Being creative is tough. So is running a business.

I help makers, doers, artists and creatives startup and grow their enterprises, without sacrificing their sanity.

I believe that everyone should be able to find/create work that: is creatively fulfilling, earns a living wage, and makes you happy. I work with individuals and organisations to help creatives find their purpose, turn it into a sustainable career, and explore new options when things stop working.

I can help you create a structure and boundary for your career, so you can focus on the things that matter to you, and enjoy what’s going on at the moment. We are often so fixated on where we need to get to, we miss out on the people, opportunities and great ideas that are right in front of us. Whether you’re just starting out or have been working for yourself for years, I will help you to balance your time, develop your business model, innovate your products/services, and reconnect with whatever matters most to you.

 
Beki Gowing portrait large.jpg
 

Hello, I’m Beki.

In 2016 I left a sensible corporate job to set up a textile studio.

Stressful, busy, and always tired, but I was running my own business and living the dream!

Fast forward a few years and I realised I’d been so focused on where I wanted to be, I hadn’t paid attention to where I was now. I didn’t actually enjoy most of the activities I was doing day to day, they were just a means to an end, a way for me to be ‘free’ and self employed.

I noticed I most enjoyed speaking to customers about their businesses. I wanted to create a career where I did things that make me happy every day, not just as an extra when I have time.

So I made some changes. I focused on using my experience of buying fashion and homeware for John Lewis & Partners and developing my own brand to help other creatives start and grow their businesses. I studied for a PG Cert in Coaching and a MA with Goldsmiths’ Institute of Creative and Cultural Enterprise, where I learnt about business model innovation and management theory. I began teaching business development workshops and lecturing in creative entrepreneurship. I’ve won a few awards and have collaborated with some lovely organisations: The Collective Market, SE London Wool & Textile Festival, Drink, Shop & Do, Royal College of Art, Offset Warehouse, Beepurple, Women Who Create, Georgie St Clair, University of Brighton, Institute of Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship, Participatory City, University of the Arts London, Jacqui Rudd, Oval Productions.

I now work as a Lecturer in Fashion Enterprise at London College of Fashion, supporting students and fashion brands to launch and develop sustainable businesses. I can offer coaching and consulting services to support you and your business. My coaching specialisms include work/life balance, self care and compassion, goal setting, values identification, and coaching for new leaders/employers. I use an ACT-informed approach to help your find your purpose and focus on the present and am also an Akatemia-accredited Team Coach. I offer consulting for micro and small businesses, covering business model innovation, product/service development, new product/service launch strategy, and developing your personal and team leadership approach.

Interested? Let’s chat!

I’m very liberal with the word creative. I don’t only work with a set list of industries. If you think you’re a creative, you get excited about ideas, and you want to make things better, then let’s work together.

 

Workshops

  • Creative Computing Institute Staff Development Workshops - January-July 2022

  • Peer Coaching for Creatives Extension Course, Royal College of Art - May 2022

  • Peer Coaching for Creatives, Royal College of Art - March 2022

  • Time Management Workshop, Royal College of Art - 15 February 2022

  • Peer Coaching for Creatives, Royal College of Art - January-February 2022

  • Kick-StART Creatives Enterprise Residential Retreat - 6-7 November 2021

  • Peer Coaching for Creatives, Royal College of Art - May 2021

  • Peer Coaching for Creatives, Royal College of Art - January-February 2021

  • Santander Peer-Mentoring 12-Week Development Programme - October 2020 - January 2021

  • Peer Coaching Workshop for Creative Women: Courage - 7 August 2020

  • Peer Coaching for Creatives, Royal College of Art - May 2020

  • Peer Coaching Training for Creative Women - March-April 2020

  • Peer Coaching for Creatives, Royal College of Art - February-March 2020

  • Peer Coaching Training for Creative Women, Goldsmiths, University of London - October 2019

  • Training the Trainers, Citizen Naturewatch, The Design Museum - 31 May 2019

  • Make+Design+Sell, Participatory City & Every One Every Day - 30 March 2019

  • Creative Coaching, Goldsmiths, University of London - November 2018

  • Retail Incubator Designathon, Participatory City & Every One Every Day - 27 October 2018

  • Creative Networking, UAL - 3 July 2018

  • Enterprising Alumni Workshop, UAL - January 2018

 

Publications and Exhibitions

  • Gowing, B. (2023) ‘Building Online Communities to Support Women Creative Entrepreneurs During Lockdown’ in Hill, I., Jones, P., Elias, S., and Dobbs, S. (ed.) Creative (and cultural) industry entrepreneurship in the 21st Century. UK: Emerald.

  • New Territories Exhibition, Goldsmiths, University of London - July 2019

  • Hidden, Royal College of Art - November 2018

  • SE London Wool & Textile Festival - June 2018

 

Talks and Events

  • StART Entrepreneurship Symposium, Royal Northern College of Music - 30 June 2022

  • Masters of Resilience, UAL Enterprising Alumni Association - 31 March 2022

  • Interview for The Table membership community - January 2021

  • Starting Steps for Creative Graduates, UCA Fashion Careers Day - 29 May 2020

  • From Idea to Launch, Goldsmiths, University of London - 27 April 2020

  • Collaborating with Retailers and Galleries, FuelRCA - 20 March 2020

  • Peer Coaching and Social Practice, FuelRCA - 18 February 2020

  • First Steps as a Creative Entrepreneur, Creative Futures Week, UAL - 3 February 2020

  • Starting Your Career in the Creative Industries, Gradventure - 1 February 2020

  • How to Find Jobs in the UK Creative Industries, Creatilogic - 1 November 2019

  • Planning Your First Steps as a Creative Graduate, Goldsmiths, University of London - 10 July 2019

  • Creative Startups, SE London Wool & Textile Festival - 30 June 2018

  • Talking Textiles, Constance Howard Gallery - 29 June 2018

  • Design Careers: Running a Textile Studio, University of Brighton - 17 October 2017

 

Awards

  • Finalist for Enterprise Catalyst, National Enterprise Educators Awards 2022 (team award with the Centre for Fashion Enterprise)

  • Santander Enterprise Prototype Award 2019

  • Erasmus Travel Grant 2019: Peer Coaching Research

  • Alumni Design Winner 2019, UAL

  • Graduate Enterprise Award 2019, University of Brighton

  • Finalist for Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018, Greenwich Business Awards