People Property Place #114 James Scott, Co Founder and COO of Stories
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Feb 27, 2025 In this engaging conversation, James Scott, Co-founder and COO of Stories, shares his unique journey from mechanical engineering at Cambridge to leading a purpose-driven property development company. He highlights the importance of aligning capital partners with community needs, emphasizing social and environmental impacts alongside profits. James also discusses the challenges of securing funding for socially responsible projects and the significance of grassroots initiatives. His insights on empowering careers in real estate offer invaluable advice for aspiring professionals in the industry.
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Unconventional Start in Real Estate
- James Scott explains his unconventional entry into real estate through a summer internship and working with Reza Merchant at London Student Rent.
- He grew from handling small projects like a 50-bed hostel to larger schemes like a 500-bed hostel with innovative co-living concepts.
Purpose-Driven Development Approach
- Stories sets itself apart by aligning project goals tightly with partners' purposes and communities' needs rather than forcing standard development products.
- Success is measured by the positive stories the built environment enables people to tell about their lives and opportunities.
Alignment Enables Impactful Development
- Strong alignment between funder, developer, and partner over long-term goals is vital for delivering meaningful built environment outcomes.
- Maximizing financial returns while expecting responsible social value often starts from the wrong footing for true impact.
