As fairandfunky embark on the next 5 years (and more!) of empowering people to take their own little steps to change the world we are thrilled to be joined by a team of new directors – ready to challenge us, work with us, grow with us and help move forward many of our fairandfunky ambitions to change the world. This week we welcome one new director, Janet Bebb, to the guest blog
“First and foremost I’m delighted to be taking up the position of Non Exec Director at fairandfunky! My name is Janet Bebb, and yes I am related to Sophie. She’s my amazing, talented, world changing daughter. I’m also the founder and Director of Social Progress Ltd, a social media training and social media account management agency based in Honley, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire with a team of five and growing.
I have a wide and varied background in financial services, customer service, change implementation, training, employer engagement and business support before setting up Social Progress Ltd in November 2011. I’m one of only eight hand-picked, UK based social media trainers working with Facebook and Enterprise Nation on the ‘She Means Business’ programme which in 2018 is set to upskill 50,000 female entrepreneurs.
I guess you could say I’m quite community spirited. I love to get my hands dirty and muck in with local initiatives. I’m a member of the Holme Valley Fairtrade Group and in support of Fairtrade I’ve made a commitment for Social Progress to be a Fairtrade supporting business. As in, we always serve Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar….and when we can get them (which isn’t very often), Fairtrade biscuits.
We like to have fun but also work hard at Social Progress and so our ever popular #CheeseFestFriday’s go down a treat. We run these every other month and invite our friends at The Black Cat Bistro to provide the Cheeses, biscuits, pickles, and Fairtrade wines. And I get involved in Fairtrade related activities in the local Holme Valley region, particularly around Fairtrade Fortnight – watch out for the #BananaBreakout ‘bunch’ coming to Holmfirth, Honley & Meltham on the 10th March 2018.
I’m a member of Honley Business Association and on the committee there. I help with the social media and organising the advertising / programme for the main annual events run by Honley Business Association – Honley Feast, Honley Christmas Lights Switch On & Honley Christmas Market. I’m also a founding advocate for the Kirklees Business Hub. A Kirklees Council initiative set up to support local businesses with information, advice and support. And at Social Progress we also support Honley High School, and I’m a Honley High School Co-operative Learning Trust Partner. We’re members of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Partners of MY Network Huddersfield and BNI Terriers.
The thing I’ve always loved about being on the fringe of fairandfunky is that their passion and enthusiasm for making this world a better place rubs off on me and challenges me to keep making those all important changes to be more environmentally friendly, support our fellow citizens across the globe and just THINK about the things I do day in day out – how can I waste less, recycle more, support others better.
I’ve supported Helen and Sophie from the start. Well actually before they even started fairandfunky I guess. I’ve watched the business grow, I’ve seen some of their challenges and frustrations but equally I’ve seen them achieve so much. What I love about them is their brilliant determination to make a difference in this world. They set clear objectives, know their strengths, and their weaknesses and find solutions to make whatever they’ve set their minds to do happen.
I’m excited about being even more involved in fairandfunky from this point onwards and looking forward to seeing the business grow even stronger and make an even BIGGER difference to the world around us.”
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