Help us buy Portland
Works for the community
The Portland Works project is a group of tenants and supporters, all volunteers, who want to ensure the survival of one of Sheffield's great buildings by community purchase and social ownership.
Portland Works, built in 1877, is one of the earliest surviving examples of an integrated metal trades complex. It is a Grade II* listed building, which in 1913 became the first place in the world to manufacture stainless steel cutlery - see History.
Remarkably, it still does what it was built for - offering low-cost workshop space to small manufacturing businesses and independent artists and craftspeople. You'll find here metalworkers, engineers and craftsmen, furniture makers, artists and musicians. They are a cross section of talent following in the footsteps of the 'Little Mesters' who made Sheffield famous - see Our Makers.
We want to protect and develop this community of creative and traditional industries by buying the building and running it as a social enterprise.
Since 2009, the owners have wanted to close the Works and convert it into flats, ending 130 years of activity. Our campaign blocked the planning application, which was withdrawn in April 2011. The owners still want to sell the building, preferably for development, and the tenants' futures are still as uncertain.
A year ago we established a Community Benefit Society,
to buy, manage and conserve Portland Works. The owners have
offered to sell the building to us, and we are in constructive
negiotiations with them.
Our enterprise is regulated by the FSA - it has been subject to rigorous development over two years - and we believe it's an excellent plan for the Works. See Share Offer page for how to buy shares.
Or you can Donate to the project instead. Please support us financially - the cash is our credibility with lenders and financial supporters.
You won't make a lot of money from your shareholding, but neither should you lose. This is not a financial investment in the traditional sense. The shares cannot be traded, but we do aim to maintain the value of your holding against inflation, through annual interest payments, and ultimately we plan to repay all your money, over a 5-20 year period. Meanwhile you'll have saved this wonderful building and secured jobs, skills and heritage, here in Sheffield. We have been supported in this project by the Cooperative Group, who've helped us to produce our plan.
Derek Morton - Chairperson, Portland Works Committee
updated 2 February 2012
Contact us at info@portlandworks.co.uk