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Could affordable private workspace be delivered differently? Looking for feedback on a new social-enterprise idea
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Richard Leak Glife Posted 10 hours ago
Hi everyone,
I’m currently developing a social-enterprise concept called G-Life Business Village, starting with a proposed pilot in Bradford, and I’d really value some feedback from people working in charities, CICs, social enterprise and community development.
The idea started with a fairly simple problem: very small businesses and sole traders can often afford a coworking desk, but having their own genuinely private workspace can be considerably more expensive.
G-Life is exploring whether we can tackle that differently.
Rather than reducing the quality of the environment to make workspace affordable, the idea is to reduce the size of the individual private workspace while investing in the environment around it.
The proposed pilot would create small, individual business workspaces using repurposed structures, initially including touring and static caravans that would otherwise have limited future use. These would sit within small landscaped Clusters, which together form a Branch.
The longer-term ambition is much bigger than the structures themselves. A G-Life Business Village would combine private affordable workspace with green space, shared facilities, renewable energy, wellbeing-focused design and a community of independent businesses.
Our basic philosophy is:
WORK • CONNECT • GROW
and environmentally:
REUSE → REPURPOSE → RECYCLE → THEN CONSIDER NEW
At the moment, however, this is still very much at the validation and development stage. I’m deliberately trying to test the assumptions before committing significant money or asking others to support it.
I’d therefore particularly welcome thoughts from anyone with experience of CICs/social enterprises, community workspace, meanwhile use of land, environmental projects, business support, grant or social-investment funding, crowdfunding, planning/property, or running community facilities.
I’m interested in both the positives and the difficult questions. Does the underlying idea make sense? What problems can you see that I may have missed? Is there anything similar I should learn from? And are there organisations or people you think I should speak to?
I’m also interested in potential partners who might eventually be able to support a pilot through expertise, introductions, materials, land, equipment or other in-kind support. I'm not looking to make a hard funding pitch here — at this stage, good advice and constructive challenge are just as valuable.
I’m based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, and the intention is to prove the concept locally before considering whether it could be replicated elsewhere.
If anyone is interested, there’s more about the concept here:
I’d be very grateful for any thoughts, questions or suggestions.
Richard
G-Life Business Village
G-Life Business Village
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