A teenager with a passion and talent for baking luxury cakes is taking the plunge and bringing her business to Saddleworth.
Millie May already has an impressive customer base for her BakesbyMillie business from her hometown, Preston, where she sells custom-made luxury cakes and 'tours' across the region with pop-up stalls - and has a five-star hygiene rating to boot.
The 19-year-old first found her talent after finishing high school and during the Coronavirus lockdown.
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Whilst on furlough from her part-time job, she started making brownies and Victoria sponges as a hobby.
However, she said she "quickly realised" she has a talent for making and decorating celebration cakes.
Over the course of the past four years, her expertise and her home bakery business has expanded - and she now considers herself "in the top end of luxury cakes".
Millie added: "I have a long list of flavours and fillings, raspberry and chocolate being the most popular currently.
"My cakes range from small bento cakes, that can feed three people, to floating castles that can feed up to 60 people.
"It has taken me a long time to master my recipes but I feel like I'm there with them now and everyone loves them.
"I always say to my customers that no two cakes will ever be the same and I never copy someone else's work - after all, if you've paid the price, you don't want a cake somebody else had had.
"I love creating fun and new cake designs and every order is a new experience of creativity.
"My favourite cake at the moment is the floating castle. It took a lot of trial and error but the end result was so rewarding, I couldn't quite believe I had created it.
"I've come so far since starting this little solo adventure and every year has got better."
Now, BakesmyMillie will be coming to Saddleworth in August as, despite finishing a three-year apprenticeship in construction and working as an engineer, Millie is hoping to pursue her business full-time and live with her partner, Ben.
Millie said: "My heart lies with baking and creating my own successful business, so I'm taking the big step in packing up from Preston and moving to Saddleworth.
"Me and Ben will have been together for three years in October and he has helped me to grow BakesbyMillie a huge amount, mainly by gaining a customer base in Saddleworth as it's where he lives.
"It's super exciting.
"At 19 I never thought I’d be able to be my own boss. My own social media manager. My own assistant. But here I am. And wow, it’s an achievement.
"It also comes with a crazy amount of uncertainty, I still have bills to pay and a life I want to live.
"For now, I am going to split myself between Preston and Manchester, and I’m also on the hunt for restaurants, cafes, bars and anyone who may be interested in stocking my cakes."
The baker is also renowned for her impressive pop-up stalls at major events where she spends multiple 14-hour days in the kitchen preparing and creating her sweet treats in the run-up to the big day.
She continued: "Unlike a lot of bakers, I don't just specialise in one aspect of baking, I'm also known for my stalls.
"I take a lot of pride in my stall setup, it must be perfect and presentable.
"After all, people buy what they see.
"I love meeting new people and getting feedback and I take it all onboard so each stall gets better and better."
Her partner Ben, who she said is her "biggest supporter" and "BakesbyMillie personal tester", also plays every Sunday in league one of the Rochdale Hornets Rugby Club, which has become a frequent spot for her stalls for each home game.
She added: "Ben helps me pack up the car, we head to the stadium and set up for the day - and I usually sell out before the game has even started which is not something I'm complaining about!"
Millie will also be setting up a stall when Rochdale goes up against Oldham RFLC, and with an attendance of more than 1,000 people, she said it's the "perfect opportunity to showcase my work to the local area".
She teased there will be new treats, a raffle and spin the wheel game to make her stall as interactive as possible.
As for the future, Millie said she'd love to run her own cake shop or own a unit but her immediate goal right now is to build up her clientele in Saddleworth and set up a bento class.
She also said 'boozy bentos and tipsy treats' are in the making - but didn't want to give too much away.
Millie added: "I know putting more time into my business will result in it blossoming and I'm so excited to see what will come next."
Custom cakes and bakes from BakesbyMillie can be ordered through her social media pages, @Bakesbymillie.
Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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