Our Committee

 OUR COMMITTEE

Following a 20-year career as a journalist with The Times and The Sunday Times in London and Scotland, latterly as deputy editor of the Sunday Times in Scotland, I founded Wow (Scotland) Ltdwhich trades under two brands, Tartan Twist, a Scottish jewellery and gift brand focusing on clan tartans and Lily Blanche, a fine jewellery brand, specialising in lockets. Our bestselling item is the Memory Keeper Locket which opens to reveal six secret photographs and has been worn by Judy Murray and Hermione Norris.

Wow Scotland Ltd is based in Stirling and the brands sells through stockists throughout the UK such as Edinburgh Castle, Tower of London, Gleneagles Hotel, The Scottish Parliament Shop and Kensington Palace. Our main focus is on ecommerce, however.

In December 2017 I became an ambassador for Women’s Enterprise Scotland and vice-chair of BAWE. I also write a weekly current affairs column for The Sunday Times. I live in Stirling, am married to a consultant psychiatrist and we have three children.

• Website: www.lilyblanche.com/
• Tel: +441786464251
• Location: Stirling, Scotland
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Vice Chair of BAWE Scotland - Karen Somerville

 

Karen Somerville is co founder and former director of Angels’ Share Glass & Co director of The Fife Whisky Festival.

now consulting   www.karensomerville.co.uk

Karen successfully ran Angels' Share Glass, a leading glassware manufacturer for 11 years and now focuses on her whisky passion with her Whisky Festivals held across Scotland. Supplier to leading whisky brands globally Award-winning not only for innovation but for entrepreneurial ventures. Karen’s passion for whisky also shines through with her sitting on the panel of judges for various whisky awards. Karen now offers Business and Mentoring services for all types of SMEs.

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BAWE Scotland Secretary - Thea de Joode

The Astute VA

Thea is the founder and owner of The Astute VA and, as a virtual assistant, provides expert online business management services.

With an academic background grounded in social sciences and research, Thea built up nearly two decades’ experience of working in leadership and management within the arts, education (HE) and voluntary sectors. This included spending 17 years at Scotland’s only national Conservatoire (RCS). Her experience spans fundraising and bid-writing, governance, mentoring, budget and grant management, basic bookkeeping, events and traditional PA support. She’s most keen on supporting local businesses and organisations, even more so if they fall within a charitable, creative or arts-based setting.

Thea recently become the Membership Secretary for The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs Scotland, having joined the organisation in March 2022

Committee Member - Fiona McDiarmid - Events Co-ordinator

Cellfield UK

Former Head Teacher and teacher, Fiona has over 30 years experience in education. In 2002 she left mainstream education and set up her own tuition business, the successful Kip McGrath Education Centre in Stirling. Fiona and her excellent team of tutors teach around 300 students, aged between 6 -18 years, in English and maths each week.

In addition to this Fiona established Cellfield Reading Matters UK Ltd in 2009 after travelling to New Zealand for training .Cellfield is a unique computer based programme which was born out of the latest research in brain plasticity and neuro-science. It is designed to enable people with Dyslexia and related processing issues function more efficiently. As well as growing her own centre she has responsibilty for developing Cellfield in the UK and Ireland and there are now 7 centres in the UK offering Cellfield. Fiona is passionate about helping people unlock their potential and is keen to develop her own knowledge and expertise to do so. She says,” I used to do the impossible, now I do the possible and anything is possible”.

In her spare time Fiona is a keen curler and in 2013 she was part of the successful Scottish tour to Sweden. She also enjoys travel , walking and unwinding in spas!!

• Website: www.cellfield.co.uk
• email: fiona@cellfield.co.uk
• Tel: 01786 406363
• Location: Springfield House, Laurel Business Park, Stirling FK7 9JQ
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Whilst having been a Shareholder of one Design company and a Director of two, starting my own Design company in 1994 meant that I had my own money at risk completely, so when Marilyn Orcharton started The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE) in April 1995, I thought that this was the organization that would suit me best.

Whilst also a member of the IOD, this was for socialising rather than support. At BAWE we all had the same problems, so being a business owner is sometimes a lonely place to be. After two Chairmen of BAWE, I took over the rains for Scotland and was made Vice – President (Scotland). In 2004 it fell on my shoulders to organise the World Congress of FCEM. It meant that the world came to Glasgow. HRH The Princess Royal graciously opened the Congress for us. This Congress certainly showcased Scotland as The International Women had the chance to see Scotland. I took over as National President of BAWE in January 2005 and served until 2010.

During that time representing women to the Parliamentary Parties and serving on the National Commission Europe and the Commonwealth. Peter Jones even asked us to arrange a lunch so that he could find suitable women for his TV Series. Sadly we did not have the start-ups that he required, but it was a fun lunch nevertheless. Became a Vice President of FCEM in 2005, also serving on the European Task Force. Stepped down in 2011. Awarded an OBE for Services to Business in the New Years Honours List 2010. This was for furthering other Women in Business. Handed over the Chairmanship of Scotland to Ann-Maree Morrison. In September 2014. Awarded the ‘World of Difference Award’, in Washington, in 2015 for the empowerment of women.