Chelle Holmes of Holmes Made Cakes, is helping small businesses by sharing the secrets to her success: viral videos and Terry's Chocolate Oranges are both essential.
Chelle has an eye for detail and can recreate almost anything using icing and a Terry's Chocolate Orange.
Back in 2020, it was her Grinch design that went viral, causing her stock to sell out in minutes and led to replicas of her icing design all over the world.
After selling over 150 Grinch designs, the Yorkshire baker turned to more extravagant designs like Leonardo Di Caprio's face and now shares her secrets to thousands of other baker-hopefuls across the world.
Burger or chocolate orange? Chelle's panistaking accuracy will have you guessing. / Image: Holmes Made Cakes
The page has over 16,000 members who can all learn for free and has inadvertently saved a number of small businesses as a result.
Holmes Made Cakes has been a hugely popular business as a result too.
Last Christmas, Chelle sold three times her anticipated target but saw some of her clients double even her own figures.
Looking ahead to this Christmas, Chelle will be creating more unique designs to share on her Facebook page.
Previously, classes showing bakers how to turn Terry's Chocolate orange turn into pumpkins have been held online and a range of helpful tips can be found on Facebook year-round.
It's not just Terry's Chocolate Oranges that Holmes Made Cakes offer though, a range of large-scale celebratory cakes, buns and sweet treats can be ordered from the York-based baker.
Christmas chocolate will be available over the coming weeks. / Image: Holmes Made Cakes
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding yet again.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
And there really is no stopping them as just one month after opening a lovely kiosk in the famed Victoria Quarter, North Star is opening another site on Great George Street. Hurrah!
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can find the new North Star opposite the LGI, sporting its fabulous bright colours that will be sure to wake you up even if the coffee doesn't.
At this site there will be all the caffeinated beverages as well as house-made bakes and sandwiches available to grab-and-go.
And we don't have long to wait to check it out, as they'll be opening their doors this Monday 27 July.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
“While it’s easy to focus on the challenges facing hospitality, we still believe deeply in the role that cafés play in our city's community,” said Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters.
“They are places where people come together, to meet, to pause, to connect. Choosing to invest now is a reflection of our belief in Leeds, and in the long-term value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.”
“These new sites allow us to create meaningful opportunities for both new and existing team members,” Holly added.
“Hospitality is ultimately about people - both those we serve and those who make the experience possible. As a Leeds-born business, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in our city. The support we’ve had from day one is what’s made this growth possible.”
Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
Clementine Hall
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Sophie Smith -
4th November 2021 
