A successful Birmingham entrepreneur who has baked macaroons for Prince Harry has hit a milestone in her bid to change young people’s lives.

Rosie Ginday, founder of Miss Macaroon, has passed the 250-mark for people who have been in care, suffered mental health issues, or faced other challenges to learning new skills.

The Birmingham-based social enterprise, which invests every penny of profit into changing young people’s lives, saw 24 individuals recognised at its Macaroons That Make a Difference (MacsMAD) and Fairer Futures Programme graduation at Aston University.

This takes the number of people it has helped to gain new skills and employment to 254.

Rosie, who received an MBE for services to the community in 2018, started the venture with just £500 of her own money and using some kitchen space at a local college.

During that time the business has opened retail outlets in Birmingham City Centre and Resorts World, baked macaroons for Prince Harry and Facebook and pioneered strong employment partnerships such as the Fairer Futures Programme – a collaboration with the Midcounties Co-operative.

She said: “Everything we have done has been thanks to the ‘power’ of the macaroon.

“Our latest graduation means we have now supported more than 250 people to have better lives and these are people who have been in care, are suffering from poor mental health or have had to overcome major challenges.

“The Miss Macaroon graduates have gone on to achieve some amazing things.

“We have supported them to discover their aspirations and gain jobs in construction, IT, marketing, catering and retail, with our grads even presenting to MPs, members of the House of Lords and HRH King Charles.”

The Macaroons that Make a Difference course is aimed at 19 to 35-year-olds who have been unemployed and out of education for more than six months.

The course lasts for between eight to ten weeks, with the option to fit learning
around your hours if you are a single parent, a carer or have other responsibilities that make full time commitments a struggle.

The course provides transferable skills development in catering, retail and business administration environments.

There is also a strong focus of learning to work within teams and building confidence which is supported by individual counselling sessions and well-being workshops to build resilience and good mental health.

Individuals develop their CVs and their abilities to write cover letters, how to succeed in interviews, as well as taking part in inspirational mentor talks.

Upon completion of the course, trainees benefit from securing a Level 2 Food and Hygiene Certificate and BTEC work skills qualifications, with many achieving work placements and full-time employment.

One of the latest graduates Ahzar Hussain said: “I joined the programme aged 24, after never having had a job.

“I struggled to find work because of my learning difficulties, but all this changed thanks to ‘Fairer Futures’.

“It makes me feel very happy and confident, I’ve made a lot of friends and
developed new skills.

“Without Miss Macaroon and Your Coop I would still be unemployed. Instead, I have lots of confidence and am loving my job as a customer service assistance for The Midcounties Co- operative.”