Kate Stanton

As General Manager at EMP Designs, Kate wears many hats. From accounts, HR, and business administration to website management, marketing, and strategic planning, she helps ensure the business runs smoothly while supporting the team behind it. Having joined EMP Designs from a teaching background, she has embraced the fast-moving and ever-changing nature of the business and plays a key role in shaping its future.

 

Tell us about your role at EMP Designs.

My day is probably one of the most predictable days that we have in the business. I look after our accounts, so I manage all the invoicing, pay the bills, and handle the administration that goes alongside that. I also oversee the HR side of things, although we're fortunate to have a fantastic team, so that's generally a relatively small part of my workload. I make sure our business policies are up to date and support other areas of the business whenever needed. That might mean helping Beverley in the stockroom, supporting Anita with purchasing during particularly busy periods, or assisting with a wide variety of operational tasks. Alongside that, I manage our website, generate and post social media content, and write blog articles for the website. More recently, I've also become involved in packaging design and looking at how we present and package our products. The variety is probably one of the things I enjoy most.

 

What have been some of the most interesting projects you've worked on?

The website has probably been one of the most interesting projects I've worked on so far. I'm really enjoying learning how we can use AI to support content generation and improve the way we communicate what we do. We've also recently introduced an online shop, which has been a significant change for the business, so it's been exciting to see orders coming in through the website. Historically, creating content has been quite difficult for us because so much of the work we do is protected by confidentiality agreements. Often, we can't talk publicly about the projects we're involved in. What's been interesting is discovering how AI can help us create more content and tell more of our story without breaching those confidentiality requirements. That's opened up a lot of opportunities for us.

 

What surprised you most about working at EMP Designs?

EMP Designs is very different from previous places I've worked. I came from a teaching background, where everything operates within very structured systems and processes. EMP Designs combines creativity with organisation in a way that's quite unique. The creative element brings a slightly chaotic but still highly effective way of working. It brings together two very different approaches, and it took me quite a while to adjust to working in a more flexible environment. Now it's one of the things I enjoy most.

 

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

The most rewarding part of my role is seeing a happy team around me. It's important to me that people enjoy working here and want to come to work each day. Listening to everyone's interviews has reinforced that feeling and made me realise how much we've achieved together as a team. Creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and happy at work is something I care deeply about.

 

How would you describe the culture at EMP Designs?

The culture is incredibly supportive. You can ask for help with absolutely anything and somebody will step forward to support you, share their knowledge, or show you how to do something. What I really appreciate is that people are always willing to help each other. There's a genuine willingness to share expertise and work together to solve problems. That level of support makes a huge difference and is something I'm always grateful for.

 

What kind of people succeed at EMP Designs?

People who understand the value of teamwork. For me, teamwork is absolutely crucial to the success of EMP Designs and to the way we operate as a business. Success here is rarely about an individual. It's about what the team achieves together. The people who fit in best are those who are willing to contribute, support others, and celebrate success collectively. If you're someone who enjoys being part of a team and helping others succeed, you'll fit in well here.

 

What keeps the work interesting?

The constant change. The projects, technology, the building and challenges are always evolving, and I also get involved in strategic discussions about where the business is heading in the future. We don't stand still for very long. We embrace change and we're constantly evolving. One of the advantages of being a smaller business is that we can react quickly when opportunities arise and make decisions without layers of bureaucracy. That means no two weeks are ever quite the same. One day I might be working on accounts, the next I could be helping build a wall, painting an office, designing packaging, or working on the website. Whatever needs doing, people tend to get involved and help make it happen.

 

What has been your favourite moment at EMP Designs?

It's difficult to pick a single moment. For me, the most rewarding experiences are usually seeing the team succeed, watching the business continue to grow, and seeing new ideas develop into reality. Those moments happen regularly and they're what make the role enjoyable.

 

What three words would you use to describe EMP Designs?

Enterprising. Resourceful. Collaborative. Enterprising because we're always looking for new opportunities and new ways to improve. Resourceful because we find solutions to challenges, regardless of what stands in our way. Collaborative because everything we achieve comes from people working together and supporting one another.

 

What excites you most about the future of EMP Designs?

The fact that we're always moving forward. We're constantly developing new products, exploring new technologies, and finding new ways to improve what we do. The business has never been afraid of change, and that's something I find really exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing how the company continues to evolve and where the next generation of ideas takes us.

 

Finally, what advice would you give someone thinking about joining EMP Designs?

Be prepared to get involved. The people who thrive here are the people who are willing to learn, help others, embrace change, and contribute to the wider success of the team. If you enjoy variety, like solving problems, and want to be part of a supportive and collaborative environment, you'll fit right in.