We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Claire Tucker, co-founder with her husband of HomeWork Workspace as part of our In collaboration With. Claire reveals what it was like to step away from the finance world of corporate meetings, structure and stability into entrepreneurship. We shared Claire’s journey and the challenges she met, as well as the success.
Why the world of finance was not enough…
Like many of us, our journey starts in our early years; whether that’s through university or life experiences that open our minds to different doors.
For Claire, her journey started when she took an undergraduate scheme at PwC (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) as an accountant. She doesn’t deny that her time in Canary Wharf with PwC and other banks after graduating weren’t invaluable; they were. Her years in Sydney, Australia as finance manager for an investment bank may well have been the pinnacle of her career. But not only did the role bring her back to PwC in London, it also reaffirmed that the world of finance was not enough and it wasn’t her lifetime goal.
“I always wanted my own business and always wanted to become an entrepreneur. So, I used this experience as a stepping stone to starting my own business.”
Claire Tucker
A partnership in more than just life…
Claire’s husband, who also once worked at PwC, not only shared a mutual knowledge and expertise about banking and the corporate world with her, he also shared her passion for entrepreneurship.
Over time, they started to see a growing trend in the workspace – co-working – but they took it one step further. They wanted to make co-working more local, more accessible to everyone that needed somewhere to work and, of course, more affordable. So, that’s what they did. They, as Claire puts it, “scraped some money together” and created their first HomeWork Workspace environment in Putney, London.
A finger on the pulse…
One of the biggest advantages to their success is their familiarity with the corporate world. They knew exactly what people were looking for, so they put all their thought into designing a space they knew would be popular with the British workforce.
This meant creating a space for different types of uses, such as a combination of open plan desks with private offices and meeting rooms. But it needed to be in a relaxing, enjoyable environment and what better way to do this than adding the essential coffee shop!
The pair didn’t forget the little things that we want either and with the help of feedback from their community, office chairs were added to the desk and workspace while the coffee shop got armchairs and sofas. There’s even a wellness space, too, that looks after your health and that of others. Where else are you going to get a more comfortable workspace experience?
Entrepreneurship is not without its challenges!
Claire was well aware of the many challenges they were likely to face starting up a business. Indeed, at times every day seemed to throw up new hurdles to overcome – some of which were a bit of a curveball! – but rather than let them take over, she used them as fuel to drive her ambitions further.
“Essentially, you will be facing challenges every day, multiple times a day, but having your own business is much more than just having a good idea or being really good at something, which is a skill you need to learn.”
Claire Tucker
Despite the challenges and struggles they faced, and still face, nothing is more rewarding than having the opportunity to fuel her passion, live their dream and be creative in building a like-minded community! For Claire…
“The two biggest things for me are providing a workplace for smaller businesses to grow and incubate, and my team. My team is wonderful and we’re very close, to which our culture is kindness and support!”
Claire Tucker
HomeWork Workspace gives everyone the opportunity to grow and progress, which is why Claire is so passionate about providing her community with a place of support and structure to help small businesses, and entrepreneurs like herself, succeed!Find out more about Claire’s journey and HomeSpace Workspace by listening to our full In Conversation With Claire.
