Foundry Workspace Officially Opens in Camborne

The first of ten projects funded by £23.7 million of Camborne Town Deal funding has officially been completed with the opening of Foundry – a state-of-the-art workspace in the heart of Camborne.

A Modern Workspace in a Historic Building

Foundry has transformed the old Boots building in Trelowarren Street into a modern workspace featuring coworking desks, meeting rooms, private studios, phone booths, a members’ kitchen and lounge, an event space and a courtyard garden.

Designed, developed and run by Forward, a workspace specialist that operates six other successful workspaces in the South West – including Pixel in Penzance – the development represents a total refurbishment of the once-dilapidated building.

Backed by Town Deal and Council Funding

The project received £1.5 million from the Camborne Town Deal and £0.6 million from Cornwall Council. It has also recently secured a further £100,000 from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support its renovation. This funding was allocated through Cornwall Council’s Town Regeneration and Investment Programme, part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme.

Local Leaders Celebrate the Opening

Val Dalley, Chair of the Camborne Town Deal board, said:
“By connecting people locally and enabling them to do business in an agile way, facilities like Foundry make a major contribution to town centre prosperity.

“The Forward team have restored a dilapidated former shop and transformed it into a modern-day wonder. It’s an amazing place and I’m delighted individuals and companies are already making use of the workspaces on offer.”

Gavin Eddy, CEO and founder of Forward, welcomed guests to the celebratory launch, which featured cocktails, sushi and a chance to try screen printing.

“We’re really excited to be the first of the Camborne Town Deal projects to be delivered,” he said. “Foundry is a stunning building and has firmly put Camborne on the map for state-of-the-art co-working facilities that support small businesses and independent workers.”

A Boost for the High Street

Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for economic regeneration and investment, Councillor Tim Dwelly, also attended the launch and praised the development’s significance.

“Foundry is a great example of what is needed to help bring vitality back to the high street,” he said. “It’s the future, and Camborne can be very proud of being one of the first towns in Cornwall to site a vital enterprise facility like this at its very heart. Cornwall Council completely back this project and I look forward to seeing the creativity and prosperity it inspires now it’s fully operational.”