Running your own firm is the bee's knees
HAVING her first child changed Donna Bee's life in more ways than one.
For following her maternity leave the 30-year-old Harborough mum decided not to return to her job as a sales and marketing manager and instead set up her own catering business.
When it started in November 2008 it was little more than a sandwich round.
But the business, called Mrs Bee's Kitchen, has gone from strength to strength and today caters for everything from business lunches to weddings, funerals and parties.
Donna, of Nithsdale Avenue, Harborough, said: "I used to be a sales and marketing manager for a health club but always wanted to run my own business and, with my main love being food, that pushed me in the direction I've taken. I started planning the business when I got pregnant with my first child with a view to not returning to work and starting my business after maternity leave."
Donna spent about a year planning her business and trying out different recipes on family and friends before going to the Sir Thomas White Loan Charity to ask for a loan so she could buy a delivery van.
The charity lends money, interest-free, to young people wanting to start their own business and Donna had to come up with a detailed business plan to secure the loan.
She also had to alter her home kitchen, where the food is prepared, to achieve the top environmental health grade of three stars.
"The initial business was just a sandwich round," said Donna.
"But in January 2009 I was asked to do a buffet for a company that I visit on my sandwich round. I really enjoyed it and got a great letter of recommendation from them. I then continued doing more buffets by word of mouth."
By April last year Donna was able to employ an assistant, Paul Morris, who helps with food preparation and coming up with new recipe ideas.
The firm uses a lot of Harborough suppliers including Bates Butchers, Heightons wholesale bakery, cupcake business Martha Eats Cake and Fat Belly Deli.
"I have always tried to provide really high quality, tasty food that I would like to eat at the lowest price I can afford to," said Donna.
Now pregnant again and due to give birth in November, Donna, who lives with husband, Ben, and their son, Isaac, is looking to take on two more employees to help with food preparation and delivery.
Visit www.mrsbeeskitchen.co.uk for more information.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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