Parents in Business Magazine

ISSUE 3 • APRIL 2019

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Sam Farmer

FOUNDER OF SAMFARMER

Parents share their money tips

How do money blocks impact your business 1

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Contact us info@parentsinbiz.co.uk 2

CONTENTS ISSUE 3

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www.parentsinbiz.co.uk

APRIL 2019

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MONEY BLOCKS How do they impact your business?

RECIPE

8 IN CONVERSATION Sam Farmer founder of SamFarmer.

12 SOCIAL MEDIA 10 Tips for beginners on using Pinterest.

14 SPECIAL FEATURE 7 Parents share their money tips.

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DIGITAL TAX

IN CONVERSATION Hetty Rackham freelance marketing consultant.

Get your business ready for making tax digital.

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IN CONVERSATION Emete Friddle owner of Friddle’s Cakes.

FINANCE

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BUSINESS BANKING A brief look at challenger banks.

NUTRITION Tips to boss your fitness and nutrition.

Date and lentil meatball recipe.

FREE

Parents in Business magazine is available in digital and print.

Managing your small business finance.

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INSURANCE The importance of insurance in business.

CELEBRATION Celebrating Father's day.

Don’t forget to follow us on social media, we love getting to know you!

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CONTRIBUTORS ANTHONY WALCOTT, ACCOUNTANT Anthony is an experienced accountant with over 15 years track record working in various business sectors, where he gained the knowledge and experience required to delivered exceptional service through dedication and hard work. Being passionate about entrepreneurship led to the creation of Brawta accounting with the view to follow his destiny and create a legacy. www.brawta-accounting.co.uk

RENNIQUE NELSON, NUTRITIONIST AND PERSONAL TRAINER Rennique Nelson is a Nutritionist and Personal Trainer she is currently studying towards my MSc in Sport and Exercise nutrition.

She helps mums make healthy lifestyle changes rather than dieting to be true yummy mummies. www.nutrifitchick.com

SARA BUSSANDRI , WRITER, AUTHOR & MENTOR Sara Bussandri is a Content Writer and an Author. She helps personal brand entrepreneurs and podcasters with writing or re-purposing blog content. www.sarabussandri.com

SHONA CHAMBERS, MARKETING CONSULTANT Shona Chambers is a Marketing Consultant based in SE London. Having worked in various Media and Financial companies from 2001 to 2011 within a Marketing function starting with brand then moving to customer insight, Shona now works with small business owners wanting to use marketing to improve their impact. She also owns Space at 61 a venue for hire in Peckham, which is a base for local freelancers and small business owners. Mum of two, Shona has lived in London since 1999 & can’t see herself ever leaving. www.spaceat61.com

VICKY SHILLING, COACH AND AWARD-WINNING BLOGGER Vicky is a coach and award-winning blogger helping busy entrepreneurs find healthier ways to eat and live. Her blog The Flourishing Pantry offers recipes, inspiration and tips on living a healthy life whilst building a business through blog posts, videos, interviews and one-to-one coaching. www.theflourishingpantry.com

BHAVINI LAKHANI , GRAPHIC DESIGNER Bhavini is an independent graphic designer specialising in branding and design for print, and is a mum of 2. She’s based in Milton Keynes, with a client base that spans global brands such as Conti Espresso, Barclaycard and British Gas, as well as local businesses across the UK. www.b81designs.com

Do you like what we do? Why not become a guest contributor.

Let’s collaborate contact bridget@parentsinbiz.co.uk Magazine designed by B81 Designs www.b81designs.com Disclaimer views expressed in the articles are those strictly of the authors. Every effort is made to ensure that all information given is correct but Parents in Biz limited accepts no liability for inaccuracies, errors or omissions that may occur or their consequences. This publication is copyright and may not be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Copyright includes (and not limited to) the content syndication of the RSS feed of this publication. The content and images used in any of the articles of this publication. The Parents in Business Magazine logo and any of its derivatives.

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EDITOR’S WELCOME Welcome to the third issue of the Parents in Business magazine. Money makes the world go round, well, that is what they say, but in reality, it can be the bane of life and the biggest worry we face as business owners and parents so this issues has a money theme.

On page 14 we have a special feature where 7 parents share their parent money tip. You’ll find useful information with the turn of each page.

We have interviews from three parents Sam Farmer, the founder of SamFarmer, Emete Friddle, the owner of Friddle’s cakes and Hetty Rackham a freelance marketing consultant. Three parents with different businesses and at various stages of the business journey. They also share their parent money tips.

Happy reading!

Bridget

Bridget Daley Editor

www.parentsinbiz.co.uk

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Book Recommendation

Business Is Personal: Be the Leader of Your Life and Business Penny Power OBE Penny founded one of the UK's first social network for business, Ecademy back in 1998 four years before LinkedIn was established. Along with her husband Thomas Power, the two of them grew the network into a global community that supported hundreds of thousands of small businesses worldwide. In 2011 due to the banking crisis and the actions of a bank, Ecademy was sold and Penny’s lessons in business and life took her on a personal journey of rebuilding.

This is a brilliant book about life and business. It’s a must-read for anyone in business. Written with heart Penny shares her personal insights into her life as a business owner.

Penny reveals the challenges she has faced during her business journey.

Available on Amazon

DONATE The Parents in Business Magazine is free for everyone, thanks to some small donations.

By donating it means we can continue to keep the magazine free therefore making it available to all business owners at different stages of the business journey!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE 4

G N I M O UPC NTS EVE UR O FOR Y RY DIA Freelance Mum at the Farm - April Friday, 26 April 2019 Location Windmill Hill City Farm, Philip Street, Bedminster , BS3 4EA Bristol 10:00 – 12:00 Tickets via Eventbrite

East London Ladies Who Latte Thursday, 9 May 2019 Location Bumpkin Westfield Stratford, 105 - 106, London, E20 1EN 10:30 – 12:30 Tickets via Eventbrite

Female Entrepreneur Co-working Day Thursday, 2nd May 2019 Location East London 11:00 – 15:00 Tickets via Eventbrite

National Freelancers Day 2019 Thursday 20th June 2019 Location Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG, 10:00 – 17:30 Tickets via Eventbrite Do you want to meet like-minded parents with a passion for business? Check out our events page and be the first to know when we announce our next event. www.parentsinbiz.co.uk/events/

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What are money blocks and how do they impact your business?

You may have come across the phrase money blocks before. And that probably went handin-hand with terms like financial abundance or scarcity mindset. I don't know about you, but I was first introduced to these concepts when I left the corporate world back in 2016 and started consuming online content and reading business books. I had never even heard about these phrases before, and I had no idea about the impact they may have on business. So let me take you through what I learnt over the past few years.

What are money blocks?

In very simplistic terms (and I hope the experts will forgive me), money blocks are negative beliefs, thoughts, or habits that we hold true about money.

They are negative, and they're called blocks because they stop money from flowing easily into our lives. Money blocks (as the name suggests) can literally prevent us from meeting the financial goals that we've either set for ourselves or that we're too scared to even commit to.

The tricky bit with money blocks is that, more often than not, they are subconscious. They're so deeply rooted and buried somewhere inside of us that

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we barely even know they're there. And yet, the stories we've been carrying around about money (often since childhood) can massively influence the day-to-day decisions we make (or don't make) in our businesses.

The things we believe about money Think about the things we often hear about money:

Money doesn't grow on trees.

You've got to work hard for your money.

Money is the root of all evils.

I'm sure you could think of more. While these are everyday expressions we've all come across that sound innocent enough, they are actually very powerful. We've probably all heard our parents (and even grandparents!) say some of these things when we were little. And what tends to happen is that we internalise these phrases as universal truths. In other words, we believe them. And years on, when we're busy setting up or running our own businesses, we can subconsciously let these facts of life call all the shots.

So, for example, if we feel strongly attached to the belief that 'money doesn't grow on trees', we'll develop what's called a scarcity mindset, whereby we'll believe that money is never enough. As a result, we'll concentrate on not spending money, and when faced with the opportunity to invest in ourselves or our business, we may decide not to, for fear of running out of money.

Plus, if we genuinely feel that making money isn't easy, we may end up not feeling worthy

of what we earn in our business, especially if we get paid for doing something we love or we're very good at. Let's see how this may play out with an example.

How can money blocks impact your business?

Picture this scenario. Imagine you're a trained graphic designer.

You've worked for years as an employee and built a fulfilling career around your talent and your passion. But only recently, you've decided to start your own business. And you love it. You love the opportunity to work from home, be there for your family, and do something that's within your zone of genius.

But if deep down you believe that making money shouldn't be so easy, you'll end up feeling guilty for charging clients for your work. You'll end up undervaluing and underpricing your services.

This then creates a vicious cycle whereby you don't attract the right clients into your business because by not charging your worth, your prospective clients don't see you as a valuable resource. Instead, you'll get more of the clients who are happy to pay you a lower rate for your services. But you'll soon find out (probably the hard way) that they don't value your time, experience, or expertise. And that isn't just awful and frustrating,

but it may even make you give up your business altogether.

Now, I'm sure you'll forgive the oversimplified (and slightly dramatised) scenario here, but I hope you can see how a seemingly simple thought like 'earning money should be hard' can deeply influence the decisions you make in your business. The problem is that, more often than not, we're completely unaware of what subconscious thoughts or beliefs may be driving us to feel a certain way or take specific actions. So what can we do about this?

Overcoming your money blocks There are various ways to overcome or release money blocks. As I've mentioned, because most of your money blocks operate on a subconscious level, some experts believe that they can only be cleared through methods like Emotion Freedom Techniques (EFT) or Bilateral Stimulation. These techniques essentially work on your emotional states and potentially require working with a professional who would guide you through these processes.

But something very simple you can do right now at home is to grab pen and paper (or your journal if you have one)

and answer this question: “What thoughts do I have around my ability to make more money?".

Try and write down everything that comes up for you. This is the first step in identifying some of the more obvious stories around money that you may have been telling yourself and that may have been holding you back in your entrepreneurial journey.

The next step is to then start to slowly 're-programme your brain' so that you can replace any of the negative beliefs or thoughts you've identified with more positive ones. If you find you've been adopting a scarcity mindset, you may want to research ways to develop an abundance mindset instead.

I've only just scratched the surface with this article, so if you're interested in this topic, here are a couple of great books I'd recommend for further reading: • You Are A Badass At Making Money, by Jen Sincero.

• Get Rich, Lucky B*tch! by Denise Duffield-Thomas.

I hope you like them!

Sara Bussandri Content Writer and an Author www.sarabussandri.com

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In Conversation with Sam Farmer Founder of SamFarmer Sam started his career in Television production before becoming a stay at home Dad in 2004 to look after his son and daughter as his wife works away.

SAMFARMER Unisex Personal Care started in 2011, and after studying for the Society of Cosmetic Scientists Diploma in cosmetic science, qualifying with Distinction, the brand was launched in SpaceNK in 2014. Sam sits on the Council of the SCS and Chair the Scrub Up On Science national schools’ education programme.

Last year Sam started The Cosmetic Information Network, a collaborative environment for people working in the industry. It’s a private organisation where journalists can meet Formulators, and retailers can meet brand owners and is by invitation only.

Sam has a son, Will who is now fifteen and a daughter Emily, who is nineteen. Sam’s wife is the actress Caroline Quentin. They live on a Farm in Devon with four Dogs, five Cats and a menagerie of other animals.

How did you come up with the idea of creating SAMFARMER products?

How did you move this to a business?

It was when the children started adolescence and asked me to grab them a deodorant. The next time I was in the supermarket I noticed how these products were segregated by gender which I found interesting as I’d assumed the formulations would be the same for both girls and boys.

Eventually, I saw the names of the products aimed at my elevenyear-old daughter, Minx, Tease, Be Sinful, Playboy, Submit all pink and pouty with butterflies and sparkles. The choice in the boy’s aisle was just as depressing, it was full of Steel grey and black cans with names like Power, Control, Force and Adrenalin.

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Putting the products next to each other highlighted the sexually aggressive marketing aimed at my son and the sexually submissive messaging targeting my daughter. I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing, these were essentially the same

product. It’s such a vulnerable time for young people, they are undergoing huge changes emotionally, physically and psychologically and are looking to the personal care industry for help in dealing with real issues such as oily skin and greasy hair.

The marketing message was like stepping back into a locker room in the 1970s. I left the store dumfounded by what I had seen.

By the time I had arrived home I was determined to create a deodorant that did not try and tell young people who they should be or how they should behave. I joined the Society of Cosmetic Scientists, enrolled in their Cosmetic Science Diploma and started working with some of the most experienced cosmetic scientists in the UK.

What’s been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?

What was the last thing you did that made you proud?

Confidence. It’s a daily battle sometimes, continually believing you can achieve something you previously thought impossible, is sometimes overwhelming. I now take it one step at a time to achieve a goal, writing down where I need to get to and then noting the steps needed to make that happen. Breaking targets down into small steps makes them less daunting.

I just recorded a video with skincare Blogger Caroline Hirons.

I feel very uncomfortable in front of the camera but found myself saying yes to her. Caroline and I were introduced a few months after I started the business and she wrote a blog about what I was doing. Her support made a huge difference to me, so to then to record a video with her six years later was a real thrill.

The business started with a deodorant, but the stereotypical messaging had crept into other areas of teenage personal care from Shampoo to body wash.

I decided to extend the range and create a unisex range of everyday essential products for adolescent skin and hair.

After two years the products were ready for manufacture.

However, as I’d been driven by a sense of injustice, the real issues of operating a business hadn’t really occurred to me. The articulated lorry arrived at the warehouse, and I realised I had to actually sell the products. I always thought the hard work would be creating the products and making the range a reality, the hard work really started when that had been done.

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Did you have a mentor?

If yes what value do you think having a mentor brings to a business?

motivator is that I’m only alive for such a short time, in the big scheme of things, and want to make the most of every day.

I didn’t have a mentor, but I was never shy to ask questions.

Friends who had businesses were only too happy to give their advice or introduce me to someone who they thought might be able to help. LinkedIn was also quite helpful and becoming a member of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists was invaluable.

What is your best tip for a parent who is struggling to take their business idea forward?

How do you keep yourself motivated?

It can be extremely difficult to self motivate, however, I’ve formed a few habits that help.

Getting up early and exercising always makes me feel ready for what lies ahead. I play music to break creative blocks and follow various YouTube Channels for inspiration. The biggest

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People say this all the time but just start. Release that thing, write that page, send that email, make that phone call – whatever it is, just start. Now!

This issue is all about money so if you could tell us what your parent money tip is?

My Parent money Tip is to do it yourself, from PR and social media to packing orders and emptying the bins. I didn’t know anything about personal care before starting and had never run

a business. I still make mistakes on a daily basis, but I don’t care.

You can learn everything and anything, it’s never been easier to access information. YouTube and Google are fantastic resources, I use websites like Udemy to get a more in-depth understanding of technical tasks like creative software. It’s one of the most rewarding things about running a business, constantly challenging myself to learn a new skill.

Lastly, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Life is busy for both Caroline and I but when we have any spare time it is and has always been about the children.

Sam Farmer Founder of SamFarmer http://www.samfarmer.co

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10 tips for beginners on using Pinterest Pinterest is one of my favourite platforms at the moment. It has a higher user count globally than Instagram, and people are generally going there to shop for something, so it has highly engaged users.

The reason for that is it is incredibly powerful for both businesses and consumers. From a business point of view, if you want to know what your target customer is looking for, get onto Pinterest and look at what consumers are searching for. By doing this, you can promote the things people want to see the most, and in turn inspire more sales.

For example, for my venue business, it is essential to understand some of the decor trends for things like children's parties and baby showers. By going onto Pinterest I can see that bright decor, donut themed signs, decorations and bright drip cakes are all big trends for people in this area. So now when I design my Party venue marketing, I can use those trends in my visuals and show people I really understand the party market. Try it and see what you come up with for your own industry niche.

That's a bit of context to Pinterest now here we go with the 10 tips:

1.

Before you get going with Pinterest, you need to make sure your own website is pin friendly. So download the Pinterest button for your own website so people can pin your content easily.

This is very simple just google Pinterest button, and you will get instructions to install this toolbar.

2.

As a business, the absolute best way to use Pinterest is to link your pins to a blog post. You

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want to be using bright, stand out images on those blogs that you can link back to your Pins.

If you get it right, this will send your website traffic crazy.

3.

Pinterest is not like Instagram or Facebook. You do not need lots of followers to drive traffic on Pinterest. I currently have 220 followers for my Space at 61 Venue account, yet my monthly unique views are at 463K at present.

4.

Pinterest is a blend of search engine and social, in this sense it’s unique among the tools you use each day. So you need to optimise every Pin with as many keywords and phrases as possible for best results. You can start this job by typing in your most relevant category word for example 'Handmade' and see exactly what others are searching on to find that term. Then use it!!

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Pinterest is about pinning content, yours, and also others.

Pinterest rewards those who are generous in their ratios so consider for every Pin of your own content you do (linking carefully back to your well written relevant blogs of course) pin 3 of someone else’s content.

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You should have around 10 boards filled with interesting, relevant content for your niche to make sure when people visit your profile they find something of interest.

Think around your product and create interesting boards that are well named (you should optimise your board names based on customer interest)

Reuse it and maximise the organic reach with your customers.

9.

Pin consistently. I get it, we are all very busy. If you can only pin once a week, do that. But don’t pin 500 items on Monday, and nothing for 6 weeks. Pinterest rewards consistency of pinning. You can use a tool like Tailwind, load it up with content, and it will pin away for you at optimise times based on when your users are online.

I often run 90 minute long Pinterest for Business Beginners at my venue Space at 61 in Peckham, Keep an eye on my Facebook Page for upcoming dates.

Shona Chambers Marketing Consultant https://spaceat61.wixsite.com

10.

Have great on brand imagery.

Pinterest loves bright and eye-catching.

You can use a free tool like Canva to create the right size post for Pinterest.

7.

Your very first board should be filled with only your content.

This means when someone opens your profile they will see your products/services first.

8.

If a pin does well, which you will know if it is getting repined, use it again somehow. For example, you can re-pin your own pin into another board, which will boost its visibility again on the home page, and drive you even more traffic. This is a great strategy for any content that does well on any platform really.

If you want to know what your target customer is looking for, get onto Pinterest and look at what they're searching for 13

7 Parents Share Their Money Tips Money makes the world go round, well, that is what they say, but in reality, it can be the bane of life and the biggest worry we face as business owners and parents. Making ends meet can be really challenging and knowing where the money is coming from to pay for everything can cause headaches and some serious insomnia and anxiety.

The key to not having a total breakdown over money is learning to take advantage of the many money saving tips and tricks others have shared over the years and learn how to manage the money you do have.

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Freebies and Money Off It might not seem that significant but money off, and freebies can actually help you save money and bring in some interest for your kids. Free trials are great if you are organised, for example streaming services often have a free month trial which could be a perfect thing to sign up for as the school holidays start. Make a reminder on your phone or in your diary to cancel before it becomes chargeable. Saving money off coupons might not get you anything more than pounds but these matters, and they are a great way to get kids thinking about budgets and money while practising their maths while you shop. There are also sites that collect details of promotional freebies that companies offer, all you have to do is fill in the form and get a sample of shampoo, sweets, and more.

Shop Second Hand With the speed kids grow to buy new may not be the best plan, with so many ways to get second-hand items from prams to clothing, toys to play equipment there is no real need to spend on new. They are little for such a short period that it makes loads more sense to grab a bargain when someone else has finished with it, let's face it, babies really

don’t mind if they spit-up on a brand new outfit or a pre-loved one. You could organise a ‘Swishing’ baby event with your friends and co-workers where they bring not only their own clothes to swop but things that their kids have grown out of too.

Budget For the Month Ok, so parenting brings a lot of responsibility, and if you are not used to it, then it can be a little depressing, to say the least. Gone are the days of not thinking about your bank balance and ordering out for any meal you fancy and in are the days of money minding. But, if you budget you can still build in the little treats that you love and not have to worry about being short at the end of the month. If your monthly treat includes a meal out, don’t forget that many eateries offer kids meals free so try and take advantage of these locations.

We asked seven parents to share their best money saving tips with us and here is what they had to say.

SPECIAL FEATURE Miles Chicoine Managing Director www.voquent.com Use charity shops for your kid's clothes kids grow up so fast. Why do so many parents spend a small fortune on designer clothes that their kids will grow out of in no time? It's crazy! I've personally picked up some amazing clothes in charity shops like Debra and Oxfam. You can save so much, especially on footwear and nobody will know the difference.

David English and Symone English Vegan Supplement Store and Recruit My Team www.vegansupplementstore.co.uk | www.recruitmyteam.co.uk It takes a number of factors in starting and running a successful business, but very few can do so without successfully managing cash flow. Therefore we treat every penny as if it's our last and so we leverage as many free assets as possible - from using LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Office to using free trials of marketing tools.

We also spend time leveraging social media (especially Facebook) not only to connect with potential customers but also to learn from others in our industry experts in specific areas (such as website design). There are so many people out there who are willing to help one another, and it's a really good way to build your business and knowledge for free.

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Lucy Werner

Bea Jareno

Prosper Taruvinga

The Wern

Bea Jareno Jewellery

Online Prosperity Consultant

www.thewern.com

www.beajarenojewellery.com

www.livelongdigital.com.au

Invest in some critical illness cover and life insurance. A good financial advisor will be able to help you with both, and it safeguards your family should anything happen, particularly if your business can’t function without you.

Live life in a minimalist way.

No matter how bad it is, no matter how bad it gets, always pay yourself first. Put away 10% of whatever money that comes your way. Your future self will thank you for this.

The key to not having a total breakdown over money is learning to take advantage of the many money saving tips and tricks others have shared over the years.

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Eva Wintersberger

Raeleen Kaesehagen

Tree Hut Village

Mudputty

www.treehutvillage.com.au

www.mudputty.com

My recommendation is that when you start a business, you have to see if there is a market for it.

This sounds straight forward, but many of my peers have started a business because it is a good thing to do or it is their passion, but if the business model doesn't stack up, a lot of money could be invested, and you might not progress to the level of success you want.

It's harder to make money than spend it. One area that you can stop spending and save money is to reduce waste. By this I mean, money that you are spending that you don't realise or don't need to. The kitchen is a great example. Every time you throw food away as its gone rotten or expired, that's money you are throwing away. A tip to get on top of this is to commit to either buying groceries and using them (some people meal plan, other just won't buy more until they've used up what's in the cupboard).

Some people buy groceries, then eat out all week and have full fridge left of food. A tip here is if you want to buy take away, fine, just don't buy the groceries.

Take a picture diary (who has time for journals or notes), and if

SPECIAL FEATURE (And when you get a notice of the ones you don't need that the credit card payment didn't go through, you can cancel the subscription)

when you throw food out, take a picture as a reminder next time.

Or take a picture of your fridge before you go shopping, so you don't double up on items.

Other areas of waste are subscriptions or monthly automatic credit card payments to things we've signed up for and forgotten about, and they are still being charged to us. To fix this, you can either check your statement or simply ask for a new credit card number, which essentially refreshes everything and allows you to then re-input your credit card into the bills and utilities you really need.

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Making Tax Digital

1.

What is Making Tax Digital and how will it affect me?

Making Tax Digital (often referred to as MTD) is part of the government’s plan to transform the Tax system. The aim is to improve efficiency, effectiveness and make it easy to be compliant. HMRC are making it easier for businesses to stay on top of their day-to-day accounts. It’s Imperative that all business owners educate themselves about the tax changes and ensure that their records are dealt with appropriately.

2.

When will the changes take effect?

MTD starts with VAT returns.

If you are a VAT registered business, you will need to start filing your returns for quarterly VAT beginning on or after 1st April 2019 through MTD compatible software. You can find a list of software that's compatible with Making Tax Digital for VAT here. www.gov.uk/guidance/findsoftware-thats-compatible-withmaking-tax-digital-for-vat

The second phase will be Corporation Tax and Income Tax. This will affect all businesses, sole traders, partnerships and landlords with turnover sales between £10,000 and £85,000. This is currently due to begin in April 2020.

If you’d like more information on one of our MTD compliant packages I’m offering free 30 minute consultations email info@brawta-accounting.co.uk

3.

www.brawta-accounting.co.uk

What does it mean for me?

Anthony Walcott Accountant

HMRC will require you or your accountant to submit returns online through MTD compatible software. Many business owners are still using paper records and Excel spreadsheets, but unfortunately these are not compatible with the new regulations.

VAT registered businesses affected by MTD will need to start filing quarterly returns using MTD compatible software. Quarterly returns will also mean your tax is calculated quarterly, so you’ll be able to keep on top of the tax you owe and be more organised.

Thankfully, there will be no changes to the way VAT is calculated, or to the deadlines for submitting returns online.

Businesses will be required to provide the same nine boxes of information the only difference is it will be maintained and recorded digitally. It is important for any business owners to make themselves aware of these changes.

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In Conversation with Emete Friddle owner of Friddle’s Cakes Emete Friddle is a mother of 2 and the owner of Friddles Cakes. Emete worked as a graphic designer before embarking on the journey of becoming a small business owner.

How did you come up with the idea of Friddle's Cakes tell us about your journey?

My journey started only 5 years ago when my younger sister announced she was getting married. She then said she did not have enough money left for the wedding cake as there were 300 guests to cater for. Being a Turk, this was normal, so I said I would bake her cake. Being a graphic designer, I thought how hard could it be. I had a year to perfect my skills. I had never baked before, well not properly.

As a child, I made banana and walnut cake, but that was it.

The family thought it was crazy as I can barely cook let alone make a 5 tier wedding cake.

So I went on YouTube and watched endless videos and bought loads of books. I became obsessed. I practised on family birthday cakes until my cakes no longer tasted of wallpaper paste. In between all this madness, I had been freelancing for the past 8 years as a graphic designer, but I had a career of a designer for 20 years. I had a wonderful career, but when I had children, it all changed.

Work and developing me became

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last on my list, I felt the world wouldn't end if I didn't meet a deadline for a magazine, but my child's life would be affected so I worked when I could, and my mum helped look after my boys.

cakes, we laughed and said why not. I married a Friddle, might as well make the name work, lol.

Whilst all this was happening my sister's wedding day finally came and boom I managed successfully to make a 5 tiered wedding cake.

I honestly couldn't believe it, nor could anyone else. Everyone thought someone else had made it. So I post it up on Facebook and orders started to come in. So for the 2 years, it was a hobby, something that had nothing to do with work, motherhood or being a wife, it was something for me.

Then we needed a name and my sister-in-law said Friddle's

I used my design and marketing skills to see what was around.

What could I do that others were not doing. I did a lot of research, and with no budget, I slowly started to get my name out there. Before I knew it I was getting more work for cakes then I was freelance design work.

How did you move from idea to actual business?

What is the biggest pain point that you have been dealing with in your business these days?

It has to be the money side of things. It has taken 3 years to get to the level I am happy at and to be confident when it comes to pricing up the work and believing in myself that I am worth it — knowing your self-worth is key. Not everyone can afford a bespoke cake, but people really have no idea the amount of time and effort that goes into a cake let alone the ingredients. They are not only buying a cake they are buying a moment, but that moment when you present the cake and all eyes also are on that cake and the words wow come out of people mouths. And you see that person's face light up because you bought that cake for them and not just any cake, but a cake that was designed just for them, an edible piece of art.

That very moment is priceless!

designer and make things look picture perfect in Photoshop.

But I really made that cake, all me, on my own and that was that moment I thought I have finally made it, I can now really call myself a professional cake baker, I sat in the car and had a little cry. When you work for your self there isn't anyone to tell you when you are doing well, no pay rises or anything like that, but the message I received from that bride made

me sob like you wouldn't believe it because that was the first time someone really saw me, not just as their cake lady but understood what I did for them in detail. It was a magic moment and one I shall never forget.

What has been your proudest moment so far?

Last year I made my first high-end wedding cake which was on a hanging chandelier. I stood back, and I actually could not believe I made that. I remember looking at other bakers 5 years ago and saying that will never be me. I haven't been to baking college all I know to be is a graphic

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How do you manage your time between family and business?

This part has been my hardest in the journey and probably still is. I thought working from home would give me more time with my, children, but I soon realised it is not a 9-5 job. We tend to work well into the night, give up weekends because a well-paid job has come in, then there is admin, accounts, the list is endless. In the first year of setting up Friddle's cakes, I knew my focus was to get myself out there. Then year two the focus was on improving my skills, then year 3 I had a setback and had to re-think how the business can work but not forget why I did it in the first place.

I now make sure every half term I only take on 1-2 bookings so I can just hang out with my boys and arrange things for us to do.

Now with my husband, he started to feel like he was last on my list, so I had to make an effort to book in a few date nights, or just chilling to watch a movie together.

As a mum who runs her own business I feel like I have to juggle so many things, sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode.

But when I am asked would I go back to my old life and go back to being a graphic designer, I think of all the positives. I drop off and pick up my kids from school every day. I never miss a play or a show and tell in class. I make all parent meetings, our walks to and from

school we get just to chat. Usually, its random rubbish, but I still like it. Dinner is on the table, and we eat as a family most nights, and I get to tuck them in at night. Never do I have to answer to a boss and say sorry my son is ill again, can I work from home and get that rolling eye or make that call home to say I am running late.

When I think of these moments, I do not regret my choices, not one little bit. It's hard, the hours I do are crazy, but I hope one day my boys will look back and realise I was always there even for those little moments when we walk and talk rubbish on the way to school.

What is your best tip for a parent who is struggling to take their business idea forward?

Just do not give up, if something is not working re-think your angle as something is not right in your formula, just take a step back go out and meet other like-minded people at networking events, get inspired and get new insights to how others have tackled similar problems. You will soon realise you are not alone.

This issue is all about money what is your parent money tip is?

Spend wisely. Make sure you have money coming in before you blow the lot. If you need equipment, buy as you go along, as bigger jobs come in the more you can invest. Take small steps and make sure you try and put

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a little away each time. Always make sure you are on top of what is coming in as well as what is going out. The best advice I can give is have an excel spreadsheet.

Without it, I really would be lost.

It's so easy to input your info and keep on top of accounts. I am often shocked at my outgoings, but I can clearly see where I spend my money the most

Lastly, who inspires you?

Sadly I don't look up to anyone in particular for inspiration, but I am often inspired by those around me. As you get older, your circle of friends change,

mine changed even more once I no longer worked in an office.

My business journey was an accident, and I was not looking for it kind of found me. For a long time, I knew I needed more, that something beyond being a mum or a wife and then a graphic designer. I love seeing people grow and develop, be it in their business or their mental health, anything that has improved I find inspiring. Other people’s journey and experiences give me hope. So I hope my little journey helps someone else to believe in themselves and believe in their self-worth and believe they can do this.

Fear of the unknown can be such a scary place, but build on that fear and find that fire in your belly and go for it.

Emete Friddle http://friddlescakes.co.uk

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Business Banking for Small Businesses, Freelancers and Self-Employed When you’re a business owner who is trying to bank, it can be pretty tough with so many choices available, there’s a lot of different things that you need to think about. However, when it comes to trying to get the absolute most from your experience, you’re going to want to look for the best business banks.

To try and help with this, we’re going to take a brief look at what some of the challenger banks offer when it comes to business banking for the SME, freelancers and self-employed people.

Starling Bank www.starlingbank.com

as soon as a payment has been made or received so you can stay on top of late invoices. It’s very functional and user-friendly.

Tide www.tide.co The first bank that we are going to be taking a look at is called Starling Bank. They offer a variety of services, such as business accounts, personal accounts, borrowing and international money transfers. You can also link Xero accounting software to your account. Their app is easy to use and lets you make informed decisions about your spending on the go, so in that respect, it’s beneficial.

Coconut www.getcoconut.com

Coconut is designed for freelancers, self-employed people and small business owners. Some of the features Coconut offers is the ability to categorise your business expenses helping you to stay organised. Coconut notifies you

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If there is one thing that you’re going to learn about Tide, it’s that it’s easy to set up a business bank account in less than 5 minutes. They offer simple low payment charges. You’re able to categorise and tag income and expenditure with labels of your choice. As well as the app you can also access your account via desktop. Tide also integrates with various accounting software.

Cash Plus www.cashplus.com

Cash Plus is a current account simplified, and no credit checks are done when you apply it’s an instant approval process once they verify your details. They also offer personal accounts and credit cards. You can access your account via the app and desktop. It’s also easy to work with and user-friendly.

It’s also worth mentioning that Monzo www.monzo.com/, a bank which currently offers personal accounts, are also set to move into the world of the business bank too, so they’ll be worth keeping a look out for.

Overall, these are just a few of the different banks which are suitable for people who are trying to run a business for themselves.

The Importance of Insurance in Business Insurance is one of those sticky areas when you look back over years of coverage that you dutifully paid premiums on each month and yet never made a claim; it can be tempting to think it is a waste of money. When you are a small business owner, every penny does matter, but without potentially covering yourself the whole stability of your future could be at risk.

Not all insurances are valid for all businesses so here are some of the most likely candidates so you can see what you might need to consider. You will also find that some brokers will be able to roll more than one insurance into a single policy to save you some money, but the bottom line is whatever your business there will be an insurance need so be sure to cover yourself.

#Critical Illness Cover Who needs it - Everyone If you are taken ill and cannot work you need to know that your family and home are secure. Critical illness cover only kicks in with specific life-limiting conditions but should the worst happen you will be glad you have it

#Life Insurance Who needs it - Everyone Often rolled in with critical illness cover, life insurance pays out when you die, which might sound morbid but can leave your family secure. Be sure to cover your outstanding mortgage amount plus some more.

find that these are covered under home insurance (you must tell them it is for business use from the start). But if you have premises and large items of plant, machinery or other business equipment you need this.

result of a product or item you supplied then this is for you.

#Cyber Liability Insurance

Who needs it - Anyone who works with people

Who needs it - Anyone who stores customer/client personal data, anyone who uses computers as an integral part of the business.

If you provide a service, professional advice, handle data, etc., then you should consider this to cover yourself. Take advice on the best policy for your business before deciding.

#Business Equipment Insurance

So, if you store customer or client data, cyber liability insurance is vital, if your systems are attacked and credit card details were stolen for example the ramifications could be huge.

On the other side of the coin if you are subject to a malicious virus that wipes out your data you are going to be at a loss.

Who needs it - Anyone who has equipment

#Public Liability Insurance

Now, this is one that you may or may not need. If your business runs solely with your computer and phone, say, then you might

Who needs it - Anyone who works with people If a customer sustains an injury on your premises or as a

#Professional Indemnity Insurance/Professional Liability Insurance/ (E&O) Insurance

#Business Owners Insurance/General Liability Insurance Who needs it - All business owners These are policies that combine many of the insurances listed above and are often tailored to your needs. The insurance provider will be able to work with you to create a policy that covers you, your premises, your equipment and your profession.

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In Conversation with Hetty Rackham Freelance Marketing Consultant Hetty Rackham is a Freelance Marketing Consultant based in Kent. She is a proud mum of 2 – Chloe, 12 and Benjamin 10. Together they love cooking, watching movies and finding fun things to do at weekends. As a consultant, Hetty works closely with agencies delivering strategic marketing planning and social media management to clients. She also helps women gain the confidence to start up their own business, by providing marketing planning courses.

What was the series of events that lead you to become a Freelancer, tells us about your journey?

media took over all at once. I felt like I was totally left behind and that my skills and confidence totally dropped to rock bottom.

I’ve been in Marketing for 24 years now, I have a degree in marketing and have experience in both marketing agencies and client side. So for me, starting my own business in the world of marketing made sense. I started my consultancy just over 11 years ago, when I went on maternity leave, I took voluntary severance and used that money to set up and give myself a 6-month buffer to start up my freelance consultancy.

So, after some contemplating and research, I thought the most positive and empowering thing I could do was to upskill and

I bought a PC and had my logo, business cards, flyers and a website designed. I used a local designer who I had known for years, in total it just cost me about £500 to get myself up and running and haven’t looked back since.

How did you move from idea to actual freelancer?

After my second child, the recession hit I lost a lot of my contacts due to redundancies, plus digital marketing and social

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take my CIM Digital Marketing Diploma. This was excruciatingly painful, and I had a baby, a toddler plus I was freelancing 2 days a week, studying till 2am often to complete assignments while sometimes caring for my grandmother who was becoming

frailer and had onset dementia.

I was doing my best to convince my family that studying to further myself at this time was a great idea. Looking back, it was crazy but satisfyingly ambitious too.

I could see there were specific skill sets I needed to progress so, despite the chaos, this was the best thing to do.

Instantly the course paid huge dividends and helped me as a mum returning to work again to re-find my confidence and redefine my offering that was now up to date and in keeping with the digital marketing movement.

I haven’t looked back since.

How do you manage your time between family and freelancing?

Discipline, I am very strict with myself about my work.

I don’t take on work unless I know I can deliver and it’s with people I absolutely feel confident and happy working with. By doing this, it has a positive impact on managing and separating my family and work time which is hard enough when you work from home.

My working time is Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm…. I work around this and try to fit in as much as I can including managing

client work, creating content for my own marketing, looking after my health and making sure we have everything we need at home on a day to day basis.

Having said that, as I manage social media for clients, you will often find me creating content and scheduling content at strange times so I can be organised and fit in everything I want to in the week but isn’t flexibility the great thing about working for yourself?

I’m not here to change or take over the world. I am here to provide the very best I can for my children, and if I can motivate those around me too, then I’m happy. I have nothing to prove.

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I have learned to relax a little the last few years, self-preservation kicks in and the realisation that I can get the best out of my working and personal life by defining my offering and my ideal client, only concentrating on good quality leads. This way it’s easier for me to manage and define my family and work time, it’s not always perfect, but it is more clean cut.

What does a typical day look like for you?

6am awake – Fresh lemon and ginger tea, try to remember to meditate for 10 minutes, check on clients’ social media.

6.30am wake the kids, shower and dress.

7.30am breakfast time.

8am leave for school and dropping off 8.20am.

8.30am I often make work calls in the car, setting out the day and contacting colleagues and clients.

8.30am – 4pm Working/ meetings or networking/ fitness / food shopping/ errands.

4.20pm Collecting the kids.

6pm Dinner/ homework Then the evening suddenly disappears. Don’t you feel that? Literally, the evening flies from dinner, kids homework, clearing, watching a bit of TV or listening to music and suddenly it’s time for bed.

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How do you keep yourself motivated?

helps. There’s always a reason why something did not work out.

There are many things I do to keep myself motivated and focused, but I have to say I am incredibly self-motivated and disciplined, of course, there are always setbacks; anyone in marketing knows this so well.

But I usually get myself back on track after a little self-talk and self-reasoning, putting things into perspective and place always

Overall, I set myself financial goals based on what I am aiming to provide and achieve personally; 3 months, 6 months and 12-month goals. I make these realistic yet enough to stretch me too. After all, I am a marketer, so setting aims and goals come as a natural process with huge benefits financially and mentally. I break it down to bitesize and manageable

goals and create a plan that helps me work towards this.

Based on these goals, I look at my services and think, how much of each do I need to achieve in order to meet those targets?

Which services do I ENJOY and get out of most? Which are the most time efficient and which can I realistically deliver in the time given? Which are the most profitable? I am clear and simple in my strategy, and dedicate time to these and try not to be distracted by “shiny objects”.

Being in social media marketing, I spend a lot of time online, so easy to become distracted by what others are doing and self-doubt kicks in. So, I feel it’s really important to take a step away from that and stay focused on my own offering and values.

even create fantastic looking presentations on there too. There are thousands of images, many are free, but to buy 10, it’s only $11. I mean seriously if you are not using this for your Biz, it’s time to create an account. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult to use at all, and when you have created the images you want, you just save them on to your PC or phone for when you want to use them.

Lastly, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time, I like to read, listen to some podcasts, keep fit, cooking, going to art galleries, walking, shopping and travelling.

Hetty Rackham www.rackham.co.uk

This issue is all about money what your parent money tip?

Money Tip for the home; I now write my shopping list, and I stick to it. I have a brother who runs his household budget via a pie chart so, getting on top of my household affairs is a priority, and my brother was the first one I looked to as an example.

No, I don’t have a pie chart, but he did teach me the art of food shopping and how to avoid unnecessary expenditures.

Money Tip for business owners; use Canva, a FREE app for creating your own professional-looking images, marketing materials and you can

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Managing Your Small Business Finance Running a small business can be rewarding and stressful at the same time, but one of the things that really helps relieve the pressure is understanding how best to manage the finance of your business. If you have never had to do this before, then you might feel overwhelmed, but there are some basic things you can do to make this more comfortable for you.

Tips for Managing Money One of the best ways to keep your finances stress free is to make sure you are keeping accurate records from day one. Whether this is getting yourself accounting software and there are loads to choose from online, or whether you need to hire an accountant or bookkeeper, accuracy and staying up to date is essential.

Getting to the end of the tax year and scrambling through boxes of receipts and other paperwork is only going to lead to stress and inaccuracies so keeping this job tidy is crucial. Many bookkeeping software also offers invoicing which means you can efficiently and professionally bill your clients and keep track of the money. The

system should also be able to send reminder invoices and once paid you can allocate the funds to the correct place with a click of the mouse.

Keeping a separate account for the business is also an important way to make sure you have everything covered. It makes it much easier to see how the business is performing when you are not trying to separate out your personal finances. This means that any regular payments that go out from the business are easily identifiable and your income is easy to manage.

In the startup phase take care with spending money. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that

you will get customers if you have flashy signs and spend loads on advertising, but there are so many ways to raise your profile for free using social media tools that you should avoid the temptation of making big purchases before you have the income to support it. Generally, social media and marketing is something you can do for yourself for some time without needed to pay someone.

Savings It is important to try and save on behalf of the business so that you can cover unexpected eventualities but also so that you can look at expansion possibilities further down the line. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money, and there are plenty of instant access savings accounts so that you do not have to tie up money that you might suddenly need.

Here are some other ways you can bring money into the business when needed but remember all of these will come with interest payments and in the long run cost you more so be sure you really need them.

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Investments There are lots of companies that are prepared to invest in small businesses, whether this is in the form of a loan or in return for equity. If you have seen programs like Dragon’s Den, you will be aware that sometimes the only way for a small business to expand in the way it plans is to get outside help. Remember that if you choose to do an equity deal the company ceases to be solely yours, there are pros and cons for this, so do your research well.

Mortgages A business mortgage might be needed to get the premises you need to develop your business. Applying for a business mortgage is similar to a residential mortgage, but the bank will be looking at the turnover and projected figures for the business. Your business plan and historical records will be taken into account, so it is important that you have built a strong case. If you are starting a new business, it can be harder to protect turnover and prove that the business will make money, but there are lots of tools online to help you develop the documents you need. In doing this, you will be prompted to look at every aspect of the business which is vital for creating a successful

business. It is often easier to purchase an existing business if they have previous years figures but do not be disheartened; it is possible for new companies to get a mortgage. The bank has to be convinced that you can afford to cover the repayments and that the business will make money.

Loans While it seems frustrating sometimes a loan is the best way to get things where they need to be. Yes, it means you have a debt that you have to keep track of and manage but struggling for too long before taking the plunge can actually kill the business off altogether. If you do not have the cash input that you need, then a business loan could offer you the freedom to move the business forward. You will need to have a business plan to show the bank, and your books will need to be up to date and in order before you apply. This also means that you can pay yourself a clear salary which you should be sure to do.

If you have to pay money into the business to keep things running this needs to be treated in just the same way as you would a loan from a third party. You must account for and show that the business has a debt to you.

Credit Cards A business can have a credit card, and it is essential to keep the finances as separate as possible from your personal money. If you need a credit card or think you need a credit card, remember that anything you purchase will end up costing you more than the purchase price if you do not pay off the balance on the card at the end of every month.

Useful links Money Supermarket www.moneysupermarket.com Which? www.which.co.uk Go Compare www.gocompare.com Money Facts www.moneyfacts.co.uk

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5 top tips to boss your fitness and nutrition this year and beyond So you’re a parent, and you’re a business owner. I know it’s a lot. You’ve taken on the ups and downs of parenthood and the turbulence of business. We are all on the same page we want to provide a financially stable future for our children.

But what we must not forget is our health and fitness needs as business owners and parents. We owe it to ourselves and our children to be our best, and that means being healthy and fit.

Here are 5 top tips to boss your fitness and nutrition this year and beyond

1. Plan, Plan, Plan Plan your meals. Look on Pinterest, Youtube, Instagram or the Internet to get inspiration.

2. Plan your grocery list Plan this in accordance with your meals. It will help you save money and prevent wasting food.

3. Plan and prioritise your workouts.

I know we are all busy so if you can’t get to the gym, do a home workout. Get up earlier and do a shorter 5 to 10-minute workout.

Use your own bodyweight with calisthenic exercises like pull ups, push ups, and dips etc.

4. Simple equipment Equipment like resistance bands can be used with bodyweight squats for resistance. Have them nearby so when you have a spare minute or two you can use them.

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5. Include your children in your workout.

Rennique Nelson

This could involve dancing to their or your favourite song or if your child is a baby you could go for a stroll with the buggy and perhaps do some lunges (buggy exercises).

www.nutrifitchick.com

Bonus Tips Why not lay out a mat at home and use your baby as a weight, e.g. chest press holding your baby.

Perhaps, ask a friend or family member to babysit so you can take a spin class, go to Zumba or go swimming.

Better still why not try a parent and baby class? It’s important to switch up your routine and give yourself a break from parenting and business.

Let your hair down and treat yourself like the King or Queen you are.

Nutri Fit Chick

Celebrating Father's Day On the third Sunday of June, we celebrate fathers everywhere with their own special day. Fathers are an essential part of the family for many people, and we dedicate Father’s Day to reminding them how important they are in our lives.

Being a parent can be hard at the best of times, and both mums and dads face a whole set of unique challenges that it is hard to imagine until you get there. When you are a kid it is hard to put yourself in the place of your dad and understand what it is he goes through but once you hold your child for the first time the doors are opened, and you will experience this fantastic role for yourself.

Whether you have a dad that goes out to work each day, or that stays home with you, his role is something that cannot easily be replaced and acknowledging and celebrating this is important to let him know how important he is in all that he does. From changing nappies to chasing away the

nightmares, from earning money to making sure the bills are paid on time parenting is tough and juggling the role of dad with work is now commonplace as increasingly both parents work and share the duties of home life.

So this Father’s Day let’s celebrate the hard-working, loving dads of the world in a variety of ways that show them just how special they are. Here are some great ideas to get you started.

Start by letting him have a lie in and then take him breakfast in bed, consider his favourite breakfast it should be easy to find out what he really likes. Take the time to say the words Happy Father’s Day and thank him for all he does. Parents do what they do because of the l ove they have for their families, but it is nice to feel appreciated and have your family acknowledge what you do for them. Buy a small gift; it doesn’t have to be expensive; it is a token if your feelings and can be something like chocolate or a new tie. If you are not rolling in money then something homemade is equally perfect, it is about your time and effort to show how much your dad means. Make sure the day is clear for the important football or rugby match and keep the noise down to a minimum while the tv

is on. Find a film he loves and hold a movie night with popcorn and other sweets and treats.

If your father is not within visiting distance take the time to ring or Skype him on this day, even dads of grown-up kids like to hear how much you appreciate what they did for you when you were younger, and probably still continue to do even today.

Fathers are important so be sure to take the time to thank yours for his love and care on Father’s Day this year and any other day you feel like saying it.

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Date and lentil meatballs This is a perfect Meat Free Monday recipe that’s packed with protein. When I want a change from meat or fish, lentils are a great alternative. For added flavour I recommend you cook them with stock rather than just boiling water.

Dates add a delicious sweetness to these ‘meat’ balls, balanced with the savoury flavours of basil, oregano and parsley. Served with whole wheat pasta and a simple tomato sauce, these meatballs also freeze really well making them perfect for a batch cook.

Ingredients Lentil meatballs: • 1 white onion, diced • 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 1/2 cup (50g) walnuts • 1 cup (180g) lentils, cooked to packet instructions • 1/2 cup (80) dates • 1 tsp dried basil • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1 tsp dried parsley • 1 tbsp flaxseeds (optional) • salt and pepper to taste

Tomato sauce: • 1 red onion, diced • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 can chopped tomatoes • juice of 1/2 lemon • 2 tsp mixed herbs / Italian seasoning

To serve • Whole-wheat spaghetti or pasta - 75g per portion

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper and set aside.

2. Put the dates in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 5-10 minutes, while you're doing the next couple of steps.

3. Heat some olive oil in a frying pan over a medium head. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft. Remove from the heat.

4.

Place the walnuts in a food processor and blitz until they're broken down into small chunks. It doesn't have to be even, a few different sizes are fine!

5.

Into the food processor add the cooked lentils, onion, herbs and a grind of salt and pepper to the walnuts. Drain the dates and add these too.

Pulse in the processor (or do it in a bowl with a hand blender) until you have a paste but with a little bit of texture.

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6.

If the mixture doesn't look like it's going to hang together, add your flaxseeds a little at a time to thicken it up. To check, use your hands to form a ball of the mixture.

7.

When you think the mixture is ready, scoop out a tablespoon at a time and form it into balls. To make sure mine are all the same size, I weigh the mixture and then use a calculator to divide it by the number of balls I want to get. But you can do it by eye just as easily.

8. Arrange the balls on the baking sheet. Put in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, turning at the halfway point.

9.

While the lentil balls are baking, make your tomato sauce. In a frying pan (you could use the same one as before) add your garlic and onions and sautĂŠ for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add the tomatoes, lemon juice, herbs and salt and pepper to taste. Leave to simmer over a low heat until everything is cooked through.

Vicky Shilling The Flourishing Pantry www.theflourishingpantry.com

10. Cook your spaghetti or pasta to packet instructions. Drain and put back into the empty saucepan. Pour the tomato sauce over the pasta and stir through until well coated.

11. Serve the spaghetti in a bowl, and place 3-4 of the lentil balls onto the top of spaghetti. Top with fresh basil for a little green garnish. Enjoy!

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