Buxton coworking community CoCo celebrates official launch after successful summer opening
“We always believed there was a need for a space like this in Buxton”
Buxton coworking community CoCo is preparing to celebrate its official launch after welcoming almost 150 people through its doors during a successful summer soft opening.
CoCo (The Coworking Collective) opened the doors to its new home upstairs at 7 Terrace Road in August, inviting local remote workers, freelancers and business owners to use the space free of charge while the finishing touches were completed.
Since then, 147 different people have tried the space, with 283 coworking bookings completed during the soft launch period.
Now, CoCo is preparing to officially open its doors, with a launch celebration taking place at The Source, 7 Terrace Road, on Friday 4th September from 4pm-7pm.
The event will be a joint celebration for CoCo and Helping Out the High Peak, a new community initiative connecting local businesses with opportunities to support voluntary and community organisations across the High Peak.
Local people are invited to attend the event, enjoy drinks and refreshments, and find out more about both projects.
CoCo founder, Bethan Hewitt, said: “The response we've had during the soft launch has been incredible. We always believed there was a need for a space like this in Buxton, but seeing people come through the doors, work alongside one another, make connections and start to build a real community has been so special.”
More than simply a place to hire a desk, CoCo has been designed to offer a flexible environment for both focused work and connection, with coworking desks, private offices, meeting rooms, communal areas and a dedicated soundproof call pod for calls and online meetings.
The soft launch has also seen CoCo establish a programme of Lunch & Learn sessions led by local business owners and practitioners, covering topics including customer experience, communication, movement, rest and wellbeing. Speakers have included local rest guide, Sam Fillingham, wellbeing practitioner Yvonne Ebdon, customer experience consultant Jenni Mackay, and creative therapist Jamie Ebdon.
Coco’s events programme is set to expand significantly following the official launch, with regular workshops, training sessions and peer-learning opportunities planned across a number of specialist areas, including AI, creativity, customer and people experience, finance, sales and marketing, and wellbeing.
A key part of the programme will be the new CoCo AI Hub, developed in partnership with local AI strategist and adviser John Farrell. Monthly skills-sharing sessions will give local professionals and business owners the opportunity to develop their understanding of AI, explore practical applications and share ideas and real-world use cases.
CoCo will also host an AI beginners drop-in session every other week, aimed at people who want to understand how AI could support their work or business but are unsure where to begin.
Local strategic facilitator for small businesses and startups Paul Harris will also lead a multi-week business strategy cohort for a small group of entrepreneurs.
Bethan added: “We want CoCo to become somewhere people can grow as well as work. There is so much knowledge and experience within the local business community, and we want to create opportunities for people to share that expertise, learn from one another and build their skills.”
Following the official launch, CoCo will offer a range of flexible ways to use the space, from half and full-day passes and meeting room hire to regular coworking memberships and dedicated desks.
Day passes start from £14 for a half day and £24 for a full day, while CoCo's community membership starts from £15 per month, providing access to Lunch & Learns, workshops, social and networking events, the member WhatsApp community and discounted coworking and meeting room rates.
Regular workspace access can then be added through a flexible coworking plan, unlimited community table membership or a dedicated desk.
Bethan said: “CoCo was always intended to be whatever people need it to be. For some, that might mean somewhere to work once or twice a month; for others, it might become their everyday office. Whatever brings people through the door, we hope they'll find a community here too.”
The joint CoCo and Helping Out the High Peak launch celebration takes place on Friday 4th September from 4pm to 7pm at The Source, 7 Terrace Road, Buxton and is open to all.
To make a booking or create a membership package, visit https://cocobuxton.optixapp.com/signup/plan-options