This evening, I am joined by Freddie Fforde, Founder of Patch, Commuter Co-Working Clubs and chief proponent of the working near home era. A former management consultant he has landed in real estate intent on solving one of the biggest challenges affecting real estate – what do we need from an office?
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Key Takeaways:
- Passion for Access to Opportunity: Freddie's inspiration for Patch stems from his desire to provide access to opportunity for more people. Drawing from his experiences in university, working at Bain, and navigating the startup world, Freddie recognised the need to address challenges related to access to opportunity, particularly for working parents.
- Confluence of Experiences: Patch emerged from a confluence of Freddie's diverse experiences, including his involvement in events at university, his observations of the challenges faced by working parents, and his exploration of technology's societal impacts. These experiences led him to envision a solution that combines technology, community, and real estate to create opportunities for people.
- Challenging Traditional Notions: Freddie challenges traditional notions of real estate by launching Patch without prior real estate experience. He emphasises the importance of bringing new perspectives and ideas to an industry that often lacks innovation, highlighting the value of his startup mentality in driving change.
- Mission and Values: Patch's mission is to create opportunities for people, work, and community on every UK high street. Rooted in values of nearness, balance, and sustainability, Patch aims to go beyond traditional coworking spaces to become centres of local life and work, fostering belonging and celebrating community.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Freddie recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion within Patch and the broader real estate industry. He believes that embracing diverse perspectives and backgrounds can lead to better outcomes in urban planning and community development.
- Future Growth: With three locations already open and plans to expand to more high streets across the UK, Patch is poised for growth. Freddie envisions Patch becoming a platform for talent and opportunity, serving diverse communities and challenging the status quo in real estate.
Overall, Freddie's passion, vision, and commitment to creating positive change through Patch offer inspiration and insight into the future of real estate and community development.
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