WHEN ROLLS-ROYCE contractor Chloe Thompson was hit with a shock redundancy notice earlier this year, her determination to make the best of bad news saw her through.

The result has been the founding of her new home baking business Chloe’s Cakes.

Always an avid baker, Ms Thompson decided that, though being one of several redundancies made at the Barnoldswick plant was deeply disappointing, this was the perfect opportunity to go professional.

She said: “Basically it’s all been a bit of whirlwind.

“I’ve always done baking and then I started doing bit and pieces for people here and there.

“Then when the news came through that me and my team were going to be made redundant at Barnoldswick, I decided to get my professional qualification, start a business and from there we’ve just gone from strength to strength.”

While caring for daughters Olivia and Evelyn, Ms Thompson studied hard and quickly to gain a level three food safety and hygiene qualification before registering her new business from her home in Craven.

The business delivery services now stretch across much of Lancashire and North Yorkshire.

Ms Thompson said: “We started off quite local and now I’ve got orders up to next June.

“People started with small orders and now the same customers are coming back.

“Everyone’s thinking with the vaccine getting rolled out that there’s hope yet for weddings.”

Not only has the business been a great success, but Ms Thompson and partner Darren Morley, who she described as her “biggest supporter” have been helping charities in their local community.

Already she has raised £150 for charities including Salvation Army and Macmillan cancer research and donated over £200 worth of vouchers to various nursing homes and causes including Pendleside Hospice and Manorlands.

More recently Ms Thompson has been providing regular food packages to a local Barnoldswick Church.

She said: “You’ve just got to do your bit because everybody is in the same boat.”

To find out if Chloe's Cakes can deliver to your area, go to: www.facebook.com/chloescakesnorthyorkshire.