Work placement with Catherine Tough

For our current project we are asked to find somewhere to do a work placement so with this in mind my first thought was what do i want out of this? And what i really wanted was an insight into owning and running your own business. 

So from that i went and sat down and wrote out several people who really inspire me and have the job i hope to have myself one day.  

From this i decided to email Catherine Tough who has her own business and studio in London, she replied to my email and said she would be willing for me to go and work with her for a week. 

On my first day i was introduced to Catherine and Chloe (the in house knitter) and shown around the studio. I was then put to work quality checking socks that had just come in from Portugal where she gets her socks made. After i had checked all the sock i then had some others that had already been checked and i had to steam, tag and pack them all.

I did this for most of the week but i really enjoyed just being in the studio as i feel i still learnt so much just from being around Catherine and Chloe and seeing how they run Catherine's business and what really happens on a day to day basis.  

I was mainly packing orders for The Spirt of Christmas fair at Olympia in London where Catherine would be having a stand. 

It was really good to see the set up she had in the studio, as you can see above there was three knitting machines all set up with motors above them so Chloe didn't have to be sat there doing one piece at a time she could have three pieces all knitting and still be doing other jobs so they could get a lot done in a day.

 Photoed above is a desk in the studio, i took a photo of this as i like how you can see a mood board and how import it is to have your ideas and inspiration in front of you so you can come up with new ideas and thoughts.

After my week with Catherine i feel that it really helped me in realising what else is involved with having your own business not just the creating. I really enjoyed my time with Catherine and Chloe and they were really helpful with any questions i had.

After i had finished my weeks placement Catherine then emailed me and asked if i would like to help out at Olympia Spirt of Christmas Fair and of course i said yes and I'm so glad i got to go to the fair as it was such a good experience. 

I really enjoyed being on the stand with Catherine as i was able to talk to her customers and see peoples enjoyment and reactions to her pieces. 

I feel really lucky to have been able to help out on the stand as it was an experience i wouldn't of been able to have on my own and I'm so glad i went and did it.

 Since being on work placement with Catherine I'm still in regular contact with her and i feel i have gained an invaluable contact from doing the work placement with her.