Cupcake company hopes for tasty win at Sunderland Echo Portfolio Awards

Helena Harford's cake business, Print Cakes, which has been nominated for a Portfolio Award.

Helena Harford, 32, runs Sunderland-based Print Cakes with husband Brendan, 33, and it’s a huge success already - despite only being formed at the start of the year.

The online venture specialises in corporate branded cupcakes as well as cupcake gift boxes for special occasions and delivers nationwide. Each cupcake is printed with an edible image on top.

Customers can design their cupcakes online using the cupcake tool.

Helena said the business was going so well that it was about to take on its first employee who will bake the cupcakes, freeing up Helena to do other work in the firm.

Helena added: “Print Cakes has big ambitions to scale the business, providing employment in the local area.”

Print Cakes has baked for national companies such as Virign Money, O2, World Pay, Easy Jet, Sky, and Go Daddy, said Helena.

“We believe Print Cakes should win the award as it has achieved so much in the short time it has been launched and has huge potential to grow.”

Helena said winning the award would be “the cherry on the cake.

Sunderland Echo Portfolio Awards 2018 - help us find the best in the business

“Most of the battle is getting people to know about us. We are very passionate about Sunderland and the North East and if we can get connections with local businesses, that would be a massive achievement.”

Entries are pouring in for this year’s Portfolio Awards but we want more.

We want to hear from the people who make the area tick on the business front but we can only do that if we receive your nominations.

Individuals, businesses themselves – in fact anyone can put forward a nomination for this year’s awards for a company that they feel is deserving of recognition.

There are plenty of well-known categories from previous years such as small, medium and large business of the year, as well as exporter of the year.

Or you might want to enter sections such as apprentice of the year, technology of the year or best green business.

Whatever your choice, make sure you get those entries in so that we can honour the very best that Wearside has to offer.

Yet again, we have fantastic backers on board to help make the awards a success.

Make it Sunderland is again our headline sponsor, and will sponsor our overall Business of the Year Award, as well as a Lifetime Achievement award, which is in the sponsor’s gift.

Make It Sunderland is also backing the Small Business Category of the competition.

Another sponsor, BIC, is acknowledging the contribution social enterprises make to the city in the Social Enterprise Award.

Other sponsors are Northumbrian Water, Gentoo, Stagecoach in Sunderland, The Bid, ResQ, Maxim Brewery, Sunderland College, Creo, Station Taxis, Bradley Hall, and PG Legal Commercial Solicitors.

•Get nominating and let’s make this a year of celebration of the best in Wearside business.

To nominate, post your nominations to Lynn Wild, Sunderland Echo, Alexander House, Rainton Bridge Business Park, Houghton-le- Spring, Sunderland. DH4 5RA.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected].