News / By Fire Up / 28th July 2025
With summer in full swing and school holidays underway, many of us are juggling work alongside changes in our daily routine. Whether you need a quiet desk, a professional setup, or simply a reliable place to focus during the school break, our co-working space is open, calm, and ready for you.
In this month’s newsletter, we’re spotlighting a local entrepreneur who’s made Fire Up his business base and look back over several events that have taken place at Fire Up over the last month.
Success for Local Entrepreneur: Spotlight on Gavin Reynolds and ALF Recruit
Fire Up Rochdale has been “absolutely perfect.”
Rochdale entrepreneur, Gavin Reynolds, founder of ALF Recruit, has been on an amazing journey, going from working at a hot desk by himself to expanding his team to three in just ten months.
We caught up with Gavin to find out what he’s learned in that time, why he chose Fire Up to be his base of operations, and how Fire Up is helping local entrepreneurs not only get started but truly thrive in business.
Office Space Now Available
After reading about Gavin’s journey, you think Fire Up would make a great home for your small team. We have an amazing opportunity with office space now available.
This is also perfect if your business is between locations, relocating, or simply needs a private office for a fixed period. We’ve got you covered. Our space is available and ready to support your transition. Email info@fireuprochdale.co.uk or call the team on 01706 614848 for details.
A look back over the last month’s events at Fire Up
It’s been a busy couple of months at Fire Up, with a fantastic line-up of events delivered by EnterprisingYou.
Freelance Friday: Set Up to Scale Up brought together freelancers and self-employed professionals to learn, share, and grow. EnterprisingYou Business Adviser Aise Ndiele explored what it really takes to move from those early start-up days to being ready to scale. You can find details of the next Freelance Friday in the Events section below.
There was also a Women's Coffee Morning business event, which provided a space where women in business could share experiences, reflect on their journeys, and support one another over a cup of coffee. Thanks to Clare and Jane from the EnteprisingYou team for a great event. Keep an eye on EnteprisingYou’s social channels (and ours) for details of the next Women’s Coffee Morning.
Finally, we hosted an event all around the new HMRC changes to how businesses will be required to submit income tax self-assessments. Run by a partnership of EnterprisingYou, Rochdale Development Agency, Bury Council, and Oldham Council, this workshop, delivered by PM+M’s Rosie Cooper, provided practical advice on upcoming HMRC changes and how businesses can prepare. A great turnout and plenty of useful takeaways for sole traders and finance teams alike.
The Ultimate Canva Workshop | 12th August - 9:30am -16:00pm | £95.00
Spending hours on content that still doesn’t look the bees knees? This workshop will show you how Canva can help you create polished content quickly and confidently.
Walk away with graphics that look good and save you time. Feel confident, stop winging it, and make content creation easy.
Register your place by visiting - Gillian Bardsley - Your Marketing Lifeline
Freelancer Friday - Looking after yourself in Business | Fri, 29th August | 09:30am - 12:30pm
Freelancer Friday returns in August.
Freelancing can be rewarding, but it’s easy to forget about your own wellbeing when you’re focused on running a business. That’s why this Freelancer Friday is all about taking care of yourself
Join us for a relaxed morning of networking and practical advice with Dr Sara Ramzan, a pharmacist and health educator who helps people take control of their health through small, manageable changes.
It’s a great chance to meet others, share experiences, and take a bit of time for yourself
Register now: Freelancer Friday - Looking after yourself in Business Tickets
Empowering Business Growth in Rochdale—EnterprisingYou & GM Business Growth Hub
Whether you're starting out or looking to grow, EnterprisingYou and GM Business Growth Hub provide expert guidance.
We have Rochdale-based advisors, Aise Ndiele and Nick Dale, working from Fire Up, ready to support business owners with one-on-one advice. As part of Greater Manchester’s commitment to entrepreneurship, they offer tailored resources to help businesses across Rochdale.
Fire Up provides everything you need to run a successful small business.
Share Your Fire Up Co-Working Story!
Would you be interested in sharing your experience in a future newsletter? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email at info@fireuprochdale.co.uk.
And don’t forget you’re always welcome to visit Fire Up Co-Working whenever you need a space to work or connect with like-minded individuals.
The Fire Up Co-Working Team