Why We Introduced a Referral Scheme: The Power of Community, Impact, and Shared Purpose
When we launched our referral scheme last year, one question kept coming up: “Why introduce a referral scheme?” It’s a great question and the answer goes far beyond simply filling workspace. Our scheme grew out of months of reflection, conversations, and a genuine desire to celebrate the people who make our centres such vibrant, purpose‑driven places to work.
Because if there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s this: our community is our greatest asset.
Listening to Our Tenants: What Makes Our Workspaces Special
Every year, our tenant survey gives us valuable insight into what it’s like to work in our centres. The feedback is consistently uplifting. Tenants tell us that:
- being surrounded by organisations creating positive social impact boosts their own motivation
- our centres offer excellent value for money
- they enjoy the sense of community, purpose, and shared mission
This feedback means a lot to us. It reflects the heart of what we aim to create: ethical workspaces where changemakers can thrive.
A referral scheme felt like a meaningful way to say thank you, a way to recognise the people who champion our spaces, recommend us to others, and help shape the culture that makes our centres so unique.
Recognising the Staff Who Bring Our Centres to Life
The scheme wasn’t created for tenants alone. It was also designed to celebrate our staff, the people who keep our buildings running and our communities thriving.
Spend a day in one of our centres and you’ll see what we mean. Our teams regularly:
- organise clothing collections for local shelters
- support biodiversity projects with thoughtful planting
- maintain beehives and green spaces
- help tenants feel welcome, supported, and connected
These acts of care and community spirit are part of what makes our centres more than just office or workspace. They’re places where positive change is lived every day.
The referral scheme became a way to acknowledge this, a way to thank staff, tenants, partners, and friends who help make our spaces inspiring places to work.
The Power of Word‑of‑Mouth in Ethical Workspaces
One of the most striking things we’ve learned over the years is that many new tenants discover us through word‑of‑mouth recommendations. And honestly, we love that. It’s authentic, organic, and rooted in trust.
And why wouldn’t people share their experience? Our centres are home to some of the UK’s most innovative and socially impactful organisations. Where else could you find:
- a refugee support charity next to a language school
- an art college sharing space with architects who specialise in sustainable retrofits
- environmental groups, social enterprises, and community organisations all under one roof
These aren’t just tenants, they’re changemakers. And when they recommend us to others, they’re not just recommending a workspace. They’re recommending a community built on shared values.
A referral scheme helps us honour that trust and celebrate the people who help our network grow.
A Referral Scheme Rooted in Gratitude and Impact
So why introduce a referral scheme? The short answer is gratitude. The longer answer is that it reflects everything we believe in:
- Community — recognising the people who make our centres special
- Impact — supporting organisations that create positive change
- Collaboration — encouraging networks that strengthen social value
- Sustainability — growing in a way that aligns with our mission
The scheme is a way to say thank you to everyone who contributes to the energy, purpose, and creativity that define our centres.
Encouraging the Ripple Effect of Positive Change
Positive change rarely happens in isolation. It spreads, through conversations, connections, and shared experiences. A referral scheme is simply one way of encouraging that ripple effect.
When someone brings a new organisation into one of our centres, they’re not just filling a workspace. They’re:
- strengthening a network of socially minded organisations
- contributing to a thriving ecosystem of impact
- helping create environments where collaboration and innovation flourish
This is the kind of growth we want to encourage, growth rooted in purpose, community, and shared values.
In the End, It’s All About Community
There are countless reasons to introduce a referral scheme, but at its core, it comes down to one thing: community.
We believe in the power of people coming together. We believe that when good things are shared, they multiply. And we believe that the people who help build our community deserve to be recognised.
Our referral scheme is our way of saying thank you, to everyone who brings energy, purpose, and kindness into our centres. To everyone who helps us grow not just in size, but in impact. To everyone who believes in the power of ethical workspaces.
Because when we share, collaborate, and support one another, real change doesn’t just happen, it becomes unstoppable.
Find out more from here: Referral Scheme | Ethical Property