Southport BID feature by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
A business owner and networking leader has spoken of the benefits of working at Southport’s first ever co-working space.
Victoria Jones, the founder of Pegasus Health and the Group Director of Real5 Networking Southport and Formby, moved into Werksy in January and loves being based there.
There are exciting possibilities for the space, which is located in West Street in Southport town centre.
Owners Rick and Sarah Blaney have been supported by Southport BID since they established their venture, recognising a growing need for people in the area wanting somewhere they could work from in a way to suit them alongside other business people.
One of the founding members is Victoria Jones.
She said: “Before I moved into Werksy, I was working from home and hot desking from client offices.
“I thought it was a good time to make a few changes and when Werksy opened it was the perfect opportunity.
“When I first came to look around it was during an opening evening, and it was still under construction. I thought it was perfect.
“It’s a very bright space, there’s lots of light; the views looking from the window towards the coast are lovely.
“It has been great to establish myself in a space with other like-minded business owners, and employees who have been given spaces here by the firms they work for.
“It’s a great way of getting to know other business owners and to build relationships.
“It’s a really good support network and a lovely atmosphere to work in.
“This suits our business, and others too. There is a real mix, with people working in recruitment, in procurement, and other sectors. People here are generally around 20-45 so it is a fairly young demographic. It’s great for new start-ups.
“There is a secure mail postbox downstairs and it is good having a different office address to your home.
“Because the office is so well situated and it’s such a lovely facility, it’s an excellent place to bring clients.
“Werksy has flexible deals depending on what size of space you need and how often you need to come in.
“It’s a very secure office.
“The owners, Rick and Sarah, have been brilliant, very supportive and there when we need them.
“Werksy is in such a busy location, in a brilliant spot in Southport town centre.
“We are just a short walk from Lord Street, with lots of places to grab a coffee, enjoy some lunch or do some shopping. I have been going to places like The Grand or Occulo Lounge and others, there is so much choice.
“On the other side we have the beautiful Marine Lake and King’s Gardens, which is a fabulous place to go out for a walk.
“I am really looking forward to the new restaurant and bar moving in downstairs later this year, which will make a really big difference.
“When it opens it will become a real social hub where we can meet clients, go and enjoy something to eat, or go somewhere after work.”
Victoria is an expert in health and wellbeing in the workplace.
She’s a big believer that health plans and private health insurance aren’t just for ‘big business’ any more and the need to break down the barriers of entry to care has never been greater.
By putting health and wellbeing at the heart of every business we work with, we can help create more successful, happier, and healthier workplaces.
With a healthcare system that struggles to cope with our every-day and ever-changing needs, employees aren’t just looking at their job’s salary anymore, they want the full package. They want to see what workplaces can offer them to enrich their lives and assist their work / life balance.
At Pegasus Health, you can expect a dedicated partner committed to your organisation’s success and the wellbeing of your employees.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend among big firms requiring employees to work from home, or work remotely. It’s a situation that doesn’t suit everyone, all of the time.
Victoria said: “When I was working from home all the time, I felt that my own mental health was deteriorating. There is a lot of pressure working from home, and it doesn’t always work for everyone.
“My day to day job is working with employers. The challenge has been getting people able to adapt well to remote or hybrid working.
“Some people do suffer from their mental health when they are working from home.”
Southport has a lot to offer when working remotely too.
Victoria said: “When you are travelling into a big city for work every day, the commute can be too much, in terms of time, the huge costs, and the stress involved.
“Sometimes you need that place outside of home that’s not too far away where you can just call in when you need to.
“I can really see the benefits of having a good quality office outside your home.
“I am established at Werksy now. Everyone knows I am here. There is a real community feeling being here.
“It is a really nice environment to be in, away from home; central; in a brilliant location; where you can make greatest connections with people.
“It is a beautiful, sophisticated, place to work from, and I love it.”
Werksy provides space across three floors and offers: private offices; dedicated desks; hot desks; meeting rooms.; and hire-by-hour for podcasts.
All inclusive membership packages cater to various needs, from £65 plus VAT per month for part-time lounge access to £210 plus VAT for a dedicated desk with lockable storage.
For scaling enterprises, it offers exclusive private office spaces.
The beautiful new co-working space is suitable for sole traders, small businesses, project teams and others.
The new facility is suitable for a variety of users, from those looking for an escape from squeezing onto a table at home to small companies looking to upscale.
There is an open plan office on the second floor of the building where workers can co-work alongside other professionals, while the mezzanine third floor hosts offices which can accommodate small firms. There is a meeting room that members or external users can utilise.
There is space for more small firms on the top floor.
Werksy co-owners Rick and Sarah Blaney said: “We desperately need somewhere like Werksy here in Southport and lots of people have been in touch.
“It’s great for working, for networking, for working alongside other professionals instead of being sat inside the dining room at home.
“Werksy is a very flexible space. People can come in here full time, or they can hot desk and drop in, they can come in and be part of a community.”
Werksy has been developed by successful local business owners Rick and Sarah Blaney, who have run the award-winning Stamford rooms and self catering apartments for the past six years.
Rick and sarah said: “Hopefully we can create a collaborative business hub where you can come in, enjoy some peace from the kids or the pets, and spend some time working alongside some like-minded entrepreneurs in a professional and friendly environment.”
- For more details about Werksy visit: werksy.co
- For more details about Pegasus Health visit: www.pegasusbenefits.co.uk
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
