When life gives you lemons….. well almost. Melissa turned a bad situation into a money making opportunity. Now with an award winning business, Melissa had to endure tough times and still provide for her 3 young children in the process. If she wins this award, she plans to spend her winnings on a new van.
Outline your business and entrepreneurial skills, including your relative achievements to date in running a business:
In 2012 I found myself unemployed due to having major knee surgery. Giving myself a few months to recover I was very bored and cooked soup for Friends and family. That then became a business and within 3 months I had won a best new business award. Making and selling produce using fresh locally sourced produce and encouraging children to eat more healthy by reading the story about the soup dragon using diversity, healthy eating and kitchen safety. I have now been asked to venture into buffets, business lunches and children’s parties as well as my first love of delivering soups, chillies, salads and unusual sandwiches.
Why do you have the ability to be an inspiring role model? Provide examples to illustrate:
I KNOW what it’s like to struggle, be unemployed, hungry, in a pit of despair. With 3 children to feed and encourage I know realistic ways and how to achieve them reasonable and without breaking the bank. From a mere soup maker I have been asked by a local government grant scheme to provide lunches and breakfasts. I’m real, I have winkles and stress lines and I think by showing people if I CAN come from the edge then anyone can.
What is your business / idea and what would you use the £5,000 towards if you were to win
The business is already set up but after having a pop up shop at Christmas it proved business is there as I achieved my daily figures sometimes excelling. I desperately need a small and quirky premises to work from for people to purchase from. So £5000 would be invested that way and a small van.
