Interviews

Steve Pette from Ormeau Baths on Belfast's renaissance, serendipity and the power of creating your own future

  • Steve Pette pauses when asked to describe what his role is. He takes a good couple of minutes before asking to return this. As will be revealed, it is a justifiably hard question to answer.

    In terms of Northern Ireland however, Steve describes himself as the token English guy in his latest venture. It’s true enough as he is the only co-founder of the new Ormeau Baths co-working space not from Northern Ireland. There is a slight connection there though – he married a local girl from Carrickfergus. Connection or not, that doesn’t stop Steve from waxing lyrical about Northern Ireland’s first city.

    “I believe there is a renaissance happening in Belfast right now and I think that in 18 to 24 months it’s going to be a very difference place than it is today, and in a very positive way,” he says.

    Steve actually found his feet in business by working for a hotel chain. He moved from there to join TGI Friday’s when they first arrived in the UK and from there joined a fledgling All Bar One. From there Steve joined Virgin, first taking charge of the company’s business lounges in airports across the world and heading Service development for ground and air before going stateside to help launch the new Virgin America Airline.

    He explained: “I’ve always worked for new ventures or for people who are looking to challenge convention or to find new ways to do more. I’ve always managed to work with smart people, and continue to do so. 

    “It was in around 2009 and I got made redundant not long after 9/11 when I realised that working for myself could be quite interesting and I was at a point then that if I didn’t do it then I never would.”

    Steve then co-founded Central Working, the first of a number of co-working spaces that were designed not just as a place to work, but also one to bring people together. Central Working is more than just an office.

    “People can work, collaborate and gain access to investors and new clients. The basis of creating a hospitality service behind Central Working is part of the ethos behind Ormeau Baths in terms of the look, feel and attitude,” said Steve.

    From there Steve has also formed Hearts + Minds, a consultancy helping other to create their own co-working spaces. As he talks about his work he is finally able to touch on what it actually is what he does for a living.

    “I seem to be able to pull together lots of relevant people to create really inspiring places and spaces that have a narrative and customer experience. I work with both small and large companies and everything I’ve done is on referral.

    “I love what I do. I love the one minute I can have conversations with a government organisation who's looking at VR and then the next I’ll be talking to a guy who’s finding his way launching a pregnancy supplement business even though he has a really great product and brand to help him gain some traction.

    “There are a lot of coffees and a lot of chat and a lot of the time it leads to nothing, but potential is always that it can lead to some great stuff. You never know what kind of serendipity can result – I’m a big believer in having coffee and conversation” he said.

    And it’s clear for anyone passing down Belfast’s Ormeau Avenue that Steve knows how to pull such a co-working space together. Ormeau Baths has been sympathetically refurbished to include private offices and shared hot-desking space and everything between. The company partnered with Barclays Eagle Lab, Tech start NI and UKBAA - all driving the ambition and talent for entrepreneurial activity for the City and NI.

    Why Belfast?

    “This was about being able to create something working with co founders who I respect and admire -  I see this as an opportunity to be able to do something for a city that is clearly a rising star,” Steve explained.

    “Belfast has a huge amount going for it. It’s a city of builders and this is building forward for industry 4.0 and there’s a huge amount of passion, grit, talent and tenacity. We’re tapping in to the Northern Irish diaspora to allow people who have done well  to pay back to the city and let other aspiring tech entrepreneurs grow businesses and do well.”

    Steve believes that the secret to his success is his past experience in starting new ventures.

    He continued: “From a background in hospitality I’ve been able to bring relationships and understanding people – fundamentally that’s what business is all about I wouldn’t have thought I would end up like this. In the corporate world I had a comfortable lifestyle where I was getting a regular pay check, had a car and a contributory pension. But the shrinking of an industry like the airline sector tends to focus you on what’s actually happening and what’s important and that gives you a different view on life and work. I think that, in part, some of my successes and failures allow me to share with other people in a slightly different way. I’ve gone through it and I know how hard it is.

    “When someone has done really well people only see the success, they don’t see the hard work or risk behind the success. When somebody fails people point a finger of blame but things fail for various reasons. I think you have to give people kudos. If they’re willing to brave it, go out there, start something or work as an independent or freelance. Those are the SMEs driving the economy, not just the big employers.”

    Steve spends time in Belfast every other week and in the meantime is looking ahead – his next big venture is still in creation. But for anyone planning a new business venture for the first time, he has this advice to give.

    “Believe in yourself, concentrate on the opportunity and solving the probelm and don’t overthink the negatives. When you committ to something, amazing things and opportunities happen - you just need to be open to them"

    About the author

    An article that is attributed to Sync NI Team has either involved multiple authors, written by a contributor or the main body of content is from a press release.

    Got a news-related tip you’d like to see covered on Sync NI? Email the editorial team for our consideration.

    Sign up now for a FREE weekly newsletter showcasing the latest news, jobs and events in NI’s tech sector.

Share this story