News: Sally Shortcake finds the right ingredients
An enterprising coffee shop owner has found the right recipe for successful self-employment by combining a talent for baking with business support from Rotherham Youth Enterprise and funding from UK Steel Enterprise.
When Sally Corns (29) moved back to Wath upon Dearne she wanted to use her catering skills to start working for herself, baking and selling cakes. Sally is now the proud owner of Sally Shortcake on Church Street, a warm and welcoming coffee shop that also sells fresh homemade cakes, sandwiches, Panini and soup.
Sally, who lives in Brampton, moved back to South Yorkshire after spending time working in various catering jobs, including at the Bolton Castle Tea Rooms in Wensleydale. Time spent in call centres did not satisfy her so she set about looking at becoming self-employed. Sally received support from Rotherham Youth Enterprise with her business planning and then applied for a grant from UK Steel Enterprise to convert the former chip shop into her new dream business.
Sally Corns, owner of Sally Shortcake (pictured, right), said: "When we stripped the old fryers out it took most of the tiling up, so the floor had to be re-laid. I also needed good quality signage outside. I've not done much in the way of advertising and as I'm relying on word of mouth the shop has to look good from outside so as to entice people inside. I used all the grant from UKSE to do the floor and the sign as well as topping the budget up with some of my own funds, but if it had not been for the grant I could not have opened up – the new floor was just so important to get sorted."
UK Steel Enterprise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel. Its Kickstart Fund provides grants of up to £500 to start-up businesses to purchase essential equipment and or services that can get them trading.
Applicants to the Kickstart Fund can get support from Rotherham Investment & Development Office and Rotherham Youth Enterprise to help them with business planning and mentoring through the early stages of running the business. UK Steel Enterprise has helped over 200 people start a business in Rotherham since 2009.
Allan Wood, regional executive for UK Steel Enterprise (pictured, left), said: "Sally’s passion for cooking really good food is obvious to anyone who has tasted one of her cakes. The Kickstart Fund is there to help people with new business ideas that have potential to grow and create jobs in the area. The fact that Sally is already planning on being open for special occasions like Mother’s Day when she will be serving special cakes and biscuits shows she knows how to spot a market opening and go for it.
"It's great to be able to welcome back and support entrepreneurs that want to build businesses in South Yorkshire and we hope to be doing the same for even more in 2014."
Jackie Frost, manager of Rotherham Youth Enterprise, said: "Sally is a great example of what can be achieved with hard work and determination. We are happy to have helped her in the grant application process and look forward to providing further support as her business goes from strength to strength."
Not satisfied with opening the new shop Sally has already begun extending the business by providing external catering for lunches and parties.
Sally Shortcake Facebook page
UK Steel Enterprise website
Rotherham Youth Enterprise website
Images: UK Steel Enterprise
When Sally Corns (29) moved back to Wath upon Dearne she wanted to use her catering skills to start working for herself, baking and selling cakes. Sally is now the proud owner of Sally Shortcake on Church Street, a warm and welcoming coffee shop that also sells fresh homemade cakes, sandwiches, Panini and soup.
Sally, who lives in Brampton, moved back to South Yorkshire after spending time working in various catering jobs, including at the Bolton Castle Tea Rooms in Wensleydale. Time spent in call centres did not satisfy her so she set about looking at becoming self-employed. Sally received support from Rotherham Youth Enterprise with her business planning and then applied for a grant from UK Steel Enterprise to convert the former chip shop into her new dream business.
Sally Corns, owner of Sally Shortcake (pictured, right), said: "When we stripped the old fryers out it took most of the tiling up, so the floor had to be re-laid. I also needed good quality signage outside. I've not done much in the way of advertising and as I'm relying on word of mouth the shop has to look good from outside so as to entice people inside. I used all the grant from UKSE to do the floor and the sign as well as topping the budget up with some of my own funds, but if it had not been for the grant I could not have opened up – the new floor was just so important to get sorted."
UK Steel Enterprise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel. Its Kickstart Fund provides grants of up to £500 to start-up businesses to purchase essential equipment and or services that can get them trading.
Applicants to the Kickstart Fund can get support from Rotherham Investment & Development Office and Rotherham Youth Enterprise to help them with business planning and mentoring through the early stages of running the business. UK Steel Enterprise has helped over 200 people start a business in Rotherham since 2009.
Allan Wood, regional executive for UK Steel Enterprise (pictured, left), said: "Sally’s passion for cooking really good food is obvious to anyone who has tasted one of her cakes. The Kickstart Fund is there to help people with new business ideas that have potential to grow and create jobs in the area. The fact that Sally is already planning on being open for special occasions like Mother’s Day when she will be serving special cakes and biscuits shows she knows how to spot a market opening and go for it.
"It's great to be able to welcome back and support entrepreneurs that want to build businesses in South Yorkshire and we hope to be doing the same for even more in 2014."
Jackie Frost, manager of Rotherham Youth Enterprise, said: "Sally is a great example of what can be achieved with hard work and determination. We are happy to have helped her in the grant application process and look forward to providing further support as her business goes from strength to strength."
Not satisfied with opening the new shop Sally has already begun extending the business by providing external catering for lunches and parties.
Sally Shortcake Facebook page
UK Steel Enterprise website
Rotherham Youth Enterprise website
Images: UK Steel Enterprise
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