Yorkshire Cake Ace Benefits from BEF Funding
Allison Whitmarsh is the woman behind handmade bakers ‘ProperMaid’. Since 2008 Allison has put her experience in food manufacturing to use and taken her business from strength to strength, receiving backing from Dragon Deborah Meaden in 2012.
Delivering innovative cakes across the country to clients such as Manchester Airport and Pret a Manger, ProperMaid needed to expand their facilities for the growing demand.
The Business Enterprise Fund provided the funding required for improved manufacturing and storage facilities to enable ProperMaid to expand its production.
Now Allison can take on the new opportunities her success has brought, and has plans to expand her slice in the market, including projects with chocolatiers Thorntons. “We’re looking to launch a cake at Christmas time working with some of their ingredients. It’s very tasty I must admit!” Allison said.
The cake will stand out from the rest, judging by previous inventions, which include a dandelion and burdock cake as well as classics such as chocolate fudge brownies.
The market was clearly hungry for high quality, unique cakes and treats. ProperMaid have picked up rewards for their efforts, including winning the SME category in the Huddersfield Examiner Business Awards as well as features in Ideal Home Magazine and the Guardian.
ProperMaid’s success started with Allison’s passion with cookery. During an entrepreneurship module at university she decided to live the dream. “I realised there was a big gap in the market for home baking.”
Hits such as The Great British Bake off have also helped the business bloom.
In July Allison will be teaming up with BEF for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge in aid of the charity One In a Million; completing 25 miles of hillwalking in under 12 hours. There are no questions on who will be providing the snacks! Visit the sponsor page and find out more about One In a Million here: http://bit.ly/1dvKiax
BEF's financial solutions could be the icing on the cake for your business, find out more today.