We're ringing in the new year with some introductions to the lifework team. First up, meet our founder Paul, who is passionate about helping people and businesses tackle building balance and having a positive impact in what they do. After seven years in Amsterdam, in 2021 he and his family moved back to the UK, bringing a little Dutch work-life balance to Somerset, when he set about creating a space that enables people to work closer to where they live.
Here's a quick Q&A with Paul, which will give you some handy conversation starters when you bump into him at the coffee machine!
1. Best film you watched over Christmas? For a happy tear jerker – Nativity, go to - Elf, Christmas reserve with kids - home alone and and relative newbie, Christmas Chronicles. (We watched a lot!) 2. Top 3 recommendations for anyone heading to Amsterdam this year Go to Amsterdam Noord, visit NDSM but also hire a bike and cycle along the Nieuwendammerdijk calling in at the café Liever Hier. Lastly, if you can get on a boat (or pedalo!) around the canals by whatever means possible, hands down the best way to see the city and head down Prinsengracht and stop at a brown bar (Dutch version of a pub) somewhere along the way. 3. In 2022 lifework became a B Corp, which other B Corps have most inspired you? Some classics, Patagonia and favourite brand Finisterre but having studied Geology at Uni as well as being a stationary obsessive I love Karst (waste rock paper and pencils) and Beauty Kitchen and Wild for taking on the giants and challenging their sector. 4. You love a gig, any in the diary yet this year? Anyone hearing the playlists in lifework will know we love our music. Yet to book for ‘23, saw Jungle (Brighton), Alt-J (Bristol O2) and made it to the Forwards festival in ‘22. Really want to see little simz again, saw her in Amsterdam a couple of years ago, one of my favourite gigs ever. 5. What are you most excited about at lifework in 2023? Excited about building partnerships and collaborations to add value to our members and community in 2023. We have some great stuff coming up, our first will be a cocktail evening with local artists that we have been lucky enough to have their art on our walls. Also some regular slots coming like movie nights, run clubs as well as some talks and business breakfasts. All hitting the calendar over the coming months. We’ve also started mapping walks for our members around the farm so any suggestions please let us know. Hopeful longer term that we can install showers to help encourage people to come to lifework under their own steam.