Nikki Gibson: main step ahead (pic: Terry Murden)
Swurf, the modern app that connects distant staff with areas and hosts, has secured important funding from entrepreneurs Gareth Williams and Anna Lagerqvist Christopherson.
The corporate, based in Edinburgh final 12 months by occasions and advertising businesswoman Nikki Gibson, has additionally appointed a director in Leeds to develop the enterprise south of the border.
Mr Williams is co-founder of the Scotland-headquartered Skyscanner journey search engine enterprise, whereas Ms Christopherson collectively established the Boda Bar Group in Edinburgh..
Ms Gibson labored in occasions, gross sales and advertising for a few years, when she noticed a niche available in the market with extra folks working remotely through the pandemic.
With many individuals preferring to proceed to be distant staff a minimum of a few of the time, the app hyperlinks people – Swurfers – with areas, together with lodges, bars and eating places, the place they will get on with their jobs, community and collaborate.
Figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) for Might this 12 months discovered that about of quarter of UK staff have been adopting a hybrid mannequin. With no signal of a rush again to the office full-time, persons are nonetheless anticipated to be on the lookout for numerous locations to base themselves and join with others.
New traders: Gareth Williams and Anna Lagerqvist Christopherson
Ms Gibson stated: “Getting funding from Gareth and Anna represents a significant step ahead for Swurf as we proceed to increase rapidly.
“It’s nice that profitable traders and entrepreneurs of their calibre have chosen to help Swurf and have purchased into our formidable plans. Till now I’ve funded the enterprise myself, in addition to receiving a Scottish Authorities Digital Enhance Grant earlier this 12 months to additional develop my app with a give attention to extra engagement for customers and hosts.
“I got here up with the concept of Swurf whereas working from dwelling in Edinburgh through the pandemic. I realised folks needed someplace they may go to work and join with others, away from their very own 4 partitions, and venues have been on the lookout for new methods to herald purchasers and generate enterprise.
“The Swurf mannequin has labored properly and we proceed to enroll new hosts and customers throughout the UK as we construct up our group, with an eye fixed on world enlargement. Our imaginative and prescient is to have a digital community of worldwide Swurfers.”
Swurf now has greater than 2,500 registered customers who’ve downloaded the app and over 100 hosts. Customers and hosts are positioned throughout the UK, together with the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, with Leeds approaching board on the finish of July. Large names amongst hosts embrace Moxy Resorts, Dakota, Chaopraya and Village Resorts.
Swurf is free to obtain for customers who can seek for welcome and protected areas the place they will work and join of their native neighbourhoods, or wherever they could be that day. It’s designed to supply flexibility so folks can simply pop alongside to a neighborhood host to work at brief discover.
It generates earnings from charging hosts an annual subscription. Swurf plans to develop the providers it gives its communities by means of the likes of unique promotions with venues and specially-tailored additions and filters for the app.
Observe Day by day Enterprise on LinkedIn
Mr Williams stated: “I used to be drawn to spend money on Swurf as a result of it has an actual objective, fills a niche and is constructing a group.
“I can see similarities between the Swurf idea and that of the Skyscanner enterprise I co-founded which shook up the journey reserving market and has achieved world success. Swurf is rising rapidly and I can see the potential for it to be rolled out globally as distant working seems to be set to remain.”
Ms Christopherson: “With my Boda Bars and Eating places enterprise I used to be the primary host to affix Swurf when it launched as I might actually see the worth it added for me and what an important app it was for customers. Based mostly on the success in its first 12 months, I didn’t hesitate in deciding to spend money on Swurf to help its development throughout the UK after which internationally.
“I’ve labored in hospitality for greater than 20 years and Swurf is a wonderful method for venues to draw clients throughout quieter instances when they’re open and paying workers.
“This problem of low footfall clearly got here to the fore through the pandemic, however it’s a fixed difficulty for the hospitality sector, particularly as outgoings, akin to gas payments and provider prices, enhance. It’s a win-win for Swurfers and venues and I can see it attracting lodges internationally.”
Carla Godsman of Moxy Resorts stated: “Working with Swurf has allowed us to extend our consciousness within the native market.”
