Leigh Collins

Background

About Leigh Collins

A creative mum to 4 children (two girls and two boys, ages 18, 16, 14, 11). I started my working life with a love of design and technology, I soon worked my way up from electronics apprentice at Marconi to managing the ICT network and team of IT support technicians at Foxford School. Due to my second child’s medical complications, it soon became apparent that working full time and caring for a sick infant wasn’t a viable option. It was then I ventured into the world of self-employment and started The Cake Mixture. My business and family grew with two more children, awards for my cakes, VIP clients and a move into teaching cake decorating to adults and children of all ages, all backgrounds, and all abilities. 2018 saw the addition of venue styling, event planning, design, and marketing in the form of The Cake Mixture- Weddings and Events. During the Covid pandemic unfortunately, like most in the Events sector, things came to an abrupt halt with everything on hold. However, this made me seek a new opportunity as the Kitchen Manager at a local Cake Shop. Managing all aspects of this family run shop in Leamington Spa, responsible for a small team of cake makers and apprentices, I wasn’t just a manager but a valued member of the team who would often be seen washing up! Just as it turned my 1-year anniversary I was diagnosed with Glandular Fever. Being a small family run shop and the potential months needed off work, I made the hard decision to leave my role and take care of my own health. Being fully recovered by late 2021, having all 4 children healthy and in full time education, I decided it was time for a new career where I could explore my passion for charity work. It was when I secured my first fundraising role that I soon realised the saying was correct.'Find something you love doing, and you will never work a day in your life.'