DoES Liverpool

What DoES Liverpool does

DoES Liverpool is a self-funded Community Interest Company (CIC) founded in 2011 that operates a combined coworking office and makerspace in Liverpool's Fabric District, UK. The organization provides flexible workspace solutions (hotdesking, Flexidesk monthly access, and permanent desks) alongside access to industrial fabrication equipment including laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC routers, sublimation printers, heat presses, vinyl cutters, electronics benches, and sewing/knitting machines. It serves five primary customer segments: freelancers and remote workers, makers and hobbyists, small businesses and startups, event organizers, and community members.

The business operates on a diversified revenue model combining subscription-based coworking and workshop memberships (e.g., permanent desk at £210/month, full workshop at £72/month), usage-based laser cutting services (£9.50-17 per session), one-time event space hire (accommodating 2-30 people), and a virtual business address service that serves over 200 postal customers. The go-to-market motion is entirely community-led: no formal sales team exists, with customer acquisition driven by word-of-mouth referrals, free recurring community programming (Maker Night weekly, Maker Day monthly, Repair Cafe monthly), and social media presence across Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, GitHub, and Mastodon.

DoES reinvests all profits into community programming and infrastructure, including the Boost Membership program launched in 2021 which provides free six-month memberships to individuals who cannot afford access. Notable partnerships include Jelly Liverpool (coworking events), PVTV (creative meetups), BirkenHack (collaborative maker events), KnottyAsh Creative (laser cutting workshops), and Plastic Tactics (sustainability-focused Plastic Playgroup). The organization operates with 1-10 employees from a single 1st-floor location at The Tapestry, 68-76 Kempston Street, and has no external investors or parent company.

Name

DoES Liverpool

Legal name

DoES Liverpool CIC

Website

https://doesliverpool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DoES Liverpool is a self-funded Community Interest Company operating a combined coworking space and makerspace in Liverpool, UK, providing flexible desk rentals, industrial workshop equipment access, event space hire, and postal address services to freelancers, makers, startups, and community members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Coworking Desk Rental: Hotdesking at £7.50/half day or £15/day; Flexidesk at £96/month providing flexible drop-in access; Permanent Desk at £210/month with unlimited access, all-room access, dedicated space, and storage. Revenue from desk rentals forms the core of recurring income.
2. Workshop Memberships: Off-Peak Workshop access at £42/month (evenings and weekends); Full Workshop access at £72/month with unlimited workshop use and out-of-hours access. Provides tool and equipment access to makers.
3. Laser Cutting Service: Laser cutting hire available between £9.50 and £17 depending on half or full day booking. One of their most popular services, bookable in advance.
4. Event Space Hire: Conference room and event space available for hire, suitable for company away days, workshops, seminars, and community events. Accommodates 2-30 people.
5. Business Address/Postal Services: Virtual office address service providing a professional Liverpool city centre mailing address for businesses. Serves 200+ postal customers.
6. Community Membership: Basic community membership at £10/month providing reduced prices on all services and supporting the community. Non-members can use equipment but members receive discounted rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

DoES Liverpool operates a community coworking and makerspace in Liverpool's Fabric District, providing flexible workspace (hotdesking, flexidesk, permanent desks), access to industrial workshop equipment (laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC router, electronics bench, sewing and knitting machines), laser cutting hire, event space rental, and a virtual business postal address service. The venue also hosts free community maker events (Maker Night, Maker Day, Repair Cafe) and a Boost Membership program offering free six-month access to members who cannot afford standard rates.

Product overview

DoES Liverpool is a community coworking and makerspace offering a coordinated portfolio of workspace solutions and workshop access services. The core offering consists of flexible coworking desks (hotdesking, flexidesk, and permanent desk plans), comprehensive workshop equipment access (including laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC router, sublimation printing, and electronics benches), and event/meeting room hire. Complementary services include a virtual business address, the Repair Cafe community repair service, free Maker Night and Maker Day maker events, the Boost Membership free-access program, and laser cutting services. The space is positioned as a community interest company supporting makers, creators, and small businesses in Liverpool's Fabric District.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Co-Working Services Flexible workspace solutions including hotdesking (£7.50 half day or £15 full day), Flexidesk monthly membership (£96/month), and Permanent Desk rental (£210/month with unlimited access, dedicated space, and storage). Located 10 minutes walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station.
• Workshop & Equipment Access Community workshop with industrial equipment including laser cutters, 3D printers, sublimation printer, heat press, vinyl cutters, CNC router, fully stocked electronics bench, and sewing/knitting machines. Off-Peak Workshop membership at £42/month (evenings and weekends); Full Workshop membership at £72/month with unlimited and out-of-hours access.
• Laser Cutting Service

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Makerversity: London-based community makerspace and coworking operator combining workshop equipment, studio space, and events for makers and startups. Closest UK analog to DoES's coworking-plus-fabrication hybrid, though operating in a larger market.
• Nottingham Hackspace (Nottinghack): UK community hackerspace providing shared workshop equipment and member-led events. Directly comparable to DoES on community-led GTM, equipment access model, and non-profit/community-interest orientation.
• The Trampery: UK coworking operator specializing in spaces for social enterprises, makers, and impact-driven startups. Highly comparable on community-focused coworking, social-enterprise positioning, and mixed-tenure membership model, though it does not typically run a full fabrication workshop.
• Makespace Cambridge: Cambridge community makerspace providing shared workshop tools and member events. Direct comparable on member-led access to fabrication equipment and a regional-city footprint.
• Manchester Makerspace: North-of-England community makerspace offering shared workshop tools, member events, and skill-sharing. Geographic and operational twin to DoES, serving a similar maker and small-business audience in a comparable UK regional city.
• Bristol Hackspace: Bristol community hackerspace offering shared fabrication tools, electronics benches, and member events. Direct comparable to DoES on community-led makerspace model and UK regional-city focus.
• Edinburgh Hacklab: Scottish community hackerspace providing access to fabrication tools, electronics, and a member-run event program. Comparable to DoES as a community-interest makerspace, but operating in a different UK region.

Broad incumbents

• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused coworking spaces with UK locations. Comparable on community-led coworking and social-enterprise ethos, but operates at much greater scale, with standardized amenities rather than bespoke maker tooling.
• Fab Lab Network: Global network of digital fabrication labs originating from MIT's Fab Lab program. Comparable on shared access to laser cutters, CNC, and 3D printing, though typically grant-funded and educational in focus rather than a commercial coworking operator.

Regional players

• The Biscuit Factory: Creative co-working and studio complex in Bermondsey, London, housing makers, artists, and small businesses. Comparable on housing creative micro-businesses under one roof, but located in London rather than Liverpool and oriented more toward studio rental than equipment access.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DoESLiverpool
• GitHubgithub.com/DoESLiverpool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DoESLiverpool
• Facebookfacebook.com/liverpoolsewingclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/does-liverpool-cic
• Instagraminstagram.com/doesliverpool

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 DoES Liverpool