A tasty contract with chocolates retailer Thorntons is on the cards for an award-winning Huddersfield cake maker.

Allison Whitmarsh, who set up ProperMaid in 2008 to make tasty cakes with unusual flavours, had seen her business go from strength to strength – especially after getting the backing of Dragon’s Den panellist Deborah Meaden in 2012.

The company, based at Heritage Exchange in Lindley, now delivers its innovative cakes to customers including Manchester Airport and Pret a Manger as well as delicatessens, garden centres and coffee shops.

The Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) provided the means for ProperMaid to expand its manufacturing and storage facilities to meet the growing demand.

Now Allison can take on the new opportunities her success has brought – and has plans to grab a bigger slice of the market.

Projects include working with chocolatiers Thorntons to launch a cake at Christmas working with some of Thorntons’ ingredients.

“It’s very tasty I must admit!” Allison said.

The cake will stand out from its rivals, judging by Allison’s previous inventions, which include a dandelion and burdock cake as well as classics such as chocolate fudge brownies.

ProperMaid has picked up rewards for its efforts, including winning the SME category in the Examiner Business Awards as well as featuring in Ideal Home magazine and the Guardian.

ProperMaid’s success started with Allison’s passion for cookery. During an entrepreneurship module at Huddersfield University she decided to live the dream of running her own business.

“I realised there was a big gap in the market for home baking,” she said.

Hits such as TV’s The Great British Bake off have also helped the business bloom.

In July, Allison will be teaming up with BEF for a challenge that’s going to be no cake walk – conquering the Yorkshire Three Peaks in aid of the charity One In a Million by completing a 25-miles hike over the hills in under 12 hours.