In the five years prior to launching F&B HR, I worked for a national franchise consultancy based in London. I learnt so much. It was an experience that expanded my knowledge far beyond what I had encountered in my previous HR roles. Despite my long background in HR, I found myself continuously surprised by the intricacies of human behaviour and thought processes. Each day brought forth new challenges, pushing me to grow both personally and professionally.

During my time with the consultancy, I played a pivotal role in its expansion. From nurturing the growth of our team to being at the front of business development efforts, I found my niche in identifying subtle yet impactful areas for improvement within businesses. While I may not have been a natural salesperson, my approachability resonated with our clients.

When Covid hit, the world went crazy but in the world of HR, it felt like it would never end.

Dealing with business owners who were having to make redundancies, seeing people invest everything they had to save peoples jobs, I was working in a landscape that seemed to change each week.

We were often asked what the 5pm announcements would be by Boris and what that would mean in terms of lockdown, furlough and new rules (just to be clear, we only knew what you knew!).

We were seeing people really struggle with their mental health – it was intense. Like a lot of us, the pandemic made me wonder ‘is this it? Is there more to life than this?’. I worked hard and kept going but the hours were long, relentless and the pressures felt huge. This didn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon, so at the end of 2022, I resigned.

I didn’t have another job to go to, but I knew I need time and space. I needed to make my family and my health a priority as working full out for so long takes its toll. I went on a pre arranged trip with my family to Australia. That gave me three weeks of space to think, and I knew I had to make some life changes.

I wanted flexibility, I wanted to be present – I had to cancel way too many things in the evenings to prioritise work and then often at weekends, I was too tired to do anything. Work occupied every conversation and I felt lethargic and exhausted all of the time. I thought I would see how self employed life was and after publicising that on social media, people reached out and I become reconnected with people I had worked with and lost contact with over the years. I haven’t looked back.

I firmly believe in practising what I preach, embodying the values that I seek to instil within the companies I serve. If I am trying to explain best practice and demonstrate what a company can do to incorporate values or to improve a company culture, that needs to come from a meaningful place. Let’s be transparent, up front and trustworthy.

Since starting my own business I have learnt so much. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, collaboration over competition, and above all; learn to be outside of your comfort zone. It’s where I live now.

I was so nervous going into The Future Smiths. I had severe imposter syndrome. I had to seek validation and asked if they just let everyone in (they don’t!) as I couldn’t believe that someone else felt there was worth in my business and my ideas. Through all of the weekly workshops, we covered every topic that we needed to be aware of. The connections you make in your cohort are like no other. You are in the same boat as others and ideas are shared, shoulders are provided to cry on and there’s plenty of ‘is it me?’. You simply cannot regret joining. Be open minded and enjoy everything you can learn from Simone and Duncan. They will be your biggest supporters.

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While going through a journey of self-discovery, I still worked in the corporate world as a very successful pharmaceutical sales rep and studied in the evenings, there was something missing in my life. I felt that I didn’t fit in and I seemed to be living someone else’s life.

It was through what I considered then as a series of ‘unfortunate events’, that I found myself wondering why I was so different and wishing to be ‘normal’. I soon started looking into the whats of my difference and I came about the term ‘neurodiversity’ and ‘neurotypes’. These are conditions that are very normal in our society and should be celebrated and embraced, however, in my home country, Spain, they had a negative tint to them and were not be spoken about.

After years of self-awareness coupled with a huge determination to bring down barriers for those that are affected by mental health conditions or are neurodiverse, I proudly embraced my neurodivergence and accepted me for who I am. As a result, today I am passionate about bringing awareness to organisations and businesses that wish to expand and complement their current diversity, inclusion and equality strategies and their wellbeing and mental health programs.

Having ND Kids myself, I felt it is my duty to advocate for them and improve their life chances in the world and support generations to come to thrive and life better lives,

So in 2020, I established The Missing Link as a business that offers personalised psychoeducational training services to individuals and organisations. The Missing Link bridges the gap between mental health and neuroinclusion training making it easy for organisations to identify areas of support to maximise the experience of their teams, retain and attract talent within the business.

My vision for The Missing Link is to become a catalyst for understanding mental health and neurodivergent conditions, empower growth, inspire change in society and celebrate inclusivity, so organisations are able to navigate the complex journey of mental health and neuro-inclusion.

My mission is to create knowledge and awareness that brings about tolerance and acceptance of differences, and I dream of a world in which no one feels the need to hide and mask who they are but is celebrated for their uniqueness. As such, it is my passion to work with those that share my values of tolerance, equality and inclusion by getting to know their organisational needs, values and culture and design bespoke training programs that really address their needs.

It hasn’t been easy to think of my passion as a business venture, it was only when I joined The Future Smiths, that I felt backed up and empowered to carry on and move forward.

The Future Smiths’ team dedication and support has been invaluable for me, their expertise, their dedication to help me success and their faith in me allows me to push forward knowing there is a professional sounding board ready to listen when I need it.

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The story of Core7 begins with Gareth’s desire to revolutionise the construction industry and offer a superior customer experience. Gareth was keenly aware of the industry’s challenges, with many companies lacking transparency and integrity. He aimed to break this mould by creating a trusted company that would prioritise client needs and offer honest solutions tailored to each project.

Gareth shared, “I have always been really interested in construction and felt that I could offer a better customer experience. I felt the industry was oversaturated with companies resistant to change, not really offering solutions for clients, just using their industry knowledge to confuse the clients into parting with money. I have never wanted to be a part of that; it’s against my personal values. I wanted to create a trusted company that is honest with integrity, only offering solutions that are right for the client.”

At the heart of Core7’s success is its commitment to exceptional service. Gareth understood that effective communication and customer satisfaction are paramount to building lasting relationships. To achieve this, the company has embraced modern technology and software tools to streamline processes and ensure a seamless experience for clients.

Gareth elaborated, “We have utilised project and staff management software, which helps us create a clear schedule of what we have booked for the client. They can contact us to change the booking, leave feedback, and even see any photos or notes we make as we carry out the works. This is always backed up by our clients being able to call us and talk to someone straight away, to discuss any queries or changes.”

This emphasis on real-time communication and personalised interaction sets Core7 apart in an industry often dominated by impersonal processes. By maintaining a direct line of communication, Gareth ensures that clients are not only satisfied but also actively engaged in the project’s progression.

Innovation is a cornerstone of Core7’s approach. Gareth recognised that staying ahead of technological advancements is crucial for the company’s longevity and relevance. One area where innovation has been impactful is in the installation of commercial electric vehicle charge points. By implementing a back-office function, Core7 ensures the continuous health and availability of these charge points, providing a more effective and lasting solution for clients.

Gareth shared an example, “We frequently install commercial electric vehicle charge points, and recently, for Swindon Borough Council, we implemented a back-office function. This allows us to monitor the health of their EV charge points, ensuring they are always operational and available, with any faults identified remotely as quickly as possible.”

This commitment to embracing technology in a practical and client-centric manner exemplifies Core7’s dedication to offering solutions that meet both immediate needs and long-term goals. By staying informed and adaptable, Core7 not only addresses today’s challenges but also prepares for tomorrow’s opportunities.

Gareth’s journey as the founder of Core7 shines a light on the potential of infusing core values into a specialised field. His dedication to service, innovation, quality, and safety is not only reshaping electrical contracting in the Swindon area but also setting a standard for the broader industry.

Gareth’s vision is clear: “My vision is to bring trust back to the construction industry, with reliable people, doing great things, to give people the service they deserve, and our team enjoying what they do, with pride.”

As the industry witnesses Gareth’s relentless commitment to these core values, Core7 emerges as a beacon of change, igniting excellence, innovation, and integrity in the world of electrical contracting and beyond. In an industry often characterised by opacity, Gareth’s Core7 stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when core values are put at the forefront, promising a brighter and more trustworthy future for clients and contractors alike.

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Over two decades later, these words still resonate in my head and manifest themselves in everything I do. Today I am again living abroad, but this time with my husband and two children. Since India, my career path has changed from engineering and systems analysis, to sustainable development, to journalism, to politics, to academia and now back to sustainable development with a pinch of everything else.

It’s funny how we take on different roles in the various stages of our lives whether on the personal or the professional levels. But our values guide us to be who we are in every mile stone. In 2021 I started a non-profit organisation called 21^st Century Forum, aiming to be a catalyst for positive change in the Middle East by fostering effective partnerships between leading international donors and local communities. Or in other words, a bridge. This time it is more than a cultural bridge, you can say it is a sustainable development bridge.

My vision is to create a region where donor interventions are efficiently utilised and have a significant impact on addressing the Middle East challenges, while always respecting and honouring the unique local realities and priorities of the target communities.

I believe that sustainable development is not only a moral imperative, but also a key driver of economic growth and social stability. So I harness the experience I had throughout the years from the different jobs, countries and experiences, mash them up with the amazing network of experts I have access to, and produce a customised concussion that would remedy any sustainable development problem.

It wasn’t easy reinventing myself all over here in the UK after an impressive career back home in Yemen. So I needed to step back and have a sounding board; a professional yet friendly environment that would accelerate my business development and help my organisation become more viable, sustainable and successful. Hence, the Futuresmiths.

In the last six weeks, this initiative provided me with a support community and expert advice. In the course of this journey, I asked questions and found answers that helped me fine tuning my goals, mission, vision and values, learn about branding, business canvas modelling, marketing and referrals, internal organisational culture, accounting and legal aspects of business in the UK. I even have my SMART strategic objectives for the next six years.

I can only go forward from here, bridging between organisations and nations, to help many cross over to the other side, working together for the common good.

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A new chapter has unfolded for 14 diverse individuals who came together as Cohort 4 of The Forge. The Forge served as the arena for their transformation, and in September, they stood on the edge of a new beginning, having completed the first Forge cohort run by Future Smiths since its launch in July 2023.

Cohort 4 Journey

Cohort 4 is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship, innovation, and personal growth. We welcomed a broad spectrum of talents, ranging from marketing wizards to combat training experts, personal assistants to catering connoisseurs, and even estate agents. This diversity was a hallmark of the cohort and played a pivotal role in shaping their journey.

Individual Achievements

Each member of the cohort embraced the challenge and honed their skills, turning their diverse backgrounds into strengths.

For instance, Gareth, an electrical contractor, underwent a transformative shift in mindset, honing his strategic thinking. This transformation enabled him to achieve a remarkable feat, doubling his turnover within the duration of the course.

In a different sector, Paula, an estate agent with over 20 years of experience, blossomed in confidence and discovered a new passion for innovative approaches to real estate. This newfound lease of confidence not only transformed her professional journey but also had a significant impact on her sales performance.

These are just a couple of examples of the outstanding achievements of the cohort’s individual members, each of whom brought their unique skills to the table.

Group Achievements

The cohort enthusiastically participated in a skill-sharing initiative where each member expressed their willingness to assist others and actively sought out those in need of support. This collaborative spirit of the group extended beyond individual accomplishments, leading to the creation of several noteworthy projects that showcased their collective strength.

The Future Smiths’ Inaugural Run

This cohort holds a unique distinction in being the first Forge cohort run by Future Smiths since its launch in July 2023. It is a testament to the commitment of both our participants and organisers to the pursuit of excellence and innovation. We are proud to have witnessed the remarkable journey of Cohort 4, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact they will continue to make in their respective fields.

The Forge, under the guidance of Future Smiths, remains dedicated to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit and fostering innovation, and Cohort 4’s achievements serve as a shining example of the programme’s potential to transform lives and communities.

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