Business / Group of small businesses on a ‘mission’ to provide a home for creative and wellbeing sector
THE FORMER Hjaltland Housing Association offices in Lerwick are set to enjoy a new lease of life as a home for small businesses involved in the creative and wellbeing sector.
The Mission, a name which nods to the building’s former use as the local office of the Fishermen’s Mission, will have its first businesses move in at the beginning of July.
The team behind the project is keen to hear from small businesses involved in the creative and wellbeing sectors interested in leasing a room or booking multi-use space.
The Mission is the brainchild of Caroline Leask, of Counselling and Play Therapy Shetland, and make-up artist Babs Clubb.
They are also joined by Keiba Film’s Keiba Clubb and Ben Laurenson of BML Accounts.
Babs Clubb said the key aim was to help local businesses looking for a more formal space so that they can work individually and collaboratively with one overarching focus – to promote the values of creativity and wellness within Shetland.
“We hope to empower and support this creative small businesses community so they can grow and thrive,” she added. “To engage people in positive sociable activities from a wide range of small business and practitioners.”
Clubb and Leask currently work in the same building and they were looking for a large space together to pave the way for their businesses to expand.
With Hjaltland Housing Association looking for someone to lease their office on Harbour Street after moving to the North Ness Business Park, the Mission plans quickly came to life.
“We shall begin moving our own business in from the beginning of July and hope that in the following weeks the other small business will be joining us,” Clubb said.
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“The large multi-use space is currently undergoing some refurbishments and will also be ready from early July.
“We are currently doing some small adjustments to the communal areas to create an open and welcoming space where people can meet and connect.”
Clubb added that the team are looking for small business who operate in the creative and wellness sectors to get in touch.
“We have a larger multi-use space to book per hour/session,” she added.
“So anyone who would like to offer classes, workshops or activities and could make use of our new space we really want to hear from you.”
Clubb said there are five spaces up for longer term rental which can now be viewed.
She said the team has been “blown away by the interest and responses so far”.
“It’s been a lot of work so far just to get to this point so we are all really excited and looking forward to moving in to our new spaces and welcoming lots of like-minded people to create new collaborations,” the business owner said.
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