Member Article

Sunderland bakers expect to create jobs

Sunderland-based bakery business Artful Baker says it aims to double its workforce by the end of the year, following a move into larger premises.

Demand the supplier’s handmade bread and bakery products has increased among hospitality clients in the North East.

Artful Baker has now moved into a Hendon unit, three times bigger than its previous Houghton site and is recruiting additional bakery and kitchen porter staff.

The business was established in 2011 by performing arts graduate Roger Dickson, who learned his trade in the kitchens of gastro pubs in London and Switzerland.

He said: “I didn’t have a penny to start the business. I used someone else’s flour and yeast and paid for them as I sold the bread.

“We hand-make bread, pies, pasties, quiches, cakes, desserts on site, and make all our own pastry and pie fillings. It’s ‘real’ bread made from flour, yeast and water, not commercial churned out bread.

The Artful Baker shop in Seaham opened last year on the site of a former Peter’s Bakery premises, which Roger viewed while looking for bigger bakery premises.

Roger added: “The shop was already kitted out with the essentials for a bakery shop.

“It really helped us to survive January and helps to employ people, not just at the shop, but at the bakery too.”

Roger has worked with Sunderland City Council’s business investment team to grow the business.

He said: “The City Council has been great and we have received loads of help. They are nice people, they are easy to get along with and gave us great advice and help. It works for them too – the more they can help businesses, the more we can create jobs in Sunderland.”

Sunderland City Council leader, Cllr Paul Watson, added: “We are pleased to have played a part in The Artful Baker’s expansion and are delighted to hear about the business’s plans to recruit extra staff and grow further.

“Sunderland is an ideal location to build and grow a business, and the City Council can help ambitious entrepreneurs like Roger to reach their goals through advice and long-term support provided by our business investment team.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .