Create affordable workspaces
Affordable workspaces are essential to the survival of independent businesses.
The East End Trades Guild Affordable Workspace Manifesto was developed through a democratic process led by its members, and with assistance from the New Economics Foundation. While written for London, where dramatic rent rises are squeezing out independent businesses, many of the measure are relevant to other cities struggling to maintain the diversity of their economic ecosystems.
They include:
A working rent for small businesses
We need a flexible formula of rental affordability for small and micro businesses.
Small business community land trust
A small business-led community land trust can provide genuinely affordable workspaces for small and micro businesses in perpetuity. CLTs are a viable long-term solution to the workspace crisis.
Landlords’ register
Create access to comparable rental evidence to support small businesses in keeping rents reasonable, and enable stronger more accountable relationships with commercial landlords.
Policy in practice
Projects that demonstrate the benefits or may be helped by polices like this.
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Sovereign Harbour
Threatened by corporate developers, a fishing community took control of their harbour. -
Isle of Ulva
Community campaigners buy their island. -
Save Latin Village
Small business owners are fighting plans to develop their north London home. -
Islington Community Wealth Building
Islington, with some of the richest and poorest residents in the country, aims to build a more democratic economy. -
Guardians of the Arches
Railway arch-based small businesses fight for affordable rents. -
The Exchange
This community arts centre has plans for workspaces, exhibition space and housing in neglected local buildings. -
East End Trades Guild
Alliance of 300 small businesses and independent traders takes on landlords and big business. -
North Ayrshire Community Wealth Building
Scotland’s first community wealth building strategy aims to spread prosperity in an area with historically high poverty rates. -
The Clipper
Local residents bought an empty pub and turned it into the city’s first community-owned market. -
Marine Dream Hub
Coastal hub brings together marginalised communities to make the most of their marine environment and boost their local economy.