Run by two brothers, former Honda executive Hugh and historian Ian, AWCIC was formed out of a family business, FBC, in Clerkenwell.

Hugh and Ian grew up painting the walls of the building, which was originally opened by their father to provide flexible office space for small businesses. Since taking over they have continued the family tradition by providing affordable workplaces for businesses ready to make change in the world.

The current Clerkenwell site offers a range of private offices, co-working, virtual offices, meeting rooms and events spaces. The goal is to expand this to provide mentoring, coaching and support services when appropriate funding and resource is in place.

When Hugh and Ian found many office spaces emptied after lockdown struck, as well as striving to fill the space with new members paying commercial rates, a meeting with the Clerkenwell Alliance highlighted the immense pressure on local families, schools, churches, communities, and businesses during the pandemic.

This planted the seed that empty space ought to be filled, and in this case, with deserving people and at an affordable cost – Affordable Workplace was born.