Female-only co-working space to close its doors

A co-working hub for female business owners, freelancers and remote workers is set to close after its owner said that rising fuel costs have made it no longer sustainable for the business to continue trading.

The Co-Working Club, based in Nottingham’s Lace Market, was set up as an online business in 2019, with its co-working hub on High Pavement opened in April by Jessica Berry as an answer to the loneliness some women felt when working from home. As well as providing flexible workspace, the venue also held regular events and broadcast podcasts.

Berry said: “It’s no secret that things have been incredibly tough since we opened back in April what with a cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills making it a very difficult time to launch and run a business – never mind a bricks and mortar business!

“We’ve battled through over the past ten months but when it came to making the decision to commit to my lease for another year I’m afraid that the uncertainty of rising energy bills and the stress of not knowing whether we’ll be able to afford them made my decision for me.

“Whilst we will still be open in January for a limited number of events and venue hire, I’m afraid that co-working will be coming to an end when we finish up for Christmas on Friday 16th December.

“Unfortunately it has reached a point where I simply can’t justify the cost of heating the space on days where we only have a few people in the space.

“It’s been a really difficult decision to come to after only one year of The Clubhouse but sadly I think it’s just a case of unfortunate timing.

“I mean who could have predicted after a global pandemic that we’d be hit with such another huge challenge to deal with?”

Berry says the Co-Working Club will be open as usual this Wednesday and Friday. She said she is also planning after-work drinks on Friday (December 16) to raise a toast to the business.