Interview with Entrepreneur Simon squibb – what’s your dream?

Interview with Entrepreneur Simon squibb – what’s your dream?

“As soon as I got to a point where I was no longer worrying about money, when I had filled my own bucket, then I thought right, how can I help other people climb up the ladder?”

Help Bnk
Simon Squibb
Simon Squibb

Simon Squibb Images © BROOD Magazine Limited

If you’re an entrepreneur, or have aspirations to start your own business, and you have a TikTok or Instagram account then you are sure to have heard the words, ‘’What’s your dream?” words that have become synonyms with renowned entrepreneur, Simon Squibb.

Simon’s story is one of grit, talent and an unbelievable determination to build a life for himself that was very different from the one he had as a homeless 15 years old who started a business, in order to eat and earn enough money to get somewhere to sleep. Simon is very vocal about his passion to shake up the school system and to empower everyone to have the knowledge and confidence to start their own business. To live a life with purpose and doing something that they love. Simon wants to break down the barriers that people list as reasons not to live out their dreams. Simon’s story of going from a 15 year old boy who was homeless, to founding 19 different companies, to selling his agency Fluid to PwC for more money than he’ll ever need, has left him inspiring the masses and he wants to use his platform to help people. Simon went viral when he bought a derelict staircase in London, and put a doorbell on it where people now come from far and wide to pitch their dreams, which Simon and his team then endeavour to help make these dreams happen with the help of his company, Helpbnk. Helpbnk was created to build a community where people can #givewithouttake and help their fellow entrepreneurs to build their businesses. Simon has amassed an impressive 2.2 million followers on Instagram and over 5.3million followers on TikTok over the past couple of years, becoming a recognisable face for many dreamers throughout the UK and Internationally. In November 2024 Simon was chosen by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and in the same month, he was presented with his Gold YouTube Plaque for reaching 1,000,000 subscribers. Simon’s book – What’s Your Dream, is released on 16th January, 2025. The book has been hailed by #1 New York Times Bestseller Jay Shetty, ‘Simon loves dreams and he wants you to live yours. This book will stop you from giving up on your goals and start building the life you want’ and Dad of 5 and Chef, Jamie Oliver ‘Inspiring stuff…Simon empowers you to follow your dreams without fear’ 

We were honoured to have been invited to Simon’s family home for a couple of hours despite his busy schedule. Naturally, he streamed our photoshoot and interview on TikTok, as always sharing his life behind the scenes with his followers, as we chatted through his incredible business journey and how he wants to shake up the system to empower more and more people to live out their dreams.

 

What inspired you to enter the world of business? 

“Well, I had no choice but to enter the world of business. I couldn’t get a job and I had tried begging on the streets and I couldn’t make any money, so at 15 years old the only option I had was to start a business.”

 

When did you find that first piece of success in business, that made you stay on that path of being self-employed and believe that it was a road worth staying on? 

“Well, I had a very small measure of what success was back in those days. If I can make enough money to eat and maybe get a roof over my head and have somewhere to sleep then that was success to me. I actually think it’s a really good yardstick for making sure that you treat success with little milestones, not big ones. A lot of people say, I want a million pounds and that will mean I’m successful, when actually you might then spend a lot of your time disappointed so it’s better to give yourself small targets. That’s why I bought the staircase in Twickenham, to illustrate the little step-by-step process. Like for me back then you know the day I got 1 garden contract, one person saying I could take care of their garden, that was a success. That paid for food and accommodation for the week.”

jmw
Simon Squibb what's your dream interview

“ I think having ownership over what you do every day is the most valuable thing you could possibly have, owning your own time.”

That’s a really important point and it’s actually something we’ve talked a lot about, as it’s so easy it is to get caught up in that end goal and miss the opportunity to celebrate all those little wins. 

Absolutely, and especially when you’re comparing yourself to other people and their businesses and it deflates your enthusiasm for what you’re working on if you don’t measure it by those little steps instead of these big massive ones. 

Do you think your journey to success is what led you to start the purposeful project which is now HelpBnk? Tell us a bit more about your journey to get there. 

Yeah, I actually changed the name from Purposeful Project to Help Bank. So my focus now is on the Help Bank brand, but originally it was a purposeful project for me and it was really helping the 15 year old boy who struggled. I didn’t know anything about business. I’d been in school for 12 years at this point as well and I knew nothing about how money works. I knew nothing about the world of business. I knew nothing about how to sell myself or the services I would eventually sell, so I think that’s where that passion came from, I just wanted to help the 15 year old me. As soon as I got to a point where I was no longer worrying about money, when I had filled my own bucket, then I thought right, how can I help other people climb up the ladder? It’s that whole analogy of don’t pull the ladder up behind you. Put the ladder down and help people up. I want everyone to know how to make money. I want everyone to know how to start a business, I call it informed consent, to start a business if they want, they don’t have to, but at least let them have the option. And so my mission is to help that 15 year old who didn’t know how to do it and didn’t have any help at the beginning. When I asked for help, from people that would have been able to help me, they would only help me if I had money, but of course I had no money to pay them. They used to say something that I never forgot, which is – if you don’t pay, you don’t pay attention. And I thought that was not true. I know that is not true because I’m so desperate for knowledge. Of course, I’m going to pay attention. The problem was that I couldn’t afford to pay them for that knowledge. So from that moment onwards I logged that and I thought one day I am going to give the knowledge to people for free and I’m never going to use that bull**** line – if you don’t pay, you don’t pay attention, because that’s just used so that people can justify charging people for help.”

“when you’re comparing yourself to other people and their businesses, it deflates your enthusiasm for what you’re working on.”

Between schools not teaching us the skills to start our own businesses and it being so hard to get grants, loans etc to start a business, making it seem something that’s so out of reach for so many people, how important is it to you to break down those barriers and help people to see that it is something that is possible for them? And what changes do you think need to be made to show people that. 

There’s a lot we need to change, but I think on a basic level, a simple example is when I first went to school, I remember at only five years old being asked by my teacher on the first day of school, what will you be when you grow up? What that does is instantly trap your mind into thinking about one particular thing, Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, whatever it is you can think of at that age and with that literally from a young age you’re on a path to university out and the other end to work for someone else. I think we should open up the question people when they arrive at school and it should be ‘what problems do you want to solve’. Because now if we’re going to live to 100 which is predicted for our young people, they could live until your 100. You can do 5, or 6, or 7 different things in your lifetime. You do all of these different things at some point in your life and so you shouldn’t be pigeonholed into one particular thing. Of course, if you want to be a Lawyer or a Doctor that’s fine, but I also think we need to start being honest and saying if you want to be a doctor, it’s probably gonna get done by AI in the future. So if you want to be a doctor, just bear that in mind. So, I think we need to be honest and say this is the future as well. I think we should be taught financial literacy and how the world works and give people the ability to educate themselves so that in the future they feel like they’ve got a purpose in this world. It is that simple on a basic level? The whole long list of how it could be done would take up hours of our day, but you only need to look at the stats that 80% of A Graded students work for D Graded students. Why is that? Because the school system is actually training people to work for someone else – Sit down, do an exam. Don’t stand out. Don’t say what you think. Shut up, and do what you’re told. If you conform in the school system to do that then you’re much easier to control when you go into the workforce. It’s like if people turn up to work five minutes late, does it really matter? But, people love that control and the school system makes the A students controllable and those students are smart people. That needs to change. And this isn’t just me saying this, Carnegie and Henry Ford admitted that they invested in the education system to do just that – they said it out loud. But we’ve decided not to recognise it and do nothing about it, even though it’s now a 100 year experiment. If you look at 5 year olds, 95% of them if you test them are considered geniuses but then they hit 12 or 13, it drops down to less than 2%. From this magical education system – it actually dumbs people down. It makes people fearful. It doesn’t allow people to use their IQ. It only focuses on a weird grade system that is mass produced and not tailored to individual needs. I was told I was stupid at school. I’m not stupid, but if you’d have asked a nine year old me I would say I’m a little bit stupid ’cause I was dyslexic as well and that was drummed into me at school.”

You now have a son, how do you approach learning with him? 

“I homeschool my son. He’s not in public education, and I ask him what he wants to do today. So it’s child-led learning. It’s fascinating running my own theory with my own son. I ask him what he’s interested in, for example, you just mentioned your daughter’s interest in makeup so if she’s interested in makeup, she would probably learn about the things she maybe doesn’t even really, like accounts, and stuff like that, because she’s gotten an interest in the subject. My son was obsessed with road maps for a while. Anything to do with the road system – A1, the M25 motorway. He wanted to know where they led, how they’re connected, where they’re connected, what they were called and how they got built. And so we go into the details of how the M25 got built. And it’s a political story, how the political system didn’t want it to happen, what happened and didn’t happen. How much it costs, where the money came from, the economics, politics, he learnt it all through his interest of roads. So letting people follow their passions, follow their dreams, letting people do what is natural to them, then all the things they need to learn to do it, they will learn naturally and enjoy learning. As opposed to sitting down to learn biology or something you’re not very good at, it puts people off. It’s just a joke that subjects like Art for example are still seen as being a bit whimsical. I think as parents you are almost trained to think that you should encourage your child to go to university. But in England, you end up in debt by going to university and an education that stops you taking risks, because you feel like you have to get a job as soon as you leave.” 

As running a business can be hard at times, how important do you think it is that you build a business centred around something that you’re passionate about?

“I don’t think business is so hard. I mean of course, it is at times, but so is the other option of working for someone else. There’s still a lot of ups and downs when you work for someone else. For instance, two people have reached out in my DM’s this morning as they had been made redundant – that’s a down. I think as entrepreneurs we’ve gotta be careful how we talk. because we’re setting a narrative that isn’t entirely true. Of course, every journey is hard, but would you want to go and work for someone else now? [We agree, that we wouldn’t want to] You see what I mean? If you talk to someone who’s run their own business for more than a year and who has had some model of success, they will generally always say that they wouldn’t go back to working for someone else. And I think if we went into the town now, I think that nearly everybody who’s got a job would say they don’t really like it. In fact I haven’t met many people that like their job. I think having ownership over what you do every day is the most valuable thing you could possibly have, owning your own time. I think that people forget that running your own business although like everything else it may have its challenges, it gives you choices each day that a lot of people who work for someone else don’t have. 

But again, we have this narrative that being an entrepreneur is so hard, and of course when you’re trying to achieve anything it’s hard… climbing up a mountain is hard, but you don’t expect to achieve climbing Mount Everest and it not be hard. That is the point, that you learn, you grow, you push yourself, and you can achieve more than you thought possible. That’s the whole point of life.”

I think it can be hard for people to leave behind the structure of knowing when you will get your wages and exactly how much that you will get, as opposed to waiting on invoices for example… 

“Yes, it’s like a salary drug and the system is designed to keep people addicted to that. 

It wants you to get used to that predictability, but life just isn’t meant to be like that, it’s much more enjoyable when there are highs and lows, and you’re in charge of the hunt.”

Do you think it’s harder to make that change from having a job into starting a business once you become a parent and the responsibilities that come with that? And what advice would you give to them? 

“I think kids don’t do what you say, they do what you do. So, if you are not enjoying your work and you’re sacrificing for the kids, then they will end up doing the same and they’re not gonna be inspired. Kids don’t care how big your house is, they don’t care how many toys you get them, they just want your time and they want to learn from you. So if you want to inspire them, let them watch you follow your dreams. I’ve got a 7 year old, I totally understand the difference between when I wasn’t a parent, to now when I am a parent. There is definitely an argument to take more risk when you’re younger for sure, but there is also the argument for owning your own time once you become a parent because the most important thing you can give your kids time. I think time is the problem, not money. I do understand that everybody reading this might be like, well, you don’t know what it’s like, Simon, I’m struggling to make ends meet. But, I do understand, I’ve been there myself. I do know what it’s like. I would argue though, that if you enjoy what you do, you do make more money in the long run and you can sustain it, and you’ll stay healthier because you’re enjoying your work. If you’re not enjoying it, if you don’t have any equity where you work, it’s not scalable – you’re selling time. Most people, most parents, are selling 40 hours a week. You are selling the only thing your kids actually want, so why not build something up which means you’re no longer selling your time and eventually, if you do it right, you give yourself more time and freedom. It is harder running a business in the beginning, but only because of the learning curve. It’s because there’s so much to learn, it’s exciting and you need to be really focused, but it gets easier over time. I built 19 companies up and then brought someone else in to run them. I give them equity and someone else runs it. Now I’ve got businesses generating income and I’m putting no time into it. I think it’s easier to work for someone in the beginning, but it’s harder over time. I think if you think working for someone else is easier than working for yourself, you have been brainwashed. You’ve been brainwashed by your employer and you’ve been brainwashed by the system, it’s not true. If you work for yourself you’re in control of your destiny.” 

Obviously, when you are juggling being a parent and running a business, inevitably there will be occasions where you can’t be in two places at once. How do you navigate those times? 

“There’s always going to be times like that, that’s the struggle of life. There are three pillars to what we need as humans; attention for ourselves, looking after ourselves and our relationships we need to give attention to. It is actually very hard to do all three at once. So people talk about work life balance all the time and I’d say the answer is to combine the three wherever possible. So I go on long walks with my colleagues, or I’m running at the moment with my colleagues, so I do work and exercise at the same time. That way I’m looking after myself and I’m working well. I’m bringing my wife and my son on business trips with me, so I get to be with my family whilst I’m working. But you can’t do all three in separation. Something will suffer. Yesterday, my son asked me not to go out, he asked me to stay with him and I explained that I’m helping three people, that I promised to help, so as much as I want to be with him, and I would actually rather be with him I had committed to something. I had promised to do something, I’ve got to do it and that’s important for him to know. I’m showing him that helping people requires sacrifice sometimes for our own joy, but if it has a purpose it’s worth it. So I’m educating him even just by not being with him. I think a life with purpose is a purposeful life, so at least when I tell my son I’m leaving him to do something purposeful, it’s not just about making money.

Simon Squibb

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Interview with Mother Pukka – AKA Anna Whitehouse

Interview with Mother Pukka – AKA Anna Whitehouse

Interview with Formidable and powerhouse, Mother Pukka AKA Anna Whitehouse

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“54,000 women every year are locked out of the workforce for daring to have a baby!”

The inspirational Anna Whitehouse aka Mother Pukka is a Mum of two, soon to be three girls, a writer, podcast host, campaigner for flexible working and founder of Flex Appeal.

Anna is formidable in her pursuit for equality in the workplace, fuelled by her passion to ensure that her girls, or any girls, don’t face a future where you can have your career snatched away from you just because you dared to have a baby; sadly this is something that Anna experienced first hand.

Flex Appeal
Ashley James
Mother Pukka Breast Feeding

Mother Pukka Images © BROOD Magazine Limited

Anna’s unwavering passion, eloquence, honesty and relentless campaigning have led her to gain a loyal following that amasses over 400k on Instagram alone. Anna is admired and appreciated by so many parents far and wide for being a much-needed voice around flexible working, childcare costs, and maternity and paternity packages. We sat down with Anna to discuss the challenges she has faced since becoming a parent and why this time around she’s not going to return to work with any apologies.  

At what point in your career did you first become a parent? And how did you find that transition? 

Anna: “I first became a parent just as my career was really taking off. I think this happens with a lot of women actually; you’re at that junction where your career is going like this, [Anna gestures an upward movement] and then suddenly you have a baby [she meets and connects the other hand] and it kind of cuts you off a bit. And this is not because of a lack of your own enthusiasm, your own experience or your own brilliance, but because of the ceiling that the world of discrimination puts upon us mothers. So yeah, my eldest came along as I was rising [up], I then just hit a complete wall. 

Where did your inspiration for ‘Mother Pukka’ come from? 

 

Anna: “Mother Pukka came from a really primal, visceral, maternal, angry place. That’s why it was quite blue at first. It was Mother something else! [She laughs] So it was watered down and became Mother Pukka. But initially, it came from a place of just ‘hacked-off-ness’. I’d seen so many baby magazines and so many articles that were aimed at parents, all of them talking about what nipple teat to have and what ‘bugaboo’ to get, and what nappy changing bag worked, but no one was talking about the motherhood penalty. No one was talking about the lack of flexible working for parents. No one was talking about the quiet swathes of women who are disappearing from the workforce just because they assumed that’s what needed to happen because of the status quo. And so mother pukka, just came from this place of frustration that I’d had my flexible working request denied for really vague reasons.

Like ‘it would open the floodgates for other people to have flexible working!?’ And I was like, I’m sorry, let’s open the floodgates because people are drowning behind them! Specifically mothers – 54,000 mothers every year are discriminated against. So, yeah, that’s where it [Mother Pukka] came from.”

jmw

You’ve recently posted, I’m not sorry, where you mentioned that when you returned to work after having your first two children, you returned almost ‘smaller’ and quite apologetic. You have shared your understandable frustrations around that. How different will the experience be for you this time around? Do you feel stronger than you did previously?

Anna: “I’m just not taking it anymore, you know. [Anna talks passionately] I think things have and are changing; it’s not a case of employers changing things, I think women are changing things because we’re 50% of the population and we’re just saying ‘No!’. We’re saying, ‘No, call my daughter’s father as well as me when she’s in nursery!’ (And that’s nothing against the amazing key workers who work with our children.) But the expectation, the bulk of childcare, is still strapped firmly to female shoulders. It’s not that we’re fighting some revolution. It’s evolution. That’s the difference. And I think people see that, with the work I do, the work the ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’ group does, the work that the Fawcett Society does – all these amazing organisations shine a light on this. People say to me ‘Oh my God, this is big what you’re all doing!’ and I’m like, no, it’s what it should have been there in the first place! That’s what equality is. It’s rebalancing a system that is structured and built for women, specifically mothers to fail. So I am not apologising anymore for a system that is set up for me, for my daughters, for my daughter’s-daughter’s to fail. It’s not my fault. It’s not your fault. and it needs fixing!”

Is it that personal experience that inspired you to start Flex Appeal? (The campaign for more flexible working for everyone)   

Anna: “I think when I started speaking about the other side of the motherhood story, which wasn’t just about what maternity bag to buy or, ‘how to pack your hospital bag.’ It was about the real-time frustrations around giving up, not just work, but your purpose, of yourself, the expectation that you just step back. I decided, actually, do you know what this needs? Governmental change. This needs structural change. So that is when I launched Flex Appeal, which was our lobbying body/platform/organisation for the exhausted women in the street shouting, ‘ I don’t care what you want to call me [for being me]!’ It’s that drive to change not just the narrative, but legislation. I just thought, there’s no way through this unless legislation changes for men and women. And I think that’s the big point here. This isn’t just about mums. This is about parents! It’s about dads who are just desperately frustrated that their employer won’t enable them to work flexibly because it’s seen as a ‘her-in-doors’ job still.  

I say, the unconscious bias, but it’s a conscious bias that sits right there. So I needed a campaign to hook this on. That would have me, my little daughter at the time, my second daughter, and maybe this one now [she points to her unborn child] knocking on the doors of Whitehall and just saying, what are you doing about the 54,000 women every year that are locked out of the workforce for daring to have a baby? Like, that’s a ridiculous amount. And  that doesn’t even include gagging orders, NDA’s, etc, so you could probably quadruple that number you know.”

 

After 10 years of campaignin, how are you feeling now that it was recently announced the current government has decided to start the ball rolling? And how long do you think it will take to be implemented?

Yeah. Three babies, one decade, and one campaign [she laughs.] I will say the proof is in the pudding because there’ve been so many governmental, political promises and until it actually happens, I don’t and I won’t believe it. So in some ways I’m taking it with a pinch of salt. 

It’s quite monumental, but until flexible working is by default, that it is just assumed across the board instead of fought for, the onus is still on the employees. Until that structure changes, I won’t see any level of success. But what I would love to see, before that time is don’t wait for the laws to change if you’re an employer. Don’t take the stick approach, take the carrot approach. Why aren’t you thinking about how you can retain this brilliant talent? You’re not doing us a favour. We’re great. We’re talented. You’re cutting us out at our prime when we know so much and then you have to get somebody else in and [have to] train them up. So it’s about businesses too really. I want to see cultural change. I want to see. For example a dad messaged me, and he told me that he had put his request flexible in and it was rejected on the basis that they said, ‘Can’t your ‘missus’ do that?’ That was in 2023? [she sighs in disbelief and goes onto answer the question herself…] ‘You know what, No. His ‘missus’ might be working elsewhere, or might be a brain surgeon, or you know, might be doing something else. So no, the assumption that ‘her-in-doors,’ ‘ya missus,’ ‘the mum’, the ‘primary caregiver’ should automatically pick up that childcare slack, is so inherently wrong. So I want to see a cultural change around that employer going, yes, absolutely, pick up your daughter from nursery because of the old hapless dad trope, you know, ‘daddy daycare’ or ‘babysitting my children.’ any of that – we’re done with it! Like you’re parenting. I think that it’s language like that that we need to start using: parenting, parental leave, not just maternity leave. Lets unite the two sides of the procreation coin. It takes two to tango. So you know there won’t be equality unless we recognise those two sides. 

Fathers Day

“…My daughter initially said to me, ‘Mummy, sometimes I think you don’t like me very much when you’re on the phone.”

What has been the most challenging time in your life since having to juggle both work and parenthood?

Anna: “I think this is probably something every one of your readers has gone through. Regardless of whether you are, I hate the term stay-at-home-mum because no parent stays at home, you’re out doing things all the time and everyone’s a full time mum. I think it’s really offensive when you hear, I’m a full time mum. Well no actually, I’m a full time mum too. Everyone’s a full time mum because even when you’re working, you’re still carrying the weight of parenting at the same time, That’s why it’s heavy for us all at times. The administration of that [parenting]. You’re carrying your child from birth to primary school even at secondary school and beyond. I think a lot of your readers would probably relate here, regardless of, if you’re a ‘stay-at-home mum’ or, you know, you work, in an office or away… when that moment where your child says ‘Mummy, why are you on your phone?’ And there’s this moment that happens, in every single parent’s day where you’re caught between everything you need to do and just being with your child. My daughter initially said to me, ‘mummy, sometimes I think you don’t like me very much when you’re on the phone.’ And it broke me. So that is the kind of thing that is challenging. It’s trying to mentally balance the love I have for them, knowing that my heart is with them, but my head is with my mortgage, with the things I need to add structure to their lives, safety, security and recognising that is also love for them. And I’m actually split in the middle and I think that our phones are quite representative of that split, that divide, that tension. Because what parent hasn’t said to their child. ‘Just a minute, just a minute.’ And then they look at you and they say, ‘has it been a minute yet.’ And you’re like, ‘just a second’ and then they’ll ask ‘Is it a second yet?.’ Then you can feel yourself rising and you feel that feeling in your chest, because what you’re trying to do is answer an email or message or a client request in the middle of maybe cooking their dinner, or do one of the thousand other things that need doing. You can then get to a point where you lose it. And I lost it the other day, I said ‘if you don’t stop fighting (over some toy that neither of them cared about) …if you don’t stop doing that, Mum is going to lose her temperature!’ And as I said temperature, they just burst out laughing. [She laughs] But that’s kind of how it feels. You’re kind of like a kettle boiling. And as you do lose your temperature, you lose your temper, you lose your marbles, you lose your mind! You know, there’s so much loss in motherhood. There’s loss of hair. There’s a loss of glow. You know, you go from pregnant to not pregnant. There’s lots of skin that used to be firm and isn’t anymore. There’s loss of self. There’s loss of conversation etc. But in all of that, in the fragments of that loss, you find yourself. The best bit of standing in the middle of what can seem like rubble is looking at my two little girls and thinking, ‘I get to be your mother, I get to be your parent.”  But yes, all that extra pressure that comes with being a mum I would say probably remains the most challenging job Mother Nature could ever bestow [she laughs.]”

And to end on a high note, what has been the highlight of your career so far?” 

Anna: “I think the highlight of my career is actually, moments with my two girls. I’m really trying to carve that time out. I think it’s really easy to go to kind of accolades or moments or legislation or, you know, maybe hosting something or quite big tangible things, but the biggest thing for me is reclaiming time with them. That’s my success story. Time that I know a more archaic employer would have taken from me. So I think it’s probably sitting on the sofa on a Sunday morning, when we’re all in our PJs, whilst they eat Cheerios and you end up with one in your bra stuck to you. Those moments where they are snuggled up with you, and you can feel the warmth of their little bodies, whilst watching some inane cartoon; those are the moments you live for.

 If I was going to say on a tangible level, it would be changing the law of flexible working. The flexible working bill that came into effect in April of this year. I didn’t do it on my own though, there were a hell of a lot of other organisations involved in that. But the reason that matters is because it’s something where I can say to my little girls,  I did that because I’m not letting you go through what I went through. [Anna voice quivers and her eyes fill with tears] I’m not letting you go through that. I just couldn’t. I couldn’t watch them go do their ABCs, and then their GCSEs and their A-levels and maybe get that first job. You know when you get a phone on a computer. Going from the excitement of that to then having someone take it away. I’m not letting them go through that. That’s what happened to me and it’s certainly not happening to this one [She rubs her stomach] So yeah, I think it’s to change the structure of the world that has written us, as little girls, off!”

You can follow the inspirational Anna Whitehouse on Instagram @Mother_Pukka or visit her website: www.motherpukka.co.uk/ 

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How to Reduce Operating Costs in Business

How to Reduce Operating Costs in Your Business

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How to Reduce Operating Costs in Your Business

No matter the size or industry of your business, reducing operational costs is crucial to improving profitability and long-term sustainability. Streamlining expenses not only boosts your bottom line but also allows you to reinvest in growth opportunities. By leveraging tools like data analysis and even simple visual aids, such as a line graph maker, you can track progress and make informed decisions to manage costs effectively. This guide will walk you through practical strategies to cut down on operating expenses and foster a cost-conscious culture in your organisation.

Evaluate and Analyse Current Expenses

Before you can reduce costs, you need to understand where your money is going. Evaluating your current expenses will highlight high-cost areas that need attention.

Identify High-Cost Areas

Start by conducting a financial audit to pinpoint where the majority of your funds are being spent. Focus on recurring expenses such as payroll, utilities, inventory, and administrative costs.

Leverage Your Data

Go beyond general observations—dig into financial data to identify inefficiencies. Modern tools can help you break down costs and reveal areas for improvement.

Streamline Operational Processes

Increasing efficiency within your operations not only saves time but also cuts costs significantly.

Eliminate Inefficiencies

Analyse your workflows and processes to identify bottlenecks or redundant steps. Automating repetitive tasks, like data entry or invoicing, can help streamline operations while reducing labour costs.

Outsource Non-Essential Tasks

Consider outsourcing functions such as accounting, customer service, or IT to specialised third-party providers. These tasks are often more cost-effective when handled externally, as it eliminates the need for additional hires and training.

Adopt Lean Management Techniques

By applying lean principles, you can minimise waste and focus on value-adding processes. For example, reducing the time taken to process orders or eliminating unnecessary meetings can significantly enhance productivity.

How to Reduce Operating Costs in Your Business

Optimise Your Supply Chain

An optimised supply chain can result in substantial cost savings for any business.

Negotiate Better Deals

Reach out to your current suppliers and negotiate better rates, especially for long-standing contracts. Don’t hesitate to explore alternative suppliers to get competitive quotes.

Consolidate Purchases

Buying in bulk or consolidating orders can lower per-unit costs and reduce shipping fees. However, ensure that this doesn’t lead to overstocking.

Manage Inventory More Efficiently

Improving inventory turnover can save money on storage costs. Analyse sales patterns and adjust inventory levels accordingly to avoid holding excess stock.

Use Technology to Cut Costs

Emerging technologies can help businesses save costs while improving efficiency and productivity.

Adopt Cloud Computing

Switch to cloud-based services to reduce expenses on IT infrastructure. Platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 can provide cost-effective solutions for collaboration and data storage.

Automate Tasks

Utilise automation tools to handle repetitive tasks, from payroll tracking to email campaigns. AI-powered solutions can reduce human error and free up your staff for high-value work.

Invest in Energy-Efficient Solutions

Energy-efficient equipment can make a big difference in utility costs. Consider switching to LED lighting, using energy-efficient appliances or implementing office-wide sustainability measures, like shutting systems down when not in use.

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How to Reduce Operating Costs in Your Business

Cut Labour Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

Reducing labour expenses doesn’t mean compromising on output or employee satisfaction.

Cross-Train Your Employees

Train your employees for multiple roles within your organisation. This ensures maximum versatility and reduces the need for additional hires during peak seasons.

Hire Temporary Workers

Consider bringing in freelance or temporary workers for short-term projects or to fill in during peak times. This approach eliminates the costs associated with long-term full-time employment.

Encourage Remote Work

Allowing employees to work remotely can cut overhead costs, such as rent, utilities, and equipment. A hybrid or fully remote model could be a win-win for both your business and employees.

Review and Renegotiate Existing Contracts

Revisiting your current service agreements can uncover hidden opportunities for saving.

Reassess Contracts

Regularly review contracts with service providers, such as cleaning companies, marketing agencies, or insurance providers. Better rates or alternatives might now be available.

Switch to Fixed-Price Agreements

Whenever possible, opt for fixed-price contracts to cap unforeseen expenses, especially when working with vendors and service providers.

Monitor Results and Track Progress

Continually tracking and analysing your efforts is key to ensuring your cost-cutting strategies are effective.

Set Clear Objectives

Define realistic goals for cost reduction. Clear targets provide a framework for evaluating success and maintaining direction across all departments.

Visualise Progress with a Line Graph Maker

Create visual representations of your cost-reduction efforts using a line graph maker. These graphs allow you to easily track spending trends or compare before-and-after scenarios to assess impact quickly.

Share Results with Your Team

Communicate progress with your employees to keep them engaged and motivated. Celebrate milestones as a team to reinforce the value of collective cost-saving efforts.

Foster a Cost-Conscious Culture

Lastly, a successful cost-reduction initiative requires the commitment of everyone in the organisation.

Encourage Employee Participation

Seek input from your employees—they often have first-hand insights into inefficiencies or creative solutions. Actively involving them promotes ownership and a shared commitment to the company’s goals.

Reward Cost-Saving Efforts

Recognise employees who contribute significantly to cost-saving initiatives. Whether it’s through financial incentives or public recognition, showing appreciation fosters continued engagement and innovation.

Cultivate Continuous Improvement

Encourage a mindset of ongoing efficiency within your team. Regularly revisit your processes to identify more opportunities for savings and growth.

Step Into a More Efficient Future

Implementing these strategies to reduce operating expenses can directly improve profitability and create more resources for business expansion. Tools like a line graph maker will not only help track financial progress but also provide an easy way to share your results with stakeholders and employees.

By fostering a cost-conscious culture and continuously assessing your operations, your organisation is well-positioned for long-term sustainability and success. Start taking small, actionable steps today—because small changes can lead to big savings.

 

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Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

MUM-OF-TWO, RESHMIN CHOWDHURY IS A BRITISH SPORTS JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER KNOWN FOR HER WORK WITH TNT SPORTS AND talkSPORT, AND MAJOR GLOBAL EVENTS LIKE THE FIFA WORLD CUP, THE OLYMPICS AND THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. RESHMIN HAS A BACKGROUND IN POLITICS AND JOURNALISM, AND BEGAN HER CAREER IN NEWS BEFORE MOVING INTO SPORTS BROADCASTING. SHE’S MULTILINGUAL, HAS WORKED WITH TOP ATHLETES, AND IS ALSO A CLASSICALLY TRAINED SINGER. AS A SINGLE MOTHER, SHE ALSO ADVOCATES FOR DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA.

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

From the moment we stepped into Blacklock Manchester, it was clear this wasn’t your average Sunday lunch. With perfectly roasted meats, generous portions, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Blacklock delivered a family dining experience that ticked every box for our bustling brood. Exceptional service, unforgettable flavours, and a setting steeped in local history made this a feast we’ll be talking about for a long time. If you’re searching for the ultimate family roast in Manchester, Blacklock is a must-visit.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

The great thing about brain training is that it doesn’t require anything fancy, it’s more about building small habits that challenge your mind in different ways. Reading a book, even for just a few minutes a day, helps your brain stay engaged. Solving puzzles, like crosswords or Sudoku, also gives your brain a workout, pushing it to think critically and solve problems. It’s not about doing these things perfectly. It’s about keeping the brain active and flexible, like any other muscle.

How To Build A Successful Website That Gets Noticed In 2025

How To Build A Successful Website That Gets Noticed In 2025

How To Build A Successful Website That Gets Noticed In 2025

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How To Build A Successful Website That Gets Noticed In 2025

Building a website in a digital domain where there are over a billion of them in existence, is quite the challenge. With so many websites competing for the top spots or any ranking on search engines, it’s essential you do everything possible to build a great website from scratch.

Whether you’re a new business starting up or you’re an established business that’s looking to introduce itself to the digital domain, here are several tips on how to build a successful website that gets noticed in 2025.

How to build a successful website

The importance of building a strong website with an online presence

As it’s already been mentioned, building a strong website that has a great online presence will do wonders for your business. With so much happening online nowadays and businesses gravitating to a more digital-forward way of working, there are many benefits to focusing your attention on updating an existing website or building a new one.

Increased credibility

Improving the credibility of your business is always a benefit worth having. By improving your credibility, you make it easier for your new customers or prospective leads to take the plunge and trust your business with their hard-earned money.

Expands your reach

Expanding your reach has become an incredible benefit for many businesses that might have only existed locally or within their own country. For some businesses now, they’ve managed to tread the boards across the sea and exist for customers in multiple countries.

 

Being able to expand your reach gives you unlimited potential for improving sales and awareness of the brand.

Improves brand awareness

Brand awareness is something that is worthwhile having, especially when there’s so much competition online to pick from. Customers are in a privileged position of having the pick of businesses to choose from, which is why you need to be able to stand out as a company to attract all of the customers.

Helpful for SEO purposes

Search engine optimisation helps to boost your online presence and by following the best practices, you give yourself ample opportunity to get higher on the search engine.

 

While it might seem alien if you’re not familiar with SEO, it’s easy to learn the basics and outsource it where required.

Enhanced customer engagement

Customer engagement is an important one, especially when it comes to keeping your customers loyal to the brand and business in general. With a great website, you’re going to see an improvement in how engaged your customers are as a result.

Reduces marketing costs

Reducing marketing costs is always a good way to save some money and when it comes to running a new business, it’s important

8 tips to build a successful website that gets noticed

Building a successful website takes an understanding of your audience, using the right software, and knowing what will help make it relevant in relation to the rest of the internet. Here are eight tips to help inspire and build a website that gets your business noticed in 2025.

  1. Get to know your audience

First and foremost, you want to get to know your audience. Who are they? Do you have buyer personas that create clear profiles for who your audience is, what they enjoy, etc? The more you know about your audience, the more you can influence the design of your website for them specifically.

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grow your audience

The design and functionality of your website should be suited to your ideal customers. Whether that’s the type of font you choose or the layout and colour schemes, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to adapting a site design that appeals to your audience.

 

To get a better insight into your customers, get to know your audience in general. Do focus groups, conduct feedback opportunities, and get suggestions on what your typical customer looks for when navigating a website in 2025.

  1. Create a backlog of content ready for publishing

When it comes to building a successful website, you want to ensure there’s a backlog of content ready to publish, even if the site has launched already. The content you publish needs to be high-quality and SEO optimised – more information on that in the next point. 

 

It’s certainly useful to have a blog element to your site, that way you have an opportunity to always put new content out on the internet. That helps to boost your ranking as a result. While you might have new landing pages such as product pages or announcements, these might not be as frequent, which is why blogs are a usual feature for a lot of company sites.

 

By creating a backlog of content, you get ahead of yourself and provide consistency within your content schedule by being ahead in what’s already written and ready to go.

  1. Optimise with effective SEO practices

SEO, as mentioned above, is a crucial part of building a successful website and that’s why it’s important to incorporate it into your strategy when building the website or updating it.

 

The more you optimise your website with effective SEO practices, the better your site is likely to perform via Google’s search engine. For example, think about adding internal and external links throughout your website’s pages. 

 

Look to add in media that is engaging but isn’t going to slow down your site’s speed, as that can put users off. Consider bounce rate – the rate at which customers spend on your site before going off it – and improve it where required.

 

There are many different SEO practices you could get started on in order to improve your efforts to climb up the search engine rankings.

  1. Make sure the website design is responsive on all devices

Your website design needs to be responsive on all devices. That means not just desktops and laptops but also mobile devices and tablets. A lot of businesses don’t make their sites mobile-friendly and as such, lose their users.

 

It might not be something you’ve considered, but not using mobile-friendly websites or designs when most people nowadays use their smartphones for browsing online is short-sighted.

 

With that being said, make sure your website functions via mobile just like it does on any other device. If it doesn’t, then you’re going to want to update it where possible to ensure it functions correctly. This might mean you have to remove one or two functionalities currently on the main site for it to work.

  1. Create a cohesive branding that’s recognisable

Branding is highly important, especially as it takes multiple interactions with a user before they recognise the brand. 

 

Cohesive branding should be cohesive, meaning it looks the same whether it’s on your website, social media, or any marketing materials you put out into the world, online or offline.

 

Is that cohesive branding currently in place across your company assets? If not, then make sure it’s something to change as you build or update your website. By keeping it cohesive, it’ll take less time for users to recognise you from the times before and ultimately improve the interactions they have with the business from then on out.

  1. Integrate your socials

Integrating your socials is a great method of promoting your business across all of your channels. While your website might be the main contact for customers and new users alike, your social media handles might also be where customers are originating from. 

 

social media

Therefore, you should look to integrate your socials, making sure all of your platforms are connected to other social media handles. Do this with your website too by putting the icons of your social media feeds at the bottom or top of the page. This will allow for easy navigation back and forth from your website to your social media profiles.

  1. Add a chatbot service for customer interactions

Chatbots are great for businesses, especially when the demand for interactions is going beyond what your internal resources can provide right now. If you’re revolutionising chat bot for business, make sure you add as much knowledge to your knowledge base as possible for the chatbot technology to work from.

 

That way, your chatbots will be more knowledgeable about answering questions, even if they’re quite complex. The more questions the chatbots can answer, the lighter the workload will be for your customer support agents.

  1. Utilise analytics to track your website’s traffic and general performance

Finally, make sure you’re implementing some form of user analytics to understand how much of your traffic is coming from various external sources. You’ll be able to get a deeper insight into who your users are, and how they’re interacting with the site, and from this you can make the necessary improvements.

 

Analytics software is for the most part, free to use. However, there are some tools and platforms worth paying a small premium for in order to get better insights where necessary.

 

With these tips, you’ll be able to build up a successful website that gets your brand and business noticed in 2025. Use these tips to leverage your success and improve upon your website too.

BROOD Live
Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

MUM-OF-TWO, RESHMIN CHOWDHURY IS A BRITISH SPORTS JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER KNOWN FOR HER WORK WITH TNT SPORTS AND talkSPORT, AND MAJOR GLOBAL EVENTS LIKE THE FIFA WORLD CUP, THE OLYMPICS AND THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. RESHMIN HAS A BACKGROUND IN POLITICS AND JOURNALISM, AND BEGAN HER CAREER IN NEWS BEFORE MOVING INTO SPORTS BROADCASTING. SHE’S MULTILINGUAL, HAS WORKED WITH TOP ATHLETES, AND IS ALSO A CLASSICALLY TRAINED SINGER. AS A SINGLE MOTHER, SHE ALSO ADVOCATES FOR DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA.

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

From the moment we stepped into Blacklock Manchester, it was clear this wasn’t your average Sunday lunch. With perfectly roasted meats, generous portions, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Blacklock delivered a family dining experience that ticked every box for our bustling brood. Exceptional service, unforgettable flavours, and a setting steeped in local history made this a feast we’ll be talking about for a long time. If you’re searching for the ultimate family roast in Manchester, Blacklock is a must-visit.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

The great thing about brain training is that it doesn’t require anything fancy, it’s more about building small habits that challenge your mind in different ways. Reading a book, even for just a few minutes a day, helps your brain stay engaged. Solving puzzles, like crosswords or Sudoku, also gives your brain a workout, pushing it to think critically and solve problems. It’s not about doing these things perfectly. It’s about keeping the brain active and flexible, like any other muscle.

Benefits & Considerations of Pensions for Children

Benefits & Considerations of Pensions for Children

Benefits & Considerations of Pensions for Children

By Liam Hunt – Managing Director of Prestfield Wealth Management & Dad of One.

Liam has 20 years of experience working for Retail and Private Banks in both an advisory and managerial capacity. In 2017 Liam co-founded Prestfield Wealth Management and he is responsible for the vision and growth of the Practice.

As parents, many of us have the desire to save for our children’s future, but we may also have concerns about giving them full access to the money at a young age. This is a common dilemma I’ve seen by parents over the years. We want to ensure that the money we put away for our children is not wasted, and that it can truly benefit them in the long run and not spent on their first trip to Ibiza!

One solution that often goes unnoticed is setting up a pension for your children. It may come as a surprise, but even newborns are eligible for a pension, just like working adults. Parents and guardians have the option to establish pensions for their little ones and make contributions on their behalf. What’s more, the money invested in the pension receives a tax boost from the government. For example, every £80 you contribute, the government adds £20 to the pot, allowing for a maximum annual contribution of £2,880, which would give a boost of £720 within the tax year. If you start making contributions from day one for 18 years, you would have contributed £51,840, with the government boosting it by just under £13,000 (£12,960).

So why consider a pension for someone so young? Apart from the government boost, there are several reasons why parents should consider a pension for their children. Firstly, it addresses the concern of giving the child control over the money. While the child will be able to take control of the pension at the age of 18, they cannot withdraw the funds until they reach 57. This ensures that the money remains intact for a considerable period of time, allowing for potential growth and preventing impulsive spending during the teenage years. The age at which you can access a private pension (defined contribution pension) is 57 and this is 11 years before the current proposed state pension age of 68 that many of our children will face, this gives them a head start on retirement or ability to use the money at a wiser age.

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Another advantage is the long-term investment potential. The contributions made along with the government top-up, can be invested over a significant time span. This opens up opportunities for capital growth and the potential to accumulate wealth over the long term. By thinking ahead and setting up a pension for your children, you could provide them with the possibility of retiring early or passing on generational wealth in a tax-efficient manner.

However, it is important to consider the downsides of using a pension for children. One key drawback is the restriction on accessing the funds until the age of 57. While this ensures the money is preserved for the future, it may limit flexibility in case of unforeseen circumstances or financial emergencies. Although anyone can make contributions to a child’s pension only a parent or guardian can open it, this is sometimes why we see less uptake compared to other easier to open products. Another thing to consider is at 18 the pension passes to your child who is now expected to make the decisions on what to do with the monies and how they could be invested.

In summary, pensions for children offer significant benefits for parents who wish to save for their children’s future while maintaining control over the funds. The tax boost from the government, along with the potential for long-term capital growth, provides a solid foundation for financial security. However, it is essential to weigh up the limitations, such as restricted access, financial emergencies, and market risks. 

For anyone who is considering a child’s pension I would suggest speaking to a financial adviser who can go through all the pro’s and cons as well as alternatives available.

 

Liam Hunt is the Managing Director of Prestfield Wealth Management & Dad of one.

For the purposes of this article his views are his own. The tax treatment of the products discussed are correct at the time of writing (July 2024) and it is recommended that you seek your own financial advice from a qualified Financial Adviser.

If you wish to view the St. James’s Place Partnership email disclaimer, please access the link below:

https://www.sjp.co.uk/site-services/site-disclaimer/sjpp-email-disclaimer

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Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

The great thing about brain training is that it doesn’t require anything fancy, it’s more about building small habits that challenge your mind in different ways. Reading a book, even for just a few minutes a day, helps your brain stay engaged. Solving puzzles, like crosswords or Sudoku, also gives your brain a workout, pushing it to think critically and solve problems. It’s not about doing these things perfectly. It’s about keeping the brain active and flexible, like any other muscle.

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Balancing Fatherhood Ambition: Danny Miller and Nige Clucas

Balancing Fatherhood Ambition: Danny Miller and Nige Clucas

Interview: BALANCING FATHERHOOD AND AMBITION – Dads in business – Danny Miller and Nige ‘Wingman’ Clucas

By Lolo Stubbs

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“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and grow along the way!” 

Danny Miller

Dad of two, and Actor Danny Miller, and Dad of one, Capital FM’s Nige “Wingman” Cluclas joined forces to create Albert’s bookshelf earlier this year. 

Albert’s bookshelf is a delightful collection of children’s audio books brought to life through the magic of audio narration. Bringing popular timeless tales, vibrant characters, and thrilling adventures to life – all at the touch of a button perfect for helping your little ones wind down at bedtime on those days you’re not able to read them a bedtime story!

Inspired by the fact that Danny didn’t always make it home in time for his son Albert’s bedtime, we caught up with this dynamic duo to ask them about life in business and how they manage to juggle everything day to day!

Danny Miller & Nigel Wingman Clucas<br />

Danny Miller, Nige ‘Wingman’ Clucas. Images by Tom Pitfield for BROOD Magazine Limited ©

Oliver Piotrowski and Jorgie Porter

What inspired you to start Alberts Bookshelf? 

Danny: “Albert, was always at the heart of why I wanted to start it and so we chose the name based on that, and whenever we couldn’t find him in the house! He was usually working his way through his bookshelf in the playroom. So the two sat nicely together. Alberts Bookshelf. But the reason for starting it was because I was adamant to keep books and literature at the centre of his education. Nigel agreed, that a lot of the time these days iPads and tablets are used for the wrong reasons. Whilst it’s a good distraction for the children so the adults/parents can have some time to sort through house chores or catch up with each other – the two can marry up to allow the child access to tablets but in an educational format and we wanted to try and be a part of that by bringing some brilliant books to children’s homes and use their imagination to listen and invent what’s happening in their own heads. Rather than mindless videos on YouTube or other platforms that are proven to have no benefit other than distracting their attention rather than helping the mind grow.”

How do you manage the juggle of your busy work schedule, building Albert’s Bookshelf and your Dad duties? 

Nige: “We’re both lucky to be on the same page and whilst family undoubtedly comes first, we try to keep in mind we’d love to pass this business down to Albert and to my daughter Lyla as well as Danny’s daughter Edith and any more in the future to come. It means we can say that they were the reason for starting something so brilliant and unique in Albert’s Bookshelf that books and words and literature can be just as fun as anything you’d find on YouTube whilst helping to educate and carve a path of interest and love for books and learning. Whether that be on a tablet or in a hardback book, the two can go together”

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What have you found to be the most challenging part of running a business to be? 

Danny:: “The hardest thing, I’d say, is the distance between my house and the recording studio. Being in Yorkshire it can be quite hard whilst downtime from filming to balance family life and helping Alberts Bookshelf to grow. That said, it shows how much of a brilliant team Nigel and I are together, we manage to find time and work around each other’s schedules to get a batch of books done in one go so it becomes easier to release them weekly, whilst not needing to be in the studio every day. Something we hope one day will be a lot easier to do when we have our own facilities to record and entertain, educate and socialise with other like-minded children and parents – all under one roof!” 

What’s your favourite thing about building Alberts Bookshelf? 

Nige: “For me, it’s seeing the growth. From a small, almost silly idea of Danny’s, it blossomed into a huge and quite honestly, brilliant idea from both of us. In over 124 countries and now being downloaded every single day by thousands is mind-boggling as well as humbling and also, overwhelming. We try to keep growing because we know there is so much more to overcome and achieve. We’re not here for the short term.

What would you say to someone thinking of taking the plunge into the business world?

Danny: “I personally would say that if you have an idea then work on it and go for it. And learn along the way. That’s what we’ve done so well, we’ve learnt as we go. Trial and error. Not everything works, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work a different way. Family life can be busy, but if you find someone who can bounce off you like me and Nige, it makes it all the easier. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and grow along the way and finally, don’t expect it to be an overnight success, because when it becomes a success it’s all the more surprising and rewarding knowing that genuine hard work, commitment and determination, will pay off.”

Since the interview, Entrepreneur Ryan Williams has also joined Alberts Bookshelf after meeting at one of our BROOD Live Events

Danny Miller, Nige Wingman Clucas and their families

Danny Miller, Nige ‘Wingman’ Clucas and their family. Images by Tom Pitfield for BROOD Magazine Limited ©

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A Week in the Life of: JMW Head of Family Law: Elspeth Kinder

A Week in the Life of: JMW Head of Family Law: Elspeth Kinder

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF: ELSPETH KINDER, HEAD OF FAMILY LAW AT JMW SOLICITORS

“I love that back-to-school feeling that comes in September! Monday is my first day back after the most incredible two weeks on a fly drive around California with my boys.  We enjoyed e-biking in San Francisco, hiking in Yosemite, sunset at Pismo, and kayaking in Morro Bay. But now it’s back to reality, with 34 eager trainee solicitors to spend 2 days with on their induction to JMW. As Training Principal for the firm, I oversee the training and development of all our trainees who now total 79 in number.  It’s a privilege to support them all through their journey and seeing them start on their first day in new suits and with first day nerves always makes me smile. It’s a long first day with a drinks event at Sunset, where the chat ranges from environment and social governance policy, to what to wear and whether people “cop off” at the Christmas party! I finally get home around 8.30 pm, feeling relieved that Ollie chose Food Tech for one of his GCSEs and has held the fort on dinner given the contents of my fridge are still only milk, mayo, white wine, gherkins and a half-eaten block of cheese that I should have chucked out before the holiday!

jmw

Tuesday is a blur of trainees and clients.  There seem to have been a lot of disputes I’ve had to advise on about children splitting their time between homes of separated parents over the summer, with tensions perhaps frayed because of the pressure that juggling work and kids during the school holidays can bring. 

On Wednesday I spend the day at St Ann’s Hospice with my Vistage group. Vistage is a global executive coaching organisation for small and medium sized businesses and is a brilliant opportunity to step back from the day job and think about ways to develop and improve.  I love spending time with my group, they’re like a professional family and they completely understand the reality of trying to balance life and work.  They’re supportive and laugh as I explain why I’ve arrived an hour late, due to William phoning me in a panic having forgotten his PE kit. “Don’t worry at all chicken, it’s absolutely no problem for me to [get stuck behind nightmare traffic, eat my breakfast in the car, dial into a conference call on the journey] bring your PE kit”!!

The highlight of Thursday is catching up with Lolo at The Ivy.  We’ve been planning to enjoy lunch and a glass of wine together for longer than I can remember but finally our diaries are in sync. It’s lovely to catch up and share stories of our summer, whilst brainstorming for Brood. I love working with Lolo and the guys, they make partnership together so easy, enjoyable and fun! From there, I dash to meet with a client, and we have a really productive meeting strategizing how to secure the best financial outcome from his divorce.

The week ends with a day at Haydock Races, hosting contacts in a box with other colleagues from my team.  We are blessed with glorious sunshine!  I’m never interested in the horses, but I love the easy, relaxed vibe of a day at the races. Not a bad first week back!

Elspeth JMW Family Law

Elspeth Kinder, JMW Law

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Russell Kane & Lindsey Kane

Russell Kane & Lindsey Kane

Interview: Russell Kane & Lindsey Kane

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“It doesn’t matter what couples in society do, if they agree to rolling around in their hippy bed, letting their baby suck on their t**s until you’re both 60, if that’s what you want – No one should judge anyone, I just think it’s really important to agree on how you want to raise your kid beforehand.”

Russell Kane is a multi-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author, and scriptwriter. He is a regular on Channel 4, BBC, and ITV. Russell made history in 2010 as the first comedian to win both the Edinburgh Comedy Award and Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Barry Award in one year. He met his wife, Entrepreneur Lindsey Kane, who was a Make-Up Artist working in TV at the time, when he was 35, After in-depth conversations about having children very early into their relationship and making sure they shared the same views as to how they would want to raise a child, the couple went on to have their daughter, Minna, who is now 8 years old. Stepping back from her career as an MUA whilst she was pregnant and striding into the world of business, Lindsey has carved out a name for herself as a knowledgeable and successful businesswoman, with her latest business, a supplement brand – JOLT – being a joint venture with her husband and one of their best friends Daniel. 

We sat down with Russell and Lindsey at their home in Wilmslow, which they share with their daughter, their two dogs and three cats, and chatted about how becoming parents has changed them and what effect that has had on their careers. 

Russell Kane and his wife Lindsey founders of Jolt my world

Russell Kane & Lindsey Kane by Tom Pitfield © BROOD Magazine

Where were you in your career when you became a parent and how did you find the transition into parenthood? 

Russell – “I was fully established really, in fact, I was at the point where I was like if I don’t have kids I’m not that bothered, because I really like animals, I really like going out, I really like travel, friends, I like strangers. At the time, I didn’t have any nephews or nieces as my brother is not very well. So I didn’t have a ‘burning boyvery’ as I call it, an aching inside [for a child.] I passed 35 and I thought, if it didn’t work out, don’t worry about it. Then I met Lindsey when I was exactly 35. We were on the dance floor and I said to her what I’ve just said [above] ‘If it doesn’t happen, it’s no big deal to me.’ And she replied, well, that is definitely something I do want, so there’s no point in us taking this any further! I’m not saying straight away, but I’m not waiting 10 years. So we basically had a rather grown-up discussion when we met where we compromised on the ages we’d want to be before we had a child and we ended up meeting in the middle. Lindsey basically had our daughter Minna 3 years sooner than she would have liked to, and I was probably 3 years older than I would have liked to have been. We discussed it early on, in the same long-handed way that we discussed where the baby would sleep and how we would even approach parenting before Lindsey was even pregnant. It was really important for me to agree on it all before. We were holidaying somewhere like Mauritius and we kept sneaking into a villa with a private pool and swimming at night. When Lindsey said shall we try for a baby at Christmas? But I’d said, we do not miss one month’s contraception until we agree on a few things ‘Where that baby will be sleeping. At what age will the baby be sleeping on its own? At what age do you want the baby to go through the night without one of us having our lives ruined?’ [We laugh] So until we have written this down and agreed to it, I will remain childless’ [he reminisces] 

It doesn’t matter what couples in society do, if they agree to rolling around in their hippy bed, letting their baby suck on their t**s until you’re both 60, if that’s what you want – No one should judge anyone, I just think it’s really important to agree on how you want to raise your kid beforehand.” 

Lindsey – “Yeah, and I was a make-up artist working in TV, doing 12-14 hour days, and when I was pregnant I didn’t want to be standing up on my feet for so long and working the long and irregular hours. I wanted something with structure and routine and that is when I decided to start an online business so that I could work from home and it meant that whilst Russell was touring I could base myself anywhere. That is when I launched a lash business –  because at the time it wasn’t a saturated market there was just a small selection that you could buy in the shops at the time, and I wanted to offer a variety of styles at cheaper prices for make-up artists in particular, so I set that up and launched it whilst I was pregnant, and within the first year of being a mum, trying to juggle everything – basically trying to be superwoman!”

You say you wanted to make sure that you were on the same page when it came to parenting, what were some of the things that you decided on and how did you find implementing them? 

  

Russell – “Our lives are very different so it was always important to adapt her sleep pattern around what we needed. Like today, I woke up at 10 am and I fell asleep at 2 am – there’s no point having a child and then having to sleep in the spare room? I can’t do stand up without sleep, so I think it’s important as a working parent that they fit around your life. I’m extremely lucky with Lindsey as a parent. She was very open-minded about me making suggestions when we were having our daughter because my mum was a nanny and a childminder who knew all the tricks of the trade. So our aim with any baby was always to have them sleeping 8 hours by 8 weeks, and 12 hours by 12 weeks. Which is what my mum’s target was with any child that came through the door. ” 

Lindsey – “Yeah she was 6 weeks, doing 6 hours in the night, then at 12 weeks she was doing 12 hours through the night. We did the Gina Ford [method] and it is controversial but for me, I had no idea about parenting and so it was a bit of an instruction manual whereas some women don’t like it because she’ll be like, ‘right, whilst the baby sleeps, have a nap or have a snack or…’ basically telling you what to do. Whereas I needed that reminder and it helped.”

Russell – “I wouldn’t say it was all Gina Ford [method] we did read lots of books. But we made a conscious effort that when the baby was around 4-5 months old, put the child to bed and sit down to have dinner and talk about our day. When people talk about happy babies and breastfeeding, they tend to forget two of the most important things. No. 1, a completely sane and happy mother (above breastfeeding) and number two, a happy working partnership, whether that be a man and a woman, woman and a woman, man and a man, whatever. They’re more important than anything and they tend to get put to the bottom. [He imitates the nurse again] “No, no, the baby has to suck on her t*t until she’s 7, you go and masturbate in the spare room, dream of a holiday to Bangkok and leavin’ her.” – Yeah, that’s what the baby needs? he despairs.” No, it f***ing doesn’t actually [answering the question as himself] in my opinion. 

So we mapped it [with having a baby] because of the lifestyle we already had. Doesn’t matter if your plan goes wrong, just have one. Like I’m doing a stand-up tonight and I have 70 mins of material, but I don’t give a s**t if I don’t use any of it cause I go off and improvise or the lights explode or something goes wrong – but that 70 mins is always there, that little birth plan if you like, but it’s important to have one.”

Lindsey – “…and not getting bogged down if it doesn’t go to plan.”

As you feel so strongly about things like that, and you discussed your plan on being parents before you had a child, looking back now, has there been a time where you have had to compromise?

Russell Kane
Lindsey Kane
BROOD Live

Russell – “Only when we got to about 5 years old I would say. Up until last year, our daughter had never been in our bedroom after she’d gone to sleep without asking first, but she didn’t even know that that was a thing. We still have a child monitor now and use it like a walkie-talkie system. But I just wouldn’t roll back on the sleep thing because of my job. I come from… (without getting my violin out) My first home was actually a women’s hostel for women and babies, we were homeless and my dad tried to get a council flat. So I’ve started from so far down the food chain, I didn’t want to compromise on that sleep and that has a knock-on effect [he puts on a different voice] ‘hey lets cut sleep, do a shit tour and hope that my career will be ok!’ – Absolutely not, he answers himself. It’s important to these guys [Lindsey and their daughter] that I do that as well. Well, not now Lindsey’s about to turn into a billionaire or whatever she’s got [he jokes] she doesn’t need me but before that, it was all on me – then if you come from a council house/working-class background, then that pressure is doubled because you feel that you’re going to become a peasant again at any moment and it’ll all be taken away. So I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Even if I wanted to go on holiday [he puts on a voice of one of his friends] “come on holiday man, just put the baby next to you [to sleep]” – I physically wouldn’t be able to do it. It would be like asking someone of faith to eat meat that’s not accepted in their religion. I worship sleep, and sleep is the direct bank account that fuels, that funds, that powers, the act.”

So it didn’t affect your career becoming a parent?

Russell – “I don’t think it did. It probably affected Lindsey’s journey [more] massively because she hadn’t got going enough yet. If anything it enriched it. It made me want to explore different countries and have experiences with them [both]. Before that I was quite happy staying in England, I love England and that’s where I’m known. Although I built a following in Australia by accident, as I went there and won this massive award on my first go so I ended up building a following over there too by accident. But before having Minna, I wouldn’t entertain different countries and cultures. But I’ve just had an inquiry from the Cayman Islands, which I’ll probably say yes to, it’s not all about the money, because we’ll go there and have that experience as a family.” 

Lindsey – “Yeah, we’re not really that bothered about materialistic things, for us we are all about the experiences, we love doing them together as much as possible.” 

Russell – “Yeah don’t get me wrong we have a nice gaff, but ‘normal’ clothes, a nice watch (but that’s because I used to sell them to rich people to get outta the f*****g ghetto) that’s why I’m hung up on watches but other than that, we are driven by experiences now. Like my car, I have a 1986 BMW and I love it!” 

What do you think is the hardest thing about being a working parent?

Lindsey – “I think the hardest thing is trying to find balance. It’s impossible, no one has cracked it, and everyone is just surviving and trying their best. I don’t give myself a hard time, I just always try and remember that I can only do my best – that’s all I can ever do. I think that it’s an amazing thing to teach your kids to go out and work and that things aren’t just given to you on a plate you have to work hard for things, especially because Russell has got a fantastic job and I run a successful business, I don’t want her to just think that she’s just gonna roll out of school and into a job, she’s going to have to prove herself and work hard, but I think the hardest thing really is about finding the balance and trying to be everything to everyone at any one time.” 

Russell – “Between 0-18 months it was absolutely fine, I’m not a very masculine-type bloke but I was quite Neanderthal at going away and coming back – I got to do the best bits initially because I had to work. Then we swapped it, Lindsey was on her second business by then. In fact I think Minna was 8 weeks old when Lindsey said “bye bye, see you in a week!” she just went and was gone. I was on my own with my mum and the baby. Then I think when she was 6 months old, I took Minna abroad on my own with my mum. So I enjoyed all that, having a baby strapped to my back, nappies and all that s**t but when it changed was when I realised the type of connection I was going to have with Minna as her personality changed, it was like a Disney love and it became really hard to leave her all of a sudden. So I think a lot of my female friends had like 3 months [with their baby], whereas I got like two years and it’s worse now because she’s 8. I know what I can bring to her life when I’m here, we’re so connected so it’s hard leaving her. I know a lot of dads are out at 7 in the morning and back at 7 in the evening so get the top and tail of their time, and I get weeks and weeks of holidays with her. But I also do what a lot of dads don’t do and just disappear for four days, back for two days then disappear again for four days… and its a long time and when you’re doing that two three times a month… [it’s hard] but we’re adults [gesturing at Lindsey,] we can FaceTime, we can make up for it, whereas Minna is a disappearing egg timer. Soon she’ll be 9, 10, 11, 12 then ‘f**k off you’re embarrassing me now’. So yeah, I do struggle with that but at the end of the day, I’ve got a job. I don’t think Lindsey does though, I think she skips out the door with her hand luggage to her business conference, he jokes.” [we all laugh]

Lindsey – “No, I do find it difficult, but I am really enjoying the process of watching her grow into her own person…”

Russell – “I know, but you don’t struggle emotionally as much or pine when you’re away at a hotel as much I do. That started at 18 months when she started speaking to me and got this personality, I was like s**t, I don’t wanna go to work – I’ve never had that before. Don’t get me wrong, I love work, and once I’m on stage it’s the best hour of my day. There’s something religious about it, being picked out, knowing there are however many billions of people on the planet and 150,000 of them are coming to see me over the next 18 months, that goes beyond belief, I’ve created something amazing – what privilege right? ….So that hour [being on stage] is fine… but I’ve got to get there. 4 hours there, 4 hours back, 8 hours sometimes sat in a room on my own whilst my child is without me, I f*****g hate that.”

What do you use as a coping mechanism to deal with that so it doesn’t affect your work?

Russell  – “I numb myself with Netflix or TV. I can’t drink or anything like that because I’m going on stage, thank god. So I live really clean, I do that and I do lots of exercise. I’ll FaceTime and phone as much as I can in between. But she’s just slightly too young where it’s like [taking off Minna] “yeah yeah, I gotta go…. I got a boogie.” It’s holding her attention. But that was the biggest surprise for me, finding it difficult being away from her. ‘Do you remember it switching?’” [Russell turns to ask Lindsey]

Lindsey – “Yes, I do.”

Russell – “I think it’s a common male thing actually, well actually, that’s not fair actually. I’ve got friends who are like, proper hard nut geezers, every single one of them when they themselves had a baby, scooped them up and sobbed on the floor, my life was permanently changed – and I just thought, that was going to be me. I just assumed I was the most emotional out of all of them. 

Don’t get me wrong I cried, but I was like, great, back to work now, I’m f*****g fine, great see ya later! I was like, ‘Oh s**t, maybe I’m some kind of serial killer’, but the truth is I got there but it was just delayed. But that happens to some women as well. We have all these stereotypes of how you should act. Lindsey was the same… [he chuckles, asking are you ok with me saying this..?]  I’ll never forget, Lindsey had a c section and the baby came out and they were like, ‘Would you like to hold your baby’ and she said ‘Nah, not really’” [we all laugh]

Lindsey – “No because, To be fair, I was that traumatised from the c-section. She didn’t turn and she was breach. So I had to have a c-section instead of a water birth and I didn’t want to hold her straight away as I was very much in a meditative state and I just wasn’t ready yet. I went very child-like, all I wanted was my mum.”

Russell – “That’s why I stepped in and did skin to skin. But I bet Lindsey isn’t the only woman to be like, “can you just give me ten f*****g minutes.’ I know on Instagram I’m supposed to sob, with amniotic fluid on my t*t and smiling to the camera whilst I take away my child’s digital consent in its first seconds of life! [We all laugh] But actually, I just need time and you see that guy over there, he’s the dad, let him do something for an hour seen as though he’s just planned his Deliveroo whilst they pulled a baby from my guts!” But to me her saying that wasn’t controversial, there’s two of you. Some people aren’t lucky enough, some people are single parents, some women die during childbirth – so sometimes there’s just one [parent] so if there are two of ya, just use all your resources and I was up for that! I was happy as a pig in s**t for an hour whilst they sorted her out. Doing the first nappy, first cuddle. I felt privileged and grateful, how many blokes get to say they held their baby first before the woman. So Lindsey felt a complete set of different emotions and I had felt a completely different set of emotions. None of the stuff we were told we would feel.”

BROOD magazine podcast

Lindsey – “I felt very isolated and I wasn’t feeling these emotions I was told I was supposed to feel. And on top of that, we had a few friends that gave birth at similar times and they too had c-sections. But they were walking two days afterwards whereas I couldn’t walk or sit up straight barely, for two weeks. It was hard as you compare yourself to others.”

Russell – “But it’s crazy to think that I struggle more now (with her as an 8 year old) more than I did when she was 2. Surely they need you more at 2 than 8 but I do? 

Who was it who said it now? [he rhetorically asks] Rob Beckett says he wishes every gig he did was at the end of his road. He opens one door and he’d be in Torquay then he’d open another and he’d be in Glasgow. Because it’s the travelling part of being a standup. See today’s a short day but I will do 8 hours travelling with an hour on stage.” 

It’s not easy particularly for women to admit they feel that way, now you come out of the other side of that Lindsey, what is your favourite thing about being a parent?

Lindsey – “I will admit I really struggled with the first few years of being a parent and that was down to me losing myself or I should say me feeling lost and not understanding where that feeling of being lost comes from and now I’ve worked through that through self-reflection and therapy work and I think my favourite thing about being a parent actually is that she has been a real teacher for me and made me realise that she is her own person, and made me realise what projection is put on us all from when we are young children. She has taught me that she is, well most kids are born with a certain level of confidence and that it’s everyone around them that projects and puts things on them that alter their confidence or impacts them later in life. So I do think that my favourite thing is that she teaches me how to be patient and she’s taught me how to listen and absorb what people are saying and to look at things from a different perspective.”  

What inspired you to start JOLT and how have you found the dynamics of being married and working together? 

Lindsey – “For me in a nutshell, when I had Minna I had this overwhelming fear of mortality. I was petrified of dying. I was very lost in my career but I didn’t understand what that feeling was and I was very unfulfilled in what I was doing. I just had a real panic about ‘Is this it?’ ‘I’m a mum now, what am I going to do now, is this it?’ When I was in my 20s, I was diagnosed with a lung disease called Bronchiectasis along with chronic sinusitis which I’d had all of my life but I’d been misdiagnosed and I’d never taken the disease as serious. Before then, I had just sort of cracked on with life and thought ‘well, other people have it worse than me’ It wasn’t until I had had my child that I thought ‘I have a lung disease and terrible lung health’ along with (at the time) covid hit so I thought its about time I ought to start looking after my health better and looking into ways I can improve my lifespan, health in general and lung health. I’d been watching Russell take care of his health and how he’d completely changed his energy, the way he looked, everything on a cellular level. I’d watched him take evidence-based supplements over the years and seen the change and so I started to take a lot of them. They really massively helped reduce inflammation, increase energy, and improve sleep. I think most people are like me and are quite lazy when it comes to supplementation. They want something that’s really convenient and they want something that’s easy to take. Russell then did the podcast diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, after that, we were both inundated with messages ‘What does Russell take?’ ‘Where does he get it from?’ ‘What dosage is it? ’ ‘Can I trust it?’ then we were met with replies of ‘Oh, it’s too much hard work.’ ‘I can’t be bothered to take everything.’ That’s when I said do you think people would buy a combined supplement? Everything in one dose? One supplement? Because most people don’t have the time or remember to open a million jars – they just want something that is cost effective, convenient and easy to take, and that’s when JOLT was born.

It feels natural working with Russell. He motivates me, challenges me and makes me look at different perspectives. I really enjoy working with him. We also have a business partner Dan who is also Russell’s best friend from when he was a child. So he’s very involved from an operational point of view and we just all really work well together as a team. We all have what each other needs and it’s amazing going on the journey together.”

Do you find it hard to switch off from your business, and Russell when you are writing new material for a new tour? 

Lindsey – “Do you know what, I’m pretty good at setting boundaries. I really prioritise self-care and family so I try to get the majority of the work done when my daughter is at school, then when she finishes school, it’s time to switch to family time, to eat dinner and to have that bit of time together. Sometimes me and Russell will have date night or when we’re indoors watching TV, we watch things together – there are no devices in sight – we put our phones, laptops, and everything away so we’re aware that whatever we’re watching or consuming we’re doing it consciously together. I think that’s really important. A lot of times as couples don’t prioritise date night, they don’t prioritise each other and I think it is really important to do. We do speak creatively about some of the ideas that we have but I do enjoy discussing creative concepts and I let Russell respond about material for his tour!”

Russell – “The first part, no, I could have done the palladium with 5 cameras, and then me and Lindsey can be sat there half an hour later sat on the sofa with a glass of wine laughing at Curb your enthusiasm. I suppose I’m very unusual as a comedian, I don’t have that come down. I come off buzzing, have a wine and then I’m done. Tired, don’t get me wrong. The next morning is when I feel it. It takes me a while to get going as you can see. 

The second part of the question, yes all of the time, because that’s part of the job. If something funny happened now, and my trousers fell down during a photo, I’d probably have to take a break to write that up as an idea. But that’s because I need that for the material. Lindsey will sometimes… [he turns to her] it’s more you than me, he points. We’ll be having some family time and she’ll be like, you need to pause and write that down, that’s really funny. So it’s more Lindsey saying it to me because I won’t realise. I just do funny s**t.”

And Lindsey with your work, you have your own goals, your own business, your own dreams too – do you have to compromise, i.e. if Minna is poorly and needs picking up from school, does your work take a back seat compared to Russell’s?

Lindsey – “Well it’s something I knew would always be the case. For me, I had an online business when I had Minna, but I wanted that online business, my own thing for me to grow and focus on. But your [she turns and gestures to Russell] my biggest cheerleader, you;ve always encouraged me and pushed me. It’s only this last year, where I’ve thought, you know what I can now actually do what I want, I’m not locked in a cage, I can be myself. Whereas before I felt I was this watered down version of myself to fit into people’s boxes or moulds. Like now, I think when Minna is a bit older I’d like to go and do a degree. I think I’d be interested in learning. Because I’ve spent the last 20 years living with PTSD from uni and being bullied at school whereas now I’m getting back into improving myself. But to answer your question, it is what it is. It’s just something that most women, traditionally women, but equally I knew what I was getting myself into before I had a child. His work is a priority at that time because he’s the main bread winner and it’s a difficult situation to get out of. Whereas me, on my laptop, and my online business at the time, I can fit in and around and be based anywhere. I had systems in place.”

You can see Russell’s standup tour throughout the Autumn of 2024 and view more about his and Lindsey’s supplement business at www.joltmyworld.com and Instagram @JOLTmyworld @Lindseykane0 @Russell_Kane

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A letter to myself: Lisa Morton, business owner and mum of 2

A letter to myself: Lisa Morton, business owner and mum of 2

When you run your own business alongside raising your brood, there can be many times where you feel guilty for ‘neglecting’ your children. We’ve all had to put another film on or give them extra time on their iPads to continue working. The anxiety and guilt from doing so can be quite overwhelming. When you’re working you feel like you should be with the kids, and when you’re with the kids, you feel like you should be working! It can be a never-ending cycle of feeling like you are failing in some way, every day. But what if your hard work and juggling everything was inspiring your children? What if instead of focusing on things we haven’t managed to do as parents, we focus on the things we have done? What if we are paving the way for showing our children that they can be or do whatever they want? That their dreams are achievable. This is exactly what happened with the entrepreneurial Mum of 2 Lisa Morton.

A letter to myself: Lisa Morton 

A retrospective letter to herself

By Lisa Morton, Business Owner & mum of 2

__________________________________

Lisa Morton

Lisa Morton  © Tom Pitfield Photography for BROOD Magazine

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You are frightened about your ability to do all of this on your own – and you are worried that you will screw the kids up, because you know that they would rather be with you than with somebody else.

You grew up believing that women could have it all. And now you don’t want it all. You don’t want to have to have all the answers and do all the things. It’s the worst deal ever.

You are also guilty ALL of the time: when you’re not with them – and when you have to duck out of something at work, because being a mum comes first. And people give you “that” look.

But it’s going to be fine. They will be fine. You will be fine. It’s going to be great. I promise. You do know this in your heart.

 Nina will not hold it against you forever that it wasn’t you, but your mum, who took her for her six-week check. She will know that it wasn’t your fault that your most senior team member resigned whilst you were on the delivery table – and tried to tank your business the same day. And that you had to go back to work after five days. She also knows there’s a special place somewhere for a woman who would do that.

She will also come to terms with the fact that she was pushed to the clinic for her check-up that day in her pram, with a makeshift plastic sheeting cover with holes punched in it that the lads at Jack’s DIY sorted out, because it started throwing it down and mum had forgotten the pram hood.

Lisa Morton and her daughter Nina Morton

Lisa Morton  © Tom Pitfield Photography for BROOD Magazine

Lisa Morton

Alex will not be neglected as the first born being still under two, when his baby sister arrived. I know he was absolutely fuming, and you were terrified that he would hate you, bewildered about how huge he suddenly looked – and so sad and guilty that he was no longer your baby.

 He wasn’t the sacrificial lamb, he will stop looking at you like dirt, and you will have a wonderful relationship. He’s going to make you laugh your head off and grow up to be a loving, clever, kind, young man.

However, he will NOT ever forgive you for not allowing him to have a toy from FAO Schwartz in New York because he kicked his sister in the face the night before. EVER. You will never forgive yourself either.

You will look back and laugh (rather than want to hide in shame) when one of Nina’s first fully formed sentences – delivered to a group of full-time mums – is a loud “Where’s my bloody mobile?”

However, you will discover that as an amazing, beautiful, kind and ferociously loyal young woman, she’s still partial to a well-placed expletive. You say she gets that off her dad. He says it’s definitely off you.

You will look eventually look back and have compassionate self-talk – because you did everything you could to make those kids loved, secure, good human beings, whilst working to provide opportunities that having a business could bring. You also needed to work for you, because you have loved it. Most of the time.

And when you see their desire for personal success, their creativity, their work ethic, their continual search for new business ideas and opportunities – and that they are also both helping you in your businesses in different ways – you will feel a deep sense of pride, gratitude and love.  

You will have no doubt then, that you haven’t in fact, screwed up the kids’ lives because you had virtually no maternity leave, and have been a business owner as well as their mum.

You managed reading at school every Friday afternoon, you went to every nativity and musical, every football match (although Alex still says you don’t watch football – you look at it) and you did manage to make it as a proper school mum on a few school outings, even though you lost six fully costumed eight-year-old Centurions on a day trip to Chester.

 It was all fine. They are fine. You are fine. Everyone is absolutely great. You really knew this in your heart all along.

Dean Holden and Danielle Nicholls
jmw

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Dadpreneur paving the way for good employment

Dadpreneur paving the way for good employment

Mr Investa our dadpreneur columnist with his company based in Media City, Salford has achieved Membership status of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter a status only achieved by very few businesses.

Advancing from Supporter to Member status requires employers to undergo a comprehensive assessment and a technical panel review to ensure alignment with the Charter’s seven characteristics of Good Employment.

Since launching 2020, Salford based Prop-Tech company Mr Investa has sold more than £15 million of tenanted property nationwide, allowing tenants to stay in their rented accommodation by selling the landlords property to another landlord using the latest technology in the property market and their extensive database of UK and overseas investors.

Commenting on the company’s new status, Founder Ryan Hughes says, “We are delighted to achieve membership status and can not thank Andy and the team enough for their time, support and feedback. The GMGE Charter has been pivotal for helping shape and mold the business into the biggest, fastest growing e-commerce buy-to-let marketplace in the UK, creating a clear road map of characteristics of what a good employer should offer.

In return making Mr Investa a very attractive place to work for current and potential employees. Our clients have increased due to our transparency and work ethics in how we operate and treat our staff.”

The Charter’s objective is to elevate employment standards across Greater Manchester and contribute to the prosperity of the region’s economy. The commitment of these GMGE Members impacts more than 9,000 employees, who now enjoy the benefits of good employment, including fair and secure work, and fair pay.

Hughes concludes: “Mr Investa is committed to making a difference in the property sector from staff, clients and tenants.

Our employees are the core of the business and it is vital they are happy and feel supported at all times.

Our mission is to ensure we keep as many tenants in their home as possible whilst assisting our clients exit and enter their investments.

I would highly recommend any business owner to look at the charter and make sure they are ticking the boxes or working towards implementing them”

Mr Investa

5 ways to create a healthy workplace culture

5 ways to create a healthy workplace culture

Imagine a work culture in which team members can connect, regardless of where, when and how they work. The traditional workspace is rapidly changing, and today’s businesses need to modernise and evolve if they want to attract — and keep — the most talented among today’s workers.

As leading organisations evolve to meet the new cultural requirements of today’s workforce, what exactly are business leaders to do?

Connect Your Team Members

While some companies are resisting these trends, many realise that more flexible work styles will be the new norm. From Covid-19 businesses needed to adapt and we seen companies enable eligible team members to work remotely, at variable hours or in other flexible capacities, which has now continued and fulfils both their job and lifestyle needs. Team members have overwhelmingly said that the flexibility in their work style helps them be successful.

Simply, this is not an HR policy — this is a business imperative. Here’s why:

Healthy workplace culture<br />
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  1.  Happier and more productive team members: Providing flexible work style options will lead to more satisfied and engaged team members. According to our research with three companies, flexibility is one of the top three culture attributes team members value the most, following ethics and inclusion. We’ve also seen that giving our team members the independence to work remotely can lead to productivity gains — 86% of remote work program participants believe they are as or even more productive working remotely compared to those who are in the office full-time. And 93% of team members feel remote work makes them a better team member and our company a better employer.
  2. Family Friendly: Providing flexible working arrangements has been a success when it comes down to raising children to support in sickness days, school holidays and even dropping off and collecting from school.
  3. Reduce the barriers to attracting top talent: Work-life balance ranks as the number one career goal for all three major generations — baby boomers, Generation X and millennials. Offering flexible work arrangements can help remove geographical barriers, ensuring that you can hire and retain the best candidates, regardless of location or other barriers. 
  4. Benefit the planet: Flexible work practices also help businesses to conserve natural resources and energy. With fewer people in the office and on the road, you’re helping reduce transportation-related pollution and can maximise office space usage.Responding To The Changing Workplace
  5. Leaders who are supportive of flexible work styles: It’s important that your leadership is committed to flexible work models. This includes giving managers the ability to discuss and establish flexible work plans that will work best for their teams and business needs. It’s important to remember that the definition of flexible work can vary — you’ll need to find the balance that keeps team members engaged and productive, the business thriving and growing and, most importantly, the customers satisfied and happy

Flexible work is the new norm in the workplace, and it’s not going away anytime soon. By providing your teams with flexible work options that encourage collaboration, optimize productivity and allow them to follow their preferred work style, your organisation will boost its competitive edge and position itself to become an employer-of-choice for the world’s best talent.

 

Laura McNally, Vibe HR

Laura McNally, Founder of VIBE HR Grace aged 7, she is my WHY to what it is I am doing today! 

VIBE offers people-first approach to HR with a modern twist! Navigating the complexities of HR in today’s fast-paced world can be challenging, but our skilled team is equipped to provide solutions tailored to your business.

“From a young age I have always known I wanted my own my own business but wasn’t sure on the direction I wanted to go in. This year in March I took myself off to Thailand for a few weeks to take some time out of the chaotic busy life. At this point I was working for an independent operative as People and Operations Director, I had worked my way up with this company for 4 years and loved what we had achieved from a People and Culture aspect of the business. I decided to take a few weeks off and travel to Thailand, this has always been on my list of places to travel to, so the time was perfect. During my visit (in the ocean on a paddle board) I started to ask myself what my passions in life are and where would I like to be in the next 5 years personally and work related, what do I love and what would I enjoy… putting my passion in to a business is how Vibe was born.As you know owning your own business has many benefits but there are also the down days, the long hours etc. I am so privileged to have amazing friends and network around me, helping me to grow and reach my goals, this works both ways.”

Laura x 

 

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WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO INVEST IN PROPERTY

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO INVEST IN PROPERTY

 

The decision to invest in the buy-to-let property market is not one to be taken lightly. It’s a significant financial commitment that requires careful consideration, and there is often debate about whether current market conditions should dictate this choice. However, it’s crucial to understand that, ultimately, your individual situation should play a more substantial role in guiding your buy-to-let investment decisions than the current economic climate. Here’s why.

 

1. Diverse Market Conditions:

The property market is diverse, with varying conditions in different regions and cities. While national trends may suggest a particular state of the market, local conditions can be quite different. What might be a challenging market in one area could present excellent opportunities in another. Your specific location and property choice can have a more significant impact on your investment success than the general state of the market.

 

2. Long-Term Perspective:

Buy-to-let investments are typically long-term endeavors. Property values tend to appreciate over time, but this doesn’t happen overnight. Your investment horizon should extend beyond current market fluctuations. What’s most important is your ability to hold and manage the property over several years. If your personal financial situation allows for a long-term commitment, then the current market climate becomes less of a deciding factor.

 

3. Financial Preparedness:

Your financial situation is a critical consideration when entering the buy-to-let market. Evaluate your financial stability, including your savings, creditworthiness, and the ability to secure a mortgage. Focus on your personal financial goals and assess whether buy-to-let investments align with them. A useful tool to consider is a re-mortgage calculator, which can help you understand how refinancing your property may impact your finances. Your financial preparedness and goals should be the driving forces behind your decision.

 

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4. Risk Tolerance:

Investment always carries some level of risk. Your tolerance for risk should factor into your decision-making process. While market conditions may influence risk to some extent, your own comfort level with managing potential challenges, such as vacancies or property maintenance, matters more. Assess how comfortable you are with the potential ups and downs of property ownership.

 

5. Investment Strategy:

Consider your overall investment strategy and how buy-to-let properties fit into it. Do you see real estate as a way to diversify your portfolio, generate rental income, or achieve specific financial goals? Your investment strategy should be the guiding light, ensuring that buy-to-let aligns with your overall plan.

 

6. Local Knowledge:

If you have local knowledge or experience in a particular area, it can give you a significant advantage as an investor. You may have insights into neighbourhoods, tenant demographics, and rental demand that others lack. Your personal expertise can outweigh general market trends.

In conclusion, while the current economic climate can provide valuable context, it’s your individual situation that should be the primary driver of your decision to invest in the buy-to-let property market. Tailor your choices to your unique financial preparedness, risk tolerance, and long-term goals. By doing so, you’ll make a decision that aligns with your personal circumstances and sets you on the path to successful property investment, regardless of the ever-changing market conditions.

 

 

Contact Mr Investa today for a FREE 1-1 property consultation on +44 (0) 161-713-3693 alternatively email: info@mrinvesta.com

 

Ryan Hughes

Founder of Mr Investa

Sky TV Property Pundit, As seen on Sky TV, BBC, M.E.N and Liverpool Echo.

Mr Investa

SALLY LINDSAY: CHILDCARE CAN BE SEEN AS A ‘DIRTY WORD’, BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT

SALLY LINDSAY: CHILDCARE CAN BE SEEN AS A ‘DIRTY WORD’, BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT

Interview With Sally Lindsay

by Tom Pitfield & Lolo Stubbs

Sally Lindsay is one of Britain’s best loved actors and presenters, best known for her roles as Shelley Unwin in ITV’S Coronation Street, Lisa Johnson in Sky One’s comedy series Mount Pleasant, and as Kath Agnew in the BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours. As well as Sally’s impressive on screen career, she is also co-founder of the award winning production company – Saffron Cherry – and is responsible for creating and writing a number of hit shows such as Scott and Bailey and Madame Blanc Mysteries. Alongside her accomplished career, Sally is also a loving and dedicated mum of 4; Step Mum to her two step children – Kristabel and Curtis, and Mum to her twin boys – Victor and Louie, aged 12. We were lucky enough to chat to Sally, and we couldn’t wait to find out all about her journey, how she managed to juggle family life alongside such a successful career and what she has learnt along the way!  

Sally Lindsay front cover of Brood Magazine

You’ve had and still have such a successful career, how have you managed to juggle that alongside being a mum?

“Well, I’ve never not had kids really, ever since meeting my partner, Steve; he already had two children when we got together – my step children Kristabel and Curtis – they were 7 and 9 when I first met them, they are now 30 and 29 – which is crazy! And our boys, the twins, Victor and Louie, are 12 years old. 

When I physically had my babies, I couldn’t really work whilst I was pregnant – as no-one really wants to cast pregnant people! So, I didn’t really work for a while, but I did sign for Mount Pleasant when I was pregnant though. They were really good, and waited for me throughout my pregnancy, before they started filming, but then they couldn’t wait any longer, so I physically went back to work when the boys were just four and a half months old. It was very, very hard filming again after having the boys, because I was just exhausted! I didn’t have a night nanny or anything, so it was really tough – in fact the first two years were really tough. I did other things as well as Mount Pleasant, but that was my main job. Although it was hard, it was a very supportive environment and I was allowed to have the twins on set if I wanted to, although that didn’t really work for me. I tried it for the first couple of days and the nanny came along too, but it just devastated me. I just couldn’t focus on my work. I already felt like I had brain fog, because I was so tired, but having them there made it so much harder for me to concentrate, and I had a lead role, so it just didn’t work. I think people have to find their own path and their own way of doing things and for me I have to separate work and kids. I know other actors that can have their children on set and that works for them, but the best piece of advice I would give anyone is that if it doesn’t work for you it’s fine. You have to find what works for you.

Having said that, I’ve just been over to Malta to film Madame Blanc, and the kids came out whilst I was over there. It was lovely, but it was still hard, as even though they’re older, when they arrived it overlapped for four days of my filming, so there were a few days where they were hanging around waiting for me to finish work, and I was very aware of that.” 

What did you find was the best way to help you separate work and the kids?

“Childcare is obviously a massive aid to help you to separate the two, and I think sometimes childcare can be seen as a ‘dirty word’, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with it! We have Lisa; who has been with me since the boys were 9 days old. I was down in London on my own after the boys were born and I needed help, that was when I was introduced to the concept of a doula and they are known as ‘Mother’s Helpers’. At the time I didn’t want someone to look after the children. I wanted someone to help me –  you know around the house etc, and that’s what Lisa did and she is still with me to this day. So, Lisa is like a second mum to the kids, so I can relax knowing they are with someone both they and I are comfortable with. For example last week I had a huge event in town, and then a photoshoot early the next day, and Steve had a recording, so she stayed overnight with the boys, and although it’s very unusual that will happen, (as we normally time everything so that at least one of us is there), it’s very reassuring to have that person that can just take over when things like that do happen. When we’re up in Manchester, it’s my mum that steps in, but when we’re in London it’s Lisa. I think it’s trying to get over the fact that having help with childcare is perfectly ok, or that you’re not a great parent if you hire a nanny. It’s just b*ll*cks, because you need that support!  I’ve got mates with different jobs, who only get to see their kids on Saturday and Sunday morning and that’s it, whereas I don’t have that. I have periods of intense filming, where I’m away and I might only get a chance to fly back for the odd weekend, but then when filming is done, I have lots of time at home with the boys and I can be very present. Then, whilst the boys are at school, I will go into my office and write, and run our production company, but as soon as they are home from school, I’m there for them – although when they get to 12, they start ignoring you anyway, [she laughs] but if they want me I’m there. And that’s how I juggle it.” 

Looking back, has there been a time you have missed out on something career wise because you were a parent?

“Well, I created Scott and Bailey, and it got commissioned the same week that Mount Pleasant got commissioned, which was also the same week that I found out I was pregnant! But because they could wait to start filming for Scott and Bailey, it had to go ahead and so I was taken off the job. Whereas with Mount Pleasant they waited to start filming and they were adamant they wanted me as their lead.  

We’ve also a got a new drama coming up with our production company, and that’s really exciting, but because I already film 10 weeks of the year in Malta for Madame Blanc, I cannot commit to this new job, because it would just mean that I would be away to much – and that is definitely that makes a difference in your career when you become a parent, because I simply cannot be away for that long. So whenever any jobs come in I have to find out where it’s going to be filmed, and for how long, before I can consider it.

But a job came in this last week that meant I would be away for November for 5 weeks, but I could manage that, but I do have to really question how long I’m going to be away each time a job comes up. Steve is extremely supportive of my career, in fact he does all the music on our productions, so it’s in his interest to develop the company too. But we’re at the start of a lot of growth with the production company and I’ve got to start making some decisions and deciding which of the shows I’m going to be in. That is purely down to me being a mum – both from a childcare point of view, and of course, me just not wanting be away that long from my boys. I don’t want to miss out on them growing up, I mean they’ll be adults before I know it!”

A lot of people talk about feeling guilty as a working parent; is that something you have dealt with and if so how have you learned to deal with that?

“When I look back, yes I have worked a lot, but most of the time I think we have gotten the balance right, because on the whole it’s myself and Steve that have brought our children up and I remember everything. We have had so many wonderful times together as a family. I think that’s the thing especially in our types of careers, yes, you do work a lot at times, but you also get chunks of time off. I found that the key really is to use those times wisely, so in a way it’s quality, not so much about quantity. I know everything about my children and I feel very close to them – even now as they approach the teenage years, and yes, of course they missed me whilst I was away, but they are very independent because of it as well and I think that’s a good thing. 

I think when they were babies it was a bit easier for them when I was filming, because they weren’t aware of where I was going or what it meant. The second year I did Mount Pleasant was really hard though, because they were 18 months old, and every time I left for work they would cry and scream for me at the window, and I used to cry all the way to work. I found it really difficult, then in the end Steve videoed them for me, to show me what they were like a minute I had left, and they were just crawling around playing with their toys or having their milk and they were absolutely fine. I remember thinking that’s just survival instincts from a child. They are programmed to cry if they see their Mum, or their caregiver leave. People used to say, ‘Oh, you must feel so guilty!’ and I’d say

Guilty for what? Providing my family with a future? Of course I miss them and that’s hard, but no I don’t feel guilty because I’ve got nothing to feel guilty for!’

Sally Lindsay and her family

Sally Lindsay and her family, for BROOD Magazine ©

Brood Live

Do you have any routines or staples that you do as a family to help to make sure you have that quality family time together?

“We’re really quite conscious when I’m at home about eating together, we always sit down and eat together every single night. If we’re at home, we make sure we all sit round that table! We might only have 20 minutes while they’re eating, but we get to talk to them about their day etc. And we also make sure we go out to eat somewhere every week, as that means we’ve got their attention for at least an hour and a half, and we can properly chat. We also make a big deal of Sundays – I’ll cook and their dad will take them to football in the morning with their Grandad, and then they come back and then we all eat together, so Sunday’s are really important for us. That’s something we’ve always done from day one and I find that really important, and even when I’m away the three of them will eat together and send me pictures. We also like to pick a box set series to watch together. And another thing we do like to do is walk the dog together at weekends, because myself or Steve will just do it during the week, but we all go together at weekends and it’s during that walking time that they ask the most random questions, and there are no phones to distract them, or us so that’s always nice. I always want my boys to be able to talk to us, no matter what they’ve done, or how bad it is, we always want them to know that they can tell us. It’s a funny period as a parent at the minute, as they are growing up there are new things every week that I have to learn to let go of, and as much as they are learning to manage things for themselves, it’s important for them to know that we’re still there whenever they need us.” 

What benefits do you think your children have gained from watching their parents have such successful careers?

“I think that because of our busy lives and the fact they have always been around that, and seen us working, it has given them a level-headedness and independence that I don’t think they would have had if we’d have always been around – hovering over them. I can see that more and more as they are getting older. Don’t get me wrong we’ve done plenty of taxiing for them and taking them to various after school clubs etc, [she laughs] but essentially the boys had to fit into our lives when they came along.”  

What is the one major tip that you would give any other parents who are juggling a career and bringing up their brood?

“Diary syncing is so important if you’re both busy parents. That’s what we do. We have a Friday diary check, where we sit down and forensically go through our diaries for the next week. And it’s surprising because even though we’ve been through it a million times, there is always something that we’ve forgotten. I think if we didn’t do that every week our entire lives would fall apart! [She laughs]”

Brood Magazine
Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

MUM-OF-TWO, RESHMIN CHOWDHURY IS A BRITISH SPORTS JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER KNOWN FOR HER WORK WITH TNT SPORTS AND talkSPORT, AND MAJOR GLOBAL EVENTS LIKE THE FIFA WORLD CUP, THE OLYMPICS AND THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. RESHMIN HAS A BACKGROUND IN POLITICS AND JOURNALISM, AND BEGAN HER CAREER IN NEWS BEFORE MOVING INTO SPORTS BROADCASTING. SHE’S MULTILINGUAL, HAS WORKED WITH TOP ATHLETES, AND IS ALSO A CLASSICALLY TRAINED SINGER. AS A SINGLE MOTHER, SHE ALSO ADVOCATES FOR DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA.

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

From the moment we stepped into Blacklock Manchester, it was clear this wasn’t your average Sunday lunch. With perfectly roasted meats, generous portions, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Blacklock delivered a family dining experience that ticked every box for our bustling brood. Exceptional service, unforgettable flavours, and a setting steeped in local history made this a feast we’ll be talking about for a long time. If you’re searching for the ultimate family roast in Manchester, Blacklock is a must-visit.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

The great thing about brain training is that it doesn’t require anything fancy, it’s more about building small habits that challenge your mind in different ways. Reading a book, even for just a few minutes a day, helps your brain stay engaged. Solving puzzles, like crosswords or Sudoku, also gives your brain a workout, pushing it to think critically and solve problems. It’s not about doing these things perfectly. It’s about keeping the brain active and flexible, like any other muscle.

BROOD LIVE Q & A AND TRYING NOT TO LAUGH AT WORK

BROOD LIVE Q & A AND TRYING NOT TO LAUGH AT WORK

Our co-founders Lolo Stubbs Author & Tom Pitfield Photography try to explain when the Early Bird finishes. Filmed by Rob Stubbs. They managed to hold it together for the final version, see below…

Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

Interview with Reshmin Chowdhury

MUM-OF-TWO, RESHMIN CHOWDHURY IS A BRITISH SPORTS JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER KNOWN FOR HER WORK WITH TNT SPORTS AND talkSPORT, AND MAJOR GLOBAL EVENTS LIKE THE FIFA WORLD CUP, THE OLYMPICS AND THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. RESHMIN HAS A BACKGROUND IN POLITICS AND JOURNALISM, AND BEGAN HER CAREER IN NEWS BEFORE MOVING INTO SPORTS BROADCASTING. SHE’S MULTILINGUAL, HAS WORKED WITH TOP ATHLETES, AND IS ALSO A CLASSICALLY TRAINED SINGER. AS A SINGLE MOTHER, SHE ALSO ADVOCATES FOR DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA.

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

A Family Feast to Remember: The Roast Dinner at Manchester’s Blacklock

From the moment we stepped into Blacklock Manchester, it was clear this wasn’t your average Sunday lunch. With perfectly roasted meats, generous portions, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Blacklock delivered a family dining experience that ticked every box for our bustling brood. Exceptional service, unforgettable flavours, and a setting steeped in local history made this a feast we’ll be talking about for a long time. If you’re searching for the ultimate family roast in Manchester, Blacklock is a must-visit.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp Every Day

The great thing about brain training is that it doesn’t require anything fancy, it’s more about building small habits that challenge your mind in different ways. Reading a book, even for just a few minutes a day, helps your brain stay engaged. Solving puzzles, like crosswords or Sudoku, also gives your brain a workout, pushing it to think critically and solve problems. It’s not about doing these things perfectly. It’s about keeping the brain active and flexible, like any other muscle.

INSPIRATIONAL MUM OF TWO, WORLD RENOWNED BECKY ADLINGTON, ON LIFE BUILDING HER BUSINESSES, WHILST JUGGLING HER BROOD!

INSPIRATIONAL MUM OF TWO, WORLD RENOWNED BECKY ADLINGTON, ON LIFE BUILDING HER BUSINESSES, WHILST JUGGLING HER BROOD!

REBECCA ADLINGTON OBE | IMAGES BY TOM PITFIELD | INTERVIEW BY LOLO STUBBS | BROOD MAGAZINE ©

“WHY SHOULDN’T I WORK FULL TIME, WHEN I LOVE MY JOB?

Rebecca Adlington OBE is undoubtedly the greatest female swimmer that Great Britain has ever produced, and one of the greatest GB swimmers of all time, not only because she is a multiple Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European medallist but she also broke the World Record in the 800m freestyle in 2008 at the Olympic Games in Beijing ; a record that was 19 years old, the same age Rebecca was in Beijing. 

Becky’s drive and thirst for success did not diminish when she retired from Swimming, and she is still the same overachiever that she was in the water, having juggled a number of amazing career accolades for a number of years, such as her role as a pundit for BBC Sport, running multi businesses, creating swimwear ranges with Slazenger and work in her role as an ambassador for the Encephalitis Society and as a Patron of Women in Sport charities too; all alongside her biggest and favourite ‘job’ as a mum of two to the adorable 7-year-old Summer and 21 month old Albie. 

Rebecca was recognised for her incredible achievements by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth II when she was awarded an OBE in 2009 and the British public have had ample opportunity to get to know Becky as person rather than ‘just’ as a swimmer, after she has taken part in a variety of well loved prime time TV shows such as I’m a Celebrity, The Jump and Celebrity Masterchef!

We had the pleasure of sitting down with this inspirational mama at one of her thriving swim centres, and we chatted about all things career and kids and found out how Becky manages to make it all work for her and her family! 

Rebecca Adlington on business and babies
© BROOD MAGAZINE. REBECCA ADLINGTON OBE
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INTERVIEW WITH REBECCA ADLINGTON OBE

You have used your unbelievable successes as a professional swimmer to build three incredible businesses that are helping thousands of children throughout the UK learn to swim. Tell us a bit more about those businesses and at what point in those businesses did you become a mum? 

“We have three learn to swim businesses under one umbrella; we have swim!, Becky Adlington’s SwimStars, and we also have Total Swimming Academy’s. Swim! is the business that is growing the most. Swim! is our own building, where we control that customer journey and we can make sure that they have a purpose built venue that is just for kids. Swimstars are set within gyms, so we are effectively in somebody else’s house, we have to be respectful to its other members, and total swimming is in schools, so we use school pools, so that’s the difference between all three. And they are all at different stages, total swimming is the oldest that’s 12 years old, Becky Adlington swim stars is 10 years old and swim! is 5. 

My daughter Summer is 7, and my youngest is only one. He was a complete surprise, myself and my partner weren’t married at the time, we hadn’t even really planned on having children, so it was a bit of a shock but a beautiful one. Albie was a lockdown baby as well, I think most people said you either got divorced or pregnant in lockdown – and we got pregnant!” [She laughs] “Summer was still off school, and I was really freaking out about whether or not Andy would be able to come in with me because of all the restrictions at the time. I had heard so many stories about people having to give birth on their own and I just couldn’t even imagine how that would feel and so I didn’t end up going to the hospital until I was 8cm because I was so paranoid about it. I was like, ‘I’m not going to the hospital yet, because I don’t want to be by myself’. When we got there, they asked Andy to wait outside, but it was for only like 5 minutes because the head was coming out and so then they got Andy straight back in. I was so relieved because I can’t imagine going through labour without that support!” 

Because of the industry of your business, the whole Covid period must have been incredibly difficult and full of challenges that no one could foresee, how did you cope with that alongside having a new baby? 

“It was so horrible, we had shut every area of our business down because obviously pools weren’t allowed to be open. When I look back to the first lockdown we had all taken bets as to how long it would last and nobody said anything past 8 weeks, and then it was like 6 months later and we were still in lockdown. So it was really, really difficult for us, we nearly lost the business, because swimming pools were one of the last things that were opened up. I remember when they opened up pubs but still wouldn’t open pools and I couldn’t believe that the government wasn’t seeing that choosing people’s mental and physical health and learning a life skill such as swimming as more important than some other things. I understand of course that the hospitality industry was important too, I just couldn’t understand why they didn’t open swimming pools when it was scientifically proven that chlorine killed covid within 30 seconds, so if you had it or even if it was on your skin as soon as you were in the water, within 30 seconds any of those germs would have been killed? When they came out I think they should have made more noise about that as it’s so important for people to understand that and understand that was actually one of the safest sports to do during covid. Physiologically, it was really hard as you were open, then closed, then open, then closed again. It was just horrible and it felt like an absolute mindfield for us and all of the team who work with us (and for our customers!) One minute their children could come back to swimming then they had to stop them again, it was so stop and start for the kids and a lot of people lost interest or developed fears. We nearly didn’t survive that.” 

Amongst the struggles that your business was going through and preparing for a new baby, you also had Summer at home, how did you deal with the demands of that and homeschooling?  

“I didn’t really homeschool, I’m not going to lie. Summer was only in year one at the time, so we did things that she wouldn’t normally get to do with me instead, like exercising, for example as normally I would go to the gym and do that whilst she’s at school, so it was the first time she had really seen what exercise was. She learnt what a press up was and what a squat was etc not that she was doing them! She also helped me with washing and household chores and things that are actually fundamental to getting through life. Now I can say Summer, ‘can you turn the oven on to 200 degrees’ and she now knows what that means, and she can chop veg like a master!” [We all laugh] “So there are good things like that that came out of it as I didn’t know that at her age. So I was very relaxed about that in lockdown, my main challenge in the first lockdown was to teach her how to ride a bike – that was the main goal for me and she did it! So I was more than happy with that! I think everyone was under enough pressure without worrying about homeschooling as well.” 

How did you manage to bounce back from the brink of losing your business to now seeing such incredible growth?   

“I think one of the main factors was that parents were desperate to get their children to swimming lessons and back in the pool – so we were really lucky that the demand for our service was there. Also in terms of our swim! centres, so many other pools never reopened as they didn’t survive covid and a lot of councils had shut down their pools, I think it’s something like 160 swimming pools shut down in the UK following all the lockdowns so that’s a huge amount of pools up and down the country that people can no longer go to, so for us to be able to open up new pools in areas where there aren’t any, people are keen to come in and use them because parents just want their children to learn to swim, and it’s been a real pleasure to be able to provide these facilities where communities had lost out on access to pools for their children all together. It’s been a huge relief and a really nice feeling to get back to business properly again. It was a huge challenge to get the funding together after going through such a difficult couple of years, and finding the buildings isn’t easy and going through all of the logistics of setting up a swimming pool isn’t an easy process. But they’re not 25m swimming pools, they are teaching tanks for children so it’s easier than if we were building full leisure centres. We’ve also recently partnered with JD Gyms so to have them as our funding partner and such an established and well respected brand like JD involved, has been an absolute pleasure for us as a business to have that support. When we think that we started out as a little learn to swim programme started by three olympians (Becky’s business partners Adrian Turner and Steve Parry) who love the sport and now we are working with such an industry leader such as JD it’s amazing to think how far we have come!”

Becky Adlington OBE

What do you think is harder – being a parent or running a business?

“I think both definitely come with different challenges! For us as well because we have quite a big age gap between the kids, as there are six years between Summer and Albie, so it was kind of like starting again. When I arrived I realised that I had totally forgotten the newborn stage! Which is mad, but I think your brain does something to remove it otherwise you would never do it again!” [We all laugh!] “I had six months maternity with Albie, which felt quite short really for me and it was hard going back to work, and it was really difficult because when I had Summer I had a lot more time with her and when I did go back to work I only went back part time. So it was hard returning to work after I had Albie and working full time, I suppose I felt guilty because of how I did it with Summer first time around. But then I thought to myself that I think most people do things differently second time around anyway and circumstances change and you have to do what is right for you at that time. I obviously co-parent Summer with her Dad and so we had to find a way to co-parent that suits us all. Whereas now with Albie I’m married and we all live in the same house together so it’s different this time around, as the first time I had a baby it was mainly just me and Summer. But now it’s a totally different dynamic anyway. For instance, when it was just myself and Summer I would put her to bed and then I would just be sat on my own, whereas now when the kids are in bed me and my husband can have that time to have an adult conversation and watch some adult television – I don’t mean it like that! [We all erupt into laughter!] I mean something like Game of Thrones! [We continue laughing] “In all seriousness though, having that adult time is so valuable.”

What do you think you have learnt most from becoming a mother a second time around? 

“I think because I’ve had my second child but also I think because I’m older now I realise that yes, I’m a mother and obviously that’s really important to me but I’m also a wife and I’m also Becky! I have realised that I also have to go with what ‘Becky’ wants to do at times too, because you do have to put yourself first at times as well as your children, your husband, your sisters, your parents and your business partners. I think when you are juggling so many different roles when you are a parent, especially a parent who is working or running a business, that is the hardest thing to manage, all those different aspects and pleasing everyone else but also learning to please yourself too.” 

A lot of working mums suffer from the dreaded ‘Mum Guilt’ and sometimes judgement from others, what has been your experience of this?

 

“Mum guilt is the worst! I always have Mum guilt! It’s weird because my husband doesn’t get it, he’s always saying ‘what are you talking about? You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about!’ Because his point of view he’s with the kids – as my husband doesn’t work he looks after the kids, which has been a hard dynamic anyway as most of the time other men will say to him ‘Oh, you don’t work? You look after the kids?’ I can’t understand why there are still so many men who don’t understand why other dads want to stay at home and lead with the childcare. Like why? It’s like when people say to me, ‘Oh is your husband at home, is he babysitting the children then?’ and it baffles me because I think ‘no, he’s not babysitting them, he’s their Dad!’ They are his children as well? It’s so weird that people still think that way, because why shouldn’t I work full time when I LOVE my job, and when we had Albie and we looked at all the factors for both me and Andy in terms of salary, job satisfaction, happiness etc, Andy said I really want to be at home with the kids, so if my husband is telling me that and I love my job why would we not make that decision? And it works really well for us, and then at weekends Andy takes the time to do his own thing like play football etc and I’ll be with the kids most of the time, and during the week when I come home I cook the tea and sort the kids out. I still organise everything for our family, and every Sunday night I create a planner for our family so we all know what we are doing and I can go to work knowing everything is under control!” [She laughs] “So it’s 100% a team effort! The thing I refuse to negotiate on, the thing that helps me keep that balance of work and parenting, is to make sure I’m always there for bedtime. I want see my kids every day and obviously there are those odd occasions where I’m not if I’m in London or something, but I always make sure I can spend time with them before they go to bed.”

What tips would you give other working parents who are juggling work and bringing up children?

“I think being organised is definitely something that I need to be in order to stay sane – I’m a bit like Monica in friends!” [We laugh] “For instance with the planner that I do on a Sunday, I use different coloured pens, and we stick that on the fridge! We have an online diary too and that is also colour coordinated, and I make sure everything goes in that diary. So I am very organised. I think there is so much going on each week that it’s one of those things that really helps us and the kids to have that reference. I think that really helped me with that transition of being back at work, so it eases my anxiety too and gives me that peace of mind that the kids aren’t going to miss anything. It also saves me time as I’m not checking in with Andy every two minutes like I was when I first came back to work! Which obviously caused a bit of friction too with Andy, because I wasn’t used to letting go so I think having that system in place has worked really well for us.” 

You can learn more about Rebecca and her swim! business visit: https://www.swim.co.uk

Rebecca Adlington SWIM!
REBECCA ADLINGTON OBE
© BROOD MAGAZINE
Simon Wood
Written by
Tom Pitfield and his daughter Iris

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM PITFIELD

Rob Stubbs

WEBSITE & DESIGN BY ROB STUBBS

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