Read the inspiring story of how the Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme supported Kayleigh Taylor to achieve her dream…

Kayleigh, 27, from Wallsend, left home during her final year of school and moved around a lot, living at friends’ homes and in supported housing. After leaving school, Kayleigh was diagnosed with ADHD and found it difficult to stay in one job for long. That is when she decided to start up her own business.

Upon discovering her talent of cooking, Kayleigh used this skill like therapy for herself after a long day at work. In 2020, Kayleigh set up Klee’s Kitchen, a healthy meal prep delivery service which takes away the hassle of cooking, food shopping and washing up for people with busy lives. She got to a point where she wanted to leave her job and concentrate on the business full-time, so she turned to The Prince’s Trust’s Enterprise programme for support.

“Because of my ADHD, I’m not always good at planning ahead, so I needed the course to give me some structure. My Prince’s Trust business mentor, Brian, helped me with tax, registering my business, and accounting. It was massive to me to have people believe in me.”

Now, Kayleigh has moved Klee’s Kitchen into a permanent premise in Gateshead and employs four delivery drivers, two full-time apprentices and one full-time member of staff. Klee’s kitchen has launched a Sunday Lunch service, and Kayleigh is also currently looking at opening a takeaway that serves Afro-Caribbean soul food.

In addition to now volunteering as a guest speaker on the Enterprise course, Kayleigh recently won the Prince’s Trust NatWest Enterprise Award for England 2022.