Wedding cake business innovates in pandemic

Tees Bakery started to feel the impact of the pandemic, alongside the rest of the wedding industry, as restrictions were put in place. “My clients began to postpone their weddings, and as things became more uncertain, the cancellations started to come through”, explains Toyin. Money stopped coming into the business, and deposits had to be refunded, which caused a great deal of emotional distress and anxiety. Toyin was balancing running her business with home-schooling, and missed the deadline for the government’s discretionary grant, which led to her calling Hertfordshire County Council to ask for the help she desperately needed. She was told about the Volunteer Business Support Scheme; a free and confidential 1-2-1 mentoring programme devised by Hertfordshire Growth Hub, in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. The scheme offers micro, small and medium sized businesses in Hertfordshire up to 12 hours of free, flexible support from a mentor that’s highly experienced in managing or coaching at a strategic level.

Toyin signed up and was matched with volunteer mentor Chris Riley, a retired trained accountant with over 30 years of experience across finance, supply chain management, business development and operations. He also had small business experience through being involved in a successful award-winning wedding events business. Toyin found an instant connection. “Meeting Chris was an absolute delight. He had experience in my sector and understood exactly what I was going through.” Toyin liked the structured and prepared approach Chris took to each video call. “We always finished with action points, which kept me on my toes. Chris was giving up his time to help my business and it motivated me to keep going.”