A baker has secured a £2,000 grant to grow her business.

The SWEF Business Grant, from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation, will help 28-year-old Sope Oludimu, from Southampton, to develop her start-up.

The grant will fund equipment and training for the baker, supporting young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 who lack the means to invest in their own business or raise external funds.

Sope kick-started her enterprise in Nigeria, but after relocating to the UK in 2022 to join her husband, she had to rebuild from the ground up.

Sope said: "I am so excited to get the SWEF grant. It means the plans I had for the business over the next four to five years can now be rolled out as early as next year. 

"Everything I currently earn goes straight back into the business, so I’m only just breaking even each month. I hope now to be making a profit by 2025 and maybe to employ someone in the kitchen, which will mean I can upscale my production while also freeing up some time to triple my customer base next year."

Sope capitalised on her baking skills and nurtured community relationships, subsequently creating a loyal client base through word of mouth and a burgeoning social media presence.

Her Instagram and TikTok profiles boast more than 30,000 followers, where she highlights her baking passion and ability to craft visually appealing cakes.

Having established a robust business foundation in Southampton, Sope sought investment to broaden her product range and enhance production capabilities.

The SWEF Business Grant will procure a new industrial mixer, enabling her to prepare larger batches for bigger orders.

The grant will also cover additional training with Cake International, which will furnish Sope with new competencies in creating elaborate designs.

These will help diversify her offering and distinguish her in a competitive market. Sope’s creations can be viewed on Instagram and TikTok under the handle Sensational Bitez.