Barbara has grounds for making a career change

Jun 30 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A FORMER policewoman has decided to dispense coffee rather than justice after leaving the force for a career in catering.

Barbara Cornfoot from Whitley Bay set up the mobile business Coffee Angels to provide hot drinks and refreshments from her Piaggio Ape three-wheeled van, which is named after the Italian word for bee. She decided to go it alone after spending 15 years as a police officer.

She said: “I’ve got a five-year-old boy and I decided I wanted to take a career break. I left in November last year and had six months off. It gave me some time to think what I wanted to do.

“I had always wanted to run my own business but being in such a secure career made it hard, so I thought if I don’t do it now, I’m never going to.”

Barbara approached Business Link for help and was able to source a grant from North Tyneside Council.

She said: “I really enjoy meeting people and I love coffee so the combination was perfect.”

Her distinctive van can be found outside West Monkseaton Metro Station during the morning rush hour, serving hot drinks and cold breakfast food. Barbara decided on the location after discovering there were no refreshment facilities nearby, so she obtained permission to set up outside the station from Metro operator Nexus.

She said: “The vehicle itself is so quirky, everybody does a double take when they go by.”

She is now planning to create a regular coffee round at offices in Whitley Bay and North Shields. Joining the local chamber of trade has helped spread the word about Coffee Angels and a number of businesses have asked her to include them on her round.

“I can’t go very far,” said Barbara. “The van doesn’t even go 30mph, so I’ll be tootling along. I’m trying to get clusters of offices.”

She has also taken the van to fairs in Morpeth, Rothbury and Allendale and catered for son Matthew’s fifth birthday at a scout hut.