As the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah continues, Laura Jardine Paterson finds herself in London, far from the bustling streets of Beirut, where she had been living and working for the past five years. Having evacuated nine weeks ago, the British entrepreneur left her home with just a suitcase and her laptop, leaving behind a dedicated team of seven colleagues and 300 freelancers who contribute to Concat, the digital development and design agency she founded in 2021.

Concat, primarily composed of refugees, has delivered various projects for organizations such as Adda, a property maintenance service based in London, Integra, an asset management company in Dubai, and Amadi, a luxury travel agency located in Switzerland.

The decision to leave Lebanon was a difficult one for the 31-year-old, who initially traveled there for a two-week holiday and chose to stay because she fell in love with the country and its people.

Jardine Paterson expressed deep emotional turmoil, describing her heartbreak at leaving her team and uncertainty about the future amidst a tentative ceasefire that began last Wednesday. Both Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of violating the truce.

“Every day we are holding onto hope that the ceasefire will hold, but we are taking it one day at a time,” she said. Her urgent departure came after receiving a last-minute email from the British embassy on October 2, advising her of a flight that day, which prompted her to grab what she could and leave in a rush.

Looking ahead, she aims to return to her Beirut residence by December or January. In the interim, Alex is focused on securing projects to ensure her team is compensated. “My priority is to ensure we can pay salaries for next month and maintain a positive outlook despite the grim realities,” she stated.

Amidst the difficulties faced by her team, Jardine Paterson highlights the resilience and positivity of the refugee communities. “We need to continue employing them, as this supports the struggling economies. Short-term aid is beneficial for immediate needs, but it lacks sustainability for long-term recovery,” she remarked.

Jardine Paterson’s entrepreneurial journey in Lebanon began while she was involved in Codi, an organization offering coding training to youth in refugee camps. Despite their technical expertise, many refugees struggle to find stable employment due to the country’s unpredictable geopolitical climate, while businesses in the UK report challenges in hiring skilled engineers.

She founded the for-profit company, officially registered in the UK, with two co-founders who are Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Both possess technical backgrounds and were instrumental in the initial development of the agency, while Jardine Paterson managed sales and projects. The agency has since expanded to a team of ten, drawing on a larger pool of developers when needed.

Most of the developers work from refugee camps such as Ain al-Hilweh, the largest Palestinian camp in Lebanon, and Ar-Rashidiyah, near Tyre. Jardine Paterson described the conditions: “While there are structures in the camps, many share excessive living quarters. However, they have adapted, establishing solar panels for power and internet accessibility.”

The team collaborates across different regions to ensure continuity of work, even if disruptions occur in one area. As violence escalates in Lebanon, her team remains committed to their tasks, with members reluctant to take time off unless absolutely necessary. During a recent meeting, one developer requested a day off to cope with the tragedy of friends trapped under rubble nearby, a grim reminder of their daily realities.

“For me, this is my first experience of war, but for my team, they have faced these challenges before. They approach it with a resolve; I’ve seen an incredible work ethic and determination to adapt, despite the turmoil. Remarkably, we have not missed a single project deadline,” she emphasized.