What began as kitchen experiments at home has become a growing food brand. Sophia Sharma is turning her passion for food, specifically Sri-Lankan dumplings with dipping sauce into a business. A Bromford customer and now the owner of Phis Food, Sophia’s venture has been supported by Bromford as part of our ongoing work to support more customers move into employment or training, a programme that has supported 56 people since January 2024.
Bromford’s support for Sophia came through our place-based working approach, recently launched in her community of Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. This way of working involves embedding colleagues directly in the communities they serve. By building strong relationships and developing a deep understanding of what matters to customers, colleagues can tailor support to meet each person’s individual needs.
To navigate the business's digital needs, we supported Sophia by providing support to access funding provided by one of our partners. This enabled her to purchase a laptop and iPad, essential tools for managing orders and accounting.
Catherine Hall, who has been working with Phi as part of our place-based working approach, said: "When we started this project, we were completely led by our customers. Providing the right support makes all the difference; Sophia is proof of what we can achieve."
Sophia’s journey with Bromford, began when she and her young son were homeless. Moving into a stable home gave them the security to start again. Now with support through Bromford’s place-based working approach, Sophia was able to focus on her future. Her neighbourhood coach helped her access tailored guidance, mentoring, and a grant that brought her business idea to life.
Sophia said: "After six months of being here, the lovely, amazing Cath set up a meeting for myself and several other single mums to discuss getting back into work. It was a really nice space, and then I was told about a grant. Cath and Janette mentored me through the application, which I got accepted for."
"I don’t want to think about where I’d be now if it wasn’t for Bromford. The home was the biggest thing for me and my son, but with the grant and everything else on top, it has been amazing."
Looking ahead, Sophia has plans for her business, developing dipping sauces, expanding her product line, and eventually catering for weddings, festivals, and private events.
Her journey highlights how local insight and targeted support can help individuals develop their skills and achieve their goals.
If you are unemployed and looking for work, or employed and seeking a new career or promotion we can provide support. This support even extends to supporting anyone in your household to find a job, apprenticeship, or training opportunity.
