Business Profile: Eaton Smith's Kate Booth
Oct 5 2010 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Business Profile: Kate Booth
THE Colne Valley just suits Kate Booth.
Cheltenham-born Kate, who joined Huddersfield solicitors Eaton Smith this summer, has lived in Wales and Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, where she did most of her secondary schooling.
Now the employment law specialist is enjoying her new home, a stone-built semi-detached in Slaithwaite – and the luxury of a seven-minute commute to work!
“For a long time, I thought I’d like to be a journalist,” said Kate.
“But I did business studies as a GCSE and economics at A-level and I became very interested in how business works. I had some notion of being involved in business in some way.
“After leaving school, I started a business studies and business law degree because I wasn’t sure which route I wanted to take.
“I liked studying business and commercial matters, but the business law classes really captured my interest.
“I did as much work experience as possible with firms in Leeds, Harrogate and Newcastle.
“I convinced them that if I went in for free to do the photocopying they might help me!”
Kate finally settled on taking a law degree at the University of Newcastle. “Both my parents come from Newcastle and it is a lovely city,” she says.
After graduating, Kate trained with Irwin Mitchell in Sheffield and Leeds and later joined DWF in Leeds. “By that stage, I was living in Sheffield and working in Leeds,” she explains. “I was working long hours and commuting.
“I moved to Slaithwaite in January. I’d been looking at various villages and just fell in love with it. But I realised I’d not really reduced my journey time by much, so I decided to look for a new job.”
When the opportunity came to join Eaton Smith, it was an easy decision to make. “It is nice to be working closer to where I live,” she says. “I’ve swapped an hour-long commute to a seven-minute journey.
“I also enjoy the work and I’ve been made very welcome by the team at Eaton Smith.
“Spending a bit of time in Huddersfield before I joined the firm has helped me get a feel for the town and I’m going to as many networking and business events as possible to get to know people locally.
“The nice thing about Huddersfield is that there’s a real community feel. Businesses work together, use local suppliers and help each other.
“Working with DWF was great experience and it was very exciting to be part of the expansion of the firm, but in the end I decided that it was time for a change.
“I thought about it for a while before moving, but I am happy that I made the right decision.
“Eaton Smith are a well established firm with a fantastic reputation; we have some really good clients. I am able to act for large commercial organisations in conjunction with our commercial teams as well as providing legal advice and support to private individuals.
“I'm getting to do the type of work I love and I feel happier about my work-life balance.”
Kate is getting to know other members of the business community through organisations like the Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership and networking events.
