Monkey Park project creates new home for entrepreneurs
A former tile warehouse is being completely renovated to create affordable, shared office space for Chesterfield’s entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. Once complete, Monkey Park will also house a community cafe, a bike workshop and a bakery run by The Gingerbread Boy (previously found on Chatsworth Road).
Based at Clifton and Chester Street in Brampton, the centre is a not-for-profit social enterprise, designed to benefit local people and projects, as well as creating three employment opportunities.
Spokesperson, Christine Redding, said: “This is not just another café. Monkey Park will pour profits made back into the local community so it’s in everyone’s interest to get it right.
“We’re trying to support community enterprises & social entrepreneurs that give something back to Chesterfield. As part of this, we’ll be creating a new network of community enterprises within the town.
“We developed the centre through research and visits to similar hubs in Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester. The initiative will be steered by a community interest company led by angel investors and local businesses.”
Monkey Park is already creating quite a buzz, with nearly 300 likes on Facebook and a bank of nearly 50 local residents volunteering their services to help the project get off to a flying start.
Visitors were also invited for a sneaky preview earlier this month to share ideas about how the venue should look and feel as well as to choose their favourite cakes and coffee.
More volunteers are wanted to help prepare the centre ready for opening in the autumn. Anyone else interested in getting involved should search ‘Monkey Park’ on Facebook or Twitter.
