Adventure and community in one beaut place
Explore in nature, with peers who know what it's like to build and run something.
You may be navigating growth, people, money, difficult decisions or simply the relentless responsibility of keeping everything moving.
At the same time, you may spend far more of your life than you'd like inside, behind a screen, craving more adventure.
Explore More brings those things together - a proper walk or hike, nature, presence and time with people who have been there too.
Who is this for?
A hiking community for people building businesses, who are based in or around South East London.
Explore More is for people who have been running their own business or independent practice for a couple of years or more.
You do not need to have everything sorted, nobody does! But you will have enough experience to understand the realities of building something and to contribute to the community as well as learn from it.
It may be for you if you:
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Enjoy walking and want to make more space for it;
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Run a business or work independently and sometimes miss having genuine peers around you;
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Want to learn from other people with shared experience;
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Would like to meet interesting local people without having to pitch;
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Think and feel better when you move and spend time outside;
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Want more community, adventure and variety in your life;
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Would choose a hike, good conversation and genuine community over traditional networking.
It's totally free to attend. All you need to do is pay for your own transport and any snacks you want to bring.
Why South East London?
Part of this is about building community and it helps if community is local. We're starting in South East London because that is where I'm based, and we need to start somewhere! But if you're outside of South East London and would like something more local to you, please let me know.
A little bit of calm, with good people
Designed as a genuine departure from the day-to-day.
The walks and hikes are designed to be a genuine departure from desk-life and shift your physiological state.
Walks will usually cover approximately 8–12km and take us beyond our usual working environment - through the greener edges of South East London or into countryside accessible by public transport.
Each event listing will tell you about the route, distance, terrain, pace and what to bring. You should be comfortable walking the stated distance, but you do not need to be an expert hiker.
Come prepared to move, get some fresh air and feel as though you have properly had some time out.
What does it involve?
Good conversation. Movement. Informal peer learning.
I welcome everyone, make introductions and occasionally offer an optional question to help deepen conversation.
Otherwise, the time is your own. You might talk about business or nothing work-related at all.
Through those conversations, people naturally exchange experiences. You may hear an idea that helps, meet someone you could collaborate with or simply have a nice time.
That's literally it.
What you might take from it...
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The satisfaction of having completed a good walk or hike;
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More energy and a clearer head;
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Useful insight from someone;
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A fresh perspective that arrived without being forced;
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New friendships, collaborators or professional connections;
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A growing community of local peers;
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Simply a good day outside with people you enjoyed meeting.
The idea for Explore More
As a founder and director, I wanted to explore more, both physically and figuratively, with peers.
For me, the best way to feel invigorated, alive and connected to the 'bigger picture' is by adventuring and exploring my way through nature. Even better if I can share this with others who understand my world.
Equally, running a business can be quite a lonely endeavour - even when you have a team or collaborators. There's something about connecting with others who have 'been there, done that' which keeps our energy stoked, sparks ideas, integrates learning and, of course, broadens our network.
But the rhythms of day-to-day life often don't allow for enough of that adventure and connection. I thought, "If I'm craving more of this, then surely others are."
So, it's my mission to help us explore more, together.
It's the kind of business community I would genuinely want to join - inclusive, exploratory and centred around doing something I already love.
It also reflects a principle that runs through all my work at The Future Works. We do not always find our best ideas by thinking harder. Sometimes we need a change of environment, a different conversation and enough space for something new or wiser to emerge.
Come for a hike
Explore More runs in and around South East London, with places kept limited enough for people to get to know one another.
See the next route, date and practical details, and reserve your place, through Eventbrite.
Alternatively, join the WhatsApp group to stay in the loop and connect with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are your services for?
I work with leaders, teams and organisations who know that something needs to change, but need help leading it well. You may be looking for clarity, assurance and practical support from someone you can trust.
Does the leadership need to be fully onboard with this before I approach you?
Though it helps if they are, they don’t need to be. Part of our service is helping you to obtain that buy-in from your leadership team and the wider organisation to ensure that the journey runs smoothly.
I have a small budget, is it worth me reaching out?
We bring big impact at competitive prices as a small organisation. We’re able to be flexible in how we design and price your project so you’re always getting the most competitive deal.
How long do your services take?
It depends on the size of your organisation and the service you need. Some programmes take as little as three weeks to complete. Larger, more comprehensive programmes may take a few months. Either way, we focus on bringing a sustainable impact from the word 'go'.
I'm worried you'll try to change us too much - is there a risk of that?
If some things are working really well, why change them? Everything we do is co-developed and keeps your best interests at its core. We’re all about building on your strengths.
Do you offer one-off workshops and away days?
Yes, we do deliver these. We provide short, sharp but high-impact offsites, workshops and events, bespoke for you.
Who will lead our project?
We match our consultant team to you to deliver your project most effectively. However, all projects are led by founder Lydia Paris.