The idea of someone leaving teaching to work up to 15 hours a day in their own bakery may seem absurd. Meet Mike Kerr, who made a significant career change by quitting his teaching job to open Born To Bake.
Born To Bake is based in Bromborough, Wirral, and primarily supplies top-quality breads, sausage rolls, pasties, pies, and cakes to businesses. Founded in October 2020 during lockdown, it was a huge gamble for Mike, but four years down the line, they’re supplying the likes of Liverpool FC, The Royal Liverpool Golf Club, The Titanic Hotel, and The Orient Express.
Born To Bake is all about top-quality produce with no additives or preservatives, baked fresh on site daily, and offering free next-day delivery to businesses. Despite Born To Bake’s current status as one of the region’s leading bakeries, some labeled Mike’s decision to venture into baking as insane.
Diagnosed with Autism, Mike is a perfectionist and workaholic. Back in 2016 he had set up Piadina Pronto, an Italian street food business he ran alongside teaching, and sought the help of baker Lee Hollywood (brother of the famous Paul Hollywood), to perfect his dough. He soon became obsessed with baking and the rest, as they say, is history.
Mike explained:
“I’ve always been an entrepreneur from an early age — from selling sweets as a 5-year old to convincing my Dad to start a kebab business aged 10, after a visit to London. I actually became a Computer Operations Analyst for a top international company before moving into teaching I.T. and Computing (Secondary, Further Education, Primary levels) and additional needs teaching.”
“I’m always on the lookout for opportunities and varying circumstances prevented me from being involved in McDonalds in the UK, Pandora and the development of sat nav. During a visit to Italy in 2016 I discovered Piadina and saw the potential of Italian flatbread becoming as popular as pizza, so I decided to launch Piadina Pronto and this in turn led me to the art of baking.”
Piadina Pronto has become a successful business in its own right, with a trailer serving at events and festivals, but after seeking dough baking advice from the Hollywoods, Mike became obsessed with perfecting baking. In 2020, after endless hours of baking various breads, he decided to quit teaching and open Born To Bake — with the aim of supplying Piadina Pronto and other hospitality businesses.
Mike said:
“People thought I was crazy at first, entering into something that I knew nothing about, during uncertain times with Covid, but I have Autism and one of my traits is being an obsessive perfectionist. When I get an idea about something I go for it! I assembled a great team and at first it was slow but as our reputation grew, the big contracts soon came in. Today we are thriving!”
Supplying to many well-established independents, as well as big clients and household names, Born To Bake is now the go to choice of many top local hospitality businesses — with quality and service being the driving factors behind its success. This success proves that it’s never too late for a career change, even if people might think it’s crazy.
Mike Kerr is the owner of Wirral’s Born To Bake, offering people and businesses top quality breads, sausage rolls, pasties, pies and cakes. Born To Bake is all about top quality produce with no additives or preservatives, baked fresh on site daily, and they offer free next day delivery to businesses.
To enquire about ordering you can call 0151 319 6606.
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