New community-focused enterprise and innovation hub opens in Twickenham

Twickenham’s new neighbourhood workspace, Patch, was officially opened last week by Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council and Chair of the South London Partnership.

Gareth said: “In our 2022 manifesto, we promised residents that we would deliver an affordable shared workspace in Twickenham. I am delighted to see Patch Twickenham open for business in the heart of the town centre. It’s already buzzing, with a new café provided by local business Café Arora, and it’s been great to see people using Patch as a permanent office space for their small business, as well as those dropping in for meetings or simply for a change of scene.

“The Council supports Patch’s ethos of using community and enterprise to bring new life to our high streets and supporting the trend for working near home. We are committed to the future of Twickenham, with long-term development plans to make it a vibrant and inclusive centre for residents, businesses and entrepreneurs. Alongside the Twickenham Riverside redevelopment, this enterprise and innovation hub will bring new job opportunities and innovation to the high street and will be a great community asset for many years to come. We look forward to welcoming businesses, entrepreneurs and residents from across our borough and beyond to Patch, and to Twickenham.”

Patch is located at 42 York Street, a Council-owned building which was originally the headquarters of the South Eastern Electricity Board and most recently home to Achieving for Children. Patch has a public access space with a cafe on the ground floor, an events studio, a podcast studio, co-working desks and a number of private office spaces. The space will also be used to host a variety of events, from inspiring talks, to supper clubs, business workshops, networking events and crafts classes.

Freddie Fforde, Founder and CEO of Patch, said: “Where, when and how we work has changed. We call it the 'Work Near Home' era, and it's based on our belief that spending more time in our local community is key to creating happier societies, healthier high streets and greater opportunities for all. It’s about having a space to work, interact with others and feel productive - but also being close enough to do the school run, go for lunch locally and interact with and discover other local businesses. Patch customers tell us one of their favourite aspects of our venues is the lack of commute, sense of local community and better work life balance.”

The project is part funded by BIG South London, a programme led by the South London Partnership (SLP), that supports innovation-led economic growth by helping local businesses to grow and improve their productivity through support from and engagement with South London universities and further education colleges. BIG South London, supported by Richmond Council’s Economic Development Office, successfully bid for London-wide funding to support seven innovation and start-up hubs across the SLP boroughs.

Memberships fees will start at £24 a month and there is a range of offers to cater for different needs – from hot desking to permanent offices. Patch also plans to give scholarships to local students to give them access to the workspace and foster partnerships with local universities and colleges.