Paula Groves is a graduate of University College for
the Creative Arts Rochester. In May 2004 having spent
time developing skills in the industrial welding sector
Paula moved into a studio at the New Art Centre,
Chatham, Kent, where she launched her sculpture
practice. She has this summer moved to much bigger
premises in Rochester, which enabled her to build
up her team and work on a number of larger scale
projects for private and corporate clients.
“The majority of the material I use in my work is
reclaimed mild and stainless steel. It has a story
to tell, showing its history in its form and the dents,
marks and scars that it bears. In working like this,
inspiration comes from the metal itself; the shape
it already has, or how I can enhance it.
“Without the support and training that I have received
from the Enterprise Gatewa yI don’t think I would have
had the confidence or the knowledge to take on the
larger jobs that I now undertake. Being given advice
on how to represent yourself, business planning, PR
and pursuing leads has meant that I have been able
to make the most of all opportunities.”
Recent commissions include:
Work in progress
• Thomas Deacon Academy - Peterborough
Sculpture for the entrance of the largest
academy in Europe, by Foster + Partners
• Medway Business Awards
Trophies - design and manufacture in collaboration
with Wendy Daws
Completed work
• 2012 Days to the 2012 Olympics – Rochester
Visitors Centre
Sculpture and counter commissioned by Medway
Councils 2012 team
• e2v technologies Ltd - Chelmsford
Anniversary sculpture celebration 60 years.
• Diamond Light Source – Didcot
A cosmic themed sculpture and plaque to mark
the opening of the facility, unveiled by Her Majesty
the Queen 19.10.07
Paula Groves
Tel: 01634 400040
http://sculptedmetal.com
business
development
31
Enterprise Gateways are a Business
Link service, strategically based across
the South East to be accessible points
for people wanting to start up their
own business or social enterprise.
Each Gateway has a Director, a Coordinator
and a team of Outreach Workers. The
Gateways work closely with partner
organisations to create a network dedicated
to providing the right kind of support to
aspiring business owners.
In Kent, there are three Enterprise Gateways
providing services across the entire county.
These services include: mentoring , training,
networking and promotional opportunities –
for FREE or at very low cost.
Training from the Enterprise Gateways
includes workshops on:
• Confidence Building
• Presentation and Communication Skills
• Time Management
and Productivity
• Selling and Negotiating
• Creative Thinking
and Innovation
• Goal Setting ≥
Paula Groves
Case Study
Kent Enterprise
Gateways
business
development
The Enterprise Gateway’s support
is for people who would like to
work for themselves, but who need
to explore their skills and business
ideas. The support is also available
to businesses up to three years old
that need help and could benefit
from networking.
Collectively over the past four
years, the Kent Enterprise
Gateways have helped over 1,000
individuals to decide whether
or not working for themselves
is the right decision.
And at times, the Gateway can
be a voice of reassurance when
people, for whatever reason,
lose confidence in their own
ability to succeed.
For further information
please contact:
Melodie Webster
Director North Kent
Enterprise Gateway
07909 961 840
info@medwayenterprise.net
www.medwayenterprise.net
Dorothy Thom
Director East Kent
Enterprise Gateway
07795 494781
Dorothy.thom@
businesslinkkent.com
www.eastkent.
enterprisegateway.net
Jason Martin
Director Romney Enterprise
Gateway and Folkestone
Enterprise Gateway
Romney: 01797 369336
info@romneyenterprisegateway.net
www.romneyenterprisegateway.net
Folkestone: 01303 223239
info@folkestonegateway.com
www.folkestonegateway.com
≥ Kent Enterprise Gateways continued...
Recreate Design UK is a graphic
design agency based in Medway.
Trading since February 2007,
Directors James and Emma Vigar
started the business to capitalise
on James’ talent as a designer
and fulfil Emma’s aspiration to
run a business. The business
has since secured and delivered
successful commissions across
the Southeast with London, Kent
and Sussex-based clients and
is looking forward to moving up
a gear as they head into their
second year.
What made us go it alone?
James: My first design job after
graduation was for a touring
opera and ballet company,
also based in Medway. When
they approached me to take
another position in their design
department Emma and I decided
that, rather than a career move,
a successful, local client would be
a good starting point upon which
to build a business. I worked selfemployed
for four months until
February 2007, when Emma quit
her job, and we set up as a
Limited Company.
We felt that becoming a Limited
Company was the best course of
action for us, as we knew from the
start that our ultimate goal would
be to employ other designers and
build an agency. Many
larger clients also prefer
the security of working with
a business that holds Limited
Company status.
What were the
biggest challenges?
Emma: The biggest hurdle
we faced (apart from funding)
was the fact that our customers
are businesses themselves.
Both James and I were relative
newcomers to Kent and
so networking became our
number one priority. The Medway
Enterprise Gateway has been an
invaluable source of information
and support in identifying trade
shows and networking events
to attend, in order to meet other
business owners and initiate
the process of persuading them
that we were the best agency for
the job.
What next?
Emma: Our plans for next year
include increasing our team of
full-time designers and developing
our portfolio. We also intend to
upgrade our office premises, still
within the Medway region.
Recreate Design UK Ltd
t. 078 9434 0981
e. info@recreatedesign.co.uk
www.recreatedesign.co.uk
Case Study
Leaflets and posters designed for the Medway
business initiative ‘Be your own boss’