On International Women’s Day, it’s crucial to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact on society through their businesses.
Our co-founder Jeannie Pickering wanted to share about the inspirational pioneer, the late Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop. She not only transformed the cosmetics industry but also set a high standard for ethical business practices worldwide. Her dedication to sustainability and social responsibility continues to inspire women entrepreneurs globally.
Jeannie worked with Anita, who chose Kidsunlimited, as the workplace nursery for her business. Their commitment to prioritise the welfare of employees, families, and communities meant that the business could thrive. Their visions aligned, which was to put staff and children first and value and support women in the workplace. They invested a million pounds into a purpose build nursery for her staff in 1993.
You may have seen in the news that The Body Shop UK operations went into administration last month. The company allegedly broke employment laws in it’s later years. We are heartbroken to hear that this has happened to her legacy. Employers were not looked after. They are calling for new ‘Anita’s Law’.
Jeannie is remembering the golden years today and celebrating working with such an incredible woman, who continues to inspire her.
Through Back To The Garden Childcare, Jeannie hopes to show how nurturing environments can be created for children, to foster their development while respecting the environment and promoting sustainability as well as supporting women returners, career development and community within the team.
Jeannie and Anita shared the importance of intuition in business and that compassion and emotion are guiding forces. Jeannie found this true for some of her most successful decisions over the years.
“Anita was such a pioneer for championing women in the workplace and creating a business with integrity and a heart and soul. She had a fearless spirit and a desire to innovate. She was an inspiration and we valued the opportunity to work with her and Gordon.”
Let’s celebrate incredible women today on International Women’s Day by showcasing the power of entrepreneurship to drive positive change, which is clearly something that still needs fighting for. These stories serve as a testament to the importance of gender equality and the invaluable contributions of women in business and society.
“I want to acknowledge, celebrate and thank all our female staff that have worked with me all the way back to our beginning, decades ago, and that work with me now in BTTGC. We grow together.”
On that note we also want to commend Pregnant Then Screwed, Mother Pukka and all the powerhouse women out there fighting for change.
This truck was a gift from Anita to Jeannie and Stewart Pickering, which was later gifted to Sam Roddick, Anita’s daughter. What a quote!
Listen to our founders episode with Jeannie and Stewart where they discuss their relationship with Anita: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xh8Fhygudo7h5UAo77Lgy?si=d3c117388b834451
Main picture of Anita source: https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14391162.the-body-shops-founder-dame-anita-roddick-remembered-40-years-after-it-opened-in-brighton/
