Jen Bernard founded Bernard Interiors in 2008 and has gone on to complete luxury commercial and residential projects throughout the UK and abroad.
What was your first job and how much did it pay? My first job was when I was 15 at the Stencil Library in Stocksfield. It was for work experience initially, but then it became my regular Saturday and school holidays job. It used to take me an hour to get there each week, but I loved it and got to learn really valuable lessons about business and design. At one point, I was tasked with designing sets of stencils for Elle Decoration and sold stencils to Cher and Ralph Lauren in New York, which was really exciting. I think that was what sparked the passion I have for design.
What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? Someone once said to me: "You have to fail if you want to succeed". And that has always stuck with me. If you fall, you just get back up again and again and never stop moving forwards. It’s all about striving to improve every day and in turn, being able to empower and motivate your team. Another piece of advice that I love is: "Employ people who are better than you." Our team is definitely reflective of this. There is so much talent at Bernard Interiors and I really am in awe of them every single day.
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What are the main changes you’ve seen in your sector and what are the challenges you’re facing? I’ve noticed a greater demand for social housing recently and I can see that the care and later living sectors are continuing to grow at pace. With more and more people entering the sector, we need to continue to be innovative in our work to shake up preconceived ideas about later living and care. This includes looking further afield and venturing into parts of Europe looking to provide a wider range of options for retirees.
How has the pandemic changed the way you work? Going into lockdown during the pandemic was hard for a team of creatives who love to be in the studio together - collaboration feeds inspiration. We have such a strong team culture which means we survived lockdown and came out of it together, and much stronger. Communication via Teams calls with our UK and European associates like architects and contractors remains unchanged – that way of working in some cases became the new norm and it is still just as efficient for us. It also allows us to continue expanding our reach overseas.
Who is your role model in business? There are many strong female leaders I really admire. Women like Anya Hindmarch and Jo Malone similarly have had to juggle their businesses with family life, alongside giving a lot back to the community and charities, which is hugely inspirational to me. At Bernard Interiors, we also like to find ways to give back. We have partnered with The Human Kind Cafe, a charity organisation, and Willow Burn Hospice which provides end-of-life care. Even with our later living clients, our work within the sector has real purpose. It is all about creating warm, welcoming environments for residents so that people can enjoy their later years in a space full of beauty and joy, without compromising on functionality.
What would your dream job be? I’d love to become a tutor helping young creatives who have encountered trauma or had a difficult start in life. To build their confidence and guide their development would be an opportunity I’d cherish. Creativity is a gift but can come with challenges. Investing my time in helping young people from a range of backgrounds to recognise their potential is a definite aim for the future.
What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector? My advice would be to get as much on-the-job experience as you can and always believe in yourself and your ability - never give up. Don’t be afraid to ask peers or someone who you admire professionally for advice and learn from their experiences, good or bad. Interior design can be very challenging, but above all else, can be the most rewarding outlet for creativity. It makes a real difference to someone’s everyday life, by positively impacting the spaces in which people live and work.
What makes the North East a good place to do business? The North East business community is a very supportive one. Every industry seems to be incredibly passionate about what they do, and eager to provide opportunities to the younger generation by tutoring in schools and universities. As a region, we are much more cosmopolitan in the way we speak and work with like-minded people, which makes it a great place to do business.
How important is it for business to play a role in society? I think the role of business in any sector should be that of a lending hand. It is not solely about growth within your own business, but about working together to help grow the economy and benefit the community as a whole. Creating jobs, giving the younger generation better opportunities, and nurturing their talent are all vital to securing a thriving society.
Outside of work, what are you really good at? Recently I have been taught how to play rugby and football by my son as he loves to kick balls around after school and at the weekend. It can be dirty work, but I’m pretty impressed with my skills so far!
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