? It’s cheaper, warmer and less sweaty than the bus or train and provided that you like your colleague, it’s a great time to get to know each other – the bonus is that you both will cut your commute costs by half.

push-ups-888024_640

  1. Don’t join the gym– Unless you are starting a strict exercise regimen and plan to be in the gym all day and all night, then don’t sign up for the gym if you’re trying to save money this year. I recommend you buy yourself a £5-10 workout DVD and get fit in front of your TV, buying the DVD will be a onetime purchase so it’s worth it. Alternatively workout for free in the park by walking, running, cycling etc. – whatever suits you best.

Written by Kamal Khurana 

Follow Kamal on Twitter @kkmpx 

12 ways to get your dream job!

Posted on by Vanessa

New Year, New Me! It’s that time of the year when we start to think about what we want to achieve in the next 12 months.  The festive season has now ended and most of us had to return to the harsh reality of work this week. Early morning starts and long commutes to work can only be made worse if you are stuck in a job that you hate! For many January is usually the best time to think about getting a new job and making a fresh start.

We give you 12 tips to get yourself ready to nab that dream job!

Pimp-My-Ride-MTV

1. Pimp your CV – Your CV is one of the most important documents you’ll ever write. After all, there aren’t many jobs you’ll get without one. Take time to update your CV with any additional experience in your current role or any qualifications or training that you have done in the last year. It’s important that it contains only relevant information so keep it to 2 pages max, tailor it to the job you’re applying for and get someone you know to check over it.

keep-calm-and-make-new-friends

2. Networking – It’s time to make networking your best friend. It can seem really scary but with 40% of jobs not being advertised, you need to be in the know for when they come up. Make a list of who you know, identify your existing networks and make yourself known.

3. Check your spelling – You may be surprised to hear that a single spelling or grammar mistake could land your application in the bin-recruiters can be ruthless. Proof read, proof read, proof read, and NEVER rely on spellcheck.

4. It’s all in the name – As far as anyone knows, there is no-one in this world called Sir or Madam, so don’t address an application to them. Find out the name of who will be reading your application and you’ll have instant brownie points, as most people don’t bother.

Devil-Wears-Prada-green-jacket

5. Look the part – When you go for an interview, first impressions are crucial and this includes the way you dress. You don’t need to go and spend a fortune on Chanel but get yourself a perfect interview outfit and you’ll not only get the thumbs up, you’ll feel more confident too.

6. Volunteer – Volunteering can give you the edge when applying for jobs and it’s great at making you more employable. Not only does it give you new skills and experience, but it is also great for making new professional connections. Not to mention making you feel good! You could try sites like do-it or vInspired for a range of opportunities.

selfie-465563_640

7. Clear up your social media – It’s time to think of every future boss as a James Bond type spy. They’ll be Googling you more than you Google yourself and if they don’t like what they see, it could cost you the job.  Check your privacy settings on Facebook, make sure your twitter is professional and get rid of any pictures of yourself face down in a kebab at 2am.

8. Job boards – There are hundreds of job sites out there, from general sites such as Monster and Indeed to industry specific sites.  It can all be a bit of a minefield so try to make your search as targeted as possible. Use different keywords in your searches and set up job alerts.

9. Recruitment agencies – Recruitment agencies often get a bad rep, but choose the right one with a consultant you trust and you could reap the rewards. Many companies will only advertise through an agency so you could get access to jobs you wouldn’t find directly.

10. LinkedIn – Your LinkedIn profile is essentially an online CV so it’s important that it looks professional and stands out. It’s also great for networking and most company’s post their jobs on the site so if you’re not on it, get on now!

kick ass

11. Get a kick ass covering letter – Everyone knows that cover letters are pretty much the worst thing about looking for a job, but they’re essential for showing an employer who you are. Research the company, tailor it to the job description and for Pete’s sake don’t address it ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ (see point 4)

12. Research is key – Whether you’re writing a CV or covering letter or going for an interview, knowing your stuff will give you a head start. Companies want to know that you want to work for them and that you aren’t just firing off CV’s (which you probably are!) so you need to stand out by knowing more than just what’s on the home page of their website.

Good Luck Ladies!

kimora

Written by Helen Poole

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenRoseP

 

Best Bits of 2015

Posted on by Vanessa

With only a few days left until 2016 we thought we would take you on a trip down memory lane to reflect on some of our best bits for women and feminism in 2015. So grab a warm drink and enjoy!

westminster-717846_640

UK Government reaction to the gender pay gap

We all agree that more can be done to close the pay gap between the salaries of men and women in the UK which is at approximately 19%, however we have to commend the steps our government took to address this issue in 2015. They announced that businesses have to adhere to the following reporting regulations:

Every company with more than 250 employees will be required by law to publish the difference between the average pay of their male and female employees
The requirements will be extended to the public sector as well as private and voluntary sector employers
A target to include women on the boards of all the UK’s top 350 companies will be introduced.

12369144_10153524793434221_7873887967259672842_n

Girls Talk London Sessions

In March this year we piloted a brand new talk show for young women in the UK aged 16-30 with 4 hosts from the millennial generation (including our Founder) This show was featured in LOOK Magazine and many other publications and was well received across the industry both media and business and got people talking and getting involved in our debates. We have some big plans to take this show forward in 2016 so watch this space! You can watch the full series here

MALALA

Suffragette and He named me Malala

2015 was the year for telling the stories of some of the worlds most courageous and influential women on the silver screen. Suffragette starring the incredible Meryl Streep & Carey Mulligan tells the story of the group of women who fought for women’s equality and our right to vote. He named me Malala tells the story of Malala Yousafzai a young girl from Pakistan who was shot in the head by the Taliban in an attempt to kill her because she championed education for girls in Pakistan. These emotional and inspirational films show us that our voices are powerful and to never give up on what we believe in! Can we say Girl Power?!

fighting gif

General Election May 2015 

girl power

This years general election saw the highest number of female MP’s voted in of all time! Who runs the world? GIRLS!

hillarly-clinton

Hilary Clinton Bid for US President

We were buzzing with excitement when in April 2015 via a YouTube video Hilary Clinton announced that she would be running for the democratic party nomination to officially run for President of the United States for the 2016 Race. If she wins she would become the first female president in US history. Come on Hilary we are right behind you girl!

st-pauls-596x408

St. Paul’s Cathedral event for International women’s day 2015

We celebrated International women’s day in one of the world’s most iconic buildings: St. Paul’s Cathedral. In partnership with St. Paul’s Institute we held a special event for 5o young girls who were speed mentored by 10 amazing women who worked for companies such as PwC, Weil, UBS as well as those who ran their own businesses. The theme this year was ‘Make it happen’ and kick started with an honest and down to earth speech from Hemione Hudson, Senior Partner at PwC.

fgm

Female Genital Mutilation made illegal in Nigeria

The Nigerian government has finally made the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) illegal in a move campaigners describe as “hugely important”. We hope that many other African leaders follow this move so that this devastating practice can be on its way to being eradicated!

Chimamanda Adichie gives another EPIC speech

Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie

In April 2015 Chimamanda shared more wise words with the graduating class at Wellesley College in Massachusetts in the form of some big sister love! You can watch this gem filled wise nuggets goodness below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcehZ3CjedU

Angela Merkel named TIME Person of the year 2015

angela

She is only the fourth woman since 1927 to be named an individual winner outright and the first in 29 years! 

Quinn_Blow_Kiss_Gif

All that is left to say is a MASSIVE thank you to all our loyal readers and supporters for your love in 2015. We hope our website has helped you kick some serious butt in your career and lives and we cannot wait to help you more in an even bigger and better way in 2016! 

Happy New Year Girls! xoxo

My Biggest Mistake, Meka, Entrepreneur

Posted on by Vanessa

My Biggest Mistake was….

that for a number of years I had identified one company I really wanted to work for. They did super interesting work, had a great reputation and appeared to be a perfect fit for my career plans. Unfortunately, for me and my big ambitions, there was one problem – they were based in the USA and I was living the UK. OK I should have let it go at that stage, but sometimes we all get a bit stuck on an idea and are reluctant to see other opportunities. So I decided to be bold and write to the organisation to see if they had any roles coming up in the future. To my delight a few months later I got an email which said they were coming to Europe and the UK and would like to talk to me. I did talk to them and bought into the whole idea of what they wanted to do and how I could be a part of it – does it get any better than this? Of course I took the role which was only part time, until they grew. I was happy to work from home, until they got an office space. I was happy to do other work to earn money and be patient because in my head it was only a matter of time until the organisation was up and running in the UK. But within a couple of months, I realised the opening up of offices in Europe was not going to happen in my lifetime. I was lost with no support, no guidance and even went to a meeting where my boss completely ignored me. Yes the writing was on the wall, but I decided to stick it out thinking it must get better! In fact I stayed for two years and finally resigned just as my partner was made redundant. Once I had made that decision there was no stopping me. It was great to get the adrenaline rush of having to make things happen and I started a business.

What I learned was to..

 make peace with the whole experience. It is hard to process being disappointed with an organisation you really thought was the right place for you to be. It is also hard to accept that the people you had admired and respected do not share your values.But the big lesson for me was to trust my instincts and act on them. On this occasion I was just a bit slow to take any action.

Meka, Entrepreneur

We celebrate her: Thanyia Moore, Comedian

Posted on by Vanessa

Described as Moore by name and Moorish by nature, Thanyia Moore has always held a love for comedy, but despite a background in acting and dance, her confidence to tell jokes on stage, came much later in life. Her ‘matter of fact’ stage persona coupled with her lively smiling face andmanic work rate have propelled her into being one of London’s hardest working emerging comedians.

2013 saw her take home the coveted, Best Female Newcomer Award, at the Black Comedy Awards in addition to being nominated for Best Comedian at the UE Awards (Urban Entertainment) in 2015. She has also travelled the globe, including taking part in The Bounce Comedy Tour in Holland, performing in Barcelona and taking a spot at the New York Comedy Club, to name but a few.

What kind of woman are you?
I am a strong minded, hard working woman who loves to love.

Why do you do what you do for a living?
Because a 9-5 simply does not suit me.

thanyia at work

How did you become a stand-up comedian?
I took a stand up comedy course, which lasted three days, and then ran with it!

Is it difficult being one of few black women in the UK comedy scene?
No, not at all!  I don’t find it difficult. Whilst I see some prejudice from certain individuals, the scene is a lot more open to females. In fact, welcoming us!

You are well known for your parodies, why and how did you decide to film these?
I decided to do parodies to sell my show, Moore Laughter. The idea just came to me one day whilst watching the Lady Leshurr Queens Speech I thought it would be a great idea to parody it and sell my show instead of just taking the mick!

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to become a comedian?
Anything is yours if you just work for it. Obviously, BE FUNNY TOO, that helps lol – but hard work always wins!

You recently went to New York for work, tell us about this experience and how it happened?
I think that was definitely a case of ‘who you know’. A comic who I have worked with on a few occasions was asked for a female fitting my description so he reached out to me. I sent over some clips, and hey presto! They loved me and hired me!

Do you have any plans to work internationally?
I have loads of plans to work internationally – I want to be known globally for being a great comedic presenter and host! But all in God’s time.

How do you get clarity when challenges and stormy periods arise?
I am very blessed to have a solid team around me. They can see when I need help, support, telling off or just a hug! A good team is so crucial!

How did you gain the confidence to make your dreams a reality?
The confidence has only come about recently! Before I was winging it and seeing what happened. Once I realised I was making a way, my confidence grew and I started to love the process more.

Which person do you admire the most and why?
As cheesy as this may sound – my Mum and my little sister are the two I admire most. Strong, caring and so loving. Supportive and always there for anyone, no matter what. I admire that they have all this time for strangers, loved ones and me and still manage to be flawless and on fleek!!

What Kind of teenager were you?
I was a terror! I was always the misfit – always wanting to do my own thing, my own way. Never following the rules. At school I was the class clown, my peers always looked to me to make a joke.

What has been the lowest point in your career?
Being that my career is still new, I don’t really have a ‘lowest point’ as I see them all as learning curves. BUT, it is hard, when your heart is heavy, to have to go on stage and make people laugh. That is a real challenge!

thanyia highlights

What has been the highlight of your career?
Again, still new in my career but being recognised as a comedian by the award shows is a great feeling – New York, Barcelona and doing shows for Kojo and Kane Brown. But most of all, Moore Laughter – that’s my baby.

What is your biggest regret?
Starting my career so late…

Can you complete this sentence ‘What I know is that…..

by the time I am 40 I will no longer be grafting. I will be firmly in my career of choice, flourishing. I know this because I will not stop until this happens!

Fire round questions: 

Favourite book: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
Favourite Foundation: Mac studio fix!
Favourite Lipstick: Pink Mac
Favourite quote: “Carpe Diem”
Last time you laughed: 30 mins ago – was playing with my niece.

Keep up to date with Thanyia on the below handles:

Twitter: @thanyiamoore
Instagram: @thanyiamoore
Facebook: Thanyia Moore
Website: www.thanyiamoore.co.uk