News
Welcoming Cardiff’s rising stars to the Club
Date Posted: 16 May 2018
In a break from the regular calendar of events, Cardiff Business Club hosted a unique event for the next generation of business leaders in the capital. Suitably named ‘Rising Stars’, the event was aimed at introducing the Club to younger members of the business community and giving them an insight into what the Club is all about and how it can help them in their careers.
The brainchild of Club Director Charlotte Leyshon, who sits on the Board of Cardiff Business Club, the Rising Stars event was held at Milk & Sugar on The Hayes on Monday 14th May, with 65 delegates from some of the capital’s largest employers in attendance.
Kicking off proceedings was Scott Waddington, Chairman of Cardiff Business Club. He gave an insight into some of the reasons why those in attendance should consider coming along to one of the Club’s regular speaker events - the prestigious history of the Club and its Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, to the people who attend each event and the calibre of speakers we welcome, to name but a few.
Scott was also keen to point out that while the Club has a strong membership base that has been loyal for a number of years, it can only be sustained by supporting and attracting the next generation of business people – like those who were sat in the room. This was the message that Charlotte reiterated, too.
Having returned to Cardiff in 2013 following a decade living and working in London, Charlotte took up a role of Head of the Family Department at Hugh James Solicitors. Addressing the audience, Charlotte shared her experiences of attending Cardiff Business Club events.
In the four years that she has been involved with the Club, both as an attendee and more recently as a Director, Charlotte has successfully expanded her professional network of contacts and in doing so, raised her personal brand.
Some of these contacts, she said, have proven to be invaluable and mutually beneficial. By the start of 2018, Charlotte took the next step in her career by launching Lux Family Law. You can read more about her experience here.
As well as Scott and Charlotte, the Club welcomed leading legal trainer Helen Iles, from Helen Iles Legal Management & Training. Helen delivered a fascinating overview on the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the ‘what will’ and ‘won’t be’ permissible for businesses once the new legislations into effect on 25th May.
Holding data, Helen said, is set to become incredibly complicated under GDPR and the ramifications for not abiding by the changes to the way in which personal data is used and stored should serve as a wake-up call for all organisations, regardless of size, sector or location.
For instance, simple everyday acts such as giving a business card may be seen by many as consent to be contacted, but under GDPR this will no longer be the case. What data an organisation already holds, she warned, must be deleted once that information no longer has a “specified purpose”.
There’s also the way in which that data is used, whether internally or externally.
Helen cited the case of an employee who posted on the then Norwich Union intranet site that one of their main competitors, Western Provident, was in financial difficulties. They weren’t and Western Provident sued Norwich Union for defamation and won costing the business £450,000 in damages.
As she stated, staff need to be made clearly aware that the social media policy you have in place applies to both internet and intranet usage. The key message, she said: “If you don’t want people to see it, don’t use it, don’t post it and don’t do it…an opinion on somebody is that person’s personal data.
‘Motive, is irrelevant. There is no defence in court for an individual to claim, ‘I didn’t mean it’.”
The next main event in the Cardiff Business Club calendar takes place 23rd May, when we welcome the Dutch Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Simon Smits. Bookings are open now for this event. Click here for details.