A brand new co-working space is being launched in Stoke-on-Trent for entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses.
Smithfield Works is part of the wider Smithfield scheme, in Hanley, which has already seen the construction of the 1 and 2 Smithfield buildings, the Hilton Garden Inn, the 11-storey Clayworks apartment block and a new 730-space multi-storey car park which is currently under construction.
It will be based across the ground floor and on level zero of Clayworks – which was completed last year – and in the ground floor space of the 2 Smithfield building.
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Now developers Genr8 have revealed plans for the new co-working facility, which will feature:
- 126 desks;
- Five bookable meeting rooms;
- 13 private suites ranging from four to 14 desks;
- Seven private ‘zoom booths’ and
- Two presentation areas with retractable screens.
Joel Chandler, development manager at Genr8 Developments, said: "Smithfield Works is Genr8's managed workspace concept which will provide a mix of shared workspace accommodation, hot-desking facilities, private suites and communal break-out areas. Smithfield will be able to offer one desk up to 150,000 sq ft of office accommodation.
"The delivery of Smithfield Works will create a business eco-system. Genr8, along with Make It Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, want to support business growth and help business evolve and flourish for Smithfield and for the city."
Smithfield Works will offer three types of membership, with benefits including Gigabit broadband, 24/7 access, storage areas and shower facilities as well as access to tech support, a social events calendar and discounts at local businesses.
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Members will be able to book access to the facility via an easy-to-use app which allows people to book a workspace, pay their membership fees, report any issues and book onto any classes and seminars taking place across the Smithfield estate.
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Joel said: "Genr8 has designed and will develop, invest and operate Smithfield Works and we want to make life as simple as possible for potential members, so we have created a specifically-designed Smithfield Works app.
"From the outset we wanted to create a one-stop shop where people can go onto their app and manage their workspace, and it’s really simple and really straight forward."
Work on developing the facility will start in October with completion scheduled for February 2022.
Alun Rogers, chair of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SSLEP), has welcomed the development.
He said: "I was really inspired to see what the Smithfield Works space will look like. I am the chair of SSLEP but I also run my own digital business and, pre-covid, I spent a lot of my time running around the country, so to have the kind of quality spaces here – the kind I would see in Shoreditch when I’m sharing a desk – is absolutely fantastic. It really shows the cultural and entrepreneurial spirit that’s coming back to Stoke-on-Trent."