International Women’s Day: My Journey as a Woman in the Food Industry
Celebrating Women in Business
Every year, International Women’s Day gives us a chance to reflect on the progress women have made in various industries. As a woman co-running a catering business and restaurant and someone who has recently had a whole entire career change this day holds special significance for me. It’s an opportunity to celebrate achievements, acknowledge challenges and highlight the importance of supporting other women in the food industry.
My Journey in the Food Industry
My path into the food industry wasn’t a traditional one. I originally trained and worked for over 20 years as a primary school teacher, dedicating my time to educating and nurturing young minds. While I loved teaching, once my husband decided to leave his job as a chef working at The Inn at Whitewell, and branch out on his own, I knew I had to play my part in running and developing our new family business. Taking the leap from a secure career in education to running my own business was daunting but exciting.
Transitioning from teaching to business ownership meant developing an entirely new skill set. I had to learn everything from financial management and marketing to supply chains and customer service. There were plenty of challenges along the way but I embraced each one as an opportunity to grow. I am slowly building my confidence as a businesswoman, just as I once had as a teacher. Now, I take pride in running a successful restaurant and catering company, proving to myself and others that change is possible at any stage in life.
The Highs and Lows of Running a Business
Running a restaurant and catering business is both rewarding and relentless. There are long hours, endless decision-making and the constant need to adapt. Being a ‘novice’ businesswoman, I often found myself second guessing my knowledge and the decisions I made but one of the best things I did was join the Pink Link women’s networking group. The camaraderie, support and laughs I have with the Chorley group are one of the highlights of my working month.
The highs, however, make it all worthwhile. Seeing happy customers, catering for memorable events,
and growing a business I’m proud of are all incredible achievements. One of my proudest moments was becoming a finalist for an Enterprise Vision Award (EVA) in my very first year as a businesswoman. The recognition was a huge confidence boost, proving that all the hard work, learning curves, and challenges were leading me in the right direction. Expanding my catering services and receiving industry recognition so early on reinforced my belief that I had made the right decision in changing careers.
Passing on My Skills: Teaching the Next Generation of Business Owners
Although my career path has taken me from the classroom to the kitchen, my passion for teaching has never faded. One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey has been using my experience as both a teacher and a businesswoman to help others develop the skills they need to succeed.
Running a business has required me to develop expertise in areas I never imagined—digital marketing, social media management, and customer engagement, to name a few. Now, I’m combining these skills with my teaching background to lead a digital marketing skills boot camp
, aimed at helping future business owners gain the confidence and knowledge to market their own ventures. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see others learn and grow, and I love being able to bridge my two worlds—education and entrepreneurship—to support the next generation of business leaders.
Final Thoughts
International Women’s Day is more than just a celebration; it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much more we can achieve. To all the women out there pursuing their passions, especially in the food industry, keep pushing forward. Your voice, skills, and ambition matter.
This International Women’s Day, I encourage everyone to support women-led businesses—whether by visiting a local café, ordering from a female-run catering company, or simply recognising the hard work that goes into making a dream a reality. Let’s continue to champion and support each other, today and every day.
