Gill Bradburn - Launch into Digital Skills Bootcamp - Extraordinary Collective

I’m Gill – founder of Kit & Kaboodle Web, a small web design business based in Cheshire.

Before I entered the digital world, I spent 19 years as a Primary School teacher. Teaching was a huge part of my life — creative, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. I loved helping children discover new skills and confidence in themselves. After having my second child, I decided to step away from teaching and set up my own business and turn my hobby into my full time job. 

That’s what led me into web design. I’ve always been fascinated by the mix of creativity and logic that goes into building websites – turning ideas into something visual and functional. Kit & Kaboodle Web grew out of that passion: helping small businesses and independent creators make their online presence shine. I build beautiful, functional websites that don’t just look good – they work hard, too. From hosting and design to maintenance and support, I like to keep things simple, personal, and jargon-free.

Earlier this year, I decided it was time to invest in myself and my business. I wanted to refresh my digital skills, learn new techniques, and make sure Kit & Kaboodle Web stayed at the cutting edge. That’s when I discovered the Skills Bootcamp – Launch into Digital, delivered by the brilliant team at Extraordinary Collective.

The course promised a deep dive into all things digital – from marketing and branding to business development and creative strategy. It sounded exactly like what I needed: practical, flexible learning, taught by people who get what it’s like to run your own business.

From day one, I knew I’d made the right decision. The sessions were engaging, inspiring, and full of real-world advice. What stood out most was the sense of community – everyone on the course brought their own story, skills, and goals, and we all learned so much from each other.

The Extraordinary Collective team were fantastic: supportive, approachable, and full of insight. They helped me see my business from a fresh perspective and gave me the confidence to make bold decisions about where I wanted to take Kit & Kaboodle next.

Since completing the Bootcamp, I’ve been putting what I learned into practice. I’ve refined my branding, improved how I communicate with clients, and developed a clearer digital strategy for my business. The marketing techniques and content planning tools I picked up have been total game-changers – helping me attract the right kind of clients and showcase my work more effectively online.

I also came away with a renewed sense of direction and confidence – that feeling of, “yes, I can do this,” which is sometimes exactly what small business owners need. In many ways, I’ve realised that a lot of what made me a good teacher – planning, creativity, communication, and adaptability – are the same skills that now help me run a successful web design business.

The Bootcamp didn’t just give me practical skills – it reignited my love of learning. It made me hungry to keep pushing my digital knowledge even further. That’s why, since completing Launch into Digital, I’ve taken the next big step and started studying for a Master’s in Digital Marketing.

It’s been a fantastic way to deepen my understanding of strategy, analytics, and online behaviour – all of which feed back into my work at Kit & Kaboodle Web. The combination of the Bootcamp’s hands-on approach and the academic insight from my Master’s has given me a really strong foundation to grow from.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep building on the momentum. I’m developing new service packages that make high-quality web design more accessible for small businesses, and I’m exploring ways to expand my hosting options. Collaboration is also high on my list – working with other creative professionals to offer clients a more holistic digital experience.

It’s an exciting time, and I’m genuinely grateful for the skills and support that came from the Launch into Digital Bootcamp. It’s made a lasting impact on both my business and my confidence.

If you’re curious about the Launch into Digital Skills Bootcamp or want to see how it could help you or your business grow, I can’t recommend it enough. Head over to the Extraordinary Collective website to learn more and see when the next cohort is starting.