Great British Bake Off business lessons: What are the key ingredients for success?

We love watching The Great British Bake Off in our house, we seldom miss an episode. The first episode of the 17th series will air tomorrow night from 8pm on Channel 4. The programme remains hugely popular (not just in our house), with each episode in last year’s series attracting more than 8m viewers.    

The BAFTA-winning show first aired in 2010 on BBC Two, before its growing popularity brought a move to BBC One. The Bake Off moved to Channel 4 in 2017 and it remains one of its most popular productions.

For the new series, no-nonsense master baker Paul Hollywood will be joined by new judge, Nigella Lawson (who replaces Prue Leith). Comedian Noel Fielding and presenter Alison Hammond will no doubt continue to provide the laughs.

In case you haven’t seen it, competing over ten weeks for the much coveted “UK’s Best Amateur Baker” crown are 12 non-professionals. Each week they attempt different baking styles and methods, creating “Signature”, “Technical” and “Showstopper” bakes along the way. One contestant is named “Star Baker” by the judges, while another must leave the show, until one wins the final episode.

Smutty innuendo is a key reason why viewers love Bake Off. But among the “soggy bottoms” and bun and bap double entendres, the GBBO offers many valuable lessons for business owners. Such as…

Not a single minute can be wasted when you have just a few hours to create a show-stopping Croquembouche or Flaouna to pass a tough technical test. The same is true in business. To maximise your productivity and profitability, you must make every second count. Technology can really enable business owners and their staff to better manage their time and be far more efficient and productive.

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Whether you’re in the Bake Off tent or running your own business, some pressure is inevitable, at least some of the time. If you can manage that pressure so it doesn’t turn into stress, you can overcome challenges and achieve great things. 

Executing a well-thought-out plan is essential to wowing the Bake Off judges. Contestants are often to be seen ticking off lists while methodically working their way through highly challenging recipes. Similarly, sticking to a sound business plan, development or marketing strategy can ensure that you stay on track and achieve your ambitions.

Complexity often leads to disaster on the GBBO. Leave yourself far too much to do within your available time is setting yourself up for failure. And while pushing yourself is a good thing, setting impossible objectives isn’t. Better to keep things simple and do the basics well.

Quality matters in baking and business, but you’re only as good as your last bake, task or job. Even Star Bakers and previously successful businesses can come unstuck if they fail to deliver quality time after time.

Even those who have won the Bake Off have had mishaps along the way. Sometimes mistakes can be rectified, sometimes they can’t, but no one gets it right all the time. Making mistakes is acceptable – not learning from them isn’t.

There’s no doubting Paul Hollywood’s expertise. When things go wrong on Bake Off, he provides an immediate explanation, based on his deep knowledge and decades of experience. Bake Off shows that advice and support from experts can help us to improve and become much more successful.

Did you know? Business West Consulting provides tailored, strategic consultancy to ambitious businesses looking to accelerate their growth. Our highly experienced consultants work directly with leadership teams to overcome barriers, identify opportunities, attract funding and create a practical growth strategy. Learn more >> 

Your personality can help to set you part from other businesses, which is vital. Whether they’ve been tasked with making a macaron, bread roll or tea cake, successful Bake Off contestants put something of themselves into their creations. Being who you really are can help fuel your success. Viewers and customers like authenticity.

On Bake Off we frequently see outwardly beautiful creations picked apart for lacking flavour or crunch. Sometimes they’re over or under baked. Similarly, an impressive business brand identity or website can be undermined by poor customer service. Substance is more important.

Sometimes you must be prepared to think outside the box and do things differently if you are to triumph. Whether that’s spicing up teacakes with masala chai or adding cream soda flavouring to your cheesecake topping, in business and the Bake Off – fortune favours the brave.

• Visit the Channel 4 website to watch previous episodes of the Great British Bake Off. Photograph courtesy of Channel 4.