Female-owned creative hub Serve Studio launches in Northallerton
Serve Studio opened its doors on Friday (February 6), offering a multi-use space that combines a working bakery HQ, a branding and content studio, coworking space and event space all under one roof.
The studio is the joint venture of Hattie Sayer, 31, founder of Faced Designs, from Northallerton and Michaela Ryder, 40, who runs The Four Letter Baker, from Thirsk.
The pair met after Hattie worked on a rebrand for Michaelaβs bakery, and soon realised they both needed more space for their growing businesses.
After seeing similar creative hubs in cities, but nothing comparable in Northallerton or the wider North Yorkshire region, they decided to create their own.
Serve Studio will operate as Michaelaβs bakery production base, a dedicated content studio for Hattieβs branding and creative work, and a shared space for small businesses, creatives and makers to work, create content, host workshops and build community locally.
Located next to Sorella Bridal, a wedding dress boutique that already draws visitors to the area, the founders hope Serve Studio will help energise the local creative scene and reduce the need for people to travel to larger cities.
Their aim is to inspire creativity, tackle the loneliness of working from home, encourage better work-life balance in the creative world and inspire the next generation.
Between them, the founders have two daughters each, all under eight, and know the struggles that can come with owning businesses and being mothers. Therefore, they want their hub to be completely inclusive to all creatives.
The launch event on Friday has already sold out. Guests will be able to meet the founders, see the bakery production area and content studio, and speak to some of the small businesses already interested in using the space.
Hattie Sayer, who runs Faced Designs offering graphic design, small business branding, social media and creative direction, said ahead of Friday’s event: “I have always wanted a proper content studio and when the opportunity came along we bit the bullet and went for it. We got the keys at the end of November and now we launch.
“This building is purpose built open co-working space area for eight people where they have access to coffee.
“It has an infinity wall where people can photograph their brand or bits and bobs so small brands who won’t have access to space like this themselves can come and take bulk content.
“The bakery will be where Michaela runs her business from as she needed more space as well.
“We just wanted to have a space where like minded people can come and work. So often small businesses hide in the back of the coffee shops with bad WIFI and it isn’t inspiring instead we want this space to bring in creatives and inspire them.”
Serve Studio is positioned as a flexible, female-owned creative space designed to support small businesses and creatives who want professional facilities and a sense of community, without leaving Northallerton.
It is located at 300 High Street in Northallerton. They plan to be open from 9am until 3pm to help work around the school runs.