2019 events
20 Feb Lydia Rusling Visit Lincoln Chief Executive – Held at Langleys, Doddington Road. See below for details and booking.
6 March Our AGM hosted by Caroline Killeavy of Lincolnshire YMCA at The Showroom
8 May Zoe Easey from Epix Media – ‘Don’t make me think! Slicker decision making and how it impacts marketing success’ – Held at Langleys, Doddington Road
4 July Summer Lunch with Carol Sheakespeare – Eyley (see below)
18 Sept Rachel Linstead from Firecracker – ’10 Top Tips for being Happy, Healthy and Productive daily’ – Held at Langleys, Doddington Road
20 February 2019 – Lincoln – A ‘must see’ destination for visitors with Lydia Rusling, head of Visit Lincoln
Lincoln is a growing magnet for travellers worldwide and a “must visit” destination on the discerning tourist’s bucket list. And on February 20, members of Business Women’s Link will learn about the many projects driving that trend, when the network welcomes guest speaker, Head of Visit Lincoln, Lydia Rusling.
The Community Interest Company is, appropriately, is based in one of the city’s top historic attractions, Lincoln Castle. And, in addition to its efforts to attract more day and staying visitors to the city, it is working with over 160 county businesses with the aim of encouraging more people to live, work, learn and invest in Lincoln.
Lydia, who has worked in the public and private sectors, joined the former Lincolnshire Tourism in 2004, moving into tourism development in 2007 – a move she found “very rewarding.” Since she took charge of Visit Lincoln, the city enjoyed its biggest increase in visitor numbers and increase in value of the visitor economy in 2017 – Lincoln had more than 4 million visitors generating £203 million for the local economy.
“As a membership organisation we focused on working with more businesses and increased the number of partners of Visit Lincoln by over 40 per cent. In 2018 we became an independent community interest company and we have almost doubled our turnover within the first year,” said Lydia.
“As a team we want to see Lincoln be the best. It’s a beautiful and vibrant city, but it needs to attract investment, grow sustainably and be a good place in which to live and work.
“By working with the City of Lincoln Council, Be Lincoln will attract investment – matching investors with the destination, integrate and strengthen investment into the city with Lincoln’s Live, Visit and Learn offer and broaden and grow the number of businesses we work with.”
Lydia, who leads a team of six, had some great plans for the future and BWL members can look forward to meeting her at our meeting at Langleys Solicitors in Doddington Road, Lincoln, on Wednesday, February 20 at 5.30pm.
There will also be time for refreshments and networking.
For more information and to book, please contact Jessica Eyley on (01522) 508815 or email jessica.eyley@langleys.com
4 July 2019 – Summer Lunch with Carol Shakespeare-Eyley
SIMPLY INSPIRATIONAL – CAROL SHAKESPEARE-EYLEY
BWL is thrilled to introduce Carol Shakespeare-Eyley as this year’s Summer Luncheon speaker. Carol’s story is sure to inspire and motivate everyone because it tells how a determined young woman fought alongside others to change history by working with the Movement of the Ordination of Women (MOW).
Carol’s fight to be heard, not only took the Secretary for the Worcester Diocese to Westminster Abbey, but also to her local radio station to spread the word and raise awareness of her and MOW’s drive to get equality for females within the clergy.
And, in 2014 her efforts and those of her peers were rewarded, with news of the first woman ordained a Bishop in the Church of England. History was well and truly made, thanks to Carol and MOWs’ energetic and determined fight.
But, there’s more! Carol’s life story doesn’t end there. Whilst working in Dudley as a nursery nurse, she pursued her dream of becoming a teacher. Despite leaving school with few O-Levels, she eventually succeeded to become a respected and well-loved Headmistress, transforming a failing school into one of the country’s top Primary Schools. She went on to become an OFSTED Inspector and was also Chair of Governors for several schools around Leicestershire.
Carol achieved all this whilst raising two daughters and battling illnesses which saw her frequently hospitalised. Her inspirational story highlights the power of sheer determination and standing up for what you believe in.
Incidentally, if you were wondering about Carol’s connection to Lincolnshire – she is mum to BWL’s very own Jessica Eyley!
Booking – In due course