Jody Appleton

Background

About Jody Appleton

In 2020, I launched my own laser-cutting business, Lady And The Laser Beam. Using my product design degree, I create jewellery, homewares, and bespoke commissions. I also run jewellery-making courses in my laser studio, as well as mobile and corporate settings. Alongside this, I’ve become an events producer with The Tent People, an Arts Council-funded social enterprise bringing arts and entertainment to rural communities. This role has included working on the senior management team to deliver pop-up events and festivals. Before my move into the above, I co-founded Media By The Hour with a partner in Luxembourg. The business offered agencies, publishers, and direct clients senior-level expertise for short-term, flexible contracts. As the name suggests, clients could hire us for as little as an hour or for longer-term support, providing tailored freelancing solutions. We worked with a range of clients from the UK, Europe, and China. I worked in the northern media industry from 2004 to 2020, gaining experience on both the agency and publisher sides. Previous employers include Mediacom, PHD, The BBC, The Guardian, and Immediate Media. Over the years, I’ve built connections throughout the industry, not just in Manchester but stretching from Devon to Scotland. I’ve written occasional freelance pieces, with credits including The Guardian, Manchester Confidential, and Outdoors Magic. I was also featured in The Guardian's 2013 Bedside Book of selected writing.