Cooking Up a Storm

Battersea’s newest entrepreneur sets up cake baking business with help from InBiz

Renee Johnson, 27, from Battersea, has made the leap from unemployed lone parent to entrepreneur by launching her new business selling home-made celebration cakes.

Renee had experience working in administration, but struggled to find employment that allowed her to work around the needs of her three-year-old daughter. Renee enjoyed baking and decorating cakes with her little girl, and often received compliments about how nice her cakes were. She began to realise that she could turn her love of baking into a business.

Although Renee had an idea for a bespoke celebration cake business, she didn’t know how to turn this into a reality. She turned to InBiz, an organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of self employment and entrepreneurship, for help in setting up her own business.

At the InBiz office on London Road, Mitcham, Renee was assigned her own Business Adviser, Jyo Patel. Renee received help with practical elements of running a business such as bookkeeping, marketing and food safety, as well as advice on issues such as childcare, and Jyo also arranged for Renee to see the Princes Trust for funding.

One challenge Renee had to contend with was being unable to drive, meaning she couldn’t deliver her cakes to customers. However, with the support of her family, Renee has overcome this, and has found that for a personal, bespoke service, many customers are willing to travel to her to collect the cakes.

Her business, The Cup Cake Lady, is growing, and Renee is looking to the future. She eventually hopes to move into premises in key shopping areas, and open a party cafe for children, where she can sell her products.

Renee said, “Opening my business gives me the ability to earn a living, while ensuring that I get to spend time with my daughter. As much as I enjoy creating cakes for special occasions, it’s the look on people’s faces when they see their cake that gives me real job satisfaction. Going into self employment was a big step, but with support from my family and help from InBiz, I am building a successful future.”

Richie Hamden, InBiz Business Manager, said, “Renee’s business is a good example of the work that InBiz does in London. Renee had a good business idea, using her existing skills, but needed practical advice on how to start a business. Although there were challenges along the way, having tailored support and guidance has helped Renee to establish a successful business.”

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