Interim Spaces: Reimagining the high street with the help of SCF social enterprise funding

Interim Spaces is a registered charity delivering low-cost work and development space for emerging small businesses, non-profits and creative people and organisations.

We spoke to Dan Simon, Director at Interim Spaces about how he started out and the journey that led him to repurpose an empty building in Shepton Mallet town centre into an affordable hire space and retail incubator – with the help of £120,000 blended loan and grant funding from our Somerset Social Enterprise Fund.

“In 1998 I came over to London from New Zealand for what I had planned to be just 1 year, and began squatting in large disused buildings. Although it’s hugely stigmatised, I found the reality to be something quite different. I saw how it allowed creative people to contribute to society more effectively.

Over time I became quite skilled at negotiating with property owners. Most of the buildings were void Housing Association stock. I’d explain how we were conscientious tenants and we’d look after, maintain and protect the building. I started an arts group to showcase new work in central London squatted buildings. We occupied a former West End nightclub, and the owners had come to one of our evenings. They enjoyed themselves so much that we were invited to stay on. Unfortunately, the property was snapped up from under us by a property developer, but that became the catalyst for what I was about to do next.

Despite having no professional experience in property, I set up Interim Spaces and started leasing buildings in London. My ethos remains the same: To unlock social capital in otherwise disused buildings.

In 2022 we started looking at Shepton Mallet. The problem with a big city like London is that some of the more interesting metrics such as footfall and the local economic impact from our projects, are lost due to the vast wealth of the area, whereas in smaller towns our projects offer much more to local communities.

10 Market Place had been empty for a couple of years, so I approached the landlord and he agreed to sell. The ground floor is a retail incubator, and its current occupant is The Little Farm Shed who were selected by our panel from 27 contenders on a 9-month rent and bills free licence, supported by mentorship and a £1,500 capital grant.

The top floor studio is for local community groups to use. We supply power, internet and toilet facilities when there are town centre events. And we’re working closely with local businesses and groups while we establish a new artist studios in the town.

Our aim is to help bring the High Street back to life and boost the economy and social activity in Shepton. We want to focus on engaging young people by offering activities and venues, apprenticeships schemes, makerspace and co-working spaces to help build communities: when people work together interesting things begin to happen.

The reason we applied for the funding from Somerset Community Foundation is because you’re an organisation that understands Somerset. We wanted a relationship with a local funding body – that was absolutely key to us – one who would be able to fully appreciate the outcomes of our mission.

Applying for funding can be a daunting task, but Somerset Community Foundation make it very easy. The whole team have been pleasant to deal with and there’s always someone happy to talk things through and give feedback. To anyone thinking about running a social enterprise, I would highly recommend it.”

The Somerset Social Enterprise Fund (SSEF) is designed to help groups in Somerset through a blend of loans and grants to start new initiatives or upscale successful ones so that they can grow the income they earn from selling goods or services thanks to funding from Somerset Council and The Growth Fund*. 

Since 2016 this funding programme has distributed almost £1.3 million through 29 blended social investments. The programme is currently paused but will reopen shortly.

*The Growth Fund is a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund and Big Society Capital, delivered by Access through a range of social investors including Somerset Community Foundation. It makes up to £50 million available to support charities and social enterprises to grow and create social impact in their communities. The Growth Fund uses a combination of grant funding, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, and loan finance from Big Society Capital and other co-investors to address specific gaps in the social investment market.

Update Feb 2025

The Little Farm Shed have now graduated to a commercially leased shop in Shepton Mallet’s Market Square, completing the journey from rent-free incubation to a full commercial lease.

The Little Farm Shed began trading from their new premises at 9 Market Place in September 2024.

Applications for the next retail incubator placement opened January 2025, with placement in March, for which the charity aims to attract sponsorship from a local business.