Workshops for
textiles & leather

Ideas and how to set them up

Tailoring and alterations

Room for one or two sewing machines, an overlocker, a cutting table, a steam iron and rails for work in progress and finished garments.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 160 sq ft · security door · £69 a week

Layout

Cutting table in the centre, machines along a wall near sockets, rails for jobs labelled by customer, a small fitting corner with a mirror.

Good to know

Keep the iron on a heat-proof stand and switch it off at the end of the day.

Embroidery and personalisation

Commercial embroidery machines for logos on workwear, hats, team kit and gifts, plus stock of blank garments. Heat-press transfers can also work here; ask us about your machine.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week

Layout

Machines on sturdy benches, blank stock on shelving by size, finished orders bagged and labelled by the door.

Good to know

The units have standard single-phase electricity, not three-phase, so choose machines that run from a normal plug socket.

Leather goods workshop

Cutting, hand-stitching and finishing wallets, belts, bags and dog collars from dry leather hides, with a cutting mat and hand tools.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 160 sq ft · security door · £69 a week

Layout

Large cutting surface, hides stored flat or rolled on a rack, a stitching bench with good lighting, a finishing and packing area.

Good to know

Hand tools and dry hides are fine. Ask us before using solvent-based dyes or glues in quantity.

Curtains, blinds and soft furnishings

A long table for measuring, cutting and sewing made-to-measure curtains, blinds and cushions, with fabric rolls stored on racks.

Best unit

180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

The longest table you can fit down the middle of the unit, fabric rolls on a wall rack, finished orders hung or boxed by the door.

Good to know

Roller-shutter units make it easy to bring in long fabric rolls and take out finished curtains.

Costume and dancewear making

Making and repairing costumes for dance schools, theatre groups and Blackpool's entertainment industry, with space to store fabrics and finished pieces.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 160 sq ft · security door · £69 a week

Layout

Rails for finished costumes, a sewing area, boxes for trims and embellishments, a mirror for fittings.

Good to know

Clients can visit the unit for fittings and collections.

Why our units suit textiles, leather & sewing

• Fabric, thread and leather are low-risk materials, and sewing, cutting and stitching involve no melting or heating of combustibles.
• A long cutting table fits comfortably in every unit size, and you can receive clients at the unit for fittings and collections.
• The 300 sq ft unit gives you a workshop downstairs and an upstairs room with a window for fittings or admin.
• Lighting, standard single-phase electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit (there is no three-phase power), with 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities.

Start-up checklist

1. Decide which unit suits your stock, machines and how you will load and unload.
2. Message us with what your business does, so we can approve the use before you commit.
3. Register your business with HMRC as a sole trader or limited company if you have not already.
4. Speak to an insurance broker about public liability, contents and stock cover, and employers' liability if you have staff.
5. Ask us whether business rates apply, and check Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
6. Plan your layout: shelving up the walls, benches near sockets, and a clear route to the door.
7. Arrange one month's rent, the deposit, photo ID and a Direct Debit mandate for move-in day.

Questions

Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Swap to a bigger or smaller unit any time, subject to availability. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or tax advice.

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