Member Article

Lemongrass Cafe is a growing success

A South Tyneside catering business is having a successful first year after helping a woman who had previously living on benefits. Jean Clift, 53, from Newcastle, who has been in the catering business for over 20 years, set up Lemongrass Cafe last June.

Jean employs two staff members, one of whom had been unemployed and claiming benefits prior to working there. The cafe, which sells an array of hot and cold lunch food including sandwiches, jacket potatoes and soups, also provides a corporate catering delivery service for businesses throughout the borough.

Jean said: “The whole experience has been very challenging but if you can get over the initial nerves and fear of seeking help, the rewards can be extremely satisfying. I am proud to say that I have done this all myself, I would advise others to swallow all those fears and go for it.”

In the future, Jean hopes to take on new staff members and expand the business by opening a number of other Lemongrass Cafes across South Tyneside and throughout the North East region.

Jean received help with starting up her business from the South Tyneside Means Business programme.

Councillor Eddie McAtominey, lead member for jobs, enterprise and regeneration in South Tyneside, said: “Financial support is a vital part of success when it comes to starting and growing your own business. “Jean used her expertise in catering to form the basis of her business idea but sought the right support, advice and funding to take it further and set up on her own, as well as helping others in the process.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .