Doncaster marketing agency founder launches new venture with ambitions to tackle loneliness and improve wellbeing

Andy McAteer, founder and director of Doncaster-based creative agency 7 Degrees Media, has co-founded Tribe Club, an emerging community and wellbeing business built around encouraging people to connect through shared interests, activities and experiences.

The new venture, which is currently in development, aims to address some of the challenges associated with modern lifestyles, including social isolation, physical inactivity and the difficulties people face when trying to establish healthier habits.

Built around three core principles, MOVE, MIND and CONNECT, Tribe Club is developing a digital platform designed to bring people together in the real world, helping them discover new activities, find like-minded people and build lasting connections.

The business has a simple mission: To get more people doing more of the things that make life better, together.

From helping businesses grow to building something new

Having established 7 Degrees Media to provide marketing, digital and creative services to businesses and organisations, Andy is now applying that experience to developing a venture of his own.
Working alongside Tribe Club's fellow founders, Andy is helping shape the business strategy, brand identity, digital platform and longer-term commercial development.

His marketing agency, 7 Degrees Media, is also supporting the project through its expertise in branding, website development, communications, content creation and digital marketing.
Andy said:
"One of the things I've always enjoyed about running 7 Degrees Media is being able to work closely with businesses, understand their ambitions and help turn their ideas into something tangible.
"But I've also always had an entrepreneurial side, and I've wanted to take the experience I've gained helping other businesses and apply it to building something of our own.
"Tribe Club is particularly exciting because it's not just about creating another business. We genuinely believe there's an opportunity to develop something that can make a positive difference to people's lives.
"We live in a world where we're more digitally connected than ever, yet so many people still struggle with loneliness, motivation and finding opportunities to connect with others.
"We want to explore how we can change that."

Putting connection at the heart of wellbeing

Unlike traditional fitness or social networking platforms, Tribe Club is being developed around a broader understanding of wellbeing.
The concept recognises that physical activity, mental wellbeing and meaningful social connections are closely linked, and that people are often more motivated to participate in activities when they feel part of a community.

From walking groups and outdoor activities to creative hobbies, social events and new experiences, the platform aims to help people discover opportunities that suit their interests and circumstances.

Andy explained:

"Not everybody wants to join a gym or take up running, and not everybody finds it easy to walk into a room full of strangers.
"Sometimes the hardest part of trying something new is taking that first step.
"Maybe you want to get outside more, meet new people or find something that gives you a bit of purpose outside work and family life.
"We want Tribe Club to help people find those opportunities and, importantly, find other people to share them with.
"There's a phrase we've been using throughout the development process: 'The app facilitates it. Real life is the product.'
"That really sums up what we're trying to achieve."

Supporting innovation through 7 Degrees Media

The development of Tribe Club also highlights the growing role of 7 Degrees Media as a strategic partner to businesses, extending beyond traditional marketing services.

The agency works across marketing strategy, branding, web development, digital advertising, photography, video production and creative communications.

Through its involvement in Tribe Club, the agency is bringing those disciplines together to support the creation of a new business from its earliest stages.

Andy said:
"There's a lot more to building a successful business than having a good idea.
"You need to understand your audience, develop a proposition that people actually want, build a recognisable brand and work out how you're going to reach people.
"That's the kind of work we do with our clients at 7 Degrees Media, and it's exactly the approach we're taking with Tribe Club.
"In many ways, we're putting our own advice into practice.
"It's also an opportunity to demonstrate what can be achieved when marketing, creativity, technology and commercial thinking work together from the very beginning."

Building a business with a wider purpose

As development progresses, Tribe Club's founding team is exploring opportunities to work with activity providers, community organisations, employers and educational settings.

The ambition is to create a sustainable commercial business that can also deliver measurable benefits for individuals and communities.

Potential future developments include workplace wellbeing initiatives, community partnerships and programmes designed to encourage participation among different audiences.

Andy added:
"We're approaching this as a serious commercial venture, but one where commercial success and positive social impact can work hand in hand.
"We want to build something sustainable, scalable and genuinely useful.
"If we can create a business that helps people discover new interests, become more active and feel a stronger sense of belonging, that's something worth investing our time and energy into."

Looking to the future

Tribe Club is currently in its pre-launch development phase, with work underway on its digital platform, commercial strategy and early community engagement. The founding team is beginning to explore partnerships and opportunities to introduce the concept to prospective members and organisations. For Andy, the new venture represents another step in his entrepreneurial journey while reinforcing his commitment to growing 7 Degrees Media.

He concluded:
"I'm incredibly proud of what we're building with 7 Degrees Media, and that remains a huge focus for me.
"Tribe Club is an opportunity to take the skills, relationships and experience we've developed and apply them to something new.
"I think there's a real opportunity for businesses like ours to do more than simply provide services. We can help develop ideas, support innovation and create things that have a lasting impact.
"We're at the beginning of the Tribe Club journey, but we're excited about the potential.
"Ultimately, if we can build a successful business that also helps people live happier, healthier and more connected lives, that's a pretty good reason to get out of bed in the morning."

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