What Hackney Cooperative Developments CIC does

Hackney Cooperative Developments CIC (HCD) is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company founded in 1982 that operates as a community economic development agency in the London Borough of Hackney. Its core business is the provision of affordable workspace — 73 commercial units ranging from 115 to 1,550 sq ft across properties in Dalston (Bradbury Works, Gillett Square, Beechwood Road) and Woodberry Down (Woodberry Works) — let primarily to social enterprises, cooperatives, micro-businesses, and community organisations at £23.50 per sq ft inclusive of service charges. HCD also delivers the WANT programme (Workspace, Advice, Networking, Training), a tiered business coaching offering sold directly via its website at £149, £450, and £2,000 packages, and runs funded skills development courses covering digital skills, employability, HM Courts & Tribunals digital assistance, and HMRC advice for Hackney residents. The organisation's governance is cooperative: members rather than shareholders elect a voluntary General Council, and CIC status legally protects the property portfolio from private disposal, with all surpluses reinvested into community economic development. The technology layer is intentionally light — standard email (MailChimp), web booking, and CRM tools — with no proprietary platform or AI/ML capabilities; differentiation comes from physical assets (including the 2006-built Gillett Square, the first of the Mayor of London's 100 new public spaces), curated tenant community, and 40+ years of relationships with funders and local government.

Name

Hackney Cooperative Developments CIC

Legal name

Hackney Co-operative Developments CIC

Website

https://hced.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hackney Cooperative Developments CIC is a 1982-founded Hackney community economic development agency that lets 73 affordable workspace units to social enterprises and small businesses, delivers tiered business coaching (WANT programme), and runs funded skills and digital-inclusion training for local residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Workspace Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mixed-Use Community Association Management (BPAJAHAF)

Keywords

• Affordable workspace lettings
• Business support services
• Community economic development
• Skills training programmes
• Cooperative workspace solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Affordable Workspace Lettings: HCD lets commercial and retail units to social enterprises, cooperatives, startups, cultural entrepreneurs and community organisations across its property portfolio in Dalston and Woodberry Down. Units range from 115 to 1,550 sq ft. Income is reinvested in community economic development and cultural programming activities.
2. Meeting Room Hire: Bradbury Works meeting room available for hire at £20 per hour. Discounts offered to tenants, members and support clients. Revenue is supplemental to workspace lettings.
3. Business Support Services (WANT Programme): The WANT (Workspace, Advice, Networking, Training) programme generates revenue through three coaching bundles: Planner Bundle (£149 for 3 sessions), Implementer Bundle (£450 for 10 sessions), and Ongoing Support Bundle (£2,000 for 50 sessions over 12 months). Services are targeted at social enterprises and cooperatives.
4. Skills Development and Training Programmes: HCD delivers funded training programmes including digital skills courses (Essential Digital Skills, Fundamental Digital Marketing), HM Courts & Tribunals Service Assisted Digital support, HMRC advice services, and employability programmes. Funded by London Borough of Hackney and other grant providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hackney Cooperative Developments CIC is a Community Interest Company that provides affordable workspace, studios, and business premises to social enterprises, cooperatives, and small businesses across the London Borough of Hackney. It delivers business coaching and support through the WANT Programme, runs skills development training programmes for local residents, and manages the public community space at Gillett Square. The organisation owns and manages multiple co-working and studio properties including Bradbury Works, Woodberry Works, HCD Co-operative Workspace, and Dalston Culture House.

Product overview

Hackney Cooperative Developments CIC operates as a community economic development agency offering a portfolio of affordable workspace facilities and business support services. The core property portfolio includes Bradbury Works (Dalston), Woodberry Works (Woodberry Down), HCD Co-operative Workspace (Beechwood Road), and Gillett Square public space with Dalston Culture House. The WANT (Workspace, Advice, Networking & Training) Programme provides tiered business coaching bundles: The Planner Bundle (3 sessions/6 weeks at £149), The Implementer Bundle (10 sessions/3 months at £450), and The Ongoing Support Bundle (50 sessions/12 months at £2,000). Additional services include meeting room hire, skills development training programmes, and community space programming at Gillett Square.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bradbury Works

Quantifiable outcome

• Incubated over 80 social enterprises and SMEs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Co-operatives UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCD is a delivery partner of support services under Co-operatives UK's 'The Hive' programme to support the start-up and growth of cooperatives. HCD provides access to Co-operatives UK's comprehensive Simply Series resources and start-up guides for community enterprises.
• Hackney Council (London Borough of Hackney)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHackney Council provided Section 106 agreement requirements and planning support for HCD properties. The council has pledged nearly £70,000 to support the cooperative sector in Hackney. Council leader emphasised affordable workspace as a key priority. Council supported Bradbury Works project on council land.
• Social Enterprise UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as one of HCD's partners. HCD supports social enterprises and cooperatives with business development.
• LocalityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as one of HCD's partners. Locality supports community organisations.
• Social FoundersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as one of HCD's partners.
• Hackney CVSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as one of HCD's partners. Hackney CVS supports the local voluntary and community sector.
• Investors in PeopleminorOthersListed as one of HCD's partners. Investors in People provides accreditation for organisational best practices.
• Arcola TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural partner for events at Gillett Square. Arcola Theatre has worked with HCD on community cultural programming.
• The BarbicanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural partner for events at Gillett Square.
• NTS RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerNTS Radio is both a tenant at Gillett Square and a cultural partner for events programming.
• Hackney CarnivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural partner for events at Gillett Square.
• Groundwork East LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore member of the Gillett Square Partnership from its formation in 2001. Groundwork East London was instrumental in developing the vision and securing funding for Gillett Square.
• Hawkins\Brown ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationLead architects for Gillett Square, Dalston Culture House, Bradbury Works refurbishment, and other HCD property developments. Y/N Studio later led the redesign of Bradbury Works.
• Good Things FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCD is a member of the Good Things Foundation Online Centres Network, working in partnership with HM Courts and Tribunals Service on the Assisted Digital Project. Good Things Foundation manages the Future Digital Inclusion Fund programme.
• HM Courts & Tribunals ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCD provides Assisted Digital support for HM Courts & Tribunals Service, helping people complete online court forms for debt claims, PIP appeals, ESA decisions, TfL penalty challenges, probate, and divorce.
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCD is an HMRC advice centre providing free support to individuals on Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Benefit, and Tax and National Insurance.
• London Borough of HackneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded digital skills training (Essential Digital Skills, Fundamental Digital Marketing) and other skills programmes for Hackney residents. Mayor of Hackney opened Bradbury Works in March 2023.
• Co-ops LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as one of HCD's partners. Co-ops London promotes the cooperative movement in London.
• Gillett Square PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed in January 2001 comprising Groundwork East London, The Vortex Jazz Club, London Borough of Hackney, Macdonald Egan, Greater London Authority's Architecture and Urbanism Unit, and Hawkins\Brown. Responsible for creating Gillett Square opened in November 2006.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Impact Hub London: Part of the global Impact Hub network offering workspace, incubation, and events for social enterprises in London. Overlaps with HCD on workspace-plus-services for impact-driven organisations, but operates as part of a larger international network.
• The Trampery: London-based mission-driven affordable workspace provider running multiple sites (Republic, Old Street) for startups, social enterprises, and creatives. Closely comparable to HCD on affordable workspace for mission-led tenants, though operating without a CIC asset lock.
• Coin Street Community Builders: Community-led developer and operator of mixed-use space on London's South Bank - affordable workspace, retail, cultural venues, and family services. Directly comparable to HCD on community-owned real estate, social enterprise incubation, and cultural programming, but at substantially larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Social Enterprise UK: The UK membership body for social enterprises, representing the sector to government and supporting members with policy advocacy, networks, and resources. HCD is a listed partner; both serve overlapping social-enterprise communities.
• UnLtd: UK foundation providing funding, coaching, and support to social entrepreneurs, having backed thousands of ventures since 2002. Comparable mission-aligned funding and capability-building to HCD's grant-funded training and WANT coaching.
• Power to Change: Independent charitable trust and one of the largest funders of community businesses in England (over £150M deployed to date). Listed HCD partner and funder; both work at the intersection of community ownership and enterprise.
• Locality: UK-wide membership body and support network for community-led organisations including community enterprises, centres, and hubs. HCD is a Locality member; both share the mission of supporting community-owned organisations.

Others

• Trust for London: Independent charitable foundation funding work on poverty and inequality in London - including direct grants to HCD for Bradbury Works. A capital provider in the same London community-economic-development ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES): UK think-and-do tank advancing community wealth building and local economic development. Overlaps with HCD's mission on community economic development and place-based regeneration, but operates as research and advocacy rather than direct service delivery.
• School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE): UK charity providing training, mentoring, and peer-support programmes for social entrepreneurs. Closely aligned with HCD's WANT coaching bundles - complementary services to the same social-enterprise customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hackneycoops
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/hackney-co-operative-developments
• Instagraminstagram.com/hackneycoops

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hackney Cooperative Developments CIC