Developers set to launch new co-working space
Entrepreneurs Sarah and Rick Blaney will open new co-working space with capacity for up to 60 people in Liverpool city region in the next few weeks. Andrew Brown reports
A new co-working space for sole traders, small businesses and project teams is opening soon in Southport town centre.
Werksy is due to open across three floors on West Street, above the Firepit restaurant and bar. It will have the capacity to host up to 60 workers in a variety of spaces and will offer 24/7 access.
Owners Sarah and Rick Blaney are aiming to open the doors of the facility once work is complete this December or January.
It will be suitable for a variety of users, from those looking for an escape from squeezing onto a table at home to small companies looking to upscale.
There is an open plan office on the second floor of the building where workers can co-work alongside other professionals, while the mezzanine third floor hosts offices which can accommodate small firms.
There is a also a meeting room that members or external users can utilise. And there is space for more small firms on the top floor. The first floor above The Firepit can also be used for meetings and events.
The scheme is being developed by local business owners Rick and Sarah Blaney, who have run the award-winning Stamford self catering apartments for the past five years.
Sarah said: “Werksy is a new co-working brand which is very much needed in Southport. We take pride in creating beautiful spaces where people can come and work alongside other local professionals.
“We have forged a good reputation at The Stamford for the quality of the environment we provide for guests to enjoy. We insist on high standards. Werksy is flexible, we don’t want to tie people into long contracts. All the bills are included.
“People can hot-desk or they can work on a more regular basis, with the ability to keep a monitor on a dedicated desk and have a lockable storage.
“Hopefully we can create a collaborative business hub where you can get away from the dining table, enjoy some peace from the kids or the pets, and come and spend some time working alongside some like-minded entrepreneurs.”
A local building firm, Oakhurst, is the contractor on the project with Pete Tynan from Bro Design is creating all the signage. Sarah added: “We are using local firms wherever we can.
“Having The Firepit restaurant and bar downstairs is excellent too, it is really complementary to what we are providing up here. People working can pop down for a drink or a meal.
“It is in an amazing location. It is right in the centre of town. We can secure nearby car parking for anyone who needs it, though it is also very close to Southport Train Station and to local bus routes.”
She explained that restoring the building had been a “painstaking task”. It had previously been used as storage for Broadbents department stores and as a jeans factory for Lonsdale. It has been empty and unused for the past few years.
“Rick and I spent a lifetime working in boring places in the corporate world before we set up our own local business with The Stamford,” said Sarah.
“We have tried working on laptops in cafes, in hotel lobbies, where the Wi-Fi can be unpredictable, the chair you are sitting on is not fit for purpose and it can suddenly become very noisy or very busy.
“It can be very solitary running your own business, which is why somewhere like Werksy is perfect.”
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Rick Blaney added: “As a location, Southport is bringing more and more people in. It is a brilliant place to live and work.
“Work is currently taking place on building the brand new £73m Marine Lake Events Centre, which is really exciting for the town. There is lots of investment coming in and lots happening. It’s a great time to be here.”