Inside the bakery

Billboard advertising has come on in leaps and bounds over the years. Where once, passers-by had to make do with simple 2D images, we are now treated to video displays, overhead projections and humungous programmable LED signage.

Yet here at Cake, we like to put our own spin on things which is why we created the world’s first knitted billboard for Sky and the Women’s Institute in a bid to crown the first ever W-Icon.

A dedicated team of WI knitters created the billboard, made from 80 kilometres (enough to stretch from London to Brighton) of wool and taking over 250 hours to create. The billboard was unveiled at the NFWI (National Federation of Women’s Institutes) AGM this week.

The search for the W-Icon will end when one WI member is chosen from over 200,000 women to become the face of the institute on Sky Learning. She will use the skills the WI is famous for, by hosting a range of inspiring and useful ‘How To’ guides to modern life. The guides will be hosted online and broadcast on Sky TV.

If you think you are or know someone who could be the ultimate W-Icon, then visit www.sky.com/w-icon for an application form.

Taking inspiration from some of the greats, Paula Radcliffe, Haile Gebrsellasie and Liz McColgan, Cake HQ were out in force on Friday for a 5K run to help raise money for charity.

With the classics loaded on our ipods (Eye of the tiger, I will survive, Don’t Give Up) we proceeded to the gruelling course set out in Regents Park. As we arrived at the venue, the luminous placards outlining the course made everything seem so real, there was no going back!

We assembled ourselves at the start line, checking out the competition and nodding our heads at the other runners. It was a fearful sight, an array of team shirts, motivational speeches and military warm up exercises designed to make us weak at the knees. But we were psyched and the adrenaline was pumping, Cake HQ was poised and ready to fly!

We left the start line like Wippets, mowing down anyone in our way, but by the 4k mark I myself was ready to give up. Indeed, I probably would have given up were it not for the moral support of my fellow Cakers, who lifted my spirits and helped keep utter exhaustion at bay. Nice to see that sportsmanship is alive and well, and even nicer to get fitter and raise a bit of cash for charity in the process.

Well Done to Matt Holmes who bombed it to the finishing line in double quick time. You’re our hero!

Cake has been exercising its green fingers for The Children’s Society this week.

We created the UK’s first live billboard made entirely out of flowers in celebration of the charity’s garden at this years Chelsea Flower Show. Over 8000 fresh roses, 1500 carnations and 1000 crythsanths (all approx.) were used to create this fantastic floral masterpiece.

Unfortunately, we’re not as good at managing taxis as we are at managing innovative billboard campaigns, which is why Kim ended up on site at 7am - a full hour before the build actually commenced at 8am under the expert eye of billboard specialist Will Parkinson.

The most colourful thing to hit Hackney was completed for a press photo-call by 10.30am. Bloomin’ Marvellous!

As Ben and Jerrys’ 30th Birthday celebrations kicked off in Leicester Square, Daisy the cow went to meet some of her biggest fans.

Armed with a refrigerated van, birthday hats, party poppers and lots of ice cream, Daisy set about spreading the good moo-d around some of her favourite media houses.

Her arrival was met with jubilation from hungry journalists followed by one or two bust ups as colleagues battled to grab their favourite Ben & Jerry’s flavours and goody bags!

It was a long day, but the sheer excitement from all our media pals made Ben and Jerrys’ birthday even more special.

Peace, Love and Ice Cream to all

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY BEN & JERRY’S

Residents in Bloomsbury square could have been forgiven for thinking that they’d been transported back in time, as hundreds of bright young things attending the V Day Ballroom Blitz queued outside the Bloomsbury Ballroom last night. Looking very dapper in their fantastic re-creations of 1940’s outfits, attendees enjoyed a night of decadent Glamour with a twist of modern rock.

As hosts of the event, Cakers turned out in their finery with pretty frocks, lipstick and nylons (that was just the boys!) zoot suits and trilbies … What a good looking bunch we are! We were joined by The Enemy who played an electrifying set after spending a few hours watching the football. Re-creating the community spirit of the 1940’s in a packed ballroom, bonding with the audience, who were happily punching the air and singing along to their sheer raw passion and energy on stage.

The Rumble Strips, true to form blew the roof off, with their trumpet ensemble playing a fantastic modern ska set and despite having a worry that they had no 1940’s outfits, naturally turned up totally looking the part. The Thirst scooted all the way across London from a Rock against Racisim gig and made it on stage just in time to kick off the event – they loved it so much they stayed and partied with us until the early hours with Bloc Party playing some inspiring tunes on the decks and reminding us just how good the 80’s were!

Hugo and Lawrence from Popstars kept the main room going all night between bands with some great Electro Dj’ing and Dave Berry entertained us all throughout the evening dressed like someone out of clockwork orange.

The Cake live team did themselves proud with a chill out room to die for - a fabulous re-creation of a 1940’s German cabaret bar, where showgirls and magicians mingled with the crowd.

The Broken Hearts played a Burlesque Dj set throughout the evening, ringing through their mixes on a telephone and sporting the kinkiest little gold lame air hostess outfits you’ve ever seen. To set the scene, The Marjorie Belles started the celebrations with some original 1940’s tunes… And yes we got the Chattanuga choo choo (who knows how to spell that?!) Finally the showstopper came from ex Tricky singer, Martina Topley Bird, whose new critically acclaimed solo album is out next week.

There are a few Cakers feeling rather sorry for themselves today, having enjoyed the debauchery of such an amazing night, so be gentle with us please! (Professional to the last the Cake team’s party started after the main event of course!)

But why you ask did we do all this?… Well apart from the 1940s fashion trend currently hitting the high street, and our love of all things indie, we actually had a message to convey! Last night we took the first steps to changing the perceptions of youth volunteering in England. Our client v, launched 150 new youth volunteering projects for 16 – 25 year olds, a program called vinvolved, with opportunities in areas as diverse as music, sport, environment and the community.

We had over 7,000 entries for tickets to the event and well over 500 lucky people, made up from existing volunteers and newcomers to the creative and inspirational young volunteering scene, attended the gig.

To find out more go to www.wearev.com.