From an idea discussed over coffee to a thriving coworking community, we reflect on our first six months in business, the challenges of getting started and why we’d do it all again.
It’s been just over six months since we opened the doors to Ely Work Collective. And what a six months it’s been.
For the latest episode of Made In Ely, we decided to do something a little different. After spending the past 28 episodes speaking to brilliant local business owners about their journeys, we thought it was about time we put ourselves in the hot seat.
So, for episode 29, we sat down together — James and Cathrine, co-founders of Ely Work Collective — to talk about what it’s really been like building a business from scratch.
Not just the exciting bits, the milestones or the lovely things you see on social media. But the setbacks, the uncertainty, the difficult decisions, the lessons we’ve learned and those moments when we’ve wondered what on earth we’ve got ourselves into.
Because, as we’ve discovered, starting a business is rarely straightforward.
It All Started With a Coffee (Or Several)
Like many business ideas, Ely Work Collective started with a problem we were experiencing ourselves.
We both wanted to start a business together, but one of the biggest frustrations we encountered in those early days was simply finding somewhere suitable to work.
Working from home could feel isolating. Traditional offices didn’t offer the environment we wanted. And while Ely has some fantastic independent cafés, there’s only so long you can occupy a table with your laptop before feeling obliged to order your sixth coffee.
We wanted somewhere that combined the relaxed atmosphere of a café with the facilities of a proper office. Somewhere productive, comfortable and welcoming, but without the formality or pressures that can come with a traditional workplace.
More importantly, we wanted somewhere people could connect.
A place where freelancers, remote workers and small business owners could share ideas, celebrate successes, discuss challenges and simply enjoy being around other people.
We weren’t entirely sure what it would look like, or even where it would be. But we knew it was something we wanted to create in Ely.
When we first announced the idea on social media, the response was overwhelming. People were telling us how much they needed something like it, how long they’d been looking for it and how excited they were about the possibility.
That was the moment we realised we might actually be onto something.
The Long Road to Opening
What we hadn’t quite anticipated was just how long it would take to turn that idea into reality.
From the beginning of the project to finally opening our doors, the journey took around a year.
There were delays, legal complications, difficult conversations and more than a few moments when we genuinely questioned whether we’d ever get there.
But looking back, some of those setbacks were probably a blessing in disguise.
They forced us to slow down, revisit our plans and question decisions we’d initially thought were absolutely right.
We spent a considerable amount of time researching the market, understanding the numbers and, perhaps most importantly, defining exactly what we wanted Ely Work Collective to be.
That clarity became invaluable.
Rather than rushing into the first available premises or committing to ideas that might not have worked, we had time to make more considered decisions.
And while we certainly wouldn’t recommend unnecessary delays when starting a business, we’ve learned that sometimes taking a little longer to get something right can save an awful lot of trouble further down the line.
Of course, the irony is that after months of waiting, we eventually had just two weeks to transform an empty space into Ely Work Collective.
With help from friends, family and some brilliant local businesses, we managed to complete almost the entire fit-out ourselves.
There were some very long days, a lot of hard work and at least one painting incident that Cathrine has made it very clear James will never be allowed to forget.
But somehow, we did it.
And walking into a space we’d created ourselves, knowing just how much effort had gone into every corner of it, was an incredibly proud moment.
Learning That You Can’t Do Everything Yourself
One of the biggest lessons from our first six months — and indeed the entire process of setting up EWC — has been understanding our own strengths and weaknesses.
When you’re starting a business, everything feels important.
There are seemingly endless jobs to complete, decisions to make and problems to solve. It’s very easy to become overwhelmed, particularly when there are only two of you trying to do everything.
We’ve learned that prioritisation isn’t simply about writing a to-do list. It’s about being genuinely realistic about what matters most.
We’ve also learned the importance of asking for help.
Whether that’s seeking professional legal advice, speaking to experienced business owners or finding someone with expertise we don’t have, accepting that we can’t know everything has been hugely valuable.
And that’s something we’d encourage anyone starting a business to embrace.
You don’t have to be an expert in every aspect of running a company. You just need to recognise where your strengths lie, understand where you need support and be willing to ask for it.
For us, having each other has made an enormous difference.
We have different skills, different approaches and, occasionally, very different ideas about how many meetings are necessary.
But having someone to challenge your thinking, offer another perspective and share the difficult days with has been invaluable.
You don’t necessarily need a business partner to have that support. A mentor, trusted friend or network of fellow business owners can make all the difference.
Community Isn’t Just a Marketing Word
If there’s one thing that’s surprised us most about starting Ely Work Collective, it’s the extraordinary support we’ve received from the local community.
From the very beginning, people have been incredibly generous with their time, advice, encouragement and expertise.
Local businesses have helped us get the space ready, supported our events, collaborated with us and introduced us to new people.
We’ve been fortunate to work with some fantastic independent suppliers, including Icon Signs in Newmarket and Ely Computer Centre, who went above and beyond to help us meet our opening deadline.
We’ve also received valuable support from the local council and countless business owners who’ve been willing to share their experiences.
It’s reinforced something we believed from the outset: business doesn’t always have to be about competition.
There’s enormous value in collaboration.
So many business owners are facing similar challenges, regardless of their industry. Sharing experiences, supporting one another and building genuine relationships can make the journey considerably less daunting.
And that’s exactly the kind of environment we wanted to create at EWC.
Not simply somewhere to rent a desk, but somewhere people feel part of something.
The Moment It All Felt Real
When we asked ourselves what our proudest achievement had been so far, one moment stood out.
Our summer party.
We held it at Willow Grange, a place that had played a particularly important role in our story.
More than a year earlier, we’d sat at one of its tables with our laptops and notebooks, trying to work out whether we could actually make Ely Work Collective happen.
We’d researched premises, worked through the finances and started turning an idea into something tangible.
Fast-forward to our summer party, and that same venue was filled with around 60 people who had become part of the EWC community.
Customers, friends, local business owners and people we’d never have met had we not started this journey.
Looking around the room was a genuine full-circle moment.
It was also particularly special to hear from people who’d worked for themselves for years but had never had the opportunity to attend a work summer party.
For us, that summed up exactly why we’d created EWC in the first place.
The evening also gave us the opportunity to raise money for Ely Foodbank, an organisation doing incredibly important work in our local community.
It wasn’t about putting on a big event for the sake of it.
It was about bringing people together, celebrating what we’d all achieved and creating those moments of connection that people working independently can sometimes miss.
And seeing that happen was worth every difficult day that had come before it.
Finding Our Feet (And Learning What Doesn’t Work)
Of course, not everything we’ve tried over the past six months has been a roaring success.
And that’s okay.
We’ve experimented with different events, ways of using the space and ideas that we thought would be brilliant, only to discover that they weren’t quite right for EWC.
Some activities simply need more space than we can offer. Others haven’t attracted the interest we’d hoped for.
We’ve also learned that we can’t be everything to everyone.
Rather than trying to accommodate every possible request, we’re becoming much more comfortable recognising what we do well and, where appropriate, recommending another local business that might be better suited.
It’s one of the reasons we value our relationship with neighbouring eSpace, for example. We don’t offer private serviced offices, but they do, so we’re more than happy to point people in their direction.
We’ve also learned not to take it personally when someone visits EWC and decides it’s not quite for them.
Different people need different working environments, and that’s perfectly fine.
What matters is staying true to the reasons we created EWC in the first place.
We’re more than just desks and Wi-Fi, and we intend to keep it that way.
What’s Next for Ely Work Collective?
Although we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, we’re also very aware that we’re still at the beginning of our journey.
And we’ve got some exciting plans for what’s next.
One of those is our monthly Pub Club, a simple idea inspired by something many people miss when working remotely or running their own business: the Friday afternoon drink with colleagues.
It’s not a networking event, there are no awkward introductions or business pitches, and you don’t have to be an EWC member to come along.
It’s simply an opportunity to get out of the house, meet some people, have a drink and unwind after the working week.
We’ll be visiting different venues around Ely, giving us another opportunity to support the fantastic hospitality businesses in our city.
The other major development is our EWC Growth Programme.
Having experienced first-hand just how challenging starting and growing a business can be, we wanted to create something that would help other people navigate that journey.
Our first cohort has already begun, bringing together local business owners and experienced trainers for practical, in-person sessions covering the challenges of building a successful business.
Seeing those conversations happening, ideas being shared and participants supporting one another has been incredibly rewarding.
And this is only the beginning.
We’re already looking at how we can develop the programme further, introduce new training opportunities and make business support accessible to more people, whether they’re just starting out or looking to take an established business to the next level.
We’re particularly excited about what 2027 might bring.
So, Would We Do It All Again?
Absolutely.
Without hesitation.
Would we do some things differently? Of course.
We’ve made mistakes, spent time worrying about things that ultimately didn’t matter and occasionally been far too impatient with ourselves.
We’ve also learned that building a business takes time, that progress isn’t always linear and that comparing your journey to someone else’s rarely does you any favours.
But if there’s one piece of advice we’d give to anyone sitting on a business idea, wondering whether to take the plunge, it’s this:
Do your research, understand the risks, make a plan — and then give it a go.
You don’t need to have every single detail worked out before you start.
You do need to know what you’re trying to achieve, why you’re doing it and whether there’s a realistic opportunity to make it work.
And sometimes, once you’ve done that groundwork, you simply have to take the first step.
For us, the alternative would have been looking back years from now and wondering what might have happened if we’d tried.
Instead, we get to walk into a business we’ve built together, meet brilliant people every day and watch a community grow around something that was once just an idea discussed over coffee.
That’s a pretty wonderful feeling.
And Finally, Thank You
We couldn’t finish this reflection without saying an enormous thank you.
To our customers, members, friends, family, local businesses, suppliers and everyone who’s supported us in ways both big and small.
To the people who’ve recommended us to colleagues, shared our posts, attended our events or simply popped in to say hello.
And to everyone who’s helped turn Ely Work Collective into the welcoming, supportive community we’d always hoped it could become.
We genuinely couldn’t have done it without you.
Here’s to the next six months, and everything still to come.
Listen to the Full Episode
Want to hear more about the reality of starting Ely Work Collective, including the stories, mistakes and lessons we couldn’t possibly fit into one blog post?
Join James and Cathrine for Episode 29 of Made In Ely, as we look back on our first six months in business.
And yes, we also discuss the great office pretzel controversy. Don’t worry, the pretzels are back.
Listen to Made In Ely: https://madeinely.podbean.com/
You can also find out more about Ely Work Collective, our coworking space, events and business programmes at www.elyworkcollective.co.uk.
And if you’re thinking about starting a business, or just fancy a chat about your own journey, our door is always open. Come and say hello!
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