Harlequins and England National Academy Prop Chloe Edwards becomes Membership Manager at Iconic Workspace
Once you have pulled on the famous quartered shirt, you are always a Harlequin and it is this philosophy that drives the Club’s desire to help players prepare for a career when their on-field days are over.
Chloe Edwards is an integral member of Harlequins Ladies squad on the field but off it she has become Membership Manager of Iconic Workspace, the company set up to market selected areas of The Stoop as flexible office spaces on non-matchdays.
Her appointment links her to former Harlequins centre Matt Hopper, the co-founder of Iconic Workspace. Matt, 33, is now with French side Oyannax, but shares Harlequins’ passion for equipping players for life beyond rugby. “That passion is embedded into our business model,” says Matt. “With the club, we’re donating 5% of all Iconic Workspace profits to charities devoted to either mental health or transitioning from professional sport.”
Chloe and Matt’s journey is mirrored by other former Harlequins’ players the club has helped develop careers beyond their playing days. For example, our former second-row forward Olly Kohn is now co-owner of the national Jolly Hog business, which also operates at The Stoop on matchdays. He has now been joined in the business by current Harlequins and England tighthead prop Will Collier.
Then there is hooker Rob Buchanan, another former teammate of Hopper’s from the 2011/12 Premiership title-winning season. As those of you who visit the North Fan Village at The Stoop will know, with his fiancée, Rob has set up The Mobile Bubble Club. As he says: “What happens off the pitch directly impacts what happens on it – if you’re happy, you’re learning, and you’re interested in what you’re doing outside of the game, you’re better for it. It also puts your mind at ease because rugby’s not forever, and so it’s nice to know you’re improving in other ways.”
Iconic Workspace has opened a new revenue stream for the Club around existing assets. And for local businesses of all sizes, the benefits are myriad as the club’s commercial director Alexandra Goldschmidt adds: “Particularly for companies or individuals already associated with us, what better place could there be than The Stoop to rent some office space, or hold an out-of-office meeting?
“If you need some inspiration, all the sporting characteristics that contribute to successful businesses have been played out on the pitch in front of you. Creativity, loyalty and the importance of teamwork, or turning the tide during tough times – it’s all there.”
Courtesy of Harlequins
