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Flexible workspace specialist x+why has joined forces with Grosvenor and The Westminster foundation to run and manage their new flexible workspace in the heart of London’s Victoria.
The new site, located at 8-10 Grosvenor Gardens, will be called Fivefields, and will launch in Autumn 2023. Designed specifically for charities and social impact organisations, it will be a world class flexible workspace and co-working community.
B Corp Certified, x+why will run and manage the new c.30,000 sq ft charity hub, bringing its innovative, playful and ergometric style as well as its curated programme of purpose related events and workshops including the exclusive Why B and Mission Lit Programmes.
Fivefields will be specifically aimed at charities and social impact organisations who improve outcomes for children and young people. The Westminster Foundation will offer grant funding for membership costs to a selected group of these charities to see them housed and supported in an ecosystem which will amplify and accelerate their outcomes. With a particular focus on inclusivity, accessibility, sustainability and wellbeing, Fivefields is designed to help member organisations have an even greater impact.
Members will be able to choose from partitioned office suites, dedicated open-plan desks or hot desks (or a combination of all three), as well as have access to breakout spaces and meeting facilities. The membership model will allow members to scale up or down according to their needs, providing considerably more flexibility than under a traditional lease. Other parts of the building will be a mixture of private offices and enterprise suites for the open market, prioritising those whose work is complementary to the charity hub occupants.
Rupert Dean, co-founder of x+why commented: “We are thrilled to partner with Grosvenor and the Westminster Foundation to design and operate this incredible building with such aspirational amenity. The combination of supporting Charities through Grant Funding from the Westminster Foundation and supporting them in a dedicated space focused on modern day working alongside businesses is really exciting. We are looking forward to seeing the collaboration and even greater impact that can be achieved.”
Grosvenor are developing the space into a state of the art, yet sustainable, workspace behind the original Victorian facade. Alongside amenities including bike parking, showers, and a meeting room suite complete with a twenty-person board room, there will be a library, several Mission Rooms, and a 90-person capacity event space on the lower ground floor to support collaboration, connection and learning.
The building is centred around a shared 2nd floor clubspace, the heart of the charity hub, which leads on to a South facing furnished terrace complete with planting a retractable awning. As in all of its spaces, x+why will curate a cultural and wellbeing programme of events including yoga, mindfulness activities, talks, panel discussions, workshops and social networking.
The project was initiated by the Duke of Westminster, Chair of Grosvenor Trustees and Chair of the Westminster Foundation, who saw the opportunity to combine Grosvenor’s significant property expertise and resources with the Westminster Foundation’s philanthropic leadership. The project embodies one of the Westminster Foundation’s core principles of bringing together like minded organisations to share ideas and build alongside each other for the greatest social impact.
The Duke of Westminster said: “So many brilliant charities and social impact organisations are working flat out to support vulnerable children and young people. We want to help by creating an inspiring workspace that will encourage collaboration, generate new ideas and facilitate the sharing of best practice or how to tackle issues together. I’m delighted we can combine Grosvenor’s resources, the Westminster Foundation’s convening experience in the charity sector and x+why’s leadership in flexible workspace to create this unique venue and community. I’m excited about its potential and can’t wait to see it develop.”
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