One year in, and plenty to reflect on.

We spent months debating a company name, eventually landing on Layer, only to realise quite quickly that it didn’t really matter what we were called.

Starting a business, post-50, felt equal parts madness, risk and excitement. But our experience meant we could hit the ground running, whatever the company or project. The work felt familiar, even if the structure was new.

One of the nicest moments came when industry friends started referring to Layer rather than Victoria and Lorraine. It felt like the business had quietly found its own feet.

We are enjoying collaborating and working as part of other teams. Solving problems, being creative, and working across a real mix of sectors, from small businesses to large organisations, one-off projects through to retainers. We love the variety, the flexibility, and meeting new people along the way.

That said, it hasn’t all been easy. It can feel lonely at times. Running the business side of Layer can be more challenging than delivering the work itself. Doing our own marketing is harder than doing it for others. And dealing with silence after quotes or bids never really gets easier.

What we’ve learned is that, despite having a plan, most opportunities come from unexpected places. Industry friends have been incredibly generous with their time, introductions and support. The reaction to Layer has genuinely been encouraging. We’ve also learnt that we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and be bolder and having a partner to bounce ideas around with makes a huge difference.

As 2026 progresses, we’re excited about growing the business, collaborating with great partners, winning new clients while continuing to support existing ones, upskilling with technology, and most of all, having fun doing it.