The above picture – taken in LBC (Life Before Covid) – said it all.

The best of mates officially becoming business partners, and very excited at the prospect.

It remains one of our favourite images of 2020.

William St James and Joe Hayes each taking a half-share in St James Studio, the Westbourne-based creative communications agency.

Joe saying farewell to a high-flying accountancy career so he could follow his entrepreneurial dream, becoming Managing Director.

While William, Founder of the business, is freed up to devote his creative talents to the expanding client base as Creative Director.

Well, of course, life changed almost overnight with the arrival of coronavirus.

But the duo are seeing out 2020 not just surviving, but thriving, with their plans to become one of the major forces on the Dorset creative scene intact.

A key part of the plan was to take on two members of the team by the year end.

Capryce Montford, pictured left, joined St James Studio in September as Junior Graphic Designer, having graduated from Arts University Bournemouth earlier in the year.

And now Teodora Tepavicharova – Teddy – has been appointed Assistant Marketing Manager.

She’ll support St James Studio’s growth into 2021.

William, 26, said: “Teddy (pictured right) has a rich background in marketing, having won multiple awards, and worked in New York while at university, as well as in and around Bournemouth for some notable names.

“She has already brought such great energy to the team and will play a key role in helping us to deliver ever more effective campaigns.

“It will enable us to bring forward those ideas that really make our clients’ businesses pop.

“Teddy already feels like a lifelong member of the SJS family.

“We couldn’t be happier.”

New client partnerships include Premier Sports Solutions, based in Boscombe.

St James Studio is assisting in developing its brand presence, creating a modern and future focused identity.

Joe, 28, said: “With Teddy coming on board this means we have officially hit the targets we set out of hiring two amazing people before the end of the year, alongside growing our client base.”

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