UK Business Secretary Vince Cable visited Leeds-based Exquisite Handmade Cakes recently to learn how a Goldman Sachs business mentoring scheme is helping Yorkshire companies to grow during the recession.
The picture shows from left: Rt Hon Vince Cable, MP, UK Business Secretary, Viv Parry, founder of Exquisite Handmade Cakes, and Michelle Pinggera, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs London.
During his visit Mr Cable heard how founder of Exquisite Handmade Cakes Viv Parry has grown a family-run business into a medium-sized enterprise which now sells over 1,200 cakes a week to shops, cafes, hotels, train companies and airlines nationwide. The company’s success has been boosted as a result of Viv’s participation in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme.
Mr Cable said: “More than 99% of UK businesses are small and medium enterprises, so I welcome Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Business UK initiative as a real contributor to the wider support available.”
Founder of Exquisite Handmade Cakes Viv Parry commented: “We started as a small family-run business but with big business prospects. We have an eye for real innovation and market opportunities, but needed the practical skills and approaches as well as the wider business networks to be able to grow quickly. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme helped me to identify partnership opportunities with other regional businesses, which has accelerated our growth and NPD.”
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programe was launched in 2010 to help small businesses grow. The programme offers entrepreneurs a four-month business and management course with an emphasis on real-life practical experience. It is run in partnership with UK academic partners including Leeds University Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, Aston Business School and University College London.
Established in 2004, Exquisite Handmade Cakes was founded by Viv Parry when an opportunity arose to purchase assets from a bakery liquidation. Since that date, and without any significant investment, Exquisite Handmade Cakes has achieved rapid growth and a turnover of £1.7m this financial year. With a reputation for quality and service the business has built up a national network of food distributors and transport companies including Jet 2, First Hull Trains and Grand Central Railways. This year Exquisite Handmade Cakes was proud to supply a number of prestigious events including Royal Ascot and The Chelsea Flower Show, via Sodexo Prestige Events.
Exquisite Handmade Cakes
0113 289 0283
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