We are excited to announce details about our free event, HOW TO HAVE FUN AT WORK, taking place on Tuesday 24th February in Medway. With more focus on health and wellbeing in the workplace than ever before, embracing the power of humour to communicate, build confidence and seek human connection. This should be at the top of everybody’s business agenda for 2026 – we spend so much time working, we need to have more fun!
Funny Women has been based in Rochester for 11 years and we’re proud to have this fantastic opportunity to run our Comedy in the Community initiative for the third year running, funded by Medway Council and supported by the Federation of Small Businesses .
Featuring workshops, panel discussion, essential networking and live comedy (of course!) together with our carefully curated team of experts, we will show you how to express your ideas more confidently and freely and make the most of our innate sense of humour to navigate an increasingly and complex business environment.
The fun takes place this year in Oliver’s, pictured below. the gorgeous bar and restaurant situated on Rochester’s Dickensian High Street.
This event is for everybody, regardless of gender, with a programme designed to boost your confidence, take on a leadership within your organisation or community, apply for a job you’ve always wanted or simply to say what you think in a meeting.
Here’s the lowdown!
TAKE PART IN WORKSHOPS
When you arrive, you will take part in a lively round of quick fire workshops facilitated by local business people. Choose two out of our three sessions:
SELLING WITH A SMILE: HOW TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS WITH CONFIDENCE
You’ve taken the jump to look at your marketing seriously, great! Now comes the hard part: recording your video and pressing ‘share’. That moment before you press record can feel extremely daunting, and all those imposter thoughts can rise right to the surface and make you feel deflated. Say goodbye to negativity, learn how to handle the camera like a pro and create content that feels natural, relevant and fun to watch.
Molly ‘Moodle’ Smith (above) is a marketing consultant who has worked with independent businesses in Kent for the last 10 plus years. Molly’s speciality is bringing joy into marketing, selling the fun in campaigns and helping brands feel relatable and approachable.
HOW NOT TO ‘DIE ON STAGE’ AND MAKE YOURSELF MEMORABLE
A New York Times survey in 1984 placed death third in a list of people’s biggest fears. The first two were walking into a room full of strangers and speaking in public. So, what’s the worst that can happen? How do you get on stage? Learn a few tricks of the trade from the world of comedy – comedians have to bounce back when they metaphorically ‘die’ on stage. Face up to the almost universal fear of getting your voice heard with a few simple tips and exercises.
Lynne Parker BCAa (above) is the founder of Funny Women, an acclaimed non-profit community, empowering people to perform, write and develop their own distinctive voice professionally and personally through comedy. She uses her experience in journalism, marketing and comedy to coach and encourage people to perform in business and public life. Lynne was recognised with a British Citizen Award for Arts in the People’s Honours July 2025 and voted Most Inspiring Businesswoman 2024 in the Best Businesswomen Awards.
GETTING YOU READY FOR THE PLATFORM
An interactive and dynamic session to elevate your speaking style to the next level. Know the difference between giving advice from behind the camera and performing in front of it. Find out how to transform complex ideas into clear, compelling stories that audiences act on; approach interviews and media appearances with confidence and authority; and build a professional presence that attracts opportunities and trust.
Dr Tim Aker (above) is a communications expert with over 15 years of front-line media experience and a background spanning politics, business, and academia. As Director of Just A Minute Media, he combines strategic insight and academic rigour to help his clients cut through the noise, influence their audiences, and achieve measurable results. Tim has served as a Member of the European Parliament, a Councillor, and as Development Manager at the Federation of Small Businesses. He has a PhD in history, and his first book was published in 2025. Recognised for professional excellence in communications, Tim is Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Communicators.
THE PANEL DISCUSSION
Our interactive panel will discuss the impact that ‘having fun’ can have on our mental health and wellbeing both in the workplace and beyond.
How far can we go in respect of being our authentic selves to inspire our colleagues, teams and employees?
How can we make the best out of working, playing and performing to the best of our abilities?
And why is it that ‘the company that plays together, stays together’ (Lynne Parker, The Guardian) succeeds when others don’t?
Jemma Fairclough-Haynes (host above) is the CEO and Founder of Orchard Employment Law, a multi-award-winning consultancy that supports SMEs, large organisations, charities, and public sector clients across the UK. She is an employment law expert, business leader and experienced speaker with more than a decade in business. As South East Regional Chair for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Jemma advocates for the needs of business owners across the region and contributes to policy development nationally. Her expert insights have been featured in Personnel Today, the BBC, Sky News, GB News, Times Radio and the Daily Mail.
Dr Blessing Enakimio (above) is a Chartered Change and Culture Consultant and the founder of Blé Global. She runs a Transitional Organisational Development & Design practice specialising in Post-M&A Integration, Succession, Growth and Restructure. Her work focuses on making organisations performance-ready during moments of transition, when ambition is high and risk is real. Through her proprietary 5Ws Framework and Structured Ambition Method, she helps boards and executive teams redesign work, leadership and culture. Advising leaders across the UK and internationally Dr Blessing is a published author and international speaker on culture, leadership and organisational performance through change.
Sue Hainsby (above) brings over 20 years of hands-on experience in property, spanning development, buying, selling, and most notably, residential property management. She founded Carlean Property Management Ltd in 2006 and is a former Kent Businesswoman of the Year. In 2022, Sue and her business partner Deborah Turner launched Breakthrough Women, a thriving community for working women in Kent, offering networking meetings, mastermind workshops and practical business support designed to help women grow and succeed.
Sam Fuszard (above) is the Founder of Fuzzy Logic and Co-Founder of The Rookie CEO, mixing business development brains with a creative skillset and a healthy dose of humour. With 15+ years of experience helping businesses grow, he specialises in marketing that’s strategic, human and actually gets results. Known for his straight-talking, collaborative approach and the occasional bad joke, Sam help brands find their lane, build confidence and grow without losing their personality.
LIVE COMEDY
Join us for light lunch and we’ll serve up a few laughs as well before you head back to work! No Funny Women event is complete without some brilliant live comedy!
Nic Lamont (host above) is a Medway-based comedy performer, actor, writer, and workshop leader. A graduate of RCSSD and one half of Award-Winning comedy duo The Twins Macabre, her work has been featured on BBC, BBC Radio 4 and Amazon. Most recently seen on Netflix, giving Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie a cold stare in The Thursday Murder Club.
Nic is an Improvisation specialist and co-director of Medway Play Lab C.I.C which runs Improv Classes and Performing Arts events. Nic has been Medway’s regional producer and mentor for Funny Women’s Glitter Project providing special guests, workshops and Open Mics where female identifying comedians can meet in a safe place to network, get inspiration, ask advice and try new material.
Beverley Bunn (above) lives by the motto ‘size isn’t everything’. She may not be able to reach the top shelf in the supermarket, but what she lacks in height, she makes up for in volume. Never one to hide behind the parapet, Beverley is an effervescent mix of official cockney-turned-middle-class Kentish maid.
Beverley comes to the world of comedy later than most but now realises that all those years spent in HR, engineering & massage therapy, have given her plenty to talk about. She is a graduate of Funny Women’s inaugural Glitter Challenge and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Comedy Store in 2025. Nothing can stop her now!
TAKE PART IN OUR PODCAST
We are delighted to welcome back our video and podcast partners Rachael Bryant and Ben Bryant of Your Video Team. They will be providing an exclusive Video Podcast studio to capture interviews, voxpops, talking heads and chat live from the event, encouraging attendees to share their experiences on the day for a special highlight reel. They will also be joining our panel discussion.
For a taste of what’s to come, please check out the playlist from last year’s event captured by Your Video Team last year here.
Ready to grow your business? Let’s make you the hero of your brand!
‘Your Video Team produces high-quality Video Podcasts, turning one recording into a year’s worth of powerful content, positioning you as the industry expert—someone your audience trusts, follows, and buys from.’
Lights.
Camera.
Video Podcast.
WE CAN’T WAIT TO WELCOME YOU TO OLIVER’S ON TUESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2026 FROM 9.30AM TO 2.00PM.
TO BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
AND PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING A DONATION TO THE WISDOM HOSPICE CHARITY WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR BOOKING.
