There are your typical business events and then there are those days that reset your standard.
In January, I attended Aurum. This was an elevated one-day experience created and hosted by Kirsty Raynor, positioned as the ultimate January reset for ambitious women ready raise the standard for the year ahead.
Held inside the five-star luxury of Grantley Hall in North Yorkshire, it’s the perfect setting for elevated thinking. We began in the light-filled oasis of The Orchard. This first part of the day created the space to do what so many of us rarely allow ourselves to do: reflect and get honest and intentional about what we wanted 2026 to look and feel like.
From there, we moved into the next room for the core sessions on strategy, mindset and presence, with guided work designed to increase clarity and momentum. Being asked to articulate your value with precision is a great way to set your goals; not just what you do, but what you stand for and what you’re no longer willing to accept.
Then came lunch which, in true Grantley Hall fashion, was an experience in itself! Lunch at Fletchers was a highlight and was a beautifully plated starter, a main dish of Yorkshire Duck with blackberries a rich jus, then not one but two personalised chocolate desserts created especially for the Aurum event.
The afternoon moved into pitching and content, including live pitching and feedback. It sounded intimidating at first, but when you’re in the room it was a lovely and supportive environment; a room of women building something meaningful and offering perspective and encouragement.
Aurum demonstrates how being in the “right room” isn’t just a nice idea, it really does give you an advantage. Being surrounded by people who are also raising the bar, means you rise without even realising you’re doing it.
We closed the day with drinks in the bar and gorgeous goodie bags provided by Katherine Busby from Elevate Our Everyday, including a candle from Harvey Nichols and a Beauty Bag; a fantastic ending that perfectly matched the “gold standard” theme of the day.
I left Aurum feeling clearer about the direction of my work and about the standard I want to hold myself to while doing it. Kirsty described Aurum as “…all about setting the new gold standard for your business” and that was the energy of the day. It’s not about doing more; it’s about deciding better and raising your standards.
About Kirsty Raynor
Kirsty Raynor is a transformational coach, meditation instructor and positioning expert with nine years’ experience working with individuals and companies, alongside a decade-long background in media. She hosts the Mindset and Me podcast and is known for helping clients refine their message, elevate their presence and build strategy that drives growth.
Want to attend Aurum?
If you’d like pricing details and to request a place at the next Aurum event, you can DM Kirsty directly on Instagram: @kirstyraynor or visit kirstyraynor.com.
Review and images by Victoria Reddington @vic_reddington
Feature image supplied
