Meet Cerys Ferguson: The Mind Behind Three C’s Coffee
Recognised as one of Belfast’s 21 Under 21 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2024.
Cerys Ferguson, a 21-year-old student in her third year of Culinary Arts Management degree, is making her mark in the business world. Cerys tells us all about her coffee business, Three C’s Coffee, and how Ulster University’s Enterprise Placement Year (EPY) is helping her take her start-up to the next level.
Cerys Ferguson Headshot
In 2023, I launched my business, Three C’s Coffee. It’s a mobile coffee trailer crafted from a vintage horsebox which my dad and I completely refurbished ourselves. I sell specialty coffee, smoothies, milkshakes, traybakes and more. I previously worked in the Giant’s Causeway café, and that’s where I discovered my love for the coffee industry.
Three C’s Coffee is located in Portballintrae Caravan Park, a relatively seasonal park, which works well with studying full-time. My first summer went really well, and I was delighted to see continued growth this summer despite having been closed all through the winter.
Bridging Theory and Practice in Culinary Arts Management
Studying Culinary Arts Management not only gives me an in-depth knowledge of management skills and all aspects of running a business in the hospitality industry such as accounting and marketing, but it has also given me a fantastic opportunity to gain hands on experience in the Academy Restaurant, front and back of house, which has increased my confidence for starting my own business.
The leadership and communication skills I have gained from working within the Academy have been very valuable and incredibly important in any industry, particularly hospitality. The practical and theoretical learning has definitely helped develop my organisational skills, which is very valuable when running a business.
Three Cs Coffee
Enterprise Placement Year
Ulster University’s Enterprise Placement Year (EPY) is a year-long placement aimed at anyone interested or starting their own business. I was made aware of EPY by one of my lecturers and Course Director.
When it was time to start thinking about placement options, in the back of my mind, I was very aware that I would miss one, if not two, summers running my trailer if I were to enter a typical year-long placement with a company. I felt this would not only hinder my growth, but potentially set me back to the beginning.
So, as soon as I heard of EPY it almost felt like a no brainier and was by far my top choice. Aside from that, I love working in my business and my customer base - the thought of working for someone else and losing momentum didn’t appeal to me for this year, especially in such a pivotal year for the continued growth of my business.
I think one of the things that holds many people back from starting businesses is the financial side of things. Within EPY, there are bursaries, and grants that are constantly popping up. All in all, EPY is a support blanket to take the risks you need to get started or grow, and I am so thankful to be on this programme!
21 Under 21 Belfast Entrepreneurs to Watch 2024
Being part of the 21 Under 21 Belfast Entrepreneurs to Watch 2024 programme was a fantastic experience. We heard from some incredible entrepreneurs, who gave their insights on the highs and lows they have experienced as business owners.
With a small cohort of only 21, we had opportunities to engage with entrepreneurs, lawyers and professionals from various roles and backgrounds which I found really benefitted me as I could hear advice which was tailored to my business. I loved being able to interact with like-minded people and hear about their experiences and ideas - I think we can all learn things from each other!
21 under 21 enterprise
Making connections
One of the biggest benefits of EPY is the contacts you make. The mentors themselves are such fantastic contacts to have and if they don’t know the answer to a query, they will pass you onto someone who does.
The workshops that are run by the programme are also fantastic. I think a lot of the time when you attend workshops they can be a bit monotonous, but EPY workshops are really well planned. They are relevant and interactive, and yet again a fantastic place to make contacts who genuinely want to help you. Northern Ireland is a very small place, so to be exposed to such a wide range of contacts is fantastic for growing any business.
I would highly recommend EPY to anyone considering starting their own business. It is very rare you would find such a great opportunity; a year of resources, unlimited support and information, while getting a Diploma at the same time.
Navigating challenges
As a mobile business, one of the biggest challenges generally has been location. Council pitches are very competitive and also expensive, and the regulations for being on private land are quite strict. My EPY mentor, Shauna, has been extremely helpful so far with researching the options of this aspect of the business, helping me gain a wider understanding of what opportunities are available.
The Inspiration Behind My Journey
It is cliché but genuinely the people I am most inspired by and thankful for, are my parents.
My dad has a real entrepreneurial mindset, which is fantastic as he always understands my thoughts and ideas. He saw my vision for what I wanted the trailer to be from the very beginning, and did everything he could to help me turn the trailer into everything I wanted it to be. My mum helped me with every aspect of the technicalities of the business - food hygiene, insurance, financials. Everything that I would have been slightly clueless on how to put into practice without her.
Starting a business is very nerve-racking, especially on your own and if you don’t have the support around you that I was fortunate enough to have. The drive and ambition I have, I gained from both of my parents, as well as them constantly cheering me on and pushing me to do better, it’s definitely what makes me actually go for things and believe that I can do it. With EPY you are surrounded by people who want to, and will, help you.
Cerys Ferguson Coffee Cart
Vision for the Future
The more experience I gain, both academically and professionally, I find myself discovering new interests and passions for where I want to go in the future. The only thing I am 100% certain on is going forward with my career.
I want to continue to grow my business, expand and see where that takes me!