Pie-maker to hire staff and triple turnover
Founder Zainab Bilal – with the support of Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub – is to recruit two more staff this year and develop a wider distribution network across the UK by 2020.
Since gaining advice through Boost, Bilal has moved production from her home kitchen to a purpose-equipped site and is working with the hub to develop a funding application to continue the company’s growth.
“Since Boost, I have moved to a unit, my little pie factory. Now I want to smash turnover targets and double, even triple them over the next three years,” said Bilal.
Plans for the future
“I have great vision for the Pie Hero brand. My aim this year is to launch my pies at local Blackburn Rovers football club, as a true celebration of diversity and community. My dream, then, is one day to see my pies on the shelves in Booths.”
Working with Boost has put Bilal in touch with experts to help grow her business, including Yusuf Musa, growth explorer for Enterprise4All and Matt Hutchinson, Lancashire Forum programme manager at Lancaster University Management School.
Through her introduction to the Forum, Bilal gained access to a wide variety of topics relevant to the growth of her business, including leadership and finance to innovation and personal reflection.
Deep trust network
Hutchinson added: “Zainab was able to build a deep-trust network with other business leaders from across Lancashire and share experiences with them, gaining invaluable insights to help her develop her own personal growth plan.”
Commenting on the support given to her by Boost, Bilal said the workshops and advice provided by Boost had helped her create a strategic plan for the business.
“The professional connections I’ve made though Boost have also really helped me. Being able to get in touch with Yusuf for advice is like having another little door I can knock on,” she said.
“Andrew Leeming from Boost introduced me to Lancashire Forum, a peer network and business growth programme and I have really gained a greater business insight through this programme”
