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Single Mums Business Network SMBN - Affordable Exposure for Self-Employed Single Mums in the UK
EXPOSURE

 The SMBN has always been about EXPOSURE, unashamedly. As I have been very open about my struggle against adversity to build the business since becoming a single mum in 2012 I always knew that lack of PR budget was really holding me back.

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Passion, Purpose & Pride

For 20 years my journey was full-time employment, home ownership, marriage, credit & socialising whilst blissfully unaware of what it meant to need to turn to the benefits system and what it must be like to be a single mum.

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Helping Single Mums working in sch
Why I help Single Mums – Some inside info..

Now there are some serious gamechangers out there, who promote flexible working for real pay, and here are the ones I know about:
2to3days  923  Ten2Two  WorkingMums  Women like us  and  Capability Jane

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MLM – Sitting on the fence and rules for SMBN Members

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Virtual Assistant
Michelle offers Virtual Assistance, namely General Administration, Audio Transcription and Proofreading and editing.

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Benefits as a Single Mum. Holding your head high.

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Single Mums Business Network Blog
Business Networking for Single Mums – what’s it all about?

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Fighting for Family and Financial Independence

When you want to work but society constructively dismisses you and then penalises you for it

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SMBN Founder Julie Hawkins

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I would like to welcome Sarah Harvey – to the Single Mums Business Network. Sarah has taken on the role of County Coordinator for MERSEYSIDE! 

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I would like to welcome Anne-Marie Jones, of the Presentation Refinery.. ‘I became a single mum to two amazing boys when my husband tragically took his own life in 2018. To say that life since hasn’t been plain sailing would be an understatement’

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I would like to welcome Rebecca Ingram – Wear Your Crown, to the Single Mums Business Network. Not only has Rebecca joined as a member but she has also taken on the role of County Coordinator for WORCESTERSHIRE

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Welcome new members, Rachel Shilston, Lucinda Dore and Kirstie Preece – Rachel is the Creative Director of a dynamic and innovative company, delivering fun mosaic workshops, unique kits and a monthly subscription box service, Lucinda Dore is a Solicitor and the Principal of LD Legal Services. She specialises in Private Crime & Regulatory Law, Road Traffic Law and Benefit Appeal Tribunals and Kirstie a Utility Warehouse Business Owner and network buddy for Omni Local Business Networking

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I would like to welcome Claudette Webb, the owner of The Design Webb, an Interiors and Soft Furnishings business based in SE London to the SMBN.

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Meet our County Coordinators! Business Networking for Single Mums

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Thanks to our speakers…

Our first conference was fantastic – thanks to the venue, our delegates and speakers…

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I would like to give a warm welcome to Kay Hamblin, Director of Eight Legal to ‘Friends of the SMBN‘ who will now benefit from year round exposure to her business, because she supports the Single Mums Business Network.

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I would like to give a warm welcome to Lucy Tarrant, Founding Partner and Managing Director of Cognitive Law, Cognitive Law was founded in September 2014, after a very brave decision to create a law firm where everyone could manage their own time in a way that suited their lives.

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I would like to give a warm welcome to Bridget, Bridget has created a fantastic platform, and a magazine, to help all Parents in Biz and I am delighted to welcome her as a friend of the SMBN

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SMBN now supports GINGERBREAD via WORK for GOOD!

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Gingerbread. They are, as far as I am aware, the only UK charity whose sole existence is to support single parents. When I became a Single Mum in 2012, I had NO idea, what to do or where to go, or what help I could get, if any. 

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Kirsty really impressed me with her knowledge and ethics when she recently gave a presentation at a Malvern WiRE meeting and I am delighted to welcome her as a friend of the SMBN

Kirsty is a highly qualified and experienced financial adviser. Whether you need savings, investment or pension advice, Kirsty can help.

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Award-Winning Best Selling Author and Virtual Assistant Catherine Gladwyn shares inspiration at the Single Mums Business Network Conference 2019

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Single Mums Business Network aka SMBN
AE = Affordable Exposure – When you are a self-employed Single Mum in the UK finding a PR budget can be really hard, and so the SMBN is here to provide that crucial affordable platform

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Do you want to shout out to your mum who was a single mum in the 60’s 70’s 80’s? (or any year!) Drop me an e-mail and photo to..

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Alison is a fantastic Networker and Trainer and I am delighted to welcome her as a friend of the SMBN – Read all about her and PERITIA …

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Marie is a Powerhouse and I am delighted to welcome her as a friend of the SMBN – Read all about her and EMPOWERMENT HOUSE …

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Lisa always looks great and she certainly knows how to help others look and feel great too –
Look Great, Feel Fabulous – Be The Real You

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Do you want to be a friend of the SMBN (Single Mums Business Network)? Read more…

Julie Hawkins is a NATIONAL FINALIST in the ‘Leadership’ Category of The Positive Awards

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Thank you to Rebecca Hardy at Edge21 for creating this PR VT for the SMBN
and thank you to Alison and Ed at Forest Hills Golf Club for providing a great location.

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A Virtual Assistant is your right arm, your confidant, your back bone, your spokes!

Michelle Molyneux of MJM Virtual Solutions is just that…

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 For pet owners looking for a truly special memory/gift, our stunning range of sterling silver jewellery showcasing your pet’s unique paw print is a must! With 10 years’ experience we are ideally positioned to advise you on the best gifts, keepsakes and jewellery designs,

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In 2018 Amy founded Business Choir, a networking phenomenon which combines the joy of singing with the benefits of relaxed networking.

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I believe businesses don’t know what they don’t know and I help them navigate and engage with all the often FREE support which is available, but is not easily located.’

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Welcome New Member – Julia Hallewell – Network Leader & Forever Living

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Single Mums Business Network
The SMBN (Single Mums Business Network) if for mums in the UK who are fighting for family and financial freedom

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Lidia has kindly taken the time to share her very personal story with us – I have to be honest, I couldn’t get through it without crying, and some of it was so familiar that it made me realise that the SMBN is about so much more than business

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Having been through a very difficult few years I found myself a single mum back in my home town and feeling like I had hit a plateau which I wanted to rise above. I sought the help of a life coach and made such amazing progress with my goals. I discovered that all my skills and passions would be put to fabulous use as a life coach myself.

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Lidia is a passionate proud single mother, a holistic personal trainer, inspirational blogger, transformational life coach, mindfulness and gratitude advocate and travel enthusiast born and bred in South Africa.  Lidia always dreamt of achieving great things in life however, circumstances like bereavement, poverty, abuse and trauma changed her life dramatically and she ended up taking a different journey than the one she wanted or chose.

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Cara is a multi award-winning entrepreneur who’s much more at home sharing the real life struggles of trying to run a business (and a life) than reeling off her accolades.

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Zoë has kindly shared an in-depth blog which you can read below, and she is actively organising events to help all Single Mums aka Independent Mothers –

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Are you a Single Mum in Business in the UK? The SMBN needs YOU

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Kent Networking for Single Mums
This Kent based networking group is designed to help (all) mums grow in confidence and be supported in following their dreams- while still being ‘Mum’!

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We have a lot of high profile talk at the moment about the #housingcrisis and a lot of amazing people trying to solve the issue of high private rents – encouraging the building of more affordable homes to enable people to work, and enjoy a decent standard of living, without being cripled by rising living costs and stagnant archaic wages.

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Even living wage is not enough to enable people to live their lives every week, month, year, without worrying about meeting the rent or mortgage, and without being penalised by the banks or utility or insurance companies for having to pay monthly. 

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‘It doesn’t pay to work’.  This is something I have heard for many years and the words have caused me great discomfort.  It is often perceived that living on benefits is a comfy lifestyle option, and with great analysis I have reached my own conclusion, which of course I am sharing as we all know I love to put the world to rights, as I see it.

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