Meet The Founder: Brad Frankel of Flooglebinder
As part of our series showcasing our amazing non-profit and impact startup community, we chatted to Brad Frankel, the co-founder of Flooglebinder, an educational travel company providing sustainable & environmentally-friendly global travel for schools & students. He chats to us about his love of travel and why he thinks it’s a great tool for change!
Hi Brad, what inspired you to start Flooglebinder?
Brad (left) and co-founder Ian
I guess for both myself and my co-founder, Ian Taylor, it came out of frustration. Ian was frustrated for his students that were paying a lot of money to go on 'average' trips, which didn't give them the in-situ conservation experience they were looking for and for me it was a frustration of not doing something that I love and believed in.
We think Flooglebinder is a cool name! What does it mean?
It’s a random one! Flooglebinder comes from an 80s classic film called ‘Cocktail’ with Tom Cruise and Elizabeth Shue. We wanted something a little different to the standard stuff that was out there and both love the film. We spent ages trying to find a name so just used to send each other messages when random things would pop up! Ian was watching the film and sent it to me. Within ten mins I'd registered us on Companies House and bought the domain. When I told him he said he was joking!
Where did your passion for travel come from?
I wouldn't say there was one definitive moment it's just constantly grown. However, when my parents bought me a globe one Christmas, I remember thinking how small the UK was, how big the rest of the planet was and how I wanted to explore it all. As I got older, I travelled for different purposes. At 15, I went scuba diving with my dad which inspired me to study marine biology. I then went on a turtle project to Greece at 17 which inspired my passion further for marine conservation. I travelled the world! I guess the bug started with the globe when I was 5!
Why do you think educational programmes are key to creating change for people and the planet?
We don't know what we don't know. It sounds obvious I know but it also reminds me of a cooking advert (I think it was the Knorr one) that went: "it's easy when you know how" - these statements are so obvious yet so true.
We do things that we learn, become familiar with and become habitual. If we continue to behave in the way we do as a planet and population, we know more damage will be done. We need to raise awareness and educate others about the impact of our actions. Whether that's what we eat, the way we use things or the way we travel. For us, travel is key in creating change as the real-life experience creates a socio-emotional response to change and pro-environmental behaviours.
How has COVID affected the work you are doing?
Travel and education have arguably been the hardest hit, so it's been a big challenge but we're constantly adapting and evolving. We're launching new group trips for solo travellers and also tailor-made family holidays, which will still be the most sustainable trips out there, creating positive change. We also have our new climate sweater coming, which uses recycled plastic from the ocean floor, which we're really excited about.
Where do you see Flooglebinder in 5 years time?
Who knows! I guess you’ll just have to watch this space!
If you would like to learn more about Flooglebinder, volunteer for any of their projects or discover more about how you and your company can work with and help amazing founders, non-profits and impact organisations like this one, you can find out more here or get in touch.
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