August Thursday 6th: The Business Network Charity Business Brunch in aid of the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer. Sketty Hall 7.30 till 10.30am Speed networking and breakfast £ 20 per head. To book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Saturday 15th: Why not take part in the Big Country Challenge at The Prairie, Pontypridd. With money raised going to charity you can enter a team of 6 to take part in the challenge or just come along to support the event email: rowly71@ sky. com Thursday 27th - 7.00pm: James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer have organised a Ladies Night at The Dragon Hotel. A fun packed night with The Celtic Crusaders £ 35. Contact Jo Popham email: jp@ jameswhalefund. org Friday 28th: Ffos Las Racecourse Official Opening. The Dragon Hotel is running a bus to the racecourse, a welcome drink and entry ticket for just £ 25 - contact sarahw@ dragon- hotel. co. uk Or book your tickets directly from Ffos Las click here: http:// www. ffoslasracecourse. com/ racing- tickets/ tickets. php September Wednesday 2nd: Wine & Canapés evening at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff £ 10 per head to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Friday 4th - 7.00pm: Run In High Heels on Wind Street. 100 competitors will be taking part in a fun run in heels to experience for a few seconds what it feels like to walk in someone else's shoes! £ 12 to enter. Email: Jo Popham jp@ jameswhalefund. org Tuesday 15th: Swansea Business Network at Village Hotel £ 20 members, £ 25 non- members 11.45 till 2pm. To book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Thursday 17th: Newport Business Network at Glen yr Afon, Usk, £ 25 members, £ 30 non- members 11.45 till 2pm to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Thursday 17th: Barnardo's Corporate Golf Day with Dragon Hotel, Swansea at Southerndown Golf Course. Just 30 miles west of the Celtic Manor, Southerndown is the nearest of the South Wales coastal gems to the Ryder Cup venue. No trees or water hazards - just gorse, bracken and the ever- changing wind to make golfers think. Email: shan. jones@ barnardos. org. uk Tuesday 22nd: Cardiff Business Network at New House Hotel £ 20 members, £ 25 non- members 11.45 till 2pm to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Wednesday 23rd: Carmarthen Business Network at Ffos Las Racecourse £ 20 members, £ 25 non- members 11.45 till 2pm to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Thursday 24th: Bridgend Business Network at Coed y Mwstwr £ 20 members, £ 25 non- members 11.45 till 2pm to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 October Friday 9th: High Level Networking Event incorporating an internationally renowned speaker, lunch and workshop. This high quality thought provoking presentation and interactive work shop will ensure you get real value and leave with great concepts to consider for your organisation, as well as practical tips to put into practice. GROW. PROFIT. TOGETHER. For more information email: info@ biznetwales. co. uk To have your events listed here please email: Leean@ biznetwales. co. uk with details Tuesday 13th: Swansea Business Network at The Dragon Hotel, £ 20 members , £ 25 non- members, 11.45 till 2pm to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Thursday 15th: Newport Business Network is teaming up with the Concept Group to offer an exciting day of marketing training, networking lunch plus training on presentation techniques at The Glen yr Afon Hotel, Usk. £ 25 members , £ 30 non- members, 9am till 2.30pm to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Tuesday 20th: Cardiff Business Network at the Radisson Blu Hotel, £ 25 members , £ 30 non- members, 11.45 till 2pm to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Wednesday 21st: West Wales Business Network is going into Pembroke! The Business Network is teaming up with the Concept Group to offer an exciting day of marketing training, networking lunch plus training on presentation techniques. £ 20 members , £ 25 non- members , 9am till 2.30pm to include complementary marketing training. To book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 Thursday 22nd: Bridgend Business Network at the Coed y Mwstwr Hotel, members £ 20, non- members £ 25, 11.45 till 2pm, to book click here: http:// www. biznetwales. co. uk/ index. php? id= 4 11 the business networks DIARY DATES

Fiona graduated in Chemistry and Food Science, a far cry from the role of HR Consultant that she now holds. Fiona spent her first 5 years of employment with Nestle, in a variety of roles ranging from Quality Systems Auditor, Technical Legislation Assistant, Production Team Leader and Supply Chain Executive, and then moved on to become a Management Consultant for a niche Consultancy specialising in HR. She is a competent trainer and facilitatorIn 2001, Fiona set up Blue Apple HR Solutions Ltd with business partner Claire Cooper to provide an outsourced HR consultancy service to SMEs. Initially focusing on clients in South Wales, the company grew to take on clients across Wales and in Birmingham, London, Bath and Oxfordshire. Fiona's work centred on guiding clients through the minefield of employment law, by providing timely practical hands on advice, either remotely or face to face. Projects have included HR health checks, redundancy consultations, training needs analyses, grievance and disciplinary investigations, developing performance management systems, ad hoc advice and developing staff handbooks and contracts of employment and rolling these out to staff. In December 2006 Fiona joined forces with Darwin Gray to set up the HR Consultancy department, such that a holistic HR and employment law advice service could be provided to clients through one point of contact. What does the business do?: Essentially, Fiona acts as the outsourced HR Department for SMEs that are either too small to justify a permanent HR resource, or want the peace of mind that comes from advice from an independent expert. Her services range from carrying out disciplinary and grievance hearings, appraisals, pay reviews, sickness absence monitoring and consultation on redundancies and transfers of undertakings right through to providing a full outsourced HR function. Recent professional accomplishment?: completing a course in Indian Cookery. I learn something new on a daily basis, by virtue of sitting amongst a team of employment lawyers. I hope that my intervention helps my clients accomplish what they need to ensure their businesses remain competitive and efficient, and in that respect, it would be hard to single one out. What got you into the profession?: This is where I would love to say that it has been a lifelong ambition, but in truth it hasn't. My earlier roles within Nestle played to my virgo traits of being an analytical perfectionist; when I came back from a year's travelling I consulted friends and family for ideas, and they all said I should work with people, so the ' Aspiring Consultants wanted' ad by a niche HR Consultancy in the Times grabbed my attention, and the rest, as they say is history. Hobbies: Cooking and eating, drinking wine, pottering, planning travels to new places and putting those plans into action. What one thing would you take to a desert island?: You know I said I was a virgo, therefore I am a perfectionist? If I were to go to a dessert island I would take a Tiramisu, but if I were going to a desert island then it would be my collection of cookery books - I never tire of reading them and planning menus!. Favourite saying: " Let it go." I hear these words in my head, spoken in my boyfriend's half Geordie half Welsh accent, when I can feel my stress levels rising over something trivial, and I immediately change my outlook on the situation. Sum yourself up in three words: Open, organised, perfectionist. Worst fault: Can't say no. 12 profile FIONA CRAWFORD Name: Fiona Crawford Birthday: 19th Sept Star Sign: Virgo Company: Darwin Grey Solicitors Job Title: HR Consultant ... when I came back from a year's travelling I consulted friends and family for ideas, and they all said I should work with people... If I were to go to a dessert island, I would take a Tiramisu...