Welcome to Branching Out

Brian is a Branching Out member and Founder of Fairgift.

Fairgift was set up after he and his then fiancé returned from living & working in Tanzania a few years ago, got married and couldn’t find a gift list that combined great quality with a strong social and environmental approach. All profits go back into developing sales of fair trade products & and the remained to Traidcraft Exchange.

Fairgift is a family-run social enterprise that works with 44 fair trade producer groups in Africa, Asia & Latin America. They provide hundreds of beautiful, original homeware items primarily for gifts & wedding lists.

The products are predominantly handmade in small quantities using recycled or organic materials, which makes for a highly original and ethical gift. Because the producers have a real stake in what they’re doing, they work hard together to ensure high quality design & product that is equivalent to the quality available a UK department store;

The range includes products that carry the FAIRTRADE Mark and products that are made by Fair Trade Organisations registered through IFAT.

There are two websites: Fairgift = a normal buy-now e-commerce site with delivery within 7 days; Fair Trade Gift List= a wedding & gift list site that includes an even wider range of products, that are available as special order items.

"Being a member of Striding Out has been outstanding. In just the first couple of months since joining, it has provided an extremely valuable network of contacts, helped set up a professional coaching programme and run a series of relevant & useful events. I would recommend it to any current or aspiring entrepreneur."

Clare Gillbanks is an entrepreneur, business owner & event planner.  She's a personal matchmaker with a reputation and a freelance marketing consultant. 

Tim Badham, founder of Innerplace

Innerplace was created by ex Merrill Lynch banker Tim Badham to fulfil a service that he felt was not being well addressed - a professional service that delivered on its promises and offered privileged access to the finest nightlife and entertainment with minimal hassle.

Gideon Burrows, founder of NGO Media

Gideon Burrows is founder of ngo.media, an editorial agency that works exclusively with charities and socially driven organisations.

Alison Oultram, founder of Arabella Miller

The Arabella Miller story began after our youngest daughter developed severe baby eczema (inherited from Daddy!) and we looked for eczema friendly baby clothing to ease her skin irritation.

Kim Stoddart, founder of Blue Rocket 

Kim is a social entrepreneur and ethical business woman focused on setting up a range of businesses that operate in an ethical and sustainable way.

Cath Conway, Founder of Unpackaged

Unpackaged- the better way for you to buy organic wholefoods and environmentally friendly products for your home. We believe that most packaging is unnecessary so we’re doing something about it.The result is Unpackaged- the new way for you to shop safe in the knowledge that you’ve not created any waste that’s going to end up in a landfill.

Maggie McMillan, Founder of the Style Counsel

Maggie McMillan, Director of The Style Counsel finally succumbed to a
lifelong obsession with clothes and fashion, when she trained in Paris to be
an Image and Style Consultant.