Sweet treats were on the menu at Stockton Riverside College as professional cookery students got a masterclass from Blondie Baker, Amy Dalby.

Putting the spotlight on careers in the Tees Valley, the young entrepreneur was joined in the kitchen by Stockton South MP, Matt Vickers.

Hosting a careers fair at the college, Matt said: “It was great to be able to invite Amy along to speak to the students interested in working in the same field and to hear how she has built her career.”

Having launched her own small business, based around her love of home baking, he added: “It might just inspire the students to think about doing something similar in the future.”

With lots of experience working in restaurants, Amy launched her blondie baking business in 2019 and it seems to have captured people’s imagination, particularly during the pandemic.

Now with 11.5k followers on Instagram, she said: “I started off making things that I like to eat and it has just gone from there.”

For Amy, blondies were always a favourite, so it’s no surprise they have formed the basis of her business. She added: “My message to the students today is that they can do things and no dream is too silly. All this started as a “silly dream” for me and now it’s a job.”

Stockton Riverside College’s course leader for hospitality and catering, Louise Ramp, said: “It’s great for our students to meet different people working in the industry and seeing their way of doing things, and hopefully taking some inspiration.”

Professional cookery student, Ben, 16, said: “It’s been interesting to watch someone else in the same profession we want to work in.”

Aspiring chef, Jessica, 18, commented: “It’s good to learn from their experience and to see what can happen in the real world.”

Rolling up his sleeves to have a go, Stockton South MP Matt added: “I am no good at cooking or baking, so this was a chance to challenge myself doing just that!”