The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 11: Spring 2019 | Page 23

IN PROFILE
LORAINE MORGAN
BRINKHURST MBE
MORGAN BRINKHURST
CONSULTANCY
INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN’S
DAY
What do you love most about Bath?
I love the history and heritage our beautiful city has to offer,
I feel so lucky and so proud to have been born in Bath.
Why are you so passionate about
supporting charities?
In my early adult life, I experienced hardships and as I
progressed with my career and bringing up my family I
realised how fortunate I was. Reflecting back this made me
realise that there are people worse off than me. It spurs me
on to help charities and try to make lives better for people
who are struggling with health issues, poverty or other
problems. I support charities both as a volunteer and through
my business.
You have worked with many organisations and
charities locally, tell us more about them.
I’ve worked with Bath Tourism Plus and was proud to sit
on the board. It was an opportunity to support the many
businesses in the area.
Whilst I was on the council, I helped to set up Sirona Care
& Health. The government at the time wanted councils to
amalgamate health and social care and Sirona is a wonderful
organisation. I have a background of 25 years working in the
health service locally and it was a privilege to be the council’s
first board member.
How do you find the energy
for all of your work?
I have always worked since I was 17 and my parents taught
me such great work ethics. I love what I do each day. Every
event and client is different. I get excited in the planning of
events and making a difference. I have a wonderful events
team and we enjoy every moment of working together, this
exudes through to the events.
she demanded equality for woman as the leader of the
suffragette movement. Her efforts led to the vote being
granted to some women (those over the age of 30 who owned
property or were married to a man who owned property) in
1918.
In Bath the first Mayor was in 1230, it took until 1950
to get our first lady Mayor Kathleen Harper, a magistrate.
From then on women started to come to the fore in Bath and
started making a difference in their communities and across
the city. In recent years we have had two lady university
Vice-Chancellors, a lady editor of the Bath Chronicle, a lady
chief executive of the council and ladies in various other roles
running businesses and charities in Bath and across the
area.
What are you most proud of?
Gosh there are a few things, being one of Bath’s youngest
female Mayors and a mum of six was incredible. Receiving
my MBE was amazing, I never dreamt that I would achieve
this. I joined the council after I campaigned for a crossing
near my home after two children were knocked down, it took
two years to get the crossing. Standing for council I felt would
enable me to get more done for my community. It was an
amazing 20 years.
If you could have one wish for
Bath what would it be?
That we can find a way of investing in more affordable
housing thus enabling more people to live in this beautiful
city. It might also mean that our children can continue to live
and work in the place they call home.
What drives you?
Loraine was born in Bath and has lived
in the city all of her life. She’s passionate
about the place she calls home and has
devoted many years to Bath and its many
causes. In 2002 she became the 775th
Mayor of Bath. At 43 years old she was one
of Bath’s youngest mayors and only one of
a handful of women to take up the role.
In 2010 she was awarded an MBE from
the Queen for her services to the area of
Bath & North East Somerset and for her
charity work.
Her business Morgan Brinkhurst
Consultancy works with businesses
and charities managing events and
promotional activities. Loraine recently
worked with The Business Exchange to
deliver the inaugural South West Charity
Conference.
To celebrate International Women’s Day,
we couldn’t think of a better role model
for women in business. Loraine has
successfully juggled raising six children
as a single mum, achieved mayoral status,
won multiple awards and is dedicated to
continuing her work to improve the lives
of others.
Whether it is through my business or my charity work,
being able to make a difference to people’s lives spurs me
on to help when and where I can. I have built up expertise
in the events business and it brings me so much joy and
satisfaction when people enjoy coming to events that I have
organised.
What projects are you working
on at the moment?
I am working on two charity events for the Chairwoman of
Bath & North East Somerset Council. These will support
her chosen charities Dorothy House Hospice and the
Motor Neurone Disease Association which works in Bath
and across the South West. The first will be a music event
featuring local bands in March, and the second will be an
‘Elegance in the Afternoon’ Fashion Show with fizz and
afternoon tea in April, both at the Guildhall, Bath. I have
several events in the pipeline, launching a newly built
children’s nursery, charity jazz in a beautiful garden in
Somerset and many more.
What advice would you give
to women in business?
Never give up, many of us have to juggle children, running
a home and work, but we can achieve this and achieve in
business. I believe my life experiences have helped me
tremendously and spurred me on to try to do the best in all
I do. But it is important to me to find family and friends time
if I can, I haven’t quite got the work life balance right but I try.
Do you have a female role model?
Or someone you look up to?
I admire my mother who brought up five daughters.
Emmeline Pankhurst: Although she said she wasn’t perfect,
@LoraineMB
For more info:
www.morganbrinkhurstconsultancy.co.uk
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019
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