Welcoming Our New Chairman: Usman Yaqub

We’re delighted to announce that Usman Yaqub has been appointed Chairman of Spaceworks – an exciting step for our organisation as we continue to support Bristol’s business community with affordable, flexible and genuinely supportive workspace.

Usman brings an impressive depth of experience from across the architecture and construction sectors. As a Chartered Architectural Technologist and Director of Studio Yaqub, he leads a Bristol-based team specialising in a complete architectural service along with a range of complimentary services for residential and commercial projects.

His portfolio spans listed buildings, large-scale retail, complex developments, and includes transformative projects such as The Station in Bristol, Easton Jamia Masjid in Bristol and Court Mills in Trowbridge.

Today, his focus is firmly on architectural design, advising clients ranging from homeowners to major developers, and delivering clear responsive guidance from concept through to completion.

Alongside this, Usman is also President of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and an Associate Lecturer at the University of the West of England, shaping both professional standards and the next generation of built-environment specialists. His commitment to quality, education and community impact makes him a natural fit for Spaceworks.

A long-standing relationship and shared mission

“I am truly humbled to be taking this position and look forward to continuing to provide an input on existing initiatives as well as working on further improvements that will see this business and those that it houses flourish.”

Usman has worked closely with Spaceworks for over 7 years, and his vision has directly shaped some of our most meaningful initiatives. Our business incubator (a space designed to give early-stage founders the support, flexibility and confidence they need to grow) was Usman’s idea, and one of our proudest community-driven projects.

His ability to balance technical expertise with a deep understanding of how spaces can genuinely support people aligns perfectly with our mission. With Usman now leading the Board, we’re excited to strengthen this partnership and continue developing vibrant, affordable places where businesses can thrive.

Strengthening an experienced, community-focused Board

Usman joins a committed and highly experienced group of directors. Together, the Board brings a broad mix of skills to guide Spaceworks’ strategic direction and support our CEO in delivering our long-term vision for Bristol’s business community.

Our thanks to Neil Pirie

We’d also like to extend our sincere thanks to Neil Pirie, who is stepping down as Chairman after many years in the role. Neil has been part of Spaceworks for more than 40 years, and his guidance has been instrumental in shaping the supportive, community-centred organisation we are today. We’re incredibly grateful that he will continue to play an active role as a Director on our Board.