Scotland’s first coworking space, The Melting Pot, has left its central Edinburgh home of 13 years as it makes drastic moves to create the workplace infrastructure needed to accelerate Scotland’s social and economic recovery.
The Melting Pot opened the doors to Scotland’s first coworking space in 2007. Since then it has supported hundreds of coworking members and tens of thousands of event attendees. Over one hundred social entrepreneurs have participated in their incubation programme Good Ideas.
They left their Rose Street premises after 13 years at the end of October. Social distancing measures mean they need a much larger space to create a sustainable operating model.
The Virtual Pot is a digital coworking service developed in the weeks following lockdown. This will continue as a space for the community to connect while TMP looks for a new home.
The Melting Pot team are also leading a research project looking at the Future of the Workplace. This will consult individuals and organisations about Scotland’s recovery. Focusing on the role of social innovation and workspace. This work has been funded by Foundation Scotland’s Response Fund.
Founder and CEO of The Melting Pot Claire Carpenter said:
There are risks and challenges ahead. But coworking and social innovation have a big role to play in Scotland’s economic and social recovery. The Melting Pot is one of the world’s leading coworking experts and Scotland’s Centre for Social Innovation. We have to take bold steps to make sure we survive and continue to make a positive social impact.
The pandemic has changed the way we work. People don’t want to go back to the office, and why should they? Coworking offers a middle ground. Companies can save on operating costs while still offering their employees a workspace outside their home. It gives people flexible access to a community space that improves their well-being.
The coworking industry is still relatively new. It emerged as new technology allowed for remote working. The first coworking spaces were community driven. Focused on collaboration, professional development and reducing isolation. In the years that followed terms like hot desking became more mainstream and commercial coworking spaces began to open.
The Melting Pot is still championing this community focused approach. Their Coworking Accelerator has shared their methodology and with spaces around the world. They have worked with over 120 coworking businesses in 69 countries.
Christina Cran is the founder of Wee Seeds a Digital Toolbox for children’s mindfulness, meditation and movement. She commented:
As a past participant of the Good Ideas programme I value The Melting Pot deeply and without it wouldn’t be as far forward with the enterprise I am developing. I think that The Melting Pot provides an invaluable service to Scotland.
The Rooftop News CIC is also registered at The Melting Pot and will continue to operate normally while new premises are found.