Bringing people together: What the future looks like for Papworth Everard
This November, Papworth Everard is set to experience a transformation with the opening of The Printworks social enterprise hub. This exciting development, led by Allia, is more than just the restoration of a building—it’s a revitalisation of community spirit, entrepreneurial ambition, and local connections.
The heart of this project is the former Papworth Printworks building, a place steeped in history. Originally built in 1929, it once provided therapeutic employment for recovering tuberculosis patients under the Papworth Trust. However, since its closure in the mid-1990s, it has sat empty, but Allia and operator, Function 5 CIC, have turned this historic site into a vibrant social enterprise hub with a café, microbrewery, pizzeria, and communal workspace under one roof.
Function 5 CIC: Driving Papworth Printworks for the community
The management of The Printworks will be in the capable hands of Function 5 CIC, a new locally formed Community Interest Company that will show its commitment to strengthening Papworth Everard’s social and economic factors.
The founders of Function 5 CIC are no strangers to the local community—they currently run The Courtyard café, a beloved and well-established spot in Papworth where residents frequently gather. Through their success with The Courtyard café, Function 5 has demonstrated their ability to create a welcoming and inclusive space that brings people together, making them a natural choice to oversee The Printworks’ transformation.
By managing the hub for Allia, Function 5 will build on its commitment to delivering impactful, community-focused initiatives. Their local presence and understanding of the community’s needs ensure that The Printworks will thrive as a social enterprise hub, creating lasting social values and job opportunities. Their management will ensure that the hub remains a space that not only supports entrepreneurship but also serves as a vibrant, inclusive resource for everyone in Papworth Everard.
The development of The Printworks will also bring about numerous job and volunteering opportunities for the local community. These jobs will not only strengthen the village’s economy but also give residents the chance to work close by, within their community, further fostering local engagement and pride in this shared resource.
A new space for local entrepreneurs
Papworth Everard, like many rural villages, has seen its local amenities shrink in recent decades, and with it, a decline in places where people can gather and connect. The Printworks hub is set to change this, bringing new energy into the village by creating a vibrant, welcoming environment where both business and community life can flourish side by side.
The building will be a business hub for social enterprises and small ventures across Cambridgeshire and will be supported thanks to expert guidance from Social Enterprise East of England. With meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and hot desking areas, the building will become a flexible space where social entrepreneurs can work, innovate, and thrive. The hub is designed to support both existing and emerging social enterprises, helping them grow and achieve their impact goals.
A social hub for Papworth Everard’s local community
The Printworks building will be a place for the entire community to enjoy. The creation of a new hub is both timely and needed. Villages thrive when they have spaces where people can naturally come together—whether to share a meal, grab a coffee, or attend an event. The Printworks will serve that purpose, offering a space where neighbours, families, and friends can meet, relax, and build new memories. There will be something happening in the social hub every day, offering a constant stream of activities to engage and connect with the residents.
In addition to being a gathering place for residents, the Printworks will also host a range of community activities and events, from live music & quiz nights to workshops, fitness classes and social clubs. This will ensure that the hub remains a lively, dynamic part of daily life, continuously adapting to the needs and interests of the local community.
The true quality of the Papworth Printworks social enterprise hub is that it’s not just about creating a space for today—it’s about building a lasting resource for the future. Papworth Everard’s residents will have a place where they can feel connected, supported, and inspired, with new social enterprises being nurtured in the space. It’s a hub that will allow local relationships to flourish, helping to create a stronger sense of belonging and shared identity in the village.
The power of partnerships and funding
None of this would have been possible without the generous grant funding of £600,000 from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s (CPCA) Market Towns Programme which was awarded to Allia by Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE) (the fund’s delivery partner). This vital funding and support is a testament to the importance of investing in social enterprises and boosting the local economy in rural areas. This project is also part-funded (£32,555) by the UK government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund Grant Scheme (UK Shared Prosperity Fund) provided by the South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC).
We were delighted to be able to announce this exciting project, creating a social space that will bring much-needed facilities to the village of Papworth, as well as a workspace that will support entrepreneurship, the development of existing and new social enterprises, and create employment and training opportunities.”
David Broach, Director of Allia Future Business Centre
Deb Lee, Managing Director of SEEE, echoed this sentiment: “SEEE believes social enterprise is a way of doing business that benefits the whole community, and we’re excited about the potential difference Allia’s vision for the old Printworks can make for Papworth Everard. It’s going to be a fantastic local resource.”
A vision for the future
The Papworth Printworks social enterprise hub will be a great addition to the village. By blending community and commerce, it promises to restore a sense of cohesion. It is not only about rebuilding a space but also about reigniting the sense of belonging that is essential to village life.
As the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr. Nik Johnson said: “Our Combined Authority’s Market Towns programme is about getting grants to this kind of people-centred initiative—one that creates grassroots growth and builds resilience in the heart of our communities. This is a venture that will help villages like Papworth Everard to flourish, evolve, and attract more human-scale businesses that encourage sustainable development and lasting change.”
We look forward to the opening of the Papworth Printworks and hope it becomes a beacon of both community and entrepreneurship—a place where ideas are born, businesses grow, and neighbours reconnect. It’s more than a social enterprise hub—it’s a new chapter for Papworth Everard.
So, whether you’re an inspiring entrepreneur, a local looking for a new spot to relax, or just someone excited about the future of the village, Papworth Printworks has something for you.
Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting journey continues to unfold!
Notes:
Allia Future Business Centres offers flexible workspace and a vibrant community for small businesses that are creating change. Allia Impact runs free business support programmes and innovative funded projects. Together, they are dedicated to supporting businesses to thrive, grow and create jobs, so that they can make a positive impact on their community, as well as addressing social and environmental global challenges.
www.futurebusinesscentre.co.uk | hello@futurebusinesscentre.co.uk
For all media enquiries, please contact Shauna Kelly, Marketing Assistant, Allia Future Business Centres: 01223 781322, shauna.kelly@allia.org.uk
Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE) supports social enterprises across the East to grow, communicate and demonstrate their social impact. SEEE offers joint membership with Social Enterprise UK and its members are from diverse sectors covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. SEEE offers networking, events and news updates to keep members informed and also runs the Cambridgeshire Social Enterprise Place network which encourages Cambridgeshire social ventures to come together to learn from each other, support each other and help make the local social economy stronger.
SEEE contact: Jane Thompson, Membership and Marketing Manager admin@seee.co.uk, 07704 858862
CPCA Market Towns Programme (Phase 2) – Supporting Social Enterprises in Rural Areas
In July 2020, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) allocated £13.1m capital investment to mobilise eleven market town masterplans to support interventions in each of CPCA’s main market towns and to act as a funding catalyst to securing additional investment. This £2.5m fund is a continuation of that effort to tackle the long-standing challenges surrounding market towns over the next 2 years, with a particular focus on strengthening local communities and supporting the Social Enterprise ecosystem. The Programme looks to build on the first Market towns funding but with a particular focus on targeting this capital spending on people-based initiatives – including community owned businesses, social enterprises, and educational support.
CPCA contact: luke.page@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk
South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) – UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
SCDC contact: steven.keeley@scambs.gov.uk
