Scotland’s first coworking space, The Melting Pot, has found a new much bigger home where charities, social businesses and freelancers will lead the recovery from the COVID crisis. 

The charity unveiled their new home in the centre of Edinburgh at a live virtual event following an exhaustive search for a new home. The new space will host double the previous capacity in response to the expected increase in demand for coworking spaces and hybrid working following the pandemic. 

The new space will be home to over 150 social businesses, charities and campaigners leading Scotland’s recovery. It will be delivered in partnership with Foundation Scotland, next to the city’s Waverley station.  

The Melting Pot’s Founder and CEO Claire Carpenter said:

Working from home has had a detrimental impact on many people’s health and well-being, as well as their work. We will provide a fit for purpose workspace for a world of work that has been permanently changed by the pandemic.

We will continue to respond to government measures as they are announced for as long as that is necessary. By May we expect to be able to open with comprehensive measures in place that will keep us safe as we connect in our community’s new home. 

The new space on Calton Road was previously home to the renowned nightclub “the venue”, then the Ingleby Gallery and was most recently Foundation Scotland’s Edinburgh office.  

Foundation Scotland will become one of its first new members and Chief Executive, Giles Ruck said:

 Since the first lockdown, we’ve become fully digital, with our staff working from home across Scotland. This virtual approach has worked well for us and we will build on this by adopting a new flexible approach, including a mix of home working and using a range of regional co-working hubs and meeting spaces.

The Rooftop New CIC is also based at The Melting Pot and will complete its move from Edinburgh’s Rose Street to the new premises by the summer.

Other socially conscious businesses, charities and campaigners that need a workspace that supports their work and contribution to the recovery effort can sign up to join The Melting Pot online: https://www.themeltingpotedinburgh.org.uk/