Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Custom
Timeline
Generic

Ema Epps

London

Summary

Diligent, educated and highly organised individual with more than 10 years of working as a Studio Manager for companies in innovation, education and culture sector. Additional experience as PA and HR, committed to providing outstanding support to company and clients alike. Board level experience, collaborative and independent problem solver.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education

Work History

STUDIO MANAGER AND PA

PAINTSPACES GALLERY
London
10.2021 - 12.2023
  • Day to day running of the studio and gallery; Organising and running public events - Welcoming new clients and Organising partnerships - Liaising with suppliers - General PA support - Coordinating meetings - Arranging travel - Presentation support - General admin

_____________________________________________________________

  • Successfully delivered bespoke projects and gallery space management attracting new clients and partnership opportunities increase of 54.6% I.e. KOPPEL Project, Walworth Gardens, Stonelane Sculpture Park, City and Guilds of London, WIN Conference, Surrey WI, Gerald Moore.

CHAIR OF STUDENTS AND BOARD TRUSTEE

CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON ART SCHOOL
London
10.2019 - 09.2021
  • Student support, improving Art School communication.
  • Liaison between trustees, student body and cross department staff.
  • Steered board discussions to prioritise customer needs whilst achieving business goals.
  • Organising forums and brainstorms, identifying individual and collective problems - aiding transition to online environment due to covid requirements, addressing rising problems and implementing solutions.
  • Board member of renumeration committee

_________________________________________________________

  • The dedication I brought to the role, my enthusiasm, studio managerial skills, people skills and problem - solving experience meant that the Art School avoided reduction in the student body to 0.1% deferrals, whilst the education sector peaked at 24.7% and 38.2%
  • We were the first Art School to re-open.
  • Devised and implemented long-term diversity, equality and inclusion strategy to drive progress in key areas including renumeration.

DESIGN STUDIO MANAGER [PA AND HR]

ROBOFOLD
London
09.2010 - 08.2018
  • Primarily managing the design/fabrication studio with additional HR, PA and PR role share.

- 25% management of the studio (maintenance, supplies, Health & Safety, 3rd party contractor liaison, hosting visitors)

  • Tracked inventory and replenished high-use items proactively to prohibit shortages.
  • Monitored specialised equipment and quickly addressed malfunctions to reduce downtime.
  • Oversaw studio operations, coordinating daily workflow to meet required objectives.
  • Monitored and enforced adherence to safety protocols for proper chemical and equipment handling.

- 25% admin (diary management, travel, visas, expenses, NDA's, expenses, shipping) and PR (text, photoshoot and text edits)

- 20% dedicated to clients and partnerships (exhibitions and events)

- 30% HR (introductions, renumeration, follow up and off-boarding)

_____________________________________________________________

  • The success of my role is demonstrated by the achievements of the company - the calibre of collaborators, clients, events and articles: - Wired, MARK, Develop3D, ICON, Blueprint, Robotic Touch by Gramazio & Kohler, AA DRL, Fosters, RCA, Imperial, V&A, BMW, Arum'- Zaha Hadid Venice Biennale of Architecture, Smart Geometry, Laarman Lab at Friedman Benda - Chelsea, NY etc.
  • A sharp rise in turnover of 48%

STUDIO MANAGER

STUDIO/GALLERY 106
London
01.2008 - 03.2009
  • Day to day running and launch of the studio, recruitment of gallery team, PR and branding, diary management.
  • Public event program - Welcoming new clients and recruiting program leads

_____________________________________________________________

  • Aided to successfully integrate the business into an international education sector partnership program.

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN
London
02.2007 - 02.2008
  • Managing the entrance and welcoming space following day to day health and safety guidelines
  • Host, meet and greet - introduction to brand, new members recruitment, communication regarding upcoming events and patron introduction

_____________________________________________________________

  • Rise in guided tour sales of 27.6% and increasing efficiency of new membership recruitment process 19.8%

STUDIO AND TEAM MANAGER

IRIS NATION
London
01.2005 - 05.2006
  • Responsibility over multiple project, brainstorm space management and team lead.
  • Coordinating communication between client, accounts, design and production team.
  • Assisting with strategy preparation of ideas and client pitch and final presentations.

_____________________________________________________________

  • Set achievable timeframe targets, motivating team to swiftly progress and achieve, overdelivering company goals and gaining new business rise of 19.2%
  • Instilled dedication to brand values across assigned teams, maintaining constant high-quality professional service.
  • Monitored team development, setting performance objectives and providing constructive feedback for continued growth.
  • Inspired outstanding operational performance, leading by example by managing priorities and demonstrating expertise.

PROJECT MANAGER

FREELANCE
London
04.2002 - 02.2005
  • Managing specific project and bespoke spaces for permanent and one-off events: Eddel Assanti, Somerset House, Tate Modern - 'Unofficial Deposited Records'; BBC - Documentary with Richard Hammond; Colours Magazine, Diesel, JWT, BBDO, M&C Saatchi, Rooms of the House - Private Eye etc.

_____________________________________________________________

  • Delivered on projects' key objectives with agreed budgets, timelines and standards.
  • Developed and maintained project timescales, providing contingency planning to support timely completion.
  • Led technical delivery teams to deliver high-quality solutions within agreed timescales.

BESPOKE COLLECTIONS MANAGER

STEINBERG AND TOLKIEN
London
01.1998 - 03.2001
  • Daily upkeep of custom jewellery displays and couture classics held in Sternberg and Tolkien's collection
  • Worked with clients to determine needs and suggested diverse services to align with budget and time preferences.
  • Trained junior staff to complete job-specific tasks, address aesthetics of the space and adhere to company procedures.
  • Coordinated staff schedules to meet coverage needs and utilise team strengths.

_____________________________________________________________

  • The quality of bespoke customer service and discretion attracted top fashion industry clients; Vogue Magazine, MTV channel, Harpers and Queen, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Sonya Rykiel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kate Moss, Blondie, Kylie Minogue etc. Rise of private and business sales 30.5%

Education

Master of Arts - Fine Art and Critical Theory

City and Guilds of London Art School
London
09.2018 - 10.2019

Bachelor of Arts - Visual Arts and Communication

Central St Martins
London
10.1999 - 06.2002

BTEC - Foundation in Art and Design

Camberwell College of Arts
London
09.1998 - 06.1999

Skills


  • Bespoke people skills
  • Excellent communication and organisation
  • Trained eye for detail
  • Independent and collaborative problem solver
  • Experienced negotiator and liaison across stake holder levels
  • Mentoring and coaching experience, HR aid
  • Understanding of company policies and procedures
  • Press checks and collating PR material
  • Photoshop, Photography know how
  • Operating Microsoft (Word, PPP and Excel)
  • Mail-chimp, Instagram and Square space web platform user knowledge


Languages

Professional Interpretation skills between English and Macedonian
Croatian and Serbian

Custom

References on request

Timeline

STUDIO MANAGER AND PA

PAINTSPACES GALLERY
10.2021 - 12.2023

CHAIR OF STUDENTS AND BOARD TRUSTEE

CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON ART SCHOOL
10.2019 - 09.2021

Master of Arts - Fine Art and Critical Theory

City and Guilds of London Art School
09.2018 - 10.2019

DESIGN STUDIO MANAGER [PA AND HR]

ROBOFOLD
09.2010 - 08.2018

STUDIO MANAGER

STUDIO/GALLERY 106
01.2008 - 03.2009

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN
02.2007 - 02.2008

STUDIO AND TEAM MANAGER

IRIS NATION
01.2005 - 05.2006

PROJECT MANAGER

FREELANCE
04.2002 - 02.2005

Bachelor of Arts - Visual Arts and Communication

Central St Martins
10.1999 - 06.2002

BTEC - Foundation in Art and Design

Camberwell College of Arts
09.1998 - 06.1999

BESPOKE COLLECTIONS MANAGER

STEINBERG AND TOLKIEN
01.1998 - 03.2001
Ema Epps