A FORMER school lab technician has gone from mixing chemicals to mixing the right ingredients for a business success story.

Over the last 10 years, 54-year-old Jan Hegarty has gone from making finger buffets for a handful of clients to running a mini cake empire. After receiving financial assistance from St Helens Business Link to start up, she has never looked back.

Jan said: "I had always dreamed of running my own business and being my own boss. It has taken a lot of hard work and determination to get where I am and now I have the chance to help others do the same."

For the Rainhill-based entrepreneur is looking to pass her expertise on to budding businessmen and women by holding classes in Rainhill, Prescot, Eccleston and Widnes.

Before setting up in the buffet business Jan, was the chief laboratory technician at Rainhill High School. Then after building a reputation for affordable, high-quality food for a range of parties and celebrations, she branched out into the more lucrative field of cake decorating.

And having gained teaching qualifications at St Helens College, she now runs 25 classes in cake decorating for beginners to the more advanced.

Jan added: "My classes are as much about having fun as anything else. We get people of all ages and abilities who want to learn about cake decorating. I would dearly love to be able to help someone along the same path that I have gone through. I now have a completely new outlook on life."