Creative space for Scotland's charities and enterprises
Scotland’s first co-working space is opening the doors of its new third sector hub to support changed working as the country sets out its recovery from the pandemic.
The Melting Pot, based in Edinburgh’s city centre, will officially open the hub today (4 May) and is set up to host charities, social businesses, social innovators, campaigners and freelancers that are leading Scotland's recovery.
The new three-floored facility, delivered in partnership with Foundation Scotland, offers the opportunity to escape the monotony of homeworking and instead work, learn, connect and collaborate with others in a safe environment with all needs catered for.
Claire Carpenter, Melting Pot founder and CEO, said: “We are thrilled to be opening the doors of The Melting Pot’s new home in Edinburgh’s city centre, we can’t wait to see our community putting it to good use. The team and I have been working hard to get everything ready. The new desks are set up, the social spaces are comfy, the wifi is strong, the tea and coffee all well stocked and even the printers are working! Everything is COVID safe; we have taken care of it all.
“Forced remote working has been a double-edged sword. On one hand it quickly introduced people to the benefits of working flexibly - we have all proved that we do not need to be tied to the same desk 9-5. The pandemic accelerated access to remote working and the positives that accompany it.
“Full-time working from home has had a detrimental impact on our mental health; we have missed our usual social connections, felt frustrated at living and working within the same four walls, it has reduced opportunities for collaboration, and this has all had a negative impact on our motivation. Our communities have suffered.
“However, there’s no need for us all to return to the rigid traditional structure as we move out of the crisis. What we do at the Melting Pot is offer people the opportunity to mix it up, to get the best of both worlds.
Organisations, colleagues and individuals can hire spaces for a day or two a week - whatever suits them. They can come into our space to meet others, learn, connect and share, and then on other days choose to work from home.
“We offer a variety of affordable options that give members the opportunity to work from our space in a way which suits them best. We are encouraging anyone that is interested to visit our website and find out more. We still have spaces left, but they are filling up quickly. I look forward to seeing everyone in there together soon.”
In recognition of the growing demand for hybrid workspaces, The Melting Pot has ambitions to extend its support to communities beyond its Edinburgh hub.
It plans to create coworking hubs across the country to reinvigorate Scotland's workspace infrastructure and ultimately aid the recovery from the COVID crisis.
