The chef, the therapist and accountant – success in a pandemic (with a warning for your business!)

According to the FSB there was a 6.5% decrease in the number of small businesses in the UK in 2021. And while the UK rates the second best in Europe for business survival at 5 years, it is still at a pitiful 45% with on average 1 in 5 businesses failing.

Going it alone can be exciting and rewarding but it can just as easily be demoralising and cost you your life savings and even your health and home.

The pandemic had a catastrophic impact on small business in the UK, but Chef Paul Boorman, Therapist Helen Watson and Accountant Isobel Chaplin are all shining examples that sustainable growth and success are possible even in a pandemic.

Isobel Chaplin set up her own accounting practice just before the pandemic and within 2 years has become a multi award wining business owner (already winning another award in 2022), and has just taken on her first member of staff, Isobel said “My ambition was to step away from making money for someone else and be in charge of my own destination whilst supporting other small businesses, I was concerned about how to learn everything I would need to do this but I’ve been very happy in my own self-employment journey.”

Paul Boorman, a Top UK MasterChef has worked for some of the top destinations in Essex and The UK and took a diversion into the White Label Detroit Pizza company. By creating inch thick toppings on unique ‘bake-at-home’ pizzas delivered to customers across the county, fans have been indulging in them by their 1000’s throughout the pandemic. “I didn’t expect to be opening multiple shops for pizza sales in a pandemic, but we are now in Colchester and Maldon, taking on staff and looking at new venues. The interest in the unique Detroit style pizza has fuelled an Essex-wide pizza base craze we weren’t expecting.”

Helen Watson not only grew her psychotherapy practice in the pandemic, Helen took on new premises and is now helping other therapists too “I’ve always had a base in two towns in Essex to be accessible to clients and whilst the first lockdown was a challenge, adapting to working with clients online during that time not only meant I could continue to work with my clients but  actually turned out to be a useful way of widening my reach. The ability to continue with in-person therapies though has been a vital part of my business and although I worried it was poor timing in a pandemic to invest, I have found that having my own premises has helped my business grow to its best profits since I started trading and 2022 is looking exceptionally attractive for further growth.”

So, what does the Chef, the therapist and the accountant have in common? The Business Woman’s Network, set up by coach and author Mandie Holgate in 2009 is an organisation that supports the growth of business owners. Formerly aimed at women in business its reputation means that business men turn to the BWN for support and ideas too.

Mandie said “At the start of the pandemic I asked our members what they needed to survive the pandemic and its aftermath and the response was huge. Many had no trade at all, and we helped them create online businesses and others wanted to know how they could grow and sustain growth regardless of what the pandemic threw at them. Through my own coaching, the experts we bring to the group and the expertise of the business owners in our mastermind group we find that everyone has supported each other and there have been a lot of success stories.”

Mandie added “Moving into 2022 we are hosting free networking and business growth events for our members. Our members are across the UK, with a growing number of expats based around the world, we want to be there for them for these fast changing times.”

Despite the worrying news on the success rate of businesses, a study by UHY, the international accountancy network, shows that there were 726,000 new businesses created in the UK in 2020 compared to just over 636,000 in 2019.

And in March 2021 more new businesses were created than in any other month since records began in 1989. (Data from HRMC).

The big concern for small business looking to grow.

Mandie said “An issue we’ve seen increasingly in the last 12 months is that business owners have invested between £5 and £8000 on support and training to grow their business with little to no results. The industry is not regulated, and business owners often turn to social media to ask for help, which is often a place of outdated, poor, or sometimes even illegal advice that costs businesses thousands but with no return on their investment. That is why our mastermind group is confidential to ensure you know the quality of experts you are accessing will be accountable to what they say. Something often lacking from social media and it’s part of why we see so many success stories. We have deliberately kept the cost very low so that no matter where you are on your business journey our support is accessible to you. We really want to see more business success across our region in 2022.”

As we move into a year of uncertainty for small business it is reassuring to see businesses in our region are riding the pandemic wave to bring new jobs, opportunities businesses to the county.

The BWN is a multi-award-winning organisation recognised by government, the Bank of England and enterprise for its work supporting SME’s in the UK.

Mandie Holgate is a multi-award winning global speaker, author and coach, writing 2 highly acclaimed books Fight the fear and Taking Control Of Your Mind. Her clients include the NHS, Virgin Care and WH Smiths. Mandie specialises in coaching business teams and business owners. This year her husband has had a stroke, open heart surgery, a blood clot and multiple surgeries for Thyroid surgery, yet her own business has also grown and supported more UK based businesses than in any other year since its launch in 2009, showcasing those obstacles and adversity does not define your success or resilience.

The BWN Insiders is £10 per month and accessible to all professionals, charities and business owners.

Time to panic over Meta/Facebook pulling out of Europe?

Those rumours on Facebook, are they true? What does it mean for your small business?

Here at the BWN, our INsiders benefit from some top experts on business. Here Insider Robyn Banks (Yes really her name) shares advice on the latest rumours on Facebook/Meta pulling out of Europe and what you need to know as a business owner.

Robyn Banks owns Adavista, a company specialising in ensuring you get the law right around data protection and freedom of information. The cost to small businesses of getting this wrong can be fines starting from £400. Every business (with few exceptions despite what you might read on social media) needs to be registered for example with the ICO. Not sure on what you are doing? On our confidential mastermind and networking group, you can ask Robyn anything and you get a discount to work with Robyn too. Not an Insider yet? Join here.

You may have seen lots of articles, even through Facebook, about Meta (Facebook’s parent company) pulling out of Europe.  As an expert in this industry here’s my thoughts on this;

Why would they?  This market is worth a lot of money to them.  There have also posted about Mark Zuckerberg losing a lot of money because people are turning away from Facebook.  May be this is a marketing ploy?

 Why are they “considering “if the market is worth a lot of money? 

Well, this has historical roots! Facebook – as well as Google – have fallen foul of many Information Commissioners across Europe over the years that has resulted in a lot of money in fines! They thought that, as big conglomerates, they could just walk over individuals and their privacy rights!  But you should remember that Facebook was never intended to be a “private” medium.. it was supposed to be a digital place to meet people and connect with others – you can’t do that if its only “closed” groups or private!

In an attempt to get round the data protection/privacy rules, Facebook originally set up its storage facility in the Republic of Ireland – ie in the EU.  But the “rules” state that, as a US company, they must abide by EU law in an EU country.  So when they kept getting huge fines, they moved everything to California.

California is one of the few US States to have a form of data protection legislation, but federally, the US does NOT have data protection legislation to protect the rights of individuals.  This is why the “EU/US Privacy Shield” was put in place – an agreement with the US Department of Commerce to protect our rights when dealing with US based companies.  This agreement was designated “illegal” and not-fit-for-purpose by the European courts in 2020. BUT if the US entity was not governed by the US Department of Commerce  – and many are not! – then it didn’t apply anyway!   This meant that the US organisation have to have an Agreement in place with the country concerned using the “Standard Contractual Clauses” drawn up by the EU authorities.  This is still the case and there are new Clauses just issued.

All this still applies to the UK after Brexit because our data protection rules have not changed in concept from the EU rules.  In fact they have drawn up an “Adequacy Decision” between UK and EU countries because we have the same level of protection on individuals’ rights and freedoms. 

What’s next?   – well, its simple!  Facebook/Meta just need to obey the rules!  They can draw up new agreements with European companies they market to (for adverts etc which is how they make their money) using the new Clauses. They need to think about data storage and the individual’s right to delete data. 

And perhaps they should think about employing me??!

The important thing to remember that you don’t need to panic, as an Insider I will always ensure you are up to date on the law and any changes that you may need to make. Not sure if you’ve got it right? I’m happy to have a chat either on the confidential mastermind group or via my website.

Do I need to file a Self Assessment tax return and what if I’ve received a COVID-19 grant?

Article by GoSimpleTax

More than 12m people file a Self Assessment tax return each year, which is almost a fifth of the UK population. They include sole-trader bricklayers, plumbers and plasterers, as well as hairdressers, cake makers and chefs, and self-employed tutors, translators and tattoo artists. People of all occupations, trades and backgrounds work for themselves.

Sole traders are key to the UK economy. They’re the unsung heroes who make up about 59% (3.5m) of the total UK business population of 5.9m and they of course include many freelancers, contractors and agency workers.  

Many other people also need to fill out and file a Self Assessment tax return to report taxable income and in recent years, many UK sole traders have received taxable COVID-19 grants and support payments from government and other sources that must also be reported via Self Assessment. This guide provides an overview of who must sign up to Self Assessment and how they should report COVID-19 grants and support payments.

Here’s what we’ll cover

• Who must file a Self Assessment tax return?
• How to register for Self Assessment.
• How to report taxable COVID-19 grants and support payments.
• Sources of advice and support.

Who must file a Self Assessment tax return?

Self Assessment is the system the UK tax authority HMRC uses to collect Income Tax. You need to register for Self Assessment and file an SA100 tax return if you:

• have earned more than £2,500 from renting out property
• or your partner have received Child Benefit and either of you has an annual income of more than £50,000
• have received more than £2,500 in other untaxed income (eg tips or commission)
• are self-employed (ie a sole trader) with an annual turnover of more than £1,000
• are a partner in an ordinary business partnership
• are an employee claiming expenses worth more than £2,500 a year
• have earned taxable income from savings, investments or dividends
• have earned income from abroad that is subject to UK tax (eg renting out a property overseas while domicile in the UK).

• If you’re still not sure, HMRC provides an online tool that you can use to check whether you need to file a Self Assessment tax return.

Need to know!

• If you need to file a Self Assessment tax return, you do so after the relevant tax year ends on 5 April and you have until the following 31 January to file it online (although it’s best to do it sooner). First you must register for Self Assessment.

How to register for Self Assessment

It’s simple and relatively quick to register online for Self Assessment. When registering you’ll need to give your:

• National Insurance number
• full name (and any previous names)
• current address (and when you moved in)
• date of birth
• gender
• phone number
• email address and
• whether you’ve registered previously for Self Assessment.

You’ll also be asked for basic information about your new sole trader business, if that what you’re doing. After you’ve completed the questions, HMRC will create an account for you. You’ll then receive a letter with your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number within 10 days (21 if you’re based overseas). You’ll need your UTR to file your Self Assessment tax return. You’ll also then receive another letter with an account activation code. Once activated, you can file your tax return online at any time before the deadline.

Need to know!

• Registration rules are slightly different if you’ve registered as self-employed before or if you’re not self-employed or if you want to register as a partner or partnership.

Reporting COVID-19 grants and support payments

To help some self-employed people to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic when they couldn’t work, the government introduced a range of business-support measures, including SEISS (the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme), which began in May 2020. Five rounds of SEISS grants were awarded and the application deadline date for the last one was 30 September 2021.

Other COVID-19 grants and support payments included:

• test and trace or self-isolation payments in England, Scotland and Wales
• the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
• Eat Out to Help Out
• the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate and
• Coronavirus Business Support Grants (government website Gov.uk provides a comprehensive list of COVID-19 business-support schemes and grants).

As a sole trader or member of an ordinary business partnership, you may have received COVID-19 grant funding and/or support payments, which you now need to tell HMRC about if it is taxable. Thankfully, it’s straightforward.

• Detail any SEISS payments received in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant box on your Self Assessment tax return (SA100).
• Record all other taxable COVID-19 payments in the box for any other business income.

If you’re self-employed, HMRC has published guidance on reporting COVID-19 grants and support payments (choose from short or full notes). Short and full guidance is also available online for members of ordinary partnerships who need to report COVID-19 grants and support payments via Self Assessment.

Sources of support

• If you’re not sure if a COVID-19 support payment you received is taxable or need more advice on reporting it to HMRC, you can contact the Coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline or a professional tax adviser.
• HMRC has published a comprehensive range of Self Assessment guidance, including concise YouTube Self Assessment videos and live and recorded webinars (registration required).

About GoSimpleTax

Income, Expenses and tax submission all in one.

GoSimpleTax will provide you with tips that could save you money on allowances and expenses you might have missed.

The software submits directly to HMRC and is the solution for the self-employed, sole traders and anyone with income outside of PAYE to file their self-assessment giving hints and tips on savings along the way.

GoSimpleTax does all the calculations for you saving you ££’s on accountancy fees. Available on desktop or mobile application.

What do you want? 2022

Snapping up the perfect images – Business and family

Here INsider member Mark Alefounder from The Best Lil Photo shares top tips on taking great shots for your business and for the family gifts this Christmas (and any time of the year! Let’s face it those pictures that are cute now will be priceless in 15 years time. If you would like to write for our blog, this is a FREE service to all Insiders (Join here) or £55 per article. Discounts apply to multiple articles.

“Why your Home could be the best location for your Photo session!

Professional family photography

Family phone snaps will always have a place, but they will never compare to the quality images and portraits that are produced by a professional family photographer. You might think the latest phone gives you access to quality photography but with the latest camera technology, the ability to manipulate light and editing expertise, a professional will produce images of your family you simply couldn’t get yourself.

What about a Studio?

At this time of year an outdoor photography session can be affected by our unpredictable weather so you may be considering a studio photoshoot. The first problem with a studio is location. You need to get to it rather than the other way round. How easy is it to get to? How far away is it? You might have seen photographs, but you never really know what it’s like until you turn up. The biggest problem however is that many people find the whole studio environment a little intimidating even clinical with so much equipment on show. If you don’t feel comfortable about visiting a studio, you’re not going to feel comfortable once you arrive.

What if I don’t feel comfortable in a studio?

There is an alternative. Why not use your own home for a family photo session?

Your home could be the perfect backdrop helping to form part of your family story. Imagine looking back at the photos in the future. More than looking at a family moment captured in time it becomes memories of a family home, a family life, a family room and even an assessment of old family furniture.

Is my house suitable for an at home Photo session?

I know what you’re thinking. Everybody does! “But my house is a mess”!

Yes, I know it can be stressful considering inviting a professional family photographer into your home for a photoshoot. You are probably thinking your house is too small or there isn’t enough room as well. You’ll be pleased to know that these are all concerns that have been raised many times before. We have dealt with, managed, and removed these concerns every time.

What about my children?

In my last Blog I talked about children’s behaviour. In their own home playing with their own toys in their own environment most children are untroubled by the appearance of a photographer. Another potential advantage of keeping things `in house`.

Natural Photographs

We don’t want to take your family photos in a show home we want to show the reality of your life. Natural shots, candid shots capturing real moments in your real lives. There’s no harm in a little mess, it’s a home and you have children or a baby.

I’ve been there. Children make a mess. Constantly. If you tidy up when your toddler is still awake you’ve probably wasted your time. If you have a newborn baby they won’t be untidy, but you will create your own clutter. It’s hard looking after a baby. Mum and Dad is a full-time job without any other jobs you might have. If you’ve got no clutter and a newborn baby, how are you doing it!? Tell everybody or write a book quick!

What I will concentrate on as a photographer

Even though it would really help if you did what you can to prepare your house prior to your shoot, I will be paying more attention to lighting as well as the background of your photos anyway. If needs, be I would work with you to shift things around to help get the best possible photos. An at home photo session is about collaboration and I love that part of the photo shoot.

As a photographer its my aim to show you and your surroundings in the best possible light. There will always be places that you won’t want photographed and that’s fine. I will be looking to use rooms that have the best light, but I will also bring along lights that will provide that for me if natural light isn’t available.

What’s the biggest benefit of an at home photo session?

I can bring professional studio lighting, backgrounds, and props to your home. What that means for you is all the benefits of a studio family photo or Newborn baby photo session but in your own home. You don’t have to leave your house. A home photo session with all the professional lighting and camera equipment you need.

Why a Newborn Baby at home photo session?

A home photo session for a Newborn baby is a great option. Baby will always feel most settled in their own home. No need to upset them by waking them up, getting them dressed, putting them in the car, driving to the studio, taking them out of the car, putting them in another pram or chair, taking layers of clothes off, changing them again and so on.

A home photo session means Baby is at home, content, happy, relaxed and doing what makes it happiest until I arrive. I can even set up without disturbing them. Often with a newborn baby shoot at home they might not even wake up.

At home we can make use of favourite blankets, toys and muzzies. If you don’t have those things or want more, I bring round a large plush luxurious round bean bag, blankets, a couple of new knitted hats and a few props. If you’ve got a feeding chair or are particularly proud of your nursery, we can include photographs of baby with those too. These are Photos you simply couldn’t get anywhere else.

Will your next photo session be at home?

Whether its family photography with mum dad and children. Newborn babies or grandparents etc the photos can be taken at home.

I can provide you with photographs that will reflect you and your family which you can transform into beautiful pieces of art you can display in your home.”

Mark shares lots of advice on capturing the perfect image to tell your story over on the Insiders and on his site here so if you are struggling for Christmas gifts a photo shoot could be perfect.

12 Ways Playing Board Games Improves Your Mental Health

We recently met Michael Adams from Mikko games. Here Michael shares some top reasons why we all need board games in our lives. We may be called The Business Womans Network, however many of our members are business men too. We would love to welcome you to our mastermind group events too. Thank you for sharing Michael. To read the full story head to Mikko Games website here

MAKES YOU HAPPY AND LAUGH

The first benefit of playing board games that most people probably think of is that they’re fun. They are a great way to pass the time and enjoy spending time with your friends and family. 

A side effect of this fun is laughter. Laughing has been proven to trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. Endorphins have the power to improve conscious and unconscious mind functions, leaving a person feeling cheerful, compassionate and ultimately content.

Action Tip – Don’t underestimate the power of laughing and having fun with your friends. Choose a game that encourages you to be silly and laugh, like Blockbuster or Scrawl. Anything that gets you to break out of your shell and just be in the moment, having fun. Remember, when it comes to having better mental health, time spent having fun is never time wasted.

NATURAL STRESS REDUCERS 

According to an online survey of over 5000 people by RealNetworks Inc., a casual games developer, found that 64% of respondents said they play games with the primary intention to induce relaxation, and 53% play specifically to reduce stress.

Finding the time in your day to relax and enjoy yourself, such as by playing a board game, has a major impact on both your mental and physical health. Feeling stressed doesn’t just feel bad in the moment. If it isn’t properly managed, your stress can have serious implications on your overall health and life expectancy.

Playing board games can provide you with a much-needed release of energy after a stressful day of work. They help you to unwind, relax, and not let your mind be consumed by whatever negative things are going on in your life that may be leading to stress. Instead, you can have fun and escape into the world of a board game. There’s no need to worry about the trivialities of life for a few hours. Or perhaps the structure of a clear set of rules is a safe barrier against the chaotic world outside.

Apart from the distraction that playing board games can provide, a 2017 study on stress management found that playing certain board games can help train your body’s fight-or-flight response (the body’s natural response to stress). This means that by playing board games, you’re giving yourself healthy opportunities to practice facing stressful situations to develop your coping skills for when you feel stress in the real world.

Action Tip – If you find yourself stressed and unsure of how to handle it, try getting some friends together to play some games. It will help you relax and enjoy yourself and will take your mind off of whatever else is going on in your life and make you happy – even if only temporarily.

MAKES SOCIALISING EASIER, REDUCING ISOLATION

When you suffer from mental health issues like anxiety and depression, it can be extremely difficult to go out and socialise with others. Consequently, people who suffer from mental health problems tend to report increased loneliness, which is a contributing factor to worsening mental health. However, board games solve a lot of these problems as they offer a structured way to meet others and provide a social world in themselves.

Playing board games allows you to socialise with a group of people without having to worry about coming up with things to talk about. For people who have mental health problems such as social anxiety, playing games can be a great chance to work through their issues and socialise with others without the presence of any additional social pressures. Playing games also fosters positive relationships and can help fight off feelings of isolation by giving one a sense of community. 

While you may not be an overly social person, and believe that you’re completely fine spending time by yourself, studies have shown that socializing with other people and experiencing more human connection is the most effective way to lead a happy and fulfilling life. 

Action Tip – If you’re feeling lonely or isolated, reach out to a few friends and try to create a group you can regularly play board games with. Or, if you still live at home with your parents, start to play games with them so you begin to remember what it’s like to interact with other people. 

GIVES YOU AN ENERGY BOOST

When you suffer from mental health issues like depression it can feel like you have no energy at all. Sometimes even getting out of bed feels impossible. This is understandable and not anything to be ashamed about. When you finally feel ready to break the cycle of doing nothing you may wonder where to turn to.

Real-life chores or work might still be too much for you but a board game can be a great place to start. It’s an activity that’s designed to be fun, and while you’re playing games you will naturally start to gain more and more energy. If you really focus and put your heart into it, you’ll find that being involved in something interactive gives you the boost you’ve needed. 

Action Tip – Consider board games as the first step on your road to better mental health. When you feel low and don’t feel like doing anything, try playing a board game to give you the boost of energy you need to start feeling better again. 

INCREASES YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE 

When you suffer from mental health problems like depression, you can lose confidence in yourself. You can struggle to believe in your abilities and feel useless. Board games can help more than you realise. Not only will board games make socialising easier, but they also help you to become more self-assured.

To express your love for Michael’s blog article and business you can connect with Michael’s social media accounts via the website here.

It really helps small businesses when you like, comment and share their articles and posts, so share away and feel free to tag us too!

Need some help getting started with blogging or your marketing failing? Join us on our mastermind group – it’s just £5 a month and gets you 70% off of our Founder Mandie Holgate’s courses too. Join here.

How to Make a Professional Video Advert

Creating a video advert is one of the best pieces of content that you can use to promote your business. This dynamic and interesting content is something that can attract the attention of many different people, and it can help you to stand out amongst your competition. Here are some of the things you should think about when trying to make a professional video advert.

Storyboarding

You need to make sure that your video advert is properly planned and has a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Even if it is going to be 30 seconds or less, there is plenty of time for you to get a point across.

Storyboarding is the easiest way for you to work out precisely what you want to put across in your video. You should be able to clearly and distinctly put across your point of view within the video, and it should be able to succinctly demonstrate whatever your business or product might be. By taking the time to correctly storyboard your video advert, you can be certain that you are not going to forget any point that you might have wanted to include, or that the meaning and intent of the video becomes lost.

Professional Lighting

If the advert is going to be live-action instead of animated, you need to make sure that you get it lit properly. Professional lighting production hire is always going to be worth every single penny that you might spend on it.

Lighting is something that can really transform the entire feeling of the video, and it is something that you need to do properly. This is where the value of lighting production hire comes in. The right lighting really does make the video, and you need the help of a professional to ensure that it is done precisely right.

Editing

You might also wish to hire a professional editor. Even with a smooth storyboard in place and loose shots and b-roll that have been shot to the highest standards, you need to make sure that the video is put together properly. This means that you need to edit it correctly.

Editing is also a lot more than just stringing the video clips together, which is why it is crucial that a professional does it. One of the main tasks that takes place during the editing process is white balance and small changes like contrast and saturation. They are the finishing touches that help make a video look polished and complete.

These might be just three of the things you should consider when creating a professional video advert for your business, but there are also three things that you cannot ignore. If you want to make an advert that looks as polished and as finished as can be, you need to make sure that you are bringing the experts on board to help. Think about what you would like to see in an advert, and then bring it to life as soon as you can!

Robyn Banks awarded high honours for her work Lions Club

Such a surprise…

Many of you will already be aware that I am a Lion!  That is to say I am a member of Lions Clubs International (LCI).  LCI is a multinational worldwide charitable service organisation of over 1.3 million members.  The primary focus is to assist members of the local/global community in times of need through voluntary service.  We do a lot of fund-raising! 

The organisation is a collective of Clubs; clubs make up a District and several Districts make up a “Multiple District” – in the British Isles we have 8 Districts making up the one Multiple District.  4 years ago I joined as a Lion; 2 years ago I was asked to be a District Officer; 18 months ago it was as a “Multiple District Officer (“UK”) (in this job I have to attend overseas meetings) and for the last year I have also been the officer for two more Districts as well.  ALL of these positions involve my “bread and butter” work as a Data Protection Consultant.

I am not going to lie – it hasn’t all been plain sailing! As with business, some members do not like the compliance message – some have even tried to try and evict me from post! BUT I stay true to my convictions that my advice is the appropriate solution to enable the members to continue to conduct their service as they want to without falling foul of the laws and it seems to have earnt the respect from Senior Lions – Lions of longstanding who have worked their way up in the hierarchy (yes as with all large organisations there is a hierarchy!).  I just see myself as doing the job I have been appointed to do this.

So imagine my surprise and shock when I attended my first MD (“UK”) Convention at the beginning of May to be awarded an “International President’s Certificate of Appreciation” – this is a high honour in Lions.  The International President is the “top” Lion in the world and you are awarded this honour only by recommendation for your efforts.  I had no idea it was coming and am so grateful to have my efforts recognised in this way.

Now if I can just get business owners to take note…

Find out more about Robyn’s work here – https://adavista.com

Can £5 a month really make your business better?

We’re incredibly proud of our mastermind group for anyone looking to further their career, grow and sustain a business or charity but it’s even better when one of the confidential business men and women come forward with such inspiring positivity about the results our business and personal and professional development mastermind group can help you achieve.

Meet Jill Roberson who like many has had an incredible career that has not been without its hardships and horrors. A Tropic Ambassador, working on the front line against Covid (Thank you Jill) and a passion for the planet and the environment that makes her an Eco Queen who is turning that passion into a thriving business now looking for more affiliates to work with who appreciate that going green is good for business as well as the planet. With a new eco challenge for families and businesses recently launching Jill is doing great things. And here Jill shares how the Insiders is helping her achieve that.

1. Why did you join the Insiders?

When I used to run my own biz (over 10 years ago) I used to attend the local physical BWN network – always great value, interesting speakers and other attendees.  Until about a year ago I had been back in employment and kept in touch with the network.  Then I was made redundant just prior to the first lockdown.  I was also running a small biz on the side and took this as an opportunity to develop that and to develop myself, so got back in touch and committed to the grand sum of £5 a month to be part of the BWN Insiders group.

2. How has the Insiders helped you?

Best decision ever … lots of expertise across many business sectors and all wanting to help, without any expectation of anything in return.  It is so important to get independent, constructive feedback on your ideas, application methods etc.  We get so wrapped up as to what is important within our business, that sometimes we forget about our target audience and whether it is all of utmost important to them.  The Insiders gives you a great platform for bouncing around all sorts of ideas.

3.  What successes has the Insiders helped you achieve?

So the Insiders has given me the confidence to become a monthly contributor to an independent local magazine as an ‘expert’ having built my personal brand through various methods discussed in the group.  I am running a month long targeted social media Eco Booster Programme, that has the potential to be developed into an online course.  I’m also developing a business equivalent, together with a paid-for (heaven forbid money!) eco advisory service.

4.  What process would you say this took you through?

The group have enabled me to explore lots of different ideas/options without any fear of being judged, they’ve contributed ideas and as I’ve come back with variations/adaptations and tweaked versions, they’ve all been encouraged.

5.  What have you learnt about being a successful business woman?

The group, through their generosity, have enabled me to respond to others in the same way, develop some great connections and teach me that I am good enough and that if I need a hand, someone will be there to help.  It’s also taught me to accept the good with the bad and to rest when I need to – I don’t need to be a Super Woman to get stuff done.

6.  What would you share with other business owners about this experience?

Over and above all of the above, and expertise and encouragement that Mandie gives is absolute gold dust.  When I used to attend the physical networks, and encourage others to join, I would say that no-one is as enthusiastic about your business as yourself … and Mandie Holgate.

Jill wouldn’t promote her article, so we will – Congratulations Jill. You can read it here in Icen

Join the Insiders here – we would love to welcome you.

And learn more about Mandie Holgate here – her courses are very popular with the Insiders and Insiders get a 70% discount on all her courses. Yes really, 70%

How To Market Your Restaurant On A Small Budget

When you first set up your dream restaurant, you might have a vision of the theme for the place and the menu that you will serve. Once you have got everything in place – the staff, the menu, the décor and the opening date, you still have a few more things to consider including marketing. How will you market your business and get those valuable customers in the door with a small marketing budget?

The good news is that it is possible to become a successful restaurant on a small budget, but you will need to put the work in. Below, we are going to give you some tips that you can use to make this a reality. Read on to find out what they are.

Invite Some Influencers Over

In 2021, influencer marketing remains one of the best options for businesses who want to spread the word about their brand. When it comes to restaurants, you’ll find that there are so many influencers already out there who head to their local restaurants and review the food and experience. While you may get lucky and have some influencers come in by themselves, due to the launch, you can also create partnerships to encourage them to do so.

For example, if you are hosting a launch party for your restaurant, why not invite some local foodies along? They might require payment for posts on their channels but if you stick with micro-influencers, you can achieve the desired result without breaking the bank. Start small and you’ll build up an audience along the way with their help.

Use Your Mailing List To Your Advantage

Once you start getting bookings in, or have people showing interest online, you can start to build a mailing list. This can be an incredibly useful resource for restaurant owners who have a small budget but still want to engage in some restaurant marketing. With emails in a list, you can send out reminders about your restaurant, details of new promotions, menu changes and much more.

There are some excellent email marketing services that you can use to build these emails in no time at all. Additionally, when you target customers who have already visited your restaurant, you can have more confidence that they will take note of your emails and possibly return.

Make Use of Free Tools

Another great way to market your restaurant business on a small budget is to make use of free tools that are at your disposal. You don’t need to pay an expensive graphics designer to work on things like your logo, flyers or even content for social media when free tools exist. If you have any kind of creative flair, you can easily use tools like Canva to create graphics that stand out. Just add your logo and photographs of your food and you are good to go!

This kind of content can save you a lot of money and it can help you to create some brand awareness on social media. Just make sure to create a cohesive style and use your brand colours. That way, you’ll be posting out some instantly recognisable content. On top of graphic tools, you can also find free video editing tools, email templates and website builders online.

Try Video Content on Social Media

Social media is arguably the best tool for restaurants to use in 2021 when it comes to marketing on a low budget. Social media is not only free to use for anyone, but it can also be very effective when it comes to targeting a new audience. One of the best ways to really increase your reach on social media and stand out is to use video content. The good news is that you don’t need to hire a videographer to help you create and edit this content as often, raw footage works well on these channels.

So, for example, you can simply use your phone or camera to film live cooking demonstrations, host live giveaways or even show some sneak peeks of the restaurant. Maybe you could even feature some of your staff members and show them to your followers! Use your free video content wisely and you could really build your brand online.

 Try These Tips

If you are planning on marketing your restaurant in 2021, you should try to take on board the tips that we have given you. Influencer marketing should be your first step but remember to budget a bit if you want some excellent content out there. Additionally, you should try out email marketing and start targeting those who have already visited your restaurant. Over time, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t and will have a successful restaurant soon!