FOUNDRY officially opens in Poole

Meeting local need for high-quality co-working space, the long-awaited £3m scheme has opened its doors for more than 250 members in Poole town centre.

FOUNDRY, the best-in-class boutique co-working space, has opened its doors to members at The Dolphin in Poole, Dorset.

The £3 million shared workspace will be the new home for up to 250 members, with 80 of the county’s leading businesses already signed up. Ranging from a selection of recognisable brands of all sizes and sectors, plus some of the county’s business leaders, creative figureheads, and budding entrepreneurs. The confirmed line-up includes Aparo, Vault X , Poole Property Club and You Are The Media. 

Rented by the day, week or month, the brand-new co-working space offers boutique, flexible and affordable options for all sectors, including day passes and monthly memberships to accommodate businesses of all sizes, as well as individuals.

To bolster an already extensive offering, FOUNDRY is pleased to announce a collaboration with Dorset-based business, Podcast Labs. The local podcast production and marketing agency has set up its studio and is now permanently based in FOUNDRY Poole, with more details coming soon. Podcast Labs produces podcasts such as The UK’s number one Home and Garden Podcast, ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ with Sarah Raven and ‘Off Script’ by Ty Temel.

Adam Walker, co-founder of FOUNDRY, said: “Opening the doors to FOUNDRY in Poole really is a huge moment for us. FOUNDRY started as a passion project, born out of the need to create exciting, productive environments for people to work and build a local community.

“We’re extremely excited to open in Poole – the team has worked hard since last summer to ensure we open with purpose, to ensure we’re ready to welcome our hugely diverse list of members and brands. Being able to provide a vibrant, innovative space that brings together so many entrepreneurial and creative minds in Poole, and beyond, such as Aparo, Vault X and Poole Property Club, is only going to provide more opportunities for the community.”

FOUNDRY is a joint initiative between Adam Walker and owners of The Dolphin, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM).

The concept of FOUNDRY is to bring beautifully designed and curated spaces –what is traditionally considered an urban product – to areas that have previously been underserved in this space. FOUNDRY repositions the co-working offer; making it accessible for all, to support the growth of regional business and level-up local communities.

FOUNDRY has re-purposed Brownsea House, the long-time vacant and former 1960’s Jobcentre space in The Dolphin, above the bus station. At 20,000 ft over two floors, FOUNDRY is an exciting innovation workspace platform, embracing the needs of the Poole.

Representing a key strand of LGIM’s wider strategy to re-think and re-imagine the retail sector, the launch of FOUNDRY supports the diversification of The Dolphin. Commenting on the strategy to re-think retail, Denz Ibrahim, Head of Retail and Futuring at LGIM Real Assets, says: “There has been a cultural shift in how consumers are interacting with place – the transactional is no longer a priority, but rather the experience, functionality, productivity, and inclusivity of their town centres. To respond to this shift, it is imperative that we move beyond the traditional and transactional, looking to the future of ‘place’. By creating diversified environments and integrating key, local anchors, such as healthcare and educational spaces, we can deliver the successful places of today as well as tomorrow.”

Commenting on the launch of FOUNDRY in Poole, Greg Westover, Fund Head of Retail and Leisure at LGIM Real Assets, added: “We’re thrilled to be working with Adam to launch this new, dynamic facility in Poole. FOUNDRY complements our wider strategy for The Dolphin, where we are transforming the blueprint of what a successful shopping centre looks like today. Over the last two years we have delivered a variety of initiatives to diversify our offering, meet local need and rejuvenate Poole’s town centre – including the launch of the UK’s first ‘Think Big’ clinic in partnership with University Hospital’s Dorset and the NHS, as well as an Adult Education centre in partnership with the local council, supporting over 5,600 learners each year. We’re truly delighted to continue this journey with our partners, occupiers, and local people.”.

Walker added: “Supporting local businesses is at the heart of what we do, and it is important that we champion the creativity of Poole’s community within FOUNDRY’s four walls. We’re collaborating with Mathmos, the Poole-based inventor of Lava Lamps, to create a bespoke lighting feature in the space and members can also enjoy local products such as houseplants from Wild Roots, furnishing from Restored Retro and Jay & Co, and even Purbeck Cider for post-work drinks and events.” 

Members are invited to enjoy 24/7 access to desks, offices and the lounge at FOUNDRY Poole. Those looking for a creative, alternative space to the mundane working from home environment, hot desking at FOUNDRY is available starting at just £25 per day.

Ema and Esraa, the management team at FOUNDRY Poole, are currently planning a variety of events to take place throughout spring and summer, having hosted You Are The Media for its Creator Day on Thursday, April 27. Additionally, Poole Property Club hosted its launch party on the same day.

To register your interest, book a tour, or to find out more information about FOUNDRY Poole, please visit www.foundryuk.com.