A space for women

Through Remote & Human I’ve met some really inspiring people who are making a difference for remote & hybrid workers. 

This IWD I’d like to celebrate the brilliant Stacey Sheppard & her co-working space The Tribe.

The Tribe is a space for women near Totnes in South Devon that offers community, collaboration & connection.

Some members are self-employed whilst others work within teams that are based elsewhere in the UK. A big WFH challenge for many of these women was the feeling of isolation, yet commuting options are hugely restricted for those in rural locations, especially where they have school hours commitments as mothers.

Why female only?

We know that without flexible working, women face huge barriers in juggling careers alongside childcare, advancing in their careers, being paid a fair wage & protecting their wellbeing. Yes, there are some brilliant men carrying the load but women are still more adversely affected so we need more solutions that are designed with them in mind.

Stacey has told me that she knew she couldn’t solve a societal problem, but believed she could start by doing this for a group of women. The space has some regular desk based co-workers as well as those who need a space to gather. Co-workers are empowered to exchange ideas & build their networks within a manageable distance from their home.

The Tribe is now part of Devon Work Clubs, a network of flexible and friendly coworking spaces across Devon.

Who knew there were so many independent co-works in rural Devon? It can be hard to advertise independently so this has helped them gain valuable exposure.

Being part of something bigger also allows combined access to local funding, with the councils recognising that many of these are functioning as vital incubators in the locations where people live. And this isn’t always the big cities.

I think this sets an excellent beta model for other councils to follow across the country. What do you think?

3 things we can learn from Stacey:

1. You don’t need to change the world, start by making a difference for a few

2. Be generous with others in your network, share knowledge & offer intros

3. Back yourself & explore how you can encourage others to do the same

p.s. I should add that I first met Stacey when vacating an office on the edge of Totnes whilst transitioning a team to remote working! The Tribe already had a co-work desk space within the converted barn. They took on our lease & now use the additional open space for multi-purpose gatherings with lots of light & views of fields. I’ve loved seeing how the space now serves a very different need & can vouch for it being a wonderful location. Hope to visit again when next in the area x

Find out more about The Tribe here.

Head to our work spots page to discover other co-working locations near you.

Written by Gemma Coles, March 2025