The new co-workspace in Newquay Orchard has opened its doors for the first time and will welcome freelancers, creatives and business owners keen to be part of our local green project.
The co-workspace model here at Newquay Orchard is the first of its kind in the UK bringing together a community garden and collaborative office-working environment.
Based in Kowel Gwenen, the new community building at Newquay Orchard, the co-workspace is the brainchild of CEO Luke Berkeley. He hopes the dovetailing of Newquay Orchard and individuals using the office space will be a mutually beneficial concept.
Luke said: “The way we work as a society has been changing for a long time now and this has only been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic. I think bringing together lots of different people with different specialisms, in a space that we have proven can benefit mental health, will be a fascinating reaction to this change in working life.”
“The office team here at Newquay Orchard experience firsthand the benefits that can come from working in a community space like this. Taking that time away from their screen to walk through the Orchard, join a volunteering session or even forage for some herbs to take home for dinner has impacted their ways of working and their mental and physical health and that’s what we want to share with our members of the Kowel Gwenen Co-workspace,” Luke added.
The Co-workspace runs on a membership scheme whereby members can use the space on a half day, full day, flexible or permanent working arrangement. Becoming a member means individuals using the Co-workspace can benefit from the opportunity to volunteer alongside the horticulture team and gain priority access to tickets for future events held at Newquay Orchard.
Tim Hunt is the Business Memberships Coordinator at the orchard. Working with new members to bring the space to life he believes it’s pioneering a new way of businesses working together.
Tim said: “We’re creating a business commune here with likeminded people who share the values we uphold. That collaboration, which might be over a networking lunch in Canteen at the Orchard or even on the commute to their desk through the espalier, will drive real social, economic and environmental impact through independent businesses in our community and further afield.”
The Kowel Gwenen Co-workspace opened in May 2021 and anyone interested in making their office a corner of Newquay’s not so secret garden can register their interest now.