Entrepreneur Sally Allen proves innovation is the key to success

From banking to boats, PR to fashion, businesswoman Sally Allen’s career has been defined by defying convention and doing things differently.  Now, she’s sponsoring the innovation category at the Torbay Weekly’s Business Awards, to celebrate others who want to shake up the status quo.

“A large part of my career has been about survival really,” said Sally; “There’s no shortcut, but I keep going because I like succeeding at things and I like making money.”

Sally Allen was born in Torquay. Brought up around Wellswood, Sally went to Torquay Girls’ Grammar School.

Leaving school at 16, Sally went from surviving to thriving in the unknown. After a series of tragic personal events and an abusive relationship, Sally began a new job doing Foreign Exchange dealing for Hambros Bank in Hatton Garden - specifically for the diamond trade.

But it was in 1980 when Sally went to Barbados that she began her first true foray into business, and it was a true baptism of fire.

“Whilst sitting on the beach one day - I spotted a gap in the marketplace, only skilled or very fit people had the opportunity to use the water sports facilities available - and not many were suitable for children or old people

“I came home and sold absolutely everything I had - and bought 30 Bumper Boats from an old boyfriend of mine and a ski boat.

“I was in the water 10 hours every day and because it was a cash business – each night I got home, I’d hang my money up to dry.

“In Barbados, I was a diminutive blonde female on my own – very tricky at best – but exceptionally difficult if you are physically threatened, which of course I was on a regular basis.”

After selling her boat business and returning to the UK with a suitcase full of Barbadian dollars, Sally moved on to get herself a ‘proper job’, as a Financial Controller at Lord’s (cricket).

As the first ever female executive in cricket, Sally’s role may have been ground-breaking but it certainly wasn’t easy.

Sally said: “I was referred to as the ‘blonde at Lord’s’ – not something that they could get away with now – but frankly, it just spurred me on to prove that I was as good as, or maybe even better than the men.”

Despite being incredibly successful at Lord’s, Sally’s ambitions were cut short as a result of her gender. After being offered the job of taking over the finances of the whole of cricket, Sally found out that none of the Chairmen of the County Cricket Clubs would accept a woman in charge of their finances. The offer was withdrawn and Sally decided to leave.

Sally then went on to have a successful stint in the PR industry, helping to negotiate the first deal to put football on Sky’s new TV channels.

Even at this time, Sally’s career was hampered by sexism, discrimination and even assault, but for a woman to thrive in business at this time, they had to be tough-skinned.

Sally said: “In those days women didn’t even cry fault. You would either not be believed, nobody would care, or it would be devastating for your business if you did.”

One innovation Sally made in the marketing world was when she decided to get a building sponsored, an idea that had never been tested before. She managed to get £500,000 in sponsorship money for the Northumberland Playhouse within three months.

The idea of sponsoring buildings again proved to be very successful in 1996 when Lord’s approached Sally to find sponsorship for a new media centre in time for the World Cup.

She remembered: “I was sure that I would get the money from somewhere – and I did. NatWest paid over £3m for sponsoring the iconic building which equates to around £10m now.

“The building of the Media Centre was enabled by me - so I consider this one of my best achievements.”

Another highlight in Sally’s career was in her work arranging a charity event for the Lord’s & Lady Taverners in 2009, where she managed to book President Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker and raise a seven-figure sum for charity in the process.

Sally said: “It was an incredible evening and Clinton was amazing. He is the most incredible speaker and he's got charisma just oozing.”

After launching a fashion brand in 2002, Sally returned to Torbay in 2012 with her husband. She now predominantly works as a consultant, to which more information can be found at: https://www.sallyallengerard.com/.

It is against this backdrop of risk-taking, struggle and success that Sally sponsored the innovation category of the Torbay Business Awards.

“I’m sponsoring innovation because I think that’s the most important thing in business,” she explained.

“You've got to come up with new angles, new ways to do things, and dig deep into your character to see them through. And that's what I've always done.

“There are more ways to innovate now than ever before, you have all sorts of technology emerging, easy ways to market your innovation and access to an instant world market - how great is that?”

Applications and nominations are currently being accepted for exceptional businesses at the Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards.

To nominate a business, simply send an email to julian.barnes@clearskypublishing.co.uk with the details and up to 100 words about why you're nominating them. You can choose to include yourself as the nominator or remain anonymous.

You can also click here to apply online.

The entries closing date is now 12 noon on Friday, April 26 with judging day pencilled in for Monday, April 29.