A MAN made redundant through the mothballing of the Corus Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant has opted for a complete career change by setting up a fudge-making company.
And only a few months after Northumbria Fudgery was launched, the business has won three gold star awards from the Guild of Fine Food.
Stephen Prest, who runs the business with wife, Michelle, is now hoping to sell the fudge throughout the UK, as well as attracting international orders through the establishment of an e-commerce site.
Northumbria Fudgery, based in Stanhope, Weardale, is looking to create jobs over the next year. The idea for the business came from Mrs Prest, who has been fascinated by sweets since she learnt to hand-roll sticks of rock at Rockafellas, in Redcar, as a teenager.
About 1,600 people were left out of work with the mothballing of the TCP plant in Redcar, in February, including Mr Prest, who had worked at the steelmaking site for 25 years since leaving school.
He said he is delighted his new venture is going so well, and that the three gold awards – for Northumbria Fudgery’s all butter, all butter and ginger and white chocolate and mixed berry varieties – have helped with plans to develop the business.
“I loved my job, but I saw redundancy coming so we didn’t waste any time in looking ahead and planning the business,”
he said.
“To win a gold for each entry is such an accolade and will open some exciting doors for us.”
Mrs Prest said they exhibited at The Great Yorkshire Show and the Hartlepool Tall Ships event.
“We are already doing wedding and party favours, supplying pubs and looking to develop new ranges and our website. By this time next year we aim to be in retail shops across the UK, be selling online and looking to create new jobs,” she said.
Northumbria Fudgery produces 42 flavours, and ingredients are locally-sourced where possible, with organic butter from Acorn Dairies, in Darlington.
The business was started with a £7,500 grant and loan combination from UK Steel Enterprise’s Regeneration Fund, put in place by the Corus subsidiary after the mothballing of TCP.
Nick Johnson, UK Steel Enterprise’s regional executive, said: “Stephen and Michelle deserve all their success.”
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