News / Start-ups
A look inside the first Boxworks business
From the road outside it looks nothing more than a couple of redundant grey boxes. But inside the Boxworks offices, which have emerged from a puddle-filled car park to the side of Temple Meads, enterprise is coming alive.
Social Enterprise Works, a company which hopes to help demystify social enterprise, is the first business to have taken up residence inside the 20 newly-installed shipping containers – and the long and narrow, wooden-panelled room is certainly not your conventional office space.
Company director Karl Belizaire, however, says that he already loves it there, adding that the business seems very at home in its new base – despite having only moved in on Thursday.
There is hope there may be a mural or two painted on the rustic chipboard walls to brighten the place up a bit, but already the site has a warm and welcoming feel when I visit – partly thanks to there being two wooden swings at the far end of the office space.
The slight issue of not having a kettle at the moment is remedied by the opportunity to return to Engine Shed’s business lounge.
Karl admits he basically camped out in here for the past two weeks before moving in, seeing it as the perfect place for meetings with clients and other Engine Shed businesses.
Experts in social enterprise, his firm has worked with more than 100 social organisations in Bristol and the South West in the past year, giving free initial consultations to new businesses as well as conducting training events.
The business’ current aim is growth; a key reason why they wanted to be based on the Boxworks site. Karl believes that being surrounded by other businesses in a “hub” is perfect for Social Enterprise Works’ development. Where better to grow their business than in the business centre of growth in Bristol?
They plan to have their monthly surgery on the premise too, showing how a little creativity can change the unassuming exterior of the shipping container into a place fit for a multitude of business needs.
The Boxworks park may be mostly empty so far, but Karl said he has already had inquiries from passers-by, intrigued by the shipping containers, who have knocked on the door to ask what is going on.
When fellow businesses complete the move and the containers are full of 120 expected occupants, it is hoped that the site will be an extension of the successful Engine Shed next door.
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
