Registration is now open for the 2024 Career Nuggets Soirée.
Each year, the Career Nuggets Soirée has grown into a cherished tradition where we come together to celebrate our collective successes. It’s more than just an event; it’s a platform to share our stories, inspire others, and recognise outstanding individuals and organisations. From a modest start with 150 guests in the first three years, our soirée has blossomed, attracting over 350 attendees in 2023. Don’t miss out on this year’s celebration
The Agenda
day 1: VIRTUAL SEMINAR
01 December 2023
6:00 – 8:30pm
Attend from the comfort of home. From anywhere in the world. Virtual conference – Featuring special guest speakers with Q & A session afterwards.
day 2: soiree (In Person) & MBE celebration
02 December 2023
5:00 – 10:30pm
This year’s in-person Soiree returns at the prestigious Grand Sapphire Venue in Croydon. It will also be an inspirational evening packed full of fun, food, music, games and surprises. Dress code, black tie and this year our ladies will be wearing TIARAS!
2022 Seminar speakers (2023 Speakers TBA)
From new graduates to executives, middle and senior management professionals and not forgetting the entrepreneurs – all of our attendees are looking to stay on top of the latest trends and broaden their horizons in the marketplace. Our lineup of speakers will inspire, inform and educate.
“Passionate about helping people in the BME community advance their careers.”
Morenike Ajayi (B.sc, M.BA, FCPFA, Prince2) is a Multiple award winner, a chartered Accountant, Author, Inspirational public speaker, Executive producer and TV presenter. She is happily married to Kenny and they have a son.
Her restlessness and need for change led to the birth of “Career Nuggets” in June 2015. Career Nuggets is a social enterprise comprising a Career development TV programme and an event arm designed to educate, inspire and empower people aspiring to advance in the workplace via workshops, seminars and a career club. Morenike is also the Executive producer and TV presenter of “Career Nuggets” TV programme, aired on Sky 193 Monday – Wednesday at 5pm and Sunday at 3pm. In addition, Morenike is the Commercial and Finance Director for London Pensions Funding Authority, where she has the responsibility of overseeing a £6bn Pension Fund.
“Sir David Carter was awarded a knighthood for his services to education in the summer of 2013.”
Sir David was the product of a comprehensive school in Cardiff, and was the first member of his family to go to university. Making a difference to the lives of dis-advantaged children has been a huge motivation to him throughout his career. He began as a music teacher in 1983 and over the next 37 years has held a number of leadership roles at school, trust and system level. Before joining the Civil Service in 2014 initially as RSC for the South West, Sir David was the founding CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation, a trust based in Bristol. He was appointed to the post of National Schools Commissioner (NSC) in February 2016 where his focus was firmly on building capacity so that the trusts that run our most challenging schools could sustain improvement over time. Since leaving the NSC role, Sir David has become a trustee of Centrepoint, the charity that is aiming to eradicate youth homelessness, a trustee of the charity that oversees the annual Teaching Awards as well as being on the board of the Talent Foundry a charity creating new opportunities through wider enrichment and support for dis-advantaged children.
In November 2018 Sir David took up the role of Executive Director of System Leadership at Ambition Institute. Sir David continues to place family, music, golf and Cardiff City FC at the heart of his relaxation time and continues to be very proud of being awarded a knighthood for his services to education in the summer of 2013.
“Ashley has founded several businesses in sectors such as mortgages, insurance, wealth management and property.”
Ashley brings over 30 years experience in financial services, having previously had tremendous success with Hall of Fame member and late father, Derek Reading, who together founded and ran several companies throughout the 90s.
In 2005, Ashley co-founded The Juice Doctor, the UK’s first naturally isotonic sports drink with 5-time Olympic Gold medalist, Sir Steve Redgrave, eventually selling to a VC.
In the same year, Ashley founded Sycamore Group, one of financial services most respected mortgage, life and investment brokerages with funds under management in excess of £1bn and over 10,000 corporate and private clients.
Ashley performs several non-exec functions offering business consultancy and performance analysis to a wide range of companies in different sectors and in 2008, he founded Fortress Wealth Partnership, a Senior Partner to St James’s Place.
In 2016, Ashley stepped down from the Board of Fortress Wealth Partnership and founded Bounce.
Becoming one of the UK’s largest life insurance companies, Bounce specialised in protecting the lives of over 30,000 individuals, families and companies throughout the UK with sums assured in excess of £3bn. Ashley sold Bounce in 2021 for an undisclosed 7-figure sum.
Ashley now leads Fortress Capital Partners, supported by an experienced in-house advisory team and external corporate lawyers.
“Marta was made an Officer of the British Empire in the 2006 for services to social housing.”
Marta is currently an Audit Committee chair for the London Fire Brigade, Audit Committee member for University of Law, and a Non-Executive Board member and Audit Committee Member of the Public Sector Audit Appointments. Marta recently became a Non Executive Board member and an Investment and Performance Committee Member for the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. She is also a Member of the Heriot Watt University Court, and its Finance Committee and was previously Chair of Viridian HA (formerly Servite Houses), and Executive Chairman of Ujima Housing Association. She holds a number of other non executive positions.
Marta is a Non-Executive Board Member of the Sponsor Board for the Restoration and Renewal of the Houses of Parliament and chairs its Audit Committee. She was made an Officer of the British Empire in the 2006 for services to social housing. Marta finished her executive career as Chief Executive of The Pensions Advisory Service from 2010 to 2013 and, before that, Director of Compliance at the National Lottery Commission.
Ticket admits one and includes gifts and surprises.
Our History
Annually, the Career Nuggets team pauses to unwind, reflect, realign, and recharge. We embark on two trips per year: one within the UK and another abroad.
Our Strategic Partners
The Princess Royal Training Awards – our Strategic Partner – is one of the Awards divisions of City & Guilds Group under the patronage of HRH The Princess Royal.
Sponsors
Click the button for details and tickets. Ticket admits one and includes gifts and surprises.
Career Nuggets Soiree - past events highlights
Find information on this page about our past and upcoming networking events.
sponsors & supporters
Each year, a number of wonderful individuals and organisations step forward and lend us their support in making our events a success. These include but is not limited to our strategic partners, The City & Guilds Foundation.
Watch the video to see the lineup of supporters for 2021.
2023 Soirée highlights (gallery)
Each year, some wonderful individuals and organisations step forward and lend us their support in making our events a success. These include but is not limited to our strategic partners, The City & Guilds Foundation.
highlights of past events
The first annual Career Nuggets Ball was in December 2016 and the theme was “Living on Purpose”. Each year our annual networking event has been better than the last. See the highlights of each below.
2017 Career Nuggets Annual Ball
Theme:
Inspired to Excel
2018 Annual Ball
Theme:
Securing our Financial Future
2019 Annual Ball
Theme:
Networking with Intention
2020 Soiree
A Virtual Event
Theme:
Staying Relevant in a Disruptive Economy
2021 Soirée highlights
A small snapshot of our events and activities from 2016 to date
The theme of the 2021 Soiree was Never Say Never Again: A James Bond Themed event. It was held at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington London. Our guests were encouraged to dress in elegant black and white to match the theme. Our Emcee was Action Jackston and he helped create a relaxed fun atmosphere. We played an exciting yes/no game and the winner was one of our young people. He did so well that guests kept adding money to his cash prize! Our food was supplied by ______ Morenike’s outfit was supplied by ____ Hair and makeup by ________ We had a lot of new faces including representatives of The City and Guilds foundation, our strategic partners.
2022 soiree is on 2nd and 3rd December
The Venue is Grand Sapphire in Croydon, London. Tickets are available now.