About The Skiff
The Skiff exists so that people who work on their own can do their best work in Brighton with other humans around.
We tried working somewhere else first
In July 2006, we started a company in Brighton and set ourselves a goal: make a better place to work.
For two years, we tried to find it.
We worked from other people's spaces, but none of them quite became the place we had in mind.
So in October 2008, we teamed up with three freelancers and opened one of our own.
Together, we called it The Skiff.
The place has been changing ever since, largely because the people who work here keep changing it. Four buildings, a pandemic, and eighteen years on, it is still here, still small, and still made up entirely of individuals.
Values
People over space. The Skiff is a community above all else. Many of our members knew each other before we had a space. In the unlikely event that our building became unavailable, the community would find a way to continue supporting each other.
Members over clients. Or customers, guests, tenants or renters. We're all in this together as members. The Skiff is your community and your workspace. It exists to support you and adapt to your needs, and you have the freedom to make it your own.
Trust over policy. We prefer breaking rules to making rules. The Skiff has very few hard and fast terms and conditions. Be excellent to yourself, each other and your space. We don't count your days.
Purpose over profit. The Skiff is not owned by shareholders who expect a return. We have never paid a dividend, and we don't intend to. What matters most is long-term sustainability and independence, so that you always have the choice of working somewhere that isn't trying to make as much money as possible from every square foot of space in the city. We want future generations to be able to experience this kind of workplace.
Ownership
The Skiff is founder-held for stability, with long-term members holding a stake. Jonathan and Anna Markwell own about 86% of The Skiff Ltd; the rest belongs to members who have been part of it for years. We may share more ownership in future.
It has no full-time staff. Jonathan and Anna are the only formal board members today, and we may add some Captains to the board again soon. Either way, we see ourselves as servant leaders to the Captains and to the members: the people who use The Skiff are the people who shape it.
Running the place
A handful of people are ultimately responsible for keeping The Skiff on the right course, from making sure emails get answered to keeping an eye on cash flow: Jonathan and Anna, and the Captains, a group of around thirty members who have put their hands up to help run the place.
Ruth works for a few hours each week to make sure supplies are kept well stocked, things that are broken get fixed, and the space stays tidy. Pete, our regular long-term professional cleaner, is supported by a larger team to keep the space clean.
If something could be better, say so. If you want to start something, suggest it. If there's a better way to use the space, try it. And if somebody has left the dishwasher full, you may occasionally have to empty it. That's part of the deal.
Book your tour
You'll get shown around by a current member. They'll give you their honest perspective on working at The Skiff, and you can stay on after your tour for a free trial day.
