THE WORK NEAR HOME VISION
The future is local
Where, when and how we work has changed.
We call it the 'Work Near Home' era, and it's based on our belief that spending more time in our local community is key to creating happier societies, healthier high streets, and greater opportunity for all.
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Members
Our members work across varied sectors from tech to the creative industries. This makes Patch a brilliant place to connect with a diverse professional community in your local area.
Online Network
The world of work is changing - have your say on how that happens.
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Local Businesses
We are always looking for opportunities to work, collaborate and partner with local businesses, operators and suppliers.
Community Groups
From book clubs to coding workshops, we’re interested in supporting you to deliver your mission, in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Councils and Public Bodies
We seek meaningful opportunities to work collaboratively with local authorities and public bodies, supporting the goal of creating sustainable and inclusive local economies.
Partnerships
We’re motivated by partnerships which have a positive impact in our communities and on the planet.
Join the team
We’re on a mission to reimagine the world of work, and we need brilliant people to help us do it.
Click below to submit a speculative application and we'll be in touch.
Meet the Patch Team
Freddie Fforde
Founder
Freddie leads our commercial and operational functions. He’s started Patch to increase access to opportunity for people based on who they are, not just where they live. With a background in startups, he’s excited about the potential for technology to bring people together.
Varun Vassanth
Launch & Partnerships
Part of Patch’s founding team, Varun’s main aim is to set up new sites for success. He is motivated by collaborative and community-based projects and his passion lies in widening access to opportunity. Varun has published research on decolonising tertiary education and was previously Director of Opportutoring, an education-based non-profit in the migration sector.
Paloma Strelitz
Head of Product & Creative Director
As part of Patch’s founding team, Paloma is motivated to create a future world of work that promotes inclusion, sustainability, and well-being. She writes, speaks, and advises on cities, culture, and technology. Paloma is a Harvard University Loeb Fellow and prior to Patch, she co-founded Assemble, the Turner Prize-winning social-impact design studio.
Naomi Briffett
Site Director
Naomi is the Site Director in Chelmsford. She leads the direction of the team, from ensuring next-level service for members to supporting public events. She thrives working in a creative and welcoming community, and brings a wealth of experience from her years with a leading workspace operator in London.
Alexa Scott-Dalgleish
Content Marketing Lead
Alexa is responsible for developing and implementing the company's content strategy, from PR and marketing to social media and newsletters. She joins from a background in journalism, PR and copywriting, and particularly enjoys telling the stories of the Patch community and the role Patch is playing in creating a more inclusive and sustainable working world.
Jessi Haymon Gorlov
Head of Property
Jessi is responsible for finding our Patch sites and managing our partner relationships with property stakeholders. She joins the team from a leading global asset manager and brings over ten years of experience as a real estate lawyer in the City. She is focused on realising the potential of property to drive positive change for people and places.
Ben Newton
Head of Operations
Ben is responsible for supporting the site teams in delivering an exceptional experience to all who interact with Patch. He comes from a background managing a wide range of hospitality venues and brands, including music venues, clubs, restaurants, and specialty coffee shops. In his role at Patch, Ben enjoys thinking outside the box when it comes to how we can keep ahead of the curve as we navigate through the Work Near Home landscape.
Meet the Patch Investors
Each investor supports our social goals and our mission to build a more inclusive Work Near Home future. Many are already active in founding or leading charitable or social initiatives.
30% of our founding investor group are women, and over 60% reflect minority groups. All are united by the goal for Patch to be an enabler of social change.
3 Ways to join the Work Near Home community
We’re building a national network of neighbourhood workspaces and will be sharing news, ideas and plans from the Work Near Home world. Sign up to discover more and get involved.