Young Mums win East Cambs Dragon Den
A not-for-profit organisation ran by young mums providing healthy eating cookery classes
to hard to reach groups has won a rent-free office in East Cambridgeshire.
‘Mums about food’ beat off stiff competition in a ‘Dragons Den’ style contest to win three
months free office space at e-space north, the business centre owned and managed by
East Cambridgeshire District Council.
Emma Furness, one of the founders of the firm, had to pitch to four ‘Dragons’ and explain
why her business, which gives healthy cooking lessons to young parents, toddlers, and
local schools, needed the office to expand her business.
In a gripping finale, the Dragons٭ were left with a head to head between Mums about
food and another local company, Camfargo European Limited which provide courier
services throughout the UK.
In the end the Dragons felt ‘Mums about food’ would gain more from the free office space.
Councillor Ron Bradney, Economic Champion at East Cambridgeshire District Council,
said: “It really was a dramatic finish to our three month search to find a company that
would most benefit from getting a rent free office. I was very impressed by the standard of
the business pitches from the short listed companies and how they stood up to the
scrutiny from the Dragons.
“We all know the difficult economic conditions which face small businesses at the moment
which is why the Council were so keen to run this competition and use the e-space centre
as it is so flexible in helping start ups to succeed. I am really excited by the prospect of
having Mums for food in our business centre and I hope it helps them grow and prosper in
the future.
Emma Furness said: “Winning this competition is going to make a huge difference to
Mums about food. It will allow us to plan more, help us to be more organised and
ultimately allow our business to grow. I can’t wait to get started as I know this opportunity
is going to help us to grow and grow. I am so excited to say I have got an office!”
٭ The Dragons are: Debbie Davies, editor of the Ely Standard; Stephen Alton, Local
Business Manager of the Ely branch of Barclays Bank; Roger Hetherington, Local Advisor
Manager, Business Link East; Gary Hartwig, Managing Director of Packwell D & S Limited
based in Chettisham.
To view the ECDC press release in a .pdf please open here
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