FC Designer Workspace: Social Value Impact Report

On 28th July Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) was invited to the launch of the Social Value Impact report for the affordable workspaces in Islington. The event was a celebration of the impact of £1.24m of social value delivered from the programme to date, as well as to introduce the latest affordable workspace TownSq: Islington and to hear from a few of the success stories. 

FEL has two operational workspaces with the programme. The FC Designer Collective shop on Fonthill Road which opened in 2019, and the FC Designer Workspace which launched September 2021. Since launching £230,886 has been generated in social value output. This has included 5 jobs created, 45 Islington residents receiving training, 10 local designers renting studio space and over 17 events to promote the space and the designers. 

At the launch Joyce Ogunade, Head of Affordable Workspace, introduced the new councillor Lead Member for Inclusive Economy and Jobs Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford who spoke about the workspaces bringing local businesses together in new workspaces to create a thriving local economy for Islington with job creation and business support generating social value for the local communities. 

In addition, Tricia Blake founder of Diva Choice spoke about the opportunities, the retail shop and workspace has given her brand throughout COVID and beyond, and the latest workspace TownSq: Islington introduced their space.

 
It was a fantastic celebration of the achievements so far. Click here for the Affordable Workspace Social Value Report. 

Jenny Holloway, CEO commented: “This has been an inspiring program and converting a disused car park to a state-of-the-art workspace for fashion designers and creatives has been one of the most innovative programs we’ve ever worked on. 

The opening of the Fonthill fashion retail shop has also been an exciting journey and of course this had delays because of covid but it’s created that circular fashion economy that’s needed. I’d really like to acknowledge Jennifer Sutton here our amazing Development Director that has been the lead on these two innovative initiatives 

Now that Covid is behind us it’s time to start looking at job creation and making all these businesses work in Islington. This is now a new forward-thinking phase which needs genuine collaborations with all designers 

We are really looking forward to a new strategic way ahead working with all the tenants – exciting times.”