A day in the life of… #4 Aimee Belmore at the Saddleworth Independent

A day in the life of… continues with a new guest!

Following on from my third ‘A day in the life of…’ from Gemma Cooke, I am now pleased to share with you another local story from the Saddleworth Tameside area. Apologies for not keeping these posts as frequent as I should but it has been non stop!

Aimee has one of those ‘wow’ jobs that I am sure everyone wants to know about so I am going to let her get on and tell you!

A day in the life of… #4 Aimee Belmore at the Saddleworth Independent

So, tell my followers, what do you do?

I am Editor in Chief of Local Communications Limited, running four community newspapers.

What does your typical day look like?

We have a team based in our office from 9am-5pm so I work from there. I do interviews and take pictures for articles, meeting a variety of people in businesses, schools and the community so I can write about their successes and achievements. I also co-ordinate my team of writers, sales staff and designers and organise the content and layouts for each of our papers, as well as updating our websites with stories and pictures.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I love going out and meeting interesting people on a daily basis who have done a huge variety of wonderful things. From young children who are showing off what they have done at school to a 100-year-old celebrating her birthday, it is lovely to get to the heart and soul of the community I live in.

What are you most proud of in your job?

We produce newspapers that are well-loved and widely read by the community, and we have become an important and recognized voice for sharing community news, views and issues.

What or who inspires you?

We have an energetic and enthusiastic team who are eager to provide the best paper they can for the community, and they continue to inspire us with their achievements, campaigns, and successes which deserve to be recognised.

What piece of advice would you give to your future self?

Always work hard but enjoy what you do as well!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?

My iphone, Haribo and my cat.

What is your favourite photo of all time?

This is my favourite photo – it is me and my husband outside the church at our wedding in Greenfield in June 2016. Lots of happy memories but also – you can’t tell but just literally out of shot is a load of scaffolding around the church which our photographer was really careful to avoid getting in!

To keep up to date with all things in Saddleworth, visit Saddleworth Independent for more information.

A day in the life of… #3 Gemma Cooke from Business Gem

A day in the life of… continues with a new guest!

Following on from my second ‘A day in the life of…’ from Rachael from Moorland Holistic, I am now pleased to share with you another local story from the Saddleworth Tameside area. Gemma Cooke from Business Gem is a Virtual Assistant and a fab one at that, I’m talking from experience!! Gemma is a fantastic asset to Inspired By Joseph and is like my magic fairy! There are certain things that I just know if I pass them to Gemma, she can work her magic in a way I just can’t! I cannot recommend her enough.

#3 A day in the life of Gemma Cooke, Virtual Asisstant, Business Gem

So, tell my followers, what do you do?

I am a Virtual Assistant with a HR background. You may wonder what a Virtual Assistant (or VA) is, well, VA’s are similar to an office assistant, administrator or PA with the main difference being that with today’s technology, VA’s work remotely from their own office and often have multiple clients. I offer a range of administrative and HR services on a retainer or one off basis and a couple of the great benefits to my clients are that they are not responsible for employee benefits as I am self-employed, plus they only pay for the work I carry out which is useful for when workload has peaks and troughs. I am there to take administrative burden from my clients supporting them to grow their business.

What does your typical day look like?

In a nutshell, no two days are the same in terms of the work I do. I try to have some kind of routine to my day as I balance my work with being with my 2 children age 3 and 11 months. I tend to get up earlier than the children (luckily, they are both relatively good sleepers!), and get myself prepped for the day – check and prioritise work, action anything urgent and have a quick look at my twitter feed.

Then, I get the children up and ready and do an activity with them, whether its playgroup, feeding the ducks, painting or playing football in the back garden. After lunch, its nap time for the children and that’s when I grab a coffee and start work for my second stint of the day. I could be doing anything from writing a job description, document preparation, audio or copy typing, website coding or email, calendar and workload management. I love the fact that I offer such a variety of services and I can be so productive with my time.

After nap time, it’s more child friendly activities with a spot of housework because 2 small children can certainly make a mess! Then family dinner, bath and bed for the children and if I have any work to finish, now is the time.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Providing the support to assist my clients in growing their own businesses. When I take a new client, I take time to understand their needs and their ethos and I manage their work and standards as if their business was my own. I am often used as a sounding board for decisions and I have picked up many new skills and knowledge working with clients from a variety of industries.

On a personal level, I love the fact that the hours are so flexible so I can spend time watching my children grow and thrive, plus I have the work life balance that I want. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard work and my days can be long, but it is worth it to be able to spend the time with my children which I wouldn’t have been able to do in employment.

What are you most proud of in your job?

I am always proud when my clients achieve, because I believe that I have played a part in that happening, even if just a small part, I still helped. I’m also proud of actually taking the huge step to go self-employed with this idea I had whilst pregnant with my first born. Having always been in employment, financially, it was a scary decision to make, but with hard work, passion and determination, I made it work!

What or who inspires you?

I have many things which influence and inspire me for different reasons. My children inspire me because I want to be able to show them that whatever they want out of life, with hard work, they can make it work. My husband inspires me to be strong during difficult times. In the world of business, Baroness Karren Brady inspires me in her role in a hugely male dominated industry.

What piece of advice would you give to your future self?

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?

Easy, and I’m glad its 3! My husband, my son and my daughter.

What is your favourite photo of all time?

This is so hard because I have thousands of amazing photos of my family and it is so hard to choose just one, so I have gone for something that makes me smile every time I look at it….

This photo is of Parque Monumento Nacional Bariay in Cuba. The reason why this photo is so special is that it was taken during the trip that I married my husband, plus the photo itself is of where Christopher Columbus first landed in Cuba in 1492. This photo is displayed on a wall at home and brings back such lovely memories every time I look at it. The place and the country are absolutely stunning (my photography skills do not do it justice) with fantastic, caring people. It was an amazing trip which I will never forget.

a day in the life of Gemma Cooke

For more information from Gemma, please visit her website or you can follow her on Twitter.

If you don’t remind yourself to do this often, you may regret it later.

This is the toughest post I have every written….

I have thought long and hard about this post for many, many months, wondering what the best way to approach it would be. In addition, I’ve also thought maybe I shouldn’t write it at all. It’s a difficult and highly emotional topic but I passionately believe it is my duty to write this. All I can try is to write from the heart and hope that if just one person takes this and puts it into practice, then it’s all been worth it.

Ok, so the subject I am talking about is death. It’s a certainty that will happen to us all at some point. Family and friends who leave such a mark on our lives will all experience the same thing too. In our house, we have had a few significant deaths in the past twelve months which have left a massive hole in our hearts. In reality it has reminded us how precious life is and how important it is to document our lives. There are various ways of doing this from keeping a journal, telling stories to our children or through the art of photography.

Becoming a Mum has opened my eyes

Now that I’m Mum to Joseph and Victoria, keeping a track of their lives with our family and friends is of enormous importance, particularly with our older generations. It is so easy to forget to take photos, be too busy or think that a photo opportunity isn’t there when it is right in front of our noses. Consequently, these simple photos have turned out to be hugely significant for us as we use them with Joseph and Victoria to remind them of the stars that now look down on them with more love and pride then they will ever know…..

Even when death is super close, we have always had the camera out, when the time was right. Some of these photos we will be unlikely to share but we have them. And that is the main thing. In fact, I can tell you something; those photographs mean the world to us.

Please, take one thing away from this post….

Please, take one thing away from this post, keep taking photos in your life. Don’t regret it….

My top three photo tips guaranteed to make you feel more like Beauty, not the Beast!

Tale as old as time….

The long awaited movie, Beauty and the Beast, hits movie screens today. I am sure there are several of you, young or old, kids or no kids, who are eagerly awaiting to kick back and enjoy this epic film. The fond memories of Beauty and the Beast as a child, sat with my sister watching it on video (yes, video!) at weekends as we pranced around the living room singing to our hearts content are ever so vivid. I also remember when Mum and Dad told me and Nic, aged 18 and 17 respectively, that we were off to Tenerife for a week’s holiday, only to be told when we arrived at the airport that we were in fact going to Disneyland, Florida for three weeks! You can imagine the giddiness at the parades when the likes of Belle, Garcon, Mrs Potts and Chop headed up the parades!

In fact, I’ve had a dig through the old photo archives and found this! (PS – organising your photos makes tasks like that super easy, why not give it a go!)

Beauty and the Beast…..

For this reason, I wanted to share with you my three top tips to help you feel more like Beauty and not the Beast! I understand that most people do not like having their photograph taken, I do. Surprisingly in this day and age of the selfie, I have numerous clients who feel that way. Therefore, take these tips on board and observe how it feels!

Take a look in the mirror

It would be easy for me to say “stand like this” or “turn in towards me” but that can sometimes add to the pressure. If it makes you feel better have a practice looking at yourself in the mirror, turn different ways, think about what you might do with your hands. What position makes you feel happy, confident and full of life? Only you know that!

Smile, relax and remember to breath!

Be yourself. When you smile, your shoulders will relax, so will your face and this will show through on the photographs!

It’s ok to be shy in front of the camera

Just remember, it’s not every day that we all embrace the camera, especially if we actively try to avoid it. Try not to focus on the action of the photo being taken, instead focus on the intention behind the camera and how others may feel about the memories later.

Do you have any useful tips to share? I would love to hear them!

Have a bit of fun with my top six household props to add to your family photos

Time to get the photo props out!

Sometimes we find ourselves in a rut taking the same type of photos, even us photographers. In reality, it’s easy to do what we have always done without stopping to actually think before we take a photo. Granted, if you have children this can be difficult but give it a whirl, what’s the worst that can happen?

Here are my top six prop ideas that you can try at home.

Teddies and dolls:

It doesn’t matter how old you are, teddies and dolls can actually help to tell a story. You can stage a photo with them or else capture children at play with them. Furthermore, these photos are great to look back on in years to come when they have been made redundant to the bottom of the toy box or the loft!

Books:

If you house is anything like ours, books play a major part. We are encouraged to read to our children no end and so it’s a perfect story to capture. I love this picture of Mum and Dad reading to their sons and the set up of making them look like a pair of book ends was intentional!

Seasonal items:

This is definitely an easy one to forget but is an important part of childhood. Try and think out of the box and attempt action shots when you can. This is one of my favourite photos of Joseph and Victoria and brings back countless, wonderful memories.

Message boards or slogans:

I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it is definitely mine! If you have slogans or boards around your house, investigate how creative you can be with them.

Mirrors:

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? An easy prop to forget about but one that we all have, it’s a definite in my book. Furthermore, it’s also an excellent way to practice selfies! (Why not take a look at my quick selfie guide here?)

Anything with meaning:

To conclude, I’ve purposefully left this one open. The only limitations that you have with props is your imagination so have an investigate around your house and experiment to your heart’s content.

I’d love to see how you get on so why not post a comment below and update us all?

Two things you could do for women on International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day

As a photographer, I have the pleasure of photographing some amazing women. Mums, sisters, daughter, friends, cousins, nieces; all with their own labels that they carry around day to day. Life stories that continue to inspire me as I inspire to help them record their amazing lives through the art of photography.

Here are just a few of my favourite female photos that make me smile!

Could you do these two this International Women’s Day? (You too guys, this isn’t just for women!)

We all know women in our lives who mean the world to us and have a positive effect on our life. So, this International Women’s Day why not do these two small things which I am sure will have a big impact on the recipient.

Say thank you.

Pick a women who has recently done good and say thank you. Not just the usual ‘thanks’ most of us are accustomed to but a well thought out thanks. Maybe a hand written note or even just a short telephone call saying how their support has helped you. It doesn’t have to cost anything!

Give a little to a women who needs it.

Offer to buy your friend her next coffee, add a bunch of flowers to the next shopping trip for a relative or make a meal for a friend who is time starved (no pun intended!) The impact could be much greater than you think.

And the bonus is…

Why not take a look at My Mum Stories or even better, get in touch and share your story with us. My Mum Stories are a really popular feature of my website and is REALLY relateable!

To all my female readers out there, Happy International Women’s Day, you rock!!

Check this out when your baby is 11 months old!

Cake smash photography can be the icing on the cake at first birthday time

I’ve had a run of cake smash bookings particularly in the Saddleworth Tameside area recently so thought it useful to talk a little more about them on my blog as it’s still a relatively new concept to the UK market. It’s a chance to celebrate that significant milestone that has come and gone far quicker than you ever imagined I am sure! Usually centred around a birthday cake, the child has the chance to explore and play to their hearts content. Add in a few extra props and you are left with a simply fun session!

Showcasing children’s personalities is sweet!

At Inspired By Joseph photography, the cake however, is not the star of the show! The session is focused 100% on the child and how they react to the cake. After all, for some it may be the first time that they have experienced cake! Some children dive straight in and there is cake everywhere whilst for others, it’s a more quiet and organised affair. It’s always fun to watch how the session turns out but either way it is a great way of showing your child’s personality. There is also the added bonus that I clean up after the session, not you!
Suzie has never looked back having had a cake smash session with her daughter, Olivia. This is what she had to say…

Bev is amazing and very accommodating. We did a cake smash shoot with her for our little girls first birthday. She made Olivia feel really special and took the time with her to get that perfect photo (all of them were perfect!). I couldn’t recommend Bev highly enough. We have amazing photos to cherish for a lifetime. Thanks Bev

If this sounds like your cup of tea then why not treat yourself and I promise your future self (and child!) will look back and smile at the memories created at this special time. If you live in the Oldham, Saddleworth or Tameside area and are interested in my latest special offers for cake smash sessions, contact me and let’s have a chat.

Three flippin’ must have photo ideas for pancake day plus my favourite pancake recipe

Yes its here folks, pancake day. Are you all organized with ingredients at the ready or have you totally forgot? If it’s the latter, scroll to the bottom of the page to check out my favourite recipe and hit the shops before dinner for the few simple ingredients needed. Nevertheless, here are my top three photo ideas for pancake day.

Pre cooking photo.

Gather all of your ingredients together and work creatively! You could sprinkle flour on a surface and place the ingredients within for that ‘just ready to cook’ feel. Equally, take an aerial image just as the batter goes into the pan.

Eating pancakes.

Sometimes we become too obsessed with the pancake flipping photo that we forget about the enjoyment of the ‘quick let’s eat it whilst its still warm and we need to get the next pancake on the go’ photo! Consequently, this can beautifully illustrate that in the moment feeling.

The finished article.

Perfect for those of you with children! Chocolate all around their mouths? Lemon juice all over the table? Capture it. Again, it’s a celebratory story to share when the children are older.

My favourite pancake recipe is lush!

If you aren’t at all prepared for the big day or you are looking for a recipe that is a little different, I can highly recommend these lemon and raisin pancakes. Or check out my food glorious food page and my egg and banana pancakes which are suitable for weaning onwards. My kids still ask for them now at the weekend! In reality, we cook these year round in our house we love them so much. Consequently, they don’t hang around for long the children love them!

If you have a favourite recipe, why not share it below?

If you are organising a birthday party and don’t take this advice, you will hate yourself later

Five super quick tips for taking amazing photos of your little ones birthday party

Put your hand in the air if you have been to a birthday party and either:

Not taken enough photos
Not been in enough photos
Left it to others to take photos on your behalf and perhaps been disappointed

It’s a horrid feeling isn’t it? You can’t relive that experience so it is vital that you master a plan in order to ensure that you don’t feel like that. Therefore, here’s my five super quick tips for taking amazing photos of your little ones birthday.

1. Start early

Don’t wait for the guests to arrive, the story of a birthday party starts way before then. Get photos of party bags being prepared, balloons being blown up and food being created. Likewise, at the end of the party take the opportunity to get photos of messy floors, presents collated and anything else you think summarises the party.

2. Capture everyone

In truth, it’s easy to focus on the birthday girl or boy and centre photographs on them. Absolutely do this but remember all of the other guests too. In other words, try some candid shots of people just milling around, chatting and generally having fun. In reality, this all contributes to the essence of the birthday party.

3. Get in close

There is so much going on at a party, in order to capture everything going on, get in close! Keep your eyes peeled for things happening that you can capture great expressions. In reality, it could be a child’s reaction to opening a layer of pass the parcel, or sneaking a finger into the birthday cake! Remember the adults too who might be enjoying a beer or two!

4. Aim for a group shot

How often do the most amazing people in the birthday girl/boys life come into one place at the same time? If you can find a spot to capture everyone together, do it! Try climbing some stairs or even just asking everyone to squeeze in. Trust me, they will be truly grateful you for it when they are older.

5. Put the camera down

Enjoy the party yourself! In reality, it’s easy to keep taking photos but rubbish if you can’t enjoy the party. Plus, you need to be in some photos too so don’t forget that either! This one was taken by another Mum for Joseph’s second birthday – without this I wouldn’t be in any!!!

I’m very busy right now particularly with my cake smash package. This is a brilliant way of capturing special memories in the early years of childhood and alot of fun along the way. If you would like further information or want to have a chat about it, contact me and let’s chat!

Do you want to know four super easy ways to keep costs down on for an event?

As well as loving photography, I’ve over 12 years of marketing and events experience which really does come in handy! I’ve done everything from opening new branches of Halifax/Bank of Scotland’s to launching new airlines from Manchester Airport so I know a load of short cuts to help. If you want to check out my super handy guide which I created for a christening but is easily transferable for a birthday party , fill in the form below detailing ‘Birthday Party Guide’ in the subject and I will whizz a copy over to you as quick as you can say ‘Yes Please!’

February 16, 2017February 17, 2017

My new series. A day in the life of… #2 Rachael Smith from Moorland Holistic, Saddleworth, Tameside

Introducing my new series, A day in the life of…

Following on from my first ‘A day in the life of…’ from Debbie at Confidence Culture, I am now pleased to share with you another local story from Saddleworth Tameside.

#2 A day in the life of Rachael Smith from Moorland Holistic, Saddleworth Tameside

Racheael runs a business called Moorland Holistic. Before I had children, I used to have the odd massage but since I’ve had children I have tried to make appointments with Rachael as one of my regular treats. Ultimately, one of the few things that I can do just for myself! As a busy mum, I rarely get a minutes peace let alone a minute to think and relax so having this time to focus on me does the world of good. I particularly found these sessions very useful after giving birth so I can highly recommend it! If like me, when you have a massage, you really want to feel the pressure and come away feeling like it has made a difference I can highly recommend Rachael, she is just fabulous! Read more about Rachael’s story below…..

So, tell my followers, what is Moorland Holistic

Moorland Holistic is a complementary therapy practice located in Diggle, Saddleworth. We provide treatments such as Advanced Deep Tissue/Swedish massage, Advanced Aromatherapy, Advanced Reflexology, Hot Stone Massage, Hopi Ear Candling and Indian Head Massage. We work with a range of different people who can be either struggling with muscular tension, aches/pains, complex conditions, stress, depression or people who are in need to some relaxation and pampering!

I began practicing complementary therapy in 2008 then opened a home-based treatment room in Greenfield. As the business and client base expanded, I needed bigger premises and more practitioners. I have been located on Sam Road in Diggle for two and half years now which has really taken off and grown into a busy Holistic therapy practice.

That’s good to hear! What does a day at Moorland Holistic look like?

It’s very difficult to say as every day is different but first things first.. Kettle on! On an average day I can have anything from 6-9 clients with various different treatment durations from 30 minutes to 2 hour appointments.

What is your favourite part of your job?

The relaxing nature of providing therapies.

What are you most proud of in your job?

The difference the treatments make to a client’s well-being whether this is releasing some muscle tension and easing their discomfort or providing the hour of relaxation and stress relief they just needed that particular week.

What or who inspires you?

My parents.

What piece of advice would you give to your future self?

No amount of knowledge is too much, just keep going.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?

Ray Mears book on survival, a pillow and a saw.

What is your favourite photo of all time?

This is a campsite I go to at least once a year in Cornwall.. I have gone here from the age of about 2 years old with my family where we all stayed in a touring caravan. Me and my partner now take our own caravan and we meet them down there so this picture reminds me of all the wonderful family holidays I have had!

For more information from Rachael, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/moorlandholistic

http://www.moorlandholistic.co.uk/

Leave me a comment below if you are a user of any of the businesses featured as I would love to hear from you.

To post photos of your children on social media, or not?

In the middle of January, I had a charming session with a family of three, celebrating their little one crawling, sitting and doing all of the things a seven month old usually does. Such a cheerful little boy. One of the zillions of reasons I just love my job!

To post photos of your children on social media, or not? It’s all about personal preference

When I work with clients, one of the things I always ask is whether or not I can use a few of their photographs for my marketing. In reality, this could be a blog about our session or an update to my photo library on Facebook. This is always personal preference as we are all so different when it comes to how we share our photographs with loved ones.

What do I choose?

Personally, I do share photos periodically on Facebook. Photography is an enormous part of both mine and our families life. It’s usually relates to key milestones such as birthdays or major events in our lives. Therefore, this is one of the main ways I can share this with close friends and family who are dotted all over the world. My settings are set to the level I am pleased with. I understand that some people don’t want to share on social media, it’s all about personal preference. (If you want to read up about Facebook’s latest settings, have a look here)

How do I decide?

As a result, I have two practical pieces of advice I tend to consider before posting photos online.
1. Would my child (or the one that I am photographing) be happy if they saw this aged 12, 15, 18? If not, it’s not even a contender
2. Does the photo have any other children in it? Would their parents be happy for this to be posted online? Have I check in with them?

Social media is not the only way

From the day we had our first scan with Joseph back in December 2013, I’ve taken one photo to document our life, every day. That’s right. Every day. As much as I have enjoyed it, it’s been hard and at times I have wanted to give up but over 1000 pictures on I’m delighted that I’ve done it. You can take a look at some of my favourites here…

The vast majority would never, ever make the cut to go online but why not take a look at the following blog post which showcases some of the ways these photographs are displayed around my home.

So, back to last week’s photo shoot where this blog originated. The family decided they didn’t want me to use any of their photos online. Absolutely fine and decision totally respected. They aren’t the first and they certainly won’t be the last clients to make this request. What I do know though is that they will enjoy displaying their fabulous memories around their house to share with generations to come.

Do you have some useful tips? Why not comment below and share them with my community so that we can all help each other?

When should we leave the camera alone?

Whatever your opinion of Donald Trump, I am sure that you were unable to avoid the media coverage over the last week regrading his inauguration. I always tend to watch as much of these things as possible. After all it is history in the making and it is something I will be able to share with Joseph and Victoria when they are older.

Watching the inauguration got me thinking…

With the rise of camera phones in particular, we are never far from a camera. We can take photographs at the drop of a hat. Whilst watching the inauguration I noticed that so many people who were attending chose to watch the ceremony through their phone, either videoing or taking photos, rather than watching it, for real, in the flesh. It got me thinking… So when is it appropriate, or right, to take photos? Is there a time and a place? Or is it just down to personal preference?

I believe it is about choosing wisely

For me, if I was at such an important, history making event, I think I would want to savour that moment for real. I’m not sure I could replicate that moment through my own camera lens. Plus, the worlds media got it covered! Events and moments pass by us so quickly that it is important to enjoy things as they happen and remember them through our own internal lens. I think back to concerts I’ve been to, for example, when I’ve recorded so many short videos of my favourite songs. But if the truth be told, I’ve never done anything with them which makes me wish I had just enjoyed them for what they were.

As a photographer, this can be difficult to achieve but can be done with practice and a bit of self talk. I don’t always get it right but I try. What I will often do, for significant events (like Victoria’s recent 1st birthday party) is to pass the camera to a family member or friend. This allows me the freedom to enjoy the event and for someone else to record the memories. Win, win! Next time, why not give it a go yourself and hand the camera over so you can enjoy the experience yourself?

What do you think? Is there a time and a place for a camera? Comment below as I would love to hear from you.

My new series. A day in the life of… #1 Debbie Palmer from Confidence Culture

Introducing my new series, A day in the life of…

Since I own my own small business, I know that I now make more of an effort to shop local and support other local and small businesses. Keeping money in the local economy benefits local people. Local businesses can often be more flexible and provide a more personalised service. Plus a better product range.

With that in mind, I will be showcasing some of the amazing small businesses that I use through a new series called ‘A day in the life of’. Until you own your own business I’m not sure that you can imagine how much time, effort and passion owners put in to making their business a success. Every few weeks, I will be adding to this blogpost so please do come back often, have a read and see if there are any local businesses which float your boat!

Leave me a comment below if you are a user of any of the businesses featured as I would love to hear from you.

#1 A day in the life of Debbie Palmer from Confidence Culture

Debbie Palmer runs a business called Confidence Culture. I met Debbie back in 2010 when I won a place at the fabulous Marketing Academy which changed my life! I have worked with Debbie on several occasions since then. When I’ve needed some support, guidance and coaching, Debbie is one of the people I turn to. This is something I have done through organisations I have worked for in the past but also personally when I have needed to refocus. Read more about Debbie’s story below…..

So, tell my followers, what is Confidence Culture?

A coaching consultancy working with individuals to create or manage change within their career or business – everything from developing personal leadership and making career choices, to returning to work after cancer or maternity leave. Basically anything which supports personal growth to impact performance at work.

Powerful stuff! What does a day at Confidence Culture look like?

No two days are the same! Some days I might be out working with a team looking at resilience or strengths, another day back at my coaching suite near Huddersfield with leaders who have escaped the pressure of the office for some development time. I also work via SKYPE. Whatever I’m doing it will involve helping people to change their mindset and sharpen their focus.