Call-out for operators of a makerspace and community kitchen

12 May 2016

Written by: Future Brixton

Better Lambeth - Focus on Brixton - Jobs and skills

LJ:Works is an exciting new affordable workspace project in Loughborough Junction, Lambeth. We’re looking for two new operators to form a commercial makerspace and a community kitchen.

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Call-out for operators of a makerspace and community kitchen

Meanwhile Space CIC and Lambeth Council are delighted to call-out for operators to form a food business incubator/community kitchen and makerspace. This is a fantastic opportunity to join LJ:Works – an affordable workspace in Loughborough Junction – and influence the design of the new project.

The Loughborough Junction site is located within two minutes’ walk from the train station, is served by a number of bus routes and is 15 minutes’ walk from Brixton Underground station.

Some initial design concepts demonstrate the broad potential for the new site, located between Styles Gardens and Rathgar Road. The proposed workspace campus will house a mix of office, studio and co-working spaces. It will secure the future of Loughborough Farm, a community food growing project currently operating from the site.  It will also provide a significant opportunity to increase employment, whilst enhancing Loughborough Junction’s sense of identity.

This project is being developed in partnership with the local community and funding from the GLA’s London Regeneration Fund (LRF). The council will commit the land to the project for 20 years and work with Meanwhile Space CIC and project partners. Together we will equip local residents and groups with the skills needed to manage the space with a view to handing over full responsibility of the site to a community led organisation.

The opportunity

We’re looking for two operators to run two key areas of the project:

Commercial makerspace

The commercial makerspace will provide affordable space for individuals, start-ups and SMEs operating as a business, as opposed to more traditional hobbyist spaces. The flexible workspaces and equipment will allow for a range of production activities to operate.

Food business incubator and community kitchen space

The food business incubator/community kitchen will provide affordable and flexible space for food production and catering businesses. It’s envisaged this will be formed of a mix of individuals, start-ups and SMEs.

As the project is about to enter the design phase – we’re looking to fill these spaces quickly so operators can influence the shell and core layout. Operators will be will be responsible for the fit-out.

Submissions

Further information is supplied in the supplementary bid document and the clarifications and additions document.

Find out more about the space, evaluation and selection criteria and other considerations.

Submit your proposal here before 5pm on Monday 27 June 2016.

We’ll keep you up to date with the project as it develops via the Love Lambeth blog.