Wella business network live 2014

TV icon Ruby Wax, former primary school teacher, Richard Gerver and brand expert Rita Clifton were among those presenting at Wella Business Network Live. Some 230 salon owners and managers attended the two-day event , which this year celebrated its 18^th year. Innovator and educator Richard Gerver offered a fascinating insight into the way young people learn and how those employers wanting to engage with young employees or potential employees may need to change the way they approach training and management. “The current generation of young people don’t want to just watch the news, they want to be the news,” said Richard. “Young people want to have an impact on the things they are passionate about. This generation won’t put up with being told what’s going to happen, they want to be co-creators of everything.” Comedian and TV presenter Ruby Wax told delegates how, in a bid to understand her own battles with mental illness, she went back to university and achieved a Msc in psychotherapy. Ruby shared with delegates her techniques for controlling the chemical in the brain which control moods and stress levels. “If a client picks up on your stress you are never going to form a true rapport with them,” explained Ruby. Branding expert Rita Clifton stressed the importance of any business being crystal clear on what its brand was. “Unless you and your people are all on board to build a consistent brand, you’re just a group pf people doing stuff,” she said. Other speakers at the event included 80s pop Svengali Pete Waterman, award-winning designer Amanda Wakeley and online shopping maestro Tim Steiner.