Award-winning Derbyshire coworking space goes from strength to strength

The town’s first and only coworking space, it has this year added new awards with success in the SME News East Midlands Enterprise Awards and the Independent Business Awards run by digital magazine The Business Concept. It was also named Coworking Space of the Year – UK in the Corporate Global Livewire Global Awards, adding to its previous Small Biz 100 award through Small Business Saturday.

Founder Jen Lowthrop is proud of the community she has built - including small business owners, freelancers, entrepreneurs and ‘digital nomads’ – in her hometown.

As well as providing a strong regional base, Coworking Corner also welcomes people travelling for business from elsewhere in the country. It has even hosted professionals needing to work while on holiday in the Peak District.

Jen says: “I created Coworking Corner because I got lonely working in my bedroom after my freelance work went largely online during Covid. I wanted to meet like-minded people and create a friendly space where people could make new friends and have fun in a productive work space.

“Coworking Corner has become a real community. Some people come to be around others; some are new to the area and want to make friends and new business connections.

“It’s so much more than just a desk for the day. We are a community where you can get support for your work, a friendly ear to chat through ideas or problems and to celebrate work wins.

Jen offers home-baked cookies, tea, coffee and other snacks for co-workers, alongside speedy wifi, large desks, comfy chairs and a private space for meetings and calls. There is a library of business, creativity and wellbeing books and magazines to browse and some to borrow.

A particularly popular member of the team is office dog, @peakdistrictcookie, available for snuggles on the bad days or just a break time hug, improving work wellbeing.

Charlotte P from Cancer Support UK adds: “To me, Coworking Corner is special among coworking spaces in that it manages to retain a homely, local feel while still offering a professional environment. Everyone is always made to feel welcome and you quickly start to feel like part of a community. I always know I’ll be able to achieve a good day’s work there, along with some lovely company and cookies!”

Leadership Parenting coach Uzondu Ochu, says: “Working remotely can get lonely and I missed the small social interactions. It's nice to be able to have a chat with real people while making tea and to have co-workers to enjoy events such as a bbq or Christmas get-together with.

“It offers a desk to focus on work, away from the other chores or distractions such as a new pile of books!”

The Coworking Corner building, at Bank Road, Matlock, has a business history dating back more than 140 years. It has previously served the community as a hairdressers, an accountants, a fish and chip shop and a dress shop.

Now, as we adapt to new ways of working, it is meeting modern business needs with ever-increasing success.