Workspace project Chester pilot

A new project launches in Chester this week to provide workspaces and support for at least 21 small businesses.

The Workspace project Chester pilot, funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) from the Department of Levelling Up, is working with seven Chester workspace providers. The workspaces have been chosen to offer flexibility enabling businesses across a variety of sectors to access this opportunity.

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy & Regeneration said: “This project is aimed at start up, micro and small/medium businesses providing them with ad hoc coworking space and wrap around business support to help their development and growth.

“It could be young graduates looking to progress their business, through the OpenHome retail workspace provider, who in turn support our local high street, increasing footfall and encouraging new businesses.

“Grosvenor, another of the providers, will use the workspaces as part of a new initiative looking to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people and their families by providing high-quality affordable homes alongside tailored wrap around support services, helping to remove barriers to employment for its tenants.

"This project is also part of Chester’s One City Plan, which has an action to increase the number of people working in the city centre."

The project is being managed by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Business Growth Team. The pilot is with providers in Chester but in year two (April 2023-March 2024) the plan is to roll out the opportunity to workspace providers across the west Cheshire area.

Added Councillor Beacham: “Starting out and growing a business on your own can be an both exciting and a daunting prospect. This pilot project addresses some of those initial barriers; offering support and advice and helping to remove the isolation that can happen with home-based businesses.

“There is a strength in numbers and an opportunity to build new local supply chains and share ideas and good practice with other entrepreneurs.”

The providers included in the pilot are:

Code Nation:

https://wearecodenation.com/

Industry Coworking Chester:

https://industrychester.co.uk/

OH (OpenHome):

https://www.ohconcept.store/

Basepoint Business Centre:

https://www.basepoint.co.uk/locations/chester-red-hill-house

University of Chester Business School:

https://www1.chester.ac.uk/chester-business-school

Shiftworks:

https://shift-works.co.uk/

Grosvenor:

http://www.grosvenor.com

For further details about taking part in the pilot contact: business@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

The Workspace project is part of the Council’s commitment to supporting businesses as part of the vision for an Inclusive Economy. To find out more about the Inclusive Economy: 

Inclusive Economy | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Support for business start-ups can be found on the Let’s Talk Business website: 

Business Start-Up (letstalkbizcw.co.uk)

For more details about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund visit: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/business/shared-prosperity-fund/shared-prosperity-fund.aspx 

The first-year funding allocation (2022-23) from The UK Shared Prosperity Fund from The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is £1.805m. The Council has been awarded an allocation of up to £12,642,312 over three-years.  

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

For more information, visit: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus