Envisioned during the lockdowns of 2020, and founded in the Autumn of 2022, Elevate Creates was started after first-hand experiences of trying to navigate the post-college world on behalf of a young adult with a learning disability.. This experience, compounded by living in a rural setting, with limited services and opportunities to build peer networks, motivated sisters Melanie & Claire to take matters in to their own hands. Despite having no funding, they decided to create something from scratch and with a great deal of luck, some generous supporters, and a fabulous new landlord, Elevate Creates opened its doors in November 2022. The vision was to deliver a new training service that offered young adults the opportunity to learn and work in a more entrepreneurial way. Now with 6 training staff and over 20 trainees, the Elevate Creates team is going from strength to strength, designing, making, and selling some amazing products and developing talent across East Sussex & West Kent.
Director & Co-founder Melanie has a wealth of business, advertising & marketing experience having successfully run her own businesses for many years, as well as being parent to a young person with a learning disability. Mel leads on Trainee Recruitment, Sales & Marketing and is also our go-to and respected advocate for parents & families
Director & Co-founder Melanie has a wealth of business, advertising & marketing experience having successfully run her own businesses for many years, as well as being parent to a young person with a learning disability. Mel leads on Trainee Recruitment, Sales & Marketing and is also our go-to and respected advocate for parents & families trying to navigate those crucial steps after school & college.
As Director and Co-founder, Claire has a background in business and Social Enterprise management and development.
Claire leads on Operations & Strategic Development but also likes to get creative, despite claiming not to have a creative bone in her body.
With a passion for creativity and inclusivity, Chris leverages his expertise and extensive experience in graphic design, illustration, photography, and videography at Elevate Creates to empower and up-skill our trainees.
Chris comes from a background in leading and developing social prescribing spaces and continues to work as Creative Dir
With a passion for creativity and inclusivity, Chris leverages his expertise and extensive experience in graphic design, illustration, photography, and videography at Elevate Creates to empower and up-skill our trainees.
Chris comes from a background in leading and developing social prescribing spaces and continues to work as Creative Director/Freelancer for his design and media business, Studio Janus, based in Hastings, East Sussex.