Oswestry co-working centre proves great success

A pioneering Shropshire co-working centre has appointed a community ambassador to spread the word about the business support available in the local area.

Hadleigh Works in Oswestry is one of a series of co-working spaces that were set up across the county having received Shropshire Council grant funding last year.

Hadleigh works coworking space

Hadleigh works coworking space

Jenna Ward, 39, has recently joined the team at Hadleigh Works as a freelancer after originally visiting the co-working centre as a client to access specialist business support from the Marches Growth Hub.

Jenna set up her own empowerment coaching business with help from the scheme and will now be working for Hadleigh Works in and around the Oswestry area to raise awareness of the centre and what it can offer to local businesses.

Hadleigh Works is based within the Oswestry Memorial Hall and includes professional office and meeting space, plus bookable rooms for networking and business events.

Funding from Shropshire Council’s economic growth recovery programme, designed to directly support business recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, was instrumental in setting up the centre. All the co-working venues are designed to provide attractive workspaces, and networking and collaboration opportunities across the county.

Jenna explained she would be talking to different groups and business networks to build relationships and to raise awareness of the services Hadleigh Works provide: –

“I came to Hadleigh Works earlier this year when I set up my own business. I was really impressed with the facilities and services it had to offer and immediately felt at home there.

“It is so much more than a co-working space. I have met so many people with different skills and knowledge sets. It’s made a big difference to my own business, so I was delighted when they asked me to act as a community ambassador to let others know what is on offer”

Vernon Hogg from Hadleigh Works said that Jenna was the ideal candidate to talk to businesses about the centre: –

“Jenna has first-hand experience of the advantages that using a co-working centre can bring. We are sure she will do a great job of working with other businesses across the area to make Hadleigh Works an even more vibrant and inclusive working environment for the area.”

Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for growth, regeneration and housing said: –

‘I visited Hadleigh Works a few weeks ago and was very impressed with the set up there. It brings a valuable collaboration space into the heart of Oswestry. It is great to know our co-working spaces are beginning to gather momentum and are now generating jobs too.  This story is a great example of how the funding is enabling local businesses to thrive, grow and benefit the Shropshire local economy”

Duncan Kerr, local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry South said: –

“The transformation achieved by Hadleigh works is amazing and if you’ve not had the chance to see it for yourself then make the time to do so. A fantastic number of local businesspeople are already working there and I’m sure that many more will be joining them in the future. It shows that Oswestry can match many larger towns in the quality of its business facilities, and we have the countryside as well. The town keeps getting better and better!”.

For further information about Hadleigh Works contact info@hadleighworks.com or visit the website at https://hadleighworks.com/