The out of office assistant: a must for keeping customers in the loop
Posted inVideo tutorials

The out of office assistant: a must for keeping customers in the loop

Letting your customers and key contacts know that you’ll be unavailable is crucial in business. A good out of office message will let them know at first contact that you’re unavailable, for how long, and any alternative contact details they can use.

This video will show you youw to set one up in Microsoft Outlook in next to no time – of course, you should let your contacts know ahead of time that you’ll be away if you’re taking a break:

Fun and fitness ideas for the whole family
Posted inThings to do with the kids

Fun and fitness ideas for the whole family

Summer’s here, end of year exams are finished and school holidays are just around the corner. This is the perfect time for the whole family to bond and reconnect and get fit.

There’s a sport that the whole family can do – whether you have toddlers and teenagers, or a mix, there’s something for every family:

Setting up a home office: three tips to get you started
Posted inStarting and running your business

Setting up a home office: three tips to get you started

Setting up a home office is one of the first milestones that lets you – and the rest of the family – know that you mean business. You’re not just spending hours on your laptop surfing or Facebooking, but are actually doing something tangible.

But you don’t need to spend thousands to do it – unless you choose to, of course. If you want to get the basics right and build on from there (or expand as your business grows), here are some tips on choosing office furniture:

‘Playful tiff’ or domestic violence?
Posted inRelationships tips and advice

‘Playful tiff’ or domestic violence?

The issue of domestic violence has hit the headlines this week following a popular celebrity chef being publicly assaulted by her husband when he apparently grabbed her by the throat.

Having been caught on camera, the husband later dismissed and minimised his actions as a ‘playful tiff’. However he subsequently accepted a police caution after voluntarily attending the police station, which in fact means he accepted he committed a criminal act.

How to assess the competition in your business area
Posted inBusiness tutorials Video tutorials

How to assess the competition in your business area

Checking out the competition is a must when embarking on a new business venture. You can look at their pricing, the quality of their products and services, and their strengths and weaknesses and use all that information as part if your plan of attack.

It all sounds simple enough, but if you don’t know how to cut to the bone you’ll just be gathering information that will sit in a file somewhere collecting dust. This video will show you how to make sure you don’t miss anything out.

Video: how to stay awake at work when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends
Posted inWhat's in the news?

Video: how to stay awake at work when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends

The work of a working mum is very demanding. You go to work, come home and continue working on chores, doing homework, bath time, and anything else that crops up. You probably don’t get enough hours of sleep – especially when you child is unwell. And if you’re a 5 to 9er who comes home from work and then starts working on your business in the evenings then you get even less sleep than your counterparts.

Lack of sleep can start to take a toll after a while and you may find yourself dozing off at work. This video will give you some tips on staying awake and avoiding embarrassment – or the wrath of your boss!

A mother’s work is never done – so how do we do it?
Posted inFamily life

A mother’s work is never done – so how do we do it?

Being a mum. It’s a full time, unpaid job. Replete with (sometimes) moody customers, a myriad of paperwork and an ever growing list of ‘to-do’ items, it’s a wonder any mother can find the time or inclination to go out and work alongside their domestic duties.

But work they frequently do and, as the Office for National Statistics cheerily informs us, the number of mothers working full time in the UK has risen from a quarter to a third in the past 15 years.

Four tips to help you buy school uniform on a tight budget
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Money - how to keep it and how to make it What's in the news?

Four tips to help you buy school uniform on a tight budget

Tight budget or not, buying school uniforms is a must for every parent with school-aged children. And the older they get the more expensive and mandatory school uniform becomes.

So how can parents shop on a budget when purchasing school uniform during times of austerity? Here are four tips to help you buy school uniform on a tight budget:

The busy mumpreneur’s social media attack
Posted inBusiness building

The busy mumpreneur’s social media attack

There’s much buzz about social media and its benefits for online and offline businesses. Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn and now Pinterest…

But if you don’t know how to get started, knowing about all these social networks it can be like having a key and not knowing which door it belongs to.

5 things for your child to do instead of watching TV
Posted inParenting tips

5 things for your child to do instead of watching TV

TV is used by many a parent as a cheap babysitter, but it’s a double-edged sword, because children who watch a lot of TV have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which in the long run makes your job harder!

If you’re trying to limit the amount of TV viewing in your household, you might need a little inspiration. Try these activities to keep the kids busy… at least for a little while!

Posted inCareers Coach Blog

How to appear more confident in business and when returning to work

Taking time out to raise a family is great, it for many mums months of years if cantering everything around young children can start to have a knock-on effect on their confidence.

Before your bundle(s) of joy came a long you were the centre of your social universe, but now you feel like you’re a shadow of your former self. If you are embarking in business or going back to work, self-confidence is something you need. If you haven’t got it yet, then fake it till you make it – this video will show you how:

Foodie Friday recipe: Mini pita pizzas with pick’n’mix toppings
Posted inFoodie Fridays

Foodie Friday recipe: Mini pita pizzas with pick’n’mix toppings

Most children love pizza, but if you’re a health-co scions mum you’ll not want to pander to the unhealthy demands too often. A healthier alternative, however, which keep everyone happy are pita pizzas.

Cheap to make, and a fun cooking experience for even young children, these filling yummy servings are perfect as part of a meal, or for parties.

Video tutorial: how to sell
Posted inBusiness tutorials Video tutorials

Video tutorial: how to sell

Whether you provide services like beauty treatments, work as a counsellor or run an online store, you will be selling something to your client base. Most business mums wouldn’t necessarily have a sales background when they go into business, and it can feel a little overwhelming to suddenly be in a position where you have to encourage people to spend their money with you.

If you’re in this situation and need some advice on how to get the process right, then today’s video will help you with that and more. In just six minutes, you’ll learn how to be a sales supremo.

How to remember people’s names
Posted inCareers Coach Blog Video tutorials What's in the news?

How to remember people’s names

Is it Jane? Is it Vanessa? Maybe Jack? Aargh! Remembering names in a work or business environment can be quite a head scratcher. It’s too embarrassing to make a mistake, and you don’t want to offend by getting it wrong.

Watch this video tutorial to help you find ways to remember names and take the stress out of meeting new people.

Posted inParenting tips

How to choose a nursery for your child

Choosing suitable childcare is the one of the biggest steps every working mum makes towards returning to work. Most mums are racked with guilt, worry and a bit of anxiety (sometimes at the same time!) at the thought if leaving their child with total strangers.

If you take the necessary steps to choosing the best childcare for your child you’ll be able to go to work with a sound mind and your child should flourish. Today’s video shows you just how to do this.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Six distraction-busting tips that will transform the way you work

If you find yourself spending all day to compose an email, write an article, or create a memorable video, chances are that you’re getting very distracted. Do you find yourself lulling away the time and always rushing work the night before because time just evaporated for a few weeks?

If you start lots of projects that take too long or don’t get finished at all, apply these distraction-busting tips:

Posted inFamily life Money - how to keep it and how to make it

Maternity leave is not well-paid enough! Top tips to avoid debt during your maternity leave

While the UK ranks well for paid maternity leave when compared to other countries, there is a distinction between paid and week paid, and when it is compared to countries providing well-paid maternity leave it slips down the scale.