All
About Us
A new solution to a new way of working
Welcome to Work From Here. We match home workers with hyperlocal venues in Birmingham and beyond. Need a workspace? Work From Here.
This is our story
I was sat in my makeshift home office this Summer, just after the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed, bored of my four walls. I wanted to go and work from somewhere else for the afternoon, maybe a local pub or café, but I wasn’t sure if they welcome people turning up with a laptop for a few hours. Is it frowned upon? Do venues have the perception that I will be taking up space and nursing a coffee for three hours?
What I wanted was reassurance. Reassurance that: I would be welcomed; there would be a space for me when I got there; the environment inspired and supported my working day; I was sure how long I could stay (no awkward moments) and was value for money – reducing my commute and saving money.
That led me to the idea of an online platform connecting people like me, home workers who want to escape the four walls, with hospitality venues who welcome home workers – individuals or groups, and who can set expectations for customers, perhaps a package deal that I can buy for 3 hours’ workspace, coffee and a lunch.
As the idea manifested in my mind, and as the months went by, it also became clear that the hospitality industry had been crippled as a result of the pandemic, and would need a whole load of support to re-start and recover post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic venues had spare capacity at certain times of day – a café that opens at 7am for breakfast trade but has a lull until 10am, or the hotel lobby that is largely empty during the day. Previously these peaks and troughs would have been part of daily operations. But post-pandemic, the hospitality industry can re-think the business model and maximise capacity throughout the day to avoid those troughs, through attracting home workers.
I mentioned the idea to a few trusted business contacts and friends, and Work From Here was born! Whether you are a venue or a remote worker looking for somewhere engaging and inspiring to work for a few hours, we hope you enjoy using our platform and would love to hear your feedback.
Joanna Seabright, Founder, Work From Here
Meet the team
This is us
Philippa Cresswell
Customer Experience Lead
Philippa is an engaging and creative professional who has enjoyed a 20-year career spanning the Hospitality industry including Rail, Retail and Airlines. Philippa has a proven record in delivery of successful strategic projects – including Virgin trains On Board experience, and Intercontinental Hotel group’s new Open Lobby Concept experience. Previously, Philippa was responsible for designing and delivering the Customer Service experience at Virgin for 10 years including introduction of the Pendolino fleet, Philippa continually strives to ensure a Customer focused and commercial approach to all business solutions.
Jo Seabright
Founder & CEO
Jo is an engaging and driven entrepreneur and growth expert, and the founder of Work From Here. Jo has over 10 years’ experience in senior marketing roles including five years working as a self-employed management consultant in the travel industry, holding a number of high profile transport marketing roles. Jo has led the marketing and branding launch programmes for a number of UK rail brands and oversees the development and day-to-day operations of digital products driving multi-million pounds in annual revenue. She has an entrepreneurial mindset, and is experienced in devising and delivering customer-focussed and data-driven strategies to attract and develop new markets, and drive growth. As well as a passion for success and a can-do attitude, Jo is a recent Aston Business School MBA graduate, passing with distinction, and is Chartered Institute of Marketing qualified. Jo holds two trustee roles, firstly for Birmingham based charity LoveBrum alongside fellow Work From Here team member Tim Andrews, and secondly Caudwell LymeCo, a charity promoting and fundraising for Lyme Disease, founded by business tycoon John Caudwell.
Matt Foster
Platform Development Lead
Matthew is an experienced and passionate technologist with over 10 years of digital product management experience. He runs digital agency MJF Digital, providing internet marketing support for small businesses and sole traders.
Tim Andrews
Business Development Lead
Tim is a successful and high profile business leader in Birmingham and Chairman of Hollywood Monster, a graphics firm that has become one of the largest in its sector, with 70 employees and a £10m turnover, and clients including McDonalds, Sainsburys and Tesco. Tim has raised in excess of £1m for local causes by organising and hosting a number of charity events, and has picked up a number of accolades including a point of light award from the Prime Minister, CEO of the year at Downtown in Business, Local Hero of the year from Birmingham Mail, CSR award from The Business Desk, Brummie of the year at Birmingham awards and West Midlands regional IOD Director of the year. Tim’s dedication and pride in the City inspired him to co-found and Chair the local charity LoveBrum, with the sole aim to increase civic pride by unearthing local projects that make the city a better place. Tim spent 5 years as main sponsor of Birmingham City Ladies Football Club. One of Tim’s proudest accolades is the two years spent as CEO of the club, with Tim’s involvement, the team won The FA Cup, reached semi finalists in the Champions League and became League Cup runners up several times and also runners up in the FA Womens Super League. In late 2020, Tim became a Non-Executive Director for digital agency Lightbox, and joined the Work From Here team as a shareholder, leading on business development and relationship building across Birmingham.