National Cupcake Week begins in just one month, so it is the perfect time to start those creative preparations, in order to take advantage of the media hype around the event.

The annual event is, this year, sponsored by Tesco, BFP Wholesale and Secret Ingredients.

Now in its fifth year the promotional week is designed for bakeries, coffee shops, supermarkets and cafés - basically anyone selling cupcakes - to make the most of their popularity by promoting NCW to their customers, and encouraging them to come in and buy a cupcake.

We will also be supporting cancer charity CLIC Sargent for the third year running, so as well as boosting profits in your shops we are encouraging bakers to take part and raise money for charity at the same time.

You can do this by selling a range of special cakes for the charity and donating a percentage of the profits, get staff involved in some in-shop fundraising, or collect donations from customers with a counter-top box.

Bakeries can register to take part, request materials to help them decorate their shops or find out any further information by calling CLIC Sargent on 08451 206 658 or emailing cupcake@clicsargent.org.uk.

To further information visit www.nationalcupcakeweek.co.uk.