Fifteen years. That number feels surreal to write.

When I started YOURGB back in 2011, I had no idea where this journey would take me. The name gives that away, as the thinking behind it was that ’if you work with me, I am yours’. I am YOURS (GB = Gilly Bain) – it was just me. How things have changed.

To be honest, I think if I could have left a note for myself back then – to discover whilst sitting in my grandma’s spare room registering this company – all starry-eyed and botox-free, it would probably say:

“DON’T DO IT.”

I’m joking.

(Or maybe, if I’m being honest, on some days over the past 15 years, it would have said that.)

But on most days – over the last 5,479 of them – it would have said:

“YOU’VE GOT THIS.”

I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world because I love what I do. To make a living from something you genuinely feel passion for is a gift, and I never take that for granted. There is joy in my every day – but to quote Shakespeare – “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

Because I’d be lying if I said the last 15 years of YOURGB have been as consistently positive and joyful as my Instagram grid and LinkedIn feed might suggest. 

Please let the record state – Business Is Not Linear. 

• • I have made mistakes. 

• • I have experienced real fear. 

• • I have learnt that people can be awful. 

• • I have grown to understand how important it is to never stop learning. 

• • You have to work hard to protect the joy in what you do, and I have found this becomes more challenging the bigger you grow. 

Holding on to your values when the pressure is rising takes bravery – and I have been brave – because without my values, I know I would lose my joy, at which point I’d be slapping an ‘Open to Work’ sticker on my LinkedIn profile pic quicker than Bad Bunny can fall through a roof.

Any business owner will tell you it’s a rollercoaster – but you’ll never hear me talk about it, even the hard stuff, without a grin on my face. Because through the good and the bad – I love this company. 

Running YOURGB is one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life. And on our 15^th Birthday, I’d like to say a HUGE, shiny, glittery and confetti filled thank you to EVERY SINGLE person that has ever worked with us, for us, or through us. I believe that fingerprints last a lifetime, and every one of you has shaped who we have become, and who we are going to be in the future.

When I think back to the early days – when it was just me – all I really had was belief. Belief that it was possible to do work I love, and to love the way I do it.

I couldn’t quite articulate it then, but I know now what I was searching for: a positive culture. A way to build something that married creativity and design with doing some good in the world. A place where people felt valued, energised and proud of what they were part of.

I’m incredibly happy that belief still sits at the heart of how we operate today. 

I believe how we nurture and encourage our team to stretch is part of our purpose. I believe the opportunities we give our people mean something. I believe in the good we do across the world through our charity work, and that our efforts around sustainability and supporting our community matter. I know the work we produce is important.

YOURGB was born from a £3,000 loan from my Grandma 15 years ago today. Over the years, that money has grown a thousandfold – and through it, we’ve designed and delivered experiential activations and events all over the world, for clients such as Penguin Books, Aperol, Helly Hansen, Sony Music, TSB, Hendricks, WHO, Arnold Clark, TFG, Netflix, J&J, Ooni… Giving, in her words, “young people real opportunities”: employment, belonging, and exciting challenges. 

I remember her visiting my first “proper” office with my mum (see picture). I saw us reflected in her eyes – she felt that we were doing something special. And we are – I know we are.

What I would give to bring Grandma back and into our lovely big HQ today on South-East Circus Place in Edinburgh. To introduce her to our incredible team of 16 profoundly brilliant people. To tell her where they’ve all been lately (Dallas and India in the last month!), and where they’re going to go.

All from £3k. That’s pretty cool.

(Grandma never took the £3k back by the way, despite me offering – so it’s still in the business account all these years later. She truly was the stuff legends are made of.)

I also want to shout out to my “early adopters” – the people who took a chance on me when I had more passion than track record. Johna Penman, Hugo Mills, Loris Campari, Sheri Friers, Ben Pick, Simon Carter, Claire Stirton, Trev Barton, Roger Saul – you helped turn my early ideas into something real. You trusted me without a 40-slide deck proving I’d done it all before – because back then, I hadn’t.

Your belief in me 15 years ago was the springboard for everything that has followed. I’d like you to know that I try to pay that forward whenever I can – by giving young people a chance when they might not have the deck to prove it. We all need to do that more.

And lastly, my Mum – YOURGB’s consistent number one fan. I am certain she has single-handedly kept our Facebook interaction count alive for the past 15 years. In fact, she’s probably the only reason we still post on that channel at all, and we love her for it. She is lorded in our marketing team and, honestly, no campaign performs better than “Lesley liked this.”

Absolute icon behaviour.

Mum, you’re not on LinkedIn, but just so you know, I’ve broadcast this to over 6k of my contacts. Thank you for your love and unwavering support over the years, we’ve been through the mill together. I love you. We all love you here. ‘Lesley the legend’.

My God, this is starting to sound like a goodbye. THINK AGAIN.

Yes, we’re 15 years in – but mark my words, this is only the beginning. I am SO excited about what this year is shaping up to be, never mind the next 15!

Expect some change. Some dial turning. But still the same enthusiasm, smiling faces, and deep love for our profession – and in the words of the Wolf himself “I’m not F*cking Leaving’!!

Event production and experiential design are the life and soul of YOURGB. Our team’s incredible talent, skill and care is what makes us as good as we are. It’s our collective ambition, love of storytelling, and prioritisation of joy that’s propelling us forward.

I’m so proud to be celebrating this milestone together.

Let’s see what happens next…

Gilly, Amy, Hilary, Bronwyn, Emma, Mary, Kim, Katie, Linsey, Louis, Fin, Jillian, Ellie, Sophie, Mason & Oli xoxo