In this episode we will hear from Jan Iceton, Chair of Smart Works Greater Manchester. Smart Works Greater Manchester is a truly inspiring charity that has helped over 3,500 unemployed, disadvantaged and often vulnerable women get back into employment. Their motto is “get the clothes, get the confidence, get the job”.... and 72% of their clients do just that. They bounced back quickly after Covid and now deliver circa 100 appointments a month from their centre in Stockport. Now, at this time of exceptional need, they are working towards opening a new Smart Works in Manchester by April 2023. Aside from Smart Works, Jan supports entrepreneurial SaaS platform businesses as an Investor/NED. Jan's whole career has been in business development with 10 years in large corporate IT (Fujitsu), 10 years BPO in the UK and North America (Vertex) then almost 10 years running her own consultancy / interim business supporting private equity owned companies. In 2015, Jan went "back on the payroll" for 2 years when she joined Utiligroup, a fast growing, highly entrepreneurial SaaS provider to independent UK energy suppliers backed by North Edge Capital (PE). In April 2017 they sold the company to ESG for £100m and in November were recognised by the BVCA (Private Equity) as Best Management Team of the Year (Mid Market). Hosted by MBA alumna Claire-Marie Boggiano, Lurig Change & Development.