A new initiative in Shrewsbury is helping small business owners tackle one of the biggest but least talked-about challenges of self-employment: isolation.

Whether at a kitchen table, in a spare room or from a corner of a local café, thousands of entrepreneurs, freelancers and sole traders run their businesses without colleagues to share ideas with, ask for advice or simply talk through the day’s challenges.

To help address this, the Shropshire Growth Hub has launched the Co-Work Hub in collaboration with Co-Founded, a flexible coworking space in the heart of Shrewsbury. The initiative provides a welcoming environment where early-stage founders and small business owners can work alongside others, build connections and access informal business support.

Unlike a networking event or formal workshop, the Co-Work Hub is designed as a genuine co-working session. Participants bring their own projects and work in a productive environment where conversations, collaboration and problem-solving happen naturally. For those who need it, an expert -in-residence is also available to provide light-touch guidance on topics such as marketing, grant funding, social media, innovation and business planning.

Members working alongside one another at Co-Founded in Shrewsbury

The Hub aims to create opportunities for business owners to learn from one another, share experiences and gain fresh perspectives while remaining focused on their own work.

Anna Sadler from the Shropshire Growth Hub said,

“Many people start a business because they are passionate about what they do, but it can be tough trying to do everything on your own. We believe the real value of the Co-Work Hub comes from being around people who understand the realities of self-employment.

The Co-Work Hub is about creating connections, building confidence and helping individuals and their businesses to flourish through sharing their experiences.”

Alex Burrows at ABCreative said,

“Working for yourself can be rewarding, but it can also be lonely. Being in an environment where you can swap ideas and ask questions has been hugely valuable. I’ve come away with new contacts, fresh perspectives and renewed motivation.”

Jon Ditchburn, Founder of Co-Founded said,

“Co-Founded was created to give founders and freelancers more than just a desk. Our aim is to create an environment where ideas are shared, partnerships are formed and businesses can access the connections they need to move forward. We’re delighted to be working with the Shropshire Growth Hub to make that experience accessible to more entrepreneurs across Shropshire.”

Find out more, book a place or apply to become an expert in residence. Places are limited and advance booking is required

Notes to Editors:

• The Co-Work Hub is open to start-ups, pre-start businesses, sole traders, creatives, freelancers and anyone developing a side project or growing a business. Sessions are delivered in collaboration with Co-Founded in Shrewsbury.
• Shropshire Growth Hub is the business support service within Invest in Shropshire at Shropshire Council. It provides information and support for businesses in the Shropshire Local Authority area. It runs an extensive yearly calendar of free events and webinars and offers advice on grants, loans, and assistance for companies of any size or sector, from start-ups to established enterprises.
• The main contract funding the work of the Shropshire Growth hub is the Marches Growth Hub (MGH) core funding through the Department for Business and Trade.