Interview with Franchisee Carrie Ann Elmer

Hear from Cook Stars Franchisee, Carrie Ann Elmer who runs her children's cookery business in Rossendale and Blackburn. Carrie was previously a primary teacher but invested in her Cook Stars Children's Cookery Business nearly 5 years ago. She now runs 10 cookery sessions per week.  

"I have a better work life balance and I enjoy being my own boss. I can take my daughter to school and pick her up everyday as work can fit around my family."

"During my time at Cook Stars I feel I have learned so much – you do really have to be a ‘jack of all trades’ but that’s what makes the job interesting. There is always a new project round the corner and new challenges to face. The fact that the fundamentals are in place to help you build the foundations of your business really helps – the recipes are brilliant, the format of the sessions works very well and the additional workshops and parties help you to extend these.

I would never have been able to set up my own business and If I had I think I would have given up long ago but the support received as a franchisee is excellent and makes you want to  keep stiving to make yourself and your business better!"

What is the best part of being a Cook Stars Franchisee?

That I am in control of the amount and type of work I do, so I can concentrate on parties, working with schools, working with SEND children, workshops, working with charities, anything I like!

What are the highlights of running a Cook Stars Business?

My main highlight would be opening up my Cook Stars premises in September 2022. I love the fact that I can keep everything in one place and that I have more flexibility on the times and dates I run classes. I am more visible (as I am based on a main road) and I love ‘opening up’ at the beginning of the day and making the space more appealing to my customers. It also helps having an office space that isn’t at home!

How have you helped impact your local community? *children, schools, organisations, charities etc

I have been able to provide HAF sessions across 2 local boroughs every Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays for the last few years. I also work in several local schools supporting them with their range of after school provision. Charities now get in touch to ask how I can help supporting their funding bids, so for example I was able to host 6 free sessions for children with SEND over the Summer holidays, with an additional 2 more planned for October half term. I have also been working with Rossendale schools supporting their PASTA programme where children and parents cook a meal together to take home.

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