BCHA’s social enterprise TheNewLeafCompany has welcomed a new client and doubled conference bookings at its Poole-based business and conferencing hub, The Factory.
Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) a charity which offers financial assistance to families fighting cancer, moved into The Factory in Alder Hills, in mid-February.
DCCF joins existing businesses at The Factory: Microaces, Cypher IT, the National Youth Advocacy Service, Ateca Consulting, Old Bakery Photography, The Dorset Scrapstore and Cocobolo Furnishings.
Nikki Davies-Thomas Administrator/Head of Fundraising for DCCF said: “DCCF is growing and helping even more people every year, so we desperately needed our own premises. But commercial rents in Poole are very high and a traditional office let would have taken a large chunk of funding directly away from the families we are trying to help.
“Everything about The Factory appealed to us. The rents are extremely competitive and the team has gone out of their way to accommodate us – creating an adaptable work space, with free parking, a free to use break out space selling coffee, discounted meals and also affordable conference space if we need it.”
Nikki continued: “Co-working is also extremely well-suited to us. It’s forward-thinking and there is a fantastic atmosphere and sense of purpose amongst all the varied businesses here, helping us as a charity to connect with others and ultimately spread the word about our work.
“We needed some additional storage space so The Factory arranged for one of their licensees – Cocobolo, a soft furnishings supplier, to provide us with a curtained off area for this purpose which bowled us over.”
In addition to offering a premises to businesses, the co-working hub has created 14 jobs since 2015 and supported 200 more people into education, work or training.
Its conference business has also doubled in the last 12 months.
Wendy Holden, who jointly manages The Factory, said: “We are thrilled to welcome DCCF.
“The past year has been very encouraging for The Factory, both in terms of new businesses joining us and our growing number of conference clients.
“People appreciate our flexibility as a venue and our genuine wish to help businesses grow and flourish.
“In the coming months we will be investing in further improvements to The Factory, including more conference space.
“We hope this will attract even more business and enable more investment to be put back into helping BCHA serve its customers with more housing and support.”
