Workshop East

Co-Making: Research into London’s Open access Makerspaces and Shared Workshops

Workshop East

January 2015

Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 1 Contents

Executive summary 4

Introduction 8 A full report prepared for the London Legacy Development Corporation Key Definitions 9 and the Greater London Authority Methodology 10 Disciplines 12 Background 14

1: Initial findings and overview 17 Map of co-making spaces 18 Summary 38 Research 2014 Published January 2015 2: Workshop Profiles 39 Profiled organisations 40 Chart of profiled organisations 44

3: Themes & Case Studies 47 3.1: Setup & Management 51 Themes & Trends 74 by Workshop East 3.2: Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth 91 Themes & Trends 96 3.3: Community & Placemaking 103 with Themes & Trends 108 Engel Hadley Kirk &

Rhianon Morgan-Hatch 4. Conclusions & Recommendations 110 4.1 Setup, management and space requirements 110 4.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth 111 4.3 Community & Placemaking 113 4.4 Planning Strategy 114 4.5 Public Sector Collaboration 116

Glossary 119 Co-making spaces - data table 120 List of Supplementary Data 124

2 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 3 Executive summary Workshop East was commissioned by the The second section profiles 22 spaces located London Legacy Development Corporation across London. It illustrates a variety of (LLDC) and the Greater London Authority operational models within the sector. This (GLA) to undertake research into ‘co-making’ section of information provides a greater level within London. of detail from a selection of representative spaces. Co-making as a sector and as a type of workplace was highlighted in the Local Gathered through visits and interviews, this Economy Study1 and the Artist’s Workspace information is presented in photographic and Study2 produced in 2014 by We Made That, chart form to invite constructive comparisons and in the 2014 GLA commissioned report between spaces. Supporting Places of Work: Incubators, The third section looks in detail at several case Accelerators and Co-working Spaces by URS 3. studies and issues such as set up, finance, This report sets out the definition of co- location, community, business, employment making and explores the concept in three and training. parts: Three main case studies - Blackhorse The first overview section compiles Workshop, Workshop East, London Print information from 89 spaces which meet the Studio - are covered in a detailed study of research criteria of a co-making space. Data is layouts and building, and comparisons made presented on disciplines catered for, location, with other spaces. building type, facilities, age, user costs, and With reference to further case studies we business type. then look at how co-making spaces are This gives a picture of co-making in London as supporting business growth, enterprise and of August 2014. It is not representative of all digital technology, as well as their role in ‘making’ spaces in London but instead gives supporting communities and placemaking. an insight into this particular form of collective Finally the report pulls together conclusions work space - giving an idea of the richness, on the current state of co-making spaces scale and scope of what is a largely unseen in London and makes recommendations sector. for supporting them as a vehicle both for fostering enterprise and creating positive 1 LLDC Local Evidence Base Document LEB7: http:// queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/our-story/transform- social space. ing-east-london/local-plan/examination-of-the-legacy-corporation-local-plan. See p.101 for discussion of open access fabrication facilities. 2 We Made That, 2014. See https://www.london.gov. uk/priorities/regeneration/publications-guidance/supporting-places-of-work-artists-workspaces 3 ‘Supporting Places of Work: Incubators, Accelerators and Co-working spaces’ URS, (with Gort Scott, Ramidus Consulting & #1 seed), 2014. Related online interactive map available at https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/regeneration/publications-guidance/supporting-places-of-work-incubators-accelerators-and-co-working 4 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 5 Ceramics at Turning Earth pottery, Haggerston Stonecarving at WorkshopEast, Sugarhouse Studios (Photo: Turning Earth)

6 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 7 Introduction Key Definitions This study was commissioned by the Below are defined the main typologies Shared Workshops London Legacy Development Corporation referred to in this document. Co-making is a Refers to spaces set up, maintained and in collaboration with the Greater London developing sector and various other terms are shared by individuals or groups of professional Authority and was undertaken by Workshop used. See glossary for details. or semi-professional makers. The primary East, a shared workshop for professional aim is to pool resources in order to run Co-making space makers in Newham, East London. The independent small businesses. document has been researched and compiled A co-making space is any where tools, with Architecture, Design & Research Practice, specialist equipment, facilities and space are Shared workshops tend to be more private, engelhadleykirk, and Rhianon Morgan-Hatch. shared by two or more individuals or small with mostly long term/full time users. businesses for the purpose of making and They may or may not have an overall Its aim is to provide as representative and production. workspace identity, but generally function as complete a picture as possible of co-making cooperatives. spaces in London: to show the breadth Often occupied by activities requiring large, of enterprises and activities taking place, heavy, dangerous or expensive equipment Many shared spaces have no collective as well as to give examples of individual such as metal work or printmaking, the identity or web presence and can be organisations. It explores specifically the built sector is diverse, spanning making activities more difficult to locate than open access environment and the types of space from from bookbinding to ceramics, 3d printing to organisations. The numbers of shared spaces which they operate, and how this impacts on cooking. found in the initial audit is almost certainly not their role in supporting makers’ businesses the full amount currently operating in London. The term used here reflects the cooperative and building community. A key driver is to aspect which is the focus of this study. For the The terms open access and shared reflect two understand the benefits of affordable, shared purposes of this report, and to help explain ends of a scale of access/public use. This is workspace for makers, and the pressures on certain trends and ways of working, co-making illustrated in Part 2. existing spaces. spaces are divided here into three main types: Institution-based workshops We have included as many organisations as possible that were available during August Open access Describes spaces linked to particular and September 2014. Many individuals Open access refers to spaces and businesses or institutions - for example the have generously contributed their time and organisations that are fully or largely UCL Institute of Making - which are accessible provided valuable information. We would accessible to the general public. Often known primarily to current university students like to thank all those whose insights and as makerspaces or hack/hackerspaces. or members of staff. These spaces are expertise have made this study possible. mentioned but were omitted from detailed They may be open to amateurs or ask for prior studies as they are dependent on specific experience. They usually operate an induction institutional funding structures which merit and membership system giving access to separate study. Drawings and diagrams by Workshop East, facilities and equipment and tend to focus engelhadleykirk and Rhianon Morgan-Hatch. often, but not always, on non-professionals. Photographs by Annie Hanson, Lewis Jones, Workshop East and others as acknowledged. Please contact the authors for permission to reproduce any part of this document.

8 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 9 Methodology The study was conducted over two months in Criteria July/August 2014. Its purpose was to cover Four criteria were established. Organisations a broad range of spaces in order to better needed to have: understand the sector rather than to attempt an audit of all co-making spaces generally. • Premises within London Various self-registering schemes are underway • Engagement with physical making/ for this from the Crafts Council, NESTA, BIS production and the GLA Co-Working Spaces Map.

To establish a current overview, an initial • Provision of shared, specialist equipment survey was done through online resources and • Space physically shared by makers, either approaching professional organisations across between two or more businesses or sole London. This quickly revealed a core of visible traders letting/subletting spaces and/or and often newly established workshops, with operating as an open workshop. a strong online presence and links with wider creative and community networks. It also revealed a less visible but equally significant Initial Audit set of workshops and small making businesses Email and phone contact was made with over more privately sharing resources. 120 spaces, 89 of these fitting the criteria. To these, a short questionnaire and introductory Many co-making spaces are governed by email was sent to providers. Data sheets were the activities that take place there and their compiled, based on varying response levels. products. Therefore a set of criteria was Due to the varied setup of workshops (many developed to give as broad a sample as with unclear points of contact or limited possible. These revolved around organisation administration resources) this direct approach type and discipline. was chosen over more generic survey Shared catering spaces (see over) and bicycle methods. repair workshops represent a slightly different Detailed survey sector, but formed additional studies that Detailed data was then gathered via in-depth revealed valuable comparative data. These questionnaires and interviews/visits with merit further study. selected organisations. Over 25 organisations were visited in person, of which 5 form detailed case studies.

10 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 11 Disciplines Co-making spaces tend to be set up around Glass – glassblowing and stained glass. the needs of specific disciplines, therefore it was necessary first to understand the range of Jewellery – silversmithing, goldsmithing, activities that they support. enamelling etc.

The initial audit established 15 main Metalwork – includes welding, assembling, disciplines operating from co-making spaces forging, blacksmithing. across London. This does not cover every discipline but reflects a variety of types of Musical instrument making - refers to guitar- making and reveals the range and richness of making (no other shared spaces found in this activities taking place in co-making spaces at sector). the time of the survey. They are: Photography and film making – colour, and Mixed – equipment available for two or black and white darkroom printing, digital more disciplines. Commonly includes wood printing facilities, editing. and metalwork but also digital technology, ceramics, printmaking. Sometimes alongside Printmaking – includes silk screen, other operations such as cafes, health or lithography, etching etc. social care activities, music, other events. Stone – stone carving and small-scale masonry Bicycles – repair, maintenance and bike (larger scale architectural work usually building. undertaken by firms with larger processing plant) Bookbinding – production and printing of books. Woodwork – carpentry and joinery, furniture making, architectural. Catering – the production of food and beverages.

Ceramics – production of objects in clay, including turning, slip casting.

Digital fabrication – 3D printing, electronics and robotics

Fashion, textiles, shoe making and leather working – includes production of clothing, shoes, textiles and other items.

Images top & bottom: London Print Studio Photos: Annie Hanson

12 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 13 Background Making and Manufacturing trends that UK wide “the 11,620 businesses involved and reveals a rich seam of innovative space desirable for higher-end residential schemes. Open access fabrication facilities have been in craft industries generate nearly £1.9bn occupation already in existence across the Many co-making spaces occupy such premises identified as a growing economic trend in in turnover in the UK, of which £197m city. or other types of industrial site vulnerable to (10%) is attributable to unregistered micro demolition and changes of use. Several spaces London, a significant number having been set At the same time however, many co-making businesses... Combining the economic output surveyed had either relocated or were due to up in the last 5-10 years. This reflects a wider spaces declare themselves vulnerable to of craft industries and occupations indicates in the near future. Others had worked hard to rise in new types of makerspace generally, for rising rents and redevelopment of premises. that the craft economy generates nearly buy premises or gain more security of tenure example the number of registered hackspaces While changes in technology, manufacturing £3.4bn for the UK economy, accounting for - often driven by the strong communities grew globally from just over 50 in 2004 to and education affect businesses well beyond 1 0.3% of UK GVA.” around them and their ongoing urge to make, more than 1100 in 2014 . the capital, here there are the additional experiment and innovate. Occupying a position between the Minimal data on these micro-businesses challenges of running space- and machinery- manufacturing sector and artists’ studios, can make it difficult to evaluate how small heavy enterprises in a tightly packed city with Space occupation and building fabric is a key co-making spaces tend to cater for companies have operated previously and, some of the highest rents in the UK. theme of the study and the following chapters therefore, how prevalent co-making itself show how critical this can be to management, hobbyists, sole traders, recent graduates The widespread redevelopment of industrial has been in the past. We do know, however, user engagement, ongoing viability and and small businesses. Cultural shifts, sites is a particular threat. From Clerkenwell’s that there has been a rise in open access establishing a sense of place within a social media, a rise in self employment and history of clock-making, to centuries of glass- co-making workshops across the city – many community. changes in education are cited as some of making on the south side of the Thames, and of them opening since 2012 alone. This the contributing factors to their growing the numerous potteries and brickworks across reflects a wider global trend in the growth of popularity with these user groups. At the the city, a range of manufacturing processes experimental workshop space, such as Fablabs same time however, this growth has been have left a legacy of unique spaces - often linked to a significant decline in the availability and Hackspaces (see glossary). of existing affordable workspace for this Despite considerable challenges, spaces sector. continue to be set up and demonstrate London, like other urban centres, has the often unique ways organisations and undergone major changes in all scales of individuals are pooling resources in order making and production in the last 150 years to continue making, or to operate creative - from heavy manufacturing down to more businesses from within London. Co-making artisanal activities. East London, a key area spaces are sought out by artists, designers, of interest for this study, has undergone crafts-people, trades and hobbyists. They particular shifts in its manufacturing industry. are used for everything from small scale manufacturing, to more bespoke artisanal Where large enterprises are concerned production, to research, product development these changes are more easily quantified. and prototyping. They support activities Information is less readily available, however, within the design, construction, engineering, on the smaller company or sole trader - digital media, fashion, film and music increasingly the typical users of co-making industries. spaces. The Crafts Council’s recent report, Measuring the Craft Economy,(2014) states This study aims to show how these spaces operate as vital contemporary workspace Material processes old & new: brick kiln at Fulham Pottery founded c.17th; trolley kiln at London Sculpture Workshop 2014 1 http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces Photographs: Workshop East & London Sculpture Workshop 14 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 15 1: Initial findings and overview

This first section is intended to give a broad members taking out private loans. Many overview of co-making in London. Data is are registered charities or other non-profit taken from the 89 spaces shown on the map organisations, and have sourced capital from overleaf. As mentioned above, this is not the various sources including grants and crowd- full scale of co-making but those found during funding. A small number have received some July/August 2014. In summary: form of local authority support.

43% of spaces responded in detail to Most spaces were initially set up by skilled enquiries. individuals with an understanding of the particular industry they work in. Technical Where no response was received, publicly expertise has helped founders acquire and available data has contributed to our findings. maintain suitable machinery in order to We have respected any requests not to develop and sustain the core of the business. disclose information but these have been few. Co-making spaces have an impact not only on Most organisations are independent – i.e. not their sector but also on local communities. operated by a larger organisation or artists’ They rely on local suppliers, work with or for studio provider. Most, though not all, are people in the area, are involved in training, maker-led i.e. set up or managed by makers. apprenticeships and job creation. Some Of the organisations tabled, approximately workshops have memberships or affiliations 40 promote themselves as open access, the in the thousands and have fostered numerous remainder provide restricted access or cater businesses. solely for tenant makers running businesses The 89 spaces mapped provide premises for from the premises. over 500 small businesses - these providing Of the 40 open access spaces, 25 are further jobs, services and products for multidisciplinary or mixed spaces, with two thousands of other businesses and individuals. or more disciplines catered for and a focus They also offer a broad range of classes, on community engagement. The remaining mentoring and skills training opportunities. 15 cater for a specific discipline such as printmaking.

Many of the spaces cater for other activities such as social events and wider community uses on site.

The survey reveals that a large proportion of co-making spaces have been established through private funding, often by founder

16 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 17 Map of co-making spaces ENFIELD

3 BARNET WALTHAM MIXED 81 61 2 FOREST

63 39 85 HARROW HARINGEY REDBRIDGE

BICYCLE MAINTENANCE 80 33 15

35 HACKNEY 27 HAVERING BRENT 23 58 76 8 ISLINGTON 62 BOOKBINDING 85 84 5 CAMDEN 4 82 28 30 72 36 18 BARKING 83 21 40 34 32 17 57 25 29 65 20 & HILLINGDON 47 9 7 86 DAGENHAM 37 74 55 86 60 CATERING 6 64 27 NEWHAM 54 53 27 11 12 TOWER 38 EALING CITY OF 84 CITY OF HAMLETS WESTMINSTER 1 L19ONDON CERAMICS 27 31 10 71 26 66 78 KENSINGTON 42 73 & CHELSEA 68 FASHION, TEXTILES & SHOE MAKING 67 69 83 56 24 87 41 22 75 43 14 GREENWICH HAMMERSMITH 70 45 77 & FULHAM 59 BEXLEY HOUNSLOW JEWELLERY 16 SOUTHWARK LAMBETH WANDSWORTH 79 44 71 LEWISHAM 13 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKING 52

RICHMOND UPON PHOTOGRAPHY THAMES 46 MERTON

PRINTMAKING KINGSTON UPON THAMES BROMLEY STONE CARVING SUTTON CROYDON

WOODWORK

For details and websites see list on pages 118-121 Workshop East & R Morgan-Hatch 2014

1 10 19 28 46 55 64 ASSEMBLE & JOIN LONDON HACKSPACE STUDIO NORTH 28 CYCLETASTIC BIKE 37 THE OLIVE GROWS SUE CLARK CERAMICS HOLTS ACADEMY RAPID EYE 73 INKY CUTTLEFISH 82 HARLESDEN STATION SHED WORKSHOPS

2 BLACKHORSE 11 LONDON SCULPTURE 20 SUGARHOUSE 29 LONDON BIKE 38 THE OUTDOOR 47 TURNING EARTH 56 DAVID ANTONY REID 65 SPACE STUDIOS 74 LONDON PRINT 83 HIRED WOODWORK WORKSHOP WORKSHOP STUDIOS KITCHEN KITCHEN PROJECT CERAMICS (STUDIO 10) STUDIO SPACE

3 12 21 30 39 48 57 66 BUILDING BLOQS MAKE SPACE (METRO- THE GOODLIFE MICYCLE 39 THE SOCIAL KITCHEN HACKNEY FASHION BLACK & WHITE THE CAMERA CLUB 75 PECKHAM PRINT 84 MARTIN GRIERSON POLITAN WORKS) CENTRE HUB BASEMENT STUDIO

4 13 22 31 40 GLEBE ROAD 49 HERE TODAY, HERE 58 DOUBLE NEGATIVE 67 THE GATE 76 85 ST. JAMES CAMDEN TOWN MAKERVERSITY THE REMAKERY SQUEAKY CHAINS PRINT CLUB LONDON SHED STUDIOS TOMORROW DARKROOM DARKROOM WORKSHOP

5 14 23 THE SCHOOL OF 32 41 LEWISHAM ART 50 LONDON FASHION 59 68 77 86 CREATE SPACE PANGEA SCULPTORS’ LONDON CENTRE FOTOFUSION ZOOM IN SONSOLES PRINT WORKSHOP EAST (LONDON) CENTRE STUFF FOR BOOK ARTS HOUSE STUDIOS STUDIO

6 15 24 33 42 51 60 69 FAB LAB LONDON RARA 24 WESTLAKE & LOMAS 33 MAZZOTTI BOOKS/ MAZE HILL POTTERY THE PARACHUTE FOUR CORNERS FILM ART HUB STUDIOS 78 THAMES BARRIER 3187 UNIT 19, ASTBURY LTD. PAULO TADEO COLLECTIVE PRINT STUDIO BUSINESS PARK WORKING MENS NORTH STREET 7 GOLDFINGER 16 SOUTH LONDON 25 34 LONDON FIELDS 43 52 61 NORTH LONDON 70 ARTICHOKE 79 11 MOUNT PLEASANT THE PRINT ROOM FACTORY MAKERSPACE COLLEGE ARCH POTTERS DARKROOM PRINTMAKING

8 17 STRATFORD 26 35 44 PARADE MEWS 53 AMANDA MANSELL 62 71 BAINBRIDGE STUDIOS 80 INSTITUTE OF 56a BIKEROOM MADE IN HACKNEY PHOTOCHATS 3 FLEMPTON ROAD MAKING WORKSHOPS POTTERY JEWELLERY & GALLERY

9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 LIME WHARF SWAN WHARF 27 BIKEWORKS 36 THE KITCHEN UNDER SHEEN POTTERY THE GOLDSMITH RACHEL’S EAST LONDON 81 54-57 MILL MEAD (MACHINES ROOM) THE MOON CENTRE DARKROOM PRINTMAKERS ROAD

18 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 19 Distribution

ENFIELD 1

20 BARNET

WALTHAM HARINGEY HARROW FOREST 3 4 REDBRIDGE

HAVERING 15 BRENT HACKNEY BARKING 5 CAMDEN ISLINGTON 21 & 2 8 HILLINGDON DAGENHAM NEWHAM 4 TOWER HAMLETS EALING CITY OF CITY OF 3 1 WESTMINSTER LONDON HAMMERSMITH 3 10 & FULHAM KENSINGTON & CHELSEA SOUTHWARK 1 8 GREENWICH 3 BEXLEY HOUNSLOW

WANDSWORTH 2 LAMBETH LEWISHAM 5 11 4

RICHMOND UPON THAMES 1 MERTON

KINGSTON UPON 0 THAMES t t r s y y g a d n n h h BROMLEY t t ld m e n th e e e n 1 n l e t ich i c e s a am ark e gey l e d s r o e l s or t ﬁ e h h gt o b w ali n w

SUTTON o e l w Br e n i n ck n m n E i s w

CROYDON B r ri n h m a m E li n t h h e a e w m w C Ca m

Bro m H a t I s L a m F H N r e s nd s r H L e a Wo o Ri c & e So u G e n lt h W W a o w T

0 WORKSHOPS W a ingt o s n

1-5 WORKSHOPS e K

1-5 WORKSHOPS

10-15 WORKSHOPS

20-25 WORKSHOPS The graph shows actual numbers of co-making spaces by Borough. This also relates to transport The 89 co-making spaces tabled are located across 17 of the 32 London Boroughs. zones: approximately 75% of spaces are located within zones 2 and 3, accessible to central markets but based in more affordable locations. The highest occurrences - Hackney, Lambeth and Southwark - in main reflect actual concentrations of co-making but are also influenced, to some extent, by the authors’ own contacts base. Many spaces interviewed stated location and transport links were key to developing a wide user base - with people travelling from across the city to use facilities. More established workshops had Lower costs for space in areas of south and east London coupled with a larger proportion of developed a good local user base. light industrial and other suitable buildings makes these areas popular with organisations using space heavy machinery. Concentration may also reflect clustering and demand for facilities from Location can be particularly important for early career makers who tend to be working part time the creative industries generally; there is a strong correlation between the results here and the (locally and/or in other boroughs) in addition to setting up businesses - maximising accessibility locations of the highest numbers of artist studios as highlighted by We Made That in the ‘Artist and reducing travel times was important to these users. Workspace Study’.

20 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 21 DisciplineCount of MAIN DISCIPLINE AccessibilityCount of MAIN DISCIPLINE 30 30

25 25 other

shared 20 20 open access

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0

MAIN DISCIPLINE 15MAI disciplinesN DISCIPLINE were found taking place within co-making spaces across London. They represent a Size, cost, hazard level and outputs affect how easily a space can be set up, maintained and opened sample of data available during the survey period, as opposed to absolute numbers. Mixed spaces up to public access. e.g printmaking and photography use heavy equipment but have relatively combine a range of disciplines and many are publicly accessible, with a strong online presence - small products and safe processing. they are therefore the most visible. Woodwork is popular at all levels (most of the mixed workshops offer access to woodwork No co-making spaces were found specifically for digital fabrication, glass and metalwork1. Digital equipment), but solely woodwork facilities were only shared by professionals and were not for fabrication facilities are mainly within mixed workshops, where makers use them alongside more public access . traditional equipment. This is a rapidly developing sector and is likely to change.

High operating costs, space requirements and hazard risk mean some activities tend to occur only in the form of larger industrial processing, or in sole occupation setups. Metalwork (welding and brazing) was found in the mixed spaces - blacksmithing was found elsewhere in London, but only in single-occupancy workspace. No co-making spaces cater for glassblowing: only two facilities were found in London (outside higher education), again operating as individual businesses.

Other low occurences (e.g. jewellery) reflected ‘lighter’ practices, more easily set up from home or artists’ studios, or those that are less widespread (e.g. musical instrument making).

1 Further enquiries into metalwork suggests shared metal workshops exist but they were not located for this study

22 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 23 Access type The growth of open access

other Other 13%13%

Established pre-2009: 40% Pre-2009 40% open Openopen shared 51%51% other Established 2009-2014: Sharedshared 60% Post-2009 36%36 % 60%

Two main types of workspace were identified – open access and shared co-making spaces. ‘Other’ 60% of open access makerspaces have opened in the last 5 years. Most of these are ‘mixed’ refers to organisations with a co-making element but not as their sole function (e.g bicycle shops discipline spaces, (e.g. Makerversity, Blackhorse Workshop, Building Bloqs) which are a relatively which run drop-in workshops). new phenomenon. The survey found 94% of the mixed spaces had opened after 2009.

Figures are affected by the challenge of finding smaller shared spaces: they often have no public Most of the spaces established pre-2009 were open access printmaking and photography studios. or online identity for the workshop overall. As mentioned previously, we estimate the actual This may reflect a growing interest in making and/or a general squeeze on affordable work space. proportion of shared spaces in London to be higher. The rise of mixed open access spaces is discussed further in Part 3. Workshops are increasingly adopting a business model that caters for both the wider community and longer term tenant makers. Open access, community-focused organisations can benefit from having stable long term tenants - both financially and for the technical support they can offer other users.

Access is key to setup, management, location and building layout as it determines who uses the space and how e.g. a sole trader starting up a business may benefit from being part of a larger facility, but output can be hindered by a busy workshop and overly shared resources.

24 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 25 User costs: Monthly rates User costs: Casual rates

£1200£1,200 £1100£1,100 Average day rate (drop-in/casual basis) £1000£1,000 £900 £900 Average 3-4 hours session £800 £800 (drop-in casual basis) £700 £700 £120 £600 £600 £100£100 £500 £500 £400 £80£80

for full-time user for £400 £300 Average cost per month per month cost Average £300 £60£60 £200 £200 £40£40 £100 £100 £0 £- £20£20 s g g g g g d rk ce n n n i c i i £120 ery x e ri n v i til es ki n d £0£0 w o ak i a l el n a m r aph y s a r i M y g g g e x d r

£100 g n ena m

£100 b ke M t t Cat e e c i n e w k t ork t o C e J n ri n n ki n o & T i n B i d

£80 o

r i

£80 w a W oo d x til e a e n h n P Mix e B o e Mixed P St o o m gr ap h m

£60 i o d £60 T t m

Cat e kb i n Catering t o s h cle &

£40 o str u £40 Woodwork W o F a h n Pri n Printmaking opposite) I n Bo o Bookbinding Bookbinding P £20 £20 Bic y i o ca l h i s £0 £- s t s u y g g g Fashion & Textiles Fashion rk F a ce h ng i c Average cost for casual casual for cost Average i n M e n use(day or session - see use(day ri n v ixed d i Bicycle maintenance Bicycle e m aki n ellery n a m ra p na n M dw o tiles ex g g e m b i T t t Ca t n k t o Mixed Ce r str u Je w n & o i n o

n r i a Wo o ak i Catering h n t on eca r P l I Making* B o Jewellery P S m M i o

Ceramics* Bicycle Bicycle Woodwork ic a Printmaking s Bookbinding Photography cl e as h u Stonecarving* F maintenance* M Bic y Fashion & Textiles Fashion Musical Instrument Musical * blanks indicate where no monthly or daily access rate offered

The top chart shows average monthly rates for users working in the 12 disciplines for which co- Most open access spaces offer day or session rates (after an initial induction/membership fee). making spaces were found. Cost range is diverse within sectors (see over for actual figures) but Multi-disciplinary (mixed) workshops offer the cheapest average day rate. Rates are typically £15- the chart shows access to ‘heavier’ and most space-intensive uses such as woodwork tend to cost £25 per day, with more specialist set-ups tending to be higher. Hackspaces and some community more. organisations are free to drop in (with a low monthly subscription) or have free public access days. It also reflects space use - for example, many woodwork facilities are shared long term by Photography, printmaking and bicycle maintenance are mainly accessed on a pay-per-session basis. professional makers. Users pay for high-spec equipment and more storage/assembly space. This figure is given above (as opposed to full day rates) as it reflects how they are used most. Kitchens have slightly higher rates generally, as they are aimed at small business users requiring sole use of facilities during a booked session. Only one gives a rate for an individual workstation within a kitchen.

The lower chart shows relative day or session rates, where pay-per-day is available. These rates are ranked opposite.

26 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 27 1600 1600 Sum of FullSu-tim eo fu Fuserll -pticmmeSu umse ro fp PcmarSut timm eo fu Psaert pe timr mone usethr pe(equr monivalethn t(equ to 4iv-5a ldeanyts t)o 4-5 days)

£14001400 1400 Full time user per month Part time user per month (4-5 days) £12001200 1200

£10001000 1000

£800800 800

£600600 600 USER COST PER MONTH USER COST

£400400 400

£200200 200

£00 0 1 1 2 1 2 1 0 0 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 6 5 3 2 5 3 2 1 1 2 2 6 2 6 3 2 7 3 7 1 9 1 9 4 5 4 5 2 3 1 1 2 3 1 1 J J S S T T T T P P P P P P P P P P C C C C C C U M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M W1 W6 W7 W2 W4 W8 W3 W5 W1 W6 W7 W2 W4 W8 W3 W5 F F F F B K B K B K MIXED WOODWORK PHOTOGRAPHY CATERING B K M 1 M 1 M 1 M 1 M 1 M 1 M 1 M 1 PM5 PM2 PM1 PM6 PM8 PM4 PM7 PM3 PM9 PM5 PM2 PRINTMAKINGPM1 PM6 PM8 PM4 PM7 PM3 PM9 M M U STONE JEWELLERY

BOOK ARTS Mixed Mixed PrintmakinPrig ntmaking WoodworWk oodwork PhotograpPhhyotography Catering CatBeoorinkgbindFaiBnsooghikobni n&dFa TinesgxhJetiliowMeneSts u&llose icalnTryexcJ etilaInwrMesvetStsiunrlluosgemicalnryeecn aItnr sMvtinraugkminegnt Making Values Values Sum of FuSllu-timm oef uFsuellr- tipmcme user pcmSum of PaSrtu timm oef uPasertr tipmere m uosenrt hp e(erq muiovnatlhen (te qtou i4v-a5le dnaty tso) 4-5 days) TEXTILES/FASHION

MAIN DISCMAIPLIINN EDISCIPNLIaNmeE Name MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT A full summary of user costs for the 89 tabled spaces, showing access costs to full time users and regular part-time users (4-5 days per month).

This information is included to illustrate cost range within and across disciplines. Variations are due mainly to factors such as quality and range of equipment and resources in different organisations, size of storage and availability of permanent workspace. Other factors such as funding (i.e. whether organisations are subsidised) and target users are also reflected - see comparative chart in Part 2 for more information.

28 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 29 Startup funding Funding and access type

Funded mainly by Corporate CorporatePartnership 6% Partnership 6% Group1 Public Funding 10% received 10% 4400 GraGrant/Charitablent/Charita bFundingle Tru receivedst 3300 Funding - Funded mainly by Corporate GraPartnershipnt/Charita ble Trust Grant/Charitable Grant/Charitable 20 Funding Funding received 19% 20 Trust Funding Public Funding received 19% C orporate Partnership - Independent Private 1100 No of Organisations CIndependentorporate PPrivateartne Loan/rshi p Loan/ InvestmentIndependent by Investment by Founders or others Founders orp rivatotherse loan/investment 00 65% Independent openope n shared shared private loan/investment 65%

The chart shows the main types of financing received by co-making spaces at start-up - where data Open access facilities are often started with specific community and social aims, and tend to was available. receive grant funding or local authority support. Organisations often have several sources of startup capital and so fall into more than one of the funding categories (examples are given in Part 3). Of spaces financed by private loans or investments made by founders (65%), almost half are shared, maker-led spaces, often funded by makers’ personal funds or personal loans. Most finance was put towards equipment purchase.

Grants and charitable donations have been received by a number of organisations, particularly those with open access and educational or social aims. Grants varied from a few thousand pounds to funds for constructing or fitting out premises. Crowd-funding has increasingly been used to raise start-up funds for setting up or for specific machinery.

Some newer organisations have been funded through corporate partnerships, such as Makerversity and London Fablab. They often receive start-up funding from several sources, and high initial investment means state of the art equipment or central premises can be accessed.

Local Authority funding is infrequent, although in some cases support has been given ‘in kind’, e.g. through provision of subsidised premises.

30 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 31 Business type Business type and access model

Group2 Unincorporated Charity11% 11% Organisation Unincorporated 5050 OrgaUnincorporatednisation Organisation 11% Charity 11% 4040 Group1 Unincorporated Organisation 46% 3030 Limited Company Social Enterprise - CIC etc 46% 2020 Ltd Company

No of Organisations 1010

00 Social Enterprise inc. Social enterprise - openop e n sharedshared CIC/CooperativeCIC/Cooperative 32% Social enterprise - CIC/Cooperative 32%

Business type adopted by co-making spaces depends on the aims of the organisation, i.e. whether Business type by access type shows both sectors operate across all categories. it is primarily community or professionally oriented. Shared workshops operate usually as Limited Companies (both standard models and CIC/social To some extent it is also dependent on date established. Charities were fairly common for open enterprise type) or unincorporated organisations (e.g. groups of sole traders sharing premises). access/community focussed workshops until the CIC model was introduced in 2005. This allowed Very few are registered charities. an increasing number of shared spaces to build on the collective, non-profit nature of their There are ten times the number of charities and a higher proportion of CIC’s among open access set-up. None of the shared spaces interviewed for this report, whether CIC, Limited Company models. or Unincorporated, currently generate a profit that isn’t put back into maintaining collective workspace and equipment.

32 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 33 Building type Building type and discipline

25 Commercial Office 2% Commercial Oﬃce RRailwayailway Arch Arch 5% Portable 1% Portable 20 5% 2% 1% OtherGro Buildingup1 Conversion8% 8% 15

Within InstitutionInstitu tion8% 10 8% No of Organisations LightLight Industrial Industrial 49% 5 49% ResidentialRes id8%ential 8% 0

High StreetHigh Shop Stre e19%t Shop 19%

The spaces audited occupied a range of building types; there is a marked tendency towards light Building type (where information available). Brackets Portable industrial buildings and the type/scale of space these offer. But the wide range of buildings also indicate assessment of current use classes applicable to illustrates flexibility in adapting to available premises. spaces audited. Commercial Office (B1a)

Opposite, data on premises occupied by the 89 co-making spaces has been divided by discipline. Railway Arch (B1c) This helps clarify specific requirements of individual activities: for example, sectors requiring Other smaller, lighter equipment, and which create less noise or fire risk can operate from a wider range of premises. Many occupy retail or domestic structures in more residential areas. Within Institution (D1/B1b)

Residential (C3)

Retail Unit (A1)

Light Industrial (B1c/B2)

34 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 35 Floor area Tenure

800-1000m2 2% 600-800m2 1000m2+ 3% 5 5% 3 2 Other8 8% 400-600m2 4 8 4% Own freehold 8%

200-400m2 16% 16 Lease Agreement 0-200m2 Rental from 61% 61% organisation/9 institution 9%

Floor areas are typically 150-200m2. The larger floor areas are occupied by larger organisations - For the purposes of this study, lease agreement is defined as standard commercial lease of 3 - 5 usually open access or educational - and may include other uses on site, such as retail and social years, including premises rented from local authorities and private landlords. space, for example Makerversity and the Goldsmith Centre, which provide generous individual Rental from an organisation or institution’ includes spaces rented from large artist studio providers, workspace for small enterprises, as well as shared workshop and ancillary spaces. universities, and public or private institutions (e.g Somerset House which houses Makerversity). Floor areas within disciplines vary considerably: to an extent, users organise workshops and their These spaces are generally more protected and have access to longer leases. co-making model to fit into available premises, and choose premises on both floor area and other ‘Other’ represents particular agreements made with landlords, licence to occupy and temporary factors such as accessibility. use sites. They are in general more insecure tenures than lease agreements. Overall floor area tends to be higher for open access spaces, and those with generally more public Freehold ownership was mainly by smaller workshops in semi-residential buildings, garages etc, or space and higher footfall on site. Actual working space is illustrated more in the case studies in by more established charities. This also includes favourable freehold arrangements, i.e. which are Part 3. in the organisation’s best interests - for example the freehold of North Street Potters, purchased by a consortium of users and local residents to safeguard its future.

Overall there are few co-making spaces in London with secure long-term tenancies, this was one of the main concerns raised by almost all those interviewed.

36 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 1 Overview Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 37 2: Workshop Profiles Summary

ENFIELDENFIELD This initial overall survey of co-making spaces • Premises with larger floor areas are

BARNETBARNET WALTHAMWALTHAM in London highlights several trends: predominantly open access or have an 3 3 FORESTFOREST 19 19

educational element. HARROWHARROW HARINGEYHARINGEY 1 1 REDBRIDGEREDBRIDGE • Spaces are mostly located in a small 15 15 13 13 BRENTBRENT HAVERING HACKNEYHACKNEY HAVERING ISLINGTONISLINGTON • Most spaces have relatively insecure 4 4 number of boroughs. This may be primarily 6 CAMDENCAMDEN 6 17 17 8 9 BARKING 10 10 118 11 9 BARKING 21 22 22 & & HILLINGDON 21 due to the availability of suitable premises tenancies, those which have long leases, own/ HILLINGDON 12 12 20 720 7 DAGENHAMDAGENHAM NEWHAMNEWHAM

14 14 part own the freehold (or have a favourable TOWERTOWER and lower rents in these areas, and to the EALING EALING CITY OFCITY OF CITY OF CITY OF HAMLETSHAMLETS LONDON WESTMINSTERWESTMINSTER LONDON networks and markets provided by clustered arrangement with the freeholder) of a building 18 18 KENSINGTONKENSINGTON & CHELSEA & CHELSEA 5 5 creative communities. are predominantly charities and have been in 16 16 2 2 GREENWICHGREENWICH HAMMERSMITHHAMMERSMITH & FULHAM & FULHAM BEXLEYBEXLEY operation for several years. HOUNSLOWHOUNSLOW SOUTHWARK LAMBETH SOUTHWARK • Of open access, multidisciplinary spaces WANDSWORTHWANDSWORTH LAMBETH LEWISHAM 94% have opened in the last 5 years. Other LEWISHAM RICHMOND RICHMOND UPON UPON THAMES specialist types have been operating for over THAMES MERTON MERTON

KINGSTON 30 years. KINGSTON UPON UPON THAMES THAMES BROMLEY BROMLEY

• User rates vary considerably between SUTTON SUTTON CROYDON CROYDON disciplines. Rates are also influenced by access type.

• A large proportion of spaces independently fund their set up costs. Funding is also influenced by access type. 1 33 FLEMPTONFLEMPTON ROADROAD 7 FOURFOUR CORNERSCORNERS 13 MADE IN HACKNEY 19 ST.THE JAMES OBLIQUE WORKSHOP WORKSHOPS/ WalthamWaltham Forest, E10 E10 7NH 7NH TowerTower Hamlets, E2 E2 0QN 0QN Hackney, N16N16 6PA 6PA WalthamST. JAMES Forest, E17 7NW Waltham Forest, E17 7NW WOODWORKWOODWORK PHOTOGRAPHYPHOTOGRAPHY CATERING WOODWORK Joinery, Carpentry, Furniture making. Photography, FIlm, Kitchen FacilitIes Woodwork, Furniture making. • Many spaces, both open access and Joinery, Carpentry, Furniture making. Photography, FIlm. WOODWORK Shared Workshop. Open access Workshop + Equipment Hire, OpenOpen-Access access WorkshopWorkshop, + Kitchen Cookery Facilites, Classes, Shop. SharedWoodwork, Workshop. Furniture making. Shared Workshop. Darkrooms.Open-Access Workshop, Photoraphy and Film Cookery Classes, Shop. shared, operate as Community Interest Equipment Hire, Darkrooms. Shared Workshop.

2 ARTICHOKEARTICHOKE PRINTMAKING 8 LONDONLONDON BIKE BIKE KITCHEN KITCHEN 14 MAKERVERSITY 20 THETHE PARACHUTEPARACHUTE COLLECTIVE COLLECTIVE Companies and not-for-profit models. Lambeth,Lambeth, SW9SW9 8RR 8RR Hackney,Hackney, N1 5QA Westminster, WC2R WC2R 1LA 1LA TowerTower Hamlets, E2 E2 0EJ 0EJ

PRINTMAKINGPRINTMAKING BICYCLEBICYCLE MAINTENANCEMAINTENANCE MIXED CORDWAINERSCORDWAINERS Organisations frequently operate both Publishing, Editions. Woodwork, Computing & Electronics, Digital Shoemaking, Leatherwork, Publishing, Editions. FabricationWoodwork, Computing & Electronics, Digital Shoemaking, Leatherwork, Open access Workshop OpenOpen-Access access Workshop Workshop, + Drop-inDrop-in Bike Workshops, .Fabrication. Open access Workshop + Resident Maker charitable and non-charitable ventures. Open-Access Workshop, Education Program. Maintenance,Maintenance, Sale of PartsParts andand AccessoriesAccessories. Open access Workshop + Studio Space Benchspace,Open-Access Shop. Workshop, Resident Maker Open-Access Workshop, Studio Space. Benchspace, Shop.

3 BLACKHORSEBLACKHORSE WORKSHOP WORKSHOP 9 LONDONLONDON CENTRE FOR BOOK ARTS 15 MAZZOTTI BOOKS/PAULOBOOKS TADEO 21 TURNINGTURNING EARTH EARTH CERAMICS CERAMICS • Light industrial buildings are preferred WalthamWaltham Forest, E17 E17 6BX 6BX Hackney,Hackney, E3 2NQ Hackney, N16N16 5SA 5SA Hackney,Hackney, E2 8BW

MIXEDMIXED BOOKBINDINGBOOKBINDING BOOKBINDING CERAMICSCERAMICS but are not the only option for premises. Woodwork, Metalwork. Bookbinding, Letterpress. Bookbinding, Letterpress. Woodwork, Metalwork. Bookbinding, Letterpress. Bookbinding, Letterpress. Open access Workshop + Classes. Open access Workshop + Benchspace, Studio Open access Workshop. Shared Workshop. Open-Access Workshop, Classes. Space,Open-Access Evening Workshop,Classes, Specialist Benchspace, Courses. Studio Space, Open-Access Workshop. Open-Access Workshop. • Disciplines have specific space Evening Classes, Specialist Courses.

4 CREATECREATE SPACE SPACE LONDON LONDON 10 LONDONLONDON FASHION FASHION STUDIOS STUDIOS 16 NORTH STREETSTREET POTTERS POTTERS 22 WORKSHOPWORKSHOPEAST EAST requirements which influences the type of Brent,Brent, HA9 6DE Brent,Brent, NW6 6HY6HY Lambeth, SW4 SW4 0HB 0HB Newham,Newham, E15 E15 2QQ 2QQ building they can occupy - more details are MIXEDMIXED FASHIONFASHION & TEXTILESTEXTILES CERAMICS WOODWORK Screenprinting,Screenprinting, Woodwork,Woodwork, Metalwork, Metalwork, Photography, GarmentGarment Design && Making.Making. Woodwork,Woodwork, Stonemasonry, Sculpture. Sculpture. Photography, Computing & Electronics, Ceramics. Computing & Electronics, Ceramics. Shared Workshop + Shop, Classes, Education Open access Workshop (not fully operational) Programme.Shared Workshop, Shop, Classes, Education Shared Workshop. given in Part 3. Open access Workshop + Studio Space, Open-Access Workshop, Studio Space, Design Program. Shared Workshop. Benchspace.Open-Access Workshop, Studio Space, Benchspace. Services, Accomodation.

5 DAVIDDAVID ANTONY ANTONY REID REID 11 LONDONLONDON HACKSPACE HACKSPACE 17 SWAN WHARFWHARF Wandsworth,Wandsworth, SW8 SW8 3NS 3NS Hackney,Hackney, E2 9DY Tower Hamlets,Hamlets, E3 E3 2NQ 2NQ

MUSICALMUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKING MAKING MIXEDMIXED MIXED Luthier-Luthier- Guitar Guitar Making. Making. Hacking,Hacking, Woodworking,Woodworking, Metalwork, Electronics, Electronics, Woodwork, DIY, DIY, Digital, Spraybooth. Scientific, Computing, Crafts Shared Workshop. .Scientific, Computing, Crafts. Open access Workshop + Studio Spaces, Event Shared Workshop. Open access Workshop. Spaces,Open-Access Restaurant. Workshop, Studio Open-Access Workshop. Spaces, Event Spaces, Restaurant.

6 EASTEAST LONDONLONDON PRINTMAKERS 12 LONDON PRINTPRINT STUDIO STUDIO 18 THE CAMERA CAMERA CLUB CLUB Hackney,Hackney, E8 3RH KensingtonKensington && Chelsea,Chelsea, W10 W10 4RE 4RE Lambeth, SE11 SE11 4DS 4DS

PRINTMAKINGPRINTMAKING PRINTMAKINGPRINTMAKING PHOTOGRAPHY Screenprinting, Etching, Lino, Fabric printing. Screenprinting,Screenprinting, Intaglio,Intaglio, Block-printing,Block-printing, Letterpress, Digital. Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 1 Overview Pt 2 Workshop Profiles Letterpress, Digital. Open access Workshop +Co-Making Darkroom, Events Spaces & Study © Workshop East 38 OpenOpen-Access access Workshop Workshop, + Workshops,Classes, Artist Artist Talks Talks. Talks,Open-Access Classes, Workshop, Exhibitions Darkroom, 39 Open access Workshop + Education Programme Events & Talks, Classes, Exhbitions. Open-Access Workshop, Education Program. Profiled organisations 5 David Anthony Reid 6 East London Printmakers Arch 20, Ingate Place, SW8 3NS SPACE, 19 Warburton Rd, E8 3RT 22 co-making spaces are profiled, covering a range of locations (see map, previous page) and organisation types. The thumbnails and table below (see page 44) illustrate the key trends identified in the wider survey. They have been selected to illustrate the range of operational models, building types and user profiles. Part 3 then expands on these themes and draws more detailed comparisons in relation to several of these spaces.

More detailed survey data made from site visits to the organisations is given in Appendix 1.

5 6 1 3 Flempton Road 2 Artichoke Printmaking Four Corners London Bike Kitchen 3 Flempton Road, E17 7NH 254a Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8RR 121 Roman Road, E2 0QN 28 Whitmore Road, N1 5QA

3 Blackhorse Workshop 4 Create Space 9 London Centre for Book Arts 10 London Fashion Studios 1-2 Sutherland Road Path, E17 6BX 1 Harrow Road Britannia Works, Dace Road, E3 2NQ 69-71 Kilburn High Road, NW6 6HY

40 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 2 Workshop Profiles Pt 2 Workshop Profiles Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 41 11 London Hackspace 12 London Print Studio 17 St James Workshop 18 Swan Wharf 447 Hackney Road, E2 9DY 425 Harrow Road, W10 4RE 78 Brunner Road, E17 7NW 60 Dace Road, E3 2NQ

13 Made in Hackney 14 Makerversity 19 The Camera Club 20 The Parachute Collective 3 Cazenove Road, N16 6PA Somerset House, WC2R 1LA 60 Bowden Street, SE11 4DS Arch 10, Gale Gardens, E2 0EJ

15 Mazzotti/Taddeo Books 16 North Street Potters 21 Turning Earth Ceramics 22 WorkshopEast 10 Manor Road, N16 5SA 23 North Street, SW4 0HB Arch 361-362, Whiston Road, E2 8BW Sugarhouse Studios, E15 2QQ

42 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 2 Workshop Profiles Pt 2 Workshop Profiles Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 43 Chart of profiled organisations

Key facts for profiled organisations, ranked by an assessment of access model - from fully open Please note this table is an approximate comparison of spaces on the basis of access type at the time of publication. User numbers access to more privately shared workshop. This impacts on business model, target users and all and costs vary, and these are not static, so positions may vary, especially where they are mid-spectrum. Costs are a guide and are not indicative of quality of provision. operational aspects such as building type, accessibility, layout and community engagement. For more on this, see Part 3.

Catering for both full & Shared solely Open Access part time users by full time users

London London Made in The East London London Artichoke London Turning Maker- Four Blackhorse Swan Create The Mazzotti/ Workshop North David St James 3 Bike Hack- Hackney Camera London Print Centre Print- Fashion Earth versity Corners Workshop Wharf Space Parach- Tadeo East Street Anthony Workshop Flempton Kitchen Space Club Print- Studio for Book making Studio Film ute Books Potters Reid Road makers Arts (semi oper- Collective ational) CIC Ltd CIC Unincor- Ltd Ltd Ltd Ltd Ltd CIC Ltd Ltd company + CIC Ltd company Ltd company Ltd company Unincorp- CIC Unincorp- Unincorp- Ltd company Unincorp- porated company company + company company + company company charity orated organ- orated orated organ- orated organ- organ- charity charity isation organ-isation isation isation isation + charity

3 Various 0 (future drop-in businesses 5 + run open 100 (using 1240 1000+ + run unknown 334 400 65 3 80 darkroom) 100 users on 50 3 0 0 6 0 0 0 PT classes classes access project planned) basis 36 desk 4 (15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 occup- and studio 18 20 35 9 2 11 1 2 5 ants FT holders total) User numbers (part time and full time)

£10 £15 pcm £75-£140 £115 £30 £26 £125 pcm £110 per none £155pcm n/a £50 £15 a none £20 per £15 an £50 per none none none none none per year per day per year, per year, per year, year, per year, day (plus month hour day (varies) PT £ + £12 per + £20 half + £17 half + £12.50 + £20 half + £25 half induction hour day day per day day fee) session

FT £ none none none none none none none none £59-£99 none POA £175-£275 £200 £250 £130-£390 £225 Unknown £200-£360 £200 £150 £520 £1000 desks and studios User costs (part time use and full time rental)

44 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 2 Workshop Profiles Pt 2 Workshop Profiles Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 45 3: Themes & Case Studies

This section looks in more detail at the operation of co-making spaces. Through five main case studies (see map overleaf) and references to spaces profiled in part 2, it explores the following main areas:

3.1: Setup & Management

Setting up a workshop: Location & space requirements, finance & access

3.2: Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth

Commercial workshop users

3.3: Community & Placemaking

How a workshop can create and support a community

46 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East P a r t 3 Part 3 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 47 1 CREATE SPACE LONDON 2 BLACKHORSE WORKSHOP 18 Full time members: 3 WORKSHOP EAST Brent, HA9 6DE Waltham Forest, E17 6BX Newham, E15 2QQ

MIXED DISCIPLINE: Screenprinting, MIXED DISCIPLINE: Woodwork, metalwork, general fabrication. WOODWORK Woodwork, Metalwork, Photography, Woodwork, Stonemasonry, Sculpture. Computing & Electronics, Ceramics. Open access Workshop, Benchspace, Studio Space, Evening Classes, Specialist Courses. 100 Part time members: Shared Workshop. Open Access Workshop, Studio Space, Blackhorse Workshop is a CIC established in 2013, becoming operational Benchspace. Workshop East was established in 2013 by as a public, open access workshop in early 2014. It was developed by four graduates of the Building Crafts College architecture and design practice Assemble, in collaboration with local Create Space is an independent non- in Stratford. Its main aim is to provide high artists, businesses and community organisations. It is supported by the profit organisation. It was funded quality shared facilities for trained makers Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund, funded by the London Borough through a start-up loan and personal starting their own businesses, enabling them of Waltham Forest and match funded by Create, Legacy Trust UK and Arts finance and now through memberships to continue making work in a professional, Council England. and studio rental. Users include a luthier, safe, supportive environment. architect, jewellery designer, furniture maker, robot manufacturer, artists and 11 Full time members: others. It is currently the only open access mixed workshop available in Brent.

35 Full time members: ENFIELD

BARNET

HARINGEY HARROW REDBRIDGE WALTHAM 50 Part time members: FOREST

HAVERING

BRENT HACKNEY CAMDEN BARKING ISLINGTON & HILLINGDON NEWHAM DAGENHAM

TOWER EALING CITY OF CITY OF HAMLETS WESTMINSTER LONDON HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM KENSINGTON & CHELSEA SOUTHWARK LONDON PRINT STUDIO GREENWICH Kensington & Chelsea, W10 4RE BEXLEY HOUNSLOW

5 PRINTMAKING: Screenprinting, Intaglio, WANDSWORTH Block-printing, Letterpress, Etching, LAMBETH LEWISHAM Lithography, Digital. RICHMOND UPON 4 NORTH STREET POTTERS/ Open access Workshop, Courses, Training. THAMES MERTON CLAPHAM POTTERY London Print Studio (LPS) was founded in Lambeth, SW4 0HB KINGSTON 1974 under the name Paddington Printshop. UPON THAMES CERAMICS It is an artist-run, not-for-profit studio, BROMLEY workspace, publisher and gallery based Shared Workshop, Shop, Classes, Education in West London. They provide traditional SUTTON printmaking equipment as well as a digital CROYDON Programme. studio and gallery. Offers a wide range of courses & specialist technical support. LPS North Street Potters is a collective of potters works with artists, community organisations, set up in 1978, operating from a small retail galleries, educational institutions and the unit. It provides professional work space for public. ceramicists, including wheels, kilns, drying facilities and a small shop front gallery/ retail outlet. On average 2 informal training apprenticeships are offered each year in exchange for work space. There are seven users currently working independently from 400 Part time members: the site, occasionally collaborating to fulfil large orders. Most users also teach at Clapham Pottery, a registered charity set up by North Street Potters.

48 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East P a r t 3 Part 3 Co-Making7 Part/FullSpaces Study time © Workshop members: East 49 3.1: Setup & Management

Case Studies:

Blackhorse Workshop

Workshop East

London Print Studio

Themes: Location & Space Requirements, Finance & Access Type This chapter looks at specific co-making spaces, how they have been established and key issues in their setup and management. It examines physical factors such as location and space requirements, startup funding, ongoing financial management, and business models adopted by a range of organisations. Three workspaces are looked at in detail, with further references made to other workshops surveyed and profiled.

50 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 51 Blackhorse Workshop 6

Established 2013 Workshop Type: open access, mixed Disciplines: woodwork, metalwork, other 1 Community Interest Company 100+ part-time users Local Authority/GLA funded 2 18 full-time/small business users 2014 turnover (projected): £120k 2014 expenditure (projected): £180k 2 full time staff (equivalent) 3 5

Background Finance Blackhorse Workshop in Walthamstow is an The main setup cost was an £80k Key: open access community workshop established refurbishment of premises and equipment 1. Blackhorse Workshop 4. Blackhorse Lane in 2013. The project received startup funding purchase/installation, comprising: building 2. Cafe and Bakery (plus outside oven) 5. Sutherland Road Path of £90,000 from the Mayor’s Outer London fitout, £50,000; workshop extract, £4400; 3. Shared Courtyard and Main Access 6. To Blackhorse Road Station (500m) Fund initiative launched in 2011. It received metalwork equipment, £2800; woodwork a further £80,000 from the London Borough equipment, £15,300; Workshop sundries £7500. Location Building Fabric of Waltham Forest and £50,000 from Create Blackhorse Workshop occupies a light The building had been constructed within the London, an arts commissioning body focusing Main income is from studio rental (18 benches industrial building (use class B1c) off last 10 years and required minimal investment on Boroughs in the vicinity of the Olympic are rented in the upstairs studio) and an Blackhorse Lane in Walthamstow. The project to fit out. It occupies approximately 850m2 Park. The workshop aimed to be a “place for expansion plan is underway to accommodate was sited strategically within the Blackhorse (9,200ft2) over two storeys and has a large making, mending and learning, which would more permanent studio tenants. Specialist Lane regeneration area, as part of wider external courtyard with lockable gates. evening classes and weekend workshops re-imagine the role of production as a public Waltham Forest/GLA planning policy within Construction is brick and blockwork to ground are the second largest income generator. amenity”. 1 this area. floor, with insulated aluminium panels to the Memberships of the open access facilities upper storeys. The building has two large Blackhorse Workshop CIC was incorporated Other factors in selecting these premises were were predicted to be the main source of double roller shutter entrance doors providing in August 2013. It was registered as a level access to the building, easy vehicular income but so far this comprises only 18%. good delivery access and storage. It has “manufacturer (of furniture and other goods) access and good pedestrian access via reinforced concrete floors ideal for heavier and provider of education/arts facilities”2. Workshop users Sutherland Road Path. As with several other workshop equipment. The workshop has no age/access restrictions, organisations surveyed, the site is earmarked The business model aimed to be non-reliant and is insured to run activities for 8 year olds+. for development (within the next 2-5 years) Blackhorse Workshop manages its own co- on grant funding within its first year. It also The main age group of members is 30s - 50s and the workshop serves as an interim use making activities and sub-lets space to other proposed paid as opposed to voluntary (with 34% aged 20-30, 40% aged 30-40, 14% while a wider development plan is progressed. (non-workshop) uses. The workshop itself staff, on the basis of reliability and ongoing aged 40-50). Gender balance is currently 70% occupies two thirds of the ground floor sustainability, despite the increased cost. male : 30% female. (approximately 30% of total GIA - see plans 1 Assemble Studio Business Proposal, 2013 overleaf), with studio space at first floor. 2 Companies House registered information 52 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 53 Blackhorse Workshop: Ground Floor Plan Main Workshop Plan

D G2 G1 Spray Tool store/ booth/ Loading Bay technicians’ wet C B A E office room

F 3 4

Metalwork Wood Machine Room Bench room 12

11 5 See workshop plan opposite 13 1 1 1 1 0m 10m (Drawing by EHK Architects) 14 15 6 Main co-making workshop - See detailed floorplan opposite 10 1 1 1 16 1 Shared Space (cafe and exhibition/social space) 7 9 8 2 Bakery

Ancillary

A Open access benches & user storage shelves (woodwork & general making) B Woodwork machine room Key to main workshop layout: C Metalwork D Spray booth/wet room 1 Benches (8 x 2-person benches) 8 Duct extractor E Cafe/social space: sub-let to Wood St Coffee 2 storage racks, basic hand tool 9 Workbench (woodwork) F Bakery (sub-let) storage (on walls) 10 Thicknesser G Admin (G1 management/main reception, G2 technician office/tool storage). 3 Woodburning stove (for waste wood 11 Surface planer and heat production) 12 Heavy duty PVC curtain 4 COSHH Cupboard 13 Cold metalwork area 5 Table saw 14 Workbench (metalwork) Internal Layout 6 Mortiser 15 Heavy duty PVC curtain The co-making workshop occupies most of the ground floor and is currently open access to all 7 Bobbin sander 16 Hot work area ability levels, supervised by paid technicians. It comprises a workbench room for general assembly, plus dedicated wood machine room, metalwork area and wet-room. This layout means noisy or dusty machine-based activities are segregated from manual activities. Good lighting, high ceilings and full height storage mean a safe and clear working environment. The space is heated by a wood-waste burner.

54 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 55 Using the wet room for spray finishing (photo: Annie Hanson) View of main bench room with storage wall at rear (photo: Annie Hanson)

Bench room (photo: Annie Hanson) Welding workshop (photo: Blackhorse Workshop) 56 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 57 Workshop East

5 Established 2013 Workshop Type: shared, mainly woodwork Disciplines: woodwork, stone, other Community Interest Company 0 part-time users 4 Local Authority/GLA funded 11 full-time/small business users 1 6 Current turnover: £40k 2 Current expenditure: £30k 4 Directors (unsalaried) 2

3 Background Finance WorkshopEast is a shared co-making WorkshopEast was set up with a £10k Livery workshop, currently providing space for Companies Grant. An additional bank lease of 11 small businesses. It is equipped for 9 £55k of equipment was secured. Key: woodworkers and 2 stone-carvers. 1. Workshop East 4. Stratford High Street Setup costs were: 2. Other occupants of Sugarhouse Studios 5. To A11/A12 & Mile End Business Model 3. Shared Courtyard and Main Access 6. To Stratford Rail & Bus interchanges Building fitout & security £ 8, 000 WorkshopEast was incorporated as a Woodwork Eqpt (leased) £ 47,000 Community Interest Company in 2013. It operates a bench rental scheme for full-time Stonemasonry Eqpt (leased) £ 4,500 Location tenant makers. Main income is from monthly • Location: semi-central, Zone 2/3 border. Professional fees (accounts) etc £ 1,500 Workshop East occupies part of a light bench rental, which contributes to building industrial warehouse complex on Stratford • On-site security provided by landlord rent, maintenance costs and paying off the Central to the business plan was the provision High Street, East London. It was established lease on the workshop equipment. It does of high quality woodworking equipment here after a 6 month search for suitable • Privacy from the street but shared not operate an open access scheme, as it is for professional users developing their premises. outdoor space in a central courtyard. primarily aimed at full-time semi-professional businesses. For this reason, and unlike many and startup enterprises as opposed to of the more open access, community oriented The decision to locate at Sugarhouse Studios • Site management by others amateur or part-time users. workshops, new equipment was purchased was based on several factors: • Social/professional benefits of contact and installed by the supplier. The equipment In October 2014, the workshop received with other enterprises on site. was chosen by and for makers to minimise a grant from Beyond Business - a business breakdown and inefficiency, ensuring that • Low rent and flexibility of terms support organisation - to take on a part it would meet demand and enable users to time administrator for one year. Prior to • Reasonably generous ground floor area, remain competitive. As an interim use site, which obtained this all management and administration providing 160 sq m of workshop space. planning consent in 2012 for a 10 Ha was undertaken by the directors for no Additional access to ancillary facilities redevelopment scheme, it is predicted that remuneration. and common spaces on site. existing companies will occupy Sugarhouse Studios only until 2016.

58 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 59 Workshop Layout Sugarhouse Studios as a whole supports over Workshop East is organised internally (see 30 makers and the company is benefiting floorpans overleaf) to provide an efficient use increasingly from collaboration on projects. of space to process items in wood and stone. The site currently has a low footfall, but As a temporary use site, the company made public events and the variety of disciplines on minimal investment in building fabric, instead site can draw in visitors from other parts of prioritising the provision of high quality London to buy, view and commission work. equipment and well planned working areas. This would be significantly harder for an individual organisation to achieve on its own. The machine room and bench room are the core co-making spaces. They can, depending Rental costs on outputs, support 10 to 12 makers/small WorkshopEast’s rental is £600 pcm (£3.82/ businesses. Storage of materials and scale of sq m) for 157 sq m of workshop space. There outputs was a critical factor. In woodwork, is additional access to 133 sq m of ancillary/ products can range from furniture to interiors shared social space. and architectural fabrications. Although Other comparable premises in the area cost Workshop East has the machinery to support £6-£9 per square metre plus ancillary. 10-12 users, the bench room itself can only fit five and assembly/storage capacity is limited. Spatial and cost benefits for users Currently it is geared towards smaller scale Low premises rental allows WorkshopEast furniture making and interior elements; this to offer low cost, long term bench rental for may become an issue as tenants start to tenants. Current maker rents are: design and construct larger items. Woodwork: £360 pcm (includes own bench Workshop Users space); Stone: £198 pcm (includes own bench Workshop East’s 11 resident makers include space); Machine room only access: £240 pcm. two partnerships, JackJames Furniture and Studio LW, with the remaining operating as Prices are lower than other workshops sole traders. Individual business turnover providing equivalent facilities, though varied ranges from £20-£75k. All users are generally provision makes it difficult to draw direct in the 20’s - 40’s age group. As the workshop comparisons. Other example prices for has no paid technicians, a strict induction and professional and semi-professional woodwork health & safety programme is implemented. facilities range from £500 to £1000 pcm. All makers have prior experience and this is Affordable bench rental is central to the required in order to be a tenant. company’s ethos and its target user group of early-career makers and startups.

60 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 61 WorkshopEast: Plan of Sugarhouse Studios (ground floor) WorkshopEast: Machine Room & Bench Room layouts

C A F

B E D 7

See workshop plan opposite

G 3 5 4

(Drawing by EHK Architects) 0m 10m

0 10m Individual bench space A Bench room (woodwork) KEY: B Woodwork machine room 1 Woodwork benches 1.8 x 0.9m Main co-making/shared workshop C Stone workshop 2 Table saw (see photos opposite) D Kitchen Shared ‘special’ space (exhibition/events) 3 Thickness planer E Events space, open workshop 4 Large band saw F Assemble offices Ancillary 5 Spindle moulder G Yardhouse (12 studios ) 6 Surface planer Other uses on site 7 Stonecarving bankers 8 Lockable tool store

62 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 63 Machine room (photo: Annie Hanson) Table saw in use (Annie Hanson)

Bench room (photo: Lewis Jones) Table saw (photo: Annie Hanson) 64 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 65 London Print Studio N

Established 1974 Workshop Type: open access Disciplines: printmaking Charity & Limited Company 400 part-time users Grant funded + income generating 3 0 FT (only part-time access offered) 4 2012-13 turnover: £350k* 2 2012-13 expenditure: £370k 5.5 paid staff roles (*from accounts submitted to Charities Commission)

Background Business Model & Finance 1 London Print Studio is an artist-led London Print Studio is both Limited Company organisation established in 1974 by John and registered education charity. Its trading Philips and Pippa Smith (originally under the subsidiary company (London Print Studio name Paddington Print Shop). It has 400+ Sales Limited) is wholly owned by the parent members, at professional and amateur levels. London Print Studio context (EHK Architects) company and operates independently Key: The London Print Studio occupies purpose- (through the sale of prints). 1. London Print Studio - street front gallery 3. London Print Studio (ground floor only) fitted, new build premises, constructed by London Print Studio Ltd has high income 2. Housing Scheme 4. A404 Harrow Road Stadium Housing Association in 2000 as part and expenditure for the sector. It receives of a social housing scheme on the Harrow significant grant funding to subsidise open Road. The ground floor shell structure was access programmes. It also pays a 5.5 salaries offered in exchange for the organisation’s (full time equivalent), a relatively high number Location security behind the window displays at night. existing premises on an adjacent industrial of staff for the sector. This has helped it The studio occupies 550m2 on the ground site. maintain a reputable, well-managed facility Access is via Harrow Road or Westbourne Park floor of a commercial/residential block on the tube station. Service access is provided to the London Print Studio was already an active with specialist digital and manual equipment. Harrow Road. Stadium Housing Association rear. There is no on site parking for studio provider of open access facilities, and was Income is typically £350k+, mainly raised provided the shell space under the main members/users. closely involved in the development plans. through grants. Of declared income for 2012- design and build contract, while fit-out and £415,000 of Lottery Funding was awarded to 131, 59% was through grants/subsidies, 37% street frontage, designed by David Mikhail Workshop Layout fit out the premises, of a total build cost of Architects, were procured separately. through user memberships and courses and The main studio (See floorplans, p.70) approximately £1.2 million. 4% through commissions/sales from its in- The premises are arranged to maximise houses four print processes: screenprinting, house gallery. The organisation is aiming to purchase its footfall and transparency - the main entrance lithography, block printing and intaglio. current premises at an agreed price of £475k is via a street-front gallery, linking through to In 2012-13, expenditure was £343,867, of 5 individual screenprinting/lithography/ (valid until March 2015). Funds are being the open access workshop behind. The glass which 50% was on staff salaries/expenses, drawing areas are located along the glazed raised through a mortgage, Arts Council gallery front occupies most of the building’s 28% on rent/building costs and the remainder south elevation to take advantage of natural capital grants and targeted fundraising. frontage and is visible 24/7 from the Harrow on professional fees, marketing and other daylight. promotional/gallery costs. Road. A discreet grille system provides

1 Latest available accounts information received. 66 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 67 Printmaking processes require large, clear Open Access & Taught Courses working areas, comprising vacuum and layout Open access costs for users are on a pre- tables, presses, drying racks and exposure booked session basis. London Print Studio units. As with most other open access also provides training and structured sessions printmaking studios, equipment is available for users lacking skills or confidence with for relatively large format traditional printing, equipment (an issue that can impact on 2 e.g. large vacuum tables (just under 1m ) workshop user numbers generally, and for screenprinting and large intaglio presses. which is discussed later). ‘Enhanced support’ Workstations are arranged by process, with sessions - a new initiative - allow up to 4 each element set out with minimum distances people access to a specialist tutor / technician between in order to maximise efficiency for during special weekly evening sessions. users, typical area per workstation is 16 sqm. All have easy clear access to washdown areas. Taught courses cater for both professionals and amateur users. Examples are a regular Daylight temperature colour-balanced lighting 2-day Beginners’ Screenprinting course is fitted throughout the area. (£172.50).

Accessibility for all age groups and abilities Organisational Targets was central to the brief. A hydraulic press can LPS sets annual targets and reviews key be used by those with limited mobility. There performance indicators monthly. In 2012- are also adjustable-height tables alongside 13, it achieved 9285 hours of open access traditional fixed-height benches. The space (above its target of 8280), it also expanded contains three preparation areas: screenprint its graduate training scheme and industry washing and stencil-making (which is partnerships, provided approximately 1700 soundproofed), aquatint, etching and a litho- hours of activities for young people, and stone preparation. represented over 100 artists in its gallery. Workshop users £5000 was invested in studio improvements, London Print Studio has approximately 400 including a comprehensive re-fit of the digital professional, sole trader, startup and amateur suite. It has also launched a major fundraising printmakers using the facilities. It also runs initiative to buy the lease on its premises. taught courses (including an MA programme) and residencies. 70% of users are female, age groups range from 8 upwards. Activities for 4-18 year olds include schools workshops, gallery-based screenprinting workshops and funded intensive training courses. Work- based professional training is provided for 18-25 year olds.

68 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 69 London Print Studio: floorplan London Print Studio: co-making print studio plan

A F E

H D G B

B 3

D A N

D 1 4

H 0m 10m 5

2 4

6 See workshop plan opposite

7 London Print Studio Floor Plan (Workshop East). Please note this is taken from preliminary layouts provided.

London Print Studio Workshop Floor Plan A Main Print Studio Main Co-Making Workshop (Workshop East). Please note this is taken B Digital Studio from on preliminary layouts provided. 8 Shared non-workshop space (gallery & shop) C Gallery D Preparation Areas 0 10m Ancillary E Office 10m KEY: F Kitchen 1 Admin/technician desk Other uses on site G Toilet 2 Paper soaking H Stores 9 3 Developing unit 4 Lithography/etching presses 5 Silk screen 6 Drying racks

7 Storage/glass-topped worksurfaces 8 Adjustable benches 9 Top-lit work area

70 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 71 View of main print studio space - bespoke storage/glass worktops in foreground (photo: Annie Hanson) Etching process (photo: Annie Hanson)

(photo: Annie Hanson) Applying ink (photo: Annie Hanson) 72 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 73 Setup & Management: Themes & Trends Location & Space Requirements

Physical space use been specifically organised - for example the Interviews with organisations identify physical surface planer, thickness planer and table saw space requirements and costs as key to the at WorkshopEast, which enable long lengths operation of co-making spaces. of timber to be fed through.

Workshop-based activities require large, clear Shared workshops operating from industrial floor areas, generous storage space and heavy estates, such as RARA in Clapton, benefit from machinery, and often come with specific good parking and delivery access, though this requirements such as loading bays or 3 phase can be at the expense of pedestrian footfall in electricity supply. Some aspects of space and this type of location. location requirements are universal across Open access workshops need to strike workshops, others are more discipline specific. a balance between providing a secure Space efficiency and user experience are environment and encouraging memberships. critical to footfall and membership numbers Many cite the challenge of overcoming - many organisations had refined access public unfamiliarity with and unwillingness to arrangements and physical layout over time in enter a workshop environment. Blackhorse order to better accommodate users’ needs. Workshop has increased its presence with Signage at Blackhorse Workshop to encourage footfall clear signage on the main road and Sutherland Chosen location Road Path. Other open access workshops Most spaces are maker-led, with chosen have taken longer to adopt similar strategies location dependent primarily on affordability but have increased membership numbers as of premises and adaptability to specific a result - Blackhorse Workshop benefited on disciplines. Ceramicists set up Turning Earth in this front from a strong initial research/design railway arches in Haggerston after identifying brief and local authority support, which have a lack of truly open access facilities in the city helped embed it within a wider development for pottery. WorkshopEast was set up after strategy. Combined with targeted marketing a 6-month search for affordable premises in this can be a critical factor to success. boroughs local to Stratford. Noise, safety, residential Access Noise and heat production arise from heavier Most spaces surveyed were at ground floor practises such as metalwork. Landlords (or ground floor plus upper floor). Level can often be reluctant to provide space for access and adequate loading areas are a businesses working in these areas. Artist given requirement for heavier activities studio providers also have limited spaces such as woodwork and metalwork, and for suitable for heavier crafts and many users had servicing and equipment installation. Raw left these types of premises. materials are usually heavy or come in long Workshop East benefits from being located lengths, around which internal layouts have in a semi industrial area where noise is not RARA’s less public frontage on an industrial estate 74 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 75 a problem for local residents and where security of tenure in the face of rising vehicular access is good. This is likely to be an commercial rents was an issue in most cases, increasing problem for workshops on or near and especially in retail premises. development sites for residential schemes. Purpose-fitted premises Building type Capital investment in building fabric is usually Most co-making spaces operate from B1c minimal. However time and money will often Light Industrial premises, often adapted from be invested in internal layouts so as to create former heavier industrial or storage use (B2/ a safe and efficient working environment - as B8) and frequently quite compromised. Floor with Workshop East, Artichoke Printmakers, 2 areas are typically 100-200m for core co- The Parachute Collective and many others. making activities, with additional space for Maker led organisations tend to set up other activities on site. Large, column-free spaces around the processes involved in their floor space is desirable for most efficient disciplines or activities. Print facilities for equipment and bench layout, but most example, involve moving between presses and workshops have adapted to available space preparations areas and so optimum layouts and access provision. are achieved in which to do this, even in a Artichoke Printmakers: located within Shakespeare Business Centre Specific structures such as railway arches (like challenging environment. those occupied by Turning Earth Ceramics in The survey found only one new-build Haggerston and by South London Makerspace workshop - London Print Studio - this in itself in Norwood) can be a good means of acquiring more a fit-out of an existing shell. London affordable, large, column-free floorspace. Print Studio illustrates how early maker/ Premises for A1 type retail uses (typically manager design input can maximise potential: traditional high street shop type) comprised in this case organising facilities so that they 22% of spaces audited. These tend to be are feasible for both professional and amateur for lighter, less industrial disciplines such as use, and maximising accessibility, without printmaking or photography. A key benefit is compromising privacy and security of the increased footfall and potential for a street- workshop space. front shop or gallery. Four Corners Film on Roman Road has a clearly visible gallery onto the street, and had noted an increase in visitor numbers since improving its shop front signage.

Shop units present two challenges however, firstly, compatability of workshop activities with residential or other commercial uses (there were no woodwork spaces for example Railway Arches: Turning Earth Ceramics found in high street locations). Secondly, 76 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 77 Hierarchy of space Tenure diversified. Current provision (typically 9 sq Although shared co-making space can restrict Most co-making organisations provide a range Most organisations (69%) surveyed were m for woodwork) is ample for early career growth of tenant businesses, the survey has of making-based spaces, with other uses and renting premises on standard 3-5 year makers, but potentially restrictive as individual found this is often outweighed by the benefits ancillary space on site (see plans overleaf). commercial leases; other rental agreements businesses grow. New premises could enable of reduced overheads, pooled resources and Many provide private work areas alongside were also in place, such as private sub-lets a greater range of tenancy options, and allow peer support. a central, communal co-making space. At and rentals through an organisation. Only 8% more established businesses to support and Purpose built spaces Workshop East this is a personal work area owned (or part-owned) the freehold. Long mentor incoming startups. The few purpose-built set-ups found suggest comprising a workbench and shelving/storage. term security of tenure was a concern raised Occupancy within an organisation, as that despite widespread waiting lists for At London Hackspace, this is a small storage by many organisations interviewed. opposed to independent tenancies, can also workshop space, few co-making spaces box for each of its 1000+ members. In all Several specific occupancy models were be beneficial. East London Printmakers for operate with sufficient turnover to invest in the examples overleaf, the individually rented found, which benefited both landowner and example, benefits from building management purpose-built or properly adapted premises. spaces tend to be the most profitable and tenant. and subsidised rental as a tenant of Space stable, and support the activities taking place Studios. Its current lease is secure until 2026. This may be set to change with growing in the wider workshop. Interim use is one such model, whereby The landlord benefits in return from in-house interest in Fab Labs and digital technology, organisations are granted a cheap - but often which are more research and development- Discipline-specific space requirements print and design services, and a long-term, insecure - tenancy. For Workshop East, professional tenant. driven. Lime Wharf and the new London- Professional makers often require full currently in interim use premises, relocation based Fablab operate as prototyping time access, more storage, security and will be a financial challenge. Freehold ownership arrangements are workshops, explicitly harnessing the privacy. This can be difficult to provide key to the long term success of some older experimental work of members to develop The original fit out and installation of alongside open access for large numbers workshops. For example the consortium collaborations with the high-tech industries 3-phase power etc were approximately of members, especially with hazardous or owning the freehold for North Street (see Part 3b). Potential corporate £7000, the absolute minimum possible at heavier processes. London Print Studio has Potters and London Print Studio now being partnerships, their relatively efficient space the time. Inflation, additional premises costs many members and offers generous working in a position to buy their freehold. Being use and high demand for these facilities and moving costs could make relocation areas. Materials used (e.g. textiles and a permanent institution has enabled these will potentially lead to growth in purpose potentially 4 times this figure, or 100% of paper) however take up little room compared organisations to rent out more private developed spaces for these facilities. with wood or metalwork: this may have current annual turnover. Individual tenant workspaces, subsidise open access workshop contributed to the relative success of co- businesses will also face downtime. Projected space, and widen their remit into specific making facilities for print and photography in moving costs and rapidly increasing rental activities engaging with the surrounding London. rates in the area make this insecurity of community. tenure the biggest threat to the long term The majority of co-making workshops sustainability of the organisation and to the Clustering and other businesses surveyed had some form of user agreement small businesses it supports. While most workshops occupy individual or code of conduct, enabling them to maintain premises, they often reveal close connections As London Print Studio shows however, an open access or shared arrangement with adjacent organisations. Sugarhouse relocation can also be an opportunity for without compromising safety or efficiency. Studios has over 30 individuals or small growth and development. This is especially businesses on site. As a tenant, Workshop true where workshops have operated East is benefiting increasingly from previously from compromised premises. collaboration on projects and shared costs. For Workshop East, relocation may allow bench space allocation to be increased and 78 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 79 Comparative plans of co-making spaces Key: Shared Workspace Individual Workspace London Print Studio Spatial overview Shared ‘other’ space Organisation & Individual Shared Shared ‘other’ Total GIA inc Approx rent Individual individual: 0 5 10m Shared ancillary space discipline measured workspace workspace e.g. gallery ancillary (m2) sq ft p.a. workspace shared space Area outside of the (see overleaf) total (m2) (m2) etc(m2) per user ratio (as % of surveyed workspace (m2) both workspace types)3 Blackhorse 112 (excludes 227 78 850 £0 6-12 33% / 67% Workshop first floor metalwork 1 arts trust studios) London Print Studio within 220 200 550 £11.00 12-16 n/a (no printmaking shared privately rented workspace space) North Street 11 54 23 95 £4.11 5 17% / 83% Potters ceramics WorkshopEast 55 102 123 290 £4.26 9 35% / 65% woodwork 2 Create Space 308 403 24 850 £5.50 7 -10 43% / 57% (mixed) See p.95 1 - Also offers individual woodwork/assembly space 3m2 2 - Also offers individual sculpture/stonemasonry space 9m2 3 - For preliminary assessment of income generation by space use, see supplementary information

See workspace layout p.82 Workshop East

See workspace layout p.84

North Street Potters

Blackhorse Workshop (exc upper floor studios)

0 5 10m 0 5 10m

See workspace layout p.83

See workspace layout p.85

Basement Ground Floor

80 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 81 Example workspace layouts by discipline Woodwork Ceramics (Workshop East) (North Street Potters) 0 1m 0 1m

Tool Storage

Material Storage

Drying Area Circulation Area

Tool Storage Workbench

Table

Material Individual Work Area Wheel Storage

Circulation Area

Drying Area Area Individual Work

9m2 per maker, comprising individual bench (rented by single user), shelves, wall space. Clear of 3m2 per maker for wheel area, shelves and table shown, plus some additional storage space/wall circulation/emergency escape route. Each bench user receives additional 24-hour access to shared space (total approx 5m). Each user can also use shared preparation tables, kilns and drying racks. machine room.

82 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 83 Printmaking Metalwork (London Print Studio) (Blackhorse Workshop) 0 1m 0 1m

Plastic curtain Extract

gas bottles

MIG welder Individual Work Area

Vice

Brazing Hearth

Layout space

Extract Press Bench

Extract Press TIG welder

Racks

Plan shows single workspace (12-16m2 used, depending on activity) -within the larger shared space - 35m2 workspace, divided into ‘cold working’ (general assembly etc) and specialist ‘hot working’ comprising presses, racks and preparation areas. Each workspace is laid out to maximise efficiency areas. Plan shows hot working area of 12m2 with main welding equipment and fittings/fixtures when moving between areas and equipment required for each stage of the printing process. This required. May be used by more than one maker simultaneously. example offer more generous working area than others visited. 84 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 85 Themes & trends: Finance

Start-up costs Rates and premises costs The majority of co-making spaces have been Across the board, high rental and prohibitive set up by individuals using personal funds business rates were areas of concern for or business loans. In many cases there had most workshops interviewed. Rents may be been a pooling of resources between founder low, often around at £5-£8 per square foot, members, typically of £1000-£10,000 each. but co-making spaces have low day-to-day occupancy rates at on average 1 person per 10 Create Space and London Hackspace, among square metres, hence needing to encourage others, set out to be self-financing from high memberships and shift-based uses. the outset (via membership or studio lets), sourcing secondhand or donated equipment Negotiations around premises have benefited and relying on unpaid Trustees and others many organisations: from Workshop East’s working on a voluntary basis. Many maker-led ‘licence to occupy’ to Blackhorse Workshop’s spaces typically rely on founders’ technical peppercorn rental agreement with the expertise to develop a workable brief and council, but business rates, insurance and floor layout. other building costs often remain high due to the space-hungry nature of making processes. Increasingly, however, the technical and London Print Studio shop and gallery administrative demands of operating a co- Diversification making space are encouraging greater initial Many spaces surveyed made a separation inputs, especially where there is open access. between maker-based and other income Voluntary and salaried staff generating activities. The development of a charitable wing alongside the main workshop Staffing patterns vary; in comparison to other activities is a popular model, e.g. London new workshops, Blackhorse Workshop for Print Studio and North Street Potters. example has high staff costs. Wages currently comprise 50-60% of monthly costs - compared Generally three main income streams were to 0-10% for most maker-led workshops found across the sector: during their first year. Workshop-based income is derived from However, compared to more established membership fees, courses and training i.e. spaces Blackhorse Workshop has relatively activities directly involving making, and using low staffing: London Print Studio, for example, the shared workshop equipment. Some pays 5.5 salaries (Full Time Equivalent). This of this may be specifically grant funded has enabled it to build a management and education or training programmes. technical team (in both traditional and digital Individual maker space rental comprises rental printing) and develop a strong educational from long-term tenancies (which may or may programme. not use the shared workshop facilities).

Blackhorse Workshop Pilot Market, Sept 2014 86 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 87 Non workshop-based income includes: East London Printmakers for example has 11 catering (coffee shop/cafe), sales of products spaces per session for different activities, all (e.g.prototypes, prints), space hire for non- booked online. Fab Lab London has one public workshop use (e.g. exhibitions, markets, open access day per week, with the remainder lectures), external events and activities. of the sessions aimed at professional users.

For example, at Blackhorse Workshop “Unlike an editioning studio, which is memberships and taught classes (weekends/ consistently engaged in one type of evenings) currently comprise 62% of total production, albeit with a changing clientele, income; individual maker space rental 18%; an open access resource, seeking to attract other space uses (Bakery; Coffee Shop; a wide customer base, must be capable Monthly Market, sublet studios) 20%. of switching roles and procedures to a considerable degree. The facilities must be Most workshops reported a direct link multi-functional and the staff adaptable. In between higher footfall from other activities mixed-activity environments stress on the on site and actual workshop memberships. organisation increases, and its operational However, activities were generally limited effectiveness is reduced...Systems are by the extra resources required to manage therefore designed to ensure that activities them. Workshops also reported the need to are self-contained, and self-regulating.”1 maintain the core ethos around making and avoid a conflict between makers/members’ Organisational strategies, as well as a needs and those of other activities. relatively large core staff, have enabled London Print Studio to become both a Space management & income community facility and a regular workplace While high member numbers increase profits for members. This balance can be difficult to and can make an organisation attractive to achieve and most spaces tend towards one funding bodies, there is usually a space- or end of provision or the other. discipline-specific critical mass. As illustrated in the drawings above, internal layouts are generally geared towards specific activities as opposed to fully flexible use (apart from common areas, events spaces etc), with fixed equipment and specific clear working areas.

Most organisations therefore tend to manage or timetable access in some way.

None of the open access spaces interviewed had limits to overall membership numbers, but online booking systems were a common 1 John Philips, co-founder of London Print Studio. Thesis. way of regulating access. 88 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Pt 3.1 Setup & Management Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 89 3.2: Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth

Case Studies:

Create Space

Themes: Commercial Workshop Users

The 89 organisations surveyed provide premises and equipment for over 500 businesses and sole traders between them. This section looks in more detail at how co-making spaces are benefiting a range of small enterprises. We look particularly at the advantages of access to heavy equipment, digital technology and business support.

Blackhorse Workshop (photo: Annie Hanson)

90 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 91 Create Space (London)

Established 2013/14 Workshop Type: open access, mixed Disciplines: woodwork, metalwork, other Private Company, Limited by Guarantee 50 part-time users Privately funded 1 35 full-time/small business users Turnover (2014): £95k Expenditure: £80k 4 Directors (unsalaried)

Background Finance 2 Create Space was established in 2011 by In its second year, Create Space has had 3 a group of 5 graduates from Middlesex an annual turnover of just over £95k, over University, moving into its current location on 90% coming from studio rental. Its annual 4 the 11th floor of a commercial tower block in expenditure this year was just over £80,000 - 2012. The current company, Create Space most of this going on premises rental (58%), London, was incorporated in 2014. rates (16%) and other maintenance costs.

Create Space is a hackspace type organisation, Create Space currently has no paid staff. Key: offering affordable open access workshops All directors work part time, unwaged, on for woodworking, screen printing, ceramics, developing the business, while working 1. Create Space (11th Floor) 3. Car Park 3D printing, laser cutting, computing and in related designer/maker fields from the 2. Main Reception 4. North Circular electronics. It also has 28 individual, secure premises or elsewhere. studio spaces; all tenants have access to the Apart from premises costs, the organisation shared facilities. pays back a start-up loan (5% of monthly Location to develop short term accommodation which The company was set up as a member-owned expenditure), insurance (also 5%) and has Create Space occupies the full 850 m2 of office would include access to the workshops. These non-profit organisation, initially funded considerable professional fees, having sought space on the 11th floor of a commercial tower plans include a residency programme. As through a start-up loan, personal finance, and guidance on financial and legal matters block. The remainder of the building is still yet, none of the workshops surveyed provide donations of machinery and equipment. Its relating to its structure and other issues. predominantly office use; planning permission residential accommodation, although several main income is now through studio rental. It has been granted for a hotel on the upper of the smaller, shared workshops occupied Create Space has received no grant funding. promotes itself through its website1 and the floors. premises adjacent to or connected with hackspace network, and reports a growing Directors/users’ homes. This was mainly true waiting list for studios, plus steadily increasing The building had been partially unoccupied for of the older co-making spaces, which had membership numbers. Users range from some time and was offered to Create Space at developed an informal live-work arrangement small businesses to sole traders (see overleaf), a low cost due to work needed to return the as part of the purchase of their premises, half of them living within the borough. floor to a usable state. such as North Street Potters or had set up workshops within their own homes. The premises are on a five year lease with 1 Create Space’s promotional video can be seen here http:// a six month notice period. Create Space is vimeo.com/105755719 currently negotiating a lease for the 16th floor 92 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 93 Internal layout Supporting small enterprises Create Space provides both open access and Create Space has been chosen by many of its private workspace, the latter subsidising tenant businesses specifically for the mixture shared facilities which would otherwise of shared and private workspace available. operate at a loss. The workshop is accessed Occupants fall into three main categories: via a secure main entrance. designer-makers, fine artists and technology startups/hi-tech product developers. 47% of floorspace is mixed workshop providing open access facilities for ceramics, RedIsGo develops both hardware and woodwork, printmaking, computing, laser software for enhanced user experience cutting and 3D printing. 36% is occupied by of exhibitions, marketing and media. Like individual studios, all accessed via the main many small enterprises based here it sees shared spaces. Create Space as its “development lab”. It shares a studio with Iridium Systems and Additional facilities include reception/ Robotics Corporation Ltd, another technology- common area, a shared kitchen and wash- driven company using the workshop to down areas for printmaking, ceramics and prototype public space robotic devices and photography. A shared function room, infrastructure. used by a range of community groups, is being replaced with studios and will instead Affordability and shared facilities were key become a larger gallery/event space as part of factors in these companies’ choice of location. redevelopment plans for the additional floor. The “space and freedom to experiment... combining privacy and community”2 were Users benefits they had struggled to find in other Create Space currently has 50+ drop-in commercial premises. Key members, with numbers growing, and 28 0 5 10m rented studios occupied mainly by individuals The directors argue that while their work is Shared work space or shared by 2-3 people/small businesses. very much in digital technology, access to Individual work space Floor Plan: Create Space Rents are £305pcm - £390pcm (for 7.5 - 10m2) equipment and makers with more traditional Shared specialist space (drawing by EHK architects) and offer the additional benefit of access skills such as wood and metalwork at Create Shared ancilliary space Space was a major draw. Both companies see to shared equipment. Desk space is also Area outside of the suveyed workspace available at £30 per week. it as a valuable base from which to research and develop products before manufacturing The range and flexibility of space encourages from elsewhere in the UK and Europe. Balance of individual and shared workspace (for comparison see p. 81) diverse tenant enterprises. Although Organisation & main Shared Individual Shared ‘other’ Total GIA inc Approx rent Individual equipment is included in rental, usage varies discipline measured workspace workspace e.g. gallery ancillary (m2) sq ft p.a. workspace per 2 2 2 2 - some companies being almost entirely (see overleaf) (m ) total (m ) etc(m ) user (m ) desk based, others using manual and digital 2 Interview, September 2014 Create Space 403 308 24 850 £5.50 7 -10 workshop facilities regularly. (mixed)

94 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 95 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth: Themes & Trends Workshops and enterprise premises and more constant use of machinery Co-making organisations support a range in order for them to remain competitive, and of commercial enterprises. The majority of take on employees etc. business users surveyed were benefiting not Depending on type of business, co-making only from reduced overheads but from peer spaces typically save a sole trader £3k-£15k in support and sharing skills and professional basic machinery costs, with ongoing savings in networks. Most had made a conscious overheads. personal and commercial decision to work from co-making premises. Limitations Growth can in the longer term be Progression routes compromised by sharing equipment. Interviews suggest professional users of Designer-maker James Gilpin rents space at co-making workshops tend to be startups, Blackhorse Workshop. He is aware of the recent graduates or those whose business limitations - downtime while waiting for circumstances have changed. Many spaces access to equipment, minimal storage space provide equipment that cannot be found or and distractions caused by other users - but afforded outside education or employment - also the social and professional benefits of an New mobile dust extraction units, WorkshopEast Create Space and Turning Earth, for example, open access space to him as a sole trader. His are meeting a widespread demand for access current ambition is to remain at Blackhorse to ceramics equipment. They are used Workshop and, ideally, rent a larger individual particularly by recent graduates who have space - pending current plans for expansion of little access to specialist equipment elsewhere individual workspace on site. in the city. Several of the older co-making spaces Co-making spaces can operate as valuable were found to have supported individual incubators for small businesses. JackJames enterprises for several decades, particularly in Furniture produces bespoke items for printmaking and photography. interiors and the construction industry. Recent graduates of the Building Crafts Flexible provision College, they have been operating for approx- While working processes often require fixed imately 6 months from WorkshopEast/ equipment and assembly space, spaces may Sugarhouse Studios. Within the next 12 also need to offer a degree of flexibility in the months, they aim to generate a turnover long term. No 3 Flempton Road in Leyton of approximately £65k from their current has developed a flexible, modular system of shared space (12m2 individual studio plus space sharing as resident businesses have access to shared specialist woodworking grown. Established as a shared workshop equipment at WorkshopEast). Beyond this, in 2007 by Constructive & Co - a furniture/ increased outputs, materials storage and cabinet making company set up by Sam physical working area is likely to require larger Scott, Tim Greany and Dom Shanks. It had Professionally equipped shared space, St James Workkshop 96 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 97 previously occupied premises in Islington or technical courses in specific disciplines prior to redevelopment. Flempton Road, such as woodwork and metalwork. though further from the centre and from other, complementary businesses, provided Technology physically larger premises. By sharing they One of the main ways that co-making spaces reduced the costs of relocating and of re- can help small businesses remain competitive starting in a new area. is through the provision of high-tech, industry- The building has four tenant companies appropriate equipment. (15 occupants in total). Constructive & Co This may be discipline-specific machinery, (e.g. is the largest, with three maker-directors for woodwork, a modern, heavy duty tablesaw and six skilled employees. Current turnover to cut sheet timber materials; for textiles, varies from approximately £45k - £750k per an overlocker for commercial stitching) or, business. increasingly, general laser cutting and 3D The building provides 200m2 of ground floor printing equipment. 2 space. Constructive & Co occupies 66m Access to professional machinery and of individual workspace; other users have software is an obstacle for many small Precision-cut component, Create Space 2 approximately 18m each. The main workshop businesses, a trend highlighted in the We floor is subdivided by screens into open plan Made That Local Area Study for Fish Island but clearly demarcated modules: as previous (2014). Technology such as CNC and 3D tenants have vacated, Constructive & Co has printing is expensive to purchase and to staff: expanded into these areas. taking on skilled employees can be prohibitive Since moving to Flempton Road, Constructive for a small firm operating on marginal profits. and Co has grown from 3 to 9 employees who Co-making spaces, however, can provide are now taking on specific roles in workshop access to the latest equipment, as well as the management and CAD design/production expertise in using it. drawings, as well as fabrication. Employees The audit suggested technology on offer was typically remain with the firm for between generally limited to 2D printing, digital editing 4 and 6 years. Two former employees have for film/photography/printing, CAD and established their own companies. occasionally laser cutting. Most organisations CPD and skills development rely on users having design software at home, and so focus mainly on hardware provision. Beyond a basic induction for members, most Only 9% of workshops surveyed had 3D open access spaces have good provision printing/laser cutting/CNC equipment, usually for on-site tuition/classes and talks. This as part of mixed discipline organisations, such includes both entry-level and more as Create Space, London Hackspace and Fab advanced specialist training: for example Lab London. 3D printer fabrication at Fab Lab London, 3D printers, Makerversity 98 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 99 Development of digital fabrication Machines Room (at Lime Wharf) build on Digital fabrication such as 3D printing and this concept of knowledge sharing and laser cutting is, however, a rapidly developing experimentation, marketing themselves area, and is integral to the business plan of as collaboration hubs or laboratories. many newer workshops. Compared to other Geared towards prototyping and product activities it offers flexibility and accessibility, as development, their long term aim is to foster well as opportunities to develop products for ongoing links between investors, users and mass production. industry.

Fab Lab London was set up in summer 2014, “The intention I have for the Machines with backing from various corporate and Room...is an environment where we can 2 other organisations including Intel, Tech City, experiment and also accelerate business” Bathtub-2-Boardroom and RSA - The Great Thomas Ermacora founded the Lime Wharf Recovery, a materials re-use initiative. Fab Machines Room in Hackney in 2014. The 2 Lab occupies a 400m basement and ground aim was to exploit the ‘bottom up’ potential floor space fitted with both digital and manual for co-making and shared workshops to workshop equipment. One day a week is contribute serious technological innovation public access, the remainder is for business to the design and manufacturing industries. use, when it offers hourly rates for 3D printing Ermacora’s vision for Lime Wharf is a properly and laser cutting. Membership is encouraged structured ‘social making space’ that should through discounts. support innovation but also lead to viable London Hackspace, South London Makerspace outputs. A well managed space, he argues, and Create Space have similar equipment has the potential to lead to ongoing industry for digital production, with an ethos of partnerships. maximmum accessibility and transparency. Prototyping and outsourcing Such spaces enable ‘collective autonomies’: by reducing overheads and bringing together Many enterprises interviewed who operate a range of individuals and skills sets, they at the high-tech/industrial end see co-making allow greater individual freedom at the same spaces as essential to their research and time as fostering collaboration and creative development process, before outsourcing partnerships. mass production of their products - as Create Space’s tenant RedIsGo shows, co-making Harnessing collaborative practice space enables low-cost experimentation in “This space has opportunities for biotech, a central development lab. It is predicted for hacking, for anything really … It’s only that co-making spaces will increasingly foster limited by imagination.”1 prototyping as use of and interest in digital fabrication continues to grow. Co-making spaces such as Fab Lab and 2 - Thomas Ermacora, Machines Room live broadcast http:// 1 - Wired article on London FabLab launch, September 2014. limewharf.org/machines-room/ 100 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Pt 3.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 101 3.3: Community & Placemaking

Case Study

North Street Potters (with reference to London Bike Kitchen & other examples)

Supporting and Creating Community: Themes & Trends

In this section we look at how, over time or through specific programming, workshops are supporting not only small enterprises and the maker sector, but how they can also offer vital third sector services within communities, providing training and skills as well as creating a sense of connectedness within their area.

Maker Day at Newton’s Cottage, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 2014. Workshop East’s hands-on woodwork stand (photo: Rahil Ahmad) 102 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 103 North Street Potters

Clapham Pottery Established 1978 Workshop Type: shared (see photo overleaf, Disciplines: ceramics below) Private Company, Limited by Guarantee & Registered Charity 6 part-time users

Privately funded 1 full-time user

2012-13 (charity only) turnover: £130k* 1 Director (unsalaried ) 2012-13 (charity only) expenditure: £90k (*from accounts submitted to Charities Commission, for Clapham Pottery only. North Street Potters operates separately ) Background Finance North Street Potters is a maker-led ceramics The freehold of North Street Potters is owned workshop which also operates a charitable by a consortium of users and local residents educational facility, Clapham Pottery, from with the interests of the pottery at its core separate premises (see illustration opposite) (see p.108); tenant users pay an affordable monthly rent back to the consortium. North Street Potters was started in 1978 by Naine Woodrow who still works full time from Clapham Pottery runs both fee-paying and the workshop. It is a collective of professional free/subsidised courses, including classes for makers, all of whom operate as sole traders, young carers aged 5 to 14, isolated elderly North Street Potters though they frequently collaborate or employ people, homeless groups and young adults (see photo overleaf, above) each other to work on large commissions. with compound needs. During term time There are currently 7 potters working from they provide classes for approximately 200 the site, full and part time, most producing students a week, generating approximately North Street Potters and their educational charitable wing, Clapham Pottery, have occupied two buildings a 5 minute ceramic products for commercial and £75k per annum - this from both private walk apart. This setup provides both professional making space and more open access, community space. domestic clients. course fees and from other social enterprises or grant funding bodies who have established North Street operates as a cooperative, Location with the workshop. There is a 10% levy on partnerships with the pottery. tenants paying a monthly rent for use of the North Street potters occupies a small any sales which is paid to the consortium and workshop. Clapham Pottery, a registered shop unit (ground floor and basement) in the shop is staffed by whoever is working charity, was established through a local a residential/small scale retail area near in the workshop that day. Prices are kept demand for classes, and was set up in a Clapham Common. It has operated from this affordable and the shop acts as a permanent separate building due to restricted space. building since opening. The accommodation exhibition space as well as a retail outlet. The charity now runs classes throughout the provides 3 workspaces for potters (used Clapham Pottery occupies a former school year to all age groups, as well as providing mainly on a timeshare basis) as well as storage chapel in a residential area. It has a single transport for elderly attendees. 12 people space, drying tacks and kilns. main space for classes, with permanent teaching part time at Clapham Pottery, most rented space for ceramicists at mezzanine of whom trained at North Street. A small shop in the front connects directly level. 104 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 105 106 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 107 Supporting & Creating Community: Themes & Trends Shared ownership and place-making “someone in every decade” - each able to Shops, exhibitions, open studios and simply and busy, particularly at the weekends and is North Street Potters demonstrates both contribute their own experience and skills. the people working from the location all self-sustaining and self-funded. This helps to keep the workshop community create footfall and community, and can the role a co-making space can have in a The costs of using the facility are low and this both stable and diverse. North Street Potters contribute significantly to place-making and community and how over time a sense is partly aided by the lack of large, expensive do not advertise for apprentices, they find local enterprise. of ownership may develop - sufficient to or dangerous machinery necessary for this safeguard its future. Its founder Naine drove that they receive enough applicants turning Internal community type of work. The sheer volume of people a campaign to buy the pottery premises up in the shop by word of mouth, which is Visits to spaces and interviews have found who have taken out the yearly membership in 2000, when it was hit with a major rent testament to the reputation of the workshop that a core group of founders or an individual of £10, means the organisation has a base increase. A consortium of 23 local residents, and the quality of the training offered. exist at the heart of most shared workspaces. level income of £12,400 without taking into customers and potters bought the premises Over 36 years, the cumulative benefits of Few were set up primarily for financial gain account additional drop-in income. outright; the pottery now pays a monthly rent North Street Potters have been impressive. for the organisation - but mainly to provide as a cooperative. Every five years members London Bike Kitchen has developed a large The workshop has helped numerous affordable workspace for small businesses have the option to leave the consortium and user base of all ages and occupations. Many apprentices and resident makers to set up and (often including founders). Charitable or sell their share in the building at the current are local but many are just passing, or have launch careers and is a key example of the social enterprise elements have often, but market rate, but few have opted for this. come from further afield within London. It is slower, more qualitative impacts that shared not always, been part of the original business This sense of ‘ownership’ by the community an example of a truly open access setup. workspaces often have. plan but a combination of personal ambition/ has been a key factor in the longevity of the politics and financial incentive have led many Conclusion organisation. As yet, few spaces offer formal apprenticeships, although individual makers makers to engage with users well beyond their Shared workshops do not all have training Third Sector Education occasionally do. There is potential for own professional community. This can create programmes and charities attached, and Many co-making spaces provide a platform for development of more opportunities in this a conflict between the need to develop as a many disciplines would not be suited to that education and skills training; skilled makers area, in partnership with sector skills councils small business (most makers need to prioritise level of community involvement. It also takes teach or mentor part time, and form a core or training providers. workshop time to maintain outputs) and considerable resources to run an organisation group of third sector educators. the benefits of engaging with outreach and on this basis. North Street Potters has the Integration through retail education. Most grant funding tends to favour advantage of secure premises and very low Many of those affiliated with the co-making The shop space at North Street Potters the latter, but support for makers’ businesses rents, but many organisations simply don’t spaces audited were teaching in some showcases work by current and former can be critical to their being able to continue have the capacity. North Street Potters shows, capacity - paid and/or unpaid in adult resident makers. An issue raised in the audit sharing skills. however, the impact shared workshops can education, and with specific communities, and interviews was that of encouraging public have, whether in providing a training ground Comparison: London Bike Kitchen providing training in areas not covered by the access and overcoming a general unfamiliarity for apprentices, a shop space that creates mainstream curriculum. with the workshop environment. North Street London Bike Kitchen represents the most footfall and promotes makers’ businesses, or open access community-focused workshop North Street Potters run their own informal and other organisations such as London Print putting on exhibitions. Or simply, and just types. Set up in 2012, it currently has 1240 apprenticeships and training. They usually Studio and Four Corners film exploit their as importantly, providing a place for trained members. Located in a small shop space on have two apprentices at any one time who street frontages to encourage access. It is professionals to work from and to develop a quiet road in Hoxton, its emphasis is on arrive with either very basic or no experience. possible to see into part of the North Street and share their skills with trainees or with the community: enabling and teaching people to The apprentices can be any age and Naine workshop from the shop, and this proximity wider community. fix their own bikes. They provide tools and tries to retain a healthy balance of ages in provides an important link between makers expertise during drop-in times, and courses the workshop as a whole, in her own words, and visitors. at beginner and intermediate level. It is lively

108 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Pt 3.3 Community & Placemaking Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 109 4. Conclusions & Recommendations

Co-making spaces are seeing a growth in decades. There is also considerable diversity workspace or studio rental alongside core business model over time. High start-up costs London, and a particular growth in the mixed, and specialism, and a continued demand for co-making space provision. It can also involve could be supported by improved access to open access sector - the majority opening access to more specialist fabrication facilities separation or timetabling of professional and funding or partnerships - that acknowledge in the last five years, and many in the last by graduates, startups and SME’s generally. non-professional use. the support they provide for small enterprises. 24 months alone. This reflects the rise in Further links could be made with industry or A number of common issues were found. incubator, accelerator and co-working (IAC) Recommendations: education, e.g. in the construction, technology, These relate mainly to general operation spaces generally. It also reflects a wider, • Existing co-making spaces are a valuable design and manufacturing sectors. and to the built environment, especially global growth in the hackspace and open source of information. Where new spaces in locations such as the LLDC policy area - • Interim use strategies currently benefit access makerspace movement. are established, it is recommended that several organisations. This could be applied where a number of micro-manufacturing and professional groups and individual co- more widely, say to retail locations - use of However the study has also found many more ‘making’ enterprises operate from former making spaces are consulted on spatial and empty shop spaces etc. - either to house co- established spaces that have been sharing industrial premises and where there is rapid organisational factors - and that these relate making spaces themselves or to provide retail or providing access to facilities for several growth of residential and retail. to disciplines and target users. While few outlets for existing spaces. ‘Pop up shops’ purpose-built spaces exist, space layouts are and markets can raise profile and attract a often implemented by experienced makers, wider range of users into the workspace. e.g. 4.1 Setup, management and space requirements and can be an undocumented but valuable Cycletastic pop-up shop in Brent. Interim use resource. Conclusions: Financially, the majority of workshops operate strategies generally are an excellent way to Premises vary according to affordability and on a low-overheads, low income basis, making • Any new space should consider target provide affordable and appropriate premises, suitability to use. The study found co-making just enough to cover costs every month. The user group - professional, amateur, start-up, to meet organisations’ needs on a temporary workshops predominantly fall into B1c, or majority rely on makers and volunteers for etc. - as this is key to business model. basis and to test viability. However the day-to-day management. implications of relocation need to be factored B2 use classes, and tend to occupy light • While co-making space itself requires in from the outset - financial or other support industrial premises. However, they are not Adapting premises and substandard building high capital inputs and may initially operate could be offered for this. restricted to these types of premises and were fabric, to make them safe, secure and suitable at a loss, most spaces develop a successful found to occupy a wide range of buildings. for heavy machinery, was one of the main cost Proximity to residential or retail areas can challenges faced. mean higher footfall, which is advantageous 4.2 Supporting Enterprise & Business Growth for open access spaces. Many smaller shared Inflation of premises costs and security of Conclusions: enable sole traders to take on apprentices enterprises occupy industrial sites with more tenure represent the biggest longer term This study found many co-making spaces or assistants. This may help address the privacy and security. See below for more on challenge. operate as incubators for early stage sole current lack of skills transfer and training this topic in relation to planning policy. opportunities within the semi-industrial and Low profit margins can mean compromises traders and startups, offering vital financial micro-manufacturing sectors. Chosen location is due largely to affordability, are made - usually on building/machinery and other benefits. Typically a shared space availability and local/professional connections maintenance, safety and ultimately quality of can save a sole trader £3k-£15k in equipment An autonomous set-up, often maker-led, made by operators. Professional and work produced. costs, with further savings in fit-out, rent, has allowed the spaces surveyed to develop corporate partnerships/sponsorship insurance and storage. diverse industry links, directly support and To manage use of space, many operators have helped high profile spaces such as promote the SME’s using their facilities. The have adapted premises, equipment and their These savings have further impacts: by Makerversity establish city centre premises. diversity of the sector encourages access user/membership models with experience. reducing overheads co-making spaces can across a broad range of age and social groups. This usually involves developing individual

110 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 111 4.3 Community & Placemaking While the majority of spaces tend to operate merit further research. Conclusions Recommendations shared facilities at a loss, both established • New and existing spaces can benefit by Open access co-making spaces often operate • Promotion of activities can contribute to and newer models show these aspects are providing professional facilities and equipment as ‘libraries’ - providing access to basic skills the place-making potential of workshops, as often their unique selling point. These spaces alongside open access programmes. This training and becoming a social amenity. well as to encouraging access to resources foster experimentation, entrepreneurship and can foster local enterprise and could create a Accessibility is linked to location and building and training. Co-making spaces could be attract diverse user groups. critical mass of micro-manufacturing around layout: while a workshop space can be seen linked with or registered on websites of central bodies such as the Crafts Council or Creative & Organisations prioritising the core co-making open access spaces. A distinction should be to be at odds with a residential setting, this Cultural Skills. activities - both financially and spatially - made between open access and professional can also be key to encouraging more local users. How this integration could be achieved have developed a reputation for their services, use in assessing positive impacts of spaces. • Co-making spaces can potentially operate attracting professional users from across is discussed further below. • Most small enterprises within the sector as highly inclusive social enterprises. Potential London. Ongoing input from experienced do not fall into wider employment studies. Most co-making spaces, whether employing links could be made or premises shared with makers is important to ensure core facilities Existing self-registering schemes for makers/ paid staff or not, rely on experienced artist studio providers (who often operate are safe and fit for purpose. small manufacturers could include information makers and managers in developing their successful outreach programmes). Links could also be made with larger manufacturing Local links had sometimes been slow to on location and business premises. Funding education and training programmes. They can enterprises in the vicinity - to develop targeted develop, so individual organisations have bodies and local authorities should also provide access to skills that are important in apprenticeships and training partnerships. developed specific strategies for this. consider the commercial as well as the construction, design and technology. These See sections 4.4 & 4.5 for more on this. Networking and skills exchange schemes, community role of co-making spaces - existing skills may support professional development, such as London Borough of Lambeth’s Open funding criteria tend to favour the latter. social integration and general wellbeing. Works website, can help widen spaces’ appeal • Co-making spaces increasingly offer Co-making spaces have developed diverse beyond the existing maker community. facilities for digital production such as programmes and activities to encourage The study found corporate partnerships or 3D printing. However, while accessible wider use. More established workshops have equipment sponsorship established by newer technologies look set to rise, anecdotal found this has helped with securing funding, organisations meant more ambitious and long evidence from interviews suggested this can enabling them to ensure space and equipment term programmes could be developed, and lead to a misconception that more specialist remains usable and up to date. technology - e.g. commercial woodworking improved technology/equipment provided. Established workshops illustrate how, over or sewing equipment - is obsolete or less This in turn is critical to longer term business time, organisations can develop an extensive in demand. It is recommended that any development of individual users. user base. Many have evolved to offer a range policy developed around co-making spaces of facilities and classes, attracting both local recognises the sector revolves around its Recommendations: and non-local users. Their often independent specialisms, rather than promoting only one • A more quantitative or ongoing survey of and non-institutional set up can enable them type of makerspace. business users is recommended (e.g. looking to reach a wide and socially diverse user base. at select small enterprise progression over, Different sectors and disciplines surveyed say, 3 years). Waiting lists for spaces suggest however tended to attract specific age or demand, and most business users reported other groups. a struggle in finding suitable premises. The reasons for this - and the wider impact on making and micro-manufacturing generally -

112 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 113 4.4 Planning Strategy Conclusions between scales of manufacturing, therefore operating from railway arches are just one Most studies suggest increasing ‘collaborative A key aim of this study has been to understand potentially offering an opportunity for example of this type of light industrial/creative consumption’ is likely to lead to growth of the spatial and organisational requirements challenging existing industrial zoning. This use within residential areas. co-making space (and co-working space could be achieved through physical proximity generally). Recognising this particular type of of co-making spaces, and how this relates to Where this study identified that co-making or by developing and incentivising links with space use as both economic and social asset physical setting. As studies suggest this type space has the greatest potential is perhaps existing local manufacturing enterprises. on a local level could enable existing spaces to of space is likely to increase, it is increasingly in creating a positive interface between be integrated into, rather than ‘zoned out’ of relevant to understand opportunities and Many are used specifically (and increasingly established zones of planning use classes. typical mixed use schemes. challenges for the sector in relation to future so, as new technology is acquired) for The ability to reach a broad demographic and development strategy. product prototyping and could therefore set provide facilities open to the public alongside Recommendations Many existing spaces are in areas subject a precedent for developing a more integrated subsidised and private workspace makes them • Co-making spaces can actively contribute to escalating land values and face rental local supply chain. The model for spaces such potential assets to local placemaking and to planning and development strategy within increases, insecurity of tenure or possible as Machines Room at Lime Wharf for example, employment strategies. an area. They should not only be assessed revolves around creative development of demolition. As the audit shows, the majority In formerly industrial and rapidly changing on measurable social outputs but on the products on site, for manufacture elsewhere, operate from B1c or B2 class premises in areas such as Hackney Wick, however, wider regenerative impacts of the SME’s they either locally or further afield. This could zones 2 & 3, where floor areas are sufficient this dual role could help form an interface support. and affordable, and where they are also potentially be developed into a more between the existing enterprise (of artists’ • The survey has shown that organisations accessible to users. structured local network. studios and small manufacturing operations) benefit from a degree of autonomy and Growing pressure from residential and typical Within organisations themselves, in the centre of Hackney Wick and Fish Island ownership over their main co-making space, varying scales of production offer further to the south, and existing residential areas to residential/retail mixed use development in needing to manage use and access. A built opportunities. The ground floor at London the north. these zones is currently perceived as the main form that provides secure, private workspace Hackspace for example, supports lighter digital threat to existing organisations. Workshop No spaces were identified in London that (internal and external) is most appropriate work and social space, and the basement East, for example, currently expects to be had been newly constructed as part of a for small enterprise use, but accessibility ‘priced out’ of such an area within the next 5 heavier fabrication work. This is a model that major redevelopment strategy, so there are and some form of public engagement can could be developed further – supporting both years. few precedents. However, as examples such social space and heavier industrial uses within also be beneficial. The dual role of many as North Street Potters and London Print However, the amenity and economic value a single building or set of buildings. Within organisations means they present a significant Studio show, organisations can have a long of co-making spaces suggests they can in the a purpose-built setting, it may be possible opportunity to connect strategic zones. term positive and cohesive impact on an long term make an active contribution to local to accommodate heavier processes, such as area. This is true also where they support • Most co-making workshops are adaptable development strategy. The rest of this chapter glassblowing and metalwork, currently lacking uses generally deemed too hazardous for a to some extent to premises. Therefore, identifies some of these opportunities. in this sector. residential or central urban setting: although where new or relocated organisations are Intensification of industrial areas is a Proximity to residential communities can be not a co-making space, London Glassblowing considered, a broad, creative approach is potential opportunity offered by co-making beneficial, for both accessibility and public (established by Peter Layton in 1976) occupies recommended - whether this is in assessing spaces. Existing spaces support a range of profile. Loading, noise and hazard levels vary, a central location in Bermondsey, and suitable building stock or partnerships with processes from design and manufacture of but many examples show that with the right illustrates the potential for a small industrial other organisations (see below). bespoke, one-off items up to small-scale management and safety/access considerations enterprise to engage with the public, through manufacturing. Their ability to support spaces can be successfully integrated into its open plan workshop and gallery space. multiple SME’s and sole traders sits them residential zones. The various organisations

114 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 115 4.5 Public Sector Collaboration Having identified co-making space as a business model, which could justify greater organisations are contributing local amenities However, the specialist requirements of the specific type of co-working environment startup support. such as the Building Bloqs cafe). This could sector need to be considered: for example, this study considers finally how they might offer mutual benefits, with organisations/ anecdotal evidence from interviews suggests Older spaces reveal useful trends in how be supported by wider policy around users bringing security, improved amenity risks in merging artists studios with co-making the sector is evolving: e.g. transitioning incubators, accelerators and co-working or specific contributions such as skills space - these included on the one hand, from heavy reliance on grant funding to spaces (AIC’s). Examples of existing public training. As discussed previously, interim eventual loss of co-making space to more more profitable use of space, significant sector collaboration include subsidised rental, use agreements are proving successful to profitable cellular studio space and on the philanthropic support - often reflecting their specific planning agreements (e.g. interim several existing organisations. How this other hand, concern in the artists studio sector positive value to a particular community use) and online networks such as Lambeth’s translates into long term viability – especially that the rise in co-making space validates and/or professional sector - and partnering Open Works project. But the study has found where there are high fitout and equipment closure of studios. with other social enterprises or public sector only isolated examples as opposed to any costs associated with moving - should be A model which retained the independent programmes. consistent approach. considered. identity (and/or independent premises) of the The case- and site-specific nature of the co-making space might be mutually beneficial 10% of spaces surveyed had received local • Access to capital for specialist equipment sector suggests more than one approach in terms of management and in maintaining authority funding at startup, others were either at the outset or for developing existing should be considered. Many spaces are a unique selling point. It might also be receiving further public sector support, either spaces is critical to viability. Obtaining a managed by driven and entrepreneurial more likely to retain and build upon the core financial (e.g. Arts Council grants) or in kind, lease on equipment enabled Workshop East to individuals, and respond to a specific lack. user base. This was suggested early on to such as vacant premises or subsidised rental. establish a professionally fitted out workshop, This suggests that, as with other AIC’s, a Workshop East by a major studio provider as a Open access facilities, as opposed to those but many organisations have specifically supporting and facilitating role is more possibility for the future. shared privately by SME’s, were far more identified being unable to qualify for loans as appropriate than direct provision. likely to have sought and received both public a key obstacle to growth and productivity. As • Other types of partnership: Smaller open sector or other grant/philanthropic funding. On the basis of this research therefore, stated previously, funding criteria currently access spaces can potentially be incorporated a sector-specific feedback exercise is tend to favour active social engagement, and into or linked with existing public services and This study shows co-making space in itself recommended, offering existing co-making to overlook the positive impacts of smaller other organisations, not just other creative often requires relatively high inputs for space providers the opportunity to engage spaces shared privately by SME’s. workspace. The growing phenomenon in the low return. This may account for the low further with relevant policy. This would USA and Netherlands for example, of open investment so far by both the public and • Several organisations are supported enable the following recommendations to be access makerspaces within public libraries private sector compared to IAC’s generally. through pro bono professional advice; this prioritised. (also being developed in the UK, as set out in It also suggests why few artists studio could be formalised through skills exchanges the Arts Council’s Common Libraries initiative) providers offer such facilities and why many such as Economy of Hours, corporate or public Recommendations illustrates how easily some types of co- have therefore been set up and financed sector partnerships. • Facilitating access to affordable making space can be integrated into existing independently - often by professional and/or space and secure tenure would address • Encouraging partnerships between co- community infrastructure. As discussed enthused amateur makers. the key ongoing challenge faced by most making spaces and artist studios or other previously, at the other end of the spectrum Increasingly, typologies are developing that organisations. Most are adaptable to some work space providers, while it may not suit all there are potential links with heavier industrial offer privately-rented incubator space in extent to premises, therefore a broad and organisations, could offer long term mutual operations that merit further research. order to subsidise shared facilities on site, case-specific approach is recommended, benefits in relation to management and It has been suggested anecdotally through for example Create Space and Blackhorse e.g. interim use, empty space within existing finance. Incentives to incorporate some form interviews with providers and users, that Workshop. These demonstrate the potential public buildings, subsidy on rental within of co-making facility or shared light industrial in some cases user engagement may be equipment into larger creative workspaces for spaces to develop a more sustainable existing light industrial zones (especially where encouraged specifically bynot allying co- could help overcome the costs they incur. 116 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 117 Glossary

making spaces with other types of creative Craft - in this report the term ‘craft’ is used to mean (and as far as possible is substituted with) workspace. The further feedback exercise the general term ‘making’, and is intended to encompass a broad and diverse range of processes would ascertain how widespread this is. taking place in co-making spaces.

• Provision of space for small businesses, not just individual studio users, around specialist shared facilities should be Hackspace (also known as a hacklab or hackerspace) - type of open access, mixed workshop encouraged in order to maintain the diversity typically offering electronic/digital facilities alongside woodwork etc. Generally deemed to of SME’s in this sector, to promote clustering have started in Germany in the 1990’s, hackspaces are now part of an informal but widespread and to provide support at a range of scales. international movement, with an ethos of cooperative management, transparency and inclusive access. Documents and member forums are publicly accessible: see http://hackerspaces.org/ • Promotion of organisations through wiki/ networks and online resources is one way the public sector can provide key support. This is underway with the GLA co-working Fab Lab (from ‘fabrication laboratory’) - a more formal development of the hackspace spaces map1, but could be widened into links movement, with a particular focus on technology and digital media. The programme began with professional networks, local community as a collaboration between the Grassroots Invention Group and Massachusetts Institute of networks and the sector skills councils. The Technology in 2001. current NESTA research into UK makerspaces also aims to start this process on a national scale2. Makerspace - general term to describe open access, multidisciplinary workshops. • It is recommended that although challenging to implement, support for co- making spaces should allow for their often Industrial craft - production involving heavier machinery and processes than can be discipline-specific and niche positions. Again, accommodated in domestic or small studio premises. Equipment is the same as that used in this suggests a facilitating rather than direct commercial and industrial production, e.g machined woodwork, metalwork, stonemasonry. May managing role by the public sector and/or include elements of mass-production, as opposed to solely one-off, artisanal work. workspace provider may be most appropriate. Many existing spaces have been set up to address a specific lack in the sector, with Micro-manufacturing enterprises - used in this context to refer to small manufacturing specialist requirements that may not be met enterprises, often using CNC/laser cutting and 3D printing technology (for more on this ‘make it through more generic or centrally managed yourself’ movement, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24203938). creative workspace. 1 Map is at https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/business-economy/for-business/business-support/london-workspaces/london-open-workspaces-full-width. Relevant background research as referenced in Executive Summary to this document.

2 http://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/mapping-uk-makerspaces-building-useful-data-set#comments Click to see the list of spaces: https://docs.google.com/ spreadsheets/d/1v-HLO5QNVfi4MQwLKxISypJkDMXm5NL_ OxDrWBRGJXc/edit#gid=1090946524

118 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 119 Co-making spaces - data table Map Name Postcode Borough Date Access Discipline Website Map Name Postcode Borough Date Access Discipline Website ref opened type ref opened type 1 Assemble & Join SE1 7AB Lambeth 2012 open Mixed http://www.assembleandjoin.co.uk/ 26 56a Bikeroom SE17 3AE Lambeth 1991 other Bicycle http://56abikespace.wordpress.com Maintenance 2 Blackhorse Workshop E17 6BX Waltham 2014 open Mixed www.blackhorseworkshop.co.uk 27 Bikeworks E1 5QJ Hackney 2006 other Bicycle http://www.bikeworks.org.uko.uk Forest Maintenance 3 Building Bloqs N18 3QT Enfield 2012 open Mixed http://www.buildingbloqs.com/ 28 Cycletastic Bike Shed NW6 7ST Brent - other Bicycle http://cycletastic.org.uk/ Maintenance 4 Camden Town Shed NW1 9XZ Camden 2011 open Mixed http://www.camdentownshed.org/ 29 London Bike Kitchen N1 5QA Hackney 2012 other Bicycle http://lbk.org.uk/ Maintenance 5 Create Space (London) HA9 6DE Brent 2013 open Mixed http://createspacelondon.org/ 30 Micycle N1 1TP Islington 2013 other Bicycle http://www.micycle.org.uk Maintenance 6 Fab Lab London EC2R 8AE City of 2014 open Mixed http://fablablondon.org/ 31 Squeaky Chains SE1 0RB Southwark 2011 other Bicycle http://squeakychains.com/ London Maintenance 7 Goldfinger Factory W10 5NY Brent 2012? open Mixed http://www.goldfingerfactory.com/ 32 London Centre for Book E3 2NQ Hackney 2014 open Bookbinding http://londonbookarts.tumblr.com/ Arts 8 Institute of Making WC1E 7JE Camden 2010 other Mixed http://www.instituteofmaking.org. 33 Mazzotti Books/Paulo N16 5SA Hackney 2011 shared Bookbinding http://mazzottibooks.co.uk/ uk/ Tadeo http://wemakebooks.co.uk/ 9 Lime Wharf (Machines E2 9DJ Hackney 2014 open Mixed http://limewharf.org/ 34 London Fields Arch (+ E2 9DJ Hackney - open Catering http://www.kitchentorent.co.uk/ Room) various others) index.html 10 London Hackspace E2 9DY Hackney 2009 open Mixed https://london.hackspace.org.uk/ 35 Made in Hackney N16 6PA Hackney 2011 shared Catering http://madeinhackney.org/

11 London Sculpture Work- SE1 5SF Southwark 2012 open Mixed http://londonsculptureworkshop. 36 The Kitchen Under the E3 2NT Tower 2012 open Catering www.rejuce.co.uk shop org/ Moon (Rejuce Ltd) Hamlets (dissolved Jan 2015) 12 Make Space/Metropoli- E1 1LA Tower 2011 open Mixed http://metropolitanworks.org/ 37 The Olive Grows NW10 7QP Brent 2009 open Catering http://www.theolivegrows.co.uk/ tan Works Hamlets 13 Makerversity WC2R Westmin- 2013 open Mixed http://makerversity.co.uk/ 38 The Outdoor Kitchen E6 5LT Newham 2014 open Catering https://spacehive.com/newhamout- 1LA ster Project doorkitchen 14 Pangaea Sculptors’ SE15 3SN Southwark pro- other Mixed http://www.pangaeasculptorscentre. 39 The Social Kitchen N15 5AZ Haringey 2011 open Catering http://www.socialkitchen.org.uk/ Centre posed com/ 15 RARA E5 9ND Hackney 2012 open Mixed http://r-a-r-a.com/ 40 Glebe Road Studios E8 4BD Hackney 2012 open Ceramics http://www.londonsartistquarter. org/events/glebe-road-open-studios 16 South London Maker SE24 9AA Lambeth 2014 open Mixed http://southlondonmakerspace.org/ 41 Lewisham Art House SE14 6PD Lewisham 2014 shared Ceramics http://www.lewishamarthouse.org. Space uk/index.html 17 Stratford Workshops E15 2SP Newham 1970’s shared Mixed http://www.newham.gov.uk/ 42 Maze Hill Pottery SE10 9XE Greenwich 1994 shared Ceramics http://www.mazehillpottery.co.uk/

18 Swan Wharf Workshop E3 2NQ Tower 2013 open Mixed http://www.swanwharf.org/ 43 North Street Potters SW4 0DZ Lambeth 1974 shared Ceramics http://www.northstreetpotters. Hamlets com/ 19 Studio North E15 2SP Islington - shared Mixed http://www.studionorth.org.uk/ 44 Parade Mews Pottery SE27 9AX Lambeth 1995 shared Ceramics http://www.parademewspottery. index.html co.uk/index.htm 20 Sugarhouse Studios E15 2QQ Newham 2012 shared Mixed http://sugarhousestudios.co.uk/ 45 Sheen Pottery SW14 8TA Richmond 2012 shared Ceramics http://www.sheenpottery.co.uk/ index.html 21 The Goodlife Centre SE1 0QL Southwark 2011 open Mixed https://www.thegoodlifecentre. 46 Sue Clark Ceramics BR3 1AY Bromley 2011 other Ceramics http://www.sueclarkceramics.co.uk/ co.uk/ 22 The Remakery SE5 9HY Lambeth 2012 open Mixed http://remakery.org/ 47 Turning Earth Ceramics SE5 9HY Lambeth 2012 open Ceramics http://turningearthceramics.co.uk/

23 The School of Stuff E8 2EB Hackney 2011 open Mixed http://www.theschoolofstuff.co.uk/ 48 Hackney Fashion Hub E9 6ND Hackney pro- open Textiles & http://www.hackneyfashionhub. posed Fashion co.uk/ 24 Westlake & Lomas Ltd SE15 5EB Southwark - shared Mixed n/a 49 Here Today, Here Tomor- N1 4AU Hackney 2010 shared Textiles & http://www.heretoday-heretomor- row Fashion row.com/ 25 Working Men's College NW1 1TR Camden 1854 open Mixed http://www.wmcollege.ac.uk/ 50 London Fashion Studios NW6 6HY Brent - other Textiles & http://londonfashionstudios.co.uk/ Fashion (not currently fully operational)

120 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 121 Map Name Postcode Borough Date Access Discipline Website Map Name Postcode Borough Date Access Discipline Website ref opened type ref opened type 51 The Parachute Collective E2 0EJ Hackney 2013 shared Textiles & http://www.theparachutecollective. 76 Print Club London E8 2DS Hackney 2007 open Printmaking http://printclublondon.com/ co.uk/ Fashion 77 Sonsoles Print Studio SE15 4PU Southwark 2012 shared Printmaking http://sonsolesprintstudio.co.uk/ n/a 52 11 Mount Pleasant WC1 0AR Islington 2011 shared Jewellery 78 Thames Barrier Print SE18 5NR Woolwich 2011 open Printmaking http://www.thamesbarrier-printstu- 53 Amanda Mansell EC1N 8DH Camden - other Jewellery http://www.amanda-mansell.com/ Studio dio.co.uk/ pages/about Jewellery 79 The Print Room SE23 2DD Lewisham 2009 open Printmaking http://www.theprintroom.talktalk. 54 The Goldsmith Centre EC2V 6BN Islington 2007 open Jewellery http://goldsmiths-centre.org/ net/ 80 London Carving Co-op E17 6RA Waltham 1995 shared Stonecarving http://thelondoncarvingco-op.com/ 55 Holts Academy EC1R 3GB Islington 1999 other Jewellery http://www.holtsacademy.com/ (City Studios Ltd) Forest /sculpture index.htm 56 David Anthony Reid SW8 3NS Wand- 2007 shared Musical http://www.darluthier.com/ 81 Shared workshop, SE15 Southwark 2014 shared Stonecarving n/a sworth Instrument Bussey Building /sculpture Making 82 3 Flempton Road E10 7NH Waltham 2007 shared Woodwork n/a 57 Black & White Basement NW8 0EB Westmin- - open Photography http://www.bwbasement.com/ Forest ster 83 54-57 Mill Mead Road N17 9QU Haringey - shared Woodwork n/a 58 Double Negative Dark- E5 0JE Hackney 2009 open Photography http://dndr.org.uk/ room 84 Harlesden Station Work- NW10 Brent - shared Woodwork n/a 59 Fotofusion SW9 8LA Lambeth 1979/ open Photography http://www.photofusion.org/ shops 1991 85 Hired Woodwork Space SW11 5HD Wand- - shared Woodwork http://www.hirewood- 60 Four Corners Film E2 0QN Tower 1974 open Photography http://www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk/ (HSS) sworth workspace.co.uk/index.cf- Hamlets m?sid=941&pid=13799 http://www.martingrierson.co.uk/ 61 North London Darkroom N17 9QU Haringey 2011 open Photography http://www.londondarkroom.com/ 86 Martin Grierson W3 7SR Ealing 1975 shared Woodwork index.htm 87 St James Workshop (The E17 7NW Waltham 2011 shared Woodwork http://www.cldarwent.co.uk/ 62 Photochats E9 6DF Hackney - open Photography http://www.chatspalace.co.uk/ photochats/ Oblique Workshops) Forest http://www.workshopeast.co.uk 63 Rachel’s Darkroom E17 Waltham 2008 other Photography http://rachelsdarkroom.co.uk/ 88 Workshop East E15 2QQ Newham 2013 shared Woodwork https://twitter.com/WorkshopEast Forest n/a 64 Rapid Eye EC2A 4QS Hackney 1996 open Photography http://www.rapideye.uk.com/ 89 Unit 19, Astbury SE15 2JR Southwark - shared Woodwork Business Park 65 Space Studios (Studio 10) E8 3RH Hackney - open Photography http://www.spacestudios.org.uk/ Darkroom archive-studios/victor-house-e8-studio-10-darkroom-facilities/ 66 The Camera Club SE11 4DS Lambeth 1885 open Photography http://thecameraclub.co.uk/ The above table is based on information available in August/September 2014.

Notes: 67 The Gate Darkroom SE14 6BL Lewisham 2010 open Photography https://thegatedarkroom.word- 1) Map ref: see main map on pages 18/19 press.com/ 2) Access type: See pages 9 & 15 for definitions of access type. 68 Zoom In SW9 6DE Lambeth - open Photography http://www.zoom-in.org/photography-courses.php 69 Art Hub Studios SE8 4SA + Lewisham/ 2014 open Printmaking http://www.arthub.org.uk/ SE18 5TF Greenwich 70 Artichoke Printmaking SW9 8RR Lambeth 1992 open Printmaking http://artichokeprintmaking.com/

71 Bainbridge Studios & SE27 0AR Lambeth 2008 open Printmaking http://www.bainbridgestudios. Gallery co.uk/ 72 East London Printmakers E8 3RH Hackney 1998 open Printmaking https://www.eastlondonprintmak- ers.co.uk/ 73 Inky Cuttlefish E17 6DS Waltham 2008 open Printmaking http://www.inky-cuttlefish.co.uk/ Forest 74 London Print Studio W10 4RE Westmin- 1974 open Printmaking http://www.londonprintstudio.org. ster uk/ 75 Peckham Print Studio SE15 4QL Southwark 2012 open Printmaking http://peckhamprintstudio.com/

122 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 123 List of Supplementary Data

(available separately) 1. Data Table Complete research data on audited spaces

2. Workshop Profile Sheets Survey data and photographs on the 22 profiled spaces

3. Running Costs Income and expenditure for case study workshops.

4. Workshop East startup costs

List of main woodwork equipment and other costs for Workshop East. Photo courtesy of Turning Earth

124 Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Pt 4 Conclusions & Recommendations Co-Making Spaces Study © Workshop East 125