The Hearth is one of the very few women-only co-working spaces in the UK. This means that instead of just being a co-working space, this is a place where women come to connect with like-minded people and feel like there’s support there specifically for them.

“Our members value the women’s only space as a comfortable environment to work and be productive in – where women are heard and valued,” continued Oi Leng.

“We look holistically at women, The Hearth isn’t just about work, but about supporting the whole woman. We have a wellness practice on site, with different therapists who focus on women’s health and beauty. We also have a curated programme of events that support women through different stages in life.

“The Hearth’s purpose is to restore women to their power, enabling them to create a positive impact in their chosen spheres of influence. The Hearth provides space for women to focus on themselves, a supportive community, and the resources they need for personal growth.”

While some co-working spaces find their niche within different industries, or by the services they provide, The Hearth has found its niche by being a space for women, by women, with the mission to make them feel supported, no matter what industry they are working in.

The history of The Hearth

The Hearth is now in its fifth year, having opened its doors in late 2019. Founded by Oi Leng and Samira, the two entrepreneurs are childhood friends who experienced their youth, careers, motherhood, and the experience of entering mid-life together.

“The inspiration came from a personal need as women for a dedicated space, thoughtfully designed with them in mind,” Oi Leng mentioned.

Why do businesses and founders use The Hearth?

“As a women-only space, we create a safe, calm, and beautiful environment for women to connect. Women choose to work in our space over others as this is a space that understands their needs,” explained Oi Leng.

“On a practical level, the space has been designed to offer a calm, energising, and productive environment. Our members speak about the special ‘vibe’ that the Hearth creates for them, allowing them to unleash their creativity and productivity to the full.

“Our startups and entrepreneurs value the network that they become part of when they join – we love facilitating connections and collaborations between our members on both a formal and informal basis. Our members are able to tap into our extensive programme of events and a dedicated fortnightly ‘entrepreneurs circle’ where members are able to share their learnings and pain-points and support each other.”

As has already been mentioned, it’s not just the workspace that people come to The Hearth for, it’s the extensive support for members that has them coming back time after time. So, what are the other facilities The Hearth offers as a co-working space?

Oi Leng explained more about the space: “We have co-working space across two floors (the cosy, sociable Lounge bar and the light and airy quiet zone of the Library), we have a coffee bar, a pantry with refreshments, a wellness room offering holistic wellness and beauty treatments, a meeting room, phone booths, lockers, and printing facilities.

“Twice a week, we host a drop-in session called ‘Cake & Chat’ where members and their guests are encouraged to take a break, pull up at our sofas and get to know other members of the community. We provide the tea and cake…”

What’s the best part of running a workspace?

“As founder, it’s been really rewarding seeing the women in the space come to life as part of the community. We’ve had some phenomenal individuals achieve some incredible things across a really diverse spread of endeavours,” beamed Oi Leng. “Since we are more than just about work, it has been inspiring seeing how the community has come together to support one another. From celebrating each other's successes, to also empathetic support when women go through difficult life challenges.”

It seems that, for everyone involved, The Hearth feels like a part of them. Oi Leng and Samira founded the workspace from their personal needs and wants, and what they have created has become bigger than the two of them and has blossomed into a support community.

So, why does Oi Leng believe that The Hearth has been such a success?

“Our members tell us time and time again that there is something truly unique that happens at The Hearth.

“We’ve tried to think of everything so that our entrepreneurs don’t have to. From thoughtful design touches to the convenience of ordering coffee to your desk, we have learnt what our members value the most over time and provided the services that make things easier for them. The most powerful element of what we offer is the community – we have startups who have found mentors, suppliers, and collaborators through our network. Or who simply get a nugget of inspiration from someone in the same boat.”

What’s next for The Hearth?

The co-working space is already a success, with many members returning to use the space to work, as well as network and get support.

When it comes to the future, Oi Leng believes there’s more success and expansion to come: “We’re currently looking at additional locations to expand the Hearth beyond Queen’s Park. Our community continues to grow and we’re increasing the number of events, workshops, and circles that exist to support the diverse needs of our community. Watch this space!”

This article originally appeared in the May/June issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe