Helen Child

GTP Founder Pre Paid Expert

IT’S THE JOURNEY NOT THE DESTINATION…

June 29, 2011 by admin
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I had a wry smile when I heard this phrase (the one I’m affectionately ribbed for) used time and time again at the recent Finextra Social Media Day held at Thomson Reuters, Canary Wharf.  So how can this be reconciled with having to focus on the bottom line and how importantly does this apply to Prepaid?

Social Media and 2.0 Technologies are not happening in isolation they are tools to help us all engage and be part of the conversation with our customers.

Those companies that have engaged and do collaborate with their customers have advocates as a customer base or should that read fan club?…… When Apple launched their iPad 2 in March of this year, fans camped out all night waiting for the opening of the store the next day, some braving cold weather, rain and exposure, just to be one of the first to get the new product.  How many of us have experienced this with the launch of a prepaid product?  The difference here is Apple doesn’t have just customers, it has fans, it doesn’t just provide products, it provides compelling journey.  Apple knows how to make customers feel great about the product, the destination, and the journey.

Prepaid is a volume driven business model to have this level of engagement would dramatically change the landscape of our industry.  This should be our Holy Grail.  I wonder if we are too focused on the destination, as to give the control of that journey to the cardholder is to lose control and therefore met with some trepidation; it’s a financial instrument after all.  Most of us are aware of the Holy Trinity: LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, how many of us have an active campaign to use this medium to talk with our cardholders and importantly if we did we see an increase in cardholder engagement?

In an industry shaped by entrepreneur’s it should shape out to be interesting journey for as all…..

Last Updated:  23rd April 2011.

 

SETTING THE BAR FOR THE UK PREPAID CONFERENCE SEASON

June 29, 2011 by admin
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http://www.ukgcva.co.uk/

This year’s conference season started with The Gift Card, Gift Voucher and Reloadable Summit; granted the new title is a tongue twister but there lies the clue for an action packed agenda covering a broad spectrum of key industry issues, with guest speakers from both sides of ‘the pond’ to share best practices and exchange ideas.

In 2009 I opened the Conference, in 2010 I closed it and as a former Executive Member I have spend several years working busily behind the scenes.  Last year was particularly frantic with the disruption caused by volcanic ash.  But as they say, the show did go on….  This year I attended as a delegate so could relax, catch up with friends and absorb the information from a more leisurely perspective.

Some of the key take-aways for me where:

  • MasterCard’s latest research and statistic from UK, Italy, Poland, Germany and France – a real insight into the country by country variances and a timely reminder that even with SEPA each country has its own pace to the adoption of prepaid product.

Claire certainly keep us all engrossed as she explained the market segmentation as: Payment Planners and Spontaneous Spenders – which one are you?….

  • Visa flying the flag with their Private Label programmes.  This true differentiation is forecast into €130m card turnover by 2015.
  • The harmonization on VAT – admittedly a dry subject but one that affects us all.  Take a look and update yourself with the latest changes in regulations.

Where do you stop…?  So much valuable and thought provoking market information for us all to factor into our future planning.

Prepaid is a dynamic and fast pace environment, keeping up with the market changes I often think is a kin to a work out in the gym…we are constantly bombarded with information from a whole host of channels so I’ve hand selected a few of the presentations that had real resonance for me.  Enjoy!

Last Update:  23rd April 2011

 

20 QUESTIONS…HELEN CHILD

June 17, 2011 by admin
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Helen Child, chief executive of G-T-P Group

1 What is your earliest recollection?

On a horse with my mother sitting behind me. To this day I still have a passion for riding and am lucky enough to be able to ride every week.

2 What was your first job?

A newspaper round – I can still remember those heavy bags of Sunday papers! I then went on to spend my summer holidays filing policies for Provincial Insurance in their stuffy, cramped and windowless attic in Kendal. Row after row of long brown envelopes. My father was a director and believed that his children should not receive any special privileges and that there was nothing quite like rolling up your sleeves to earn your own money. How right he was!

3 Happiest memory?

So many, I’m not sure I can choose just one. Okay, last year’s family holiday with one brother safely back from Iraq and my other brother and his family over from the States. A rare opportunity to have everyone together around a table – loads of children and just endless streams of laughter.

4 Biggest regret?

None really, I tend to be quite spontaneous – if it feels right my attitude is let’s do it.

5 Favourite song or artist?

Well, here goes – I’m about to blow what little credibility I have left! It has to be Dolly Parton’s 9-5, simply because this is the song that the G-T-P Team ‘kindly’ paid for me to sing for our Comic Relief G-T-P Idol. I could not have done this without the help of every female member of the team who were my brave backing singers.

6 Most-thumbed book?

A difficult one, as I love to snuggle down with a good book. If I finish the first chapter then I will have it all read in a couple of long evenings.

7 Website most often visited?

Space NK Apothecary. I love my lotions and potions; this saves a trip to Manchester.

8 Best-loved food?

An easy one – vegetable madras with a peshwari naan.

9 What’s your tipple?

Bombay gin and slimline tonic. After a recent night out in London with some Mexicans I have acquired a taste for Pisco sours – I’m not sure if this has reached Lancaster yet, it is a Mexican liqueur served with whipped egg white on top.

10 What’s your must-watch TV programme?

I love Parky.

11 A film not to be missed?

Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth – the best Mr Darcy ever, especially when he dives into the lake.

12 Top holiday destination?

Turks and Caicos – paradise with fantastic coral diving.

13 Which football team’s result do you look for first on Saturday?

I’m not a big football fan. However, I always look to see where Liverpool are in the league so I can gauge the mood of some of my management team on Monday morning.

14 Favourite car?

I’m not car orientated at all.

15 Pet, past or present?

English setters – my mum used to breed and show them. They have such a gentle nature.

16 Favourite perfume or aftershave?

Chanel Mademoiselle.

17 Which personality would you most like to meet?

Richard Branson.

18 Biggest influence on your life so far?

My family – the unique and adorably if not slightly mad child family. They are my rock and my inspiration.

19 What difference would a lottery win make to you?

Other than ensuring my family and friends were financially secure, it truly would not make such a huge difference. Money is not the biggest driver in my life, I out grew that in the 1980s.

20 What would be your dream job?

I do it every day. I get a tremendous kick out from working with the G-T-P Team and building a business with them.

HELEN CHILD TURNS THE PAGE WITH ACADEMIC CASE STUDY

June 17, 2011 by admin
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Helen Child, G-T-P’s CEO, has always led the way for women in business in the prepaid industry and it would seem that this is also true when it comes to the world of academia.

As the first case study in a new book to be published by Dr Nigel Lockett and Dr Richard Blundel entitled ‘Exploring Entrepreneurship’, the G-T-P success story is the book’s first case-based example of entrepreneurship in action.

To be published in December, ‘Exploring Entrepreneurship’ examines the nature of entrepreneurial activity in the 21st century, and sets out to offer undergraduate and postgraduate business and management students the skills and knowledge required to become commercial and social entrepreneurs.

Helen, who started G-T-P in 2001, was selected by Dr Lockett to set the tone of the book as he felt she embodies modern entrepreneurship, breaking away from small business management and instead focussing on enterprise and innovation.

Dr Lockett comments: “The book challenges readers to explore entrepreneurship more critically and uses individuals’ personal stories to help do this.  Helen has a wide range of technical and managerial experiences, which she has used effectively to launch and develop G-T-P.  Equally, her case study highlights the importance of supporting employees and building strong teams.”

Helen Child adds: “It was really an honour for me to participate in this exciting project.  As much as the chapter on G-T-P demonstrates our success, it also underscores just how progressive the prepaid industry is.  This is a sector that embraces enterprise and innovation and therefore empowers companies such as G-T-P, and people like myself, to be bold and entrepreneurial.”

HELEN CHILD WELCOMES LORD DAVIES’ EQUALITY REPORT

June 17, 2011 by admin
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As a successful business woman, Helen Child, chief executive of G-T-P, a prepaid and account card provider based in Lancaster, was pleased to hear there will be a report into the lack of female representation within the boardroom.

Lord Davies, a former London banker and trade minister for Gordon Brown, has announced he will produce a report on the subject in order to help the government to improve equality in the workplace.

Helen Child’s business G-T-P has been at the forefront of providing card payment services, technology and expertise to Clients such as Pilkington Glass, PizzaExpress, Travelodge and Virgin Experience Days. She is keen to see more successful women in the area become more engaged with the business world.

“A quarter of the large FTSE companies don’t have women on their boards. We should change that. It is all about providing role models. We need to showcase women who have done great things,” said Lord Davies earlier this year.

He added that he believed there would be 750,000 more small businesses in existence in the UK if women were permitted at the top.

HELEN CHILD VOTED ONE OF THE TOP 10 WOMEN IN PREPAID

June 17, 2011 by admin
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G-T-P chief executive, Helen Child, has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Prepaid by Paybefore readers.  Helen, who started G-T-P in 2001, has been one of the industry’s staunchest supporters for women in business, having established Women in Prepaid, a professional development group.  This award, therefore, is of significant importance to both Helen and G-T-P.

Helen has always taken her leadership role at G-T-P and within the industry seriously, and has been recognised for her commitment both to the prepaid market and G-T-P.  Despite what has been a brutal year in the financial services worldwide, it has not prevented Helen from hitting another key milestone for G-T-P.  In 2009, G-T-P became one of only two issuing financial institutions in the UK to offer both MasterCard and Visa prepaid cards.  The distinction continued G-T-P on the trajectory it began in 2001. Under Helen’s direction, G-T-P has become a market leader in end-to-end card solutions as the issuer and program manager for every piece of business it writes.  With a background in systems integration and an accessible, jargon-free approach towards clients, Helen had been instrumental in shaping the future of the UK prepaid industry through G-T-P. As a founding member of the Prepaid International Forum, G-T-P was among the first to earn the groups accreditation.

Women in Prepaid continues to be an important networking and relationship-building group that has grown in strength to become an important professional development group platform for G-T-P to bind and broaden the industry.

PREPAID 2010: G-T-P’S HELEN CHILD HOLDS AUDIENCE ENGROSSED WITH THE PIZZAEXPRESS GIFT CARD

June 17, 2011 by admin
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Prepaid 2010: G-T-Ps Helen Child Holds Audience Engrossed with the PizzaExpress Gift Card

G-T-P’s chief executive, Helen Child, presented on the PizzaExpress Gift Card at the Prepaid Conference & Expo(14 – 16 June 2010) , one of Europe’s largest prepaid events.

G-T-P again exhibited at the annual event, which this year had an extensive speaker panel and wide range of attendees.  But it was G-T-P’s Helen Child that had the audience engrossed, when she and co-presenter, Andrew Johnson,  presented the PizzaExpress Gift Card case study, which among other key facts, demonstrated the success of the scheme that resulted in a tenfold increase for the company in 2001.  The PizzaExpress Gift Card was the first of its kind in the UK, an innovation that Helen and her team at G-T-P continue to be proud of.

Helen and other members of the G-T-P contingent also took some time out of their conference schedule to lend support to one of their clients, Caroline Meechan of The Wave Gift Card.  Caroline, a valued client of G-T-P since 2007, was another of the speakers at the event and presented her case study on the journey she has experienced with her Gift Card.

Helen Child commented: “G-T-P is looking forward to next year’s event as once again the conference has proven to be an important platform for knowledge transfer and relationship building for the prepaid industry.”

HELEN CHILD TAKES THE STAGE AT UKGCVA CONFERENCE 2010

June 17, 2011 by admin
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Helen Child Takes the Stage at UKGCVA Conference 2010

It took more than volcanic ash clouds to prevent G-T-P and its chief executive Helen Child from taking the stage at the UKGCVA Conference.  Despite the majority of flights being grounded by volcanic ash, and a number of speakers and attendees unable to attend, Helen and a contingent of G-T-P team members made it to London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel, for another successful event for both Helen and G-T-P.

This year G-T-P sponsored the break-out room and the after drinks reception, the former being a new addition to the event and the venue for some leading international speakers, including Cindy Mielke of JC Penny and Rebekka Rea of the Retail Gift Card Association USA, a real highlight for G-T-P.

G-T-P was equally proud of its CEO, Helen Child, who featured on two speaker panels alongside some of the most influential people in prepaid.  Helen was also asked to close the conference on behalf of G-T-P, together with Andrew Johnson, Director General of the UKGCVA.  During Helen’s closing speech, she reflected on the tough year that the prepaid industry had experience but expressed her confidence in both G-T-P and the industry as they started to feel the benefits of an upswing in the economy.

Andrew Johnson commented: “The day had been a huge success and I expect that delegates will have taken a lot of food for thought back to their organisations that will help to shape voucher and gift card strategies for the coming year.  As ever, there is so much going on in this market at the moment with the development of new technologies, introduction of new products and a diverse array of new opportunities – more than we could possible cover in a day! But the conference does continue to provide an important forum to raise debate and discussion as well as inform organisation of all the potential on offer in this lucrative market.  A successful day and enjoyable occasion for all!”

HELEN CHILD SPEAKING AT PREPAID EXPO

June 17, 2011 by admin
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G-T-P’s Chief Executive Helen Child is joining a host of international speakers at the 2009 Prepaid Card Expo in Orlando, the world’s largest gathering of prepaid, stored value and emerging payments professionals.

The Prepaid Card Expo is the prepaid industry’s primary meeting place, and brings together more than 2,500 professionals from leading retailers, processors, financial institutions, service providers and marketers. Helen will be speaking in the “Successful Program Strategies for Achieving Your Prepaid Goals” session, alongside Cathy Corby Parker of FSV Payment Systems and Julie Mazman of Green Dot Corporation.

“G-T-P brings a European perspective to this worldwide event,” comments Helen. “It’s a challenging time for businesses, but one where prepaid providers that focus on owning the value chain and providing real solutions to real problems, can succeed.”

What?
2009 Prepaid Card Expo

When?
9 – 11 March, 2009

Where?
Orlando World Centre Marriott, Orlando, Florida

Prepaid Card Expo

GIVING ‘BIG SOCIETY’ A SPORTING CHANCE

June 17, 2011 by admin
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n theory, Cameron’s Big Society should work, and work well. But it’s an ambitious idea and one that requires the backing of the local people, local authorities, and the commitment from government to break down bureaucratic barriers. However, as Liverpool City Council demonstrated earlier this month, it is being undermined by dramatic budget cuts at Whitehall’s directive, leaving councils frustrated and angry. This got me thinking about the Big Society model and the lessons it should learn from sport.

Sport has always had to battle for funds and facilities. Coaching for many young people has come from a grass-roots level. Go down to the community playing fields on a Saturday and Sunday morning and you will see parents, grandparents and members of the community volunteering their time to train and oversee district football, rugby and cricket matches. And despite the challenges faced in many regions, future champions still emerge to achieve success on a global stage. For many years, and in many communities, sport has done more than just keep people fit. It has offered refuge, discipline and the infrastructure to allow people to become better citizens. Importantly, it has mostly been driven, organised and manned by the local community.

There is no better example of the power of sport than the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa when Mandela used the event to help broker peaceful transition to a multicultural society. The Olympics is another example of how, regardless of the logistics, the red tape and the sheer scale, communities are able to mobilise to volunteer their time, effort and expertise.

As 2011 is the year of the Rugby World Cup again and the 2011 Games are on the horizon, perhaps we should look once again to sport and how or why it galvanises everyone to embrace social cohesion and Big Society.