Meet Georgia, 27, from London. She runs her own cake business, making cakes for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
It’s slightly alternative to the normal career path. My parents had to be convinced … and my grandparents … and my friends.
What is your job?
I sell bespoke cakes to clients, for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations. I also teach cake decorating workshops. I've started a YouTube channel and am slowly becoming more of an ‘influencer’ in the baking world.
What are your day-to-day tasks?
Towards the beginning of the week I do lots of admin – sending emails, contacting clients, getting in touch with companies and exploring new business opportunities. Towards the end of the week, I bake and decorate cakes as most people want cakes for the weekend.
What subject do you draw on from school?
I studied Art, Photography and Maths at A-level. I got three As. I think they all come in handy. Art is the creative design side. I photograph all of my own cakes and use the photos for social media and marketing. The Maths is useful for the baking and science side.
Is this the job you always knew you wanted to do?
No, At first I didn't think it was a job option at all. I got a place at university to study Architecture, but decided I didn't want to do it, so I took a year out. I completed an Art Foundation Course and was then accepted on a Foundation Degree in Animation at LCC. Whilst studying, my hobby was cooking and baking. After speaking to one of my college friends who was enjoying the course a lot more than I was, I realised that baking was (and still is) my true passion. In a lightbulb moment, I realised you can actually do what you love!
I then decided to go to Le Cordon Bleu for culinary training. The application included a cover letter, where I wrote about how passionate I am about this field. That, I suppose, was my qualification – but it obviously helps having the grades too.
Top tips
- Do what you are passionate about
- If you think that something you love isn’t a career, you may be wrong. There’s so much out there beyond school subjects
- I took risks, but I always had a back-up plan.
What to expect if you want to be a baker
- Baker average salary: £16,000 to £24,000 per year
- Baker typical working hours: 41 to 45 hours per week
What qualifications do you need to be a baker?
You could get into this role via a college course, an apprenticeship or working towards this role.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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