How Smithfield Works

When I was asked to join the BID to deliver a positivity project for the city centre, my initial thinking was very much focused on the city centre as I understood it, the immediate streets that surround The Potteries centre seemed obvious. However, there is a new part of town that is generating increasing noise and playing an ever prominent role for enterprise in the city centre.

I arrived at Smithfield Works to meet Adele, Community Manager of Smithfield Works in somewhat of a rush after running late for our meeting and without giving lots of thought about what I would find. When you think of ‘business units and offices’ it’s easy to preconceive something fairly lifeless and corporate. I was quickly relieved of those notions.

Landing, puffing, in the central ‘hot desk’ and networking area I was immediately struck by the welcoming feel and collaborative atmosphere. Lots of people in and out of office units (all designed and altered to suit the needs of businesses), lots of seating options and a bright, light view of the city beyond. Adele was quickly able to share the informal and entrepreneurial vibe of the ‘Works’ with success stories that included new start ups, rapidly scaling businesses and the new lease signed with Barclays Corporate Banking team which marks a new chapter for Smithfield as a welcoming centre for business in the city. Barclay’s head of Barclays Mid-Corporate Banking for North Wales and the Shires, Tim Virgo says, ‘Smithfield Works has a real vibe about it, and we knew as soon as we walked in that it was the right place for us’.

Smithfield Works has recently celebrated its two years anniversary of being in the building and the impact is being felt across the city. Welcoming all types of business, Adele says, ‘we now welcome everyone from sole traders and creatives, through to global household names, proof that Smithfield really does have something for every kind of business’, Smithfield Works is also providing a catalyst effect for the area as it encourages networking events with tenant businesses, signposting for new and established enterprises and providing super stylish offices to welcome clients to.

Smithfield Works is also providing the space for innovation in the city. Tech and digital are key components for innovation strategies across the UK and is one of the area’s fastest growing sectors. PHP Stoke uses Smithfield works as its venue of choice for meeting and events, providing an innovative hub for developers and digital experts in the city. In addition to this, James Routledge of The Knot and Connections Networking are both regularly hosting networking events to provide businesses and organisations with the opportunity to learn, share and connect in the pursuit of new, positive and exciting chapters for the City Centre. Better still? Food and hospitality businesses are popping up in the vicinity too. Any great business is fuelled by great food and new outlets and regular pop-up businesses are feeding the business community in and around Smithfield, providing new opportunities and a definite lively vibe to this end of the centre.

And this leads to a really great innovation from the Works - a scheme to welcome and
spotlight neighbours. Neighbouring businesses to Smithfield Works are invited to become an official neighbour so that their business can be featured on the Smithfield app (for free!) in order to be introduced to new customers. The website states, ‘Smithfield Works is an innovative co-working space with a large local community.  We want to work with neighbouring businesses to make and maintain a creative community that will be a benefit to everyone. One way we do this is by introducing our community members to nearby business through offers & giveaways.  Basically, you tell us about your business and we’ll introduce you to new customers’.

To find out more about Smithfield Works and how it is supporting the city centre to be a business hub that shines bright, head to:
Website: https://smithfield-works.com/
Workspace information: https://smithfield-works.com/workspaces/
Neighbour Scheme: https://smithfield-works.com/neighbours/become-a-neighbour/