A beautiful new co-working space for sole traders, small businesses and project teams is opening soon in Southport town centre.
Werksy is due to open across three floors on West Street, above the Firepit restaurant and bar, with the ability to host up to 60 workers in a variety of spaces.
Owners Saran and Rick Blaney are aiming to open the doors once work is complete this December or January.
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.
The first floor above The Firepit can also be used for meetings and events.
Werksy in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The scheme is being developed by successful local business owners Rick and Sarah Blaney, who have run the award-winning Stamford self catering apartments for the past five years.
Werksy Director Sarah Blaney said:
“Werksy is a new co-working brand which is very much needed in Southport!
“We take pride in creating beautiful spaces where people can come and work alongside other local professionals.
“We have forged a good reputation at The Stamford for the quality of the environment we provide for guests to enjoy. We insist on high standards.
“Werksy is flexible, we don’t want to tie people into long contracts. All the bills are included.
“People can hot-desk or they can work on a more regular basis, with the ability to keep a monitor on a dedicated desk and have a lockable storage.
“Hopefully we can create a collaborative business hub where you can get away from the dining table, enjoy some peace from the kids or the pets, and come and spend some time working alongside some like-minded entrepreneurs in a professional and friendly environment.
Director Rick Blaney at Werksy in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“We are aiming to open this December or January, depending on how work goes.
“We are using a local building firm, Oakhurst, which is doing a superb job for us. Pete Tynan from Bro Design is creating all the signage for us. We are using local firms wherever we can.
“Having The Firepit restaurant and bar downstairs is excellent too, it is really complementary to what we are providing up here. People working can pop down for a drink or a meal.
“It is in an amazing location! It is right in the centre of town. We can secure nearby car parking for anyone who needs it, though it is also very close to Southport Train Station and to local bus routes.
“The views are stunning! The windows look out across towards the Promenade, Kings Gardens and Southport Pier.
“We are really pleased to be able to bring this beautiful building back to life.
Werksy in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“Restoring it has been a really painstaking task, but we wanted to get it just right.
“It has been used in the past as storage for Broadbents department store; as a jeans factory for Lonsdale; it has been empty and unused for the past few years.
“Rick and I spent a lifetime working in boring places in the corporate world before we set up our own local business with The Stamford.
“We have tried working on laptops in cafes, in hotel lobbies, where the Wi-Fi can be unpredictable, the chair you are sitting on is not fit for purpose and it can suddenly become very noisy or very busy.
“It can be very solitary running your own business, which is why somewhere like Werksy is perfect.
The view from Werksy in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“Post-Covid, there was an explosion of people starting up their own businesses, but there is nowhere suitable or convenient for all these people to go and work in Southport.
“We wanted to create something beautiful that offers flexibility for other local business people in the Southport area.
“We love small businesses. We run one ourselves and recognise the challenges that people face.
“We will offer people weekly rates, monthly rates, or full-time memberships.
“On our second floor we have an open plan space with desks and kitchen facilities.
Werksy in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“On our third floor we have a meeting room and dedicated offices with kitchen facilities, one of which can seat up to 16 people.
“We have a lift, shower facilities, disabled toilet facilities.
“Everybody will have access codes. Access can be 24/7 if people need it.”
The view from Werksy in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Werksy Director Rick Blaney said:
“As a location, Southport is bringing more and more people in. It is a brilliant place to live and work.
“Work is currently taking place on building the brand new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre, which is really exciting for the town. There is lots of investment coming in and lots happening. It’s a great time to be here.”.
- Visit: werksy.co
- You can follow Werksy on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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