Council support is icing on the cake for young entrepreneur
Life is all cupcakes and rainbows for 14-year-old Sophie Yaxley, who is the youngest entrepreneur to receive funding and support from Broadland District Council’s Business Builder scheme.
At just 13, Sophie launched her gluten-free baking business Dancing Bee Bakes and has recently been awarded a £1,000 Build Up grant from the Council to take her business to the next tier.
Broadland District Council’s Cabinet Member, Cllr Martin Booth, said:
“Over 200 business owners have benefited from our scheme, with funding, training support and more. Whether you’re a well-established brand, or a fledgling operation like Dancing Bee Bakes, we can help your business grow.”
Sophie always enjoyed baking, starting when she was just two years old. Even after a coeliac diagnosis a couple of years later, she continued to follow her passion and began whipping up delicious gluten-free bakes.
“What I love most is when people enjoy my bakes and have no idea they are gluten, dairy and egg-free”, reveals Sophie.
Two years ago, she completed a food technology qualification and she began thinking about starting a baking business. With her mother Jenny’s backing, they set up the business with a separate commercial kitchen to fully meet the requirements of their free-from offer.
Dancing Bee Bakes soon took off, with Sophie posting brownies to a growing number of customers and stocking the Cat Lounge in Norwich.
However, Sophie’s mixer was small and slowing production, which became a challenge as orders increased.
Sophie said:
“We then came across the Business Builder programme. Jane, the Council’s Economic Development Officer, was so helpful and encouraged me to apply for the Build Up grant and recommended the free online Foundation Course for start-up businesses.
“With the grant we were able to get a commercial mixer and now I can do 20 batches in one go, when before it was only two. Also amazing for my business was the online Foundation Course. I learnt so much, so quickly, that now I’m going to take my business GCSE a year early.”
Business Builder is a scheme offering advice, training and funds, and is designed to help businesses who are investing in their own growth. Eligible businesses based in the Broadland and South Norfolk Districts can apply for Business Builder support. It is part-funded by the UK Government, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
For more information, please visit the Business Builder Programme page.