An education at Warwick doesn't just set you up for a particular career path – some alumni find their passions outside of the lecture theatre. Immi Kelly (BA Education Studies, 2020) discovered her love of baking while looking for a distraction during lockdown when she was studying for her exams. Her skill and passion for baking soon led her to set up Immi's Cakes and Bakes, which she runs full time, and she is currently in the process of baking 22,000 cookies for Telford's Polar Express.

Tell us about your journey into baking.

My baking journey started in the first lockdown when I was at home sitting my exams and writing my dissertation. I needed a distraction so started baking! I’ve always loved it but I made my Mom's birthday cake and posted it on Facebook, then the rest was history. I created a Facebook and Instagram page and it just blew up! I graduated from my degree in 2020 and went into baking full time. I now have my own commercial unit where I bake thousands of cakes and bakes a day!

What is your top baking tip?

If it fails the first time, keep going and keep practising as practice makes perfect!!

What's your favourite thing about the festive season?

My favourite thing is holding a regular pop-up stall where I can see my customers enjoying lots of my yummy treats.

If you could bake to celebrate anything about the University of Warwick, what would it be and why?

If I was to bake for the University of Warwick, it would be a massive colourful/ musical/ party cake as I used to love meeting all my friends at the SU and attending regular band rehearsals, so I would combine all of them into one big cake!!!

What advice would you give to alumni wanting to turn their hobbies into businesses?

My advice would be GO FOR IT – take the risk! You work most of your life, so you might as well do something you enjoy. I have so many transferable skills from doing my degree then starting up my business. It’s always something to fall back on in the future.