More than 200 of the city’s leading creatives, partners, tech start-ups and entrepreneurs attended the opening of Patch in the historic Bonding Warehouse in Skeldergate.
Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith was also there, along with the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Margaret Wells.
After a proclamation from York town crier Ben Fry, Freddie Fforde, Patch CEO and founder welcomed guest and spoke of his vision for the centre to be York’s leading location for start ups and small businesses.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Similarly, site director Tom Feeney spoke of in just a few weeks, the Bonding Warehouse is now supporting innovative new businesses. He also recalled its heritage, which included a nightclub and the HQ of tech firm Anaplan.
Thom said: “Patch is spearheading a work near home revolution to improve work day experiences which centre on nearness, belonging and balance in life – and it is this legacy that I’m striving to recreate in York.”
The interior of Patch (Image: Pic supplied)
The name Bonding Warehouse also reflected a desire to create a place not only of work, but of social events for the venue to ‘bond’ with the local community.
Thom continued: “We have the space, expertise and facilities to support anyone wanting to stage comedy nights, parent and toddler groups, wellness sessions, book signings, film screenings, craft workshops and more. This building doesn’t just belong to Patch, it’s part of the city.”
The event saw Patch work with local suppliers, including a Patch branded pale ale from a Patch cocktail from York Gin and canapes from Bishopthorpe Road’s Good Food Shop and sweat treats from Cosgriff & Sons, Sourdough.
The two-storey building features public spaces include multi-purpose event areas, well-equipped meeting rooms, and a state-of-the-art podcast studio, making it a dynamic venue for producing podcasts, organising workshop series or hosting startup summits.
A co-working membership approaching 150 features a host of freelancers, solopreneurs and business start-ups keen to establish a flexible base in the city.
Henry Allsuch, Co-founder and Software Developer at Boon & Moil, said: “As a small business owner who has worked from home for many years, it’s great to come to a place with a welcoming community, familiar faces and bustling atmosphere. The space has a variety of different environments, depending on my needs I’ll hop around and work wherever suits me in the moment.”
Henry is heading a new initiative in the city in partnership with Patch York and the City of York Council – A/B presents – which aims to unite its tech communities at the Bonding Warehouse with a series of weekly tech events.
Helen Reynolds of Ink Gardener Copywriting who supplies Google-friendly content and training for everything from B&Bs to cathedrals, said: “Patch has designed a next level co-working space.
“They’ve thought of everything, from second screens to ‘call booths’ for confidential meetings. As a teenager I aspired to live in The Bonding Warehouse, so experiencing its riverside view during my working day is a dream come true!”
York Creatives has announced that it will host its regular networking event at Patch on the first Friday of each month from 6:00-9:30pm, while PR experts, Linda Harrison and Jo Leatham, are set to stage a ‘Meet the Media’ speed networking event on 5th March. Weekly yoga sessions are being introduce for Patch members and the local community and plans are afoot for other wellness events.
For more details, email anna@patch.work or visit website www.patch.work/locations/york
