In this episode of ‘Fear Less, Do More’, host Gill Hunter talks with Tom and Jack, twin brothers and founders of Atha Properties.
Neither of them imagined a future in property development, but after a brief and unfulfilling experience at university, they found themselves drawn to the student housing market - and plunged headfirst into learning the ropes of renovation, business, and building a business.
Tom and Jack share their journey from living in a caravan to managing a growing portfolio of student properties in Teesside. They open up about the learning curves, the unpredictable nature of working with family, and how resilience and humour have kept them grounded through it all. Their story is an inspiring look at taking risks, embracing mistakes, and finding opportunity in unexpected places.
Highlights include:
How leaving university and returning home ended with the brothers living in a caravan while figuring out their next move
Lessons learned through trial and error—including flooded floors, botched renovations, and mastering how to lay lino
Taking on a major student housing project and racing to finish carpets just as the first tenants arrived
How setbacks and stress strengthened their determination and deepened their bond as siblings and business partners
Honest reflections on the mental pressure of entrepreneurship and the importance of perseverance
Why they believe Teesside is full of untapped potential for development
A surprising story about sibling rivalry gone too far, and what their girlfriends had to say about it
Their ambition to grow Atha Properties while keeping family, fun, and community at the heart of what they do
