Networking is an effective business tool, especially if you want to increase the awareness of your brand in your local area. It gives you the opportunity to meet and connect with other like-minded business contacts.

To get the most out of networking groups, you have to appear confident about yourself and your business offering. Prepare what you want to say about yourself in advance so you can clearly communicate the core benefits of your product or service.

Try to improve your knowledge about the things affecting your local area. If the topics arise during the group, you will be able to...

How common is it for you to reach the end of the week feeling absolutely exhausted? By the time Friday approaches, mums are often too tired to have any fun on the weekend, which is the time you look forward to most! A great way to boost your energy levels and improve your overall health and wellbeing is to invest some time in caring for your own needs.

Embrace self-care Do not think self-care is a luxury reserved solely for the rich and famous! Allow yourself time out to take care of your needs; either by enjoying some relaxation, gentle exercise or a good catch up with friends!

Make time...

It was with great pleasure and immense delight that Tracey Wall, Director of Empowering Mums, attended the Cheshire Woman Of The Year Award Ceremony at Eaton Park, Chester, as an award nominee.

Tracey joined a host of courageous, hardworking and dedicated women from across Cheshire to enjoy a spectacular lunch in the historic and breathtaking Wolf Room at Eaton Park.

This nomination recognised Tracey for the tremendous support she offers mums throughout the UK and beyond; supporting and encouraging them to boost their self-confidence and improve their life balance so they can...

Many mums tell me that they feel constantly on the go and life seems to be passing them by in a whirl of washing, cleaning, work and school pick-ups! This constant cycle makes them feel resentful, frustrated and a victim of circumstances. At this stage, these mums feel so lost they don’t know how they can possibly re-build their confidence and regain their lost sparkle. I tell them one thing: be optimistic!

Self-belief and positive thinking are intrinsically linked with confidence, happiness and life fulfilment. With belief, we can set out to achieve anything! I say to these mums,

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Good bookkeeping is essential when it comes to running a successful business. This month, Amy Bell of A Bell Accountancy, is sharing her tips in this two-part Guide To Bookkeeping. If you would like to read Part 1 of this useful resource, please visit http://bit.ly/ZloZvP.

Retain your receipts 

As a general rule, any expense that is ‘wholly and exclusively’ relating to the purpose of the business is tax deductible. Don’t forget to note the small purchases you make, such as stamps and ink cartridges. Even if you paid for these purchases out of your own money, they...

Good bookkeeping is essential when it comes to running a successful business. This month, Amy Bell is sharing her tips in this two-part Guide To Bookkeeping. Amy has worked as an accountant for over 10 years and runs her own accountancy and bookkeeping company, A Bell Accountancy.

Keep it simple

Bookkeeping doesn’t have to be complicated. You can track your records manually, using a simple Excel spreadsheet or cashbook. Alternatively you can invest in a computerised accounts package such as Sage. The first step is to decide which system will work best for you and your business.

Stay...

Creating and following a structured business plan will give you the clarity and focus you need to make your business a success. Here are some quick tips to spur you into action!

Vision & Mission It is imperative you have a vision and a mission for your business. Can you answer these questions?

• What it is you want to achieve?
• How do you visualise your business in 1, 5 or 10 years?
• What is your mission?
• What are the benefits customers can expect to enjoy when they utilise your business?
• What is your motivation for success?

Gain Clarity

Allow yourself to think and dream big! Your goals...

It was with great pleasure and immense delight that Tracey Wall, Director of Empowering Mums, attended the Cheshire Woman Of The Year Award Ceremony at Eaton Park, Chester, as an award nominee.

Tracey joined a host of courageous, hardworking and dedicated women from across Cheshire to enjoy a spectacular lunch in the historic and breathtaking Wolf Room at Eaton Park. 

This nomination recognised Tracey for the tremendous support she offers mums throughout the UK and beyond; supporting and encouraging them to boost their self-confidence and improve their life balance so they can...

Springtime is the ideal time to introduce small changes into your routine that make a big difference to your health and wellbeing. With longer and warmer days approaching, you can start enjoying the outdoors again, which not only means more ways to keep fit but also greater opportunities to benefit from quality family time!

This winter seems to have dragged on and the cold lingered for longer than anyone had hoped! It isn’t only kids that get cabin fever when they’ve been cooped up indoors; mums do too! Make the most of what Spring has to offer and explore the outdoors with your...

During February and March, we discussed the issues surrounding the importance and benefits of de-cluttering your physical environment. De-cluttering and spring-cleaning your life can hugely impact your positive wellbeing and quality of life. Of course, de-cluttering your surroundings provides peace of mind and enables you to focus on other, often more beneficial elements of life. It is as important to de-clutter your emotional wellbeing and general outlook so you can embrace a new season with optimism, enthusiasm and gusto! This is your time to welcome a new you!

Say No To Negativity
Even...