A Stoke-on-Trent blacksmith has been selected to front a national campaign to improve the way female entrepreneurs and business leaders are represented in the media and advertising.
Charis Jones, who runs Sculpted Steel at the Etruria Industrial Museum, has been selected as one of just 15 women to front the Female Focus campaign which has been launched by NatWest and Getty Images.
The campaign has seen a new gallery of images created on gettyimages.com to illustrate the diversity of female-led businesses in the 海角视频.
Charis launched Sculpted Steel in 2008 after graduating from Staffordshire University with a degree in 3D design craft.
Using a combination of traditional forging techniques, contemporary design and modern technology, she creates sculptural ironwork for interiors, gardens and public spaces.
On being chosen for the campaign, Charis said: “It’s a great opportunity to represent all the women challenging stereotypes, pushing boundaries and creating fantastic businesses.
I’m proud of my business and its place within the new Getty Images gallery.”
Last year, Charis faced the very real possibility that the business she had worked so hard for might not survive, but she adapted by trading more online and used the time to plan where she wanted the business to go in the future – sparking ideas for a whole new range of garden sculpture.
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She says her best piece of advice for women looking to launch their own business is: “Create a good support network to help you. It can be very lonely, and having people who you can ask for advice or share your concerns with makes a big difference.”
How NatWest is supporting BusinessLive
NatWest is the national partner of BusinessLive.
The banking group is teaming up with BusinessLive on a series of events throughout the year aimed at entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as manufacturing and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.
The new Getty Images gallery features a range of NatWest’s own customers and authentically depicts women of all ages and backgrounds working across a diverse spectrum of industries including farming, blacksmithing, recycling, sustainable business, technology and wellness.
The campaign is the latest in a series of female-focussed initiatives by Natwest. Earlier this year, the bank doubled its 海角视频 Female Entrepreneurship Funding to £2 billion.
Margaret Jobling, chief marketing officer at NatWest, said: “Providing funding and business support is central to how we support female-led businesses as a bank.
“But we know the issue is far broader than this, and that a lack of relatable role models is another barrier that needs to be overcome before women can picture themselves setting up a business.
“Through this partnership with Getty Images, we want to encourage a more realistic and diverse portrayal of female business owners, workers and entrepreneurs in the 海角视频, and hope that this is just the beginning of that transformation.”
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NatWest will continue to add images to the gallery after opening the project up to more women.
It is now asking the general public to nominate inspiring female business owners to be photographed and featured.
The next 15 women to be selected will receive one-to-one coaching sessions and business support from NatWest as well as a photoshoot with Getty Images, in addition to being featured.
For more information – or to nominate women to feature in the next series of shoots – visit femalefocus.natwestbusinesshub.com.