Caterer to stars and worldwide clothing brand among Coventry businesses showcasing success at Christmas event

A caterer to the stars and the creator of a worldwide clothing brand were among the Coventry businesses present at an event to show off their success after completing a business bootcamp to get their ideas off the ground.

More than 21 businesses who took leading training provider PET-Xi’s Self-Employed Bootcamp, funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), showcased their products and services at Metropolis Restaurant in Coventry to invited guests and the general public at a ‘Christmas Bazaar’.

The bootcamp enables learners to develop a business plan, learn the basics or marketing, cyber security and risk management, and apply for a grant of up to £300 to help start their business. It also includes one-to-one mentoring so learners can access targeted support even after they complete the bootcamp.

Visitors to the bazaar saw the wide range of businesses formed by the entrepreneurs, from digital art and catering to beauty products and artisanal jewellery, and heard how the bootcamp helped grow their businesses and their confidence.

Manpreet Kaur, a creative caterer who founded Official Brunch Bae, has seen incredible initial success after completing the bootcamp and building the business’s profile on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms – and even providing catering to a private event for high profile rapper 50 Cent’s “The Final Lap Tour”, which also featured Busta Rhymes and Jeremih.

She said: “I started the business in the middle of the pandemic as I could do it from my kitchen – I’ve always been a foodie, so it was a natural move for me.

“However, I wasn’t sure of the best way of actually growing my business. Attending PET-Xi’s bootcamp was great as I was surrounded by people in the same boat as me. I really needed that guidance as I needed more support with structuring the business.

“What’s been incredible is my recent success – I was approached by an American event planner out of the blue for a private party via Official Brunch Bae’s Instagram page for 50 Cent’s tour in Birmingham.

“We supplied the event with all sorts of food, but the Hennessy wings and American biscuits really went down a treat.

“My goal now is to build on this success and secure far more regular bookings for Official Brunch Bae, as well as working more with corporate companies.”

And Keith Morron, from Stretton-on-Dunsmore, set up his snowboarding and outdoor lifestyle clothing company Rockpool Clothing after winning a battle with alcoholism and turning his life around.

He said: “This business and PET-Xi’s support has been a genuine lifesaver for me – my drinking had taken me to a dark place before I was able to pick myself back up again.

“I couldn’t get onto the slopes myself because of how ill I was when I was first recovering, but I had this idea to perhaps see people on the slopes in the kind of clothes I like. That’s how Rockpool began.

“From there, it just snowballed. We’re now selling stock all across the UK, the Alps, as well as the US and Canada, and have tapped into the hiking and climbing community too. PET-Xi’s support throughout has been amazing, and really gave me the confidence to pursue my goals.”

Around 70 learners have completed bootcamps since April, with another 40 signed up to take part in the next one.

Becky Jones, Business Mentor at PET-Xi, said: “All our entrepreneurs have their own stories, but what’s common among them is while they have superb ideas, they need support in not only the practical side of getting the business set up with advice and grant funding, but also their confidence.

“Our support does not end after the course. We ensure we are still in regular contact with our learners so we can guide them through the early stages of their business.”

PET-Xi’s Self-Employed Bootcamp is part of the WMCA’s Skills Bootcamp programme, aimed at supporting unemployed people to find work or those in work looking to upskill.

Lucy Bolton, Delivery Manager for Skills Bootcamps at the WMCA, said: “Skills Bootcamps are flexible, industry-led training opportunities for people across the West Midlands.

“In this case, PET-Xi’s Self-Employed Bootcamp is for those who have an initial idea to go it alone but might not know the best ways to do that.

“It has already produced fantastic results, and it was wonderful to meet the people it has helped at the Christmas Bazaar.”