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Bath’s Creatives Press for Flexible Workspace

Bath’s creative community is one step closer to getting the flexible, multi-occupancy workspace it needs, thanks to lobbying by Creative Bath.

As more than 150 creative professionals sign up to Creative Bath’s workspace survey, the Council says it will prioritise creative workspace in its new Economic Strategy.

The 900 member-strong, Creative Bath networking group has been lobbying Bath & North East Somerset Council for such a workspace facility and has recently surveyed its members to determine their precise workspace needs.

158 people completed the questionnaire, two-thirds of whom said they would be looking for new premises within the next two years. The overwhelming majority (88%) said they were looking for a site in or around Bath’s city centre, with cost, location and the opportunity to be part of a creative community given as the three most important criteria.

Representing the sector’s interests at the recent launch of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Economic Strategy document, Creative Bath’s chair, Greg Ingham pressed the Council to confirm its commitment to delivering creative workspace as a high priority. John Betty, the Council’s Strategic Director for Development & Major Projects, stated that the provision of such space was an economic priority and that development options were already under consideration. However, any scheme will need to demonstrate a credible and viable business plan.

Bath already has limited office space available for creative businesses, with buildings such as The Dispensary and Circus Mews House renting desks on a monthly basis. But a larger facility, offering discounted space to one of the most important local economic groups, with flexible terms to accommodate the fluctuating flow of work, is something missing from Bath.

It’s feared the lack of workspace availability will hamper growth, giving Bath’s creative workforce no alternative but to decamp from the city centre, hitting the £800m the creative industries currently contribute to the local economy every year.

Greg Ingham says: "It's clear to all that creative businesses are a vital part of Bath's economy. Whether start-ups or successful companies, they need appropriate, city-centre space to grow and attract staff.

"So it's very encouraging that the Council is so strongly supportive of the case. We look forward to the next development."

Posted by:

EmmaChappel

Sector:

Digital

Tags:

creative-bath, survey, workspace