Doors are open to new shared working space
THE doors are open to a new, hybrid working space at Carmarthen’s former Topshop and Miss Selfridge stores.
The neighbouring units at St Catherine’s Walk shopping precinct will provide co-working, trading and business advice for people in the town.
Topshop/topman and Miss Selfridge all closed in March last year after almost a decade of trading.
Behind the new scheme is one of Wales’s leading business support organisation and commercial landlords, Business in Focus.
It has launched the scheme called Shared Spaces to offer people a space to work, to build their business ideas and connect with the local community.
The space at the former shops hopes to offer something for everyone, including desk rental, meeting room hire, popup shop space and business advice and support.
The opportunity to rent desk space in a large, open-plan building could help on those days when the kitchen table doesn’t quite cut it, organisers said.
The space is suitable for office workers looking for a change of scene, small and micro business owners looking to connect with other entrepreneurs and those looking to reach out to other likeminded people in the area.
Shared Spaces Carmarthen has already welcomed its first tenant, Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub, who will use this space as an additional satellite location to their current setting in Canolfan S4C Yr Egin in College Road.
This will enable the hub team to extend their reach, allowing more people to access their free business support service.
Angharad Harding, Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub manager, said of the tenancy: “We held a test day with a selection of our co-workers last month and the feedback was very positive; the venue offers everything we need in a great location.
“We are really excited to expand our offering to more people in Carmarthen and are looking forward to welcoming lots of new faces to Shared Spaces.”
Business in Focus chief executive, Katy Chamberlain, said: “As we have been emerging from lockdown restrictions we have been listening to feedback following the pandemic and taking note of the new way that people in the community want to work.
“We have reacted by investing in Shared Spaces as a solution to hybrid working, a work space for remote workers to feel less secluded and most importantly the opportunity for local start-up businesses to take their products to market.”