Meet the Female Founders

Medley Ripon was created by two women who understand, first-hand, the realities of working for yourself in a rural community.

Sarah Lewis, a customer experience specialist and retail consultant, and Katie Reeves, a marine environmental consultant and project manager, came together through a shared desire for something that simply didn’t exist locally — a welcoming, motivating coworking space designed with real life in mind.

In this interview, the female founders of Medley Ripon share why they started Medley, how their different backgrounds shape the business, and what they hope people feel when they walk through the door.

1. Why did you decide to set up a co-working space, and why here in Ripon?

Sarah: Medley Ripon was born from lived experience. After moving from central London to a quiet village just outside Ripon, and then working exclusively from home, I found the reality quite different to what I’d imagined. I felt isolated and lonely. I missed going into an office — the background hum of people chatting, the mix of conversations, the feeling of being around others who were also working (even the fluorescent lights… kidding!).

What I really craved was community and that productivity buzz you only get when you’re working alongside other people.

When I met Katie Reeves CEnv MISEP at Andrea Morrison’s ten year business celebration event and realised she felt exactly the same, it was one of those lightbulb moments. We both wanted somewhere local to work that felt welcoming, motivating and human not just a desk and Wi-Fi. So we decided to put two ambitious women’s ideas together and create it ourselves.

We knew co-working options existed in bigger cities, but they all required commuting time, energy and effort and there was nothing locally in Ripon, or designed with rural working life in mind. Medley exists to fill that gap, and to help other business owners and remote workers feel part of something, without having to leave the area they love.

Katie: When I moved to Ripon three and a half years ago, I was working from home as a marine environmental consultant, running my new micro business, SOME Consulting. At the same time, my husband was restoring our house, so I quickly realised I needed somewhere to concentrate away from the banging, crashing and very drafty rooms.

I started looking for an office in Ripon city centre because I wanted a sense of community as well as some peace and quiet during the working day. What I discovered was that there were no coworking spaces available like there are in Harrogate or York. I did rent an individual office and met some lovely people, but being in a single office was still lonely during the day. There was no real business community or support around you, and when the cost went up, I decided to return to my kitchen table.

For the past three years, I’d been quietly dreaming about a coworking space one with people, good coffee (essential for me to properly wake up in the mornings!), and secure, fast Wi-Fi. Somewhere that felt alive and motivating. While giving a talk for International Women’s Day to celebrate Andrea Morrison’s 10-year business anniversary with Courageous Females, I met two friendly, courageous women, Gemma Antcliffe Counselling and Sarah Lewis. Over a few meet-ups in Ripon, Sarah and I realised we’d been having exactly the same thoughts for a long time.

We both wanted to create something better, and we both wanted to just go for it. It felt incredibly right in that moment. While it wasn’t the easiest time for me personally, it was one of those deep gut feelings that simply said “say yes”.

2. What made you decide to do this together, and how do your different skills or experiences shape Medley?

Sarah: In many ways, we’re very similar our values are closely aligned. We both believe deeply in community, in supporting business owners, and in creating spaces where people feel genuinely welcome. We’re ambitious, practical, and very much the type of women who get things done. We also share the same lived experience of feeling isolated while working from home, which means Medley is shaped with real empathy. We’re building the space we wished had existed for us.

Where we complement each other is in how that vision comes to life. My background in customer experience and service means Medley is designed around how people feel when they walk in from the atmosphere, to the flow of the day, to the way people are welcomed and supported. Together, that shared mindset and mix of skills means Medley is both well-run and deeply people-centred.

Katie: My gut said yes. Sarah is a genuinely lovely, friendly person who brings her extroverted self and customer service skills that are hard to find these days. She always thinks beyond what our customer or client needs that doesn’t come naturally to me. I find that really inspiring. She keeps going through thick and thin and constantly stimulates my knowledge and curiosity. Plus, she said yes!

My background is in the corporate world, managing large projects, resources and budgets, and making sure things actually get done. Combined with Sarah’s customer awareness, startup experience, web design and social media knowledge, we really do complement each other. We also keep it real. We write things down when we make decisions, and when we disagree, we talk it through and come up with a strategy that feels comfortable for both of us.

3. What do you hope people feel or gain when they work from Medley Ripon?

Sarah: More than anything, we want people to feel a genuine sense of community and belonging like they’re part of something, not just passing through. We hope they feel supported, both personally and professionally, whether that’s through conversation, encouragement, or simply being around others who understand the realities of working for yourself or remotely.

And, of course, we want people to leave having had a productive day with a real sense of achievement, clarity and momentum. If someone finishes the day feeling more connected, more motivated and glad they showed up, then Medley is doing exactly what it was created to do.

Katie: We hope people feel inspired, peaceful and motivated to get their work done, and that Medley genuinely adds to their working day. We want them to gain friends, a community of colleagues, and opportunities for collaboration on projects of any size.

We hope they feel inspired by the people around them and, if they want it, supported with accountability for their work and tasks. And, importantly, there’s good coffee and fun too!

We also hope to provide additional opportunities for training and events in whatever way our members suggest. Most of all, we want people to feel that they are as much a part of Medley Ripon as we are.

Join the Medley Community

If you’re a freelancer, remote worker or small business owner in or around Ripon, and you’ve ever felt the quiet loneliness of working alone — we created this for you.

Sign up to our mailing list to:

• Hear about upcoming coworking dates

• Be first to know about new venues and permanent space updates

• Get invitations to training, events and community gatherings

• Follow our journey as Medley grows

We’d truly love to have you with us.

Join the Medley Ripon mailing list today and be part of building something special in Ripon.