Member Article

Bradford entrepreneur launches cake decoration business

A Bradford woman is celebrating the end of a frustrating year of unemployment by starting her own brand new cake decoration business – and 45-year-old Christine Fisher from Girlington really has risen to the occasion!

With a background in hospitality, Christine knew she still wanted to work in catering, but hundreds of job applications later, she was struggling to get back into the career she had enjoyed so much.

As the anniversary of her unemployment approached, Bradford’s Jobcentre Plus referred Christine to Ingeus, which through the government’s Work Programme, offers specialist employment support for people in West Yorkshire. Ingeus set about rebuilding Christine’s confidence - because of her year-long job hunt, her self-esteem was at an all time low. When she brought a fully-decorated cake into the Ingeus office on Vicar Lane as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for the help she was receiving, it became very clear just where her talents lay!

“We immediately suggested to Christine that she should start her own business as a cake maker and decorator, and we’re delighted to say that’s exactly what she has done. ‘Miss Cakes’ has been formed and, even though it’s early days, Christine is doing really well,” said Paul Clarke from Ingeus.

Ingeus teamed up with specialist training agency All Star Entertainment, which helps aspiring entrepreneurs start their own businesses. The two organisations ensured Christine understood the process of becoming self-employed, from creating a business plan to registering and running her own company.

“It can seem like a minefield and there is a lot to consider,” said Alex Church from All Star Entertainments. “However, it was clear that Christine had the passion to succeed, which is why we were delighted to encourage her and help her start up. We’re all really proud of what she has achieved and we will continue to support her as her business grows.”

“I have always enjoyed making cakes for family and friends, but I had no idea how to turn my passion into a business,” added Christine. “When Ingeus and All Star suggested the idea and explained what was involved, it seemed like I would have had an enormous mountain to climb but, thanks to all the support I am receiving, I am confident of getting there. Being unemployed was never part of my plan and it was a very difficult time for all sorts of reasons, not least of which was the drain on my confidence. That’s all changed now and, once again, I’m doing something that I love. That’s a great reason to celebrate… with a cake, of course!”

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