Cat's Pajamas - Businesses built on passion - Mrs Bun the Baker Cookery School

Author: Carrie-Ann, Cat's Pajamas

Tell us a little bit about your business.

Mrs Bun the Baker is a cookery school in the South Oxfordshire area, working with schools, nurseries, charities, communities, garden centres, food festivals and my own independent classes for toddlers, children, teens and families.

We are a hands on, fun cookery school for toddlers through to adults. Having always baked from an early age with my mum, and enjoying all her wonderful bakes as well as my Grandma’s, I decided to continue my love of food by studying, food and catering at University. I then became a teacher and worked at secondary schools for nearly 20 years as a teacher of food technology.

Then in 2014 I decided to set up my own award winning cooking school to teach cooking skills to all. In cooking classes they Make, Bake and Take home all their goodies, gaining confidence and inspiring them to bake at home.

I have written two books which contain class favourites that they like to make again and again, so they are all tried and tested with. They are not ‘kids food’ but good wholesome, healthy food for all the family to enjoy, we make and bake savoury goodies, so they can see how easy dishes can be, healthy but also very tasty.

What inspired you to set up your business?

I always loved baking and after 20 years in education I decided I wanted to teach without the analysis of cooking and grades but just enjoy it and for children to gain confidence with it. I taught my son from the day dot! And while at school I was finding some were coming to secondary school not knowing what a tin opener, how to work the hob or oven and decided that I wanted to teach them younger and start to have a love of food, so Mrs Bun the Baker Cookery school was born! Or baked!

What gave you the final nudge/ push to go for it?

My son, again I was having to drop him off somewhere early in the morning and then late pick ups, always marking work and not spending the time with him and he was growing up fast so I just decided to leave.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

I think to be honest now, Coronavirus has put a different perspective on the business and online classes are not for all, so it is reinventing, re-marketing yourself and quickly really, so that is a huge challenge.

Describe your greatest success/ the thing you are most proud of?

I am most proud of BUN…It has come so far from just a couple of classes a week to filling all my days with it, and it was all organic, there was no plan, I just enjoyed it, and winning an award for my business was great.

What motivates you to keep forging ahead with your business?

My passion for teaching everyone how easy it is to make and bake, that you can do it, that don’t stress it is fun, and doing my live bake-alongs on Facebook during lockdown meant I reached so many and gave them confidence to try goodies even a swiss roll.

Find out more by visiting www.mrsbunthebaker.net

Thank you so much to Angie for sharing her story with us here at Cat's Pajamas. We always feel inspired hearing about the journeys of others.

If you would like to find out more about Mrs Bun the Baker Cookery School you can visit:

Instagram - @mrsbunthebaker

Facebook - @mrsbunthebaker

Twitter - @Amrsbunthebaker