Start-up in the city
A DONCASTER restaurant looking to launch a spin-out business selling healthy desserts is to benefit from free business mentoring as part of a scheme to support start-ups in the city.
Lynda Povey, general manager of the Topping Pie Company will mentor Opera Desserts through the Doncaster D100 mentoring scheme.
The scheme, which forms part of Success Doncaster, is looking to recruit 100 successful local business people and entrepreneurs to offer free advice to anyone already running a business or thinking of starting one.
The city hopes that by 2015 to have become a enterprise hotspot. Business advisory firm Deloitte has been contracted to deliver the D100 programme.
Ms Povey will share practical experience, enterprise know-how and deliver inspiration with Opera Desserts founder Angela Lombardo.
Ms Lombardo, who already works alongside husband Francesco in their Italian restaurant in Waterdale, created a range of homemade low or no fat desserts using fresh local ingredients for diners.
The puddings were so well received that many diners asked Ms Lombardo to create desserts for their own dinner parties – and so Opera Desserts was born.
The desserts, which are also suitable for diabetics as well as people on low fat diets, will be targeted at private hospitals looking to source local and dietry specific desserts.
Ms Lombardo said: “”Starting out in business is a daunting experience, so having the advice and support from a mentor like Lynda is vital to help put young companies on the right path.
“We are only at the very start of our relationship, but I am confident that Lynda will be an invaluable business confidante over the coming months. The D100 mentors come from a wide range of successful Doncaster businesses and I was matched with Lynda because she operates in the food sector.”
The Topping Pie Company was created in 1989 after Roger and Maggie Topping took over Toppings butchery.
In 1991, Ms Topping began making home made pies, which were sold in the shop. Today, the firm employs 50 staff and is a multi-award winning speciality pie business.
Commenting on D100, Ms Povey said: “I am absolutely delighted to take part in this mentoring programme and be at the forefront of enterprise growth in Doncaster. Toppings has grown significantly over the last five years and the business has overcome a number of challenges along the way.
“It is great to be able to use this experience to mentor and inspire others who are at the start of their business venture or who need advice to move forwards or grow. It is a great privilege to give something back to the business community and to help to make a positive impact on local economic growth.”
