A Dereham bakery which began as a lockdown passion project has secured a new town centre premises.

Jasmine Ogilvie, 24, started running Bakes by Jas in 2020 alongside working in a care home at the height of the pandemic.

She nourished her talent for making a variety of cakes and grew her business online and at events. 

Dereham Times: Jasmine Ogilvie started the business during the 2020 lockdownJasmine Ogilvie started the business during the 2020 lockdown (Image: Bakes by Jas)

In February this year she was highly commended at the Norfolk Small Business Awards and by March she had the keys to her first dedicated business premises. 

Ms Ogilvie said: "Baking has always been an escape and now I can do it for a business, it's the best thing in the world.

"I absolutely love making cakes for people."

Dereham Times: She pops up at a number of events She pops up at a number of events (Image: Bakes by Jas)

Dereham Times: Bakes by Jas offers a vast range of cakes and bakesBakes by Jas offers a vast range of cakes and bakes (Image: Bakes by Jas)

Dereham Times: She hopes to one day make baking her full time jobShe hopes to one day make baking her full time job (Image: Bakes by Jas)

Dereham Times: Bakes by Jas will be based in Aldiss Court in DerehamBakes by Jas will be based in Aldiss Court in Dereham (Image: Bakes by Jas)

She currently still works in customer services but hopes her new headquarters will help her with her aim to bake full-time.

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"I also hope it will help bring lots of new business to the town and help me meet lots of new people," she added.

Bakes by Jas will be based in Aldiss Court, just off High Street.

The building will initially be used as a cake studio but Ms Ogilvie hopes it can one day develop into a shop.