I met Ingrid a few times last year and each time we'd talked about business, new contracts and mutual contacts. You know - the usual stuff. Then, out of the blue one day, she told me that she was an actress, a tap dancer, an accomplished horse rider - and that she had ambitions to be a stunt rider! Not that she was boasting. Ingrid's calm nature and modesty prevent her from shouting about her alter ego too loudly. But she had suddenly just blurted it out - all in one go. I was left stunned at the thought that someone you've met through work can lead a fascinating private life you know nothing about. We had to reschedule the interview for this article because Ingrid had landed a part in the new Robin Hood film. The Ridley Scott movie - as yet untitled - was being filmed in Pembrokeshire, and Ingrid had had to be there at the crack of dawn to be made up and costumed as a French peasant. Immediately I want to know more, but Ingrid suddenly clams up and tells me that she's had to sign a disclosure document promising she won't reveal the plot or any part of it to anybody. So I change tack and ask about other TV and film she's been in. Ingrid can be contacted at Blue Rocket Recruitment on 029 20 612543 or you can email her - info@ bluerocketrecruit. com. Blue Rocket specialise in recruitment for sales and marketing, IFAs and graduate schemes; as well as in house bespoke recruitment campaigns and project management to suit a company's requirements ( including the planning and running of assessment days). From Recruitment Consultant to French peasant, Ingrid Bastable's life is exciting and varied. Successfully managing a dual career as a business owner and actress, Ingrid really is a tap dancing, horse- riding recruitment specialist. The Handshake caught up with Ingrid - fresh from a film set - and found out what's happening for her - on stage, on TV and on horseback. When you first meet Ingrid Bastable, you're struck by someone who is quiet, confident and efficient. And she needs to be. A successful recruitment specialist, Ingrid set up her own consultancy four years ago - and it's going from strength to strength, with various private and public sector contracts keeping her busy and well- known. " Oh, Casualty, Dr Who - and a walk on part in Merlin" she says casually, as if discussing the weather. " And the Dr Who Christmas special" she remembers. I'm impressed ( at the big name shows) and surprised ( that the Christmas Special gets filmed in June!). Then I ask her about the dancing. " I do tap and modern" she says " It helps to be as versatile as you can if you want parts. My real love is horses and I recently took a course in Film and TV Horse- riding" [ Suddenly my evening class in digital photography seems a bit tame by comparison.] The Film and TV horse- riding course was not easy. Riding powerful stallions was physically demanding, but, she says, will stand her in good stead for specialist parts in the future. And what about the future? What's on Ingrid's calendar for this year? Well, apart from playing a witch in Macbeth and the principal boy in a Panto, Ingrid has landed a part in feature film " Dagenham Girls". The setting for this 1960' s women's lib movie is the old Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil - where Ingrid will be based for the filming." I might have to take my top off too" she says quietly [ yet again surprising me] " It's in the script so some of us may have to, but I don't know yet" she adds matter- of- factly. And we move on. I do tap and modern" she says " It helps to be as versatile as you can if you want parts. My real love is horses and I recently took a course in Film and TV Horse- riding 5 the other side of INGRID

" A problem well stated is a problem half solved" It would be fair to say that we all know that the UK is in a recession, times are tough and raising money from your bank to assist you in business is like crossing your fingers and hoping your lucky numbers will pop up in the national lottery. So as the statement above is definitively true: ' a problem well stated is a problem half solved', let's not dwell on things we can't change and get down to working on the things we effectively can change for the better. Where do we start? Well, to go forward you have to gaze back and learn from the lessons of the past. In the good old days businesses and sole traders didn't worry about customers phoning through orders, or walking through the door to purchase goods or services - it just happened. Now things have changed! This is where the lesson begins. " A lesson repeated is a lesson not learnt" - Your Attitude to Marketing Marketing has been seen by many businesses as unimportant, or something that drains resources, and so is usually left to chance. Right now many businesses have even cut their marketing budget in a foolish attempt to cut costs. But the only thing they are cutting is their own throat. Such foolhardy thinking and knee jerk reactions will yield little in relief and have a long term negative impact. I am sure you were shocked when the age- old institution of the high street pick n mix store ( aka Woolworths) fell at the first hurdle at the start of this year. Ruefully shaking your head, you no doubt uttered the words of a nation in shock " I don't believe it". Note the lesson here; if the big boys can fall down so can you! The lesson is not to ignore the basic fact: Marketing is very, very important to invest in and shouldn't be cut in this economic recession. However, you should invest in it wisely. Keep your mind on your objective, and persist until you succeed. Study, think and plan. William Clement Stone for more information GO TO THE NEXT PAGE Thinking Points: Ask yourself these 3 succinct questions; answer them honestly! What is my attitude towards Marketing? Do I consider Marketing to be an important function in my business? How much budget and time have I invested in marketing this year? A lesson repeated is a LESSON NOT LEARNT 6 marketing STUDY, WORK, PLAN