The Interview
Name
Ruth Webber
Any family?
2 kids – Ollie (17) and Katy (15)
How do you relax?
Watch theatre and cinema, read, eat, run and play tennis.
What's your favourite view in Scotland and why?
From Princes Street down to the Firth of Forth on a sunny day
If you could start again, what would you be?
TV presenter, chat show host
If you won the lottery how would you spend the rest of your life?
Travelling, relaxing in 'my house' with a pool near the sea, in a warm climate and doing practical, active things for charity.
Career to date
What was your biggest career break?
Being offered Business Development Manager role of a large US multinational in London when I had no marketing qualifications or experience.
What were you doing before you took the plunge?
Business Development Manager for Heery International, multidisciplinary architects, engineers and project Managers in London.
What was the major change you encountered when you left your previous employer to set up on your own?
Working alone. Felt isolated initially, until I realised I had to get out and about, as people wouldn't come to me.
If you could start all over again, would you change your career path in any way? Why?
No. Although I'd love to use my languages (French and Spanish) in my work
Considering all the people you've met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?
Being open, friendly and generous. Confident but not arrogant. Never closing your mind to new ideas or other people's views.
What is your Business Called?
Webber Marketing
In a few of sentences describe the core services or products of your company?
Marketing planning and strategy, business development workshops, research and copywriting
How do you get most of your business work and how has networking helped you?
Through people I have known for a long time and these contacts were mostly made through networking. Best way to build up relationships which might lead to business.
What makes you stand out from others in the same field?
My grey hair – honestly, it's a sign of maturity and experience.
What key sectors use your company?
Property, design and construction, the arts, enterprise bodies and regeneration agencies.
What is your competitive advantage?
An ability to 'get under the skin' of an organisation quickly and combine intuition and reason, to help them build up their business and increase profitability
Where do you hope to be this time next year? In five years time?
In a year, working with half a dozen companies of different sizes in a range of sectors. In five years, one or two clients and a couple of Non-Exec Director positions
If Government agencies could do one thing to help your sector what would it be?
Cut the red tape and make tendering much simpler to ensure that the best company for the job wins and not the best one at form filling!
Do you see yourself having to build collaborations with other companies to keep ahead of the competition?
It's not a question of having to but wanting to broaden my skill base by working with others.
Please describe the ideal profile of a client for you?
Medium sized private sector company in the services sector wishing a marketing strategy and ongoing support.
And finally.....
We found this snippet on the SWIB website which you kept very quiet about!!
SWIB member Ruth Webber of Webber Marketing has received the Scottish Volunteer of the Year Award from Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust. This award recognises the expertise, mentoring advice and inspiration that Ruth has offered as an aftercare advisor for the PSYBT, helping young people achieve their full potential. Once a PSYBT business is up and running, an aftercare adviser is appointed, all of whom are experts in their fields. They work as volunteers for the Trust, with the sole aim of helping young entrepreneurs sustain their business and offer them crucial advice during the first two years in business. Having won the regional award in September 2009, Ruth went on to win the coveted title of ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the national award finals in November 2009. She received a personal letter from Prince Charles, thanking her for 'going that extra mile'.