Haaris and Shaan
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The magazine for LGS, LGHS and GSAL alumni issue 07 autumn 2019 Haaris and Shaan Laura Ashe Brothers’ inventive approach Helps Danny Dyer to property investment trace his Right Royal Family Tracey Jennings Shares her love of ocean And now for spaces and animals in something the wild completely Barry Cryer different... Four alumni on Keepsake marks emotional changing careers return to school 19 Reunions Hundreds of OLs and OGs have been reunited this year 4 The Ahmed Brothers Brothers Shaan (right) and Haaris Ahmed’s inventive approach to property investment is bringing the dream of home ownership within the grasp of more people… particularly millennials. 20 Alumni making headlines 6 13 Catch up with Tracey Jennings Bursary success alumni news Offers a stunning glimpse GSAL in line for top award into an unknown world, 10 Trip back to Welcome to Memento Stromboli It’s been another terrific summer her own diligence and drive, and the So to everyone out there, I echo the Class of ’69 return to 14 for the school! Yet again, excellent support of the school in supporting call; you may not appreciate how Stromboli to mark results in public examinations, some academically able children through much you could influence the lives 50th anniversary Leeds Luminaries 24 of the best ever, with a third of the centuries, regardless of ability of the young people at school now, Awards 2018 Old Girls’ A-level and IGCSE students gaining to pay. even beyond donations. There are The celebrations: in words Club news a clean sweep of A and A* grades – a all sorts of ways to leave a legacy, However, we talk to the pupils all the 8 12 and pictures terrific achievement. In light of this, personal as well as financial, and we time about the importance of the I would like to take this opportunity value the relationship with every one And now for Laura Ashe wider skills necessary to succeed in 25 to say a very special thank you of our ‘old’ boys and girls. Thank something Laura helps Danny Dyer life, skills that go beyond any set of Events to everyone who contributes you for the support you give to completely trace his Right Royal family examination grades, helpful though Your guide to what’s on towards our bursary programme, the school and please know that a different... guaranteeing us a diverse pupil they undoubtedly are. In preparing warm welcome always awaits you our students for the future, we are Four alumni on body and creating opportunities for if you are interested in meeting our also preparing them for jobs that changing careers 26 children from across Leeds. Of the students today – I can promise you Fond farewells many bursary student successes this do not yet exist, and a requirement would be inspired by them, and year, one stands out. Operating in to show flexibility in the workplace would be of greater help to them her second language after arriving as they navigate their careers. than you might realise! 18 The Grammar School at Leeds in the country a few years ago, Julia Therefore, it’s wonderful to read in PS: read more about Julia’s 100 years lunch Alwoodley Gates achieved 5 A* grades at A-level this edition about former pupils who incredible achievements in the Harrogate Road (including the prestigious EPQ) and have changed or diversified their celebration Leeds LS17 8GS enclosed leaflet. is heading off to Cambridge to read professional lives; what great role 0113 229 1552 Lunch for senior OLs at medicine. This is a real testament to modelling for the children of today. Weetwood Hall Editor: Alison Knight Design: Sue Woodroofe, Principal Update your details, contact preferences or unsubscribe at The Union Advertising www.gsal.org.uk/alumni/update-my-details or [email protected] Agency (Leeds) 02 03 UOWN proves a hit Shaan (GSAL09), who studied Shaan said: “We saw a lot of barriers to environmental policy and economics at entry between everyday investors and the London School of Economics, and opportunities in the property market – one Haaris (GSAL11), who studied economics of them being the very high cost of entry. with property investing and management at Oxford, were brought “We break up property investments into up in the family property business, shares valued at £1, so this means that a Parklane Properties. property investment valued at £100,000 After university they both worked in is sold in 100,000 individual shares, millennials London – Shaan with Abraaj, a private which immediately makes the investment equity company and Haaris at Rocket affordable to anyone. Hundreds or Internet, a German start up factory. They thousands of people can have a share in Brothers Shaan (right) and Haaris Ahmed’s inventive approach were inspired to set up UOWN to make the financial gain.” property investment affordable to more Haaris said: “I think most people are really to property investment is bringing the dream of home ownership people, returning to Leeds to establish frustrated with the way banks behave. their business as a sister company The web means that we can take on big within the Parklane Group. within the grasp of more people… particularly millennials. financial institutions. We can democratise things and beat the big players at their own game.” With their business, UOWN, the The brothers’ innovative business was entrepreneurial duo is leading the way recognised by school alumni when in property crowdfunding where the they were presented with the Rising under-thirties, who struggle to get a foot Stars award at the inaugural Leeds on the traditional property ladder, are Luminaries awards dinner. The awards becoming the largest group of investors. were introduced by GSAL to mark the achievements of alumni from LGS, Property crowdfunding is appealing to LGHS and GSAL (see centre spread young, tech-savvy people attracted by for full report). the ease with which they can make their investment in an environment which they understand, with half of UOWNers (54 per cent) aged between 18 and 30. UOWN is described by Shaan and Haaris as a ‘disruptive new crowdfunding platform which helps everyday people save by investing money together in properties which they own collectively.’ The brothers have coined the term ‘proven performer’ to describe their innovative business model which provides access to previously off-market rental properties. The properties have yielded strong returns for a minimum of 10 years and they believe that UOWN is the first crowdfunder to give investors access to these ‘proven performers’ as well as to properties wholly-owned Shaan (left) and Haaris receive their Rising Stars award from by the crowdfunder. This allows the Barry Cryer company to pay out rent to investors before the property has been purchased by the crowd. UOWN enables investors to buy a share in a house from as little as £20, earning them a proportion of the rental income and the capital appreciation of the property. For many people, it is an excellent investment opportunity: for others, it is a first step to property development or ownership. The platform, which launched in February 2017 with an initial user who had £50 to invest, has grown into a thriving business with 3,000 UOWNers and half a million pounds of investments, delivering a 12 per cent return over 12 months to September 2018. The brothers with their family 04 05 Tracey spends her working life in the On leaving LGHS, Tracey oil and gas industry and her spare completed an honours degree time as a wildlife photographer. She in civil engineering at Edinburgh cares deeply about the environment University, followed by a masters in and believes that her images have a petroleum engineering at Heriot- Tracey shares job to do. Watt and a postgraduate diploma in development management from She said: “I may work within the the Open University. She joined oil and gas industry but I strongly the oil and gas industry after her believe that I can effect change masters, working primarily offshore better from within than from outside. in the North Sea. She then joined BP her love of I want to share images of the and worked overseas in Venezuela, underwater world as I believe that Algeria, and Singapore, finally moving people have a tendency to protect to management consulting and then what they know and love.” risk. She is currently based in Malaysia where she works as an advisor for the Tracey’s passion for diving and country’s National Oil Company. photography is winning her ocean spaces accolades too. Her proudest moment Tracey has been diving as a hobby came last year when she became for more than 20 years and, when the first woman to win the Australian she took up photography five years Geographic Nature Photographer of ago, she was able to combine two of the Year 2018. And, her work is being her greatest passions. published worldwide: including high She said: “When I had my own and animals profile use of an image by National consultancy I used to dive six to Geographic in Times Square, New eight weeks a year, but at the York, to advertise a new exhibition moment it’s about two to four weeks. and another used to illustrate an I do intend to partially retire at 50, article about ocean acidification in and will then have more time to Nature magazine. devote to photography. in the wild As well as underwater photography, “It is difficult to make a living from Tracey’s catalogue of work also photography, but the plan is to includes breath taking images of exchange free diving and trips for animals on the African plains, in free images, which is much easier South East Asia and Finland.