“The King’s Trust has helped me gain a much clearer idea of what my business is about. I have gained so much more confidence, I’m unrecognisably more confident than I was.”
After moving to Bristol in her twenties, Jess Knights was working in a marketing role but dreaming of putting her energy into illustrating. Her hard work, coupled with support from The King’s Trust Enterprise programme, means she now runs Jess Knights Creative.
“Working in a 9-5 marketing role wasn’t for me, I felt bored and unproductive. I have an autoimmune condition which affects my energy levels so a desk-based work schedule was difficult. After studying illustration at university, I desperately wanted to become a full-time illustrator but didn’t know how to make a career out of it.”
When the pandemic hit, Jess’s contract in her marketing role was terminated.
“It was really stressful. Even though the job wasn’t right for me, the job loss was so hard. I heard an advert for The King’s Trust on the radio and, though my self-confidence was low, I signed up to the Enterprise programme. I was nervous but being surrounded by other young people who all wanted to start a business was exciting. As part of the course, we attended lots of specialist workshops which helped me learn about managing finances, the legal side of running a business and marketing. Having a mentor to check in with was so helpful and they really helped guide me during those early months. Before starting the Enterprise programme, running a business felt like playing a game but the course gave me solid foundations to build on. Three years on, I’ve done commissions for brands including Campari, Forestry England and Pieminister.”
Jess now runs Jess Knights Creative, holding creative workshops for adults, as well as doing commissions and producing her own work.
“My illustrations focus on health and wellness which are passions of mine, partly because of my experiences of living with an autoimmune condition. Being self-employed has empowered me in this respect because I can manage my condition better, working from home when I need to, adjusting my schedule and suiting my own needs if I have a flair up. In the long-term, I want to carry on doing what I love – writing and illustrating. To anyone thinking of seeking support from The King’s Trust – do it! You haven’t got anything to lose.”
