Indie Oxford Stories: Kevin Jessup at The Cluster

How would you describe your business in a sentence?

Co-working and event space, done better.

What first inspired you to start your business – was there a lightbulb moment?

What first led me to start The Cluster Co-working & Event Space was actually being made redundant. At the time, I had been working for years in a building that I absolutely fell in love with – the atmosphere, the character, the potential. Even after losing my job, that connection to the space stayed with me.

I’d always had a strong vision for what I wanted to create. I knew I wanted to build a co-working space, but do it better: more thoughtful, more community-driven, more inspiring. And standing at that crossroads, I realised that if I didn’t take the leap then, I probably never would.

So being made redundant became the push I needed. I already had the passion, the vision, and a space I believed in. It all aligned, and that’s what ultimately led me to start The Cluster.

How did you actually get started?

I was fortunate enough to already know the building I wanted to transform into The Cluster. I’d managed it for ten years, so I knew its quirks, its potential, and exactly how I wanted to reinvent it. I also knew the landlords very well, which meant I could openly share my plans, my ideas, and my dreams for what the space could become.

From the beginning, I understood that I had to make it a destination. With the help of The Meet Point Coffee, we added a coffee shop in the old lean-to gatehouse – a small but incredible space with a huge amount of history. More recently, we’ve expanded again by adding a podcast studio, The Podbox OX, created in partnership with The Pod Collective.

I spoke to friends and family, gathered their thoughts, and went out to do my field research. I visited co-working spaces across Oxfordshire and further afield to see what worked, what didn’t, and what kind of atmosphere I wanted to create.

Eventually, it came down to taking the leap: signing on the dotted line, taking on the space, and transforming it into somewhere I knew I’d be genuinely happy and comfortable working in myself.

And then, of course, the hard work really began.

What felt most daunting about starting out, and how did you overcome it?

Honestly, the most daunting parts were my own self-doubt and the fear of failure. Starting something completely new, even something I believed in deeply, came with a constant internal question of “What if this doesn’t work?” I was lucky to have friends and family who supported me. Not every voice was enthusiastic, but the majority of the noise around me was positive, and that helped drown out the doubts.

At some point, I just had to park the fear and tell myself, “Well, I’m in now. I’ve made this decision, so I have to make it work.” And that feeling hasn’t gone away. In many ways, I’m not sure I’ve fully overcome how daunting it all is, but I’ve learned to work with it. That drive to make it work keeps me on my toes, keeps me inventive, keeps me improving and adapting, and keeps me listening closely to what my Clustomers (no, that’s not a typo) actually need from The Cluster.

What really helps me push through the self-doubt is the positive feedback: the glowing Google reviews, the atmosphere of calm and happiness I see in the space, and the simple joy people express when they’re here. All of that reassures me that I made the right choice.

And, honestly, I think I’d struggle far more with the question of “What might have happened if I’d taken the leap?” than with “I took the leap, and it didn’t work.” But now, over 18 months in, it is working, and I’m genuinely proud of that.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

Honestly, my biggest challenge so far has been me. I have quite a chaotic, creative brain – like a rubber ball bouncing around furiously in a box – and having to knuckle down and focus on the practical foundations of building a business was tough. As a solopreneur, I was being pulled in every direction at once: decorating, paperwork, insurance, health and safety, choosing tables and chairs, picking artwork… all of it landing on my desk at the same time.

So yes, the biggest challenge has been managing my not-neurotypical brain while trying to structure something as demanding as a new business. But at the same time, it’s also been a real advantage. That same brain that can feel chaotic is also the one that lets me jump, often quite frantically, from one task to another without feeling drained by it.

It’s both the challenge and the superpower that’s helped me build The Cluster.

What has been your proudest moment?

I’m not sure I can choose just one, if I’m honest, there have been a few moments that have really stayed with me.

One of the first was receiving our five-star Google reviews. Seeing people take the time to write such thoughtful feedback, and realising that something I’d built from scratch was genuinely helping people work happily and productively, was incredibly affirming.

Another proud moment has been hearing visitors and Clustomers say that they can feel the space is loved and cared for, that it has a personality. That means more to me than they probably realise, because the whole vision behind The Cluster was to create somewhere warm, intentional, and human.

A more modern (and slightly surreal) proud moment was when I asked ChatGPT what the best co-working space in Oxford was… and The Cluster came first. I know it’s some sort of dark magic that no one entirely understands, but still, I’ll take it.

And perhaps one of the most meaningful moments of all was having my mum, who was 87 at the time, come to the opening. Seeing how proud she was that I’d persevered and finally created the thing I’d talked about and dreamt about for so long, that meant everything.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned about running a business?

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that, especially as a small independent business, you have to be willing to try things and try them quickly. You can’t sit on ideas for months the way big brands often do. You need to adapt, pivot, and change direction when something isn’t quite working. Agility is one of the biggest advantages of being small.

Yes, you might only be one, two, or three people, but the flip side is that you’re not weighed down by the layers and bureaucracy of a huge corporation. You can move fast. You can experiment. You can actually listen to your audience and your clients, in my case, my Clustomers, and then do something about what they tell you.

And the lesson within the lesson is this: focus on what you can realistically do to make their experience the best it can be, balancing the realities of your time, your resources, and your budget. That constant cycle of listening, adjusting, and improving has been absolutely essential and it’s shaped The Cluster into what it is today.

What’s next for you and the business? 

Well, I can’t give away all my secrets… but there are some exciting things on the horizon.

We’re looking at installing a shipping container on-site. What it will become is still up for debate, we have several ideas, and we’re letting the best one rise to the top.

We’re also planning to add an office pod in the yard, which, by the way, becomes an incredible sun trap in the summer. The idea is for it to be a flexible, supportive space: potentially subsidised for counsellors and therapists to use for wellbeing and mental health sessions. But it will also be adaptable enough for massage therapists, very small and intimate yoga classes, knitting workshops, or anyone needing a calm, dedicated space. And it will double up as an extra quiet meeting room for our Clustomers.

And beyond that, we’ve got plenty of exciting events in the pipeline to be announced very soon.

Lots is happening… even if I’m not giving absolutely everything away just yet.

How can people support you right now?

The best support people can give The Cluster is simply to talk about it. Tell people it exists. Recommend it. Share it with friends, colleagues, and anyone who might need a place to work, create, host an event, or just feel inspired.

Ideas are always welcome too, especially for events in the yard. And if anyone wants to hire the space at weekends for art exhibitions, installations, workshops, or anything imaginative, I’m all ears.

And if there happens to be a very rich benefactor out there who’d like to help me install an additional space in the car park, I will happily take that cheque off you. (Note to self: it’s 2026, I’m pretty sure no one uses cheques anymore… but still, I’ll take your money.)

But honestly, the most powerful support is personal recommendation. Nothing beats people speaking positively about your business and sharing it with others. So please, don’t stop talking.

What is your favourite thing about running a business in Oxfordshire?

I truly believe that Oxford, although known for its academic side, has an incredible community of creative, talented, and artistic individuals. There’s so much imagination and skill here that deserves more recognition and encouragement. And that’s my favourite thing about running a business in Oxfordshire, it feels like we are right on the edge of a real creative explosion.

Who in the Independent Oxford community inspires you?

One of my biggest inspirations and sources of support this year has been Lorraine Berkshire-Roe. She’s an absolute powerhouse – someone who knows exactly how to push through, show up, and make herself known in the independent and creative Oxfordshire community.

Her tenacity, her enthusiasm, and her (annoyingly!) brilliant illustration and ink work make her genuinely inspiring. She’s one of those people whose energy lifts everyone around her, and seeing the way she backs herself and her creativity has been a huge motivation for me too.

What does being part of the Independent Oxford community mean to you?

It means a huge amount. When you’re working as a solopreneur or as part of a very small team, it’s incredibly encouraging to have a group of like-minded people around you, people who’ve been through what you’re going through, who understand the challenges, and who can walk alongside you because they’re living it too.

Being part of Independent Oxford also means having people in your corner who genuinely want the best for indie businesses. They’re constantly looking for ways to help us succeed and thrive, and that support is absolutely invaluable. It makes the whole journey feel far less lonely and far more possible.