How we've helped Bond Architecture

Architect Jess Knowles had built up years of experience working for practices across the South West before she decided the time was right to start out on her own.

But launching a new company after only recently moving to Cornwall seemed like a daunting prospect.

“I contacted Growth Hub because I needed some local support on how to start a business,” said Jess, who runs Bond Architecture from her home in Helston. “I needed help with access to funding, help with resourcing and just how to get started, basically.”

Jess moved to Cornwall just over two years ago when her husband, who is in the military, got a job in the area.

She fell in love with the lifestyle and with two young children in tow, she knew it was the right moment to start working for herself on the kind of projects she enjoyed.

Bond Architecture specialises in small residential builds, including one-off houses and extensions and has a sustainable and eco-friendly ethos.

Jess has spent eight years developing her career since graduating with a degree in architecture and is now boosting her business knowledge, thanks to Growth Hub.

“I needed support and understanding on how to use my resources and the legitimate way of marketing my company and making sure that I did everything properly,” said Jess, who initially had an online meeting with one of Growth Hub’s experts. “That was really helpful, I was given a to-do list of tasks.

“Then I had an online meeting with three or four other people who were in the same position as me, starting up a company. We all listened to each other and then we were able to ask each other questions.”

Jess said the exercise allowed her to think differently, assess what issues she needed to deal with and decide what was working well in the early stages of her start-up.

Growth Hub has also been helping Jess to get the lay of the land.

“Cornwall is fantastic, but you can feel a bit isolated,” said Jess. “And Cornwall has its own set of rules. I think when you start a business, you want to talk to someone who can relate to what’s available on a national level and what’s needed on a local level. Growth Hub bridged those two issues.”

Having expert help at the end of a phone or email has also been reassuring for Jess, who is busy balancing running Bond Architecture with looking after two children.

“It’s quite relaxing not only to be able to talk to somebody who can give you advice but just to be able to talk to someone who understands what your challenges are,” said Jess.

“Even if it’s just an idea or you’re a bit stuck, there are a couple of people there with different experience who can advise you on how to keep going,” she added. “They can give you pointers on where to find more resources as well.

“I would really recommend Growth Hub.”

Jess is looking forward to taking Bond Architecture to new heights, creating jobs, and working on more sustainable housing for Cornwall.

“Housing is a big issue at the moment and I think in Cornwall, we can set a precedent for housing becoming an environmental benefit,” said Jess. ‘I’d like to work on that a bit more and have the funding and support to do so.”

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub from May 2016 -  June 2023 was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.  The project received £2,848,591.49 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.