Into the Spotlight, sponsored by Huddersfield-based Scriba PR, is a regular feature which highlights some great businesses. Here we profile Huddersfield entrepreneur and philanthropist ZEE FARIDI.
Entrepreneur Zee Faridi knows what it’s like to grow up in poverty and that’s why he’s already giving back with his new business venture less than a year old.
Zee, 30, who grew up in Waterloo the son of a single mum, runs fast-growing West Yorkshire estate agent Ezmuve with business partner Jones Thomas.
The business, which has only been operating since the start of 2022, has just signed up with a Kirklees-based not-for-profit social enterprise to help people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Zee, a former student at Almondbury High School, has had multiple businesses and has made it his mission in life and business to help and inspire others.
“Giving back is important and that’s how I was brought up,” said Zee. “My mum worked three jobs and though we still didn’t have enough my mum would always give to charities.
“Growing up our electric used to get cut off frequently, I slept on a mattress on the floor and I know what it is like to live in poverty-stricken conditions. That’s why it’s so important for me to give back to the community.”
Ezmuve will give a percentage of profits every month to Dewsbury-based Bramwell’s CIC, set up by community activist Tanisha Bramwell.
Bramwell’s has a food bank and also provides emergency support to families and individuals across Kirklees who are struggling to afford food or haven’t enough money for gas or electricity.
Tanisha and her team take urgent calls for help seven days a week and hand out food parcels or top-ups for energy meters, and refer people to other agencies for longer-term support.
Zee said: “In our business we are going into people’s homes and we are dealing with people on a daily basis.
“We sell and manage properties and our clients know when they instruct us to sell or manage their property a portion of their fees are going back into the community. So together we can all have an impact on people’s lives, even those we don’t know.
“We’ve only been going since the start of the year and maybe it’s too early in the life of our business to be donating some of our profits but this is going to be a harsh winter and people need our help now.”
Ezmuve is based at Carlinghow Mills in Bradford Road, Batley, but covers the whole of West Yorkshire.
For Huddersfield-based Zee his move into real estate was a double challenge. He’d had little previous experience in property and Batley was a new town where he had to make new contacts.
“I came into this industry with only experience investing into property, but no previous estate agency experience so I’ve no pre-conceived ideas and that means we can do things differently,” he said.
“We are independent so we can work around what best suits our clients, not what suits our business.
“Our aim is to be a transparent and people-focused business. We are dealing with someone’s biggest asset and it’s about focusing on their needs not ours. We want to redefine how an estate agency operates.”
While Zee is passionate about business – he has had online businesses and been in several fields from clothing to social media management – he also wants to support the community and inspire others to be successful.
He’s a public speaker and recently met entrepreneur Steven Bartlett – the youngest dragon on TV’s Dragons’ Den – at an event in London.
Zee recently spoke at North Huddersfield Trust School in Fartown and has other engagements planned at Leeds Trinity University and Mirfield Free Grammar.
“It’s all about opening young people’s minds and seeing what’s possible for them,” said Zee. “If I can do this coming from where I did then so can they.”
Ezmuve is a sales and lettings business which is fast-growing and has had great online reviews. Find out more HERE.
