How 1st Formations supports the local community

Here at 1st Formations, we believe the most significant outcome of a thriving business goes far beyond profit. What rewards us is paying our success forward to the community we’re a part of. 

That’s why we are committed to supporting independent businesses, charities, and community spaces in Covent Garden – the vibrant neighbourhood we call home. 

It’s a pleasure to work in the bustling Soho area, known for its nightlife and West End shows. However, this reputation comes at a price for local entrepreneurs: high rents and a challenging market to stand out in.  

As a company formation agent, we like to see emerging businesses succeed. Here’s what we’re doing to support the local community:

Donating our spare office space to charities 

Being in central London gives us the privilege of being surrounded by millions of great minds doing incredible philanthropic work. However, we’re also acutely aware that Covent Garden office space is some of the most expensive in the city, making it out of reach for many non-profits. 

That’s why we offer a percentage of our spare office space to charities, free of charge.

We have 14 fully-furnished workspaces available with space for up to 33 people, plus a cycle shed, showers, storage rooms and communal kitchens.

Our location is a great base for charities: it’s highly accessible by public transport, offers close proximity to potential beneficiaries and corporate sponsors, and comes with a wealth of local amenities and venues for fundraisers and community events.

Why should businesses donate unused office space?

Outside of funding, space is the number one hurdle in the charity sector. Providing charities with free office space, particularly within a prestigious location, saves them tens of thousands of pounds per year. This allows them to focus all of their resources on making a difference rather than worrying about overheads. 

Keziah Cowan, 1st Formations’ Associate Director and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spokesperson, explains: 

At 1st Formations, we have a real understanding of what it takes to get a charity, or any small enterprise, off the ground. We know there are countless people out there trying to be a force for good, so we want to do what we can to alleviate the burdens preventing them.

We do this through our partnership with ASTOP, an organisation committed to transforming unused commercial space for good causes. Since its 2013 launch, it has helped repurpose over 500 vacant sites into useful spaces, such as food banks and free childcare centres.

Supporting local businesses 

We recognise the value small independent businesses bring to the local economy and consciously support them wherever possible. 

One area close to our hearts is the local food scene. 1st Formations employees are rewarded for their hard work every week with a free company-catered lunch. Our go-to supplier is a brand new independently owned restaurant called Skewers. Recently opened in September, Skewers offers healthy and sustainably packaged lunches for all tastes and dietary requirements.  

Why should businesses support local restaurants? 

We prefer to prioritise small businesses over the abundant chain restaurants nearby, ensuring our spending benefits those who need it most. In addition, partnering with a local independent is a win-win—we get a delicious lunch quickly delivered to our door, and they get dependable, recurring revenue thanks to over 50 guaranteed orders every week.  

Keziah explains why 1st Formations chose Skewers specifically:

As well as being tasty and healthy, sustainability was the main reason. Skewers prioritise minimal-impact packaging; everything is either recyclable or compostable, which aligns with our goals as a Carbon Neutral Business. Also, the fact Skewers is brand new to the scene made it a no-brainer. It’s challenging to stand out and compete in this area, as they are up against national giants like Itsu and Tesco, so we’re doing our bit to support them.

Hosting employee socials at local venues 

Our commitment to the local community also extends to our team-building socials.  

1st Formations employees are no strangers to after-work drinks at nearby pubs, The Cross Keys and the Crown & Anchor. We also recently tried a dance class at the iconic Covent Garden venue, Pineapple Dance Studios. Did you know this infamous brand is actually an independent studio with surprisingly humble beginnings? 

Its founder, Debbie Moore OBE, opened the studio in 1979 after the old Covent Garden fruit and flower market relocated to Nine Elms. Local banks were providing loans in a bid to regenerate the area, which Moore used to renovate a derelict pineapple warehouse, complete with rotting fruit and dead pigeons, into what is now London’s coolest dance studio. 

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That’s a success story we can all get behind. Here we are after a great evening learning a dance routine to Flo Rida’s ‘Low’.

Why should businesses do employee socials locally? 

Keziah explains how local social activities contribute to company culture and team morale: 

Keeping things local ensures socials are accessible and inclusive to all, as everyone can get there and get home easily. This way, nobody’s left out of the chance to let loose outside of work. These socials strengthen our company culture, enhance our people’s job satisfaction – all while boosting the local economy.

Other upcoming socials include Sandbox Virtual Reality in Holborn, ballet at the Royal Opera House, and a cabaret night in nearby Bloomsbury. 

By socialising outside of work, 1st Formations staff have discovered a few hidden gems in the local area: 

There’s a lovely independent stationery shop called Choosing Keeping on Tower Street that I always recommend to anybody visiting from out of town. And the best late-night food spot in the city has to be Ecco Pizza on Drury Lane. Great value and great service!

In the works: scholarships for local students 

As our business grows, we are increasingly discovering ways to use our revenue for good. 

Education is a key pillar of community development. Central London is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities. Improving access to these institutions has the power to transform young people’s lives and the lives of future generations. 

For the past 11 years, we’ve run a Business Scholarship programme, annually awarding up to five applicants a £500 bursary to spend on course materials, textbooks and other living expenses.  

We are redesigning this programme to provide more targeted support for local students. Watch this space to learn more about how to qualify. 

Why corporate social responsibility matters to us

At 1st Formations, CSR is something we genuinely want to do right. As experts in entrepreneurship, we lead by example to show the real social impact businesses can make alongside their day-to-day operations. 

Keziah shares why 1st Formations feels such a responsibility to support the local community: 

I believe profit isn’t the only positive outcome of a business. You can decide what ‘profit’ means to you, but for us, it’s not just money, it’s the positive impact we make.

Businesses don’t exist in isolation – they exist within a network of suppliers, partnerships, customers – it’s a whole ecosystem. Supporting local enterprises creates a stronger local economy, and in turn, this creates more jobs and opportunities to grow. It really benefits everyone.

In other words, CSR is not a box-ticking exercise. It’s an integral part of why we do what we do. By actively supporting local businesses, charities, and venues, we can contribute to a better Covent Garden for other businesses, residents and visitors. 

Keziah explains how 1st Formations measures the success of its community initiatives:  

Our staff and partners help us understand what kind of impact we are having. We welcome feedback on what’s working and what we could be doing more of.

We’re always looking for new ways to give back and encourage other businesses to do the same. 

How can my business start giving back to my local community?

Keziah has some advice if you want to engage more with your local area but don’t know where to start.  

Start by talking to local shops and restaurants in your area. Engaging with your local community will help you build relationships and support each other through word-of-mouth referrals.

Also, if you’re looking for a new supplier, try to shop local – this is significantly more sustainable, and it will help you open doors. You could also research local charities and arrange volunteer days to get your whole company connecting with the local community.

Have you ever been to Covent Garden? Do you know of local businesses or charities that could benefit from our support? Let us know if you have any recommendations in the comments below. We’d love to hear about them. 

If you are ready to form a company, visit 1st Formations’ homepage and check if your preferred business name is available at Companies House. We can also support you with address services if you want to register your company in Covent Garden.