Cameron’s push helps mother start business

Fed up with job searches that led nowhere, she was inspired by Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent visit to Leeds, where he launched the “Business in You” campaign to encourage people to start their own businesses.

Former corporate sales manager Ms Reuben, 45, has now launched a privately-run children’s cookery club – Stir Krazy Kids Cookery Club – to co-incide with the half-term holidays.

“I have spent the last four months trying to find work without any luck,” said Ms Reuben.

“I decided to change focus and make the big step of setting up my own business.

“I’ve spent most days surfing the internet researching for a niche in the market and David Cameron’s address to small businesses in Leeds has given me the extra push I need to make my dream a reality.

“Being a mother to a seven-year-old girl (Millie) we love getting messy, making and baking in the kitchen.

“I had a eureka moment when I decided to turn my passion into a business. Some of the great ideas I’m hoping to implement have come from my daughter. All I need now is to find those budding young cooks in Leeds.”

Stir Krazy Kids Cookery will teach children aged between five and 12 how to cook.

Ms Reuben hopes to develop it into a franchise that can be rolled out across the region.

“I am already setting myself target and goals for the long-term,” she said. “I firmly believe my venture has the potential of developing across the region.

“When my website went live recently I had an enquiry regarding a franchise within Yorkshire.

“That’s exciting, but my first target is to fill up my workshops and get the children enthused and excited.”

Speaking in a partially empty building in Leeds last month, Mr Cameron issued a rally cry to would-be entrepreneurs to take the plunge, saying: “I said 2012 has got to be the year we go for it, the year we light new fires of ambition in our economy, the year we get behind Britain’s grafters, doers, hard-workers and entrepreneurs.

“This isn’t something we’d quite like to do – it’s something we’ve got to do because enterprise is critical to this country’s future.

“Enterprise is what we do in Britain.

“This is the year that, more than ever, we’ve got to go for it.”

Yesterday, as unemployment figures showed a rise in the numbers out of work, two Yorkshire firms unveiled plans to create about 140 jobs over the next two years, despite the harsh economic climate.

New bakery chain, Poundbakery, plans to employ more than 100 people in Yorkshire by the end of this year.

It has already opened shops in Doncaster, Barnsley, Sheffield and Wakefield, where it received 200 applications for 14 jobs.

Joint chief operating officer Mark James said yesterday: “We are looking for a wide range of expertise and experience across Yorkshire including sales staff, shop managers, area managers and even volunteers to be our mascot Mr Tasty.”

Marketing and communications professional, Lyndon Nicholson, has chosen York as the base for a new venture that aims to create 40 jobs in the next two years.

Mr Nicholson, who was the founder and former chief executive of the Article 10 Group, has been planning the venture for eight months.

The new business, Crowdbait, will specialise in internet search engine marketing and the jobs will be created at a headquarters on York Science Park.

A spokesman said: “This is really exciting news for York, bringing a welcome boost to the local economy. We’ve found a pool of talented people on our doorstep so can think of no reason to head south.”