International Women's Day 2019 - 8 Inspiring Bakers you need to know about!

​Have you ever dreamed of starting your own baking business? Has Bake Off inspired you to put your baking talents to good use? To leave the rat race behind and spend your days whipping up baked treats, the gorgeous aroma of bread, cakes or biscuits filling the room? Before I was made redundant I spent many days dreaming of stepping away from the stifling corporate structure, yearning to do something creative with my time. 


Ultimately, redundancy gave me the opportunity to follow my dream and passion. The reality of running a bakery business has not quite matched the idealistic reverie I entertained myself with for many hours while sitting in pointless meetings but in truth, becoming an entrepreneur and building a business around my baking talents has bought me so many opportunities to live a life less ordinary. 


In celebration of International Women’s Day 2019, I asked 7 amazing, talented bakers who - each in their own way - have taken the food industry by storm to tell us about what running a baking business means to them as a female entrepreneur.


1. Eve Torbitt  A Kind Mama Vegan Bakery ​​

​"I started this little business because I couldn't believe it was SO hard to find yummy vegan cakes, and I just didn't think it was fair that living a cruelty free life meant people were missing out.

Being a woman in business is so important to me, I love the community of women that I’ve found in different business groups and how we all build each other up, even when we probably “should” be competing!

​It was women who inspired me to start my business & women who push me forward when I doubt myself...."​
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2. Jess Mills - Little Bee Bakery

​"Running my own 'cakes by post' business gives me such a sense of independence and empowerment. It allows me to create a life that works for me, and out of a bad time in life I've built something I can sit back and say I'm so proud of.

3. Reshmi Bennett  Anges de Sucre
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“Being a woman in business took a whole new meaning when I had a child. Until then I was able to treat my business as my “baby”, but once my child arrived I suddenly had two “babies” to look after. Both needed my attention, and navigating between the two is very much still a work in progress as it certainly is a lot more challenging. There are times of frustration when I feel I’m juggling too many balls and dropping them constantly, and there are times I feel all the hard work in terms of setting up our business and growing it to a level where it looks after our staff, us and affords me the flexibility to work around my baby, is paying off. 

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4. Griselda Soames - Enchanting Bakes

I love being able to do something I am passionate about, where I am my own boss and can make my working hours fit around my life. The flexibility of my business is crucial to me ensuring I maintain a healthy work/life balance.

 
5​. Ella Rauen-Prestes Butler - Fitbakes

​“For me to be a woman in business means that we have more insight of the client. Women are the household decision makers, they are the ones that do the shopping for the whole family, so being a woman and knowing how women think is actually an advantage!”​


​6​. Jane Stammers - Tipple Tails

Since being in business for myself, I have met some fantastically talented, creative, strong and tenacious women who are also in business and I’ve given myself ‘permission’ to acknowledge that I am in that camp too! And, they are also very supportive – I gain so much from being part of this resourceful, encouraging community.
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​7. Kate Lieberman - Dolce Lusso Cakes

"Running and growing a business isn’t easy, especially one where your product can make or break a wedding day. And there’s always the pressures of fitting everything in around home demands too. But I'm passionate about what I do, and have been fortunate enough to enjoy the support of my family in moving from a hobbyist to an entrepreneur. It’s all for the love of taste and beauty.”


​8. Kate Saunders - Blackberry Cottage Fayre 

"For me as a women in business I can define success in my own terms...."

And for me? Well, running a baking business has not only allowed me to earn a living from my passion, but has in recent years also given me platform from which I can do something even closer to my heart - to help female food entrepreneurs to launch the food businesses of their dreams. 

I am so inspired by the amazing women that I coach and many more who I get to meet through my facebook group for food entrepreneurs and I am grateful to be able to play a small part in their success.

Do you have a food business that you are looking to grow this year? Are you eager to turn your food passion into a thriving business? 

Visit my website to find out ways I can help you through 1-2-1 coaching, group programmes or my free facebook group. 

Til the next time 

​Nila x 


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