THERE are innate talents and discovered talents.

Kate Holmes's innate talent is as a designer. She has "graphic artist" written through her core like a stick of rock.

But Kate, of Selby, had always worked for others, so when she started her own business Space Creative with an Apple Mac and two clients she had, in her own words "no milestones to be set, to time scales to meet, no true perspective and above all, no confidence".

Yet in little more than 18 months her business has a turnover of £200,000, profits of £60,000 and 20 new clients on her books serviced by her and a range of helpers - hence the new name Space Creative & Associates Ltd.

That hidden (and now uncovered) talent could be recognised as Small Business of the Year in the 2004 Evening Press Business Awards.

It's the latest of a series of goals she has set herself, such as affording new equipment without the aid of a bank loan, using previous teaching experience to find a niche in the education field, working for six colleges in the region.

Now her husband, Nick Eady, has given up his work as a joiner to become a director. They have sold their family home and bought land and barns in Barlow on the outskirts of Selby to develop a new headquarters for the firm, and they have hired part-time administrative help..

And suddenly, a hidden talent for business has been outed - completely by design.

Updated: 11:11 Friday, September 10, 2004