Leicester female entrepreneur cooks up a storm in new coffee shop

A Leicester-based female entrepreneur is on target to hit her projected £30,000 turnover this year after securing a £20,000 loan from her high street bank to renovate and open her own coffee shop.

Mother of two, Corry Manley from Wigston in Leicester, opened Corry’s Coffee Shop this summer, specialising in homemade cakes, soups, deli-sandwiches and speciality coffees.

Prior to opening the business, Corry worked from home for the family business. However, keen to launch a new venture, she secured the Spring Lane premises and approached the bank for a £20,000 loan needed to renovate the site.

With its good reputation steadily growing, the business is set to achieve projected turnover of £30,000 this year. Corry plans to launch a full children’s menu in the coming months and host family parties and face-painting days next summer.

The 25 sq ft coffee shop employs a team of three, can cater for up to 25 guests, and is open six days a week.

Corry said: “My love for food matched with the desire to be my own boss and launch a coffee shop was the driving force behind my decision to embark on this project.

“There were plenty of obstacles to overcome but with the support of my family and friends the business has flourished. My ethos is to provide my customers with quality meals made using the best ingredients whilst creating an inviting, family-friendly and fun environment.

“The bank not only provided me with the funding to refurbish the venue, but I’ve used it as a valuable source of guidance and support.”

The Relationship Manager for the bank said: “Corry is an astute, forward thinking and ambitious business woman. With her commitment to opening her own coffee shop coupled with her desire to be her own boss we were very keen to support her.

“After she approached us with a detailed and thorough business plan we worked together to tailor the right funding package she needed to renovate the premises and create the coffee shop she wanted.

“Entrepreneurs are essential to the economy and our bank is on-hand to provide SMEs with the support, guidance and insight to help local businesses achieve their ambitions.”