NICHE FEATURE: GRESHAM WORKS
The future of working in Leicester
CITY MAYOR SIR PETER SOULSBY TAKES A TOUR
New co-working offices are now open for business providing remote working opportunities. Kerry Smith went to the launch event of Gresham Works to find out more about its managed work spaces
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he old Fenwick department store closed its doors in 2017 and has since undergone a dramatic transformation inside. The city council has made good use of the iconic Grade II listed building by repurposing its interiors and turning it into managed coworking office spaces called Gresham Works. Crystal Carter, Workspace Development Manager, invited press and local business to a launch event on April 26 where City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby announced the official opening of the workspaces. In his opening speech, Sir Peter said: “When Fenwick closed, people felt like we’d lost something. But Leicester is a remarkable city and it pleases me to think with the collaboration we have here that we are able to achieve very special things, particularly with this grand transformation.” The bright and airy reception area opens out into a range
of spaces where workers can hot desk, book meeting rooms and private offices, or mingle in specialised co-working areas for collaboration and joint projects. Downstairs, a huge kitchen can be found offering tea, coffee and fruit, and towards the back of the basement area, a maze of silent office spaces is separated for focused working. Tenants were already occupying some permanent office spaces prior to the launch event, and freelancers were taking advantage of the sophisticated spaces when we took a look around, proving just how popular this new flexible work set-up has become. “What’s been created here is contemporary and, in these post-pandemic times, is very important,” Peter went on to say. “There was a lot of planning before the pandemic and it’s been delivered just afterwards, which is actually just right because it’s something that meets the needs of the city and the
THERE WAS A LOT OF PLANNING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND IT’S BEEN DELIVERED JUST AFTERWARDS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY JUST RIGHT BECAUSE IT’S SOMETHING THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE CITY
needs of having new and more flexible ways of working. We’ve had some very positive feedback already from the tenants all enjoying what is a functional and vibrant workspace.” On the benefits of managed workspaces for individuals and Leicester itself, Crystal said: “We’ve created a place where entrepreneurs, freelancers, small businesses, and remote workers from large organisations can work. Gresham Works provides the chance for them to have more structure and focus than they might have while working at home but also a sense of community, which encourages people to collaborate and share their skillsets with others. We think it will attract people to live and work in Leicester.” Co-working spaces can be found all over cities like London and Manchester. Leicester is now catching up, with the addition of Gresham Works to the city centre. More information can be found at greshamworks.co.uk. NICHE | 31
