Makespace is a community workshop in the heart of Cambridge.
Makespace manages and maintains a classroom suitable for presenting talks and hands-on group teaching; a general well-equipped workspace; a workshop for general work, metalwork and woodworking; as well as a room for craft-oriented activities.
This space is located near the Cambridge City Centre and anyone over eighteen years of age can join as a member.
Details on how to get a guided tour of Makespace, and to consider whether you may want to become a member, see how-to-join.
Members pay a monthly membership-fee which covers the costs of running and maintaining the space and the equipment provided, in addition to being used for improvements to the space, upgrading and acquiring new equipment. All memberships are strictly individual memberships. However, the space and facilities are available for use by local businesses through their members.
The facilities provide a hub for the Cambridge community to practice, promote and encourage members to explore science, technology, engineering, manufacturing, crafting and making.
Individuals and small business’ employees can learn new skills, design and make new things, and repair, recycle or re-purpose existing items. There are facilities to prototype ideas and manufacture new products. They have access to equipment and facilities that might otherwise be too expensive or complex to purchase and maintain themselves. They also have access to expertise from within the Makespace community. Training and equipment instruction, provided by members of the community and external bodies, takes place on a range of business, science, manufacturing and engineering subjects.
Equipment ranges from sewing machines and crafting tools to 3D printers, laser cutters to CNC routers, microscopes to woodworking. The space and equipment are available 24/7 to paying members, and runs based on all the amazing volunteer effort these members put in!
Our response to COVID-19
Makespace members did some amazing work to help respond to the pandemic. Read more about Makespace Covid-19 Status and Response Activities, including the Makespace Visor and Makespace Mask Kit projects, on our Covid-19 page. A big thanks to all the volunteers undertaking the activities, and Arm, TTP and Amazon for sponsoring to help us cover the costs. Read more here.
A little bit more about us…
Each year we host hundreds of events, training sessions, talks, and subject specific meet-ups, all with a collaborative spirit. The broad scope of people at Makespace sees great friendships and successful business ventures grow.
The foundation of our community is peer to peer exchange of skills and experience and a hub of business, technology and design expertise. Members pay to get access to and support the upkeep of the space, but then learn from each other. No matter the reason you come to Makespace, there will be like-minded people; try something new, create something different and become part of our extensive network.
Here is a short Makespace Introduction video made at one of our birthday parties:
Who is it for?
Our members join for personal and business reasons and include engineers, designers, artists, scientists, educators, hobbyists, DIYers, market traders, entrepreneurs and more. The Makespace equipment and community is invaluable in taking ideas forward.
You can see some videos of members projects, talks and events on our YouTube page, along with some of our training videos:
