‘Leap of faith’ after job loss

When Gemma Stewart was made redundant during lockdown, she grabbed the opportunity to work full time on her graphic design business.

Since then GS Creative Design has taken off in style and Gemma has helped many small and new businesses with branding and marketing.

Her work includes anything from logos, business cards, flyers, letterheads and booklets to social media banners, templates and social media management.

Gemma, who is based at home, launched her business at the end of 2019 but it was in July last year that she decided to go fulltime after being made redundant from her job with an Aberdeen energy company.

She said: “I had a vision and dream about doing this in the future.

“I have never looked back since I started and it has been an amazing experience.”

GS Creative Design can create websites to fit any businesses budgets. Gemma also works closely with clients to help them achieve their brand.

And she runs a small group on Facebook for local crafters – Aberdeen Online Crafter Events.

Gemma, who recently won graphic design business of the year at the Scotland Prestige Awards, said: “I have a lot of great clients that I have worked with over the last 10 months, from all different backgrounds and businesses including The Balloon Studio, The Wee Brown Mouse Bakery and Aberpaving.

“Getting my business to where it is has taken a lot of effort and hard work – if it wasn’t for the pandemic, I don’t think I would have taken the leap of faith.”

Looking to the future Gemma – mum to Jayden, 13 – hopes to expand and move into new premises.

Gemma has shown her support for the North East Now campaign, which has made it easy for people to support local firms from a wide range of industries during the pandemic.

The initiative is driven by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce and backed by creative agency Hampton and Aberdeen Journals.

“What a brilliant idea,” Gemma said. “It is something that the north-east has been lacking for a very long time.”

For information on GS Creative Design, visit gscreativedesign.co.uk

To find out more about NorthEast Now, visit northeastnow. scot – and to share your positive business story, email stories@northeastnow.scot

OPPORTUNITY: Gemma Stewart, the owner of GS Creative Design.