"This is a huge experiment we're all living through. How do you feel when you're stuck inside?" Philippa Charrier What do you do when your business is student lets and universities shut down? This is the problem facing Philippa and Tom Charrier of FAT Properties. Late last year I had the opportunity to interview Philippa for my podcast. It wasn't published at that time so we caught up a couple of weeks ago to discuss what's changed now we're in lockdown and the rapid adjustments they've had to make in their business.&nbsp; ABOUT PHILIPPA Philippa Charrier trained as an architect and urban designer and has 10 years experience working in the public and private sectors facilitating high profile urban regeneration projects throughout the UK and Australia.&nbsp; She understands the impact that the built environment has on people’s behaviour, mood and mental wellbeing. Six years ago she co-founded FAT Properties with her husband&nbsp; Tom alongside their busy family life as they saw a gap in the market to provide high quality student co-living with a focus on customer experience and wellbeing. Every year they are over subscribed with students and have a waiting list of investors wanting to work with them.&nbsp; They have been featured in the UK’s leading property magazines and podcasts. FAT Properties are leading the way in promoting wellbeing in student co-living through great design and customer experience. They are currently undertaking ground breaking new research across multiple UK universities investigating the link between student accommodation and wellbeing over time. Their book ‘Designed for Wellbeing’ will be published in the next few months. Website:&nbsp; LinkedIn: Philippa Charrier Twitter:&nbsp;@fatproperties Facebook: @fatproperties Instagram: @fatproperties, @philippacharrier HOSTED BY: Nicole Bremner Nicole is an investor, speaker, write and podcast. After a frantic decade building out a property portfolio worth millions throughout London recent personal and professional setbacks forced her stop and reassess what really matters. After a period of healing Nicole realised that what comes after setback is success. Nicole focusses on telling these stories of #reboundaftersetback and the lessons learned along the way.&nbsp; CONNECT WITH NICOLE&nbsp; Website:&nbsp; LinkedIn:&nbsp; Instagram:&nbsp; YouTube:&nbsp; YouTube:&nbsp; Facebook:&nbsp; Twitter:&nbsp; Pinterest:&nbsp; DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research.&nbsp;

EP52: Philippa Charrier - what to do if your business is student lets and unis shut down?

"Care homes still have a place in our society but it’s about finding a halfway point in retirement housing." Andrew Fyfe With the backdrop of the covid-19 pandemic and numerous tragic fatalities in care homes I interviewed independent living strategist, Andrew Fyfe. We discussed the role of care homes and retirement living for today’s society and the way our approach needs to change if we are going to meet increased demand for suitable property. With 8.6 million more people reaching age 65 over the coming decades, demand for suitable accommodation is only going to increase. The vast burden of meeting demand is going to rest on housebuilders. It’s a subsector of this industry which could be very interesting for those quick to adapt their strategy and take specialist advice. ABOUT GUEST Founded in 2019, Sovereign Property Partnership is the brainchild of two top University of Aberdeen Real Estate Masters Graduates. Through their academic studies and with a foot in the industry, they saw the gap in the market and recognised the difficulties facing retirees, developers, regulators and providers. They endeavoured to protect the independence of retirees, to fight for their right to remain sovereign. They reached out to the industry, formed partnerships with top universities and gathered a board of advisers with experience and insight. Most importantly, they included the very people they wished to help – retirees. Website:&nbsp; LinkedIn:  HOSTED BY: Nicole Bremner Nicole is an investor, speaker, write and podcast. After a frantic decade building out a property portfolio worth millions throughout London recent personal and professional setbacks forced her stop and reassess what really matters. After a period of healing Nicole realised that what comes after setback is success. Nicole focusses on telling these stories of #reboundaftersetback and the lessons learned along the way.&nbsp; CONNECT WITH NICOLE&nbsp; Website:&nbsp; LinkedIn:&nbsp; Instagram:&nbsp; YouTube:&nbsp; YouTube:&nbsp; Facebook:&nbsp; Twitter:&nbsp; Pinterest:&nbsp; DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research.

EP#53: Andrew Fyfe - Is there a future for care homes post covid-19?

"The word ‘authentic’ has become a buzzword and a bit of a joke. Really, we want to be a bit more real and we can do that with video." Cheryl Laidlaw When website developer Cheryl Laidlaw told friends she was going to build websites in a single day they laughed. But Cheryl has done just that for years, and successfully with a waiting list that keeps getting longer. During lockdown we spoke about the initial panic that things would completely shut down to the bounce in motivation as people realised now was a time they could reshape their businesses. What this means for Cheryl is many of her clients requiring shiny new websites. We also discussed Social Media World 2020 she was lucky enough to attend in San Diageo just before the world shut down including her key learnings. Although, she’s still digesting them. &nbsp; Then we switch over to a previous podcast I recorded with Cheryl in September 2019 but was never published. Enjoy and as always, I welcome your feedback. ABOUT GUEST Cheryl Laidlaw, or London Web Girl, is a digital marketer specialising in website creation for business growth.&nbsp;She has a big passion in making web design not only interesting, but accessible to all, she&nbsp;prides herself on her Website In A Day service that leaves her clients not only with a with a fantastic website, but having had a great day learning new skills and new-earned confidence using their website to grow their business.&nbsp; Website:&nbsp; LinkedIn:  Instagram:  Facebook:&nbsp; HOSTED BY: Nicole Bremner Nicole is an investor, speaker, write and podcaster. After a frantic decade building out a property portfolio worth millions throughout London recent personal and professional setbacks forced her to reassess what really matters. After a period of healing Nicole realised that what comes after setback is success. Nicole focusses on telling these stories of #reboundaftersetback and the lessons learned along the way.&nbsp; CONNECT WITH NICOLE&nbsp; Website:&nbsp; LinkedIn:&nbsp; Instagram:&nbsp; YouTube:&nbsp; YouTube:&nbsp; Facebook:&nbsp; Twitter:&nbsp; Pinterest:&nbsp; DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research.&nbsp;

EP#54: Cheryl Laidlaw on building a website in a day

Ten years ago I was at home raising three children under three and unsure what my future held. Fastforward to 2020 after ten years with hands on property development, which saw us develop out hundreds of properties across London, I've taken a step back, left London and reassessed my values. 

At first the fast pace and excitement of being a hands-on property developer was exciting. I enjoyed travelling around to the various sites in construction and raising funds via crowdfunding. But in the last few years this has changed. I realised that what I enjoyed most was building personal brands and telling the stories that make us unique.  

While I still hold some of my own property investments I've diversified, a little, and invested in property auction company Bamboo Auctions and music merchandise company Terrible Merch. I sit on the boards of these companies as well as Cogress, an alternative finance company. I've ventured into video edited and have launched a sailing channel on YouTube SailingSavvy which follows my families adventures on sea and land on my partner's XP-55 X-Yacht. 

Other than that I'm thoroughly enjoying writing and have regular columns with Modern Woman and Development Finance Today magazines and am a best selling author of Bricking It, with another book on the way. When I have a bit of time I'm happy to speak at events and have bookings in Dubai and Canada during 2020. More recently I've started consulting on a St James's Place initiative with SeventySeven Wealth Management and Elephants Child to assist property entrepreneurs scale their businesses (http://bit.ly/34sNRKc). 

You can follow along with my business life on my socials mostly Instagram @nsbremner but also Facebook @NicoleSBremner, Twitter @nicolebremner and YouTube Nicole Bremner and SailingSavvy. Last, but not least, check out my podcast which is one of my favourite endeavours www.nicolebremner.com/podcasts.