Amanda set up shop on Keswick’s busy high street selling home-made cakes, including vegan and gluten free cakes, teas and coffees, as well as sandwiches and sausage rolls made from locally sourced sausage meat from Pioneer. Operating under the motto of “Made with quality ingredients, baked with love”, Bellaport Bakes has gained a loyal following of returning customers who drop in for a slice of cake, a coffee and a chat. The shop has also been a hit with the tourists who visit Keswick each day, a customer base which is set to grow over the coming months.

Amanda said: “My experience with the Growth Hub has been very positive, everyone I've encountered has been friendly and helpful. [My business adviser] Gail is very informative and knowledgeable especially around reducing waste and likeminded suppliers. Gail has helped give me direction and great tips how to grow my business. My future plans are I see this initially as a 5 year project. I intend to start doing some cakes to order and develop the business to business links which I've already started. As the shop gets busier I intend to hire a casual member of staff during the summer which I will enjoy as I love teaching what I've learned myself. My favourite thing about running my own business is that I love meeting new people and being given challenges by customers’ requests and orders. I love the flexibility the job brings and I especially love the creative side of the business.” Here at the Growth Hub, we love nothing more than seeing one of our clients benefit from our support then go on to build their business and have a positive impact on their community and Amanda has done just that! Our Business Start-Up Support is supported by Allerdale Borough Council.