The brilliant young woman behind the Sussex coffee shop that's just turned two – she was 22 when she started it!

The bright young entrepreneur, from Rustington, launched Teas and Seas in The Street at the end of 2023, having recently finished a degree in criminology and criminal psychology.

She had been doing a placement at HMP Belmarsh with a view to becoming a prison psychologist, but thought she was too young to get into that now.

She then became a TA and hoped to become a teacher, before she decided to take the opportunity to start her own business.

Jemma, who just turned 25, said: “This is something I always wanted to do, granted I thought it might be in my 40s or 50s, but this space came up and I thought maybe now’s the time.

"I’m a Rustington baby, I live just down the road, I went to school here and I’m a Scout leader here, so it was exactly where I wanted to be.”

Jemma is eco-conscious, and works hard to recycle and compost everything she can. She has also forged strong relationships in the community, including with The Pantry food bank, run from St Peter and St Paul Church, opposite. Any leftovers she has, she donates to them.

She also runs a Coffee, Cake and Chit Chat session every Thursday, aimed at bringing people together in need of company.

When she took over the space, it had been a mobility scooter shop and pottery manufacturers, so it required a full refit to put in two toilets and a kitchen.

Her family helped out, and continue to do so, with her parents lending a hand when she needs it. Her husband making the sausage rolls they sell.

Jemma and colleague Amy make the rest of the cakes and bakes, and they also sell pancake stacks, paninis and a range of hot and cold drinks, including milkshakes and bubble tea.

She also does a lot of catering, for celebrations, wakes and parties.

Jemma said starting her own business was a big learning curve, especially at a relatively young age, but she urged other young people to consider doing the same: “I love it because it always pushes me. It’s not always easy, it’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s rewarding to see things I’ve built actually come to fruition.

"I’ve grown more in this short amount of time than I’d ever have expected!”

The coffee shop has a nautical theme, in memory of Jemma’s grandad who died of cancer when she was 16. He was a sailor and artist, and the theme and logo of a coffee cup-shaped boat honours him.

The dream to own a coffee shop had always been in Jemma’s mind from a young age. Her mum ran a business when she was growing up, so she said she had an idea of what it entailed.

She added: “I wanted to run a coffee shop because I’m not a party-lover, I love coffee and cake. For instance, for my hen do we went for afternoon tea! I love baking and chatting, and that kind of interaction with people, so this puts them together and I love it.

“I have always liked baking and it’s self-taught. I did a lot of baking when I was younger with my nan and she would do baking competitions among the cousins. I don’t think I ever won them, but she comes in here four or five times a week, and I think I have proved myself now!”