There is no denying that since setting the BEC up as a CIC in early 2016 we have been on a journey of development and discovery as we navigate the world of workspace and wraparound support for businesses and start-ups. We are successful in what we do the statistics and stories speak for themselves.
By 2018 we had acquired two buildings and then we had a great idea to bid for a new space being built in Barking Town Centre stone’s throw from our flagship iconic building. We knew what we wanted to do with the space. We wanted to bring to the town centre the first of its kind creator economy workspace to the area which is becoming a creative hub for film, culture and arts using our social enterprise values of authenticity, affordability, and support. To get the space we had to bid this was new to us, but we did it, and we were announced as the provider. Let me stop you their folks I stupidly thought that was the difficult bit, I was oh so wrong. This space our first of its kind was shell and core, and if you are unsure what that means it means empty, no kitchen, no bathrooms, no floor, no furniture just concrete lots and lots of concrete.
We entered a world we knew nothing about, architects, quantity surveyors, design team meetings where every minor detail had to be explained to me as I am not from the world of construction, but our brilliant architects Assemble, and Iain our Quantity Surveyor made it so easy. I learnt so much! Would I do it again…. absolutely but not this year 😊
After getting the space there was a bit of a crisis not just at the BEC but worldwide and the pandemic stopped play in the space for almost two years. I used to take the keys and check the building dreaming of the day that we could finally start construction and looking at the images Assemble had sent picturing the completion.
We finally got to construction and then it got interesting there were delays not just coming out of the pandemic, but the rising price of raw materials and waiting for things to arrive but we were excited to see it taking shape.
However, its finished, it has furniture it has toilets, a shower, meeting spaces and a feel that I cannot quite explain, industrial meets futuristic and we are dead proud of it. I am not going to lie the next bit was the most complex, we train businesses in this, but we were really struggling with the brand, what should the logo be, what are the key messages and how do we even do this. I met Bernie J Mitchell well known on the coworking circuit in various guises, he was incredibly helpful and engaging.
He introduced me to Innocomm who, despite being in another country, got the concept and me straight away. What they did for us gave us focus, context and purpose and a brand we are proud of now and will be so for many years to come. I went to a couple of events for the coworking community.
Now this is where it gets interesting, I had a real crisis of confidence on a visual front I felt like this was not the community for me and how could I be the face of this space given my advancing age.
However, I was made to feel welcome, and I learnt a lot, I realise that I can do this and as our baby is finally ready, I am excited to share the space with the creator community.
I know it will be a challenge, hybrid working post pandemic, a huge rise in the cost of living and a more crowded market from when we started but I have faith in the product we have. After several attempts we have found the right people to support the brand development and we are excited to launch Three Sixty Workrooms to the market in late June/early July.
If you would like a sneaky peak then do let us know, and if you are looking to make Barking your base with excellent transport links by train just 16 minutes and river (fancy get us with the Uber boat) to central London. Then there is an opportunity to one of our first 20 founding members for just £99 a month.
We would love to see you even if its just a cheeky peak!