PLATF9RM

SKILLS Creative Direction | Brand Development | Marketing | Community Building

As a founding member of the PLATF9RM team, I led the brand, marketing & creative development since its inception. In 2019 I worked alongside Studio Makgill to deliver the Make Work Wonderful brand. In 2022, I worked with Project Simply to build, design and populate the new website.

PLATF9RM is the joyful, colourful, powerful, thoughtful, eventful reimagining of work. A new breed of coworking and private office spaces that bring together like-minds, local life, great ideas and good times. PLATF9RM grew its community to over 1000 members, utilising 35,000 sqft of designed space across 2 locations in Brighton & Hove.

The PLATF9RM mission is to Make Work Wonderful, for their members, their team and the wider community. PLATF9RM creates wonderful places that empower members to enjoy work to the full.

Creating energised shared spaces – as full of life as they are full of work – where both businesses and people thrive. Building vital communities in vibrant environments enriched by valuable experiences. Glueing it all together with a positive spirit, proactive service and progressive beliefs.

None of this would have been possible without the talented creatives, members and team at PLATF9RM.

Photos: Emma Croman, Ashley Lashmar Ford, Kitty Wheeler Shaw

Graphic Design: Studio Makgill, Myles Lucas

Illustration: Lucy Sherston, Amy Brown

2016-2023

September 2019 - January 2023 | 3 years & 5 months
• Created a new revenue stream through online event production, generating £60k in annual revenue, whilst building on strategic partnerships with Sussex councils, LEPs, and tourism and cultural organisations during COVID 2020.
• Directed our new website launch and creative content, which since launch visit-MQL% has grown by 70%.
• Created a marketing and retention strategy that produces an organic lead flow of over 120 leads monthly, reducing the necessity to rely on brokers. CPA of only £50 per member with an average lifetime value of circa £5k per coworking member.
• Led a team of 3 employees in the brand and marketing department as well as 8 freelancers, contractors and agencies.
• Directed all creative content production and managed a social media team, currently at 14,000 organic and engaged followers.
• Created Kickass Women day conference (IWD celebration), which sells out our 120-capacity Hove venue every year.
• Involvement in response tender of 20k sqft of Grade 2 listed Town Hall w/ £3.75m CAPEX budget.
• Produced Investment decks for £5m of funding to further develop PLATF9RM into new cities.
December 2017 - September 2019 | 1 year 10 months
• P&L responsibility - monthly revenue reaching £220k & average operating profit of 35%.
• Led an operational team of 13 to grow membership from 178 to 850.
• Directed all event and cultural programming for our members and the wider community with approx 25 events per month.
• Industry low churn rates, averaging at 2.5% & NPS score of 72.
• Over 20,000 visitors through our doors.
• Launched a new CRM system.
• Heavily involved in £1M fit out of Hove Ground Floor space and opened The Grounds cafe, bar and events space.
• Worked alongside Studio Makgill to deliver the rebrand of PLATF9RM and 'Make Work Wonderful'.
December 2016 - November 2017 | 1 year
• Founding member of the PLATF9RM team that grew member numbers from 0 to 178, building a community, curating the culture, designing and hosting events. Built partnerships with cultural and impactful organisations.
• Pre-sold 75% of 6,000sqft newly fitted office space in Brighton & 80% of 6,000sqft newly fitted office space in Hove.
• Designed and built the PLATF9RM website (December 2016 - July 2022).
• Directed and commissioned content with talented freelancers from Brighton & Hove.
• Very quickly became the market leader for coworking and flexible office space in Brighton & Hove.

CULTURAL PROGRAMMING

During my tenure of six years at PLATF9RM, I led the development of a pioneering and captivating cultural program for our esteemed members and the wider community.

Themes ranged from business and start-ups to community, belonging, self-mastery, life balance, sports, physical activities, outdoor adventures, arts, culture, music, theatre, food and drink, human-centric issues such as diversity and inclusion, protected characteristics, the planet, sustainability, as well as wellbeing and mental health.

The events were delivered in a range of diverse formats, including panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, social gatherings, pop-up suppers, and outdoor and physical movement activities. Pride lay in creating stimulating and immersive experiences that left a lasting impression on our community.

CONTENT

During my time at PLATF9RM, we established a content house that produced thought-provoking blogs and compelling content that established us as thought leaders within our industry, while concurrently promoting our members and other like-minded individuals in the community. I worked with talented designers, photographers, animators and illustrators.

Our blogs covered a diverse range of topics, such as the future of digital nomads, ethical investing tips with PensionBee, B Corps and the lessons we have learned, celebrating the LGBTQ+ business leaders making a difference, creative organizations powered by digital technology, laser light city, ways to keep creative, safe winter sea-swimming for beginners, the best second-hand and vintage shops in Brighton & Hove, our favourite walks in Sussex, how to know when you are a true Brightonian, an insider’s guide to the Brighton Digital Festival, alternative ways to celebrate Pride, Donal Hughes' secrets of a perfect dinner party, and honouring Brighton heroes such as Paul Richards of Stay Up Late.

SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS

At the core of my personal mission lies a deep-seated commitment to fostering the growth of local creative talent, while actively seeking out and generating opportunities for their advancement.

At PLATF9RM I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with numerous talented individuals within my network, to bring forth inspiring murals, on-brand artwork, captivating content, and engaging events and activities.