Partner Article

Getting to know... Helena Harford

We know you as the founder of Print Cakes and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…
A perfect day would start with the kids sleeping in a little so my husband and I could begin our morning with a quiet coffee and a chat (this is very rare!). This year we began home schooling our two eldest (5 & 8), and if we manage to strike the balance between family time and making progress on some Print Cakes projects, I will go to bed happy. As much as I long for a sit down and a rest, when I get the opportunity I inevitably come up with something else to do. With three young kids and a growing business, it isn’t difficult to find a something else!

Did you always want to work in your industry?
I originally wanted to be a Graphic Designer, so headed to The University of Leeds and got my degree. However, three design jobs later, it turns out that sitting behind a desk all day getting told what to do wasn’t my thing. I was living at home at the time and my mam was not keen on me dossing around the house, so after watching a few YouTube videos I started making cupcakes. I had always loved baking, it just never occurred to me that I could turn it into a business. I spent 6 years building up a successful home bakery business, creating all kinds of crazy cakes, which then transitioned into Print Cakes!

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?
The best part is seeing the finished products, there’s something about rows of identical cupcakes and biscuits which is really satisfying. This is especially exciting when they are for big, well-known brands. Chanel was a real highlight last year, but I’ve also loved working on orders for Irn Bru, Jo Malone, Pets at Home, and Estée Lauder, to name a few. It’s a long list, and it always makes me smile when I see those familiar names. The worst part? Definitely the washing up, but these days my brilliant team takes care of most of it.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Growing the business from an idea at home to what it is today, with a bakery, a team, and a constantly expanding list of customers is something I’m immensely proud of, even if some days I lose sight of it. Alongside that, managing to run a business while raising three small children feels like an ongoing achievement in itself. Some days are incredibly hard, and others feel like I’ve got everything under control. Both are part of a continuous rollercoaster ride which I am clinging onto!

How do you relax outside of work?
I love a coffee, and a holiday, so if I can combine the two then that’s bliss. Otherwise, if the sun is shining I’m outside and if not, probably at soft play with the kids. We’re definitely in the thick of the child rearing, so relaxing can be difficult to achieve, but every so often, the stars align.

What makes the North East such a great place to live and work?
I love the people, and how close knit everyone is. I don’t have the chance to get out to events that often, but when I do chatting to other business owners is my favourite thing. Being so close to the coast is another big plus. I feel very lucky we can be at the beach in 15 minutes.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…
I’ve baked cakes twice now for Richard Branson and have evidence he ate them! Virgin Money was my first big customer back in 2013. Before that, my “big order” was 250 cupcakes, this order was 2,000! I took Richard’s quote completely to heart – “Say yes – then learn how to do it later!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Entrepreneurs' Forum .