With support from Self-Employment Assistance, Wylie has turned a passion into a thriving regional business.
For Wylie, baking was never just about bread. It was about flavour, craft and community.
In 2022, long before Artisan Bakehouse became one of the Whitsundays’ most loved bakeries, Wylie was operating out of a small, rented café nook. Working by hand, he mixed and baked up to 50 sourdough loaves at a time, supplying chef mates across the islands purely on skill, consistency and taste.
That dedication paid off early, with his sourdough recipe securing a wholesale contract with a local restaurant. But while demand grew, the business itself remained limited by space, equipment and capacity.
Demand outgrows the kitchen
By late 2022, Wylie was drowning in orders but capped by the production limits of his rented kitchen. The talent was there, but the path forward was unclear.
“I knew I had something people loved,” Wylie said. “But I didn’t know how to take it from a side hustle into something sustainable.”
It was at this point that Wylie connected with Workforce Australia’s Self-Employment Assistance provider, MyPathway.
Turning passion into a plan
Through a structured business health check and mentoring process, Wylie began to see a clearer future for Artisan Bakehouse.
With the support of his local Self-Employment Assistance mentor, Wylie clarified his financial goals, mapped out the type of premises his dream bakery would need, and developed a practical plan to save, scale and grow.
Throughout 2023, Wylie’s mentoring sessions focused on refining his business plan, capitalising on his existing skills and strengthening his marketing and advertising approach.
“My mentor brought the energy and the structure,” Wylie said. “She understood my goals, refined the finer points of my business plan, and helped me use the skills I already had in the right way.”
A bakery rooted in community
Today, Artisan Bakehouse is far more than a successful bakery, it is woven into the fabric of the region.
Wylie’s sourdough tasting platters feature across Whitsundays menus and the business is a regular presence at key local markets. Beyond baked goods, Wylie has become a strong advocate for local produce, a supporter of small primary producers and a champion for diversity across the regional supply chain.
Supporting regional success
Wylie and Artisan Bakehouse represent exactly the kind of business that Self-Employment Assistance exists to support. Driven, talented, community focused and ready to build something bigger than themselves.
From hand mixed loaves in a café nook to a thriving regional bakery, Wylie’s journey shows what can rise when passion is paired with the right support, structure and opportunity.
More information
Self-Employment Assistance helps eligible people turn their ideas or existing businesses into a viable and scalable business ventures. The support available includes:
- Exploring Self-Employment Workshops
- Business Plan Development
- Accredited Small Business Training
- Business Advice Sessions
- Business Health Checks
- Small Business Coaching
Have a business idea but don’t know where to start? Looking to improve your business but need advice and guidance? Make sure you check out the following support provided by Workforce Australia’s
Self-Employment Services: