With support from Glic, we carried out a Feasibility Study to explore our long-term options, including whether purchasing our current building at 15 Calton Road could help us grow our impact as Scotland’s Centre for Social Innovation, or whether alternative models would better support our community and mission. 

What did the study involve? 

We heard from over 25 stakeholder organisations, researched Edinburgh’s coworking market, completed some financial modelling, and asked our members and venue hire clients what they wanted. We wanted to understand not just what was possible, but what was sustainable, aligned with our values, and most supportive of social innovators and purpose driven organisations.  

What we heard 

Some clear themes emerged: 

• Physical spaces still matter, for collaboration, community and connection, but they must be affordable, flexible, and accessible. 

• Many social enterprises and third sector organisations are operating under financial pressure, making long-term property commitments challenging. 

• While our current space works for its atmosphere and central location, it also limits our ability to grow, adapt, and scale our impact. 

• Across the sector, there is a clear gap for coworking spaces that prioritise social impact, collaboration and community over purely commercial models. 

The options explored 

The study assessed three potential paths forward: 

• Purchasing 15 Calton Road and continuing as we are
• Purchasing and renovating the building to include more private offices
• Relocating to alternative premises and continuing (and growing) our coworking and collaboration offer

Each option was assessed for technical, financial, social, and strategic feasibility. 

Option 1: Purchase 15 Calton Road and continue as we are.

This option would allow us to stay in a much-loved space and avoid short-term disruption. However, ownership would bring significant maintenance and financial responsibilities, with tight margins and limited scope to grow or adapt over time. 

Option 2: Purchase 15 Calton Road and renovate.

Renovating the building could improve space use and introduce private offices to diversify income. At the same time, it would reduce shared coworking space, risk disrupting the community, and still carry the long-term financial risks of property ownership. 

Option 3: Relocate to alternative premises.

Relocation offers greater financial resilience, flexibility and alignment with our strategic goals, with more space to grow our community and programmes. The main challenges are managing the transition carefully and ensuring accessibility in any new location. 

The key findings 

Relocation to alternative premises emerged as the most viable option for our future development. This offers greater financial resilience, flexibility to scale our impact, and stronger alignment with our long-term strategic priorities while reducing the financial risks associated with property ownership. 

Importantly, this option would allow us to continue focusing our energy where it matters most – supporting social innovation, building community, and creating spaces for collaboration and learning. 

What happens next?  

This Feasibility Study is not a final decision it’s a tool to help us think clearly and responsibly about what comes next. We’re sharing the summary to support transparency and conversation, and we’re grateful to everyone who contributed their time, insight, and experience. 

You can download the Summary of the Feasibility Study here. 

If you would like access to the full report or want to discuss the findings further including ideas on a new home for us, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with our CEO: [email protected]