Business guide
How to set up a small workshop
that works from day one
A small workshop lives or dies by its layout. With a bit of planning, 150 to 300 sq ft is enough for a surprising amount of making, mending and building. Here is how to set one up so it is safe, tidy and pleasant to work in.
Plan it on paper first
Before you carry anything in, sketch the floor plan. Note where the door or roller shutter is, where the sockets are, and where the light falls. Then list every tool and piece of furniture you plan to bring, with rough sizes.
Think about the way work flows through the space. Materials come in, get cut or prepared, get assembled or repaired, then get finished and stored or sent out. Arrange your stations in that order, so you are not walking back and forth across the room all day.
Leave clear floor space in front of each tool for safe operation, and keep a clear route from the back of the unit to the exit.
Mark out heights as well as floor space. Tall racking along the back wall, a bench at a comfortable working height and a clear space under it for offcuts bins all help a small room work harder. Measure the roller shutter or door opening too, so you know the largest piece you can bring in or take out.
Choosing the right unit
The type of access matters as much as the size. A roller shutter lets you bring in sheet materials, large furniture or a heavy machine without wrestling them through a doorway. A personnel door is better if your work is small-scale and you value a more office-like feel.
| Unit | Access | Weekly rent | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 sq ft | Roller shutter | £65 | A single bench and tool wall |
| 160 sq ft | Security door | £69 | Repairs, electronics, small crafts |
| 180 sq ft | Roller shutter | £78 | Bench plus a larger machine |
| 300 sq ft two-storey | Roller shutter | £130 | Workshop below, office or storage above |
Some units have interconnecting doors, so you can rent two or three side by side. Side-by-side units can give you both roller-shutter and personnel-door access.
Power and electrics
Every Rock Factory unit has lighting and standard single-phase electricity connected. There is no three-phase supply, so if you are buying a large saw, compressor or lathe, check that a single-phase version exists and suits your work.
- Plan your bench positions around the sockets to keep cables off the floor.
- Use one good-quality extension per area rather than chains of cheap ones.
- Avoid running several high-draw tools at once on the same circuit.
- Fit a switch-off routine into the end of each day.
Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate with no markup, so energy-efficient tools and LED task lights pay you back over time.
Use the walls, keep the floor clear
In a small workshop, floor space is precious and wall space is often wasted. Get things up and off the floor.
- Freestanding shelving for boxed stock and materials.
- Pegboard or slatted panels above the bench for hand tools.
- Labelled clear boxes for fixings and small parts.
- Mobile bases for heavy tools, so you can roll them out of the way.
- A fold-down or wall-mounted bench if you need flexible floor space.
Ask us before fixing anything to the walls, as we will want to agree how it is done.
Dust, air and cleaning
Dust is the hidden hazard in many workshops, especially woodworking. HSE treats wood dust as a hazardous substance that can cause long-term health effects, including occupational asthma, and recommends capturing it at source.
- Capture it at the toolUse on-tool extraction or a suitable dust extractor connected to sanders and saws.
- Clean with a vacuumHSE advises against dry sweeping or using compressed air to clean up dust.
- Protect your lungsFor the dustiest jobs, a suitable mask or respirator adds protection.
- Air the spaceOur units are windowless, so open the shutter or door when you can while working.
Our guide to working in a windowless unit has more on lighting and air.
What you can and cannot do
All business use needs our prior approval, and some activities are not allowed in the building because of fire risk and insurance.
- Wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine.
- Repair work, assembly, upholstery, framing and similar crafts usually fit well.
- Melting or heating combustibles such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, which rules out candle and soap making, resin casting and 3D print farms.
- Bulk flammable liquids or gases, such as fuel, solvent-based paints or gas cylinders, unless agreed in writing.
- Cooking or hot food.
- Car storage.
If you are not sure where your craft fits, message us on WhatsApp and describe what you plan to do before you commit.
Being a good neighbour
You will share the building with other small businesses. Keep shared areas clear of offcuts and deliveries, take your waste away regularly, and give others a heads-up before a particularly noisy job. A little courtesy makes a shared building a much nicer place to work.
Keep your entrance area tidy, too. A clear doorway is safer, looks more professional to visiting customers, and makes it easy for couriers to collect and deliver.
Your first week in the workshop
It is tempting to move everything in on day one. A staged approach gets you working sooner and avoids having to shift heavy kit twice.
- Day one: the shellClean the floor, check where the sockets and lights are, and mark out your zones with tape.
- Day two: storagePut up shelving and racking before anything else, so tools have a home when they arrive.
- Day three: the benchInstall your main workbench and the tools you use most, then try a small job.
- Day four: adjustMove anything that felt awkward. You will learn more from one real job than from any plan.
- Day five: safetyAdd the first aid kit, a fire exit check and your end-of-day switch-off routine.
Keep a notebook of what you wish you had, and buy it once you have used the space for a few weeks. Workshops evolve, and the best ones are tuned to how their owner actually works.
Before you act on this
This is general information, not professional health and safety advice. Machinery and dust control can carry real risks. Follow your tool manufacturers' instructions and HSE's woodworking and dust guidance, and get competent help to set up extraction or anything you are unsure about.
Questions
Can I run woodworking machinery in a unit?
Woodwork is a low-risk material use we can usually approve, but all business use needs prior approval. Supply is single-phase only, so check your machines before you buy.
Is there three-phase power?
No. Units have standard single-phase electricity only. Many workshop tools are available in single-phase versions.
Can I make candles or resin pieces in my workshop?
No. Melting or heating combustibles such as waxes, plastics, resins and oils is not allowed in the building.
How do I get large sheets or machines in?
Choose a roller-shutter unit. The 150 sq ft, 180 sq ft and two-storey units all have roller-shutter access.
Can I fix shelving to the walls?
Ask us first. Freestanding shelving is the easiest option, and if you want to fix anything to walls we will agree how it is done before you start.
Sources and official guidance
- Wood dust (HSE)
- Woodworking: getting started (HSE)
- Portable appliance testing FAQs (HSE)
- Managing risks and risk assessment at work (HSE)
Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Business use needs prior approval. Car storage is not permitted.
