Re-building our economy post COVID-19
I’m reading a lot about the need to regenerate jobs, get GDP recovered and ways in which we can ‘get back to normal’. I’m just not convinced the majority of people would wish things to return to how they were. Families have enjoyed more time together, parents both at home at meal times, less commuting, less pressure for time and more spare time to be with family, exercise and enjoy life. Many businesses have thrived during this time due to people working remotely. As a family we are based in North Yorkshire near a town called Harrogate. On our estate we are very fortunate to have protected natural habitat for wildlife, a place for wildlife to thrive and for us as humans to make minimal disruption to the natural way of life.
Having enjoyed seeing our resident White Hart deer, spotting Little Owls, camping in our woodland and walks amongst the bluebells we feel truly grateful for the environment that we and our children live in.
When focusing on business I am now doing so with a very prioritised view of our planet, our responsibility towards it and to the species we share this Earth with. We exist in a delicate biosphere that I feel we have undervalued or disregarded for far too long. My hope is that post Corona virus that people do take with them that slower pace of life, that time with family and perhaps that appreciation of wildlife, song birds or nature if they have had chance to experience that.
We are building real estate businesses here in the UK, a challenge given our withdrawal from Crescent Gardens project whereby we were purchasing from Harrogate Borough Council to restore and redevelop parkland and buildings in the centre of Harrogate. Our real estate business now will be focused on ecologically built, maintained and liveable luxury eco-homes, situated within woodland and coastal settings. We have identified a site in the UK and also one in Iceland which our partners own.
Our business in the US, STARS, is a casual plant-based food concept which is for the surfers & skaters, dreamers and creators - our challenge is to how to build a fast food company without the reliance on building out our own bricks and mortar restaurants. We are looking at a relationship with a chain of 700 units across North American at the moment which would facilitate distribution to areas that we otherwise do not have STARS sites. Adam Thorpe.