The Workspace Group

Welcome to the Workspace Group

Workspace is a 'profit for purpose' social enterprise, founded in a small village in Mid Ulster (Draperstown) in 1985, by 170 members from the local community.

The organisation emerged as a direct response to local decline, deprivation, and rising unemployment.

The initial business model aimed to generate rental income from business units. This income was then used to fund the provision of free business advice to support local entrepreneurs to start up in business and create jobs in the area.

Workspace has grown significantly since its inception and, in addition to providing incubator units, has diversified its operations to include several commercial businesses (Homeseal Energy Savings Ltd, Network Personnel Ltd, ThermTech Ltd and MYM Recruitment Ltd).

These commercial businesses generate surpluses, which are then gifted back to the parent company, Workspace Draperstown Ltd, to enable Workspace to carry out its social mission.

The process of reinvesting surpluses enables Workspace to deliver projects and services and provide facilities to the Draperstown community, and surrounding areas, which would not otherwise be available without our intervention.

The services/projects include Sperrrin Foodbank, the Workspace Recreation Centre, Workspace After School Club, the Workspace Community Hub, free space for local community/voluntary organisations and the provision of community regeneration projects and social inclusion activities.

The Group now employs 100 staff, operates across 9 locations (5 in Northern Ireland, 3 in the Republic of Ireland, and 1 in England), generates an annual turnover of approximately £7.6 million, and holds net assets of c £9.5 million.

In addition to the activities we undertake as part of our social mission, our commercial enterprises all maintain a strong focus on people-centred, enterprise development, and environmental goals. These key areas include: