What is a Project Manager? How do you explain your job to someone outside our industry?

It’s tricky to explain in a few words because our job is so multifaceted. We’re the people who keep everything running smoothly. Project managers are the main point of contact for clients, bridging the gap between them and our creative team. We oversee and manage every aspect of projects and jobs. We carry out the first stages of thinking and planning for each request that’s brought to the studio, create a brief for our team, and then see it come to life.

We take care of print, digital marketing, scheduling, day-to-day admin, and more. Most importantly, we take on the responsibility of ensuring that our clients are happy, projects are delivered on time and that they’re delivered in accordance with the scope of work promised.

What surprised you most about the working world when you joined Team Potting Shed?

How fulfilling it would be! I always hoped that I’d find a job I’d love and joined Potting Shed with the belief that I’d really enjoy it. Whilst those two things have obviously turned out to be true, I don’t think I quite realised just how much of a positive impact it would have on me, or how rewarding it would be every single day.

As a Project Manager, you know that the emails never, ever stop. What is your secret to preventing overwhelm?

A good email filing system, starring and using the ‘mark as unread’ function, making notes in my to-do list (usually in cryptic wording that I don’t understand later), and a team that’s always on it with constant lines of communication flowing!

Potting Shed is a band. Who plays what, and what type of music do we play?

My immediate feeling is that we’re a rock band that occasionally plays a slow, acoustic song to recharge when the majority of the band members get overstimulated.

Luke is obviously on the electric guitar, tearing up the stage. Emily is singing front and centre, backed by Abbie and Keelie, who pull out a dance routine every now and then. Silvie is going crazy with the maracas that, unfortunately, can’t be heard over Ed’s drumming. In fact, Ed is drumming on three different drum kits.

Nat is chilling on the bass guitar, holding our concert together. Marike is adding to the ambience with a piano, better yet, an electric piano - every now and then Silvie hits the special FX buttons and the sound of a Minecraft villager getting hit radiates around the room.

I’m flitting between singing with Emily and strumming with Luke. Whenever we play a slow song, Al emerges with his guitar and Harry finally takes off his soundproof headphones. He even claps to the beat. Jamie gets a round of applause for a crazy show on the harmonica.

And you know what, Tom is hitting crazy notes on the saxophone.

You have to pick one type of cheese for the rest of your life. What is it?

It’ll always be some kind of vintage, extra-mature cheddar. Currently, that cheddar is Godminster’s ‘Vintage Bruton Beauty Cheddar’, (introduced to me by lovely Marike, and I’ve never looked back).

If you’re not buying that cheddar for a treat once every 3 months, what are you doing?

How do you satisfy your artistic side these days?

My most consistent form of creativity that’s never dwindled is playing the guitar. I’ve always loved music, so strumming, learning new songs and singing along has always been a hobby of mine. I often find myself doing random artistic tasks and learning new skills, but among other mediums, I've always drawn and painted; I’m conscious that it’s something I need to do more often after having a little break last year.

You’ve been to quite a few different places, what has been your favourite place to visit?

It’s hard to choose! It’ll definitely be a destination from when my best friend and I went interrailing. We visited 8 countries and travelled through far more, and it was definitely the most memorable, exciting, unbeatable experience. We both have a real love for Krakow, so that always comes to mind first. I also thought Berlin was an awesome city, the history was just eye-opening. It’s hard not to mention the views in Lucerne, too, those Swiss lakes are breathtaking.

You can add three well-known shops/restaurants to St Peter Port - what would you add?

• One for clothes: Weekday.

• One for shoes: Office.

• One for food: Subway. It’s simple, but sandwiches are great.

What words of wisdom (or warning, or inspiration…) would you offer aspiring young creatives?

Creativity is individual, personal and unique to everyone, so the creative world can be a really vulnerable place. Hold on to what sparked your creativity at the very beginning, and revisit it sometimes; remind yourself why you love what you do. Always appreciate your imaginative, practical, one-of-a-kind brain for thinking the way it does. And remember, every path in this industry will likely take some twists and turns, don’t be discouraged and appreciate each step for what it teaches you - it’ll all work out.